Scary Dolls

U.S. swimmer dies during event in United Arab Emirates

By the CNN Wire Staff

October 23, 2010 5:51 p.m. EDT

An investigation is under way in the death of U.S. swimmer Fran Crippen, pictured in January 2007.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Fran Crippen, 26, dies during last leg of 10-kilometer open-water race
• Crippen fell unconscious and was found two hours later, a magazine reports
• Cause of Crippen's death under investigation, International Swimming Federation says

RELATED TOPICS

• International Swimming Federation
• United Arab Emirates
• Sports

(CNN) -- A 26-year-old member of the U.S. national swimming team died Saturday during an open-water race in the United Arab Emirates, according to event officials.
Fran Crippen died during the last leg of the 10-kilometer Marathon Swimming World Cup in Fujairah, said the International Swimming Federation, or FINA.
The cause of death is under investigation, FINA said. Swimming World magazine reported that Crippen fell unconscious during the event and was found by deep-sea divers two hours later near the race's final buoy.
The U.S. Olympic Committee issued a statement Saturday saying it was "extremely saddened" to learn of Crippen's death.
"We send our condolences and deepest sympathies to the Crippen family as well as to our entire swimming community," the USOC statement said. "While details of this tragedy are still forthcoming, we shall keep this outstanding young athlete and his family in our thoughts and prayers."
Crippen won bronze in the 10-kilometer event at the 2009 FINA World Championships and was the gold medalist in the same event at the 2007 Pan American Games, according to USA Swimming.
Crippen of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, was inspired to take up swimming at age 6 after watching older sister Maddy Crippen compete. Maddy Crippen was a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, according to USA Swimming.

Crippen graduated in 2006 from the University of Virginia, where he was twice named Atlantic Coast Conference Swimmer of the Year.

Crawler Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Space Vehicle and Rocket Explorers

Crawler Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Space Vehicle and Rocket ExplorersWhat vehicle can transport the shuttle and booster rockets as well? The answer Shuttle Crawler.Though the weight of the space shuttle and rocket booster excluding fuel already wrote about 7270 tons.
Crawler is a heavy vehicle used to transport the spacecraft from NASA. This vehicle was originally used to transport the Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets from aircraft Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz programs. Currently, he also used to transport the Space Shuttle. Next vehicle is planned to carry the Ares I and Ares V rockets for Space Travel program.
Crawler has a mass of 2721 tons - 3,000 tons (2.7 to 3 million pounds) and has eight track wheels, two on each corner of the vehicle. Each track wheel has 57 foot belt, and each leg belt weighing 1984 pounds (900 kg). Vehicle length measuring 131 feet (40 m) with a width of 114 feet (35 m). Height from ground to the platform is adjusted from 20 ft (6.1 m) to 26 ft (7.9 m).
Crawler has 16 tracks motors, powered by four 1341 horse-powered generator (1,000 kW), and driven by two diesel-powered 2750 Alco horse (2050 kW). Having two generators 1006 horsepower (750 kW), driven by two 1065 horsepower engines (794 kW) used for jacking, steering, lighting, and ventilation. Two 201 horse-powered generator (150 kW) are also available to power the Mobile Launcher Platform. Crawler has a fuel tank capacity of 5000 gallons (19,000 liters), and consumes 150 gallons / mi (350L/km).
Crawler is controlled from two control cabins are located at both ends of the vehicle. Maximum speed of 1 mile per hour (1.6 km / h) to the charge, and 2 miles per hour (3.2 km / h) without load (rocket and space shuttle).

Simak

Baca secara fonetik

 

20-year-old woman becomes top cop in violent Mexican municipality

By Arthur Brice, CNN

October 20, 2010 1:52 p.m. EDT

Marisol Valles Garcia, a criminology student, became the police chief of Praxedis G. Guerrero, Chihuahua, Mexico.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Marisol Valles Garcia, a criminology student, is the only person who accepted the job
• She says she stepped up because she is tired of people living in fear
• The police force will not carry weapons, she said

RELATED TOPICS

• Mexico
• Police

(CNN) -- Some headlines are hailing her as the bravest woman in Mexico. Marisol Valles Garcia, all of 20 years old, says she's just tired of everyone being afraid.
Valles Garcia, a criminology student, became the police chief this week of Praxedis G. Guerrero, one of the most violent municipalities in the border state of Chihuahua. She was the only person who accepted the top job in a police force whose officers have been abducted and even killed.
"Yes, there is fear," Valles Garcia said Wednesday in an interview with CNN en Español. "It's like all human beings. There will always be fear, but what we want to achieve in our municipality is tranquility and security."
There's good reason for the fear. Just this past weekend, a 59-year-old local mayor, Rito Grado Serrano, and his 37-year-old son, Rogoberto Grado Villa, were killed in a house in which they they were hiding in nearby Ciudad Juarez. Another area mayor was killed in June.
Juarez is the bloodiest city in Mexico, with a reported 2,500 people killed in drug violence this year. Praxedis G. Guerrero is located about 35 miles southeast of Ciudad Juarez. Both are in the state of Chihuahua, which borders Texas.
Nationwide, the federal government says, more than 28,000 people have lost their lives since Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared war on the drug cartels after taking office in December 2006.
Valles Garcia sees a non-violent role for her 13-member force, which will be mostly female and unarmed.
"The weapons we have are principles and values, which are the best weapons for prevention," she told CNN en Español. "Our work will be pure prevention. We are not going to be doing anything else other than prevention."
Valles Garcia said she aims to establish programs in neighborhoods and schools, to win back security in public spaces and to foster greater cooperation among neighbors so they can form watch committees.
She has recruited three other women to join the force in the small municipality of 8,500 people, the government-run Notimex news agency said this week.
Valles Garcia said Wednesday she gladly accepted when Mayor Jose Luis Guerrero offered her the job. The first couple of days have gone smoothly, she said.
"Truthfully, we have been very tranquil," she said. "The people have received us very well. They have even supported us. They say it's a great project and they will be with us 100 percent."
Still, the notion of a largely female police force being helmed by a woman -- and a young one at that -- does not seem to sit well with some people in a country that still retains vestiges of machismo.
"Are there no men in Chihuahua?" read a headline on a blog on the Periodista Digital website.
But Valles Garcia believes what the job may need is a woman's touch.
"We are simply going to talk with them, with the people, with the families, giving them confidence so they will quit being afraid, so they can leave their houses," she told CNN en Español.

"We have hope that we are going to exchange fear for tranquility and security."

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