Six Flags Magic Mountain - Dollar Steady As U.S. Government Shutdown To Start

Source      - http://www.reuters.com/
By            - Dominic Lau
Category  - Six Flags Magic Mountain
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

Six Flags Magic Mountain

The dollar held steady on Tuesday even though much of the U.S. government was due to start shutting down after Congress failed to find a compromise on a bill to fund government operations.

Competing spending measures flew back and forth between Republican-controlled House of Representatives and Democratic-led Senate late into Monday night in Washington but Congress deadlocked over Republican efforts to use the temporary spending bill as a way to delay implementation of President Barack Obama's health care program.

It comes a few weeks ahead of the next political battle to raise the federal government's debt ceiling. Failure to do the latter by mid-October could result in a historic U.S. debt default that would threaten the U.S. economy and send ripples around the globe.

S&P stock futures inched up 0.2 percent, unchanged from earlier price action after the cash index fell 0.6 percent on Monday, while U.S. Treasury futures slipped 5 ticks.

As many as one million U.S. federal employees could face unpaid furloughs, but a shutdown would be unlikely to affect the United States's sovereign credit rating.

Investors are accustomed to political battles in Washington resulting in a last-minute accord and voiced scepticism any shutdown would last for an extended period.

"It may have a knock-on effect on the timing of the potential tapering (by the Federal Reserve). It could have a knock-on effect on the production of economic data. It could have a real impact on consumption if it lasts for more than a day," said a senior trader at a foreign bank in Tokyo.

"People in the market are kind of interpreting this as a kabuki drama if you like, but we are little more concerned than that."

The dollar .DXY was down 0.1 percent against a basket of currencies. It was steady at 98.15 yen, having climbed off a one-month low of 97.50 on Monday as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was expected to announce his economic growth and tax strategy later on Tuesday.

Japanese manufacturers' sentiment improved sharply in the three months to September to a near six-year high, a closely-watched central bank survey showed on Tuesday, cementing the case for Abe to proceed with a planned sales tax increase next year.

"This is very constructive in terms of the assessment of the current economic situation. There is no reason that Prime Minister Abe should stop raising the (sales) tax," said Masamichi Adachi, senior economist at JPMorgan in Tokyo.

Japan's Nikkei share average .N225 rose 0.3 percent after climbing as much as 1.3 percent earlier in the session.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS added 0.2 percent, though it was still not too far away from a two-week low after it slid 1.5 percent in the previous session. Regional trading activity was expected to be light with China and Hong Kong closed for National Day holiday.

China's manufacturing growth edged up only slightly last month with the official Purchasing Managers' Index rising to 51.1 from August's 51.0, but below expectations and adding to worries that its economy recovery has foundered.

In the commodity markets, gold edged up 0.2 percent to $1,329 an ounce after gaining 7.6 percent in July-September, reversing three straight quarters of decline.

Brent crude dipped 0.6 percent to around $107.7 a barrel after gaining 6 percent in the third quarter, also ending a three-quarter losing streak.

Six Flags Magic Mountain - Lenovo Extends Battery Life With Thinner ThinkPad T, X And S Series Ultrabooks

Source        - http://online.wsj.com/
By              - PRESS RELEASE
Category    - Six Flags Magic Mountain
Posted By  - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Lenovo (SEHK:0992) (Pink Sheets:LNVGY) today announced new thinner and lighter additions to the ThinkPad portfolio. The ThinkPad T440s, T440 and X240 Ultrabook laptops demonstrate a deliberate and purposeful look and feel. The new modern design of the ThinkPad laptops delivers the performance users expect in business while eliciting the excitement and appeal of a consumer designed laptop. This includes 20 percent thinner form factors, a variety of panel options and up to 45 percent larger trackpads with improved click functionality supporting Windows 8 gestures. These new laptops deliver all day battery life with the ThinkPad brand's innovative new Power Bridge technology and continue to deliver the quality and reliability that upholds its legendary status as the leading commercial laptop (1) . 

"Constant improvements and a strong ambition to always build a better laptop has resulted in thinner, lighter and longer lasting ThinkPad laptops with a simpler and cleaner design and up to an incredible 17 hours of battery life," said Dilip Bhatia, vice president, Marketing, Think Business Group, Lenovo. "After extensive research with hundreds of computer users around the world, Lenovo has reset the standard for business class Ultrabooks. The result of thousands of hours spent with consumers and business users have contributed to innovations and enhancements optimized for business and personal use. The new ThinkPad design meets the changing needs of IT managers and end-users." 

Making Technology Simple

Driving lower power usage and taking full advantage of the latest 4(th) generation Intel Core processors, the new ThinkPad Ultrabooks can achieve up to 17 hours battery life(2) . New Power Bridge technology allows users to swap external batteries without powering down their PC. This new "hot swap" feature, available with the ThinkPad 68(23.5Wh), 68+ (72Wh), and 48Wh batteries, provides flexibility and maximum battery life in nearly any situation and extends productivity beyond all day. These external ThinkPad batteries are common among the new ThinkPad Ultrabooks allowing for maximum return on investment. 

Unrelenting commitment to ThinkPad quality and reliability, the new Ultrabooks include numerous sensors that monitor the system. G-sensor to detect shock, thermal sensors to detect and manage heat, voltage sensors to control current and critical voltage sensors to protect key components. 

Protecting hardware and data have long been a key element in ThinkPad design. Hardware based biometric fingerprint security and tamper detection are linked to the Trusted Platform Module that keeps data protected. Lightweight carbon fiber materials increase physical protection and contribute to a lighter and thinner Ultrabook. 

Along with common batteries, the ThinkPad line-up offers new common docking solutions. With simpler and sleeker designs, the new smaller and slimmer ThinkPad Basic Dock, Pro Dock and Ultra Dock offer a wide range of connections and enhancements. 

ThinkPad T440s and T440: The Perfect Choice for the Business Professional

ThinkPad T Series is the mainstay of Lenovo's business portfolio and continues the legacy as Lenovo's most popular laptop with the new ThinkPad T440s and T440. Sharing many of the same features, the two models offer up to one terabyte of local storage or high speed solid state drives (SSD) and the latest generation WiFi and optional 4G WWAN technology. At just 21mm thin, both laptops are designed to provide maximum road warrior efficiency with exceptional battery life capability. 

Full HD touch enabled display is available with the ThinkPad T440s while the T440 includes an HD+ 14 inch screen with optional touch for an improved Windows 8 experience. The ThinkPad T440 can also include an optional integrated smart card reader for enhanced security. 

ThinkPad X240: The Road Warrior's Dream

The ThinkPad X240 is the ideal business ready ultraportable. Designed for serious business and extreme mobility, the X240 weighs less than three pounds and is only 20.3mm thin. Featuring up to 4(th) generation Intel Core i7 processors, up to one terabyte of storage, a 12.5 inch Full HD display option with touch, ThinkPad Precision backlit keyboard and the ability to go "dongle free" with a complete set of ports for full connectivity, the X240 is the definitive thin and light Ultrabook. 

ThinkPad S Series: Designed for Small Business On the Go

Whether for business or pleasure, the new ThinkPad S440 and S540 offer a premium look and feel with bevelled edges to give the impression of a floating PC and an ultra-thin bezel to accommodate a larger screen in a smaller form factor. Featuring the latest 4(th) generation Intel Core processors, up to Full HD anti-glare touch displays and discrete graphics, the S440 and S540 deliver the right match for business productivity and personal computing. 

Lenovo's unique OneLink connector allows for single cable connection to the OneLink Dock for superfast USB 3.0, native video, Gigabit Ethernet and powering the ThinkPad. 

Enhance the experience with ThinkVision

For the first time, Lenovo introduces a 21:9 panoramic display in its new ThinkVision monitor. Featuring a 29 inch AH-IPS LED backlit panel offering 33 per cent more viewing area than a traditional 16:9 screen, the new ThinkVision LT2934z delivers a true cinematic experience. 

Office applications show substantially more information and movies or games look extraordinary on the 2560x1080 display. Even better, the LT2934z includes a Full HD webcam, dual array microphone and speakers for exceptional video calls and Picture-in-Picture capability enables a continuous multi-tasking workflow. 

Lenovo Services offers Integrated Solutions

Lenovo's comprehensive portfolio of Services provides relevant and integral value to businesses. With a committed focus on customer, quality and responsiveness, Lenovo Services offers innovative and integrated solutions to ensure maximum productivity. Warranty Extensions, Upgrades, Accidental Damage Protection, Keep Your Drive, Priority Technical Support and a complete set of factory and automated deployment services help organizations effectively bridge the gap between consumer and business.

Six Flags Magic Mountain - Obama Administration Vetoes Ban on Sale of Some Apple iPhones, iPads

Source       - http://online.wsj.com/
By              - BRENT KENDALL and IAN SHERR
Category   - Six Flags Magic Mountain
Posted By  - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

Six Flags Magic Mountain

The Obama administration on Saturday vetoed a U.S. trade body's ban on the import and sale of some Apple Inc. AAPL +1.28% iPhones and iPads, a rare move that upends a legal victory for smartphone rival Samsung Electronics Co. 005930.SE -0.86%

 

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman made the decision to veto the ban on the Apple devices, citing concerns about patent holders gaining "undue leverage" as well as potential harm to consumers and competitive conditions in the U.S. economy.

He said Samsung could continue to pursue its patent rights through the courts.

The action marked the first time since 1987 that a presidential administration had vetoed an import ban ordered by the U.S. International Trade Commission.

The ITC in June had ordered the import ban and an accompanying cease-and-desist order affecting some older-model Apple iPhones and iPads after finding the products infringed a Samsung patent.

The ban raised concerns among U.S. antitrust enforcers and touched off intense lobbying of the Obama administration by technology companies with opposing positions on the issue.

Critics of the ITC order questioned whether companies should be able to block rival products in cases involving patents that have been deemed to be essential to creating products based on key technologies overseen by industry standard-setting groups.

Apple and some other technology companies argued to the trade representative that the ban was inappropriate because Samsung had committed to fairly license such "standard essential" patents associated with technology for wireless devices.

Samsung insisted it had offered to license its patents to Apple, but the Silicon Valley company had sought to avoid paying for licenses of Samsung's patents.

The South Korean electronics giant and some U.S. technology companies disputed that their commitments to standard-setting bodies mean that patent holders can't seek import bans or court injunctions in enforcing their intellectual property. They argued that a veto of the ITC order would upset decades of settled expectations, weaken the value of patents and discourage innovation.

"We applaud the Administration for standing up for innovation in this landmark case," an Apple spokeswoman said in a statement. "Samsung was wrong to abuse the patent system in this way."

A Samsung spokesman said the company was disappointed by the veto. "The ITC's decision correctly recognized that Samsung has been negotiating in good faith and that Apple remains unwilling to take a license," he said.

The veto concludes one of the most dramatic ITC cases in years. Apple's loss in the case and the subsequent ban was seen as a blow to the company's continued efforts to press cases against competitors it says have copied technology it developed for the iPhone and iPad.

Samsung, meanwhile, is scheduled to face a ruling by the ITC this Friday on whether some of its products infringe Apple patents and should be barred from import as a result. One person familiar with ITC proceedings said it might choose to delay that decision in the wake of the Obama administration's move Saturday.

The ITC cases represent one set of fronts in a global patent war between Apple and Samsung, longtime technology partners that became bitter rivals after Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007 and Samsung later introduced products that contain similar features.

Apple launched a series of patent suits against Samsung, which responded by leveling infringement charges of its own.

The ITC order would have barred the U.S. sale or import of some Apple products still on store shelves, including a version of the iPad 2 made to work on AT&T Inc.'s T +0.14% network, and the iPhone4, which runs on AT&T and T-Mobile USA's airwaves.

Mr. Froman, in a letter explaining the veto, said he came to his decision after extensive consultations with government trade bodies "as well as other interested agencies and persons."

He said he also "strongly shares" concerns raised in a policy statement issued in January by the Justice Department and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which said ITC product bans should rarely be allowed in cases involving standard-essential patents. Among other issues, the agencies discussed the possibility that holders of such patents could use them in ways that would unduly increase royalty rates they might receive for licenses.

DOJ officials were included during the trade representative's review of the Apple ban. A Justice spokeswoman declined to comment.

The Federal Trade Commission, which shares antitrust authority with the Justice Department, has made similar arguments. The FTC in January reached a settlement with Google Inc. GOOG +0.26% after alleging the company was misusing standard-essential patents it acquired from handset maker Motorola Mobility.

An FTC spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Former FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, who led the agency during the Google case, said Saturday's veto would benefit consumers and promote innovation.

"When a company agrees to license what is known as a standard-essential patent at fair and reasonable terms, it shouldn't be able to ban importation of a product into the United States simply because it wants a better deal," he said.

Susan Kohn Ross, a partner at the law firm Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, said she was surprised the Obama administration stepped in on the case. Usually, such reviews turn on whether a patent in a case was really infringed, rather than concerns about the kinds of issues laid out in government policy statements.

Either way, this blow to Samsung likely won't have much impact in the bargaining room with Apple, she said. ITC decisions typically don't have as much of an impact in setting legal precedents as rulings in federal courts.

Samsung cannot appeal the veto, but it can continue to press its own court cases against Apple. "Does it in any way end the dispute? No," Ms. Ross said.

Six Flags Magic Mountain - Natural Gas a Good Choice For Vehicles

Source - http://www.news-register.net/
By - Press Release
Category - Six Flags Magic Mountain
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

 

Six Flags Magic Mountain

We're sure motorists around the Upper Ohio Valley rejoiced last week when they learned that gasoline prices had hit their "summer slide."

Right.

When you look at the average price of gasoline over the past five years, which we did for July 3, you find that prices this year at $3.48 per gallon for regular unleaded are the second highest during that span. Only July 3, 2011, at $3.56 per gallon, was higher, according to AAA.

A year ago, prices were at $3.33 per gallon. In 2010, the average price came in at $2.74 per gallon while in 2009, it was $2.63.

It has been a welcome sight to see prices fall slowly over the past few months. But motorists preparing for summer travel should be looking to the Middle East and what's happening in Egypt to gauge where prices could go in the very near future.

Already, oil prices have topped $100 per barrel, with more increases likely if oil supply lines are interrupted. And the price of gasoline always follows oil.

That's what makes natural gas an attractive alternative. Compressed natural gas already serves as the power source for many fleet vehicles across the country, and the technology exists to create a filling station virtually anywhere.

Compressed natural gas currently costs about $2 for the equivalent of a gallon of fuel. That price has held steady for the past few years.

The local region's abundance of natural gas also makes such a project a wise investment.

And when you couple in reduced emissions and helping to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, it makes sense to look at natural gas as an option.

We're sure motorists around the Upper Ohio Valley rejoiced last week when they learned that gasoline prices had hit their "summer slide."
Right.
When you look at the average price of gasoline over the past five years, which we did for July 3, you find that prices this year at $3.48 per gallon for regular unleaded are the second highest during that span. Only July 3, 2011, at $3.56 per gallon, was higher, according to AAA.
A year ago, prices were at $3.33 per gallon. In 2010, the average price came in at $2.74 per gallon while in 2009, it was $2.63.
It has been a welcome sight to see prices fall slowly over the past few months. But motorists preparing for summer travel should be looking to the Middle East and what's happening in Egypt to gauge where prices could go in the very near future.
Already, oil prices have topped $100 per barrel, with more increases likely if oil supply lines are interrupted. And the price of gasoline always follows oil.
That's what makes natural gas an attractive alternative. Compressed natural gas already serves as the power source for many fleet vehicles across the country, and the technology exists to create a filling station virtually anywhere.
Compressed natural gas currently costs about $2 for the equivalent of a gallon of fuel. That price has held steady for the past few years.
The local region's abundance of natural gas also makes such a project a wise investment.
And when you couple in reduced emissions and helping to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, it makes sense to look at natural gas as an option.
- See more at: http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/587312/Natural-Gas-a-Good-Choice-for-Vehicles.html?nav=511#sthash.sICxETlX.dpuf

We're sure motorists around the Upper Ohio Valley rejoiced last week when they learned that gasoline prices had hit their "summer slide."
Right.
When you look at the average price of gasoline over the past five years, which we did for July 3, you find that prices this year at $3.48 per gallon for regular unleaded are the second highest during that span. Only July 3, 2011, at $3.56 per gallon, was higher, according to AAA.
A year ago, prices were at $3.33 per gallon. In 2010, the average price came in at $2.74 per gallon while in 2009, it was $2.63.
It has been a welcome sight to see prices fall slowly over the past few months. But motorists preparing for summer travel should be looking to the Middle East and what's happening in Egypt to gauge where prices could go in the very near future.
Already, oil prices have topped $100 per barrel, with more increases likely if oil supply lines are interrupted. And the price of gasoline always follows oil.
That's what makes natural gas an attractive alternative. Compressed natural gas already serves as the power source for many fleet vehicles across the country, and the technology exists to create a filling station virtually anywhere.
Compressed natural gas currently costs about $2 for the equivalent of a gallon of fuel. That price has held steady for the past few years.
The local region's abundance of natural gas also makes such a project a wise investment.
And when you couple in reduced emissions and helping to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, it makes sense to look at natural gas as an option.
- See more at: http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/587312/Natural-Gas-a-Good-Choice-for-Vehicles.html?nav=511#sthash.sICxETlX.dpuf

Six Flags Magic Mountain - NC State downs Rice in 17 innings

Source - http://msn.foxsports.com/
By - RALEIGH
Category - Six Flags Magic Mountain
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Brett Williams doubled in Tarran Senay in the top of the 17th inning to help North Carolina State beat Rice 5-4 on Sunday in the longest super regional game in NCAA history.

 Senay drove in the run that tied it in the ninth inning and set the stage for N.C. State (49-14) to make its first College World Series appearance since 1968.

''It's been special these last two days,'' Senay said. ''It doesn't matter how we get the W, as long as we win. It's a great feeling, and we'll see how we do in Omaha.''

Rice (44-20) tied a season high with three home runs. Two were solo shots by Christian Stringer, who homered and hit a go-ahead double in Game 1 and has four of the Owls' six extra-base hits in the series. Before the super regional, Stringer had one home run in 62 games this season.

N.C. State starter Logan Jernigan held Rice to two hits over five innings, including Stringer's first home run, but just as in Game 1, the Wolfpack struggled to scratch out runs early.

Owls starter Jordan Stephens allowed one earned run in 6 1-3 innings, and N.C. State left 16 runners on base.

But in the ninth, Game 1 hero Jake Fincher drove in a pair of runs with a double into the right-field corner and scored on Senay's double to tie it at 4.

The Owls left the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth when No. 3 hitter Keenan Cook popped a bunt back to pitcher Grant Sasser to send the game to extra innings.

''The first baseman was almost on the grass,'' Rice coach Wayne Graham said. ''Any kind of bunt to the right side would have scored the run. It didn't exactly go in the right direction.''

After that, it was a duel between bullpens. The teams were a combined 0 for 22 at the plate following a 77-minute rain delay in the 12th until Rice's Leon Byrd singled in the 16th.

N.C. State's bullpen held Rice without a hit for 7 1-3 innings after the ninth, and Rice's John Simms gave up only one hit in 6 2-3 innings before the Wolfpack broke through in the 17th.

''The drama, you only enjoy that when you come out on top,'' Williams said.

Six Flags Magic Mountain - NASA Spots Three Distant Worlds That Seem Ideal For Life

Source - http://www.courier-journal.com/
By - Dan Vergano
Category - Six Flags Magic Mountain
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

 

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Earth is looking a little less lonely after NASA astronomers reported Thursday the discovery of three more Earth-sized worlds orbiting nearby stars.

Astronomers have spotted more than 800 planets orbiting nearby stars in recent decades, but only a handful have been Earth-sized, “Goldilocks” worlds, not too hot and not too cold for water. Astronomers consider water an essential ingredient for the possibility of life on other planets.

The Kepler space telescope findings reported in the journal Science by a team led by William Borucki of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., add to that total. The report finds that the star, Kepler-62 has two planets, Kepler-62e and Kepler-62f, traveling in ocean-friendly orbits around the star.

“This appears to be the best example our team has found yet of Earth-like planets in the habitable zone of a sun-like star,” said team astrophysicist Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institution for Science of Washington. Kepler-62 is close by astronomical standards at about 1,200 light years away (708,000 trillion miles). It’s slightly smaller than our sun, so its “habitable zone” for planets is closer in. The two ocean-friendly planets have “years” of 122 days and 267 days — the time it takes to orbit the star — for that reason.

Another star spotted by Kepler, dubbed Kepler-69, appears to have a planet in the habitable zone. The planet, Kepler-69c, is 70 percent larger than Earth and circles its star once every 242 days.
 

Six Flags Magic Mountain - Samsung Unveils Quarterly Profit Boost

Source - http://www.ft.com/
By - Song Jung-a
Category - Six Flags Magic Mountain
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

 

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Samsung Electronics on Friday said that first-quarter operating profit would be stronger than expected, as the world’s largest electronics company by sales stepped up sales of lower-end smartphones in emerging markets despite growing price competition and slowing demand in developed markets.

The South Korean company estimated that it posted about Won8.7tn of operating profit in the first three months of this year, up 53 per cent from a year earlier, while sales increased 15 per cent to about Won52tn ($46bn). Samsung will officially announce first-quarter earnings this month.

Booming sales of its flagship Galaxy smartphones continued to drive Samsung’s earnings growth this year while the company has made further inroads into emerging markets by broadening its mid-end product line-up as the smartphone market in advanced countries show signs of saturation. Samsung offers more than 30 models that cover nearly all segments of the smartphone market while rival Apple relies on a single high-end model.

Analysts quoted by Reuters estimate that Samsung sold up to 70m smartphones in the January-March period, up from 63m in the previous quarter, while Apple’s iPhone shipments likely slid about 30 per cent to about 30m.

Although the earnings guidance beat estimates, the first quarter ended Samsung’s five consecutive quarters of record profits. However, analysts expect the company’s earnings to hit a fresh high in the second quarter as its new smartphone, Galaxy S4, goes on sale this month.

Analysts say Samsung may gain the upper hand in its battle with Apple for market share in smartphones, as the company expands marketing for the new phone with a raft of fresh software and hardware features.

With the Galaxy S4, Samsung aims to retake the top spot in US mobile phone sales from Apple, after it was overtaken by the US company in the fourth quarter of last year.

Analysts expect Samsung’s operating profit to probably exceed Won10tn in the second quarter on the back of Galaxy S4 sales. Lee Seung-woo, an analyst at IBK Securities, estimates that shipments of Samsung’s flagship models including the Galaxy S4 could reach 37.8m units in the second quarter, boosting the company’s average selling price by 17 per cent.

Samsung shares inched up 0.13 per cent to about Won1.5m on Friday. The shares have fallen 3 per cent over the past three months on concerns about the slowing smartphone market while Apple stock has dropped nearly 20 per cent in the same period.

Six Flags Magic Mountain - Voyager 1 Has Left The Solar System — Almost

Source - http://www.latimes.com/
By - Monte Morin and Amina Khan
Category - Six Flags Magic Mountain
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

Six Flags Magic Mountain

It was welcome news to Earthlings: The Voyager 1 spacecraft had seemingly crossed a momentous threshold and become the first man-made object to enter interstellar space.

"Voyager 1 has left the solar system," the American Geophysical Union declared Wednesday in a news release. An accompanying study published online in the organization's journal, Geophysical Research Letters, also contained an unusually sentimental end note declaring that "we did it. Bon Voyage!"

Alas, the elation that spread through news and social media was short-lived. Voyager 1 was still in the neighborhood, NASA said, even after traveling for more than 35 years. Then the American Geophysical Union press office issued a correction of its headline, omitting any reference to the spacecraft having departed "the solar system."

"The Voyager team is aware of reports today that NASA's Voyager 1 has left the solar system," said Edward Stone, Voyager project scientist at Caltech and former chief of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, where Voyager was built. "It is the consensus of the Voyager science team that Voyager 1 has not yet left the solar system or reached interstellar space."

Though there is little doubt that the lonely probe will one day exit the solar system, scientists are discovering that the border is not as clearly defined as they expected it to be.

In the paper released Wednesday, lead author Bill Webber suggested that the probe had exited the heliosphere — that region of space dominated by solar winds and long considered to be the edge of the solar system — on Aug. 25, 2012.

It was on that day that Voyager's sensors registered drastic changes in radiation levels. There was a sharp drop in so-called anomalous cosmic rays — high-energy particles trapped within the "bubble" of the outer heliosphere — and a sudden surge in galactic cosmic rays from outside the solar system.

Together, those events seemed to indicate that Voyager had "crossed a well-defined boundary" and possibly entered interstellar space 11.3 billion miles from the sun, according to the paper.

"It appears that V1 has exited the main solar modulation region, revealing hydrogen and helium spectra characteristic of those to be expected in the local interstellar medium," wrote Webber, a professor emeritus of astronomy at New Mexico State University who is involved with cosmic ray experiments on Voyager.

But scientists at NASA and elsewhere said Webber's report did not address one of the most unexpected elements of the boundary between the solar system and interstellar space — a mysterious region that Stone and others have labeled a "magnetic highway."

In December, the Voyager science team reported that the spacecraft had reached a place where particles from the solar wind dropped off dramatically and cosmic rays from interstellar space increased. But they did not detect an anticipated change in the direction of the magnetic field emanating from the sun.

"If we had looked at particle data alone, we would have said, 'We're out! Goodbye, solar system!'" Stamatios Krimigis, a solar physicist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., said at the time.

Instead, the scientists surmised that Voyager had reached the magnetic highway, where interstellar particles can ride in and solar system particles can ride out. Only when the craft senses that the magnetic field has changed direction will they declare that it has reached interstellar space.

"And that change of direction has not yet been observed," Stone said Wednesday.

So the new report from Webber left his fellow Voyager scientists scratching their heads.

"We did not leave the solar system," said Merav Opher, an astrophysicist at Boston University and member of the Voyager team. "We are simply in a new region that is completely different than what we thought."

Webber did not return calls or email seeking comment Wednesday.

A good deal of the confusion can be traced to the American Geophysical Union's news release. A press representative said it was a challenge to convey the significance of the study. He said he realized soon after the release was issued that it may not have been fully accurate.

"We were trying to create a headline that was meaningful to reporters and to general audiences, and I guess we overstated the conclusions a little bit," said Peter Weiss, a public information manager for the American Geophysical Union in Washington.

The Voyager study was unusual for other reasons as well.

It was published by just two scientists and not the larger Voyager team. And one of those scientists, astrophysicist Frank McDonald of the University of Maryland, died in August — just days after he and Webber determined that Voyager had crossed a boundary of great significance.

McDonald, who helped design instruments for many NASA space probes, collapsed from a brain aneurysm while speaking at a symposium, said Gary Zank, a space physicist who witnessed the event. He died the next day.

Webber went on to write up the pair's findings. The end of the paper published in Geophysical Research Letters contained a rare sentimental note to his former colleague:

"Frank, we have been working together for over 55 years to reach the goal of actually observing the interstellar spectra of cosmic rays, possibly now achieved almost on the day of your passing," he wrote. "You wanted so badly to be able to finish this article that you had already started. Together we did it. Bon Voyage!"

McDonald's widow, Irene "Rene" McDonald, said her late husband was indeed looking forward to the day when Voyager exited the solar system.

"I know that when they do confirm that they actually have gone beyond the solar system with Voyager, he'd be pleased as punch," she said. "I know also as a scientist, he'd be extremely cautious about saying that it truly has happened."

Six Flags Magic Mountain - White House Calls for Cellphone 'Unlocking'

Source - http://online.wsj.com/
By - DANNY YADRON
Category - Six Flags Magic Mountain
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Americans should be able to take their used cellphones and tablets freely from one wireless carrier to another if they aren't under contract, the White House said Monday, offering the latest victory to Internet activists seeking to shape U.S. technology policy.

Wireless companies have long sold cellphones at discounted prices in exchange for long-term service agreements. The catch: Consumers can't easily take what would otherwise be an expensive smartphone to a rival carrier who offers a better price while the phone is under contract.

Tech-savvy users have used computer programs as a workaround to unlock their phones. But last fall, the Library of Congress, which has oversight of certain copyright matters, banned the practice if a carrier doesn't give permission, saying cellphones should no longer be exempted from a section of copyright law. The move went into effect in January, prompting a backlash from activists who flooded a petition on the White House's website.

By the time the White House responded Monday, the "Make Unlocking Cell Phones Legal" petition at the White House's website had garnered more than 114,300 digital signatures. 

"Consumers should be able to unlock their cellphones without risking criminal or other penalties," R. David Edelman, an Obama administration adviser on Internet and privacy issues, said in the official response to the petition. He called the position "common sense" and "crucial for protecting consumer choice."

The White House said consumers should still be required to honor service agreements.

Both AT&T Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp. already allow customers to unlock their phones after they have fulfilled their contracts, but activists call the procedure cumbersome and say users should be able to do it on their own. The latest phones from Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC, come unlocked, a spokeswoman said. 

The wireless industry defended their current practices.

"Customers have numerous options when purchasing mobile devices," Michael Altschul, general counsel for the wireless industry group CTIA, said in a statement Monday. "They may choose to purchase devices at full price with no lock, or at a substantially discounted price—typically hundreds of dollars less than the full price—by signing a contract with a carrier."

The Library of Congress's rules establish federal copyright penalties for unlocking a cellphone. Wireless carriers can collect statutory civil damages of between $200 and $2,500 per violation and criminal penalties can rise to $500,000, five years in prison or both for the first offense.

The response by the White House marks the latest effort by Washington to cater to Web activists, who have used a mix of online organizing, email blasts and occasional in-person protests to shape how Washington regulates new technology. 

Internet message-board regulars and corporate titans such as Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg effectively killed antipiracy bills in Congress last year that had seemed likely to become law. Many lawmakers said the heated and organized response caught them off guard. 

"People are just waking up to the impact they can really have," said Derek Khanna, a former technology staffer on Capitol Hill, who helped marshal support for the cellphone petition. "It's not just stopping bad legislation. They can really put new ideas on the table."

A former staffer for the Republican Study Committee, a leading group of House conservatives, Mr. Khanna wrote a memo last year that called for the liberalization of copyright law. The RSC retracted the report and said it didn't support it.

The RSC couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

Mr. Khanna said he received a phone call Monday from the White House's Mr. Edelman informing him of the administration's response shortly before the statement was posted online.

The White House confirmed the phone call but wouldn't comment on the discussion.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski recently said he intends to look into the issue of unlocked cellphones, a move the White House said it would support. It is unclear what regulatory authority the commission has in this case.

Six Flags Magic Mountain - Valley View Casino & Hotel Enhances Player Loyalty Program With Playersoft Mobile Enrollment

Source - http://www.dailymarkets.com/
By - Press Release
Category - Six Flags Magic Mountain
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Valley View Casino & Hotel has launched Mobile Enrollment from Playersoft Technologies to allow casino staff to quickly and easily sign up guests for the Casino casino’s Players Club anywhere on the casino floor. Mobile Enrollment allows operators to extend the reach of the Players Club and enhance guest service by using an iPod touch to bring the sign up experience right to the guest, making enrollment quicker, easier and more accurate.

“Valley View Casino and Hotel has earned the reputation of providing exceptional service to our guests and Mobile Enrollment enables us to further that service by eliminating the need to stand in lines to enjoy the benefits of our outstanding Players Club program,” said Todd Jackson, Vice President of Information Technology at Valley View Casino & Hotel. “Using the latest technology to increase guest service and satisfaction is something we are always excited about and that makes Playersoft a great company to work with because they provide exceptional technical skills, without forgetting that excellent service comes first.”

Mobile Enrollment’s open design interface allows for quick and simple integration with any casino player tracking system, transforming the sign up process from several minutes at a club booth to just a few seconds anywhere on the casino floor with the simple swipe or scan of a drivers license. Bringing the club directly to the guest enhances the level of service and allows the operator to increase membership quickly and easily while reducing lines at the Players Club.

“Mobile Enrollment is more than just taking the players club mobile, it improves data accuracy, extends the reach of the player loyalty program and improves guest service, while creating a sign up process that is faster and more intuitive for the casino staff,” said Tony de Leon, President of Playersoft. “Mobile Enrollment allows the casino operator to increase carded play, and reach the guests who otherwise might go unnoticed.”

“We’ve received great interest and response from casinos all over the country, and having our product adopted by a highly respected, service oriented property like Valley View Casino & Hotel further validates the direction of our products to provide staff with the tools they need to deliver exceptional customer service.”

Mobile Enrollment also features an offline mode allowing staff to reach out to players at offsite events, adding even greater reach for new player acquisition and furthering the player’s experience.

Playersoft Technologies was established with a mission to help casino operators improve the players gaming experience, increase player retention and profitability.

Valley View Casino & Hotel, Southern California’s premier gaming destination, combines the thrill of San Diego’s only Certified Loose slots and all of your favorite table games with beautifully appointed rooms, seven delicious restaurants and first class guest service. The casino hotel features 12 Luxury Suites and 96 Deluxe Rooms all featuring breathtaking views and complimentary poolside breakfast. To enjoy the casino, hotel and restaurants, guests must be 21 or older. For more information about Valley View Casino & Hotel or to book a reservation please visit the mobile-friendly ValleyViewCasino.com or call 760-291-5500.