DIRECTOR HIRED: John A. Hostetler was named director of the newly created Center for
the Study of Anabaptist and Pietist Groups at Elizabethtown College. Hostetler, 67, was
retired from Temple University in Philadelphia, where he had earned a national
reputation for his expertise on the Amish. (Feb. 28, 1986)
SHOOTINGS: Allegedly angered over an unpaid drug debt, a Parkesburg man shot and killed
two men at a Providence Township mobile home park, then killed himself with the same
revolver 11 hours later, police said. (March 1, 1986)
DRUG TESTING: Although it generally was not happening here yet, local employers said
they believed that the introduction of drug-testing programs for workers — especially
new employees — was coming soon.
Officials with a number of local employers, both public and private, said that the
question of drug testing was a "really hot issue" and was the "wave of the future."
Their comments came as the President's Commission on Organized Crime urged President
Ronald Reagan to direct all government agencies to formulate "suitable drug-testing
programs" for federal workers. (March 4, 1986)
SKYLINE POOL: The Manheim Township Park Board recommended the township consider
purchasing the Skyline Swimming, Racquet and Fitness Center on Eden Road. A feasibility
study estimated the purchase price at $420,000 and the cost of renovations at $259,545.
(March 6, 1986)
50 years ago
BAD METERS: Frustrated with malfunctions of its new parking meters, Lancaster city
officials were discussing whether to return the 650 devices and get back the purchase
price of $27,000 from the manufacturer. (Feb. 28, 1961)
WAGON HEIST: Two men leaving a city nightclub at 2:35 a.m. decided to take along a
souvenir that was parked in front of the Brunswick Hotel. They hitched an old Conestoga
wagon to their pickup truck and pulled it past the police station on East Chestnut
Street, then north on Duke Street, which was one-way south.
Police stopped the pair at Lemon and Cherry streets and returned the damaged 1830 wagon
to its display space in front of the Brunswick. (Feb. 28, 1961)
HIGH-TECH: An official with RCA Corp. made a presentation in Lancaster on the company's
"electronic highway guidance system," which was designed to allow drivers to whiz along
superhighways while playing cards, reading or even sleeping.
The three-stage project involved a "detector network," a "guidance system" and an
"electronic collision-control system."
The project was begun in 1953, the RCA official explained, and was still about 10 years
from completion. (Feb. 28, 1961)
BRAZIL-BOUND: Two young carriers for Lancaster Newspapers Inc. began an 11-day
sightseeing trip of Brazil as the prize for being named "outstanding salesmen" among
LNP's 1,100 carriers.
Accompanied by the company's circulation director, the two youths were scheduled to
visit Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Sao Paulo. (March 6, 1961)
75 years ago
MIKE'S FANS: Residents from the neighborhood of Pine, Mary and West New streets jammed
an alderman's office to provide testimony in support of Mike, a large police dog
"arrested" for biting a motorcycle patrolman.
Mike's supporters said he was a lovable and responsible escort to children attending
Mary Street School. But other testimony indicated that Mike had frequent run-ins with
motorcyclists and other dogs.
After listening to the testimony, the alderman said he would take the case under
advisement before deciding if Mike was a "vicious" dog. (Feb. 29, 1936)
SKILL SHORTAGE: Lancaster Chamber of Commerce reported a scarcity of men skilled in the
building trades in the Lancaster area. Inquiries with local manufacturers indicated
particular scarcities of toolmakers, stair-builders, carpenters, machinists and stone
masons.
Officials attributed the shortage to a serious interruption in the training of
apprentices because jobs for young high school graduates had been scarce in recent
years. (Feb. 29, 1936)
2011年2月28日星期一
2011年2月22日星期二
Mercedes-Benz E250 CDI Estate: review
A wagon that massages your ego with style and performance yet minimises your
environmental footprint is a winner in any language. When that language is German,
you're in for something special.
Enter the Mercedes-Benz E250 CDI Estate, a 2.1-litre turbodiesel that justifies its
six-figure cost with an engine that hits hard in every area except the fuel bowser.
Toss in the fact it's a seven-seater and you have a high-performance people-mover.
VALUE
The simple face is you pay a premium for anything with Audi, BMW or Mercedes badge.
Status symbols are undoubtedly part of it, the world can see you're doing well, but
under the sheet metal are safety and engineering technologies that won't filter down to
Japanese or South Korean models for years.
The E250 CDI is a classic example of "you get what you pay for". The wagon costs
$105,500 plus on-roads, and I'd buy one tomorrow if I had the cash and needed to haul
seven people. It's only competition comes from the SUV sector and they don't rate on
looks or handling.
TECHNOLOGY
The turbodiesel engine is from Mercedes' BlueEfficiency range and it's a pearler. It
cranks out 150kW and 500Nm yet uses just 6.3 litres/100km. It uses a host of small, but
smart improvements to do that, from an on-demand alternator to cut engine-load to a
grille shutter that smooths out the airflow when the engine doesn't need cooling.
Self-levelling rear suspension automatically compensates for whatever load is in the
back, and with a class-leading 1950 litres of space, it can be a fair load, and the
suspension's adaptive damping improves the ride no matter who or what is onboard.
There's also a parking guidance system that recommends when and to what degree to turn
the wheel when parallel parking. That's handy, given the estate is nudging 5m in
length.
STYLING
Wagons have always been the practical cousins of their sedan counterparts, but the E-
Class estates are good-looking transport in their own right. The windows taper towards
the rear to help disguise the boxy shape and the tailgate is arched so it doesn't look
square from behind. It's still a relatively conservative design, but why tinker with
what works.
It's the same inside, where returning customers will be reassured by the familiar
layout. New owners will need a few days to familiarise themselves with the myriad of
buttons and on-screen menus that help control everything from the airconditioning to
the satnav system.
SAFETY
The Benz is at its best when comparing safety systems. Bi-xenon headlights and daytime
running lights ensure the E-Class stands out night or day. The airbags extend to the
windows in the second row of seats, and the Pre-Safe occupant protection system that
does everything from pre-tension the seatbelts to closing the windows when it detects
and imminent crash.
The ABS braking system has a drying function to maintain stopping power in the wet, a
hill-start assist, brakeforce distribution and is linked to the e lectronic stability
and traction control. Hit the anchors hard and the brake lights flash to provide extra
warning to following cars. It sounds simple, but definitely grabs the attention of
anyone travelling behind the wagon.
Sensors monitor driver behaviour and advise, via an illuminated coffee cup in the
display panel, when a break is needed. If a crash does occur, the headrests push
forward to reduce the risk of whiplash and the steering wheel and pedals are designed
to collapse to give the driver extra room.
The rearwards-facing third-row seats have enought headroom and legroom to even toss a
couple of adults in for cross-town commutes and they're nearly as comfortable as the
second-row seats.
DRIVING
HIT the start button and head out of town and the big wagon feels small. It more than
holds its own in the city where the blind spot assist and lane departure warning
systems give extra reassurance, but it is out on the open road where the 500Nm can be
put to best use. With that much torque the five-speed auto box isn't the handicap it
might be on paper, remind E350 owners about the fuel use if they start bragging about
their seven-speed transmission.
Acceleration from 60km/h up is jaw-droppingly quick for this type of car and it's only
under full throttle that the diesel makes itself heard. The rest of the time is a
fairly serene, but not uninvolved drive, irrespective of the speed. And even hooking in
only pushes the fuel consumption into the low 7-litre range.
The leather-upholstered seats cosset both front occupants without deadening seat-of-
the-pants (or skirt) feedback. The adaptive dampers switch from plush to performance as
the weight loads up to keep the car flat and poised even through hairpin turns. And
unless you're doing something wrong, the six passengers won't notice a thing. And
that's not bad for a people-mover, no matter the price.
environmental footprint is a winner in any language. When that language is German,
you're in for something special.
Enter the Mercedes-Benz E250 CDI Estate, a 2.1-litre turbodiesel that justifies its
six-figure cost with an engine that hits hard in every area except the fuel bowser.
Toss in the fact it's a seven-seater and you have a high-performance people-mover.
VALUE
The simple face is you pay a premium for anything with Audi, BMW or Mercedes badge.
Status symbols are undoubtedly part of it, the world can see you're doing well, but
under the sheet metal are safety and engineering technologies that won't filter down to
Japanese or South Korean models for years.
The E250 CDI is a classic example of "you get what you pay for". The wagon costs
$105,500 plus on-roads, and I'd buy one tomorrow if I had the cash and needed to haul
seven people. It's only competition comes from the SUV sector and they don't rate on
looks or handling.
TECHNOLOGY
The turbodiesel engine is from Mercedes' BlueEfficiency range and it's a pearler. It
cranks out 150kW and 500Nm yet uses just 6.3 litres/100km. It uses a host of small, but
smart improvements to do that, from an on-demand alternator to cut engine-load to a
grille shutter that smooths out the airflow when the engine doesn't need cooling.
Self-levelling rear suspension automatically compensates for whatever load is in the
back, and with a class-leading 1950 litres of space, it can be a fair load, and the
suspension's adaptive damping improves the ride no matter who or what is onboard.
There's also a parking guidance system that recommends when and to what degree to turn
the wheel when parallel parking. That's handy, given the estate is nudging 5m in
length.
STYLING
Wagons have always been the practical cousins of their sedan counterparts, but the E-
Class estates are good-looking transport in their own right. The windows taper towards
the rear to help disguise the boxy shape and the tailgate is arched so it doesn't look
square from behind. It's still a relatively conservative design, but why tinker with
what works.
It's the same inside, where returning customers will be reassured by the familiar
layout. New owners will need a few days to familiarise themselves with the myriad of
buttons and on-screen menus that help control everything from the airconditioning to
the satnav system.
SAFETY
The Benz is at its best when comparing safety systems. Bi-xenon headlights and daytime
running lights ensure the E-Class stands out night or day. The airbags extend to the
windows in the second row of seats, and the Pre-Safe occupant protection system that
does everything from pre-tension the seatbelts to closing the windows when it detects
and imminent crash.
The ABS braking system has a drying function to maintain stopping power in the wet, a
hill-start assist, brakeforce distribution and is linked to the e lectronic stability
and traction control. Hit the anchors hard and the brake lights flash to provide extra
warning to following cars. It sounds simple, but definitely grabs the attention of
anyone travelling behind the wagon.
Sensors monitor driver behaviour and advise, via an illuminated coffee cup in the
display panel, when a break is needed. If a crash does occur, the headrests push
forward to reduce the risk of whiplash and the steering wheel and pedals are designed
to collapse to give the driver extra room.
The rearwards-facing third-row seats have enought headroom and legroom to even toss a
couple of adults in for cross-town commutes and they're nearly as comfortable as the
second-row seats.
DRIVING
HIT the start button and head out of town and the big wagon feels small. It more than
holds its own in the city where the blind spot assist and lane departure warning
systems give extra reassurance, but it is out on the open road where the 500Nm can be
put to best use. With that much torque the five-speed auto box isn't the handicap it
might be on paper, remind E350 owners about the fuel use if they start bragging about
their seven-speed transmission.
Acceleration from 60km/h up is jaw-droppingly quick for this type of car and it's only
under full throttle that the diesel makes itself heard. The rest of the time is a
fairly serene, but not uninvolved drive, irrespective of the speed. And even hooking in
only pushes the fuel consumption into the low 7-litre range.
The leather-upholstered seats cosset both front occupants without deadening seat-of-
the-pants (or skirt) feedback. The adaptive dampers switch from plush to performance as
the weight loads up to keep the car flat and poised even through hairpin turns. And
unless you're doing something wrong, the six passengers won't notice a thing. And
that's not bad for a people-mover, no matter the price.
2011年2月21日星期一
McCain Inc. Extends 2070 Traffic Signal Controllers to International Markets
McCain Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of intelligent transportation systems,
traffic control equipment and parking guidance solutions, today announced the addition
of the 2070 traffic signal controller suite to their international product offerings.
The complete series, 2070E, 2070L, 2070LN1, 2070LN2, and the ATC eX 2070, all offer the
same American traffic industry recognized reliability, but are designed in compliance
with international utility power requirements; 190 VAC to 253 VAC and 50Hz frequency.
The international versions of McCain's 2070 traffic controller product line offer
advanced, next-generation technology which allows end users to upgrade existing
intersections to a more modern, high-performance platform without replacing cabinet
hardware. McCain's 2070 traffic signal controllers are known for their advanced,
ruggedized, multi-tasking field processors and communication system capabilities that
are easily configured for a variety of traffic management applications.
"We are pleased to add this high-caliber, reliable controller suite to our
international product offering," said Kleinjan Deetlefs, director of engineering at
McCain Inc. "Our international customers can now share in the latest technology McCain
has to offer."
The 2070 controllers' open architecture ensures compatibility with off-the-shelf
products and its OS-9 real-time operating system provides a robust, flexible, and
expandable platform that is compatible with multivendor application control software.
About McCain Inc.
McCain Inc. is a nationally recognized leader in the development and production of
traffic equipment, advanced transportation management software, and parking solutions.
With 24 years of industry success, McCain's innovative products and services have been
widely trusted to safely direct millions of motorists from point A to point B. McCain
has offices and manufacturing facilities located across the nation and currently
employs over 400 people.
traffic control equipment and parking guidance solutions, today announced the addition
of the 2070 traffic signal controller suite to their international product offerings.
The complete series, 2070E, 2070L, 2070LN1, 2070LN2, and the ATC eX 2070, all offer the
same American traffic industry recognized reliability, but are designed in compliance
with international utility power requirements; 190 VAC to 253 VAC and 50Hz frequency.
The international versions of McCain's 2070 traffic controller product line offer
advanced, next-generation technology which allows end users to upgrade existing
intersections to a more modern, high-performance platform without replacing cabinet
hardware. McCain's 2070 traffic signal controllers are known for their advanced,
ruggedized, multi-tasking field processors and communication system capabilities that
are easily configured for a variety of traffic management applications.
"We are pleased to add this high-caliber, reliable controller suite to our
international product offering," said Kleinjan Deetlefs, director of engineering at
McCain Inc. "Our international customers can now share in the latest technology McCain
has to offer."
The 2070 controllers' open architecture ensures compatibility with off-the-shelf
products and its OS-9 real-time operating system provides a robust, flexible, and
expandable platform that is compatible with multivendor application control software.
About McCain Inc.
McCain Inc. is a nationally recognized leader in the development and production of
traffic equipment, advanced transportation management software, and parking solutions.
With 24 years of industry success, McCain's innovative products and services have been
widely trusted to safely direct millions of motorists from point A to point B. McCain
has offices and manufacturing facilities located across the nation and currently
employs over 400 people.
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