NASA Mars Curiosity rover’s 1st soil study doesn’t find organics

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NASA announced on Monday that in its first soil analysis of the Martian surface, though the Curiosity rover found interesting materials present, it did not yet find conclusive evidence of organic compounds.

The soil sample is the first of what is expected to be many during its two-year mission. The soil examined in the analysis was composed primarily of dust and sand drift and was chosen primarily for its small size and rough texture to clean out the sample chambers of any possible residual organic compound contamination from Earth.

SAM Principal Investigator Paul Mahaffy remarked, “We have no definitive detection of Martian organics at this point, but we will keep looking in the diverse environments of Gale Crater.”

SAM stands for Sample Analysis at Mars, a laboratory which contains an instrument that tests specifically for the presence of organic compounds by heating samples and analyzing the gases which are produced.

SAM also found a higher than expected amount of water in the soil.

SAM did find perchlorate which formed chlorinated methane during the testing process, but it is unclear whether the carbon within the reaction was of from Mars or if it traveled on the spacecraft from Earth. More soil testing will be required to produce a definitive result.

Meanwhile another laboratory on Curiosity, the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument determined that about half the sample was composed of volcanic minerals, while the half was non-crystalline in nature.

The laboratory on Curiosity was used at full ability, according to California Institute of Technology Professor of Geology John Grotzinger, who is a project scientist for the mission.

Grotzinger said, “We used almost every part of our science payload examining this drift. The synergies of the instruments and richness of the data sets give us great promise for using them at the mission’s main science destination on Mount Sharp.”

Mount Sharp, which is miles from Curiosity’s recent location at the ‘Rocknest’ site in the Gale Crater, is the final planned destination of the rover during it primary mission.

The Curiosity rover launched in Nov. of 2011 and landed on Mars on Aug. 6, 2012. Curiosity’s mission is to analyze whether or not Mars has ever had an environment capable of supporting life.

An interview with Kayla Vanderbilt By “Theskykid”

(For this interview, the questions posed by theskykid.com will be represented by an “SK” and “KV” will indicate Kayla’s responses.)

SK: Hi Kayla and welcome to theskykid.com. We’re delighted you’re able to join us for this interview about your involvement with Max’s Fantastic Adventures. Thanks so much for doing it.

SK: You’re currently appearing as Susan Parks, a ballet girl in Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) on Broadway, so some of our readers will know you from that. But for those who don’t know you, could you tell us a little about yourself – how old you are and where you’re from originally?

KV: I am fourteen years old, and I am originally from New York City.

SK: How did you get started in the entertainment business – what was your training?

KV: I began in a vocal group, and was approached by a manager asking if they could represent me. Since then, I have been training in vocal, drama, and dance.

SK: One can’t help but be impressed by the lengthy resume you already have at your age. You’ve done a little of everything – from theatre to commercials to TV to Film. Do you have a favorite area of the entertainment business?

KV: My favorite field of entertainment is most definitely theatre because doing something live is one of the most fulfilling experiences you can have. Every time you perform it is slightly different, and you never know what can happen on stage. I love the response of the live audience.

SK: The longest part of your resume is, indeed, in the area of theatre. Could you tell us a little about some of your favorite roles from that genre?

KV: I absolutely love my role as Susan Parks in Billy Elliot. However, if we were to put my current role aside, I could never pick a favorite role because each theatre production has had a different and special story behind it that is deeply sentimental, as well as varying plots, and are so drastically different.

SK: As previously mentioned, you’re currently appearing in Billy Elliot the Musical on Broadway, which is set to close on January 8, 2012. How did your involvement in that come about? Was there a lengthy audition process?

KV: I had gone to an open call for Billy Elliot when I was eleven, and was called back two or three times for vocal, dancing, and character work. I was offered the role of Susan Parks on the First National Tour ( Chicago, IL) which, as it turned out, became a major growing, learning, and training experience. As you know I was invited to continue in Billy Elliot on Broadway (fulfilling my DREAM).

SK: What’s the role of Susan Parks like in BETM?

KV: Susan Parks, “the spastic starfish”, is one of the most amazing roles I’ve ever had the honor to play. She’s quirky and a really fun character to work with in the performance. You can really shape her, and pin point her intentions in the show, and make something funny into something realistic, which is just a miniscule piece of evidence of the thought and care that was put into such a beautiful production.

SK: The one previous movie on your resume was an independent film called Goyband. Could you talk a little about your work in that film and how it came about?

KV: I auditioned for the movie, and got a small part for the Birthday party. Adam Pascal was the surprise gift for the party. He was fun to work with.

SK: How did you come to be involved in Max’s Fantastic Adventures?

KV: I came to be involved in Max’s Fantastic Adventures when I was visiting my friends from BETM and Jonathan (Bucari) stopped by as well. I was invited to be involved in an improv session, and was fortunately invited back to a couple of readings. I am honored to say I was offered the role of Sam after that process. Thanks to a fortunate set of circumstances, I have been granted the opportunity to start a fantastic adventure of my own.

SK: In the movie, you will play one of Max’s friends and, in fact, the only female friend in his band of adventurers. Could you describe the character of Samantha (Sam)?

KV: Sam is to Max’s Fantastic Adventures as Hermione is to Harry Potter. She has a strong personality and is great to work with. However, I will leave the rest for you to discover when you see the film.

SK: Jonathan Bucari has said in the past that he’s been so impressed with the quality of the acting in BETM and especially Stephen Daldry’s work with the young cast and that he wrote Max’s Fantastic Adventures as a vehicle for some of the acting talent in that show. In fact, Max’s band of four friends will consist of two Billys (one past and one current), a former Michael, and yourself (a current Ballet Girl). Are all of you friends outside the theatre and what do you think it’ll be like working with them in “Max”?

KV: I am most definitely friends with the cast outside of the BETM theatre. The cast is like an extended family to me. I think it is certainly going to be a very fun experience to work with them again on this production.

SK: What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now? Is working in entertainment something you think you’ll continue to pursue or do you have other career interests?

KV: In ten years, my goals are to keep performing and doing what I love to do. I also have intentions to complete college.

SK: Is there anything about Kayla Vanderbilt that we haven’t asked that you’d like the readers of theskykid.com to know about you?

KV: I just want to say: ”I love what I do and I’m grateful every time I do it” and I thank you for taking the time to read this and the interest in my career.
_______________________

Our gratitude to Kayla for her time spent to participate in this interview.We wish her all the best as she finishes out her role of Susan Parks in Billy Elliot the Musical and prepares to play Samantha in Max’s Fantastic Adventures.

From:http://encountervie.weebly.com/15/post/2012/06/an-interview-with-kayla-vanderbilt-by-theskykid.html

change for good （reproduced）

At the end of June were you reeling from the effects of the Uranus-Pluto links?

I don’t know how they played out for you, but if you ended last month feeling as though you were being tossed around by a storm, you were probably feeling the same astrology as me!

But this week there is such comparatively good news I almost feel like dancing.

Today there is a connection between the planet of plenty, Jupiter, and the planet of excitement, Uranus. To sum it up in two words, it means “positive change”.

So if you thought you had reached the end of your tether, hopefully you have already realised the universe is cutting you some slack.

The Jupiter-Uranus link actually peaks today at about 2pm, but it’s still a good week. Try to think positively. As my dad once said, “If you wake up and think: ‘It’s going to be one of those days’, it probably will be.”

There is also a link between Jupiter and Chiron, which is about not letting someone take too much or push you too far. Sometimes we bend over backwards for people because we want to please them, but Chiron reminds us we shouldn’t go too far.

If you’re not happy with the status quo, it’s an ideal week to speak up. But do it nicely.

Signs You Need More Sleep

Snooze was the best feature that was ever designed by the watch companies. We completely rely on them, don’t we?

Those two minutes of extra sleep is just too comforting mentally. But what is the limit to snoozing? And does that really help? Do you wake up with a fresh mind? Or do you still doze off during a boring presentation? Is reaching office at 9.30AM one of the reasons why you hate your job? Have you ever wondered that this ‘sleeping at 2AM business’ has actually started to affect your performance at work? Read on as we tell you signs that you need to watch out for throughout the day to understand if your body needs more sleep:

No longing for lunch

Sleep deprivation can take a toll of your appetite. Once you mess up your body clock with irregular sleeping cycle, you tend to eat at random hours. Owing to all of this, your body is never hungry at the right time. You can either grain or lose a noticeable amount of weight because of this.

Constantly irritated

Is the noise from your co-worker’s keyboard enough for you to start hating him? A tiny thing that does not go your way just puts you off and ruins your day? Otherwise calm and quiet, you can become extremely restless and constantly worked up due to lack of sleep. And if not watched, you can put a lot of your good relationships in jeopardy. If these situations sound familiar to you, we suggest you meditate in the morning to stay calm and patient through the day.

Short attention span

Social media, smartphones, television and your superfast life has anyway affected your attention span. And sleeplessness simply adds up to this. There are chances that you keep forgetting your belongings like car keys, wallets or even try finding your glasses while they are actually right on your nose! Lack of sleep affects your concentration badly. So much so that you never forget to carry your notepad while in a meeting. This short term memory loss needs to be attended at an early stage before if starts to affect your functioning. Try feeding your brain with puzzles and number games. This will help clear your mental fatigue.

Sleep on the wheel

Drinking reduces your ability to concentrate and reduces your response rate, now you know why not to drink and drive! In exactly the same way, lack of sleep reduces the ability to respond spontaneously. After a hectic day at work with back to back meetings and over-exposure to the computer your eyes need adequate amount of sleep. So, if you find yourself holding on against falling asleep behind the wheel, it’s time you attend to you body’s dire need for sleep.

Subconscious sickness

Are you your doctor’s pet? Your immune system bails out on you if you don’t treat your body with a minimum seven hours of sleep? Because of this, you will always be prone to flu, headaches, nausea and body ache. So keep the intake of your power foods right and along with it get a good night of sleep.

Be honest with yourself and accept the fact that it is your extra work that is making you burn the midnight oil. Finish your work during your office hours and go home with a peaceful mind. Adequate amount of sleep is a key ingredient to keep your mind healthy. Bid adieu to all those midweek parties, keeping yourself fresh for working days and see how much more you will enjoy your weekends.

Watch Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, then-girlfriend make surprise cameo in Chinese TV documentary

BEIJING—Social media sites and blogs have lit up after eagle-eyed viewers spotted a surprise cameo in a Chinese TV documentary about the country’s police force:Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his now-wife, Priscilla Chan.

The documentary by CCTV was part of a series on Chinese police and high-tech crime-solving methods. A few seconds of footage showing Zuckerberg and Chan walking behind two police officers were shown included in a brief clip posted online by the Hebei province satellite station.

The footage shows the couple wearing the same clothes they were photographed in during a March 27 visit to Shanghai. Zuckerberg wears his custom hooded sweat shirt, this time in brown, and blue jeans, while Chan wears a printed short dress.
The clip shows Zuckerberg looking at the back of the police officers and smiling broadly as the couple walks off-screen. As they are shown, the narrator says: “There is a serious shortage in China’s police manpower.”

Zuckerberg has visited China to vacation and to meet with high-tech entrepreneurs, including a 2010 lunch with Robin Li, CEO of leading Chinese search engine Baidu. He married the 27-year-old Chan on May 20 in a private ceremony at their home, during the same week that he turned 28 and stock for the social network site began trading publicly.

A spokesman for Facebook, based in California, declined to comment Monday on the video clip.

Enjoy my music with best beatsphones

Now, we all know that I am very passionate about music. I listen to it pretty much all day everyday.

Since all my earphones end up dying after 2 months, I decided I needed something that was going to last me longer, and I realised that to get this I would have to spend a fair bit of money.

Now I didn’t go out and buy Dre’s Beats just because of the name, or because everyone else has them or even because I thought they might make me look cool. I went and bought them to enjoy my music, and these headphones allow me to do just that.

What do these headphones bring to the table?

Well, to be quite honest, I only bought these to listen to my music and my music only. But making music audible is not the only thing these stylish headphones can do, oh no; it seems technology even for headphones is evolving greatly.

These headphones have a built in microphone so that you can chat to your friends and family whilst in an online call and it is completely hands free! You can say good-bye to them desk mics now, since all other companies will be looking to do the same as what Dr Dre has, some others may have already done this, I am unsure since technological things aren’t really my area of expertise. This built in mic is also compatible with iPhones and iPod touches, which is a bonus in my book since I own both.

I don’t use the mic much since I don’t like conversing via web chat, I prefer to talk in person because I think I sound like a man through phone and web chat, the joys of hating your own voice, but from the times that I have used it, it worked really well for me!

These headphones, much like Skullcandy’s are easy to fold away, and these even come with a case to keep them in, so when you aren’t using them you can keep them safe! I personally think this is a great touch, I mean, how many pairs of headphones have you gone through because you dropped them and accidentally stood on them? Or left them on a chair and sat on them? I have done that plenty of times, but then again, I always went for the cheap stuff. However, if those headphones had this design they might have lasted longer.

It’s a great little thing and at least this way they don’t take up to much space in your bag or have to have them hanging around your neck when you aren’t using them.

With these headphones, you get a cleaning cloth. I know crazy right? Well no, this cleaning cloth is actually handy, I don’t know if it is just me but the ear cushions get dirty or kind of greasy, I keep this cloth in the case so that I can clean them when I want. Super handy!

These headphones are High Definition; the sound should be immaculate, right? Well, they certainly live up to that title! These headphones make listening to music more enjoyable and not only that; they don’t hurt your ears from being too tight around the head.

I have my iPod setting set to bass, I love bass. These headphones make it sound like heaven, I am not joking. They have really set the standard for me, I don’t think I could find any better headphones.

We all, however, have that small problem with headphones. When you have them on, someone wants to talk and you can’t hear them. It’s annoying, I know. But these headphones have what is known as control talk. With this you are able to control the music; change the track pause and even adjust the volume, though for me, I prefer to do it ‘the old fashioned way’ and use the buttons. But I think it’s a great idea, but I still don’t understand why people talk when they can clearly see you’re listening to music…my biggest pet peeve!

Why so many marriages fail

Some factors that contribute to the failure of a Marriage include a lack of communication or poor communication, financial issues and even the circumstances of the marriage. All of these issues can exist in a healthy and enduring marriage but if they are not dealt with properly they can lead to the failure of the marriage.

Communication is critical to the success of a marriage. Without proper communication, conflict resolution becomes a difficult issue. If the couple lacks the communication skills necessary to resolve their problems, then even the smallest problems will become insurmountable.

Communication allows a relationship to grow and thrive by giving the partners an opportunity to share their dreams, concerns, hopes and desires with each other. Without sharing in this way a couple will not grow as close together as possible.

Communication also gives the couple a healthy way to resolve their arguments. If one or both partners lack effective communications skills it becomes difficult to resolve arguments because the couple is not able to understand each other’s points of view. If the marriage is already in trouble, both partners in the marriage must be dedicated to working on their communication skills in order to improve or salvage their marriage. The absence of effective communication techniques can lead to the failure of a marriage.

Love may conquer all but sometimes even love isn’t enough to save a marriage when there are significant financial concerns. While financial concerns in and of themselves may not be the cause of a failed marriage the tension that financial concerns create is often the culprit in a failed marriage.
Financial concerns can be a heavy burden to bear and when a couple is struggling to meet their financial obligations, there can be a tremendous amount of pressure in the relationship. This pressure may be enough to destroy an otherwise healthy marriage.

If one of the partners in the marriage becomes obsessed with the marital finances they can begin to neglect other aspects of the marriage. This neglectful behavior has the affect of making the spouse feel ignored and lonely which can be damaging to a marriage. Often one of the partners will become consumed with the financial affairs and this can be very damaging to a marriage.

Even the circumstances surrounding the marriage can lead to its failure. A marriage of convenience is often not a healthy marriage. When the decision to marry is based on something other than true love, it is likely that the marriage will fair.

Some examples of marriage circumstances that often lead to failure are getting married because there is a baby on the way or because the couple is feeling pressure to get married by friends and family members. Neither of these reasons are truly valid reasons for marriage and often leads to Divorce. When a couple marries for reasons other than true love the marriage is often doomed before it starts.

Marrying too young is another reason why many marriages fail. While the right age to marry varies greatly depending on the person, many people argue that the teens and early twenties are too early to get married. Getting married before you have had a chance to enjoy many of life’s experiences can result in resentfulness in the marriage and can be the cause of failure of the marriage.

Another reason why many marriages fail is that society no longer places importance on the institution of marriage. Today it is common for couples to live together and have children without being married. This degeneration of society devalues marriage and results in a higher percentage of failed marriages. With so little value placed on marriage in today’s society, couples are not committed to making their marriage work and are often quick to give up on the marriage and each other.

Many marriages today are doomed before they even start. Marriage is no longer seen as a necessary step in a relationship so many couples are quick to divorce without making an honest effort to resolve their problems. Communication breakdown, financial difficulties as well as circumstances of the marriage are all problems that can cause many marriages to fail.

Teach you how to be a panda,haha!So funny~

how to be a panda

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