Here are a few of CNET Reviews' favorite items from the past week, including the 2011 BMW 535i, the Sony BDV-E770W home theater system, and the Apple Magic Trackpad.
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Saturday, July 31, 2010
Daft Punk's Tron Legacy Score Leaked
How many times have we heard about Daft Punk's music getting leaked? At this point it's really starting to get ridiculous but that doesn't stop people from uploading raw material online and claiming that it’s been taken directly from the group. Several tracks have been posted via alexdraft26. Link to the tracks in the second paragraph.
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In Maine Village, Lobster Goes Briskly; Traffic, No
Traffic near a seafood shack is so infamous, officials approved $100 million to build a bypass around the town.
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Boy Scouts Seek a Way to Rebuild Ranks
The group is working to redefine itself amid falling numbers, a push for diversity and a knock on the door from girls.
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“We Remain Committed To Promotion Of Economic Growth”, Says Fashola Posted: 30 Jul 2010 04:39 AM PDT
Says Engineers have been critical partners in infrastructural renewal
Jul 29, 2010 – Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Thursday restated the commitment of his administration to eradicate poverty in the State by promoting economic growth to better the life of the citizenry.
Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Lagos House, Alausa while playing host to the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE) who paid him a courtesy visit, said his administration, in the last three years, has pursued that commitment by choosing the strategy of infrastructural renewal and development across the State.
The Governor, who explained that this strategy informed the massive construction of roads, schools, hospitals and public utilities that is going on in the State today, adding, “Some of the critical stakeholders and partners we have found along the way in the implementation of that strategy have been engineers”.
“As a result of that partnership, I believe that our Government has been able to keep many engineering firms in business, to keep their employees at work and to also handshake with the ordinary man in the street who is either a labourer at the construction site, a supplier of goods, sand, cement and all the engineering components that are used to develop these infrastructure”, the Governor said.
He added, “The consequence of this is massive economic boom, keeping people at work, putting food on tables and this is as a result of the very strategic partnership with institutions like the engineers. We see this visit, therefore, as a meeting to strengthen that partnership and it is a welcome meeting”.
Describing Engineering as “a most fascinating profession”, Governor Fashola declared, “I have been personally fascinated by it as I continuously see man and nature at war; man using his knowledge to conquer and control nature”, adding that although nature wins sometimes, man has recorded many victories over nature.
“We can shorten travel time and avoid distances that take several hours to travel. Okota Link Bridge is one of the successes of man over nature”, the Governor said adding that his administration will always welcome advices and suggestions, especially from relevant professional bodies, that will help in achieving greater successes in Government projects.
Thanking all those whose advises and suggestions have contributed positively in the infrastructural renewal project in the State, Governor Fashola noted, “Many of these advises and suggestions that have been sent to us by the people, including engineers, have informed some of our Executive Orders that have been issued earlier in the life of this administration about the designs and the dimensions of all our roads in terms of amending the designs to provide pedestrian walkways, to cater for people who are physically challenged and to ensure that all the roads we build now have concrete sub-base so that the roads can give us longer life and value for the money we spend”.
Governor Fashola reiterated his call for a quick solution to the power problem in the country saying the only way to move the process of development faster is through automation which most critical component, he said, is electricity.
“We have found ourselves as a Government having to respond to increasing demands, the population continues to rise. Our ability to remain efficient requires that we create and commit more time to automation. What we used to do manually 20 years ago for 200 people may now have to process for 10, 000 people”, the Governor said adding that “these are some of the things that explain the seeming frustrations that things are not moving quickly”.
Governor Fashola explained that the State’s Ministry of Works and Infrastructure is not just involved in building project, but “has remained and, for the foreseeable future, will remain the consultant to Government on every project that involves construction, including all the street lights, traffic signs and all of the information concerning the projects”.
“They scrutinize the projects where they did not originate it. They advise on the cost; they advise on the location and so on”, the Governor said adding, however, that Government “will always welcome suggestions as how to make things better”.
On the allegation that some local governments in the State are using non-professional engineers as officer in their councils, Governor Fashola, who promised to investigate and correct the anomaly if found to be true, however, said Government is also partnering with other engineering bodies such as the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Council of Registered Engineers in the work being done in the State.
“One of the things we have done is to get the local governments as a body to engage the Society of Engineers to provide consultancy services for them in the infrastructure projects they are doing across the State and they have been involved in monitoring to ensure that the proper thing is done”, the Governor explained.
He thanked the Institution for partnering with his administration in the on-going infrastructural renewal across the State. He also thanked the Institution for the recognition given to a member of the State Executive Council and Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru who was awarded Fellow of the Institution pointing out that it is recognition of the efforts of the administration in touching lives.
Earlier, National Chairman of the Institution, Engineer Ade Omopeloye who led a delegation of the Council members said the visit was to express appreciation to the Governor for all he did for the Institution both before becoming Governor and after including the appointment of its members into his Government at both the Cabinet and Permanent Secretary levels.
He said the visit was also to formally invite the Governor to the Institution’s meeting coming up in Lagos in September in order to receive an award from the Institution in recognition and appreciation of his administration’s “valuable use of available Civil Engineers in the service” to accomplish the mass Transformation, Innovation and Infrastructural Development in the Lagos Metropolis.
Alleging that some local governments in the State are making use of non-professional engineers in their employ in carrying out projects, the Chairman pleaded, “We like to inform your Excellency to make remote use of the Engineering Regulation and Monitoring arm not in the Civil Engineering alone but in all the Divisions; Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, Chemical etc”.
Also present at the occasion were the State Commissioner for Watefront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, Permanent Secretary Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engnr. Olukayode Buraimoh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Engnr. Paul Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, other members of Council of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers and other top government functionaries.
Source: tundefashola.com
Vettel flying in second practice in Hungary
Sebastian Vettel again dominated practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix although Fernando Alonsoupset the Red Bull applecart somewhat by taking second from Mark Webber.
Vettel's headline time at the Hungaroring was a minute 20.087 seconds, almost half a second quicker than that of Ferrari's Alonso.
Red Bull looked set to camp in the top two spots throughout the final 70 minutes, as they had the last hour of free practice one - but Alonso found 0.013s on Webber as the drivers switched to the faster, super-soft rubber in the second half of the session.
Alonso was the only driver capable of threatening Red Bull's hard-tyre benchmarks, set relatively early on, while on softs - with evenFelipe Massa in the other Ferrari 0.899s down on the pace-setter by the end.
Webber then came out on his own option tyres and laid down a 1:20.597 before German Vettel appeared to storm to his lightning-quick lap-time.
The gap from the Milton Keynes squad's drivers to the closest competitors was 0.7s for most of the run-out. While far from encouraging, that was an improvement on the one-second advantage they imposed in the morning.
There was little incident in the afternoon. Renault showed their pace with fifth for rookie Vitaly Petrov - whose future the French marque are presently considering - and seventh for Robert Kubica.
Driver's championship leader Lewis Hamilton improved hugely from his 18th-place morning showing to separate them.
His McLaren team-mate Jenson Button - second in the standings - was ninth as the Woking team sought to close the gap on Red Bull. The Britons were 1.221s and 1.643s off Vettel's time respectively.
Nico Hulkenberg of Williams was ahead of reigning champion Button in the timesheets. Michael Schumacher followed in 10th with Mercedes team-mate and fellow German Nico Rosberg 13th.
Heikki Kovalainen ended the session bottom, behind the Virgins and Hispanias, as a hydraulics problem on his Lotuslimited him to five laps of running.
There was little improvement by anyone in the final 20 minutes as the teams ran heavy fuel loads with Sunday's race in mind.
Turner claims gold in 110m hurdles Eurosport - Fri, 30 Jul 20:02:00 2010
Andy Turner - dropped from lottery funding last year - followed in the footsteps of four-time winner Colin Jackson to claim the 110m hurdles title at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona.
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Turner was just outside his personal best as he clocked 13.28 seconds to claim Britain's third gold of the championships, with France's Garfield Darien and Hungary's Daniel Kiss completing the podium.
Top ranked European Petr Svoboda was left in tears after clattering a succession of late hurdles, allowing Turner to draw level and then accelerate away. The Czech athlete faded to finish a distant sixth.
"It's a dream come true for me, I knew I was capable but producing it when you need to is another thing," said Turner.
"I got emotional on the lap of honour because it's been a hard couple of years but I love the sport and this is reward for that.
"I was just so happy. It's been a tough two years but I've been chipping away and working really hard and after all those lows you get this.
"You forget about those lows at a time like this, I'm lost for words.
"The funding issue was difficult but I love track and field I love what I do and I just wanted to prove to myself that I could come here and produce the goods.
"I wasn't even in the mix for a medal coming here and look at this."
However, there was disappointment for Turner's team-mate Will Sharman, a finalist at last year's World Championships, who fell victim to the new no-mercy false start rule.
Sharman seemed to be set off early by Poland's twitching Dominik Bochenek, paying the price for his sluggish first round performance with a lane eight draw.
"This new rule is horrible, it's a nightmare. It's a lack of discipline on my part but I felt like it was a long hold," said Sharman.
"I don't ever predict the gun but that's the rules. There is no uniform hold - I've been racing on the circuit all season and the holds are all different.
"I felt the athlete to my left distracted me and I reacted. Once I'd lost my balance I couldn't hold myself.
"I'm very frustrated because I feel in the shape of my life. I'd like to apologise to everyone at home who has supported me.
"I was prioritising these championship over the Commonwealth Games but I'm looking to Delhi now."
Emily Freeman ran a season's best 23.21 seconds in her 200m semi-final but only placed fifth as Russia's Aleksandra Fedoriva advanced to Saturday's final as the most impressive qualifier.
Freeman has been battling injuries all-season and with both legs heavily strapped, it was clear two races in the space of just a few hours - when she has only previously run five times all season - was too much.
"I would have been happier if it was a bit quicker but it's an improvement. Every race I'm improving so I can't ask for more," she said.
"From what I have been through I'm happy to have improved. I've got a smile on my face and a seasons best.
"To run twice on one day was tough but everything is holding up."
Freeman also confirmed she would not compete at October's Commonwealth Games in order to focus on getting fit for next year's World Championships in Daegu.
Premier League - Wenger urges Cesc to stay Reuters - Fri, 30 Jul 18:30:00 2010
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has continued to deflect Barcelona's interest in his Spanish skipperCesc Fabregas by urging him to stay at the club and help them win the Premier League title in the coming season.
"There is a good attitude in the squad and Cesc Fabregas can help us to achieve our targets," Wenger said ahead of this weekend's pre-season four-team Emirates Cup which they are hosting.
"He is now at an age, 23 and he has just won the World Cup and I believe he will gain in authority again next season - the biggest achievement for him is to help us win the championship.
"I have always said that Cesc Fabregas will be our captain next season and we want to keep him, and despite all the speculation for the whole of last season and this summer nothing has changed."
Fabregas has been courted relentlessly by Barcelona where he was part of the Catalan club's youth programme, and the player admitted on Thursday he was torn between staying at Arsenal and returning to the Nou Camp.
Barcelona made a £29 million bid for him last month but Wenger reiterated on Friday that Arsenal were not prepared to negotiate and said he expects Fabregas to remain a Gunner.
He also dismissed the fact that Fabregas was forced to wear a Barca shirt by his celebrating Spanish team mates after their World Cup final victory as nothing more than high jinks.
"It was part of celebrations - you can understand things like that when you are friends, it has nothing to do with his behaviour or his attitude. He has always said he is committed to the club and he has always shown it.
"Look at the length of his contract and there is five or six years to go I think. That means when we sign a contract for a long period we are committed to that player no matter what happens, to pay him and to keep him."
In an interview with Catalan style magazine DIR Emotions published on Thursday, Fabregas said: "I'm a Barca fan, I'm a club member, as is my grandfather, my uncle, my cousin... I have had the colours in my blood from a young age, I'm Catalan.
"However, I'm the captain of Arsenal, I'm a 'Gunner'," he added. "And I have become a player there and matured as a person."
Fabregas joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2003 and has matured at the club, making 267 appearances and scoring 48 goals in all competitions.
Fabregas is due to return to the club after the World Cup on August 5 and will not play in this weekend's tournament which comprises Arsenal, Celtic, Milan and Lyon
Friday, July 30, 2010
Is '3 Idiots' a must watch movie?
by Archita Arora
Aamir
Khan starrer comedy-drama "3 Idiots" has created a record by grossing
over Rs.100 crore in its first four days. Reliance BIG Entertainment,
distributor of the film, released about 2,000 prints across 40 countries.
Based on Chetan Bhagat's bestseller "Five Point Someone", the film
has been produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and directed by Rajkumar Hirani.
"We are privileged to have been associated with '3 idiots' and its
immensely talented team led by Vinod, Aamir and Raju. The ramp-up to Rs. 100
crore in 4 days is phenomenal and we are confident that the film will continue
to blaze new records in the weeks to come,"
"Response has been overwhelming from all over the world. Aamir, Raju and I
knew from the responses earlier on that people liked the film but this is
something else? We have got reports from places like Australia that they have
reduced 'Avatar' shows and increased ours."
"'3 Idiots' is the highest grossing Hindi film ever in Australia on its
opening weekend. Similarly in the US, I have been given to understand that '3
Idiots' would be highest ever for a Hindi film,"
The paid previews of the movie also garnered over Rs.9 crore worldwide, above
those of the paid preview collections of "Ghajini" that was Rs.7
crore globally.
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S.E.C. Charges Billionaire Dallas Brothers With Securities Fraud
The two Dallas billionaires, large donors to conservative causes, were charged with an extensive securities fraud.
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Taliban Exploit Openings in Neglected Province
Deprived of jobs and government services, people in Baghlan Province are turning to the Taliban for speedy justice and work.
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Added to the Recall List: Millions of Frozen Mice
Salmonella outbreaks that sickened more than 400 in the U.S. and Britain have been traced to mice sold as food for exotic pets.
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NYC: The Clintons, Quiet About the Wedding? What Torture!
The secrecy around Chelsea Clinton’s wedding has led to frenetic attempts to puncture the family’s new reticence.
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Facebook's IPO stalling: Are we even still surprised?
A report from Bloomberg brings the shocking news that Facebook will not go public next year. Is the social network's repeated shying from an IPO more of a statement than anything else?
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