July
30


Recruit Co Ltd (a human resources and classifieds company in Japan) is delivering advertising videos for the cafes and restaurants in the underground mall of Tokyo Station by using the Scent-emitting LCD Display System. The system, developed by NTT Communications Corp (a subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corporation) emits appetizing aromas along with the advertising videos shown on a 42-inch LCD display. In front of the LCD display, there are coupon books that can be used at the restaurants advertised in the videos. So, the purpose of the system is to attract people by videos and scents, and to make them grab a copy of the coupon books. This experiment is being conducted to verify the system’s effect of drawing customers.

Also, in this experiment, Recruit utilizes the “Commercializer,” Recruit’s service of making advertising videos for free, to reduce the time and cost required to create the video contents. The Commercializer enables to easily make advertising videos just by using pictures and texts on the templates available on the company’s Web site. Recruit began this experiment July 18, 2008, and plans to continue it until Aug 1.

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June
18


In honor of today’s Firefox 3 release, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer team gave a cake to Mozilla. The tasty treat, which prominently displays IE’s blue “e” icon, just arrived here at Mozilla headquarters in Mountain View.

The cake congratulates Mozilla on shipping Firefox 3 and expresses love from the IE team. Microsoft’s IE developers also sent a cake to Mozilla in 2006 following the release of Firefox 2, so this is clearly becoming a tradition.

Portal jokes aside, the cake is a very friendly gesture of goodwill. As we have noted recently, the Internet Explorer team could learn a lot from Mozilla. Closer cooperation between Microsoft and Mozilla on standards and web innovation would be a big win for everyone. But until Microsoft gets its act straightened out, Mozilla will be eating Internet Explorer’s marketshare in addition to cake.

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June
17

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What did the first quasars look like? The nearest quasars are now known to be supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies. Gas and dust that falls toward a quasar glows brightly, sometimes outglowing the entire home galaxy. The quasars that formed in the first billion years of the universe are more mysterious, though, with even the nature of the surrounding gas still unknown.

Above, an artist’s impression shows a primordial quasar as it might have been, surrounded by sheets of gas, dust, stars and early star clusters. Exacting observations of three distant quasars now indicate emission of very specific colors of the element iron. These Hubble Space Telescope observations, which bolster recent results from the WMAP mission, indicate that a whole complete cycle of stars was born, created this iron, and died within the first few hundred million years of the universe.

Image credit: NASA/ESA/ESO/Wolfram Freudling et al. (STECF)

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June
5


When the temperature starts to rise there’s nowhere better to chill out than by the pool, but not all pools are equal: some swimming pools are destinations in and of themselves. From amazing infinity pools at resorts in exotic locations to visually compelling pools with awesome waterfalls and special effects built in, these are designed to make you feel cool both in and out of the water. Here’s a look at 15 of the most luxurious swimming pools you’ll find anywhere in the world.

Perivolas Hotel, Santorini

Perivolas Hotel: It is difficult to tell where the pool ends and the waters of the Aegean Sea begin since the infinity pool at this Santorini hotel appear to stretch all the way to the horizon. The accommodation here are designed to rejuvenate you completely, aided by what is widely considered to be one of the best hotel pools in the world. What an idyllic place to spend a holiday!

Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay, Oman

Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay: If you’ve never considered taking a trip to Oman then you probably didn’t know that you could stay a place as luxurious as this! Since it has only been open since in 2008, you could be among the first visitors to take advantage of the opportunity. There are seventy nine different pool villas so you can really retreat into relaxation in a private area all your own. Yes, you read that correctly. Seventy nine pools.

Joule Hotel, Dallas

Joule Hotel: There have been rumours about this amazing hotel swimming pool for several years (originally under the name Elan Hotel) but the place hasn’t actually opened to the public yet. It is due to open this year and crowds are sure to flock to it for the chance to check out the amazing opportunity to swim in the pool, which is located ten stories up and literally hangs off of the edge of the building. The end of it is made from glass so you can essentially swim off the side of the hotel to get a view of Dallas.

Banyan Tree Hotel, Seychelles

Banyan Tree Hotel: Another astounding infinity pool that stretches its way right to the beach is the one located at this hotel in the stunning island nation of Seychelles. It’s not often that you’re going to get to relax in the wonderful waters of a beautiful pool that overlooks the Indian Ocean just steps away so don’t neglect to take advantage of this opportunity if it ever comes along.

Four Seasons Resort Bali, Jimbaran Bay

Four Seasons Resort Bali: To get to the awe-inspiring infinity pool on the top floor of this resort hotel, you’re going to need to cross a wooden bridge. From the pool, you’ll be able to absorb the beauty of the surrounding Balinese jungle and over the beautiful Jimbaran Bay area.

One&Only Reethi Rah Resort, Maldives

One&Only Reethi Rah Resort: The Maldive Islands are a stunning destination which is perfect for relaxation because of the fact that the beautiful beaches offer plenty of activity on the water. However, you don’t have to leave the luxury of your resort to have a terrific water experience since this place has an amazing infinity pool that can caress your body into relaxation. The massive pool is shaded by tropical trees and leads right out into the ocean so you can go adventuring or just lounge around and relax. A poolside bar adds to the fun.

Intercontinental Hotel, Hong Kong

Intercontinental Hotel: The ideal way to enjoy the pool at this hotel is to book yourself a stay in The Presidential Suite which is 7,000 square feet in size and includes a 2,500 square foot terrace where the private pool is located. However, there are multiple pools to choose from at this hotel and all of them are amazing. There’s a basic-but-beautiful outdoor pool inspired by the art of feng shui but what most people want to check out is the trio of infinity pools that are each heated to different temperatures to suit different people at different times.

Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas

Wynn Hotel: There are several different pools to choose from at The Wynn and all of them are luxurious as you would expect from one of the best hotels in Las Vegas. But the best is the one that’s only designed for high-rollers. These people spend a lot of money in the poolside casino while topless women swim around to provide Vegas-style entertainment.

Crown Macau, Taipa Island

Crown Macau: Hotel ratings technically only go up to five star but there are a handful of resorts that call themselves six star hot spots because they know that what they have to offer is better than the best out there. This is one of those places and the pool is one of the many things that adds to its luxury.

Gallery Hotel, Singapore

Gallery Hotel: This uber-hip design hotel has a lot of cool features but the one to really enjoy is the spectacular pool that overhangs the hotel. Three of the walls of this pool are glass so it gives you a really unique view of the city and the Singapore River below while you swim.

Hotel Habita, Mexico City

Hotel Habita: What better way to get a view of the largest city in the world than from the relaxing position of your boutique hotel’s rooftop pool? The pool’s also got some really cool design features that make it a pleasure to lounge in even without the stunning view

La Casa Que Canta, Mexico

La Casa Que Canta: This hotel has one of the world’s coolest infinity pools, featuring rounded ledges so you can sit right at the edge of the edgeless pool and look out over the Pacific Ocean. This isn’t the only pool that you’ll find at the hotel, though. Some of the suites have their own private pools and there is a free form saltwater pool with a jacuzzi attached to it that can add additional relaxation to your already delightful stay.

The Crater at Homestead Resort, Utah

The Crater at Homestead Resort: Utah is in the middle of the United States, nowhere near an ocean but you can enjoy all sorts of ocean-type activities (scuba diving, for example) in the underground pool at Homestead Resort. It’s a natural attraction formed from a limestone wall that’s filled with geothermal water. It’s healing, relaxing and totally amazing to experience.

Gran Hotel Central, Barcelona: Many of the world’s infinity pools lead straight out into the ocean. This one is a totally urban infinity pool located on the rooftop of a hotel in the center of Barcelona. You’ll feel like you’re absolutely on top of the world at this place!

Intercontinental Tahiti Resort, French Polynesia

Intercontinental Tahiti Resort: The only thing that can enhance the beauty of an already-idyllic location is a resort that has a truly beautiful pool that compliments and pays homage to the surrounding environment. If this part of the world could have gotten any better, it did so when the pools of this resort became an additional part of its landscape.

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May
30



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May
30

World premiere at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
New: Shell V-Power Diesel race fuel with GTL and BTL
Synthetic diesel fuel reduces emission of CO2

At the 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours on 14/15 June, the three Audi R10 TDI prototypes entered by Audi Sport Team Joest will race for the first time with the next generation of Biofuel manufactured from Biowaste and promising a reduction in the emission of CO2 by almost 90 per cent when compared with traditional diesel.

Audi fields the 650-hp plus R10 TDI, which has already won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, in sportscar races since 2006. Shell V-Power Diesel race fuel produced by development partner Shell has been used since the very beginning. It’s a particularly powerful and efficient synthetic fuel which is created from Natural Gas in a process called Gas To Liquids (GTL). Fuels with these components are already available at the pumps.

For the third appearance of the Audi R10 TDI at Le Mans, a small amount of Biofuel of the next generation is mixed for the first time with the previously well-proven GTL components: BTL (Biomass To Liquids), as it is officially called, is extracted from Biowaste that is unfit for use in foodstuffs, for example from waste wood. BTL promises a reduction in the amount of CO2 emission by almost 90 per cent compared to traditional diesel.

Although they are manufactured from different raw materials, the two alternative fuels BTL and GTL are practically Sulphur free and odourless. They combine quality and efficient combustion with reduced exhaust emissions.

“Audi voiced its support early for the use of next generation Biofuels at Le Mans,” explains Michael Dick, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG with responsibility for Technical Development. “It underlines our philosophy that we view Le Mans as a tough test field for new technologies which will be available at a later date in production cars for our customers. The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) provides the opportunity to use alternative drive concepts and fuels, which we exploit to the full.”

The V12 TDI known for its efficiency and fitted to the Audi R10 TDI has already been tested successfully with the new fuel on the dynamometer and during tests. The first public appearance follows this coming Sunday (1 June) at the official test day at Le Mans. It traditionally provides teams with the only opportunity to test on the 13.629-kilometre circuit of Le Mans before the race.

Practice is on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. All three cars of Audi Sport Team Joest and all nine drivers will be in action.

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May
29


Honda will begin sales of a new compact minivan, named the Freed, in Japan on May 30, 2008. This new model fuses an easy-to-use and spacious cabin with stylish design.Honda developed Minivan Freed with the goal of creating a minivan that is comfortable and easy-to-use for every passenger and that offers new value by enabling customers to fully and freely utilize this vehicle in activities that meet individual lifestyles ranging from daily transportation to leisure time trips.

Moreover, for the first time in a registration-class Honda vehicle, wheelchair-accessible models are offered in addition to versions with a side lift-up seat and passenger lift-up seat.

Three different versions are offered: the first seven-passenger vehicle in its class featuring captain’s seats in the second row; the first eight-passenger vehicle in its class; and a five-passenger type which offers a large, best-in-class cargo space. With the addition of these mobility assistive models, Honda positions Freed as a vehicle which fulfills the diverse needs of a wide range of customers

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April
1


An amazing picture of the lost city of the incas I wish I could go and have a look there.

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February
12


I was just browsing the internet and came across this little beauty. It is proven to get you laid the instant she open’s the envelope. Happy shagging :)

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February
12


Good gawd y’all, we don’t normally bother with fan renders and mockups, but excepting the awkward placement of the L and R triggers there’s almost nothing about this PSP re-visioning that leaves us wanting. Gank that UMD, add some flash memory, and this is our be-all end-all fantasy portable gaming device — that will likely never ever be made.

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