Wanted: amateurs to help track earthquakes
September 29, 2008
Seismology graduate student Julian Lozos monitors earthquakes on a laptop with a built-in motion sensor.
Earthquake scientists want to borrow your laptop or maybe a little space in your basement or garage.
Almost anyone can participate by equipping laptop computers with special software or installing quake sensors at home.
“If they can provide scientific data that can prepare us for events in the future, then that’s extremely important,” said Tom Jordan of the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California.
The epicenter of the movement is in California, the most quake-prone state in the continental United States. Each year, 10,000 temblors rattle Southern California alone, though most are too small to be felt.
The Quake-Catcher Network was launched this year to tap into the computing power of some 300 participants worldwide, including 50 volunteers in California.
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The network relies on a sensor called an accelerometer that is built into many newer laptops to detect sudden motion. If the computer is dropped, for instance, the sensor can alert the hard drive, shielding it from potential damage and preventing data from being lost.
Volunteers download software that links their computers to others in the network and sends information about shaking to scientists through the Internet.
Since any movement — passing trucks, neighbors moving furniture or a pet jumping on the desk — can trigger a laptop’s internal sensor, scientists scan incoming data only when the U.S. Geological Survey determines that an actual quake has occurred, based on readings from its field stations.
“If there’s a bunch of laptops that trigger in one location, there’s probably an earthquake,” said seismologist Elizabeth Cochran of the University of California, Riverside, who is a leader of the project.
In the past, people could report ground shaking in their neighborhood only by going to the USGS Web site and filling out a questionnaire.
The computer network, run by Stanford University and UC Riverside, supplements data from about 800 permanent monitoring stations in California that beam readings to the USGS, the chief federal agency in charge of monitoring for quakes.
Emergency personnel use the data to locate potentially hard-hit areas. The more sensors that can record shaking, the more accurate the picture about possible damage.
The volunteer system is similar to the one used by the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence project at the University of California, Berkeley. Started in 1999, the SETI system harnesses shared PC power to analyze radio-telescope data for sounds of alien intelligence. It now boasts more than 1 million volunteers.
The Quake-Catcher system was put to the test in July during a magnitude-5.4 quake that was centered in the hills east of Los Angeles. The temblor rattled a large swath of Southern California but caused little damage. Fewer than a half-dozen laptops with the software sensed the quake, and only three sent back clean signals seven seconds after the fault ruptured.
Though scientists were pleased that some laptops detected motion, they acknowledged that the system needed work.
Seismology graduate student Julian Lozos of UC Riverside was among those whose laptop sent back good data. Since installing the program last winter, he has kept it running except when he sleeps and has not noticed any slowing of his computer’s performance.
The project was initially limited to Apple computer users but was expanded this summer to include Lenovo Thinkpads. Scientists are also developing software compatible with other PCs.
Scientists who are not involved in Quake-Catcher said it could be helpful to detect low rumblings but might run into problems involving larger events.
“When the ground really gets going, a recording instrument needs to stay well-connected to the ground to record the motion, but a laptop will be jumping all over the place,” USGS seismologist Susan Hough said in an e-mail.
The USGS is embarking on its own volunteer program by tapping homeowners willing to donate space in their basement or garage for a portable seismometer. As part of its NetQuakes project, the agency plans to begin deploying the devices as early as this year in the San Francisco Bay area on a test basis. Public participation could start next year.
The USGS and its partners operate a network of permanent stations, but it is limited by cost and other factors. For example, a seismic station on the southern San Andreas Fault, which has not ruptured in more than three centuries, cost about $70,000 to install and another $3,000 a year to maintain, the agency said.
To participate, residents must have a wireless Internet connection to allow the device to communicate with the USGS network.
Like Quake-Catcher, the USGS will scan volunteer data from NetQuakes only after an actual quake.
“Someone stomping on the instrument isn’t going to cause us to analyze the data,” said project leader David Oppenheimer, a USGS scientist.
Source: cnn.com
McCain, Obama Reluctant but Accepting of Bailout
September 29, 2008
(Lauren Victoria Burke, ABC News)
WASHINGTON: Both campaigns take partial credit for deal aimed at saving Wall Street from investments in bad mortgage debt.
Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain on Sunday gingerly embraced a newly negotiated congressional deal for a $700 billion bailout of the hobbled financial industry.
“This is something that all of us will swallow hard and go forward with. The option of doing nothing is simply not an acceptable option,” McCain said. Obama said he was inclined to back it “because I think Main Street is now at stake.”
True to form after a week of posturing, both campaigns sought to take at least partial credit for the outcome. Obama said McCain did not deserve any pats on the back.
“Here are the facts: For two weeks I was on the phone every day with (Treasury) Secretary (Henry) Paulson and the congressional leaders making sure that the principles that have been ultimately adopted were incorporated in the bill,” Obama said in an interview on “Face the Nation” on CBS.
McCain said the latest version of the plan meets his insistence of an oversight body to monitor the treasury secretary and limits the compensation of executives of financial institutions applying for loans.
“Let’s get this deal done, signed by the president, and get moving, because the real effect of this is going to restore some confidence, and get some credit out there, and get the economic system moving again, which is basically in gridlock today,” McCain told “This Week” on ABC.
The measure would allow the government to buy defaulted mortgages and other distressed housing-related assets, many of them held by Wall Street banks, in an effort to keep the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression from spreading throughout the entire economy.
McCain made a show on Wednesday of “suspending” his campaign to return to Washington to help negotiate terms of a bailout agreement. He initially suggested that Friday’s presidential debate be postponed if no deal was struck. But his campaign ads continued to air and McCain attended the debate even though there was no deal.
While McCain is not on a Senate committee involved with the financial crisis, he said Sunday he rushed back to Washington because he was not going to “phone in” his advice.
“I’m a Teddy Roosevelt Republican. I’ve got to get in the arena when America needs it,” McCain said.
Republicans generally have said his participation helped prod the agreement. Democrats countered that his presence had little effect on the outcome and may have even delayed a deal.
“Whether I helped or hurt, I’ll be glad to accept the judgment of history,” McCain said.
McCain said he planned to return to full-time campaigning Monday.
He also said he probably would have voted for legislation to keep the government running even though it contained thousands of the type of pork barrel projects he strongly opposes.
The $634 billion measure passed the Senate on Saturday. It also includes $25 billion in taxpayer-subsidized loans for automakers.
Like McCain, Obama spent parts of several days in Washington because of the bailout talks. But he has returned to the trail and on Sunday he and running mate Joe Biden planned to attend a rally in Detroit, the home of the nation’s auto industry. Michigan is a key battleground in the November.
Obama said in his television interview that he was inclined to support the bailout because it includes increased oversight, relief for homeowners facing foreclosure and limits on executive compensation for chief executives of firms that receive government help.
“None of those were in the president’s provisions. They are identical to the things I called for the day that Secretary Paulson released his package,” Obama said. “That I think is an indication of the degree to which when it comes to protecting taxpayers, I was pushing very hard and involved in shaping those provisions.”
The safeguards were supported by many in Congress, including Democrats and Republicans.
Congressional leaders continued to work through the weekend on the bailout package and hoped to have a vote on the measure Monday in the House, with a vote in the Senate coming later.
The Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, credited McCain with helping to ensure that the bailout plan protected taxpayers. Reporters were kept at a distance when she made a campaign stop in Philadelphia, although Palin took one question about the $700 bailout agreement.
“I’m thankful that John McCain is able to have some of those provisions implemented in that Paulson proposal,” she said. “I’m glad that John McCain’s voice was heard.”
Source: foxnews.com
Pop Tarts: Reality Stars React to Clay Aiken?s Gay Confession
September 29, 2008
Clay Aiken holds his son Parker Foster Aiken in a photo featured on the cover of
It has been quite a momentous week for season two “American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken, who has come out of the closet and confessed to being gay.
The North Carolina native became a father Aug. 8 through artificial insemination with his record producer and close friend, Jaymes Foster.
But Aiken’s companions in the reality television world seem to be fully supportive of his revelation.
“That’s his business, but good on him,” Hugh Hefner told Pop Tarts at the FOX Reality Channel’s REALLY Awards on Wednesday night, with “Celebrity Apprentice” star Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth adding that “it was definitely no surprise.”
Other stars feel that Clay’s coming out shows how far America has come in terms of accepting everyone for who they truly are.
“Live your life, be free and for those who disapprove, so be it. Be happy —f God made you desire someone of the same sex, then you are entitled to that,” “Glam God” host Vivica A. Fox said.
“I was very proud of him as a man to say ‘I’m gay,’ especially in the Hollywood industry where you can be blacklisted. But I salute him — we live in the greatest country in the world and I’m so proud of Clay.”
But former “American Idol” Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe admitted he wasn’t expecting the news.
“I was surprised, but I was delighted for him,” Lythgoe said. “It was a brave thing to do; it must be difficult to hold something like that back inside you.”
Even hot-headed TV personality Danny Bonaduce had something to say to Clay.
“My girlfriend and I actually had an argument about this. His fan base is in the Bible belt and he hid the fact that he was gay, which I disapprove of — you should be who you are,” Bonaduce told Tarts. “This could destroy him — but he obviously looked at his baby and said, ‘I’m not going to raise this kid in a lie.’ I couldn’t be more proud of the guy, it takes real guts.”
Speaking of Bonaduce, we’re proud to announce that this year, he managed to keep his hands in his pockets. At the REALLY Awards last year, Danny made headlines after pummeling “Survivor” star Jonny Fairplay, but it almost looked like it would happen again when Pop Tarts told him on the carpet that Fairplay was just a few feet away.
“That’s unfortunate, what a bad call. That man jumped on me last year and then had the audacity to press felony charges against me and the district attorney himself threw it out. I might go beat his a— right now, but I want more cameras rolling,” Danny fumed loudly. “Last year I didn’t even hit him. Hey Fairplay, be careful, I’m not playing with you this year!”
(Fairplay reacted by raising his hands in defense and saying that he planned to remain as far away from him as possible.)
Brit’s Old Attorney Backs Off
Britney Spears‘ former attorney Stacy Phillips parted ways with the pop princess in June (after just four months) and it has been quite the ongoing ordeal as to how much she should be paid for her services.
According to court filings from August, Phillips wanted a whooping $407,000 and claimed to have written off an addition $125,000, but it seems the high-priced attorney has backed down. Brit’s legal posse met in L.A. Superior Court on Wednesday afternoon to discuss how much money everyone was entitled to, and after almost two hours in the chambers, a rep for Philips emerged to say Stacy was “happy to settle” as she did not want to inflict any more stress on Spears.
But Pop Tarts has unearthed some interesting rumors regarding the fallout between Britney, her “cousin” Alli Sims and former “manager” Sam Lutfi. According to an inside source close to Spears, Alli and Lutfi struck up a relationship last year that was reportedly somewhat romantic and at that point, Spears shunned Sims from her life, apparently out of jealousy.
While Sims hasn’t managed to achieve too much with her so-called singing career, she’s been traveling the world with her very, very close BFF Avril Lavigne, whom she of course met through Britney.
But back to legalities, Tarts has been told by a court insider that Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger settled their long-running custody battle over their daughter, Ireland. However, the case has been sealed and the details are unavailable, although we’re told both parties are “happy” with the outcome.
No Bad Blood: Janet Parties With L.A. Reid
Despite parting ways with her record label Island Def Jam earlier this week with claims that they didn’t support her, chairman L.A. Reid and Janet Jackson still came together to celebrate Janet’s longtime beau Jermaine Dupri’s 36th birthday at Tenjune in New York on Tuesday.
Busta Rhymes and Ice-T gave the packed party place impromptu performances while Jackson appeared to be in “good spirits” as she hung out with the likes of Reid, Fabolous and “The Hills” star Whitney Port.
Dennis Quaid Speaks Out About His Twins’ Health
Last November, Dennis Quaid’s wife Kimberly Buffington gave birth to a beautiful set of twins, but the excitement turned into torment when hospital staff accidentally gave the 12-day-old newborns a dosage of Heparin (a blood thinner) that was 1,000 times the common dosage for infants.
“They (the twins) are doing great, they are 10 and a half months now and are happy and healthy. That’s all we can ask for considering what happened,” Quaid told Tarts while promoting his new film “The Express.”
Quaid has now created a foundation which he hopes will prevent any more parents from enduring the pain that he had to go through.
“It’s all about minimizing the impact of human error in the hospitals. It would play itself out by trying to facilitate bedside bar-coding and electronic record-keeping, which would lower the incidence,” he said, adding that they are focused on raising the standard of care by getting the major hospitals to make a commitment in the hope that the smaller centers will follow suit.
And even though the 54-year-old actor plays the role of a real-life college football coach, his ball skills are limited.
“I grew up in Texas, but I was a late bloomer, so I was booed off the football field and that’s how I ended up in the drama room,” Quaid added. “But I am Cowboys fan.”
Source: foxnews.com
Pakistan ‘kills 1,000 militants’
September 27, 2008
Pakistani troops have been battling Taleban fighters near the border
Pakistani troops have killed 1,000 Islamist militants in a huge offensive in the Bajaur tribal district over the last month, the army says.
It says that it will regain control of the region from Taleban and al-Qaeda militants within the next three months.
The army says that five top militants were among those killed in the Bajaur operation. The area is one of the most unstable of Pakistan’s tribal areas.
There has been no word from militants in relation to the army’s claims.
“This is one area that, if you are controlling, can create a much greater effect on the entire region,” Maj-Gen Tariq Khan told reporters on a visit to the area arranged by the army.
He estimated that 65% of the militant problem would be eliminated if militants were defeated in Bajaur.
“If they lose here, they’ve lost almost everything,” he added.
“If we do not take any action it will become an independent agency spreading out terror in all directions.”
‘Al-Qaeda sanctuary’
Maj-Gen Khan said that 27 soldiers had been killed and 111 wounded in the operation, launched last month at the same time as Pakistan’s new government was coming under increasing pressure from the US to take action against militants in its border regions.
The army says that many suspected militants have been captured
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Correspondents say that there is no way independently to verify the army’s claims.
However the BBC’s M Ilyas Khan in Pakistan says that troops are barely making progress against militants and thousands of people have been displaced.
Our correspondent says that soldiers in Bajaur are not confronted with guerrilla-type attacks or suicide bombings but a situation of conventional warfare in which the militants continue to hold a large swathe of territory.
Maj-Gen Khan said the dead militant commanders were from Egypt, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Another was described as an Arab while the fifth was a Pakistani commander named only as Abdullah.
Bajaur is long believed to have been the most likely al-Qaeda sanctuary inside the Pakistani border region, and has been the target of several suspected US missile attacks since 2006.
It borders the troubled Afghan province of Kunar, scene of some of the fiercest fighting between Pakistani forces and Islamist militants since Islamabad joined the US-led “war on terror” in 2001.
It was also the scene of a missile strike that is believed narrowly to have missed Osama bin Laden’s number two, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in January 2006.
Source: bbc.co.uk/
European hostages ‘not in Libya’
September 27, 2008
The group were seized from the remote Gilf al-Kebir area last Friday
A Libyan official has cast doubt on claims a group of European tourists and their Egyptian guides seized in Egypt last week have been taken to Libya.
Searches of the border area had yielded no sign of the 11 tourists and their eight guides, the official said.
On Thursday, the Sudanese authorities said the hostages had been moved just over the border into Libyan territory.
They were seized last Friday while on a desert safari in south-western Egypt, near the borders with Libya and Sudan.
The group being held includes five Germans, five Italians and a Romanian
An unnamed Libyan foreign ministry official told reporters that the authorities had found no sign of the captives on Libya’s side of the border.
“With research operations now finished, we can confirm that the hostages and their abductors are not in Libya,” the AFP news agency quoted him as saying.
Chronic conflict
On Thursday, Egyptian officials had said the kidnappers were gangsters who were demanding several million dollars in ransoms.
A Sudanese foreign ministry official, Ali Yusuf Ahmed, meanwhile said its security forces had reported that the hostages were currently being held some 13km (8 miles) inside Libyan territory.
Mr Ahmed said the language of the kidnappers, and the direction they were originally taking, indicated that they could be part of a rebel faction from the western Sudanese region of Darfur.
Earlier this week, the captives were spirited into Sudan from the remote Egyptian region of Gilf al-Kebir, where they were seized.
The area, which is close to chronic conflict areas in western Sudan and eastern Chad, is sparsely populated and has virtually no police presence.
Gilf al-Kebir is a giant plateau famous for its prehistoric cave paintings, which featured in the 1996 Oscar-winning film, The English Patient.
Source: bbc.co.uk/
Terror suspects held on KLM plane
September 27, 2008
The KLM passenger carrier was destined for Amsterdam
Police in Germany have arrested two terrorism suspects on a plane preparing to take off from Cologne-Bonn airport.
The two men, both in their early 20s and of Somali origin, were under surveillance for months, police say.
They were said to be “possibly planning attacks” and had left suicide notes at their flats expressing their wish to die in a “holy war”.
The KLM airliner, which was bound for Amsterdam, was eventually allowed to take off after a luggage search.
Police boarded flight KL1804 at 0655 (0455 GMT), police spokesman Frank Scheulen said.
He said the suspects - a 23-year-old Somali and a 24-year-old Somali-born German citizen - were “under suspicion of participating in a jihad [holy war] action and of possibly planning attacks”.
The remaining passengers were ordered off the aircraft for a baggage inspection.
The plane was cleared for departure just over an hour later and has since landed in Amsterdam.
Germany’s federal crime office said on Thursday it was hunting for two Islamic militants believed to be on their way to Germany.
The arrests in Cologne are thought to be unconnected with that terror alert.
Source: bbc.co.uk/
Somali pirates warn off rescuers
September 27, 2008
Experts say piracy has become big business in the area
Pirates who seized a Ukrainian ship off the coast of Somalia have warned against any attempt to rescue the vessel’s crew or cargo.
One of the pirates said they would speak to Kenyan authorities about a ransom for the ship, which is carrying 33 battle tanks destined for Kenya.
Pirates have seized dozens of ships near Somalia’s coast in recent months.
A Russian Navy vessel is heading to the region and the US says it is monitoring developments in the area.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Yury Yekhanurov earlier confirmed 33 Russian T-72 tanks and “a substantial quantity of ammunition” were aboard the captured cargo ship, called the Faina.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said the ship had a crew of 21 and was sailing towards the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
The ship’s captain had reported being surrounded by three boats of armed men on Thursday afternoon, it said.
‘Global security problem’
Earlier reports suggested that the cargo had been destined for south Sudan, but Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Mutua confirmed the tanks were heading to Kenya.
“The cargo in the ship includes military hardware such as tanks and an assortment of spare parts for use by different branches of the Kenyan military,” he said.
Security analyst Knox Chitiyo told the BBC the latest incident showed the waters off Somalia’s coast had become a “global security problem”.
“Piracy has become big business and there seems to be no concerted response to the problem,” said Mr Chitiyo, from the London-based Royal United Services Institute.
Authorities in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland say they are powerless to confront the pirates, who regularly hold ships for ransom at the port of Eyl.
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  Battles and looting in Mogadishu
Life in Somalia’s pirate town
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Senior UN officials estimate the ransoms pirates earn from hijacking ships exceed $100m (£54m) a year.
Pirate “mother ships” travel far out to sea and launch smaller boats to attack passing vessels, sometimes using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).
Last week, France circulated a draft UN resolution urging states to deploy naval vessels and aircraft to combat such piracy.
France, which has troops in nearby Djibouti and also participates in a multi-national naval force patrol in the area, has intervened twice to release French sailors kidnapped by pirates.
Commandos freed two people whose boat was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden earlier this month and in April, six arrested pirates were handed over to the French authorities for trial.
Russia announced on Friday it would start carrying out regular anti-piracy patrols in the waters off Somalia to protect Russian citizens and ships. A warship had been sent to the area earlier this week, it said.
Somalia has been without a functioning central government for 17 years and has suffered from continual civil strife.
Source: bbc.co.uk/
Charging Garcia closes gap on Kim
September 27, 2008
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD: (US unless stated)
-7 A Kim -5 S Garcia (Spa) -4 P Mickelson -3 C Vilegas (Col) -2 KJ Choi (Kor), M Weir (Can)
Garcia reached the turn in just 30 shots after five birdies
Anthony Kim’s lead at the top of the Tour Championship leaderboard was cut to two after a brilliant second-day resurgence from Sergio Garcia.
The Spaniard shot a five-under 65 - including five birdies on the front nine - to improve on his first-day 70, while Kim carded a second-round 69.
Garcia, thrashed by Kim in the singles at the Ryder Cup, will be in the final group with the American on Saturday.
World number two Phil Mickelson is well placed in third after a round of 68.
Keen to overcome the disappointment of Valhalla, Garcia earned a share of the lead at the halfway stage after reaching the turn at 30, including three successive birdies, at East Lake.
He followed up by carding five successive pars from the 10th hole to set an intimidating marker for Kim, the man who had beaten him 5&4 in last Sunday’s opening singles match.
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606: DEBATE
Garcia playing with Kim on Saturday - that’ll be fun!
kwiniaskagolfer
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But the 28-year-old insisted he is not out to avenge his defeat in Kentucky.
“It’s a totally different event,” said Garcia. “You’re not goi to win the tournament tomorrow unless you shoot 52.
“I played solid today (Friday), hit some good shots, some good putts and got it going on the front nine with four birdies in five holes.”
Kim, who had a four-shot lead at the start of the day, regained the outright lead with back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth, taking a three shot lead into the final hole.
But a bogey from the bunker on the 18th ensured Garcia is well placed to take advantage on the third day.
The leading pair also face competition from Mickelson, who began his second round with three bogeys from his first 10 holes.
But the left-hander produced a stunning comeback carding five birdies from the final seven holes.
A 66 from Camilo Villegas saw the Colombian move into fourth place, with Canadian Mike Weir and Korean KJ Choi a shot further adrift.
Gerrard ‘key’ to Merseyside derby
September 27, 2008
Moyes will be hoping his Everton side can surprise Benitez
Venue: Goodison Park Date: Saturday, 27 September Kick-off: 1245 BST
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8 FM, 1485 MW and DAB, Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day
Rival managers David Moyes and Rafael Benitez agree Reds midfielder Steven Gerrard will be key to the outcome of Saturday’s Everton-Liverpool derby.
Goodison Park plays host to the 208th showdown between the clubs, with the Reds hoping to extend their run of just two losses in 10 visits to Everton.
And Benitez said: “Everyone knows Steve is key to us, and in these games even more so. He can be indestructible.”
“They are a quality side and Steven is the heartbeat,” added Moyes.
“I think I would single out Steven and Jamie Carragher; they know what it’s about and I am not just talking about derbies but in general.
“They are the heart and soul of the club and because they are local lads as well they know what it means.”
Should Liverpool win the match it will represent the club’s best ever start to a Premier League campaign after six matches.
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PHIL MCNULTY BLOG
Everton will hope the sight of the old enemy will somehow spark them into reviving last season’s excellent form
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And Benitez said: “Everyone knows Steve is key to us. He can change games, win games and if he is not playing well he can still score and win matches for us. He has the mentality and passion for these games and he is important to all the other players.”
Liverpool completed the double over Everton last season, and have lost only two of their last 17 meetings with their neighbours.
But Benitez is looking beyond this local skirmish, saying: “We have started the season well. We are improving.
“But we are only at 60% of our potential at the moment. If we keep improving we will get closer to what we want.”
Referee Mike Riley may be in for a busy afternoon. There have been seven red cards in the last seven meetings between the clubs and 16 in 32 Premier League clashes.
And Benitez added: “There have been a lot of red cards in these games, and that is because players are under pressure. But the longer it goes on, these players mature and are able to handle the situation better.
“I only enjoy it if we win. Beforehand and during the match it can be very difficult.”
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I would be lying if I said we were bumbling and brimming with confidence
Everton boss David Moyes
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Moyes claims Liverpool, and not Everton, are more likely to dole out the aggressive treatment, saying: “They (past derbies) have been hotly contested and I am sure this one will be as well.
“I think in the main, the team that has got stuck in is Liverpool. They have been very aggressive, I think Alex Ferguson said that the other week about their style at the moment. They are a very tough team.”
For their part, Everton fans will not be buoyed by Moyes’ frank admission that his squad is suffering a collective dip in confidence following their recent performances.
His side have failed to keep a clean sheet this season - or pick up a single point at home in the Premier League - and they crashed out of the Carling Cup in the week following a defeat against Blackburn.
But Moyes is convinced the lack of confidence is only temporary and he is determined to help his squad through it.
“I would be lying if I said we were bumbling and brimming with confidence,” he said. “But my job is to put that right and you have to be prepared at times to take risks.
“My job as manager is to find the solutions and get us the results and raise that confidence which will lead to better performances.”
Source: bbc.co.uk/
China astronaut begins space walk
September 27, 2008
The spacecraft is now in a stable, circular orbit
A Chinese astronaut on board a capsule orbiting the Earth has begun to walk in space - a first for his country.
The astronaut left the vessel to conduct experiments - while his two fellow astronauts remained in the spacecraft as back-up.
The operation is being broadcast live on television across China.
Conducting operations outside a spacecraft is essential if China is to fulfil its goal of building an orbiting station in the next few years.
The astronaut, 42-year-old fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang, began the manoeuvre just after 1630 Beijing Time (0830 GMT) on Saturday.
The Shenzhou VII capsule soared into orbit on a Long March II-F rocket from Jiuquan spaceport in north-west China.
The rocket put the Shenzhou capsule in a near-circular orbit more than 300km above the Earth.
Mr Zhai is on the mission with two other “yuhangyuan” (astronauts) - Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng.
The astronauts have been training in a water tank
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Zhang Jianqi, one of the chief engineers for China’s space programme, said keeping three men in the spacecraft, and then sending one outside, would be a “big test”.
“This is a big technological leap,” he told state-run news agency Xinhua.
“The risks are quite high. Sending up three astronauts is a jump both in quantity and quality.”
Mr Zhai is expected to be wearing a Chinese-made spacesuit thought to have cost between £5m and £20m ($10m-$40m) for the space walk.
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 1958: Base for spaceflights built at Jiuquan, in Gobi desert
April 1970: China launches its first satellite into space
1990-2002: Shenzhou I-IV are launched to develop systems
Oct 2003: The first manned space mission launches on Shenzhou V
Oct 2005: The Shenzhou VI mission takes two men into space
Oct 2007: Chang’e-1 orbiter sent on unmanned mission to the Moon
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The yuhanguan has been tethered to the capsule with an umbilical cable.
His back-up, Mr Liu, is monitoring the activity, presumably to reel the spacewalker back inside if there is an emergency.
On his 20-minute excursion, Mr Zhai is to retrieve an externally mounted experiment and oversee the release of a satellite.
The ship will then release a 40kg (88lb) satellite which will circle the orbiter and beam back images to mission control.
At the end of the mission, the Shenzhou re-entry capsule will target a landing in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
China became only the third nation after the United States and Russia to independently put a man in space when Yang Liwei, another fighter pilot, went into orbit on the Shenzhou V mission in October 2003.
Two years later, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng completed a five-day flight on Shenzhou VI.
According to the Associated Press news agency, Xinhua posted an article on its website prior to the lift-off that was written as if Shenzhou VII had already been launched into space.
Chinese media report that this latest mission is the “most critical step” in the country’s “three-step” space programme.
These stages are: sending a human into orbit, docking spacecraft together to form a small laboratory and, ultimately, building a large space station.
The Shenzhou VIII and IX missions are expected to help set up a space laboratory complex in 2010.
China launched an unmanned Moon probe last year about one month after rival Japan blasted its own lunar orbiter into space.
Source: bbc.co.uk/