Simon Cowell shoots down Beyonce ‘X Factor’ rumors

LOS ANGELES: Time will tell who will fill the recently vacated judge’s chairs on “The X Factor,” but one thing’s for sure — it won’t be Beyonce Knowles. At least, if Simon Cowell is to be believed.

Fox’s recently minted competition series had a major shakeup last week, with judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paul Abdul — along with host Steve Jones — getting the heave-ho. And while the rumor mill swirled with scuttlebutt about Cowell offering “Single Ladies” singer Knowles an astronomical sum to come aboard, the famously cantankerous Brit says it’s not happening.

“I have no idea where this rumor came from,” Cowell said in an interview with “Extra.” “I read it online that I offered her $100 million a year. It’s complete nonsense.”

Cowell also revealed that executives at Fox began talking to him about a shakeup “t the beginning of the year– and we were told it had to happen straight away.”

He also took responsibility for the perception that “X Factor” has been a lukewarm success, admitting that his declaration that the show would be bigger than his last gig, “American Idol,” set the bar too high.

“It’s only because I opened my big mouth and said we were going to get 20 million,” Cowell said. “If I hadn’t said that, everybody would be saying the show was a huge success.” AGENCIES

Scientists shift on brain speech centre: study

 

The part of the brain used for speech processing is in a different location than originally believed, according to a US study Monday that researchers said will require a rewrite of medical texts.

 

Wernicke s area, named after the German neurologist who proposed it in the late 1800s, was long believed to be at the back of the brain s cerebral cortex, behind the auditory cortex which receives sounds.

 

But a review by scientists at Georgetown University Medical Center of more than 100 imaging studies has shown it is actually three centimeters closer to the front of the brain, and is in front of the auditory cortex, not behind.

 

“Textbooks will now have to be rewritten,” said neuroscience professor Josef Rauschecker, lead author of the study which appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

 

“We gave old theories that have long hung a knockout punch.”

 

Rauschecker and colleagues based their research on 115 previous peer-reviewed studies that investigated speech perception and used brain imaging scans — either MRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) or PET (positron emission tomography).

 

An analysis of the brain imaging coordinates in those studies pointed to the new location for Wernicke s area, offering new insight for patients suffering from brain damage or stroke.

 

“If a patient can t speak, or understand speech, we now have a good clue as to where damage has occurred,” said Rauschecker.

 

It also adds an intriguing wrinkle to the origins of language in humans and primates, who have also been shown to process audible speech in the same region of the brain.

 

“This finding suggests the architecture and processing between the two species is more similar than many people thought.”

 

Lead author Iain DeWitt, a PhD candidate in Georgetown s Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, said the study confirms what others have found since brain imaging began in earnest in the 1990s, though some debate has persisted.

 

“The majority of imagers, however, were reluctant to overturn a century of prior understanding on account of what was then a relatively new methodology,” he said.

 

“The point of our paper is to force a reconciliation between the data and theory.”
 

‘World’s cheapest car’ tag backfires for Nano

MUMBAI: When India’s Tata Motors’ Nano went on sale in 2009, the concept of the “world’s cheapest car” in one of the world’s fastest growing auto markets seemed pre-destined for commercial success.

Logically, the strategy appeared faultless — offering an affordable solution to millions of aspirational lower-middle class Indian families wanting to make the social and practical leap from two wheels to four.

But after several years of disappointing sales, it has now become clear that the snubnosed hatchback’s unique selling point — its price — was actually a commercial sticking point.

Rather than embracing the Nano, the status-conscious consumer base that was its prime target has largely shunned the “cheap” tag of the $2,800 vehicle and opted for slightly pricier rivals, or second-hand vehicles costing the same.

“A Nano is always bandied about as a poor man’s car. Nobody wants to be caught with it,” said Punnoose Tharyan, editor of India’s Motown magazine.

Sales are far off the target of 25,000 cars a month, and the Nano plant, with an annual capacity 250,000 units, produces only 10,000 a month, according to R. Ramakrishnan, business head of Tata Motors passenger cars.

“The car didn’t project the right image,” said Indian automobile expert Murad Ali Baig. “Also, for the same cost as the Nano there are quite respectable second-hand cars — with air conditioning.”

The base model, sold without air conditioning which is a disadvantage in India’s searing heat, costs 140,880 rupees ($2,800). The premium version — air conditioning, central locking and power front windows — is 196,959 rupees.

The Nano ran into trouble from the start when a land acquisition row forced Tata to abandon a nearly completed plant and build another, badly delaying production.

There were also safety concerns after a number of cars burst into flames.

Now Tata Motors, which also produces the British luxury Jaguar and Land Rover brands, has gone into damage control mode.

Tata boss Ratan Tata conceded this month that mistakes had been made, which had fuelled the perception of the Nano as a “poor man’s” vehicle.

“Whatever stigma has been attached to it, we will undo,” Tata said, insisting that the Nano had always been intended as an “affordable, all-weather, family car.”

To get sales on track, Tata has given the car a makeover, making it available in more colours, including “champagne gold” and “papaya orange,” and sprucing up the interiors while keeping prices unchanged.

It has also offered a “Tata Nano Happiness Guarantee”, which more than doubles the car’s warranty to four years from 18 months, and throwing in a maintenance contract for just 99 rupees a month.

It is offering “fast-track” financing for buyers wanting loans to purchase the car — with loan approvals in 48 hours. Also, buyers can put down just 15,000 rupees ($300) to drive a Nano out of the showroom.

“Let’s say at first it moved a little slowly in the market place, but now we have understood what the customer requirements are,” said Tata Motors India managing director Prakash Telang.

And Telang remains convinced that the potential Nano market remains as vast as its makers originally predicted.

“Car penetration in India is 10 to 11 per 1,000 people as compared to Western economies where it is as high as about 400 per 1,000 people,” Telang said. “The market will continue to grow rapidly.”

Typical of the buyers Telang has in mind is Dira Singh, who has a wife and two children and recently upgraded from a motorcycle to a shiny blue Nano.

“The Nano was in my budget. It wasn’t costly and that’s why I took it,” Singh said, standing proudly beside the vehicle. “It will protect my family.” AGENCIES

We Support Indiscriminate Accountability: PM Gilani

News Trends: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the government endorsed transparent and indiscriminate accountability.
Addressing the National Assembly, the PM rejected the perception that the government is against the people while the Opposition is not, saying that the people should themselves realize which policy is better for them.

Accountability Bill was the first thing our government brought, the PM maintained, adding that we are for indiscriminate accountability. He lamented that accountability was not transparent during the previous regimes. He alleged the Opposition of targeting one institute and that also on purpose. Reply to Nawazs letter would certainly be sent after return of President Zardari, the PM told the NA. Referring to the interception of ministers cars at Shahra-e-Dastoor, the Premier said no such incident took place even the minster named are not confirming it; I even talked to the COAS regarding the issue. Regarding the IMF loan issue and the conditions set by the organization, Gilani said that I did take the Cabinet on board in this respect. About reformed GST Bill, he said that only MQM had some reservations over it who contacted the Finance Minister to get them addressed. He said that all the four Chief Ministers approved the RGST Bill. The provinces asked the federation to give Rs 160 billion in aid for the flood victims, Reformed GST is the only way to help the flood victims, the PM asserted.

Earlier, while addressing the NA, Chaudhry Nisar maintained that even the House was not taken on board vis–vis RGST Bill let alone the allies.
He said that the PM did announce to consult us all but he did not. He warned those at the helm against anti-public decisions.

India supporting Balochistan insurgency: Musharraf

NEW YORK: Former President Pervez Musharraf, in an interview with Indian TV channel Times Now, pointed finger at India for the simmering insurgency in Balochistan including providing full logistic support to the Baloch separatists.

In the interview, Musharraf said India was ‘aiding and abetting militancy in Balochistan.’

“We have evidence and proof that Baramdagh Bugti who carries out attacks is sitting in Kabul. He visits Delhi and is received by RAW.”

On Sunday, Musharraf told ABC News he favors agreements with moderate Taliban in the fight against Islamic militants allied with al-Qaeda, while rejecting the perception that Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI was supporting the Taliban.

“After defeating the Taliban, after 9-11, I always was of the view we need to go in for deals,” Musharraf said in an interview broadcast on ABC’s “This Week” program

India supporting Balochistan insurgency: Musharraf

NEW YORK: Former President Pervez Musharraf, in an interview with Indian TV channel Times Now, pointed finger at India for the simmering insurgency in Balochistan including providing full logistic support to the Baloch separatists.

In the interview, Musharraf said India was ‘aiding and abetting militancy in Balochistan.’

“We have evidence and proof that Baramdagh Bugti who carries out attacks is sitting in Kabul. He visits Delhi and is received by RAW.”

On Sunday, Musharraf told ABC News he favors agreements with moderate Taliban in the fight against Islamic militants allied with al-Qaeda, while rejecting the perception that Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI was supporting the Taliban.

“After defeating the Taliban, after 9-11, I always was of the view we need to go in for deals,” Musharraf said in an interview broadcast on ABC’s “This Week” program

$10 PC Could Set Computer Technology Future

In a world grappling with depression, the launch of an ultra cheap laptop for just $10 in India could set the future of computer technology.

The laptop, which was developed as part of a broader national plan to attract Indian colleges and schools toward growing IT trends, will bring the wonder of the PC to the children.

Known as ‘Sakshat’, the laptop is aimed to fill the gap between rich and poor by linking 18,000 colleges and 400 universities across India.

The laptop will have 2GB inbuilt memory and easy to use applications. It would give tough competition to rival PC makers like the One Laptop per Child’s XO machine and the Intel Classmate.

The laptop computer, which is developed by the joint efforts of Vellore Institute of Technology the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras and due to launch from Triputi in Andhra Pradesh, would be the latest in a series of initiatives to create low cost computing devices for Indians.

University students were engaged to help with the research, and the Indian government also gave several State bodies the brief to turn up with schemes for the low-cost high-use concept.

Lots of private firms were given the agreement to make the notebooks after the design specifications were finalized.

Many governments throughout the world tried a similar low-priced computer scheme for their State-run education system, but India’s laptop is undoubtedly the most cost-effective so far.

Other countries have contracted the likes of Intel and Dell to supply the hardware, but the Indian government’s practical approach has kept prices down and made the programme more approachable to its vast school-going population.

The global recession has also hit badly the costlier roll-outs in other nations, as cut-backs have seen lots of such progressive plans falling victim to funding setbacks.

If the laptop plan turns out successful in India, some industry professionals are anticipating that the ‘$10 PC’ could be a hit further abroad than Asia.

And the India option could be the much-needed lifeline for many similar schemes across the globe.

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$10 PC Could Set Computer Technology Future was first posted on February 7, 2009 at 12:31 pm.

Electric Bike That Promises 150 MPH Unveiled

For all those who have a passion for bikes, here’s some good news: Mission Motors is coming up with an electric motorcycle that promises a speed of almost 150 miles per hour.

The bike, dubbed as Mission One, gets its power from 3-phase AC induction motor and a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery, which the company claims, delivers 150 miles.

Moreover, it takes just two hours to get recharged at 240 volts.

The top-shelf hardware includes Ohlins suspension at both ends, four-piston Brembo brakes and Marchesini forged wheels.

The components – and the claimed 150 horsepower – put the bike on par with hardcore sportbikes like the Ducati 1198.

The motorcycle developed by former Tesla Motors engineer will begin selling them next year for 69,000 apiece dollars.

“As a motorcycle enthusiast and engineer, I knew I could combine my passion for motorcycles with my passion for innovation and create a motorcycle that truly sets a new standard in the perception of electric vehicles,” Wired. com quoted company founder and CEO Forrest North as saying.

“With Mission One, we”re writing the next chapter in motorcycle design, delivering a new riding experience without sacrificing performance or design in a zero emissions vehicle,” he added.

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Electric Bike That Promises 150 MPH Unveiled was first posted on February 8, 2009 at 11:38 am.