NASA announces competition to improve Robonaut's sight

NASA's got some of the sharpest minds in the world (actual, you know, rocket scientists), sure, but they'll be the first to tell you that sometimes you've got to look outside for the best solution to a complicated problem. In recent years, that's meant the organization has partnered with the likes of SpaceX to help transfer materials to the International Space Station. The desire to look outside has also taken the form of competitions, which, in the past, have sought to improve the efficiency of solar arrays and help better understand the massive amounts of data collected from various missions over a 30-year period.

This latest competition, a partnership with TopCoder, deals with the unspeakably appealing category of space robots, aiming to improve the vision of NASA's head of menial space station tasks, Robonaut. At present, the 'bot's got the sort of sight problems that would have no doubt barred its fleshier counterparts from making their way through the training program.

Filed under: Robots, Science

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Source: TopCoder

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Stocks dip on first trading day of second quarter

JeeYeon Park , CNBC ? ? ? 6 hrs.

Stocks kicked off the second quarter on a sour note Monday following a weaker-than-expected ISM manufacturing report and as investors took a breather after the S&P 500 finally broke through its record close last week.

The S&P 500's decline marks the first time since the fourth quarter of 2011 that the index has been down on the first trading day of a quarter.

(Read More: Second Quarter Begins, Markets Are Slightly Defensive)

"It's unlikely that the first quarter is going to repeat itself in the second quarter," said Stephen Wood, chief market strategist at Russell Investments. "We're right at our numbers...so right about here, [we expect] some volatility to the end of the year. There seems to be a mismatch between fundamentals and sentiment and momentum."

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended in the red, dragged by Intel and Alcoa.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq closed lower. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, jumped near 14.

Despite the weak session, April has traditionally been the best month of the year for equities, posting an average monthly gain of 2.7 percent in the last 20 years. Also, the Dow hasn't logged a decline in April since 2005.

(Read More: After April Showers, Market Could Bounce Back)

Most key S&P sectors finished in the red, led by industrials and materials.

The S&P 500 pierced through its 2007 closing high level of 1,565.15 last Thursday, recovering all its losses from the financial crisis. The next milestone for the index is its all-time intraday high of 1,576.09, set on October 11, 2007.

Meanwhile, the Dow surged more than 11 percent in the first three months of the year, posting its strongest quarter since 1998.

Strategists say a strong first-quarter performance usually implies a bullish year.

"Since 1945, whenever the S&P 500 recorded a positive performance in the first quarter, the average performance for the three remaining quarters improved by an average 1.2, 1.1, and 0.4 percentage points, respectively," wrote Sam Stovall, chief equity strategist at S&P Capital IQ, "In addition, the entire rest of the year saw its average return of 6.1 percent rise to 8.9 percent, or be improved upon by 2.8 percentage points."

But following the strong quarter, some strategists say investors should brace for a correction in the short term.

"Traders and investors should continue to keep an ear open for any new developments related to the events in Cyprus, even though the panic and contagion was largely contained when the banks reopened last week," according to Randy Frederick, managing director of active trading and derivatives at Charles Schwab, "From a technical standpoint, the S&P 500 is likely to consolidate around the old record high of 1,565 in the near-term, and any weakness would likely find support near 1,546."

Trading was on the lighter side as most European and some Asian markets, including Hong Kong and Australia, remained closed for Easter.

(Read More: Cramer: 3 Threats to Market Rally)

On the economic front, the manufacturing sector unexpectedly slowed in March, with the index falling to 51.3, missing expectations for 54.2, according to a Reuters poll. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the sector.

Meanwhile, construction spending rebounded in February, rising 1.2 percent to an annual rate of $885.1 billion, according to the Commerce Department, signaling faster economic growth in the first quarter. Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected a gain of 1 percent, compared with a 2.1 percent drop in January.

Among techs, Apple declined after CEO Tim Cook apologized on the company's Chinese website for confusion over its warranty policy following heavy criticism in the Chinese media of its after-sales service. Apple said it has "improved" its repair policy for the iPhone 4 and 4S models in China, and plans to increase the "supervision and training" of authorized service providers.

Separately, Fidelity's Contrafund revealed that rival Google has replaced the iPhone maker as the firm's largest holding, according to a filing. Shares of Google have outperformed Apple over the past year by about 50 percent.

Ebay climbed after the online auction company said it expected annual earnings growth of 15 percent to 19 percent over the next three years, and is targeting an increase in revenue of as much as 68 percent for the period. At least six brokerages raised their price target on the company.

Novartis declined after the pharmaceutical company lost an attempt to win patent protection for its cancer drug Glivec in India.

Tesla Motors zoomed higher after the maker of electric cars said sales of its Model S topped expectations set in February, leading to a change in its first-quarter guidance to full profitability. Investors will also be watching for "really exciting" news due Tuesday, following last week's tweets from CEO Elon Musk.

Later this week, the ISM services sector report will be posted on Wednesday and the closely watched non-farm payrolls report will be released on Friday.

(Read More: Will the Jobs Report Keep the Bulls Running?)

?By CNBC's JeeYeon Park (Follow JeeYeon on Twitter: @JeeYeonParkCNBC)

? 2013 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved

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Tom Cruise makes visit to Maracana Stadium

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ? Tom Cruise took time off from promoting his latest movie in Brazil by visiting Maracana Stadium and meeting former Brazilian soccer star Zico.

Cruise posed for photos at the stadium's newly installed field holding a Brazil jersey with his name on the back.

The actor told Globo TV it "would be an honor" to make it to the 2014 World Cup final at the famed venue. He received an autographed ball from Zico, and said he would message friend David Beckham about his meeting with the former Brazilian playmaker, saying the British star would be "jealous."

The Maracana, which also hosted the 1950 World Cup final, is being renovated ahead of next June's Confederations Cup, the warm-up tournament a year before soccer's showcase event.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tom-cruise-makes-visit-maracana-stadium-015221347.html

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AP PHOTOS: Easter celebrations around the world

On Easter Sunday, the most holy day of the Christian calendar, believers attended religious services - whether among the packed crowds before a new pope in St. Peter's Square, at sunrise services in India and Pakistan, or at churches flanked by blast walls and security cordons in Iraq.

Here are some scenes from Easter Sunday around the world.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ap-photos-easter-celebrations-around-world-231217681.html

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Cardinal Dolan: Catholic Church's nature means it will be out of touch sometimes

Dolan on This Week

During an interview for "This Week," Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos that the Catholic Church's very nature means it will be - from time to time - out of touch with the concerns of its followers.

"Sometimes by nature, the Church has got to be out of touch with concerns, because we're always supposed to be thinking of the beyond, the eternal, the changeless," Dolan said. "Our major challenge is to continue in a credible way to present the eternal concerns to people in a timeless attractive way. And sometimes there is a disconnect - between what they're going through and what Jesus and his Church is teaching. And that's a challenge for us."

Dolan was responding to a question from Stephanopoulos about a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, which found that 60 percent of Catholics "describe the church as 'out of touch' with the views of Catholics in America."

As much of the country celebrates the Christian holiday of Easter, Stephanopoulos asked Dolan about the rise of people with no religious affiliation and if the church can bring people back toward God.

"What I'm afraid is that that's afflicting society in general. That's afflicting families. That's afflicting - communities. People want privacy. People crave isolation. We're hearing parents say that they can't even get their kids to talk anymore," he said. "They're - they're tweeting one another. So, this - kinda this craving of individualism, being alone, be - aloofness, that's afflicting all of culture, all of society. We're feeling it in the Church, too, because we're not about 'me.' We're about 'us.' We're about the 'our.' We say 'Our Father.' But society is saying, 'It's me, myself and I.'"

Stephanopoulos also asked Dolan what the Catholic Church can say to gays and lesbians, who feel unwelcomed by the Church, which does not support same-sex marriage.

"Well, the first thing I'd say to them is, 'I love you, too. And God loves you. And you are made in God's image and likeness. And - and we - we want your happiness. But - and you're entitled to friendship.' But we also know that God has told us that the way to happiness, that - especially when it comes to sexual love - that is intended only for a man and woman in marriage, where children can come about naturally," Dolan said. "We got to be - we got to do better to see that our defense of marriage is not reduced to an attack on gay people. And I admit, we haven't been too good at that. We try our darndest to make sure we're not an anti-anybody."

Dolan also addressed the new reality of having both a newly elected pope and also a former pope living at the same time. Stephanopoulos asked him about a recent photo of the two men together and if it was unsettling to see two Popes side-by-side.

"I think it was unsettling to a lot of us, because we're just not used to having two - two popes, even though one of them is retired. But I don't think it was unsettling to him. They almost tried to out-class each other in showing deference to one another. And that's not bad," Dolan said.

Finally, Dolan praised Nelson Mandela - who was hospitalized this week with a lung infection - and said he was praying for him.

"I'm praying with and for him. I had the honor of meeting him once. And what the word that comes to mind when you speak of a giant like Nelson Mandela is reconciliation. And that's a good thing to remember about Easter," Dolan said.

"We say that Jesus came to reconcile the world. He wanted to embrace the world and bring them to his Father. And the world took those hands and put them on a cross, because they don't like being reconciled. Nelson Mandela was one of those who could take his hands and embrace a nation. The world is in his debt, because he taught us the power of reconciliation and forgiveness," he said.

Like "This Week" on Facebook here . You can also follow the show on Twitter here .

Go here to find out when "This Week" is on in your area.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cardinal-timothy-dolan-catholic-churchs-nature-means-touch-105015603--abc-news-politics.html

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Deodorize Your Fridge with a Bowl of Oatmeal

If your fridge smells a little funky, but you don't have any baking soda handy, oatmeal can fill in as a natural alternative.

Oatmeal is great at absorbing oils, but it works just as well for eliminating smells. Just open up a canister of uncooked oatmeal, or pour some in a bowl, and set it in your fridge overnight. By morning, it will have neutralized the offensive odors just like a box of baking soda. Once the oats have done their job, you can even reuse them to clean a cast iron skillet. Be sure to click through the source link to find more clever uses for this humble breakfast food.

10 Alternative Uses for Your Old Oatmeal | WonderHowTo

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Obama attends Syracuse-Marquette basketball game

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama attended one of the weekend's big college basketball games after playing a round of golf Saturday.

Obama's motorcade took him directly from a golf course at Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Maryland to Washington's Verizon Center to watch Syracuse and Marquette play for a berth in the Final Four of the NCAA basketball tournament. He left shortly before the end of the game, which Syracuse won 55-39.

With less than 11 minutes remaining in the first half of the East Regional final, Obama appeared on the Jumbotron suspended above the Verizon Center court. He sat with Reggie Love, his former personal aide at the White House and a member of the Duke team that won the NCAA championship in 2001. At least one other friend, Marty Nesbitt, also sat with the president. Also joining Obama was NCAA President Mark Emmert.

The audience responded with loud applause when Obama was shown on the huge screen, and he smiled and waved.

In the men's tournament, Obama picked Indiana and Louisville to meet in the championship game in Atlanta, with Indiana claiming the title. But it's not meant to be ? Indiana was defeated by Syracuse. Louisville is scheduled to play Duke on Sunday in Indianapolis.

Obama said earlier this week that "my women's (NCAA tournament) bracket is doing much better than my men's bracket."

Earlier Saturday, Obama played golf for the first time since automatic spending cuts known as the sequester went into effect on March 1.

Some conservatives have called on Obama to give up golf since popular public tours of the White House have been canceled because of the budget cuts. The White House has said the tours were canceled to keep Secret Service agents from being furloughed because of the spending reductions.

Obama played golf with Nesbitt and two White House aides.

___

Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsuperville

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-attends-syracuse-marquette-basketball-game-214139628--politics.html

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