Nicki Minaj Talks To Beyonce For The First Time! Says Beyonce, "Defines Greatness"

Nicki Minaj speaks about the first time she met Beyonce after she performed with Jay-Z and was shocked at how down-to-earth the R&B beauty is.

"Just her name alone defines greatness, right?,"

Nicki gushed about Bey.

"That push that every woman wants to be… that driven.

"When I met her, she was a super sweetheart. The fact that she complimented me, I never forgot that. That stuck with me,"

adds Minaj, who last year said she wants to duet with Beyonce.

"She was like 'You killed it.' I was like, huh? That just didn’t even register and I kept on thinking, here is someone who I admire so much just because they are so driven. And she told me 'I killed it.'

"That really resonates with me, any woman or anybody who wants to go super hard. That was something big for me."

By the way Nicki's on her own way up, her debut album "Pink Friday" has passed Platinum status and she scored SNL is 2nd highest season rating last weekend.

Justin Bieber Changes Live On Extreme Home Makeover (VIDEO)

The 16-year-old pop star made an appearance on this week's episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition where he lent assistance to the crew in helping out The Brown Family in Texas who were in need of a new home.

A year ago they lost their 17-year-old daughter Alexandra after she died in a car accident which was proven to have been caused by her texting while driving. Check out the episode featuring Justin below:


WATCH FROM YOUR PHONE HERE

Chris Brown Not Allowed To Attend The Grammys

Although recent rumors have been flying that singer Chris Brown was attempting to get a relaxation on his restraining order against singer Rihanna in order to attend the upcoming Grammy Awards, a representative for the star has recently said that is not the case.

Remember that "little thing" that happened with him and Riahnna back in 2009?

Chris had an extremely violent confrontation with then-girlfriend Rihanna at a pre-Grammys party and was then convicted of assault.

He was sentenced to five years of probation, six months of community service, and had to complete a domestic violence class. The singer recently finished his 52-week course and does not have to check in with a judge every three months to go over his progress reports.

On Friday, January 28, Brown’s lawyer went before Judge Patricia Schnegg in order to ask that the restraining order against Rihanna be relaxed. Schnegg said she would take the request into consideration, but no decision has yet been made.

The publicist for Brown recently acknowledged the rumors and said,

“This court date and the lifting of the restraining order is part of the planned ongoing legal proceedings.

The date was scheduled months ago. Chris Brown is very thankful for his Grammy nominations, but due to scheduling conflicts, he will not be attending the Grammys."

The 2011 Grammy Awards will take place on February 13 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast on CBS at 8 P.M. ET/PT.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS YEARS GRAMMY NOMINEES

Eminem Scores A Cool Million For This Years Super Bowl Ad

Eminem will follow in the footsteps of the late, great Frank Sinatra by lending his likeness to Lipton Iced Tea for a claymation Super Bowl advert.

Eminem celebrates the full turnaround of his career next week when the rapper who was formerly avoided by advertising companies for his unpredictable nature, will pocket a cool $1Million to lend his likeness and voice to a revamped marketing campaign from Lipton Brisk Iced Tea.

Check out last years ad with Frank Sinatra below:

Britney Spears To Open 2011 Grammy Awards?

Following previous rumors mentioning her Grammy gig, Britney Spears reportedly has secured an opening slot at the upcoming 53rd Annual Grammy Awards despite her camp saying otherwise. The pop singer, according to sources, is confirmed to kick off the coveted prize-giving event with "Hold It Against Me".

If this source could be trusted, Britney will join the other musical guests B.o.B, Bruno Mars, Eminem, Cee-Lo, Lady GaGa and Katy Perry.

2011 Grammy Awards will take place on February 13 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast on CBS at 8 P.M. ET/PT.


Here are this years Grammy Nominees:

Record Of The Year

Nothin’ On You – B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars
Love The Way You Lie – Eminem Featuring Rihanna
F*** You – Cee Lo Green
Empire State Of Mind – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum

Album Of The Year

The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
Recovery – Eminem
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry


Song Of The Year

Beg Steal Or Borrow – Ray LaMontagne, songwriter (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs)
F*** You – Brody Brown, Cee Lo Green, Ari Levine, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Cee Lo Green)
The House That Built Me – Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
Love The Way You Lie – Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Rihanna)
Need You Now – Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)


Best New Artist
Justin Bieber
Drake
Florence & The Machine
Mumford & Sons
Esperanza Spalding


Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

King Of Anything – Sara Bareilles
Halo (Live) – Beyoncé
Chasing Pirates – Norah Jones
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry


Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

Haven’t Met You Yet – Michael Bublé
This Is It – Michael Jackson
Whataya Want From Me – Adam Lambert
Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars
Half Of My Heart – John Mayer



Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

Airplanes, Part II – B.o.B, Eminem & Hayley Williams
Imagine – Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare
If It Wasn’t For Bad – Elton John & Leon Russell
Telephone – Lady Gaga & Beyoncé
California Gurls – Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg

Best Pop Vocal Album

My World 2.0 – Justin Bieber
I Dreamed A Dream – Susan Boyle
The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga
Battle Studies – John Mayer
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry

Best Dance Recording

Rocket – Goldfrapp
In For The Kill – La Roux
Dance In The Dark – Lady Gaga
Only Girl (In The World) – Rihanna
Dancing On My Own – Robyn


Best Electronic/Dance Album

These Hopeful Machines – BT
Further – The Chemical Brothers
Head First – Goldfrapp
Black Light – Groove Armada
La Roux – La Roux


Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

Gone Already – Faith Evans
Bittersweet – Fantasia
Everything To Me – Monica
Tired – Kelly Price
Holding You Down (Going In Circles) – Jazmine Sullivan


Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

Second Chance – El DeBarge
Finding My Way Back – Jaheim
Why Would You Stay – Kem
We’re Still Friends – (Kirk Whalum &) Musiq Soulchild
There Goes My Baby – Usher

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

Love – Chuck Brown, Jill Scott & Marcus Miller
Take My Time – Chris Brown & Tank
You’ve Got A Friend – Ronald Isley & Aretha Franklin
Shine – John Legend & The Roots
Soldier Of Love – Sade

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

When A Woman Loves – R. Kelly
Hang On In There – John Legend & The Roots
You’re So Amazing – Calvin Richardson
In Between – Ryan Shaw
Go [Live] – Betty Wright

Best R&B Song

Bittersweet – Charles Harmon & Claude Kelly, songwriters (Fantasia)
Finding My Way Back – Ivan “Orthodox” Barias, Curt Chambers, Carvin “Ransum” Haggins, Jaheim Hoagland
& Miguel Jontel, songwriters (Jaheim)
Second Chance – E. DeBarge & Mischke, songwriters (El DeBarge)
Shine – John Stephens, songwriter (John Legend & The Roots)
Why Would You Stay – K. Owens, songwriter (Kem)


Best R&B Album

The Love & War Masterpeace – Raheem DeVaughn
Back To Me – Fantasia
Another Round – Jaheim
Wake Up! – John Legend & The Roots
Still Standing – Monica


Best Contemporary R&B Album

Graffiti – Chris Brown
Untitled – R. Kelly
Transition – Ryan Leslie
The ArchAndroid – Janelle Monáe
Raymond V Raymond – Usher


Best Rap Solo Performance
Over – Drake
Not Afraid – Eminem
How Low – Ludacris
I’m Back – T.I.
Power – Kanye West


Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
Shutterbugg – Big Boi & Cutty
Fancy – Drake, T.I. & Swizz Beatz
On To The Next One – Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz
My Chick Bad – Ludacris & Nicki Minaj
Lose My Mind – Young Jeezy & Plies


Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Nothin’ On You – B.o.B & Bruno Mars
Deuces – Chris Brown, Tyga & Kevin McCall
Love The Way You Lie – Eminem & Rihanna
Empire State Of Mind – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
Wake Up Everybody – John Legend, The Roots, Melanie Fiona & Common

Best Rap Song

Empire State Of Mind – Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys, Jane’t “Jnay” Sewell-Ulepic
& Alexander Shuckburgh, songwriters (Sylvia Robinson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Alicia Keys)

Love The Way You Lie – Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem & Rihanna)

Not Afraid – M. Burnett, J. Evans, Marshall Mathers, Luis Resto & M. Samuels, songwriters
(Eminem)

Nothin’ On You – Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Bobby Simmons Jr., songwriters (B.o.B
& Bruno Mars)

On To The Next One – Shawn Carter, J. Chaton & K. Dean, songwriters (G. Auge & X. De Rosnay,
songwriters) (Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)

Best Rap Album

The Adventures Of Bobby Ray – B.o.B
Thank Me Later – Drake
Recovery – Eminem
The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z
How I Got Over – The Roots

Lil' Scrappy F/ BoB & Roscoe Dash: "Bad" (That's Her) MUSIC VIDEO

Original version was with Stuey Rock now B.o.B teamed up with Lil' Scrappy and Roscoe Dash. The song is dope! But how about the video?....


WATCH IT FROM YOUR PHONE HERE

2012 Honda Civic Interior

Here's a good shot of what the Next Gen Honda Civic's interior will look like....

Honda CBR250R is first entry-level motorcycle with ABS

If you’re looking forward to celebrating warmer weather by getting into motorcycle riding, Honda may have the bike for you. The company just introduced a new entry-level sport bike, the CBR250R, to compete with Kawasaki’s popular Ninja 250, which we tested (and liked a lot) in 2008.

Previously, Honda’s only entry-level bike this small and affordable was the Rebel 250, a cruiser which we also tested then. All our riders preferred the Ninja for its precise handling; smooth, free-revving engine; and slick-shifting six-speed transmission. Some riders also found the Rebel 250 too small and cramped.

Now the CBR250R offers a sport-bike seating position in an affordable, entry-level package starting at $4,500. Better yet for new riders, the CBR250R is available with antilock brakes, which the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has shown reduces motorcycle crashes by as much as 37 percent.

Consumer Reports would like to see ABS offered on more motorcycles, especially affordable models aimed at newer riders. We welcome Honda’s introduction of the CBR250R as a first step in that direction and consider the $500 premium for the optional antilock brake system to be money well spent.

Source;
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/01/honda-cbr250r-is-first-entry-level-motorcycle-with-abs.html

Canadian Driver: Used Vehicle Review: Honda Civic, 2006-2011

By Chris Chase
The eighth-generation Honda Civic hit the market in 2006, and made a bit of a splash when it did, with its wedgy exterior and modern interior, including a controversial split-level dashboard. Nevertheless, the Civic remained one of the most popular cars on the market and largely retained its reputation for being a dependable form of transportation.

If you bought a Civic in 2006, you got a compact sedan or coupe powered by a 1.8-litre, four-cylinder engine making 140 horsepower in all trims save the Si coupe and Hybrid. The Si got a 2.0-litre, 197-hp motor, while the Hybrid used 1.3-litre engine paired with an electric motor for a net horsepower power rating of 110. Regular-grade Civics came standard with a five-speed manual transmission that could be optioned to a five-speed automatic. The Si used a six-speed manual exclusively and also got a limited-slip differential; the Hybrid came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) as the only one available.

In 2008, an Si sedan was added to the line-up. Some upper trim models got stability/traction control in 2009.

Natural Resources Canada’s fuel consumption ratings for the 2006 Civic were 7.8/5.7 L/100 km (city/highway) for the 1.8-litre model with manual transmission, or 8.2/5.7 with the automatic. The Hybrid was rated at 4.7/4.3, and the Si at 10.2/6.8. These figures would remain the same through the eighth-gen Civic’s run, to 2011.

Reliability on the whole has been good, earning the Civic inclusion on Consumer Reports’ list of used car “good bets.” It’s not without fault, however, particularly the hybrid model.
Consumer Reports’ data on the Civic shows electrical system problems with the Hybrid powertrain. These include the IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) warning light turning on, indicating a problem with the battery or the software that manages the IMA system. Here’s a thread talking about how high ambient temperatures and hot weather can negatively affect the Civic Hybrid’s battery pack. The battery packs themselves appear to be pricey; I’ve seen figures upwards of $3,000 for replacement (including labour) mentioned in more than one forum.
There’s also an IMA software update mentioned frequently that apparently causes driveability issues after it’s installed in the car’s CPU. Apparently, this is due to the system needing to recalibrate itself, but kills the electric assist function in the process, making the car slow, and dangerously so, say some owners.

If the check engine, IMA and battery light come on and the car loses electric assist (runs on the gas engine only), a common, and simple, cause is a weak 12-volt battery (just like the one every car has). If this battery is bad, it frequently causes the car’s sensitive electronics to go haywire.
Here’s a Civic Hybrid FAQ from CleanMPG.com.

I’ll go out on a limb and say that the Honda Civic Hybrid is one to approach with caution, especially used, and even more so if the hybrid system warranty is close to expiry. A couple of posters in this GreenHybrid.com thread call their 2007 Civic Hybrids the worst cars they’ve ever owned.

With that out of the way, non-hybrid Civics have fared much better, suffering only from relatively minor problems.

There’s a common problem with the Civic Si’s transmission that causes grinding and hard shifting into third gear, and a shifter that pops out of third. This prompted the folks at 8thCivic.com to draft a (poorly written) petition in an effort to get Honda to acknowledge the problem. The company eventually did, by issuing a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) advising dealers on how to fix the bad transmissions.

A popping sound from the front suspension, a problem that appears to affect mostly 2006, 2007 and a few 2008 Civics, is caused by an incorrectly manufactured bump stop. Honda addressed this in 2007, with the TSB that can be found here.

Read this thread for a few details about a rear suspension problem – bad upper control arms – that seems to affect only the Hybrid.

This thread indicates that some Civic owners have experienced head gasket failures. There’s no evidence of this in Consumer Reports’ data, though.

The two-door Civic earned a “good” rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) frontal offset crash test, and an “acceptable” score in side impact testing, with the IIHS citing a possibility of rib and pelvis fractures for front seat occupants. The four-door model scored “good” in both tests, but the IIHS noted that there was still a small possibility of rib fractures for front-seat riders.

From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave Civic two- and four-door models five stars for driver and front passenger protection in its frontal crash test, and four and five stars for front and rear seat protection in side impacts, respectively.

Used Civic pricing, from Canadian Black Book (CBB), shows these cars have held their value well, as is the Honda way. At the low end is a 2006 DX coupe, at $8,150, or $8,625 for a DX sedan; for bigger budgets, a 2010 sedan in top EX-L trim is worth $20,200. The Si’s values range from $15,525 for a 2006 coupe, to $21,300 for a 2010 sedan (the coupe is a bit cheaper), and the Hybrid starts at $10,750 for a 2006 and ranges up to $17,075 for a 2009. (CBB doesn’t have pricing info for the 2010 Hybrid.) For middle-ground shoppers, a 2008 LX is worth $14,450.

As stated above, the Civic Hybrid is a car to avoid, or at least, consider very carefully when shopping for a fuel-thrifty vehicle. The rest of the Civic line has held up well, earning consistent above-average used vehicle reliability ratings from Consumer Reports, with few, if any, serious trouble spots. Regardless, look for a car with detailed service records and have it checked out by a trustworthy mechanic before buying.

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2011/01/27/used-vehicle-review-honda-civic-2006-2011.htm

Honda R and D: Mind Contol a Car

This is a neat idea, but I think all we'd have to do is take the tech that Honda has developed for ASIMO and incorporate it into a R2 unit like below.... no?

Posted on: January 31st, 2011 by Hannah Westfield

Everyone has had a time when they wished things could be achieved through thought alone. As children, many try to move objects and imagine what it would be like to have the power to do things through thought alone.

Well, incredibly this idea may not be far away. Honda, the Japanese car manufacturer, has been having talks this weekend with some top fashion designers. The idea is to design and produce a stylish and attractive ‘driving hat’, which should be able to allow the wearer to be able to undertake tasks while driving via just thinking about what needs to be done.

It sound like something from a futuristic science fiction film, where a UFO or weapons system is controlled purely by thought. However, this is a real prototype that will actually read its wearers brainwaves to do simple tasks for the driving. It will be able to undertake commands to turn on window wipers or headlights, open things like the boot, or other simple tasks.

The scanner and controller are so small that it can actually fit into the lining of a hat, just an ordinary hat, not even a specially designed one. Some have said that Honda are now looking to get high-end fashion designers and Hollywood stars involved in the project.

Up until recently, reading brain pattern has required probes and often hair removal. However, Honda’s design has managed to read brain waves through hair and via soft pads (no proing required). The idea of the hat is to be a fashionable driving aid, making life easier, while making the driver look good.

Source;
http://news.carrentals.co.uk/do-you-wish-you-could-think-something-to-be-done-34235900.html

Honda launches TV ad to interact with iPhone app

Honda is launching what it claims to be the first campaign that allows viewers to use an app to interact with a TV ad in real time.

The 'This Unpredictable Life' campaign, for its Jazz model, breaks tomorrow (1 February). It gives the app's users the ability to "catch" animated characters with an iPhone as they appear on screen in Honda's new TV ad.

The app, named Honda Jazz – This Unpredictable Life, is free to download.

The Pixar-style clip shows a character floating through life, collecting experiences and possessions.

Using audio-recognition technology, app users can pull up to seven characters, including Space Monkey, Baby Balloon Head and Playful Puppy, to their app.

The campaign showcases the car's ability to "handle all that life has to throw at the modern family".

Martin Moll, head of marketing for Honda, said: "This new ad campaign reflects the experiences of our Jazz customers, showing how its Tardis-like interior has the versatility and space to cope with almost anything."

Source;
http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/1052149/Honda-launches-TV-ad-interact-iPhone-app/

Pakistan has made strengthen its Nuclear Capability

The Washington Post published a story on Monday, mentioning US non-government analysts that Pakistan has gone beyond India in the atomic field, with almost 100 installed nuclear arsenals, a doubling-up of its store over the past many years. 

The Post said that only four years before, the Pakistani nuclear arsenal was projected at 30 to 60 weapons. The report, quoting experts, added, "The Pakistanis have drastically speeded up manufacture of uranium and plutonium for bombs and developed new weapons to bring them. After years of approximate weapons equality, Pakistan has now framed in front of India, its nuclear-armed neighboring enemy.

"But Brig. Nazir Butt, defense envoy at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, neither accepted and nor rejected the Washington Post’s report and has said that Pakistan's weapons and the position of its production amenities were top secret.

Brig. Butt was mentioned as saying by the Post. "Being a nuclear command, we are very sure of our preventive abilities because Pakistan lives in a hard region and will never be ignorant to its security requirements. The President of the Institute for Science and International Security, David Albright, was referred as saying, “Pakistan has been increasing its nuclear capability rapidly. He said because of fast production of plutonium and extremely improved uranium,

Pakistan may now have an armory of equal to 110 weapons. India is expected to have 60 to 100 weapons.

Hans Kristensen, director of the nuclear information project at the Federation of American Scientists and the writer of the annual global nuclear weapons inventory published in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, said, "It is very difficult to say that how much the U.S. knows, and quoted as saying, “Pakistan is a friend, and they can't destabilize with a statement of concern in public. But as per the Post, the government's resolve to take the fissile materials prohibit to achievement this year may require it to tackle more directly the issue of proliferation in South Asia.

"In politically breakable Pakistan, the management is fixed between worries of proliferation or potential terrorist challenges to grab nuclear materials and Pakistani distrusts that the United States intends to manage or edge its weapons program and favors India," the newspaper said.

Egyptian demonstrators are rising pressure on President Mubarak

It has been ordered to the Police of Cairo to take them duties where a large number of demonstrators gathered in the central area of the city on the 7^th day of protest. The protestors have called for a universal protest on Monday, and are holding prayers in respect of those taken life in the anarchy.

All the Protesters have desired that President Hosni Mubarak must quit from the president office. The president has asked his new Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq to introduce new political transformations. In a letter to Mr. Shafiq, the president emphasized to make progress towards legal and legislative reforms through the dialogue with the political parties. He also calls for economic plans that give the greatest concern to people’s anguishing and decreases joblessness by producing new opportunities of jobs.

In the light of the present scenario, certainly the protest will not be stopped until Mr. Mubarak quit from the office. On the seventh day of protest there were more than 50,000 people on Tahrir Square in the centre of the city. On the other parts, streets are busy and things come out to be backing to normal. It has been made a plan to “protest of the million” March probably on Tuesday. On Sunday, most of the people in Cairo's were not panic by the low-flying visits from air force jets and a helicopter. Addressing to the crowed prominent Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei said that change is near to us.

The old Egyptian president is coming under rising global pressure to give a flat change, political address for asking him to quit and give way for democratic transformations. Mr. Mubarak's administration illustrates no symbol of movement yet.

In fact by deploying tanks into the Cairo streets and sending fighter jets to fly low over the demonstrators, he may be loosing his substantial military strength, drawing out a visible message to his opponents. But the demonstrators still consider that they are pushing out toward complete defeat of Mr. Mubarak’s hated government. A huge crowed of people in Alexandria and there were also substantial protestors in Mansoura, Damanhour and Suez.

The government authorities are taking notice regarding absence of police during protest, in which almost 100 people have been died during rallies clashes. The Interior Minister Habib al-Adly declared on Sunday that police would be rear on the streets to restore order due to continued reports of prowling.

Various shops are closed and the business activities have been collapsed by the calls of protests in very populous Arab nation with 84.5 million occupants. The protest is being made on the same track against Tunisian President Ben Ali over lack of democracy, high inflammation, and unemployment and longest rule of 30 years of President Mubarak. Tourism is the main sector of Egyptian economy, having about 6% of GDP.

Most of the European and Asian countries have ordered to their citizens to leave the Egypt immediately.

International pressure is increasing for some kind of decision. US President Barack Obama and his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed about the need for a "smooth conversion" to a democratic future for Egypt. President Obama made a number of calls to the foreigner leaders including Turkish Prime Minister Tayyab Erdogan, shah Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and British Prime Minister David Cameron about worse situation of Egypt. The European Union foreign minister meeting is being held in Brussels on Monday in which protest in Egypt would be on the top of list of their agenda.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said "Egypt is an ally of China and we hope social constancy and order will return to Egypt very soon.

Who Wants To Buy Part Of A Minor League Baseball Team?

Yeah, that's right. I don't know if any of you heard, part of the delightful fallout from that whole "Madoff thing" is that there's a baseball club that's looking for some minority investors. Some of you may never have actually heard of this "baseball team" because their performance over the past few years has called into question whether or not they are a "real" baseball team, but sure enough they've been playing 162 games a year -- no more than 162, let's be clear -- right here in the Big Apple.

Come on. You've heard of them.

Yes, that's right people. Mets chairman Fred Wilpon and his son Jeff announced this week both with a released statement, a press conference, and a personal e-mail to their fans which made me feel oh so special, that they have decided to explore finding new investors interested in a minority stake in the New York Mets. A real live baseball team!

Now, if you've been following the 'Ropolitans like I have for more than a decade, this announcement seems like a particularly odd one for the Wilpons to make for a few reasons. For one, they've done an extremely large amount of work over recent years to consolidate and improve the financial potency of the franchise. The introduction of SNY in 2006 has gone quite a distance to bring more money into the team's coffers and give them a financial base, ideally, more in line with those crosstown rivals in the Bronx. In addition to that, the recent construction of the Wilpon moneyfactory, also known as Citi Field, was further intended to strengthen the team's position. Lastly, and perhaps most notably, Fred Wilpon has tried awfully hard to make sure this team would belong to him and only him.

Obviously, given the track record of one Fred Wilpon, it seems patently bizarre that he would want to unload a chunk of his baby just as he's finally prepared the setup to make the team flourish financially even if it doesn't do the same on the field. So what gives?

Oh right. That.

It seems someone has decided that considering lots of people have lost money due to the pyramid scheme of Bernie Madoff, and because the Wilpons, who had hundreds of millions of dollars tied up in those investments, um, didn't, they must be the perfect people to sue to get that money back. What with Bernie being in jail and all -- without his Mets jacket -- it makes sense. I won't claim to understand how all the legal liabilities work in this thing since I'm, you know, not a lawyer, and I'm sure there's a legitimate reason why the Wilpons might possibly be somehow liable in this whole horror story, but it all seems kind of silly to me. Regardless however, absolutely none of that matters. The only thing of note is this:

There's a part of the Mets for sale!

Why is this so exciting? Well, some people might claim it is, in fact, not exciting at all, and while Rob Parker may have a point here, he's also an unnecessary provocateur and an asshole, so I'm going to ignore him for the moment. No, for me this is more exciting because I've just realized this is as good a prospect as any to pull some money together and own a baseball team. Indeed, that prospect was the very first idea I had when I first saw the story.

Shockingly none of my other potential investors seem interested in joining in despite my assurances that the Mets could not possibly be worth more than $10,000 or so given their on-field performance the last few years, but the bigger obstacle than this might be competition. And apparently that competition is coming. My guess is these other potential owners are going to jack the price out of my personal range, but let me state this right here for all who are interested.

I AM WILLING TO LISTEN TO ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN FORMING A BID TO BUY A MINORITY STAKE IN THE NEW YORK METS.

Is that clear? I want to buy the Mets, I want to pool money to get the job done and I will actively seek partners. Not only will owning a piece of a Major League Baseball team be a great source of pride, but we'll get to see any Mets game we want for free (probably) and it'll totally help us get chicks. Or men if that's your fancy. Plus, I'm totally a really serious big time Mets fan. Just look at that picture of what I wore to my brother's wedding this summer to the right. I'm totally right for it. If I somehow won't be the right person for the job, the list of potential minority owners is certainly interesting.

My personal preference is for the minority bid to go to a group that is headed by Martin Luther King III, which also involves former Met Ed Kranepool and the son of Mets great Donn Clendenon. Failing that, however, the likely bid being brought forward by Martin Silver, the owner of Georgi Vodka, will at least make those long painful days at the park go faster.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more appropriate it seems to align the classy Mets organization with the class of a brand of vodka that is sold in plastic bottles.

If I'm unable to get my hands on any piece of the Mets, I will simply have to settle for watching the Wilpons' iron grip on the franchise slowly recede, which, given the team's prospects since they gained full control of the franchise, probably isn't the worst thing as I've noted before. Now to be fair, I suspect that regardless of ownership, the administration of Sandy Alderson will bring a much more professional auspice to the franchise and that success will follow, much as it did with Frank Cashen in the early 1980s, but giving the Wilpons less power couldn't hurt. And in the end, the prospect of the team forcibly getting better ownership is really enough for me.

Considering that this weekend already saw Southampton blow a second-half lead in the FA Cup against Manchester United and that Northwestern blew a tantalizingly close chance at knocking off No. 1 Ohio State, well, the promise that the Mets are on the way to better times would help salve those wounds. The fact that I also booked a flight to beautiful Detroit for a Pistons and Red Wings game this April also perks me up a little bit (more on that in a few weeks), but when I realize that the Pro Bowl is tonight, well, that just makes matters worse.

This is why, for the good of the Mets, and maybe my sanity, this chunk of the Mets being for sale is coming just at the right time. If it can't be me, maybe it can be someone else who actually knows how to run a baseball team.

But remember, I'm not giving up on my bid for a piece of the pie. Someone out there will want to take a bite, too. Who's with me?

Canada's assurance to arrest and handing over of Mr Trabelsi to Tunisia

Canada has decided to cancel Mr Trabelsi's residency authorization and has wanted to take hold of billionaire's Canadian assets.

Last week Mr Trabelsi along with his family was reached in Montreal on a private jet after quitting the former Tunisian President Mr. Ben Ali from president’s office. The Tunisian embassy in Ottawa has requested the Canadian authorities to capture him and handover to them.

Talking to the Canadian news reporter in Val D'Or, in the province of Quebec, Mr. Cannon said the government would take proper action to discover Mr Trabelsi's assets.

We would not say greeting, Mr. Cannon said, obviously we are going to examine under the current legislation and will adopt fast ways, so that we can meet the Tunisian Government’s demands.

It is considered that Mr. Mr Trabelsi and his family ran away Chateau Vaudreuil Suites Hotel in Montreal and their location remains mysterious. It is not obvious how long Mr Trabelsi had residency status, which allows foreigner citizens to live in their country and can need a long application process.

Former Tunisian president Mr Ben Ali, who was in power from the last 23 years, was enforced from power this month by a numbers of protests against poverty and corruption. The former president ran away with his wife to Saudi Arabia.

Tunisian government has requested to Interpol to arrest Mr. Bel Ali including six family members, which are involved in the theft of property, illegal transfer of foreign currency, besides other allegations.  The international police agency has requested to the member states to trace, put and conditionally arrest Mr. Ali and his family members and relatives.

 In his recent tour to Morocco, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said, Canada will not say Welcome to the members of former rulers.

 

2012 VW Beetle Spied

Source w/writeup and more pics;
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/27/spy-shots-2012-volkswagen-new-new-beetle-caught-undisguised/

2011 Honda Odyssey Earns Best-Possible 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score in More-Stringent Federal Government Crash Test Safety Rating Program

01/27/2011 - TORRANCE, Calif.
The all-new 2011 Honda Odyssey has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) best-possible Overall Vehicle Score1 of five stars and is one of the first two vehicles ever to earn five stars in each seating position for all three crash tests, each crash test category and the overall rating, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The Odyssey joins the 2011 Accord Sedan as one of the few vehicles to date that achieves the federal government's best-possible five-star Overall Vehicle Score and five stars in the combined frontal and side crash safety ratings.

The Odyssey achieved its top Overall Vehicle Score with five-star ratings for the frontal crash safety test and both side crash safety tests2 in all evaluated front and rear seating positions and scenarios. Additionally, the Odyssey received four stars for the rollover rating3, the highest achievable in the light-truck vehicle class using the program's measurement methodology.

The newly introduced Overall Vehicle Score is part of the federal government's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) that is first being applied to 2011 models. As a convenience to new car shoppers, the Overall Vehicle Score represents the combined results of the overall ratings from the frontal crash tests, the side crash tests and the rollover-resistance into a single, summary score between one and five stars. Additional information is available at www.safercar.gov.

Complete NCAP safety rating results for the 2011 Odyssey are:

All 2011 Odyssey vehicles utilize the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. ACE is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment. Standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); three-row side curtain airbags with rollover sensor; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; a driver's front side airbag; and a front passenger's side airbag with an occupant position detection system.

Overall, the Odyssey improves for the 2011 model year with greater interior functionality, a more distinctive style and higher fuel economy. Significant enhancements to the interior include a new "3-mode" second-row seat design that is more comfortable for center passengers (Odyssey EX and above). A more powerful and efficient 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine features Variable Cylinder Management (standard on all models for 2011) and produces 248 hp while delivering an EPA-estimated4 city/highway/combined fuel economy of 19/28/22 mpg on Odyssey Touring models.

New technology available on certain models includes a rear entertainment system with a 16.2-inch ultrawide split-screen display and an auxiliary High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) video input, an "intelligent" Multi-Information Display (i-MID) with customizable wallpaper, integration of FM traffic data on navigation models and much more.

The 2011 Odyssey is truly an American-made vehicle – designed, engineered and assembled in the United States. The Odyssey is produced exclusively at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) using domestic and globally sourced parts.

For more information and downloadable high-resolution images of Honda vehicles, please visit www.hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at www.honda.com.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/2011-honda-odyssey-earns-best-possible-5-star-overall-vehicle-score-in-more-stringent-federal-government-crash-test-safety-rating-program

In the US and Europe - Muslim's Polulation will touch the double digit in 2030

According to a newly demographic detailed report, in the next 20 years the World Muslim’s population in non Muslim countries would be raised almost at double digit, which creates disputes in the UK and US. If the present trends continue, only in the USA the population of Muslim will reach at double from 2.6 million in 2010 to 6.2 million in 2030. The native born Muslims in the US would be raised from 35% to 45% in 2030. 

 

The survey was conducted by the two big non-profit groups, the Pew Research Center and the John Templeton Foundation, whose maintain the report on religious basis. They revealed, Muslim populations in various parts of Europe will touch the double digits, with France and Belgium at 10.3 percent by 2030.

Pakistan would become most populous country in the World and defeat the biggest populous country Indonesia in growing population. According to the report Islam probably clashes with the western values and become the slightly big religion in the US and Europe, and they concern that Islamic activists will also grow with the passage of time.

On the other hand critics says that there is nothing to worry about, the study has mixed up the public and private statistics data, despite the fast growth rate among the Muslims there will not be created shocking demographic change in the whole World. Eighty-two percent of the world’s Muslims live in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and that number is predicted to be almost 79 percent in 2030.

 

The report says this time world Muslim’s population is around 23.4% i.e. 6.9 Billion, which would be raised by 26.4% till 2030. In Europe this percentage is 2.7 which will remain at stable level in 2030.

 

Philip Jenkins, a religious history scholar known for his books on Christianity and Islam “This will supply a wastage filter for controls argues people make about the size and growth of the Muslim population,”

US Consulate worker was handed over to Police changing of double murder

US Consulate worker was presented in the court of Senior Judge Zafar Iqbal on Friday, who handed over to accuse to the police for six-day remand on the charges of double murder case, one day earlier he shot dead two men on a motorcycle and stated that he was opened fire on his self defense.

The US embassy in Islamabad has confirmed the man guilty was a consular worker but said it was still trying to cooperate with the police for knowing the facts. The US State department in Washington has also confirmed that Davis Raymond is the employee of American Consulate in Lahore.
On Tuesday this American national had opened fire on motorcycle riders and damage another with his over speed car and ran away from the spot. Both the injured were brought to the hospital where they were declared dead, while the third who was hit by the car was also expired due to his severe injuries.

Later on the Police arrested the US citizen and taken to the Police Station. The police authorities have also recovered arms by his possession, and an FIR had been launched against Davis after the incident.

See, I Was Mostly Kidding About That SI Cover Jinx Thing

But maybe I should have thought about it a bit more closely. See, I don't really believe in curses. I think they're silly. Unless you happen to referring to the Chicago Cubs. But given that Sports Illustrated's cover jinx strikes as frequently as it does, a statistically significant percentage of the time, perhaps I should be thinking differently. I had often assumed there were inherent biases in the original study, such as the fact that teams featured on the cover are often more likely than not to be playing a major elimination game immediately afterward which they only hold a 50/50 shot at winning anyway. And when all else fails, I would always rely on the fact that after knocking off Green Bay in a thrilling 2007 NFC Championship Game at bitter Lambeau Field, Eli Manning was thrust onto the cover inviting certain doom.

But we all know what happened then.

So of course, the Giants' Super Bowl XLII victory was irrefutable proof that the cover jinx was just a silly joke to bring up from time to time and not something to fear perpetually. But this year may have changed my tune. After seeing both the Jets and Bears turn in performances that left them shy of reaching the big game, I started to wonder if this year's covers, and last year's covers, might be indicative of a trend. And sure enough, if you really want to search back through the seasons there are even more examples of the eventual Championship Sunday losers getting tossed on their hides one game short of the Super Bowl.

After years of only bringing up the SI Cover Curse for purposes of mock humor, perhaps it's finally time to start taking it seriously, or at least to campaign for the Giants, Mets, Devils, Knicks or Northwestern to never ever appear on the cover again unless it is immediately following a championship victory. Fortunately, I know I'll never have to worry about that happening with Southampton FC (who happens to be facing off with Manchester United in the FA Cup this weekend) or the Geelong Cats. Probably not the Devils or Northwestern either, who have all of three cover appearances between them.

That said, with the cover now laying both individuals, teams and even whole leagues in its wake, it could finally be time to give it real credence.

Unless, of course, you're rational.

I never claimed to be that, but there are probably several decent reasons as to why the Bears and Jets lost this past weekend beyond some slips of paper. After all, the Bears were never quite as good as their record this season while the Packers, who finished a respectable 10-6, were generally thought to be not nearly as bad as theirs. It didn't take a football savant to realize that Green Bay was playing better than, well, anyone in the League heading into the NFC Championship Game, and the fact that this season the Pack were simply better than the Bears is likely what accounted for their victory Sunday.

One could just as easily have made the same arguments for the Steelers topping the Jets right afterward, but that game is a horse of a different color. For one, the teams were far more evenly matched. For another, the Jets, who cordially spotted Pittsburgh a 24-0 lead in the first half, very nearly capped a comeback for the ages and only failed to do so by shooting themselves in the foot. That is not to say the Steelers didn't play well enough to win the game -- clearly they did -- but New York, which displayed frightful ineptitude for the first 29 minutes or so played an absolutely dominant second half on both sides of the ball.

However, this game wound up resting on a very delicate precipice in the middle of the fourth quarter which saw New York make two very crucial errors. The Jets were at the tail end of what had the makings of being an absolutely legendary postseason drive. After pulling it to within 24-10, New York embarked on a massive 80-yard, 17-play drive that brought them down to the Pittsburgh goal line with four chances to punch it in and make it a one-score game with plenty of time remaining. I am of the opinion that had New York scored here and had seven minutes to work with against a Pittsburgh offense that had shown no ability to move the ball in the second half on a revitalized Jets defense and a Pittsburgh defense that had been unable to slow anything down over the previous quarter an a half, that the Jets would be in Super Bowl XLV.

But there were two crucial mistakes. One can be shouldered squarely by Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who instead of simply ramming the ball in four times -- you're bound to get one whole yard if you just keep pushing -- decided to get too cute. Now Schottenheimer can't simply be blamed without being praised. Had it not been for a gutsy deep throw on one of the Jets' early possessions in the second half, New York wouldn't have been in a position to swing the momentum so dramatically. But by calling complex, long-developing plays near the goal line instead of just ramming his running backs at the box, Schottenheimer dropped the ball.

However, the biggest mistake may have been on third down, when Schottenheimer called a quick inside slant that was immediately knocked down and nearly intercepted by Lamarr Woodley. Why that play was called to begin with I won't quite understand, but this truly is an error by quarterback Mark Sanchez, who needs to recognize that Woodley is in the likely path of the pass he needs to throw and immediately audible out of that play -- something he failed to do. The Jets not scoring here caused a fatal turning point, if for no other reason than that they were unable to get the ball back after finally making it a one-score game because there simply wasn't enough time on the clock. And that was the end of New York's second straight postseason heartbreak. Somehow, this wound up being just the second-most offensive thing to happen to New Yorkers this weekend.

That said -- and what I'm about to say is entirely facetious because of course the Jets would rather have won the game -- perhaps it's better that the Jets wound up not winning because the NFL made the absolutely bizarre decision this year to take the George S. Halas Trophy given to the NFC Champion and the Lamar Hunt Trophy, given to the AFC Champion, and turn what were two of the classiest, stateliest trophies in sports and turn them into a bizarre minimalist art exhibit.

Really. It begs the question of, uh, why was this at all necessary?

Fortunately for us, we've got the always reliable Uniwatch to break down the specific changes for us, and less importantly, how he feels about them. Still, this just wreaks of rebranding run amok. Not only was the change unnecessary and were the old trophies, at least in my opinion, incredibly stately, but the new ones kind of look chintzy, cheap and, well lame. Just take one look at how the dinky miniature of Jodie Foster's space travel machine in Contact looks in Steelers owner Art Rooney's hand and compare it with the expressions on Santanio Holmes and Mike Tomlin's faces from two years ago when the won the AFC and were rewarded with a trophy that had some heft to it. It's nearly impossible to hold the damn thing without looking like you're afraid of breaking it. I'm highly skeptical that they would, but here's hoping the NFL realizes the error of its ways.

If not, well, that'll just be par for the course. There are bigger concerns like, say, having to move home games because of a U2 concert. Who knows how the Marlins would respond to, you know, having people in the stands. Could be awkward.

In any event, what's done is done. Now we just have that eternal two-week wait for Super Bowl XLV to kick off between the Steelers and Packers before that even longer winter of our discontent -- which actually happens in summer -- until the next football season. I'll have a whole preview written for next week -- or at least a prediction. I'm not going to explicitly say who I'm picking now, but let's just say there are some outside forces that could give you some idea of where I'm going.

Honda takes $180M quarterly earnings hit due to... fishy seafood dealings?

Huh, who knew....
Honda just slapped itself on the wrist due to some inappropriate activity in a relatively unknown area of its business dealings. The Japanese automaker is involved in the seafood business and, although we're fairly certain it's not working with Matsumura Fishworks, it's active in the shrimp and shellfish trade. The "slap on the wrist" is of the monetary kind, and Honda owes $180 million due to misguided activity.

Employees involved in the seafod trading business are tasked with securing wholesale seafood then reselling it to supermarkets, restaurants and other interested parties. However, Honda had been paying well above market price for some of the transactions then failed to find a buyer for the overly-expensive seafood. To make the books look clear, the traders listed that they returned the purchased items yet then managed to find an interested third party to buy the overflowing inventory.

The resulting $180 million charges are necessary to adjust for a reduced inventory value and to clean up accounts receivable.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/27/honda-takes-180m-quarterly-earnings-hit-due-to-fishy-seafood/

U3-X Personal Mobility Prototype Video

Incredible....

WoodysCarSite: 2012 Honda Civic First Look

Nice looking find....
Source;
http://www.woodyscarsite.com/2011/01/2011-honda-civic-hybrid-first-look.html

Toyota FT-86 Teaser for Geneva Auto Show

Toyota allows us a glimpse of new FT-86 II - an evolution of its rear-drive coupe concept

Toyota is set to unveil a second evolution of the FT-86 rear-drive coupe concept at the Geneva show in March.

The FT-86 was first unveiled as a concept back in 2009 and, although rumours last summer suggested that the eagerly anticipated coupe could make production by the end of 2011, the new concept will be the first 'official' step closer to revealing the final design for the new Toyota coupe.

Unfortunately we'll all have to wait a bit longer to see properly what the 'FT-86 II' is, as Toyota is following the distinctly irritating fashion of enigmatic teaser photos.

So, aside from the frustrating photo, all Toyota will say for now is that the FT-86 II "builds on the original concept and will give the clearest indication yet of the final design for Toyota's next sports car".

Oh, and that "this new concept embodies the company's reborn passion for sports car driving".
Very nice, but can we see the car now please, Toyota?

Source;
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=23083

VW Toureg Sport Concept

This is one awesome concept, I love the roof scoop....Do you enjoy watching the Dakar Rally? If so, then you probably have day dreamed about driving those awesome off-road racers to the mall or to work. Only problem is, while these racers have minor details like the shape of the headlights and names in common with models you’d find in showrooms, technically, they’re completely different.

Take the Volkswagen Touareg for example. The one that races in the Dakar Rally has little in common with the one you’ll find in the showrooms. That, however, could change if they decide to put the Race Touareg 3 concept into production.

Unveiled at the Qatar Motor Show, this concept marries the madness of the rally machine with some civility from the road going version. Thankfully it is more like the rally car than the normal showroom model.

Not only does it look like the racer that just won the 2011 Dakar rally, but it has the same powertrain also. So you get the same 2.5-liter turbo-diesel engine that produces 296-hp and a whopping 442 lb ft of torque. Power is sent to all wheels via a 5-speed sequential gearbox that has a three-plate ceramic clutch and three limited slip differentials. In other words, this vehicle doesn’t even know the meaning of getting stuck.

It’s quick too, 0-60 mph takes just 6.1 seconds and tops out at 117 mph (due to those large dune bashing tires, otherwise it would have been even faster).

While the cockpit of the race versions have no interior trimming whatsoever, the Race Touareg 3 concept has a fully finished, well appointed interior.

And now the bad news, this awesome concept is just a concept. There are no production plans yet, but if everyone bugs VW enough, they could put it into limited production. Hey, these things have happened before. So if you would like to park one of these on your driveway, tell those Germans at VW to make one for you and your friends.

Watch out Ford Raptor.

Source;
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/01/volkswagen-race-touareg-3-concept-brings-dakar-to-the-street.html