Judge Rules That Contested Brooklyn Bike Lane Can Stay

Judge Rules That Contested Brooklyn Bike Lane Can Stay:

A man rides his bike along a controversial bike lane on Prospect Park West on August 17, 2011 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. In what is being viewed as a victory for the Bloomberg administration, a judge on Tuesday dismissed an effort by Brooklyn residents to remove a bicycle lane installed by the city on Prospect Park West. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, along with his transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, has attempted to make New York more bicycle and pedestrian friendly with numerous bike and pedestrian lanes around New York City. The effort has angered some in the city who see the lanes as adding to traffic, taking up parking spaces and a danger to pedestrians. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Royal Hindu Cremation Held In Bali

Royal Hindu Cremation Held In Bali:

A black bull sarcophagus stands at Puri Ubud during the Hindu Royal cremation – also know as the Pengabenan – for the late Anak Agung Niang Rai, mother of Gianyar Regent, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, at Puri Ubud in Gianyar Bali on August 17, 2011 in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. Niang Rai died in a Denpasar hospital in May; her actual cremation will take place on August 18 and will involve a nine level, 24m high 'bade' or body carring tower, made by upto 100 volunteers from 14 local villages. It will be carried to the cremation by 4500 Ubud residents. (Photo by Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)

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London Zoo Welcomes The Arrival Of Baby Bolivian Squirrel Monkey Rolo

London Zoo Welcomes The Arrival Of Baby Bolivian Squirrel Monkey Rolo:

A Bolivian Squirrel monkey plays with a toy football at London Zoo on August 18, 2011 in London, England. Male monkey Bounty has fathered eleven baby monkeys in the last three years since his arrival, enough to make up a football team. His latest offspring named Rolo was the eleventh and arrived last month. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

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Wombats

Wombats:

“Wombats are Australian marsupials; they are short-legged, muscular quadrupeds, approximately 1 metre (39 in) in length with a short, stubby tail. They are adaptable in their habitat tolerances, and are found in forested, mountainous, and heathland areas of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, as well as an isolated patch of about 300 ha in Epping Forest National Park in central Queensland”. – Wikipedia



Photo: “Abdul”, a baby Common Wombat, is one of the marsupials on show during the spring baby boom at Taronga Zoo September 1, 2005 in Sydney, Australia. “Abdul” was orphaned when his mother was killed by a car. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

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Boeing X-45

Boeing X-45:

“The Boeing X-45 unmanned combat air vehicle is a concept demonstrator for a next generation of completely autonomous military aircraft, developed by Boeing's Phantom Works. Manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, the X-45 was a part of DARPA's J-UCAS project”. – Wikipedia



Photo: Two X-45A Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) are shown to members of the news media July 11, 2002 at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The X-45A, developed by The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Boeing Company, is the first unmanned system designed from inception for combat missions. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

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26th International Alpine Beard Competition

26th International Alpine Beard Competition:

A bearded men participates in the 26th International Alpine Beard Competition on August 21, 2011 in Chur, Switzerland. Participants from Switzerland, Bavaria and Austria are to be chosen for the most genuine, natural grown beard. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images)

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Aerial Acrobats

Aerial Acrobats:

Aerial acrobat Schindler, notorious for his foolhardy stunts, practising one of his tricks listing out of the vertical, from a Klemp plane piloted by Richard Perlia. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images). Circa 1927

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Lorenzo Quinn

Lorenzo Quinn:

“Lorenzo Quinn (born May 7, 1966) is an Italian artist and sculptor and the fifth son of the actor Anthony Quinn. By the age of 21 he gained the respect of the New York art community when he was commissioned to make an art work for the United Nations of which a stamp was later made. Quinn was later selected to head the Absolut Vodka ad campaign for which only top international artists are chosen”. – Wikipedia



Photo: Lorenzo Quinn's Vroom Vroom sculpture is installed in its new setting on Park Lane on January 23, 2011 in London, England. The four-metre high sculpture, consists of a vintage Fiat 500, the first car that the sculptor ever bought, grasped by an oversized aluminium child's hand modelled from Quinn's son. The exhibition has previously been displayed in Valencia and Abu Dhabi. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images for Halcyon Gallery)

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Muammar Gaddafi Death Photo

Muammar Gaddafi Death Photo:

Muammar Gaddafi death photo. Do not worry – It's a fake.

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Singapore Promotes Fitness With Subway Redesign

Singapore Promotes Fitness With Subway Redesign:

Commuters walk up the redesigned subway stairs at the Tanjong Pagar subway station on August 23, 2011 in Singapore. The subway stairs have been repainted in bright colours and slogans encouraging people to take the stairs, by way of promoting fitness in the city. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

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Singapore Promotes Fitness With Subway Redesign

Singapore Promotes Fitness With Subway Redesign:

Commuters walk up the redesigned subway stairs at the Tanjong Pagar subway station on August 23, 2011 in Singapore. The subway stairs have been repainted in bright colours and slogans encouraging people to take the stairs, by way of promoting fitness in the city. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

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Arson Attacks Against Cars In Berlin Continue

Arson Attacks Against Cars In Berlin Continue:

A woman on a bicycle rides past the remains of an Audi sedan set afire by an arsonist recently in Zehlendorf district in a street where two more cars were torched on August 23, 2011 in Berlin, Germany. Police have so far made no arrests in a series of arson attacks that have destroyed at least 70 cars within the last week and show no signs of abating. In recent years several hundred cars have been torched annually and police suspect left-wing radicals. The recent series of attacks, averaging about 10 a day, has been particularly severe. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

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South Florida Wary As Hurricane Irene Churns Towards US

South Florida Wary As Hurricane Irene Churns Towards US:

In this handout GOES satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Irene reaches hurricane strength as it moves across Puerto Rico towards Hispaniola August 22, 2011 in the Caribbean Sea. Irene, the first hurricane of the Atlantic storm season, brought torrential rains and winds to Puerto Rico, downing trees and powerlines and flooding streets. The expected path will bring Irene through the Bahamas and is likely to hit Florida and up the east coast of the U.S. (Photo by NOAA via Getty Images)

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Hindus Gather In Watford For The Largest Hindu Festival Outside India

Hindus Gather In Watford For The Largest Hindu Festival Outside India:

People pray inside a temple at the Janmashtami Hindu Festival at Bhaktivedanta Manor on August 22, 2011 in Watford, England. Up to 72,000 were expected to take part in the two day festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, in what is believed to be the largest Hindu festival gathering outside of India. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

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5.8 Earthquake Shakes East Coast

5.8 Earthquake Shakes East Coast:

U.S. Park Police work to keep people away from the area surrounding the Washington Monument after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck the east coast August 23, 2011 in Washington, DC. Police officers said that unidentified material had fallen off the Washington Monument as a result of the earthquake. All the monuments and buildings along the National Mall have been evacuated and closed. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Barcelona Shop Specialises In The Production Of Catalan Festival Masks

Barcelona Shop Specialises In The Production Of Catalan Festival Masks:

A Pablo Picasso papier mache “huge head” mask, known as “Capgros” in Catalan, is displayed at the entrance of the “El Ingenio” shop on August 23, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain. “El Ingenio” (The Ingenuity) has been making and selling papier mache giant masks and huge heads for Catalan popular festivals since 1838. The “La Merce” festival will be held on September 24 to observe the feast day of Our Lady of Mercy, patron saint of Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

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Toyota Unveils 2012 Camry

Toyota Unveils 2012 Camry:

The new Toyota Camry Hybrid LE is parked next to the redesigned 2012 Camry SE after the unveiling event on the Paramount Studios lot on August 23, 2011 in Hollywood, California. The five-seat Camry SE and the Hybrid XLE sedans go on sale in December. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Demonstrates New Automated Target Recognition Airport Screening Software

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Demonstrates New Automated Target Recognition Airport Screening Software:

A screen shows the new Automated Target Recognition software as a TSA employee, who couldn't provide her name, waits to walk into the advanced imaging technology unit to demostrate the new software that has been installed at Miami International Airport on August 23, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The new software is designed to enhance passenger privacy by eliminating passenger-specific images and instead auto-detecting potential threat items and indicating their location on a screen which shows a generic outline of a person. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Mercedes SLK 55 AMG video

Mercedes SLK 55 AMG video:

The third generation Mercedes SLK AMG is the first SLK AMG model to use an aspirated engine in a significant evolution on the older generations and their supercharged V6 and V8 engines. The new SLK 55 AMG uses the M157 unit from the more recent 63 AMG models but is “simplified” to 422 hp and 540 Nm of torque.

We get to hear some of that engine sound is this video but it’s more about a beautiful car and landscape (and the guy’s not bad either). Mercedes is closing the gap in some ways between the sportier AMG and more lifestyle versions of its models, providing some significant fuel savings on the previous generation, which the company claims is done 30 percent at 8.4 l/100 km. For that you still get a sprint to 100 time of 4.6 seconds. The new Mercedes SLK 55 AMG will go on sale in Germany from January at a price of 72,590 euros.

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AC Cobra video: doughnuts at home

AC Cobra video: doughnuts at home:

You’re at home, bored. And what better way to spice up the afternoon than performing few doughnuts in the living room with your AC Cobra, drifting around a pillar? Nevermind the wooden floor and the neighbours, let’s just have some fun!

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Mazda CX-5 preview

Mazda CX-5 preview: Mazda has unveiled the first details on the new CX-5 compact crossover, that will be built around the Skyactiv Technology and the Kodo design language.

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Toyota EV aims to shatter racing record

Toyota EV aims to shatter racing record: Toyota Motorsport GmbH expects its EV, sporting a high-performance powertrain and dual electric motors, to surpass the existing lap record at Germany's Nürburgring on August 29.

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Toyota EV aims to shatter racing record

Toyota EV aims to shatter racing record: Toyota Motorsport GmbH expects its EV, sporting a high-performance powertrain and dual electric motors, to surpass the existing lap record at Germany's Nürburgring on August 29.

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Toyota EV aims to shatter racing record

Toyota EV aims to shatter racing record: Toyota Motorsport GmbH expects its EV, sporting a high-performance powertrain and dual electric motors, to surpass the existing lap record at Germany's Nürburgring on August 29.

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DOT to upgrade Northeast Corridor railway

DOT to upgrade Northeast Corridor railway: The U.S. DOT announces its second large-scale investment in railway infrastructure this month, looking to improve the nation's busiest rail line, the Northeast Corridor.

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Ferrari 458 Spider

Ferrari 458 Spider: The first images and details on the 458 Spider, the open version of the 458 Italia that features a new fully retractable hard top in aluminum that opens in 14 seconds.

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BMW i4 and i5 models in future i brand

BMW i4 and i5 models in future i brand:

The BMW i3 and i8 launch was designed to make quite a splash recently and while we’ve all been following these two models for quite some time, don’t expect the i phenomenon to let up anytime soon. After the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept became the BMW i8, and the i3 is set to be the citycar in the line-up, AutoExpress reports we can expect two new models to come along soon.

The BMW i4 and i5 would be the same electric or plug-in hybrid models and use the same carbonfibre-reinforced plastic materials as the first two models. They would also use modified powertrains of the original i3 and i8, although those two opposing ends of the scale will probably represent sacred cows in terms of not making anything too similar to cannibalise the market. The options do provide, however, some convenient economies of scale for BMW.

The BMW i4 would be a two-door model using the same platform as the i3 but with a sportier, coupé-like design. That would probably mean the i3 powertrain set-up would be adapted to the lower, wider stance and sportier drive, although its range extending technology would possibly be included.

The BMW i5 would be a kind of sport sedan and would provide a hybrid competitor to a vehicle like the Audi A5 Sportback. It would have the same 1.5-litre turbo engine and electric motors as the i8, but would certainly deliver less than the 349 hp of the i8 so as to leave the supercar its territory. That BMW is planning on expanding the i range is no surprise, but these are quite detailed rumours so stay tuned for more information - possibly even after BMW gets the first two production models off the ground.

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New Lancia Thema rendering

New Lancia Thema rendering:

Converting the Chrysler 300 into the Lancia Thema hasn’t been an easy task and the Italians at least, not to mention Europe in general, are divided over how the transformation from American flagship to European luxury might occur. In this case we get a look at a rendering of a new Lancia E-segment flagship sedan.

The rendering comes from design student Alessandro Masera who has tried to create a “sweeter” and more international line to the car, giving it a coupé look with a Chrysler front end. The designer has taken the rear and sides of the new Lancia Ypsilon and adapted them to the larger model, and has kept a vertical rear light to stay subtle.

As our guys at Autoblog.it say, it’s not the Chrysler 300 per se that many were undecided over - the large American sedan has an individual style and an appeal all its own. The problem lies more in taking that, slapping a Lancia badge on the front and making a ho-hum reference to European styling.

The Lancia-Chrysler partnership still has a long road ahead and we’ll probably get used to the creations that come of it, and even learn to appreciate them more as they (hopefully) carve out a style of their own. In the meantime, this new Lancia Thema rendering might not be exactly the way to go, but any additional imagination on this front is welcome.

Lancia-Chrysler new sedan rendering

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New AMG V8 engine video

New AMG V8 engine video:

The geeky looking guys in lab coats don’t really evoke the kind of petrol head dream the acronym AMG represents, but after all this is a video about AMG technological innovation and high performance engines - not the gorgeous cars the powertrains end up in at the end of their production lifecycle.

The AMG technical video takes us through the new AMG 5.5-litre naturally aspirated V8 which has recently been released on the new Mercedes SLK AMG. The engine not only uses the naturally aspirated technology but has been modified on all fronts to provide better performance but also fuel economy. The video gives us the low-down on the camshaft, valve and fuel injection functions and everything else.

The video also gives us an insight into the cylinder control of this engine, revealing just why it’s so efficient and easy on the fuel for a performance unit. If we needed convincing that AMG is at the top of its game, we certainly don’t anymore and it’s only through this kind of research and development that we’ll be able to drive top performance, fuel-powered cars into the future.

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Gemballa Racing in GT3 with McLaren MP4-12C

Gemballa Racing in GT3 with McLaren MP4-12C:

Gemballa Racing will compete in the 2012 GT3 category with two McLaren MP4-12C GT3 models. The new racing unit from the German tuner has chosen the new McLaren vehicles for their potential to be among the leaders in the new season, and the models will obviously get the modifications required.

The McLaren MP4-12C GT3 from Gemballa Racing will get a new front splitter, improved air vents, a larger rear wing and rear diffuser; and on the inside it will be equipped with a carbon safety cell around the cockpit, an F1-style steering wheel and integrated display.

The Gemballa team will be headed by Sacha Bert, race drive and instructor, and the rest of the team and the drivers will be announced later. Gemballa investor, Steffen Korbach says:

We deliberately went for the McClaren MP4-12C GT3 for our motor sport commitment, because we think the car has enormous potential to be among the season’s leaders. Together with a renowned deployment team that’s already won everything in sight and exceptional drivers, we obviously want to drive to win. Racing is in our blood.

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 by Gemballa Racing

Source | WCF

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