X Factor Auditions 2011 Live Feed Birmingham with Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos

The 2011 UK X factor is getting underway with auditions in Birmingham. X Factor judges Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland and N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos are in Birmingham for the first auditions of the next series. Cheryl Cole, who was axed from Simon Cowell's US version of the X Factor days after she started, is not returning.

This live feed is in Birmingham during the auditions:

Birmingham live feed

The X Factor is a television talent show franchise originating in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement forPop Idol. It is a singing competition, now held in various countries, which pits contestants against each other. These contestants are aspiring pop singers drawn from public auditions. The programs are produced by executive producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco TV. The "X Factor" of the title refers to the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality. The prize is usually a recording contract, in addition to the publicity that appearance in the later stages of the show itself generates, not only for the winner but also for other highly ranked contestants.

The format creator is Simon Cowell who also judges and mentors on the UK series. The UK version is responsible for the launch of the internationally successful singer Leona Lewis. As of May 2011, there have been 48 winners of The X Factor around the world. Television stations in many countries, but especially the Scandinavian ones, have expressed an interest in showing the UK version, but have not been able to acquire the rights. This is due to legal issues as the British version of the show is only available in the UK and Ireland. The X Factor has recently completed its seventh series.

Unlike Pop Idol, where contestants are solely judged by the judges, on The X Factor each judge mentors the finalists in a particular category, aiding them with song selection and styling, while also participating together in judging the contestants of the other categories.

Greek Parliament Web Cam Feed, Live at Syntagma Square Protest Camp, Athens

Taking their cue from protest encampments that have sprung up around Spanish cities such as the Puerto del Sol Square in Madrid and Catalunya Plaza Barcelona in the last fortnight, Greek demonstrators have set up tents and makeshift kitchens in Athens’ premier public square.

This live webcam stream is in Syntagma Square, Athens:

Syntagma Square Athens webcam

Location information:

Syntagma Square (Constitution Square), is located in central Athens, Greece. The Square is named after the Constitution that King Otto was forced to grant the people after a popular and military uprising, on September 3, 1843.

Syntagma Square entrance.The square proper is bordered by Vassileos Georgiou A' Street to the north, Othonos Street to the south, Filellinon Street to the west and Amalias Avenue to the east. The eastern side of the square is higher than the western, and dominated by a set of marble steps leading to Amalias Avenue; beneath these lies the Syntagma metro station. The stairs emerge below between a pair of outdoor cafes, and are a popular city-centre gathering place. Syntagma also includes two green areas to the north and south, planted with shade trees, while in the center of the square a large water fountain traditionally hosts the occasionally sighted Syntagma pigeons, along with heat-tormented Athenians during the summer.

Syntagma Square is also the frequent site of political demonstrations. The Greek Parliament is immediately across Amalias Avenue to the east, and surrounded by the extensive National Gardens, which are open to the public. Every hour, the changing of the guard ceremony, performed by the Presidential Guard, is conducted in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the area between the square and parliament. On Sundays and official holidays, the ceremonial changing of the guard takes place with an army band and the majority of the 120 Evzones present at 11am.

Shuttle Atlantis Final Mission Live Feed, Kennedy Space Center Web Cam Stream, Cape Canaveral

The Space Shuttle Atlantis was rolled out to the launch pad Tuesday 31 May 2011 for the last shuttle mission ever. As crews move Shuttle Atlantis, they're also preparing for Space Shuttle Endeavour to land at Kennedy Space Center.

This live feed is at the Kennedy Space Center for the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis:

Kennedy Space Center Live

Atlantis is targeted to launch July 8. The Space Shuttle Atlantis (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-104) is the last Space Shuttle orbiter in the Space Shuttle fleet belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the spaceflight and space exploration agency of the United States (the other operational Space Shuttle being Endeavour). The Atlantis was the fourth operational (and the next-to-the-last) Space Shuttle to be constructed by the Rockwell International company in Southern California, and it was delivered to the John F. Kennedy Space Center in eastern Florida in April 1985. Atlantis is the only orbiter which lacks the ability to draw power from the International Space Station while docked there; it must continue to provide its own power through fuel cells.

Atlantis is nearing retirement, with its last scheduled missions the contingent Launch on Need (LON) vehicle (STS-335) for Endeavour's final launch (STS-134), and STS-135, the last flight before the Shuttle program ends. This final flight was authorized by the President in October, 2010, to bring additional supplies to the International Space Station and take advantage of the processing performed for the Launch on Need mission, which will only be flown in the event that Endeavour's crew requires rescue. The 2011 federal budget, enacted on 15 April 2011, includes sufficient funds for NASA to fly the mission. As of 21 April 2011, NASA has yet to submit to Congress an operating plan, approval of which would cement funding, but this is considered a formality.

As of the completion of its 32nd flight (STS-132), Atlantis has orbited the Earth more than 4600 times, traveling over 120 million miles in space, or more than 500 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon. STS-135 will add an additional 5 million miles.

Cape Canaveral Webcam Feed Live at Kennedy Space Center as Space Shuttle Endeavour returns Home

As NASA prepared for the arrival of Endeavour, the shuttle Atlantis was rolled out to the launch pad for its final flight, set for July 8. Thousands of Kennedy Space Center workers and their families gathered to watch.

Cape Canaveral webcam

Location information:

The John F Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is the U.S. government installation that manages and operates America's astronaut launch facilities. Currently serving as the base for the country's three space shuttles, the NASA field center also conducts unmanned civilian launches from adjacent Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (operated by the 45th Space Wing). KSC has been the launch site for every U.S. human space flight since 1968. Its iconic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) is the fourth-largest structure in the world by volume.

Located on Merritt Island, Florida, the center is north-northwest of Cape Canaveral on the Atlantic Ocean, midway between Miami and Jacksonville. It is 34 miles (55 km) long and roughly 6 miles (10 km) wide, covering 219 square miles (570 km2). A total of 13,500 people worked at the center as of 2008.

STS-60 shuttle launch from Pad 39A on February 3, 1994All launch operations are conducted at Launch Complex 39 (LC-39), where the shuttle's major components (orbiter, external fuel tank and booster rockets) arrive, are stacked (mated) and checked out inside the VAB; then moved to Pad 39A for launch. Shuttles were also launched from adjoining Pad 39B until 2007, when it was modified for the 2009 Ares I-X launch. Both pads are on the ocean, 3 miles (5 km) east of the VAB. The Shuttle Landing Facility, among the longest runways in the world, is just to the north. From 1969–1972, LC-39 was the departure point for all six Apollo manned moon landing missions using the Saturn V, the largest and most powerful operational launch vehicle in history.