2013 Hennessey Venom GT Spyder

Hennessey Performance confirmed today that the Texas firm will be removing the top of its lightweight Venom GT supercar. Known as the Hennessey Venom GT Spyder, the car will produce a whopping 1,200-hp and will weight in at just 2,640 pounds. “With the hardtop in place, the Venom GT offers a very visceral, raw, driving experience”, says company CEO, Don Goldman. “With the hardtop removed, the wind and the growl of the twin turbo V8 will offer our clients an even greater driving sensation.” Prices for the Hennessey Venom GT will start at $1.1 million. The company said that it will build just five coupe Venom GTs for the 2013 model year, two of which have already been sold. Deliveries of the Venom GT will start in summer of 2012. “We are excited to be able to offer an open-air American supercar, built in Texas, that provides the best power to weight ratio available on the market,” says company founder, John Hennessey. “Simply put, the Venom GT Spyder is defined by its simplicity, elegance, performance and – for a lucky few – a driving experience like nothing else on Earth.”

Feist And Mastodon Team Up For Record Store Day

The soft-cooing Feist, it has been announced, is collaborating with the U.S. metal heads Mastodon on a limited-edition seven-inch single due in 2012. "The idea is for Mastodon to cover a Feist song and throw some hair and dirt on it," Mastodon’s singer Troy Sanders told MTV Canada. In turn, the Sesame Street singer is to pretty up something from the Georgia group’s catalogue of woolly-mammoth rock, perhaps "Stargasm" or "Blasteroid".

"Death" to Release ‘Vivus!’ Live Collection

Death will be releasing a two-CD live collection, titled Vivus!, on February 28, as part of Relapse’s reissuing campaign. Comprising two performances, both recorded in 1998, Disc One features the band playing Los Angeles’ Whisky A Go-Go, while Disc Two is a performance by the band on the festival stage of the Dynamo Open Air in the Netherlands.

Vivus!  track listing:

Disc One – Live In L.A. – 1998

1. “The Philosopher”
2. “Spirit Crusher”
3. “Trapped In A Corner”
4. “Scavenger Of Human Sorrow”
5. “Crystal Mountain”
6. “Flesh And The Power It Holds”
7. “Zero Tolerance”
8. “Zombie Ritual”
9. “Suicide Machine”
10. “Together As One”
11. “Empty Words”
12. “Symbolic”
13. “Pull The Plug”

Disc 2 – Live in Eindhoven – 1998

1. “The Philosopher”
2. “Trapped in a Corner”
3. “Crystal Mountain”
4. “Suicide Machine”
5. “Together As One”
6. “Zero Tolerance”
7. “Lack Of Comprehension”
8. “Flesh and the Power It Holds”
9. “Flattening of Emotions”
10. “Spirit Crusher”
11. “Pull the Plug”

$1.8 Million "Zenvo ST1"

Young Danish Company Zenvo has finally brought to market its in-house-crafted sports car – the Zenvo ST1. Priced at a winter-chilling $1.8 million, the production model will be limited to a coveted batch of 15, making this expensive exotic somewhat of a collector’s item – albeit a very rich collector’s item. Creating an original, exclusive, and luxury sports car is no easy task, especially ones made lovingly from hand, but that is what Zenvo’s Troels Vollertsen and Jasper Jensen set out to do. Under the carbon fiber hood, we find a 7-liter V8 engine that produces an astonishing 1250 horsepower and rockets the Zenvo ST1 from 0 to 62 mph in less than three seconds. Unfortunately, or maybe it’s for the best, but the top speed of the Zenvo is electronically controlled and limited to 233 mph. Of course, the Zenvo is more than merely a powerful engine. Adding to the car’s speed is its ultra-light body – it weighs only 3,020 pounds thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber throughout the car. Other notable features found on the Zenvo includes its heads-up display, hydraulic height-control, carbon wheels, handmade finished leather interior, triple-mode driving settings and auto-dimming rear-view mirror. It’s important to note that should you choose to opt-in and purchase one of these Danish delights, all body work, even minor, must be done by Zenvo itself and thus shipped to Denmark, with all costs incurred by the owner…although if you can afford the sticker price it probably won’t even matter.

Video Games Now In Public Urinals

A bar in south London has installed the world's first hands free urine-controlled video game. Men will be able to test the accuracy of their aim with one of three games at urinals at The Exhibit Bar in Balham. The video game urinals were installed after successful trials in Cambridge. Sales of Corona beer increased 47 per cent during the trial period in which adverts for the beer played before and after the game. Players of the urinal game are able to post their scores to Twitter and are able to compete with friends through a live leader board. The units will continue to be rolled out across Britain in early 2012.

The Cult Re-Teams With Bob Rock For New Studio Album

It looks like the Cult have re-teamed with producer Bob Rock for their upcoming new studio album, their first since 2007's Born Into This. The band are currently finishing up the album for an early 2012 release. The pairing should come as no surprise given that the band have worked with Rock on three other occasions, most notably on 1989's Sonic Temple and also on their 1994 self-titled effort and 2001's Beyond Good and Evil. The as-yet-untitled new album will mark the Cult's ninth studio effort.

"Jetman" Yves Rossy Flies With Bertling Jet Team

After flying across the English Channel, soaring alongside two Boeing Stearman biplanes carrying the Breitling Wingwalkers, looping the loop around a hot-air balloon and hurtling across the sky over the Grand Canyon, Yves “Jetman” Rossy did some formation flying alongside two jets from the Breitling Jet Team. Rossy’s flight began when he jumped off a helicopter strapped to his his rigid wing equipped with four jet engines. Adjusting his trajectory and altitude by his body movements alone, he then performed aerobatic maneuvers above the Swiss Alps in the company of two L-39C Albatros planes from the Breitling Jet Team, the world’s largest professional civilian aerobatics team performing on jets. 

"Helmet" To Perform Entire 'Meantime' Album On European Tour

Seminal rock group Helmet will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of its classic "Meantime" album by embarking on a five-week European tour in March/April 2012 and playing the LP in its entirety at each and every show. Helmet's second album, "Meantime", was released in 1992 on Interscope Records. The LP peaked at No. 68 on The Billboard 200 chart and was certified gold in 1994 by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA) for shipments in excess of 500,000 copies. John Franck of Allmusic labeled "Meantime" "arguably one of the most influential and overlooked rock records of the '90s." He praised the music "colored by Teutonic riffs, with only 'Unsung' hinting at a gasp of commercial accessibility." Steffan Chirazi of Kerrang! described the album as "a wall of angry, bitter and agonized New York street cries."

"Iguana 29" Amphibious Ground Boat

The Iguana 29 is a new take on amphibious vehicles, using retractable caterpillar tracks to deliver surefooted drive across extreme terrain at up to 8 km/h while on water it is quick to plane and has 35 knot speed. Most impressive of all is that the hybrid version of the Iguana can run in electric only mode in nature's most delicate areas. The Iguana 29 and its retractable caterpillar design looks to address an important need for boats capable of entering and exiting the water in complete independence. The Iguana has enough carrying capacity to be very versatile and could serve as tender, to land anywhere, as a leisure craft offering freedom from marinas, berths and other constraints, or for transporting goods and equipment. Larger versions of the currently ten-seater amphibian are planned.

"The Roots" Come "Undun" Next Tuesday December 6th!

The pending release of “UNDUN” has the music world on tenterhooks. Every Tuesday, The Roots have been teasing up with short videos to support each track of the album. Check out audio for “Sleep” ft. Aaron Livingston . The hotly anticipated album also boasts appearances from Big K.R.I.T, Greg Porn, Bilal Oliver and Truck North. For those that want to ensure they get their copy of the new album as soon as it is released, you can pre-order it on iTunes HERE - I for one, cannot wait, and I know the rest of the hip hop community feel the same. “UNDUN” drops next Tuesday December 6^th.

Director Ken Russel Dies At 84

British filmmaker Ken Russell, who directed the film version of the Who's Tommy, has died after a series of strokes. He was 84. Russell's long, provocative career featured recurrent themes including sexuality, the Catholic church and the flamboyant lives of classical composers (such as Lisztomania, which starred the Who's Roger Daltrey). In 1969 he was nominated for an Academy Award for Women in Love, his racy adaptation of the D.H. Lawrence novel. Tommy, released in 1975, featured an all-star cast including Daltrey, Elton John, Tina Turner and Jack Nicholson. Based on the Who's 1969 rock opera of the same name, the film earned Pete Townshend an Oscar nomination for its score.  

"Sky Tree" Recognized As World's Tallest Tower

The Tokyo Sky Tree, a 634-meter TV tower located in Tokyo, has been recognised as the world's tallest tower by the Guinness World Records. At a ceremony held on Thursday, Alistair Richards, managing director of Guinness World Records, personally handed the certificate to Michiaki Suzuki, president of Tobu Tower Sky Tree Co, Kyodo news agency reported. "One of the purposes of the tower construction is to let the world learn about Japanese culture and technology, and the allure of a downtown area of Tokyo. The (Guinness) recognition gives us great strength (while we strive for that goal)," Suzuki said. Tokyo Sky Tree has replaced the 600-meter Canton Tower in Guangzhou, China as the world's tallest tower. Located in a downtown district of the Japanese capital's Sumida Ward, it will be opened to the public in May next year. The 828-meter Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai is recognised by Guinness as the world's tallest structure.

Toyota Fun-Vii Revealed

The experimental Fun-Vii - which stands for Fun - vehicle, interactive, internet - was being shown to the public for the first time ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show which opens this weekend. Designed to show off how the strides being made in technology, the concept car works like a personal computer device, recognizing and greeting its driver and allowing them to connect on the move, either with a tap of a touch-panel door, or through an in-car interface.

Reminiscent of science-fiction movies, the car also allows drivers to change the colour and design of the body through the display. Akio Toyoda, the president of Toyota Motor Corporation, said: "We thought it would be fun to put a smartphone on four wheels. This idea led to the birth of Fun-Vii." "A car must appeal to our emotions. If it's not fun, it's not a car." It appears that the car may remain a concept for the time-being. Giving no dates, Toyota said the Fun-Vii was an example of what might be in "20XX".

The Streets Play Last Ever Gig

The Streets invited fans onstage for a farewell drink on Saturday night after performing the band's final gig in Skegness, England. Rapper Mike Skinner and his act shot to fame in the UK in 2002 with the release of his debut album Original Pirate Material. He decided to call time on The Streets following the release of the album Computers and Blues earlier this year. He stepped on stage as The Streets for the last time in front of 7,500 people at The Big Reunion event in Skegness on Saturday and to celebrate the band's emotional farewell, as well as his 32nd birthday on Sunday, Skinner invited revellers to join him on the platform for an impromptu party. Skinner is now working on a new project with British rocker Robert Harvey under the name D.O.T.

Europe's First Bridge Made From Recycled Plastic

European engineers have completed a 90-foot bridge over the River Tweed in Wales that is made completely from recycled plastic, the first thermoplastic bridge to be built outside the U.S. The bridge, which consists of 50 tons of recycled high-density polyethylene materials that would have otherwise been buried in landfills, is able to support vehicles as heavy as 44 tons. Because it is made of plastic, it will never rot or rust, and will not require chemical treatment, painting, or regular maintenance, according to Vertech Composites, the UK-based firm that designed and built the bridge. And with an expected lifespan of about 50 years, that would yield a savings of $300 per-square-foot during its lifecycle compared with bridges made of standard building materials, the firm says. In completing the project, Vertech engineers worked with several groups, including the Cardiff University School of Engineering and Rutgers University’s Advanced Polymer Center, that also helped construct a thermoplastic composite bridge at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Marshall White Headphones Available Now

Last year Marshall took their iconic amps, enlisted the help of Wayne Szalinski who shrunk them down to something that can fit on your ears. The Major and Minor earphones hit the market last November, and here, one year later, they’re available in white just like the iconic white Marshall head used by Randy Rhoads. The white versions cost the same as the black models. The over-the-ear Majors cost $119 while the in-ear Minors are $59. In our tests we found both of them to be rather acceptable and a great deal for the price. But while the black models are unique, they’re still just black headphones afar. That’s where the white models come in. They’re just a little bit more special. And special sell.

New Pictures Of Brazil's Isolated Amazon Yanomami Tribe

Amazon Indians from one of the world's last uncontacted tribes have been photographed from the air. The images have been released this week in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of protecting such indigenous groups. The pictures unveiled by Survival International, a London-based indigenous rights group, were taken in the northern Brazilian state of Roraima by the Hutukara Yanomami Association. The photographs show several thatched huts, built in a circle, deep in the jungle. This tribe was last spotted in 1985 in Roraima state, according to the Socio-Environmental Affairs Institute (ISA), an aide group that works to protect indigenous groups in the country. About 32,000 Yanomami live in the Venezuela-Brazil border region and form the largest relatively isolated tribe in the Amazon. ISA's coordinator and head of the Pro-Yanomami Commission, Marcos Wesley, said their main concern is the proximity of illegal gold miners who represent a risk to these Indians. Wesley added that the government is taking little action to stop illegal gold miners from harming these isolated tribes. "We also work to give warnings about the presence of gold miners. And to warn about the lack of effective measures to put an end to (illegal) gold mining, which we have noticed has been increasing over the past two years at a frightening speed. The warnings are always passed on to the responsible (government) units, but the actions they take are far from being enough to stop illegal gold mining," he said. About 20 percent of the Yanomami tribe died from flu, malaria and other diseases in the 1980 and 1990s when gold miners invaded their land, Survival International said.

Black Pyramid "II" Out Now

"Following a string of limited edition vinyl releases, Black Pyramid has returned with their highly anticipated sophomore album. Appropriately titled “II”, this is the album that Black Pyramid was born to make. Galloping metal anthems, skull-crushing epic doom and fuzzed-out psychedelia played expertly through the thickest and meanest production you’ve ever heard."

The World Largest "Tesla Coil" needs funding

Engineers in the U.S are hoping to build the world's largest Tesla coil capable of shooting 250ft arcs of electricity. Although the project has a serious scientific purpose, it would also be a massive spectacle expected to draw in huge crowds. Called The Lightning Foundry, the huge structure would stand ten stories high. The man behind the project, high voltage engineer Greg Leyh, wants to see how lightning gets so efficient at transmitting electricity. He told The Register: 'Lightning uses around a tenth of the power per foot of energy to send electricity through the air compared to man-made examples. 'Lightning initiation is still something that baffles experts.' The team is now seeking $348,000 in funding to get the project off the ground. If successful, it would be built in San Francisco and then transported to Nevada where it would be set up close to the Hoover Dam. This location has been chosen because of the space which would be available for testing the machine. There are also issues of safety which would need to be addressed because of the huge arcs of electricity which would be generated with huge crowds watching. Despite this, Mr Leyh believes the project would still draw in the crowds. 'Hopefully, this is a scientific experiment that people would go and see,' he told The Register. 'I would love it if this inspires people to consider their universe and the wonders it contains.'

Robot Guards To Patrol South Korean Prisons

As it seeks to become a leader in robotic technology, South Korea is about to put a new type of droid through its paces: a robot prison guard. Under a project sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, trials of the robots will be held for a month at a jail in the city of Pohang, southeast of Seoul, from March. The robots are designed to patrol the corridors of corrective institutions, monitoring conditions inside the cells. If they detect sudden or unusual activity such as violent behavior they alert human guards. “Unlike CCTV that just monitors cells through screens, the robots are programmed to analyze various activities of those in prison and identify abnormal behavior,” Prof. Lee Baik-chul of Kyonggi University, who is in charge of the 1 billion-won ($863,000) project, told the Wall Street Journal. The robots can also work as a communication channel when inmates want to contact guards in an emergency. According to Mr. Lee, prison officers have welcomed the idea because the robots can potentially reduce their workload, particularly at night. And how about the reaction of inmates? “That’s a concern. But the robots are not terminators. Their job is not cracking down on violent prisoners. They are helpers. When an inmate is in a life-threatening situation or seriously ill, he or she can reach out for help quickly,” he said. Mr. Lee said his team is putting the final touches to the appearance of the robots to make them look more “humane and friendly” to those behind bars.

Jimi Hendrix Named Greatest Guitarist Of All Time

Jimi Hendrix has been voted as the greatest guitar player of all time in a poll conducted by Rolling Stone magazine. Four British guitarists were placed in the top five, with Eric Clapton as the runner-up. Grammy-winning Tom Morello was among those who voted, nominating key Hendrix tracks Purple Haze and The Star-Spangled Banner. “Jimi Hendrix exploded our idea of what rock music could be: He manipulated the guitar, the whammy bar, the studio and the stage,” the Daily Mail quoted Morello as saying. Hendrix was able to manipulate his instrument like nobody before or since then, but it was only after winning the admiration of Clapton, Jeff Beck and others while he was in London in 1966 that the American really became a star. He famously bought his first guitar at the age of 15 in 1957 for 5 pounds, and astonished fans by playing with his teeth while out of his mind on hallucinogenic drugs and headlined Woodstock at the peak of his powers in 1969. Like Eric Clapton, he popularised use of the wah-wah pedal in mainstream rock, which he often used to deliver an exaggerated sense of pitch in his solos. Following are the top 10 guitarists listed by the magazine:

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Eric Clapton
3. Jimmy Page
4. Keith Richards
5. Jeff Beck
6. B.B. King
7. Chuck Berry
8. Eddie Van Halen
9. Duane Allman
10. Pete Townshend

The panel of experts recruited to vote for their favourite guitar players included musicians like Lenny Kravitz, Eddie Van Halen (who himself appears in the chart at No.8), Brian May and Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys. The full list will be featured in a special issue with four special covers of Van Halen, Clapton, Hendrix and Page.

Ridge Racer Unbounded Drops On March 6, 2012

Namco Bandai has announced the release date for Ridge Racer Unbounded. The renown Ridge Racer series is rolling in a new wave of chaos to the world of in-game mayhem, come spring of 2012. Set to release on March 6th, Ridge Racer Unbounded will bring full environmental and vehicular destruction into your hands. The arcade handling and drifting elements that have become a trademark of the series will combine with explosives, bringing this classic game to a different level entirely. There is a whole new selection of cars, including some sick vintage muscles, and you can cruise through every block of Shatter Bay in the most volatile racing game of 2012 available on the PS3, Xbox 360, or PC. In the single player mode, you have to wow the leader of the Unbounded gang, Kara Shindo, in order to build up your vital reputation in the streets – and you do it with massive amounts of destruction. In Domination Race it’s your job to put an end to everything in your way, from casual traffic to your opponents. Survival Race gives the player one car and one chance to win the race, and to do it without demolishing yourself. The other modes available let you focus on taking out the enemy, drifting and dueling. There is also the option of taking the race to the streets against others in a number of online multiplayer modes – including the ability to race in cities built by other players using the City Creator. “Ridge Racer Unbounded brings the high-octane racing that the series is known for and injects new layers of destruction and carnage to the already intense formula,” says Carlson Choi, vice president of Marketing, Namco Bandai Games America.  “With the new sophisticated City Creator, fans can easily create an unlimited number of tracks and share them with their friends for limitless replay value.”

Leonard Cohen To Release "Old Ideas" In 2012

Singer and poet Leonard Cohen will release his first studio album in eight years in January following the success of his comeback world tour, his publicists said on Tuesday. Called "Old Ideas", the album has 10 songs looking at love, sexuality, loss and death and is described as the most overtly spiritual of the singer's 40-year recording career. Cohen, 77, best known for haunting 1960s folk songs like "Suzanne", "Bird on a Wire" and later "Hallelujah", retreated from the world in the mid-1990s to become a Buddhist monk. But he embarked on a world tour from 2008-2010 that took him to 31 countries and brought glowing reviews. Recording of "Old Ideas" began in January 2011 but early versions of some of the tracks, including "Lullaby" and "The Darkness" were performed during Cohen's recent tour. "Old Ideas" is set for release on Jan. 31, 2012. The cover design and drawings are Cohen's own.

"Prong" Begins Recording New Album

Fresh from inking with SPV/Long Branch Records, metal innovators PRONG have entered the studio with producer Steve Evetts to begin recording their new album for an early 2012 release. "He understands PRONG in a way no other producer we've ever worked with has," says Prong guitarist, vocalist and mainstay Tommy Victor on the choice of producer. Evetts' recent work includes the likes of Dillinger Escape Plan and Suicide Silence. "We have a lot of history and have always evolved as a band. The goal for all of us was to take all of that and make a definitivePRONG album," Victor continues.

2012 "Lexus LFA" Nurburgring Lap

The British automotive journalist turns in a spirited lap around the German track in the awesome Lexus supercar. As you can see from the video, Harris takes the LFA for a proper spin and is truly smitten with this special-edition supercar, which can shift from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 202mph courtesy of the 562hp 4.8-liter V10.

Ministry To Release 'Relapse' In March

Ministry has announced the release of a new album titled "Relapse" via 13th Planet Records on March 3rd, 2012. You can check out a making-of clip from the album's recording process below.

Making of "Relapse" webisode (Pt 2)
Making of "Relapse" webisode (Pt 3)

3D Street Art Beats World Record

On Guinness World Records Day, November 17 2011, Reebok and CrossFit took fitness to another dimension in Canary Wharf. On their mission to empower people around the globe to be fit for life, both companies collaborated with London artists “3D Joe and Max” to officially create the world’s largest 3D painting. With 1160.4m² and a length of 106.5 metres, London-based artist Joe Hill and his team achieved this incredible feat and smashed the previous record of 892.15 m² held by Chinese artist Qi Xinghua. The unique painting, technically referred to as anamorphic street art, shows dangerous drops and cliff edges and will be on public display until Saturday, November 19^th. It encourages pedestrians, who pass by to work out and try functional CrossFot movements. This includes pull-ups and kettle bell swings, while they seem to be hanging above a cliff or standing on the edge of an escarpment.

Slayer Working On New Album

Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo issued an update on his experimental project Philm, which will release music via Mike Patton’s Ipecac Records. While fans are psyched that Lombardo’s other project is in the mixing stage, he did share an even bigger nugget of info about his main band, Slayer. In an update to his personal Facebook page, Lombardo posted: “Slayer is writing a new record. Jeff is still recovering and doing better.” So there you have it. The loudest, most brutal band in metal is penning new tunes. That’s like an early Christmas present for headbangers. As for the second part of Lombaro’s post, which is equally good news, he is referencing guitarist Jeff Hanneman. Earlier this year, Hanneman suffered from necrotizing fascitis, which sounds like a Slayer song title to us. Hanneman probably contracted the disease from a spider bite, and the damage is pretty intense and particularly nasty. He had to sit out tour dates, undergo surgery and skin grafts, as well as rehab. Hopefully he’ll be all better sooner than later and back on the road with Slayer.

Was Stereo Born 400 Years Ago In Venice?

The nobility of Renaissance Venice may have been among the first to hear music in stereo, according to new acoustics research. Architectural innovations in churches may have been intended to clearly separate the sounds from a split choir, audio engineers announced this week. The researchers used computer models to simulate what concerts in some of the city's churches—including tourist staples such as the Basilica of San Marco—sounded like 400 years ago. (more)

Max Payne 3 Preview

Rockstar has confirmed that it's next reveal won't be for GTA 5, but Max Payne 3, in a series of videos looking at the design and technology in the third-person shooter. "The Design and Technology Video Series offers a detailed look at the targeting mechanics, movement and animation, enemy intelligence and other technical design innovations going into building an advanced, intense and immersive action-shooter with Max Payne 3," reads the Rockstar site. The developer promoted both Red Dead Redemption and L.A. Noire using similar video series'. The announcement suggests Rockstar will conecntrate on the promotion of Max Payne 3 until it's March 2012 launch, meaning GTA 5 news could be thin on the ground. 

Watch Feist's New Video "How Come You Never Go There"

Feist has her first video for Metals out, a black-and-white forest scene set to the album's first single, "How Come You Never Go There." The gorgeous black-and-white visuals put an extremely long-haired Leslie Feist in the middle of a windy forest. The sound of a cold breeze whipping through the woods is overlaid on top of the song, lending an earthy vibe to the humble tune.  

Rockstar Tease "Bully" Sequel

Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar has suggested that a sequel to 2006 hit Bully could still come to fruition. In fact, that studio considered beginning work on the project before eventually deciding to get the ball rolling on Max Payne 3 instead. "We knew that we didn't want to start doing the Bully sequel instantly,” Rockstar’s vice president Dan Houser told Gamasutra. “Even though it is a property that, like Max, we adore and might come back to in the future. There was just no impetus to do that then." "So we said [to Max Payne 3 and Bully developers Rockstar Vancouver] 'You can do Max, and then we will see what we can do with Bully'. So it was really waiting for the slot to open up and the group to open up to at least start work on it." It may have been five years and counting since the game was first released, but Rockstar being Rockstar the wait could well prove to be several years longer. "Basically we have been meaning to start [Max Payne 3] for a while, but we have limited bandwidth and limited studios, and more games to make than we've started,” Houser added. "Also, contrary to a lot of people, we like to take a little bit of time at the end of a game before starting a sequel, so we can wait for the excitement or disappointment and everything else of the experience to shake down and really see what we should do in the next game.”

Roger Dubuis Pays Tribute To The Geneva Seal

As a tribute to the Geneva Seal, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, Roger Dubuis presents a limited-edition Excalibur Flying Tourbillon Chronograph with single-pusher. Not only will this model be the first Roger Dubuis timepiece to meet the recently unveiled new requirements of the Geneva Seal, it also underlines that the company is the only watchmaker to have every one of its movements stamped with the Geneva Seal, the pledge of handcrafted excellence. Equipped with the new RD580 caliber and produced in a limited edition of eight pieces, it marks the start of a new era in the history of Roger Dubuis and the Geneva Seal: from 2012, all new Roger Dubuis models will fulfill the new requirements that must be met before Geneva Seal certification is awarded. The Geneva Seal officially came into force in 1886. Bestowed by the State of Geneva on a select few watchmakers, it constitutes the official guarantee that the mechanical watch movement is hand-made, assembled and regulated in Geneva and that it respects the strict requirements of handcrafted excellence in watchmaking. Every component of a movement bearing the Seal is hand-finished and finely decorated, even those that are never exposed to view. The new requirements outlined by the Geneva Seal unveiled on November 9, focus even more closely on customers and their expectations. Principal change: from now on, the entire watch is Geneva Seal certified, no longer the movement alone. In addition, the Geneva Seal now certifies the functions claimed for the watch, for example water-resistance or the power reserve display.

Unheard Track From "The Doors" Comes To The Surface

A lost The Doors track is to be included in the band's LA Woman 40th anniversary re-release. The previously unheard tune, ‘She Smells So Nice’, was recently discovered by producer Bruce Botnick as he waded through session tapes recorded around the time of the classic 1971 album. The reissue is set for release in January.

"Versabar VB10000" Oil Rig Lifter

Salvaging a downed oil platform takes months, as a team of divers cuts apart the rig and a derrick hauls each piece to the surface. The VB10000 can remove an entire rig in a few hours, for a quarter of the price. Last fall, Versabar’s $100-million monster completed its first lift off the coast of Louisiana. Divers connected hooks to the platform trusses, cut the platform legs away, and four hoists picked the whole thing up. About as wide as a football field and as tall as a 25-story building, the VB10000 is desperately needed—U.S. regulators have identified 1,800 rigs that must be removed within 10 years.

TAG Heuer Teams With Oracle Racing

Earlier today TAG Heuer announced a partnership with Oracle Racing in its bid to defend the America’s Cup in 2013. The new partnership will see Oracle Racing’s captain and crew outfitted with TAG Heuer timepieces as they compete for the Cup, as well as the brand’s line of avant-garde style eyewear. TAG Heuer partnered with the ORACLE Racing team in their 2003 bid to win the America’s Cup. “We’re proud to be back on board with Oracle Racing,” said Jean-Christophe Babin, praising Oracle’s might on the water and comparing the successful sailing team to TAG Heuer’s automotive partners, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Audi. Oracle crew members Jimmy Spithill and Russell Coutts will join TAG Heuer’s impressive list of brand ambassadors, which includes Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. At the press conference, the new ambassadors were spotted wearing the Team USA edition of the Aquaracer 500 meters.

"Fu Manchu" Covers Collection Out Now!

Fu Manchu, who as a band are one of the finest contributions Southern California has made to the world of rock and roll over the last twenty years, are releasing an album called ‘The Covers’ featuring their versions of songs by Blue Oyster Cult, Van Halen and the Cars, among others. If you’re not familiar with Fu Manchu, here’s a quick and very appropriate explanation of their sound courtesy of AllMusic: “Punk energy, classic rock drive, psychedelic crunch, and heavy-ass grind all at once — really, is anything more needed?” The band, who are currently on tour celebrating the 15th anniversary of one of their best albums, 1996′s ‘In Search Of..,” have long been in the habit of including a cover song on most of their studio records. ‘The Covers,’ which is currently available only at the band’s shows, collects all 14 of these tracks. That means you get Fu’s much-beloved cover of Blue Oyster Cult‘s ‘Godzilla,’ a frequently requested set-closer at their shows, as well as their take on ‘D.O.A.’ from Van Halen‘s second album, the title track from Thin Lizzy‘s ‘Jailbreak,’ and ‘Moving in Stereo‘ from the Cars. These classic rock tunes blend comfortably with Fu Manchu’s versions of songs from their favorite punk rock bands, such as Black Flag and the Circle Jerks. Although the record’s clearly aimed at existing fans, based on how and where it is being sold, newbies are advised to do themselves a favor and check out some of the band’s cover versions of classic rock songs. Hopefully, hearing these familiar songs delivered in Fu Manchu style will serve as a gateway drug and get you interested in checking out their original songs such as ‘King of the Road‘ and ‘Evil Eye.’ The band will be on tour for most of November, you can get their tour dates on their official site.

John Lennon's 'Bed Peace' Sign Sells For $154,000

The unidentified Canadian owner of a classic piece of popculture memorabilia has sold the item - a simple sign made by Beatles legend John Lennon during his 1969 "Bed-In For Peace" in Montreal - for close to $160,000 at British auction. The message "BED PEACE" was scrawled in black ink on poster board and displayed inside the Montreal hotel room where pyjama-clad newlyweds Lennon and Yoko Ono spent a full week 42 years ago calling for an end to the Vietnam War and promoting other causes. Christie's announced Tuesday that Lennon's crudely drawn placard drew a top bid of $155,892 at the company's annual London auction of celebrity-related relics. The sign, which includes the musician's doodled mini-portrait of the couple and both Lennon's and Ono's signatures, would have cost about a nickel to produce at the time.

New Social Network For Farmers

Instead of uploading pictures of friends and family, members of a new Argentine social network share photos of soybean fields and press the "like button" on the latest tractor models. Building on the success of well-known social networks such as Facebook, Argentina's SojaBook (www.sojabook.com) -- which means "SoyBook" in English -- has found fertile ground in the South American country. As well as being one of the world's biggest suppliers of soybeans and other farm goods, Argentines are also among the world's biggest social network users. "SojaBook wants to connect farmers with their everyday needs," said Mariano Torrubiano, a 31-year-old Argentine lawyer who founded the site last month. "It really struck me once when I saw a farmer in his tractor with his netbook on one side and his iPod on the other," Torrubiano said. "While he was sowing the fields he was totally connected to a social network and listening to music he'd downloaded from the internet." Sojabook has a modest 1,000 users so far, but Torrubiano said he soon hopes to reach 10,000 -- even if the topics on discussion might not appeal to a mainstream audience. At a recent Sojabook discussion group on the wheat trade, user Nestor Fernando Cunha recommended storing stocks in silo bags until global commodities prices rise again. A notice popped up minutes later: "Sale of fields in La Rioja province. Contact me," Silvina Vaccarezza wrote on SojaBook's front page.

New "Weismann MF5 Black Bat"

German Tuner SchwabenFolia has worked over the sultry Wiesmann Roadster MF5 and has come away with this rather sinister looking version dubbed the “Black Bat”. As if the BMW M5-powered Roadster MF5 was in need of anymore performance, the guys at SchwabenFolia decided to dial up the power from a standard 507 horsepower to an even 600 in Black Bat tune. This was done by retuning the ECU and adding a high-flow intake and exhaust. The exhaust system in particular features three-way catalytic converters and double-flow stainless steel sport mufflers. In addition to the performance modifications, SchwabenFolia also added a matte black vinyl wrap, 20-inch forged alloy wheels from BBS, uprated Brembo brakes, and special badging. The end result is a Wiesmann Roadster MF5 that will sprint from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 200 mph. If you’re interested, you’d better be quick as SchwabenFolia only plans to build 30 examples of its Black Bat. 

In Flames Unveil Video For Single ‘Where The Dead Ships Dwell’

"Where The Dead Ships Dwell", the new video from Swedish metallers In Flames, can be seen below. The clip was once again helmed by director Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with Dimmu Borgir, Lacuna Coil, Sonic Syndicate and Kamelot, among others.

"Doctor Who" Film Being Planned

Tinseltown is set to take on the Time Lord, with "Harry Potter" director David Yates planning to build a movie franchise based on Britain's hugely popular "Dr. Who" series. Yates, who made the last four of eight Potter blockbusters, is teaming up with Jane Tranter, head of the LA-based BBC Worldwide Prods, according to Hollywood trade publication Variety. "We're looking at writers now. We're going to spend two to three years to get it right," Yates told Variety. "It needs quite a radical transformation to take it into the bigger arena." The television series about an eccentric, super-intelligent humanoid alien traveling through time in his "TARDIS," ran from 1963 to 1989 before being rebooted in 2005. The current "Doctor Who" stars Matt Smith as the 11th incarnation of the Doctor, and the series is one of the public broadcaster's most lucrative exports. The series airs in the United States on BBC America. Yates said he would "start from scratch" rather than try and follow on from the existing storyline. There have been two big-screen adaptations of Dr. Who already -- "Dr. Who and the Daleks" in 1965 and "Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D." the following year -- both starring Peter Cushing as the Time Lord.

Watch Duran Duran’s New Video “Girl Panic!”

Duran Duran’s newest music video, “Girl Panic!” goes back to the ‘80s and ’90s, when glamazons ruled the runway and the best way to get attention for your music video was to cast a pretty model. The band cast top supermodels Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Cindy Crawford, and Eva Herzigova as members of Duran Duran, in a nine-minute music video directed by Jonas Akerlund, who directed Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” video. The models do interviews and photo shoots as Duran Duran, surrounded by decadence and couture.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Debut 'Monarchy Of Roses' Video

The Red Hot Chili Peppers just released their second single from newest album I’m with You: “Monarchy of Roses.” The psychedelic disco-funk song follows the success of lead single “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie,” which is still sitting high on the alternative rock charts.

Sacha Baron Cohen Joins Django Unchained

Funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen is in talks to join the all-star cast of Quentin Tarantino's new slavery western Django Unchained. The British star is slated to play a gambler who buys the wife of Jamie Foxx's vengeful slave character, according to Daily Variety. If he signs on, he'll also join Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Johnson, Kurt Russell and Kerry Washington in the film, which is scheduled to start shooting early next year.