Archive for the ‘siege’ tag

Gunman shot dead, all hostages safe

Sept. 2: A radical environmentalist, who stormed the Discovery Channel’s headquarters with explosives strapped to his body and took three people hostage at gunpoint, was shot dead by the police after a four-hour dramatic standoff at the building in a suburb of Washington in the US.

The three hostages rescued by the police were unhurt during Wednesday’s siege of the channel’s headquarters

read more

US hostage crisis over: Gunman shot dead

James Lee, an Asian American with a history of protests against the Discovery Channel, took 3 men hostage in a dramatic siege at the channel’s headquarters. He was shot dead after a 4-hour standoff.

US hostage crisis ends, gunman killed

James Lee, an Asian American with a history of protests against the Discovery Channel, took 3 men hostage in a dramatic siege at the channel’s headquarters. He was shot dead after a 4-hour standoff.

Philippine police ‘certain’ tourists were shot by gunman

MANILA, Aug 29, 2010 (AFP) – Philippine police said Sunday they were certain that Hong Kong tourists who died in a hostage siege last week were killed by the gunman, amid continuing investigations into the botched rescue.
Ballistics test…

Philippine police test guns used in hostage tragedy

MANILA, Aug 26, 2010 (AFP) – Philippine police said Thursday they were carrying out ballistic tests to determine if their commandos fired any of the bullets that killed eight Hong Kong tourists at the end of a hostage siege.
“We are exam…

Philippine police admit siege blunders

 MANILA/HONG KONG, Aug 24, (Agencies): The Philippines admitted on Tuesday it had bungled a hostage siege in which eight tourists were killed and which piled pressure on President Benigno Aquino to pull the country out of years of poor management an…

Authorities blamed for bus disaster

Hong Kong, Aug. 24: A Hong Kong woman whose husband and two daughters were among eight tourists killed in a bus hostage siege in Manila tearfully blamed the Philippine authorities on Tuesday for the tragedy.

The survivor, who identified herself only as Ms Leung, sat sobbing outside a hospital in Manila after the deaths of her two daughters — aged 14 and 21 — were confirmed.

Her 18-year-o

read more

Survivor berates Philippines over hostage siege

A Hong Kong woman whose husband and two daughters were among eight tourists killed in a bus hostage siege in Manila tearfully blamed Philippine authorities on Tuesday for the tragedy. The survivor, who identified herself only as Mrs Leung, sat sobbing outside a hospital in Manila after the deaths of her two daughters — aged 14 and 21 — were confirmed.

read more

Big B mania grips Amdavadis

Hundreds lined the streets, braved the scorching sun, climbed walls, withstood the ire of the police and laid siege on Sabarmati Ashram where Amitabh Bachchan was scheduled for a shoot, just to get a glimpse of the star and accord him a rousing welcome.

Madani’s arrest imminent

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug. 14: The police on Saturday laid siege to the camp of the People’s Democratic Party leader, Mr Abdul Nasser Madani, in Kollam as a prelude to arresting him in connection with the Bengaluru blasts of 2008.

According to police sources, his arrest was likely to take place either late on Saturday night or on Sunday.

A warrant had been issued in Mr Madani’s name by a

read more

Taj Palace is back in business

The Taj has chosen Independence Day to reaffirm the values it stands for. On August 15, it will open its heritage wing – that was gutted during the 26/11 siege – to an expectant public.

Kerala Muslim bodies vow to weed out extremist elements

Under siege after the recent attack on a lecturer, Muslim organisations in Kerala have chalked out a strategy to weed out extremist elements from the community.

BlackBerry under siege

DUBAI/RIYADH, Aug 1, (RTRS): Over a million BlackBerry users face being cut off from key services in Saudi Arabia and the UAE after authorities stepped up demands on maker Research In Motion for access to encrypted messages sent on the smartphone.
…

July 21: 21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

The 21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was organized in Worcester, Massachusetts, and mustered into service on August 23, 1861. After fighting in the Battle of Roanoke Island and the Battle of New Bern, the 21st Massachusetts was attached to the Army of the Potomac and participated in several of the largest battles of the Civil War, including the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Fredericksburg. The most devastating engagement of the war for the 21st was the Battle of Chantilly, fought on September 1, 1862, during which the unit suffered 35 percent casualties. From March 1863 to January 1864, the 21st served with Burnside in the Department of the Ohio, seeing action in Kentucky and eastern Tennessee. In May 1864, the regiment rejoined the Army of the Potomac, participating in Lt. Gen. Ulysses Grant’s Overland Campaign and the Siege of Petersburg. The regiment was a favorite of Clara Barton, the famed battlefield nurse, who was also from Worcester County, Massachusetts. By the end of its three years of service, the 21st Massachusetts had been reduced from 1,000 men to fewer than 100. Those of the 21st who chose to re-enlist at the end of their initial three-year commitment were eventually consolidated with the 36th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on October 21, 1864. (more…)

British fugitive kills himself in dramatic armed siege

LONDON, July 10, 2010 (AFP) – One of Britain’s biggest-ever manhunts ended in dramatic scenes Saturday with fugitive gunman Raoul Moat shooting himself dead to end a tense armed stand-off with police.
After gradually closing the net on Moat, …

Sri Lankans protest at UN for second day

COLOMBO, July 7, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankan protesters led by a cabinet minister rallied outside the UN office in Colombo on Wednesday, a day after laying siege to the building and trapping staff inside for several hours.
The United Nations expr…

Siege hurts Palestinians’ health

LONDON, July 2, (Agencies): Palestinian health experts studying the impact of Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip say it threatens to cause long-term damage to Palestinians’ health, with many children at risk of stunted growth or malnutrition.
In …

‘MARATHON’ NAKABANDIS

If, beginning Friday, road users think the city was under siege, they could be excused. The city police are gearing up to nab street criminals by all means. Commissioner of police Praveen Dixit has ordered marathon nakabandis in city until further orders.

Skipton, the castle town

Famed as the home of the best-preserved medieval castle in England inspite of a three-year siege during the Civil War, Skipton in North-West Yorkshire is a must-visit town while in Yorkshire.

Under Siege: 20 yrs of AFSPA in J&K

July will mark 20 years of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act in J&K. The people are angry the Army is still there. In Iraq, there is 1 soldier for every 166 people. In Kashmir, there is 1 for every 20. Is it time to start pulling out?

Molestation victim’s kin threaten agitation

The family of a molestation victim, who died at PGIMER Rohtak on Sunday, have threatened to lay a siege at Panipat-Delhi Road to press the demand for effecting arrest of police constables and money-lenders booked in the case.

Google Docs Creates Expectations CIOs Can’t Meet, Red Hat CEO Says

Red Hat CEO says CIOs are “under siege” by user expectations.

No proof of RAW’s involvement in Lahore mosques siege: Malik

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has reiterated that there is no evidence to prove the involvement of India’s RAW in last month’s ghastly terror attack on two mosques in Lahore, in which over 90 people were killed and several injured.

15 killed in Baghdad Central Bank siege

BAGHDAD, June 13, (Agencies): Suicide bombers and gunmen in military uniform killed 15 people on Sunday in an unprecedented attack on the Iraq Central Bank in Baghdad that sparked a firefight with security forces.
The violence erupted at around 2:…

Arab chief in Gaza … calls for break of siege

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, June 13, (AFP): Arab League chief Amr Moussa on Sunday called for Israel’s four-year siege of the Gaza Strip to be “broken” as he made a landmark visit to the impoverished Palestinian enclave.
The visit, Moussa’…

Khap cuts off 25% of city’s water

Nearly one-fourth of Delhi’s water supply was curtailed from Sunday evening when at least 10,000 Jat protestors demanding the OBC reservations in Central government jobs, laid siege at the water work in Muradnagar.

Oman, Iran condemn Israeli raid on flotilla

MUSCAT – Oman and Iran, in a joint communiqué, have condemned the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla as a “crime against humanity”. They also called for lifting the siege imposed on Gaza by Israel without conditions or limitations.

Pastor loses 9 out of his 10 children in war

MWESO, Congo: First, the rebels killed four of Joseph Munyaneza’s children in 1997. The family fled to another village.
The following year, that village came under siege. Another four children died of gunshot wounds. Then the baby, from malnutriti…

Mumbai-type attack foiled

Jakarta, May 14: Indonesian militants captured in recent police raids were planning a series of attacks including a Mumbai-style hotel siege targeting foreigners and an assault on the President at an independence day ceremony, the police said on Friday.

read more

26/11: ‘Compared to India, Pak’s loss is greater’ (Rediff)

Pakistani human rights activists on Thursday supported the decision by a special court in Mumbai to award the death sentence to Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested during the terror siege on Mumbai in November, 2008. Pakistani human rights activist Marvi Sarmad said, The decision to hang Ajmal Kasab is a right one; he deserved it. I will say that is a right decision, which was decided after a genuine process. I am personally against capital punishment.

Verdict expected in Mumbai siege trial (CNN)

An Indian court is expected to hand down a verdict Monday in the case of the only surviving suspect from a 2008 siege in Mumbai.

Mumbai attacks suspect found guilty of murder, waging war

MUMBAI, May 3, 2010 (AFP) – The lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks was convicted by an Indian court on Monday of murder and waging war against India for his role in the 60-hour siege that left 166 people dead.
Pakistani nationa…

How to Build a Trebuchet (1 Meter Scale)

The Trebuchet!

This article outlines how to build a 1 meter scale siege engine at home in your spare time. For less than fifteen dollars, you can build a one by one-half meter trebuchet that will throw a croquet ball thirty meters.

Steps

1. Like any project, first do your research. There are many other interesting trebuchet sites on the Internet.^[1]
2. Make a plan and draw it up. Keep it simple; something buildable and within the guidelines. A low braced triangular design was chosen for this project. It is important to have a plan. You may not follow it exactly and you will find out that you have left out some important detail from the plan. That may become quite obvious when you start building. Here’s an overview of what you will need to do:
   • Make a rectangular base.
   • Install the up-right supports and angled support braces.
   • Build and install the throwing arm (a lever).
   • Build the shot trough.
   • Add the ballast bucket (a counterweight).
   • Add the trigger and trigger adjustment chain.
   • Add the sling/shot-pocket assembly.
3. 

   Build a base

   Build a base and side supports. If it starts out square, it is more likely to stay square, so pay attention. Measure, cut, and lay out 2×2 base parts. Apply wood glue and screw together.

4. 

   Throwing arm detail

   Attach a chain to the throwing arm. The ballast bucket (kitty litter container with rocks in it) will be attached to the chain (so it can swing freely). The chain is anchored by a screw through a washer into both 2×2′s. Route or chisel out a small channel to accommodate the chain and washer before screwing the three 2×2′s together.

   • Note the original wooden dowel “cross bar” which was later replaced with a metal tube (conduit). The cross bar is the pivot point or fulcrum between the counterweight and the far tip of the throwing arm. Reduce the friction where the crossbar goes through the supports by using graphite lubricant or better yet, roller bearings.
   • Also note the original drawn plan the arm is laying on.
   • 

     Add supports & crossbar

     The wooden towel rack dowel first used for the pivot was too weak to handle the load of a half a bucket of swing rocks. A length of metal conduit was substituted. It has greater strength.

   • There is a screw going through the 2×2 and into a hole drilled in the metal conduit so the arm must move when the pivot rod moves.
   • The throwing arm should be light but sturdy. If the arm is heavy you will use energy moving the arm that could be used in throwing the ball.
5. 

   Trebuchet assembled

   Install the shot trough and attach the ballast bucket to the throwing arm chain. When the bucket of rocks drops, the throwing arm rotates and the sling throws the croquet ball.

   • Note the wooden end-caps on the metal conduit outside of the support arms, they add lateral stability.
   • Note in the background the custom “double handled” kitty litter bucket. The handle of the attached bucket is bending, so it was replaced with a bucket that had an extra handle added to it.
   • Note the croquet balls this trebuchet was designed to toss. Several rocks were added to the bucket as ballast.
6. 

   Trigger Detail

   As they did in medieval times, you can use a carefully bent coat hanger for the trigger.

   • The bend in the base of the hook (where it goes into the trigger adjustment chain) is important. That slight offset allows the trigger to catch and stay on the release eye bolt. When the string is pulled, the trigger rotates around the hook and disengages from the eye bolt.
   • This is a safe, reliable, and easy to fire trigger. It uses a fulcrum and an offset “center of tension” for mechanical advantage. The small trigger string can be pulled from a safe distance away from the trebuchet.
   • There is a length of chain attached to the back of base unit. It was marked in 10 centimeter increments. The trigger hook location on the chain is adjustable. Moving the trigger closer to the catapult causes the arm to cover a greater distance; which in turn throws the ball farther. Moving the trigger further away from the base uses less arm swing, and therefore throws the ball a shorter distance. The calibration chart below shows where the trigger hook should be placed on the trigger adjustment chain in order to throw the ball a known distance.
7. 

   Early try at shot pocket

   Add the sling/shot-pocket assembly. At first, the top cut out of a “Gimme” cap was used for the shot pocket. This did not work well. The design was altered to use a square piece of leather for the shot pocket. Note the four attachment points of the string (like a Y). With just two strings to one cloth or leather patch, it is like balancing a ball on a knife blade… difficult. If you bifurcate (split like a “Y”) the line to have two attachment points on each side, it makes a natural pocket in the middle.

   • The shot trough keeps things from getting tangled up and assures a straighter throw. There are raised wooden strips on each side of the flat shot board to keep the ball centered and in-the-groove.
8. Test.
   • Find out how too few ballast rock affects the throw. Sling would not let go of the ball which caused it to hit the dirt right just in front of the catapult. Add more rocks.
   • Find out how too many rocks can damage the ballast bucket handle. Make double handled kitty litter buckets to deal better with the stresses.
   • More rocks for ballast make for further throws, but you can also destroy the machine quicker. Find a sustainable balance; too many rocks in the ballast bucket does not throw well, too few rocks does not throw well, it must be “tuned” for what you are throwing.
   • The same thought applies for the sling ropes, they can’t be too long or too short but must be “just right” for it to work. You will need to experiment.
   • Make sure the rope lengths are even and knots are secure. Line length is critical, when the arm is vertical, the shot pocket should be just above the cross bar.
   • Having the release string and the “static” string affixed to the same location (throwing rod in tip of throwing arm) is critical for accurate repeatable throws.

Guidelines of Catapult Contest

1. This is a high school physics class assignment with a simple set of guidelines…
   • The base can not exceed one meter in length and 0.5 meter in width.
   • The throwing arm can not exceed 1.5 meters in length.
   • Wood, metal, and/or plastic can be as construction material.
   • No electrical devices (AC or DC) are allowed.
   • The catapult must have a locking device. You are not allowed to hold the throwing arm in the cocked position.
2. Construction of a catapult that meets the above guidelines: 55 points.
3. Distance contest: Each student will get three launches. Each student will be ranked based on their longest launch.
   • 1st place = 30 pts
   • 2nd place = 26 pts
   • 3rd place = 22 pts
   • 4th place = 15 pts
   • minimum distance 6 meters = 10 pts
4. Accuracy Contest: There will be three targets placed at three different distances. Each student will be required to hit each target with a beanbag launched by their catapult. Their catapult can not be moved more than 3 decimeters in any direction. Each student will be ranked based on the number of launches that is takes to hit all three targets.
   • 1st place = 30 pts
   • 2nd place = 26 pts
   • 3rd place = 22 pts
   • 4th place = 18 pts
   • 5th place = 14 pts
   • Hit all three targets using less than 50 shots = 10 points

Things You’ll Need

1. Estimate and obtain an adequate amount of materials. The design called for four eight foot long two-by-twos, so purchase five. All 5 were used, with about two feet left over.
2. Amazingly if you cut two one meter long parts off an 8 foot 2×2, the left over stick fits between them so the outer edge of rectangle for the base is 1 meter by 1/2 meter.
3. One foot of welded chain ($.046), a box of coarse threaded dry wall screws ($4.11), and two metal “T” plates for tying the upright to the base, plus the wood was purchased.
4. Total price $14.76. Cost of annihilating a small fortress? Priceless.

Tips

• Clamp both up-right sticks together and drill one hole through them both at the same time for the pivot arm. This way you know they were aligned and square.
• Apply carpenter’s wood glue on the joints before drilling and screwing the sticks together.
• Tweak, test, and tweak some more.
  • Make the shot trough thinner with add-in side rails. Shot should travel more predictably straighter.
  • Add graphite on the pivot joints to reduce friction.
  • Trim and even out all ropes on the sling, improve the shot pocket.
  • Mark the “trigger chain”; red marks every decimeter for adjustability during the accuracy contest.
  • 

    Calibration test results.

    Here are test results for this model:

  • Hooking the trigger closest to the base (1 decimeter) produced the farthest throw; 30 meters.
  • Hooking the trigger one meter up the chain tossed the croquet ball a mere 6 meters.
  • The closer the arm is to the base (short chain), the farther the object is thrown.

Warnings

• Power tools are dangerous; always use caution and use adult supervision when necessary.
• In early tests, the throwing may be unpredictable; stay clear of all moving parts.
• This throwing arm has a metal rod sticking out the far tip. This is where the sling string ring slips off to make the throw. The tip of the arm moves quickly, so avoid this area whilst operating the trebuchet. It is a danger zone.
• Croquet balls are hard, have a clear target zone. Heavy beanbags are recommended as they may cause less damage.

Related wikiHows

• How to Build a LEGO Trebuchet
• How to Build a Desktop Catapult
• How to Make a Mini Catapult
• How to Make a Paper Clip Launcher

Sources and Citations

• http://www.philliphansel.org/trebuchet/ – Original article: Mr. Phillip Sand Hansel II, shared with permission.

• Read on wikiHow
• Email this Article
• Edit
• Discuss


Posted: May 3rd, 2010
at 8:00am by Arif

Tagged with adjustment, advantage, amp, AppLY, arm, article, assembly, Attachment, attention, back, background, ball, ballast, bar, base, bent, bolt, bucket, Build, buildable, building, Center, centimeter, Chain, channel, coat, conduit, Container, counterweight, croquet, croquet ball, cross, cross bar, crossbar, Custom, design, detail, detailAttach, distance, dowel, energy, engine, eye, fifteen, fifteen dollars, Friction, fulcrum, glue, graphite, hanger, hole, home, hook, Install, Internet, kitty, kitty litter, lateral, leather, length, lever, litter, litter container, load, Location, lubricant, measure, medieval, metal, metal tube, meter, meter scale, note, overview, pivot point, plan, pocket, point, Project, Rack, rectangular base, Reduce, Release, research, Rod, roller, roller bearings, route, scale, screw, shot, side, siege, siege engine, sling shot, something, stability, strength, string, Support, swing, tension, Time, Tip, towel, Trebuchet, triangular, triangular design, trigger, trigger adjustment, trough, tube, Unit, washer, wood, wood glue, wooden dowel




Categories: How To?

Comments: No comments

‘Pakistan under siege’

Having pumped billions of dollars in military assistance and rushing guerrilla warfare experts to train soldiers to shore up Pakistan’s capabilities to tackle militancy, US Congressmen and Pentagon officials feel that the nation is closer to siege.

Attachée à la Présidence /1097 at RH performance

Rattachée au Président Directeur Général, vous l’assistez dans l’organisation et la coordination de ses activités quotidiennes avec un souci permanent de rigueur, d’efficacité et de confidentialité.

Vos principales missions consisteront en :

De gérer le Secrétariat de la Présidence,

- D’organiser de manière rigoureuse l’agenda du Président : gestion des plannings de ses rendez-vous, réunions, gestion de ses déplacements, réservations avions, hôtels…

- D’assurer l’interface entre le Président et ses interlocuteurs, avec mesure, discrétion et courtoisie

- D’assurer le suivi des dossiers juridiques. Relancer les services concernés pour faire avancer les dossiers, tenir des tableaux de bord de suivi par affaire,

- De participer à certaines réunions aux côtés du Président et suivre la mise en œuvre de ses instructions par les Directions concernées,

- D’assurer la supervision et la coordination des services généraux du siège.

Jobs in Morocco

Responsable Achats et Marchés /1003 at RH performance

Entreprise :

Importante société, intervenant dans la fabrication de lubrifiants, l’achat, le stockage, le transport et la distribution de produits pétroliers à travers tout le Maroc

Poste :

A la tête du département Achat, vous avez pour principales missions :

- Définir l’organisation du département, et la répartition des tâches confiées aux équipes.

- Contribuer à la mise à jour des procédures de gestion des Achats et en contrôler l’application ainsi que le respect des impératifs de qualité, coût, délais et service.

- Superviser le lancement des consultations et animer les comités d’Achats chargés de l’analyse des offres afin de décider du fournisseur répondant le mieux aux besoins spécifique du demandeur.

- Superviser la gestion du Magasin Matériel et de l’économat en s’assurant du respect des normes de stockage et de sécurité et du suivi rigoureux de la gestion des stocks.

- Mettre en place des tableaux de bords, suivre les indicateurs de performance et proposer des améliorations.

- Optimiser les coûts.

- Gérer les services généraux pour assurer le bon fonctionnement de toutes les installations techniques du siège social.

Jobs in Morocco

Directeur Juridique at Confidential Company

Rattaché(e) au Directeur Juridique Groupe, vous êtes le Directeur Juridique de la structure basée à environ 150 km du siège, vous serez la référence juridique pour l’ensemble des activités de l’entité, qu’il s’agisse de contrats commerciaux, contrats de travail, de fiscalité ou de gestion de contentieux.

Vous effectuez une veille réglementaire pour toutes les questions relevant du droit social et des affaires, et traitez à ce titre les dossiers suivants :

- la rédaction des contrats (industriels, commerciaux, services, …) ;

- la revue et l’interprétation de tout type de contrats ;

- le pré-contentieux et le contentieux, en relation avec les cabinets d’avocats : lancement des procédures, conseils, stratégie et contrôle ;

- le droit des sociétés : création de sociétés, fusions/acquisitions s’il devait y en avoir (y compris les due diligences) ;

- toute autre question juridique : conseil au services des ressources humaines en matière de droit social, baux commerciaux, droit des assurances…

Jobs in Morocco

Faced with charges of waging a war against India, Kasab goes to sleep (Rediff)

The acts of Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested during the terror siege in Mumbai, and the other accused in the 26/11 attack amounted to ‘waging a war against India’, which is punishable by the death penalty or life imprisonment, the prosecution argued in a trial court on Wednesday. By firing at people indiscriminately in Mumbai, Kasab and the other conspirators wanted to destabilise the government and break political and economic order, said Public Prosecutor Nikam.

Over 200 protestors taken into preventive custody

Over 200 protestors belonging to various organisations including AIYF, CPI and CPI(M) were taken into preventive custody near Hampi in the disrict today when they tried to lay siege to Hampi University to disrupt its syndicate meeting, police said.

March 6: Battle of the Alamo

The Battle of the Alamo, a part of the Texas Revolution, ended on March 6, 1836, when Mexican troops under General Antonio López de Santa Anna regained the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas). Several months previously, rebellious Texians had driven all Mexican troops out of Mexican Texas. Up to 260 Texians were garrisoned in the Alamo at various times. On February 23, 1836, Santa Anna and 1,500 Mexican troops laid siege to the Alamo as the first step in a campaign to re-take Texas. In the final battle, all but two of the Texian defenders were killed, and 400–600 Mexican troops were killed or wounded. The battle has been the subject of numerous myths, spread by movie and television adaptations, including John Wayne‘s 1960 film The Alamo. (more…)

« Older Entries