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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Married to Mars: 9 Questions for Dennis Tito on Private Martian Trips

The world's first space tourist, Dennis Tito, isn't done with space. The American entrepreneur has founded a new nonprofit organization to work toward launching the first manned mission to Mars in 2018.

The flyby mission, which wouldn't land on the Red Planet, would take advantage of a rare planetary alignment that would allow a speedy trajectory to Mars and back in about 500 days. Tito unveiled the mission today (Feb. 27) at the National Press Club in Washington during the launch of the new nonprofit Inspiration Mars Foundation, which will oversee the audacious project.

SPACE.com caught up with Tito to ask him some burning questions about the new private Mars mission.

SPACE.com: Would you consider going on this mission yourself?

Dennis Tito: Absolutely not.

First of all, I'm 72 years old. Even if I were 30 years younger, I wouldn't, because the one criterion that?s very important for this crew is they will have to be really mechanically inclined. They will be overhauling this life support system if it breaks. [Photos: The First Space Tourists]

SPACE.com: So who do you think would make good candidates?

Tito: We're proposing a man and a woman, because this is humanity's first flight out to Mars, and humanity should be represented by both genders.

We hope that we can find a married couple. When you're out that far and the Earth is a tiny blue pinpoint, you're going to need someone you can hug. What better solution to the psychological problems you're going to encounter with that isolation?

SPACE.com: Do you think it will be difficult to find people willing to undertake the mission?

Tito: Over 600,000 people have applied over the prior 40 years to be astronauts, so I'm sure there will be a lot of applications for this mission. You really have to select the best qualified people.

SPACE.com: What do you think theconditions will be like for the crew?

Tito: There are cramped quarters for the crew. It's a Spartan mission. It's a bold mission. What we're doing is adding significant embellishments to the spacecraft so that it's capable of sustaining two people for 500 days. We have a lot of work to do.

But we'd use existing launch vehicles and we have several ideas about that, we're talking to industry about that.

SPACE.com: Have you decided yet whether you'll use SpaceX's Dragon capsule and Falcon Heavy rocket for the mission?

Tito: We used SpaceX as a reference in our study, but there's a lot we don't know about whether Dragon's going to be selected by NASA as a commercial crew vehicle. Falcon heavy hasn't been launched yet. There are a lot of unknowns. We don't want to put all our eggs in one basket.

SPACE.com: What is the scientific value of a manned mission to Mars, if the crew won't be landing on the planet?

Tito: At first, I thought this is not a science mission. This is for inspiration; it's a test flight to show we can get there. You're going to learn a lot about the engineering problems.

But then as I started learning more about the life sciences, apparently [the benefits] are huge. There hasn't been really any information on human behavior in this kind of environment. The impact of radiation, the isolation ? the academics are all very excited. It'd be a huge scientific valuein the life sciences.

SPACE.com: But you're really aiming for inspiration?

Tito: My younger years were during the Apollo missions. The '60s for me were just really exciting times. It had a whole impact on my generation. I know the space program caused me to get my engineering degree. But what happened to the interests of this generation in science? It's really on a decline. And I think if we have this first mission to Mars, even though it's far from our goal of landing, I could see it jumpstarting interest in space. I could see the potential of recreating what existed 50 years ago during the space race. I think it will be a big step in America'sleadership role in the world.

SPACE.com: Is NASA involved in this mission?

Tito: We just signed a Space Act Agreement with them for at least one of the critical path areas. Rather than NASA funding us, we're funding NASA. That showed us that they're really willing to endorse the idea of public-private partnerships. They're not endorsing this mission, at this point, but they're certainly open to the idea of helping us with the technology, because that technology is going to benefit them.

SPACE.com: How likely is it that you'll actually be able to launch this mission in 2018?

Tito: I give it a good chance. We're seeing a lot of positive response from people. I can't make it happen by myself. It isn't like I can just write a check for the whole thing, or force the engineering to come out the way I want it to. But unless we run into showstoppers, I don't see why not. We can do this if we want to.

I can't tell you how excited I am. It's hard to sleep at night. My gut feeling is, we're going to make it.

Follow Clara Moskowitz on Twitter?@ClaraMoskowitz?or SPACE.com?@Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook?&?Google+.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/married-mars-9-questions-dennis-tito-private-martian-180852871.html

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Third Party Center develops much-needed information package ...

Insurance, Vision Therapy, and Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation, a new information package from the AOA Third Party Center, offers long-sought guidance on proper coding and billing for vision rehabilitative services, according to authors Harvey Richman, O.D., Jason Clopton, O.D., and Richard Soden, O.D.

?Vision therapy (VT) and neuro-rehabilitation today are often used to treat specific diagnosed ocular, visual and visual perceptual conditions. In some cases, vision therapy is the only available and effective treatment option for those conditions,? said Dr. Richman.

Increasingly, treatment may be covered under major medical or vision insurance plans.

However, many practitioners continue to have questions about the proper way to code VT and neuro-rehabilitation on insurance claims, Dr. Richman notes.

?Inability to properly report these services on claims could mean needless claim rejections and, ultimately, that patients do not receive the care they need,? Dr. Richman said.

The comprehensive new 58-page AOA vision therapy coding package provides an overview of the health care coding system and basic advice on the selection of billing codes, with detailed information on the selection of:

Examination procedure codes
Special testing codes
Follow-up examination procedure codes, and
Therapy codes.

Extensive information is provided on the documentation necessary to meet coding requirements, and, in particular, the documenting of sensorimotor exams in patient medical records.

A special section focuses on the types of health care providers who are authorized to submit 97000 therapeutic service codes.

The package also provides sample forms and letters to insurance carriers for preauthorization requests, responses to requests for additional information, and responses to denied claims.

Dr. Richman and his coauthors encourage practitioners to appropriately code services for all vision therapy and neuro-rehabilitation patients, even when insurance reimbursement will not sought, as mean of ensuring consistency in patient records and encouraging mastery of coding procedures.

AOA members can access the ?Insurance, Vision Therapy, and Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation? information online at http://newsfromaoa.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/insurance-vision-therapy-and-neuro-optometric-rehabilitationaoa-approved-1-31-2013-branded_v2.pdf.

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Source: http://newsfromaoa.org/2013/02/26/third-party-center-develops-much-needed-information-package-outlining-proper-vision-rehabilitation-coding/

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Jaidah Automotive announces arrival in Doha of Chevrolet's all-new ...

The Camaro - popularly known as a 'muscle car' - debuted back in 1966 and is now in its fifth generation, which was launched in 2009 with a striking new look.

The new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 - the most technically advanced car ever developed in its class - has arrived in Jaidah Automotive's Doha showroom.

Powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine producing a mammoth 580 horsepower, the Camaro ZL1 is the fastest Camaro ever offered by Chevrolet, with a top speed of 296 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds (delivered through newly-design, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels).

It is also packed with performance technologies, highlighted by Magnetic Ride Control, and advanced materials such as a vented carbon fiber hood insert.

There is a lot more to the car than just power, though. The ZL1 features technologically-advanced and highly developed chassis and suspension systems that help it deliver balanced, track-ready handling and braking power to complement its high engine output. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. With either transmission, the Camaro ZL1 delivers supercar performance.

The manual transmission has been tuned for improved shift feel, with a dual-mass flywheel, twin-disc clutch, and triple synchros for smooth, precise shifts. Similarly, the '6L90' automatic transmission has been strengthened to handle the torque and horsepower produced by the supercharged engine.

To make the ZL1 perform equally well on street and track, the 6L90 features three distinct drive modes: Drive, where the shift pattern is calibrated for optimal fuel economy; Sport, where the shift pattern is calibrated for more aggressing driving, and Manual, where the 6L90 offers the driver true manual control and maximum performance.

The Camaro ZL1 is the first sports car to feature the third-generation of Magnetic Ride. This advanced suspension system employs valveless damping and Magneto-Rheological (MR) fluid technology to match the suspension firmness to match the road and driving conditions. With Magnetic Ride Control, customers enjoy the best of both worlds: a comfortable ride that makes the ZL1 appropriate as a daily driver and the incredibly precise body control that makes the ZL1 so enjoyable on the track.

Also standard on the Camaro ZL1 is Performance Traction Management, which integrates magnetic ride control, launch control, traction control, electronic stability control and electric power steering response to enhance all aspects of performance.

Everything about the ZL1's visual design is directly related to its technology and performance, especially aerodynamics. Chevrolet's designers' goal was to execute function-oriented design with beautifully sculpted forms, creating an imposing, powerful persona. ZL1's signature from the front is the redesigned fascia and aluminum hood with a raised, carbon fiber insert. The fascia includes a front splitter and new vertical fog lamps, this area includes air intakes designed for brake cooling.

High-intensity discharge headlamps and fog lamps are standard and the rear of the car includes a diffuser and spoiler - functional elements that enhance the car's aerodynamics.

The interior of the Camaro ZL1 features standard leather seating surfaces with suede microfiber inserts and heated, powered-adjustable front seats. Microfiber suede is repeated as an accent on the instrument panel. Standard technologies include a nine-speaker Boston Acoustics audio system; USB and Bluetooth connectivity; and rear-park assist with a rear-view camera display in the 7 inch color touch screen, which is located on the dashboard. Other enhancements include a redesigned steering wheel, alloy pedals and a 'Head-Up Display with unique performance readouts.

Mr Mark Jenkins, General Manager of Jaidah Automotive, commented, "Jaidah Automotive is delighted to bring the new Camaro ZL1 to Qatar. The Camaro ZL1 is an exceptional automobile which is about high-tech performance and design, and is a type of car no one has ever brought to this segment previously. It's a car, in fact, which has never been seen in Qatar before."

"It's the most technically-advanced Camaro ever created and can only be seen in Qatar at Jaidah Automotive showrooms. It's simply stunning to look at - a real head-turner - and the stunning looks are matched by the outrageous performance coming from the 6.2-liter engine, not to mention the raft of technological improvements that have been made to the car," he added.

"Since the Camaro was reborn in 2009 with its incredible new look, the marque has gone from strength to strength, and the ZL represents the pinnacle of this particular model. When I say that the Camaro ZL1 can only be seen at the Jaidah Automotive showrooms that is true - but not for long. We anticipate that a lucky few 'owners to be' will soon be showing off the ZL1 on Doha's streets," he concluded.

"Chevrolet has somehow made what was already a fantastic automobile even better and, as a result, we are certain that there is going to be a huge level of interest in the ZL1. Believe me, when you do see a Camaro ZL1 pass you in Doha, you'll know it," added Mr Jenkins.

Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/jaidah-automotive-announces-arrival-doha-chevrolets-331199

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Practical Internet Home Based Business Ideas, For The Young And ...

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Source: http://makemoneyblog123.blogspot.com/2013/02/practical-internet-home-based-business.html

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Pa. gov's filing defends antitrust suit vs. NCAA

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2011 file photo, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett makes remarks during a news conference after a Penn State Board of Trustees meeting in State College, Pa. Corbett argued in a court document filed late Monday, Feb. 25, 2013 that the NCAA has been trying to use his antitrust lawsuit against it over the Penn State penalties in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal to combat what he describes as a groundswell of public criticism. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) ? Gov. Tom Corbett argued in a court document filed late Monday that the NCAA has been trying to use his pending antitrust lawsuit against it over the Penn State penalties in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal to combat what he describes as a groundswell of public criticism.

Corbett said the judge should not grant the NCAA's request to dismiss the case, saying college sports' governing body made a factual error when it said the penalties were voted on by the university's trustees.

Corbett, who as governor is a trustee, said the NCAA's motion to dismiss the lawsuit he filed in January "appears to have been written more to advance the NCAA's broader agenda, and to combat the recent groundswell of public criticism against the embattled organization, than to raise legal issues appropriate to a motion to dismiss."

The NCAA, in a court filing three weeks ago, said antitrust law did not apply and a consent agreement between it and Penn State was "exceptionally unlikely" to cause other schools to raise tuition, cut scholarships or charge more for branded jerseys. It said Corbett lacked standing to sue and called his action an attempt to drag the federal courts into an intra-state political dispute.

NCAA spokeswoman Emily Potter said Monday the NCAA stood by its previous statements.

The Republican governor's lawsuit asks the judge to throw out all the penalties, including a massive fine, a four-year bowl ban and the loss of football scholarships.

"It is laughable to claim that a $60 million fine, coupled with the gutting of one of the most lucrative programs at one of the nation's largest universities, is 'noncommercial activity,'" Corbett argued.

He claims that the consent agreement has harmed students, business owners and others and that the NCAA penalties are likely to result in higher tuition and make it more difficult for football players to find scholarships.

"The NCAA wrongly claims that its arbitrary decimation of the PSU football program is no different than its enforcement of rules regulating player eligibility or uniforms ? which do enhance collegiate competition ? although PSU was not found to have violated a single NCAA rule and the NCAA's own president insisted that the consent decree was not an enforcement action," Corbett's lawyers wrote.

Corbett said the Penn State case is the first time the NCAA has injected itself into criminal conduct already in the justice system, "let alone into offenses that did not involve cheating, academic fraud, recruiting violations or other conduct designed to give athletic programs an unfair competitive advantage."

He also took a swipe at the NCAA regarding recent revelations in a booster scandal at the University of Miami.

"It is ironic that the NCAA attempts to maintain a pious tone throughout its brief ... in light of its recent revelations about its own misconduct while investigating the University of Miami," the Corbett filing said.

Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator at Penn State, a college football powerhouse, was convicted last summer of sexually abusing several boys, some on campus. He is serving a 30- to 60-year state prison sentence. He is appealing and maintains his innocence.

The consent agreement between the NCAA and Penn State was signed a few weeks after Sandusky was found guilty of 45 criminal counts. Penn State is not a party to Corbett's antitrust lawsuit or to the NCAA's lawsuit filed last week against Corbett and three state officials over a newly enacted state law that is designed to keep the $60 million within the state.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-25-Penn%20State-Abuse/id-a6c78313f5b0449ab4c1a911a3993260

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Why Even Art Teachers Have a Problem With Standardized Testing

Gray is the color between black and white and it can be created in many ways. There is cool gray and there is warm gray. There are light grays and dark grays. The question is, how do I make the right gray? Do I add one percent black to white or 99 percent white to black?

As an art teacher, I can give my students a written test to see if they remember the formula, or I can give them a paintbrush and paint.

Standardized tests are supposed to be more acceptable than non-standardized tests. They are created to gather data about answers to predetermined questions in order to determine the students? performance and intelligence. In art education, it is not so simple to measure the creative process, performance and aesthetic responses in student learning.

I am not concerned about the percent of colors my students use to make gray. I am concerned whether or not they understand the technique and can demonstrate it correctly.

Standardized testing does not relate to my ability to teach art better. In fact, there is no standardized testing in visual art. Does this make me less knowledgeable about my subject? Do I have to give my students a standardized test to prove they can make gray paint? How do you compare the artistic ability of Leonardo da Vinci to Jackson Pollock??

The National Art Education Association said it best, ?Assessment is ongoing; formative; performance-based; and designed to assess students? critical thinking and art making skills, creativity, and content knowledge.?

Because I teach at a vocational high school and am considered a Career Technical Educator (CTE), my job is to teach real life skills to prepare students for success in their future. When I walk into my classroom, I know that I?m giving my students the workplace readiness skills they need based upon my experience in working in the field as a professional artist.

As an art educator, I?m fortunate I don?t feel pressure to ?teach to the test.? While my curriculum is not based on preparing students for a state-mandated test, I do have to focus on measuring their learning. There are times when I do give my students written tests based on practical skills to make sure they understand the lesson. However, this is not the only source of assessment, nor is it standard.

There are many ways to teach someone how to paint, and that assessment should be based on students? knowledge, attitude, and performance.

There is a lot of emphasis placed on subjects that are measured on state standardized tests. Unfortunately, standardized testing is often deemed the end all in education. Non-academic subjects, like art, are being cut and teachers? jobs eliminated because school districts focus on standardized test scores as the only source of assessment for student growth.

Student improvement should not be confined to a single score on a standardized test.

I would encourage schools, teachers, and parents to focus on real student learning and on what students are able to produce, not on how well they fill in bubbles on paper with a number two pencil.

Does a student?s ability to answer a series of questions correctly actually indicate proficiency?

I enter my classroom with enthusiasm knowing that I not only teach my students how to paint a self-portrait using Chuck Close style, but I also know I am giving them freedom to use the right side of their brain and give the left side a rest.?

Student improvement should not be confined to a single score on a standardized test. I know a students? classroom performance on how they think and perform a task are factors of authentic learning. Students must be challenged to understand integrated forms of knowledge, not just the memorization of terms.

How do you make gray?

These are solely the author's opinions and do not represent those of TakePart, LLC or its affiliates.

Related Stories on TakePart:

? Is Standardized Testing for Preschoolers a Good Idea?

? Is It Time We Threw Standardized Testing Out the Door?

? Standardized Tests: The Good, the Bad, and the Very Ugly

Indira Bailey is a visual art teacher at Essex County Vocational School, Bloomfield, NJ. Ms. Bailey is a 2013 Hope Street Group National Teacher Fellow (HSG).? She is also the 2012-2013 Essex County Teacher of the Year and finalist for New Jersey Teacher of the Year. TakePart.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/standardized-testing-not-black-white-190000300.html

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Is historical claim behind the mystery group of (armed?) Filipinos in Borneo?

Malaysian troops are negotiating with about 100 men from the Philippines who have identified themselves as the 'royal army' of the Sulu Sultanate, which has a historic land claim to the area, say police.

By Simon Roughneen,?Correspondent / February 15, 2013

Malaysian policemen check a vehicle along the main road near Lahud Datu in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state Thursday. Malaysian security forces in Borneo surrounded armed intruders believed to be from the southern Philippines and sought to persuade them to leave peacefully Thursday, authorities said.

Bernama News Agency/AP

Enlarge

It's around an hour by speedboat from Sulu in the southern Philippines to Sabah in the Malaysian part of Borneo, a route often plied by fishermen, traders, and migrants. The maritime route goes from what is the poorest part of the Philippines to eastern Malaysia, and many make the journey in search of work.

Skip to next paragraph

What is the Sultanate, anyway?

The sultanate, or the territory the sultan governed, existed from the late 15th century until the late 19th century, governing Muslims spanning parts of Sulu and northern Borneo.
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Though the sultanate is not recognized anymore internationally as a governing entity, Malaysia still pays a token "rental fee" to the heirs of the last sultan.
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The claims could put the Philippines in an awkward position, embroiled in an unwanted territorial dispute, given that the men camped out in Lahud Datu are Filipino nationals.

Who are these men?

Though it?s unclear who this ?royal army? is, analysts are eyeing three southern Filipino militias. Militants from the southern Philippines have a history of crossing the narrow stretches of water to Borneo.
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Some speculated at first that the groups' appearance had something to do with deadly clashes in early February between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Abu Sayyaf, two Muslim armed groups from Mindanao, in the southern part of the Philippines.
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Some Filipino media reports suggested that at least some of the men who crossed the waters to Sabah are MNLF fighters. But that has not been confirmed.
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The MNLF signed a peace deal with the Manila government in 1996, while the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a MNLF splinter, recently forged its own tentative peace agreement with the Filipino government (with the aid of Malaysia).
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By far the smallest of the three groups, Abu Sayyaf opposes the agreements, as they grant autonomy to parts of Muslim Mindanao, because Abu Sayyaf has said it wants an Islamic state in the southern Philippines.
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And Abu Sayyaf has been known to make the same crossing to Malaysia as these self-described descendants of the Sultan of Sulu, much more frequently than other groups, as they have been pursued on and off by the Filipino Army.
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Abu Sayyaf has long been linked to Al Qaeda. It?s known for hosting the likes of Khalid Sheihk Mohammed, a central figure in the 9/11 attacks. And it is also known for taking 20 people, mainly tourists, hostage in 2000 in Malaysia.
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These days, though, the group seems more like a criminal gang than a politically-motivated terror cell. It is currently holding, by some estimates, six foreign hostages who it likely wants to exchange for ransom, a money-making tactic used by Abu Sayyaf in the past.
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MNLF leaders spun a recent attack on Abu Sayyaf as an attempt to crush the group, end such hostage-taking, and thus widen the appeal of the impoverished southern Philippines to tourism.
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If this group of self described descendants are linked to either the MILF or MNLF, Manila will hardly be happy that groups with which it signed peace deals crossed to Malaysia and faced off with Malaysian soldiers. If they're linked to Abu Sayyaf, it would highlight the inability of US-trained Filipino troops to rein in the group.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/bqZeg8Tyb-I/Is-historical-claim-behind-the-mystery-group-of-armed-Filipinos-in-Borneo

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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

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What is the Sultanate, anyway?

Who are these men?