The Fastest and most expensive production car ever

The Bugatti Veryron is, by every measure, the world's fastest production road car. It's the quickest to 60, it has the highest top speed, and it can absolutely dominate a track.

With a claimed 1001 horsepower, the Veyron is a major technical achievement. Its engine has 16 cylinders, essentially formed by joining two V8 engines at the crank.
This W16 powerplant displaces 8.0 liters and features ten radiators for everything from the engine cooling systems to the air conditioner.

The $1.3 million Veyron will reach a top speed of 253 mph - a speed it can maintain for 12 minutes before all the fuel is gone. Power is transmitted to the pavement via four-wheel-drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission.

The car can hit 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, 100 mph in 5.5 seconds, and 150 mph in 9.8 seconds. Getting to 200 mph takes 18.3 seconds, and 250 mph takes 42.3 seconds.

A special key is required to "unlock" the Veyron's top speed of 250+ mph. The car is then lowered to just 3.5 inches from the ground. A hydraulic spoiler extends at speed, and it can also serve as an air brake.The Veyron weighs a hulking 4,160 lbs, but even its harshest critics admit its handling is surprisingly sharp. Gordon Murray, designer of the McLaren F1 was very skeptical of the Veyron during its development, but after driving the finished car, he conceded it is a "huge achievement."

Specifications

Base Price : $1,400,000

Engine

Engine Type : Quad-Turbo W16

Displacement : 8.0L/487.8

Fuel System : DOHC VVT

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM : 1001 @ 6000

SAE Net Torque @ RPM : 922 @ 2200

Transmission

Drivetrain : 4-Wheel Drive

Trans Type : 7

Trans Description Cont. : DSG (automated manual)

First Gear Ratio (:1) : 3.18

Second Gear Ratio (:1) : 2.26

Third Gear Ratio (:1) : 1.68

Fourth Gear Rato (:1) : 1.29

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1) : 1.06

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1) : 0.88

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1) : 2.47:1 Front, 3.64:1 Rear

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1) : 0.80

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs) : 4470

Suspension

Suspension Type – Front : Control Arms w/Coil Springs

Suspension Type – Rear : Control Arms w/Coil Springs

Brakes

Brake Type : 4-Wheel

Brake ABS System : Yes

Disc - Front (Yes or) : Yes

Disc - Rear (Yes or) : Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in) : 15.8 x -

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in) : 15.0 x -

Tires

Front Tire Size: 265/680ZR500A 99Y

Rear Tire Size : 365/710ZR540A 108Y

Wheels

Front Wheel Size (in) : 20 x 11.2

Rear Wheel Size (in) : 21 x 14.4

Front Wheel Material : Aluminum

Rear Wheel Material : Aluminum

Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase (in) : 106.7

Length, Overall (in) : 175.7

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in) : 78.7

Height, Overall (in) : 47.4

Tread Width, Front (in) : 67.9

Tread Width, Rear (in) : 64.2

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Capacity : 2

Summary

Body Style : 2 Door Coupe

Sephora Collection EDUN for Sephora Contrast Palette

I picked this up on clearance at Sephora a little while ago and thought I'd do a review. I've just noticed that this palette, Contrast, is no longer listed on Sephora.com but the Harmony palette is. They may have some left in store, though.

Here's what Sephora says about it:

"The allergen- and talcum-free mineral powders are enriched with Baobab oil for easy blending and naturally gorgeous results. The organic cotton pouch, made in Kampala, Uganda, doubles as an MP3 holder.

$3 from every sale will go to the Wildlife Conservation Society, to fund activities of the Conservation Cotton Initiative in Uganda, which supports the organic cotton trade while helping local communities and protecting biodiversity. "


Here's what it looks like:

The cotton bag / mp3 player holder. The writing on the drawstring reminds me of the One Ring.

The front. It comes in a wooden box with a swing hinge just like the Urban Decay Sustainable Shadow palette.


Open in sunlight. It has a pink shimmer blush, green shimmer, teal shimmer, light orange shimmer, indigo matte, gold shimmer, cranberry shimmer. That indigo/blue shade (looks a little more purple-y in real life) is the whole reason I bought this palette. Looked so pretty to me.




Swatches in sun and indoors. The shades don't appear to have any names.


After swatching this I have to say I was a bit disappointed in the pigmentation. They were a little sheer and hard, not soft and buttery like Sephora's Kat Von D shadows. The blue matte was the sheerest of all, which is my biggest disappointment. It's patchy with very little payoff. The other colors are definitely workable but the blue gives me too much trouble.

I got this for $10 on clearance, but the original price was $36. $36!! No way would I have paid $36 for this but $10 is much more reasonable considering the quality of the product.

Nice set of semi-bright shades, good "stocking stuffer" type gift for $10, but the texture and pigmentation are nothing to write home about.

World's First Quad Metal Coin

Do you know who produced World's First Quad Metal Coin? Pobjoy Mint in 2007 make a minting history with this stunning quad metal coin from British Virgin Islands. This quad metal coin are using four precious metals Proof Fine Silver, Palladium, Fine Gold and Platinum. This coin is still the only Quad metal coin with Palladium. Palladium is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal that was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston, who named it after the asteroid Pallas, which in turn, was named after the epithet of the Greek goddess Athena, acquired by her when she slew Pallas.

Palladium itself has been used as a precious metal in jewelry since 1939, as an alternative to platinum or white gold. This is due to its naturally white properties, giving it no need for rhodium plating. It is slightly whiter, much lighter and about 12% harder than platinum. Similar to gold, palladium can be beaten into a thin leaf form as thin as 100 nm (1/250,000 in). Like platinum, it will develop a hazy patina over time. Unlike platinum, however, palladium may discolor at high soldering temperatures, become brittle with repeated heating and cooling, and react with strong acids. Palladium is one of the three most popular metals used to make white gold alloys. (Nickel and silver can also be used.) Palladium-gold is a more expensive alloy than nickel-gold, but seldom causes allergic reactions (though certain cross-allergies with nickel may occur).

A must, not only for those collectors who are fans of groundbreaking and innovative minting, but also for those who love coins with an intriguing story. The value of the coin is a Royal, which is the English spelling of the Spanish Ryal. This historic Spanish coin used to be cut into four to break it down into smaller change. It’s from these Ryal quarters that the famous US Quarter got its name. It’s in honour of the Ryal and the Quarter that Pobjoy Mint has chosen to ‘quarter’ this new coin using four precious metals Proof Fine Silver, Palladium, Fine Gold and Platinum. This is not all though, the maritime theme is a tribute to sailors of days gone by who used to believe the earth was made up of four elements: fire, earth, water and air. This World's First Quad Metal Coin by Pobjoy mint also an expensive coin sold at £591.49 in their website.

The Spanish Empire claimed the islands by discovery in the early sixteenth century, but never settled them, and subsequent years saw the English, Dutch, French, Spanish and Danish all jostling for control of the region, which became a notorious haunt for pirates. There is no record of any native Amerindian population in the British Virgin Islands during this period, although the native population on nearby St. Croix was decimated. The Dutch established a permanent settlement on the island of Tortola by 1648. In 1672, the English captured Tortola from the Dutch, and the British annexation of Anegada and Virgin Gorda followed in 1680. Meanwhile, over the period 1672–1733, the Danish gained control of the nearby islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.


In 1917, the United States purchased St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix from Denmark for US$25 million, renaming them the United States Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands were administered variously as part of the British Leeward Islands or with St. Kitts and Nevis, with an Administrator representing the British Government on the Islands. Separate colony status was gained for the Islands in 1960 and the Islands became autonomous in 1967. Since the 1960s, the islands have diversified away from their traditionally agriculture-based economy towards tourism and financial services, becoming one of the wealthiest areas in the Caribbean.

World's First Antarctic Coin

Do you know what is the World's First Antarctic Coin? The British Antarctic Territory made history in 2008 when it became the first territory in the Antarctic to issue a coin under its own authority. Appropriately, the world’s first Antarctic coin celebrates the Centenary of Britain registering its first claim to the Antarctic by declaring sovereignty over what is now the British Antarctic Territory. This coin minted by Pobjoy Mint, Struck in Uncirculated Cupro Nickel, Proof Sterling Silver and Proof Fine 999.9 Gold. This is a legal tender coin of the British Antarctic Territory.

The coin depicts the official Coat of Arms of the Territory which includes a Lion representing the United Kingdom, an Emperor Penguin representing the Antarctic, and the RRS Discovery Ship used by Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton. Interestingly the Lion stands on the grass whilst the Penguin stands on ice.

The British Antarctic Territory is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom. It is situated in Antarctica from the South Pole to 60°S latitude between longitudes 20°W and 80°W. The Territory was formed on 3rd March 1962, although the UK first claimed this portion of the Antarctic in 1908. The area now covered by the Territory includes three regions which, before 1962, were separate dependencies of the Falkland Islands: Graham Land, the South Orkney Islands, and the South Shetland Islands. The Territory overlaps with Antarctic claims by Argentina (Argentine Antarctica) and Chile (Antártica Chilena Province). The Territory is inhabited by the staff of research and support stations operated and maintained by the British Antarctic Survey and other organisations and stations of Argentina, Chile and other countries.

Several other nations began to stake claims to Antarctica, and in the 1950s, a treaty was negotiated to demilitarise the region, and retain Antarctica for peaceful research purposes. The treaty was passed in 1961. In response the UK hived off all its territory below the 60°S latitude into the British Antarctic Territory, established by Order-in-Council. France, Norway, New Zealand and Australia, who themselves have territorial claims on the continent, recognise the British Antarctic Territory, and vice versa. But neither Argentina nor Chile recognise British claims based on previous settlements in the area such as the Argentine Orcadas Base, founded in 1903.

World's first $150 paper money- Hong Kong new banknotes

Standard Chartered yesterday announce worlds first ever HK$150 banknotes, printed by Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) to celebrate its 150-year presence in the city, are likely to spark a frenzy from collectors and speculators. The commemorative banknotes will be legal tender in Hong Kong but no one in his right mind would try to buy anything with them. One coin dealer predicts that anyone who gets his hands on a set of 35 uncut Hong Kong $150 dollar notes will be able to rake in HK$100,000 for them - and their value will continue to soar. Standard Chartered began operations in Hong Kong in 1859, six years after it was founded, and is the oldest of the three note-issuing banks in the city. The other two are HSBC Holdings Plc and the Bank of China Ltd.

The front of the banknote, designed by Austrian graphic designer Henry Steiner, who has designed banknotes for Standard Chartered since 1975, features a satellite image of Victoria Harbour with the lender's corporate blue and green as the main color tones. The back features eight Hong Kong people from different generations looking at the city's evolution. The banknotes will be offered in three different packages. These are single HK$150 notes at HK$280, "four- in-one uncut" notes at HK$1,888 per set, and "35-in-one uncut" notes at HK$18,888 per set.

"By design, we want the banknote to be unique and the only one of its kind. We want it to represent the spirit of the city," the bank's Hong Kong chief executive Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng said yesterday."By design, we want the banknote to be unique and the only one of its kind. We want it to represent the spirit of the city," the bank's Hong Kong chief executive Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng said yesterday.

Coin expert Chan Wing-fai, from Gold Field Coins and Stamps Company in Lam Tin, believes the uncut notes will be sold out at lightning pace. He predicts the four-in-ones may end up selling for up to HK$10,000 and the 35-in-ones at up to HK$100,000. His company has already received orders for the notes, and 90 percent of clients so far are from the mainland, with some from Canada and the United States. He has been able to sell the four-in- ones at around HK$4,000 and the 35-in- ones at HK$40,000. Chan believes the singles can sell for up to HK$350.

Standard Chartered has also selected 100 notes with special lucky serial numbers for public bidding and another 10,000 pieces for which the public can pick a serial number of their choice. Some notes bearing what are considered lucky serial numbers, such as 888888, are to be auctioned in October with a minimum bid of 3,000 Hong Kong dollars per note. Money from the sale of the notes is to go to local charities in what Standard Chartered has described as a "creative tribute" to the people of Hong Kong.

Worlds first pyramid shape coin-Isle of Man 2009

Do you know which coin is the Worlds first pyramid shape coin? Mosts of us have seen a round coin. The Australian 50 cent coin, for example, has twelve flat sides. A twist on it is wavy edges, found in the two dollar and the twenty cent coins of Hong Kong and the 10 cent coins of Bahamas. Some other coins, like the British Fifty pence coin, have an odd number of sides, with the edges rounded off. This way the coin has a constant diameter, recognisable by vending machines whichever direction it is inserted. What about a triangle shape coin, complete with a sand from the famous Tutankhamun Tomb?

This worlds first pyramid shape coin containing sand mintage by Pobjoy Mint Ltd. A minting company based in Kingswood park, Southern England. The Company has been deeply involved in the development and manufacture of coins, medals and tokens for the past 100 years. The Pobjoy family have been associated with fine metalwork since the Middle Ages. The Company was recently granted permission to use the family Coat of Arms in which the Medieval Popinjay is the central motif. The Popinjay was a painted wooden parrot used in archery contests in the 14th century and the name Pobjoy is derived from this. The Latin motto 'OCULO CERTO' means 'with an unerring eye' and applies equally to the ancestor's prowess as a marksman, as to the Company's reputation for the high quality and precision of its products.

In 2008, to commemorate the the return of Tutankhamun exhibition in London, for the first time since 1972, the Isle of Man issued a stunning series of new commemorative coins – including the world’s first Pyramid coins that are triangular in imitation of the ancient pyramids. Each coin depicts a priceless artifact from the tomb, including Tutankhamun’s legendary Death Mask and Throne. Due to the difficulty of striking coins in such unusual shapes, they are being issued in strictly limited numbers.

This year in 2nd march 2009, Pobjoy mint once again release another triangle shape coin. Isle of Man 2009 Tutankhamun Sand Triangle Coin released at this date to commemorate 70th Anniversary of the Death of Howard Carter. Howard Carter is the man who discovered the Tutankhamun's intact tomb in 1922, for which Tutankhamun's burial mask remains the popular face. The coin is in a stunning pyramid shape. It shows a design from the wall of Tutankhamun’s tomb, with Tutankhamun himself in the centre. The sun disc at the top contains ancient sand that was collected from the entrance of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Due to the coin’s unusual shape and the small amount of sand that was collected, the edition limits are exceptionally small. Each coin is presented in a specially commissioned, beautifully crafted Pyramid presentation case.

Tutankhamun (alternately spelled with Tutenkh-, -amen, -amon), was an Egyptian Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty (ruled 1333 BC – 1324 BC in the conventional chronology), during the period of Egyptian history known as the New Kingdom. His original name, Tutankhaten, means "Living Image of Aten", while Tutankhamun means "Living Image of Amun". Often the name Tutankhamun was written Amen-tut-ankh, meaning "living image of Amun", due to scribal custom which most often placed the divine name at the beginning of the phrase in order to honor the divine being. He is possibly also the Nibhurrereya of the Amarna letters. He was likely the eighteenth dynasty king 'Rathotis', who according to Manetho, an ancient historian, had reigned for nine years — a figure which conforms with Flavius Josephus' version of Manetho's Epitome.

Top 10 most popular sports clubs on facebook

10. Manchester United, Soccer Club, England is one of the wealthiest and most widely supported football teams in the world, and the first English football club to win the European Cup. The club is said to be the most valuable football club in the world, worth $1.9 billion.

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9. Boston Red Sox, Baseball Club, USA is considered as the most successful MLB teams of the last decade because of winning two World Series. The baseball team’s intense rival is the New York Yankees.

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8. Besiktas, Soccer Club, Turkey is professional sports club that competes in several branches like football, basketball, handball, boxing, gymnastics, etc. It is also known as the Black Eagles or the People’s Club.

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7. New York Yankees, Baseball Club, USA is the defending World Champion of Major League Baseball that has some of the most celebrated players in Major League history. The team has achieved widespread popularity although they have a reputation for their spending in pursuit of winning.

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6. Liverpool, Soccer Club, England is the most successful team in the history of English football because they have more trophies than any other club. Pink Floyd has featured Liverpool fans in their song “Fearless” singing excerpts from “You’ll Never Walk Alone” which is the club’s famous anthem.

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5. Los Angeles Lakers, Basketball Club, USA. The nickname “Lakers” is coming from the state of Minnesota as the “Land of 10 000 Lakes”. The team is ranked as the greatest NBA franchise of all time in June 2010.

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4. Real Madrid, Soccer Club, Spain is the most successful team in Spanish football and was voted by FIFA as the most successful club of the 20th century. Most popular player of current squad is Cristiano Ronaldo.

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3. Fenerbahce, Soccer Club, Turkey is the club goes by the nickname “The Yellow Canaries”, and is one of the best supported clubs in Turkey. Fenerbahce means lighthouse garden, and the club was named after a lighthouse located in Fenerbahce district of Kadiköy.

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2. Barcelona, Soccer Club, Spain also known as Barca with the motto “més que un club” that means “more than a club”. It is one of the most successful clubs in both Spain and Europe, and is the second richest in the world.

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1. Galatasaray, Soccer Club, Turkey is one of the most successful football team in Turkey that is also the only Turkish football team to have won a major European trophy. There was a lot of discussion around the team’s name in which some suggested Gloria that means “victory” and others Audace that stands for “courage”. Galatasaray also fields teams in Athletics, Basketball, Water Polo, etc.