Earl Francis Lloyd (April 3, 1928 – February 26, 2015) was an American professional basketball player. He was the first black person to play in the National Basketball Association, in the 1950–51 NBA season. Lloyd, a forward known for his defense, played collegiality at West Virginia State College, was selected in the ninth-round of the 1950 NBA Draft by the Washington Capitols. On October 31, 1950, Lloyd became the first African American to play in an NBA game, against the Rochester Royals. Nicknamed "The Big Cat", Lloyd was one of three African-Americans to enter the NBA at the same time. It was only because of the order in which the teams' season openers fell that Lloyd was the first to actually play in a game in the NBA. Lloyd retired ranked 43rd in career scoring with 4,682 points. In the 1953-54 season, Lloyd led the NBA in both personal fouls and disqualifications.According to Detroit News sportswriter Jerry Green, in 1965 Detroit Pistons General Manager Don Wattrick wanted to hire Lloyd as the team's head coach. It would have made Lloyd the first African-American head coach in American pro sports. Lloyd and his wife, Charlita, have three sons, and four grandchildren. Lloyd was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2003, Lloyd was inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor. On December 1, 2007, the newly constructed basketball court at T. C. Williams High School in Lloyd's home town of Alexandria, Virginia, was named in his honor. Lloyd actually attended Parker-Gray High School, as Alexandria's schools wereracially-segregated at the time. T.C. Williams—the subject of the motion picture Remember the Titans—was created as a combined, desegregated school two decades later.
Currently built and sold from a single location in Surrey, England, Hesketh Motorcycles has not exactly overpowered the two-wheel market with products. Lord Hesketh, who ran the Formula 1 team of the same name, originally launched the brand in 1980, but it has been in slumber for years. The name was reestablished last year with a model called the 24 (pictured above) at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and it has already begun looking towards the future. As the name suggests, the current bike is limited to just 24 copies, and in less than a year on the market, the company has just eight left to sell, according to The Telegraph. The cycle uses an air-cooled, 2.0-liter V-twin making 123 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque, and it's all wrapped in retro styling. Each one is priced at 35,000 pounds ($54,100 at current rates). The 24's production run mostly complete, Hesketh plans to launch a new bike in 2016, and the company is aiming for the top. "If the 24 is like an Aston Martin, we're working on a Bugatti Veyron," said current owner Paul Sleeman to The Telegraph. Those ambitions are pretty massive given the company's six employees and the modern world of high-performance motorcycles. Over 200 horsepower isn't uncommon today, and Kawasaki promises 300 hp from its track-only H2R. According to The Telegraph, Sleeman paid less than 200,000 pounds ($309,000) to buy the rights to Hesketh Motorcycles and reportedly spent 1 million pounds ($1.5 million) on the brand since then. "We're in this for the long run," he said to the paper. We look forward to seeing how the brand plans to fulfill its lofty promises.
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For many years,discontinuing the Mercedes-Benz G-class was a recurring topic at Daimler board meetings. More recently, the topic has disappeared from agendas. As luxury customers seek vehicles that are both distinctive and which exhibit some actual authenticity, G-wagen sales are better than ever. Indeed, with 14,000 units sold last year and some hefty profit margins built in, Daimler has started having fun with the G—so much fun, in fact, that it has authorized a considerable budget for low-volume derivatives. Two years ago, the world was amazed by the G63 AMG 6x6, a non-U.S.-market variation based on a project for the Australian armed forces. There was one problem: Impressing folks with the 6x6 may be a easy in the deserts of the Middle East, but not so much in European inner cities. It takes considerable skill to direct that three-axle behemoth with anything resembling grace. On pavement, of course, the G500 4x4² can't perform miracles. Its electronically controlled dampers can be switched between Comfort and Sport settings, and doing so makes a discernible difference in ride and handling, but the steering remains as vague and imprecise as in any other G-wagen. In a straight line, however, the thing moves out with alacrity, thanks in large part to the brand-new, twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, which is derived from AMG's M178 engine. It will show up in many Mercedes-Benz cars in the future, and launching it in a G-class prototype speaks volumes to the importance of this SUV model. Rated here at 416 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, the new V-8 is likely to yank the 4x4² to 60 mph in less than six seconds, while top speed is rated at 130 mph (Daimler advises that you keep it under 100 mph with the off-road tires fitted). The near-explosive power is underscored by a soundtrack worthy of an AMG, which is trumpeted by dual side pipes that exit ahead of the rear wheels on both flanks. These side pipes merely accentuate the ultra-aggressive styling, which comes as a welcome result of the jacked-up, wide-track suspension. The wheel arches are made of carbon-fiber composite, and the front fascia is taken directly from the G63 AMG and the G65 AMG. Pricing, by the way, will be somewhere between these two models—if the board decides to move forward on building the thing. We would be very surprised if they don’t—it’s too impressive and bad-ass not to.
The mere probability of a car from Apple is sending shock waves across the tech world. The most striking rumor so far is that Apple is developing an electric car to challenge Tesla. Which begs the question that just about everyone is asking: How does Apple get from an iPhone to a car? Though a car is a big leap from a handheld device, the reported move by Apple shouldn’t be a complete surprise. With Tesla leading the way on electric cars and Google working on self-driving car technology, the hub of leading-edge car technology is shifting to Silicon Valley. That’s because the car is quickly becoming a complex mobile device: a rolling computer loaded with chips, software, and wireless connectivity. And higher-end cars are brimming with artificial intelligence that controls the car’s operation, prevents crashes, and responds to voice commands. That’s right in Apple’s wheelhouse. “In our view, as more things become computers, we believe Apple is very well positioned [to develop] hardware and software innovations together across a vast digital ecosystem,” said Brian White of Cantor Fitzgerald, in a note to investors on Tuesday, commenting on the prospects for an Apple car. White also cited comments last year from Ford that the car is “the smartphone of the future.”
Forget buying an electric-powered Tesla, sharing a Zip car or hiring an Uber - the most disruptive force in getting from A to B on four wheels could be cars that own themselves. Emancipated automobiles sounds like a crazy concept. But the man advocating the idea goes further: he thinks they'll have babies. OK, let's briefly shift into reverse and introduce Mike Hearn. The Zurich-based software developer is both an ex-Google engineer and one of the leading Bitcoin software developers. The virtual currency plays a key role in his scheme, but we'll get to that in a bit. At the heart of his vision is the idea that once driver less cars become commonplace, most people won't want or need to own a vehicle any more. In a world dominated by self-steering taxis, each ride becomes cheaper if the vehicles are autonomous rather than owned and run by major corporations. "The funny thing about a car that owns itself is that we can encode whatever rules we like into its software," explains Mr Hearn. "We can program it to make a little bit of profit, so it's got some money for a rainy day, but not excessive amounts. We can make it the most moral, socially minded capitalist possible." Instead of controlling which car goes where via proprietary software, the cars would communicate with people and the surrounding infrastructure via a new internet-based commerce system, he dubs the Tradenet. "You would be using an app that goes onto Tradenet and says: 'Here I am, this is where I want to go, give me your best offers,'" the developer says. To be clear, these robots-on-wheels would not be self-aware. "We're not assuming any kind of Skynet-style artificial intelligence," Mr Hearn states, referring to the Terminator movies. They would be programmed to seek self-improvement in order to avoid becoming obsolete. This would involve using earnings to hire human programmers to tweak their code.
Valentine's Day, also known as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a holiday observed on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it is not a holiday in most of them. Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. While the European folk traditions connected with Saint Valentine and St. Valentine's Day have become marginalized by the modern Anglo-American customs connecting the day with romantic love, there are some remaining associations connecting the saint with the advent of spring. While the custom of sending cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts originated in the UK, Valentine's Day still remains connected with various regional customs in England. In Norfolk, a character called 'Jack' Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children. Although he was leaving treats, many children were scared of this mystical person. The earliest description of February 14 as an annual celebration of love appears in the Charter of the Court of Love. In the second half of the 20th century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all manner of gifts. Such gifts typically include roses and chocolates packed in a red satin, heart-shaped box. In the 1980s, the diamond industry began to promote Valentine's Day as an occasion for giving jewelry.
HAVE A HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!!!
We've been waiting far too long for this, but Cadillac has finally delivered. It's the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V, with 455 horsepower, a 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds, and a top speed of 185 MPH. Say hello to the latest threat to the BMW M3/M4 dynamic pair. It's packing a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6, routing 455 HP and 445 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual equipped with Active Rev Match for the heel-toe-averse. Final curb weight still hasn't been released, but we're hearing something it is in the area of 3,700 pounds, partially thanks to a standard carbon fiber hood. The chassis has been gone over to increase overall stiffness by 25 percent, with new gusseting and a V-brace spanning the engine. At each corner is GM's third generation Magnetic Ride Control which adjusts to the road conditions in milliseconds – 40 percent faster than the last gen system. Joining the new MRC, Performance Traction Management system, and e-diff are 14.5-inch discs up front and 13.3-inch rears, each squeezed by Brembo calipers (six piston up front, four in the rear), and framed by forged alloys sized 18 or 19 inches and wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber. Optional kit includes a Carbon Fiber pack with a new wing, splitter, and venting, while a Track Package adds the Corvette's Performance Data Recorder, a smaller battery, along with nixing the floor mats and tire inflator to shed around 30 pounds. Recaros are mounted up front and there's the normal assortment of multimedia bobbles, including the insufferable CUE system. Sales are set to begin this spring, but prices haven't been announced just yet.
The Jaguar XKSS was a road-going version of the Jaguar D-Type racing car. Following Jaguar's withdrawal from competition at the end of the 1955 season, a number of completed and partially complete D-types remained unsold at the Browns Lane factory. In an attempt to recoup some of the investment made in building these unused chassis, and to exploit the fruitful American market for high-performance European sports cars, Sir William Lyons decided to convert a number to full road-going specification. Only minor changes were made to the basic D-type design: the addition of a passenger side door, the removal of the large fin behind the driver's seat, and the removal of the divider between passenger and driver seats. In addition, changes were made for cosmetic, comfort and legal reasons: a full-width, chrome-surrounded windscreen was added; side screens were added to both driver and passenger doors; a primitive, folding, fabric roof was added for weather protection; chromed bumpers were added front and rear (a styling cue later used on the E-type); XK140 rear light clusters mounted higher on the wings; and thin chrome strips added to the edge of the front light fairings. On the evening of 12 February 1957, a fire broke out at the Browns Lane plant destroying nine of the twenty-five cars that had already been completed or were semi-completed. Most of the surviving 16 XKSS were sold in the USA. After the Jaguar F-Type Project Seven, Range Rover Sport SVR, and run of six continuation Lightweight E-Types, the Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations (SVO) division is hatching its next historic resurrection, and there's a chance it could be the Jaguar XKSS. Edwards said that SVO projects need to have some kind of story behind them, a qualification the XKSS doesn't lack. In the 1950s Jaguar raced the D-Type to three Le Mans wins among its list of victories, but retired as a factory team at the end of 1955. When Jaguar decided to turn 25 unused D-Type chassis' into road-going cars, the XKSS was created.
The 2014 SEMA show had many interesting entries, but for the track rats among us, few were as interesting as the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR Concept. Today, a report claims the car has received the green light for production. While it might seem an obvious move to make an ACR version of the current Viper given the last version’s ability to claim track records around the world, the latest iteration of the Viper hasn’t been selling well, despite being the best yet. The Viper ACR Concept shown at SEMA featured an aggressive carbon fiber aerodynamics package including a splitter, dive planes, and a large fixed rear wing. Fender vents, 19-inch alloy wheels, 15.4-inch front carbon ceramic brake rotors, Brembo six-piston calipers, brake cooling ducts, and differential cooling ducts. Unlike the much-adorned exterior, the interior is stripped down, with no radio amplifier, speakers, carpets, and noise reduction elements all removed to save weight. Carbon fiber and alcantara trim elements put back a few sporting touches, but the cabin is intended to be spartan—much like a race car’s. If the report proves true, Dodge could conceivably have the Viper ACR in production this year, perhaps in time to hit the track this summer.
Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. The story of Black History Month begins in 1915, half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. That September, the Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by black Americans and other peoples of African descent. Known today as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the group sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The event inspired schools and communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs and host performances and lectures. Negro History Week had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses. President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Since then, every American president has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme.
Groundhog's Day is a day celebrated on February 2. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, then spring will come early; if it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will persist for six more weeks. Modern customs of the holiday involve celebrations where early morning festivals are held to watch the groundhog emerging from its burrow. In southeastern Pennsylvania, Groundhog Lodges celebrate the holiday with fersommlinge social events in which food is served, speeches are made, and one or more g'spiel (plays or skits) are performed for entertainment. The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as large as 40,000 have gathered to celebrate the holiday since at least 1886. Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most beloved and furry seasonal prognosticator, saw his shadow on Monday morning (despite overcast skies), portending six more weeks of winter. The groundhog’s predication came around 7:25 a.m. in Punxsutawney, Pa., with overcast skies and scattered snow and rain showers moving through the region from the latest winter storm — conditions that are likely to continue if the plucky marmot gets his way. Be sure to keep your coats and mittens handy. Happy Groundhog's Day everyone stay warm!!!
