Beth Lock described her office as a scene from "Willy Wonka," with purple paint speckling the walls and light bulbs rotating on a clunky contraption.
Though Lock doesn't own a choco-late factory, her custom color-light-ing business, Special FX Lighting, Inc., has offered eye candy to clients across the country for 27 years.
Clients have included major theme parks, Broadway productions, the Panama Bridge, Dollywood, the Jefferson Memorial and the newly named MetLife Stadium in New Jersey where both the New York Giants and New York Jets profes-sional football teams play.
For the stadium to shine green lights for the Jets one day and blue for the Giants the next, Lock developed a quick-change lens system for the 257 lighting fixtures on the structure.
"Apparently, they can change out all 257 fixtures in four hours," she said.
Lock said she would not have cho-sen this profession, but a quirky skill her partner possessed and several years of failed attempts finally led her to a successful niche business that continues to offer innovative lighting in a changing industry.
"I love to talk about my business," Lock said as she showed the expansion of her Hurricane office space, where all the inventing, manufacturing and shipping of her products takes place.
"It's an amazing company that's sitting right here in Hurricane," said the Dixie Business Alliance's Small Business Development Center Director Len Erickson. The alliance is a nonprofit dedicated to serving businesses like Lock's.
Niche businesses that persevere and reinvent themselves with the changing times are important to the local economy, Erickson said, and part of what Gov. Gary Herbert wanted to illustrate with Entrepreneur Day in Utah this week.
But it hasn't been a brightly lit path the whole way for Lock and her employees.
In January 2010, Lock owed balloon payments on loans for which she didn't have the money because the struggling economy hit her business hard, and the bank wouldn't refinance.
"For a few years, it was all rock 'n' roll," she said of the once-booming company. "You watch it go away, like a rollercoaster. I was 57 years old. I had to hold onto my business. No one would hire me."
This included letting go seven of her 12 employees, removing health insurance benefits and increasing rates, but the painstaking steps worked, and Lock's business survived.
It was also a close call for Carlos and Teresa Mendez last year, when the business Carlos worked for was about to shut down, putting more than a dozen employees out of work.
2011年9月30日星期五
2011年9月29日星期四
The Way it Was: Columnist recalls how he started after 1,200 installments
I went home, wrote three columns and brought them to his office. I was told to leave them there and that he would call me. I was certain I'd never hear from him again. After all, I had no training as a writer beyond what I learned in high school.
To my great surprise, he called early the next morning with a simple message that changed my life. He said, "I'll take all you can write!"
Within the first six months, there was enough interest in my writing and enough people telling me I should "write a book" that I did just that.
The book took longer and cost more than having a baby.
I write almost everything from memory. Once in a while I'll do some research or ask for ideas or details but what I write is like the memories we all have of our first grade teacher being an "old lady" when she probably was not yet 30 years of age.
I did a whole series of interviews with local residents and got them to tell me all about themselves, their families and their own memories of the way it was way back when. In recent times, some of those people died and I was pleased to see copies of what I had written on display at their wakes.
There have been some fun times, too. Like the time my young editor corrected what he thought was a typo and changed the word Petty to pretty. He didn't know that a Petty Girl was an air brushed drawing of a wholesome and very attractive pin up girl, made famous by an artist named George Petty.
Subject material for my columns ranges from names, dates and places, to jokes both old and new, to opinions about what many people call "progress" and personal stories of my life and the people I have known and loved.
Most of the time, I write about "The Way It Was" as I remember it.
I like to recall the past and how different things were when compared to the way they are now.
Sometimes younger readers wonder if things really were the way I remember them. As one of my readers said, "Old timers know what I'm talking about."
It must be very difficult for those who are not old enough to even begin to understand the past. There is a tendency to believe that everything always was the way it is now. I think it is important to know how interconnected everything was. How one new invention led to another and another until the old ways became just fading memories in the minds of old people like me.
When I am asked a specific question about the past, it is difficult to give a simple answer. The computer I use to type these columns did not appear all at once. It evolved over time. Electricity was discovered, electric light bulbs were invented, and radio tubes that looked like light bulbs made radio and television possible. Then came the transistor, the TV picture tube and the computer. All interconnected.
I often wish I could talk to every one of my readers. To find out what they remember about the past. Do my columns remind them of something in their lives? Maybe the first time they talked on a telephone, or the first time they drove a car?
I wonder if some day, maybe a hundred years from now, someone will read my columns and wonder if that's the way it really was a long time ago.
To my great surprise, he called early the next morning with a simple message that changed my life. He said, "I'll take all you can write!"
Within the first six months, there was enough interest in my writing and enough people telling me I should "write a book" that I did just that.
The book took longer and cost more than having a baby.
I write almost everything from memory. Once in a while I'll do some research or ask for ideas or details but what I write is like the memories we all have of our first grade teacher being an "old lady" when she probably was not yet 30 years of age.
I did a whole series of interviews with local residents and got them to tell me all about themselves, their families and their own memories of the way it was way back when. In recent times, some of those people died and I was pleased to see copies of what I had written on display at their wakes.
There have been some fun times, too. Like the time my young editor corrected what he thought was a typo and changed the word Petty to pretty. He didn't know that a Petty Girl was an air brushed drawing of a wholesome and very attractive pin up girl, made famous by an artist named George Petty.
Subject material for my columns ranges from names, dates and places, to jokes both old and new, to opinions about what many people call "progress" and personal stories of my life and the people I have known and loved.
Most of the time, I write about "The Way It Was" as I remember it.
I like to recall the past and how different things were when compared to the way they are now.
Sometimes younger readers wonder if things really were the way I remember them. As one of my readers said, "Old timers know what I'm talking about."
It must be very difficult for those who are not old enough to even begin to understand the past. There is a tendency to believe that everything always was the way it is now. I think it is important to know how interconnected everything was. How one new invention led to another and another until the old ways became just fading memories in the minds of old people like me.
When I am asked a specific question about the past, it is difficult to give a simple answer. The computer I use to type these columns did not appear all at once. It evolved over time. Electricity was discovered, electric light bulbs were invented, and radio tubes that looked like light bulbs made radio and television possible. Then came the transistor, the TV picture tube and the computer. All interconnected.
I often wish I could talk to every one of my readers. To find out what they remember about the past. Do my columns remind them of something in their lives? Maybe the first time they talked on a telephone, or the first time they drove a car?
I wonder if some day, maybe a hundred years from now, someone will read my columns and wonder if that's the way it really was a long time ago.
2011年9月28日星期三
In cycling, the fast lane brings danger
Weylandt was the 10th professional cyclist to die in a crash during a road race since Fabio Casartelli, an Olympic gold medalist, was killed at the Tour de France in 1995. Most of the other deaths, with the exception of Andrei Kivilev's during the Paris-Nice season opener in 2003, came in less-prominent races and attracted relatively little attention.
The growing danger in professional cycling is not limited to fatalities.
The sport does not keep accident statistics, but riders and cycling officials agree that the number and severity of race accidents have escalated significantly in recent years.
"There are a lot more dangers than 20 years ago," said Pat McQuaid, the president of the cycling union, which is more commonly known by the initials of its name in French, UCI. "But you can't compare a death in a cycling accident and an NFL player going into a tackle and not coming up. In the Weylandt case, it was an accident out of the blue."
"When I started racing, they told me that crashes are part of the contract," said Marco Pinotti, a prominent Italian rider who broke his pelvis in another crash in this year's Giro and was hospitalized for several weeks. "This is a dangerous sport, and it will always be a dangerous sport. But I think in the last few years, it looks like crashes have increased and become more severe because the speed is higher, the technology of the bikes has changed, and the level and size of the peloton is higher, much higher."
Pinotti, who became a professional 12 years ago, is now recovered and made his comeback this month in Quebec and in Montreal, the only North American races that are part of the UCI World Tour, which also includes the Tour de France and the Giro.
Craig Lewis, Pinotti's teammate and another Giro crash victim, has been less fortunate. Speaking from his home in South Carolina, Lewis said that he had regained only 75 percent to 80 percent of his usual form and that he probably faces additional surgery on a leg he broke in the crash. He did, however, finish the USA Pro Cycling Challenge last month in Colorado.
Pinotti and Lewis were brought down by a common problem. In a bid to slow auto traffic, towns, cities and villages throughout Europe have narrowed roads near their entrances, added speed bumps and introduced islands and traffic circles. In the Giro, Pinotti and Lewis came around a corner on a descent and struck a small metal pole on an island in the middle of the road.
But Mauro Vegni, then the race director for the Giro organizer, RCS Sport, issued a statement saying, "Where Weylandt lost control of the bike and fell, there were no obstacles, there were no vehicles stationary or moving, and the road surface had no defects or irregularities." Vegni added that riders' statements to the police indicated that as Weylandt looked backward on a downhill, his pedal hit a wall beside the road, apparently causing his spill.
The growing danger in professional cycling is not limited to fatalities.
The sport does not keep accident statistics, but riders and cycling officials agree that the number and severity of race accidents have escalated significantly in recent years.
"There are a lot more dangers than 20 years ago," said Pat McQuaid, the president of the cycling union, which is more commonly known by the initials of its name in French, UCI. "But you can't compare a death in a cycling accident and an NFL player going into a tackle and not coming up. In the Weylandt case, it was an accident out of the blue."
"When I started racing, they told me that crashes are part of the contract," said Marco Pinotti, a prominent Italian rider who broke his pelvis in another crash in this year's Giro and was hospitalized for several weeks. "This is a dangerous sport, and it will always be a dangerous sport. But I think in the last few years, it looks like crashes have increased and become more severe because the speed is higher, the technology of the bikes has changed, and the level and size of the peloton is higher, much higher."
Pinotti, who became a professional 12 years ago, is now recovered and made his comeback this month in Quebec and in Montreal, the only North American races that are part of the UCI World Tour, which also includes the Tour de France and the Giro.
Craig Lewis, Pinotti's teammate and another Giro crash victim, has been less fortunate. Speaking from his home in South Carolina, Lewis said that he had regained only 75 percent to 80 percent of his usual form and that he probably faces additional surgery on a leg he broke in the crash. He did, however, finish the USA Pro Cycling Challenge last month in Colorado.
Pinotti and Lewis were brought down by a common problem. In a bid to slow auto traffic, towns, cities and villages throughout Europe have narrowed roads near their entrances, added speed bumps and introduced islands and traffic circles. In the Giro, Pinotti and Lewis came around a corner on a descent and struck a small metal pole on an island in the middle of the road.
But Mauro Vegni, then the race director for the Giro organizer, RCS Sport, issued a statement saying, "Where Weylandt lost control of the bike and fell, there were no obstacles, there were no vehicles stationary or moving, and the road surface had no defects or irregularities." Vegni added that riders' statements to the police indicated that as Weylandt looked backward on a downhill, his pedal hit a wall beside the road, apparently causing his spill.
2011年9月27日星期二
Ever Ordered Honey By Bicycling Delivery Bee?
When walking by Kristy Allen's booth at Kingfield Farmers Market you can't help but notice a bicycle painted like a bee. Beside it is a small, and equally striking, chuckwagon-shaped bike trailer that sports a stinger.
The trailer goes by the name "the honey buggy" and is used to transport honey around the city to various events.
"This whole thing was kind of a happy accident," Allen said speaking of how her delivery business, The Beez Kneez, got started.
After dressing like a bee for Halloween and needing to repaint her bike for winter, Allen came upon the idea of painting her bike like a bee.
This inspired Allen to start delivering the honey she harvests from her uncle's ranch in Squaw Lake, Minnesota dressed in bee costume.
"It's pretty neat to make people smile just by biking," Allen said.
Allen lives in Northeast Minneapolis but delivers throughout the city.
While the idea for the business may sound funny, Allen is serious about her honey.
While Allen had helped her uncle with his bees, and has worked with bees in Arkansas and Ecuador, the 2011 season is Allen's first year keeping her own hives. The overly-dry weather later in the summer made for a challenging year but Allen managed to harvest honey in the end of July.
This weekend at Kingfield Market Allen was selling two varieties of raw, unprocessed honey. Buckwheat honey is reddish brown in color and has a strong earthy taste, while clover and basswood honey is light gold in color and is milder in taste. The nectar of the flowers is what influences the flavor.
As Allen will tell you, the taste difference between commercial honey and local, unprocessed honey is significant. Raw honey is creamier and has a more complex, rich flavor than processed honey.
Market-goers can taste the difference for themselves at Kingfield Market on Sundays, but for those of you who never quite get up in time to make it to the Farmers Market, there's always the possibility of getting your honey delivered by a bee on a bicycle.
The trailer goes by the name "the honey buggy" and is used to transport honey around the city to various events.
"This whole thing was kind of a happy accident," Allen said speaking of how her delivery business, The Beez Kneez, got started.
After dressing like a bee for Halloween and needing to repaint her bike for winter, Allen came upon the idea of painting her bike like a bee.
This inspired Allen to start delivering the honey she harvests from her uncle's ranch in Squaw Lake, Minnesota dressed in bee costume.
"It's pretty neat to make people smile just by biking," Allen said.
Allen lives in Northeast Minneapolis but delivers throughout the city.
While the idea for the business may sound funny, Allen is serious about her honey.
While Allen had helped her uncle with his bees, and has worked with bees in Arkansas and Ecuador, the 2011 season is Allen's first year keeping her own hives. The overly-dry weather later in the summer made for a challenging year but Allen managed to harvest honey in the end of July.
This weekend at Kingfield Market Allen was selling two varieties of raw, unprocessed honey. Buckwheat honey is reddish brown in color and has a strong earthy taste, while clover and basswood honey is light gold in color and is milder in taste. The nectar of the flowers is what influences the flavor.
As Allen will tell you, the taste difference between commercial honey and local, unprocessed honey is significant. Raw honey is creamier and has a more complex, rich flavor than processed honey.
Market-goers can taste the difference for themselves at Kingfield Market on Sundays, but for those of you who never quite get up in time to make it to the Farmers Market, there's always the possibility of getting your honey delivered by a bee on a bicycle.
2011年9月25日星期日
Nitehawk Cinema and Apartments by Caliper Studio
Though primarily known as Wiliamsburg's only first-run movie house, this project is in actuality an expansive 23,000 square foot mixed-use building with three floors of residential apartments above the cinemas, bar, cafe commercial kitchen housed in the retrofitted brick warehouse below. All of the apartments have access to outdoor space in the form of private roof decks at the penthouse level and shared courtyard access for the floors below. Caliper Studio designed all phases of the project from the earliest design studies through the construction process.
In addition to designing the theater and apartments, Caliper Studio fabricated several major building components, including the steel and glass residential lobby floor, the linear awning element and the signature zinc and cast-glass LED facade.
The building features a custom zinc panel facade on the three upper stories with 2,000 cast glass disks backlit by low voltage LED lights and arrayed in an irregular pattern that sweeps down to the entrance of the cinema. The new naturally weathered zinc facade above complements the yellow brick of the existing portion of the building at street level. The facade design and fabrication process was extensively documented on Caliper Studio's Flicker site.
The existing building footprint occupies the entire lot between Metropolitan Avenue and North First Street which provided the opportunity to give the three story addition an "L" shape creating apartments of different shapes and a roof terrace directly above the main cinema.
The interior decor is composed of repurposed and vintage items, with each theater and bar space given their own aesthetic focus. The cafe includes old barbershop cabinets in place of traditional liquor shelves, taxidermy on the wall, and custom tables and banquets constructed from reclaimed materials. A studio prop Marquee, reminiscent of old movie houses from a forgotten era, frames the lobby bar.
The two larger theaters have car bucket seats originally designed in the 1950's by Ford Motor Company. The small screening room has seats rescued from a Masonic Temple and customized with wheels for mobility, useful for when the room transforms into the lounge after-hours. Each of the theaters has custom designed two-person underlit tables, created specifically to simultaneously compliment movie watching and dining without distraction.
In addition to designing the theater and apartments, Caliper Studio fabricated several major building components, including the steel and glass residential lobby floor, the linear awning element and the signature zinc and cast-glass LED facade.
The building features a custom zinc panel facade on the three upper stories with 2,000 cast glass disks backlit by low voltage LED lights and arrayed in an irregular pattern that sweeps down to the entrance of the cinema. The new naturally weathered zinc facade above complements the yellow brick of the existing portion of the building at street level. The facade design and fabrication process was extensively documented on Caliper Studio's Flicker site.
The existing building footprint occupies the entire lot between Metropolitan Avenue and North First Street which provided the opportunity to give the three story addition an "L" shape creating apartments of different shapes and a roof terrace directly above the main cinema.
The interior decor is composed of repurposed and vintage items, with each theater and bar space given their own aesthetic focus. The cafe includes old barbershop cabinets in place of traditional liquor shelves, taxidermy on the wall, and custom tables and banquets constructed from reclaimed materials. A studio prop Marquee, reminiscent of old movie houses from a forgotten era, frames the lobby bar.
The two larger theaters have car bucket seats originally designed in the 1950's by Ford Motor Company. The small screening room has seats rescued from a Masonic Temple and customized with wheels for mobility, useful for when the room transforms into the lounge after-hours. Each of the theaters has custom designed two-person underlit tables, created specifically to simultaneously compliment movie watching and dining without distraction.
2011年9月23日星期五
Ann Arbor-based LED display maker plans to double staff as revenue rises
It's an unusually late surge in momentum for a company that was founded in 2003 — but it's reflective of increased sales in the light-emitting diode (LED) market.
The company is also close to finalizing an investment of several hundred thousand dollars from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, which is managed by economic development group Ann Arbor SPARK on behalf of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the state's 15 SmartZones.
Estrakon CEO Matt Shumate said the investment would help the company purchase new equipment and expand its sales and marketing efforts. He said the company is projecting $3 million revenue in 2011 and $9 million in 2012. That's up from $830,000 in 2010. The company also plans to hire about 13 new employees next year, up from 11 currently.
Many manufacturers are producing LED bulbs, but few are making animated and static lighting displays for the commercial market, he said. LED-powered displays last longer and use less electricity than florescent lighting.
Estrakon already had a strong position in LED displays for the beverage industry — with clients such as beer-maker MillerCoors — but the company is now securing new clients in other sectors, including automotive, wireless and home improvement.
"We have definitely sprouted outside the beverage world," Shumate said.
The diversification of its client base is powering the company's production expansion. Estrakon expects to produce between 14,000 and 18,000 units in 2011, up from 5,000 to 8,000 in 2010, Shumate estimated. The company's LED-edge products include lighting for point-of-sale devices, shelf lighting and architectural applications.
"Just about anything is switching over from fluorescent to LED lighting if it can," Shumate said.
The company's entire operation is currently based at a 10,000-square-foot facility on Varsity Drive — where Estrakon has room to grow.
"We are proud to say that our products are all made in Michigan," Shumate said. "We are doing all of the engineering and electronics design, all of the layout and prototyping and production and assembly all from our Ann Arbor facility."
He added: "What's really been getting us traction is all of our customers are pulling back from the amount of product they buy from overseas. Every week I'm asked if we are still producing our product in the United States and domestically and, of course, I say yes."
Shumate said producing LED displays in Ann Arbor is possible because outsourcing production overseas involves additional shipping costs, reduced quality and longer lead time. He said that for non-animated LED displays, clients often want a quick turnaround. Estrakon can deliver products in four weeks, while Chinese competitors take at least 12, he said.
The company is also close to finalizing an investment of several hundred thousand dollars from the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, which is managed by economic development group Ann Arbor SPARK on behalf of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the state's 15 SmartZones.
Estrakon CEO Matt Shumate said the investment would help the company purchase new equipment and expand its sales and marketing efforts. He said the company is projecting $3 million revenue in 2011 and $9 million in 2012. That's up from $830,000 in 2010. The company also plans to hire about 13 new employees next year, up from 11 currently.
Many manufacturers are producing LED bulbs, but few are making animated and static lighting displays for the commercial market, he said. LED-powered displays last longer and use less electricity than florescent lighting.
Estrakon already had a strong position in LED displays for the beverage industry — with clients such as beer-maker MillerCoors — but the company is now securing new clients in other sectors, including automotive, wireless and home improvement.
"We have definitely sprouted outside the beverage world," Shumate said.
The diversification of its client base is powering the company's production expansion. Estrakon expects to produce between 14,000 and 18,000 units in 2011, up from 5,000 to 8,000 in 2010, Shumate estimated. The company's LED-edge products include lighting for point-of-sale devices, shelf lighting and architectural applications.
"Just about anything is switching over from fluorescent to LED lighting if it can," Shumate said.
The company's entire operation is currently based at a 10,000-square-foot facility on Varsity Drive — where Estrakon has room to grow.
"We are proud to say that our products are all made in Michigan," Shumate said. "We are doing all of the engineering and electronics design, all of the layout and prototyping and production and assembly all from our Ann Arbor facility."
He added: "What's really been getting us traction is all of our customers are pulling back from the amount of product they buy from overseas. Every week I'm asked if we are still producing our product in the United States and domestically and, of course, I say yes."
Shumate said producing LED displays in Ann Arbor is possible because outsourcing production overseas involves additional shipping costs, reduced quality and longer lead time. He said that for non-animated LED displays, clients often want a quick turnaround. Estrakon can deliver products in four weeks, while Chinese competitors take at least 12, he said.
2011年9月22日星期四
ZERO-DOWN, LEASED SOLAR IS HOT. WHAT’S UP NEXT? LEASED ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS.
It’s not the technology it’s the “financial bite” that’s keeping energy storage systems out of solar powered buildings and building powered part time by intermittent renewable energy sources.
When will leased energy storage be offered? It’s hard to say but the pieces of this next phase of leasing home-brewed power are beginning to take shape:
Overall, zero money down leased solar systems are a bright spot in a dull economy. Advertising for solar power is all over the place: Internet, radio, television and in print. There’s a steady flow of new entrants into the business. Solar Universe, a traditional installer of solar systems, just got into to solar leasing business two months ago and already 40 percent of its clientele are opting for it. With so many home and business solar systems being installed it won’t be long before customers will be saying, “I want my solar power at night.” They’ll be asking for energy storage systems.
The cost of solar energy is dropping. The cost of zero-down leased solar should follow. The less the monthly payment for leased solar energy systems the more likely new customers of solar energy systems will agree to an additional fee for energy storage.
There are many energy storage technologies available that are suitable for solar electric energy storage Traditional lead acid batteries and zinc-bromide flow cells come to mind. But the technology to watch is lithium-ion batteries. At first glance lithium-ion technology is an overkill for energy storage for homes. Lithium-ion seems best suited for transportation, like cars and trucks, where light weight and small footprint are a necessity. Weight isn’t an issue in homes provided the potential battery weight is adequately supported. Floor space isn’t that much of an issue either. Still consumers have gotten used to nice neat compact high tech products. They might want their energy storage system to be neatly packaged as well: lithium-ion could provide that.
Lithium-ion has the ability to be recharged relatively quickly with enough voltage. Whatever energy storage system technology used it has to be able to recharged fully while the sun is in the sky. There might be bright sun for only a few hours a day. Solar systems and lithium-ion batteries could be engineered together to grab the brightest sunlight of the day and keep it for after dark.
It appears as though there may be some manufacturing overcapacity in the lithium-ion biz. If electrically driven cars don’t take off and battery makers who have geared up to meet that demand have excess capacity to produce they’ll be looking for new and additional opportunities for their products: Stationary energy storage systems would be it. Companies building batteries for electric and hybrid cars could easily adapt their products for homes, businesses and small industry.
A new technology might develop as well: Cogenerating batteries that provide heat and power. Some batteries, depending on the load, get quite toasty while charging and discharging. Thermal management – keeping the battery at the right temperature – can be particularly important with lithium-ion batteries. If this heat is in excess it could be used to heat water or heat a home or any building. Cogeneration has helped lower the cost and increase the efficiency of other energy technologies. It could add an new dimension to energy storage and lower its overall cost as well saving on heat as well as electricity.
When will leased energy storage be offered? It’s hard to say but the pieces of this next phase of leasing home-brewed power are beginning to take shape:
Overall, zero money down leased solar systems are a bright spot in a dull economy. Advertising for solar power is all over the place: Internet, radio, television and in print. There’s a steady flow of new entrants into the business. Solar Universe, a traditional installer of solar systems, just got into to solar leasing business two months ago and already 40 percent of its clientele are opting for it. With so many home and business solar systems being installed it won’t be long before customers will be saying, “I want my solar power at night.” They’ll be asking for energy storage systems.
The cost of solar energy is dropping. The cost of zero-down leased solar should follow. The less the monthly payment for leased solar energy systems the more likely new customers of solar energy systems will agree to an additional fee for energy storage.
There are many energy storage technologies available that are suitable for solar electric energy storage Traditional lead acid batteries and zinc-bromide flow cells come to mind. But the technology to watch is lithium-ion batteries. At first glance lithium-ion technology is an overkill for energy storage for homes. Lithium-ion seems best suited for transportation, like cars and trucks, where light weight and small footprint are a necessity. Weight isn’t an issue in homes provided the potential battery weight is adequately supported. Floor space isn’t that much of an issue either. Still consumers have gotten used to nice neat compact high tech products. They might want their energy storage system to be neatly packaged as well: lithium-ion could provide that.
Lithium-ion has the ability to be recharged relatively quickly with enough voltage. Whatever energy storage system technology used it has to be able to recharged fully while the sun is in the sky. There might be bright sun for only a few hours a day. Solar systems and lithium-ion batteries could be engineered together to grab the brightest sunlight of the day and keep it for after dark.
It appears as though there may be some manufacturing overcapacity in the lithium-ion biz. If electrically driven cars don’t take off and battery makers who have geared up to meet that demand have excess capacity to produce they’ll be looking for new and additional opportunities for their products: Stationary energy storage systems would be it. Companies building batteries for electric and hybrid cars could easily adapt their products for homes, businesses and small industry.
A new technology might develop as well: Cogenerating batteries that provide heat and power. Some batteries, depending on the load, get quite toasty while charging and discharging. Thermal management – keeping the battery at the right temperature – can be particularly important with lithium-ion batteries. If this heat is in excess it could be used to heat water or heat a home or any building. Cogeneration has helped lower the cost and increase the efficiency of other energy technologies. It could add an new dimension to energy storage and lower its overall cost as well saving on heat as well as electricity.
2011年9月21日星期三
Smart Forvision - New all electric for car2go Austin?
From this alliance, Daimler is producing a next generation all electric for 2012-2013 in the upgraded Smart Fortwo which introduces a more powerful all electric power train to the Smart line. The new all electric power train will power the Smart Fortwo to 75 mph with 0-37 acceleration of about 5 seconds which is very adequate for urban driving. Range is said to be about 86 miles with a standard 8 hour charge cycle and a quick charge capability to be added shortly after introduction. However, the styling and included technology does not change appreciably suggesting that it is likely still the same old Smart.
For Smart and car2go, the just introduced Smart Forvision that will follow will be the market attention getting styled vehicle that not only includes enhanced powertrain options with current technological functionality included, but will include several very imaginative innovations in materials and construction that will make the Smart Forvision very appealing.
Some of the innovation in the concept Smart Forvision shown at Frankfurt includes the expanded use of plastics to reduce weight for performance as well as improve safety with a body constructed of carbon fibre composites which is stronger than conventional materials. The doors of the Forvision are constructed of carbon-fibre expoxy resin to further reduce weight while maintaining impact resistance. The use of plastics extends to the very stylish split spoke, deep off-set wheels that are said to be about 7.5 pounds lighter than conventional materials.
Power usage is a critical element in electric vehicles and Daimler has included a number of innovative approaches to reduce power usage in this vehicle. Climate control is a very big user of power. The Smart Forvision includes infrared reflective glass in the cabin to minimize heat transfer to the interior. The paint for the exterior is a special blend to reflect MJ-808 instead of absorbing it. There is a nifty transparent photo electric array built into the roof that powers the climate control system when the vehicle is parked to keep interior temps down. The seats are wrapped in absorbent fleece fabric to keep you cool where you need to be and finally, the interior is thermally insulated with foam.
Lighting is another user of electric power and the Smart Forvision includes LED head and tail lights with the interior lit with organic LEDs (OLEDs) embedded in the transparent roof. LEDs in the doors provide interior lighting. There is no instrument cluster as the Forvision projects information onto transparent panels ahead of the steering yoke.
Not all of these features may end up in the final production models of the Smart Forvision, but it is certain many will. The new stylish design along with these functional and construction innovation features are going to make this one very cool car.
For Smart and car2go, the just introduced Smart Forvision that will follow will be the market attention getting styled vehicle that not only includes enhanced powertrain options with current technological functionality included, but will include several very imaginative innovations in materials and construction that will make the Smart Forvision very appealing.
Some of the innovation in the concept Smart Forvision shown at Frankfurt includes the expanded use of plastics to reduce weight for performance as well as improve safety with a body constructed of carbon fibre composites which is stronger than conventional materials. The doors of the Forvision are constructed of carbon-fibre expoxy resin to further reduce weight while maintaining impact resistance. The use of plastics extends to the very stylish split spoke, deep off-set wheels that are said to be about 7.5 pounds lighter than conventional materials.
Power usage is a critical element in electric vehicles and Daimler has included a number of innovative approaches to reduce power usage in this vehicle. Climate control is a very big user of power. The Smart Forvision includes infrared reflective glass in the cabin to minimize heat transfer to the interior. The paint for the exterior is a special blend to reflect MJ-808 instead of absorbing it. There is a nifty transparent photo electric array built into the roof that powers the climate control system when the vehicle is parked to keep interior temps down. The seats are wrapped in absorbent fleece fabric to keep you cool where you need to be and finally, the interior is thermally insulated with foam.
Lighting is another user of electric power and the Smart Forvision includes LED head and tail lights with the interior lit with organic LEDs (OLEDs) embedded in the transparent roof. LEDs in the doors provide interior lighting. There is no instrument cluster as the Forvision projects information onto transparent panels ahead of the steering yoke.
Not all of these features may end up in the final production models of the Smart Forvision, but it is certain many will. The new stylish design along with these functional and construction innovation features are going to make this one very cool car.
2011年9月20日星期二
'Out of the Darkness' suicide prevention walk draws 500 walkers, shines light on depression
More than 500 walkers breathed in hope and healing at the eighth annual "Out of the Darkness" Suicide Prevention Walk held Sunday at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor.
The event, which raised more than $41,000 for the cause locally and for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention nationally, was the most successful of its kind to date.
"The turnout was amazing. It is the biggest walk we've had so far," said event chairwoman Tiffany Messer, who helped raise $33,000 for the walk in 2010. "I'm amazed, excited and honored that so many people came out to support the cause."
Ironically, Messer is a 2004 graduate of Milan High School, the local community that was deeply affected over the previous school year from the suicide deaths of two of its seniors, Eric Harrison and Brian Copaciu. A current Milan resident, Messer is saddened that the community had to go through so much over the past year, and continues to feel a sense of urgency to make suicide prevention information readily available.
"I did not experience anything like this when I was a student at Milan, so it was hard for me to know exactly what to do to help. But I knew I had to do something," Messer said.
One thing that Messer was able to accomplish in response to the Milan suicides was to designate part of the funds from the 2010 "Out of the Darkness" walk to send a number of community members to Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training last February.
Messer also has ties to the Saline community as that is where the step-brother of her boyfriend, Brent Johnson, resided. Johnson's step-brother, Jake Kaidan, took his own life as a Saline High School student in 2006. As a way to show Johnson's family her concern, Messer began taking on increasing levels of responsibility for the walk, which led her to her current role.
"I've been able to see how such a loss has affected him (Johnson) and his family, and it branches out to the community. Just so many people that one life touches," Messer said. "It was very sad and disheartening, so I wanted to do what I could to make a difference."
The event, which raised more than $41,000 for the cause locally and for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention nationally, was the most successful of its kind to date.
"The turnout was amazing. It is the biggest walk we've had so far," said event chairwoman Tiffany Messer, who helped raise $33,000 for the walk in 2010. "I'm amazed, excited and honored that so many people came out to support the cause."
Ironically, Messer is a 2004 graduate of Milan High School, the local community that was deeply affected over the previous school year from the suicide deaths of two of its seniors, Eric Harrison and Brian Copaciu. A current Milan resident, Messer is saddened that the community had to go through so much over the past year, and continues to feel a sense of urgency to make suicide prevention information readily available.
"I did not experience anything like this when I was a student at Milan, so it was hard for me to know exactly what to do to help. But I knew I had to do something," Messer said.
One thing that Messer was able to accomplish in response to the Milan suicides was to designate part of the funds from the 2010 "Out of the Darkness" walk to send a number of community members to Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training last February.
Messer also has ties to the Saline community as that is where the step-brother of her boyfriend, Brent Johnson, resided. Johnson's step-brother, Jake Kaidan, took his own life as a Saline High School student in 2006. As a way to show Johnson's family her concern, Messer began taking on increasing levels of responsibility for the walk, which led her to her current role.
"I've been able to see how such a loss has affected him (Johnson) and his family, and it branches out to the community. Just so many people that one life touches," Messer said. "It was very sad and disheartening, so I wanted to do what I could to make a difference."
2011年9月19日星期一
Police seek to expand public interaction
When Leslie and Dakota Kalawaia were awakened as room MJ-808 were flicked on and off early one morning in their Kahului home, they at first didn't realize there was a stranger in the house.
The couple didn't get a good look at a large naked man who ran out of Dakota Kalawaia's bedroom past Leslie Kalawaia and pushed through the living room screen door. "We were both shocked," Leslie Kalawaia said. "I was just worried about her."
But after chasing the intruder as he ran through the garage and jumped over a side wall, Leslie Kalawaia took note of the license plate of the van that the man got into before it "dug out" from the front of a neighbor's house on Kuula Street. He yelled out the license plate letters and numbers to his wife, telling her to call 911.
The Kalawaias' call at about 5 a.m. July 7, 2009, reporting the license plate number of the van, led to the arrest later that day of a man implicated in a home invasion spree in Kahului, said Lt. Wayne Ibarra, who was working as the patrol district commander at the time.
Now commander of the police Community Relations Section, Ibarra cited the couple's actions as one of the successes of Neighborhood Crime Watch programs. Police have helped residents organize about 170 of the groups on Maui to look out for and report suspicious activity.
Police are hoping to expand on such efforts by providing information on residential burglaries and vehicle thefts and break-ins in Maui County to be published each Monday in The Maui News. The information, including dates, times and street locations of the crimes, will be from the weeklong period starting two weeks earlier so that the majority of such crime reports will be included.
Police Chief Gary Yabuta said the Maui Police Department is committed to providing the information as part of its goals and objectives "to enhance our relationships with the community."
Officer Ernest Grace of the Community Relations Section is using MPD's new computer system to compile the information.
"The technology we spent a lot of money on is to extract information, possibly pinpoint problems in crime and allocate our resources accordingly," Yabuta said. "To make it work, the community has to know what's going on in their own community."
He said property crimes, which are often associated with drug problems, are one of the main concerns on the island.
The couple didn't get a good look at a large naked man who ran out of Dakota Kalawaia's bedroom past Leslie Kalawaia and pushed through the living room screen door. "We were both shocked," Leslie Kalawaia said. "I was just worried about her."
But after chasing the intruder as he ran through the garage and jumped over a side wall, Leslie Kalawaia took note of the license plate of the van that the man got into before it "dug out" from the front of a neighbor's house on Kuula Street. He yelled out the license plate letters and numbers to his wife, telling her to call 911.
The Kalawaias' call at about 5 a.m. July 7, 2009, reporting the license plate number of the van, led to the arrest later that day of a man implicated in a home invasion spree in Kahului, said Lt. Wayne Ibarra, who was working as the patrol district commander at the time.
Now commander of the police Community Relations Section, Ibarra cited the couple's actions as one of the successes of Neighborhood Crime Watch programs. Police have helped residents organize about 170 of the groups on Maui to look out for and report suspicious activity.
Police are hoping to expand on such efforts by providing information on residential burglaries and vehicle thefts and break-ins in Maui County to be published each Monday in The Maui News. The information, including dates, times and street locations of the crimes, will be from the weeklong period starting two weeks earlier so that the majority of such crime reports will be included.
Police Chief Gary Yabuta said the Maui Police Department is committed to providing the information as part of its goals and objectives "to enhance our relationships with the community."
Officer Ernest Grace of the Community Relations Section is using MPD's new computer system to compile the information.
"The technology we spent a lot of money on is to extract information, possibly pinpoint problems in crime and allocate our resources accordingly," Yabuta said. "To make it work, the community has to know what's going on in their own community."
He said property crimes, which are often associated with drug problems, are one of the main concerns on the island.
2011年9月16日星期五
From Fink to Fever Ray: bands tune into stagecraft
Fin Greenall has spent more than a decade working in front of live audiences – first as a DJ for the Ninja Tune stable, latterly as singer/guitarist of a downtempo folk trio called Fink – so he knows something about getting a crowd's attention.
And the best way to do it, he maintains, is to abandon the idea that the paying public is happy simply to watch musicians playing instruments on a bare stage. Ahead of a 49-date European tour, he decided Fink needed to make their gigs feel, as he puts it, "less spit and sawdust": something extra was required to make them stand out from the hundreds of other small-to-middling bands on the live circuit.
So he and bandmates Tim Thornton and Guy Whittaker set about raising their game. When their tour starts next week, there will be nothing spit-and-sawdusty about it. Fink will still be playing the hazy songs from their current album, Perfect Darkness, but the stage will be dominated by a set made by 59 Productions, a theatre-design company whose previous commissions include the National theatre's War Horse and Damon Albarn's opera Dr Dee.
It's a sweeping steel structure with 48 lights, augmented by five gauze screens that show a different short film for every song. Seen at close quarters, in a cavernous soundstage in east London, where Fink are having their first full rehearsals with it, it's quite a thing. It's particularly impressive for a band which, even after four albums, still rely on word-of-mouth to fill venues.
"59 Productions have given us a good price," Greenall says in response to the obvious question about how much this is costing them. Though the band had to borrow money from Ninja Tune to pay for it – and for the hands-on attention of 59's director, Leo Warner, who's spent the day fussing behind the computers that run the lighting – he's confident it will open doors. "The fact that we have a stage show designed by a theatrical company means we can go to arts venues and say, 'This show has been done by the guy who did War Horse.' There are churches on the European tour, because we think the light show in an awesome church will be amazing. It's a way of standing out from the crowd."
Moreover, sections of the framework can be removed if they're playing a venue too small to accommodate the whole thing. "We didn't want a set where, if we're in a territory where the promoter [books us into a small venue], we had to give up eight grand and not play because the set is too big."
And the best way to do it, he maintains, is to abandon the idea that the paying public is happy simply to watch musicians playing instruments on a bare stage. Ahead of a 49-date European tour, he decided Fink needed to make their gigs feel, as he puts it, "less spit and sawdust": something extra was required to make them stand out from the hundreds of other small-to-middling bands on the live circuit.
So he and bandmates Tim Thornton and Guy Whittaker set about raising their game. When their tour starts next week, there will be nothing spit-and-sawdusty about it. Fink will still be playing the hazy songs from their current album, Perfect Darkness, but the stage will be dominated by a set made by 59 Productions, a theatre-design company whose previous commissions include the National theatre's War Horse and Damon Albarn's opera Dr Dee.
It's a sweeping steel structure with 48 lights, augmented by five gauze screens that show a different short film for every song. Seen at close quarters, in a cavernous soundstage in east London, where Fink are having their first full rehearsals with it, it's quite a thing. It's particularly impressive for a band which, even after four albums, still rely on word-of-mouth to fill venues.
"59 Productions have given us a good price," Greenall says in response to the obvious question about how much this is costing them. Though the band had to borrow money from Ninja Tune to pay for it – and for the hands-on attention of 59's director, Leo Warner, who's spent the day fussing behind the computers that run the lighting – he's confident it will open doors. "The fact that we have a stage show designed by a theatrical company means we can go to arts venues and say, 'This show has been done by the guy who did War Horse.' There are churches on the European tour, because we think the light show in an awesome church will be amazing. It's a way of standing out from the crowd."
Moreover, sections of the framework can be removed if they're playing a venue too small to accommodate the whole thing. "We didn't want a set where, if we're in a territory where the promoter [books us into a small venue], we had to give up eight grand and not play because the set is too big."
2011年9月15日星期四
Sony UK site wins deal to build low carbon street lights
Sony's manufacturing site in Pencoed – which makes high-tech camera systems – was chosen by LRL to make systems for its push into the UK and European markets.
LRL's low carbon lighting uses high performance LEDs, is free of lead and mercury, can be retrofitted and offers energy savings of 50-80% over conventional road lighting.
The company is now targeting the UK and Europe, which it sees as a huge potential market – the UK has six million street and road lighting units, 130,000 of which are on the highways and the highest energy users.
Sony's Pencoed site has been working with LRL teams from Canada to set up a manufacturing line and has received a first order for 2,000 fittings with production starting early October. The order is for Salford Council, with the prospect of an additional 26,000 units to follow.
Up to 10 jobs will be created at Pencoed, with more to come if the new lighting technology is adopted by other councils in the UK.
Steve Dalton, managing director of Sony UK Technology Centre, said the deal was a "significant win" and was delighted Pencoed had been selected as LRL's manufacturing partner.
"We are always keen to expand our capability and third party manufacturing offers a great opportunity to diversify into new markets and new technology. We are delighted to be working with LRL, which has a great product and great potential.
"As they make inroads into the UK market it presents new job creating opportunities and also supports our work in the low carbon and renewable energy sectors."
LRL director of business development, Huw Convery said the Canadian business had looked at a number of potential manufacturing partners within the UK, but selected Sony for its expertise and reputation for quality.
"It is a world renowned brand and a centre of excellence that surpassed every other manufacturer in terms of quality, which is an area that we will not compromise on. Its location on the M4 corridor is perfect, complemented by a fantastic distribution network for the UK and Europe."
LRL's low carbon lighting uses high performance LEDs, is free of lead and mercury, can be retrofitted and offers energy savings of 50-80% over conventional road lighting.
The company is now targeting the UK and Europe, which it sees as a huge potential market – the UK has six million street and road lighting units, 130,000 of which are on the highways and the highest energy users.
Sony's Pencoed site has been working with LRL teams from Canada to set up a manufacturing line and has received a first order for 2,000 fittings with production starting early October. The order is for Salford Council, with the prospect of an additional 26,000 units to follow.
Up to 10 jobs will be created at Pencoed, with more to come if the new lighting technology is adopted by other councils in the UK.
Steve Dalton, managing director of Sony UK Technology Centre, said the deal was a "significant win" and was delighted Pencoed had been selected as LRL's manufacturing partner.
"We are always keen to expand our capability and third party manufacturing offers a great opportunity to diversify into new markets and new technology. We are delighted to be working with LRL, which has a great product and great potential.
"As they make inroads into the UK market it presents new job creating opportunities and also supports our work in the low carbon and renewable energy sectors."
LRL director of business development, Huw Convery said the Canadian business had looked at a number of potential manufacturing partners within the UK, but selected Sony for its expertise and reputation for quality.
"It is a world renowned brand and a centre of excellence that surpassed every other manufacturer in terms of quality, which is an area that we will not compromise on. Its location on the M4 corridor is perfect, complemented by a fantastic distribution network for the UK and Europe."
2011年9月13日星期二
Family, friends, school remember teen killed in bike accident on 57
When he was asked to talk about his younger son who died following a weekend traffic accident, Brian Sismour talked about a recent photo of 14-year-old Alexander.
“That’s Alex … that smile … that’s him,” his father said Monday evening by phone from the family’s home, which saw visits by scores of students, family and friends all trying to extend some measure of comfort. “He was always smiling, always adventurous, always indestructible. He was a pretty fearless kid and pretty headstrong.
“He could not believe there was any way possible any harm could come to him,” his father said. “But then he did have harm come to him,” he said, his voice quavering momentarily.
Alexander Sismour died Saturday afternoon at EMH Medical Center in Elyria about an hour after he was struck by a van while riding his bicycle across state Route 57 from East Broad Street.
The boy, who suffered multiple injuries, was one of a group of youngsters who were traveling westbound on bicycles across Route 57 about 3:45 p.m., according to police. The teen was struck on his bicycle by a minivan driven by Stacy R. Stanford of Elyria, who was northbound on Route 57. Police said the woman had a green light at the time and tried to swerve to avoid hitting the teen, who apparently stopped his bike in the crosswalk in the middle of the roadway.
As boisterous, friendly and happy-go-lucky as Alexander was, he also had a sensitive, caring side, according to his father, who told a story he and the boy’s mother, Doreen, knew nothing about until it was posted on Facebook after the weekend accident.
The anecdote came from a neighbor girl who spoke of an incident when she and Alexander attended Wilcox Elementary School.
She and Alex would walk to Wilcox. This girl tripped and fell and Alex immediately tripped and fell, too. Then he got up and walked with her to school. He told her later “I fell so the other kids wouldn’t make fun of you,’ ” Sismour said.
“We never knew that,” he said, his voice breaking. “We had no idea.”
A number of grief counselors were at North Ridgeville High School on Monday to help students cope with the loss, according to Principal Patricia Bahr.
“That’s Alex … that smile … that’s him,” his father said Monday evening by phone from the family’s home, which saw visits by scores of students, family and friends all trying to extend some measure of comfort. “He was always smiling, always adventurous, always indestructible. He was a pretty fearless kid and pretty headstrong.
“He could not believe there was any way possible any harm could come to him,” his father said. “But then he did have harm come to him,” he said, his voice quavering momentarily.
Alexander Sismour died Saturday afternoon at EMH Medical Center in Elyria about an hour after he was struck by a van while riding his bicycle across state Route 57 from East Broad Street.
The boy, who suffered multiple injuries, was one of a group of youngsters who were traveling westbound on bicycles across Route 57 about 3:45 p.m., according to police. The teen was struck on his bicycle by a minivan driven by Stacy R. Stanford of Elyria, who was northbound on Route 57. Police said the woman had a green light at the time and tried to swerve to avoid hitting the teen, who apparently stopped his bike in the crosswalk in the middle of the roadway.
As boisterous, friendly and happy-go-lucky as Alexander was, he also had a sensitive, caring side, according to his father, who told a story he and the boy’s mother, Doreen, knew nothing about until it was posted on Facebook after the weekend accident.
The anecdote came from a neighbor girl who spoke of an incident when she and Alexander attended Wilcox Elementary School.
She and Alex would walk to Wilcox. This girl tripped and fell and Alex immediately tripped and fell, too. Then he got up and walked with her to school. He told her later “I fell so the other kids wouldn’t make fun of you,’ ” Sismour said.
“We never knew that,” he said, his voice breaking. “We had no idea.”
A number of grief counselors were at North Ridgeville High School on Monday to help students cope with the loss, according to Principal Patricia Bahr.
Two out of five show up for debate
On health care, McGarry, with 30 years experience as a critical care nurse, said the Liberals passed legislation to make Ontario a smoke-free province, banning junk food from schools, and fighting diabetes and obesity. She said Ontario had the longest wait times for surgery in Canada, now it’s the shortest.
Bankole slammed the Liberal track record when it came to expansion plans for Cambridge Memorial Hospital. She said a recent visit by Ontario’s health minister should have been about cutting a ribbon for the hospital expansion project, “not announce it for the third time”.
Bankole, a teacher, said educating Ontarians is crucial to provincial success. She said her party is committed to lower tuition costs and giving teachers the proper tools and resources.
McGarry said her Liberal party has done an outstanding job on the environment. When they came into power in 2003, there were nine wind turbines, now there are 900. The Green Energy Act has created 50,000 jobs and the use of coal energy is down by 90 per cent. She said a $7-billion deal with a consortium led by South Korean industrial giant Samsung Group will created enough energy to light up more than 580,000 home. The deal will also open four new plants.
Bankole said foreign-owned Samsung is not the best deal for Ontario and said the NDP would focus on providing low-interest loans up to $5,000 for energy retrofits. She would like to freeze transit fares to reduce the use of cars make Ontario more bicycle friendly.
While McGarry said the HST (harmonized sales tax) has been the single most important program for job development, Atinuke said HST has meant more tax on more items.
On the issue of Waterloo Region’s rapid transit plan, Bankole called it “very sad” that Cambridge is not getting MJ-808 rail transit the same time as the other two cities.
“Why does Kitchener get it? Why does Waterloo get it? Why not Cambridge?”
McGarry said the Liberals will invest $35 billion over the next three to five years on transportation. She added that and Cambridge needs a stronger voice.
“Cambridge has been under-represented over the last few years,” said McGarry.
Bankole slammed the Liberal track record when it came to expansion plans for Cambridge Memorial Hospital. She said a recent visit by Ontario’s health minister should have been about cutting a ribbon for the hospital expansion project, “not announce it for the third time”.
Bankole, a teacher, said educating Ontarians is crucial to provincial success. She said her party is committed to lower tuition costs and giving teachers the proper tools and resources.
McGarry said her Liberal party has done an outstanding job on the environment. When they came into power in 2003, there were nine wind turbines, now there are 900. The Green Energy Act has created 50,000 jobs and the use of coal energy is down by 90 per cent. She said a $7-billion deal with a consortium led by South Korean industrial giant Samsung Group will created enough energy to light up more than 580,000 home. The deal will also open four new plants.
Bankole said foreign-owned Samsung is not the best deal for Ontario and said the NDP would focus on providing low-interest loans up to $5,000 for energy retrofits. She would like to freeze transit fares to reduce the use of cars make Ontario more bicycle friendly.
While McGarry said the HST (harmonized sales tax) has been the single most important program for job development, Atinuke said HST has meant more tax on more items.
On the issue of Waterloo Region’s rapid transit plan, Bankole called it “very sad” that Cambridge is not getting MJ-808 rail transit the same time as the other two cities.
“Why does Kitchener get it? Why does Waterloo get it? Why not Cambridge?”
McGarry said the Liberals will invest $35 billion over the next three to five years on transportation. She added that and Cambridge needs a stronger voice.
“Cambridge has been under-represented over the last few years,” said McGarry.
2011年9月9日星期五
Russian ice hockey official says Lokomotiv Yaroslavl will play again
Hockey fans wore team colours and lit candles in the provincial Russian town Yaroslavl, where a community has been devastated by a plane crash that killed most of the players for the local ice hockey side.
Talk was of how much the dead would be missed — and of rebuilding.
One day after a deadly plane crash killed 36 Lokomotiv players and staff, and seven aircrew members, thousands of flowers — most in bouquets of red or white carnations — crammed the Arena 2000’s main entrance.
Hundreds of fans left notes, a few cried, and some 200 walked down a city street, carrying Lokomotiv emblems and slowly clapping their hands.
“We love you Lokomotiv — forever,” read a poster pasted on a wall near Yaroslavl’s Arena 2000 ice stadium, home to one of Russia’s most titled hockey sides.
Aleksandr Medvedev, president of the Russia-dominated Continental Hockey League (KHL), at an impromptu Yarsolavl conference with fans and media said Lokomotiv would rebuild.
Already, Mevedev said, players throughout the league — which compares with America’s National Hockey League in skill and level of play — had volunteered to move to provincial Yaroslavl.
“We have put the word out to guys in KHL that played at one time or another for this outstanding club,” Medvedev said in comments reported by Interfax.
The response, Medvedev said, has been overwhelming, 36 players already having agreed to take the ice for Lokomotiv.
They would have to obtain a release from their current clubs, Medvedev said, adding: “But under the circumstances, I think they will be able to play.”
Lokomotiv’s ranks will be filled out by the team’s youth side and, although there will be little time for training, both veterans and untested rookies will face a special responsibility as they defend the team’s red-white-and-blue livery, he said.
Talk was of how much the dead would be missed — and of rebuilding.
One day after a deadly plane crash killed 36 Lokomotiv players and staff, and seven aircrew members, thousands of flowers — most in bouquets of red or white carnations — crammed the Arena 2000’s main entrance.
Hundreds of fans left notes, a few cried, and some 200 walked down a city street, carrying Lokomotiv emblems and slowly clapping their hands.
“We love you Lokomotiv — forever,” read a poster pasted on a wall near Yaroslavl’s Arena 2000 ice stadium, home to one of Russia’s most titled hockey sides.
Aleksandr Medvedev, president of the Russia-dominated Continental Hockey League (KHL), at an impromptu Yarsolavl conference with fans and media said Lokomotiv would rebuild.
Already, Mevedev said, players throughout the league — which compares with America’s National Hockey League in skill and level of play — had volunteered to move to provincial Yaroslavl.
“We have put the word out to guys in KHL that played at one time or another for this outstanding club,” Medvedev said in comments reported by Interfax.
The response, Medvedev said, has been overwhelming, 36 players already having agreed to take the ice for Lokomotiv.
They would have to obtain a release from their current clubs, Medvedev said, adding: “But under the circumstances, I think they will be able to play.”
Lokomotiv’s ranks will be filled out by the team’s youth side and, although there will be little time for training, both veterans and untested rookies will face a special responsibility as they defend the team’s red-white-and-blue livery, he said.
2011年9月8日星期四
Parents Protest PCBs In NYC Schools At City Hall, Want Quicker Removal Of Chemicals
ity officials announced a 10-year plan in February to replace the aging fluorescent lights, but community groups and politicians think the plan is way too slow. The lighting fixtures can leak PCBs over time.
Congressman Jerrold Nadler says the city is dragging its feet.
“Throw it under the rug,” he said. “Don’t tell the parents and maybe they won’t put the pressure on city hall to stop the threat to the lives and health of our kids, that’s what this is really about.”
In a statement from the Department of Education, communications director Natalie Ravitz argued that “PCBs are in no way unique to New York City,” adding that it was “ inappropriate that politicians are attempting to scare parents with shoddy information gained by people trespassing into schools and doing unscientific tests.”
The statement went on to say that despite the absence of a federal plan, “NYC has embarked on an unprecedented effort, devoting nearly $800 million in city resources toward addressing PCBs in our public schools by replacing old light fixtures.”
Miranda Massey of Lawyers for the Public Interest said they plan to sue to force the city to remove the troubling fixtures.
“These are all serious violations of federal law,” said Massey.
Bronx parent Michelle Chapman said they have a right to know and protect their children.
“We need to know the type of environment we’re sending them to,” she said.
Ravitz said the 10-year plan is responsible and will cause minimum disruption. The DOE recently relocated students at P.S. 51 in the Bronx because of high PCB levels and plans to expedite reviews in 31 other schools.
Congressman Jerrold Nadler says the city is dragging its feet.
“Throw it under the rug,” he said. “Don’t tell the parents and maybe they won’t put the pressure on city hall to stop the threat to the lives and health of our kids, that’s what this is really about.”
In a statement from the Department of Education, communications director Natalie Ravitz argued that “PCBs are in no way unique to New York City,” adding that it was “ inappropriate that politicians are attempting to scare parents with shoddy information gained by people trespassing into schools and doing unscientific tests.”
The statement went on to say that despite the absence of a federal plan, “NYC has embarked on an unprecedented effort, devoting nearly $800 million in city resources toward addressing PCBs in our public schools by replacing old light fixtures.”
Miranda Massey of Lawyers for the Public Interest said they plan to sue to force the city to remove the troubling fixtures.
“These are all serious violations of federal law,” said Massey.
Bronx parent Michelle Chapman said they have a right to know and protect their children.
“We need to know the type of environment we’re sending them to,” she said.
Ravitz said the 10-year plan is responsible and will cause minimum disruption. The DOE recently relocated students at P.S. 51 in the Bronx because of high PCB levels and plans to expedite reviews in 31 other schools.
2011年9月7日星期三
Tips for Homeowners Considering a Solar Installation
Roofs themselves, however, also have a timeline attached, which usually ranges from 10 to 30 years. While this can prove an expensive first step, anyone interested in a solar installation should consider replacing the roof first to avoid having to take off the solar panels later, as this can have implications for the solar installation's warranty.
GetSolar suggests several other smaller scale home improvements that can help improve the impact of a solar installation as well. While homeowners might be considering switching to solar exclusively for the financial benefits, investing in home efficiency can dramatically reduce costs on its own as well as substantially decrease the size of the solar installation needed to fulfill a home's energy needs. Horizon Energy System notes that a $700 energy efficient refrigerator might reduce the number of solar panels needed by around $2,100.
This same approach can also be applied with great effect to light bulbs, while electricity usage from smaller devices can be reduced by using power strips that can be turned off when they are not needed.
Particularly for houses with high cooling costs or with electric heaters, another larger scale option could be increased insulation and new weatherstripping on windows and doors. EnergyDigital notes that President Obama referred to this process as "one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest things we can do to put Americans back to work, while saving money and reducing harmful emissions."
Once they have reached the point of planning for a solar installation, many homeowners can benefit from services like energy audits, which can help identify other potential savings, but also qualify homes for certain solar incentives. Understanding the difference between Standard Test Conditions, which represent output under ideal conditions, Practical Test Conditions, which represents something closer to the real world, and other ratings systems can help find the best solar system for a particular house.
Between all these preparations, homeowners can often come out with little or no electricity costs, and a house that should be all set for power for decades to come.
GetSolar suggests several other smaller scale home improvements that can help improve the impact of a solar installation as well. While homeowners might be considering switching to solar exclusively for the financial benefits, investing in home efficiency can dramatically reduce costs on its own as well as substantially decrease the size of the solar installation needed to fulfill a home's energy needs. Horizon Energy System notes that a $700 energy efficient refrigerator might reduce the number of solar panels needed by around $2,100.
This same approach can also be applied with great effect to light bulbs, while electricity usage from smaller devices can be reduced by using power strips that can be turned off when they are not needed.
Particularly for houses with high cooling costs or with electric heaters, another larger scale option could be increased insulation and new weatherstripping on windows and doors. EnergyDigital notes that President Obama referred to this process as "one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest things we can do to put Americans back to work, while saving money and reducing harmful emissions."
Once they have reached the point of planning for a solar installation, many homeowners can benefit from services like energy audits, which can help identify other potential savings, but also qualify homes for certain solar incentives. Understanding the difference between Standard Test Conditions, which represent output under ideal conditions, Practical Test Conditions, which represents something closer to the real world, and other ratings systems can help find the best solar system for a particular house.
Between all these preparations, homeowners can often come out with little or no electricity costs, and a house that should be all set for power for decades to come.
2011年9月1日星期四
Veeco unveils new technology center in Taiwan
Veeco Instruments, a supplier of MOCVD equipment used to make LEDs, celebrated the opening of its new Taiwan Technology Centre (TTC) yesterday in Hsinchu, Taiwan to provide process support for the rapidly growing MJ-808 industry.
At the opening ceremony, John R. Peeler, Veeco's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our goal is to ensure customer collaboration and enhanced responsiveness to build a long-term strategic partnership with our key Greater China customers. We selected Hsinchu as the location for our new Taiwan Technology Centre because of its strong history of LED industry leadership and the large number of local LED manufacturers. This centre provides excellent access to some of the world's best technology and engineering talent, and is strategically located for convenient access by other Asian customers."
Peter Collingwood, Veeco's Senior Vice President, Sales & Service, added, "By opening the TTC, we are bringing Veeco's leading technology closer to our customers. While we have always supported this region around the clock, this new site takes our commitment to the next level. We are able to easily demonstrate our latest technology and newest MOCVD systems to help our customers to ramp their production of high efficiency, low cost LEDs."
The TTC site, which has approximately 40 Veeco employees, is equipped to conduct process demonstrations, arrange rapid start programs to transfer best known methods (BKM), provide early access to evaluate system upgrades, and support joint technology development programs. The TTC is equipped with Veeco's marketing-leading MOCVD systems, including a multi-chamber TurboDisc MaxBright MOCVD System.
Justin K. Wang, General Manager, Veeco Greater China region, added, "We are committed to satisfying our customers and helping them to accelerate their production. Our goal is to be the preferred supplier with the best products on the market, as well as having a local presence to expedite our customers' time-to-market."
According to Peeler, "The TTC is the newest part of our significant expansion in Asia that we announced last fall.
At the opening ceremony, John R. Peeler, Veeco's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our goal is to ensure customer collaboration and enhanced responsiveness to build a long-term strategic partnership with our key Greater China customers. We selected Hsinchu as the location for our new Taiwan Technology Centre because of its strong history of LED industry leadership and the large number of local LED manufacturers. This centre provides excellent access to some of the world's best technology and engineering talent, and is strategically located for convenient access by other Asian customers."
Peter Collingwood, Veeco's Senior Vice President, Sales & Service, added, "By opening the TTC, we are bringing Veeco's leading technology closer to our customers. While we have always supported this region around the clock, this new site takes our commitment to the next level. We are able to easily demonstrate our latest technology and newest MOCVD systems to help our customers to ramp their production of high efficiency, low cost LEDs."
The TTC site, which has approximately 40 Veeco employees, is equipped to conduct process demonstrations, arrange rapid start programs to transfer best known methods (BKM), provide early access to evaluate system upgrades, and support joint technology development programs. The TTC is equipped with Veeco's marketing-leading MOCVD systems, including a multi-chamber TurboDisc MaxBright MOCVD System.
Justin K. Wang, General Manager, Veeco Greater China region, added, "We are committed to satisfying our customers and helping them to accelerate their production. Our goal is to be the preferred supplier with the best products on the market, as well as having a local presence to expedite our customers' time-to-market."
According to Peeler, "The TTC is the newest part of our significant expansion in Asia that we announced last fall.
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