Superbugs Kills Babies In A Leading Hospital

University College Hospital has one of the UK’s most excellent neonatal units, but, currently is under the attack by superbugs.

Because of the superbug increase in the neonatal unit, at least three newborn infants have died and 12 babies are reported to be infected.

The babies were three months old and were undergoing treatment in the contemporary intensive care unit of the hospital.

According to the minutes of the meeting at the hospital held on August 10, the number of babies infected with gram-negative bacteria has amplified the risk level and the hospital is on a ‘heightened level of concern’.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) in association with the hospital authorities is looking into the entire matter.

A Spokesperson of HPA said that HPA is monitoring the situation and providing essential information on infection control and possible antibiotic treatments.

Doctors say that the majority of the superbugs are resistant to all antibiotics and the resistance level are increasing day-by-day. Some medical experts consider that in the coming days these bugs will be difficult to get rid of and will cause a ‘medical apocalypse’.

The neonatal unit is undergoing a ‘deep clean’ presently and the hospital officials have stopped taking more cases.

Crop Threatening Oriental Fruit Flies Found In Pinellas

The discovery of two tiny fruit flies in Safety Harbor has sparked a big reaction from state agriculture officials. That's because two Oriental fruit flies were found in an ensnare in Safety Harbor.

The find is significant because officials call the Oriental fruit fly "one of the most solemn of the world's fruit fly pests." They say it attacks more than 100 dissimilar fruits, including citrus, apples, guava, mango, tomatoes and peppers.

The Florida Department of Agriculture has launched a trapping program in an 81 square mile area nearby where the fruit flies were found. Officials there say if pesticides are essential, they alert the public beforehand as to when and where they will be applied. Investiagtors are currently looking into how the two flies got into Florida.

Walking Tour of Ancient Corinth

We went to Ancient Corinth last week just before we left Athens. It was another blistering hot day but we really were awed by what we saw. Ancient Corinth was a port city situated on an isthmus between the Aegean and Adriatic seas. Because the journey around the Southern tip of Greece was treacherous, sailors used to sail up to one side of Corinth and drag their boats or cargo about 3 miles across the isthmus and then re-enter the sea on the other side. It was a shorter and safer trip. But it made Corinth a major import/export city with all the advantages and drawbacks a travel center had to offer back then.



Paul spent 18 months in Corinth after leaving Athens. He preached in the Synagogue and then went out into the city to share the Gospel. It was thrilling to see how big the city was and to be able to stand in some of the places he stood.



Ancient Corinth is about 12 km from "New" Corinth. A canal (above right), built in the late 19th Century, now makes shipping easier.



The ruins are very well preserved and documented in amazing detail for a city so old. One of the fascinating aspects of the old city was the water/sewage system. It was highly advanced and must have been a wonder for a city that was so high up on a mountain. There were numerous fountains, bathhouses, latrines, springs and public gathering places, all with running water. We have pictures of some of them.



Here's a slideshow of our tour. Music is "Cypress Dance" by Global Journey:

This picture slideshow generated with Smilebox

The Rocks Markets (Theme Day: Open Air Markets)

The Rocks Markets are held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This view is down Argyle Street to Circular Quay. A Farmers' Market is held in this section on a Friday with food stalls and freshly prepared takeaway food. On Saturday and Sunday the markets also extend into Playfair Street and George Street. The weekend market features everything from food to art, fashion, jewellery, cosmetics and homewares.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants of this theme day

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LG Launches The World’s Thinnest 3D OLED TV

Today at the IFA exhibition in Berlin, LG has debuted the world’s thinnest OLED (organic light emitting diode) TV, measuring just 2.9mm, according to Crave Asia. The thin OLED sets have been around while the 2007 introduction of the Sony XEL-1, but the LG model has the added advantage of 3D playback.

There is a catch though. No official price has been given so far for the set, but it will likely be expensive. Jaw droppingly luxurious. The Chaebol 15-inch EL9500 OLED is on sale currently in the U.S. For $2,500.

Boom In China Wheat Market After Australian Deregulation

China, the world's largest grain producer, has shown an amplified interest in Australian wheat.

In the nine months to the end of June, Australian wheat exports to China were triple the sales made in the prior financial year (2008-09).

Commodity analyst Malcolm Bartholomaeus says deregulation of wheat exports has played a main role.

"Under the old arrangements, it would emerge that AWB used to deal with either just one government-backed industry or a very minute number of entities," he says.

"So now I think a larger number of mills can come straight into the Australian market and buy what they need in any smaller bulk parcels or in the container market."

Gerbera Daisies by Gardener Dave

With their large, bright, color-crayon-colorful “Daisy” flowers, wide “spinachy” leaves and upright attitude, healthy Gerberas, Gerbera jamesonii (hybrids) are an asset to the garden in beds or in pots.  They are rated by some nurseries as “Impulse Buys”, due to their showy nature.  Ooookay!  Sure, I can grow those – they look so healthy and easy!  I can accept that they are an annual here!

To be brutally honest, I’ve never had a lot of success with Gerbera’s.  For me, they either burn from too much of our high-altitude sun, or they get powdery mildew on their broad leaves (lots!), or they just quit blooming, or all of the above.  I think I have concluded that they can be “touchy”!  Soooo… having now done some more research, I am trying them again this late summer season, starting with 4”potted, brightly-colored, healthy ones, bought at reduced prices.  I will treat them per my newfound advice and see what happens. I am inviting your comments re: experiences you have had with them, maybe we can all learn something about growing these spectacular flowers!

 My Summary of Cultural Information from Various Sources:

Things to avoid

• Wet, poorly drained soil
• Crowns below soil level
• Hot (especially afternoon) sun
• Pests: Thrips, leaf miner, spider mite, caterpillar, botrytis, powdery mildew, fungal rot and crown rot.

More Tips - From Greenhouse Growers

• Light - Gerberas require high light intensities for good-quality plants and high flower bud numbers... Plants receiving too little light have pale green, stretched foliage and long, weak flower stems. Plants receiving too much light have compact, slightly yellow foliage with short flower stems often hidden in the foliage. (Morning sun or filtered sun is best in our location).

• Watering - Gerberas should receive a thorough watering and then be allowed to dry somewhat. This discourages soil-borne diseases. Gerberas should never be allowed to wilt, however. Plants allowed to dry out too much and too frequently have short flower stems that may be hidden in the foliage. It is also a good practice to water early in the day so the foliage is completely dry before evening.
  
  
• Diseases - Powdery mildew, Phytophthora (crown/root rot), Botrytis, impatiens necrotic spot virus, and bacterial blight are the main disease problems of gerberas. (Do not overcrowd plants).

Typical Greenhouse Culture: Indirect or filtered sun, with well-drained soil mix. Many greenhouses use a soil mix consisting of 2 parts peat moss to 2 parts sand to 1 part loam. During the growing and blooming seasons, the plants are watered and allowed to dry slightly. Too much water can cause crown rot. Plants are fertilized monthly with a balanced fertilizer, especially during blooming. Spent flowers should be trimmed off. Crown rots and many fungal vectors can attack the plant if they are kept too wet.

Some Common Problems and Probable Causes

• Foliage too large or flower stems too long:
• Light intensity too low
• Ammonium fertilizer too high
• Flower stems too short:
• Plants too dry
• Soluble salts too high
• Growing temperature too cold
• Flowers distorted:
• Mite or thrips problem
• Soluble salts too high
• Temperature too high or too low
• Plants stunted or failing to grow:
• Drainage or aeration poor; plants too wet
• Soil temperature too low
• Plants planted too deep
• Plants wilting or dying:
• Plants planted too deep--crown rot develops
• Root rot

Other Gerbera Observations from Various Sources - Since Gerberas have been extensively hybridized, they may occasionally exhibit some “eccentricities” such as distorted flowers or leaves – however, newly sprouted leaves or flowers can be entirely normal on the same plant. (I was going to make a comparison with King Tut’s ancestry here, but I won’t.)  Flowers that are blooming on the plant when purchased will frequently wilt or die when plants are transplanted to new locations/environments. Newly sprouted flowers should be OK.

Historical Background…  (If you’re interested enough to care. This came from several online sources)

Common Names: Gerber daisy, Transvaal daisy, Barberton daisy, African daisy

Family: Asteraceae/Compositae (aster/daisy/sunflower family)

Gerberas have approximately 30 species in the wild, extending to South America, Africa and tropical Asia.  They were discovered by Scotsman Robert Jameson in the 1880’s near Barberton, South Africa. It was named in honor of the German naturalist Traugott Gerber, a friend of Carolus Linnaeus, who is known as the father of modern taxonomy (sorry, no connection to the Gerber baby food company).  Jameson donated plants to the Durban Botanical Gardens, and the curator of the gardens, John Medley Wood, sent specimens to Harry Bolus in Cape Town, South Africa, for identification. Bolus then sent specimens to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in England, with the suggested scientific name Gerbera jamesonii.  Beginning about 1890 in England, Richard Irwin Lynch carried out breeding programs that resulted in many improvements. Gerberas soon became popular in the Netherlands, where much of the modern breeding has been accomplished. Gerberas were not produced in North America until the early 1920s. Extensive breeding at the University of California at Davis during the 1970s led to many plants suitable for garden use. However, breeding in Florida and Europe focused on developing long-stemmed cultivars for greenhouse cut flower production. In fact, much of the production today in Europe and Japan is for cut flowers.
In the U.S., California and Florida are the leading states in the production of cut flowers and tissue-cultured stock. The majority of cut gerberas, however, come from Columbia and surrounding countries in South America, with substantial quantities coming from the Netherlands. Current breeding strives for vigorous growth, compact habit, and continuous flowering on sturdy stems. The domesticated cultivars are mostly a result of a cross between Gerbera jamesonii and another South African species, Gerbera viridifolia. The cross is known as Gerbera hybrida. Thousands of cultivars exist. They vary greatly in shape and size. Colors include white, yellow, orange, red, and pink. The center of the flower is sometimes black. Often the same flower can have petals of several different colors. It is the fifth most-used cut flower in the world (after rose, carnation, chrysanthemum and tulip).  Gerberas are attractive to bees, butterflies and birds, and are resistant to deer.
Cheers,
Gardener Dave

The Rocks, Rawson Institute for Seamen

This view of the Rawson Institute for Seamen, formerly the Mariner's Church, at The Rocks is from Circuar Quay West. The original Mariners' Church building in George Stret was designed by John Bibb in the Victorian Free Classical style in temple form and built in 1859. Alterations were designed by William Kent in Federation Free Classical style in 1909. A new chapel was built in the Inter-War Mediterranean or Romanesque style In 1927. The Bethel Union, which built the original church was involved in missionary activity among seamen. They leased the Mariners' Church to the Missions to Seamen in 1835, creating a mission for neglected seamen. The complex included accomodation, a hall for concerts and dining, smoking rooms, a library and a gymnasium. The two organisations combined functions and after Sir Henry Rawson instigated extensions which were carried out in 1910, the complex was renamed The Rawson Institute for Seamen. These days the complex is a gallery.

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The Acropolis!

I used to get all mixed up between the Parthenon (a huge temple on top of the hill) and the Acropolis (the hill itself). Seeing it all in person makes things much more clear. This was another highlight of our stay in Greece. When I was a young guy, I used to dream of playing among the columns of the Parthenon, peeking out and seeing Athens below. Standing there in front of it was a another moving moment. The weather was perfect with incredible blue skies and an occasional cloud to put some perspective on things.

Here's our slideshow. The first slide is a picture of the Acropolis taken from Hadrian's Gate and the Temple of The Olympian Zeus, far below at street level. It's an imposing climb up to the top but worth every step:

This photo slideshow generated with Smilebox

Indonesian Volcano Erupts Again For Second Time

Mount Sinabung on the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Monday erupted for a second time, forcing more than 20,000 people to stay in evacuation centres, officials said.

The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre said Sinabung’s second eruption occurred at 6:30 am (2330 GMT Sunday), belching a editorial of smoke up to 2,000 metres into the sky.

The 2,451-metre-high volcano erupted for the first time in more than four centuries early Sunday, prompting the migration of thousands of residents from its slopes.

Sunday’s eruption came only hours after the local government permitted residents to return to their homes, assuring them that the volcano was not dangerous.

The Sinabung volcano, located about 1,300 kilometres north-west of Jakarta, has been seen heating up since late Thursday, causing people living on the slopes to run away.

The number of refugees had reached 21,054 people by Sunday morning, said Jhonson Tarigan, a Karo district public relations official.

“The number is probable to increase if the situation gets worse,” Jhonson said.

Vulcanologists upgraded Sinabung’s danger status to the top level minutes before Sunday’s eruption, and revised its position from a dormant to an active volcano.

“Previously, there was no important activity at the Mount Sinabung volcano, so the monitoring did not take priority since the 1600s,” Surono, the head of the directorate who like many Indonesians uses only one name, said on Sunday.

He recommended the residents stay at the evacuation centres until further notice.

Besides ordering the evacuations, experts also warned residents to wear face masks alongside the volcano’s ash and told people living along rivers to watch out for possible lava-induced floods.

Indonesia has the maximum density of volcanoes in the world with about 500 in the “Belt of Fire” in the 5,000-kilometre-long archipelago nation. Nearly 130 are active and 68 are scheduled as dangerous.

New World Record Likely To Be Created At World Bog Championships

A NEW WORLD record time is thought to have been set at this year’s World Bog Snorkelling Championships in Powys.

Dan Morgan, from Brecon, completed the event at Llanwrtyd Wells in 1 minute 30.06 seconds, beating last year’s record of 1 min 38.15 seconds.

The official time will be established by organisers later today.

Up to 140 people from across the world were opposing at the annual event, where contestants have to avoid conventional swimming strokes to get through the 60 yard trenches, using only flippers to push through the mud and water.

Hundreds of people visited the site at 1pm to cheer on the contestants, who took part in a number of diverse categories, from juniors and men and women, to fancy dress

Organizers said they predicted that a new record might be set after the bogs were cleared of remains for the first time in a decade.

The Rocks, police station

This building on the corner of George Street and Argyle Street at The Rocks became the police station in 1998. The Rocks local area command police station was a replacement for the small police station located opposite in George Street and another in Phillip Street. I took this photo a few months ago before construction work began for the extensions to The Museum of Contemporary Art next door on George Street extending behind this building to Argyle Street and leading down to Circular Quay.

A Review of the Coconut and Vanilla Hand Wash from EcoStore USA

Description from EcoStoreUSA.com

Natural and indulgent - the new ecostore USA hand wash is a true green bathroom luxury. Extremely kind to skin, you will love the fresh summery fragrance of coconut & vanilla organic essential oils.

Made from seven naturally derived ingredients to cleanse, condition and nourish your hands this hand wash does not remove the skin's natural oils. Your hands are left soft and silky by the unique moisturizer derived from wheatgerm oil and wheat protein. Our No Nasty* Chemicals™ promise means no Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, no artificial dyes, perfumes or preservatives.

Ingredients
Water
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
Wheat Germamidopropyldimonium
Hydroxypropyl Hydrolysed Wheat Protein
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Sodium Hydroxymethyl Glycinate
Certified Organic Fragrance

My Review:

The hand soap is rich, creamy, luxurious and simple to use.

I am a fan of EcoStore products- they are all natural, eco-friendly and work fabulously.

I also love that EcoStore USA's headquarters are close to me right here in Michigan. They even sell some products at the Michigan grocery chain, Meijer.

The only thing I didn't like about this product was that the scent was not strong enough. It smelled "white" but not necessarily like coconut or vanilla. I expected the coconut aroma to be stronger. I have used the Desert Essence coconut hand wash and that was very coconutty- that's what I expected from this.

I would love this hand wash even more if the coconut vanilla scent was stronger- yet still natural.

But as is it's a good hand wash to use because I know it's not filled with hardsh or toxic ingredients.



Disclosure: I received this product for free from EcoStoreUSA.com for review purposes

New Age

This past week I got a new pair of glasses, my fall classes started and I got a different car. And, yes, it was getting a new car that topped the list. Everything is relative.

After driving my grey car for four years, I decided to be adventurous and get a .... red car.



Call me a wild and crazy guy. Living on the edge of danger. Throwing caution to the wind. After years and years of grey and beige, I went ... red.



Bailey probably wonders if his master has gone a bit crazy. (Okay, HE'S the master but that's another story.)



When I was considering the car, the salesman kept telling me it came with a built in, modern, state of the art navigation system. I told him I really did not care. Give me a map. Who needs a navigation system? I was almost upset the car had the dumb thing. But what can you do?



Then yesterday I took my first trip in the new, used car with the dumb (!) navigation system. As so often in my life, I was so, so wrong.

I drove to Minneapolis to a wedding and, fortunately, there were family members in the car who helped me realize the navigation unit was a pretty nice feature. Going in and out of traffic in a big town, I soon realized the navigation system was pretty nice.



By the time I got home, I was hooked. I will never again drive a car, if I can help it, without a navigation unit. They are incredible.



Remember, I'm the guy who told people I would never have a cell phone. I was the guy who said my typewriter was just fine, thank you very much, and asked that the computer be taken out of my office. I was the guy who said I would never have a big screen TV.



Sometimes it is a good idea to listen and learn - even though you are convinced you know everything! I could not be without my cell phone. I love my computer and big screen TV. And now the idea of having a car without a navigation unit is .... well, unthinkable!

Impact of Soil on Veggie Gardening by Gardener Cumax

Applewood Community Garden (32nd Ave. and I-70 in background)

It's been a week since the start of Fall weather, which started Saturday, August 14 with the cool weather. It was cool enough to start turning my tomatoes red. The recent warm up hasn't altered the rate of ripening.I've been the busiest I've ever been gardening this year. The seedlings kept me busy from March to June. Then gardening and yardwork kept me busier from June to even now. I've wanted to stop and write down my observations, some things I've learned this season as it happened but decided that each time I watered I would spend that time observing and memorizing what I've learned and see if those still apply throughout the season.

2 squash plants compete and produce copious amounts of fruit.

What I learned this year can be summed up in one sentence: soil, sun, water and timing are everything.

The "Right plant, right place" foundations to me are:

Soil (place)
Sun (place)
Water (place)
Timing (plant/place)
 
Soil
One of the eye-opening experiences this year was seeing how extremely  well my seedlings have done in other people's gardens. The Applewood  Community Garden is where many of my seedlings took root.
 
At the Applewood Open House on July 28th I was blown away at just how  vigorous this beautiful veggie garden is doing. One customer  "complained" at how big her pink banana squashes were. I couldn't  believe it myself. Her mid-May transplanted seedlings were 20" long,  fat 8" diameter monsters lurking under the huge green leaves. They  
appeared to be 6 to 8 weeks older than mine. Everything was so green  and healthy looking, unlike mine.
 

 A nice sized Galeux d'Eyesines winter squash.

It confirmed my suspicions about the soil quality we have at our  garden: poor! It's why this year I changed my soil fertility tactics:  I can't compost fast enough to improve the soil structure. So parts of  the garden were sown as is. Other parts had 10" replaced with  FoxFarms' Happy Frog. Containers veggies were grown exclusively with Happy Frog.
 
Squash in my poor soil routinely wilted. Squash in Happy Frog never  wilted. Lesson: fertile soil has excellent soil structure. The 2 top  attributes are greatly improved moisture retention, and breathability.  Squash leaves in Happy Frog exhibited small patches of powdery mildew on the tops of the leaves. This is due to overhead watering from hose.  Rain doesn't cause this "salt". But my poor clay soil? Same old same old powdery mildew all over.
 
With moisture retention it is not necessary to water as much. Veggies  require a lot of water. With excellent soil structure it won't stress  your plants because even though the top is dry, the root area is  moist. Overwatering does not have a negative impact; the plants  actually thrived with "too much water" because its root were still  able to breathe.

Two neat tricks: the homemade concrete mesh makes a superb tomato trellis, and even better watermelon cage

 Soil Fertility In Poor Soil Conditions

My other tactic has been to fertilize all of my veggies and plants  with Neptune's Fish Fertilizer. If you use seaweed extract or fish  emulsion you will not have results. I don't know why that is but since  the Denver metro area used to be the ocean floor, maybe the soil  really misses the fish.
 At any rate, I've been fertilizing the heavy feeders (squash and  tomatoes) twice a weeek, and all other plants once a week. The results  couldn't be better. My 6-7' range sunflowers are 8-9' and about to  flower. My squash and tomatoes have done very well. As of August 20 my  tomatoes are 6' high and sending out enough blossoms to attract some  of the bees away from the Russian Sage that they prefer going nuts  over. All plants are very happy and vigorous. This brand of fish fertilizer is the best fertilizer I've used so far.  I used it inside with great results also, but only once as my sweetie  doesn't like having the house smell of fish. Good thing we don't have a cat.

My next blog entry will be about sun. Here's all you need to know: morning sun is what veggies need most.

Garden smarts: pantyhose helps support the weight of the watermelon, and also discourages theft because this doesn't look like something you would want to eat. Applewood has been hit by theft. At first they suspected raccoons, but they usually leave evidence by consuming on the spot.

Millers Point, bridges

The Windmill Street Bridge and the Munn Street Bridge over Hickson Road at Millers Point. The road was cut out of the sandstone cliff to provide a link between the wharves on Walsh Bay and those being built at Darling Harbour, requiring these bridges to be built in 1910.

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MISSING HIM BADLY BUT CAN'T FIND HIM ANYWHERE

Friday is here again. Never realize how fast the time flies, ain’t it? Listening to ‘Merindukanmu’ by D’Masiv whilst typing this. Yes. I’m missing someone. I miss him especially at the end of the month when I would come over and handover the monthly ‘allowance’ to Mom. I miss him on Friday when he would call me as early as 8:30 a.m. and ask whether I’m coming for dinner or not. I miss to sit next to him when we were having dinner together and he would force me to top up my rice till 3 times! Therefore, look at my size is a living proof! =D

Two more months, it will be the 1st anniversary. We have gone thru a year without him. Despite my big size laughter and super wide joker smile, I’m still in agony. Frankly speaking, I never reveal it to anyone, except this blog. Am crying while typing this, again. I am so fragile when I think about him. He was my best friend and we were always being there for each other. There would be a time when I couldn’t hold it anymore, I would press his handphone number just to console this broken heart. Eventhough it is just ‘toot toot toot’ (DIALING SOUND) but the toots relieve my pain in its own way.

Recently, I'm attached to this TV3, ‘Epilog Syurga Cinta’. I think God knows how much I miss him so He asked Bob Lokman to act because he resembles my daddy. They way he sits, he talks, he walks and jokes is so my dad, so much.

Have never thought that he left us this soon .........

Dear Jesus, thanks for lending daddy to us. Memories that we share will always be cherished forever. Please take care of him,....Will You?. Thanks. *wink*




“Dengarkan aku…. Ku merindukanmu” (Listen to me, I am missing you), Daddy……


With Love,

Viernes Automotor: Nissan GT-R

El Nissan GT-R es un coche deportivo creado por Nissan, lanzado en Japón el 6 de diciembre de 2007, en Estados Unidos 7 de julio de 2008, y espera que se venda en el resto del mundo en marzo de 2009.

Producción.

La versión de producción del GT-R se estrenó en el 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, el lanzamiento en el mercado japonés en diciembre 6, 2007. Lanzamiento oficial de los EE.UU. fue de 7 meses más tarde de 07 de julio, 2008. Nissan Universal en Los Ángeles, siempre que un cliente con la entrega de un nuevo GT-R, de la nueva línea de producción a las 12:01 AM, el 7 de julio de 2008. El lanzamiento de Canadá también fue en julio de 2008. Europa se convirtió en el tercer mercado de consumo, donde se lanzará a finales de año. La gran disparidad en la comercialización inicial entre estas emisiones regionales se debe a tener que construir Nissan GT-R desempeño centros donde el coche cuenta con los servicios. También el motor y trasero montado en la caja de cambios de doble embrague se construyen a mano, lo que limita la producción a alrededor de 1000 vehículos al mes.

Especificaciones

El Nissan GT-R es propulsado por el motor de nissan VR38DETT, un 3799 cc de 3,8 L, DOHC V6. Dos (IHI) turbocompresores de inyección forzada. Producción de vehículos de un fabricante de de 480 CV (360 kW) a 6400 rpm y 588 Nm en 3200 - 5200 rpm. Según independiente dinamométrico pruebas, el GT-R produce 416 CV (310 kW) a 475 CV (354 kW) y 561 Nm a 620 Nm a las ruedas. El motor también cumple la (ULEV). Un peso reducido de 1730 kg o 1.736 kg, con cortina lateral bolsas de aire se logra mediante un giga soldadas de acero con chasis de aluminio utilizados para la campana, el tronco, y las puertas. Un trasero montado 6 velocidades de doble embrague semi-automático se usa en conjunción con la ATTESA E-TS sistema para proveer de energía a las cuatro ruedas y junto con la dinámica del vehículo Nissan de Control (VDC-R) en la tramitación de ayudas y la estabilidad. Tres modos de cambio también puede ser seleccionado para distintas condiciones. El coeficiente de resistencia es 0,27.

Diseño

El jefe de diseño de Nissan, Shiro Nakamura, se asemeja el nuevo GT-R con el epónimo de robots gigantes de la serie Gundam. " Nakamura dice: "El GT-R es único porque no es simplemente una copia de un supercoche diseñado en Europa, tuvo que realmente reflejen la cultura japonesa".

Nakamura señaló que el GT-R de la plaza de las líneas de ventilación y fueron influenciados por los robots Gundam. Los diseñadores de Nissan en América esculpidas tres cuartas partes la parte trasera del vehículo, mientras que sus diseñadores europeos esculpido el techo.

Polyphony Digital, compañía creadora del videojuego de carreras Gran Turismo, estuvo implicada en el desarrollo del GT-R, siendo contratada para diseñar la pantalla multifunción del coche.

SpecV

Nissan presentó el GT-R SpecV el 7 de enero de 2009 en el Salón del Automóvil de Tokio. Los cambios exteriores sobre la base del GT-R son los siguientes: un alerón trasero, parrilla y conductos de freno de fibra de carbono junto con una exclusiva pintura Negro Opal. Los cambios interiores incluyen unos nuevos asientos Recaro en piel y fibra de carbono más livianos y la eliminación de los asientos posteriores.

El GT-R specV se alimenta por la norma de doble turbo de 3799 cc (3.8l; en cu 231,8) V6 con ningún aumento de potencia, pero un nuevo impulso marcha controlador que aumenta temporalmente la presión debería entregar más de par en a mediados de alta gama de revoluciones. Otros cambios incluyen un mecánico de escape de titanio, revisar la suspensión, frenos cerámicos de carbono, y de 20 pulgadas (510 mm) Nismo ruedas. El peso total se redujo en 60 kg respecto al GT-R estándar.

En Japón las ventas comenzaron el 2 de febrero de 2009 a siete pre-seleccionados distribuidores que están dotados de la mecánica, con especial GT-R specV formación y buenos conocedores de las carreras de circuito de conducción. El precio es fijado en ¥ 15.750.000 (más de EE.UU. $ 160.000). Nissan no ha anunciado planes para vender el GT-R SpecV fuera de Japón.

El 15 de diciembre del 2009, en conmemoración del 40 aniversario llegaron 40 GT-R´s SpecV a Madrid España, los cuales se entregaron a clientes que previamente lo habían reservado. Esta versión del Nissan GT-R cuesta el doble que la versión normal.

Vídeo de la revisión de Top Gear:



Aquí la página del Nissan GT-R (en ingles) y acá la revisión de Top Gear.

Mi opinión

Para mi, este es uno de los vehículos mas perfectos que han sido creados. No hay mas que decir, los japoneses saben lo que hacen y lo que hacen esta bien hecho punto.

10/10

Next Time:
Porsche Carrera GT

Loving Belli's All Day Moisturizing Lotion

I received several Belli products to review and the one I am loving most of all is the All Day Moisture Body Lotion.

It goes on smooth and creamy without being greasy and has a wonderful fresh and clean lemon scent. I adore this aroma. It smells so good.

The lotion itself is wonderful too.

I've been having itchy dry skin even after applying lotion but this lotion by Belli has left my skin hydrated and itch free- even on dry elbows and heels.

Here's the description of the lotion from the Belli site:

All Day Moisture Body Lotion deeply moisturizes, comforts and soothes dry, itchy skin. Features the essential oil of lemon, which is known for its uplifting qualities and aroma-therapeutic ability to calm upset stomachs. Chamomile softens and refreshes.

Directions: Apply daily to slightly dampened skin.

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG-100 Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isopropyl Myristate, Sodium PCA, Glycerine, Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Ceteareth-20, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Chamomilia Recutita (Chamomile) Matricaria Flower Extract, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) (and) Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (and) Glycereth-2 Cocoate

This lotion is pregnancy and new mama safe made from natural ingredients.

Drop by Belli now and you can save 30%

and

receive free shipping on orders over $75

just use promo code BELLIBASH at checkout

offer expires 9/6/2010

Join the Belli Birthday Bash and Win Fabulous Prizes

The sizzling summer event that current and expectant moms wait for all year long is finally here. This year’s third annual online Belli birthday bash is bigger than ever with a star studded line up that is sure to be a show stopper. Beginning August 23rd and running through September 3rd Belli, a line of luxurious and uniquely teratology-tested skincare products which address the specific issues of pregnant women, new moms and babies, will be hosting an online party to celebrate the company’s birthday. To kick-off the party, Belli and its partner sponsors will have a drawing for a prize each day during the two week promotion. Then on September 6th, one lucky grand prizewinner will be selected to take home each of the prizes awarded during the promotional period.

“We are thrilled to partner with best-of-class brands that offer products of distinction for mom and baby,” said Annette Rubin, Founder and President of Belli. “At Belli, we understand the importance of quality products, convenience and accessibility for shoppers, especially for today’s busy mom. Through our website, we have created an online Mecca for the best and safest skincare products. Not only will visitors have access to every Belli product with a simple click of a mouse, they will also have access to the expertise of Belli’s founding physician and medical director, Jason Rubin, M.D., to answer any skincare health or Belli product line questions.”
To thank current Belli customers for their support and to invite new customers, starting August 23rd and running through September 3rd, Belli will be offering 30% store-wide discounts and amazing deals such as free ground shipping for purchases over $75.00. Visitors will also have the opportunity to enter a daily drawing for fabulous prizes including: Happy Family Foods, Swaddle Designs, Moody Mama’s, Lerba, Plain Mary and many more.

Annette continues, “This is an exciting time for us. Belli’s website will provide an open forum and a community for moms. It is our first step in creating an online one-stop-shop as well as a much-needed mommy network for our customers.”

About Belli: (www.belliskincare.com)

Founded by Jason Rubin MD and Annette Rubin in 2002, Belli offers a total wellness approach by offering products that feature the pampering benefits of aromatherapy and massage therapy with the heightened screening of a medical company. Belli products are sold at national retailers including Pottery Barn Kids, Nordstrom, high end baby/maternity boutiques, fine spas, and a growing number of physician offices. The entire line can be found on belliskincare.com.com, along with helpful educational articles that teach women about the skin care concerns of pregnancy, motherhood, and infancy.

Local and Family History Department

Have you ever wondered why your nose is a little crooked? Are you curious about why you love to quilt? Has anyone else in your family been challenged with a physical problem you are struggling with? Have you wondered how your family came to live in America? What is the history of Southern Somerset County? Having an understanding of your family and local history gives you insight into who you are. One of the best ways to know who you are is to know who you came from. Genealogical Research has become one of the fastest growing hobbies in America. As much as 60% of the population is interested in their family history.

The Meyersdale Public Library's Local and Family History department has become a highly reputable source among the genealogy community for its collection and service; much of which is due to the professional efforts of Cynthia Mason. We invite you to come in and let us help you discover your family. The Local and Family history department is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you desire assistance from Cynthia then please visit between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. If you are traveling from out of town we suggest you call or email ahead to make sure Cynthia will be available to help you. Even she gets a day off now and then!!

New to our collection:

• The New Republic and Daily American obituaries for 2005 – 2009 are now online at http://www.usgwarchives.org/pa/somerset/. Transcribed obituaries from the Meyersdale Commercial for 1913 – 1918 and a few from 1929 will be posted soon.

Millers Point, emergency response tug

The emergency response tug is one of two used by the Sydney Ports Corporation on Sydney Harbour. They are used for Incidents Response such as fire-fighting, oil spills, salvage and vessel assistance. The Tedd Noffs tug seen here is moored at the Operational Headquarters of the Sydney Ports Corporation at Millers Point. It's named after Reverand Tedd Noffs, an Australian humanitarian who pioneered initiatives for young people.

Click here to view all participants of Weekend Reflections

JetBlue Airplane Caught Fire In California Airport

Fifteen people suffered minor injuries when a Jet Blue airplane made a hard land at Sacramento International Airport in Northern California on Thursday, authorities said.

The landing forced the emigration of 87 passengers and five crew members via inflatable slides, Airport spokeswoman Gina Swankie said.

The passengers were then loaded on buses and waited on the runway to go to a terminal, Swankie said.

"A Jet Blue spokesman told me that the flight reported a matter with the brakes," Swankie said. "The crew elected to evacuate the aircraft in an abundance of caution."
The flight blew two tires as it was landing, said Swankie.

The tires caught fire, Swankie said, but he could not corroborate reports that a fire was also reported on the plane.

Flight 262, which was from Long Beach, Southern California, was planned to arrive at 12:37 p.m.

Live Tiger Cub Rescued From Luggage

The 31-year-old Thai national, whose identity has not been exposed by Thai authorities, was planned to board a Mahan Air flight to Iran. But when she was seen fraught with a large bag at check-in, airport officials decided to x-ray her luggage.

The x-rays discovered the tranquilized tiger cub among stuffed-tiger toys, according to a statement released by TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network.

Officials are investigating whether the cub was wild caught or captive-bred, as well as where the woman planned to bring the tiger.

All Asian tigers are scheduled as endangered or worse by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), mostly due to the illegal trade in tiger parts

Edible flowers Give Meals Zest

I've blogged about eating weeds; why not flowers?  The same caution however:  Know What You Are Eating!  Read here:

Colorado State University Extension - Edible flowers give meals zest

Millers Point and Barangaroo

This view of the inner city suburbs of Millers Point and Barangaroo is from a ferry on Sydney Harbour. Moore's Wharf and the Operational Headquarters of the Sydney Ports Corporation in the foreground and the Palisade Hotel on the horizon are in Millers Point. The Harbour Control Tower and the city's former port facilities, which are soon to be redeveloped, were formerly part of Millers Point but are now part of a new suburb known as Barangaroo.

Click here to view all participants of Skywatch Friday

Mars Hill in Athens

As we have been touring Athens, one of the great thrills for me was going to Mars Hill or the "Areopagus" as they call it. Greek mythology describes it as "Ares Rock" where Ares was tried by the gods for the murder of Poseidon's son. From these myths, the Areopagus eventually became a sort of "final court of appeals", a place where cases were debated, heard and retried. It remained that way, in a number of forms, right up through Roman times when it was called Mars Hill after the Roman god of war.

More importantly, to Christians, it is the place where Paul delivered his sermon concerning the Greek temples and statues and the altar to the unknown god in Acts 17. God took Paul to Athens' most respected court of appeals to have him present the Gospel! It was a major turning point in Paul's ministry in Athens and it led to Paul's decision to move on to Corinth immediately afterward.

Looking at the Acropolis, the Areopagus is the large rock immediately to to right and below the Parthenon as shown in the picture to the left.

Approaching the rock, from the paths lining the bottom of the Acropolis, it's huge size becomes evident, even in the imposing shadow of the Acropolis. The Areopagus has become a popular stop for those touring the Acropolis.

One of the reasons for this is the magnificent view of the Acropolis, The Parthenon and the other structures on top of the Acropolis looming over it. BTW, yes, the sky is actually that blue in Greece!

The other reason is because, even though it is lower than the Acropolis, Mars Hill still commands a magnificent view of the city sprawling below as well as the surrounding countryside. That's a small part of Athens and one of the many hills surrounding it in the pic to the left. The photo on the right is another view of Athens but also shows the Ancient Agora below the Areopagus. The Agora was a meeting/shopping/city center type place.












These steps (left) were built before the 1st Century. They are cut into the rock and covered in marble. They lead from the very windy top of the rock, down into a natural and quiet amphitheater at the bottom and are quite likely where Paul stood to deliver his sermon.

While we were leaving the area to begin our walk up to the Acropolis, we got a totally unexpected surprise. A mysterious looking character showed up and began to walk slowly up the steps to the top of the Areopagus. There was something about him that drew everyone's attention. Maybe it was the strange garb. Maybe it was his deliberate and purposeful steps taking him to the heights of Mars Hill. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched him as he made the long climb. When he got to the top, he turned to the crowd below and began to preach. No one knew who he was but none could deny his commanding presence, given the power of his message and his ancient appearance....some say it was Paul himself, returning one more time to plead his case to the Athenians. If he had actually been there, I'm sure Paul would have said, "Whoever he is...he is only a man, wretched and poor just like me." In our amazement and awe, we almost forgot to take a picture. We managed to get only one just before he...disappeared......