Media Net USA: September 22, 2014
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE REL...: September 22, 2014 PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENTS IN THE BLUFF DUE TO NEW ATLANTA FALCONS STADIUM...
Monday, September 22, 2014
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENTS IN THE BLUFF
DUE TO NEW ATLANTA
A USED & NEW TIRES SPECIALISTS, INC. (AUSEDTIRES) seek
growth opportunities with the construction of the new Atlanta Falcons stadium. The area slated for improvement falls
within the address of A Used & New Tires Specialists, Inc. located at the
corner of Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW & Joseph E. Lowery Blvd NW, 911
Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW , Atlanta , GA
30318
The owner of AUSEDTIRES plans to beautify the community by
completing renovations of the store fronts of the tire shop and the building
attached. A major gas station sits on the same corner with other community
businesses that should benefit from the neighborhood enhancements. Community
enhancements are expected in the area including Martin
Luther King Jr. Dr. where Walmart has recently
opened and other establishments seem to be thriving.
AUSEDTIRES has a new website, www.ausedtires.com and will begin
documenting its progress in the upcoming community enhancement projects. The
owner says he will help spread the information to the community about financial
opportunities to improve property in the area. Stay tuned to the website and
its social media outlets for community improvement progress reports and special
deals at AUSEDTIRES. A positive community member of The Bluff for years,
AUSEDTIRES seeks to improve the standard of life in our community.
A Used & New Tires Specialists, Inc.
(404) 922-2490 - www.ausedtires.com
Contact:
Noel A. Booker Sr.
(404) 981-5046
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Top Ten Tire Safety Tips
Top Ten Tire Safety Tips
1. Check tire pressures and adjust at least once a month.
According to studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on tire-related crashes, the leading cause of tire failure is underinflation.
Underinflation can have many causes, including a gradual loss of pressure through membranes in the tire itself. It is typical for pressure to drop approximately 1 psi per month and 1 psi for each 8-degree loss in ambient temperature.
Underinflation has immediate effects on vehicle handling (as well as fuel consumption), but its potential impact on overall safety and tire life are even greater. It results in premature and uneven tread wear on the outer edges. Underinflation also increases stress on the carcass itself, through flexing and overheating, which can lead to structural failures such as tread separation.
That's why it is imperative to check and adjust tire pressure at least once a month and before every long trip (over 250 miles). Recommended pressures are printed on a label located on the driver's doorframe or in the glove box.
2. Inspect tires regularly for abnormal wear or damage.
To ensure maximum tire life and safety, give your tires a visual inspection at least once a month and before long trips. This is easily done at the same time you check pressures.
Look for:
- Excessive or uneven tread wear, which may indicate improper inflation or steering and suspension misalignment;
- Cracks or bulges on the sidewalls or tread;
- Chunking of the tread or any indication of tread separation from the carcass;
- Signs of puncture, or nails, screws, glass, pieces of stone or any foreign object imbedded in the tire.
If you detect any of these conditions, take the vehicle in for further diagnosis immediately. In most cases, punctures can be repaired if their size is not excessive.
In general, external "plugs" are not recommended. Repairs should be made from the inside, and a complete inspection made while the tire is off the rim. Sealing compounds and other emergency aids should be treated only as a means of moving the vehicle to a safe location for repair.
If abnormal tire pressure loss occurs, check the valve stems for leakage, as well as the tire itself.
3. Rotate tires every 6,000 miles or according to owner's manual.
Tire rotation is essential to achieve even tread wear and maximum tread life. On front-wheel-drive cars, for example, most of the braking, steering and driving forces are carried by the front tires, which inevitably wear much faster.
A "cross-rotation pattern"—that is, moving the left-front tire to the right-rear axle, the right-front tire to the left-rear axle, etc.—can best balance tread wear and maximize tire life. That sequence can be performed on any vehicle equipped with four non-unidirectional tires. Designated by an arrow on the sidewall, unidirectional tires must be rotated only front to rear and rear to front, on the same side of the vehicle, so their direction of revolution does not change.
All-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles are best suited to a lateral rotation—left to right and right to left—at the same end of the vehicle.
4. Maintain tires in proper balance.
Out-of-balance tires can not only cause uneven tread wear and an uncomfortable ride but also excessive wear on the suspension and other components. An out-of-balance tire can be detected by a severe thumping, usually most pronounced at highway speeds.
If such a condition occurs, have your tires dynamically balanced as soon as possible. An experienced technician can usually determine which tire is out-of-balance by driving the car.
Tire balancing involves placing weights in appropriate places on the bead or inner circumference of the wheel. Tires should always be balanced when first installed, and whenever they are remounted.
5. Maintain steering and suspension in proper alignment.
Misalignment of the steering and suspension, either front or rear, can not only adversely affect the steering feel and stability of a vehicle, but also cause rapid and uneven tire wear. If not corrected, this misalignment can ruin a tire in a short time and distance.
If you feel the steering "pulling" in one direction or another when traveling straight ahead on a flat road with no crosswind, or if you notice uneven wear on the tires, particularly front tires, you should have the alignment checked and adjusted as soon as possible.
Alignment should also be checked after a vehicle has been involved in a collision or if it is used continuously on rough roads, particularly those with large potholes.
6. Never overload a tire.
Overloading is the second leading cause of tire failure, next to underinflation.
All tires are designed to operate within a maximum load range designated by a code on the tire sidewall. Exceeding this can result in both excessive wear and reduced tire life due to structural damage, including the potential for sudden failure.
In most vehicles, the maximum passenger and cargo load for which the vehicle and tires are designed is printed on the same label that designates recommended tire pressures. That load, particularly in the case of trucks and SUVs, may be substantially less than the vehicle is physically able to contain. It is critical that the maximum allowable load never be exceeded.
When determining the actual load in your vehicle, don't overlook the tongue-weight of a trailer if you are trailer towing, since it also acts directly on the vehicle's tires.
7. Avoid overheating tires.
Heat, like load, is the enemy of tire life. The higher the heat it is subjected to, the shorter the tire's life—in terms of both tread wear and structural resistance.
High speeds, high loads, underinflation, coarse pavement or concrete, and aggressive driving, including high cornering loads and hard braking, all contribute to high tire temperatures. Combined with high ambient temperatures and continuous use, they can create extreme circumstances and cause sudden tire failure.
To maximize tire life and safety, therefore, it is important to minimize the simultaneous occurrence of such conditions. Be particularly vigilant at high temperatures and adjust your driving style to consider its effect on tire life and performance.
8. Replace tires when required.
Your vehicle's tires should be replaced if:
- Any portion of the tread is worn to the "wear indicator bars"—lateral bars molded into the tire grooves at about 20 percent of their new tread depth—or to a depth, as measured in a groove, of 1/16th inch or less.
- Tread wear is severely uneven (in which case have the wheel alignment checked) or the center is worn much more than the edges (be more vigilant about tire pressures).
- The tire sidewalls are severely cracked or there are bulges anywhere on the tire.
- There is any indication of tread separation from the tire carcass.
- The tire has been punctured and cannot be satisfactorily repaired.
There are other reasons you may need new tires, as well. If you have been running on winter tires, then a change is in order in the spring. Using snow tires on dry roads accelerates their wear significantly and diminishes both traction and handling ability.
9. Install tires in matched pairs or complete sets.
Installing different tires on the left and right sides can significantly upset the handling balance of a vehicle—not to mention its ABS operation. For that reason, it is imperative that tires be installed in front or rear pairs, or complete sets.
Those pairs should be the same construction, size, brand and type, with approximately the same tread wear. In most cases, if you have to buy one new tire, you should buy a pair. It is essential that side-to-side pairs be the same and highly desirable that front and rear pairs also be matched, except in cases such as high-performance cars with larger tires in the rear.
If you replace only two, the new tires should generally go on the rear wheels, regardless of whether the vehicle is FWD, RWD, or AWD. It is important to maintain maximum traction at the rear wheels to ensure stability. Putting new tires on the front and nearly worn-out tires on the rear wheels of any vehicle is a recipe for instability. It is thus very important to avoid dramatic differences in tread wear, front-to-rear.
Under no circumstances should you have tires of different construction (radial and bias ply) or different classification (all-season and winter) on opposite ends or sides, since handling can be adversely affected.
10. Select the right tires for your vehicle and driving environment.
Recent improvements in "all-season" tires have substantially advanced the concept of one-tire-for-all-needs. On the other hand, more specialized tires than ever are now available for high performance, rain, snow, ice, off-road and touring. Some are even uni-directional, "run-flat" and even "green."
Most drivers are happy just to know they have "all-season" tires, and that is the way most new vehicles are equipped. These are a benign compromise, sacrificing exceptional capability in any one area of performance for acceptable capability in all.
Within that premise, however, there are huge variations in actual performance. Unfortunately, factors that improve one tire characteristic tend to diminish another. For example:
- A hard tread compound may enhance tread life and fuel economy but detract from both wet and dry traction;
- Short, stiff sidewall construction may enhance cornering power and directional stability but detract from ride quality;
- A wide tread with minimal grooving may enhance dry grip but detract from traction in wet and snowy conditions;
- An aggressive, open tread may enhance snow traction but aggravate tire noise and sacrifice tread life on pavement.
In addition to dry asphalt, tires may be expected to function on mud, snow, ice, sand or gravel, in temperatures from above 140°F to below -40°F. You get some idea of the multiple tradeoffs designers have to make.
Just consider that exceptional virtues are probably achieved at the expense of others. Determine what your primary needs are, and narrow your choices accordingly. Then, if possible, drive a similar vehicle equipped with the tires you are considering.
Canadian auto journalist Gerry Malloy is a regular contributor to Sympatico / MSN Autos Canada .
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Africans, camera, action: 'Nollywood' catches world's eye
LAGOS, NIGERIA — Hurtling out of his chair into the faces of two actors, a top Nigerian movie director yells, "Cut, cut! That's not good acting. It's terrible."
It's 6 p.m. on the set of Adim Williams's new political thriller. No one has had lunch. The crew is cranky. The actors keep flubbing the scene.
With its $40,000 budget and two-week shoot, this movie is typical of "Nollywood," Nigeria's slapdash industry, where quantity has long trumped quality. But Mr. Williams's films are increasingly being seen worldwide, and he's adamant this one be top-notch. Lunch can wait.
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After years as the snickered-at stepchild of global movie industries, Nollywood is blossoming. Bringing in as much as $100 million a year, it's third behind Hollywood and India's Bollywood in revenues. But more important, Nollywood's rise represents a unique cultural moment, people here say: African stories are finally being told by Africans themselves.
"These are our stories about Africa, not someone else's," exults Joke Silva, doyenne of Nollywood actors.
She cites 1997's "Amistad" as typical of Hollywood's handling of Africa: "It was a really strong story with a slave actually being the catalyst for his freedom, but somehow the Anthony Hopkins character [who played John Quincy Adams] ends up being the hero," she laments. "That was unforgivable."
Likewise, the run of Africa-oriented movies in US theaters recently - mostly notably "Hotel Rwanda" - have featured American stars or characters in lead roles.
But with Nollywood films being appreciated more widely, changes are afoot:
• Nollywood directors such as Williams are in demand across Africa. He recently got $5,000 - and red-carpet and motorcade treatment - just to schmoozein Uganda.
• Americans are also intrigued. Wesley Snipes scouted dealmaking opportunities here in September. And a team of independent American marketers sealed a deal recently with Williams for his first US release, "Joshua," a comedy that will come out on DVD this month.
• Works by Tunde Kelani, the Francis Ford Coppola of Nollywood, and others, are increasingly touring international film festivals. The Montreal, Berlin, and Cannes festivals had Nollywood events and screenings this year.
• Hot young director Jeta Amata just finished his first 35 millimeter, theater-quality movie, a historical epic called "Amazing Grace" about the iconic song, the tune of which apparently originated in Africa. Mr. Amata and investors are confident the film will be a cross-over hit with both Western and African audiences. He has a South African distributor, NuMetro, and is currently in talks with an American distributor.
• Nollywood's influence is so strong across Africa that there's been a backlash against Nigerian movies in nearby Ghana, where police have reportedly been raiding shops selling Nollywood videos, though it's not clear what laws have been breached. "They're struggling not to be colonized by Nigerian movies," Williams says, laughing. Other countries are just hustling to copy Nigeria: Uganda is trying to jumpstart "Ugandawood."
The basic Nollywood formula is that cheaply made films are rushed straight to videotapes and DVDs - then often pirated endlessly. Producers and directors don't see much of the money their films make, which causes much hand-wringing - and calls for more-secure distribution channels.
The films themselves often involve zany plots designed to teach a lesson, with many including black magic and dire consequences for evildoers.
Nollywood's stories are "very black and white" compared with Hollywood, Ms. Silva says - and that explains their appeal across Africa, where religion-based moralistic strains are popular. A "Hallelujah" sub-genre even involves timely interventions by Jesus Christ in daily affairs.
But Nollywood is tackling tough social and political issues, too.
Williams's film centers on a power play between a president and vice president - who, shockingly, discover they have the same mother, which helps bridge the divide between them. Coincidentally, there's currently a real-life power struggle between Nigeria's president and vice president over 2007 elections. "No relevance at all" to current events, says Williams with a smile.
And there's the recent "Women's Cot," starring Ms. Silva, which centers on a cultural practice whereby a man's family grabs all his property when he dies, leaving his widow destitute. Silva's character and other widows form a powerful group to prevent the practice. But they become corrupt.
The message: Traditional norms may be flawed, "but be wary of women if they get too much power," Silva says. It's part of Nigeria's national debate over tradition versus modernity, which resonates across Africa.
Even as Nollywood gains global respect, though, it has much further to go, says Mr. Amata, sipping a drink at a ritzy Lagos hotel. He's riled up about the side-show treatment that Africa's film industry got at Cannes this year.
With Hollywood facing declining box-office revenues, Nollywood can teach it some lessons, he insists, such as how to make cheaper films.
He also speaks of the benefits of the less-rigid, more improvisational style employed by Nollywood directors.
"We have things to learn from them, but there's a lot they can learn from us."
Monday, September 1, 2014
International Film Festivals
Baidu's Video Website Taps International Film Festivals for Home Growth
In its quest to compete with Youku Tudou for the attention of China’s 618 million Internet users, Baidu’s IQiyi video website is tapping global movie festivals to satisfy Chinese viewers’ curiosity for foreign cinema.
In an initiative called Online Festival Screening, the Beijing-based site seeks to secure the right to stream directly from the festivals, a move enabling the company to shorten negotiation time with producers overseas and circumvent China’s quota system restricting foreign film imports because the system doesn’t apply to online distribution.
“It’s important that we have as many movies as possible but it’s difficult for us to buy movies overseas. We think the international festivals are a big opportunity,” said IQiyi founder and CEO Gong Yu.
IQiyi, which has yet to make a profit, is now streaming new releases from the Venice Film Festival, where it is also one of the main sponsors. The site has imported 30 titles including this year’s winner, Greek director Pantelis Voulgaris’ “Little England,” a romantic drama so popular in China that IQiyi is now trying to arrange a theatrical release.
IQiyi is catching up fast with Youku Tudou. The site is now tied with the New York-listed company, which has secured a $1. 22 billion investment led by Jack Ma’s Alibaba Group, in terms of monthly visitor number and viewing time, according to Internet consultant IResearch. Last year, IQiyi ranked 4th in the Chinese online video market before Baidu acquired another online video platform, PPS TV, for $370 million and sought to merge the two to create the largest video website in China.
IQiyi is now on the hunt for long-term partnerships with film festivals worldwide. The site has also worked with the Shanghai Film Festival in June and the 67th Cannes Film Festival. Its newly launched film production unit, IQiyi Motion Pictures, aims to co-produce seven domestic and one Hollywood film within the next year.
Within three years, IQiyi could hold an initial public offering with a valuation that would surpass Youku Tudou’s, Gong said in April. “We want to have the largest market share and revenue share in the industry,” he told Bloomberg. “By the time of the IPO, if our market share and revenue are both larger than Youku, we should have a bigger valuation than it does.”
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