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latest from Cebu Sports
AS A TREAT to the running community for the support over the years, the University Run will be giving two medals to the men's and women's 25-kilometer and 13K finishers for its 10th edition on Aug.Read more
THE Olympic qualifying time for the marathon event may be six minutes faster than her personal best, but the country's current top female marathoner Mary Joy Tabal is determined to make the cut with the guidance of coach John Philip Dueñas and supRead more
IT OFFICIALLY started yesterday. And, for the next two weeks out of the year's 52, the ears and eyes of the world's tennis followers will be glued to one surface: grass.Read more
WILL Serena Williams win tennis's true Grand Slam?
Or will Jordan Spieth score golf's version of the Slam?Read more
ALPHECCA Gonzales swept all her opponents on her way to score a perfect game to top the fourth qualifying tournament of the Cebu School of Chess last Sunday.Read more
BEFORE being introduced to mainstream boxing fans in the US, Albert Pagara gets to be tested one more time.Read more
THE LISTING is still ongoing for the Visayag Leg of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships 2015 which will happen this weekend at the SM City-Cebu Event Center.Read more
A REFEREE plays a crucial role in every boxing fight. They could become a game changer, depending on how competent their decisions are.Read more


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Home Alone: Where Are They Now? (PHOTOS)
One of the most beloved Christmas movies for the millennial generation, Home Alone took every parent's worst nightmare — forgetting one's kids — and turned it into every kid's dream — having a whole house to one's self for days on end! Comedic gold ensued as Kevin McCallister not only enjoyed the Christmas season solo but also thwarted the home invasion attempts of two thieves, putting the "trap" in contraptions!
The film — written by renowned Brat Pack filmmaker John Hughes — immediately won over critics and audiences alike, cementing its status in the pantheon of holiday comedies and spawning four sequels on film and TV.
Now, 22 years after its release, we look back on the cast of the film and their oft-surprising post-Home Alone careers. Click through for the scoop!
Fall in "Like" with us! For the latest from Wetpaint Entertainment, Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Wetpaint, or Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/WetpaintTV.
12.14.2012 / 02:04 AM EDT by Dan Clarendon
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Russia's first hardware-only technopark opens in Kazan
The private investors behind the project want the park to host 200 projects at a time and be replicated across Russia.
Kazan Summit to boost cooperation with Islamic world
The summit, on October 2-3, will focus on Investment in Russia, Islamic Finance and Smart Cities.
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COO Russia at Black Ocean Group. I focus on building companies in Russia and helping them fundraise. firstname.lastname@example.com
Futuresay provides a better way to learn English - one-on-one lessons that are created around your personal needs and interests. (We launched under the name Learn2.) email@example.com
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I study Russian, Czech and Business Management at the University of Sheffield and am spending this year in Russia split between Petrozavodsk and St. Petersburg.
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Uncertainty about the presidential election and the now-at-least-temporarily averted fiscal cliff kept the lid on the fourth-quarter gains turned in by stock mutual funds, although their full-year performance was quite rewarding.
However, their showing added ammunition to the argument that index funds generally make more sense than actively managed ones for most investors. The 7,862 U.S. diversified stock funds tracked by Thomson Reuters' Lipper unit rose 0.84% in 2012's final three months and 13.86% for the year, beating the Standard & Poor's 500's 0.38% loss for the quarter, but trailing it for the year, as the S&P 500's gained 16%.
A few active fund managers, however, produced impressive results.
The year's top performer was Forward International Real Estate A (ticker: KIRAX), up 54.06%. That trounced the gains of 28.07% for global real-estate funds and 40.75% for international real-estate funds. (The global funds have less than 75% of their holdings outside the U.S.; the international funds have at least 75% abroad.) Portfolio manager Michael McGowan says about 65% of Forward International's $187 million in assets was invested in the Asia/Pacific region. " Soundwill Holdings 0878.HK 0.2789400278940028% Soundwill Holdings Ltd. Hong Kong HKD14.38 0.04 0.2789400278940028% /Date(1435957264000-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 343500 P/E Ratio 2.5008695652173913 Market Cap 4076698925.879 Dividend Yield 1.3908205841446453% Rev. per Employee 6602540 More quote details and news » (0878.Hong Kong), one of our largest holdings, was up about 80%; Wing Tai Properties 0369.HK -1.386138613861386% Wing Tai Properties Ltd. Hong Kong HKD4.98 -0.07 -1.386138613861386% /Date(1435957264000-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 206000 P/E Ratio 3.43448275862069 Market Cap 6773591137.08365 Dividend Yield 3.7349397590361444% Rev. per Employee 3110170 More quote details and news » (0369.Hong Kong) was up 106%; and CSI Properties 0497.HK -4.918032786885246% CSI Properties Ltd. Hong Kong HKD0.29 -0.015 -4.918032786885246% /Date(1435957265000-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 12650533 P/E Ratio 10.74074074074074 Market Cap 3198547275.00916 Dividend Yield 1.303448275862069% Rev. per Employee N/A More quote details and news » (0497.Hong Kong) was up about 40%," he says.
The fund also offers a juicy 8% yield.
The sun came out for fund investors in 2012, but it was brightest for indexers. Robert Neubecker for Barron's
McGowan thinks that global property stocks could have a total return (price appreciation plus dividends) of 12% to 15% this year because of growing demand from large sovereign wealth funds, such as those of Norway, Korea, Canada, and Australia, and pension funds. His top pick: Asia Standard Hotels 0292.Hk -5.970149253731344% Asia Standard Hotel Group Ltd. Hong Kong HKD1.26 -0.08 -5.970149253731344% /Date(1435957265000-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 730050 P/E Ratio 16.13316261203585 Market Cap 2104318464.91732 Dividend Yield 0.7936507936507936% Rev. per Employee 1812520 More quote details and news » (0292.Hong Kong), a small company that owns mid-scale hotels in Hong Kong and Canada.
Two new BlackRock funds also won big in 2012.
BlackRock China Investor A (BACHX) shot up 26.23%. That far outdistanced the 18.46% annual gain for all China funds, whose 10.81% jump in the final quarter made them that period's best performers. Although some investors fret about slowing growth in China, the fund's portfolio chief, Jing Ning, believes that Chinese industrial, financial, materials, and consumer-discretionary stocks remain attractive.
And BlackRock India Investor A (BAINX) rose 33.75% in 2012, while its typical peer was up 28.78%. Among portfolio manager Anup Maheshwari's favorites are Jyothy Laboratories (532926.India), Kajaria Ceramics (500233.India), United Spirits (532432.India), and Bajaj Finserve (532978.India).
In the fixed-income sector, emerging-market debt funds advanced 18.48% in the year and 3.62% in the final quarter, while the corresponding numbers for world income funds were up 10.82% and 1.86%.
Fixed income's 2012 standout -- with a 26.72% return -- was no-load GMO Emerging Country Debt III (GMCDX), which has an 8% yield and $2.3 billion in assets. Portfolio manager Tom Cooper says the trick was to ignore investors' uncertainty. "Every year is the same. I don't think about it because our average holding period is over four years," he says, adding that his best bets were bonds issued by Argentina and Venezuela, which aren't for the faint of heart. Cooper now likes the Mexican government's century bond, which yields 5% and matures in 2110.
Long-term U.S. domestic bond funds returned 7.36% for the year and a mere 1.05% in the final three months. Despite record-low interest rates, U.S. bond funds attracted a net $307 billion in new investment in 2012, while U.S. stock funds lost $145 billion, according to TrimTabs.
The largest mutual fund, the $285 billion giant Pimco Total Return (PTTAX), which yields 3.73%, was up just 1.16% in the quarter and 10.35% for the year, but continues to attract assets. Its year-old twin, the Pimco Total Return bond 0.07519503712754959% PIMCO Total Return Active ETF U.S.: NYSE Arca 106.47 0.08 0.07519503712754959% /Date(1435870800132-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 129049 AFTER HOURS 106.538 0.068 0.06386775617544849% Volume (Delayed 15m) : 5 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap N/A Dividend Yield 4.063116370808679% Rev. per Employee N/A More quote details and news » exchange-traded fund (BOND), meanwhile, now has $3.9 billion in assets. (BlackRock predicts that fixed-income U.S. ETFs, which now have $222 billion in assets, could have $1.4 trillion in a decade.)
High-yield muni-bond funds were the stars of domestic income funds. Their 1.88% fourth-quarter increase helped them rise 14.13% for the year. Bryan Krug, who runs the $7 billion Ivy High Income fund (WHIAX), up 3.5% for the quarter and 16.87% for the year, thinks prices are getting pretty lofty, but that high-yield bonds will continue to attract investors because other fixed-income sectors are likely to have negative rates of return, when inflation and taxes are taken into account.
DOMESTIC EQUITY FUNDS -- growth, large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap -- were all basically flat to slightly lower in the fourth quarter. For the year, they delivered gains in the mid-teens.
Top-performing and tiny $26 million Aquila Three Peaks Growth Opportunity (ATGAX), up 24.07% for the year and 3.91% for the quarter, sprinted ahead of the mid-cap growth pack, in part by investing in Constellation Brands STZ 1.2024219969467744% Constellation Brands Inc. Cl B U.S.: NYSE USD118 1.402 1.2024219969467744% /Date(1435776455134-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 210 P/E Ratio 29.41176470588235 Market Cap 22866216490.6691 Dividend Yield 0.9491525423728814% Rev. per Employee 851250 More quote details and news » (STZ), a leading domestic wine producer with brands such as Robert Mondavi. Portfolio manager Brent Olson's top pick for 2013 is packager Berry Plastics Group BERY -0.12051822838204278% Berry Plastics Group Inc. U.S.: NYSE USD33.15 -0.04 -0.12051822838204278% /Date(1435871055028-0500)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 1124997 AFTER HOURS USD33.15 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : P/E Ratio 42.5 Market Cap 3958110232.77283 Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee 315750 More quote details and news » (BERY). "We believe the company has a strong and stable free-cash-flow profile that will allow for rapid delevering" and a higher stock price, he says.
The Bottom Line
Real-estate funds that focused on property overseas were among the top-performing U.S. stock funds last year. Impressive gains were also chalked up by funds focused on India. Emerging-market debt led the fixed-income pack
Mid-cap value funds were up 3.81% in the fourth quarter and 17.08% for the year. But $1.4 billion Hotchkis Wiley Mid-Cap Value A (HWMAX), led by veteran portfolio chief Stanley Majcher, climbed 5.33% in the quarter and 30.77% in 2012. He thinks the outlook is still bright for regional banks and insurance outfits.
Sector equity funds were flat for the quarter but up 11.46% for the year. The laggards included funds investing in precious metals, down 12.49% for the quarter and 9.26% for the year.
And showing once again that it doesn't pay to fight the tape: Funds using short strategies fell 3.36% in the quarter and 23.58% for the year. It just wasn't a good year to be bearish, regardless of what was happening in Washington.
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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35 year old man | Mechanicsburg, PA, USA | Seeking women 25-35 within 35 miles
Active within 24 hours
We'll tell them we met on Christian Mingle
I guess it's hard to know who a person really is in just a couple of sentences but here goes. My friends, especially the girls, wonder how the heck I'm not snatch up yet. I guess I just haven't found "the one" yet! I would say that overall I'm someone that likes to have fun and be goofy at times and doesn't take life too seriously, athough I can buckle down and be serious when need be. I am really interested in a girl who enjoys life, is good natured, and has an overall joyful disposition. I like hanging out with my friends and enjoying the little things in life. I feel like I have a lot to offer that certain someone. I'm a big believer in both people in the relationship having equal say in everything. Each person should have a voice.
Camping , Dining out , Movies/Videos , Music and concerts , Exploring new areas , Playing sports , Travel/Sightseeing , Watching sports
Baseball, Billiards / Pool, Bowling, Football, Golf, Hockey, Running, Tennis / Racquet sports, Walking / Hiking, Weights / Machines, Yoga
I exercise 5 or more times per week.
I like Dogs
Middle of the Road
I love going out to eat, sporting events, the beach.
Penn State University Park, University Park, PA
I love comedies, anything that makes me laugh.... Chinese, Japanese, Italian. I pretty much like all types of music. If it sounds good, I like it!
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The sports section in the newspaper, haha.
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|5'11" (180cms)
|3'0" (91cms) to 8'11" (271cms)
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Voltaren Ophthalmic
FDA OKs New Ophthalmic Phenylephrine Solution for Dilation »
"The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Akorn Inc's phenylephrine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution (2.5% and 10%), the company has announced.
The alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist is commonly used by optometrists, ophtha"...
Read the FDA OKs New Ophthalmic Phenylephrine Solution for Dilation article »
Voltaren Ophthalmic
Except for the use of a bandage hydrogel soft contact lens during the first 3 days following refractive surgery, Voltaren Ophthalmic should not be used by patients currently wearing soft contact lenses due to adverse events that have occurred in other circumstances.
Last reviewed on RxList: 10/29/2012
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
Voltaren Ophthalmic FDA Prescribing Information
Additional Voltaren Ophthalmic Information
- Voltaren Ophthalmic Drug Interactions Center: diclofenac sodium opht
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Space Law News
What's Happening in Space Policy July 6-10, 2015
Here is our list of space policy related events for the week of July 6-10, 2015 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in session this week (starting on Tuesday).
During the Week
NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto went into safe mode yesterday, just 10 days away from its closest encounter with Pluto after a nearly 10 year journey. Keeping up to date on efforts to remedy that situation and on SpaceX's progress in determining the cause of its Falcon 9 failure on June 28 certainly will be key topics to follow this week.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 was taking supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) crew and the good news is that a Russian Progress cargo spacecraft safely docked very early this morning Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Still, ensuring effective operations on ISS to achieve the scientific research that is its raison d'être is a hot topic that will be addressed at a major conference in Boston and on Capitol Hill this week.
From Tuesday-Thursday, the American Astronautical Society (AAS) will hold its fourth annual conference on ISS R&D in collaboration with NASA and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS). This year's conference is in Boston. (A pre-conference user workshop featuring NASA astronaut Cady Coleman and an opening reception will be held tomorrow).
The morning sessions each day will be webcast. Of the conference's many sessions, those likely of most interest to the policy community that will be webcast are the following:
On Friday, action shifts to Washington where the Space Subcommittee of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing at 9:00 am ET on "International Space Station: Addressing Operational Challenges." Witnesses include Gerstenmaier, Boeing's John Elbon, NASA Inspector General Paul Martin, and GAO's Shelby Oakley.
Those and other events we know about as of Sunday morning are listed below.
Tuesday-Thursday, July 7-9 (with pre-conference activities on Monday, July 6)
Friday, July 10
Shelton Versus McCain on Import of SpaceX Failure
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and Gen. William Shelton (Ret.) view the June 28 SpaceX launch failure very differently. In a McCain statement and a Wall Street Journal op-ed by Shelton, the two take opposite positions on what should be learned from the failure in terms of national security space launches and how long Russian RD-180 engines are needed by the U.S. military to have assured access to space.
The congressional push to end reliance on RD-180s began while Shelton was still on active duty and Commander of Air Force Space Command and he and McCain differed on these issues all along. At the last congressional hearing on the topic during Shelton's tenure, in July 2014, they were fully were on display. Apparently nothing has changed.
Ending reliance on RD-180s, which are used for the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket to launch national security satellites, and allowing SpaceX to compete with ULA for those launches, have become inextricably entwined. Sunday's SpaceX launch failure adds fuel to the debate.
At the July 2014 hearing, Shelton agreed that it is time to build an American alternative to the RD-180, though he did not hide his admiration for the technical performance of the RD-180-powered Atlas V. Atlas V has a 100 percent success rate so far. He worried that it not be phased out before an American alternative is fully ready to replace it to ensure that ULA can be competitive with SpaceX later this decade. McCain, however, insinuated that Shelton was favoring ULA and was against SpaceX. He asserted that he did not like the Air Force's "block buy" contract with ULA for 36 rocket engine cores signed in 2013 and reminded everyone of the improprieties he uncovered in an aerial tanker lease deal with Boeing when "people went to jail and people got fired." ULA is a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Shelton's successor as Air Force Space Command commander, Gen. John Hyten, has testified a number of times since then with essentially the same message -- yes, a new American-made engine should replace the RD-180, but make sure the new engine (and launch vehicle, if needed) is fully functional before ending use of the RD-180s. Hyten and higher level DOD officials, including Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, are currently trying to get Congress to relax a requirement in last year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that RD-180 use end by 2019.
Meanwhile, SpaceX was certified at the end of May to compete with ULA for national security launches. At the time, it had 18 consecutive Falcon 9 launch successes. The question is how important Sunday's Falcon 9 failure is to SpaceX's ability to compete and, on a larger scale, what it might mean later this decade when Atlas V's no longer are in service because of the RD-180 ban if an alternative is not ready. Critics argue SpaceX will become a monopoly supplier with a less reliable rocket. ULA has been the monopoly provider of national security launches since it was formed in 2006. It launches Atlas V and Delta IV, but Delta IV is very expensive -- ULA puts the price at $400 million per launch -- so is not cost competitive with SpaceX, the argument goes. Thus SpaceX would win all the competitions in that time frame and become a monopoly itself..
In his Wall Street Journal op-ed on June 29, the day after the SpaceX failure, Shelton, now retired, made his points again. Agreeing that it is "smart policy" to build a U.S. alternative to the RD-180, he argued that "an abrupt ban is not smart." The House-passed FY2016 NDAA (H.R. 1735) provides flexibility as to how long the RD-180 may be used, as requested by the Air Force. Shelton wants Congress to adopt that position during the conference between the House and Senate on the final version of the FY2016 NDAA. The Senate version, written by McCain and his SASC colleagues, insists on 2019 as required by current law.
In a statement (reproduced below), McCain called Sunday's launch failure "a minor setback" that "will in no way impede the future success of SpaceX and its ability to support U.S. national security space missions." As for those who try to "leverage" the failure to argue for more RD-180s than the nine allowed in the Senate bill, this "mishap in no way diminishes the urgency of ridding ourselves" of RD-180s. He often states that paying Russia for the engines funds Russian President Vladimir Putin and his "cronies." He vowed that "With Russian troops still occupying Ukraine and killing its citizens, I will continue to oppose" the House language.
The House and Senate began appointing conferees for the NDAA before Congress recessed for the July 4 holiday. How long it will take for them to reach agreement on this and other issues is unknown. President Obama has threatened to veto the bill for a variety of reasons. His Statement of Administration Policy on the Senate bill (S. 1376) criticized several of the launch-related provisions including insistence on 2019 for ending use of RD-180s.
Sen. McCain's statement is not published on his website yet. The text was provided to SpacePolicyOnline.com by his press officer, Julie Tarallo, via email and reads as follows:
will be closely monitoring the outcome of the pending investigation
into this launch failure, which comes after seven successful Falcon 9
launches to the International Space Station.
Editor's Note: The statement refers to seven successful Falcon 9 flights to the ISS, a count that must include the C2+ demonstration flight in 2012 plus the six operational cargo missions prior to Sunday's attempt.
What's Happening in Space Policy June 29-July 3, 2015
Here is our list of space policy events for the week of June 29-July 3, 2015. Congress is in recess this week for the July 4 holiday.
During the Week
Today's SpaceX launch failure of its CRS-7 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is likely to continue to resonate this week, especially as NASA awaits Friday's return-to-flight of Russia's Progress cargo spacecraft. Although the ISS has a lot of redundancy for cargo resupply, the failure of three of the four existing systems within eight months is certainly something that could not be anticipated. Orbital ATK is still recovering from the October 2014 Antares/Cygnus launch failure. Russia hopes its diagnosis is correct that the April Soyuz/Progress failure was the result of a one-time "design peculiarity" and the system will work this time, just two months after the failure. How long it will take for SpaceX to recover from today's failure is an unknown, though SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell confidently predicted it would be less than a year. In any case, the space commuity will be on pins and needles for the 12:55 am ET launch of Progress M-28M on July 3.
Apart from that high drama, NASA's Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG) is meeting Monday-Wednesday. On Tuesday, it will hold a special one-hour panel on progress in finding, tracking and characterizing Near Earth Objects (NEOs) -- asteroids and comets -- and planning for planetary defense. The SBAG sessions and the panel will be webcast. Tuesday actually is "Asteroid Day" with events around the globe. Two are "premier events" in London and San Francisco and some may have their own webcasts.
Those and other events we know about as of Sunday evening are listed below.
Monday-Wednesday, June 29-July 1
Tuesday, June 30
Tuesday-Wednesday, June 30-July 1
Friday, July 3
U.S., China Agree to Bilateral Civil Space Cooperation Dialogue
During recent meetings with Chinese officials, Secretary of State John Kerry agreed to establish a "U.S.-China Civil Space Cooperation Dialogue." A State Department spokesman says the first meeting will be held before the end of October, but could not provide any other details.
The lengthy list of "outcomes" from the seventh round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) held in Washington, DC June 22-24, 2015, includes a section on cooperation in science, technology and agriculture. Under that heading, the two countries agreed as follows:
"101. Space: The United States and China decided to establish regular bilateral government-to-government consultations on civil space cooperation. The first U.S.-China Civil Space Cooperation Dialogue is to take place in China before the end of October Separate from the Civil Space Cooperation Dialogue, the two sides also decided to have exchanges on space security matters under the framework of the U.S.-China Security Dialogue before the next meeting of the Security Dialogue."
NASA and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) have been prohibited by law from dealing with China on space cooperation on a bilateral basis for several years. The prohibition was originally inserted in the appropriations bills that fund NASA by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), who chaired the House Appropriations Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) subcommittee before retiring last year. The final law that he put in place (P.L. 113-235, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015), which is in effect today, states that no funds may be spent by NASA or OSTP to "develop, design, plan, promulgate, implement, or execute a bilateral policy, program, order, or contract of any kind to participate, collaborate, or coordinate bilaterally in any way with China or any Chinese-owned company unless such activities are specifically authorized by law after the date of enactment of this Act."
The new House CJS chairman, Rep. John Culberson (R-TX), agrees with Wolf's position and the prohibition is continued in the House-passed version of the FY2016 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill (H.R. 2578).
The agreement signed by Kerry reflects State Department activities with China, which are not prohibited by law. The State Department has a Bureau of Oceans and International and Scientific Affairs -- often referred to as Oceans, Environment and Science (OES) -- that oversees international civil space cooperation and presumably will be the official host of these meetings. If and how NASA will be involved apparently is yet to be determined.
The agreement also says (section 102) that the two countries will continue bilateral consultations on satellite collision avoidance and the long-term sustainability of space as part of the new U.S.-China Civil Space Cooperation Dialogue.
Elsewhere in the list (section 31), the State Department says that the two countries decided to "enhance communication and coordination in the multilateral frameworks of the region, such as the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum." As part of those activities, they will undertake joint projects in three areas, one of which is space security (the others are oil spill response and earthquake emergency response).
Also, section 106 reports that the two countries "enhanced cooperation and exchange in space weather monitoring programs, forecasts and services."
What's Happening in Space Policy June 21-28, 2015 - UPDATE
UPDATE: Friday's House SS&T hearing on astrobiology has been postponed. Friday's HASC subcommittee hearing on RD-180 is now at 9:00 am rather than 10:30 am ET.
Here is our list of space policy events for the week (and a bit) of June 21-28, 2015. The House and Senate are in session this week.
During the Week
It's a busy week, starting today (Sunday) with the GEOINT 2015 conference, ending next Sunday with the 7th operational SpaceX cargo launch (SpX-7) to the International Space Station, and lots of stuff in between including one congressional hearing on astrobiology and (yet) another on the RD-180 issue.
Astrobiology -- the search for life elsewhere in the solar system and beyond -- is much in the news lately with ongoing research at Mars with orbiters and rovers, an upcoming mission to Jupiter's moon Europa in the 2020s, and the exoplanet discoveries from the Kepler space telescope. NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan will talk to the Space Policy and History Forum about this topic tomorrow (Monday) at 4:00 pm ET at the National Air and Space Museum. Seating is limited and in a part of the museum not open to the public, so pre-registration is required. If you can't make it tomorrow, Stofan was part of a really excellent NASA panel discussion in April on "Water in the Universe" and the search for habitable worlds. That's a good primer for Friday's House Science, Space and Technology Committee hearing on astrobiology, where she will testify along with three other experts including Cornell's Jonathan Lunine.
The astrobiology hearing hopefully will be over in time to switch at 10:30 am ET to the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing on the RD-180 issue. One almost would think there is nothing left to say considering all the hearings already held, but the witness list is quite impressive, with three government and six industry witnesses. The hearing also has its focus on "investing in industry" to end reliance on the Russian engine that powers the United Launch Alliance's (ULA's) Atlas V rocket. In addition to the "usual suspects" like Air Force Space Command's Gen. John Hyten and ULA'sTory Bruno, former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin will be there in his role as deputy chair of the RD-180 Availability Risk Mitigation Study (the Mitchell report). Griffin now is President of Shafer Corporation that is part of a consortium including Dynetics and Aerojet Rocketdyne that wants to obtain the production rights to ULA's Atlas V rocket and apparently replace the Atlas V's RD-180 engine with Aerojet Rocketdyne's AR1. That is a new twist. Aerojet Rocketdyne's Julie Van Kleeck will be there too, along with Orbital ATK's Frank Culbertson and SpaceX's Jeff Thornburg (one imagines Elon Musk and Gwynne Shotwell are a little busy preparing for Sunday's SpX-7 launch). Blue Origin will also be at the table with its President Rob Meyerson. Its deal with ULA on the BE-4 engine has put it on the front page of the debate over how quickly America can move beyond the RD-180. The other two government witnesses are DOD's assistant secretary for acquisition, Katrina McFarland, and Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, Commander of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Should be good.
Many other interesting events are on tap. The list below shows everything we know about as of Sunday (June 21) afternoon.
Sunday-Wednesday, June 21-24
Monday, June 22
Monday-Tuesday, June 22-23
Monday-Wednesday, June 22-24
Tuesday, June 23
Tuesday-Thursday, June 23-25
Thursday, June 25
Friday, June 26
Saturday, June 27
Sunday, June 28
Senate Passes FY2016 Defense Authorization, But Blocked on Defense Appropriations
The Senate passed the FY2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today despite the threat of a Presidential veto. Shortly thereafter, however, the Senate Republican leadership was blocked in an attempt to bring up the FY2016 defense appropriations bill as Democrats fulfilled their pledge to block all appropriations bills until Republicans agree to negotiate a new budget deal to replace the sequester. The White House issued a veto threat against the appropriations bill, too.
Authorization. Some top Senate Democrats earlier said they would block passage of the NDAA (S. 1376/H.R. 1735) because of the debate over budget caps, but Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) chairman John McCain (R-AZ) argued that although the NDAA recommends funding levels, it does not actually provide any funding. The policy provisions at the heart of the legislation are so important that the bill needed to pass, he argued. His reasoning apparently persuaded a number of Democrats. The bill passed by a healthy margin (71-25) despite the veto threat from the White House. (Not sure of the difference between an authorization and an appropriation? See SpacePolicyOnline.com's "What's a Markup" fact sheet.)
The House has already passed its version of the NDAA. The next step is coming up with a compromise between the House and Senate versions. One important space-related issue on which the two sides of the Capitol disagree is the pace at which an American-made alternative to Russia's RD-180 rocket engine must be in service.
The RD-180 issue has been debated extensively in Congress and elsewhere over the past year and a half as reported in these pages. Essentially, the Russian-built RD-180s are used for the United Launch Alliance's (ULA's) Atlas V rocket, one of two Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles (EELVs) used to launch national security satellites for DOD and the intelligence community. The other is the Delta IV. Russia's annexation of Crimea and the resulting chill in U.S.-Russian relations galvanized Congress to require DOD and the Air Force to stop purchasing RD-180s and develop an American alternative instead. The FY2015 NDAA set 2019 as the last year when RD-180s can be used for national security launches (there is no prohibition against using them for civil or commercial launches, although the number of engines that may be purchased is restricted).
The Air Force is trying to convince Congress to give it a few more years to make the transition, arguing that it needs more time to develop, test and certify a new launch system (of which an engine is part). It wants an extension to 2022. The House-passed FY2016 NDAA provides that flexibility, but the Senate bill insists on 2019.
The RD-180 and launch competition issues have become entwined. ULA has been a monopoly provider of launch services to the Air Force and intelligence community since it was created in 2006, but now a competitor, SpaceX, has emerged. DOD, the Air Force and ULA assert that they embrace the drive for competition, but want to make certain SpaceX does not itself become a monopoly provider in the 2019-2022 time frame when Atlas V's no longer can be launched (because RD-180s are prohibited), but a ULA alternative is not ready. These issues not only split the House and Senate authorizing committees, but the Senate authorizing and appropriations committees. McCain's Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) is the one holding DOD's feet to the fire on 2019, while the other three are siding with DOD.
Appropriations. Shortly after Senate passage of the NDAA today (June 18), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tried to bring up the defense appropriations bill (S. 1558/H.R. 2685), which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee last week. He needed 60 votes to allow the bill to be debated, but it fell short 50-45.
Senate Democrats have vowed to prevent any of the appropriations bills from being debated until Republicans agree to negotiate a new budget deal to replace the spending caps set in the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA). They and the White House are particularly incensed that Republicans are using a "gimmick" to add tens of billions of dollars to defense spending by adding it to an off-budget account (Overseas Contingency Operations -- OCO) to which the caps do not apply, while leaving non-defense spending subject to the BCA caps and a sequester if they are not met. That top level disagreement is shaping congressional action on funding bills this year and some Democrats are warning that a government shutdown is possible if Republicans refuse to negotiate a new agreement.
Even if Congress did pass appropriations bills, the White House has said it will veto them. The main reason is the overarching debate about the budget caps and the OCO gimmick, but specific issues also are mentioned.
In its Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) on the Senate defense appropriations bill, issued today, the White House called out three space-related issues as being of particular concern: the addition of $143.6 million for building a U.S. alternative to the RD-180; the rescission of $125 million from FY2015 funds for an EELV launch, which is related to the RD-180 issue; and the elimination of funding to launch the last Defense Meteorological Satellite Program weather satellite (DSMP-20),
As explained in the committee's report, Sec. 8045 rescinds the $125 million because of the requirement in Sec. 1608 of the FY2015 NDAA that use of RD-180s cease in 2019. The money was provided, the report says, to double the number of competitive launch opportunities in FY2015. However, the committee agrees with the Air Force and ULA that a new U.S. launch system to replace the Atlas V will not be ready by 2019, and, since ULA's Delta IV is not cost competitive, only SpaceX could win launch contracts. That means no competition, "nullifying the intent" of the addition.
The committee goes on to say that it is not recommending fewer competitive opportunities in FY2016 because "true competition" may still be possible if Congress modifies the Sec. 1608 requirement as requested by DOD and "enable a responsible transition" away from the RD-180 "as soon as possible." As noted above, the appropriations committee's position is at odds with the just-passed Senate FY2016 NDAA, which maintains the 2019 requirement. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) tried to remove Sec. 8045 during markup of the appropriations bill last week, but he withdrew his amendment when it became clear it would not pass. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), chairman of the full committee and its defense subcommittee; Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), the top Democrat on the defense subcommittee; and Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), argued stridently against the Graham amendment. (ULA manufactures its rockets in Decatur, AL.)
Meanwhile, to "ensure expeditious development" of a U.S. alternative to the RD-180, the committee added $143.6 million for rocket engine development above the $84.4 million requested.
The Obama Administration agrees with the committee's position on modifying the 2019 requirement, but not with the rescission of $125 million from FY2015 EELV procurement or the addition of $143.6 million in FY2016 for rocket engine development. Regarding the latter, It argues that the committee's "engine-centric approach ... would not preserve the Nation's assured access to space" because an engine is only one of many critical components of a launch system and developing a propulsion system independent of the rest of the system risks "hundreds of millions of dollars without ensuring the availability of operational launch systems." (The White House's threat to veto the Senate version of the NDAA also included concerns about space launch issues, objecting to four sections of that bill.)
As for DMSP-20, the Air Force changed its mind this year about the need for this last of the 1990s-era DMSP series. The tortuous history of DOD weather satellites and the failure of the DOD-NOAA-NASA National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) program need not be repeated here. DOD is still trying to determine its future path for weather satellites needed to support military operations. Congress seems exasperated, especially with the high costs of storing and launching the DMSPs. The appropriations committee report says that the Air Force is proposing to launch DMSP-20 in FY2018 or FY2019 at a cost of between $410-$455 million in addition to the $500 million already spent. It notes that the Air Force previously said DMSP-20 was not needed. It not only denied the $89.3 million requested for FY2016, but rescinded $50 million of the FY2015 funding and directed the Air Force to bring the program to an "orderly close" with the remaining FY2015 funds.
The Administration's SAP says it strongly objects to the committee's position because by 2017 only one of the DMSP satellites now in orbit will still be within its design life. DOD is concerned about a potential gap in polar orbiting weather satellite data that could lead to "reduced accuracy in weather prediction models and degraded efficiency of surveillance and reconnaissance platforms." (The White House's threat to veto the Senate version of the NDAA also included objections to that committee's DMSP provisions, which limited the availability of funds until certain prerequisites are met, which the White House termed "onerous.")
The space issues are only a small part of the list of Administration objections to the appropriations bill. While they are all important to reaching agreement on a final FY2016 appropriations measure, the fundamental issue of budget caps and balancing defense versus non-defense spending portends a lengthy and fractious appropriations season this year.
Europa Mission Moves into Formulation -- Might ESA Provide a Lander?
A mission to send a spacecraft to explore Jupiter's moon Europa that owes its existence to an alliance between a few planetary scientists and Washington politicians moved from concept review to formulation today, the first step in the development phase. NASA continues to say it will be launched "in the 2020s" while its political patrons are intent on 2022.
NASA Science Mission Directorate head John Grunsfeld announced that "Today we are taking an exciting step from concept to mission, in our quest to find signs of life beyond Earth."
On May 26, NASA announced the instruments that will be included on the spacecraft. The goal is to determine if the moon is habitable -- not whether life exists there, but whether the conditions that would allow life to develop exist. Europa project scientist Curt Neibur said at the time that "we don't have a life detector" and there is not even a scientific consensus on what to measure in order to detect life confidently.
A mission to Europa was the second priority for a flagship planetary science mission in the most recent National Research Council (NRC) Decadal Survey on planetary science. Returning samples from the surface of Mars got top billing, in part because of the high cost of a Europa mission, then estimated at $4.7 billion. The report recommended that Europa advocates downsize the mission to make it more affordable, yielding the "Europa Clipper" concept now being used as the baseline design. That design involves a spacecraft that will orbit Jupiter and make 45 flybys of Europa over two-and-a-half years.
Some Europa enthusiasts want to send a lander as well as an orbiter.
The European Space Agency (ESA) built the Huygens spacecraft that traveled with the U.S. Cassini mission to Saturn and landed on its moon Titan. ESA also built the Philae spacecraft that traveled with ESA's Rosetta mission to Comet 67P/Churuymov-Gerasimenko and landed on the comet last November. Philae just awakened from 7 months of hibernation and resumed communicating with Earth via Rosetta, which remains in orbit around the comet.
Following on those successes, the idea of ESA providing a Europa lander as part of this mission has been getting some attention. During a press conference Monday at the Paris Air Show, outgoing ESA Director General (DG) Jean-Jacques Dordain and incoming DG Johann-Dietrich Woerner were asked about that possibility. Dordain laughingly replied that he already told NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden that he would never let the United States land on Europa without Europe. More seriously, he and Woerner said it was something that would have to be discussed. ESA is already building its own orbiting mission to Jupiter's moons -- the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) -- that will focus on two different moons, Ganymede and Callisto, and make only two flybys of Europa.
For now, however, the Europa Clipper orbiter is the NASA reference design and that is what moved into formulation today.
NASA had not planned on building a Europa mission now. The Decadal Survey's top priority was a series of missions to Mars that would eventually lead to returning a sample of Mars to Earth. That "campaign," which was conceived as a joint NASA-ESA effort, fell victim to budget constraints. NASA instead is building a single spacecraft, Mars 2020, using hardware left over from the Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity mission. Obtaining funding for another expensive planetary science mission did not appear possible.
Two influential members of Congress have other ideas, however. Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) used their positions on the House Appropriations Commerce-Justice-Science subcommittee to add funding for a Europa mission in FY2013 ($75 million; none was requested), FY2014 ($80 million; none was requested), and FY2015 ($100 million, compared to the $15 million requested). Culberson now chairs that subcommittee and the House-passed version of the FY2016 CJS appropriations bill provides $140 million for Europa, an increase of $110 million above the request of $30 million. Schiff no longer is on the House Appropriations Committee, but the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is in his district and he remains a strong supporter. Culberson's interest appears to be personal rather than constituent-based and he is an ardent advocate of the mission. He repeatedly asserts that he is confident life will be discovered on Europa and he wants to be part of making that possible.
The Senate Appropriations Committee did not add any funding for Europa in approving its version of the FY2016 CJS bill, but both sides of Capitol Hill agree that the spacecraft should be launched using NASA's new big rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), which is now in development. The House-passed bill specifies that the launch should take place in 2022.
NASA officials warn that they cannot efficiently proceed with a mission that is funded by annual congressional earmarks hoping each year that the money will be provided instead of through the regular budget planning process that requires Administration support. The Obama Administration did request $30 million for Europa mission formulation in FY2016, however, and that is the step that began today even though the FY2016 appropriations process is far from complete.
Europa stirs fascination because observations from an earlier NASA mission to Jupiter, Galileo, indicated that a liquid ocean lies beneath Europa's icy crust. Other observations using the Hubble Space Telescope have more recently revealed plumes of material being ejected from Europa. One goal of the Europa mission is to study the material in the plumes as it flies close to the moon. Instruments on the spacecraft will be able to analyze the material and determine what lies beneath the crust. Niebur stressed at the May 26 briefing that the flyby mission would be able to reveal Europa's secrets without touching the surface "just as a doctor can see what's going on inside your body using an MRI."
Senate Appropriators Favor Earth Science, Exploration; Cut Space Technology, Commercial Crew
The Senate Appropriations Committee publicly released its report today on the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) bill that it marked up last week. Some of the winners and losers were clear already, but the report illustrates less obvious changes resulting, in part, from the committee shifting programs from one account to another.
One example is NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). NASA's request was $725 million. The Senate committee cut that to $600 million, but it also shifted the Restore-L satellite servicing project from the Space Operations account into Space Technology and specified $150 million for that program alone. So in addition to cutting the total for space technology activities, a substantial amount is earmarked for a specific project that was not part of that request.
During the April 16, 2015 CJS subcommittee hearing on NASA's budget request, Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) pointedly asked NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden why the request for the satellite servicing technology program at Goddard Space Flight Center (in Maryland) was so low -- $65 million compared to the $130 million it received in FY2015. Bolden asked to speak to her about it privately, while adding that he could not determine who would be the customers for NASA satellite servicing technology since the private sector is already working on those technologies. Apparently he was not convincing. The committee allocated $150 million, $20 million more than FY2015, and shifted it from International Space Station (ISS) Research in the Space Operations account into Space Technology. It further directed NASA not to include any carry-over funds from prior years in the $150 million allocation. The report states refueling Landsat 7 or another U.S. government satellite is a pathfinder mission and although pathfinder technologies were demonstrated on ISS, it is now time to have a "full-scale stand-alone demonstration which will benefit multiple NASA mission directorates and, therefore, is more appropriately funded within Space Technology" although the program is to be co-managed by STMD and the Science Mission Directorate.
NASA's Earth science program, which was cut deeply in the House-passed version of the CJS bill, fared very well in the Senate version. The $1.947 billion request was cut only by $16 million and NASA is directed to accelerate development of the next Landsat satellite, Landsat 9, so that it is ready by 2020 instead of 2023. The committee denied funding for a Landsat-related free-flying thermal infrared instrument, TIR-FF, NASA wants to build to ensure there is no gap in providing that type of data, presumably because if Landsat 9 is ready by 2020, the risk of such a gap is minimized. (For a comparison of the House-passed and Senate committee-approved funding levels, see SpacePolicyOnline.com's fact sheet on NASA's FY2016 budget request.)
The Senate committee did not specify additional funds for a planetary mission to Europa, and, in fact, cut the planetary science budget by $40 million. The House increased planetary science substantially, including adding $110 million to the $30 million requested for Europa. One place the two do agree is that the Europa mission should be designed to utilize the Space Launch System.
The Senate committee shifted the commercial crew program from Exploration to Space Operations, which makes apples-to-oranges comparisons of the request and committee-approved levels for those accounts more difficult than may appear at first glance. While Exploration appears to get a deep cut, in fact the SLS program gets a $543.5 million increase compared to the request, of which $100 million is for the Exploration Upper Stage, and Orion gets a $104 million boost compared to the request. The total for Exploration is less because commercial crew is shifted to Space Operations, where it is cut to $900 million from the $1.244 billion request. Commercial crew is tasked with developing systems to take crews to and from ISS and the committee said it wanted to consolidate all ISS funding in a single account.
Overall, the Senate committee recommends a $239.6 million cut to NASA's budget request of $18,529.1 million, approving $18,289.5 million. To obtain that net reduction, the committee favored science programs, exploration, and education, while reducing aeronautics, space technology, and NASA's internal accounts. Space Operations is an amalgam that is difficult to analyze at the level of detail provided in the committee's report. Commercial crew was shifted into Space Operations, but satellite servicing was moved out, so looking only at the total on paper -- $4,756.4 million compared to the $3,957.3 million request -- does not tell the whole story.
During markup, Mikulski offered an amendment to add $300 million for commercial crew, $46 million for the WFIRST space telescope, $50 million for the Mars 2020 program, $54 million for space technology, and $50 million for Orion, but it was rejected on party lines. Senate Democrats continue to insist that the budget caps imposed by the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA) need to be revised for non-defense spending before they will allow any appropriations bills to be debated on the Senate floor. So far the Republicans do not seem interested in negotiating a new budget deal. They are interested in adding money for defense and are accomplishing that by adding it in an off-budget account (Overseas Contingency Operations). Congressional Democrats and the President call it a gimmick and the President has vowed to veto any appropriations bills that conform with the BCA caps.
Note: The figures for NASA's total budget request, total recommended by this committee, and the amount of the cut have been clarified.
What's Happening in Space Policy June 15-19, 2015
Here is our list of space policy related events for the week of June 15-19, 2015 and any insight we can offer about them. The House and Senate are in session this week.
During the Week
The Senate resumes consideration of the FY2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Floor debate began on June 3 and progress has been slow due to internal Senate politics. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) chairman Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said late last week that the bill has become "unstuck" now so he is hoping for quick resolution.
The Senate Republican leadership also wants to take up the FY2016 Defense Appropriations Act this week. We'll see how that goes. Democrats have vowed to prevent any funding bills from reaching the floor until Republicans agree to negotiate over the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA) funding caps. So far the Republicans don't seem interested.
One space issue has split Senate appropriators and authorizers. In the NDAA, McCain is holding DOD's feet to the fire to discontinue using Russian RD-180 engines by 2019. He spoke on the Senate floor on Thursday about the need to stop sending money to Russian President Putin and his cronies. At the same time that day, however, the Senate appropriations committee was approving a bill that would relax that requirement. McCain's friend and ally (and Presidential candidate) Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) offered an amendment to strike the language in the bill offering that flexibility, but strong bipartisan opposition led him to withdraw it.
The House already has passed its versions of the NDAA and defense appropriations act. This week it will take up the FY2016 Intelligence Authorization Act, H.R. 2596. Most of that is classified, but the House Intelligence Committee said that it "invests in the resiliency of our national security space architecture." It is set for consideration by the House Rules Committee tomorrow, with floor debate on Tuesday.
The biennial Paris Air Show is being held this week at Le Bourget (outside Paris) which usually creates a lot of news, so stay tuned. And the annual Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) will be held in Chicago all week. NASA and university scientists will hold a panel discussion on Tuesday afternoon that will be broadcast on NASA TV.
Those and other events we know about as of Sunday afternoon are listed below.
Sunday-Friday, June 14-19 (continued from last week)
Monday-Friday, June 15-19
Monday-Sunday, June 15-21
Tuesday, June 16
Wednesday, June 17
RD-180 Pits Senate Appropriators Against Authorizers
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) may want to hold DOD's feet to the fire to stop using Russian RD-180 engines by 2019, but the Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) isn't so sure. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) objected to a provision in SAC's defense appropriations bill, which was marked up today, that would provide more flexibility as to when use of the RD-180s must end, but his amendment to delete the language won little support and he withdrew it.
SASC chairman Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has been a leader in motivating DOD and the United Launch Alliance (ULA) to replace the Russian rocket engines for ULA's Atlas V rocket with an American alternative. McCain and others who share his point of view do not want American dollars going to Russian President Vladimir Putin or his "cronies." They want an American-built engine to replace the RD-180 by 2019, a requirement included in the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), although waivers are possible for national security reasons.
The Air Force and ULA are seeking to change that language to allow use of the RD-180s into the early 2020s. They insist that although they might be able to develop a new engine by 2019, it will be 2021 or 2022 before the engine is integrated into a new rocket, tested, and certified for launching expensive, critical national security satellites. The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) agreed and softened the requirement in its version of the FY2016 NDAA.
McCain and other SASC members, however, expressed their displeasure with the Air Force's slow pace during a May 2015 hearing and did not provide any relief in the Senate version of the FY2016 NDAA, which is now being debated on the Senate floor (McCain spoke on the RD-180 issue today). The Air Force wants to be able to procure 14 more RD-180s, while SASC wants to limit that number to nine.
The Senate Appropriations Committee does not agree with SASC. Although the text of the bill is not yet publicly available, Graham offered an amendment today to delete section 8045 that apparently allows greater flexibility in how many RD-180s may be purchased. Democrats and Republicans both objected to the amendment.
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) insisted that sufficient time is needed for an alternative U.S. engine to be developed so that the Air Force does not "jump from one monopoly to another." He cited a letter from Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper endorsing the Air Force's position that more time is needed.
ULA has been a monopoly provider of launches for the national security sector since it was created in 2006 as a Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture when the launch market could not sustain two competitors. ULA offers the Altas V, Delta IV Medium, and Delta IV Heavy rockets. It recently decided to discontinue the Delta IV Medium, leaving it with only Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy. The Atlas V is powered by RD-180s and Delta IV Heavy, at $400 million per launch, is not cost competitive.
Last month, the Air Force finally certified SpaceX to compete for national security launches. ULA supporters therefore argue that if ULA is not allowed to launch Atlas V after 2019 because it cannot obtain more RD-180s, and the Delta IV is not competitive, SpaceX with its Falcon rockets will become a de facto monopoly provider. Since the goal is to lower costs through competition, the argument goes, SpaceX should not be allowed to replace ULA as a monopoly provider and therefpre Atlas V launches are needed until ULA can offer a new rocket using a new American engine (or other competitors emerge).
The debate pits two groups against each other. Both agree on the need to end U.S. reliance on Russian rocket engines and reduce launch costs through competition. The debate is over the timing.
One group is anxious to end reliance on Russia as soon as possible because of its annexation of Crimea last year and its continued action in Ukraine. Some also are SpaceX advocates intent on lowering government costs for launching satellites through competition with ULA. On the other side are ULA supporters who want to give the company time to develop and test an alternative engine and remain in the space launch business as well as those sympathetic to Air Force arguments that it needs more time to learn how to interact with the private sector in this new era of public-private partnerships.
SASC is in the first camp, while SAC appears to be in the other, though some SAC members clearly are in tune with the desire to end reliance on Russia sooner rather than later. Durbin pointed out today that the provision in the appropriations bill, which provides $143.6 million to develop a new U.S. engine, calls it the "Competitive Rocket Innovation Modernization Engine Assembly" or CRIMEA. "The acronym tells the story," Durbin said.
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), chairman of the CJS subcommittee, and Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), chairman of SAC, both spoke against the Graham amendment, stressing that the bill provides money to develop a new engine and the Air Force and ULA need sufficient time to succeed.
Graham insisted that the authorizing committee (SASC) already had this debate and decided that the current 2019 deadline was achievable. We are "not enhancing competition" by allowing ULA to use more than nine RD-180s, "we're enhancing the reliance on a Russian engine that we need to get away from," Graham insisted and a "date certain" is needed to "break this dependency." Realizing the lack of support for his amendment, however, he withdrew it and said he would continue to work with Shelby on the issue.
Strictly speaking, authorizing committees set policy while the appropriations committee sets funding levels, so this could be an interesting case of jurisdictional and parliamentary dispute depending on the exact wording of the provision in the appropriations bill.
The committee approved its version of the FY2016 defense appropriations bill, but it is not clear when it will be debated on the Senate floor. Senate Democrats have vowed to work to prevent any appropriations measures from being debated until Republicans agree to negotiate over revising or revoking the spending caps set by the 2011 Budget Control Act.
The House passed its version of the defense appropriations bill (H.R. 2685) this afternoon.


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Adrian Maples Win Second Game Against Ypsilanti Phoenix
The 2-4 (2-1) Adrian Maples have won their second game by a large margin once again. This week it was against the 0-6 (0-3) Ypsilanti Phoenix who could not stop the Maples passing game as it went for over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Maples got it going late in the first quarter when their quarterback Hunter Hayes found Josh Perez for a 30 yard touchdown pass. Rebecca Miller hit the extra point to put them up 7-0 at the end of the quarter.
Early into the 2nd, Hayes took a run into the end zone himself from 5 yards out. Ypsilanti's Jacob Simmons caught the ensuing kickoff at the 15 yard line and took it the rest of the way for the Phoenix's only touchdown. The point after attempt was no good. Adrian scored again with under a minute left in the half when Hayes found Michael Hamden for a 22 yard touchdown pass. That made the score 21-6 at halftime.
Late into the third quarter Hayes scored yet again on the ground from a yard out. Then before the quarter ended, he hit Hamden again for another touchdown pass of 16 yards. The kick on the final score was no good, making the final score 34-6.
Adrian's quarterback Hayes went 11 for 26 passes for 205 yards with 3 touchdowns and an interception. They were led by the ground by Tony Mendez who had 13 carries for 58 yards. Hayes did add 6 carries for 13 yards and 2 touchdowns. The leading receiver was Perez with 6 grabs for 97 yards and a touchdown. Hamden added 5 catches for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Phoenix quarterback Malik Grissom went 7 for 17 for 108 yards with 2 interceptions. Their leading rusher, Tyree Witherspoon, had 11 carries for 68 yards. They were led in receptions by Simmons who caught 5 passes for 99 yards.
The Maples did a great job at shutting down the Phoenix. They gained only 214 yards of offense and it was split almost evenly between the pass and the run. They gave up all those yards over the course of the game, but they held and didn't give up any scores. The only score they did have came from a kick return touchdown.
I think they need to do what they did this week and against the Dexter Dreadnaughts and apply it going forward. In their two wins they have played extremely well and played all 4 quarters hard. I would like to see them do that and see how their season ends up.
I was really surprised by the Adrian offense. I thought they would go to the running game to do their work, but actually Ypsilanti shut it down for the most part. It did gain 4.1 yards per carry when it took 26 carries for 107 yards. They completed less than 50% of their passes, but their 12 completions went for 210 yards.
I think if they could get the running game going, the incomplete passes could decrease and still get the same production. They are going to need both of them going forward.
Adrian will stay at home when they host the 4-2 (1-2) Lincoln Railsplitters. This week the Railsplitters were defeated handily at home by the Chelsea Bulldogs 41-20.
Ypsilanti will stay on the road when they travel to the 0-6 (0-3) Dexter Dreadnaughts. This week, Dexter went to the Tecumseh Indians and the Dreadnaughts were sent home after blow out of 49-0.
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Talent Abound At 2015 McDonald's All-American Game
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In my hands I lift
the goblet of red wine
in the middle of a field
up toward the sky
and bless the red strength
that flames
like a torch
in dark
bony hands.
"In My Hands" is translated by Sarah Traister Moskovitz. The poem is from the Ringelblum Archives and appears in poetryinhell.org.
Simkha Shayevitch died 1944 in Auschwitz of typhoid. He was one of the best-known poets in the Lodz Ghetto and his poetry was popular throughout Jewish Poland.


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Ten Worst Florida Bands of All Time
Monday, April 29, 2013 | 2 years ago
Roll up your sleeves and double-dose the klonopin and/or omeprazole. 'Cause we're about to list the ten worst bands from Florida of all freakin' time. We mean every last word of every single thing typed after the jump and believe what we've written with the infallible orthodox mysticism (and old-world bloodlust) of a Muslim cleric in tribal Kurdistan. By Matt Preira.
See Also:
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- Top Five Nastiest Songs About Margaret Thatcher
- Ten Best Screamo Bands From Florida
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text:
Town Square
MV Whisman debates roll-out of 'transitional kindergarten'
Original post made on Oct 31, 2011
Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, October 31, 2011, 10:06 AM
Comments (2)
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Oct 31, 2011 at 4:11 pm
And, it is not like the State is giving any money to pay for this program.
a resident of another community
on Nov 2, 2011 at 8:45 am
My child has been in daycare, jr. preschool, preschool since she was 6 months old. She has a birthday that falls near these cut off dates. There is no reason she should not be able to start school just before she turns 5, she is socially ready. The districts need to evaluate each child on an individual basis. But who am I kidding this is about money not about what's best for the children.
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Rossignol Jibsaw SnowboardsRossignol Jibsaw Snowboards ripping out with free shipping and gear when ordered from The House Boardshop. The Mens Rossignol Jibsaw Snowboard is a kill-it-all freestyle deck intended for the intermediate to advanced shred. It features Magnetraction, Amptek freestyle camber and a supportive trick oriented flex. If you are looking to clear-cut the park and pipe, this is your saw of choice. The House, since 1982.
Rossignol Jibsaw Snowboards
Size: 155cm, 157cm, 159cm
Reg: $449.95 On Sale: $337.95
Size: 153cm, 155cm, 157cm, 159cm
Reg: $419.95 On Sale: $293.95
Size: 157cm
Reg: $429.95 On Sale: $329.95
Size: 158cm (W)
Reg: $419.95 On Sale: $293.95


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OmniBus Systems will include frame-accurate SD resolution browse capability for SD and HD content in its iTX version 1.1. The system's browse capability is based on IPV's SpectreView product suite, accepts file-based HD or SD content and transcodes multiple clips to low-bit rate VC-1 (SMPTE 421M) format at full SD resolution, with frame-accurate time code, scene detection and logo burn-in.
The inclusion of IPV's technology means iTX users will now have the ability to find, check and mark up content from within iTX as they are assembling playlists and packages. The browse functionality offers full VTR-style control and multispeed playback of video and audio.
For more information, visit www.omnibus.tv and www.ipv.com.
An Inside Look at Four Virtual Reality Start-Ups
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Veterans finish Warrior Hike on Appalachian Trail - 0 Comments
MILLINOCKET, Maine — After six months, four U.S. military veterans have completed their hike of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, ending with a celebration at the summit of Mount Katahdin.
The 2,185-mile Warrior Hike, called "Walk Off The War," gives veterans a chance to process their wartime experiences while hiking with others who have been through the same thing. It is designed to help them transition from military to civilian life.
"They are changed people," Marine Corps Capt. Sean Gobin said Saturday of the veterans who completed the hike.


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- Forum: Streetwear and Denim
Short answer: probably not. Long answer: yes but only if your tailor is a wizard. They'd have to remove the wrist or take it up from the shoulder, either of which might adversely impact the waxed finish. It would be a very tough operation. I use Stanton Street Tailors, a top NYC outfit, and this is probably the kind of job Pablo, the boss, would turn down because it's too much of a headache.


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My Beatport lets you follow your favorite DJs and labels so you can find out when they release new tracks. Log in or create an account today so you never miss a new release.
My Beatport lets you follow your favorite DJs and labels so you can find out when they release new tracks. So go follow someone!
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Paulo Alves,
DJs 4 Africa
Nnyamaropa (Shona People)
Scad Madmixx,
Scad Madmixx
Butterfly In My Head
DJ Leandro Silva,
DJ Hari,
Deep Duet Sax & Drums
Over 12,
E-Jay Guettoz Touch,
M2 Remix,
D_Elaborate Nossca,
DJ Havana,
DJ News,
Fiuk Snoop
Falta De Agua - Scad Madmixx AfroDrumz Version
Scad Madmixx,
DJ Hari,
Deep Duet Sax & Drums
Dreamer Dub,
Spicey Mix,
Afro DJ Pupo,
Fall Out / Mirrors EP
Leandro Silva,
Leandro Silva
House Boutique
Devon Williams,
Devon Williams
Blaque Soul Roots Session
Afrohouse Session EP
DJ Satelite,
DJ Satelite
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text:
Here are more projects from the Simply Create Too Design Team Members:
The challenge closes at midnight US CST on Thursday 19 July. To link up your project, scroll down to the previous post.
Good luck!
The top three for challenge 15 - Country Where You Live will be announced in a few days as we are excitedly looking through all the entrants for our recent Design Team call - so stay tuned for both lots of results!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Mid Post Challenge 17 - Summer / Vacation
3 comments:
Very nice ladies.ReplyDelete
Linkz is down, so here is my entry:ReplyDelete
Oh no - Diane, I think your e-mail has been hacked! I just got an e-mail from you stating that you're in Spain and need money.... make sure you change your password and notify your friends & family! Good luck!ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Why did you choose this product?
This rug is just what I wanted. So glad I ordered the last one. This is my first order-very happy....
Protect your floor in style with this round wool area rug. The gray, green and light-rust colors beautifully come together in contemporary waving strokes on this hand-carved rug. The New Zealand wool construction of Metro Classic offers years of use.
ITEM#: 14024309This round 'Metro Classsic' area rug from Horizon is handmade from 100-percent New Zealand wool. Shades of grey, green, and rust dance about this lush hand-carved rug in broad, waving strokes for contemporary style.
- Primary materials: New Zealand blended wool (hand washed, hand-carved)
- Pile height: 0.70 inch
- Style: Contemporary
- Primary color: Grey
- Secondary colors: Silver grey/ highlight green/ light rust
- Pattern: Abstract
Tip: We recommend the use of a non-skid pad to keep the rug in place on smooth surfaces.
All rug sizes are approximate. Due to the difference of monitor colors, some rug colors may vary slightly. Overstock.com tries to represent all rug colors accurately. Please refer to the text above for a description of the colors shown in the photo.
|New Zealand Wool Wool
|Weave Type
|Rug Type
|Indoor/Outdoor Outdoor
|See Description
|See Description
|Model Number
|20049-6Ft R
Customer Reviews
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This rug is just what I wanted. So glad I ordered the last one. This is my first order-very happy.Read More
Great Rug for Any Room
Ordered this rug for our sun room to bring internal color. This rug's muted colors enhanced not only the sun room, but brought many of the outside colors inside.Read More
Aliyah round wool rug
Received rug quicker than expected. The round 6' rug fits perfect. As most wool rugs it still is shedding one month after arrival. I expected the color to have more gray. There is more green, but still goes well in our beach house. It reminds me of waves. We are very pleased with our purchase. Right design, size and price. Overstock has a wonderful selection of round rugs, unlike many retail stores and on line sites.Read More
I am thrilled with the blue outdoor rug that I ordered. It arrived quickly, and will be perfect for our covered porch, in front of the steps, with the white wicker settee and chairs. Love the color as well.Read More
Wonderfull rug
I order three rugs this runner is my favorite of all three. The color is beautiful the quality is amazing for the money. I highly recommend it, if you are working with a silvery grey and blue color palette.Read More
beautiful round rug
The quality of this rug is much more than I expected. It has a deep pile and my cats love it!!! I only wish the colors were more vibrant. I love the design. You can match any décor with this rug.Read More
alliyah handmade new zeeland blend classic greyrug
very happy with this rug. i would recommend it. very quick to receive it. quality is top notch. i am planning to order the runner that matches the round rug. i wanted to wait and see the quality of this one b/4 i ordered the runner. i am now going to order it. VERY PLEASED!Read More
Just lovely
I saw this rug online on two high-end websites for $800 and this is the exact same rug, but for a much lower price! It is great quality and the colors are vibrant. It looks great with a variety of colors, though. I can't say enough about this rug- everyone who has seen it has loved it! I would absolutely recommend this rug to everyone.Read More
I'm so glad I made this purchase. 4 star
I am very happy with my purchase. I only wish it came in a 7 foot round instead of 6 feet or 8 feet as my options. Then, it would be perfect! Otherwise, it looks awesome in the space and the person I purchased it for is very pleased, too.Read More
My wife and I saw this rug in a department store and knew that we wanted it for a lower price. She found it on OS website for less so we purchased it. Not even a week later, we received our rug and it was in better condition and looked better than it did in the store. Very fast delivery- very pleased with the rugRead More
Questions & Answers
Color and size
does this rug also have a runner to match it?
i need a matching runner for this rug does ithave one
Unfortunately, we do not carry a runner that matches this product exactly.
I found one. It is Item #13608228 and is 2' x 8'.
Does it come in 4'?
We do not currently have this item available in that size.
Shopping Tips & Inspiration
2015 Lighting Trends to love
If you want to refresh your home this spring, new pendants and lamps help create a chic, brightening effect.
Dipped in Gold
The glitter and glamour of gold is catching the eye as a 2015 home decor trend.
How to Decorate Your Living Room with Square Rugs
How to Decorate Your Living Room with Square Rugs from Overstock.com. Our guides provide customers with information about how to decorate your living room with square rugs and advice about our many brand-name products.
How to Decorate Your Dining Room with Round Area Rugs
How to Decorate Your Dining Room with Round Area Rugs from Overstock.com. Our guides provide customers with information about how to decorate your dining room with round area rugs and advice about our many brand-name products.
How to Size Your Room for an Area Rug
How to Size Your Room for an Area Rug from Overstock.com. Select the right size rug for any room using these tips. Shop with confidence for the perfect area rug size with help from this guide.
How to Choose an Area Rug for Your Bedroom
How to Choose an Area Rug for your Bedroom from Overstock.com. Here's how to narrow down your choices and find the area rug that's perfect for your room.
Take the Floor
Say goodbye to boring flooring! Transform your home from the ground up with attractive area rugs and eye-catching ottomans. Your space will never be the same once you add these brightening updates.
How to Care for Wool Rugs
How to Care for Wool Rugs from Overstock.com. With a gentle approach and a little time, you can keep your wool rugs looking beautiful for many years.
How to Protect Wood Floors with Area Rugs
How to Protect Wood Floors with Area Rugs from Overstock.com. The easiest way to protect wood floors from scratches and wear is to decorate with an area rug. This guide covers what you need to know.
Best Area Rugs for Christmas
Best Area Rugs for Christmas 2014 from Overstock.com. To help get you started on your search for the perfect rug, here are this year's most popular area rug styles. Update your home for the holidays, or give a gift that's a treat for the feet.
Tips on Buying a Persian Rug
Tips on Buying a Persian Rug from Overstock.com. Add classic elegance and rich texture to your home with a Persian rug. Here's what you need to know when you're online shopping for Persian area rugs.
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Usually leaves our warehouse in 1 business day. *
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** Most Oversize orders are delivered within 1-4 weeks. Some orders may take 6 weeks to be delivered.


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- Enclume Traditional Oval Ceiling Pot Rack $540 – $1,590
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- Enclume Pot Hook, Straight, Hammered Steel $26
- Enclume Pot Hook, Angled, Hammered Steel $26
American Cookware
We offer you our range of American cookware that is highly durable and available in classic designs. These are available in copper and stainless steel materials for even distribution of heat. From Dutch ovens to woks and soup pots with ladle, there's a wide array of our cookware made in America, to select from. Stock up your kitchen with our range of American made cooking electrics to make everyday cooking effortless and enjoyable. Choose the latest baking tools from our range of American made bakeware to treat your family to delicious treats. Our collection includes baking essentials like tart pans, loaf pans, muffin pans, cake pans and more.
A Williams Sonoma exclusive, the All Clad TK collection is a unique collaboration with Thomas Keller, one of the world's most celebrated chefs. Designed to bring Chef Keller's cookware preferences to home cooks, these All Clad crafted pans reflect ...
Representing the best in American craftsmanship, All Clads d5 Stainless Steel line incorporates five layer bonded construction along with design for perfectly consistent results. This nonstick pan combines the rounded sides of a French skillet with the height and ...
This elegant Belgian stainless steel cookware enlists the latest culinary innovations, including patented 7 PlyMaterial, InductoSeal and TripleInduc technologies, to guarantee flawless heat distribution and control. Our hand selected set includes all the most essential pieces for everyday ...
After more than 45 years of producing extraordinary pots and pans from copper, the Ruffoni family began channeling its traditional craftsmanship into stainless steel cookware of the same exceptional quality. This set includes seven core pieces for everyday cooking ...


text: ESHU003 - ESHU - TIMELESS EP (incl. Echologist Dub) - SNIPPETS by ESHU Records published on 2012/06/04 21:46:10 +0000 ESHU003 artist: ESHU title: Timeless EP format: black vinyl (250 handnumbered copies) / digital tracks: A. MM (original mix) B. MM (Echologist dub) BB. Timeless (original mix) released: 13th of August '12


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Mediterranean Seafood Stew
Slow cooking the liquid and vegetable base for this stew loads it with flavor, and throwing the seafood in toward the end of cooking keeps it sweet and tender.
Total Time:
Level: Moderate
Serves: 4
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
- 2 large leeks
- 1.50 lb. fennel
- 2.25 lb. tomatoes
- 2 clove garlic
- salt
- pepper
- 4 sprig fresh thyme
- 8 sprig fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 lb. mussels
- 1 lb. shelled deveined 16- to 20-count shrimp
- 12 oz. skinless cod fillet
- 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 crusty dinner rolls
- Cut root ends from leeks. Cut each leek lengthwise in half, then into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place in large bowl of cold water. With hands, swish leeks to remove grit. Repeat process, changing water several times. Drain.
- Transfer leeks to 6-quart slow cooker bowl along with fennel, tomatoes, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. With kitchen twine, tie thyme and parsley stems together. Bury in vegetable mixture.
- Cover with lid and cook on high 3 hours. Stir in mussels and shrimp, and lay fish on top. Immediately cover and cook 30 to 40 minutes longer or until mussels open and shrimp and fish turn opaque throughout.
- Divide mussels among serving dishes. Discard herb bundle. Transfer 3 cups stew to container; refrigerate overnight. Divide remaining stew among serving dishes. Drizzle oil over stew. Chop reserved parsley leaves and sprinkle over stew. Serve with rolls.
What do you think?
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Because America's birthday deserves a little something special.
Wish Bone Recalls Ranch Dressing Due to a Dangerous Mistake
Double-check your dressing, everyone.
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NEWS: Disney TRYit Campaign at Epcot's International Flower & Garden Festival
Today on the Disney Parks Blog, food writer Pam Brandon announced a terrific initiative called Disney TRYit campaign. It's a new approach to get kids to try fun, new healthy dishes that have great ingredients with an interesting twist. It's part of Disney's Magic of Healthy Living program.
Recently, Executive Chef for Epcot Jens Dahlmann added new dishes for the younger guests' palette for Epcot's International Flower & Garden Festival. He says that if you present the dishes in appealing ways like the Frushi' (fruit sushi) they will be more inclined to try more exotic dishes like the Watermelon Salad with arugula and feta cheese. It gets them to take the chance to try something they normal would not want to eat.
I think this is a refreshing idea and hope it's received with a warm reception. So many parents want their children to eat healthy and those who are foodies truly want their children to explore new foods outside of chicken nuggets and mac n'cheese.
Looking over some of the food choices I say it's a variety of cuisine. I do think that the goat cheeses and beets may be a hard sell. I know most adults who won't go near those foods with a ten foot pole. Overall, I am pleased to see Disney stepping it up with healthy choices that are appetizing and also encouraging children to step out of their food comfort zones.
Look for the TRYit logo on these various dishes in the Garden Marketplaces and Festival Center. The festival runs from March 6 – May 19:
- Beet Lollipop (Intermissions Café in the Festival Center)
- Wild Berry Slush (Fruits by the Glass)
- Baked Goat's Brie with Kumquat Chutney (The Cottage, United Kingdom)
- Frushi (Fruit Sushi) (Hanami, Japan)
- Lasagna Primavera (Primavera Kitchen, Italy)
- Potato Pancakes with house-made Apple Sauce (Bauernmarkt, Germany)
- Spring Pancake with Grilled Chicken & Green Apple (Lotus House, China)
- Watermelon Salad with pickled Red Onions, BW Farms Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese & Balsamic Reduction (Florida Fresh)
- Angel Food Cake with macerated Florida Berries (Florida Fresh)
- Ratatouille Tarte with Goat Cheese (L'Orangerie, France)
- Moroccan Sweet Pancake (Taste of Marrakesh, Morocco)
- Waterkist Farms Heirloom Tomatoes with house-made Mozzarella, Minus 8 Vinegar & Basil (The Cottage, United Kingdom)
Rss Feed
- Mother's Day Dining Options at Swan & Dolphin ResortIf you are looking for Mother's Day dining options at Walt Disney Resort the Swan and Dolphin are offering some special dining selections. It is just a quick boat ride away from either Epcot or Disney's Hollywood Studios. Whether its brunch you are looking for or a more formal dinner Garden Grove or Todd English's […]


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kids - Page 10
Is Halloween Candy Duty Fun or a Hassle?
Is Halloween a Kids Holiday? [Poll]
The School Year Marches On
Sick Kids Let Loose to Katy Perry's Roar [Video]
There are few things more difficult to see than kids who are are stuck in hospitals because of serious illnesses. But, that being said, there are few things more inspiring than seeing those kids letting loose and having fun. Check out this video of patients at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock rocking out to Katy Perry's hit "Roar":