Commercial space travel could be ready as early as 2020 – New York Post

Intrepid travelers could fly to space from a UK space port as soon as 2020 under new laws.

Commercial flights for people willing to go to infinity and beyond could be available in just three years.

Space travel has long been a dream for people hoping to explore the area outside our planet.

Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic and Dutch-founded Xcor are among those that could take passengers up to the final frontier when services go live.

In Virgin Galactics plans, astronauts would cost $250,000 for the flight into the Earths atmosphere.

SpaceX is also offering trips to the International Space Station after it made history in 2012 when it became the first commercial spacecraft to deliver cargo to the space station.

Sunday night its Falcon 9 rocket launched on a mission to resupply the space station.

Under new powers unveiled this week, scientists will blast into space to conduct zero-gravity experiments in a bid to find cures for deadly bugs like MRSA and salmonella.

The laws allowing commercial flights to take off from UK space ports by 2020 will also permit researchers to carry out tests on potential new antibiotics in orbit.

The powers in the spaceflight bill will be revealed in Parliament this week.

It means a rocket spaceflight could take off from a space port in Britain before a new runway is built at Heathrow.

Science Minister Jo Johnson said the new powers would cement the UKs position as a world leader in an emerging market worth up to $26 billion (25 billion) over the next 20 years.

Space ports could be set up and satellites launched from regions across the UK under the plans.

Newquay in Cornwall; Llanbedr in Snowdonia; and three Scottish sites, Glasgow Prestwick, Campbeltown, and Stornaway in the Western Isles have all been shortlisted as potential space port sites.

Because of Britains position far from the equator, its likely space planes would take off from a horizontal runway rather than a rocket launch pad.

They will transport satellites up into orbit or take paying space tourists although its thought space tourism would only make up around 10 percent of the industry.

NASA scientists have been carrying out scientific research in space for the last five years.

This week US scientists sent the lethal MRSA bug up to the International Space Station for astronauts to study how the superbug becomes resistant to antibiotics.

Aviation Minister Lord Ahmad said the ambition was to launch a space flight from the UK as soon as possible.

He said: Our ambition is to allow for safe and competitive access to space from the UK, so we remain at the forefront of a new commercial space age.

Johnson added: From the launch of Rosetta, the first spacecraft to orbit a comet, to Tim Peakes six months on the International Space Station, the UKs space sector has achieved phenomenal things in orbit and beyond.

With this weeks spaceflight bill launch, we will cement the UKs position as a world leader in this emerging market, giving us an opportunity to build on existing strengths in research and innovation.

This article originally appeared on The Sun.

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Commercial space travel could be ready as early as 2020 - New York Post

Cosmic cinema: spurring interest in real-life space travel? – Miami Student

Open on a shot of some sun barely peeking over a planet. Pan camera to reveal a space station floating nearby. Cue vague narration.

Weve all seen this played out in some form or another in films, usually followed by a fantastical use of new technology and heart-pounding space peril. The final frontier has always been a muse for futuristic storytelling, and much of the same tropes have popped up time and time again an expedition to save the human race, a technological error turned life-threatening, an unwavering drive to return home.

The epic scale of outer space films has always been popular with audiences, although it has recently re-entered the cinema with a rush of movies involving space travel. Beginning around the release of Alfonso Cuarns groundbreaking Gravity in 2013, visually stunning space films have become commonplace on the list of highest-grossing movies. In fact, theyve become award-worthy. Christopher Nolans Interstellar won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, and Ridley Scotts The Martian snagged a Golden Globe for Best Comedic Motion Picture. Although not set in space, Denis Villeneuves extraterrestrial Arrival is a contender for Best Picture at this years Oscars.

Recent films taking place in outer space include Passengers, The Space Between Us and the forthcoming Life.

What makes the concept of space such a contender for a box office hit? Perhaps it is the idea of the unknown. Directors can do whatever they want in these films, because there are no rules for space. Having only traveled as far as the moon, humans have no idea of what life in space is truly like, so audiences are willing to accept whatever vision filmmakers dream up. They dismantle physics, redefine the concept of time and create impossible technology and audiences eat it up.

The ticket to success requires a certain balance of reality, however. Many space films are rooted in fact, providing just enough familiar content to convince audiences that the story being told could very well happen in real life. More often than not, technologies in these movies resembles existing technology on Earth, providing a link between what the viewer knows to be true and what they suspend their belief to accept as true. Its a delicate balance. The director doesnt want to make a film so saturated with the unknown that it isnt relatable, but they dont want to make a film thats too realistic and thus unenjoyable.

Theres a certain fascination of the unknown that seems to flow throughout our culture, especially when regarding outer space. What lies beyond our solar system? Does life exist beyond our Earth? Is long distance space travel even a possibility? Audiences want answers to these questions, and space films provide the answers.

Theres a reason audiences have to turn to movies for an idea of what space is like. Despite the appeal of space on the big screen, the percentage of federal funding to NASA has been slashed to nearly a tenth of what it was during the space boom of the 1960s. The notion of space travel has long since become unimportant, but this reemergence of space in the cinema might, for lack of a better term, be pointing out the gravity of the situation.

With the powerful impact films have in shaping society, we could potentially see an increase in funding in the future. In fact, as space films have taken off in recent years, funding for NASA in 2016 was the highest its been in a decade at $19.3 billion. With important films like this years Oscar-nominated Hidden Figures entering movie theaters, public opinion of space programs seems to be shifting to a more enthusiastic one.

Perhaps audiences are beginning to realize that the only way we could end up growing potatoes on Mars or experiencing time warps through multidimensional black holes is through support of long-neglected space programs. In other words, the unknown will only become real as long as we will it to.

As support grows, interest in space will grow, and more space films will continue to populate the cinema. If audiences can back multimillion-dollar films that depict fake space adventures, then surely they can get behind funding to make a trip to a galaxy far, far away a not-too-distant reality.

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Cosmic cinema: spurring interest in real-life space travel? - Miami Student

Jide Announces Remix Singularity: The Continuum Alternative for Android – XDA Developers (blog)


XDA Developers (blog)
Jide Announces Remix Singularity: The Continuum Alternative for Android
XDA Developers (blog)
On the Android side of things, Jide has just announced their own attempt at this converged desktop experience. Dubbed Remix Singularity, this approach is similar to Microsoft's Continuum but leverages Jide's own experience with Android as a desktop OS.
Jide's Remix Singularity OS will turn your Android phone into a PCAndroid Authority (blog)
Remix Singularity will let you use Android phones as desktop PCs ...Liliputing
Remix OS for Mobile turns your Android smartphone into a dockable PC [Video]9to5Google
Android Headlines -Android Police -YouTube
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Jide Announces Remix Singularity: The Continuum Alternative for Android - XDA Developers (blog)

Jide’s new OS is like an Android version of Windows 10’s Continuum – The Verge

Imagine if every Android smartphone could transform into a PC just by connecting a display, keyboard, and mouse. Its what Microsoft has been trying with Windows 10 and Continuum, and its the dream of Beijing-based startup Jide Technologies, which today announces a new version of its Android-based software, Remix OS, that will live on smartphones but be capable of powering Android-based PCs.

The feature is called Remix Singularity and the new operating system is Remix OS on Mobile (or ROM), and is scheduled for release in the second half of 2017. Speaking exclusively to The Verge, Jide co-founder David Ko explains the key concept. When running on a smartphone, ROM will be as close to stock Android as possible, says Ko. But imagine when you get back to your office or study, you connect your phone and it turns into a PC mode, just like a laptop or desktop.

Remix OS makes Android look and feel like a desktop operating system

The PC mode in question is Remix OS itself, which Jide has been working on for about three years and has had more than 4 million downloads in that time. It skins Android so the operating systems runs like a desktop environment, with features like floating windows, a start menu, and a task bar all controllable with a keyboard and mouse. You get all the usual apps, everything from Clash of Clans to Microsoft Word and Google Docs, but they are accessible in something that looks more like Windows than Android. Or, you can plug your phone into just a display and have it function like an Android-powered TV.

The big question is: why would anyone want this? Plenty of companies have tried to offer phones that double up as PCs, but none have been successful. Canonical tried it with their Convergence feature on Ubuntu; Asus tried it with their PadFone range back in the days of Android Ice Cream Sandwich; and (as previously mentioned) Microsoft is doing something more advanced with Windows 10 and Continuum. In each case, the final product has failed to take off (in fairness, Microsofts latest attempt hasnt really got going yet), because of a combination of underpowered hardware and missing software. So, why does Jide think Remix Singularity will be any different?

Ko says the companys approach has two big advantages: cost and the Android ecosystem itself. Like previous versions of Remix OS, ROM will be free to download, and will have access to all the regular Android apps (once youve side-loaded the Play Store more on that later), which should increase its appeal to users in developing markets where Android smartphones are the primary way to access the internet.

In the next five years, roughly five billion people will be coming online, says Ko. And when they come online, their number one choice will be the smartphone; an affordable smartphone, and that will be an Android. Ko says that if these users choose a ROM device, theyll get the benefit of a desktop computer thrown in for free, as and when they need it. If your phone can replace [your PC], its a huge saving, and has a big impact to productivity, says Ko. He imagines workers having a phone as their primary device, bringing it into the office with them, and connecting it to a large screen and keyboard in order to continue the work they started on their commute.

But as weve seen before, this setup isnt attractive in developed markets. Here, people have multiple computers and use cloud services to share files between them, which is easier than relying on an underpowered phone CPU to handle a Chrome browser groaning with tabs on your main display. Ko is right that factors like cost and familiarity with Android mean Remix OS on Mobile should have its own appeal, but its not clear if those will be big enough draws to reach a wide market.

One of the biggest challenges for Jide will simply be getting the software into consumers hands. The company is currently looking for OEM partners to sell phones that support Remix Singularity, and it does have experience in this area, having previously worked with Chinese companies to sell hardware like all-in-one PCs powered by Remix OS.

Making Remix OS on Mobile available to consumers will be Jides biggest challenge

Ko adds that users will also just be able to download ROM and install it themselves, but that seems like a big ask for the market Jide is targeting users coming online for the first time. And, theres another (minor) challenge here. Remix OS doesnt actually come with the Play Store preinstalled, meaning that to access the full Android ecosystem of apps, users have to side-load it themselves. Its not a big ask for the tech-savvy, but itll surely put off some users. Similarly, while Remix OS looks slick on the surface, its still prone to bugs and errors, and nobody likes an operating system that bellyflops into oblivion without warning.

These are some sizable caveats to weigh against Remix OS on Mobiles success, and theres always the nagging possibility that this is just another doomed attempt at making mobiles that double up as PCs. Will it go the distance? History says dont hold your breath, but Jide is hopeful.

With a scheduled release date of the second half of 2017, Remix Singularity is still very much a work in progress, but Ko says theres much to look forward to, and points to the development of Chrome OS to support Android apps as validation of the companys long-term plans. Jason Zheng, a marketing director at Jide, sums up the companys hopes. This is the culmination of the past three years of development, says Zheng. The freedom to not have to worry about carrying a laptop or tablet is a very powerful thing.

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Jide's new OS is like an Android version of Windows 10's Continuum - The Verge

St. Joseph Day Table to be held March 19 at Ascension Parish in Batavia – The Batavian

Ascension Parish in Batavia will host its annual Saint Joseph DayTable beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 19.

This year the event is open to the general public and the funds raised will be used for the ministry and outreach done by Ascension Parish on behalf of the community. According to its pastor, Fr. David R. Glassmire, theparishseeks to "give back to the community for the goodness the Lord has shown to us by caring for the poor in our midst."

The traditional Italian feast will be held in the parish's Slomba Hall, 15 Sumner St.Bings Catering of Amherst is in charge of the food. A seven-course meal will be served family style to include: antipasti, bread, fish, greens and beans, smelt, pasta con sarde, along with a cash bar and wine available for your table.A children's menu will include mac and cheese, pizza and finger foods.

Music and Entertainment by Steve Balestreri.

COST: $25 per adult, $12.50 per child.

Seating is limited!

HOW TO OBTAIN TICKETS:Call the Parish Office at 585-343-1796 to reserve your table; families and businesses welcome.

You may also Pre-pay and buy your tickets online at: http://www.ascensionrcc.weshareonline.com. Please note: There is a service fee for this option!

Tickets are pre-sale only. There will be NO SALES the day of the event or AT THE DOOR! Cash or Check ONLY. Make Checks Payable to:Ascension Parish.

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St. Joseph Day Table to be held March 19 at Ascension Parish in Batavia - The Batavian

Ascension’s Bill Summerhill honored as distinguished music administrator – Amarillo.com

Bill Summerhill, head of Amarillos Ascension Academy, has been selected as a distinguished administrator by the Texas Music Educators Association.

The Texas Music Educators Association Distinguished Administrator Award program recognizes school administrators who support music programs in schools across the state.

Summerhill was nominated by the Ascension Academy Music Department for his work establishing and growing the schools band.

The band started with just nine students and doubled in size.

When Dr. Summerhill took the helm at Ascension Academy, we had a small choir and an orchestra program, but no band, Ascension Academy music teacher Kellie Bartley said.

Over the next few months, he was so steadfast in the desire to form a band that he made several accomodations to the master schedule to fit in this new class at the only time I could be on campus to teach.

Asencion Academy also added a private lesson program and second section for advanced players.

The band has successfully competed in spring competitions and placed students in middle and high school region bands.

It performs annually as a full orchestra for Christmas programs and spring graduation.

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Ascension's Bill Summerhill honored as distinguished music administrator - Amarillo.com

Baton Rouge construction firm owner back in custody on fraud allegations – The Advocate

The owner of a Baton Rouge construction company accused committing post-flood contractor fraud in Ascension Parish was back in jail in East Baton Rouge Parish for allegedly ripping off a 67-year-old woman in a storm repair deal back in 2014.

Matthew Morris, who'd been released from jail in Ascension Parish on $635,000 bail on Feb. 10, was arrested at his home Tuesday morning by a team lead by State Police, said Sgt. L'Jean McKneely, a Baton Rouge police spokesman.

Morris, the owner of Complete Construction Contractors, is accused of defrauding more than a dozen Ascension Parish flood victims and is also wanted in at least eight additional cases in Livingston and St. John the Baptist parishes.

Morris maintained that he's "100 percent innocent of the charges against me" in a brief statement provided by his attorney after his release from Ascension jail earlier this month.

As Baton Rouge detectives led him past reporters to a waiting car for the ride to Parish Prison Tuesday morning, he silently hung his head, ignoring shouted questions.

The Baton Rouge arrest warrant alleges he defrauded a 67-year-old woman who paid him more than $100,000 to repair storm damage to her Chandler Drive home.Morris installed six windows, patched a hole in the woman's roof with black felt and never returned, the warrant says.

The victim told police she hired an attorney to intervene but that he refused complete the work or honor the contract.

Baton Rouge police booked Morris Tuesday morning on counts ofcounts of home improvement fraud, felony theft, theft of assets of an aged person and exploitation of the infirm.

Morris remained there Tuesday evening, with his bail set at $100,000.

Authorities in other jurisdictions continue to investigate complaints about Morris and his company, which Ascension Parish Sheriff Jeff Wiley used a complicated contract to rack up thousands of dollars in claims assistance fees, grossly over-billed or billed people for work that had not been done, and collected residents insurance payments with inflated or fraudulent bills.

Lori Steele, Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office spokeswoman, said deputies have obtained warrants for Morris in seven cases and are investigating more.

"That's just the beginning," Steele told The Advocate on Monday.

The owner of a Baton Rouge construction company accused of committing post-flood contractor

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A Baton Rouge builder accused of committing contractor fraud against Ascension Parish flood

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Update: 3:25 p.m.: A state district judge set bail Thursday for a Baton Rouge man arrested

Follow Bryn Stole on Twitter, @BrynStole.

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Baton Rouge construction firm owner back in custody on fraud allegations - The Advocate

Ascension Parish Crime Briefs – Donaldsonville Chief

Former APSO deputy arrested for Simple Battery

James Atkins II, 34, a former Ascension Parish Sheriffs Deputy, was arrested on Feb. 14 and booked into the Ascension Parish Prison on one count of Simple Battery. The charges stem from an investigation, which was conducted into a report taken by Gonzales Patrol Officers from Feb. 8, where officers responded to a disturbance call made by Atkins at his residence located at 910 Janice Ave.

On Feb. 9, one of the parties involved in the altercation at his residence, whom was gone prior to officers arrival on Feb. 8, came into the police department and reported additional information, which lead to the arrest of Atkins.

He voluntarily surrendered in compliance with the warrant, which was issued for his arrest by the Gonzales Police Department.

Prairieville man indicted on charges including First Degree Rape

On Feb. 13, an Ascension Parish Grand Jury returned a True Bill of Indictment on Stephen Janis, 55, of Prairieville, on the charges of First Degree Rape, False Imprisonment with a Dangerous Weapon, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and Second Degree Battery.

Janis is accused of raping, beating and holding a woman against her will in November 2016. Investigators with the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office were dispatched to a local hospital where they made contact with the victim who advised them of the incident.

Assistant District Attorney Shawn Bush is the lead prosecutor on this case.

Gonzales man receives sentence after 2015 burglary

On Feb. 14, David Holcombe of Gonzales, age 25, pled guilty to the charge of Simple Burglary. Holcombe was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Phil Maples, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert. The guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following a 2015 burglary.

On Oct. 19, 2015, Ascension Parish Sheriffs Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Bayou Narcisse Road in Gonzales in reference to a burglary. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the homeowner who advised that some items were missing from two vehicles parked under the car port. The homeowner advised that the home is equipped with security cameras.

Investigators reviewed the video surveillance and were able to view the suspect entering the two unlocked vehicles and gaining entry into the garage through a side door. The homeowner noted several miscellaneous items that were missing. Investigators released a portion of the video surveillance to the media and shortly after received a Crime Stoppers tip that the individual in the video Holcombe.

Investigators also located a DNA sample on the scene that was consistent with Holcomes DNA profile. Holcombe was arrested and transported to the Ascension Parish Jail where he confessed to the burglary and was booked accordingly.

Upon entering a guilty plea to the above charge, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge Kliebert ordered that Holcombe be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 10 years with credit for time served.

New Orleans man pleads guilty to Ascension bank fraud

On Feb. 15, Frank Nelson of 7543 Tricia Court, New Orleans, 60, pled guilty to Bank Fraud. Nelson was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Phil Maples, and presiding over the matter was the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert.

On June 3, 2015, deputies with the Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office were dispatched to a Prairieville bank regarding the cashing of a fraudulent check. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with an employee who advised that on May 5, 2015, a black male subject entered the bank and cashed a check in an amount exceeding $2,000. The check appeared to be issued by a Baton Rouge business to a subject by the name of Frank Nelson.

It was later determined that the checks were homemade. Investigators viewed surveillance video and were able to positively identify the individual cashing the check as Nelson. An arrest warrant was issued, and he was subsequently arrested on May 17, 2016. Nelson was transported to the Ascension Parish Jail where he was booked accordingly.

Per Judge Kliebert, sentencing was deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Nelson faces up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Gonzales Man Pleads Guilty to Burglary of Local Church Storage Building

On Feb. 15, Michael Duplessis, 34, of 43017 Weber City Road, Gonzales, pled guilty to Simple Burglary. Duplessis was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Phil Maples, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert. The guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following a 2016 burglary.

On July 13, 2016, Ascension Parish Sheriffs Deputies were dispatched to Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant regarding a burglary. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with a church employee who advised that he was doing maintenance around the church when he made contact with an unknown white male subject.

The subject advised that he was looking for the food bank. The employee continued to work around the church after directing the subject to the food bank. A short while later, the employee went to the storage shed where he observed that a tool box containing miscellaneous tools was missing.

Deputies were able to identify the unknown subject as Duplessis. Deputies were able to make contact with a relative of Duplessis who advised that he was in possession of the tool box in question and had gotten it at the church.

He was subsequently arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail. It should be noted that Duplessis has two prior burglary convictions.

Upon entering a plea of guilty to the above charge, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge Kliebert ordered that Duplessis be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 10 years with credit for time served.

Gonzales Man Pleads Guilty to Burglary and Theft Charges

On Feb. 13, Bret Millet, 52, of 14490 Lake Crossing Drive Gonzales, pled guilty to Simple Burglary, Theft of Goods Valued at $1500 or more, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Millet was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Amy Colby, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Jason Verdigets. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following a 2015 residential burglary.

On July 6, 2015, Ascension Parish Sheriffs Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Stafford Estates Subdivision Road, Gonzales, in reference to a residential burglary. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the complainant who advised that when he arrived at his fathers residence, he observed that the front door was wide open.

The complainant also advised that there were multiple miscellaneous items missing from throughout the residence. Investigators dusted for fingerprints and were able to swab a small amount of blood on a piece of glass that had been broken during the burglary. The blood sample was sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab where it was analyzed for potential DNA. The blood sample matched the DNA composition of Bret Millet. Deputies also located Millets identification card on the ground near the residence.

An arrest warrant was then issued for Millet. On July 7, 2015, sheriffs deputies made contact with Millet at his residence and advised him of the arrest warrant. While Millet was being placed into handcuffs, deputies observed that Millet was holding a crack pipe, or device commonly used for smoking crack cocaine. He was arrested and transported to the Ascension Parish jail where he was booked accordingly.

Guilty Pleas

During the week of Feb. 13 to Feb. 17, the following defendants pled guilty to various charges and were sentenced in the 23rd Judicial District Court, parishes of Ascension, Assumption and St. James.

Ascension Parish

Cyril Ezumezu, 1223 N. Coolidge Ave., Gonzales, 30, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance. Sentencing was deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.

Morris Miles, 502 Front St. Donaldsonville, 24, pled guilty to Aggravated Battery and was sentenced to two years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

Travis Parent, 32588 Jasmin Lane, Denham Springs, 27, pled guilty to Negligent Homicide. Sentencing was deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.

David Holcombe, 12386 Cleo Road, Gonzales, 25, pled guilty to Simple Burglary and was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

Grayln Leduff, 2444 Valley St., Baton Rouge, 45, pled guilty to Simple Burglary. Sentencing is set for March 27.

Delynn Ricks, 909 S Abe Ave., Gonzales, 24, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance. Sentencing was deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.

Santos Torrez, 40436 Kathy St., Gonzales, 53, pled guilty on Nov. 28, 2016, to the charge of DWI Third Offense. On Feb. 14, Torrez was sentenced to one year with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

Frank Nelson, 7543 Tricia Court, New Orleans, 60, pled guilty to Bank Fraud. Sentencing was deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.

Michael Duplessis, 43017 Weber City Road, Gonzales, 34, pled guilty to Simple Burglary and was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

Jerome Bougere, 133 Palm St., Donaldsonville, 39, pled guilty to Simple Kidnapping, Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault and Domestic Abuse. The defendant was sentenced to five years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. He is to serve three years of the imposed sentence, and the remaining two years are to be suspended. Upon release, the defendant is to be placed on two years supervised probation.

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Shawn Bush and Phil Maples. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert.

Takeisha Scott, 42421 La., 30 Gonzales, 28, pled guilty to Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling and Simple Battery. On the charge of Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling, the defendant was sentenced to two years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on one year supervised probation. On the charge of Simple Battery, the defendant was sentenced to six months supervised probation. The imposed sentences are to run concurrent with one another.

Aquindice Garrison, 408 St. Patrick St., Donaldsonville, 26, pled guilty to Second Degree Battery and was sentenced to four years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on two years supervised probation.

Jesse Collins, 411 Blue Bird St., Gonzales, 41, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to five years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on five years supervised probation.

Bret Millet, 14490 Lake Crossing Drive, Gonzales, age 52, pled guilty to Simple Burglary, Theft of Goods Valued at $1500 or More, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On the charge of Simple Burglary, the defendant was sentenced to six years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. On the charge of Theft of Goods Valued at $1500 or more, the defendant was sentenced to five years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. On the charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, the defendant was sentenced to six months in the parish jail with credit for time served. All of the imposed sentences are to run concurrent with one another.

John Porteous, 14446 Lake Crossing Drive Gonzales, 40, pled guilty to Simple Arson and was sentenced to five years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on two years supervised probation.

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Joni Buquoi and Amy Colby. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Jason Verdigets.

Link:

Ascension Parish Crime Briefs - Donaldsonville Chief

WWE News: Heath Slater and Rhyno defeat The Ascension in dark match on SmackDown Live – Sportskeeda

Whats the Story?

Before SmackDown kicked off, Heath Slater and Rhyno joined forces with Mojo Rawley and defeated the team of Konnor and Viktor of The Ascension, who were accompanied by Aiden English as well.

This match is part of a series of matches that have been taking place on the WWE Live: Road to WrestleMania Tour this weekend, the matches also happened during Monday Night Raw yesterday.

In case you didnt know...

While The Ascension did have a match against the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Chad Gable and Jason Jordan of American Alpha last week, Heath Slater and Rhyno havent been seen on WWE programming in a singles contest since their match at the SmackDown exclusive pay-per-view, Elimination Chamber.

Heath Slater and Rhyno carried the Tag Team Division of SmackDown with their odd pairing storyline that the fans had become enamoured with. However, they have seen a significant decline in their status since they lost the championships to The Wyatt Family.

On the other hand, The Ascension have been booked poorly since mid-2015 when they were so low on the totem pole that they teamed up with Stardust as the Cosmic Wasteland.

The Heart of the Matter

Heath Slater and Rhyno teamed up with Mojo Rawley to take on the team of the Ascension with Aiden English. The match saw Slater, Rhyno and Rawley make quick work of their opposition and they ended up coming away with the win.

This was a dark match, in a series of dark matches that are taking place before and after shows to hype up Wrestlemania 33.

Whats next?

American Alpha have dominated every team in the tag team division since their recent title defence at Elimination Chamber. If they win their feud with The Usos, they will have no fresh opponents left for WrestleMania.

In some ways, this can be viewed as a good thing because it means that the WWE is giving them a strong push. On the other hand, this one-sided push has killed teams like Slater-Rhyno while The Ascension seemto be no better or worse than they have been in the past two years.

Sportskeedas Take

Hopefully, the SmackDown Creative Team manages to make Slater and Rhyno look better as well as give them some more TV time because they were viewed by many fans as one of the more entertaining tag teams on the roster.

As for The Ascension, the best thing for them would probably be to go back to NXT and bolster that tag team division, because at least there they have a chance.

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Sen. Nelson Talks Space Exploration At Florida A&M University … – WFSU

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson spoke to Florida A&M University students Monday about his experience in space. He also promoted taking STEM subjects. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Nelson said he hopes the movie Hidden Figures inspires students at the historically black college. The movie highlights the work of African American women who worked as skilled mathematicians during the early years of the U-S space program.

Theres a happy ending to this story because Katherine Johnson lived to see an African American president," he said. "Shortly after he was sworn in as president, he presented the presidential Medal of Freedom to Katherine Johnson. She was about 95 at the time.

As a Congressman, Nelson orbited Earth for almost a week in 1986. He landed just before the space shuttle Challenger exploded ten days later, killing all on board.

We were the most delayed flight ever," he said. "We scrubbed four times on the pad over a month before we finally launched on the fifth try into an almost flawless six-day mission.

The U.S. Senate recently approved Nelsons legislation giving $19.5 billion dollars to NASA to travel to Mars. Nelson said the plan to go to Mars in 2023 is doable.

NASA goes for deep space exploration and the commercial rockets take us into low-Earth orbit to and from the International Space Station, he said.

Nelsons legislation requires NASA to establish a human colony on Mars. It now moves to the House.

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Sen. Nelson Talks Space Exploration At Florida A&M University ... - WFSU

Psychedelics Help Reduce Opioid Addiction, According to New Study – AlterNet

Ayahuasca art Photo Credit: Pinterest

The criminalization of people who use psychedelics is rooted in myths that are the vestiges ofcolonialismand thedrug war and, one by one, those myths are crumbling down.

Weve learned in recent years that people who use psychedelics are significantly *less* likely to end up developingmental health problems,perpetrating domestic violence, or suffering frompsychological distress and suicidal thinking.

Meanwhile,recent researchhas shown that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy can be an effective treatment for people struggling with difficult-to-treat conditions such as substance use disorders. Not much has been known, though, about the connection between psychedelic use and substance misuse in the general population.

Now, anew studypublished in theJournal of Psychopharmacologyhas found that experiences with psychedelics likeLSDandpsilocybin mushroomsare associated with decreased risk of opioid abuse and dependence among respondents with a history of illegal opioid use. Psychedelic use is associated with 27% reduced risk of past-year opioid dependence and 40% reduced risk of past-year opioid abuse. Other thanmarijuanause, which was associated with 55% reduced risk of past-year opioid abuse, no other illegal drug was associated with reduced risk of past-year opioid dependence or abuse.

The study is based on six years of data from the federal governmentsNational Survey on Drug Use and Health(NSDUH), which surveys 70,000 people each year. While the findings are far from causal, the authors conclude that the associations between psychedelic use and opioid misuse are pervasive and significant and suggest that psychedelics are associated with positive psychological characteristics and are consistent with prior reports suggesting efficacy in treatment of substance use disorders.

Although more research is needed to determine exactly why theres such a strong correlation between psychedelic use and decreased risk of opioid misuse, this study does appear to validate the experiences of many people who have found substances likeibogaine,marijuanaorkratomto be life-changing tools that have helped them lead happier, more fulfilling lives. For many, these substances have helped them cut back or quit their use of opioids or other substances with which theyve had a problematic relationship. Safe access to these substances along with911 Good Samaritan laws,naloxone accessprograms,supervised injection facilities, various forms ofmaintenance therapy, and, of course,ending the criminalization of drug use should be part of the discussion when it comes to dealing with addiction andskyrocketing rates of overdose deaths.

And lets not forget our commander-in-chief isramping up the drug warand thinks he can deal with opioid addiction by building a giant wall anddeporting millions of people, both documented and undocumented. Lets remember, too, that thousands of people are getting handcuffed, arrested, branded as criminals, and serving time behind bars every year simply for using or possessing a psychedelic substance in the U.S. and these people are more likely to be young, non-white, and socioeconomically marginalized than most people who use psychedelics.

While psychedelic-assisted therapy could be approved by the FDA in the next decade, that would do nothing to change the criminal penalties faced by millions of people who use psychedelics outside of government-sanctioned, medically-supervised settings. Thats why its incumbent upon people who care about psychedelics to advocate for reducing the criminalization of people who use them outside of medical contexts, while also advocating for psychedelic-assisted therapy research.

Given the widespreadscientific consensusthat drug use and addiction are best treated as health issues,theres no good reason for people who use psychedelics to be treated as criminals especially considering how much we already know aboutprohibitions discriminatory impact on people of color and other marginalized groups.

This study also forces us to reflect on why abstinence-only policies can be so harmful and counterproductive. Contrary to conventional wisdom,federal government datahas consistently shown that the vast majority of people who use opioids, including heroin,dont end up developing an addiction. So our focus should be not just on preventing people from using opioids after all, they can be essential medical tools but also ensuring, above all else, that people who use them dont go on to struggle with addiction.

A truly health-centered approach to drug addiction assesses improvement by many measures, not simply by someones drug use level, but also by their overall health, their social relationships, and their general well-being. Determining success by boiling it down to the single measure of abstinence to an arbitrary group of certain drugs isnt realistic or effective.

Addiction is a complex phenomenon, but I think its safe to say that it can only be genuinely resolved when people find meaning in their lives. This study is yet another indication that the meaning people seem to find from psychedelics has considerable implications for our prevailing healthcare and addiction treatment paradigms.

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Psychedelics Help Reduce Opioid Addiction, According to New Study - AlterNet

‘Star Marine’ Trailer Shows Version Of ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ Clip [Watch] – Mobile & Apps

The newest "Star Marine" trailer showed a recreation of the "Cyberpunk 2077" CG clip. ( Cyberpunk 2077/YouTube Screenshot )

"Star Marine" may have done something that can be compared to the upcoming CD Projekt RED title "Cyberpunk 2077." While both games are popular in their own right, fans can apparently see the similarities between them.

According toDark Side of Gaming,"Star Marine" launched a new video that showed the recreation of CD Projekt RED's pending IP, with its own bits and pieces added. "Star Marine" is a first-person version of "Star Citizen," one of the more recognized space exploration titles to date. The said game is powered by Amazon's Lumberyard Engine.

The two clips retained the slow motion context. However, instead of showing a female android from "Cyberpunk 2077," "Star Marine" showed an armored soldier. The focused gun shots traveling from the weapon and into the target is also notably similar, with almost the same arrangement of the firing squad seen from both clips. Also noticeable is the use of the same music for the videos, from beginning to end.

CD Projekt RED is known for its successful "The Witcher" title, especially "The Witcher 3" which was declared Game of the Year. As for "Cyberpunk 2077," the technological marvel announced over four years ago has yet to reveal more about itself.

As of the moment, it only implies a futuristic setting where cybernetic sentient beings are a potential threat to humanity. It takes the same role-playing approach as its predecessor. "Star Marine" is a first-person shooter module inspired by the "Star Citizen" franchise, with the video "Bullets" as the official promo for itself.

"Star Marine" features two maps: the OP Station Demien and Echo Eleven. The original space game "Star Citizen"is considered the most successful crowd-funded game of all time, going past $113 million in sales.

2017 - 2017Mobile & Apps, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

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The upcoming cyberpunk shooter Static Sky calls out for alpha and beta testers – Pocket Gamer

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Israel and Indiana: Why You’re Getting an Invitation to the Holy Land … – 93.1 WIBC Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS--You may not realize it, but your state has its own relationship with Israel. Consul General Aviv Ezra was in Indiana Tuesday to help build that relationship further. He's the highest-ranking Israeli official in the Midwest, and met with Gov. Holcomb, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and members of the Indiana congressional delegation.

"We are the Israeli embassy to the Midwest," said Ezra. "Part of our goal is to reach out and bring Israel's priorities here to the Midwest." Ezra's office is in Chicago and he covers nine states.

Not Just Business

He said the relationship is based on both business needs and shared values. Ezra said his meting with Holcomb was about both.

"Superb meeting. The governor is one of Israel's best friends, supportive of the enhancement of the relationship. In terms of shared values we are very honored to have the support of the State of Indiana, with this governor and with his predecessors. The values are synced 100 percent," said Ezra.

But, he believes that both Indiana and Israel can work together to make business happen for both.

"We feel there's a lot of things that can be done and one of my jobs is to brand Israel here, but also to brand Indiana in Israel."

Ezra said there are already 30 Israeli companies in Indiana. He said they are always looking for ways to increase the relationship. He said there have been much development in his country and he believes Indiana has much in common with Israel, with its technology-based business environment.

Not Just Conflicts

"Israel today, unfortunately, is always defined by the prism of the conflict. But, today Israel is totally not just about the conflict. It's about high-tech, bio-tech, telecommunications, cybertechnology and neurotechnology, neuroscience and nanotechnology and for us, this is something that we want to find the right combination with our friends here in the United States, specifically on the level of the states, to create that win-win environment," said Ezra.

And, what about you? Ezra said they'd like to have you as a guest.

"We want to bring as many people as possible from Israel here to learn and to map what the possibilities are. And on the other hand we want to have as many visits as possible from Indiana to Israel."

Ezra said he extended an official invitation for the governor to visit Israel, with a business delegation.

PHOTO: Consul General Aviv Ezra by Chris Davis/Emmis

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Israel and Indiana: Why You're Getting an Invitation to the Holy Land ... - 93.1 WIBC Indianapolis

Fed up with political correctness – The Rushville Republican

One of the things I miss most about my youth and early years was our openness. Friends could and did frequently just sit and talk. We could and did make jokes about any and everything. We did not worry about offending anyone because they, as well as us, knew it was nothing more than a joke, a comment or observation and not meant to deride anyone. Today, one must be cautious beyond what I would feel would be a common occurrence. You cannot speak badly of anyone without worry about law suits, being called racist, one of the most misused nomenclatures of our day. If I mention I had a friend in college who was both colored and Indian, there are those today who say I was a racist. I was not nor am I now. I am an American who is fed up with Political Correctness.

In our society of today political correctness, the mention of anything the other person involved feels is out of line, you are in trouble. We have an elected President. One who seems to be the brunt of many political jokes and comments. Yet he and his administration have to put up with the Democrats dragging their feet on everything he wants to do. I thought the Republicans were a bunch of do nothings for the last 8 years, I was wrong. The Democrats seem to be even more so than any Republican recently. People protest (riot in most instances) because of generally little or nothing. I have heard of people who actually make a living by hiring out as protesters. I hope it is no more than a rumor or feeble attempt to gain some popularity.

Our society of today is showing signs of most Republics or history. They have allowed the population to have too much freedom. Those nuts on the fringe of society are finding that they can and will place their at times ridiculous ideas out there as main stream. Yet they are far from main stream they are just what they should be fringe ideas. Ideas who should have no hearing nor in depth look, which it could not survive. Those people have the right to protest. I spent 3 years of my life protecting their right to protest no matter how stupid it maybe. But I did not do it to allow them to push it way against the tide of public opinion.

The ability of everyone today to immediately have the opportunity of taking pictures, movies, of any happening and then again immediately send it out over the air with or without comments to millions of others who in turn have their own opinions as to what they saw or heard. The national media of today seems to be of the opinion that they know so much more than you or I do they should tell us the news as they want it not as it is. Some of the reporters can ask some of the most stupid and unrelated questions of a person that I have ever seen or heard. One cannot believe much of anything on television or radio or the Internet of today. Picture cropping and changing is prevalent. Reporters making up their stories have become common place today. I remember many times hearing of reporters, some of great repute, actually making up stories in such a way it made them look better than they were. And they had no compulsion about taking a story and bending it to their feelings not reality.

When I was young, you could make a joke about someones ethnicity and both would have a good laugh. Today, youre afraid to mention anything relating to ethnicity, religion, politics or much of anything else without fear of retribution. I remember some of the best ethnic jokes I heard were from those who were of than ethnic arena. I enjoy jokes, and related tales especially from those who were involved but not today do we feel we can do this. Our society seems to think that the elite of the country, the politicians, journalists, bureaucrats are so much smarter than we are they should lead and we follow. Not me daddyo, I prefer to make up my own mind about things, not be told what to think. I detest those who take things and make them fit the needs of the individual. And I detest being told after a political speech or comment what was meant by it. I have a mind and prefer to use it rather than allow someone else tell me what I heard and how to understand it.

I remember the 60s and the many riots, protests of the time. And feel that this was the start of the way things are today. Politics has gotten dirtier, nastier than I have ever seen it. Many people take the Internet as gospel, a huge mistake. People are afraid to do anything that may cause problems later on. Such as helping someone in danger or hurt. There may well be someone who will take a picture of it and spread it all over the world for everyone to see. You cant have an opinion that someone else does not adhere to any more. We are close to an Orwellian world and for one I abhor that idea.

We have and should have the right to protest and make our feelings known. But we also need to see just what that opinion may have or may not have that I like and agree with. I should and do check into things to be sure they are correct. That what I hear is not like the game we played when I was young where someone started a story and passed it around numerous people and the last one told us what he heard. And never was it at times even close to what was stated out originally. We need to think, be cautious of what we hear and what we believe. Make our opinions known and make them as true as possible. And most important make up your own mind. Look into things, digest them, check them then make them known. Be an American not a mouth piece for someone or something else.

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Fed up with political correctness - The Rushville Republican

Publishers Pen – Political Correctness and Lawlessness: A Rant – Up & Coming Weekly

Theres a TV show called Law and Order, and like most TV shows and movies, it depicts situations and circumstances as they should be, not necessarily as they are. On this show, criminals break the law, law enforcement hunts them down and arrests them. They go to court, get convicted and go to jail to serve their sentence. Really? Well, all that may eventually happen, but in the real world, chances are it would take years. Many think, as I do, that political correctness has gotten so out of control it has our nation paralyzed with intimidation and fear. As a result, enforcing the rule of law has taken a back seat to political correctness. Really.

When, and at what point, was it decide that Americans had the right to choose what laws they would or would not obey? This obsession with political correctness has transformed our republic into a revolutionary free-for-all when it comes to obeying and enforcing laws and the doctrines outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Have we allowed slick lawyers and glib politicians to dilute and distort the U.S. Constitution by allowing them to use it for their personal political gain?

These questions need to be asked and answered before our American way of life melts down into anarchy. Cases in point: illegal immigration and sanctuary cities. When was the word illegal redefined in America to mean no harm, no foul? It used to be if something was illegal then it is unlawful. Unlawful meaning against the law. So, if an act is against the law, then it should be stopped and punished and certainly not rewarded. We encourage lawlessness by rewarding such bad behavior and illegal activities. For illegals we issue drivers licenses, knowingly hire and shelter them and spend billions of taxpayers dollars on medical treatment, welfare and social programs, protecting and sheltering those documented criminals whose own countries have rejected them. Why? Because they have political value. To make matters worse, over the last decade, our inept federal government (Congress) has been transformed into the vehicle of choice for diluting the U.S. Constitution and making the rule of law arbitrary. The two most egregious examples of this are federal funding for sanctuary cities and the proliferation of rights, benefits and legal services extended to illegals while millions of our own natural-born Americans live in poverty, receive inadequate health care and attend schools with few resources and subpar academic records.

Please dont get the wrong idea. Im not down on America nor am I being negative. These are all obvious observations. Our country and our American way of life have become much too politically charged and motivated. Why? Mostly out of the pursuit of greed, money and power. So much so that the checks and balances built into our Constitution by our forefathers (the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government) have been politically homogenized. Homogenized? Maybe a better word for this is contaminated? Either way, it is not a healthy situation and the task of righting America should be both a Democratic or Republican objective. Its the American thing to do. Im extremely confident that as Americans it is in our DNA to figure out the best way to preserve our country, our traditions and our American way of life. Lets get to it!

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It’s Been 20 Years Since We Cloned A Sheep. Why Haven’t We Done The Same With Humans? – GOOD Magazine

Its been 20 years since scientists in Scotland told the world about Dolly the sheep, the first mammal successfully cloned from an adult body cell. What was special about Dolly is that her parents were actually a single cell originating from mammary tissue of an adult ewe. Dolly was an exact genetic copy of that sheepa clone.

Dolly captured peoples imaginations, but those of us in the field had seen her coming through previous research. Ive been working with mammalian embryos for over 40 years, with some work in my lab specifically focusing on various methods of cloning cattle and other livestock species. In fact, one of the coauthors of the paper announcing Dolly worked in our laboratory for three years prior to going to Scotland to help create the famous clone.

Dolly was an important milestone, inspiring scientists to continue improving cloning technology as well as to pursue new concepts in stem cell research. The endgame was never meant to be armies of genetically identical livestock.Rather, researchers continue to refine the techniques and combine them with other methods to turbocharge traditional animal breeding methods as well as gain insights into aging and disease.

Dolly was a perfectly normal sheep who became the mother of numerous normal lambs. She lived to six and a half years, when she was eventually put down after a contagious disease spread through her flock, infecting cloned and normally reproduced sheep alike. Her life wasnt unusual; its her origin that made her unique.

Before the decades of experiments that led to Dolly, it was thought that normal animals could be produced only by fertilization of an egg by a sperm. Thats how things naturally work. These germ cells are the only ones in the body that have their genetic material all jumbled up and in half the quantity of every other kind of cell. That way when these so-called haploid cells come together at fertilization, they produce one cell with the full complement of DNA. Joined together, the cell is termed diploid, for twice, or double. Two halves make a whole.

From that moment forward, nearly all cells in that body have the same genetic makeup. When the one-cell embryo duplicates its genetic material, both cells of the now two-cell embryo are genetically identical. When they in turn duplicate their genetic material, each cell at the four-cell stage is genetically identical. This pattern goes on so that each of the trillions of cells in an adult is genetically exactly the samewhether its in a lung or a bone or the blood.

In contrast, Dolly was produced by whats called somatic cell nuclear transfer. In this process, researchers remove the genetic material from an egg and replace it with the nucleus of some other body cell. The resulting egg becomes a factory to produce an embryo that develops into an offspring. No sperm is in the picture.Instead of half the genetic material coming from a sperm and half from an egg, it all comes from a single cell. Its diploid from the start.

Dolly was the culmination of hundreds of cloning experiments that, for example, showed diploid embryonic and fetal cells could be parents of offspring. But there was no way to easily know all the characteristics of the animal that would result from a cloned embryo or fetus. Researchers could freeze a few of the cells of a 16-cell embryo, while going on to produce clones from the other cells. If a desirable animal was produced, they could thaw the frozen cells and make more copies. But this was impractical because of low success rates.

Dolly demonstrated that adult somatic cells also could be used as parents. Thus, one could know the characteristics of the animal being cloned.

By my calculations, Dolly was the single success from 277 tries at somatic cell nuclear transfer. Sometimes the process of cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer still produces abnormal embryos, most of which die. But the process has greatly improved so success rates now are more like 10 percent; its highly variable, though, depending on the cell type used and the species.

More than 10 different cell types have been used successfully as parents for cloning. These days most cloning is done using cells obtained by biopsying skin.

Genetics is only part of the story. Even while clones are genetically identical, their phenotypesthe characteristics they expresswill be different. Its like naturally occurring identical twins: They share all their genes but theyre not really exactly alike, especially if reared in different settings.

Environment plays a huge role for some characteristics. Food availability can influence weight. Diseases can stunt growth. These kinds of lifestyle, nutrition, or disease effects can influence which genes are turned on or off in an individual; these are called epigenetic effects. Even though all the genetic material may be the same in two identical clones, they might not be expressing all the same genes.

Consider the practice of cloning winning racehorses. Clones of winners sometimes also will be winnersbut most of the time theyre not. This is because winners are outliers. They need to have the right genetics, but also the right epigenetics and the right environment to reach that winning potential. For example, one can never exactly duplicate the uterine conditions a winning racehorse experienced when it was a developing fetus. Thus, cloning champions usually leads to disappointment. On the other hand, cloning a stallion that sires a high proportion of race-winning horses will result very reliably in a clone that similarly sires winners. This is a genetic rather than a phenotypic situation.

Even though the genetics are reliable, there are aspects of the cloning procedure that mean the epigenetics and environment are suboptimal. For example, sperm have elegant ways of activating the eggs they fertilize, which will die unless activated properly. With cloning, activation usually is accomplished by a strong electric shock. Many of the steps of cloning and subsequent embryonic development are done in test tubes in incubators. These conditions are not perfect substitutes for the female reproductive tract where fertilization and early embryonic development normally occur.

Sometimes abnormal fetuses develop to term, resulting in abnormalities at birth. The most striking abnormal phenotype of some clones is termed large offspring syndrome, in which calves or lambs are 30 or 40 percent larger than normal, resulting in difficult birth. The problems stem from an abnormal placenta. At birth, these clones are genetically normal, but are overly large, and tend to be hyperinsulinemic and hypoglycemic. (The conditions normalize over time once the offspring is no longer influenced by the abnormal placenta.)

Recent improvements in cloning procedures have greatly reduced these abnormalities, which also occur with natural reproduction, but at a much lower incidence.

Many thousands of cloned mammals have been produced in nearly two dozen species. Very few of these concern practical applications, such as cloning a famous Angus bull named Final Answer (who recently died at an old age) in order to produce more high-quality cattle via his clones sperm.

But the cloning research landscape is changing fast. The driving force for producing Dolly was not to produce genetically identical animals. Rather, researchers want to combine cloning techniques with other methods in order to efficiently change animals geneticallymuch quicker than traditional animal breeding methods that take decades to make changes in populations of species such as cattle.

One recent example is introducing the polled (no horns) gene into dairy cattle, thus eliminating the need for the painful process of dehorning. An even more striking application has been to produce a strain of pigs that is incapable of being infected by the very contagious and debilitating PRRS virus. Researchers have even made cattle that cannot develop Mad Cow Disease. For each of these procedures, somatic cell nuclear transplantation is an essential part of the process.

To date, the most valuable contribution of these somatic cell nuclear transplantation experiments has been the scientific information and insights gained. Theyve enhanced our understanding of normal and abnormal embryonic development, including aspects of aging, and more. This information is already helping reduce birth defects, improve methods of circumventing infertility, develop tools to fight certain cancers, and even decrease some of the negative consequences of agingin livestock and even in people. Two decades since Dolly, important applications are still evolving.

George Seidel, professor of biomedical sciences, Colorado State University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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It's Been 20 Years Since We Cloned A Sheep. Why Haven't We Done The Same With Humans? - GOOD Magazine

Facebook does it again. WhatsApp launches revamped Status, cloning Snapchat – Catch News

First, it was Facebook-owned Instagram. Now it is WhatsApp, another company controlled by Marck Zuckerberg. It's safe to say that Facebook is very fond of Evan Spiegel's soon-to-list unicorn and social media darling, Snapchat. In August, Instagram copied Snapchats popular Stories feature.

Now, WhatsApp has gone ahead and done the same. Stories is essentially a feature wherein one can share photos, videos for up to 24 hours before they disappear altogether. Furthermore, WhatsApp has allowed people to add GIFs into their Stories. The format that Snapchat invented is now becoming universal.

Stories is essentially a feature wherein one can share photos, videos for up to 24 hours before they disappear altogether. Furthermore, WhatsApp has allowed people to add GIFs into their Stories. The format that Snapchat invented is now becoming universal.

WhatsApp on Monday, 20 February, unveiled a new version of its existing plain status update simply calling it WhatsApp Status to its 1.2 billion users. Previously, one could only share a short message like, "out to lunch" or "gone to the doctor's" or maybe even something philosophical. Who knows, at the rate, they are going, Facebook might just be next. In fact, Facebook's Messenger product was revamped in December, to make sending photos a the forefront. At least Facebook hasn't made the camera the first thing that people see when the app opens.

WhatsApp though does stand out from the crowd. It added the abilities to add GIFs to Status'. They've even gone and made sure that all status updates are end-to-end encrypted (disappear means disappear). Unlike Snapchat and Instagram, WhatsApp videos can be as long as 45 seconds - a welcome addition. Also, WhatsApp status' are shared only with those in your address book and not others.

This is a format that is being broadly adopted, and were adopting it as well, product manager at WhatsApp, Randall Sarafa, told Recode. There are some pretty interesting things that weve done to make it unique to WhatsApp. Remember, Facebook had offered Spiegel $3 billion to buy Snapchat back in 2013 but that offer was turned down.

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Facebook does it again. WhatsApp launches revamped Status, cloning Snapchat - Catch News

Water ‘Walls’ Spur Evolution of New Colorful Fish Species – Live Science

Two critically endangered Teleogramma brichardi, cichlids known to exist only in one stretch of rapids in the lower Congo River.

There are more than 300 species of bizarre and beautiful fish living in the lower Congo River. Now, research reveals why: Walls of water keep fish from breeding with one another.

Cut off by rapids and swift currents, fish species end up isolated. Over time, their genes become so different from their neighbors' that they evolve into entirely separate species, researchers reported Feb. 6 in the journal Molecular Ecology.

"What's particularly unique about the lower Congo is that this diversification is happening over extremely small spatial scales, over distances as small as 1.5 kilometers [0.9 miles]," study author Elizabeth Alter, a biologist at the City University of New York's York College, said in a statement. "There is no other river like it." [Photos: The Freakiest-Looking Fish]

The lower Congo is the last 200 miles (321 km) of a 2,920-mile-long (4,700 km) waterway that snakes through the Democratic Republic of the Congo and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

The lower Congo is no lazy river; according to a 2008 U.S. Geological Survey report on its hydraulics, the first 80 miles (130 km) below Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are so treacherous that they were not navigated until 2008. Other sections, like a 21-mile (34 km) stretch between the cities of Matadi and Kinganga, aren't navigable at all because of rushing rapids and dizzying waterfalls.

It's these rapids that drive the evolution of fish in the lower reaches of the river, Alter and her colleagues found. The researchers focused on cichlids of the genus Teleogramma, a group that includes the large-finned, rainbow-banded Teleogramma brichardi. An analysis of more than 50 fish from different species in the Teleogramma genus revealed that species were geographically defined. The hydrologic forces of the river, such as its impassible rapids and swift currents, limited fish to particular areas.

"The genetic separation between these fishes shows that the rapids are working as strong barriers, keeping them apart," Alter said.

The barriers, formed by the hydrology of the river, explain how so much diversity could arise in the 3 million to 5 million years that the lower stretches of the river have existed, according to study author Melanie Stiassny, who curates ichthyology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

A similar phenomenon occurs on "sky islands." In these areas, species can't traverse steep valleys between mountaintops, so peaks right next to each other host species that never mix.

About 80 of the 300 fish found in the lower Congo are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world. T. brichardi is one of these endemic species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies this fish as critically endangered.

The IUCN cites urbanization near the only rapids where the sleek, colorful cichlids are found as the species' major threat. But proposed hydroelectric projects, such as the Grand Inga Dam, would fundamentally alter the fast-flowing river if they were to be built.

"Activity like that would majorly interrupt the evolutionary potential of this system," Stiassny said in a statement.

Original article on Live Science.

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Water 'Walls' Spur Evolution of New Colorful Fish Species - Live Science

South Dakota bill leaves evolution skepticism up to teachers – Phys.Org

February 21, 2017 by James Nord And Hannah Weikel

South Dakota legislators are weighing whether to let teachers decide how much skepticism to work into lessons on contentious scientific topics such as evolution and climate change.

A House committee on Wednesday is set to consider the measure, which would give legal protection to teachers who want to discuss "in an objective scientific manner the strengths and weaknesses" of the subjects.

South Dakota is one of at least three states, along with Texas and Oklahoma, considering such a bill. Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee have enacted similar laws, according to Glenn Branch, deputy director of the California-based National Center for Science Education, which opposes the proposal.

Branch said there are concerns that such a bill would embolden some teachers to start presenting creationism in their classrooms.

Critics argue that the measure is bad for students and that allowing teachers to teach any science curriculum they choose could subject school districts to litigation. Federal courts have struck down attempts to present creationism in various forms at public schools, Branch said.

South Dakota Sen. Jeff Monroe, the bill's prime sponsor, said that teachers should be able to talk about weaknesses in scientific theories, but he disputed that it would allow for creationism to seep into school teachings. Rogue teaching of creationism instead of science wouldn't happen because it's not included in South Dakota's science content standards, he said.

The Republican has said that he has heard from concerned teachers, including one who was chastised for discussing how embryos develop and another who was frustrated that she was forced to teach climate change as a fact.

"That's how we got off the theory that man can't fly, that's how we got off the flat earth theory, by analyzing the theories, not by being stuck, told this is true and you're going to believe it and they're going to teach it as true," said Monroe, who added that it could help students learn.

The effort may face a hurdle in GOP Gov. Dennis Daugaard, who said in a recent letter to a group of Augustana University professors that he views the bill as unnecessary.

Deb Wolf, a high school science instructional coach who helps teachers in Sioux Falls schools write science curriculum said the bill is superfluous. She said she's concerned that it would protect educators who teach things that aren't "truly science."

Pam Wells, a Mobridge-Pollock High School science teacher, said some parents have asked her to teach intelligent design during her 35 years in public schools. Wells said she read the textbooks they gave her on the subject, but decided not to include it in her curriculum because the theories weren't based in science.

Wells said one high school senior told her that he wouldn't come to her class if she dropped evolutionary theory and picked up intelligent design. "He said, 'If I wanted to learn about that I'd go to church," said Wells, who plans to testify against the bill.

Shannon Schlomer is the father of five kids who have attended Mobridge-area schools. He has written letters to the editor of the local paper urging lawmakers to kill the bill, which he said aims to belittle established science and would end up hurting kids in South Dakota who want to go to college to become physicists, geologists or cosmologists.

Steve Matzner, an Augustana professor who signed a letter earlier this month urging House members to vote against the bill, teaches introductory biology classes every year. Some of the students come from small schools where evolutionary theory is breezed over, and they tend to struggle grasping evidence-based teaching, he said.

"The biggest effect of the bill would be that it could underprepare high school students if their science education is being watered down," he said.

Explore further: Texas mulls changing science standards questioning evolution

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South Dakota bill leaves evolution skepticism up to teachers - Phys.Org