Vacancies available...

Now that Senators Obama, Biden & Clinton are going to the White House, who will replace them in the Senate?

Illinois:

Barack Obama has already resigned his seat; his replacement will be named by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who is up for re-election in 2010 and–despite his myriad ethical problems–is hoping to get re-elected.

Governor Blagojevich is unpredictable. Nobody really has a good grasp on who he will appoint or why–he could use the appointment to curry favor with a key group necessary to his re-election, he could use the appointment to boost a key ally, or he could use it to neutralize one of his likely primary opponents.

Some names that have been floated are Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Melissa Bean, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones, and Illinois’ Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth.

Delaware:

Depending on when he resigns his seat, Joe Biden’s replacement will either be named by outgoing Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner (D) or incoming Governor Jack Markell (D).

It’s widely assumed that Biden wants his son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, to replace him. But the younger Biden is a JAG who has been deployed to Iraq for about a year, making it impossible for him to fill the vacancy now.

Therefore, rumor has it that Biden is looking for a caretaker to hold the seat until a special election can be held in 2010, which would allow the younger Biden to run.

One name that has been floated is outgoing Lieutenant Governor Jack Carney, who lost to Markell in the Gubernatorial primary. But there’s a chance Carney might not want to leave in 2010, making him a risky choice if Biden just wants a caretaker.

Secretary of State Harriet Smith Windsor has also been mentioned; she might be more favorable to the elder Biden considering that:

She’s in her late 60s, a loyal ally of Gov. Minner, and unlikely to want a long career in the US Senate.

New York:

If Clinton becomes Secretary of State (which is likely) her seat will also open up. Governor David Paterson–up for re-election in 2010–will replace her, and he will have an embarrassment of riches to choose from.

The current front-runner appears to be Rep. Nydia Velazquez; Rep. Brian Higgins and Rep. Steve Israel have also been mentioned, along with Rep. Nita Lowey (who was widely considered the front-runner for the seat before Clinton jumped into the race in 2000). Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Louise Slaughter and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo have also been mentioned.

After a less-than-acclaimed suggestion from VANOC to force employees to take their vacation during the 2010 Olympics, the BC Labour Federation has come out with an idea to declare the second Monday of February “Terry Fox Day.” They say that Terry Fox embodies everything about the Olympics, and the day would allow BC residents to reflect on the 2010 games for the rest of their lives.

Labour leader wants new Terry Fox holiday declared in BC

The B.C. Federation of Labour is proposing an Olympic legacy for all British Columbians — a provincial holiday in honour of Terry Fox.

After VANOC boss John Furlong suggested last week that employers offer vacations for the period of the 2010 Olympics to prevent gridlock on streets and highways leading to Olympic venues, B.C. Fed boss Jim Sinclair offered a counter- proposal yesterday.

He proposed that all British Columbians be given a paid holiday on the first Monday of the Olympics.

And Sinclair said the paid holiday should become an annual one, which he added should fall on the second Monday of every February after 2010.

“This would be an Olympic legacy, so everyone in B.C. will have a lasting benefit,” Sinclair told The Province.

He noted that British Columbians — indeed, all Canadians — have long pleaded for a February holiday break because the dark winter from Jan. 1 to Easter is a hard slog for workers.

In the United States, Presidents Day breaks up the grey monotony of the season.

If the provincial lawmakers take up Sinclair’s cause, he also has a proposed name — Terry Fox Day, after the heroic cross-Canada Marathon of Hope run by cancer victim Terry Fox of Port Coquitlam.

“I think Terry Fox epitomizes what the Olympics are about,” Sinclair said.

“It’s not about making money. It’s about pushing yourself to your personal limit.” Fox ran a marathon a day across Canada despite running with a prosthetic leg.

His run captured the imagination of Canadians, and now the annual Terry Fox Run is an international event that has raised millions of dollars for cancer research.

“He’s a hero in British Columbia,” said Sinclair. “He epitomized the values of the Olympics.”

Comment about this post.

Everyone here at Autoblog has been patiently counting down the seconds until 12:01AM EST tonight when Ford’s embargo lifts on the 2010 Mustang. At that time we can tell you all about the new ‘Stang as well as share our official high-res …

Full article with specs and 80 pics here.

This next Thursday in São Carlos ( pt-BR ) we will have the first Brazilian discussion related to 2010 Goals project. I am supporting design discussions, in coordination with many other local and some remote contributors, and wanted this to serve the main goals purpose but also to serve as a case to support others implementing their discussions in BR. We will also try to record a video ( not sure full or part of it ) and push the case online.  I find this event a good start for the discussions in BR since we received support from members of the two major universities in the Sao Carlos area, UFSCar and USP. This event should take place in the auditorium at ICMC / USP. Thanks for local city contributors for their support Felipe Gomes, Filipe Grillo ( AMO pt-BR ), Wellington Macedo , and Clauber ( Moz BR ). Also great thanks to professor Dilvan Moreira at USP for helping us with communication and organization. If you participated or coordinated a discussion related to 2010 Goals and has tips on the good practices please let me know.

After it puzzle game Ford officially revealed their 2010 Mustang in what the company bills as the best Mustang it has ever built.

Whatever universal attitude may be, the distinctive looking Mustang cannot be denied, like that aggressive front fence, headlamps with integrated turn indicators. Fog lamps are smaller, and still located on the higher lattice, accentuating the large fence even more.

Muscle is defined acutely by the license ring housing one of two engine selections; a V6 and a 4.6-liter 315hp V8. Ford says the 2010 Mustang maintains a good poise between hard and pleasant suspension, making it the standard everyday muscle car.

Read more (+photo gallery)!!

The 2010 Mustang poses a short-like stance with its sculputured sweep arches. Buyers will be able to choice choices of auto, convertible or innovative beaker roof to go with three rear LED indicator bulbs that fire sequentially from the inside, like the 1960s kind.

The car is wholly prickly in its project, prickly corners with kinky angles are prominent. Interior is superior to a great area and buyers will have 125 colour options to modify ambient and instrumentation lighting. Genuine aluminium panels are fitted, mingling region by edge with chrome-ringed gauges and leather supplies. Ford put a lot of stress on quietening the cabin while maintaining Mustang signature sound.

The new ‘Stang is estimated to go on retailing in the U.S. in early 2009 where it will be free in three body styles, auto, convertible and with a beaker roof option.

[galllery]

A while ago, I spoke with my sources at TSMC, who were quite decisive to make it to the front on the field of chip manufacturing. Heads of this Taiwanese giant decided to invest more than 10 billion USD in order to become world’s most advanced manufacturer, and their roadmap is more aggressive than anyone in the industry.

The results of that investment are slowly coming to life, and as of today, TSMC has more advanced manufacturing process than any other competitor in the manufacturing business. Intel will argue its (very important, though) Hafnium or High-K material, but ever since I became a journalist, Intel touted its manufacturing capabilities and ability to go small “sooner than anyone else”. Well, that is about to change.
For instance, Intel will introduce 32nm process in late 2009, and mass production in 2010. Due to separation between AMD and “MAD AMD” (The Foundry Company) will introduce 32nm (bulkPG, not for CPUs) only at the end of 2009, with 2010 being the year of mass production. If all things go well, that is.
During that same time, TSMC will introduce 32nm (Q4′2009), 28nm (Q2′2010) and 22nm will debut in first half of 2011. This is very, very aggressive roadmap that will give Nvidia and ATI leverage in development of graphics parts.

This also does not sound good for Intel’s own Larrabee, which will rely on Intel’s own manufacturing capabilities. While this was viewed as a huge strength in the previous years, TSMC may actually give AMD and Nvidia more than a fighting chance - a winning cost/die ratio.

As a case of demonstration, my source gave me a comparison while using Nvidia’s GT200 chip. This estimated comparison gave me shivers, because in 28nm (available in a bit more than a year), die size for 1.4 billion transistors would drop to incredible 160mm2. Of course, don’t expect that ATI or Nvidia will stand still. They will keep making big GPUs and put more and more core logic inside.

GT200 die through different TSMC manufacturing processes (”wild” estimate):
65nm: 576 mm2 (GT200)
55nm: 470 mm2 (GT206)
40nm: 320 mm2 (GT212)
32nm: 220 mm2 (die-shrink estimate)
28nm: 150 mm2 (die-shrink estimate)

Given this table, we can see that if Nvidia would want to keep the 500mm2 die size, it could manufacture a chip with 500 processors in 40nm, 700 processors in 32nm or massive 1200 shader processors using 28nm process. But don’t expect that either ATI or Nvidia will go linear with their GPUs.
What I personally expect is 512-bit bus, GDDR5 memory controller for both companies (regardless of what ATI is saying now), and increasing the capabilities of shaders. Currently, ATI is supporting FP64 DP format through their 80 shader lines (e.g. in RV780, you have 80 shader pipelines with 10 units in each - you can either output one FP64 Dual Precision or ten FP32 Single Precision number formats). Nvidia features one FP64 DualPrecision unit on eight of their regular shader cores.
With 32nm available in 2009 and 28nm available a year later, it is easy to predict that we will see a tremendous increase in processing power not through the sheer number of shaders, but rather increasing existing shader capabilities.
My $0.02 is that we will see 4-10TFLOPS parts coming in next 24 months, essentially increasing the computational power by anywhere between four and ten times. All thanks to massive effort put in by TSMC.
For now, Nvidia can announce the mass production of Tegra mobile SoC chips and its notebook lineup, while ATI can launch their notebook line-up. 40nm High-Performance arrives in Q1′2009, and you can expect GT212 and RV870 coming “your way in May”.

Asteptarea s-a sfarsit, oameni buni. Noua generatie de Ford Mustang a fost lansata oficial (ceva mai devreme decat se anticipa initial) pe mini-site-ul dedicat, impreuna cu primele fotografii, clip-uri si informatii cu noua creatie Ford. Dar in caz ca inca nu ati dat inca click pe linkul catre sus-mentionatul mini-site, care este foarte dragut de altfel, iata primele detalii tehnice despre cel mai nou pony-car de la Ford.

Actuala generatie, cu nume de cod S197, dateaza din 2005, an in care Ford a decis sa reinvie familia muscle-car-urilor cu o noua generatie de Mustang ce estetic urma sa se apropie de original, iar tehnic urma sa foloseasca platforma Fox. Noua genratie urmeaza sa pastreze partile bune ale modelului existent si sa inclocuiasca pe cele nepotrivite. Dpdv estetic, noua masina se apropie mai mult de original printr-un design ce urmeaza curbe noi, coapse evidente (de care ducea lipsa vechea generatie), grila fata schimbata subtil, faruri si stopuri stilizate, nisa adancita pe lungimea usii si spoilere incorporate mai discret in forma masinii. Totul ofera acum (conform Ford) si o aerodinamica imbunatatita.

Interiorul a fost schimbat si inlocuit cu materiale de calitate si finisaj superior, spre deosebire de actualul mustang, al carui interior a fost aspru criticat in multiple randuri. Tot acolo, volanul a fost redesenat si facut mai ergonomic, butoanele mai clare si ledurile mai vizibile, acum existand si prag cu un logo luminos cu sigla brand-ului. Dar nu va speriati, optiunea MyColor a fost pastrata de la actuala generatie. 

La capitolul motoare, versiunea GT va fi disponibila cu V8-ul de 4.6L de pe actualul Bullitt, care acum dezvolta 315 CP si 440Nm de cuplu si ai carui sunet va putea fi auzit direct in cabina, datorita unui canal lateral. Versiunea de baza va pastra actualul V6 de 4L pana in 2011, cand cel mai probabil va fi upgradat. O motorizare suplimentara in 4 cilindri va fi introdusa tot in 2011. Greutatea masinii a fost pastrata in aceleasi limite, fiind mai grea decat modelul actual cu doar 10-15 kg.

Suspensiile sunt similare cu actualul Mustang, dar ajustate pentru a oferi o manevabilitate crescuta si tinuta de drum mai buna si, pentru prima data in 25 de ani, Mustang-ul va avea implementat un sistem de control al stabilitatii. Rotile vor avea jante de 17″ si 18″ pentru versiunea de baza, iar GT-ul va avea jante de 18″/19″. 

Preturile masinii (in State) vor urca pana la 30000 de dolari pentru versiunea GT Premium. Dar destul cu detaliile, savurati pozele:

Related:

2010 Ford Mustang

2010 Ford Mustang: Episodul V

2010 Ford Mustang Episodul VI

2010 Ford Mustang Episodul VII

2010 Ford Mustang Episoadele VIII si IX

2010 Ford Mustang Matchbox

 God bless America and Henry Ford

Dupa cateva seturi de fotografii spion si teasere, in ajunul Salonului Auto de la Los Angeles, Ford a dat publicitatii primele informatii referitoare la noul Mustang. Noul Mustang are un design imbunatatit, puteri marite ale motoarelor, dar si un comportament rutier imbunatatit, o lista noua de dotari si optionale, carora li se adauga imbunatatiri ale sigurantei.

Destul cu vorbaria…iata o galerie foto cu noul model…

From the Mustang Blog:

With only a few days until the unveiling of the 2010 Mustang, pricing and option package information has been leaked for the GT premium model with no mention of horsepower output.  The price for a 2010 Mustang GT with the premium package will be $30,095.  Some of the features for the GT premium package include a 4.6L OHC 3V V8 Engine, SYNC, 18″ wheels, shaker 500 audio, ambient lighting, bright aluminum accent dash, pedal covers, scuff plate & shift knob and 6-gauge cluster with MyColor.

Other package details and prices include a Security package, Comfort package, GT Track package, Electronics package, and racing stripe package.  All the prices and details for each package can be seen after the jump…

Mustang GT Premium - $30,095
Ambient Lighting, Bright Aluminum Accent Dash Applicques, Pedal Covers, Scuff Plate & Shift Knob, Cupholders, Door Trim Panel Inserts, Front & Rear Footwells, Gloss Pain Center Stack & Console, Leather Stearing Wheel w/ Aluminum spokes, 6 months Sirius Satellite Radio, Satin Door Speaker Surrounds, SYNC, 18″ Spoke Aluminum Wheels, 6-Guage Cluster w/ MyColor, 6-way Power Adjustable Driver’s Seat w/ 2-way Adjustable Head Restraint & Power Lumbar, Shaker 500 Audio system.

Security Package (43S) - $995
Active Anti-Theft System, Wheel Locking Kit

Comfort Package (53B)- $575
Heated Driver & Passenger Seat, 6-way power passenger seat, electronic mirror w/ compass

GT Track Package (67T) - $1,445
Dual Piston Calipers, Performance Brake Pads, 3.73 Axle Ratio, Recalibrated Stability Control

Electronics Package (85X) - $2,700
Voice Activated Navigation System: In-Dash Screen, Single DVD/CD/MP3 Player, DVD Audio/Video Capability, Interanal Hard Disk Drive for Map, POI Storage, 10GB Jukebox, Support for SYNC & Other Multi-Media Devices (Audio Input Jack), Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control

Over the Top Racing Stripes Package (47A) - $395

High Intensity Discharge Headlamps (51H) - $525

Exterior Standard Equipment:

• Exhaust Tips (Dual Bright Rolled)
• Fog Lamps
• Grille (With Black Chrome ‘Pony’)
• Automatic Headlamps
• Dual Power Mirrors with Body Color Caps (Side Mounted)
• LED Sequential Tail lights
• 18″ Polished Aluminum wheels (w/Spare Steel Wheel and Mini-Spare tyre)

Interior Standard Equipment:

• Driver & Passenger Airbags (Side Impact, Dual Front)
• Manual controlled Air Conditioning
• Locking center console with full Armrest and Storage
• Two covered cupholders
• Power door locks
• Color Keyed Front floor mats
• Illuminated Entry
• Chrome Accent Instrument Cluster with Four Guages & Register Vents
• Center High Mounted Dome Lamps
• Child Latch System (rear seats)
• Front door map pockets
• Bucket seats with 4-way Manual Adjust Feature
• Tilt Steering wheel with Speed Control Feature
• Trunk Release
• Power windows (One-Touch Down/Up Front)

Functional Equipment:

• 4.6L OHC 3V V-8 Engine
• Ducktail Spoiler
• Advance Trac With Electronic Stability Control
• Easy Fuel Capless Fuel Filler
• Engine Cover
• Personal Safety System (For Driver & Front Passenger)
• Rear Window Defroster
• Remote Keyless Entry
• Side Intrusion Door Beams
• SOSPOST Crash Alert System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Ford fans - there’s a new hero in town!

Yes that’s right - the 2010 Ford Mustang has been let loose!!! And boy, isn’t it about time!

Here is the fantastic article from Autoblog:

When the 2005 Ford Mustang debuted, it thoroughly reinvigorated the pony car segment that it created four decades earlier. After 25 years of being assembled on the archaic rear-wheel-drive Fox platform, the Mustang finally had an all-new platform and styling that hearkened back to the late 1960s. Known as the S197, this Mustang appeared at a time when it was in fact the only surviving member of the muscle car class. The Camaro and Firebird had been cancelled two years earlier and Chrysler had been out of the rear-wheel-drive sport coupe market since the 1970s. The Mustang’s enormous success inspired Chevrolet and Dodge to create their own retro-styled muscle cars in the form of the new Camaro and Challenger. Fortunately for Mustang fans, Ford has not been sitting idle, and even while it was creating all those special edition Mustangs over the past few years, it was also working on thoroughly revamping its core pony. For the 2010 Mustang, Ford has taken the best parts of the S197 and fixed most of what was broken.

The 2010 ‘Stang is at once the same and different. Like the 2005-09 model, it’s immediately recognizable as Ford famous pony car. If anything, it looks even more like a late ’60s Mustang thanks to some additional curvature in its lines, especially along the belt-line. At the same time, it also looks more contemporary. The designers have improved the aerodynamics and reworked many of the design details. What may be even more important for drivers of the Mustang is an all-new interior that finally dispenses with cheap, hard plastics and looks like it was designed in this century, but more on that in a bit.

Starting at the front, the basic theme of the current ‘Stang is retained with the forward-canted grille and inset headlamps. The turn signals have been moved into the pocket with the headlamps, which themselves appear smaller than before. The whole hood has been re-contoured with a “power-dome” in the center, which should provide plenty of clearance for performance hardware when tuners and owners begin modding their cars. Out toward the edges, the fender and hood are slightly concave leaving a ridge that runs back to the A-pillar. The whole leading edge of the hood now curves down smoothly to ease the airflow around the nose and over the top of the car. The old school antenna mast has finally been banished from the front fender and the windshield washer nozzles now sit under the trailing edge of the hood instead of on top.

At the outer ends of the lower front fascia are black plastic air deflectors to further enhance the airflow, directing it around the sides instead of underneath the car. All of this contributes to drag reductions of seven percent on the V8-powered GT model and four percent on the base V6. Better management of the air-flow around the front of the car also reduces lift by 23 percent.

Around the sides, the transition from the fenders to the wheel arches has been smoothed out, which eliminates the crease on the current cars. The longitudinal crease that starts at the trailing edge of the front wheels has been sharpened and now has a slight under-cut that makes it more prominent, while the “hockey stick” side scoop contour has been subtly re-shaped. The lower edge of each side window has been moved down and now intersects with the newly curved contour of the rear fender at the trailing edge of the door.

Exterior designer George Saridakis describes the rear haunches and other changes as giving the Mustang a more voluptuous look. At the very back, the outer ends of the rear fascia are now angled forward, which helps to reduce the visual impression of the rear overhang. Also contributing to that revised impression is a rear bumper with a reduced offset.

Around the back of the car, Ford designers have taken advantage of the illusion that results from using contrasting colors. The lower part of the rear fascia is now a contrasting black with a molded-in diffuser. The darker color reduces the visual height of the rear deck. The tail-lamps, which still feature the traditional three bar look, have been re-shaped and now feature sequential turn signals. When the turn signals are on, the three lamps light in sequence from the innermost to the outer. The rear badge has also been reshaped and the keyhole has been removed as the Mustang finally gets an interior trunk release.

When the 2005 Mustang debuted, one of the biggest and most justified criticisms was its interior, specifically the cheap materials and hard plastics. Those criticisms are completely banished in the 2010 Mustang. All the plastic surfaces on the dash are now soft to the touch and pleasant to look at. Even the trim across the dashboard is aluminum rather than metallic-finished plastic. The same goes for the spokes on the steering wheel. The dual-brow look across the top of the dashboard that dates back to the early Mustangs is now also reflected across the lower edge.

The center console of the current model has elements at a variety of heights and many drivers complain about hitting their knees on the parking brake lever when bracing themselves during cornering. The brake lever on the ‘10 Mustang has been shortened and moved back, well clear of driver’s right knees. The arm rest is now flush mounted and there is a retractable cover over the cup holders. The entire surface of the center stack and console now mirrors the arm-rests on the door panels with everything at the same height and matching contours.

The designers have also taken elements that previously stuck up above the dash surface like the A/C registers and gauges and made them flush or even set them below the surface. The sub-flush gauge mounting reduces the impression of looking down a tunnel at the instruments. The back-lit gauges also now have a translucent arc where the numbers are. The numbers normally appear in black against a white background unless you go for the MyColor option. In that case, the background will appear in whatever color the driver chooses. MyColor also brings a back-lit “Mustang” kick plate that is kind of gimmicky but looks cool when you open the door.

The designers have also added a couple of nice detail touches. The standard icon that normally appears on traction control disable switches has been reworked to look like a Mustang including the tri-bar taillights. The basic shape of the steering wheel is carried over but the spokes have been chamfered allowing for a more comfortable grip. The overall impression of the Mustang’s new interior is that Ford has improved its execution in making the cockpit both look more appealing and feel better to the touch.

When Ford redesigned the Escape CUV for 2008, the body and interior were also completely redone but the mechanical components were largely carried over. Similarly, the drivetrains and suspension components of the 2010 Mustang are mostly carried over, although some improvements have been made on the V8 GT model. According to chief engineer Paul Randle, the current Bullitt has been considered the best Mustang ever in many respects thanks to its wonderful balance of handling and power, so it was chosen as the baseline for the new GT.

The 2010 GT retains its 4.6L three-valve V8, which has now been bumped up to 315 hp (235kW) and 325 lb-ft of torque (440Nm). The air intake has been reworked so that fresh air is drawn from behind the grille rather than from the wheel well. The duct from the air filter box to the throttle body has been straightened and smoothed out to reduce flow restriction. The whole car has also been stiffened and new sound insulation has been added for a quieter driving experience.

Since Mustang drivers still like to hear the roar of a big V8, the engineers have compensated. A small tube coming off the side of the duct runs to the passenger compartment giving occupants some of that V8 induction sound directly. GT models with the new 19-inch wheel-and-tire package also get an aluminum strut tower brace to stiffen the car’s structure further. The base 4.0L V6 remains unchanged for 2010, although 2011 or soon after will probably see the Mustang follow the Escape’s path with more significant powertrain upgrades. That’s when we’re likely to see Ford’s smaller displacement, turbocharged, direct-inject EcoBoost engines added to the pony.

The Mustang’s suspension architecture has also been carried over from the S197, meaning struts with lower control arms up front and a live axle trailing links and a panhard rod out back. The engineers have re-tuned the springs and added new dampers that should improve wheel control and ride. New wheel-and-tire packages are now available across the board with a one-inch increase in diameter. The V6 Mustangs now have 17-inch wheels standard with optional 18-inchers, while the GT has 18-inch or 19-inch packages.

One feature that is new to the 2010 Mustangs is electronic stability control which will be standard on all models. The ESC always defaults to on when you start the car. On the V6 Mustangs the driver will have the option to turn the system off. On the GT, the system can be turned off, or switched to a performance mode that allows more slip before intervening to limit the fun.

One important thing that hasn’t changed much is weight. The 2010 V6 Mustang only picks up 15 lbs (7kg) compared to the 2009 model, while the GT climbs just 35 lbs (16kg). That means Mustangs still have an advantage of about 400-500 lbs (180 - 227kg) over the new Camaro and even more compared to the larger Challenger.

We’ll be allowed behind the wheel of the new 2010 Ford Mustang in mid-December, at which time we’ll let you know how it behaves compared to its predecessor. From what we’ve seen already, the new interior is far beyond both its new competitors and its predecessor in the areas of design, ergonomics and materials. Assuming Ford doesn’t significantly increase the price, the Mustang should continue to offer the affordable performance it always has with a new measure of refinement.

Anyways, here is the official press release…

LEANER, MEANER 2010 FORD MUSTANG MODERNIZED,
WITH MORE REFINEMENT, NEW LOOK INSIDE, OUT

• New muscular, sculptured exterior design is a modern evolution of Mustang heritage
• Powerful new interior design features world-class craftsmanship, upgraded materials and new technology
• Performance improvements – larger wheels, retuned suspension and increased horsepower – developed from engineering experience on the race track and from special editions including the Mustang Bullitt

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18, 2008 – Muscle goes modern for 2010 as the Ford Mustang – America’s favorite muscle car for 45 years straight – hits the streets with a new exterior design; new world-class interior featuring well-crafted materials and updated technology; and a V-8 with even more horsepower and an even throatier signature Mustang exhaust sound.

Combine those elements with the new Mustang’s improved handling characteristics, more standard safety and technology features and its already-strong safety and quality performance and reputation, and it’s easy to see how the muscle car known around the world delivers on the promise of fast, fun and affordable performance for a whole new era.

“More than 9 million customers have made Mustang one of the world’s most beloved automotive and cultural icons,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “Making sure this modern legend lives up to their expectations has been a driving force for the team, which went to great lengths – gathering customer input everywhere from race tracks to Main Streets in cities throughout the U.S. – working to create the best Mustang ever.”

For 2010, the team delivered. “The new Mustang marks new levels of both power and refinement,” said Paul Randle, Mustang chief engineer. “We’ve designed and engineered this to be the next classic Mustang that everyone talks about for years and years.”

In true Mustang tradition, there is a “steed for every need.” At launch, customers can choose from a V-6 or V-8 with their choice of coupe, convertible or innovative glass roof, plus several new options and features delivering the opportunity for customers to personalize their cleaner, meaner-looking Mustangs.

“The best Mustangs have always been the ones that connect young America with the spirit of the times – and the 2010 does exactly that,” said J Mays, Ford’s group vice president of Design. “The new Mustang is close to the magnetic center of the original, fully loaded with the swagger you’d expect, but with modern refinement and attention to detail like you’ve never seen in a muscle car.”

It starts with the more aggressive grille, punctuated with the first new Mustang emblem since the car’s introduction in 1964. Both the V-6 and GT have brand-new sculptured front-end designs unique to each model. The headlamps and turn indicators, now integrated into one unit, are modern interpretations inspired by the 1970 Mustang. On the V-6, the fog lamps are located on the lower fascia, while on the GT, the fog lamps are again located in the upper grille – but are smaller than the outgoing model, similar to the original lamps of the 1967-68 models that inspired them.

“We understand Mustang’s heritage and iconic status it has in the world and as a symbol of Americana,” said Peter Horbury, executive director of Design, The Americas. “We wanted to create a face that is more muscular but unquestionably, unequivocally Mustang and carry that spirit through to the entire car.”

The exterior sheet metal, except for the fast-back roofline, is all new for 2010. At the front, the new headlamps, lower fascias, fenders and grille are capped by a powerdome hood that adds to the muscular appearance while functionally allowing for enhanced air cooling of the engine.
Mustang’s washer-fluid nozzles are tucked into the cowl, while the antenna has been moved to the rear, both of which create a cleaner appearance while also reducing wind noise.

Front rear fenders feature taut, sculptured wheel flares, like a tight skin stretched over the wheels. A classic spear character line on the doors leads to a modern indication of “hip” rear fenders. “It helps give the car aggressive, forward direction, like it’s ready to jump,” said Doug Gaffka, Mustang chief designer.

The rear end design features aggressively angled rear corners, a sculptured decklid and prominent rear badge. A rear-view camera incorporated into the spoiler is available on some models.

A notable new tail lamp design features three LED bulbs firing sequentially from the inside for turn indication. The sequential bulbs were a distinct Mustang feature in the ’60s and comeback to the 2010 for the first time since then. Locating the reverse lamps vertically creates a modern version of the Ford classic three-lens taillamp.

The best of new, heritage
Cleverly combining modern technology with Mustang heritage is a signature of the 2010 model, in terms of both design and engineering.

“All of the Bullitt elements are the base foundation of the GT,” said Randle, noting engine and chassis improvements. “We also applied some improvements gained from Mustang racing. We’re learning constantly and always giving that to the customer on the base car.”

The wheel-and-tire combinations are 1 inch bigger across the board, ranging from 17 to 19 inches, which helps improve handling and braking. The shocks have been retuned on all models as well.

“We adjusted the springs, stabilizer bars and shocks to better balance the ride, steering and handling for all models, which results in a more engaging driving experience,” adds Mustang Vehicle Engineering manager Tom Barnes. “The 2010 Mustangs feel more controlled for steering and handling, yet retain a good ride balance.”

The 2010 Mustang 4.6-liter V-8 benefits from innovations from the popular Bullitt model. Power has increased to 315 horsepower.

“It runs on regular gasoline, but if you put in premium it has adaptive calibration that will give you even better mid-range torque,” Barnes said, adding that Easy Fuel™, Ford’s innovative capless fuel system, is standard on all models.

“It’s an upgrade to the most-robust, most-accessorized engine in the marketplace today,” Randle added. “No one has the reliability, no one has the upgraded options. This is a fantastic engine, proven on the race track, the drag strip and on the highway.”

AdvanceTrac™ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is now standard and complements Mustang’s all-speed traction control and anti-lock braking system (ABS).

“It gives a driver a little more confidence that in any type of condition the car will maintain what they want it to do,” Barnes said. “The 2010 Mustang improves ride quality and maintains world-class steering and handling.”

In addition to all of the design and driving dynamics improvements, the 2010 Ford Mustang is engineered to maintain its top government safety ratings. Standard safety equipment includes: dual stage front driver and passenger air bags; front seat-mounted side air bags; and, Ford’s Personal Safety System.

Interior leads in design, materials, content and comfort
Like the exterior, the interior design is all new with world-class materials and execution.
The powerful new one-piece instrument panel design is crafted in seamless soft-touch TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) skin fully encompassing available genuine aluminum-finish panels. Mustang’s chromed-ringed gauges and dual-vane air register vents are precisely crafted and positioned.

“That’s the difference between good enough and exceptional,” said Gary Morales, Interior Design manager. “We wouldn’t accept anything less than leadership design and world-class craftsmanship.”

The instrument panel and console flow as one shape, another strong connection to Mustang heritage. The seats and arm rests have softer materials with high-quality stitching.

The new center stack design adds the latest version of Ford SYNC™, with new features 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report. Drivers also can customize their ambient and instrument lighting through the My Color™ system, which features 125 color options.

“The centerstack is quite progressive. The electronic finish panel containing the audio and climate control buttons and knobs are integrated into the finish panel,” said Kim Zielinski, Mustang Instrument Panel engineer, 2010 Mustang. “I believe the customers will really like the new look.”

In addition to the improvements in technology and comfort, drivers will notice a quieter ride. “It’s much more vault-like,” Barnes said. “But we maintained the signature Mustang sound.”

The upgraded instrument panel along with new sound deadeners added to select areas helped improve interior quietness, especially at high speeds or on rough roads. All the better to hear that famous Mustang roar.

With a completely redone exterior that echoes the classic Mustang designs of the past, an interior featuring world-class materials, numerous technology upgrades and an improved driving experience, the 2010 Mustang is poised to become the latest classic in the proud line of Ford’s iconic American muscle car.

“The 2010 Mustang is drop-dead gorgeous,” Randle said. “This car marks the best efforts of 45 years of passion and enthusiasm among the best designers, engineers and manufacturing experts in the business, and we can’t wait for everyone to see it and start driving it.”

The 2010 Mustang will be built at the Auto Alliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich.

Hoy he escuchado en las noticias una que me ha sorprendido gratamente, es la historia del ‘Galeón Andalucía’ que nos representará en la Expo Shanghai del 2010 después de dar la vuelta  medio mundo.

Partirá en las Navidades de 2009 y regresará tras completar la vuelta al mundo en 2011… Un calendario repleto de actividades y eventos es lo que le espera a la embarcación, ya que tratará de reconstruir la antigua ruta del gran comercio entre Sevilla, Puerto de Indias y China.

Todo un acontecimiento que espero no deje a nadie indiferente

   Here we have a first look at Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland! It’s not official yet. And I recognize it’s a bit weird, but it’s a Tim Burton movie, what did I expect? And being my favorite director and actor, I have to trust Burton and Depp… And even if the look is weird Depp’s performance will solve that problem… I’m sure it’s gonna be great. Let’s wait for something more official and check the result out! Click the picture to enlarge and don’t forget to comment!

John Furlong’s idea of giving employees two weeks off during the Olympics was met by opposition from business owners and the BC Federation of Labour:

Businesses not sold on mandatory 2010 vacation

The challenge from Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee’s CEO John furlong’s to mandate vacation time during the 2010 Games isn’t exactly being embraced by those in the hospitality industry.

“If anything we’re going to make sure our employees don’t take holidays during that period because clearly that will be the busiest time,” says the Shark Club’s John Teti.

It’ll be crazy busy at bars, restaurants and hotels, where workers will be putting in long hours.

The VANOC boss says he understands his ideas won’t work for some businesses, still he’s asking them to shift employee work hours, adjusting operating hours and even hinting bosses should send workers home.

“You could mandate vacations,” says Furlong. “That would help.”

B.C. Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair says it’s a terrible idea to force workers to take holidays in the middle of winter just because it’s convenient for Olympic organizers.

“Most people who don’t have a union only get two weeks a year at the most and so they’re not going to take two weeks in the middle of February,” says Sinclair. “You’re not going to mandate people to take their holidays. They have a right to choose when they’re going to take them.”

Furlong’s challenge is all part of a strategy to significantly reduce downtown traffic in February 2010, something he says will be critical for the games to be a success.

At Eye Candy Design Solutions near Olympic venue B.C. Place, they’re already planning on coming to work a lot earlier.

“The hours will probably also change to accommodate the schedules around the events and whatnot because it’s going to be busier than normal,” says Jeff Smith.

Many businesses, particularly those near Olympic venues, also say they can’t formally plan anything until they know which streets will be open or closed during the games.

About 650 people work at BC Hydro’s downtown office on Georgia St.

“We’re asking VANOC for more information about things that could possibly affect us, like road closures or security perimeters before we look at their request,” says spokesperson Dag Sharman.

“We’re all waiting for a transportation plan so we can see exactly where we are,” says Teti.

VANOC is expected to reveal that plan in the New Year.

Comment about this post

Ugh. Monday.

One might not think so, but even working from home brings the occasional ”ugh, it’s Monday”. I think it is unavoidable. It has been a particularly exhausting couple of weeks here at home, following the arrival of a respiratory virus that made its way through every child in the house. As any parent knows, it never happens all at once - there is always a 2 or three delay between each childs infection. With 4 kids… well, let’s just say there hasn’t been a lot of quiet or sleep going on. After those two weeks of non-stop snot and tears and fevers and coughs, my eldest seemed to be getting better last week - only to fall extremely ill -AGAIN-extremely fast. The fever that remained dangerously high despite home treatment prompted a quick trip to the family doctor, and revealed that the nasty virus she had previously, had now morphed into a nasty combination of ear infection, throat infection and “a little” pneumonia…

The cure? Strong antibiotics that cost $3 a pill. No wonder big pharm makes so much money… My kingdom for a vacation…

I watched the election results come in on Saturday night, and even though most of the outcomes were exactly as I expected, I was still very happy to see that ex-mayor Scott Young did not win a seat on council in Port Coquitlam. The fact that he still chose to run for a seat on council despite his conviction for assault, speaks to the dangerous level of ego that resides within him. What is more startling though, is that a couple of thousand people still voted for him!! 

Hello!!!!??? A convicted criminal is who you want to represent your city, to act as a role model within the community? It’s a good thing that those votes were the minority, and hopefully this was the last we see of him, but it would be interesting to know if he has been adhering to all the conditions placed on him since his conviction and sentencing. He is just as accountable as any other criminal.

Speaking of criminals, I noticed that a local violent offender pleaded guilty to assault on one of his charges of assault and one of his charges of uttering threats to cause death, so I phoned the courthouse to find out what is going on with the other charges. Shahzad M. Sardarali is thankfully still in custody, and will appear back in court on December 22nd  at 1: 30 pm for sentencing. This is the fellow who was out on bail on charges of attempted murder and possession of a dangerous weaponafter allegedly trying to kill a girlfriend. While out on bail, he beat andbashed another girlfriend over the head with a dumbbell, ending up with another series of charges, including  the following: another attempted murder charge, aggravated assault charges, possession of a dangerous weapon charges, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, and failure to comply with conditions of bail. 

The attempted murder charges are still active, however, I hope that the other charges are not dropped with the entering of a guilty plea to the lesser charge. Sardarali has a dangerous and violent history, and to drop any of these charges or release him would be a travesty as well as a danger to all women. Stay tuned in December for more updates. For your info, daily criminal court lists for all of BC’s courts can be accessed online at : http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/courts/court-lists/index.htm, and other court services can be accessed through the main site at : http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/courts/ Sometimes it is interesting to see whose names are popping up on the lists…

Oh, and before I go, good luck to Gregor Robertson on ” curing” homelessness in Vancouver by 2015. Did anyone notice that this promise is based on the assumption that he WILL get elected for another term? Terms are only three years, so this grandiose promise requires that he does such a damn good job for his first term that he makes it for a second. Guess he is counting on all that support from his dubious American philanthropic backers. Why haven’t more people questioned why he has so many American contributors to this campaign?  Curious to me and I don’t even live in his city. David Berner tells why this should be an issue in his daily blog.

That’s it for today - its sunny and I am going to enjoy a run without my runners filling with cold water for a change. Have a good one.

Vientiane (VNA) – Lao Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad has said that the global credit crisis would have no impact on the establishment of a stock market in Laos and the stock market will be opened as planned on October 10, 2010.

To prepare for the event, Laos signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Korea (RoK) Stock Market on November 13, according to Lao news agency (KPL).

Under the terms of the MoU, Laos and the RoK will co-operate on the exchange of knowledge of legal mechanisms, policies and human resource development in preparation for the opening of the market in Laos.

On the same day, both sides co-launched the Lao Stock Market Project and held a seminar on the Establishment of the Lao Stock Market.

According to a study carried out in 2007 by experts from the RoK, the establishment of a Lao stock market is highly possible, according to the KPL.-

So here I am; a blogging newbie, making my digital mark on the web. Hello Australia. Hello World. Who is out there reading it? Well, noone I guess, at least at first. Maybe that is how the great things get started…slowly  and then building momentum as time progresses.
Let’s face it, I do have political ambitions but they are fresh and untried in the cut-and-thrust of the political arena. It’s funny how your interest can grow in some way from nothing to a burning desire. Well, stronger than nothing at least, burning will come I am sure!
Perhaps about now I should trot out all of the usual cliches about wanting to make a change, do some good, blah blah blah. But the thing is; I am just weary. I am tired of the schoolyard squabbling that passes for politics these days. The tawdry adversarial system that we seem to be lumbered with is getting in the way of real progress and policies and democracy has become a popular mask for empty government. I believe we are in real danger of losing our way (if not already lost). The issue is one of Priorities.
We are being side-tracked constantly by narrow-focus groups, lobbyists, and media hype. It has to stop and it has to be now. The public, (yes you and me!) are being misinformed and under-informed on so many issues and yet we have been asked to cast our votes based on these weak and sometimes false premises. What is worse is we end up with a government tha uses these empty votes as some form of mandate. This is madness.
Don’t get me wrong here. I am a solid believer in democracy and freedom but an uninformed vote given once every three years or so is no vote at all and we as a nation need to start looking beyond the traditional two-party mentality and start forcing politicians to offer policies that work. Look, I have done it too. I have stood in the polling booth holding reams of paper telling me how to vote for people who I have mostly never heard of and have no real idea what the are on about! The saying is true: ‘you get the kind of government you deserve’. Voting like that is asking for trouble.
We need real democracy. What kind of majority rule do we get if the majority does not care or does not understand what is going on.
In short we need to examine all aspects of the issues at hand and demand real solutions that work, no matter from which side of the house they originate. We need government for the people but we also need people for the government to make it work. No more lazy politics, for it is the people that should be running the politicians and running them ragged for better government and better representation.
So here is a small spark. Let’s see what we can start…
I am sure it will take me a while to get the bugs out of this bloggy thingy but hopefully along the way I can make a few friends and we can work up to some heavy duty political muscle and ideas. My hope is that we can build a new political party for Queensland. One that we can all identify with and contribute to. What do you think? Give it a go?
If you are reading this and you have an issue or idea to put forward then let’s hear it. If I have (or can think of) anything to say on the topic I will float it as a thread and we can run it up the flagpole and see who salutes (as they say)
Naturally I will have some policy rules to work out and there will be a learning curve to negotiate.
Try to stay with me? All advice appreciated. cheers…

Socialdemokraterna måste gått på hasch när man valde Mona Sahlin som partiledare. Jag skojar inte. Hur i helvete kan ett parti som ska föreställa sig vara arbetarnas parti välja Mona Sahlin som partiledare?! Det första Sahlin gör är att gå ut och säger att Klimat är viktigare än Klass. Poff. Där försvann min röst. Jag är inte intresserad av hur klimatet ser ut om hundra år, tråkigt eller inte, men jag är mer intresserad av hur min vardag ser ut Idag, och vad sossarna vill göra för att förändra den, och då snackar jag inte om lågenergilampor eller eldrivna bilar. Utan hur min a-kassa blir, om jag kommer ha en billig bostad, hur mina anställningskrav blir, hur mina studier blir. Väsentliga och konkreta frågor som kräver konkreta kvar!

Jag förstår inte hur socialdemokrater tänker? Ni förlorar era gräsrötter! Det märks tydligt i sifos senaste siffror och jag som redan är sossekritiker blir fly förbannad när man kan välja en sådan, rent ut sagt, jubelidiot till partiledare. Säga vad man vill om Göran Persson, men han kunde fan sina grejer.

Cutta inte av Vänsterpartiet, sluta snacka om miljön. Snacka om hur fan jag ska lösa min vardag imorgon istället! Rösta för fan inte på FRA, Lissabonföredraget eller igenom några skattesänkningar för överklassen. Organisera arbetarklassen, inför en stridbar facklig rörelse. Arbeta för Mig om ni vill ha min röst. Sossejävlar.

Politiker skapar bara förhoppningar, och sossarna vill hellre skapa förhoppningar om regnbågar än om min vardag.

When you consider this:

Click for larger image

This isn’t surprising:

Giuliani Considering Governor Of New York Run

I guess Giuliani is looking for a bigger stepping-stone to the Presidency considering that his stint as Mayor of New York City wasn’t enough.

Of course, it would be nice for New York to have a Governor who actually governs instead of just running for president.

My advice to New Yorkers? Stick with Governor Paterson.  Having someone who gets the job done is far better than electing someone who will ignore his responsibilities in order to run for a higher office; your Governorship is worthy of someone better than Rudy Giuliani.

[Disclosure: I was born and raised in New York]

Jag hoppas verkligen att Miljöpartiet, Vänsterpartiet och Socialdemokraterna ingår i den regerng som vinner valet. Tillsammans har partierna faktiskt mer än 50 procent, enligt senaste Sifo-undersökningen. Jag finner det osannolikt att flera av dessa procent går över till högern före valet. Nej, jag är mer oroad över de 13 procent som antingen ej uppgav parti, eller ville rösta blankt. Dessa, tror jag, kommer spela en avgörande roll inför valet i Sverige 2010.

Sedan finns förstås Sverigedemokraterna. Sverigedemokraterna, som har över fyra procent i senaste mätningen. Jag hoppas verkligen att de inte kommer in i riksdagen. Det är knappast en striktare migrationspolitik som behövs, utan tvärtom. Det borde vara betydligt enklare att flytta till Sverige, framförallt för de som kommer från länder i krig. Om Sd skulle komma in i riksdagen skulle de, tack och lov, antagligen inte ha särskilt stort styre eftersom de nuvarande riksdagspartierna inte håller med dem, åtminstone inte generellt, vad jag uppfattat.

En trevlig nyhet är dock att Miljöpartiet fått en och en tiondels procentenheter fler stödjare sedan förra SIFO-mätningen. Mp fick lite drygt fem procent vid förra valet, så totalt sett har de ökat med cirka två procentenheter. En annan trevligt nyhet är att Kristdemokraterna är - för de - läskigt nära riksdagsspärren. Om Kd åker ur riksdagen… Ja, då kommer nog homosexuella få gifta sig precis som heterosexuella. Dessutom kommer M, C och Fp få det mycket tufft att vinna valet utan Kd.

Så, vem kommer vinna? Jag vet i alla fall vem jag hoppas på.