Bugatti has a little catching up to do - 0.63 mph. to be exact.
above: previous record holder for the world's fastest production car, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
Grabbing the title away from Bugatti for the fastest production car in the world, the Hennessey Venom GT set a new world speed record for 2-seat sports cars by reaching a top speed of 270.49 mph (435.31 km/h), beating the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport's previous record of 269.86 mph.
On February 14, 2014, the test was performed at the Kennedy Space Center on the 3.2-mile Space Shuttle landing runway:
Brian Smith, Director of Miller Motorsports Park, drove the Venom GT to its record speed:
A representative from Racelogic, world-renowned maker of VBox GPS data-acquisition systems, was on hand to independently verify and document the Venom GT's highest recorded speed.
The Venom GT was powered with Pennzoil Platinum® with PurePlus™ Technology, a first of its kind synthetic motor oil made from natural gas.
2013 Hennessey Venom GT Specifications: Optional Upgrades
• Michelin Pilot Sport Cup ZP Tires
• Bare Carbon Fiber Finish
• Right-Hand Drive
• Stefano Ricci Bespoke Interior
• Stereo System Designed by Steven Tyler of Aerosmith
Note: The Hennessey Venom GT design is based on the Lotus Elise / Exige. The Venom GT is created from a base Lotus Elise / Exige and utilizes components including but not limited to the roof, doors, side glass, windscreen, dash, cockpit, floorpan, HVAC system, wiper and headlights. Hennessey Performance and the Venom GT are not associated with Lotus Cars.
Want One?
For more information about the Venom GT or to place an order, please contact John Hennessey by telephone at 1.979.885.1300 or by email at info@venomgt.com
Jalopnik has a nice little history of the world's fastest cars here.
This year Microsoft / Bing showcased Sara Bareilles' song "Brave" in their Windows marketing campaign which inspired them to take a different approach to the "Year in Review." They sought out women who spoke out, stood up, led, persevered and fought their way through adversity and challenge to come through the other side triumphant and created this one minute video and a special website to honor them.
So, who are these women?:
1. Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai stood up to educate us all. After surviving an assassination attempt, she arose stronger than ever. In 2013 she addressed the UN, was named one of Time's "100 Most Influential People" and, at 16, became the youngest woman to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
2. Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher blazed a trail. Still the only woman prime minister of Great Britain, Thatcher paved the way for women to lead in the highest offices in the world. Known as the "Iron Lady" due to her uncompromising politics and leadership style, she passed away in 2013.
3. Adrianne Haslet-Davis
Adrianne Haslet-Davis vowed to dance again. Despite losing her lower leg in the Boston Marathon bombing, this dance teacher shows amazing courage. She has committed to not only dance again, but to also run in the 2014 Boston marathon on a prosthetic leg.
4. Gabrielle Giffords
Gabrielle Giffords got back up to fight for others. Surviving a gunshot wound to the head, U.S. Representative Giffords returned in 2013 to make an inspirational statement to Congress in the Sandy Hook hearings, and has gone on to use her experience and position as ex-member of the House to fight for improved gun safety regulations.
5. Diana Nyad
Diana Nyad persevered. After four attempts, at age 64, Diana Nyad embodied tenacity by becoming the first person to swim from Havana to Key West unassisted and without a shark cage.
6. Janet Yellen
Janet Yellen shattered the glass ceiling. On October 9th, 2013 President Barack Obama nominated Janet Yellen to be the first woman to be Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.
7. Antoinette Tuff
Antoinette Tuff said "I love you" to save a school. Rising above panic, Tuff talked down a gunman who had entered Ronald E. McNair Discovery Academy with words of compassion, convincing him to peacefully surrender.
8. Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel had the strength to lead again. Angela Merkel is the first woman to hold the offices of Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union. In 2013 she led her party to a historic third-term victory in German elections.
9. Edith Windsor
Edith Windsor won a victory for equality. One of Time's "People of the Year," her Supreme Court victory in United States v. Windsor was hailed as a landmark milestone for marriage equality.
10. Deb Cohan
Deb Cohan danced to inspire us all. Facing a double mastectomy, she denied despair, holding a dance party just prior to the operation with the surgical team. The video of the party went viral, giving hope and courage to those fighting cancer.
And of course, lest we forget, all the women who fought to protect this country, its principles and its people:
This courageous group of women have changed the world and shown us all what the human spirit can achieve. Let that inspire you for 2014.
Here's how the world 'searched' in 2013, broken down by categories, courtesy of... Google, of course. These are based on search topics with the largest global search volume.
Trends: People:
Events: Athletes:
Consumer Electronics: Hashtags:
Movies: Performing Artists:
TV Shows: YouTube Videos:
And here's how the U.S. searched in the categories that really mattered:
Apparel: Beer:
Books: Blogs:
Cars: Dating Sites:
Deaths: Dogs:
Internet Animals: High Fashion Brands:
Memes: Movies:
Popular Gifs: Reality TV Stars:
Restaurants: Shoes:
Songs: Sports:
Tech Gadgets: Toys:
TV Shows: Video Games:
What Is...: Workouts/Exercise:
I hope your 2013 was everything you wanted it to be and that 2014 is even better. Happy New Year!
“May the lives remembered, the deeds recognized, and the spirit reawakened be eternal beacons, which reaffirm respect for life, strengthen our resolve to preserve freedom, and inspire an end to hatred, ignorance and intolerance.”
These words are the final part of the mission statement of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center in New York City. As the nation and world mark the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, If It's Hip, It's Here shares the sentiments of the 9/11 Memorial and calls upon readers to make Sept. 11, 2013 a day of commemoration.
above image by twitter user @bjornverhoeff from Holland
Take a moment on this day to remember and honor the thousands of innocent men, women, and children murdered by terrorists in the horrific attacks of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001. Thank your local first responders for their dedication to protecting your community. Remember the many Americans who have served and are currently serving in our nation's military— many of whom enlisted as a response to the 9/11 attacks.
A new campaign honoring the memory of the 9/11 tragedy which occurred 12 years ago today has been created by BBDO New York. The campaign, which asks you to “Take a day to remember the day that changed us forever.”, consists of videos, print, digital ads and a presence on Facebook, (where you can download the special memorial cover image shown below for your page), Pinterest, Google+, Twitter and YouTube.
above: the downloadable Facebook cover page can be found here
Actor and New Yorker Robert De Niro narrates the following two video clips which are to be shown on screens in Times Square and stadiums like Citi Field as well as on ESPN and WABC-TV. Mr. De Niro declares: “On that day, a nation became a family. With nearly 3,000 loved ones lost. On that day, after witnessing the worst, we embodied the best. On that day, we came together. We were all New Yorkers.”
As Stuart Elliot reports for the New York Times, Lynn Rasic, executive vice president for external affairs at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum says “We decided with the 12th anniversary that we wanted a new campaign, a campaign that would look forward to the opening next spring.”
The campaign is meant to let people know that “wherever they are” on the anniversary “they can share in the commemoration,” she adds.
“As we get further out, we still have a collective responsibility to commemorate 9/11,” Ms. Rasic says. “Those who were alive and remember have a responsibility to teach.”
“One of our goals is to connect with a generation that’s growing up now that may have no firsthand knowledge of 9/11,” she says, adding: “That’s the core mission of the museum. We need to tell this next generation about the history of 9/11, the enormity of the loss and how we came together.”
above: this ad reads "Remember The Day Your City Became Your family" (image courtesy of NY Times)
That is reflecting in one of the print ads in the campaign, which depicts a young girl holding several flags. “Remember,” the headline reads, “and teach the ones too young to remember.”
The interest in reaching out to youth, says Michael Frazier, vice president for communications at the museum, is a reason “we work very hard to build out our social platforms.”
“Through our various social networks, we are not only engaging younger generations to participate,” he adds, “we are exposing them to a history that some are unaware of, providing context for a better understanding.”
The campaign is being financed by a combination of paid and donated media. The ads were created on a pro bono basis by BBDO New York, part of the BBDO North America division of BBDO Worldwide, owned by the Omnicom Group.
The National September 11 Memorial (9/11 Memorial) is a tribute of remembrance and honor to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, near Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing on February 26 1993.
Please, do as the campaign asks and “Take a day to remember the day that changed us forever.”
