World-wide competitors travel to Milan for disc golf tournament – KWQC-TV6

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MILAN, Ill. (KWQC) - A different kind of golf is taking over the QCA.

Saturday the disc golf world championship came to Milan to begin the World Doubles Championship before the tournament kicks off.

Competitors from all over the world have come to the Quad Cities for the Amateur World Championship.

"We have almost 650 competitors, you know, we could hold more but it's a big commitment too to give up a week and a half of your time," said Chase Roberts, Tournament Director. "Huge commitment on the volunteers' part even here that live here so imagine driving, you know, around the world or driving across the country or flying from another country to play the event for a week and a half. It's a big commitment."

The field events will begin Sunday, which features drive contests, putting contests and a mini disc golf contest.

The formal play begins Tuesday and goes until Saturday.

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World-wide competitors travel to Milan for disc golf tournament - KWQC-TV6

World’s 50 best foods – CNN

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(CNN) "There is no love sincerer than the love of food," George Bernard Shaw said. Judging by the number of amazing dishes out there, he was right.

But which are the tastiest? Which are the best foods?

We've scoured the planet for what we think are 50 of the most delicious foods ever created.

For now, feast your eyes and control your drooling, as we reveal the world's best foods:

Taking a love of popcorn to a new level.

Corn -- the workhorse of the industrial world -- is best when its sweet variety is fried up with lashings of butter till it bursts and then snarfed in greasy fistfuls while watching "Commando" late at night.

The world's best pancake?

A crispy, rice-batter crepe encases a spicy mix of mashed potato, which is then dipped in coconut chutney, pickles, tomato-and-lentil-based sauces and other condiments. It's a fantastic breakfast food that'll keep you going till lunch, when you'll probably come back for another.

Potato chips -- you can never have just one!

Potato chips were invented in New York when a chef tried to play a trick on a fussy diner. Now they're one of the world's most child-friendly and best foods. But think of them this way -- if a single chip cost, say, $5, it'd be a far greater (and more popular) delicacy than caviar, a prize worth fighting wars over.

The embodiment of Spanish cuisine.

The sea is lapping just by your feet, a warm breeze whips the tablecloth around your legs and a steamy pan of paella sits in front of you. Shrimp, lobster, mussels and cuttlefish combine with white rice and various herbs, oil and salt in this Valencian dish to send you immediately into holiday mode.

Though if you have it in Spain, you're probably there already.

A traditional Thai dish you can't resist.

To prepare Thailand's most famous salad, pound garlic and chilies with a mortar and pestle. Toss in tamarind juice, fish sauce, peanuts, dried shrimp, tomatoes, lime juice, sugar cane paste, string beans and a handful of grated green papaya.

Grab a side of sticky rice. Variations include those made with crab (som tam boo) and fermented fish sauce (som tam plah lah), but none matches the flavor and simple beauty of the original.

Singapore taking "moreish" to the next level.

Often called the "national dish" of Singapore, this steamed or boiled chicken is served atop fragrant oily rice, with sliced cucumber as the token vegetable. Variants include roasted chicken or soy sauce chicken. However it's prepared, it's one of Singapore's best foods.

The dipping sauces -- premium dark soy sauce, chili with garlic and pounded ginger -- give it that little extra oomph to ensure whenever you're not actually in Singapore eating chicken rice, you're thinking of it.

It sounds bad, it doesn't look great, but it tastes delicious!

French fries smothered in cheese curds and brown gravy. Sounds kind of disgusting, looks even worse, but engulfs the mouth in a saucy, cheesy, fried-potato mix that'll have you fighting over the last dollop.

Our Canadian friends insist it's best enjoyed at 3 a.m. after "several" beers.

Tacos -- you can't just have one.

A fresh, handmade tortilla stuffed with small chunks of grilled beef rubbed in oil and sea salt then covered with guacamole, salsa, onions, cilantro or anything else you want -- perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This is the reason no visitor leaves Mexico weighing less than when they arrived.

Divisive but irresistible (for most of us).

OK, anything buttered is probably going to taste great, but there's something about this tangy, salty, sour, love-it-or-hate-it yeast extract that turns a piece of grilled bread into a reason to go on living. For extra yum factor, add a layer of marmalade.

When it smells horrendous but tastes delicious ...

Nothing really prepares you for the stench of one of the strangest dishes on earth. Like durian, smelly tofu is one of Southeast Asia's most iconic foods.

The odor of fermenting tofu is so overpowering many aren't able to shake off the memory for months. So is the legendarily divine taste really worth the effort? Sure it is.

Germany's best sweet treat.

Don't be fooled by cheap imitations, which use soy paste or almond essence. The real stuff, which uses nothing but ground almonds with sugar, is so good, you'll eat a whole bar of it, feel sick, and still find yourself toying with the wrapper on bar number two.

Anything tastes good when dipped in ketchup.

If Malcolm Gladwell says it's a perfect food, then it's a perfect food. Let's face it, anything that can convince two-year-olds to eat their carrots rather than spitting them onto the floor is worthy of not just a "delicious" title, but a "miracle of persuasion" title, too.

A measly 500 calories is all this bad boy will cost you.

Unlike its more restrained Sunday brunch counterpart, Hong Kong-style French toast is like a deep-fried hug. Two pieces of toast are slathered with peanut butter or kaya jam, soaked in egg batter, fried in butter and served with still more butter and lots of syrup. A Hong Kong best food, best enjoyed before cholesterol checks.

Melted Parmesan and mozzarella cheese, and a peppery, garlicky tomato sauce drizzled over the top of a chicken fillet -- Aussie pub-goers claim this ostensibly Italian dish as their own. Since they make it so well, there's no point in arguing.

A saucy mash of chili, tomatoes, onions, pepper and various herbs gives each barbecue chef his or her own personalized zing to lay on top of perfectly prepped pig. Like the Texas sky, the options are endless.

You can't visit Singapore without trying its spicy, sloppy, meaty specialty. While there are dozens of ways to prepare crab (with black pepper, salted egg yolk, cheese-baked, et cetera) chili crab remains the local bestseller.

Spicy chili-tomato gravy tends to splatter, which is why you need to mop everything up with mini mantou buns.

Maple syrup is made from the sap of maple trees.

Ever tried eating a pancake without maple syrup? It's like eating a slice of cardboard. Poorly prepared cardboard.

In fact, Canada's gift to parents everywhere -- throw some maple syrup on the kid's broccoli and see what happens -- makes just about anything worth trying. Pass the cardboard, please.

Fish and chips -- not just for Fridays.

Anything that's been around since the 1860s can't be doing much wrong. The staple of the Victorian British working class is a crunchy-outside, soft-inside dish of simple, un-adorned fundamentals.

Sprinkled with salt, vinegar and dollops of tartar sauce, it is to nouveau cuisine what Meat Loaf is to Prince.

So, who's up for a chunk of monkfish liver with a little grated daikon on the side? Thought not -- still, you're missing out on one of sushi's last great secrets, the prized ankimo.

The monkfish/anglerfish that unknowingly bestows its liver upon upscale sushi fans is threatened by commercial fishing nets damaging its sea-floor habitat, so it's possible ankimo won't be around for much longer.

If you do stumble across the creamy, yet oddly light delicacy anytime soon, consider a taste -- you won't regret trying one of the best foods in Japan.

Parma ham -- a staple of Italian cooking.

You see it folded around melon, wrapped around grissini, placed over pizza, heaped over salad.

There's good reason for that: these salty, paper-thin slices of air-dried ham lift the taste of everything they accompany to a higher level, following the same theory as the Italian guy who thinks carrying around a copy of "Candide" makes up for the tiny Speedos.

This snack made from pork, shrimp, herbs, rice vermicelli and other ingredients wrapped in rice paper is served at room temperature. It's "meat light," with the flavors of refreshing herbs erupting in your mouth.

Dipped in a slightly sweet Vietnamese sauce laced with ground peanuts, it's wholesome, easy and the very definition of "moreish."

This premium Japanese Wagyu beef from famed Takara Ranch has been recognized by the Imperial Palace of Japan as one of the greatest beef stocks to be raised in the past 400 years.

Called the "Rolls-Royce" of beef, it's best eaten sashimi style, anointed with a drizzle of kaffir lime and green tea sea salt. Marbled fat gives each mouthful texture as the beef melts away, leaving a subtle but distinctly classic beef flavor.

Pho is a noodle soup and a pillar of Vietnamese cooking.

This oft-mispronounced national dish ("fuh" is correct) is just broth, fresh rice noodles, a few herbs and usually chicken or beef. But it's greater than the sum of its parts -- fragrant, tasty and balanced, the polar opposite of the moto rider who brought you to the little cafe where you find the best stuff.

Day and night, lines form outside of Schwartz's, Montreal's best Hebrew delicatessen and Canada's oldest. Here clerks slice up the best smoked meat in North America.

Following a 1928 recipe, the meat is cured for 10 days. Order your smoked beef sandwich medium-lean, heavy on the mustard, three pickles and with extra pommes frites, the way the Rolling Stones have supposedly enjoyed it.

A staple of Tex-Mex cuisine.

This assembly kit of a dining experience is a thrill to DIY enthusiasts everywhere.

Step 1: Behold the meat sizzling on a fiery griddle. Step 2: Along with the meat, throw side servings of capsicum, onion, guacamole, sour cream and salsa into a warm, flour tortilla. Step 3: Promise all within hearing range that you'll have "just one more." Step 4: Repeat.

As hot and as tasty as it looks.

This one claims no roots in Chinese, Continental or Indian cuisines. It comes from Butter Land, an imaginary best foods paradise balanced on the premise that anything tastes great with melted butter.

This delicious, simple dish is made by drowning a large crab in a gallon of butter-garlic sauce, which seeps into every nook and cranny and coats every inch of flesh.

The sea gods of Butter Land are benevolent carnivores and this, their gift to the world, is their signature dish.

Irish national dish champ goes down faster than the first pint of Guinness on a Friday night. Mashed potato with spring onions, butter, salt and pepper, champ is the perfect side with any meat or fish.

For the textbook plate of creamy goodness, we suggest the busiest pub in any Irish seaside town. Around noon somehow feels right.

So good, they gave it many levels.

Second only to pizza in the list of famed Italian foods, there's a reason this pasta-layered, tomato-sauce-infused, minced-meaty gift to kids and adults alike is so popular -- it just works.

There are some who will not frequent an establishment if it does not have brownie and ice cream on the dessert menu. You may call them fools.

We do, too, but having done so we then happily leave the first restaurant after the main course to visit one we know has this perfect dessert on offer.

Best way to eat this? In bed, at 3pm in the South of France.

Flaky pastry smothered in butter, a pile of raspberry jam smeared over the top and a soft, giving bite as you sink in your teeth; there's nothing not to love about this fatty, sweet breakfast food that must be married to a cup of strong coffee.

A corn-dough patty that provides a savory canvas onto which you can paint any number of delicious toppings: cheese, shredded chicken, crisped pork skin, perico, beef, tomato, avocado ... it's the most beautiful thing to come out of Venezuela since all those Miss Universe winners.

Grilled pork combined with lemon juice, green onions, chili, mint sprigs, fish sauce and toasted rice. Legend has it the blood from the meat along with the dressing inspired some happy carnivore to name this brilliant dish "waterfall (nam tok moo) meat."

It's as if sunny Sunday afternoons were created just for sizzlers.

For keeping starvation at bay for the entire student population of the United Kingdom, the doner kebab should clearly be honored. But they are hardly the delicious prototype worthy of representing a region.

For that, summon the shish kebab. Pick your meat, shove a stick through it, grill. Then wonder why you don't eat like this every day.

If you were on this many menus worldwide, you'd have big claws too.

Forget all your fancy, contrived lobster dishes deployed by showoff chefs eager for Michelin endorsement. When you have a best food as naturally delicious as these little fellas, keep it simple. The best way to enjoy lobster is simply to boil it and serve with a side of melted butter and slice of lemon.

Like many classic dishes, the Hong Kong egg tart marries two contrasting textures: crusty, flaky pastry and jiggly, trembling custard. It's sweet, it's delicious and it's best eaten hot from the oven on the street while queuing up to get just one more.

Don't let the head put you off.

Only commercially available in Hawaii, the kalua preparation turns a meal into an epic event, with a whole pig roasted in an underground sand pit for six or seven hours.

But it's not just for show. Smashed banana tree trunks, sea salt and shredded (never sliced) meat means this smoky, aromatic piece of pig will linger long on your tongue and even longer in your memory.

Donuts -- delicious across the world.

These all-American fried wheels of dough need no introduction, but we will say one thing: the delicious guilt of snacking on these addictive calorie bombs makes them taste even better. If that's possible.

Corn's a vegetable -- so it's healthy, right?

God probably created corn just to have an excuse to invent melted butter. There's something about biting down on a cob of corn -- it's a delicate enough operation to require concentration but primal enough to make you feel like the caveman you always wanted to be. Great food is caveman food.

Good food day and night, shepherd's delight?

Some might say England's greatest inventions were the steam engine and the Jaguar E-Type. We like to think shepherd's pie -- minced lamb topped with mashed potato -- comes somewhere in that list.

Tastes best at the end of a gloomy, rainy day with an open fire licking at the chimney breast and Ricky Gervais insulting people on the telly. Which is lucky, as that's what most days are like in England.

Beef is slowly simmered with coconut milk and a mixture of lemongrass, galangal, garlic, turmeric, ginger and chilies, then left to stew for a few hours to create this dish of tender, flavorful bovine goodness.

Tasting it fresh out of the kitchen will send your stomach into overdrive, but many people think it gets even better when left overnight.

A bastardized Western version of this delectable Gabonese dish swamps everything in peanut butter. Oh, the insanity. The proper recipe calls for chicken, hot chili, garlic, tomato, pepper, salt, okra and palm butter, an artery-clogging African butter that will force you into a second helping and a promise to start using your gym membership.

Ice cream -- not just break-up food.

You may have just gorged yourself to eruption point, but somehow there's always room for a tooth-rotting, U.S.-style pile of ice cream with nuts, marshmallows and chocolate sauce.

Thank God for extra long spoons that allow you get at the real weight-gain stuff all mixed up and melted at the bottom of the glass.

This best food Thai masterpiece teems with shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves. Usually loaded with coconut milk and cream, the hearty soup unifies a host of favorite Thai tastes: sour, salty, spicy and sweet. Best of all is the price: cheap.

One of Malaysia's most popular dishes.

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World's 50 best foods - CNN

Want to Travel the World? Read This Before You Go – Newsweek

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Nothing changes you like travel does.

I know, because after 26 years of suburban stability, I recently sold my house, pulled up my stakes and hit the road. Im a different person because of it.

A new Booking.com survey reveals the transformative power of travel. More than 10 percent of respondents said a first-time travel experience led them to switch careers or change a relationship. And 21 percent decided to move somewhere completely different as a result of traveling.

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Frequent travel, while often glamorized, have have many physiological and emotional detriments, according to a recent study by a school of hospitality and tourism management. Edgar Su/Reuters

So if youve never really made it past that summer week in an Ocean City, Md., condo, or a camping trip to Shenandoah National Park, this storys for you. Its the one I wish Id read before I became a global nomad.

Prepare for change: Whether youre starting a job that lets you travel for business or becoming a post-retirement vagabond, constant travel changes you. Youll become part of a fraternity of frequent travelers whose perspectives have been shifted by new places and people. Youll be less afraid to embrace new ideas or cultures or to try new things. Either youll learn to live with the vagaries of life on the road or youll go mad. Ive seen that happen. So my first piece of advice: Be flexible. Because if you arent, this wont work.

Find an adviser: Whether you work with a corporate travel manager, a travel agent or someone who just understands travel, youll want someone you can turn to. Invariably, problems can be avoided by booking with a travel professional, says Arnt Pederson, the chief executive of Accent Travel International, a travel agency in Minneapolis. Hes right. Almost every day, I see situations where having a knowledgeable adviser could have prevented a misunderstanding, a lost reservation or an intractable problem. And while using a travel agent may add a little to your cost, in terms of booking fees, it can really pay off when you find yourself stuck at the airport with only the floor to sleep on. Ive been there, and fortunately, I was saved by an agent.

Mind your manners: Proper etiquette will keep you out of trouble while youre on the road, and I dont just mean using please and thank you. Im talking about cultural sensitivity, something that might not be entirely intuitive. Take the handshake, for example. You probably knew that neglecting to shake someones hand is considered rude. But did you also know that Western and Eastern Europeans shake hands again when they part and that you should always remove your gloves before shaking? Also, a woman initiates a handshake with a man in all European countries, says Pamela Eyring, president of the Protocol School of Washington. Thats a lot to remember.

Plan ahead: The most experienced travelers never wing it. They think about each trip and plan each segment, often in painstaking detail. And if you spend a little time talking to them, theyll tell you about the kit a collection of must-have items they bring on each adventure. Orlando-based event planner Jamie ODonnell never goes on a car trip without a phone charger or access to a GPS-enabled device for directions, plus the latest version of Waze, an app for road conditions and directions. It will significantly reduce your stress levels, she says. To that I would add carrying a spare charger and using it in your hotel room or vacation rental. That way, youll never find yourself in the car with a lifeless phone, screaming, Wheres the charger?

Know the rules: Travel rules are a little wacky, so take some time to get familiar with them. Airline contracts are among the strangest and most counterintuitive. For example, did you know it often costs less to buy a round-trip ticket than a one-way ticket? Or that if you miss one leg of your flight, your airline will cancel the rest of your reservation without offering a refund? If youre traveling for business, you have an extra layer of absurdity your corporate travel policy. Know your companys travel policy, advises Evan Konwiser, a vice president for American Express Global Business Travel. It might sound tedious, but the best way to make the most of your travel is understanding what you can and cant do.

Avoid bad habits: Travel can be fun and exciting, but it can also turn you into an entitled and insufferable card-carrying frequent flier. Resist that temptation. Ive spoken with countless travelers who regret the habits they picked up along the way. One of most memorable conversations was with Bob McIntyre, a retired business traveler from San Antonio, who described himself as a former loyalty program addict. Points are a natural byproduct of travel and can be redeemed for even more travel. But youre easily seduced into taking a darker path that tempts you to manipulate the system, using manufactured spending to earn even more free trips.

Try to relax: A majority of travelers in the Booking.com survey (61 percent) admitted that any nervousness they felt before they departed was unnecessary. Its true: In my experience, the jitters you feel before a trip are completely unfounded.

Even so, not everyone is suited a life on the road. Travel has the power to alter the course of your life for better or worse, and as someone whose life has been transformed by travel, I would urge you to consider that carefully before you go. I now find experiences are far more important than material things. The people in my life are more valuable than my possessions. And the here-and-now is worth more than what might come next. Thats the transformational power of travel.

And its a warning, too. Because once youve experienced it, you may never want to come back.

Christopher Elliott's latest book is How To Be The Worlds Smartest Traveler (National Geographic). You can get real-time answers to any consumer question on his new forum, elliott.org/forum, or by emailing him at chris@elliott.org.

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Want to Travel the World? Read This Before You Go - Newsweek

Get bloody with Butcher’s free Steam demo | PCGamesN – PCGamesN

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Transhuman Design have released a newplayable demofor their chainsawtastic take on 2D platforming, Butcher.

For more small-scale goodness, here's our list of thebest indie games.

Describing itself as a blood-soaked love letter to the cult classics of the genre, this 2D shooter puts you in the mechanical boots of a cyborg programmed to eradicate the last remains of humanity [and] your sole purpose is to well... annihilate anything that moves.

The demo features a pack of three levels from the beginning of the game.

This isnt for the fainthearted, either. Even if you reckon youve got the cojones to stomach the gore, the games so feckin' hard, the developers had to retrospectively release an easy mode called W.I.M.P. DLC for some players (like me, lets face it) to get through it.

If you like what you see, you can also secure 50 percent off the price of the full game at just 3.49 / $4.99 / 4.99. Theres also a half-price bundle if youd like to pick up the soundtrack, too. The discount ends July 17, 2017.

Thanks, RockPaperShotgun.

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Southern Kaduna crises: Porous boarders responsible for free e – Daily Trust

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The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, (MACBAN) has said that the porous nature of Nigerian boarders is responsible for the free entry and exit of killer herdsmen.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna On Saturday, MACBAN assistant national secretary general, Ibrahim Abdullahi said, "In Nigeria, our borders are porous, people come in anytime and go out anytime they want, in fact it is a shameful thing today that we don't even know those that are indigenous Fulani or the transhuman Fulani.

"We don't know and that is why people mixed things up, you begin to suspect the Fulani man that you grew up with when anything happens. He has not traveled far where did he get the AK 47."

Abdullahi added "It is either Nigeria opt out of the ECOWAS protocol or we should apply the conditions. We should ensure that anybody coming into the country, we know when he is coming, where he is going and control what they are coming with.

"Another problem we have that you people don't know is that, these migratory Fulani that come into the country with all forms of weapons, many at times they come in with less than 50 cattle, but when going back they go with thousand cattle rustled from our own Fulani, so our economy is also affected.

"One other issue we need to know again is that, some of these countries that Fulani come from in Africa have crises, like Chad or central African Republic were there is rebellion. Weapons have become like pure water or bread, so people from there see it as normal to hang AK 47.

"So it is left for the government to do the right thing, let us decide who comes in because it is our country, let us decide the terms for the person coming, let us not because of ECOWAS protocol leave everything to fate, that is not going to help us."

Commenting on the alleged killing of four of their members by Kadara and Gwari communities in Kajuru local government areas of the state, Abdullahi said, "A kidnap incident took place in the area allegedly by Fulani herdsmen, but instead of trying to get to the root of the matter the communities descended on the nearest Fulani community."

He insisted that there is need for people to understand the different types of Fulani saying, " Fulani are categorized into three including the settled Fulani, the semi settled Fulanis and the trans human Fulani, those that are constantly on the move and they can also be categorized into two, some of them are Nigerians, some are foreigners from our neighboring countries like Cameroun, Chad and even Niger.

"Those Fulanis are constantly on the move and there is a law that provides for that movement, the ECOWAS protocol on nomadic transhuman movement, but the unfortunate thing is that all the signatories to those protocols, there are conditions governing people entering into your country or going out of your country.

He called on the government to ensure stringent checks at Nigerian boarders with a view to ending the spate of crises in the state and he country at large.

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Venus Raj faces public to present thesis, reveals stories of hometown’s unshakeable spirituality – Inquirer.net

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When beauty queen Venus Raj was requested to present her Masters thesis to members of the academe and the public, like any other student, she was hesitant. I was really scared. Tapos na ako, graduate na ako (Im done with school, Ive graduated), she quips.

But the Miss Universe 2010 fourth runner-up graciously accepted, and ever the professional, arrived ten minutes ahead of schedule for the lecture at Ateneo de Manila University, hosted by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. And despite having previously faced millions of people worldwide on television, she admits to the relatively smaller university crowd, Im really nervous. I think this is more difficult than competing in an international pageant.

Beauty queen Venus Raj presents her masters thesis to students and members of the public in Ateneo de Manila University. Image: INQUIRER.net/Nia V. Guno

The nervousness didntshow, especially when she speaks of her personal experience with spirituality and resilience, which is the topic of her thesis.

I really experienced what it was like to be displaced because of a typhoon, or what its like to pack your things and go to your neighbor because they had a concrete house and your house would be devastated after, the 29-year-old masters graduate shares. We know that because our house is just made of light material. And when it rains outside, it rains inside the house.

One moment from her childhood struck her about what it means to be resilient: One night, we were all sleeping Because of very strong thunder, I woke up in the middle of the night. I saw my mom in the corner. She was holding an umbrella and then she was just praying. I thought, wow, my moms also scared. That gave me the assurance that you can be scared, you can feel the emotion that you want to feel but dont forget that theres someone who is bigger than your emotions.

That triggered me to be comforted and to have that peace even in the midst of the storm. So that gave me the interest to this study, to see how my fellow Bicolanos would respond to the research.

Her paper titled Disaster Resilience and Spirituality delves into how fisherfolk in her hometown of Bato, Camarines Sur cope after a disaster and how their spirituality is linked with their resilience.

The most recent disaster was Typhoon Nina which devastated the province last December 2016, during Christmastime.

Defining spirituality

The Bicol native spoke passionately about how typhoons impacted communities in her hometown. Image: INQUIRER.net/Nia V. Guno

Rajinterviewed 17 fisherfolk, both men and women, and did two focus group discussions. It helped that she was from the area as they were able to share their experiences in the Bicolano tongue.

She shares that her major, major findings (her joke) surprised her, as she didnt expect that there would be a difference between the way men and women viewed spirituality.

Because spirituality has no direct translation in the local language, one of the ways she strived to get a definition was to ask for their source of strength.

For men, they would instantaneously say family. They also said the Lord or my own strength and capabilities, revealsRaj. Women on the other hand linked their strength first to God, and second to family.

Their learnings post-disaster also varied: The men would say, we always have to be prepared. If something happens to you or your family, get back up again and continue with your life.

But women would always say, I learned in this situation that you should always put the Lord first. Love other people, love your neighbor and then really strive for your family, shares Raj.

From these firsthand interviews, she defined spirituality in their context as about relationships. Its my vertical and horizontal relationship with other people. Its my relationship with God and relationship with other people, my neighbors.

Inspiring collaboration throughspirituality

In terms of disaster resilience, she proposed tapping into spirituality to build resilient communities, as this appeared to be the key to compassion and eventually, moving them to action as one.

Spirituality can be that flame in their hearts that will inspire them to collaborate and work with other people towards a common goal, which is disaster resilience, she explains.

The MA in Community Development graduate says that spirituality should be included in disaster risk reduction management for more people to be involved. Image: INQUIRER.net/Nia V. Guno

Its significant because values like love, compassion, reduces discrimination and allows them to look beyond their situation.Hindi na tayo kanya-kanya. Magkakasama tayo rito(We are no longer individuals. We are all in this together.).

She adds, When people are inspired to serve, its easier to organize them. And when they are organized, its easier to serve other people.

Spirituality helpsbuild back better

She also emphasizes the importance of spirituality in disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) handled by the local government and those involved in community development.

Spirituality is also an approach and a strategy to build back better, says Raj. Since the respondents recognize the value of it in their lives, it would be worth considering cultivating and developing its strength and potential in DRRM.

One of these is how fast a community can recover from a disaster. In DRRM, spirituality promotes faster rehabilitation in coping up when people are emotionally stable and spiritually strong. If they know I can do this, I have hope, I can overcome this situation, its easier to promote faster rehabilitation, she explains.

Raj laments that there have been no professional psychosocial interventions in her province after hazards hit them. After every typhoonprobably this is just in my town, in our provincethere was never really a time that I remember that someone came to us and said, Kamusta po kayo?(How are you?)So how do you feel now?Walang ganun akong na-experience(I never experienced something like that.).

She witnessed how this affected her fellow Bicolanos: When I did my data gathering, they were really telling stories naminsan, andami nang oras na kinain(sometimes, so much time was taken up).They wanted to share their stories with other people. And you can tell its still fresh, some of them would cry,parangmay painpa din talaga(there is still so much pain) that you know they were not able to share with any other people, she explains.

Including spirituality in disaster resilience plans

She hopes that disaster risk reduction management could be better understood by the fisherfolk who tend to ignore typhoon warnings. In my town, they dont understand when [the government] says, Its signal no. 5. They just think, Oh, its just the same as the last typhoon, and they dont go to the evacuation center.

To encourage people to take part in disaster resilience programs, the local government and social workers need to tap into the importance people put into relationships: I feel if a project is relationship-based, if you have that relationship with your neighbors, I think thatmagagamit natin siya(its something we can use)instead of imposing on them.

Given that spirituality resounds strongly among members of a community, receiving input from faith-based organizations may help in planning for DRRM. Probably [the local government] can find an audience in the faith-based organization and present their plans to get suggestions on the spiritual side, she explains.

The Bicolana plans to give a copy of her work to the local government and present it to them. However, she wouldnt force them to use it, even if she views the findings as important to the community. Wala pa ako salevelnareally pushing something to be part of a policy,pero sana, sana, if they feel that its really importantand I feel that its importantsana(hopefully) they would use it.

Raj with Dr. Emma Porio, chairperson of Ateneo de Manila Universitys Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and attendees of Rajs lecture. Image: INQUIRER.net/Nia V. Guno

Raj finished her MA in Community Development at the University of the Philippines Diliman. The lecture is part of a class with Dr. Emma Porio under Ateneo de Manila Universitys Asian Peacebuilders Scholarship. JB

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Christian tattooer fights stereotypes, criticism from both directions – East Valley Tribune

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Matt Geiogamah has tattoos on the knuckles of his right and left hand that spell out PRAY HARD.

That he does, as owner of Salt & Light Tattoo in Chandler and founder of theAlliance of Christian Tattooers.

His manner is peaceful and his words are peppered with Bible references. He said hes called to live his life that way as a follower of Christ and as a tattoo artist.

But that doesnt mean its a smooth road.

Oh my goodness, all the controversies, Geiogamah said.

There are two different sides. Theres a non-believing tattoo community and their perception of Christians. And I have received a lot of criticism inside the church over tattoos.

We get judgmental letters fromChristians, saying Youre going to hell.

His response?

I know a lot of Christians who have dedicated their tattoos to God. Theyre not dishonoring Him, but dedicated to glorifying God.

There are Christians that are adamantly against it, not encouraging at all. But as a follower of Jesus, its not what goes into you, or on you. Its what comes out of you. Jesus said that.

The Chandler native has been an artist for a long time, working in mediums such as charcoal, oil, watercolor and photography. He has been tattooing since 2001. He had a tattooing apprenticeship in high school, then dropped out to finish the apprenticeship.

I wasnt going to graduate anyway, he confessed.

In 2013, Geiogamah set a Guinness World Record with the most tattoos created on the most people by a single artist in a 24-hour period. He inked 821 people.

All proceeds from the event were donated to Streetlight USA to help stop child sex slavery.

Geiogamah says hes been a believer for 9 or 10 years. He attends CentralChristian Church in Gilbert.

I grew up outside the church and outside the influence of the church, he said. I didnt talk about God. I was an agnostic.

He went through what he said was a lot of drug and alcohol abuse. He said hesuffered depression and anxiety in his early teens.

Hes not afraid of talking about histroubles,including his recovery from alcoholism.

Its a pretty common story,Geiogamah said.

On New Years Day 2017, he posted a reflection on his struggle with alcohol on Facebook.

Im sitting in church right now grateful that God has delivered me from the bondage alcohol had me in. I am not saying alcohol is evil but I am saying there is a reason the Bible tells us not to get drunk. Its not good for us, it only leads to trouble and despair.

God wants better for us becauseHe loves us.

Now at 33, he has made Christ the center of his life. He and his wifeNatilie live in Mesa and have a son, Isaiah, 2. Geiogamahs Chandler shop at 1989 W. Elliot Road, Suite 9, has been open 5 years. He knows his shop isnt a typical tattoo place.

The majority (of shops) are not Christian. That was my goal, to bring a Christian presence in a shop. But also to welcome all non-believing clients, to be a positive influence and example.

On the one hand, I want to advance the Christian community, but I dont want to scare anybody else away. Its a two-edged sword. I dont want people to not feel welcomed.

However, Geiogamah places a limit on what he images will create, based on his faith.

According to the Salt & Light website:

We do not do any tattoos involving racism, gang affiliation, false gods,astrology, witchcraft, or any religious beliefs or practices that go against the teachings and followings of Jesus Christ. We love all people but are forbidden, because of our own religious beliefs, to create certain images. We thank you for understanding.

He elaborates: We arent saying you cant do it or shouldnt do it, just not with us.

There are other challenges for him. He acknowledges it could be a struggle tattooing women who are partially dressed.

I have to keep holy in mind, not let it get the best of me, he said.

I look it at it like a doctor. You do your work, thats it.

He said his wife understands his situation.

My wifes cool because shes a massage therapist. Its a very similar situation dealing with half-unclothed people.

It takes a level of trust, he said. We have a strong view of Biblical marriage.

After leaving tattooing for a while, he came back with a renewed sense of purpose.

I wanted to be a light, to bring other Christian tattooers together, he said.

At the time, I knew one otherChristian tattooer. I invited him over, with no plan. Before I knew it, five others joined us.

Thus, the Alliance of Christian Tattooers was born in September 2011.

We draw, paint, talk about God.

We want to be a positive influence, Geiogamah said. Once we put it on social media, it spread all over the U.S., and the world.

The group meets every Wednesday night for prayer, fellowship and Bible study. It also puts on charity events to raise money for various causes.

In the meantime, Geiogamah hopesfellow Christians can move past the criticism to support him and others like him.

We could be doing a lot better things with our time than bickering, he said.

Information: Salt & Light Tattoo: 480-621-8819, saltandlighttattoo.com. Alliance of Christian Tattooers: allianceofchristiantattooers@gmail.com, allianceofchristiantattooers.com.

Contact Ralph Zubiate at 480-898-6825 or rzubiate@timespublications.com.

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Christian tattooer fights stereotypes, criticism from both directions - East Valley Tribune

Jupiter images thrill, inspire public participation – Spaceflight Now

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STORY WRITTEN FORCBS NEWS& USED WITH PERMISSION

Processing images from the camera aboard NASAs Juno spacecraft orbiting Jupiter has turned into a cottage industry of sorts, as rank amateurs, accomplished artists and experienced researchers turn relatively drab raw images into shots ranging from whimsical to spectacular and everything in between.

The question is, how accurately do they reflect reality, and is there any way for the casual observer to judge the result?

Unlike other NASA spacecraft, the JunoCam imager aboard the Juno spacecraft was added to the mission primarily for public outreach. Its pictures have no bearing on the missions scientific objectives, which rely on a suite of eight other instruments to study Jupiters interior structure, its gravity and magnetic fields and its immediate environment.

JunoCams images are only lightly processed by the cameras builder Malin Space Science Systems of San Diego and immediately posted on line. What happens after that is up to the public.

Once its in their hands, we have no control, nor do we want to exert any, over what they do with the data, said Candy Hansen, a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute and the JunoCam instrument lead. So we have gotten everything from careful scientific-type processing to incredibly whimsical works of art. So its a little bit, for you, a buyer-beware situation.

Even so, she said, were all in, in the sense that I dont have a team of scientists and image processors waiting in the wings in case the public doesnt show up. We dont have a budget, we dont have staff or anything like that. So we are entirely, 100 percent, relying on the public. And some of them have done fabulous work.

Juno is the first spacecraft to be sent into an orbit around Jupiters poles, and JunoCam was designed primarily to capture detailed images of the planets heretofore unseen polar regions.

Because of weight, volume and power restrictions, the spacecraft could not support an advanced telescopic camera. Instead, it was equipped with a relatively simple imager with what amounts to a fish-eye lens. Malin Space Science Systems provided a similar camera to photograph the Curiosity rovers descent to Mars.

While JunoCam is not as powerful as the sophisticated telescopes and sensors launched aboard other NASA probes, Junos elliptical orbit carries it closer to Jupiter than any other spacecraft, within a few thousand miles of the giant planets cloud tops. As a result, JunoCams wide-angle views provide exceptional detail and more context than more powerful narrow-angle instruments.

But how realistic are the publics interpretations of JunoCam images? With other NASA spacecraft, the viewer can have confidence the photos were processed and reviewed by scientifically competent team members and that the images reflect some sort of scientific reality.

With public processing, as Hansen said, its more a case of buyer beware, and the relatively bland raw images lend themselves to Photoshop-type manipulation. To Hansen, the line between a scientifically accurate image and one that takes liberties with the data is the minute you depart from true color.

The minute you start making the blue a little bluer and the red a little redder, now youve enhanced the color. And when you really go to the sort of wild ends of the color palette, then I would call it exaggerated. If youre just plain making up things, then its false color.

So should viewers wanting to learn more about Jupiter prefer realistic lighting and color to enhanced or exaggerated images?

Let me argue against that, she said. Our human eye-brain combination is better at seeing details that are there when you exaggerate it a bit, when you enhance it a bit. The details, you can see (them) if you know what youre looking for in the true color images. But its so subtle, its really, like, washed out. I would say we learn a lot by looking at enhanced color images because it pops more to the eye-brain combo.

Raw images from JunoCam are posted on a website Hansen helps manage. Each raw image includes the same view shot in green, blue and red filters and then a slightly processed color view that is a combination of all three. The public can download those images, process them in a wide variety of ways and upload the results back to the website.

As long as the processed images relate to Jupiter, and dont contain unrelated or objectionable material, they are re-posted and available for anyone to download. All are in the public domain, although uploaders can opt to restrict commercial usage.

Hansen cited several processors for their work, including Bjrn Jnsson, who she said goes to great lengths to ensure realistic lighting and color, and Sen Doran, a graphic artist whose enhanced images are incredibly beautiful, they are drop-dead gorgeous.

Gerald Eichstdt, a mathematician and software developer, devised code to ensure uniform lighting across an image, Hansen said, adding Im urging him to write up an actual science paper and get some credit for all that work, at least in the scientific community.

In an email exchange with CBS News, Doran said his images are based on Eichstdts work, adding my aim is to provide an aesthetic enhancement to what he has done.

I use a range of techniques in Photoshop to extract detail and enhance subtleties in the source image, he wrote. This can develop into quite a large set of actions and layers each with different non-destructive adjustments and masks. These layers are treated with various blend modes to provide finer control in mixing toward the final image.

I also use exposure settings to draw the eye and give volume to the image. Knowing when to stop is intuitive, and in some cases I will scrap what I have done and start again.

He said he was inspired by the work of Jnsson and Justin Cowart, whose images provide realistic renderings of Jupiter. Their work is beautiful.

Last Monday, Juno flew over Jupiters Great Red Spot for the first time, a highly anticipated event. The Great Red Spot is the largest, most powerful storm in the solar system, stretching more than 10,000 miles across. Within minutes of the first raw images being posted, image processors around the world began uploading their interpretations.

People must have been just sitting there waiting with Photoshop open! Hansen laughed. Within 45 minutes, I already had a queue to approve. This has really been fun.

Said Doran: We are only at the start of coming to grips with this data, and in time I expect to see very many beautiful and harmonious treatments.

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NASA releases New Horizons flyover video – SpaceFlight Insider

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This new, detailed global mosaic color map of Pluto is based on a series of three color filter images obtained by the Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera aboard New Horizons during the NASA spacecrafts close flyby of Pluto in July 2015. The mosaic shows how Plutos large-scale color patterns extend beyond the hemisphere facing New Horizons at closest approach, which were imaged at the highest resolution. North is up; Plutos equator roughly bisects the band of dark red terrains running across the lower third of the map. Plutos giant, informally named Sputnik Planitia glacier the left half of Plutos signature heart feature is at the center of this map. Note: Click on the image to view in the highest resolution. Image & Caption Credit: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI

Using actual New Horizons data and digital elevation models of Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, mission scientists have created flyover movies that offer spectacular new perspectives of the many unusual features that were discovered and which have reshaped our views of the Pluto system from a vantage point even closer than the spacecraft itself.

This dramatic Pluto flyover begins over the highlands to the southwest of the great expanse of nitrogen ice plain informally named Sputnik Planitia. The viewer first passes over the western margin of Sputnik, where it borders the dark, cratered terrain of Cthulhu Macula, with the blocky mountain ranges located within the plains seen on the right. The tour moves north past the rugged and fractured highlands of Voyager Terra and then turns southward over Pioneer Terra which exhibits deep and wide pits before concluding over the bladed terrain of Tartarus Dorsa in the far east of the encounter hemisphere.

Digital mapping and rendering were performed by Paul Schenk and John Blackwell of the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston.

Video courtesy of NASA

Tagged: Charon Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA New Horizons Pluto The Range

Formed in 1958, NASA is one of the preeminent space agencies currently in operation, is the only organization to land astronauts on the surface of the Moon, to carry out extended missions on the planet Mars and more.

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Norway Successfully Launches Microsatellites built by Toronto’s Space Flight Laboratory – Marketwired (press release)

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TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - July 14, 2017) - The Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) announced today the successful launch of two Norwegian microsatellites developed and built by SFL for the Norwegian Space Centre with support from the Norwegian Coastal Authority, Space Norway, and the European Space Agency. The Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying the satellites into orbit launched from Baikonur at 06:36:49 UTC Friday 14 July 2017.

Shortly after launch both satellites were contacted from ground stations in Svalbard and Vardo, Norway. Both satellites are healthy based on initial telemetry, and commissioning is underway.

The first satellite, dubbed NORsat-1 carries a state-of-the-art Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver to acquire messages from maritime vessels, a set of Langmuir probes to study space plasma characteristics, and a Compact Lightweight Absolute Radiometer (CLARA) to measure total solar irradiation and variations over time. The payloads were provided by Kongsberg Seatex, the University of Oslo and the Physikalisch-Meterologisches Observatorium Davos World Radiation Center.

The satellite is approximately 15 kilograms with main body dimensions of 20x30x40cm. NORsat-1 utilizes SFL's Next-generation Earth Monitoring and Observation (NEMO) platform, and will serve the Norwegian Coastal Authority in monitoring maritime traffic while also performing ground breaking science.

The second satellite, NORsat-2 also carries an AIS receiver, but in addition has a VHF Data Exchange (VDE) payload that will enable higher bandwidth two-way communication with ships. Both payloads were provided by Kongsberg Seatex. NORsat-2 will be the first satellite to provide VDE services to Norway. Adding VDE enables increased messaging capacity, better reliability of message delivery, and increased range of ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship communication beyond direct line of sight.

SFL's NEMO platform was used for NORsat-2, and the satellite was integrated in Toronto along with NORsat-1. The relatively large deployable Yagi antenna for the VDE payload was developed by SFL in collaboration with the University of Toronto's Electromagnetics Group.

About Space Flight Laboratory (SFL)

SFL builds big performance into smaller, lower cost satellites. Small satellites built by SFL consistently push the performance envelope and disrupt the traditional cost paradigm. Satellites are built with advanced power systems, stringent attitude control and high-volume data capacity that are striking relative to the budget. SFL arranges launches globally and maintains a mission control center accessing ground stations worldwide. The pioneering and barrier breaking work of SFL is a key enabler to tomorrow's cost aggressive satellite constellations. (www.utias-sfl.net)

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Norway Successfully Launches Microsatellites built by Toronto's Space Flight Laboratory - Marketwired (press release)

New Research Uses Satellites to Predict End of Volcanic Eruptions – Maui Now

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Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Mnoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology recently discovered that infrared satellite data could be used to predict when lava flow-forming eruptions will end.

Mt. Etna from Space. Credit: NASA & US/Japan ASTER Science Team.

Using NASA satellite data, Estelle Bonny, a graduate student in the SOEST Department of Geology and Geophysics, and her mentor, Hawaii Institute for Geophysics and Planetology researcher Robert Wright, tested a hypothesis first published in 1981 that detailed how lava flow rate changes during a typical effusive volcanic eruption. The model predicted that once a lava flow-forming eruption begins, the rate at which lava exits the vent quickly rises to a peak and then reduces to zero over a much longer period of timewhen the rate reaches zero, the eruption has ended.

HIGP faculty developed a system that uses infrared measurements made by NASAs MODIS sensors to detect and measure the heat emissions from erupting volcanoesheat is used to retrieve the rate of lava flow.

The system has been monitoring every square kilometer of Earths surface up to four times per day, every day, since 2000, said Bonny. During that time, we have detected eruptions at more than 100 different volcanoes around the globe. The database for this project contains 104 lava flow-forming eruptions from 34 volcanoes with which we could test this hypothesis.

Once peak flow was reached, the researchers determined where the volcano was along the predicted curve of decreasing flow and therefore predict when the eruption will end. While the model has been around for decades, this is the first time satellite data was used with it to test how useful this approach is for predicting the end of an effusive eruption. The test was successful.

Being able to predict the end of a lava flow-forming eruption is really important, because it will greatly reduce the disturbance caused to those affected by the eruption, for example, those who live close to the volcano and have been evacuated, said Bonny.

This study is potentially relevant for the Hawaii island and its active volcanoes, said Wright. A future eruption of Mauna Loa may be expected to display the kind of pattern of lava discharge rate that would allow us to use this method to try to predict the end of eruption from space.

In the future, the researchers plan to use this approach during an ongoing eruption as a near-real time predictive tool.

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NASA Just Spotted A Hole In The Sun. And It’s Enormous. – Wall Street Pit

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NASA Just Spotted A Hole In The Sun. And Its Enormous.

NASA scientists at the Solar Dynamics Observatory first discovered the hole on July 5 as it rotated into view. Called AR2665, it is apparently the first sunspot to have appeared after the sun was spotless for a couple of days. It is also growing rather quickly and is the only sunspot group visible at the time it was observed. A week later, the spot seems to have lingered. And that might spell trouble for us here on Earth.

Sunspots are caused by interactions with the suns magnetic field and appear as dark regions on the suns surface. These spots are cooler and usually appear in areas where magnetic activity is intense. Once that energy is released, huge solar storms and solar flares tend to erupt from them.

On the positive side, solar storms could create dazzling auroras all over the world. On the down side, a huge storm could disrupt power grid operations, so much so that it can sometimes cause blackouts in some locations.

Solar flares can be even more dangerous as they can heat the Earths outer atmosphere, causing it to expand. This in turn increases the drag on Earth-orbiting satellites, reducing their lifetime in orbit. Although solar flares cant physically affect us here on Earth because were protected by our magnetic field, the super-intense ones could interfere with it, threaten aircraft in the surrounding areas, produce radiation storms, and affect GPS and communication signals. And just like solar storms, solar flares could also mess up electricity grids, knock off electric power, and even cause radio blackouts.

The sunspot discovered by NASA is 74,560 miles wide; thats bigger than the Earths diameter and with a good enough telescope, you might be able to see it.

NASA believes that at that size, AR2665 can no doubt produce big enough flares that can cause radio and power interruptions on our planet. They are also quick to point out, though, that at this point, its really too early to predict what the sunspot can actually do and how it will behave.

That said, sunspots are not really an uncommon occurrence. They just happen to be less frequent as we head towards what is referred to as solar minimum a period during the suns 11-year cycle when solar activity is low. According to scientists, the next solar minimum is not expected until 2021.

Because they typically appear in areas with intense magnetic activity, scientists have taken to using the number of sunspots present as a basis for solar activity. More sunspots mean more intense solar activity. Fewer sunspots mean less solar activity.

This latest sunspot discovered is significant because of its sheer size and the fact that it is directly facing the Earth. While NASA did say its too early to tell whether the sunspot will affect our planet in some way, according to Mail Online, NOAA forecasters are also saying that theres a 25% chance of M-class flares erupting from it. If they turn out to be correct, the worst that can happen as a result of M-class solar flares are radiation storms and communication signal interruption.

Heres a video of the sunspot obtained by Metro.co.uk.

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NASA Just Spotted A Hole In The Sun. And It's Enormous. - Wall Street Pit

NASA to draw up plans for next robotic missions to Mars – The Space Reporter

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In response to a Congressional request, NASA is drawing up plans for the next generation of robotic missions to Mars, which will be presented in August at the National Academies committee review.

While the Mars 2020 rover is currently under construction at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, there are no plans beyond it for Mars exploration.

On July 10, the agencys Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) agreed to create and deliver a plan for future robotic missions to roam on the Martian surface, drill into its soil, and even descend into surface pits.

Michael Meyer, who leads NASAs Mars Exploration Program, said upcoming missions will concentrate on collecting Martian rocks and soil.

It is in August when the committee meets that theyll hear a coherent Mars architecture for what we hope to do for sample return and potentially other missions associated with that. Were on the hook to present something because this is actually something that Congress has asked for in their appropriations, he reported.

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory planetary geologist Jeff Johnson expressed concern that the rovers currently exploring Mars are getting old and run down.

Curiosity, which has been exploring the Red Planet since 2012, has had its wheels punctured from driving along rough terrain. Opportunity, designed to last three months, has been traversing the Martian surface since 2004.

Orbiting between 160 and 200 miles above Mars surface, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter takes detailed images of surface features such as dried up lake beds and also communicates information between Earth and Mars.

NASA hopes to have a new orbiter circling the Red Planet by 2022.

On the surface, Mars 2020 will use its robotic arm to collect and store rocks for future return to Earth. How the return will be done has not yet been determined and will require Congressional funding far beyond the $2.9 million allocated in the proposed 2018 budget for robotic exploration of the Red Planet.

The problem here is things look good because we have so many missions there from past investments, commented Casey Dreier, who directs space policy for the independent Planetary Society.

Its much harder to point out that were not making the investments now to set up the program we want for the next decade.

The plan to be submitted in August deals solely with robotic exploration and does not address NASAs goal of sending astronauts to Mars sometime during the 2030s.

Laurel Kornfeld is a freelance writer and amateur astronomer from Highland Park, NJ, who enjoys writing about astronomy and planetary science. She studied journalism at Douglass College, Rutgers University, and earned a Graduate Certificate of Science in astronomy from Swinburne Universitys Astronomy Online program.

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NASA to draw up plans for next robotic missions to Mars - The Space Reporter

NASA Can’t Afford to Put Humans on Mars – Newsweek

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Colonizing Mars has long captivated the human imagination, and NASA is no exception.

The American space agency has made landing humans on Mars a high priority of its exploration programs and under bipartisan 2010 legislation pledged to develop the capabilities to send humans to the planet bythe 2030s.

But there remains a major problem standing between mankind and the red planet: money.

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The head of NASAs program on human exploration of space, William Gerstenmaier, said on Wednesday that with its current budgetthe agency simply cannot afford the cost of propelling a manned spacecraft to Mars.

This image released August 27, 2003 captured by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope shows a close-up of the red planet Mars when it was just 34,648,840 miles (55,760,220 km) away. NASA/Getty

Through this horizon, through the 2030s, I cant put a date on humans on Mars, said Gerstenmaier on Wednesday, in response to a question at a propulsion meeting of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics in Georgia.

Read more:Skintight space suits are the order of the day for astronauts who hope to survive life on Mars

At the budget levels weve describedits roughly a 2 percent increasewe dont have the surface systems available for Mars. That entry, descent and landing is a huge challenge for us for Mars.

NASA has landed several unmanned exploratory vehicles on Mars in the past. The Curiosity rover, which landed on Marsh in August 2012 and will soon be celebrating its five-year anniversary exploring the planet, cost around $2.5 billion.

This handout provided by NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS on January 1, 2015, shows a self-portrait of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows the vehicle at the 'Mojave' site, where its drill collected the mission's second taste of Mount Sharp. NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS via Getty

Gerstenmaier said that a manned mission to Mars would weigh around twenty times what previous rovers have weighed. So its a twenty-fold increase in capability, he said, likely meaning a much higher cost.

Lawmakers allocated NASA a budget of $19.5 billion for the 2017 fiscal year, which equates to less than half a percent of the overall federal budget.

The agency has not produced a specific figure of the cost of a manned mission to Mars, and estimates vary depending on sources. In 2012, the head of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Brent Sherwood, estimated that the project could cost up to $100 billion over the course of 30 or 40 years. More recently, Pascal Lee, the director of the Mars Institutea nonprofit research group funded partially by NASA and based at a NASA research center in Silicon Valleysaid in May that a human mission to Mars could cost up to $1 trillion over 25 years.

Private organizations that are working on their own missions to Mars have estimated lower costs. Mars One, a Dutch-Swiss organization aiming to establish a permanent settlement on Mars, aims to bring four people to Mars at a cost of $6 billion. SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who has said he wants to send humans to Mars in the early 2020s, put the cost at $10 billion per person in 2016.

Landing on Mars poses numerous threats to a manned mission. The spacecraft must angle its entry into the Martian atmosphere correctly: If it is too steep, the craft may burn up, and if too shallow the craft may miss the planet altogether. Astronauts must use reverse thrusters and parachutes to slow the spacecraft down so that it is not destroyed upon impact with the surface. The craft must also locate a safe landing surface on the rugged terrain of Mars, parts of which arepeppered with gigantic craters.

And while research has shown that liquid water once flowed on Mars, a recent study found that the soil is toxic to bacteria one of the simplest forms of living organismsand thus may also pose problems for sustaining human life.

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NASA Can't Afford to Put Humans on Mars - Newsweek

Nanomedicine Opens Door to Precision Medicine for Brain Tumors – Northwestern University NewsCenter

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The new therapeutic strategy involves injecting lipid polymer-based nanoparticles into glioblastoma brain tumors. The nanoparticle platform delivers molecules to the tumors that shut down key cancer drivers called brain tumor-initiating cells.

Early phase Northwestern Medicine research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has demonstrated a potential new therapeutic strategy for treating deadly glioblastoma brain tumors.

The strategy involves using lipid polymer-based nanoparticles to deliver molecules to the tumors, where the molecules shut down key cancer drivers called brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs).

BTICs are malignant brain tumor populations that underlie the therapy resistance, recurrence and unstoppable invasion commonly encountered by glioblastoma patients after the standard treatment regimen of surgical resection, radiation and chemotherapy, explained the studys first author, Dou Yu, MD, PhD, research assistant professor of Neurological Surgery.

Using mouse models of brain tumors implanted with BTICs derived from human patients, the scientists injected nanoparticles containing small interfering RNA (siRNA) short sequences of RNA molecules that reduce the expression of specific cancer-promoting proteins directly into the tumor. In the new study, the strategy stopped tumor growth and extended survival when the therapy was administered continuously through an implanted drug infusion pump.

This major progress, although still at a conceptual stage, underscores a new direction in the pursuit of a cure for one of the most devastating medical conditions known to mankind, said Yu, who collaborated on the research with principal investigatorMaciej Lesniak, MD, Michael J. Marchese Professor of Neurosurgery and chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery.

Maciej Lesniak, MD, Michael J. Marchese Professor of Neurosurgery and chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery, and Dou Yu, MD, PhD, research assistant professor of Neurological Surgery, were the senior and first authors of the new paper.

Glioblastoma is particularly difficult to treat because its genetic makeup varies from patient to patient. This new therapeutic approach would make it possible to deliver siRNAs to target multiple cancer-causing gene products simultaneously in a particular patients tumor.

In this study, the scientists tested siRNAs that target four transcription factors highly expressed in many glioblastoma tissues but not all. The therapy worked against classes of glioblastoma BTICs with high levels of those transcription factors, while other classes of the cancer did not respond.

This paints a picture for personalized glioblastoma therapy regimens based on tumor profiling, Yu said. Customized nanomedicine could target the unique genetic signatures in any specific patient and potentially lead to greater therapeutic benefits.

The strategy could also apply to other medical conditions related to the central nervous system not just brain tumors.

Degenerative neurological diseases or even psychiatric conditions could potentially be the therapeutic candidates for this multiplexed delivery platform, Yu said.

Before scientists can translate this proof-of-concept research to humans, they will need to continue refining the nanomedicine platform and evaluating its long-term safety. Still, the findings from this new research provide insight for further investigation.

Nanomedicine provides a unique opportunity to advance a therapeutic strategy for a disease without a cure. By effectively targeting brain tumor-initiating stem cells responsible for cancer recurrence, this approach opens up novel translational approaches to malignant brain cancer, Lesniak summed up.

Yu and Lesniak, both members of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, collaborated on this research with scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Northwesterns McCormick School of Engineering.

This study was supported by the National Institutes of Healths National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator Award R35CA197725, a Burroughs Wellcome Collaborative Travel Grant, an Elsa U. Pardee Foundation grant, and a Northwestern University I3 Pilot Grant.

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Nanomedicine Opens Door to Precision Medicine for Brain Tumors - Northwestern University NewsCenter

MU School of Medicine, Indian pharmaceutical company partnering for new holistic medicine treatments – Hannibal.net

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Ayurvedic medicine (also called Ayurveda) is one of the worlds oldest medical systems. Originating in India more than 5,000 years ago, this holistic medicine system uses herbal compounds, special diets and other health care practices to augment conventional preventative and disease treatments.

Ayurvedic medicine (also called Ayurveda) is one of the worlds oldest medical systems. Originating in India more than 5,000 years ago, this holistic medicine system uses herbal compounds, special diets and other health care practices to augment conventional preventative and disease treatments.

Now, Kattesh Katti, a researcher at the University of Missouri, has developed a non-toxic delivery method using gold nanoparticles that may revolutionize Ayurveda. His technique for producing the nanoparticles recently was licensed by Dhanvantari Nano Ayushadi (DNA), a company based in Tamil Nadu, India.

Ayurveda uses combinations of chemicals derived from natural herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables in combination with various metals including gold, silver and copper. Together, the chemicals and metals are aimed at treating various disorders. Traditional medicine, such as Ayurveda is used by 65 to 80 percent of the worlds population as their primary form of health care, the World Health Organization estimates.

In the past, metals predominantly used in holistic medicine have been crushed and burned; caregivers grind the ash with herbs to produce an ingestible treatment, said Katti, Curators Distinguished Professor of Radiology and Physics in the MU School of Medicine and the College of Arts and Science and senior research scientist at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR). However, the ways in which those metals are procured often involve mercury; other toxic means to extract the gold or other alloys can be deadly if ingested in the wrong amounts. The gold nanoparticle production methods use a green technology that effectively eliminates the toxicity associated with these treatments.

Katti and his team helped develop green nanotechnologies to produce phytonano medicines, which are compounds that form the basis for Indias Ayurvedic medicine. Scientists mix gold salts with cinnamon and stir the mixture with water to synthesize gold nanoparticles. These green therapies are less toxic to the body and could provide alternatives to current treatments for diseases including cancer, arthritis and diabetes.

The technology is patent pending and Kavita Katti, a senior research scientist at MU Radiology, recently demonstrated the production methods in the DNA labs in India, which has licensed the technology from Katti and the University of Missouri.

These successful production runs within the DNA premises and the efficient training of our personnel fully fulfill the requirements signed in our contract, said Abhaya Kumar Jain, CEO and president of DNA. We look forward to a long-term working and collaborative relationship with Dr. Katti and his team as we collectively advance the field of nano-Ayurvedic medicine to develop the next generation of health care products for the care and treatment of patients across the world.

We are therefore, excited to be the first company in the world to apply principles of green nanotechnology to validate Ayurvedic principles and bring nano-Ayurvedic products to market for the care and savings of human lives suffering from cancer and various diseases/disorders in the world, Jain said.

Research and product development using the green nanotechnology techniques developed in Kattis lab will continue at the facility in India. Using Indian Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) guidelines, DNA will continue to test formulations that could provide complementary therapies to chemotherapy, radiation and other traditional treatments, Katti said.

We are excited that two great minds, Mr. Abhaya Kumar Jain, a pioneer in the Indian pharmaceutical industry, and Professor Kattesh V Katti, globally recognized as the Father of green nanotechnology, have come together to bring nano-Ayurvedic Medicine technology to India, said Anantkumar Hegde, who is an elected member of the Indian Parliament. This is a marriage made in heaven because India and the world needed the intervention of green nanotechnology for the development of Ayurvedic products through scientifically rigorous methodologies.

The nano-Ayurvedic medicine approaches are built on rigorous scientifically validated methods, Katti said. I am excited to be a part of this important journey using nano-Ayurvedic medicine approaches for treating, healing and curing various diseases. I have always dreamed of helping humanity through my science, I can now see that I am able to use my interdisciplinary green nanotechnology approaches for the development of Ayurvedic products.

During the past five years, companies commercializing MU technologies have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in investments and grants to advance their commercialization efforts. In 2016, the Office of Technology Management and Industry Relations reported that Mizzou received $14.9 million in revenue from more than 40 technology licenses.

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MU School of Medicine, Indian pharmaceutical company partnering for new holistic medicine treatments - Hannibal.net

‘Smart glove’ can translate sign language – WND.com – WND.com

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(KPBS) UC San Diego researchers have designed a smart glove that can turn sign language into text that can be wirelessly transmitted to mobile devices, all for less than $100.

The glove is outfitted with sensors that stretch over the users knuckles, detecting the different gestures that represent letters of the American Sign Language alphabet. A small computer on the back of the glove is then able to take that information and transmit it via Bluetooth to a smartphone or laptop, where it is displayed as text.

We actually used just a sporting glove, like a golf glove, said UC San Diego nano-engineering PhD student Timothy OConnor, the first author on a new paper published Wednesday describing the glove.

OConnor said using cheap materials was important for demonstrating the real-world usefulness of this technology. For the stretch sensors, OConnor said, The material were using is printable, which makes it even more low-cost.

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'Smart glove' can translate sign language - WND.com - WND.com

KU’s ICCBS, Chinese institution sign MoU for collaboration – The News International

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The International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Beijing Institute of Genomics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, on Friday, an official announced.

As per the MoU, Chinese and Pakistani institutions aim to recognise their complementary strengths in the fields of life sciences, and wish to strengthen their relationship for the benefit of their students and researchers.

Both parties will endeavour to encourage, promote and facilitate collaboration. In particular, they have agreed to develop collaborative work by facilitating exchanges of academic staff and students, hosting the other partys academic staff and students as departmental visitors, fostering bioinformatics and big data union/network in Asia, exchanging relevant non-confidential publications, exploring opportunities for collaborating on funded research programmes, exchanging relevant non-confidential materials, subject to appropriate agreements, inviting the other party to attend conferences.

The MoU was signed by BIG-CAS Director Dr Yongbiao Xue and ICCBS Director Professor Dr M Iqbal Choudhary.

Earlier, a meeting was held at the Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, KU, in which the six-member Chinese delegation was welcomed by ICCBS acting director Professor Dr Shaiq Ali and other officials. Dr Changqing Zeng, Dr Songnian Hu, Dr Yiming Bao, Dr Zhang Zhang and Dr Jiayan Wu attended the meeting. Dr Yongbiao Xue and Prof Shaiq Ali discussed issues of mutual interest. They stressed the need to have mutual research work in the field of life sciences. Dr Hina Siddiqui of the ICCBS gave an introduction of the international centre in her presentation. The Chinese delegation visited the state-of-the art laboratories set up in the Jamil-ur- Rahman Centre for Genome Research, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, and the Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research.

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KU's ICCBS, Chinese institution sign MoU for collaboration - The News International

Trevor ES Smith | Your Relationship Is Settled But … – Jamaica Gleaner

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Your relationship has navigated dangerous curves, hit bumps, and fallen into a few pot holes, but the wheels are in tact, and there is a commitment to ride out the journey together.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the relationship. You might have points of disagreements, but nothing that is potentially disastrous. Yet, if you think about it, the magic may be missing. Some of the gloss has been removed.

You have worked hard at your relationship and invested heavily in it. In the same way that your financial ventures should work for you, investment in your relationship should offer benefits.

The sense of security is priceless. Peace of mind is something to be treasured. But there is clearly more. Get more!

There might be valid reasons why you can't physically relive some of the 'good times', but thank God for equipping us with a memory.

Sharing precious memories - ideally supported by photos and videos - in the company of family and friends can flicker the flames. The next generation are always interested in getting titbits about your experiences. Recapture the art of storytelling while putting new energy into your relationship.

One great idea is to capture the storytelling events on video for posterity. Tablets or smartphones can do the trick, and you can upload them to Vimeo or even a private YouTube channel. Don't be put off by the technology. There is a family member or neighbour who will sort that out.

Your job is to get your partner to sit with you and share memories on camera.

With the blessings of stability and peace of mind come the challenges of complacency and monotony. Over the years you follow familiar patterns, and one day feels like the next. Genuine excitement and curiosity are lost for the most part.

Routine have a way of extinguishing the flame. If that continues long enough, they become the new normal and you might not even be consciously aware of dying embers.

One solution is to disrupt the routine and re-energise your relationship. Take turns at coming up with something engaging and different. This need not be expensive or require a lot of effort. The objective is to disrupt the routine and inject feelings of expectancy and intrigue.

This can even be done indoors, although a change of environment is a good idea.

The truth is, we are plain tired. We work hard and juggle many interests, and that saps our energy. We just want to claim any leftover moments to collapse into our personal space and recharge our batteries.

That is understandable. However, the question still stands, why would you work so hard on an investment and not seek to draw on it?

Why would you have this treasured asset and ignore what it has to offer?

In order to re-energise your relationship, you need to find ways to unwind and set aside periods for joint relaxation.

Reconnecting through the pursuit of shared interests is a powerful, multidimensional solution. You get to unwind, share quality time together, improve communication and have fun. This works wonders for your health and state of mind as added benefits.

Your flirting muscles might have grown weak due to lack of use. Put them back in action to re-energise your relationship.

Change the way you dress and carry yourself in the home. Ballroom attire is not required, but you might accept that some of what you currently wear does not present you in the best light to this individual with whom you are flirting.

Corny pickup lines are not out of place and might generate laughter (good for your health and your relationship).

If you want to re-energise your relationship with immediate results and make it last go to: http://www.successwithpeople.org/how-to-bless-your-marriage/

- Trevor E.S. Smith has published two relationship books. He is a director of the Success with People Academy - A SHRM-preferred provider and home of the SHRM-accredited 3-D team leader certification: Leading difficult, dominant and diverse personalities.

The Success with People Academy team are world-leading implementers of personal behavioural DNA analyses and 360 surveys on the revolutionary FinxS platform from extended DISC.

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Trevor ES Smith | Your Relationship Is Settled But ... - Jamaica Gleaner

Glitch Creates Unintentional Extra Ending In Sci-Fi Steam Game – Kotaku

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Event 0 is a science fiction game that came out last year. Since release, players have discovered four different endings to the gamewhich is strange, because according to the designer, it only has three.

The emotional core of Event 0 rest between the player and an AI called Kaizen-85. Throughout the game, players get to know Kaizen by interacting at terminals and typing out questions, learning more and more about the games story. At the end of the game, players must decide whether or not to upload their consciousness to a computer. Theres only supposed to be three endings:

However, players found that if you treat Kaizen nice, dont upload your consciousness but also save an experimental engine that he wanted to destroy, Kaizen will begrudgingly turn the ship to Earth. Game designer Emmanuel Corno learned about this ending only after looking at the games Wikipedia page and was surprised.

The fourth ending shouldnt exist, according to Corno, but is the result of an unknown glitch in the game. Kaizen is supposed to always turn down the player if they disobey him and save the engines but something within the games code is faulty, creating an extra ending with a bit more nuance.

This is crazy, Corno told Kotaku. Kaizen isnt supposed to let anyone get back with the Singularity Drive to Earth. This is how we coded the AI. I have absolutely no idea how this happens.

Although the ending is the result of a glitch, it accidentally adds additional nuance to the player relationship with Kaizen and creates more consequences for their interactions. The AI planned by the developers to never forgive the players betrayal can actually do just that. The glitch generated discussion when the game released, with fans talking about what endings were the best. Many players were surprised by the ending since it goes against one of Kaizens main motivations.

It sounds bizarre, one player said. Kaizen has been hellbent on destroying that damn drive.

Ive never seen that happen ever, another said. He keeps on insisting that you destroy the drive.

The ending is real and you can watch it here. Even if it isnt what was intended, there are currently no plans to get rid of the glitch.

Now, I dont want to fix it. I love the idea that we made a game with an ending so secret we didnt know it by ourselves, Corno said. Even if it contradicts some golden rules of Kaizen, it also make it more human. People can change their mind. So does Kaizen.

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Glitch Creates Unintentional Extra Ending In Sci-Fi Steam Game - Kotaku