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Sports are a popular and effective way to illustrate physics principles. Baseball in particular presents a number of opportunities to motivate student interest and teach concepts. Several articles have appeared in this journal on this topic, illustrating a wide variety of areas of physics. In addition, several websites and an entire book are available. In this paper we describe a student-designed project that illustrates the relative surface gravity on the Earth, Sun and other solar-system bodies using baseball. We describe the project and its results here as an example of a simple, fun, and student-driven use of baseball to illustrate an important physics principle.

Many military veterans struggle with substance abuse, homelessness, physical and emotional disabilities, disappointing work histories, and low income. A vocational rehabilitation program at a Veterans' Administration medical center, designed to help veterans with some of these struggles, is described here. Personnel work within the context of each individual's circumstances to instill a sense of hope and self-efficacy by helping them create a story about the future role of work in their lives. Veterans are provided four major services: career counseling, vocational testing and assessment, referral to other appropriate agencies, and case management and follow-up. The veterans in the program are predominantly male, ranging in age from early 20s to late 50s, and most have a high school diploma or equivalent degree. Over 40% are from ethnic minorities. They present a wide range of disabilities and diagnoses. Emphasis is placed on the past and present barriers to success in order to help each veteran create the most realistic plan possible. Work and career are viewed as existing in conjunction with family, friends, living arrangements, skills, personality, disabilities, likes, and dislikes. Vocational counselors try to address each of these concerns when counseling their clients. (RJM)