Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Report: Ford SYNC modified for autobahn speeds

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Sync Navigation Screen

Ford had to implement a few tweaks to its SYNC navigation system before introducing it to Europe. Automotive News reports that the company's engineers have programmed the software to understand 10,000 commands in 19 languages, but SYNC also had to be calibrated to work at higher speeds. Developers discovered that the navigation couldn't warn drivers about which exit to take while cruising along with traffic on the autobahn. As a result, the system had to be reworked to tell pilots about their upcoming exit a little farther in advance.

Ford claims that 2 million vehicles in Europe will have SYNC on board by 2015. That seems plenty feasible given the fact that 3 million cars, trucks and SUVs have been sold with SYNC in the U.S. since 2007. Ford is set to introduce SYNC at the IFA consumer electronics trade show in Berlin later this week, and European buyers will be able to option their purchases with the system starting next year.

Ford SYNC modified for autobahn speeds originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/31/ford-sync-modified-for-autobahn-speeds/

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Spy Shots: Sacha Baron Cohen's gold-plated Dartz spied

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The Dictator Sacha Baron Cohen Dartz Kombat

Sacha Baron Cohen is currently working up his next contribution to cinema. The Dictator is a spoof flick built around a persona very similar to Saddam Hussein, the former ruler of Iraq. Cohen has turned to Russian SUV manufacturer Dartz to supply a few vehicles for his motorcade, and the automaker responded with a set of gold-plated Kombat wagon models. A few shots of the vehicles have made their way to the web, and we have to say that they wouldn't look out of line cruising through the oil-rich sands of pre-invasion Iraq.

The Dictator is set to land in movie theaters in May 2012 with director Larry Charles behind the wheel. Word has it celebrities like Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley and Megan Fox will all make appearances in the flick, though it's unclear what part they'll play in the action. Head over to GT Spirit for a closer look at the gold-plated Kombat wagons.

Sacha Baron Cohen's gold-plated Dartz spied originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/31/sacha-baron-cohens-gold-plated-dartz-spied/

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Orlando Johnson got better while overseas

Big West teams know all about UC Santa Barbara star Orlando Johnson, and the rest of the country should get to know him as well if it hasn't done so already.

Not only did the 6-foot-5 guard lead the conference in scoring last season, averaging 21.1 points, but also that makes him the nation's second-leading returning scorer.

Johnson withdrew his name from the NBA draft to return for his senior season and has already impressed this summer by making the USA's World University Games team where he averaged 7.3 points during the trip to Shenzhen, China.

That scoring average might not appear all that exciting, but the rest of the Big West should know that what really benefited Johnson overseas was an emphasis on his all-around game, according to the Santa Barbara News-Press.
"[World University Games] coach (Matt) Painter said he was looking at bigger things," Johnson said. "He told me, 'You did everything else -- you rebounded, you played defense, you're passing the ball ... I know you'll be able to score the ball, but it's the other things, like being a play-maker, which will get you on the team.'"

...

"They really opened his eyes to the value of defense," [UC Santa Barbara coach Bob] Williams said. "Over there, he was asked to be the stopper. As a coach, what do you think? I'm just smiling. Absolutely. All of a sudden, your best player realizes that he has the ability to be the stopper?

"I feel really, really good about what he's learned, and also about the relationship he had with the coaches and the interaction with the players from all different levels. He had an unbelievable experience."

Look for Johnson to team up with backcourt mate James Nunnally as the Gauchos look to capture their third consecutive NCAA tournament berth. Long Beach State is the favorite to win the regular-season title, but UCSB is right there, �especially with Johnson becoming an improved player.

That Johnson expanded his game wasn't the only uplifting part of his China trip. He was also selected to represent the entire American delegation as the flag bearer during the opening ceremonies of the World University Games.

As the video shows, it was quite a cool moment.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/34764/orlando-johnson-got-better-while-overseas

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Artest to be on 'Dancing With the Stars' (AP)

The new cast of "Dancing With the Stars" has been revealed. ABC says the 13th season of the hit show will feature a mix of actors, athletes and TV personalities. Set to tango and quickstep with professional dance partners will be basketball star Ron Artest; World Cup soccer player Hope Solo; reality stars Robert Kardashian, Kristin Cavallari and Chaz Bono; TV personalities Nancy Grace,...

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=123mqt6r3/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-tv-dancingwiththestars

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Stan Van Gundy Speaks The Truth About College Athletics

Source: http://www.celticsblog.com/2011/8/28/2389869/stan-van-gundy-speaks-the-truth-about-college-athletics

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Mr. Consistency Ray Allen (via got 'em coach)

Source: http://www.celticsblog.com/2011/8/30/2394792/mr-consistency-ray-allen-via-got-em-coach

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Ford B-Max


The new generation Fiesta turned out to be a very successful model all over the world, proving that Ford understands that small cars are the future of the automotive industry. After seeing the B-Max concept at the Geneva Motor Show, our spy photographers have now caught the production version testing in Germany.

The future Ford B-Max will be placed below the C-MAX from which it will borrow numerous design elements. Compared to the Fiesta, the B-Max will be longer and taller, but it will come with rear sliding doors that make it really practical at narrow parking places. This will no doubt be a feature all parents will appreciate.

Under the hood, Ford will place a 1.0 liter three cylinder EcoBoost engine with both direct injection and turbo. Next to this, however, Ford will be offering more conventional petrol and diesel engines from the Fiesta range.

The new B-Max will be unveiled in 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show and will go into production at Ford?s Craiova plant in Romania. Sales will begin in the next 12 months.

Ford B-Max originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 31 August 2011 08:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/ford/2013-ford-b-max-ar115397.html

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Abarth 695 Competizione


Now that the Frankfurt Motor Show is just around the corner, automakers everywhere are releasing details of the vehicles scheduled to appear on the show floor. Abarth’s latest jewel is the 695 Competizione - the first "street legal" Scorpion racing car.

The Abarth 695 Competizione was inspired by the Abarth 500 Assetto Corsa and is painted in an exclusive Grigio Competizione Opaco livery. Other exterior features include Xenon headlights, 17" rims borrowed from the "Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari," and stronger suspension and brake systems. This is all joined by "695" logos and "Competizione" graphics.

The interior of the special edition is a main attraction all on its own with "Abarth Corsa by Sabelt" seats in black leather with Alcantara red inserts, a carbon fiber shell, and a black leather steering wheel with a tricolor hub and red inserts, fitted with 5-speed "Abarth Competizione" gearshift paddles. The carbon fiber dashboard with the Abarth Blue&MeTM MAP satellite navigation unit and a telemetric function developed in conjunction with Magneti Marelli is highlighted with the car’s Jaeger instrument panel. The Grigio Competizione Opaco color found on the exterior of the car also finds its way inside as the new roll bar - replacing the rear seats - is found donning the shade.

Power for the Abarth model has also been upgraded, so even though there’s a 1.4L Turbo T-Jet 16v engine found under the hood, it has been tuned to deliver more than 180 HP. This engine is mated to an "Abarth Competizione" gearbox with race-inspired steering wheel controls.

Abarth 695 Competizione originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 August 2011 14:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/abarth/2012-abarth-695-competizione-ar115379.html

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Video: Why yes, a garbage truck can drive on two wheels

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dump truck

Here in the U.S., garbage trucks are mainly for picking up, crushing and dumping trash. The same garbage trucks roles no doubt apply in Saudi Arabia, except when the trash hauler doubles as a crowd-pleasing stunt car.

Beyond the jump is video of a thankfully trash-less garbage truck that has a knack for driving on two wheels. That's always fun, and the enjoyment lasts for over two minutes, thanks to some very impressive Dukes of Hazzard meets Roc skills. Halfway in, a Jeep Cherokee joins in the two-wheeled fun.

It's cool and all... but we'll stick with Big Foot and his Monster Jam friends for our after-hours crazy truck coverage. Hit the jump to watch the video.

Continue reading Why yes, a garbage truck can drive on two wheels

Why yes, a garbage truck can drive on two wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/30/why-yes-a-garbage-truck-can-drive-on-two-wheels/

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Hummer H1 by Cam-Shaft


It’s been over a year since the last Hummer rolled out of GM’s production facility, but Cam-Shaft was able to snag one of the remaining off-road monsters for a little virtual makeover. The premium wrapping team in Steinbach were hired by the owner of this H1 to turn the vehicle into a rolling tribute to Call of Duty, a popular first-person and third-person shooter video game series.

This special Hummer H1 was created with the help of co-operation and joint efforts which discussed the project thoroughly before coming up with various sketches (some accepted, some rejected). The final goal was to create a perfect combination illustrating their love for cars and video games.

The H1 was then transformed with a matte black vinyl wrap and various "Call of Duty" logos and inscriptions, as well as other minor styling modifications. In the end, they added a special set of games logo and other styling details and a special set of giant wheels and offroad tires to complete the menacing look.

Hummer H1 by Cam-Shaft originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 August 2011 10:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/hummer/2011-hummer-h1-by-cam-shaft-ar115342.html

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Rendering: 2013 Ferrari 599 Replacement (F152)

1.

While the Ferrari 599 will still beat on in the hearts of many, the Italian sports car’s run will be coming to an end after over six years of production. But fear not, Ferrari lovers, a new replacement - codenamed "F152" - is hitting the asphalt and is expected to race into the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March for its official debut. Sales should begin shortly thereafter.

The 599 replacement will be built on an all-new chassis and will borrow design elements from both the 2012 Ferrari FF and the Ferrari California. The model will get modified bumpers and new headlamps, a modified bonnet, and a new exhaust system with tips that sit higher than on the current 599.

The Ferrari "F152" will be powered by a direct injected 6.3-liter V-12 - the same as in the the FF - with a total output of 700 HP. The engine will be combined with a rear-wheel drive system and the Ferrari?s latest seven-speed dual clutch gearbox.

Rendering: 2013 Ferrari 599 Replacement (F152) originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 August 2011 16:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/rendering-2013-ferrari-599-replacement-f152-ar115398.html

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Mark Emmert defends enforcement process

The NCAA did not need the Miami situation. The organization has already had a very tough year -- it's just been one major, high-profile scandal after another, and meanwhile the BCS conferences only grow more powerful -- and at each step along the way critics have excoriated it for inconsistent punishment and feckless governance.

The allegations levied at Miami only doubled down on those perceptions. Even worse, former Miami athletic director Paul Dee, who oversaw the program through some of the most obvious years of Nevin Shapiro's existence, was the chairman of the committee on infractions when the committee levied harsh penalties against USC. His condescending tone toward USC in that case -- Dee famously said that "high-profile athletes require high-profile compliance" -- has, to critics, become a pitch-perfect symbol of the NCAA's inability to police itself.

In other words, NCAA president Mark Emmert's job is not an enviable one. He's the face of the organization, the one in charge of explaining the NCAA's beliefs to the public. The questions are only getting more pointed. Emmert appeared on ESPN late last week to discuss the need for reform, and he repeated that belief in an interview with the Los Angeles Times today. But he's also standing by the NCAA's enforcement process -- despite the concerns about Dee's time as the COI chair. From the interview:

The chairman [Dee] was one of nine voices on the committee. He has no more power than anyone else. We look at individual cases on their merits. What happened at Miami has no bearing on USC. I understand it doesn't feel right. We decide cases based on the facts on the ground, and we will continue to do that.

There's a whole lot in the interview, so you should read it all. Emmert is willing to bend on some issues. This, unfortunately, was not one of them.

It's a difficult response to swallow. For years, the Miami athletics department allowed a Ponzi-scheming hanger-on to commit violate just about every amateurism rule in the book, and he did so while he led Miami on the field on Saturdays. Shapiro had his own suite at home games and a players' lounge named after him. If high-profile athletes require high-profile compliance, as Dee said, then he was failing in his job even as he chided other programs for their violations. Emmert would be better off admitting to how regrettable this situation was, and he should be as open to reforming the NCAA committee on infractions as he is the cost-of-attendance scholarship structure.

After all, there's no way to eradicate cheaters in college sports. Whenever there's money to be made or games to be won, people will bend the rules to do so. Giving players an extra $2,000 a year might help lessen players' feeling that they're being exploited by an unfair system. Making sure cheaters know they "can no longer do a cost-benefit analysis of cheating," as Emmert says, may help in deterrence. But as the NCAA has stepped up its enforcement efforts in recent years, it's pulled back the curtain on the widespread rule-breaking at big-time college programs.

No public relations effort is going to solve that. But what Emmert can do is admit where the NCAA needs to get better -- not only in its policies governing memberships, but in the composition of the committees that police those members. It needs to be transparent. It needs to explain to fans the why just as much as the what.

And it needs to be flexible. If it can't do that, it can't change. If it can't change, it can't survive. The NCAA's continued existence is not guaranteed. Incrementalism -- buttressed by a frustrating inability to admit fault -- isn't going to get the job done.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/34732/mark-emmert-defends-enforcement-process

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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

JE Design Seat Ibiza

Source: http://www.carsession.com/car-news/je-design-seat-ibiza.html

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Superchips Audi A1

Source: http://www.carsession.com/car-news/superchips-audi-a1.html

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Police: Crittenton was out for revenge (AP)

In this Jan. 25, 2010 file photo, the Wizards Javaris Crittenton leaves D.C. Superior Court in Washington.

A former NBA player who is accused of shooting an Atlanta woman to death appeared to be retaliating for being robbed of $55,000 worth of jewelry, police said. Javaris Crittenton, who was suspended from the NBA along with his ex-teammate Gilbert Arenas for having guns in a locker room, was arrested late Monday at a Southern California airport.


Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=124nv9rkk/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-crittenton-murdercharge

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Alfa Romeo 4C GTA Concept


With only a teaser image to go on days before the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, everyone was thrilled to see Alfa Romeo unveil the 4C GTA Concept. According to Alfa Romeo, the 4C GTA is "a compact supercar" which represents the true essence of a sports car and is in line with the brand’s values: performance, Italian style, and technical excellence aimed at maximum driving pleasure in total safety."

The 4C GTA concept is inspired by models like the 8C Competizione and 8C Spider models, but takes their design a step forward. While the two models were focusing on obtaining more power, the 4C GTA Concept’s focus is on weight reduction thanks to the extensive use of carbon.

The concept is powered by a "4 cylinder" 1750 Turbo Petrol engine that delivers an impressive 200 HP that sprints the car to an impressive 155 mph.

UPDATE 03/07/2011: If you enjoyed the 4C GTA concept as much as we did, then you’re going to love this! The concept will make it to production - no news here - and will be offered on the US market in late 2012. According to Automotive News, the 4C GTA will be built using carbon fiber and aluminum and will weigh less than 1,800 pounds. On the European market, it will be priced at around $62,000.

UPDATE 07/25/2011: Alfa Romeo is trying to keep the momentum for the 4C GTA alive by releasing a new promotional video of the vehicle. In it, Alfa Romeo takes the viewer on the road with the car and then reaffirms some of the highlights for the vehicle. Enjoy!

Hit the jump to read more about the 2011 Alfa Romeo 4C GTA Concept.

Alfa Romeo 4C GTA Concept originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 25 July 2011 15:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/alfa-romeo/2011-alfa-romeo-4c-gta-concept-ar103920.html

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Stan Van Gundy Speaks The Truth About College Athletics

Source: http://www.celticsblog.com/2011/8/28/2389869/stan-van-gundy-speaks-the-truth-about-college-athletics

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Steve Fisher's legacy preserved at SDSU

On a Sunday night San Diego State sent out a release asking news teams to assemble the following afternoon on the mezzanine level of Viejas Arena. There would be a "major" announcement concerning the program. There were no other details given in the release, leading many to wonder about Steve Fisher.

Was the 66-year-old national coach of the year doing OK?

In fact Fisher is doing better than OK after San Diego State not only gave him a four-year contract extension, but also named Fisher's longtime assistant coach, Brian Dutcher, the program's coach-in-waiting. Dutcher is set to take over upon Fisher's retirement. Though after last season's Sweet 16 run with the Aztecs Fisher's not even sure this will be his final contract extension.

"I don't know that that means that I'm here for four more years even," Fisher told reporters, wondering aloud about a longer stay. "So we'll see. Who knows? Maybe this is the one that leads to the next one. I don't know if Brian wants to hear that, but that might be the case.

"I'm not looking to be pushed out the door or run out the door anytime soon."

Fisher smiled. Unlike at Michigan, where he left a national championship legacy yet was eventually fired amidst scandal, it appears he'll be able to finish his career on his own terms while leaving the program to his right-hand man.

Dutcher has not only served alongside Fisher during 12 seasons at San Diego State, but also 10 seasons at Michigan while the Wolverines won the 1989 national title and compiled one of college basketball's most famous recruiting classes: the Fab Five.

Recruiting was a major factor in putting into writing the succession plan for Dutcher, as it allows Fisher to ultimately retire with the idea that San Diego State will continue to be successful. That's because current recruits considering the Aztecs are now able to choose San Diego with confidence.

"Everybody seems to want to operate in the shades of gray, and anything you could use for a recruiting advantage is used," Fisher said. "So we've heard and been asked questions from parents ... 'How long are you going to be there? Will you be there to coach my son?'

"We have told recruits not only will I be there, but you'll also know that when I'm not there who the head coach will be, and that's probably better than 99.9 percent of the schools in the country can say."

Even before Fisher's future had been officially clarified, the school sent out another release. This one announced that less than 800 season ticket packages remained for the general public. The rest had been sold after the best season in the program's history.

"Never have I enjoyed a season more than last year -- for so many reasons," Fisher said. "Obviously 34-3, but so many other reasons. To look at the arena, the atmosphere and the feeling you had."

Fisher wants that all to be experienced at San Diego State long after he's gone.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/34747/steve-fishers-legacy-preserved-at-sdsu

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Volume shooters and political yard signs

If you're a sports fan who enters the field as a professional, it won't be long before you confront some unsettling realities and your fandom is turned upside-down.

An intern in an NBA front office might discover that the team he lived and died with growing up is woefully mismanaged. A closer look at how horribly the team runs their business convinces him they deserved every misfortune that befell them. Meanwhile,�their rival -- the team he's always loathed -- is actually a well-oiled machine whose day-to-day operations are governed by smart people and sound principles.

NBA teams are more than a collection of players -- they're organizations and businesses, some better than others. Hate the Lakers and Heat all you want, but however disgusted you are by what you might perceive as arrogance,�they know what they're doing.

The same holds true in electoral politics. There's the candidate -- a composite of his various policy positions, his ability to communicate that agenda and his overall manner.�Then there's the political operation�-- the resourcefulness of the fund-raising operation, the competence of his handlers, the agility of consultants.�Is the campaign agile and intuitive enough to pivot if the political climate demands it? Do they invest in the right message and value the smartest tactics?

That candidate who drew you in with his bold stance on the issues you care about? �If you could pull back the curtain, you might see that everything from the staff structure to the decision-making process is a disaster. You know an NBA team like this and you might even wear its logo on your chest when you work out at the gym -- just as you might have your well-intentioned, poorly organized candidate's name stuck to the bumper of your car.

Your candidate's opponent whose positions and persona you find repugnant? Turns out she has an operation that's the paragon of professionalism, the Dallas Mavericks of the campaign trail.

Sasha Issenberg is an author far more interested in the political machinery of campaigns than where their practitioners stand on tax policy or alternative energy. Issenberg covered the 2008 campaign for the Boston Globe and became fascinated by much of the stuff that goes unreported by the political press. How did campaigns decide where to send candidates on whistle-stop tours? How did they choose which media markets to saturate with ads and which to bombard with robo-calls?

But even more universally, does any of this stuff really matter? �Are campaigns decided, as some political veterans and academics maintain, on nothing more than job approval ratings and the unemployment rate? Are all the diner drop-ins, mass mailings and hit pieces nothing more than a massive sideshow?

A veteran Republican political operative named Dave Carney has been asking the same questions for the past decade or so, and Issenberg has an upcoming titled "The Victory Lab," which chronicles Carney and the brain trust that have been working for Rick Perry for the past decade. A sneak preview of the book, "Rick Perry and His Eggheads: Inside the Brainiest Political Operation in America," has been released by Random House Digital.

How you feel about Perry as a presidential candidate is irrelevant to how entertaining and insightful Issenberg's profile of Carney and the exploration of his ideas are.

Carney had grown frustrated with the unproven assumptions that governed most political campaigns. When he signed on with Perry back in 1998, "Carney brought a deep skepticism about the folkways of campaigning, along with an almost monomaniacal obsession with the potential of scholarly methodologies to upend them."

Just as many NBA execs have traditionally based personnel decisions on entrenched stats found in box scores, political campaign consultants have also clung to assumptions that have never faced a truth squad. Since there was little if any empirical evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of various campaign tactics, Carney decided it was time to introduce analytics into the process. He went out and hired four academics who had examined many of these questions, but never had the opportunity to test their findings on a real-life campaign. (Two of the four scholars were ardently non-ideological and, if anything, had greater affiliations on the left side of the political spectrum.)

Issenberg recounts the day prior to Perry's 2006 gubernatorial primary when Carney had two of the academics -- Don Green and Alan Gerber -- introduce themselves to the old-guard operatives:
Don Green began presenting the research that he had done with Alan Gerber over the years, rigorously itemizing all the things campaigns did that he believed he had proven to be a waste of money. Green did this while facing a room filled with people who had gotten rich off these practices, and had been looking ahead to the next Perry campaign as perhaps their biggest payday yet. Carney later likened Green’s talk to “going into the Catholic church telling everyone that Mary wasn’t a virgin, and Jesus really wasn’t her son.” Carney delighted in the face-off he had manufactured, the awkward pitting of academics against professionals -- with millions of dollars, control of the country’s second largest state, and claims of intellectual supremacy all at stake...

The consultants replied as Carney expected they would -- in what he called “total denial,” boasting of pieces of mail or phone campaigns that had proven decisive in past elections. One vendor, making the case for robocalls, recalled a legendary voter-registration program that featured a recording of a little girl’s voice reminding people to sign up.

“Great,” Carney said, wrapping up the presentation. “One of you is right. Either the eggheads are right or you’re right. We’re going to prove it out, and plan our campaign and allow these guys to develop experiments for everything we do.”

Sounds an awful lot about the geeks vs. the jocks dynamic that has emerged in sports, and the further you read into Issenberg's piece, the more the parallels between the 2006 campaign and the current landscape of sports come to the surface.

Over the course of Perry's 2006 campaign, Carney and his academics discovered all sorts of findings, implementing many of them in Perry's 2010 re-election campaign:
In addition to lawn signs, Carney banished direct mail, robocalls, newspaper ads, and visits to editorial boards -- shifts he estimated helped save $3 million during a primary in which Perry would go on to beat Hutchison by more than twenty points. Instead, Carney plowed money into a virtual network linking “home headquarters” -- each one representing a volunteer supporter who had agreed to sign up eleven friends and neighbors to vote for Perry. Every time one of them started a headquarters of his or her own, the initial recruiter got paid $20 by Perry’s campaign. “It gives those activists something to do instead of running around putting up yard signs or four-by-eights,” says Deirdre Delisi, an eventual convert to Carney’s approach. “What we really want you to do is get your friends to vote.”

After reading polls that showed wide social-media use among Perry targets, Carney thought it was possible to conduct nearly all of the campaign’s voter communication through social media and dispense with a physical infrastructure he found outdated. (Perry had none of the regional campaign offices that were standard in statewide races.) Based on Shaw’s experiments from 2006, Carney held off on running general-election ads against Democrat Bill White until just weeks before Election Day, and instead focused the candidate’s time on in-person visits to coffee shops or BBQ restaurants in small markets where they would have maximum effect. “Maybe Perry is different, because when he does an event it actually causes more excitement than a boring candidate,” Carney says. “We don’t know that. We haven’t tested that.”

Early reviews of Issenberg's book evoke comparisons to Michael Lewis' "Moneyball." Via email, Issenberg discussed how political geekery mirrored sports geekery.
The Moneyball analogy is amazingly durable with political campaigns -- the wise men who tend to be judged more on longevity than wins, the reflexive spending practices that repeat themselves regardless of results, the folks (like agents or media consultants) who thrive on commissions/contracts from the existing spending patterns and have no incentive to see them change, etc.

The same problem of trying to institutionalize competitive advantage holds in politics even more so than sports: if everyone realizes that direct mail/volume shooter are overvalued, that's unlikely to remain a proprietary finding for too long. The difference is that prices for many political services are less elastic -- direct mail costs are shaped by paper and stamp prices, TV ads costs what they do in part because of consultants' fees but mostly because they're what the station would change Procter & Gamble for the same time if Rick Perry didn't buy it. So the market won't adjust to a crappy dollar-per-votes ratio by repricing services the way the free-agent market theoretically does with talent once multiple teams begin to value it the same way.

The elasticity Issenberg might in fact be addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement. If player salaries' are reduced, the margins in cost between the superstar and the journeyman will narrow, which means data-minded NBA execs will be tweaking their metrics to reflect new realities.

Whether you're selling widgets, assembling a basketball team, running a multi-million dollar political campaign, overseeing urban transit, or even navigating a romantic relationship, most of us are looking for a singular answer:

What works and what doesn't?

As Carney explains, "... a billion dollars is spent on politics every cycle. No company, no entity, no business would spend that amount of money without knowing what works. It has a lot to do with the insecurity of political people. No one who gets hired wants to admit they don’t know anything.”

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/31692/volume-shooters-and-political-yard-signs

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NBA negotiations in a handy chart


CBA chart
TrueHoop reader David created a chart of the two sides' collective bargaining offers to date.

The other day, on Bill Simmons' podcast, NBA Commissioner David Stern wondered why the players had scoffed at the owners' offer to cut player salaries just eight percent -- a smaller pay cut, he pointed out, than players in the very profitable NFL had taken.

This eight percent story, which has since been repeated by an NBA spokesman, is somewhere between splitting hairs and a ruse. The chart above, made by TrueHoop reader David, helps to show that: Stern is talking about the first year of the league's "flex cap" offer, shown in turquoise. But the attractive first year of that offer comes is conditional on nine more years of fairly flat player income, even as league revenues are projected to climb with new national TV deals and an increasingly global audience. In other words, owners have offered a short period of salaries that are within shouting distance of the current deal, followed by many more years of below-market salaries.

By nobody's projection has the league offered a deal that is an eight percent pay cut over the life of the deal.

This is the kind of thing that you can see with your own eyes, thanks to this chart submitted by TrueHoop reader David. Based on educated guesses of the league's current revenues, assuming four percent annual growth over the next decade, and taking the NBA's word about how much money they're currently losing, he created the chart above based on media reports of the various offers. He cautions it is only as precise as the information that has been reported. Here's what matters:

The blue line
That's where the action is. The union has long built a case, and Malcolm Gladwell has their backs, that profit and loss is not the final analysis -- both because that analysis includes some costs related to team purchases, and because many of the benefits of team ownership are non-economic. But for the purposes of these talks, and this chart, I think we can safely assume that the NBA owners are not going to agree to a deal that projects league-wide losses. They want a deal that projects a league in the money, and this is that line.

The best the union could do, I suspect, is to negotiate a deal that is precisely on that line -- or a line like it, created with the union's better financial insight -- and even that may be too hopeful. Owners want profits. And that's not weird. It's the way of business. If there aren't profits for owners, in pretty much any business, well, the hard reality is that the owner can and maybe should simply shut the doors and walk away. As employees, you want all the money you can get, but clearly not so much that you topple the entire enterprise.

The pink line
Make a note of this: The existing deal is the one that does the very best for players. Which matters when you look at ...

The red line
David Stern has said the union does not want to negotiate, and he's talking about lately. But worth noting is that the players opened talks with a giveback, and have not made one significant ask of their own. This is not a give and take. This is a give. The only question has been gift size. Not the worst people to negotiate with.

The yellow line
That was a while ago now, but remember it came in contrast to the status quo, or the pink line. So the league opened negotiations saying, basically, we'll keep it just like it is, only we'll take an incredibly huge chunk of your money every single year.

The turquoise line
Two important things have happened to date: The players have opened with a giveback, and the owners have made an offer that is, at least temporarily, right up there in "let's make a deal" territory by that all-important blue line. Even though we have not yet reached the zero hour of negotiations, when the real offers will come out, we have already had some signs that the mood is to negotiate.

A final story of this chart: It's fairly clear what a compromise will look like, and both sides likely know it. It will be, almost certainly, somewhere near that blue line, which happens to be just about in the middle of all the various offers. It's noteworthy that neither side has yet made an offer all that close, which makes me think the good offers are yet to come.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/31668/nba-negotiations-in-a-handy-chart

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Steve Fisher's legacy preserved at SDSU

On a Sunday night San Diego State sent out a release asking news teams to assemble the following afternoon on the mezzanine level of Viejas Arena. There would be a "major" announcement concerning the program. There were no other details given in the release, leading many to wonder about Steve Fisher.

Was the 66-year-old national coach of the year doing OK?

In fact Fisher is doing better than OK after San Diego State not only gave him a four-year contract extension, but also named Fisher's longtime assistant coach, Brian Dutcher, the program's coach-in-waiting. Dutcher is set to take over upon Fisher's retirement. Though after last season's Sweet 16 run with the Aztecs Fisher's not even sure this will be his final contract extension.

"I don't know that that means that I'm here for four more years even," Fisher told reporters, wondering aloud about a longer stay. "So we'll see. Who knows? Maybe this is the one that leads to the next one. I don't know if Brian wants to hear that, but that might be the case.

"I'm not looking to be pushed out the door or run out the door anytime soon."

Fisher smiled. Unlike at Michigan, where he left a national championship legacy yet was eventually fired amidst scandal, it appears he'll be able to finish his career on his own terms while leaving the program to his right-hand man.

Dutcher has not only served alongside Fisher during 12 seasons at San Diego State, but also 10 seasons at Michigan while the Wolverines won the 1989 national title and compiled one of college basketball's most famous recruiting classes: the Fab Five.

Recruiting was a major factor in putting into writing the succession plan for Dutcher, as it allows Fisher to ultimately retire with the idea that San Diego State will continue to be successful. That's because current recruits considering the Aztecs are now able to choose San Diego with confidence.

"Everybody seems to want to operate in the shades of gray, and anything you could use for a recruiting advantage is used," Fisher said. "So we've heard and been asked questions from parents ... 'How long are you going to be there? Will you be there to coach my son?'

"We have told recruits not only will I be there, but you'll also know that when I'm not there who the head coach will be, and that's probably better than 99.9 percent of the schools in the country can say."

Even before Fisher's future had been officially clarified, the school sent out another release. This one announced that less than 800 season ticket packages remained for the general public. The rest had been sold after the best season in the program's history.

"Never have I enjoyed a season more than last year -- for so many reasons," Fisher said. "Obviously 34-3, but so many other reasons. To look at the arena, the atmosphere and the feeling you had."

Fisher wants that all to be experienced at San Diego State long after he's gone.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/34747/steve-fishers-legacy-preserved-at-sdsu

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2012 Chevrolet Silverado

Source: http://www.carsession.com/car-news/2012-chevrolet-silverado.html

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Morgan 3-Wheeler Superdry Edition


Morgan hasn’t been back in the game for a year and they’re already coming out with a special edition model for their reincarnated 3-Wheeler. We’re guessing these guys are going full steam ahead with their comeback.

The new special edition 3-Wheeler comes courtesy of a tie-up between the famed automaker and English clothing brand, Superdry. The whole package comes with a unique leather jacket and a 3-Wheeler model that comes with a custom shifter, a new fuel filter cap, an orange stripe on the tires, a matte silver paint with custom graphics, a Superdry leather interior, and plaques of recognition of the special edition series.

Together with all these new goodies, the 3-Wheeler also comes with an impressive 2.0-liter twin SS engine that produces 115 horsepower and a weight of just 500 kg (about 1102 lbs) with a 0-62 mph time of just 4.5 seconds.

The car will only run on a limited number - only 200 models are being built - with the price tag still being kept under wraps. Since the standard model costs �46,000 - $75,500 - you can expect the 3-Wheeler Superdry Edition to fetch more than that.

Morgan 3-Wheeler Superdry Edition originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 29 August 2011 16:00 EST.

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Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/morgan/2011-morgan-3-wheeler-superdry-edition-ar115330.html

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Official: 2012 Acura TSX gets new Special Edition model

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2012 Acura TSX

Acura has decided to spice up its entry-level TSX sedan, and this, the 2012 Special Edition, is the end result. No, there isn't any more power on tap, but some styling tweaks do give the TSX a sportier look. A more aggressive front spoiler and rear fascia lend an air of extra sportiness, and compliment the updated side sill. New 17-inch alloy wheels now feature a polished finish with a dark gray background.

Inside, Acura has pumped up the interior with black suede inserts on the seats that's contrasted by red stitching. More of the red color makes its way to the steering wheel and shift knob, as well as the lighting of the gauges, footwell and cabin. That footwell area also see the addition of aluminum pedal covers.

The automaker says that the TSX Special Edition was designed to "evoke the fun-to-drive four-cylinder Acuras of the past," so the 2.4-liter inline-four is the only engine available. Both a five-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmission are available.

The 2012 Acura TSX Special Edition will make its debut at the Orange County Auto Show on September 22nd. That's approximately the same time it will arrive on dealer showrooms.

Continue reading 2012 Acura TSX gets new Special Edition model

2012 Acura TSX gets new Special Edition model originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/29/2012-acura-tsx-gets-new-special-edition-model/

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Monday, August 29, 2011

2012 Toyota Camry Global Model

Source: http://www.carsession.com/car-news/2012-toyota-camry-global-model.html

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Casspi eyes Tony Parker's French team

The San Antonio Spurs would undoubtedly prefer to see them playing together in South Texas, but the prospect of Tony Parker and longtime Spurs favorite Omri Casspi teaming up in France is very much alive.

Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com on Monday that Casspi is giving strong consideration to signing with ASVEL in France's top division.

That's the same ASVEL club which claims Parker as a co-owner and as its vice president of basketball operations.

It initially appeared that Casspi -- after being dealt from Sacramento to Cleveland on June 30 in the final trade consummated in the NBA before the start of the July 1 lockout -- was a lock to play for perennial Euroleague power Maccabi Tel-Aviv in his native Israel in the event of the lockout bleeding into November or December.

But David Pick of Eurobasket.com reported earlier Monday that Casspi and Maccabi officials, after a sitdown, have mutually agreed that they would not be able to reach contract terms that both sides can stomach.

France isn't the only destination that Casspi -- coveted by the Spurs since he was drafted No. 23 overall by the Kings in 2009 -- is considering as a lockout alternative. Various reports in the Israeli media say he's drawn interest from clubs in Russia and Spain.
But ASVEL, situatated in the Lyon suburb of Villeurbanne, does have one clear advantage: Casspi and Parker share the same agent. They're both represented by CAA's Steven Heumann.

Last week in London on duty with the French national team, Parker told ESPN.com contributor Ian Whittell that he will play in his native France if he plays anywhere other than the NBA this season as opposed to seizing upon the interest Parker has generated from teams in China.

"My agent talked about China a little bit," Parker told Whittell. "... I'm not going to take any decision until the end of September, after the European Championships. I want to see if I'm healthy, if I'm hurt and by then we will also know a lot more what is happening with the situation of the lockout.

"If I play [abroad], I will definitely play in France, for my fans, for my team ASVEL."

As for the prospect of Casspi ultimately winding up alongside Parker in the French League, one source close to the situation said it really "might happen."

Casspi is currently nursing a injured left knee that threatens to knock him out of the European Championships (EuroBasket) later this month in Lithuania. Israel's only NBA player told reporters over the weekend that "right now my leg is in a bad state."

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/31647/casspi-eyes-tony-parkers-french-team

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Wednesday Bullets

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/31664/wednesday-bullets-206

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2013 Lexus GS Unveiled

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