Something Went Right

Looks like France upped the "I’m going to be faster" race with trains, but do it in a way that consumes 30 percent less energy.

The French firm Alstom unveiled its successor to the TGV, appropriately called the AGV (Automotrice Grande Vitesse).

Each carriage has it’s own engine, consumes 30% less energy, is lighter, carries up to 700 passengers and travels up to 223 MPH (360 KPH).

Also, look for these trains to show up in Italy in 2011.

For more on this, head over to the story by the BBC.

That’s right, another example of a crazy celebration of that wacky pastime "let’s do something that could go horribly, HORRILBY wrong - but if it works, it would be cool" stunt.

Trying to prove that an Aston Martin is fast, let’s race a man with a rocket pack strapped to his back and see who wins. Surprisingly, it’s closer than I thought…

What is it about "being blackest" that makes this of note? Well, light absorption is one of the benefits of being the blackest.

A researcher at Rice University has created the darkest material to date through the use of carbon nanotubes. Only 0.045% of light is reflected and is 4 times darker than the pervious known substance. Or:

and more than 100 times darker than the paint on a black Corvette.

Uses are many, but consider the impact on solar energy.

For more information, have a look at the Houston Chronicle article by Eric Berger.

Does your cat have a thinning hair problem? Is it bald? Is it greying? Well, these products might just be for you and your precious pet.

The Kitty Wig is $50.00 and is available at the Kitty Wigs Web Site. 20% of the profits are being donated to the ASPCA.

But wait, if you order now, you also get a round metal wig case. There’s more, you also get a mouse with rattle toy… "Operators are standing by"

This is being field under Humor. More pictures after the jump…

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A little smile for the day if you’re a dog lover…

GM showed off it’s new Hydrogen fuel cell based "crossover" concept car at CES in Las Vegas this week.

The Provoq is built on the same E-Flex system that the electronic Volt that debuted at the Detroit show.

What’s special about this (other than the cool styling)? To quote GM:

The concept can drive 300 miles (483 km) on a single fill of hydrogen - with 280 miles (450 km) from hydrogen and 20 miles (32 km) on pure, battery electric energy…a pair of 10,000 psi (700 bar) composite storage tanks beneath the rear cargo floor hold 13.2 pounds (6 kg) of hydrogen to feed the fuel cell stack, located under the hood. There, hydrogen mixes with oxygen to generate electricity - up to 88 kW continuous power. A lithium-ion battery pack can store up to a total of 9kWh of electrical energy and also provides a peak of 60 kW of power for additional performance…the electricity generated by the fuel cell is distributed to a 70 kW co-axial drive system for the front wheels and individual, 40 kW wheel hub motors on the rear wheels, giving the Cadillac Provoq its all-wheel-drive traction and great driving dynamics. Its 0-60 mph (approximately 100 km/h) speed of 8.5 seconds is a more than 30-percent improvement over the previous-generation fuel cell system and with instantaneous torque to the wheels, it feels even faster. Provoq has a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).

More pictures after the jump…

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Remember my post on Honda’s new Hydrogen car?

Reportedly they are planning on mass producing this within 10 years according to Honda Motor Company President Takeo Fukui.

The major hurdle to the spread of fuel cell vehicles is the lack of facilities to supply hydrogen. Honda is developing a home-use system for producing hydrogen from natural gas.
Fukui said that once the technical problem is resolved, infrastructure for supplying fuel would be established.

Check out the article in the Jiji Press.

Got a giggle out of this. Kind of a "stupid thing to do" moment.

Keith Allen Sturgill tried to rob a Columbus, OH East Side Wendy’s on Deember 27th, 2007 by forcing an employee back inside where two other employees were getting the restaurant ready to open.

He demanded money, but the safe had a time lock on. In the meantime, an employee’s phone rang. Sturgill yelled that he’d shoot if anyone answered the phone, police said. But his screams to not answer the phone instead activated the employee’s Bluetooth that was on her ear.

Needless to say, after the phone rang, the caller heard what was going on and called the police. Sturgill was so distraught that he ended up banging his own head with his gun as oficers tried to talk him into surrendering.

Sturgill spent last night in the Franklin County jail on charges of aggravated robbery and kidnapping, but police likely will seek more charges when they take his case before a Franklin County grand jury.

For more, check out the story in The Columbus Dispatch by Jodi Andes and the UPI story.

The original members of Straight No Chaser perform their comedic version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" at the Musical Arts Center, Bloomington, Indiana. December 7th, 1998. Spend the 3:29 minutes and listen…

"But he’s blind" says the reporter. "No he’s not" says mom, he just can’t see with his eyes. "No one will ever tell him that he can’t do anything" says mom.

Well, check out the video (and more after the jump) for something truly inspirational and totally amazing…

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