| Compass to guide next generation of spacecraft
In space, there's no up or down, north or south, east or west. So how does a spacecraft know which way it's facing when it fires its thrusters or tries to beam data back to Earth? Just as sailors used to navigate by the stars, a spacecraft uses star patterns to know its direction. A star camera checks the star patterns and uses those to check the pointing of the spacecraft. A gyroscope measures any rotation of the spacecraft. Between them, they keep things on target. What's a gyroscope? One kind of gyroscope is a bicycle wheel. Once you're on a bike and moving, the bike's wheels want to stay in the same plane -- upright. That's why, as long as you keep those gyros … er, wheels spinning, you won't fall over. If something like the wind tries to push the spinning wheel sideways, the wheel sort of "pushes back." Well, spinning gyroscopes also work in space.
Trust fund set up for slain man’s family
So far a total of $10,000 has been collected; $5,000 from Progenics Cord Blood Cryobank, $4,000 from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce (East Toronto) and $1,000 from the Toronto Alliance Church. “We are very fortunate to be able to establish a bank account through Scotiabank. We believe that this is a community that supports each other," said Dale Chung, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce (East Toronto) with the help of Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow, who translated his comments.Chow, the wife of Toronto-Danforth MP and NDP leader Jack Layton, encouraged people to remember that Mao was a father like any other who just wanted the best for his family.“Mr. Mao worked day in and day out to stack fruit in the cold for his children. I believe that his hope is really to support his family," she said, pointing to the generosity of Torontonians towards the Zhang family following the murder of their nine-year-old daughter Cecilia.“I urge people to donate and support the two young people in front of me." Chow added that politicians are looking at banning handguns, creating youth employment programs and putting more cops on the street but that “in the meantime, let's work to make sure Mr.
Roses ‘n’ Razzies (Feb. 22)
ROSE (roz) n. One of the most beautiful of all flowers, a symbol of fragrance and loveliness. Often given as a sign of appreciation.RASPBERRY (raz'ber'e) n. A sharp, scornful comment, criticism or rebuke; a derisive, splatting noise, often called the Bronx cheer.We hereby deliver:* ROSES to our abundance of young local talent. We are continually impressed with the depth and variety of talent in our (sorta) little town. In the category of "early promise in the arts and sciences," we had much to applaud this week.We celebrate the expertise of the very young musicians who took part Tuesday in the Corvallis OSU Symphony's 2008 Children's Concert at the LaSells Stewart Center. They sang and played instruments with older international talent and made us proud.Then there is the high-wattage brilliance of the 175 Crescent Valley High School students who will participate today and Saturday in the Central Western Oregon Science Expo at Western Oregon University.Our best wishes and future hopes accompany them.
Gearing up for spring? Some fish are already biting
The calendar is inching toward that day when the weather and opportunity come together for the first fishing trip of 2008. In the meantime, we sort through the news bits that have crossed my desk in recent days. Here's something interesting. The saugers are reported to be biting down on the Ohio River. Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife communications officer Jamey Graham e-mailed an advisory from her Akron office indicating the action was outstanding. “Anglers are hammering sauger," she said. White jig are recommended. Tim Stevens, the division's field officer in Jefferson County, reported that the action has been good around the New Cumberland and Pike Island locks and dams, as well as creek mouths' murky-to-clear-water breaks. Stevens said that in addition to the saugers, some nice walleyes also are hitting.
Sex, Cries and Video Tapes
Strong dramas about the issues that plagued an Egypt in transition were a cry for help to the authorities and dealt with problems like the housing crunch and drug cartels. With the relative increase in freedom of expression experienced under President Mubarak, hard-hitting films about the corruption of businessmen and government officials could come out every once in a while. In the 1990s the number of films produced remained low, but some did try to make a difference. Actor Hussein Fahmy attempted to use the Cairo International Film Festival, which he headed from 1998 to 2002, to improve the image of Egyptian cinema. Apart from inviting international celebrities like Alain Delon, John Malkovich and Danny Glover to the annual event, he tried to bring in new technology by introducing a trade fair on the fringe of the festival where manufacturers could exhibit their new and improved cinema gadgets.
Replica guns seized from collector
Those radical Muslims won't need to fire a shot from their weapons when they can simply say "Boo!" and you'll run away from them and hide underneath your beds. You people today make the French look very brave. First of all, you Brits need to get some common sense by getting rid of these stupid laws. Criminals don't obey laws in the first place. After that, you had better be brave, just like your proud ancestors, and take back your country if you still want it to be known as England and not Anglistan. .
A climate for eurosceptics
Undaunted, the EU climate change alarmists told us Kyoto is therefore just the beginnning. There hasn't been any discussion among economists or scientists about what the consequences for the world's food supply or the world's economy would be if for example the USA were to implement these drastic cutbacks. Nor is there any discussion of how the EU will persuade the US to adopt a mandatory program which will clearly weaken its economy when it agrees with China and India that they should not have to make comparable cutbacks. Their argument is that the "industrialized" nations created the problem so they alone should make the sacrifices. What they are telling Americans is that they should live more poorly so that Chinese and Indians can live better. Now how does Europe expect to sell that to a nation which is on the verge of an open trade war with it already? .
More drug charges at Sydney BDO
Police charged six people with supplying drugs and a stunt cyclist was taken to hospital as 55,000 fans enjoyed Sydney's Big Day Out festival. Numerous other drug charges were laid, a police spokeswoman said. "Among those (people charged) was a man with 48 tablets believed to be ecstasy," she said. "He has been granted bail and will face Burwood Local Court on February 19." There were 31 people charged with illegal drug possession, 45 cannabis cautions were issued, and more than 150 people searched up to about 6pm (AEDT) on Friday, she said. Police issued 10 infringement notices for "other matters" and one man was charged with assaulting police and resisting arrest in a "minor incident". About 5pm (AEDT) a rider from the BMX bike extreme sports exhibition was seriously injured while attempting a somersault jump, the NRMA CareFlight team said.
Cape 6-year-old’s body released to family
The body of Joshua Jenkins, 6, has been released to his family, according to the medical examiners office.
Jenkins, of Cape Coral, was reportedly beaten to death by his stepfather, Phillipe Gayle, 26, according to police. He died Feb. 11. .
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