This Decaying, Futuristic Lego City Is Neotokyo Reborn

Most Lego cities are well-planned models of urban order. But at Brickworld this year, a team of six builders led by Carter Baldwin created this intricate model of urban disorder. Their unique version of Neotokyo borrows from a handful of great cyberpunk novels and movies, from Akira to Neuromancer.

Baldwin worked with Nate Brill, Kyle Vreze, Forest King, Ignacio Bernaldez, Sam Wormuth, Alex Valentino, and Chris Edwards on the project, which includes rare or obscure pieces from Lego's Scala collection. It shows us a snippet of a futuristic city, where decaying high-rises leave fetid canals in constant shadows on the ground level. The level of detail is incredible, and including tangled wires, hanging laundry, and cyberpunk minifigs. The Japanese signage, meanwhile, is made from electroluminescent wire, and includes billboards for "foreign girls."

It's cool to see a physical model of a fictional city, especially one that's been described by so many different authors over the past three decades. There's a bit of the real-life Kowloon Walled City here, too?the now-razed urban experiment that, arguably supplied the precedent for many fictional cyber-cities, which William Gibson famously described as "vast, multilayered engines of choice." Check out more images on Flickr, or see the model yourself at BrickFair on August 3. [Fred Scharmen via Archinect]

Images by Nathaniel Brill.

Source: http://lego.gizmodo.com/this-decaying-futuristic-lego-city-is-neotokyo-reborn-634853762

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Diamond catalyst shows promise in breaching age-old barrier

June 30, 2013 ? In the world, there are a lot of small molecules people would like to get rid of, or at least convert to something useful, according to University of Wisconsin-Madison chemist Robert J. Hamers.

Think carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas most responsible for far-reaching effects on global climate. Nitrogen is another ubiquitous small-molecule gas that can be transformed into the valuable agricultural fertilizer ammonia. Plants perform the chemical reduction of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia as a matter of course, but for humans to do that in an industrial setting, a necessity for modern agriculture, requires subjecting nitrogen to massive amounts of energy under high pressure.

"The current process for reducing nitrogen to ammonia is done under extreme conditions," explains Hamers, a UW-Madison professor of chemistry. "There is an enormous barrier you have to overcome to get your final product."

Breaching that barrier more efficiently and reducing the huge amounts of energy used to convert nitrogen to ammonia -- by some estimates 2 percent of the world's electrical output -- has been a grail for the agricultural chemical industry. Now, that goal may be on the horizon, thanks to a technique devised by Hamers and his colleagues and published June 30, 2013 in the journal Nature Methods.

Like many chemical reactions, reducing nitrogen to ammonia is a product of catalysis, where the catalytic agent used in the traditional energy-intensive reduction process is iron. The iron, combined with high temperature and high pressure, accelerates the reaction rate for converting nitrogen to ammonia by lowering the activation barrier that otherwise keeps nitrogen, one of the most ubiquitous gases on the planet, intact.

"The nitrogen molecule is one of the happiest molecules around," notes Hamers. "It is incredibly stable. It doesn't do anything."

One of the big obstacles, according to Hamers, is that nitrogen binds poorly to catalytic materials like iron.

Hamers and his team, including Di Zhu, Linghong Zhang and Rose E. Ruther, all of UW-Madison, turned to synthetic industrial diamond -- a cheap, gritty, versatile material -- as a potential new catalyst for the reduction process. Diamond, the Wisconsin team found, can facilitate the reduction of nitrogen to ammonia under ambient temperatures and pressures.

Like all chemical reactions, the reduction of nitrogen to ammonia involves moving electrons from one molecule to another. Using hydrogen-coated diamond illuminated by deep ultraviolet light, the Wisconsin team was able to induce a ready stream of electrons into water, which served as a reactant liquid that reduced nitrogen to ammonia under temperature and pressure conditions far more efficient than those required by traditional industrial methods.

"From a chemist's standpoint, nothing is more efficient than electrons in water," says Hamers, whose work is funded by the National Science Foundation. With the diamond catalyst, "the electrons are unconfined. They flow like lemmings to the sea."

While the method was demonstrated in the context of reducing nitrogen to a valuable agricultural product, the new diamond-centric approach is exciting, Hamers argues, because it can potentially fit a wide range of processes that require catalysis. "This is truly a different way of thinking about inducing reactions that may have more efficiency and applicability. We're doing this with diamond grit. It is infinitely reusable."

The technique devised by Hamers and his colleagues, he notes, still has kinks that need to be worked out to make it a viable alternative to traditional methods. The use of deep ultraviolet light, for example, is a limiting factor. Inducing reactions with visible light is a goal that would enhance the promise of the new technique for applications such as antipollution technology.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/zbzxBs1Pjuc/130630144449.htm

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Peace Light Memorial to be rededicated by Sons of Union Veterans? Camp 43

By Tom Mitchell

Published: Saturday, June 29, 2013, 2:16?a.m.
Updated 7 hours ago

KITTANNING ? Members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, John T. Crawford Camp 43 will be doing their part to honor the memory of veterans who fought in the various battles of Gettysburg 150 years ago.

Richard Essenwein, state department commander and Camp 43 graves registration officer, said Camp 43 members will join with other Sons units at Gettysburg this weekend for the SUVCW's annual department encampment, a business session, and a re-dedication of the Peace Light Memorial. Various Sons groups will stay at the Eisenhower Inn and Conference Center.

?On Saturday we will be on the battlefield to rededicate the Peace Light Memorial,? Essenwein said. ?It was first dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt 75 years ago as a memorial to all the brothers and sisters we lost in the Battle of Gettysburg, to a nation reunited, and to eternal peace. It will be a very somber and moving ceremony.?

Essenwein said that during such annual gatherings, the Sons make donations to charitable organizations in the towns in which they meet ? this year, in Gettysburg. One charity is selected by the state department's patriotic instructor and a second is selected by the ladies' auxiliary.

?Originally the charitable donations were presented at a campfire ceremony,? he said. ?But the parks department has regulations prohibiting fires on the battlefield, so the presentations will be made at the Conference Center. Camp 43 is proud and honored to play a role in this historic and solemn event.?

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The iPhone is now 6 years old Six years ago today Apple launched the first iPho...

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Leaked photo shows new cheaper iPhone 5S shell in ?radioactive vomit green? (rumor)

The photo shown above appears to be the shell of Apple?s next generation iPhone in a rather ugly shade of green, according to French gadget blog Nowhereelse.

Rumors have circulated over the last year that Apple is trying to make a cheaper version of its iPhone ? nicknamed iPhone 5S or iPhone mini ?? that could potentially eliminate the need to carrier subsidies and allow the company to more leeway during the manufacturing process. A handful of analysts have backed up these claims as well, but obviously Apple itself has admitted nothing.

As VentureBeat previously reported, the cheaper version of the iPhone will likely phase out a case made of glass and metal components in favor of a hard, durable plastic. There?s also some speculation that this cheaper model will come in a variety of colors, much like Apple has done in the past with its line of iPods. The green-ish shell in the photo (or as commenters on MacRumors called it, ?radioactive vomit green?) is one of a handful that we could see ? with each color being similar to the line of iPhone 4 bumpers the company has previously released.

In terms of next-gen iPhone rumors go, this one doesn?t have much credibility. However, someone mentioned that the new shade of colorful iPhone might go along with the palate of colors in Apple?s recently revealed iOS 7 redesign, which is extremely drastic compared to all the past versions of the mobile OS. The idea of using a Easter-color iPhone with a drastically altered user interface design is a lot of change, and one that might be risky when trying to keep its long-term customers happy. But then again, Apple getting into the business of keeping people happy seems boring and a sure-fire way to make its products bland over time.

Regardless of if the photo above is accurate, I will not be purchasing an Apple product in any shade of vomit.

Via MacRumors

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Venturebeat/~3/1ZQDl4azU7A/story01.htm

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Not-so eternal flame: JFK-linked memorial goes out

Clodagh Kilcoyne / Getty Images

Ireland's "Emigrant Flame" memorial was lit using fire brought from John F. Kennedy's grave.

By Ian Johnston, Staff Writer, NBC News

An Irish memorial lit using fire taken from John F. Kennedy's eternal flame at Arlington National Cemetery went out just four days later.

The late president's sister Jean Kennedy Smith, his daughter Caroline Kennedy and?Irish premier Enda Kenny?used torches on Saturday to establish the "Emigrant Flame" in New Ross, Wexford.

The flame forms part of a memorial to generations of Irish people who migrated to the U.S. and other countries, particularly during the Irish famine in the mid-19^th century.

President Kennedy's last overseas trip, just five months before his death, was to his family's homeland of Ireland. This year the Kennedy family returned to Ireland for the 50 anniversary of his visit. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.

John F. Kennedy, who visited Ireland 50 years ago, was the descendant of Patrick Kennedy and Bridget Murphy, who emigrated to the U.S. from New Ross during the famine period and later married.

Eamonn Hore, of Wexford County Council, confirmed that the Emigrant Flame had gone out on Wednesday night.

He said there had been a buildup of soot at the flame, which has sensors that can detect any problems and turn off the gas supply.

Hore said the council had miner?s lamps that were lit at Arlington so the Emigrant Flame can be restarted.

?It is a fact that with a flame like that as part of the maintenance anyway it will be switched off,? he said.

He said that it had been expected that during the first month at least they would have to make adjustments to the flame.

?It?s a matter of getting the oxygen levels right, the gas right and the position of the sensors,? Hore said.

Hore said the memorial is located about 100 feet away from where Kennedy and Murphy would have left for the U.S.

He said there was still ?great love and affection for the Kennedy family? in Ireland, adding that more than 30 Kennedy family members were present at Saturday?s ceremony.

Shawn Thew / EPA

New Ross Town Council Chairman Paul Crowdle holds the Kennedy Torch, lit from the Eternal Flame, near the gravesite of President John F Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery on June 18.

Kennedy?s 1963 trip to Europe is famous for his ?Ich bin ein Berliner? speech, but Hore said his visit to Ireland had a ?similar if not a great impact.?

?We were really a very young nation,? he said. ?I think he just showed people what could be done. Basically he gave confidence back to the whole Irish nation at a time when we were only just finding out feet.?

On Saturday, Kenny said Kennedy?s visit ?remains one of the iconic moments of 20th century Ireland.?

?The powerful symbolism, memorable speeches and the warmth of the interaction between this Irish American President and the Irish public had an impact on both,? he said.

Witnesses still remember Kennedy's youthfulness and charisma and the way he joined in the singing of a ballad about a 1798 revolt against the British, Reuters reported.

?There was no visit that my father made as president that meant more to him that his visit to Ireland,? Caroline Kennedy said outside the small cottage where her great-great-grandfather was born and where her father sipped tea with relatives half a century ago. ?Growing up in our family, nothing was a greater source of pride than our Irish heritage.?

Related:

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Southwest Applied Technology College eliminates waiting list for CNA training; courses start July 8

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CEDAR CITY - Recently, Southwest Applied Technology College announced that its upcoming Nursing Assistant Certification Program starting July 8, along with all upcoming nursing assistant sessions, will no longer require a waiting list for applicants.

This is good news for potential students who previously had to wait six months to a year to apply for this popular program. It is one of the shorter courses offered at SWATC, only 10 weeks long with a short externship following the course work.

?Now, without a waiting list, we are able to offer enrollment immediately into an upcoming class session, as soon as a student has completed all of their required documentation and made their payment for the course,? Jayne Crabdree of SWATC Team Student Services said. ?We find this encourages students to be proactive in getting themselves prepared to enroll on their own time frame, complete the enrollment process in a timely fashion, to get in and get trained, get certified and then gain employment in this field. It?s a win-win situation for the college and the students that are well prepared and motivated to get started in this training.?

A nursing assistant works in many health care areas under the supervision of a registered nurse. The SWATC program prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to assist ill patients and the elderly with tasks related to daily living such as assisting with meals, hygiene, getting out of bed and taking vital signs. Successful completion of this program qualifies the student to receive state certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant with the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry.

The next Nursing Assistant Certification Program at SWATC begins July 8. Although the waiting period has been waived, applicants do have some unique qualifications that must be met before acceptance into the program. All students must be age 17 or older on the first day of class and must have the following required immunizations: Hepatitis B series, one dose Tdap, proof of MMR and varicella immunity or vaccinations. In addition, applicants must be CPR certified and have two TB screenings.

Resources

Applications are being accepted at SWATC?s main campus at 510 West 800 South in Cedar City, or online. Students must be enrolled by July 3, as Student Services will be closed July 4 and 5 for Independence Day. The next nursing assistant session will start September 17. For more information, call 435-586-2899.

About SWATC

SWATC has been serving rural Utah as a competency-based training institution for nearly 20 years. Along with Dixie Applied Technology College in St. George, it is one of eight institutions statewide in the Utah College of Applied Technology, providing adult and high school students with technical job skills needed in the workforce.

Submitted by: Southwest Applied Technology College

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Submitted by: Southwest Applied Technology College

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Source: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/06/29/southwest-applied-technology-college-eliminates-waiting-list-for-cna-training-courses-start-july-8/

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