Whether it was inspired by the recent Instagram craze or not, Vimeo's new "Looks" have a pretty good chance of being welcomed with open arms (and eyes) by the video creators on its well-known platform. In partnership with Vivoom, the company announced today that it's bringing over 500 visual effects to the service as part of its Enhancer toolbox, giving folks the ability to easily add some flavor to their own video productions straight from a web browser. Furthermore, Vimeo's made it possible to preview these filters in real-time, as well as letting them be somewhat customizable by implementing various editing options, such as trimming and adjusting the intensity of each one. Vimeo also says the novel feature will be able to make recommendations based on "technical analysis of the user's video and social data," -- in other words, the more you use it, the more likely it is to learn your very own visual preferences.
Thanks to Vivoom's 16-year experience in the video effects field, Vimeo tells us it only expects the current Looks selection to grow and deliver more of the "highest quality effects," adding that the main goal is for each and every user to "find what's best for their personal needs." Speaking of which, all Vimeo account holders can play with the new Looks at no cost for the next 90 days, although the company wasn't quite clear as to what we can expect after that period comes to an end.
Update: Vimeo has reached out to let us know that following the 90-day trial, the Looks will cost 99 cents each.
The legally recognized and unchallenged DeKalb Board of Education members Melvin Johnson, Jim McMahan and Marshall Orson issued this statement on the state of affairs in the district:
As elected representatives on the DeKalb Board of Education, we find ourselves in a unique and confusing situation. We are the three members of the Board of Education not subject to the State Board of Education?s review process because we joined the DeKalb Board in January 2013, and the State Board?s action concerned the nine Board members who held office prior to January 2013.
We, along with Superintendent Michael Thurmond, are committed to restoring full accreditation and focusing our efforts on the academic achievement of DeKalb?s 99,000 students and the professional well-being of the people who teach and serve those students, and we pledge to restore making outcomes for children the priority of the DeKalb County School District.
We realize there is a great deal of frustration with the current legal proceedings. However, Judge Richard Story?s order clearly states that his intention is to maintain the ?status quo? until at least Friday, March, which, in effect, prohibits any action by the DeKalb Board of Education.
As a result of that order, any potential appointees by Governor Nathan Deal cannot take office, and the suspended members cannot participate in any decisions or official Board activity. Under Georgia law, a quorum of at least five members is required for the DeKalb Board of Education to act. With only the three of us authorized to act by virtue of the federal court order, the DeKalb Board of Education will lack a quorum to conduct any business until such time as there is a decision in the legal matter.
We will continue to work with Superintendent Thurmond to focus on our students, the hardworking educators who are with those students every day in our schools, and the parents and families who support them. We will not be satisfied until every decision made by the DeKalb County School District is made on the basis of how it advances our responsibility for student achievement.
?from Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Argo" stormed to Best Picture victory at the Oscars on Sunday on a night of surprises that ended in disappointment for frontrunner "Lincoln" and handed the most overall wins - four - to "Life of Pi."
It was the first time since "Driving Miss Daisy" in 1990 that a film won the top prize at the Oscars without its director also being nominated.
The honors for the Iran hostage drama marked a triumphant comeback into Hollywood's mainstream for director Ben Affleck, who failed to get a nomination in the directing category six weeks ago, and who struggled for years to rebuild his reputation after tabloid ridicule over his 2002-2004 romance with Jennifer Lopez.
"Argo" also won best film editing and best adapted screenplay for its gripping and often comedic tale of the CIA mission to rescue six U.S. diplomats from Tehran shortly after the Islamic Revolution.
"So many wonderful people extended their help to me when they had nothing to benefit from it ... you can't hold grudges. It's hard, but you can't hold grudges. It doesn't matter how you get knocked down in life, because it happens. All that matters is that you get up," the 40-year-old Affleck, who also produced the film, said in an emotional acceptance speech.
Ang Lee was an upset choice for Best Director for his lavish shipwreck tale "Life of Pi," beating the respected Steven Spielberg, whose presidential drama "Lincoln" took home just two Oscars from a leading 12 nominations.
The other three wins for "Life of Pi" came for original score, visual effects and cinematography."
The Best Picture Oscar for "Argo" was announced in one of the best kept secrets in the history of Oscar telecasts when first lady Michelle Obama made an unprecedented video appearance from the White House to open the winning envelope.
Daniel Day-Lewis, as expected, made Oscar history and won a long standing ovation on becoming the first man to win three Best Actor Oscars. He collected the golden statuette for his intense performance as U.S. President Abraham Lincoln battling to abolish slavery and end the U.S. civil war in "Lincoln."
"I really don't know how any of this happened," said Day-Lewis, who has dual Anglo-Irish citizenship.
Jennifer Lawrence was named Best Actress for playing a feisty young widow in comedy "Silver Linings Playbook", tripping up on her Dior dress while was going up on the stage.
BAD NIGHT FOR 'ZERO DARK THIRTY'
She beat "Zero Dark Thirty" actress Jessica Chastain and France's Emmanuelle Riva, 86, the star of Austrian foreign-language winner "Amour," in one of the closest Oscar contests this year.
The 5,800 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who chose the Oscar winners in secret ballots, dealt a stinging blow to "Zero Dark Thirty."
The movie about the 10-year-long hunt for Osama bin Laden, which has been attacked by Washington politicians and some human rights groups for its depiction of torture, came away with just one Academy Award out of five nominations.
Even that Oscar - for sound editing - had to be shared as it was a tie with James Bond blockbuster "Skyfall."
Sunday's show will also be remembered for the provocative performance given by Seth MacFarlane, creator of animated television series "Family Guy," in his debut as Oscars host.
MacFarlane, 39, pushed the envelope with cheeky songs like "We Saw Your Boobs" about actresses who have stripped down for movie roles, and jokes about Hollywood's large Jewish and gay communities.
He also turned the telecast into a running joke about whether he would be deemed the worst Oscar host ever by the media on Monday.
Anne Hathaway was a popular first time Oscar winner for her supporting turn in musical "Les Miserables."
"It came true," she said, cradling the golden statuette. Hathaway starved herself and chopped off her long brown locks to play the musical's tragic heroine Fantine in "Les Miserables" where she showed off hitherto little known talents as a singer.
Austrian, Christoph Waltz, seemed shocked to win the closest contest going into the ceremony. He took Best Supporting Actor honors for his turn as an eccentric dentist turned bounty hunter in Quentin Tarantino's slavery revenge fantasy "Django Unchained."
It was Waltz's second Oscar, after winning for the Tarantino movie "Inglourious Basterds" in 2010.
A jubilant Tarantino also won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, and credited the actors who brought the characters in all his films to life. "And boy this time, did I do it!," he said.
"Brave," the Pixar movie about a feisty Scottish princess, took home the golden statuette for Best Animated Feature.
ROME (AP) ? Italy's post-election political paralysis is spooking financial markets. But former Premier Silvio Berlusconi, whose strong showing defied pro-Europe pundits who thought he was politically finished, insists a government can be formed.
The conservative leader said Tuesday that Italians should ignore the "crazy" markets. His center-left rivals won Parliament's lower house after votes were counted Monday. But they failed to win an absolute majority in the upper house.
Pro-Europe leaders, who were hoping Italy would stay the course of tough economic reforms, are rattled by the prospects of legislative gridlock. Berlusconi says having another election soon won't solve problems, and called on fellow leaders to "make some sacrifices," an apparent call for a coalition government.
Jim Carrey's "awkward spiritual journey" took him to Elton John's annual Oscars bash Sunday night -- in giant prosthetic feet.
And just in case he tripped, the goofy actor also accessorized his casual suit with tiny angel wings.
"Goin' to Elton's party. Great cause!" he tweeted about the 21st AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party. "Wearing the perfect outfit to express my awkward spiritual journey. ;^}"
He reiterated his remarks later that night: "Elton's party was fun," he wrote. "My big feet and little angel wings were an expression of my somewhat awkward spiritual journey."
Signing off with a halo emoticon, the "Yes Man" star added, "I'm a #Strangel."
It's unclear whether he's referencing the new animated short film "Strangel: The Angel of the Odd," but Carrey sure makes for one strange angel.
What do you think of Carrey's goofy getup? Tell us on Facebook!
BEIRUT (AP) ? The battle for Syria's second-largest airport intensified on Saturday as regime troops tried to reverse rebels' strategic gains in the northeast recently.
Rebels have been trying for months to capture Aleppo's international airport.
Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the Britain-based activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the fighting is now concentrated around a section of a highway that connects the city with the airport.
The rebels have cut off the highway the army has been using to transport troops and supplies to a military base within the airport complex. The airport east of the city is part of a complex that includes a smaller military airfield and the base.
Rebels have made significant advances in the battle for the complex in the past weeks after capturing two army bases along the road to the airport.
Aleppo is Syria's largest city and its commercial capital. President Bashar Assad's troops have been locked in a stalemate with the rebels there since July, when the city became a major battlefield in the nearly 2-year-old conflict.
The rebels control large swaths of land outside Aleppo and whole neighborhoods inside the city, which is divided between regime- and opposition-controlled areas with both sides shelling each other.
Regime forces fired three missiles into a rebel-held area in eastern Aleppo on Friday, hitting several buildings and killing 29 people, according to the Observatory. The group initially reported 14 casualties in the strike that apparently involved ground-to-ground missiles.
Abdul-Rahman raised the death toll late Friday after activists on the ground said more bodies had been recovered from the rubble of the damaged buildings.
On Saturday, the army pressed an offensive on opposition strongholds outside Damascus, trying to dislodge rebels from areas around the capital which they have been trying to storm for weeks.
Recent rebel advances in the Damascus suburbs, combined with the bombings and three straight days of mortar attacks earlier this week marked the most sustained challenge to the heart of the capital, the seat of Assad's power.
A suicide car bombing on Thursday near the ruling Baath Party headquarters in the heart of Damascus killed 53 civilians and wounded more than 200, according to state media. Anti-regime activists put the death toll at 61, which would make it the deadliest bombing of the revolt in the capital.
The different tolls could not be reconciled.
Nobody claimed responsibility for the attack. Car bombs and suicide attacks have been a hallmark of an Islamic militant group Jabhat al-Nusra fighting among the rebels.
The Nusra fighters have been the most effective group on the battlefield, leading assaults on military installations and controlling whole sections of territory in the north, including parts of Aleppo neighborhoods.
The United Nations says at least 70,000 people have been killed since Syrian conflict started in March 2011.
Secretary of State John Kerry delivers his first foreign policy speech, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, at the University??
In his first formal policy speech as the top U.S. diplomat, Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday branded calls to cut foreign aid as politically easy but strategically dumb, and said his department helps create American jobs and advance American values.
?As a recovering politician, I can tell you that nothing gets a crowd clapping faster in a lot of places than saying, ?I?m going to Washington to get them to stop spending all that money over there,?? Kerry said in a speech at the University of Virginia. ?If you?re looking for an applause line, that?s about as guaranteed an applause line as you can get.
"But guess what? It does nothing to guarantee our security. It doesn?t guarantee a stronger country. It doesn?t guarantee a sounder economy or a more stable job market,? the Democratic former Massachusetts senator continued. And ?deploying diplomats today is much cheaper than deploying troops tomorrow.?
Kerry?s remarks came as he geared up to make his first overseas trip since taking over the State Department from Hillary Clinton. That 11-day voyage will take him to the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Kerry noted that the public grossly overestimates the State Department?s budget, sometimes putting foreign aid as high as 25 percent of Washington?s overall outlays. The real figure is about 1 percent, he said.
?Foreign assistance is not a giveaway. It?s not charity. It's an investment in a strong America and in a free world,? he said.
?Now, some may say, ?Not now, not while we have our budget; it?s too expensive,?? he said. ?Well, believe me, my friends, these challenges will not get easier with time."
He added, ?There is no pause button on the future. We cannot choose when we would like to stop and restart our global responsibility or simply wait until the calendar says it?s more convenient."
And ?in today?s global world, there is no longer anything foreign about foreign policy,? Kerry continued. "More than ever before, the decisions that we make from the safety of our shores don?t just ripple outward; they also create a current right here in America."
Kerry also highlighted the role of the State Department in creating American jobs. He said the embassy in Jakarta had helped Boeing win a vast contract with Indonesia?s largest privately run airliner, and the embassy in Bangkok had helped secure a $160 million contract to build Thailand?s latest broadcast satellite. (No word on whether the resulting celebration is what led American diplomats to produce their own ?Harlem Shake? video.)
Wednesday Must Read: Oakland Enviro Group Sues Over Toxic Nap Mats; New Bill Would Outlaw Lead Ammunition in California
Business / Health & Medicine / Environment
Robert Gammon???
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 at 9:57 AM
Stories you shouldn?t miss:
1. An Oakland-based environmental group has sued several major retailers, including Amazon.com and Target, for selling children?s nap mats that contain toxic chemicals, the Chron reports. The group, Center for Environmental Health, noted that the mats contain chlorinated Tris, a poisonous flame retardant that was outlawed for use in children?s pajamas more than thirty years ago. The center based its lawsuit on a new Duke University study that showed that 22 of 24 nap mats bought in California and other states contain toxic flame retardants. The group also is suing retailers, including Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, and Babies R Us, for selling crib mattresses that contain chlorinated Tris as well.
2. Several environmental groups, including the Humane Society and the Audubon Society, are pushing for a new state law that would completely ban the sale of lead ammunition in California for all types of hunting, the Mercury News reports. Lead ammunition already is banned for use in certain areas because it poisons condors, bald eagles, and other raptors that feed on animals shot with lead bullets. However, studies show that that ban has not been effective.
3. The Boy Scouts in California may lose its nonprofit status because of the group?s continuing bigotry toward gays and lesbians, the Chron reports. Although the proposed state law would apply to all youth organizations that discriminate based on sexual orientation, the Boy Scouts appear to be the only major group that would be affected. It?s unclear, however, how much the loss of its nonprofit status will cost the Boy Scouts.
4. ?Dreamers,? young immigrants who are in the country through no choice of their own, are not eligible to receive health care under Obamacare in California even though the state has enacted protections for them, the Chron reports.
5. And the number of salmon caught in California last year was the highest since 2005, the Mercury News reports. The salmon resurgence was especially strong in the Klamath River near the Oregon border.
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While Verizon wasn't quick to start selling 700MHz blocks to live up to the terms of its AWS purchase, it's clearly willing to up the tempo. The carrier says it just finished deals this week to sell lower B-block 700MHz airwaves in Texas to already announced customer Nortex Communications as well as Oklahoma's Panhandle Telecommunication Systems. We're also learning that Verizon quietly signed off on a deal in mid-January that transfers A-block spectrum in Houston to Colorado Valley Communications. The agreements might not provide the interoperability with Verizon's C-block that some crave, but they could still help level the playing field for smaller telecom outlets.
????ELIZABETH, NJ, February 16, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Service station equipment manufacturer, Universal Valve Co., announces that Martin C. Pettesch has been promoted to President. Pettesch has been with Universal for over 25 years. His past positions within Universal Valve include Design Engineer, Operations Manager, Manager of Engineering, Vice President of Engineering, and Executive Vice President. Pettesch, a graduate of New Jersey Institute of Technology for Mechanical Engineering and the University of Phoenix MBA Program, has over 26 patents related to bettering the service station industry to his name.
The announcement comes from Robert J. Milo, CEO of Universal Valve, that the promotion takes effect immediately. Pettesch worked with Universal founder Joseph V. Milo (JVM) for many years perfecting many industry designs on valves, manholes, and fittings. JVM was a mentor to Pettesch and together they worked to design and engineer many great products still in use today.
Pettesch was honored in 1997 by The New Jersey Inventor's Hall of Fame given the Young Inventor Award for his achievements in industrial design. He has continued this tradition of innovation while serving twice on the Board of Directors for the Petroleum Equipment Institute. His vision and dedication to both Universal Valve and the petroleum equipment industry has provided many ground-breaking patents, inventions, and products.
For more information on Universal Valve contact them at:
Universal Valve Co.
478 Schiller St., Elizabeth, NJ 07206
Telephone: 908-351-0606
Fax: 908-351-0369
inbox@universalvalve.com
http://www.universalvalve.com/
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A brain prosthesis gives the rodents a sixth sense?an ability to ?see? in the infrared.
By Gary Stix
Image: Nicoelis Lab/Duke University
Geordi La Forge, the chief engineer of the USS Enterprise-D, could perceive a large swath of electromagnetic spectrum with his wraparound VISOR prosthetic. Now a few rats have received real-life prototypes of these Star Trek props.
Researchers in the lab of brain?machine interface ace Miguel Nicolelis at Duke University Medical Center have outfitted rodents with prosthetics that enable them to "see" and respond to otherwise invisible infrared light. The experiment points toward the prospect, for the moment still a futurist's overheated fantasy, of enhancing humans with a sixth or seventh sense or, perhaps, like a VISOR, an ability to detect a full-spectrum of electromagnetic emanations. It also suggests new paths for neuroscientists to explore the mixing of different sensory inputs and neural proceses to produce new forms of perception.
Reporting February 12 in the online journal Nature Communications, Nicolelis and colleagues recounted how they trained six rats on a standard lab task that taught them to stick their snouts in one of three holes in the side of a chamber when a light in one of the cavities switched on, an action rewarded with a sip of water. (Scientific American is part of Nature Publishing Group.) They then implanted microelectrodes in the rats? primary sensory cortex, an area that processes sensations of touch. These electrical stimulators were subsequently connected to a forehead-mounted infrared detector. Once the animals were back in the test chamber, the experiment was repeated, with visible lights gradually being replaced by infrared ones in the three holes.
At first the rats appeared somewhat confused, poking the holes in the chamber at random, possibly because the ?wrong? portion of the cortex (the part that normally process touch) was interpreting the electrical signals for visual cues. Gradually, their behavior changed and they began to respond more as they had to the visible-spectrum LEDs during training, a sign that their brains were adapting to seeing in the infrared. The same area of the cortex also continued to respond normally to whisker touches as well as the infrared signals. Take a look at this video made with an infrared camera:
?
"This is a very nice paper that clearly demonstrates the great potential of even the primary sensory cortex, even in a rat, to use completely new information when delivered to the cortex in electrical pulses," says Jon Kaas, a professor of cell and developmental biology at Vanderbilt University and an expert on sensory and motor system organization. "The authors correctly see that this method of delivery can be used to replace lost sensory inputs and to provide new sensory abilities."
CHICAGO (AP) ? C. Vivian Stringer will have to wait for another shot at her 900th career victory. And when it happens, the Rutgers coach will be happy to have it over with.
Brittany Hrynko hit a 3-pointer with 10.2 seconds to lift DePaul to the 60-57 win, denying Stringer of her milestone victory Tuesday night.
"The only reason I would have liked to have gotten 900 was because I would like to be done with it," Stringer said. "It's a special honor, but it's a heck of a lot of burden and stress. I'll be glad when it's over."
Stringer was trying to become the fourth women's coach to reach the 900-win plateau, joining Pat Summitt, Jody Conradt and Sylvia Hatchell. Stringer's next shot will come Saturday at home against Connecticut.
Only three men's coaches have reached the 900-win plateau: Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim and Bob Knight.
With the game tied, Hrynko hit a 3 from the top of the key to give the Blue Demons the lead. Rutgers had a last chance, but Syessence Davis fell short.
Katherine Harry scored 16 points, Hrynko had 15 and Jasmine Penny added 12 for the Blue Demons (18-7, 7-4 Big East), now 4-0 at McGrath-Phillips Arena against Rutgers.
Wearing a simple black pantsuit with white lapels and cuffs, Stringer walked onto the DePaul court and smiled as a small delegation of Rutgers fans greeted her with applause.
She also drew appreciation from DePaul coach Doug Bruno.
"I'm not only impressed with the 900, but she's played good strong, tough (opponents)... those 900 are hard-earned," he said.
"Before the game I thanked her for all she's done for the game and told her I wanted her to win every game after she walks out of here, but we're going to do everything we can to keep her from winning 900 tonight."
The Scarlet Knights played a Blue Demon team depleted by injuries, including starter Anna Martin, a pre-season all-Big East pick who has missed six games with a knee injury. DePaul had just eight active players.
Yet the Blue Demons used an early 12-2 run to establish a lead and opened a 22-12 edge at 9:52 on Hrynko's jumper. The Scarlet Knights had six early turnovers and shot just 7-for-19 (36.8 percent) in the first 12 minutes.
DePaul doubled the score by the 5:05 mark as Harry's successful baseline shot made it 28-14. The Blue Demons went on to a 35-19 halftime lead behind Hrynko's nine points.
Harry gave DePaul its biggest lead when her bank shot made it 37-19 early in the second half.
But Stringer had a feeling the big lead wouldn't hold.
"I did anticipate that this would be a three or four point game and considering the youth of the people -- we had a lot of young people out there ? I'm pleased," she said. "The vast majority of work was done by freshmen and sophomores."
Thus a revived Rutgers team started to chip away. The Scarlet Knights cut the deficit to 41-33 a pair of Hollivay free throws with 14:01 left. Less than four minutes later, the game was tied after a pair of 3-pointers of Wheeler and Hollivay's layup with 9:53 left.
Rutgers went up 51-48 before going without a field goal for 4:41.
The game was tied at 57 on Davis' basket and foul with under a minute to play. She missed the free throw and DePaul got the ball setting up Hrynko's 3-pointer and leaving Stringer stuck at 899.
The Hall of Fame coach earned her 800th career victory against DePaul in 2008. Tennessee's Summitt also got win No. 800 against the Blue Demons on Jan. 14, 2003.
Comet ISON could put on a spectacular display in late November. Comet ISON could shine brighter than the moon in the night sky. Comet ISON was photographed by NASA's Deep Impact probe earlier this month.
By Tariq Malik,?Space.com / February 6, 2013
One of the first NASA photos of Comet ISON taken by the Deep Impact probe on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 from a distance of about 493 million miles.
NASA
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A NASA spacecraft has captured its first photos of comet ISON, an icy wanderer that some scientists say could dazzle as a "comet of the century" when it swings through the inner solar system later this year.
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The photos were taken by NASA's Deep Impact probe and reveal comet ISON as a bright, dusty ball moving against a star-filled background. The spacecraft snapped the pictures on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 from a distance of about 493 million miles (793 million kilometers).
Comet ISON has been the focus of much anticipation among scientists and stargazers because of its potential to put on a spectacular display in late November, when it makes its closest approach to the sun. Some forecasts predict the comet could shine brighter than the full moon. As of mid-January, the comet's tail was more than 40,000 miles (64,400 km).
?Will comet ISON sizzle or fizzle?
Some projections state that comet ISON, which is officially designated comet C/20012 S1 (ISON), could shine extremely bright in the nighttime sky, possibly even rivaling the full moon. Whether the comet will meet expectations or fizzle out remains to be seen, but it has already become a target for NASA and amateur astronomers. [Photos of Comet ISON in Night Sky]
"This is the fourth comet on which we have performed science observations and the farthest point from Earth from which we've tried to transmit data on a comet," Deep Impact project manager Tim Larson, of the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., said in a statement Tuesday (Feb. 5) "The distance limits our bandwidth, so it's a little like communicating through a modem after being used to DSL. But we're going to coordinate our science collection and playback so we maximize our return on this potentially spectacular comet."
The Deep Impact spacecraft has flown close by two comets, Tempel 1 and Hartley 2, and taken detailed observations of another ? comet Garradd ?before turning its camera eyes on Comet ISON. The spacecraft used its Medium-Resolution Imager to snap pictures of ISON during a 36-hour period between Jan. 17 and 18, NASA officials said.
Comet ISON was discovered in September 2012 by Russian astronomers Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok using a 15.7-inch (0.4-meter) telescope of the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON), near Kislovodsk. The comet is most likely making its first trip through the inner solar system from the Oort cloud, a vast shell of icy objects at the outer edge of the solar system that extends one-third of the way to the nearest star, NASA scientists said.
"Having not come this way before means the comet's pristine surface has a higher probability of being laden with volatile material just spoiling for some of the sun's energy to heat it up and help it escape," NASA officials wrote in a statement. "With the exodus of these clean ices could come a boatload of dust, held in check since the beginnings of our solar system. This released gas and dust is what is seen on Earth as comprising a comet's atmosphere (coma) and tail.
Comet ISON's solar system encounter
Comet ISON will make its closest approach to the sun on Nov. 28, when it will approach within 800,000 miles (1.2 million km) of the star's surface. If the comet survives the approach, and does not fade or break apart, it could transform into a spectacular celestial sight, scientists have said.
The comet will make its closest approach to Earth on Dec. 26, when it will fly within 40 million miles (64 million km) of the planet. It poses no impact threat to the Earth, NASA scientists said.
NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft is currently flying on an extended mission across the solar system. The probe launched in 2005 on a mission to rendezvous with the Tempel 1 comet in July 2005. The encounter was successful, with Deep Impact dropping an impactor onto the comet to create an artificial crater that revealed the inner makeup of the object.
In November 2010, the Deep Impact spacecraft flew by comet Hartley 2 as part of its extended mission. The spacecraft observed comet Garradd from afar in January 2012. Since its launch, Deep Impact has traveled about 4.39 billion miles (7.06 billion km), NASA officials said.
Editor's note:?If you have an amazing picture of comet ISON or any other night sky view that you'd like to share for a possible story or image gallery, send photos, comments and your name and location to managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com.
You can follow SPACE.com Managing Editor Tariq Malik on Twitter?@tariqjmalik.?Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter?@Spacedotcom?and on?Facebook.
Copyright 2013 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Roen Financial Report closely covers the universe of almost 30 alternative energy Mutual Funds (MFs) and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). We use a proprietary ranking method to pick the best funds, looking at measures that include fees, risk, tax liability, and the financial health of individual holdings within each fund. Subscribers can see the complete list of funds, including rankings and technical breakdowns, in both Excel and PDF format by clicking here .
Mutual Funds
Alternative energy MFs showed improving ranks for this February update. In all, three funds were bumped up to a Rank 1: Allianz RCM Global Water A (AWTAX), Guinness Atkinson Alternative Energy (GAAEX) and Alger Green A (SPEGX). This coincides with the fact that the alternative energy MFs we cover have gained an impressive 14% on average in the past 3 months. Contrarily, one alternative energy MF declined to the bottom of the heap, becoming a Rank 5.
Quarterly returns have been spectacular for all of the MFs, ranging from a low of 8.8% all the way to a remarkable 25.2% for GAAEX. Many of the equities held in these funds hit bottom at the end of 2012, so these returns reflect the upward surge since that time. Because of these gains, it should be noted that 8 out of 11 MFs are at the top of the annual trading range. Therefore, I would not be surprised to see a modest pullback from here for many of these funds.
Exchange Traded Funds
All the Rank 1 ETFs retained their current top slots: Market Vectors Environmental Services (EVX), First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy Index Fund (FAN) and First Trust ISE-Revere Natural Gas Index Fund (FCG). In addition, PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio (PBW) increased from a Rank 5 to a Rank 3. It shows improved capital gains exposure, and a reduced turnover ratio.
As with MFs, three-month returns for alternative energy ETFs have been extremely impressive. ETFs have gained 12% on average, with Market Vectors Solar Energy (KWT) up over 38%! The one exception is iPath Global Carbon ETN (GRN), an Exchange Traded Note that tracks Barclays Capital Global Carbon Index. Unfortunately, GRN has lost over half its value in the past three months. This is due to the depressed carbon market, which has been trading at all time lows.
It is important to note that a fund like GRN has the potential to close up shop and liquidate its assets, not an uncommon occurrence in the over-crowded ETF world. GRN has an extremely low amount of assets under management, less than $1 million. It also trades at low volumes. These are two warning signs that its underwriter may decide to pull the plug sooner than later.
As is true with many alternative energy equities these days, they can be highly speculative on both the upside and the downside. Consequently, alternative energy investments may only be appropriate for a small portion of an investors overall portfolio.
Disclosure
Individuals involved with the Roen Financial Report and Swiftwood Press LLC do not own or control shares of any companies mentioned in this article. It is possible that individuals may own or control shares of one or more of the underlying securities contained in the Mutual Funds or Exchange Traded Funds mentioned in this article. Any advice and/or recommendations made in this article are of a general nature and are not to be considered specific investment advice. Individuals should seek advice from their investment professional before making any important financial decisions. See Terms of Use for more information.
About the author
Harris Roen is Editor of the ?ROEN FINANCIAL REPORT? by Swiftwood Press LLC, 82 Church Street, Suite 303, Burlington, VT 05401. ? Copyright 2010 Swiftwood Press LLC. All rights reserved; reprinting by permission only. For reprints please contact us at cservice@swiftwood.com. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Roen Financial Report, 82 Church Street, Suite 303, Burlington, VT 05401. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at Burlington VT and additional Mailing offices. Remember to always consult with your investment professional before making important financial decisions.
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Hello everyone! I'm Tony Lehrman, president and CEO of Lehrman Group, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. I founded Lehrman Group over 25 years ago. We offer health insurance plans to individuals, families, and businesses. The major major carriers we place our clients with include Blue Cross Blue Shield, United HealthCare, Aetna, and Cigna.
Buying a health insurance policy can be intimidating and scary. Not all health insurance policy types are right for everyone?usually the most expensive policy is the wrong policy for you. Why pay for maternity coverage if you don't need it? Do you want to be able to go to any doctor without having to get a referral? Do you travel outside of your home state often? Are you a self-employed worker or independent contractor seeking the best plan for tax savings? These are all important questions you should know before you buy a plan. I can help answer your questions about your existing plan or steer you in the right direction regarding a new plan. I'm here to help for about an hour?ask away!
Have an expert you'd like to see participate? Email us.
India today executed Mohammad Afzal Guru, a convict in the 2001 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament.?
By Shivam Vij,?Correspondent / February 9, 2013
Supporters of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa Islamic organization shout slogans during an anti-India demonstration to condemn the hanging of Mohammad Afzal Guru, in Lahore February 9. India hanged the Kashmiri militant on Saturday for an attack on the country's parliament in 2001, sparking clashes in Kashmir between hundreds of protesters and police who wielded batons and fired teargas to disperse the crowds.
Mohsin Raza/Reuters
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India today executed Mohammad Afzal Guru, a convict in the 2001 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament.?Carrying out the death sentence, handed?down in 2002 and upheld by the Supreme Court of India in 2005, was a major demand of India's main opposition party, the right-wing Bhartiya Janata Party.
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The execution came less than three months after India executed Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Like Kasab, the decision to execute Mr. Afzal Guru was not announced in advance. Neither his family nor his lawyer were informed before he was hanged at 8 am in Delhi's Tihar jail. His body has been buried on the jail premises; the family has asked for the body.
?It is an egregious violation of due process and deliberate thwarting of access to justice,? says lawyer and anti-death penalty campaigner Yug Mohit Chaudhry. "The secret, shameful, and surreptitious manner is most unbecoming of a democracy.?
India?s home secretary R.K. Singh told a press conference that due process was followed: ?The President rejected Afzal Guru's mercy petition on February 3. After that, we followed the jail manual and his hanging took place today.?
The execution is being seen by analysts as the ruling Congress party?s way of regaining public confidence in the wake of several corruption scandals and protests over the recent Delhi gang-rape. Political commentator Seema Mustafa says the sudden decision to execute Afzal Guru, after years of dilly-dallying, is part of a Congress party effort?to improve its position for the 2014 general elections. ?The Congress in its usual cynical manipulation of the votes is trying to eat into the majority constituency with this action,? she says.
Executions had become more rare up until Kasab's ? the first in India in eight years. Like Kasab's hanging in November, Azfal Guru's?came just ahead of a parliament session. ?I would just say it's extremely tragic if Indian democracy is going to survive on executing someone or the other before every Parliament session,? says lawyer Vrinda Grover. Congress party spokesman?Abhishek Manu Singhvi called such suggestions about the timing "irresponsible and childish."
Another Congress spokesperson, Rashid Alvi, cast the decision as a tough message to would-be terrorists. "We have sent the message to the world that we cannot tolerate terrorism at any cost. If someone tries to commit [an act of terror], he will be punished. The people of our country and the government have zero tolerance against terrorism.?
The Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari also?addressed the media emphasizing that "Congress [is] not soft on terror" and added that?"national security decisions [are] not influenced by political?considerations."
The five militants who carried out the Parliament raid died in the attack, after they had killed five policemen, a security guard, and a gardener.?
Azfal Guru had earlier been a guerrilla militant in the effort to end Indian control over Kashmir,?but had surrendered to Indian security forces long before the Parliament attack. India blamed the incident on Pakistan-based militant groups active in Kashmir and convicted Azfal Guru of helping plan it.
Azfal Guru had maintained that he was framed, and he protested that he was not given a lawyer of his own choice.?In his confessional statement in the trial court, Azfal Guru had said that he had been asked to look after six men by the Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Task Force, and that is all he did, and was now being implicated for it.
While the execution was welcomed by political parties, some of which celebrated it on the streets, a group of protesters in Delhi was attacked by the police with batons. Twenty-one of them were arrested. Protests rocked the Kashmir Valley despite a curfew; 40 were injured. Kashmiri leaders who seek to free the Valley from Indian control have called for a three-day strike.
In Delhi, the police detained Kashmiri academic S.A.R. Geelani, himself an acquitted accused in the Parliament attack case, after he appeared on television channels condemning the execution. Mr. Geelani is also the working president of the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners, which in a statement described the hanging as illegal: ?Afzal?s wife Tabassum had filed a clemency petition demanding justice for her husband who never throughout the trial got an opportunity to defend himself and demand justice.?
This photo undated provided by the Yates County Sheriff?s Office shows in Penn Yan, N.Y., Kimberly Margeson. Margeson has been charged on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 with criminal sale of a controlled substance and promoting prison contraband for passing Oxycodone pills to her incarcerated son as she kissed him during a visit. (AP Photo/Yates County Sheriff?s Office)
This photo undated provided by the Yates County Sheriff?s Office shows in Penn Yan, N.Y., Kimberly Margeson. Margeson has been charged on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 with criminal sale of a controlled substance and promoting prison contraband for passing Oxycodone pills to her incarcerated son as she kissed him during a visit. (AP Photo/Yates County Sheriff?s Office)
PENN YAN, N.Y. (AP) ? Police say an upstate New York woman passed drugs to her son while kissing him when she visited him in jail.
Sheriff's deputies in Yates County tell local media outlets 54-year-old Penn Yan resident Kimberly Margeson was visiting her son last week when she hid oxycodone pills and passed them from her mouth to his while giving him a kiss.
Police haven't said how the drugs were discovered.
Margeson pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of criminal sale of a controlled substance and promoting prison contraband. She's free after posting bail.
Authorities say her 30-year-old son also was charged with promoting prison contraband. He remains in jail on an unrelated felony weapon possession charge, and a lawyer for him couldn't be contacted.
Thirteen years ago I served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I served for 18 months in the beautiful Ohio Cleveland Mission.
My mission was incredible. It meant everything to me. It stretched me in every direction. It humbled me to tears. It filled my heart with a joy I never thought possible. I got to witness first hand the gospel touching and changing people's lives. I learned to live outside myself as I served God and others 24/7.
I was able to bear witness of the Savior and His love on a daily basis.?
I got to be used as an instrument in God's hands in bringing others to Christ. It taught me what love truly is.
My mission was easily the most amazing and fulfilling experience of my life
(helping Bryson with his homework--one of my favorite times of the day)
...until I became a mother.
I LOVE BEING A MOTHER!
Since screaming that from my rooftop would make me look insane, I'll just scream it from my blog.
I LOVE IT!
Motherhood is incredible. It means everything to me. It stretches me in every direction. It often humbles me to tears. It fills my heart with a joy I never thought possible. I get to witness first hand the gospel touching and changing my children's lives. I get to live outside myself as I serve God and my children 24/7.
I get to bear witness of the Savior and His love to my children on a daily basis.?
I get to be used as an instrument in God's hands in bringing my children to Christ.
It has taught me what love truly is.
Only recently have I come to realize that motherhood is one of the purest forms of missionary service there is. That is why it is so fulfilling. That is why it's so amazing. That is why I love it so much!
There is no greater calling to me than that of a mother.
![Feb_2013_MF_Returns[1].jpg](http://www.altenergystocks.com/archives/Feb_2013_MF_Returns%5B1%5D.jpg)
![Feb_2013_ETF_Returns[1].jpg](http://www.altenergystocks.com/archives/Feb_2013_ETF_Returns%5B1%5D.jpg)
Hello everyone! I'm Tony Lehrman, president and CEO of Lehrman Group, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. I founded Lehrman Group over 25 years ago. We offer health insurance plans to individuals, families, and businesses. The major major carriers we place our clients with include Blue Cross Blue Shield, United HealthCare, Aetna, and Cigna.