plus 4, Auto racing fans have been heard loud and clear - Washington Post |
- Auto racing fans have been heard loud and clear - Washington Post
- Business in Brief - Marshall News Messenger
- Reviews Summary for CHAMELEON V1 HF Multiband Antenna - eHam.net
- Of Mice And Men ... And Peppermint Oil For Cars In Storage - Hartford Courant
- Race Car Flea Market and Awards Banquet will Wrap up Selinsgrove ... - Who Won
| Auto racing fans have been heard loud and clear - Washington Post Posted: 01 Nov 2009 02:06 AM PST "I thought, 'Gosh, I have erased all 12 years of anything I've ever done wrong!' " Veal said Saturday, perched on a lawn chair in Talladega's massive infield. For Veal, there's not another NASCAR track worth visiting. And after upgrading from a tent to an RV for this weekend's races, there's not another way she intends to travel -- particularly with a husband and five children in tow. NASCAR's TV ratings may be continuing their slide, and race-day attendance is down. But from the vantage point of stock-car racing's core fans, who congregate en masse twice each year at the sport's biggest, most hair-raising speedway here in northern Alabama, there's nothing wrong with the sport. Sure, they have their gripes with this rule and that. Some think the racecars have strayed too far from the showroom models. Others wish NASCAR wasn't so quick to throw the caution flag. And most would be happier if Dale Earnhardt Jr. would remember how to win a race. But for the most part, the Talladega faithful say the NASCAR of 2009 is still the sport they fell in love with years ago -- whether drawn by the speed, the noise, the fender-rubbing on the track or the squabbling off it. It was nearly two years ago that NASCAR President Brian France, facing signs of growing discontent among stock-car racing's famously loyal fans, sought to shore up relations with ticket-buyers by promising to get "back to the basics." For France, that was something akin to a mea culpa for the furious pace of change during his first five years as chief executive of the sport his grandfather founded. Among those changes: The introduction of a 10-race postseason that changed how the annual champion was crowned; the debut of Toyota as the first foreign nameplate in a sport previously restricted to "American-made cars;" a reworking of the 36-race schedule that stripped several events from the Southeast and moved them to shinier speedways west of the Mississippi; and a radically redesigned racecar that was safer but not as sleek or slick. Howls from the grandstand soon erupted. NASCAR was getting too corporate, longtime fans said. NASCAR didn't care about the common man anymore. NASCAR had forgotten the small markets that had helped it go big-time. NASCAR's new speedways were cookie-cutter copies of one another, and its politically correct drivers were no better. To veteran race promoter Eddie Gossage, president of Texas Motor Speedway, it was more perception than reality. "It's the nature of society: Once something becomes popular, everybody starts tearing it down," Gossage said. "It was trendy for awhile to say NASCAR is on the way up, and then it was trendy to say it's on a death spiral." This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Business in Brief - Marshall News Messenger Posted: 31 Oct 2009 09:44 PM PDT New lines of Travelers offered Susan Kirkland Insurance has been appointed to sell personal lines and commercial insurance coverage from Travelers. "Susan Kirkland Insurance is pleased that customers can now select insurance coverage from Travelers," said Susan Kirkland Brady. "Travelers is one of the largest and most respected insurance companies in the nation. They offer a range of products at competitive prices. In addition, Travelers shares our commitment to providing the highest level of responsiveness and service to customers", said Brady. Established in 2004, Susan Kirkland Insurance is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products including auto, home, motorcycle, boat/rv and commercial/small business. Call 903-935-0011 or visit susankirklandinsurance.com. Allstate owner receives top award Marshall entrepreneur honored for providing outstanding customer service Allstate agency owner earns prestigious service designation. Allstate exclusive agent Eric Wilson of Marshall has been designated a Premier Service Agency owner for 2009. The Premier Service Agency designation is awarded to Allstate agency owners that have consistently met designated levels in customer service and business performance. Wilson's recognition proves his agency's ability to deliver accessible, knowledgeable and personal customer service that allows him and his staff to achieve outstanding results. ETBU professors present papers Several faculty members of the Fred M. Hale School of Business at East Texas Baptist University have presented scholarly papers recently. Kathleen Mays, assistant professor of business administration, presented a paper, "The Role of Undergraduate Management Education in Bridging the Theory-Application Gap," at the Christian Business Faculty Association Conference. Bill Mills, professor of computer science, presented a paper, "Experiential Learning in a Liberal Arts MIS Curriculum," at the International Academy of Business and Public Administration Disciplines conference. Stanley Self, associate professor of accounting, presented a paper titled "Operations and Accounting Department Management: The Effect of Stress on Organizational Performance," at the International Academy of Business and Public Administration Disciplines conference. Self had one of his papers published this past summer. "Incentives and Class Attendance: One Business School's Experience" was published in the International Journal of Education Research. Workers comp session set Updates on the Texas Workers Compensation program will be provided in a workshop scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Hampton Inn in Longview. Cost is $99. Register by calling 903-757-5857. The program is designed for business owners, managers, human resource officers, health and safety officers and those in the legal profession. Session on 'Texas friendly' service set The Kilgore College Small Business Development Center is hosting a customer service workshop titled "Texas Friendly Hospitality" from 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 10 at Kilgore College-Longview Center. Cost is $29, and the training will focus on how to manage and enhance quality customer service. For information, call 903-757-5857 or visit www.kilgore.edu/sbdc. Sponsors said customer service is a vital component to repeat business and profitability. This workshop will teach participants how to manage and enhance the delivery of quality service. Not only will teamwork be promoted, but a focus will be aimed at improving both internal and external customer service. Highways set to be resurfaced About 131 miles of Northeast Texas highways will receive new surfaces during the summer of 2010 with a contract awarded in October by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The Texas Transportation Commission approved a bid of $5.2 million from J-W Payne Construction Company out of New Boston to seal coat highways in nine counties located within the Atlanta District. "Seal coating a highway involves placing a layer of hot asphalt over the old pavement and then covering it with crushed stone," said Robert H. Ratcliff, District Engineer in Atlanta. "This process makes the roadway surface watertight and improves skid resistance." In an effort to help keep used tires off Texas landscapes, the district is requiring that about half of the asphalt used to be mixed with "crumb rubber" made from grinding up old tires. The following local highways are scheduled to be resurfaced during the summer of 2010: Harrison County: State Highway 43 from the Marion County line to Spur 449 from 3.1 miles; Farm-to-Market 968 from Farm-to-Market Road 3252 to U.S. Highway 80 for 2.6 miles Marion County: State Highway 43 from Farm-to-Market Road 805 to the Harrison County line for 3.2 miles; State Highway 43 from the Cass County line to U.S. Highway 59 for 14 miles. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Reviews Summary for CHAMELEON V1 HF Multiband Antenna - eHam.net Posted: 31 Oct 2009 12:40 PM PDT The Chameleon V1 was purchased off e-Bay at a discount price ($110) from the manufacturer, after perusing the manufacturer's web site (where it was then offered retail for $150). The Chameleon V1 is an approximately six-foot tall, two-piece, helically wound, fiberglass whip joinable at the center by heavy-duty brass 3/8" x 24 male and female fittings on the two pieces. The radiating wire is wound on the fiberglass so as to load, and effectively create traps for, the various amateur bands from 80-10M plus 2 meters. It's recommended that the entire antenna be used on 40M & 75/80M, while using the lower section only on 20M-10M -- although some users (myself included) obtained a good match and good results on all bands from 80M through 10M using the entire length of the antenna; i.e., with both sections screwed together. I did not try the Chameleon V1 on any frequency above the 10 meter band. I have used many different types of mobile HF antenna setups over the last 35 years, including a home brew helically wound whip, Hamsticks, a Sidekick, an SGC-230 and 102-inch whip, Hustler, and ATAS. I had a somewhat challenging situation with my 1990 Nissan Axxess, which is a rather small vehicle. It is manual transmission, so I did not want to have to fiddle with a rocker switch as required for a screwdriver-type antenna, and did not want to crowd the cockpit with extra items such as a Turbo Tuner. I wanted multi-band QSY without stopping and exiting the vehicle, and desired something that would load more efficiently than a stainless steel whip or the out-of-ham-band 8 & 12 MHz-resonant type of stick marketed (at a hefty price, to boot) for the SGC-230. Although the SCG-230/stainless whip combination worked well in some other mobile installations and on a portable tripod setup, it would not perform well in the configuration necessary for this vehicle, and efficiency below 20 meters left much to be desired in any event. I had been looking for, and considering trying to home brew, a helical mobile antenna designed to resonate on several ham bands, when I came across the Chameleon V1 and decided to invest $110 to give it a try, since the manufacturer promised satisfaction or full refund or replacement. I run the Icom 706 Mark II G in the Axxess. I mounted the AH-4 remote antenna coupler on the small trailer hitch that is permanently welded and bolted to a steel framework as standard equipment on the AWD Axxess, a vehicle that was sold in the US market for one year, only. As supplied, the Chameleon V1 comes with a C-clamp, small mounting plate and 9:1 unun. For my purposes, I set aside the unun and C-clamp and mounted one pre-drilled end of a stainless steel antenna mounting plate (approximately 3/8" thick, 10" long, 3" wide) under the hitch ball, and the Chameleon V1 to the other pre-drilled hole at the opposite end of the antenna bracket, replacing the 3/8" x 24 bottom stud with an SO-238-type 3/8" x 24 connector and protective screw-cap from my connector "junkbox." I next soldered terminal rings on either end of a a short No. 10 solid copper wire and connected it between the "hot" terminal of the AH-4 and the bottom lug of the antenna mount. A 1/2"-wide tinned, braided grounding strap (prefabricated with terminal rings on either end, obtained from HRO) was run from the ground lug of the AH-4 to a bolt underneath the vehicle fastening the hitch assembly to the vehicle body. After running the coax and control cable from the AH-4 to the IC-706MkIIG, it was time to give the system a try. Simply pressing the "Tune" button on the 706 put it into tuning mode and it declared a "match" with very minimal SWR (a couple of small bars signifying perhaps 1.3:1) in the middle of 40M phone. The same result was achieved at both ends of the band, phone and CW, and likewise on the other HF bands 30-10 (I did not try 60M). 75/80M is usually the troublesome band, so I saved it for last. Although it took the AH-4 a couple of tries, it nonetheless "matched" to the 75 meter band at about 3850 kHz with barely any hesitation. Once it had done so, it instantly tuned throughout the 75/80M band. Realizing that this did not necessarily indicate a good antenna, but rather could mean that it was a great dummy load, I put out a CQ. To my surprise and delight, I was answered by a Maryland station who gave me a 5X5. This was quite satisfying after not being able to get a good match there using the SGC-230 and stainless whip. The AH-4 also worked well on 75/80M with a 75/8-M Hamstick (well, one would hope so!) and would couple to that Hamstick on 40-10, but not very efficiently as to anything above 75/80M. The next day, I checked-in mobile into the Noontime Net on 7268.5; NCS W6FHZ in Reno gave me a "Very strong signal today!!" 5 x 9 report. That evening, I was easily heard by NCS for the Oregon Emergency Net on 3980 kHz; I am used to having to be relayed into that net when mobiling. The antenna continued to work very well for the next six months. One design deficiency, however, is that the very sturdy -- and relatively heavy compared to the fiberglass whip -- center coupler holding the two sections of the whip together, renders the antenna quite unstable in the air blow-by produced when the vehicle is in motion. The antenna will bend back as much as about 75-80 degrees and also whip from side to side. Use of a base spring is recommended. I found that it must be a very heavy duty base spring (e.g., the $80 one available at HRO) in order to hold the bottom half of the antenna vertical while the vehicle is in motion, while still protecting the antenna from damage from overhead limbs, etc. Use of a less heavy-duty base spring will permit the bottom section of the antenna to lean back nearly 45 degrees while the top section bends back to almost 90 degrees relative to the roadway, when the vehicle is in forward motion at appreciable speed. I solved this problem with a kind of bungee cord that has caribiners on each end and that is about 10 inches long in the relaxed state. I clipped one caribiner to the back rail of the roofrack on the Nissan Access, and slipped the other caribiner over the Chameleon V1 down to the level of the top of the joint connecting the two antenna halves. This worked quite well. I also took to bending the antenna forward and hooking the tip under as recessed spot on a plastic bracket located about two-thirds of the way toward the front end of the the roofrack, which would place the antenna in a curved forward shape, when entering a parking structure or even while traveling at high speed; when operated this way, it produced nice NVIS on 40 and 75/80- meters. Unfortunately, that eventually proved too stressful for the antenna and it cracked just above the center joint. I emailed Alexander (manufacturer) requesting the price for replacement of the top section only. To my surprise, he immediately replied that a replacement was being shipped the next business day at no charge beyond $12 postage I could send via Pay-Pal. I suggested that an adjustable center coupler be offered for joining the two sections, that would have a thumbscrew allowing the user to place the antenna top section at various user-selected angles. Alexander also indicated that he would send me, free of charge, a prototype of the new V2 version of the Chameleon, which is only about 4.5 feet tall and promises coverage from 3.0-500 MHz, seeking only my honest evaluation. I agreed to do such a beta test, and likely will post a review here at such time, if ever, as that antenna may be offered retail. This review is objective and is not influenced by Alexander's provision of a replacement top section at no charge, though I do deem that worth mentioning again (even though this section is not for reviewing vendors) because such strong customer support is so rare these days. CONCLUSION: Despite the "Achilles' heel" of the Chameleon V1 (wind resistance deficiency)having been found, I highly recommend this antenna to the HF mobileer. Reinforcing the center joint with a few layers of electrician's tape or such, would adequately shore up that weak link. MSRP: $170. Google "Chameleon HF antenna" for a link to the manufacturer's pages. 73 de Kevin WA7VTD This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Of Mice And Men ... And Peppermint Oil For Cars In Storage - Hartford Courant Posted: 31 Oct 2009 01:06 AM PDT Q: In response to N.B. from Avon's question about keeping mice out of the car when being stored, I have had great success with natural peppermint oil. Not the extract you find in the grocery store, but the real oil you can only get from health food outlets. It obviously leaves a very pleasant smell, is completely safe for children and pets, and really does the job. You can get a pint of this online for under $30, and putting several small containers in the car does a great job. I use it in my 1941 Hupmobile, and I also use it in my crawl spaces and the attic of my house. I live in the woods also, and I haven't had an issue with mice since I started using it. D.B., WILLINGTON A: What a great suggestion, using basically natural ingredients to chase away a natural pest. The Internet says peppermint was found in pyramids from 1000 B.C. and probably chased the mice away, which is why Egyptian cats look so skinny and underfed. Maybe the automakers should use a little peppermint in wire coverings to hold the mice at bay. Q: In response to N.B.'s question about storing her son's BMW in her garage for a few months, there is a product on the market called "Mouse Magic." It is essentially a tea bag laced with peppermint oil. It is a great alternative to setting traps, as the mice are repelled from an area before they have a chance to get comfortable. I had a problem with mice in my basement. While it was great fun for my cat, I was freaked out. Setting traps or using poisons was not an option because of my pets. I used the Mouse Magic, and it worked wonders. Almost immediately there were no more mice. However, the cat is bored. The product is available at farm stores and feed dealers (Melzen's in Glastonbury, Agway in Manchester). It costs about $9 for four packs. One pack is enough for an average room (or car or garage) and will last at least 30 days. J.F., NEWINGTON A: It looks like peppermint is voted a favorite solution to repel those rascally rodents and, heaven knows, peppermint smells a lot better than mouse nests, even though tiny baby mice are very cute and pink and hairless. Q: In response to N.B. of Avon who is concerned about mice, I have used one trick for years with very favorable results ... scented dryer sheets! Grab a dozen or more of the most scented/fragrant dryer sheets you can find and scatter them about the interior of the car [or boat, snowmobile, ATV, RV, etc.] in strategic places and keep a count of how many you distribute. Come the end of the storage period, you'll know exactly how many to retrieve. Mice will not have entered your vehicle because they can't stand the fragrance ... the stronger the fragrance and the more you use, the better. My experience is that this works much better than traps or even the electronic repellent devices. B.R., EAST BERLIN A: The dryer sheet solution sounds very doable and I hate the smell also and, as I remember, they are a light blue in color, which makes them easy to spot come picking-up time. Copyright © 2009, The Hartford Courant Breast Cancer Awareness: How To Prevent And Fight Breast Cancer This content has passed through fivefilters.org.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Race Car Flea Market and Awards Banquet will Wrap up Selinsgrove ... - Who Won Posted: 26 Oct 2009 08:28 AM PDT Selinsgrove Speedway & Raceway Park Monday, October 26, 2009 Race Car Flea Market and Awards Banquet will Wrap up Selinsgrove Speedway Season by Steve Inch SELINSGROVE, Pa. -- A motorsports flea market for any type of racing division will be held at Selinsgrove Speedway from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. The event is being coordinated by the D.H.&L. Fire Company through the Selinsgrove Fair Association, Inc., with all of the proceeds benefiting the fire company. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
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