Monthly Archives: August 2017

Why This Is The Summer Of Artificial Intelligence – HuffPost UK

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I'm calling it - we're in the Summer of Artificial Intelligence. Ok, it might not sound as glamorous as the Summer of Love or Bryan Adams' Summer of '69, but it's just as seminal - if not more so.

Over the past couple of years we've seen a trend where technologies previously reserved for the elite or big tech giants have been opened up to mass consumption. We saw this last summer, when the launch of Pokmon Go and the game's meteoric rise - amassing 10 million downloads in its first week - brought Augmented Reality (AR) into the mainstream. A year on, consumers across the world use AR without batting an eyelid every time we add a Snapchat filter.

This year, we're seeing Artificial Intelligence go through the same kind of shift. Amazon Alexa's domination shows no sign of stopping, and June saw the successful launch of Amazon Echo Show, adding video to the highly competent voice technology. Now, for the first time, Alexa has been built natively into a smartphone - the HTC U11. Even the most traditional of British institutions are using AI to enrich the consumer experience, with Wimbledon using IBM Watson to create a voice assistant called Fred (after Fred Perry, obviously) to direct fans to the nearest strawberries. Gone are the days when AI sounded like science fiction - we all interact with it countless times every day; knowingly or not.

The democratisation of these kinds of technologies is a wonderful thing. As well as allowing people to run around cities catching Pidgeys and Rattatas to their hearts' content, AR is enabling surgeons with limited resources to get interactive training from other doctors overseas. And the applications of AI stretch miles beyond Alexa telling you the weather forecast - with mobile health apps now giving millions of people in developing countries access to instant diagnosis.

Consumer trust in Artificial Intelligence is growing, and adoption around the world is rocketing - but we must make sure that as trust in this kind of technology grows, accountability comes with it.

Earlier this month, Elon Musk told a roomful of US governors that AI poses an 'existential threat' to civilisation, and went on to merrily suggest ways that AI could wipe out humanity. With all due respect to the Tesla founder, this is a little catastrophic. We have far more to gain from AI than fear.

What is worth discussing, though, is the responsibility of the tech community to ensure that they are creating this technology in an ethical way - with safety, equality and accessibility at front of mind. To this end, Sage has created a set of five guidelines for businesses to follow as we embark on the Fourth Industrial Revolution - it's called The Ethics of Code.

For AI to truly work, this is what we think it should do.

1. It should reflect the diversity of the users it serves.

We all know that we have unconscious biases relating to gender, race, sexuality and more - let's not build them into our software. The first voice recognition software couldn't understand female voices - because it was tested on an all-male team.

2. It should be held to account - and so should its users.

The trust we place in technology needs to be taken seriously - AI must never be allowed to be too clever to be accountable. We don't accept unpleasant or unethical behaviour from people in the workplace - why should we accept it from our technology?

3. It should be rewarded for 'good behaviour'.

Most organisations now have a variant of 'doing the right thing' as one of their values - we need to hold our technology to the same standards. When designing AI, it should be rewarded for performing a task successfully, but also for how it aligned with good values to get there.

4. It should level the playing field.

AI should have minimal barriers to access, and should work to democratise services that were previously off limits to groups of people. Voice recognition software makes multiple solutions accessible to people with sight impairments, as well as those with dyslexia and limited mobility.

5. It will replace jobs, but it must also create them.

Ok, the robots aren't going to steal all our jobs - but they are going to take on some roles that automation is better suited to. But for any jobs that AI is going to replace, its existence will also evolve existing jobs and create new ones. I have a friend who's a conversation designer, writing the personality of a chatbot - jobs like that weren't even thought of five years ago.

**

Although I'm calling this the 'summer of artificial intelligence', this technology is far more than a passing trend. Unlike fidget spinners and ripped jeans, AI will stick around - continuing to evolve and permeate all aspects of our daily lives. And this isn't something to fear. It will bring huge opportunity, and open up a host of services previously reserved for the most privileged - if we create it in the right way.

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Why This Is The Summer Of Artificial Intelligence - HuffPost UK

MAGOS Oracle based on Artificial Intelligence – newsBTC

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MAGOS is a complex AI forecasting model, based on a collaborative system of neural networks. It serves as a core for a fund that operates on Ethereum blockchain. By using the latest developments in AI and neutral networks, MAGOS is able to forecast the outcome of an event with a high degree of accuracy. The model was open tested earlier this year, and showed a significant forecasting edge that anyone can verify. This edge is used by the fund to generate profits from multiple platforms, including prediction markets. Share of profits is distributed between the holders of MAG tokens, available through a crowdsale opening on August 16th.

Today, a lot of Blockchain projects are aiming to build a decentralized prediction market platform, where individuals can bet on the outcome of future events. It will offer an opportunity for forecasters to monetize their knowledge and ability. Those who can accurately predict the outcome will turn a profit in the long run, and the best forecasters will be the ones making the most money.

It is only a matter of time before prediction markets become a disruptive economic innovation, offering this monetization opportunity to mass audience. However, for an individual to fully realize this opportunity in todays Era of technology, it is more than necessary to have access to an accurate forecasting model.

The purpose of MAGOS project is to build the ultimate forecasting tool, by using the advancements in AI and machine learning, and connect it to a wide variety of platforms: from prediction markets, to exchanges and sportsbooks.

If you would look at the current state of forecasting though a prism of AI and its latest developments the forecasting methodology would appear extremely dated. And for a good reason It is still largely dependent on simplistic predicative models, outdated forecasting algorithms, and human expertise. Our team of talented data scientists aims to significantly change the landscape of forecasting with MAGOS, and our goal is to allow anyone to share the success of AI in the forecasting domain. The project is far from being just an idea, we have a functioning model that has been operating since 2015, and was extensively tested multiple times. We encourage everyone to look into the results of MAGOS performance, see what the model is capable of, and join us in the upcoming crowdsale on August 16th.

Ante Magnusson, CEO, MAGOS AI

MAGOS is based on a system of neural networks. Each network performs a specific task, but they work together in collaboration. The backbone of MAGOS is its modular architecture. It allows us to develop and implement individual forecasting modules, targeting different kinds of forecasting domains, from business and finance to sports and politics.

Andreas Theiss, Data scientist and CTO, MAGOS AI

The MAGOS crowdsale opens August 16th and MAG tokens are strictly limited in supply. Earliest contributors receive a discount on their MAG tokens. Token holders have access to a share of profits the fund generates, proportional to the number of tokens they hold. In addition, the tokens grant special voting rights, allowing the holders to influence projects development and fund parameters. ERC20 standard MAG token will also be tradeable on exchanges.

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MAGOS Oracle based on Artificial Intelligence - newsBTC

You can now rent an entire Caribbean private island on Airbnb – Metro

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(Picture: Airbnb)

If renting a private room in a flat-share in Rome just doesnt cut it when it comes to finding accommodation for a summer trip, then you might want to consider getting something bigger.

Something, saylike a private island.

If you thought that having exclusive holidaying rights to a Caribbean islandwas the sort of thing only Richard Branson could dream of, think again.

Because Airbnb is renting out Bird Island, just off the coast of Belize, for a steal.

For just $595 or 456 (how much do you think private islands normally are to rent out?!), you can have this island entirely to yourself to chill, swim and drink jellied coconuts.

Needless to say, this is a kind of self-catering stay so youll have to bring your own food with you for the duration but the house on the island does have all the modern amenities youd want.

It has a master bedroom with a double bed and two separate cabanas so you can bring up to six people with you.

Theres Wi-Fi crucial for maintaining that #privateislandlife Instagram feed going strong. Theres a good bathroom, solar and wind-powered energy, a fridge.

And the best bit, aside from the privacy, is that there are no mosquitoes on the island.

To get there, you simply need to catch a boat from Placencia the price of which is included in the overall rental fee.

Bring your own snorkelling equipment and Moet and youve got yourself a holiday to rival Richards.

MORE: 7 surprising challenges of travelling with a disability

MORE: To get this job, youll need to drink whisky and travel the world

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You can now rent an entire Caribbean private island on Airbnb - Metro

Across Town from Fiesta, El Centro Celebrates Community – Santa Barbara Independent

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This past Friday night, as thousands milled around downtown in their Old Spanish Days getups, smashing cascarones on each others heads and getting smashed on margaritas, a very different scene took place at El Centro, a volunteer-run community center nestled within the lower Westside, which describes itself as a radically inclusive space for the community, by thecommunity.

The event, which kicked off at 4 p.m. and lasted till 10, was many things at once: an art session, a barbecue, a birthday celebration, a send-off, and a powerful and packed open mic. It also coincided with the approximate one-year anniversary of El Centro, the end of Escuelita youth-oriented summer program, and the inauguration of an enormous mural. For five weeks the students of Escuelita had added fresh paint to the wall, manifesting the themes they had learned that week in workshops, ranging from Gentrification to Intersectionality to Chumash Ecological and SocialPractices.

El Centro is big on radical organizing and de-Colonial teachings, but instead of an anti-Fiesta demonstration, it was holding its own remembrance of history. Kids were painting large green and violet leaves onto a dark purple wall (soon recruiting passing reporters with paintbrushes), while other youngsters raced around a group of teenagers who sat laughing in a circle on the lawn. Outside, men grilled ribs and chorizo next to a spectacular array of torta fixings, salads, fruit, and cookies. One womans exploratory toddler was passed between at least five different sets of arms throughout the night, bathed in coos andkisses.

Delineations between friend, family, neighbor, and collaborator were indiscernible. Nearly everyone held some role: board member, youth mentor, organizer, resident poet. Boardmember Simone Baker explained that this is very intentional: Each community member has something to give to the space. Citing a principle central to the Black Lives Matter movement, for which she is also a local cofacilitator, Baker explained, We are dedicated to having a low-ego and a high-impact. Its intentionally not about just one person or one identity but rather community andyouth.

Vivid murals border El Centro: a beautifully detailed dark-skinned woman with brown wavy locks and bright red lips lined with yellow roses and a blue hummingbird, next to her a yellow sunset behind green and blue trees, and an adjacent purple wall detailed with white, green, and lavenderleaves.

Fem God, responded youth art and mural instructor and El Centro boardmember Gabriel Cardenas when asked who the woman was on the wall. He circles back to earlier Mexican muralism where women arent portrayed in a dominant role following traditional patriarchal standards. We try to use the space to get in touch with our cultural roots, Cardenas said. Growing up with his mom and sister, Cardenas was motivated to give thanks to the women in his life by creating this mural also representing her as Mother Earth and showcasing what she gives to the world. Along with local rapper and activist ALAS, Cardenas was one of the Noche de Poetrys featuredpoets.

About a year ago, Boardmember Chelsea Langhorne, a program advisor at Santa Barbara City College, and other local organizers began the process of reclaiming the vacant building, which had previously been managed by the county, to create a community center that would respond to the needs of the lower Westside, a mostly Latino neighborhood that Baker described as underserved and overworked. Initially, SBCC students utilized the space for youth to access often-overlooked artistic resources. Organizers then formed writing circles for formerly incarcerated folks, which expanded to encompass people of allidentities.

Noche de Poetry y Open Mic Night grew about half a year later an event that welcomes individuals of all backgrounds and languages. Poetry is an important aspect of El Centro since it is seen as a connecting force within the Santa Barbara community. Jonathan Gomez, research assistant at the UCSB Center for Black Studies Research and boardmember of El Centro, describes the night as a space where people can speak out loud about the things that people demand and need. El Centro is now the regular home for danza azteca classes, a pop-up bookstore and caf, and local justice group meetings. Community is not found, its forged, its created, Gomezsaid.

Most recently El Centro hosted Escuelita, an educational and cultural program designed to fill the gap in locally relevant ethnic studies programs in Santa Barbara schools. Organizers went door to door in the surrounding neighborhoods to get the word out to parents and kids. They modeled the five week summer program after a volunteer-run, independent Saturday School in Los Angeles called Escuelita Aztln and the Freedom Schools of the civil rightsmovement.

Youth mentors and partner organizations (Future Leaders of America, Ethnic Studies Now, Black Lives Matter, CAUSE [Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy], Just Communities, and the Museum of Contemporary Art) led educational workshops on Tuesdays and Thursdays, cultural food and danza classes on Wednesdays, and arts sessions on Fridays all free of charge and accompanied by ameal.

While more than a few open mic performers called attention to the brutal colonial history that Fiesta celebrations happily brush over or even reinforce it also became clear that the event was not about being in opposition to anything, but rather a celebration of the community that El Centro hasbecome.

We at El Centro are more than what we are against. We are for each other, which means we also spend time investing in our own communities, Baker affirmed. This is resistance aswell.

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Across Town from Fiesta, El Centro Celebrates Community - Santa Barbara Independent

Kum Ba Yah – NWAOnline

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She held the greeting card beside her like Vanna White showcasing a piece of jewelry on the gameshow "Wheel of Fortune."

"Remind you of anyone?" my West Coast gal pal wryly asked.

The card showed a scene from the 1930s of two stylish ladies raising their glasses in a toast, with one gal grinning profusely at the other, who looks a bit like she just swallowed a moth. The caption read, "Ever notice how the worst decisions make the best stories?"

I grinned profusely.

The events of the day actually began weeks before, when my West Coast gal pal began inundating me and her husband with information about "intentional communities" -- those planned residential communities designed with a high degree of social cohesion and teamwork, according to the all-knowing Wikipedia.

"You mean communes," I said.

"They aren't communes," she disputed.

"They look ... like communes. I bet the little druggies sit in a circle, hold hands, sing Kumbaya and run around naked."

"No, they don't!" she protested. "They simply want to share things."

"I'm sure they do."

"If you're uncomfortable going, then I'll be uncomfortable, so why don't you just drop me off?"

"There's no way I'm just dropping you off at the Donner party."

"They aren't the Donner party! We've emailed several times, and they seem nice!"

Our banter continued until we pulled up to an old farmhouse surrounded by overgrown vegetation and a faded red barn. A friendly farmer greeted us. He showed us around the farmhouse, and then invited us to attend their business meeting, which was about to begin.

As we made our way down the dirt lane to the lighted pavilion, I noticed a weathered sign with an arrow pointing toward a pond. In yellow paint, it read "Clothing Optional."

Folks of varying ages made their way from all corners of the 300 acres to a wide circle of chairs. The facilitator passed a small empty bowl around the circle -- whoever had the bowl, had the floor.

"Like the conch," I said, alluding to the Lord of the Flies, and cringing a bit as I recalled how that book turned out.

The group was clad (thankfully) in cotton T-shirts, tanks and shorts, with hiking sandals and boots, and tousled hair and deep tans.

"We start by holding hands and praying for a peaceful meeting," the facilitator announced.

They shared about their week and discussed points of business regarding the property. One man told of his bike trip through Iowa on acid tabs.

"We don't all do acid," whispered a pleasant fellow.

"Duly noted," I replied.

After a tour of the off-grid cottages and blueberry and wildflower farms -- which were actually quite interesting -- my friend and I got back in the car and drove off into the noncommunal sunset.

"I am never going to live this down," sighed Pollyanna.

And thus is the story of how one gaudy, glittery greeting card is now prominently displayed in my little home. Someone's laughing, my Lord. Kum bay ya.

NAN Our Town on 08/10/2017

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Kum Ba Yah - NWAOnline

Letter: Chico forgets what made it a unique city – Chico Enterprise-Record

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I think we have been doing a lot of excessive urban sprawl. Since 2003 weve been building and building. Has anyone read up on permaculture urban growth or intentional communities? See http://www.ic.org. (These folks arent a bunch of hippies get past the prejudices and read on.)

Home arent built well, with not enough insulation in the walls or attic. There is no whole-house fan (that arent noisy) put in besides air conditioning and where are the solar homes?

Have you ever been to towns in other areas of the United States or the world? Not everything is new. Its refurbished, recycled. There are more trees and natural grasses. Folks started pushing big in 2000 for this kind inconsideration. Why are we going in this direction? Homes being built on top of that former dump out there (Highway 32)? Come on.

The only thing thats changed is the council and those working for the city. How big do you want this town to be? Because the Bigger we get, the more costly it will be to maintain and we cant do that now.

The life has been sucked out of downtown. They cut down the trees and those replanted arent being maintained properly. Have some consideration, some ethics and morals. If we were truly supporting local folks, wed send them to SCORE or 3Core for their business education and plans for the next 3-5 years. That way theyd be successful and unique. Thats what made Chico special..

Elizabeth Daniels-Currey, Chico

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Letter: Chico forgets what made it a unique city - Chico Enterprise-Record

McLEOD: Is your business a mercenary or a missionary? – Gwinnettdailypost.com

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Companies want customers to love them. Bosses want people to love their jobs. Yet many leaders will tell you, emotion has no place in business.

This is cognitive dissonance at best, dangerous at worst.

Lets start with the cognitive dissonance. To think you can strip emotion out of the workplace, and create a successful business is lunacy. Human endeavors are by their very nature emotional. Success depends on goodwill, cooperation, empathy, and other nuanced emotions, including love.

When Mark Zuckerburg talks about Facebook, hes emotional. Hes passionate; he cares about how Facebook is impacting the world at large. In a recent commencement address he said, The challenge for our generation is creating a world where everyone has a sense of purpose.

Without emotions, business becomes nothing more than a mere transaction. An exchange of money for goods or services with no loyalty or attachments, which is hardly a recipe for creating an engaging workforce or a lasting brand.

Instead of avoiding discussions about feelings, leaders like Zuckerburg leans into the emotional yearning we all have to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Zuckerburg has chosen the missionary path. His organization is going to make a difference and he knows that emotions play a big role.

Another organization leading with emotion is Procter & Gamble. Their recent ad campaign, Lets Talk About the Talk, featured snippets from different generations of African Americans talking to their kids about how to handle prejudice.

Some say its a not a consumer products companys place to wade into social issues. But if you read P&G purpose statement on their web site you see phrases like, improves the lives of the worlds consumers, now and for generations to come. P&G focuses on helping the communities in which we live and work to prosper.

As one of the worlds largest companies with 23 Billion-dollar brands, P&G touches the lives of consumers every day, serving over 5 billion people around the world. P&G has made a choice, theyre going to do more than just sell product. Theyre going to address the emotional issues of our time. Their ad campaign is the result of a long held focus on higher purpose, which includes embracing and promoting diversity.

Being driven by a noble purpose to improve lives (the missionary approach) causes leaders in organizations like P&G to make different decisions about what they pursue and what they dont pursue. Theyre intentional about addressing the emotional impact they can have on their clients, and ultimately the world.

It may seem safer to shy away from emotion. But the results indicate otherwise. Leaders unable to connect to the emotional needs of employees or customers create transactional organizations, solely dependent on the economic self-interest of the players involves.

Which leads us to the mercenary approach. Examples abound of organizations and leaders who lost touch with their people and clients, and saw their businesses fail. Without an emotional rudder, and without leaders who are intentional about what people often call the soft side, its easier for greed to prevail. One need look no further than the Volkswagen debacle and Wells Fargo scandal to see what happens when leaders fail to create a positive emotional narrative for the organization.

Emotions are messy and people complicated; ignoring this reality never works. If youre in business, its going to get emotional. Address it up front, and you create an organization will missionary zeal. Leave it to chance and you may get attacked by your own mercenaries.

Lisa McLeod is the global expert in Noble Purpose. She is the author of the bestsellers Selling with Noble Purpose and Leading with Noble Purpose.

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McLEOD: Is your business a mercenary or a missionary? - Gwinnettdailypost.com

Former Astronauts Talk About Space Travel, Their Favorite Sci-Fi Movies and the Future of Our Planet – Parade

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August 7, 2017 11:36 AM BySamuel R. Murrian Parade @SamuelR_Murrian More by Samuel R.

Just over 500 people in human history have traveled to space, and former NASA astronautsJeff HoffmanandJerry M. Linengerare among them. Hoffman was born in Brooklyn, New York, and made five space flights, including the first mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope in 1993. Eastpointe, Michigan-born Linenger is a retired captain in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, and has flown on the space shuttle Atlantisand Russian space station Mir.

They are both involved inNational Geographicchannels highly anticipated and ambitious One Strange Rock, an event series exploring the conditions that make Earth the only planet known to sustain life. Hoffman and Linenger will each host one episode of the show, which is produced by Academy Award-nominated director Darren Aronofsky(Black Swan,Requiem for a Dream).One Strange Rock is slated for an early 2018 premiere.

ParadeattendedNational Geographics annual Nerd Nite bash on the roof of the Kimpton Solamar Hotel in downtown San Diego during Comic-Con weekend. During the lively party, Hoffman and Linenger each gave passionate talks about their experiences in space and their involvement in One Strange Rock. Afterward, we talked to them about what inspired them to pursue careers in space travel, their favorite science fiction movies and the future of our planet.

What made you want to go into space travel?

Hoffman: When I was a little kid, in the 1950s before sputnikat that point the Space Age was still mostly science fiction. I read about sounding rockets that were being launched, and monkeys going into space, but essentially my childhood heroes were the science fiction guys: Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon and Tom Corbett, Space Cadet. It was really exciting because I lived through the beginning of the real Space Age when sputnik was launched and then the first people went into space. All of the early astronauts were military test pilots, so I never really looked at being an astronaut, although I was always fascinated with the idea. It wasnt a realistic career goal, because I was never going to be a military pilot. I was interested in science and space. I actually became a professional astronomer.

It was really when the space shuttle came along in the 1970s, and the shuttle had a crew of seven and they only needed two pilots that really opened things up for scientists, engineers and medical doctors. When NASA put out a call for the first group of shuttle astronauts, thats when I applied and I was lucky enough to get selected. That changed my life.

Linenger:When I was 14 looking at the moon, I thought I wanted to be an astronaut someday. I went home and said, Dad, I want to be an astronaut. He could have said, Jerry, forget it. Set your sights on something more realistic. Your odds of being an astronaut are one in a billion. But he didnthe put him arm around me and said, This is America, work hard and study hard, and you can be anything you set your mind to. When I was up in orbit, during rough times on the space station, Id be running on a treadmill and I could feel his presence. I could feel him telling me he was glad I made it and he was proud of me. That tells me that youre never really alone. That tells me you always have people around you who care about you to draw on. You could say thats a coping mechanism, but I choose to believe that was my dads presence helping me.

How would you describe the feeling of being in space to someone who has never been?

Hoffman:Its a feeling of freedom, and being able to do things physically that you would never dream of. Thats why its such a delightful feeling. I really think theres a future for commercial space travel, because people will pay to have that incredible experience. Its a joy; its an ecstasy. Your body has no weight and you have the freedom to move around in ways that you maybe dreamed of before but could never do it.

How has space travel changed your life?

Linenger: I used to be a different person, a real stoic old Naval officer. Up there, I got in touch with being a human being. When I give talks like I did tonight, or in this show coming up, were hitting at some serious human emotions and feelings, and what its like in space. It makes you take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

What is it aboutOne Strange Rockthat made you want to get involved?

Hoffman: When they contacted me, I thought it was an honor to be asked by National Geographic to work on a project. Then, when they described it to me, the idea of explaining some of the unique things about our planet that make it one strange rock, and that each of the episodes would be hosted by an astronaut given that weve had the opportunity to look at our planet from such a different perspective, I thought that was also a very nice idea.

Linenger: This show was very much on a personal level. My episode is on death. The show made me think about that kind of stuff. My bodys atoms of the Big Bang are in me, and now I need to be there for my kids and to perpetuate the next generation and leave something behind.

Are there any films about space that really stand out to you as accurate portrayals of space?

Linenger:The Martian(2015). As an astronaut watching that movie, everythingMatt Damons character did in that movie was something I was trained to do. The only question was could I execute one thing after another under pressure like that? Im not sure that I could, and Im not sure any astronaut could. The big insight for me in that movie is he used about 65% of the knowledge I have gained in my training. It was fun to watch.

I took my daughter and her class to seeHidden Figures(2016). My girl is 16, and her eyes lit up. Im always encouraging her, and telling her she can do anything. Weve got it pretty darn good in the U.S.if youve got the drive, you can do it. I tell her that all the time.

Apollo 13(1995)was fabulous.Gravity(2013) in 3Dis the closest Ifeltto being in space. As an audience, if you want to know what it feels like, that gives you a pretty good feel, even though some of the details are a little farfetched.

Hoffman: So many science fiction movies and articleshow should I put it kindlythey just, get it wrong. In the case ofThe Martian, just like withApollo 13, they did their best to get it right. Its a pleasure when that happens. And they made a good story out of it. Its a real public service, because people get the feelingyou know, maybe we really could go to Mars someday. And thats important. Thats one role that science fiction plays that I think is maybe not appreciated enough. Science fiction has been around for a long time. And its given people the belief that we can go to space, that these things are possible. And thats important because if you dont think that something is possible, youre not going to try to do it.

Do you think that young people today are being educated enough about the world around them, and about space exploration?

Linenger: Yes, I think theyre in the right spot at the right time and Im envious. My goal in life right now is to help launch them, because theyve got so much more potential than I had when I was their age. When Im talking to teenagers, I tell them the sky is not the limit. Space was what I got to, and I dont know what their limits are going to be.

Hoffman: First of all, space exploration is not in the news these days in the ways that it was during the early days of the space program. Its something that people have gotten used toThe really nice thing is nowadays for people who are genuinely interested, you dont have to get your news from the main news channels. With all of the different media today, if you want to find out whats going on there are a hundred different ways you can get that information. The NASA website is mobbed after every Mars probe or fly by Pluto, because even though its not on the evening news every night, theres a lot of interest out there.

Is there any advice youd want to give young people who are considering a career in space travel?

Hoffman: Weve barely scratched the surface. Its been 50 years since we flew more than a few hundred miles away from the EarthIf this is something that kids are interested in, work really hard and build up your technical knowledge because space flight is a highly technical enterprise. You need your physics, math, chemistry and computers. Dont be afraid to dream of difficult things, but realize that youre going to have to work hard to make your dreams come true.

Linenger: My main point I tell people is youve got to love what youre doing. Youve got to have passion for what youre doing. If you do, youll do it well. Thats the key to becoming an astronaut. You better have a great thirst for knowledge, and curiosity better be a big driver within you. Set your sights on big things, and even if you dont quite make it, at least youre going in a good direction and you have lots of other good options.

Being astronauts, you have a truly unique perspective of Earth. What are some of your hopes and fears for Earth for the next 100 years?

Linenger: One thing I will say is that on a space station I had to support life. When I was working up there, it took a lot of my time and a lot of my effort to keep myself alive and to make it a habitable environment. Planet Earth is wondrous. Its incredible. Its evolved over millions and millions of years, and its buffering ability is majestic. It can take a lot of insult, but we cant overdo it. Were getting to the point where were overdoing it. With just some common sense measures on all of our parts and well be just fine.

Hoffman: The first thing that most astronauts will tell you when we look at the Earth is what a beautiful planet it is. When you look closely, there are some pretty scary things that you can see. We can see some of the ecological damage that were doing to our planet from the cosmic perspective. You see the destruction of a rainforest, the pollution of rivers, the pollution over big cities. I think a lot of astronauts come back from space with an increased ecological sensitivity that we try to share with other people when we talk about it.

One Strange Rock will premiere on National Geographicin the first quarter of 2018, date TBD.

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Former Astronauts Talk About Space Travel, Their Favorite Sci-Fi Movies and the Future of Our Planet - Parade

Genes in Space winner in Florida to witness her idea take off – The National

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Alia Al Mansoori, the Genes in Space winner 2017, is eagerly anticipating her idea taking off from the Kennedy Space Centre. Pawan Singh / The National

She wants to be the first Emirati in space and to plant the UAE flag on the surface of Mars.

And on Monday, 15-year-old Alia Al Mansoori will get her first taste of what that involves when a Falcon 9 rockets blasts off from the world-famous Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Alia will not be on boardbut her work will be. The Dragon capsule on the SpaceX ship carries her winning experiment from The Nationals Genes in Space competition.

Alia and her family will be watching the lift-off at the Nasa complex as guests of Boeing, sponsors of the nationwide contest.

The capsule will carry her experiment to the International Space Station, where it will be tested by one of the astronauts on board.

Last week, Alia was at Harvard University to help prepare her experiment for its voyage into orbit.

Her winning entry uses ribonucleic acid (RNA), a molecule that, like DNA, is key part of all living things.

Samples of RNA will be tested on board the ISS in a specially adapted version of a machine called a miniPCR DNA Discovery System.

She hopes to see if the samples, taken from Nemitode worms, behave differently in space than on Earth, something that could prove vital for long-distance space travel, which Alia hopes to experience.

The samples, packed into several dozen small vials, have been deep frozen and packed in dry ice before being sent to the space centre.

Alias terrestrial journey has been an amazing one since winning the competition.

She has meet Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is training to be an ambassador for Expo 2020 and has visited Canada to explore further education options in her chose fields of molecular biology and medicine.

The Genes in Space contest attracted more than 100 entries and aims to promote interest in science in UAE schools.

_________________

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Emirati girl wins Genes in Space competition in pictures

Young Emirati is reaching for the stars as she aims to become UAE's first astronaut

UAE Genes in Space winner busy fine-tuning her experiment for blast-off

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Alia, a pupil at Al Mawakeb school, says: Ive always wanted to be an astronaut. When I go to Mars, hopefully I will be taking the UAE flag with me.

The launch on Monday is a resupply mission for the ISS and takes place in the same complex where Apollo 11 left for the Moon in 1969 and was later used for Space Shuttle missions.

It will use a commercial rocket built by SpaceX, the company created by billionaire Elon Musk, who is also behind Tesla electric cars.

The Falcon 9 is one of the most sophisticated rockets ever built and is able to land the first stage under its own power for reuse, rather than falling into the sea, like other rockets.

Mondays launch has been delayed several timesbut was finally cleared by Nasa on Thursday after a successful test of the nine Merlin main engines.

Ten minutes after lift-off, the first stage of the rocket will land back at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The Dragon capsule will continue into orbit for a rendezvous with the ISS early on Wednesday morning. Astronauts will use a robotic arm to capture the capsule, which will remain docked with the space station until its return to Earth in September.

This will be the 12th mission conducted by SpaceX for its contract with Nasa and will carry dozens of scientific experiments alongside Alias, as well as supplies and equipment.

Other experiments include growing vegetables in space and medical research. Alias experiment will eventually be returned to Earth for evaluation, although no date has been set yet.

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Genes in Space winner in Florida to witness her idea take off - The National

Why It’s Taking Less and Less to Manufacture More of the Things We Want – Singularity Hub

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Manufacturing productivity has been on a tear. Its nearly doubled versus construction productivity over the last couple decades.

Ever wonder why? I do. And at the heart of the answer is the increasing use of programmable logic controllers. These specialized computers analyze data, act on programmed, complex functions, report on a facilitys performance and hiccups, and generally supervise the operation. Simply, they orchestrate key parts of the industrial process.

Like all things computerized, these tools are getting better at a very rapid pace.

This recent Gatorade promo video drove the point home for meit shows how incredibly accurate and reliable modern control systems have become.

The perfectly timed, rapid precision controls making this video possible also enable HPs new 3D printer to deposit 350 million fusing agent droplets per second with 30,000 nozzles. And they allow CNC machines to remove material from an object while moving along seven axes.

What makes this even more exciting? It shows just one element delivering performance that only 10 years ago was unthinkable. Now imagine what happens when we pair it with others.

A wide range of factors contribute to the improving performance and declining cost of these tools. Microprocessors, digital storage, memory, input-output, softwaretheyve all followed an exponential curve and helped supercharge manufacturing to deliver what we see today.

Take sensors, for example.

From 2004 to 2013, image sensors have had a 5x decrease in the space between pixels (pixel pitch) and a 10x increase in image resolution. This improvementwhich is already compounding the effects of programmable logic controllers by providing pick-and-place robots with the eyes they need to make rapid selectionsis further boosted by advances in other areas. Without a greater range of bright and dark areas in images (HDR) and many more frames per second (time resolution), enabled by increased edge computing power, image sensors would not be nearly as effective as they are today.

Improved processing of this data flood, thanks to deep learning algorithms operating in thecloud, for example, makes the evolution look even faster. The results are stunningwe can use sensor input to automatically create new machine toolpaths that adapt to changes in materials or obstacles in real time.

The same is true for the localization and orchestration of distributed computing in edge devices (computing devices located near machines instead of a central hub), which are enabling more rapid, autonomous reaction to changing events instead of following a pre-defined set of actions. The marriage of sensors and actuators, most prominently in so-called collaborative robots (or cobots), is another such example.

Normally new technologies reinvigorate the development of an application after previous improvements start to flag. This process looks like a group of linked S-shaped curves over time. In manufacturing, were instead seeing multiple, simultaneous technology developments stretching over longer time-periods supercharging the opportunities for improvement.

So, the incredibly fine and reliable control demonstrated in the Gatorade video is only one of many technologies moving manufacturing ahead at a quick pace. Where will this symbiosis of technological acceleration take us? In my view: Distributed, on-demand, agile manufacturing. But thats a story for another time.

Image Credit: Gatorade/G Active via YouTube

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Why It's Taking Less and Less to Manufacture More of the Things We Want - Singularity Hub

Singularity University’s Second Annual Global Summit … – Markets Insider

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SAN FRANCISCO and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Singularity University (SU), a global community with a mission to educate, inspire, and empower leaders to apply exponential technologies to address humanity's grand challenges, announces its second flagship annual event, Singularity University Global Summit, August 13-15, 2017 at the Hilton Union Square, San Francisco. SU is expecting 1,500 participants from around the world, from individuals to entrepreneurs representing startups, to intrapreneurs from large enterprises, organizations, and governments. Deloitte is the Premier Consulting Sponsor for the SU Global Summit. Several Deloitte speakers will address the topics of Digital Transformation, Digital Reality, Re-thinking Strategy, and The Future of Work. To learn more about the agenda and to register, go to Singularity University Global Summit.

"The past year has been one of increasingly rapid change and disruption in the world," said Rob Nail, CEO and Associate Founder of Singularity University. "I remain incredibly encouraged and optimistic for our future. I've seen how exponential technology and innovations from the SU community, startups, and large organizations are positively changing business while solving key challenges humanity is facing. There are concrete examples about how SU alums are having impact in energy, the environment, learning, health, water, food, disaster resilience, shelter, security, prosperity, and governance. If you want to be uplifted, improve and grow your business, see the remarkable progress we are making, and become a force for good in the world, then I invite you to come to the Global Summit and partner with us to get involved!"

At the Global Summit, SU will also be announcing a series of initiatives for individuals, startups, and large organizations. For startups, there is a new series of programs that support them end-to-end along their entrepreneurial journey from concept to prototype to market entry to scale. For enterprises or large organizations, we will announce a set of programs to help them stay relevant, remain competitive and leverage opportunities created by rapid business change and disruption. Offerings will focus on helping organizations develop and optimize their innovation capabilities and develop leaders who understand the impact of emerging technologies. For individuals, we'll be unveiling a set of focused programs based on innovation and exponential technologies, as well as how to engage in local SU chapter and community activities taking place around the world. Details on these offerings will be announced during the Global Summit.

Speakers and topics at the SU Global Summit 2017 include:

"We live in a time where unprecedented change is disrupting nearly every way we work and live. Our personal and professional lives are shifting in response to new technologies and business models that are changing what's possible and calling for us to respond and adapt, or fall behind. Since 2014, over 1,300 Deloitte clients have participated in SU programs around the world, empowering them to envision and realize significant exponential growth and efficiency opportunities," said Andrew Vaz, Deloitte Global Chief Innovation Officer.

Deloitte is the Premier Consulting Sponsor for this event, as well as Exponential Manufacturing, Exponential Finance and Exponential Medicine, and International Summits, which take place in different countries, such as Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico and others; and is a founding member of SingularityU Netherlands.

To learn more about any of the SU programs and events and Deloitte innovation resources, go to http://www.su.org and https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/strategy/topics/innovation-consulting.html.

ABOUT DELOITTEDeloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including 80 percent of the Fortune 500 and more than 6,000 private and middle market companies. Our people work across more than 20 industry sectors to deliver measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to make their most challenging business decisions with confidence, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthy society.

ABOUT SINGULARITY UNIVERSITY Singularity University (SU) is a global learning and innovation community using exponential technologies to tackle the world's biggest challenges and build an abundant future for all. SU's collaborative platform empowers individuals and organizations across the globe to learn, connect, and innovate breakthrough solutions using accelerating technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital biology. A certified benefit corporation headquartered at NASA Research Park in Silicon Valley, SU was founded in 2008 by renowned innovators Ray Kurzweil and Peter H. Diamandis with program funding from leading organizations including Google, Deloitte, and UNICEF. To learn more, visit SU.org, join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @SingularityU, and download the SingularityU Hub mobile app.

MEDIA CONTACTSAdrian Eyre, rel="nofollow">Adrian.Eyre@ogilvy.com 415-677-2708 Jodie Stern, rel="nofollow">jodiestern@deloitte.com 414-702-0167

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

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9th Beyond Humanism Conference Wrap Up – Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

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Here you find a video summary of the 9th Beyond Humanism Conference which took place at John Cabot University in Rome (http://www.johncabot.edu/) in July 2017 and during which the launch of the Journal of Posthuman Studies was celebrated: http://beyondhumanism.org/blog/2017/08/05/video-9th-beyond-humanism-conference-rome-2017/

The newly launched Journal of Posthuman Studies is being edited by IEET Fellow Stefan Lorenz Sorgner, and the Executive Director of the IEET James Hughes. Please consider submitting your most treasured reflections to this ground breaking journal: http://www.psupress.org/Journals/jnls_JPHS.html Here you find the contents of issues 1: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/jpoststud.1.1.issue-1

The launch address of the journal was given by IEET Fellow Martine Rothblatt. Further IEET Fellows, Affiliated Scholars and Advisory Board members participated in the event, e.g. Riccardo Campa, Marc Roux, Didier Coeurnelle. Other leading scholars participated, too, e.g. Anders Sandberg, Mark Coeckelbergh, Sangkyu Shin, Thomas DeFrantz, Francesca Ferrando.

The world-famous contemporary composer Sven Helbig gave the keynote address and played a concert, and the ground-braking Spanish media artist Jaime del Val gave a performance. All contributions dealt with and analysed what it is to be human in an age of rapid technological, scientific, cultural and social evolution. The closing address of the conference was given by the Chairman of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Bibop G. Gresta. It was an inspiring meeting of entrepreneurs, thinkers, artists, visionaries and intellectuals. Here you find the entire conference programme: https://lineupr.com/posthuman/posthuman-conference

The 10th Beyond Humanism Conference will take place from the 18th until the 21st of July 2018 in Wroclaw, Poland (Faculty of Social Sciences and Journalism, University of Lower Silesia). Next years topic will be Cultures of the Posthuman. Here you can download the brochure with a detailed CFPs and some additional information: http://paas.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/bhc10-cfp.pdf Additional information will be made available here: http://beyondhumanism.org/

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9th Beyond Humanism Conference Wrap Up - Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

Transtopia: The Philosophy of Immortality and Godhood …

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Posted: August 6, 2017 at 5:00 pm

The Transtopian Principles

General goal: infinite existence under the best possible conditions Primary means: reason, science, and technology Motivation: enlightened self-interest

Intro Transtopianism is a memetic complex, a collection of mutually supporting (and partially overlapping) concepts, lifestyles, worldviews, and philosophies. Though none of its separate components, grouped together in 12 Principles, are particularly new or unique, the combination is. Transtopianism is a typical example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts; its rational enlightenment spontaneously emerges from a collection of useful but individually limited memes, just like human consciousness spontaneously emerges from a collection of sophisticated yet individually limited brain cells.

Central to Transtopianism is the view that we should seek to void all limits on our freedom, including those imposed by the laws of nature a concept known as arch-anarchy [T.O. Morrow, 1990]. This state of absolute personal freedom is to be achieved by rational means like science and technology, not by wishful thinking or superstition. Transtopianism may include some speculative, or even what one might call religious or spiritual elements, but these are all placed within a solid framework of common sense, where they belong. Transtopianism is designed to be the ultimate rational rebellion against anything and everything that stands in the way of personal growth and empowerment. Unlike most supposedly similarly-oriented philosophies (LaVeyan Satanism, Objectivism, and Nihilism, for example), it recognizes that in order to realize this ideal we must leave the flesh and most of its evolved habits behind. We must evolve beyond them by literally becoming one with our technologies, guided by our rational desire to become like our finest imaginary gods: eternal, omniscient, omnipotent. That is the true significance of gods; they are the embodiment of mans deepest aspirations and desires, which, until recently, were doomed to remain just that. Fortunately, the times they are a-changing

Complete text at http://www.transtopia.org/principles.html

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Transtopia: The Philosophy of Immortality and Godhood

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A Better Ascension announces meetings about parish manager plan – The Advocate

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GONZALES A nonprofit group of business leaders pushing to change Ascension Parish's form of government announced on Thursday plans to hold the first of three community meetings on Aug. 21 in Prairieville.

A Better Ascension wants voters to change the home rule charter and do away with the elected parish president in favor of a Parish Council-appointed parish manager in a bid backers say would improve government efficiency.

Critics have already emerged who oppose the proposal, saying it would deprive voters of being able to directly elect parish government's top executive.

We believe our proposed charter amendments will make the Ascension government more effective, in addition to making our parish a better place in which to live, said Jamie Bourgeois, A Better Ascension board member, said in a statement Thursday. We look forward to meeting with our neighbors throughout Ascension to present our amendments and, more importantly, to listen to their feedback.

A Better Ascension officials had earlier proposed four meetings starting Monday but, with the latest announcement, they have pushed back the meetings' start date and reduced their number to three. The meetings will be at the following locations:

*Monday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. Sammy's Grill, Prairieville.

*Thursday, Aug. 24, at 6:30 p.m. Church of Donaldsonville, Donaldsonville.

*Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m. City Room.

During the meetings, the Better Ascension board plans to present the proposed amendments, data showing how the Parish Council-parish manager form of government would benefit Ascension, success stories from other communities and an explanation of the process of approving the charter amendments, Better Ascension officials said. The public is invited and will have a chance for questions and answers after the initial presentation, officials said in the statement.

Brandon Trosclair, A Better Ascension board member, said the group wants feedback and buy-in from the community.

A majority of voters in the parish must approve any change to the home rule charter, the parish's plan of government. For an amendment even to get on the ballot, two-thirds or eight members of the 11-member Parish Council, must agree to put the measure on the ballot.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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A Better Ascension announces meetings about parish manager plan - The Advocate

Bizarre Pacifist Ascension strategy leads to player bans that were later reversed – The Rift Herald

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It seems a team of five has found an unbeatable strategy for the Ascension rotating game mode.

According to Reddit user TheCheeZZ, who made a post on the League of Legends subreddit on Tuesday, he and some friends were matched into an Ascension game with a team that chose all tank champions. The tank team refused to do any damage or attack and simply died over and over again. Every time they could back, they bought tank items. Eventually, the team that wasnt being attacked, TheCheeZZs team, couldnt do damage to the tanks anymore, because in Ascension, you can only buy items when you die.

TheCheeZZ said his team surrendered right around the 60 minute mark after it became clear that they could neither take objectives thanks to the tank teams collection of Sunfire Capes which interrupt the objective taking mechanic in Ascension or fight, meaning that the tank team won, despite doing almost nothing.

The thread was updated shortly after to reflect the fact that, in a moment of frustration TheCheeZZs team reported the tank team, and the team ended up receiving a 14 day ban. The protests came shortly after, with other Reddit users upset that the team was banned for a strategy that isnt explicitly outlawed. Riot responded to the players concerns.

According to a tweet from Rioter Ben Forbes, the bans were reversed and the players that were banned were contacted.

The official League of Legends Reddit account then posted a follow-up thread stating that they know that the pacifist strategy is horrifically unhealthy, and theyll be looking for a way to fix that. The players were unbanned because despite it being a completely unfun way to play, they were playing with the intent to win.

We can probably expect some changes to Ascension the next time its on the Public Beta Environment.

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Bizarre Pacifist Ascension strategy leads to player bans that were later reversed - The Rift Herald

Around Ascension for Aug. 10, 2017 – The Advocate

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National security specialist to address Ascension GOP Roundtable

Jim LeBlanc, vice president of the New Orleans Chapter of InfraGard, will be the featured speaker at the Ascension GOP Roundtable sponsored by Ascension Republican Women. The Roundtable begins with a meet-and-greet at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 17 at Galvez Seafood, 40306 La. 42, Suite 9, in Prairieville.

The program starts at noon.

Candidates in the 2017 elections are welcome to meet with guests at all Ascension Republican Women meetings.

InfraGard is a nonprofit organization serving as a public-private partnership between U. S. businesses and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Cost for lunch is $16. The event is open to the public; but reservations are requested. Call (225) 644-5728 or (225) 921-5187 or email arwrus@aol.com

Artists and photographers of all ages are invited to share their creative efforts with others at the River Community Church art and photography exhibit. The churchs Creativity Group is sponsoring the free exhibit, which will run Aug. 20 to Oct. 1. This is an exhibit only; no ribbons will be awarded.

Art will be accepted through Aug. 16; call the church before dropping off to make sure someone is there. Framed or gallery-wrapped canvas art and photography with wire hangers on back should be brought to the church, 36367 Old Perkins Road. Attach a card with artists name, medium and title of work.

RCC Creativity Group meets twice a month on Wednesdays at the Prairieville church. Members work on a variety of individual creative projects including drawing, painting, knitting, art quilts, beading and scrapbooking. Group members are mentored by the other artists in the group.

For information about the show or the group, contact Jennifer Ferguson at jennifer@rivercommunity.org or call the church office at (225) 744-4367.

The Dialogue on Race series, an educational process for the elimination of racism, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Aug. 22 to Sept. 26, at the Ascension Parish Library in Dutchtown.

Understanding what racism is and how it operates through institutions is the core of this educational process. This six-session series is a structured two-hour weekly series led by trained facilitators.

Space is limited. To register to participate in this series, call (225) 673-8699.

For information about the series, call Maxine Crump at (225) 274-6902 or email info@dialogueonracelouisiana.org.

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Around Ascension for Aug. 10, 2017 - The Advocate

Four Ascension golf standouts make All-Metro teams – Weekly Citizen

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None of the parish's golf teams were able to bring home state championships this past season, but that didn't stop many of the area's stars from putting up tremendous performances.

None of the parishs golf teams were able to bring home state championships this past season, but that didnt stop many of the areas stars from putting up tremendous performances.

Due to this strong play, four of the parishs golfers were recently named to the Baton Rouge areas All-Metro teams.

Three male competitors made the Division I-II squad. Two of those selections came from Dutchtown.

These All-Metro standouts were Jacob Merritt and Collin Stinson. Both golfers put up identical numbers in certain statistical categories this past season.

Merritt and Stinson both scored an 88 at the Metro tournament, and both Griffins shot four over par during the regular season.

The other parish stalwart that made the All-Metro boys team was St. Amants Ben Wilcher. Wilcher finished the regular season with a 3.5 shots over par average.

Zacharys Brady Bennett was named the Division I-II Outstanding Player. Two of his teammates joined him on the All-Metro team.

Catholic of Baton Rouge placed a team-high four golfers on the squad.

As for the girls, only one Ascension standout was about to make the All-Metro team. She also came from Dutchtown.

Hagan Bell was the Lady Griffins lone selection.

Anna Heine of St. Josephs Academy was named the areas Outstanding Player.

St. Josephs and Zachary each placed two golfers on the All-Metro team.

Division I-II All-Metro boys team:

Brady Bennett (Zachary), Tyler Armstrong (Zachary), Andrew Bennett (Zachary), Carson Caruso (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Jonathan Ellis (Catholic of Baton Rouge), D.J. Johnson (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Jacob Merritt (Dutchtown), Luke Miller (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Collin Stinson (Dutchtown), Max Trapp (Catholic of Baton Rouge), Ben Wilcher (St. Amant)

All-Metro girls team:

Anna Heine (St. Josephs Academy), Hagan Bell (Dutchtown), Claire Harrington (St. Josephs Academy), Riely Heaslip (Episcopal), Whitley Moore (St. Michael), Kylie OBrien (Zachary), Brooke Riley (Parkview Baptist), Skylar Johnson (University)

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Four Ascension golf standouts make All-Metro teams - Weekly Citizen

Auditors: Strong sales taxes continue to boost Ascension government reserves – The Advocate

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DONALDSONVILLE Ascension Parish government's auditors say the parish ended 2016 flush with cash despite having spent more than $12 million from its reserves on flood recovery last year.

Despite the flood expenses, the parish was able to boost its total reserves by $5.4 million last year to $192.7 million, but more than $105 million of that surplus is set aside by voters or by Parish Council spending priorities for recreation, parish jail expenses, drainage, fire protection or health and mental health services.

Auditor Tommy LeJeune, of Faulk and Winkler, told the Parish Council recently that continued strong sales tax collections have helped build the surplus. The past three years of collections have hovered around $55 million, about $15 million per year more than what the parish took in for 2012.

At the same time, the total surplus has risen from $147.5 million in 2012 to more than $192.7 million in 2016 also an increase of about $45 million.

"So, 15 times three is $45 million, so the whole point of it is you're not spending up to the high point of sales tax," LeJeune said. "So basically what you have been able to do is experience a really lucrative time from a sales tax collection perspective and you have been able to bank it."

He added that eventual reimbursement for last year's flood expenses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency would only further improve those surpluses. Since the audit was finished, the parish has received about $7.3 million in reimbursements.

LeJeune made his comments Aug. 3 at the Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville as he reviewed the 2016 audit for the council. While the audit detailed the parish's strong financial status, it also uncovered a number of findings in the parish U.S. Housing and Urban Development public housing program and in travel, personnel and pay, and Lamar-Dixon Expo Center policies and procedures.

The Parish Council members have asked the parish administration to update them in a coming meeting about its progress in responding to many of these findings.

LeJeune's report of the parish's flush accounts prompted only some mixed reaction from the council. The parish is trying to fund major road improvements without a new tax and developing further spending on drainage improvements in light of last year's floods. Part of the road plan, Move Ascension, counts on a new debt issue and big part of the reserves in the parish road fund.

While the parish has continued to see population growth, the strong sales tax collections have come mostly during a period of expansion in the parish's industrial sector, the majority contributor to sales tax collections. That expansion has slowed some more recently.

After LeJeune's initial report on the surpluses, Council Chairman Bill Dawson sought to downplay their size, noting that only about $28.6 million is fully discretionary and could be spent for any purpose. He questioned LeJeune about whether that discretionary reserve was too high or low to ensure sound savings for unexpected expenses.

LeJeune said governments typically want to have a savingsequivalent to three to six months of annual spending. He said the $28 million fits within the lower end of that range.

"I don't think it's too low. I think it's a good comfortable number," LeJeune said.

But later, Councilwoman Teri Casso said that every year she hears the audit, she thinks, "My God, we have money. We are in a wonderful situation.

"We are not in the savings business. We need to be providing services, and so I look forward to next year seeing that we have spent the taxpayer's money, and if we're not going spend it, we need to give it back to them or quit collecting," she said. "It is time to spend it."

Auditors found the parish had about $27.8 million in a capital surplus fund for drainage and another $22.5 million for roads. The $40 million to $45 million Move Ascension program plans on tapping that reserve for nearly half its spending.

"Its a nice sum of money," LeJeune said of the road reserve, "but it's probably not an amount that solves all the parish's traffic woes."

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Auditors: Strong sales taxes continue to boost Ascension government reserves - The Advocate

Mars concept vehicle offers glimpse into future of space exploration … – NJTV News

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By Leah Mishkin Correspondent

Its 5,500 pounds and close to 11 feet tall. Its no surprise that this Mars rover, commissioned by the Kennedy Space Center, caught eyes at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City when it made a stop there on its tour around the country last month.

Its a prototype of what people could be driving when they live on Mars. Right now, there are rovers on Mars surface, but this vehicle would allow people to one day travel the planet and have a habitat and laboratory.

Theres a laboratory in the back, theres four seats up there so there are all kinds of monitors so they could be determining the terrain and what the temperature is like and the elements outside, said tour guide Dana Jondahl with Kennedy Space Centers Summer of Mars traveling exhibit.

As we head inside the Mars rover to get a closer look, former NASA astronaut Jon McBride showed us around. He told us about his mission in 1984 on the space shuttle Challenger.

I was very fortunate to be in the first class of space shuttle astronauts to join NASA in 1978, the first American woman Sally Ride was in my class, first African-American Guy Bluford, so it was a very unique group of highly skilled individuals, said McBride.

He said before you ever get on a space ship for takeoff, you have about two years of specific training for the particular mission, followed by two to three years of basic training. But once you lift off, he said, its a rush.

When the actual shuttle lifts off, were going 100 miles an hour by the time the tail gets to the top of the tower, and after about two to three minutes Im being pushed into my seat three times the force of gravity, McBride said.

McBride said he was lucky to live out his dream to fly the space shuttle. Now, hes hoping the next generation is inspired to find a way to Mars to do further research.

We know there was water on Mars at one time in its history, lots of it, said McBride. They have a Grand Canyon thats essentially from San Diego to New York City, and deeper and wider.

McBride said that indicates there could have been life at one time. So what happened to it? he asks.

By going there we might find the answer to that question and in turn find out more about Earth. With the support of Congress and the president, McBride said we could be on Mars in the next 10 to 15 years.

The first human to go to Mars is likely already born, said McBride. Do you know that that means you can be the first human to go to Mars?

Liberty Science Center President and CEO Paul Hoffman said the Mars concept car shows off the future of space research and technology, but it also gives kids a chance to consider becoming the next space scientists and technologists.

When I was seven, my neighbor let me look through a telescope and see the rings of Saturn and I was hooked on science and space science, Hoffman said.

Hoffman hopes the Mars rover will do the same. And sitting with an astronaut, its easy to feel excited about the possibility of going to Mars.

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Mars concept vehicle offers glimpse into future of space exploration ... - NJTV News