Shelter of 1500 Dogs and 200 Cats

Chinese Ha Venin (Ha Wenjin) for the love of animals sacrificed everything she had, but did not regret about it. In order to take care of our younger brothers, she left her job, sold her house, car and jewelry, and now in her care are 1,500 dogs and 200 cats. Of course, one cope with such a horde tailed virtually impossible because of the cats being wooed by two with 10 employees. Several years ago, the contents of the shelter costs $ 37,500 a year, but with the onset of the economic crisis, costs have almost doubled. Now shelter exists mainly through donations and sponsorship.

Draft National Museum Zayed in Abu Dhabi

We suggest you watch the first images of the National Museum of Zayed in Abu Dhabi. The authors of the project - office Foster + Partners. The project has already begun to build on Saadiyat Island, which also plans to build a series of very ambitious buildings: Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a project of Frank Gerry, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Jean Nouvel, the Centre of Applied Arts and the Maritime Museum and more. This museum will be dedicated to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Naja, the man who founded the UAE.

Royale Opera Time - Piece Watch

Beat me with a stick! I just had to plod through Manufacture Royale's nine page long bloody press release - only to have reasserted what they mention in the first few lines; that they are "unashamedly elitist." Wipe my brow and hand me an ol' timey hallucinogenic absinthe, because I need to lay back in a hammock on a steamship and read some Jules Verne to appreciate this steampunk mechanaut. More images after the break...

Oh how right it would be for the good people behind the conception of this watch to redo their text and branding on the watch. It is a cool thing, and the overgrown child in my loves this oddity - but they really need to take it down a few notches. I kid you not, in a nutshell the brand would have you believe that this watch not only sets the bar upon which all future watches must be judged, but also claims that according to the designer this watch release is one step closer to realizing a dream of utopia. Please calmly take an axe to my forehead - for I cannot believe this.

Ok, let's get back to the subject at hand. Manufacture Royale takes inspiration from Voltaire. Yes, that Voltaire - a man that at one point they refer to as the "Super Salesman." They should have just called the watch "Voltaire." That would have been better than making it look like a wrist catapult and for some reason calling it the Opera (well it does have a minute repeater complication).

It also appears that Manufacture Royale (with cheese), has been influenced by the designs of fellow watch brand Louis Moinet. Both seem to be focused on the "age of enlightenment" (and limitless coffers). Another nod to fantasy is the Manufacture Royale logo. Above the "MR" letter is a curved line with the handle of a sword coming out of it. This is the sword in the stone - Excalibur from Arthurian legend. Make of this what you will. I just smile and think of the Disney cartoon. Does Merlin come with the watch? Perhaps a little Archimedes? Owls seem to be really "in" right now.

The Opera Time-Piece (how MR officially calls it) contains a brand new movement that is manually wound, has a tourbillon and a minute repeater. It was designed by the good people at Fabrique du Temps. Built of 319 parts, the movement is quite nice looking. I do enjoy the silicon escapement, and the combo of brass in various tones and finishes. Makes for a very rich look. While nicely conceived, it is not quite as unique as the watch case, but is still quite attractive. Power reserve is said to be in excess of 100 hours. Plus, the minute repeater plays the hours in A, and the minute in C sharp.

Now comes the interesting part. See how the case opens up like the bellows of an accordion? This unique design feature is made to create a resonance cage/chamber to allow for the minute repeater to sound more lively. The unfortunate reality is that the complexity of many minute repeaters is diminished by the tinny sound they make after being cased in a watch. The modern needs of a watch with water resistance (as well as the desire for precious metals that absorb sound) has made it a challenge for watch designers to come up with cases that adequately allow for minute repeater complications to sound decent. For Manufacture Royale had to convince engineers to develop this ultra complex style of articulating case. We can call it the "Beetle shell watch case."

The watch case itself is 50mm wide done in 18k rose and gray gold. It has three sapphire crystals and 60 pieces in its construction. Everything about this watch is crazy. It is weird and wonderful. Ugly and beautiful. A novelty for true collectors, only 12 of these watches will be made - making way for other future Manufacture Royal watches. I really do appreciate the audacity of the men behind this watch and brand. There is a hefty amount of silliness here. They make little attempt to hide the fact that this is one eternally ostentatious toy. The watch comes in a veneered wooden box that is said to be a reproduction of the Bastille Opera House in Paris. In case you didn't detect it yet, the French are behind this timepiece. The price you ask? Well in Manufacture Royale's own words "just like the product - exceptional." And they aren't lying.... $1,200,000. My consumer gland just had an aneurysm.

Case
Case materials and finishing:

• Folding/unfolding case in patented 18 carat gray or rose gold. 3 sapphire crystals.
• Moveable transparent back. Screws and axles in 18 carat gray or rose gold.
• Assembled and polished entirely by hand
• Individually numbered -Case dimensions 50mm in diameter -Number of components 60 -Crown 18 carat rose gold. Polished and diamond encrusted / Manufacture Royale logo hand-polished surface
• Hands Hours and minutes in hand-polished 18 carat rose gold.
• Strap Hand sewn Mississippi alligator skin
• Buckle Hand-polished 18 carat rose and gray gold.

Movement

• Movement dimensions Height: 5.45 mm / Diameter: 32 mm
• Number of components 319
• Number of rubies 29
• Power reserve 108 hours
• Frequency 3Hz, 21,600 vibrations per hour
• Plates Brass with sunray brushing, polished angles
• Bridges Brass with sunray brushing, polished angles
• Entirely hand finished
• Bells/chimes Hours in A / Minutes in C sharp
• Tourbillon Escape wheel and anchors in silicon
• One rotation per minute
• Functions Hours, Minutes. Repeater (triggered by slide)
• Gears Counter gears and sound system NIHS 20-02
• Balance spring Flat
• Balance with screws

Top 10 Fastest Bikes 2010

Top 10 fastest bikes, hopefully we’ll be impressing the boys with this post. Here is an exhaustive list of top 10 fastest superbikes. We have tried our level best to gather information from various sources, and inter-tallied them. This seems to be a viable answer. Top speed would be considered here under testing driving conditions. If you’re about own anyone please do let us know how it feels to ride them. Here goes top 10 fastest bikes in the world.
10. Ducati 848

Engine: 849 cc (51.8 cu in), 4 valves per cylinder desmodromic liquid cooled L-twin
Top speed: 159 miles per hour (256km/h)
Power: 100 kW (134 hp) @ 10,000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed, wet clutch

Replacing the Ducati 749, the 848 weighs 370 pounds and was announced in 2007. The 2009 model was available in Red and Pearl White color. The 848 shares more features with 1198 than its predecessor, the 749, like single-sided swingarm, same rake and trail and same valve angles among many. 9 more after the break...

09. Aprilia RSV4

Engine: 999.6 cc V4
Top speed: 175 miles per hour (281km/h)
Power: 132 kW (178 hp) @ 12,500 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed, wet clutch
This is the successor to the Aprilia RSV 1000 R motorcycle which began manufacturing in 2004. The RSV4 was unveiled at the International Piaggio Group Convention in Milan, Italy. During its first full season of World Superbike racing, Max Biaggi aboard the RSV4 reached the podium 9 times, and won one race at the Brno Circuit.

08. Suzuki GSX-R750

Engine: 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC
Top speed: 190 miles per hour (306km/h)
Power: 110.3 kW (150 hp) @ 13,200 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed constant mesh
Introduced in 1985, the Suzuki GSX-R750 features a 750 CC 4-stroke engine and weighs 437 pounds. It easily goes to 300+ km/h and is priced at $12,000. It has an excellent body work and is the most powerful, efficient and cleanest running production engine Suzuki has ever produced.
07. Yamaha YZF R1

Engine: Forward Inclined Parallel 4-cylinder, 20 valves, DOHC, liquid-cooled
Top Speed: 186miles per hour (297 km/h)
Power: 128.2 horsepower (95.6 kW) at 10000 rpm
Transmission: Constant mesh 6-speed
Lets discuss 7th position in the list of top 10 current fastest bikes in the world. Yamaha launched the YZF-R1 after redesigning the Genesis engine to offset the crankshaft, gearbox input and output shafts and this “compacting” of the engine yielded a huge dividend in that the total engine length was now very short. The Yamaha YZF-R1 motorcycle, introduced in 1998, was the first significant motorcycle in the true liter class (1,000 cc) “handling arms race” between the Japanese Big Four motorcycle manufacturers (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha). When introduced, it took the class closer to a true racing motorcycle, and increased the handling capabilities. May be some more improvements it might push it further to the top among the top 10 fastest bikes in the world.
06. Ducati 1198R

Engine: 90° V-twin cylinder, 4-valve per cylinder Desmodromic, liquid cooled
Top speed: 185 miles per hour (299km/h)
Power: 134 kW (180 hp) @ 9,750 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed
Introduced in 2009, the Ducati 1998 is a successor to the Ducati 1098. The 1198R from the Italian manufacturer is available in red, black and white.
05. Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 – Electronically limited to 299 km/h

Engine: 1352 cc four-stroke, liquid-cooled,DOHC, four valve per cylinder,inline-four
Top speed: 185 miles per hour (299km/h)
Power: 142 kW (190 hp) @ 12,500 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed
This is Kawasaki’s most powerful current bike. Introduced in Tokyo 2005 show, the ZX-14 does 0–60 mph in 2.5 seconds. Also known as ZZR1400, it was also featured in Fifth Gear. It can cover one-fourth of a mile in 9.783 seconds.
04. Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R

Engine: 998 cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valve cylinder head
Top speed: 186 miles per hour (300km/h)
Power: 147 kW (197 hp) @ 12,500 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed
With the highest theft and damage loss claim rate of any registered motorcycle, the Ninja ZX-10R is at number four. It is a successor to the ZX-9R sport bike. It boasts ultra-narrow chassis, low weight, and radial brakes.
03. Suzuki Hayabusa

Engine: 1340 cc (82 cu in), 4-stroke, four-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve
Top Speed: 188 miles per hour (303 km/h)
Power: 197 horsepower (147 kW) @ 6750 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed, constant mesh
Standing 3rd in the list of top 10 fastest superbikes the name Hayabusa, translates directly from the Japanese as Pergerine Falcon, the bird commonly attributed of achieving speeds of over 180 mph (290 km/h) and predator of the common blackbird. The name Suzuki Hayabusa is a subtle reference to Honda’s competing Hawk models. When introduced in 1999, Suzuki Hayabusa overtook the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird as the fastest production motorcycle. The first generation of the Hayabusa was called the GSX1300R and was powered by a 1299 cc (79.2 cu in) inline-4 liquid-cooled engine. In the US, the 2008 suzuki hayabusa will boast a price tag of $11,999 and stands still in the list of top 10 fastest bikes.
02. Suzuki GSX-R1000

Engine: 999 cc four-cylinder 4-stroke, DOHC, 16-valve, TSCC
Top speed: 185 miles per hour (299km/h)
Power: 142 kW (191 hp) @ 12,000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed, constant mesh, Back-torque limiting clutch
Introduced in 2001, the YZF R1 is powered by a liquid-cooled 999 cc inline four-cylinder 4-stroke engine. It too tops at 185 miles per hour. It features dual hydraulic disc brakes at the front and single ones at the rear.
01. MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K

Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20 turbo shaft
Top Speed: 227 miles per hour (365 km/h)
Power: 320 horsepower (239 kW) @ 52,000 rpm
Transmission: 2-speed automatic
MTT Turbine Superbike, also known as Y2K Turbine Superbike, is the world’s second wheel driven motorcycle powered by a turbine engine, created by Ted McIntyre of Marine Turbine Technologies Inc and it appears just below Suzuki GSX-R750. Powered by a Rolls Royce Allison 250 series turboshaft engine, producing 238kW (320hp), this motorcycle has a recorded top speed of 227 mph (365 km/h), with a price tag of US$150,000. It is recognized by Guinness World Records as the “Most powerful production motorcycle” and the “Most expensive production motorcycle”. Unlike other contemporary motorcycles (such as the Hayabusa), 2001 and later models of MTT Turbine SUPERBIKE do not have the 300 km/h speed limit self-imposed by Japanese manufacturers. MTT has achieved the 1st rank among the top 10 fastest bikes.

Samsung Mimeo: Innovative cellphone concept

Mimeo is an innovative cellphone concept that enables the user to make calls and send messages in a more interactive way. The writable bended body of the concept features a signal light on top of the phone and an OLED touchscreen for efficient functioning. On the bottom part, it contains a call button and a write button that enables the user to make calls and make the surface writable. The end contains the stylus which acts as a pen nib when writing with thecellphone. Aside from intuitive and convenient use, the cellphone can become a great icon of style by featuring four different themes for the surface, oak, azure, roseate and breeze, when the phone is not in use.

Kinetic Cellphone Concept for Nokia

British designer Jeremy Hopkins took cellphones to a new level and created unique concept of the phone. His phone called Nokia Kinetic converts digital information into kinetic energy and make receiving a call, text message of email more visual. It has an electromagnet at the base which allow to shift the weight and keep it in an upright position. User checks the screen of the phone and if he wants to miss a call he should simply give a phone a tap, causing the phone to fall back down again and return back to standby mode. "Aimed at the business user, Nokia Kinetic is an unique phone that responds to notifications trough movement".

Water-based Cellphone AQUA

A very futuristic and very original mobile phone was offered by South Korean designer Bon Seop Ku from Samsung company. The device is called AQUA and it looks like it really consists of water. Designer found his inspiration on a wet table, where he thoughtfully drew different figures by his finger. As a result he got a concept Samsung AQUA together with a graphical user interface and water-based display. It is assumed that the user can remove icons from the panel by simply rubbing the display with their hands. The cellphone runs on liquid type battery that apart from being eco-friendly supports the transparency of the screen as well.