UO E-clips, Dec. 14

Do earthquakes send a magnetic 'warning'? Scientists divided over findings of former engineer at Stanford (Contra Costa Times, Calif.): The Loma Prieta earthquake may have announced itself weeks ahead of time by sending out an electromagnetic signal, which was recorded near the epicenter. This magnetic oddity got a closer look Thursday at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco as scientists debated whether it was just an instrument error or an actual phenomenon that potentially could be used to warn of future quakes hours or weeks ahead of time. Geophysicists from the US Geological Survey were skeptical, but scientists from Stanford argued that there is enough evidence to warrant investing in more magnetic instruments in earthquake hot zones worldwide to test the idea that major quakes are preceded by a measurable electromagnetic surge. … The University of Oregon's Gary Egbert, a geophysicist, said of the claim: "It didn't convince me at all." He was involved in an effort to find a magnetic signal before the 2004 Parkfield earthquake that occurred on a stretch of the San Andreas fault that is densely covered with instruments, including magnetic field detectors. "We did not see the kind of signals that Fraser-Smith saw, and we looked hard."

Horizon Air to cheer home teams: 4 jets painted to honor largest public universities in Oregon and Washington (Business Wire): Horizon Air today unveiled plans to honor the four largest public universities in Oregon and Washington by painting four 70-seat CRJ-700 jets in university colors and marks. The special themed planes will be created for Oregon State University, University of Oregon, University of Washington and Washington State University -- at no cost to the universities. The aircraft will be painted one at a time starting in late December in the following sequence: WSU, Oregon, OSU and Washington, reflecting the order in which agreements were reached for Horizon to use their trademarked logos and symbols. The painting will take about 10 days per aircraft. The date each freshly painted aircraft will be entered into service will be announced later, as soon as it’s determined.

Radio stations hope hi-def plays well with listeners (Portland Business Journal): Local radio stations continue investing in high-definition digital equipment, despite a significant decrease in demand for the radios capable of receiving such broadcasts. Similar to high-definition television, HD radio provides a higher-quality broadcast than its traditional -- analogue -- counterpart. Listeners without high-definition receivers can hear HD broadcasts, but without the crystal clear signal of a digital receiver. … "It's a tough sell for the radio industry because for most folks their radios work fine," said Al Stavitsky, a radio veteran and associate dean in the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication. "For most folks, it ain't broke. There's not necessarily a need ... to switch.")

No contest, it's Eugene (Register-Guard): Two years ago, what looked like a coup in Eugene looked like a fluke in other places. The decision to hold the 2008 Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene would bring the event to a relatively small city, some said, one where its days as the cradle of the sport were fading to sepia. Track and field, after all, are all grown up now, and the trials would soon return to bigger cities with airports, hotels and media markets to match. It was no fluke. Two big scores in a row begin to form a pattern, especially when they’re connected by several other important data points. On Wednesday, USA Track & Field announced that the 2012 Olympic Trials will be held in Eugene. Eugene also will host the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2009 and 2011, and the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2010.