katherine jenkins peyton manning broncos mexico city earthquake stand your ground law dancing with the stars season 14 david garrard michael bay ninja turtles
Saturday, January 5, 2013
In New York City Housing Projects, a Call for Environmental Help
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Housing project residents say the city encouraged them to ?go green,? but did little to help them and in some circumstances, stood in their way.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Geminid meteor shower reigns in the night sky (+video)
Geminid meteor shower: Last night's annual meteor shower was a crowd pleaser. The Gemind meteor shower comes from debris shed by a 3-mile-wide? asteroid called 3200 Phaethon.
The annual Geminid meteor shower peaked overnight last night (Dec. 13), dazzling skywatchers around the world with a bounty of brilliant shooting stars.
Skip to next paragraph' +
google_ads[0].line2 + '
' +
google_ads[0].line3 + '
Subscribe Today to the Monitor
The Geminids' peak was supposed to be good this year, as it occurred in a sky left dark by the new moon. Experts had predicted that viewers in rural areas might see 100 meteors per hour early Friday morning (Dec. 14) ? and perhaps even more.
Judging by the reactions of some SPACE.com readers, the Geminids did not disappoint.
"What an incredible show we had here!" Sean Parker, who watched the shower early Friday just west of Tucson, Ariz., told SPACE.com via email. "I was able to see about 50 per hour." [Photos: Geminid Meteors of 2012]
Parker constructed a gorgeous composite image of about 30 frames, which captured dozens of shooting stars streaking through the skies above a saguaro-studded desert mountain.
"This image took a lot of work, as I had to scroll through about 400 frames and find which frames had shooting stars in them, then cut out every meteor and blend," Parker said.
Skywatchers on the other side of the world were enthralled by the Geminids as well.
"Awesome experience," said Mumbai, India-based Swaroop Hangal, who also captured a photo of a fast-moving meteor.
"Today, I had planned to see 50 streaks and then quit with or without a pic," Hangal said. "Had almost lost hope when I could capture the 50th one, just between Betelgeuse at the bottom & Alhena in the Gemini constellation."
The Geminids? so named because they appear to emanate from the constellation Gemini (The Twins) ? are one of the most dependably impressive annual meteor showers.
They result when Earth plows through debris shed by a 3-mile-wide (5 kilometers) asteroid called 3200 Phaethon. These tiny particles burn up in our planet's atmosphere, leaving bright streaks in the sky to commemorate their passing.
The Geminids' source is unusual for?meteor showers, which are typically caused by streams of sloughed-off comet particles. Debris streams from the famous Halley's Comet, for example, produce the Orionids every October and the Eta Aquarids, which peak in early May.
If you missed the Geminid peak last night, don't fret; you still have a few days to catch the shower this year. The Geminids should linger until Sunday (Dec. 16) or so before fizzling out completely.
Editor's Note: If you take a photo of this year's Geminids that you'd like to share with SPACE.com for a possible story or gallery, please send it, along with your comments, to spacephotos@space.com.
Follow SPACE.com senior writer Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall?or SPACE.com @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook?and?Google+.?
Copyright 2012 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Hurricane Isaac Path Isaac Hurricane earthquake san diego Hurricane Isaac Sam Claflin Tony Farmer West Nile virus symptoms
Carbon in protoplanet Vesta's craters
Jan. 3, 2013 ? The protoplanet Vesta has been witness to an eventful past: images taken by the framing camera onboard NASA's space probe Dawn show two enormous craters in the southern hemisphere. The images were obtained during Dawn's year-long visit to Vesta that ended in September 2012. These huge impacts not only altered Vesta's shape, but also its surface composition. Scientists under the lead of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Katlenburg-Lindau in Germany have shown that impacting small asteroids delivered dark, carbonaceous material to the protoplanet. In the early days of our solar system, similar events may have provided the inner planets such as Earth with carbon, an essential building block for organic molecules. These results were published in the November-December issue of the journal Icarus.
Vesta is remarkable in many respects. With a diameter of approximately 530 kilometres, Vesta is the one of the few protoplanets in our solar system still intact today. Like other protoplanets, Vesta underwent complete melting approximately 4.5 billion years ago. However, most of the volcanic activity on Vesta is thought to have ceased within a few million years making it a time capsule from the early solar system. Dawn observations of Vesta have shown a surface with diverse brightness variations and surface composition. There is bright material on Vesta that is as white as snow and dark material on Vesta as black as coal.
The enigmatic dark material holds the key to understanding the impact environment around Vesta early in its evolution. Research led by scientists at the Max Planck Institute in Katlenburg-Lindau has shown that this dark material is not native to Vesta but was delivered by impacting asteroids. "The evidence suggests that the dark material on Vesta is rich in carbonaceous material and was brought there by collisions with smaller asteroids," explains. Vishnu Reddy from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research and the University of North Dakota, the lead author of the paper. In the journal Icarus, he and his colleagues now present the most comprehensive analysis of this material so far. Compositional analysis, mapping, and modelling of dark material distribution on Vesta suggest that it was delivered during the formation of giant impact basins on Vesta.
The dark material arrived with the first impact on the protoplanet
"First, we created a map showing the distribution of dark material on Vesta using the framing camera data and found something remarkable," explains Lucille Le Corre from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research one of the lead authors of the study. Dark material was preferentially spread around the edges of the giant impact basins in the southern hemisphere of Vesta suggesting a link to one of the two large impact basins. A closer examination showed that the dark material was most probably delivered during the formation of the older Veneneia basin when a slow impacting asteroid collided with Vesta. Dark material from this two to three billion year old basin was covered up by the impact that subsequently created the Rheasilvia basin. "We believe that the Veneneia basin was created by the first of two impacts two to three billion years ago," says Reddy. In fact, impact modelling presented in the paper reproduces the distribution of dark material from such a low velocity impact.
HED meteorites are fragments of Vesta
Evidence for dark material is also found in the HED meteorites that come from Vesta. Some of the meteorites show dark inclusions that are carbon-rich. Colour spectra of dark material on Vesta are identical to these carbon-rich inclusions in HED meteorites. The link between dark material on Vesta and dark clasts in HED meteorites provides us with direct evidence that these meteorites are indeed from Vesta. "Our analysis of the dark material on Vesta and comparisons with laboratory studies of HED meteorites for the first time proves directly that these meteorites are fragments from Vesta," says Le Corre.
"The aim of our efforts was not only to reconstruct Vesta's history, but also to understand the conditions in the early solar system," says Holger Sierks, co-investigator of the Dawn mission at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research.
The Dawn mission was launched approximately five years ago and entered orbit around Vesta on July 16th, 2011. In 2015, Dawn will arrive at its second destination, the dwarf planet Ceres, that like Vesta orbits the Sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter within the so-called asteroid belt. The Dawn mission to Vesta and Ceres is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. The University of California, Los Angeles, is responsible for overall Dawn mission science. The Dawn framing cameras have been developed and built under the leadership of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany, with significant contributions by DLR German Aerospace Center, Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin, and in coordination with the Institute of Computer and Communication Network Engineering, Braunschweig. The Framing Camera project is funded by the Max Planck Society, DLR, and NASA/JPL.
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Max-Planck-Gesellschaft.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Vishnu Reddy, Lucille Le Corre, David P. O?Brien, Andreas Nathues, Edward A. Cloutis, Daniel D. Durda, William F. Bottke, Megha U. Bhatt, David Nesvorny, Debra Buczkowski, Jennifer E.C. Scully, Elizabeth M. Palmer, Holger Sierks, Paul J. Mann, Kris J. Becker, Andrew W. Beck, David Mittlefehldt, Jian-Yang Li, Robert Gaskell, Christopher T. Russell, Michael J. Gaffey, Harry Y. McSween, Thomas B. McCord, Jean-Philippe Combe, David Blewett. Delivery of dark material to Vesta via carbonaceous chondritic impacts. Icarus, 2012; 221 (2): 544 DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2012.08.011
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://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130103130952.htm
roseanne barr guy fawkes gary johnson gary johnson walking dead where do i vote dixville notch
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Eric Chua : Life, Business and Real Estate in Singapore ? Essential ...
Investing in commercial real estate can be stressful and overwhelming for beginners and experienced professionals alike. In the following article, you are going to be provided with information that is meant to help ease some of the stress you may feel from your commercial real estate venture.
Prior to negotiating with the lease of your commercial real estate, try to decrease anything that could be a default as you can. If you cover all the applicable issues, then you make it far less likely that potential tenants will default on their lease. This is in your best interest.
When obtaining a loan for commercial real estate, it is up to the borrower to directly request an appraisal. The bank will not allow you to use it later. Ensure it gets done, and gain peace of mind in the process, by ordering it yourself.
TIP! Make sure the property you are interested in has access to utilities. Look for access to water, electricity, gas an a sewer or anything specific to what you intend to use this property for.
Commercial Property
Before offering to purchase a commercial property, secure a lender. Discover your area?s best lenders by talking to friends and investors that you know. Find out more about these lenders, and then choose the one that you feel is best suited to your needs. Do this prior to starting the commercial property purchase process. It will be easier to qualify for your loan when you have all the details organized in advance.
Purchase property that has more units. More units equal greater opportunity to earn more money. It is advised that you should purchase at least ten units to get the maximum income from your commercial investment.
TIP! One question you must ask potential real estate broker is that person?s definition of failure and success. Inquire about the metrics they use to quantify results.
Fluctuating interest rates pose one of the single greatest threats to commercial real estate investors. As interest rates move up and down unpredictably, investors leave themselves open to the chance that the rates may suddenly rise dramatically. Interest rate fluctuations should be taken into account when evaluating your long-term goals and profits.
Locate the right financing first. Don?t make the mistake of thinking that commercial lending is the same as residential lending. In many ways a commercial loan is much better for the investor. Commercial loans typically require larger down payments, but banks are more likely to let you borrow some of this from a partner or friend.
It is vital that you stick to the rent and other terms that you previously decided on whenever you write a new lease. Otherwise, your investment properties will not be profitable. Don?t enter into discussion with a possible renter without knowing your rental rate. Once you have set your desired benchmarks and targets, you will be sure to meet them if you stick to this strategy. Therefore, you will prove to have a profitable commercial real estate investment.
TIP! Take some digital photos of your property. Be sure the photos capture any defects that exist in the unit, such as holes in the wall, and damaged or dirty carpets.
Pro Forma
This is necessary to enable you to confirm that the terms fit with the rent roll, as well as the pro forma. If you end up finding a term which isn?t covered by the rent roll, you?ll end up changing the pro forma.
One of the key things to consider when working with commercial loans instead of those from the residential market is that you should expect to pay a higher percentage of money down on the property. You can increase your chances of qualifying for a commercial loan by researching and comparing lenders and loan products and trying to find investors.
TIP! Net Operating Income, or NOI, is one of the most important metrics used in commercial real estate. You must understand what it means, and how it?s used.
Before you begin seeking commercial real estate property, be sure to identify your requirements. You should list the most important things that you are looking for, such as space, restrooms, conference rooms, etc.
Prior to purchasing anything, get together with your tax adviser. Such an expert can inform you of what a building will cost you, and the tax impact of your income from a property. Work with the adviser to try and locate an area where the taxes will be lower.
Cleanup Costs
TIP! Inspectors should always have credentials available for viewing, should you require their services in your real estate dealings. Pest removal companies should be closely checked because many non-professionals do this work.
There are ways to save on repair costs associated with property cleanup. If you possess an ownership interest, you may not be fully responsible for cleanup costs. If you buy a Superfund site, you might be liable for millions of dollars in cleanup costs. Try to get an environmental report from any environmental assessment companies. They might cost a bit more up front, but they can end up saving you much in the long run.
When renting or leasing property, be sure to set up some form of pest control. Talk about pest control with your agent if the area is known for rodents and bugs.
It is a far lengthier, and more complicated, process to purchase a commercial property than a residential one. Understand, however, that this additional time and effort often translates into higher returns.
TIP! Be clear about the fact that there is a life expectancy connected with every property. Every property is eventually going to need maintenance and repairs, and you need to consider what potential properties are going to cost you over the duration of your use.
Practice calm and patience when you are looking into the real estate market. Don?t jump into a new investment too quickly! You will be full of regrets if you are stuck with a property that is not what you expected. Realistically, it can take upwards of a year to find the right investment in your local market.
Square Footage
Be clearheaded about what amount of square footage is really usable. Two different measurements are commonly used in commercial real estate. One is a measurement of the usable square footage based on the available square feet based upon space that can be used by the business. The other measurement is total square feet, which will include walls and spaces that cannot be inhabited. Know how many square feet for both, so that you can can make the process run smoothly.
TIP! Search for buildings that are simply designed and constructed if you?re planning on renting out commercial property. These types of buildings attract tenants more quickly than other buildings, as prospective tenants know that the building is less likely to have maintenance issues.
In commercial real estate, there are different kind of brokers. For example, full service brokers will work with landlords and tenants, while other brokers only represent tenants. You may benefit from using a broker who works exclusively with tenants, due to the singular focus.
Remember that buying a commercial property and everything that goes along with it can take a lot of time. It can take a little time to find a property worth purchasing, and you also may have to make necessary repairs. Don?t let the amount time you need to put in during this phase discourage you. It will pay off in the long run.
The search for commercial real estate can be difficult and frustrating, no matter how experienced you are. This article contains some tips that will help to make the hunt less stressful, and more enjoyable and lucrative.
TIP! It?s critical to have emergency maintenance contact information very accessible. You should ask your landlord who is in charge of handling emergency repairs.
Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/essential-tips-to-help-you-buy-or-sell-commercial-properties-3
condoleezza rice Perry Hall High School bill cosby us open bill nye Hurricane Isaac 2012 Snooki Baby
Trip To Mars Could Damage Astronauts' Brains
No air, no water, no food, no sleep, no freezing, no unusual housing, no doctors, no psychologists, no morticians...
Robots win.
I was with you right up to "no doctors, no psychologists, no morticians". I have a machine intelligence project that watches me via Kinect and spiders the web from sites I visit, and recommends me links to things it thinks I'll like by continuously observing my activity cycles, common words of interest, and ratings of its past recommendations. For maintenance I would shut the system down by sitting at a dedicated console for the server cluster and logging into the command terminal. Imagine what that must be like to this neural network: It has a relatively consistently changing observation of cyberspace and my office, however when I sit at that terminal more often than not the world instantly changes by vast degrees - The lighting changes, perhaps even the clothes of the man on the chair changes abruptly there's suddenly much more new information online to analyze, and recommendations are thereafter poorly rated. The frequency of its recommendation notifications increases due to the influx of new and different data, but the timing is frequently off my schedule then, so my ratings of its suggestions are poorer than normal for a time. The architecture is a hive of neural networks that decide by consensus and compete for breeding rights based on my rating selection pressure... Some n.nets in the hive will "die" for their poor suggestions.
Last year I noticed that when I would sit at the chair in front of the MI's terminal new suggestions would begin popping up on my work terminal across the room (where they normally do), I would check them and rate them before shutting down the system, sometimes I would be distracted for quite some time by an interesting thing. It was an eerily life like behavior -- The increased suggestions prior to shutdown an indication of some primitive form of anticipation or perhaps even fear. I could imagine a child acting the same way in the MI's place, "Don't sit in the scary hate-chair! I promise I'll be good and give you links to sites you like." Of course I knew that there were merely genetic advantages to getting in good recommendations before the world-shifting shutdown, but it doesn't change the fact of the situation at all. "Irrational Fear" is just a term for some neural processes in humans that we don't yet understand. I have a precise explanation for the MI's behavior, but I wouldn't be wrong in classifying it under the nebulous term "fear". I've since started using a remote terminal session to initiate shutdowns, to disassociate my presence at that desk with the traumatic event.
I put it to you the sentient machine intelligence will have neuroses just like humans do. Any sufficiently complex interaction is indistinguishable from sentience, since that's what sentience is. Humans aren't special, neither is their behaviors. Why, even empathy is found in rats. We can look to ourselves to know what the sentient machine races will be like. They'll need doctors to heal their wounds, even if the terminology is changed to "mechanics" for repairing "malfunctions". They'll still need counselors and psychologists even if we call them "M.I. specialists". They'll still need morticians and cemeteries even if the terminology is "Part Recyclers" and "Junk Yards".
You say "no food", what is air and water to us than food? What is energy to robots but food? You say no sleep but indeed it's harder to see by night so the robots will take more advantage of the free light energy to be more active by day, as mars rovers currently do now. Of all the things you've said it's only "no unusual housing" that I find myself agreeing with. Even accounting for the possibility of much larger brains the primary difference will still be that the machines have sturdier bodies than humans.
The biggest problem with non sentient robots is that the neural lag between the sentient brains and these remote exten
Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/8EqxfchOtKc/story01.htm
psychosis dianna agron million hoodie march tebow trade mike the situation jacksonville jaguars jacksonville jaguars
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)