Author: Serkadis

The Automation division of DS4 Laser Technology, DS4 Robotic Division, has realized a new high speed system for high production canning in the food industry . This is a modular robot with parallel kinematics for boxing biscuits (but outside of food, also applicable in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, the paramedical and, more generally, in assembly and handling applications) capable, in the configuration realized, can than 5,000 cookies per minute. The machine is managed by a supervisor software that, through an articulated vision system is able to issue individual commands to each robot on the line, this versatility allows you to manage lots of any size, large or small production, eliminating the programming time. The software is in fact designed to ensure an immediate start-up production, a variation of the production load on the fly, since all content is uploaded in real time.

On the 1st of May 2010 the group has acquired the M.Schneider group, based in Vienna Austria. Worldwide player in the DIN-Standard fuses and fusegear segments, M.Schneider is a leading force in the German-speaking market.
Through this acquisition, Ferraz Shawmut, Electrical Protection division of Carbone Lorraine, is set to become number 2 worldwide in DIN-standard fuses and fusegear.
We will be able to offer our customers the most comprehensive portfolio of fuses and fusegear in the segment of NH and D0 fuse systems. This will be a great benefit for our existing and future customers. Due to the combination of our international sales network and the reliability of our products and services, we are able to guarantee optimized protection for electrical installations from one single source at the right time and place.
Our objective is to develop Ferraz Shawmut offering and sales in the DIN-standard fuses and fusegear segments. The products marketed for these segments and coming from Ferraz Shawmut and M.Schneider are totally complementary.

Realistic Simulation of Technical Processes

In practice, considerable amounts of water vapor are often released during the combustion and gasification of organic fuels, which also affects the thermal behavior of the sample substances. Therefore, in order to replicate certain processes realistically, it is necessary to induce a humid atmosphere in the analytical chamber. To meet these needs, NETZSCH is now also offering a new water vapor furnace in combination with the tried-and-true STA-MS coupling.

Water Vapor Furnace – Temperatures up to 1250°C
In this new thermoanalytical system, water vapor – with or without a carrier gas – is transported from the water vapor generator to the STA sample chamber via a heated transfer line. Another transfer line, also heated, then leads from the gas outlet of the water vapor furnace to the QMS 403 C Aëolos® mass spectrometer. The coupled STA-MS combined with a water vapor furnace is a system capable of analyzing the sample’s reaction with water vapor at temperatures up to 1250°C. The water vapor concentration can be set anywhere between 0 and 100%.

Areas of Application:
– Corrosion and scaling processes for steels
– Analysis of sintering processes in ceramic components
– Water gasification of petroleum cokes
– Analysis of inorganic construction materials, e.g. cement

MySpace, the popular social network that aims to focus its platform around social games, has recently launched Games Lab, a program that will invite game developers to the company’s headquarters in Seattle and Los Angeles to work together with MySpace personnel for several weeks.

The person in charge of the games division, Manu Rekhi… (read more)

At last, here comes the link and the steps to download Google Pacman for free! In celebration of Pac-Man 30^th Anniversary, we continue to bring you PacMan perks and fun. As the Google Pacman game is no longer available online, you may now play the Google Pacman game even offline. To download Google Pacman for free follow the steps below:

1. Click the link: http://github.com/macek/google_pacman.

2. Then, click “Download Source”

3. A pop-up message will appear, select ZIP if you are using Windows or TAR if you are using MAC OS platform.

4. Once the file is downloaded, decompress or unzip the file; you will obtain a folder “macek-google pacman”

5. Inside the folder, click “index.html” file.

6. Enjoy and play Google Pac Man Game

Related posts:

1. Play Google Pac Man Game Offline! Steps to Download Free Google Pac Man Game!
2. Working Copy Pac Man 30th Anniversary Google Doodle Logo
3. Pac-Man 30th Anniversary Free Download: Google Pacman Ends, Download Pacman Game Now!

Despite life-threatening illness, Bret Michaels beat the odds and made it to finish line Sunday of “The Celebrity Apprentice” and was rewarded the victory prize of $250,000 which will be proceeded for charity.

“Lately it seems like me just standing up risking my life,” Michaels said, adding that it was worth the risk and he ‘came to win’. He walked haltingly and with a slight limp. His presence in the show brought a moment of honest reality to a carefull constructed TV genre.
Along with the other finalist, Holly Robinson Peete, the last two standing in the contest was asked to create a brand new flavor of the drink Snapple with a complete product launch and a commercial. Both flavors was sold in locations in the United States. The proceeds from the sale of the drink had been turned directly into their chosen charities. This was a great news for
their chosen charities.

Michaels, who as a child was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, claimed the winner’s prize for the American Diabetes Association, and Peete learned that her charitable group would receive a matching amount.

Related posts:

1. Celebrity Apprenctice Winner 2010: After All Sacrifices Everything Comes To An End
2. Bret Michaels at Oprah, The Apprentice and His New VH1 series
3. Ron Burkle donated a whopping amount of $200,000 to Holly Robinson Peete

What could David Jaffe be working on right now? A lot of us sure are wishing it’s Twisted Metal, but unfortunately, it looks like Mr. Jaffe’s got something else on his mind.
 
 
 

Bmw introduced last year the brand new 5-Series GT but it appears it also did a little mistake. Apparently, the problem is that the car was available only with rear-wheel drive and a V8 engine.

“The V-8 was probably not the right car to launch it with,” said Rich Brekus, BMW’s general manager of sales for North America. Of course, this will change as Bmw is planning to introduce an all-wheel-drive model in June as well as a six-cylinder engine in the fall. Since its launch, Bmw sold only 1,143 GTs, outperforming sales of the 5-series wagon last year. “This time next year,” O’Donnell said, “we’ll tell you if it’s successful or not.”

[via autonews – sub. required]

Source: Car news, Car reviews, Spy shots

Although not even our sources are not sure about these photos, what you see here might the real thing, the Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge.

The car is lowered comparing it to the standard version, has plastic windows, a new set of 9-spoke racing wheels wrapped in high-performance tires and a slightly reworked bodykit. Also a new roll cage was installed in this car convincing us that we are looking at the 458 Italia Challenge. More details to be revealed! See more photos after the jump!

[source autoblog via axis of oversteer]

Source: Car news, Car reviews, Spy shots

Do you know 17 year old car insurance is higher than others? But no worries, we tell you how to get cheap car insurance for 17 year old driver. These methods have been proven works and successfully get a great discount from most of the car insurance companies. Before you can get a big discount from insurance companies, you will have to understand the reason why is car insurance so high for teenagers. It will then very easy to get cheap car insurance as long as you catch some of the tips here.

17 year old car insurance

17 year old, a wonderful age in our life. There are a lot of people wish to be “17 again” once they have passed their teenager age. It is a year to start learning to drive and get a cool car after get the driving license. However, things don’t seem to be so smooth when the chances to get cheap car insurance for teenager are extremely low especially in UK.

There will be a little bit more requirement when a 17 year-old teenager ask for car insurance quotes. These details that usually will be used to create car insurance quote are:

The driver age. Age play an important part in getting insurance quotes. Younger = expensive, older = cheaper.

Driver’s gender. Male or female does matter. Male drivers are tending to have higher risk as male driver usually drive faster.

Car model. The model of the car you purchase will affect the insurance price. Car with more safety features like ABS brakes, air bags, alarm system, theft system will be able to get cheaper car insurance.

Car model year. It is different with driver’s age. Older car = cheaper insurance, younger car = expensive insurance.

Area code and Zip code. Car insurance companies usually will ask you to key in zip code of where you stay. This is to check on the accident statistic base on the area you stay.

See also 17 year old car insurance related: Why is car insurance so high for teenagers, Car insurance UK young drivers.

How to get cheap 17 year old car insurance

Alright, do not get upset after read through all the negative point of how hard to get cheap car insurance for teenager. There are always exists for that. Here are some of pretty good tips to get cheap car insurance for teenager under 20 year old. Now you feel 17 Again?

17 year old student grades

Most of the youngster will have student grades while this may no longer applicable for old people who had graduated years ago. Show the insurance company good student grades in your school. Car insurance company will consider cheaper price for student who have good grade.

The safety of the car

Provide some of this information when you apply for car insurance. Places where you park the car and how you travel, from your house to school, the car park either in your house garage or your school car park. Tell the insurance company you did not park the car at backstreet.

Buy the car insurance on your parents’ policy

Another great way of saving some money is to go on your parents’ policy if they are driving. The only disadvantage is the no-claim bonus will not build up but this could help you save some money in short term.

In conclusion, the legal driving in most of the countries is 17. It is too risky to get on the road without any car insurance. The best way is to get the tips and run to any car insurance companies around you to get cheap 17 year old car insurance.

Source: Cars, Fast Cars, Cool Cars, Sports Cars

For the new Porsche Cayenne models TECHART offers Formula and Formula II light alloy wheels as well as Formula III forged light alloy wheels in dimensions of 20- to 23-inch. Besides attractive standard color variants, all TECHART wheels are available in individually matched custom colors.

High quality full leather interior in new color options and a unique design as well as the TECHART Rear-Seat-Entertainment options are just two highlights for the new Cayenne generation. A maximum of driving pleasure plus quick shifting and perfect handling enable the TECHART 3-spoke sport steering wheels with the paddle shifters. The TECHART paddle shifters have unlimited individualization options and are available for all Porsche sport steering wheels and multifunction steering wheels with PDK gearshift switches as well as all TECHART sport steering wheels.

The TECHART engine styling package with carbon cover as well as the TECHART sport tailpipes in polished stainless steel, which are available in a few weeks, complete the first TECHART Individualization options for the new Cayenne.

Source: Lincah.Com – New Car and Used Car Pictures

Volkswagen will announce Tuesday that it will take a 90 percent stake in Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A, people familiar with the matter told Automotive News Europe.

The Giugiaro family will retain 10 percent in the Italian design house that is famous for styling cars such as the first-generation VW Golf.

VW plans to acquire control of Italdesign to help reach its goal of becoming the world’s largest automaker by 2018 with sales of 10 million vehicles a year. To reach that goal, VW’s 10-brand group, including Porsche, will need more designers and engineers. In 2010 alone, VW group plans to add 60 models, including upgrades.

Italdesign, co-founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro in 1968, currently has 975 employees and 800 computer aided design workstations.

Giorgetto Giugiaro, 71, who is Italdesign chairman, and his son, Fabrizio, 45, who heads the design and model division, are expected to continue working at the company following the VW takeover.

Italdesign does not disclose its financial results. The most recent data available shows that in 2008 the company increased its revenues 6.2 percent to 136 million euros ($166 million) and reported an operating breakeven.

Sources told ANE that the VW takover will be announced at Italdesign’s headquarters in Moncalieri, 15km south of Turin on Tuesday morning.

For more

Source: Car news, reviews and auto show stories

Via UFO Casebook News Feed

UFO Spiral in the Sky across Western Canada – Photos and Video

Can’t get enough of the lovely Jill Valentine? Here’s your chance at getting her in your room. Capcom is releasing a 1/6 scale figure of Jill from Resident Evil 5.
 
 
 
 

The Buick that enthusiasts have been clamoring for–the Regal GS show car revealed at the Detroit auto show–will soon be reality.

This turbocharged demon packing 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque with a six-speed manual transmission and a host of performance enhancements has been approved, spokeswoman Dayna Hart told AutoWeek on Monday.

There is no time line for the launch, and other details are not available.

“We’re kind of just saying, stay tuned,” Hart said.

GS, or Gran Sport, channels Buick’s heritage of sporting drives going back to the 1960s. The Riviera, the Wildcat, the Skylark and the Regal have all worn the badge.

The car at the Detroit auto show had all-wheel drive, two more vertical front air intakes, forged aluminum 20-inch wheels, a sport steering wheel and Recaro seats.

Though called a show car, the Regal GS was a gussied-up production Regal. Another turbo version of the Regal making 220 hp from the same Ecotec four-cylinder is due this summer.

For more

Source: Car news, reviews and auto show stories

On May 21, 2010, the company Google again surprised the world with the first interactive doodle which also was a celebration of the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man. To start a game, they changed the button “I’m Feeling Lucky” to “Insert Coin.” The game takes place directly on the Google logo, which has been created in compliance with many of the features of the original Pac-Man, challenging users with 255 levels that make up the game. If you press twice “Insert Coin” can play a two-player version where you can guide Pacman and Ms. Pacman through the maze.

Over the years the Pac-Man became the biggest selling game of all time and its main character and the little ghosts that chase (historically known by the nicknames of Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde) became a cultural icon.

It is said that the perfect game is completing the 256 levels with the highest score and without losing lives. The first person who could have done it is Billy Mitchell in 1999. After a six-hour marathon session, reached 3,333,360 points.

However, in December 1982, the 8 years old Jeffrey R. Yee received a letter from then U.S. President Ronald Reagan congratulating him on achieving a world record of 6,131,940 points, a score that can only be achieved if the player passes through the level of the split screen. Since then is hotly debated in video game circles on whether this actually took place or not. Billy Mitchell was offered $ 100,000 if he could complete the level of the split screen before January 1, 2000, but nobody could do it.

On June 5, 2007 was held in New York City, the world championship of Pac-Man, where the Mexican native of Pachuca, Hidalggo, Efren Cuz Bernardo Riveros, took home the tournament after being crowned by Toru Iwatani himself as the first and only world champion of Pac-Man.

Related posts:

1. Pac-Man 30th Anniversary! Insert Coin to Play Pacman Game Before…
2. Pac Man 30th Anniversary: ‘Insert coin’ for two player pacman free online game
3. PacMan 30th anniversary: Google PacMan game

“The age of plenty is over,” said deputy PM Nick Clegg, as the new UK coalition government unveiled its first austerity budget.

According to The Telegraph, the government has announced its first £6 billion in spending cuts, with various civil servants bearing the brunt.

This will certainly have a short-term negative effect on the economy, though it’s seen as vital for the longterm health of the country.

So how does the government plan placate the masses?

They’re going to slow down on the installation of uber-unpopular traffic cams that catch automatically catch people speeding. That’s one spending cut everyone can get behind, and the hope is that this move dulls the pain a little.

Join the conversation about this story »

Three housing related reports will be released this week: existing home sales on Monday, Case-Shiller house prices on Tuesday, and new home sales on Wednesday.

On Monday, the April Chicago Fed National Activity Index will be released at 8:30 AM. This is a composite index of other data. At 10 AM the National Association for Realtors (NAR) will release the April existing home sales report. The consensus is for an increase to 5.6 million sales in April as a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). Also on Monday, the DOT will probably release the Vehicle Miles Driven for March. This has been showing declining Year-over-year miles driven.

On Tuesday, the March Case-Shiller house price index will be released at 9:00 AM. The consensus is for a slight decline in the house price index. At 10:00 AM, the Conference Board will release Consumer Confidence for May (consensus is for an increase to 59). Also on Tuesday, the FHFA house price index, and the Richmond Fed survey will be released.

On Wednesday, the April Durable Goods Orders will be released at 8:30 AM. The consensus is for a 1.5% increase. At 10 AM, the Census Bureau will release the April New Home sales report. The consensus is for an increase to 425K (SAAR) from 411K in March. Since new home sales are reported when a contract is signed, April was the last month that reported sales will be positively impacted by the tax credit.

On Thursday, the first revision of the Q1 GDP report will be released at 8:30 AM. The consensus is for an upward revision to 3.5% from the initially reported 3.2%. Also on Thursday, the closely watched initial weekly unemployment claims will be released. Consensus is for a decline to 450K from 471K last week.

And on Friday, the BEA will release the Personal Income and Outlayreport for April at 8:30 AM. Also on Friday the Chicago Purchasing Managers Index for May will be released. And of course the FDIC will probably have another busy Friday afternoon …

There will be several Fed speeches this week, and a few other economic releases (trucking index, restaurant index).

And a summary of last week:

MBA Q1 2010: Record 14.69% of Mortgage Loans Delinquent or in Foreclosure

The MBA reported a record 14.69 percent of mortgage loans were either one payment delinquent or in the foreclosure process in Q1 2010 (seasonally adjusted).

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

This graph shows the percent loans delinquent by duration. Loans 30 days delinquent increased to 3.45%, about the same level as in Q4 2008.

Delinquent loans in the 60 day bucket increased too, and are also close to the Q4 2008 level. This suggests that the pipeline is still filling up at a high rate, but slightly below the rates of early 2009.

The 90+ day and ‘in foreclosure’ rates are at record levels. Obviously the lenders have been slow to start foreclosure proceedings – and the 90+ day delinquent bucket is very full. Also lenders have been slow to actually foreclose – and the ‘in foreclosure’ bucket is at record levels.

he second graph shows the delinquency rate by state (red is seriously delinquent: 90+ days or in foreclosure, blue is delinquent less than 90 days).

Thirty four states and the District of Columbia have total delinquency rates over 10%. This is a widespread problem.

Housing Starts increase in April

Total housing starts were at 672 thousand (SAAR) in April, up 5.8% from the revised March rate, and up 41% from the all time record low in April 2009 of 477 thousand (the lowest level since the Census Bureau began tracking housing starts in 1959).

Single-family starts were at 593 thousand (SAAR) in April, up 10.2% from the revised February rate, and 65% above the record low in January 2009 (360 thousand).

Permits declined sharply suggesting that starts will decline next month.

NAHB Builder Confidence Increases in May

This graph shows the builder confidence index from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

The housing market index (HMI) was at 22 in May. This is an increase from 19 in April. This is the highest level since August 2007 – and builders were seen as depressed then!

The record low was 8 set in January 2009. This is still very low … Note: any number under 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as poor than good.

First American CoreLogic: House Prices Decline 0.3% in March

On a month-over-month basis, the national average home price index fell by 0.3 percent in March 2010 compared to February 2010.

This graph shows the national LoanPerformance data since 1976. January 2000 = 100.

The index is up 1.7% over the last year, and off 30.5% from the peak.

Moody’s: CRE Prices Decline 0.5% in March

Moody’s reported that the Moody’s/REAL All Property Type Aggregate Index declined 0.5% in March. This is a repeat sales measure of commercial real estate prices.

This is a comparison of the Moodys/REAL Commercial Property Price Index (CPPI) and the Case-Shiller composite 20 index. CRE prices only go back to December 2000.

Commercial real estate values are now down 25% over the last year, and down 42% from the peak in August 2007.

AIA: Architecture Billings Index shows less Contraction in April

The American Institute of Architects’ Architecture Billings Index increased to 48.5 in April from 46.1 in March. This index is a leading indicator for Commercial Real Estate (CRE) investment. Any reading below 50 indicates contraction.

According to the AIA, there is an “approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending” on non-residential construction. So there will probably be further declines in CRE investment through all of 2010, and probably into 2011.