Just Think ‘007’ and Add $269,993

Behind the Wheel | 2009 Aston Martin DBS

2009 Aston Martin DBS.

By LAWRENCE ULRICH

STARTING in 1965 with the DB5 in “Goldfinger,” Aston Martin has been linked at the tuxedoed hip with James Bond; gadget-packed Astons have been driven by Connery, Lazenby, Dalton, Brosnan and Craig.

But given the economy, anyone who can still afford a $270,000 Aston Martin DBS might inspire a real-world film, with enough supervillains and world domination to make 007 quiver. Call it “The Man with the Golden Parachute.”

Wafting above the crowd is certainly the point. With 510 burbling horsepower from the V-12 power plant, angry stockholders vanish in the mirror. Seething mobs of the unemployed are drowned out by the 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system.

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The shift lever is placed a bit too far rearward on the console for ideal shifting, but the lever itself is easy and precise.

C.E.O.-envy aside, the roughly 300 Americans who will drive home a DBS this year need to know the score. First, ignore the self-appointed accountants who have questioned why the DBS costs $100,000 more than the Aston DB9. I mean, these people drive Hondas.

The DBS and DB9 share a lightweight aluminum chassis and the 5.9-liter engine block under their stretched hoods. But the DB9 has been around six years, a virtual eternity for people who want the latest and greatest. Second, the lovely DB9 — designed by Ian Callum before he cribbed from himself to create the Jaguar XK — looks even more Jaglike next to this muscled-up Adonis.

The DBS isn’t just one of the world’s prettiest cars. It pulls off the tricky feat of looking insanely fast and expensive without rubbing everyone’s nose in it. For all its power — a 4.2-second eruption gets you to 60 m.p.h.; top speed is 191 — the Aston is a classic GT, a proper Brit with a noblesse oblige you won’t find in a flaming yellow Lamborghini.

That Aston heritage dates to 1914, but it took Ford to revitalize the moribund company. After 13 years of full ownership, Ford sold out last year to a consortium backed by Kuwaiti oil investors and led by David Richards, a British motorsports entrepreneur.

I spent my first day with the DBS balancing euphoria with skepticism. I figured it would drive like any traditional Aston: a buttery high-speed cruiser with a concert-hall V-12, but too soft and gentlemanly to sully itself on twisty roads.

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Inside and out, the DBS sets a serious tone.

Instead, after a warm-up, the Aston sliced through the countryside like an English football hooligan, but with a better singing voice.

A dashboard switch maxes out the computer-controlled shocks for high-speed duty, keeping the Aston’s body pinned to the ground like a manhole cover. The standard ceramic composite brakes — which can cost up to $15,000 extra on other exotic cars — could stand a bit more initial bite, but were triple-espresso strong.

An honest-to-God manual shifter — increasingly rare in cars of this caliber — amplified the fun. The lever is placed a bit too far rearward for ideal shifting, and the clutch’s iffy take-up requires practice for smooth starts. But the lever itself is easy and precise, topped with a slab of cool metal. A paddle-shifted automatic is an option.

Then there’s that engine, which sounds like money being torn in two. A valve in the exhaust system cocks open under heavy throttle to release the battle cry of the V-12. On that note, the DBS got a dismal 12 m.p.g.

On this car, pretty much everything that isn’t lightweight aluminum is even more expensive carbon fiber, from the featherweight hood and interior door trim to the angry-looking aerodynamic diffuser at the rear. It adds up to a relatively svelte 3,737 pounds, about 100 fewer than the main competitor, the $310,000 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.

Swan doors swing open on a slightly upward angle, clearing curbs that would gouge the typical low-slung sports car. High sills make for body-scrunching entry and exit, but it’s worth it once you’re inside. Semi-aniline leather and a suede headliner were a perfectly matched deep red, making the cabin look like a boutique bordello.

Gauges look as fine as a Swiss chronograph. But while I’ve gotten used to the strange tachometer that spins counter-clockwise, there’s still no red line to show peak engine speed. How much could it cost to paint a red stripe on that thing?

Other nitpicks, just to make clear that I’m not a total sucker for beauty: lumbar controls are buried between the seats and console in a “Where’s Waldo?” arrangement. A cheap-looking navigation screen rises from the dash like a ghoul from the crypt of Kia. And the key is called the Emotion Control Unit, which is appropriate since it forced me to keep my temper in check. This fiddly chunk of genuine sapphire and stainless steel must be inserted into a slot just right or the car won’t start.

There’s a small parcel shelf in the rear but owners can opt for a tiny back seat instead — for children who haven’t been sent to boarding school.

Buyers seeking unrivaled GT performance may choose the 612-horse Ferrari. The 599 GTB is decisively faster than the Aston and its handling is a bit purer. But in my view, the 599 GTB — which even zealots wouldn’t cite as an all-time great Ferrari design — can’t beat the Aston’s looks.

Such fantastical comparisons tend to embarrass me anyway; it’s like asking which superhero would make the best and fastest sushi chef. (My money’s on Aquaman.)

Still, most car fans, including auto writers, keep a fantasy list of cars we imagine we’d buy if we struck it rich. For what it’s worth, the DBS is the first Aston GT to make it onto my mental bedroom wall. Surely there’s no harm in wondering how much a used DBS will fetch in 10 years.

Judge Rules in Favor of Cuba Tobacco

Chismillionaire says- Rightfully so because every Dominican re badge of a Cuban name is absolutely shit!

By Gregory Mottola

The Cohiba trademark case that refuses to die has just taken another turn. Although the trademark dispute over the Cohiba brand name was dismissed in 2005, allowing General Cigar Co. to continue using the Cohiba mark in the United States, the case was reopened, and it was just overturned in light of a new legal precedent.

Cubatabaco, the arm of the Cuban government that owns Cuba's cigar trademarks, had appealed to the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, citing a prior Court of Appeals ruling (ITC v. Punchgini) as a basis for its claim against General Cigar, the producers of the Dominican Cohiba cigar sold in the United States. After reviewing Empresea Cubana Del Tabaco v. Culbro Corp. (Culbro being the former owner of General Cigar), Judge Robert W. Sweet determined on November 18 that General Cigar was guilty of unfair trade by misappropriation. Furthermore, Sweet ruled that Cubatabaco was entitled to relief.

General Cigar's spokesperson said company officials were not available to comment. General is a subsidiary of Swedish Match AB.

The litigation goes back 11 years since General Cigar began marketing products with the Cohiba name in 1997. Cubatabaco has attempted to block General's use of the brand name ever since, and won the first round of legal battles in 2004. But when General appealed in 2005, the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the U.S. embargo on Cuban goods precluded Cubatabaco from claiming any benefit of the Cohiba brand name. It was also determined that Cubatabaco had failed to established "bad faith," an element needed to make the claim of unfair trade by misappropriation.

Cubatabaco argued that a 2007 ruling in ITC v. Punchgini eliminated the "bad faith" requirement as being integral to the claim of misappropriation. Judge Sweet agreed.

Cubatabaco is requesting relief that includes General's profits on sales of Cohiba cigars.

Ceramics That Won't Shatter

Biomimicry in bulk: The Berkeley researchers made large pieces of the tough ceramic, while other scientists mimicking tough natural materials have been able to make only thin films. A tough ceramic’s structure mimics that of abalone shells. This scanning electron microscope image (bottom), taken during a stress test, shows one source of the material’s toughness: damage is widely distributed in small, contained cracks. Credit: Science/AAAS

Ceramics are lightweight and hard, but you can't make jet engines out of them because they'd shatter like dinner plates. So, materials scientists have been trying to mimic natural materials that combine strength (a measure of resistance to deformation) with toughness (a measure of resistance to fracture). In particular, they've looked to the porous but resilient material called nacre that lines abalone shells. Now researchers have developed a method for manufacturing nacre-like materials in the lab. These new materials have mechanical properties similar to metal alloys and are the toughest ceramics ever made. The new method could lead the way to ceramic structural materials for energy-efficient buildings and lightweight but resilient automobile frames.

Nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl, combines plates of stong but brittle calcium carbonate with a soft protein glue in a brick-and-mortar structure that's 3,000 times tougher than either constituent. Ordinarily, when scientists make composites in the lab, the resulting materials' properties average out those of their constituents. "When nature makes composites, the properties are better," says Robert Ritchie, chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, who co-led the ceramics research. That's because nature's composites have complex structures that are difficult to mimic. "People have tried, but can't get that fineness of structure," says Ritchie.

For years, scientists have been trying to design new materials based on tough natural materials like nacre and bone. The Berkeley ceramic "really shows that drawing our inspiration from nature in order to synthesize better materials can be very successful," says Julia Greer, a materials scientist at CalTech.

To shape their ceramics into nacre-like structures, the Berkeley researchers first create a water suspension of the material to be patterned--in this case, aluminum oxide. Then they chill it in a very controlled way. "You take the heat out at one end," explains Ritchie. This leads to long, thin structures that the researchers press into microscale, brick-like structures after heating them to evaporate the water. When this process is repeated, it creates a layered, porous structure of aluminum oxide bricks connected to one another by column-like structures--the same shapes found in natural nacre. Then, to mimic the protein glue in the abalone shell, the researchers fill the spaces with a polymer. This process is described online in the journal Science this week. Other groups have made thin films of biomimetic materials; the Berkeley group has succeeded in making large pieces.

Uncushioned by the polymer, the bricks would be brittle like most ceramics. But the polymer permits the brick-like layers to slide over one another when stressed, making the material resistant to fractures. Indeed, this brick-and-mortar structure is tougher than any ceramic ever made in the lab. "High toughness and high strength are usually incompatible" in a ceramic, says Eric Stach, a materials engineer at Purdue University who was not involved with the Berkeley work. But the ceramics created at Berkeley have as much strength and toughness as aluminum alloys, which "you can fly planes with," says Stach.

Though they caution that the nacre-like ceramics are in their early stages of development, the Berkeley researchers say the materials should make possible applications of ceramics that have seemed unattainable. "You could use ceramics to make the frame of a car instead of steel, and save fuel," says Ritchie. Antoni Tomsia, a materials scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory who co-led the research, says that tough ceramics, which are good insulators, could do double duty as structural elements in energy-efficient buildings. And they might also be used in lightweight bulletproof vests and vehicle armor for the military.

The new work, say materials scientists, shows the way forward for tough biomimetic materials. Paul Hansma, professor of physics at the University of California at Santa Barbara, calls the work "astonishing" and says the performance of the new ceramic "raises the bar in this important field."

Ritchie and Tomsia are confident they can make the material even better. Natural nacre has ceramic structures an order of magnitude smaller than those in the Berkeley material, as well as a higher ratio of brick to mortar. Ritchie says the group is working on making the ceramic bricks smaller and closer together, and decreasing the polymer content. They're also experimenting with different mortars. Because the newly developed ceramic contains a gluey polymer, it would fail in high-temperature environments like the inside of an engine. So the Berkeley researchers are experimenting with metal fillers, which can withstand higher temperatures.

Colvin signs with Patriots

Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff

Linebacker Rosevelt Colvin inked a one-year contract with the Patriots this morning, according to a league source.

Colvin, who played for the Patriots from 2003-2007, has been out of football this season after being cut by the Houston Texans at the end of training camp. He addresses a need at outside linebacker, where the Patriots have been without Adalius Thomas (forearm) and also had Pierre Woods leave Sunday's loss to the Steelers in the third quarter with a mouth injury.

Mike Vrabel and Woods have been starting at outside linebacker in the 3-4 alignment in recent weeks. The top backups are rookies Gary Guyton and Vince Redd.

The Patriots had an open roster spot after placing cornerback Jason Webster on injured reserve Tuesday, and thus did not have to make a move to create room for Colvin.

The Patriots have also contacted veteran linebacker Victor Hobson in recent days, according to a league source. Hobson was with the Patriots in training camp, and like Colvin, has not played this season.

If the Patriots are further looking to bolster their linebacker ranks, Hobson could be a top option. He has experience at both inside and outside linebacker in the 3-4 alignment, but is probably more suited for the inside spot.

Retirement again short for Seau, who rejoins Pats

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)—Junior Seau is going from the surf to the turf—again.

Seau signed with the New England Patriots on Friday, coming out of retirement for the second time to help bolster his former team’s injury-depleted defense.

“What it took was a coach that you respect made a call, come out and help guys that you have a lot of love for,” Seau said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of history here with us and it wasn’t a hard decision. You just care for the guys in this locker room and you care for the coach and organization and that’s the only reason I’m here.”

The 39-year-old linebacker takes the roster spot of Adalius Thomas, who was placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the season after breaking his left forearm Nov. 9 against Buffalo. The Patriots, 7-5 but with a shot at the AFC East title or a wild-card playoff berth, also are without injured linebackers Eric Alexander and Pierre Woods.

Seau rejoined New England two days after linebacker Rosevelt Colvin also came back to the team. Neither has played this season. Colvin, a nine-year veteran, spent five seasons with the Patriots before being released in February. He signed with the Houston Texans, but was released in August.

Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowl player and avid surfer, will suit up Sunday when the Patriots visit Seattle.

“He went from the surfboard back to the football field,” Belichick said Friday. “He can probably make that transition better than any player that’s ever played.”

Seau retired after last season following two years with the Patriots, who had lured him out of a brief retirement in August 2006. He had 76 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks and a career-high three interceptions in 19 games last season.

He also played 13 seasons for the San Diego Chargers and three with the Miami Dolphins.

Seau was living in San Diego, spending time with his wife and family, when Belichick called Wednesday. Seau visited Foxborough on Thursday, attended a team walkthrough and was signed.

“I have no time to get all drama, I just don’t. I don’t want to go ‘Oprah’ on you,” Seau said. “It is what it is. I was cutting up oranges for a cooler for (daughter) Cindy Seau and now I’m here putting on cleats. That’s life. You have to make adjustments and make them quick.”

Belichick said he always has had a deep appreciation of Seau’s skill and dedication.

“He’s ready to play football,” Belichick said. “He’s a football player. You look football player up in the dictionary, Junior Seau, Troy Brown, those are the guys. They just define it in every sense of the word.”

Canned Juice: O.J. Simpson headed to prison for up to 21 years

BY NANCY DILLON in Las Vegas and RICH SCHAPIRO in New York
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Friday, December 5th 2008, 1:41 PM

Gluskoter/AP

O.J. Simpson reacts as he is convicted on 12 charges, including felony kidnapping, armed robbery and conspiracy, on Oct. 3.

O.J. Simpson's hard time has finally come.

The former football great was sentenced Friday to up to 21 years behind bars for a botched robbery in Las Vegas, ending his life as a free man 13 years after he was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend.

He must serve at least six years before being eligible for parole.

Before being sentenced an emotional Simpson apologized for his actions in a soft, hoarse voice and begged Clark County Judge Jackie Glass for leniency.

"I didn't want to steal from anyone," said Simpson, whose lawyers sought the minimum sentence of 6-to-17 years. "I'm sorry, sorry."

Glass was unmoved. The judge called the crime a "very violent event ... Guns were brought. At least one gun was drawn. The potential for harm to occur in that room was tremendous."

A Las Vegas jury convicted him on Oct. 3 of all 12 counts, including kidnapping and armed robbery charges, in the bizarre heist he attempted with a bunch of his boozy pals.

The verdict came 13 years to the day after the Juice walked away a free man following the sensational murder trial of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend Ron Goldman in what came to be known as the "Trial of the Century."

The athlete, anchor and pitchman was later ordered to pay $33.5 million in a wrongful-death civil judgment that remains largely unpaid.

Goldman's father, Fred, and sister, Kim, were in the courtroom Friday.

Nevada prosecutors charged that Simpson, 61, and five associates had stormed into a room at the Palace Station hotel and casino in September 2007, brandishing guns, and took thousands of dollars worth of Simpson's memorabilia from a pair of sports collectors.

The group then stole as much as $100,000 worth of items, including Joe Montana lithographs and Pete Rose baseballs, from dealers Bruce Forming and Alfred Beardless, prosecutors said.

Defense lawyers argued that Simpson went to the hotel only to retrieve personal mementos that were stolen from him and that he was unaware his sidekicks were armed.

Four of the other men originally charged in the case have agreed to plead guilty and all took the witness stand for the prosecution during nearly three weeks of trial testimony that concluded Wednesday.

15 of the World’s Most Creative Papercraft Artists

Written by Steph

Paper isn’t the first medium most people think of when they imagine sculpture, but it has qualities that help papercraft artists create some of the most incredibly intricate 3D art ever seen. Master paper sculptors like Richard Sweeney, Brian Dettmer and Ingrid Siliakus cut, fold, glue and otherwise transform sheets of paper in various colors, sizes and textures into complex creations that mimic architecture, nature, the human form and subjects that are purely the products of their own fertile imaginations.

Bert Simons - Incredibly Lifelike Portrait Sculptures

(images via: BertSimons.com)

Eerie, faceted 3-D paper heads float on a wall like grotesque hunting trophies. They’re photo-realistic replicas of Rotterdam papercraft artist Burt Simons and his friends, created when Simons had a ‘mid-life crisis’ in 2006 and realized there wasn’t much of him that would be left behind. So, Simons decided to ‘clone himself’, sculpting his head in 3D and using photographs to texture it. He uses a computer program to flatten out the head into printable pieces of paper and then assembles them with glue. Simons says having his clones around helped him “get used to his bald spot”.

Haruki Nakamura - Moving Parts Paper Sculptures

(images via: Paper Engineering Kamikara)

Haruki Nakamura’s papercraft does more than just sit there and look pretty. The pieces fit together like gears, and actually turn for a kinetic effect that goes far beyond most papercraft creations. Skip to the 49 second mark on the video to see his papercraft heart in action.

Eric Joisel - Detailed Classic Monster Figures

(images via: EricJoisel.com)

There’s a simple difference between mere papercraft and origami: the traditional concept of origami uses only once piece of paper with no cuts or glue. Eric Joisel is one modern origami artist that creates incredibly complex paper sculptures using blueprints that take him literally years to complete. Joisel says the creation process is like a scientific method, with creatures from myths and legends – like dwarves, fairies, hobbits and mermaids – popping up from his ‘crease patterns’.

Brian Chan - Elegantly Crafted Insect Sculptures

(images via: Origami by Brian Chan)

Brian Chan has been creating origami since elementary school, so it’s not too surprising that his work has evolved to the point of winning Best Original Design in the MIT origami competition. The MIT student finds the geometry aspect of origami folding to be especially rewarding. His portfolio of creations includes lots of insects, like the centipede, stag beetle, katydid and pictured above, as well as comic book and anime characters.

Brian Dettmer - Amazingly Complex Paper Cuts

(images via: Centripetal Notion)

When it comes to reusing old books, Brian Dettmer has perhaps one of the most creative ideas ever: he turns them into fascinating carved sculptures called ‘Book Autopsies’ that transform them from dust collectors to fine art. Dettmer’s work goes beyond the simple concept of carving the pages of a book into a shape. The paper is cut to reveal certain words and images, for a shadow box-like effect.

Ingrid Siliakus - Detailed Architectural Masterpieces

(images via: Ingrid-Siliakus.Exto.org)

Dutch paper artist Ingrid Siliakus deems her work ‘paper architecture’, and it’s a fitting description. Siliakus builds paper recreations of buildings made by master architects as well as her own abstract sculptures. She draws inspiration from sources like artist M.C. Escher and architect and paper sculptor Masahiro Chatani, whose work inspired her to try her hand at 3-D paper sculpture.

Sher Christopher - Emotive Paper Figurines

(images via: SherChristopher.com)

Sculptor Sher Christopher’s creations look like characters in a play, replete with theatrical masks, hats and intricate costumes. Christopher gathers papers of various colors and textures from around the world, using the weight and feel of a sheet of paper to suggest the fluid flow of a gown or a wisp of hair. Christopher’s sculptures are characterized by unexpected attention to detail, such as an embossed belt barely visible under the folds of a coat.

Peter Callesen - Playful Seasonal Paper Sculptures

(images via: PeterCalleson.com)

The bulk of Peter Calleson’s work is made from plain white sheets of A4 paper, chosen for the symbolism as well as the color and size. “By taking away all the information and starting from scratch using the blank white A4 paper sheet for my creations, I feel I have found a material that we are all able to relate to, and at the same time the A4 paper sheet is neutral and open to fill with different meaning. The thin white paper gives the paper sculptures a frailty that underlines the tragic and romantic theme of my works.”

Elsa Mora - Variegated Detailed Paper Trinkets

(images via: Elsita.typepad.com)

The whimsical paper art of Elsa Mora has a folkloric quality rooted in the artist’s childhood in Cuba. Carefully crafted flowers, branches and swirling graphical elements give Mora’s work a fun and free-spirited feel. Using scissors and an Xacto knife, Mora creates both paper silhouettes and 3-D sculptures of subjects like woodland creatures, little girls and monkeys riding bicycles.

Su Blackwell - Storybook Paper Works of Art

(images via: SuBlackwell.co.uk)

British paper sculptor Su Blackwell uses the delicacy of paper to make a statement in her work, saying “It is the delicacy, the slight feeling of claustrophobia, as if these characters, the landscape have been trapped inside the book all this time and are now suddenly released. A number of the compositions have an urgency about them, the choices made for the cut-out people from the illustrations seem to lean towards people on their way somewhere, about to discover something, or perhaps escaping from something. And the landscapes speak of a bleak mystery, a rising, an awareness of the air.”

Annie Vought - Abstract and Concrete Paper Art

(images via: AnnieVought.com)

Annie Vought uses paper cutting to make statements that pop right off the wall – literally. Her 2006 paper art series utilized words cut from paper with extreme care, attached to a wall with delicate pins. It ranges from the childish scrawl of a student being punished with writing lines to a Christmas letter in elegant script. Vought also creates paper cut imagery such as oddly beautiful depictions of human veins.

Shin Tanaka - Adult Skills with Childlike Joy

(images via: Ping Mag + Shin.co.nr)

Japanese artist Shin Tanaka creates paper toys with a look that is clearly influenced by urban street art and culture. Tanaka’s designs can be downloaded as a PDF so you can print, cut and build your own versions of these playful creations. Tanaka was inspired to create these little guys when making plastic toys proved to be too costly, and he realized that creating and publishing paper toys was practically free. Shin began making paper models of sneakers he admired by couldn’t afford, which led to a display in a showcase of the NIKE design library as well as design collaborations with major shoe brands like Adidas.

Mark Sky - Magically Transformed Paper Money

(images via: The Dollar Artist)

Mark Sky is known as the ‘Dollar Artist’ for a good reason: all of his origami creations are made from dollar bills. Sky folds money into paper sculptures – called ‘moneygami’ – with subjects ranging from farm animals to fire-breathing dragons. Sky uses the patterns on the dollar bills to signify facial features, like scrolls or the letter ‘O’ as eyes.

Richard Sweeney - Artfully Twisted Paper Sculptures

(images via: RichardSweeney.co.uk)

Richard Sweeney began using paper as a medium for sculpture when he realized that it was a great way to create form through hands-on material exploration. Of his work, Sweeney says “Discovering the properties of the medium in this direct way helped me better understand the potential of paper in its own right, leading to the creation of sculptural forms.”

Chris Natrop - Draped and Shadowed Paper Art

(images via: ChrisNatrop.com)

Chris Natrop’s papercraft art is perhaps best displayed as site-specific installation. Excited but a bit daunted by the challenges of the cavernous gallery space at MOCA Jacksonville, where his series entitled ‘And Further the Dewdrop Falls’ was to be exhibited, Natrop found inspiration in an unexpected place: the plane ride home after seeing the gallery in person for the first time. The view from the airplane window during a bout of turbulence compelled Natrop to want to “capture” atmosphere and infuse it into his work. As a result, his MOCA installation is inspired by the look and feel of mist and dewdrops.

Please Pass the Happiness

The company you keep can keep you in good spirits, says a new study

By Laura Allen Posted 12.05.2008 at 11:39 am 0 Comments

In this social network from 2000, clusters of happy (yellow) and unhappy (blue) souls are obvious. : Green are somewhere in between. Circles are female and squares are male James Fowler, UC San Diego

A smile is infectious, as the saying goes, and now scientists have proven it. In spades. A study published today in British Medical Journal shows that happiness acts like a blessed disease: it can spread from person to person through social channels. On average, the study finds, every happy friend increases your own chance of being happy by 9 percent.

James Fowler of UC–San Diego and Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School were curious how emotions and other health factors might ripple through social networks, a burgeoning field of research. So they mapped the well-being of a group of nearly 5,000 interconnected people, whether it be as blood relations, friends, neighbors, or coworkers. They pulled 20 years of the happiness data from the Framingham Heart Study, which has been tracking health stats on a group of Framingham, Massachusetts residents and two generations of offspring since 1948.

Scientifically, what defines such a subjective emotion as this? For the study participants, it was whether they checked “yes” on these four survey questions: "I felt hopeful about the future"; "I was happy"; "I enjoyed life"; and "I felt that I was just as good as other people."

The researchers found that, like the flu, happiness thrives in close quarters. A happy friend who lives less than half a mile away is 20 percent more influential than one two miles away. But surprisingly, you don’t need direct contact to catch this disease—it can actually sprawl over three degrees of separation. That means that the happiness level of even your friend’s friend’s friend can influence your own.

The authors hold that their conclusions aren’t an artifact of the tendency of people to cluster with similar folks. If at a party, for example, the brooding person in the corner cheers up during a good conversation, it’s not that he suddenly joins the in-crowd laughing loudly in the center of the room. Even staying where he is, his actions have a ripple effect. "Changes in individual happiness can ripple through social networks and generate large scale structure in the network, giving rise to clusters of happy and unhappy individuals,” say Fowler and Christakis.

So, on the flip side, does misery indeed love company? Thankfully, not as much as happiness. Unhappiness spreads less in social networks—probably because it’s such a solitary pursuit.

Veggies May be Key to Fighting Cancer

UC Berkeley researchers are the first to explain how a compound in broccoli and cabbage can inhibit an enzyme to battle breast and prostate cancers

By Jaya Jiwatram Posted 12.04.2008 at 11:52 am 2 Comments

Tumor Killer?: cowfish (CC Licensed)

When your mother says eat your greens, you just might want to listen. It's been known since the 1970's that cruciferous vegetables, or cabbage family vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and kale, have anti-cancer benefits. But researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, who have studied the benefits of anti-cancer vegetables for 15 years, are the first to explain how an anti-cancer compound, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), found in broccoli and cabbage, works to slow down the activity of an enzyme linked to rapidly developing breast cancer.

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SciTech, Jaya Jiwatram, cancer, health, medicine, tumors, vegetables, DMD

In the study released online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Berkeley scientists honed in on how I3C inhibits elastase, an enzyme which at high levels in breast cancer cells reduces the effectiveness of cancer-fighting chemotherapy and endocrine treatments. They found that I3C prevents elastase from shortening cyclin E, a cellular chemical that controls the cell cycle.

At the moment, I3C is a supplement used as a treatment option for non-malignant tumors of the larynx. The Berkeley researchers say that now they have connected the dots on one extremely important pathway, scientists will be able to create an improved version of the I3C supplement to help fight against a broader range of breast and prostate tumors (and possibly against other types of cancer as well). Additionally, since I3C is derived from a natural source, it would have fewer side effects than traditional treatments, as well.

Via PhsyOrg

DIY cereal box Spectrometer

AN FILMS LLC

Satisfy your scientific curiosity and your craving for some Frosted Flakes. Editor Mike Haney shows you how to use an old cereal box and a CD to build a device that reveals the hidden rainbow inside any light source. Find more examples of DIY spectrometers over at Wikipedia.

911 Carrera S PDK Cabriolet Tested

Now With PDK - As in Pretty Damn, er ... Kwik

By Angus MacKenzie

Photography by Brian Vance

Trivia alert: Porsche did not invent the dual-clutch transmission. A French engineer, Adolphe Kegresse, who pioneered the half-track vehicle, envisioned the concept in the 1920s and 30s. Porsche did, however, become the first automaker to develop a working dual-clutch tranny, the PDK (Porsche Dopplkupplung), which it fitted to its 962 group C sports racers in 1985 and 86.

That original PDK transmission was heavy and not entirely reliable. But it's still difficult to explain why one of the technology's pioneers has been beaten to the punch by the likes of VW, Mitsubishi, and Nissan when it comes to putting a fast-shifting dual-clutch transmission in a road car. The good news is Porsche's new seven-speed PDK has been worth the wait. It is -- mostly -- sensational.

The PDK helps make the 911 faster. Compared with the regular six speed manual, Porsche claims it knocks two-tenths of a second off the 0-60 mph sprint in Sport mode, and four-tenths of a second in Sport Plus mode. Those claims look solid. Blessed with 30 extra horses -- courtesy of the new DI 3.8L flat six slung out back -- our PDK-equipped Carrera S Cabrio scorched to 60 mph in 3.9 sec., half a second faster than our much-missed, conventional transmissioned 2005 Carrera S Coupelong termer, despite carrying an extra 221 lb (66 lb of which is the PDK tranny). That's deeply impressive: We can't think of another fully crashworthy, mass-produced road car with less than 400 hp that will dip into the threes in the 0-60 sprint.

The PDK also helps make the 911 economical. Official EPA numbers for the 2009 Carrera S Cabrio are 19 mpg city, and 26 mpg highway, an 11 and eight percent improvement, respectively, over the numbers for last year's Tiptronic-equipped S Cab.

The PDK really is an intelligent transmission. Left to its own devices in automatic mode, it quickly figures out how you're driving, and adjusts accordingly. Loaf around town, and the tranny starts shuffling seamlessly between ratios from as little as 1600 rpm: You can find yourself riding in 5th at as little as 28 mph, and 7th at just 48 mph. Out on the highway, that tall top gear means the 3.8L boxer six is turning a lazy 1650 rpm at 60 mph. Switch modes, and the transmission switches moods immediately -- upshifts happen at about 3200 rpm in Sport mode, and a rowdy 6800 rpm in Sport Plus mode, no matter how much you soft-shoe the gas.

Despite huge improvements in suspension and tire technology, driving a 911 quickly is still all about finding the right balance through turns. Here, the PDK transmission comes into its own, its razor-sharp shifts -- particularly in full-commando Sport Plus mode -- minimizing unsettling weight transfers at critical transition points. Even in automatic mode the transmission will not allow upshifts before turns should you lift off the gas, and won't upshift mid-turn until you reach the 7200 rpm redline.

Naturally, the PDK allows Launch Control. The protocol is pretty simple: Select Sport Plus mode; hold your left foot on the brake; mash the gas -- the engine will rev to 6500 rpm and hold; step off the brake. And that's it. We did 10 launch control starts in a row -- our fastest time came on the eighth run -- without a whiff of expensively toasted clutch or unseemly slippage. It feels utterly bulletproof.

So what's not to like about the 911 PDK? Actually, it's the simplest damn thing in the whole set up: the paddle shifters. For some reason Porsche has opted for a system that in manual mode requires you to push the either of the left or right hand spoke-mounted buttons forward to shift up, and back to shift down. It's not only far less intuitive than the more commonly used right hand side for upshifts, and left hand side for downshifts arrangement, but the buttons are more difficult to use than the wand-type levers you find in, say, a Ferrari if the steering wheel is cranked off-center.

For a company as driver focused as Porsche, it's an elemental, almost unforgivable error.

2009 PORSCHE 911 S CABRIOLET
Base price	$96,800
Price as tested	$119,925
Vehicle layout	Rear engine, RWD, 4-pass, 2-door convertible
Engine	3.8L/385-hp/310-lb-ft DOHC 24-valve H-6
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch automatic
Curb weight (dist, f/r)	3496 lb (38/62%)
Wheelbase	92.5 in
Length x width x height	175.6 x 71.2 x 51.2 in
0-60 mph	3.9 sec
Quarter mile	12.3 sec @ 113.2 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph	102 ft
Lateral acceleration	0.98 g (avg)
MT figure eight	25.0 sec @ 0.76 g (avg)
EPA city/hwy fuel econ	19/26 mpg
CO2 emissions	0.90 lb/mile

Who Wants Police Academy 8? Anybody? Just You, Guttenberg?

by Stuart Heritage

The Police Academy movies were from a simpler time - a time when a man could make a noise like a toaster with his mouth and people thought it was good.

Of course, times have moved on since then - but nobody tell Steve Guttenberg. Guttenberg has decided that he’s ready to make Police Academy 8, even though that would obviously be the worst idea that any human has ever had.

Oh, and also Steve Guttenberg says he’s making another Three Men And A Baby movie, too. And Steve Guttenberg has forgotten to take his medicine. And he needs a lie down.

Alright everyone, it’s time to stop this belated sequel madness. Sylvester Stallone returning to make Rocky Balboa was actually a fairly decent idea. Harrison Ford returning to make Indiana Jones 4 was a stupid idea. Arnold Schwarzenegger thinking about Predator 3 is beyond a stupid idea. Steven Seagal wanting to make Under Siege 3 is - well, actually Steven Seagal wanting to make Under Siege 3 is a brilliant idea, but only if it can be set in space like he wants.

But Steve Guttenberg wanting to make Police Academy 8? Why? What possible reason could there ever be on the face of the earth for that to happen? What, did Police Academy 7: Mission To Moscow leave any questions unanswered, other than the obvious ‘Why do I feel the compulsive urge to run home and scrub myself clean the second I’ve finished watching this?’

And yet Police Academy 8 is happening. Or at least it’s happening in Steve Guttenberg’s mind, which is slightly different to real life because in his mind Steve Guttenberg is still famous, people still care about anything Steve Guttenberg has to say and the national anthem of the entire planet is the full four-minute theme-tune to the Commodore 64 videogame adaptation of Short Circuit.

But, yes, Steve Guttenberg is really getting a script together for Police Academy 8. And it’ll reunite all the old gang, too - Steve Guttenberg, the man who makes the funny noises with his mouth, the short lady, the dead one with the guns, the unusually tall man, the sexy one with the big boobs who’ll be a pensioner by the time Police Academy 8 ever gets made - even the two actresses for which the Police Academy movies were an unfortunate blip on the path to bigger and better things, as Empire reports:

“We are doing a new movie and it is going to be great fun. A script is being written and so far it is really great, everyone from the original movies who is still around will return. I know Kim [Cattrall, who starred in the original] and Sharon [Stone, the love interest of Police Academy 4: Citizens On Patrol] have been asked but they haven’t said yes yet. It would be really great to have them on board.”

They haven’t said yes yet? Is that because they were too busy shouting “Hey Guttenberg, I’m not going to tell you again! If you don’t get off my lawn immediately I’ll have you arrested! And put some clothes on, for crying out loud!”? Maybe we’ll never know.

As well as Police Academy 8, Steve Guttenberg seems convinced that he’s going to re-team with Ted Danson and Tom Selleck to make a third Three Men And A Baby movie too. But why stop there, Steve? Why not make a new Short Circuit movie where Johnny 5 starts a bloody turf war with a family of Honda Asimos? Or another Cocoon starring Jessica Tandy’s corpse and the ghost of your film career? Huh? Huh, Steve? Huh?

Former Playboy Playmate Vanessa Carbone Stages Naked Protest Against Japanese Whaling

Written by Andrew Williams

Former playboy playmate Vanessa Carbone has staged an unconventional protest against Japanese whaling, by holding a naked demonstration outside the Japanese embassy in Santiago, Chile (pictures).

The Argentinian model was among a group of protesters demanding that the Chilean government create a whale sanctuary in the country’s territorial waters. Stripped down to nothing more than a skimpy thong, she unsurprisingly drew the most attention from passers-by.

>> See also: Green Celebs: Playboy Playmates Lose the Bunny Tail For PETA

Under existing international law, Japan is prevented from killing whales for commercial activities, but is allowed to hunt a specified number each year for so called ’scientific purposes.’

Although unconventional, it’s likely that Carbone’s actions will help to significantly increase the spotlight on the activities of the Japanese whaling fleet - and on their opponents, who say the Japanese are seeking to re-commence commercial whaling activities by stealth.

Image Credit - svensonsan via flickr.com on a Creative Commons license

Foreclosures Soar 76% to 1.35 Million

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A record 1.35 million homes were in foreclosure in the third quarter, driving the foreclosure rate up to 2.97%, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Friday.

That's a 76% increase from a year ago, according to the group's National Delinquency Survey.

At the same time, the number of homeowners falling behind on their mortgages rose to a record 6.99%, up from 5.59% a year ago, the association said. Many of those troubled borrowers are in California and Florida, which have among the highest delinquency rates in the nation.

The weakened economy and mounting job losses are expected to push that number even higher. And that will likely affect homeowners with prime, fixed-rate mortgages, which make up the vast majority of loans and have so far held up fairly well. Until now, much of the housing market's problems were concentrated in the subprime, adjustable-rate market, where homeowners with weak financial backgrounds got loans they ultimately couldn't afford.

"We have not gone into past recessions with the housing market as weak as it is now, so it is likely that a much higher percentage of delinquencies caused by job losses will go to foreclosure than we have seen in the past," said Jay Brinkmann, MBA's chief economist.

Unemployment soared to 6.7% as payrolls shrunk 533,000 in November, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday. It was the largest monthly job loss in 34 years, and brought the year's total job losses to 1.9 million.

The number of homes going into foreclosure in 2008 is on track to hit 2.2 million, Brinkmann said.

Modification efforts evident

The percentage of homes starting the foreclosure process in the third quarter actually inched down to 1.07% from 1.08% a year ago. But that's due at least in part to the fact that some states have instituted foreclosure moratoriums in order to give troubled borrowers a chance to get the loans modified.

But this is just delaying the inevitable for many, and could push up the foreclosure rate even more in coming quarters. For instance, Massachusetts, which instituted such a moratorium earlier this year, saw a large drop in foreclosures during its moratorium and then a big increase the following quarter, Brinkmann said.

But the foreclosure moratoriums and foreclosure prevention efforts have pushed up the number of loans 90 days or more late to their highest level ever. But this might not be as dire as it sounds, Brinkmann said. Many of the one million homeowners who fall into this category may never go into foreclosure if a more affordable mortgage can be arranged.

Another hint of good news in Friday's report is that the number of borrowers one month behind in payments remained fairly steady at 3.39%. This remains below levels seen during the last recession in 2001, Brinkmann said.

As for 2009, it all depends on whether the economy recovers, he said.

"Absent a recession, the 2009 number would likely have fallen by several hundred thousand but the effects of job losses and general economic deterioration make the 2009 outlook worse, particularly if mortgage problems become more widespread," Brinkmann said.

The report is based on 45.5 million mortgages, about 85% of the total number of first mortgages nationwide.

Honda and Acura and Audi pull out of ALMS/F1

TOKYO/INGOLSTADT, Germany — Saying it was "an extremely difficult decision," Honda announced on Friday it is withdrawing from all Formula 1 activities in the wake of the global financial crisis. Separately, Audi announced that it will not run a factory team in the 2009 American Le Mans Series.

Honda Motor president and CEO Takeo Fukui blamed the economy. "This difficult decision has been made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry, brought on by the sub-prime problem in the United States, the deepening credit crisis and the sudden contraction of the world economies," he said in a statement.

Honda said it is "offering the team for sale." "We will enter into consultation with the associates of Honda Racing F1 Team and its engine supplier Honda Racing Development," Fukui said.

Honda has participated in Formula 1 races from the 2000 season. It began running a solely Honda-owned team in 2006.

Meanwhile, Audi promised to continue its efforts in the Sebring 12 Hours next March as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France next June. The company said it had decided to focus on the R15 TDI sport prototype racing car that it is preparing for Le Mans and the R8 LMS that it is offering for customers to race in GT3 series. Audi did not directly blame economic conditions for the decision.

Inside Line says: Who's next?

1.9 Million Jobs Lost

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The economy shed 533,000 jobs in November, according to a government report Friday - bringing the year's total job losses to 1.9 million.

November had the largest monthly job loss total since December 1974.

"This is a dismal jobs report," said Keith Hall, commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at a congressional hearing. "There's very little in this report that's positive. This is maybe one of the worst jobs reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics (founded in 1884) has ever produced."

The just-under 1.9 million jobs lost in the current recession, which began in December 2007, surpasses the 1.6 million jobs lost in the 2001 recession. That's noteworthy, because jobs were cut in droves in 2001 during the dot.com bust, which followed a white-hot employment market during the tech boom of the late 1990s.

But the job market expansion leading out of the previous recession was drawn out and tepid, so the jobs are being lost now are more at the core of the nation's economy - a perilous sign.

According to the Labor Department's monthly jobs report, the unemployment rate rose to 6.7% from 6.5% in October. Though lower than economists' forecast of 6.8%, it was the highest unemployment rate since October 1993. The rate is compiled in a separate survey from the payroll number.

Revisions

Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast a loss of 325,000 jobs in the month.

Revisions to the two prior months brought more dismal news. October's job loss was revised up to 320,000 from 240,000, and September was revised up to 403,000.

The revisions brought the 3-month job loss total to 1.3 million. That's equal to two-thirds of this year's total job losses and the third highest three-month job loss total since World War II.

November's report provided the first glimpse at how employers reacted after the peak of the credit crisis, reached in mid-October. With credit largely unavailable and expensive, consumers scaled back their spending, dragging down manufacturing and construction businesses.

Travel has also been trimmed, with would-be vacationers opting to stay close to home.

Job losses were spread across a wide variety of industries: manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, construction and even, in the midst of the holiday shopping season, retail.

Also seeing sharp declines were professional and business services, a category seen by some economists as a proxy for overall economic activity, and financial services, at the heart of the current crisis, financial services.

Deeper cuts likely to come

With the economy in a recession and most economic indicators signaling even more difficult times ahead, economists say job losses will likely deepen and continue through at least the first half of 2009.

Citing weak economic conditions, a slew of large-scale job-cut announcements came this week. On Thursday alone, AT&T (T, Fortune 500), DuPont (DD, Fortune 500), Viacom (VIA), Credit Suisse (CS) and Avis (CAR, Fortune 500) issued statements that totaled nearly 23,000 jobs lost, most of which will take place over the next several months.

According to a report by outsourcing agency Challenger, Gray & Christmas, planned job cut announcements by U.S. employers soared to 181,671 last month, the second-highest total on record.

Temporary employment, including workers employed by temp agencies, fell by 100,700 jobs last month, the highest on records that go back to 1985. That could mean even more full-time payroll reductions to come, as employers often cut temporary workers before they begin cutting permanent staff.

Tig Gilliam, chief executive of placement agency Adecco, the nation's third-largest employment agency, said employers are trying to position their companies to weather the ever-intensifying economic storm.

"CEOs are trying to get their businesses better positioned for the start of the year so they're not constantly chasing the slowdown" he said. "December will be another very tough month."

In another sign of weakness, a growing number of workers were unable to find jobs with the amount of hours they want to work. Those working part-time jobs - because they couldn't find full-time work, or their hours had been cut back due to slack conditions - jumped by 621,000 people to 7.3 million, the highest ever on records that date back to 1955.

The so-called under-employment rate, which counts those part-time workers, as well as those without jobs who have become discouraged and stopped looking for work, soared to 12.5% from from 11.8%, setting the all-time high for that measure since calculations for it began in January 1994.

But there was hiring in some economic sectors last month. Government hiring has stayed strong throughout the downturn, adding another 7,000 jobs in November. Education and health services also grew payrolls, which grew by 52,000 employees.

The average hourly work week fell to 33.5 hours last month. Economists expected the workweek to hold at October's level of 33.6 hours. But with a modest 7-cent gain in the average hourly salary, the average weekly paycheck rose by 52 cents to $613.05.

Obama: Time for stimulus

With 2008 already the worst year for jobs since 1982 and on pace to become the worst since 1945 - and second worst on records that date back to 1939 - support for a second stimulus package to boost the job market has grown among economists and lawmakers.

The prior stimulus package in the spring sent tax rebate checks to millions of tax filers. It helped the economy grow in the second quarter, but it did little to stem the tide of job loss in the country.

But the proposed stimulus package, supported by President-elect Barack Obama, would focus on aid states and municipalities as well as consumers, adding millions of infrastructure jobs for Americans.

"Our economy has already lost nearly 2 million jobs during this recession, which is why we need an Economic Recovery Plan that will save or create at least 2.5 million more jobs over two years," said Obama in a statement. "There are no quick or easy fixes to this crisis, which has been many years in the making, and it's likely to get worse before it gets better."

Experts say a two-part stimulus package is the right way to stem the tide of mounting job losses.

"First, you have to get consumers to spend, since 70% of the GDP is tied to consumer spending, and then you need job stimulus like highway projects to maintain economic job growth," said Gilliam. "This number is so bad that Obama will have to do something drastic soon."

In the meantime, Bush administration officials say the priority remains restoring liquidity to the financial system.

"We have to get the job done that we can while we have time left in office, and that is restoring credit," Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez told CNNMoney.com. "This is the key first step to restoring growth and restoring jobs."

The White House echoed the Commerce secretary.

"We need to focus on the causes of the economic downturn in order to reverse this trend in job creation, said Dana Perino, White House press secretary. "We intend to continue our aggressive efforts to restore health to our credit and housing markets."

Alfa 8C up on Ebay!

Earlier this week we brought you news of the first Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione delivered to a U.S. customer. Now one of the 84 sports cars destined for the States has already popped up on eBay. This rare example of Italian elegance has a current bid of $200,000. At that price it is still below the reserve and well below its $292,985 base price. However, a lot could happen in the auction's remaining seven days. The car's options include the "Competizione" red metallic paint, full twisted leather trim, Schedoni matching luggage set, carbon kit, Alfa shields, Premium Bose stereo with iPod connection, a car cover, and floormats. The 8C marks Alfa first return to the U.S. market place since 1995. It is possibly the most beautiful two-seat GT on the market. It shares a platform with the Maserati Gran Turismo and its 4.7-liter V-8 is similar to the sweet sounding units in the Gran Turismo S and Ferrari F430. Source: eBay

The Top 7 Most Ridiculous Car Accessories

Car makers go to great strides to offer the latest in useful gadgetry and customization options in their cars. For whatever reason, some people out there feel like those manufacturers just didn’t take it far enough. These misguided souls ravenously seek gear to put in, on, and around their cars - perhaps in hopes of standing out in the crowd. But it’s pretty doubtful that the kind of attention these accessories get is the sort they’re seeking.

by Brad Iger

The following article does not represent the opinions of Spike TV or its affiliates.

7. French Fry Cup Holder

At what point does unhinged gluttony hit critical mass? If French fries have been such a staple in your daily routine that you need a device for your car designed specifically to chow down on the go, it might be time to reevaluate your dieting habits. Here’s a great holiday gift for the guy who in the senior yearbook who was voted “Most Likely to Get Diabetes.”

6. Neon Anything

Okay, seriously – what is the appeal here? Are you pretending your car is a spaceship? A flying saucer from the planet Auto Zone? To me, it just looks like a hoopty with a bunch of raver paraphernalia glued to it. I mean, I like Tron as much as the next guy, but a Scion is not a lightcycle, and the amount of neon crap you put on it is inversely proportional to its cool factor.

5. Fake Hood Scoops

Forty years ago, hood scoops were totally badass. By putting a vent in the hood to catch cold air, the engine could create more power by colder, denser air forced into the engine via the carburetor mounted atop the engine. Not only did it serve a purpose, it looked awesome.

That was then. Your typical modern air induction systems pull in air from the fender wall instead of from the center of the engine bay. So now, hood scoops are in nearly all cases, totally useless. Which is why most modern ones are fake – simply a plugged vent on the hood or, even worse: a fake scoop that is actually glued on top of a normal hood. For shame.

4. TVs

Can someone tell me who thought it was a good idea to put TVs into cars? This guy needs a donkey punch of biblical proportions. When you’re piloting a 2 ton chunk of metal at high speeds, the last thing you should doing is catching up on season 3 of Heroes. This is brain surgery compared to talking on the phone while driving. And we wonder why traffic sucks all the time. Turn off the TV and drive.

3. Lambo Doors

Back in the '80s, crazy doors were all the rage because of cars like the Delorean and the Countach, which looked new and futuristic at time. Now, even Lamborghini is over it. But some people still haven’t gotten the message.

More than anything, I just can’t figure out what the draw is here. This makes getting into and out of your car ten times more of a pain in the ass because now you not only need clearance on the side of your car, but also above it as well.

That’ll be a fun conversation to have on a first date. And that’s aside from the fact that Lambo doors look laughably ridiculous on anything other than a Lamborghini.

2. Spinners

Ridin' Spinners | Wheels | SPIKE.com

THEY SPINNIN’, THEYYYY SPINNIN’!!!

Ya dude, they’re spinning. It’s blowing my mind.

Actually, what’s blowing my mind is how much money you wasted on those gimmicky wheels. Call me crazy, but putting $5,000 rims on a $1,500 car seems like top shelf stupidity. Trying to draw attention away from the fact that you drive a clapped-out ’89 Buick Riviera by slapping big shiny things on it seems less effective than just buying a nicer car.

1. Whistle Tips

Bubb Rubb Explains Whistle Tips | Viral | SPIKE.com

When this little piece of metal started getting welded to mufflers, it really became a metaphor for just how far narcissism within modern society could go. Mercifully a pretty short-lived trend, the whistle tip is without a doubt the most ridiculous automotive accessory ever conceived.

Having no practical function, the whistle tip’s sole purpose was to annoy people. I suppose in that regard it was pretty brilliant, since all it does is emit a loud, constant, screeching whistling sound from the muffler while the car is in motion. Good times.