Daily Archives: June 25, 2017

Micronations / Axis Powers Hetalia – TV Tropes

Posted: June 25, 2017 at 2:29 pm

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Principality of Sealand - Peter Kirkland

Aim for it! Sealand will enter the G8!

Sealand: (holding up a fist) My punches are really strong! Do you wanna see?

Ladonia: (panicked) No, don't!

Sealand: Sometimes I ride the goat while swabbing the deck, and that is not a euphemism for anything.

Principality of Seborga

So you must be little Wy! Hmmm, maybe I'll hit on you after a couple hundred years go by.

Principality of Wy

Did you think we're buddies? But I'm different from you... I've been re-cog-ni-zed!

Republic of Kugelmugel

Declaring my independence is...ART!!!!

Republic of Molossia

Sunnovabitch! You formally entered the country?!

Principality of Hutt River

Paying your respects to me, your senior, is simple etiquette, yes?

Republic of Nikko Nikko

A Halloween Party? I certainly would like to go, but I've already withdraw from nation status, so...

Voiced by: Dallas Reid (EN)

Nikko Nikko: If you believe and try your best, your dreams will come true, won't they, Japan?

Japan: What on Earth did you try your best at?!

Ladonia

The only one with the power to gather all the micronations is a true blue like me!

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Micronations / Axis Powers Hetalia - TV Tropes

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Young nun fights for justice for immigrants and the poor … – Washington Times

Posted: at 2:28 pm

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Tracey Horan had never been behind the walls of a convent before she moved to El Paso, Texas, after college to teach middle-school math.

She was surprised to learn that the religious sisters watched TV, told jokes and even drank beer on occasion. But they also were deeply spiritual and committed to social justice issues. Horan, who was on a journey of self-discovery and discernment, wondered if she was being called to the religious life.

The Indianapolis native and Roncalli High School grad lived with the Sisters of Charity for two years, growing not only in her faith but in her awareness of systemic poverty, discrimination and economic oppression - issues the sisters confronted in their work and discussed at the dinner table every evening.

Today, the 29-year-old one-time cheerleader-turned-teacher-turned-community activist is a second-year mission novice with the Sisters of Providence, founded by Saint Mother Theodore Guerin in 1840. She will take her first vows this year - vows of poverty, chastity and obedience - on her way to becoming a full member of the religious order based at St.-Mary-of-the-Woods.

Aging religious

Women like Horan, now known as Sister Tracey, are a rarity these days. New recruits in the ranks of nuns and sisters in the United States have plummeted for decades, though recent years have shown a slight trend upward.

According to National Religious Vocation Conference data, more than 90 percent of the nations 58,000 nuns and sisters are 60 and older. The median age of the 300 sisters in the Sisters of Providence is 75, Sister Tracey said, adding, I bring down our average, Im proud to say.

She senses a resurgence in interest in religious life, pointing to her own class of sisters as proof.

We have eight women in formation, which is exciting. A lot of communities arent getting any new people.

I think people are looking for something, a sense of intentional community, said the young sister, who looks like most everyone else at a local coffee shop on a Monday morning, dressed in slacks, a T-shirt and sandals in the summer heat. It takes a lot to be focused on this kind of mission, so it is important to be with other people who can strengthen you.

Its hard for her to describe why she feels this is the life for her. It just fits. I equate it to falling in love. I feel like I can be my fullest self in this life.

Her parents, longtime members of St. Jude Catholic Church on the south side, were pleased but skeptical when she announced her plans to join the religious life.

She had enjoyed an active social life in high school and college, all while holding true to her Catholic faith. Joe and Eileen Horan thought their daughter would follow a more traditional path. But she had long felt there was something more she was called to do.

My parents didnt believe me at first; they thought it was a phase. Over time, they started to see I was the happiest Id ever been.

Community activist

Her mission as a Catholic and a Sister of Providence is advocating for the dignity and well-being of all people, paying special attention to the poor and disenfranchised. Its fitting then that her faith journey and ministry search brought her back to Indianapolis last summer when she joined the Indianapolis Congregation Action Network (IndyCAN) and the Justice for Immigrants Campaign of the Archdiocese as a bilingual community organizer.

Its the perfect intersection of faith and civic engagement, she said. She mobilizes support for causes critical to Catholic social teachings. And her status as a sister brings a moral presence to bear, whether its in meetings with city officials on mass transit or in organizing a public rally to force action on what she and IndyCAN call the unlawful detention of immigrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Indianapolis.

She calls it sending a moral message. And she has no problem calling out policies she considers illegal and immoral.

But when religious leaders and others have the opportunity to meet with policy makers and put a human face on a policy outcome, the conversation shifts, she said.

Me being a sister and being part of IndyCAN and working on this in a really clear and public way, I think gives people hope. It really is an extension of the church.

Her co-workers say shes the perfect messenger.

She is so spiritually in tune, such a divine being, said Nicole Barnes, IndyCAN operations manager. Her sisterhood is integrated into who she is its not something she does - its her way of being. It just oozes out of her, and shes this tiny thing, but shes feisty and serious about justice for people.

Sister Tracey lives with four other Sisters of Providence in the Nora neighborhood. Each has her own work to do in the community, but they carve out time to pray together regularly, and they take turns cooking.

To relax, the young sister watches Parks and Recreation and Call of the Midwife. Shes also an enthusiastic runner and hiker. She keeps up with old friends on Facebook but isnt able to spend much time with them. Ive really changed a lot since those days.

At 84, Sister Marilyn Herber is the senior member of the household, and she says Sister Tracey gives her hope.

Shes just a great example to me, said Sister Marilyn, who entered religious life in 1952. The young people who come today are so filled with life and goodness and a desire to make change in this world. They get it.

Kind but stubborn

If its possible to be an idealist and a realist, that would describe Sister Tracey.

The Rev. Chris Wadelton, pastor at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church on the east side, saw both sides at a February rally organized by the young sister and IndyCAN that drew 2,000 people. The City of Inclusion rally was held in response to policies by the Trump administration that some think unfairly target immigrants, Muslims and refugees.

He marvels that she is able to balance her religious training with a job that demands long hours. She brings a renewed focus to faith-based social justice. To see a young, dynamic person, talented in so many ways, choose religious life, thats inspiring.

Juan Perez-Corona, 45, has seen Sister Tracey in action, working to help people with immigration issues, housing, medical care and employment. Hes been so impressed with her commitment that he now volunteers alongside her.

We are so blessed to have her, the father of three said. It doesnt matter color, race, religion, she just wants to help people.

Perez-Corona, who has been in the country since 1988, now has legal status here, but hes never forgotten the fear he felt 10 years ago when he said he was pulled over by a police officer in Indianapolis for no reason and asked to produce residency papers. He spent nine days in jail, but it took years to resolve his case with IndyCANs help.

Going where others wont

Sister Tracey said examples like that inspire her to do the hard work that others, even many within the church, are reluctant to embrace.

This is the heart of our mission, she said. When our sisters first came here, they were really pioneers, and thats still kind of our role. (Sisters) often choose to be in places where other people tend not to be. But if were not willing to get out in the trenches, what are we doing?

Its also challenging, she said, because it forces us to ask questions that are uncomfortable.

Take immigration, for example. Were dealing with this narrative that says all immigrants are criminals and that the only people being deported are criminals, which we know isnt true, she said. She has worked with IndyCan to develop a hotline for immigrants and others to call if they feel threatened by authorities.

She wasnt always so welcoming to undocumented immigrants, she said, recalling a high school discussion more than 10 years ago about building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

I was one of those who said, Theyre criminals; its pretty clear, theyre breaking the law. But I had no idea.

A teacher assigned her to research the other side of the argument. I was so ticked off, but it was really smart of her. I had to see - why are people crossing, what are their stories, whats behind this?

So she allows some grace for those who are not yet willing to fight what she believes is a moral imperative.

I have to remember my own transformation, and Ive come a really long way as far as understanding and getting a broader picture of peoples experiences and perspectives. If its possible for me, being as stubborn as I am, its possible for anyone.

Sister Traceys work in the community was just recognized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, who held their Spring General Assembly in Indianapolis. In a reception June 14, she received the 2017 Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award, sponsored by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, for her work to reduce poverty and racial inequality.

In prepared remarks, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, formerly archbishop of Indianapolis, described Sister Tracey as a dynamic young woman promoting the common good among immigrants and brothers and sisters living in poverty.

While the day-to-day slow work of God is not always glamorous, her ministry lends hope, said Shoshanna Spector, executive director of IndyCAN.

Society yearns for courageous, prophetic leaders who are prepared to inspire, speak out and support the most marginalized. Sister Tracey is this person.

___

Source: The Indianapolis Star, http://indy.st/2sKSVKC

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com

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6 Things Quantum Computers Will Be Incredibly Useful For – Singularity Hub

Posted: at 2:26 pm

Computers dont exist in a vacuum. They serve to solve problems, and the type of problems they can solve are influenced by their hardware. Graphics processors are specialized for rendering images; artificial intelligence processors for AI; and quantum computers designed forwhat?

While the power of quantum computing is impressive, it does not mean that existing software simply runs a billion times faster. Rather, quantum computers have certain types of problems which they are good at solving, and those which they arent. Below are some of the primary applications we should expect to see as this next generation of computers becomes commercially available.

A primary application for quantum computing is artificial intelligence (AI). AI is based on the principle of learning from experience, becoming more accurate as feedback is given, until the computer program appears to exhibit intelligence.

This feedback is based on calculating the probabilities for many possible choices, and so AI is an ideal candidate for quantum computation. It promises to disrupt every industry, from automotives to medicine, and its been said AI will be to the twenty-first century what electricity was to the twentieth.

For example, Lockheed Martin plans to use its D-Wave quantum computer to test autopilot software that is currently too complex for classical computers, and Google is using a quantum computer to design software that can distinguish cars from landmarks. We have already reached the point where AI is creating more AI, and so its importance will rapidly escalate.

Another example is precision modeling of molecular interactions, finding the optimum configurations for chemical reactions. Such quantum chemistry is so complex that only the simplest molecules can be analyzed by todays digital computers.

Chemical reactions are quantum in nature as they form highly entangled quantum superposition states. But fully-developed quantum computers would not have any difficulty evaluating even the most complex processes.

Google has already made forays in this field by simulating the energy of hydrogen molecules. The implication of this is more efficient products, from solar cells to pharmaceutical drugs, and especially fertilizer production; since fertilizer accounts for 2 percent of global energy usage, the consequences for energy and the environment would be profound.

Most online security currently depends on the difficulty of factoring large numbers into primes. While this can presently be accomplished by using digital computers to search through every possible factor, the immense time required makes cracking the code expensive and impractical.

Quantum computers can perform such factoring exponentially more efficiently than digital computers, meaning such security methods will soon become obsolete. New cryptography methods are being developed, though it may take time: in August 2015 the NSA began introducing a list of quantum-resistant cryptography methods that would resist quantum computers, and in April 2016 the National Institute of Standards and Technology began a public evaluation process lasting four to six years.

There are also promising quantum encryption methods being developed using the one-way nature of quantum entanglement. City-wide networks have already been demonstrated in several countries, and Chinese scientists recently announced they successfully sent entangled photons from an orbiting quantum satellite to three separate base stations back on Earth.

Modern markets are some of the most complicated systems in existence. While we have developed increasingly scientific and mathematical tools to address this, it still suffers from one major difference between other scientific fields: theres no controlled setting in which to run experiments.

To solve this, investors and analysts have turned to quantum computing. One immediate advantage is that the randomness inherent to quantum computers is congruent to the stochastic nature of financial markets. Investors often wish to evaluate the distribution of outcomes under an extremely large number of scenarios generated at random.

Another advantage quantum offers is that financial operations such as arbitrage may require many path-dependent steps, the number of possibilities quickly outpacing the capacity of a digital computer.

NOAA Chief Economist Rodney F. Weiher claims(PowerPoint file)that nearly 30 percent of the US GDP ($6 trillion) is directly or indirectly affected by weather, impacting food production, transportation, and retail trade, among others. The ability to better predict the weather would have enormous benefit to many fields, not to mention more time to take cover from disasters.

While this has long been a goal of scientists, the equations governing such processes contain many, many variables, making classical simulation lengthy. As quantum researcher Seth Lloyd pointed out, Using a classical computer to perform such analysis might take longer than it takes the actual weather to evolve! This motivated Lloyd and colleagues at MIT to show that the equations governing the weather possess a hidden wave nature which are amenable to solution by a quantum computer.

Director of engineering at Google Hartmut Neven also noted that quantum computers could help build better climate models that could give us more insight into how humans are influencing the environment. These models are what we build our estimates of future warming on, and help us determine what steps need to be taken now to prevent disasters.

The United Kingdoms national weather service Met Office has already begun investing in such innovation to meet the power and scalability demands theyll be facing in the 2020-plus timeframe, and released a report on its own requirements for exascale computing.

Coming full circle, a final application of this exciting new physics might be studying exciting new physics. Models of particle physics are often extraordinarily complex, confounding pen-and-paper solutions and requiring vast amounts of computing time for numerical simulation. This makes them ideal for quantum computation, and researchers have already been taking advantage of this.

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck and the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) recently used a programmable quantum system to perform such a simulation. Published in Nature, the team used a simple version of quantum computer in which ions performed logical operations, the basic steps in any computer calculation. This simulation showed excellent agreement compared toactual experiments of the physics described.

These two approaches complement one another perfectly, says theoretical physicist Peter Zoller. We cannot replace the experiments that are done with particle colliders. However, by developing quantum simulators, we may be able to understand these experiments better one day.

Investors are now scrambling to insert themselves into the quantum computing ecosystem, and its not just the computer industry: banks, aerospace companies, and cybersecurity firms are among those taking advantage of the computational revolution.

While quantum computing is already impacting the fields listed above, the list is by no means exhaustive, and thats the most exciting part. As with all new technology, presently unimaginable applications will be developed as the hardware continues to evolve and create new opportunities.

Image Credit:IQOQI Innsbruck/Harald Ritsch

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Ascension | League of Legends Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia

Posted: at 2:24 pm

Ascension is a recurring temporary game mode originally made for the Shuriman event available from September 10 to 25, 2014. On April 8, 2016, it was added to the list of Rotating Game Modes. It is exclusive to the Crystal Scar.

Ascension Loading background

A sandstorm rages around the Crystal Scar, significantly reducing vision. It is not possible to leave the fountain on foot. Instead, players must teleport onto one of the ports (originally the capture points in Dominion) via a game mode-exclusive trinket: the Golden Transcendence. First use of the trinket may be used 30 seconds after the players enter the game. Each team has the nearest center and lower ports exclusively and the top center port is open to both teams. In addition, recalling to base has been disabled, so players can't buy new items until they die and respawn at the fountain again. The outer circular lane of the Crystal Scar is not open. Players begin play at level 3, with 1300 starting Gold and 56 per 10 seconds. Ascension features a Shuriman-themed user interface, which displays the team scores and the current Ascended. This mode uses all the items and champion changes of Dominion.

At the center of the map resides Xerath as an Ancient Ascendant: a stationary neutral monster. Killing him bestows the "Ascension" buff, which significantly empowers its bearer. Champions can only ascend by killing the monster and not by killing another Ascended; the Ancient Ascendant must be slain again, who reappears shortly after the last Ascended champion dies.

The first team to 200 points wins:

When the Ancient Ascendant is killed, it will leave behind a circle. After ~3 seconds, any champion inside the circle will become eligible to gain the Ascension Buff. Note that if there are champions from both teams inside the circle, neither team will be able to claim the buff. Upon claiming it, the champion enters a stasis mode (like Zhonya's Hourglass). After ~5 seconds, the champion will come out, fully healed, enlarged ~20%, and a knock back shock wave will discharge, sending all enemy champions ~600 units away and cause them to be dazed for 1 second. The Ascended champion has no Mana and Energy costs, and their Health costs are reduced by 50%. They also receive (50*level) bonus health, (12*level) bonus attack damage and ability power, +15% armor penetration & magic penetration and +25% Cooldown reduction (maintaining the 40% cap). However, all incoming healing effects are reduced by 50% and the Ascended is always visible even while stealthed or in brush.

There are 3 Relics of Shurima in Ascension; top right, top left, and lower center in a circular pattern. Relics provide reveal for ~300 range and are over a speed boosting aura. Relics are captured by standing within 200 range of the item, right clicking, and waiting for the progress bar to deplete. If a capturing champion receives any non-DOT damage, is displaced, or moves willingly before the progress bar is depleted the relic will reset. Multiple champions can capture at the same time increasing the rate of capture. When multiple champs are capturing and one cancels his capture, his progress is maintained by the other capturing champions. Once a relic is capture, the map fog will conceal the area until it respawns ~30 seconds later.

The Shurima event comes with special summoner icons if the player achieves a minimum number of wins or gets a perfect ascension game.

Shurima - Login Screen

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Space Exploration | Aviation Week

Posted: at 2:23 pm

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Country: Select country UNITED STATES CANADA ABU DHABI ADEN AFGHANISTAN AL HUCEMAS IS ALBANIA ALGERIA ANDAMAN IS ANDORRA ANGOLA ANGUILLA ANTIGUA ARGENTINA ARMENIA ARUBA ASCENSION IS AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA AZERBAIJAN AZORES IS BAHAMAS BAHRAIN BANGLADESH BARBADOS BARBUDA BELARUS BELEARIC IS BELGIUM BELIZE BENIN BERMUDA BHUTAN BOLIVIA BORNEO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA BOTSWANA BRAZIL BRITISH VIRGIN IS BRITISH WEST INDIES BRUNEI BULGARIA BURKINA FASO BURUNDI CAMBODIA CAMEROON CANARY ISLANDS CAPE VERDE ISLANDS CAYMAN ISLANDS CENTRAL AFRICAN REP CHAD CHAFERINAS IS CHANNEL IS CHATHAM IS CHILE CHINA COCO ISLAND COLOMBIA COMOROS CONGO COOK IS COOK ISLANDS COSTA RICA CROATIA CUBA CYPRUS CZECH REPUBLIC DENMARK DJIBOUTI DOMINICA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC EAST TIMOR ECUADOR EGYPT EL SALVADOR ENGLAND ERITREA ESTONIA ETHIOPIA FAEROE ISLANDS FALKLAND ISLANDS FIJI FINLAND FRANCE FRENCH GUIANA FRENCH POLYNESIA FRENCH WEST INDIES FUTUNA ISLANDS GABON GAMBIA GAZA STRIP GEORGIA GERMANY GHANA GIBRALTAR GILBERT IS GREECE GREENLAND GRENADA GUADELOUPE GUATEMALA GUERNSEY GUINEA GUYANA HAITI HONDURAS HONG KONG HUNGARY ICELAND INDIA INDONESIA IRAN IRAQ IRELAND ISLE OF MAN ISRAEL ITALY IVORY COAST JAMAICA JAPAN JORDAN KAZAKHSTAN KENYA KIRGHIZIA KIRIBATI KOSOVO KUWAIT KYRGYZSTAN LAOS LATVIA LEBANON LESOTHO LIBERIA LIBYA LIECHTENSTEIN LITHUANIA LUXEMBOURG MACAO MACEDONIA MADAGASCAR MALAGASY MALAWI MALAYSIA MALDIVES MALI MALTA MARSHALL ISLANDS MARTINIQUE MAURITANIA MAURITIUS MAYOTTE MEXICO MICRONESIA MOLDOVA MOLUCA IS MONACO MONGOLIA MONTENEGRO MONTSERRAT MOROCCO MOZAMBIQUE MYANMAR NAMIBIA NAURU NEPAL NETHERLAND ANTILLES NETHERLANDS NEVIS NEW CALEDONIA NEW GUINEA NEW ZEALAND NICARAGUA NIGER NIGERIA NORTH KOREA NORTHERN IRELAND NORWAY OMAN ORKNEY IS PAKISTAN PALAU PALESTINE PANAMA PARACEL ISLANDS PARAGUAY PERU PHILIPPINES PHOENIX IS PITCAIRN IS POLAND PORTUGAL QATAR REUNION ROMANIA RUSSIA RWANDA SAN MARINO SAO TOME E PRINCIPE SARAWAK SAUDI ARABIA SCOTLAND SENEGAL SERBIA SEYCHELLES SIERRA LEONE SINGAPORE SLOVAK REPUBLIC SLOVENIA SOLOMON ISLANDS SOMALIA SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH KOREA SPAIN SRI LANKA ST CROIX ST KITTS ST LUCIA ST MAARTEN ST MARTIN ST PIERRE ST VINCENT SUDAN SURINAME SWAZILAND SWEDEN SWITZERLAND SYRIA TAHITI TAIWAN TAJIKISTAN TANZANIA TASMANIA THAILAND TIBET TOGO TONGA TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TUNISIA TURKEY TURKMENISTAN TURKS ISLAND TUVALU UGANDA UKRAINE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES URUGUAY UZBEKISTAN VANUATU VATICAN CITY VENEZUELA VIETNAM WALES WALLIS ISLAND WESTERN SAHARA WESTERN SAMOA YEMEN ZAIRE ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE

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Neil deGrasse Tyson is Developing a Space Exploration Video Game – Big Think

Posted: at 2:23 pm

What if a video game could teach science in a way that didnt put gamers to sleep?

Thats the idea behind a new game called Space Odyssey, which aims to be a virtual universe governed by real scientific laws where players can build planets and solar systems and explore the cosmos. Neil deGrasse Tyson is helping to develop the game and is planned to be the narrator who guides players through space.

Space Odyssey, as Business Insider reports, would feature buildingactivity similar toMinecraft, space colonization akin to that in Civilization: Beyond Earth, elements of exploration like No Mans Sky, and echoes ofElon Musks favoriterocket-building simulator,Kerbal Space Program.

What would set this game apart, however, is its educational bent and insistence on using real-life science to inform the mechanisms of the game. On this point Tyson won't budge.

I have no patience for people who say, I dont want the laws of physics to constrain me, Tyson said at a recent E3 convention.

The game is in early stages of development and at the time of writing has received just more than a third of its $314,159Kickstarter goal.

can-video-games-teach-values

If the game receives full funding (which wouldn't solely come from the Kickstarter) players will be able to develop planets, colonize worlds, nurture species, mine elements, build robots, and discover unique life-forms as you coordinate with others in an intense game of real-time strategy, according to the Kickstarter video.

The first stage of the game would take place onProxima B, which, at 4 light years away, is the closest known exoplanet to our solar system. Players would explore the planet and acclimate themselves to the game with Neil's voice helping them learn the ropes. They would then move to a space station where they'd be able to create, terraform and protect a home planet. Other major activities, missions, and narrative arcs are planned, as well.

Players would also be able to explore systems created by other online players or prominent scientists and fictional world-builders like Tyson, Bill Nye, George R.R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, and Peter Beagle, according to the Kickstarter page.

Space Odyssey co-creator elaborated in an interview with Digital Trends:

Part of the gameplay will allow you to grow a planetary system, Murphy said. Its size and scope is relative to the level of challenge you would like to undertake. You can grow and mature these planets as much as youd like, creating colonies, ports, mining structures, undertake trade of elements you discover/mine or invent or innovate. We are adding strategic partners that will consult with us on design and tech possibilities, including Bigelow Aerospace and the National Space Society to name a couple.

Murphy said Tyson has played a creative and scientific role in the game's development.

Hes helped create challenges in the game, and has challenged our creative team to entertain and inspire, Murphy said. He has also brought forward some incredible collaborators to our efforts, an incredible team of scientists, astronauts and explorers.

Accordingto a fact sheet for the game, Space Odysseyis being designed for PC and will target the Steam market but plans also call for virtual reality missions that will be playable on Oculus Rift or Samsung Gear.

Its a departure from what the core game feels like when you play it, but thats okay. Our goal with the VR missions is to take things to an even more educational level, Murphy said.

It remains to be seen if Space Odyssey can fuse science education into its ships and terraformed planets, and end up with gameplay that's compelling to mainstream gamers.Minecraft,one of the most widely played video games ever, is one of the few games that's bridged the gap of education and playability some teachers even use it to teach lessons in the classroom.

Space Odyssey reportedly borrows some ofMinecraft'sbuilding-blocks applications. Add that to Tyson's narration and preternatural ability to get the masses absolutely hyped for science, and this new game might just have a chance at taking off.

neil-degrasse-tyson-bringing-commercial-space-fantasies-back-to-earth

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2 Nations Are Vying To Be The New Heavyweights Of Space … – ABC2 News

Posted: at 2:23 pm

Power players of space exploration are relativelyfew and far between, but the list is growing. India and China are making strides to keep up with and even surpass mature programs like those in the U.S. and Russia.

India recentlysent 31 satellitesfrom 15 different countries into orbit. And in early 2017, it sent 104 satellites into orbit at once the most everfor a single rocket. It surpassed the previous record of 37 setby Russia in 2014.

China is set to send an unmanned probe to the moon to bring back thefirst soil samplesin more than 40 years. By 2018, it's expected to be the first country to soft-land a probe on thefar side of the moon.

India and China are also two of six space agencies in the"heavy-lift" rocket club. China joined at theend of 2016, and in June, Indiasuccessfully launchedsatellite into orbit that's several tons and 13 stories tall.

SEE MORE: A NASA Engineer Has A Creative New Way To Find Missing Rockets

And it doesn't look like they're ready to slow down, either. In the next five years, Indiaplans to send25 rockets into space and spend $6 billion on its space program.

Meanwhile, China is set to build its own space station. Constructionwill start in 2019, and it's expected to be done by 2022. That's two years ahead of thepossible retirementof the International Space Station.

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2 Nations Are Vying To Be The New Heavyweights Of Space ... - ABC2 News

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2 Nations Are Vying To Be The New Heavyweights Of Space Exploration – NewsChannel5.com

Posted: at 2:23 pm

Power players of space exploration are relativelyfew and far between, but the list is growing. India and China are making strides to keep up with and even surpass mature programs like those in the U.S. and Russia.

India recentlysent 31 satellitesfrom 15 different countries into orbit. And in early 2017, it sent 104 satellites into orbit at once the most everfor a single rocket. It surpassed the previous record of 37 setby Russia in 2014.

China is set to send an unmanned probe to the moon to bring back thefirst soil samplesin more than 40 years. By 2018, it's expected to be the first country to soft-land a probe on thefar side of the moon.

India and China are also two of six space agencies in the"heavy-lift" rocket club. China joined at theend of 2016, and in June, Indiasuccessfully launchedsatellite into orbit that's several tons and 13 stories tall.

SEE MORE: A NASA Engineer Has A Creative New Way To Find Missing Rockets

And it doesn't look like they're ready to slow down, either. In the next five years, Indiaplans to send25 rockets into space and spend $6 billion on its space program.

Meanwhile, China is set to build its own space station. Constructionwill start in 2019, and it's expected to be done by 2022. That's two years ahead of thepossible retirementof the International Space Station.

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Driftmoon talks India with Trancehub! – Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog)

Posted: at 2:20 pm

If asked to define Driftmoon, one can say Driftmoon is heart and mind combined into perfect harmony. Juraj Klicka, better known as the face of Driftmoon defines modern trance for all. It is pure, melodic, orchestral and puts the listener in a state of tranquil.So far every track by Driftmoon (including Drifter, Exodus, Leviticus, Howl At The Moon, Cama) have rocked planet trance and been supported by Armin Van Buuren on ASOT, earning Future Favourite and Tune Of The Week status on more than one occasion. Not only the king of trance but Aly & Fila, Markus Schulz, W&W, Solarstone, Jorn Van Deynhoven, Max Graham and the best of the rest are now hooked on Driftmoons phenomenal sounds.

The man flies down to India next week for a two city tour. Before he comes here, we sit down with him for a short Q&A about his expectations from here, his upcoming work and many other things!

Hi Juraj its lovely to finally have you perform in India! How does it feel like to finally come here?

Hi! Thank you for having me there and thank you for this interview. India has been in my sight for years even before I started making music. Its a beautiful country with rich cultural and historical heritage so its the place I want to visit of course, absolutely cant wait to breathe some of the history personally next week!

Have you planned to visit any places or looking forward to eating here?

India is a huge place and I would love to travel it all by train, which is what my sister did few years ago when she was traveling and backpacking there, I loved the photos ! It looks gorgeous. Also Indian cusine is one of my most beloved ones so of course, I will eat as much as I can there!

Driftmoon was a two-member project, which started off with you and Mikka. How did it all begin?

Driftmoon was originally a two member project made up of David Sherlock (owner of Freshly Squeezed Samples) and Miikka Leinonen, I joined the projects when they had difficulties finishing any of the tracks, they had great ideas (such as Drifter, Luminance, Howl At The Moon,) but they lacked technical skills to make the ideas into records, thats where I stepped in. David soon left to focus purely on FSS and Miikka left the project last year when he wanted to pursue a different path. I am fully dedicated to the project and Ive invested everything into making it a success.

How did you decide to name your project Driftmoon?

Originally we had huge problems with naming the project, we wrote down all our ideas on single document and then we were checking online which were available, Driftmoon was the last left and we went with it, eventually by the time we released a first track we found out that there is an indie game called Driftmoon as well, funny coincidence!

How did you start producing music? What inspires what you produce? Any specific place, person or an artist?

I started producing music when I was 15 but I didnt really get into it before I was 22, I went to study music and composition in UK and USA. By that time I already knew that I want to make and compose music full time for living.

Central Europe is a hotbed for trance producers at the moment, the change has come about in the last few years. What really led to this?

I think its a matter of geopolitical circumstances, situation in Europe allows young people to explore different aspects of life as well and it can lead many teenagers and adults to pursue career paths they wouldnt be normally allowed to.

Any artist you would like to collaborate with? Or you would like to play a B2B set with?

I take huge pride in my music and there arent many people I would love to collaborate with, I think only few (and classical) composers come to mind, no one from trance scene, sorry!

You happen to be a huge fan of tattoos. Which one is your most favorite one and why? Any meaning behind it?

I am huge fan of tattoos and the pain because even if you believe it or not, it cleans my mind because you have to be there and simply take it. It calms my mind down and I can focus more on important stuff. There are many I like but their meaning will be hidden, sorry!

You recently met Grammy nominated Cellist Tina Guo. Is there a collaboration on the cards? Could you tell us a little more about it?

I worked with her on my album already, she is an amazing person! I cant reveal anything for the future, yet

You have had fairly great relations with United Music Transmission, how did they start?

United Music Events are based in Prague even despite the owners are Dutch, they needed help with their show few years ago and one of the owners contacted me, now I am working full time on the show each year, another happy coincidence!

Any message for the Indian fans who are excited to see you in India?

I absolutely cannot wait to see all of you in India! It will be an amazing party, I promise you that.

Driftmoon performs in Pune on the 30th of June and Bangalore on the 2nd of July. Get your tickets here!

Pune :https://tinyurl.com/DriftMoon-Pune

Bangalore : https://tinyurl.com/DriftMoon-Bangalore

Trance enthusiast. Armada Ambassador. Content writer. Im not afraid of 138! Making people give Trance a chance.

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Driftmoon talks India with Trancehub! - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog)

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‘Pokemon Go’ Technical Machine: How to Use a TM to Learn a New Move – Heavy.com

Posted: at 2:19 pm

(Niantic)

One of the new features that Niantic has now added toPokemon Goare technical machines. TMs come in two types: Fast Training Machine and Charged Training Machine. Each item can be used to teach a new move to one of your Pokemon.Pokemon trainers are really excited about these new items, since theyve been waiting a long time for the ability to teach their Pokemon new moves.

According to Pokemon Go Hub, youll need to be at least level 15 to use a Fast TM, and at least level 25 to use a Charged TM. The Fast TM will teach your Pokemon a random fast move, and the Charged TM will teach your Pokemon a random charged move. Both TMs are among the new items that will drop after you win a raid battle. Raid battles are still in beta and you must be at least level 35 to participate in one. But starting at some point in July, raid battles will be available to everyone, and so will TMs.

Teaching your Pokemon a new move with a TM is pretty easy. First, just go to your bag, find the TM, and select it. At this time, your Pokemon screen will appear and you can scroll through and select the Pokemon that you want to use the TM on. You can only get moves that are currently available when youre using a TM. The Go Hub DB provides a nice list of TM-eligible moves here.

As far as which Pokemon you can use a TM on: the skys the limit. You can use as many TMs as you want on the same Pokemon, and you can use TMs on any level or gender. All Pokemon are eligible for TMs. But remember: youll always get anewmove when you use a TM on a Pokemon. There will be no chance of getting the same move you already have. And legacy moves are not among the current possible outcomes.

See photos and videos of what raid battles in Pokemon Go look like. The beta raids are available to level 35 players and up.

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'Pokemon Go' Technical Machine: How to Use a TM to Learn a New Move - Heavy.com

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