The Gazette from Cedar Rapids, Iowa • P6

Sunday, January 23, 20116A 20 11 Th az et te research and technology, and improve everything from roads and airports to high-speed Internet. are the seeds of economic growth in the 21st century. Where they are planted, the most jobs and businesses will take Obama said. The state of the economy will greatly influence re- election prospects in 2012, and White House spokes- man Robert Gibbs said the president will devote most of his nationally televised address to his vision for extending the economic recovery. More than half of those questioned in a new As- sociated Press-GfK poll disapproved of how handled the economy, and just 35 percent said improved on his watch.

Three-quarters of those surveyed did say unrealistic to expect noticeable improvements after two years. They said it will take longer. challenge will be to find the money and political will to spend it, even as pledged to re- duce spending and tackle the mountainous debt. Aides say the president is reviewing the recommen- dations of his bipartisan- ship fiscal commission and will emphasize cost- cutting measures. Some House Repub- licans have promised to cut $100 billion from the budgets of domestic agen- cies.

They plan to vote next week on a resolution setting appropriations for the rest of the year at 2008 levels, in place before Obama took office. The White House saying how much low- er spend- ing Obama will call for or where the cuts could come. Still, almost certain that his fig- ures reach the level demanded by the GOP lawmakers. Obama is expected to frame the competitive- ness issue in historical and patriotic terms, call- ing for a new sputnik moment a reference to the Soviet 1957 launch of the first satel- lite, ahead of the United States. He intends to say the United States is again facing challenges from abroad, this time from fast-growing economies in China, India and through- out Southeast Asia.

In his travels to Asia and during Chinese President Hu re- cent trip to Washington, Obama has said been struck by the rapid rise of the region and the laser- like focus on competing in the global economy. are thinking each and every day about how to educate their work force, rebuild their infrastructure, enter into Obama said in November, after wrapping up a 10-day Asia trip. should feel confident about our abil- ity to compete, but we are going to have to step up our As part of that effort, Obama announced a re- structured presidential advisory board Friday that will focus on increas- ing employment and com- petitiveness. He named Jeffrey Immelt, the top executive at General Elec- tric, to it. The White House sees competitiveness as an issue that can win broad support from business, labor and Republicans.

GOP lawmakers tra- ditionally have backed the types of trade deals and research and develop- ment efforts that Obama is promot- ing. Senate Minor- ity Leader Mitch McCo- nnell, appeared to give the president an opening when he said last week in a speech that advice to my col- leagues is if the president is willing to do what we would do anyway, then we should say The White House has tried to court business since defeats in November, and com- petitiveness is a priority for that sector. Jay Timmons, presi- dent of the National Asso- ciation of Manufacturers, said concrete action must back up the rhetoric from either party before busi- nesses would commit to stepping up spending and hiring. the proof of whether this is merely positioning for elections or is a true commitment to long-term growth and competitiveness will be in the he said. to win support FROM PAGE 1A AP President Barack Obama, vis- iting Forsyth Technical Com- munity College in Winston-Sa- lem, N.C., on Dec.

6, speaks about the key to boosting American competitiveness. The economy likely will be at the center of his State of the Union address Tuesday. TOKYO (AP) A Japanese rocket carrying supplies for the interna- tional space station suc- cessfully lifted off from a remote island Saturday on a mission designed to help fill a hole left by the retirement of space shuttle program. The unmanned rocket second flight to the space station was ferrying nearly 6 tons of food, water, clothing and experimental equipment to the astronauts in orbit aboard the international project involving 15 na- tions. The rocket also was carrying cargo for NASA.

After docking with the space station, dropping off its cargo and being loaded up with waste ma- terial, the trans- fer vehicle, named will be detached and burn itself up upon re-entering atmo- sphere. Kounotori means white stork in Japanese. Applause broke out at the control center on Tanegashima Island as officials announced that the launch was a success. Tracking was switched to a center in Guam as the vehicle moved rapidly away from Japan. Kounotori2 is expected to reach the space station Thursday.

JAXA, space agency, hopes the project will help it build expertise for similar low-cost fer- rying missions and push forward manned flights of own. Cargo missions for the international space sta- tion have become more important now that the United States has scaled back its ability to launch supplies. Since 2009, the station has been manned by six astronauts, but keeping them fed and sup- plied has become a bigger challenge because of the retirement of the U.S. space shuttles. NASA is linking up with commercial com- panies to launch future cargo expeditions.

JAXA officials say they are studying the pos- sibility of reconfiguring the Kounotori vehicle which is about the size of a large passenger bus for manned flight. space pro- gram has yet to attempt manned flight. Japan has a module attached to international space sta- tion that can be used by astronauts, but has relied on the United States to get them there. A Russian Soyuz is to take the next Japanese astronaut to the space station in May. rocket delivering supplies AP The H-2B Launch Vehicle No.

2 blasts off from the launching pad at Tanegashima Space Center on the southern Japanese island of Tanegashima on Saturday. The rocket carrying sup- plies for the international space station is on a mission de- signed to help fill a hole left by the retirement of space shuttle program. McClatchy Newspapers team of scientists from several Japanese organizations will begin tests this spring on a space-based power generation tech- nology using satellites, reports Saturday indi- cated. The technology would start by generating elec- tricity from sunlight in space, convert the power into microwaves and then send the micro- waves back to Earth, the team said. The planned test will attempt to con- vert a strong electric current into microwaves and transmit them 32 feet away in a simulated outer space environ- ment at Kyoto Univer- sity.

The group comprises scientists from the Ja- pan Aerospace Explora- tion Agency, Mitsubishi Electric Mitsubi- shi Heavy Industries IHI Corp. and Kyoto University. A successful test like- ly would accelerate the goal of putting a space- based power generation system into practical use by 2025. Space-based solar power generation, which is 10 times more efficient than earthbound genera- tion, would be a major step forward in terms of fulfilling energy needs, as the strength of sun- light in space is about twice that on Earth, and there are four or five times the hours of sunlight because of the absence of clouds. Mitsubishi Electric has proposed what it calls the Solarbird proj- ect, in which 40 relative- ly small 656-foot solar power generating satel- lites would be launched.

This could produce 1 million kilowatts of elec- tricity, equivalent to a nuclear power plant. The Solarbird system would collect sunlight using reflecting mirrors fitted onto satellites in geostationary orbit al- most 22,370 miles above the equator. After the electricity is generated, it would be converted into microwaves and transmitted to Earth. The microwaves to be sent as harmless radio waves would be received at ground stations about 1.8 miles in diameter and placed on the ocean or in sunny desert areas, and then converted back into elec- tricity. The key to making the system practical hinges on the efficient conver- sion of electricity into microwaves.

The experiment will be conducted in a room that does not reflect electromagnetic waves, to mimic the conditions of space. The team hopes to launch a trial satellite sometime after 2016. Space-based solar power set to be tested ISLAMABAD (AP) A Pakistani actress castigat- ed for appearing to cuddle with an Indian actor on a reality show lashed out at a Muslim cleric who had criticized her during a widely watched television exchange this week. The unusual outburst, punctuated by tears, came at a sensitive time in a country where Is- lamic fundamentalism is spreading and liberals are increasingly afraid to express their views. is your problem with me? You tell me your an angry Veena Malik asked the Muslim scholar, who ac- cused her of insulting Islam.

Earlier this month, a liberal Paki- stani gov- ernor was shot dead for opposing the harsh laws against blasphemy. In the aftermath, his killer was cheered as a hero among many in the public, shocking the small liberal establish- ment. Malik, 26, participated recently on an Indian version of Clips of the show on the Internet in- clude ones in which she appears cozy with Indian actor Ashmit Patel. Those scenes, and her involve- ment with a show in Paki- archrival India, prompted criticism online and on the air. have insulted Pakistan and Mufti Abdul Qawi ac- cused her on the Express TV channel talk show via a television link.

The ex- change first aired Friday and then again Saturday. A furious Malik shot back, saying Qawi tar- geted her because she is a woman, reminding him that the Quran admon- ishes men not to stare at a beauty beyond a first glance, and telling him there were bigger problems in Pakistan, including the alleged rape of children at mosques. During the exchange, Qawi admitted he had not seen the clips of the show but had heard about it from others. does your Is- lam say, mufti the actress asked. is- sue edicts on the basis of Malik said she had read the Quran and she knew what lines not to cross as a Muslim.

Pakistani actress slams fundamentalist cleric for criticism Veena Malik Pakistani actress Three-quarters of those surveyed in a new Associated Press- GfK poll, did say unrealistic to expect noticeable improvements in the economy after two years. EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE At Iowa Eye Center we are dedicated to providing you with the latest technology. As surgeons we want to ensure that you get the safest, most effective treatment available. Schedule your Ultra Lasik appointment today! Call 319-362-3937 for a free screening Learn more at www.iowaeyecenter.com 1650 First Avenue Cedar Rapids Advance Health A Avenue Pharmacy Fifth Avenue Pharmacy Liberty Pharmacy Shepley Pharmacy Tipton Pharmacy Integrative Health Clinic www.careprohealthservices.com One-a-Day is Not theWay! Did you know that all multivitamins are not created equal? Stop at the CarePro locations listed below and ask to see the independent ratings of most commercially available multivitamins. GOOD NEIGHBOR.