Police in New Brunswick, New Jersey are investigating a possible hate crime at a Jewish Cemetery in the city. On the morning of Sunday January 6th, workers arrived and discovered hundreds of headstones that had been smashed, toppled, and defaced the night before. Some of the family members of the deceased and some local Rabbi's believe that it is the work of an anti-semitic group. In what can only be described as an over exageration they have been comparing the damage to that which the Jewish people suffered through during the holocaust. Other members of the community have been expressing disbelief about why any person or persons would be willing or interested in disturbing the final resting places of the dead.
Police are trying to figure out how the vandalism was accomplished exactly in light of the large number of headstones overturned and their weight. At this point it is not being treated as a bias crime. Authorities are likely suspecting that it may have been a group of teens randomly committing an act of vandalism who chose the cemetery as a target over the weekend.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Ascent Solar Stock had a Good Year in 07
As long as the Sun keeps shining there will be companies in the World who will be trying to develop technologies to tap into that endless supply of energy in the sky. In the field of semi-conductor equipment and materials Ascent Solar Technologies (ASTI) is one of those companies. They are increasingly involved in this field in a larger way. In addition to solar panels for use here on Earth they are also involved in the manufacture of Photovoltaic cells for use in the space program for satellites and spacecraft like the International Space Station and telescopes for seeing deep into the Universe. Chairman Mohan Misra owns about 21% of the company.
The stock had a good year in 07, all it did was go up. In January it was around $2 a share. By March $4. By April $10. In the summer it didnt gain much or lose much either but by the end of the summer it started up again. By October $18 a share. By November $22. By December $28 a share. Lately it has fallen like every other stock it seems due to the markets worst start to a year in a while and so on January 8 2008 it closed at $23.48 a share after a $1.08 gain for the day.
The stock had a good year in 07, all it did was go up. In January it was around $2 a share. By March $4. By April $10. In the summer it didnt gain much or lose much either but by the end of the summer it started up again. By October $18 a share. By November $22. By December $28 a share. Lately it has fallen like every other stock it seems due to the markets worst start to a year in a while and so on January 8 2008 it closed at $23.48 a share after a $1.08 gain for the day.
Electronic Arts Expected to Fly High in 08
With most economists predicting an economic slowdown in 2008 most people are bracing themselves for rough times ahead. There is one segment of the market that is expected to be imune from a downturn and that is video game development.
One of the longtime players in the field is Electronic Arts (EA) which is in the middle of a rebirth. When former president Don Richitello returned as the CEO he brought some new life to the company first by reorganizing it, and then by aquiring 2 smaller game studios that are known for their cutting edge innovations in the industry. EA is now the number 2 designer of games for the Nintendo Wii game system. Analysts are expecting revenues to jump in 2008.
One of the longtime players in the field is Electronic Arts (EA) which is in the middle of a rebirth. When former president Don Richitello returned as the CEO he brought some new life to the company first by reorganizing it, and then by aquiring 2 smaller game studios that are known for their cutting edge innovations in the industry. EA is now the number 2 designer of games for the Nintendo Wii game system. Analysts are expecting revenues to jump in 2008.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Gophers Break Levee and Flood Thousands in Nevada
Part of a levee that held back a canal in Nevada gave way on January 5th and flooded hundreds of homes and left thousands of people stranded. The Gov. of Nevada, Jim Gibbons, says its going to take a while to clean it all up. ..."people are not gonna be able to go home because you dont wanna put somebody in a home thats cold and wet with no electricity and no heat..."
Officials, after investigating the damage and the colapse of the levee, believe that it may have been caused by gophers burrowing into the base of it and weakening it over time.
Officials, after investigating the damage and the colapse of the levee, believe that it may have been caused by gophers burrowing into the base of it and weakening it over time.
Wilbur Wright: He and brother Orville Taught the World to Fly
As one of the famous Wright Brothers, Wilbur, along with his brother Orville, designed, built, and successfully flew the worlds first motorized airplane at Kitty Hawk on December 17 1903.
As the older of the two brothers, Wilbur was born on April 16, 1867 in Millville, Indiana. As very young boys the two brothers used to tinker and build their own simple mechanical toys. By 1888 they had built a large printing press on their own which they used to print and publish a newspaper called The West Side News. Having had success at this they then moved on to open up their own little bicycle repair shop in 1892 in order to pursue the interest that they both had in things mechanical. Their attentions soon turned to the idea of a flying machine and they began to manufacture their own tools to build one. They started by building a glider first and testing it to record data about what type of designs and shapes for wings worked best. They concluded through their research that the best way to fly a plane would be to have a "pilot" on board to control it instead of some kind of built in machine to fly it. By 1903 they had built their 750 lb. flyer and were ready for a test. First Orville and then Wilbur took turns flying the plane farther and farther with each successive flight. The response they got from the public was one of indifference. At the time no one saw the significance of the moment.
In the following years they played with the design of the flyer and kept improving it and so by 1908 Wilbur was setting new distance and altitude records while demonstrating his flyer in France. The first organization to show any real interest in the invention was the U.S. Army signal corps. They asked the Wright Brothers to produce a plane that could travel at speeds in excess of 40 mph.
While Orville lived for 45 more years after the initial flight in 1903, his brother Wilbur was less fortunate in terms of longevity. He contracted Typhoid Fever and died on May 30, 1912. This was about 6 weeks after the Titanic sank and less than 9 years after Kitty Hawk. He had just turned 45.
As the older of the two brothers, Wilbur was born on April 16, 1867 in Millville, Indiana. As very young boys the two brothers used to tinker and build their own simple mechanical toys. By 1888 they had built a large printing press on their own which they used to print and publish a newspaper called The West Side News. Having had success at this they then moved on to open up their own little bicycle repair shop in 1892 in order to pursue the interest that they both had in things mechanical. Their attentions soon turned to the idea of a flying machine and they began to manufacture their own tools to build one. They started by building a glider first and testing it to record data about what type of designs and shapes for wings worked best. They concluded through their research that the best way to fly a plane would be to have a "pilot" on board to control it instead of some kind of built in machine to fly it. By 1903 they had built their 750 lb. flyer and were ready for a test. First Orville and then Wilbur took turns flying the plane farther and farther with each successive flight. The response they got from the public was one of indifference. At the time no one saw the significance of the moment.
In the following years they played with the design of the flyer and kept improving it and so by 1908 Wilbur was setting new distance and altitude records while demonstrating his flyer in France. The first organization to show any real interest in the invention was the U.S. Army signal corps. They asked the Wright Brothers to produce a plane that could travel at speeds in excess of 40 mph.
While Orville lived for 45 more years after the initial flight in 1903, his brother Wilbur was less fortunate in terms of longevity. He contracted Typhoid Fever and died on May 30, 1912. This was about 6 weeks after the Titanic sank and less than 9 years after Kitty Hawk. He had just turned 45.
Health in America State by State
As far as the state of health in America goes these days there is both good news and bad. The good news is life expectancy is at an all time high of 78 years. The bad news is that the U.S. ranks 43rd worldwide in life expectancy.
Among the 50 states in the union as it turns out some are healthier than others. A group called The United Health Foundation undertook a study to determine which states are the healthiest to live in and which are not. Below is a list of the top ten most and least healthy according to their study:
10 healthiest states to live in:
1. Vermont
2. Minnesota
3. Hawaii
4. New Hampshire
5. Connecticut
6. Utah
7. Maine
8. North Dakota
9. Massechusetts
10. Nebraska
10 least healthy states:
1. Mississippi
2. Louisiana
3. Arkansas
4. Oklahoma
5. Tennessee
6. Alabama
7. West Virginia
8. Kentucky
9. South Carolina
10. Florida
Among the 50 states in the union as it turns out some are healthier than others. A group called The United Health Foundation undertook a study to determine which states are the healthiest to live in and which are not. Below is a list of the top ten most and least healthy according to their study:
10 healthiest states to live in:
1. Vermont
2. Minnesota
3. Hawaii
4. New Hampshire
5. Connecticut
6. Utah
7. Maine
8. North Dakota
9. Massechusetts
10. Nebraska
10 least healthy states:
1. Mississippi
2. Louisiana
3. Arkansas
4. Oklahoma
5. Tennessee
6. Alabama
7. West Virginia
8. Kentucky
9. South Carolina
10. Florida
Sunday, January 6, 2008
"Smart Car" set to hit U.S. market
American automotive consumers will have a new, smarter option in their selection of automobiles when they head to their local dealer beginning this month in the form of a new fuel efficient car.
The car has been also dubbed the "Micro Car" due to the fact that it is less than 9 feet long and weighs only 800 lbs. Because of its small size and light weight it can get up to 40 mpg, which should work wonders in terms of lowering the average consumers fuel expenses, not to mention the good it can do for Mother Earth.
In Europe, where the cost of fuel is twice that in America in most places, the smart car has been around for a decade. Some industry insiders however are a little bit skeptical whether the car will "take off" in America given the American consumer preference for big trucks, mini vans, and suv's which account for more than half of the market. The makers of the car are hoping that this tendency will be overcome in time by the desire on the part of the driving public to be more environmentally friendly and socially responsible. The car will have a base price of $11,590 with the loaded convertible model going for $16,950.
30,000 people have already put down deposits to reserve their smart car and these people run the gammut from students to millionaires. The most orders so far have come from 5 states, Arizona, California, Florida, N.Y., and Texas. Sub compact sales in the U.S. make up 2.4% of the market currently.
The car has been also dubbed the "Micro Car" due to the fact that it is less than 9 feet long and weighs only 800 lbs. Because of its small size and light weight it can get up to 40 mpg, which should work wonders in terms of lowering the average consumers fuel expenses, not to mention the good it can do for Mother Earth.
In Europe, where the cost of fuel is twice that in America in most places, the smart car has been around for a decade. Some industry insiders however are a little bit skeptical whether the car will "take off" in America given the American consumer preference for big trucks, mini vans, and suv's which account for more than half of the market. The makers of the car are hoping that this tendency will be overcome in time by the desire on the part of the driving public to be more environmentally friendly and socially responsible. The car will have a base price of $11,590 with the loaded convertible model going for $16,950.
30,000 people have already put down deposits to reserve their smart car and these people run the gammut from students to millionaires. The most orders so far have come from 5 states, Arizona, California, Florida, N.Y., and Texas. Sub compact sales in the U.S. make up 2.4% of the market currently.
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