Defense Articles

The new G600 model handset with a slide opening casing is the new product from Samsung which has made its place assured in the market with its quality features. This latest model with a smooth and shiny finish has an easy to access sliding mechanism. The reasons for the heavy demand and popularity of the mobile phone are its beauty and user friendly features. The handset has a 2.2 inch highcolour screen that provides upto sixteen million colours on a high resolution TFT screen. The handset also has a feature that makes it possible for the user to access the mobile phone even when it is in closed position.

The presence of quad band technology in the handset ensures the user of world wide roaming that will automatically switch between GSM networks. The interesting part of this is that automatic switching takes place without the knowledge of the user. Hence, he doesn’t have to storm his head over this as the handset itself tackles the problem. It is widely seen that the customers of the Samsung G600 model handset are mainly those who look for an expandable memory option. The 55 Mbytes of built-in memory can be extended by the user with a memory card slot that will extend the capabilities further to store the required and desired information. No worries now to carry the handset while travelling . If you are for a mobile phone that could easily slipped into the pocket or carried along with the wallet, then the G600 is the most ideal set for you. The 105 grams weighing model with a measurement of 102mm x 47.8mm x 14.9mm including the battery no doubt is lightweight to carry comfortably. All in all, a complete package.

The Samsung G600 mobile phone has approximately 3.5 hours of talk time or 300 hours of standby battery time with a fully charged battery, that is something unique feature of this handset. This handset also has various messaging facilities includingSMS, MMS facilities that plays a big role in keeping the users close with the friends and family.

Samsung, the giant among mobile phone manufacturers has come again with another product that has really made an impact in the market. The D900i, the latest model handset is a camera phone with slide opening mechanism features that makes it stand apart from the contemporaries. The user friendly features never let the handset down. This model handset comes in an anthracitecoloured casing that makes it really beautiful.

Talking about its other mind blowing features, next comes a colourful TFT screen with a measurement of 32 x 42 mm that could be easily viewed even when the phone is in the slide close position. The screen is capable of providing the user with a 240 x 320 pixel screen resolution on a bright and colourful display. If looking for the comfort to carry whiletravelling, the Samsung D900i model is the best option for the user. The slim and useable size with a width of 12.9mm makes this handset too easy to hold and operate. To make things more convenient, the light weight handset just weighs 85 grams. So just let go of the tension of carrying the handset on long journeys.

If looking for a mobile phone with an attractive memory option, no doubt, the D900i satisfies in that aspect too. With an expandable built-in memory of 60Mbytes, the user can comfortably save the required data and information. The memory expansion could be done with a Micro SD™ memory card. Another mind blowing feature of the Samsung D900i mobile phone is the music player that satisfies the musical requirements of the user. The music feature on the handset is the best among all of its competitors.

It is easy and comfortable for the user to download his favourite music on the handset bringing joyful experience in to it. You may be completely astonished by the audio quality of the handset as it assures a full fledged audio experience with 3D speakers on the phone. It also has polyphonic ringtones. The handset has attractive features including built-in Bluetooth wireless connectivity, EDGE technology andUSB connection on it. The hands free speaker makes it more advanced and comfortable for the user.

Fitch assigns its ‘AA’ rating to Lubbock, TX’s $66.9 million tax and wastewater system surplus revenue certificates of obligation (COs), series 2008, scheduled to sell via negotiation on Jan. 16 through a syndicate led by Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. Fitch also affirms its ‘AA’ rating on the city’s outstanding debt comprising $185.8 million general obligation bonds and $338.1 million COs. The Rating Outlook is Stable.

The COs are direct obligations of the city and are payable from a direct annual ad valorem tax levied, limited to $2.50 per $100 assessed valuation, against all taxable property within the city. The COs are additionally payable from a pledge of surplus net revenues of the city’s wastewater system. The CO proceeds will be used for wastewater system improvements and to pay the costs of issuance.

The ‘AA’ rating reflects the city’s restoration of solid financial reserves, the prevailing health and stability of the local economy, and the moderate direct tax-supported debt burden on city residents. Also considered in the rating is the city’s relationship with its electric utility, Lubbock Power and Light (LP&L revenue bonds rated ‘BBB+’ with a Stable Rating Outlook by Fitch), the financial posture of which has improved, minimizing its potential impact on the city’s general fund operations.

NEW YORK — CWMBS, Inc.’s (CWMBS) mortgage pass-through certificates, CHL mortgage pass-through trust 2005-J4 is rated by Fitch as follows:

–$194.5 million classes A-1 through A-8, PO, X, and A-R certificates (senior certificates) ‘AAA’;

–$3.2 million class M certificates ‘AA’;

–$1.6 million class B-1 certificates ‘A’;

–$705,000 million class B-2 certificates ‘BBB’;

–$503,500 class B-3 certificates ‘BB’;

–$302,100 class B-4 certificates ‘B’.

The ‘AAA’ rating on the senior certificates reflects the 3.40% subordination provided by the 1.60% class M, the 0.80% class B-1, the 0.35% class B-2, the 0.25% privately offered class B-3, the 0.15% privately offered class B-4, and the 0.25% privately offered class B-5 (not rated by Fitch). Classes M, B-1, B-2, B-3 and B-4 are rated ‘AA’, ‘A’, ‘BBB’, ‘BB’ and ‘B’, respectively, based on their respective subordination only.

Fitch believes the above credit enhancement will be adequate to support mortgagor defaults. In addition, the ratings also reflect the quality of the underlying mortgage collateral, strength of the legal and financial structures, and the master servicing capabilities of Countrywide Home Loans Servicing LP (Countrywide Servicing), rated ‘RMS2+’ by Fitch, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (CHL).

The certificates represent an ownership interest in a group of 30-year conventional, fully amortizing mortgage loans. The pool consists of 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loans totaling $161,536,039 as of the cut-off date, Oct. 1, 2005, secured by first liens on one- to four-family residential properties. The mortgage pool, as of the cut-off date, demonstrates an approximate weighted-average original loan-to-value ratio (OLTV) of 70.43%. The weighted average FICO credit score is approximately 741. Cash-out refinance loans represent 22.64% of the mortgage pool and second homes 2.82%. The average loan balance is $542,067. The three states that represent the largest portion of mortgage loans are California (28.51%), Virginia (19.89%), and Maryland (16.86%).

None of the mortgage loans are ‘high cost’ loans as defined under any local, state, or federal laws. For additional information on Fitch’s rating criteria regarding predatory lending legislation, please see the press release ‘Fitch Revises Rating Criteria in Wake of Predatory Lending Legislation,’ issued May 1, 2003, available on the Fitch Ratings web site at www.fitchratings.com.

CWMBS purchased the mortgage loans from CHL and deposited the loans in the trust, which issued the certificates, representing undivided beneficial ownership in the trust. The Bank of New York will serve as trustee. For federal income tax purposes, an election will be made to treat the trust fund as one or more real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs).

Fitch’s rating definitions and the terms of use of such ratings are available on the agency’s public site, www.fitchratings.com. Published ratings, criteria and methodologies are available from this site, at all times. Fitch’s code of conduct, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, affiliate firewall, compliance and other relevant policies and procedures are also available from the ‘Code of Conduct’ section of this site.

NEW YORK — Fitch rates GMACM mortgage pass-through certificates, 2005-AF1 as follows:

–$218,986,322 classes A-1 through A-13, PO, IO, and R certificates (senior certificates) ‘AAA’;

–$6,946,000 class M-1 ‘AA’;

–$3,179,000 class M-2 ‘A’;

–$2,355,000 class M-3 ‘BBB’;

–$1,648,000 class B-1 ‘BB’;

–$824,000 class B-2 ‘B’.

The privately offered class B-3 ($1,531,153) is not rated by Fitch.

The ‘AAA’ rating on the senior certificates reflects the 7.00% subordination provided by the 2.95% class M-1, the 1.35% class M-2, the 1.00% class M-3, the 0.70% class B-1, the 0.35% class B-2, and the 0.65% class B-3.

Fitch believes the above credit enhancement will be adequate to support mortgagor defaults as well as bankruptcy, fraud and special hazard losses in limited amounts. In addition, the ratings reflect the quality of the mortgage collateral and the strength of the legal and financial structures and GMAC Mortgage Corporation’s capabilities as servicer. Fitch currently rates GMAC Mortgage Corporation ‘RPS1′ as a primary servicer for prime residential mortgage loans.

The total mortgage pool consists of 1,227 fixed-rate mortgage loans with an aggregate principal balance of approximately $235,469,476.02 as of the cut-off date, secured by first liens on one- to four-family residential properties. The weighted-average original loan-to-value ratio (OLTV) was 70.84%. Cash-out and rate/term refinance loans represent 52.46% and 14.81% of the mortgage pool, respectively. Second homes and investor property account for 4.22% and 17.45% of the pool. The average loan balance is $192,608.57. The weighted average FICO credit score is approximately 697. The three states that represent the largest portion of mortgage loans are California (19.85%), Massachusetts (8.78%) and Florida (7.88%).

ArmaLite’s new A-24 double-action 9mm semiauto handgun is available in both full-sized and compact steel-framed models. The frame, slide, and barrel on both versions are machined from steel forgings on high-grade computerized machinery. The full-size has a magazine capacity of 15 rounds. while the compact holds 13. Both versions are finished with military-grade magnesium phosphate and then heat cured for maximum corrosion resistance. Options include checkered grips and adjustable sights. Future calibers include a .45 and .40 S&W. plus polymer-frame lightweight models.

Fitch Ratings assigns an ‘AA+’ rating to Port of Houston Authority, TX’s (the authority) $9,000,000 unlimited tax refunding bonds, series 2004A (AMT). Fitch also affirms the ‘AA+’ rating on the authority’s $283,289,000 unlimited tax bonds outstanding. The bonds are scheduled to sell on Nov. 16 via a competitive sale. First Southwest Co. in Houston is the financial advisor. The bonds are payable from an unlimited ad valorem tax levied on all taxable property located within Harris County, Texas. Proceeds from the bonds will be used to refund a portion of the authority’s outstanding debt and pay costs of issuance.

The ‘AA+’ rating reflects the consistent growth and the breadth of the authority’s service area, economy, and tax base, its sustained favorable financial performance, and the port’s competitive position. The authority’s operations registered a strong performance in 2003, when operating revenues increased nearly 12% from the prior year and total cargo tonnage exceeded 30 million tons for the first time. Addressing capacity constraints is the focus of the authority’s long-term capital plan, which includes the ongoing widening and deepening of the Houston Ship Channel and new container facilities on authority-owned property at Bayport.

Financial operations continue to be solid, as evidenced by positive operating results in each of the past five years. Operating revenues are derived from three primary sources: vessel and cargo services (nearly 65% of 2003 total operating and non-operating revenues); equipment and facility rentals (9%); and bulk materials (2%). Led by a 36% rise in vessel and cargo revenues, operating revenues have increased by an average of nearly 7% annually since 1999. Operating revenues climbed by nearly 12% in 2003 to roughly $120 million, benefiting from increased traffic and higher local tariffs. Officials project operating results will exceed budget estimates in 2004, led by a resurgence in steel imports after the relaxation of federal tariffs in late 2003.

Property tax revenues constituted less than 20% of total revenues in 2003 and are used solely for debt service expenditures. The property tax levy for 2005 of $0.01673 per $100 taxable assessed valuation (TAV) is down modestly from 2004 and is at a recent low. The authority continues to maintain a very large amount of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents; the 2003 total was nearly $200 million, equal to more than 18 months of operating expenditures.

Existing bond authorization includes $25.7 million remaining from a 1989 authorization of $130 million for the ship channel dredging and $317 million remaining from a $387 million bond authorization approved in 1999 for the initial phase of the Bayport container terminal project. Due to its large tax base, the authority’s direct debt burden is a very low $86 per capita and about 0.2% of current TAV. The addition of $13.4 billion of debt from overlapping jurisdictions increases the authority’s overall debt ratios to an above-average $3,947 per capita and 7.2% of TAV.

The authority operates all public facilities of the Port of Houston and maintains the 50-mile ship channel. The Port of Houston ranks first among all U.S. ports in foreign tonnage and second in total tonnage. Fitch cites as the authority’s strengths its extensive facilities and related transportation network, location near the Gulf of Mexico, and proximity to the extensive economic base of the Houston metropolitan area. The authority’s tax base, which is coterminous with Harris County, continues to diversify with the top 10 taxpayers constituting only 7.4% of total values in 2003.

The area economy has broadened in recent years beyond its historical dependence on oil and gas, as reflected in significant job gains in services (including medical), manufacturing, and construction. NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the Texas Medical Center serve as major anchors to the local economy. The county’s employment base is expanding after a brief recessionary dip in 2002. The employment total for September 2004 of 1.8 million represented a 2% gain from the same period last year. Local unemployment rates have followed suit, declining from recent highs exceeding 7% to 6% in September 2004. While an improvement, this rate still exceeds the state and national averages of 5.4% for the month. In addition, wealth levels remain above average, with the rate of growth in per capita personal income outpacing both the state and the nation.

Although innovation seems to occur at many levels in our industry, in reality, much off that “innovation” simply consists of the lopping-off of barrels and the shortening of grips to make a “new” pistol. Smaller is often better, but if smaller means concessions in design, function, features and handling, then it’s a step backwards. Those who carry a handgun daily wrestle constantly with the juxtaposition of comfort, concealment and effectiveness; so are always looking at “smaller” as a potential answer to their problems.

Yet, all too often, smaller is simply more comfortable, not more effective–or even as effective as their prior choice. Then the delicate dance begins once again. As compelling as the pocket pistol choice can be, those who have actually had to use a pistol for protection, often simply cannot make the concessions necessary in real-world expectations that carrying a sub-caliber pocket gun requires. In a nutshell, they can’t rest easy knowing that lurking in the pocket of their cargo-shorts rests, by definition, a “pistol,” but by reality’s rules, simply a crutch to make them feel better.

Which means, their choice does neither. They don’t feel better about having a gun along, because the gun they’ve chosen meets the “gun” definition in name-only. Their decision compromises every reason they needed a self-protection pistol to begin with. So it’s back to step one yet again. Indeed, have I carried a .32 in a back-pocket at times? Absolutely. Did I feel good about it? Absolutely not. Have I stopped doing it? Yes. And, it seems I too am constantly back to square one in a quest for that balance of power, as it were. Which brings us to the SHOT show, almost two years ago.

A Tunnel

I think that light at the end of the tunnel may not be the headlight of a train coming toward us. My meeting with Karl and Eric Rohrbaugh, combined with their simple idea, caused what might properly be called a “change in the force” when it comes to the concealed carry concept. There, in my hand, lay an elegant, almost tiny, double-action only pistol with modest but useable sights and a high quality feel to it. I was already interested, and when I noticed it was chambered for a full caliber 9mm I had to re-think what I was looking at. The workmanship was top-notch and, simply put, this was no step backward.

“I was frustrated trying to get a high quality, small auto.” said Karl. “I started carrying a full-sized Government Model, then an Officer’s ACP but found them too heavy,” he continued. “Then, a Walther PPK found its way to me, but I was always uneasy with the .380 caliber.” Aren’t we all at times?

The gun that’s sitting smugly at home, regardless of caliber or quality, does nobody any good and Karl agreed. “I wanted a derringer for the 21st Century,” he laughed. “And, I believe we’ve succeeded.” The full caliber 9mm means the Rohrbaugh can handle a wide-range of high-quality 9mm self-defense loads. The only caveat is they need to be standard velocity–no zappo, plus-P loads please. More on that later.

Professional’s Choice

“I’ll be the first to admit the R9 series is not a beginner’s pistol,” commented Karl. And, I agree. People foolishly buy small revolvers and autos for “girls” and beginners. The guns are often “cute” but that’s where the appeal ends. Small guns are hard to shoot, often notoriously unreliable and usually of sub-caliber. It’s like buying your kid a .410 shotgun and then taking her dove hunting. There’s a reason only experienced skeet shooters use the .410, so why handicap your kid–or your wife or girlfriend–with the wrong gun?

“This isn’t a first-pistol for anyone,” continued Karl. “We started out to make a top-quality pistol an experienced handgun shooter could understand and apply correctly in the real-world. I would like to think they would have a solid background in training and experience to match the job at-hand,” explained Karl. This is a pistol a shooter should “move up to” after a good deal of experience. I have to admire Karl for making this very clear. He’s not so anxious to sell the R9 he’s willing to compromise common sense to do it.

Karl comes from a background of innovation and invention. His history building custom hot-rods and motorcycles in the 1960s through the 1980s gave him the metal-working and basic engineering skills needed to make the R9 happen. During this same time, he was a voracious pistol competitor and learned about handgun design and reliability in the school of hard knocks.

ArmaLite’s new A-24 double-action 9mm semiauto handgun is available in both full-sized and compact steel-framed models. The frame, slide, and barrel on both versions are machined from steel forgings on high-grade computerized machinery. The full-size has a magazine capacity of 15 rounds. while the compact holds 13. Both versions are finished with military-grade magnesium phosphate and then heat cured for maximum corrosion resistance. Options include checkered grips and adjustable sights. Future calibers include a .45 and .40 S&W. plus polymer-frame lightweight models.

Pretty much a simple little survey of sorts. We currently have the M9 (Beretta 92FS 9mm) as the standard issue side arm for most military MOS’s. There’s no substitute for the old Colt 45, but if you happen to find a 9mm Luger and the extractor and the ejector don’t break, well there’s just something about the Luger that is magnificent! I guess I’m just one of those people that think, if you’re using a side arm, someone is too close and you need to knock them down. Ill takes stopping power over velocity any day.

You can hit target on the earlobe with a .45cal and knock it flat. If the police had .45s instead of 9mm in the Hollywood shootout, they would not have had to get rifles from a gun store. It might not have gone thru the armor but would have knocked them flat and let them close. Just ask the FBI about their tragic 1986 Miami shootout. On the linked chart note the weapons of agents Grogan and Dove, the two agents who lost their lives in the gun battle. The agents had to shoot the two suspects several times to bring them down–none of the FBI agents involved were armed with .45 caliber weapons.

As I understand it we converted to 9mm in order to conform to NATO. In my opinion it was a ridiculous compromise. The purpose of a side arm is to defend yourself in close quarters. A 9mm will injure an adversary, but leave him active enough to possibly still do you harm. 45cal. on the other hand will disable the individual most entirely. Made by Colt or whoever the 45. Is superior for flat out stopping power and NATO should have conformed to us. . 45 bring ‘them back alive. Beretta is mucho regretted.

I’ve also heard that the model 92 Beretta has a problem with not chambering the final round in its magazine. Don’t know if it’s been worked out, but it could be a major problem. I have both 9mary ammo and a 45cal. prefer the 45 over the 9mary ammo. Have concealed weapon permit, I carry the 45cal. My 45 is over 33 years old and still shoot like it was brand new. I go through a box of ammo for each every month. .45 calibers. The premiere mans-stopping round, proven over and over as an excellent heavy pistol round since 1911.

I think the .40 cal was a compromise, going up to the 10mm, but the .45 was designed to drop a drug-crazed terrorist (also known as a Moro tribesman in the Muslim influenced areas of the Philippines’). I say bring them back. I have witnessed what the 9mm doesn’t do. .45 any day. While the venerable 45 was, in fact, designed to knock down the original uppity Muslims and almost 100 years later is still relevant. On a personal note, I could never qualify above Sharpshooter with it. With the M9, I got Expert the first time out and every shoot afterwards.

The Beretta 92F was brought in because the US needed to maintain the bases in Italy. It was very simply a “Quid Pro Quo.” No studies were done, no one’s opinion was asked, the change was simply done. No military member I have asked would take a 9mm over a .45. Many people I talked to owe their lives to the .45.

I’ve also heard that .45s are like gold over in Iraq, as soldiers there are trying to get their hands on one because the 92F doesn’t do the job. The only way a 9mm can stack up to the .45 in stopping power is if you’re using Black Talon or Gold Dot hollow-point ammo. However I have heard these two brands of ammo are now restricted.