Saturday, November 22, 2008

230p 11/22 Update: Initial SARJ cleaning goes smoothly

=================================

CBS NEWS STS-126 STATUS REPORT: 51
Posted: 2:30 PM, 11/22/08

By William Harwood
CBS News Space Analyst

Changes and additions:

   SR-49 (11/22/08): Urine processor restarted; crew gears up for third spacewalk
   SR-50 (11/22/08): Spacewalk begins; urine processor troubleshooting continues
   SR-51 (11/22/08): Cleaning goes smoothly in initial stages of EVA

=================================

2:30 PM, 11/22/08, Update: Clean goes smoothly in initial stages of spacewalk

An hour and a half into a planned seven-hour spacewalk, astronauts Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Stephen Bowen are running about a half hour ahead of schedule cleaning and lubricating the space station's right-side solar array rotary joint.

Stefanyshyn-Piper has installed the first of six bearing assemblies slated for replacement today while Bowen is working on a different section of the joint's 10-foot-wide drive gear. Because of lost grease guns, the astronauts are sharing tools and Bowen is using grease-impregnated wipes to put a coating of lubricant on the gear to collect metallic debris as he scrapes it off damaged bearing race.

"Steve, it looks like you're still scraping over there?" astronaut Robert "Shane Kimbrough called from inside the shuttle Endeavour.

"Yes, I am," Bowen replied. "I like this technique a little bit better because you can see more clearly where the (debris) pancakes are that you're chipping off. ... I feel like this really is the better method."

=================================

Quick-Launch Web Links:

CBS News STS-126 Status Reports:
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html

CBS News STS-126 Quick-Look Page:
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/currentglance.html

NASA ISS Expeditions Page:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/index.html

NASA Shuttle Web: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/index.html
NASA Station Web: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/index.html
Spaceflight Now: http://spaceflightnow.com/index.html
GoogleSatTrack: http://www.lizard-tail.com/isana/tracking/

=================================




Most Popular of the Week

AlterNet: The Mix is the Message   Most Popular of the Week
November 22nd, 2008
More stories, blogs, and video »
 

Support AlterNet by supporting its advertisers

 

This Is Change? 20 Hawks, Clintonites and Neocons to Watch for in Obama's White House  

This Is Change? 20 Hawks, Clintonites and Neocons to Watch for in Obama's White House

A who's who guide to the people poised to shape Obama's foreign policy. Read more »

Former News Radio Staffer Spills the Beans on How Shock Jocks Inspire Hatred and Anger  

Former News Radio Staffer Spills the Beans on How Shock Jocks Inspire Hatred and Anger

Behind the scenes of one of the largest and most successful news/talk radio stations in America. Read more »

Naomi Klein: The Borderline Illegal Deals Behind the $700 Billion Bailout  

Naomi Klein: The Borderline Illegal Deals Behind the $700 Billion Bailout

The bailout is a parting gift to the people that George Bush once referred to jokingly as "my base." Read more »

Our Economy May Be in a Death Spiral -- Will Washington Stop the Bleeding?  

Our Economy May Be in a Death Spiral -- Will Washington Stop the Bleeding?

The Bush-Paulson plan isn't doing anything to address the underlying problems threatening America's economic future. Read more »

Wall Street's Bailout is a Trillion-Dollar Crime Scene -- Why Aren't the Dems Doing Something About It?  

Wall Street's Bailout is a Trillion-Dollar Crime Scene -- Why Aren't the Dems Doing Something About It?

Washington's handling of the bailout is not merely incompetent. It may well be illegal. Read more »

How Did We Ever Let This Guy Get Away with Being a War President?  

How Did We Ever Let This Guy Get Away with Being a War President?

Only a fool like Bush could pick an anti-American Arab country, add an invading army, and expect a nice fluffy democracy souffle. Read more »

Why Sarah Palin Fired up the Public's Sexual Imagination  

Why Sarah Palin Fired up the Public's Sexual Imagination

From her hairstyle to her politics, America remains obsessed with the female politician who seemingly came out of nowhere. Read more »

Are Human Beings Hard-Wired to Ignore the Threat of Catastrophic Climate Change?  

Are Human Beings Hard-Wired to Ignore the Threat of Catastrophic Climate Change?

Climate scientists wonder why people don't do more about global warming. Social scientists have some troubling answers. Read more »

Why the Economy Grows Like Crazy Amid High Taxes  

Why the Economy Grows Like Crazy Amid High Taxes

The raw truth is that the economy has grown faster when taxes were higher, but how can we explain that phenomenon? Read more »

Exposed: Federal Air Marshals Too Busy Smuggling Coke and Molesting Kids to Protect You  

Exposed: Federal Air Marshals Too Busy Smuggling Coke and Molesting Kids to Protect You

Since 9/11, air marshals have logged an impressive number of hours committing felony-level crimes. Read more »

 

Support AlterNet by supporting its advertisers


Support AlterNet  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy  |  Unsubscribe from Most Popular of the Week
Unsubscribe from all future AlterNet communications
You are subscribed as fpac.rangola@blogger.com

© 2006 Independent Media Institute
All Rights Reserved
77 Federal St., 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94110


 

1210p 11/22 Update: Spacewalk begins; urine processor troubleshooting continues

=================================

CBS NEWS STS-126 STATUS REPORT: 50
Posted: 1:05 PM, 11/22/08

By William Harwood
CBS News Space Analyst

Changes and additions:

   SR-46 (11/21/08): Urine processing underway; crew news conference on tap
   SR-47 (11/21/08): Urine processor shuts down again; troubleshooting continues
   SR-48 (11/21/08): Engineers troubleshoot apparent problem with motor in urine processor
   SR-49 (11/22/08): Urine processor restarted; crew gears up for third spacewalk
   SR-50 (11/22/08): Spacewalk begins; urine processor urine processor troubleshooting continues

=================================

1:05 PM, 11/22/08, Update: Spacewalk begins

Floating in the space station's Quest airlock module, astronauts Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Stephen Bowen switched their spacesuits to internal battery power at 1:01 p.m., 44 minutes ahead of schedule, to officially kick off a planned seven-hour spacewalk.
|
The goal of today's excursion, the third of four planned for the shuttle Endeavour's mission, is to finish cleaning and lubricating the station's stalled right-side solar array rotary joint. The astronauts also plan to replace six of the joint's 12 trundle bearing assemblies, or TBAs, which grip the main drive gear on three surfaces with pressure-loaded rollers. One TBA was replaced during a shuttle flight last June, four others were replaced during spacewalks Tuesday and Thursday and a sixth was removed and re-installed after cleaning.

This is the 117th spacewalk devoted to station assembly and maintenance since construction began 10 years ago this week and the 18th so far this year. It is the second spacewalk for Bowen and the fifth overall for Stefanyshyn-Piper, who participated in two EVAs during a 2006 station assembly mission. Going into today's spacewalk, station EVA assembly time stood at 732 hours and 25 minutes. The total for Endeavour's crew through two spacewalks was 13 hours and 37 minutes.

Back at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, meanwhile, engineers are continuing efforts to figure out what's causing problems with a vacuum distillation unit in the space station's newly installed water recycling system.

The distillation unit, a critical component in a system designed to convert urine into potable water, was restarted earlier today to collect additional data and insight into what might have caused a centrifuge motor slowdown and high current draw Friday. A similar "signature" was seen again today and again, the urine processor shut itself down. Troubleshooting continues.

=================================

Quick-Launch Web Links:

CBS News STS-126 Status Reports:
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html

CBS News STS-126 Quick-Look Page:
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/currentglance.html

NASA ISS Expeditions Page:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/index.html

NASA Shuttle Web: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/index.html
NASA Station Web: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/index.html
Spaceflight Now: http://spaceflightnow.com/index.html
GoogleSatTrack: http://www.lizard-tail.com/isana/tracking/

=================================




Breaking News: State Supt. Kathy Cox and husband file bankruptcy


To view this email as a web page, click here.


Like this newsletter? Add newsletters@subscriptions.ajc.com to your address book or contact list to make sure you get every edition.

BREAKING NEWS

State Supt. Kathy Cox and husband file bankruptcy

State School Superintendent Kathy Cox, who in September gave away the $1 million she won in a game show, has filed for bankruptcy. Her husband is a builder hit hard by the economic collapse.


* Copyright © 2008, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

This news, information and advertising message is brought to you by Atlanta Journal Constitution,
72 Marietta St., N. W., Atlanta, GA 30303.

This information is for personal use only and is not available for redistribution.


This email was sent to: fpac.rangola@blogger.com

Please do not reply to this e-mail. 


If you wish to remove your e-mail address from future mailings, please visit the subscription center.

Manage your profile by visiting our profile center.

If you have a question or concern about AJC e-mail newsletters, please visit our customer care site:
http://www.ajc.com/newsletters


To receive the latest Atlanta News and Sports
Get The Atlanta Journal-Constitution delivered!
Subscribe Today!

Did Someone at Your Phone Company Spy on Obama?

AlterNet: The Mix is the Message

rule

Dear Reader,

It was revealed late this week that employess of Verizon Wireless hacked the personal account of President-elect Obama.  This is just another example of how the big phone companies. That's why we put our confidence in CREDO Mobile, the only mobile phone provider that donates a percentage of member fees to causes that you care about. AlterNet worked with CREDO to help register  more than 150,000 voters in one of the most exciting elections in memory. Wouldn't it be great to  support a company that's dedicated to progressive causes? Well, here is your chance. And when you switch to Credo , they'll even cover the termination fee from your old carrier and provide you with a free phone. Give CREDO a try today.

Don Hazen
Don Hazen
Executive Editor, AlterNet.org

rule
CREDO                                 Mobile
Dear Reader,

We woke up yesterday to the news that employees of Verizon Wireless hacked the personal account of President-elect Obama. 1

CREDO Mobile is the only mobile phone provider that is as devoted as you are to progressive causes. Remember when Verizon blocked NARAL Pro-Choice America from sending text messages to its customers, going so far as to call choice an "unsavory" subject? And did you know that AT&T's PAC donated the maximum to Bush/Cheney not once but twice?

While AT&T and Verizon Wireless showed what side they were on, we were out there empowering voters like you - helping defeat anti-choice ballot initiatives in three states and registering 1.5 million new voters.

For eight long years, we've been fighting against an administration that was openly hostile to the environment, equal rights and the values we hold dear. Finally, there's a progressive headed for the White House.

But that doesn't mean our work is over. The other side is already gearing up to stop the Obama Administration from ushering in the change our country so loudly demanded. They will try to block universal healthcare, prolong the war in Iraq, and stop efforts to deal with climate change. The question is, will your mobile phone company help them?

We're going to keep supporting your values in the upcoming battles over increasing access to healthcare, protecting the environment, and winning back our civil liberties - particularly in light of the tremendously upsetting passage of Prop 8 in California. That means mobilizing our network of activists and using our members' monthly fees to fund organizations like the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, the ACLU and Greenpeace ($60 million so far and counting). Click here to join today.


Isn't it time to stop sending payments every month to a company that uses your money to undermine your ideals? Sign up with CREDO Mobile and we'll free you from your current contract by covering the cost of your carrier's early termination fee. You'll get a mobile phone company that works for your values, plus*:
  • Free Sanyo Katana® LX camera phone
  • A Tread™ phone case made from recycled tires
  • Number portability: bring your current number with you.
  • The clarity of Sprint's nationwide all-digital network, reaching over 250 million people†
  • Great prices and amazingly accessible customer service.
Our new president urgently needs our help to make even more history. Switching from a phone company that works against your values to one that supports change may not be the only thing you can do to help - it's just one of the easiest and most effective.

Get started now - visit www.credomobile.com to learn more or call our friendly customer service team at 866.513.8670. Be sure to mention special offer code 500203.

Sincerely,

Michael Kieschnick
Co-founder and President
CREDO Mobile


For a free phone, headset and contract buyout, call 866.513.8670
and mention special offer code:
500203

 

1Verizon workers look at Obama's cell phone records, Associated Press, November 21, 2008.

* All with a two-year CREDO Mobile service agreement. Offer subject to credit qualification. Early termination fee: CREDO Mobile will credit your account (up to $200) 30 days after receiving a copy of your prior carrier's termination fee charges; details to follow by mail. Offer only available to new CREDO Mobile customers.
†Sprint is the network provider only; your service is handled exclusively by CREDO Mobile. Sprint is a trademark of Sprint Nextel.


Join CREDO Mobile and we'll free you from your current contract by reimbursing the cost of your carrier's early termination fee. You'll also get*:
  • Free Sanyo Katana LX camera phone
  • A Tread phone case made from recycled tires

Learn More

Sign up today and get a free Sanyo Katana LX phone plus reimbursement of your other carrier's early termination fee.

For a free phone, headset and contract buyout, call 866.513.8670 and mention special offer code
500203

New Articles on The Daily Dust today

New Articles on The Daily Dust today

Link to The Daily Dust

One To Watch: Junior Eurovision

Posted: 22 Nov 2008 08:13 AM CST


The songs of youth will ring around Europe this evening.

Tonight, live from Cyprus, is the sixth Junior Eurovision Song Contest. With 15 countries represented by the best young singer-songwriters (all aged between ten and fifteen), all the fun of Eurovision is going to be on show, from two exuberant hosts, crazy songs (just watch out for Georgia’s entry is all I’m saying), the delights of voting, and a winning song that’s not from the United Kingdom.

Unfortunately, we’re not entering JESC (as the fans reduce the name to) even though I can think of a bundle of kids that were on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ that would be perfect candidates, so you’ll need to choose another country to get behind. The Netherlands are the closest to our shores, although Daniel Testa (Malta) is the sole song in English. And with no singer, there’s no voting for us either.

Final gotcha is that it’s not being broadcast on the TV. Junior Eurovision will be streaming live over the official website (www.junioreurovision.tv/esctv for the broadcast) so get the beers in, microwave the popcorn, and settle in for some fantastic spectacle.

There’’s no Terry Wogan on this stream - in fact there’s no commentators whatsoever (boo…) but I’ll be on Twitter, along with others. Search on #jesc or follow me, and we’ll get through it together.

Related Posts

Gallas - Down and Now Out

Posted: 22 Nov 2008 06:35 AM CST

William Gallas, Arsenal Captain told to get out of the club

Gallas, 31, stunned Manager Arsene Wenger this week by revealing the secret incidents in the Arsenal dressing room.

He claimed he had to break up a fight between Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott at half-time during the 4-4 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last month and he also claimed there was a “grass” in the Emirates camp who everyone dislikes, many believe it is Emmanuel Eboue.

Wenger furiously stripped Gallas of his captaincy and told Gallas to get out of the club telling him that if he doesn’t want to be there, he can go right away.  Gallas is also dropped from this weekend’s game at Man City.

Arsene Wenger is having his worst spell as manager at that club since he joined over ten years ago, with a dramatic loss of form and behind the scenes fighting, this is surely make or break time for the French boss.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said: "Baring all these things in public is no help for anybody."

Especially if you are manager of an under-achieving team..

Related Posts

Diana and Eoghan - True Love or Calculated Move?

Posted: 22 Nov 2008 06:18 AM CST

Diana Vickers in the X Factor tonight

So this morning, as news of Diana and Owen’s Eoghan’s secret romance became public, we at the DailyDust feel something more sinister is going on.

It appears Diana, 17, and Eoghan, 16, have been secretly dating behind the scenes at X Factor and even though Miss Vickers has a boyfriend, sources say they are all over each other away from rehersals.

Diana, who sensationally missed a show with her “sickie” on Mariah Carey night, was devastated that her throat caused her to nearly be evicted, yet she in fact avoided singing on a night that she would not have coped with and coincidentally led to her number one rival, Laura getting dismissed.  Does she now have her sights on her next nearest rival, Eoghan?

Snogging with a throat infection with the intention of passing the germs over..?  Who knows, one thing is for sure, tonight’s show will be full of tension.

Related Posts

£1,000 fines for out-of-date ID card details

Posted: 22 Nov 2008 04:46 AM CST


People who fail to keep personal details up to date within three months face fines of up to £1,000. Home Office regulations published yesterday stated that rules will come into effect when the national identity card scheme is up and running.

Regular offenders could ultimately be enforced by baliffs.

Detailed regulations for the ID card are clear that no penalty will be enforced upon those who refuse to register for the card in the first place. Though those who register or make a new passport will automatically be issued with an ID card.

The shadow home secretary, Dominic Grieve, said: “The home secretary has confirmed the worst element of the scheme - a single, mammoth and highly vulnerable database exposing masses of our personal details to criminal hackers.

“Worse still, she has magnified the scope for fraud by allowing spot fines to be issued by email,” he said.

Related Posts

  • No Related Post

New Laws to Ban Happy Hours and Drinking Games

Posted: 22 Nov 2008 02:54 AM CST


Happy hours, drinking games and all-you-can-drink deals will be banned. According to The Daily Telegraph, plans will be announced in 10 days time.

Alcohol abuse costs £25billion annually, with the cost of £2.7 billion a year to the NHS. The annoucement by ministers will coincide with the beginning of Christmas party season. During this time, police force and hospitals are under heavy burden to cope with the sharp increase in alcohol related offences.

Health minister, Dawn Primarolo, said earlier this year that the drinks industry had failed to curb binge drinking voluntarily, so regulations must be enforced.

Don Shenker, Chief exec of Alcohol Concern, said: “If introduced, these measures will not go far enough to tackle binge drinking. Some of the biggest culprits in fuelling binge drinking and anti-social behaviour are supermarkets and off-licenses who sell alcohol very cheaply.

“The biggest rises in affordability of alcohol have come from the off-trade, so the Government needs to crack down on this too or the practice of pre-loading on cheap bought-in booze before hitting the town will continue.”

What do you think? Will banning happy hours really curb binge drinking culture?

Related Posts

Food recycling bin scheme for all households

Posted: 22 Nov 2008 02:31 AM CST


Every household in England could soon have to keep seperate bins for food scraps. This is a measure councils say will enable them to recycling millions of tonnes of diodegradable rubbish and reduce landfill.

Critics say the food recycling is just an excuse to end weekly bin collections.

Residents taking part in the trial scheme have complained about odours from food waste which attracts pests.

A spokesman from The Local Government Association (LGA) said: “Many councils are already collecting food waste separately and are keen to expand these services, but this is not something that comes without a price tag. Specialist equipment is required to collect and dispose of it, which can be very expensive.”

Mark Wallace, campaign director at the Taxpayer’s Alliance, added: “With council tax bills putting such a heavy burden on families already suffering from the recession, councils must be extremely careful about the potential cost of this scheme.

“There are much more affordable alternatives which include encouraging home composting.”

Food waste accounts for 20% of all waste sent to landfills, creating thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gases.

Around a third of the food bought in the UK is thrown away, even though most of it could have been eaten.

Related Posts

Scoop6 Saturday

Posted: 21 Nov 2008 01:17 PM CST

This Saturday could turn out to be very lucky for some punters around the country with a huge prize approaching £4million available in the Scoop6, which involves picking the winner of six chosen televised races - unsurprisingly the hardest ones!

Like the majority of punters, I’ll be throwing my hat into the ring and having a crack, along with backing several other thoroughbreds in singles, including Chomba Womba (1.55) in the Ascot Hurdle at the Berkshire track.

This prestigious race is being shown live on Channel 4 and past renewals suggest siding with a hurdler aged from six to nine, with plenty of experience, and who is likely to emerge from the first three in the betting.

Chomba Womba fits all those credentials and impressed in taking the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton two weeks ago, an event that was won by two previous winners beforehand.

Channel 4 are also beaming the Amlin Handicap Chase live an hour later, where Mahogany Blaze (3.05) is the one to beat.

Once more, history is a useful guide as previous renewals of the event tell us those that finished first and second last time out did well, and Mahogany Blaze filled the runner-up spot almost three weeks ago in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, as did the 2000 winner of this, Upgrade.

Those that like to get a thrill when placing a bet need look no further than the action on the all-weather at Lingfield, where Muktasb (12.00) can take the opener. Sky channel 415 Attheraces will be showing the action.

This sprinter has really caught the Myers’ eye on his last two outings, flashing through all too late at Kempton. However, this venue at Lingfield is more obliging to those leaving things late and Muktasb can swallow them up on the line.

Similar comments also apply to River Kirov (12.55) two races later in the second division of this sprint.

This five-year-old is back on his A game at present, almost following up his victory at Kempton over six furlongs at the same track and trip earlier this week when a fast-finishing second. He was given too much to do that day, but is partnered today by Richard Hughes, who was on board when successful.

The final bet on a hectic day comes at Huntingdon in the opener where Bonikos (12.05) stands out for the in-form Nicky Henderson yard.

This gelding made an encouraging racecourse introduction in March when making late gains into second at this venue, and is expected to improve for that debut on his hurdles bow today. The yard do well here too, with an impressive 41% strike-rate in hurdle races during the past five years.

Related Posts

  • No Related Post

Patterson Joseph To Be Announced As The Doctor On Sunday?

Posted: 21 Nov 2008 11:43 AM CST


Does the evidence add up to Sunday being the biggest birthday present for Doctor Who?

Speculation continues to be drawn around the identity of the actor destined to take over from David Tennant as the next actor to play The Doctor in the hit BBC series; and fans are wondering if the decision will be announced this Sunday.

The rumours are gathering around character actor Patterson Joseph. Best known to the public for his role in Peep Show, he’s also a genre favourite having recently been in Hyperdrive and Jekyll, along with capturing the hearts of fantasy fans since his role as the Marquis in Neverwhere (above) in 1996.

So what’s the evidence for (a) Joseph being cast and (b) the announcement happening on Sunday? First up, Joseph has been on pretty much everyone’s list since before Tennant stood down at the National TV Awards. Secondly, he is already known to new show runner Stephen Moffat (who previously helmed Jekyll), and he;s in the right age range, with dashing good looks, and lots of stamina. He’s also been happy to talk about taking the role, but never denying he’s not been cast. Plus BBC news reported that on their site - something they’ve not done with other actors mentioned, such as Sean Pertwee.

Oh and a fellow cast member from the new TV series, Survivors, almost let the cat out the bag on News 24…

So that takes care of the Who. Now what about the time? Well, there are a lot of good reasons to get the announcement out the way well in advance of the new series (not least so nobody finds out via a grainy cameraphone when filming starts). And this Sunday is a vital date.

Firstly, it’s the première of the aforementioned TV show Survivors, so any news around Joseph would make the ratings soar like an eagle above the tunnels of London.

Secondly, this Sunday, the 23rd of November, will be the 45th anniversary of the very first episode of Doctor Who. What better time to emphasise that the cutting edge nature of Doctor Who is alive and well by announcing the new actor.

Time will tell…

Related Posts

Quarter of British men think wives need boob jobs

Posted: 21 Nov 2008 10:19 AM CST


Findings from a poll of 2,000 married men reveal that 25% think their wives need better boobs.

1 in 5 British men say plastic surgery could save their marriage.

Only 35% of the survey said they would never tell their wives she needed plastic surgery.

The survey commissioned by Opera North was created ahead of Armando Iannucci’s operetta, Skin Deep.

A spokesman said: “It seems that a lot of men think their wives could do with surgery to enhance their looks but looking young and gorgeous isn’t the be all and end all to a marriage.

“Plastic surgery is so much more on people’s radars and the survey shows a lot of men do actually see it as a viable option to spruce up their wives. It’s particularly amusing that very few men would be prepared to do the same thing.”

Related Posts

  • No Related Post
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

MP3 Clips

Popular Posts