Starman falls to Earth after five-month space odyssey

By Dmitry Solovyov and Irene Klotz

ALMATY/CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The Canadian astronaut who became a music sensation when his zero-gravity version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" went viral on the web returned to Earth along with two crewmates on Tuesday after a five-month stint on the International Space Station.

Chris Hadfield landed safely in central Kazakhstan with his American and Russian colleagues. Their Soyuz space capsule descended under an orange parachute and raised clouds of dust as it ignited an engine to cushion its landing about 150 km (90 miles) southeast of the town of Zhezkazgan.

The astronauts were presented with Russian nesting dolls with their images painted on and wore traditional Kazakh embroidered robes and hats over their blue flight suits when they posed for cameras before returning to Russia's cosmonaut training center outside Moscow for medical tests.

"It's part of humanity to be in space," Hadfield said in Russian. "What we were feeling, what we were doing there, the music we played, this is a big part of our lives." He called his time in orbit an "amazing experience".

Hadfield, NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn and Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko had left the $100-billion orbital outpost about 3-1/2 hours earlier as it sailed 255 miles over eastern Mongolia.

Hadfield, the first Canadian to command the space station, made more history on Monday when he released the first music video shot in space - his poignant "cyberspace" rendition of Space Oddity, which was first released in 1969 just before the Apollo 11 moon landing.

The video, with its familiar refrain "Ground Control to Major Tom" had almost seven million hits on YouTube on Tuesday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo

"I'm very happy that ... seven million are interested. It is very interesting and historic to be in space," Hadfield said.

SPACEWALK

The space mission included an impromptu spacewalk on Saturday to fix an ammonia coolant leak that had cropped up two days earlier. Without the repair, NASA likely would have had to cut back the station's science experiments to save power. The cooling system dissipates heat from electronics on the station's solar-powered wing panels.

During the 5-1/2-hour walk, Marshburn and Chris Cassidy, who remains aboard the station, replaced a suspect ammonia coolant pump, apparently resolving the leak. Engineers will monitor the system for several weeks to make sure there are no problems.

The mission of Hadfield, Marshburn and Romanenko, who blasted off 146 days ago, was the 35th expedition aboard the station, a permanently staffed laboratory where crew carry out experiments in fields including biology, physics and astronomy.

Their replacements are due to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on May 28. Until then, a skeleton crew led by Pavel Vinogradov and including NASA astronaut Cassidy and cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin will keep the station operating.

The crew's return to Earth was on the 40th anniversary of the launch of the first U.S. space station, Skylab. Three crews lived and worked on the relatively short-lived Skylab between May 1973 and February 1974.

The project helped NASA prepare for research aboard the space shuttles and the International Space Station, which was constructed in orbit beginning in 1998.

The outpost, scheduled to remain in orbit until at least 2020, has been permanently staffed since 2000.

(Additional reporting by Aliyah Suivdikova and Alissa de Carbonnel; Editing by Pravin Char)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/space-trio-lands-kazakhstan-five-months-orbit-044631446.html

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AP source: FBI eyes possible extortion at Rutgers

Eric Murdock speaks during a news conference in East Hanover N.J., Friday, April 5, 2013. Murdock, a former Rutgers empoyee who made public the video that led to the basketball coach's dismissal and athletic director's resignation, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the university. Murdock filed the lawsuit Friday in state court, claiming the university violated the state's employee protection act and his contract. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

Eric Murdock speaks during a news conference in East Hanover N.J., Friday, April 5, 2013. Murdock, a former Rutgers empoyee who made public the video that led to the basketball coach's dismissal and athletic director's resignation, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the university. Murdock filed the lawsuit Friday in state court, claiming the university violated the state's employee protection act and his contract. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

Eric Murdock arrives for a news conference in East Hanover, N.J., Friday, April 5, 2013. Murdock, a former Rutgers empoyee who made public the video that led to the basketball coach's dismissal and athletic director's resignation, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the university. Murdock filed the lawsuit Friday in state court, claiming the university violated the state's employee protection act and his contract. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

Eric Murdock listens during a news conference in East Hanover, N.J., Friday, April 5, 2013. Murdock, a former Rutgers empoyee who made public the video that led to the basketball coach's dismissal and athletic director's resignation, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the university. Murdock filed the lawsuit Friday in state court, claiming the university violated the state's employee protection act and his contract. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

Rutgers President Robert Barchi describes Friday, April 5, 2013, in New Brunswick, N.J., the shoving he saw on a video that showed men's head basketball coach Mike Rice's abusive behavior. Barchi also announced the resignation of athletic director Tim Pernetti, who had decided to "rehabilitate" rather than fire Rice, whose abusive behavior was captured on a video. Barchi's job appeared to be safe. Pernetti dismissed Rice on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Rutgers University Board of Governors Chairman Ralph Izzo, left, looks on Friday, April 5, 2013, in New Brunswick, N.J., as university President Robert Barchi listens to a question. Barchi announced the resignation of athletic director Tim Pernetti, who had decided to "rehabilitate" rather than fire men's head basketball coach Mike Rice, whose abusive behavior was captured on a video. Pernetti dismissed Rice on Wednesday. Barchi's job appeared to be safe after getting a public nod of support from the school's board of governors. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

The FBI is investigating whether a former Rutgers basketball employee tried to extort the university before he made videos that showed ex-coach Mike Rice shoving and kicking players and berating them with gay slurs.

A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Sunday that investigators are interested in Eric Murdock, who left his job as the men's basketball program's player development director last year and later provided the video to university officials and ESPN.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the inquiry has not been announced. The investigation was first reported by The New York Times.

A spokeswoman for the FBI's Newark office said the agency would not say whether there is an investigation. Murdock's lawyer did not return a call to the AP on Sunday. A Rutgers spokesman referred questions to the FBI.

A December letter from Murdock's lawyer to a lawyer representing Rutgers requested $950,000 to settle employment issues and said that if the university did not agree by Jan. 4, Murdock was prepared to file a lawsuit. The letter was obtained last week by the AP and other media outlets.

No settlement has been made. The video became public last week, and Murdock on Friday filed a lawsuit against the university, contending he was fired because he was a whistleblower trying to bring to light Rice's behavior.

The video's release last week set off a chain reaction that led to Rice's firing and the resignations of athletic director Tim Pernetti, the university's top in-house lawyer and an assistant basketball coach. Some critics want the university's president, Robert Barchi, to resign.

At a news conference last week, Barchi said the firing and resignations likely never would have happened unless Murdock provided the video to ESPN. Barchi said he did not see the video himself until after it had been made public.

Murdock, a New Jersey native who played for seven NBA teams from 1991 to 2000, was on the initial staff Rice assembled when he became the Rutgers coach in 2010. He left the team last year, though there are conflicting stories about the circumstances.

Murdock has said Rice fired him after he skipped a session of Rice's summer basketball camp, but has said he was targeted because he had spoken with others about Rice's conduct at practice. The university found in a report that Murdock was not actually fired and that he could have continued working at the school.

After Murdock left, he spoke with university officials about his allegations against Rice. He also used an open public records request to obtain hundreds of hours of videos of basketball practice. It's not clear who shot the original footage, but it was edited into the half-hour video later given to the university that touched off a scandal last week.

The university report on Rice, which was completed in December but not made public until Friday, criticized the video provided by Murdock as taken many situations out of context. While the report found fault with Rice's behavior in several instances, it also said he did not create a hostile work environment, as Murdock had suggested.

The report also said that Murdock had claimed some violations of NCAA rules ? including that he and others in the program paid players ? but he did not provide evidence.

After a review, university officials agreed to suspend Rice without pay for three games, fine him $50,000, send him to anger-management counseling and monitor his behavior.

Barchi said when he first saw the video last week he immediately decided Rice could not continue as coach.

____

AP sports writer Tim Sullivan contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-04-07-Rutgers-FBI%20Inquiry/id-961e1ab155ba4ecd8681b8ece06100fe

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What will North Korea do next?

help ease the crisis.

>>> outbreak of a deadly new virus and fears that it could start to spread from person to person. what the u.s. is doing to protect americans.

>>> the dangerous game known as celebrity swatting. two new episodes that force swat teams to respond to phoney threats.

>>> flash point. the growing controversy over a new way to make guns. just about anyone can do it with computer programs and a 3-d printer.

>>> and the funny man. in a land of strict tradition, he models himself after jon stewart and is wildly popular in his country. but not everyone is laughing.

>>> good evening. tonight north korea is rallying its citizens onto a war footage amid a barrage of threats against the u.s. and south korea . right now u.s. officials with one eye warily trained on the north's military movements, trying to figure out a way to dial back the tension. north yokorea has a history of threatening the west, but now with joint military south korea exercises, has taken things to a dangerous new level. we'll get washington's reaction in a moment, but first to seoul and nbc's jim asada with the latest there. jim?

>> reporter: hi, lester. it seems like every day this week, north korea took another step toward war, but today the peninsula was strangely quiet, as if both sides were taking a breather and wondering what to do next. kim jong -un, the man who idolizes michael jordan and collects his sneakers is showing the world he can lead the world to war as well. once again they filled the airways with kim, the supreme leader , a before adoring crowds and citizens. at times honing his own shooting skills, and on one occasion telling the people they must guarantee the quality of their weapons to ensure a preemptive attack on the enemy. after weeks of tensions, the two koreans seemed on a knife's edge. the north with at least two missiles locked on their anchors ready to go as far as guam but wait to be truly tested skpchlt in the sea, south korea tracks its every move. the border has been closed for days, leaving south korean tourists unail to cross and fearing how things will turn out. i feel so worried, she says. and my children do as well. but just as this war of words risks becoming a real battle, the u.s. and north korea seemed to step back from the brink. the u.s. stopped parading american firepower after the show of force showed pyongyang dialing back the tension. and there were no new threats from kim today. in seoul the talk was about diplomacy. with secretary of state john kerry looking for answers on a visit next week, some american analysts say there is a window of opportunity to deal with the young north korean dictator.

>> he's a kid. we need to get to know who he is, and through dialogue and engagement, we need to change him, to some extent, if we have to.

>> reporter: that is, if we don't go to war with him first. it seems very likely now that in the days ahead, north korea will fire those two mid-range missiles, most probably as a test, not as an attack, but that will spike emotions and tension across the region once again. lester?

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653387/s/2a6a4967/l/0Lvideo0Bmsnbc0Bmsn0N0Cid0C51453446/story01.htm

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Kidnapped 89-year-old to captors: 'You got to be kind to other people'

An 89-year-old woman who spent two days locked in her car trunk thinking she'd never be found has a message for her teen captors.

"You got to be kind to other people if you want somebody to be kind to you," Margaret Smith said.

The 4-foot-11 octangenerian's story began with an act of kindness on March 18.

Smith had stopped at the Chicken Man Convenience Store in Milford, Del., for a Butter Pecan ice cream cone when two teenage girls approached her and asked for a ride across town.

"I decided not to, then I said, 'Well, a good deed,'" Smith said.

After driving around for a while, Smith said the girls snatched her car keys and stuffed her in the trunk of her Buick.

"The way they drove off flying, I didn't think nobody would ever find me," she said. "I just had to pray about and hope that I'd be found."

Smith spent the next two days crammed in the trunk, without food, water and her blood pressure medication. She said the only time the girls opened the trunk was to rob her of the cash she was carrying.

"I was very tired, cold, hungry, scared," Smith said. "I didn't know what to expect."

After spending 48 hours locked in her trunk, Smith's kidnappers inexplicably decided to dump her in a remote cemetery.

"I was crawling through the cemetery on hands and knees," Smith said. "Nothing but a pair of stockings on, no jacket...Finally somebody found me. I don't know who."

Smith was taken to a local hospital, where her family, who had reported her missing, received a call that she was safe.

Delaware State Police found Smith's car days later and arrested and charged five teenagers inside. All are believed to have some involvement in the kidnapping, robbery and theft, ABC News' Philadelphia affiliate WPVI reported.

Four of the teens, ranging in age from 14 to 17, are being charged as adults, while a fifth faces receiving stolen property and conspiracy charges as a minor.

Also Read

Source: http://gma.yahoo.com/kidnapped-89-old-her-captors-got-kind-other-155806683--abc-news-topstories.html

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Church: Pastor Rick Warren's son commits suicide

LAKE FOREST, Calif. (AP) ? The 27-year-old son of popular evangelical Pastor Rick Warren has committed suicide at his Southern California home, Warren's church and authorities said on Saturday.

Matthew Warren struggled with mental illness, deep depression and suicidal thoughts throughout his life, Saddleback Valley Community Church said in a statement. His body was found in his Mission Viejo home Friday night, said Allison O'Neal, a supervising deputy coroner for Orange County. She declined to release the cause and manner of death pending an autopsy of the young man.

"Despite the best health care available, this was an illness that was never fully controlled and the emotional pain resulted in his decision to take his life," the church statement said.

Rick Warren, the author of the multimillion-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life," said in an email to church staff that he and his wife had enjoyed a fun Friday evening with their son. But their son then returned home to take his life in "a momentary wave of despair."

Over the years, Matthew Warren had been treated by America's best doctors, had received counseling and medication and been the recipient of numerous prayers from others, his father said.

"I'll never forget how, many years ago, after another approach had failed to give relief, Matthew said 'Dad, I know I'm going to heaven. Why can't I just die and end this pain?'" Warren recalled.

Despite that, he said, his son lived for another decade, during which he often reached out to help others.

"You who watched Matthew grow up knew he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man," Warren wrote. "He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He'd then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them."

The elder Warren founded Saddleback Church in 1980, according to his biography on the church website, and over the years watched it grow to 20,000 members. He and his wife, Kay, began by holding Bible studies for people who weren't regular churchgoers.

Matthew Warren was the youngest of their three children.

As Saddleback grew over the years, it spread out from its Lake Forest headquarters, 65 miles southeast of Los Angeles, adding several other campuses and ministries around Southern California.

The church says it now offers more than 200 community ministries and support groups for parents, families, children, couples, prisoners, addicts, and people living with HIV, depression and other illnesses.

In 2008, the church sponsored a presidential forum with Barack Obama and John McCain. Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney were invited to a similar forum last fall, but Warren canceled it several days beforehand, saying the campaign had become too uncivil.

Warren was named the top newsmaker of the year for 2009 by the Religion Newswriters Association. He gained attention that year with his invocation at Obama's inauguration, as well as with comments he made in the aftermath of California's Proposition 8, which overturned gay marriage.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/church-pastor-rick-warrens-son-commits-suicide-211206608.html

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AP PHOTOS: Easter celebrations around the world

Pope Francis blesses a man as he leads the Easter vigil service in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican Saturday, March 30, 2013. Pope Francis is celebrating a trimmed back Easter Vigil service after having reached out to Muslims and women during a Holy Week in which he has begun to put his mark on the Catholic Church. Francis processed into a darkened and silent St. Peter's Basilica at the start of the Saturday service, which recalls the period between Christ's crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis blesses a man as he leads the Easter vigil service in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican Saturday, March 30, 2013. Pope Francis is celebrating a trimmed back Easter Vigil service after having reached out to Muslims and women during a Holy Week in which he has begun to put his mark on the Catholic Church. Francis processed into a darkened and silent St. Peter's Basilica at the start of the Saturday service, which recalls the period between Christ's crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis leaves after celebrating the Easter vigil service in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican Saturday, March 30, 2013. Pope Francis celebrated a trimmed back Easter Vigil service after having reached out to Muslims and women during a Holy Week in which he has begun to put his mark on the Catholic Church. Francis processed into a darkened and silent St. Peter's Basilica at the start of the Saturday service, which recalls the period between Christ's crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis leaves after celebrating the Easter vigil service in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican Saturday, March 30, 2013. Pope Francis celebrated a trimmed back Easter Vigil service after having reached out to Muslims and women during a Holy Week in which he has begun to put his mark on the Catholic Church. Francis processed into a darkened and silent St. Peter's Basilica at the start of the Saturday service, which recalls the period between Christ's crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Cardinal Audrys Juozas Backis bless during the Easter vigil mass at the Cathedral-Basilica in Vilnius, Lithuania, Saturday, March 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Penitents of the "Las Siete Palabras" brotherhood take part in the procession of "La Soledad" during Holy Week in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, March 30, 2013. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

In his Easter Vigil homily at St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis kept his message simple and tied to the liturgical readings. "Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life!" Just a few hours after the vigil ends, Francis on Sunday will celebrate his first Easter Mass as pontiff and deliver his "Urbi et Orbi" speech, Latin for "To the city and the world."

Here are scenes from Easter celebrations at the Vatican and across the world.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-30-Easter-Photo%20Gallery/id-62edbb13ed854dc28d219765f763c4c1

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NAIS Career Center: Technology jobs, Encino jobs, California jobs ...

?

?

Duties and Responsibilities:

Network Infrastructure

?????? Monitor, manage, and report regularly on the health of the network, servers, security, backups, firewall, and Internet service.

?????? Ensure network wiring for, servers, switches and wireless networks? are maintained and up graded as necessary.

?????? Administer IP address framework including public and private addresses, DNS, VLANS & DHCP.

?????? Maintain accurate and complete documentation of the network.

?????? Maintain and administer network operating systems, network equipment, servers and virtual servers.

?????? Configure, oversee, maintain and troubleshoot a network of printers, projectors, computers, iPads, SmartBoards, and manage all applicable software licenses.

?????? Manage and direct upgrade and/or repair of network hardware

?????? Deign and implement short and long term strategic plans to make certain the network capacity meets existing and future requirements.

Hardware and Software Maintenance and Installation

?????? Manage? Apple and Windows servers, desktops, iPads, printers and laptops to ensure they are in working order.

?????? Monitor hardware components (memory, hard drives, operating systems, drives, etc.)to enusure they are properly maintained and upgraded as necessary.

?????? Create, test, and maintain images for desktops, laptops, and iPads.

?????? Manage software installation and upgrades on server, desktops and laptops.

?????? Maintain accurate and complete documentation for all servers, systems, software, and hardware.

?????? Administrate and maintain Blackbaud?s Education Edge, Financial Edge, and Raiser?s Edge databases.

?????? Work with school administration in developing and maintaining the school?s website.

?????? Help manage Silverpoint?s database, which entails the updating and roll over of student and faculty information at the start of each academic year.

?????? Responsible for ensuring network security and anti-virus polices are in place, and that proper backup of the network are maintained.

?????? Regularly conduct recovery capability tests

?????? Manage and support the school?s firewall and IP and URL filtering system.

?????? Develop and deploy methodologies for testing network performance and providing network performance statistics and reports.

?????? Manage all components of Google and iPad Apps

?????? Manage the content of data that flows through the school?s network to ensure it is incompliance with the school?s acceptable use policy.

Help Desk and Desktop Support

?????? Manage and trouble shoot, as necessary, daily networking, software, printer and hardware problems submitted to the help desk ticketing system? through (SchoolDude ITDirect).

?????? Ensure help desk requests are addressed to in a timely manner.

?????? Follow up with users, recommend upgrades, and coordinate with vendors for parts and repairs.

?????? Maintain excellent communication with all end users and other members of the technology department.

?????? Administer user accounts and contact lists for all systems as well as e-mail, telephone and emergency notification systems.

?????? Advise school administrators on the maintenance and effectiveness of data applications, and on next-generation applications.

?????? Establish best practices and policies for installing, configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting end user workstation hardware, software, and peripheral devices.

Audio Visual

?????? Coordinate setup, and operate (as necessary), audio and video equipment for Westmark day and evening events.

?????? Service, and maintain AV equipment including projectors and DVD/VCR players.

?????? Monitor and manage the service, upgrade, and repair of SmartBoards.

?????? Maintain an inventory of all AV equipment including projectors, camera, video recorders, etc.

Miscellaneous

?????? Participate in weekly Tech Committee meetings.

?????? Direct and monitor the work of IT outsourced providers.

?????? Maintain expertise in computer technology and provide suggested improvements and advancements to the school?s network and computer systems.

?????? Work with the Tech committee to advance the school?s technology plan.

?????? Develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and associated training plans for network resource and appropriate use.

?????? Collaborating with administration on development of an IT department budget and capital planning.

?????? Other duties as assigned by Head of School.

Knowledge and Skills:

Knowledge/Experience in:

?????? Data communications theory, protocols and hardware.

?????? Severs (including virtual) and server operating systems, including MS SQL and Active Directory.

?????? Database design, implementation, and management.

?????? Helpdesk design, organization, and operation.

?????? Internet and Intranet development standards.

?????? Strategic planning and project management.

?????? Window OS and Mac OS X

?????? Organization, management, and control of complex computer equipment and data processing systems.

?????? Demonstrated knowledge of iPad and management of a 1:1 iPad program.

?????? Knowledge of SmartBoard operations and support.

?????? Principles of budget preparation and administration.

?????? Website authentication and portals.

Ability to:

?????? Develop and articulate long term strategic plans

?????? Express complex ideas clearly and accurately both orally and in writing.

?????? Supervise and manage help desk resources.

?????? Analyze complex problems and recommend solutions.

?????? Evaluate network requirements and user needs and advise on appropriate hardware and software configurations.

?????? Conduct meetings and make presentations.

?????? Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Credentials

?

?????? Google Certified ? preferred

?????? Knowledge of Blackbuad ? preferred

?

Experience and Education

?

?????? Minimum five years experience in supporting a dual platform network with multiple users and servers, and three years experience of managing a broad dual platform network.

?????? Bachelor?s degree in Information Technology, or other relevant field; Master?s preferred.

?????? Previous school or non profit experience preferred, but not required.?

Source: http://careers.nais.org/jobs/5292240/director-of-it

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