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The young but booming bike sharing movement debuts in the Bay Area on Thursday. The pilot project lets the public borrow bicycles for short trips in San Francisco, San Jose and three other Peninsula cities.
Starting out with 700 bikes at 70 stations, the new grant-funded service offers a new way to get around — especially to travel a mile or two getting to or from transit stations like BART.
Effective Thursday, members who pay $88 for a year or $9 per day for an electronic key can check out a bike at one station and leave it at another. To encourage short trips, bike use is free for 30 minutes or less, while overtime fees can add up to $150 per day.
Sponsors say the one- to two-year pilot project is just the start of a much bigger program in more communities.
During that time, Bay Area transportation planners hope to figure out many practical and political details of the program. Among them: where and how many bike stations to create, how to ensure bikes are in the right place at right times, and what body will oversee the program.
"I see us as just getting started with bike share in the Bay Area," said Amy Worth, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and an Orinda City Council member. "We expect to learn a lot about the logistics before we to expand it to other places, including the East Bay."
MTC is one of the eight agencies that pulled together $7 million in grants to plan the system and hire a bike share specialist — Alta Bike Share Inc.– to run it. An expansion from 700 to 1,000 bikes is expected later this year.
"This is the first regional bike system in the nation to be built from the ground up," said Karen Schkolnick, a grant and incentives manager with Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
Most bike share systems focus on single cities, like those in Chicago, Denver, New York, and Boston, or a few adjacent cities.
The Bay Area system begins along the Caltrain corridor in San Jose, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Mountain View and Redwood City.
Worth and Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty of Dublin said they expect the program to consider expansion elsewhere. including the East Bay. Likely sites, they said, include Berkeley and Oakland, areas near BART stations, and employment centers like Bishop Ranch in San Ramon and the Hacienda Business Park in Pleasanton.
"I frankly am very frustrated that it has taken us this long to get started," said Haggerty.
Bike share programs are popping up nationwide as a cheap way to move people, cut congestion and pollution, and improve public health and fitness.
Susan Shaheen at UC Berkeley's Transportation Sustainability Research Center, said bike sharing took off in the past four years partly because advances in electronic keys and cards makes it possible to prevent thefts and track bikes so they can be moved about to meet demand.
There is no single bike share system model, said Shaheen, a civil and environmental engineering professor.
In Tulsa, Okla., the St. Francis Health System runs a recreational bike share program along the Tulsa River to encourage fitness.
Some share services, like Boston's, are overseen by a city or government agency.
Others, like Denver's, are run by nonprofit boards with government representatives.
Directors of both the Denver and Boston programs say it's important to begin in areas with sufficiently dense development to locate stations within a few hundred yards of each other.
Close stations makes it easier for riders to take and return bikes near trip start and end points.
"You don't want stations in isolated islands," said Nick Bohnenkamp, interim director of Denver's program.
Yet programs should be flexible enough to serve a diverse population, he said.
A survey last year found Denver's bikes are each used two to three times a day, but that 90 percent of users are white. Operators are seeking ways to serve more blacks and Latinos.
Nicole Freedman, director of Boston's program, said private support has helped.
"We have a strong advertising and sponsorship program that allows us to expand," said Freedman, an Olympic cyclist who studied urban planning at Stanford.
New York began a system earlier this year in Manhattan and Brooklyn, that sees each bike used six to seven times a day. It began despite amid complaints that software problems made it hard to check out and check in bikes.
Shaheen, however, said there are reliable technologies available. "I think bike share programs are here to stay and expand."
Contact Denis Cuff at 925-943-8267. Follow him at Twitter.com/deniscuff.
What is it: Bike sharing offers a network of durable bikes to be borrowed or rented by members to get an electronic key to checkout bikes at docking stations.
Details: Visit www.bayareabikeshare.com/
Stations: The first 70 stations to open for service Thursday are in San Francisco, San Jose, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Redwood City
Station locations: Visit www.bayareabikeshare.com/stations
Price: Membership costs $88 for a year, $22 for three days, or $9 per day. Members can borrow a bike for free for up to 30 minutes. After that, users pay $4 for an extra half-hour. A full day use can cost up to $150.
Who can join: People 18 and older with a credit card.
Who runs it: Several agencies teamed up to begin the pilot project, including Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, SamTrans, Caltrain, San Mateo County, Redwood City and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
The bikes: Forty-four pound, seven-speed bikes that can go up moderate hills and navigate road bumps.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hi all!
I know that it's been a long time – I'm still recovering after D-Day 70! – but just to let you all know that I will be signing copies of 'Portsmouth's World War One Heroes' at Waterstones in Portsmouth this coming Saturday, 2 August, between 12 and 2pm.
See you there!


text: Hello, I'm working on a ISPConfig module which is an extension to the Billing module. My module's purpose is to create invoice based on a received payment from a bank account and an existing proforma invoice. The problem is that there is no internal API to the billing module, only the remote API which requires creating sessions. My suggestion is to create general API usable inside third party modules and the remote API can use these function and it will add the session functionality. Is there some solution for this problem? Do you plan to improve API? SupuS


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For the Ducatista among you, you have your moles, your informants, you know everything there is to know about the new Superbike coming from Ducati. For everyone else, well the wait is almost over! We've known for some time that the bike will be an 1199cc V-Twin, it is a completely new design for the engine, no more remenants of the current V-Twin which can trace it's lineage back to the 1970's. How does 195bhp and 395lbs (wet) grab you?
We also know that the bike will be much more expensive than the current 1198. In recent years the price difference between the Ducati and it's Japanese rivals has shrunk, but now expect the entry level 1199 to come it at $20,000 U.S. with higher spec version coming in at $25K and close to $30K.
The bike will also have a name. Where every Ducati Superbike up to this point has been known by it's engine size, 900SS, 851, 888, 916, 955, 998, 999, 1098 and 1198, this one will be known as the 1199 Panigale, as a nod to Ducati's home.
Below you can check out a promo video from Ducati, where you can see Troy Bayliss ripping it up around the Mugello Circuit.


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Scandinavian Style: Two Duvets on One Bed
My guy and I are both tuggers. When he turns over, he takes the covers with him while I turn the other way, resulting in a middle-of-the-night tug o' war. We happily solved this problem by using a king-sized comforter on a queen-sized bed and have never looked back... or further. Up until a recent European trip, I never even considered using separate blankets in bed the way Scandinavians do.
Two duvets on one bed might seem messy, but these Scandinavian bedrooms show that it can be simple and stylish. It's also not limited to Scandinavia; other parts of Europe, such as Germany and Austria, follow this style too.
Generally, two twin-sized duvets are folded in half or thirds, and laid side-by-side on the bed. There is never a flat (also known as top) sheet. Sometimes a coverlet is draped across the duvets to tidy the look.
What do you think of this style? Are you a king-comforter-on-queen-bed person like I am, or a separate-blankets-in-bed type? Or maybe you're lucky enough to never fight for your covers!
• One Solution for Blanket Hogs
• Sleeping Style: Duvets vs. Top Sheets
• Under the Covers: A Different Look for the Duvet
(Images: 1 Modern Home; 2 Trendzona; 3-4 Home Design Set; 5 Hotel Stureplan; 6 Apartment Therapy; 7-10 Freshome)


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Fly HC necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 114 diseños de 42 diseñadores freelance.
The original FRESH YARN site, launched in 2004, created by author and multi-media maven Hillary Carlip, was devoted to personal essays by all-star writers. The newly-expanded site is for all things storytelling and storyselling, and will be the ultimate online destination for anyone with a stitch of creativity and the desire to knit together a glorious, fulfilling, expressive, and successful writing career.
The original site http://www.freshyarn.com and our upcoming 2.0 version are both artistic, visually stimulating, and have a cool, retro-hip feel.
FRESH YARN's devoted following ranges from undiscovered, unpublished talent, to high-profile authors, screenwriters, TV writers, actors, etc. Our audience is writers and readers who are savvy, ambitious, edgy, literate, irreverent, quirky, and hilarious.
We need a logo to be the heart and soul of our creative online destination. Although you can take a gander at what was, we are looking to you to help us communicate something totally FRESH about our way-expanded site.
1. DIY vibe – handmade, fun, and playful, but not cheap or childlike
2. The logo must be able to interact well/integrate with our tagline: Your Guided Tour to All Things Storytelling and Storyselling
3. Sure we have the Hollywood aspect, but we are in no way exclusive or snooty. We speak to anyone who has a love of good writing and a desire to make something supah with their creativity.
4. Smart, irreverent, literate – if you can communicate all that in a logo, you have our vote!
5. Some of the colors in the palette we are using in the site redesign include: #31C5C8; #77BF75, #ED8B2C; #FBE4BB, #D9F0DE. Please do not depart in a big way from this palette, but feel free to experiment!
6. If you are compelled to take the word YARN literally, do so in such a clever way that our jaws hit the floor.
7. Check out a banner we did and love for reference. But keep in mind we STILL NEED A LOGO. http://www.freshyarn.com/new_fy_banner.html
Print file - psd (CMYK)
Web file - jpg and layered psd (RGB)
If you use stock images/clip art, mess 'em up enough that it's considered fair use (don't pull a Shepard Fairey on us!)
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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John Getz Skater Profile
Sponsors: Entity, Cliche, Lakai Footwear, Markisa, Wub Wheels, Filmbot Grip, Leftover Hardware
Hometown: Torrance CA, Stance: ?, Age: , Status: Am
Last Update: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Submit an Update
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Kenyans have many approaches to marriage, and in March their government consolidated types under one law that went into effect this week. One change has drawn the lion's share of attention: legalizing polygamy for men—even if the first wife protests.
Africa has a so-called "polygamy belt" that stretches from Senegal to Tanzania. A 2009 government survey indicated that 13 percent of Kenyan women were in polygamous relationships.
The Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK)says the law will erode recent gains against HIV, and lead to more divorces and court fights over inheritances. "We are promoting an old practice in a modern context, which is like putting new wine in an old wineskin," said David Oginde, leader of Christ Is the Answer Ministries. "It will burst."
But Samuel Chepkonga, former chair of Kenya's Scripture Union, is among the Christian lawmakers who helped Muslim politicians pass the bill. He even led the effort to remove a clause that let a woman veto her husband's effort to take another wife.
"Not all Kenyans are Christians," said Ken Okoth, a Christian politician who represents Kibera, a poor, largely Muslim community on the edge of Nairobi. "If church leaders want to completely outlaw polygamy, they should propose a bill. [But] that's impossible under our constitution." Approximately 4 in 5 Kenyans are Christians, but that leaves 4 million Muslims who tolerate polygamy.
"I am surprised that Christian politicians don't stand for Christian values," said Wellington Mutiso, former leader of the EAK. "It is very unfortunate. Maybe it is a failure on the part of the church to disciple its members so that they can ...1


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Heavy Ride
Sizes: 20"
Weight: heavy
Volume: medium low to very loud
Stick Sound: pronounced, glassy
Intensity: lively
Sustain: long
Bell Character: separated
Sound Character: Bright, powerful, energetic, brilliant. Fairly wide range, clean mix. Heavy feel. Bright, pronounced ping over clear controlled wash. Cutting bell sound. Energetic ride cymbal with great assertiveness in loud music.
Sound Room:
Click the icons below to hear them.
Download MP3 Sound Files PST 7
Click the icons below to hear them.
Click to add a size of this model to the soundroom: 20"
Download MP3 Sound Files PST 7
Home > Products > Cymbals > PST 7 > Rides > Ride | Light Ride | Heavy Ride |


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These days, the conversation is shifting from if clubs should integrate social media into their marketing strategies to how to use these tools most effectively to increase exposure, sales and customer engagement. According to research by eMarketer, 35 percent of small businesses use social networking sites, and four out of five large companies (those with 100 or more employees) plan to use social media in their marketing mix this year.
Whether you are just getting started with social media or have been at it for a while, outlining and sticking to an overall strategy will yield better results than a spray and pray approach.
Consider these 10 basic points when setting your social media goals:
Look before you leap. Once you've made the decision to incorporate social media into your marketing plan, explore the practices of successful companies inside and outside of your industry. What platforms do they use? How do they create a presence? What services do they offer online? Who is their audience? What topics are important to their customers and fans? Observing companies' activities and interactions on their blogs, Facebook pages, YouTube channels, Twitter feeds and Foursquare profiles can give you a window into how they integrate social media into their marketing activities.
Begin with the end in mind. What specifically do you want to achieve through social media, and how will you track your success? Your primary objectives may be to promote your brand message, provide customer service, gather feedback, build goodwill or generate new leads. Once you have identified your highest priorities, you will have a better idea of what your activities should be and how you can best measure them.
Know your audience. In addition to knowing with whom you should be talking, you'll want to know where to find them. By publishing quality content with effective keywords, you will see your audience build over time. Participate on channels where your prospects are likely to be found. Become part of the discussion by asking questions, soliciting opinions, providing answers and sharing great information. Your current followers will be a great referral source. Remember to recruit fans and followers offline, too. Placing the familiar Facebook and Twitter icons at the bottom of your club's printed materials is a quick way to let members and prospects know that they can find you on those sites. You can even include SMS texting instructions so that members and guests can join your forum via cell phone.
Quality of the message trumps quantity. With so many social media outlets, it is easy to bite off more than you can chew. For best results, craft a focused channel strategy. Begin by targeting just a couple of platforms that seem well-suited to your objectives. It may be appropriate to add more tools down the road, but concentrating your efforts on a select few may help you gain better traction. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, think of ways your activities on each site can work. A copy-and-paste of content across multiple networks will not be as effective as tailoring content for each unique social media stream.
The content counts. High-quality content is an integral part of your social media program's success, but bear in mind that the days of the Internet as a one-way street are over. Content encompasses far more than SEO-optimized articles, blog posts or static data you have made public on the Internet. In the broadest sense of the word, content is anything shared in the course of an online interaction. It is a form of currency between your audience and you. The more valuable the audience finds your exchange of information—whether an educational article, an opportunity to give feedback or a friendly chat—the stronger your relationship becomes. In this new environment, data, distribution and delivery are inextricably intertwined in your content-sharing strategies.
Rules of the road. Set clear guidelines about your company's expectations and policies for the day-to-day management of social media activities. Who is authorized to post on behalf of the company? How frequently should they post? What is the expected turnaround time for responding to comments? Who is responsible for planning content? How will you measure audience engagement and monitor social mentions? In addition to outlining responsibilities for dedicated social media employees, many organizations have adopted formal company-wide social media policies or expanded their existing communications, Internet usage or ethics policies to specifically include social media.
Think playground not pulpit. A lot of what you need to know about social media you learned in kindergarten: make friends, share, play nice and take turns. One of the greatest things you can do to build your own social media circle is to participate in other forums. Nobody enjoys playing with the bossy kid. Avoid being the lunk who tries to dominate every conversation or who pushes products instead of building relationships.
Nobody's perfect. You will undoubtedly come across negative feedback at some point, whether it stems from a poorly worded post or an unsatisfactory customer experience. Resist any impulse to try to erase it or cover it up. Handle complaints promptly and own up to any missteps. Propose a solution and offer sincere thanks for the feedback. If the complaint was brought up publicly, keep the resolution process as transparent as is appropriate. Be sure to share any relevant information with your team so that everyone can be on the same page. By reacting with honesty and integrity, you will earn the trust of your followers, and they will rally to your defense if you have been targeted with unwarranted criticism.
Different strokes. Develop a strategy that makes sense for your company. Although many best practices have emerged, few absolutes exist in the world of social media. Tools and trends continue to evolve, so staying abreast of the ever-changing landscape is critical. Take advantage of free resources online to learn new tips and tricks.
Stick with it. In many ways, social media is like exercise. Regular activity over a sustained period of time will yield the best results.
Christine Thalwitz is director of communications and research at ACAC Fitness & Wellness Centers. She believes that social media marketing without a strategy is like driving cross country without a map.