Worried about the safety issues surround the Smart ForTwo from
DaimlerChrysler (marketed through Mercedes-Benz in Canada)? If you’re
an American looking to save a few bucks on your annual gas bill, while
being able to squeeze into the tightest of parking spots downtown, the
Smart Car just might be for you because they’re expecting to launch the
golf-cart sized vehicle in the States pretty darn soon. We already have
it here in Canada, of course, as well as certain areas in Europe. Check
out
this video of the Smart Car going for a head-on collision against a
Mercedes S-Class.

Let’s just say it goes for a tumble and I’m glad I don’t have a part-time job as a crash test dummy.

MichaelKwan.com is slowly, but surely, undergoing a site redesign. I hope to have the new look up sooner rather than later, so expect some fairly substantial changes to the main site in the days, weeks, and months to come. Whenever that happens, I’d like to expand the MichaelKwan.com branding to other sub-websites, if you will. In a way, Beyond the Rhetoric can be thought of as the first of these, being the official blog of MichaelKwan.com, but what other “sections” would be most valuable to the lookey-loo web surfing community?

I’m totally up to suggestions and opinions on this matter, because, well, it is you, the internet surfing public, that will be served by these new sub-sites, if you will. They will serve several purposes, of course. For starters, I’d like to get my name “out there”, so that I
become a little more prominent as a freelance writer and editor, being able to land a few more projects. Don’t get me wrong, I am thoroughly enjoying my time with Mobile Magazine and LoveToKnow, but I’m always itching for more. And hey, making a little coin along the way is more than welcome.

This blog will remain as probably the most frequently updated section of the site, but I’d like to throw out a “resource” section or two. Some of the possibilities that I am considering include:

• Shakespeare: Helping students understand the plays and write better essays. I’d provide snippets from essays that I have written in the past, and hopefully provide some fresh insights and infuse some contemporary thought into the 400-year old texts.
• Academic citation: Overviews and specific examples of some of the most prominent academic citation systems out there, including MLA, APA, and others.
• Television personalities: Breaking it down by TV show, I’d write up brief biographies and “did you know” type things for each of the main characters and maybe a minor character or two as well. I’d love to explore the Simpsons universe and not only bring up trivial tidbits about Homer and Bart, but also little known facts about Bumblebee Man, Comic Book Guy, and Ralph Wiggum… for example.
• Movie reviews: I have a fairly extensive DVD collection and it continues to grow. Not only will I try my best to provide my perspective and reaction to current films, but also classics dating back as far as the 1950s. I’d love to do a few movies released in the 80s, and look at them from a 21st century perspective.
• Recipes:I’m not a cook myself, but my girlfriend loves throwing things together in the kitchen. She digs up some rather juicy recipes from time and time, and I am not opposed to being to the taste-testing guinea p

Like I said, I’m totally up for suggestions. So PLEASE leave me a comment below (or if you prefer, you can personally shoot me a message at michael@michaelkwan.com). Rest assured that leaving your email will not result in spam, and you will be doing your part in making the internet a better place.

While there was a whole lot of hub-bub yesterday surrounding the launch of the Nintendo DS Lite, those of you who want to get your old school gaming on while still rocking the latest and greatest that technology has to offer… well, you guys just got a whole new toy to play with.
Launched in the United States through Verizon Wireless, and seemingly available to Canadians through Telus Mobility (though it’s not on their website, I did get a flyer the other day telling me they had it), the Motorola Q is said to the be the world’s slimmest smartphone and this puppy sure has a whole lot of tricks up its sleeve.

Smartphones are growing in popularity because they add so much more functionality to an otherwise strictly-for-communication device. Sure, SMS and MMS may be fun and all, but isn’t it great to watch some TV on the go with Slingplayer Mobile, rock the satellite tunes with XM Radio, and all the while keep up with your work-related things using light versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Internet Explorer? That’s what the Motorola Q smartphone is all about. Regular cell phones are so yesterday.

Check out the video below of a user that got Pocket NES working on the Motorola Q. He’s playing a hit from a legendary sereis, and arguably one of the single greatest games of all time: Super Mario Brothers 3.

Now that the X-Men movie trilogy is officially wrapped up (although Wolverine and Magneto spinoffs — prequels, actually, are said to be in the works), we need to refuel our superhero fix. Let’s cast aside Superman for just a moment — I know how many of you are itching about that movie too — and turn to Peter Parker and his webslinging ways. Comic book lovers of the world rejoice because I’ve come across this video (watch below) on the set of Spiderman 3 in New York.

The Spiderman universe is actually just as popular as any other major comic book derived super hero out there, ranking right up there with the X-Men, Batman, Superman and others. We’ve fallen in love with Tobey Maguire as Spiderman and we can’t help but have a soft spot for Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson.

For this third offering on the silver screen, your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman has to face off against the Sandman (played by Thomas Haden Church) and VENOM!!!!!
Perhaps most interesting of all, Venom (aka Eddie Brock when he’s not covered in the black goo) is going to be portrayed by Topher Grace of That 70s Show fame. Yes, Eric Foreman.

Anyways, here’s the Spiderman vid I mentioned above. It’s not much, but it’ll have to do until we get to enjoy Spiderman 3 in all its glory next year.

I came across this link — http://www.gameshout.com/egm — a little earlier today, and they’re saying that I can get a one-year subscription to Electronic Gaming Monthly, a rather prominent video game magazine, absolutely free with no strings attached. Growing up, it had to be EGM and GamePro for all my video game news, reviews, previews, and cheat codes needs, but with the advent of the internet, most of the things published in these gaming mags is a little dated, compared to big websites like the IGN family of sites, Joystiq, Gamespot, and other resources.

I figured it was worth a shot and filled out the form, so I’ll keep you posted as to whether I actually receive an issue (if I remember to update this entry; after all, it will take 4-6 weeks before I receive my first issue… at best).

Now, I am not responsible for any external links that you may stumble upon through reading my blog — video game related or otherwise — and I in no way am affiliated with these people, but I just thought I’d pass this information onto you and from there you can do whatever you want. Take a chance… or don’t, see if I care.

With the exception of their extra length, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish a Maybach from a standard-issue Mercedes based on the exterior looks alone. Open the rear doors, however, and you’ll quickly realize the substantial differences between the two sets of vehicles as the Maybach is a car to be driven in, not one that you purchase to actually drive yourself. That might be changing though, according to Auto Motor und Sport of Germany.

Word is that Mercedes is working on the smallest Maybach to date – dubbed the 51 for its 5.1 meter length, following in the tradition of other Maybach models on the market – with an expected launch some time in 2009. Because of its smaller size, they’re calling this the most driver-oriented model in the Maybach lineup. Driver-oriented indeed, because the 51 will sport a V12 engine capable of between 500 and 600 horsepower. It might even rock the same platform as the W221 S-Class Mercedes.

In addition to the four door sedan, there are rumblings of a coupe version as well, further pushing the driver-oriented nature of this new vehicle. While exact pricing is far from being confirmed, it is likely that the Maybach 51 will fall into the same range as the Bentley Continental Flying Spur (the world’s fastest 4-door production vehicle).

Source: Leftlane News