The Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists Review

The Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists

by Joe Mandese, Thursday, January 14, 2010
Lately, it seems far too many magazines can hear the clock ticking. A few good ones have even run out of time. But for one, a clock counting down the minutes left to its doomsday has actually been a good thing -- if you can call the thing it has been keeping time on, "good." The publication is called The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and the "doomsday clock" that graces its homepage (formerly its cover -- the print edition was suspended in 2008) has been counting down the minutes left to a nuclear Armageddon ever since the birth of the atomic age and the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

I doubt many of you have actually read it, and I know none of you have ever placed it on a plan (it does not carry advertising), and even though I'd include it among my list of favorite magazines, I haven't read an issue of it in nearly 30 years. That changed today when the editors of the Bulletin decided to turn the latest movement of their doomsday hands into an event, and streamed it live on the Internet today. And you'll be somewhat relieved to learn that they moved doomsday back one minute to six minutes to "midnight."

Phew! Citing a more "hopeful state of world affairs" related to the threat of nuclear war -- and, as I was surprised to learn from checking out the latest edition, climate change -- the Bulletin moved doomsday's hands backwards.

I was surprised about the focus on world climate, because when I used to thumb through the Bulletin in my college days in the early '80s, it was all about nuclear proliferation, diplomacy, military stability and the potential effects a nuclear war would have on the biology of planet earth and the things that live on it. But it makes sense that the Bulletin would broaden its mandate to include modern-day threats to humanity, and sure enough, its current issue is chockful of insights about climate change, biological threats, and even genetics.

Among the main features in the January/February edition is an interview with Harvard geneticist George Church, as well as more conventional fare, including a profile on the current state of Russia's nuclear forces.

So you may wonder why the Bulletin is one of my favorite magazines, and why I've chosen to write about it now. Part of it must be that growing up in the '60s in the shadow of the Cuban missile crisis and the frigidness of the Cold War, I was a little obsessed with nuclear annihilation. Some of the other must-reads in my college days were McGraw-Hill's Aviation Week & Space Technology and Jane's Defence Weekly, which are like military industrial porn, showcasing the latest in weapons of mass destruction.

But a more important reason for reading the Bulletin now is that it does what any great magazine should: provide context on some important issues, and make us understand how they affect the world we live in. In fact, I would argue that it may be the most important magazine performing that function, when you think about what's at stake in its subject matter.

I eventually overcame my obsession with nuclear annihilation, and stopped reading the Bulletin in the post-Glasnost era of nuclear stability, but I never lost sight of the horrors that humans -- especially brilliant scientific thinkers -- could unleash on our world. And it wasn't until I read an even more horrifying piece of magazine journalism -- an article former Sun Microsystems Chief Scientist Bill Joy wrote for Wired magazine some years ago, entitled, "Why The Future Doesn't Need Us," that anything approached the kind of reasoned exposition about humanity's potential to disintermediate itself, than what I read in the Bulletin during the height of the Cold War.

But now that I know the Bulletin has broadened its mandate to include other modern-day issues -- and even some important futuristic ones -- I think I'm going to start reading it again. It's not necessarily the kind of pleasant or diversionary subject matter I get from some of my other favorite publications, but it's definitely matter worthy of our attention.

MAG STATS

Published by: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Frequency: Online only, every other month
Web site: http://www.thebulletin.org/

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Joe Mandese is Editor of MediaPost.

Magazine Rack for Thursday, January 14, 2010:
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/
?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=120664

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Educational Events for Engineers

SoftInWay Has Scheduled Educational Events for Engineers for July-December 2009

SoftInWay has scheduled its training series dedicated to turbomachinery design engineers for July-December 2009.

Burlington, MA, July 02, 2009 -- SoftInWay Inc. has announced its educational activities for the second part of 2009. To meet the growing demand on training programs for mechanical and aerospace engineers, the company will be conducting professional turbomachinery design courses in 6 countries worldwide.

Thus, SoftInWay has scheduled AxSTREAM Introductory seminars during which the company's team will bring in the features of AxSTREAM - software system for design, analysis and multidisciplinary optimization of turbomachinery flow path. The seminar is dedicated to engineers involved in turbomachinery design and/or retrofitting, as well as to students of technical faculties and their professors.

Such seminars will be held

July 14 in Bangalore (India);
October 16 in Tokyo (Japan);
October 19 in Beijing (China).

To provide the engineering community with the necessary knowledge and hands-on experience, SoftInWay presents a new 5-day integrated course on axial turbine basics and turbomachinery design with AxSTREAM.

The program consists of two independent parts. The Axial Turbine Fundamentals course (2 days) describes gas dynamics, thermodynamics, structural analysis and essentials of axial turbines and their elements. "A most useful and interesting educational course backed up by excellent course text with helpful examples, - admitted Nathan Abbott, Dresser-Rand. - The course content covered all of the basic turbine fundamentals and was delivered at a pace that allowed the information to be digested ensuring a full understanding. The lecturers were extremely helpful and were more than willing to answer any questions."

The second part - AxSTREAM Interactive Workshop on Turbomachinery Design and Optimization (3 days) - is focused on practical aspects of design, optimization and retrofitting of axial/radial/mixed flow turbomachinery. After the workshop all the participants will be granted a free 1-month license for AxSTREAM.

The 5-day intensive course on turbomachinery will took place

September 21-25 in Dusseldorf (Germany);
October 2-6 in Bangkok (Thailand);
November 9-13 in Boston (MA, USA), (presentation of AxSTREAM 3.0).

Finally, to make its educational programs even more available and reach engineers all over the world, SoftInWay offers free monthly webinars powered by the company's industry experts. The next webinar on multidisciplinary optimization of turbomachinery flow path using Design of Experiment and Low Discrepancy Sequences methods will be held

July 23, at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST.

To register for SoftInWay educational programs or to find more detailed information, please visit http://softinway.com.

About SoftInWay

SoftInWay Inc. is a USA corporation, headquartered in Burlington, MA. The company's mission is to serve the high technology community by providing software products and engineering services in the area of research, design and digital prototyping of power generation equipment. SoftInWay develops products for rapid turbomachinery design, provides technical engineering services and uses in-house and industry standard CFD, FEA and CAD tools to address design issues at the earliest possible stage to maximize engineering productivity and increase the efficiency and reliability of equipment. The core product, AxSTREAMT, is an integrated solution based on over 400 years of collective turbomachinery experience of SoftInWay engineering team, with the clear goal of bringing to industry a professional software tool for rapid, optimized turbomachinery flow path design.

Website: www.softinway.com Telephone 1-781-862-7867.

Contact Information
SoftInWay Inc.
Leonid Moroz
1-781-685-4942
info@softinway.com
http://softinway.com

 

School Internet Blocks Cause Bigger Problems?

I just found out about a site based in Russia at CommunicationTube.com. The site offers a free service that allows you to use IM and other things all in one place in a web browser. This means that you can use a browser at school or the office to use IM even if the computer network you are using normally blocks them. While searching for more information on the site I found this page where other options for getting around blocks are discussed.

This kind of thing has been going on for some time now as kids pursue that which is forbidden. But what deeply disturbed me was the fact that here is a Russian site that does not identify itself in any way, that is getting people to provide them with their Gtalk and other account information which could then be used to access other accounts. Worse, any communications that goes through the Russian servers could be monitored and recorded. This could allow people to steal passwords, personal files, and anything else that is transmitted during an IM or chat session between friends. While there may be no risk from this site, the lack of advertising or fees, begs the question of why they are offering this service and how is it supported...???

So by blocking access to certain sites, we may be pushing people to practice unsafe computing.

Yeah, it sounds a lot like the "Wait until you are married" and the drug prohibition that has resulted in so many problems in Mexico and the US.

I heard on the radio yesterday that 10 million people have their identity stolen every year. I'm starting to think that number is vastly under-reported. The US is under attack and will suffer from the millions and millions of small cuts unless we beef up our education of the public on these types of issues...

Compliance Training Program To Reflect New TLGP Revisions

Edcomm Banker'S Academy Updates Compliance Training Program To Reflect New TLGP Revisions

Edcomm Banker's Academy has made an immediate update to its compliance training program to reflect recent revisions made to the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP).

Mar 23, 2009 - New York, NY  - Edcomm Banker's Academy has made an immediate update to its compliance training program to reflect recent revisions made to the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP). Focus on Compliance has been updated to include this new information as part of Edcomm Banker's Academy's commitment to providing financial institutions with the most up-to-date, accurate information. Regulatory changes are immediately updated in Banker's Academy's content.

According to the new changes made to the TLGP, entities participating in the debt guarantee program may issue certain FDIC-guaranteed Mandatory Convertible Debt (MCD). The intent of this amendment is to give eligible entities additional flexibility to obtain funding from investors with long-term investment horizons and to reduce the concentration of FDIC-guaranteed debt maturing in mid-2012 that might otherwise have to be rolled into new debt.

Focus on Compliance, from Edcomm Banker's Academy, is a computer-based, distance-learning program, and can be delivered via Internet, Intranet or CD-ROM. The program teaches banking compliance using easy-to-understand language in an interactive, self-paced format. Participants learn from their own perspective, with a curriculum customized to their position. Focus on Compliance covers: Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Anti Money Laundering (AML), USA PATRIOT Act, OFAC, Privacy, Reg P, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Right to Financial Privacy, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Reg CC & Check 21, Reg D, Reg E, Reg Z, Truth in Lending, FCRA, FACT Act, HMDA, CRA, and Bank Bribery, among others. The program also includes a quick reference guide to all banking regulations, as well as a glossary of terms and a library of reference materials.

For more information about programs like this, or to find out how The Edcomm Group Banker's Academy can customize any training program, log onto www.bankersacademy.com or call 888-433-2666.

The Edcomm Group Banker's Academy is a 21-year-old multimedia education and communication consulting firm specializing in the development of creative business solutions that improve productivity, customer service and market share - providing bottom-line results. The Edcomm Group Banker's Academy has had the privilege of assisting many distinguished clients with business solutions in the form of eLearning programs, classroom instruction, multimedia production and online and print based documentation. Edcomm Banker's Academy offers many off-the-shelf and customized courses such as Teller Training, Compliance Training and Systems Training specifically designed for Banks, Credit Unions and Money Services Businesses (MSBs).

The Edcomm Group Banker's Academy (www.bankersacademy.com) is headquartered in New York City with locations and representation throughout the world.

Contact:
Linda Eagle
Edcomm Banker's Academy
21 Penn Plaza Suite 1010
New York, NY 10001
888-433-2666
linda.eagle@edcomm.com
http://www.bankersacademy.com

Your Order of a Degree

-----Original Message-----
From: Jerrold Webber [mailto:thumbtacks3384@bullshtter.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 9:30 AM
To: forms@financial-aid.org
Subject: Your order of a Degree

Do you want to improve your employment prospects? Do you want to find a job that will bring you both money and pleasure? Do you want to have a superior resume that will draw everybody's attention? Than get your degree from prestigious NON-ACCREDITED universities. Call us today:
Outside US: +1.728.959.5116 , For US: 1.728.923.5954

Our staff will get back to you in next few days. Just Leave your NAME & PHONE NO. in the voicemail.

Customers Can Call Your Free 800 Number For Under 2 Cents A Minute!

I've blogged about this Cardinal phone calling card before, but I wanted to do so again because so few people are taking advantage of this offer that gives you a free 800-number and very cheap rates. With this deal any person that needs a long distance service can have one for very little money. It's a great deal even if you don't want or need a toll-free number to give to customers. But if you do get one you may decide to set up the 800-number and give it to family and friends. The reason is that you will see how really cheap it is and you may want to talk to your friends or family more often than you do now. By giving them the 800 number you pay the same lows rates, but they can call you when they need to talk to you.

This is PERFECT if you have kids that are away at school. With an 800 number they can call you anytime from anywhere, and if they have to use a pay phone there is an extra charge, but with this card it's only $0.99 so it's not too bad.

If you are in business I don't have to tell you what an 800 number means for increasing sales and customer service satisfaction. Yes, and it also makes your company look bigger than it did before. If you look at any business contacts and some have an 800 number and some don't, which one are you going to think is more professional and more importantly, more successful to be able to afford to offer this? If you call the phone company, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY A LOT MORE to get 800 service. Not only to get the number, but also for the calls you get because the rates are not going to be this low. Less than 2 cents a minute. Talk for a half an hour for 60 cents...!

If that's not enough I can list some other features and reasons for getting this card:

· Make cheap International calls
· Maintenance Fee - No
· Rounding - 1 minute
· Toll Free Access Numbers - Yes (USA, Canada)
· Local Access Numbers - Yes (USA)
· Tax - No
· Pay Phone Charge - 99c
· Pinless Dialing - Just call the access number and then the number you want to call
· Speed Dial - Call friends by hitting 3 keys

If you try it and don't like this card, contact me and I may buy your card and any un-used time as long as it's under $10. I will take over your account because I can transfer the time on your card to mine. That's how happy I am with the features, service, price, and call quality...!

The site where I got this card had over 20 different ones to choose from. Some phone cards are less expensive rates, but they charge a weekly maintenance fee. If you do a high volume of calling you may want to select one of these other cards. And not all cards work in all countries, so if you are located outside the US, you'll want to check which cards have the best rate for where you live and call. There is a simple rate-finder tool on the site home page. They even offer AT&T phone cards if you are not sure about some of these card names that you have not hear of before, but the rates are really, really high, so that may not be the best option.

 

 

 

 

Demo Of Project Management Software Available

You can now get a free demo and see how the industry standard Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007 will work for you. Install the application and then really take some time to see what it can do. If you are not surprised in the first 15 minutes you start working with it, well I'll be surprised. :-)

Widely used in large companies, many small and medium businesses can also benefit from effective project management that relies on modern software like Microsoft Project. The software helps you and your team to stay informed, keeps your project teams working together, and it give you control of the project work, keeps track of schedules, and most importantly reports on the finances to the level of reporting that your business requires. The best thing is that is works with document, spreadsheets, and presentations that you use now. Integration with familiar Microsoft Office system programs, powerful reporting options, and guided planning, wizards, and templates and this choice a no-brainer.

Learn how to easily manage your projects with less time, people, and communications using  Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007. Project provides you with many features and options for project management tools that are easy to use, have a LOT of power, and and yet are still flexible to change as your business changes. It will enable you to manage projects more efficiently and effectively.

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