Google Glass Isn't Buyable Until 2014. Does that Mean Never? [Google Glass]

BMX bikes! Skydiving! High fives! For everyone who was floored by the movie stunt-style debut of Google Glass yesterday at day one of I/O, well, pump the brakes. They won't even be consumer-ready until 2014, Sergey Brin told Bloomberg Television. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/IRFGhdjRznw/google-glass-isnt-buyable-until-2014-does-that-mean-never

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Tatamoo vegan macadamia nut cheese review | Veggie Buntch ...

From the Tatamoo website

I first heard about Tatamoo a few weeks ago when one of my readers said it?s something that I really ought to check out. Vegan ?cheese? is something that many vegans and lactose-intolerant foodies enjoy and often crave. So I was quite interested to see how this newcomer would compare. I have tried soft nut cheeses in the past, which have a bit of a chevin feel about them, but Tatamoo is something quite different.

I got in touch with local Cape Town-based producer, Henni van der Westhuizen, who uses traditional cheese-making processes to hand-make a relatively hard, mature nut ?cheese?. He very kindly sent through a sample of the Macadamia Nut Cheese for me to try out.

Lovely packaging for this unique product

Review
Tatamoo Macadamia Nut Cheese has a strong, unique flavour and a distinctive, slightly tart smell. You can clearly see the fatty, oily and rich nature of the nut cheese ? which is to be expected considering that it is packed full of nuts.

It has a firm, slightly grainy texture and slices easily ? which makes it great for sandwiches.

Tasted by itself, you get the total taste experience. Yes, there are hints of ?cheesiness?, which I think are achieved by the fact that it is matured, but it stands on its own with a fresh, new taste. Some people may be expecting something that tastes exactly like cheese. But let?s be honest: it is a nut cheese that is made from nuts ? not milk. In addition, Tatamoo is totally natural, has no preservatives or other nasties and is packed full of protein and healthy fats. It is not a chemically manufactured cheese imitation laden with flavourants, colourants etc trying to replicate the cheese taste. Rather, it is an innovative and interesting foray into creating something tasty and healthy.

For anyone who is vegan or lactose-intolerant, Tatamoo is an excellent addition to your food arsenal.

This is one vegan cheese you can slice

I have not explored very many different ways of preparing Tatamoo, but it is a killer sandwich addition ? particularly with some salt and pepper. Yum. I also got a sneak peek of the next addition to the Tatamoo stable ? Cashew Nut Cheese. Similar to the Macadamia Nut Cheese, it has a stronger, more pungent flavour. Also worth looking out for.

Tatamoo plus avo, salt and pepper = a yummy sandwich

For more information, get in touch with Henni directly ?on?henni@tatamoo.co.za?. Or check out the facebook page or website.

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Plasma fingers point to the taming of the edge localized modes

ScienceDaily (June 27, 2012) ? New images from the MAST device at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy could find a solution to one of the biggest plasma physics problems standing in the way of the development of fusion power.

MAST (the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak) is the first experiment to observe finger-like lobe structures emanating from the bottom of the hot plasma inside the tokamak's magnetic chamber. The information is being used to tackle a harmful plasma instability known as the 'edge localised mode', which has the potential to damage components in future fusion machines, including the key next-step ITER device.

Edge localised modes (ELMs) expel bursts of energy and particles from the plasma. Akin to solar flares on the edge of the Sun, ELMs happen during high-performance mode of operation ('H-mode'), in which energy is retained more effectively, but pressure builds up at the plasma's edge. When the pressure rises, an ELM occurs -- ejecting a jet of hot material. As the energy released by these events strike material surfaces, they cause erosion which could have a serious impact on the lifetime of plasma-facing materials.

One way of tackling the problem is 'ELM mitigation' -- controlling the instabilities at a manageable level to limit the amount of harm they can do. MAST is using a mitigation technique called resonant magnetic perturbation; applying small magnetic fields around the tokamak to punch holes in the plasma edge and release the pressure in a measured way. This technique has been successful in curbing ELMs on several tokamaks.

The lobe structures that have recently been observed in MAST are caused by the resonant magnetic perturbation, which shakes the plasma and throws particles off course as they move around the magnetic field lines in the plasma, changing their route and destination. Some particles end up outside the field lines, forming finger-like offshoots near the base of the plasma. Changing the shape of a small area of the plasma in this way lowers the pressure threshold at which ELMs are triggered. This should therefore allow researchers to produce a stream of smaller, less powerful ELMs that will not damage the tokamak.

First predicted by US researcher Todd Evans in 2004, the lobes -- known as homoclinic tangles -- were seen for the first time during experiments at MAST in December 2011, thanks to the UK tokamak's excellent high-speed cameras. CCFE scientist Dr Andrew Kirk, who leads ELM studies on MAST, said:

"This could be an important discovery for tackling the ELM problem, which is one of the biggest concerns for physicists at ITER. The aim for ITER is to remove ELMs completely, but it is useful to have back-up strategies which mitigate them instead. The lobes we have identified at MAST point towards a promising way of doing this." The lobes are significant for another reason; they are a good indicator of how well the resonant magnetic perturbation is working: "The length of the lobes is determined by the amount of magnetic perturbation the plasma is seeing," explains Dr Kirk. "So the longer the 'fingers', the deeper the penetration. If the fingers are too long, we can see that it has gone too far in and will start to disturb the core, which is what we want to avoid."

The next phase of the research will involve developing codes to map how particles will be deposited and how the lobes will be formed around the plasma.

"We already have codes that can determine the location of the fingers but we cannot predict their length due to uncertainties in how the plasma reacts to the applied perturbations. Our measurements will allow us to validate which models correctly take this plasma response into account," said Dr Kirk. "New codes will mean we can produce accurate predictions for ITER and help them tame the ELM."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA).

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. A. Kirk, J. Harrison, Yueqiang Liu, E. Nardon, I. Chapman, P. Denner. Observation of Lobes near the X Point in Resonant Magnetic Perturbation Experiments on MAST. Physical Review Letters, 2012; 108 (25) DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.255003

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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Federal court upholds EPA's global warming rules

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Snowball your way out of credit card debt - Steps to complete it ...

As the consumer credit card debt obligations are soaring day by day, the debtors are looking for ways in which they can tackle their situation and also avoid hurting their credit score due to rising defaults.

Andres Rueda / Foter

While there are so many debt relief programs that can help you forget your debt problems by repaying them in easy and affordable monthly payments, most experts are of the opinion that one should go for debt repayment on his own so that he can save money on unnecessary charges and fees. Debt snowballs is one of the most common methods of DIY debt repayment that can easily be considered as a worthy alternative to credit card consolidation companies. If you?re not aware of the ways in which you can snowball your way out of debt, read on the concerns of this article.

The debt snowball method brings in momentum to the debt repayment procedure

You must be wondering the reason behind snowballing your debts and repaying them when there are many other options. Well, momentum is perhaps the biggest reason for the success of the debt snowball method where you can pick up speed and get out of debt faster. As you start paying off the smaller debts, you can see some quick wins that will solidify the belief that you can win the battle easily and gain momentum.

A step by step guide to the debt snowball method

List all your debts from smallest to largest balance: This list should include all kind of debt that you owe as it is important for you to know where you stand in order to start off with a bang. Student loans, auto loans, credit cards, medical bills and personal loans should all be listed here. Also gather the information of the name of the creditor, the minimum payments and the interest rates that you?re paying.

Start triggering the smallest debt: Make a commitment to pay the minimum monthly payments of all the accounts. After you make the monthly payments on all the debt accounts, the amount that you can squeeze out of your budget should be devoted to attack the smallest debt account. You can see some quick results this way as you will get the mental satisfaction when you see your debts to decrease.

Move to the next smallest balance: Soon after you complete paying off the credit card debt account with the smallest balance, move on to the next smallest balance. Again apply the same technique of continuing to pay the minimum monthly payment of all the debt accounts while specially concentrating on the next account with the smallest balance. Use all the extra money to attack the debt.

Repeat the steps to become debt free: Keep on repeating the steps mentioned above until you become entirely debt free.

As you see the debt vanishing one by one, you will get the boost of repaying the next smallest debt account and this way you can delete all your high interest debts. Instead of opting for credit card consolidation, you can easily become debt by adopting the debt snowball

This post was written by John Martinez

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Four Home Improvement Projects That Harness The Elements To ...

Realtor.com is working with Tecca.com, to bring you the latest information on technology for the home. Join us here every Tuesday for wisdom directly from the Tecca team:

Everyone wants to save money on their home energy bill, and there are a lot of little things you can do to make a dent in it. But even if you install a system to monitor your energy use, switch to a smart thermostat, and replace all your lightbulbs with CFLs or LED bulbs so that you use less power, you still have to get power from somewhere.

Whether you?re looking to go off the grid completely or just supplement your power consumption, the earth itself has a lot to offer beyond oil and coal, especially if you?re willing to devote a bit of time and effort to harnessing its power. Some things like solar power are pretty well known, so we?ll run down some more unusual ways to tap into Mother Nature?s wealth. Your budget and the environment will thank you!

1. Feel the power of the sun. Solar panels and tiles are among the first things that most people think of when you mention eco-friendly energy, and with good reason. They?ve been around for years, and the technology keeps getting cheaper and more efficient.

When you say solar power, most people probably think of traditional solar panels, the most common method for harnessing the sun?s energy. In recent years, however, manufacturers have made great strides in other products such as solar tiles or shingles, which more closely resemble typical roof tiles and are great for people who don?t like the aesthetics of large solar panels on their roof.

Depending on what you decide to install, where you live, and how your house is situated in relation to the sun, solar power can come close to replacing your standard power supply. While such systems are somewhat pricey to install, the return on your investment will be significant.

2. Dig deep into the earth?s warmth. Geothermal heating systems use the heat of the earth itself to both heat and cool your home. Simply speaking, the system works by pumping a carrier fluid (usually a mix of water and antifreeze) through pipes buried underground. During cold weather, the liquid absorbs heat from the ground, which is then extracted and used to heat the house. In warm weather, the system is reversed, with heat from the house pumped into the ground and cooler liquid used to cool the house.

Systems such as this, known as geo-exchange systems, have been shown to save homeowners 30% to 70% in heating costs and 20% to 50% on cooling costs, according to the EPA. Bear in mind, though, that since installing a geothermal system does involve digging, installation can be a somewhat involved process. But even existing homes can be retrofitted with a geothermal system by a competent contractor.

3. Catch a light breeze. Residential wind turbines are another growing area of green power. Unlike geothermal energy, which is always there, wind power varies significantly according to location and weather patterns. Most small-scale wind turbines are designed to work best with wind speeds between 10 and 25 mph, with faster speeds risking damage to the machinery, so it?s an option that works best for locations with fairly constant, relatively light winds.

While residential wind turbines are becoming much more viable as alternative energy resources, be sure that you do some research before dropping $10,000 or more on a system for your home. In some locations, such a system is absolutely worthwhile, but others will find the investment much slower to pay for itself.

4. Go with the flow. If you?re lucky enough to have a relatively large amount of property with a source of running water such as a river or stream, micro-hydro power might be a viable option. Don?t worry, we?re not talking about installing Hoover Dam in your back yard!

Residential micro-hydro power systems usually involve diverting some amount of water from the flow of a stream or river through a turbine of some sort and then back into the source farther downstream. As long as the source of water is relatively constant and there?s enough of a vertical drop to support the flow of water back to the source, even a small stream can provide a significant amount of power.

Green energy for any budget Whatever your budget, there are ways to supplement your energy needs without burning fossil fuels. Even if you?re not quite ready to replace your roof with solar shingles or install a geothermal system, try using a rain barrel to help you recycle rainwater to use in the garden, or install a tubular skylight to let a bit of natural light into your living room. Every little bit will help the planet and your wallet!

[Image credits: Cariliv, Matt Montagne, SteFou!, TechnoSpin Inc., SciDevNet]

This article was written by Katherine Gray and originally appeared on Tecca

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3. Nine Ways To Reduce Energy Costs In Your Home: Tecca Tuesday Tech Update
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5. Everyday Appliances That Can Connect To The Web: Tecca Tuesday Tech Update

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Accused British hacker charged in US over LulzSec attacks

LOS ANGELES?? An alleged member of the LulzSec hacking group who prosecutors say targeted the Fox and PBS television networks and Sony's film and TV studio has been indicted in Los Angeles on federal charges, federal authorities said on Wednesday.

Ryan Cleary, 20, who is already jailed in the United Kingdom where he faces prosecution over similar charges, is accused of joining other members of LulzSec in harnessing compromised computers, known as a "botnet," to steal confidential information, deface websites or attack servers. He was indicted on Tuesday.

LulzSec, an offshoot of the international hacking group Anonymous, has taken credit for hacking attacks on government and private sector websites.

Anonymous and its offshoots, including LulzSec and AntiSec, initially focused on fighting attempts at Internet regulation and the blocking of free illegal downloads, but have since taken on other targets including Scientology and the global banking system.

The charges come just over two months after accused LulzSec hacker Cody Kretsinger pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles in April to taking part in an extensive computer breach of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

In March, court documents revealed that Anonymous leader "Sabu," whose real name is Hector Xavier Monsegur, had pleaded guilty to hacking-related charges and provided the FBI with information on fellow hackers.

According to the indictment released by the FBI, Cleary and his unnamed co-conspirators hacked into the computer systems of Fox Entertainment Group and Sony Pictures Entertainment and stole confidential user information.

The indictment also charges Cleary and his co-conspirators of defacing the PBS website and launching "denial of service" attacks against an online gaming website and Britain's Serious Organized Crime Agency.

Cleary is charged with one count of conspiracy and two counts of unauthorized impairment of a protected computer. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison if convicted at trial.

Anonymous, and LulzSec in particular, became notorious in late 2010 when they launched what they called the "first cyber war" in retaliation for attempts to shut down the WikiLeaks website.

They attacked websites including MasterCard.com, which had tried to block payments to WikiLeaks after apparent pressure from the U.S. government following the release of thousands of diplomatic cables.

(Additional reporting by Mary Slosson; Editing by Eric Walsh)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

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Pipe Problems? Try These Great Tips On Plumbing! | DocsFolder.com

When you are trying to do plumbing repairs yourself, you need to know how to start. There are a lot of things to think about, including which tools to buy and what regulations you need to follow. Continue reading to find all the knowledge you?ll need to fix your own plumbing and even install new fixtures!

Avoiding frozen pies is easy if you ensure no area of your house ever falls below freezing and that any pipes which are exposed to such temperatures are protected with insulation. Pipes will freeze if they are exposed to temperatures below freezing. The best result you can hope for from frozen pipes is to be without water until the pipes thaw. The worst case scenario is a busted pipe and a costly repair.

|Drain cleaners should be avoided, if possible. Drain cleaners use abrasive chemicals that are not only harmful to you but also to your pipes. If your drain is clogged, hire a pro to figure out the problem.

|Do not use a drain cleaner if you can help it. Drain cleaners contain caustic and damaging chemicals which can destroy your pipes if used too often. Sometimes, finding a professional to fix a blocked drain is the best way to solve the problem.

|You might not be able to control which plumber you have to use, but you can find out all you can about them on the Internet. If your insurance provider has set up the appointment, check the company website to see customer reviews and feedback. This allows you to have some information before they arrive.

|Some items, such as bananas, carrots, pumpkin and chicken skins are terrible for blades and they can be caught in the drain and clog it. Throw out hard-to-grind things in a garbage can first, and then place the rest of the food in the disposal.

|If you work as a professional plumber, think about taking an apprentice with you. Two key advantages to doing so are the fulfillment and satisfaction of passing on your knowledge to the next generation, and having inexpensive labor on hand.

|You should avoid using blue toilet tablets, bleach tablets or any other odor removers in your toilet. Both of these may help to eliminate odors from your toilet, but it can also damage the rubber parts of your toilet, causing it to not function probably, or even to break down completely.

|Every member of your household needs a little plumbing knowledge, most especially where the shut-off valves are in your house, and how and when to use them. That will ensure that any time an emergency occurs it can be stopped in short order before real damage is done. Each person will be capable of stopping the water flow and able to shut off the system.

|When you are figuring out a problem with your toilet, your flapper might be your issue. The flapper is going to deteriorate as time passes, and flapper problems cause most leaky toilets. Your first step is to check that the chain?s pressure is correctly set. If the chain is fine, replace the flapper, as it is likely the culprit.

|Many people fear plumbing since it may destroy their homes. This can be avoided if you are aware of one thing. Know where you can find the water register in your home, and how you can turn it off.

Cleaning your in-sink garbage disposal can extend its lifetime significantly. You can prevent annoying odors and promote smooth operation by setting up a regular cleaning routine with lemon rinds, dish soap, and even cherry pits.

|The plumbing world is filled with amateurs. If you are more experienced, it might be helpful for you to look for an apprentice. Not only is this a good way to have cheap labor, it is also very fulfilling to pass on what you know to a younger person.

|You don?t have to call a plumber at the first sign of trouble. If the problem is not that serious, you can wait until you have more problems. Check all of your plumbing fixtures, note any problems and write them down so you don?t forget anything. Once you have your list, you are then ready to call the plumber. This way, there?s only one charge for the service, instead of the plumber needing to make multiple trips.

|Schedule all your plumbing work at the same time. You may want to have each minor problem attended to as the occur, but having multiple repairs done at once allows you to save up for the cost. Doing this can also save you money, since it?s common for plumbers to charge hourly rates. It?ll condense the total amount of time they need to spend to something you can more easily afford.

|To increase the useful life of your garbage disposal, clean it out regularly. By regularly using a mixture of dish soap, cherry pits and citrus rinds, you can ensure that your disposal runs smoothly and smells as fresh as one that is brand new.

|Inspect around the toilets for softness in the floors to see if any damage has occurred. Straddle the toilet, then start rocking on each foot to check whether you feel softness or weakening on the floor under you. This will save you a lot of trouble and money if you find the issue before something horrible happens.

|Frozen pipes can cause you to incur expensive plumbing repair bills. However, you can generally avoid this happening in the first place. Make sure that any outdoor pipes are well insulated. When it is cold outside make sure you bring in your hoses or at least drain them. Taking proper precautions can save you lots of money on plumbing bills.

|A normal pipe snake can clean out your washing machine?s drain stack if it backs up. This can be caused by things that go through your wash and eventually build up in your pipes.

|A sewage backup into the toilet is caused by problems often deep within the sewage line. If you have tried and cannot remove the blockage, you will need a plumber to come to your home and run the plumbing snake down into the toilet to clear the blockage.

|If you find there is water accumulating near the heating element in your home, shut off the water in your home immediately. Any delay on your part will give a little leak time to turn into a big one, causing more damage, requiring more work, and being generally harder to stop.

Check your pipes regularly for wear and tear. Replace any worn out or broken parts. You can make temporary fixes using foam to plug up leaks and holes, but it is, of course, temporary. Get a new part and fix that problem correctly.

|To maintain a clean, well-functioning septic tank, it is recommended that you clean it out once every five years. This will keep sediment from building and causing backup into the house, and possibly causing the septic system to fail. White it is somewhat expensive to pump the septic tank, it will be much more expensive should you need to clean backup, repair your septic tank or replace it altogether.

|If you notice a leak somewhere in your walls, turn off the water supply, and contact a plumber at once. This may indicate that your plumbing is seriously damaged. Many problems of that scale can contribute to mildew, mold and possibly flooding.

|Make sure that any pipes that are exposed are receiving some form of heat in order to prevent freezing during the cold seasons. When it?s extremely cold outside, it?s likely that the pipes you have outside will start to freeze. Pipes inside the home can also freeze if they run from outdoors. Make sure you use a heater to keep water flowing through them.

|Garden hoses need to disconnected and drained during the winter months. If you do not drain and disconnect them, they can cause damage to the water pipes that run through your house that they are connected to. If there?s a hose hook up in the garage, and it stays above freezing, you can safely leave it attached.

|To help you prevent faucet and sink leaks, you should perform regular maintenance. Proper maintenance can save you money, help you avoid mold and eliminate the need for a plumber. A small leak in a pipe can drastically increase the size of your water bill. This will also help prevent general wear and tear on your pipes.

|A lot of people do not know what to do about their plumbing issues so they pay a plumber big bucks! If you own a home, you should be educated in what the professional is doing. This will go a long way towards ensuring that the plumber does not take advantage of you by overcharging.

|Fix low water pressure by cleaning out the aerator to clean out sediment buildup. Take apart the faucet, and clean the aerator with vinegar and a small brush. Rinse off the aerator then reassemble and reattach to the faucet. This should raise the water pressure nicely because anything that was inside of the aerator will be removed.

|Never pour grease or anything fatty or oily into your drain. They can clog your drains once they cool down. This is very true for garbage disposal, since fat will make the blades run less quickly and efficiently. Dump your oil outside or in a container that you throw out with the regular trash.

|Rarely used valves can sometimes fuse together. Maintain them with penetrating oil, and rotate them every so often so they don?t stick.

Certain foods, such as chicken skin, carrots, pumpkin and banana skins can clog the drain. Instead, simply throw these items into the trash can, not into the disposal.

|When cleaning fiberglass bathtubs, sinks and counters, make sure to only use non-abrasive cleaners like laundry detergent and dish washing liquid for the hands. These types of cleaners are easier for your pipes when compared to other types of drain cleaners, and they also do not have the harsh chemicals.

|Make sure a new shower head is of high quality. People try to save money by buying the least expensive shower head that is out there. This is not the case though. The cheaper models usually are low quality and will break easier than a high quality fixture.

|If you need plumbing fixtures, think seriously about brass. For one, brass fixtures are far tougher and longer-lasting. Brass is also more attractive to the eye than typical fixtures. You can find these in any home improvement type of store.

|Have a professional flush your septic tank every five years or so to keep it working well. Doing so will help to avoid septic tank problems by ensuring that the tank does not become clogged with sediment. It may be a bit expensive to pump a septic tank, but it will be very expensive to clean up an emergency sewage problem.

|Use enzyme based cleaners when cleaning clogged pipes. Enzyme based pipe cleaners utilize natural bacteria to attack the clog and dissolve it so it can be washed away. Enzyme cleaners should be your first choice.

|Obnoxiously loud pipes that like to squeal and hammer are easy situations to correct. Exposed pipes will have to be anchored. You might want to contact a professional when the pipes are hard to access.

|When winter is on the horizon, it is particularly important to check your outside water fixtures to ensure they aren?t leaking or dripping. If water is continually dripping, you need to make some repairs on your own before the temperature drops below freezing. Regardless of the material of your particular pipes, whether it be copper, steel or plastic, water pressure from freezing water will cause pipes to crack. One small crack is all it takes to cause serious water damage to your home.

|Make sure your connection is very tight, by using the kind sealant that is specific to galvanized steel or threaded plastics. Check with your local hardware store to find what you?re looking for.

|Having plumbing tools around the house may feel like an unnecessary and expensive choice, but the tools could save you tons of money in the long run. The World Wide Web has many different video files that show you how to repair your plumbing. If you have the correct tools, you need not hire a professional plumber to deal with any minor issues that crop up.

Keep grease, fat and oil out of your kitchen drain. When they cool off, they become hard and will clog your pipes. Especially if you operate a garbage disposal, the fat causes blades to be less efficient. You should dispose of all oils outside of the sink.

|Make sure your toilet is not leaking. An easy way to determine this is to add a couple drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. If you then see the colors show up in the bowl right away, you can be assured that there is an issue that should be addressed.

|It is important to know the location of the valve that cuts off water to your house. You should see a water meter located on it or close by. Toilets and sinks might have a cut-off valve of their own. Add marks to the valves so everyone in your household knows what direction to turn the valves in case they need to cut them off in case the need should arise.

|Put strainers in the bottoms of your drains to stop any clogging agents from escaping down the drain. You should clean your kitchen sink?s strainer every time there is a large particle that?s trapped in it. Strainers placed in a bathtub can be cleaned periodically.

|Avoid paying the plumber until he finishes the job. In some cases, you have to make a down payment prior to the first day of work. This is okay to do; however, don?t let your plumber talk you into paying the entire cost of a job before he?s finished, and never pay the whole cost before he?s even begun. It is good to know that the plumber did everything as promised before he gets his money.

|If your toilet is clogged, the water level in the toilet is low, and a plunger is not doing the trick, you may be able to resolve the problem by pouring a bucket of warm water into the toilet from waist level or higher. Repeat this as many times as necessary until your clog is gone, and you can flush normally once again.

|If you are seeing water at the bottom of the dishwasher, most likely this is due to a faulty setup of the hose that leads from the kitchen sink. A hose that is properly installed should lead uphill, then downhill, to discourage water from each area from mixing.

|If you need a plumber, check out his or her credentials first. A plumber with bad credentials might not be experienced enough to fix your problem. Ask around, and check online reviews. Your relatives and friends will likely know a plumber they will recommend.

|There are two easy methods to removing a stubborn clean-out plug. You can loosen the fitting with a hammer and a chisel. The only other method is to take the chisel and use it right through the plug.

|If you come across a pipe that is frozen, try to thaw it out by using a hairdryer. A low level heat source may take a little longer, but it?s safer and you can avoid having to call a plumber.

Knowing which tools to use and how you should use them is an important skill when it comes to plumbing. You should read the manual with any new tool you purchase. If you don?t have the manual, look online or at your local library for more information. You should do the same amount of research on the steps required for your project. Before attempting any repairs, plan ahead, or you may make a costly mistake.

|Hot water running through your copper plumbing lines can cause some minor expansion in the pipes. Your pipes may no longer fit inside pipe hangers, they may grind against it, and it could damage them. Taping around the pipe where it meets the hanger can prevent this problem.

|Pour equal parts baking soda followed by vinegar down your bathtub drain once a month. Seal off the drain with a conventional plug or a piece of fabric while the natural chemical reaction takes place. After letting it sit for a few moments, clear the pipes out with a gallon of boiling water. By taking these steps, you have a good chance of ridding your pipes of hair and soap scum.

|Don?t use abrasive cleaners to clean fiberglass items. If your sink or tub is made out of fiberglass, stick to non-abrasive materials such as liquid dish washing soap. Harsh chemicals can erode your pipes and lead to water damage, which makes these cleaners better overall.

|Look for water damage by looking at loose tiles. Loose tiles can be a warning of a leak in need of repair. In the tile area, gently press the floor or wall to detect any ?give.? By identifying loose tiles, you will be able to react more quickly to an unseen leak and repair the damage before it gets worse.

|Putting in shower heads that are energy-efficient can save you a lot of money in energy costs. The majority of hot water is consumed by showers. Investing just a few bucks in these newer shower heads can yield triple digit annual savings.

|Make sure that you check all of the connections after doing any work on a hot water heater, especially pipes that connect to the pipe used for drainage. These pipes help to recirculate the water in the tank, keeping it hot while using less water and energy.

|You should contact your local Consumer Affairs Department before you hire any plumber. They will tell you if their licenses are all up to date or if they have received any negative feedback. You don?t want to hire anyone who is not in good standing and has an expired, or non-existent, license.

|If your work is outdoors, pace yourself and don?t get overexposed to the sun. The heat of the sun is easy to forget when you are very involved in your work, but that does not mean that it becomes any less dangerous.

|Before hiring a plumber, check their credentials against the local licensing agency or municipal authority. They will tell you if their licenses are all up to date or if they have received any negative feedback. They need a current license that is in good standing, and if not then you should look elsewhere.

Make sure all the people in your home are informed on where the water shutoff valve is located, and other important connections. You definitely want everyone to be able to stop excess water from flooding your home and damaging flooring and baseboards. Everyone will then know what to do in case of a plumbing emergency.

|If a plumbing project is in your future, know two things: what tools you have, and how you are supposed to use them. Use as many resources as you need, such as online or the library, to find the right information to repair your plumbing issues. Be sure to have a plan ahead of time before trying any type of repair, it could very expensive to fix the mistake.

|For the conservation-minded consumer, it might be wise to purchase a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters do not store water, they heat it when you need it! Not only will you save money, but you will also have more hot water available to you.

|If you get grout in your pipes, you won?t be able to get it out by yourself. With a little effort, you can get some of the grout broken down and on its way down the line. This works better with plastic than metal pipes. Calling a plumber can be expensive but damaging your pipes will cost a lot more.

|If you notice wear and tear on the plumbing system, that means it is probably time for you to replace used parts. You can make temporary fixes using foam to plug up leaks and holes, but it is, of course, temporary. Investing in a replacement will save you from stress, as well as potentially catastrophic bills later on.

|If your home operates on well water and you notice pink or orange stains in your bathtub and other fixtures, this is no doubt due to iron in the water. You can deal with use by using a water softener, which is something you can get on your own at a local retailer, or by hiring a professional to come out.

|Heading into the cold season is an ideal time of year to schedule a tune-up for the hot water tank system in your home. This will help your water tank heat more efficiently so that you can spend less money on utilities.

|Use chemicals or cleaning tools to prevent your pipes from getting clogged up. This is really important for pipes that are subject to penetration from tree roots, such as toilet drains that run outside.

|If you don?t want to spend a lot on repairing plumbing problems, learn to prevent problems before they occur. Clogged drains are a major problem that often requires professional help. Hair is one of the most common clog-producing materials. Stop hair from going down drains with a drain cover or screen designed for this purpose. It?s more convenient to remove hair before it has a chance to get down the drain and into the pipes.

|If you know what tools you should use, it can help you deal with your plumbing problems in the right way. You should read the manual with any new tool you purchase. If you don?t have the manual, look online or at your local library for more information. You should do the same amount of research on the steps required for your project. Have a good grasp of what you?re attempting to do before you do it, so you don?t have to repair your repair.

If the flapper is worn or damaged, or if you see the flapper seat covered in mineral deposits, this allows water to run continuously in the bowl, and that in turn can give you a much higher water bill. Replace the flapper and clean the flapper seat to solve the problem.

|Avoid the chemical drain cleaners if you need to unclog any drains. Despite the effectiveness of these products in unclogging pipes, the ingredients within them are not friendly to skin contact. Make sure you protect your hands and arms if you are still going to use these products.

|A flapper that does not function properly or that has a lot of build up on it will make your toilet less efficient. Replace and clean your flapper seat to resolve this.

|To prevent frozen pipes, always keep the living spaces in your house above freezing, even if you aren?t home. Any exposed pipes need to be insulated against the outdoor temperatures. The pipes may freeze if the surrounding temperature drops below freezing. Even in the best case scenario, it will take hours for thawing to happen before you have running water again. Frozen pipes can also burst, which can be very messy and expensive to repair.

|Use lots of cold water when you run your garbage disposal. The cold water helps the blades that are inside stay sharp, and will keep your disposal running smoothly. If you use hot water it will liquefy the grease, allowing it to accumulate in your drain causing your pipes to clog.

|Be sure to clean your dryer?s lint trap. By keeping it clean, you can prevent fires and other problems. Inspect your lint trap often to see if there are any tears or holes. If there are, you can have lint getting into your pipes, and this will clog them and give you more problems that will have to be dealt with.

|Don?t run the water when the garbage disposal is used. It is a common misconception that water will aid in flushing the food down the drain. The opposite is actually true. The running water can cause the disposal to clog, causing a plumbing problem.

|Choose which drain cleaners you use with care. Some of them contain strong chemical agents that will damage your pipes. Ensure you?re choosing a brand advertised as being a gentle one for your pipes. Not all chemical cleaners are good for your pipes?or for you. Some chemicals are toxic to humans. In addition, if a cleaner attacks bacteria indiscriminately, it may destroy helpful bacteria that keep the plumbing system running smoothly.

|Ensure that if something goes wrong in your garbage disposal that you resist any and all urges you have that might make you want to put your hands inside to fix a problem. Even if it is are switched off, a garbage disposal can be very dangerous. It?s advised to obtain a diagram, possibly off of the Internet, that depicts your machine in accurate detail.

|In the world of plumbing, there are many novices. As a professional, it may be in your best interest to take on a skilled apprentice. This will not just give you an inexpensive helping hand, it will also allow you to show an interested person the ins and outs of plumbing.

Tightening a pipe too much can be even worse than not tightening it enough. This can damage your threads or put a crack in the pipe, make sure you tighten it appropriately, and never over-tighten.

|To minimize potential problems with your toilet, avoid using it as a trash receptacle. Keep away from flushing improper items down the toilet, like cotton balls, diapers, paper towels, or feminine hygiene products. These types of items can clog your toilet as they do not dissolve. As well, keep your toilet paper usage to as little as possible.

|If one of your water pipes freezes, turn on the tap to the faucet nearest the pipe so that the water has somewhere to exit as the pipe thaws. This reduces pressure to keep the pipe from bursting, which could prevent a big mess in your home.

|It?s just as harmful, if not worse, to tighten your pipes too much when installing them as it is to leave them too loose. Only tighten until leaks are stopped, because going further can damage threads, and maybe cause pipe cracks.

|To make sure that your water heater is running efficiently, you need to know what size your hot water tank is. Determining the correct tank size is a matter of estimating the water use by the people and appliances in your home.

|Certain property owners are choosing to put in flood alarms for a portion of their entire system for home plumbing. Flood alarms and smoke alarms are somewhat similar in the way they operate. When water reaches a flood alarm, this battery-operated device will sound an alarm. Flood alarms let you know about any leaks or potential flooding.

|Ensure you insulate any pipes that are in spaces which get extremely cold during the winter time, such as crawl spaces, exterior walls, and attics. Home improvement stores sell easy to install insulation. Doing this not only prevents frozen pipes from bursting, but it also prevents water from losing heat as it travels through the pipes.

|Ensure that the overflow holes in your sinks are not clogged. Overflow holes exist to act as a double check in case of an overfilling sink. That may seem unimportant ? but it will become a problem if they are clogged. Take the time to clean out the overflow holes as you go through your house doing your regular checks for various issues.

|A competent plumber will need many skills in addition to knowing the basics of water and pipes. Of course, water lines are the most common items that a plumber will work on.

|Pipes that are exposed to extreme cold in winter should be insulated. This exposure may happen to pipes in the attic, basement, or pipes in outside walls. Insulation can be wrapped around pipes, and is available at any hardware store. Wrapping your pipes will save the possible aggravation of them bursting under freezing temperatures and it also keeps the water hot until it reaches your faucets or shower heads.

As was discussed at the beginning of the article, while plumbing can be an extremely difficult chore for anyone to complete, it becomes significantly easier if you have the right advice and information. Use the advice from this article, and you?ll be on your way to doing your own plumbing.

Contact the trusted Atlanta plumber for all you plumbing needs. From polybutylene tube replacement, sewer line maintenance, or hot water unit installation, call Water systemspecialist, the reliable plumber. You can click here for more information.

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Utah Sen. Hatch seems to have weathered GOP storm

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) ? It was an entertaining exchange, as one-man debates go.

Dan Liljenquist, hoping to shock the political world on Tuesday, didn't let Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch's absence this month stop him. The GOP challenger opened his show with the usual call for new leadership in Washington, took questions from a pretend moderator and used a video recording of old Hatch interviews and speeches to provide the incumbent's response.

Hatch had his own play for the cameras the next afternoon. He met Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the Salt Lake City airport and walked with him to an awaiting car as TV stations got the shot.

If there's one political endorsement that matters in Utah, it's Romney's. He graduated from Brigham Young University, oversaw the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and carried more than 90 percent of the vote in the state's GOP presidential primary in 2008.

The two scenes captured the political dynamics at work leading up to Tuesday's Senate primary.

Liljenquist, 37, had no alternative but to undertake some unorthodox moves to get voters' attention, Hatch, 78, let his campaign treasury of nearly $10 million and other GOP leaders make his case for a seventh and final term. Sensing he's far ahead in a state where the Republican primary winner is the heavy favorite in November, Hatch has bobbed, weaved and carefully avoided any mistakes that could lead to a surprise loss.

Hatch's strategy underscores the diminished threat to his 36-year tenure in Washington.

Under Utah's unique system for picking GOP Senate candidates, delegates to the party's state convention get the first crack. If any one candidate gets 60 percent of them, there is no primary. Hatch won 59.2 percent of the more than 3,900 convention delegates in April, 32 votes short of the number needed to avoid a runoff with Liljenquist. He had told activists, "It will be my last six years in the U.S. Senate, but they'll be the best six years and the most critical six years of all."

After watching then-Sen. Robert Bennett go down to defeat at the Utah GOP convention two years ago, Hatch was concerned enough that he spent most of April in the state and skipped two weeks of votes in Washington.

When Liljenquist pressed for a televised debate after the convention, Hatch's campaign said the incumbent's Senate duties in Washington allowed time for only one radio debate. It took place June 15.

"Their strategy is to very much keep him away and out of the state," Liljenquist said. "We're not surprised by that. We think he has a hard time justifying many points of his record."

Kelly Patterson, the former director of the Centers for the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University, said Hatch's strategy makes sense.

"Liljenquist doesn't have a lot of money to draw attention to himself and make a go of it," Patterson said.

Hatch has spent the past two years reaching out to his critics while shifting his votes and commentary to the right. The American Conservative Union gives him a lifetime score of voting right on nearly 90 percent of its issues; the past two years it was 100 percent.

"People around here really support Hatch, but they were discouraged by some of his votes," said Joni Crane, GOP chairwoman for Uintah County in eastern Utah. "They always intended on voting for him, but they wanted to get their pound of flesh. People are sending him a message: We want you there, but we're not happy."

Outside forces played a big role in defeating Republican Bennett in 2010, but have been less united in taking on Hatch. The conservative Club for Growth, for example spent about $250,000 to oust Bennett, but stayed on the sidelines in Hatch's race. Barney Keller, a spokesman for the group, said it views Hatch as a moderate who "has moved to the right to save his skin."

"In a lot of ways we already have had an effect," Keller said. "It's not always the win-loss record."

A political action committee affiliated with the tea party movement, FreedomWorks for America, has spent nearly $900,000 so far to orchestrate Hatch's defeat. Yet even that amount puts only a dent in the financial edge that Hatch enjoys.

As the senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, Hatch has taken in $3.9 million in PAC contributions from corporations and trade groups. His campaign has spent about $10 million so far, including $1.9 million just in the past two months.

Liljenquist's campaign has spent $614,000, largely due to $400,000 he loaned it. He served three years in the state Senate before resigning to challenge Hatch. He notes that he led efforts to overhaul the state's Medicaid program and its pension system for state employees

Hatch has confronted Liljenquist's calls for new leadership by emphasizing that he's in line to run the Senate Finance Committee if Republicans take control of the Senate. The committee has oversight over tax issues and trade as well as Medicare, Social Security and other big drivers of government spending.

"Let's be honest about it, Utah is going to have a great advantage with me as chairman," Hatch said in the one post-convention debate with Liljenquist, on KSL Radio in Salt Lake City.

Liljenquist's case is that Hatch has used his influence to increase government spending through pet projects, his partnership with the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., in creating a $9-billion-a-year health care program for children and his vote for Medicare prescription drug benefits.

"I am running, senator, because you could become chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, not in spite of it," Liljenquist said.

___

Freking reported from Washington.

Associated Press

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Selecting Speedy Systems Of Internet Marketing | Success Begins ...

Far too many Internet marketers forget the importance of building trust within their business. Everybody wants to make money and those who do it right really do make money. But keep your audience firmly in mind, as these are people who spend time learning about your business for something they want. You need to think of your business as a fair trade for value, so remember this. If you do not want to hold up your end of the bargain, then do not be surprised if people don?t trust you or want to do business with you.

People that are consistent are often regarded as more trustworthy than those that are not. It is all about their personality and behavior, not so much how they conduct their business online. People that are in business can exhibit this trait in many ways. Marketing messages are notorious for representing these traits, especially if the information is good and consistent. Also, having a reputation for only promoting high quality products is another big plus. Everything you do in your business and on your site is reliable and consistent. Your daily activities, if you are consistent, will help build your reputation in ways that will be beneficial to your business. If you get it right, relationship marketing can provide lots of benefits. This is such an effective strategy because it really delivers results. Marketing via email or on social marketing come under this banner. Always remember that the success of these methods is in creating relationships. The good news is that relationship marketing only requires some basic common sense to get right. You?ll need to keep some individual platform basics in mind too, depending on which format you?re using. Figuring out the differences between platforms is simple mechanics, but building those relationships still has to come from you. It?s quite easy to master these things, but you?ll need to put in the time and effort if you want the results. Look at cheap kenworth trucks ? an update for in-depth specifics.

The type of content and the quality level will make a big difference to your end results. If your audience sees that you are constantly making the effort to give them first class information, then that is huge. Your audience will start to trust that you?ll always offer this kind of quality. They need to trust that you always offer solid information or helpful advice with your content. Anytime a person is able to feel they can rely on you is means they trust you. You really don?t want to be offering the same kind of rehashed material everyone else offers, do you? Do excellent research that most others never bother to do. Building a positive attitude towards running your online business is the key to success. When you work on operating with this mindset, your actions will tend to be geared towards generating trust in you automatically.

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How cheetahs outpace greyhounds

ScienceDaily (June 21, 2012) ? Cheetahs are the high-performance sports cars of the animal kingdom, but how do they outstrip other elite athletes when using the same sprint technique? Biologists compared the performance of captive cheetahs and greyhounds and found that in addition to increasing their stride frequency, the cheetahs spend longer in contact with the ground, probably to protect their limbs from stress fractures at high speed.

In a 0-60 mph stand off, most cars would be hard pressed to give a cheetah a run for its money, and at their highest recorded speed of 29m/s (65mph) cheetahs easily outstrip the fastest greyhounds. But, according to Alan Wilson from the Royal Veterinary College, UK, there is no clear reason for the cheetah's exceptional performance. 'Cheetahs and greyhounds are known to use a rotary gallop and physically they are remarkably similar, yet there is this bewitching difference in maximum speed of almost a factor of two', he says. Teaming up with Penny Hudson and Sandra Corr, Wilson decided to compare how cheetahs and greyhounds sprint to see if there were any mechanical differences between the two animals' movements.

Knowing that captive big cats are happy to chase a lure, the trio were confident that they could get the cheetahs at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, UK, and the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre, South Africa, to sprint across force plates buried in a track in the animals' enclosure. The problem would be getting the valuable equipment to work in the open. 'Force plates are cosseted, loved pieces of equipment that people don't generally take outside of the lab and bury in the ground in the English summer', Wilson chuckles. However, after successfully installing eight force plates in the cheetahs' enclosure, along with four high speed cameras filming at 1000frames/s, Hudson tempted the cheetahs to gallop along the track with a piece of chicken attached to a truck starter motor while she measured the forces exerted on the animals' limbs, their body motion and footfall patterns. She also repeated the measurements on galloping greyhounds back in the lab, filming the animals at a slower 350frames/s.

But, when Hudson compared the animals' top speeds, she was surprised to see that the trained greyhounds galloped faster than captive cheetahs, clocking up a top speed of 19m/s compared with the cheetahs' 17.8m/s. Nevertheless, Hudson was able to identify clear differences in the animals' stride patterns that could explain how wild cheetahs would outpace the dogs.

When running at the same speed, the big cats' stride was slightly longer than the greyhounds', although the cheetahs compensated for this with a slightly lower stride frequency. Also, the cheetahs increased their stride frequency as they shifted up through the gears -- running at 2.4strides/s at a leisurely 9m/s, rising to 3.2strides/s at their top speed of 17m/s -- whereas the greyhounds maintained a constant stride rate around 3.5strides/s across their entire speed range. Wilson suspects that wild cats may be able to reach stride frequencies of 4strides/s, which, in combination with longer stride lengths, may allow them to outstrip their captive cousins and hit top speeds of 29m/s.

Also, when Hudson analysed the length of time that each animal's foot remained in contact with the ground -- the stance time -- she noticed that for some of the cheetah's limbs it was longer, and the team suspects that this may be another factor that contributes to the wild cheetah's record performance. Explaining that increasing the stance time reduces the peak loads on the animal's legs, Wilson says, '[with] a longer stance time the cheetah will get to the limiting load at higher speed than the greyhound'.

Speculating about the relatively poor performance of the captive cheetahs, Wilson suggests that they may lack motivation. 'They have lived in a zoo for several generations and have never had to run to catch food. They have probably never learned to run particularly', he says, adding, 'The next stage is to try to make measurements in wild cheetahs in the hope of seeing higher speeds.'

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by The Journal of Experimental Biology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS. The original article was written by Kathryn Knight.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Penny E. Hudson, Sandra A. Corr and Alan M. Wilson. High speed galloping in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and the racing greyhound (Canis familiaris): spatio-temporal and kinetic characteristics. J Exp Biol, 2012 215:2425-2434 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.066720

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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Fla. police chief at center of Martin probe fired

FILE - In this March 22, 2012 file photo, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee speaks to the the media during a news conference as city manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. listens at left, in Sanford Fla. Lee, who was strongly criticized for his agency's initial investigation of Trayvon Martin's slaying, was fired Wednesday, June 20, 2012, city officials said. (AP Photo/Julie Fletcher, File)

FILE - In this March 22, 2012 file photo, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee speaks to the the media during a news conference as city manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. listens at left, in Sanford Fla. Lee, who was strongly criticized for his agency's initial investigation of Trayvon Martin's slaying, was fired Wednesday, June 20, 2012, city officials said. (AP Photo/Julie Fletcher, File)

SANFORD, Fla. (AP) ? The central Florida police chief who was strongly criticized for his agency's initial investigation of Trayvon Martin's slaying was fired Wednesday, city officials said.

Sanford City Manager Norton Bonaparte said in a statement that he relieved Chief Bill Lee of duty because the manager said he "determined the Police Chief needs to have the trust and respect of the elected officials and the confidence of the entire community."

"We need to move forward with a police chief that all the citizens of Sanford can support. I have come to this decision in light of the escalating divisiveness that has taken hold of the city," Bonaparte said.

Sara Brady, a spokeswoman for the former chief, said Lee and Bonaparte met Wednesday morning to discuss his termination.

"They had a discussion this morning, but the details were not worked out, and that is how it was left," Brady said.

The initial lack of an arrest following the fatal shooting of Martin, an unarmed black teenager, by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in February led to protests across the nation and spurred a debate about race and the laws of self-defense. Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is from Peru.

The local prosecutor recused himself from the case, prompting Gov. Rick Scott to appoint special prosecutor Angela Corey, who charged Zimmerman in April with second-degree murder. The 17-year-old Martin was fatally shot following a Feb. 26 altercation with Zimmerman, who claims self-defense and has pleaded not guilty.

Lee took a leave of absence in March and offered his resignation in April. The city council rejected Lee's resignation by a 3-2 vote. Several council members indicated they wanted to let a Department of Justice review of the police investigation play out before making a final decision.

Martin's family and legal team addressed Lee's firing during a news conference at the National Association of Black Journalists' annual convention in New Orleans.

"The family's response and statement is that the city manager of Sanford had an internal investigation into the matter concerning Bill Lee," attorney Benjamin Crump said. "He concluded that investigation and made his decision. The parents of Trayvon Martin respect the decision of the city manager. They remain vigilant in getting justice for their son and the tragedy that claimed his life."

In May, Rick Myers took over as Sanford's interim police chief, saying he wanted to heal the emotional wounds caused by Martin's death. He has said he would reach out to people in Sanford who feel they've been ignored by the police.

Bonaparte said in a statement that he had been in contact with the Police Executive Research Forum about the search for a successor to Lee.

"I believe that there are many law enforcement officials who will find accepting the opportunity to serve as Sanford's Police Chief a welcome challenge for their careers", the city manager said. "I expect the search for a new chief to take several months."

Lee will receive three months of severance and one week's salary, in addition to any earned time off, under his contract.

"I wish Chief Lee all the best in his future endeavors," Bonaparte said.

___

Associated Press writer Errin Haines contributed to this report from New Orleans

Associated Press

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Paddle vs. propeller: Which competitive swimming stroke is superior?

ScienceDaily (June 19, 2012) ? Two swimming strokes -- one that pulls through the water like a boat paddle and another that whirls to the side like a propeller -- are commonly used by athletes training for the Olympic Games. But elite swimmers and their coaches have long argued over which arm motion is more likely to propel an aquatic star toward a medal.

A university research study has picked a winner. A team supervised by a Johns Hopkins fluid dynamics expert has found that the deep catch stroke, resembling a paddle, has the edge over sculling, the bent-arm, propeller-inspired motion.

"This is a result that is simple but sweet, which is something we usually struggle to arrive at in research," said Rajat Mittal, a mechanical engineering professor in Johns Hopkins' Whiting School of Engineering. "The deep catch stroke is more efficient and effective than the sculling stroke."

To obtain this result, Mittal's team started with high-precision laser scans and underwater videos of elite swimmers. The researchers then used animation software to bend and otherwise change the shape of the static arm in such a way as to match the video sequence. This software allowed the researcher to insert a "joint" into the arm so that the limb could be moved in a realistic manner. The team then ran computer simulations to study the flow of fluid around the arm and the forces that acted upon the limb. Each simulation involved about 4 million degrees of freedom and required thousands of hours of computer processing time.

The findings concerning the deep catch and sculling strokes were featured in the doctoral thesis of Alfred von Loebbecke, who studied under Mittal, and in a report by Loebbecke and Mittal that has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering.

Mittal, a recreational swimmer, joined the Johns Hopkins faculty in 2009. His research into motion through water began almost a decade ago when, while based at George Washington University, he was awarded a U.S. Navy grant to figure out how fish use their fins to swim so well. To tackle this task, Mittal's team developed software and computer models to study the movement of marine animals.

Mittal later contacted USA Swimming to see if he might use these high-tech tools to crack the secrets of elite swimmers. Russell Mark, the biomechanics coordinator of USA Swimming, was intrigued, and he provided Mittal's team with underwater videos of top swimmers and startup funding. With this support, Mittal and Loebbecke collaborated on studies of the "dolphin kick" used by many Olympic-caliber swimmers, including medalist Michael Phelps.

After completing that study for USA Swimming, Mittal's team turned its attention to the debate among top coaches about the merits of deep catch and sculling strokes.

In the 1960s, the sculling stroke gained popularity thanks to the late James "Doc" Counsilman, then the head men's swimming coach at Indiana University. Counsilman, highly regarded for his science-based approach to swimming stroke mechanics, also was head coach of the U.S. men's swim team that won a combined 21 gold medals in the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Games. Counsilman encouraged his swimmers to use the propeller-like sculling stroke, in which the elbow is raised to a higher position and the arm moves inward and outward in an S-shaped, propeller-like pattern.

While supervising the current study, Johns Hopkins' Mittal considered Counsilman's reasoning. "A propeller, when it rotates, is producing a lift force, and it is that lift force that pushes a boat forward," Mittal said. "Counsilman believed that to travel efficiently in a fluid, a swimmer should be using lift forces."

This contradicted the advice given by many swimming instructors. "In the past, the analogy for a swimming stroke was that it was like a paddle in a boat: put the paddle in the water, push it back as hard as possible," Mittal said. "This is called drag-based propulsion. You're actually dragging the water back, and the water drags you forward."

Counsilman insisted that the lift force -- generated by that propeller-like movement -- was a more effective way of producing thrust than drag force. But Mittal and Loebbecke's research suggests that the fluid dynamics of this stroke are more complicated than the coach had imagined.

"Sculling, in my view, is a swimming stroke that is based on an incomplete understanding of fluid mechanics," Mittal said. "We found that Doc Counsilman was not correct overall about the sculling, but in some ways he was more correct than he would have ever thought. We did find that lift is indeed a major component in thrust production for both strokes, and that certainly indicates that the arm does not behave simply like a paddle. However, the simulations also indicate that exaggerated sculling motions, which are designed to enhance and exploit lift, actually reduce both the lift and drag contributions to thrust. So, lift is in fact important, but not in the way envisioned by these early coaches who were trying to bring fluid mechanics into swimming."

Mittal has shared his findings with USA Swimming. He also pointed out that many top swimmers use variations of the classic deep catch and sculling strokes.

Outside of competitive swimming, Mittal's findings could be useful in designing exoskeleton suits that the U.S. Navy is seeking to help elite military forces swim more quickly and efficiently.

At the same time, Mittal said, the research could have more down-to-earth applications by steering recreational swimmers toward the most effective strokes. "People sometimes stop swimming because they feel they are not doing it well enough," he said. "If this research can help recreational swimmers swim more effectively and feel better about their swimming at an early stage, I think that could have an impact on health and fitness."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Johns Hopkins University.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Alfred von Loebbecke, Rajat Mittal. Comparative Analysis of Thrust Production for Distinct Arm-Pull Styles in Competitive Swimming. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 2012

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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