Brecon Beacons win dark sky status

19 February 2013 Last updated at 06:25 ET

The night sky above the Brecon Beacons National Park has been granted special protection.

It has become Wales' first and only the fifth destination in the world to be granted the status of an international dark sky reserve.

The park society and the national park authority began their bid in 2011.

Jim Wilson, Chair of Brecon Beacons Park Society, said it recognised the area as one of the best places in Europe "to truly see dark skies".

The park joins Mont Megantic in Quebec, Canada; Exmoor National Park in south west England; Aoraki Mackenzie in New Zealand; and NambiRand Nature Reserve in Namibia with the status.

The status means the night-sky is protected and lighting controls are in place to prevent light pollution.

The national park said it already possessed some of the UK's darkest skies, which was ideal for stargazing.

Switching off

Officials claimed that on a clear night above the Beacons people could see the Milky Way, as well as numerous constellations, bright nebulas and even meteor showers.

Julia James, chair of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, said attaining the status was a massive boost for the entire area.

Continue reading the main story

?Start Quote

The best views of the night sky come from places such as the Brecon Beacons, who have dedicated themselves to protecting and restoring the night sky for all to enjoy?

End Quote Martin Morgan-Taylor International Dark-Sky Association

She said it would bring many environmental, wildlife, economic, tourism and wellbeing benefits.

To get through the application process local astronomers conducted a survey to assess the levels of light pollution, and lighting engineers audited the existing external lighting in the national park.

Information leaflets and letters were distributed to residents living in the 'core zone' to help them understand the simple measures they could take, such as tilting outdoor security lights downwards instead of up, that could make difference to how dark the night sky appears.

Local communities supported the bid, with residents in Talybont-on-Usk holding their own Star Party and organising a community light switch off.

Martin Morgan-Taylor, board member of the International Dark-Sky Association, the US based organisation which awards the status, said the gradual loss of the view of the night sky was a loss of part of culture.

"Whilst no-one wants all the lights to be switched off, we can improve the lighting we use in towns and cities.

"However, the best views of the night sky come from places such as the Brecon Beacons, who have dedicated themselves to protecting and restoring the night sky for all to enjoy."

Jim Wilson, chairman of Brecon Beacons Park Society, thanked all those who had taken part in the project, saying it recognised the park as one of the best places in Europe to see truly dark skies.

Environment Minister John Griffiths called the accreditation a "massive coup".

He said: "It shows the level of commitment here in Wales to tackling climate change and improving peoples' physical, spiritual and mental well-being."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21496562#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

stephen hawking marion barry virginia beach jet crash ridiculously photogenic guy amanda bynes dui ghost ship tiger woods masters

Sony announces NEX-3N, A58 and three point and shoot cameras

Sony has just dropped five new cameras upon us that cover various categories, from the basic point and shoot to their higher end SLT cameras and even a new NEX camera.

Let?s start with the new NEX-3N, which is Sony?s new entry-level mirrorless camera. It has a 16.1 megapixel APS CMOS sensor that goes up to ISO 16,000 and records 1080p video, 3.0-inch LCD that flips 180? and a zoom lever on the body that works with certain Sony powered lenses. The NEX-3N will go on sale in Europe starting March.

Next is the Sony A58 SLT camera. As we have mentioned before, Sony SLT cameras may look like traditional DSLRs but they differ in their functionality. SLT cameras have translucent mirrors that don?t move. They simultaneously allow most of the light to pass through to the sensor and reflect the remaining to the viewfinder above, which is always electronic.

The A58 has a 20.1 megapixel APS CMOS sensor that can shoot up to ISO 16,000 and 1080i50 videos, 2.7-inch, 460k dot articulating LCD and an electronic OLED viewfinder. The A58 will go on sale in Europe starting April.

Then we have the point and shoot cameras, the WX300, HX300 and TX30. The WX300 has 18.2 megapixel sensor, 20x optical zoom, 3.0-inch 460k dot LCD and built-in Wi-Fi.

The HX300 has an 18.2 megapixel sensor, 50x (!!!) optical zoom, 3.0-inch, 920k dot LCD and 1080p video recording.

The TX30 is an ultracompact camera which Sony claims is the world?s slimmest digital camera that also happens to be water, dust and shock proof. It has a 18.2 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, 3.3-inch, 1,229k dot OLED touchscreen and shoots 1080p videos.

The WX300, HX300 and TX30 are priced at $329, $499 and $349 respectively. They are available for pre-order today and will go on sale in Europe in March.

Source 1 ? Source 2 ? Source 3

Source: http://blog.gsmarena.com/sony-announces-nex-3n-a58-and-three-point-and-shoot-cameras/

amber portwood Phyllis Diller Darla Moore newsweek Tony Scott UFC 151 empire state building

Crazy carjacking spree leaves at least four dead

A series of shootings in Orange County ended with the gunman taking his own life. NBC's Brian Williams reports.

By M. Alex Johnson, NBC News

A 20-year-old college student went on a shooting rampage across Orange County, Calif., on Tuesday, killing three people and injuring several others before killing himself, authorities said.

Police said the man, identified as Ali Syed, 20, of Ladera Ranch, Calif., told one of his victims, whose car he stole: "I killed somebody. This is my last day."

In all, there were three homicide victims and at least five victims of attempted homicide, police said.

---

Syed, a student at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo with no criminal record, shot and killed a young woman in his home in Ladera Ranch, which he shared with his parents, said Scott Jordan, police chief of the town of Tustin, where several of the incidents occurred Tuesday.

The relationship between Syed and the young woman remained unclear, as was the reason she was in the home, police said.

Syed's parents were home at the time, about 4:45 a.m. (7:45 a.m. ET), and fled, Jordan said. Syed then took their black sport-utility vehicle and set out on a drive along Orange County's highways, stopping at times to change cars and shoot people ? apparently at random, according to police.

As state troopers homed in on him, he then killed himself.

Police and sheriff's officials gave this account of the dramatic chase:

Syed's first stop was the parking lot of a restaurant in Tustin, another Los Angeles suburb about 20 miles away, where he was spotted loading his shotgun by a man who was waiting in his car for his son.

The man quickly drove off with Syed chasing him on foot and firing his shotgun. The man was shot in the back of head but survived and managed to drive a short way before coming to a stop. Syed shot and wounded a second person who had rushed up to see what was happening.

Syed's car was damaged and had a flat tire, so he ran across the street to a gasoline station, where he approached a man filling up his tank. He took the man's truck after politely telling him: "I don't want to hurt you. I killed somebody. This is my last day. Give me your keys."

Investigators update the deadly carjackings in Southern California.

Now in his second stolen vehicle, Syed took off down state Route 55. He exited in Santa Ana, where he began randomly firing at vehicles on the freeway.

Three vehicles were damaged in Santa Ana, the driver of one of which suffered minor injuries to his face and hand. That man drove home and called police, who began tracking Syed in earnest. The drivers of all three damaged vehicles were being considered victims of attempted homicide.

Back in the stolen truck, Syed again tore off down Route 55. He took an off-ramp too fast, causing him to jump the curb, whereupon he leapt out of the truck, approached a man who was stopped at a stop sign, "walked him across the road and executed him, shooting him three times," Jordan said.

That victim was identified as Melvin Lee Edwards, 69, of Laguna Hills.

Syed then took the man's BMW ? his third stolen vehicle ? and drove off to the parking lot of a computer store, where he shot two people, apparently strangers, killing one of them. The dead man was identified as Jeremy Lewis, 26, of Fullerton.

Syed drove off in yet another stolen vehicle, returning to Route 55 as emergency calls poured in to authorities. As state troopers were preparing to get into position, he exited the freeway in the city of Orange. With the stolen vehicle still moving, he jumped out, put the shotgun to his head and killed himself.

Authorities said they found the shotgun beside Syed's body. And as of late Tuesday afternoon, they said, they had no explanation for why any of it happened.

Matthew DeLuca and Olivia Santini of NBC News contributed to this report. Follow M. Alex Johnson on Twitter and Facebook.

This story was originally published on Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:07 PM EST

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/19/17017782-california-carjacking-spree-leaves-at-least-four-dead?lite

man of steel man of steel Adrienne Maloof Telemundo real housewives of beverly hills Pink Floyd 12 12 12 Concert

Scottee: London Fashion Week - Are You Cool Enough?

It's London Fashion Week - #LFW is trending on twitter, the BBC are pretending to have a clue what 'on the bias' means, everyone who's anyone is in the front row of something or other and I'm at home listening to Radio 4.

There used to be a time when London Fashion Week left me with cirrhosis, bunions and a bedroom full of half eaten canap?s, scented candles and half inched d?cor from the copious parties, after parties, launch parties and wrap party parties. Not to mention the hours spent in the back of a cab in silly clothes rushing to watch thin people walk in a straight line in drafty warehouses.

This year not one email, invite or even tweet has had my name on it. It seems I am out of fashion, unfashionable, pass? - but when was I was ever in fashion - or what Vogue would call 'en vogue'?

As a fat gay bloke who wears ladies clothes I guess London Fashion Week isn't supposed to be for me - none of the clobber fits me, none of the designers will allow me to wear it and none of the PR's want my optimism for 'trend' on the front row but even so... am I missing out?

Why have I been left off the lists this season? Although I don't think many who turn up to LFW are on the list - it's a lot of 'don't you know who I am?' and pretense in patent leather shoes. I'm also not one for blagging my way in and lording it up, I'm a bit old fashioned and expect an invite if I'm invited.

This week I received a one line email from someone at Dazed Digital. "Are you doing LFW this year?" I replied, "I think I am too silly for them". He responded with, "They do take it all rather seriously".

A few seasons ago I was told of a few chubby gays who painted their faces pretending to be me and 'my assistant' to get into shows - this year they'll be lucky to get into China White.

Does a Mulberry handbag full of invites equate to success or does it just mean you're happy to turn up to the opening of an envelope? Although I'd like to think it is the latter, sadly I think popularity in fashion circles is reflected by how many LFW happenings you are invited to. This is a sorry state of affairs but fashion has never pretended to be inclusive; in fact it's possibly the only industry that celebrates its elitism.

I am aware this is my bruised ego talking and if I'm honest I'm a little disappointed I'm not as popular with people in over-priced sunglasses as I seemingly once was. This might look like I've got my knickers in a twist because I haven't been invited to a party - which is only half true - but there is a bigger question to ask here about popularity and the playground politic of wanting to fit in.

I suspect I'm no longer 'cool' - a word which in fashion terms is shorthand for young and possibly interesting. I'm 27 years old and no longer are Dazed & Confused able to flog me as 'up and coming'. Nowadays I roll about stages and talk about gender, naffness and class - I am uncool.

What is it that attracts us to the utopia of cool-ism? Are we genuinely excited by new ideas or is this yet another way of expressing our fascination with youth and being young. When I was a kid the gay looking one from Saved By The Bell was the epitome of cool, it seems that now cool is self-aware, cocksure, lives in E2 and smells of mephedrone.

If being out of fashion means you get to stay in your pyjamas, eat biscuits and watch the telly then I'm quite happy to remain that way. This season I'm retiring from fashion, even though I don't think I was ever in.

?

Follow Scottee on Twitter: www.twitter.com/scotteescottee

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/scottee/london-fashion-week-are-you-cool-enough_b_2711173.html?utm_hp_ref=style&ir=Style

neil degrasse tyson neil degrasse tyson davy jones death born this way foundation lytro camera lytro camera andrew brietbart

Famous Grey Poupon 'Pardon Me' ads return for Oscars

The Associated Press , Staff ? ? ? 8 hrs.

Grey Poupon's famous "Pardon Me" TV commercial is returning for a moment of Oscar glory.

After a 16-year hiatus, the mustard that mocked its own stuffy image in one of TV's most famous commercials will once again take to the airwaves during the Academy Awards show on Feb. 24. The spot comes as Kraft Foods looks to boost sagging sales of the Dijon mustard, which is facing competition from a growing variety of high-end condiments on supermarket shelves.

The new ad begins in the same way as the original ? an aristocratic English gentleman is being chauffeured in the countryside, when another car pulls up alongside them at a stop. The back window rolls down and a second man asks in an over-the-top snooty accent, "Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?"

The first man courteously responds, "But of course" and hands him a jar out the window.

In the new version, however, the scene continues with the second car speeding off without returning the mustard. A wild car chase through a golf course and city streets ensues, complete with explosions to make the spot look like a trailer for an action adventure movie.

The ad was made by the agency Crispin Porter & Bogusky, which has also developed ads for Domino's, Burger King and Best Buy. It was directed by Bryan Buckley, who is known for making more than 40 Super Bowl commercials.

Although the original Grey Poupon ad first aired in 1981, with variations of it running through 1997, it's become so ingrained in pop culture that even teenagers today are familiar with its general spirit, said Sara Braun, who heads Grey Poupon, Miracle Whip and Mayo at Kraft Foods.

The problem is that the familiarity with the commercial hasn't been doing much for sales. Over the past four years, the company says Grey Poupon's sales have been flat to down as more mustards and other condiments have appeared on the shelves. Its share of the U.S. mustard market has fallen from 13.7 percent in 2003 to 11.4 percent last year, according to market researcher Euromonitor. So now Kraft is hoping to once again put the mustard in the spotlight.

"Grey Poupon is not as relevant as it was," Braun said.

Kraft Foods Group Inc. plans to air the ad only once on TV, after which it will be available online. According to Kantar Media, a 30-second spot during the Oscars this year is estimated to cost $1.7 million. But Kraft, based in Northfield, Ill., is hoping the high-profile placement will help spark enough interest to engage people in online marketing campaigns.

"It's the classiest award show of the year, so it's very in line with the brand," said Braun, who noted that the marketing for the Dijon has always made fun of its own upper-crust image.

Last year, for example, Kraft began an online campaign with a members-only Facebook page called "The Society of Good Taste." Fans had to apply and have their profiles screened to determine whether they met the club's standards. For example, people were given points for liking the opera and New York Times, or living in Chicago or New York and attending Ivy League schools. Points were taken away if people used poor grammar in their posts.

Jokes aside, Braun said there's a seed of truth to that higher-end image; Grey Poupon customers tend to be skewed toward household incomes of $70,000 or more.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/grey-poupons-famous-pardon-me-ads-return-oscars-1C8422403

iditarod nfl free agents 2012 encyclopedia brittanica nfl free agency jonbenet ramsey jason campbell doobie brothers

Youth turning their backs on "Singapore Dream"

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Ong Hui Juan spent nearly four years working in a British bank in Singapore, but decided to leave last year to pursue her passion of working with youth - an unusual and surprising decision in the achievement-oriented city state.

But Ong, 25, is just one of a growing number of young Singaporeans who are turning their backs on the material joys of the long-cherished "Singapore Dream," summed up as the "Five C's" - cash, car, credit card, condominium and country club membership - to do what they enjoy, even at much lower pay.

"I wanted to get out of a nine-to-five job. It was waiting for bonus after bonus, promotion after promotion. That didn't really appeal to me," said Ong, who studied banking and finance at university, but had worked with young people on the side.

"I don't need to be very rich as long as I have enough to get by for myself and my family, and I continue to have the flexible time I have now."

Young people may want to slow down, but the government does not. Singapore has long counted on its people as its biggest resource, the one that helped drive its transformation from a sea port with few natural resources into a key financial center after independence in 1965.

The government has also placed a strong emphasis on practical skills such as science and mathematics in schools, with Singapore students usually excelling in international tests.

It is just one part of what has made Singapore one of the world's richest countries, with gross domestic product per capita of S$63,050 ($50,123) in 2011, 48 times the level in 1960, according to government statistics.

Not one to rest on its laurels, though, the Singapore government recently released a nearly 80-page "white paper" calling for higher productivity in its workforce and projecting population growth by as much as 30 percent by 2030.

But far from going along, some young Singaporeans feel a sense of disconnect from the traditional paths that are laid out ahead of them as part of this striving - get into a top school, land a high-paying job and hope that their children can build on their achievements.

"The institutional set up of Singapore makes it remain a more materialistic society, when the government always puts economic growth, and therefore materialistic achievement, as a first priority," said Chung Wai Keung, assistant professor of sociology at Singapore Management University.

"When the foundation of Singapore society is getting more secure, the younger generation can afford to make decisions different from the mainstream."

There are signs that more are already doing so, in part because financial firms have been shedding jobs the past few years, said Andrea Ross, Managing Director - Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia, at recruiting consultancy Robert Walters.

"Redundancies across the board are still continuing within financial services globally, and Singapore youngsters are becoming more confident to take up jobs in industries they have a strong personal desire to be part of," she added.

The School of the Arts in Singapore, opened in 2008, has had around 1,000 applicants for only 200 spaces each of the last three years.

MORE FREEDOM

MaryAnn Loo, an artist in her late 20s, said younger people may have greater freedom to pursue their interests as they have been raised in relatively more comfortable conditions than their parents or grandparents.

Loo herself became a full-time artist at the end of last year and is staging her first solo exhibition. She previously studied psychology in university and had worked as a retail assistant and a freelancer on film and TV sets.

"Our parents grew up in a difficult time, and their primary purpose was survival. But I think a lot of people have already gone past the survival stage in Singapore, and therefore they can explore more things," Loo said.

This kind of maverick may still remain in the minority for a while at least, said Tan Ern Ser, an associate professor of sociology at the National University of Singapore.

"Some may well be able to afford 'dropping out' if they have the means, through inheritance, past savings, or having a rich spouse. But for most people, dropping out is not an option, at least not a long-term one," Tan said.

Yet Chung said these young people may ultimately prove to be pioneers.

"When there are more and more young adults making alternative decisions, and when more and more of them feel satisfaction because of their choice, it could reach a tipping point where the next generation will see those alternative options as legitimate," he added.

(Reporting by Eveline Danubrata, editing by Elaine Lies)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/youth-turning-backs-singapore-dream-023628119.html

george michael usain bolt Closing Ceremony London 2012 Tom Daley Leryn Franco The Campaign Kinesio tape

State of the Union: Senate, House members react to president's energy and climate proposals

Javascript is turned off. For the best experience please turn Javascript on!

Editor's Note: Friday,?February?15,?2013?--?02:43 PM

E&ETV will not air a new episode of OnPoint on Monday, Feb. 18. OnPoint returns Tuesday.

An E&ETV Encore Presentation

Originally aired: February 13, 2013

Advertisement

?

State of the Union:

With President Obama prioritizing energy and climate change in the first State of the Union address of his second term, will Congress act to move legislation? In this E&ETV Special Report, members of the Senate and House of Representatives react to the president's comments on natural gas, climate change, oil and gas revenues, and energy technology research. Lawmakers interviewed include: Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.); Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.); Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.); Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.); Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas); Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.); Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio); Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas); Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.); and Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.).

?

Politics:

Center for Climate and Energy Solutions' Elliot Diringer proposes policy initiatives to further energy, climate agenda.

?

Keystone XL:

Nebraska Congressman Lee Terry discusses future of pipeline proposal following approval of revised route.

?

Climate:

Clean Air Task Force's Conrad Schneider explains how changes in U.S. EPA leadership will affect future of air rules.

?

POLITICS:

OIL AND GAS:

CLIMATE:

?

Grid:

Regulations:

Energy Policy:

?

Return to the top of the page.

The Premier Information Source for Professionals Who Track Environmental and Energy Policy.

? 1996-2013 E&E Publishing, LLC??Privacy Policy??Site Map

Source: http://www.eande.tv/rss/2013/02/15/

jerusalem artichoke bud shootout aretha franklin stevie wonder new orleans weather new orleans weather sparkle