FT Chronicle

Officially announced this week was BMW’s new 5 Series Sedan. BMW fans will be happy to know what the carmaker has done to build on the previous already fantastic car.

At launch, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan will be available with one V-8 and one inline-6 gasoline engine. The top-of-the-range BMW 550i arrives with BMW’s “reverse-flow” V-8 engine featuring twin turbochargers and High Precision direct injection for maximum output of 400 hp.

The new 5 Series will be the first U.S.-market BMW other than the company’s new hybrids to get brake energy regeneration. Like the new electric power steering, this regen braking system uses a special heavy duty glass-mat battery in combination with an intelligently controlled alternator. While a normal alternator is being driven continuously, this unit only charges the battery when the car is decelerating to avoid adding any load to the engine.

Of course, the most obvious difference for the new 5 is its styling. Over the past decade, BMW has had some very controversial exercises in design, including the current E60 5 Series. The new 7 Series is considered one of the most successful BMW designs in many years and the 5 Series picks up that mantle. Unlike the the somewhat awkward looking Gran Turismo, the sedan keeps a lower profile more akin to the 4th generation E39 5 Series. The nose is also more upright like the 7 Series and GT compared to the slope back shape of the E60.

The new 2011 5 Series has been increased in length by 1.7 inches to 192.9 inches and width by 2.5 inches to 73.2 inch. Tech-wise, the car will feature a 4th generation iDrive control screen available. The 2011 5 Series is scheduled to go on sale in Europe in March 2010, and shortly after in North America and other international markets.

The new inline-6 of the BMW 535i features a single twin-scroll turbocharger, High Precision direct injection, and, for the first time, VALVETRONIC throttle-less intake technology. It delivers a maximum output of 300 hp and 300 lb-ft. The 535i and 550i will be available with a choice of 6-speed manual transmission, BMW’s new 8-speed automatic transmission, or new “Sport Automatic” 8-speed.
The 5 Series is an important model for BMW, particularly in North America where it’s the brand’s second best seller behind the 3 Series. Heading into 2010, BMW has expanded its mid-size line with the new Gran Turismo body style already on sale. However, the volume leader for the 5 Series is the four-door sedan, which officially debuts today. The 2011 model transitions to a new platform architecture shared with the latest 7 Series as well as the upcoming Rolls-Royce Ghost. The 5 Series sedan gets a four-inch shorter wheelbase than its siblings, but at 116.9 inches, it still stretches well past its competition. The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class runs a mere 113.1 inches between its axles and the Cadillac CTS is 113.4 inches.
Later, the BMW 528i will debut with a 240 hp inline-6 featuring lightweight magnesium-aluminum construction and VALVETRONIC throttle-less intake technology for efficiency and unparalleled responsiveness.
via autoblog.com

Realize the walk of faith is one step at a time, one day at a time, one problem at a time.

God’s will is like a flashlight in a dungeon. It doesn’t shine around corners but gives you just enough light for the next step.

-from Tomorrow Begins Today, Harold J .Sala

WINDERMERE, Florida (AP)— Tiger Woods gave his side of the story at last and took the blame for his car accident  but on his Website, not to police Sunday.

His statement failed to clear up any questions about the middle-of-the-night accident outside his Isleworth estate in which his wife told police she used a golf club to smash the back windows of the Cadillac SUV to help him out.

“This situation is my fault, and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me,” Woods said on his Web site. “I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Even so, Sgt. Kim Montes of FHP said troopers went to Woods’ $2.4 million estate anyway, only for attorney Mark NeJame to turn them away. The attorney gave troopers Woods’ driver’s license, registration and insurance as required by law for such accidents.

Woods is scheduled to compete at his Chevron World Challenge, which starts Thursday in California, although his tournament director did not know Woods’ status for the tournament—whether he would play or even attend.

According to the FHP accident report, Woods had just pulled out of his driveway when he struck a fire hydrant and then a tree. Woods said he had cuts, bruising and “right now I’m a little sore.”

Montes said the Woods’ car was towed for “safekeeping,” and authorities have already documented where the damage is on the vehicle and the point of impact.

The accident came two days after the National Enquirer published a story alleging that Woods had been seeing a New York night club hostess, and that they recently were together in Melbourne, where Woods competed in the Australian Masters.

Associated Press

NEW YORK – The couple who crashed President Barack Obama’s first state dinner are peddling their story to broadcast networks for hundreds of thousands of dollars, a television executive says.

The executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the network does not publicly discuss bookings, told The Associated Press that representatives for Michaele and Tareq Salahi contacted networks to urge them to “get their bids in” for an interview. The executive said the Virginia couple was looking for a payment in the mid-six figures range.

Meanwhile, CNN confirmed that the Salahis had canceled an appearance they had scheduled for “Larry King Live” on Monday.

Network news divisions say they don’t pay for interviews. But for eagerly sought interviews in the past, they have offered to pay for access to exclusive material, such as pictures or videos from their subjects.

Representatives for the couple did not immediately return telephone and e-mail requests for comment.

Michaele Salahis is a reality TV hopeful trying to get on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of D.C.” Her and her husband’s success in getting into the state dinner Tuesday without an invitation embarrassed the White House and Secret Service.

The agency acknowledged its officers never checked whether the couple were on the guest list before letting them onto the White House grounds. But it initially insisted Obama was never endangered by the security breach because the couple — like others at the dinner — had gone through magnetometers.

When it became clear the couple had interacted with Obama and Vice President Joe Biden during the event, Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan expressed concern and embarrassment. He said that while an investigation continues, the agency has taken measures to ensure the oversight is not repeated.

A White House photo showed the Salahis in the receiving line in the Blue Room with Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in whose honor the dinner was held. Obama and Michaele Salahi are smiling as she grasps his right hand with both of hers and her husband looks on. Singh is to Obama’s left.

On Saturday, Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-NY, who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, called for a review of Secret Service practices and asked for a briefing this week.

Agency spokesmen declined to comment on reports that agents had visited the Salahis’ vineyard in Hume, Va., in search of the couple. Voice mail messages left Saturday at two separate telephone numbers for the Oasis Winery, south of Washington, were not immediately returned.

It is unclear what the couple told officers at the checkpoint that allowed them to go through the security screening. The Salahis lawyer, Paul Gardner, posted a comment on their Facebook page saying his clients were cleared by the White House to be at the dinner.

Ever imagine or fantasizing your favorite anime or videogame characters?

You know the world and people may go freakin’ amazing, but here it is!

2012 may not come but blogs came spreading a news about a Nintendo DS dating sim Love Plus fan who liked a virtual girl a lot and decided to marry her. Yes, indeed. For real!!!

A Japanese gamer ‘Sal9000′ was formally tied the knot with Nene Anegasaki, one of the game’s three virtual girlfriends and of course with the weirdest wedding ceremony to happen.

Just a year ago when a Japanese man launched a signature campaign demanding Japanese government to permit the marriage with anime characters, legally.

Check out this video by Boing Boing, complete with footage of the happy, er, couple:

Associated Press

DHAKA, Bangladesh – A rescue ship righted a capsized ferry on Sunday, easing the work of those searching the submerged cabins for scores believed trapped inside more than a day after the boat sank in southern Bangladesh. So far, 51 people have been confirmed dead, authorities said.

The M.V. Coco was packed with hundreds of travelers leaving Dhaka to head home for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha when it went down late Friday. It started to take on water as it arrived at Nazirhat town in the coastal district of Bhola, 64 miles (104 kilometers) south of the capital.

Authorities said there were no passenger lists, so it was unclear how many people were aboard the vessel, but Dhaka’s private ETV television station said it could have been carrying more than 1,500 people. Officials would not say how many remained unaccounted for, but ATN television said it was as many as 80. The boat was approved to carry 1,000 people.

Some survivors said the boat hit a shoal as it approached the dock in Nazirhat, splitting the hull. As passengers scrambled to abandon the vessel, it tipped and partially sank in the Tetulia River.

“As I saw water in the lower deck, I jumped through the window and swam ashore,” Shahidul Islam, a survivor, said Saturday. “Many passengers were frightened after seeing water in the lower deck and started rushing out, causing the boat to tilt on one side.”

On Sunday, more than 36 hours after the ferry capsized, a rescue ship used iron ropes to right the submerged ferry, exposing 11 more bodies inside its water-filled hull, local police official Mohammad Mahmud said. Three bodies were pulled from the ferry early in the morning before it was righted.

The discovery of those bodies pushed the death toll to 51, Mahmud said.

Gas torches were used to cut open submerged cabins, and local residents joined divers to search for survivors inside the ferry. Police and fire brigade divers pulled 37 bodies from the sunken part of the vessel before darkness halted rescue work for the night on Saturday, said Saiful Islam and Showkat Hossain, local police officials supervising the effort. Many of the dead were women and children.

Police said they were waiting for a rescue vessel coming from the southern city of Barisal to pull the submerged ferry from the water, but it was unclear whether it would be able to reach the shore because of the shallow water near the bank.

“The picture about the death toll will be clear once the ferry is salvaged,” Islam said.

Hundreds of anxious relatives massed on the sandy river bank and searched for their missing loved ones.

Some complained that rescue work was slow as officials were on holiday for Saturday’s Eid celebration.

“The ferry sank just before midnight Friday, but rescuers did not arrive until the morning,” said survivor Sohel Hossain.

Ferries are a key mode of transport in the delta nation of 150 million people. Accidents blamed on lax rules, overcrowding and faulty boats are common. - AP

Want to experience extraordinary view? Why don’t you try this newest iPhone app that provides X-ray vision? That Bald Guy (AKA Michael Krivicka) decided to create a video demo for the ultimate AR iPhone app: NUDE IT. Think of NUDE IT as those X-Ray glasses from the back of old comic books.

from whoisthebaldguy.com

Razer has confirmed the launch of their latest gaming mouse. The Razer Imperator is another gaming grade mouse with a right-handed ergonomic design for palm and fingertip gamers.

The Razer Imperator is not just a mere mouse; it is an extension of your hands. Its right-handed ergonomic form factor with a contoured thumb grip delivers comfort and a better fit for gaming, whether you use a palm or fingertip grip. Be empowered to take on foes and fatigue alike – for longer gaming sessions without strain.

When every aspect of your game matters, customize your game play with the unique adjustable side buttons, giving you optimum reach for easier access to mission critical keys and macros.

The Razer Imperator’s right-handed ergonomic form factor maximizes comfort during intense and extended gameplay so you can outlast and outfrag the competition. The contoured thumb grip cradles your hand delivering increased control to low sensitivity gamers who often lift and swipe their mouse.

2 adjustable side buttons delivers optimum reach regardless of palm size or grip style; and for gamers who often lift their mouse or make rapid movements during gaming, the customizable buttons makes mission critical keys and macros accessible at all times.

The 5600dpi Razer Precision 3.5G laser sensor arms you with gaming grade precision and reliable tracking that will keep up with your every movement. Be it a small twitch of your wrist or a long range swipe to take out your foe, the Razer imperator delivers your every instruction with pinpoint accuracy.

Razer has designed the Imperator based on gaming-grade ergonomics, all of its contours and grooves have been crafted to maximise aggressive mousing movements.

The Razer Imperator is now available online at Razerzone.com for $79.99.
Resource Reading: razerzone.com