Imagine a film of a man on a bicycle. It's a stationary exercise-bicycle, and he's pedalling away for all he's worth. It is night, or anyway a place of total darkness, and all that illuminates this cyclist is a small spotlight aimed at his body. He goes on pedalling hard, and you begin to wonder what he's really doing, or what the point is of this strenuous nocturnal scene, until you perceive that, from time to time, there's some slight fluctuation in the strength of the lighting; and then you notice that there's a cable running from the light to the bicycle, and it's attached to a dynamo on the bicycle, and that the man is pedalling in order to make the light shine. His visibility, in other words, is dependent on his activity.
Now imagine these three short films turned into three still images. Each one would be curious. With movement that doesn't show, there'd be no difference between a film and a still. With an imminent, suspended climax, you wouldn't need any looping trickery, the still image by itself would put things on hold, and maintain an endless "any moment now". With the lighting generator, the subject's visibility wouldn't be – what it normally is in pictures – an assumption. It would be a contingency. You'd have a scene that implied a change of scene, where the light was out and everything was lost.
El Greco's Boy Lighting a Candle shows a boy blowing on an ember. It's an action that, while it lasts, can be perfectly steady and show no change. The passage of the air is invisible. The pursed lips, the glow of the ember, the hold of the hands: all these things can stay as they are for a while. It is movement without any movement to be seen, while it lasts. Of course this process can't continue for ever. His lungs will soon run out of air.
Who knows how much puff is left? We can't tell, but it can't last. And when the boy's breath fails, the ember will fade too, and the whole scene, lit entirely from this light source, will revert to darkness – unless he can get the candle to catch and hold on to that light in time.
It is one of the great pictorial subjects. With its play between stillness and timing and visibility, between breath and light, it's rich in allegorical possibilities, in thoughts of life and death. At the same time it's based on a simple, natural physical event – the beautiful two-way relationship between a face and an ember. The face blows air upon the ember, causing the ember to shine back upon the face. The boy puffs himself into light. While he breathes, he is there before us.
It's painted in the most realistic style El Greco ever used, and it looks like everyday life. It was, in fact, inspired by classical example. Almost no paintings survive from ancient Greece, but many are described by the Roman author, Pliny the Elder, in his encyclopaedic work Natural History.
Post-Renaissance artists often tried to recreate them. El Greco painted several versions and variants of this subject. So did other artists, after him, in the following century. It's not clear, though, whether any of them realised the original idea in full. Because what Pliny describes is not just a picture, it's an installation.
Friday 30 September 2011
Thursday 29 September 2011
Consumer Reports: Alternative light bulbs improving
The light bulb aisle isn't as simple as it used to be. From CFLs to LEDs to new halogen incandescents, there are a lot of choices. With new federal regulations about to take effect, it's a good time to consider your lighting options.
New federal rules on energy efficiency take effect in January and start the official phase out of standard incandescent light bulbs. There's no need to hoard them, though. The most popular 60-watt size can be made until 2014. In the meantime, the good news is that alternatives are improving.
Consumer Reports tested light emitting diodes, or LEDs, which use even less energy than CFLs. Testers tried the bulbs in a lab and at home.
"You want a light bulb that's as close to the incandescent. It has warm color. This LED happens to be a lot like that," said tester Kimberly Janeway.
LED bulbs are very expensive and can cost anywhere from $17 for a table lamp bulb to more than $60 for a floodlight, but they can be worth it.
"Even with an LEDs high cost, you can still save $100 or more over its life compared to a standard incandescent," said Consumer Reports' Bob Markovich.
LEDs also last much longer, some as long as 9,000 hours. Incandescents only last 1,000 to 2,000 hours.
"LEDs have some distinct advantages over CFLs. They reach full brightness instantly, and some are also better at dimming," Markovich said.
Not all LEDs are good at distributing light. A Sylvania 60-watt Ultra LED shines most of its light up towards the ceiling, which is not very helpful for reading.
For table or floor lamps, Consumer Reports recommends the $40 Philips Ambient. It's the equivalent of a 60-watt incandescent bulb and claims to last almost 23 years.
For outdoor floodlights, the EcoSmart bulb (Par 38) costs $45 and promises to last even longer.
If you replace an incandescent bulb with an LED, Consumer Reports says it will take four to 10 years before you recoup the costs and start saving. CFLs cost much less and will save you money much sooner.
New federal rules on energy efficiency take effect in January and start the official phase out of standard incandescent light bulbs. There's no need to hoard them, though. The most popular 60-watt size can be made until 2014. In the meantime, the good news is that alternatives are improving.
Consumer Reports tested light emitting diodes, or LEDs, which use even less energy than CFLs. Testers tried the bulbs in a lab and at home.
"You want a light bulb that's as close to the incandescent. It has warm color. This LED happens to be a lot like that," said tester Kimberly Janeway.
LED bulbs are very expensive and can cost anywhere from $17 for a table lamp bulb to more than $60 for a floodlight, but they can be worth it.
"Even with an LEDs high cost, you can still save $100 or more over its life compared to a standard incandescent," said Consumer Reports' Bob Markovich.
LEDs also last much longer, some as long as 9,000 hours. Incandescents only last 1,000 to 2,000 hours.
"LEDs have some distinct advantages over CFLs. They reach full brightness instantly, and some are also better at dimming," Markovich said.
Not all LEDs are good at distributing light. A Sylvania 60-watt Ultra LED shines most of its light up towards the ceiling, which is not very helpful for reading.
For table or floor lamps, Consumer Reports recommends the $40 Philips Ambient. It's the equivalent of a 60-watt incandescent bulb and claims to last almost 23 years.
For outdoor floodlights, the EcoSmart bulb (Par 38) costs $45 and promises to last even longer.
If you replace an incandescent bulb with an LED, Consumer Reports says it will take four to 10 years before you recoup the costs and start saving. CFLs cost much less and will save you money much sooner.
Wednesday 28 September 2011
One recovery aids others
"Sometimes when I've been unwell it has been such a dark, lonely and scary place," the 36-year-old says.
"I had lost hope but they (friends and family) held on to it for me, like a torch to light the darkness.
"I want to use the painful and difficult experiences that I've had with mental illness to help and benefit others."
Mr Harrison is working as a community peer worker at Life Without Barriers' new Christies Beach office.
The Tusmore resident works one-on-one with people with a mental illness to share ideas about recovery.
He has also given talks at such places as Noarlunga TAFE and Flinders University to help break down the stigma of mental illness.
"If we are more accepting of people with an illness, they are more likely to open up and ask for help," he says.
After losing his father Jack to asbestos cancer at the age of eight, Mr Harrison struggled through his teenage years.
In 1993, he was diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder, an illness that includes disordered thinking, depression, anxiety and some psychosis.
He says that for the past three years he has been improving with the support of his family and friends, the right medication, a stable job, healthy diet - and scuba diving.
"I find it really relaxing and love to take in how beautiful it is with the way the light reflects off things in the water," Mr Harrison says.
"It's very calming and soothing."
This week the Southern Times Messenger launches the Open Your Mind campaign in partnership with mindshare, a new mental health website launching on October 12.
Mindshare is an online mental health community, which shares the personal stories and experiences of Australians living with mental illness and their support workers through film, visual art, poetry, music and education.
The Open Your Mind campaign aims to better inform the community about mental health, reduce stigma and get a conversation going.
Mr Harrison has helped to create a video for the website, Questions, in which a support worker feels the sting of stigma and discrimination on a blind date at a pub.
He also plans to start a blog through the site.
"I had lost hope but they (friends and family) held on to it for me, like a torch to light the darkness.
"I want to use the painful and difficult experiences that I've had with mental illness to help and benefit others."
Mr Harrison is working as a community peer worker at Life Without Barriers' new Christies Beach office.
The Tusmore resident works one-on-one with people with a mental illness to share ideas about recovery.
He has also given talks at such places as Noarlunga TAFE and Flinders University to help break down the stigma of mental illness.
"If we are more accepting of people with an illness, they are more likely to open up and ask for help," he says.
After losing his father Jack to asbestos cancer at the age of eight, Mr Harrison struggled through his teenage years.
In 1993, he was diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder, an illness that includes disordered thinking, depression, anxiety and some psychosis.
He says that for the past three years he has been improving with the support of his family and friends, the right medication, a stable job, healthy diet - and scuba diving.
"I find it really relaxing and love to take in how beautiful it is with the way the light reflects off things in the water," Mr Harrison says.
"It's very calming and soothing."
This week the Southern Times Messenger launches the Open Your Mind campaign in partnership with mindshare, a new mental health website launching on October 12.
Mindshare is an online mental health community, which shares the personal stories and experiences of Australians living with mental illness and their support workers through film, visual art, poetry, music and education.
The Open Your Mind campaign aims to better inform the community about mental health, reduce stigma and get a conversation going.
Mr Harrison has helped to create a video for the website, Questions, in which a support worker feels the sting of stigma and discrimination on a blind date at a pub.
He also plans to start a blog through the site.
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Makers show some radical concepts
The hottest place in Frankfurt was not on the show floor but at the Volkswagen Group event on the eve of the International Motor Show.
One of the funkiest vehicles unveiled was Audi's urban concept electric vehicle. The urban concept defies description as it is modern but classic-looking at the same time, reminiscent of the 1930s Auto Union racing cars. According to Audi, those old vehicles were ahead of their time, as they were very lightweight with their engines mounted in the rear. In addition, the large, open wheels stood out from the chassis, just like in the new urban concept, which weighs just 480 kilograms.
The one-plus-one urban concept is not based on any previous model.
The funky concept features free-standing 21-inch wheels with blinking LED lights and is a new design language, the automaker says. The oneplus-one seating arrangement is slightly staggered and at a sporty, low level, says Audi.
The urban concept is powered by two powerful e-tron electric motors, which together produce 15 kilowatts of continuous power. The motors are mounted between the rear wheels, which are driven by a single-speed transmission. A lithium ion battery, which stores 7.1 kWh of usable energy, is mounted behind the seats.
Audi's second electrified ride unveiling was the A2 concept.
Weighing just 1,150 kg, the A2 features a lot of space for such a small car. The fourseater measures just 3,800 millimetres long. Inside, the centre console is attached to the driver's seat, while the rear console stretches forward between the two rear seats. Audi says there's even room between the rear seats for a bicycle.
The dash panel has a light, clean look and intuitive controls. The driver manages the many features via touch-control areas on the inside of the steering wheel. .
The exterior of the A2 concept features headlights heralding the next phase in LED technology, Audi says, known as matrix beam. A package of LEDs and micro reflectors generate a high-resolution and non-glaring high-beam light. Intelligent tail lights adapt their illumination to the conditions.
The A2 concept is a purely electric vehicle powered by a lithium ion battery. The electric motor is mounted transversely in the front of the car.
Audi unveiled several other world premieres, including the RS5, the S6, S6 Avant, S7 Sportback and S8.
The new RS5 features a high-revving V8 that Audi says is closely related to the V10 powering the R8. The 4.2 FSI delivers 450 hp and peak torque of 317 lb-ft. The Coupé launches to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds. Audi says it will increase the electronically governed top speed from 250 to 280 km/h upon request.
One of the funkiest vehicles unveiled was Audi's urban concept electric vehicle. The urban concept defies description as it is modern but classic-looking at the same time, reminiscent of the 1930s Auto Union racing cars. According to Audi, those old vehicles were ahead of their time, as they were very lightweight with their engines mounted in the rear. In addition, the large, open wheels stood out from the chassis, just like in the new urban concept, which weighs just 480 kilograms.
The one-plus-one urban concept is not based on any previous model.
The funky concept features free-standing 21-inch wheels with blinking LED lights and is a new design language, the automaker says. The oneplus-one seating arrangement is slightly staggered and at a sporty, low level, says Audi.
The urban concept is powered by two powerful e-tron electric motors, which together produce 15 kilowatts of continuous power. The motors are mounted between the rear wheels, which are driven by a single-speed transmission. A lithium ion battery, which stores 7.1 kWh of usable energy, is mounted behind the seats.
Audi's second electrified ride unveiling was the A2 concept.
Weighing just 1,150 kg, the A2 features a lot of space for such a small car. The fourseater measures just 3,800 millimetres long. Inside, the centre console is attached to the driver's seat, while the rear console stretches forward between the two rear seats. Audi says there's even room between the rear seats for a bicycle.
The dash panel has a light, clean look and intuitive controls. The driver manages the many features via touch-control areas on the inside of the steering wheel. .
The exterior of the A2 concept features headlights heralding the next phase in LED technology, Audi says, known as matrix beam. A package of LEDs and micro reflectors generate a high-resolution and non-glaring high-beam light. Intelligent tail lights adapt their illumination to the conditions.
The A2 concept is a purely electric vehicle powered by a lithium ion battery. The electric motor is mounted transversely in the front of the car.
Audi unveiled several other world premieres, including the RS5, the S6, S6 Avant, S7 Sportback and S8.
The new RS5 features a high-revving V8 that Audi says is closely related to the V10 powering the R8. The 4.2 FSI delivers 450 hp and peak torque of 317 lb-ft. The Coupé launches to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds. Audi says it will increase the electronically governed top speed from 250 to 280 km/h upon request.
Monday 26 September 2011
Canandaigua center upgrades production
At the time that deal was announced, Tolley and CNSE head Alain Kaloyeros said that the Canandaigua facility had the infrastructure and the skill to bring to manufacturing fruition many of the projects developed at the Albany center by affiliated companies, including IBM, Sematech, Toshiba and Samsung.
Kaloyeros said last week that his intent is to make the Rochester and Canandaigua area the "center of the universe in high-tech sensors."
"We have now about 3,500 jobs at the CNSE center in Albany, and I very definitely see that same thing happening in Canandaigua," Kaloyeros said.
He and Tolley have predicted that having a manufacturing entity attached to a high-level university research and development center will bring in private and government customers.
Tolley said there are many practical uses for sensors of this kind. "If the engineers for that bridge over the Ohio River had a sensor of this kind, they might have been able to detect tiny cracks long before this."
The Sherman Minton highway span, a major link between Indiana and Kentucky, was closed recently after a large crack was found.
Tolley said such devices will be important in the advancement of "green" energy.
Sensors and signals can help reduce company costs by turning off or dimming lights and activating other energy-saving elements.
Tolley said the potential uses in the military, where roadside bombs are a daily threat, are far-reaching. "The Department of Defense is an important customer, and having a capacity at a center like this keeps the government from going overseas to find a contractor," Tolley said.
The former Infotonics Center was one of five Centers of Excellence created by former Gov. George Pataki and the state Legislature in 2001.
It was envisioned as a public-private venture utilizing the regional university system and such corporate leaders as Eastman Kodak Co., Xerox Corp. and Corning Inc.. But the partnership never took off.
The center has blossomed since the merger with the Albany Nanotech center. Carestream Health has a partnership with the STC Center, and Mosher Baer Technologies Inc. has a multimillion-dollar contract to build LED lighting panels at the center.
"More is coming," Tolley said.
"There is room here to expand, and indeed that was the idea when this site was chosen."
Kaloyeros said last week that his intent is to make the Rochester and Canandaigua area the "center of the universe in high-tech sensors."
"We have now about 3,500 jobs at the CNSE center in Albany, and I very definitely see that same thing happening in Canandaigua," Kaloyeros said.
He and Tolley have predicted that having a manufacturing entity attached to a high-level university research and development center will bring in private and government customers.
Tolley said there are many practical uses for sensors of this kind. "If the engineers for that bridge over the Ohio River had a sensor of this kind, they might have been able to detect tiny cracks long before this."
The Sherman Minton highway span, a major link between Indiana and Kentucky, was closed recently after a large crack was found.
Tolley said such devices will be important in the advancement of "green" energy.
Sensors and signals can help reduce company costs by turning off or dimming lights and activating other energy-saving elements.
Tolley said the potential uses in the military, where roadside bombs are a daily threat, are far-reaching. "The Department of Defense is an important customer, and having a capacity at a center like this keeps the government from going overseas to find a contractor," Tolley said.
The former Infotonics Center was one of five Centers of Excellence created by former Gov. George Pataki and the state Legislature in 2001.
It was envisioned as a public-private venture utilizing the regional university system and such corporate leaders as Eastman Kodak Co., Xerox Corp. and Corning Inc.. But the partnership never took off.
The center has blossomed since the merger with the Albany Nanotech center. Carestream Health has a partnership with the STC Center, and Mosher Baer Technologies Inc. has a multimillion-dollar contract to build LED lighting panels at the center.
"More is coming," Tolley said.
"There is room here to expand, and indeed that was the idea when this site was chosen."
Friday 23 September 2011
Communal setups top list of new kitchen trends
In 2011, designers are seeing more communal setups that include multiple sinks, refrigerators, even cooktops.
Unlike a century ago, when the kitchen was relegated to the darkest space in the back of the house, kitchens today have become the hub of the home, with islands, prep areas, seating and indoor-outdoor connections that allow people to participate or just talk, says Glen Jarvis, principal of Jarvis Architects and designer of a home on next weekend's Rockridge Kitchen Tour in Oakland (see box, J7). "We live in them," he says.
"Kitchens are much larger, so that they can suit four or five people," says Beth Laughlin of Laughlin Designs in San Rafael, who has noticed a "huge trend toward secondary cooking stations." With more hands in the kitchen, Laughlin says, she has had to rethink the "work triangle," the sink-cooktop-refrigerator triumvirate that has long been considered the anchor of good kitchen design. Laughlin finds the refrigerator is the biggest offender, impeding traffic and work flow in a busy kitchen. "When people are really stuck in the triangle, I recommend refrigerator drawers for the cook, and put the refrigerator in a place where everyone can get to it."
To accommodate additional cooks, San Francisco designer David Kensington likes to include extra sinks and keep prep areas off to the side. In place of the island, he's seeing another trend emerging: The family table is moving in. "It brings people back into the kitchen and gets people more involved with food." Kensington likes the idea of plopping a farm table in the center of the room.
Another top kitchen trend? You'll find it in the trash. With the Bay Area a national leader in recycling, particularly green waste, kitchen recycling centers are more popular than ever.
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, an estimated 89 percent of kitchens designed by NKBA members in the final quarter of 2010 include trash or recycling pull-outs.
How kitchens are lighted is evolving too, as incandescent bulbs are being phased out. Eli Israel of Integrity Remodeling in Oakland says: "Title 24 energy efficiency, where 50 percent of your lighting has to be energy efficient, forces you into two types of lighting: fluorescent and LED. Most people don't really like the fluorescents, so (the challenge) is coming up with creative ways to get the lighting to look the way you want it."
Kitchen design is also being driven by the economy. "People are simplifying everything - from the style of cabinets to what they put in the cabinets," Laughlin says. "There's not a lot of bling. People aren't spending thousands of dollars to make it look like a French kitchen."
"Not every kitchen has to be a crazy Taj Mahal," Israel says. "You can dress up things with nice cabinetry, balancing high and low."
Unlike a century ago, when the kitchen was relegated to the darkest space in the back of the house, kitchens today have become the hub of the home, with islands, prep areas, seating and indoor-outdoor connections that allow people to participate or just talk, says Glen Jarvis, principal of Jarvis Architects and designer of a home on next weekend's Rockridge Kitchen Tour in Oakland (see box, J7). "We live in them," he says.
"Kitchens are much larger, so that they can suit four or five people," says Beth Laughlin of Laughlin Designs in San Rafael, who has noticed a "huge trend toward secondary cooking stations." With more hands in the kitchen, Laughlin says, she has had to rethink the "work triangle," the sink-cooktop-refrigerator triumvirate that has long been considered the anchor of good kitchen design. Laughlin finds the refrigerator is the biggest offender, impeding traffic and work flow in a busy kitchen. "When people are really stuck in the triangle, I recommend refrigerator drawers for the cook, and put the refrigerator in a place where everyone can get to it."
To accommodate additional cooks, San Francisco designer David Kensington likes to include extra sinks and keep prep areas off to the side. In place of the island, he's seeing another trend emerging: The family table is moving in. "It brings people back into the kitchen and gets people more involved with food." Kensington likes the idea of plopping a farm table in the center of the room.
Another top kitchen trend? You'll find it in the trash. With the Bay Area a national leader in recycling, particularly green waste, kitchen recycling centers are more popular than ever.
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, an estimated 89 percent of kitchens designed by NKBA members in the final quarter of 2010 include trash or recycling pull-outs.
How kitchens are lighted is evolving too, as incandescent bulbs are being phased out. Eli Israel of Integrity Remodeling in Oakland says: "Title 24 energy efficiency, where 50 percent of your lighting has to be energy efficient, forces you into two types of lighting: fluorescent and LED. Most people don't really like the fluorescents, so (the challenge) is coming up with creative ways to get the lighting to look the way you want it."
Kitchen design is also being driven by the economy. "People are simplifying everything - from the style of cabinets to what they put in the cabinets," Laughlin says. "There's not a lot of bling. People aren't spending thousands of dollars to make it look like a French kitchen."
"Not every kitchen has to be a crazy Taj Mahal," Israel says. "You can dress up things with nice cabinetry, balancing high and low."
Thursday 22 September 2011
The greening of the home
Homeowners are going green.
With gas and oil prices seemingly always on the rise, more and more homeowners are looking for ways and means of achieving energy-efficiency by installing renewable energy sources in their residences. Yes, there will be expenses to be incurred while making your home greener, but in the end the rewards will far outweigh the financial effort.
The reality is that making not only cosmetic but eco-friendly improvements to your home is an excellent method of adding value to your home while also saving you money every month.
There is no shortage of smart and effective ways of saving energy while upgrading your home. For starters, installing energy-efficient LED lights and compact fluorescent bulbs in all of your home fixtures will reduce energy consumption significantly. While they may indeed cost a little more, fluorescent, LED and other energy efficient lighting options use less energy; they also last longer and are more durable and longer-lasting.
Take a inventory of all your household appliances. Those that are older and perhaps even obsolete, particularly refrigerators, washers and dryers, could be costing you far more money to operate than is necessary. They also harm the environment.
When it comes time to replace these appliances, look for products that are more energy-efficient and specifically designed to use less power not only while in operation, but while on standby. It is likely that not only will you be eligible for sizable rebates, you will soon cover the cost of your new energyefficient appliances via reduced utility bills. Get started by visiting Energy Star's website at energystar.gov to find the best energy-efficient models of appliances that fulfill your wants and needs.
Locally, Landscape Effects is a prime example of a company that has embraced green technology when it comes to both home improvements and landscaping. They designed and built the Green Home Corridor that is certain to be a popular attraction at this weekend's Southern Ontario Fall Home Show and Green Living Expo at the Windsor Expo Centre.
"Green living can cover a range of ideas, products and services. The Landscape Effects Group wanted to be involved because we wanted to showcase eco-friendly, sustainable and renewable products and services that are becoming increasingly more popular for our conscience consumers," says company president Paul St. Pierre. "We have always considered ourselves as being on the cutting edge, and the overall direction within the industry is to be mindful of how our designs and products work in conjunction with the betterment of our environment. That is why we wanted to be involved at this year's premiere event."
With gas and oil prices seemingly always on the rise, more and more homeowners are looking for ways and means of achieving energy-efficiency by installing renewable energy sources in their residences. Yes, there will be expenses to be incurred while making your home greener, but in the end the rewards will far outweigh the financial effort.
The reality is that making not only cosmetic but eco-friendly improvements to your home is an excellent method of adding value to your home while also saving you money every month.
There is no shortage of smart and effective ways of saving energy while upgrading your home. For starters, installing energy-efficient LED lights and compact fluorescent bulbs in all of your home fixtures will reduce energy consumption significantly. While they may indeed cost a little more, fluorescent, LED and other energy efficient lighting options use less energy; they also last longer and are more durable and longer-lasting.
Take a inventory of all your household appliances. Those that are older and perhaps even obsolete, particularly refrigerators, washers and dryers, could be costing you far more money to operate than is necessary. They also harm the environment.
When it comes time to replace these appliances, look for products that are more energy-efficient and specifically designed to use less power not only while in operation, but while on standby. It is likely that not only will you be eligible for sizable rebates, you will soon cover the cost of your new energyefficient appliances via reduced utility bills. Get started by visiting Energy Star's website at energystar.gov to find the best energy-efficient models of appliances that fulfill your wants and needs.
Locally, Landscape Effects is a prime example of a company that has embraced green technology when it comes to both home improvements and landscaping. They designed and built the Green Home Corridor that is certain to be a popular attraction at this weekend's Southern Ontario Fall Home Show and Green Living Expo at the Windsor Expo Centre.
"Green living can cover a range of ideas, products and services. The Landscape Effects Group wanted to be involved because we wanted to showcase eco-friendly, sustainable and renewable products and services that are becoming increasingly more popular for our conscience consumers," says company president Paul St. Pierre. "We have always considered ourselves as being on the cutting edge, and the overall direction within the industry is to be mindful of how our designs and products work in conjunction with the betterment of our environment. That is why we wanted to be involved at this year's premiere event."
Wednesday 21 September 2011
Titanic wreck tours offered to mark disaster's centenary
Passengers will also spend time exploring the iconic bridge and promenade areas.
On the way from bow to stern, the Mir will move out into Titanic's debris field, where divers will see numerous artefacts strewn across the ocean floor, undisturbed for a century. (The dive is for observation only - there will be no attempts to salvage items.)
Passengers will also view one of the ship's giant boilers as well as one of its enormous propellers.
Around the wreck there is much deep-sea life, including rat-tail fishes, anemones and squat lobsters.
There'll be plenty of time for photography and passengers are encouraged to bring a camera and/or a compact video camera.
Passengers will board the submersibles by ladder from the support vessel - where they are stored in special hangars - with the assistance of a crew.
The inside of the submersible is compact; while there are no official limitations as to a diver's size, if your height exceeds two metres and/or your weight is over 126kg, DOE needs be told so it can determine if there are any serious impediments to your taking part.
And in case you're wondering about toilets on the Mir, in the absence of installed bathroom facilities, portable "man/woman-hour extender bottles" are provided like those used by people in sky lanterns aircraft, helicopters and tents in inclement conditions.
DOE adds: As for "serious" toiletry matters, a suitable device will be carried for absolute emergencies; there's also an eating plan that minimises the amount of food and drink that you should consume for about 12 to 18 hours prior to the dive.
When possible, the Mir's two submersibles dive closely together, enabling those aboard to photograph each other at the wreck site.
The crew aboard the ship will be led by Russian Professor Anatoly Sagalevitch, who played a major role in the Mirs' design and implementation, and has been the chief scientist and expedition leader on all expedition dive projects since the submersibles were built in 1987.
On the way from bow to stern, the Mir will move out into Titanic's debris field, where divers will see numerous artefacts strewn across the ocean floor, undisturbed for a century. (The dive is for observation only - there will be no attempts to salvage items.)
Passengers will also view one of the ship's giant boilers as well as one of its enormous propellers.
Around the wreck there is much deep-sea life, including rat-tail fishes, anemones and squat lobsters.
There'll be plenty of time for photography and passengers are encouraged to bring a camera and/or a compact video camera.
Passengers will board the submersibles by ladder from the support vessel - where they are stored in special hangars - with the assistance of a crew.
The inside of the submersible is compact; while there are no official limitations as to a diver's size, if your height exceeds two metres and/or your weight is over 126kg, DOE needs be told so it can determine if there are any serious impediments to your taking part.
And in case you're wondering about toilets on the Mir, in the absence of installed bathroom facilities, portable "man/woman-hour extender bottles" are provided like those used by people in sky lanterns aircraft, helicopters and tents in inclement conditions.
DOE adds: As for "serious" toiletry matters, a suitable device will be carried for absolute emergencies; there's also an eating plan that minimises the amount of food and drink that you should consume for about 12 to 18 hours prior to the dive.
When possible, the Mir's two submersibles dive closely together, enabling those aboard to photograph each other at the wreck site.
The crew aboard the ship will be led by Russian Professor Anatoly Sagalevitch, who played a major role in the Mirs' design and implementation, and has been the chief scientist and expedition leader on all expedition dive projects since the submersibles were built in 1987.
Tuesday 20 September 2011
Board of Visitors Begins Year With Challenges Old and New
Sharply rapping the gavel Thursday at 3:15 p.m., Helen Dragas called the preliminary session of the University of Virginia's Board of Visitors to order. "I'm going to start on time," she declared, smiling.
With that, Dragas officially began her tenure as U.Va.'s the first woman rector. Though she led the board's annual retreat in July, the sessions in the Rotunda on Thursday and Friday were considered the board's first meeting of 2011-2012.
She presided over a variety of discussions, including internal financial models, financial aid, the University's six-year plan, the Rotunda roof and the chimneys in student rooms in the Academical Village.
Investigation by structural and forensic engineers has led to a major sigh of relief: The leaky Rotunda roof is "structurally sound" and merely needs repair, not replacement, according to David Neuman, architect for the University.
The leaks have led to structural damage to the Rotunda's walls, and there was major concern that the roof would need to be replaced – and discussion about which of the iconic building's many historic eras a new roof would replicate.
Neuman briefed the board's Buildings and Grounds Committee on the investigation, which saw scaffolding erected around the Rotunda this summer and then excavation of a strip from the roof's base to the oculus at the top.
Repairs should begin by March, Neuman said, and the roof's appearance will remain largely as is, though it may be repainted a slightly duller shade of white to match its appearance in 1976, when the Rotunda was last restored.
Also needing repair are the fireplaces in the student rooms along the Lawn and the Ranges. A consultant discovered cracks in the chimney linings last month, leading University administrators to ban the use of the fireplaces until repairs can be made. A chimney fire could spread easily through the ceilings, as the 1800s-era buildings lack firewalls and sprinkler systems.
Colette Sheehy, vice president for management and budget, briefed the Buildings and Grounds Committee on the situation.
A committee of Lawn and Range residents on Wednesday submitted the results of a survey it conducted of this year's and last year's residents. The students favored repairing the chimneys and installing modern fire suppression systems, and suggested additional training on safe use of the fireplaces.
With that, Dragas officially began her tenure as U.Va.'s the first woman rector. Though she led the board's annual retreat in July, the sessions in the Rotunda on Thursday and Friday were considered the board's first meeting of 2011-2012.
She presided over a variety of discussions, including internal financial models, financial aid, the University's six-year plan, the Rotunda roof and the chimneys in student rooms in the Academical Village.
Investigation by structural and forensic engineers has led to a major sigh of relief: The leaky Rotunda roof is "structurally sound" and merely needs repair, not replacement, according to David Neuman, architect for the University.
The leaks have led to structural damage to the Rotunda's walls, and there was major concern that the roof would need to be replaced – and discussion about which of the iconic building's many historic eras a new roof would replicate.
Neuman briefed the board's Buildings and Grounds Committee on the investigation, which saw scaffolding erected around the Rotunda this summer and then excavation of a strip from the roof's base to the oculus at the top.
Repairs should begin by March, Neuman said, and the roof's appearance will remain largely as is, though it may be repainted a slightly duller shade of white to match its appearance in 1976, when the Rotunda was last restored.
Also needing repair are the fireplaces in the student rooms along the Lawn and the Ranges. A consultant discovered cracks in the chimney linings last month, leading University administrators to ban the use of the fireplaces until repairs can be made. A chimney fire could spread easily through the ceilings, as the 1800s-era buildings lack firewalls and sprinkler systems.
Colette Sheehy, vice president for management and budget, briefed the Buildings and Grounds Committee on the situation.
A committee of Lawn and Range residents on Wednesday submitted the results of a survey it conducted of this year's and last year's residents. The students favored repairing the chimneys and installing modern fire suppression systems, and suggested additional training on safe use of the fireplaces.
Monday 19 September 2011
Merck in sudden spotlight over Texas vaccine
Drug ads with scary-sounding side effects have regularly appeared on TV since 1995, but rarely has a major pharmaceutical company played such an unscripted, prime-time role as Merck did Monday night - a moment that put the klieg sky lanterns on corporate political contributions.
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann attacked fellow Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry during the GOP debate over the Texas governor's 2007 decision to have young girls inoculated against a virus that can contribute to cervical cancer.
The vaccine for the HPV virus is Gardasil, made in Merck's plant in West Point, Montgomery County.
The controversy spun around the country, with medicine, politics, ethics, religion, and business all coming into play.
"Is it about life or was it about millions of dollars and potentially billions for a drug company?" Bachmann asked Perry.
Perry said Merck gave his campaign only $5,000 of the roughly $30 million he raised.
"If you're saying that I can be bought for $5,000, I'm offended," Perry said.
The Texas Tribune reported that Merck had given Perry nearly $30,000 over his 10 years as governor and much more to the Republican Governors Association while Perry led that group. Merck also hired Perry's former chief of staff as a lobbyist.
The Associated Press reported that Perry's staff met with Merck personnel before the controversial 2007 decision. The Texas Legislature overturned Perry's inoculation order.
Merck had lobbied governors and state legislators to include the vaccine among those required for schoolchildren.
Evangelical Christian leaders opposed the vaccine in 2006, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its use. They expressed concerns that if girls 11 or 12 years old were vaccinated, they would be less inhibited sexually.
Bachmann and Perry are fighting for that branch of the party, and Bachmann was also playing to her donors. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Bachmann has received some pharmaceutical money, though none from Merck, while receiving much more from single-issue conservative donors and financial groups.
In 2006, Wall Street analysts predicted Gardasil could bring $4 billion a year in sales. But with fewer states requiring vaccinations, sales hopes dimmed. Gardasil sales totaled $490 million in the first six months of 2011, according to Merck's second-quarter report.
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann attacked fellow Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry during the GOP debate over the Texas governor's 2007 decision to have young girls inoculated against a virus that can contribute to cervical cancer.
The vaccine for the HPV virus is Gardasil, made in Merck's plant in West Point, Montgomery County.
The controversy spun around the country, with medicine, politics, ethics, religion, and business all coming into play.
"Is it about life or was it about millions of dollars and potentially billions for a drug company?" Bachmann asked Perry.
Perry said Merck gave his campaign only $5,000 of the roughly $30 million he raised.
"If you're saying that I can be bought for $5,000, I'm offended," Perry said.
The Texas Tribune reported that Merck had given Perry nearly $30,000 over his 10 years as governor and much more to the Republican Governors Association while Perry led that group. Merck also hired Perry's former chief of staff as a lobbyist.
The Associated Press reported that Perry's staff met with Merck personnel before the controversial 2007 decision. The Texas Legislature overturned Perry's inoculation order.
Merck had lobbied governors and state legislators to include the vaccine among those required for schoolchildren.
Evangelical Christian leaders opposed the vaccine in 2006, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its use. They expressed concerns that if girls 11 or 12 years old were vaccinated, they would be less inhibited sexually.
Bachmann and Perry are fighting for that branch of the party, and Bachmann was also playing to her donors. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Bachmann has received some pharmaceutical money, though none from Merck, while receiving much more from single-issue conservative donors and financial groups.
In 2006, Wall Street analysts predicted Gardasil could bring $4 billion a year in sales. But with fewer states requiring vaccinations, sales hopes dimmed. Gardasil sales totaled $490 million in the first six months of 2011, according to Merck's second-quarter report.
Friday 16 September 2011
What's Happening Here?: South Karen Acres Park
WHAT: Park improvements at three of Urbandale's older parks: South Karen Acres, Murphy Park, and Ash Leaf. Lighting will be replaced at all three parks and South Karen Acres will gain extra light fixtures along the trail near the ball field.
An adjustable basketball hoop and half-court just south of the play structure is being added at South Karen Acres.
And part of the Karen Acres trail is being reconfigured to accommodate trucks used by park workers to clean and unlock and lock the restrooms twice a day.
WHY: The three parks have 1970s-era lighting that is the least energy efficient of all lighting in city parks. The new LED lamp posts will use about half the energy and produce less spillover light. Some residents near South Karen Acres had complained about park lighting shining too brightly into their homes.
HOW: The new lighting is being financed partly by a $269,000 state energy grant that pays for half the cost of replacing city light fixtures with more energy-efficient LED lighting. Urbandale and Ankeny applied for the grant jointly.
WHEN: Two LED lamp posts already have been installed at Murphy Park. One lamp post will be installed in the playground at Ash Leaf Park and the Karen Acres Park renovations should be finished in about 10 days.
Sources: John Kornior, assistant Urbandale city manager and Scott Hock, assistant director of the Urbandale Parks and Recreation Department.
An adjustable basketball hoop and half-court just south of the play structure is being added at South Karen Acres.
And part of the Karen Acres trail is being reconfigured to accommodate trucks used by park workers to clean and unlock and lock the restrooms twice a day.
WHY: The three parks have 1970s-era lighting that is the least energy efficient of all lighting in city parks. The new LED lamp posts will use about half the energy and produce less spillover light. Some residents near South Karen Acres had complained about park lighting shining too brightly into their homes.
HOW: The new lighting is being financed partly by a $269,000 state energy grant that pays for half the cost of replacing city light fixtures with more energy-efficient LED lighting. Urbandale and Ankeny applied for the grant jointly.
WHEN: Two LED lamp posts already have been installed at Murphy Park. One lamp post will be installed in the playground at Ash Leaf Park and the Karen Acres Park renovations should be finished in about 10 days.
Sources: John Kornior, assistant Urbandale city manager and Scott Hock, assistant director of the Urbandale Parks and Recreation Department.
Thursday 15 September 2011
Lighting a spark
The buzz against corruption started by the Anna Hazare-led movement is being matched by welcome initiatives to clean the system, launched by several state governments. Using new legislative tools to crack down on erring bureaucrats and ensure smooth delivery of services to the people, they are setting new standards in public welfare. Most importantly, the aim is to provide good governance at the grassroots rather than focus on big-ticket legislations that may not directly affect the common man.
The lead in this regard has been taken by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. And he started out much before Anna, the impetus in Bihar's case arising from the nadir of underdevelopment it had arrived at as a corruption-ridden BIMARU state prior to Nitish.
Chief among such initiatives is the Bihar Special Courts Act, 2009, which establishes special tribunals for the speedy trial of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. It is under the provisions of this new law that the swanky property of a Bihar-cadre IAS officer was recently seized and converted into a school for underprivileged children.
The example shows how liabilities can be turned into assets by a determined government. The state government also enacted the Right to Service Act this Independence Day, to provide time-bound public services across 10 departments such as issuance of driver's licence and other routine permits.
Similarly, the Delhi government has come up with its Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery of Services Act, 2011. Coming into force from today, the legislation seeks to ensure smooth service delivery in 28 categories such as issuance of a new electri-city connection, birth and death certificates and ration cards.
Apart from administrative action, delays will attract a monetary penalty, which will be deducted from the salary of the erring official. In Madhya Pradesh, the state administration is said to have disposed of 3.6 million complaints in less than a year under its Public Service Guarantee Act. In Chhattisgarh, PDS reforms such as handing over the running of PDS shops to gram panchayats and other community bodies have helped increase coverage of welfare schemes.
Such measures need to be encouraged to increase the scope for reforms and ensure transparency. The Aadhaar or Unique Identification project is a potent tool that should be leveraged to push initiatives such as rural banking and healthcare. E-governance must be pushed vigorously to ensure computerisation and transparency of government records. It is only through reducing the number of discretionary check posts in the government-public interface that corruption can truly be tackled.
The lead in this regard has been taken by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. And he started out much before Anna, the impetus in Bihar's case arising from the nadir of underdevelopment it had arrived at as a corruption-ridden BIMARU state prior to Nitish.
Chief among such initiatives is the Bihar Special Courts Act, 2009, which establishes special tribunals for the speedy trial of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. It is under the provisions of this new law that the swanky property of a Bihar-cadre IAS officer was recently seized and converted into a school for underprivileged children.
The example shows how liabilities can be turned into assets by a determined government. The state government also enacted the Right to Service Act this Independence Day, to provide time-bound public services across 10 departments such as issuance of driver's licence and other routine permits.
Similarly, the Delhi government has come up with its Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery of Services Act, 2011. Coming into force from today, the legislation seeks to ensure smooth service delivery in 28 categories such as issuance of a new electri-city connection, birth and death certificates and ration cards.
Apart from administrative action, delays will attract a monetary penalty, which will be deducted from the salary of the erring official. In Madhya Pradesh, the state administration is said to have disposed of 3.6 million complaints in less than a year under its Public Service Guarantee Act. In Chhattisgarh, PDS reforms such as handing over the running of PDS shops to gram panchayats and other community bodies have helped increase coverage of welfare schemes.
Such measures need to be encouraged to increase the scope for reforms and ensure transparency. The Aadhaar or Unique Identification project is a potent tool that should be leveraged to push initiatives such as rural banking and healthcare. E-governance must be pushed vigorously to ensure computerisation and transparency of government records. It is only through reducing the number of discretionary check posts in the government-public interface that corruption can truly be tackled.
Tuesday 13 September 2011
Siren song of fancy new bike has that come-hither look compared to old model
I've owned the candy-apple red Trek 5200 since January 1999. It caught my eye as soon as I walked into the downtown Portland Bike Gallery for their winter sale. The color and large frame size were pluses. When I picked up the carbon fiber frame, I thought, "Wow." At the time, it was state-of-the-art light, somewhere around 20 pounds.
sales guy walked up from behind and said, "Do you know who Lance Armstrong is?"
At the time, the wonder boy from Austin, Texas, had not yet won a Tour de France. Only a bike geek would have know who Lance Armstrong was.
"Of course."
"This is the same bike that Lance rides."
I bought the bike for the discounted price of $1,300. Score one in the early business partnership of Lance and Trek.
I've put lots of miles on that bike in the ensuing 12 years. It's showing its age and so am I.
So, as i strolled side-by-side with my bike into the Cycle Oregon camp area in Sutherlin on Saturday afternoon, I saw a Trek factory rep had a stable of 40 new bikes being offered for a day of free riding.
What is this? A carbon frame Trek 69SSL, 700 Series in my frame size? I'll take it.
The Trek rep quickly swapped my pedals on the new bike, adjusted the saddle and I was ready to go. My Trek 5200 would spend Sunday in a darkened van.
When Sunday's ride began, I was eager to see how fast the Lamborghini would go. A bicycle performs only as good as the bicyclist atop the saddle, but even I could get this carbon beast snarling past a line of bikes on the road out of Sutherlin headed to Cottage Grove.
Another Trek -- same style, bigger frame -- was available for Monday's 91-miler to Reedsport. Another rhapsodic experience.
But toward the end of the day, as Oregonian colleague Rich Read and I chugged up the last hill of the day, we were startled by the sight of 60-year-old John Killen blasting past us aboard his Kona-brand cyclocross "Jake." This humbling sight hammered home the point that even an $8,709 carbon frame Trek 69SSL, 700 Series bike cannot carry me up the hill.
sales guy walked up from behind and said, "Do you know who Lance Armstrong is?"
At the time, the wonder boy from Austin, Texas, had not yet won a Tour de France. Only a bike geek would have know who Lance Armstrong was.
"Of course."
"This is the same bike that Lance rides."
I bought the bike for the discounted price of $1,300. Score one in the early business partnership of Lance and Trek.
I've put lots of miles on that bike in the ensuing 12 years. It's showing its age and so am I.
So, as i strolled side-by-side with my bike into the Cycle Oregon camp area in Sutherlin on Saturday afternoon, I saw a Trek factory rep had a stable of 40 new bikes being offered for a day of free riding.
What is this? A carbon frame Trek 69SSL, 700 Series in my frame size? I'll take it.
The Trek rep quickly swapped my pedals on the new bike, adjusted the saddle and I was ready to go. My Trek 5200 would spend Sunday in a darkened van.
When Sunday's ride began, I was eager to see how fast the Lamborghini would go. A bicycle performs only as good as the bicyclist atop the saddle, but even I could get this carbon beast snarling past a line of bikes on the road out of Sutherlin headed to Cottage Grove.
Another Trek -- same style, bigger frame -- was available for Monday's 91-miler to Reedsport. Another rhapsodic experience.
But toward the end of the day, as Oregonian colleague Rich Read and I chugged up the last hill of the day, we were startled by the sight of 60-year-old John Killen blasting past us aboard his Kona-brand cyclocross "Jake." This humbling sight hammered home the point that even an $8,709 carbon frame Trek 69SSL, 700 Series bike cannot carry me up the hill.
Friday 9 September 2011
AP source: Specific, unconfirmed threat received
Counterterrorism officials said Thursday they are investigating a credible but unconfirmed terror threat involving New York or Washington.
The threat was so specific, and coming at a time of already heightened security just days before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, that it could not be ignored, a counterterrorism official told The Associated Press. The official requested anonymity to discuss sensitive security information.
Officials would not tell the AP what specifically is being targeted in New York or Washington or the timing of a potential attack. A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said raising the terror alert is under consideration.
A law enforcement official in New York, also speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security information, described the threat as credible but declined to give details.
Information gleaned from Osama bin Laden's compound in May indicated that al-Qaida had considered attacking the U.S. on the 10th anniversary and other important dates. Security has been enhanced around the country, including in New York and Washington, in the weeks leading up to Sunday's anniversary.
President Barack Obama was briefed on the threat information Thursday morning and directed the counterterrorism community to redouble its efforts in response to the credible but unconfirmed information, a White House official said.
"There were very, very specific facts that were made known in this threat," Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., told CNN. "I would tell people right now to go about their lives. There's no need to panic. We don't know if this threat is real yet. It's being tracked down."
White House officials said there were no plans to change Obama's travel schedule on Sunday in light of the threat. The president is scheduled to mark the 9/11 anniversary with stops at New York's ground zero, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa. He will also deliver remarks Sunday night at a memorial concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
The threat was so specific, and coming at a time of already heightened security just days before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, that it could not be ignored, a counterterrorism official told The Associated Press. The official requested anonymity to discuss sensitive security information.
Officials would not tell the AP what specifically is being targeted in New York or Washington or the timing of a potential attack. A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said raising the terror alert is under consideration.
A law enforcement official in New York, also speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security information, described the threat as credible but declined to give details.
Information gleaned from Osama bin Laden's compound in May indicated that al-Qaida had considered attacking the U.S. on the 10th anniversary and other important dates. Security has been enhanced around the country, including in New York and Washington, in the weeks leading up to Sunday's anniversary.
President Barack Obama was briefed on the threat information Thursday morning and directed the counterterrorism community to redouble its efforts in response to the credible but unconfirmed information, a White House official said.
"There were very, very specific facts that were made known in this threat," Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., told CNN. "I would tell people right now to go about their lives. There's no need to panic. We don't know if this threat is real yet. It's being tracked down."
White House officials said there were no plans to change Obama's travel schedule on Sunday in light of the threat. The president is scheduled to mark the 9/11 anniversary with stops at New York's ground zero, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa. He will also deliver remarks Sunday night at a memorial concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Thursday 8 September 2011
Green Innovations for A Greener Future
Said Ms. Louise Chua, Project Director, BEX Asia 2011, "This powerful energy-saving solution is just one of the many exciting innovative green solutions promoting sustainability in the green environment that visitors can look forward to at BEX Asia 2011. With the plethora of green solutions being showcased, visitors to the event will be able to bring themselves up to speed with the latest trends and developments in the Build Green sector while sourcing for new business opportunities."
Other local green companies such as EWINS will present its GreenCube range of energy-saving lights including LED lights, induction sky lanterns, and T5 fluorescent light tubes.
CVT Solutions, a leader in green energy and illumination solutions will showcase its biological lighting solutions as well as the Natsureturn water treatment system for agricultural use.
Mr. Gerald Yeh, General Manager, CVT Solutions, said, "With growing interest in green solutions for urban landscapes, BEX Asia provides an ideal platform for us to showcase our latest biological lighting and water treatment solutions. We have been participating in BEX Asia for the last two years and are very pleased with the leads generated. We look forward to another fruitful participation this year."
Local laminate provider Admira will feature its latest environmentally-friendly range of high pressure laminate surfaces. These include concrete screed-like surfaces, 3D illusion laminates that can mimic the effects of wave contours as well as the application of back lighting to realistic marble stone-like laminates.
In addition to local green warriors, established players in the industry will also be offering their own green solutions.
Philips Lighting will be showcasing the Power Balance and Luxspace compact High Efficacy LED-based solutions and also the Philips Dynalite lighting controls that can help achieve up to 50 percent energy efficiencies for the green office.
Approximately 40 percent of all the electricity used in buildings comes from lighting with a large part built around current lighting infrastructure that is based on older, less energy-efficient lighting technology. By retrofitting old lighting infrastructures in existing or installing LED-based solutions in new offices, property and business owners can take immediate steps to reduce energy-consumption and provide sustainable lighting solutions.
Other local green companies such as EWINS will present its GreenCube range of energy-saving lights including LED lights, induction sky lanterns, and T5 fluorescent light tubes.
CVT Solutions, a leader in green energy and illumination solutions will showcase its biological lighting solutions as well as the Natsureturn water treatment system for agricultural use.
Mr. Gerald Yeh, General Manager, CVT Solutions, said, "With growing interest in green solutions for urban landscapes, BEX Asia provides an ideal platform for us to showcase our latest biological lighting and water treatment solutions. We have been participating in BEX Asia for the last two years and are very pleased with the leads generated. We look forward to another fruitful participation this year."
Local laminate provider Admira will feature its latest environmentally-friendly range of high pressure laminate surfaces. These include concrete screed-like surfaces, 3D illusion laminates that can mimic the effects of wave contours as well as the application of back lighting to realistic marble stone-like laminates.
In addition to local green warriors, established players in the industry will also be offering their own green solutions.
Philips Lighting will be showcasing the Power Balance and Luxspace compact High Efficacy LED-based solutions and also the Philips Dynalite lighting controls that can help achieve up to 50 percent energy efficiencies for the green office.
Approximately 40 percent of all the electricity used in buildings comes from lighting with a large part built around current lighting infrastructure that is based on older, less energy-efficient lighting technology. By retrofitting old lighting infrastructures in existing or installing LED-based solutions in new offices, property and business owners can take immediate steps to reduce energy-consumption and provide sustainable lighting solutions.
Wednesday 7 September 2011
New Epson Image Enhancement IC Balances Energy Savings and Colorful Images
Seiko Epson Corporation has announced the development of the S2D13782F, an image enhancement IC for use in medium- and small-size liquid crystal display (LCD) panels. Adopting Epson’s original image enhancement technology, the new IC effectively reduces the level of power consumption in LCD panels, while simultaneously correcting the picture to realize richly colorful screen displays. Sample shipments will commence on September 6.
"LCD panel backlighting accounts for a large percentage of the overall power consumed by LCDs" said Ryuhei Miyagawa, Deputy COO of Epson’s Microdevices Operations Division. "We created this product to answer customer needs for an LCD that curbs sky lanterns current, but which maintains the brightness and expression of the panel"
With over 20 million units shipped to market, Epson has acquired significant experience and expertise in creating LCD controller ICs. It achieved the latest milestone with its AME2EX (Auto Movie Enhancement 2 Extended) image enhancement technology, which it mobilized to reduce power consumption by 30 to 50%* by controlling backlighting in real-time to an appropriate level.
The IC at the same time corrects input images to optimal brightness, contrast, gamma curve*1 and saturation to achieve richly colorful images with fine contrast. Customers can determine the input data for exercising control over backlighting by selecting either the display image or natural light sensor control signal.
Epson also facilitates greater visibility in subtitles and other text data by applying its Adaptive Sharpness technology, which automatically distinguishes text and visual domains from input images, and subjects each domain to optimal edge reinforcement processing.
With highly stable performance across a wide range of fields, Epson’s new product exhibits the reliability required for automotive applications. Going forward, the company will continue to leverage its signatory compact, energy saving and high-precision technologies to provide electronic devices and other products that exceed the vision of customers worldwide.
"LCD panel backlighting accounts for a large percentage of the overall power consumed by LCDs" said Ryuhei Miyagawa, Deputy COO of Epson’s Microdevices Operations Division. "We created this product to answer customer needs for an LCD that curbs sky lanterns current, but which maintains the brightness and expression of the panel"
With over 20 million units shipped to market, Epson has acquired significant experience and expertise in creating LCD controller ICs. It achieved the latest milestone with its AME2EX (Auto Movie Enhancement 2 Extended) image enhancement technology, which it mobilized to reduce power consumption by 30 to 50%* by controlling backlighting in real-time to an appropriate level.
The IC at the same time corrects input images to optimal brightness, contrast, gamma curve*1 and saturation to achieve richly colorful images with fine contrast. Customers can determine the input data for exercising control over backlighting by selecting either the display image or natural light sensor control signal.
Epson also facilitates greater visibility in subtitles and other text data by applying its Adaptive Sharpness technology, which automatically distinguishes text and visual domains from input images, and subjects each domain to optimal edge reinforcement processing.
With highly stable performance across a wide range of fields, Epson’s new product exhibits the reliability required for automotive applications. Going forward, the company will continue to leverage its signatory compact, energy saving and high-precision technologies to provide electronic devices and other products that exceed the vision of customers worldwide.
Thursday 1 September 2011
Many thanks to public employees
In the wake of last spring's budget battles in Madison, many state officials and pundits are proclaiming how the "tools" given to Wisconsin's school districts and local governments have allowed those entities to offset cuts in state funding and avert the kind of massive layoffs and service cuts that have occurred in other states.
Fair enough. Whatever your view on the Budget Repair Bill and the changes to Wisconsin collective bargaining law that were approved by the Legislature, signed by the governor and ultimately affirmed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court — there's no question that these pieces of legislation have allowed school districts, counties and cities across Wisconsin to cut their labor costs.
But let's not forget that those "tools" were used to reach directly into the wallets of tens of thousands of state and local employees. And these employees — good, hard-working folks, most of whom weren't getting rich from their jobs in the first place — within the past month began feeling the impact of those changes.
All state and local employees (with the exception of police and fire — more on that later) are now feeling the pinch of a mandatory 5.8 percent pension contribution that amounts to a 5.8 percent pay cut. For many city of Two Rivers union employees, the pay cut follows two years of pay freezes. For our non-union supervisors, the pay cut follows four years of wage freezes.
Public employees who participate in the state health insurance program also are feeling the impact of a mandatory 15 percent employee co-pay on health premiums. Two Rivers city employees are not impacted by this mandate.
Moreover, it's a shame that we aren't allowed to use the mandatory pension contribution tool to reduce costs in the departments that make up about half of our tax-supported local budgets: police and fire.
Fair enough. Whatever your view on the Budget Repair Bill and the changes to Wisconsin collective bargaining law that were approved by the Legislature, signed by the governor and ultimately affirmed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court — there's no question that these pieces of legislation have allowed school districts, counties and cities across Wisconsin to cut their labor costs.
But let's not forget that those "tools" were used to reach directly into the wallets of tens of thousands of state and local employees. And these employees — good, hard-working folks, most of whom weren't getting rich from their jobs in the first place — within the past month began feeling the impact of those changes.
All state and local employees (with the exception of police and fire — more on that later) are now feeling the pinch of a mandatory 5.8 percent pension contribution that amounts to a 5.8 percent pay cut. For many city of Two Rivers union employees, the pay cut follows two years of pay freezes. For our non-union supervisors, the pay cut follows four years of wage freezes.
Public employees who participate in the state health insurance program also are feeling the impact of a mandatory 15 percent employee co-pay on health premiums. Two Rivers city employees are not impacted by this mandate.
Moreover, it's a shame that we aren't allowed to use the mandatory pension contribution tool to reduce costs in the departments that make up about half of our tax-supported local budgets: police and fire.
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