ChemCam sends digital ?thumbs up?: Martian landing area could be a boon for scientific study

ScienceDaily (Aug. 9, 2012) ? Members of the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover ChemCam team got a digital thumbs up about the operational readiness of their instrument just hours after the rover landed on Martian soil late Sunday evening.

Los Alamos National Laboratory planetary scientist Roger Wiens, Principal Investigator of the ChemCam Team, confirmed that the instrument sent word to its handlers on Earth that it was alive and healthy.

"Following the fantastic landing of Curiosity on Mars, ChemCam proceeded with an aliveness test within an hour of landing," Wiens announced. "This was essentially the same routine as performed five months earlier in the middle of its cruise (to Mars). We are giving the all-clear from our perspective to raise the (rover) mast on Sol 2. All systems are go!"

The aliveness check means that, as far as the international team of scientists is concerned, ChemCam can begin its next task of transmitting photographic images of the rover as a system check.

The ChemCam instrument combines a high-resolution camera powerful enough to view a human hair from seven feet away with a high-power laser that can zap rocks from a distance of as much as 23 feet to determine their composition. If everything goes according to plan, ChemCam could fire its first laser pulses at a Martian rock on Sol 10 or 11 (August 18 or 19).

Because Curiosity's mission is scheduled to last an entire Martian year, or 98 Earth weeks, the MSL science team -- composed of members from each of the rover's 10 instruments -- is proceeding slowly at first to ensure that the vehicle is ready and able to make its slow road trip on a geological sightseeing trip through Gale crater and the slopes of Mount Sharp.

The rover seems to have landed in a good spot within the crater, Wiens said.

"The idea is that the gravel we're seeing is alluvium coming down from the rim of the crater," he said. "The alluvium from the rim is potentially more ancient than Mount Sharp," which some have suggested holds a billion years or more of Martian geological history within its strata.

Some members of the ChemCam team see the alluvial pebbles as a unique, drive-by study opportunity. Los Alamos post-doctoral researcher Nina Lanza, has previously studied rock varnish on Earth rocks. The dark varnish appears on rocks in arid locations like the desert southwest. The weathered coating, while extremely thin, may provide clues about whether Mars once harbored ancient life.

"Rock varnish on Earth is not clearly understood," Lanza said. "It's not yet certain whether a biological component is necessary for its formation."

The ability to study extraterrestrial rock varnish, if no indications of bacterial life are present on Mars, could help scientists better understand terrestrial processes by which these varnishes form on rock, or varnishes could serve as a possible confirmatory test that life was once present at locations beyond Earth and Mars.

ChemCam's tiny bursts of laser energy can gently vaporize the coating bits at a time until it reaches the pristine rock below. The data from ChemCam's laser and spectrometer can probe the makeup of rock varnish, or indicate to researchers whether the varnish is contaminated with layers of material from other weather-related geological processes.

"ChemCam is the perfect instrument to see these types of subtle chemistry changes through the surface of rocks," Lanza said.

Throughout the Curiosity rover's mission, ChemCam has the ability to sample thousands of locations on Mars. The instrument is a collaboration between research organizations within the United States and France. More than 45 LANL scientists, students and other personnel comprise the entire ChemCam team.

For more information, visit the ChemCam website (http://www.msl-chemcam.com).

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120809150353.htm

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IT Security Expert: 94.5% of Business Overlook Third Party Data ...

egress, specialists in data security and have their very own email and data encryption software,?surveyed businesses about data security and have provided the following snapshot of their?survey results to share on this blog.

You need to Love yourself before you can Love Others
This survey echoes the same old information?security issues, businesses do not fully grasp and value the confidential information to which they process and store. This leads to a lack of expertise, capability and will to protect such data?adequately within the business. It is not?surprising?then to learn such business are?blindly trusting third parties to which they share their most important?data, to protect their data?sufficiently. They say you need to love yourself before you can love others, same applies to?information?security and assuring third parties protect business data properly.

Source: http://blog.itsecurityexpert.co.uk/2012/08/945-of-business-overlook-third-party.html

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Finding fur-ever homes for pets could net Bangor Humane Society ...

When the Bangor Humane Society emptied the shelter of animals in March as part of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals?s Mega Match-a-thon, Executive Director Suzan Bell was beyond words.

?We were not ready for the emotion of having every animal adopted,? Bell said. ?I will never forget standing in dog adoptions and hearing nothing but the air exchange.?

In March, the shelter had 101 animals available for adoption. The staff anticipated it would take all weekend to adopt out all the animals. Instead, it took ?12.5 hours? That adoption drive showed that it was possible to find homes for area animals.

Now, the shelter is ready to do it again, and then some. The community voted for Bangor Humane Society to be one of 50 shelters nationwide ? and the only shelter in Maine ? to compete in the ASPCA?s Rachael Ray $100K Challenge.

Bell and her staff are ready for the three month challenge. According to the Challenge rules, the shelter needed to adopt out 300 more animals than it did last year from August 1-October 31. That meant 1,200 animals need to be adopted or reunited. The shelter with the biggest net change wins the $100,000. In addition, there?s a $20,000 grant for the shelter who is rated first in its geographic region and another $25,000 grant for community engagement through Facebook and Bangor Humane?s website.

?We are energized and driven by the possibility to transform our agency through this challenge into the premier pet adoption facility in our community,? Bell said. ?If we win the challenge we will reinvest the money into developing and strengthening our community outreach programs to expand off-site adoption opportunities, grow our foster care family, and increase our collaborative partnerships with community organizations to increase the adoptability of our pets and to encourage pet adoption with our agency.?

Bangor Humane Society will work collaboratively with the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society in Lewiston and the Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick to reach their goal of 1,200 adoptions.

On the first day of the challenge, August 1, between foster care, in-house, and strays Bangor Humane Society had 300 pets available for adoption. By Monday, 140 animals were adopted. While the shelter was ready for a rush of adoptors Bell said activity was steady.

?We can keep all these animals healthy, do surgeries, and save their lives medically,? Bell said. ?We do it all the time. But I can not personally adopt 1,200 animals. We need [the public] to come in and adopt.?

For people considering adoption, the matchmaking process is the same. Adoption fees are waived on adult cats seven months or older, and reduced 50 percent for adult dogs over seven months old. All animals adopted from Bangor Humane Society are current with immunizations, have been spayed or neutered, and come with a complete personality profile.

?We need adopters because at the same time that we?re adopting out animals we?re seeing more surrenders,? Bell said.

To stay current with the shelter?s progress, visit www.bangorhumane.org or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BangorHumane.

If you want to help increase community awareness, especially on Facebook, use the hashtag #100KChallenge.

Source: http://bangordailynews.com/2012/08/08/the-weekly/finding-fur-ever-homes-for-pets-could-net-bangor-humane-society-100k/

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Moving Agencies - South Jersey Real Estate Agent

Moving businesses - these are a dime a dozen. However, if you ever before are scheduling on moving or relocating to a different area or from level A to place B, you?ve got no choice but to go out and offer with them. You really want to thoroughly pick concerning what moving corporation you?ll hire for your personal move. You furthermore might need to bear in intellect that the movers will likely be dealing with your prized belongings, your family heirlooms and other valuables that you just have that needs to be moved or relocated. So then, you have to consult on your own this issue: can they be dependable? Can they be reliable to deal with your valuables together with other possessions in a superb fashion? Also, can they be trusted not to steal everything from you since they move your things?

Nicely, you?ll want to then contemplate all of the on top of and far a lot more. Are their management and staff members experienced adequate to take care of your moving desires? Can they deliver the things they guarantee you of and in a timely and dignified method? Do they have every one of the suitable products needed for your relocation? It is also correct for you to inquire whatsoever moving firm which you select whenever they have insurance policy. They need to have insurance plan not just for them and their personnel and gear, but additionally insurance policy to address any mishaps which may befall your items to be moved. It cannot be served that mishaps do transpire.

Sometimes accidents manifest in the course of the moving of your points - specifically your valuables. It might take place the moving personnel break a number of your breakable goods like eyeglasses, vases and other household decor. Also, damage might arise to several of your office tools like PCs and laptop computer. So is incredibly prudent good enough on your portion to request the moving corporation if they have these sorts of insurance policies which can deal with any damages in your details.

One of one?s greatest decisions to create is always to choose people reputable and properly established moving businesses like individuals movers in Encino. They may have currently been on this moving organization for any really long time and therefore are actually skilled in this fashion. They?ve got also crafted up a superb reputation above the years they?ve been in provider there in Encino, California. Due to this, they have got produced a large base of faithful and very pleased prospects.

Since they are so excellent at what they do, the movers in Encino is actually your best choice if you have to have a moving organization to service your moving desires. Their office personnel are incredibly courteous and well trained to cope with all kinds of consumers - from moving whole properties and workplaces to only a small component of your household or so. It is possible to call them up via their place of work mobile phone lines and e book a moving services. Following a couple of customary thoughts, their place of work personnel can right away provide you with an estimate concerning just how much it could set you back. In the exact same fashion, their personnel who do the moving bodily are very well qualified to all of the needs and sensitivities in their customers. Their moving equipments are also top from the line and very well-maintained. Consequently, you?ll be able to definitely be confident to possess like an exquisite moving knowledge!

Looking to find the best deal on movers in Encino, then visit http://1losangelesmovers.com to find the best advice on movers in Malibu for you.

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Source: http://southjerseyrealestateagent.com/?p=10406

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Postcard from London: Huddled masses stuck in traffic

Expats search for home-country Olympics

From the Irish pubs of Stockholm to bustling Koreatown in Los Angeles, expat Olympic fans around the world are following - or trying to follow - their favorite back-home athletes, an often lonely and difficult pursuit in our otherwise connected world.??|?Aug.?4?at?11:19?a.m.

Source: http://www.lvrj.com/r?19=961&43=360009&44=165159426&32=4051&7=401609&40=http://www.lvrj.com/blogs/graney/postcard_from_london_huddled_masses_stuck_in_traffic.html

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Fewer disasters help lift Munich Re profit in Q2

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) ? Reinsurer Munich Re saw its second-quarter profit improve 10 percent from a year ago thanks to better investment returns and fewer expenses for natural disasters.

The company said Tuesday that net profit during the period rose to ?812 million ($1.0 billion) from ?738 million in the second quarter last year. Gross premiums rose 5.5 percent to ?12.63 billion.

It benefited from not having to write down Greek government bonds, which cost it ?125 million in the same quarter a year ago. That quarter's earnings had also been burdened by claims for tornados in the United States.

CEO Nikolaus von Bomhard said the current low level of interest rates was a hazard for its business ? "far greater than the volatility of markets or the worsened global economy." It invests much of its premium income in interest-bearing securities.

Bomhard said the company's "conservative approach" to investing and writing insurance "is proving robust in these uncertain times."

The company, whose biggest shareholder is U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett at 11.2 percent, focused much of its earnings discussion on the first half rather than the second quarter. It said its investment result for the half improved significantly after some ?806 billion in writeoffs last year.

Greece's bonds fell sharply in value because of the country's financial crisis, and its creditors eventually agreed to forgive ?107 billion in debt earlier this year. Munich Re said it had reduced investment risk by shifting some of its holdings from bonds of riskier governments into safer investments such as U.S. Treasuries and German government bonds.

It said however that the very low interest returns on those investments presented a challenge to its earnings and added pressure to make sure its basic insurance underwriting business is profitable. The company had some 56.8 percent of its holdings in fixed-income investments and managed a total return of 3.8 percent, or ?4.05 billion, in the first half compared to 3.6 percent, or ?3.47 billion, a year ago.

Central banks including the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank have cut interest rates to record lows, leading to tiny or even negative returns on some extra-safe government bonds.

Munich Re earns money two ways: by keeping claim payouts less than its costs and premiums, and by investing premiums to get market returns.

As a reinsurance company, it writes backup insurance for primary insurers so that the insurance industry can cover catastrophic claims, such as from natural disasters. It also has primary health and property insurance businesses.

Munich Re shares rose 0.6 percent to ?118.50 in morning trading in Europe.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fewer-disasters-help-lift-munich-profit-q2-073302698--finance.html

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Google Doodle Pays Subtle Homage To Mars Rover Curiosity

Unless you live on Mars (wait, that one doesn’t work here…under a rock!), you know by now that the rover?Curiosity landed on Mars last night. Google’s search engine doodle today subtly honored the rover, placing a small drawing of it above a javelin thrower in the Olympics.?The doodle originally featured just the javelin thrower with a blimp above him, but updated to include Curiosity. Welcome to 2012, where Mars rovers tweet drawings of themselves on Google… That’s anything but the pits! Look again at the Aug 6 @googledoodles twitter.com/GoogleDoodles/? ? Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) August 6, 2012

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/lTJreE9Xz-s/

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