Author: Serkadis

AC/DC Current Transmitter ( DCM-043)
TECPEL DCM-043 a high high resolution AC/DC clamp meter. With the resolution of 1mA and span of 100A, this current clamp transmitter is a great meter for circuit measurement or for car applications
æKey Specifications
æAnalog signal output function
æHigh Resolution 1mA (0.001A)
æPocket size
æ4 digits display
æTouch zero function
æAutoranging
æAuto power off
æPeak hold function
æData hold function
æIEC 1010 600V CAT II,300V CAT II
æSpecification
æLCD Display: 4 digital liquid disply
æSampling Rate: 2 times/sec.
æPower requirement: Battery 1.5V, Size AAA x 2
æDimensions: 202 x 50 x 29 mm
æWeight: 180 g
æJaw Openning Size: 12.5 mm
æAnalog Output: 10 mV/Amp
æFrequency Response: 20K Hz
æBeeper: Active Sound Level Less than 100 Ohm

Korenix introduces JetNet 3006 series Industrial 6-port Fast Ethernet Switches with 4 fast Ethernet RJ 45 plus 2 copper/fiber ports and 3.2Gbps switching fabric as a cost effective and high quality networking solution for flexibly linking high-end switches in various distance applications. The NEMA-TS2 compliant entry-level switch provides redundant power inputs, AC 1.5KV Hi-pot isolation protection and wide operating temperature ensuring reliable network performance for harsh industrial environments in factory automation, coal mines, railways, utilities, field sites, etc.

– Cost-Effective Design for Flexible Installation
The JetNet 3006 series Ethernet switch comes with a flexible design to provide the best price/performance ratio among similar products offered in the market. For users’ specific applications, Korenix offers 2 models: JetNet 3006 with 6 fast Ethernet ports and JetNet 3006f model with 4+2 fiber ports to provide longer distance data transmission on an economical budget.

– High Performance Transmission
The entry-level switch provides 3.2Gbps switching fabric with non-blocking store and forward technology to fulfill the high bandwidth industrial communication requirements of full wire transmission with the excellent data exchange performance. For the field site maintenance, the switch combines the fault relay function for providing auto warning when a system failure happens. This greatly reduces failure time and provides uninterrupted and high quality data transmission in mission-critical environments.

– Rugged Design for System Reliability
JetNet 3006 series meets NEMA-TS2 requirements for power variation by providing 10~60VDC wide range redundant power inputs and as a result, allowing users to maintain high system stability. For extremely wide temperature range applications, Korenix provides -40~70°C wide operating temperature model as well.

Integrating advanced capabilities in rugged design the JetNet 3006 series provides reliable and high-performance data transmission, becoming the perfect solutions for severe industrial applications.

Korenix Technology
www.korenix.com
+886-2-8911-1000
[email protected]

The basic concept of the complete series restoration is to SIMPLIFY THE USE of the machine for the operator. To put it simply, now it is enough to push a button to stabilize the machine, move a joystick to operate the aerial part and push another button to destabilize the machine.
Everything has been made to design a machine perfect for hiring without operator.

MAIN NOVELTIES:
• Remote control:
In the new IIIS version remote control with simplified interface one joystick controls only one movement.
• MULTILANGUAGE MENU (english, german, italian, spanish)
• Self stabilization and destabilization:
All the 4 outriggers of the machine may be stabilized simultaneously and automatically with one button. With another button the machine may be destabilized automatically (absolute innovation for the sector).
The system preserves the possibility to stabilize single outriggers manually in case of particular obstacles.
• Movement contemporaneity
Some hydraulic solutions have been added in order to have the possibility to carry out different movements at the same time. Furthermore, movement speed has been optimized and increased where possible.
• Automatic weight selection in the basket
In the IIIS version the weight selection is automatic (120 – 200 kg) and does not allow errors or overloads.
• Lithium motorization availability
• System of machine visibility in the RAHM net
System of machine visibility in the RAHM net, which, through a satellite system, identifies the machine everywhere and helps to control the state and regularity of use, carrying out an online diagnosis.

The GEMÜ 602 stainless steel diaphragm valve with stainless steel handwheel is now available with a manually operated seal adjuster.

Excessive closing forces lead to over-compression of the diaphragm and hence reduced service life. In the case of manual valves, it is generally the small nominal sizes and diaphragm sizes that are particularly affected. Depending on the force applied by the user, the diaphragm is compressed sometimes more and sometimes less during the closing process. To prevent over-compression, the seal adjuster is set in such way that the valve closes optimally and the diaphragm is not compressed more than necessary at the same time. If the user then turns the handwheel, it will encounter a limit stop, thereby protecting the diaphragm.
Seal adjusters can also be used effectively for setting a minimum flow.

GEMÜ 602 is available in diaphragm size 8 (MG8) and nominal sizes DN 4 – 15. The Kv values of the small valves are between 0.5 – 2.2 m³/h, depending on the nominal size and connection. The stainless steel valve bodies are from the proven GEMÜ modular system and are therefore fully compatible with existing equipment. Connections available are butt weld spigots, clamps and threaded connections to DIN, ASME BPE, BS and JIS. Valves with an EPDM diaphragm are suitable for use up to 10 bar and with PTFE diaphragm up to 6 bar operating pressure. The stainless steel handwheel and the bonnet are designed to be easily cleanable and the valves are CIP/SIP capable and autoclavable.

Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Acura, Honda

Honda has put out a recall of around 167,000 Acura TSX sedans to fix a power steering hose and o-ring gasket which could deteriorate prematurely. Previous generation (2004-2008) models are affected by the issue, which involves the hose cracking due to high underhood temperatures resulting in the power steering fluid leaking, contacting the exhaust components and potentially creating smoke or a fire.

Owners can expect to receive notification in the mail late next month, but you can get all the details in the release after the jump.

Continue reading Honda recalling 167,000 Acura TSX sedans

Honda recalling 167,000 Acura TSX sedans originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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From Green Right Now Reports

As the growing oil spill reached the coast of Louisiana Friday, environmental groups, aghast at the growing calamity, called on President Obama to do more than suspend new off-shore oil drilling.

The president announced earlier in the day that no more oil exploration would take place until the BP oil spill had been thoroughly investigated. An estimated 210,000 gallons of oil a day continued to pour into the Gulf of Mexico from the deep sea wellhead, 11 days after an explosion sunk the rig and killed 11 crew members.

“The administration is correct to suspend any new off-shore drilling until a full investigation is completed. But it can’t stop there – we need to do more if we are serious about avoiding disasters like this in the future. We must shift our energy policy away from oil, toward cleaner and renewable sources that can’t spill or run out,” said Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“Offshore drilling is dangerous work and the cost of accidents is far too high, as this tragedy reminds us. We have an oil slick the size of West Virginia harming marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. It has just reached land and has begun to poison the fertile Mississippi Delta and its ecologically rich marshes. The spill also threatens the coastlines of the other Gulf coast states.

“We have to do better.”

The U.S. Coast Guard and a fleet of other agencies, along with BP workers, worked along the coast to try to capture as much oil as possible with booms designed to soak up oil as winds pushed into into the Mississippi Delta. The disaster is expected to have devastating ecological effects, killing sea and marsh birds and marine mammals such as the threatened sea turtles and dolphins as well as harming fish populations. The area is a major shrimping and oyster-producing region.

“This should be a wake-up call for America. We’ve been addicted to oil for too long. There should be no more drilling off our coasts. No more investing in this dangerous form of energy,” said Sierra Club spokesperson Kristina Johnson.

Obama’s temporary halt to new off-shore drilling “is a step in the right direction, but we need more than a temporary fix. This is an environmental catastophe. The answer is no more offshore drilling period.”

This spill highlights the perils of offshore drilling in deep waters, which the oil companies assured regulators was safe and manageable.   “The oil industry promised us that oil drilling was safe; that they had state-of-the-art equipment that would prevent oil spills. This oil spill far exceeds the oil companies’ worst-case scenarios,” Johnson said.

With clean energy, such as the Cape Wind farm approved this week for off the shore of Massachusetts, this type of environmental disaster can be avoided, Johnson said.

Instead, “we’re looking at the biggest environmental disaster in at least the last 20 years,” she said, noting that this spill will likely exceed that of the Exxon Valdez 20 years ago in Alaska.

Almost every leading environmental group has said the spill calls into question the wisdom of additional offshore oil drilling, which the White House endorsed on March 31, when Obama announced that he was opening previously closed areas of the Eastern Seaboard, the Gulf of Mexico and the Arctic to new exploration. The decision was controversial at the time, which many accusing the president of currying favor with Republicans to gain momentum for other legislation, including the stalled Senate energy and climate bill.

“We once again call on the Obama Administration to withdraw permission for the petroleum industry to begin exploration in the Arctic, scheduled for July of this year, pending a full environmental impact review. We also urge the Obama Administration to cancel the leases in Beaufort and Chuckchi Seas that were issued by Bush Administration,” said World Wildlife Fund’s Vice President for Arctic and Marine Policy William M. Eichbaum.

“While there is no good scenario for an oil spill, the temperate weather conditions and the Gulf of Mexico’s well-developed infrastructure and access to the most technologically advanced methods for responding to a spill offer the best possible set of circumstances for coping with such a disaster. Yet despite all these advantages, the crisis continues to worsen.

“As terrible as this situation is, the impacts would be far worse should this spill have taken place in the harsh and remote environment of the Arctic, where violent storms and thick ice would make it nearly impossible to effectively respond to even a minor oil spill.

The Arctic  Council, which issues guidelines for drilling in that area and counts the U.S. as a member, has said no oil drilling or exploration should be allowed without “the ability to adequately respond to potential risks,” Eichbaum said.

“The events of this past week in the Gulf of Mexico and the lack of resources to respond should something similar occur in the Arctic region, make it clear that any further oil exploration in the near term would violate those principles.”

From Green Right Now Reports

As thousands rushed into action on the Louisiana coast on Friday to deal with the millions of gallons of oil heading for shore, the region’s largest environmental advocacy group issued a statement to illustrate the magnitude of the biological fallout.

The BP oil spill quite simply could destroy the most productive fishery in the world, said Mobile Baykeeper, a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance.

The coastal Gulf region, stretching from the Mobile Bay Estuary to Galveston Bay, produces 69% of all domestic shrimp and 70% of all domestic oysters, the group reported.

Mobile Baykeeper called on the government to operate carefully in cleaning up the disaster and to avoid solutions that could worsen  the situation such as the controlled burns and chemical dispersants that the U.S. Coast Guard has been using.

The group expressed anger toward BP, operator of the well, which continues to pour an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil a day into the Gulf and experts say could persist in polluting the area for months. Efforts to cap the wellhead have so far failed.

Mobile Baykeeper focused on what it perceived as a lack of action to contain the spill over the last 11 days, since the offshore platform exploded.

“BP should have been required to have a plan to contain a catastrophic spill like the one we’ve witnessed,” said Casi Callaway, Executive Director of Mobile Baykeeper. “This ongoing hemorrhage of oil could continue over the next several months. Clearly, whatever containment plan BP had in place, if they had one at all, has failed the Gulf of Mexico and all those who benefit from its pristine waters and wildlife.”

The environmental disaster will not only wound the fishing industry, it will hurt agriculture and tourism, a $20 billion industry in the Gulf coast. It will devastate estuaries and marshlands and freshwater and marine life breeding grounds, Baykeeper said.

The group issued these facts about the region:

• Commercial fish and shellfish harvest from the five U.S. Gulf states was estimated to be 1.3 billion pounds valued at $661 million  in 2008
• Seven of the top ten busiest ports in the United States were located along the Gulf Coast as well
• It is the heart of the U.S. petrochemical industry, with nearly 4000 oil platforms, producing 52 percent of the nation’s crude oil and 54 percent of its gas.
• The Gulf of Mexico is the sixth largest economy in the world.

While many people agree that the exterior of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is one of the best looking pieces of metal they’ve seen in a long time, the interior draws some mixed feelings. General Motors without a doubt has cheaped out on some aspects of the interior of the new Camaro and most buyers and potential buyers have started asking for more.

Click here to get prices on the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.

A GM insider has confirmed with Inside Line that come the 2012 model year, the Camaro will receive a substantially reworked interior. While the source wouldn’t confirm the exact changes, they did mention that most of the upgrading work will go into the dash and the huge blackness area in front of the passenger.

Until all that takes place you have the new Chevrolet Camaro Convertible to look forward to in 2011 followed by the Camaro Z28 in 2012.

Click here to read our review on the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.

Click through for the press release for more details.

Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro LT V6:

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Straightline

Science Daily: Fossil coral data and temperature records derived from ice-core measurements have been used to place better constraints on future sea level rise, and to test sea level projections.

The results are published in Nature Geoscience and predict that the amount of sea level rise by the end of this century will be between 7- 82 cm – depending on the amount of warming that occurs – a figure similar to that projected by the IPCC report of 2007.

Placing limits on the amount of sea level rise over the next century is one of the most pressing challenges for climate scientists. The uncertainties around different methods to achieve accurate predictions are highly contentious because the response of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets to warming is not well understood.

Dr Mark Siddall from the University of Bristol, together with colleagues from Switzerland and the US, used fossil coral data and temperature records derived from ice-core measurements to reconstruct sea level fluctuations in response to changing climate for the past 22,000 years, a period that covers the transition from glacial maximum to the warm Holocene interglacial period.

By considering how sea level has responded to temperature since the end of the last glacial period, Siddall and colleagues predict that the amount of sea level rise by the end of this century will be similar to that projected by the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Dr Siddall said: “Given that the two approaches are entirely independent of each other, this result strengthens the confidence with which one may interpret the IPCC results. It is of vital importance that this semi-empirical result, based on a wealth of data from fossil corals, converges so closely with the IPCC estimates.

“Furthermore, as the time constant of the sea level response is 2,900 years, our model indicates that the impact of twentieth-century warming on sea level will continue for many centuries into the future. It will therefore constitute an important component of climate change in the future.”

The IPCC used sophisticated climate models to carry out their analysis, whereas Siddall and colleagues used a simple, conceptual model which is trained to match the sea level changes that have occurred since the end of the last ice age.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Europe, Audi, Specialty

Of all the products in the Audi arsenal, we’re not sure if the RS6 would be our track rat of choice. It’s twin-turbocharged V10, massive meats and grippy all-wheel drive system is surely the stuff of track-day dreams, but we’ve always been more enamored by the RS6’s brutal, road-going civility – it’s simply better suited to high-speed cross-country runs rather than full-on tarmac attacks. MTM appears to disagree.

The German tuner of all things Audi has put the sedan variant under the knife to create the RS6 Clubsport, and as with everything from MTM, it’s a compellingly comprehensive package.

The mods start with a new front lip, carbon fiber rear diffuser, an adjustable suspension and black 21-inch wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. Inside, the factory thrones have been nixed in favor of a duo of carbon fiber Recaro buckets with six-point harness attached to a rear-mounted roll cage that’s sure to have displaced the rear seats.

Engine upgrades are limited to a high-flow air filter and stainless steel exhaust, but with the help of MTM’s crack ECU tuners, they’ve been able to boost output of the turbo’d 5.0-liter V10 to 720 horsepower (at 6,360 rpm) and and 579 pound-feet of torque (between 2,750 and 6,280 rpm) – a sizable increase over the stock engine’s 571 hp and 479 lb-ft of twist. And if you option up the tires to one of the four available compounds (and why wouldn’t you?), a derestricted top speed of 211 mph can be yours. We think we’ll take ours in five-door form, sans the cage. Maybe in brown…

[Source: MTM via LeBlogAuto]

Bahn burner turned track rat: MTM Audi RS6 Clubsport originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ABC News: Skeptics also accused the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of supporting flawed science after several errors in a major 2007 report surfaced.

The errors, including a reference to a non-peer reviewed study that Himalayan glaciers would melt by 2035, represent a fraction of the conclusions in the report, the main climate policy guide for governments, which is based on the work of thousands of scientists.

The IPCC has defended its work and has ordered a review. Many governments, including the United States, Britain and Australia have also reiterated their faith in the IPCC.

For climate scientists, truth and trust are at stake.

“In general, the battle for public opinion is being lost,” said Kevin Trenberth, head of climate analysis at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. His emails were also hacked in the CRU incident.

“There is so much mis-information and so many polarized attitudes that one can not even hold a rational discussion or debate. The facts are certainly lost or glossed over in many cases. The media have been a bust.”

Schneider said the mainstream media had failed to do “its job of sorting out credible from non-credible and not giving all claimants of truth equal status at the bargaining table.”

Across the Internet, the climate science debate is being played out in a myriad of climate skeptic sites and blogs as well as sites defending the science of human-induced climate change.

One high-profile site is climatedepot.com, run by Marc Morano, a former aide to Republican Senator James Inhofe, who is an outspoken critic of climate change policies.

Morano, who told Reuters he had also been the target of abusive emails, has been quoted as saying that climate scientists should be publicly flogged.

“The global warming scientists need to feel and hear the public’s outrage at their shenanigans like “climategate” … There is no advocacy of violence or hint that people should threaten them,” Morano said, adding: “Public outrage is healthy.”

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Almost one in five Americans are housed in schools for the better part of each day, but many of these schools offer toxic environments with poor daylight and are sited in far-off places, which means they are both unhealthy learning environments and contribute to sprawl (or unhealthy communities). Creating green and healthy schools which are in walkable, bikeable neighborhoods is key to increasing test scores and graduating children who can be future stewards of the environment. But how do we build green schools? This question and others were asked during the National Building Museum’s latest “For the Greener Good” discussion on sustainable schools.

Joanne Silberner, Health Correspondent, National Public Radio, moderated a panel featuring Dr. Howard Frumkin, Director, National Center for Environmental Health / Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Steve Turckes, Director of K-12 Educational Facilities Group, Perkins+Will, and Glenn Cummings, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education.  

Defining green schools

According to Steve Turckes, Perkins + Will, sustainability was best defined by the Brundtland Report: it means meeting the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. While sustainable design isn’t unique to schools, green schools must have lower energy and water usage, daylighting, and up-to-date mechanical systems. To be sustainable, these schools must also be sited in walkable environments.

Green schools should also teach sustainability and incorporate their green building features into the curriculum. “The school should be used as a tool to teach students about sustainability. A well-designed school can be an encyclopedia.”

Glenn Cummings, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, concurred that the physical elements of a building are important, but, more importantly, green schools can help students “make the connections between the impact of their personal choices and the environment.” Green schools can create environments conducive to learning while also serving as an instructional tool. “For instance, through maximizing solar orientation, you can teach ecology, meteorology, climatology – students can learn about science.”

“Green + healthy is the real sweet spot,” said Dr. Howard Frumkin, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While many buildings are green, some may not be healthy — you want to have both. People need physical activity to be healthy. 

Data on green schools

Frumkin said you can look at the rates of teacher and student absenteeism, asthma or other sicknesses, as well as test performance metrics and disciplinary problems at green and non-green schools. There’s positive “outcome data” out there, which can also be reviewed along with cost data. “Hopefully, once schools see this data, going green will just seem like good business sense.”

On cost, Turckes referred to Greg Katz’s data (see earlier post), which shows the cost premium of any green building at around 2 percent. “However, that data is now four years old. Right now, we think there is no extra cost to building green. With the extra energy savings and health benefits, the question is why wouldn’t you do it?”

Obstacles preventing the growth of green schools

It seems amazing, but according to Cummings, 14 million children go to school each day in “outright dangerous” schools. As you see in Washington, D.C. before the school term starts, schools scramble to “remedy buildings so they will be legal to occupy.” The U.S. has hundreds of thousands of school buildings, many of which were created up to 50 years ago. “The real challenge is retrofitting older buildings so they can be turned into green buildings.”

Turckes added that the vast majority of those older buildings haven’t benefitted from newer technologies. “There have been huge advances in building technologies.” But still, many older buildings are mold-infested and feature outmoded air ventilation systems. On the positive side, he said it’s not impossible to revamp an older school. “We just figured out how to integrate an energy-efficient system into a vintage 1960′s school.” 

The perception of the higher cost of green schools may present an obstacle. “There is no extra cost to sustainable design — it’s embedded, a form-driver. We use integrated interdisciplinary teams to do design up front, thereby removing inefficiences and saving costs.” However, with tight budgets, some schools still see commissioning agent costs and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) accreditation costs as a burden. To fight this: Turckes says some schools use the sustainable design process, but go green without getting the certificate.

On top of these challenges, local governments sometimes make it difficult for themselves. “Budget structures can create obstacles to green buildings — maintenance and operations are often in two separate pots.”

Addressing health problem in schools now

If a school can’t afford to retrofit, Frumkin said, they can replace toxic cleaning supplies, ensure they are keeping HVAC maintenance up-to-date, and continually discarding art / science labs. “With budget cuts, sloppiness can set in.” To prevent this sloppiness, Frumkin recommended the E.P.A.’s school audit tools. “Greeing a school doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Safer cleaning materials and doormats so students can wipe their feet at the entrances of school buildings can help keep toxins out.”

Frumkin also said educational workers — teachers, administrators, janitors — face enormous occupational hazards working in these older schools. On the positive side though, he said, there were some good studies looking at these workers and showing the positive effects of moving to green schools.”They are an easy population to study because they stay in buildings for a long time.” Another benefit: “Green schools also retain staff better.”

Designing a healthy environment around schools

In terms of student health, siting schools in walkable neighborhoods is key to fighting obesity, diabetes, heart disease. Sedentary lifestyles set a bad example. Frumkin added, “unfortunately, now a small minority of children walk or bike to school. This didn’t used to be the case.”

To remedy this, schools basically need Smart Growth neighborhoods, with high levels of connectivity, inter-connected grid-like networks of streets, careful intersection engineering, roads with traffic calming measures, and dedicated lanes for children to walk to school. “Sidewalks and paths need to be safe for children.”

Frumkin added changes are needed to both the built environment, policy, and behavior. He cited Safe Routes to Schools, and No Child Left Inside, two major movements, as very positive.  He also called for high fructose-drinks and vending machines to be removed from schools.

The future of sustainability

Turckes said all buildings need to be carbon neutral or net-zero in the near future. “This is where we need to get.” He cited the Architecture 2030 campaign. The U.S. in particular needs to get its act together. “We have 5 percent of the world’s population, but use 25 percent of its resources. This needs to be dramatically improved.”

Cummings said sustainability curriculum needs to be further incorporated into schools so the U.S. can scale up for the green jobs of the future. (see earlier post). One audience member noted, however, that even if sustainability is on teachers’ radars, it’s often not included in “No Child Left Inside”-mandated tests, so it gets bumped.

“The recently passed health reform package will lead to a new focus on the prevention of illness,” Frumkin said. “Green buildings, sustainable neighborhoods, healthy lifestyles — my dream is to marry all these together.” In the future, he said, perhaps health specialists will also be involved in green building design from the onset.

Image credit: 2010 Professional Honor Award, General Design. Nueva School, Hillsborough, CA U.S.A. Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture, San Francisco, U.S.A.

Greenwire: Scientists in Bangladesh have released a study indicating that higher sea levels would not cause devastating flooding in the low-lying country, as suggested by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s most recent report.

The U.N.-affiliated panel has taken pressure in recent months for mistakes in its 2007 report on global climate change. According to scientists at the Dhaka-based Center for Environment and Geographic Information Services, that report may have erred in its claim that a 3-foot rise in sea levels would flood 17 percent of Bangladesh and drive 20 million people from their homes by 2050.

Himalayan rivers carry 1 billion tons of sediment into Bangladesh every year, the researchers say, shoring up coastlines against rising sea levels. Even if sea levels rise 3 feet, the accumulation of sediment should mitigate the problem, said Maminul Haque Sarker, the director of the environment center and the study’s lead researcher.

“Sediments have been shaping Bangladesh’s coast for thousands of years,” he said. “Studies on the effects of climate change in Bangladesh, including those quoted by the IPCC, did not consider the role of sediment in the growth and adjustment process of the country’s coast and rivers to the sea level rise.”

Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the IPCC, defended the panel’s conclusions on flooding in Bangladesh. He also criticized broader efforts to discredit the report, saying that “one single error doesn’t take anything away from the major findings of the report.”

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Last fall, you may recall, there was a very important — and very well argued — ruling against Universal Music in its attempt to sue video site Veoh. The court found that Veoh was clearly protected by the DMCA’s safe harbor provisions. The ruling was important on a few different points, especially since the entertainment industry has been working overtime to try to change the definition of the DMCA’s safe harbors to make them effectively meaningless. Thankfully, the court put a stop to that. However, things got complicated in February, when Veoh declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy. We wondered what would happen to the appeal that Universal Music was filing, and Eriq Gardner answered:

If Veoh declares Chapter 7, a bankruptcy judge would issue an automatic stay in the case. UMG would likely file a motion with the bankruptcy court seeking relief from the stay to perfect its appeal. The trustee would engage legal counsel and make financial arrangements to cover the costs of defending the case before the 9th Circuit.

However, that’s not quite what happened. The case is moving forward (with the same lawyers for Veoh — even though the company doesn’t exist), but the company never actually filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Joe Mullin has the latest details, which don’t clear up much. Instead of filing bankruptcy, at the last minute, it sold its assets to an Israeli company, Qlipso — but the lawsuit liabilities were separate. So, basically it’s a bit of a mystery who’s funding the ongoing lawsuit:

On Thursday, Elkin confirmed to Corporate Counsel that he will represent the Veoh side on appeal, even though Veoh has ceased to exist as an operating company. Elkin said he is being paid to continue handling the case, which he says has consumed him for the past three years, but declined to comment on who is paying him. He said he and his team are “working mightily” to prepare their reply brief, which is due May 20.

Just weeks before Veoh went out of business, I’d been told that the company was about to secure new funding solely to prop it up to fight this legal battle. So it’s interesting that there does appear to be funding, even if no one’s saying where it’s coming from. Of course, it wouldn’t be too hard to come up with a pretty short list of probable funders…

That said, Mullin’s piece also goes through UMG’s appeals filing, and it’s a doozy. It effectively says that the DMCA’s safe harbors don’t exist, because Universal Music finds them inconvenient. I’m not kidding:

[UMG] must incur the enormous expense of constantly monitoring Veoh’s internet site to identify infringing content and request its removal in order to protect their property. And the task is not limited to monitoring Veoh alone. Rather, it is geometrically larger since thousands of comparable websites must also be monitored. The task is ultimately Sisyphean; because Veoh’s site, like others’ is dynamic and changes day-to-day or hour-to-hour [and] as users upload more material, the task of identifying and sending notifications requesting the removal of copyrighted works would amount to an unending version of the children’s game of “Whack-A-Mole.”

What Universal fails to point out is that if the process is hard for it, it’s actually infinitely harder for Veoh, and that’s because Veoh has no way of knowing for sure if content is infringing or not. As Mullin points out, Universal’s argument is effectively the same one that Tiffany has made over and over and over again against eBay — losing every time. It’s the argument that because it’s too inconvenient for rightsholders to police their rights, the courts should arbitrarily force service providers to do so — even as they have no insight into what’s really infringing and what’s not. In fact, you could argue that Tiffany had a stronger case, in that there aren’t safe harbors when it comes to trademark issues. Universal has a huge uphill battle here.

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Acura announced that it is recalling 167,000 TSX sedans to replace a power steering hose, o-ring gasket and fluid. The affected models include 2004-2008 TSX units sold in the United States with the 2.4L inline 4-cylinder engine.

“The recall is being conducted due to the potential for premature deterioration of the exterior surface of the hose as a result of prolonged exposure to high under-hood temperatures,” Acura said in a statement. “In the event of excessive deterioration, a crack in the hose could develop, which could allow power steering fluid to leak or spray on a hot exhaust component potentially generating smoke or a fire.”

Acura said it has received only one incident resulting in a fire.

Owners of affected vehicles will be informed by the end of May. Acura TSX owners can also go to owners.acura.com/recalls or may call (800) 382-2238 for more information.

– By: Kap Shah

The Deepwater Horizon oil leak could be leaking at a rate of 25,000 barrels a day, five times yesterday’s estimate. The leak rate is 25 times BP’s initial estimate of 1,000 barrels per day.

If the new numbers are correct, the Gulf of Mexico spill is will pass Exxon Valdez tomorrow. The 1989 spill involved 260,000 barrels of oil.

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Following the LaCrosse and the upcoming Regal, Buick’s revolution will continue with what marketing director Craig Bierley calls a “timeless proposition of understated luxury.” Bierley says that Buick is working on a compact sedan and a new compact crossover.

The compact sedan will be built on the Chevrolet Cruze platform but with unique styling and a different powertrain lineup. Bierley says that “you’d be hard pressed to know they’re on the same architecture.” We recently caught a glimpse of the upcoming compact sedan, which is to be called Buick Excelle.

Click here to get prices on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse.

Up next will be a compact crossover due out in 2012. The model will share its platform with the Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain and the Cadillac SRX.

Buick’s current lineup of two large sedans, the Lucerne and LaCrosse, and a large SUV, the Enclave, technically compete with 14 percent of new models in the U.S. market. When the new Regal, Excelle and the compact SUV hit the lineup, Buick estimates to compete with 46 percent of the market.

By 2014-2015, expect a couple of new models, expanding Buick’s presence in some 60 percent of segments.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: CARandDRIVER

KNOXVILLE — Seniors in the UT Knoxville College of Communication and Information’s (CCI) advertising campaigns class recently got a taste of the real world that was a bit “spicier” than they expected.

During the semester, student teams were tasked with creating an advertising campaign for McCormick & Co., the nationwide spice and flavorings retailer. But when the teams presented their campaign projects, the team of judges included McCormick CEO Alan D. Wilson and other executives from the company.

Wilson, a 1980 CCI alumnus, said the work of the student teams was outstanding and quite professional.

“I was very impressed with the way the students did the research, came up with some really creative ideas, explored the heritage of the brand and then had some great recommendations on how to communicate to the target audience,” Wilson said. “They had the ability to identify how they were going to do it, and they did a great job.”

Kate Kopperman of the student team “Innovative Expressions Inc.,” which won the competition, said the class provided a wonderful professional opportunity.

“The campaigns class is a great idea. It helps us add everything we’ve learned from all our classes together into one and gives us a great real-world experience,” Kopperman said. “I think it’s awesome that we could present our campaign proposal to real clients like the CEO of McCormick. It’s a great benefit that UT offers us.”

Brandon Tillman of team “EITC Interactive” said the presentation wasn’t easy, but it was worthwhile.

“Presenting to the executives was very hard, very nerve-wracking, but it went well and it was a great experience,” Tillman said. “It meant a lot to be judged by the McCormick executives, because we talk with teachers every day, but this was a chance to talk to high-level business leaders.”

Getting a glimpse of the “real world” is what it was all about, said Garrett Cody Banniza of team “Mindful Dexterity.”

“Going through this process and bringing everything you’ve learned through your entire college career together just for this event, it really gets you geared up for the real world,” Banniza said. “You know where you’re going and you know that when you get there, you can actually accomplish these tasks that you’ll be given.”

McCormick CEO Wilson agreed that preparation is the key to success.

“UT prepared me extremely well for the real-world experience,” Wilson said. “It gave me the confidence to go out and make a career. I learned certainly the technical skills, but the important thing is that I learned how to learn. That’s what is so important in any role — being able to adapt to the situation and the challenges. UT certainly prepared me well for that,” he said.

Wilson said the idea to judge the competition came from Andrew Foust, a McCormick & Co. executive and fellow CCI alumnus who took part in the advertising campaigns competition in 2004.

“[Foust’s] team actually won it, and Andrew wanted to give back,” Wilson said. “I thought it was a great idea.”

—

A Volkswagen apresentou o seu mais novo propulsor de três cilindros e 1.2 litros e movido exclusivamente a diesel nessa sexta feira, 30 de abril, no Simpósio Internacional do Motor, em Viena, Áustria.

Suas características de torque em baixas rotações, oferecendo 75 cavalos e 18 kgfm de torque máximo já nos 2.000 rpm, proporciona menos trocas de marchas gerando consequentemente uma excelente media de consumo de 30,3 km/l. De acordo com a companhia alemã, os ótimos resultados foram obtidos por seu novo motor se deram através do deslocamento reduzidos de seu pistões, gerando menos perda de energia, redução de ruídos e de seu peso em geral.

Os primeiros modelos que receberão o novo motor serão o Polo Bluemotion, o novo Seat Ibiza Ecomotive e o Skoda Fabia Greenline. A Volkswagen anunciou que o consumo de 30,3 km/l de seu novo motor três cilindros de 1.2 L aplicado no Polo Bluemotion proporcionará ao modelo uma autonomia de até 1.363 km com apenas um tanque de combustível.

Além disso, o novo motor da Volkswagen também atua em favor da natureza, emitindo apenas 87 g/km de CO2. Todos esses benefícios foram obtidos através da auxilio de novas tecnologias como o sistema Stop&Start, Kers-recuperação de energia através das frenagens e as conhecida mudanças efetuadas na linha Bluemotion como seus pneus de baixo atrito e aerodinâmica aperfeiçoada.

Fonte: AutoPortal

SENIOR WEB REPORTER GREG MIGLIORE: The best compliment I can pay this car–and the best way I can sum up my weekend in it–is this feels like quality.

The Forte is comfortable, has a nice interior and drives agreeably. The interior is well-laid out, everything is where it should be, and it presents well. The interior is helped a bit by the leather and sunroof options, but I think in base trim, this would still be a nice setting.

The Forte feels and drives fairly lightweight, and the tight chassis is still comfortable in most situations. The steering is tight as well, and I like it; it makes this sedan interesting to wheel around town in.

The looks on the outside are above average. It’s the same appearance you get amongst pretty much every sedan in this segment, but Kia has done a nice job with the lines and headlights to make the Forte a bit classy.

The engine is fine for this size car. It does the job, and that’s all you can ask.

I picked up my brother and his girlfriend from the airport on Sunday night, and the trunk swallowed their luggage no problem. The car was also a pleasant ride for maneuvering in and out of airport chaos.

For the base price, this car is a solid buy. The options add a bit more comfort, and I’d say it’s still reasonable. Like the Hyundai Sonata, the Forte is an understated yet formidable entry in a crowded part of the market.

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR CHERYL L. BLAHNIK: When I look at this car, it just feels plain and boring. I was just in the coupe version not too long ago, which looks so much better from a sporty aspect. This Forte sedan gets easily lost in my memory of cars in this price range. It just needs something to jazz it up to stick out a little more. The interior could also use some spice. Sure, it works fine and does the job well, but is just dull.

Driving the car was also a bit of a void, and I was just in it a couple of hours ago. It handled fine, and the engine is adequate for a car in this class.

I will say that there is one thing very appealing about this car–the price.

2010 Kia Forte EX

Base Price: $17,490

As-Tested Price: $19,290

Drivetrain: 2.0-liter I4; FWD, four-speed automatic

Output: 156 hp @ 6,200 rpm, 144 lb-ft @ 4,300 rpm

Curb Weight: 2,740 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 28/27.4 mpg

Options: EX leather package including leather seat trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel/shift knob, heated front seats ($1,000); EX power sunroof ($800)

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