This is one list you?d probably prefer not to see your car wind up on, but if you own a 1994 Honda Accord it is the vehicle thieves are most likely to target, according to a new study released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/48744378#48744378
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ScienceDaily (Aug. 21, 2012) ? On Aug. 24, NASA will launch two identical satellites from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to begin its Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission to study the extremes of space weather and help scientists improve space weather forecasts.
Why should you care?
Because, says a University of Iowa space physics researcher, if you've ever used a cell phone, traveled by plane, or stayed up late to catch a glimpse of the northern lights, then you have been affected by space weather without even knowing about it.
Scientists want to better understand how the Van Allen radiation belts -- named after UI astrophysicist James A. Van Allen -- react to solar changes, thereby contributing to Earth's space weather. Changes in space weather can disable satellites, overload power grids, and disrupt GPS service.
In addition, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) periodically release billions of tons of charged particles from the sun into space. And, with the 11-year solar cycle expected to peak in 2013, there is an increased potential for CME-caused power surges to knock out electric transformers that support lighting, heating, air conditioning, sewage treatment, and many other necessities of daily life.
Space weather storms are made up of gusts of electrically charged particles -- atoms that have been stripped of electrons -- that constantly flow outward from the sun. When these particles reach Earth, some become trapped in Earth's magnetosphere to form the Van Allen radiation belts, two donut-shaped regions that encircle Earth. The RBSP mission will collect data on particles, magnetic and electric fields, and waves to reveal how the belts change in space and over time.
Craig Kletzing [KLET-zing], F. Wendell Miller Professor of physics and astronomy in the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is the principal investigator for the UI team that designed the Electromagnetic Instrument Suite with Integrated Science (EMFISIS). One of five different RBSP instrument pairs, or suites, EMFISIS is a $30 million NASA project to study how various amounts of space radiation form and change during space storms.
The other four instrument suites are directed by teams from the University of New Hampshire, the University of Minnesota, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the National Reconnaissance Office. The two RBSP spacecraft -- each weighing 1,455 pounds -- were constructed for NASA at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md.
Says Kletzing: "The Radiation Belt Storm Probes is actually the first NASA mission to be launched in more than two decades that's going back to revisit the radiation belts since they were discovered by the late University of Iowa professor James A. Van Allen over 50 years ago. There are still lots of things we don't understand about how they work, about how the sun delivers energy to the local environment around the Earth, and particularly about how it creates these two bands of very energetic particles that we call the radiation belts."
Like many other NASA projects, the Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission has two main reasons for existing: it will gather practical information and it is a part of humanity's continuing exploration of space.
"The practical reason is: that's a part of space that we utilize. The outer radiation belts are where all our communication satellites exist, the various things that make sure that GPS works, as well as telephone communications," Kletzing says. "They can be affected by these particles, and, in fact, it has happened that those satellites have actually been knocked out by radiation.
"So, understanding these effects and how they happen and, hopefully, get beyond to where we can do some level of prediction is a very important practical reason.
"Additionally, the various manned missions that NASA has planned to go beyond the Space Station to places like the moon or Mars also require transiting through this region," he says. "So, understanding the right time to go -- when the particles are fewest so that you don't impact human health -- is a very important thing to understand."
The less practical reason for undertaking the RBSP project is familiar to mountain climbers and other explorers -- because it's there.
"We want to know how the heck the darn thing works," he says. "We've learned from science over the years that you can't always predict that one thing you learn here will influence another field and allow whole breakthroughs to occur. So it's really both. The practical, direct reasons, but also if we understand the physics of the radiation belts, that helps us understand physics in other stellar systems and all sorts of other phenomena that are related."
Here's how the RBSP project will work:
"We talk about one spacecraft lapping the other," says Kletzing. "What makes that exciting is that both spacecraft are exactly the same -- all the same sets of measurements are on the two different spacecraft. So, for the first time, we'll have completely identical sets of instruments on both sides that we can compare between the two satellites. And actually say, 'Oh, this is happening here, and that's happening there.' Maybe they work together or maybe they're different things. But we've never had a pair of identical spacecraft in this region before."
The RBSP project is a collaborative effort between research teams at several universities, with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory having constructed the spacecraft. The UI's EMFISIS instruments will measure the various kinds of waves the spacecraft will encounter.
At the UI, Kletzing, together with UI collaborator and co-investigator Bill Kurth, built the Waves and search coil magnetometer sections for the EMFISIS investigation. The UI also worked with the Goddard Space Flight Center, which built a magnetometer as a part of the UI instrument suite. Also, the University of New Hampshire provided the computer that controls all of the EMFASIS measurements. So, the hardware part of the UI project is actually a three-institution collaboration, Kletzing says, and the theory and modeling teams at UCLA and Los Alamos National Laboratory bring the total collaboration to five institutions.
It's not surprising that the UI is helping give scientists a clearer picture of space weather in the Van Allen radiation belts. The study of space weather really began at Iowa in 1958, when UI space physicist James A. Van Allen discovered the radiation belts using data from Explorer 1, the first successful U.S. spacecraft. Van Allen's discovery improved our understanding of Earth and the solar system and created a new field of research called magnetospheric physics.
The RBSP mission is part of NASA's Living With a Star program, an effort to learn more about the sun-Earth interaction, which is managed by Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. APL built the RBSP spacecraft and will manage the mission for NASA. More information on RBSP is available at rbsp.jhuapl.edu and www.nasa.gov/rbsp.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Iowa. The original article was written by Gary Galluzzo.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/nasa/~3/NhqdXUx2JEY/120821212636.htm
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Maybe being so close to the riverboats has brought out the gambler in Jeff Fisher.
The rather conservative Rams coach has been rolling the dice this preseason, going for six fourth-down conversions already in two games, the kind of rate that would lead the league in aggressive play-calling in the regular season.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch points out that the Rams have averaged 17.4 fourth-down conversion attempts per year in their 17 years since moving from Los Angeles. And in 16 years with the Oilers-Titans, Fisher averaged 15.6 per season.
So why now?
?Well, I know both kickers can kick 20-yard field goals, 30-yard field goals,? said Fisher, referring to Greg Zuerlein and Garrett Lindholm. ?In the preseason, why not try to make plays on offense? So that?s basically it. Obviously the philosophy changes during the regular season ? [with] momentum, flow, and field position.
?But I don?t think we need to kick 35-yard field goals in the preseason, especially if it?s fourth and less than 4. The longer the down and distance is, the less likely you have an opportunity to convert.?
Part of Fisher?s rationale is to give opponents something to think about, to game-plan for the possibility of something that might not be there in September.
But there?s a human element to it as well.
?I enjoy it immensely,? wide receiver Danny Amendola said, smiling. ?I don?t like punting. I?m not a punter, I?m not on the punt team, so I don?t like it.?
Since no one cares about the results in the preseason, it?s easy to like Fisher?s mindset. And if it rubs off on a team that could use a shot of confidence, why not?
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by on August 20th, 2012
filed under tralatitious
Professional office suite Tips For Your Commercial Real Estate Deals
Buying, selling and leasing commercial real estate can be a very dangerous game to play unless you are completely informed on how this market operates. Please, take the time to read these tips about commercial real estate if you?re planning on making any type of commercial move in the near future.
Remember that relationships are vital to your success in commercial real estate. It is important to have solid relationships with lenders and investors, as you need to earn their trust, so that they will put up enough money to enable you to buy properties with the best potential. Additionally, many commercial properties are sold, without ever being listed, so having good connections to alert you of any properties due to enter the market, can be very beneficial.
Review all the current leases that are at a property before deciding to buy. It may be that the main source of income for the location is going to be moving out when their lease is up in a year. You need to know all of this information so that you aren?t caught by surprise by a sudden drop in income down the line.
If your future rental property or apartment complex allows you to host a yard sale or garage sale, ask them if you?re allowed to post your signs within the complex such as light poles or tree stumps. Some property managements do not allow the display of any sort of advertisements publicly.
A large component of the purchase that you make is the location that you are going to buy your property. virtual number Go online and take a look at the type of area that you will be buying in, to determine the crime rate and the quality of living. This will help to optimize your purchase.
Use cloud computing to back up your computer and ensure that you won?t lose any documents that relate to your commercial real estate deals. If something catastrophic happens, like your computer being damaged or stolen, you?ll be able to have your files available as soon as you have a replacement, saving you time, money and possibly even your business.
Remember, to determine the net rental you must add the amount of the rent with any other monies received from the tenant. If you have a good understanding of the market, and keep a close eye on the operating expenses of your building, you will be able to determine net rental amounts with ease.
Obtaining financing for commercial real estate is a more lengthy and difficult process than that for residential real estate. If you?re going to go the trouble of obtain commercial financing, you might as well purchase an apartment complex with as many units as you can handle. Don?t be afraid to dream big.
Building relationships is important when you are in commercial real estate investment. These properties cost millions of dollars, more than most people can handle individually, so you usually have to work with partners. Also, a lot of commercial properties are sold without a market listing, the more people in your social network who are aware of what you are looking for, the more prospects you virtual office will find.
When looking for funding for your commercial real estate investments, it is generally a good idea to pay attention to many different lenders. By looking at many different lenders, you can see which one offers you the best deal. The better the loan you have, the less of a financial burden you will place on yourself and on your investment business.
When setting up a rental agreement with a new tenant make sure you draw up an official contract. Even if your renters are your own friends or family. You do need to protect yourself and your property. Make sure your expectations are in the contract and they know exactly what you would expect from them.
Lenders are going to want to be assured that you are successful in running a business. You are going to need to prove this to them by providing financial statements for you, as well as your business. If you can show that you are good at what you do, the lender is more likely to offer you the loan that you need.
When looking to sell a commercial property, make sure you look at all your offers. Don?t just take the first one. You want to make as much of a profit as you can. This is a business and you don?t want to sell yourself short. Ask for advice if you feel your need it.
It?s a dangerous game out there and it?s incredibly easy to lose everything you put into it. Commercial real estate is unforgiving in every conceivable aspect, so information is your best weapon to make sure you succeed. Before you attempt to deal in commercial property, use the tips we provided above.
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Source: http://pepitosplace.com/297/professional-office-suite-tips-for-your-commercial-real-estate-deals/
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ScienceDaily (Aug. 20, 2012) ? The first evidence of a planet's destruction by its aging star has been discovered by an international team of astronomers. The evidence indicates that the missing planet was devoured as the star began expanding into a "red giant" -- the stellar equivalent of advanced age.
"A similar fate may await the inner planets in our solar system, when the Sun becomes a red giant and expands all the way out to Earth's orbit some five-billion years from now," said Alex Wolszczan, an Evan Pugh Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Penn State, University, who is one of the members of the research team. Wolszczan also is the discoverer of the first planet ever found outside our solar system.
The astronomers also discovered a massive planet in a surprisingly elliptical orbit around the same red-giant star, named BD+48 740, which is older than the Sun with a radius about eleven times bigger. Wolszczan and the team's other members, Monika Adamow, Grzegorz Nowak, and Andrzej Niedzielski of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland; and Eva Villaver of the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid in Spain, detected evidence of the missing planet's destruction while they were using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope to study the aging star and to search for planets around it. The evidence includes the star's peculiar chemical composition, plus the highly unusual elliptical orbit of its surviving planet.
"Our detailed spectroscopic analysis reveals that this red-giant star, BD+48 740, contains an abnormally high amount of lithium, a rare element created primarily during the Big Bang 14 billion years ago," Adamow said. Lithium is easily destroyed in stars, which is why its abnormally high abundance in this older star is so unusual. "Theorists have identified only a few, very specific circumstances, other than the Big Bang, under which lithium can be created in stars," Wolszczan added. "In the case of BD+48 740, it is probable that the lithium production was triggered by a mass the size of a planet that spiraled into the star and heated it up while the star was digesting it."
The second piece of evidence discovered by the astronomers is the highly elliptical orbit of the star's newly discovered massive planet, which is at least 1.6 times as massive as Jupiter. "We discovered that this planet revolves around the star in an orbit that is only slightly wider than that of Mars at its narrowest point, but is much more extended at its farthest point," Niedzielski said. "Such orbits are uncommon in planetary systems around evolved stars and, in fact, the BD+48 740 planet's orbit is the most elliptical one detected so far." Because gravitational interactions between planets are responsible for such peculiar orbits, the astronomers suspect that the dive of the missing planet toward the star before it became a giant could have given the surviving massive planet a burst of energy, throwing it into an eccentric orbit like a boomerang.
"Catching a planet in the act of being devoured by a star is an almost improbable feat to accomplish because of the comparative swiftness of the process, but the occurrence of such a collision can be deduced from the way it affects the stellar chemistry," Villaver explained. "The highly elongated orbit of the massive planet we discovered around this lithium-polluted red-giant star is exactly the kind of evidence that would point to the star's recent destruction of its now-missing planet."
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Penn State. The original article was written by Barbara K. Kennedy.
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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/astronomy/~3/lGA9hvburMo/120820170715.htm
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Today, it is very common for businesses to outsource their various tasks to offshore supply providers. This provides them with a wide array of benefits that includes huge cost savings, quality services, 24X7 support staff, ?
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Source: http://www.thecoalblog.com/are-you-outsourcing-the-right-business-processes/
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HOUSTON (AP) ? Roger Clemens' signing with the Sugar Land (Texas) Skeeters has some wondering if it is the first step in a return to the majors.
The 50-year-old Clemens signed with the Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League on Monday and he is expected to start for the minor league team on Saturday at home against Bridgeport.
"His fastball was clocked at 87 mph. All of his pitches were working," said Randy Hendricks, Clemens' agent. "He threw a three-inning simulated game after an extensive workout warmup."
Clemens and Skeeters manager Gary Gaetti have been talking about this "for months," Hendricks said. Clemens is expected to discuss his decision Tuesday during a news conference in Sugar Land, about 20 miles southwest of Houston.
Clemens, acquitted in June of charges he lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs, hasn't played for a team since pitching for the New York Yankees in 2007 at the age of 45. He went 6-6 in 18 games with a 4.18 ERA that season.
Texas Rangers pitcher Roy Oswalt, a former teammate of Clemens with the Astros, is excited about his friend's return to baseball.
"I think he's going to show everybody that all that stuff that he had to go through had nothing to do with the success he had in the big leagues," Oswalt said. "He said he's going to do it a little bit and see how his body responds. I wouldn't be surprised next year if he's pitching in the big leagues for somebody."
Clemens has been throwing batting practice to one of his sons often, and Oswalt said that Clemens "feels pretty good."
Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who is three years younger than Clemens, said it is difficult to get that urge to compete out of your blood.
"He's always loved to compete," Girardi said of Clemens. "That's who he is. He kept coming back. There were times he felt he couldn't quite go a full season, but he gave it as much as he had. He loved to compete. That's a hard thing to replace is that competition. Guys miss it."
Clemens had two great seasons with the Astros after he turned 40, going 18-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 2004 to win his record seventh Cy Young Award. He was 13-8 with a career-low 1.87 ERA in 2005.
Clemens earned $160 million and won 354 games in a 24-year career with the Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays and Astros. His 4,672 strikeouts are third-most and he was named to 11 All-Star games.
Now he will see what he has left for the Skeeters, who play in the Atlantic League. He joins a roster that includes former major league pitchers Tim Redding and Scott Kazmir and Jason Lane, a teammate of Clemens' on Houston's 2005 World Series team.
It isn't clear how long Clemens will pitch for the Skeeters.
"This is a one game at a time thing," Hendricks said. "Let's see how he does on Saturday."
Some in baseball weren't quite as keen on the idea as Oswalt.
"He didn't travel with the Astros half the time toward the end there," Oakland pitcher Brett Anderson said. "I can't imagine him traveling for the Sugar Land Skeeters. I'm sure they'll draw a good crowd and it will be fun, but it's kind of those things you read about it and you're like: 'What's he doing?'"
Clemens is set to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot going to voters late this year. If he plays in another major league game, his Hall consideration would be pushed back five years.
Clemens was accused of using steroids and HGH in the Mitchell Report on drugs in baseball, something he denied. The Justice Department began an investigation concerning whether Clemens had lied under oath, and in 2010 a grand jury indicted him on two counts of perjury, three counts of making false statements and one count of obstructing Congress when he testified during a deposition and at a hearing that he never used any performance-enhancing drugs.
He was acquitted of all the charges on June 19 after a 10-week trial and has largely stayed out of the public spotlight until now.
"I think he's going to come back and try to prove a lot of doubters wrong," Oswalt said.
The signing was first reported by Houston television station KRIV.
_____
AP Sports Writers Ronald Blum, Stephen Hawkins, Rick Gano and Janie McCauley contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/roger-clemens-returning-baseball-183044002--mlb.html
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