I wanna talk about Rubber Testers

Source: Setanta Sports ()

Martin O’Neill rubber-stamped his claims to become the next England coach by masterminding a supremely comfortable 3-0 Aston Villa victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Whisper it quietly but Teesside played witness to a coach who can win a game of football…producing attacking football…with English youngsters.

Goals from John Carew, Olof Mellberg and man-of-the-match Gabriel Agbonlahor did the damage for the visitors, who are now up to seventh in The Premier League.

With talk of potential England managers providing topic for debate at pubs, bus stops and breakfast tables all around the country, Saturday’s head-to-head at The Riverside brought together an interesting clash of touchline personalities.

O’Neill is the man tipped by many to become the next England coach, while Gareth Southgate would clearly disagree with the Ulsterman’s appointment after calling for an English manager for an England national side.

Both had big calls to make ahead of the game. Middlesbrough’s recent woes saw Southgate cut Adam Johnson’s loan spell at Watford short, and he wasted no time in throwing the winger into action – playing Jeremie Aliadiere as the lone striker.

O’Neill’s big decision was very much linked to the midweek troubles of England as he kept faith with blunder-goalkeeper Scott Carson. Agbonlahor also started after recovering from injury.

Carson was in the thick of the action from the start too, horribly slicing his first clearance inside two minutes. Then came a true tester.

Seven minutes into the Croatia match on Wednesday Carson made the mistake that will haunt him for years to come. Seven minutes into this match he produced a fine save to deny Stewart Downing as the winger bore down on goal.

It would prove to be Boro’s best moment of a match dominated by Villa – with Agbonlahor a consistent menace to the home defence.

Twice the England …

Source: Yahoo! Eurosport ()

Nick Heidfeld showed how much quicker a Formula One car will go on slick tyres by topping the opening day of testing at Jerez.

Heidfeld was running comparisons between the bald and grooved rubber as an evaluation exercise for tyre supplier Bridgestone.

And the 30-year-old German lapped the Spanish circuit in 1:19.042 late in the afternoon to cap a good first day’s work for the BMW Sauber team.

Britain’s Jenson Button was jus 0.113 seconds slower, but the Honda driver, who was also on slicks, had topped the timesheets for most of the day before Heidfeld went for a low-fuel run.

McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa proved though that Formula One’s current grooved tyres are still a force to be reckoned with as he lapped less than seven tenths of a second slower than Heidfeld, while using a number of new aerodynamic parts.

Kimi Raikkonen returned to action for Ferrari for the first time since winning the world title in Brazil two months ago and was fourth fastest, while Renault tester Nelson Piquet Jr staked his claim for a race seat next year in fifth, while concentrating on set-up work.

Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais, in his first Formula One test since making his switch from ChampCar racing to Toro Rosso permanent, was sixth.

Britain’s Gary Paffett, in the second McLaren, Red Bull’s Mark Webber - who was using 2008 electronics, Ferrari test driver Marc Gene and Britain’s Mike Conway, in a Super Aguri, completed the top ten.

Further back, former Renault driver Giancarlo Fisichella had his first run-out for Force India, with ex-Super Aguri racer Franck Montagny in the other machine, while Timo Glock had his first run for Toyota.

Nico Hulkenberg and Javier Villa both made their Formula One test debuts with Williams and BMW Sauber, with the German-Swiss team also running Estonian Marko Asmer.

Toyota test driver Kamui was the busiest man during the day, completing 114 laps with a 2008 rear end on …

Source: Cincinnati Enquirer ()

If you grow old in Japan, expect to be served food by a robot, ride a voice-recognition wheelchair or even possibly hire a nurse in a robotic suit - all examples of cutting-edge technology to care for the country’s graying population.

With nearly 22 percent of Japan’s people aged 65 or older, businesses have been rolling out everything from easy-entry cars to remote-controlled beds, fueling a care-technology market worth $1.08 billion in 2006, according to industry figures.

At a home care and rehabilitation convention in Tokyo, buyers crowded around a demonstration of Secom’s feeding robot, which helps elderly or disabled people eat with a spoon- and fork-fitted swiveling arm.

Operating a joystick with his chin, developer Shigehisa Kobayashi maneuvered the arm toward a block of tofu, deftly getting the fork to break off a piece. The arm then returned to a preprogrammed position in front of the mouth, allowing Kobayashi to bite.

“It’s all about empowering people to help themselves,” Kobayashi said. The company has already sold 300 robots, which are $3,500.

The weakening of family ties in recent years means a growing number of older Japanese are spending their golden years away from the care traditionally provided by children and grandkids.

That’s where technology steps in.

A rubber and nylon “muscle suit” developed by the Tokyo University of Science helps keep the elderly active by providing support for the upper body, arms and shoulders.

Powered by air pressure actuators, the suit - which looks like an oversized life jacket - provides subtle backing to help older people lift heavy objects.

The intelligent wheelchair TAO Aicle from Fujitsu and Aisin Seiki Co. uses a positioning system to automatically travel to a preset destination, and it uses sensors to detect and stop at red and to avoid obstacles.

Another wheelchair designed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology …

Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune (subscription) ()

COCONUT SPICE BREADMakes 2 loaves (8 to 10 slices each). • 3 c. all-purpose unbleached flour• 2 tsp. baking powder• 1 tsp. baking soda• 1/2 tsp. salt• 3 eggs• 1 1/2 c. sugar• 11/2 tsp. ground allspice or crushed allspice berries• 11/2 tsp. ground cinnamon• 1 c. mild flavored nut or vegetable oil• 1 c. buttermilk• 11/4 c. chopped walnuts or pecans • 11/2 c. sweetened flake coconut or dried coconut flakes• 2 tbsp. flour DirectionsPreheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter and then dust lightly with flour two (8 1/2- by 4 1/2- by 21/2-inch) loaf pans or two 8- by 2-inch) cake pans, or two (6-cup) ring molds.Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, and set aside.Combine the eggs, sugar, allspice and cinnamon in a large bowl. Using a handheld electric mixer, beat the mixture until frothy. Add the oil and beat on medium speed until well-blended, for about 2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula once or twice.Quickly add the sifted flour to the bowl alternately with the buttermilk, using a large mixing spoon. Then beat the batter briskly with the spoon about 30 seconds, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.Toss the walnuts and coconut with the 2 tablespoons flour and stir into the batter, mixing well but gently. Pour the batter into the buttered pans, dividing evenly between the two. Shake the pans to level the batter. Place the pans on the lower shelf of the hot oven. Don’t allow the pans to touch.Bake for 40 minutes and then insert a metal tester or toothpick into the center of the breads to test for doneness. If the tester comes out clean but moist and the breads are golden brown, they are done. If not, bake 5 or so minutes longer, and test again, watching carefully.When done, remove the breads from the oven and cool in the pans on a wire rack for about 12 minutes. the breads out of the pans and onto the wire rack and serve warm, if desired. …

Source: Sportinglife.com ()

Nick Heidfeld and Jenson Button set the pace on the opening day of testing at Jerez as the duo tried out Bridgestone’s slick tyres.

Button was the first to evaluate the slick tyres early in the day, immediately shooting to the top of the timesheets. However, Heidfeld’s laps on the same rubber saw the BMW driver edge ahead by 0.107 seconds.

Pedro de la Rosa was the quickest on the grooved tyres that the F1 teams will be using next season. The McLaren tester clocked a 1:19.712 to beat world champion Kimi Raikkonen by more than a quarter of a second. It was Raikkonen’s first day behind the wheel of Ferrari’s F2007 since winning the drivers’ title at the season-ending Brazilian GP.

Nelson Piquet Jr, who is prehaps vying for a race-seat with Renault for next season, set the fifth best time ahead of Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Bourdais.

Gary Paffett and Mark Webber completed the top eight.

Meanwhile, Timo Glock was in action for the first time for his new team, Toyota. He set the 13th best time, while Giancarlo Fisichella finished right behind him on the timesheets at the end of his first outing with Force India.

There were also F1 debuts for three drivers with Nico Hulkenberg having his first taste with Williams, while BMW tested Marko Asmer and Javier Villa.

Times:
01. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber 1:19.042 73 laps
02. Button Honda 1:19.155 65 laps
03. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes 1:19.712 48 laps
04. Raikkonen Ferrari 1:20.083 73 laps
05. Piquet Renault 1:20.366 66 laps
06. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:20.615 97 laps
07. Paffett McLaren-Mercedes 1:20.638 50 laps
08. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:20.682 65 laps
09. Gene Ferrari 1:20.832 67 laps
10. Conway Super Aguri-Honda 1:20.927 87 laps
11. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:21.086 45 laps
12. Rossiter Super 1:21.246 71 laps
13. Glock Toyota 1:21.336 69 laps
14. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 1:21.424 41 laps
15. Hulkenberg Williams-Toyota …

Source: Autoblog ()

click image above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Impreza Outback Sport

The standard new generation evolution usually goes like this: bigger, roomier, longer, wider. For some models, it’s not such a big deal to go fiddling with the specs, on certain cars it’s even a welcome improvement. Subaru, however, has a conundrum on their hands when they go messing with the Impreza formulation. There’s a loveable quirkiness to the recipe; start tinkering too much, though, and you’ll end up with New Coke.

Thus, it’s with trepidation that we sampled the 2008 Impreza. It certainly looks different than those which came before. New duds don’t mean an expanded waistline here, the 2008 model actually twirls out considerably less measuring tape in several dimensions than its forebear, while gaining inches and tenths where they make the most difference. Better doesn’t have enough depth to fully convey the marked improvements Subaru has made in their entry-level model for 2008. Even stretching to “a lot better” leaves more to be said

Gallery: 2008 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport

All photos ©2007 Dan Roth / Weblogs, Inc.
click any image to enlarge

Something that will not pass without controversy is the new styling direction the Impreza has taken. The bug-eyed, ugly to the point of cute previous version is replaced by sheetmetal that follows Subaru’s new styling playbook. The Impreza and the revised Tribeca have both shed their off-center exteriors for less outré designs. While we weren’t in love with the new look when we first saw it, we’ve come to appreciate how the clean flanks and crisp surfacing are handsome without being overwrought. The Impreza Outback Sport 5-door carries a stylish hatch profile on its tight dimensions.

The design might be viewed as bland by some, but there are hints of adventure. The hood a couple of quick, gestural creases, and the C-Pillar has the reverse-kick that’s become universally popular …

Source: Sportinglife.com ()

Nick Heidfeld and Jenson Button set the pace on the opening day of testing at Jerez as the duo tried out Bridgestone’s slick tyres.

Button was the first to evaluate the slick tyres early in the day, immediately shooting to the top of the timesheets. However, Heidfeld’s laps on the same rubber saw the BMW driver edge ahead by 0.107 seconds.

Pedro de la Rosa was the quickest on the grooved tyres that the F1 teams will be using next season. The McLaren tester clocked a 1:19.712 to beat world champion Kimi Raikkonen by more than a quarter of a second. It was Raikkonen’s first day behind the wheel of Ferrari’s F2007 since winning the drivers’ title at the season-ending Brazilian GP.

Nelson Piquet Jr, who is prehaps vying for a race-seat with Renault for next season, set the fifth best time ahead of Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Bourdais.

Gary Paffett and Mark Webber completed the top eight.

Meanwhile, Timo Glock was in action for the first time for his new team, Toyota. He set the 13th best time, while Giancarlo Fisichella finished right behind him on the timesheets at the end of his first outing with Force India.

There were also F1 debuts for three drivers with Nico Hulkenberg having his first taste with Williams, while BMW tested Marko Asmer and Javier Villa.

Times:
01. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber 1:19.042 73 laps
02. Button Honda 1:19.155 65 laps
03. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes 1:19.712 48 laps
04. Raikkonen Ferrari 1:20.083 73 laps
05. Piquet Renault 1:20.366 66 laps
06. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:20.615 97 laps
07. Paffett McLaren-Mercedes 1:20.638 50 laps
08. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:20.682 65 laps
09. Gene Ferrari 1:20.832 67 laps
10. Conway Super Aguri-Honda 1:20.927 87 laps
11. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:21.086 45 laps
12. Rossiter Super 1:21.246 71 laps
13. Glock Toyota 1:21.336 69 laps
14. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 1:21.424 41 laps
15. Hulkenberg Williams-Toyota …

Source: HeraldNet ()

This recipe from Carole Bloom’s “The Essential Baker” produces a gingerbread that is soft and cakelike with rich aromas of ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Serve it with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Start to finish, it takes about an hour and 15 minutes.

Gingerbread

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened, plus 1 stick, also softened

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon ground ginger

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

1 cup molasses

1 cup boiling water

Center a rack in the oven and preheat it to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with foil, letting the foil hang about 2 inches over the sides. Use a paper towel or your fingertips to coat the inside of the foil with 1 tablespoon butter.

Over a large piece of waxed or parchment paper, or over a bowl, sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves. Add the nutmeg and salt and toss to blend.

Place the stick of butter in the bowl of an electric stand mixer or a large bowl. Use the flat beater attachment or a hand-held mixer to beat the butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and cream together until smooth. Stop and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

In a small bowl, use a fork to lightly beat the eggs. Add the eggs and molasses to the butter mixture. The eggs will sit on top of the butter mixture, so stop after adding each one and scrape down the and bottom of the bowl.

The mixture may look curdled as the eggs are added, but as …

Source: Times Online ()

How was your weekend shopping? However good, I bet you didn’t manage to get
your hands on a genuine Swiss cowbell, complete with decorative collar and
deafening clang. Nor any lychee liqueur, unseasonable rubber beach shoes, a
beaten-up artist’s easel or six packets of old Dead Sea mud, let alone
sample-size lip-sticks in unwearable colours.

Had you passed by my makeshift stall at the regular Battersea Park Road car
boot sale on Sunday, however, these unique items might have been yours, as
my friend Lucy and I attempted to declutter our homes and improve our
cashflow.

With belt-tightening all the rage this season we thought we would try our hand
as barrow-girls, managing to get to the end of a weekend in better financial
shape than we started and to have an adventure in the process. I made nearly
£80 net, while Lucy, owing to a potent mix of strange technological kit and
natural flair, walked away with £200 and a potential date.

I would be happy to recommend the experience to anyone wondering how to
prepare for a possible economic downturn. But it could have gone so wrong.

Instead of getting up at 7am to be in Holloway to secure a space at the
nearest sale, found by scouring the internet listings, we crawled out at
gone eight, shoving extra bags and boxes into the back of my already crammed
car and worrying about what the reviewer of the sale meant by “vibrant”.
Tiptoeing to the rear of McDonald’s on the Seven Sisters Road our worst
fears were confirmed: a huddle of desperate-looking people with plastic bags
was waiting in line to dispose of a few possessions.

When a man in wonky glasses raised the armpit of a shirt to his nose in a
crude act of quality control, we stopped dithering and beat a tactical
retreat. However, a phone call to the organiser of the afternoon sale off
Battersea Park Road booked slot number 116, free thanks to a last minute
cancellation. We were in business.

Amateurish …

Source: Times Online ()

A question. What is the most important safety feature on your car? Relatively
recent technology such as an airbag or antilock brakes, perhaps, or
something more basic, such as the seatbelt? Each has merits, but there is
one vehicle component as essential as any and arguably more so: the humble
tyre.

Going round a tight bend, the immutable laws of physics state that your car
should head for the ditch or wall on the opposite side of the road. Yet it
does not – and all because of those four footprints of rubber.

Safety can be sexy. The automotive industry’s latest innovations, such as
adaptive cruise control to stop you hitting the car in front, or blind-spot
warning systems to prevent you pulling `out` into someone’s path, get plenty
of column inches in the motoring press. And because they are new and clever,
they have the “wow” factor that appeals to car buyers.

Not so tyres. They have been around in broadly the same format for 100 years,
so they do not get the same attention. Checking the pressures on the garage
forecourt is a chore most motorists know that they should do but find a
reason not to. We rely on the MoT tester to tell us when the tread is low
and then moan about the cost of replacements. “Have you got anything
cheaper?” is the question most often heard at the nation’s fast-fit tyre
outlets.

All of the above is why Britain’s first National Tyre Safety Month is running
throughout October to raise awareness about the benefits of having the
correct pressure and tread – improved road safety, reduced fuel and tyre
costs, plus fewer CO2 emissions (see panel, below right).

The campaign has been organised by TyreSafe, the not-for-profit organisation
formerly known as the Tyre Industry Council. Its research shows that about
12 per cent of cars on UK roads have at least one defective even that
it is an improvement on the 20 per cent a few years ago. TyreSafe …