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Can You Hemi Now? Part 2Written by on April 3, 2013 Contributors: Indy Cylinder Head
Last month we began building the late-model Hemi engine for our '10 Dodge Challenger drag car by bolting together a 426-inch bottom end using a factory 6.1 Hemi block. Our intentions with this late-model Hemi are to show Mopar Muscle readers how well the latest version of the Chrysler Hemi can run when built properly using a combination of factory and quality aftermarket components. We've challenged ourselves to make big power from this engine, and we decided to build the engine to run on pump gas to reduce the weekly costs of operating our bracket car during race season.
Inside our factory block, we used a forged crankshaft and rods from Callies' Compstar line, Diamond forged pistons, a Comp hydraulic roller camshaft, and a Milodon oiling system with a Melling oil pump to keep things lubricated. With a bore of 4.090 inches, and a stroke of 4.050 inches, displacement is just shy of 426 inches. Of course you can see all the details of this engine's short-block in the March issue of Mopar Muscle, or read about it here. And while the short-block of an engine such as our late-model Hemi is important in terms of power and durability, the best components in the world won't matter if the engine isn't topped with the proper cylinder heads and induction system.
Chrysler has made several versions of the Hemi cylinder head since the inception of the third generation Hemi, and all are impressive in terms of power potential. All late-model Hemi heads feature dual spark plugs, a feature that improves both the power and efficiency of this engine. Dual spark plugs, located in the center of the combustion chamber, have been shown to not only improve reliability, as in aircraft engines, but have also been proven to increase power through a more thorough burning of the air/fuel mixture. Additionally, the dual plugs reduce emissions by burning the air/fuel charge more completely, allowing the engine to meet government emissions standards using less restrictive catalytic converters. Chrysler really did their homework when designing the late model Hemi head, and it shows in power these engines make right from the factory. With aftermarket companies such as Indy Cylinder Head further developing this technology for use in high-performance applications, the late model Hemi is in our opinion the best option for a performance build when power, weight, and efficiency are considered.
Since we're working with Indy Cylinder Head on this project, we knew that whatever late-model head choice we made would be treated to Indy's proprietary "Windjammer" CNC porting, and that we could make very respectable power with a set of the 5.7, 6.1, or 6.4 cylinder heads. The latest offering from Mopar, however, offers some distinct advantages when compared to earlier late-model cylinder heads. Utilized on the 6.4 (392) engines, the newest late-model Hemi head is called the Apache head, and is the cylinder head we chose to top our late-model bracket engine.
The Apache head in stock form helps the 392 Hemi achieve its rated 475 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque in part thanks to longer valves and high-flowing square-shaped intake ports. The exhaust ports of the Apache head are D-shaped, and also flow better than any of the previous late-model Hemi head designs. The 6.1 head was no slouch, flowing more than ten percent better than the 5.7 head, and the Apache head has been shown to flow even better, up to 340 cfm on the intake side in stock form. These numbers are impressive, but with Indy's Windjammer porting, our Apache heads flow better than 370 cfm on the intake side, more than any other factory Chrysler cylinder head. Apache heads also offer a closed chamber design, with 74cc chambers, which combined with our Diamond flat-top pistons, will help us achieve a pump-gas friendly 10.85:1 compression ratio.
In addition to the CNC porting, we had Indy perform a multi-angle valve job, and install new 2.14-inch intake, and 1.65-inch stainless steel exhaust valves. To fasten our ported Apache heads to the block, we utilized a set of ARP head studs and Cometic MLS (multi-layer-steel) head gaskets. At 10.85:1 compression we aren't really pushing the limits in terms of cylinder pressure, but we want to make sure our heads stay in place for multiple seasons of drag racing and that our engine remains consistent and maintenance free. MLS gaskets ensure a proper combustion chamber seal and the ARP head fasteners are far superior to the factory head bolts, and unlike the factory bolts, the studs can be reused without the fear of stretching.
Standard engine building techniques are utilized when assembling a late-model Hemi, and we tightened the head studs in three sequential steps to a final torque of 100 lb-ft. With the heads in place, it was time to concentrate on our intake manifold, which also means addressing the ignition system of our engine. Since all late-model Hemis lack a distributor or a provision for a distributor, the ignition system must be controlled by a computer attached to individual coil packs for each cylinder. Indy Cylinder Head has come up with a great way to incorporate the coils under the intake manifold, using plug wires for the spark plugs just like the first and second generation Hemi engines.
We're utilizing a Mopar Performance Drag Pack intake manifold on our 426 Hemi, and the crew at Indy machined provisions in the bottom of the intake so that the eight individual coil packs could be bolted underneath using one of their coil plates. Using a Hemi-6 programmable controller, wiring harness, and coils from MSD, along with plug wires from Indy Cylinder Head, this technique allows for a much cleaner, somewhat nostalgic look for the late-model Hemi. The MSD ignition box also allows the ignition to be run as a stand-alone system, without the complexity of fuel injection. The Hemi-6 controller is easily programmed with a laptop computer, and the harness plugs right into the factory crank and cam sensors, as well as the coolant temp and MAP (manifold air pressure) sensor.
What this means for old-school tuners, is that the late model Hemi can be used with a carburetor, just like the first and second generation versions. And while we certainly aren't opposed to fuel injection on our street cars or even a race car, running a carburetor on our dedicated bracket racer will make things easier in terms of wiring, fuel system plumbing, and overall simplicity. To top our Mopar Performance single-plane intake, we decided to test two different Holley Ultra-HP carburetors, an 850-cfm and a 950-cfm version. We've had great luck with these new Holley carbs since they came out, finding them to be very accurate right out of the box. The Ultra HP carbs also offer some great convenience options like a drain plug for each float bowl, making tuning even easier than previous Holly carbs.
Once we had our engine complete, we bolted it to the dyno and connected a set of tti headers to find out how our combination would perform. The headers we're using are tti's Drag-Pack units, featuring 17⁄8-inch primary tubes stepped up to 2 inches, with 3-inch to 4-inch tapered collectors. These headers will also be installed in our '10 Challenger once we get the engine in the car.
Running on 92 octane pump gas, from the station right up Southeastern Avenue from Indy's shop, we fired up our Hemi for some break in time and dyno pulls. The Comp hydraulic roller cam in this engine has a fairly wide 114-degree lobe separation, and combined with 10.85:1 compression our Hemi had a fairly smooth idle and sounded pretty docile when running at low rpm. We had some pretty good expectations for this engine, but our Hemi certainly didn't have the idle quality or cackle of a high-powered race engine. Once the throttle opened, however, this late-model Hemi came to life.
Making a couple of short pulls to help seat the rings, we were impressed when our power numbers already topped 600. Comfortable that our engine was sound and properly broken in, we quickly programmed the MSD Hemi-6 ignition controller for 13 degrees of total ignition timing. With the 850 Holley carb, horsepower was tickling the 700hp range, so we decided to see if this engine wanted more fuel and air. Swapping from the 850 to the 950-cfm Holley Ultra HP, we made a full pull on the engine to 7,000 rpm. When the dyno numbers appeared on the computer screen we weren't just impressed, we were astounded. By race engine standards this is a fairly mild combination, running on pump gas, and it made well over 700 horsepower. With a single jet change, we achieved an amazing 719.5 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, and 605 lb-ft of torque at 5,300 rpm.
Having built many Mopar big-blocks, small-blocks, and early Hemi engines, we can say that without a doubt this late-model Hemi produces more power with a milder combination than any other Mopar V-8. The power and torque numbers we achieved from this engine are real race engine numbers, without the huge displacement, high compression, or aggressive solid roller cam that most race engines require to make this kind of power. If any of our readers weren't sure about the late-model Hemi, we encourage you to carefully review the specs of this engine. In our opinion, this is the best platform available for a Mopar engine build, whether for a late-model car or an earlier Mopar. We can't wait to get this engine into our Challenger and hit the track, so be sure to watch future issues of Mopar Muscle to see what kind of numbers we run.
|Price Tag
|6.4 late-model Hemi heads
|Indy preparation and cnc porting
|Holley Ultra HP 950 Carburetor
|Mopar Drag Pack intake manifold
|MSD Hemi Six ignition box
|MSD Hemi Six wiring harness
|MSD coils
|TTI late-model Hemi headers
(909) 371-4878
More Photos From This Article View Slideshow
1. Last month we assembled the short-block of our late-model Hemi. This engine features forged internals from Compstar and Diamond, and a hydraulic roller cam from Comp Cams. With a Milodon oil system this little Hemi should be powerful and durable.2. 3. All the late-model Hemi heads have the potential to make power, but we chose the latest offering from Mopar, the 6.4 (392) Apache head.3. This head can flow 340 cfm on the intake side right out of the box, and with Indy Cylinder Head's Windjammer CNC porting flow numbers exceed 370 cfm. These castings are great for street, strip, or full on racing applications like ours, and the closed chamber design helped us to achieve our 10.85:1 compression ratio.4. After CNC porting, the Indy crew assembled our Hemi heads using stainless steel valves, and Comp "beehive" style valvesprings and hardware. The valve gear utilized in the new Hemi engine is lightweight and durable, a perfect match for our Comp hydraulic roller camshaft.5. The intake ports of the Apache head are square shaped, and CNC porting makes them into very large squares good for very high flow numbers.6. Exhaust ports are D-shaped which is unique among the late-model Hemi heads. Equipped with these ported heads our 426-inch engine has some pretty good power potential.7. We installed our cylinder heads using ARP head studs and Cometic MLS head gaskets. There are aftermarket rocker arms available for the late-model Hemi, but for our combination the factory rocker arms work just fine. We had to measure to attain proper pushrod length, and like the first and second generation Hemi engines the intake and exhaust pushrods are different lengths. Indy makes pushrods in-house, so we had our pushrods quickly for this project.8. Before installing the Mopar Performance Drag Pack intake manifold, we installed our MSD coils under the intake. Indy cylinder Head offers a plate that allows the coils to be installed under the intake, and individual wires are then run to the spark plugs. This makes for a clean look, similar to the first and second generation Hemi engines.9. Once the coils, wiring harness, and plug wires are installed on the bottom of the intake, the intake can be bolted to the engine. The drag pack intake is tall, so hood clearance can be an issue, especially when a carburetor is used. Fortunately we already plan for our Challenger race car to have a hood scoop, guess we'd better make it a tall one.
10. For the dyno runs and when this Hemi is installed in our race car, we'll use a Meziere electric water pump. With so many great aftermarket parts available for the late model Hemi we're surprised we don't see more of these engines at the track, that will likely change, however, as more racers discover the reliable power these engines can make.11. With our build complete, we bolted our Hemi to Indy's Superflow dyno and installed our tti headers. This engine will run on pump gas, so we picked up five gallons of 92 octane fuel from the gas station right up the street. During racing season, it will be a real benefit not to need expensive high-octane racing fuel.12. The MSD standalone Hemi-6 unit only controls the engine's ignition system, and the associated wiring harness plugs directly into the factory coils and engine sensors. The unit is also easy to program using a laptop computer and software that comes with the controller. We ended up with 13 degrees of total advance in our Hemi.13. The MSD standalone Hemi-6 unit only controls the engine's ignition system, and the associated wiring harness plugs directly into the factory coils and engine sensors. The unit is also easy to program using a laptop computer and software that comes with the controller. We ended up with 13 degrees of total advance in our Hemi.14. We warmed up our 426 late-model Hemi and made a couple of short pulls using the Holley 850 Ultra HP carburetor, and were surprised at how smoothly this engine idled. After installing the 950 carb and making a jet change, our Hemi really came to life. Only making four total pulls on the engine, we netted more than 719 horsepower and well over 600 lb-ft of torque!


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Ultra HD and New Smart Features Dominate New TVs
LG, Sharp, Sony, Samsung and Panasonic bring out their best for the 2013 CES.
Will this be the year that we talk about high resolution, smart integration or OLED? So far, it looks like all three. Among the major TV manufacturers showing at CES this year, those three themes dominated, but Ultra HD and OLED are still taking the spotlight.
We've already seen a couple of Ultra HD (4K) TVs from Sony and LG, and OLED TV demonstrations have been floating around for several years. Smart TVs also are nothing new, sort of, but they're getting progressively smarter.
First, let's look at the Ultra HD news. LG, Sharp, Sony and Toshiba (read Toshiba's CES news here), as well as Westinghouse, Vizio and Hisense, all announced LED LCD TVs that put four times the resolution of HDTV on the screen.
LG started out the CES press conference marathon and showed the 84-inch Ultra HD TV that came out last fall — plus two new models in smaller sizes. The 55- and 65-inch LG 3D UHD TVs display the same resolution as their mammoth cousin. All three have LG's Triple XD Engine to upscale 1080p content to 4K (3840×2160).
The TVs use LG's updated Magic Remote to control the units with pointing, gesture and voice. The feature set offers a range of connectivity options, such as Wi-Fi and Intel's Wireless Display (WiDi) for transferring data or content from phones and tablets to the TVs.
The company also mentioned that it is working with industry and content partners on 4K content creation and distribution, but would not elaborate on that when pressed.
Some models in LG's new lineup will include cameras which enable gesture control via finger pointing without a remote. This wasn't demonstrated at the press conference, but we'll get a closer look at it during a follow-up visit at the company's CES booth.
As expected, LG also announced that its 55-inch OLED TV will launch in the U.S. in March for $12,000.
LG's OLED TV
Sharp pretty much dominated the very big TV market in 2012, with models in 70-, 80- and 90-inch sizes. The company promised more of the same this year, but will be adding a number of new interesting technologies to its TV line.
The first of the new technologies is a semiconductor solution called IZIO (indium gallium zinc oxide) for OLED displays. The company says it's much faster than traditional LCD, allows for twice the resolution, and uses less power. The first IZIO-based product from Sharp will be a 33-inch, 4K OLED monitor for commercial use (sorry home users).
In Ultra HD, Sharp had some of the more intriguing announcements of the show. The company will launch two separate types of 4K TVs. The premier line is called ICC Purios, which was jointly developed with the I-Cubed Research Center. ICC Purios TVs is an ICC (integrated cognitive creation) image processor, which is supposed to copy the way the human brain perceives light. The company claims it emulates the sense of depth, texture and perspective of physical experience on a display. The first ICC Purios model is a THX-certified 60-inch TV that will come to market this summer.
Sharp's ICC Purios 4K TV
The second line of Ultra HD sets falls under the Aquos moniker and incorporates a new screen technology called Moth Eye. Promising to eliminate screen glare, the Aquos Ultra HD TVs will come in 70- and 85-inch sizes and will include the Quattron technology found on many of the company's other models. This tech adds an extra yellow subpixel to the standard red, blue and green pixel structure of an LCD TV.
While Panasonic hasn't yet (extra emphasis on "yet") announced any Ultra HD TVs, the company is expanding its smart TV capabilities by allowing users to personalize their TV with a main menu called "My Home Screen." Each family member can create a separate home screen, which can be populated with that person's favorite apps and services. In addition, some models will use a built-in web camera that will use facial recognition to automatically bring up the user's home screen. The camera includes a microphone that can recognize voice commands and even read web text back to the listener.
Panasonic has updated last year's Swipe and Share feature, to allow wireless viewing of smartphone photos on the TV. The company also demonstrated a pen input device, which can be used to write notes directly on digital photos on the TV. Then, users can send those doctored photos back to the user's smartphone, as well as another phone or tablet.
Panasonic's Swipe and Share feature.
An improved TV shopping feature with HSN was also demonstrated.
Samsung's top TV lineup will include a 55-inch OLED TV and 4K models, plus an innovative update of its Smart Hub smart TV platform.
The OLED TV includes a neat feature to let two people watch two separate shows simultaneously. The feature is called Multiview. Users wear active 3D glasses with built-in speakers, so each viewer only hears his or her program.
Samsung's Ultra HD introduction is an 85-inch model with an interesting easel-style stand. While the stand is striking, it also appears to take up a lot of room and doesn't allow for any components to be placed on a table underneath. We expect buyers will mount the TV on a wall anyway. The Ultra HD set is complemented with a built-in 100-watt speaker system.
A 110-inch Ultra HD set is also being shown at the Samsung booth.
Possibly more interesting than Samsung's massive 4K TVs is the overhaul the company did to its web-based Smart Hub platform. Instead of a main menu filled with apps organized into separate sections, the new Smart Hub is made up of five panels that you can scroll through by swiping through screens, similar to a smartphone or tablet. The panels are organized around main functions: TV programming, personal pictures and video, social media, movies and apps.
This is a rethinking of how people use TVs, because instead of turning on the TV and switching to the main TV input (usually an HDMI input for the cable box), the user can go to the Smart Hub to view all available options. The On TV panel actually imports all of the users' cable subscription information. To watch a program, the user can select it from the Smart Hub. and the TV will automatically (via an included IR blaster) switch to the cable box input.
Sony ended my day of press conferences by showing off new 4K TVs in 55- and 65-inch sizes. There was also a prototype of a 56-inch 4K OLED TV. The 55- and 65-inch options will join the 84-inch model that hit the market last fall.
Sony's prototype OLED TV
The two new 3D Ultra HD sets include magnetic fluid cooled speakers and a 4K XReality image processor.
Adding to its 4K news, Sony said it is working to produce significantly more 4K content to complement the new TVs and is also working on a 4K download distribution system. No additional information was available on that, but we'll work on following up. A prototype of a 4K consumer camcorder was also announced.
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Refrigerate any leftover dip in an airtight container up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave just before serving.
Serve with pita bread triangles or your favorite crackers.
* Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.
this is the original recipe, I still think it's the best!
This is my old go to recipe, except for the garlic, which I might try next time around. My recipe without the garlic is eaten up immediately by all. We also use Triscuit crackers to spread it on, as well as slices of baguette. Everyone loves it and it is SO easy.
I've made a recipe that is almost exactly the same as this. It is amazing rich, so you may have to spread out how much you eat. I will definitely make this recipe. In fact, I had already planned to serve it at my Christmas get together!! I hope you all enjoy it!!!
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Clarksville, TN (Sports Network) - Georgia Tech recruiting coordinator and
defensive line coach Andy McCollum withdrew from consideration for Austin
Peay's next head football coach late Saturday, dropping the final candidates
list to five.
McCollum, an Austin Peay alum, was scheduled for an on-campus interview on
Monday. He has previous head coaching experience at Middle Tennessee State
from 1999-2005.
The Ohio Valley Conference university is filling the vacancy created in late
January when Rick Christophel stepped down after six seasons to become the
tight ends coach with the Arizona Cardinals.
Central Michigan defensive backs coach Kirby Cannon and Austin Peay interim
head coach and defensive coordinator Granville Eastman interviewed last week.
Mike Markuson, a former offensive line coach at Wisconsin, Mississippi and
Arkansas, will interview on Tuesday, followed by Navy offensive line coach
Ashley Ingram on Wednesday and Wisconsin-Whitewater head coach Lance Leopold
on Thursday.
Austin Peay hopes to hire the new head coach before the start of the
Governors' spring practice on March 18.
The new coach will inherit a team coming off a 2-9 record and a last-place
finish in the OVC along with Tennessee Tech.
The Sports Network


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Is this item soley for sun protection? Im looking for a wetsuit top to keep my son a little warmer. Hes very skinny and gets very cold in the pool. Rash guards make him colder so I want to make sure this is a wet suit top. Thanks!!
Hello Mark, Thank you for your inquiry! The Body Glove 8oz. Junior 540 Lycra Short Sleeve Rash Guard is not a wet suit. It is meant to help a diver keep warmer while submerged in the water. If used by snorkelers and surfers while on the surface, they will chill due the breeze of wind. We recommend a neoprene 3mm Barrier Front Zip Wetsuit Vest by Body Glove. The Zipper Vest will assist in keeping your son warm while on the water surface. http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-43/052612/Body-Glove-3mm-Barrier-Front-Zip-Wetsuit-Vest.html If you have any questions or wish to place an order, please call us at 1-800-247-2822 or 949-221-9300.


text: HomePlastic Geoboards (Set of 10) Plastic Geoboards (Set of 10) Rate This Item... $27.95Learning Resources • In Stock • 13183QuantityHave a question? Chat Live!Add to CartShare Via Facebook Share on Pintrest Share Via Twiter Email to a Friend AboutGrades K - 3. Explore geometric relationships with intricate designs. Durable, 7" geoboards have 5" x 5" grids with raised edges to protect pegs. Includes 10 GeoBoards with rubber bands.RecommendedFraction Action$19.95Folding Geometric Shapes$39.95Shapes Bean Bags$21.95Pizza Fraction Fun™ Game$19.95


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Partner: The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
County: San Augustine County, TX
Decade: 1900-1909
Collection: Texas Digital Newspaper Program
The Weekly Visitor. (San Augustine, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 28, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 6, 1901
Date: June 6, 1901
Creator: unknown
Description: Weekly newspaper from San Augustine, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with advertising.
Contributing Partner: The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History


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Slot Car Drag Racing - Small-Scale Drag RacingWritten by on May 1, 2011 Contributors: Rick Voegelin When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Go Slot Car Racing.
Remember slot cars? In the dark ages before simulators, video games, and even personal computers, there was hardly a boy in America who didn't race slot cars. Set up on the living room floor, a dining room table, or in a corner of the garage, a slot car track was the closest thing to real racing available to young, aspiring champions. Car magazines featured slot car buildups and race reports alongside articles on fullsize hot rods-until the slot car craze died.
In today's brave new world of downsized economies and diminished expectations, slot car racing is making a comeback. Not that it had ever gone away completely, of course. While most commercial tracks went bust following the boom years in the '60s, the true believers simply went underground-literally. Basements became the last refuge for slot cars, along with spare bedrooms, attics, and other off-the-radar accommodations. Internet forums became the subterranean information conduit, and eBay the enabler for slotheads to feed their addiction.
Now everything old is new again, and that includes slot cars. With inexpensive cars and track sets arriving by the boatload from China, the hobby is enjoying a rebirth among nostalgic baby boomers and their offspring. True to its drag racing roots, Car Craft is plugged into straight-line slot car competition, but there are avenues for road racing and oval track aficionados to pursue slot car glory as well.
What's not to like about slot car drag racing? A basic car costs about $15, a pair of silicone tires is a buck, and the "fuel" comes out of a wall socket. A complete racing operation easily fits inside a tackle box, and it's possible to run a national series for the cost of first-class postage. True, there are no nitro fumes in the air, no clouds of smoke from tortured tires, no scantily clad trophy girls, and no coverage at 2 a.m. on cable TV. On the other hand, a $1 million budget barely gets you through the gate at a professional drag race these days, so slot car racing is a genuine bargain for racers on a tight budget.
Drag racing coverage was once a staple of CC's editorial package before the glut of events and the immediate gratification of online results made race reporting redundant. So with a nod to simpler times, CC is proud to bring readers the action from the inaugural NTRA World Finals, the season finale of the National Thunder Rod Association. Organized by the HO drag racing denizens of Nitroslots.com, the NTRA World Finals demonstrated that racing toy cars can be just as much fun as racing real cars (which are actually just more expensive, louder toys if you think about it).
The NTRA World Finals was contested at the reborn Lions Drag Strip, a tribute to the famed track that roared in Long Beach, California, until its demise in December 1972. Lions still looms large in CC's collective consciousness, a place where former staff members spent their misbegotten youth and tested Detroit's best and brightest during the first muscle car era. The Lions Drag Strip re-creation is not so much a replica as an impression of the historic venue, incorporating many of the elements that made the track memorable: the elevated timing tower and pedestrian bridge behind the starting line, the refreshment stand in the pits that sold hot tamales, and the V-shaped Lions sign that stood proudly alongside the San Diego freeway.
The slot car of choice for NTRA drag racing is the venerable Aurora ThunderJet chassis, produced by the thousands in Hong Kong. A surprising number of ThunderJets have survived since the '60s and '70s, and N.O.S. chassis and parts are still available, albeit at 21st century prices. The TJet's quirky pancake chassis design, with its characteristic horizontal armature and an array of spur gears, has been cloned and reproduced in modern times by Johnny Lightning and Auto World, making cars abundant and affordable. Modern inline-motor chassis from Tomy, Mattel, and specialist suppliers offer superior performance, but considerably less nostalgia.
Competition classes in slot car drag racing mimic real-world racing and range from box stock to highly modified. The axiom that speed costs money holds true in slot car racing, with performance-enhancing modifications adding to both the thrill factor and the bottom line expense. In slot car drag racing, voltage is like nitromethane-crank up the volts and the car runs faster. At 14 volts DC, a typical TJet is reasonably quick; at 26 volts, it's a bullet. The resistance of the armature windings is roughly analogous to displacement: If a stock 16-ohm armature is a nice 283 small-block, a 5-ohm arm is a torquey big-block, and a 1-ohm arm is a Top Fuel motor with a short fuse.
NTRA events are run as mail-in proxy races-racers send in their entries, which the host club drives on their behalf. The hosts aren't eligible to compete in their own races, heading off any potential conflicts of interest. The quickest car doesn't always win, as driver reaction times, redlights, and hole shots frequently determine the outcome in close matches. Links on the Nitroslots.com site and some creative web surfing will turn up many other organizations, clubs, and commercial tracks that conduct slot car drag races.
Previous rounds of the NTRA championship were held in Colorado, Florida, and Illinois. Fifty-one entries from across the U.S. competed in three classes at the NTRA World Finals: Stock, Gasser, and Nostalgia Funny Car (see the Nitroslots website for the complete lowdown on classes and rules). Since it's about modeling as well as racing, many of the entries had period paint schemes and were remarkably detailed.
Regardless of the size of the car, success in drag racing requires careful preparation, sharp tuning skills, and a killer instinct on race day. In short, racing on a smaller scale can be just as rewarding as the real thing-and a lot cheaper.
More Photos From This Article View Slideshow
These cars illustrate the three classes that competed in the NTRA World Finals: Nostalgia Funny Cars (Dodge Chargers), Gassers (Willys coupes), and Stock (Road Runners). The losers left in the Cadillac hearse.The staging lanes at Lions were filled with the top 16 qualifiers for the Gasser class. After two qualifying runs, the entries were paired in a standard elimination ladder.A scene from the '60s-in HO scale. Roger Lindamood's Color Me Gone Charger races Jungle Jim Liberman's Nova in Nostalgia Funny Car eliminator.An appreciative crowd of spectators turned out for the inaugural NTRA World Finals to see who would be crowned the king of the HO-scale quarter-mile.The NTRA Super Stock class rules allow blueprinting a slot car chassis with a balanced armature, matched magnets, and aftermarket wheels and tires. These second-generation Super Stock Camaros were inspired by the real race cars of Chevy legends Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins and Dave Strickler.The Stock class is exactly that-40-year-old Aurora ThunderJet chassis built with original parts. The combination of skinny rear tires and high voltage ensures wheelspin. The Oldsmobile 4-4-2 put the Camaro Z28 on the trailer in this race.Auto World has introduced an HO drag race set and an assortment of somewhat cartoonish Funny Car and Pro Stock cars. These entry-level cars are an inexpensive way to try slot car drag racing.The slot car of choice for NTRA drag racing is a vintage Aurora ThunderJet chassis or a modern Johnny Lightning/Auto World clone. These quirky cars have a horizontal "pancake" armature and an array of gears that transfer torque to the rear wheels. Depending on the class rules, typical modifications include low-resistance armatures, braided pickup shoes and shunts to improve electrical conductivity, traction magnets to increase downforce, silicone-foam tires for grip, and wheelie bars. Modern inline-motor chassis (right) offer superior performance but less charm than the vintage '60s-style chassis.


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Discover Vienna with Kremslehner Hotels - For 1 or 2 people - for 3 NightsFrom €129 Price per night
Kremslehner Hotels cultural package - For 1 or 2 people - For 3 NightsFrom €130 Price per night
The location is ideal because the hotel is in the heart of Vienna and near the Stephansdom. In other words, the hotel has good access to any important spot in Vienna. The officers of this hotel are very kind and the quality of their services seems to be beyond their prices.


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|Colorado transparency bills cause contention
|Written by K.C. Mason
Among the almost 600 bills that have been introduced in the Colorado Legislature this year, a handful are so-called transparency bills to make government records from school boards to state agencies more accessible to the public.
Most are being pushed by the Golden-based Independence Institute with varying degrees of success.
Senate Bill 57, which would have required school districts to basically post their district checkbook on line once a month, passed the Senate on Feb. 19 but was killed in the House Education Committee a month later after encountering strong opposition from the education lobby.
Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, said the measure, introduced by Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, only made it as far as it did because of public activism.
"Sen. Harvey walked into that (Senate Education) committee dead bill walking but then all the activists showed up," Gardner said.
After several amendments, it won the unanimous endorsement of the Senate committee and passed the Senate on a 26-8 vote, with Sen. Mary Hodge, D-Brighton, among the "yes" votes.
"You can't vote against public transparency," Hodge said. "I haven't had any of my constituents come up and said they wanted this, but there was a strong advocacy group behind it. The public has a right to know where money is going and it needs to be presented in a way that is meaningful to them."
By the time SB 57 reached the House Education Committee, however, all the major education groups, including those representing school boards and superintendents, were lined up to testify against it. They argued the larger districts already make financial information available, but the bill would be an unfunded mandate on smaller districts that are struggling to make ends meet.
The bill died on an 8-5 straight party line vote.
"I don't understand why they fought so hard against it," said Rep. Randy Baumgardner, R-Hot Sulphur Springs. "I'm for local control of schools, but this didn't over-impose anything. It's something most are doing and others should be because the taxpayers should be able to know where their money is going."
Still hung up in the House Appropriations Committee is House Bill 1288, which would require the Governor's Office of Information Technology to create and maintain a searchable database that would allow the public to obtain information from the state's accounting system.
The bill's primary sponsor, Rep. B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland, believes she has found a way around a $72,500 fiscal note, which could mean a death penalty for any bill requiring a state expenditure when the budget is being cut to the bone.
"I do believe we have found a gift to pay for the basic setup of the website," Nikkel said. "I'm cautiously optimistic, but you never know with appropriations."
The bill, which was endorsed unanimously by the House Finance Committee, is one of 47 bills on the House Appropriators Committee calendar for early Friday morning.
"Any bills that cost money are held up at the gate until the long bill comes out that sets the amount of money available for the next fiscal year," Gardner said. "This year, most of those bills will get killed because there isn't any money."
Nikkel said she also is working with the governor's office to make sure the concept stays alive.
The governor's office wants to do this through executive order, but it really needs to be permanently implemented in statute to keep it going," she said. "I believe it's very important for taxpayers to have access to the state's expenditures."
Gov. Bill Ritter already has signed another transparency bill that requires district school boards to record their meetings and keep the audio tapes available for public scrutiny for a minimum of 90 days.
District 1 Sen. Greg Brophy tried and failed to amend House Bill 1082 to require the audio tapes be saved for a full year, but also helped defeat another amendment that would have exempted the smaller districts from the requirement of recorded meetings.
"I have 42 small school districts in my district and the parents who send their children to those schools expect transparency in government," Brophy said during the flood debate.
Also still alive is Senate Bill 87, another of the bills backed by the Independence Institute to provide additional accountability for special districts. It unanimously passed the Senate on March 5 and is awaiting a final vote in the House Local Government Committee.
During a committee hearing, Rep. Cherylin Peniston, D-Westminster, said Colorado laws regarding special districts need updated because the public knows very little about the administration of special districts and their ability to levy property taxes.
Under SB 87, metropolitan districts with more than $25,000 of annual revenue or authorized debt of more than $1,000 per elector have more reporting requirements. The measure is supported by a wide diversity of groups, including the Libertarian Party and Colorado Common Cause.
The measure is opposed, however, by the Colorado Farm Bureau because of the impact on smaller special districts with limited resources.


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1970 Plymouth Barracuda 440 - Hidden TreasuresWritten by on January 21, 2014 Contributors: MCR Staff Part 3: We gotta replace how much?
Since we last left this '70 'Cuda barn find, Muscle Car Restorations has gotten busy prepping this ex-Canadian promo car for some new sheet metal. This is where the real work begins and as you'll see, this project is not one for the inexperienced or the faint of heart.
You'll remember that while there was some rust damage, most of the work will involve undoing all of the racing modifications which encompass nearly the entire back half of the car. Added to that, is the concern for whether or not the car might be twisted, out of square or otherwise deformed from hard track time.
Since so many parts of the car will have to be removed all at once, this is the sort of job that absolutely must be performed on a frame rack. Actually, MCR went even one step further than that and built support jigs around a known straight 'Cuda first. That way they could not only directly see how far this convertible was out of square, they also had known good reference points to bring it back to square if needed. Square tubing braces were built to secure the parts that were going to stay. It is absolutely essential that the good parts of the car don't move while the new metal is installed.
You might ask, "Why remove everything at once? Why not just do one section at a time?" Since the framerails have to come out, it's just easier to remove them with the floor and trunk. Also, once everything is out of the way, the AMD floor, trunk, and framerails can all go in at the same time. Also, since this thing doesn't have a roof that otherwise would provide much of the necessary support, it needs to be heavily braced anyway.
One last hurdle is that the inner wheel wells, which were completely removed at one time to install the very big wheel tubs. The wheel tubs in a convertible are different different than those in a hardtop, to make room for the retracted top. Unfortunately, no one reproduces the convertible version. That forced MCR to locate part of a donor car with good inner wheel tubs.
This work is, of course, the foundation for the rest of the restoration. Our ex-racer now has factory correct sheetmetal from front to back. Next stop is body work and paint.
More Photos From This Article View Slideshow
With all of the sheet metal back to its original factory form, our barn found 'Cuda is now a major step closer to being like new again.Can you imagine some racer adding hardware in the trunk for some extra weight that got loose during a run? Or, was someone trying to conceal some added weight from the track inspectors?


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Terrain features caused by glaciers.
In this lesson, students will explore the causes and effects of physical and chemical weathering and compare and contrast erosion which results from the action of wind, ice, and water.
Quiz on Landforms from Glacial Erosion and Deposition
A list of student-submitted discussion questions for Landforms from Glacial Erosion and Deposition.
To activate prior knowledge, make personal connections, reflect on key concepts, encourage critical thinking, and assess student knowledge on the topic prior to reading using a Quickwrite.
To reinforce and increase concept comprehension, and to analyze similarities and differences between topics using a Two Column Table.
Using the future of outdoor Canadian ice hockey as a case study, students will explore the changing climate, factors associated, and direct impacts on glacial growth and/or depletion.
This study guide summarizes the key points of the six concepts about landforms from erosion and deposition by streams, groundwater, waves, wind, glaciers, and gravity. You can download and customize it to suit your needs and study habits.
These flashcards help you study important terms and vocabulary from Landforms from Glacial Erosion and Deposition.


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- 385Promote
iPhone & iPod Touch Skins
Mix Tape # 10by Bianca Green
Skins are thin, easy-to-remove, vinyl decals for customizing your device. Skins are made from a patented material that eliminates air bubbles and wrinkles for easy application.
I can't fight my old school passion for tapes. I was a 90ies teen :)
Great patterns! Lovely work!
Thank you guys! Glad you like it :)
This is SO cool! Awesome as always, Bianca! :o)
So great! Also if you could please look at my work, it would mean a lot to me!! society6.com/morningowl
Thank u so much ElephantTrunk & Messias!!!
Bonita mix Tape!!!
retro-cool! ♥ it!
This is so great!!!
muchas gracias Hugo & Catherine :)
thx dear brooke!
Großartig! Super cool Bianca! :-)
ah...the age of the mixed tape...miss making those! hehehe
it's really great- love the memories it brings to mind
it's really great- love the memories it brings to mind
Love it! So much fun!
Vielen lieben Dank Angela :) Casey, I know right? I used to spend hours & hours in front of my shitty stereo recording tapes.. next day I would meet friends & we would listen to them driving around... I also love that tapes bring up those memories :)
Thank you dear Jacqueline!
Glad you do dear Holly, Thx!
Such a nice idea!
Thx so much Elle & Monika :)
Love it Bianca!!!! so fun and great in a nostalgic way :D :)
thank you so much sweet Carina! :D
nice. really like your artwork
Thank you so much Seven!
i love this!! cool (:
thx so much Duru :)
this is really awesome! Love it!
y e s !!
Thx so much Tyler & Cosmic Nuggets.. glad you all dig this :D
Definitely dig this! So great Bianca! :)
j love all kind of mixtapes bianca!..your pattern mix is beautiful!..well done!
So rad!
This is so cool Bianca!! It makes an awesome looking case too!!!
Thank you ALL so much for your awesome comments!!!
very cool!
Thx dear Vasare!
love this
So cool Bianca!!! ❤
Thx dear Beverly & Anna ♥
Love it!! nice job my dear
gracias kris & gwenola! really glad y'all like my "not so straight lines"- hand drawing tape :D
thx Lisa!!
yeah baby :D
love it!
thank you for your comment Violet! glad you do :)
great piece
Thx so much Andre & Texnotropio!
Glad u do Bensito :) Thx!
wow, great one!!!
Vielen Dank Robert :)
love this
thx GaleStorm!
The master does it again lol - awesome work Biance, love this!
Muahaha :D Glad you like it J.!!
Wonderful! I remember when I used to make my own mix tapes... sit by the radio and wait for the good songs to come on and record them. Sigh :)
I feel you!!! good times :D Thx Karin!
With the desire to send more customers to your S6 store, I've posted this image at: http://pinterest.com/pixel404/s6-random-favorites/ Here's another link that might be of interest: http://blog.shareaholic.com/2012/01/p...
l-traffic/ The data in the shareaholic article is from January... Pinterest has grown considerably since then! Cheers!
Happy mix tape memories :) great work Bianca.
Thx Wayne & Amanda :)
This is sweet!
thx so much Amelia!
I still use this in my car:)
lol, that is so cool :)
mega cool Bianca!! xxx
ps. so do I...use it in my car!
Thx so much Ingz!!! And very cool to see that many are still using Tapes.. love that :)
omg this totally rocks
thx so much!!! :)
Gorgeous. Love how you captured the 90's spirit!
Thank you so much Diana.. I love remembering :)
Really great work Bianca!
Thank you Joy ♥
Thx Mo :)
So so so awesome! I still have a few mix tapes :)
Yeah!! Mix Tapes rule :D Thx Ali!
Thank you Luna!
Really love your pattern work, Bianca :)
Thank u so much Melissa!
tapes are the best! I wish all my music could be in cassette form
I feel you Michael :) I loved the real time recording sessions, so much better than drag & drop :D
Thx Tummeow :)
Thx David, glad you like :)
Really cool, Blanca! :)
Thx again Pasadya! Glad u like :)
Thx Fimbis!
So cool!!!
Thx Tyler ;))
Super rad!
See More Comments


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Pretty cool, are you going to do more floors, etc.?
A simple castle I drew today for fun.
Pretty cool, are you going to do more floors, etc.?
My Finished Maps | My Challenge Maps | Ghoraja Juun, my largely stagnated campaign setting.
Unless otherwise stated by me in the post, all work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
Very cool. I like the details like the buttery no one ever remembers the buttery..
I am the breath of Dragons...The Song of Mountains...The Stories of Rivers....The Heart of Cities.... I am A Cartographer....
Finished Maps
Kingdom Of Shendenflar Campaign Setting (WIP)
Everything I post is free for use and redistribution under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 licence, except where noted otherwise in the thread.
Thanks guys. I guess it was more of a doodle and really trying to find easy ways to just keep adding bits on quickly and keeping it graphic-y and in grayscale. More levels probably coming, SG.
I'm trying to get that look with the cobbles where you just draw a few of them to suggest the whole area is cobbled (like artists do with bricks in walls) but it's just not working...any suggestions?
Looks cool. The way you've done the cobbles it looks more as if they were covered with plaster which has fallen off in places. What about defining a texture with smaller patches, just hinting at the larger stones or something? Just a bump here and there and maybe some little patches in various places.
I know what you mean, mearrin - it looks horrible as it presently stands.
Still can't quite get there...it's one of those things where you kind of know what it should look like but it's hard to nail. I'm putting it to one side at the moment... thanks for the help!
Just use some low-opacity white and cover up the edges with a fade - that way the effect fades in and out.
If the radiance of a thousand suns was to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the Mighty One...I am become Death, the Shatterer of worlds.
-J. Robert Oppenheimer (father of the atom bomb) alluding to The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 11, Verse 32)
My Maps ~ My Brushes ~ My Tutorials ~ My Challenge Maps
Cobbles, hrm. I had the same issue with my own doodle. I think the key is to think about the cracks, not the stones. If you complete the line around each stone you are essentially defining a stone to the exlusion of others. If you draw just a few cracks that hint at edges or a corner of a stone you leave the brain to conclude that there's more beyond the drawn "thing"
Last edited by Crayons; 10-08-2010 at 04:55 PM.
"I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man"
My Finished Stuff ............. Some of my 3D Stuff (POVRay)
I think Crayons has the right of it....At this scale most of all. only draw the stones if you would be able to see them in scale, and at that only a few at a time with those at the edge of the patch being incomplete. At the scale you are at here, you would only see the variation of stones and major repairs so cracks would be sufficient I think. I would'n put too many of them either unless you were gonna grunge things up later. just my own humble opinion, that......
Looks good though. Not too sure on what scale we are looking at here after you put those buildings in. Looks like several of them would fit in the gatehouse.....By the way, how long to do the initial "doodle"?
Art Critic = Someone with the Eye of an Artist, Words of a Bard, and the Talent of a Rock.
Please take my critiques as someone who Wishes he had the Talent
Hello, Ravells.
Simple, eh...? I've only one question for you. What does a complex drawing of your entail?
This is a beautiful castle floorplan. I am very impressed with its clean lines yet detailed thoroughness.
You've certainly given me food for thought as well as ideas to try.
< Runs off to find a pencil and paper... >
Looking forward to the castle's further development.
In the end you will see, you is you and me is me.
© May 29, 1980


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Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the continued exchange of artillery fire between Syria and Turkey raises additional concerns that the conflict may escalate and spread to neighboring countries.
Panetta said the U.S. is using its diplomatic channels to relay worries about the fighting in the hopes that it will not broaden.
His comments during a trip to Peru come on the heels of warnings from Turkey's prime minister that his country is not far from war with Syria.
Turkish and Syria traded artillery fire Saturday as rebels clashed with President Bashar Assad's forces near the border. The clash heightened fears that the crisis could erupt into a regional conflict. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Damascus that his country won't tolerate such acts.


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New York-based Speco Technologies, which provides residential and commercial video surveillance, electronics accessories and audio products, has opened an online factory outlet store.
That's right, a factory outlet store.
Security Systems News, being just down the road a piece from Freeport, Maine, one of the nation's outlet meccas, knows a thing or two about factory outlet stores. A lot. But an outlet security store? Hmmm. That's interesting. Is this a new trend?
Speco's online outlet store will offer limited-inventory closeout and refurbished items at "bargain prices," according to a statement from the company.
A perusal of the e-store site found a variety of indoor and outdoor cameras, monitors, NVRs and power supplies and switchers, among other products.
Specostore.com is a full e-commerce site with SSL encryption, which allows users to browse and purchase products and track and follow up on orders, all through a secure login, the company says. All products sold through Specostore.com will have a 90-day warranty.
A call into Speco wasn't answered by press time, but we'll certainly update if we can.
American Alarm and Communications, a full-service security company with a central station based in Arlington, Mass., was kind enough to host me Dec. 15 to help me learn about the industry I recently signed on to cover.
Maria Moretti, command center manager, Chris Newhook, central station manager, and Keith Hunt, technical manager, led my visit. Starting with a tour of the administrative offices, then into the "Command Center." Ending with a session of observing central station operators.
Being new to the industry, there was a lot of value for me in witnessing first-hand the everyday workings of a central station, learning the exact process by which alarms come in and are handled by the operators.
In an industry that is changing, faster almost every year, especially as newer technologies are introduced and updated, there are more openings to pursue, explained Newhook, expanding opportunities for security company employees.
American Alarm encourages its employees to follow whichever growth path they are more geared towards. This approach, from my perspective, makes the industry seem more dynamic in a positive way—one of supported exploration.
"If you've been in it long enough, you won't just have one job, you wear many hats," said Hunt.
One thing I can say is that I find the industry to be one thing in particular—easy to learn about. It is full of good people, such as those at American Alarm and Communications; people pushing themselves to help others learn and adapt.
Protection 1 CEO Tim Whall has always been big on data and measurable metrics. It appears Protection 1 is further fine-tuning its data-driven strategy with the announcement today that the full-service business and home security company is launching a new Field Services Organization.
The new group will be led by Paul Straten in the newly created role of VP, field services. Straten, who has been with Protection 1 for 14 years, will report to Don Young, chief information and operating officer.
Protection one say the new organization "will focus on the service delivery platform to support its rapidly growing commercial and national accounts business." Straten's group will "provide actionable data through the use of technical tools to help the field organization continue to improve upon their delivery capabilities."
The goal, according to a prepared statement from Young is to provide "the most sophisticated service delivery platform in the industry."
Working with Straten will be Marcel Van Someren who has been promoted to the position of director, field technology and Helton De Oliveira who will serve as director, field services.Van Someren will "standardize training on the wide variety of products and services that Protection 1 offers and create educational channels that make it straightforward and impactful for technicians to access and learn." De Oliveira is charged with "the production and distribution for all reporting related to field production, efficiency measurement, and related operational reporting data. The strategy behind this position is to streamline much of the available reporting and create a universal channel of access by field teams so they have the most accurate and current data available."
Protection 1 has 2 million business and home security customers, 3,500 employees, 70 office locations and five UL Certified monitoring centers across the country. It also has a Network Operations Center with a Cisco Cloud and Managed Services Express Partner Certification.
While searching for what's new out there, I noticed that a Syracuse publication posted online that Rapid Response Monitoring hired 11 new people.
Upon following up with Christopher Denniston, marketing and communications manager for Rapid Response Monitoring, he stated that 2014 was a year of record growth for Rapid Response—the best year in its history.
"More dealers have chosen to transition to Rapid than ever before and our dealers have also experienced positive organic growth," Denniston told Security Systems News in an email interview.
"Our people are our greatest asset and our dealer and account growth requires an increase in staff. Our hiring criteria are extremely stringent. We hire only four percent of applicants—the best of the best," he said.
Rapid Response hired Dustin S. Jesmer, Lishay M. Mack, Carlos M. Valle Wemett, Connor J. Brown, Emily K. Buss, Steve L. Delgado, Amanda S. Lewis, David J. Martin and Aglaeth M. Vazquez as control center specialists. Cathryn M. Mahoney and Olivia N. Nobile were hired as accounting assistants.
Denniston listed further examples of this growth; "Our fully redundant monitoring center in California will have a grand opening in Q1 of 2015 and our headquarters' facility is undergoing an expansion bringing it from 40,000 square feet to 75,000 square feet."
Video surveillance provider Samsung Techwin has a new majority owner, Hanwha Group, a $34 billion conglomerate based in South Korea.
The deal, announced Dec. 5 is "a stock transaction, not an acquisition," Samsung's senior marketing group manager Tom Cook said during a Dec. 8 conference call.
Samsung Electronics announced Dec. 5 that it had entered into an agreement to sell its shares, which amount to a 32 percent stake in Samsung Techwin to Hanwha, which has expressed an interest in increasing its position in the security and defense industry. Samsung's second-largest shareholder is South Korea's government pension plan, according to Cook, the rest of the shareholder hold much smaller stakes.
How will the deal affect the Samsung Techwin's North American operation, which is based in Ridgefield, N.J.? There won't be any immediate changes, Cook said.
Contrary to some earlier published reports, Samsung Techwin will retain the rights to the Samsung name. For how long? Cook said that was "still a negotiating point" but he said it would retain the rights for "many years" and noted that there is precedent for Samsung allowing its brand to be used for extended periods of time. Renault has used the Samsung brand for more than 20 years, he said.
Soon Hong Ann, Samsung Techwin CEO and all management will stay in place, Cook said. All R&D, manufacturing, sales and marketing operations will remain unchanged, he said. Hanwha does not have manufacturing facilities and it does not own any other businesses that manufacture or do R&D of security devices. It does have a systems integration business "which can benefit by selling SamsungTechwin products in the Asian market, but in North America, I do not see any of that occuring," Cook said.
Independent of this deal, Samsung Techwin America is looking into establishing an additional "assembly and manufacturing facility in the U.S. that would allow us to fall under the branding of 'Made in America'," Cook said. Cook said that Samsung Techwin is interested in doing this to increase its business with the U.S. government, which gives preference to domestically produced products.
Cook said Samsung Techwin's North American operation has grown rapidly in recent years. "In 2013 we were up 40 percent over the previous year, and 2014 we will end up 70 percent over 2013."
The company has had several big wins including General Mills and Qualcomm [where Samsung is working with Milestone Systems] and General Motors [where it is working with Genetec].
Asked about additional funds for R&D and other investments, Cook said "Hanwha acquired this stock because they're interested in growing in the security and defense market" and added that Samsung Techwin Americas "has never been held up because of resources in the past."
Cook said that Samsung Techwin will be introducing 5 megapixel and 4K cameras, "an all-in-one IP kit that we believe the market is ready for."
Cook said Samsung Techwin will have a 100-foot by 60-foot booth at ISC West and it will be situated next to the market leader. [Axis Communications] "We are neighbors aond purpose and we're going to take them head-on," Cook said. It will also hold a dealer meeting and an A&E meeting at ISC West.
Samsung Techwin is currently the fourth largest video surveillance provider in North America. Cook believes "by the end of 2015 we will be in the position of second."
"To be number one, that is our goal," Cook said.
Pennsylvania's governor-elect, Tom Wolf, plans to use his own money to rent office space for state police security officers to guard him at his private residence, according to a Wolf transition team spokesman.
We here at Security Systems News would also like to know what security technology Wolf already has in place, or will be putting in place, at his home in light of this announcement.
An Associated Press report said that Wolf, who has has declined to live at the official governor's residence in Harrisburg, will pay out of his own pocket to secure his personal residence in Mount Wolf, about 20 miles south of Harrisburg.
Wolf, who takes office Jan. 20, will personally pay the rent for space in a building across the street from his home. Wolf transition team spokesman Jeffrey Sheridan told AP that he didn't know if the security team would be allowed inside Wolf's residence when he is there.
Wolf, who reported $1.3 million in adjusted gross income in 2013, also has turned down the governor's salary of $191,000.
Security Systems News has a call in to Wolf's transition team inquiring about any security technology he may be using. Stay tuned.
New product introductions, sales and new orders drove SIA's Security Market Index up to 74.6 in November, SIA reports.
That's up from 72.3 in September and 62 in July.
Independent researcher Maddry Associates conducted the bimonthly Internet survey of nearly 100 executives from SIA member companies.
"Across the board, security companies indicated that they are feeling bullish about the performance of the security industry in the coming months," Ron Hawkins, SIA manager of special projects and partnerships, said in a prepared statement. "The survey's findings are consistent with the performance of the U.S. economy overall, with strong growth in the past two quarters providing hope that we are, perhaps, about to finally escape the post-Great Recession doldrums."
Executives participating in the survey gave this take on how they expected their companies to do during the next three months:
The full results of the SIA Security Market Index are available to SIA members and can be found here.
I normally fly when I travel from Maine to New York City. But, for ISC East a couple weeks ago, I was late making a reservation and the airfares went throught the roof, so I took the train.
It was actually a bus from Portland to Boston and then a train from Boston to Penn Station. It took a little longer than a flight and transport from the airport into Manhattan would have taken, but not that much longer and overall it was a very comfortable and hassle-free travel experience. You can't help but notice, however, the lack of security on buses and trains—especially when you compare it to air travel.
It's not that I want to have to remove my shoes at Penn Station, but it's noticeable and it's something that we have talked about here in the office.
In this week's newswire, three stories touch on transportation security. First, we have integration firm Minuteman Security getting into product development. Minuteman has developed a new mobile video surveillance and health check monitoring system. It test drove the system at the fifth largest tranportation authority in the country and others are showing interest in the system. Here's a link to the story.
Our monthly "Stats" story delves into a report from TechNavio that projects that the market for mass transit security will reach $5 billion in North America by 2018. Here's a link to that story.
And finally, our monthly Legislative Update, takes a look at SIA's work with FRA, the Federal Railroad Administration, to set requirements for video and audio security technology on passenger and freight trains. Read that story here.
Steve Keefer, western U.S. law enforcement liaison for SIAC, noticed that Carson City, Nevada, is trying something different in the attempt to reduce false alarms—utilizing volunteers through the sheriff's office. This is an approach that is very new to SIAC, Keefer said.
These volunteers are "regular citizens that just want to help out in the community," Keefer told Security Systems News.
The Carson City Sheriff's Office started this approach at least five years ago, but SIAC hadn't heard about it until recently, according to Keefer.
The sheriff's office has two volunteers that speak with false alarms offenders and discuss ways of reducing the problem. Apparently, these efforts, more often than not, are met with full cooperation.
Keefer said that these volunteers in Carson City, Nev., are currently speaking with commercial alarm users, but Keefer believes this process could have a residential application as well.
SIAC is an organization that is always focused on reducing the numbers of false alarms and the strain that puts on local authorities. As such they've been keeping an eye on people that approach this matter from different angles.
"What was unique about Carson City's Sheriff Office- they don't even have an ordinance," he said. Keefer mentioned that this could be a model that SIAC would recommend to other sheriff's offices if SIAC sees this lead to positive results in Carson City.
This certainly seems to be a different way of going about the matter, as opposed to reforming ordinances or imposing fines for false alarms. This shows that the matter is not just one sided, that both citizens and authorities care about reducing false alarms.
Lately it seems that the St. Petersburg Police Department has been looking closely at the matter of security. Two separate items have cropped up in this city just outside of Tampa, Fla. The first is that they are compiling a registry for security cameras in the city.
This initiative, called 'Eagle Eye,' allows for cameras to be registered online through the St. Petersburg Police Department's website. By having a comprehensive list of cameras in the city, the department hopes to gain quick access to clues in investigations. A press release from the department says the registration will be at "no cost and the information is kept confidential."
The second item is that they are looking to raise the fines for false alarms, an issue posted on Nov. 22 on the website of a local paper, The St. Petersburg Tribune. Though, even after seeing a drop in false alarm numbers since the fine's installation in 1995, false alarms are still a problem for the department.
The idea of registry comes up in this matter also. The police department hopes that by eliminating fees for end users in registering alarms, as well as renewing their alarms—more people will register, giving the police a better idea of who to contact in the event of an alarm.
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If your computer has no TV tuner, an optional analog or digital TV tuner is required to play and record TV in Windows Media Center.
The Guide provides TV listings to help you find, watch, and record TV shows. It may contain up to 14 days of TV listings at a time, and you can download updated listings whenever you want.
The Guide listings are selected when you identify your Guide package while setting up Windows Media Center. However, if the Guide is displaying incorrect information or lists several channels that you do not subscribe to, you can change your Guide settings. For more information, see Set up Guide listings.
Occasionally, your local TV service provider updates their Guide listings. To ensure that all your channels are current, you may want to manually download the latest Guide listings. When you set up Windows Media Center, you select whether you want Windows Media Center to automatically download the Guide or whether you want to initiate the download yourself.
You need to connect to the Internet and initiate a download to receive Guide updates. For the most up-to-date information, it is recommended that you connect to the Internet and get Guide listings at least once per day.
On the start screen, scroll to Tasks, click settings, click TV, click Guide, and then click Get Latest Guide Listings.
Click Yes to confirm that you want to download the latest Guide listings.
On the start screen, scroll to Tasks, click settings, click General, and then click Automatic Download Options.
Under Select download method for guide and other Windows Media Center information, do one of the following:
Click Download when connected if you want Windows Media Center to automatically download Guide information when you are connected to the Internet.
Click Manual download if you want to control when you download Guide listings. You may need to select this option if Windows Media Center cannot connect to the Internet and download the Guide. If you choose this option, it is recommended you download updated listings regularly to make sure to get any last-minute schedule changes.
Click Save.