Mass. man gets 14 years for Obama-inspired fire (AP)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ? A white man convicted of burning down a predominantly black church because he was angry about President Barack Obama's election was sentenced Thursday to nearly 14 years in prison.

Michael Jacques was convicted in April of various charges in connection with the fire, including conspiracy against civil rights and damage or destruction of religious property. He was sentenced Thursday to 13 years and 10 months in federal prison.

A federal judge also ordered the 27-year-old Jacques to pay nearly $1.6 million in restitution to the church and its insurance company.

Prosecutors say Jacques and two friends burned down the Macedonia Church of God in Christ in Springfield the night of Obama's 2008 election in an act of racism. Jacques has said he was at his parents' house that night.

Benjamin Haskell and Thomas Gleason pleaded guilty to the civil rights charges. Haskell was sentenced to nine years in prison. Gleason is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 18.

Prosecutors said the men burned down the church on Nov. 5, 2008, hours after Obama was elected as the nation's first black president. The church was under construction at the time of the fire and no one was inside. A few firefighters suffered minor injuries fighting the blaze.

Prosecutors said all three men confessed to the crime and implicated each other. But Jacques later recanted, saying authorities wore him down during a long interrogation as he suffered withdrawal from addictions to Percocet painkillers and cigarettes.

During closing arguments at Jacques' trial, prosecutors said his racism reached the "boiling point" when Obama was elected. They said he often used racial epithets and expressed anger that minorities were taking over the country.

Jacques' attorney, Lori Levinson, called the sentence "extraordinarily heavy" and said Jacques plans to appeal.

"He continues to maintain his innocence," Levinson said.

U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz said in a statement that she hopes the sentence "sends a strong message that we will bring all of our resources to bear in order to protect the civil liberties of every citizen."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111222/ap_on_re_us/us_church_fire_obama

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34 Congress members call for NYPD-CIA probe (Providence Journal)

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Gordy Grundy: A Definition of Success in the Fine Arts

How do you define a successful life in the arts? Is it selling a painting for six figures? Do the heavens part when you make the cover of Artforum? Does achievement come with an invitation to show at a biennale? Or is success defined by the quality, dedication and passion of the artist's journey?

Recently, an art world success Bill Radawec left this mortal coil. In the last difficult year of his life, Bill demonstrated the same courageous values that he evidenced as an artist. The following testimonials from friends and colleagues paint a portrait of the artist. This discussion allow us to define the meaning of success in the fine arts. -- Gordy Grundy

The Art Work of Bill Radawec

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Out of the Blue, the Turn Around, 2008 Acrylic on canvas 24 x 24 inches Photo courtesy of Shaheen Modern and Contemporary Art

Out of the Blue, the Turn Around, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 24 inches
Photo courtesy of Shaheen Modern and Contemporary Art

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The Art Work of Bill Radawec

Out of the Blue, the Turn Around, 2008 Acrylic on canvas 24 x 24 inches Photo courtesy of Shaheen Modern and Contemporary Art

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Lucas Reiner is a painter who lives in Los Angeles. He writes, "I met Bill Radawec in 1994 at an opening in Tom Solomon's Garage on Fairfax Blvd. Three small paintings of mine had been included in a group exhibition. The paintings were five inch squares; grey and minimal. If you blinked, you would easily miss them. As I was standing by the paintings I saw an energetic man rapidly approaching. Everything about him was round; round face, round baldhead, round glasses. With great enthusiasm and speed, he walked towards me and introduced himself: "Hi! I'm Bill", he said. "Are these your paintings"? He took off his glasses and pressed his head close to the surface, then close to the side of the paintings to see how they were attached to the wall. We struck up a conversation about minimalism and he invited me to visit him at his apartment/gallery, Domestic Setting, which was then on Sawtelle Blvd. Bill included my work in some of the Domestic Setting shows, and our conversations continued over the course of seventeen years.

Bill had a wonderful enthusiasm for art, life, people, history, and a profoundly generous nature. He was a constant connector of people, and seemingly felt no inhibitions or self-consciousness about introducing himself to anyone and everyone. He seemed to naturally feel that everyone should know everyone else, and was exemplary in the way he treated all people the same. For this reason, I suspect Los Angeles was a bit of a frustration for him. Perhaps being from the Midwest, he couldn't square the hierarchy of the Hollywood mindset.

Bill could talk. His favorite question was, "So what else is new?" He even asked me this while he was lying in the hospital, sedated, undergoing chemotherapy. The conversations we had, especially after he moved back to Cleveland to take care of his mother and father, covered a broad range of subjects; from art world gossip to his fascination with Sammy Davis Jr., specifically the I.R.S. owning all of his assets when he died. He would speak at length about a new, epic body of conceptual work he was focused on which wove together Sammy Davis' glass eye and John Lloyd Wright, Frank Lloyd Wright's son and the inventor of Lincoln Logs. When I saw Bill in the spring of 2011, he spoke at length about this new body of work, looking me in the eye deadpan, and explaining how Frank Lloyd Wright had fired his son from a job he had hired him to do.

Bill's support, encouragement, and gentle guidance played an unexpected role in my life, and I will be forever being grateful for his friendship. His enthusiastic belief in people, generosity of spirit, and his willingness to share that spirit of belief was his gift to those who knew him. I loved him and will miss him. -- Lucas Reiner

Bennett Roberts is an art dealer in Los Angeles who is looking for the next diamond. He writes, "Bill was a great person and will be missed by all that knew him. Bill loved anything having to do with Art. The making, selling, displaying, talking about and thinking art. He loved looking, and seeing, and feeling, but he especially enjoyed the people (his friends) whether he knew them personally or not, who made, discussed and lived for Art. For these reasons and many others our friend Bill will be remembered and missed forever" -- Bennett Roberts

Jeanne Patterson is a Los Angeles based artist and founder of Domestic Setting. She writes, "Being totally immersed as an artist to Bill meant not only making one's work but being very active outside the studio, going to openings and seeing shows, to be Constantly engaged in art viewing, conversing and connecting people with one another. He was a firm believer that your studio should be ready at all times to have the work looked at. He was constantly on the phone with artists, dealers and writers all over the country and was on a first name basis with them.

From early on, he was very supportive of my work and I can truly say he was like a brother to me. With Bill you got the real deal, whether you liked that or not, he was an individual. He was very witty and had a very quick mind and he could always make me laugh. After he moved to Cleveland we would have long conversations late at night. He was excited to hear what was going on with Domestic Setting and enjoyed hearing news of mutual friends. He was like a sponge and took it all in, generous and told the most amazing stories. I miss the guy. -- Jeanne Patterson

Susan Landau is a former art dealer turned jewelry designer. She writes, "I had the most eye opening experience with Bill R. After my gallery closed in the early 90's, I opened my house to show wonderful art. Bill and I became acquainted at this point. He curated practically all the shows and introduced me to his posse of art folks. It was such a delight mixed with hilarious Bill "things". Like when the shows came down and new work was to be installed, Bill was not at his best. He seemed to be lacking spackling skills so he solved the problem by asking each artist to spackle their own "holes". As precise as his drawings were, he didn't mind lumps under white paint. -- Susan Landau

Jane Hart is curator of Exhibitions, Art and Culture Center of Hollywood and founder Lemon Sky projects and editions. She writes, "I met Bill Radawec shortly after moving to Los Angeles from New York City in 1990. Right away we struck up a friendship and I greatly appreciated his upbeat personality and unquenchable enthusiasm for contemporary art and artists. I attended many of the wonderful shows he organized at domestic setting and felt that he was truly pursuing the spirit of collaboration and inventiveness that I had longed for in my move to the West Coast. He invited me to curate a show in the summer of 1993 at both domestic setting spaces: his apartment and Jeanne Patterson's home. I was thrilled with the opportunity and used it as a platform to do a major project entitled "A Vital Matrix." It was a large group show devoted to artists and their relationship to nature and included many L.A. artists as well as future art stars like Gregory Crewdson, Matthew Ritchie and Jim Hodges among others. For me this was a trans-formative moment in my professional life working within the art world. I found my voice as a curator. I have Bill to thank for this -- as it was due both to his generosity and trust in me. There was a show, color catalogue and boxed set of the participating artists editions (which sold out immediately.) The show brought many people together. Bill and I loved that!

Throughout the 13 years that I was in Los Angeles, Bill introduced me to so many superb artists. He was a conduit in that way-- always putting people together. This was especially the case when I was Director of the pioneering digitally based fine arts publishing company Muse [X] Editions. Bill delighted in bringing artists over to our studio/facility -- many went on to publish and/or produce editions with us. Bill was also a key inspiration for me to open my own alternative "in home" gallery in 1996 up in Beachwood Canyon, lemon sky: a project space, which has continued in various manifestations both in L.A. and since I moved to Miami in 2003.

Most importantly though, Bill was devoted to his own art and all the various series he produced over the years. Each smartly imbued with wit and true originality. Bill was one of a kind...I am so grateful that we were friends and colleagues. Together with many other artists, curators and critics vital to Los Angeles' development as an art capital in the 1990's we shared exuberant experiences as the scene unfolded. They were the best of times. -- Jane Hart

Photos published courtesy of the Shaheen Gallery and Lucas Reiner.

-------------------
GORDY GRUNDY is a Los Angeles based artist and writer. His visual and literary work can be found near www.GordyGrundy.com.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gordy-grundy/a-definition-of-success-i_b_1160575.html

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NASA Backs Away from Imposing Controls on Commercial Crew Program (ContributorNetwork)

Alan Boyle of MSNBC reports that NASA has at the last minute revised its approach to the next phase of the commercial crew program, designed to develop private space craft to service the International Space Station through government subsidies.

NASA had planned, according to a proposed Commercial Crew Integrated Design Contract, to exert a great deal of control over the design of the commercial vehicles that would carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station. However, thanks in large part due to lack of funding, the space agency will retain the relatively hands off approach it has employed for the cargo spacecraft being developed thus far.

How has NASA conducted the Commercial Orbital Transportation Systems program?

Under the COTS program, first initiated under President George W. Bush, NASA provided guidelines for the development of commercial cargo spacecraft. Certain milestones in the development and testing of these spacecraft were defined. Subsidy money was paid out once NASA had determined that each milestone was achieved. The advantage of this approach, which was stipulated as a Space Act Agreement, was that the commercial space companies retained flexibility over how they achieved each milestone, with NASA providing over all guidance.

How did NASA propose changing this arrangement for the crewed phase?

NASA proposed to exert a far greater control over the design and development of commercial spacecraft during the crewed phase. Designs would have to be approved by NASA. NASA would reserve to itself the ability to demand more testing at each milestone as it saw fit. To implement this new arrangement, hugely time consuming and expensive auditing requirements would be imposed. NASA would embed teams of its own employees to oversee the development of the crewed commercial spacecraft.

The commercial space companies and commercial space advocates chaffed at this proposed new arrangement. They maintained that it would result in unnecessary expense and would consume too much time. NASA responded that the new approach was necessary to ensure crew safety.

What changed?

Congress appropriated less than half of the Obama administration's request for commercial crew. NASA subsequently decided that it lacked the money to impose the arrangement dictated by the Commercial Crew Integrated Design Contract. The space agency has therefore chosen to retain the Space Act Agreement approach for the crewed phase. Currently, the first commercial crew flights to the ISS are scheduled for 2017.

What has been the political reaction to the revision?

Both Rep, Ralph Hall, the chairman of the House Science Committee, and the ranking member, Rep. Bernice Johnson, have expressed skepticism, citing concerns for crew safety. Both the Space Access Society and the Commercial Spaceflight Federation look upon the NASA decision with favor, however.

Mark R. Whittington is the author of Children of Apollo and The Last Moonwalker. He has written on space subjects for a variety of periodicals, including The Houston Chronicle, The Washington Post, USA Today, the L.A. Times and The Weekly Standard.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111216/sc_ac/10692487_nasa_backs_away_from_imposing_controls_on_commercial_crew_program

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Nicole Scherzinger Debuts New Single on The X Factor

She may not be the most beloved judge - especially after last week's Rachel Crow ousting - but  Nicole Scherzinger is no slouch behind the microphone... on stage, that is.

Last night, prior to Marcus Canty's getting eliminated, the former Pussycat Doll debuted her new single, "Pretty," which is off the album "Killer Love." Look for it in early 2012 and listen to Nicole's solo effort now:

Nicole Scherzinger - Pretty (Live on The X Factor)

What do you think? Could Scherzinger hang with finalists Chris Rene, Melanie Amaro and Josh Krajcik? They will compete next week for the title of First Ever X Factor Champion and we wanna know:

WHO WILL WIN?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/12/nicole-scherzinger-debuts-new-single-on-the-x-factor/

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Myanmar seeks final peace pacts with ethnic rebels (AP)

YANGON, Myanmar ? Myanmar is negotiating peace with major ethnic rebel groups and is determined to achieve a permanent peace with them in three to four years, the government's top negotiator said Friday.

Peace talks based on mutual respect are being held with the Shan, Mon, Karen, Kayah and Kachin groups, with the government's only condition being that the groups not demand to secede, said Aung Thaung, who heads the government's Peace Committee.

He told reporters that President Thein Sein ordered an end to fighting with Kachin rebels in the north Dec. 10 but skirmishes continued because communicating with troops in remote areas was difficult.

Myanmar for decades has been at odds with the ethnic groups who seek greater autonomy, but a military junta that took power in 1988 signed cease-fire agreements with many. Some of those pacts were strained as the central government sought to consolidate power, and combat resumed.

However, the new military-backed but elected government has embarked on reforms to try to end its international isolation. Western governments had imposed political and economic sanctions on Myanmar because of repression under the junta.

Ending war with ethnic rebels is one of the condition set by the West for improved relations, a point emphasized by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during her visit to Myanmar earlier this month.

A prominent Kachin mediator said government troops are continuing to attack Kachin villages and called for the recent cease-fire to be enforced.

The Kachin have been fighting the government since June, when the army tried to break up some of their militia strongholds.

"If the president's order is not immediately implemented and fighting not stopped, it could lead to distrust and further misunderstanding," Kachin mediator Rev. Saboi Jum told The Associated Press.

He said government attacks had continued at least as late as Wednesday.

"It seems that the president's order to stop fighting has not reached to the lower levels," he said.

Aung Thaung, a top member of the ruling pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party, vowed the government will try its best to achieve peace.

"It could take some three to four years to achieve peace with ethnic groups but we are determined to achieve permanent peace during our term of office," he told local reporters.

Aung Thaung said "there is no peace in the country for more than six decades. Myanmar is the only country in the world where ethnic conflict has continued for six decades and the world looked down upon us. Thus we have vowed to try our best to achieve peace with armed ethnic groups."

He led a government delegation that met on Nov. 29 for peace talks with the Kachin Independence Organization in Ruili in China's Yunnan province.

A few days later, the Shan State Army-South rebel group reached a cease-fire agreement at the provincial level with the government. The group is one of the biggest not to previously sign a cease-fire with the government.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111216/ap_on_re_as/as_myanmar_ethnic_rebels

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Higgs discovery would open supersymmetry mystery

MacGregor Campbell, contributor Supersymmetry could elegantly explain some of the greatest mysteries of the universe, such as how elementary particles got their mass. The theory endows the elusive Higgs boson, believed to be responsible for giving other known particles their mass, with just the right amount of mass of its own to solve problems introduced by the standard model of particle physics.

The Higgs has not yet been observed, but this afternoon researchers at CERN are expected to announce new hints of its existence (follow these results on our live blog). But even if they have got a glimpse of the Higgs, it still doesn't guarantee that supersymmetry is true. The theory also introduces a whole new cast of particles that should be easier to find than the Higgs, yet so far there has been no sign of them.

Watch this animation to find out more about how the Higgs relates to supersymmetry, or read our feature "The truth hurts: LHC breaks supersymmetry's beauty".?

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/1ae92ceb/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cnstv0C20A110C120Cmacgregor0Ecampbell0Econtributorwe0Ecan0Eexplain0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

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