Comets continue uprise

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ALEXANDRIA The Eastern boys basketball program entered Friday night having last won consecutive IHSAA sectional games in 1980. Jimmy Carter was the President at the time and Eastern beat Western and Haworth to reach the Kokomo Sectional final where the Comets dropped a 45-43 heart-breaker to the Wildkats.

Well, the Comets are still alive in 2014 despite that long streak of postseason futility and despite just a 3-17 regular-season record. The Comets used a late first-quarter barrage of 3-pointers to build a double-digit lead and it never looked back in a 62-53 win over Madison-Grant in a Class 2A Alexandria Sectional semifinal Friday night.

This is the first time this year we have won two games back to back, Eastern coach Mike Springer said. Were still hungry, too. Were going to come out [tonight] and get after it. Were trying to build up the program and we have kids that are working awfully hard and have a real positive attitude despite our record.

The Comets will face three-time defending sectional champ Tipton in the final.

Against Madison-Grant, Eastern (5-17) trailed only once at 2-0 after 6-foot-9 center Tanner Wise scored inside. Despite the huge size advantage that Wise had against the Comets, Eastern was able to contain him for much of the rest of the night.

He is a kid that does a great job around the basket and we really wanted to use our quickness on him, Springer said. We couldnt stand and push on him. We had to be moving all around him but the first line of defense was ball pressure and we did a great job of getting pressure and stopping them from getting looks into Wise.

A barrage of 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the first quarter proved to be a huge difference-maker for the Comets. Noah Cope connected from long range with 2:11 and 1:09 left in the quarter, while Jacob Kinder added one with 30 seconds left and Trey Thomas beat the buzzer with one of his own to give Eastern a 20-9 lead after one. The Comets hit 8 of their first 10 field-goal attempts.

We know you cant win a game in the first quarter, Springer said, but we put ourselves in a great position to win.

After opening the 11-point lead, Eastern was able to withstand and answer every run by the Argylls, keeping them at arms reach throughout. Eastern led 31-22 at the half and 46-37 after three, never letting Madison-Grant closer than six.

Kinder was a major answer to those brief runs by Madison-Grant, as the 6-2 sophomore posted a huge game of 20 points and 11 rebounds.

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Comets continue uprise

Comets run past Bluejays

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After a tight first quarter, Abington Heights put together a 20-0 run over the final 5:44 of the first half and rolled to a 70-42 win over Central Columbia in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA boys basketball playoffs at Lackawanna College March 7.

Abington Heights (27-1) will play Archbishop Carroll (24-4) in the second round on Tuesday at a time and date to be determined.

Central Columbia guard Kevin Krause hit a 3-pointer to pull the Bluejays to within 13-10 at the end of the first quarter. Two free throws by Payton Aucker, who led Central Columbia with 15 points, cut the lead to two with 6:02 left in the second quarter.

We gave up too many easy baskets on backdoor cuts, Abington Heights head coach Ken Bianchi said. We knew they were going to try to control the tempo of the game, so we wanted to pressure them into shooting, but not give them layups. I wasnt pleased with our defense at all, but I give a lot of credit to them. They were scrappy, they got a lot of loose balls.

Then, Abington Heights picked up its intensity on both ends of the floor.

Six-foot-10 center Evan Maxwell, who scored 20 points, scored nine during the Comets spurt.

We just played better defense, Bianchi said, that was the difference. Instead of giving up layups, we were getting deflections.

Bianchi has been pleased with the development of Maxwell, a Liberty recruit, as this season has progressed, but believes he still has room to improve.

This is his first year of starting, Bianchi said. He has to get more aggressive with the ball. We work on his inside moves every day. He looks to dunk, but he has an array of inside moves and doesnt use them enough.

The Comets got a boost from their bench after one starter, forward Tim Toro, picked up two early fouls and others struggled to find their game early on.

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Comets run past Bluejays

Eriksson's "Dawn of the Comets" Mask

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March 7, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets For a professional goalie, the mask serves as a representation of who they are as an individual and a hockey player. Mask designs range from personal experiences to interesting artwork, uniquely designed by the goalie himself. For Comets goaltender Joacim Eriksson, getting a new mask this past week was the much-anticipated finished product after much hard work and planning.

Returning to Swedish artist David Gunnarsson, Eriksson's new mask is a huge step above his last one, in terms of both color and design. "This mask is more of my design," Eriksson explained. "Me and Nick Jensen designed it together. We have a big dragon on the top, with a warrior, and huge dragon wings on the side. On the back, I have the Comets logo with the Swedish flag, showing where I came from." Eriksson worked with the color scheme of blue and green, sticking true to the Canucks and Comets brand.

When asked if he was excited to use the mask in his upcoming games, Eriksson explained, "I always like when I get a new mask. It's always fun to see and design it." The Comets starting goaltender said that initially, he had no idea what he wanted, but after collaborating with Jensen and thinking of a cool concept, he was very happy with the finished product. This will serve as Eriksson's starting mask, while his old design will be his backup. Goalies typically receive a new mask every year, but because of the intense planning that goes along with mask artwork, Eriksson will have to begin designing his next one as soon as summer hits.

On David Gunnarsson's Instagram, he explained that it was a pleasure to work with Eriksson, and that he was pleased with how the design came out as a finished product. He went into detail describing the intricacies of the mask, staying, "The Vancouver green dragon is spitting fire in green and blue...this design is a continuation of Eriksson's dragon mark when he played in Leksand many years ago. The dragon slayer [on top] is trying to tame the dragon...if possible. Behind him the sky is fulled with green comets. Thanks Joacim, I am so proud to be your painter and evolve your mask art from mask to mask."

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Eriksson's "Dawn of the Comets" Mask

FAMNews Volume 1, Episode 36 – FAMU Professor Developing New Psoriasis Medicine – Video

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FAMNews Volume 1, Episode 36 - FAMU Professor Developing New Psoriasis Medicine
In this episode of FAMNews, we review the development of a new psoriasis medication created by FAMU professor, Mandip Sachdeva, Ph.D.

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FAMNews Volume 1, Episode 36 - FAMU Professor Developing New Psoriasis Medicine - Video

Psoriasis patient erroneously reported as afflicted with flesh-eating disease now home

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By: Philippines News Agency March 8, 2014 10:20 AM

InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan - One of the two patients erroneously reported in an ABS-CBN report as afflicted with a skin disease caused by a so-called flesh-eating bacteria is now home after being discharged from the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH).

Alex Maganes, 19, of Villasis town, who was actually suffering from an acute episode of psoriasis, a genetic, non-contagious disease of the skin--complicated by arthritis which is why he could not walkwas discharged March 6.

Still in hospital is Mary Grace Clasara, 21, of Sta. Barbara town who was suffering from leprosy as well as from malnutrition.

Neither patients condition was deemed contagious, doctors said, but as a precautionto ensure they do not catch any hospital-based infection that could worsen their frail healththe two patients were kept in an isolation room.

Dr. Policarpio Manuel, chief of the PPH, said Maganes is now well and can now walk a bit, which is an improvement from his medical condition when he was first brought to the hospital on February 25.

The day before, an ABS-CBN report tagged him and Clasara as suffering from a mysterious disease caused by a flesh-eating bacteria that alarmed the people of Pangasinan and prompted tourists, foreign and domestic, to cancel their trips to the province. Local officials said demand for their famous milkfish [bangus] also declined.

ABS-CBN has apologized for the report.

Clasara will remain in the hospital longer, as she has to be treated of her anemia and needs to gain weight.

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Psoriasis patient erroneously reported as afflicted with flesh-eating disease now home

Advaita Smarta Spirituality Talks in Telugu by Sri Bharati Tirtha of Sringeri Math 23 – Video

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Advaita Smarta Spirituality Talks in Telugu by Sri Bharati Tirtha of Sringeri Math 23
advaita, nonduality Vahdeti Vcud Nonduality Advaita Nondualism Spirituality Wahdat al-Wujud Sufi metaphysics Varlik birligi Tasavvuf Zeitgeist Addendum Alev...

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Advaita Smarta Spirituality Talks in Telugu by Sri Bharati Tirtha of Sringeri Math 18 – Video

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advaita, nonduality Vahdeti Vcud Nonduality Advaita Nondualism Spirituality Wahdat al-Wujud Sufi metaphysics Varlik birligi Tasavvuf Zeitgeist Addendum Alev...

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Spirituality of Venerable Ignacia Del Espiritu Santo

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(Foundress of the Religious of the Virgin Mary)

SPIRITUALITY is a way of life involving the dynamic interplay of an individuals set of beliefs and values which animates, gives fire and provides spirit into ones life as one deeply integrates the four dimensional relationships: with self, with others, with all creation, and with God.

There are three emphases on the Spirituality of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo.

Centrality of Christ she allowed Christ to direct her thoughts words and actions and allowed Him to inhabit in her heart, she lived the dictum of St. Paul It is not I who live but that Christ lives in me and that of St. John the Baptist I must decrease He must increase.

To live like Christ means to live simply, not to seek for comfort, convenience and luxuries in life, not to aspire for recognition, fame, power and affirmation, not to accumulate material possessions. To follow the will of the Father notwithstanding the pains, difficulties, frustrations and disappointments.

To follow the will of the Father is to serve Him right now at His given moments. This is neither with persons we want to serve nor in places do we want to go, not even with events we want to involve in but with persons, places and events that He wants us to serve, to go and to involve in.

To love like Christ means to love unconditionally, to be willing to sacrifice, to suffer for the sake of others, even to be rejected, to be insulted, to be ignored, to forget oneself completely, to walk extra mile even with the person we dont like.

To forgive like Christ means to forgive those who have wronged you, those who have betrayed you, those who have stripped you of your integrity and who seemingly robbed you of your dignity and to do this 70x7 everyday of your life.

Spirituality of the Cross her love of Christ led her to embrace the cross joyfully, peacefully and wholeheartedly. This is also to remind us that through suffering and pain, we will discover the fidelity of Gods love for us

Interior Freedom she freely disposed herself to respond to Gods call with openness and generosity even as she was always called to live behind what she was accustomed to in the midst of difficulties and seemingly insurmountable challenges. She was always called to go beyond her comfort zones and to venture into the unknown. She accomplished whatever she was told to do because she let go of her personal freedom and security to follow the will of God. There never was any worldly entanglement in her life because she allowed herself to be possessed by God. (S. Leonor, RVM)

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Spirituality of Venerable Ignacia Del Espiritu Santo

Megan Quinn: European spiritual trail documentary comes to Boulder

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Megan Quinn Faith Columnist

A spiritual journey is winding itself throughout Europe and the story of its well-worn path is coming to Boulder.

The story is about the Camino, a spiritual pilgrimage of about 500 miles from Saint Jean Pied de Port in France through most of Spain to the city of Santiago de Compostela.

The Camino is more than a trail. It is a religious and emotional journey. The Camino is a spiritual pilgrimage trail first used in the Middle Ages, when pilgrims sought forgiveness for their sins and a path to heaven. Sometimes called the Route of St. James, the Camino is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site that hosts thousands of visitors each year. In 2010, more than 270,000 people walked at least part of the path, according to UNESCO.

Documentary filmmaker Lydia Smith has walked the trail, and is now on a more local journey to share her Camino experiences. Smith will come to Boulder and there will be several screenings of her film, "Walking the Camino," and discussions starting March 19.

"The film isn't about getting people to walk the Camino, but to walk their own Camino, walk their own path," Smith said by phone from Arizona, where she was on a much shorter journey to walk her dog before a film screening.

Several Camino pilgrims will visit Boulder to talk about their experiences in the next few weeks. Smith will attend the Boulder International Film Series screening at 7:30 p.m. March 19 at IFS, 1801 Colorado Ave.

Annie O'Neil, an L.A.-based traveler who completed the Camino in 2009, will attend a screening of the film on March 28. The film will run March 28 through April 3 at the Boedecker Theater at the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St.

"Walking the Camino" follows six strangers from around the world as they attempt to cross most of Spain on foot, each with just a backpack and a pair of hiking boots.

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Megan Quinn: European spiritual trail documentary comes to Boulder

Electromagnetic Levitator headed to ISS for future materials research

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Astronauts, get your welding goggles on the space station is going into the foundry business. The International Space Station (ISS) is set to do a spot of industrial research this June, when ESAs Materials Science Laboratory-Electromagnetic Levitator (MSL-EML) heads for the station aboard Europe's Automated Transfer Vehicle 5 (ATV-5) Georges Lematre unmanned space freighter as part of a program to study the casting of alloys in a weightless environment.

Most metals have are crystalline and their properties depend on this microstructure, which develops as they cool. An everyday version of this is tempering, where a steel knife blade is heated to red hot and then plunged into cold water. The sudden cooling alters the crystalline microstructure of the steel, making it hard and able to hold a sharp edge.

The example is a simple one, but the process is actually extremely complex. Its even more so when molten metal is cooled inside a casting. The temperature and density differences, convection forces as the cooling molten metal rises and falls in the mold, and any number of other factors are among the many reasons why casting metals, especially exotic alloys, is often as much art as science.

Microgravity is one way of reducing this complexity, so scientists are better able to understand it. In the absence of gravity, there aren't any convection forces, so metal castings have an even temperature. Furthermore, in a gravity-free environment metal samples can be suspended in a magnetic field and heated using conduction coils. This means there are no complicating factors, such as the molten sample sticking to a crucible wall or being contaminated by it.

By means of microgravity, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of an alloys surface tension, viscosity, melting range, fraction solid, specific heat, heat of fusion, mass density, and thermal expansion among other things. This would be of tremendous importance for everything from casting turbine blades to developing lighter weight alloys.

The problem is, there isn't a lot of of microgravity on Earth and most of that involves falling. You can get 20 seconds in an airplane during a parabolic trajectory and six minutes in a sounding rocket, but neither of those are very practical for carrying out metallurgical research. To get serious, you need a space station. And on the ISS, theres all the microgravity you want.

Weighing about 360 kg (795 lb), the MSL-EML was built by Airbus Defence and Space in collaboration with ESA and the DLR Space Administration. It consists of an automated chamber that keeps samples in a vacuum or a controlled gas mixture. In addition to electromagnetic levitation and induction heating coils, there is a digital video observation camera, a high-speed data camera capable of capturing up to 30,000 images per second, and a pyrometer.

When activated, the MSL-EML automatically feeds one of 18 spherical samples, 5 to 8 mm in diameter, consisting of various aluminum, copper, and nickel alloys into the process chamber using a rotating magazine. The machine uses electromagnetic fields to levitate samples in a the container, keeping them out of contact with the walls or any other materials. Then the inductive heating pushes the sample temperatures up to 2,000 C (3,600 F), reducing them to a liquid state.

In such a controlled environment, scientists will be able to dial-in various factors and study how such samples change as they cool and solidify. Theres no need for crucibles, which could contaminate the samples, and the samples aren't under the influence of gravity, which would deform the developing crystals or set up convection currents, resulting in uneven cooling. Meanwhile, the sensors record every detail of the process.

According to ESA, the microgravity containerless system produces a purer sample with fewer variables to take account of. The findings from the MSL-ELM can be compared to computer models and findings from experiments conducted on similar samples on Earth on parabolic flights.

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Electromagnetic Levitator headed to ISS for future materials research