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Spaghetti Bowl Ramps Reopen in Las Vegas Following Magnitude 4.8 Quake

May 23, 2015 By Lorenzo Tanos

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Spaghetti Bowl Ramps Reopen in Las Vegas Following Magnitude 4.8 QuakeLas Vegas was jolted Friday morning by a magnitude 4.8 earthquake, which resulted in Spaghetti Bowl interchanges getting closed for several hours.

It was only in the afternoon when the Nevada Department of Transportation declared roads safe for travel and reopened the closed interchanges.  Due to the closures, traffic was unusually heavy and, according to reports, “backed up for miles” following the quake.  “The joint damage was pre-existing,” said NDOT engineer Mary Martini. “The temblor simply dislodged the protective rubber encasing the bridge seam making it look much worse than it was in reality” and prompting an immediate shutdown of the ramps.”  She added that the ramps are still structurally sound despite the loose rubber casing.

The earthquake struck at 11:47 a.m. local time Friday, and was centered approximately 23 miles south-southwest of Caliente.  Earlier reports had stated the intensity was 5.4, but the figure was lowered twice later in the day.  There have been no reports of flight disruptions at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport, while establishments such as Circus Circus and the Las Vegas Monorail were not affected by the quake.

Reports suggest that the quake was felt as far away as San Diego and Salt Lake City, while USGS data shows that there were four notable aftershocks felt between 12:05 p.m. and 12:58 p.m., with magnitudes between 2.5 and 3.8.

Filed Under: World

Pirate Bay Trolls the Courts with New Logo Design

May 20, 2015 By Lorenzo Tanos

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Pirate Bay Trolls the Courts with New Logo DesignDespite all the controversy, as well as the recent raid by Swedish officials, The Pirate Bay is still alive and kicking.  That applies even if you consider that authorities did also shut down piratebay.s         e, the torrent site’s hometown domain.  And with that address having been shut down recently, it looks like The Pirate Bay wants to troll some authorities, having debuted a new logo this week.

If you visit the Pirate Bay website now, you’ll see a many-headed hydra serving as the new logo.  The symbolism of the hydra is the myth that it can’t be killed, no matter how hard you try.  And if you look closely, the hydra’s “heads” have domain extensions next to them – these are .am (Armenia), .gd (Grenada), .la (Laos), .mn (Mongolia), and .gs (South Georgia – neither the state nor the country, but a British territory).

Meanwhile, a ruling from a Stockholm court provided more damning evidence against Pirate Bay.  “The District Court’s conclusion is that the domain names are property that can be forfeited,” read the ruling. “(Co-founder) Fredrik Neij has participated in the [copyright infringement] crimes that have been identified and he is the actual holder of the domain names. It is therefore no obstacle to confiscate domain names from him. The prosecutor’s primary claim with respect to Fredrik Neij should be upheld and domain names should be confiscated from him in accordance with the Copyright Act.”

Filed Under: Tech

2016 Chevrolet Camaro Launched at Belle Isle – A Pony Car for Today’s Changed Times

May 17, 2015 By Lorenzo Tanos

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2016 Chevrolet Camaro Launched at Belle Isle - A Pony Car for Today’s Changed Times

c/o The Verge

General Motors unveiled on Saturday the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, the first sixth-generation model, and arguably one of the most different Camaros ever launched.  The car made its debut at a press event held in Belle Isle, in downtown Detroit.

Back in the day, it was “go big or go home” if you were a muscle car aficionado – the bigger and more powerful the engine, the better your ride was.  That was very seldom the case with the Chevrolet Camaro, though this General Motors entry to the pony car sweepstakes typically came with V8 base engines.  Today’s Camaro, however, is a radically different one, with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine serving as the base power plant.  GM claims that version will be capable of going over 30 mpg in highway driving.  Still, buyers can choose the Camaro SS trim, which comes with a 6.2-liter V8 engine that makes 455 horses.

Aside from the new fuel economy-centric powertrain selections, the 2016 Camaro is also substantially lighter than its predecessor, weighing 200 pounds less despite being longer and wider.  Its design, as teased in several promotional photos and Friday’s leaks, is both a tribute to the Camaros of the late ‘60s, and a more contemporary take on an iconic pony car.  Pricing has yet to be announced, but the outgoing model carries a base price of $24,700.

Indeed, it’s been decades since the original heyday of the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, Dodge Charger/Challenger, and other muscle cars and pony cars.  But despite the changing times, these cars still remain relevant, throwing back to the past but looking and feeling modern enough in more than a few ways.

Filed Under: Business, Tech

Clippers vs Rockets – “Hack-a-Shaq” Strategy Might Not Work on Jordan, Howard

May 11, 2015 By Lorenzo Tanos

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Clippers vs Rockets – "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy Might Not Work on Jordan, HowardIt’s been a time-honored tradition for teams to foul one of their opponent’s top players (usually) in the dying minutes of a close game, especially if the player is a horrible free throw shooter.  Since the latter designation applied to Shaquille O’Neal for all his career, the strategy was so named “Hack-a-Shaq,” though there have been name variations in the years since O’Neal’s heyday.  But since the Los Angeles Clippers (DeAndre Jordan) and Houston Rockets (Dwight Howard) both have terrible foul shooters, we’re going to stick with “Hack-a-Shaq” when talking about this late-game strategy, and how it’s played a role in the ongoing Clippers-Rockets playoff series.

Interestingly, Rockets coach Kevin McHale had complained about the Clippers’ Hack-a-Dwight/Hack-a-Shaq tactics, as the team’s strategy to keep fouling Howard in Game 2 wasn’t able to give the Clips the win.  In Game 4, however, McHale had his charges do the exact same thing against the Clippers’ Jordan, but mainly in the first half; as a result, Jordan took a whopping 28 free throw attempts in the first half.  He finished the game with an abysmal 14-for-34 showing from the line, but once again, Hack-a-Shaq didn’t work.  In fact, the Rockets were trounced 128-95 by the Clippers, as Jordan had a standout game despite the lousy foul shooting – he had 26 points and 17 rebounds, while Howard finished with just six points and six rebounds in 18 minutes, missing most of the game due to foul trouble.

As it appears, Hack-a-Shaq doesn’t seem like a very smart strategy after all, and that was pointed out on separate op-eds on The New York Times and The Washington Post.  The former publication cited statistics from the 1963-64 NBA season onwards, saying that in games where a player had 25 or more free throw attempts, the team getting sent to the line the most had won 50 out of 74 games.  And while it can be said that a lot of those games were won by teams boasting of standouts like Michael Jordan or Charles Barkley – neither of whom had problems from the line – the Times op-ed said that the strategy hasn’t been effective either when used on teams with poor free throw shooters.

One need only look at Jordan and Howard, both of whom have had three games where they attempted 25 or more free throws.  In both cases, their respective teams won all those games.  And the “namer” of Hack-a-Shaq himself, Shaquille O’Neal, saw his teams go 4-1 when he attempted 25 or more foul shots.  In the case of Wilt Chamberlain, the late NBA legend’s teams only went 5-4 when “The Big Dipper” attempted 25 or more free throws, though The New York Times did point out one notable instance where a truly horrible free throw shooting game still ended up with Chamberlain’s team on top.

That took place on December 12, 1967, when Chamberlain’s Philadelphia 76ers beat the Seattle SuperSonics, 118-107.  The Sonics had sent Chamberlain to the line 25 times, and he ended up making just six of those free throws – good for a truly laughable 24 percent clip.  Still, the Sixers beat the Sonics even with Chamberlain bricking it up from the line, as guard Hal Greer made up for that by scoring 38 points.

So is it really a bad idea to go “Hack-a-Shaq”-ing, knowing that the strategy only works about a third of a time, based on the above figures?  Given those stats, including those from the Clippers-Rockets series, it just might be.

Filed Under: Sports

Almost 600,000 Fords Recalled as NHTSA Pressure Intensifies

April 29, 2015 By Lorenzo Tanos

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Almost 600,000 Fords Recalled as NHTSA Pressure Intensifies With federal authorities applying more and more pressure on automakers, Ford announced today that it is recalling almost 600,000 vehicles in four separate recalls, with more than 80 percent of these cars and trucks being sent back due to steering gear bolt issues.

The largest recall involves 518,313 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ sedans from the 2013-15 model years and Ford Edge crossovers from 2015, and is related to steering gear bolts that could possibly break, corrode, or crack.  This would leave the car in manual steering, which could result in steering problems at slow speeds, and potential collisions.  No accidents or casualties have been reported in relation to this large-scale recall.

Three other smaller recalls were also announced today, including one involving 50,157 Ford Focus, Edge, Escape, and Transit Connect units from the 2014 model year, and Ford Fiestas from the 2014-15 model years.  These vehicles have problems with the nickel plating on the fuel pump that could cause the vehicles to stall or refuse to start.  One accident has been brought to Ford’s attention in connection to this issue.  Also, 22,616 2015 Lincoln MKZ sedans are being recalled for unusually bright parking lamps, and 91 2015 Ford F-150 pickups may be affected by improperly installed or missing underbody heat shields.  No accidents or casualties have been reported for the latter two recalls.

The recalls come on the heels of a recent workshop organized by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) administrator Mark Rosekind, where he expressed concern that automakers are not acting quick enough to address recalls and repair cars affected by these actions.  Earlier today, Rosekind told reporters that he will be going to Detroit on Thursday to meet personally with Ford, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles officials regarding safety issues.

Filed Under: Business, Tech

Supersize Me Director Morgan Spurlock to Direct Toyota Fuel Cell Ad

April 22, 2015 By Lorenzo Tanos

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Supersize Me Director Morgan Spurlock to Direct Toyota Fuel Cell AdIn what has to be called a very interesting move on Toyota’s part, the automaker has hired documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, he of Supersize Me fame, to direct the first in a new series of videos under the “Fueled by Everything” banner.

The colorfully-titled “Fueled by Bulls—“ video is the first in an online series of videos that seeks to educate consumers about the benefits of hydrogen fuel in general.  The three-minute clip features ordinary, average Americans – a dairy farmer and a mechanical engineer – as they literally track cow dung as it emanates from its bovine source, all the way to its end product as the fuel that powers Toyota’s Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

“This project gave us the opportunity to dive into a world that most people don’t understand but has the potential to change our world,” said Spurlock in a statement. “Witnessing manure, something most of us view as being pretty disposable, being transformed into hydrogen fuel to power a car was pretty remarkable. I think this short film is pretty compelling evidence of what could be possible in the years ahead.”

Contrary to earlier reports, Spurlock will not be directing the entire “Fueled by Everything” video campaign, but rather the first video alone.  And the Toyota Mirai site on the automaker’s website will feature more than just colorful explanations of how hydrogen fuel works; it will feature the scientific how-and-why of the alternative fuel, with scientists and other specialists talking about the process behind its creation.  “We’re putting hydrogen in the spotlight for its exciting potential as a renewable fuel source,” said Toyota USA senior vice president of automotive operations Bob Carter. “This is the beginning of the road for hydrogen, but we see the potential and we’re making a long-term investment in the future.”

Filed Under: Business, Tech

Honda Discontinues Crosstour After Underwhelming Five-Year Run

April 8, 2015 By Lorenzo Tanos

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 Honda Discontinues Crosstour After Underwhelming Five-Year RunAfter close to five years of disappointing sales, the Honda Crosstour will be discontinued, as the automaker also announced several major changes that would allow for more efficiency in its North American plants.

The Crosstour’s troubles arguably stem from its being a “tweener” – not quite crossover, not quite conventional car, not quite a station wagon.  And in 2014, the vehicle sold only 11,800 units, a 30 percent drop-off from 2013’s sales figures.  However, it wasn’t just the Crosstour that got discontinued among these types of vehicles, as Toyota previously killed off the Venza due to similar reasons – poor sales figures.

“The Crosstour was always a bit of an oddball that fit somewhere in between a number of niche categories,” opined Kelley Blue Book senior analyst Alec Gutierrez, stressing that the vehicle was indeed hard to categorize. “While well-intended, it missed the mark for most consumers, so it is no surprise to see Honda parting ways with its CUV/Wagon/Accord-based offering.”

With the Crosstour’s eventual demise, that allows Honda to free up manufacturing capacity for some of its other vehicles, including the Ridgeline pickup, the Pilot utility vehicle, and the Odyssey minivan.  A new CR-V compact crossover may also benefit from this, same with the 2016 HR-V subcompact crossover.  According to American Honda Motor EVP John Mendel, the move allows for the “fortification of (Honda’s) light truck lineup.”

Filed Under: Business, Tech

Look Out, Kids – 2016 Chevrolet Malibu is Here, With Teen Driver Feature

April 3, 2015 By Lorenzo Tanos

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Look Out, Kids – 2016 Chevrolet Malibu is Here, With Teen Driver FeatureIt was actually two weeks back when the first reports regarding the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu’s Teen Driver feature emerged.  But now we’re here to remind you of that feature once again, as the new Malibu made its debut at this week’s New York International Auto Show with Teen Drive highlighted as a main selling point.

Teen Drive is, to summarize it in a few words, an automotive version of those “net nanny” programs that shield young users from age-inappropriate material, or police their hours of Internet usage.  This time around, the Malibu’s Teen Drive feature is there not only to track a teenage driver’s habits on the road.  It will also tell on their parents if a teen has been driving irresponsibly or recklessly, and while we can’t deny the safety advantages of such a feature, it’s safe to say a lot of 2016 Malibu owners will be grounding their kids if they decide to drive like the average teen.

Parents can make use of the feature by programming one of the Malibu’s key fobs so that it’s designated as the teen’s key.  As the teen drives, the 2016 Malibu will pick up all sorts of driving data, and when they return back home, that’s when parents can review the information Teen Drive had collected.  This info includes maximum speed, distance driven, and even the number of times the teen had activated safety features.  In addition, Teen Drive lets parents set a maximum volume on the car stereo, and will prevent the stereo from turning on (if the teen is driving) if the front seatbelts aren’t placed properly.

Despite all the hype surrounding Teen Drive, the 2016 Malibu isn’t the only car to come with such a feature.  Ford’s MyKey device, for instance, limits certain features when a teen is driving with a designated key.  It doesn’t, however, provide blow-by-blow details on the teen’s driving like the Malibu does.

Filed Under: Business, Tech

2016 Audi A6 Named Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS

March 24, 2015 By Lorenzo Tanos

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2016 Audi A6 Named Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS

c/o Autoblog

The 2016 Audi A6 mainly relied on a “Stellar” small overlap test result, as the car recently received a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.

The IIHS reported that the A6 did impress in all other tests, getting Good ratings in the moderate overlap front and roof strength tests.  But the changes the automaker did in the small overlap safety test, as it turned out, helped it achieve that Stellar rating.  Maximum intrusion at the foot rest was measured at four inches, allowing for ample driver space, while the crash test dummy’s head was protected adequately by the side curtain airbags.  Dummy movement was also very controlled during the IIHS test, with the risk of significant injury quite low.

As for the optional front crash prevention system, the IIHS gave that feature an Advanced rating.  According to the institute, the automatic braking capabilities were able to reduce the car’s speed by an average of 10 mph in lower speed tests, which is good.  When it came to higher speed tests, the speed was reduced by a mere 1 mph.  Still, that was good enough for the IIHS to give the A6 a solid rating in that category.

It also must be noted, however, that the Stellar small overlap rating only covers 2016 Audi A6 examples manufactured after January.

Filed Under: Business, Tech

Google Glass Reboot – Schmidt Says It’s Still in the Works

March 23, 2015 By Lorenzo Tanos

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Google Glass Reboot – Schmidt Says It’s Still in the Works

c/o Creative Commons/PCWorld

Two months ago, Google pulled the plug on the original version of Google Glass, effectively ending its Explorer initiative.  The tech giant then assigned Nest CEO Tony Fadell to Glass as it sought to reboot the unsuccessful wearable, and while details on the new, retooled Glass are still quite murky at the present, new quotes from Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt suggest that the company wants to make sure Glass becomes a success the second time around.

According to Schmidt, Google Glass is a “big and very fundamental platform” for the company, and at this point in the game, the connected eyewear is still in the development stage.  Previous quotes from Google suggest that Glass did have some success in the enterprise space, and that the reboot may also be geared toward the enterprise, as opposed to average consumers.

In that same interview with The Wall Street Journal, Schmidt once again debunked rumors that Google was planning to cancel Glass for good.  “We ended the Explorer program and the press conflated this into us canceling the whole project, which isn’t true,” he said. “Google is about taking risks and there’s nothing about adjusting Glass that suggests we’re ending it.”  Schmidt added that Fadell’s involvement in the Glass reboot is mainly to “make (the device) ready for users.”

The original Google Glass was released last year but failed to make a dent in the market due to several reasons, including emphatic feedback from watchdog groups worried that Glass may secretly shoot videos or photos, and the device’s premium $1,500 price tag.  However, Glass did indeed prove quite useful as a business device, with doctors using the wearable to check patient charts as one prime example.

Filed Under: Tech

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