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TECHNOLOGY: Google Apparently Wants Its Driverless Electric Cars To Be Cordless.

According to IEEE Spectrum, documents filed to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission indicate that new efforts toward Google’s prototype autonomous cars include the testing of several wireless charging systems for the vehicles in California. The systems come from two companies that specialize in creating charging plates for vehicles, Hevo Power and Momentum Dynamics.

Documents show that in the first half of 2015, the FCC gave both companies permission to install experimental chargers at Google’s Mountain View, California headquarters. IEEE Spectrum reports that Google engineers now have multiple Momentum Dynamics chargers at both headquarters and the former U.S. Air Force base, the Castle Commerce Center, where Google tests the cars.

At their roots, the wireless charging systems will be a tool to help individuals charge vehicles in a more accessible fashion—particularly, it seems, those who will depend on the cars due to their inability to drive. An additional goal is for self-driving cars to be able to charge between rides, allowing for automakers to produce smaller, lighter batteries. From IEEE Spectrum:

“We’ve heard countless stories from people who need a fully self-driving car today,” [director of Google’s driverless car program, Chris Urmson]wrote in December. “We’ve heard from people with health conditions ranging from vision problems to multiple sclerosis to autism to epilepsy who are frustrated with their dependence on others for even simple errands.”

All Google cars currently testing on public roads retain their traditional charging cables, according to IEEE Spectrum. But there are more extensive plans for the technology, even if they are lofty—IEEE Spectrum added that “ultimately, the infrastructure would be put in place that would allow a car to continually recharge its batteries as it travels along the road.”

At least one company is on that same page. From The Verge:

... companies like Qualcomm have variously suggested over the years that wireless chargers could someday be embedded in public roadways, enabling cars to stay charged even as they drive.

And while roadway charging could be a future goal—for more than just Google cars—IEEE Spectrum reports that both charging companies declined to confirm their potential work on the Google-car project. Google dodged the question as well, adding that it tests a lot of technologies for its driverless cars.

Whatever the future may be, at least we can bet that it won’t be disappointing.

SOURCE: JALOPNIK.COM

Competing To End Labor Trafficking In Global Supply Chains: With Technology

Photo: Markus Schreiber: migrants 2015

An estimated 14.2 million people are victims of forced labor in private economic activities, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO). That’s a lot of people, and those goods produced with forced labor make their way into the global economy through complex supply chains, while businesses too busy with other things either don’t pay attention – or look away (at their increasing peril).

But awareness has been rising, and now an innovative competition has looked to technology for solutions to help identify and address a major obstacle in the quest forbetter corporate governance in any business – with less risk.

The Partnership For Freedom, a public-private partnership led by Humanity United and “dedicated to promoting innovative solutions to end modern day slavery in the United States and around the world” had what seems to me to be a very clever idea. It launched a competition - Rethink Supply Chains: The Tech Challenge To Fight Labor Trafficking,offering each finalist $20,000 and a grand prize of $250,000.

Announcing the finalists last week, Catherine Chen, director of investments at Humanity United ( part of the Omidyar Group) said: “Forced labor in global supply chains is a systemic problem. The solutions surfaced by these finalists leverage technology to combat this problem by bringing transparency to global supply chains and elevating workers’ voices across industries.”

The finalists were selected by a panel of judges with expertise across corporate supply chains, human rights, philanthropy and investing – all areas covered here.

SOURCE: FORBES

FOOTBALL: I will not retire at Barcelona - Mascherano

Barcelona star Javier Mascherano revealed he cannot envisage ending his professional career at the club due to physical demands - but hinted at a return to Argentina.

The Argentina international has been with the Spanish giants since 2010 after a €24million move from Premier League outfit Liverpool.

Mascherano has lifted 13 trophies in his time with Barca, but said he will only continue with the club for as long as his body holds up.

"I don't think that will happen [retiring at Barca]," the 31-year-old told Clarin.

"There will come a moment that because of my age I will not be able to keep up with the demands of Barca, especially physically.

"To play between 60 and 70 games and season is not easy. I would have to play at a club that is more in line with that I can achieve physically.

"But I will see how long I can give my maximum."

The midfielder-turned-central defender began his career with River Plate, and the Argentine said returning to his home country remains a chance.

"Yes, of course. But not with contempt," he said.

"I watch Argentinean football and I know that you have to be at a good physical level to play in it.

"There are much less games during a season than in Spain, and that is an advantage when you are older.

"In my head it is always to return. I will not allow myself to return if I'm not right, just on a whim. I will know if I can still perform."

SOURCE: GOAL.COM

FOOTBALL: Eden Hazard has admitted he sent a message of apology to Jose Mourinho

Eden Hazard has admitted he sent a message of apology to Jose Mourinho after the coach's sacking by Chelsea in December.

Hazard was named the PFA Player of the Year as Chelsea stormed to the Premier League title last season but his form in 2015-16 has fallen well short of those standards.

The Belgian did not score his first goal of the campaign - a penalty against Championship side MK Dons - until the end of January and says he felt guilty about Mourinho's dismissal.

"I sent him the message to say I was sorry he had gone and, well, just that I was sorry," Hazard told the Guardian . "We'd enjoyed all that success together last season, but this time round we hadn't.

"I felt a little bit guilty because I'd been player of the year. I'd been one of the most decisive players, and this year I'd performed less well.

"I hadn't been at the same level. So I sent that text to Jose and he came back to me, wishing me all the best for the future. For a team of champions to go through what we have this year even I can't explain.

"Things have been better recently, but we're still not winning games quite as we used to. No one can put his finger on what's happened at Chelsea."

Hazard ended a wait stretching back to May when he hit the target against MK Dons on Sunday but insists he never allowed his morale to drop during his barren spell.

"It never became an obsession for me to score at all costs," he said. "I've always said that I'm not a big scorer, I'm a worker. But you can't escape you've not scored and it's already January, so last Sunday was a bit of a relief.

"I don't think my morale was down, but it plays on your mind a bit. Everything went so well in the past. This year, not so much. But you have to tell yourself that football is like that.

"You still have to take enjoyment out of what you're doing and things will turn, and my smile has always been there. In good moments and bad. I'm somebody who can laugh even at myself."

Hazard revealed the importance of the support of his former team-mate Didier Drogba as Chelsea he struggled to turn his form around and believes he can become a leadership figure at Stamford Bridge by doing his talking on the pitch.

"He's always backed me," Hazard said of Montreal Impact striker. "I'm not sure whether he'd ever experienced periods like that in his career, but I've always considered him a bit like a big brother.

"He's there for me, whether it's a text message or a phone call, and he's helped raise my spirits. But I've never doubted myself.

"I've never been one to deliver speeches in the dressing room, like a John Terry, Frank Lampard or Drogba, but I've always tried to lead in my own way on the field: demanding the ball, trying to make a difference.

"The day I'm 100 per cent again, I'm convinced Chelsea will perform better too. It's up to me to raise my level again."

SOURCE: GOAL.COM

HERO DOCTOR: Doctor who was declared brain dead after an accident has his organs donated

Chinese doctor, Jin Junhua, 36, has been unconscious since he was hit by a drunk driver in January 2016. On Monday, doctors declared him brain dead.
Jin's wife, also a doctor, wanted to fulfill her husband's wish – he wanted to donate his organs after he died. So she has decided to donate Jin's heart, kidneys and liver to other patients.

His heart was transplanted on a 64-year-old woman who suffered from serious heart disease.

Jin's story has made him a hero in Chinese social media and many believe that what he did wasn't just an act of benevolence but has also helped to raise the public image of doctors.

According to CCTV, doctors in China have been subject to violence in recent years with patients often demanding quality service from doctors but many complain of poor services, leading to confrontations.

This has also led to a growing distrust toward hospitals.

SOURCE: LINDAIKEJISBLOG

FOOTBALL: Manchester City 1-3 Leicester City

Leicester City took a significant step in their sensational bid for the Premier League title with a ruthless 3-1 win at Manchester City.

The home team were favourites to replace Leicester at the summit at kick-off, ambitions that were soon dented when Robert Huth handed Leicester a second-minute lead at the Etihad Stadium.

Huth then led an impeccable defensive display as Manuel Pellegrini's team had little to show for sustained periods of possession, while appearing vulnerable to their opponents' counter-attack.

Much of the pre-match talk from the Manchester City camp revolved around the desire to give Pellegrini a glorious send-off following confirmation that Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola will take his job from next season.

Their deeds on the pitch comprehensively failed to measure up, though, and Leicester exploited them mercilessly.

Riyad Mahrez danced through a shambling defence to brilliantly score his 14th Premier League goal of the season before Huth headed his second, with Sergio Aguero's strike coming too late to deny Leicester a six-point advantage at the top.

Boss Claudio Ranieri told television reporters before the match that Manchester City "have to win; we have to play" and his side began with freedom and confidence to startle their hosts.

N'Golo Kante burst through a flimsy challenge from Yaya Toure and, when Leicester worked possession wide, Mahrez skipped around left-back Aleksandar Kolarov to win a free-kick.

From Mahrez's delivery, Martin Demichelis allowed Huth to muscle in front of him and bundle the ball into the net.

Premier League top scorer Jamie Vardy raced through the home defence to call Joe Hart into action.

The England goalkeeper was also forced to race out in the 11th minute to deny Danny Drinkwater on the break as Leicester settled into the clinical counter-attacking style.

David Silva manoeuvred into space inside the Leicester box and shot wide, but there were further concerns for Pellegrini in the 20th minute when Vardy sped past Nicolas Otamendi and Shinji Okazaki just failed to convert his low cross.

Huth got his body in the way of Kolarov's free-kick after Christian Fuchs fouled Pablo Zabaleta perilously close to the right-hand edge of the area.

The towering German defender then prevented Aguero from getting on the end of Raheem Sterling's looping cross and the striker thudded a shot into Kasper Schmeichel, as City upped their pressure but failed to find a way through before half-time.

Inexcusably, the hosts resumed in the sloppy fashion they had started and Mahrez punished them with a dazzling second.

The excellent Kante drove the latest break and fed the winger to dance around Otamendi's reckless lunge and ease past Demichelis to finish emphatically.

Pellegrini responded with a double change, a folorn Toure and Fabian Delph making way for Kelechi Iheanacho and Fernando – the latter almost pulling a goal back when Schmeichel superbly saved his header from Silva's corner.

But a set-piece at the other end left City further in the mire, Huth heading a second after an hour despite strong suspicions of a foul on Demichelis.

Hart again denied the tireless Vardy, who blasted into the side-netting in the 81st minute, as the swagger in Leicester's play piled embarrassment onto a dishevelled City.

They pulled one back when Aguero guided a cross from Premier League debutant substitute Bersant Celina past Schmeichel and the Argentina star almost capitalised on a poor backpass from Danny Simpson to further reduce the deficit.

But a late route back into the match would have been scarcely deserved for Pellegrini's men, who could conclude the weekend in fourth place.

source: goal.com

TECHNOLOGY: Apple Will Probably Reveal New Products at March 15 Event

Apple is almost ready to talk about its first product event of the year. Two independent reports claim that the company will have a special media event on March 15. A budget iPhone, an iPad Air 3, and a Watch update will likely be the stars of the show.

9to5 Mac reporter Marc Gurman and Buzzfeed’s John Paczkowski, both of whom have excellent track records with these kinds of rumors, confirmed the event with sources.

We’ll likely see Apple launch several new products, including a cheaper iPhone, unofficially called the iPhone 5se. Rumors suggest that the phone will essentially be an upgraded iPhone 5 with the same, easy-to-hold 4-inch screen. The iPhone 5se is also rumored to include Apple Pay support, the same processors used in the iPhone 6, and software upgrades including Apple’s Live photos.

Apple is also expected to launch the new iPad Air 3. The release will be the first significant upgrade to the tablet since October 2014. Many of the reporters following the event closely say that the iPad Air 3 will include several features introduced in the iPad Pro last year, including a Smart Connector and better speakers.

Finally, the company is expected to unveil the first Apple Watch updates. Rumors suggest that the Apple Watch won’t be overhauled in any way, but that it will get new bands and software. 9to5Mac reports that Apple has been testing a series of NATO-style nylon bands. I can’t wait to see what they look like.

source: gizmodo

FOOTBALL: Lionel Messi Scores 500th Career Goal

Lionel Messi continues to chalk up milestone after milestone on the football pitch, and the Barcelona forward has added another achievement to his already impressive career.

Scoring against Valencia in Wednesday's first-leg Copa del Rey match, a 7-0 win for Barca at Camp Nou, Messi reached 500 career goals.

The Argentinian star needed only 74 minutes to register a hat-trick against Valencia, first finding the back of the net in the 29th minute and following up again in the 59th, giving Barca a 4-0 lead. Messi's third goal gave his side a 5-0 advantage. Match ball in hand, he praised his squad after the match, per Barcelona's Twitter account

"With Messi and (Luis) Suarez we are amazed every day," said Barca winger Aleix Vidal, per the club's official site.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Messi's four hat-tricks against Valencia are his most against any one club. Online gambling company Bwin felt sorry for Valencia manager Gary Neville, who will only be under more pressure after Wednesday's match.

According to Transfermarkt, Messi has now found the back of the net 494 times in 626 matches as a senior player for both his club andnational team. Scoring once every two matches is generally considered a solid goal return, so Messi's goal ratio is almost superhuman.

Messi needs no more accolades to be considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. His scoring rate, combined with individual trophy haul, are nearly unparalleled. If anything, he might spoil fans' expectations for the generations of footballers to come.

Scoring 1,000 goals would seemingly be implausible for Messi, but he has made the unthinkable look routine throughout his career. If he can play long enough, he may just match Pele's feat.

source: bleacherreport.com

FOOTBALL: Manchester United believed to be behind mystery £144 million Neymar bid

The Sun claims that Barcelona star Neymar could be on his way to the Premier League in the summer, thanks to a slip of the tongue from his father. The report claims that Manchester United currently lead the chase, with Chelsea and Manchester City also lurking with intent closely behind.

Neymar Sr., whose son is being probed by a Spanish court for alleged corruption and fraud, told a judge that an unnamed club has offered £144 million for his son, and it wasn't Real Madrid. The Sun mention that in August, they broke a story saying that United officials were in talks with the Ballon d'Or nominee over a potential move to Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old already has 19 goals and 13 assists for Barcelona this season, and thanks to the arrival of Luis Suarez in the summer, has helped to bring the Catalonian's attacking options to a new level. But with rumours of the forward talking to Real Madrid in Spain, who's to say that he couldn't have been talking to Manchester United, as they look to make a statement of intent to their fans and the world of football.

source: espn

POLITICS: Rubio Avoids Attack on Trump, Hits Cruz Instead

LACONIA, NH — Marco Rubio adamantly avoided attacking Donald Trump, Wednesday, instead turning a reporter's question about the business moguls complaints of a fixed election in Iowa into an attack on Ted Cruz.

Asked about Trump's tweets on Wednesday that Cruz "stole" Iowa because of reports that Cruz supporters had spread rumors about some of the candidates at caucuses to persuade their supporters to back Cruz, Rubio declined to weigh in on Trump's comments, saying only, "I don't know exactly what he means by that."

He then pivoted to Cruz: "Obviously we've all seen the reports of the rumors they spread about Ben Carson, and you know those weren't accurate and I thought it was unfair to Ben. You know, ultimately I think it goes back to what I said before — and that is [Cruz's] willingness to say or do anything, in this case, spread a false rumor about Ben Carson."

Rubio's been making that case against Cruz for weeks, most recently charging that a controversial mailer sent out by his campaign pressuring Iowans to vote based on their past voting records and that of their neighbors was "desperate" and part of that tendency to say or do anything to get ahead.

But his refusal to target Trump is notable as most observers believe the two are on a collision course in the New Hampshire primary, where polls have shown Trump leading the GOP pack by a huge margin, with much of the rest of the field in a tight race for second. Asked specifically why he's refused to take aim at Trump, despite attacking Cruz and, weeks ago, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Rubio said he saw no reason to because Trump hadn't outlined actual policy details. But "when the time comes," he will.

"Donald hasn't really outlined any position on policies, with any detail — so, when the time comes, and it's appropriate, we'll do so," he said. "I really, quite frankly, largely spend my time talking about what I'm going to do when I'm president."

More from this gaggle — which fed in on sat 172 — below, including Rubio defining "establishment" — "people that have been involved in politics for a long time" — avoiding attacking Kasich, and avoiding predicting a knockout blow to Bush.

He also all but confirmed he's receiving Toomey's endorsement, saying "I have nothing to announce today" on that.

source:nbcnews.com