Alt-week 2.9.13: Seismic invisibility, bacterial gold and really, really big prime numbers

Alt-week peels back the covers on some of the more curious sci-tech stories from the last seven days.

The lure of gold, the unpredictable weather and the power of invisibility. What do these three things have in common? We'd argue their almost universal appeal to the human race. Science makes headway in all three of these areas in this edition. On top of that there's a really, incredibly, massive prime number. This is alt-week.

Filed under: Misc, Science, Alt

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/OSUyyu7XLJA/

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The Celtic Manor Resort | Guide of Traveller

Opened in 1999 on a 1,400-acre estate rich with scenery and history, the Forum Health Club and Spa capped development of the most complete resort in Wales. Combining exceptional golf, leisure, and convention facilities, the Celtic Manor Resort includes a 400-room hotel and three championship golf courses.

Crossing the Severn estuary on a dramatic new bridge, you can?t miss the Manor. An in-your-face newly built megalith dominating the M-4 motorway, the resort is all about thinking big. Canadian telecommunications tycoon Terry Matthews invited golf course designer Robert Trent Jones Sr.?both were born in Wales?to launch the project in 1995. At the resort?s center is a refurbished nineteenth-century manor house. Set into a hillside, the hotel?s soaring central atrium links three wings of bedrooms to the spa and leisure club, and to a high-tech convention center.

The Forum Health Club and Spa surpasses many European resorts. Taking up most of the hotel?s lower floor are a 20-meter swimming pool, fifty-person whirlpool with underwater sound and light beneath a constellation of fiber-optic stars, and luxurious changing rooms with sauna and steam room, plunge pool, and whirlpool. The sixteen therapy rooms are spacious and well-equipped for a range of treatments by Clarins, Elemis, and Guinot, including sports massage and skin care for men. Perhaps the most interesting feature is the spa?s rasul chamber, where mud-caked guests socialize as they steam out impurities under a star-studded dome.

Spacious and elegantly appointed, the Forum?s wide corridors, high ceilings, and light-filled exercise studios are a pleasant environment, even when the weather isn?t. The fifty-four-station gym allows you to watch TV or enjoy music while you work out on cross-trainers, steppers, bikes, rowers, free weights, and treadmills. Personal trainers are on hand, and scheduled sessions of yoga and aerobics are held in a wood-floored studio. The gym also offers fitness assessment and counseling packages from Fitech. Kids up to age fifteen have their own Hideaway Club, with gym,?swimming pool, whirlpool, computer, and cinema. Taking care of the entire family are an Aveda concept hair salon, run by local-TV celeb Philip Mungeam, and a spa cafe.

Accommodations: 400 luxury rooms, thirty-two suites in contemporary hotel, most with balcony. All have private bath and shower, air-conditioning, speaker phone with voice mail, desk with fax modem and dual voltage power, CD player, TV. Amenities include hair dryer, trouser press, iron and board, tea- and coffeemakers, robe, toiletries. Library lounge.

Meals: A la carte menu in two restaurants and spa cafe. Also available at golf clubhouse, conservatory and terrace, games room and library, and piano bar.

Facilities: Two indoor swimming pools and whirlpools, sixteen treatment rooms including hydrotherapy, dry flotation bed, rasul chamber, two fitness centers with cardiovascular and strength equipment, aerobics/dance studios, men?s and women?s changing rooms with sauna/steam rooms, plunge pool. Hideaway Club for kids. Admission is free to hotel guests.

Services & Special Programs: Skin care, facials, massage, G5 machine massage, body wrap, aromatherapy, Cathiodermie, hair and nail care; jet shower, hydrotherapy tubs. Fitness evaluation, personal trainers.

Best Spa Package: Elemis aromatherapy, top-to-toe, two-hour treatment for $80, plus gratuity. Spa Energizer package with room, treatments, meals for two, $416-$603 daily (three-night minimum).

What?s Nearby: Cardiff Bay, Wentwood Forest, Caernarfon Castle, Tintern Abbey.

Source: http://www.guideoftravels.com/the-celtic-manor-resort.html

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10 Things to Know about the big storm

Snow falls on a pedestrian as she leaves the Rag & Bone Fall 2013 fashion collection show during Fashion Week, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, in New York. Snow began falling across the Northeast on Friday, ushering in what was predicted to be a huge, possibly historic blizzard and sending residents scurrying to stock up on food and gas up their cars. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Snow falls on a pedestrian as she leaves the Rag & Bone Fall 2013 fashion collection show during Fashion Week, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, in New York. Snow began falling across the Northeast on Friday, ushering in what was predicted to be a huge, possibly historic blizzard and sending residents scurrying to stock up on food and gas up their cars. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

A group of men help push a sports car up a snow-covered street in the Old Port section of Portland, Mane, during a snow storm, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. The storm is expected to dump up to two feet of snow on the region. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Riders wait in a bus stop where color-tinted windows collect snow during a storm, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, in Portland, Maine. The National Weather Service says a blizzard warning is issued Friday evening for the southern coast. The forecast calls for up to 2 feet of snow and winds gusting to 50 mph.(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

1. 650,000 LOST POWER IN NEW ENGLAND

Even the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth, Mass., lost electricity and had to shut down Friday night.

2. WINDS REACHED 82 MPH, BUT OUTAGES COULD HAVE BEEN BIGGER

With leaves long gone, it seemed the damage to power lines from falling trees and branches was somewhat limited.

3. AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE HAVE DIED

The deaths include three in Canada and a New York man killed when the tractor he was using to plow went off the road.

4. MORE THAN 3 FEET OF SNOW FELL IN CONNECTICUT

Maine and Long Island recorded 30-plus inches, with Massachusetts and New Hampshire not far behind.

5. IT WAS ALL TOO MUCH FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers..." was canceled when delivery was halted in New England.

6. AIR TRAVEL IS COMING BACK

The first inbound flight landed at JFK at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and Boston's Logan expects to be back soon.

7. NOT EVERYONE GOT OFF THE ROADS

Despite warnings and highway closings, hundreds of cars became stranded on the Long Island Expressway.

8. HOW SANDY VICTIMS WERE HIT AGAIN

On Staten Island, New Yorkers still without power had only a tent shelter and tarps to protect them.

9. NBA ROAD TRIPS WERE EXTENDED

The Knicks were stuck in Minnesota, the Spurs hunkered down in Detroit and the Brooklyn Nets took the train home from DC.

10. YES, MICHAEL KORS HIT FASHION WEEK IN UGGS

"I came in looking like Pam Anderson," the designer joked in New York after trading in his boots for more acceptable black leather.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-09-10-Things-to-Know-Northeast-Snow/id-df2612d9bae240a3a17ecd0eaa5ff9ad

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Some Ideas To Make Your Home Interior The Envy Of Your ...

TIP! Don?t shy away from creativity whenever you?re painting a room. You can find some great tutorials online if you want some amazing designs.

You may believe that you possess certain areas of expertise in design to help you when decorating your home. You will be shocked to know how simple it really is. Continue on to the article below and learn about ways to begin your interior decorating journey!

TIP! Utilize that wall space that is simply going to waste. If you have large walls that are barren, you might want to hang a picture or painting you like.

Lighting is a crucial part of any interior design project. There are a lot of ways you can use light in decorating; windows, lighting, candles, and mirrors all play a part. Making sure there is proper lighting brightens up a dull room, which makes it look better.

TIP! Small baskets and crates are a simple and stylish storage solution for smaller bathrooms. Baskets are a great way to increase the amount of storage space you have.

Think about getting non-traditional countertops for your kitchen. Classic granite is always lovely but concrete, wood and cork can also be viable options. Also, these materials will not break the bank, which allows you to use money on other things.

TIP! Living room furniture does not allows need to face the television. It is always nice to have a conversation area or an additional spot to sit in away from the noise of the television.

Think of the function of a room when you are designing it. You may want to design a kid?s room to be bright and vibrant to match their lively personalities. Those same colors however, don?t work nearly as well in a dining room for example.

TIP! While designing, take into consideration the amount of people that you are trying to accommodate. Will you just have a few people in your home or numerous? Remember that different rooms are used in different ways.

White and cream colored walls can make a room look spacious and open. This can help if you?re decorating a cramped apartment or room. Make sure to select a color that complements the design and available space in the room.

TIP! If you are in need of space, you should incorporate a design into the whole of your home. For instance, a living room and dining room that are combined can have the same wood colors and match in regards to the colors of the fabrics.

By getting rid of the clutter in any space or room, you would be surprised at how much bigger the area will feel. Consider obtaining good storage for the items that typically clutter your room. Whether it?s boxes to put extra toys in or a filing cabinet to clear up paperwork, keep items off the floor. One container in a corner can be the answer to the problem of several items lying around.

TIP! When you?re redoing any rooms, you?ll want to ensure that all the painting is done before replacing any flooring. Nothing is worse than installing new carpeting, only to get paint on it afterward.

Be sure that any office you design is functional. Lighting is important when you are working, so is a comfortable chair and desk. You should be thinking about maximum comfort in the room that you will be working in so you can be productive.

TIP! When renovating a small home, an excellent suggestion is inserting many mirrors in it. Mirrors can help create the illusion of a larger space, which can assist in enhancing the appearance of your interior spaces.

With any luck, these tips should?ve helped you see what the basics of interior planning are. When you have inspiration and all the necessary tools, there is nothing that can stand between you and the room (or home) of your dreams! Create a special home for your family

Source: http://voooz.com/2012/11/13/some-ideas-to-make-your-home-interior-the-envy-of-your-neighborhood/

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Nadine Haag: Inquest call after family investigation... | Stuff.co.nz

'VIVACIOUS': Nadine Haag.

An Australian coroner has called for an inquest into the death of a former Dunedin woman after a private investigation by her family suggested she may not have committed suicide as first thought.

Nadine Haag, 33, was found dead in her Sydney apartment on December 3, 2009. She had deep wounds on her wrists and a suicide note tucked in her hand. Pills and a razor were also found nearby.

The police concluded Haag had killed herself, and so did not carry out any forensic work or take finger prints at the time. But Haag's family did not accept the ruling, prompting her brother Marcel and three sisters, Chantal, Tasia and Cherie to conduct their own investigation with the help of former Victorian homicide Inspector Lucio Rovis.

The family's story featured in an October episode of the Australian current affairs show Sunday Night, which confirmed a New South Wales coroner had called for an inquest into Nadine's death.

The inquest would include the evidence gathered by her family, which included a second message reading "he did it", found at the scene of Haag's death.

According to the show, the "vivacious" dance instructor had been in an alleged violent relationship, and at the time of her death was locked in a bitter dispute with her former partner. According to Sunday Night, her former partner has vehemently denied any involvement in her death.

It was revealed on the show that in 2009, she had sought two protection orders against Nestore Guizzon, but was denied by police both times.

On the day of her death, Haag had an appointment with her lawyer and had also made plans to travel back to Queensland with her young daughter to visit their family. She was found dead in the shower the next day.

YouTube tribute video:

PRIVATE INVESTIGATION

Police took no DNA, fingerprints or forensic evidence from the scene because they were treating it as a suicide.

Since 2010 however, Haag's siblings have been working to find out what really happened to their sister.

Sunday Night revealed how they recreated the crime scene and discovered two hidden messages saying "he did it", hidden underneath the original suicide note, and the same message scratched on a wall tile in Haag's bathroom, which, disturbingly, police missed.

The second message was found only months ago by new tenants in Haag's old apartment.

Toxicology reports commissioned by Haag's siblings found the amount of pills in her system was less than the therapeutic amount, Sunday Night reported. The siblings also found her wrist wounds were much deeper than what could have been made by the razor.

At the time of her death, Haag's family questioned the amount of blood found near her, was relatively small when her artery was supposed to have been cut, Sunday Night said.

A brown dress Haag was wearing on the day she died was unaccounted for, as were two knives from a set of six.

On the show, her family said they were "adamant", Haag did not commit suicide. They believed the messages left by Haag in her dying moments proved that. But according to Sunday Night, NSW police interpreted the messages to mean Guizzon drove her to commit suicide.

The full Sunday News video story can be found here.

- ? Fairfax NZ News

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/7941922/Family-investigation-calls-suicide-into-question

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Teens held over destruction at Jewish cemeteries

By NBCConnecticut.com

Three teenagers have been arrested for allegedly destroying nearly 100 gravestones at Jewish cemeteries, police in Connecticut said. More than $20,000 worth of damage was caused during the attack.

Hartford Police, which started to investigate this case in mid-October, recently got a tip that three teens that live in the neighborhood were responsible and the arrests were made over the weekend.

Dozens of headstones are still toppled over at the Tower Avenue Jewish Cemeteries.

At first police investigated the case as a hate crime, but after talking to the teens, they said this was no longer the case.

Leonard Holtz, with Congregation Ados Israel, said the vandalism "basically attacked the defenseless and the emotions of those survivors."

"(The arrests) don't lessen the pain for people who have had their monuments desecrated," he added.

Read more from NBCConnecticut.com

Holtz said visitors were still uneasy.??It has taken away the feeling that you can go here with peace of mind,? he said.

Hartford Police said that the suspects may have destroyed the gravestones while they were using it as a shortcut to a nearby park.

?It's a crime that inflicts pain and suffering on other families,? Holtz said.

'Just sickening': Vandals smash nearly 70 gravestones in Alabama cemetery

He said he wanted those responsible to be held accountable, and to understand the damage wasn?t just aesthetic.

?A cemetery should be a sacred place, holy ground, this should never happen,? Holtz added.

The names of the suspects were not released.

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/13/15133919-3-teens-held-over-destruction-of-100-gravestones-in-jewish-cemeteries?lite

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Default Tricks ? Making a decision on Improved Cell phone Contract ...

Picking a Handyvertrag means cellular phone handyvertrag and Selecting any cell phone for you can be very challenging. Making a alternative on a cell phone perfect for you depends on your personal preferences and your own desires.
The mobile phones which can be received under agreements are identified to get contract mobile phones. With your kind of mobile phone devices offer, consumers may gain many many benefits like free texts, totally free minutes, free portable accessories, free mobile insurance and lots a lot more. The contract period is available in the choice of 12 months, 18 weeks and 24 months associated with contract. However, the wide range of your contract interval is for your ease. Within the contract period, you are not allowed to transition to other network support that means you have to stick for the specific interval. After completion of commitment, you can switch over to different network as well as you will get the many advantages of free of charge mobile.

In supplement to being used like a system of wireless voice communication, cellular phones have within the last many years morphed into traveling with a laptop platforms. These brand new cell phones are powerful enough to strength many applications that only a couple of years ago necessary one to be stationed at a desktop exclusive computer.
Cellular phone selections change from the multi-featured and interesting style to the purely functional and humble. It is strictly your own choice, and you?ll wish to stick with a mobile phone that is right for the way you work with it.
An amazing good cellular phone choice is one that has characteristics you?ll enjoy using. Although there are many factors to consider, all this boils down to Considering the cell phone that will supply you with the best design, capabilities, and functioning.
A contingency by means of technological development as well as increased usage world-wide, prices for both hardware and service plans have got dropped steadily over the past decade. However only some years ago most mobile phone service providers required 3 year contracts with weighty penalties for first cancellation, now one can get a free state-of-the-art cellphone together with only the one 365 day handyvertrag.

For more information about handyvertrag please visit the website.

Source: http://www.defaulttricks.com/making-a-decision-on-improved-cell-phone-contract-handyvertrag-trades/

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