Eight Women from Eight Countries Ski to South Pole
There may not be much powder skiing in Antarctica. Nonetheless a team of eight women from Commonwealth countries set off on skis toward the South Pole yesterday. Hailing from Cyprus, Ghana, Singapore, India, Brunei, New Zealand, Britain, and Jamaica, they are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth with the aim of spreading the good word of cultural exchange and the power of women. They expect the 500-plus-mile journey across Antarctica to take about 40 days, depending on blizzards and such.
"I don't think I could put in words how empty it all seems," reported Stephanie Solomonides, an expedition member reporting after day one. To follow their progress, check out their podcasts and updates on the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition's website.
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November 24, 2009
The Good Route: Picturing Climate Change at COP15
©Daniel Beltrá, courtesy of The Prince’s Rainforests Project and Sony
Some of Daniel Beltrá's photographs are shockingly beautiful, but many are just plain shocking. And it's the latter group—which illustrate burning, drought-stricken and clear-cut rainforests of Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia—that just may push our political leaders toward making real progress at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) to be held next month in Copenhagen.
The Prince's Rainforests Project, an effort that Prince Charles of Wales established in 2007 in order to raise awareness about rainforest destruction and raise funds to support rainforest preservation, appointed Beltrá (through the Sony World Photography Awards) to photograph the world's largest and most important rainforests as part of the campaign. Now, some of these images—which show not only wide-scale damage to the rainforests but also vignettes of pristine sections (after all, leaders need to know what they're fighting for)—are collected in a book, Rainforest: Lifebelt for an Endangered Planet, which key world leaders at COP15 will receive.
Continue reading "The Good Route: Picturing Climate Change at COP15" »
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First Jet-Wing Intercontinental Crossing
Yves Rossy will attempt to become the first person ever to complete an intercontinental crossing via jet-wing on November 25. He plans to take off in a Pilatus Porter aircraft from Morocco, ascend to a height of 2,000 meters, then exit from the plane to deploy his jet-wing and lift off for southern Spain. The distance will be about 40 kilometers, and he'll be traveling in speeds up to 300 km/hr through the air. You'll be able to watch him live at webtel.mobi.
--Aileen Torres
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Get in Line for the Grand Canyon
Starting February 2010, you can no longer simply show up to get a permit to hike overnight in the backcountry of the Grand Canyon. You're going to have to send your request via snail mail or fax within four months of your planned visit. One out of every two people who request permits are denied yearly, according to Backpacker.com. A park official says the rule change is intended to level the playing field "between locals and international visitors."
--Aileen Torres
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Antioxidants Could Boost Muscle Strength
Researchers have found that a high intake of Vitamin C and E is linked to muscle strength preservation as you age, Reuters reports. Muscle strength naturally begins to wane when you're in your 40s, and it drops significantly after 60. The researchers studied more than 2,000 men and women in their 70s over two years. They examined the participants long-term eating habits and measured their grip strength at the beginning and end of the two-year period. The findings show a strong positive correlation between Vitamin C and E intake and greater muscle strength, regardless of individual participant strength levels at the outset.
--Aileen Torres
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Astana Still on Shaky Ground
The UCI has ordered Astana to produce a formal bank guarantee in 24 hours before the team can be approved for ProTour status for the next year, VeloNews reports. Astana has already missed the October 20 deadline that required it to hand over financial and management records to the commission. The Kazakh government has pledged $22 million to the team, which went to secure Alberto Contador's contract, but the UCI wants more evidence of sound financial footing from Astana.
--Aileen Torres
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Home Boy Wins Reef Hawaiian Pro
Haleiwa native Joel Centeio has won the Reef Hawaiian Pro, which moves him up the ASP rankings to 51st place from 131st. Coming in second was CJ Hobgood, and Jay Thompson came in third. The next event in the VANS Triple Crown of Surfing will take place at Sunset Beach November 24 to December 6.
--Aileen Torres
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November 23, 2009
Team RadioShack Roster Finalized
The roster for Team RadioShack, finalized by manager Johan Bruyneel, was announced today and will include seven-time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong among its 26 riders coming from 16 different countries. “It is a well balanced team”, comments Bruyneel. “We have experienced riders - with some of them I worked already many years in my former teams – but we also have young talents who can develop in the perfect environment. Our main goal will be the Tour de France and other stage races but I am confident that, with these riders, we can perform very well in the one-day races as well. I look forward to the new season with Team RadioShack and our first training camp.”
Riders: Lance Armstrong (USA), Fumiyuki Beppu (JAP), Sam Bewley (NZL), Jani Brajkovic (SLO), Matthew Busche (USA), Ben Hermans (BEL), Chris Horner (USA), Daryl Impey (SAF), Markel Irizar (SPA), Andreas Klöden (GER), Levi Leipheimer (USA), Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA), Fuyu Li (CHI), Tiago Machado (POR), Jason McCartney (USA), Dmitriy Muravyev (KAZ), Sérgio Paulinho (POR), Yaroslav Popovych (UKR), Gregory Rast (SUI), Sébastien Rosseler (BEL), Ivan Rovny (RUS), José Luis Rubiera (SPA), Bjorn Selander (USA), Gert Steegmans (BEL), Tomas Vaitkus (LIT) & Haimar Zubeldia (SPA)
The 2010 RadioShack Team will gather for the first time in Tucson, Arizona, United States during the second week of December 2009.
--Alison Kelman
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Jungfrau Guides Acquitted in the Death of Six Soldiers
Two mountain guides were acquitted this week by the Swiss military court in the death of six Swiss soldiers recruits who were killed in an avalanche on Mount Jungfrau in the Bernese Alps in July of 2007. According to SwissInfo, defending accusations of negligence, the defense argued chances of an avalanche that day were limited. Six soldiers and two guides escaped unharmed. If found guilty, the guides could have faced three years in prison.
--Alison Kelman
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Video: Sailing On Ice
Filmed on Bellport Bay, Long Island, NY, these homemade iceboats look like an excellent break from a harsh New York winter.
Found on World Hum.
--Alison Kelman
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