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Usually found in BMWs, it looks like the Mini Cooper will be getting a simplified version of the hate-it-or-love-it iDrive driver assistance system. Starting with the 2007 model year, Mini Cooper drivers will get to control some of their car’s different system—like climate control, audio system and navigation—with the help of iDrive.

One of the knocks against the iDrive is that it encourages drivers to look at all sorts of things that aren’t, you know, the road ahead and surrounding traffic. That is supposedly being worked on with suggestions that the Mini Cooper’s version of the iDrive will feature more voice-activiated interaction, leading to less wandering eyeballs.

Check out the Ultra 3.5″ Mini Portable USB 2.0 / Firewire External Hard Drive Enclosure, extremely sweet if you need extra space, and the best part… check out the price. It’s some good I’m not going to list it on the site. Check it out here!

Check out this link for Star Trek: Legacy.

This game spans the history of Star Trek, following the challenges facing the Starfleet as an Admiral of a task force of warships. Gameplay campaigns play out in all of the Star Trek eras (from the founding days of Enterprise to the adventures of classic Star Trek to the bold unknown of The Next Generation, as well as the trials and tribulations facing Deep Space Nine and Voyager), as the Federation faces an entirely new enemy that has the power to travel through time. With full multiplayer support, players can choose from small-scale engagements to all-out war involving multiple star systems in addition to tracking stats and player rankings.

Take a look at it here, here, and here.

Politics-Time is just around the corner, as the Dem’s battle to take back the House & Senate. But here is one interesting take on who is voting for who based on income:
From the Washington Times:

“$23,700. That is the household income level at which a white person became more likely to vote for a Republican over a Democrat in congressional races in 2004,” Anne Kim, Adam Solomon and Jim Kessler write in the Democratic Strategist (www.thedemocraticstrategist.org).
“That’s $5,000 above the poverty line for a family of four, less than half the median income of the typical voting household of all races, and an emphatic repudiation of all things Democratic among the white middle class. Obtaining a sustainable Democratic majority in either house will be impossible unless there is a significant change in this economic tipping point,” the writers said.
“To solve this problem, Democrats must first realize that they have a problem — no, actually a crisis — with the middle class. Democrats — the self-described party of the middle class — have not won the middle-class vote in at least a decade. Among all voters with $30,000 to $75,000 in household income, Bush bested Kerry by 6 points and congressional Republicans won by 4 points. …
“The second step is to admit that our deficit is as much due to economic disconnects as cultural and national security disconnects. That may be harder for Democrats to swallow. Many believe the middle class have been duped by a what’s-the-matter-with-Kansas scheme in which clever conservatives trick the beleaguered middle class to vote against their own economic interests through the use of irresistible cultural wedge issues and national security concerns.”

Source: JAM! Movies

Toronto Sun’s JAM! Movies talked to Leonard Nimoy who mentioned that he and William Shatner might get to be involved with J.J. Abrams‘ Star Trek XI at Paramount somehow:

“The head of production at Paramount called my agency to tell them about this project and they are aware of Bill’s and my contribution to the franchise, and they’d like us to know they might want some involvement. It was all very, very general.

“They might possibly want Bill and I to set up the story as a flashback. But that’s just conjecture on my part.”

You can read the full interview here.

Check out the preveiew poster for J.J. Abrams Star Trek XI below.

Source: The Associated Press

The Associated Press reports that Glenn Ford, who played Jonathan Kent in 1978′s Superman, has passed away:

Actor Glenn Ford, who played strong, thoughtful protagonists in films such as “The Blackboard Jungle,”"Gilda” and “The Big Heat,” died Wednesday, police said. He was 90.

Paramedics called to Ford’s home just before 4 p.m. found Ford dead, police Sgt. Terry Nutall said, reading a prepared statement. “They do not suspect foul play,” he said.

Visit the link above for more on Ford’s career.

Source: Sony Pictures

Sony Pictures has posted the first three minutes from The Covenant at the official website. The horror-thriller opens on September 8.

In 1692, in the Ipswich Colony of Massachusetts, five families with untold power formed a covenant of silence. One family, lusting for more, was banished – their bloodline disappearing without a trace. Until now.

Directed by Renny Harlin and written by J.S. Cardone, The Covenant tells the story of the Sons of Ipswich, four young students at the elite Spenser Academy who are bound by their sacred ancestry. As descendants of the original families who settled in Ipswich Colony in the 1600′s, the boys have all been born with special powers. When the body of a dead student is discovered after a party, secrets begin to unravel which threaten to break the covenant of silence that has protected their families for hundreds of years.

A survey conducted by the Piaggio Group (the guys who make Vespas) concluded that almost one in three Americans would be extremely or somewhat likely to consider using a motor scooter (like the new Piaggio MP3 pictured above) for their everyday transportation needs. Conducted during the first week in May 2006, the survey respondents indicated that they’d be willing to transfer 35% of their weekly mileage to a scooter. “Scooters” were defined in the survey as two-wheel vehicles that can reach 40-100mph, whose average cost is $2,000 or above. The survey found other strong factors motivating consumer’s willingness to consider utilizing a scooter, including environmental concerns and overall cost savings. The survey found that 33% of Americans would be likely to use a scooter to reduce emission harmful to the environment, 35% would be likely to use a scooter to save $25.00 a week on gasoline

Source

From ShackNews: The many delays and long development history of 3D Realms’ anticipated Duke Nukem Forever, first announced in April 1997, are well known to gamers, but it appears that at present the game may be undergoing even more troubles. Shacknews has learned from numerous reputable sources close to the game’s development that, since approximately the end of 2005, 3D Realms has had something of an employee exodus. Apparently, up to ten major team members have left the company, with multiple departures having occurred as recently as within the past few days.

Developers confirmed to have left 3D Realms since last December include Scott Alden, Will Bate, Brian Cozzens, Kyle Davis, Andy Hanson, Keith Schuler, and Charlie Wiederhold. Some of the former employees headed up crucial game systems such as physics, animation, and rendering. Notably, Schuler is a sixteen year veteran of Apogee and 3D Realms. Our sources indicate that while the game’s team has reached a size of about 24-28 developers, recently it has been closer to 18, meaning these current departures may actually comprise a majority of the team. Several sources have indicated that further information regarding these matters is expected next week.

3D Realms’ George Broussard, who heads up the Duke Nukem Forever project, is known to hold a perfectionist attitude towards the game, which is in large part responsible for its many delays. The game has been revamped with new engines multiple times, further prolonging development time as game assets and levels have had to be rebuilt. Some sources speculate that, unless major changes are made to the development process, the game may never see the light of day. A Prey-like rebirth under a new developer supervised by 3D Realms may be a potential consideration, but descriptions from those close to Broussard suggest that he would be unlikely to approve such a direction.

3D Realms officials have been contacted for formal comment by Shacknews, but did not respond by press time.

Update: Shacknews has learned that four of the employees named above–Brian Cozzens, Kyle Davis, Keith Schuler, and Charlie Wiederhold–are now working for Brothers in Arms series developer Gearbox Software. Wiederhold’s employment at Gearbox was already public knowledge. These four employees were key members of the Duke Nukem Forever team and led various aspects of development.