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|Posted: October 6, 2008
CU-Boulder launches new graduate program in optical sensing and imaging
|(Nanowerk News) A new graduate program in computational optical sensing and imaging is being established at the University of Colorado at Boulder this fall with the awarding of a $3.2 million, five-year grant from the National Science Foundation.
|The goal of the unique program is to educate the future workforce in the rapidly developing technologies of computational optics and address future research challenges in sensing and imaging. The NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship grant will be enhanced with university and industry matching funds to support as many as 20 students per year.
|The proliferation of sensing and imaging systems in consumer products such as cars, cell phones and home security systems, and in semiconductor manufacturing, military operations, space exploration and medical diagnostics is expected to place the program's graduates in high demand, according to electrical and computer engineering Professor Rafael Piestun.
|Piestun will direct the program with assistance from co-investigators Margaret Murnane of the department of physics and JILA, Gregory Beylkin of the department of applied mathematics and Andreas Hoenger of the department of molecular, cellular and developmental biology.
|Students will be recruited from the departments of physics, applied mathematics, electrical and computer engineering, and MCD biology to work with 15 participating faculty. Each student will receive full tuition, insurance and a $30,000 annual stipend to complete their Ph.D. dissertation and receive a certificate in computational optical imaging.
|The program's ties with industry and with Sandia National Labs and the National Institute of Standards and Technology will provide internship opportunities, research collaborations and other benefits.
|The CU-Boulder program is one of only 19 IGERT proposals funded nationwide this year.
|"The National Science Foundation funds less than 5 percent of IGERT proposals, so we are very pleased at the success our proposal has achieved," said Stein Sture, vice chancellor for research and dean of the Graduate School. "This support is testimony to the research and graduate educational excellence we have in optical engineering and sciences here at CU-Boulder."
|The development of high-resolution "nanoscopes" that can perform molecular imaging at the nanoscale, high-sensitivity 3-D tomography that can create images of very weak objects to advance tissue engineering research, and remote space-based sensing and imaging devices for detailed observation of Mars are some examples of where the technology is heading. The new systems incorporate optics, optoelectronics, signal processing and advanced mathematical algorithms.
|Colorado has a vibrant economy in optics, optical computing and photonics that includes more than 240 companies paying more than $1 billion in wages, according to the Colorado Photonics Industry Association.
|For more information about the Computational Optical Sensing and Imaging program, contact Piestun at 303-735-0894 or [email protected]
|Source: University of Colorado
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Introduction by Francis Cebedo:
Sonya Looney is a podium girl. No, not the one that kisses the dudes in the Tour de France Podium. She's the one that stands on top of the podium. Send her to a high mileage race with lots of climbing and she will kill it. She's not 110 lbs and always on a roadie diet either. She loves food, beer, coffee and all things that involve cycling. She will go up the highest peaks, do a cross race here and there and she will descend with the best of them. She will crush you with a smile.
She embodies what's good about mountain biking. She loves cycling and she loves life. She infects everyone around her as she seizes every day to reach new heights. Recently, she tackled the Yak Attack 10 day stage race in Tibet. We caught up with her as she got back from her adventure.
It's time for you to get to know her so here's some Q&A:
Who are you? What's your mtb specialty/core strength?
Sonya Looney, NM native, CO transplant, mountain junkie. My mountain speciality is ultra endurance events (100 milers, please) and stage racing. My favorite events are ones that have tons of singletrack. I seek out difficult events with adventure in mind!
What makes you tick? What makes you happy?
I'm generally a happy person. I'm the person you see in the grocery chuckling randomly. What really makes me happy is sunshine and being on trails in the mountains – especially high alpine. I'm driven by overcoming challenges and enabling others to try things(on the bike) that maybe they are intimidated to try.
How did last year go?
Last year was one of my best years! With my 2nd year of being selected to the Marathon Worlds team, getting the experience of trying a bunch of new events, and some unexpected results, it gave me the courage to dream bigger. So far, 2012 is off to a fantastic start.
What are your goals for this year?
I'm doing 4 stage races this year, and I would like to try to win them all! That's a tall order. It is also my goal to bring the experiences I have abroad back home and create an authentic experience for all my friends interested in what I'm doing. I'm also racing Leadville for the first time, and while the course does not entirely suit my strengths(road power), I want to overcome that, put up a strong fight and ride at my very best.
What exactly is the Nepal race and who goes there?
The race in Nepal is called the Yak Attack. It started as a 6 day stage race, but last year, was changed to be a 10 day stage race starting in Kathmandu and covering the Annapurna Circuit on a mountain bike. It's a non-profit event supporting Nepalese mountain biking. The race is capped at 30 or 40 riders due to permits and the remoteness of the event. They allowed 15 international competitors this year, and the remainder were very fast Nepalese racers. Prior to 2012, no woman had attempted or finished the 10 day distance. I'm proud to say that there were three females this year(USA, Canada, Japan) and we all finished. I was excited to be the first despite having to overcome a few difficulties, one being pretty major. The majority of the internationals were from the UK, with a few Aussies, and with Jeff Kerkove and I representing the US portion of the bunch. It's different from all the other stage races I've done because it involves a lot of hiking your bike, including carrying it on your back over the highest and longest pass on the Annapurna Circuit – Thorong La at 17,769′. Another difficult aspect is that you are only allowed 10 kg of gear for 60% of the event since a porter has to carry your stuff from village to village. The villages on the circuit are only accessible by foot or animal. There is very limited support on the race course as well, so there was a huge element of "roughing it." Wearing the same dirty chamois for days (you can't wash it or it'll freeze), cold showers, no heat in the buildings, and not having what you'd normally want to carry in a race in the form of extra clothes, spare parts, sports nutrition, etc. Jeff and I are very thankful for the support we received from Ergon to compete at this event. It really was an epic adventure and an experience I'll tell my grandkids…well, if I have any!
What was the decision process for doing the Nepal race? Anything else coming up like it?
Well, Jeff found the Yak Attack on facebook and won a competition to get a free entry. I stewed with jealousy until there was an offer for discounted entries for females to get some to come race. It was surreal that we were going to Nepal, to highest mountains in the world to ride our bikes. It still gives me goosebumps. It's the highest mountain bike race in the world.
After that, I googled the hardest stage races in the world and added those to my bucket list of events. I don't think any event can compare to the Yak Attack in that it's isolated and in a poor country. The Mongolia Bike Challenge is of interest to me. I'm also interested in going off and doing more adventure riding(not necessarily an organized race event) to placed off the beaten path, planning some routes never attempted by bike, and doing some adventure photography and videography. I would like to explore the possibilities there.
How did you train?
…with lots of clothes!! We left for the race at the end of February meaning that the months leading up to the event wer ein the dead of winter in Colorado. I did as much climbing as I could, and living in Boulder the perfect training ground. Each day of the race ended up being over 5000′ of climbing in about 20-30 miles. I rode up the steepest canyons (Sunshine and Magnolia) to the Peak to Peak Highway which sits above 9000′, and would absolutely freeze on the way back down. There were days my Garmin read 12F outside. I'd say I did climbing rides like this 4-5x a week and also did a 10 day training block encompassing 36,000′ of elevation gain and about 300 miles. I also did some hiking with my bike on the snow covered mountain bike trails and got some funny looks. I spent some time in the gym strengthening my upper body as well.
How did it go? How did it meet goals? What surprised you?
It went pretty well. The main goals were accomplished -to finish and to win. After 4 days, I noticed myself slowing down and I'm still not sure if it's because I got a brewing sinus infection or because I went to hard the first few days. I was disappointed in myself for slowing down, and it made it extra tough because I felt like crap on my bike! There was a day that was 15 miles and it was only 33% rideable. That day was probably the hardest 15 miles I've done! The biggest surprise was Thorong La Pass. I knew it'd be hard (we started at 4 AM) and it's only 3 miles to the top. The fast guys carry their bike up in 2.5 hours. I think it took me 3 hours. I thought I'd be my usual stoked self at the top, but I wasn't. I was freezing (a lot of people got frostbite!) I had 7 layers on and was still shivering with blue lips. I don't have my normal look in my photo at pass sign. I wish I would have held my bike overhead and smiled that I made it. Instead, my eyes are watery, my lips are blue, and I'm not smiling. I had no desire to have my bike next to me. I didn't enjoy being at almost 18,000′ and that was a surprise. I want to do it again to prove that I can be in a good mood up there! After that, it got worse with massive brake failure and losing over 2 hours in the GC. There was trash talking and racing against the guys, so that mattered. Fortunately, I didn't lose my overall lead in the women's race that day… We had a 9000′ descent, and I got to walk most of it.
What is your beer?
Mmm, just reading this sentence makes me want one! I really can't pick just one beer!!! Normally, I reach for IPAs, especially the imperials. A short list of some favorites: Marble Brewery Imperial Red (ABQ brewery, seasonal), Avery Maharaja IPA, Dry Dock Double IPA, Stone IPA, Dogfishead 90 minute… I also love stouts – especially now that Lefthand has the milk stout in a bottle with nitro!! I've also really been enjoying red wine. My favorite right now is Michael David Winery Earthquake Zin. Heaven!
Sonya's Yak Attack Race Report
Yak Attack Pre-Race & Stage 1 »
Yak Attack Stage 2 »
Yak Attack Stage 3 »
Yak Attack Stage 4 »
Yak Attack Stage 5 »
Yak Attack Stage 6 »
Yak Attack Stage 7 »
Yak Attack Rest Day »
Yak Attack Stage 8 »
Yak Attack Stage 9 »
Yak Attack Stage 10 »
Yak Attack Last Day in Nepal »
To follow Sonya on her Adventures:
@looneysonya on Twitter
She would like to thank her sponsors: Ergon, Topeak, Bear Peak Dental, Michael David Winery, El Pinto, FasCat Coaching


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Gardens of the Gulf
A mass coral spawning event is just one of many marvels at the Flower Garden Banks.
By Melissa Gaskill
The Jell-O blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico undulate like a shaken carpet, a few boats rising on swells that roll from one watery horizon to the other. From the surface, the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, roughly 110 miles from the Texas shore, looks no different than the miles of gulf surrounding it.
But on this August night, some 60 feet below, a frenzy of activity begins — a mass coral spawning, or simultaneous release of eggs and sperm into the water column by millions of coral organisms. First documented here in 1991, the phenomenon occurs annually between seven and 10 days after the full moon in August. Spawning times for individual species are extremely consistent, often predictable within a few minutes. With a single exception, each species has a unique window of time in which it and no other species spawns, the chain of reproductive events filling the water with clouds of particles from tiny round pearls to irregular blobs, rising above the reefs like slow-motion rain in reverse.
"The reef is typically very quiet at night, except on the night of the spawn," says Peter Vize, professor of biological sciences at University of Calgary in Canada, and lead author of a research paper on the event. "All of a sudden, a large percentage of one species starts blowing out these giant clouds. When that species is finished, they all shut down and there is a little gap, then the next species goes off. It is an incredible transition over hours of crazed activity, quiescence and back to crazed activity, until after midnight. It is so intense that the water gets murky, and in a good year, the entire surface of the ocean is covered by a slick."
Three factors trigger the activity: water temperature cycles, phases of the moon and time of sunset. While research suggests that water temperature sets the month, moon phase the day and sunset the hour, scientists don't know how coral can tell water temperature, phase of the moon or time of day, Vize says. There are good reasons, though, for them to do so.
"Eggs and sperm have a limited life span, so fertilization has to happen within a limited window," says Vize. "In the ocean you also have diluting effects, and currents and waves carry things off, so if a coral spawns more than half an hour off from its reef-mates, it won't have much chance of reproducing. "As different species of coral developed, the triggers for spawning couldn't change much if the species was to survive, ultimately producing this chain reaction — which also occurs on coral reefs throughout the Caribbean and on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. A number of other Flower Garden Banks residents, including fish, brittle stars, sponges and Christmas tree worms, join in the reproductive frenzy. One advantage to piggy-backing on the coral's show could be protection from predation. With such a lavish buffet served all at once, predators fill up and simply can't eat it all.
The Reef Ccosystem
The frequency and volume of the annual spawning event are important indicators of the robust health of this reef ecosystem, according to Emma Hickerson, research coordinator for the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary is actually three separate areas taking in the northernmost coral reefs in the continental United States. The 100-acre West Flower Garden Bank and 250-acre East Flower Garden Bank grow on the caps of salt domes rising from the gulf floor 450 feet below and include some 21 species of coral. Stetson Bank, 30 miles closer to shore, is a 1,500-foot-long ridge of pinnacles jutting from the sea bottom, populated by fire coral and sponges. The closest coral neighbors lie off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, 400 miles away and the likely source of polyps that initially populated the Flower Garden Banks, and the Florida Keys, 750 miles distant.
These sessile inhabitants of the Flower Garden Banks — corals, algae and sponges — provide habitat, protection and food for a vibrant community of mobile creatures, including worms, crabs, shellfish, sea urchins, at least 280 species of fish, 20 of sharks and rays, loggerhead and hawksbill sea turtles, marine mammals and birds. Large schools of jacks congregate here. Surveys also indicate that this is important habitat for spawning aggregations of grouper and for juvenile red snapper. And while many reefs in the world are more diverse, the Flower Garden Banks are a healthy, well-populated marine environment that plays a vital role in the larger ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico.
Threats to the Flower Garden Banks
Data have been collected on the Flower Garden Banks since the 1970s. One of the most sensitive biological communities in the gulf, its exceptionally good condition is largely thanks to geography. A northern location in waters cooler than most reefs offers protection from common coral diseases, and its remoteness reduces some other threats. The sanctuary is not, however, completely immune to damage. It is near oil and gas operations and shipping lanes and is affected by outflow from the Mississippi River basin, which carries runoff from cities, industry and agricultural operations in roughly two-thirds of the United States. A major oil spill in the gulf could have drastic effects, as could discharge of pollutants from ships.
Coral reefs globally are in decline due to disease, pollution, increased extraction and increased use, Hickerson says. "In comparison, the coral reefs of the Flower Garden Banks are very healthy, evidenced by high coral cover of between 50 to 70 percent. However, warning signs of declining health have been observed."
The principal threats to the Flower Garden Banks are climate change, pollution and fishing, says Jack Sobel, Ocean Conservancy senior scientist. Any type of stress, even slight changes in water temperature, can cause coral polyps to bleach, or expel their symbiotic algae. Without the photosynthetic algae, taking in enough food is difficult for coral and they usually die. Hickerson reports that temporarily elevated temperatures were documented at the Flower Garden Banks in association with a bleaching event in 2005, with 45 percent of coral in the sanctuary affected. Once temperatures returned to normal, the majority of bleached coral recovered. But that year, Hurricane Rita caused serious mechanical damage to the reef, tumbling coral boulders, causing loss of large barrel sponges and flattening fields of delicate finger coral. For the past four years, Hickerson and her colleagues also have been studying a condition suspected to be coral disease.
An invasive coral native to the Indo-Pacific was documented at the East Bank in 2002. Likely brought in on a ship's hull or discharged in ballast water, the species is common on oil and gas platforms in the gulf, which played a role in its spread. Invasives can upset the balance of delicate ecosystems like coral reefs.
Recreational scuba divers are the largest user group in the sanctuary, with around 3,000 divers visiting each year. Potential negative impacts of this activity include sound from boat engines and generators, light from underwater photography and the introduction of pathogens from other dive sites carried on diving equipment such as wet suits. Coral reefs in other parts of the world have suffered ill effects from increased recreational use.
Helping the Reefs
The Flower Garden Banks NMS is one of 14 underwater areas protected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Sanctuary Act. Eight full-time employees, based in Galveston, monitor the health of the reef and manage activities that can affect it. Marine sanctuary designation provides certain protections, with regulations prohibiting taking or injuring coral or coral reef organisms, discharging pollutants or disturbing the sea floor in the sanctuary. Oil and gas exploration and development are prohibited in "no activity" zones, but these do not include all of the sanctuary. Anchoring is also prohibited; one boat anchor can destroy thousands of years of reef growth in minutes. Spearfishing and trawling are prohibited, but conventional hook-and-line fishing is still allowed.
A Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program has created 30 artificial reefs, mainly from obsolete oil and gas platforms, between Stetson and the East and West Banks. These provide additional habitat that may take some of the fishing pressure off the banks, says John Embesi, diving safety officer of the TPWD Artificial Reef Program.
Protection would be greatly enhanced by additional restrictions, Sobel says, including prohibiting the taking of anything from the area. But enforcement of even existing regulations is difficult in an area located between 70 and 110 miles from shore and with limited staff.
Activities outside the sanctuary boundaries affect the reefs as well. "Through satellite imagery, use of tracking devices and anecdotal observations of freshwater vegetation floating near the sanctuary, it is generally accepted that freshwater from shore reaches far offshore," Hickerson says. Analysis by Kenneth Dunton, professor at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, confirms ties between estuarine sources and the Flower Garden and Stetson Banks, with Stetson showing a higher connection. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, satellite imagery clearly showed plumes of discolored water extending from the shoreline to the Flower Garden and beyond.
"Coral reefs are groups of organisms that live and work almost as a single system." Sobel says. "Having all the parts of that system in place and intact makes them much more resistant to pollution, climate change and other issues, and we have good science to back that up.
"We need to protect the area surrounding the sanctuary as well," he says, "including other reefs and hard bottom areas that attract the same life." Boundary expansion is, in fact, one of six priority issues identified by sanctuary staff and members of the sanctuary advisory council. Currently, staff is developing a list of nominated sites to be considered for inclusion. The other priority issues are law enforcement, education and outreach, and the impacts of fishing, pollutant discharge and visitor use.
"The banks are little storehouses of biodiversity, key areas that sustain and replenish the gulf as a whole, even though they take up a relatively small area," Sobel says. "They are truly the jewels of the gulf." Jewels that need protection, for the enjoyment of future generations and the overall health of the Gulf of Mexico.
Year of the Reef
The year 2008 is International Year of the Reef, a worldwide campaign by the International Coral Reef Initiative to raise awareness about the importance of coral reefs and the things that threaten them, and to motivate people to take action. Coral reefs, often called the rainforests of the sea, are some of the oldest and most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Reefs provide resources and services — from food to storm protection, medicine and recreational opportunities — worth an estimated $375 billion a year, even though they cover less than one percent of the earth's surface.
According to Status of the Coral Reefs of the World: 2004 (published by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and the International Coral Reef Initiative), 70 percent of the world's reefs are threatened or destroyed, 20 percent of those damaged beyond repair. In the Caribbean alone, many reefs have lost 80 percent of their coral species. Individuals can help protect coral reefs without ever leaving land, though.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coral Reef Conservation Program offers a number of ways, including ensuring that sewage from boats and homes is properly treated, avoiding use of pesticides and fertilizers (even if you live thousands of miles away), buying marine life for aquariums only from suppliers that collect in an ecologically sound manner, recycling and conserving water. Those who visit reefs can help by supporting reef-friendly businesses, hiring local guides and never touching coral or anchoring on a reef. Find more information at <iyor.org>.


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Los Angeles: Sky's Gourmet Tacos Aren't Exactly What You'd Expect
In Los Angeles, there is no sanctity in food. This town invented the Korean BBQ taco, the sushi burger, and all sorts of wacky pizza concoctions along the way. So it should come as no surprise that Sky's Gourmet Tacos, a Mid-City sit down spot with a soul food bent and one hell of a great lemonade, serves up some of the tastiest and most inauthentic tacos in this part of town.
For any hardcore taco aficionado, reading the menu at Sky's should elicit more than a few chuckles. Beyond the extensive vegan options and the cheesecakes sold by the slice, chef/owner Barbara Burrell liberally tosses around words like filet mignon, crawfish and ground turkey on her hanging menu. There's even something called Sky's Sassy Sauce (more on that later).
The "famous" tacos themselves are large-fisted affairs, complete with double-stacked corn tortillas, warmed on the griddle. But when paired with a fish option they turn up fried and dusted with spices plus a touch of cornmeal, resulting in a crunchy, almost gritty, oily first bite. Your choice of meat is layered on, and then the whole operation is overwhelmed with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and a nice toss of shredded yellow cheddar. The salsa (or should I say, Sky's Sassy Sauce) is splashed liberally across the middle in spurted, chunky blasts. This isn't the deeply smoky achiote salsa rojas you'll find on some of the better trucks around town, but it's not "This Stuff's Made in New York City," either.
The protein options at Sky's are a lesson in pure multiculturalism. Filet mignon, that sought-after cut of beef in high-end steakhouses from the Palisades to Downtown, rarely makes an appearance on your local taqueria menu board. Shrimp and even lobster certainly aren't unheard of south of the border (or over at Ricky's Fish Tacos), but a crawfish taco evokes a sense of deep Southern cooking. The simply-labeled beef and turkey come ground up in a bath of "taco seasoning"-style flavors. A little bit of chili powder, a touch of cumin, and a lot of salt. This is the middle American, premade taco four-pack portion of the Sky's Gourmet Tacos menu. Plus that Sky's Sassy Sauce, with its light sweetness and undeniable tinge of heat. Add some in with your beans and rice and you've got a whole lot of Caribbean flare on one plate.
The great part is, nearly everything here works. It's a unique combination of fusions across disciplines, but the ground beef taco is a moist, cheesy, over-spiced reminder of growing up in a town without Mexican options. The tilapia, served in one long strip after spending some time over a grill, is soft and airy. With a lemon wedge for squeezing and a lemonade for drinking, this is one of the best summer tacos you're likely to come across.
Then, there's the lobster. It's an utterly new beast, battered and fried to golden brown, then wrapped in its own fried tortilla that's been dipped with spices beforehand. Add a handful of yellow cheese and a dash of diced tomatoes for a rich, almost creamy taco that is warm and fresh and really magnificent. It's also—dare I say—a lot better than the more authentic lobster taco Ricky will serve you from his outdoor frying operation.
By now it should come as no surprise, but the only real dud of the bunch is the carnitas, a hearty attempt to tackle the porky Mexican staple. Instead of deep flavors that explode in your mouth with each succulent bite, this carnitas is largely bland, only slightly helped along by a limp pico de gallo. But that's alright; Sky's Gourmet Tacos is not the place to find your true Mexican corazon. No, this is a different spot altogether, a mix and mash of almost all the Pico Boulevard cultures surrounding Barbara Burrell's glass storefront. But with ample outdoor seating and one of the best lemonades in the city, fresh from a mason jar, you'll find yourself falling in love with just about any taco that slides your way.
Sky's Gourmet Tacos 5408 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90019 (map) 323-932-6253; skysgourmettacos.com


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Louis Vuitton
The brand's latest presentation was held at the TWA Flight Center.
Founded in 1854, Louis Vuitton is one of the oldest and most prestigious fashion brands in the world and is most famous for its logo bags and suitcasesLV covetable classics. The French luxury house appointed Marc Jacobs as creative director in 1997, and since then, Jacobs has brought new energy to the venerable brand with fabulous, Parisian-feeling ready-to-wear and irresistible handbags and shoesthink metallics, animal prints, and lots and lots of embellishment. In recent collections, standout ready-to-wear pieces have included flirty skirts, wide-leg pants, and glittery sweaters. It was Jacobs who orchestrated Louis Vuitton's highly successful collaborations with artists like Stephen Sprouse (with the limited-edition collection of graffiti-scribbled bags) and Takashi Murakami, by way of the Multicolor Monogram and Cherry Blossom patterns, which festooned select Louis Vuitton pieces.


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The City of Vancouver is planning a new building bylaw that, for the first time in Canada, will require all new homes to be adaptable for seniors and people with disabilities.
The city wants all new single-family, townhouse and laneway homes to meet minimum accessibility standards.
Mandatory features could include wider doors, hallways and stairs, lever handles on all doors and plumbing fixtures, and electrical receptacles higher on walls.
The city is also doing an 18-month study of the feasibility of insisting new homes have at least one exterior doorway with direct access to the ground without stairs.
The changes, if adopted by council next week, would come into effect in March 2014.
They are part of a much wider revision of the city's building bylaw that is supposed to reduce red tape, standardize unwritten building practices already used by builders, and set more ambitious goals for fire safety, energy conservation and sustainability.
Many amendments to Vancouver's building bylaw in recent years have been aimed at multi-unit condominium, rental and commercial buildings. But in a report going to city council next week, chief building inspector Will Johnston said it's time new single-family homes, townhouses, secondary suites and even stacked townhouses be made adaptable for seniors and those with mobility issues. The proposed changes would include construction methods that would allow for easy and less-costly retrofitting to allow people to age in their homes.
Johnston said Vancouver has often led the country in modernizing minimum building requirements. The changes have often been later adopted in the B.C. Building Code and the National Building Code.
"When I look at the changes that we are proposing and recommending council adopt, they are very simple, modest provisions that you can put into a home at time of construction that don't, in my mind, have a significant impact on construction," he said.
Johnston said his department consulted with the building industry, including architects, engineers and home builders and pulled back on some proposals.
He said, for example, that the city wanted even wider doorways and halls than being proposed, but scaled back the provisions on the advice of builders.
Among the changes the city wants to make:
• Widening hallways to 900 millimetres, or 35.4 inches.
• Widening doorways to 800 millimetres, or 31.5 inches.
• Widening stairways to 915 millimetres, or 36 inches, to allow for mechanical lifts.
• Two peep holes in front doors, one at wheelchair height.
• Lever handles on all plumbing fixtures.
• Lever handles on all doors.
• Wheelchair-accessible building controls, such as thermostats
• Require a bathroom on the lowest inhabitable level of a home.
• Wall reinforcements for bathroom grab bars to be added in future.
• Modified bathtub plumbing to allow for future replacement of tubs with easy entry shower stalls.
• Electrical receptacles raised higher on walls.
Johnston said the changes may look formidable, but they don't involve retooling of the construction industry. He said, for example, the bylaw currently allows a minimum door width of 24 inches, but the construction industry mostly uses 32-inch doors.
Similarly, lever handles and faucets are already required in all new multi-residential construction.
The report to council says the proposed bylaw changes would add construction costs of anywhere between $660 a unit in high- and mid-rise buildings, to a high of $6,100 for single-family homes. For houses, the lion's share of that cost comes from new demands for energy and water conservation. The cost of making homes more adaptable for seniors and disabled people is more modest, in the range of $480 for high- and mid-rise buildings, to $685 for single family homes.
But the homebuilding industry questions those estimates.
Bob de Wit, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association, which represents the region's construction industry, said the new building bylaw would add significantly to the cost of a new home for homebuyers.
"For new single family construction, it's between $5,000 and $10,000," said de Wit. "That's about one to two per cent of the cost of the house. It doesn't sound like much, but at the margin it's significant for sure."
De Wit said he's surprised the new bylaw is going ahead because the city consulted his group, which raised its concerns about extra cost for homebuyers.
"I'm surprised to see it go this far. My sense was that staff understood the added costs it would introduce."
Making homes more accessible is understandable, he said, but there are other factors to consider.
"Right now prices are getting high enough that people are looking for any way to make it affordable to live in Vancouver, whether its adding a laneway home, or a basement suite or whatever. Adding 10 grand is another 10 grand that could crowd some people out of the market," he said.


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pinMode(11, OUTPUT); pinMode(12, OUTPUT); pinMode(13, OUTPUT); parallel do loop do digitalWrite(11, HIGH); await 1s; digitalWrite(11, LOW); await 1s; end with loop do digitalWrite(12, HIGH); await 500ms; digitalWrite(12, LOW); await 500ms; end with loop do digitalWrite(13, HIGH); await 250ms; digitalWrite(13, LOW); await 250ms; end end
Looks interesting, vaguely occam-like.
This looks very interesting. Noob question though: when you use Céu can you use the regular C alongside it? Or is it one or the other but not both?
_digitalWrite(13, _abs(v));
C do int my_abs (int v) { if (v >= 0) return v; else return -v; }end_digitalWrite(13, _my_abs(10));
Very interesting language. Thanks for developing it! I am working on ArduBlock and I am going to take a look at this to see if we can use it as the backend language. I like the parallel construct which is something I have been thinking about doing with the ArduBlock block language.
There's nothing wrong with the RTOSes and the example implementations: the behavior shown in the videos is perfectly valid.
An obvious solution is to write something like this:Code: [Select]msg_t my_thread(void *param) { while (TRUE) { do_something(); chThdSleepMilliseconds(1000); /* Fixed interval.*/ }}This example works well assuming that the do_something() execution time is well below the system tick period and that my_thread() is not preempted by other threads that could insert long intervals.If the above conditions are not satisfied you may have do_something() executed at irregular intervals, for example:T0…T0+1000…T0+2002…T0+3002…T0+4005…Also note that the error increases over time and this kind of behavior can lead to anomalies really hard to debug.
msg_t my_thread(void *param) { while (TRUE) { do_something(); chThdSleepMilliseconds(1000); /* Fixed interval.*/ }}


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Editor's note: This week, Environmental Health Perspectives selected this trio of studies for its 2012 "Paper of the year" award. EHP notes that the importance of the research to understanding the "alterations of cognitive function following developmental exposure to environmental chemicals." Congratulations to the study authors from all of us at PAN. We are reposting our original coverage of these studies below.
School-age children have lower IQs when their mother's are exposed to pesticides during pregnancy. This is the conclusion of 3 independent studies released today in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
Looking at nearly 800 children from California and New York, the studies each found that maternal exposure to certain common pesticides during pregnancy predicts lower IQ, poorer working memory and perceptual reasoning. In other words, kids exposed to low levels of pesticides in utero face significant cognitive impairment later in life.
Today's studies confirm in dramatic fashion a long line of research linking pesticide exposure during critical developmental windows to children's health harms:
- Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphates, Paraoxonase 1, and Cognitive Development in Childhood"
- Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticides and IQ in 7-Year-Old Children"
- 7-Year Neurodevelopmental Scores and Prenatal Exposure to Chlorpyrifos, a Common Agricultural Pesticide"
These new findings come on the heels of last month's study showing that mice — particularly females — exposed to the pesticide chlorpyrifos in the womb were slow learners. Last year, an explosive study out of Montreal and Harvard linked exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides in food to increased incidence of ADHD.
Among the most acutely toxic pesticides, OP pesticides are classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as highly or moderately toxic. This common class of neurotoxic insecticides has been in use since the 1940s, when they were first developed. PAN has long been active working to restrict the use of OPs, pressing hard for the full phaseout of chlorpyrifos, which has been banned for home use for many years because of it's danger to children but is still allowed in agricultural fields. Children of farmworkers and children in agricultural areas are thus among the most exposed to OPs, but as the New York study confirms, urban children are also at risk.
This last batch of studies all used similar methods. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and Mount Sinai School of Medicine measured OP pesticide markers in pregnant women's urine, while investigators at Columbia University measured the OP pesticide chlorpyrifos in umbilical cord blood. Mount Sinai administered intelligence tests to children between 6 and 9 years; Berkeley and Columbia tested 7-year-old children.
The fact that the studies all documented similar reductions in cognitive function makes the findings particularly strong. "As a group, these papers add substantial weight to the evidence linking OP pesticides with adverse effects on cognitive development by simultaneously reporting consistent findings for three different groups of children," said Environmental Health Perspectives Editor-in-Chief Hugh A. Tilson in a press release from the journal.
Learn More » PAN's What's On My Food? database shows which pesticides are found on what foods, and cross-references this data with toxicological profiling. Here you can find a list of foods with chlorpyrifos (on OP) on them. Yes, even after washing.
I definitely agree as our Bees in US have been exposed to neonicotinoid pesticides since 1997 and massive bee die-offs continue throughout U.S. since the massive introduction of neonicotinoid pesticide increased in 2000 and these directly effect the neurology of insects. Bees are a huge INDICATOR SPECIES that there is SOMETHING WRONG with the environment and if bees are losing out after feeding on pollen poisoned by neonicotinoids like imidacloprid or clothianidin, I feel that there is a link to our food. I believe that we are bioaccumulating these systemic pesticides in our bodies and the evidence of a link is unfortunately being seen our children getting mental disorders. We need to ban these from USA, check out the petition I started :http://www.change.org/petitions/help-bees-ban-imidacloprid-and-other-neonicotinoid-pesticides#signatures


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Robert Costa reports that, according to senior Republican Senate aides, the tax side of the fiscal-cliff deal has been finalized. The basic framework is as follows:
— Current tax rates would be permanently extended for singles making $400,000 or below, and permanently extended for couples making $450,000 or below;
— For singles, capital gains and dividends of $400,000 or below would be permanently taxed at 15 percent; capital gains and dividends above $400,000 would be permanently taxed at 20 percent;
— For couples, capital gains and dividends of $450,000 or below would be permanently taxed at 15 percent; capital gains and dividends above $450,000 would be taxed at 20 percent;
— The Alternative Minimum Tax would be permanently patched;
— Estates over $5 million would be taxed at 40 percent, and that tax rate would be permanently extended.
The word "permanently" looks nice, but, of course, it actually means "until the Democrats sufficiently increase their power in Congress."
Still, this isn't a bad deal on the tax side. However, there doesn't appear to be anything meaningful on the spending reduction side.
That's probably okay too as long as the sequestration remains in place. As I have said before, going over half of the fiscal cliff — the spending part — isn't a bad outcome.
But the Democrats reportedly are trying to get out from under the sequestration, at least for a year, and there's the rub. Even without the sequestration, Republicans could still negotiate cuts in exchange for raising the debt-ceiling. But this overlooks the draconian consequences of a default on the U.S. debt. Republicans will be as reluctant to be blamed for a default as they are now to be blamed for a middle class tax increase.
The sequestration was designed to be as draconian as raising taxes and defaulting, but it isn't. Spending cuts are what Republicans want. They should be part of our future and, unfortunately, that includes cuts in defense spending. Ideally, spending cuts would be far better-crafted than the ones in the "cliff" package. But we're a long way past being in a position to measure things against the ideal.
Republicans should insist that, absent concrete spending cuts that improve the cliff package, the sequestration remain front and center, not something to deal with in a year.


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True Blood
This is the only nomination for HBO's vampire bloodbath, which is the hottest thing going on television right now. Plenty of people call "True Blood" their favorite show. But at the end of the day (or night) it's a show about vampires which brings all sorts of connotations that affect this category. Does a blood-filled cover of Rolling Stone and a lot of chatter equal an award win? Not this year. If True Blood goes home with the crown, I'll drink a bottle of true ketchup. Odds of winning: 12 to 1.
However fantastic Michael C. Hall is in this beloved Showtime thriller, the Best Drama Category carries some serious gravitas. And sometimes this show's flimsy production values get in the way of serious consideration (even if they don't turn off the loyal). Odds of winning: 8 to 1.
The Good Wife
I don't understand what the fuss is about this show, which seems like a well-written and well-acted drama that normally wouldn't rise above everyday chatter. But this is one show that seems to be in step with a lot of Academy voters, for whatever reason. So who knows what it can pull off. I just don't think (and hope) it will this year. Odds of winning: 6 to 1.
J.J. Abrams stepped on the pedal this season and never let off the gas. When a television show ending becomes a national event (see The Sopranos), you have to look out for it at the awards show. If "Lost" starts sweeping everything, look out. But there is a school of thought -- a good school of thought -- that the Emmy nomination will be enough of a big wet kiss for the fan favorite. The show was never an Academy pet. Saying goodbye only gets you so far. Odds of winning 4 to 1.
Breaking Bad
However satisfying this drama series, however passionate the supporters, it just doesn't have the juice to make it to the stop spot. Look out if voters feel like Mad Men has had enough with the metal. It's a great dark horse. Odds of winning: 3 to 1
Mad Men
"Mad Men" is like that stellar student in class who always takes abuse from the teacher because the teacher EXPECTS so much. While the teacher might criticize, deep inside there is enormous affection and hope. In this case the constant "Mad Men" carping is for a show that is so ambitious, so well-written and, well, so good looking that you expect nothing but the best even in the off-episode. And when it doesn't come, we've learned to grumble in season 3. But come award time, you have to give it to the most worthy. Odds of winning 2 to 1.


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Part of the highly respected HSS Hire Group, HSS Training is the company division dedicated to developing and delivering health and safety training across a range of specialist areas. Operating across the UK and Ireland, HSS Training offers 200+ accredited...
Find out more about this Competent Person Practical Inspection and Record Keeping (MOD 7) course - simply fill out your details:
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Privacy Policy
Your data is incredibly important to you and to us. Caprice Holdings uses and stores your data for fulfilling a contract with you to manage your event or private dining, and/or for marketing with your consent. You may withdraw consent for marketing at any time.
What do we collect?
To enable us to manage your reservation we will ask you to provide personal details such as:
- Name
- Email address
- Address
- Telephone number
- Payment details
- Guest names
For marketing we collect
- Name
- Email address
- Postcode
What do we do with your data?
Caprice Holdings will never pass or sell your data outside the Group of companies (The Ivy Collection, Harry's and Events and Private Dining) except where a third party requires the data to provide communications as part of our normal service.
We use cookies on our website – partly to provide basic web services and partly to help us monitor and track website usage through Google Analytics and Hotjar.
If you decide you can choose to Opt In to marketing information to hear more about our new openings, events and seasonal offers.
Your Rights
You have the right to have inaccurate personal data rectified or removed – if you would like to do so please contact us on firstname.lastname@example.com
You have the right to stop marketing at any time. You can just click Unsubscribe on any email you are sent or let us know at any time by sending an email to firstname.lastname@example.com
Private Dining Rooms
As part of our services and to help you as much as possible in organising your event, when enquiring about one of our private dining room, we will send you at least one email either to invite you to a showcase or to present you with other options available across our business. If you no longer wish to receive emails from us, you can unsubscribe at any time using the button "Unsubscribe" at the bottom of any of our email or by emailing email@example.com.
When enquiring about one of our Private Dining Rooms, your details will be kept for a maximum during of two years after which they will be deleted from all our system if you have not interacted* with the company during this period. We will keep your data secure, and of course would never sell or share data.
*An interaction with the company is considered as opening one of our emails, clicking on one of our emails, enquiring about one of our private dining rooms or booking a private dining room with us.
Gift Vouchers
Caprice Holdings Ltd uses a trusted 3rd party provider, GiftPro Limited, to manage the payment and fulfilment processes of purchasing one of its vouchers.
By placing your order you are providing us with Personally Identifiable Information (PII) which we will only use for the following purposes:
- Fulfilling your order and, if for the benefit of someone else, communicating it to them.
- Collecting payment from you (which involves giving some of your PII to the payment processing provider).
- If you provide consent, sending you marketing communications.
- Statistical analysis.
We do not need your specific consent for that as that processing is necessary if we are to fulfil our contractual obligations to you. We have a legitimate interest in using your data for statistical analysis.
If you have consented to us using your PII for marketing purposes, we will cease using it for that purpose if you withdraw that consent by informing us using the contact details set out above, or by unsubscribing from our emails.
You also have the right at any time to ask us what PII of yours we hold, to have it corrected if incorrect and to object to the way in which we use it. To request for your data to be removed from our system, please click here. To request for your data to be removed from the Gift pro system, please click here.
When you place an order, payment is collected online and you are providing the payment data directly to our payment processing provider. We do not see or hold your full card payment details.
How secure is your data?
The Caprice Holdings team employs a wide variety of security measures to back up, protect and manage your data. We undertake to secure your data as much as possible using up to date technology and robust policies and processes.
26-28 Conway Street, London W1T 6BQ


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Now Hiring: Goodyear Has Multiple Positions To Fill In DFW AreaThe company's Commercial Tire and Service Division located in Irving is looking to hire for many different positions.
Adjustments Made After Too Many Rockwall ISD Families Choose In-Person Learning For Their KidsThe families of 68% of Rockwall ISD students have chosen to have them go back to the classroom. That's too many to meet social distancing guidelines.
Ones For Wellness Looks At 'Pandemic Fatigue'Experts say to try new things and focus on activities that calm you.
Plano Police: Series Of Aggravated Robberies With Mostly Hispanic Victims Could Be RelatedInvestigators with the Plano Police Department are working with several other law enforcement agencies trying to determine if a series of aggravated robberies are related. Katie Johnston reports.
Texas Widow Blames President Trump, Gov. Abbott In Obituary For Husband's Coronavirus Death: 'Shame On All Of You'The widow of a Texas man who died of COVID-19, blamed President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott in her husband's obituary for his "needless death." Katie Johnston reports.
Dallas Mayor Addresses Rise In Violent CrimeDallas Mayor Eric Johnson Addresses Rise In Violent Crime, Says The City Is Moving In The Wrong Direction
DFW Author Of "This Girl's Got Grit"Interview With DFW Author Felicia Flewelling On Her Book "This Girls's Got Grit"
Tuesday Weather UpdatePlenty of sunshine. High 93F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Houston Mayor Tells Police To Fine People Not Wearing MasksIn Houston, failure to wear a face mask could cost you.
Texas Family In Group Of 36 On Hot Air Balloons That Crashed In WyomingTwelve people were hospitalized in Wyoming on Monday after several hot air balloons crashed to the ground, officials said. Katie Johnston reports.
CBS 11 News Now: Tuesday MorningCheck out what's making the headlines across North Texas this Tuesday morning.
Some North Texas Students Going Back To School TodaySome North Texas Students Going Back To School Today
AM Weather Update With Anne Elise ParksAM Weather Update With Anne Elise Parks
Much Hotter Temps Later In The WeekExpect highs in the low to mid-90s the next couple of days.
Thermal Cameras Used To Spot Fevers Have 'Major Limitations' And Often Not Accurate, I-Team FindsAn independent video surveillance research group recently tested more than 20 thermal camera systems and found most failed to live up to the hype.
Hospitals Create Back-To-School Guide During PandemicCBS 11's Brooke Katz reports.
Keller ISD School Board Pushes Start Of School Back 1 Week To August 26Parents still have the option to send their children back to the classroom or have them learn online.
Tributes For Rockwall Police Officer Who Died Of CoronavirusRockwall Police Officer Tracy Gaines passed away early Monday morning due to complications from COVID-19
Monday Evening News BriefHere's what made news Monday, August 3.
As New Coronavirus Cases Drop In Texas, Doctors Urge Residents To Get Flu Shot This FallThe precautions people are taking to prevent getting COVID-19 could also decrease the number of flu cases this fall.
Governor Greg Abbott Discusses Back To School, Coronavirus Response And Wearing MasksGov. Abbott said he does not think Texans will need to wear masks for the rest of 2020.
Organizer For 'Back The Blue' Cruise Responds To Church AccusationsThe organizer of yesterday's "Back the Blue" cruise is speaking out — saying it wasn't meant to cause harm.
North Texas Arts Groups Asking Congress For SOSThe push comes days after Texas Senator John Cornyn and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar introduced a bipartisan bill to provide massive relief to the struggling industry.
Somber Anniversary: 1 Year Since Deadly Massacre At El Paso WalmartThere was a service for the families of the victims, but the gathering was closed to the public.


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The Expendables 2, the Simon West-directed sequel to The Expendables, appeared at the end of the opening day of Comic-Con 2012. They opened the panel with the previously released trailer for the film, before Sylvester Stallone himself took the stage (to a "Rocky, Rocky!" chant). He was soon joined by other members of his cast, setting the Guinness world record for most testosterone ever on stage at one time. The Expendables 2, also starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis, Liam Hemsworth, Terry Crews, Jean Claude Van Damme, Scott Adkins, Charisma Carpenter, Yu Nan and Randy Couture opens August 17th. Hit the jump to check out the rest of the panel and make sure to click here for all of our continuing Comic-Con coverage.
As Stallone took the stage, the crowd welcomed him with thunderous applause. Then, they screened a series of clips taken from Stallone's career that spanned the Rocky franchise, the Rambo franchise, as well as Copland, Demolition Man and so much Cliffhanger. Stallone once again called for some "male pattern badness" as a throwback to the good old fashioned ass-kicking action movies of the 80s.
He also talked about the tone of the sequel as compared to the original and the difficulties in showcasing the personalities of the action-filled ensemble cast. Stallone quipped that there's simply no time for a backstory since they strive to keep the momentum moving forward. The Expendables experience helped allow him to set the tone and amplify it for the sequel. Stallone says that he's certainly surpassed the first film.
Couture, Crews and Lundgren also joined Stallone on stage. The audience was then treated to a clip montage of Arnold Schwarzenegger's career before the Governator himself took the stage. (To be honest, I love Stallone but Schwarzenegger's film reel blows his out of the water, in my opinion.) Schwarzenegger also said that he's killed 289 people on screen while Stallone only killed 288 people, so he wins. He went on to talk about being welcomed back to the action scene after taking some time out for political life. He was happy to find that he could jump back into the action with little preparation from his co-stars.
Crews then went on to talk about working with veteran action stars such as Stallone and Schwarzenegger and compared it to his time in the NFL. Schwarzenegger commented Crews on his muscle gains to the delight of the crowd. Couture then talked about moving from the MMA into legitimate acting. Lundgren talked about punching Stallone so hard that a helicopter had to fly him off to a hospital. Stallone said that the punch was so bad, that the hospital techs thought he had been in a car accident.
Back to the movie itself, Stallone talks about the crew being in the middle of a situation where they come into contact with other mercenaries. When they return home, Stallone's character is blackmailed by Willis' character into taking on another assignment. They inevitably get into major trouble but are saved by unlikely allies. Stallone said that he doesn't think he'll ever see something this incredible again, which may or may not rule out a third Expendables movie. Stallone also talks about the unique styles and weaponry for each character, including Norris. He says that fans are in for a "tremendous ride."
Schwarzenegger stresses that working with the right people, ie actors who are trained in martial arts as well as drama, is what really makes the film work. He further complimented Stallone for bringing together such a compatible cast who brought their acting and athletic skills to the set. Schwarzenegger sneaks in one last jab by saying Stallone was his English teacher when he came to America; Stallone said they should have a Spelling Bee.
The following comments come from a fan Q&A:
Stallone and Schwarzenegger have a great rapport and a fantastic history. The entire crowd could easily sit here and listen to their stories for hours. Stallone talked about the Golden Globes when Rocky won best picture and how that was the first time he met Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger said Stallone's mother came up to him and told him he looked like a piano mover. They also commented on the fact that they recently wrapped on the prison film, The Tomb, which they'll star in together.
Crews gets in on the act by talking about Stallone offering him the part (and does a pretty spot-on Stallone impression). He also reminds the crowd that Stallone literally broke his neck during the first movie, but talks up the new blood that will appear in the sequel.
Stallone explained the three seashells from Demolition Man like this: "You know the way chopsticks work? That's how it was explained to me."
Schwarzenegger further commented on the sequel to Twins, called maybe Triplets. Ivan Reitman and Universal Studios have shown interested and he's looking forward to finding the right writer.
Fans of The Governator cartoon with Stan Lee may be appeased to know that he'll be announcing something about it fairly soon.
Stallone admitted that his line from Rambo 2, "You're expendable," was the genesis for The Expendables title. He also said that "The Dependables" didn't quite work on the same level.
Couture compared the mental focus and mindset of making an action movie to preparing for his MMA bouts.
Stallone answers the question that was on all fans' minds: who would win in a fight? He plays up the athletic ability of Couture, the raw strength of Crews and the pedigree of Schwarzenegger.
Stallone's favorite Arnold movie is Junior. Schwarzenegger's favorite Sly movie is Stop or My Mom Will Shoot. (Actually, it's Terminator 2 for Sly; Schwarzenegger talks up Sly's success with the franchises of Rocky and Rambo.)
The final part of the panel showed another exclusive Comic-Con clip from The Expendables 2. It features two opposing mercenary forces, one led by The Expendables and one composed of Van Damme, Adkins and some of the faceless bullet fodder. Together the two groups shoot up a lobby (somewhere in a Russian-speaking country if the bar sign is to be believed). There's a fantastic exchange of famous one-liners between Schwarzenegger and Willis and the crowd absolutely ate it up.
If the chemistry among the actors on stage is any indication, The Expendables 2 is going to be even better than the original. The Expendables 2 opens August 17th. Check out all of our continuing Comic-Con coverage here.


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[cross-posted from the ThingM blog]
We're working on an improved version of blink(1) and have launched a Kickstarter for it.
blink(1) mk2 is an updated version of the blink(1) super status light. The original blink(1) made it easy to connect any data source in the cloud or on your computer to a full-color RGB LED so you can know what's happening without checking any windows, going to any websites or typing any commands. blink(1) mk2 maintains backward-compatibility while adding better functionality and great new features.
The main new features are:
– Better USB support
– Brighter via dual RGB LEDs
– Independently-addressable LEDs
– Improved Blink1Control application
2 Responses to "Announcing blink(1) mk2, the USB RGB LED, improved"
I wasn't previously aware of the blink(1) but I was given a blinkstick (http://blinkstick.com/) recently and it seems very similar.


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Harlem just can't stop loving Michael Jackson.
The Apollo Theater is giving the late King o Pop a spot in its "Legends Hall of Fame," the theater's highest honor.
The famed theater on 125th Street said today that it will posthumously induct Jackson next spring at a gala benefit.
Previous Apollo inductees include James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald and Gladys Knight and the Pips.
Jackson will also have a plaque on the Apollo's Walk of Fame, which is set for construction this fall.
Ongoing Jackson honors include plans to archive the "Tribute Wall," a 100-foot long blue plywood wall adjacent to the theater that has served as an ongoing memorial for Michael Jackson fans since news of his death broke on June 25th.
"Inducting Michael into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame and donating the Tribute Wall to the Apollo Theater Archives will immortalize his bond to the Apollo forever," said Apollo Theater President and CEO Jonelle Procope.
Jackson and his brothers first performed at the Harlem theater in the late 1960s. The Jackson Five won its famed "Amateur Night," which catapulted their career.


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Google App Engine with Grails
After I recently got a grails app to work with spring-security, REST, and cache I wanted to try my luck and create a Google App Engine application using grails. Unfortunately, I think it's still pretty early as I ran into several issues early on. However, I see enormous potential once these issues get resolved.
I am using grails v1.1.1, app-engine plugin v0.8.5, with gorm-jpa v0.5. The first issue I ran into was deploying when using grails app-engine deploy. It failed to work subsequent times after I got the WAR initially deployed using /app-sdk/bin/appcfg.sh. It complained about not supplying an email address. Turns out there is a bug related to ant that should get fixed soon. The work around was simple enough; just hit Enter before typing in your email address.
Secondly, I was disappointed to find out that the spring-security (acegi) plugin wasn't compatible in GAE. Based on the compile errors I received locally, it appears spring-security depends on hibernate which is not an option in GAE (you either get JDO or JPA). I chose JPA because according to the documentation, JDO doesn't support any of the GORM dynamic finders methods where as JPA supports most of them. I guess now that I think about it, I'm not suprised acegi didn't work in GAE; just disappointed.
I found a minor issue I submitted concerning the default delete action in generated controllers. Seems the gorm-jpa plugin doesn't wrap the delete method around a [Domain].withTransaction closure which apparently is required (see the save action).
Finally, I was unable to get content negotiation working using the withFormat concept I described here. It worked locally running grails app-engine run, but threw an exception in GAE:
Caused by: java.security.AccessControlException: access denied java.lang.RuntimePermission getClassLoader
My guess is it's related to the Security issues they report on the FAQ:
"The current preview release of the Google AppEngine SDK has a bug that doesn't allow it to run Groovy code when the full permissions restrictions are used. This will be fixed in the next release, but in the meantime the development environment runs without emulating the permissions restrictions of the actual AppEngine environment."Overall, I enjoyed the easy commands it provides to build, run, and deploy to GAE. The deploy was suprisingly pretty quick. I was able to view the exceptions in GAE easily. I was just prevented from making any real progress. If you want to see what I did get done, which was not much, check it out here http://james-lorenzen.appspot.com


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The world is finally getting a glimpse of Drew Barrymore's baby Olive!
The 37-year-old new mom and her little girl grace the cover of the newest issue of People.
"I couldn't eat or sleep for two weeks, I was just so nervous!" Barrymore says about impending motherhood. "I really wanted a wonderful traditional home for my kid. [My husband] Will comes from a strong family, he provides a strong family ... It just makes me so emotional because it's like a miracle."
Check out child stars gone bad!
Barrymore and Kopelman, an art consultant, wed last June and welcomed their first bundle of joy in October.
Adds the actress: "It's, like, the biggest crush I've ever had in my life!"


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It's been a banner week in Super Mario World. Saturday, Balotelli scored two goals, fought over who got to take a free kick, was offered for sale by his manager, did or didn't get in a postmatch fight in the locker room, and yesterday, crashed his Bentley in Manchester.
He could perhaps be forgiven for his distracted driving, since the day before he admitted he'd had a "brief relationship" with Jennifer Thompson. Ms. Thompson is better known in the UK tabloids as "Juicy Jeni" the £1,200 dollar-a-night escort famous for consorting with Manchester United's Wayne Rooney while his wife was pregnant.
Rooney's former escort, who is apparently an amateur these days, first hooked up with Balotelli in February, two days before he scored a goal and lifted his jersey to reveal an "I love you" message to his girlfriend, Italian model Raffaella Fico. Fico is apparently "devastated" which is a lot coming from a woman who became famous for offering her virginity for a million Euros on Italian Big Brother.
Mario Balotelli slept with Wayne Rooney prostitute [Daily Mail]


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Members of the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) are inviting the public to visit their farms and ranches on National Alpaca Farm Days on September 24th and 25th, 2011. This is a unique opportunity for the public to explore the many aspects of the alpaca livestock industry in the United States and Canada. From meeting these beautiful, inquisitive animals in person to experiencing luxurious alpaca products at individual farm stores, there will truly be something for everyone.
While most alpaca farms welcome visitors throughout the year, National Alpaca Farm Days are sure to include special activities and educational opportunities. To learn more about the alpaca industry visit www.alpacainfo.com. To find out more about National Alpaca Farm Days visit www.NationalAlpacaFarmDays.com.
Many people are drawn to the alpaca business because they produce an incredibly soft fiber that is 1/3 the weight of wool. They are a livestock that is relatively easy to care for and do not require large acreage. However, environmentally conscious individuals are becoming aware of the alpaca industry for even more reasons! Alpacas come in 22 natural colors, but they are all "green"! Sensitive to their environment in every respect, alpacas have soft padded feet instead of hooves and can leave even the most delicate terrain undamaged. Damage to topsoil decreases long-term soil fertility and in the process, the soil is eroded and weed invasion is encouraged. Alpacas prefer to eat tender grasses, which they do not pull up by the roots. Lacking upper teeth, alpacas "cut" the grass with their bottom teeth and upper palate. This vegetation cutting encourages the plant's growth. Because they are modified ruminants with a three-compartment stomach, alpacas convert grass and hay to energy very efficiently, and stop eating when they are full, further preserving the landscape on which they live. However, alpacas do not mind eating brush, fallen leaves and other "undesirable" vegetation, leaving the "good stuff" for species that do not have the stomach to digest such roughage.
Alpacas' pellet-like droppings are PH balanced, and an excellent, natural, slow release, low odor fertilizer. This rich fertilizer is perfect for growing fruits and vegetables. Because alpacas consolidate their feces in one or two communal spots in the pasture, it is easy to collect and compost, and the spread of parasites is controlled. While alpacas are environmentally friendly … and even beneficial… to the land, what makes them even more "green" is their end product… alpaca fiber. They produced five to ten pounds of luxurious fiber. No chemicals are employed either during feeding or during the industrial production of alpaca fleece into fiber. Alpacas require no insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers which pollute the groundwater. Making this animal even more desirable to animal lovers looking to start a green business, alpacas are not killed. Alpacas are shorn, without harm, every twelve to eighteen months. All fiber from an alpaca can be used. Even the fiber from the lower legs, belly, neck, etc is being used for things such as natural weed mats to be placed around trees. Alpaca fiber is biodegradable. This 100% natural fiber comes in 22 natural colors, offering a full array of choices with no chemical dyes required. If dying is desired, only 20% of a normal dye quantity is required. An ever-growing American herd and source of fiber is on the horizon for this sustainable industry, and now is the perfect time to meet an alpaca and the people who raise them face-to-face!
This press release is presented without editing for your information. MOTHER EARTH NEWS does not recommend, approve or endorse the products and/or services offered. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase.


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Super Late Model Racing - Urban Force Racing First Race
We Race Our Brand New Racecar
The UFR team finished construction of the new Super Late Model car, so I made the trip up to Beloit to help them prepare for the first race of the season on May 9th. We have promised to keep you informed as to the progress of the car and how we would prepare it and set it up. The following is a detailed account of that process.
When I arrived, I quickly drove to Madison International Speedway to watch the first test of the new car on the Wednesday before the first Friday race. The crew had been pushed to finish the car and had installed a setup from last year just to shake the car down and make sure all of the systems were functioning. I wasn't much concerned at this point in how it handled. We would be making wholesale changes soon.
Once we had the car back at the race shop in Beloit, I outlined the process for evaluating the car and setting it up. I let Pete Raskovic and the crew chief know that we would be putting in a whole new setup, but first things first. I would need to do a complete evaluation of the car before moving on.
The following is the exact process I used and in the order presented to make sure the car was aligned and adjusted properly.
The entire crew of students, along with Pete and myself, went over the car and looked for any possible conflicts with clearance, binding, or other mechanical problems that could have a negative affect on our setup. We found shocks that were not spaced properly, a tie rod end at the spindle that did not have the spacer installed on top, and a Panhard bar mount on the axle tube that we would need to change for clearance (more on that later).
Clearance problems and mechanical binding can ruin an otherwise great setup. If one shock mount is not spaced properly or the mount is not built for the design of the top of the shock, then binding may occur that will stiffen that corner and completely change the handling. We found several areas of concern and corrected them before moving on.
We now checked all of the steering functions. These included:
1. Bumpsteer - Our bumpsteer was horrible. Each side bumped out over 0.100-inch in one inch of travel. We mounted a single dial bumpsteer gauge and proceeded to correct the tie rod alignment until we got zero bumpsteer in 2 inches of travel with the RF in bump and the LF in rebound. The next inch showed less than 0.004-inch steer.
2. Ackermann - We checked our Ackermann and found that it was set to provide an additional 0.210 of toe in approximately eight degrees of steering. This was more than I wanted, so we adjusted the left steering arm to full length and reduced that to around 0.065-inch of added toe. This was the least we could get and at this track would be acceptable. What we didn't want was 0.500-inch or more of added toe that comes from a degree or more of Ackermann.
3. Rear Steer - The rear trailing arm angles were set to LR 1.0 degree up hill to the front and the RR at 2.0 degrees up to the front. These angles would provide nearly zero rear steer with the amount of roll we would be getting.
1. Set front toe at 1/8-inch out - This was done after we had centered the steering rack and locked the steering shaft so that the wheels would be pointed straight ahead with the steering rack centered.
2. Check rear square - The rearend was set according to the squaring tabs installed by Lefthander Chassis. Even though these are usually correct, I always double check the square. In this car, the rearend was indeed square.
3. Check right side tire alignment - The right side tires were aligned at the hub height. I prefer alignment at the contact patches and we did re-align them later on.
4. Pinion / driveshaft - We did not have a chance to check this with angle finders, but a visual inspection told me we were close. The angles were less than 4 degrees and opposite at the pinion versus the transmission. We will do a detailed analysis of the alignment later.
5. Caster and Camber check - Our caster split was LF = 1.0 and RF = 4.0 degrees. This is more than I think we need, but for now we will keep these settings.
The initial cambers were: LF = 5.8 degrees and the RF = (-) 2.7 degrees. We changed these numbers to LF = 3.75 and RF = (-) 3.25 degrees. These are based on our anticipated dive and roll for the setup we intend to use.
1. The front anti-dive was approximately 5 degrees on the RF upper control arm angle from a side view and zero degrees in the left upper control arm. This is fairly standard anti-dive split whereas many teams are resorting to pro-dive on the left front. We felt we did not need any special effects with our setup.
2. The anti-squat effect from third link angle was set at around 8 degrees of third link angle and sufficient for our car.
Initially we were faced with a Panhard bar situation where we could not move the left end down to much less than 11 inches due to conflict with the under-slung frame rail. We also had a small 11/8-inch sway bar installed. This produced a high degree of roll tendency in the front and a much smaller amount in the rear. We decided to make some changes. Here are the starting setup numbers and the ones we changed to:
The Original Setup: Springs RF = 250, LF = 250, LR = 185, RR = 225. Panhard bar height from the ground - Left = 11 inches, right = 12 inches. Cross weight = 60.3 percent (with 50.2 rear percent), sway bar size = 1.125-inch outer diameter with a .75-inch inside diameter.
The New Setup: Springs RF = 250, LF = 250, LR = 200, RR = 200. Panhard bar height from the ground - left = 9 inches, right = 10.5 inches. Cross weight = 53.0 percent, 1.375-inch hollow sway bar diameter with 1-inch inside diameter. NOTE: Keep in mind this is a setup for this car only. Your car will have differences in several areas, particularly weight distribution. Please don't just throw this in your car and expect it to work.
We installed a new panhard bar mount on the rear axle tubing that put the left end of the panhard bar to the right of the left frame rail. This allowed us to move the mount down past the frame rail and get our left height of 9 inches.
The Ohlins double adjustable shocks we used were set to neutral (mid-range) for compression at the front and rears. For rebound, we added three clicks to the fronts and took three clicks out of the LR shock. This was done to let that corner rebound quicker to accommodate the abnormal transition off Turn 4. The RR corner rebound was set to neutral.
Now that we had established our spring rates and weight distribution, it was time to set the car on the scales and re-set ride heights and wheel weights. This is a process that takes some time, but once all of the other parameters have been established, it would be the final routine before taking to the track.
Our next job was to load the trailer the next day and head off to the track for the first race of the season at Madison International Speedway, an ASA member track in the Midwest. The student's permission slips from their parents were turned in, the car was loaded, and we were ready.
Once at the track, last minute preparations were made and it was discovered that some bolts that needed it were not safety wired. Next the students were shown how to select the tires, air them up, and set the starting pressures.
Pete had a list he called the "Team Roster/Duties" that stated in bold print, "DO NOT DEVIATE FROM PLAN." Each member of the crew, including myself, had been assigned a job to do. I looked up and down pit lane and no team had any more order and enthusiasm than this young group.
The crew chief Pete selected for the season was Jerry Perryman, a veteran at Madison. I watched him work with the kids at the shop and at the track and I knew from his patience and understanding ways with these rookies that Pete had made a good choice. Jerry was helped in the spotter's box by his brother, Jeremy, and also brought along his friend and veteran mechanic, Joe Koneski.
We had one hour to practice the car and make any adjustment that might be needed. The first time out, we turned about eight laps and came in to check everything out and take tire pressures and tire temps. The LF tire showed about 25 degrees cooler than the LR tire. This indicated a tight setup and we moved the left side of the Panhard bar up a 1/2-inch. Remember that our split was 11/2-inch and this closed the split to 1-inch.
Dan took the car back out and we ran about ten laps. When we again checked the tire temps, we had gained heat in the LF, but we were still about 15 degrees cooler than the LR. We moved the Panhard bar up another 1/4-inch at both ends and sent him back out for the final session and ran as many laps as we could.
This last change evened up the left side tire temperatures and produced more heat in all of the tires than we had seen before. This gave us a good opportunity to check cambers in the front. Surprisingly, both the LF and RF showed more even temperatures across the tread, so no changes were made to the cambers.
We did initially show a cool outside temperature at the RF, but this was a result of the crewmember taking a temperature too far out on the very edge of the tire and not penetrating the rubber sufficiently. Once this was corrected and the student tutored on correct placement and penetration of the probe, the temps looked good.
The most important data we got was from the driver. After the last series of laps of practice, he said over the radio, "No more changes, I like the car just the way it is." No one had ever remembered him saying that before they told me. I think by going through the car and checking everything that could affect the setup and making it all right produced a racecar that was easy to tune for dynamic balance.
The reason why we needed to make the adjustments we did was because even with the computer tools we have today, there are still numbers that are hard to quantify. Every car has a different center of gravity height that is very hard to measure. Besides, we still haven't had the opportunity to play with different shock settings. There was one more thing I failed to consider.
The newer Lefthander rear shock mounts at the top are moved to the rear so the shocks are tilted to the rear to increase the length of the spring base. This is something Wayne Lensing, the owner of Lefthander, and I talked about and I completely understand his reasoning. The end result of that is a dynamic reduction in the spring rate the car actually feels compared to the installed spring rate. The spring was angled back about 18 degrees.
To do the calculations to find the dynamic rate, you take the cosine of the angle and square it before multiplying the result times the spring rate. The cosine of 20 degrees is 0.9511 and that squared is 0.9045. Multiplying that number times the 200 pound per inch spring rate gives us a dynamic rate of 180.9 ppi.
So, the 200ppi springs I installed basically felt to the car like a pair of 180s. That is a significant difference that would necessitate raising the Panhard bar in order to compensate. Remember that springs that are installed at an angle to the motion of the chassis have a softer feel to the car, so take that into account when choosing spring rates.
We were all set for qualifying. Pete had purchased just one set of new tires for this race and we had run them in the last practice putting about 20 laps on them. This would be a disadvantage in qualifying because all of the other top teams had sticker tires on. That was OK because this was intended to be a shakedown run and if all went well, we should be able to make up the difference in the race.
We qualified Sixth and the invert put us in the second row inside. On the start, everyone went outside and we got pinched down low for the first two laps until we could get back in line in about eighth place. Dan quickly passed two cars in the next three laps and set his sights on the lead pack. He was clearly closing on them at a rate of about a half a car length a lap. With twenty laps to go coming off of Turn 2, alone, the car suddenly snapped loose and spun. Dan said over the radio it felt like he had been hit, but no one was near him. We suspected a part failure.
Upon inspection back in the pits, we found we had sheared the left outside axle spline. We isolated the problem and debriefed the driver. From the look of the car on the track and the comments from the driver, we felt we had a real contender. The crew did a great job in all of the tasks and this just served to show that this high school program is all it was intended to be and more. These kids are genuinely excited and dedicated.
The next race would be two weeks later, and the next race Rob and I will be attending is the July 11th race. Until then we will be in contact with Pete and the crew to monitor their progress and help them in any way we can. Any changes to the car's setup or race routine will also be reported.
We wanted to start this project with a standard setup with normal shock rates and no frills or tricks up our sleeves. We really wanted to prove that by doing all of the procedures we teach in the pages of CIRCLE TRACK correctly and putting together a solid package, you can experience good performance without tricking up the chassis. I think this first outing proved that to be true.
The car was very neutral in the turns, it was as fast or faster than any other car there and it came off the corners like Jack the bear - anyone remember that clich? I asked Jerry, the crew chief, if he ever thought a pair of 250s up front and a pair of 200s in the rear would work and he said, "Never in a million years." But, it did. And that is the point. We intend to be competitive with this and other various setups because we will keep the car aligned, we will maintain the corner weights and make small tuning adjustments where necessary, but no large scale modifications to the setup. Yes, in due time we will be changing the setup to a softer set of front springs and a larger RR spring coupled with a larger sway bar. Do we think the car will get faster? No, but we will try it and report exactly what we find. Stay tuned.
ABC Supply Co. Inc.AcroTech HubsAutomotive Youth Educational SystemsAutoMeterBassett Racing WheelsButlerBuiltChicken Hawk Racing ProductsDan Lensing RacingFatWallet.comFive Star Racing BodiesGrant SignsG-Force Racing GearKeystoneFarmsNatural.comLefthander ChassisMcGunegill Engine PerformanceMiller WeldingMorris Body ShopOfficeProSnap-On ToolsTiger Rear EndsTilton EngineeringRacin' RivetsRoltek TransmissionsWegner EngineeringWelder's Supply


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LOS ANGELES - Wong Kar-wai swears he's seen people fly.
The acclaimed Hong Kong director crossed China meeting 100 kung fu masters as research for "The Grandmaster," his new film about Bruce Lee's teacher.
He said that during demonstrations, fighters would "get knocked and fly" across a room in the lightweight manner most of us only see in movies.
Wong's travels were part of a seven-year journey to bring his take on Chinese martial arts legend Ip Man to the screen, during which time others released a series of popular films about the same man. Still, "The Grandmaster" is Wong's biggest hit, with his stylized emotional imagery punctuated by crowd-pleasing combat featuring stars Tony Leung and Ziyi Zhang.
While his films tend toward the poetic, Wong said he's hoping for a concrete outcome for "The Grandmaster," opening in limited release in the U.S. on Friday after earning $55 million worldwide. Wearing his signature dark sunglasses, he sat down to talk about the movie, the state of Chinese martial arts and censors.
AP: Why did it take so long for "The Grandmaster" to come together?
Wong: It's very hard to understand Ip Man without knowing or showing the audience the time that he went through and the background of his family. So actually we have to rebuild the whole period. It's a very expensive film. ... (It was) not until seven years ago that the market of China became more and more mature, so we finally found the financing to support this film. Also, we had to do lots of training. Because our actors, they're very good actors. But they have no training in martial arts. We want to make a hard-core kung fu film. It's not stunts and CGI tricks. ... We actually shot for 22 months over three years, during which we stopped twice because Tony (Leung) broke his arm during practice and rehearsal. So you see, it's not easy to make a kung fu film.
AP: When did you first learn about Ip Man? What was his mythology and impact on you when you were growing up?
Wong: I was growing up on a street full of martial arts schools. ... So we heard of Ip Man when I was a kid. And he was quite highly respected in the world of martial arts at his time. But he was quite an anonymous figure to general people. It was because of Bruce Lee that he became a legend. ... There's lots of misinterpretations about Chinese martial arts. ... In those days, martial arts was not for poor people. Because they couldn't afford it. ... When there's people trying to visit you to have a challenge, you have to feed them, you have to provide places for them to live, then you have to send them with gifts. So you need to be rich to be able to afford, to study martial arts. That's why it's so great about Ip Man is he popularized Wing Chun. Instead of $27, he asks only like 80 cents to teach this skill. It's not just for money. Of course he has to make his living, but he also wants to make it for everyone.
AP: How was it seeing the Donnie Yen Ip Man films come out before yours?
Wong: They are more like about the action. And they invent stories like Ip Man fighting the Japanese, which is not true, Ip Man fighting with white Westerners, which is not true. But it's good to have stories about Ip Man. People pay attention, and to bring awareness about Chinese martial arts, I think it's OK.
AP: The film is already a big hit in China. How do Chinese audiences react differently than international audiences?
Wong: We all know in the last 30 years, China has went through very rapid changes. During this process, we see a lot of traditional values have been forgotten. To me the so-called modernization of China is simply adopting Western values. And it's time for us to return to our roots, discover some of our heritage, especially like martial arts, Chinese martial arts. The funny thing is, in China today, martial arts exists in two forms. The one that is encouraged by the government is called competitive martial arts, which is considered as a sport. So there's no school. It's a combination of different skills from different schools and it's for the Olympics. ... And the other form, called traditional martial arts, exists only among individuals, without the support of the state or any resources. ... This tradition of Chinese martial arts is not in very good shape. And in fact, I think what makes me very happy is the success of this film in China actually springs the awareness. Like well maybe it's time for us to revisit this and someone should take care of this tradition of Chinese martial arts.
AP: How much do you have to pay attention to the Chinese film industry's censorship? How much does it affect your storytelling?
Wong: For a film like `The Grandmaster,' you don't have any problems with the film censor departments. ... The problem is there's no ratings system in China. So that means films are supposed to be seen by all ages. So they're very sensitive to like superstitions and pornography and something related to politics. And other than that, they are very supportive.
AP: Does censorship affect the stories you decide to tell as you look forward to your next project?
Wong: Yes, of course, you know the rules there. But the thing is, it's also time for the censor departments to consider applying ratings systems. And I think they've been doing research on this, how to apply the system to the Chinese societies. And once we have this ratings system, I think there will be more flexibility for filmmakers.


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Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
195 Little Albany Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2681
Exercise during pregnancy is not only safe, it's increasingly recommended. The United States Department of Health and Human Services recommends that healthy women get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise a week. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), 30 minutes per day of moderate exercise on most if not all days of the week is recommended for pregnant women who have no medical or obstetric complications.
Some benefits of exercising regularly during pregnancy can include:
The best exercises for pregnancy are those that put minimal stress on the joints, involve smooth movements, and have a low risk of falling or body contact. Great exercises include swimming, walking, stationary biking, and elliptical machines.
Some activities pose increased risks in pregnancy and should be limited or avoided. These include:
Exercising for 30 minutes a day on most days of the week is all that's needed to maintain fitness and achieve related benefits. Women who wish to exercise for a longer period of time should speak to their doctors before doing so. Getting your exercise in 10-minute spurts is also fine. As long as you exercise at a moderate or vigorous pace for at least 10 minutes, these short bursts of exercise can count toward your overall goal.
If you were sedentary before pregnancy, do not despair. You can still reap the benefits of exercise by gradually working up to 30 minutes per day. Realize that pregnancy is not the time for making significant gains in your fitness level—or for athletic competition. Competitive athletes who wish to maintain a more strenuous exercise schedule throughout pregnancy should do so only under the close supervision of their doctors.
Talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise program during pregnancy and be sure to follow up with regular check-ups. Additionally, if you notice any of the following symptoms, stop exercising right away and contact your doctor:
Although it may be wise to proceed with a little more care then usual, pregnant women who are medically cleared should feel free to partake in a wide array of activities. Exercising during pregnancy has many benefits, including an improved sense of well-being. It's probably the best way to prepare for the physical demands of motherhood.
Regular exercise can also be helpful after your baby has arrived. Exercise during the postpartum period can boost your mood and help you return to your normal weight faster.
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
Exercise after pregnancy. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at: http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Exercise-After-Pregnancy. Accessed February 5, 2016.
Exercise during pregnancy. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at: http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Exercise-During-Pregnancy. Accessed February 5, 2016.
Fit for two: Tips for pregnancy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/weight-control/tips-for-two-pregnancy/Pages/fit-for-two.aspx. Updated June 2013. Accessed February 5, 2016.
Healthy pregnant or postpartum women. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/pregnancy.html. Updated June 4, 2015. Accessed February 5, 2016.
Kramer MS, McDonald SW. Aerobic exercise for women during pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;3:CD000180.
Pregnancy nutrition. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/pregnancy-nutrition. Updated July 2015. Accessed February 5, 2016.
Recreation and pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/recreation. Updated July 2015. Accessed February 5, 2016.
Last reviewed February 2016 by Michael Woods, MD Last Updated: 2/5/2016


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New mobile app helps motorists in accidents
App provides checklist of what to do
Maine insurance regulators say a new WreckCheck mobile application outlines what to do immediately following an auto accident.
The new app takes users through a step-by-step process to create their own accident report and helps to reduce the risk of identity theft. It provides tips for staying calm and safe on the road.
Maine Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa said that the WreckCheck mobile application comes from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The app lets users email a completed accident report directly to themselves and their insurance agents. The app is free.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says there are more than 5 million wrecks every year, but a July survey shows that many Americans don't know what steps to take after an accident.