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Friday, January 4, 2013
A Portable Shipping Container Sauna Is the Ultimate Stress Toy
Congress members seek investigation of Shell barge
A salvage team moves an emergency towing system across the deck of petroleum drilling ship Kulluk in this photo made Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, and provided by the U.S. Coast Guard. There's no indication of a fuel leak from Kulluk, the Coast Guard said Wednesday night, Jan. 2, 2013, of a maritime accident that has refueled debate over oil exploration in the U.S. Arctic Ocean. (AP Photo/U.S. Coast Guard)
A salvage team moves an emergency towing system across the deck of petroleum drilling ship Kulluk in this photo made Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, and provided by the U.S. Coast Guard. There's no indication of a fuel leak from Kulluk, the Coast Guard said Wednesday night, Jan. 2, 2013, of a maritime accident that has refueled debate over oil exploration in the U.S. Arctic Ocean. (AP Photo/U.S. Coast Guard)
This aerial image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard shows the Royal Dutch Shell drilling rig Kulluk aground off a small island near Kodiak Island Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. No leak has been seen from the drilling ship that grounded off the island during a storm, officials said, as opponents criticized the growing race to explore the Arctic for energy resources. (AP Photo/U.S. Coast Guard)
Coast Guard Capt. Paul Mehler briefs reporters on the status of salvage operations for the Shell drill ship Kulluk at a press conference in the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2012, in Anchorage, Alaska. The drill ship ran aground on Monday, Dec. 31, off Sitkalidak Island near Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska. (AP Photo/Dan Joling)
Royal Dutch Shell PLC incident commander Sean Churchfield briefs reporters on the status of salvage operations for the Shell drill ship Kulluk at a news conference in the Dena?ina Civic and Convention Center on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2012, in Anchorage, Alaska. The drill ship ran aground on Monday, Dec. 31, off Sitkalidak Island near Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska. (AP Photo/Dan Joling)
The Crowley Marine tugboat Alert ties up at Pier 2 at 6:20 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2012 in Kodiak, Alaska. The Alert, normally based in Prince William Sound, was one of the tugs summoned to Kodiak in an effort to keep the drilling rig Kulluk from running aground. The Kulluk ran aground on New Year's Eve. (AP Photo/Kodiak Daily Mirror, James Brooks)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) ? Calls for federal scrutiny of Royal Dutch Shell PLC drilling operations in Arctic waters swelled Thursday with a request for a formal investigation by members of Congress.
The House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition called on the Interior Department and the Coast Guard to jointly investigate the New Year's Eve grounding of the Shell drilling vessel Kulluk on a remote Gulf of Alaska island, and a previous incident connected to Arctic offshore drilling operations in 2012.
The coalition is made up of 45 House Democrats.
"The recent grounding of Shell's Kulluk oil rig amplifies the risks of drilling in the Arctic," they said in a joint statement. "This is the latest in a series of alarming blunders, including the near-grounding of another of Shell's Arctic drilling rigs, the 47-year-old Noble Discoverer, in Dutch Harbor and the failure of its blowout containment dome, the Arctic Challenger, in lake-like conditions."
The coalition believes these "serious incidents" warrant thorough investigation, the statement said.
Shell Alaska spokesman Curtis Smith said in an email that the company is in full support of, and is providing resources for, the investigation of the grounding by the Unified Incident Command, made up of federal, state and company representatives. Smith said the findings will be available to the public.
Shell incident commander Sean Churchfield said at an Anchorage news conference later Thursday that two more salvage crews had boarded the vessel and found damage to emergency and service generators, and to the Kulluk's upper deck.
The vessel is upright and stable, and the Coast Guard has said there is no indication of a fuel leak.
"Findings include some wave damage to the top sides of the vessel, and a number of watertight hatches have been breached, causing water damage inside," Churchfield said. The team has secured some of the open hatches, he said.
Damage to the generators means salvagers may have to bring external generators on board or work without power, Churchfield said. He confirmed salvagers heard "breathing" from a vent but said they couldn't immediately determine whether it was a breech or natural venting.
Salvage is in the assessment stage, Churchfield noted, and options are being developed. He wouldn't speculate on whether the Kulluk is seaworthy or when it might be moved.
An emergency towing system was deposited on deck, and spill response equipment has been staged.
"I want to reiterate there is no limitation on resources, personnel or equipment being deployed as part of the response and recovery activities," Churchfield said.
Coast Guard Capt. Paul Mehler said the top concern remains the safety of responders working in what continues to be hazardous flying and marine conditions.
The Kulluk is a non-propelled, 266-foot diameter barge with a reinforced funnel-shaped hull designed to operate in ice. It is carrying more than 140,000 gallons of diesel and about 12,000 gallons of lube oil and hydraulic fluid. Centered on the vessel is a 160-foot derrick. It drilled during the short open-water season in the Beaufort Sea.
A 360-foot anchor handler, the Aiviq, was towing the Kulluk from Dutch Harbor to Seattle last week for maintenance and upgrades when the tow line snapped south of Kodiak. Lines were reattached at least four times but could not be maintained. A lone tugboat still attached Monday night in a vicious storm couldn't control the vessel and cut it loose as it neared land.
After the grounding, critics quickly asserted it has foreshadowed what will happen north of the Bering Strait if drilling is allowed.
Environmentalists for years have said conditions are too harsh and the stakes too high to allow industrial development in the Arctic, where drilling sites are 1,000 miles or more from the closest Coast Guard base.
Two national organizations kept up the drumbeat Thursday by calling for a halt to all permitting for Arctic offshore drilling in the wake of the grounding.
"This string of mishaps by Shell makes it crystal clear that we are not ready to drill in the Arctic," said Chuck Clusen of the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Shell is not Arctic-ready. We have lost all faith in Shell, and they certainly don't have any credibility left."
Lois Epstein, a civil engineer who works for The Wilderness Society in Anchorage, said Shell has made troubling, non-precautionary decisions that put workers and the Coast Guard at risk.
"These ongoing technical and decision-making problems and their enormous associated costs and risks taken by our military personnel once there were problems should lead the federal government to reassess its previous permitting decisions regarding Shell," Epstein said.
In the short term, she said, damage to the Kulluk may prevent it from being ready for the 2013 open water season. Besides drilling in the Beaufort, the barge was supposed to be on hand for drilling a relief well if Shell's drill vessel in the Chukchi Sea, the Noble Discoverer, experienced a wellhead blowout and was damaged, Epstein said.
Shell has maintained it has taken a heads-up approach to anticipating and reacting to problems.
Shell Alaska spokesman Smith said Wednesday the Kulluk had been towed more than 4,000 miles and had previously experienced similar storm conditions. Shell staged additional towing vessels along the route in case there were problems, he said.
"We know how to work in regions like this," Smith said. "Having said that, when flawless execution does not happen, you learn from it, and we will."
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Airport Transfers: Assisting You To Travel To The Airport In Time
During the twentieth century, airplanes become the most preferred way of transportation for both business and leisure tourists. This certainly is no surprise given that planes would be the most secure, plus the quickest and most convenient approach to take big distances.
Sometimes, you'll find your seatmate on the flight nervously grasping the arm rests and closing his eyes at takeoff - but this type of phobia of airline travel is unwarranted given that figures demonstrate that you have more chances of stepping into a major accident if you travel by car. Planes may also be much faster than ships or trains.
Travelling by sea or by rail might be great if you have unlimited time, but for the active salesperson or working guy on a number of weeks vacation leave, it will make more sense to go by air. Nonetheless, air travel companies may also be a bit more unforgiving if you get to the terminal late. That is the reason you should take advantage of airport transfers. Getting to the airport could be a big hassle. Airport transfers give you airport transportation that may help you out significantly with this matter.
When getting ready for a journey, it may be very easy to lose track of time while you attend to numerous details related to travel. While you could have loaded your bag as soon as 72 hours or so just before your trip, in the end you have some of things to care for, such as important paperwork, your house keys, as well as other arrangements relating to housekeeping while you are away. Such worries can stress you out, especially when you are willing to procrastinate.
You will probably find yourself all loaded and ready to go, simply to realize you have locked your keys inside or you have forgotten your passport. This can push your departure more back to the reality that you will be seriously searching for a cab 30 minutes just before your plane is slated to depart. Whenever you book airport transfers forward, you're certain airport transportation which can be found punctually.
Airport transportation can also be a good idea when you are now living in a big city or are headed for a key airport. Airport transfers you have booked ahead of time will help you discuss such issues as congested zones. If you determine to take a cab or your personal car, you may doubtless be keyed up and pressured if you find yourself caught in traffic along the way to the airport. Once you're at the terminal, it is better to have airport transportation as opposed to waste time looking for a parking spot or investing in parking.
Airport transportation with booked air transfers are the best way of getting you to the airport punctually, making certain you can focus on your trip and never have to worry about time, traffic, or car parking. Now, isnt it easier to be stress-free on your travels?
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Thursday, January 3, 2013
House Republicans meeting to mull "fiscal cliff" options: aide
During an oddly jokey statement at the White House as the fiscal deadline bore down Monday afternoon, President Obama said, "I'm going to be president for the next four years. I?hope." He was warning Republicans that, yes, they'd have to deal with him for a while. But it was, to be sure, a strange moment. Could he actually have been joking about assassination? About impeachment? The?apocalypse? Or has everyone just had enough of these negotiations??
Why Roger Federer Is Such A Good Tennis Player | ArticleTree.info
by DavisPete
There are many tennis players that I like to watch and learn from. I am always so amazed by the way they play and how they hit the ball so cleanly and smoothly on the court. However, there is a lot of hard work and sacrifice these players put in for training and during matches in order to succeed. There are no shortcuts and these players put in countless hours of practice to improve themselves both physically and mentally. These players have been an inspiration to me and I have always been motivated by them. Although I like many players, the player I like the most is Roger Federer, the number 1 in the world. Roger Federer (born August 8, 1981) is a Swiss professional tennis player who, in 2004, became the world's top tennis player.
My favorite tennis player would be Roger Federer because he has always been my greatest inspiration from young. From a young age, I have always been fascinated by his game style and how smart he is on court. I always loved how he would often mix up the pace and rhythm in rallies and use various shots to destabilize the opponent; forcing the opponent to make mistakes. Moreover, I admire his ability to stay cool and calm during the match and showing little emotion whatsoever if he wins or loses the point. Roger Federer uses his brains a lot to play and succeed in tournaments. No doubt the Swiss Maestro has a good serve and decent strokes however, whenever he steps on court, he plays with his head and uses his all-rounded game to his advantage. He serves and volleys, chips and charges, everything; this is what confuses his opponents. This is why many recon Federer as the genius in tennis. I also feel that whenever Federer steps on court, there is always this aura about him and that he is just so neat and majestic. Whenever I watch him play, I feel like he plays so gracefully and effortlessly that it is just so amazing and entertaining to watch the Swiss play.
I like Roger because he is a determined person and will work hard for success. He says 'You always want to win. That is why you play tennis, because you love the sport and try to be the best you can at it.' This shows that he is competitive and is hungry for success. This led him to win 17 Grand Slam titles breaking the previous all-time men's record of 14 by Pete Sampras. Federer's list of achievements is countless and the Swiss has managed to break many records in his years of playing in the professional circuit.
With all these achievements, the Swiss still remains humble and is willing to learn and work even harder to achieve more and scale greater heights. He displays great sportsmanship on court and is always gracious when he wins or loses. I am always so inspired by his attitude as he is truly a remarkable sportsman with great character and amazing achievements.
In conclusion, Roger Federer has indeed been an inspiration and I have learnt a lot from him character wise and tennis wise. He is truly an amazing sportsman and people should learn from his cool and composed attitude. I have been motivated by Roger's competitive spirit and determined attitude to work harder on and off court. I will always admire Roger Federer and will keep learning from his game. He will always remain my favorite player of all time. Alle Federer!
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Innovation Methods Based On Bad Neuroscience - Business Insider
According to Columbia Professor Bill Duggan, the vast majority of the methods used to try and come up with innovative ideas are based on a flawed understanding of how how the brain works.
In an interview with Columbia Business School about his new book, Creative Strategy, Duggan reveals a surprising discovery he's made while digging into how the most successful innovators come up with ideas:
I was surprised to discover that 99 percent of innovation methods that people use today are based on a model of the brain that neuroscientists abandoned more than a decade ago. In essence, these innovation methods tell you to do some kind of research or analysis, and then you brainstorm to come up with your innovation idea. The theory of brainstorming is that you turn off your analytical left brain, turn on your intuitive right brain, and creative ideas pop out.?But neuroscience now tells us that there is no right or left side of the brain when it comes to thinking. Creative ideas actually happen in the mind, as the whole brain takes in past elements, then selects and combines them ? and that?s how creative strategy works.
According to Duggan, a better way to go about searching for innovative ideas, consistent with the latest neuroscience research, is to take a look at the problem or situation you need an innovative idea to resolve or improve, and break it down into different elements.
After that, look for precedents that have solved or could each element. Then, Duggan argues "a subset of these precedents come together in your mind as a new combination that solves the problem. That idea is your innovation."
Find the full interview here and Duggan's book here
NOW READ: The 10 Most Innovative Companies In The World
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/innovation-methods-based-on-bad-neuroscience-2013-1
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