The Hubble Ultra Deep Field in 3D

Os Reis do Rítmo.

Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings are a Blues-rock band founded and led by former Rolling Stones's bass guitarist Bill Wyman, together with his lifelong musical partner Terry Taylor. The "Dirty Boys" duo produce, arrange and compose original material for the award winning band.
The Rhythm Kings are renowned for their popular live performances as they frequently tour through Europe and the United Kingdom. The group has conducted only one tour in the United States, during the middle of 2001. The touring unit often is compared to the Ringo Starr All-Starr Band for its somewhat revolving door of membership as established musicians move from project to project.
Wikipedia.com

Bill Wyman e os "Rhytm Kings", são uma banda blues-rock, fundada e liderada pelo antigo baixista dos "Rolling Stones" Bill Wyman, juntamente com seu amigo de longa data Terry Taylor. A dupla "Dirty Boys" compôs, produziu e arranjou o material original daquela premiada banda.
Os "Rhythm Kings" são reconhecidos pelas populares performances ao vivo e fazem frequentes tours através da Europa e Reino Unido. O grupo fez em 2001 a sua única apresentação nos Estados Unidos. Essas tours com performances ao vivo, são frequentemente comparadas as do "Ringo Starr all Starr Band" por reunir vários músicos da maior qualidade e já estabelecidos no meio musical.

Rolling Stones: Bill Wyman, Brian Jones, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and Charlie Watts, October 1969.

Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman in Hullabaloo Vol. 8

Next Porsche Supercar-The Hybrid 918 Spyder.

Faster than a Carrera GT yet more economical than a microcar, Porsche next supercar is super indeed.

Officially it’s only a concept, but there’s no doubt that project XG10 -- or the 918 Spyder concept -- will pave the way for the next Porsche supercar. And what a supercar it is going to be: in addition to the normally aspirated, high-revving, 3.4-liter V-8 good for more than 495 hp, the striking 918 Spyder has three electric motors onboard that add another 215 hp to the tally. Says Wolfgang Dürheimer, board member in charge of R&D: “This car can lap the Nürburgring faster than the Carrera GT. At the same time, it averages 78 mpg [on the EU driving cycle] when driven gently. Are we going to build it? We will definitely bring some blank sales contracts to the Geneva show, but it’s too early to talk pricing, production volumes, and timing.

"The strategic aim is to demonstrate that even a supercar can be environmentally friendly. XG10 promises total driving pleasure—and a clear conscience. This is a trendsetting and sustainable premium product that uses the issue of social acceptability to its advantage. And it reflects the legacy of Ferry Porsche, who was convinced that sports cars would never go out of fashion.”

XG10 stands for X1, Geneva 2010. X1 is the code name of the 918 Spyder, which is only one version of many. Potential variations include a 918 coupe, an electric 918, and a 918 RS/RSR. This car can be either two- or four-wheel drive, have plug-in electric or gasoline power, come with an open top or a fixed roof, and be either a racer or a street machine. Its genetic evolution dates back to the 1997 Porsche GT1, which was a Le Mans–winning 911 on steroids. That car triggered project LMP 2000 (Porsche’s exciting Le Mans comeback car), which was halted at the eleventh hour by then-chairman Wendelin Wiedeking, who was always more of a numbers man than a car guy.
read more @ automobilemag.com

"This car shouts Porsche from every angle, and yet is truly advanced and not at all retro."

text by Georg Kacher, excerpted from automobilemag.com May 2010
photos from www21.porsche.com/usa

55 Mercury Monterey na Strip de Palm Springs, CA.

Visto neste domingo de Páscoa na badalada "strip", parte da HWY 111 que atravessa o centro de Palm Springs, CA.
Perfeito exemplo de um California Cruiser. Craftsmanship da maior qualidade.

photos copyright saysomething.us

2011 Audi R8 Cabrio

Fascination taken to a new level of intensity: The Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro combines breathtaking performance with the experience of open-top driving. The 386 kW (525 hp) V10 engine accelerates the high-performance sports car with the lightweight cloth top to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 313 km/h (194.49 mph). The Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro features a fascinating package of technologies, including the Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminum and carbon fiber composite, quattro permanent all-wheel drive, LED headlights and the innovative seat belt microphone.
read more @ www.netcarshow.com

Fascínio levado a um novo nível de intensidade: O Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro combina performance de tirar o fôlego com a experiência de dirigir "open-top".O motor V10 de 525 cv acelera este esportivo de alta performance a 100 km/h (62.14 mph) em 4.1 segundos com a capota de pano leve, sendo que a velocidade máxima é de 313 km / h (194,49 mph). O Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro possui um conjunto fascinante de tecnologias, incluindo o Audi Space Frame (ASF) feita de alumínio e fibra de carbono composto, tração integral permanente, faróis de LED e o inovativo microfone no cinto de segurança (???).
leia mais no www.netcarshow.com

...enquanto espera(mos)

San Francisco - Few days Before 1906 Earthquake

Actual footage, San Francisco Street car ride 1906
Really something to watch. Sort of a slice of time out of the past.



This fascinating bit of film was shot from the San Francisco Market Street car a few days before the '06 earthquake. Amazing to see the casual way the early cars just wove in an out of traffic and the pedestrians seemingly taking their lives in their hands as they walked in front of anything on wheels. Notice the heavy goods wagons running on tracks on the right as they get close to the Ferry Building. The wagons appear to have extra large steel wheels with a standard track width. And what about the fat cop with his truncheon ready to deal with any civil disturbances. I wonder what he did during the earthquake.

Here's some comment from a local historian:

This gets identified as 1905, and I've even seen 1909, but recent research by some transit experts concludes that it was done possibly on Monday, April 16, 1906 or Tuesday, April 17! Yep, the day or two before the earthquake that would greatly alter this landscape. The jury is out, but Spring 1906 is the current dating.

The other interesting thing is to watch the traffic and the chances people took when crossing the street. Street accidents were endemic throughout the US as the country changed with the advent of the horseless carriage. The cable cars that are visible were running at a predictable 9.2 MPH. Horses moved slowly on city streets too. But the automobile could reach speeds of 20 MPH! The early autos had the steering wheel on the right, then we standardized it to the left.

The rules of the road were evolving. Major train crossing had crossing lights, but rural crossing were only marked with a sign and you were responsible for your own safety in crossing the tracks and looking for the trains a coming. Even signal lights in cities didn't evolve until the 1920s. The cop directing traffic was about the only traffic control in use until then. As life sped up,we devised ways to protect the public, but it evolved slowly and unfortunately a lot of people died getting where we have some civility on city streets.

Casuarina: Chiclete com Banana.

Bom demais, não conhecia mas já sou fã. Vou comprar o CD. Será que tem LP?
Mais uma descoladíssima dica da minha amiga Sílvia, lá do Rio.

Alfa Romeo - 100 Anos

Os 100 anos de existência da Alfa Romeo englobam alguns dos mais importantes capítulos da história automotiva. É uma história de carros, designers, competições e motores que foram marcos tecnológicos e esportivos durante todo o século XX. Alfa Romeo é a somatória de todas essas partes, mais milhares de pessoas que alavancaram sua história: trabalhadores, engenheiros, gerentes, mecânicos, pilotos que durante todos esses 100 anos, nos ecritórios, fábricas, oficinas e pistas de competição edificaram a orgulhosa marca Alfa Romeo.



As Alfa Romeo não são feitas por pessoas que acreditam, que dirigir seja uma atividade enfadonha, e veem carros únicamente como uma maneira de irem de um ponto A à um ponto B. Elas são feitas para transcender o essencial e entrar na área da emoção. Elas envolvem o gôsto estético, a paixão por engenharia sofisticada, o prazer de conduzi-las (pilota-las) e o desejo de expressar a própria personalidade.
Esta é portanto minha modesta homenagem aos 100 anos da Alfa Romeo.


Veja um pouco mais da história da Alfa neste LINK

Christopher Lee and Rhapsody - The Magic of the Wizard's Dream

While waiting for his upcoming Charlemagne, symphonic metal opera , let's enjoy Christopher Lee and Rapsody on this amazing work - The Magic of the Wizard's Dream.
Its such a shame that I've found out only tonight, how powerful, great singer Christopher Lee is!