Unmanned aerial vehicles the size of a cigarette

January 19, 2008 6:00 AM PST
Posted by Mark Rutherford

(Credit: Oklahoma State University)
Researchers at Oklahoma State University are working with DARPA to deliver a sophisticated, unmanned aircraft small enough to fit into a soldier's pocket, reports the Daily O'Collegian.

A state-of-the-art propulsion system, one that uses plasma thrusters with no moving parts, could provide power for micro and nano unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV.)This class of airplane can measure anywhere from a foot to less than 6 inches long.

"What we want the infantrymen to be able to do is pull a pack of six or so out of their pocket and have them ready for use," Jamey Jacob, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering told the Daily.

The new line of aircraft would take over some of the duties performed by today's UAV fleet, mainly surveillance of hostile areas, and would be a significant improvement over the UAV equipment available to soldiers today, according to Jacob. OSU students are working on another DARPA project, an aircraft that can stay aloft for five years at a stretch.

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Lindsay's Depo Gets Seal of Reversal

By: Natalie Finn
Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:37:42 PM PST

That's one less piece of Lindsay Lohan for the world to pore over.
A week after a three-judge appellate panel questioned an order of protection wasn't granted sealing Lohan's upcoming deposition testimony, the judge who made the decision realized Friday that wide-open wasn't the way to go after all.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael L. Stern reversed his Nov. 28 decision that would have allowed lawyers from both parties and others involved with the deposition to speak publicly about what went down or otherwise offer its contents to the public.
Instead, Lohan's deposition concerning the October 2005 traffic accident that resulted in a negligence lawsuit nearly two years later will be kept under wraps, with the contents available only to those pertinently involved in the litigation.
Stern's two-pager ruling also directs that all other testimony given in the case be kept sealed, as well.
The backpedaling does not, however, resolve whether the meeting can be videotaped or not. A Mar. 26 hearing before the 2nd District Court of Appeal is still on the docket.
Lohan's camp, of course, wants no pictorial record of her deposition, which has been postponed until the coverage issues are figured out. The rehabbed starlet's attorney has argued that a tape could easily be worth thousands of dollars to some media outlets and would almost certainly be leaked through the system.
"I think it's a positive development, but I've got to really analyze the order before I can make any further statement," Lohan lawyer David J. Ozeran said following Friday's decision.
Busboy Raymundo Ortega sued the Mean Girls star in June for negligence, claiming she was drinking and distracted by the paparazzi when she rammed into his van with her Mercedes on Oct. 4, 2005, following a lunch with friends at the Ivy in West Hollywood.
Police at the time blamed Ortega, who wants $200,000 in damages, for the accident, saying the Los Angeles man made an illegal U-turn in front of Lohan, and that alcohol didn't factor into the crash. Lohan filed a $75,000 countersuit Oct. 11, pointing out the cops' take on the situation.

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Bedroom chic rules Paris menswear shows

By JOELLE DIDERICH, Associated Press Writer

PARIS - Paris designers showcased casually luxurious outfits to take men from the boardroom to the bedroom Saturday, proving that dressing down has never been so chic.

The displays by Emanuel Ungaro, Shawn Collins and Hermes, held on the third day of the autumn-winter men's ready-to-wear collections, were a welcome alternative to the glut of suits seen on the catwalks this season.

French designer Franck Boclet, now in his second season at Ungaro, loosened up the silhouette with dressing gown coats layered with long cashmere or fur shawls and tied with a slim cord.

"I'm going for a bohemian chic effect," he told The Associated Press. "The silhouette is elegant and different, that of a man who is slightly more mature, a bit more of a dandy and a bit more offbeat."

Though the looks were influenced by the gypsy style of Sarajevo-born filmmaker Emir Kusturica, the effect was sober and modern.

Coats were stripped of their lining for ease, but deep slits in front meant a man could easily reach his trouser pockets. Pants were either flowing and loose or high-waisted and slim.

At Shawn Collins, some of the models looked like they had just stepped out of bed. Knit tracksuit bottoms and chunky slipper socks were inspired by lazy Sundays spent reading the paper.

Since launching his collection in 2005, the Los Angeles-based designer has found favor among the film and music set by turning out casual clothes in the finest traditional fabrics — think cashmere hooded tops and crinkled plaid jackets lined with cream wool.

"I'm just trying to address the issue of modern dressing," Collins said before the show. "I don't really know anyone that wears a suit anymore."

Even storied French label Hermes was feeling the sportswear vibe. Alongside conservative suits in gray flannel or chalk pinstripes, it sent out a hooded jacket in supple brown crocodile leather.

Menswear designer Veronique Nichanian showed a light hand with ultrafine knits and sheer collarless shirts, topped with casually knotted silk cravats in the house's trademark silk twill.

Trousers included slouchy velvet pants and a pair of jeans tucked into thick ribbed socks and brown boots. A car coat made from foggy gray mink looked as soft as a baby's blanket.

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Witnesses back 'Diddy' assault assertion

LOS ANGELES - Four eyewitnesses support a man's assertion that Sean "Diddy" Combs assaulted him and his girlfriend at a post-Oscar party at a Hollywood nightclub last year, according to court papers filed by the plaintiff's attorney.

Marianna Ruiz, one of the witnesses deposed by an attorney for Gerard Rechnitzer, said in papers filed Wednesday that the rap and fashion mogul struck Rechnitzer unprovoked.

"I just kind of remember seeing him go flying, not flying as in like feet off the ground, but he went back significantly," said Ruiz, who was part of a group at the club with the Rechnitzer. "I was just in shock that somebody would ... just kind of strike somebody out of nowhere."

Another witness, Michael Sherman, said "all of a sudden, he hit him. And there was a taxi behind Gerard. Gerard got knocked into the taxi."

Sherman said Combs then tried to spit on Ruiz, who was standing nearby.

Rechnitzer seeks unspecified damages in the suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court last year. He claims the assault occurred in the early hours of Feb. 25 outside Teddy's at the Roosevelt Hotel.

Attorneys for Combs have called the suit "completely baseless" and in court papers filed Wednesday said he is "in no way legally responsible for what happened to Rechnitzer."

A message left for Combs attorney Hillary A. Jones after business hours Friday was not immediately returned.

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