Author: Serkadis

Contact: Bonnie Strawser, 252-473-1131 x230, [email protected] or Phil Kloer 404-679-7125, [email protected]
FFS #R4AA

Roanoke Island, N.C. – The planned Coastal NC National Wildlife Refuges Gateway Visitor Center will include a new array of educational exhibits that interpret wildlife and habitat, help people explore refuges, and teach people how to live green.

Mike Bryant, NC Coastal Plain National Wildlife Refuges Complex Manager, announced today that Wilderness Graphics Inc. of Tallahassee, Fla., has been awarded a $668,500 contract to design, build, and install the new exhibits. Funding for the contract, as for the Visitor Center and Headquarters, comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, popularly known as stimulus funds.

“The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a long and successful history with Wilderness Graphics,” said Bryant. “We’re thrilled to have them contracted to create exhibits in a Visitor Center that will be a flagship for our region.”

In 1999, Wilderness Graphics donated its efforts to help establish the Charles Kuralt Trail – On the Refuge Road in eastern North Carolina. “This trail is an innovative ecotourism initiative and has drawn national attention,” said Bryant. “I have high expectations that exhibits in this Visitor Center will provide increased education to literally hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.”

“Working on the Charles Kuralt Trail, we developed a special appreciation for the refuges and wildlife in eastern North Carolina,” said Marvin Cook, president of Wilderness Graphics. “Exhibits will interpret wildlife and habitats inside the Visitor Center but, more importantly, will showcase opportunities for people to get outside to experience on their own the nature of the refuges.”

Having been supportive of this project since the fundraising efforts of the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society in the late 1990’s, Manteo architect and volunteer refuge consultant John Wilson noted, “I’m so happy to see this dream become a reality. It will only do good things for Manteo and Roanoke Island. Indeed, good things come to those who wait.”

The Coastal NC National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center and Headquarters, currently under a Design/Build contract with MWH Constructors, Inc., of Broomfield, Colorado, is scheduled for completion in late summer, 2011. Follow the progress of this project at the North Carolina Gateway Visitor Center website.

With the debates ongoing over where the music industry is heading, it’s been amusing to watch the major record labels try to remain relevant. One talking point they’ve hit on lately is this idea that record labels are the only ones who invest in artists. So, for example, when we point out that multiple studies have shown that more money is being spent on music today — just that it’s going to other providers, rather than the record labels — we’ve heard people come back by saying “but only the record labels invest in artists.” Perhaps sensing a valuable talking point (and getting sick of claims from many in the industry that the labels have seriously cut back on investing in new artists), the IFPI has put out a report that basically is the major record labels screaming “hey, look, we do invest in new music!”

But, of course, no one really doubted that the major labels still invested in music, but lots of people are questioning how that money is being spent and what sorts of results they’re getting from it. But where it gets funny is that the IFPI tries to use this to prove that labels still have a place, because, apparently, no one else could possibly fund musicians:

“Investing in music is the core mission of record companies,” says [IFPI] boss John Kennedy. “No other party can lay claim to a comparable role in the music sector. No other party comes close to the levels of investment committed by record companies to developing, nurturing and promoting talent.”

To which we would just add a rather important: yet. The labels still seem to think they have some divine right (or, perhaps it’s just a gov’t granted monopoly — the two are so easy to confuse) to be at the center of the music industry.

And, of course, the amount invested, by itself, is not nearly as important as the return on investment. It’s easy to throw lots of money away (and having been to more than a few big record label events, I can attest to their ability to throw away vast quantities of money in no time flat). But what most folks are focused on is the actual ROI.

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Bored at work on this rainy (if you live in the East Coast) Monday morning? Well, here’s something for you to kill time before you head off to lunch. Mattel has just launched their new interactive promotion called “Hot Wheels Custom Motors Cup Challenge,” a game you can play right on YouTube.

Think of it like a choose your own adventure interactive YouTube video. The viewer picks between a GT Racer and Baja Truck, customizes them and then gets to watch them race to see who wins. Players have the option of choosing one of 3 accessories and watching them race again on a different track.

Mattel says all the videos were shot in stop motion and required 26 days of production, 9,181 frames captured, 1m 16s to shoot each individual frame, 88 individual camera angles, 85 lbs of sugar (snow), 150 lbs of sand (desert track).

Click here for the link to the YouTube video.

– By: Omar Rana

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Hatchback, Mini

MINI Roadster Concept – Click above for a high-res image gallery

Just because a company starts out Mini it doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t get even smaller. That seems to be the case with BMW’s more affordable UK outpost. Mini USA vice president Jim McDowell spoke at the recent Geneva Motor Show about some of the brand’s upcoming plans. Although the current lineup is powered by a range of 1.6-liter inline-four cylinder engines, new challengers like the Audi A1 are going with even smaller engines, and it sounds like Mini is set to follow suit.

This spring, European-market Mini models are slated to receive engine upgrades including BMW’s Valvetronic system and direct injection for improved output, along with reduced fuel consumption and emissions. Those same improvements will be added to North American market Minis this fall in the company’s 2011 models. The next round of upgrades will see smaller displacement engines coming along with dual clutch transmissions.

McDowell also hinted that the upcoming roadster and coupe variants are just the beginning, with more performance oriented models on the way. Even before that, McDowell expects the two seat Minis to be the first roadsters to grab a significant chunk of the affordable sports car market from the long dominant Mazda MX-5.

We love the Mini range, and we’re eager to judge of whether a front-wheel car can really challenge the rear-drive MX-5, undoubtedly one of the best roadsters of all time.

[Source: AutoGuide]

Mini’s future is smaller engines, DCT, and challenging the Mazda Miata? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It was briefly reported back in Oct. 2009 that the new Lexus LFA will be offered in a track-spec trim package.  According to a Japanese weblog, Lexus is currently working on a track edition of the Lexus LFA that will be optimized for circuit driving and will be named the Nurburgring Edition.

The model will get a fixed rear-wing, large front spoiler, sports tuned suspension and a boost of 10 horses. It will also be available in four colors including this vibrant orange you see above.

Why Lexus won’t name this special-edition LFA the “Fuji Speedway Edition” is mind-boggling to us since the LFA is a part of the Lexus “F” roots, which it says stands for the Fuji Speedway in Japan.

Click here for more news on the Lexus LFA.

Refresher: Power for the Lexus LFA comes from a 4.8L V10 that makes 552-hp with a maximum torque of 354 lb-ft. Mated to a 6-speed Automated Sequential Gearbox, the LFA goes from 0-60 mph with a time of just 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph. Prices start at $375,000

2012 Lexus LFA:

– By: Kap Shah

Source: Lexus Weblog (via Lexus Enthusiast)

Filed under: Motorsports, Technology, Mazda, Racing

The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and its technical operations affiliate, International Motorsports Association (IMSA), has formally approved a butanol blend as the fifth energy source for race cars in the series. ALMS entrants are already running on E10 (10 percent ethanol), cellulosic E85, diesel and hybrid-electric power. The first team expected to use butanol on a full-time basis will be Dyson Racing with its Mazda-powered Lola prototypes. Dyson first used butanol on an experimental basis in one of its cars during the Petit Le Mans and Laguna Seca races at the end of the 2009 season.

For now, the approved fuel is a blend of 20 percent biobutanol and 80 percent ethanol (iBE20) and only prototypes will be allowed to use it. For the first two races at Sebring and Long Beach, cars running iBE20 will have to carry an extra 30 kilograms of ballast until the performance impact is assessed. From the Laguna Seca race in May, the extra weight will be removed.

The butanol fuel is being supplied by Dyson’s primary sponsor, British Petroleum. Butanol has a number of advantages over ethanol as a fuel, starting with energy density. Gasoline has 32 megajoules per liter while butanol has 29.2 MJ / L and ethanol has only 19.6 MJ / L. Butanol also has a much lower heat of vaporization than ethanol, allowing for easier cold starts. Because its characteristics are closer to gasoline, it can be used without resorting to stainless steel fuel lines and higher flow injectors. However, its high melting point requires it to be blended with gasoline to prevent gelling in cold weather.

Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: International Motorsports Association]

Continue reading American Le Mans Series approves butanol, Dyson-Mazda to go first

American Le Mans Series approves butanol, Dyson-Mazda to go first originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hoje é dia de mudanças no mercado de autos britânico, pois a montadora britânica Ginetta, conhecida por seus carros de corrida e de estrada, irá anunciar hoje a compra da Farbio, montadora de carros esportivos como o GTS.

Os modelos GTS futuros serão feitos com o emblema da Ginetta, devido a um acordo que pode não agradar muito o fundador da Farbio, Chris Marsh. Com essa nova aquisição da Ginetta, a fabricante aumenta o seu portfólio de produtos a um nível significativo.

Para quem não conhece muito sobnre o Farbio GTS, ele é um supercarro que possui um motor V6 Ford Duratec 3.0, e possui seis marchas. Seus modelos variam de potência, de 260cv até 410cv. Maiores informações sobre a compra da Farbio ainda serão verificadas em breve.

Via | PistonHeads

Last Friday, Don Esmond, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales, said that he was “mystified” by James Sikes claims of his Toyota Prius’ gas pedal becoming stuck and causing the car to speed up to 94 mph on a San Diego freeway.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement today that it cannot explain the reported incident of sudden, high-speed acceleration in Sikes Prius. The department said that it continues to investigate the data from Sikes’ vehicle, but may never know exactly what happened with the hybrid.

NHTSA says it has not been able to find anything so far that could explain Sikes claims.

Esmond said last week that all Prius models are equipped with a system that cuts power to the wheels if the brake and gas pedals are depressed together, something Sikes said he was doing.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Free Press

La marca Bugatti acaba de presentar un nuevo prototipo de berlina. Se trata del Bugatti Veyron Conept, una berlina de lujo que será capaz de rodar a 400 km/h y que podria ser comercializada próximamente.

Hará uso de un motor W16 de 8.0 litros de doble compresor con el que alcanzar dicha velocidad mencionada anteriormente. El precio de este modelo rondará el millón de euros por lo que estará al alcance de un pocos nada más.

En el interior predominan los materiales de alta calidad como incrustaciones en madera o diferentes pieles usadas en los asientos. Por el momento estos son los únicos datos proporcionados por la marca asi que tendremos que seguir esperando.

Related posts:

1. Bugatti 16C Galibier
2. El Bugatti 16C Galibier en Salón de Los Angeles
3. Bugatti Galibier 16C, imágenes oficiales

Times are good for the soft drink maker it appears. PepsiCo Inc (PEP) announced this morning it would buy back $15 billion worth of common stock over time through June of 2013.

The deal also includes a 7% raise in its dividend to $1.92 a share annually, which should be settled by the board soon. Expect payout on June 30th to shareholders, according to Reuters.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• GENIUS: Smith & Wollensky Will Give You Steak In Exchange For Worthless Stock
• Perma-Bear Bob Janjuah Makes A Bullish Call
• Consumer Eating Patterns Forecast Very Bad News For The Dow This Year

O fundador da Spyker (e considerado o salvador da Saab), Victor Muller, está com um projeto em mente de criar um supercarro conceiro inspirado no modelo Aero-Xm fabricado em 2006.

E nos planos deste supercarro são ambiciosos, visando restaurar o sucesso da marca, o projeto inspirado no Aero-X teria como modelo base o seu Spyker C8 Aileron, e o esqueleto deste carro seria fabricado na Gra-Bretanha, em Coventry, onde a Spyker mudou todas as suas linhas de montagem no final de 2009.

Agora, só resta esperar, e conferir se realmente a Saab terá uma reviravolta na história da indústria automobilística, com um final feliz que não parecia estar perto de acontecer.

Projeto do novo Supercarro conceito da Saab

Via | Autoblog

It might be time to put Korea on your radar if you haven’t already. The economy has been rebounding, but this has been partly due to stimulative monetary policy (surprise, surprise). Stocks have done extremely well since their 2009 bottom. Thing is, according to the man who called the Asian financial crisis, Korea’s ride could be coming to an abrupt end:

Korea Times:

“Emerging economies, including Korea, used low interest rates to juice up property to offset the export downturn during the global crisis,” independent economist Andy Xie told The Korea Times via email from China. Xie, a former economist of Morgan Stanley Asia, is well known for predicting the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis.

“It’s making a bubble to offset the impact of another bubble bursting. It doesn’t feel painful now, but the cost will come. Korea should raise the interest rate as soon as possible to allow property to normalize. Delaying creates more pain later,” he added.

Read more here >

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• If Chanos Thinks China Is Dubai ‘Times One Thousand’, Then Who Will Be Their Abu Dhabi?
• Dubai Property Chief Believes Prices Near Bottom
• The End Of China’s Growth In Sight?

We hear a lot about inflation in China, but not so much in fellow BRIC India.

So just as a heads up, the scene is ugly.

Here’s the latest from Waverly Advisors:

February Wholesale Prices in India registered at an annualized 9.89% versus 8.56% in January according to a Ministry of Commerce release this morning, with the critical food component  of the basket climbing by 17.79% over last February.  Although February’s Y/Y food price inflation has declined sequentially from December’s high of nearly 20%, the pressure on the government to act will be tremendous.

 Factory gate prices are not a true reflection of cost-to-consumer, but these WPI figures, as the best available data, seem to indicate that the Singh Administration grossly underestimated the potential for inflation as the desired stimulus led output and investment gains have exacerbated  the agricultural complex after last year’s disastrously dry monsoon season.   The public assurances of Singh’s administration and Central bank Governor Subbarao that food prices will moderate in the new year (March to March) is meaningless if this year’s monsoon rainfall disappoints. Note that ,with agriculture accounting for nearly 20% of GDP but employing over half the population, water is the most volatile commodity in the Indian economy.

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The .com domain name is 25 years old today, with March 15, 1985 marking the date of the first registered domain Symbolics.com. Today, there are tens of millions of .com domain names, but things didn’t move too fast at the very beginning. In fact, for the full year of 1985, only six .com domains were registered as compared to the 100,000 now regis… (read more)

Having just criminalized video games the government doesn’t like, it looks like Hugo Chavez is looking to have Venezuela be the next country to massively censor the internet.

“The Internet cannot be something open where anything is said and done. No, every country has to apply its own rules and norms,”

Of course, it seems that the “rules and norms” that Chavez wants are “no criticizing me.”

“We have to act. We are going to ask the attorney general for help, because this is a crime. I have information that this page periodically publishes stories calling for a coup d’etat. That cannot be permitted,”

Notice the problem here. Chavez’s real complaint is with an organization calling for a coup — but his response is to suggest that special laws need to be placed on all internet communications. There’s a disconnect there which doesn’t make much sense. If you want to make it illegal to support the overthrow of the government, that’s one thing — but that’s different than focusing on laws about the internet. The internet is just a communication mechanism.

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The magnetic rotary encoder SOKKY answers to the request of systems of rotating incremental measure, guaranteeing great reliability and easy way of assembly without necessity of joints.
This type of component that is proposed by Celco Profil presents various advantages that involves its use as indicate on the list following:
Extremely simple assembly without necessity of execution of balance, thanks to the direct drive.
High resistance also in applications with onerous atmosphere, that is in presence of liquids, powders, corrosive elements;
Advanced reliability thanks to hybrid circuit LSI.
High answer in frequency (200 KHz), for high speeds of spin.
Available in a various and big range.
Max speed. 5000 rpm.
Available with pulses/rotations: 300 360 500 1000 1024 2000 2048.
Output type open collector or line driver.

The release of the new SF6 gas insulated CGM.3 up to 40,5 kV comes as a response to the increasing demand of the power distribution market in countries such as China and Eastern Europe, were Medium Voltage networks require greater insulating levels than the established by IEC 62271-1 for 36 kV . This switchgear adapts to the new wind power generation trends with nominal voltages of up to 40,5 kV. Units are Internal Arc tested in all compartments, Class IAC, attending to the international specification IEC 62271-200.
The new CGM.3 will be available in the market next June 2010.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judy Reynolds
1.541.471.2986

SONIC MODULAR AIR KNIFE MOUNTING BRACKET ASSURES EFFECTIVE AIR KNIFE ATTACHMENT

(Brea, California) –Sonic Air Systems, Inc., the company that in 1995 pioneered the XE (extra efficiency) single piece teardrop air knife, introduces its latest industry innovation, the “Sonic Modular Air Knife Bracket.¡±

Sonic blower-powered XE air knives are essential high velocity air delivery devices in the removal of water or debris and for air cooling and heating on production lines with applications in virtually any manufacturing plant. The XE air knife is manufactured in both extruded aluminum or fabricated stainless steel ranging in size from 2″ to 6″ wide and lengths of 2″ to 144”. The majority of applications require one to six air knives up to 42″ long.

Until now, all air knife manufacturers have utilized the Sonic dual bracket design which supports each end of every air knife. Its limitations are most evident when up to six air knives are required on one production line. Finding a place to mount 12 air knife brackets can be nearly impossible.

Sonic’s new bracket design offers effective, rigid single-point air knife attachment with an easy 5-axis air knife adjustment ability requiring only one bracket for each 42″ air knife.

The key design element to achieving the simplicity of a single bracket is the robust Sonic air knife mounting cleat which is easily secured to any location along the body of the Sonic XE Air Knife with (4) self-tapping screws. The high cantilevered load capacity makes the Sonic air knife more rigid than most other air knives supported by two brackets. The cleat design also accommodates flat and radius air knife profiles of 2″, 3″ and 4″ sizes. The single bracket system can be mounted to the equipment frame at whichever point is the most accessible.

The standard bracket kit includes three 1″ diameter stainless steel connecting tubes of 9″,12″ and 24″ lengths. The bracket components are all aluminum construction with electroless nickel plating. The nickel offers corrosion protection, a hard scratch resistant surface, a >400¢ª temperature rating and an easy-to-clean finish.

The Sonic Modular Air Knife Brackets can upgrade any existing air knife installation, including other manufacturers¡¯ air knives.

For more information about the Sonic Modular Air Knife Brackets, log onto: www.SonicAirSystems.com
email: [email protected]

We have packed all our expertise together for you! The new XS series meets your highest demands with convincing cutting capacity and larger processing surface in this class for laser engraving, laser marking and laser cutting with CO2 lasers.

We define new standards for you with laser technology that brings our customers higher sustained profitability:

* Engraving speed of up to 3800 mm /sec.
* Resolution up to 1200 dpi
* Processing surfaces of up to 602 x 910 mm, suitable for standard board or foil formats

Our Made in Germany laser technology is groundbreaking with regard to productivity and flexibility. We have incorporated our many years of experience in large-scale systems into the new XS series and are now in a position to present you with a high-performance solution that leaves nothing to be desired. Handle more orders per day and increase your volume of sales!

The XS- 330 with 40 and 60W or the XS- 610 with a 40, 60 or 100W CO2 laser.

Other features

* Synrad laser source from the world’s leading provider of high-quality CO2 lasers
* Touch screen with File-Preview for easy-to-use menu navigation
* Intelligent image and contour recognition: Vision-Camera recognition system for positioning during printed applications
* Through-loading function for large materials
* Rotary engraving device for cylindrical engraving objects
* and many more

Five ABB robots take the stage with Bon Jovi for the band’s historic Circle Tour

2010-02-25 – Patented RoboScreen™ technology delivers an unprecedented concert experience. Robots choreographed to move in sync to the music.

The Bon Jovi concert experience has always been a marvel of sight and sound and “The Circle Tour” which opened February 19th in Seattle’s Key Arena has taken this production innovation to a new level. A primary component of the visual intrigue of the show is five ABB industrial robots positioned toward the back of the stage, each with a 6′ x 9′ LED video panel attached to their articulated arm. The robots and screens are integral to the concert production, moving to the rhythm and beat of the music while displaying real time video footage of the show and digital animations. At various intervals the five robot arms move into a formation where the LED panels become one continuous, five panel screen. The robots will accompany the nearly two-year long tour, which currently features approximately 60 concerts in North America and Europe, with additional dates likely to be scheduled. This will be the band’s longest tour since the late 1980s.

The creative concept that brings the robots to life on stage is RoboScreen™, a patented technology developed by inventor Andy Flessas, the founder and president of Robotic Arts of Las Vegas, NV. Flessas’ experience with robots began in the mid-1990s, and reached elite status in 2006 when he completed a robotic programming, design and operation certification program at the ABB training facility in Auburn Hills, MI, USA. Along the way he developed the idea of mounting a graphic screen on a robotic arm to bring controlled movement to the visual media and create a unique viewer experience.

The robots make one wide screen from the 5 RoboScreen modulesThe intelligence that allows the robots to be precisely choreographed with the music and the onstage production is Robot Animator™, a software program extension that enables 3D computer animation. The proprietary software developed by Flessas provides a separate interface to animate the movement of the ABB robots as if they were on-screen characters. Once the desired movement is established Robot Animator channels the code directly into ABB’s robot controller and the robots replicate the movement on stage.

“We were able to take the ABB robots out of the factory and turn them into rock stars mainly through the power of the ABB IRC5 controller and its ability to accept the precise movement established in Robot Animator,” said Flessas. “The programming we are doing for The Circle Tour could bring a totally new thought pattern to be used in advanced manufacturing applications in the future. This entertainment application may allow it to break through.”

When Jon Bon Jovi and the tour directors were presented the RoboScreen idea they were initially attracted by the uniqueness of the concept and the physical presence of the IRB 7600 robot. They were sold when they saw the graceful, elegant choreography that could be achieved, and they learned of the vast number of installations and support network that ABB has around the world.

“Andy Flessas is a true visionary and we are excited about the unique application he has developed for ABB robots,” said Joe Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing, ABB Robotics, North America. “This collaboration with Robotic Arts and Bon Jovi is certainly one of the most unique applications we have been involved with.”
The robots are prepared for their concert debutEach IRB 7600 robot is entrusted with a custom designed LED panel that weighs 700 lbs and is comprised of 24 individual sub-panels arranged in a six column by four row grid. The I-MAG or image magnification footage, approximately 85% of what will appear on the screens during the show, is fed by multiple cameras set up throughout the concert venue. The animations that fill the balance of the screen time are a combination of preprogrammed 3D graphics and fully rendered, real time computerized reactions to the beat of the music.

“Industrial robots being part of a major concert tour is unprecedented,” said Flessas. “They provide a big show element to the performance and help present the complete entertainment experience that is synonymous with the Bon Jovi brand.”

The design and integration of the rigging system that allows the five RoboScreens to fit seamlessly into the touring platform was done by Tait Towers, the world renowned tour production company headquartered in Lititz, PA.

The Circle Tour is the second major entertainment production that ABB robots have been involved with in the span of a year. In 2009 a series of ABB robots were extensively featured in the climactic scene of the “Terminator Salvation” movie starring Christian Bale.