Author: Serkadis

Infinity Ward has announced that the first batch of downloadable multiplayer maps for Modern Warfare 2 will hit the Xbox 360 on March 30, 2010. More after the jump.
 
 

Published Mar. 9, 2010
By the Tri-City Herald staff

Columbia Basin College’s main entrance off Argent Road has been named Saraceno Way after Bill Saraceno, senior vice president for administrative services.

The board of trustees approved the new name Monday night. Saraceno is “the driving force” behind capital projects at the Pasco college, a CBC news release said.

“Bill is renowned throughout the state system of community and technical colleges for his expertise and knowledge, which has been invaluable to CBC and the Benton-Franklin community,” CBC President Rich Cummins said in the statement.

Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.

MB S.p.A., the Vicenza-based company world leader in the production and sale of crusher buckets, never ceases to amaze: as of 2010, the company puts its name on a brilliant idea, the Universal Quick Coupling, a winning piece of equipment thanks to which on-site jobs are made as easy as possible.
A new accessory that once again bears witness to the company’s relentless efforts to innovate and be innovative, creating work tools that are increasingly cutting-edge, flexible and of basic use, just like its unique crusher buckets.

Available in seven versions, depending on the excavator and the pin on which it is assembled, the new Universal Quick Coupling allows all kinds of equipment, from the crusher bucket to the hammer, from the traditional bucket to the drill, to the same excavator, with very short installation times.
This new product by MB therefore improves pick-up geometry by reducing the distance between the excavator arm and the equipment used, thus speeding up the jobs carried out on site.
And that is not all. The strain on the excavator is also diminished, thanks to reduction of more than 50% of the weight compared to traditional couplings offered on the market: suffice it to think that the new Universal Quick Coupling weighs about 80 kg, compared to the 150 kg of couplings available today on the market.
This universal coupling is quick and versatile and makes assembly operations easy thanks to the possibility of quickly assembling the pieces of equipment on both sides (front and back).

MB S.p.A., the Vicenza-based company world leader in the production and sale of crusher buckets continues to amaze by always occupying a place in the front lines in the demolition and recycling sector, and the constant research by a competent team ensures that the company is always one step ahead by offering work tools that are an absolute must at construction sites.
The equipment offered by the company has made it extremely competitive and well-known at the international level in just a few years.

Modula® is a drawer storage unit designed to optimize space, work and time management. A structure made of a skeleton of supporting profiles and modular steel housings, making it possible to reduce up to 400 m2 into 12.
Designed to respond at elevated standards of quality and aesthetics, the entire range of MODULA storage units guarantee high level performance in terms of speed. The drawer deposit cells reach a step capillarity that is equal to 25 mm and the combination of bumpers and dividers inside the drawers guarantee maximum flexibility of use.
Four possible combinations, internal and external bays, single or double, making it possible to choose an ad hoc solution and streamlining storage, warehousing and materials search procedures with great flexibility. The external bay guarantees superior performance, a result of the ergonomic work station that facilitates the use of external elements to manipulate the product, such as robots, and manipulator arms, while the internal bay makes it possible to save space especially if the available area is limited.
A computer touch screen allows the operator to interface with ease, simplifying the management of all storage unit functions and, in the case of the double bay, can carry out picking and research operations at the same time.
This is also an answer to the problem of product safety inside the warehouse; in fact, operators are supplied with a password that authorises differentiated access based on the different responsibilities; all movements and pickings are recorded and can be reconstructed at any time, giving total control over the warehouse and the products that are handled therein.
Applying sub-codes for each reference makes it possible to handle lots, even on two levels, giving a total and precise tracking of the material managed by the warehouse, with information such as production date, lot number, handling date, etc.
Operators, with the aid of a dedicated computer, are guided during picking and refilling operations that can be completed with extreme operational ease; even the bays, which can be internal and external, are designed to offer maximum ergonomics and optimize warehouse picking and depositing
In order to integrate the use of MODULA with company information systems, System Logistics has also developed the SYSTORE supervision software, a program that can be completely interfaced with company computer system platforms to trace the entire goods movement process.

The BCH 2K5-120NP-EQ rugged, industrial quality battery charger uses field-proven high-frequency conversion technology to deliver up to 2500W continuous output power. This charger accepts an input voltage range of 190V to 264Vac. and in float-mode, it provides 135Vdc/16A for charging a 120V (60 cell) battery. Other input/output values are available on request.

This design also has a manually initiated equalize cycle. Activated by a push-button “EQ/ON”, the equalize function elevates the output voltage to 141Vdc for the battery. The equalize time is controlled by a built in timer, adjustable in the 1-9 hour range. This mode can be de-activated at any time at the “EQ/OFF” button.

The BCH 2K5-120NP-EQ is rated for heavy-duty applications with -40oC to +70oC temperature rating for full specification. Cooling is by convection via louvers on the cabinet. The absence of fans, low component count and the use of components with established reliability result in a high MTBF. The robust chassis was designed for a wall-mounted application.

This charger is constructed with internal modules, connected in parallel, which also provide inherent redundancy: the failure of one module would only cause a minor loss in output power. The charger output is equipped with a built-in crossbar diode and output breaker as a safety feature against accidental reverse battery connection. Other protection includes input inrush current limiting, over-voltage protection, short circuit protection, and a self-resetting thermostat for thermal protection. An optional Charger Fail Alarm (Form C) indicates loss of AC input power.

Absopulse offers an extensive range of battery chargers and UPS systems that can be modified to meet almost any electrical and mechanical requirement. We also welcome requests for fully custom units.

FLAT TEC HYBRID is the innovative lighting
solution for machining centers with very limited space for adapting luminaires in the machine compartment.
Two lighting technologies in one housing.
For one, a highly efficient fluorescent lamp for the extensive illumination of the machine compartment. Secondly, two LEDs for the pinpoint illumination of the machining area. Both types of light – in keeping with the specific need for light – can be switched together and separately.
Additionally the FLAT TEC HYBRID a visible statement for environmentally oriented companies.

The unload system can handle both punched nested parts and material skeletons in a reliable way, without any scratches or damages at the material.

There are grip positions where 4 material clamps will grip the skeleton and pull it out on top of the brush covered jalousie table.

The skeleton will be released and lowered down on pallet systems or directly on skids.

The system allows for integration of automatic pallet changing, where punched nested parts and skeletons can be stored in to customized storage systems with unmanned production.

Specialist in plastic fasteners, BÜLTE screw range includes 5 new models of wing screws, offering more than 160 possibilities.

The advantages: finger tightening (no tools required). Suitable for all sectors of industry (furniture, electronics, engineering, etc.), these screws are ideal for manual assembly.

The standard material is natural Polyamide (Nylon) which is resistant to various chemical products, has excellent mechanical properties including wear resistance, low friction coefficient, high melting point and good impact resistance and is also very light. The working temperature range is -30 to +100°C.

These screws can also be manufactured in other materials, such as PP, PE, PVDF and POM (these materials are recommended for their good food and medical qualities) or PA glass filled (high tensile strength and rigidity – it ideally replaces aluminium and zinc in tapped parts).

The wing screws are available in sizes M5, M6, M8 and M10. Lengths vary from 6 to 80 mm.

The standard colour is natural but we can supply these parts in a wide range of colours to suit your requirements.

The references : PLAS 11 / 31 / 150 / 151 / violin head screws Form “C”.

Samples and prices available on request.

For more Information, contact:

BÜLTE PLASTICS (UK) LTD
13 John Street, Stratford-upon-Avon
Warwickshire CV37 6UB
Tel. : + 44 (0)1789 263 753 – Fax : + 44 (0)1789 264 015
www.bulte.com – [email protected]

BÜLTE is registered DIN EN ISO 9001-2000

Filed under: SUV, Videos, Off-Road

The vintage FJ Landcruiser tuners at Icon turn out highly detailed 4x4s with custom-designed suspensions comprised of top-shelf parts, powdercoated exteriors and German military convertible tops. We’ve sampled the firm’s wares before and those details turn Icon vehicles into impressive – if spendy – SUVs: $79,000 gets you a look at the bottom of the barrel, more than $100,000 is needed for a taste of the cream. Are they worth it? StreetFire takes a look at three Icons, and along with our own Jonny Liberman and PickupTrucks.com’s Mike Levine, renders the muddy verdict. Follow the jump for all the action.

[Source: StreetFire]

Continue reading Video: Icon’s ultimate 4x4s from another perspective

Video: Icon’s ultimate 4x4s from another perspective originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We recently wrote how some special interests have been playing up the idea that there’s some sort of cyberwar going on that the US is losing. Of course, there have been similar claims going back for a decade, without anything to support it. Are there state-supported hackers breaking into computers of other countries? Absolutely. Does that reach the level of “cyberwar”? Not at all. At best its a bit of espionage and maybe a tiny bit of sabotage, but escalating it to the cyberwar level only is good for companies trying to sell “solutions.” Thankfully, it sounds like there’s actually some sanity in the White House over this, as the top cybersecurity adviser to the president, Howard Schmidt, is playing down the whole “cyberwar” rhetoric in an interview with Wired:

“There is no cyberwar,” Schmidt told Wired.com in a sit-down interview Wednesday at the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco.

“I think that is a terrible metaphor and I think that is a terrible concept,” Schmidt said. “There are no winners in that environment.”

Instead, Schmidt seems to be focused on the real issue: espionage. Hopefully, Schmidt’s view prevails, and other politicians aren’t swept into the moral panic around a non-existent “cyberwar.”

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.9.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is a tough way to make a living – BC

Brutally Honest Mobile Home Commercial  -  hattip  IOwnTheWorld.com 

  << CLICK TO WATCH

EMBED-Brutally Honest Mobile Home Commercial – Watch more free videos 

 

Mom, Apple Pie and Mortgages – By ROBERT J. SHILLER – … In fact, there is much more to the history of subsidizing housing. While the crisis in the housing market shows that our current approach is far from perfect, there is a certain wisdom behind it, related not only to economic stimulus but also to the preservation of a sense of national identity. It’s important to remember this as we consider re-engineering our institutions as the crisis ebbs. … – NY Times

Program Will Pay Homeowners to Sell at a Loss – By DAVID STREITFELD – In an effort to end the foreclosure crisis, the Obama administration has been trying to keep defaulting owners in their homes. Now it will take a new approach: paying some of them to leave.  This latest program, which will allow owners to sell for less than they owe and will give them a little cash to speed them on their way, is one of the administration’s most aggressive attempts to grapple with a problem that has defied solutions … – NY Times

Help for First-Time Buyers – By BOB TEDESCHI – LOOKING for a fixed-rate mortgage with a competitively low interest rate, but armed with only 3 percent for a down payment, a low credit score and a modest annual income?  Thanks to an infusion of federal support late last year through the economic stimulus package, the State of New York Mortgage Agency, or Sonyma, is now offering 30-year affordable-housing loans at 4.75 percent, down from an average rate of 5.25 to 5.75 percent last year and well below the 5 percent or so being offered by mainstream lenders to their best customers. – NY Times

Doing great – Old-Fashioned Bulwark in a Tide of Foreclosures – … Of more than 60,000 New York homes built or rehabilitated by the city in partnership with nonprofit groups like Nehemiah and Neighborhood Housing Services over three decades, fewer than 1 percent have fallen into foreclosure. … – NY Times

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Repurchased Loans Putting Banks in Hole – By APARAJITA SAHA-BUBNA – The rising tide "is definitely a surprise," said Ajay Rajadhyaksha, head of U.S. fixed-income and securitized strategy at the Barclays PLC unit. "Most investors haven’t really focused on this issue and are surprised on how much impact this could have, including on earnings." – Wall Street Journal

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has list of 10 – Uncle Sam’s Deadbeat Mortgage Lenders – Asher Hawkins – Will these 10 firms’ high default ratios wind up costing taxpayers a bundle? – Forbes

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   + 

Barney Frank Urges Wall Street to Write Off Second Liens  – Posted by Larry Doyle – has letter and comments – Sense on Cents

and

Barney Frank "Asks" Top Four Banks To Write Down Second-Lien Mortgages, Claims Have No Economic Value – Submitted by Tyler Durden – Zero Hedge

 

Greece Bags $5 Billion From Investors Offering Killer Yield As Investors Bet On ECB Backing – Vincent Fernando – Greece successfully pulled off a five-billion euro bond issue that was massively over-subscribed, indicating the investors loved the 6.5% yield: … – Money Game at Business Insider

Volcker: No Way The US Economy Can Stand On Its Own Without Stimulus – Joe Weisenthal -  This is not the time to pull back spending- Money Game at Business Insider

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Banks scramble to raise cash after Fannie Mae cuts – By Richard Leong and Lynn Adler – Banks scrambled to raise cash this week after U.S. mortgage finance agency Fannie Mae abruptly slashed the number of financial institutions that hold its funds, market sources said on Friday.  The move forced banks dropped by Fannie Mae (FNM.N) to liquidate Treasuries and other short-term securities and borrow in the open market so they could return money Fannie Mae had with them, they said. This caused an increase in short-term interest rates across key U.S. loan markets since Wednesday.- more – Reuters
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2 interesting discussions – Mark-to-Market Accounting: OneWest and WaMu; Commentary by Brian Wesbury and Robert Stein: Bernanke Finally Fingers Mark-To-Market – Christopher Whalen – The Institutional Risk Analyst

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quite interesting – Debating Debtflation – By Spyros Andreopoulos, Joachim Fels & Manoj Pradhan – The Greek crisis has brought sovereign debt to the forefront, capturing markets’ attention. We think another dimension of the sovereign issue, the inflation risks inherent in high levels of public debt for economies that can print their own currency, is being overlooked by the markets. …. We calculate that, over the next ten years, on average,
1.  a 5% deficit would require 9% inflation
2.  a 3% deficit would require 6% inflation
3.  achievement of a 2% inflation target requires a 1% of GDP budget surplus.
Scary stuff. – Morgan Stanley 
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chain reaction? – ‘On the Edge’ Banks Facing Writedowns After FDIC Loan Auctions – … The auctions may have wider repercussions. Of the $50.4 billion in loans seized from failed banks currently held by the FDIC, 63 percent involve participations by other lenders, according to data provided by agency spokesman Greg Hernandez.
“These banks can’t believe that the regulator they pay to protect them is going to sell these loans to someone who can flip them and cause them serious losses,” said Robert Reynolds … – By James Sterngold – Bloomberg BusinessWeek

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coming soon! – HBO to Dramatize The Financial Meltdown In All Its Gory Details – by James Camp – MEDIAite.com 

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The Way We Live Now: Schools Move To Four Day Week To Combat Budget Crises – Gregory White -  Business Insider 
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No Credit – Timothy Geithner’s financial plan is working—and making him very unpopular. – by John Cassidy – The New Yorker 

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The Mother of All Carry Trades has Started – Posted by: madhedgefundtrader – It is time to start scaling into a major short in the yen. The Euro/Yen cross is pointing the way. The prospects of Japan raising rates are nil. The government’s pool of lenders is drying up. The savings rate is plummeting. The bill for the world’s worst demographic outlook is coming due. Macro investing at its finest. Look for ¥120 in a year. – Zero Hedge

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Audi

We already know that Audi plans to fit the standard R8’s 420-hp, 4.2-liter V8 into its all-new Spyder variant early next year, and now comes word that at least one more version of the R8 is in the pipeline and that the R tronic sequential automatic might not be long for this world.

According to company insiders speaking with Car and Driver, the herky-jerky gearbox will likely be dispatched in favor of Audi’s new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. There’s no word on the amount of torque the DCT can handle, but considering how much better the R8 V10 performed with the standard sequential tranny, we’d suspect that the dual-clutch setup will make its way onto the V8 models only. And if you’re worried about the gated six-speed manual being nixed from the options list, don’t be – it will continue to be available on all models.

C&D also reports that a sportier version of the R8, inspired by the LMS model, could be in the cards, packing more power (think: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera) and a not-so-insignificant weight reduction thanks to the liberal use of carbon fiber. Expect that to only be available on the V10 model and yes, a fully-electric version based on the original e-tron concept is supposedly on the way and due to arrive in a few year’s time.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Audi R8 to spawn sportier model, dual-clutch gearbox cometh originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Josiah LaColla is an industrial designer from Detroit and has had vehicles displayed at the SEMA show for the past two years. After checking out his resume here, you can tell that LaColla is very talented and very imaginative.

Click here to get prices on the 2010 Ford Taurus.

While his imagination was out for jog, it came back with an idea of the 2011 Ford Taurus SHO Wagon, known by LaColla as a “Sophisticated American Tourer.”

Like it? Hate it? Let us know in the comments section below. Our take? We like it… a lot.

Check out our review of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO here.

– By: Kap Shah

Source: Josiah LaColla (via AutoBlog)

Back in January, it was reported that Mercedes-Benz will offer the next-generation S-Class with a plug-in hybrid variant. At the time, insiders said that with the help of weight reduction and aerodynamic improvements, the S-Class plug-in hybrid sedan will be able to return an estimated 67 mpg.

In an interview with CARandDRIVER, passenger-car development boss Thomas Weber said that the Mercedes-Benz Vision S500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept shown in Frankfurt last year could achieve a fuel-economy of 78 mpg. He said that when the large luxury plug-in sedan hits markets it could hit at least 81 mpg (based on the European hybrid cycle).

Click here to get a price quote on the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Power will come from a 3.0L V6 gasoline engine mated to a 60-hp electric-motor. In pure-electric mode, Mercedes-Benz expects the plug-in hybrid S-Class to be able to travel over 20 miles at speeds of up to 68 mph.

Daimler AG said yesterday it will double its investment in green technologies over the next two years for its Mercedes-Benz brand. The Stuttgart automaker plans on spending $1.4 billion in each of the next two years to develop batteries and fuel-efficient engines.

Mercedes-Benz Vision S500 HYBRID Concept:

– By: Kap Shah

Source: CARandDRIVER

Filed under: Government/Legal

Is CARB backing down on its so-called “cool cars” regulation? On May 7, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will have to turn in its final draft of the controversial regulations, which calls for automakers to build cars and trucks with windows that prevent 45% of the sun’s energy from entering a vehicle by 2014 and 60% by 2016. Vehicle manufacturers have argued that it will be expensive to meet the requirements, and other groups are complaining for their own reasons. Heck, there was initially concern that off-roaders might lose their beloved Jeep Wrangler altogether. Thank goodness they came to their senses.

While several different groups have significant concerns about the proposal, it looks like CARB might finally be listening to one group in particular – law enforcement. It seems that California’s sheriffs, police chiefs and crime victim groups are calling for the plan to be amended… and CARB is actually listening.

According to The Detroit News, The California Police Chiefs Association, California State Sheriffs Association, Crime Victims United of California and other groups are concerned that the required window glazing needed to meet the new regulations will seriously degrade cell phone signals, as well as those from ankle monitoring bracelets. We wouldn’t want to lose track of felons now, would we? The other big concern is that 911 calls might not get through if the window treatment prohibits a strong signal.

That seems to be sending CARB back to the drawing board, with suggestions coming that the plan will be revised before the May 7 deadline. As a refresher, the idea behind the “cool cars” regulation is to save gas and reduce emissions. Cooler cars reduce their air con use, and with California’s overflowing freeways, that could mean a significant drop. In fact, CARB is predicting that the regulations will save 700,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2020 – the equivalent of parking 140,000 cars a year.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: California to amend ‘Cool Cars’ legislation over… criminal activity? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda announced today that it will install brake override systems in new models amid news of recalls of more than 8 million vehicles of Toyota vehicles. According to Mazda spokesman Kotaro Minagawa, the new features will be give brakes priority if the accelerator and the brake pedals are pressed together.

Mazda said that all future vehicles worldwide will be equipped with the brake override technology. It did not say when it will start rolling out the future or what model will get the technology first.

Click here to get a price quote on the Mazda3.

“We are not aware of any malfunctions or instances of runaway Mazda vehicles or related accidents that would necessitate a brake override system,” Minagawa said.

Mazda, which is owned 11 percent by FoMoCo, said that the update is a safety enhancement and said it was not promoted by reports of braking or acceleration issues. We believe otherwise – either way, kudos to Mazda.

– By: Kap Shah

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Michael Scott points us to a blog post by Peter Fleischer, the Global Privacy Counsel for Google — perhaps better known as one of the three Google execs to be convicted on criminal charges due to a video some kids uploaded to Google Video, which the Italian courts believe Google did not take down fast enough. In the blog post, Fleischer discusses the balance between the right to privacy and the right to free expression, noting that posting a photo online is part of free expression, but if that photo shows anyone else, European privacy laws suggest you may be guilty of violating someone’s privacy (which is what Fleischer and the Google executives were convicted of doing). In discussing this balance, Fleischer notes that while there are plenty of regulators in charge of protecting privacy in Europe, there don’t seem to be the equivalent regulators in charge of protecting freedom of expression:

Both freedom of expression and privacy are fundamental human rights. But those rights are not both equally enforced, protected or policed. There are literally thousands of data protection bureaucrats in Europe whose job is to enforce European data protection regulations. As far as I can tell, there is not a single government official in all of Europe whose sole job is to do the same for freedom of expression. Curious, no?

As I go to privacy-centric conferences where people invariably talk about the problems and risks of social networking sites, I’m often the odd guy out who seems to think that they’re also precious platforms for freedom of expression. Lots of guys in power lecture about how lives or careers or futures are jeopardized by a single embarrassing photo posted to a platform….

A privacy regulator in Europe told me the other day that he thought it was a data protection violation for anyone to post a photo online if it captured someone’s face or property without their consent. I asked him whether he thought this restricted the right to freedom of expression. He didn’t seem to understand the question.

The right to privacy and the right to free expression are both important rights — and they’re certainly ones that can, conceivably, conflict. This is one case where figuring out where the line is drawn is important, and the lack of anyone fighting for freedom of expression in Europe suggests that only one side of the debate is being heard there.

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