Gene Langmesser is the owner and founder of N2A Motors, a custom auto manufacturer based in Southern California. He is an automotive expert credited with setting up engineering and design teams and facilities, both domestically and abroad in countries including Germany, England, Italy, Poland and Mexico.
Early in his career, Langmesser spent a lot of time working in Germany. While there, he created a GmbH that acted as a group of troubleshooters for Porsche Engineering in Weissach, Germany. This group was nicknamed the "firemen," and they became innovators for internal design, engineering, or any service problems that Porsche encountered.
Langmesser was also part of the initial executive team of PKG Engineering (now PKG Services ), acting as Vice President of Operations. There, he helped to create a 26,000 sq. ft. facility that specialized in design, engineering and prototyping for interior trim manufacturers.
Credentials
Langmesser holds multiple credentials, including a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, DRAM and ADAMS from the University of Michigan. Other credentials include CATIA and CGS from Fisher Graphics, Philpot School of Body Design and Batavia School of Drafting, as well as other business courses and certifications. Langmesser passed CAD processes for complying seat belt restraint systems and holds multiple patents, co-patents, and letters of recommendation from Porsche Engineering and the German government regarding his abilities.
About N2A Motors
N2A Motors is a custom auto manufacturer that focuses on American coachbuilding. N2A is an abbreviation of “No Two Alike,” which refers to the company’s policy of building truly unique vehicles. N2A's vision is to remake retro, classic or modern sports cars into safe, reliable, state-of-the-art performance vehicles. N2A's most popular cars include the 789, Anteros, and Stinger.
Vehicle Collaborations
Langmesser serves as the Chief Operating Officer and President of Trion Supercars, an automotive technology company based in Orange County, California. He assisted in the development and production of their current supercar, the Trion Nemesis.
Langmesser has also partnered with Rezvani Automotive Designs to help produce and manufacture their high-performance supercar the Beast.
Early in his career, Langmesser spent a lot of time working in Germany. While there, he created a GmbH that acted as a group of troubleshooters for Porsche Engineering in Weissach, Germany. This group was nicknamed the "firemen," and they became innovators for internal design, engineering, or any service problems that Porsche encountered.
Langmesser was also part of the initial executive team of PKG Engineering (now PKG Services ), acting as Vice President of Operations. There, he helped to create a 26,000 sq. ft. facility that specialized in design, engineering and prototyping for interior trim manufacturers.
Credentials
Langmesser holds multiple credentials, including a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, DRAM and ADAMS from the University of Michigan. Other credentials include CATIA and CGS from Fisher Graphics, Philpot School of Body Design and Batavia School of Drafting, as well as other business courses and certifications. Langmesser passed CAD processes for complying seat belt restraint systems and holds multiple patents, co-patents, and letters of recommendation from Porsche Engineering and the German government regarding his abilities.
About N2A Motors
N2A Motors is a custom auto manufacturer that focuses on American coachbuilding. N2A is an abbreviation of “No Two Alike,” which refers to the company’s policy of building truly unique vehicles. N2A's vision is to remake retro, classic or modern sports cars into safe, reliable, state-of-the-art performance vehicles. N2A's most popular cars include the 789, Anteros, and Stinger.
Vehicle Collaborations
Langmesser serves as the Chief Operating Officer and President of Trion Supercars, an automotive technology company based in Orange County, California. He assisted in the development and production of their current supercar, the Trion Nemesis.
Langmesser has also partnered with Rezvani Automotive Designs to help produce and manufacture their high-performance supercar the Beast.
Transhumanist art is an art movement which focuses on the concept of transhumanity, a transitional stage in a perceived progression from human to transhuman to posthuman. Transhumanist was used by artists to question the traditional roles of the artist, the era of modern art and conventional aesthetics. Its proponents advocate future-oriented aesthetics, often reflecting transdisciplinary works in art, science and technology.
Overview
According to Zoltan Istvan, transhumanist art is a vehicle for pushing for a science-minded society.
Characteristics and styles
According to Aaron Saenz, transhumanist art covers artificial intelligence (AI), genetics, cybernetics, and other disruptive technology.
Transhumanist art can include architecture and the works of scientists, whose goals are transhumanist in scope.
Arakawa and Madeline Gins are transhumanist artist and architects who have had their work featured in the Guggenheim Museum SoHo.
Overview
According to Zoltan Istvan, transhumanist art is a vehicle for pushing for a science-minded society.
Characteristics and styles
According to Aaron Saenz, transhumanist art covers artificial intelligence (AI), genetics, cybernetics, and other disruptive technology.
Transhumanist art can include architecture and the works of scientists, whose goals are transhumanist in scope.
Arakawa and Madeline Gins are transhumanist artist and architects who have had their work featured in the Guggenheim Museum SoHo.
Worr Game Products (WGP) was a manufacturer of paintball markers and equipment based originally in Corona, California. It was best known for its Autococker line of paintball markers, which used pneumatically actuated closed bolt operations when most other markers used open bolt formats. Because of this WGP gained a cult following that lasted until the company's demise in 2008.
Founded in 1987 by Bud Orr ("Worr" is a play on Orr's last name) out of his garage, WGP was one of the oldest companies in the sport. Bud started out making Nelson clone pumps, first the Commando and then the Ranger. He later decided to switch to a more versatile design, at which he started making Sheridan clones with removable barrels, dubbed the "Sniper." Orr later attached pneumatics to the front of the Sniper II, and the Autococker was born. Later his son Jeff Orr took over company operations and ran WGP until its purchase by Jarden Corporation in 2007.
Age of the Autococker
Through the 90s the paintball tournament scene was dominated by Autocockers and Airgun Designs' Automag. WGP released increasingly streamlined versions of its gun and secured its niche as a high-end manufacturer. One of its marketing strategies was to tout the supposed accuracy advantage of its autocockers, owing to their closed bolt design. This claim came under fire by 2000 but the company continued to call the autococker the "most accurate marker in the world". The popularity of the autococker spawned many aftermarket companies that produced markers and parts similar to autococker guns. As WGP trademarked the word "autococker" these guns became known as "cockers". Several well- known companies such as Smart Parts and Planet Eclipse released high-end upgrades for autocockers.
Purchase by K2
In 2004, the Orr family sold WGP to K2, the company that owned the JT, Viewloader, and Brass Eagle brands. This merger led to a new direction for WGP as it attempted to make the leap from a small and high end company to one that produced more affordable products as it struggled to keep its place at the top of the paintball scene. Some of its moves after the merger such as the lack of pro sponsorships, the introduction of the Trilogy line and the dropping of the E2 frame were met with some hostility by hardcore autococker fans. However, the move to cheaper markers arguably increased the company's sales at a time when it was rapidly losing market share.
Decline of WGP
WGP and its marker, the autococker, remained one of the dominant platforms of paintball marker through the 1990s. However, the gun and its company saw a slow decline as a result of the industry trend towards simpler, lighter open bolt markers. With the releases of such markers as the Angel, the Intimidator, the Shocker SFT, and the Dye Matrix, WGP was increasingly hard-pressed to keep up with new trends in technology and thus saw its sponsorships with pro teams drop from many to none at all by 2007.
Bud Orr was a member of the ASTM Paintball Committee and advocated banning full auto capable markers. He stated publicly that Worr Game Products will never produce a full auto capable marker at a time when other manufacturers were offering full auto capable markers.
Adding to WGP's hardship was its purchase by K2, the owner of the Brass Eagle brand, and the exit of the company's founder Bud Orr in 2004. Also during this time WGP filed several patent infringement lawsuits against third party manufacturers of autococker parts. This move led to the disappearance of the autococker upgrade scene as well as the decision of Eclipse, who to this point made the electronics for WGP guns, to drop its support and start its own line of markers. As a result, Worr's 05-06 lineup of guns had electronic frames made by WGP that were widely regarded as inferior to PE's Eclipseblade frame series. The popular Karnivor marker was discontinued in 2006, leaving the brand without a true high-end gun. Finally, WGP introduced the Trilogy series in an effort to enter the casual market and compete with Smart Parts' newly released Ion. While fairly well received by most players the trilogy line was heavier and more expensive than the Ion and was criticized for its lack of compatibility with some typical autococker upgrades. The line was dropped in 2007 after a three-year run although they were widely available for several years after that.
Final markers and closing
Faced with declining sponsorship and tough competition from other companies WGP spent 2007 planning a resurgence. The successor to the Karnivor, the "Worrlord", was released as the Autococker SR, WGP's last marker. In 2008 WGP's parent company K2 was bought by Jarden and during this confusion as well as the onset of the 2008 financial crisis WGP struggled to market its new gun to customers unaccustomed to the autococker name. Two open bolt markers, the Synergy and the MG7, were released but suffered from a lack of popularity and familiarity. WGP, whose name was once synonymous with tournament play, now found itself a pariah in a new environment. The Jeff Orr Limited Edition marker line was released in 2008 along with the others. These were created by Jeff Orr in limited quantities and used Eclipse frame technology. The SR, on the other hand, refined and streamlined the Karnivor design by concealing the pneumatics and including a 90 degree frame with software by Tadao Technologies. Both markers were accepted well but they were not enough to save WGP from the increasingly dire financial state of paintball. Jeff Orr left the company after completing the JOLE line of markers and the other guns including the SR stopped production at the end of 2008. There was no official press release concerning the end of WGP but its remaining markers and parts were sold off to smaller distributors and its customer service and headquarters were incorporated into the new parent company, JT USA. With WGP the last large producer of the autococker had vanished but small companies continue to make autococker parts and upgrades.
Markers produced by WGP
*Commando (Nelson pump)
*Ranger (Nelson Pump)
*Sniper I (Sheridan Pump)
*Sniper II (Sheridan Pump)
*Autococker (closed-bolt semi)
*Minicocker (closed-bolt semi)
*Sniper III (Sheridan Pump)
*Ranger (blowback semi)
*BOSS (blowback semi)
*Worrmachine (blowback semi/electro)
*VF-Tactical (tactical mech)
*Black Magic 02-04 (mechanical)
*Superstock 04 (mid-level electro)
*Orracle, Mini Orracle(tournament level mech/electro)
*Karnivor STO (tournament level electro)
Produced after K2 buyout
*Trilogy (Entry level mech/electro)
*Prostock/Superstock 05 (Mid-level mech/electro)
*Black Magic 06 (tournament level midblock electro)
*Blackout (Limited production BM06 derivative)
*Karnivor
Final lineup as of 2008 closing
*Synergy (open bolt blowback electro)
*MG-7 (Entry level spool valve electro)
*Jeff Orr Limited Edition Pump (Midblocked Karnivor pump)
*JOLE Series I-III (Limited edition tournament level midblock electro)
*Autococker SR (Tournament Level midblock electro, last gun produced by WGP)
Founded in 1987 by Bud Orr ("Worr" is a play on Orr's last name) out of his garage, WGP was one of the oldest companies in the sport. Bud started out making Nelson clone pumps, first the Commando and then the Ranger. He later decided to switch to a more versatile design, at which he started making Sheridan clones with removable barrels, dubbed the "Sniper." Orr later attached pneumatics to the front of the Sniper II, and the Autococker was born. Later his son Jeff Orr took over company operations and ran WGP until its purchase by Jarden Corporation in 2007.
Age of the Autococker
Through the 90s the paintball tournament scene was dominated by Autocockers and Airgun Designs' Automag. WGP released increasingly streamlined versions of its gun and secured its niche as a high-end manufacturer. One of its marketing strategies was to tout the supposed accuracy advantage of its autocockers, owing to their closed bolt design. This claim came under fire by 2000 but the company continued to call the autococker the "most accurate marker in the world". The popularity of the autococker spawned many aftermarket companies that produced markers and parts similar to autococker guns. As WGP trademarked the word "autococker" these guns became known as "cockers". Several well- known companies such as Smart Parts and Planet Eclipse released high-end upgrades for autocockers.
Purchase by K2
In 2004, the Orr family sold WGP to K2, the company that owned the JT, Viewloader, and Brass Eagle brands. This merger led to a new direction for WGP as it attempted to make the leap from a small and high end company to one that produced more affordable products as it struggled to keep its place at the top of the paintball scene. Some of its moves after the merger such as the lack of pro sponsorships, the introduction of the Trilogy line and the dropping of the E2 frame were met with some hostility by hardcore autococker fans. However, the move to cheaper markers arguably increased the company's sales at a time when it was rapidly losing market share.
Decline of WGP
WGP and its marker, the autococker, remained one of the dominant platforms of paintball marker through the 1990s. However, the gun and its company saw a slow decline as a result of the industry trend towards simpler, lighter open bolt markers. With the releases of such markers as the Angel, the Intimidator, the Shocker SFT, and the Dye Matrix, WGP was increasingly hard-pressed to keep up with new trends in technology and thus saw its sponsorships with pro teams drop from many to none at all by 2007.
Bud Orr was a member of the ASTM Paintball Committee and advocated banning full auto capable markers. He stated publicly that Worr Game Products will never produce a full auto capable marker at a time when other manufacturers were offering full auto capable markers.
Adding to WGP's hardship was its purchase by K2, the owner of the Brass Eagle brand, and the exit of the company's founder Bud Orr in 2004. Also during this time WGP filed several patent infringement lawsuits against third party manufacturers of autococker parts. This move led to the disappearance of the autococker upgrade scene as well as the decision of Eclipse, who to this point made the electronics for WGP guns, to drop its support and start its own line of markers. As a result, Worr's 05-06 lineup of guns had electronic frames made by WGP that were widely regarded as inferior to PE's Eclipseblade frame series. The popular Karnivor marker was discontinued in 2006, leaving the brand without a true high-end gun. Finally, WGP introduced the Trilogy series in an effort to enter the casual market and compete with Smart Parts' newly released Ion. While fairly well received by most players the trilogy line was heavier and more expensive than the Ion and was criticized for its lack of compatibility with some typical autococker upgrades. The line was dropped in 2007 after a three-year run although they were widely available for several years after that.
Final markers and closing
Faced with declining sponsorship and tough competition from other companies WGP spent 2007 planning a resurgence. The successor to the Karnivor, the "Worrlord", was released as the Autococker SR, WGP's last marker. In 2008 WGP's parent company K2 was bought by Jarden and during this confusion as well as the onset of the 2008 financial crisis WGP struggled to market its new gun to customers unaccustomed to the autococker name. Two open bolt markers, the Synergy and the MG7, were released but suffered from a lack of popularity and familiarity. WGP, whose name was once synonymous with tournament play, now found itself a pariah in a new environment. The Jeff Orr Limited Edition marker line was released in 2008 along with the others. These were created by Jeff Orr in limited quantities and used Eclipse frame technology. The SR, on the other hand, refined and streamlined the Karnivor design by concealing the pneumatics and including a 90 degree frame with software by Tadao Technologies. Both markers were accepted well but they were not enough to save WGP from the increasingly dire financial state of paintball. Jeff Orr left the company after completing the JOLE line of markers and the other guns including the SR stopped production at the end of 2008. There was no official press release concerning the end of WGP but its remaining markers and parts were sold off to smaller distributors and its customer service and headquarters were incorporated into the new parent company, JT USA. With WGP the last large producer of the autococker had vanished but small companies continue to make autococker parts and upgrades.
Markers produced by WGP
*Commando (Nelson pump)
*Ranger (Nelson Pump)
*Sniper I (Sheridan Pump)
*Sniper II (Sheridan Pump)
*Autococker (closed-bolt semi)
*Minicocker (closed-bolt semi)
*Sniper III (Sheridan Pump)
*Ranger (blowback semi)
*BOSS (blowback semi)
*Worrmachine (blowback semi/electro)
*VF-Tactical (tactical mech)
*Black Magic 02-04 (mechanical)
*Superstock 04 (mid-level electro)
*Orracle, Mini Orracle(tournament level mech/electro)
*Karnivor STO (tournament level electro)
Produced after K2 buyout
*Trilogy (Entry level mech/electro)
*Prostock/Superstock 05 (Mid-level mech/electro)
*Black Magic 06 (tournament level midblock electro)
*Blackout (Limited production BM06 derivative)
*Karnivor
Final lineup as of 2008 closing
*Synergy (open bolt blowback electro)
*MG-7 (Entry level spool valve electro)
*Jeff Orr Limited Edition Pump (Midblocked Karnivor pump)
*JOLE Series I-III (Limited edition tournament level midblock electro)
*Autococker SR (Tournament Level midblock electro, last gun produced by WGP)
Hokkien and Hoklo Americans are American people of Hoklo descent, a Han Chinese subgroup with ancestral roots in Southern Fujian, particularly around the modern prefrcture-level cities of Quanzhou (Choanchiu), Zhangzhou (Chiangchiu), and Xiamen (Amoy, Emng). They are also known by various endonyms (), or other related terms such as Banlam (Minnan) people () or Hokkien people (). These people usually also have roots in the Hokkien diaspora in Taiwan, the Philipines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore etc.
Although around 70% of Taiwanese people in Taiwan are Hoklo, there are slightly more Taiwanese Americans who are Mainland Chinese, most of whom are not Hoklo. The United States Census program American Community Survey reported that 200,000 Americans identify as "Taiwanese" and 70,000 speak Taiwanese as home.
The first Indonesians to move to Southern California were Indos (Indonesians of mixed pribumi and European descent). However, the majority of Indonesians who came in the 1960s were of Chinese descent. Unofficial estimates suggest that as many as 50% of the Indonesians in Southern California are of Chinese descent and the majority of Chinese Indonesians are Hokkien.
Chinese Filipinos are one of the largest overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. Sangleys—Filipinos with at least some Chinese ancestry—comprise 18-27% of the Philippine population, totaling up to 30 million people. There are approximately 2 million Filipinos with pure Chinese ancestry, or around 2.5% of the population. Most of the Chinese in the Philippines trace their ancestry to Hokkien regions.
History
Some coolies and laborers in Hawaii during the 1800s were from southern Fukien. There is a Hoklo cemetery in the Pauoa Valley in Honolulu.
Notable people
* Chen Baiyu, or just Baiyu, singer born in Xiamen
* Bey Soo Khiang
* Jay Chen
* Lanhee Chen
* Barney Cheng
* Annabel Chong
* Nick Chou
* Amy Chua, writer of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Filipino
* Leon O. Chua
* Antonio Cua
* Eric Go
* Janet Hsieh
* Steven Ho ( 1973-) Indonesian martial artist, stunt coordinator, stuntman, and member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
* George Hu
* Maria Kang
* Min Kao
* Tommy Koh
* Lillian Lim
* Robin Lim
* Jeremy Lin, NBA player
* Ng Chin Han
* Alex Tan, or PangaeaPanga, Mario speedrunner amd ROM hacker, Malaysia Hokkien
* Beau Sia, poet, Filipino
* Wesley So
* Margaret Leng Tan
* Min-Liang Tan
* Shirley Tan
* Bryan Tay
* Will Tiao
* Chuti Tiu
Although around 70% of Taiwanese people in Taiwan are Hoklo, there are slightly more Taiwanese Americans who are Mainland Chinese, most of whom are not Hoklo. The United States Census program American Community Survey reported that 200,000 Americans identify as "Taiwanese" and 70,000 speak Taiwanese as home.
The first Indonesians to move to Southern California were Indos (Indonesians of mixed pribumi and European descent). However, the majority of Indonesians who came in the 1960s were of Chinese descent. Unofficial estimates suggest that as many as 50% of the Indonesians in Southern California are of Chinese descent and the majority of Chinese Indonesians are Hokkien.
Chinese Filipinos are one of the largest overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. Sangleys—Filipinos with at least some Chinese ancestry—comprise 18-27% of the Philippine population, totaling up to 30 million people. There are approximately 2 million Filipinos with pure Chinese ancestry, or around 2.5% of the population. Most of the Chinese in the Philippines trace their ancestry to Hokkien regions.
History
Some coolies and laborers in Hawaii during the 1800s were from southern Fukien. There is a Hoklo cemetery in the Pauoa Valley in Honolulu.
Notable people
* Chen Baiyu, or just Baiyu, singer born in Xiamen
* Bey Soo Khiang
* Jay Chen
* Lanhee Chen
* Barney Cheng
* Annabel Chong
* Nick Chou
* Amy Chua, writer of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Filipino
* Leon O. Chua
* Antonio Cua
* Eric Go
* Janet Hsieh
* Steven Ho ( 1973-) Indonesian martial artist, stunt coordinator, stuntman, and member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
* George Hu
* Maria Kang
* Min Kao
* Tommy Koh
* Lillian Lim
* Robin Lim
* Jeremy Lin, NBA player
* Ng Chin Han
* Alex Tan, or PangaeaPanga, Mario speedrunner amd ROM hacker, Malaysia Hokkien
* Beau Sia, poet, Filipino
* Wesley So
* Margaret Leng Tan
* Min-Liang Tan
* Shirley Tan
* Bryan Tay
* Will Tiao
* Chuti Tiu