text: On Tue, 8 Apr 2008, Jesse Becker wrote: > Gerry Creager wrote: > > Yeah, we're using Ganglia. It's a good start, but not complete... > > The next version of Ganglia (3.1.x) is being written to be much more easy to > customize, both on the backend metric collection by allowing custom modules > for gmond, and on the frontend with some changes to make custom reports easier > to write. I've written a small pair of routines to monitor SGE jobs, for > example, and it could easily be extended to watch multiple queues. It might be useful to consider what we did in the Scyld cluster system. We found that a significant number of customers (and potential customers) were using Ganglia, or were planning on using it. But those that were intensively using it complained about its resource usage. In some cases it was using 20% of CPU time. We have a design philosophy of running nothing on the compute nodes except for the application. A pure philosophy doesn't always fit with a working system, so from the beginning we built in a system called BeoStat (Beowulf State, Status and Statistics). To keep the "pure" appearance of our system we initially hid this in BeoBoot, so that it started immediately at boot time, underneath the rest of the system. How are these two related? To implement Ganglia we just chopped out the underlying layers (which spend a huge amount of time generating then parsing XML), and generate the final XML directly from the BeoStat statistics already combined on the master. This gave us the best of both worlds: no additional load on compute nodes, lower network load, much higher efficiency, and easy scalability to thousands of nodes from BeoStat, and the ability to log and summarize historical data, good-looking displays and ability to monitor multiple clusters from Ganglia. It might be useful to look at the design of Beostat. It's superficially similar to other systems out there, but we made decisions that are much different than others -- ones that most consider wrong until they understand their value. Some of them are: It's not extensible It reports values in a binary structure It's UDP unicast to a single master machine It has no liveness criteria The receive side stores only current values The first one is the most uncommon. Beostat is not extensible. You can't add in your own stat entries. You can't have it report stats from 64 cores. It reports what it reports... that's it. Why is this important? We want to deploy cluster systems. Not build a one-off cluster. We want the stats to be the same on every system we deploy. We want every tool that uses the stats to be able to know that they will be available. Once you allow and encourage a customizable system, every deployment will be different. Tools won't work out of the box, and there is a good chance that tools will require mutually incompatible extensions. Deploying a fixed-content stat system also enforces discipline. We carefully considered what we need to report, and how to report it. In contrast look at Ganglia's stats. Why did they choose the set they did? Pretty clearly because the underlying kernel reported those values. What do they mean? The XML DTD doesn't tell you. You have to look at the source code. What do you use them for? They don't know, they'll figure it out later. People next question "but what if I have 8/16/64 cores? You only have 2 [[ now 4 ]] CPU stat slots." The answer is similar to above -- what are you going to do with all of that data? The answer is summarize it before using it. We just summarize it on the reporting side. We report that there are N CPUs, the overall load average, and then summarize the CPU cores as groups (e.g. per socket). For network adapters we report e.g. eth0, eth1, eth2 and "all the rest added together". Once we chose a fixed set of stats, we had a ability to make it a fixed size report. It could be reported as binary values, with any per-kernel-version variation done on the sending side. Having a small, limited-size report meant that it fit in a single network packet. That makes the network load predictable and very scalable. It gave us the opportunity to effectively use UDP to report, without fragmenting into multiple frames. UDP means that we can switch to and from multicast without changes, even changing in real time. A fixed-size frame makes the receiving side simple as well. We just receive the incoming network frame into memory. No parsing, no translation, no interpretation. We actually do a tiny bit more, such as putting on a timestamp, but overall the receiving process does only trivial work. This is important when the receiver is the master, which could end up with the heaviest workload if the system isn't carefully designed. We've support 1000+ machines for years, and are now designing around 10K nodes. We actually do a tiny bit more when storing a stat packet -- we add a timestamp. We can use this to figure out the time skew between the master and computer node, verify the network reliability/load, and to decide if the node is live. This isn't the only liveness test. It's not even the primary liveness test. We document it as only a guideline. Developers should use the underlying cluster management system to decide if a node has died. But if there hasn't been a recent report, a scheduler should avoid using the node. Classifying the world into Live and Dead is wrong. It's at least Live, Dead and Schrodinger's Still-boxed Cat Finally, this is a State, Status and Statistics system. It's a scoreboard, not a history book. We keep only two values, the last two received. That gives us the current info, and the ability to calculate rate. If any subsystem needs older values (very few do) it can pick a logging, summarization and coalescing approach of its own. We made many other innovative architectural decisions when designing the system, such as publishing the stats as a read-only shared memory version. But this are less interesting because no one disagrees with them ;-). -- Donald Becker becker at scyld.com Penguin Computing / Scyld Software www.penguincomputing.com www.scyld.com Annapolis MD and San Francisco CA


text:
Another Angle Of Fan Grabbing Nicki Minaj & Then Getting Tackled & Jumped On Stage In Miami + Lil Wayne Comments [Updated]
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Baseball Improves to 11-1, Beats SFA, 9-2
BATON ROUGE, La. -- No. 3 LSU (11-1) received RBI contributions from seven different players en route to a 9-2 victory over Stephen F. Austin (3-7) Tuesday night at Alex Box Stadium.
LSU returns to the field Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. against Sacred Heart at Alex Box Stadium. The game will air in the Geaux Zone at LSUsports.net and 100.7 FM in the Baton Rouge area.
"We just kind of grinded this one out," said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. "We gave some of the young guys the opportunity to start tonight, and I was very pleased with the way they responded. It was great to see (freshman centerfielder) Andrew Stevenson get his first career homer and (freshman catcher) Chris Chinea crushed a ball into left-centerfield for a double. I thought (junior leftfielder) Sean McMullen really battled at the plate and as well and delivered a key RBI base hit."
Stevenson (2-for-3) hit his first career home run over the right field wall in the third inning, increasing the Tigers' lead to 3-0.
The Tigers scored the first two runs in the second inning on an RBI single by first baseman Mason Katz and a sacrifice fly from second baseman JaCoby Jones.
LSU went on to add two more runs following Stevenson's homer in the third with an RBI double from designated hitter Raph Rhymes and an RBI single from Katz, increasing the lead to 5-0.
Rhymes (1-for-2) and Katz (2-for-4) each have now recorded a hit in 10 straight games.
Stephen F. Austin chipped into the Tigers' lead with an RBI single from catcher Zach Marberry in the fourth inning.
LSU widened the gap in the sixth with an RBI double from Chinea, followed by an RBI single from McMullen.
Third baseman Christian Ibarra added an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI single to center field.
LSU reliever Kevin Berry (2-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings.
Stephen F. Austin starter Justin Choate (1-1) suffered the loss, giving up five earned runs on five hits in five innings.
LSU 9, Stephen F. Austin 2 (Mar 05, 2013 at Baton Rouge, La.)
Stephen F. Austin... 000 110 000 - 2 6 2 (3-7)
Pitchers: Stephen F. Austin - Choate, Justin; Mundkowsky, Matt(6); Ingvardsen, Cass(6); Maltz, Cory(8) and Marberry, Zach.
LSU - Brent Bonvillain; Will LaMarche(5); Nate Fury(6); Kevin Berry(7); Taylor Butler(9) and Chris Chinea.
Win-Kevin Berry(2-0) Loss-Choate, Justin(1-1) T-2:58 A-9920
HR LSU - Andrew Stevenson (1).
Actual Attendance: 3,282


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I have been inspired this morning. Not to write too much of my own but to look at the work of others and take heart from the possibilities that work opens up to me.
This is due simply to the power of blogging. I follow the lovely blog findingtimetowrite developed by the enigmatic Marina Sofia who regularly offers posts that pick me up, make me take notice of my mood and stop blaming the world around me for the lack of words on the paper in front of me.
Today she has done it again, in a very simple way. The post 'Poems that mean the world to me' offers fragments of poetry that have inspired her and which, she says, she might keep under her pillow but finds more usefully kept on her noticeboard in her study…
That is what poets (and often song writers too) are so good at – expressing our thoughts and speaking for us in ways that feel – at that moment anyway – beyond us. So I've taken a teabreak from admin to post up my own favourites – poems that have buoyed me up or brought me back to the life I'm living and encouraged me to keep believing that I can do it – whatever 'it' may be.
The first is from the second half of 'Birches' by Robert Frost…..
He learned all there was
To learn about not launching out too soon
And so not carrying the tree away
Clear to the ground. He always kept his poise
To the top branches, climbing carefully
With the same pains you use to fill a cup
Up to the brim, and even above the brim.
Then he flung outward, feet first, with a swish,
Kicking his way down through the air to the ground.
So was I once myself a swinger of birches.
And so I dream of going back to be.
It's when I'm weary of considerations,
And life is too much like a pathless wood
Where your face burns and tickles with the cobwebs
Broken across it, and one eye is weeping
From a twig's having lashed across it open.
I'd like to get away from earth awhile
And then come back to it and begin over.
May no fate willfully misunderstand me
And half grant what I wish and snatch me away
Not to return. Earth's the right place for love:
I don't know where it's likely to go better.
I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree,
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.
For me this expresses all I think about the desire to escape and experience a life apparently free from cares and responsibility; but with the knowledge that in truth I don't want the option to return to be taken away from me forever….
And the second is John Keats, as anyone who reads my blog might have known to be inevitable. 'When I have fears…' was the subject of one of my most-read blog posts ' John Keats on self-doubt' and I know from responses I have had to it that it speaks to writers and non-writers alike of self-doubt, fear of failure and desperation to succeed. But it is also expresses the need for 'mindfulness' – the last two lines highlighting the importance of the moment and freeing yourself from the anxieties that can overwhelm you and restrict future happiness…
When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,
Before high piled books, in charact'ry,
Hold like rich garners the full-ripen'd grain;
When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,
That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love!—then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till Love and Fame to Nothingness do sink.
So thanks to Marina for a post that has inspired me to get on with tapping away at the keyboard this morning. I may be looking at databases and writing emails but in doing that it will free me up to do what I enjoy.
I am not one who always asks a question at the end of a blog to elicit responses but I am genuinely interested in what inspires people to take a dream forward – whether it is poetry, art, music, gardening, food, films, family or any one of a number of possibilites. So let me know what holds you fast to the thought of success, or keeps you from the fear of failure.


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After several weeks of discussion, and a successful funding session at the Community Impact Board, the Monticello City Council has decided to permanently close the existing city swimming pool and demolish the structure.
On March 5, the City received a significant portion of the necessary funding from the CIB when they were approved for a $825,000 grant and $1.3 million loan for the new aquatic center.
At their March 10 meeting, the Council made the decision. According to City Manager Myron Lee, it will not be a quick process, as the sprinkling system for the baseball fields is housed in the pool, and will need to be moved prior to demolition. The pool will also be drained, and utilities disconnected. The city intends to salvage anything that is usable from the structure.
The Council has declared April 18 to May 2 as the Monticello City Spring Clean-up. The council approved allowing city residents to use the landfill at no cost during that time. The landfill will open on Tuesday from 1 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the clean-up. The city crew will also pick up bagged and bundled yard waste during the clean-up. Only yard waste will be picked up if it is placed outside the poly carts.
Arbor Day is April 24, 2009. Assistant City Manager Ruth Skouson is applying for tree grants for the city, and the designation is necessary in order to complete the grants. Skouson reports that two trees near the ball park are diseased or dying and will be replaced if the funding is received.
Skouson also talked about recycling program possibilities in the city. She is investigating if it is something the city can support and afford. Skouson's initial thoughts are that there could be a central drop off location where people could bring recyclables. She is checking with other cities to see what they are doing and how they started their programs.
Jones and DeMille was selected as the engineer for the city storm drain project. A storm drain study will be done for the entire city. The council plans to determine where water comes and where it goes, and develop a plan to keep water moving smoothly and fix areas where there are problems. They also discussed a possibile ordinance that would require developers to have a plan or a system in place to deal with run-off in future developments.
In other business, the council approved an alcohol license for the MD Ranch Cookhouse and approved a cleaning bid for the city office building.
They also received a report from City Recreation Director Eddie Allred on the Blue Mounmtain Triathlon. Allred said that participation was up with 150 people competing this year, and that contestants liked the new route better than the old route.
The council continues to work on a new ATV/OHV ordinance for the city. There will be an open house at the Welcome Center on March 28.


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How many wireless subscriber connections are there in the U.S. (as of December 2010)?
How much do you really know about the proliferation of mobile communications in the U.S.? Take this quiz and test your knowledge. The questions and answers here are based on the results of the December 2010 Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey conducted by CTIA-The Wireless Association. With more than 270 industry members, the association released the results of its latest survey on March 22, during its CTIA conference in Orlando, FL. Among the topics explored in the survey are: how many wireless connections we're making; the number of texts we send and receive; and how much we pay every month to do these things. The figures paint a picture of rising, nearly insatiable demand, which speaks to a need for increased spectrum, according to CTIA. "In order to meet the demands by consumers and businesses, we need more spectrum so our wireless ecosystem can keep fueling the 'virtuous cycle' of innovation and competition," says Steve Largent, president and CEO. (Yes, he's the same Steve Largent who was a long-time wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, later inducted into the Hall of Fame. He then served with the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the state of Oklahoma.)
A. 255.6 millionB. 302.9 millionC. 455.3 millionD. None of the above
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text:
|Overview | Lectures | Video | Images | New | References | Feedback
Lectures: Treatment Options - Medications on the Horizon
T-Cell Receptor Peptide Immunization
Anti-CD4 Monoclonal Antibody
Azathioprine (Imuran)
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Oral Myelin
Intravenous Immunoglobulin G
Copolymer-1 is a randomized polymer of basic amino acids. This polymer is structurally similar to myelin basic protein. Therefore, administration of Copolymer may interfere with formation of trimolecular complex and could potentially prevent the auto immunologic cascade. This medication requires daily subcutaneous administration and decreases the frequency of relapses in patients with relapsing-remitting disease. Chronic Progressive disease does not respond to therapy with Copolymer-1. Copolymer-1 and interferon are acting through different mechanisms, and combined therapy with the two medications may be feasible.
T-Cell Receptor
Some data suggests that certain T-cell receptor configurations are involved in the immune response of acute demyelinating lesion. If these sequences can be identified, then they can be synthesized in vitro and injected into patients, creating an immune response against specific TCRs. If TCRs are blocked by the antibodies, then their interaction with antigen and resulting destruction of myelin will also be suppressed. Some preliminary clinical trials have been conducted. They indicated that TCR peptides can indeed induce an immune response and can be safely administered. Further investigations are needed in this area.
Anti CD4 Monoclonal Antibody Treatment
Anti CD4 monoclonal antibody treatment can be of interest because CD4s are essential components of the activated helper T-cells and thus - of a trinucleotide complex. This specific immuno-modulating treatment may be able to interfere with formation of this complex and with subsequent myelin destruction. Preliminary clinical trials showed that this treatment was well tolerated by patients with chronic progressive MS.
Azathioprine (Imuran)
Being a purine analog, Azathioprine (Imuran) interferes with DNA synthesis and has numerous non-specific effects on immune system. For instance, it is known to suppress cell-mediated hypersensitivity reactions and is cytotoxic to NK lymphocytes. Imuran is cautiously used in treatment of chronic progressive disease with modest success. It has been shown to stabilize the condition in some patients. Treatment may be associated with significant side effects including nausea, hepatotoxicity, rashes and pancytopenia. It may also increase the risk of malignancies in patients.
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) is another cytotoxic agent which causes a generalized immuno-suppression. It is a controversial treatment because of significant side effects, i.e.,. Hemorrhagic cystitis, alopecia, sterility, pancytopenia and increased risk for neoplasms. It has been tried in patients with chronic progressive MS, who were non responsive to steroid medications.
Oral Myelin
Oral myelin administration has been tested in clinical trials. The effect of the drug was observed in only one subgroup of patients - DR2 negative males. Significance of this observation is yet to be explained.
Methotrexate is being studied on patients with chronic progressive disease. This medication is generally used with success in patients with psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease and appears to be helpful for patients with advanced disease, but further clinical trials are needed.
Cladribine appears to have a relatively selective toxicity for lymphocytes. If administered intravenously, this drug appears to alter progression of MS, but more information is needed to draw conclusions.
IVIG is now being assessed in clinical trials for possible efficacy in patients with relapsing-remitting disease. Very little information is available on the potential benefits of this medication.


text: In bright Burnt Coral or seasonal Light Grey Marl, the Atherton Maternity Top is just what an autumnal pregnancy wardrobe needs. Beautifully soft and lightweight, it's designed in an easy wear, easy care, fine rib jersey–this style features an inverted front pleat detail allowing the fabric drape over a growing bump perfectly. Featuring a sporty asymmetric hem detail with a softened V–neck and three–quarter length raglan sleeves, it looks great with skinny jeans and relaxed pants.


text:
A recall of raw milk cheeses at Whole Foods Market was recently expanded by Vulto Creamery to include the location at Bergen Town Center in Paramus and on Boston Post Road in Port Chester.
The cheeses have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which federal officials is responsible for six illnesses and two deaths.
The cheeses were cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap with scale labels beginning with PLU codes 0200307, 0201357 or 0206308 and "sell by" dates from 01/02/2017 to 04/02/2017, the FDA said.
The other store locations included in the recall are:
- 94 Derby Street, Hingham, MA
- 1255 Raritan Road Unit 150, Clark, NJ
- 300 Bergen Town Center, Paramus, NJ
- 238 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY
- 1095 Avenue of the Americas. New York City
- 270 Greenwich Street, New York City
- 4 Union Square South, New York City
- 575 Boston Post Road, Port Chester, NY
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text:
Posts tagged set
Druid Peak Film Shoot in West Virginia0
This past week I have been volunteering on Druid Peak, a film written and directed by Marnie Zelnick, featuring Spencer Treat Clark (Gladiator, Unbreakable, The Last House on the Left,) Nathaniel Brown (Enter the Void,) and Armand Schultz (Salt,) while the cast and crew were based here in West Virginia to shoot the beginning of the film.
Druid Peak is about a young man, Owen (Spencer Treat Clark,) who is a footloose, delinquent teenager who finds himself in a load of trouble after a tragic accident where his friend dies. Forced to leave home, he travels to find peace in the wild of Wyoming, tracking wolves with his biological father, a scientist working for Yellowstone's wolf reintroduction program.
It was a privilege to act as an extra alongside Spencer Treat Clark. I portrayed one of his cronies who rides in the back of an old Ford truck, roughs up a poor young guy, chills in an alleyway at a drinking party, and so forth. Nathaniel Brown portrayed Owen's best friend, the driver of the old Ford. It was simply amazing being able to work with both of them on this feature.
Besides acting as an extra, I spent most of my free time volunteering as a PA (Production Assistant) on the film, doing anything from running for water bottles, wrapping up set, to mopping up an overflowed toilet. The best part was working with such an amazing cast and crew – each and every one was so hard working. It wasn't about just getting a job done; it was about doing it with gusto and doing it well. To top it off, they taught me an incredible amount of hands-on techniques in the gaffer and grip departments, where I spent much of my time.
Early Monday morning the cast and crew headed out for the next location, Yellowstone, Wyoming, to finish shooting the movie in the following three weeks. After that, it's post production and sending the feature film to festivals. I look forward the movie's completion and to meeting the magnificent cast and crew again – preferably as soon as possible.
A huge thanks goes to the City of Mount Hope for all the exceptional help they provided us in the shooting of this film, including housing, extras, and much more.


text:
Illinois Fatal Crash Data for 2019:
|The fatality data provided below is provisional and is based on information submitted to IDOT for fatal motor vehicle related crashes occurring on Illinois public roadways. The data is updated as information is received from various agencies throughout the state. Fatalities include motor vehicle occupants (drivers and passengers) and non-occupants (pedestrians, pedalcyclists, etc.) killed in the crash.
|Restraint Usage: Data does not include fatalities where restraint usage was unknown. (Example: an emergency rescue team arrives before the police, and usage is not reported.)
|Driver Licensing: Fatal crashes where driver(s), either surviving or deceased, did not have a valid driver's license at the time of the crash. Data includes drivers who were unlicensed, suspended, revoked, expired, cancelled or denied.
Highway and Traffic Safety Information


text:
Hi Everyone – Two and a half weeks to go!!! Exciting? Frightening? Frustrating!!?
To bring you up to date – (and explain the last point above)
On 28th Jan I sent out an e-mail to everyone drawing attention to the website and the final paperwork required to complete you registration and insurance. I said "Please let me have those three pages and cheque/s back quickly as they are not only confirmation of your participation but lead to various admin actions we have to take". The response is a bit worrying as 46 teams have not yet complied! You will know who you are - so does this mean you are not taking part? Please either re-assure me you are still wishing to compete by sending in your paperwork and insurance cheque or let me know that you are pulling out so we can react accordingly as there are many various admin arrangements we have to put in place.
Keeping you up to date on the sponsorship side there are currently 37 teams who have not yet reached the £600 minimum and a further 16 who have, to date, recorded any donation at all either directly to me or on a Justgiving page. We are currently showing a total sponsorship of £47,000. Very welcome of course but this time last year we were at £72K and eventually set the new record of £123K. If you ae holding cheques please let me have them as it makes life very much easier if I drip feed them to the bank. I know some of you have events after the event for which I am most grateful and you have kept me informed.
One team has achieved a great offer which could be of interest and advantage – Keith Parkinson (Team 6) has got a sponsor who could be a benefit all round – I quote his e-mail – "Skytag make a GPS/GPRS based vehicle tracking system – there is a purchase cost and then a subscription. If your vehicle is stolen or moves for example when you have told them you are on holiday they track it and inform the police. Skytag have agreed to sponsor us on the Mac this year. Part of the deal is that anyone ordering a Skytag using the code Mac4x4 gets the normal price of £249.99 reduced down to £89.00, and for every unit purchased at this rate they will donate £15/unit to our Macmillan sponsor account. The benefit to them is more people trying the product and signing up to the subscription. There is a bonus for everyone taking part in the Mac this year who buys (or already has) a Skytag. They will provide a web login that will allow followers of that team to see where the vehicle is now and where it has been. This would be an open portal, with any number of vehicles on it, similar to the one they did for the Peking Paris rally where they tracked 62 vehicles. This includes a picture of the vehicle, team name, sponsor links etc all when you hover over the vehicle icon or on the listing name on the left hand side. Anyone participating in the Mac who buys a Skytag unit before the event (or already has one), will get the live tracking for the challenge free. This could turn the event in to an armchair spectator event, giving it more interaction and exposure. Their website is http://www.skytag-gps.co.uk/. We are keen to get the message out to all teams on the 2011 Mac 4x4 that if they already have or buy a Skytag before the event that they can have vehicle tracking enabled. The live tracking could help many of the teams with fundraising, or at least add a bonus to their supporters. Keith would be happy to discuss this with anyone interested on 07866 772950.
Some of you have queried maps – between the AA and the organisers you will get all you need!! So, start airing your sleeping bags and stocking up with Red Bull and energy bars – it's getting very close! See you in just over two weeks time!!!
Cheers - Peter


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Marion gets atrazine check
Staff writer
Marion has received $162,747 as a part of a $105 million settlement against Sygenta, an atrazine manufacturer from Switzerland.
Marion's part of the lawsuit dates back to 2007 when atrazine was noticed in Marion Reservoir. The water was measured to contain 0.6 parts per billion of atrazine, Marion City Administrator Doug Kjellin said. Environmental Protection Agency regulations state that three parts per billion is an acceptable level of atrazine.
Kjellin said there are still levels of atrazine in the reservoir, although there has not been much rain runoff to push the herbicide into the water.
Kjellin said Marion has already received the check. He said it is up to the City Council to decide how the money will be spent. He recommends spending the money toward some water purification venture possibly improving the granular activated carbon filter, which removes atrazine. Mayor Mary Olson agreed. Kjellin said the money could be used in 2013 because it will placed in the capital improvement fund.
Last modified Jan. 23, 2013


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This story has been updated.
Filmmaker Jonathan Demme, a Nyack resident who won an Oscar for directing "The Silence of Lambs" in 1991, died Wednesday morning at the age of 73.
The cause of death was esophageal cancer and complications from heart disease, according to IndieWire . He was originally treated for the disease in 2010, but suffered from a recurrence in 2015, and his condition deteriorated in recent weeks, according to IndieWire .
Aside from "Silence of the Lambs," Demme directed films like "Philadelphia," "Something Wild," "Married To The Mob," and "Rachel Getting Married."
His Talking Heads concert film "Stop Making Sense" is considered one of the best music documentaries of all time. He also made documentaries on Neil Young, Jimmy Carter, and Justin Timberlake.
Demme was a regular patron of the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville. He hosted series like "Saddle Up Saturdays" and "Jonathan Demme's Rarely Seen Cinema." He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2006.
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text:
by President Tom Rochon
Living in China for three years brings a new perspective on that country's culture and economy....
FLEFF offers an ever-expanding smorgasbord of indie and rare films, music, classes, and more. by Karin Fleming '09 with Maura Stephens
"How many opportunities do we have for a shared academic experience that cuts across the entire campus?" asks Tanya Saunders, dean of...
More students from IC than any other U.S. school worked at the Olympics.
IC had three groups of students involved with the Beijing Olympics this summer. Eleven Park students worked in China and six in New York City as NBC interns; Park is one of only six institutions in the country to...


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If you have or know a solar project, please submit it to us for consideration as a featured project using Submit an Item. http://www.solaripedia.com/302/submit-an-item.html
Lumenhaus is a zero energy, grid-tied active and passive solar, modular residence that was designed and built by a team of university students at Virginia Tech. It is both a dwelling and an exhibition informing the public about issues of alternative energy and sustainability. Based on the concept of Responsive Architecture, the home adjusts to climactic changes and user requirements through automated systems that optimize energy consumption. Constructed of sustainable materials and systems, it has been exhibited in Washington D.C., Times Square, Madrid, Spain, Millennium Park, and at the Farnsworth House in Plano Ill. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) honored Virginia Tech's solar home, LumenHAUS, with a 2012 AIA Institute Honor Awards for Architecture - the first time a university team has been given this honor. Lumenhaus won the 2010 Solar Decathlon Europe competition in Madrid, Spain, triumphing over 16 international research universities. Inspired by the Farnsworth House by Mies van der Rohe, the 800-square-foot Lumenhaus features a rectangular open plan. The steel frame is topped by structural insulated roof panels that support an array of 45 grid-tied solar panels. The north and south walls are constructed entirely of glass and are buffered from the outdoors by the Eclipsis System, an automated system of sliding screens that include stainless steel shutter screens and aerogel-filled translucent insulating polycarbonate panels. It is designed to maximize daylight so that no electric light is needed during the day. To the south, the circular shade perforations of the shutter panels are designed to block direct sunlight while maintaining exterior views and interior privacy. To the north, the perforations are more porous to allow more sunlight. Energy collected during the day is then used at night through an LED system built into the Eclipsis System panels. Other sustainable features include an automated geothermal heat-pump system, radiant flooring, low-VOC paints, Energy Star appliances, and materials made with recycled content, containing low embodied energy, or made from rapidly renewable materials." (Scroll to bottom for additional resources)
LUMENHAUS is the third solar house designed and built at Virginia Tech as part of a research program begun in 2002. An innovative design integrating architecture and technology, the project won the international Solar Decathlon Competition in Madrid, Spain in June of 2010.
The Solar Decathlon Europe 2010 was a competition among nineteen top universities from France, Germany, Spain, Finland, UK, USA, and China participating in Madrid (June 2010). The Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. Eco-Structure Magazine reported that "the winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. In a turn of events following back-to-back wins by European teams in the U.S. Department of Energy's biennial Solar Decathlon, an American team took top honors in the Solar Decathlon Europe 2010 competition. Lumenhaus, the entry from Virginia Tech was named the most efficient entry of the inaugural European competition. It was the first win for Virginia Tech after participating in the 2002, 2005, and 2009 U.S. Solar Decathlons. The only other American team competing in the 17-team event, the University of Florida, received an online public choice award, decided by an Internet voting campaign. Lumenhaus edged out the second place finisher, team Ikaros-Bavaria from the University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim, Germany, by one point.
As a modern pavilion, LUMENHAUS is an architectural space of distinction. Where most energy-conscious houses are closed with strategic openings to resist heat transfer, LUMENHAUS has open, flowing spaces linking occupants to each other within the house and to nature outside. Inspired by the Farnsworth House by Mies Van Der Rohe, the north and south walls are all glass, maximizing the owner's exposure to bright, natural daylight. The fully automated Eclipsis System, comprising independent sliding layers, permits a revolutionary design in a solar-powered house, while filtering light in beautiful, flowing patterns throughout the day.
LUMENHAUS does more than literally deliver a brighter day, however.
LUMENHAUS epitomizes a "whole building design" construction approach, in which all the home's components and systems have been designed to work together to maximize user comfort with environmental protection. LUMENHAUS uses technology optimally to make the owner's life simpler, more energy efficient and less expensive. On the cutting edge of responsive architecture, LUMENHAUS can operate completely self sufficiently, responding to environmental changes automatically to balance energy efficiency with user comfort.
LUMENHAUS is a zero-energy home that is completely powered by the sun. Other sustainable features include the use of passive energy systems, radiant heating and building materials that are from renewable and/or recyclable sources.
The Design
Inspired by the glass pavilion-style Farnsworth House designed by Bauhaus architect Mies Van Der Rohe, the house features a flowing, open plan that connects occupants to each other within the house and to nature outside.
The rectangular, open plan is an efficient, small footprint, yet a perceptually generous space. The house's interior and exterior meld into a seamless transition when the Eclipsis System is open, delivering a rich transparency of space. In good weather, the screens open, creating both a physical and psychological connection with the outdoors. The floor space doubles in size and the north and south walls become nonexistent, making the rooms boundless. The characteristics of each layer of the changing wall system create a diversity of spatial readings.
The central core plays an important spatial role as well, yielding alternate paths on which one can walk.
The house is designed to be extremely flexible, to adapt to the owner's changing needs, on a daily basis and with his or her changing life circumstances. Each area has specific activities, but has been designed to be flexible in that the user can have the option to alter the areas for their own programmatic needs. For example, the doors within the central core contain activities such as the office, storage and entertainment within its lining and doors that can be pulled out to close the bedroom into a private space. The characteristics of each layer of the changing wall system create a diversity of spatial readings. The kitchen counter can be transformed into a bar for entertainment and the dining room table is on castors so it can be moved outside during warm summer evenings. The modular design means the whole house itself is also flexible. Multiple units can be connected or stacked with plug-in stairs and entryways to create two-, three- or four- bedroom houses to adapt to the owners' changing life circumstances.
LUMENHAUS™ emphasizes integrity and endurance. Choices of materials and components are based on the basic requirements of environmental conservation and energy use, as well as the longevity of each product. General concepts for sustainable architecture – compact volume, little air infiltration, strategic insulation, natural/cross ventilation, passive heating, and integrated geothermal energy sink – are articulated with appropriate technologies. Design decisions and material selection aim to reduce indoor pollutants, minimize global warming, reduce waste, include recycled content, represent low embodied energy in manufacture and harvest, limit destruction to habitat, and rapidly renew resources.
The best way to address issues of energy in buildings is to use as little as possible. The pavilion architecture allows low-energy patterns of use through passive heating, solar shading, and cross ventilation.
Responsive Architecture optimizes energy use by adapting to changing environmental conditions while increasing the quality of space. Utilizing smart home technology and environmental controls the house produces more energy than it consumes while providing for increased livability. Through the concept of Responsive Architecture, the house employs sliding fenestrations (Eclipsys System) to optimize energy use while providing for different architectural spatial qualities. Computer automated controls allow the house to automatically adapt to changing environmental conditions. Living in smaller and adaptable houses uses fewer resources, and the prefabricated construction process reduces waste and increases efficiency. We can downsize our dwellings while improving the quality of life.
Geothermal Heating & Cooling
The house includes a fully automated, high efficiency geothermal-tied heat pump system that increases efficiency for heating and cooling. A radiant floor heating system by REHAU generates heat evenly and consistently throughout the rooms, with no blowing air and quiet operation.
The Siemens APOGEE Building Control System (BCS) software and web applications allow users to manage all facility systems and equipment from one workstation, compiling all information to work smarter and more efficiently. A Titus Dynafuser linear slot diffuser with actuators redirects the air to optimize for thermal comfort as it relates to the season. The Automated Eclipsis System (stainless steel sunscreen and aerogel-filled translucent insulated polycarbonate panel) maximizes conservation of energy and helps bring the outside to the inside.
A three-stage graywater treatment system is used for water purification and subsequent reuse.
Landscape ponds include hydroponic plants that treat wastewater, prevent the growth of algae, and repel insects to prevent infestation.
Varieties of sedum are planted as a surface landscape ground cover that absorb carbon dioxide emissions from the surrounding environment and serve as a runoff system for impervious surfaces surrounding the house.
Minimized painted surfaces using green line paint with low VOC content from Sherwin-Williams, minimizes the impact on air quality while still delivering maximum performance
Long lasting polished HTC Superfloor concrete floor is durable, easily cleaned and doubles as a thermal mass for passive solar strategies
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) provide superior insulation as well as structural strength, while reducing infiltration and optimizing the use of framing materials
Closed-cell spray foam insulation containing no CFCs, HCFCs, or measurable levels of formaldehyde promotes tight enclosure and increases R-values
Maple-veneered plywood walls Wall surfaces of durable and easy to clean maple-veneered plywood from Columbia Forest pure bond line non-toxic technology with soy-based adhesives
Aluminum framed Fleetwood sliding glass doors obtained from vendors who practice waste reduction by recycling remnants and glass scrap for future use
Stretched fabric ceiling Lightweight Barrisol stretched fabric ceiling made from recycled, lead-free co-polymer fabric ceiling
Electrochromic glass, SageGlass, helps to reduce heating and cooling loads while automatically improving light quality by tinting the glass if the intensity of the sunlight is too strong
Daltile bathroom tile Daltile bathroom tile made from recycled materials
Durable and easy to maintain rubber tile produced by Johnsonite, is recyclable
Space utilization products from Hafele which allow for a smaller house footprint, requiring fewer materials and using less energy
Aerogel filled polycarbonate panels give a high insulation value while transmitting a beautiful translucent light
Shutters Stainless steel shutters provide sun protection, security, privacy, cross ventilation, strategic views and a dynamic diffused natural light
Zinc façade panels can be completely recycled
Roofing system utilizes a white, lightweight, weatherproof, Acrylife PVC membrane that protects the roof from harsh weather conditions while also reflecting light, therefore decreasing the amount of heat from sunlight that is absorbed through the building envelope
Solar panels All energy provided by 45 grid-tied solar panels – the Sanyo 190 HIT Double Bifacial Photovaltaic Module, which simultaneously absorb sunlight from the back face of the panel; a portion of the sunlight passes through the panels, combining with sunlight reflected off the surface below, thus transferring the highest power per square footage to the bifacial solar cells and producing up to 30% more electricity than a one sided panel
Decking Maintenance-free, long lasting, durable, and rot and termite resistant decking – wood (ipe) harvested under the guidelines of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), ensuring minimal impact to the environment
Aluminum walk off mat – recyclable and lightweight - helps prevent tracking of debris into the house
Fisher & Paykel DD24SI6 drawer-style dishwasher equipped with an eco-setting for less energy use (Energy Star)
Diva 24" three burner electromagnetic induction cooktop with a 90% efficiency of heat transferred to cooking utensils compared to 50% for gas and 60% for other cooking technologies (Energy Star)
Summit FFBF245 compact refrigerator/freezer that is more energy efficient than most on the market for its size (Energy Star)
kohler plumbing fixtures
Kohler water-conserving kitchen faucet Kohler toilet with Dual Flush technology that meets the EPA's strict WaterSense flushing performance guidelines (uses at least 20% less water than standard 1.6-gallon toilets)
Energy Star rated SMEG SC712U convection oven that operates at a lower temperature yet cooks food faster than a conventional oven, also equipped with an eco-mode that brings the device up to temperature in the most efficient way
lg washer and dryer LG combination front-loading ventless clothes washer and dryer cleans and dries clothes in a single appliance, halving embodied energy, maintenance, and floor space
Laundry Alternative Spin Dryer uses a 3200-rpm spin cycle to remove most water from clothing using very little energy, which cuts heated drying time by 30 minutes or more
Touch screen ASUS computer uses energy management software that throttles system resources based on process requirements
Samsung LED series Eight TV uses 20-30% less energy than a comparable size television, while producing better color and contrast
The Name
LUMEN means "the power of light." During the day, the house maximizes occupants' exposure to natural daylight, which research shows improves mood and well-being. Energy collected during the day is symbolically radiated back out at night through a low-energy lighting system within the insulating panels. The color temperature of the white lights can be controlled by the occupant to again optimize mood and wellbeing.
HAUS is a reference to the BauHaus movement, and architect Mies Van Der Rohe, whose Farnsworth House inspired LUMENHAUS. The Virginia Tech College of Architecture and Urban Studies also has roots in the Bauhaus movement. The word Haus in German means both house and home, reflecting the multi-audience appeal of LUMENHAUS.
Solar Decathlon Europe
As with the original event in the USA, the Solar Decathlon Europe competition is an international competition among universities around the world with the goal of advancing the knowledge and dissemination of industrialized, solar and sustainable housing. The competition is going on now in Madrid (June of 2010). The 19 prototypes, designed and built by the participating universities, will be assembled and displayed there.The goals of the contest are:
1. To raise awareness of the students participating in the competition of the various benefits and opportunities offered by the use of renewable energies and energy efficient construction, challenging them to think creatively about energy and how it affects our everyday lives.
2. To educate the general public about renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the technologies available to help them reduce their power consumption. The event also aims to raise societys awareness of the need for responsible energy use in home construction.
3. To encourage the use of solar technologies and to distribute them more quickly to the market, taking advantage of the interest generated by students, and to contribute to the development of energy efficient technologies and energy production, all of which is incorporated into an architecturally attractive house.
4. To clearly demonstrate that you can build high performance solar homes without sacrificing energy efficiency or comfort, and that they can be both attractive and affordable.
Particpcating schools in the 2010 competition:
Arts et Métiers Paris Tech
Fachhochschule fur Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin
Bergische Universität Wuppertal
Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera
Ecole National Supérieure d'architecture de Grenoble
Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences
Aalto University, Finland
Instituto de Arquitectura Avanzada de Cataluña
University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim
Tianjin University
Universidad de Sevilla
Universidad de Valladolid
University of Nottingham
University of Florida
Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña
Tongji University
Virginia Tech


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AFC East
Buffalo Bills
The Coach: Rex Ryan (1st season with Bills; 50-52 overall)
Last Season: 9-7, 4-2 division
Playoffs: Did not qualify.
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The Buzz: Madcap Rex Ryan replaces morose Doug Marrone. Throw in newly acquired characters like Percy Harvin, LeSean McCoy, Richie Incognito and IK Enemkpali (last spotted reportedly cold-cocking Geno Smith over $600), and...