Polar Disk Galaxies as new way to study galaxy formation: the case of NGC4650A

NGC4650A is a polar disk galaxy: this is a peculiar object composed by a central spheroidal component, the host galaxy (HG), and an extended disk made up by gas, stars and dust, which orbits nearly perpendicular to the plane of the central galaxy. The existence of two decoupled components of the angular momentum let this object the ideal laboratory i) to study gravitational interactions and merging and ii) to constrain the 3D shape of its dark matter halo. In view of these applications, I will present two ongoing projects which aim to constrain i) the formation scenario for polar disks and ii) the dark halo content and shape, through a detailed analysis of the observed structure, metallicity and dynamics of NGC4650A.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in "Hunting for the Dark: The Hidden Side of Galaxy Formation", Malta, 19-23 Oct. 2009, eds. V.P. Debattista and C.C. Popescu, AIP Conf. Se

Great Leaders Fight for the Right Cause at the Wrong Time

Emilio Iodice examines a wealth of historical figures with the primary object of demonstrating how passion, commitment, and accountability are infused in the sayings and actions of great men and women; it is through their courage and sacrifice that we can all gain the necessary impetus to interject our own objectives and causes while honing our communicative skills

The End Of Tomorrow: Have We Lost Control? Do We Still Have Time To Stop The Inevitable? Soon We Will Know It\u27s All About Leadership

There are many varying aspects of desired leadership in business and in government: managerial competencies, policy-making aligned with the needs of all affected stakeholders, effective communication skills, and the infusion of ethics in all forms of decision-making. However, none command attention more than the ability to lead in a world where every eco-system is in decline and the health of the planet is dangerously threatened. It will be those leaders who understand the magnitude, science, and extreme importance of this issue who are in the highest demand and to whom we look to protect the progress made in human rights worldwide, to promote governance without oppression, and to advance prosperity in an equitable and sustainable manner

The Courage to Lead: The Leadership Legacies of American Presidents John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Theodore Roosevelt

Prolific writer Iodice chronicles the legacies of former American presidents John F. Kennedy and Theodore Roosevelt whose accomplishments, both domestic and international, shaped constituencies then and now. From the Panama Canal ― which opened up trade routes for global commerce — to the preservation of lands for environmental purposes and public enjoyment, to the enactment of civil rights legislation that would collectively create a template for future world leaders, Iodice emphasizes that these specific political icons blazed indelible trails

Lessons from History: The Startling Rise to Power of Benito Mussolini

Rome-based scholar Emilio Iodice examines the circumstances that precipitated the rise of dictator Benito Mussolini in 1920s’ Italy – xenophobia, cultural bigotry, harsh governing measures, a condemned media – and draws the conclusion that some of those same hallmark characteristics of that particular authoritarian government appear to exist in other parts of the world currently