Grandparents who watch grandchildren should know what Ruth and Dave Halpern of Staten Island have discovered: The weekly children's programs at Holmdel Library at Town Hall are educational, entertaining, and best of all -- free.
"This librarian, she's phenomenal," said Ruth Halpern, who watches over her twin 5-year old Holmdel granddaughters, Danielle and Sandra, on weekdays. Nelson was referring to Children's Librarian Alanah Mellin, who was on the carpet nearby, cheerfully cleaning up goop from a Dr. Seuss activity that had just ended on March 7. "She has patience, and she motivates them," she said.
On weekly storytime days, families like the Halperns arrive early to browse through the picture books in the children's room. When the librarian signals the storytime will begin, the children take a seat on the carpet to hear the story read aloud and a related craft, if included. Unless noted they must stay, the adults can exit to the main library.
On this day the children listened to Mellin read Dr. Seuss' classic, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, about a boy that must save a kingdom from a gooey substance. Then the eight children actually got to make oobleck, from cornstarch, water and a few drops of green food coloring. For little people in the K-2 age demographic, this is an intensely joyful way to spend a Thursday afternoon. The adults who had not retreated to the couch to flip through People Magazine, observed through the big glass windows, grateful this was not a take-home craft.
Zhanna Vernikov of Morganville said she had tried storytime in three other libraries with her son Steven, 6, before coming to Holmdel. It was her first visit, and she said she was impressed by Mellin's gentle manner. Occasionally, the kids interrupted the story, or strayed from the craft, but they were always guided back to the lesson without drama. "She seems to be the most patient," Vernikov said.
Mellin said she had not even noticed the distractions, "Its a natural part of their development. They explore at this age, and you should be concerned if they don't," she said.
2011年7月27日星期三
Arkansas Fires Pelphrey After 4 Seasons
Pelphrey was 69-59 in four seasons with the Razorbacks, including an 18-13 record this season. Arkansas lost to Tennessee in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Thursday.
Pelphrey replaced Stan Heath as coach of the Razorbacks in 2007-08 and finished 23-12. Arkansas advanced to the NCAA tournament that season, defeating Indiana before losing to North Carolina.
The Razorbacks struggled in Pelphrey's next two seasons, winning 14 games in each. This season will mark the third straight year Arkansas will miss the NCAA tournament.
Athletic director Jeff Long said in a statement that a national search would begin immediately. The school called a 6 p.m. news conference to address the program's future.
"After a thorough and comprehensive evaluation of our men's basketball program, including an assessment of the overall student-athlete experience within our program, it is clear that we have not made the progress over the last four years that is necessary to return Razorback basketball to a place of national relevance," Long said.
Arkansas saw a steady decline in attendance in Pelphrey's four seasons. The Razorbacks averaged 17,148 in his first season, 16,043 in his second and 13,182 last year. This season, the school averaged 12,022 in 18 games in the 19,200-seat Bud Walton Arena.
During its national championship season of 1993-94, Arkansas averaged 20,134 at home. This season, the school drew a season-high 14,174 for its game against Ole Miss in February.
Two weeks ago, following a home loss to Mississippi State that cost the Razorbacks second place in the SEC West and a bye in the conference tournament, an advertisement ran in the statewide Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The ad called for Razorback fans to contact university officials "on the future of Arkansas basketball before too much times passes."
Pelphrey replaced Stan Heath as coach of the Razorbacks in 2007-08 and finished 23-12. Arkansas advanced to the NCAA tournament that season, defeating Indiana before losing to North Carolina.
The Razorbacks struggled in Pelphrey's next two seasons, winning 14 games in each. This season will mark the third straight year Arkansas will miss the NCAA tournament.
Athletic director Jeff Long said in a statement that a national search would begin immediately. The school called a 6 p.m. news conference to address the program's future.
"After a thorough and comprehensive evaluation of our men's basketball program, including an assessment of the overall student-athlete experience within our program, it is clear that we have not made the progress over the last four years that is necessary to return Razorback basketball to a place of national relevance," Long said.
Arkansas saw a steady decline in attendance in Pelphrey's four seasons. The Razorbacks averaged 17,148 in his first season, 16,043 in his second and 13,182 last year. This season, the school averaged 12,022 in 18 games in the 19,200-seat Bud Walton Arena.
During its national championship season of 1993-94, Arkansas averaged 20,134 at home. This season, the school drew a season-high 14,174 for its game against Ole Miss in February.
Two weeks ago, following a home loss to Mississippi State that cost the Razorbacks second place in the SEC West and a bye in the conference tournament, an advertisement ran in the statewide Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The ad called for Razorback fans to contact university officials "on the future of Arkansas basketball before too much times passes."
2011年7月21日星期四
Despite dire predictions of hellfire
Despite dire predictions of hellfire, brimstone and bumper-to-bumper traffic, the much-feared (and much-hyped) "Carmageddon" that was expected to ravage all of Los Angeles last weekend was somewhat similar to the Rapture two months before — if it happened, most people didn't notice.
That's because, in large part, people seemed to stay home, which presented real opportunities for local businesses that could take advantage of the glut of trapped customers.
CalTrans boasted to media outlets that its aggressive print, broadcast and social media campaigns kept two-thirds of drivers off of compromised roadways, making travel possible for that recalcitrant 30 percent.
In Santa Monica, locals and local businesses jumped at the chance to market Carmageddon-themed deals, like $4.05 menus at Angel's and the Daily Grill, or drinks with names like "Flat Tire" beers and "Road Rage."
Businesses that could draw people in as gathering places reported that they had done well over the weekend, said Kim Koury, owner of Spin Public Relations.
To some degree, Koury and a team of friends, all young professionals in Santa Monica, are somewhat to blame for that.
The team also produced videos, created T-shirts and merchandise and reached out to local businesses to encourage 405 specials to create a party atmosphere out of what was expected to be a car apocalypse.
Car-mageddon debuted three weeks before the actual event, complete with a calendar, maps and a countdown to the closure.
That's because, in large part, people seemed to stay home, which presented real opportunities for local businesses that could take advantage of the glut of trapped customers.
CalTrans boasted to media outlets that its aggressive print, broadcast and social media campaigns kept two-thirds of drivers off of compromised roadways, making travel possible for that recalcitrant 30 percent.
In Santa Monica, locals and local businesses jumped at the chance to market Carmageddon-themed deals, like $4.05 menus at Angel's and the Daily Grill, or drinks with names like "Flat Tire" beers and "Road Rage."
Businesses that could draw people in as gathering places reported that they had done well over the weekend, said Kim Koury, owner of Spin Public Relations.
To some degree, Koury and a team of friends, all young professionals in Santa Monica, are somewhat to blame for that.
The team also produced videos, created T-shirts and merchandise and reached out to local businesses to encourage 405 specials to create a party atmosphere out of what was expected to be a car apocalypse.
Car-mageddon debuted three weeks before the actual event, complete with a calendar, maps and a countdown to the closure.
We went around the market
We went around the market and bought some stuff: orange chocolate chip cookies, a sack of beef jerky, some tomatoes, couple of apples. All that for about $13. The container cost more than the cargo.
On our return trip, we were so engrossed in the novel we were reading on our phone that we overshot our stop and wound up at the Glen Park station again. Lord, if it is your will that we visit Glen Park on this trip, send us some sort of sign.
We got on the train taking us back to Market, where we waited for the MUNI to haul us back up the hill.
Market and 24th is what some people might call a dicey area. It's one of the few neighborhoods in this glorious town that has defied gentrification. We don't mind it. There's a lot of everything there, a collision of Asians, Latinos, blacks, hipsters, old folks, homeless people. Not a lot of rich folks. Our Ferry Building tote stood out like a Gucci in the ghetto.
We sat on a bench near the front of the bus and watched the road for a while as things turned tonier by the block.
We glanced back to find a fellow in his early 30 s peering at us over the waistband of a pair of underpants that he was holding stretched out in front of his nose. We hasten to assure you that it wasn't repulsive. The androgynous undergarment looked like the sort of underpants they might give you in the hospital, if hospitals gave out underpants: They were fresh out of the bag, scrubs-blue, looked almost like they were made of paper, and seemed to maybe be disposable. Yeah, we were looking a long time and he was giving us a big guileless grin.
We turned and watched the road some more as the bus continued to climb the steep grade.
Finally, the road leveled out. We looked back at the underpants guy who was now at the very least shirtless and was apparently working at liberating his more southerly apparel. We seemed to be the only person paying any attention. The rest of the passengers certainly weren't self-absorbed as many of their haughty co-citizens in the nicer parts of the city. Probably, they had plenty of problems of their own and didn't need to add a disrobing bus passenger to their list of cares.
Forgetting that it's our sworn duty in this life to collect weird and marvelous stories for our readers, we reached up and pulled the cord and rose to wait by the doors to get off the bus in the extraordinarily eventless Noe Valley.
On our return trip, we were so engrossed in the novel we were reading on our phone that we overshot our stop and wound up at the Glen Park station again. Lord, if it is your will that we visit Glen Park on this trip, send us some sort of sign.
We got on the train taking us back to Market, where we waited for the MUNI to haul us back up the hill.
Market and 24th is what some people might call a dicey area. It's one of the few neighborhoods in this glorious town that has defied gentrification. We don't mind it. There's a lot of everything there, a collision of Asians, Latinos, blacks, hipsters, old folks, homeless people. Not a lot of rich folks. Our Ferry Building tote stood out like a Gucci in the ghetto.
We sat on a bench near the front of the bus and watched the road for a while as things turned tonier by the block.
We glanced back to find a fellow in his early 30 s peering at us over the waistband of a pair of underpants that he was holding stretched out in front of his nose. We hasten to assure you that it wasn't repulsive. The androgynous undergarment looked like the sort of underpants they might give you in the hospital, if hospitals gave out underpants: They were fresh out of the bag, scrubs-blue, looked almost like they were made of paper, and seemed to maybe be disposable. Yeah, we were looking a long time and he was giving us a big guileless grin.
We turned and watched the road some more as the bus continued to climb the steep grade.
Finally, the road leveled out. We looked back at the underpants guy who was now at the very least shirtless and was apparently working at liberating his more southerly apparel. We seemed to be the only person paying any attention. The rest of the passengers certainly weren't self-absorbed as many of their haughty co-citizens in the nicer parts of the city. Probably, they had plenty of problems of their own and didn't need to add a disrobing bus passenger to their list of cares.
Forgetting that it's our sworn duty in this life to collect weird and marvelous stories for our readers, we reached up and pulled the cord and rose to wait by the doors to get off the bus in the extraordinarily eventless Noe Valley.
2011年7月18日星期一
Massive solar system installed University of Queensland
Australia's largest flat-panel photovoltaic solar power system has been installed at The University of Queensland in Brisbane.
The system generates 1.22 megawatts of power from the sun, harvested from 5004 panels on the rooftops of four of UQ's biggest buildings.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield said the UQ Solar Array would provide between five and six per cent of peak electricity demand at the St Lucia campus.
The solar panel installation at the University of Queensland. Photo: Stewart Gould via Brisbane Times
The asset will be shared with the community, by giving interested people access to a website showing live and historical data about the solar power generated from the UQ array.
"The project is enhanced by its strong industry partnerships, including research agreements with a number of world-leading companies in renewable power," Professor Greenfield said.
UQ will undertake ongoing solar research projects with:
Brisbane firm Ingenero, which installed the array, and worked on its design and engineering
Separate to the rooftop panels, UQ has installed a ground-mounted, seven-metre-by-six metre 8.4 kilowatt concentrating photovoltaic array (CPV) that follows the sun each day as it moves across the sky.
Ingenero donated the SolFocus CPV array to allow UQ researchers to undertake detailed comparisons with a different type of solar technology.
Designing and installing Australia's biggest rooftop PV solar power system
drew on the combined resources and significant expertise of UQ academics and engineers, working with industry leaders.
UQ's Property & Facilities division and UQ's School of Mathematics and Physics worked closely with engineering consultants Aurecon and lead contractor Ingenero.
The 1.22 megawatt UQ Solar array is almost 25 per cent larger than any other flat-panel PV system in Australia, with the added complexity of being split between four buildings.
The system generates 1.22 megawatts of power from the sun, harvested from 5004 panels on the rooftops of four of UQ's biggest buildings.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield said the UQ Solar Array would provide between five and six per cent of peak electricity demand at the St Lucia campus.
The solar panel installation at the University of Queensland. Photo: Stewart Gould via Brisbane Times
The asset will be shared with the community, by giving interested people access to a website showing live and historical data about the solar power generated from the UQ array.
"The project is enhanced by its strong industry partnerships, including research agreements with a number of world-leading companies in renewable power," Professor Greenfield said.
UQ will undertake ongoing solar research projects with:
Brisbane firm Ingenero, which installed the array, and worked on its design and engineering
Separate to the rooftop panels, UQ has installed a ground-mounted, seven-metre-by-six metre 8.4 kilowatt concentrating photovoltaic array (CPV) that follows the sun each day as it moves across the sky.
Ingenero donated the SolFocus CPV array to allow UQ researchers to undertake detailed comparisons with a different type of solar technology.
Designing and installing Australia's biggest rooftop PV solar power system
drew on the combined resources and significant expertise of UQ academics and engineers, working with industry leaders.
UQ's Property & Facilities division and UQ's School of Mathematics and Physics worked closely with engineering consultants Aurecon and lead contractor Ingenero.
The 1.22 megawatt UQ Solar array is almost 25 per cent larger than any other flat-panel PV system in Australia, with the added complexity of being split between four buildings.
Scott County supervisors cool to tax breaks for solar project
GATE CITY Scott County supervisors are waiting to hold a public hearing next month before voting on a property tax exemption for solar equipment that would benefit a local energy project.
The tax break a 100 percent exemption projected to total almost $300,000 over the next 10 years would apply to 1,800 solar panels being installed in Duffield through a partnership of the Lenowisco Planning District Commission, Scott County Economic Development Authority and Staunton, Va.-based Secure Futures, LLC.
The solar project is part of a 10-year power purchase agreement that would supply green energy to the Pioneer Business Center and Crooked Road Technology Center.
The $3 million project is funded in part through a $1.75 million research and development grant from the Virginia Tobacco Commission. Additional funding was obtained through state and federal sources. Secure Futures also contributed roughly $250,000 of its own capital to the project.
Representatives from Secure Futures the firm that will install and maintain the solar panels and the Scott County EDA lobbied supervisors for the exemption at the board’s July meeting.
Read the expanded version of this report in the print edition or the enhanced electronic version of the Kingsport Times-News.
The tax break a 100 percent exemption projected to total almost $300,000 over the next 10 years would apply to 1,800 solar panels being installed in Duffield through a partnership of the Lenowisco Planning District Commission, Scott County Economic Development Authority and Staunton, Va.-based Secure Futures, LLC.
The solar project is part of a 10-year power purchase agreement that would supply green energy to the Pioneer Business Center and Crooked Road Technology Center.
The $3 million project is funded in part through a $1.75 million research and development grant from the Virginia Tobacco Commission. Additional funding was obtained through state and federal sources. Secure Futures also contributed roughly $250,000 of its own capital to the project.
Representatives from Secure Futures the firm that will install and maintain the solar panels and the Scott County EDA lobbied supervisors for the exemption at the board’s July meeting.
Read the expanded version of this report in the print edition or the enhanced electronic version of the Kingsport Times-News.
2011年7月15日星期五
A leader in the style of music
A leader in the style of music known as nuevo flamenco, Ottmar Liebert made his wine country debut Tuesday night before a sold-out Napa Valley Opera House crowd. The show proved to be a mixed bag.
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance that originated in southern Spain in the latter part of the 18th century in which Andalusian gypsies played an important role.
Born in the United States, there’s a musical movement derived in part from flamenco, as well as other styles of Latin music and world jazz. It’s been given the name nuevo, or nouveau, flamenco.
After he settled in Santa Fe, N.M., in the late 1980s, German-born Ottmar Liebert formed a band he called Luna Negra and launched a very successful career championing nuevo flamenco. Luna Negra’s initial recording in 1990 included “Barcelona Nights,” a tune that appealed to listeners around the world and propelled Liebert and Luna Negra onto the global stage.
Liebert blazed a new musical trail, and audiences were attracted to this new style of music for a number of reasons — nimble, articulate fingerwork; charming, uncomplicated melodies; and just enough flamenco authenticity to convince pop listeners that they had discovered something exotic.
No one would dispute that Liebert’s repertoire provides graceful and pleasant listening, even though the similarity in tempos gives his recordings a slightly homogenous feel.
And that was the problem Tuesday night. The concert was divided into a pair of approximate hour-long segments. The opening segment was repetitious and ultimately boring. I noted some audience members’ heads bowed, busily texting. Some left at intermission. One local guitarist slept through most of the opening set. It took the headliner’s switch to electric guitar on “Snakecharmer” to liven things up just prior to intermission.
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance that originated in southern Spain in the latter part of the 18th century in which Andalusian gypsies played an important role.
Born in the United States, there’s a musical movement derived in part from flamenco, as well as other styles of Latin music and world jazz. It’s been given the name nuevo, or nouveau, flamenco.
After he settled in Santa Fe, N.M., in the late 1980s, German-born Ottmar Liebert formed a band he called Luna Negra and launched a very successful career championing nuevo flamenco. Luna Negra’s initial recording in 1990 included “Barcelona Nights,” a tune that appealed to listeners around the world and propelled Liebert and Luna Negra onto the global stage.
Liebert blazed a new musical trail, and audiences were attracted to this new style of music for a number of reasons — nimble, articulate fingerwork; charming, uncomplicated melodies; and just enough flamenco authenticity to convince pop listeners that they had discovered something exotic.
No one would dispute that Liebert’s repertoire provides graceful and pleasant listening, even though the similarity in tempos gives his recordings a slightly homogenous feel.
And that was the problem Tuesday night. The concert was divided into a pair of approximate hour-long segments. The opening segment was repetitious and ultimately boring. I noted some audience members’ heads bowed, busily texting. Some left at intermission. One local guitarist slept through most of the opening set. It took the headliner’s switch to electric guitar on “Snakecharmer” to liven things up just prior to intermission.
These are impressive I have to say
These are impressive I have to say, they secure the pole rigs well and are not difficult to undo at the end of the session. At the other end I have had Pulla Bungs fitted so I can easily shorten the elastic – thanks to Ryan Watson of Sutton (who is in this year's England U18 squad) and David Sandford who furbished the pole.
One extra I asked for is a short No 4 that is a useful piece of kit as it stiffens the pole even more.
The pole is very smooth but I am not totally convinced about the "suncore" finish which is supposed to keep things cool in the sun.
Although smooth, you certainly feel the joints as they go through your hands but the pole is extremely strong. I get the impression it can take more punishment than my old one.
My first outings with my new toy was to Hartleylands Farm and I told of my disasters there in last week's paper. Last Sunday I went with Wars to fish at Tylers Common's Horseshoe Lake near Brentwood, Janet and Arthur Birch run the fishery and always make me welcome.
I drew peg 25 on the far arm and decided to set up a pellet waggler, method feeder plus pole rigs.
To cut a long story short, the method feeder wasn't used and a small carp fell to the pellet waggler, thereafter it was all pole work. Maggots over ground bait gave me skimmer bream but it was cat meat that sorted out the carp. One mirror carp gave a very good account of itself and took 20 minutes to land. The pole proved it was strong with no noticeable give when gripped tightly, so apart from the cosmetics and lack of a short four, it is simply brilliant.
I fished with 38-8-0 for second on my bank behind Steve Allen of New Addington on 42lb. But we could do nothing against the top four on the opposite bank who had over 75lb.
One extra I asked for is a short No 4 that is a useful piece of kit as it stiffens the pole even more.
The pole is very smooth but I am not totally convinced about the "suncore" finish which is supposed to keep things cool in the sun.
Although smooth, you certainly feel the joints as they go through your hands but the pole is extremely strong. I get the impression it can take more punishment than my old one.
My first outings with my new toy was to Hartleylands Farm and I told of my disasters there in last week's paper. Last Sunday I went with Wars to fish at Tylers Common's Horseshoe Lake near Brentwood, Janet and Arthur Birch run the fishery and always make me welcome.
I drew peg 25 on the far arm and decided to set up a pellet waggler, method feeder plus pole rigs.
To cut a long story short, the method feeder wasn't used and a small carp fell to the pellet waggler, thereafter it was all pole work. Maggots over ground bait gave me skimmer bream but it was cat meat that sorted out the carp. One mirror carp gave a very good account of itself and took 20 minutes to land. The pole proved it was strong with no noticeable give when gripped tightly, so apart from the cosmetics and lack of a short four, it is simply brilliant.
I fished with 38-8-0 for second on my bank behind Steve Allen of New Addington on 42lb. But we could do nothing against the top four on the opposite bank who had over 75lb.
2011年7月11日星期一
Ann from Dublin was travelling
Ann from Dublin was travelling via Dublin airport last week and had a most unpleasant experience and she contacted us: “We had our usual checklist complete for trying to make things as trouble free as possible,” she writes. She had made sure to use hand luggage within the dimensions and weight allowance, had her passport, had checked in online and printed out her boarding pass. Her liquids were in 100ml or less containers and placed in the resealable plastic bag. She was even wearing flat shoes so she wouldn’t have to take them off going through security.
“All was well until we reached the security screening area: Our liquids were in the resealable bag but we were told it was too big. We had measured the bag before purchase and had used it on previous trips. We told the person that it was the right size. He informed us that it was the wrong type of bag according to a Department of Transport directive,” she writes.
The security official then went to the person operating the screen “and they opened the bag and checked each and every bottle contained within. We then went through the metal detector, no beeps. The first bag came out along with the plastic tray of phone/wallet/belt. The line then stopped for three to five minutes, which I can only assume was to teach us a lesson. Eventually the second bag came out and we went on our way,” she says.
She also highlights another occasion when she was told that decanting shampoo into 100ml bottles “was not allowed, only original bottles from the manufacturer. On that occasion we had to rub some cream onto my hand to show that is was not a weapon. We hope that the operator at the X-ray machine enjoyed his little power trip.”
“All was well until we reached the security screening area: Our liquids were in the resealable bag but we were told it was too big. We had measured the bag before purchase and had used it on previous trips. We told the person that it was the right size. He informed us that it was the wrong type of bag according to a Department of Transport directive,” she writes.
The security official then went to the person operating the screen “and they opened the bag and checked each and every bottle contained within. We then went through the metal detector, no beeps. The first bag came out along with the plastic tray of phone/wallet/belt. The line then stopped for three to five minutes, which I can only assume was to teach us a lesson. Eventually the second bag came out and we went on our way,” she says.
She also highlights another occasion when she was told that decanting shampoo into 100ml bottles “was not allowed, only original bottles from the manufacturer. On that occasion we had to rub some cream onto my hand to show that is was not a weapon. We hope that the operator at the X-ray machine enjoyed his little power trip.”
Thumbs up for handy camera bag
The warm weather has finally arrived and summer picture-taking season is in full swing.
Like many of you who have been bitten by the photography bug, I have a lot of gear. Many lenses for getting the right shot, a flash for when it gets dark and a tripod for taking landscape photos at dusk.
I have a huge camera backpack to carry it all around in, which is great, but I am always looking for the perfect, small-size, camera bag to throw a camera into so I can go take pictures without having to lug my full kit around.
Think Tank Photo, one of my favourite camera bag companies, has been making awesome bags since 2005. Just in time for summer, they have released a new bag they call Retrospective 5.
The folks at Think Tank were nice enough to send me one to review and I have been putting it through its paces over the last few weeks.
Think Tank Photo is relatively new to the camera bag scene, compared to standard names like LowePro. Because it was formed by two working photographers and two designers, Think Tank products have always been unique, yet highly functional.
This holds true for the Retrospective 5, which is designed with a micro four-thirds camera or small DSLR in mind. The shoulder bag is made from canvas and available in two colours — black or a retro-styled pinestone.
The design is minimal, so it diverts attention from the valuable camera you carry inside.
I was able to comfortably carry a larger-sized DLSR with a lens attached, as well as a longer zoom lens for getting some shots of the kids’ soccer moves.
Everything packs away quickly into the main compartment, which has movable padded inserts you can use to customize the bag to your gear.
Inside the main compartment there is also a handy organizer for sticking odds and sods: batteries, flash cards or a business card or two. An outer pocket holds a full-size, seam-sealed, rain cover, which is custom made for the bag.
Like many of you who have been bitten by the photography bug, I have a lot of gear. Many lenses for getting the right shot, a flash for when it gets dark and a tripod for taking landscape photos at dusk.
I have a huge camera backpack to carry it all around in, which is great, but I am always looking for the perfect, small-size, camera bag to throw a camera into so I can go take pictures without having to lug my full kit around.
Think Tank Photo, one of my favourite camera bag companies, has been making awesome bags since 2005. Just in time for summer, they have released a new bag they call Retrospective 5.
The folks at Think Tank were nice enough to send me one to review and I have been putting it through its paces over the last few weeks.
Think Tank Photo is relatively new to the camera bag scene, compared to standard names like LowePro. Because it was formed by two working photographers and two designers, Think Tank products have always been unique, yet highly functional.
This holds true for the Retrospective 5, which is designed with a micro four-thirds camera or small DSLR in mind. The shoulder bag is made from canvas and available in two colours — black or a retro-styled pinestone.
The design is minimal, so it diverts attention from the valuable camera you carry inside.
I was able to comfortably carry a larger-sized DLSR with a lens attached, as well as a longer zoom lens for getting some shots of the kids’ soccer moves.
Everything packs away quickly into the main compartment, which has movable padded inserts you can use to customize the bag to your gear.
Inside the main compartment there is also a handy organizer for sticking odds and sods: batteries, flash cards or a business card or two. An outer pocket holds a full-size, seam-sealed, rain cover, which is custom made for the bag.
2011年7月7日星期四
Can a Solar Power System in a Suitcase Save Mothers' Lives?
A lot of technologies come to be because somebody out in the world has a cool idea about some new thing they could do in the world. Not so for the WE CARE Solar Suitcase, which grew out of the acute need co-founder Dr. Laura Stachel saw for lighting to aid doctors trying to save women's lives during childbirth in Nigeria.
"The lack of reliable electricity and lighting completely imapirs the ability to deliver skilled emergency obstetric care. Midwives are trying to deliver babies by kerosene lantern or by candlelight," Stachel told me when I ran into her at the Aspen Ideas Festival. "I was in a situation in a large state hospital where the lights went out during a C-section and had to be completed in flashlight. I've even heard of people using the lights from their cell phones to try and finish surgeries."
The Ideas Report
When Stachel returned from Nigeria, she talked with her husband, Hal Aronson, an environmental sociologist and long-time solar tinkerer about building a solar solution for maternity clinics. What they came up with in 2009 and have improved over the last several years is the solar suitcase. It's now been deployed in nine countries with more clinics calling or emailing every day.
Designed for maximum simplicity, the self-contained system can be set up in minutes. (I tried it and that's no exaggeration.) The panel charges a long life-span battery and comes with high-efficiency lights that are designed to last for 50,000 hours as well as a fetal doppler baby monitor. Of course, it can also be used to charge cell phones or walkie talkies. "It's an expandable, but immediately operational unit," Stachel said.
In the past, humanitarian designers and other people making stuff for the third world have criticized solar installations because if they break down, they can be difficult to fix.
Nowadays, solar panels have gotten more rugged and designers have learned their lessons from previous generations of failed products. The other components of the suitcase like the battery can be replaced with local products. I would also add that an installation at a hospital, where doctors and midwives have a vested interest in maintaining the system, is much different from a general village system or something created without a target group in mind.
"We provide capacity building trainings in these countries so people understand how to troubleshoot if people know what to do if something goes wrong, and we're working on developing supply chains, so if people need spare parts, they'll be available," Stachel said.
For WE CARE, the great thing is that they get to ride solar energy's leaps in efficiency, miniaturization and ruggedization. The Solar Suitcase wasn't possible a few years ago, let alone in the 1980s, when Aronson installed his first solar system in Santa Cruz County. The system is designed to be solar panel agnostic, actually, so what you see above is the newest iteration, complete with a new type of more rugged panel.
The organization's fiscal sponsor is Inveneo, a non-profit organization that's trying to bring IT and communications tech to the developing world. Stachel was also a PopTech fellow, like Atlantic Tech friends Heather Fleming of Catapult Design and Leila Chirayath Janah of Samasource.
"The lack of reliable electricity and lighting completely imapirs the ability to deliver skilled emergency obstetric care. Midwives are trying to deliver babies by kerosene lantern or by candlelight," Stachel told me when I ran into her at the Aspen Ideas Festival. "I was in a situation in a large state hospital where the lights went out during a C-section and had to be completed in flashlight. I've even heard of people using the lights from their cell phones to try and finish surgeries."
The Ideas Report
When Stachel returned from Nigeria, she talked with her husband, Hal Aronson, an environmental sociologist and long-time solar tinkerer about building a solar solution for maternity clinics. What they came up with in 2009 and have improved over the last several years is the solar suitcase. It's now been deployed in nine countries with more clinics calling or emailing every day.
Designed for maximum simplicity, the self-contained system can be set up in minutes. (I tried it and that's no exaggeration.) The panel charges a long life-span battery and comes with high-efficiency lights that are designed to last for 50,000 hours as well as a fetal doppler baby monitor. Of course, it can also be used to charge cell phones or walkie talkies. "It's an expandable, but immediately operational unit," Stachel said.
In the past, humanitarian designers and other people making stuff for the third world have criticized solar installations because if they break down, they can be difficult to fix.
Nowadays, solar panels have gotten more rugged and designers have learned their lessons from previous generations of failed products. The other components of the suitcase like the battery can be replaced with local products. I would also add that an installation at a hospital, where doctors and midwives have a vested interest in maintaining the system, is much different from a general village system or something created without a target group in mind.
"We provide capacity building trainings in these countries so people understand how to troubleshoot if people know what to do if something goes wrong, and we're working on developing supply chains, so if people need spare parts, they'll be available," Stachel said.
For WE CARE, the great thing is that they get to ride solar energy's leaps in efficiency, miniaturization and ruggedization. The Solar Suitcase wasn't possible a few years ago, let alone in the 1980s, when Aronson installed his first solar system in Santa Cruz County. The system is designed to be solar panel agnostic, actually, so what you see above is the newest iteration, complete with a new type of more rugged panel.
The organization's fiscal sponsor is Inveneo, a non-profit organization that's trying to bring IT and communications tech to the developing world. Stachel was also a PopTech fellow, like Atlantic Tech friends Heather Fleming of Catapult Design and Leila Chirayath Janah of Samasource.
Rosemount Police Chief Presents Revised Animal Control City Code to Council
Rosemount Police Chief Presents Revised Animal Control City Code to Council
The Rosemount City Council listened carefully Tuesday as Police Chief Gary Kalstabakken read amendments made to the animal control city code during its first reading.
It was deemed necessary to make changes to the animal control portion of the city code after the state made changes to its potentially dangerous/dangerous dog statutes.
According to Kalstabakken, the animal control city code was last updated in 2004. In the amended city code, new sections were added, which would include state and city changes.
If the council decides to approve the amended animal control city code, some of the items it will include are:
If a hearing panel upholds findings of a potentially dangerous/dangerous dog, the owner will be subject to pay up to $1,000 for the hearing cost (state law). There would be no cost if the dog was not found to be potentially dangerous or dangerous.
In addition, Kalstabakken informed council of changes that would be made to chicken coops in the animal control city code.
Currently, there are four known chicken coops in urban, residential areas of Rosemount. In the amended animal control city code, owners would no longer need a permit to have chicken coops.
Our experience in the last seven years has been that [chicken coops] are non-issues, Kalstabakken said.
Also, the ordinance would reduce the coop's setback from a principal residential structure from 75 feet to 50 feet.
"Other cities have had as little as 25 feet," Kalstabakken said. "We feel 50 feet took care of any problem regarding a chicken coop."
The amended animal control city code was shortened from 32 to 23 pages, and council will take a vote on it at either the July 19 or Aug. 2 council meeting. Mayor Bill Droste said the public is encouraged to call the City of Rosemount with questions or issues pertaining to the animal control city code.
The Rosemount City Council listened carefully Tuesday as Police Chief Gary Kalstabakken read amendments made to the animal control city code during its first reading.
It was deemed necessary to make changes to the animal control portion of the city code after the state made changes to its potentially dangerous/dangerous dog statutes.
According to Kalstabakken, the animal control city code was last updated in 2004. In the amended city code, new sections were added, which would include state and city changes.
If the council decides to approve the amended animal control city code, some of the items it will include are:
If a hearing panel upholds findings of a potentially dangerous/dangerous dog, the owner will be subject to pay up to $1,000 for the hearing cost (state law). There would be no cost if the dog was not found to be potentially dangerous or dangerous.
In addition, Kalstabakken informed council of changes that would be made to chicken coops in the animal control city code.
Currently, there are four known chicken coops in urban, residential areas of Rosemount. In the amended animal control city code, owners would no longer need a permit to have chicken coops.
Our experience in the last seven years has been that [chicken coops] are non-issues, Kalstabakken said.
Also, the ordinance would reduce the coop's setback from a principal residential structure from 75 feet to 50 feet.
"Other cities have had as little as 25 feet," Kalstabakken said. "We feel 50 feet took care of any problem regarding a chicken coop."
The amended animal control city code was shortened from 32 to 23 pages, and council will take a vote on it at either the July 19 or Aug. 2 council meeting. Mayor Bill Droste said the public is encouraged to call the City of Rosemount with questions or issues pertaining to the animal control city code.
2011年7月6日星期三
From bars to busses, NBA lockout would prove painfu
The $4 billion NBA basketball league looks to be barreling toward a lockout -- adding to the woes of the restaurants, parking attendants and city governments that count on its games for income.
Last-ditch talks with the league's owners collapsed on Thursday, according to the players' union, with the two sides far apart on issues ranging from salaries to revenue sharing. The expiration of their current agreement is just hours away.
The costs of a lockout could be enormous, particularly if the entire season were lost. In that case, the league's most valuable franchises, including the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, stand to lose more than $200 million each in revenue, according to estimates by Forbes.
Beyond owners and players, however, a lockout would be no less painful to countless restaurants, bars, and retail stores that depend on the NBA for foot traffic and sales. Many are only beginning to recover from the recession.
"Just about everyone associated with the NBA would be affected one way or another," said Neal Pilson, former president of CBS Sports and now head of his own sports consulting firm.
"After players and ownership, there is certainly a trickle down impact of some magnitude for the TV networks, the advertisers, the regional sports channels, the sponsors, the arena, the people who work in the building, local restaurants," he said. "It's just a huge impact."
Even city and local governments -- many of which are already under financial strain -- would feel the sting of a work stoppage since they collect taxes on sales of tickets, food and even Nike Inc's Air Max Lebron 8 sneakers.
In Chicago, the Bulls games generate about $173,000 a game in city and county taxes from ticket sales alone, estimated Marc Ganis, president of sports consulting firm Sportscorp Ltd. Add in taxes from parking and concessions, he said, and the losses amount to $250,000 to $300,000 each game.
Then there is mass transit, since in urban areas fans often take subways or busses to the games, and the arenas that host the games.
"Arenas can't rebook those dates, because they wouldn't know games will start again and most acts have to be well in advance," said Ganis. "Plus, the anchor tenant teams get the best dates, primarily weekends, and those are lost opportunities to arenas."
For the NBA and the businesses that depend on it, labor troubles come at a time when the league should be basking in the afterglow of a season when attendance and TV ratings rose.
Last-ditch talks with the league's owners collapsed on Thursday, according to the players' union, with the two sides far apart on issues ranging from salaries to revenue sharing. The expiration of their current agreement is just hours away.
The costs of a lockout could be enormous, particularly if the entire season were lost. In that case, the league's most valuable franchises, including the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, stand to lose more than $200 million each in revenue, according to estimates by Forbes.
Beyond owners and players, however, a lockout would be no less painful to countless restaurants, bars, and retail stores that depend on the NBA for foot traffic and sales. Many are only beginning to recover from the recession.
"Just about everyone associated with the NBA would be affected one way or another," said Neal Pilson, former president of CBS Sports and now head of his own sports consulting firm.
"After players and ownership, there is certainly a trickle down impact of some magnitude for the TV networks, the advertisers, the regional sports channels, the sponsors, the arena, the people who work in the building, local restaurants," he said. "It's just a huge impact."
Even city and local governments -- many of which are already under financial strain -- would feel the sting of a work stoppage since they collect taxes on sales of tickets, food and even Nike Inc's Air Max Lebron 8 sneakers.
In Chicago, the Bulls games generate about $173,000 a game in city and county taxes from ticket sales alone, estimated Marc Ganis, president of sports consulting firm Sportscorp Ltd. Add in taxes from parking and concessions, he said, and the losses amount to $250,000 to $300,000 each game.
Then there is mass transit, since in urban areas fans often take subways or busses to the games, and the arenas that host the games.
"Arenas can't rebook those dates, because they wouldn't know games will start again and most acts have to be well in advance," said Ganis. "Plus, the anchor tenant teams get the best dates, primarily weekends, and those are lost opportunities to arenas."
For the NBA and the businesses that depend on it, labor troubles come at a time when the league should be basking in the afterglow of a season when attendance and TV ratings rose.
Supermodel Kate Moss on Friday the quiet countryside
Supermodel Kate Moss on Friday the quiet countryside of England was married for "The Kills guitarist Jamie Hince.
The ceremony was attended by many celebrities, but the army of photographers were not allowed to get as close as any - 37 year-old fashion model, which is one of the most photographed women of the world, through the lens of their wedding in a surprisingly shy.
Wedding took place in the village Sotropo Cotswolds, a picturesque hilly area south-west England. On this occasion, the village was occupied, all roads were closed to him, a large police forces were on duty.
Kate Moss wore a sleeveless, sparkling stones decorated with John Galliano's ivory-colored dress was the long veil and a wreath of flowers, wore Manolo blahnik 'shoes, and J. Hinc' I was with a gray suit.
Just did not upstage the bride in London next supermodel - Naomi Campbell, the 12th-century St Peter's Church in Little Faringdone arrived just after Moss and had to hurry to bypass it, said one local resident.
Among the 15 members of the bride's escort was Moss's daughter Lila in eight years. The bride entered the church silver rolsroisu with her father Peter and photographer.
Newlyweds left the church in the field have their photo taken, they are welcomed by local people. Was responsible for the photographs of Mario Testino, who did Prince William and Catherine's engagement photos.
J. Hinc 's chief bridesmaid was Alison Mosshart of the group.
Through the speakers sonorous The Rolling Stones' music, pairing rolsroisu went to the bride's house nearby, where the box was built and a large tent where the fun should last all weekend.
Among the guests are actors Jude and Sadie Frost and designer Stella McCartney (Stella McCartney), "Topshop boss Philip Green, Mick Jones of the punk band The Clash, Kelly Osbourne, actor Rhys Ifansas.
The ceremony was attended by many celebrities, but the army of photographers were not allowed to get as close as any - 37 year-old fashion model, which is one of the most photographed women of the world, through the lens of their wedding in a surprisingly shy.
Wedding took place in the village Sotropo Cotswolds, a picturesque hilly area south-west England. On this occasion, the village was occupied, all roads were closed to him, a large police forces were on duty.
Kate Moss wore a sleeveless, sparkling stones decorated with John Galliano's ivory-colored dress was the long veil and a wreath of flowers, wore Manolo blahnik 'shoes, and J. Hinc' I was with a gray suit.
Just did not upstage the bride in London next supermodel - Naomi Campbell, the 12th-century St Peter's Church in Little Faringdone arrived just after Moss and had to hurry to bypass it, said one local resident.
Among the 15 members of the bride's escort was Moss's daughter Lila in eight years. The bride entered the church silver rolsroisu with her father Peter and photographer.
Newlyweds left the church in the field have their photo taken, they are welcomed by local people. Was responsible for the photographs of Mario Testino, who did Prince William and Catherine's engagement photos.
J. Hinc 's chief bridesmaid was Alison Mosshart of the group.
Through the speakers sonorous The Rolling Stones' music, pairing rolsroisu went to the bride's house nearby, where the box was built and a large tent where the fun should last all weekend.
Among the guests are actors Jude and Sadie Frost and designer Stella McCartney (Stella McCartney), "Topshop boss Philip Green, Mick Jones of the punk band The Clash, Kelly Osbourne, actor Rhys Ifansas.
2011年7月1日星期五
One of the Indians' offensive leaders
One of the Indians' offensive leaders in the game, Orlando Cabrera, offered this tribute to Carrasco: "Carlos has been incredible in his last five or six starts, when we've needed him."
The Diamondbacks were unable to mount anything approaching a sustained threat against Carrasco, who gave up a home run to Justin Upton with one out in the fourth and a leadoff homer to Stephen Drew leading off the sixth.
Carrasco had the luxury of a few runs to work with early, which hasn't happened routinely on this trip. First-inning singles by Orlando Cabrera, Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana produced a run in the first, and singles by Lou Marson, Michael Brantley, Orlando Cabrera and Asdrubal Cabrera added up to two more runs in the second.
"It was a good offensive day, but we did leave some guys on base," Acta said.
Orlando Cabrera singled three times, doubled, drove in a run and scored two; Asdrubal Cabrera doubled, singled twice and had an RBI, as the middle infielders led the attack.
But to call the offense inefficient would be an understatement. The Indians stranded 15 runners, eight in scoring position. The saving grace was a .286 average (6-for-21) with runners in scoring position.
In his past four games, Orlando Cabrera is 8-for-14 with four runs scored and two RBI, including a game-winning home run Monday night against the Diamondbacks.
"Not really, nothing is different for me," he said. "I'm just going out and trying to do what I've done my whole career. Right now, I really need to step up. We are looking for anybody to do something."
That was a reference to the team's banged up and downtrodden attack. But for one day, Cabrera and his lodge brothers could breathe easy, even if the temperature in Phoneix was 110.
The Diamondbacks were unable to mount anything approaching a sustained threat against Carrasco, who gave up a home run to Justin Upton with one out in the fourth and a leadoff homer to Stephen Drew leading off the sixth.
Carrasco had the luxury of a few runs to work with early, which hasn't happened routinely on this trip. First-inning singles by Orlando Cabrera, Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana produced a run in the first, and singles by Lou Marson, Michael Brantley, Orlando Cabrera and Asdrubal Cabrera added up to two more runs in the second.
"It was a good offensive day, but we did leave some guys on base," Acta said.
Orlando Cabrera singled three times, doubled, drove in a run and scored two; Asdrubal Cabrera doubled, singled twice and had an RBI, as the middle infielders led the attack.
But to call the offense inefficient would be an understatement. The Indians stranded 15 runners, eight in scoring position. The saving grace was a .286 average (6-for-21) with runners in scoring position.
In his past four games, Orlando Cabrera is 8-for-14 with four runs scored and two RBI, including a game-winning home run Monday night against the Diamondbacks.
"Not really, nothing is different for me," he said. "I'm just going out and trying to do what I've done my whole career. Right now, I really need to step up. We are looking for anybody to do something."
That was a reference to the team's banged up and downtrodden attack. But for one day, Cabrera and his lodge brothers could breathe easy, even if the temperature in Phoneix was 110.
Whistler grocers are welcoming a move
Whistler grocers are welcoming a move by the Resort Municipality to monitor plastic bag use within the community.
"It's good to have a watchdog out there," said Bruce Stewart, store manager of Nesters Market and spokesman for an informal alliance of grocery stores and pharmacies that's looking to reduce plastic bag use, adding that he's encouraged by the move to take stock of their use over six months.
"We feel quite confident in what we have done in the past, and what we continue to do to reduce bags."
At a council meeting on June 21, Whistler council voted for a six-month review of plastic bag use within the resort municipality, directing staff to establish a baseline of current plastic bag consumption and measure the effectiveness of a voluntary ban and continued education and outreach.
The precise details of the review are still being drawn up, said a municipal spokesperson, but potential data to be collected in the review includes the amount of money businesses spend on providing customers with plastic bags; the number of plastic bags used; the number of people using their own reusable bag; and the number of bags that end up being wasted.
The municipality will depend heavily on the data provided to them by grocery stores and pharmacies.
Stewart also spoke on behalf of the alliance at the June 21 council meeting and described members' efforts to reduce plastic bag use.
"The stores will conduct programs within their individual stores to encourage customers to use a recyclable alternative," he told council. "We plan to develop a simple messaging campaign that can be used by alliance members and perhaps coordinate with other initiatives in the community.
"Most stores have had a reusable shopping bag program in place for the past 15 years. Several options are under consideration for rewarding customers for bringing their own bag, including the possibility of making a donation to a charity."
"It's good to have a watchdog out there," said Bruce Stewart, store manager of Nesters Market and spokesman for an informal alliance of grocery stores and pharmacies that's looking to reduce plastic bag use, adding that he's encouraged by the move to take stock of their use over six months.
"We feel quite confident in what we have done in the past, and what we continue to do to reduce bags."
At a council meeting on June 21, Whistler council voted for a six-month review of plastic bag use within the resort municipality, directing staff to establish a baseline of current plastic bag consumption and measure the effectiveness of a voluntary ban and continued education and outreach.
The precise details of the review are still being drawn up, said a municipal spokesperson, but potential data to be collected in the review includes the amount of money businesses spend on providing customers with plastic bags; the number of plastic bags used; the number of people using their own reusable bag; and the number of bags that end up being wasted.
The municipality will depend heavily on the data provided to them by grocery stores and pharmacies.
Stewart also spoke on behalf of the alliance at the June 21 council meeting and described members' efforts to reduce plastic bag use.
"The stores will conduct programs within their individual stores to encourage customers to use a recyclable alternative," he told council. "We plan to develop a simple messaging campaign that can be used by alliance members and perhaps coordinate with other initiatives in the community.
"Most stores have had a reusable shopping bag program in place for the past 15 years. Several options are under consideration for rewarding customers for bringing their own bag, including the possibility of making a donation to a charity."
订阅：
博文 (Atom)