New clip, which debuted Thursday on MTV, sets Bieber up to launch the next phase of his career. By James Montgomery
<P>If you are reading this, then you are probably aware that <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> turned <a href="/news/articles/1680195/justin-bieber-18th-birthday-top-moment.jhtml">18 back in March</a>. I only mention it now because it helps explain JB's brand-new "Boyfriend" video, which premiered Thursday night (May 3) on MTV and is pretty much an 18-year-old male's fantasy in every conceivable way (or at least <i>most</i> of them).</P><P>Filled with cool clothes, <a href="/news/articles/1684418/justin-bieber-boyfriend-video-cars-girls.jhtml">hot cars and even hotter women</a>, "Boyfriend" — directed by the mysteriously named Director X (née <a href="http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/09/24/lil-x-director-x/">Lil X</a>) — is the stuff of every newly minted heterosexual adult's dreams ... only on overdrive. It's not enough to have a few cool cars; let's get 50! And some of them should be vintage! Why stop at <i>one</i> female love interest when we could get a baker's dozen? As if the icy, decidedly <i>sophisticated</i> strains of "Boyfriend" weren't enough to tip you off, with the video, Bieber very clearly serves notice: He's all grown-up.</P><P><center><object width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="embeddedPlayer" data="http://videoplayer.vevo.com/embed/embedded" style="visibility: visible;"><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="flashvars" value="playerType=embedded&videoId=USUV71200411&playlist=false&enableDomScan=true&siteSection=MTV_mtv.com&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961&autoplay=0&endScreen=play&cc=US&cultureName=en-US&cultureIsRTL=False&sbId=14A00605-7DB5-4492-B67B-CB2093BD89DD"></object></center></P><P>And while that maturation was inevitable — Bieber's been saying for months now that his <a href="/news/articles/1666424/justin-bieber-new-album.jhtml"><i>Believe</i> album would push the boundaries</a> — it remains to be seen if his fanbase (which, speaking in the broadest of terms, is predominantly female, not to mention predominantly pre-teen) can handle his transformation. Not to mention that now, for the first time, he's not the <i>only</i> heartthrob on the block. Sure, the guys in <a href="/news/articles/1682685/one-direction-justin-bieber-collaboration-rumor.jhtml">One Direction may be his pals</a>, but they'd like nothing more than to eat his lunch. And those dudes in the Wanted? Well, let's just say we wouldn't take our eye off them, either.</P><P>In short, Bieber's career is now at a crossroads. He cannot stop the advance of age, nor does it seem like he really cares to — he's making the kind of music his 18-year-old self <i>wants</i> to make. His fans will either embrace this new chapter or they won't. Maybe he'll lose some of them to the nefarious clutches of 1D. But the Biebs is moving on regardless. One can't sing "Baby" forever now, can they?</P><P>Of course, watching the "Boyfriend" video, you can't help but think that Bieber couldn't care less about any of those things. It's a cool, confident clip, and, given where he's at right now, it's also an <i>important</i> one. He's itching to get on with the business of being an 18-year-old dude, like it or not. But you probably will — honestly, how can you deny the sheer <i>grown-up-edness</i> of the whole thing?</P><P><i>What did you think of the "Boyfriend" video? Share your reviews in the comments!</i></P><P><b>Stick with MTV News as we roll out more from our exclusive "MTV First" interview with Justin Bieber!</b></P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="MTV First: Justin Bieber" id="id:1684329" width="415" height="255"></div><p></p>
If your gadget life centers equally on Apple devices and luxury Danish home theater, Bang & Olufsen now has you officially covered. The BeoPlay V1 TV, which we got a sneak peek at just over a week ago, has a slot to connect your Apple TV without wires spoiling the look of your upscale loft. Both 32- and 40-inch versions have relatively powerful speakers, too, with as many as three 32W amps in the 40-inch version being joined by discrete treble / mid speakers and a bass unit. Either of the 1080p TVs carries a 100Hz refresh rate, five HDMI inputs, and a USB port for your music and photos. Just as new is a BeoPlay A3 speaker dock for the iPad, which nestles your first- or second-generation iPad into what Bang & Olufsen calls a "stable wedge" that not only keeps the iPad comfy but adapts the speakers to get maximum output. An eight-hour battery keeps the speakers completely wireless, although it won't charge your iPad in the process. The company will have the V1 in British shops on May 3rd at a comparatively frugal £1,999 ($3,238) and £2,499 ($4,047) for the respective 32- and 40-inch sizes, while fans of Hamlet's homeland will have to wait until May 23rd to pay £449 ($727) for an A3 dock, a picture of which you can find after the break.
This week’s RHOC picks up where last week’s left off, with Gretchen becoming a Pussycat Doll and the gang, including Vicki, is all in Vegas to support her.
But will all the good will between Gretchen and Vicki be left in the desert?
Here’s THG's +/- recap of The Real Housewives of Orange County!
The girls are all nervous for Gretchen. Gretchen’s nervous for Gretchen. Everyone’s nervous. Except the ACTUAL Pussycat Dolls. While Gretchen changes into her performance outfit, everybody else enjoys the show.
Vicki says Brooks is from the South so he’s never seen anything like this.
Tamra says she could be a gynecologist now.
Plus 5 for the giggles.
It’s time for Gretchen to perform and Alexis’ prayers didn’t pay off. That was rough. But, like Tamra said, she looked great? That’s a plus, right?
The gang has ventured back to Slade and Gretchen’s hotel room for a post-Pussycat Dolls party and to celebrate Gretchen’s birthday. Vicki brought Gretchen a birthday present AND an apology. And then Vicki ruins it by expecting an apology back from Gretchen. Plus 10 for the apology and Minus 20 for ruining the moment.
Slade makes a toast to Gretchen for her hard work. It’s really sweet. Plus 5.
The next day, Brooks and Vicki hit the Blackjack tables with Tamra and Eddie. Heather and Terry join them. Tamra and Heather commend Vicki for apologizing to Gretchen. Vicki doesn’t want toxic relationships in her life which is why she says she apologized.
Slade and Gretchen are having a moment. He says that if she just always does what she loves, she’ll never work a day in her life. That that’s why he feels like he’s never worked. She says she’s the luckiest girl in the world. They’re so sweet they make me sick.
Vicki and Brooks are looking at one of Vicki’s properties. Now that she’s divorcing Donn, she’s got to sell off the home they planned to retire in. Or live in it.
Brooks, with one of his Brooks-isms, says “life is 10% what happens to you, honey, and 90% how you respond.”
Ugh. Minus 25 for creeping me out.
Alexis has decided to meet with Gretchen’s hosting coach. Jim and Alexis have prayed about it after their conversation last week, but she says they got different answers from those prayers.
The hosting coach uses a metaphor about a bus driver and a passenger on a bus and then says “You’re not ready to drive this bus.” That’s an understatement, hosting coach lady. Then she calls her a bimbo. Sort of. Plus 10 hosting coach lady.
After three attempts at reporting on a fake news story, the hosting coach declares Alexis has potential.
Heather and Terry meet up with Gretchen and Slade for dinner. They begin their dinner conversation by talking about Heather and Terry’s worry beads. Then the conversation turns to Gretchen’s career path. She says she’s thinking of Broadway. Or a recording contract. Or performing on stage again.
Hmm, maybe not Broadway, Gretch. Let’s stick to things that can be auto-tuned. But I still love you.
Then the conversation turns to Vicki’s apology and Gretchen’s decision not to return the apology. Heather thinks Vicki could’ve gone about things in a different way and would have perhaps gotten a different response. Like maybe if she hadn’t demanded an apology she would’ve gotten one.
And then they talk about Alexis and Terry calls her phony. Plus 10 to the doctor! Gretchen says that she’s seen a change in Alexis since Gretchen and Tamra have repaired their friendship. Heather cuts Terry off. No more wine for him! Minus 10 to Heather for ruining the fun.
Tamra’s son, Ryan, has his first apartment and Tamra shows up with a care package for him - towels and cleaning supplies. Ryan has no furniture so Tamra takes him shopping. She asks him how much he plans to spend and he says “$600 bucks”? Tamra says they might need to go to Ikea instead. She offers to let him borrow the money and he breaks into a sweat.
Eddie calls and tells her not to let him borrow the money. That he needs to figure things out for himself. Which he does while she’s on the phone. He finds a couch within his budget and Tamra throws in some end tables as a gift. Minus 10. He didn’t need the tables.
Vicki, Briana, and Briana’s boyfriend Ryan go to dinner. Ryan’s a Marine and Briana has a thing for men in uniform. And speaking of uniforms and the Marines, Briana has a bomb to drop on her mom. She got married. In Vegas. In a drive-through chapel.
I LOVE THIS GIRL. Plus 25!!
She says they didn’t tell Vicki about their plans because if she had, she would’ve had to turn her phone off for a week.
Vicki’s speechless. Finally.
EPISODE TOTAL: EVEN! SEASON TOTAL:-25!
Next week, Vicki will finally introduce Brooks and Briana and Slade will ask for Gretchen’s hand in marriage. The old fashioned way. Like Vicki wishes Ryan had done.
T-Mobile this morning unwrapped the Prism, a 3.5-inch (HVGA) Gingerbread device with a 3.2MP camera. The specs aren't going to wow you, but then again they're not really supposed to. It's the pricing that's the selling point here. The Prism will cost $19.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate card with a two-year service agreement and qualifying Classic voice and data plan, or it'll cost $149.99 with no annual contract.
We'll forgive you if you failed to take MIT up on its offer take its courses for free when it rolled out its MITx online learning platform last year. However, Harvard took notice of its efforts, and has joined MIT online to form the edX platform and offer courses and content for free on the web. There's no word on the available subjects just yet, but video lessons, quizzes and online labs will all be a part of the curriculum, and those who comprehend the coursework can get a certificate of mastery upon completion. edX won't just benefit those who log on, either, as it'll be used to research how students learn and how technology can be used to improve teaching in both virtual and brick and mortar classrooms. The cost for this altruistic educational venture? 60 million dollars, with each party ponying up half. The first courses will be announced this summer, and classes are slated to start this fall. Want to know more? Check out the future of higher education more fully in the PR and video after the break.
The MSI brand should be no stranger to connoisseurs of desktop motherboards, graphics cards and gaming laptops, but did you know that this Taiwanese company started off as a computer terminal maker 26 years ago? To find out more, we sat down with the very likable Senior Vice President (R&D Division) Jeans Huang. Read on to hear the co-founder's interesting story on how MSI was formed by five ex-Sony engineers, his frank reason behind MSI's reluctance to enter the smartphone market, and his thoughts on 3D display on the PC.
After several years of upheaval over the best way to conduct breast cancer screening, researchers are working to find clarity over when women should begin getting mammograms, how often and at what cost. A pair of new studies clears up some of the uncertainty by finding that women who have a mother or sister diagnosed with breast cancer, or those who have unusually dense breast tissue,should have their first test at age 40 and repeat the exam at least once every other year.
For these women, who face at least twice the average risk of developing breast cancer in their 40s, the benefits of routine screening between the ages of 40 and 49 outweigh the risk of false alarms and unnecessary work-ups that might otherwise put them at greater risk than doing nothing, researchers report in Tuesday's edition of Annals of Internal Medicine.
Of the various recommendations put forth by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in 2009, none generated more ire than the suggestion that annual mammograms could do more harm than good for most fortysomething women, who are far less likely than older women to get breast cancer. The task force advised women in their 40s to talk with their doctors and make individualized decisions about whether to get a mammogram every other year at most.
The new research was designed to identify women who could benefit the most from having mammograms early and often.
In the process, the doctors and other experts who worked on the studies pushed a relatively new risk factor ? breast density ? to the forefront in the calculations a woman and her physician make as they decide how assiduously to check for breast cancer.
The two studies arrive at their conclusions through different means. One involved combining and analyzing data from 61 studies that have already been published. The other used computer models to predict the health outcomes of about 44,000 simulated women who had their first mammogram at 50. They then ran the same women through a simulation in which they began screening at 40 and compared the rates of false alarms, breast cancer diagnoses and mortality in both groups.
"The fog is clearing," said Dr. Diana Petitti, who worked on the 2009 Preventive Services Task Force study. "Personalized breast screening recommendations are better."
The recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of health experts that advises the federal government, upended the long- and fiercely-held beliefs of most practitioners and breast cancer activists by suggesting that women older than 50 should have a mammogram every two years instead of annually, and that most women in their 40s should skip the test altogether. Until then, women over 40 were routinely advised to have a mammogram once a year.
The latest studies push further away from what many have since called "one size fits all" medicine and toward an approach more tailored to the individual patient and her risks. Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, likened the effort to identify who can benefit most from mammogram screening to the type of "personalized medicine" that is used to identify patients who will benefit the most from intensive efforts to forestall heart disease.
Using assumptions that undergirded the controversial 2009 Preventive Services report, researchers found that among women 50 to 74,for every breast cancer death averted by screening, 146 women received a false-positive reading on a mammogram. In addition, for every year of life that a woman gained because her breast cancer had been detected early by mammogram, there were 8.3 false positives that led to unnecessary biopsies, weeks of worry and in some cases surgical complications.
Shifting their focus to simulated women between the ages of 40 and 49, the researchers found that the only ones who stood to benefit to a similar degree were those whose breast cancer risk was roughly double the norm for their age group.
The companion study fills out the picture by pinpointing ways to assess a woman's breast cancer risk in her 40s. For instance, the researchers showed that having a first-degree relative ? a mother or sister ? with a breast cancer diagnosis more than doubles the woman's own risk of developing the disease. If she has two or more first-degree relatives with breast cancer, her risk goes up by nearly a factor of four.
The study also found that having breasts made up of substantiallymore glandular tissue ratherthan fat was enough to double a woman's breast cancer risk in her 40s. However, this also makes breast cancer harder to find on a mammogram, because cancerous tumors do not show up as readily against a backdrop of glandular tissue as they do against fat.
The researchers found that women who've had breast biopsies that turned out to be benign have an 80% greater risk of getting the disease in their 40s; women on oral contraceptives have a 30% increased risk; women who have never given birth have a 25% greater risk; and women who had their first child after age 30 have a 20% increased risk.
In an editorial accompanying the two studies, Brawley said the findings about dense breasts create "several conundrums," not least that their mammograms are difficult to interpret. If breast density becomes a factor that drives how often women should be screened, he wrote, future guidelines may include the recommendation that all women get a baseline mammogram at age 40.
Dr. Patricia Ganz, a breast cancer specialist at UCLA, said the studies would help in the development of "user-friendly ways that a primary-care physician can start that conversation" about a woman's breast cancer risk and what steps she can take to address it. Ganz said the findings underscored the central importance of taking a family history ? and of updating it as a woman (and her mother and sisters) age.
But Ganz too said the key risk factor of breast density needed better definition if it was to be a helpful guidepost to women and their doctors. Radiologists, who review mammograms, and primary-care doctors have no established standards or software that defines and grades breast density, she said, so sending all 40-year-old women to have their breast density assessed would be premature.
Grant awarded to help improve problem-solving skills for deaf and hard-of-hearing studentsPublic release date: 30-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Michelle Cometa macuns@rit.edu 585-475-4954 Rochester Institute of Technology
Researchers look to transform the approach used to teach essential skills in STEM fields
Researchers have found that differences in the way deaf and hard-of-hearing students learn are multifaceted: from the development and mastery of early language skills in both American Sign Language and spoken languages, to the organization of knowledge and individual learning strategies.
Further understanding of these unique differences and providing solutions to improve learning outcomes, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the STEM fields, is the focus of new research at Rochester Institute of Technology.
The university has received a $198,172 grant from the National Science Foundation for "Integration of Experiential Learning to Develop Problem Solving Skills in Deaf and Hard of Hearing STEM Students."
A multidisciplinary research team will develop a series of classroom and laboratory modules that rely on experiential learning and structured, visual problem-solving approaches. This will immerse students into a context-rich, industry-like environment with hands-on activities in the Toyota Production Systems Laboratory, located in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering, says Andres Carrano, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering and principal investigator of the grant. He is joined on the research team by Wendy Dannels, lecturer in engineering studies at RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and Matt Marshall, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering.
"The project represents a critical step in translating knowledge of deaf education into effective pedagogy," Carrano says. "Using experiential learning and a structured, graphical problem-solving methodology, the modules address the barriers that deaf and hard-of-hearing students face in developing problem-solving skills."
The modules will be part of foundation-level engineering courses required for students pursuing engineering and technology degree programs at NTID. Despite an understanding of how deaf and hard-of-hearing students differ from hearing students in the development and application of problem-solving skills, progress lags in the development of effective pedagogy for educating deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the STEM fields, Carrano says.
Critical to the development of problem-solving is the fact that deaf and hard-of-hearing students typically bring less content knowledge to the classroom and often fail to comprehend how variables in a complex system are interrelated.
The team will develop the modules this summer, implement the material over a three-year period and assess learning outcomes by the Center for Education Research Partnerships, a center specializing in deaf and hear-of-hearing education based at NTID. Particular emphasis is placed on the concepts of teamwork, problem solving and process improvement by studying the fundamental behavior of production lines.
###
About RIT
Rochester Institute of Technology is internationally recognized for academic leadership in computing, engineering, imaging science, sustainability, and fine and applied arts, in addition to unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. RIT enrolls 17,500 full- and part-time students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, and its cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation.
For more than two decades, U.S. News & World Report has ranked RIT among the nation's leading comprehensive universities. RIT is featured in The Princeton Review's 2012 edition of The Best 376 Colleges as well as its Guide to 311 Green Colleges. The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2012 names RIT as a "Best Buy," and The Chronicle of Higher Education recognizes RIT among the "Great Colleges to Work For 2011."
About NTID
The National Technical Institute for the Deaf, one of nine colleges of RIT, was established by Congress in 1965 to provide college opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who were underemployed in technical fields. Today, a record 1,547 students attend NTID; more than 1,350 are deaf or hard of hearing. Others are hearing students enrolled in interpreting or deaf education programs. NTID's Center on Employment assists NTID students with finding co-op and permanent jobs. NTID has consistently placed 90% of its graduates. More than 100 interpreters, tutors, and note-takers support students in and out of the classroom.
News, Podcasts, Blog, Photos and Videos: www.rit.edu/news
[ | E-mail | Share ]
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Grant awarded to help improve problem-solving skills for deaf and hard-of-hearing studentsPublic release date: 30-Apr-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Michelle Cometa macuns@rit.edu 585-475-4954 Rochester Institute of Technology
Researchers look to transform the approach used to teach essential skills in STEM fields
Researchers have found that differences in the way deaf and hard-of-hearing students learn are multifaceted: from the development and mastery of early language skills in both American Sign Language and spoken languages, to the organization of knowledge and individual learning strategies.
Further understanding of these unique differences and providing solutions to improve learning outcomes, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the STEM fields, is the focus of new research at Rochester Institute of Technology.
The university has received a $198,172 grant from the National Science Foundation for "Integration of Experiential Learning to Develop Problem Solving Skills in Deaf and Hard of Hearing STEM Students."
A multidisciplinary research team will develop a series of classroom and laboratory modules that rely on experiential learning and structured, visual problem-solving approaches. This will immerse students into a context-rich, industry-like environment with hands-on activities in the Toyota Production Systems Laboratory, located in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering, says Andres Carrano, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering and principal investigator of the grant. He is joined on the research team by Wendy Dannels, lecturer in engineering studies at RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and Matt Marshall, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering.
"The project represents a critical step in translating knowledge of deaf education into effective pedagogy," Carrano says. "Using experiential learning and a structured, graphical problem-solving methodology, the modules address the barriers that deaf and hard-of-hearing students face in developing problem-solving skills."
The modules will be part of foundation-level engineering courses required for students pursuing engineering and technology degree programs at NTID. Despite an understanding of how deaf and hard-of-hearing students differ from hearing students in the development and application of problem-solving skills, progress lags in the development of effective pedagogy for educating deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the STEM fields, Carrano says.
Critical to the development of problem-solving is the fact that deaf and hard-of-hearing students typically bring less content knowledge to the classroom and often fail to comprehend how variables in a complex system are interrelated.
The team will develop the modules this summer, implement the material over a three-year period and assess learning outcomes by the Center for Education Research Partnerships, a center specializing in deaf and hear-of-hearing education based at NTID. Particular emphasis is placed on the concepts of teamwork, problem solving and process improvement by studying the fundamental behavior of production lines.
###
About RIT
Rochester Institute of Technology is internationally recognized for academic leadership in computing, engineering, imaging science, sustainability, and fine and applied arts, in addition to unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. RIT enrolls 17,500 full- and part-time students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, and its cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation.
For more than two decades, U.S. News & World Report has ranked RIT among the nation's leading comprehensive universities. RIT is featured in The Princeton Review's 2012 edition of The Best 376 Colleges as well as its Guide to 311 Green Colleges. The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2012 names RIT as a "Best Buy," and The Chronicle of Higher Education recognizes RIT among the "Great Colleges to Work For 2011."
About NTID
The National Technical Institute for the Deaf, one of nine colleges of RIT, was established by Congress in 1965 to provide college opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who were underemployed in technical fields. Today, a record 1,547 students attend NTID; more than 1,350 are deaf or hard of hearing. Others are hearing students enrolled in interpreting or deaf education programs. NTID's Center on Employment assists NTID students with finding co-op and permanent jobs. NTID has consistently placed 90% of its graduates. More than 100 interpreters, tutors, and note-takers support students in and out of the classroom.
News, Podcasts, Blog, Photos and Videos: www.rit.edu/news
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
TechCrunch Disrupt is all about shining the spotlight on exciting start-ups. But starting at this year's New York show, we're including hardware startup in the mix. After an initial call over the weekend, spots are filling up quickly, but there is still room for several more. Hardware Alley will run alongside Start-Up Alley on the last day of Disrupt, May 23rd. We're looking for promising hardware startups. Got a disruptive Kickstarter project? An innovative take on beer kegs? Perhaps a modern-day ornithopter. Whatever it is, we want to give you a chance to show it off to the best and brightest in the tech world.
Al Amerdariz, the top EPA official for Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, has drawn fire for referring to Roman?crucifixions?in saying he'd make examples of environmental offenders.
The Obama administration's top environmental official in the oil-rich South Central region has resigned after Republicans targeted him over remarks made two years ago when he used the word "crucify" to describe how he would go after companies violating environmental laws.
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In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson sent Sunday, Al Armendariz says he regrets his words and stresses that they do not reflect his work as administrator of the five-state region including Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.
The environmental engineer apologized last week for his remarks. A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, told The Associated Press that Armendariz has since received death threats. His resignation was effective Monday. Sam Coleman, a career official who led the agency's response to Hurricane Katrina and served as Armendariz' deputy, took over as acting regional administrator.
QUIZ:?How much do you know about Earth Day?
"I have come to the conclusion that my continued service will distract you and the agency from its important work," Armendariz wrote in the letter, which was obtained by the AP.
Republicans in Congress had called for Armendariz' firing after Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe highlighted the May 2010 speech last week as proof of what he refers to as EPA's assault on energy, particularly the technique of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
President Barack Obama appointed Armendariz in November 2009 at the urging of Texas-based environmental groups.
The agency, perhaps more than any other, has found itself in the GOP's crosshairs. Republicans ? including presidential contender Mitt Romney, who has called for Jackson herself to be fired ? have blamed the agency for high gasoline prices and clamping down on American energy.
Armendariz, who was based in Texas, frequently found himself at odds with the state government and the oil and gas industry, which are often aligned.
The scientist and environmental activist had long been frustrated by the government's inability to clean up Texas' notoriously polluted air, and he had testified on behalf of activist groups about just how badly the EPA and state environmental agencies had botched things.
Ken Kramer, director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, said "the only people who will celebrate his resignation are the polluters who continue to foul Texas air and the politicians who serve those special interests."
Several disputed contamination cases in Texas in which Armendariz was involved helped stoke environmental concerns over fracking, a technique in which oil and gas producers inject water, chemicals and sand underground at high pressures to fracture rock so gas can come out.
In one case, the EPA issued an emergency order in 2010 accusing Range Resources of contaminating an aquifer west of Fort Worth and giving it 48 hours to provide clean drinking water to residents. Armendariz said he went around the state because it wasn't responding quickly enough. The order later was withdrawn after a state court ruled evidence that fracking had caused the contamination had been falsified.
"He was flat wrong," wrote more than two dozen lawmakers in a letter to Jackson sent Friday, calling for Armendariz' firing.
Armendariz' speech was made in Dish, a small town northwest of Dallas, where testing has shown some groundwater contamination and elevated toxic air pollution after operators began fracking.
Referring to how the Romans once conquered villages in the Mediterranean, Armendariz said, "...they'd find the first five guys they saw and they'd crucify them."
"And so you make examples out of people who are in this case not complying with the law," he said. "Find people who are not complying with the law and you hit them as hard as you can and make examples of them."
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Public release date: 30-Apr-2012
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