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5 London Clubs Where You're Guaranteed To Find Olympic Athletes

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the cuckoo club london bar club

For the last four years, the superhuman athletes that will be competing this summer have been abstaining from any and all tempting behaviors in their quest for gold.

And if past headlines of prevalent sex, cheating, and drug use (so what if they are performance enhancers) in the Olympic Village are any indication, there’s a lot of steam waiting to blow.

Click here to see the clubs >

With this summer’s Games taking place in one of the party capitals of the world, you can bet they’ll be hitting the town to celebrate their victories—or drown away their defeats. But before you start fantasizing over bumping into Maria Sharapova at the local pub and wooing her with your obscure tennis knowledge, remember that you will be in the original land of nobility.

These athletes, with their bodies sculpted like Greek gods and goddesses, will be getting the ultimate royal treatment—far from the prying eyes of the peasantry. Which is why we here at Party Earth are here to help. Because if you want your chance at showing Kevin Durant a few tips on throwing down shots, or seeing Aussie swimming star Stephanie Rice in something sexier than her one-piece speedo (hard to imagine), you better know where to go—and be ready to look the part.

So brush off that snazzy sports coat or make a shopping stop at Regent Street, because here are five exclusive clubs in London where you’ll need to look good in order to have the best chance of finding your favorite Olympic athletes.

This story was originally published by Party Earth.

McQueen

Named after the king of cool himself, McQueen is an ultra-sleek nightclub and lounge in the Shoreditch neighborhood of London. Purple and blue hues pervade under the dim gold lighting, and deep black leather banquettes and sofas balance the rooms.

Three separate areas provide the power players and swank fashionistas with a place to eat, drink, and dance, but the masculine coolness of the venue is topped off with the basement: its Thursday night burlesque shows and late-night DJs are famous for inspiring the sort of antics that would have made the legend himself proud. McQueen, with its crafted cocktails, risqué environment, and trendy clientele, will be a likely place to spot an athlete dressed to impress. Hopefully the rest of the crowds are distracted by the cabaret.



The Cuckoo Club

Deserving of its own Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous episode, The Cuckoo Club is where the city’s finest throw on their Louboutins and little black dresses for a night of glamour. Competing with Los Angeles clubs for its constant celebrity sightings, the Cuckoo Club will be a prime suspect for spotting Olympians looking to hit the dance floor. Make a reservation and arrive early to this lavish spot because the lines are guaranteed to be stiff. When you spot soccer star Alex Morgan inside and attempt to show off your moves, just make sure not to come on too strong—a penalty kick to the groin with her six-inch heels will hurt even more than with her cleats.



Shoreditch House

You might not look twice at this featureless four-story building, but within its upper three floors is an exquisite members-only club known for its celebrities, athletes, and affluent corporate-types that relax and socialize in its tranquil environment.

By far, the highlight of the Shoreditch House is its rooftop. Perched on the roof are a restaurant/bar, a crystal blue pool, and even a Lazy Lawn—a garden area with lounge chairs and beds perfect for a sunny day tan while sipping on world-class cocktails. But if you aren’t a member, how do you get in? Well, tough luck Chuck. Just kidding, there is actually an adjacent hotel next door, and guests are welcome to use the club. So book that room or be prepared to dish out a pretty penny if you want to talk strategy with D-Wade or share a Manhattan with Lolo Jones.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Here Are The Best iPhone And iPad Apps You Missed This Week (AAPL)

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adad

This week we have an educational atlas app for kids, an excellent updated Amtrak app, a better way to take notes, and many more.

Keep reading more apps are this way.

World Atlas

Here's a cool interactive atlas that will have kids exploring and learning about the world. Get your younger child using this app to cultivate a sense of curiosity and interest in different places around the globe.

Price: $4.99



Tachyon

This innovative music-making app lets you play piano and guitar at the same time, or blend any two sounds you like into a new and interesting tone.

Price: $1.99



Agent Dash

You're a secret agent running through a hazardous environment. Jump, dodge, and use jet packs to reach a new high score.

Price: free



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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6 Of The World's Greatest Historic Bars

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ye olde cheshire cheese tavern london

Sure, there’s an appeal to a new swanky restaurant, bar, or club opening.

It’s fun to be a part of something new and exciting, but there’s no way to tell if this new hot spot is a flash in the pan or an icon in the making.

There’s just nothing like the cozy feeling you get from dining or drinking in a historic establishment.

Anyone can set up shop and serve a beer, cocktail or glass of wine, but these six bars on the East Coast and across the pond give off a venerated atmosphere with their long-standing ties and the generations-old stories that live within the walls.

This story was originally published by Party Earth.

McSorley's Old Ale House

Starting off in New York’s East Village, McSorley’s Old Ale House has been serving libations since 1854 and proudly wears its history with sawdust strewn floors, old photos, and historical documents on display. This pub’s stories range from John Lennon ordering cold ones, Woody Guthrie inspiring the union movement, and Teddy Roosevelt dropping in for a pint. Even Honest Abraham Lincoln stepped in to wet his whistle whilst on his way to becoming one of the most influential American presidents. Turns out these great minds did so for good reason; McSorley’s has been one of the most popular beer bars in NYC for over 150 years.



The Union Oyster House

Moving northeast, you’ll find two senior Boston bars that are only getting better with age. Standing since 1826, The Union Oyster House is the oldest continually operating restaurant in the United States. The Kennedy family patronized the Oyster House for years and to this day people come from all over to pose at the monument to JFK’s favorite booth. Homage is also paid to one of the original purposes of the building with clippings from American’s first newspaper—the Massachusetts Spy, published in the 1770s—prominently displayed throughout the bar.



Bell in Hand Tavern

Nearby sits the Bell in Hand Tavern—named after Boston’s last town crier, Jimmy Walker—which
claims to be America’s oldest tavern with beginnings dating back to 1795. Walker served as the town
crier for 50 years and delivered news of everything from the Boston Tea Party to the birth of the nation
before hanging up his bell in favor of the bar. The tavern eventually became famous for something other
than its owner when word got out about its two glass beer pours—one glass for the ale and one for the
froth.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: A Seven-Bedroom Ski Home In Park City Is On Sale For $20.5 million

WATCH: Every One Of Michael Phelps' Olympic Medal Swims

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Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps took part in first Olympics in Sydney in 2000, at the age of 15. He didn't win any medals, but many at the time knew he was destined for greatness. He went on to exceed those expectations.

Now, at the age of 27, Michael Phelps has become the most decorated Olympian ever. He has a total of 22 medals, 18 of which are gold – another record.

Now that he has concluded his incredible career, we thought we'd take a look back at all 22 races.

Medal # 1 - Athens 2004: 400m Individual Medley, Gold



Medal # 2 - Athens 2004: 4x100m Freestyle, Bronze



Medal # 3 - Athens 2004: 200m Freestyle, Bronze



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20 Scientific Insights About Sex And Attraction

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biting lip croatia sexyBlogger Eric Barker pulls out useful tips from the latest psychological research.

Here we've gathered some of his most fascinating insights about sex and attraction, including what attracts people and what you can tell about someone just by looking at them.

Girls really do go crazy for dogs

Nicolas Guégen...conducted four studies (with Serge Ciccotti) to investigate whether the presence of a dog might increase the likelihood of people obliging one of several requests...a man's likelihood of obtaining a woman's phone number increases three-fold when accompanied by a dog.

Source: Psychology Today

 

From Eric Barker's Barking Up The Wrong Tree. Follow him on Twitter.





Guys are more attracted to girls wearing red

In Experiment 1, men who viewed an ostensible conversation partner in a red versus a green shirt chose to ask her more intimate questions. In Experiment 2, men who viewed an ostensible interaction partner in a red versus a blue shirt chose to sit closer to her.

Source: "Red and romantic behavior in men viewing women" in the European Journal of Social Psychology

 

From Eric Barker's Barking Up The Wrong Tree. Follow him on Twitter.



Girls are attracted to rich men, while guys couldn't care less about a woman's wealth

The present study experimentally manipulated status by seating the same target model (male and female matched for attractiveness) expressing identical facial expressions and posture in either a 'high status' (Silver Bentley Continental GT) or a 'neutral status' (Red Ford Fiesta ST) motor-car.

Results showed that the male target model was rated as significantly more attractive on a rating scale of 1-10 when presented to female participants in the high compared to the neutral status context. Males were not influenced by status manipulation, as there was no significant difference between attractiveness ratings for the female seated in the high compared to the neutral condition.

Source: "Effect of manipulated prestige-car ownership on both sex attractiveness ratings", from Br J Psychol. 2010 Feb;101(Pt 1):69-80. Epub 2009 Mar 19


From Eric Barker's Barking Up The Wrong Tree. Follow him on Twitter.



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Zynga Is Sued For Copying Games — Here's The Most Damaging Evidence (ZNGA, EA)

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mark pincus

Electronics Arts has hit Zynga with a lawsuit accusing it of copying the design and game mechanics of "The Sims Social."

The lawsuit is filled with side-by-side comparisons of Zynga's "The Ville" and EA's "The Sims Social."

After looking at EA's evidence, we must say it appears as though Zynga did copy certain elements from "Sims Social."

However, cloning games — called "fast-follows" in the industry — are expected. And while the games may look alike, it's unclear if Zynga has committed copyright infringement, as EA accuses.

Still, this is the first time Zynga could end up in court against a large company of over a similar issue.

First, some context: this woman, Lucy Bradshaw, and EA's Maxis games division are the ones complaining.



The Sims Social was originally built by Playfish, but many of Playfish's executives, like The Sims Social's Catharina Mallet, have already left. That includes...



... Zynga COO John Schappert. He was formerly COO of EA. He is listed in the lawsuit as having contributed to The Ville with several other old EA executives.



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14 Cool NYC MetroCard Collages

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new york cab metrocard collage

New York City subway riders trample over thousands of used MetroCards in stations across the city every day.

But one artist has given new life to these abandoned MetroCards by using them to create stunning collages of New York City's greatest buildings, people, and figures.

German designer Nina Boesch, who lives in New York, started making MetroCard collages for friends 10 years ago. Since then her MetroCard art has appeared in exhibitions across the country.

She uses the plain backsides to make grayscale collages and adds color with the yellow-and-blue front sides. In some of the creations, you can even see snippets of NYC's "If You See Something, Say Something" ad campaigns that have appeared on the backs of MetroCards.

Water Tower Skyline, 2011



Coffee Cup, 2011



The Lincoln Center



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Top Viral Videos Of The Week: The US Swim Team Lip Dubs 'Call Me Maybe'

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VIDEO: Call Me Maybe 2012 USA Olympic Swimming Team

When it comes to viral videos, a perfect storm nearly happened when the U.S. Olympic swim team lip-dubbed Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe."

Uploaded just over a week ago, the video already has over 4.4 million views and is this week's most watched YouTube video.

Everyone from Michael Phelps to Missy Franklin make a cameo in the video, as the rising momentum of the U.S. Olympic swim team combined with the sheer power of "Call Me Maybe" nearly caused the Internet to explode.

Or, something like that.

Watch the U.S. swim team's take on "Call Me Maybe" and find out what other videos made YouTube's top 10 most watched list this week.

10. People all over scoured the Internet for highlights of the Olympic Opening Ceremony



9. A bunch of people playing Minecraft can be entertaining apparently



8. Maria Sharapova hits Novak Djokovic in the balls



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These 8 Incredible Photos From The London Olympics Are Already Iconic

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gabby douglas olympic gold medal routine

Each Olympics only produces a handful of lasting images.

Of the dozens of sports, hundreds of events, and thousands of athletes, only a few select moments become iconic.

Halfway through the London Games, eight beautiful photos have stood out and been passed around by fans all over the world.

These photos are wildly different from each other, but together they give you a solid impression of what we will remember from the London Games.

Gabby Douglas soars above the balance beam during her gold-medal winning individual all-around performance



South Korean fencer Shin A Lam collapses to the floor after a controversial scoring decision gives the gold medal to her opponent



South African swimmer Chad Le Clos is as shocked that he beat Michael Phelps in his signature event, the 200m butterfly



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A Complete, Pictorial Guide To The Book Of Mormon

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hill cumorah

In the wake of the Aurora shootings, when Mitt Romney told the country that "we mourn with those who mourn," most people listening agreed with the somber sentiment. But few outside of the candidate's Mormon faith recognized that Romney was quoting the Book of Mormon, the sacred text of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

Although curiosity about the Mormon Church has reached a fever pitch with Romney's ascension as the Republican Party's presidential nominee, most people remain relatively clueless about the American-born religion.

To find out more about Mormons and their beliefs, Business Insider traveled to upstate New York earlier this month for the Hill Cumorah Pageant, the flagship pageant of the LDS Church, which takes place on the hill where Mormonism's founder, Joseph Smith, is believed to have found the Golden Plates that he later translated into the Book of Mormon. 

Despite the almost entirely Mormon cast and audience, the Hill Cumorah show, America's Witness for Christ, is actually written for non-Mormons. It amounts to a Book of Mormon 101 course, depicting pivotal scenes from the church's seminal sacred text, which Mormons believe to be a "record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas" and consider to be a "volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible," according to the Book of Mormon introduction. 

We've broken down the story here in photographs. While it should not be taken as a comprehensive account of the Book of Mormon, it's an easy-to-digest intro for those who aren't quite ready to take on the whole tome yet. 

The Book of Mormon gives the account of the people of Lehi, a prophet who lived in Jerusalem in 600 B.C. According to the Book of Mormon, the people of Lehi are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.



One day while praying, Lehi saw a pillar of fire and had a vision of God, Christ, and the 12 Apostles. God warned Lehi that Jerusalem's destruction is imminent.



Lehi tries to warn the people of Jerusalem to repent.



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NASA: Our Mars Rover Is About To Experience '7 Minutes Of Terror'

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Mars Curiosity Rover 7 Minutes of Terror

A nine month journey from Earth to Mars will end in what NASA describes as "seven minutes of terror."

Launched on November 26, 2011 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Mars rover Curiosity will enter the Martian atmosphere at 1:06 AM EDT Monday, August 6.

However, the seven minute long entry, descent, and landing involves decelerating from 13,000 MPH to zero as things heat up to 1,600 degrees.

NASA engineers recently gave a graphic step-by-step simulation of what the experience will be like.

It takes 14 minutes for a signal from the spacecraft to reach Earth from Mars



So the whole 7 minute entry, descent and landing will be fully automated



During those 7 minutes, the rover will decelerate from 13,000 MPH to zero



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These 13 Oldest Federal Judges — All In Their 90s — Are Still Hearing Cases

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Judge Jack Weinstein

Most people plan to retire by the time they're in their 90s, if they're lucky enough to make it that long.

Not these guys.

We used federal records to find the oldest federal judges still sitting on the bench.

These judges are considered senior judges, which means they usually only work part-time.

Senior judges handle roughly 15 percent of the federal courts' workload annually, according to uscourts.gov.

We repeatedly contacted these judges' clerks for pictures of the judges. Unfortunately, in some cases, the clerks never responded or refused to release pictures.

Judge John William Ditter Jr. is 90 years old.

Birth date: Oct. 19, 1921

Ditter serves as a judge for the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. President Richard Nixon nominated him for the spot in 1970.

During World War II, Ditter served as a captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

He assumed senior status in October 1986. Judge Ditter decided a case as recently as last month, when he refused to dismiss a $100 million oil contract dispute, according to Law360.



Judge John Thomas Curtin is 90 years old and will turn 91 in less than a month.

Birth date: August 24, 1921

Thomas serves as a judge for the U.S. District Court in the Western District of New York. He nabbed his spot on the bench in 1967 after being nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Before becoming a judge, Curtin served in the United States Marine Corps during WWII.

Curtin achieved senior status in July 1989. He issued a ruling as late as last month, in a Niagara Falls Superfund cleanup case, according to Law360.



Judge Solomon Blatt Jr. is 90 years old. But he too will be 91 in less than a month.

Birth date: August 20, 1921

Solomon sits on the bench of the U.S. District Court in the District of South Carolina. He received his spot in 1971 after it was vacated by former judge Donald Stuart Russell.

Blatt served on a destroyer that participated in anti-submarine warfare during World War II.

In 1981, Blatt presided over a desegretation suit filed against public schools in Charleston, S.C. brought by the federal government, according to The New York Times.

He assumed senior status in May 1990.



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5 London Clubs You Absolutely Can't Miss During The Olympics

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Fabric Music

Everyone knows that the Olympics are as much about what goes on within the stadium walls as the party that rages on the streets afterwards.

And in 2012, those Games will be taking place in one of the party capitals of the world, where there are thousands of bars and hundreds of clubs in London.

See the London hotspots here >

So what happens when you throw an extra million carefree partiers into the heart of the birthplace of the modern club scene?

Our data here at Party Earth suggests that it will be the largest bout of decadence that London has experienced since Henry VIII annulled the sanctity of marriage. 

Come August there will be no shortage of crazy in London. So here are five legendary clubs in the city that’ll have you jumping higher than Kobe Bryant to beats that are faster than Usain Bolt while dancing with more sexy people than the entirety of the Brazilian national squad. 

See the London hotspots here >

This story was originally published by Party Earth.

Ministry of Sound

The Ministry of Sound is London’s most renowned club, and one of the most famous super-clubs in the world. It’s a trance music lover’s paradise, boasting not only one of the heaviest sound systems in the city but also a visual overload of LED lights, video projections, and strobing lightshows. Those looking for the ultimate clubbing experience won’t find anywhere better. And if you don’t mind blowing out your eardrums, climb into The Box, a separate room blocked off by a soundproof entrance that will pound music into your core. But even with its massive interior of half-a-dozen rooms, lounges, and four dance floors, this South Bank venue will fill up quickly – early arrivals are highly recommended.



Fabric Music

Fabric Music is the name of the game at Fabric, attracting hordes of partiers looking to dance the night away within the spacious, 25,000 square-foot venue. The two-story nightclub brings in A-list DJs spinning every electronic genre, from deep house to the heaviest drum & bass. Located in Camden Town, the heart of London’s hippest social scene, there is never a shortage of attractive locals ready to let loose on the dark and steamy dance floor. Pack a few red bulls and cancel your morning plans, because Fabric thumps till sunrise. 



The Shoreditch

With its split-personality disorder and no cover charge, The Shoreditch is the perfect destination for young and old looking to get crazy in style. Located in East London in the Shoreditch neighborhood (what a coincidence), the club has an ultra-cool vibe with an even cooler clientele. Live jazz plays from the top floor where trendy professionals and artists sip cocktails against the kitschy décor. If you’re wondering about the split-personality thing, just head downstairs, where the Roaring Twenties atmosphere is replaced by a mini-rave of flashing neon LEDs and blasting techno tracks. So grab your tweed jacket and your glow sticks and jump on into the party.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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QUIZ: Can You Match The Brand With Its Jingle?

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ear woman listen

Perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of branding is what industry insiders like to call an "audio logo."

Good brands tend to have distinctive music or sounds, which they put a lot of time and money into creating. Sure, people recognize the Nike swoosh logo, but how many people get fry-cravings once they hear McDonald's "Ba-da-ba-ba-ba"?

Click here to take the quiz>

Katz Media Group recently did a study that polled how well people recall sonic branding—"or using sound to communicate brand messaging via a well-established audio signature, music, or character voice."

Some companies do a fantastic job, and others leave a lot to be desired.

Test your skill to see if you can match the jingle to the brand.

34 percent of listeners correctly identified this brand.



That's the Duracell jingle.

According to the study, the vivid image of the “copper top” battery is inspired by this sound.



32 percent of listeners correctly identified this brand.



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The 20 Ugliest Celebrity Mug Shots

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Heather Locklear

Celebrities usually look good even when they're behaving badly – but sometimes they get caught off guard.

So after showing you sexy celebrities who looked as good as ever even in their mug shots, here are some famous people who didn't.

Probably not the Anna Nicole Smith you're used to seeing. She was arrested in 1989 for drunk driving and has this mug shot to show for it.

Mug shot via The Smoking Gun



David Cassidy, the 70's hearthrob from the "The Partridge Family," barely resembles his former self in this 2010 mug shot.

Mug shot via The Smoking Gun



The "Baywatch" star looks pasty and disheveled after her 2001 DUI arrest.

Mug shot via About.com



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Meet The People Who Stand By Their Imprisoned Lovers

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prison love

Love will always find a way to survive – even when one party is a convicted murderer. 

National Geographic's 2011 documentary "Taboo: Prison Love" explores the lives of people in love with inmates. They stand by their partners despite never being able to share a meal or spend the night with them. 

They also look past unspeakable crimes including murder and drug trafficking. 

One woman marries her sweetheart, who was formerly one of the most-wanted fugitives in Texas. Another in Brazil enjoys conjugal visits with her husband. 

And a retired airline pilot has outfitted his bedroom as a prison cell – metal toilet and all – to feel closer to his wife, a convicted murderer. 

You can watch the entire documentary here.

This is Rachel, who lives in Texas. She fell in love with Johnny, who was on the state's most-wanted list for assault and other crimes.

Source: Taboo: Prison Love by National Geographic 



She says she's attracted to his "bad boy" image. Even though he won't be eligible for parole until 2019, she wants to make a commitment.

Source: Taboo: Prison Love by National Geographic 



Because he's in prison, she gets married on a local radio show with the host acting as a proxy groom.

Source: Taboo: Prison Love by National Geographic 



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The New Mars Rover Would Be Crippled Without These Instruments

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Steve GorevanAt 1:31 a.m. EDT on Aug. 6, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission will place a 2,000-pound robot, named Curiosity, on the surface of Mars.

The car-size rover will spend 687 Earth days (one Martian year) studying the Red Planet's environment and analyzing samples drilled or scooped from the ground — and to do this, the mobile machine needs some of the most advanced gear ever used on Mars. This is the kind of stuff you can't just buy in a catalogue.  

Click here to see pictures > 

For two of these special instruments, NASA turned to Honeybee Robotics, a development firm headquartered in Manhattan. Building on previous work for the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, Honeybee developed the Sample Manipulation System (SMS) and the Dust Removal Tool (DRT). These tools are critical to investigating Mars' ability to sustain life — in the past and present.  

We recently spoke with Honeybee's co-founder and chairman, Stephen Gorevan, who was at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., preparing for Curiosity's historic landing. 

Business Insider: Can you describe the scene in the control room when Curiosity lands? 

The tension is incredible. There's very little information coming from the actual landing, but we will hear a series of tones. And when we hear those tones, it means first we've hit the atmosphere. A few minutes later the parachute deploys. Every event will be indicated by a tone. If we don't hear a tone, something has gone wrong. These steps continue all the way down to the surface. It's going to be breakneck, hair-raising descent. Even more exciting than a rocket launch. Because a rocket launch is a single event and it's over in about a minute. But this thing will happen in about 10 minutes in a series of events that all have to go just right.

What if you don't hear those tones?

I think about it all the time. I can't help it. That would be an issue, to say the least. Those tones are sent directly to Earth, so we it wouldn't be a communication glitch if we didn't hear them. If we don't hear them, I can't imagine. It would be a hard time.

What concerns do you have about your own equipment?  

I do think about it unfortunately because my mind can't stop thinking about every aspect of the early parts of this mission, including our equipment. We have two instruments on Curiosity — the Sample Manipulation System and the Dust Removal Tool. 

The SMS is like a carousal that takes samples and delivers it to scientific instruments. Imagine sending a merry-go-round to Mars, only multiplied in complexity times 10 because of all the precision involved. It has to undergo the rigor of a launch, the bashing of a landing and the extreme environment of Mars. About 10 days into the landed mission, our equipment will be tested to see if it's working. If our equipment doesn't work, we've lost a tremendous amount of scientific capability on the rover.  

What was the biggest challenge faced in building the equipment?

One of the biggest challenges is getting it to operate in a fail-safe way. There's all different commands that you could send to the Sample Manipulation System. One could imagine sending it a command that could break it. The biggest challenge was to make sure that no matter what you told it to do, it would always be safe. For example, if the power went down on the rover, we wouldn't know where the last sample was. We'd need a way to find ourselves in the dark. You have to make sure there are no anomalies, no wrong commands, no power failures, no other parts of the rover that could go wrong and somehow disable our system. 

How do you prepare the rover for space on Earth? 

It's one four-letter word — and that's called Test. We test it over and over and over. We've literally been testing it for years. We're testing it right now. We'll continue to test even after we've landed. We have a duplicate down on Earth at the NASA's Space Flight Center where we'll try to duplicate the weather we're seeing on Mars, even the angle that the rover is sitting at on Mars. We'll test the entry, descent and landing system. We throw things out of helicopters to see how the parachute works. We eliminate the possibly of an error by testing the hell out of everything. 

The landing is exciting all by itself, but what can we look forward to after the landing? 

The things after landing that will be very exciting are the first images that start to come down. We'll see a fantastic landscape — unlike anything we've ever seen on Mars before because we're landing inside a very large crater. We're going to see images of this crater wall and then we're going to start driving. We've got a very sophisticated payload that's going to try to assess whether Mars was a habitable place for life in the past. I would say, stay tuned. The landing is going to be exciting, but who knows what we'll hit when we get there. 

Honeybee co-founder and chairman Steve Gorevan, left, stands proudly with the Mars Science Laboratory during testing in July. The rover is about the size of a Mini Cooper.



The Curiosity Rover's Earthbound twin, used for testing purposes, is shown here. It's getting ready to use the Dust Removal Tool designed and built by Honeybee Robotics.



A closer look at the Dust Removal Tool, which will remove layers of dust from Martian rocks so scientists can better understand Mars geology. The DRT is based on part of Honeybee's Rock Abrasion Tool, built for the Spirit and Opportunity rovers and the first machine ever to get a look inside rocks on another planet.



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Heartbreaking Photos From Wisconsin's Sikh Temple Shooting

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sikh temple shooting

A gunman opened fire on a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisc., Sunday, killing seven people and wounding at least three before he was shot and killed by a police officer on the scene. 

The shooting occurred just before 11 AM local time (12 PM ET). Police believe there was only one shooter involved, and they are treating the case as an act of "domestic terrorism."

The news has been marked by uncertainty, as tactical teams created a perimeter around the temple and witnesses tried to figure out what was going on inside. Police are methodically searching the area to make sure that there are no more threats, and have evacuated all civilians from temple grounds.

International media outlets have flocked to the scene to document the tragedy. We'll be updating here as the story develops. 

People look on in front of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At least six people were killed when a shooter, who was later shot dead by a police officer, opened fire on congregants in the Milwaukee suburb. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)



A man wipes away tears outside the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis. where a shooting took place on Sunday, Aug 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)



A man sits on a rock as police investigate the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis., after a shooting Sunday, Aug 5, 2012. A gunman killed six people at the suburban Milwaukee temple in a rampage that left terrified congregants hiding in closets and others texting friends outside for help. The suspect was killed outside the temple in a shootout with police officers. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)



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6 Things The iPhone 5 Must Have Or I'm Switching To Android (AAPL)

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iphone 5

We have a pretty good idea of what to expect when Apple's newest iPhone arrives next month.

If we're to believe the most consistent rumors, the so-called iPhone 5 will have a larger screen, 4G data connection, and a slimmer profile.

While Apple has pretty much showed their cards, I bet that it's holding out on some dynamic features that will draw me back to my favorite phone. 

On the other hand, Android has intrigued me lately. The newest version of Android, Jelly Bean, has closed the gap between Apple and Google's mobile operating systems. 

As thing stands right now, the iPhone feels stale. If Apple doesn't add these simple improvements then I'm switching to Android and not looking back.

Show me exactly how much data I am using without having to download an app.

The iPhone doesn't have a native way to show exactly how much data you are consuming. That's a problem.

As data plans get more complicated and our data usage rises, we need to stay on top of how much we are using. Android keeps its users in the know by displaying exactly how much data a device is using right in the settings app. There are several third-party iPhone apps that'll help you manage your data, but we wish the iPhone's tool had more options.

The Android data monitor can show you which apps are using the most data and allow you to set a limit each month. The iPhone can't do that.



Make it easier for me to type

Who doesn't hate an autocorrect fail?

While both iPhone and Android keyboards can help predict what you're trying to type, I prefer the way Android gives you multiple options for what it thinks you're trying to say. All you have to do is tap the word to finish typing it. The iPhone only makes one best guess at what you're trying to type, and it's wrong often enough to be annoying.

While I believe it is easy now to type on the iPhone it could become even easier if the software was better able to better predict my next move.

An improvement to autocorrect would be welcomed as well. It's frustrating that I've had an iPhone for four years and it still changes "Yo" to "To." The phone should have learned it's lesson by now. 



Give me some of Siri's features offline

I know that having all of Siri's capabilities available offline is unrealistic. But Google was able to cram voice dictation into the OS without an Internet connection.

It's all right if Apple limits what Siri can do while offline, but it would be handy if I could at least set an alarm or reminder without having to go through Apple's servers first.



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