Explaining Titan's Alien Weather System

Underneath Titan?s dense atmosphere lies something rather unusual, by terrestrial standards. Some features of the Saturnian moon, at first glance, might look similar to some features we have on Earth ? it is the only other body in the solar system with lakes, and appears to have an active weather system. But instead of water, it?s methane that rains from the skies to fill Titan?s vast lakes, before it evaporates to form clouds that cover the surface. Curiously similar to the water cycle here on Earth, but at the same time rather alien.

The Cassini spacecraft has been able to take a closer look at this alien weather system and has seen that the distribution of lakes and clouds is not even across the surface of the moon. The lakes tend to cluster around the poles, in particular in the northern hemisphere. Clouds, meanwhile, prefer the south ? that is the hemisphere that until recently was experiencing summer. A year on Titan is the equivalent of 30 years on Earth, so summer lasts a long time. Clouds stick around for about 25 out of these 30 years, but vanish for the remainder.

Some scientists at Caltech have come up with an explanation for this uneven distribution of clouds and lakes. They published their findings in Nature recently, and I wrote about their new model for Imperial?s student newspaper this week ? head over to Felix Online to read all about it, if you wish.

I spoke to Dr Ingo Mueller-Wodarg, a planetary scientist in the Physics department at Imperial about the paper, and he explained why the new model is better than previous ones.

?What this study does is reproduce reasonably well, better than others before, the observations in terms of lake and cloud distribution. The significance of this is that we have gained a first understanding of what controls these features, namely a complex interplay of global wind transport, microphysical processes such as condensation and evaporation, cloud formation and radiative heating.

As far as I can tell this model has advanced on two fronts, namely being 3D rather than 2D and fully including the coupling between the atmosphere and surface in terms of methane transport and including surface reservoirs of methane. Many [previous] models are 2D, since calculation times otherwise become prohibitive due to the number of years that the models need to be run to assess seasonal trends (given that a Titan year is equivalent to 30 Earth years!). As far as I know, many models have significantly simplified the surface-atmosphere methane transport processes and hence got differing results. Importantly, many studies previously didn?t fully account for surface reservoirs of Methane and how these change over a year in response to the atmosphere.?

The Caltech team?s model has enabled them to make predictions about what the weather will be like on Titan in the next few years ? to see if their model is right, all we will have to do is stay tuned (and make sure Cassini is making the observations needed to check their predictions!).

Refererence
Schneider, T., Graves, S., Schaller, E., & Brown, M. (2012). Polar methane accumulation and rainstorms on Titan from simulations of the methane cycle Nature, 481 (7379), 58-61 DOI: 10.1038/nature10666

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=9fee337d8e8067f2c403beae6b68153d

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Kristen Bell Talks Stripping, Sloths & 'Lies' (omg!)

Kristen Bell belongs on TV -- and I don't say that just because I want her in my life, and my living room, on a weekly basis.

What I mean is that the actress simply meshes with the medium so well, her best work always seems to come alive on the small screen: from Veronica Mars to Heroes and Reefer Madness, the pint-sized powerhouse never fails to hit it out of the park when she lives in my DVR.

Kristen is now back where she belongs thanks to Showtime's sensational House of Lies, where she co-stars as a corporate strategist alongside Don Cheadle. I recently caught up with Kristen backstage at The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to talk all about this dynamic new role, what you can expect from her next big screen projects and why baby sloths rival Lee Press On Nails for title of "Best Thing Ever."

Insider.com: What attracted you to House of Lies?
Kristen Bell: Everything. I liked the fact it was cable, so there are no limitations on the storylines in terms of how deep or provocative we could go. I like how sleek and sophisticated and dirty it was. I like that it's relevant since Occupy Wall Street and movements like that are in the zeitgeist. I like this character because she's so compartmentalized and I've never played someone who is not only willing to tell lies to other people but often lies to herself.

WATCH: On the House of Lies Red Carpet

Insider: You and Don Cheadle have insane chemistry. Did you know each other before this show?
Kristen: We didn't. We had lunch prior to doing the show, which I believe was the lunch for him to either yay or nay me. They had invited me on board, but clearly it's Don?s show ? what if he hated me? So we went out to lunch and hit it off. He is a better human being than an actor, and he's a damn good actor.

EXCLUSIVE House of Lies Sneak Peek Clip

Insider: I would have been so nervous. Did you know that this lunch served this dual purpose?
Kristen: Yes, I found out late in the game. Once they reached out, I thought, "This is so exciting!!!" Then they told me, "You just gotta have lunch with Cheadle." I was a little nervous but if he didn't like me, then it was probably not meant to be.

Insider: Plus, who wouldn't like you?
Kristen: Exactly. Who on earth wouldn't not like me?!?

Insider: I was a huge Veronica Mars fan -- does its enduring popularity make it more difficult for you to pick TV projects?
Kristen: Yes and no. It's like having your first dog or child, nothing will replace that. Veronica Mars was fiercely intelligent and thankfully that's the kind of material I'm attracted to. I've tried to pepper my choices with intelligent ones. I think House of Lies is very, very intelligent. So I hope the fans are satisfied. It's hard to please the Veronica Mars crowd sometimes because it was such a well-constructed, beautiful show.

Insider: You talked about being able to make the show as dirty as you want. With that said, what was it like filming the pilot episode in that strip club?
Kristen: My strip club experience was interesting because, number one, we were there during daylight, so that's ? yea. But the girls were lovely and beautiful but it?s a weird experience when they raise the lights in between takes.

Insider: Did they give you any tips for that underwear dance you do in an upcoming episode?
Kristen: Oh man .. no. I tried. It was one of, if not, the most embarrassing moment of my life. I don't do sexy, I do cute ? I can do cute till the cows come home. But sexy is a lot harder, do you know what I mean? It's not what I feel.

MORE: Kristen Mocks Her Mars Bust

Insider: Fans are excited to see that, but what are you excited for fans to see?
Kristen: I'm excited for the episode where we visit Jeannie's home town. You get to see a bit behind the scenes of what she's dealt with growing up, specifically with her being from a lower class family. I'm excited for that to be revealed because when you have characters who are so cutthroat and antagonistic, you do need to see what makes them tick. You need to see why they do the things they do, so I'm glad they reveal that because it makes Jeannie a little more sympathetic.

Insider: In addition to House of Lies, you co-star with John Krasinski & Drew Barrymore in Big Miracle. What appealed to you with that movie?
Kristen: I liked that it was an actual event. It was such an inspiring story on so many levels. It's a comment on cultures clashing, the Americans judging the inupiats and the way they live. It'll tug on people's heartstrings because for some reason, we feel that whales are like us. More so than a lot of other animals. There were so many parts of the script that I liked beyond it being a fascinating, inspiring story.

Insider: Like the rockin' 80s wardrobe you wear in the movie?
Kristen: Oh, you have no idea. You're not ready. Nobody is. The one thing I really wanted to do was wear Lee Press On nails, which incidentally was the first monologue I ever memorized for a commercial audition. They were baby pink iridescent nails and before shooting, I begged for approval and no one seemed to care. Ken Kwapis, our director, was like, "I don't care what nail polish you wear. I have a whole movie to make." Cut to the editors and Ken emailing me, saying, "We love every single shot where we can see your nails! We want more nails!" It's a comment on the times because that's what my moms hands looked like.

Insider: You also co-star in the vignette film Movie 43, and play Supergirl?
Kristen: Oh yea, it's happening. Legit Supergirl costume. It's me, Justin Long as Robin, Jason Sudeikis as Batman, Uma Thurman as Lois Lane and it's about Gotham City speed dating. We're all switching tables and flirting.

Insider: That said, who do you think the most attractive superhero is?
Kristen: I'm not an underpants on the outside kind of girl. You know? Keep it to yourself. Let me get there if I want to get there. It's too much too soon. Is it cute if I wear the bra on the outside of my shirt? No. I'd look like a lunatic. So I would have to say Clark Kent because his underpants are on the inside. Suit is always a good look. And those glasses? Forget about it. I love those.

Insider: You've also supply the voice of Gossip Girl -- a show that currently has split fans into two camps: ones that want Blair with Chuck and ones that want her with Dan. Where do you fall?
Kristen: This is just my opinion as Kristen Bell, but I can't get enough of Blair with Chuck. Obsessed.

Insider: OK, and finally -- the million dollar question: What is cuter, a yawning puppy or a sneezing panda?
Kristen: Neither. A baby sloth. Screw your answers. Above anything! Have you ever seen one?

Insider: Apparently not....
Kristen: [To assistant] Do you have an iPhone? YouTube: "It's Bathtime Too Cute Animal Planet." Can I explain something to you?

Insider: Please.
Kristen: I Google Baby Sloths maybe 2-3 times a week. I've been obsessed with sloths for as long as I can remember. They must be my spirit animal or something. There's nothing cuter than a baby sloth. It doesn't exist in my opinion. OK, maybe a slow Loris. Maybe. On a good day. And if it's a baby slow loris. You?re gonna die. You?re not ready. Watch this video and cry your eyes out.

House of Lies airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_kristen_bell_talks_stripping_sloths_lies234200378/44173464/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/kristen-bell-talks-stripping-sloths-lies-234200378.html

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?I Engaged In A Week-Long Drug-Fueled Orgy With Corporate Income Taxes? (Theagitator)

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Obama Calls for End to Outsourcing -- Finally (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | President Barack Obama told American employers that it's time to bring jobs back to this country to spur new job creation and reduce unemployment. It's a long overdue message that the White House has finally decided to make a centerpiece in national dialogue during an election year. And, while it's a good idea, it also fits really well into the president's re-election strategy.

Associated Press reported that Obama used his Saturday radio address to encourage American employers to return jobs that have been previously outsourced to other countries. This has long been a problem that many unemployed people like to point to as a reason for the lack of good jobs in this country. It's good the president wants to take an action and voiceful stand against the practice.

To further show his resolve, Obama will host an "Insourcing American Jobs" workshop at the White House this week to hear ideas from major businesses on returning outsourced jobs. Reuters reported the representatives from Master Lock, Lincolnton Furniture, software developer GalaxE Solutions and chemicals company DuPont would participate.

Obama's sudden interest in ending outsourcing coincides perfectly with his re-election strategy. He needs union backing and ending outsourcing will be popular with union members. He also needs to demonstrate a more aggressive resolve to lowering unemployment. By focusing on outsourcing as a problem, Obama will place more of the blame for high unemployment on big business.

Another benefit he will reap comes from workers of both parties. Outsourcing is very unpopular with those who have trouble finding a job, and is often blamed for serious job loss in this country. Any initiative by the president to reduce or end outsourcing is surely going to find support among voters in both parties - especially if he can find an immediate success story after the Wednesday huddle at the White House.

It's not often that I find an instance to praise something Obama has done with the economy, but this is definitely one of them. Good job Mr. President!

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politicsopinion/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120110/cm_ac/10807761_obama_calls_for_end_to_outsourcing__finally

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Is this the PlayStation 3's new video editor? PlayMemories Studio shows up on CES showfloor, Facebook

Our blurrycammed tipster seems to have found a cozy hovel in Sony's CES booth, and just shot a few more out-of-focus shots our way. This time we're looking at PlayMemories Studio, a PlayStation 3 app that appears to be a family friendly video editor. A trademark filed in October outs the app as "software for viewing, organizing and editing digital photos and video," a description that aptly fits a potential video-centric successor to the console's original PlayMemories app. The presumed PSN video editor seems to have a companion Facebook app as well, though its landing page is predictably blank. Details? We'll fill you in on them when we hit the show floor on Tuesday. Can't wait? Hit the break for a second blurry take.

Continue reading Is this the PlayStation 3's new video editor? PlayMemories Studio shows up on CES showfloor, Facebook

Is this the PlayStation 3's new video editor? PlayMemories Studio shows up on CES showfloor, Facebook originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Community college makeover

Until a few years ago, just about any Californian could attend a community college, and many did. The colleges offered a wide variety of options: They conferred two-year associate's degrees; prepared students for junior-year transfer to a four-year college; provided vocational training and certification; offered remedial courses for high school grads who lacked college skills; taught English to immigrants and enrichment courses to the elderly; offered recreational classes; provided college-level education ? and credits ? for ambitious high school students; and were the leading source of lifelong learning and career retraining for the state's adults.

But at this point, open access to higher education in California is more theoretical than real. Budget cuts have drastically reduced course offerings, making it extremely difficult for students to reach their educational goals. In 2009-10, nearly 140,000 entering students couldn't get into any classes because they had low priority in the registration system. Large numbers of students who are already attending community college are routinely shut out of courses they need to graduate or transfer. At the same time, other students meander through courses year after year, racking up far more credits than they need and taking up seats in classrooms. Many eventually drop out or never move out of the system at all. People who take courses for personal enrichment similarly fill classes that are needed by those aiming for degrees or specific training.

Bravo to the many Californians who value and seek out some form of higher education. But with the state no longer able to provide for all of them, a state task force is calling for sweeping changes. Some of the recommendations would use public dollars more efficiently while providing students fairer access. Others go too far, threatening to turn the colleges into certificate-production machines rather than true institutions of higher learning.

Make no mistake: Even if only the best of these proposals were adopted, the community colleges would be transformed in ways that would make them nearly unrecognizable to Californians who cherish the old something-for-everyone system. Top priority for course registration would go to students with a specific goal: a degree, transfer, career training or remedial help. Instead of registering online without guidance, most new students would have to attend mandatory orientation and counseling sessions to help them understand which classes they need to move through the system fluidly.

But once these students have 100 credits ? which translates to 25 to 30 courses, well over the 60 to 70 credits needed for a degree or transfer to a four-year school ? they would move to the bottom of the list for registration. Also given low priority would be people signing up for classes for personal enrichment and recreation. (One weakness in the plan: These people could easily game the system by indicating that their reason for taking a class is to retrain for a new career rather than enrichment.) Financially needy students who attend the colleges for free under fee waivers would have to start paying fees after earning 100 credits. Non-credit courses that have been free for senior citizens and low-cost recreational classes would largely disappear unless the colleges charged enough to make the classes self-sustaining.

These restrictions aren't something to celebrate. Ideally, community colleges could continue providing affordable, lifelong education for all Californians, but that's not realistic at the moment. It's fair and sensible to give lower priority in registration to students who have already taken more than their share of classes over the years, in order to provide seats to those who haven't had a chance. More painful, but still necessary, is reducing access for senior citizens and other adults. No one likes the idea of rationing education, but the reality is that access already is being rationed ? in unfair ways that harm entering students. This rationing would make the colleges more efficient, though only if they made good on the promise of orientation and counseling, so that students weren't aimlessly taking courses and never finding themselves eligible to graduate. And that would call for funding the colleges don't have right now.

Less helpful is the task force's relentless focus on moving students through the system as quickly as possible. It has outlined a community college experience that could be unfair to part-time students and that would have the unintended consequence of making college a less enriching experience. All students would be required to articulate a goal by the end of the first year of college, and a full educational plan by the end of the third semester. In addition, the state would target its funding of the colleges to discourage them from offering courses that aren't showing up in those educational plans.

Part-time students should not have to develop plans in just three semesters; they may have taken only three courses by then. Officials promise that there will be flexibility at the local level, but that flexibility must be incorporated into the task force report. The mandate for educational plans should be based on the number of credits taken, not on a point in time. The colleges hope to persuade more students to enroll full time, because such students have higher graduation rates. But pushing a student who needs to work into full-time studies could be counterproductive. Full-timers might be more successful not just because they take more courses but because of the financial resources that allow them to do so.

The recommendations also put too much emphasis on students taking only the courses within their defined plans, and on the colleges offering only those courses. A computer student who wants to take a literature course to deepen her education should be encouraged to do so, as long as she doesn't go beyond her allotted 100 credits. A philosophy student should feel welcome to delve into a biology course. Colleges don't just churn out degrees and certificates; they're supposed to encourage students to think big and try new things.

The community colleges can more efficiently educate California students through the 100-point rule and by giving top priority to students who need the education most, without reaching the point of becoming mechanistic.

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/opinion/editorials/~3/wdi7ORIxGwo/la-ed-community-20120108,0,1160239.story

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Danes capture pirate mothership, free 14 (AP)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark ? The Danish navy says it has captured a suspect pirate mothership off the Horn of Africa and rescued 14 people who were being held hostage on it.

The navy says its warship HDMS Absalon, which participates in NATO's Ocean Shield anti-piracy force, encountered the ship Saturday and the crew boarded it.

They arrested 25 suspected pirates and freed 14 people from Iran and Pakistan.

Navy spokesman Mikael Bill says the hostages are most likely fishermen who had been held for around two months and the pirates were using their fishing vessel.

The hostages were transferred onto the HDMS Absalon, where they were able to call their families.

The Danish Navy said Sunday further investigations are needed to determine what will happen to the suspected pirates.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120108/ap_on_re_eu/piracy

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