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শুক্রবার, ১৯ অক্টোবর, ২০১২

Oakland U coach breaks silence about sexual abuse

In a photo from Oct. 16, 2012, Oakland University women's basketball coach Beckie Francis looks over her team's practice in Rochester, Mich. Francis tells The Associated Press she was sexually assaulted by her dad, who is now deceased, from the age of 4 until she was in the seventh grade. The 47-year-old coach has decided to speak out against the problem in part because of the Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

ROCHESTER, Mich. (AP) ? Beckie Francis remembers sitting on her couch last year, staring in amazement as she watched Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts reveal on TV that he was a survivor of sexual abuse.

Francis turned to her husband and told him she could do the same thing.

The women's basketball coach at Oakland University shared her story with parishioners at her suburban Detroit church, and with her players. And now, she is telling everyone else in hopes that it will encourage victims of sexual abuse to seek help, and to assist parents and children to avoid what she endured.

Until now, Francis had not publicly disclosed said that she was sexually assaulted by her dad, who is now deceased, from the age of 4 until she was in the seventh grade. Francis says she doesn't know when her dad died and can't recall the last time she saw him because she blocked him out of her life and mind after the abuse he inflicted on her.

The 47-year-old coach decided to come forward to speak out against the problem, in part because of the Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State.

"It's not easy to talk about," Francis said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It's something I tried to hold back and hide because I was afraid of what people would think. It's to a point now, where situations are coming out in the media with all kinds of cases from schools, churches, everywhere and I'm tired of it."

And, Francis is trying to do something about it.

She agreed to emcee an event on Oakland's campus on Thursday night featuring Erin Merryn, who was sexually abused as a child and now campaigns for increased education and protection from sexual predators. While Francis has been inspired by Brown and Merryn to go public with her past plight, the politician and the advocate are thrilled to have the coach on their team.

"Since telling my own story of abuse, I've been struck by the number of people who say they have drawn strength from it," Brown said. "It is humbling and gratifying to know that I may have given coach Francis the courage to speak out about the abuse she suffered."

Merryn travels around the nation to get versions of "Erin's Law" passed in all 50 states to require schools to adopt policy and create a curriculum that, among other things, would help children understand and talk about sexual abuse. The legislation has been introduced in many states, including Michigan, and enacted in four: Illinois ? where the 27-year-old Merryn is from ? Missouri, Indiana and Maine, she said.

"It always a help when you have a public figure like Beckie, especially at a university, to come forward like this to encourage other people to not keep their story a secret," Merryn said.

Sandusky's secret was exposed nearly a year ago and the former Penn State assistant football coach was sentenced this month to 30 to 60 years in prison. He was found guilty of raping or fondling boys in a child sex-abuse scandal that disgraced the school, forced the ouster of coach Joe Paterno and brought unprecedented penalties from the NCAA.

Penn State is hosting a child sexual abuse conference later this month. Merryn plans to be there to share information about "Erin's Law" and sign copies of her two books.

"It's good that Penn State is trying to do something positive instead of shoving it under the rug, but at this point, they don't have a choice," Merryn said. "It's unfortunate that it look something like the tragedy at Penn State to bring the world's attention to the monsters, who 93 percent of the time are somebody you trust with your kids, that are in every community."

Francis' path toward going public got a jolt when she heard about Merryn trying to get legislation named after her passed in Michigan. The two women quickly connected and an invite was extended to Merryn by the school to come to campus for a speaking engagement endorsed by the school's administration, which includes Francis' husband, Oakland University President Gary Russi.

The school planned to have counselors on hand to provide support and referrals for anyone after what was expected to be an emotional night.

Francis didn't tell her mother what happened until she was in her 30s, about 15 years ago. Her mom, she said, was "shocked and angry" about what happened in Germantown, N.Y., where Francis was born, raised and abused.

Francis, who has won 184 Division I games over 10 seasons, took the team to the 2002 NCAA tournament ? only to resign after the season because of ulcerative colitis she later attributed to stress from the abuse she tried to forget. Francis was rehired for the 2005-06 season and led the Golden Grizzlies back to the NCAA tournament.

"Reflecting back, I do believe the fact that I didn't deal with my abuse affected my health and led to my health- and stress-related resignation," Francis said. "During that time away from coaching, I bawled for the first time in my life with therapists and became a Christian."

With professional help and her strong faith, Francis walks and talks with a powerful conviction ? confident and comfortable ? about her past and her hopes.

"I was in total denial until maybe my 30s, and that's another example of why I want to talk about this," she said. "I know that people are so embarrassed, and they think, 'Oh, I'm just going to forget about it. It was in the past. Move on. Buck up. Suck it up.' But there are so many things. It can affect your health. It just affects your confidence.

"And since I have just let it go, I am happier and healthier than I have ever been. I am totally free."

___

Associated Press writers Mike Householder in Detroit and Jeff Karoub in Lansing, Mich., contributed to this report.

___

Follow Larry Lage on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/larrylage

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-10-18-Oakland%20Coach-Abuse/id-9d562ba4282144719d76d52a21654c6b

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বৃহস্পতিবার, ১৮ অক্টোবর, ২০১২

Auto bailouts on firing line at presidential debate

Paul Sancya / AP file

The Obama administration's bailout of General Motors was one of the hot-button issues dividing President Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney during Tuesday night's presidential debate.

By Paul A. Eisenstein, NBCNews contributor

This week?s second presidential debate focused on a wide variety of issues from the economy to foreign policy, and the health of the auto industry was one of the most significant topics touched on by President Barack Obama and his GOP challenger Mitt Romney.

The two couldn?t be further apart on the subject of the 2008?2009 bailout of General Motors and Chrysler. The Democratic president? touted the Treasury-funded rescue of the two automakers, which the Republican challenger has long opposed.

But while he once supported clean energy programs, Romney has also come out against the government-funded, low-interest loan program that has helped fund a number of battery makers, automotive startups and other green firms.?In the first presidential debate in Denver, he referred to several firms by name, dubbing California battery-car startups Tesla Motors and Fisker Automotive ?losers.?

There?s no doubt that the Department of Energy's loan program has picked some clunkers, notably the solar panel maker Solyndra, which received $527 million before going bankrupt. This week, another firm that was helped out by the Energy Department also filed for Chapter 11. But the results may turn out better when it comes to Massachusetts-based A123 Systems.

A producer of lithium-ion batteries, A123 is one of many once-hopeful suppliers stung by a slower-than-anticipated ramp-up in demand for battery-electric vehicles. Its situation was complicated by manufacturing issues and a costly recall earlier this year. But A123?s doors aren?t closing. After rejecting a potential rescue bid from China, it has instead agreed to sell its auto business to mega-automotive supplier JCI.

?We believe the deal makes very good strategic sense,? writes Rod Lache, senior automotive analyst with Deutsche Bank. If anything, under the new ? and well-funded ? parent, he contends, that automotive battery operation could now do even better.?The purchase by well-run JCI ?should likely allay customers? concerns? about whether A123 would be able to survive an ongoing shake-out in the battery market.

Meanwhile, the sale of A123 comes as good news for one of the companies Romney cited by name: Fisker Automotive. The California plug-in hybrid maker is one of A123?s most visible customers and was hurt by the battery-pack recall. But Fisker was facing the possibility it might run out of batteries by next year if A123 had folded.

Nonetheless, the fate of Fisker remains far from certain. Its first product line, the Karma, got off to a slow start that led the Department of Energy to freeze its $529 million loan after the automaker had drawn only $193 million of that cash.

That has complicated plans to develop a second, lower-cost and higher-volume model, the Fisker Atlantic, that will be much more critical to the automaker?s bottom line. Fisker officials have privately complained that they?re caught in the crossfire due to the politicization of the Department of Energy loan program and have been scrambling to replace that money with private funds. They?ve raised about $300 million this year, but new Fisker CEO Tony Posawatz this week told investors the launch of the Atlantic will be delayed to 2014 or even 2015 ? leading some to question the company?s future.

As for Tesla Motors, its outlook is also up in the air, depending upon whom you ask. Founder and CEO Elon Musk ? a PayPal pioneer who also runs private space firm SpaceX ? has acknowledged production of the new mainstream battery-electric vehicle, the Tesla Model S, is way behind schedule and that is putting a serious strain on the company?s finances with few other sources of revenue to tap.

Up to speed
Nonetheless, Musk and others at Tesla insist they will be up to speed and in the black by next year when a second product line, the Model X crossover, debuts.?Tim Draper, a legendary Silicon Valley entrepreneur and early investor in the firm, is so confident he recently told Detroit to ?create something different because you?ve lost the electric-car battle.? Asked what they might turn to, he suggested, ?flying cars.?

While the Department of Energy loan program might be controversial, the real point of contention between Obama and Romney concerns the bailouts of GM and Chrysler. Both companies were surviving on lifelines thrown to the automakers by President George W. Bush when Obama took office. Obama eventually approved the rest of what turned into an $84 billion rescue.

Romney called for both carmakers to be cut loose, despite his family ties to Michigan. He continues to insist he opposes the bailout, although the former Massachusetts governor has also taken credit for nudging the Obama administration into pushing GM and Chrysler through managed bankruptcies before approving further cash aid.

Bailout proponents insist the rescue effort saved as many as 1 million jobs. And they have some significant momentum on their side as the auto industry gains credit as one of the leading factors in the revival of the U.S. economy.? Between them, Chrysler and GM have also added tens of thousands of new direct and indirect jobs since their rescues as their sales increase.

Chrysler, the smaller of the two automakers, has shown a 24 percent sales gain this year ? about 10 points ahead of the overall automotive recovery. It's doing so well that Chrysler could be the financial foundation for its Italian partner Fiat SpA, which is struggling during the collapse of the European car market. That?s doubly ironic considering that Obama approved a rescue of Chrysler only after Fiat agreed to take it over.

General Motors' story is a mixed one, though investors have given the maker an increased vote of support despite some serious, ongoing issues.

GM sales are up this year, though not quite keeping up with the overall market revival. But it is the powerhouse in key emerging markets such as China.?Its biggest issue is Europe: GM's?Opel subsidiary will?post its 14^th year?of red ink in 2012 with no clear turnaround in sight.

That was a key reason for the sharp downturn in GM stock following its November 2010 IPO. But over the last three months it has staged one of the market?s stronger rallies, rebounding from barely $18 a share to nearly $25 a share. Upcoming third-quarter earnings could determine whether it maintains that momentum.

And the pre-election announcement will likely only add to the sniping between Obama and Romney. The latter has insisted he would have immediately sold the Treasury?s remaining shares over the summer, which would have meant billions of dollars more losses than if the White House walked away today.?

Nonetheless, GM would have to climb all the way to $54 a share for taxpayers to break even on the bailout, so the president seems in no rush to sell those shares despite the ongoing debate.

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Source: http://bottomline.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/18/14513284-auto-bailouts-on-firing-line-at-presidential-debate?lite

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9/11 mastermind dons camo vest to face Gitmo court

ACLU lawyer Hima Shamsi (background) addresses Judge Pohl, while 9/11 victim family members (left to right): Gordon Haberman, Kathy Haberman, Jo Aquaviva, and Anthony Aquaviva observe from behind a glass barrier at the U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on Wednesday.

By NBC News staff and wire services

The self-professed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks showed up to court in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Wednesday wearing a camouflage vest after a judge ruled that the military-style garment would not disrupt the proceedings.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was using his attire to make a political statement, which he coupled with a monologue late in the day?s proceedings to condemn what he called prosecutors "elastic" use of national security to justify its actions.

"The government uses national security as it chooses," the Arabic-speaking Mohammed said through a translator while seated at a defense table. "Many can kill people under the name of national security and torture people in the name of national security."

Mohammed was appearing before the military commission for the third day of hearings that will set the ground rules for the trial of the 47-year-old Kuwaiti and four accused co-conspirators accused of planning and aiding hijackers who flew commercial airlines into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania, killing 2,976 people.

All five defendants are charged with terrorism and murder and could be sentenced to death if convicted. The trial is likely more than a year away.

Fashion statement
Mohammed, who has grown a long beard in detention and dyed it with henna, wore the vest over his traditional white tunic and turban. He and a co-defendant had sought to wear camouflage items at their May 5 arraignment, but that request was denied.

At the time, the commander of the Guantanamo Bay prison said the camouflage might make it harder for the military prison guards to gain control if necessary, suggesting the clothing could create confusion about telling the difference between prisoners and fellow troops.

Earlier coverage of the week's Guantanamo pre-trial hearings:
Tuesday: Hearings for accused Sept. 11 terror planners haggle over rights, secrecy
Monday: 9/11 mastermind, alleged accomplices return to Guantanamo court

In Tuesday?s hearing, Military Judge Army Col. James Pohl dismissed the suggestion that the more than a dozen military members in the courtroom would have any problem distinguishing the bearded defendants. But just to be sure, he specifically prohibited them from wearing any items from U.S. military uniforms.

Mohammed considers himself a prisoner of war and wanted the same right to wear a uniform as the Japanese and German troops prosecuted for war crimes after World War II, according to his lawyers.

Mohammed surprised the courtroom midway through the afternoon by raising his hand to request that the court allow him to make a statement.

Watch World News videos on NBCNews.com?

Judge?Pohl said defendants are not generally permitted to comment on proceedings, but then granted his request.

"This is a one-time occurrence," Pohl told the defendant after some some back-and-forth.

"We are all human beings," Mohammed said in his brief monologue. "Your blood is not made out of gold and ours is made out of water."

He said that while Americans were sad that 3,000 people were killed on Sept. 11, the U.S. government has "killed millions of people."

He urged the judge not to be persuaded by the government's "crocodile tears," and he complained that the U.S. president can "legislate" assassinations in the name of protecting Americans.

Battle over secrecy?
Earlier Wednesday, the court resumed hearing arguments on the admissibility of testimony that includes information about the period of detention and harsh interrogation techniques employed at secret CIA prisons, before the men's transfer to Guantanamo Bay in 2006.

Even the judge grew frustrated with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed during a hearing at Guantanamo Bay as he refused to answer his questions. NBC's Michael Isikoff reports.

The government has already acknowledged some details about the secret prisons, including the fact that Mohammed was subjected to a near-drowning technique called water-boarding 183 times, but prosecutors have said that restrictions are necessary to prevent the release of information that would reveal information about intelligence sources and methods.

ACLU attorney Hina Shamsi picked up where she left off Tuesday when court adjourned, arguing that the detention information should be part of the public record.

Shamsi said the restrictions were overly broad and intended not to protect national security so much as to prevent the public from learning more details about the harsh confinement of the defendants in the CIA's prisons overseas.

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"We are aware, your honor, of no other protective order that is as radical as what the government is asking you to judicially bless here," Shamsi said.

But government prosecutor Joanna Baltes said the ACLU and other critics of the proposed rules are exaggerating the restrictions. She said the restrictions, known as protective orders, are similar to those in major terrorism cases in civilian courts.

"I think it is a very inflammatory allegation for the ACLU to come in and claim they have never seen anything like this," Baltes said.

The painstaking pre-trial hearings are intended to deal with 25 motions, many of them dealing with security rules and defendants? rights.

On Monday, the court agreed that the defendants could not be forced to attend the pre-trial hearings.

At Wednesday?s hearings, Mohammed, who was born in Kuwait, and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, a Pakistani, were the only two of the five who attended. Mustafa Al Hawsawi, a Saudi; and Walid Bin Attash and Ramzi Binalshibh, both from Yemen, sat this one out.

Hearings were slated to continue on Thursday morning.

The Associated Press and NBC News' Courtney Kube and Kari Huus contributed to this report.

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/17/14513616-sept-11-terror-mastermind-dons-camouflage-vest-to-face-gitmo-court?lite

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বুধবার, ৪ জুলাই, ২০১২

'Tia & Tamera': On The Set Of Her Movie, Tia Mowry Bonds Over Babies With Tori Spelling (VIDEO)

"The Bachelor"

"The Bachelor," ABC Status: Renewed Why: You really think we've seen the last rose handed out? Not in a million years. ABC has already tapped their next "Bachelorette," and we know they'll have their eyes peeled for a hot rejected man from that spinoff to be the next "Bachelor."

"The Bachelorette"

"The Bachelorette," ABC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: "Bachelor" Brad's also-ran Emily Maynard is getting her turn as the rose giver for the seventh season of "The Bachelorette" this summer. As long as there are people willing to look for love on reality TV, this show will keep on trucking.

"Body of Proof"

"Body of Proof," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Body of Proof" has been falling below its timeslot competitor, CBS's "Unforgettable," but it still draws a decent audience and its fans are very vocal. ABC has decided it deserves a third season.

"Castle"

"Castle," ABC Status: Renewed Why: This show's ratings have definitely suffered without "Dancing With the Stars" airing beforehand, but it is a consistent performer. And now that Castle and Beckett's relationship is evolving, a fifth season of "oh yes they will" is a no-brainer.

"Charlie's Angels"

"Charlie's Angels," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Not really a shock for anybody, but "Charlie's Angels" is cooked. Flimsy story, bad remake, questionable casting.

"Cougar Town"

"Cougar Town," ABC Status: Renewed -- for TBS! Why: The Season 3 ratings weren't boosted much by holding this show until midseason, but ABC's wonky air schedule also didn't help ... which is why the news that TBS has picked up the show for a fourth season is huge. Cheers with your Big Carl!

"Dancing With the Stars"

"Dancing With the Stars," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "DWTS" may have lost its luster in the ratings, but if the viewers are still coming.

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23"

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," ABC Status: Renewed Why: ABC's new bleep-worthy comedy starring Krysten Ritter, Dreama Walker and James Van Der Beek is a funny one, and definitely embraces the quirk (Beek Jeans!), so we're excited to see what they do with a second season.

"Desperate Housewives"

"Desperate Housewives," ABC Status: Canceled Why: After countless deaths, murders, betrayals and natural disasters on Wisteria Lane over the show's eight seasons, the ladies of "Desperate Housewives" will say goodbye forever this May.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," ABC Status: Canceled Why: After a whopping nine seasons, the do-gooding show came to an end in January. But worry not, it will continue to have a few specials to make viewers cry tears of joy.

"GCB"

"GCB," ABC Status: Canceled Why: This "Desperate Housewives"-esque dramedy premiered to less than 8 million viewers, and the phenomenal cast (Kristin Chenoweth, Annie Potts, Leslie Bibb) couldn't bring in a Texas-sized audience, so ABC canceled it.

"Grey's Anatomy"

"Grey's Anatomy," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Shonda Rhimes' medical drama is a ratings juggernaut, even in its eighth season, and with most of her <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/greys-anatomy-ellen-pompeo_n_1506113.html?ref=tv" target="_hplink">big stars signed on for more</a>, ABC gave the go-ahead for a ninth season.

"Happy Endings"

"Happy Endings," ABC Status: Renewed Why: This show is way too "ca-yute" to bubble it, and obviously someone high up at ABC agrees. After its first season was moved around and aired all out of order, the network still gave it another chance to find its audience in Season 2 ... and it has, and hopefully will continue to in Season 3.

"Last Man Standing"

"Last Man Standing," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Ratings for Tim Allen's return to sitcoms have been very strong, making it Tuesday's most-watched comedy. If you can beat "Glee" and "The Biggest Loser," a second season is a given.

"Man Up!"

"Man Up!," ABC Status: Canceled Why: ABC pulled the show after eight episodes.

"The Middle"

"The Middle," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Now in its third season, "The Middle" is still holding onto its middle position in the ratings on Wednesday nights, and that seems just about right. It doesn't do "American Idol" or "Survivor" numbers, of course, but with over 7 million viewers, it's a strong comedy for the network that easily beats anything NBC is offering.

"Missing"

"Missing," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Ashley Judd lead this drama about a former CIA agent whose son goes missing, kicking her back into action to find him. The series was only set to air 10 episodes, miniseries-style, with the potential for more, but a cancellation means that's all they're getting.

"Modern Family"

"Modern Family," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Modern Family" remains ABC's biggest sitcom success story of the last decade, both in ratings and awards love. This critical darling is getting a fourth season of hijinks with the hilarious Pritchett-Dunphy clan.

"Once Upon A Time"

"Once Upon A Time," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Once Upon a Time" has gotten praise for being one of the more family-friendly dramas on TV, and it's been pulling in close to 10 million viewers each week because of it. We're excited by the almost endless possibilities for new fairy tale-inspired stories to tackle in Season 2.

"Pan Am"

"Pan Am," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Poor "Pan Am" just never quite took off. The series' vintage look actually worked against it, much like NBC's swiftly canceled "Playboy Club" -- guess when you're being compared to award-winning shows like "Mad Men," it makes it more than a little tough to live up to the hype.

"Private Practice"

"Private Practice," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Private Practice" has never gotten "Grey's Anatomy"-level ratings, and things got shakier when ABC bumped it to Tuesday nights to make room for creator Shonda Rhimes' other new show, "Scandal," but they've given the show a sixth season order.

"Revenge"

"Revenge," ABC Status: Renewed Why: With a clever mix of drama, mystery and serious revenge-ing, this is hands down one of the most addictive new shows on TV, and we can't wait to see where they take things in Season 2.

"The River"

"The River," ABC Status: Canceled Why: The promise of "Paranormal Activity"-like scares each week quickly fizzled after this show premiered, along with the ratings. The first season's eight episodes came and went, and ABC has nixed any plans for more.

"Scandal"

"Scandal," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Shonda Rhimes' latest show isn't about doctors at all -- and that's why we're glad it's sticking around. Kerry Washington is amazing as Olivia Pope, a Washington, D.C. fixer with a crack team of specialists helping make bad headlines vanish before they're ever written. Here's hoping for more than seven episodes in its second season.

"Shark Tank"

"Shark Tank," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Now in its third season, this reality competition show is unlike any other on network TV and ABC is keeping it around for more for that very reason.

"Suburgatory"

"Suburgatory," ABC Status: Renewed Why: It's smart, quick and not too cute -- "Suburgatory" is consistently named the sitcom you should be watching, but probably aren't. The great cast makes this one a no-brainer, and the ratings have stayed pretty consistent, too. We're thrilled it's getting a second season to shine!

"Work It"

"Work It," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Let us count the ways ...

"2 Broke Girls"

"2 Broke Girls," CBS Status: Renewed Why: At first, people balked at the racist supporting characters, but now it seems that audiences are all over "2 Broke Girls" -- it's ratings have seen a steady increase, and it won the People's Choice Award for Favorite New Comedy.

"A Gifted Man"

"A Gifted Man," CBS Status: Canceled Why: "A Gifted Man's" total viewer numbers were OK for a Friday night, but a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic is especially bad for CBS. Another bad sign: star Patrick Wilson tweeted about the end: "I had a great time. Thanks to my fans. So happy it's done." And done it is.

"The Amazing Race"

"The Amazing Race," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Voted the best reality show on TV several times (albeit years ago), "The Amazing Race" isn't going anywhere. Ratings have dropped a bit, but are still solid.

"The Big Bang Theory"

"The Big Bang Theory," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Nothing seems to be able to make a dent in this show. With fantastic ratings (it beat "Idol"!) and a rabid following, we'll be seeing plenty more "Big Bang" before its run is over.

"Blue Bloods"

"Blue Bloods," CBS Status: Renewed Why: The anchor of Friday nights on CBS, "Blue Bloods" has performed well, pulling in around 11 million viewers an episode. The show might not have the youngest audience, but it's still enough for CBS to keep it on the schedule.

"Criminal Minds"

"Criminal Minds," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Paget Brewster might be checking out, but "Criminal Minds" is here to stay. In Season 7, the procedural is still a consistently strong ratings performer for CBS.

"CSI"

"CSI," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Whenever the time comes, the "CSI" mothership will end with a lot of fanfare, but not this year. With new faces Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue around, there is going to be at least one more season.

"CSI: Miami"

"CSI: Miami," CBS Status: Canceled Why: Out of the three (!) "CSI" programs on the air, "CSI: Miami" is the one to say goodbye first. The one-time ratings giant has been affected by football overruns (just as "The Good Wife" has) and "CSI: NY" has the edge in terms of total viewers, meaning a "Miami" sunset was inevitable.

"CSI: NY"

"CSI: NY," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Of the two "CSI" spinoffs, "CSI: NY" is the stronger -- pulling in more than 10 million viewers on a Friday night is no easy task -- and with "CSI: Miami" canceled, "CSI: NY's" renewal was a no-brainer.

"The Good Wife"

"The Good Wife," CBS Status: Renewed Why: This critical darling suffered after its move from Tuesdays to Sundays thanks to sports overruns. The viewers are frustrated, but given its strong cast and Emmy love, the show is still coming back for more.

"Hawaii Five-0"

"Hawaii Five-0," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Despite the scheduling setback as Alex O'Loughlin seeks treatment, Season 2 is still doing well for CBS in a very competitive timeslot.

"How To Be a Gentleman"

"How To Be A Gentleman," CBS Status: Canceled Why: Not even having "The Big Bang Theory" as a lead-in could save this David Hornsby project, which only lasted three episodes.

"How I Met Your Mother"

"How I Met Your Mother," CBS Status: Renewed Why: CBS renewed "How I Met Your Mother" for two more seasons in March 2011, so fans can look forward to being strung along about the titular mother's identity for a bit longer.

"The Mentalist"

"The Mentalist," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Although the show hit a season ratings low in the middle of February, its fanbase and overall ratings were enough to have it return for another season.

"Mike & Molly"

"Mike & Molly," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Thanks to an Emmy win and Oscar nomination, Melissa McCarthy is a Hollywood power player and CBS is keen to keep her around. Just look at the multiple pilots she has in the works as a behind the scenes player! "Mike & Molly" will be back for a third season.

"NCIS"

"NCIS," CBS Status: Renewed Why: The long-running procedural has become a ratings juggernaut at a time when most shows start shedding viewers. Season 10 is now happening.

"NCIS: Los Angeles"

"NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS Status:Renewed Why: This show has gone up in the ratings over the last couple of years, and people can't get enough of L.L. Cool J and Chris O'Donnell.

"NYC 22"

"NYC 22," CBS Status: Canceled Why: This "Rookie Blue" clone from executive producer Robert DeNiro didn't really move the needle when it premiered midseason; CBS officially axed it with three episodes left to air.

"Person of Interest"

"Person of Interest," CBS Status: Renewed Why: With ratings matching juggernauts like "Grey's Anatomy" and fans popping up everywhere, we'll be seeing another season of "Person of Interest."

"Rob"

"Rob," CBS Status: Canceled Why: "Rob's" spot after ratings juggernaut "The Big Bang Theory" probably went a long way in helping it survive to see the end of its first season, but that's as far as it'll get.

"Rules of Engagement"

"Rules of Engagement," CBS Status: Renewed Why: This show has moved around so much it's hard to remember when it's on, and with six seasons under its belt it's had quite a nice run. Despite slipping ratings and the aforementioned constant switcheroos, there's still a future for "Rules of Engagement."

"Survivor"

"Survivor," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Of course we have "Survivor" coming back for another season. Where else are we going to see petty squabbles and insane behavior on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world?

"Two and a Half Men"

"Two and a Half Men," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Despite a less-than-favorable critical response, the revamped "Two and a Half Men" keeps pulling in respectable numbers every week. Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones will all return for a Season 10.

"Undercover Boss"

"Undercover Boss," CBS Status: Renewed Why: The inherent addictiveness of this show has gone a long way in securing loyal viewers -- it has been on top of the ratings several times this season alone.

"Unforgettable"

"Unforgettable," CBS Status: Likely to be renewed Why: In its timeslot, "Unforgettable" keeps emerging on top, beating out "Parenthood" and "Body of Proof." Leading lady Poppy Montgomery has been called "the female version of 'The Mentalist,'" another top-rated show, so things are looking positive.

"90210"

"90210," The CW Status: Renewed Why: While its ratings have plummeted since last season, the Beverly Hills crew is still doing better than "Supernatural," "Hart of Dixie," "Nikita," and "Gossip Girl" on average.

"America's Next Top Model"

"America's Next Top Model," The CW Status: Renewed Why: Tyra Banks' reality show is in the early stages of its 18th cycle with a Brit vs. U.S. installment. Cycle 19 will be the show's inaugural "college edition."

"Gossip Girl"

"Gossip Girl," The CW Status: Renewed Why: Fans will get to say goodbye to the Upper East-Siders in a sixth and reportedly shortened final season.

"H8R"

"H8R," The CW Status: Canceled Why: Apparently, the opposite of MTV's former series "Fanatic" proved people don't love to hate Kim Kardashian and Snooki as much as we thought. It lasted four episodes.

"Hart of Dixie"

"Hart of Dixie," The CW Status: Renewed Why: Josh Schwartz and Rachel Bilson return for a sophomore season of "Hart of Dixie," hopefully so they can make more viral videos.

"Nikita"

"Nikita," The CW Status: Renewed Why: We're shocked the show is coming back for another season, but its hard-core fans will certainly be happy.

"One Tree Hill"

"One Tree Hill," The CW Status: Canceled Why: After nine seasons, it's time to say goodbye to "One Tree Hill." After subpar ratings, the network decided to pull the plug on its long-standing teen soap. Thankfully, the CW gave "One Tree Hill" a final 13 episodes to wrap up all of the drama.

"Remodeled"

"Remodeled," The CW Status: As good as dead Why: Not only has "Remodeled" already been replaced on the CW schedule, but it debuted with one of the CW's lowest-rated premiere ever, scoring a terrible 0.3 in the coveted 18-49 demo.

"Ringer"

"Ringer," The CW Status: Canceled Why: Sarah Michelle Gellar's double-life proved too complicated and poorly-produced for viewers to care much about.

"The Secret Circle"

"The Secret Circle," The CW Status: Canceled Why: Somewhat of a surprising development given its decent ratings, but it never quite lived up to its lead-in, "The Vampire Diaries."

"Supernatural"

"Supernatural," The CW Status: Renewed Why: This fan favorite will return, but time will tell if the cast wants a Season 8.

"The Vampire Diaries"

"The Vampire Diaries," The CW Status: Renewed Why: "Vampire Diaries" is The CW's golden child ... the vampires and witches and werewolves of Mystic Falls aren't going anywhere.

"Alcatraz"

"Alcatraz," Fox Status: Canceled Why: "Alcatraz" -- and almost every other recent J.J. Abrams TV project -- proves that slapping "from J.J. Abrams" on a show does not equal ratings success. The series debuted strong, but fizzled in the ratings, leading Fox to pull the plug.

"Allen Gregory"

"Allen Gregory," Fox Status: Canceled Why: Jonah Hill's animated series only lasted seven episodes. The Oscar nominee should probably just stick to movies for a while ...

"American Dad"

"American Dad," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox gave out early renewals to "American Dad" and "The Cleveland Show," keeping its Sunday night animation block intact.

"American Idol"

"American Idol," Fox Status: Likely to be renewed Why: The show's declining ratings have been widely reported this season, but it's hard to imagine TV life without "Idol."

"Bob's Burgers"

"Bob's Burgers," Fox Status: Too soon to tell Why: The sophomore season of this quirky animated comedy kicks off this month (Sun., Mar. 11), so don't expect to hear about a Season 3 just yet.

"Bones"

"Bones," Fox Status: Renewed Why: The show got a ratings boost thanks to its lead-in "The X Factor." With the floundering state of Fox's dramas (see ya, "House"), Fox is holding on to this one.

"Breaking In"

"Breaking In," Fox Status: Canceled Why: After a last minute revival, "Breaking In" returned for a second season with Megan Mullally in tow, but it wasn't enough to revive this D.O.A. comedy.

"The Cleveland Show"

"The Cleveland Show," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox gave "The Cleveland Show" and "American Dad" early renewals and this spinoff will be back for a Season 4, but no word on a fifth season.

"Family Guy"

"Family Guy," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox handed out early renewals to the Seth MacFarlane animated comedies.

"The Finder"

"The Finder," Fox Status: Canceled Why: "The Finder" hit the benches for a bit before moving to Fridays, and the numbers never improved. Averaging less than 6 million viewers an episode (not so hot for a Fox drama), it was only a matter of time ...

"Fringe"

"Fringe," Fox Status: Renewed Why: This fan favorite has struggled in the ratings, but Fox has agreed to give it a 13-episode order for a fifth and final season to wrap up all the mysteries of both universes.

"Glee"

"Glee," Fox Status: Renewed Why: The hit teen series is breaking records in music sales, but its overall viewership has slipped. After a bit of a PR debacle about graduating characters that ended with spinoff plans being squashed, "Glee" will get another season.

"Hell's Kitchen"

"Hell's Kitchen," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Last year at this time, Fox renewed the Gordon Ramsay series for two more seasons, so it's all set.

"House"

"House," Fox Status: Canceled Why: After eight seasons and countless unsolvable medical cases solved, this Fox medical drama is coming to an end.

"I Hate My Teenage Daughter"

"I Hate My Teenage Daughter," Fox Status: Canceled Why: As if getting panned by critics wasn't enough, "I Hate My Teenage Daughter's" shrinking ratings had the show marked for death, then Fox benched the sitcom for three months after only four episodes and then ... yep, buh-bye forever. No shock there.

"Kitchen Nightmares"

"Kitchen Nightmares," Fox Status: Renewed? Why: In early February, Fox signed on for a?16-episode fifth season of this other Gordon Ramsay series. They're in the Gordon Ramsay business, and they're not going anywhere.

"MasterChef"

"MasterChef," Fox Status: Likely to be renewed Why: No official announcement has been made regarding a third season, but there was a casting call issued during episodes throughout Season 2. And if Gordon Ramsay's track record with Fox is any indication, it's as good as renewed.

"Mobbed"

"Mobbed," Fox Status: On the bubble Why: It started with a ratings bang, but things have only gone down from there for Fox's flash mob reality show with Howie Mandel at the helm. It's not on the schedule in any regular timeslot though, so it's possible they'll continue producing a few episodes a year.

"Napoleon Dynamite"

"Napoleon Dynamite," Fox Status: On the bubble Why: After a decent debut, "Napoleon Dynamite" dropped about half of its audience to about 4 million viewers per episode. It could go either way.

"New Girl"

"New Girl," Fox Status: Renewed Why: "New Girl" was the first new Fox show to get a full Season 1 order and the show has continued to perform well in the ratings and in the 18-49 demographic. America loves that adorkable charm.

"Q'Viva: The Chosen"

"Q'Viva: The Chosen," Fox Status: Too soon to tell/Not their call Why: Shortly after the Latin American-based show -- starring J. Lo and her ex-husband Marc Anthony -- debuted on Univision, Fox picked up an English-language version that debuted in early March. Though the reality series underperformed in its Saturday night timeslot, it's not Fox's decision whether or not we'll see more "Q'Viva."

"Raising Hope"

"Raising Hope," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Thanks (or no thanks) in part to the success of "New Girl," the sophomore season of "Raising Hope" has moved around timeslots, but it has retained about a 2.1 score in the adults 18-49 demo.

"The Simpsons"

"The Simpsons," Fox Status: Renewed Why: After a very tense contract standoff, the voice actors of "The Simpsons" and the studio agreed to new terms and the show was renewed through Season 25.

"So You Think You Can Dance"

"So You Think You Can Dance," Fox Status: Too soon to tell Why: Season 9 of "So You Think You Can Dance" won't debut until this summer and when it does, there will be changes: Fox has nixed the results show entirely. If the fanbase is still there, the cheaper production could save the show for another few seasons.

"Terra Nova"

"Terra Nova," Fox Status: Canceled Why: Fox pulled the plug on this very expensive dinosaur drama, but reports indicate producers are looking to keep the show alive on a different network.

"Touch"

"Touch," Fox Status: Renewed Why: The Kiefer Sutherland drama had a sizable audience (about 12 million viewers) for its preview and has remained somewhat steady since its premiere. Fox showed faith in the series, giving it the post-"American Idol" slot, and it paid off.

"The X Factor"

"The X Factor," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox has already renewed the singing competition for a second season and boy will there be changes: two new hosts and two new judges will join Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid at the table.

"30 Rock"

"30 Rock," NBC Status: Renewed Why:"30 Rock" is showing its age, but the star power of Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin can't be denied -- NBC has renewed the show for a seventh and final season of 13 episodes.

"America's Got Talent"

"America's Got Talent," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: NBC's top-rated summer show is moving to New York for this upcoming season, but it's most likely not going anywhere. Unless, of course, the new judge -- shock jock Howard Stern -- really messes things up somehow.

"Are You There, Chelsea?"

"Are You There, Chelsea?," NBC Status: Canceled Why: With just over 3 million viewers an episode, it wasn't not exactly a strong performer, even by NBC's standards. Even Chelsea Handler and NBC's fondness for funny ladies couldn't save this show.

"Awake"

"Awake," NBC Status: Canceled Why: "Awake" had gotten some great promotion, but its numbers were pretty middle of the road and only went down further -- genre shows with heavy serialized elements are always tricky.

"Bent"

"Bent," NBC Status: Canceled Why: The Amanda Peet comedy premiered in late March and had six episodes to prove itself, but NBC didn't give it much of a chance, airing them back-to-back.

"Best Friends Forever"

"Best Friends Forever," NBC Status:Canceled Why: The female buddy sitcom starring and co-created by Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham was yanked from the schedule and then axed for good.

"Betty White's Off Their Rockers"

"Betty White's Off Their Rockers," NBC Status: Too soon to tell Why: Even though Betty White isn't doing the pranking, "Off Their Rockers" could still make a comeback.

"The Biggest Loser"

"The Biggest Loser," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: NBC's weight loss competition show has been around for years, and despite sagging overall ratings, its 18-49 rating (a recent episode got a 2.0) is still one of NBC's highest.

"Celebrity Apprentice"

"Celebrity Apprentice," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: Series low ratings probably won't kill this franchise. But are there any D-listers left who haven't competed for Donald Trump's approval?

"Chuck"

"Chuck," NBC Status: Canceled Why: The Josh Schwartz spy dramedy ended its five-season run in January.

"Community"

"Community," NBC Status: Renewed Why: Beloved by (a very vocal) few, ignored by many -- that's "Community" in a nutshell. After getting benched in January, "Community" returned to NBC's schedule with a vengeance, getting it a fourth season pick-up for 13 episodes to air on Fridays. Cool, cool, cool -- you can pop, pop! that champagne now.

"Fashion Star"

"Fashion Star," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The high-style reality series with Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson, Elle Macpherson and John Varvatos has certainly been confusing, but it's still a smart business model: The winning designs each week are for sale in stores the next day, and those stores just happen to be covering a large portion of production and advertising costs.

"Fear Factor"

"Fear Factor," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: Despite the donkey semen scandal that cut this season of "Fear Factor" a bit short, <a href="http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/fear-factor-returns-and-makes-a-ratings-splash/" target="_hplink">"Fear Factor" boosts NBC's ratings</a> ... and can a scandal really compete with that?

"The Firm"

"The Firm," NBC Status: As good as dead Why: The show hasn't officially gotten the axe yet, but "The Firm" was moved to Saturdays after turning in an incredibly poor performance (less than a 1 rating in the 18-49 demo) on Thursday nights.

"Free Agents"

"Free Agents," NBC Status: Canceled Why: This show just didn't have much life in it. It was canceled after just four episodes, despite its awesome lead actors Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn.

"Grimm"

"Grimm," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The supernatural fairy tale drama has been doing well for NBC on Friday nights -- it hovers around the 5 million viewers mark, which is pretty solid by NBC standards and why the network gave the drama an early renewal.

"Harry's Law"

"Harry's Law," NBC Status:Cancelled Why: While earlier this year "Harry's Law" was one of NBC's top players, after a three-month break between January and March, the Kathy Bates drama saw mediocre ratings and failed to hold on to viewers.

"Law & Order: SVU"

"Law & Order: SVU," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The only "Law & Order" left, "SVU" has been an NBC power player for 13 years and will return for a 14th.

"The Office"

"The Office," NBC Status: Renewed Why: It's hard to imagine a long-running, fan-favorite show like "The Office" going away without a big promotional push. The numbers are still good (by NBC standards) and "The Office" will return for a Season 9.

"Parenthood"

"Parenthood," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The perpetual bubble show has done pretty consistent numbers for NBC this season, but three seasons in and no signs of growth is both a good and bad sign ... luckily for fans, NBC gave it a Season 4 all the same.

"Parks and Recreation"

"Parks and Recreation," NBC Status: Renewed Why: Just like the rest of NBC's Thursday comedy block, "Parks and Recreation" has serious ratings blues. Can critical acclaim keep "Parks" around for a Season 5? The answer is yes! "Parks" will return for Season 5.

"The Playboy Club"

"The Playboy Club," NBC Status: Canceled Why: Apparently fictional slutty bunnies and real-life homewrecker Eddie Cibrian do not a successful show make. It only lasted three episodes. "The Girls Next Door" did it better.

"Prime Suspect"

"Prime Suspect," NBC Status: Canceled Why: Maria Bello's gruff detective failed to capture the audience NBC hoped. At least we had all those hat jokes.

"Smash"

"Smash," NBC Status: Renewed Why: After a huge promo blitz, "Smash" debuted nicely, but started losing viewers quickly. A handful of episodes in, it stabilized, becoming NBC's #1 drama in the 18-49 demo, and NBC announced it was getting a second season.

"Up All Night"

"Up All Night," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The critical favorite of NBC's new comedy offerings, "Up All Night" debuted strongly to more than 10 million viewers, but has since dropped to less than 4 million viewers an episode. It will return for a Season 2.

"Whitney"

"Whitney," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The show is one of the better performing freshman offerings on the Peacock network -- and NBC chief Bob Greenblatt told members of the press at TCA that he is "hopeful Whitney will be a long-term player for us." Looks like Season 2 is a good start, with the show moving to Friday nights.

"The Voice"

"The Voice," NBC Status: Renewed Why: We may not even be at Season 2's live shows yet, but NBC is already up for more of "The Voice." Hopefully, Cee Lo's cat "Purrfect" will return for Season 3 as well.

"Who Do You Think You Are?"

"Who Do You Think You Are?," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: The celebrity-centric family tree series has helped NBC on Friday nights and hit its ratings high in March.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/03/tia-and-tamera-tia-bonds-with-fellow-mom-tori-spelling-video_n_1645217.html

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Police raid ex-president Sarkozy's home in funding probe

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/police-raid-ex-president-sarkozys-home-funding-probe-161322427.html

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Getting Started: Five Associate Degrees in Business Administration ...

Whether you are a recent high school graduate or you are returning to the classroom after years of life experience, an associate degree in business administration is among the first academic steps to a business career.

Here are five online associate degrees in business administration:

Argosy University

Argosy University offers students who are just beginning their college careers the opportunity to earn an associate degree in business administration online and on their own time. This accredited program (Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges) gives students who have earned fewer than 30 credit hours the foundations to begin a business education. The curriculum focuses on the basics of business such as technology, marketing, management, accounting, and ethics. The degree will prepare students to pursue a bachelor?s degree in business and entry-level business jobs that do not require a four-year degree.

Ashford University

Ashford University offers two associate degrees for the business-minded online student. The Associate of Arts in Business is a 67-credit hour program that prepares students for the next step for a business education or career. Students will be introduced to the essential business components such as communications, management, marketing and computer literacy. Ashford?s Associate of Arts in Organizational Management is geared toward preparing students to be leaders in their organization. Students take the five-week courses online one at a time. In addition to the traditional business essentials, the curriculum focuses on personnel administration and corporate responsibility.

Baker College

This Michigan-based college system has nine campuses, six branch locations and offers online classes worldwide. Branding itself as a career college, Baker is focused on job training and employment outcomes and claims ?97% of its available graduates are currently employed.? Baker offers seven business-related associate degrees including accounting, accounting/computer information systems, accounting/management, general business, human resource management, management, and marketing.

Rasmussen College

For the past 110 years, Rasmussen College has taken a practical approach to education focuses on providing relevant skills for students ready to start their careers. The Rasmussen business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Students can choose from associate degrees in accounting with specializations including banking, financial accounting and financial investigation; business management with specializations in human resources, internet marketing, business administration, call center management, entrepreneurship, and sales and marketing. Rasmussen also offers two accelerated programs in human resources/organizational leadership and marketing that can be completed in as little as 18 months.

Saint Leo University

Building on the Catholic intellectual tradition, Saint Leo spread it?s faith-based roots to welcome online learners of all faiths. Saint Leo?s undergraduate and associate business programs are accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. The Associate of Arts in Business Administration curriculum touches on accounting, computer skills, macro and microeconomics, academic writing, business law, management, mathematics, and even theology and ethics.

Source: http://www.onlinebusinessdegree.org/2012/07/02/getting-started-five-associate-degrees-in-business-administration/

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How Tony Stewart's NASCAR Tech Trickles Down to Your Car

The strict NASCAR regulations that control fuel, aerodynamics, and most other parts of the race cars force teams to get pretty creative in search of a competitive advantage. For three-time NASCAR champ Tony Stewart, the next frontier in racing tech is something that sounds simple, but the team hopes could make all the difference: grease.

We recently headed down to Dover International Speedway to see for ourselves what's going into the No. 14 car. The Stewart?Hass team has a unique "technology partnership" with Mobil, and Tony's car runs several custom lubricant formulas in the seven or eight different places it uses lubricants.

The engine, for instance, runs a low-friction formula of Mobil 1 created just for Stewart?Hass (NASCAR teams can get very aggressive with their oil blends since the engines need to last just 500 miles). The most shocking statistic: The "low-traction" differential grease the Mobil boys created for Stewart lowers the differential temperature in the 14 car by 80 F. Such a decrease in friction can provide a meaningful advantage when the racing is tight.

"Lower-traction lubes generate less heat due to the properties of the oils," Mobil U.S. Motorsports technology adviser Roger C. Hood says. "This results in increased horsepower to the rear wheels and greater efficiency, which leads to better fuel economy and more on-track time. The high differential temperatures are a result of friction, and it was a drastic reduction in friction that led to the corresponding decrease in temperature."

Mobil engineers are hoping to use what they've learned from the development of Stewart's special grease in a low-friction consumer automotive engine oil, but they are still in the early research stages. They've still got to refine the formula, field test it, and establish its durability characteristics before releasing it to consumers.

Other NASCAR technology trickles down to consumers in a similarly roundabout way. Tires, for examples: A blowout in NASCAR could be catastrophic, so all tires on the Sprint Cup and Nationwide cars and Craftsman Trucks have an inner air container that allows the car to continue rolling even if the tire?which the Goodyear engineers call the outer air container?is compromised. It's a development that goes back to the 1966, when Goodyear started manufacturing the inner liners.

The tall tire sidewalls in NASCAR mean that a race car would lose all steering capability if a normal tire deflated. The inner air container's sole job is to reach past the chassis to the ground in the event of a blowout. While the outer air container has all the technology you'd expect from a regular racing tire?various plies and layers of fiber?the inner air container is made only of rubber, rather like an inner tube. But the inner layer of a NASCAR tire isn't quite like an inner tube in that itdoesn't press against the outer layer. Thus, each wheel needs two valves stems?one for each air container.

It's not easy to fit those inner air containers inside a tire. They're softer than a tire but still quite stiff, and the opening in the tire is just big enough to fit over a 15-inch wheel, so a lot of manpower and finesse is required to stuff the large inner container into the outer container. At Dover, we saw an experienced Goodyear mechanic insert an inner liner in less than 10 seconds, and it was clear that he knew a few tricks. First, he wedged the inner liner tread-first as far as it would go into the hole of the tire. Then he flipped them both over and twisted the inner liner before tugging it farther into the tire. He then flipped the tire back over and repeated the twisting and tugging until the inner liner was in place. NASCAR crew members have plenty of opportunity to practice; between the racing cars and trucks, about 2000 tires are used during each race weekend. Each one has an inner liner to keep drivers safe in the event of a tire puncture.

If this sounds familiar, it's because the same kind of technology is now in the run-flat tires that come on many cars. Goodyear's RunOnFlat tires have stiffer sidewalls than normal tires and no inner liner, but the concept is the same: It lets a driver maintain control in the event of a loss of tire pressure. RunOnFlat's stiff sidewall makes sense for a passenger car, since the tires fit on a standard rim (and have only one valve stem), and in the real world, a flat tire has to make it farther than one lap around the track.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/vintage-speed/how-tony-stewarts-nascar-tech-trickles-down-to-your-car-10251068?src=rss

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