Are your Science Major friends defying death?

I was reading my latest issue of Wired magazine, when an article titled The Best Dangerous Science Jobs caught my attention. We all loved science in some way when we were kids, whether it was building a makeshift volcano out of dough and making it erupt with baking soda and vinegar, or dissecting a frog. But, for some, they become addicted to learning and find their passion in the field of science leading to the following jobs below that can uh, kill ya. Those of you still in school may want to reconsider your future line of work because while the money will rain if you work in these fields, it really can be a killer lifestyle.

Astronaut
*Since manned spaceflight began in 1961, 24 US astronauts have died in astro-action — 10 during launch, six during training flights, and seven on reentry. In 1971, three Soviet cosmonauts suffocated when a malfunction caused the oxygen to leak out of their ship. Then there's that whole riding-an- explosion-into-space thing. And we haven't even found aliens yet.

Biosafety Level 4 Lab Researcher
*BSL-4 labs handle the deadliest diseases on Earth. In 2004, a Russian scientist died after accidentally sticking herself with an Ebola-laced needle. The death occurred only months after a US scientist at the Army's BSL-4 lab at Fort Detrick in Maryland made the same mistake... and survived.

Hurricane Hunter
*The Air Force's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron crew members are the daredevils of meteorology. They fly WC-130s into a hurricane's eyewall, 10,000 feet up, to locate the storm's pressure center and measure its wind speed. Not surprisingly, some get a little turned around. Even on the ground, they're not safe — Hurricane Katrina destroyed the squad's home base.

Propulsion Engineer
*Turns out, the people who ground-test rocket engines don't actually worry about explosions. When you work with cryogenic oxygen and gases pressurized up to 300 psi, you're far too busy worrying about "cold burns" and other trauma to really give proper consideration to what might happen should one of the buggers completely ignite.

Volcanologist
*Active volcanoes blow enough ash to bury a city the size of, oh, Pompeii. No wonder many volcanologists don't come back from their helicopter visits to hell. In 1991, three were killed by Japan's Mount Unzen. In 2001, one died after falling off a 985-foot-high caldera rim, and in 2005, four Filipino researchers died in a chopper crash while inspecting landslide areas.

Biologist
*Animal research can lead to more than an allergic reaction. Being bitten, scratched, or exposed to "secretions" can be deadly. For example, at least 70 percent of captive adult macaque monkeys are infected with herpes B. In 1997, a 22-year-old researcher died after contracting the virus from some "biologic" monkey material that got in her eye.

* - Written by Erin Biba of WIRED Magazine.

Lambo Rambo - The Superleggera

Saw this new metallic toy in one of my latest magazines. They nickname it the "Lambo Light." What's it remind you of? If you guessed a Gallardo with some new rims and a wing slapped on it, you're pretty close.

The Gallardo has been the Lamborghini of choice by many music artists and athletes alike. I myself have mistaken the Gallardo to be Lambo's top of the line car, but to anyone's surprise it's not; the Murcielago is.

So what's different about this smokin gray metallic Gallardo, aside from it looking like it's about to fly? First off, Superleggara translated from Italian to English means "superlight." It comes in at about 185 pounds lighter, thanks to carbon fiber replacements of some parts. It also gets a 10hp boost bringing it to 530 ponies. So how much faster do these modifications make it? It shaves .2 seconds off it's 0-60mph time. That may seem like a little, but I'm guessing the quarter-mile tests later on in the year will reveal more about the car. After all, it's costing 27 grand more than the original Gallardo!

Ya want one? Well, like all good things in life, you must wait because the original 350 of this year's supply has been nabbed by the millionaires who got wind of it first.

Things to note:
Price: $215,000
5.0-liter, 530-hp V-10 engine producing 376-lb.ft. of torque
60 MPH in 3.8 seconds, Top speed of 195mph.

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Party like a what? Party like a COCKSTAR!

What is it?

The Cockstar Army is an events promo group as well as a clothing label. It specializes primarily in screen-printed T-shirts, some hoodies, womens shirts and numerous other accessories. It's logo features a rooster-like cock with a star as its tail giving it its flair.

A Cockstar is defined as:
1. A bad-ass who is a natural when it comes to rockstar attitude and behavior.
2. A male that is good at whatever he does.

Who's behind it?

Its founder goes by the name Dru, standing 5'7" tall. He is a native of Orange County, California. He practices Muay Thai (kickboxing). His musical interests are: Punk, Alternative, ROCK, Metal, Slow Jams, Reggae, Hip-hop. He can also be found in the music videos for Papa Roach and Simple Plan, but most of all he's open to almost all genres. And he's only 25 years old. What a mark of success...

Why the feature?

Cockstar Army has engulfed most of the pacific west-coast, primarily Southern California scene. It's founder Dru in the picture with the Lamborghini Gallardo he actually owns has made quite a small fortune to my understanding. The original caption on that photo found on his MySpace reads: "And to think I used to dream about this when I was a kid..."

Dru and his crew have it made, while the rest of us can only dream. The motto he lives by goes a little something like this: "Party like a rockstar, spend like a movie-star, fuck like a pornstar."

Surely enough he has come nothing short of that, as evidenced by the many photos on his MySpace. He has mingled with the likes of Travis Barker, Cassie, Fergie, Paul Wall, UFC fighters, and JESSICA ALBA!!! All of these movie-stars are in addition to the many go-go dancers and established import models he already knows.

Whether Cockstar Army moves into the mainstream, we have yet to know, but it's good to know the little guys come up big, too. We'll keep you posted on any significant events/products from them and hopefully we'll get a more in depth look at how it all began when Dru gets back to us for an interview out of his busy life as the ultimate Cockstar.

Interested in some of the apparel or the label and its founder? Check out the website located at www.CockstarArmy.com.

In the meantime don't sit on your dreams. Make them happen! Success comes to those who are prepared for it! Again, thanks for reading.

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Diddy Assistant Update

Okay, so Diddy isn't looking for anybody off the street. You've gotta have a college degree, or is in the process of receiving one.

The original video that started it all has received an astounding response of over 10,000 submissions to the group on YouTube.

I'm not sure whether Diddy's current assistants have gone through all 10,000+ of those submissions. Diddy's asking for more videos, I presume. So, for those of you who have a genuine interest to partake in an opportunity of a lifetime, please make a video and submit it.

The last time I was able to bring you some of the cream of the crop from the first batch of submissions. I'll be updating this post with more interesting and funny submissions.

One thing to note is that Diddy and his people aren't going to be the ones filtering the best from the worst, it is going to be the YouTube community. Anybody and everybody can be a winner here. Once a video gets enough good feedback then I guess Diddy and his personnel with begin the real interview process over YouTube for all to see. Anyone and everyone's got a shot. Make it a personal project or something, cuz it definitely beats doing a project for class, right?

Link: www.youtube.com/group/diddyassistant

Are you living in an incubator for success?

Many people have dreams of owning their own businesses, but the cold hard facts just don't allow them to. The cost of living in particular areas take too large a cut out of your paycheck. But for those who are true to the entrepreneurial spirit, a fraction of you won't mind packing the bags and building a life elsewhere.

I, myself am a San Francisco native. Homes in San Francisco exceed $700,000 in value. It is nearly impossible for me to buy a home without earning a 6-figure income. A 6-figure income is by no means easy to come by even for someone with a Master's degree in a prestigious field. While I try to carve out my own success by non-traditional means, those of you who have a big idea and can use a change of scenery, knowing you have a market for your product or service in another town, here are the cities that could float your boat. The findings here are directly from www.entrepreneur.com and their slideshow on "Best Cities for Small Business."

1. Phoenix, Arizona
Population: 3,250,000
Median Home Price: $268,300
Hot Industries: Service,construction, high tech and aerospace
Significant Startups: 12,388

Why Start Here?
• Numerous 20- to 39-year-olds moving from California to Phoenix
• Low commercial rents and plenty of available land
• The city of Phoenix helps guarantee SBA loans through its Expansion Assistance and Development (EXPAND) program
• Sunny, outdoorsy lifestyle
• “There’s a lot of opportunity for new businesses because of the population growth, especially in sectors [such as] real estate, food service, tourism and relocation businesses” – Lee McPheters, Arizona State University business school dean

2. Las Vegas, Nevada
Population: 1,560,000
Median Home Price: $317,900
Hot Industries: Hotel and resort, tourism, gaming, construction and retail
Significant Startups: 6,853

Why Start Here?
• 35 million tourists a year
• Has led the nation in job growth for 13 consecutive quarters
• No corporate income, franchise, inventory or unitary taxes for businesses
• No personal income tax
• Nevada's population is growing faster than any other state's.

3. Austin-San Marcos, Texas
Population: 1,250,000
Median Home Price: $167,200
Hot Industries: Technology and business services
Significant Startups: 5,469

Why Start Here?
• Diverse, highly trained and readily available employees
• No personal or corporate state income tax
• Minimal union activity
• Eight area colleges and universities with renowned academic programs and enrollment of more than 114,000 students

4. San Antonio, Texas
Population: 1,590,000
Median Home Price: $133,400
Hot Industries: Aerospace, biosciences, information technology, telecommunications, logistics and manufacturing
Significant Startups: 4,399

Why Start Here?
• Free Trade Alliance San Antonio assists firms in exploring, developing and expanding international business.
• San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative, a network of institutions, individuals and resources, is dedicated to growing technology and entrepreneurship in the region.
• Businesses can receive Empowerment Zone tax credits.
• San Antonio Business Assistance Focus Center provides comprehensive business development services.