Australian Researchers Simulate Powerful Earthquakes

Researchers in Australia have simulated the impact of strong earthquakes on a 15-story model building to help improve design in seismically-sensitive regions around the world.  The experiment has tested the response of office and apartment blocks built on soft clay to violent seismic shocks, including the quake that devastated a Japanese city in the mid 1990s.  Scientists say it is the first time a trial of this size and detail has been conducted anywhere.

For a few seconds the earthquake that struck the Japanese city of Kobe in 1995 is re-created in a laboratory at the University of Technology Sydney.

A model 15-story building made of steel is subjected to the kind of trauma that killed thousands of people.  Each floor is carefully monitored to see how they shift and buckle under the strain.

Three other significant quakes have also been replicated, including the El Centro earthquake that struck California in 1940 and another in Hachinohe, Japan in 1968.

The aim of the experiment is to test the response to earthquakes of office and apartment blocks built on soft soil, which researchers say can amplify seismic waves.

Professor Bijan Samali says it is the only experiment of its kind to investigate how soil reacts under such intense pressure.

"Soft soil you can think of it as a layer of jelly, [a] slab of jelly on a table," said Samali.  "If you push the table a little bit, the top of [the] jelly moves a lot more than the bottom of the jelly, isn't it?  By having a building on top of a jelly it will experience a lot more displacement and a lot more forces.  So, if that phenomenon is not taken into account in [the] design stage you might end up with a structure that would not survive, so this is certainly a safety issue."

Engineers in Australia are using what is called a "shake table," where tons of soil and a replica tower block oscillate above a sophisticated hydraulic system.

It is hoped the earthquake simulator will improve the resilience of buildings in seismically active regions where homes and skyscrapers are constructed on soft clay and marshland.

The research team says that in 2011, 20 earthquakes with magnitude seven or above occurred around the world causing more than 17,000 deaths.  It is likely that some of the fatalities were in high-rise buildings built on soft soil.

VOA News

French presidential elections: Hollande clings on to slim lead over Sarkozy

François Hollande's lead over Nicolas Sarkozy is narrowing just two days before France's presidential elections, but the incumbent still has a formidable challenge to overhaul the deficit in time for Sunday's vote.

The last Ipsos poll for French television and Le Monde puts Hollande on 52.5% with Sarkozy closing the gap but still behind on 47.5%. The poll was taken before the dramatic decision by centrist François Bayrou to throw his weight behind Hollande in the second round.

The vast majority of voters appear to have made up their minds, with 92% saying they know who they will vote for, and 82% saying they will definitely turn out.

Though third-placed Marine Le Pen has said she will vote for neither candidate in the second round, 54% of her supporters are lining up behind Sarkozy, compared with 15% for Hollande. Sarkozy is also ahead among supporters of Bayrou, by 38% to 30%. But among supporters of fourth-placed Jean-Luc Mélenchon of the leftwing Front de Gauche, Hollande is ahead by 76%-6%.

In the last presidential election, opinion polls accurately predicted Sarkozy's victory.

The Guardian

Trailer: Kristen Bell Featured in Yahoo's Web Series That Spoofs 'The Bachelor'

Yahoo! is going to launch an original series that parodies "The Bachelor". Titled "Burning Love", the scripted show follows a fireman named Mark Orlando (Ken Marino) as he searches for the perfect woman through what appears to be a dating game like the ABC reality series.

Among those competing for Mark's heart is a homeless girl played by Malin Akerman. Kristen Bell shares screen with the buff man as she delivers what seems to be a motivational speech on a stage. Ben Stiller, who serves as a producer for the show, makes an appearance as well.

The scripted comedy series promises to feature a lot of champagne toasts, candles, heartbreak, bubble baths and betrayal. It will debut on Yahoo! Comedy Channel starting June 4, with the likes of Ken Jeong, Michael Ian Black, Adam Scott, Kerri Kenney and former "Bachelor" Jake Pavelka being lined up in the cast ensemble.

AceShowbiz

Parents get control over internet porn

The Prime Minister is to discuss plans under which consumers signing up for home broadband services must decide whether they want, or do not want, access to adult content sites.

One option being explored is that the “default” option will mean adult sites are automatically blocked unless people choose to switch off the censoring filter.

The action comes as fears grow that children as young as 11 are becoming addicted to obscene online material. Three quarters of children have unaccompanied access to the internet and 800,000 can view adult content, including 14 per cent of those younger than 10.

British internet providers make more than £3billion a year and about a quarter of searches online are for pornography.

Some campaigners, including Tory MPs, have called for pornography to be barred automatically from home internet services unless users “opt in” for adult content.

The Daily Telegraph understands that the Prime Minister does not want to introduce such a draconian system. Instead he favours an “active choice” option, though he is prepared to consider the “default off” control.

Reg Bailey, the head of the Mothers’ Union, was commissioned by Downing Street last year to hold a review of the sexualisation and commercialisation of children.

Mr Bailey recommended the “active choice” compromise for web services.

He drew on evidence that when parents had to make this decision it also prompted conversations about what they needed to do to keep their children safe online. His report was supported by children’s groups and charities. A group of MPs, led by the Conservative Claire Perry, has called on ministers to go further.

Mrs Perry said: “If British Internet Service Providers introduced 'opt-in’, we would be the first country in the world to have such a system. We led the world on blocking child abuse imagery.

“We’ve done it before. We can do it again. And what a wonderful legacy to give to our children. The time for hand-wringing is past and the time for common sense solutions is here. We have got to act.”

Many internet service providers already offer parental controls and the approach decided upon by Mr Cameron is likely to be introduced voluntarily. The Prime Minister met senior figures in the internet industry yesterday morning.

The Government is also expected to unveil plans in next week’s Queen’s Speech to overhaul communication laws and the controls could become compulsory.

In a speech last year, Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, admitted that, “as a father of a young child”, the ease of access to adult websites was of “huge concern”.

He said: “I believe the way to address this is to put consumers firmly in the driving seat.”

The Telegraph

'American Idol' Results: Skylar Laine Sent Home Despite Solid Performances

It was another shocking result on "American Idol" Thursday, May 3 night. Skylar Laine, who was praised by the judges for showing steady performances in the last few weeks, was voted off after landing on the bottom two with Hollie Cavanagh.

"Rock it out," the Mississippi girl told Hollie as they shared a long hug on stage and the judges gave her a standing ovation. For Hollie, it was the fifth time she dodged elimination, but she did show she deserved the chance after delivering two impressive performances on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, taking the stage to cater the crowd on the results show was Chris Martin-fronted band Coldplay, who performed their song "Paradise". Additionally, the winner of "Idol" season 4 Carrie Underwood returned to the show to perform "Blown Away".

Next week, Hollie will return with Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet and Phillip Phillips. Mentor Jimmy Iovine guaranteed that Joshua will get a record deal no matter what the final result is. "We at Interscope will do everything we can to not drop this ball," he said.

In another news, Joshua has explained why he brushed off Phillip after their duet of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" on the May 2 performance show. Claiming that Phillip threatened to do something "horrifyingly embarrassing," he explained, "I was scared of what Philip was going to do onstage because backstage, saying 'I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that.' So I was nervous of what he was going to do."

AceShowbiz