vania-janet/multiturn-rag-retrieval-data huggingface dataset:
Mars Audio Log #10 - NASA
That being said, we have several birthdays coming up and we have some other special occasions like Mission Day 300, which is coming up in April. So that’s going to be a really big day for the crew. And I think we’re going to celebrate a really big time, cause that’s a huge accomplishment to be in here for 300 days. So I think those are some really key things that we’ll be doing in the next month.
Anca Selariu: And today actually people are celebrating the eclipse, aren’t they?
Kelly Haston: That’s true. Yes. We’re doing this on the day of the eclipse, which we can’t see. But that’s okay. We know other people can.
Anca Selariu: Well, we hope everybody will have enjoyed today because by the time you hear it, it’s going to be a while after. But looking forward to talking to you soon or even on the other side.
Kelly Haston: And we always thank everyone for their interest and time in us here at Mars Dune Alpha.
Anca Selariu: And thank you for considering Mars still an inspiration and space. Always.
Kelly Haston: Bye.
Anca Selariu: Bye.
Host:  Alright, that was, again, Commander Kelly Haston and Science Officer Anca Selariu on their 10th month in the habitat. It continues to get more and more wonderful hearing from the crew every time we check in, you know, you think they get tired of each other, but there seems to be this very purposeful approach to team cohesion and bonding throughout the entirety of their experience. And it can be purposeful in a very planning sort of way. We heard Kelly talk about milestones that she’s really encouraging the crew to really look forward to. So there’s always some next thing, next check marks next event to get to, whether it’s a birthday or whether it’s the 300th day in the habitat, which of course, at the time that they recorded this, this was before the 300th, but now, it’s been some time since they’ve recorded that audio log.
Veterans: New website for ordering contact lenses - VA News
This service offer from VCS isn’t saving Veterans money it would be more helpful to look into what can be accomplished to actually help save money.

William Brown
	May 16, 2024 at 01:58 - Reply 

Prices are way too high. Site didnt work either.

IL
	May 16, 2024 at 20:44 - Reply 

I’ve found the products offered through VCS to be quite underwhelming overall and not very price competitive, so I don’t shop there. This seems to be another product to avoid.

Paige Ann Rivera
	May 15, 2024 at 22:01 - Reply 

It’s incredibly disappointing that this is marketed and endorsed by VA as providing some sort of benefit to veterans. It’s more expensive than MANY competitors and has no other benefit. Additionally, we can’t even get a contact lense prescription FROM VA. Constantly disappointed in how poorly VA serves the veteran community!!

Dave
	May 15, 2024 at 21:59 - Reply 

If this is Build Back Better. I’m not interested.

Joses Waller
	May 15, 2024 at 21:59 - Reply 

I read the comments and immediately abandoned ordering from vcs.

Robert Sudano
	May 15, 2024 at 18:54 - Reply 

It’s not just lenses that veterans get shafted on. Look at the Travel Sites posted as bargains, Not so.

John Brunetti
	May 15, 2024 at 18:00 - Reply 

So 10% off all ready elevated price compared to every online contact ordering that give 20-30% off. Then wrap yourself in the flag as a great service to veterans. Come on man!

George C. McDaniel
	May 14, 2024 at 16:29 - Reply 

This is an excellent service filling a long-term need at the VA, but the VA Optometrist do not provide prescriptions for contacts. Is this going to change with the new service being provided?

Pamela Collins
	May 15, 2024 at 18:09 - Reply 

If I have a contact prescription can I just present it and order my contact?
Mars Audio Log #10 - NASA
So we’re talking about Mars, but how do you balance thinking about those considerations, but then also kind of staying in the noun and working current operations?
Lauren Blackwell Landon: Right. So teams are teams, right? So every team has conflict and cohesion, and we do team tasks together. So a lot of what we do is related to high performance teams, right? Teams of astronauts, especially when we’re thinking about isolated confined environments. And then all of that research can inform operations. But then we think about the specific problems. So for the Mars mission, it’s going to be 22 minute comm delay, supplies are going to be very restricted. You’re not going to have crew rotations; you’re going to be with the same people that whole time. And so that’s really stressful for a team. So we study team problem-solving and decision making, and we study the space-to-ground coordination that happens when you have the crew and mission control working together. And then we really have to think about the emergency situations when that communication delay is really going to throw us a curve ball. And, you know, we don’t have real time mission control experts ready to help back up the crew and solve those problems with them. That’s really this whole other layer of challenge to kind of the typical team operations.
Host: Yeah. But of course, this is not the first and only time we’ve done a Mars analog. We have experience with other kinds of things. I’m sure you’ve worked on some of them other deep space and Mars analogs besides CHAPEA.
A sped-up timelapse of the inside of the CHAPEA, or Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, habitat located at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Credit: NASA
Lauren Blackwell Landon: Yeah, so I’ve overseen several studies that have considered these Mars-like scenarios, but they all do things a little bit differently. They examine kind of different aspects of the mission, or they test different countermeasures.
Chapter 7: Death and New Life - NASA Science
The white dwarf is considered “dead” because atoms inside of it no longer fuse to give the star energy. But it still “shines” because it is so hot. Eventually, it will cool off and fade from view. Our Sun will reach this death about 8 billion years from now.Observations of dusty debris belts around white dwarfs suggest that giant planets may hold small bodies in orbit around a white dwarf, and even fling them inward, to be chewed up by the dead star. This idea took root because of a variety of heavy elements detected in the atmospheres of white dwarfs -- so heavy that they should have sunk into the dense, dead star long ago.Almost every star in the universe eventually goes through this transition from red giant to white dwarf, although extremely low-mass stars will take longer than the present age of the universe to get there. However, if a star is extremely massive, it could follow a different path, expanding into a supergiant star and ultimately exploding as a supernova.Q. Can planets be born in a supernova? A. Yes!The unimaginably violent explosion of a supernova can trigger a whole new generation of stars, as well as planets. In fact, the first planets ever discovered outside our solar system are orbiting a pulsar, the crushingly dense remnant of a supernova that spins and pulses like a lighthouse. PSR B1257+12, discovered with the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico in 1992, hosts three planets. These planets would not have survived their star’s explosion. So they must have been created in the aftermath as debris formed a swirling cloud of gas and dust around the pulsar.Artist's concept of planets at pulsar PSR B1257+12.NASA/JPL-CaltechVisualization: Watch a red giant become a white dwarf, and supergiant explode in a supernova.NASA/JPL-Caltech/D. Berry and NASA/JPL-Caltech. FULL VIDEOOn the Shoulders of SupergiantsSupergiant stars contain many layers of different kinds of atoms fusing, creating an enormous output of energy.To date, no planets have been found around supergiant stars that will explode one day. That doesn’t mean they aren’t there, however.
Former NASA Center Director, Scientist to Receive Presidential Medals - NASA
“Among her many accomplishments as a veteran astronaut and leader, Ellen served as the second female director of Johnson, flew in space four times, and logged nearly 1,000 hours in orbit. Jane is one of the many wizards at NASA who work every day to make the impossible, possible. The James Webb Space Telescope represents the very best of scientific discovery that will continue to unfold the secrets of our universe. We appreciate Ellen and Jane for their service to NASA, and our country.”
Dr. Ellen Ochoa

Credit: The White House

Ochoa retired from NASA in 2018 after more than 30 years with the agency. In addition to being an astronaut, she served a variety of positions over the years, including the 11th director of NASA Johnson, Johnson deputy center director, and director of Flight Crew Operations.
She joined the agency in 1988 as a research engineer at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, and moved to NASA Johnson in 1990 when she was selected as an astronaut. Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman to go to space when she served on the nine-day STS-56 mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1993. She flew in space four times, including STS-66, STS-96 and STS-110.
Born in California, Ochoa earned a bachelor’s degree in Physics from San Diego State University and a master’s degree and doctorate in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. As a research engineer at Sandia National Laboratories and NASA Ames Research Center, Ochoa investigated optical systems for performing information processing. She is a co-inventor on three patents and author of several technical papers.
“Wow, what an unexpected and amazing honor! I’m so grateful for all my amazing NASA colleagues who shared my career journey with me,” said Ochoa upon hearing the news of her Presidential Medal of Freedom award.
During her career, Ochoa also received NASA’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award for senior executives in the federal government. She has received many other awards and is especially honored to have seven schools named for her.
Ochoa also is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and formerly chaired both the National Science Board and the Nomination Evaluation Committee for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
2024 Public Comments to Preliminary Applications
To the right of the map there is a section between Rubicon Trail and Proposed route approx 0.15 miles according to your legend that isn’t designated anything other than a dirt road. -This is significant due to not being on trail or reroute and could be a potential closure point for the Forest Service. No protection for trail users against trail closure. *Why RS2477 rights NOT requested for the reroute? *RTF president and vice president have proceeded in planning with Mr. Chavez without any input from their own board. It appears the board members only became aware of this in March when they announced it at their yearly event. I find this non-communicative stance does not make it a true RTF effort. This was done on the “backside” and came as a surprise for many. *When member of public brought up a circulating email concerning Sierra Club involvement with trail inspection at an informational meeting, signed by RTF board member, the president of RTF requested email. Public member wasn’t notified until after meeting that names were to be protected out of possible retribution. When public member notified RTF president re: concern and that email has gone up the food chain so to speak for further investigation, the response of RTF president was to go on You Tube (RTF channel) and make claims of “fake news.” So are we to expect that when questions are raised with concerns re: reroute or anything Rubicon related to RTF we can expect a smear response on you tube? Very concerning and raises ethical questions within RTF non profit status. It is unfortunate that in recent meeting Mr. Chavez was heard stating that “people don’t usually read those things” when referring to grant. It was very disconcerting and wish for better in the future. It would be beneficial for all if Placer County and El Dorado County can work together while obtaining easement from Forest Service to formulate a solid plan for maintenance or reroute in the future with correct information, proposed planning and documentation relayed to property owners, users, and public so this can be a true community partnership for the future of the Rubicon Trail. Sincerely, Heidi Green Heidi Green - 5/5/2024
Why CalPERS Is Voting Against ExxonMobil’s Board of Directors - CalPERS PERSpective
Why CalPERS Is Voting Against ExxonMobil’s Board of Directors - CalPERS PERSpective

 

 

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Why CalPERS Is Voting Against ExxonMobil’s Board of Directors
5 days ago

Dear CalPERS member,
When you own shares of stock in a publicly traded company, you have a vested interest in how that company is run and whether its leaders are doing all they can to ensure lasting financial success.
You have a right to have your concerns heard by corporate directors and executives. They work for you.
For almost four decades, CalPERS has used its investments in major corporations to hold shareholder-elected directors and top officials accountable. We believe this is key to how we ensure long-term, sustainable investment returns for more than 2 million members. We do so, in part, by asking company leaders tough questions and, in some cases, demanding action through our support for various shareholder proposals. We cast thousands of votes every year.
Now, decades of shareholder rights are under threat from a lawsuit filed by the leaders of a powerful U.S. corporation, designed to punish two small groups that dared to speak truth to power. If successful, the legal action could diminish the role—and the rights—of every investor in improving a company’s bottom line.
That’s why on May 29, 2024, CalPERS will cast our shareholder votes in opposition to all 12 members of ExxonMobil’s board of directors and its chief executive officer.
We urge other ExxonMobil shareholders to do the same, to send a message that our voices will not be silenced.
ExxonMobil had a better option and didn’t choose it. Why?
We don’t take this action lightly.
In fact, we urged ExxonMobil to drop the anti-shareholder lawsuit that is now pending in a Texas federal court. The company’s allegations, both about the shareholders in question and the existing regulatory process for relief, just don’t match the facts.
More than 1,000 Veterans apply for PACT Act benefits - VA News
Army Veteran David Krall completes a toxic-exposure screening with nurse Germaine Franciosi
The PACT Act further expands VA health care eligibility and benefits for Veterans with toxic exposures during the Vietnam, Gulf War and post-9/11 eras. “This law helps us provide generations of Veterans and their survivors with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve,” said Michael Kilmer, Eastern Colorado VA director. “VA will not rest until every Veteran gets the toxic exposure-related care and benefits they deserve.”
After filing a claim, Krall sat with a nurse trained in identifying and documenting potential exposures to toxins during military service, enabling Veterans to benefit from exposure-informed care.
“We didn’t get this sort of help after Vietnam. To get help, we had to fight for it. I knew it was going to be busy here but they simplified the process. We have such a big Veteran population here, a lot of Gulf War issues, so this is very helpful,” Krall said.
From noon to 8 p.m. each day, Veterans, equipped with discharge papers and medical records pulled into the Colorado Army National Guard Readiness Center.
They checked in below a 20×38′ U.S. flag, which draped one of the armory’s cinder block walls. Supported by VA benefits specialists, they filed hundreds of claims.
Outside, VA-contracted mobile exam units completed more than 300 claims, setting two records for the most completed in a single day. The highest demand involved sinusitis, rhinitis and other respiratory conditions, then hypertension.

Processing PACT Act-related claims
In another room, VA nurses completed nearly 400 toxic exposure screenings. Of the more than 52,000 Veterans screened in the Denver metro, Pikes Peak and rural areas, at least one exposure concern was endorsed in roughly 24,000 or nearly half.
VA personnel were also checking in Veterans for health care enrollments and scheduling, while social workers discussed caregiver support and extended-care services. Researchers explained how participating in studies may improve health outcomes for Veterans.
Multi-agency workforce assisted twice as many Veterans than anticipated
About PORTS - PORTS Program
About PORTS - PORTS Program

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Home / About PORTS 

About PORTS

What is PORTS?
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We currently have over 60 PORTS presenters working from 55 of your California State Parks. These awesome park experts are stoked to share their love for the park they are at with your students! In addition to providing availability for live On-Demand and PORTScast presentations, they also have created additional digital resources you can find with the PORTS finder to include in your curriculum.

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Mars Audio Log #10 - NASA
And so that deep integration, really including all the teams research that I’m really excited about and we have this really high EVA workload that these folks are going to be doing that’s really new. It’s really going to give us valuable data at the end of this.
One of my goals really is to get teams research, which is very behaviorally based, kind of traditionally in the literature. I wanted to integrate more with the physiological side of things. So like thinking about how the brain and the body of all the individuals kind of manifest into these effective team behaviors. And we really want to look at the team effects and how they can feed back into the individual and kind of their stress levels, right? We published this theoretical paper on this like in 2019, that was sort of this call to action. Grace Douglas is on there actually. So CHAPEA I think is really great step in this direction.
Host: Yeah. It seems like you’re pretty passionate about CHAPEA. Were you involved from the very beginning? Did you get pulled in early?
A close-up view shows the 3D-printed CHAPEA habitat in the early stages of its build. Credit: NASA
Lauren Blackwell Landon: Yeah, so all those different disciplines started working together a long time ago, a few years ago, from the very beginning. So I was focused more on the traditional kind of behavioral angle, the team’s angle. And then partway into the planning process, we realized that we really need to like directly measure the intersection of habitat design and psychology. So the BHB lab was called upon, and then we went over to our human factors engineering colleagues, which is Ian Robertson, I mentioned before, and we put together this set of measures to really look at different aspects of the habitat, and so we can think about the psychological impact that happens. Then we went and looked at the habitat itself to sort of familiarize ourselves. And it’s really cool. It’s this 3D-printed, you know, habitat from ICON Architecture. It’s 1,700-square feet, so it’s a good size. And the space architecture group and all these other experts weighed in on the design of it.
Buying a car? | New York State Attorney General
Don’t give in to high-pressure sales tactics; don’t be afraid to walk out of the dealership if you feel like you are being manipulated. 
Be wary of “one-day only” deals. 
Take your time to read the contract. Make sure all verbal promises are included in your written contract. If necessary, take the unsigned contract with you and read it over in the quiet of your own home. 
Be certain the car’s serial number matches the number on your contract.

Trade-ins

Trading in your current vehicle? Remember: a selling price discount is sometimes off-set by under-valuating a trade-in or charging a higher interest rate.
Get a trade-in value from several dealers.
Check web sites or publications such as the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide or Kelley Blue Book for suggested trade-in values.

Financing

Shop around for financing. Often, your own bank will “prequalify” you for a loan. Use that to compare other offers. 
Dealers sometimes make greater profits on financing than they do on the car itself, so negotiate finance charges. 
If you have credit problems, you may not be eligible for the advertised financing. 
Look out for a balloon payment, which is a large payment due at the end of the finance agreement.
Always know the total amount that you are paying for the car, including interest, and not just the monthly payments. 

Refunds of deposits
Many consumers mistakenly believe they are entitled to a refund of their deposit if they decide not to buy a car. However, there is no right to cancel a contract, unless the dealer fails to conspicuously post the refund policy. If the dealer assists you in arranging for financing and you have not picked up the vehicle, you may cancel at any time prior to signing a finance agreement and receive a full refund.
Considering a used car?

Have a trusted mechanic check out a used car before you buy it. 
Check an online service, such as CarFax.com, to find accident and repair records, including whether a car was declared salvage, labeled a “lemon,” or if there are problems with the odometer.