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The Dell Mini 5 (formerly known, or is still known, as the Streak) just cleared the FCC and from the looks of it, is heading to T-Mobile. Wait, what? Didn’t we just say that the Mini 5 was packing AT&T 3G? Why, yes we did. So how is it heading to T-Mobile, too? Because Dell wants to own the Android MID/tablet space, apparently. And from the few times we’ve seen the Dell Mini 5 in action, they just might. Can we get an official launch date, now? [via engadget]

Churches Together in Earlsdon and Chapelfields is hosting an election hustings on Thursday, 29th April 2010 at 7:30pm at the St Barbara’s Church Hall.

If you live in the Coventry South constituency, this is your chance to ask your candidates for the general election a whole heap of interesting questions on climate change and international development.

Why not go along and Ask the Climate Question?

For more information on Oxfam’s issues and inspiration on what to ask at an election hustings, check out our dedicated webpage: www.oxfam.org.uk/election.

"At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities." ~ Jean Houston

Whoa!  I look at this picture of myself and laugh!  Go ahead, join in WITH me!!!  (honestly, I DON'T wear that tiara anymore!!!) (and…I did NOT wear that lipstick!!!)

Laughter is a pretty wonderful thing!   Hey, I am ALL FOR IT!!  How about you?  Does laughter rock your boat?

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Today I am officially joining Katie West and Ina Lukas in partnership with creating the next phase of The Levity Project.  I will continue to write here in this space, and can now also be found at The Levity Project, and more directly involved in the events and direction of where that program is going. 

The Levity Project is a social movement to foster buoyancy, laughter, play, and freedom as the new paradigm in social design. We engage in public acts of levity in which people gather in a flash setting to en-lighten the energy of a public place and those within it.  These events are designed to foster a sense of lightness and connection to all who are present.

Katie and Ina are both incredibly talented women, and it is an honor to work beside them in bringing more laughter, play, and celebration into our world! 

Stop by and check out what The Levity Project is all about!!

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And speaking of The Levity Project…check out what's coming up! 

World Laughter Day!

The Levity Project will be there!  And celebrating!!  In style!! 

When:  Sunday, May 2nd, 2010, 10 AM – 12 noon (ET)
Where:  New York City, NY
Who:  YOU!!!  Join Katie, Ina, and I in a celebration of laughter and life!
Cost:  FREE

Are you near New York City?  Do you know someone who is?  Come by yourself and join the fun!  Come with your family!  Come with your friends!  All are invited to join in this celebration!!  A celebration of laughter and fun!!  And…the more the merrier!!  Share this with anyone you know who is remotely close to NYC – let's rock the day with laughter, joy, and love to the world!!

To sign up, click here. 

Details of our meeting location will be emailed out to everyone prior to the event. 

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Thank you for your support here in the Jungle, and I look forward to connecting on an even deeper level both here and at The Levity Project!

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release April 19, 2010

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

AT FUNDRAISING EVENT

FOR SENATOR BOXER AND THE DNC

California Science Center

Los Angeles, California

6:12 P.M. PDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello California! (Applause.) Hello. I am fired up! (Applause.) It’s good to see you. It’s good to see you. (Applause.) It’s good to see you. All right, all right, all right. Okay. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you, California.

I want to begin by just thanking — everybody is a special guest, but let me just point out some folks who are here who I want to acknowledge. First of all, somebody who was one of the finest governors in the country is now one of the best DNC chairmen of the country — Tim Kaine. Give it up for Tim Kaine. (Applause.)

Attorney General and may soon be another great governor — Jerry Brown. (Applause.) Where’s Jerry? He’s around here somewhere. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell is in the house. (Applause.) Congresswoman — outstanding Congresswoman — Jane Harman. (Applause.) Congressman Joe Baca. (Applause.) Congresswoman Diane Watson. (Applause.) Congresswoman Laura Richardson. (Applause.) Congresswoman Judy Chu. (Applause.) Former governor Gray Davis. (Applause.) Speaker Emeritus — that’s a pretty fancy title — (laughter) — Speaker Emeritus of the California Assembly, Karen Bass, is in the house. (Applause.)

I haven’t seen her, but I’m told she’s here and I love this woman’s music and her spirit — India Arie is supposedly in the house. (Applause.) Hello, India, wherever you are. Where is she? Right there — no, where you are? Backstage — she’s backstage, okay. I was like, where? I don’t see her. Somebody else who I’m very honored to have — I want everybody to acknowledge — there she is, there’s my girl — India Arie. (Applause.)

And while we’re at it with special people, somebody who helped Major League Baseball become what it is but also helped America become what it is — Hall of Fame pitcher Don Newcombe is in the house. (Applause.) I just had the honor of meeting him. Just had the honor of meeting him and taking a picture with him and he was very gracious in saying, you know, Jackie would be proud. And I said, well, I would not be here if it were not for Jackie and it were not for Don Newcombe. (Applause.)

It is nice to be back. (Applause.) It is nice to be in California — not just because it’s good to get out of Washington. (Laughter.) But one of the things that I enjoy most about coming to events like this is the chance to be with some old friends. To be with some of the people who were there with me at the beginning — (applause) — who knocked on doors and made telephone calls, who helped us win the presidency in 2008. (Applause.)

But as happy as I am to see you — as happy as I am to see you, I am even happier to be with my good friend and great senator, Barbara Boxer. (Applause.) It was one of the privileges of being a senator that I had a chance to work alongside Barbara. You know, California has been —

AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: — you know, California has been a leader in promoting hybrids and cleaner burning fuels, and appropriately, you have in Barbara Boxer a subcompact senator with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of energy. (Applause.)

Now, a lot of you are aware of how deeply Barbara cares about the environment, about her work to pursue a clean energy future, and that work is vitally important. But what I also want you to know is that this is a woman who has a deep passion for fighting for you, fighting for all her constituents here in California.

She’s passionate about fighting for jobs, jobs with good wages, jobs with good benefits. She’s passionate about fighting for California’s families. She is —

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell!”

THE PRESIDENT: We are going to do that. Hey, hold on a second, hold on a second. We are going to do that.

AUDIENCE: Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can!

THE PRESIDENT: Here we go. All right — guys, guys, all right. I agree, I agree, I agree. (Applause.) Now —

AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: No, no, no, no, listen. What the young man was talking about was we need to — we need to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which I agree with and which we have begun to do. (Applause.) But let me say this: When you’ve got an ally like Barbara Boxer and you’ve got an ally like me who are standing for the same thing, then you don’t know exactly why you’ve got to holler, because we already hear you, all right? (Applause.) I mean, it would have made more sense to holler that at the people who oppose it. (Applause.)

When you’ve got Barbara Boxer, who is passionate to give people all across this state a fair shake, to put the American Dream within reach for all Americans, then what we should be worried about is how are we going to make sure Barbara Boxer gets elected. (Applause.)

And that’s mostly what I want to talk about tonight. I am proud of the work we’ve done to bring the world together around a host of problems, from terrorism to the nuclear threat; from climate change to deprivation and poverty around the globe. I was gratified to sign a new START treaty with Russia — (applause) — and to host so many world leaders in Washington last week, working in concert to reduce the perilous risk that nuclear materials could fall into the wrong hands.

But reviving our own economy remains the central challenge that we’re facing today. I don’t have to tell you that. This state has been hit as hard as any state in the union with economic troubles these past few years. Jobs have been lost at a heartbreaking level all across this state, and they’ve devastated families and devastated communities.

The housing crisis hit this state with a particular vengeance, driving your friends, your neighbors out of their homes, injecting a sense of fear and financial insecurity into too many people’s lives.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: It’s time for equality for all Americans!

THE PRESIDENT: I’m sorry, do you want to come up here? (Applause.) You know, the — all right, because can I just say, once again, Barbara and I are supportive of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” so I don’t know why you’re hollering.

Now, the problems that we have here put a further strain on folks in this state, forcing painful choices about where to spend and where to save. And the challenges folks have been facing here —

AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)

AUDIENCE: Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can!

THE PRESIDENT: Barbara — I just — everybody, I just wanted to confirm — I just wanted to confirm — I just checked with Barbara, so if anybody else is thinking about starting a chant, Barbara didn’t even vote for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the first place, so you know she’s going to be in favor of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” (Applause.)

Now, that is a key issue, but I think putting Californians back to work is also a key issue — (applause) — because there are folks, gay and straight, who are out of work right now. (Applause.) And the challenges that are being faced right here in California are facing Americans all across the country.

Now, these aren’t challenges that suddenly appeared when I got sworn into office. They didn’t come out of nowhere. When I walked into the White House, on that very first day, America was embroiled in a series of crises the likes of which we hadn’t seen in some time.

Abroad, we were confronting a war in Iraq that needed to come to a responsible end, a war in Afghanistan that demanded a greater focus, a new world of threats and new dangers.

And at home, we were facing a financial crisis that just about every credible economist said had the potential to plunge us into another Great Depression; an economic crisis that was producing stagnant wages, falling incomes, and a shaken middle class; and a deficit crisis that was saddling our children with a mountain of debt. That’s what we inherited when we came in.

And while we’ve still got a long and difficult road ahead of us, while too many of our neighbors are still struggling, especially here in California, these are challenges that Barbara and I and others are working hard to solve together. We’re beginning to see some signs of progress all across America — adding jobs instead of losing them; spending — people spending again; orders rising again; an economy that’s growing instead of shrinking. (Applause.)

And California, this progress — this progress we’re seeing didn’t happen by accident. It happened because we’ve taken a number of necessary but not always popular steps to break the back of this recession and to get our economy moving again. But you didn’t send us to Washington just to manage the crisis or rescue the economy. You sent us there to rebuild it so that it was stronger than before, to make it more prosperous than it was before, more competitive than it was before. You sent us there to make the 21st century another American century and lay a new foundation for growth that will reach all our people.

And that’s what health insurance reform was about. (Applause.) That’s why we embarked on historic education reforms. That’s why we’re embarking on clean energy reform. That’s what our future is about. (Applause.) That’s why we have restored science to its rightful place. (Applause.) That’s why we renewed our commitment to research and development, from medical labs to nanotechnology. We’re focusing on the next generation, California, not just the next election.

That’s the mission that I have been trying to faithfully carry out on your behalf. And that’s the mission that members of Congress like Barbara have been carrying out faithfully on your behalf. Now, I’ll be honest, it would have been nice if we have had a little more help from the other side of the aisle sometimes. (Applause.) Say, any help. (Laughter.) Just a smidgen of help. (Laughter.) And I’ve been disappointed sometimes that that little smidgen hasn’t been more forthcoming. You would have expected that Republican leaders would have been willing to help out, cleaning up after this mess since they had more than a little to do with creating it. (Applause.)

And we all have a stake in cleaning it up. We’re all, after all, Americans. Not Democrats, not Republicans first — we’re Americans first. So we should all have a stake in seeing success in cleaning this situation up. And yet, after driving our economy into the ditch, they decided to stand on the side of the road and watch us while we pulled it out of the ditch. They asked, why haven’t you pulled it out fast enough? (Laughter.) I noticed there’s like a little scratch there in the fender. Why didn’t you do something about that? (Laughter and applause.)

Now, look, you know, that’s their prerogative, California. That’s also what elections are for. (Applause.) And the American people will have a clear choice when they head to the polls in November. And they’ll have to do — all they’ll have to do is look what we’ve been for and what the other side has been against.

For example, tax cuts. You know, we just had Tax Day and there a bunch of folks out there complaining about their taxes. I understand that. Nobody likes paying taxes — except I just want to make sure their anger is properly directed, because we were for putting $200 billion in tax cuts into the pockets of the American people — tax cuts for making college more affordable, tax cuts for buying a first home. Altogether, we gave 25 different tax cuts for families and for businesses — several of them directed at small businesses that are the backbone of our economy. Here in California, 98 percent of working families are getting a tax cut. (Applause.) So that’s what we were for, and that’s what the other side was against.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thank you for my tax cut.

THE PRESIDENT: You’re welcome. (Laughter and applause.)

Barbara and I and other members of Congress here, we thought it was wasteful and wrong to give billions of dollars to banks to act as unnecessary middlemen in administering student loans. (Applause.) So we said, let’s use that money to help more students go to college and get the skills they need to outcompete workers around the world. (Applause.) We said, let’s make the repayment of student loans more manageable, so that kids don’t start out with a crushing debt. That’s what we were for. That’s what they were against. (Applause.)

We thought it was unfair to deny health insurance to Americans with preexisting conditions. (Applause.) We thought it was wrong to let hardworking families and small businesses continue to get crushed by skyrocketing health care costs and families go bankrupt because somebody gets sick in their family. So we did what Americans have been trying to do for a century — Republican Presidents and Democratic Presidents and Republican Congresses and Democratic Congresses — and we finally enshrined the principle that all of us ought to have a sense of security when it comes to our health care. That’s what we were for. That’s what they were against. (Applause.)

In fact, the Republican leader in the House said the other day that repealing health insurance reform would be his number one priority if he becomes Speaker of the House in November.

AUDIENCE: Boo!

THE PRESIDENT: So he would say to you and 800,000 Californians with preexisting conditions, “You know what, we think it was a mistake to make sure that you can get coverage.” And he’d tell all those seniors, “Give back that $250 you’ll get this year to help pay for prescription drugs.” And then he’ll say to millions of small business men and women who today qualify for new tax credits to help them cover their workers, “You know what, your workers don’t need health insurance and you don’t need help, either.”

Now, that — if he wants to run on that appealing agenda — (laughter) — go ahead. But Barbara Boxer is not going to let it happen. And I’m not going to let it happen. And you’re not going to let it happen. And the American people are not going to let it happen, because we believe that Americans should have affordable, quality health care. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thank you!

THE PRESIDENT: You’re welcome. (Laughter.)

Even as we speak, we’re in the midst of another important battle in Washington. I want everybody to be paying attention these next several weeks, because one of the main reasons our economy faltered was because some on Wall Street made irresponsible bets, with no accountability. The rules weren’t adequate. Sometimes the government simply looked the other way. And as a result, we had a financial crisis that led to the loss of eight and a half million jobs; a crisis that’s caused millions of Californians to lose their homes, and cost families and businesses trillions of dollars in savings and assets.

I’ve said this many times before: I believe in the free financial market. I believe that’s — that it’s essential that we have a strong financial market, because that helps to boost dynamic economic growth.

But a free market doesn’t mean you should be free to do whatever you want, however you can get it, without regard to consequences. There have to be some rules of the road; there’s got to be some accountability; there’s got to be some transparency — or else we’re going to see more abuses and disastrous meltdowns like the ones we just experienced. (Applause.)

So Barbara and the members of Congress who are here and I believe that we’ve got to update the rules governing the financial markets to bring greater accountability, greater transparency to Wall Street, and greater protections to consumers and taxpayers and the broader economy.

And not surprisingly, Wall Street has fought some of these reforms. Shocking. (Laughter.) They’ve sent down an army of lobbyists. They’re just waiting to water them down. The truth is, that’s a big reason we got into this mess in the first place, because of the disproportionate power of these lobbyists. So this time, we’ve got to get it right. This time we have a responsibility to meet — a responsibility to the American people and to America’s future.

Now, the Senate Republican leader, he paid a visit to Wall Street a week or two ago. He took along the chairman of their campaign committee. He met with some of the movers and shakers up there. I don’t know exactly what was discussed. All I can tell you is when he came back, he promptly announced he would oppose the financial regulatory reform. He would oppose it. Shocking. (Laughter.) And once again, he’s threatening to tie up the Senate with a filibuster to try to block progress.

AUDIENCE: Boo!

THE PRESIDENT: And he made the cynical argument that is just plain false that this plan that is essential to avoiding future taxpayer bailouts was somehow going to create taxpayer bailouts.

Now, understand, I’m not saying Democrats and Republicans ought to agree on everything. There are some things we just philosophically disagree on. And that’s a good thing. That’s part of our democracy. But a wise man once said, “He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.” (Applause.)

And all we’re looking right now for is some help, some common sense and some help. That’s what we hope the other side is going to do. Not just criticize, but help. Exercise some common sense. Don’t just stand in the way, but lend a hand and help. Because the fact is, we need everybody’s help. The problems we face are too great for any one party to solve. And all of us, Democrats and Republicans, have to come together to solve them. (Applause.)

All of us together have to tackle exploding deficits. That’s why I directed my team to go through the budget line by line to cut what we don’t need so we can pay for what we do. That’s why I took a Republican idea — an idea they had been fighting for — and set up a bipartisan fiscal commission to rein in our deficits. And Barbara and I set a clear goal — to cut our deficits in half over the next three years.

All of us need to come together on behalf of clean energy. It’s the right thing to do for the environment. (Applause.) It’s the right thing to preserve our natural heritage. It’s the right thing to do for our economy. And that’s why following California’s lead — that’s why following California’s lead I worked to bring everybody up to a tough, new standard for cars and trucks, ushering in the first national standard for fuel economy and greenhouse gas reductions. That’s why Barbara and I worked together to provide incentives for companies building wind turbines and solar panels and green jobs that can’t be outsourced. (Applause.)

That’s why we need to build on Barbara’s good work and pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation, because the country that leads the energy economy will lead the global economy. Barbara and I want that country to be the United States of America. (Applause.)

All of us — all of us — need to come together to expand the reach of the American Dream. And that’s why the first bill I signed as President helps ensure equal pay for equal work for men and women alike. (Applause.) And yes, that’s why I’m committed to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and upholding nondiscrimination in the workplace. (Applause.)

That’s why last week, I signed an order to help end the cruel practice of denying loved ones hospital visitation rights because of who they are. (Applause.) We need to keep a fundamental promise of America. We’ve got to keep a fundamental promise that it doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from — the blessings of this country are open to every single American. (Applause.)

So, let me close by saying this. These have been difficult years for California. And they have been difficult years for America. And I can’t pretend we’re over all the tough times. There are going to be some more hard days ahead.

But here is what I want you to know: I have never been more optimistic about America’s future. And I am optimistic because I know there are people like you out there and I know there are people like Barbara Boxer in the Senate who’s fighting to change this country for the better. And because you are out there fighting and because Barbara is there fighting, I draw inspiration. And there are people all across this country who are dreaming of a better tomorrow, and then they are willing to fight for those dreams to come true.

And you know what, that’s the story of California. This is a state that always drew dreamers, men and women with the courage to pursue their dreams. It’s a state that inspired pioneers to head out across an unforgiving wilderness; a state that spurred glory-seekers to rush westward for gold; the state that draws innovators and entertainers, from Hollywood Hills to Mountain View. And there’s always been something about California that inspires us to dream; that’s called on us to build a better life; that has helped us imagine the world as it is and then recognize that the world as it might be is out there.

And I’m absolutely confident that if folks in Washington can recapture that same spirit — that same boundless, resilient American spirit — we’re not only going to rescue our economy, we’re not only going to rebuild it stronger than before, but we’re going to do what generations did before and make the American Dream more secure for our children and our grandchildren. That’s what Barbara Boxer is about. That’s what you’re about. And that’s why I expect you to be out there making phone calls and knocking on doors and rallying the troops just like you did in 2008 to make sure that you returned Barbara Boxer to the United States Senate.

Thank you very much, California. God bless you. (Applause.)

END 6:41 P.M. PDT

Too late?

Just in the nick of time?

With the Republican primary in Indiana’s US Senate race just two weeks out, candidate Marlin Stutzman picked-up an endorsement from a potential future colleague. Senator Jim DeMint from South Carolina told Fox News exclueively that Stutzman was his choice in the Hoosier State’s five-candidate GOP primary.

DeMint disclosed to Fox News senior producer Trish Turner late Monday about his decision to back Stutzman.

“I like Dan (Coats). I like John (Hostettler), but we need new faces here,” said DeMint.

The Palmetto State Senator continued, “(Stutzman’s) not as well known as the other two, but what we’ve seen …(Stutzman’s) won just about all the straw polls. The activists are beginning to know who he is, and that’s the reason I decided to get in. I’m trying to give some spotlight to the underdogs.”

Stutzman has won a series of straw polls at Republican Senate candidate debates held by Indiana Tea Party groups. What Stutzman does not have is a lot of campaign cash. At a recent debate, Stutzman reportedly disclosed he had just $50,000 cash on hand as of March 31st.

Campaigns typically squirrel away money for last-stage expenses like TV ad buys. But that’s a luxury it does not appear Stutzman has. Meanwhile, Stutzman’s primary rival, Dan Coats is up with TV and radio ads and has announced the campaign with remain on the air through the May 4th primary. But DeMint’s political backers might provide a last-minute financial boost.

“We can raise some money, ” says DeMint, “and we’re going to do that with a money bomb over the next week, try to draw some attention.”

I love me some comets.

I’ve seen quite a few in my time. Some were faint smudges in a big telescope’s eyepiece, some seen only in distant spacecraft images, and some so bright they were obvious and awesome to my naked eye.

They used to be considered harbingers, omens up for interpretation by mystics and people looking for reasons things happened the way they do. In reality, comets are just a class of objects in our solar system along with planets, asteroids, dust, and one biggish star.

Hmm. Did I say “just”? That’s unfair. They are gorgeous, interesting objects, worthy of study. And 100 years ago today — April 20, 1910 — we got a pretty good look at the most famous of them all, Comet Halley, as it passed the Earth at a distance of just 23 million km (14 million miles). It got so bright that it was obvious even when seen from cities. As geometry would have it, the Earth even passed through the comet’s tail, sparking fears of widespread death (cyanogen was detected in the comet, making people think it would poison them). It was the talk of the planet, featured in magazines and papers across the globe. For your history enjoyment, here is one of those articles from the 1910, transcribed by James Brooks. It gives a great flavor of the times.

To celebrate this remarkable centennial anniversary, I have put together Ten Things You Don’t Know About Comets. I imagine some readers will know some of these, and some will know all ten, but if you do you can still enjoy the pretty pictures — and make sure you click on them to embiggen ‘em. And if you like this, I have several others, too (Ten Things You Don’t Know About… the Earth, Black Holes, Hubble, the Sun, Pluto, and the Milky Way), so check ‘em all out and see how many things you don’t know.

ENTER TEN THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT COMETS

 

We tend to assume that visual acuity, the ability to distinguish fine detail with our eyes, is a physical limit of the body but a new study just published online by Psychological Science shows that prompting people with ideas about people who have excellent eyesight actually improves clearness of vision.

The research was led by psychologist Ellen Langer who has become well-known for her inventive and counter-intuitive research that has shown how changing beliefs and mental attitude can affect our performance.

Here’s the abstract of the study which describes the results of the main experiments:

These experiments show that vision can be improved by manipulating mind-sets. In Study 1, participants were primed with the mind-set that pilots have excellent vision. Vision improved for participants who experientially became pilots (by flying a realistic flight simulator) compared with control participants (who performed the same task in an ostensibly broken flight simulator). Participants in an eye-exercise condition (primed with the mind-set that improvement occurs with practice) and a motivation condition (primed with the mind-set “try and you will succeed”) demonstrated visual improvement relative to the control group. In Study 2, participants were primed with the mind-set that athletes have better vision than nonathletes. Controlling for arousal, doing jumping jacks resulted in greater visual acuity than skipping (perceived to be a less athletic activity than jumping jacks). Study 3 took advantage of the mind-set primed by the traditional eye chart: Because letters get progressively smaller on successive lines, people expect that they will be able to read the first few lines only. When participants viewed a reversed chart and a shifted chart, they were able to see letters they could not see before. Thus, mind-set manipulation can counteract physiological limits imposed on vision.

It’s worth saying that Langer and her team interpret the results in terms of ‘mindfulness’ but use a somewhat idiosyncratic definition of the term where most people would just describe it as priming or expectancy – that is, being exposed to a concept or having a certain approach encouraged by the circumstances.

The psychological concept of mindfulness is more commonly used to refer to an attentive awareness of experience that acknowledges each thought or perception but doesn’t get caught up or involved in it.

It is drawn from the Buddhist meditation practice of the same name and has become of interest to psychologists for treating intrusive thoughts and sensations and there is now increasing evidence for its effectiveness.

Despite this, Langer’s study is in line with previous experiments that have shown that exposing people to a stereotype subtly shifts their behaviour to more closely match the stereotype.

For example, studies have found that people’s performance on a quiz could be improved by asking them to think about the lifestyle of a professor and made worse by asking them to think about supermodels or football hooligans.

Another found that participants who were exposed to ideas about old people walked more slowly afterwards.

Interestingly, this effects seems only to hold true for general stereotypes as when people are primed with specific extreme examples (such as Albert Einstein instead of ‘professor’, or Kate Moss instead of ‘supermodel’) exactly the opposite happens, likely because instead of triggering a general association it leads us to make a direct personal comparison with the individual which may affect our motivation, whether we realise it or not.

Link to full text of Langer study.

Daniel Dauterive recently noticed that his Dish Network bill had increased sharply, but his subscription rate had not. 

"I added no new service," the Missoula, Mont., resident said. He hadn't added hardware, either.  So why the price hike?

Simple.  He was paying higher rent.

Most pay TV customers today pay a monthly fee for set-top boxes that interpret signals sent from the TV provider. Given the variety of options now available – HD channels, digital video recorder capabilities, support for multiple TVs — costs per box can add substantially to the monthly subscription price. It’s a frustration the Federal Communications Commission hopes to take on as part of its National Broadband Plan announced last month.

In Dauterive's case, Dish raised the monthly fee for his set-top boxes from $5 to $14. Dauterive was frustrated by the increase, which he described as sneaky.

"It is obvious that DISH is trying to avoid admitting to raising prices for programming, so they call it fees," he said.

How much are you paying to rent the box that sits on top of your TV set?  We'd like to help make direct comparisons easier.  Help us by describing your monthly bill below.

Dish spokeswoman Francie Bauer said the firm made the price change in February as part of an effort to clarify costs to consumers.   Some Dish prices were lowered or eliminated, she said, such as the per-TV digital video recorder fee.

Join the fight
"We tried to do some things to offset the cost (increase)," she said. "We're trying to standardize our prices."

To its credit, Dish spells out the four-tiered set-top box rental costs clearly on its Web site. The first box is free with a subscription, but for each additional TV, boxes can cost $7, $10, $14, or $17 each per month, depending on capabilities.

With some other TV providers, finding the set-top box rental price on Web sites or marketing materials can require an advanced degree in library science. Some bundle in the cost of DVR services or HD channels; others split those costs out. Some prices are based on local conditions, and vary from market to market. 

It all makes coming up with an honest apples-to-apples comparison of pay TV services a nightmare. What might sound like a low monthly price in an ad can become a triple-digit bill in a hurry.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. In 1996, Congress directed the Federal Communications Commission to make it easier for consumers to buy set-top boxes from third-party providers, potentially eliminating monthly lease fees. In fact, the reverse has occurred — consumers are paying more tack-on, set-top fees than ever. And an FCC ruling in 2007 is blamed for pushing leasing prices higher.  That year, pay TV providers were forced to separate their channel changing and channel security functions in their set-top boxes, a move that was supposed to provide an opening for alternative boxes. Consumers who wanted to buy their own simply had to insert a CableCARD — similar to PCMCIA cards that were once common to laptops — provided by the pay TV firm. But the so-called “integration ban,” cable industry officials said, simply raised the cost of making boxes, an increase that was passed on to consumers.

In the meantime, there's been plenty of consumer confusion about boxes.  In 2008, DirecTV was sued by consumers who say they were misled when purchasing set-top boxes from electronics retailers like Best Buy. Even though the consumers paid up to $200 at the store, the boxes were still "leased," according to DirecTV, which assessed additional monthly fees on the boxes and required that the boxes be returned when consumers canceled service.

Also that year, Time Warner Cable and Comcast were sued by private plaintiffs who claimed the firms violated antitrust laws by forcing customers to rent their boxes.

In March, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association told the FCC that only 489,000 CableCARDS were being used in third-party boxes — a tiny fraction of all pay TV customers.

Amid the frustration, confusion and disappointment, the FCC is about to take another run at the problem.

In March, when the agency issued its highly anticipated broadband plan, it unveiled a proposal to reignite the set-top box market, this time with even grander goals. Now that millions of consumers are watching TV using their computer and Internet connections, the agency wants to encourage a marketplace for do-everything boxes that would allow people to consume television through  multiple platforms. The FCC wants to require that all multi-channel video programming distributors (MVPDs) play nice with each other, and with consumers, by Dec. 31, 2012. The newfangled set-top box that would allow this freedom is referred to as a “gateway” device.

"It would allow consumer electronics manufacturers to design to a stable, common open interface and to integrate multiple functions within a retail device," the FCC wrote. "Those functions might include combining MVPD and Internet content and services, providing new user interfaces and integrating with mobile and portable devices such as media players and computers. It could enable the emergence of completely new classes of devices, services and applications involving video and broadband."

The FCC is taking up creation of a market for gateway devices at its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, when it will also discuss other aspects of the National Broadband Plan.

The pay television industry hasn’t signaled precisely how it will respond yet to the FCC proposal – competing interests abound.

For example, in a blog posting, Kyle McSlarrow, CEO of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, said his group saw promise in the gateway concept, but cautioned against a heavy-handed approach.

“While we are committed to working constructively with the FCC on this and related issues, we still firmly believe that technology mandates should be a last resort,” he wrote.

In the meantime, what do you pay to rent set-top boxes in your house? Pull out last month’s bill and tap out your costs below. Don’t forget to include:

1. Provider
2. Hometown
3. Type of box (basic, DVR, etc)
4. Number of boxes
5. Related fees, such as DVR fee

We’ll compile a list for a later story and help you compare services.

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The multiparameter controller Liquiline CM442 opens completely new dimensions for your measuring point. Together with sensors for six parameters, this team covers all applications. Its ease of use and maintenance guarantees operational safety. All devices speak the same language based on the Memosens protocol. Our complete concept supports you in achieving your goals of cost optimization and plant security.

The benefits of using a British manufactured Verderflex peristaltic pump to remove yeast from fermented wine are manifold. It is self priming, dry running, provides constant flow to the filter press at increasing pressure and requires little maintenance. These qualities have met the exact needs of a major German chamber filter press manufacturer resulting in the Verderflex VF25 industrial hose pump being specified as a standard component in its systems.

The yeast removal process usually requires the addition of diatomaceous earth into the fermented wine. This attracts the yeast cells to form clumps that remain in suspension. The resultant slurry is then pumped through the filter press by the Verderflex unit leaving the wine ready for bottling.

From the yeast flurry storage vessel, the slurry is fed into the peristaltic pump via a 32mm suction line made form flexible Verderflex hose to reduce pulsation. The pump is naturally fitted with stainless steel sanitary connections and its drive system includes a 1.1kW gear reducer to provide a pump speed of 48 rpm. This delivers 800 litres of the slurry to the filter press per hour.

On the discharge side of the filter press pump a 32mm flexible hose is used to feed the chamber filter press. Elimination of pump pulsation is even more important in this process so a 20 litre capacity air dome is also incorporated to absorb any excess. The dome also acts as a pressurised storage tank for the filter.

The chamber filters are evenly filled with the wine/yeast mixture to a pressure of 10 bar. As this pressure must be maintained and not exceeded for effective operation a pressure sensor is installed on top of the air dome. When 10 bar is reached the pressing shoes of the pump stop rotating, however at least one pressing shoe is always positioned to be fully compressing the hose. This maintains pressure in both the air dome and chamber filter and eliminates the need for non-return valves.

As the wine slowly flows through the filter, the pressure inside the air dome reduces, until the sensor registers a pressure of 7 bar. At this point the Verderflex pump resumes operation and continues to stop and start, maintaining an even pressure of between 7 and 10 bar until the filter is completely filled with yeast solids.

At the end of the batch, when the yeast slurry feed vessel is empty, the Verderflex system can run dry without damage.

On request, OKW Gehäusesysteme GmbH can also offer its standard cases in antimicrobial plastic. Unlike antibacterial media, OKW use an antimicrobial batch which acts not only against bacteria but also against other harmful agents. These include viruses (e.g. HIV, influenza), fungi (e.g. Aspergillus Niger) and various algae.

The compound used for this consists of a standard ABS material and a sufficient admixture of the ROWACARE SAN X 10 AM batch. This additive contains so-called sterions, in which the active substance is permanently anchored in an inert carrier material and allows the controlled release of high-activity ions. These ions attack the metabolic systems of the microbes that they can no longer breed, and then die out. The material-specific properties remain practically unchanged. This means that the product surface of the new material mixture has a permanent antimicrobial effect. The standard JIS Z 2801 serves as a test for antimicrobial activity and effectiveness. The identified germs and in particular their quantity must be reduced by >2 log10 levels within a defined time frame. Depending on requirements, the concentration of the additives can be increased. Good results can be achieved with an admixture of approx. 2% of the ROWACARE batch, i.e. there is a reduction of germs >99.9% realized after 5 – 6 hours.

Besides use in the medical sector, the antimicrobial materials and products are also ideal for equipment and cases that are touched and used by different persons. This serves as a natural prophylaxis, as protection against bacteria, viruses and fungi, and is good for our most important asset, our health.

With an output at 1m in excess of 140dB, louder than a jet engine on full power at takeoff, the new A141 high output disaster siren and alarm from E2S is the most powerful device ever produced by the company – so far. With a power increase from 100W to 400W, the output of the A141 is substantially higher than the A140 it replaces, giving it an effective warning range of between 500 and 750m depending on the atmospheric conditions. The unit has a choice of 32 user-selectable warning tones and with second and third stage alarm capability, it is ideal for use in quarries, on large industrial and petrochemical sites and for civil defence requirements. The A141 generates multiple internationally recognised alarm tones including fire, security, civil defence, alert, COMAH (SEVESO II) toxic gas alarms and disaster warnings for flood, tsunami, tornado and other severe bad weather conditions.

The A141 is powered from either 24VDC or 115/230VAC. The mains-powered versions can be fitted with battery backup to enable it unit to operate for up to 30 minutes without mains power; AC power and battery voltage can be remotely monitored for potential faults. Radio control capability, utilising secure telemetry for additional security, is available to enable wire-free installation on large sites.

Both AC and DC versions feature low start-up inrush current and low operating current draw, and, unlike traditional electro-mechanical warning devices, they are lightweight, require no maintenance and offer the reliability, low energy consumption and long life associated with solid state devices.

The new Pirani sensor VSP 3000 from VACUUBRAND offers the world first fine vacuum sensor with outstanding corrosion resistance and mechanical robustness. Primarily designed for applications in chemistry laboratories and process engineering, it benefits from a ceramic-encapsulated measuring element, an embedded reference element for temperature stability and wetted parts made of high-grade chemically resistant plastics.
This technological breakthrough means that the VSP 3000 is a high shock proof sensor that will even survive in the event of sudden gas bumping – a typical cause of failure for standard sensor filaments.
This new patent pending sensor design is unique in fine vacuum measurement and sets a new benchmark standard for chemical fine vacuum measurement.
The new Pirani sensor VSP 3000 from VACUUBRAND can be used in conjunction with both the DCP 3000 vacuum gauge and the CVC 3000 vacuum controller respectively and offers therefore not only a versatile fully chemically resistance in the measuring range from atmosphere down to 10-3 mbar, but also the innovative possibility of accurate 2-point vacuum control within this extended range.
In addition, up to four external gauge heads can be connected simultaneously to the DCP 3000 vacuum gauge for easy and cost effective multi-point measurement.
With small flange connection KF DN 16 at the gauge head and a screw-in hose nozzle for DN 6 to
DN 10, the sensor offers flexible connection options for existing vacuum apparatus. Finally, the VACUU•BUS™-system also allows cable extensions up to 30 m, enabling remote application usage.

For more information please contact:
VACUUBRAND GMBH + CO KG
Alfred-Zippe-Str. 4
97877 Wertheim
Tel. +49 9342 808-0
Fax +49 9342 808-450
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.vacuubrand.com

– Specially designed flowmeter for vehicle refueling
with compressed natural gas (CNG)
– Direct mass flow measurement without pressure or
temperature compensation
– Backlit local display, simple operation via ‘Touch
Control’
– Multiple signal outputs: pulse, frequency, power
and Ex(i) output
– Excellent measuring accuracy and repeatability
– For process pressures up to 350 bar
– Worldwide sales and service network with expert
support

The new compact vacuum pumps for filtration and solid phase extraction

At Analytica 2010 VACUUBRAND launched the new diaphragm pumps ME 1 and ME 1C. They complete the range of compact vacuum pumps for applications like filtration and sample preparation in chemistry, microbiology, waste water control and other analytical processes. The ultimate vacuum of 100 mbar obtains 90% of atmospheric pressure that is doing the work of forcing the media through the filter. For aqueous filtration, the ME 1 is the optimal choice; however, for more aggressive solvents, the ME 1C with its superior chemical resistance properties is the right solution. The new top mounted power switch and the space saving design offers an easy-to-use functionality even with gloves and requires minimal bench top space. An optional manual control valve with dial gauge enables variable fine adjustment of the pumping speed (max. 0.7 m³/h).
The ME 1 and ME 1C allow an almost maintenance-free use. New designed from the established technology of the three-stage model line MD 1 and MD 1C they stand out due to a proven long diaphragm life.
For more information please contact:
VACUUBRAND GMBH + CO KG
Alfred-Zippe-Str. 4
97877 Wertheim / Germany
Tel.: +49 9342 808-0
Fax: +49 9342 808-450
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.vacuubrand.com

License and registration free industrial radio bands lend themselves well for wireless transmission of signals over short distances. But for large distances, one usually cannot get around using modems in conjunction with GSM/GPRS technology. VEGA has two components, PLICSRADIO and PLICSMOBILE, that make customized and thus cost-effective wireless communication solutions possible.

PLICSRADIO for local areas
PLICSRADIO wirelessly transmits 4 … 20 mA/HART signals as well as switching states up to one kilometre in the 2.4 GHz radio band. The solution lends itself well in cases where laying a signal cable from the sensors to the signal conditioning instruments is not possible or too ex-pensive. It overcomes obstacles such as railroad tracks or rivers quickly and cost-effectively. Further areas of application are mobile system components. With the flexible PLICSRADIO, not only can existing systems be quickly and easily extended without interruption, but modifications can be carried out any time as well.

PLICSMOBILE for remote areas
VEGA has been using remote data transmission in conjunction with signal conditioning instru-ments for years. These supply the sensors, deliver intrinsically safe signals when required and ensure that standard modems (analogue, ISDN or GSM/GPRS) can be accessed.
The transmitting and receiving unit PLICSMOBILE fits seamlessly into VEGA’s modular plics® concept. It is available either as an integrated auxiliary module for the new plics®plus sensors or as a standalone instrument PLICSMOBILE T61.
SIM card and integrated modem allow worldwide data transmission via the widely-used GSM/GPRS service – including remote diagnosis and teleservice. Another plus: the integrated energy management system with independent battery supply.
PLICSMOBILE complements the solutions with signal conditioning instruments especially in the area of VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory). Areas of use are primarily applications in which measurement and evaluation are located far apart, e.g. deep wells, high containers or mobile silos.
With the complementary components PLICSRADIO and PLICSMOBILE, VEGA can cover prac-tically any application in wireless communication.

For a long time, the S20 from Feinmechanik MICHAEL DECKEL has been considered the top model in the market among five-axis CNC grinding centres. Its perfected technology combined with sturdy mechanics guarantees what counts today: precise grinding results. Now, the leading tool grinding machine builder is coming up with a consistent innovation.

The S20 – ideal for precision

With justification, the S20 is considered a perfected machine in the industry today, where a lot of trend-setting technical innovations from MICHAEL DECKEL have left their marks. By its patented vertical design, it belongs to the top models among five-axis CNC grinding centres. It offers a compact design, optimum stiffness and facilitates ideal movements of its axes. Thus, it can be automated without any problems. The vertical tool results in better trueness. Optimum user-friendliness such as a multi-function, height-adjustable operator panel with a flat screen makes working immensely easier. Being provided with a standard six-station wheel changer, a modern control system and with efficient software, it is the ideal choice for the economic and highly efficient resharpening and manufacture of demanding tools. An integrated chain loader system offers sufficient room for a variety of workpieces of various diameters and geometries up to a length of approx. 170 mm. A swivelling gripper can (variably) take up tools with diameters in the range from 5 to 25 mm. The good cost effectiveness is not only pointed out by the manufacturer itself but is also realized as it is in the market.

Tool machining at its best: S20 E NUM

By the new S20 E NUM tool grinding centre furnished with NUMROTOplus software, DECKEL is getting proven know-how and far-reaching experience into its S20 family. The Swiss software specialist NUM AG is a tool grinding trendsetter well known in the market and has been proving useful in connection with other DECKEL product series for many years. NUMROTOplus® as a standard solution for tool grinding allows free programming for almost unlimited applications. Perfected programming software with intuitive guidance is available to the user for common grinding applications, and if this is not sufficient, for example, in specific cases integrated free programming in NUMROTOplus® will provide further assistance. Measured values are directly taken over, with the CNC program required for the grinding process being automatically computed, transferred and started. Full-scale 2D simulation of the complete tool makes programming enormously easier and can be updated to 3D simulation. To constantly keep to the state of the art NUMROTOplus® is being permanently upgraded, optimized and provided with new application options. Users will be granted access to the latest update any time.

By the S20 E NUM, MICHAEL DECKEL has extended its position within a segment that gives new impetus for automatic tool grinding and manufacturing to both tool grinding beginners and more demanding resharpening shops. Moreover, the Weilheim company also meets the growing demand of the market and of those enterprises that are already using NUM software for their machinery and that wish to be given the opportunity for smooth extension. Custom-built financing proposals submitted by DECKEL will make extensions of your machinery manageable and calculable. It turns out again that MICHAEL DECKEL makes tool grinding centres for any demand and is scoring great hits by its services – even in economically difficult times.