IM networks

oeyvind sent me a link to Project Gizmo, basically a Skype-like product. While I think it's good that everyone's jumping on the bandwagon and leveraging on the IM network infrastructure, I feel that some of the basics need to be in order first.

1. Inconsistent network quality. The major IM networks are all guilty of this. No network, no communication. Get the act together, and make all the networks compatible with each other already.



2. Unable to send offline messages. The number 1 culprit: MSN Messenger. It's year 2005, ICQ has had this feature for almost a decade, yet a multi-billion dollar company which hires the "best minds" doesn't even grok this! Instead they spend all the "R&D" dollars on stupid features like animated avatars, skins etc. Hello... why complicate things by adding an audio chat feature and having to leave "voicemail" when a simple offline IM will suffice?



3. Unencrypted messages. Again, implementing this should be a no-brainer, but it's been put off time and again. Why? Thankfully off-the-record messaging is gaining traction, but it requires the endorsement of the majors to have any significant impact.

SAE Motorsports Engineering Symposium 2005

This is going to happen on Nov 29 to 30, the same week as the PRI (Performance Racing Industry) tradeshow.

Two seminars are scheduled:

1. Hands-on Racecar Suspension Set-up, In Partnership with Panoz Raching School (Nov 29-30)
   
2. Fundamentals of Aerodynamics Applied to Race Cars (Nov 30)

Former Race Queen now a Race Director?

Title says all.




Link here.

Aston Martin DBR9 race car

Aston Martin DBR9 GT car

The new episode of Top Gear is out.

Jeremy covers the 1320 mile journey to Oslo, Norway, in a Mercedes McLaren SLR.

But the highlight of the show really was The Stig driving the Aston Martin DBR9 GT race car on their track.

To say this car is seriously fast would be an understatement.

The Ferrari Enzo does one lap in 1'19". Its sibling, the Maserati MC12, is a smidgen faster at 1'18"9xx.

This car is more than 10 seconds faster at 1'08"6xx.

8 pot / 4 pot Brembos

8 pot / 4 pot Brembos

A friend has some Brembo brakes for sale:

These are not the Brembos you see on ANY road car. These are the Brembo Racing calipers, even higher spec than the Brembo Gran Turisimo.
This brake kit is similar spec to the Mitsubishi Tarmac WRC car.

Front:
Brembo Racing 8 piston calipers with tianium piston inserts
Choice of 370mm/355mm discs for 18" rims or 343mm discs for 17" rims
Complete with adaptors, alloy hats and all mounting hardware

Rear:
Brembo Racing 4 piston calipers
Fits standard GSR 300mm discs
Complete with adaptors and all mounting hardware

Available for sale as calipers only or as a complete kit.
Calipers going at US$4600
Complete kit going at US$6600

Interested? Leave a comment and I'll put you in touch with him.