DIY Car Repairs: you can do a lot of repairs in your car in spite of your abilities

Car repairs can drain your pocketbook fast, but you can do a wide range of repairs yourself, regardless of your technical skill. We're not just talking oil changes; provided you can hold a wrench, you can fix everything ranging from fuel filters to alternators. We'll detail the tools necessary for your DIY toolkit, where to turn to for help when you're making the repairs, and how to tackle some of the most common car problems yourself.
The biggest hurdle in convincing someone they can handle car repair is the fear factor, but here's the thing: It's actually pretty hard to permanently screw up a car. You might break something temporarily, or a fix might not work in the long run, but you probably won't set yourself or your car on fire just because you banged too hard on a valve. Cars are resilient machines and regardless of the year or make, there are plenty of repairs even the clumsiest and technically challenged can handle provided they have the confidence to push through.
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An exoplanet cannot always be determined by its size

By Caleb A. Scharf | December 8, 2011 |  

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Warning: Exoplanets may appear less massive than they really are (images used: Eysteinn Guðni Guðnason and NASA/Kepler)
Exoplanets can be confusing things. Recently we’ve seem the announcement of a milestone for NASA’s Kepler mission with the confirmation of a planet in the habitable zone of its Sun-like star. The planet, Kepler 22-b, has a diameter 2.4 times that of the Earth, which in exoplanet parlance puts it somewhere roughly in the “super-Earth” category. Hence the excited headlines about an “Earth-like” planet.
The truth is though, a planet of this size is almost without a doubt significantly more massive than the Earth, a fact pointed out by numerous pundits. So why don’t we know its mass for sure? The problem is that the technique used by Kepler to find planets simply measures the amount of light that a planet blocks when (by chance geometry) it passes between its parent star and our viewpoint. This yields the radius, or diameter, of a planet – not its mass. To estimate a planet’s mass the best bet is to try and measure the “wobble” induced on the star due to the gravitational pull of the planet. Alternatively, one can look for the variations in when the transit of other planets in the system occur (if they’re detected) – which also betrays information about these planetary masses tugging at each other. It’s also possible, again if there are multiple planets detected in a system, to try to deduce what the planetary masses really are by simulating the orbital dynamics to find what’s necessary for the whole system to be stable.
But for a single detection of a distant world like that of Kepler 22-b, for the time being we’re left with trying to guess what mass it might actually be. These guesses are however are based on some pretty sophisticated reasoning, and the key terminology here is “planetary mass-radius relationship”. In the simplest terms, suppose we knew what compounds a planet was made of – for the sake of argument let’s say it was made entirely of carbon. We could then apply our knowledge of the physics of carbon (in solid forms) to calculate how the gravity of all that carbon squeezes itself into a planetary ball, and what the radius of that ball might be for different masses of carbon. We know that carbon is somewhat compressible, especially if you stick a planet’s worth of mass on top of it, so we have to take that compressibility into account. We do this through what’s called an equation-of-state, precisely the same type of formula that tells you how much air you have to put into a tire to reach a certain pressure, depending on how hot or cold things are.
Doing this for real planets is, not surprisingly, a wee bit more complicated. Matter under pressure behaves in a variety of ways, the phases of compounds can change (e.g. like liquid turning to solid and vice-versa), and planets are likely to be multi-layered. We also don’t actually know what the composition of exoplanets really is, although we can make some pretty good educated guesses to get us started. Bearing all of these things in mind, astronomers and planetary scientists have invested a lot of effort into computing how it might all play out, and so we can begin to make some educated guesses at what the possible masses are for planets like Kepler 22-b.
And here’s an example of how planetary mass varies with planetary radius, in this case drawing on work by Fortney, Marley, and Barnes in 2007, also Gillion et al. in 2007. It’s not definitive, because of the inherent uncertainties in the physics, and other excellent studies such as those by Seager et al. will give slightly different answers. But it’s enough to get an idea of where Kepler 22-b lands.

The radius of planets versus their mass, for a range of possible compositions - from iron, to "rock", to ice, to large atmospheres of hydrogen and helium. The red dotted line shows Kepler 22-b's 2.4 Earth radius (Image adapted from C. Scharf, Extrasolar Planets and Astrobiology, University Science Books, with sources given in post).

…and it’s not entirely pretty. In fact, even if Kepler 22-b were made entirely of pure water ice, it would weigh in at about 5 times the mass of the Earth. Allowing for a more probable mix of ice and rock, and we’re up into over 10 Earth mass territory. If it had a similar composition to the Earth, then we’re looking at a world in excess of about 40 Earth masses – at which point all the “Earth-like” newspaper headlines should be consumed by fire.
Kepler 22-b is still a terrific result for Kepler, but the next time you look in your wing mirror just remember, objects may really be more massive than they appear.

Source: Scientific American magazine

Haiti: Desastre linguistique

Alors qu'on vient de tenir les assises pour la fondation d'une academie creole en Haiti il est navrant de constater qu'on ne parle plus creole en Haiti. Dans la diaspora haitienne aux Etats-Unis beaucoup d'Haitiens font des efforts por ne pas parler un creole emaille de mots anglais. Mais en Haiti on eprouve un reel plaisir a le faire. Certains Haitiens en Haiti ont du mal a trouver un mot creole pour exprimer leurs pensees et utilisent un mot anglais de preference donnant l'impression que l'anlglais est la langue predominante. Si nous n'avions jamais parle le creole tel qu'il est ecrit on a parle un creole francise refusant de dire Jezi pour Jesus. Cependant parler un creole franco-anglicise et meme franco-anglo-spanicise est inacceptable dans un pays ou le Creole et le Francais sont les deux langues officielles. Lorsque je vivais en Haiti je constatais l'engouement de certains Haitiens a apprendre plusieurs langues. On faisait des conversations pour pratiquer ces langues etrangeres mais on introduisait pas des mots anglais dans le creole. Maintenant les Haitiens en Haiti eprouvent un reel plaisira parler un creole franco-anglicise. Il est parfaitement acceptable de parler un creole francise parce qu'on ne nous a jamais appris le creole a l'ecole. Mais en Haiti parler un creole anglicise tout simplement par snobisme est triste alors que le faire en diaspora vous fait passer pour peu eduque. Donc l'inverse se produit en Haiti: ce sont les gens eduques qui le font comme on le constate en ecoutant les declarations d'un membre de l'Executif, du parlement et dans les emissions radiophoniques, etc. Les Haitiens vivant en diaspora n'ont-ils pas le devoir de presenter la diaspora sous son aspect positif et empecher le deperissement d'Haiti a tous les niveaux.

Haïti - Politique : retablissement de quelle armee?

Les rivalites intestines nous mettront toujours vulnerables au debarquement de forces militaires etrangeres meme avec l'existence d'une armee nationale, forte et apolitique. C'est ce probleme de division "dan pouri" qu'il faut d'abord resoudre. Si l'armee indigene a pu nous donner l'independance elle s'est vite morcellee en petites bandes au service de Christophe et de Petion. Depuis lors cette armee s'est divisee en clans au service des differntes factions politiques et economiques. Dans cette perspective nous avons vu pendant plus de deux siecles le role joue par cette arme dans la nomination et la chute des presidents. Financee et entrainee par les puissances etrangeres cette armee a toujours recu et obei aux ordres de ces puissances. Cette soumission au service des interets hegemoniques lui a valu de ne pas pouvoir defendre les interets de la population et de la souverainete de la nation. Ceux qui nous ont donne toutes sortes de problemes apres notre independance interviendront toujours militairement pour venger contre cette independance et creer des situations pour montrer a la face du monde que nous ne sommes pas capables de nous diriger. Certes les grandes puissances interviendront toujours militairement invoquant le pretexte geopolitique en nous enveloppant dans l'humiliation. Il est a remarquer que les solutions d'intervention militaire sont toujours predominantes quoi que ces puissances puissent employer d'autres moyens etant directement impliquees dans la direction des affaires du pays. Certes nous n'hesitons pas a affirmer a notre propre detriment que nous sommes incapables de nous diriger, ce qui est absolument faux. Si nous prenons la responsabilite de le faire nous devons aussi etre conscient de renier les prouesses et la gouvernance de nos chefs heroiques qui se sont sacrifies pour nous donner cette independance. En depit de certaines divisions internes ils ont compris que la liberte doit primer sur les interets mesquins. Donc sommes nous prets a suivre leur exemple pour proteger notre liberte et l'integrite de notre territoire?. Il est a remarquer qu'une armee au service d'interets hegemoniques ne pourra nullement garantir l'ordre. Nous l'avons constate lors de la revolte contre Jean Claude Duvalier. L'armee ne peut non plus resoudre le probleme de l'insecurite dans les conditions actuelles. Notez l'impuissance de la MINUSTAH pour resoudre le probleme de l'insecurite(lisez le rapport de la RNDDH sur la forte recrudescence de l'insecurite durant les mois d'Octobre et de Novembre). La Minustah compte des forces militaires et policieres hautement specialisees et n'a pas pu resoudre ce probleme dont la solution ne saurait etre confiee presqu'exclusivement aux forces militaires etrangeres. Dans le cas de la prise en main de notre destinee meme une force policiere hautement entrainee et une armee armee apolitique qui pourrait etre deployee lors de graves problemes d'insecurite-ne peuvant etre resolus par la police- ne pourraient resoudre le probleme de l'insecurie si les problemes de chomage, d'immoralite, d'education des valeurs et non l'accumulation exhaustive de faits, le probleme de justice et d'enquete policiere ne sont pas resolus. Donc des problemes serieux doivent d'abord etre resolus avant de retablir l'armee de Dessalines mais non les Forces armees d'Haiti. Sommes-nous assez sinceres avec nous-memes pour nous demander si nous entretenons les ideaux de nos ancetres pour soutenir cette armee de Dessalines, corrigee pour eviter les luttes intestines, et dont la premiere mission serait la protection de notre independance et la sauvegarde de l'integrite de notre territoire. Sommes-nous prets a endurer les consequences du retablissement d'une telle armee?


Haïti - Politique : Discours du Président Martelly à l’occasion du 208e anniversaire de Vertières - HaitiLibre.com, Nouvelles d'Haiti, L'actualité d'Haiti, Haiti News, décryptage, enjeux, réactions, la voix du peuple Haïtien

La lettre du Dep. Arnel Belizaire sur l'altercation avec Martelly

Le contenu de cet article denote la tension existante entre la chambre des deputes et le President Martelly d'une part et d'autre part entre le depute Arnel Belizaire et le President Michel Martelly. On serait tente de croire que le president aurait du se montrer malleable en vue d'obtenir la ratification de son premier ministre. Cette altercation demontre aussi la veracite du fait repandu que le premier ministre a ete impose au president. On peut deduire que le president ne s'interessait pas a la ratification de Gary Conille. Le cote macabre de la politique s'est donc apparu. En depit de cette feroce opposition et de la non-qualification de Gary Conille pour etre premier ministre la chambre des deputes a vote ce dernier en masse. Cela peut signifier aussi que le parlement a rallie Gary Conille dans son camp et isole le President. Le president a donc joue le jeu en choisssant les ministres du gouvernement. Le premier ministre a donc ete prive de ce role. L'alliance du parlement avec le premier ministre ne signifie rien puisque les ministres de ce dernier sont les ministres du president.
Le president n'aurait du en aucune maniere sortir ses gongs de maniere emotionelle. Sweet Mickey dit des betises pour distraire ses fanatiques. Il dit aussi des betises quand il est fache. Le Sweet Mickey est controversial. Il s'exprime de la meme maniere quand il est de bonne ou de mauvaise humeur. Selon un article paru dans le Nouvelliste " le president n'a aucune reserve quand il s'enerve. Il aboie mais ne mord pas". Les menaces faites au depute Belizaire ne montrent-elles pas que le president peut aller au dela des ses horribles propos en passant a l'acte?Si le president veut rendre l'education gratuite il doit aussi se soucier de la qualite de l'education informelle et formelle de la jeunesse. Les elites politiques et sociales representent un modele pour la jeunesse. Si l'immoralite se manifeste dans les hautes spheres de la direction du pays et chez les elites alors on ne peut pas demander aux jeunes de respecter leurs parents et les adultes. A un autre niveau on ne peut pas demander au peuple d'avoir une bonne conduite. Ne devrait-on pas s'ecarter du cote macabre de la politique?. La politique ne signifie pas assasinat, vol, enrichissement illicite, ruse, mensonges, immoralite. Un politicien est un leader. Un leader est un guide. Un guide est un educateur. Des educateurs donnant de mauvais enseignements ne peuvent s'attendre qu'a avoir des eduques mal formes. De la meme maniere les diriges refletent le comportemetnt de mauvais dirigeants. Ce sont surtout les diriges n'ayant pas une formation solide qui sont les plus vulnerables. Lisez la lettre du depute Arnel Belizaire ci-dessous:
Dep. Arnel Belizaire Letter on Altercation with Martelly

Brain Foods Pictures Slideshow: What to Eat for Better Concentration

In this list of brain foods caffeine and sugar should be eliminated as their effect on concentration is short. Fish, whole grains, fruits and vegetables have a long lasting effect on concentration. Why introduce something that has short term effect among those that have long term and permanent effect?. Is this a question of favoring the industry of products recognized to have bad effect on people's health? These products ( caffeine and sugar) that are recommended to use in moderation are known to be used excessively by people. I used to drink a cup of coffee each morning to give me a booster and enjoy sweet products. I have eliminated them many years ago and I am better without them. Read the information below
Brain Foods Pictures Slideshow: What to Eat for Better Concentration

Yves Simon, Educator

Testing of drugs' effects on attention deficit disorder

In the last twenty years many disorders have entered the field of mental health disorders. Among them the most popular are : Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Progressively many mental deficiencies, some of them mild like reading disorder, find their way in the book of Mental Health disorders. Attention deficit disorder is characterized by lack of focus, concentration or attention. ADHD has the same characteristics with the difference of the addition of the letter H which stands for Hyperactivity. The latter disorder is known in children who are hyperactive and have difficulties concentrating in schools. Both disorders affect adults and children . The irony of this is many bright adults have been told to suffer ADD. A well known and bright medical doctor reported in a book he wrote about ADD that he suffered of this disorder. There are four main ways to study behavior.: cognitive, behaviorist, psychoanalytic and biological.In the mental health field more emphasis is put on the biological aspect. Moreover alternative medicine offer nutritional solutions to these types of disorders. There are also other techniques like relaxation, meditation, visualization and spiritual solutions acknowledged by some researchers. There is never only one way to solve a problem. There might be several effective ways to solve a problem. In the treatment of behavior it is worth to explore a combination of effective alternative and traditional treatments or use the least harmful effective ones. Generally drugs related treatment have side effects. Why not educate oneself on the benefits of alternative treatments and research the advice of alternative treatments specialists?

 In the field of mental and physical health prevention is key. Education is important. Children and adults need to know healthy behaviors. These behaviors have to be known in early childhood and every parent should know them to teach to their children. Study skills, healthy nutrition, physicl education,  moral, logic are among the basics that should be known early in life.

In he field of traditional medicine researchers at Washington university School of Medicine have found that raising dopamine levels in mice brains can alleviate attention deficit in mice affected by neuro- fibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a condition that affect 100,000 people in United States. It is reported that 60% to 80% of children with NF1 have some type of attention deficit.

"Symptoms of NF1 related attention deficits are similar to those that affect children in the general population. But it is unclear whether the brain changes that underlie these problems in children with NF1 are similar to the brain changes that cause attention deficits in the general population" (Science Daily).
The Science Daily article  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111014104944.htm#.Tppwlyu5z-V.blogger

Yves Simon, Educator