Saturday, June 29, 2013

IOC meets with success in co-processing non-edible vegetable oil in its refinery

IOC meets with success in co-processing non-edible vegetable oil in its refinery

The Research & Development Center of the state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has good reasons to cheer about. For the first time in India, and possibly the first in the world, Jatropha oil has been successfully used for co-processing in a petroleum refinery. Based on a press statement, 'IOC has successfully developed and commercialised a technology to co-process non-edible vegetable oil in the existing Diesel Hydrotreating (DHDT) units of a petroleum refinery to make bio-diesel'.

The company termed this as a "major technological breakthrough that can be a game changer for advancing use of bio-diesel in the country and ensuring ready acceptance of the fuel by the automobile industry," reported The Hindu.

Highlights on this achievement are as follows :

- During the development of this process technology, IOC also develped a process for de-metallisation and de-gumming of vegetable oils.?

- During the trial, the diesel cetane number improved by 2 units, sulphur content reduced and the inlet temperature of the reactor could also be reduced by 100 degrees Celsius with resultant energy savings.?
- Conventionally, bio diesel is produced by the trans-esterification process which requires separate plant to be set up. Bio diesel thus produced by the trans-esterification process has inferior properties in terms of oxidation stability, lower energy content and results in more deposits in the engine due to which it is not very well accepted by the automobile industry. However, the novel innovative co-processing technology developed by IOC overcomes these disadvantages and produces bio-diesel with higher Cetane number, good oxidation stability and lower density - based on a press release. Let's hope farmers in India do benefit out of the above for improving their earning capability.
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Source: http://www.merinews.com/article/ioc-meets-with-success-in-co-processing-non-edible-vegetable-oil-in-its-refinery/15887358.shtml

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Friday, June 28, 2013

IT Worker Loses Dream Job Over...A Bacon Sandwich? - Careers ...

Manchester Evening News - Clive HuntWhen it comes to discussing religion or politics in the office, of course, tact is required. But just how tight-lipped should you be? Clive Hunt, a 58-year old IT consultant in Manchester, England, confronted this question head-on earlier this month when he offered to pick up "bacon sandwiches" during a meeting with a new client. That reportedly offended a Muslim co-worker -- and soon after, Hunt says that he was told that he lost his job. According to a report in the Manchester Evening News, Hunt says that a manager told him the decision was made because of his "racist remark."

Hunt says that he was in a meeting at a Manchester office of the Reed recruitment company to discuss an eight-month contract worth 32,000 pounds (or $50,000) to work with the British National Health Service, or NHS. And during the meeting, Hunt offered to pick up "bacon sandwiches," which as the Examiner points out, is "standard English breakfast fare." He didn't know that a colleague in the meeting, Sharika Sacranie, 29, was an observant Muslim, forbidden from eating pig products.

Hunt says that he didn't intend to offend anyone. "I'd never met [Sacranie] before," he told the Daily Mail, adding "we got on fine." But after the meeting, Hunt says that he received the call telling him that his services were no longer needed due to his "racist" remark -- an allegation that Hunt disputes. "There was no slur at her because I'd already met all the contractors on site before and one of them had actually told me they had really good bacon sandwiches."

Hunt added that Sacranie herself chose not to address the incident both when it happened and during a follow-up phone-call about the hiring process that took place before he was told that he was being let go. He said the job loss was a blow; he's been out of work for two months. Finally, Hunt claims to be bewildered that Reed had the power to terminate his employment. The "agency was just a middle man. How can it rescind an offer that was made to me by the NHS?" he asked the Daily Mail.

But according to John Spitzler, the president and principal recruiter for the Perimeter Consulting Group, an Atlanta-based executive search firm, it is common practice for search firms to rescind job offers. But in an interview with AOL Jobs, he said that the decision is usually the result of a criminal or other background check. "It's unusual for the choice to be made as a result of a cross-cultural insult, unintenteded or not," he said.

Both the NHS and Sacranie have turned down media requests for comment. The Reed staffing firm, however, did release a statement defending the decision and suggesting that Hunt made additional "inappropriate" comments during a phone call:

Due to inappropriate comments made to members of our staff during the recruitment process before Mr Hunt started his new role, we do not feel we can represent this candidate further. ... A senior manager from the Reed team spoke to Mr Hunt via telephone ... [d]uring that conversation, Mr Hunt made further inappropriate comments. At this point it became clear to the senior manager that Reed could no longer represent Mr Hunt.

Both side are in agreement about the charge that Hunt had a strong reaction to the news. In recounting to the Daily Mail the conversation he had with the Reed manager, he said that he "got so exasperated that [he] told him to 'sod off' and put the phone down.'"

Either way, Hunt's fall from grace is in keeping with a trend in Europe of workers running into problems for how they've handled religious matters in the office. Seven years ago, British Airways suspended clerk Nadia Eweida for refusing to take off her cross, saying that she wasn't in compliance with the airline's uniform code. Earlier this year, however, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, ruled that the airline discriminated against her, and said Eweida had the right to wear a symbol of her faith.

This story was updated on Thursday, June 27, at 4:30 p.m. EDT with quotes from John Spitzler.

What is the worst way to be fired? Check out the slideshow below.

  • <p> Firing long-serving employees over email is pretty cowardly and insensitive. But you probably lose an extra 5 trillion karma points if those long-serving employees are soldiers. Due to an alleged &quot;administrative error&quot; several dozen British soldiers, who had each served for over 20 years, including one fighting in Afghanistan, were told that their services, or rather their service, would not longer be required. The email advised the troops to <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/8325202/Defence-Secretary-furious-after-MoD-sacks-soldiers-by-email.html" target="_blank">&quot;start planning your resettlement.&quot;</a></p> <p> Prime Minister David Cameron felt that &quot;the way this has been handled is completely unacceptable,&quot; according to a spokesman. Jim Murphy, shadow defense secretary for the opposition Labour Party had stronger words, calling it &quot;callous, cold-hearted, souless.&quot;</p>
  • <p> When a partially nude pic of Miss California Carry Prejean surfaced, Donald Trump stood by her side. &quot;We are in the 21st century. We have determined the pictures taken are fine&quot; and in some cases &quot;lovely,&quot; said <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/donald-trump-carrie-prejean-retain-miss-california-3306808.html?cat=49" target="_blank">at a press conference in May 2009</a>. He also defended her answer to a pageant question about same-sex marriage (she's not into it).</p> <p> Less than a month later, Prejean got a call. It was radio and TV host Billy Bush, and he was wondering whether she had a statement. You know, about her losing her crown and her dreams being dashed in a hugely public and humiliating fall from grace?</p> <p> &quot;It is so bizarre to me how this has turned out,&quot; Prejean <a href="http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/06/video-carrie-prejean-says-she-learned-firing-through-reporter" target="_blank">told Fox News</a>. &quot;I just couldn't believe it. I was so shocked, I didn't know what to say.&quot;</p>
  • <p> Sarah Silverman was on &quot;Saturday Night Live&quot; for a year, but only one of her sketches actually made it to dress rehearsal, and none got on the air. She claims that she was notified of her dismissal by fax, which isn't very cool now, and still wasn't very cool in 1994. She parodied the experience on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VukCNBjRV6M" target="_blank">&quot;The Larry Sanders Show,&quot;</a> in which the chauvinist head writer blackballs her jokes because she's a lady.</p>
  • <p> Getting fired is a bummer. Getting fired for being tired all the time when you're pregnant is a bigger bummer. Being told that you have to give back your uniform shirts or pay $30 is pretty wounding. And then bumping into your bright-eyed replacement on the way out is like pouring five pounds of salt in that wound.</p> <p> That's what happened to one woman in East Hartford, Conn., who worked at Bell Foods grocery store. As she <a href="http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about766333.html" target="_blank">writes on her blog</a>, she immediately went to her car, grabbed the dirty work shirts, and threw them on her supervisor's desk. Unfortunately, her supervisor wasn't sitting there. She was giving the new girl a tour.</p>
  • <p> By the age of 21, Chris Colfer had two Emmy nominations and ranked among <em>Time'</em>s <a href="http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_2066418,00.html" target="_blank">100 most influential people in the world</a> last year for his groundbreaking portrayal of a struggling gay teen on the primetime series &quot;Glee.&quot; So he was a little surprised when he discovered that the show had tweeted that next season would be his last on the show. &quot;I don't necessarily want to leave so soon, but I mean, it's fine,&quot; <a href="http://www.accesshollywood.com/glee/chris-colfer-learned-of-glee-exit-on-twitter-excited-for-emmy-nomination_articletab_50654" target="_blank">he told&nbsp;Access Hollywood</a>. &quot;It's what it is. And all things come to an end.&quot;</p> <p> The show's creator, Ryan Murphy, had a different story. They'd been in talks about it for a while, he said, given that Colfer's character was graduating from high school, and that they were planning a spin-off. Annoyed about Colfer's comments, Murphy said that they were <a href="http://rumorfix.com/2011/07/is-glees-ryan-murphy-mad-at-chris-colfer/" target="_blank">scrapping the spin-off idea</a>. Colfer will be <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/09/glee-spin-off-dead-lea-michele-returning_n_1192864.html" target="_blank">back on the show</a> next season, however, as a high school graduate somehow integrated into high school plotlines with the logic-suspending grace of a truly great sitcom.</p>
  • <p> Sixteen-year-old Chelsea Taylor weekend job at a cafe called Cookies after she lost a ten-pound note (about $16). She was fired by a manager in a Facebook message riddled with the textspeak abbreviations that might be appropriate for dishing about the cute boy next to you in math class, but a little less appropriate for cutting someone off from their source of income.</p> <p> &quot;Sorry to send u a message like this but bin tryin to ring u but gettin no joy,&quot; she wrote. &quot;I had to tell the owner bout u losin that tenner coz obviously the till was down at the end of the day. she wan't very pleased at all and despite me trying to persuade her otherwise she said I have to let u go. I'm really sorry.&quot;</p> <p> Taylor shrugged it off with a resilient &quot;oki x,&quot; but her mom wasn't too pleased, and had a little talk <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1259763/Chelsea-Taylor-sacked-Facebook-Girl-discovers-shes-lost-Saturday-job.html" target="_blank">with the <em>Daily Mail</em></a>.</p>
  • <p> Back in 2010,&nbsp;Karen Ogilvie,&nbsp;a bartender in Dundee, Scotland, slept in and missed the start of her evening shift. She'd worked 11 hours the day before, four of them spent alone, so she couldn't even go to the bathroom, she claimed. Later that evening, she got a text. Bye-bye.&nbsp;Ogilvie replied with a few texts asking for her job back, but got no reply.</p> <p> But things turned out rosy for Ogilvie.&nbsp;In October 2010, she was awarded the sum of 14,355 pounds ($22,461)&nbsp;by an employment tribunal, which found that her dismissal was &quot;procedurally and substantively unfair.&quot;&nbsp;</p>
  • <p> <a href="http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/04/03/9-office-lottery-pools-gone-wrong/" target="_blank">10 Office Lottery Pools Gone Terribly Wrong</a></p> <p> <a href="http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/01/25/8-jobs-to-eavesdrop-on/">8 Jobs We'd Love To Eavesdrop On</a></p> <p> <a href="http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/01/13/top-10-jobs-than-burn-calories/">Top 10 Jobs That Burn Calories</a></p> <p> <a href="http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/01/30/do-people-think-your-profession-is-trustworthy/">Do People Think Your Profession Is Trustworthy?</a></p>

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Filed under: Stories of the Unemployed, Employment News & Trends

Source: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/06/27/it-worker-fired-bacon-muslim/

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Friday Afternoon Was Made for In-Browser Orcas

Friday Afternoon Was Made for In-Browser Orcas

It's Friday, and you're just about in the home stretch. Well, assuming you're not on Pacific Time, that is, in which case stop reading right now because your entire day is about to go pleasantly bobbing down the drain. Bobbing. Always bobbing. Just like our new whale friend here.

Bestowed upon us by a friend of a friend of a friend, this mysterious site sends the giant sea mammal following your cursor wherever it may go. We have no idea from whence it came nor who made it. All we know is that we may have just found our new best friend. Whaley, Shamu, Tad, whatever your name might be?we love you.

Source: http://gizmodo.com/friday-afternoon-was-made-for-in-browser-orcas-611902288

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Guidance You Need To Improve Your Golf Skills | Sports & Recreation

There are many endeavors in life that call for concentration and exacting attention to detail. Golf is no exception. Golf is a game that requires skill and precision; even the slightest break in concentration can throw your entire game off. The challenge is what makes golf so much fun! Investigate these tips on the game of golf, and watch your game improve.

TIP! A helpful tip when it comes to golf is to consider checking with a golf professional before buying a new club or set of clubs. The information they can provide will be instrumental in purchasing the correct clubs for you, because they can tell you which type will fit you best and data about cutting edge products.

You can get a lot of help you in your golf game from your body. You have to use your body as a source of power, not just your arms. Use your whole body to execute every stage of your golf swing. You will be able to control the ball and send it further without injuring yourself.

TIP! Regarding the game of golf, try not to obsess over it. Things are bound to go wrong from time to time, so you need to learn to laugh at your mistakes.

When first learning to play, it is best to get the correct grip on the club. A common mistake many players make is thinking that a harder club grip means they can power the ball farther down the fairway. However, it?s best to use a firm, yet gentle grip. One popular piece of advice given by instructors across the country is to envision that you are trying to keep hold on bird.

TIP! So you need to drink lots of water and do your stretches before you play. The better shape your body is in, the better your game will be.

Use your entire body to power your golf swing. Novices tend to have the belief that strength is drawn primarily from the arms; however, using arms alone generates nothing but weak, ungainly swings. You get better results when your body is in sync with your arms and hands.

TIP! If you are investing in an expensive new golf club, having it custom-fitted may be a good choice. This will make the club suit your body type exactly.

When you finish one shot, turn your total attention to the next one. Don?t be distracted by your last bad shot or a water hazard on the next hole. Worrying about mistakes can have an effect on your swing, so forget them and move forward.

TIP! See to it that you?re holding the golf club the right way before your swing. Your thumbs should be pointing downward while the handle rests on your palms.

Make sure your left hand is actually ahead of your ball when you putt. Hold this position as you swing the club, maintaining it throughout your stroke. You will have more control over the club and direction of the ball.

TIP! Using an unnatural stance will be detrimental to your game. Practice standing without holding your club.

If you need to make a long putt, focus mostly on the speed that you hit the ball with. It?s best to try to hit the ball towards an intermediate target in this situation, rather than going straight for the hole. That way, you are less likely to either overshoot or undershoot, and your second putt is more likely to be a manageable one.

TIP! Avoid discouragement by playing with partners who share your skill level. As a beginning golfer choose to play easy courses with other golfers who are just starting to play.

One of the first things you need to learn about golf is the scoring rules. Many people live and die by their score, so messing it up will give you a horrible reputation. Every hit of the golf ball is counted as a stroke. The total amount of strokes it takes to place the ball in the cup determines the total score for that hole. Getting the least amount of strokes possible is the goal!

TIP! Make sure you position yourself well and put yourself behind your golf ball so that you can look ahead and see where the ball needs to go. At this time, you also need to factor in the wind and other conditions.

For a powerful swing, use all the muscles in the body, especially your core and leg muscles. Swing your body like a whip when you swing and get power from your lower body.

TIP! Perhaps one of the most important things to understand in the game of golf is that when the club strikes the ball, the club?s face must be perfectly square for maximum distance and accuracy. Doing so boosts the odds the ball will go in a straight path.

You probably want to bring a nice healthy snack to fuel your body and mind while you?re on the course. Golf can make a person both mentally and physically tired. However, the calories and protein in your snack can help you remain alert and prevent your muscles from becoming fatigued, so you can stay on top of your game throughout the 18th hole.

TIP! If your shots are cutting right, your body is probably shifting left when you swing. During your downswing, you need to focus on having your hands released more quickly to the ball.

Don?t mess up your game by messing up your stance. Practice standing without holding your club. Stand at the same distance from the ball you would stand if you were holding the club. Flex your knees, bend your waist slightly, let your arms down in a natural way. Clap your hands together, as if around a club. This position should feel natural to you, and if it does not, you might be overcompensating it.

TIP! Frame golf as an enjoyable activity, not something you have to master right now. Practice whenever you can, and seek advice from experienced golfers to help take your game to the next level.

Golfing with others who play at your level can keep your confidence up. While you are a beginner, find easier courses to play on with people of a similar skill level. Don?t crush your enthusiasm taking on tough courses and competing against those who are much better than you.

TIP! Increase the power of your swing by not bringing your club back too far. Pulling back the club will have a negative effect on your posture.

Try to find ways around the problem if you can?t figure out how to solve it. It could be an advantage in the long run, and make your golf style unique.

TIP! Tee height is an important item to be knowledgeable about if you are a golfing beginner. Your drives might not be efficient if the tree height is not right.

Breathe deeply just before hitting the ball. A deep breath will center your focus on the ball and calm your nerves. Take the time to visualize the destination you want your ball to go to, and take your swing. Deep breaths can also eliminate tension in a competition setting.

TIP! Try not to tense your muscles as your swing nears the ball. Unfortunately, tons of golfers do this, causing their stroke to produce negative results.

TIP! Remember that walking on the course all day often causes your feet to swell. Keep this in mind as you are shopping for new golf shoes; you may wish to buy one size larger than you would ordinarily.

When playing golf, keep in mind you need to practice proper etiquette and that includes speeding up your pace of play when you are going slow. The groups behind yours may become frustrated by excessive delays or slow play. When your group is moving slower across the green, it is proper etiquette to invite faster groups to ?play through?.

TIP! Don?t wear sneaker golf shoes in the early morning when the dew is still on the grass. There are some brands that offer this style with waterproofing, yet many don?t.

You do not need to work just at the driving range in order to improve your swing. Working on improving your swing impacts most of your total golfing game, so keep swinging.

TIP! When golfing, you need to constantly be paying attention. You must be prepared to play as soon as it is your turn.

The key to becoming a good golfer lies, in part, in learning which club does what. In many cases, knowing which club to use can mean the difference between landing the ball on the green or in the rough. It can be disastrous if you don?t use the right club in a certain situation.

TIP! The most essential factor is that the clubs you choose are the right fit for your particular game. Don?t forget that the golfers of a century ago were using clubs made of wood.

Try out tips like the ones you?ve just read above to help keep your game going as smoothly as possible. Employ what you?ve just learned here and you can continue to get better at golf, no matter how long you?ve been playing the game.

TIP! It?s important to know how each club works for your shots. You can shave a lot of points off your score by choosing the correct wood, iron or wedge for every shot.

Source: http://www.after-i-do.com/guidance-you-need-to-improve-your-golf-skills/

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Perry, Texas GOP revive abortion limits fight

In this Tuesday, June 25, 2013 photo, Texas state Senators Wendy Davis, left, and Sylvia R. Garcia cast their votes against Senate Bill 5 amidst the cheers of the Senate Gallery, in Austin, Texas. As she spoke late into the night, railing against proposed abortion restrictions, Davis, a former Texas teen mom, catapulted from little-known junior state senator to national political superstar in pink tennis shoes. (AP Photo/The Daily Texan, Emily Ng)

In this Tuesday, June 25, 2013 photo, Texas state Senators Wendy Davis, left, and Sylvia R. Garcia cast their votes against Senate Bill 5 amidst the cheers of the Senate Gallery, in Austin, Texas. As she spoke late into the night, railing against proposed abortion restrictions, Davis, a former Texas teen mom, catapulted from little-known junior state senator to national political superstar in pink tennis shoes. (AP Photo/The Daily Texan, Emily Ng)

Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, left, who tries to filibuster an abortion bill, reacts as time expires, Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Amid the deafening roar of abortion rights supporters, Texas Republicans huddled around the Senate podium to pass new abortion restrictions, but whether the vote was cast before or after midnight is in dispute. If signed into law, the measures would close almost every abortion clinic in Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Members of the gallery cheer and chant as the Texas Senate tries to bring an abortion bill to a vote as time expires, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Amid the deafening roar of abortion rights supporters, Texas Republicans huddled around the Senate podium to pass new abortion restrictions, but whether the vote was cast before or after midnight is in dispute. If signed into law, the measures would close almost every abortion clinic in Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, sits at his desk as the session where Democrats tried to filibuster an abortion bill draws to a close, Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Despite barely beating a midnight deadline, hundreds of jeering protesters helped stop Texas lawmakers from passing the abortion bill. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

(AP) ? Texas Gov. Rick Perry is set to address a national convention of anti-abortion activists Thursday little more than a day after a special legislative session failed to approve sweeping restrictions to make abortion all but impossible for many women in the state.

The Republican leader has called a second special legislative session beginning July 1, allowing the GOP-controlled Texas statehouse another crack at passing the restrictions that opponents say could shutter nearly all abortion clinics in the country's second-largest state.

Perry's announcement came hours after the much-watched proposal failed in the face of a Democratic filibuster in the Senate that turned chaotic when Republicans used parliamentary rules to cut it short. The hubbub from jeering opponents of the proposal in the public gallery became so deafening that it halted all action on the floor.

Perry, who has said he'd like to make abortion at any stage of pregnancy a thing of the past in Texas, called the special session after lawmakers finished the regular session May 27. He didn't add the abortion measure to the issues to be discussed until late in the session.

The omnibus abortion measure passed the Texas House after nearly an entire night of heated debate Sunday, but the effort to get Senate approval before the session ended at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday failed.

Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth staged a filibuster for more than 11 hours. But when Republicans were able to silence her on a technicality minutes before midnight, hundreds of protesters raised such a ruckus that lawmakers were unable to hold a final vote until after the clock had run out.

The spectacle put the spotlight on Perry as he prepared to open the 43rd annual National Right to Life Convention in Dallas on Thursday.

His decision to call another special session gives lawmakers 30 more days to push the abortion restrictions ? perhaps enough time to withstand Democratic stalling tactics. The governor can call as many special sessions as he likes, though lawmakers can only work on the agenda Perry sets.

In addition to a renewed abortion fight, Perry asked lawmakers to pass two pieces of legislation that also died with Davis' filibuster: funding for major transportation projects statewide, and approval of new, stricter sentencing guidelines for 17 year olds in capital murder cases.

"I am calling the Legislature back into session because too much important work remains undone for the people of Texas," Perry said in a statement. "Texans value life and want to protect women and the unborn."

The entire process starts over with lawmakers filing the bills that then undergo public hearings before being passed out of committee. Only then can they be considered by both chambers.

Supporters are likely to draft a measure similar to the one that nearly passed this week that sought a statewide ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy ? the point at which anti-abortion activists claim a fetus can feel pain. There is no scientific evidence to support that claim.

It also would have forced many clinics that perform abortions to upgrade their facilities to be classified as ambulatory surgical centers. Doctors would have been required to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles.

If such a provision became law, it is possible only five of Texas' 42 abortion clinics would remain in operation in a state 773 miles wide and 790 miles long ? and with 26 million people.

In a statement Wednesday night, Davis said that if her GOP colleagues intend "to keep pushing their extreme personal political agenda ahead of the interests of Texas families, I will not back off of my duty to fight on their behalf."

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and daughter of the late former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, said: "While yesterday was a great victory, we knew the fight was not over. And it's a fight we will win. The nation is watching and we will defeat this again."

But Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who oversees the Texas Senate, said an extra session will let lawmakers "address the issues derailed by the actions of an angry mob."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-06-27-Abortion%20Restrictions-Texas/id-0531b90bc5184058a9ebff376f51b713

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New flame trench will support new era at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B

June 27, 2013 ? For the first time since NASA's Apollo-era rockets and space shuttles lifted off on missions from Launch Complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, one of the launch pads is undergoing extensive upgrades to support the agency's 21st century space launch complex.

At launch pad B, construction workers are removing the legacy flame deflector that sits below and between the left and right pad surface crawlerway track panels, along with Apollo-era bricks from both walls of the flame trench. A contract to perform the work was awarded earlier this year to Vanguard Contractors in Paducah, Ky.

"A new universal flame deflector is being designed that will support NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and a variety of other commercial launch vehicles," said Jose Perez Morales, the Pad Element project manager in the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program. "The bricks will be removed due to their age and because they are debonding from the flame trench structure."

Constructed specifically for space shuttle launches, the current flame deflector was designed to deflect the rocket exhaust away from the launch vehicle and launch pad to reduce the potential for damage. The flame trench bricks, which date back to the Apollo program, were installed during construction of the pad in the 1960s.

Perez Morales said the bricks have lost some of the bonding from the pad structure and represent a safety hazard for new launch vehicles and need to be replaced.

Dr. Bruce Vu, the Gas and Fluid Systems lead in the Design and Analysis Branch in Kennedy's Engineering Directorate, with assistance from NASA's Ames Research Center, at Moffett Field, Calif., worked with three different design concepts and used several computational methods to analyze each design's performance.

"We spent almost a year working with other NASA centers and the commercial space partners to come up with several concepts," Vu said. "The three primary objectives we focused on while evaluating these concepts were plume containment, surface pressure and thermal performance."

For several weeks, Vu and his team ran simulations of a single launch vehicle over a flame deflector concept, using Ames' supercomputer. They were looking for a deflector design that could withstand the high heat from plume exhaust, that did not result in plume blow-back, and whose surface pressure was within design margin limits.

"At the end of the simulations, we selected the best design and received approvals from the Engineering Review Board and the Element Integrated Team to proceed with the design," Vu said. "The design actually is closer to that of Apollo rather than space shuttle."

Now that the shape of the deflector has been selected, Vu said there are many other details to be worked out, including what kind of surface refractory to use and what to do about the south slope of the deflector where there will be no exhaust plume.

The universal flame deflector design must be able to accommodate the SLS and other commercial launch vehicles.

The firm Reynolds, Smith and Hills, with offices in Merritt Island, is designing the new flame deflector and the refurbishment of the flame trench. The design review currently is at the 30 percent phase.

"The goal is to create a deflector design that will be less costly to construct and more efficient," Vu said.

The new flame deflector and flame trench designs are schedule to be completed in early 2014. The construction of the flame trench and deflector is scheduled to start in early 2015.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/nasa/~3/_uQsCyOHlCo/130627135349.htm

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Texas Governor Perry vows to pass 20-week abortion ban

President Obama said on Thursday that while he is concerned about Edward Snowden and wants to bring the NSA leaker back to America, he's not interested in "wheeling and dealing and trading" to get him extradited.?Obama, at the first press conference on his week-long trip to Africa, took questions from the media while in Dakar, Senegal, but naturally everyone wants to talk about the news from home. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/texas-governor-perry-vows-pass-20-week-abortion-155905334.html

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