Thursday, May 26, 2011

The new Pagani Huayra ( Still don't know how to pronounce that )


When Pagani builds a new car, we jump to attention, but not because it comes from a brand that carries the momentum of glorious heritage or racing success or the patronage of royalty and stars. Pagani doesn’t have those things to fall back on. The non-petrolhead world doesn’t know about Pagani. It’s our secret, and absent all that branding stuff, it’s the car itself that has to do all the work.


Shouldn't be a problem. The new Huayra (the main syllable is wire, with an ‘h' before and an ‘a' after) is a substantial step upward from the only Pagani so far, the Zonda. Just let's think about that extraordinary idea for a moment. When it began life, the Zonda was a Ferrari 550 competitor. In its more powerful mid-decade F form, it went up a gear. Because it was so light, it comfortably outperformed a MurciĆ©lago and hit the stratosphere occupied by the headbanging razor hardcore like the Enzo and Carrera GT. But unlike them it didn't demand your mortal remains in return - it was refined and easy, and a breathtakingly extravagant luxury good. Then it hit another level with the end-of-line Cinque versions. The potential of the Zonda's original concept meant it could evolve far beyond even what its creator Horacio Pagani himself had envisaged. So there was no need to rush the Huayra.



But now it's here, the Huayra leaves even the Cinque in the dust. Let some raw numbers set the scene. Beneath a pair of golden-finned intercooler covers and carbon-fibre intake boxes, there lives and breathes a brand new 6.0-litre AMG V12 making 730bhp, and a mountainous 811lb ft of torque. All this to propel a car of just 1,350kg. That's slightly lighter than the most powerful Porsche ever, the certifiably insane 911 GT2 RS, but with rather more than one-and-a-half times the torque. Or the same torque-to-weight as a Veyron. Veyron Super Sport, that is. Right, now we've got your attention...

This car is, like the Zonda before it, the obsessive work of an individual, company founder Horacio Pagani. He says he started work on the Huayra in 2003, because he feared the Zonda would seem old beside the Carrera GT and Enzo and Veyron. It didn't, so while the Zonda kept growing up, he continued to whittle away on the Huayra. Perfection won't be rushed.


                                                                                                                 Taken from: Top Gear news

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Nanotechnology Rejuvenates the Heart

What's the Latest Development?

Experimenters at Brown University and the India Institute of Technology Kanpur have created a small mesh of carbon nanofibers that, when placed on dead heart tissue resulting from a heart attack, regenerates the dead tissue. The device, which looks like a small black band-aid and measures 22 millimeters long by 15 microns thick, works by drawing cardiomyocytes—specialized cells that form heart muscle—to the dead tissue area. After reaching the nano-surface, the heart cells begin to spawn, effectively regenerating the heart tissue destroyed by a heart attack.

What's the Big Idea?

The new technology is most applicable for patients who have suffered a heart attack and who are therefore at higher risk of another. Because a heart attack kills heart tissue, one-time heart attack victims are at a higher risk of having a second heart attack. "In 2009, some 785,000 Americans suffered a new heart attack linked to weakness caused by the scarred cardiac muscle from a previous heart attack, according to the American Heart Association." The same nanotechnology that enabled this heart patch has wide application in other fields. Research is currently being conducted to develop bendable laptops, new drug delivery systems and novel diagnostic tools.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Eurovision song contest.

So, Azerbaijan won with this.


Which was decent, but not nearly as good as the French entry:



Or the Hungarian one:


And the Estonian:



Quite sad really, that the countries were awarding points to their closest neighbors or the countries they are tied to politically, so the points were just given to the countries liked the most, not the songs. Azerbaijan was supported by Russia, Turkey ( Azerbaijan's permanent best ally) , and the majority of the former Soviet countries participating in the contest. 

I will conclude this post with a nice poster of the Estonian singer ;D I find her very cute.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A chance to walk around the outside of CN Tower

Toronto's CN Tower is a test for even the most extreme adrenaline junkies.



But budding daredevils now face a new challenge, as the tower's operators plan to let people walk hands-free around the outside of the 116-storey structure - held in place by only a cable.

For $175 (£107), thrill-seekers can stroll around the top of the tower with no guard-rail and just a 5ft (1.5m) wide see-through ledge underneath.


High life: Visitors to the new EdgeWalk experience at the top of the CN Tower will have unparalleled views of Toronto


At 1,167ft (356m) above the ground, the EdgeWalk will reward the brave with some breathtaking open-air views of Canada’s largest city, Lake Ontario and Buffalo, NY.

The first attraction of its kind in North America, EdgeWalk claims to be the world’s highest full circle hands-free walk.

Wearing safety harnesses attached to an overhead rail, trained guides will lead adventurous walkers in groups of six to eight around the top of the tower's main pod.

The entire experience will last about 90 minutes, with the walk itself running 20 to 30 minutes.


Exciting: The entire experience will last about 90 minutes, with the walk itself running 20 to 30 minutes

Walkers will have to meet height and weight requirements, and officials say the attraction was designed with the utmost safety and security in mind.

‘EdgeWalk is both thrilling and unique and will push visitors to their limits - literally and figuratively,’ CN Tower President Mark Laroche said.

‘This will be among Toronto's, if not the world's, greatest attractions.'

Completed in 1976, the CN Tower became the world's tallest free-standing structure and world's tallest tower, holding both records for 34 years until the completion of Burj Khalifa in Dubai and Canton Tower in China.

It remains the world's 4th tallest free-standing structure at 1,815ft high and attracts more than 1.5million visitors ever year.

‘We're extremely proud of the records the CN Tower has held throughout the years, including our strong safety record,’ said Jack Robinson, CN Tower's chief operating officer.

‘Our facilities and engineering team supervised the EdgeWalk project design and build to ensure that it is both exciting and safe.’

The attraction surpasses the Sky Tower walk in Auckland, New Zealand, at 629ft (192m) high and the Macau Tower Skywalk at 764ft (233m) above the ground.

EdgeWalk is set to open August 1 and advance ticket sales begin in June. I'm looking forward to it as I live in Toronto and am something  of an adrenaline junkie myself.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Great looking watches.

Here is a couple:
                                                 
JaegerLeCoultre Master Grande Ultra Thin



JaegerLeCoultre  Master Memovox International
Zenith El Primero


Zenith Chronometre El-Primero



Rolex Explorer 1


Oris Classic Date


Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 007


IWC  Ingineur


Hamilton Jazzmaster
                                                                   

Edox Les Vaubers Open Heart                                                              
 

Blancpain-8 Jours - Limited Edition

Sunday, May 1, 2011

OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD

So, Bin Laden is dead. My thoughts? Let's see how long it will take for U.S government to create another artificial villain.