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September 30, 2007
Dodge Heats Up this Year's State Fair of Texas with the Durango Tango
Dodge Durango Tango endurance dance contest lasts 27.16 hours.
Photo: Jordan Hall of Irving, Texas, shows off some fancy dance moves for the other participants of the Dodge Durango Tango endurance dance contest on Thursday, Sept. 27 at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. Thirty contestants were paired with life-sized dolls to dance until they drop for the chance to win an all-new 2008 Dodge Durango.
Photo: Angela Vanhoose of Dallas and Ron Glass of Carrollton, Texas, strain to keep dancing in the Dodge Durango Tango endurance dance contest at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas on Friday, Sept. 28 after more than 27 hours. After more than 27 hours of cutting a rug, Angela Vanhoose of Dallas, TX was the only contestant still on the dance floor and was crowned the "Durango Tango" champion, winning an all-new 2008 Dodge Durango.
Photo: The 2008 Dodge Durango comes with a choice of three engines - two with fuel-saving technologies - plus three rows of seating and more cargo room. The 2008 Dodge Durango is offered with a choice of 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrains. Inside, there's seating for up to eight, and amenities including an industry-first heated cloth seats, available power rear liftgate, remote start, YES Essentials stain resistant, odor resistant, anti-static seat fabric and dual-zone automatic temperature control. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:12 AM | View the original post
September 29, 2007
GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER HEALTHCARE "alli Experience(R)" Mall Tour to Help Americans Make Informed and Healthier Eating Decisions
Photo: Passers-by stop to receive free weight loss and nutritional advice from registered dieticians at the alli Experience exhibit at Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City, N.Y. Sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, the exhibit will make stops in 12 U.S. cities this fall, helping overweight adults learn about healthy, realistic weight-loss approaches.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (NYSE:GSK) has launched the "alli Experience" mall tour. The "alli Experience" mall tour will stop in 12 major U.S. cities to educate overweight adults on healthy weight loss strategies as well as introduce them to the alli program.
Launched in June 2007, alli (orlistat 60 mg) is the only FDA-approved weight-loss product available to overweight adults without a prescription. It is the first clinically-proven over-the-counter weight loss product to be combined with a comprehensive support program (www.myalli.com). The "alli Experience" tour will speak to current alli users, consumers considering the product and those who tried the program and decided they weren't ready to commit.
"Based on consumers' positive feedback of the 'alli Experience,' the initial installation in New York City earlier this year where over 10,000 people visited in 19 days, we have decided to continue the momentum and take that unique experience to others across the U.S." says Steven L. Burton, vice president, Weight Control, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. "We want to make sure as many people as possible have a chance to experience this unique educational exhibit which will provide them with extremely useful information on the alli program so they can make a fully-informed decision whether they are ready to commit to trying alli. We chose to take the alli Experience to malls across the country as the environment provides a perfect setting for us to talk to consumers in a place that's convenient and comfortable."
The "alli Experience" mall tour is designed to help overweight adults adopt the principles of modest, gradual weight loss. The multi-media exhibit, divided into 3 zones, encourages visitors to embrace a more realistic approach to diet and exercise for improved health. The exhibit will also help overweight people who want to lose weight determine if they are ready to commit to trying alli. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:40 AM | View the original post
September 28, 2007
SUZUKI reveals BaseCamp XL7 midsize crossover SUV concept
Based on the SUZUKI XL7 midsize crossover SUV, the BaseCamp concept offers cutting-edge design and technology to fulfill the needs of outdoor enthusiasts.
The BaseCamp's exterior is blanketed with liquid metal body paint and finished with titanium cladding around the perimeter of the vehicle, which also is easily converted to a catwalk for unprecedented upper vehicle access and storage.
The concept features a unique gullwing passenger side door that when opened, reveals a warm, inviting, modern interior room and attachable peninsula bar work station with full media connectivity, including Wi-Fi Internet access, Bluetooth integration and iPod1/MP3 capabilities. The BaseCamp also features a custom roof rack system with an integrated dual slot bike rack and Santa Cruz mountain bikes, eight high-intensity LED light clusters, including a unique "down" lighting system, an enclosed cargo/luggage area and forward-mounted miniature camera. After arriving at a campsite, a modern canopy with carbon fiber frame can be attached to the roof rack, keeping adventurers dry in inclement weather or protecting against the sun, and creating a welcoming ambiance for visitors.
The BaseCamp's interior reflects a similar high-tech design and feel with mica-hued light-toned seating and titanium accents throughout the inside of the vehicle. In the rear cargo area, the vehicle features a utility storage pack and access system.
Additionally, the XL7 concept is equipped with in-dash CD/DVD and GPS/Navigation system with real-time traffic.
The Brea, Calif.-based Automotive Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation was founded in 1985 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC). Based in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle and outboard motor manufacturer with sales of more than two million new automobiles annually. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 187 countries. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:08 AM | View the original post
September 27, 2007
2008 Ford Focus Launched
Photos: The 2008 Ford Focus was introduced to media from across the USA in Seattle Washington. (Photos by: Sam VarnHagen/Ford Motor Co.)
The new 2008 Ford Focus goes on sale this fall with a long list of improvements that make it better than ever, including 35 miles per gallon highway fuel economy.
The new Focus is redesigned from the inside out, is available as a sedan or new coupe body style, is 30 pounds lighter, 10 percent quieter, has 3 percent more horsepower, more safety features, exceptional driving dynamics and fuel economy better than many smaller vehicles.
The 2008 Focus is the first vehicle to offer the company's industry-exclusive Ford Sync technology this year. Sync - a voice-activated, hands-free, in-car communications and entertainment system - fully integrates mobile phones and media players into the vehicle using Bluetooth technology and USB connectivity. It seamlessly integrates the Focus with the popular portable electronic devices of today and is updatable to support the devices and services of tomorrow. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:59 AM | View the original post
September 26, 2007
18th Longines Prize for Elegance awarded unanimously to Anna Bessonova of Ukraine
28th Rhythmic World Championships Patras, Greece.
Photo: Anna Bessonova holds high the trophy of the Longines Prize for Elegance.
Photo: Longines BelleArti Watch, a part of the prize.
Patras (Greece), 25 September, 2007 - Longines, Official Timekeeper and Data Handler at the 28th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships 2007 has awarded the 18th Longines Prize for Elegance to Anna Bessonova, of Ukraine. This distinction honours the athlete having demonstrated the most remarkable elegance in the course of the international competition. Anna Bessonova, amongst great applause, was awarded the trophy created by the Swiss artist Piero Travaglini, a wristwatch from the Longines BelleArti collection and a cheque for US$ 5,000, and was subsequently consecrated overall individual world champion.
Photo: Anna Bessonova in action during the individuals competition on rope.
In gymnastics, the challenge of movement demands both flawless execution, as in any sport, and the intangible grace, beauty and harmony of movement known as "elegance". At the 28th Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, all participants in the individual finals held on 21st September 2007 in Patras, Greece, were nominated for the Longines Prize for Elegance.
Photo: Anna Bessonova in action during the individuals competition with hoop.
The athletes under consideration for the prize were evaluated according to a number of complementary criteria. In addition to technical considerations, each athlete's performance was evaluated with respect to emotional appeal, beauty, charm, charisma, and grace and harmony of movement. Although clearly, each member of the jury may interpret these criteria individually, the result was unanimous as Anna Bessonova's performance on this occasion was quite exceptional and won the heart of the whole audience. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:03 AM | View the original post
September 25, 2007
MOBILE IMAGING AND PRINTING CONSORTIUM: Knicks City Dancers Up Close and Digital
Photo: KnicksCityDancers Up Close and Digital: Sponsored by MIPC (The Mobile Imaging & Printing Consortium) Digital Life 2007 attendees will have the opportunity to pose for camera phone photos with the Knicks City Dancers and walk away with their prints in seconds.
NEW YORK, Sept. 25 -- The Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium (MIPC) announces that on Friday and Saturday, September 28-29, 2007, New York's Digital Life attendees will have the opportunity to pose for camera phone photos with the Knicks City Dancers and walk away with their prints in seconds.
MIPC will showcase how widely available technologies such as Bluetooth and PictBridge can unlock a world of convenience for cell phone users to capture photos on the go and get great results in their hands instantly. MIPC will demonstrate how users can gain the flexibility to go from shoot to print in just a few simple steps.
"You will be surprised by the ease and simplicity of today's camera phone printing solutions. Digital Life attendees will be able to capture their memories with The New York Knicks City Dancers and print them instantly to show their friends at home," said MIPC Board member and Kodak Senior Marketing Manager, Jack Rieger.
Canon, Epson, HP, Kodak, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Lexmark are among several major companies supporting the MIPC Mission. Ramon Garrido, MIPC Chairman and HP program director, said the consortium enables consumers to free their photos from their phones. "These representative companies have come together on behalf of the consumer to streamline the mobile imaging and printing process. It is the MIPC Mission to enable customers to easily print from their camera phones however, whenever, wherever."
The Knicks City Dancers will be appearing at New York's Digital Life Show in the MIPC booth of the Javitz Center on September 28 and 29 from 12pm to 4pm. MIPC is encouraging the visitors to have their pictures taken with the Knicks City Dancers and experience the ease of printing from camera phones firsthand.
The MIPC is a non-profit industry association founded in 2004 by Canon, Epson and HP, leading companies in home photo printing. The MIPC enables mobile printing solutions by fostering collaboration across the hardware, software and wireless technologies involved in mobile imaging and printing.
MIPC Members represent the most prestigious companies in the mobile imaging and printing space. Those represented companies include: Aplix Corporation, Brother Industries Ltd., Canon Inc., Cerience Corporation, Eastman Kodak Company, Fujifilm Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Company, Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc., Lexmark International, Inc., MCCI Corporation, Micron Technology, Motorola Inc., NEC Corporation, Nokia, Olivetti, Olympus Corporation, Ricoh Company, Ltd., Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd., and Seiko Epson Corporation. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:15 AM | View the original post
September 24, 2007
What's New from Renault at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show
Renault unveils the show cars Laguna Coupé Concept, Kangoo Compact Concept and New Kangoo.
LAGUNA COUPÉ CONCEPT: Elegance, driving pleasure and peace of mind. Renault has chosen the Frankfurt Motor Show to unveil Laguna Coupé Concept, its vision of a top-of-the-range grand tourer Coupé. Intended for the motorist who understands performance, driving pleasure, and refinement, Laguna Coupé Concept marries high-tech with high cool. Underpinned by the Four-wheel Active Drive chassis, its boasts a brand new powertrain developed as part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
Built on the same platform as New Laguna, Laguna Coupé Concept is a powerful, elegant affirmation of the long tradition of classic coupés. Rooted in its grand touring heritage, Laguna Coupé Concept embodies Renault's vision of the sports Coupé.
KANGOO COMPACT CONCEPT: Light, airy, and in pursuit of leisure. Renault takes the wraps off Kangoo Compact Concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Kangoo Compact Concept sets the tone for the new, wider Kangoo line-up. It targets young, active town- and city-dwellers who are into sport and are looking for a compact car that matches their life-style. Its expressive, robust lines are emphasized by its special two-tone colour scheme that blends Fireball Orange and Brushed Aluminium. The cabin, which floods with light, is made to be shared with friends. Roomy and fun, Kangoo Compact Concept focuses firmly on the pursuit of leisure and this sporting life. Built around a roller-skating theme, the car was developed in partnership with Rollerblade, and inspired by the shared values of mobility, togetherness, and lust for life.
NEW KANGOO: More practical, more comfortable. On its launch in 1997 Kangoo's affable, expressive style revolutionised the leisure utility vehicle sector. Roomy and versatile Kangoo has been a success, selling over 2,200,000 units since it was launched. New Kangoo matches family expectations more closely. It draws on Kangoo fundamentals, turning them into an optimised blend of quality, comfort, and practicality. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:47 PM | View the original post
De La Rue Delivers Gulf Region's First ePassport for State of Qatar
LONDON, September 24 -- The State of Qatar has chosen De La Rue Identity Systems to supply an integrated end-to-end ePassport solution, providing it with an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) compliant biometric document which includes the latest high security features and is integrated into Qatar's existing eID scheme.
De La Rue has supplied Qatar's travel documents for over 15 years. De La Rue's latest integrated solution incorporates ePassport documents, MIDIS(TM) document issuing system and the recently launched SIPS(TM) 500e for automated ePassport personalisation. Used in conjunction with De La Rue's secure laminate MLIS(TM), SIPS(TM) 500e automatically both encodes the chips with the holder's personal and biometric data and personalises the physical document. Sophisticated tracking and audit control features ensure that the secure laminates and passports are recorded and tracked as the document moves through the system. This provides the reassurance that every passport issued is a unique document, properly assigned to the correct individual.
De La Rue produces passports for 35 countries including ePassports for Ireland, the Bahamas and Qatar, the Mexican passport, The New York State driving licence and national ID cards for Chile, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
De La Rue is the world's largest commercial security printer and papermaker, involved in the production of over 150 national currencies and a wide range of security documents such as passports, authentication labels and fiscal stamps. The Company is also pioneering new technologies worldwide in government identity solutions for national identification, driving licence and passport issuing schemes. Employing over 6,000 people across 31 countries, it is also a leading provider of cash handling equipment and software solutions to banks and retailers worldwide.|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:52 AM | View the original post
September 23, 2007
FRANKFURT INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW (IAA) 2007 IMPRESSIONS
"This IAA for sustainable mobility is also on a sustainable course for growth. On each of the four Public Days so far more visitors have come to the world's most important trade fair for mobility than in 2005. Our IAA half-time result is certainly positive: over 520,000 auto fans have so far visited the IAA - a rise of a good 2 per cent. The 88 fascinating world premieres of the manufacturers have been the major focus of attention, but also the stands of the suppliers and all the outdoor activities - such as the Eco-training, the go-cart track, the off-road circuit and the test-drives - have enjoyed great public demand". -- Matthias Wissmann, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:17 AM | View the original post
World's Major Economies Have High-Tax Handicap: C.D. Howe Institute
TORONTO, September 23, 2007 -- Many of the world's largest economies have a common malady handicapping their abilities to generate jobs and government revenues, according to an e-brief released by C.D. Howe Institute. From the United States, Germany and Japan, to other engines of the global economy, they tend to have high corporate income tax rates that blunt their competitiveness, making it harder for manufacturing and service businesses to adopt better technologies that would boost workers' incomes. Except for the United Kingdom, which is committed to reducing its corporate tax rate to 28 percent in 2008, most of the world's major economies rely on corporate rates in excess of 30 percent. These high rates hurt competitiveness, because when investment moves to low-tax jurisdictions, prospects worsen for economic growth and job creation. These high tax rates also hurt government revenues, say the authors, Duanjie Chen, Jack Mintz and Andrey Tarasov.
"High rates also hurt government revenues. The evidence shows that lower corporate tax rates, on the other hand, may increase rather than reduce revenues, because governments gain revenue from an expanding tax base, as business investment and profits grow, and this helps offset the effect of a lower rate. In other words, governments shoot themselves in the foot when they set corporate income tax rates too high, hurting both competitiveness and revenues.
We find evidence, based on analysis of data for the years 2001 to 2005, that corporate income tax collections as a share of GDPwould be maximized at a corporate income tax rate of 28 percent (see Figure 1). In other words, reductions in high corporate income tax rates above 28 percent could increase rather than reduce tax revenues as business activity expands and the tax base broadens.
High tax burdens on investment hurt a given country's competitiveness, and also that of their trading partners. Large economies, like Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States in particular, need to reduce corporate rates, because they are far too high relative to the revenue-maximizing corporate rate. With the possibility of an economic slowdown resulting from a collapsing housing market in the United States, the harm imposed by the high effective tax rates in the largest economies is not just bad for them, but for the world economy as a whole. President Sarkozy of France, for example, has proposed a sharp reduction in the corporate rate, to 25 percent. Others, especially Japan and the United States, should follow suit..."
The C.D. Howe Institute is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that aims to improve Canadians' standard of living by fostering sound economic and social policy. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:26 AM | View the original post
September 22, 2007
AutoWeek Editors Honor the Best of the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show
The magazine's Editors' Choice Awards recognize Best in Show, Best Concept, Most Significant and Most Fun.
Photo: AutoWeek Editors' Choice Award: Lamborghini Reventon, Best in Show, 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Photo by Motor Forecast.
The AutoWeek editorial staff will announce its Editors' Choice Award winners for the 2007 Frankfurt International Motor Show in its September 24 issue.
For more than a decade, the editors of the weekly automotive-enthusiast magazine have scoured show floors in Detroit, Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt and Tokyo selecting winners in four categories: Best in Show, Best Concept, Most Significant and Most Fun.
The 2007 Best of Frankfurt winners include:
BEST IN SHOW: Lamborghini Reventon - "The sexy, brutal look of this ultra-sonic Lamborghini is something that will mesmerize car enthusiasts for generations," said AutoWeek Editor and Associate Publisher Dutch Mandel. "Our Best-in-Show award is bestowed on the car we all will remember years from now. That's clearly the case with this near $1.4 million Lamborghini, all 20 of which are sold out."
BEST CONCEPT: Mercedes-Benz F700 - "With so many slick-tech tricks in the F700, this was an easy choice as Best Concept."
MOST SIGNIFICANT: Ford Verve Concept - "As the next generation Fiesta sub-compact hatchback, the slightly bigger and bulkier Verve allows space for higher hood and rooflines and raised seating. With concern that the small car will be too expensive to engineer in the United States and South America, how Ford resolves the dilemma is what makes an already significant car even more so."
MOST FUN: BMW 1 Series Coupe - "We can't wait to get behind the wheel of what will be, if the car holds true to its promise and its pedigree, one of the most fun products from BMW since it recreated the Mini Copper. Only this time, the fun comes in rear-wheel drive," said Mandel.
The AutoWeek editorial staff will announce its 2007 Editors' Choice Awards for the Tokyo Motor Show next month and will continue the circuit in January by selecting the best of the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:59 AM | View the original post
September 21, 2007
ZAP Signs Electric Car Joint Venture with China's Largest Luxury Bus Manufacturer : GlobalGiants.com
Youngman Auto Group to Make Electric and Hybrid Cars, Trucks and Buses for Joint Venture.
Photo: JINHUA CITY, Zhejiang, China -- Youngman Auto Group Chairman Pang Qingnian and Steve Schneider, CEO of US electric car pioneer ZAP, have agreed to a joint venture to manufacture, market and distribute electric and hybrid cars, trucks and buses.
JINHUA CITY, China and SANTA ROSA, Calif., Sept. 21 -- In a joint statement released today, USA electric car pioneer ZAP (BULLETIN BOARD: ZAAP) and Youngman Automotive Group, China's number one luxury motor coach and high-quality commercial truck manufacturer, have signed a joint venture agreement to manufacture, market and distribute electric and hybrid vehicles for the passenger car, truck and bus markets. The new joint venture company will also focus on the development and manufacturing of electric charging infrastructure.
Youngman Automotive Group is a private holding company with 12 subsidiaries. Youngman's partnership with Germany's NEOPLAN controls more than 70 percent of the luxury motor coach market in China. Youngman is the supplier to NEOPLAN and MAN, two of Europe's top brands for luxury motor coaches and high-quality commercial trucking. Over the past few years Youngman has also expanded sales in Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia), The Middle East, Europe and the USA, enjoying significant market growth.
In 2004, with the support of the Chinese government, Youngman was awarded a license to manufacture automobiles. Earlier this year Youngman made auto industry headlines by awarding Lotus Engineering a number of vehicle development projects, and more recently by signing a vehicle distribution and technology licensing agreement with Proton (the Malaysian national car company), estimated to be worth several billion US dollars. The strategic partnership with ZAP will allow the joint venture company to bring highway capable electric and hybrid vehicles to the market like the ZAP-X crossover SUV.
"I applaud ZAP and Youngman for bringing the next generation of mass-produced electric vehicles to California. Our state is leading the nation and world in opening the market for alternative fuel vehicles and this move is another example of bringing high-quality, high-paying jobs to California," said Governor Schwarzenegger. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:03 AM | View the original post
September 20, 2007
Go Play: Nokia unveils new devices optimized for entertainment, music and games
London, UK -- Alongside the introduction of Ovi, the door to Nokia's new Internet services, Nokia has unveiled new mobile devices specifically optimized for entertainment, music and games. Each device offers dedicated music or gaming keys, expanded memory, large screens and extended battery performance to provide quick and easy access to entertainment content.
Nokia N81 8GB -- Entertainment made simple. With dedicated music and gaming keys, 3.5 mm headphone connector and 3G and WLAN connectivity, the Nokia N81 multimedia computer is a mobile entertainment powerhouse. With a sleek, polished surface and keys that light up when you activate them, accessing content on the 3D multimedia menu is fast and intuitive. Nokia N81 is configured to find, buy, manage and play music and games purchased from the Nokia Music Store and N-Gage games service.
Nokia N95 8GB: Stunning screen, massive memory. The Nokia N95 is a multimedia computer. With all the key features of its predecessor, including a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, built-in A-GPS, WLAN, HSDPA and an innovative 2-way slide, the Nokia N95 8GB now offers up to eight gigabytes of built-in memory. The N95 8GB also boasts a new luminous 2.8" QVGA display - one of the largest ever for a multimedia computer - so that watching videos, browsing the Internet or viewing maps is easy. With its expanded memory, the N95 8GB offers up to 20 hours of video or up to 6000 songs. The N95 8GB multimedia computer is expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter of 2007. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:20 AM | View the original post
Good Luck Chuck Premiere
Photo: Jessica Alba at the premiere of "Good Luck Chuck", September 19th, in Los Angeles. (Star Max Photos) |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:54 AM | View the original post
September 19, 2007
AT&T INC. BLACKBERRY SHOT
Photo: AT&T customers will be the first in the U.S. to be able to buy the BlackBerry 8820, the first BlackBerry with built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, beginning Thursday, September 20. The BlackBerry 8820 will be available in AT&T retail stores nationwide, through AT&T's business-to-business sales organizations, online at wireless.att.com and through select national retailers. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:59 PM | View the original post
ANHEUSER-BUSCH, INC. & GILLETT EVERNHAM MOTORSPORTS NASCAR
Photo: NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne, Tim Schoen and Tony Ponturo of Anheuser-Busch, Inc., and George Gillett and Ray Evernham of Gillett Evernham Motorsports, announce Kasey Kahne as the new driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:40 PM | View the original post
September 18, 2007
BMW Hydrogen 7 On U.S. Roadways : GlobalGiants.com
Jay Leno joins Actor Will Ferrell and Other High Profile Individuals as One of the First to be given a BMW Hydrogen 7.
Photo: Jay Leno drives a BMW Hydrogen 7 -- the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan.
WOODCLIFF, N.J., Sept. 18 -- BMW has announced that Jay Leno became the latest person to receive keys to a BMW Hydrogen 7 -- the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan. The Emmy-winning comedian and host of The Tonight Show received his BMW Hydrogen 7 at his famed car garage in Burbank, California, which is fittingly a "green garage" that receives a great deal of its energy from steam power.
"As an avid car enthusiast I'm always interested in the future of automotive technology. With the BMW Hydrogen 7 I can experience all the fun and great features of a performance car, yet know that I'm being environmentally friendly at the same time! I look forward to driving the Hydrogen 7 and learning more about hydrogen as a fuel for our future."
Running in hydrogen mode, the BMW Hydrogen 7 essentially emits nothing but water vapor, representing a major step in reducing harmful CO2 emissions. It is not a concept car, but a production model vehicle that has successfully completed the entire Product Development Process. While the BMW Hydrogen 7 is not for sale, it is considered to be a milestone in bringing forward hydrogen as the sustainable fuel for individual transportation.
BMW believes that hydrogen will replace petroleum as the long-term alternative to fossil fuel, and hopes the Hydrogen 7 will play a pioneering role in driving forward the hydrogen technologies that will ensure our mobility in the future. Through a program dubbed the Hydrogen 7 Pioneers Program, BMW is giving industry leaders and prominent figures in entertainment, politics, business and more a BMW Hydrogen 7 for their daily use.
While Leno and BMW's hydrogen pioneers will be the first group to be given access to the BMW Hydrogen 7 in the U.S. for a longer period of use, a number of entertainers, politicians, business leaders and more have opted for a BMW Hydrogen 7 as their energy-efficient ride of choice. Those who have recently chosen the vehicle include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the "Ocean's 13" premiere in Hollywood; Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Liguori at the FOX All-Star Party in Santa Monica; Richard Gere and Sharon Stone at the Cinema for Peace Gala in Berlin; and "An Inconvenient Truth" producer Davis Guggenheim (Oscar(R) for the best Documentary Feature) and Best Foreign Language Film Oscar(R) winner, director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck at the 2007 Academy Awards; among others. The vehicle has also made an impact oversees, with luminaries such as Michael Glos, German Federal Minister for Economy and Technology, and Gunter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission, world renowned soprano Anna Netrebko and many others covering more than 1.3 million miles worldwide till now. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:07 AM | View the original post
Microsoft at Advertising Week 2007
Microsoft will participate in featured events and industry sessions at annual advertising industry gathering.
Photo: Print Advertising.
Microsoft Corp. will participate in and be a sponsor of a number of public exhibits, keynote addresses and workshop sessions at Advertising Week, MIXX and the Online Media, Marketing and Advertising (OMMA) Conference & Expo in New York, Sept. 24-28. Hosted by a set of premier national advertising associations, Advertising Week is the largest annual gathering of advertising and media decision-makers in North America.
Advertising Week is built on the commitment to celebrate creativity. It is about focusing the industry and public at-large on the social impacts of advertising and the influence advertising has on our economic fabric. It includes public events, keynotes and panels, major conferences and expositions, and a wide variety of special events. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:07 AM | View the original post
September 16, 2007
FRANKFURT 62nd INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW 2007
Photo: Dr. Anahid Rickmann of the German Association of the Automotive Industry VDA (center) presents to the winner of the FFH-VIP-Shuttle Timo Menger (left) and his mother (right) an International Motor Show (IAA) package.
Photo: Volkswagen: Dr. Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor (left), Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of Board, Volkswagen AG (right).
Photo: General Motors (GM Europe) at the Frankfurt International Motor Show.
Photo: Porsche at the Frankfurt International Motor Show.
Photo: Audi at the Frankfurt International Motor Show.
Photo: Suzuki at the Frankfurt International Motor Show.
"This 62nd IAA Cars shows one thing with the greatest clarity: the German automotive industry is going on the offensive when it comes to climate protection.....Good ecology and the pleasure of driving: these aspects are not contradictory, but are certainly compatible - that is what this IAA is demonstrating," emphasized Matthias Wissmann, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), speaking to over 1,300 high-ranking international guests from politics and business at the opening ceremony of the 62nd International Motor Show (IAA) Cars in Frankfurt.
Turning to the German Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel, who officially opened the IAA, Wissmann stressed, "In Brussels you are supporting a policy that sets differentiated CO2 requirements for every vehicle. We welcome this explicitly; this is the right path to follow. A family van does have a different consumption than a small car. The EU should not make the mistake of treating all vehicles in the same way..."
Photo: Toyota at the Frankfurt International Motor Show.
The IAA is one of the world's most important trade fairs for mobility. It showcases the technological capabilities and the strengths of the brands. 1,081 exhibitors from 40 countries - including 525 suppliers - are demonstrating their innovations, which include 88 world premieres from the manufacturers alone. Almost 14,000 media representatives from over 90 countries have been accredited. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:05 AM | View the original post
September 14, 2007
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill's Burj Dubai Becomes World's Tallest Free-Standing Structure
CHICAGO, Sept. 14 -- The Burj Dubai, designed by the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), is now officially the world's tallest free-standing structure.
SOM announced today that the construction of the Burj Dubai has reached the 150th floor level at 1,821 feet (555 meters), surpassing the height of the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada, which was previously the world's tallest free-standing structure at 1,815 feet (553 meters). The CN Tower is a communications tower and was completed in 1976.
The height of the Burj Dubai, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will continue to climb as construction continues to the floors and beyond with its architectural spire. The construction is expected to top out in 2008. The final height is still a secret.
The Burj Dubai is being developed by Emaar Properties, constructed by South Korea's Samsung Corporation. Turner Construction International is the project and construction manager.
Upon completion, the Burj Dubai will be the tallest building in the world in all four categories recognized by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which compiles and ranks the world's tallest buildings. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:53 PM | View the original post