Asteroid 1998 QE2 To Give Earth A Close Shave On May 31 (VIDEO)

A gigantic asteroid will fly by our planet at the end of this month, making its closest approach for at least the next two centuries on May 31. But, don't worry, it won't get closer than about 3.6 million miles, which is around 15 times the distance between Earth and the moon.

Astronomers plan to use radar telescopes to get a good look at the space rock, named Asteroid 1998 QE2, between May 30 and June 9.

"Asteroid 1998 QE2 will be an outstanding radar imaging target at Goldstone and Arecibo [observatories] and we expect to obtain a series of high-resolution images that could reveal a wealth of surface features," radar astronomer Lance Benner, the principal investigator for the Goldstone radar observations from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a written statement.

Astronomers will be able to study the asteroid's size, shape, rotation, and surface features -- all of which could shed light on its origin. "We will also use new radar measurements of the asteroid's distance and velocity to improve our calculation of its orbit and compute its motion farther into the future than we could otherwise," Benner said in the statement.

The space rock was discovered in 1998 by the MIT Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research program -- and research suggests it's about 1.7 miles long. How big is that? The rock's size has been compared to the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as the length of nine QE2 cruise ships. But, just FYI, the rock was not named after the celebrated ocean liner. Instead, the name was assigned by the Minor Planet Center, which gives each newly discovered asteroid a name.

"It is tremendously exciting to see detailed images of this asteroid for the first time," Benner said in the statement. "With radar we can transform an object from a point of light into a small world with its own unique set of characteristics. In a real sense, radar imaging of near-Earth asteroids is a fundamental form of exploring a whole class of solar system objects."

According to Space.com, "NASA leads the global effort to identify potentially dangerous asteroids. Our planet has been pummeled by space rocks throughout its 4.5-billion-year history, and more strikes are in our future."

In fact, in 2016, the agency plans to send a robotic probe to one of the most potentially hazardous asteroids. And NASA recently announced developing a first-ever mission to capture an asteroid for human exploration.

Watch the video above for a look at the orbit of Asteroid 1998 QE2.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/18/asteroid-1998-qe2-earth-video_n_3294388.html

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94% Room 237

All Critics (117) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (111) | Rotten (7) | DVD (1)

The human brain is a marvellously suggestible organ.

[A] strange, frustrating, occasionally fascinating doc ...

"Room 237" evolves from an ode to movie love at its most delirious to a wry examination of the crackpot mind at work.

There's enough real evidence supporting the theory that Kubrick was a genius, and that's pretty entertaining all by itself.

It's about the human need for stuff to make sense - especially overpowering emotional experiences - and the tendency for some people to take that sense-making to extremes.

The results can range from enlightening - Kubrick did like to mess with things - to embarrassing. But it's never dull. "Room 237" shines.

It has the same entertainment value as listening to a late-night radio host indulge his listeners on Roswell, Area 51 and 9/11. Everything sounds completely crackers, until it all makes crazy sense.

What emerges from Room 237 is not a denigration of conspiracies, but a kind of celebration of our ability to create patterns where (perhaps) none exist.

"Room 237" could become an essential companion piece to "The Shining" from now on. For those who see both, it will be impossible to think about one without the other.

...all about the work of criticism - finding fresh avenues of delight.

Watching it makes you feel like you're attending a really entertaining film class where your classmates confidently let their freak flags fly.

It's an essay about the human need to reject the notion of a random universe and find order and meaning in existence. These people are developing their own creation myths, with Kubrick the mastermind responsible for the Intelligent Design.

Termitic film nerds could chow down for years on the wood chips.

You know when "Room 237? starts getting really scary? When the people in the film start making sense.

Kubrick fans and movie geeks will want to check this film out as soon as possible

Kubrick fans will take 'Shining' to 'Room 237.'

The credibility of these theories ranges from faintly plausible to frankly ridiculous, but Ascher isn't interested in judging them; his movie is more about the joys of deconstruction and the special kind of obsession that movies can inspire.

Some of the interpretations seem more of a stretch than others but all are entertainingly presented by director Rodney Ascher. (The movie) serves as a testament to Stanley Kubrick's cinematic mastery.

As fascinating as it is frustrating

It is nice to see a doc that makes you smile instead of making you angry. Anyone who is a fan of Stanley Kubrick will eat this up.

Powered by a deep and abiding affection for both The Shining and Kubrick in general, Room 237 is an amuse-bouche of remix culture.

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Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/room_237_2012/

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Winsili triumphs in Stud Fillies' Trial Stakes ? Horseracing news ...

Winsili triumphs in Stud Fillies? Trial Stakes ? Horseracing news

Winsili landed successful in the Swettenham Stud Fillies? Trial Stakes (Listed) at Newbury in England on Friday, May 17, 2013.

She was rated as the favourite to succeed in the race and did not disappoint her fans at all, winning by more than a couple of lengths comfortably.

The young filly has been delivering some consistent performances since the start of her career, which helps her get the attention of the punters every time she steps on the racetrack. She was priced 2 to 1 for the class-1 encounter at Newbury and lived up to the expectations of the bookies in the end.

Despite not being overly aggressive at the start, Winsili managed to stay close to her rivals. Although the overall distance to cover was more than a mile, she did not play the waiting game and increased her speed right after the second furlong. Once she got into the lead, no one was really able to catch her and she stayed in a comfortable position throughout.

In order to avoid any trouble, the three-year-old filly quickened over the final furlong and stretched her lead over two lengths. Things appeared to be quite easy for her, as she was able to control the entire race from the start until the end.

Her jockey William Buick was absolutely pleased with the result and claimed that everything went smoothly. He added, ?Everything was very straightforward and she showed a nice turn of foot. For a small field they went a good enough pace and she quickened well.?

This was only third race of Winsili?s career and she has already shown signs of competitiveness at the highest level. If she manages to deliver solid results with consistency, she will definitely be able to take one some of the best stallions in the business.

The John Gosden?s trainee debuted in 2012 and made a mark straightaway with a comprehensive victory. She took part in one more race that season and finished as a runner up back then. However, the start to this year has been positive for her and she will be looking to continue making her team proud in the future events.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Winsili-triumphs-in-Stud-Fillies-Trial-Stakes-Horseracing-news-a215459

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LG Nexus 4 shows up in white at Google I/O (hands-on)

A checkerboard-style glitter pattern with a white background? Yes, please. We've always been impressed by the elegant look and feel of LG's Nexus 4, announced alongside Android 4.2 last October, and now Google is making an ivory version of the device available to (hopefully) the masses. The twist: it still hasn't been officially announced, despite the fact that a conference like I/O would be the perfect time and place to do so. While Google chose not to take advantage of the situation to show the unicorn Nexus to the world, real-life units have been discovered floating around Moscone West. Androidandme's Taylor Wimberly happened upon one of them at the show and was gracious enough to give us a brief moment or two with the device.

There isn't any surprise associated with this particular beaut, as it's packing the same design and specs as we've already seen in the original black model (sorry, LTE hopefuls). The pattern on the back actually doesn't stand out as much as it does on the black version, as it happens to blend in with the white a little more. We also noticed the same set of tiny nubs on the bottom that mysteriously appeared on the black version a few months ago. Lastly, the white Nexus is rumored to be the first device with Android 4.3 when it officially launches, but this particular version we saw only sports 4.2.1. There's not much else for us to write about the new color, but let's face it -- you're here for the pictures, which you can gaze upon below.

Gallery: LG Nexus 4 in white at Google I/O

Myriam Joire contributed to this post.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Google, LG

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/kUH0fg3mafs/

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Paralyzed man identifies his assailant by blinking

An Ohio man was identified and later convicted when his victim, who was paralyzed, communicated with authorities by blinking. The paralyzed man was shot in the head and neck and died two weeks after communicating with police.

By Lisa Cornwell,?Associated Press / May 16, 2013

Ricardo Woods being taken from court after he was found guilty in the shooting death of a man who authorities say identified his assailant by blinking his eyes while paralyzed on May 16 in Cincinnati.

Gary Landers/The Cincinnati Enquirer/AP

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An Ohio man was found guilty Thursday of fatally shooting a man who authorities say identified his assailant by blinking his eyes while paralyzed and hooked up to a ventilator.

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A jury convicted Ricardo Woods, 35, of murder and felonious assault for the death of David Chandler who was shot Oct. 28, 2010, as he sat in a car in Cincinnati.

Police interviewed the 35-year-old Chandler after he was shot in the head and neck. He was only able to communicate with his eyes and died about two weeks later.

Woods had no obvious reaction to the verdict on the third day of jury deliberations as it was read in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. But as he was being led to jail, he said: "I'm innocent."

Woods' sentencing is set for June 20. He faces up to life in prison.

During the trial, jurors viewed the videotaped police interview that prosecutors say showed Chandler blinked three times for "yes" to identify a photo of Woods as his shooter. The defense had tried to block the video, saying Chandler's blinks were inconsistent and unreliable.

Defense attorney Kory Jackson said Thursday there would be an appeal.

"We're disappointed in the verdict," he said. "We have said since the beginning that the video should not have been allowed into evidence."

Jocelyn Chess, an assistant county prosecutor, said justice was served.

"They looked at all the evidence, and the evidence showed that Ricardo Woods was guilty," she said.

Judge Beth Myers, who ruled that jurors could see the video, said Chandler's identification was made by pronounced, exaggerated movement of the eyes. A doctor who treated Chandler later testified that Chandler was able to communicate clearly about his condition.

In the video, police had to repeat some questions when Chandler failed to respond or when the number of times he blinked appeared unclear. But Chandler blinked his eyes hard three times when police asked him if the photo of Woods was the photo of his shooter. He again blinked three times when they asked him if he was sure.

The defense argued that Chandler's condition and drugs used to treat him could have affected his ability to understand and respond during the police interview.

Woods' lawyer also argued that showing Chandler only one photo ? that of Woods ? instead of presenting a lineup of photos was "suggestive." Jackson said the case against Woods was about misidentification and "a misguided investigation."

Chandler's half-brother, Richard Tucker, said after the verdict that Chandler's family was satisfied with the outcome and also agrees that "justice has been served."

"It's been a long time coming," said Tucker, 50, of suburban Cincinnati.

A jailhouse informant testified that Woods told him he shot at Chandler because he caught him buying drugs from someone else while still owing Woods money for drugs.

The defense argued that the informant, who faced armed robbery charges, was trying to use testimony against Woods to get a lighter sentence for himself. The defense also said Chandler had stolen drugs from dealers, was considered a police "snitch" and had many enemies.

The defense insisted that Woods was a victim of misidentification and misinformation.

Legal experts say such cases ? where prosecutors attempt to show a defendant was identified by a gesture ? are not unheard of but are unusual. Dying identifications relying on gestures rather than words are often not used in trials because of concern over reliability or differing interpretations. But some have been used in murder cases around the country that have ended in convictions.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/Kbq2CikLVDE/Paralyzed-man-identifies-his-assailant-by-blinking

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Skydiving is never 'plane sailing'

May 17, 2013 ? Skydivers show the same level of physical stress before every jump whether a first-timer or experienced jumper, say Northumbria researchers.

Previous laboratory studies have observed that when an individual is repeatedly exposed to a stressful situation, such as public speaking or performing mental arithmetic in front of an audience, their physiological responses -- levels of arousal and stress hormones -- decrease as they become accustomed to it. Such studies conclude that the more you are exposed to a stressor, the less you will respond to it.

Scientists at Northumbria University, led by Dr Michael Smith, set out to discover whether the same affect would occur in a real world setting.

The researchers studied 24 healthy male skydivers -- 11 novices carrying out their first solo skydive, and 13 experienced skydivers who had completed at least 30 jumps -- asking them to self-report their level of anxiety and also taking saliva samples to measure levels of the stress hormone cortisol before and after the jump.

They found that, although novice skydivers reported feeling more anxious prior to the jump than experienced skydivers, both sets of jumpers responded with the same levels of biological stress reactions to the jump.

Their study, published online this month in Physiology & Behavior, is the first to observe that skydiving increases levels of cortisol which does not reduce even with repeated exposure to jumping. The results also indicate that self-reports of anxiety in experienced skydivers did not match up with their actual biological stress reactions. Though they may not have perceived themselves as being as anxious as the novice skydivers, their bodies still showed the same stress reactions as a first time jumper.

Dr Michael Smith, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, said: "This study is significant because it reveals how people respond to stressors in the real world. Very few studies have been able to examine people's true reactions as it would be unethical to deliberately and repeatedly expose volunteers to severe stress in a laboratory situation. Therefore, the most stressful laboratory situations have tended to be exercises in public speaking or performing difficult tasks in front of an audience.

"We used skydiving as our 'real world' stressor because it is an activity that does pose a genuine risk to safety and survival. Although repeated exposure to a stressor dampens the stress response in the laboratory, our findings show that this is not the case for real life stressors which pose a threat to survival."

The findings highlight the usefulness of skydiving as a naturalistic stressor in future research.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/CoUoNCJHE4U/130517085718.htm

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Egypt police close Gaza border to protest kidnap

RAFAH, Egypt (AP) ? An Egyptian security official says policemen at the country's main crossing point into the Gaza Strip have closed the border on their own initiative to protest the abduction of their colleagues.

The official said Friday that the guards will keep the border closed until four of their colleagues, who were abducted in the Sinai peninsula Thursday with three others, are freed. He spoke anonymously according to the rules.

Authorities believe the kidnappers are militants, who acted after another militant was alleged to have been tortured in prison. Officials have said negotiations with the kidnappers are underway.

Gaza's Interior Ministry confirmed the closure in a statement. Sinai militants are believed to have contact with other groups in the coastal territory.

____

AP writer Ibrahim Barzak in Gaza contributed to this story.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-police-close-gaza-border-protest-kidnap-094451774.html

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