Freedom of Information Foundation to Hold Annual FOI Conference In Austin

Posted on by

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas will hold its 2012 Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference on Friday, August 10 at the Hyatt Regency Austin Hotel. This year's theme is Keep it Open: Fighting Threats to Public Access.

Award winning investigative reporter Terri Langford of the Houston Chronicle will be the conference's Luncheon Keynote Speaker.

The highlight of Fridays program will be the John Henry Faulk Awards Luncheon and the presentation of the James Madison Award to The Dallas Morning News, with special recognition for the contributions of reporters Brooks Egerton, Miles Moffeit, Reese Dunklin and Sue Goetinck Ambrose, as well as editors Maud Beelman and George Rodrigue.

The James Madison award is given annually by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas to honor those who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and service in upholding the principles of the First Amendment.

Results of The Dallas Morning News investigation into patient safety at Parkland Memorial Hospital and related issues at its teaching facility, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, epitomize the very purpose of the James Madison Award, said Keith Elkins, Executive Director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. This was certainly no easy task. Efforts by the newspaper to obtain records were repeatedly blocked by the taxpayer-supported institutions, even after the Attorney General ruled that many of the records were public. But The News refused to back down.

The News has filed three lawsuits against UT Southwestern for the release of records related to possible patient harm and potential Medicare-Medicaid fraud. The newspaper has also intervened in two lawsuits brought by Parkland against the Texas Attorney General in an attempt to block the release of records.

The News multi-year investigation of Parkland revealed systemic breakdowns in patient care. The federal government, in response to the newspapers reporting, ultimately put the Dallas County hospital under a rare form of oversight and installed independent safety monitors to overhaul operations throughout Parkland. The News examination of presidential spending at UT Southwestern prompted a state investigation, new audit procedures and staff resignations or removals. The papers reporting on these topics can be found online at http://www.dallasnews.com/investigations.

This years annual program will also feature the presentation of the State Bar of Texass 2012 Texas Gavel Awards, honoring journalistic excellence that helps foster public understanding of the legal system, as well as:

Session I: The Perils of Public vs. Private The continuing use of digital communication by government officials and employees sparks heated debate over private accounts and public servers. The law is clear, but the issue keeps returning to the courts. Get a refresher on the law and an update on the latest litigation. Panelists include Joe Larsen, Special Counsel, Sedgwick L.L.P, Houston and George Hyde, Partner/Shareholder, Denton, Navarro, Rocha and Bernal, Austin. Mr. Hyde represents Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson in a lawsuit challenging the Texas Attorney Generals ruling requiring he release emails related to the transaction of official business on his private email account.

Session II: Top 10 Things You Need to Know The Office of the Attorney General has powerful tools to help Texans gain access to public records and meetings, but state rules and regulations can get complex. Learn how to work effectively with the OAG from those who know best. Panelists: Hadassah Schloss, Cost Rules Administrator, OAG; Karen Hattaway, Deputy Chief, Open Records Division, OAG; and, Tim M. Kelly, Editor, The Beaumont Enterprise.

See more here:

Freedom of Information Foundation to Hold Annual FOI Conference In Austin

Ocean City shuts down swimming access at three beaches

Posted on by

Ocean City reopens swimming access at three beaches

Last updated 8/7/12 01:25 pm

According to Ocean City director of community services Jim Mallon, the 8th, 9th and 10th street beaches were reopened at 1 p.m. Tuesday after the Cape May County Health Department tested the water for bacteria and deemed the three beaches safe to swim.

The Department of Health ordered the closure of the 8th and 9th street beaches on Monday after water tests found unsafe levels of bacteria. The beaches were expected to reopen Tuesday morning, but officials restricted water access and also closed off access to the 10th Street beach as well.

More information is expected to be released. Check back for updates.

Last Updated: 16 hours ago

Last Updated: 19 hours ago

Last Updated: 20 hours ago

Last Updated: 20 hours ago

Follow this link:

Ocean City shuts down swimming access at three beaches

UTC Aerospace Systems Receives Autopilots and Payload Contract for AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems' Aerosonde® SUAS

Posted on by

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- UTC Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (UTX) has received a contract from AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems to supply Cloud Cap Technology autopilots, stabilized camera payloads, ground station software components and flight management software from its business in Hood River, Ore. These will be utilized for AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems' expeditionary Aerosonde Small Unmanned Aircraft System fleet, which has been selected to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for the U.S. Navy and Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

John Trezza, Vice President of UTC Aerospace Systems ISR Systems business said, "With the announcement of these awards, UTC Aerospace Systems looks forward to continuing our long standing working relationship with AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems and delivering high performing systems as part of their team."

UTC Aerospace Systems' Cloud Cap Technology Piccolo autopilot is the industry standard in open architecture autopilots, providing feature rich capabilities with superior performance and reliability. Moreover, Cloud Cap Technology TASE gimbals offer the highest performance in the lowest SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) in the industry.

For its Aerosonde SUAS, AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems will be using the Piccolo II autopilot and the newly announced TASE400 stabilized camera system which includes daylight and cooled continuous zoom MWIR (mid-wave infrared) nighttime imagers. At only 7.5lbs, including full GPS, INS and image stabilization as well as scene steering, path track and object tracking, the TASE400 will provide unparalleled imagery and capability for the delivered systems.

UTC Aerospace Systems designs, manufactures and services integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense industries. UTC Aerospace Systems supports a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and customer service facilities.

United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries.

http://www.utcaerospacesystems.com

Here is the original post:

UTC Aerospace Systems Receives Autopilots and Payload Contract for AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems' Aerosonde® SUAS

UTC Aerospace Systems Launches High-Resolution Snapshot SWIR Camera

Posted on by

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --UTC Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (UTX), will introduce its next generation Sensors Unlimited shortwave infrared (SWIR) digital video camera at AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America Exhibition, Aug. 6 to 9, in Las Vegas, Nev.

This high-resolution, indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) mil-rugged digital video camera features 30Hz full-frame rate and adds snapshot mode capability to the Sensors Unlimited high-definition SWIR product range. The camera, model GA1280JS, will be showcased at the UTC Aerospace Systems booth 2654 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

The camera is lightweight (less than 120 grams or 4 ounces without lens) and compact (less than 4.5 cubic inches or 74 cubic centimeters), allowing for easy integration into aerial, mobile and hand-held imaging systems. Ideally suited to low-light imaging and covert surveillance requirements, the SWIR camera is able to capture images through smoke, fog and haze, which makes the camera suitable for integration into a variety of surveillance and reconnaissance systems.

Cooling is not required with the JS-series InGaAs SWIR camera. In addition, it features on-board, automatic gain control and real-time non-uniformity corrections that improve urban night imaging, such as capturing a dark scene that contains bright light sources.

The Sensors Unlimited model GA1280JS has been tested to MIL-STD-810G for functional shock, vibration, thermal shock, storage temperature, altitude, humidity and acceleration.

UTC Aerospace Systems designs, manufactures and services integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense industries. UTC Aerospace Systems supports a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and customer service facilities.

United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries.

http://www.utcaerospacesystems.com

See the original post here:

UTC Aerospace Systems Launches High-Resolution Snapshot SWIR Camera

Monogram Aerospace Fasteners Receives Certificate Of Recognition From The Sanitation Districts Of Los Angeles County

Posted on by

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Monogram Aerospace Fasteners, a TriMas company, has been awarded a Certificate of Recognition for Compliance Year 2011 from The Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. With more than 120 years of experience, Monogram delivers innovative, high quality aerospace fasteners and products to its customers and has established itself as a recognized leader in blind bolt technology to the aerospace industry.

Monogram is being recognized for full compliance with the wastewater discharge and permit requirements set forth by The Sanitation Districts during 2011. To be recognized by The Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, Monogram received no Notices of Violation in 2011, was not found to have contributed to equipment failure, and had appropriate industrial wastewater discharge permits for the facility.

"We are pleased that our efforts have been recognized by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County," commented David Adler, president of Monogram Aerospace Fasteners. "I am proud of the Monogram team's dedication and focus to improvements in safety, sanitation and environmental responsibility."

About Monogram Aerospace FastenersWith more than 120 years of service to the fastener industry, Monogram Aerospace Fasteners has established itself as the recognized leader in blind bolt technology to the aerospace industry. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Monogram serves the world's markets through a network of dedicated sales professionals and authorized distributors. Monogram's pioneering spirit in aerospace engineering has brought to market a diverse collection of blind boltsVisu-Lok, Composi-Lok, Radial-Lok and the OSIBolt.

More here:

Monogram Aerospace Fasteners Receives Certificate Of Recognition From The Sanitation Districts Of Los Angeles County

Richard Gutierrez To Shoulder Annabelle Rama’s Stem Cell Therapy Expenses

Posted on by

MANILA, Philippines - Talent manager Annabelle Rama will fly to Germany in September to undergo therapy - stem cell therapy, that is. This has been a promise made by her son Richard Gutierrez who's footing the bill. "Early this year pa lang ay napagplanuhan na 'yung pagpapa-stem cell ng nanay ko at prinomise ko sa kanya na pag-iipunan ko, prinomise ko sa kanya na ako ang magti-treat sa kanya ...

Read more here:

Richard Gutierrez To Shoulder Annabelle Rama’s Stem Cell Therapy Expenses

NASA picks companies to build space taxis

Posted on by

WASHINGTON - NASA picked three aerospace companies Friday to build small rocketships to take astronauts to the International Space Station.

This is the third phase of NASA's efforts to get private space companies to take over the job of the now-retired space shuttle. The companies will share more than $1.1 billion. Two of the ships are capsules like in the Apollo era and the third is closer in design to the space shuttle.

Once the spaceships are built, NASA plans to hire the private companies to taxi astronauts into space within five years. Until they are ready, NASA is paying Russia about $63 million per astronaut to do the job.

In a statement, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said the move "will help keep us on track to tend the outsourcing of human spaceflight."

NASA hopes that by having private firms ferry astronauts into low Earth orbit, it can focus on larger long-term goals, like sending crews to a nearby asteroid and eventually Mars. The private companies can also make money in tourism and other non-NASA business.

The three companies are the Boeing Co. of Houston, Space Exploration Technologies, called SpaceX, of Hawthorne and Sierra Nevada Corp. of Louisville, Colo.

They are quite different companies. Boeing is one of the oldest and largest space companies with a long history of building and launching rockets and working for NASA, going back to the Mercury days. One of its partners in the effort is Canoga

"We're confident our proven propulsion technology and engineering skills will help maintain U.S. leadership in space," Terry Lorier, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's Commercial Crew program manager, said in a statement.

SpaceX is a relatively new company started by Elon Musk, who helped create PayPal and runs the electric car company Tesla Motors. Sierra Nevada has been in the space business for 25 years but mostly on a much smaller scale than Boeing.

NASA's commercial crew development program started with seven companies. The other companies that were not chosen can still build private rocketships and NASA still has the option to hire them to ferry astronauts at a later date, NASA spokesman Trent Perrotto said.

Follow this link:

NASA picks companies to build space taxis

NASA contract goes to firm with Poway office

Posted on by

A space flight development company with facilities in Poway has been awarded a $215.5 million NASA contract to continue development of private sector version of the space shuttle.

The Dream Chaser undergoing testing in May. Sierra Nevada Corp. photo

The Colorado-based Sierra Nevada Corp. was one of three companies receiving additional funding under NASAs Commercial Crew Integrated Capability Program. NASA last week awarded $1.1 billion in program contracts, including $460 million to Boeing and $440 million to SpaceX.

Sierra Nevada acquired Poway-based SpaceDev in 2008. SpaceDev was founded in 2004 and was best known for developing the hybrid rockets that powered SpaceShipOne, the first successful private sub-orbital spacecraft, in 2004.

Sierra Nevadas Space Systems division is headed by Mark Sirangelo, the former chairman and CEO of SpaceDev.

Sierra Nevada is developing the 10-passenger Dream Chaser spacecraft to shuttle personnel to and from the International Space Station. An non-powered full-size mock up of the craft is the early testing stages. The company says it hopes to being shuttle flights as early as 2016.

No related posts.

Short URL: http://www.pomeradonews.com/?p=27388

Visit link:

NASA contract goes to firm with Poway office

NASA'S Goddard Space Flight Center plays key role with Curiosity

Posted on by

BALTIMORE -

Along with NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in California, the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland had a lot to celebrate Sunday.

Curiosity, a rover developed by NASA, landed on the planet Mars to begin a two-year mission.

The hope is that it will help scientists learn more about the geographic make-up of the "red planet."

Dr. Jennifer Stern, a geochemist at Goddard, answered questions about Curiosity during a visit to the Maryland Science Center's space-link exhibit Monday.

Still giddy about the successful landing, Stern said: "Just seeing that landing last night was incredible, knowing everything went as planned, everything worked, seeing those first images come in."

She also pointed out that the extremely difficult landing of the rover, which involved a sky crane and the world's largest supersonic parachute, could set the stage for humans to land on Mars.

Maryland Science Center staff were excited to have someone directly involved with Curiosity on hand. Stern said she will study rocks, minerals and the atmosphere to see if life could have ever existed on Mars.

"I help with the design and testing of the experiments that are on SAM or Sample Analysis of Mars, which is one of the instruments on the Curiosity Rover," Stern said.

"It's very special because it's a new era of exploration. This space craft is going to be able to do things we've never been able to do with any other spacecraft," said science center representative Jim O'Leary. "It's an opportunity to introduce kids to discovery, how these discoveries are made, the science behind it, get them excited about science, get them excited about education," he said.

More:

NASA'S Goddard Space Flight Center plays key role with Curiosity

NASA Lands Car-Size Rover Beside Martian Mountain – Video

Posted on by

06-08-2012 01:46 NASA's most advanced Mars rover Curiosity has landed on the Red Planet. The one-ton rover, hanging by ropes from a rocket backpack, touched down onto Mars Sunday to end a 36-week flight and begin a two-year investigation. The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft that carried Curiosity succeeded in every step of the most complex landing ever attempted on Mars, including the final severing of the bridle cords and flyaway maneuver of the rocket backpack.

Original post:

NASA Lands Car-Size Rover Beside Martian Mountain - Video

NASA releases video of Mars rover descent

Posted on by

NASA's Curiosity rover has transmitted a low-resolution video showing the last 2 1/2 minutes of its white-knuckle dive through the Mars atmosphere, giving Earthlings a sneak peek of a spacecraft landing on another world.

As thumbnails of the video flashed on a big screen on Monday, scientists and engineers at the NASA Jet Propulsion let out "oohs" and "aahs".

The recording began with the protective heat shield falling away and ended with dust being kicked up as the rover was lowered by cables inside an ancient crater.

It was a sneak preview since it'll take some time before full-resolution frames are beamed back depending on other priorities.

The full video "will just be exquisite", said Michael Malin, the chief scientist of the instrument.

NASA celebrated the precision landing of a rover on Mars and marvelled over the mission's flurry of photographs - grainy, black-and-white images of Martian gravel, a mountain at sunset and, most exciting of all, the spacecraft's white-knuckle plunge through the red planet's atmosphere.

Curiosity, a roving laboratory the size of a compact car, landed right on target late on Sunday night after an eight-month, 566-million kilometre journey.

It parked its six wheels about 6 1/2 kilometres from its ultimate science destination - Mount Sharp rising from the floor of Gale Crater near the equator.

Extraordinary efforts were needed for the landing because the rover weighs one tonne, and the thin Martian atmosphere offers little friction to slow down a spacecraft.

Curiosity had to go from 20,920km/h to zero in seven minutes, unfurling a parachute, then firing rockets to brake. In a Hollywood-style finish, cables delicately lowered it to the ground at 3.2km/h.

See the original post:

NASA releases video of Mars rover descent

Cambridge's Foundation Medicine launches drug collaboration

Posted on by

Foundation Medicine Inc. and Clovis Oncology Inc. said today they will work together to develop an in-vitro test for identifying biomarkers in specific cancer patients who would most likely respond to a Clovis drug.

The companies said they will analyze the genomic alterations found in tissue samples from patients to evaluate the feasibility of developing an in-vitro diagnostic method to identify patients, including those with ovarian cancer, with tumors most likely to respond to the drug rucaparib.

Foundation Medicine is a Cambridge-based molecular information company. Clovis, a biopharmaceutical company, is based in Boulder, Colo.

Foundation Medicines core capability is the translation of genomic insights into clinically actionable information, said company president and CEO Michael Pellini. But even the most in-depth genomic profile for a patient is only as actionable as the available and relevant targeted therapies. Therefore, we are working to help expand the universe of targeted therapeutic options. Clovis Oncology, a recognized leader in patient specific oncology drug development, is an ideal partner in this mission.

Read the original here:

Cambridge's Foundation Medicine launches drug collaboration