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When the reboot of Mortal Kombat launched in April of last year, it was clear the series was back in a huge way. The game went back to the 2D style of the classic entries, fatalities were ultra-violent again, and there was seemingly endless content to enjoy.
A nice chunk of downloadable content and a Komplete Edition later, NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. have now moved on to bringing the colossal fighter to the PlayStation Vita. Is it a faithful port with a healthy amount of new additions, or did something get lost in translation?
Mortal Kombat (PlayStation Vita)
Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Released: May 1, 2012
Upon starting up the game, you will find that every single piece of content that was included in the PS3 version of Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition can be found here, except there's no 3D support, a few changes were made to multiplayer (more on that later), and you receive no download codes for the 1995 film adaption of Mortal Kombat or the Songs Inspired by the Warriors album (you'll hear no complaints from me).
The Arcade Ladder, Story Mode, Challenge Tower, and Krypt are all present and packed full of every single unlockable and easter egg (as well as a brand new one) from the aforementioned version. All the downloadable characters, unlockable characters — Quan Chi and Cyber Sub-Zero — and all DLC "klassic" skins are included and unlocked right from the start.
The next thing you will probably notice is that the jump to the Vita was not too kind on the character models themselves. Whenever the camera moves in close on a fighter, the textures are noticeably horrible. Having said that, once you actually start playing the game it's virtually a non-issue. When everything is in motion, the visuals look absolutely gorgeous on the Vita's vibrant OLED screen. They're not going to drop your jaw like Uncharted: Golden Abyss, but they look fantastic all the same.
NetherRealm took meticulous care in making sure the framerate stayed locked-in at a silky-smooth 60 frames per second. The only time the framerate ever dips is for a split second after an X-Ray move is executed. It has no effect on the gameplay at all, but it's something that is definitely noticeable after awhile. The fact that they were able to keep it at 60 FPS at all is impressive in itself. This is even more amazing considering they left the animated backgrounds fully intact, just as they appear on the console versions.
Trains will zoom by in The Subway, helicopters will chase down dragons as the surrounding buildings exhale clouds of smoke on Rooftop, and Shao Kahn will shift in his chair and mock you as a Tormentor fights off a couple tamers behind his chair in Kahn's Coliseum. While these few examples are nothing new, there's just something to be said about seeing detailed 3D animated backgrounds in a portable fighting game –especially considering Capcom had to make the backgrounds static in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 on the Vita. It really shows just how powerful the system actually is.
Mortal Kombat plays exactly as it does on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and the Vita's d-pad works exceptionally well. Combos and super moves can be pulled off the same way you engraved them into your psyche over the years. All the balance tweaks and patches that are currently in the console versions are of course all here. If you didn't like the way the game played before, you still won't.
Only minor additions have been made to the main gameplay itself to take advantage of the Vita's unique capabilities. In addition to pressing the L and R buttons at the same time, you can now tap the Super Meter on the screen to trigger an X-Ray move. Instead of entering a few directions on the d-pad and hitting a face button, you can just swipe the directions on the front touch screen and this will execute your fatality (or babality). There's absolutely no way to turn the touch screen functionality off, but they don't deter or enhance the enjoyment of the game in any significant way. It's just as easy to use either of the options you're given, and it really is nice to have the choice period.
The Vita version also comes with quite a bit of new and exclusive content. There are 16 new unlockable costumes that a majority of the Mortal Kombat roster wore in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. These new costumes can be unlocked from the Bonus Challenge Tower, another addition to the Vita version.
Anyone who played Mortal Kombat last year can tell you how much they enjoyed the Challenge Tower. It contained 300 missions that presented new twists on classic minigames, such as Test Your Might, while also introducing quick one-off missions that were equal parts surprising and fresh to keep the sometimes punishingly difficult but highly enjoyable Challenge Tower interesting and worthwhile to get through.
After seeing the success of the new mode (and the fact that there's a handful of new characters), NetherRealm decided to add an entirely new tower that's simply called the Bonus Challenge Tower. It's half the size of the original, but one could argue it has twice the creativity. It's presented the exact same way; you have to beat a mission to move onto the next, or you can always pay a reasonable amount of Koins to skip the current one if you're stuck. The missions themselves are absolutely brilliant. Right off the bat, the first couple of missions let you take control of Shao Kahn, which was not in the original tower at all.
Most of the new missions take advantage of the array of control options that the Vita offers. There are brand new minigames like Test Your Slice, which is a carbon-copy Fruit Ninja clone with a Mortal Kombat twist: instead of fruit you're slicing body parts and organs, and you can shake the system to remove the bombs on-screen. There's also a Test Your Balance, which utilizes the Vita's accelerometer to keep yourself suspended on a beam over a giant pit for a certain amount of time. In the harder levels, body parts are thrown at you to nudge to your death; three giant spinning blades at the bottom of the pit.
The other types of missions use the touch screen and accelerometer in a variety of truly ingenious ways. They also borrow heavily from the new characters' back stories and abilities to create different situations for the missions to take place in. One of these puts the player up against Freddy Krueger in "Dream World" where you have to defeat him while he's completely invisible. Another example has players controlling Kenshi as Stryker either throws fruit at them from across the stage (that you can slice through using the touch screen), or throws grenades, which they will have to touch and hold the Mortal Kombat logo on the screen to block.
Most features of the device are used (except the rear touch panel), but at separate times throughout the tower to keep things exciting. Each mission feels like it has a purpose for being there, other than just being fun to play. What I mean by that is in addition to being fun to play, a majority of the missions are a learning experience. They all help you better understand how the characters play — unless you do already — in a presentation that doesn't feel like you're being forced to learn something new. The Challenge Towers are also absolutely perfect for anyone who has only maybe five, ten, fifteen, or twenty minutes to spare and they want to quick play through a couple missions when they're out and about.
There was a serious issue with only one mission, and I'm not sure if it was a question of my intelligence or if there was a problem outside of my control with it. It was aptly titled "Figure It Out" and the description tells the player to experiment with the features of the Vita, while only providing five seconds to do so. The only hint it gave was to "get a HEAD start." The solution that I'm sure was supposed to work absolutely didn't (it made my character, Sub-Zero, catch on fire and die), and as a result failed the mission. I tried absolutely everything I could think of, but in the end just decided to spend some Koins to skip it.
Now, onto the multiplayer, which doesn't require an online pass. As was previously stated, to make it fit with handheld play NetherRealm had to significantly change a few things from the original. The fantastic King of the Hill mode and not-so fantastic lobby system are nowhere to be found, which makes sense. If you have the time to sit in a chat lobby or a King of the Hill match, it seems more logical to do that on the console version. Handhelds are all about quick pick-up-and-play options, and those two multiplayer modes don't quite fit that idea.
However, there are still ranked, player, and private matches over Wi-Fi, with the ability to either play 1v1 or tag in either. If you're around a couple of people who also happen to have a Vita and a copy of MK, you have the option of playing over ad hoc. Of the matches I played online, I experienced no lag and everything went well (except for the fact that I lost horribly). This is good news considering the multiplayer for Mortal Kombat after its initial launch last year was crippled with lag and a game-breaking bug for months. The issue was eventually sorted out, and thankfully it has not been brought over to the Vita version.
As I was playing the game, I found myself still having just as much fun as I did a year ago, even though this time I had already seen it all before. The original Mortal Kombat was a near-complete experience in itself, with hours upon hours of content to be explored, played, and found. Players can spend even more hours and hours just on the Bonus Challenge Tower alone. There's enough new and exclusive content here that overflows with creativity for me to safely say this is the definitive Mortal Kombat experience, and at $40 it is an easy recommendation.
NetherRealm Studios has outdone themselves, and in doing so they have set the standard for porting a game to the Vita. This a perfect example of keeping the best graphical fidelity possible and including an already astronomical amount of content, while adding an even more extensive set of missions for players to explore that masterfully uses various features the PS Vita has to offer. If you own a Vita and are a fan of fighting games, there is simply no reason not to pick up Mortal Kombat.


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2004 New York Auto Show
Start spreading the news, the Big Apple welcomes the New York International Auto Show!
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For more than a hundred years, the Big Apple has been the site for the auto show season's grand finale. This year more almost 50 significant vehicles were unveiled and displayed at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, along with hundreds of current models. The largest-attended auto show in North America, the New York Auto Show draws more than 1.2 million car fans each year, called for their chance to see hot new production vehicles as well as fanciful and sometimes outlandish concepts. An entire team of Motor Trend editors attended the event, sending photos and text from the show floor as the vehicles were uncovered to provide daily coverage. We even had team members shooting video, with several segments still in production. Take a bite out of the Big Apple by enjoying this look at vehicles that will soon go in to production, and a few that will merely influence future models. Click to read our 2005 New York Auto Show Coverage.Visit the 2004 NY Auto Show video index.Click to read our 2003 New York International Auto Show coverage.Vote for your favorite 2004 production vehicle and favorite 2004 concept vehicle in our polls. Click on images to enlarge.
Acura has slowly but surely been establishing an edgy, performance-related image for itself over the past few model launches, and at long last the division's dull RL flagship is getting a similar makeover. Some of the concept's styling cues may be slightly exaggerated, but we expect the concept's proportions and themes to carry over to the production car hitting showrooms this September. We also expect to see the concept's Super-Handling all-wheel-drive (SH-AWD) system. At its heart is an intelligent rear axle with a planetary gearset that takes the driveshaft speed and increases it by five percent. Then a pair of electromagnetic clutches apportions torque on demand to the rear wheels. With the increased input speed, the clutches can route extra torque to the outside rear wheel, which naturally spins faster than the front wheels in a turn. All of this is said to enhance cornering dynamics, and provide rear-drive dynamics with all-wheel-drive sure-footedness.Click here to watch the Acura video.
With its new STS sedan, Cadillac promises precision craftsmanship, outstanding performance, and sophisticated luxury, all in a package it claims is "distinctly American." Based on GM's new rear-wheel-drive Sigma architecture, the STS is designed to compete with prestige sedans from around the world when it goes on sale this winter. Powered by a choice of 255-hp/3.6-liter V-6 (rear-wheel drive), or 320-hp NorthStar 4.6-liter V-8 (in both rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations) promising 0-60 mph in under 6 seconds, both engines include variable valve timing and are mated to electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmissions. Emphasizing performance and luxury, the STS benefits from keyless access with push button start, distance-sensing adaptive cruise control, Magnetic Ride Control, upscale infotainment system, sound system with six-disc cd-dvd changer and surround sound, OnStar, advanced voice recognition, and (for the gadget minded), is bluetooth ready.
America's favorite pony car turns the big four-oh on April 17, and the GT-R is its mid-life crisis birthday present. Officially it's a concept car, but it was developed and built by Saleen Specialty Vehicles in Troy, Michigan, to be capable of competing as a racecar. It also aims to show grass-roots racers that they can take a stock Mustang (85 percent of the GT-R's body structure is unchanged), and build a competitive vehicle at a reasonable price using parts from the Ford Racing catalogue, like the 440-hp 5.0-liter "Cammer" crate engine that retails for $14,995 and can be tuned to over 500 hp. That power is routed through a Ford Racing TTC-T56 six-speed transmission, a custom metal matrix composite aluminum driveshaft, and into a race-spec 4.56:1 differential. Big Brembo brakes, 20-inch Pirelli racing slicks, and competition suspension (retaining the live rear axle) round out the package. Carbon-fiber is used for the hood, grille surround, and underbody belly pan, and the orange paint is meant to evoke the Grabber Orange 1970 Mustang Boss 302 Trans-Am race cars. Happy Birthday, Mustang...and many more! Click here to watch the Mustang video. Click Here to see photo gallery.
Another classic moniker has been extinguished in these alphanumeric times, as the once Discovery is reborn as the all-new LR3. Building on the success of the BMW-engineered Range Rover, the Disco replacement borrows heavily from the flagship's styling and demeanor, translating to a more sophisticated, more refined, and more luxurious vehicle. Gone are the days of underpowered V-8s, thanks to a Jaguar-sourced 4.4L engine producing 300 horsepower packaged with a six-speed automatic transmission. Like the engine, the suspension is designed to offer solid road performance and class-leading off-road ability. A trick new feature is Terrain Response, which allows the driver to dial in the appropriate terrain setting from five choices, calibrating electronic controls and traction systems for appropriate performance. The LR3 goes on sale later this year in North America, while the same vehicle is badged Discovery 3 in all other markets.Click here to watch the Land Rover video.
After its much-anticipated debut in Geneva, Mini has brought its convertible Cooper to New York. With the top up, the Convertible casts a silhouette like the hardtop models. As the soft roof begins its 15-second transformation, the roof columns automatically retract and the rear side windows move down in unison, as the cloth top folds neatly behind the rear seats. For more hair tousling options, the Mini Convertible features an integrated sliding panel that can be opened up to 16 inches while the car is driving. Available in three colors, the top features a glass rear window with defroster. On the safety front, the Mini Convertible rides on a fortified structure with integrated rear headrests, front and side airbags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), and Cornering Brake Control (CBC). Both the base Cooper and the supercharged Cooper S will be available in convertible form when the new model goes on sale Stateside late summer as a 2005 model. Estimated pricing for the Cooper convertible is $22,000; Cooper S convertible: $25,500.
Saab is stretching its model range to include a fourth vehicle line, targeting one of the fastest-growing automotive segments with its new 9-7x mid-luxury SUV. Promising styling, performance, and fun-to-drive sportiness, the 9-7x will be positioned in the $37,000 to $45,000 price range, and will be powered by a choice of two all-aluminum engines -- a 275-hp/4.2-liter inline six, or a 300-hp/5.3-liter V-8 -- mated to a standard electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission with on-demand all-wheel drive. Because Saab expects its buyers to pursue an outgoing and active lifestyle, the 9-7x includes a standard trailer hitch receiver and is rated to tow up to 6500 pounds when equipped with the V-8 engine. Standard equipment includes leather-trimmed seats, 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, and upscale sound system. Built on the General Motors GMT360 architecture, the dynamic 2005 Saab 9-7x is expected to go on sale in the first quarter of 2005.
Calling it an example of "restrained extravagance," the Buick Velite concept is the first American demonstration of GM's all-new Zeta global vehicle architecture (its sister car, the Opel Insignia, was Zeta's International debut at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, last year. Named for an elite class of quick-moving soldiers in Napoleon's army, the Velite was designed in GM's Advanced Studio in Warren, Michigan, and assembled in Italy by reknowned coachbuilder Stile Bertone. Building from Buick's rich design heritage, the long hood opens forward and integrates three portholes on each side, while a complementary rear deck opens rearward to swallow the Velite's folding soft top. Power is provided by an experimental twin-turbocharged intercooled 400-hp/3.6-liter V-6 engine backed by a Hydra-Matic 6L80-E six-speed rear-wheel drive automatic transmission with manual tap-shift gear selection. Inside, Buick uses sumptuous materials, gold-leaf lacquer, and indirect lighting to evoke a rich, elegant atmosphere that matches its romantic yet contemporary exterior design.
As the countdown continues till the Hummer range spawns a third, more affordable family member, the H3T concept truck continues its cross-country show tour with a stop in the Big Apple. A clear indication of the styling and proportions for the '05 production wagon, this pickup not only teases, but it tests the waters for an alternative body configuration. Riding on a 118.6-inch wheelbase and measuring 74.5 inches wide, the H3T embodies the classic Hummer proportions - wide stance, low roofline, and wheels at the corners. Pushed outward, the 34-inch tires and 11.5 inches of ground clearance give the H3T a staggering 51-degree approach angle and a 50-degree departure angle. With this concept, the cab and 5.5-foot bed are engineered as a single structure for rigidity. Power for this concept comes from a turbocharged Vortec 3500 I-5 engine producing 350 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. For those who want to extend the family range further, Little Tikes just announced it will soon offer kid-sized, 12-volt Hummer exclusively at Wal-Mart.
British sports car maker Lotus announced its plans for U.S. market growth begining with the 2005 Lotus Elise, a two-seat convertible that is expected to arrive in showrooms in June, with a sticker price starting at $39,985. The first all-new Lotus for the American market since the Elan debuted in 1990, Lotus boasts the 190-hp Elise offers more than 100 horsepower per liter to produce sub-five-second 0-60 mph times. Sourced from Toyota, the high-revving 1.8-liter 2ZZ-GE engine for the American market is both powerful and efficient, returning more than 30 miles per gallon. Claiming to be the first production car in the world with a bonded and extruded aluminum chassis, the Elise was developed using technology borrowed from the aerospace industry to produce an extremely lightweight (just under 2000 pounds) and exceptionally rigid chassis that is the backbone of its incredible performance claims and key to its athletic agility.
Plasma running lights and taillights, neon crackle-tube indicators and brake lights, and a glass roof that offers ambient luminescence of its own make Mitsubishi's 2+2 Concept-E quite a study in lighting. An all-wheel-drive configuration in which parallel engines provide constant power to both the front and rear axles, even when shifting, also makes the fourth-gen Eclipse a study in high-tech hybrid engine mechanics. Front wheels are powered by a 3.8-liter/270-hp MIVEC V-6 engine and a six-speed automated manual transmission and rear wheels get an extra 200-horse push from an E-Boost electric motor for a theoretical total of 470 horsepower (if one gear allows the power peaks to briefly coincide). Up front, the grille vent and integrated front spoiler evoke the image of a jet fighter; elsewhere its hybrid electric drivetrain influenced the design of such elements as the functional elliptical side exhaust ports, which allow the electric motor's batteries to be placed down the center of the vehicle.
Mercedes proudly displayed the second-generation retractable-hardtop SLK, bearing more than a passing resemblance to the mighty SLR supercar. Beyond fresh sheetmetal, the new SLK boasts a more robust suspension, more powerful engines, and improved steering for heightened overall performance. New options include new head/thorax side airbags, neck-level heating system, bi-xenon headlamps with cornering light function, and the seven-speed automatic transmission 7G-TRONIC. Powertrains include a 163-hp supercharged four-cylinder, and a more exciting 272-hp V-6 that promises 5.5-second 0-60 mph times. Big news is the potent AMG 55 model shown here, complete with a V-8 engine and complete four-corner performance package. The 5.5L/360-hp V-8 will reportedly rocket the two-seat roadster from 0-60 mph in under five seconds.
Nissan's Actic concept is a "content rich" design exercise created at its design center in La Jolla, California; conceived as an entry-level vehicle for "lives in transition" as buyers move from single to "married with small children" status, the Actic portends of a crossover vehicle expected to be added to both the Nissan and Infiniti lines. The sleek, silver Actic features flowing body lines, a "cross trainer"-style 20-inch wheel and tire design, and a matching trailer with inflatable walls that converts to a sleeping space for three. With no B-pillar to interfere, Actic's wide doors slide open for easy access; the front doors move forward and the rear doors backwards, like an elevator's, creating generous access for passengers and cargo. Actic comes to life through a 100-gigabyte key fob that stores data about the needs and personality of its owner, not just standard audio and HVAC preferences but also e-mail and navi settings, as well as content that governs and affects mood and ambience. An Actic-inspired vehicle is expected to slot beneath the Murano and FX35 in 2006 or 2007. Click to see more photos of the Nissan Actic
General Motors wowed the automotive community with a trio of sports cars unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show based on the new rear-wheel-drive Kappa architecture. This latest Greek-named platform will underpin the Pontiac Solstice shown in Motor City, and since then, Saturn has revealed that its Pininfarina-assembled Curve concept will go in to production in 2006. Built at the Wilmington, Delaware, manufacturing facility alongside the Solstice, the Curve is expected to offer a supercharged 2.2-liter/200-hp Ecotec four-cylinder engine paired with a Getrag five-speed manual for an engine/transmission combination similar to that found in the new 2004 Saturn ION Red Line. The Curve concept is built from fiberglass panels over a steel tube structure, and features roof pillars concealed by a wraparound canopy of glass to create the look of a "floating" roof panel. If the production model remains true to the concept, it will truly be a halo performance vehicle for Saturn.
Some concept cars foretell the future of automobility, either by predicting styling trends or exploring emerging technologies; others are built just for fun. Toyota's Motor Triathlon Race Car (MTRC) is among the latter. Designed in Europe, the zero-emissions fuel-cell-powered MTRC made its debut in Geneva. Power is delivered via an electric motor at each wheel, and the suspension automatically reads the road surface and adjusts for height as well as damping. That's because the "triathlon" Toyota envisions the youth of tomorrow running in the MTRC is a mixture of congested urban streets, a racing circuit, and an off-road course. Information available on the stand failed to elaborate on details such as how the hydrogen would be stored or where the fuel cell was packaged in this compact tandem-two-seater. As we said, don't hold your breath on the dealer showroom floor waiting for this one.
Volvo continues to explore two-door vehicles with the YCC (Your Concept Car), an attractive car developed by an all-woman team. Intended as a showcase for innovative ideas, YCC goes over the top with female-focused features that have received a mixed response on the international show circuit. The interior provides numerous storage locations for travel essentials, such as keys, phones, coins, and even laptop. More importantly, it can adapt the driver's body configuration by using a soon-to-be-patented Ergovision system. Ergovision takes the basic idea of driver memory functions to the extreme, beginning with driver being scanned at a dealer. The proportions are stored on the key, which in turn tells the car to adjust seat, steering wheel, pedals, head restraint, and seat belt to suit the driver. The other standout technology is the parking assist, which combines a "space check" to ensure safe fit, then "Autopark" to help parallel park. The Autopark adjusts steering, while driver controls the accelerator, brakes, and gearshift. To reduce maintenance, there are exterior filler locations for fluids, and the automatic diagnostic system can schedule servicings when needed. The YCC shouldn't be dismissed as just a public relations experiment, as this concept car is brimming with good ideas that may influence future products.
GT Racing performance and spirit is embodied in Maserati' road-going MC12. Owing to its racing pedigree, the MC12 can only be had in the blue and white colors of its racing past, a past that plays upon the rich trident-marque history. With its 630 hp, rear-engine V12, the MC12 can sprint to 60 mph in a scant 3.7 seconds, and tops out at a lofty 205+ mph. Contributing to the spectacular performance equation is an all-carbon-fiber bodywork, wrapping a carbon-Nomex honeycomb monocoque and aluminum front and rear subframes. The high level of technology and peformance comes and a premium, and the initial production run is limited to 30 examples, 5 of which will be allocated to racing use. An additional 25 street models will be built for clients in 2005.
More black panther than Jaguar, the Super Eight concept breathes some bad attitude into the XJ Long Wheelbase sedan. Created by Jaguar Cars' Advanced Design Studio, the Super Eight explores refinements and creature comforts under a broad, single-piece glass roof. Inside, passengers are coddled in individual seats with inch-thick carpet, chilled champagne, Waterford Crystal, and abundant matte-finished American Walnut trim. Luxurious cow hide covers seats in aniline leather, while velvety nubuck trims the instrument panel, center console, and doors. To provide the soundtrack for a hedonistic escape, a custom 860-watt, 14-speaker Alpine stereo system was engineered with a "no-expense-spared" installation. To give the car the performance its brash exterior warrants, Jaguar fitted a 4.2L/400-hp supercharged V-8. While built to draw attention to the long-wheelbase XJ going in to production, the Super Eight reveals the development mindset expected to be reflected in future models.
Surrounded by legendary Jeeps spanning from a WWII-era Willys to the Rescue concept vehicle, the all-new 2005 Grand Cherokee made its debut. Crawling onto the stage over a dirt course set up in the Camp Jeep pavilion, the SUV was immediately recognizable as a Grand Cherokee. The modern styling announces the evolutionary step forward, with improved 4x4 systems, increased passenger comfort, improved road manners, and new engine availability. Three full-time 4WD systems will be available, starting with Quadra-Trac I with a single-speed transfer case for simple operation. Quadra-Trac II features the new NV245 transfer case facilitating full-time active four-wheel drive, which anticipates and prevents wheel slip for optimum traction during a wide range of conditions. It also features a true low-range gear and a neutral mode, to allow the vehicle to be towed. Quadra-Drive II uses electronic limited-slip differentials to achieve the ultimate off-road package. To improve off-road ability, the suspension offers more travel than on the previous Grand Cherokee. On-road performance is heightened with available hydraulic-controlled active stabilizer system and Electronic Stability Program (ESP). Engines include the 3.7-liter V-6 shared with the Liberty, carryover 4.7-liter V-8, and mighty 5.7-liter Hemi V-8. Inside, new premium amenities include GPS Navigation radio, rear seat DVD, Boston Acoustics audio, UConnect hands-free communication system, Smart Beam, and Rear-Park Assist. The 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee will be built at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit, with production scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2004. Click here to watch the Jeep video. Click here to see photo gallery.
Resting atop a rock pile, a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited welcomed visitors to the Camp Jeep pavilion. A real treat for off-road enthusiasts, this massive hall adjacent to the convention center features a full dirt track with steep inclines to show off the SUVs' climbing ability. Circling this track is an array of classic Jeeps and cool project vehicles, including themed Wranglers built by SoBe and Fender. This 2004.5 model measures 15 inches longer than a typical Wrangler; the added length is split, with 13 inches more cargo space and two more inches of rear legroom, creating a more functional, more livable all-terrain sport/ute. This long-wheelbase model promises improved on-road ride quality, while retaining the legendary Jeep off-road prowess, as engineers were keen to retain a 20-degree minimum breakover angle. Powered by a 4.0-liter/190-horse inline-six, the Unlimited boasts a 3500-lb towing capacity, besting the regular Wrangler by 1500 lbs. The larger Jeep has a large cloth top for foul weather and security that features a large 45x23-inch center flap to create a massive sunroof; it is also available with a removable hardtop. Look for this Wrangler to reach dealerships in April. Click to see more photos of the Jeep Wrangler
Click here to watch the Jeep video.
The Liberty is freshened for 2005, with a bolder, more square appearance in line with future Jeep models. The flat hood, revised grille and wheel flares, and fresh body side moldings are reminiscent of recent Jeep concept models and move the Liberty in line with new Grand Cherokee. With the update, the Liberty Renegade is further distinguished from other models as it takes on a flagship role, with distinct off-road foglamps, taillamp guards, functional rock rails, four skid plates, and diamond-plate inspired seat fabric. Key options include 235/70R16 all-terrain tires and GPS DVD-based navigation radio. While the European market has had a diesel Liberty, this model will be offered in the U.S. for the first time for 2005. Certain to appeal to off-roaders and those concerned about fuel economy, the efficient 2.8-liter common rail diesel (CRD) engine is rated at an estimated 160 horsepower at 3800 rpm and with 295 lb.-ft. at 1800 rpm, providing class-leading torque and towing capability. This engine offers much more torque, while improving fuel economy about 25 percent and reducing CO2 emissions by an average of 20 percent. The diesel engine will be available on both Sport and Limited models. Click here to watch the Jeep video.
Just a few months after Mercedes unveiled the CLS Vision concept in Frankfurt the German automaker has revealed a production model, first in Geneva and now in New York. Attractively rendered, the CLS intends to bring a coupe-like appearance to the luxury sedan segment. Slotting between the E-Class and S-Class sedans, the CLS intends to appeal more to the enthusiast driver, while retaining four-door practicality. Shown as the CLS500, this car features a 5.0L V-8 with 302 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque, matched with a seven-speed automatic. Lux factor is ensured with available Airmatic air suspension, sophisticated climate control, ventilated seats, Keyless-Go, Distronic adaptive cruise control, and bi-xenon headlamps with active cornering function. While the CLS seems to crowd Mercedes' premium offerings, we expect the next-generation S-Class will grow in size to allow a more comfortable fit within the company's increasingly crowded product line. Look for the CLS to go on sale this fall.
Another of GM's concepts based on the new rear-drive Kappa architecture, this wagon evokes the spirit of the 1954 Chevy Nomad concept vehicle, including its round headlamps mounted on gently curving fenders, a trademark Corvette grille, and a forward-sloping B-pillar. It also reminds of the '90s concept of the same name and even color. This four-seat concept rides on a full independent suspension hung from a rock-solid chassis made of hydroformed frame rails, and sports a 107-inch wheelbase (two inches longer than other Kappa concepts on the circuit). Underhood is a turbocharged Ecotec 2.2-liter/250-hp four-cylinder engine mated to a new Hydra-Matic 5L40-E electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission with finger-operated tap shifting. The wee wagon utility is maximized by a removable rear roof panel, folding tailgate, and sliding cargo floor that extends over the folded tailgate so items placed on the load floor can be easily pushed into the cargo area.
The cross-branding alliance between Subaru and outdoor outfitters L.L. Bean that first brought us the Legacy-based Outback L.L. Bean edition will be extended to the Forester lineup for 2005. The new Forester 2.5XS L.L. Bean version comes equipped with the 210-hp turbocharged flat-four mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel disc brakes and (of course) all-wheel-drive. As such, the Forester 2.5XS L.L. Bean is aimed squarely at the hunting, camping, and fishing set, with its wipe-clean beige seats (monogrammed with the Bean logo), a standard moonroof out of which to shoot birds, a hard, durable, waterproof finish on the cargo floor and rear seatbacks to keep the birds and fish from staining anything permanently, and a load-leveling suspension in case you bag your limit.
Nissan showed a peek at its full-size Armada and Titan "F-Alpha" platform blueprints for the all-new 2005 Xterra, making its world premier at the New York Auto Show. More is the word of the day, with more room, more power, and more utility. More room comes by way of a longer wheelbase and increased second-row headroom. More power comes from a 4.0-liter, normally aspirated V-6 with 250 ponies, and 270 lb-ft torque, which is mated to either a five-speed, electronically-controlled automatic, or a six-speed manual transmission. Bathed in mud, the Xterra's visage bespeaks of its sport/utility genes. This utility applies through to multi-flex cargo area, featuring easy-to-clean luggage space and an adjustable cargo-control channel system. Look for the Xterra in early 2005.
Infiniti lifted the curtain on the forthcoming {{{2006 Infiniti M45}}} with the unveiling of its M45 Concept, based on an enhanced "next generation" FM platform. Performance and technology go hand-in-hand with this luxury, performance car, and bespeak of things to come. Underhood, the M45 Concept has a 4.5-liter, 32-valve dual-overhead-cam, V8 engine, which produces 340 horsepower. The chassis features an active-control rear suspension system that adjusts the geometry based on inputs from steering and speed sensors. The new Lane Departure Warning system (LDW,) warns the driver of an unintended pending lane change. State-of-the-art audio technology is realized in the 14-speaker, 5.1-channel surround-sound audio system. A pilot's tactile and visual hunger is assuaged with brush aluminum and leather interior appointments. Look for the production M45 in showrooms in the Spring of 2005.
For years, the letters 'SE-R' were synonymous with sport-compact supremacy when applied to the Sentra of the early '90s. Now those letters are migrating to the mid-size class. In 2005, Nissan will introduce the Altima SE-R, powered by a tuned 3.5-liter V-6 good for more than 250 hp, bolted to either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. Other functional enhancements include firmer riding shocks, thicker anti-roll bars, bigger brakes, and 18-inch tires and wheels. Other visual distinctions on the SE-R include smoked tail lamps, a rear spoiler, and deeper front fascia. Inside, there's a new three-gauge cluster like the 350Z's, a set of leather sport bucket seats, and an eight-speaker Bose stereo. Expect to see the new Altima SE-R in dealers this September, priced just under $30,000.
Audi strives to set a benchmark in the luxury performance segment, demonstrated with the American debut of its new A6 sedan. Following in the footsteps of its big brother A8, the A6 offers all-new engines linked to an assortment of high-performance transmissions and drivetrains promising dynamic driving beyond comparison, all wrapped in elegant sheetmetal with premium accoutrements typical of Audi design. Underhood, five powerplants include 174-hp/2.4-liter V-6, 252-hp/3.2-liter FSI V-6, and powerful 329-hp/4.2-liter V-8 gasoline engines, as well as 138-hp/2.0-liter and 221-hp/3.0-liter V-6 TDI choices. Supreme fuel economy and superior performance result from standard six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, though Quattro all-wheel drive is standard with the 4.2 and 3.0 TDI engines and optional with the 3.2 FSI model, while both front-drive and Quattro models benefit from sporty four-link front and self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspensions inherited from the A8.
Chrysler has long suffered from lack of a full-sized sport/utility vehicle to compete in the hot, highly profitable segment. Hummer blazed the trail for large, off-road biased SUVs, making the Jeep Rescue concept a very natural counter to this GM offensive. The Rescue draws upon Jeep heritage to create a massive body-on-frame SUV that would position it naturally above the Grand Cherokee and take on the H2. Ready to save lives in remote regions, or profile in Hollywood, the 80-inch-wide Rescue rolls on a 123-inch wheelbase (longer than Chevrolet Tahoe by seven inches). The suspension has adjustable ride height and an additional 4-inch lift available for fording streams. The massive 37-inch, run-flat tires can be aired down for increased, off-road traction, then pumped up with an on-board tire pressure control system for the ride home. Given the "rescue" theme, this concept truck features AC electric power (10 kW) generation in the field; 3-D topographical mapping software and topographical navigation system; under-chassis, point-of-view cameras for avoiding danger in its path; passive, infrared cameras for search and rescue; satellite telephone, VHF radio, and digital video recorder with satellite transmission; high-tech lighting; and front and back remote-control winches. Click to see more photos of the Jeep Rescue Click here to watch the Jeep video.
The Mark LT is a key part of Lincoln-Mercury's plan to introduce 11 new products within six new segments over the next four years, and Lincoln's first attempt to place a companion full-size truck alongside the popular Navigator after floundering with the Blackwood. With the Mark LT, it's clear that Lincoln is taking a more conservative approach with its straightforward F-150 rebadging. Both the exterior and interior are given the obligatory branding treatment, drawing heavily from the Aviator and Navigator to create a truck that will fit very naturally in the product line. The Mark LT will be available in both 4x2 and 4x4 configurations and will offer four full-size doors and a 5.5-foot box. It will powered by a 5.4-liter, three-valve Triton V-8 engine that produces 300 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 365 foot-pounds of torque at 3750 rpm when production begins early in 2005 at Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant.
If gas prices continue in the direction they're going, it won't be long before Americans begin demanding vehicles like this little space wagon concept, which made its international debut in Geneva. The fifth concept vehicle presented by Mazda in the last six months, this six-seat people mover is built on architecture borrowed from the all-new Mazda3 platform. Powered by the same transverse-mounted 16-valve 2.3-liter/169-hp MZR engine found in the Mazda3 and Mazda6, its four-speed Activematic transmission can be operated in automatic or pseudo-manual modes. The bright cabin was designed to balance utility, comfort, and quality, and is accessible via dual sliding doors that open to three seating rows, each with two individual leather-wrapped captain-style chairs. For flexibility, the second- and third-row seats easily fold away to provide a nearly flat cargo floor. While it is labeled a concept, Mazda hints that it could be the foundation for a future space wagon. The fact that we're seeing it again stateside hints that might be ready for production.
Designed to appeal to urban customers who are always on the move, Mitsubishi's Sport Truck Concept's styling is sporty yet rugged, and certainly revealed Mitsu's belief that a pickup truck can be both functional and fun to drive. Developed on Dodge's next-gen Dakota platform, the heart of the Sport Truck Concept beats with a powerful V-8 engine mated to an electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission. The transmission features a dial-type shifter knob which, rotated into the D+ mode, allows for sporty paddle shifting through controls mounted on the steering wheel. Beyond the practical utility of a truck, the concept also features a four-wheel independent suspension and 22-inch custom alloy wheels for the sophisticated ride and performance more commonly associated with sport sedans. Large "barn-style" side doors open outwards to provide maximum access to an interior finished with chic, modern materials, and outfitted with an assortment of high-tech gadgetry and infinitely variable LED lighting. Click to see more photos of the Mitsubishi Sport Truck
It seems small pickup trucks have been all the rage this auto show season. Another look at the new Tacoma X-Runner (which debuted in Chicago) reveals a bigger, stronger-shouldered truck with a horse-collar grille reminiscent of the big FTX concept from Detroit. The X-Runner is more slab-sided than the old Tacoma, with more distinctive taillamps and a kick-up in the rear fender opening, just like the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, and the new Dodge Dakota. Compared with the current Tacoma X-Runner, the new model is five inches longer overall, with a four-inch increase in track width and 4.5 inches more interior shoulder and hip room. Compared with other upcoming '05 Tacomas, the X-Runner features an exclusive x-brace frame, with a chassis lowered one inch. Lateral acceleration is 0.90 gs, better than the Nissan 350Z that Toyota says it used as a benchmark for this truck. Standard engine is a 4.0L/240-hp V-6 with 275 lb-ft of torque, coupled to a close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox. (A TRD supercharger pumps it up to about 300 horses.) The X-Runner also has 18-inch wheels, firmer, shorter springs and Bilsteins mounted outboard of the frame rails. Toyota hopes the X-Runner will appeal to youthful Scion shoppers who decide on a pickup.
The legendary Bronco name reemerged at January's Detroit auto show, as Ford re-explores the origins of the sport/utility vehicle in this concept. Key design features reminiscent of the original Ford Bronco include the boxy upright roofline, short wheelbase, round headlamps, a winch and guide rollers integrated into the lower fascia, and the Bronco nameplate milled into the modern three-bar grille. The roof features separate removable sections for open-air driving, giving the look and feel of the "Baja Broncos" of the early 1970s. Exterior details include exposed door hinges, cowl vents, flared wheelwells, and unique loop-shaped door handles integrated into the door. The Bronco concept mates a 2.0-liter/128-hp intercooled turbodiesel with six-speed PowerShift transmission and Intelligent 4WD system for a powerful, sure-footed off-roader, and adds nitrous-oxide injection for a temporary 50-horse burst of power at the driver's fingertips.
Ten years after its debut in the American market with the Sephia compact sedan, Kia spices up its roots with an super sport wagon version of its highest volume model, the Spectra. In an attempt to revitalize and broaden the product line and continue its momentum upwards among the top-10 import brands in the United States, the Spectra5 sport wagon borrows its platform and powertrain from its cousin the Hyundai Elantra, but inherits most of its spiritual suspension DNA from the MazdaSpeed and Ford SVT performance tuner cars, having been designed by the same engineer. Spectra5's sport-tuned suspension rides on stiffer springs, firmer shocks, and larger anti-roll bars than the all-new-for-2004 Spectra sedan, and steps up to 16-inch alloy wheels and 205/50R16 Goodyears. Underhood is a spunky 138-horse/2.0-liter engine with continuously variable valve timing and multi-port fuel injection mated to a standard five-speed manual transmission or optional, electronically controlled four-speed automatic. Pricing will be announced when it goes on sale later this summer.
Project Daisy blossomed at the Detroit show into a modern Shelby Cobra, complete with the bulging fenders, twin stripes, monster power, and smiling Texan, and it has achieved full bloom here in New York. Carroll Shelby conspired with the concept team to develop this show car, borrowing heavily from the Ford GT production car. For the Cobra, the mid-engine platform was reconfigured for a front-mid-engine application. Inspired by the Cobra 427, the team created a special 6.4-liter V-10 that produces 605 horsepower and 501 lb-ft of torque. In a 3000-pound car sized like a Miata, that power translates to sub-four-second 0-60 mph times. The six-speed transmission is rear mounted to distribute weight and increase interior legroom. The cockpit is all business, with essential gauges, race-inspired seats, and toggle-switch controls, all surrounded by aluminum and carbon fiber materials. Likewise, the clean exterior carries the essential Cobra cues with a modern, machined appearance highlighted with 18-inch front, 19-inch rear wheels. Many are wondering if they will build a production version. The official answer is, " 'We'll see.' If we get the same overwhelming reaction to the Cobra concept as we did to the GT concept, anything is possible," according to J Mays, Group Vice President, Design.
In a separate exhibition hall decorated with strands of origami paper birds, Lexus introduced its third new concept car within the past year, the LF-C. This coupe is an early look at the next generation IS line, which will also include a two-door model. Special attention was paid to styling, with the goal to put as much emphasis on design as the brand has historically placed on quality. Compared against the current IS, the LF-C rides on a wheelbase that measures 5.1 inches longer, with a 5-inch wider track and 2-inch lower ride height. The Lexus Future Coupe brought two pleasant surprises: it has a retractable hard top, with provisions for targa-style configuration and it will be available with a V-8 engine with a sequential automatic transmission. Lexus suggested that this BMW 3 Series competitor will be a 2007 model, following about a year after the next-generation GS. Click Here to see photo gallery.
Audi raises product placement to an all-new level with its RSQ Sports Coupe, developed especially for the upcoming Twentieth Century Fox film "I, ROBOT." Built with design elements suggested by movie director Alex Proyas, the mid-engined sports car races through Chicago in the year 2035 on spheres, not wheels, to help leading actor Will Smith solve a mystery that could have grave consequences for the human race. Its two doors are rear-hinged to the c-posts and open upwards like a butterfly's wings, and the interior is designed to like an aircraft's cockpit, with a steering wheel that folds out of the instrument panel and a center console that surrounds the ipilotisi body in the bucket seat. The laminate glass fiber of the body is coated with lunar silver paint to flop the hues of reflected colors and the color scheme is in the darker spectrum with isolated silvery accents. RSQ lettering illuminated with red light is integrated into the door sills. Look for this futuristic concept to appear on big screens in July.
Emphasizing its functionality and fuel efficiency, Ford's Escape Hybrid was given an on-road mileage test wherein the little sport/utility was driven non-stop through the streets of Manhattan, taking on rush-hour traffic and congestion to show how far the electric hybrid vehicle could go on one tank of gas under severe driving conditions. After 37 hours of non-stop driving, the Escape Hybrid finally ran through its 15 gallons of fuel, averaging more than 38 miles per gallon. In a time when many drivers are asking for better fuel economy from their vehicles, the Escape Hybrid's four-cylinder gasoline engine combines with a 70-kilowatt traction motor generator to boost mileage while promising the performance of a traditional V-6 Escape, with near-zero hydrocarbon and oxides of nitrogen tailpipe emissions. In addition to the Escape Hybrid on sale this summer, Ford promises two other hybrid cars in its future lineup, including a 2007 Mercury Mariner hybrid SUV, as well as hybrid version of a mid-size sedan.
Playing on the notion that bigger is better, and gaming is a lifestyle, Electronic Arts teamed up with Infiniti, Alpine Electronics, and Claus Ettensberger (CEC) to create a rolling state-of-the-art gaming machine and theater known as the EA Sports Ultimate Gaming Vehicle™ The idea was to take a luxurious SUV and stuff it full of premium AV equipment and game consoles that would put many home theaters to shame, not to mention mere showcars with their multitude of headrest displays. UGV is built on a pre-production Infiniti QX56, powered by a 5.6-liter V-8 DOHC engine. Most noticeable is the rear seating area, with its 37-inch 16:9 flat panel LCD screen television. Innovative Audio installed a set of jumbo speakers in place of the QX56's back row of seats and pushed back the middle row to give passengers plenty of room to stretch out and play in comfort. Game console nuts will appreciate having their choice of either a Sony Playstation®2 and XBOX® game system. Alpine mobile audio equipment pumps out 1,800 watts of power driving four subwoofers and 16 tweeters and mid-ranges. EC adds 23-inch Antera chrome-plated wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW tires and Brembo 8-piston Gran Turismo Brake kit. For $200,000, you can have your own Ultimate Gaming Vehicle in just 90 days. VIPs and sports stars are the target markets for UGV who can roll in style while playing games; maybe they won't fumble or strike out.
For those who shopped the $120,000-plus SL55 and SL600, and were left wanting, Mercedes-Benz proudly revealed the SL65 AMG. With horsepower spilling from the ball-bearing-fitted rollaway tool chests at AMG, Mercedes is able to offer the privileged few a special, hand-built twin-turbo V-12 engine producing 604 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of Freightliner-grade torque. (This engine will be offered in the CL65 AMG, as well.) Official claims have this incredible powerplant pushing the luxurious retractable-hardtop roadster from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds. The chassis is treated to a specifically calibrated active suspension to hold the road at the speeds this car can achieve, and anchored by 15.4-inch, eight-piston ventilated brakes. AMG 19-inch wheels, trim, badging, and bragging rights complete the core package. Expect prices to range near $180k when this fantasy-fueling car goes on sale later this year.
Displayed amid three other concepts, Lincoln proudly displayed the concept vehicle for the 2006 Zephyr. Destined to slot beneath the LS, the Zephyr's mission is to bring younger buyers into Lincoln showrooms, with a product targeting Acura TL and Lexus ES 330 buyers. Clean, refined styling reveals the near-future Lincoln design language and structure, notably tight bumpers, vertical grille, clean sides, defined beltline, and integrated bright work. The interior is also chic, with smooth, simple surfaces dressed with wood, leather, and chrome taking the themes in the polished Aviator SUV interior to the next level. Based on the Mazda 6 platform, the production Zephyr will be offered in front- and all-wheel-drive configurations, powered by a 3.0-liter V-6, when it goes on sale in late 2005. Click Here to see the Lincoln Zephyr photo gallery.
Suzuki expands its product offerings with a wagon variant joining the Forenza sedan this fall. The fourth of nine new products intended to push North American Suzuki sales past the 200,000 mark, the Forenza Wagon joins the growing roster of five-door compacts with a size advantage over competitors such as the Ford Focus and Toyota Matrix. Notable standard features include eight-speaker audio system with steering wheel-mounted stereo controls, four-wheel disc brakes, passenger-side weight-sensing advanced airbags, front side airbags, speed-sensitive power steering, and heated power mirrors. Powerful weapons for Suzuki, the Forenza wagon will pack an approachable $13K-$16K price tag and generous 7-year/100K-mile warranty when it goes on sale.
Infiniti's flagship Q45 premium luxury sedan receives a more distinctive, more aggressive exterior appearance for the 2005 model year, as well as a more luxurious interior dressed in sumptuous maple wood with chrome accents, a pure white instrument cluster, and new sport contour seats. Power is provided by a 340-horsepower/4.5-liter V-8 engine linked to a five-speed automatic transmission that's been recalibrated for improved downshift response and smoother acceleration. Voice-activated controls, DVD navigation system with 7.0-inch LCD information display screen, and RearView monitor are standard. Climate controlled seats and Intelligent Cruise Control with Preview Braking are optional. The Q45's performance-tuned active dampening suspension, previously available only on the Premium Package, is now standard on all 2005 Q45s.
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The First Dominoes: Greece, Reality, and Cascading Default
(Guest Essay) (February 13, 2012)
I asked frequent contributor Zeus Yiamouyiannis to comment on the coming Greek default. Here is his insightful response.
Greece is the epicenter of a drama that threatens to unwind with all the intrigue and subterfuge of ancient Greek myths and tragedies. As with the legend of Icarus, big, and now bigger, transnational banks provoked the gods with their wax-and-feather financial fabrications to create the appearance of soaring wealth. Now that they have flown too close to the sun and their wings have melted, these banks are being brought to earth by the obligations and consequences imposed by their fabrications.
Rather than take responsibility, these banks seek to appease the gods by sacrificing taxpayers. In fact, if one looks closely, these banks aspire to be gods themselves. They clothe themselves in their indispensability and shield themselves from accountability with tales about how many innocent citizens will be hurt if they dont get their next bailout. It is as if they say, We are above the law We are the law. Mathematics, legal enforcement, restraint, humility all must fall under the sword of their hubris.
In the end, just as with a Greek tragedy or a Yeats poem, this center cannot hold and things fall apart. When one abuses the laws and principles of mathematics and capitalism, claiming to be a faithful servant, consequence and accountability eventually catch up. The breaking point inexorably nears. Citizens are beginning to think, voice, and act: We can do without the false idols that call themselves banks. In fact, we need them to be dissolved for us to survive and thrive.
Reality is the revenge of the gods.
Not just about fairness: Everything unwinds
This is not just about fairness anymore; it is about the exposure of central, global illusions that affect everyone, not just banks. For the last three plus decades, debt-fueled growth has instilled a life sense that everyone gets rich, values always go up, and no one has to pay. If those illusions evaporate than those citizens complicit in this failed fantasy may actually join forces with the realists (those who knew it was a scam all along) to produce unified citizen revolt. Hell hath no fury like the people spurned and lied to, even if many had some responsibility in welcoming and fanning those lies.
The implicit deal was this: We will collude so everyone gets rich going forward. We will collude so no one has to pay if there is any unwinding. (But, hey, its a new era, and thats not going to happen!) Open default breaks the illusion, and austerity breaks up the collusion. This is why default has to be hidden, deferred, restructured. It is not just about chaos around party/counterparty risk (in particular, cascading claims that are not backed by anything). It is not even just about finance. Its about all the other things that will unwind, culturally, politically, and psychologically, if Greece defaults and sets into motion the necessity of someone actually paying up. In short, recognition of reality has disastrous consequences for the status quo and its control myths.
The infinite growth meme unwinds: The cancerous economic obsession with infinite growth in a finite world is already unwinding, but will hit full force with cascading defaults. It is one thing to have a slowdown, and another to have your economic brakes lock up on you and your gears slammed into reverse. About the only thing that seems to be growing currently is the number of people partially employed or permanently unemployed. As a humorous aside, the situation is getting so pronounced that quality of life might actually have to replace quantity of possessions as the cultural indicator of the good life, and what would that do to the economy?
Politicians power of the purse unwinds: Greek politicians, like many other Western politicians, will do almost anything to get re-elected. The easiest way to do this is to pay people off, particularly government workers and constituents, in the form of generous benefits or pet projects. What happens if your tax base will not support this? You sell your political soul, defer, and/or hide the true costs of your largesse behind undisclosed derivative deals with Goldman Sachs that eventually put your entire countrys sovereignty in jeopardy. As a result, Greeces former prime minister, George Papandreou, is now out after a very short term in favor of a unity government. Shady deals funded unsustainable perks that not only inflated popular expectations but created catastrophic debt and risk.
Guaranteed entitlements unwind: So now that the illusion of infinite growth is being exposed, the corresponding ballooning entitlements that enticed the larger public to become complicit in the illusion are becoming unglued. It would take almost a decade of gross national product to pay off the U.S. unfunded liabilities for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, which exceed the staggering sum of 100 trillion dollars.
Retirement and health benefits cannot be paid out of fake prosperity and notional (i.e. imaginary) values. They require real services and products and an accepted public medium of exchange. (I will leave off the argument as to what constitutes real and accepted since even fiat currencies are dubious in this regard.) People will be forced to adjust their expectations and adapt their realities. With public and private pension plans also complicit in derivative scams to fund benefits, it will be no surprise if many pensions simply declare themselves bankrupt in the next decade.
The maximum profit mandate unwinds: We have reached such heights in our hysteria about growth and our psychological addiction to more-more-more, that we have seen stock prices fall, even with record revenues, if the corresponding company doesnt meet expectations of even higher growth and revenue. It is getting to the point where a company cannot simply have a solid year and just pay out its dividends and maintain its good health. Instead companies have to be ever hopped-up on economic steroids and cost-cutting (i.e. shipping jobs to virtual slave labor in China) so as to not fall short of expectations.
These steroidal practices are destroying the companies and the means by which consumers can afford products and services. A relentless short-term focus serves no one in the end. Maximum less and less corresponds with optimum, because present assets can be cannibalized or revaluated to give short-term boosts to numbers, creating medium- and long-term systemic and foundational deficits that destroy the health of a company and its surrounding society. Hopefully the idea and practice of optimum profit will replace maximum profit as the Great Unwinding continues.
The central question:
The central question, obscured by all the hand wringing and crocodile tears is simply this: Why should public citizens who have no stake in private enterprises, who received no profits or dividends, who had nothing to do with creating losses, be forced to pay for private losses? The only legitimate answer is, They shouldnt. Period. Anything that does not acknowledge this tenet is not functioning capitalism, and if it is functioning capitalism it cannot violate this tenet.
Yet we witness apologist expert after expert excusing this fatal breach in capital practice as regrettable but necessary to save the system. They seem not to have noticed that the system has already killed itself by violating its own foundational laws and principles. If anything, current conventional practice might be accurately described as an all-out anti-capitalist assault on democratic free enterprise.
So now the follow-up question is easy to answer: Why are we paying for something we did not buy and had no hand in creating? The answer: We no longer have functioning capitalism. Call it what you want corporate socialism, crony capitalism, cancer capitalism, plutocracy, kleptocracy, oligarchy, neofeudalism the system we have now is the equivalent of an individual going up to a complete stranger on the street and shaking that stranger down for protection money to pay for the individuals underwater house mortgage.
As this simple fact grips the population, and people wake up to the present economic reality, there will be increasingly organized moves toward civil disobedience and alternative economy. Cannot pay will merge with will not pay since the only way to re-establish health and integrity in a corrupted economic system is to starve the cancers that have taken it over. This has already started with Occupy Wall Street, strategic defaults, and riots in Greece.
So if someone asks you, seeking to appeal to your fear, self-interest, and need for approval, if you are willing to be responsible for bringing down the global system, your answer should be an emphatic, Yes. Are you asking if I want to bring down fraud, theft, abuse and the cancer that global finance has become for me, my neighbors, my children, and my childrens children? Are you asking me if I want to replace the current broken system with something that serves actual people? Not only, yes, but heck, yes.
By Zeus Yiamouyiannis, copyright February, 2012
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Perhaps the biggest mistake the recently arrested leaders of the Anonymous spinoff hacker group LulzSec made was operating in the U.S. and European countries instead of Ukraine. There, they might have remained beyond the reach of the law indefinitely.
The Kyiv Post last week reported that in spite of the high-profile arrests of five alleged hacker "kingpins" in October 2010, "Ukraine's would-be major crackdown on cybercrime is increasingly looking like (a) real bust." The result is the country becoming, "a haven for hackers," in the view of analysts, including some Ukraine security officials.
The five, who allegedly used Conficker, a fast-spreading worm unleashed in 2008, to steal more than $72 million from U.S. bank accounts, faced up to six years in prison.
But within months of the arrests, they were all released and remain free as an investigation reportedly continues.
Valentyn Petrov, an information security official at the Security Service of Ukraine, known by the acronym SBU, acknowledged to the Post that, "Ukrainian hackers are well-known in the world. Our country is a potential source of cyber threats to other countries."
The official explanation for the freedom enjoyed by hackers is a lack of modern legislation covering cybercrime, along with a lack of authority for law enforcement.
But experts say the problem is deeper and much more menacing. Brian Krebs, a former Washington Post reporter and author of the blog KrebsonSecurity.com, told the Post that he knows of many people in Ukraine who want to, "put cyber criminals behind bars and clean up Ukraine's image as a cybercrime heaven. However, if this is not combined with a competent and responsible legislative system, the rest does not matter."
Taras Kuzio, editor of Ukraine Analyst, goes beyond that. In a March 1 blog post, he quotes extensively from a 2011 book by former Guardian Moscow correspondent Luke Harding titled, "Mafia State: How one reporter became an enemy of the brutal new Russia."
The book discusses 10 criteria that make Russia a "virtual mafia state," and Kuzio says those criteria apply to Ukraine as well.
Kuzio, an Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Visiting Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, School of Advanced International Studies, John Hopkins University, was reached through the Information Security Community on LinkedIn.
He and others say corruption throughout that region of the world means, "ruling elites are unaccountable & (and) have no remorse for crimes they have committed.
"Russian and Ukrainian kleptocracy merge organized crime, corruption and the state in a closely bound nexus," Kuzio writes. "Organized crime has close ties to senior leaders of both countries."
Kuzio notes that Yuriy Lutsenko, former Interior Minister in two governments led by Yulia Tymoshenko, was recently sentenced to four years imprisonment and banned from public office for three years. That prevents him from participating in the 2015 presidential elections, in which Viktor Yanukovych will seek a second term.
"Lutsenko, the scourge of the nexus of Yanukovych, the Party of Regions, and organized crime, was jailed by the 'virtual mafia state' he sought to dismantle as Interior Minister," Kuzio writes.
In an email, Kuzio said there is essentially no rule of law in Ukraine. The result, he said, "will be a massive number of illegal actions in copyright infringements, intellectual piracy, plagiarism, etc." Beyond that, when government does make a move against cybercrime, it cannot always sustain it.
In February, Ukrainian police shut down the popular file-sharing service EX.ua, alleging that the site was involved in online piracy. The interior ministry searched EX.ua offices and seized about 200 servers containing more than 6,000 terabytes of data.
But Ukrainian internet users reacted with outrage, launching a series of hacker attacks on the government. The attacks reportedly involved about 500 IT professionals and hundreds of thousands of ordinary users. Days later, the police lifted the blocking order, although they said the investigation was continuing.
Krebs says in this arena, law enforcement is outgunned. "When you look at the sophistication of the hacker community vs. the police, it's kind of a stark difference," he says. "It's always a cat-and-mouse game, but these guys take it to another level -- they are some of the best out there."
Another expert with family in the region who did not want to be identified said poverty is a factor in what's taking place. "It is not an excuse," he says, "but without a moral compass, everything becomes a game of what you can get away with, especially when you always have the option of buying off an official to make something illegal go away."
He adds that he believes Ukraine, "needs is to be cut off from the paranoia of the Russian sphere in order to develop independently as a nation."
Some have suggested that economic investment in the country would be more effective than pressure for more enforcement, since conditions now mean that talented programmers don't have many options in lawful occupations.
Read more about malware/cybercrime in CSOonline's Malware/Cybercrime section.
This story, "Ukraine seen as a growing 'haven for hackers'" was originally published by CSO.


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Climbing out above the few clouds around 7000 feet.
Developing sunset... the high clouds are getting closer.
Gardner, MA
The sunlight kisses the cloud tops.
Sipping Oxygen.
Route 2 winds through the hills as I am well above the haze and clouds.
The Quabbin from far above.
The Connecticut river winding north.
It's cold up here!
Sunlight on the tops of lower clouds.
15,500 feet (I turned around and headed back down here).
Some wild groundspeeds were achieved in the descent, with a tailwind! I turned a few times to give me more space to descend.
Sunset off the left wing.
Sunset.. dipping down below the Adirondacks (the closer peak on the right is Mt. Monadnock).
Sunlight raking the high clouds.
Sunset. Mt. Monadnock closer in on the right.


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Vaginal Exam for Preterm Labor
Exam Overview
If you have symptoms of preterm labor, your doctor or nurse-midwife may examine you by feeling your cervix. If your contractions continue over a period of hours, you may be examined periodically to see whether your cervix is opening (dilating) or thinning (effacing).
These exams allow your health professional to:
- Find out how much your cervix has opened and thinned.
- Find out how far the baby has moved down the birth canal (station).
- Check for fluid leaking from your vagina using a sterile speculum. If fluid is present, it will be tested to determine whether it is amniotic fluid, which is a sign that your amniotic sac has ruptured.
Why It Is Done
Vaginal exams are done when a pregnant woman has:
- Uterine contractions that may have changed her cervix and may be preterm labor. The cervix may open and thin without strong or painful contractions.
- Unusual pelvic pressure or back pain.
- Vaginal bleeding.
Preterm labor is diagnosed when a woman who is 20 to 37 weeks pregnant has uterine contractions and her cervix has changed, as seen with a vaginal exam.
Preterm labor is not diagnosed if contractions are occurring but the cervix is not becoming thinner or more dilated (open).
What To Think About
When a vaginal exam is not done to assess for preterm labor
When the amniotic membranes rupture early (preterm prelabor rupture of membranes, or pPROM), sterile speculum exams are kept to a minimum, and digital exams are avoided. This is meant to reduce the risk of infecting the uterus and fetus.
When the placenta is known to be overlapping or covering the cervix (placenta previa), vaginal exams are completely avoided. Disturbing the placenta can trigger bleeding.
Current as of: May 29, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Sarah Marshall MD – Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones MD – Obstetrics and Gynecology
Current as of: May 29, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Sarah Marshall MD – Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones MD – Obstetrics and Gynecology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.


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BALTIMORE & O. R. CO. v. BURNS et al.
8 S.Ct. 421
31 L.Ed. 333
BURNS et al.
January 9, 1888.
John K. Cowen and Hugh L. Bond, Jr., for plaintiff in error.
Albert Constable, for defendants in error.
This is a writ of error for the review of an order of the circult court made March 5, 1886, remanding a suit which had been removed from a state court under the act of March 3, 1875, c. 137, (18 St. 470.) The material facts are these:
The suit was begun in the circuit court of Cecil county, Maryland, and it stood for trial at the December term of that court in the year 1884. During that term the railroad company petitioned the court for the removal of the suit to the circuit court of Dorchester county for trial, and this was granted January 22, 1885. The cause was docketed in Dorchester county, February 2, 1885, and on the twenty-second of April, 1885, the railroad company filed in that county its petition for the removal of the suit to the circuit court of the United States for the district of Maryland, on the ground that the plaintiffs, Burns and Nokes, were citizens of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively, and the railroad company, the defendant, a Maryland corporation, and in law a citizen of that state. A removal was ordered by the Dorchester court, April 27, 1885, which was at its April term, 1885, and the cause entered in the circult court of the United States, May 16, 1885. A motion to remand was made November 2, 1885, and this motion was granted March 5, 1886, on the ground that the petition for removal was not in time.
In our opinion this order was properly made. According to the agreed facts the circuit court of Cecil county holds four terms in each year, commencing respectively on the third Monday of March, the third Monday of June, the third Monday of September, and the third Monday of December. It is conceded that the cause could have been forced to trial at the December term, 1885, if it had remained in Cecil county. The terms in Dorchester county begin on the fourth Monday of the months of January, April, and July, and on the second Monday of November, in each year. Although the record from Cecil county was filed in Dorchester county on the second day of February, and the petition for removal filed on the twenty-second of April, it does not appear that it was brought to the attention of the court or any action taken thereon until the twenty-seventh of that month, which was the first day of the April term. Under these circumstances it is clear that the petition for removal was not presented in time. The first term of the state court at which the cause could have been tried was the December term in Cecil county. That term must have ended on or before the third Monday in March. The transfer was made to Dorchester county during the January term of that court. That was another term of the state court from that in which the trial could first be had. Consequently the time for removal had passed when the case got to Dorchester county. The railroad company had its election at the December term in Cecil county to remove the suit to the circuit court of the United States or to transfer it to Dorchester county for trial. It chose the latter and thereby lost its right to the removal.
The order to remand is affirmed.
The following state regulations pages link to this page.


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Nokia Siemens Networks is selling its optical networking business unit to private investment firm Marlin Equity Partners, the latest in a series of sell-offs as the vendor concentrates on mobile broadband networks.
The two companies didn't announce any financial details of the deal, but the deal will result in the Optical Networks business unit becoming an independent company, according to a statement from Nokia Siemens published on Monday.
As a result of the transaction, up to 1,900 employees from the optical business unit and related functions are expected to transfer to the new company. They are mostly based in Germany, Portugal and China, the statement said.
The planned transaction is another step in the transformation of Nokia Siemens Networks into a mobile broadband specialist.
Earlier this year the company closed the sale of its IPTV assets to Belgacom and Accenture; its microwave transport business to DragonWave, and the fixed line Broadband Access business unit, associated professional services and network management solutions, to Adtran.
The focus on mobile broadband seems to have helped Nokia Siemens turn a corner.
Helped by operators commercializing LTE in Japan, it passed Alcatel-Lucent to become the number-two LTE vendor during the third quarter by revenue from radio access networks, according to market research company Dell'Oro Group.
Ericsson was the largest LTE vendor, Dell'Oro said.
Also, Nokia Siemens' net sales increased by 3 percent year on year during the third quarter, and last year's third-quarter operating loss of ¬114 million (US$148 million) became a ¬182 million operating profit in the same period this year, Nokia reported.
Nokia Siemens' optical networking unit mainly sells DWDM (dense wavelength-division multiplexing) equipment, which is used in operator backbone networks. Its competition includes the likes of Alcatel-Lucent, Ciena, Cisco Systems and Huawei Technologies.
The new optical networking company will be headquartered in Munich, Germany. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2013.


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Albion College offers the following academic majors:
The major requirement represents learning mastery in an area of specialization. Majors are possible in three separate areas -- the departmental major, the interdepartmental or interdisciplinary major and the individually designed major.
Departmental majors include a maximum of 10 required units in an academic department as well as possible cognates within other areas. A student may declare two majors. Interdepartmental majors and interdisciplinary majors, with a maximum of 10 required units of course work plus cognates, are also offered. Detailed requirements for all majors appear in the Programs of Study section of this catalog.
Individually designed majors allow freedom of choice. Under this program students have created their own majors in such fields as arts administration, cognitive science, Latin American studies, political economy, twentieth century social philosophy, and public health.
Albion permits a student to design an individual major by first proposing it to a faculty member willing to serve as the major adviser. The student and the adviser must identify two other faculty members who will serve with the adviser as the student's "major committee." One member of the committee must come from outside the adviser's own department. Before beginning an individual program of study, the student must secure the major committee's unanimous approval of the proposed program as well as the approval of the College vice president for academic affairs. This approval must be granted no later than midsemester of the second semester of the student's junior year. A copy of the approved program and any subsequently approved changes are to be filed with the registrar after being signed by the vice president for academic affairs. In essence, the program then becomes an agreement between the student and the institution. The requirements for an individual major include a minimum of eight units of course work, plus one unit of directed study which demonstrates ability to perform independent scholarship or creative activity related to the proposed major program.
Detailed regulations and forms for filing an individually designed major are available from the Registrar's Office.


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no items to display
Couscous Salad In A Jar
- 100g Couscous
- 1 teaspoon Harissa
- 1 pepper
- 1 packet of Juice PLUS+ soup
- 1 handful of chickpeas
- 6 cherry tomatoes
- Handful of arugula
- 8 slices courgette
- A small onion, finely chopped
- ½ lime
Mix the couscous, chickpeas, tomatoes, arugula, zucchini and onion in a sealable glass jar (e.g. a mason jar that can hold about 0.75 ml to 1L.)
Season with Harissa and pepper.
Put the lime on top.
At the Office:
Bring your prepared dish to the office along with the Juice PLUS + soup packet.
When you are ready to eat at the office, squeeze the lime over your meal.
Prepare the soup with 250ml of boiling water and pour into your dish - so that the couscous is covered. Shake.
Let it sit for 20 minutes.
Leave a comment
Want to leave a comment? We'd love to hear it. Please note that all comments are moderated. Anything resembling spam will be deleted. Try to make this a meaningful conversation for all involved.


text:
|Photo © 2000 David L. Brill, Brill Atlanta)
160,000-year-old fossilized skulls uncovered in Ethiopia are oldest anatomically modern humans
BERKELEY - The fossilized skulls of two adults and one child discovered in the Afar region of eastern Ethiopia have been dated at 160,000 years, making them the oldest known fossils of modern humans, or Homo sapiens.
Image © J. Matternes
The skulls, dug up near a village called Herto, fill a major gap in the human fossil record, an era at the dawn of modern humans when the facial features and brain cases we recognize today as human first appeared.
The fossils date precisely from the time when biologists using genes to chart human evolution predicted that a genetic "Eve" lived somewhere in Africa and gave rise to all modern humans.
"We've lacked intermediate fossils between pre-humans and modern humans, between 100,000 and 300,000 years ago, and that's where the Herto fossils fit," said paleoanthropologist Tim White, professor of integrative biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and a co-leader of the team that excavated and analyzed the discovery site. "Now, the fossil record meshes with the molecular evidence."
"With these new crania," he added, "we can now see what our direct ancestors looked like."
"This set of fossils is stupendous," said team member F. Clark Howell, UC Berkeley professor emeritus of integrative biology and co-director with White of UC Berkeley's Laboratory for Human Evolutionary Studies. "This is a truly revolutionary scientific discovery."
Howell added that these anatomically modern humans pre-date most neanderthals, and therefore could not have descended from them, as some scientists have proposed.
The international team is led by White and his Ethiopian colleagues, Berhane Asfaw of the Rift Valley Research Service in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Giday WoldeGabriel of Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. The results of the find will be reported in two papers in the June 12 issue of the journal Nature.
The research team also unearthed skull pieces and teeth from seven other hominid individuals, hippopotamus bones bearing cut marks from stone tools, and more than 600 stone tools, including hand axes. All are from the same sediments and, thus, the same era.
"These were people using a sophisticated stone technology," White said. "Using chipped hand axes and other stone tools, they were butchering carcasses of large mammals like hippos and buffalo and undoubtedly knew how to exploit plants."
They lived long before most examples of another early hominid, the neanderthal, or Homo neanderthalensis, proving beyond a reasonable doubt, White said, that Homo sapiens did not descend from these short, stocky creatures. More like cousins, neanderthals split off from the human tree more than 300,000 years ago and died out about 30,000 years ago, perhaps driven to extinction by modern humans.
"These well-dated and anatomically diagnostic Herto fossils are unmistakably non-neanderthal," said Howell, a co-author of the Homo erectus paper that details the hominids and an expert on early modern humans. "These fossils show that near-humans had evolved in Africa long before the European neanderthals disappeared. They thereby demonstrate conclusively that there was never a neanderthal stage in human evolution."
Because the Herto fossils represent a transition between more primitive hominids from Africa and modern humans, they provide strong support for the hypothesis that modern humans evolved in Africa and subsequently spread into Eurasia. This hypothesis goes against the theory that modern humans arose in many areas of Europe, Asia and Africa from other hominids who had migrated out of Africa at a much earlier time.
The fossil evidence, said Asfaw, "clearly shows what molecular anthropologists have been saying for a long time - that modern Homo sapiens evolved out of Africa. These fossilized skulls from Herto show that modern humans were living at around 160,000 years ago with full-fledged Homo sapiens features. The 'Out of Africa' hypothesis is now tested, ... (and) we can conclusively say that neanderthals had nothing to do with modern humans. They went extinct."
The fossil skulls
The three fossil skulls remain in Ethiopia, but replicas made from them were compared by the research team with many examples of neanderthal and earlier hominid skulls, as well as those of modern humans. Many of the modern human comparison skulls came from a worldwide sample of skeletal remains in the collection of UC Berkeley's Hearst Museum of Anthropology.
The most complete of the three new fossil skulls, probably that of a male, is slightly larger than the extremes seen in modern Homo sapiens, yet it bears other characteristics within the range of modern humans - in particular, less prominent brow ridges than pre-Homo sapiens and a higher cranial vault. Because of these similarities, the researchers placed the fossils in the same genus and species as modern humans but appended a subspecies name - Homo sapiens idaltu -to differentiate them from contemporary humans, Homo sapiens sapiens.
Idàltu, which means "elder" in the Afar language, refers to the adult male's antiquity and individual age. The man, though probably in his late 20s to mid-30s, had heavily worn upper teeth and a brain size slightly larger than average for living people.
Scientists tracking evolution through changes in mitochondrial DNA, which is passed from mother to daughter, have estimated that humans derive their mitochondrial genes from an ancestral mother nicknamed "Eve" who lived in Africa about 150,000 years ago. Other scientists studying the male Y chromosome have reached similar conclusions. The new Herto fossils are from a population living at exactly this time.
"In a sense, these genetic findings were impossible to seriously test without a good fossil record from Africa," said White. "Back in 1982, when Becky Cann and Allan Wilson of UC Berkeley were using molecules to study evolution, they concluded that the common ancestors of all modern humans lived in Africa 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. For the last 20 years we've been looking for good, well-dated fossil evidence of that antiquity."
Previously found fossils were younger, from sites scattered around Africa, often poorly dated and incomplete. These include fossil skull fragments from Klasies River Mouth in South Africa, dating from about 100,000 years ago, and Middle Eastern fossils from Qafzeh and Skhul dating from 90,000 to 130,000 years ago. Ethiopia has yielded some modern human fossils, including those from Omo, which are approximately 100,000 years old, and the Aduma fossil finds of the Middle Awash, which date from about 80,000 years.
While these previous discoveries appear also to be Homo sapiens, the new finds from Herto are older, well-dated and more complete without sharing characteristics of more primitive human ancestors such as Homo erectus or the neanderthals.
The fossil-rich site was discovered on Nov. 16, 1997, in a dry and dusty valley bordering the Middle Awash River near Herto, a seasonally occupied village. During a reconnaissance, White first spotted stone tools and the fossil skull of a butchered hippo emerging from the ground. When the team returned to intensively survey the area 11 days later, they discovered the most complete of the adult skulls protruding from the ancient sediment. It had been exposed by heavy rains and partially trampled by herds of cows.
A portion of the large adult's left front cranium (the braincase) had been crushed and scattered, but the team was able to excavate the rest of the skull, minus the lower jaw, and reconstruct it.
Over 200 pieces of a child's cranium were found broken and distributed over the surface of sands churned by cattle, goats and camels. The recovered pieces are shown here being assembled by the discoverer, Dr. Berhane Asfaw. Photo © 1998 David L. Brill, Brill Atlanta
The child's skull, found nearby, was fragmented and scattered from having been exposed for many years. The team recovered most pieces of the cranium, more than 200 in all, from a 400 square-foot area, and Asfaw painstakingly pieced them together over a period of three years.
Based on the presence of unerupted teeth, the skull is that of a child of six or seven. Interestingly, this skull and a second adult's, too fragmentary to reconstruct, showed cut marks pointing to ancient mortuary practices, White said. The child's skull bore marks indicating that, after death, the muscles had been cut from the base of the skull. The rear of the cranial base was broken away and the edges polished, and the entire cranium was worn smooth as if by repeated handling. The second adult skull showed parallel scratches around the perimeter of the skull apparently made by a stone tool repeatedly drawn across the skull's surface in a pattern different from that created during defleshing, as for food. Even the nearly complete adult skull had a few cut marks.
The mortuary rituals of the Herto people differ from those of earlier hominids, some of whom cut flesh from skulls but apparently did not polish or decorate them with scratch marks. Modifications like those seen in the Herto skulls have been recorded by anthropologists from societies, including some in New Guinea, in which the skulls of ancestors are preserved and worshipped.
The Herto skulls were not found with other bones from the rest of the bodies, which is unusual, White said, leading the researchers to infer that the people "were moving the heads around on the landscape. They probably cut the muscles and broke the skull bases of some skulls to extract the brain, but why, whether as part of a cannibalistic ritual, we have no way of knowing."
The team also recovered more than 640 stone artifacts, though they estimate that the entire Herto area contains millions of such artifacts: hand axes, flake tools, cores, flakes and rare blades. Renowned African prehistorian J. Desmond Clark of UC Berkeley analyzed many of them before his death in February of last year. Clark and colleagues Dr. Yonas Beyene of Ethiopia's Authority for Research and Conservation of the Cultural Heritages and Dr. Alban Defleur of Marseilles, France, concluded that the stone tools were transitional between the Acheulean period, characterized by a predominance of hand axes, and the later flake-dominated Middle Stone Age.
"The associated fossil bones show clearly that the Herto people had a taste for hippos, but we can't tell whether they were killing them or scavenging them," said Beyene. "These artifacts are clues about the ancestors who made them."
Ancient lake shore
The early humans at Herto lived along the shores of a shallow lake created when the Awash River temporarily dammed about 260,000 years ago. The lake contained abundant hippos, crocodiles and catfish, while buffalo roamed the land.
The sediments and volcanic rock in which the fossils were found were dated at between 160,000 and 154,000 years by a combination of two methods. The argon/argon method was used by colleagues in the Berkeley Geochronology Center, led by Paul R. Renne, a UC Berkeley adjunct professor of geology. WoldeGabriel of Los Alamos National Laboratory and Bill Hart of Miami University in Ohio used the chemistry of the volcanic layers to correlate the dated layers.
The Middle Awash team consists of more than 45 scientists from 14 different countries who specialize in geology, archaeology and paleontology. In this single study area, the team has found fossils dating from the present to more than 6 million years ago, painting a clear picture of human evolution from ape-like ancestors to present-day humans.
"The human fossils from Herto are near the top of a well-calibrated succession of African fossils," White said. "This is clear fossil evidence that our species arose through evolution."
The work was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics at Los Alamos National Laboratory, in combination with the Hampton Fund for International Initiatives of Miami University and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.