Oh my fucking shit fuck... this is awesome

The death of newspapers: Infographic

28 Sep 2009
0 Responses
views

Calumn and Bailey checking out the mountain

26 Sep 2009
1 Response
views

Hey Musica, if you're importing this, you're dumber than I thought:

24 Sep 2009
0 Responses
views

Taxi Violence is a local band, and the publisher at the back is local too.

http://www.taxiviolence.com/fabrication.php

Call centre IVRs - you gotta hate 'em!

24 Sep 2009
0 Responses
views

The line that's missing from Facebook emails:

23 Sep 2009
0 Responses
views

Thanks to @donpackett for the Photoshop lovin'.

Fabric coated Beemer:

23 Sep 2009
0 Responses
views

The GINA Light Visionary Model is a fabric-skinned shape-shifting sports car concept built byBMW. GINA stands for "Geometry and functions In 'N' Adaptions".^[1][2][3] It was designed by a team led by BMW’s head of design, Chris Bangle, who says GINA allowed his team to "challenge existing principles and conventional processes."^[1] Other designers include Anders Warming.[4]

The construction began in 2001.^[5]

Fabric body

BMW says the flexible, stretchable water resistant translucent man-made fabric skin –polyurethane-coated Spandex, is resilient and durable. It resists high or low temperatures, does not swell or shrink and the movement does not slacken or damage the fabric.^[6] The body changes its shape according to exterior conditions and speeds, and it also allows the driver to change its shape at will. The fabric is stretched over a moveable frame;^[1] essential shapes are formed beneath the skin by an aluminium wire structure, though at points where movement is needed (ducts, door openings, spoiler) flexible carbon struts are used.^[1] The shape of the frame is controlled by many electric and hydraulic actuators, for example, the headlights are revealed when small motors pull the fabric back in an eyelid like fashion. As the fabric is translucent the taillights shine through it.

Exterior

GINA has just four panels — the bonnet, the two side panels and the boot.^[1] Its skin appears seamless, but it can “grow” a higher rear spoiler for stability at high speed.^[6] Its doors open in abutterfly style, and are each covered by a fabric piece reaching all the way from the nose of the car to their trailing edge which when closed leaves a perfectly smooth surface. Access to the engine can be gained through a slit that can open in the middle of the bonnet. ^[1]

Interior

When the car is parked, the car’s steering wheel and instruments sit in an ‘idle’ position on the centre console to allow the driver easy entry.^[6] The steering wheel and instruments assume their correct positions when the driver presses the start button and the headrest rises from the seat once the driver is seated, making it easier to get in and out of the car

(download)

She thought she won a toyota. Bwahahahaha!

21 Sep 2009
0 Responses
views

Wow, just got the raddest early bithday present ever from @craigrodney

18 Sep 2009
5 Responses
views

No seriously, I'm a bobblehead, and you're not (that sounded better in my head).

Shame, now the pressure's on for all the other poor bastards that have to buy me a present. It's Oct 16th, in case you were wondering.

Too much man love Craig, bromance is imminent.

Rich...!

Key reasons why the Rand is currently especially strong (and not just because the Dollar is weak):

15 Sep 2009
1 Response
views

I got this from my weekly Stanlib newsletter (it's a goodie) www.stanlib.co.za:

rich@missinglink.co.za" shape="rect" coords="162,60,340,76" />

Please see below reasons for the current Rand strength. I have also attached a slide which shows R52 billion of net foreign flows into S.A equities:

Click here to download:

Whereto from cash.ppt (267 KB)

(download)

SA is now running a trade surplus due to sharply declining imports. First trade surplus since early 2004
SA dividend outflows have fallen sharply from well over 3% of GDP in 2008 to well under 2% of GDP in Q2 2009
SA`s current account deficit has improved dramatically from 7% of GDP in Q1 2009 to 3.2% of GDP in Q2 2009
SA is running a positive interest rate spread when measured against the major developed economies
SA's foreign currency credit rating was upgraded on 16 July to an `A' rating
Foreign tourism inflows have improved noticeably this year, helped by the sporting events
There has been a large increase in investment flows into emerging markets this year, including SA. Year-to-date foreign investors has purchased (net) almost R60bn of SA equities; reversing the outflows we saw last year.
SA's foreign exchange reserves has risen significantly to over $36 billion in August 2009 (including the extra SDP allocation from the IMF)
SA's banking, financial system and fiscal balances have weathered the global financial crisis extremely well
The possible MTN/Bharti deal (for which exchange control approval has been sought) could have led to additional `speculative' strength

Current outlook for the Rand:

A uniquely large range of Rand-positive factors are currently combining to impact the currency (a near perfect-storm)
These positive factors are expected to remain mostly `in-play' for the next 3 to 6 months.
The Dollar is expected to remain under pressure over the next 3 to 6 months
The technical fair-value for the Rand is around R8.20/$. Hence the Rand is currently considered to be over-bought or technically over-valued
We are currently forecasting a Rand/Dollar rate of around R8.00/$ by year-end 2009 and R8.40 by end 2010
The Rand remains an extremely volatile currency by emerging-market-currency standards; we don't expect that this will change. Internationally the Rand is viewed as the key `risk' trade currency
The Rand was the worst performing emerging market currency in 2008 and up until early September 2009 was the second best performing emerging market currency
The perfect-storm of positive factors are expected to slowly dissipate over the coming 18 months, especially as the economy recovers and imports rise. However, we do not expect to see a significant deterioration

Good news peeps...!

You can't fix stoopid (via @monicabraganca)

14 Sep 2009
0 Responses
views

"Dang, I sure wish someone would invent something that could keep the sun out of my eyes."