Bernhard Langer

Bernhard Langer, a photo by Keith Allison on Flickr.

Langer is highly regarded personally and professionally.

Mickelson at the NYSE;Royal Birkdale Golf

The Open Championship winner Phil Mickelson visited the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Friday,accompanied by Exxon Mobil Vice President for Exploration&Development Emil Jacob.Mickelson,fresh off his celebrated victory at Muirfield and at Royal Stuart the previous week,brought the claret jug trophy with him and was interviewed on CNBC's "Squawk On The Street" by Carl Quintanilla. Our favorite week is the week after the British Open,Mickelson said.We're putting on an academy for science and math teachers.Our students aren't interested in those subjects,and there are three million science and technology jobs going unfilled. That's a concern for us,added Exxon's Jacobs-not only for us,but for the country.If we can hook the students in grades 3-5,it'll be great for us in the future.Science and technology play a big part in the game of golf and in my success,Mickelson noted.I've been pretty well and able to drive the ball better,which has a lot to do with science and technology-the new technology inside the golf club. The wakeup call for me was coming down with psoriatic arthritis two years ago.I've been losing a pound a month and now,about two years later,I'm 25 pounds lighter and playing better,champion golfer Phil Mickelson said on CNBC.He indeed was looking leaner and more fit than in previous years. At Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport,Merseyside,England,the older golfers were playing in The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex.At the end of round two on the links style course,site of many previous Open Championships,the standings were as follows: Mark Wiebe,USA,-5 Bernhard Langer,GER,-5 David Frost,SCO,-4 Mark McNulty,IRL,-3 Peter Fowler,AUS,-3 Gene Sauers,USA,-3 Sandy Lyle,SCO,-2 Rocco Mediate,USA,-2 Jeff Hart,USA,-2 Greg Turner,AUS,-1 Just as in the regular Open Championship,the Senior winner will recieve a claret jug trophy.Royal Birkdale is considered one of the world's finest courses,and is notable for its art deco style club house.The club house is considered unattractive by some,not fitting into its bucolic setting,frankly.It resembles a small airport terminal. An interesting moment occurred in the second round.While Bernhard Langer carefully studied one of his shots,his playing partner American Cory Pavin sat down on the ground and crossed his legs,apparently meditating.At the end of the round,Pavin slapped his old friend Langer on the shoulder,congratulating him. Update:Bernhard Langer took sole possession of the lead at The Senior Open Championship on Saturday.Praised for his precision,he goes into the final round at -9,three shots ahead of South African David Frost at -6.

Finding NEO | Space Exploration | Air & Space Magazine

Finding NEO | Space Exploration | Air & Space Magazine

Pacific Crest Trail Sign

Pacific Crest Trail Sign, a photo by EnvironmentBlog on Flickr.

Wildfire season may result in closures of portions of the trail.

Massive Wildfire Closes Pacific Crest Trail

A huge wildfire on San Bernardino National Forest and adjacent lands in the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County,California,has closed part of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and its connecting trail system.The Mountain Fire had grown steadily to 27,179 acres as of four hours ago.The blaze ignited at 1:45 pm Monday. Several communities have been evacuated,including Idyllwild,Fern Valley and Trails End.Local high schools are being used as American Red Cross evacuation centers for the 6,000 evacuees,and both their large and small animals are being sheltered in San Jacinto. A number of camps in the area and Forest Service campgrounds along Highway 243 have been closed,as well as San Jacinto State Park and National Forest Wilderness.The iconic Pacific Crest Trail is closed from Highway 74 north to Saddle Junction. The inferno is being battled by 3316 wildland firefighters with 263 engines,19 helicopers,10 fixed wing aircraft and 10 bulldozers.Humidity is only 12-15% in the remote chapparal and timber ecosystem. The fire's cause is under investigation.The affected area is roughly between Los Angeles and San Diego,just south of Palm Springs. Update:As of Saturday,progress had been made against the Mountain Fire,with containment of the fire at about 50%.Evacuations remain in force.Ten structures had been lost,including homes and mobile homes.The progress was partly attributed to pinpoint determination of drop zones by new digital technology in the tanker aircraft.

Volcan - Popocateptl - A lo Lejos - Far away

Volcan - Popocateptl - A lo Lejos - Far away, a photo by Momoztla on Flickr.

An interesting local perspective on this active Mexican volcano.

Scottish Open Golf;Popocatepetl Volcano

The Scottish Open is underway at Castle Stuart Golf Links,Inverness.The tournament is on Scotland's Northeast coast along the Moray Firth,looking across to Black Isle and the town of Fortrose.It is an important practice session for next weekend's Open Championship at Muirfield. Phil Mickelson shot a second round eight under par 70 at Castle Stuart Friday,tying for 13th place on the leader board and staying in contention.Fellow American Peter Uihlein did even better with his eleven under par 66 for second place.Uihlein won earlier in the season on the European Tour,and his chances for a second victory certainly looked excellent as of Friday's round. Mickelson got himself out of trouble several times with his much-admired bunker skills.A classic flop shot out of a hazard or rough is pure Mickelson.He seems to be at his best in such difficult situations,excelling at the most challenging moments. It is Mickelson's 11th Scottish Open.His best finish to date was second place at Loch Lomond in 2007. The top ten on Friday were as follows: Christopher Doak(SCO) -12 Peter Uihlein(USA) -11 Matthew Southgate(ENG) -11 Ross Fisher(ENG) -11 Joachim B Hansen(DEN) -11 Henrik Stenson(SWE) -10 Simon Khan(ENG) -10 Lorenzo Gagli(ITA) -10 James Morrison(ENG) -10 Victor Dubuisson(FRA) -10 Mexico's snowy Popocatepetl volcano,about forty miles from the capital,Mexico City, continued to send up a four mile high cloud of ash and steam Friday,coating nearby communities with ash and closing Puebla International Airport,about 20 miles from the eruption. Several airlines have been canceling flights to the area as a precaution.In communities near the mountain,water may not be used for drinking or bathing,since it comes from snowmelt on the mountain,which is 17,930 feet high,or 5465 meters. Update:Phil Mickelson fired off six birdies in the third round of the Scottish Open on Saturday,his excellent 14 under par 66 lifting him from 19th to a tie for 2nd place,two shots behind leader Henrik Stenson at -16.It was vintage Phil,momentum taking hold once he started to roll.At one point,he made four birdies in an hour.

Keep an Eye on Popocatépetl, the Volcano Erupting Just Outside Mexico City | Smart News

Keep an Eye on Popocatépetl, the Volcano Erupting Just Outside Mexico City | Smart News

greenbrier resort, wv

greenbrier resort, wv, a photo by wvbees on Flickr.

The Greenbrier Classic is played here.

West Virginia Golf:The Greenbrier Classic

At The Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs,West Virginia,Matt Every holds the top position on the leader board with his second round nine under par 67.Every,29,has made 10 cuts out of 21 tournaments played this season.The Floridian has placed in the top 10 twice and is 95th on the money list.
Phil Mickelson failed to make the cut and is headed for Scotland to play in the Scottish Open next weekend,and then The Open Championship after that.Tom Watson,63,shot a three under par 69,tying for 35th place,while Kenny Perry,52,fired off a five under par 67 to tie for 17th.
The tournament is held at The Greenbrier Resort,a popular summer retreat in the Allegheny Mountains for generations.It's a favourite with the PGA players and their families for the comprehensive recreational package,and amenities such as evening concerts by name performers,including Kenny Chesney and Aerosmith.
The top 10 are as follows:
  Matt Every(USA) -9
  Russell Henley(USA) -8
  Johnson Wagner(USA) -8
  Daniel Summerhays(USA) -8
  Bill Lunde(USA) -8
  Steven Bowditch(AUS) -8
  Tommy Gainey(USA) -7
  Jonas Blixt(SWE) -7
  Ben Curtis(USA) -7
  Greg Owen(ENG) -7