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Otter's Project LP!
knew i saved a copy somewhere! found it on my external hard drive!
I will post this in sections since its pretty extensive:
Project - Low Pressure
I have done low-pressure conversions to my two older Spyders about 1 1/2 years ago and am very happy with the performance that it has provided me. I have also done several conversions to Spyders that have entered my shop with good results. However, I had not documented the conversion from start to finish. Then again, I had not envisioned myself having my own web site.
In this article, I will describe a transformation of a Kingman Spyder 2-in-1 Java Edition from a stock marker right out of the box to an efficient low-pressure marker. I will try and provide pictures as I go. Details such as comparison of different items that are installed into the marker and a performance comparison. You could say that this an attempt to confirm that converting to low pressure (or LP as it will be referred to) is something to look at as an upgrade. For more information on LP, read my article about low pressure. For those wondering if they can do a low pressure conversion to their Spyder or Spyder clone, the answer is YES!!! Even the electronic ones like the E-99. The only exception is the Kingman EM1 and the AMG. The AMG is already LP out of the box. However, some of the items that I list here will help to improve the AMG for lower operating pressure.
Be patient with this article as it will take some time to find time to get parts needed, adding the parts and comparing them with each other, and finding the time to add the information to this page. Not only that, but it will be an expense to test out all the items that I wish to have. I already have these parts in house. There is also the "consumables" like air and paint.
Without any further delay, let's get started.
Java Spyder 2-in-1
I started off with a Java 2-in-1 Spyder by Kingman International. All stock, the MSRP is about $140.00. Though, I have seen them for $100.00. This maker is a step up from a Spyder Compact 2000. What makes this particular Spyder appealing is that you can use a tank screwed onto the bottom of the grip. Or, unscrew the bottomline and air line from the vertical adapter and run the tank vertically from the ASA.
Spyder to pump conversion tutorial!
Project LP Reposted!
Sales Thread
- from Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked this Way Comes
Last edited by DFSniper : 10-01-2008 at 08:39 PM.
Re: Otter's Project LP!
The Parts
All of the parts that I will be using is straight from the box unless noted otherwise.
These are the bolts that I will be using.
1.AKA Lightening Bolt
2.S-74 Low Pressure Bolt (not yet available)
3.Modified Stock Bolt
4.Bob Long Cyclone II
5.Bandit Bolt (not pictured)
6.Spudnuk'l HF Bolt (not pictured)
7.Kingman ACS Bolt (Not Pictured)
8.ACP Blue Bolt (Not Pictured)
9.Shocktech Superfly (Not Pictured)
The Bob Long is identical to the Kingman stock bolt in many ways. The only reason that I am using this is because it still has the venturi. All of my other bolts have there Venturi removed. I have one other bolt that I have in my toolbox that is not shown and will not be used in this project. It is the 32degree Titanium bolt. This has a 7-hole venturi that is drilled in and not removable. I had recently acquired for testing purposes the Spudenuk'l bolt.
These will be the regulators that I have chosen to use in this project.
1.Bob Long Power Regulator
2.AKA Vigilante
3.Palmer Male Stabilizer
4.AKA Sidewinder (Not Pictured)
5.WGP Ergo (Not Pictured)
The AKA Vigilante has the LP Spring to enable an adjustment of psi from 0-400psi.
These are the vertical adapters that I will be using.
1.Bob Long LPC
2.Stock Spyder LPC
3.Stock Vertical Adapter
4.32degrees Vertical Adapter
5.Bob Long Vertical Adapter
6.CheckIt Assault Block (Not Pictured)
The Bob Long adapter and 32degrees vertical adapter are identical. The Bob Long has been modified to except a gauge.
Spyder to pump conversion tutorial!
Project LP Reposted!
Sales Thread
- from Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked this Way Comes
Re: Otter's Project LP!
A non-purchased item is polishing the internals. The two pictures above shows 3 different strikers. The top picture showing 2 strikers are that of the slim striker that the 2-in-1 uses. The striker (top) is polished. Another striker that I had tested is a Titanium Striker offered by Dark Horizon. I had met with them personally and had them make a striker according to my specs. What they turned out is the above picture. It is lighter than the standard striker (more than 50% less) than the weight of a standard striker.
Other items that are not pictured that I will be utilizing is a 32degree spring kit. I prefer this over the Maddman spring kit because of the number of valve springs included. The Maddman comes with one valve spring. The 32degrees comes with three. But don't consider the Maddman inferior. They do have a nice trigger spring to smooth out that rough stock trigger spring.
To make sure that the velocity is the same all around when comparing the different pieces is a lockable velocity adjuster. This way I can lock the knob in place while I switch out the different items. The original could unscrew itself either during firing or taking apart the marker.
An air line that I will be using is the stainless steel braided air line. You can use macroline if you wanted to. But I just do not like them because they are breakable.
The Tests
Since I had gotten all the parts and was ready to go, I had a difficult time in deciding which direction to go. I knew what I had to work with and what my goal was for this article. Documenting was the tough part of this article.
I must add too that not all Spyders will act in the same way due to the inconsistancies that Kingman production line puts out. So, you may get slightly different results from your Spyder 2-in-1 than what I will show in this article. But I would not be too concerned. Whatever you do, I am sure you will have a Spyder shooting below 400psi.
Barrel to be used in testing is the the stock barrel. Not concerned with length or porting yet. Just wanted to get some stats posted. This is considered a medium bore barrel. So I shall be using medium bore paint. Java Classic by Kingman fits very well.
I will also set the marker up with the stock parts so that the added item that I am testing will go up or down. I decided to use a Bob Long regulator set at 750psi to ensure accurate air. The velocity to start out was set at 275fps. The type of air source that I will be using is a Pure Energy 68cu 3,000psi tank. The reason I am using compressed air is because it is very stabile.
The Bolts
Well, the bolt is typically the first thing to add/change to for LP. Many will think that the bolt will magically add range, accuracy, and less ball breaks to LP and non-LP setups. I do not believe this. First of all, I like to think as the entire marker as a valve which can be broken down to its individual components. The bolt is just one component that when air is rushing into it, the air is directed to the back of the ball. There is nothing inside the bolt that will really increase it's performance.
Seeing that we are wanting an LP setup, high flowing components is a must. We are trading the literal brute force of 850psi for area and lower operating pressure. And the bolt, even though nothing is special about them, can and will vary in how high flowing it is. The chart below shows the averages of ten shots.
Stock Bolt
Bob Long w/ Venturi
Modified Stock Bolt
Bandit Bolt
AKA Lightening Bolt
S-74 LP Bolt
Spudnuk'l HF Bolt *
Kingman ACS - Delrin
ACP Blue Bolt
Shocktech Superfly
* It was brought to my attention that Spudnuk'l may not be in business. To date, I have yet to verify this. I can suggest one other bolt that has past through my shop that I was able to try out. But not officially. It is just as good as the Spudnuk'l bolt. It is the Tigershark bolt. Do check them out. I do hope that I can make an official recommendation to this bolt after some testing.
So, as you can see, the AKA bolt seems to be the most high flowing of all bolts tested by about 30fps. That translates in a reduction of time the valve has to be open. The S-74 is a close second with a modified stock bolt being third. The most unlikely bolt is the Bob Long (same as a unmodified stock bolt) with the venturi still in.
Many of you may know that I am not a big fan of these Nylon/Delrin bolts. Mainly because they tend to soak in high humidity, broken paintball goo, or oil. When this happens, these types of bolts seems to swell and get stuck in the receiver. If not that, then they will cause some excess friction. Another reason is the lack of o-rings. Since Kingman doesn't hold much tolerances in the reciever, these o-rings-less bolts tend to let air travel all around the bolt as well as through it. This translates into excess air used to fire the paintball and/or blowback. I found that the Spudnuk'l bolt to have the nylon construction and have groves for o-rings all in one. And, they are at a reasonable price. Though the AKA is best for LP, the Spudnuk'l bolt is a close 2nd and should be considered.
The Regulator
A regulator is a great all around upgrade and should be one of the top three along with an agitating hopper and a new barrel. A regulator will take the inconsistant pressures that a tank (CO2 or Nitro) and feed the marker a tighter range of psi to stabilize the shot to shot velocity. In these series of tests, I will be using nitro because of the Air America Vigilante. The Vigilante is a nitro/compressed air only regulator. Using CO2 with this regulator can cause internal damage.
Bob Long Power Regulator
Air America Vigilante
Palmer Male Stabilizer
WGP Regulator
WGP Ergo
AKA Sidewinder
The Palmer came out ahead of the rest as being the best flowing regulator. Recharge was not bad. The vigilante is better in recharge. But, for those that are using CO2, the Palmer is the way to go. The Bob Long is good for LP with CO2 use. Was able to get my hands on a WGP regulator for this testing. That turned out to be the worst.
The LPC
Whether you call it a low pressure cell, low pressure chamber, or just LPC, there is not much to the overal construction. All it is for is to hold extra gas that has been measured out to a certain psi. It is simply a tube with an open end. There may be differences in how deep the holes are. Just recently, it was brought to my attention that ShockTech offers a 5" LPC, but the hole is no deeper than the stock LPC.
Low Pressure Chamber
Stock (3" internal)
Bob Long (4" internal)
Taso (5.5" internal)
Even though the there is a difference in the internal area of the LPC, they both yielded the same velocity. So, I would not worry about changing the stock LPC.
Vertical Adaptor
For some, this can be the main culprit of re-cocking issues of an LP setup besides spring tension. If you decide to modify the vertical adaptor, you must be careful not to reem the hole too much. You could render the VA useless because you breeched the screw hole.
Vertical Adaptor
Stock VA
Modified Stock VA
Bob Long
CheckIt Assault Block
As you can see, both the Bob Long and 32degree VA are about identical in providing the same velocity. The ironic thing between them is that dimensionally, they are the same. Since this is the best in air flow, look for either that is least expensive.
Here is an important item for LP. The valve. There are other issues to a non-working LP setup that could stem from this.
Stock Valve
NPS NeoPower Valve
Modified Stock Valve
32Degrees Turbo
Diamond Labs LP Valve
AKA Tornado Valve
Maddman Rocket Valve
Omega Valve
New Designz Valve
The AKA and Rocket seems to be the best in air flow. I did experience some re-cocking issues. I am not concerned with it since there are mostly not so high flowing parts used. Playing with the springs and installing higher flowing parts should help. The Diamond Labs equaled the AKA. However, the DL is no longer around. Shame, made an excellent product at half the cost of the AKA and about $10 less than the Rocket. The next best was the 32degrees valve and Omega valve. Both are the same basic design just like the Taso valve. They are high flowing. But for LP, there are better ones. The Omega is nice since they are made of Titanium and has an adjustable air chamber. Sounds nice. Just not the best. No recocking issues here. The quick, spur of the moment, modification to the stock valve panned out rather well. Many have copied the 32degrees valve by "milling" out the top portion. All that needs to be done to a stock valve body is to drill the existing top hole bigger and a few other minor reaming of the inside. I should be able to make an article on this soon.
Valve Pin
I was debating if I should add this or not since it is hard to get valve pins individually. Not only that, but the valve pins are made specifically for a valve (ie. AKA, Diamond Labs). I could show the difference between the stock, modified stock, and 32degrees pin. Could be information useful to those with air flow problems even if you are not going LP.
Valve Pin
Stock Valve Pin
Modified Stock Valve Pin
32degree Valve Pin
The 32degrees valve pin is the best of the bunch that will not only fit in the Magnaport Valve, but also the stock valve body. Unfortunately, you cannot get the pin seperately. The modified stock pin did well. But i will say that filing it down is more work. I suggest getting the 32degrees valve and be done with it.
Spyder to pump conversion tutorial!
Project LP Reposted!
Sales Thread
- from Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked this Way Comes
Re: Otter's Project LP!
The Striker
This is just to show that polishing internals makes some difference in performance. Will use non-polished stock internals and compare that to stock polished internals.
Stock - Not Polished
Stock - Polished
No Name Titanium Striker
DH Titanium Striker
Insane Pain - Nightstriker
There is the difference between polished and not polished. May not look like a big difference. But it may lead to an AKA valve to recock or not. Plus, helps to get a few extra ounces of performance out of the marker. As for the modified Titanium striker, excellent results. This is not the typical titanium striker off of Dark Horizon shelf. This has been modified to my standards. If you want a similar striker like mine, contact them and tell them that OtterSC Customs sent you. Tell them that you want the design that Otter had made. They have them in Slim and Fatty striker style. And no, I am not associated with Dark Horizon or get any kick back from them for advertising them. Just want to make known somebody that has a good product. The no name titanium striker was originally thought as being that of Dark Horizon. I appreciate Dark Horizon taking time out of there busy schedule to meet with me. The products that they have were slightly different from the no-name one. It was just a light. However, the finish was not the same.
You may wonder how a striker will affect the velocity of a paintball when all it is doing is hitting the valve open. Well, good question. Because of the striker is either polished or lighter with a smoother finish, there is less resistance. Less resistance equals higher reaction speeds of the striker (and bolt, since they are attached).
What Parts will I use
That is the information that I have found. Now you can see the difference in performance in the different parts. It all could be used for the non-LPer to upgrade that is needing more velocity.
Now, to setup the marker. What components I will use in the 2-in-1 is the following.
AKA Lightening Bolt or Spudnuk'l bolt
Palmer Male Stabilizer (CO2 or HPA) or Air America Vigilante (HPA)
32degrees Vertical Adaptor and LPC or CheckIt 15* VA
AKA Tornado Valve or Rocket Valve
Modified Titanium striker
32degrees Spring Kit
This is probably the best, yet most expensive setup. Approximate price range is $200 to $350 depending on what prices are charged by your supplier.
Another interesting note is the use of the modified titanium striker. Between the two titanium strikers tested, the weights were very close. However, with the modified titanium striker, i was able to reduce my operating pressure significantly, as i will explain later.
If I was on a tight budget, my component list would look something like the following...
Modified Stock Bolt or Spudnuk'l Bolt
Palmer Male Stabilizer (CO2 or HPA) or WGP Ergo (HPA)
Modified VA w/ stock LPC
Modified Stock Valve or 32degrees Valve/Omega Valve
Polished striker
Chameleon Spring Kit
As you can see and compare the two component lists, the second one is consisting of modified stock parts. Severly low cost. Possibly a difference of $125. The components in the second list doesn't garentee that the setup will work at peak efficiently. It is possible for it to work at around 350-400psi. But most likely not depending how well the parts match with Kingmans tolerancing.
Do notice the two constants between the two lists. The regulator and spring kit. A spring kit is important to change the tension of springs that will enable the valve to be open for a longer time or not. Possibly too, the recocking issue. But a specific name spring kit is not needed. You could get away with a Chameleon Kit rather than a 32degree kit.
The second constant is a Palmer Stabilizer listed in both lists. Any regulator will do, so long it is high flowing. One regulator that I did not test, but know it is the best, is the Smart Parts MaxFlo. These are expensive. But from past experience, this regulator can operate three or more markers at the same time. The thing to keep in mind is that your LP setup is as good as the components. There are shortcuts that can be taken. But the quality of a regulator is very important. You get what you pay for. All of the ones I tested for this article are high quality and high flowing. High flowing is the operative word. There are others that are good for LP that I did not test. Like the MacDev Gladiator and AKA Sidewinder. Regualtors like the WGP and PMI, as well as Kingman, are air restrictive and not suitable for low pressure applications.
If you do the cheaper setup above, and it doesn't work, consider adding the following parts in order until it does work. Add them one at a time.
Polish Internals
32degrees Vertical Adapter
A side not for the AKA Valve. Many will say that it will not fit or work in thin striker Spyders like the Shutter. On the contrary, it will fit. Working right off the bat is what should be the question. You may have trouble getting the marker to recock. Not only that, but this valve should be run at 400psi or lower. Higher pressure may cause damage. But I can garentee you that it will work in thin striker Spyders. I have yet to work on one that has come through my shop and not work.
Another good thing to do for LP (or not), is polishing the internals. This will help things move smoother internally. The best thing for LP is less resistance. That is not limited to air flow. There is some restriction to the parts rubbing against eachother that can hinder the overall operation. Not all parts need polishing. Like the AKA bolt. The AKA bolt has a nice smooth finish as compared to the stock bolt.
I hope that you will use this information in the charts above to help you in deciding what you want to use and what changes to expect upon switching parts out. There are plenty of choices with the many aftermarket parts out there. I will say that if you want a setup that will work, then do consider spending the extra money and getting quality parts.
Putting it all together
Well, now that I have picked out all of the components, I can now put everything in. This is pretty easy task. It is much like totally disassmbling the entire marker. But in the process of reassembly, you put in the new components instead of the old.
Since I have taken everything apart, I will give it a thorough cleaning. All the dirt and grimmy oil is cleaned out. Soap and water does the trick for the body.
I will also do a trigger modification to the marker. Since I am putting in all this lovingness into the marker, why not. Lightening the sear also helps with some potential recocking issues.
Another consideration that I needed to address is a barrel for an LP setup. The stock is good enough. But i like something that is made just a little better. For LP, you want to keep as much air behind the ball as long as possible. So the least amount of porting is required. Barrels from Smart Parts has too much porting for LP. The LP setup will work, but not to it's fullest effiecncy. Barrels that are good quality are CP, DYE, J&J, and Lapco. Since I have done LP conversions before, I will go with a J&J since I like them and works well for LP.
One last detail. I had gotten a velocity adjustor with a locking wheel. As it is, the quick strip pin will not work due to lack of a slot. So, I did a quick strip pin modification to the velocity adjustor. All it needed was a good filing.
Spyder to pump conversion tutorial!
Project LP Reposted!
Sales Thread
- from Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked this Way Comes
Re: Otter's Project LP!
Field Testing
After installing everything and testing for leaks, time to test out things and fine tune all the parts to work together. This step requires air, paint, and a chronograph as well as your basic field stripping tools. But the most important item that you will need is patience.
I need to find out the lowest pressure that the current spring configuartion will operate with. The stock springs is what is inserted. Basically what I do is set the velocity to 2/3 in and lock it in place. This is where it will remain. Practically a permanant setting. I will discuss later when this can be adjusted.
I start the regulator at 450psi. I start dry firing the marker. Every fifth shot, I will decrease the psi by 5-10units. The 1st and 2nd shot will not reflect the adjusted regulator. I keep doing this until the marker fails to recock. Once it fails to properly recock, make a note of the psi and spring combo. Add about 10 to 15psi. This is essentially the lowest psi that the marker will shoot at. This spring combo yielded a low psi of 375psi. Not bad. I am within LP country. But I like to see if I cannot bring that down more.
I turn off the air source and change springs. Generally, since we are trading the brute force of 850psi for a lower psi, the valve needs to be open longer. Typically, you will need to add a stronger main spring and/or add a weaker valve spring. I will only change the main spring for now to a stronger one. I will increase the regulators psi to 50 and dry fire the marker. I will reduce the psi until a failure to recock properly occurs. This should be lower than the previous springs.
Sure enough, it is lower. It reached 275psi. Now I want to see what PSI a different valve spring will be with a stock main spring. I insert a weak valve since I want the valve to be open longer. Repeat above. Turns out to be lower than the last spring combination of stock valve and strong main. Just a 70psi difference between the two in favor of the new valve spring/stock main combination. My last spring combo that I want to try is a strong main and a weak valve. I then test.
Well, the results were interesting. Because of the greater increase of the valve being open with the weakest valve and strong main, one would think that you will get a lower operating psi. However, since Kingman doesn't keep tolerances strict, this combination is not the lowest. The lowest pressure I was able to get was 320psi. So I guess I will use the weak valve/stock main spring combination since that yeilded the lowest pressure for me at 275psi.
Now that I have everything installed, tested for leaks, and now found the right spring combination for this marker, it is now time to chrono in a velocity. A good velocity for LP is between 280 and 285fps. You may not go as far as a marker shooting at 295fps. But that is only a 10 to 15 foot difference at the most. Well, I gassed up my marker and loaded a paintball. I did not add a full hopper as I will most likely be shooting a few paintballs just to get the velocity. Besides, if the marker starts burping, it would be a paint blender until I am able to cut off the air source.
Remember that we had the velocity adjustor locked in 2/3rds in. We are still not going to adjust it. A velocity adjustor will span 30-50fps in adjustment. What we want to do is have the regulator do all the work in getting and stabilizing the velocity. So I set the regulator for this spring combination.
I shot a ball over the chronograph. That came up short for a velocity. About 245fps. It doesn't take much to increase the velocity when you adjust the regulator. I increased the regulator to 280psi. Shot several shots to get the right adjustment. Closer. The velocity was 250fps.
More adjustment is needed. I could adjust the velocity adjustor and keep the regulator set at 280psi. But I will not. I will increase the regulator to 290psi and retest. I want to use the velocity adjustor for fine tuning during games and tournaments. Regulators will where into place and provide consistant pressure. I want to find that spot.
With the regulator set at 290psi, I shoot over the chronograph. Got it! 283fps with a deviation of plus or minus of 3 units either way. Just what I was looking for.
For those wondering about the cheaper way of doing an low pressure conversion, I installed the parts listed in my second list. There results were close to equal. The spring combination that was best for these parts were different. Could be how the parts work together. In this set up, it is a stock valve spring and a strong main spring.
I was also having trouble with recocking. Even after polishing the internals. So I added a 32degree vertical adaptor. My final operating pressure was 345psi and firing at an average velocity of 281fps. Not bad.
With both set ups, I have experienced a quieter Spyder, no ball breaks during two cases (4,000 paintballs) of paint each, doubled shots per fill, and accuracy that is very consistant.
Update - January '03: Since I first wrote this article, I had a good amount of tested items. Now, at the end of the year of 2002, two new products became available. The Maddman Rocket valve and the Dark Horizon Titanium Striker.
The Maddman Rocket gave equal (if not better) results of the AKA. It is a new look for a valve. What make it unique is that it doesn't require the need for a valve spring. It is built into the unit. Also, since it is equal in performance, there is one more plus. It is about half the price as an AKA valve, around $30-$35.00. It also suggests in the instructions that you plug the exhaust hole in the lower reciever. That is the hole that is located between the sear slot and the valve screw. I had threaded it and secured a set screw to plug it. The reason i did that is so that I could remove the set screw if needed. I will soon test to see the difference I get between the plugged and unplugged exhaust port.
The other item, the titanium striker, looks like a highly polished striker. Until you pick it up. The is the first thing that you will notice. I had met with Albert from Dark Horizon. Very nice gentleman. He caught wind that I had tested one of his strikers. He was suprised since it is a brand new product. I met with him and his team and I came to the conclusion that the one that I had tested were not from him. Rather from another similar custom shop. Further conversation, I had talked them into making me a striker with a small change. The results of this striker? Amazing!
My now current setup to this marker with the Rocket valve and new modified titanium striker, the operating pressure is at 230psi shooting at 280fps. i was able to have it recock down to 125psi. but the velocity was not useable. Efficiency has increased. Very close to doubling it. And I really have not sat down to really work out the kinks.
A final note on spring combinations. I get a lot of questions concerning what spring combo is best for an LP setup. The one that I mention above is one example. However, it is not the only combo to use. Finding the right spring combo for the best efficiency, one must use trial and error. I have 5 Spyders; all operating LP at 350 or lower. The marker for Project - LP has a weak valve/stock main spring combination. Another marker has a strong valve/stock main spring. Two other Spyders have a strong valve/weak main spring. The last one has a stock valve/strong main spring. All of these combos yielded well within the LP operating pressure and seems to be best efficiency.
Another question that I am asked is how do you know the marker is setup for best efficiency? Again, I will have to say trial and error. Having the lowest operating pressure will not yield the best efficiency. Ask any player that uses an AutoCocker setup for LP. Same goes with the Spyder. To know that the pressure is best for gas usage, make a note when you play. Estimating how full your tank is versus how much paint you use is good. Paint is usually purchased in cases of 2,000 and bagged individually in bags of 500. Simply measure every so often the velocity of your paint. If it seems to be slowing down, that means that your tank is getting low. Or, have your tank weighed after 500 shots. For those using HPA, you have a gauge that you can look at and measure. Remember, the right ball to barrel will help with efficiency. Not just for accuracy.
Spyder to pump conversion tutorial!
Project LP Reposted!
Sales Thread
- from Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked this Way Comes
Re: Otter's Project LP!
Update - April '03: Through much inquires, here is the picture of the final setup as of the time of this writing. Many and wanted to see the transformation from a stock 2-in-1 Spyder to an LP Spyder.
Here are the current items being used:
DYE Stainless Steel Barrel - 14"
AKA Lightening Bolt
AKA Rear Cocking assembly (replaced the AKA cocking rod with stock AutoCocker Rod)
Rocket valve (SRP screwed in half way)
Dark Horizon Titanium Striker with OtterSC modification
Green Maddman main spring
32degrees Vertical Adaptor
Air America Vigilante set to 230psi
Braided air line with quick disconnects
KAPP Drop Forward with on/off knob
TL metal double trigger frame with Lapco bottom line adaptor
Sometime in the near future, will be investing in a Check It 15* Assault block. They are just as high flowing as the 32degrees/Bob Long VA, with a different look.
Update - June '03: I had the opportunity to test out the Spudnuk'l Bolt and the Omega Valve. These items were borrowed from two players. I do thank them for allowing me to test these out and post the results for your LP project. See the above sections for the stats that I had gotten.
Update - March '04: I have gotten several questions about the type of gas used. Some have expressed that when they were using CO2, they got a very nice low pressure. However, when they changed to HPA (same day without changing any settings), the marker fails to recock.
Actually, they neede to increase the regulator for it to recock the marker. Some changes were significantly higher. I do not know for sure why. But, I do have a theory.
CO2 is a heavy gas. Probably why it is close to being a liquid. When you fire, the tank will cool and the gas will not evaporate from it's liquid state. HPA is air that we breathe. It takes a severe temperature change to cause it to be a different substance. In short, CO2 has a heavier mass than HPA. I do not know if this phenomina is true for N2.
Update - April '05: Not much was added. Just a new item to be added for consideration. The Insane Pain Nightstriker. Check out the results with the other strikers. Also added some more bolts, regulators, and valve.
Final Thoughts
In all, I am very happy with what I was able to accomplish and to be able to share with you. I will not be suprised by ones still not believing in what an LP can do dispite this article. The only real con, in my opinion, that they will be able to hold against low pressure is that it is expensive for a beginner marker like a Spyder. Why invest all that money into it when you can buy an AutoMag or AutoCocker? All I can say is that it is personal preference. I do hope that you find this article useful in helping you decide if converting to low pressure is worth while to you.
© 2001-2007
Timothy Gochenauer
OtterSC Customs
All Rights Reserved
Posted Here Until Otter Gets His Site Back Up Or He Asks Me To Take It Down
Spyder to pump conversion tutorial!
Project LP Reposted!
Sales Thread
- from Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked this Way Comes
Re: Otter's Project LP!
I would like to ask that this be stickied and to keep conversation down to little to NONE!
In addition I am going to put this in my SIG.
contact me for custom work
Feedback +18/0
Re: Otter's Project LP!
wait, does he not have them anymore or do you people want them posted or what?
Re: Otter's Project LP!
hey cake!
his sites been down for a few months now.
Spyder to pump conversion tutorial!
Project LP Reposted!
Sales Thread
- from Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked this Way Comes
Re: Otter's Project LP!
This is some of the best information I've ever set mine eyes upon, makes me cry...
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Help us improve our prizes database. Contact us if you have more information.
In his painting The Archibald Eolo Paul Bottaro has included as many of the past winners of the Archibald Prize as he could, dating back to 1921.
Bottaro features himself at the bottom of the composition painting a self-portrait. "I guess you have the burden of over 50 past winners on your shoulders when you enter the Archibald Prize so the figure is quite small in comparison to the huge hall," he says. "The pressure of so many winning pictures is something probably every artist feels."
The choice of works represented and their position in his imaginary gallery was largely dependent on their significance within the history of the prize, the personal impact of artist and/or subject on Bottaro's work, and how these figures relate within the broader sphere of Australian history.
The challenge for Bottaro was to make the picture work as a whole, not as a collage but as a unified painting. "At one point it looked like a big quilt. Putting certain pictures next to others, I'd find they clashed and I often had to paint one out and reposition it."
There was also the challenge of simulating the individual painting styles of the winners. "I tried to do justice to each work and each artist," says Bottaro. "It was a headache I have to admit. The picture dominated the studio completely for a year and took six months of solid painting."
The picture is painted with pure hand-ground pigments using egg tempera first and then oil. "That's just the way I work," say Bottaro, who is known for the compositional complexity of his realist figurative paintings.
Born in Melbourne in 1974, Bottaro graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1994 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting). In 1997 he began researching fresco painting, which led to a five-month restoration of a church in Sicily. He has had regular solo exhibitions in Melbourne since 1999 and has participated in many group shows including Divisione Interna in 2007 at Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, and Muse, a 2008 curated travelling show at Mildura Arts Centre and Benalla Art Gallery. He won the People's Choice Award at the 2006 Metro 5 Art Award.
Visible subjects of past Archibald paintings include the following: JF Archibald; H Desbrowe Annear; Gladys Collins; Esther Paterson; Annie Murdoch; Sir John Sulman; HA Hanke; Normand Baker; Elink Schuurman; Col Jim Gordon VC; Joshua Smith; JS Rosevear; Bonar Dunlop; Sir Robert Menzies; Albert Namatjira; Ivor Hele; Ray Walker; Stanislaus Rapotec; Rabbi Dr I Porush; Professor James McAuley; Charles Blackman; Margo Lewers; Lloyd Rees; George Johnston; Neville Gruzman; Sir John McEwan; Gough Whitlam; Michael Boddy; Norman Stephens; Tim Burstall; Brett Whiteley; Philip Adams; Rudy Komon; Chandler Coventry; Max Gillies; Herbert Flugelman; Dr John Arthur McKelvey Shara; John Beard; Elwyn Lynn; Dorothy Hewett; Paul Keating; Tom Thompson; John Reichard; William Robinson; Wendy Sharpe; Barbara Blackman; Allan Mitelman; Euan MacLeod; David Wenham; John Bell; Simon Tedeschi; Richard Flanagan; David Gulpilil; John Olsen; Paul Juraszek; Janet Laurence.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hugh Hefner wasn't joking about his shock weekend wedding announcement – he and bride-to-be Crystal Harris have reportedly obtained a marriage license.
The Playboy boss revealed he is preparing to ring in 2013 by marrying former fiancé Harris on New Year's Eve. Harris broke off the couple's engagement days before the planned wedding in June 2011 and moved out of the Playboy Mansion.
Sources tell TMZ.com Hefner and Harris visited the Beverly Hills Courthouse on Tuesday to obtain the necessary paperwork for the New Year's wedding, which is set to take place at their Mansion home.


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25 Nov 2014
Applications are now being invited for the 2015 Dragonair Aviation Certificate Programme, a key initiative under the Dragonair Youth Aviation Academy. Organised by Dragonair in conjunction with the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps, the nine-month educational initiative, is designed to educate, motivate and inspire young people, aged 18 to 25, who are interested in pursuing an aviation-related career, by offering them a comprehensive aviation training programme and a range of aviation activities.
Each participant will be mentored by a Dragonair pilot who will offer guidance and advice to help their professional and personal development. Participants will have the opportunity to take an observation flight operated by their pilot mentors, experiencing everything from the pre-flight briefing to the actual flight operation. Participants will also learn about the operations of various aviation-related organisations in Hong Kong and experience the passion and commitment that keeps driving the industry forward.
Over the past nine years, the Dragonair Aviation Certificate Programme has had a positive impact in terms of nurturing future talent for the aviation industry in Hong Kong. More than 40% of the Programme's graduates have already embarked on careers in various areas of the aviation industry including aircraft engineering, air traffic control and ground handling, while a number are now working as pilots with Dragonair and sister airline Cathay Pacific.
Amy Tsang graduated from the Programme in 2009 and is now a Junior First Officer at Dragonair. She believes the Programme is inspirational not only in terms of the aviation knowledge it provides, but also in giving young people the positive attitude and determination needed to pursue their goals. "I am very grateful for what my mentor Geoff McDonald taught me. He inspired me to always keep my passion alive. Geoff knew that I aspired to become a pilot at Dragonair, and aside from giving me valuable advice for my interview preparation, he offered words of encouragement that gave me the courage and confidence I needed to land a job as a pilot."
Young people interested in exploring the exciting world of aviation should not miss out on this great learning opportunity. Programme details and application procedures can be found at the programme website, www.dragonair.com/aviationacademy. Applications for the 2015 programme can be submitted online on or before 14 December 2014.


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Great for restaurants and bars from Bob Solari. Show a knife and have it examined. Borrow a bill that the spectator signs. Fold the bill in half and plunge the knife right through center the bill! They HEAR the bill rip ! Next the knife is SEEN and Heard tearing the bill ! The bill is immediatly opened showing it to be unharmed. Easy to do, Nothing is attached to the blade, Complete with knife, gaff, and illustrated instructions
Do you own this product? Write a review.


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Kumeu & Muriwai beaches
Kumeu offers picturesque farmland, orchards, vineyards. Muriwai, beyond the vineyards of Kumeu, is a black sand beach with vast untamed natural beauty
The countryside of Kumeu is a refreshing blend of green farmland, orchards and vineyards. The road leading in and out of Kumeu is lined with road-side fruit and vegetable sellers - a great place to stop for delicious, fresh produce. Also surrounding Kumeu are a number of wineries - many of them among the oldest wineries in Auckland. A few quality places to stop for a bite to eat include BeesOnline Honey Centre Cafe and the boutique brewery, Hallertau Brewbar, Soljans Winery and Allely House Restaurant.
Beyond the wine-growing area of Kumeu and Huapai is the vast black sand beach of Muriwai, popular with surfers. Muriwai is also home to one of New Zealand's largest onshore gannet (sea bird) colonies, only a short walk along the provided track leads to a viewing platform right above the colony area. This platform not only provides entertaining sites of the Gannet colony but extensive views of the 60km beach.
Inland of Muriwai is Woodhill Forest where it is possible for active out-door experience seekers to quad bike and/or mountain bike along the forest tracks.
Helpful links:


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BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Google is close to settling a three-year European antitrust probe with "much better" concessions to allay concerns over blocking rivals such as Microsoft from internet search results, two sources said on Wednesday.
A settlement with the European Union's regulator would mean that Google, the world's biggest internet search engine, would escape a possible fine of as much as $5 billion or 10 percent of its 2012 revenue.
Such an outcome would mirror the company's success in the United States last year where it received only a mild reprimand from the Federal Trade Commission, which said Google had not manipulated its website results following a 19-month investigation.
Google and the European Commission are close to a deal and a decision is expected in the next few days or in a couple of weeks at the latest, a senior European Union official told Reuters.
A second person familiar with the matter confirmed the likely settlement.
A Commission spokesman declined to comment on whether or not a deal was close. "We are at a critical moment in the investigation," he said.
"We don't comment on rumors and speculation," a Google spokesman said in a statement.
The EU official said Google's latest proposal, its third since EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia rejected an earlier offer in October as unacceptable, was "much better".
It includes commitments from Google on how it will treat rivals and how it will use content from other providers in future.
The Commission has said that Google may have favored its own products and services in search results at the expense of competitors.
Google submitted the new offer in mid-January, in essence building on its second proposal with no dramatic changes, the second source said.
In that offer, the U.S. company said it would let rivals display their logos and web links in a prominent box, and content providers decide what material Google can use for its own services.
It would also make it easier for advertisers to move their campaigns to rival platforms such as Yahoo! and Microsoft's Bing.
EU regulators will not seek feedback from the 125 rivals, including Microsoft and third parties, who commented on Google's previous proposals as they have a clear idea of their thinking after the last two market tests, the official said.
Google's critics said they wanted the chance to vet the offer and were ready to take on the regulator if left out of the process.
"We would challenge a settlement agreed upon without a market test," said Michael Weber of German online mapping service Hotmaps.
"The concerns raised by the Commission's investigation are too important to consumers for them to be addressed by a settlement that is not thoroughly vetted," said lobby group FairSearch, whose members include U.S. online travel sites Expedia and TripAdvisor, and French comparison site Twenga.
ICOMP, another lobby group that counts Microsoft and four other complainants among its members, agreed.
The critics have said Google's earlier concessions would only entrench its dominance, and that it would be better for regulators not to do a deal than end up with a flawed outcome.
Editing by Erica Billingham


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Stock up on a variety of breakfast items, beverages, snacks, frozen entrées and more, any time—all on the honor system.
Candlewood Suites Boston-Braintree
Candlewood Suites Boston-Braintree
Attractive Extended Stay Hotel in Boston, Mass.
By choosing the Candlewood Suites® Boston - Braintree hotel, you are making the best choice for a hotel near Boston. Located conveniently off of I-93, our hotel in Braintree, MA allows for shorter travel times to business meetings and leisure activities. With our free amenities and friendly staff, everything you need to have a pleasurable stay is at your fingertips.
Our hotel is located near the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, which is convenient for our corporate guests during their extended stay with us. Our suites have all the necessities and more, including free Wi-Fi service and a flexible workspace. With fully-equipped kitchens featured in all suites, both corporate and leisure guests enjoy cooking meals in the comfort of their suite. We also offer the Candlewood Cupboard filled with sundries and beverages for those get up and go days. With our free laundry service, Lending Locker and Lending Library, our guests find our hotel to have the comforts of home.
Entertainment options are endless with the area's most popular attractions like the JFK Library and the Freedom Trail. Get acquainted with the area via the Boston Trolley Tour that stops by every morning at 8 AM. Our hotel near Boston allows you to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city so you can relax and enjoy the city at your leisure. Feel at ease, when you extend your stay with us.
Quick Info
- Check In: 3:00 PM
- Check Out: 12:00 PM
- Minimum Check-In Age: 21
- Late Check Out Available
- Parking: Free
- Print Fact Sheet
Important Update
Relax and stay in the know
2019 Fan Expo
Bioteck Week
- On-site Guest Self-Laundry Facilities
- Standard Wireless Internet service is free for all members
- On-site Fitness Center Available
It's hard to leave your best buddy at home when you're traveling for extended periods, so we provide a pet friendly experience. Restrictions and fees apply.
Whether you are booking suites for a family reunion or suites for your company's training needs, Candlewood Suites hotels can accommodate your group.
Workout whenever you want: Candlewood Gym always has an open door and lots of aerobic and cardio equipment to make it easier to stick to your exercise routine, no sweat.
The IHG Green Engage system is an online tool that gives our hotels the means to measure their day-to-day environmental impact.
Getting Here
Guest Reviews
Overall Experience


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This is not an offer for credit and should be used for estimation purposes only based on the information you provided. You should not base your decision on this estimate alone. Title, registration, tax and other fees, and personal circumstances such as employment status and personal credit history, were not considered in the calculations.
Our powerful, most capable, full-size six-passenger diesel Mule™ side x side ever. The 2016 Mule Pro-DXT™ not only offers unmatched cargo and passenger versatility, but can also haul up to 1,000 lbs. And tow up to one ton.
Front - 26 x 9-12
Rear - 26 x 11-12
Front - Double wishbone; 8.7 in. travel
Rear - Double Wishbone; 8.7 / 8.5 (R / L) travel


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Learn how MacUpdate Desktop can install apps on MacUpdate with the simple click of the icon. Plus, keep all your apps updated.
Shade Basic is a suite of tools for curved-surface and polygon 3D modeling, animation, and rendering - with new tools for diagnosing and fixing models for 3D printing! All versions of Shade 3D include beautiful Radiosity rendering, PoserFUSION import of animated Poser scenes, and support for building animated game content. Shade 3D is available in Basic ($99), Standard ($249), and Professional ($499) editions.
Shade 3D Basic includes 2 GB of tutorials, materials and scene data to help you get started in 3D.
Note: Users must obtain a trial license to evaluate for 30 days. See More...
What's New in Shade 3D Basic
- New 3D Printing Assistant feature that check and fix 3D model before 3D printing
- Support Poser 10 and Poser Pro 2014 import through PoserFusion
- Polygonal Modeling enhancement
- Various bug fixes


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Take a trip on the ever-changing scenic highway
Linking Christchurch to the West Coast via Arthurs Pass - Passing through: Sheffield, Springfield, Arthurs Pass, Otira, Jacksons and Kumara.
There is an ever-changing scenic highway along the South Island's eastern coast. At Kaikoura, see sperm whales up close or swim with the dolphins.
Walk mountain, forest or coastal trails. Savour fresh crayfish (lobster) at roadside cafes. In Waipara Valley savour award-winning vintages at the many wineries. From Waikuku to Spencer Park the sandy beaches and river estuaries offer sheltered camping areas. Ashburton offers quality shopping, many delightful gardens, heritage museums and art galleries.
Visit the Vintage Car Club & Motor Museum, The Plains Railway & Historical Village, the Aviation Museum and Lynn's Historical Woodworking Trust.
Venture inland to high country lakes and Mt Hutt Ski Area, go jet boating or rafting.
Escape to a world of peace and tranquility. Hot air ballooning is a magical experience and a flight with Ballooning Canterbury offers panoramic views across the fertile Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps. There is nothing quite so romantic and exciting as floating effortlessly over an ever changing landscape.
Temuka is renowned for its pottery and ceramics while nearby is the site of Richard Pearse's famous first powered flight. Discover the Pleasant Point transport museum and Model T Railcar and the outstanding examples of Maori rock art. The heritage buildings of Timaru are complemented by its rose gardens, art galleries and contemporary piazza with views over beautiful Caroline Bay.


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January is always a fresh time to fine tune online marketing habits. One good place to start is the social media editorial calendar.
You remember, that file you started last year and haven't opened since? On the flipside it could be a daily master plan that you did follow that made your analytics go through the success roof. In the latter case, maybe it is a do-over or just a yearly update.
The Power of the Written Word and Social Media
How can the power of the written word impact your social media editorial calendar? Research shows that people who write down goals, share that information with a friend, and send weekly updates to that friend are 33 percent more successful in accomplishing goals than those who merely formulated goals.
If you consider your colleagues, subscribers, prospects, and clients as "friends" – think about the power of a written and organized social media editorial calendar …
Originally designed for books, magazines, and newspapers, editorial calendars have been around for centuries and are the lifeline to successful publishing. Today's editorial calendar takes into account web content, company press releases, blogs, social media news network postings in the likes of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube as well as email marketing plans and PPC, should also wrap into traditional marketing campaigns.
Editorial calendars bridge together content and themes for social media and beyond:
- Blogs
- Online newsrooms
- Social media network messaging
- Events
- Email campaigns
- Video
- Offers
- Promotions and sweepstakes
- Web pages
Social Media Editorial Calendar Benefits
Social media editorial calendars create a cohesive layer to a content strategy that bridges the benefits of:
- Accountability: Put it in writing where everyone can see it, touch it and live it.
- Commitment: Stamp a date on it, chances are, you will get it done.
- Accomplishment: Checking it off the list feels sooooo good and also ties back to accountability.
- Planning: Big picture first, start at the year, month, week and day.
- Creativity: Mapping out the topics first will help free up space for creativity and inspiration.
- Trends: Tie in the topics with keyword research and boost the SEO strategy.
- Measurement: Watching the results in growth and also what is popular in content via tools such as Google Analytics will give you valuable information for future editorial ideas.
Tips For Creating a Social Media Editorial Calendar
- Goals
- Start in baby steps and grow in phases each quarter.
- For example, in the first three months you might map out to produce 40 pieces of content total that is divided into blog posts and social media messages and set a goal for the 2nd quarter to increase by 25 percent. Watch the analytics grow!
- Frequency and Timing
- Break it down month-by-month, then week-by-week to day-by-day and even hour by hour for the uber advanced.
- Themes
- Pick topics or themes for each month into broad categories that can be broken down into sub-categories.
- Holidays, trade shows, seasons, fashion, sports, etc.
- Or dedicate each month to a different product focus or service of your company and design a collage of content ideas centered around that product or service in the form of videos, Tweets, blog posts and Facebook updates.
- Share and Play Nice
- The social media editorial calendar isn't designed to be a top secret document. The idea is to share and collaborate across the team of writers, editors, researchers and also the other departments such as SEO, advertising, public relations, product teams, and the sales team.
- Take Inventory
- Social media networks continue to evolve and with many changes in the past 12 months. For example Google + and Pinterest have come into play, and adjustments need to be made to accommodate these new messaging strategies.
- Social Mobile Messaging
- The explosion of tablet growth from front-runners such as the Apple iPad bring new items to the social media editorial calendar for mobile users. Think about bringing in creative QR messaging on certain months or create a campaign using augmented reality to illustrate a monthly theme or topic.
- Connect with Print Campaign
- Connect the dots between print and online and carry over print advertising themes and campaigns into the social media calendar and vice-versa
Tools for Editorial Calendars
- Microsoft Excel: This is the trusted standby and go-to solution that can be at least used as a step one in mapping out a strategy.
- Google: Google makes it easy to set up editorial calendars using Google Calendar, Docs, Notes, and more.
- WordPress Editorial Calendar Plugin: This gives the publisher a "bird's eye view" of your content that allows you to control your long-term strategy. Celebrity copy writing stars such as Chris Brogan and Copyblogger give this plugin a thumbs up.
- HootSuite: In essence your social media editorial calendar is your dashboard of content broken down into timelines. HootSuite gives you that same dashboard feel when you break down the content into social networking massages.
- 21 Habit: So you want to get your social media editorial calendar up and running in 21 days or less? Put yourself to the test with this app designed to help you make or break habits, whether it be marketing or other business and personal goals
Reporting on the spot news via social media is one way to get the word out. But having an organized 12-month editorial calendar that slices up the year into monthly, weekly, and daily snapshots can take your content to new levels of success. Make 2012 the year of habits of highly successful social media editorial calendars that deliver quality content.
Editor's note: This column originally was published on January 12, 2012, and comes in at No. 4 on our countdown of the 10 most popular Search Engine Watch columns of 2012. As the clock ticks down to 2013, we're celebrating the Best of 2012 by revisiting our most popular columns, as determined by our readers. Enjoy and keep checking back!
Related reading
Social media: How does it affect SEO?
It's not the actual social activity that matters, but what happens as a result of that activity. Three ways to harness the power of social media for SEO.


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A 747-400 cargo jet crashed this afternoon shortly after taking off from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, killing 7, the AP reported.
The jet was operated by National Air Cargo, a shipping airline based in Orlando, according to Aviation Safety Network.
The Aviation Herald reported that the Boeing 747 may have stalled at 1,200 feet due to a shifting load.
According to the AP, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the crash, but the US-led military coalition denied that the group was involved.
Twitter user Albert Ramirez tweeted a photo of the black smoke coming from the wreckage, and described the crash:
Eye witnesses said, on climb out, the aircraft pitched nose up and rolled right into a nose dive. The cross winds were around 35 knots. — ALBERT, RAMIREZ (@RAM4REZ) April 29, 2013
Here's the photo:
National air cargo just lost a 747 cargo aircraft out here in bagram Afghanistan......no survivors. twitter.com/RAM4REZ/status…— ALBERT, RAMIREZ (@RAM4REZ) April 29, 2013
The aircraft was owned by Wells Fargo Bank, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.


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NCLB Update
School Change Awards
State Tables
Innovation America
NCES Reports
E-Rate Anniversary
Quote to Note
Upcoming Events
NCLB Update
This week, Secretary Spellings addressed several No Child Left Behind constituencies: teachers, the African-American community, and youth leaders. First, on July 23, she participated in a town hall meeting in Fairfax, Virginia, with elementary math and science teachers, assembled as the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy. Established in 2005 by golfer Phil Mickelson, his wife Amy, and officials from ExxonMobil, the National Science Teachers Association, and Math Solutions, the Teachers Academy will train 600 educators this summer during five-day sessions held in Louisiana, Texas, and Virginia. "Employers today need workers with 'pocket-protector' skills, creative problem-solvers, with strong math and science backgrounds," the Secretary emphasized. "The more students we train to be entrepreneurs and problem-solvers, the more jobs they'll create, and the greater ability they'll have to improve the quality of life for others" (http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/
2007/07/07232007.html). Later that same day, she spoke at the Congressional Black Caucus Education Summit. "We must expand our focus to improve our nation's high schools and combat a growing dropout crisis that keeps half of African-American and Hispanic students from graduating with their peers," she said. "As we move forward with reauthorization, we must remain vigilant against provisions that water down the ability of poor and minority students [to] ensure their progress toward grade-level success. We can't afford to back away from that goal" (http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/
2007/07/07232007a.html). Next, on July 24, the Secretary joined First Lady Laura Bush in Waterbury, Connecticut, to announce nearly $19 million in federal funding to enhance school libraries in 78 low-income school districts across the nation. Improving Literacy Through School Libraries grants may be used to increase library holdings, improve schools' technology capabilities, facilitate Internet links and other resource-sharing networks, supplement professional development opportunities, and expand access to library services (http://www.ed.gov/programs/lsl/). Finally, on July 25 and 26, respectively, the Secretary engaged top leaders at the Future Farmers of America State Presidents' Conference and the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership World Conference in Washington, D.C. At both venues, she stressed the importance of challenging coursework in high schools.
In a July 23 letter to Chief State School Officers, Secretary Spellings reported on states' progress regarding No Child Left Behind's goal of having all core academic subjects taught by highly qualified teachers (HQTs). All but one state has an approved HQT plan, and, nationwide, 92.2% of core academic classes were taught by HQTs during the 2005-06 school yeara jump from 86.5% during the 2003-04 school year. However, no state achieved the 100% goal. This fall, the Department will begin a new round of monitoring, focusing on state implementation of HQT plans. Meanwhile, the Secretary pledged to maintain a policy of not financially penalizing states solely because they have not achieved the 100% goal. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/secletter/070723.html.
In the ongoing debate over reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, a frequent call is for greater flexibility. Therefore, the Department commissioned the Urban Institute to survey school districts on three existing flexibility programs: transferability, REAP Flex, and the Local Flexibility Demonstration Program (or Local Flex). As it turns out, REAP Flexwhich allows small, rural districts to transfer up to 100% of applicable formula funds for other authorized activitiesis widely utilized by eligible districts (at 51%). Districts were less likely (at 16%) to employ transferability, which allows any district in the U.S. to transfer up to 50% of applicable formula funds for other authorized activities. And, just one district (Seattle) opted to participate in Local Flex, a competitive program which allows selected districts to consolidate certain formula allocations. Districts cited two main reasons for not utilizing these flexibility programs: a lack of information and an inability to distinguish clear benefits. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/disadv/flexibility/.
School Change Awards
On July 16, Deputy Secretary Ray Simon presented 2007 National School Change Awards to six schools, recognizing their significant progress to enact positive changes and raise student achievement through improved measurable outcomes. The efforts of these once low-performing schools to raise test scores and implement systematic reforms fall in line with the mission of the No Child Left Behind Act. The awards are administered and sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators and the Fordham University Graduate School of Education. For more information, please go to http://www.npli.org/nsca/.
State Tables
State tables showing Fiscal Year 2001-08 allocations under formula-allocated and selected student aid programs have recently been updated. Although the FY 2007 column heading still reads "2007 Estimate," state allocations for the following No Child Left Behind programs are now final:
- Title I (Grants to Local Education Agencies, Reading First Grants, Even Start Grants, and Grants for Neglected and Delinquent Children)
- Improving Teacher Quality State Grants
- Math and Science Partnership Grants
- Educational Technology State Grants
- 21st Century Community Learning Center Grants
- State Grants for Innovative Programs
- State Assessment Grants
- Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities State Grants
- Language Acquisition State Grants
All FY 2008 state allocations are preliminary estimates based on currently available data. For more information, please go to http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/statetables/.
Innovation America
Even though her one-year term as chair of the National Governors Association (NGA) ended this month, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano is continuing her platform issue, "Innovation America," by creating a new foundation and convening a new task force. The foundation will gear up this fall with a public outreach campaign that seeks to tout the work of American innovators and spur innovation. The task force, consisting of corporate executives, governors' staff members, Chief State School Officers, university officials, and think tank leaders, will help states begin to benchmark their education systems against international best practices. At the NGA's annual meeting, Napolitano also unveiled an interactive NGA/Scholastic web site, http://www.youinnovate21.net, with standards-based content to help students understand the relevance of math and science in their lives and teachers "augment and electrify" their curricula.
NCES Reports
Don't miss these popular reports from the Department's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES):
The "Digest of Education Statistics, 2006" is the 42nd in a series of publications initiated in 1962. Its primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education, from pre-kindergarten through graduate school, drawn from government and private sources, but especially from surveys and other activities carried out by NCES. The digest contains data on the number of schools and colleges, students, and teachers, in addition to statistics on educational attainment, finances, libraries, technology, and international comparisons. Information on population trends, education attitudes, labor force characteristics, and government funding supplies background for evaluating the education data. For more information, please go to http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007017.
The "Status of Education in Rural America" presents a variety of indicators on the state of education in rural America during the 2003-04 school year. Findings indicate that over half of all operating school districts and one-third of all public schools in the U.S. are in rural areas, but only one-fifth of all public school students are enrolled in rural areas. Also, rural public school students in fourth- and eighth-grade outperformed urban public school students on the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in reading, math, and science assessments yet were bested by suburban public school students in reading and math. For more information, please go to http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/ruraled/.
E-Rate Anniversary
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the E-Rate program, Funds for Learning has published a white paper on the success of the E-Rate and its impact on stakeholders. Thanks in part to the $20 billion in discounts to schools and libraries offered through the program, the number of public school classrooms with Internet access jumped from 14% in 1995 to 95% in 2005. For more information, please go to http://newsletters.fundsforlearning.com/FFL%20White%20Paper%20-
Quote to Note
"[Mark] Twain once said, 'The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them....' Twain knew that reading is how we shape our beliefs and our character. He knew that by losing ourselves in a good book, we can find fundamental truths about our own lives. He understood that reading is vital to a good education. Across the U.S., students are receiving a better education because they have greater access to books..."
|First Lady Laura Bush (7/24/07),
announcing school library grants in Waterbury (CT),
before visiting Twain's house in Hartford
Upcoming Events
Applications are now available to become a NASA Explorer School during the 2008-09 school year. Under this highly competitive program, a team of educators from each school will receive an all-expenses-paid professional development experience at a NASA field center to develop an action plan that addresses a local need in math, science, or technology. Moreover, each school may apply for technology grants of up to $17,500 over the three-year partnership. For more information, please go to http://explorerschools.nasa.gov/.
The Department will be exhibiting at the National Conference of State Legislatures' annual meeting in Boston (August 5-9). If you are attending this event, please stop by the Department's booth.
Credits, Subscribe & Unsubscribe
Please feel free to contact the Office of Communications and Outreach with any questions:
Director, Intergovernmental AffairsRogers Johnson, (202) 401-0026, email@example.com
Deputy DirectorMarcie Ridgway, (202) 401-6359, email@example.com
Program AnalystAdam Honeysett, (202) 401-3003, email@example.com
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Votes, Voters, & Voting Profiles in Canton, OHVoting predictions for the 2014 elections. All data is guaranteed to be a true and accurate description of the factual data known by the RealVoters verification method.
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Inauguration planning kicks into gear
President Barack Obama is taking the oath of office in less than two months, but the party planning is just beginning.
Compared to the run up to inauguration four years ago, Washington's heard few details about the official parties and events that define the three-day event — or the benefactors who are footing the bill.
Story Continued Below
The Presidential Inaugural Committee launched Thursday, naming big-name Obama supporters like actress Eva Longoria as its co-chairs.
( Also on POLITICO: Longoria to co-chair inaugural panel)
The committee also unveiled a bare-bones schedule, including a day of service, the swearing-in, a parade and official balls — though the exact number was unclear.
Several K Streeters and Capitol Hill aides said the slower planning pace makes sense, since they expect fewer official galas and a more somber tone. The economic recovery is still fragile and the fiscal cliff negotiations are at a near standstill, introducing a big unknown into planning the festivities.
Of course, incumbents rarely are greeted with the same pomp and circumstance during their second inaugurations. But the shift is even more dramatic for Obama, who drew a record 1.9 million people to Washington to attend the swearing in of the nation's first black president.
( PHOTOS: 39 great photos from Obama's presidency)
"It feels like it is going to be a normal football game and not the Super Bowl, so we don't have people absolutely inundating us with requests for tickets to the ceremony and the parade," said Rich Gold, head of Holland & Knight's public policy group.
One clear recognition that the party will be smaller is the Washington, D.C.'s public transit system, which is predicting about half the ridership of Obama's 2009 inauguration.
Vermont State Society president Narric Rome said he expects this inaugural won't pack the same excitement or draw because it's the second one and because of the still-fragile economy – which by then could have fallen off the fiscal cliff.
"Four years ago, we planned for a 400 person-event and 600 people showed up," said Rome, whose group is holding a reception at 101 Constitution Ave. N.W., the Sunday beforehand. "I don't think that will be the case this time."
Organizers have also released the official theme "Faith in America's Future," an attempt to draw a line toward the country's steadfastness and unity. There are also expected to be several nods to Martin Luther King Jr., as the inaugural address will fall on the holiday commemorating the civil rights leader.
The swearing-in ceremony on the Capitol steps is farther along in its planning. Run by a separate joint congressional committee, the group's chair Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the budget of $1.23 million is just $3,000 less than it was in 2009. But he said that won't impact the program.
"The events of our committee, they're steeped in tradition, so it's going to look pretty much the same," he said.
Unlike the lead up to Obama's first inauguration, where the Presidential Inauguration Committee, regularly released fundraising numbers and plans for the event, the group has stayed relatively mum.
Fundraising for the inauguration after the most costly presidential election ever could also be challenging.
One Republican fundraiser said it is difficult to hit up the same donor pool after milking them dry for the campaign and some donors get bent out of shape because they think they should be given a free pass for the inaugural, a perk for all they've done.


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There are currently two honeypot technologies to respond to attacks against web applications. These include the "Google Hack" honeypot and PHPHop (PHP Honeypot). For the study of web application attacks, these offer advantages over traditional honeypots due to the fact that their existence is advertised. Typically the honeypots can be found via specific searches in the Google or Yahoo search engines and this leads to a lot of sessions between potential attackers and the honeypots. These are considered low interaction honeypots in that they emulate web applications and/or their vulnerabilities.
We ran five GHH honeypots in one honeynet over the course of about twelve months during 2005 and 2006. Some of these honeypots emulated a web application called PHPShell and some of them emulated the phpBB2 message board application. The PHPShell honeypot emulated PHPShell, by offering the appearance of access to the underlying operating system shell. All commands that the attacker executes are logged, together with details of the HTTP session in progress. If the attacker attempts to download any binaries we obtain a copy of these as well. The phpBB2 honeypots were emulating multiple remote code execution vulnerabilities, including the one exploited by the Santy worm as described above.
Our GHH honeypots were advertised using a technique we call "transparent linking". This involves placing hyperlinks pointing to our honeypot on other web pages so that our honeypots are indexed by search engines. The links are designed so that humans will not see them, so the only visitors to the honeypot should be those who have specifically searched for it using a search engine. For example, we might insert a link such as '.' into a web page which is already being indexed by a search engine. When the engine crawls the site again, it will follow the link and index the honeypot as well. By having the honeypot indexed in a search engine we increase the amount of attacks that traverse our honeynet rather than relying on attackers finding the honeypot by manual scanning. Usually when a web browser visits the honeypot we can see the search criteria revealed by the 'referer' field of the HTTP request. All the traffic to the GHH honeypots was logged and inspected for malicious activity.
Below is a graph of the number of HTTP requests received by the Google Hack Honeypot honeynet during 2006, and includes requests from search engines which are indexing the pages on the honeypot, as well as malicious activity. There is a consistently high number of visits from search engines such as Yahoo, Google and MSN Search and a fairly steady stream of other visitors trying to execute operating system commands on the honeypots.
Another two PHPHoP honeypots have been running for about 12 months and have been emulating several vulnerable web applications including Advanced Web Statistics (awstats), the Mambo Content Management System and certain applications making use of the PHPXMLRPC protocol. The emulations are relatively basic and are not convincing to a human attacker but do collect a variety of probes and automated exploit attempts, including capturing the files and payloads used in these attempts. When the attacker makes a malicious request to the honeypot, for example, attempting to exploit a remote code-inclusion problem in Zeroboard, a web bulletin board :


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The state Department of Financial Services on Thursday announced rulings on Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield's 2013 rate requests, giving the Blues a weighted average 12.5 percent increase in Rochester-area small-group community-rated plan rates and shaving some 3 points of their 6.3 percent request for large-group HMO plans for an average 3.2 percent increase.
Rate changes within those broad categories vary by product as do changes to individual groups.
Excellus' Rochester-area small group PPO plans will see an average 9.6 percent rate hike, with individual groups seeing hikes ranging between 9 percent and 19.9 percent.
High-deductible plan subscribers, who pay relatively small monthly premiums but initially lay out high out-of-pocket expenses, will see a weighted average 16.6 percent increase with individual plan rate hikes ranging between 16.6 percent and 16.9 percent.
Enrollees in state subsidized the Blues' Healthy New York plans for low-income families will see a 3.2 percent rate increase in 2013.
Rate increases take effect Jan. 1.
The approvals "came very close to what we asked for," Excellus vice president of community affairs James Redmond said. Letters detailing rate hikes would go out to area subscribers shortly, he added.
The Blues are the region's largest commercial health insurance carrier, insuring some 80 percent of enrollees.
The region's second biggest health insurer is Schenectady-based MVP Health Care. Its rate hike requests are still under review.
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