Born in Paraguay of Uruguayan parentage she broke the national records for the under 17 year age group in 1998 for both the javelin and triple jump. After winning bronze medals in 1999 and 2000 Franco won the South American Junior Championship javelin title in 2001. Franco was South American under 23 champion in 2004.
Her performances at world level are 24th in the 2003 World Championship and 42nd out of 45 at the Athens Olympics. Although she set her personal best in 2007 she finished 12th (last) in the Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro.
She combines her athletic endeavours with a career as a model and beauty pageant contestant. Franco was the runner-up in the Miss Paraguay competition in 2006 and also in the Miss Bikini Universe pageant the same year.
SHE WON GOLD THIS YEAR IN JAVELIN THROWING!
Another blog to say "I TOLD YOU SO" by Tha Antagonist
If there weren’t any bad guys in the world, there’d be no reason for heroes to exist. With the success of The Dark Knight this summer, and Heath Ledger’s Oscar deserving performance, it would make sense that Nike SB include a Joker inspired dunk low to contrast their Heroes pack slated to drop this fall. The shoe features a gum rubber outsole with a plaid pattern in the mid panel, green denim in the heel and toe box, and purple suede in the front panel of the upper.
Pics courtesy of Gumsoles from ISS.
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Good morning, on this nationally celebrated holiday. Today, we all take time out to thank the good folks at EA for making this years loved and hated Madden 09. For an in-depth review of the game, head over to www.Operationssports.com ….Our xbox is currently down, so I wont be on this for a minute, but take some time to add my gamer tag….
Get Fresh 904 (360) peace.
Just Will
So, about two weeks ago, the homie Phil Bank$ approached me w/ his idea for a charm. “Yeah, for the struggle..aha” he joked. Phil explained that he was going to have an “iced out” box of Newports placed on a diamond-studded chain. At first, I thought the idea was silly, but conceded that it was a pretty cool idea, and encouraged him to get it. Hahah fast fwd to 8/11/08…and what do we have? As pictured above you can see the homie Nore rocking the very chain Phil mentioned hahaha. I almost feel bad, because I know its like to have an idea, and have the industry umm..steal it. Hahah i.e. Yung Berg’s Autobots/Decepticon charm, yeeah I know what you’re thinking, “but you’re a better emceee and bigger Transformers fan…” ha, it just goes to show you that there is nothing new under the sun, and everything has been done…
Sorry Phil…hahaha
Here’s another look at what Supra has lined-up for Spring of 2009. Three different sets will be released featuring the Trinity, Skytop and Strapped. Pictured above is the burgandy patent pack which is contrasted by a white mid-sole, black mid-sole stripe and black laces.
A few other packs includes the bronze full grain and grey tie-dye, showcasing the same three models throughout. Supra’s line-up for next year has been consistent and given us a lot to talk about, we can hardly wait. Via Adequate @ NSB.
A badass post to say "I TOLD YOU SO" by Tha Antagonist
MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Musician Isaac Hayes died early Sunday afternoon, according to Shelby County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Steve Shular.
A Shelby County sheriff’s deputy responded to Hayes’ home after his wife found him on the floor near a treadmill inside his home.
Hayes was taken to Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, where he was pronounced dead at 2:08pm.
Deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department are continuing their investigation into Hayes’ death, but they believe no foul play was involved.
Hayes was 65-years-old.
Rest in Peace Issac Hayes - Tha Antagonist
With the interest in the footwear industry growing each day, new heights have been reached with the creation of 2 video channels based on sneakers. Launched by Dee “Sole Proprietor” Wells and Sean “Paper Chaser” Williams are the creators of the popular podcast OSD-Obsessive Sneaker Disorder, take there love of sneakers to the next level by creating OSD / OSD 2 on Mogulus.com, a live broadcast video network.
Both channels feature sneaker related videos and commercials. Sole Properitor claims “OSD is basically like MTV for the sneaker world. The programming will have footage from events and campouts, as well as other news stories and videos that are created daily by OSD sufferers all over the world. OSD2 will feature only music videos and films made for sneakers, and at times some classic footwear commercials that we all miss.” Both channels are now live and will run 24hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Furthermore, sneaker loves are called on to submit their own high quality videos no longer than 3 1/2 minutes to Dee and Sean to the following email addresses: obsessivesneakerdisorder@gmail.com and paperchasr@gmail.com
-J.Stahr Posting
Researchers in Italy have high hopes for a new wind-power generator that resembles a backyard drying rack on steroids. Despite its appearance, the Kite Wind Generator, or KiteGen for short, could produce as much energy as a nuclear power plant.
Here's how it works: When wind hits the KiteGen, kites spring from funnels at the ends of poles. For each kite, winches release a pair of high-resistance cables to control direction and angle. The kites are not your Saturday-afternoon park variety but similar to those used for kite surfing -- light and ultra-resistant, capable of reaching an altitude of 2,000 meters.
KiteGen's core is set in motion by the twirl of the kites; the rotation activates large alternators producing current. A control system on autopilot optimizes the flight pattern to maximize the juice produced as it sails on night and day. A radar system can redirect kites within seconds in case of any interference: oncoming helicopters, for example. Or small planes or even single birds.
Research by Sequoia Automation, the small company near Turin heading the project, estimates that KiteGen could churn out one gigawatt of power at a cost of just 1.5 euros per megawatt hour. That's nearly 30 times less than the average cost in Europe of 43 euros per megawatt hour.
Proponents say other plusses of the merry-go-round generator are the contained cost of 360,000 euros and limited amount of space needed. Even with a modest diameter of about 320 feet (100 meters), they estimate KiteGen can produce half a gigawatt of energy. Emulators for the scalable project envision a 2,000 meter-version that would generate 5 gigawatts of power.
Fortunately for Sequoia, whose core business is sensor design and industrial automation, employees take work home with them. Massimo Ippolito, head of R&D, inspired by his weekend hobbies of hang gliding and kite surfing, started mulling the idea that would become KiteGen. Six years and seven patents later, he's leading a team of 20 to construct the giant, energy-creating carousel. The team expects it to be up and running in about two years.
"It's been called revolutionary, but I see it as part of a new energy future," said Ippolito, 48. "With the right mix of photovoltaic, solar thermal power, plus wind power from KiteGen, we can try to meet the needs for rising global electricity consumption."
Ippolito hopes that because of the amount of energy produced for its compact size, KiteGen will become the wind generator of choice, standing head and shoulders over similar recent projects such as glider generators and windmills.
So far, things look promising. A small-scale portable version called MobileGen (a single kite trailing from a flat-bed truck) made good headway when test-launched in August. It generated energy -- and a list of improvements. Researchers were "really charged up," Ippolito said, to see the generator in action.
It may not be completely smooth sailing for KiteGen, though. Some approve the concept but have adopted a wait-and-see attitude.
"It's a fascinating project, for the amount of power it promises and the low cost," said Luciano Pirazzi, who studies renewable energy for Italian government agency ENEA. "But -- and there are a series of buts -- it is still basically a concept on the drawing board. Feasibility has to be proven."
Outstanding questions about such a generator include location and possible bureaucratic headaches over permits for air space. Current speculation is that KiteGen may soar above the former Trino Vercellese nuclear power plant, already a no-fly zone, in the region.
Italy has until 2010 to bump up renewable energy to 22 percent of total electricity supply, in order to meet the EU Renewable Energy Directive. Wind power is a key component and competition from national and foreign enterprise is expected to be stiff.
Naysayers probably won't knock the wind entirely out of KiteGen's sails. Sequoia was honored earlier this year with a 2006 World Renewable Energy Award for its work on KiteGen.
KiteGen also managed to convince Turin utility company AEM to cover 40 percent of expenses for the prototype and sign on as technical partner. It was the first time the utility, which is a long way from Italy's prime windmill coastal zones, has invested in such a project.
"When you first see it you have to smile, because it's a bit funny looking," said Andrea Ponta, an engineer at AEM. "But the more you examine it, you see the idea is sound and the technology is already available."
Credit: Nicole Martinelli
Just saying "I TOLD YOU SO" by Tha Antagonist
The Skytop continues to be a cross-cultural hit making its way onto the feet of skate kids, sneakerheads, platinum selling artists, and even Lindsay Lohan (you little hype beast).
For the latest round of Skytops dropping in June, the most sought after pair is the solid red patent leather ones, but two more pairs posted after the jump are perfect for skaters and rockers. One pair in Black/Red features Supra’s new patented TUF coating that gives the shoe greater ollie grip and durability. The other pair is dressed in all black leather with metal studs perfect for the high fashion snob or emo kid. Info via Sneaker Files.
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