Last year, I loaded up the Christmas stockings of relatives and friends with 60-watt Philips LEDs -- light-emitting diode -- light bulbs, and this holiday I'll do it again. Why give a present few people even know they want? Because LEDs are the gift that keeps on giving, saving money every month on electric bills.
Here's an example: If you burn a 60-watt incandescent bulb for four hours a day and electricity costs 11 cents/kilowatt-hour, switching to an equivalent LED will save $8.83 a year. True, the LED might cost almost $25, but it will pay for itself in decreased power costs in just 2.8 years, according to a review of energy costs across the West.
If that same bulb burns 12 hours a day, your LED will pay for itself in a year, or even less with a rebate. Depending on energy costs and how much you use a bulb, you'll save $1.65 to $35 each year off electric bills if you use the more efficient LED. And if you don't make the switch to LEDs, you will forfeit as much as $35 a year to any utility charging 15 cents/kWh.
LED replacement bulbs for conventional, non-fluorescent fixtures now use only one-fifth of the energy required by incandescent bulbs. For many applications, payback is within the five-to-six-year warranty period. From then on for 10 to 18 more years, the life of an LED, it's an 80 percent net savings.
The price of light-emitting diodes is dropping fast. Last year, a 12.5-watt Philips (60-watt replacement) bulb cost $40. Now, it's $24.97, less for smaller wattage replacements. Because of their long life, LEDs are ideal for high-use areas or hard-to-reach bulbs. LED technology also works great in cold weather or for motion-sensitive applications. If garage door openers, ceiling fans or other vibrating apparatus destroy your bulbs, try LEDs.
What's more, LEDs turn on instantly and are dimmable. The manufacturer's dimmer compatibility charts indicate whether they will work with your dimmer. Take advantage of the 30-to-90 day return policies if they don't. LEDs also have no mercury and are fully recyclable.
By switching to LEDs to save energy, you are helping to avoid the cost of building new power plants. Lighting currently accounts for 30 percent of residential electricity usage; making it 80 percent more efficient ends the need for additional generation that drives our electric bills up.
If your store doesn't sell the light color you want, you can order it online. Many prefer a soft white, 2700 K (Kelvin). If you want a whiter light, try bulbs in a higher Kelvin range. If you need Christmas decorations or light output different from the 60-watt equivalent, LEDs are available for that, too.
Sometimes -- when you want to look closely at your face, for example -- color-rendering is important. Philips just won the Department of Energy's first $10 million L-prize for developing a reliable 60-watt replacement with an energy-efficient 9.7-watt LED. In order to do so, Philips had to produce a LED that ranked 90 or above on a color-rendering index; the company surpassed that with a rank of 93.
Famous for the invention of Blu-ray and DVD, Philips has 25 manufacturing facilities in this country and is spending the L-prize money to expand its U.S. plants so that its L-Prize bulb will be available by April 2012. The government is also testing GE and Science Lighting bulbs to see if they qualify for L-prize funding.
Showing posts with label led downlight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label led downlight. Show all posts
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
East Liverpool Police Reports 11-16
Arian M. Parson, 19, was charged with driving without headlights, and her passenger, Sarah J. Guthrie, 18, with possession of marijuana after a traffic stop on Erie Street Monday morning. An officer reported seeing the vehicle at 4:54 a.m. without a headlight and, when he stopped it, smelling a strong odor of marijuana. A baggy with a small amount of marijuana and seeds was reportedly found in the console when the officer was given the OK to search the vehicle, which was owned by Guthrie. No addresses were reported for the women.
Delbert R. Hall, 34, no address listed, was charged Tuesday with obstructing official business after an officer was called to an Avondale Street address by Jenny Olmstead, who said he took her money and she wanted him removed. Officers arrived to find Hall standing in the doorway to the residence, screaming at them to leave and said he shut and locked the door as they approached. He finally opened the door but continued screaming at them, at one point coming toward an officer in a threatening manner, according to reports. Hall ran up the sidewalk but was apprehended and taken into custody.
Larry Kidd, no age or address listed, was charged with obstructing official business after he was reportedly found outside City Hall, yelling about being involved in a road rage incident with a woman he named. Officers said he kept interrupting them with aggressive behavior, leading to his arrest following several warnings about his behavior.
Officers were called to an abandoned house on First Avenue where people were breaking out the sunporch windows. The people involved told officers they were just breaking out the remaining glass in already-broken windows since glass kept falling out onto their driveway.
Heather Marshall, Woodland Hills, reported her wallet removed from her vehicle.
Ruthann Buckley, address not listed, told officers she picked up medications at Rite Aid and, while riding with her boyfriend in a vehicle, he took the medicine and began threatening her. She jumped out of the vehicle on Harvey Avenue and ran to a car lot to phone police. Her boyfriend could not be located.
Ryan White, Woodland Hills, reported his 10-year-old son having problems with another juvenile when getting off the school bus, which he had already reported to the school. School officials suggested he also file a police report.
A Mrs. Gutierrez reported a woman she knows came into Maxi's Lunch Box and asked to borrow her cell phone then left with it. An officer went to the woman's house and retrieved the phone.
Melissa Lewis, Lisbon Street, reported her daughter is receiving threatening text messages and wanted a report on file.
Tracey Tennant, St. Clair Avenue, reported someone unknown made transactions with her debit card.
Police reported receiving several 911 calls from a boy regarding an accident in Wellsville and, finally, one in which he claimed he hurt his knee. They reached the father, who said his two sons had taken his cell phone into the bedroom and were calling. An officer explained to the boys about not dialing 911 needlessly, and the father said he would address the problem with his sons.
Delbert R. Hall, 34, no address listed, was charged Tuesday with obstructing official business after an officer was called to an Avondale Street address by Jenny Olmstead, who said he took her money and she wanted him removed. Officers arrived to find Hall standing in the doorway to the residence, screaming at them to leave and said he shut and locked the door as they approached. He finally opened the door but continued screaming at them, at one point coming toward an officer in a threatening manner, according to reports. Hall ran up the sidewalk but was apprehended and taken into custody.
Larry Kidd, no age or address listed, was charged with obstructing official business after he was reportedly found outside City Hall, yelling about being involved in a road rage incident with a woman he named. Officers said he kept interrupting them with aggressive behavior, leading to his arrest following several warnings about his behavior.
Officers were called to an abandoned house on First Avenue where people were breaking out the sunporch windows. The people involved told officers they were just breaking out the remaining glass in already-broken windows since glass kept falling out onto their driveway.
Heather Marshall, Woodland Hills, reported her wallet removed from her vehicle.
Ruthann Buckley, address not listed, told officers she picked up medications at Rite Aid and, while riding with her boyfriend in a vehicle, he took the medicine and began threatening her. She jumped out of the vehicle on Harvey Avenue and ran to a car lot to phone police. Her boyfriend could not be located.
Ryan White, Woodland Hills, reported his 10-year-old son having problems with another juvenile when getting off the school bus, which he had already reported to the school. School officials suggested he also file a police report.
A Mrs. Gutierrez reported a woman she knows came into Maxi's Lunch Box and asked to borrow her cell phone then left with it. An officer went to the woman's house and retrieved the phone.
Melissa Lewis, Lisbon Street, reported her daughter is receiving threatening text messages and wanted a report on file.
Tracey Tennant, St. Clair Avenue, reported someone unknown made transactions with her debit card.
Police reported receiving several 911 calls from a boy regarding an accident in Wellsville and, finally, one in which he claimed he hurt his knee. They reached the father, who said his two sons had taken his cell phone into the bedroom and were calling. An officer explained to the boys about not dialing 911 needlessly, and the father said he would address the problem with his sons.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Taxes status quo in Richland
Richland officials got an early look at the 2012 budget on Monday and the news for residents is good.
That's because no tax increase is proposed for next year.
The tax rate is expected to remain at 9.5 mills, with the owner of a home assessed at $30,000 paying $285 in property taxes.
The 2012 budget is nearly $6.1 million, but that includes $776,300 from the open space bond that the township may not spend next year. In reality, the budget is closer to about $5.3 million.
The majority of the 2012 spending plan is the nearly $2.4 million general fund and the $1.9 million police fund. The latter includes money to hire an additional officer next year to bring the force back to 11 officers plus the chief.
The department has been short an officer since the former chief, Lawrence Cerami, was placed on leave and later resigned. Sgt. Rich Ficco was promoted to the top job in August.
On Monday, Officer Raymond Aleman, an 11-year veteran of the force, was promoted to detective sergeant. Richland now has two sergeants again.
The township's fund balance is up an additional $400,000 this year, which officials contribute mostly to a reduction in personnel costs. Richland eliminated or scaled back several positions through retirements or resignations. This includes the vacancies within the police department.
Richland expects to end 2011 with more than $3.2 million in reserves.
One area of budgetary concern is the township recycling program.
Because of its size, Richland is mandated by the state to recycle, and the township contracts to have items picked up from residential curbsides. It costs about $122,000 to run the program and, in the past, the state funded most of it through a grant.
But the grant is expected to drop to $30,000 in 2012, leaving the township to absorb the remaining expense.
Supervisor Rick Orloff called the situation “unsustainable in the long-term,” noting two possible options: raising taxes to fund the program or placing the onus on residents to contract and pay for their own recycling pick-up. The concern with the latter is that residents will simply choose not to recycle.
Officials are hoping both scenarios could be avoided if the economy picks up and growth resumes, whereby the township could be in a better position to fund the program.
With the economy still recovering, Richland is expected to take on only a few small projects next year. On the list is an $85,000 expense to replace police radios to comply with a new federal mandate.
Richland will also spend $45,000 to upgrade lighting at the municipal complex and police building. Production is ceasing on the type of fluorescent light bulbs the township has been using so officials are looking to replace the system with more energy-efficient lights.
That's because no tax increase is proposed for next year.
The tax rate is expected to remain at 9.5 mills, with the owner of a home assessed at $30,000 paying $285 in property taxes.
The 2012 budget is nearly $6.1 million, but that includes $776,300 from the open space bond that the township may not spend next year. In reality, the budget is closer to about $5.3 million.
The majority of the 2012 spending plan is the nearly $2.4 million general fund and the $1.9 million police fund. The latter includes money to hire an additional officer next year to bring the force back to 11 officers plus the chief.
The department has been short an officer since the former chief, Lawrence Cerami, was placed on leave and later resigned. Sgt. Rich Ficco was promoted to the top job in August.
On Monday, Officer Raymond Aleman, an 11-year veteran of the force, was promoted to detective sergeant. Richland now has two sergeants again.
The township's fund balance is up an additional $400,000 this year, which officials contribute mostly to a reduction in personnel costs. Richland eliminated or scaled back several positions through retirements or resignations. This includes the vacancies within the police department.
Richland expects to end 2011 with more than $3.2 million in reserves.
One area of budgetary concern is the township recycling program.
Because of its size, Richland is mandated by the state to recycle, and the township contracts to have items picked up from residential curbsides. It costs about $122,000 to run the program and, in the past, the state funded most of it through a grant.
But the grant is expected to drop to $30,000 in 2012, leaving the township to absorb the remaining expense.
Supervisor Rick Orloff called the situation “unsustainable in the long-term,” noting two possible options: raising taxes to fund the program or placing the onus on residents to contract and pay for their own recycling pick-up. The concern with the latter is that residents will simply choose not to recycle.
Officials are hoping both scenarios could be avoided if the economy picks up and growth resumes, whereby the township could be in a better position to fund the program.
With the economy still recovering, Richland is expected to take on only a few small projects next year. On the list is an $85,000 expense to replace police radios to comply with a new federal mandate.
Richland will also spend $45,000 to upgrade lighting at the municipal complex and police building. Production is ceasing on the type of fluorescent light bulbs the township has been using so officials are looking to replace the system with more energy-efficient lights.
Monday, 14 November 2011
Restored Cleethorpes Pier 'will be envy of other resorts'
In what could prove to be the resort's replacement for the much-missed Winter Gardens, the floor from the Kingsway venue, which was knocked down in 2007, has been fitted in the Pier's restaurant.
And the new managers say they have been approached by people hoping to bring back the Bag's Ball.
New leaseholder Alistair Clugston – who runs the Old Barn Inn in Tealby – has taken on the venue and plans to make it "much more than just a nightclub".
He said: "I want to make this landmark a magnet for the area – somewhere that all local people can enjoy and be proud of."
The Pier will serve food between 11am and 9pm as the front building is renamed Tides Bar and Restaurant, making the building a place for families once again.
In time, Mr Clugston also hopes to open the main hall for conferences, community events and even kids parties to make the building a "24/7 venue", he said.
Cleethorpes Pier is one of just 58 left in the UK but it has been closed since previous leaseholders surrendered their licence in September following a catalogue of serious crime and disorder.
As reported, the venue was closed for 28 days after two men leapt from the end of the Pier – one breaking both of his legs – to escape pursuers after an altercation at the venue in the early hours of August 29.
Within weeks, co-directors Steve Calladine and Stephen Grevitt decided to pull out of the venue altogether.
But, despite its chequered past, the future looks bright for the venue once more – a total of 29,000 LED lights have been installed and the view onto the Humber will be widened.
Mr Clugston said: "I am looking at restoring the iconic status that this venue once had.
"I have used local contractors for the refurbishment, I will use local suppliers for the food and it will create jobs for local people – I want it to give the area a lift.
"People are staying in Britain for holidays during this recession but not every town has a pier.
"The town has won the In Bloom competition, the seaside is beautifully kept and it deserves to have a building like this one which will make it the envy of other seaside towns."
Ward councillor Leanor Pidgen (Lib, Croft Baker) said: "I really hope that the ideas the new management have work and the Pier can offer family entertainment again.
"I am pleased it will open in the day and use local suppliers and, fingers crossed, it will become a real draw for Cleethorpes."
Mr Clugston also said that he was keen to address the problems that had previously marred its reputation.
He added: "We are working closely with the police, council and fire brigade to make sure that we stay within the law.
"People will not be able to walk in blind drunk and cause trouble – we don't want their custom."
Mr Clugston's plans for the nightclub include having up to double the amount of door staff as before, introducing a dress code and operating an over-21 policy for the majority of events.
And the new managers say they have been approached by people hoping to bring back the Bag's Ball.
New leaseholder Alistair Clugston – who runs the Old Barn Inn in Tealby – has taken on the venue and plans to make it "much more than just a nightclub".
He said: "I want to make this landmark a magnet for the area – somewhere that all local people can enjoy and be proud of."
The Pier will serve food between 11am and 9pm as the front building is renamed Tides Bar and Restaurant, making the building a place for families once again.
In time, Mr Clugston also hopes to open the main hall for conferences, community events and even kids parties to make the building a "24/7 venue", he said.
Cleethorpes Pier is one of just 58 left in the UK but it has been closed since previous leaseholders surrendered their licence in September following a catalogue of serious crime and disorder.
As reported, the venue was closed for 28 days after two men leapt from the end of the Pier – one breaking both of his legs – to escape pursuers after an altercation at the venue in the early hours of August 29.
Within weeks, co-directors Steve Calladine and Stephen Grevitt decided to pull out of the venue altogether.
But, despite its chequered past, the future looks bright for the venue once more – a total of 29,000 LED lights have been installed and the view onto the Humber will be widened.
Mr Clugston said: "I am looking at restoring the iconic status that this venue once had.
"I have used local contractors for the refurbishment, I will use local suppliers for the food and it will create jobs for local people – I want it to give the area a lift.
"People are staying in Britain for holidays during this recession but not every town has a pier.
"The town has won the In Bloom competition, the seaside is beautifully kept and it deserves to have a building like this one which will make it the envy of other seaside towns."
Ward councillor Leanor Pidgen (Lib, Croft Baker) said: "I really hope that the ideas the new management have work and the Pier can offer family entertainment again.
"I am pleased it will open in the day and use local suppliers and, fingers crossed, it will become a real draw for Cleethorpes."
Mr Clugston also said that he was keen to address the problems that had previously marred its reputation.
He added: "We are working closely with the police, council and fire brigade to make sure that we stay within the law.
"People will not be able to walk in blind drunk and cause trouble – we don't want their custom."
Mr Clugston's plans for the nightclub include having up to double the amount of door staff as before, introducing a dress code and operating an over-21 policy for the majority of events.
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Lights out for catalogue listing
Changes to the criteria for listing products in B.C. Hydro's Power Smart e.Catalog could cost a Victoria company its livelihood.
Fero LED Lighting has listed its light-emitting diode products in the catalogue for the last year, allowing buyers to apply for rebates from Hydro.
But the company faces the prospect of having 80 per cent of its product line de-listed from the catalogue by Nov. 18 and therefore deemed uncompetitive as Hydro requires distributors such as Fero to meet new standards.
"It means our main focus, which has been down lights and pot lights - the kinds of lights most retail stores would use - will be out of the catalogue," said Janine Boom, partner at Fero LED.
Boom said the lights tend to be expensive at $40 each, but retailers who want to switch to the more energy-efficient lights from their existing fixtures were eligible for significant rebates, providing incentive for them to make the change.
But that was only as long as they were listed in B.C.
Hydro's catalogue - an online resource to help customers find energy-efficient products that may be eligible for the Power Smart Product Incentive Program.
"In some cases, we could say we can get you these lights for free or very inexpensively," said Boom.
Under the program, customers pay the retail price of products and apply to Hydro for a rebate.
But if Fero LED can't list the product line it distributes, then it is essentially out of the market.
"With no rebates, [retailers] have no reason to buy from us at regular cost when they can go and buy another brand and get the rebate," Boom said. "Now we're having to look at other types of products, like industrial-type LED tube lighting or the residential market."
Neither of those markets are eligible for rebates.
Officials from B.C. Hydro would not be interviewed for this story, but sent a statement by email.
"There are a number of criteria that a product distributor must meet in order to be listed on the Power Smart e.Catalog, including that the product meet energy-efficiency standards; the principal owner or contact must have a minimum of five years experience, specifically with lighting products; have been in business for at least two years; have a local B.C. address; and be a Power Smart Alliance member," wrote Lisa Coltart, executive director of Power Smart.
"In order to continually improve industry standards and to ensure the best products for our customers, we update eligibility requirements from time to time.
The only technical requirement that has recently been updated is that any LED products must meet Energy Star standards," Power Smart's Coltart said in her email.
Boom said a small startup company such as Fero LED could not possibly afford to have its LED products rated Energy Star, given that would cost between $5,000 and $7,000 for the testing of each product.
Fero LED Lighting has listed its light-emitting diode products in the catalogue for the last year, allowing buyers to apply for rebates from Hydro.
But the company faces the prospect of having 80 per cent of its product line de-listed from the catalogue by Nov. 18 and therefore deemed uncompetitive as Hydro requires distributors such as Fero to meet new standards.
"It means our main focus, which has been down lights and pot lights - the kinds of lights most retail stores would use - will be out of the catalogue," said Janine Boom, partner at Fero LED.
Boom said the lights tend to be expensive at $40 each, but retailers who want to switch to the more energy-efficient lights from their existing fixtures were eligible for significant rebates, providing incentive for them to make the change.
But that was only as long as they were listed in B.C.
Hydro's catalogue - an online resource to help customers find energy-efficient products that may be eligible for the Power Smart Product Incentive Program.
"In some cases, we could say we can get you these lights for free or very inexpensively," said Boom.
Under the program, customers pay the retail price of products and apply to Hydro for a rebate.
But if Fero LED can't list the product line it distributes, then it is essentially out of the market.
"With no rebates, [retailers] have no reason to buy from us at regular cost when they can go and buy another brand and get the rebate," Boom said. "Now we're having to look at other types of products, like industrial-type LED tube lighting or the residential market."
Neither of those markets are eligible for rebates.
Officials from B.C. Hydro would not be interviewed for this story, but sent a statement by email.
"There are a number of criteria that a product distributor must meet in order to be listed on the Power Smart e.Catalog, including that the product meet energy-efficiency standards; the principal owner or contact must have a minimum of five years experience, specifically with lighting products; have been in business for at least two years; have a local B.C. address; and be a Power Smart Alliance member," wrote Lisa Coltart, executive director of Power Smart.
"In order to continually improve industry standards and to ensure the best products for our customers, we update eligibility requirements from time to time.
The only technical requirement that has recently been updated is that any LED products must meet Energy Star standards," Power Smart's Coltart said in her email.
Boom said a small startup company such as Fero LED could not possibly afford to have its LED products rated Energy Star, given that would cost between $5,000 and $7,000 for the testing of each product.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Bulb Crusher coming to B’dian shores
THE country will soon obtain an environmentally-friendly technology to solve the problem of dis-regarded and harmful light bulbs.
This is the word from BREA (Barbados Renewable Energy Association) member and CEO of Caribbean LED Lighting, Jim Reid, speaking at a recent members’ meeting held at the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).
He disclosed to the media that it was important to import the equipment into the country as it was a way to properly dispose of light bulbs which disperse harmful toxics into local landfills, resulting in the contamination of the ground water on the island.
He disclosed that one florescent tube contained enough mercury to contaminate 7 000 gallons of drinking water and that many of this toxin was, on a daily basis, dumped into Barbadian landfills.
Spokesperson for the energy association, Clyde Griffith, informed the media that BREA, from its inception in June of this year, was in talks with members of the organisation, such as Reid, about the acquisition of a bulb crusher to assist in decreasing the harmful exposure of mercury into the local water supply.
Reid stated, “We manufacture LED tubes which give you 70 per cent savings in electricity, but of course, when we replace a florescent tube the issue is what to do with the old incandescent tubes? There are no facilities on the island to deal with it properly. What we are doing, therefore, is that every tube that we replace, we take the old tube and we process it and we put it into a bulb crusher in a hermetically sealed 55-gallon drum that is then shipped to Florida to an environmental protection agency who then recycles it properly; we believe this will make a difference very quickly.”
He further noted, “In such a beautiful country as Barbados, we have an opportunity to leapfrog technology that other organisations have developed over the years and make a difference. We are polluting our environment unconsciously on a daily basis; we have dirty fuel that causes asthma, we are putting florescent tubes in our landfill that is polluting the water and I am here with BREA to play my part as a resident of Barbados, and I feel fortunate to be in this country and I want to play my part to help our economy and environment.”
This is the word from BREA (Barbados Renewable Energy Association) member and CEO of Caribbean LED Lighting, Jim Reid, speaking at a recent members’ meeting held at the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).
He disclosed to the media that it was important to import the equipment into the country as it was a way to properly dispose of light bulbs which disperse harmful toxics into local landfills, resulting in the contamination of the ground water on the island.
He disclosed that one florescent tube contained enough mercury to contaminate 7 000 gallons of drinking water and that many of this toxin was, on a daily basis, dumped into Barbadian landfills.
Spokesperson for the energy association, Clyde Griffith, informed the media that BREA, from its inception in June of this year, was in talks with members of the organisation, such as Reid, about the acquisition of a bulb crusher to assist in decreasing the harmful exposure of mercury into the local water supply.
Reid stated, “We manufacture LED tubes which give you 70 per cent savings in electricity, but of course, when we replace a florescent tube the issue is what to do with the old incandescent tubes? There are no facilities on the island to deal with it properly. What we are doing, therefore, is that every tube that we replace, we take the old tube and we process it and we put it into a bulb crusher in a hermetically sealed 55-gallon drum that is then shipped to Florida to an environmental protection agency who then recycles it properly; we believe this will make a difference very quickly.”
He further noted, “In such a beautiful country as Barbados, we have an opportunity to leapfrog technology that other organisations have developed over the years and make a difference. We are polluting our environment unconsciously on a daily basis; we have dirty fuel that causes asthma, we are putting florescent tubes in our landfill that is polluting the water and I am here with BREA to play my part as a resident of Barbados, and I feel fortunate to be in this country and I want to play my part to help our economy and environment.”
Sunday, 30 October 2011
New light on Night Watch
Royal Philips Electronics announced that starting on October 26, one of the world's most renowned paintings will be bathed in a new light. Philips, Founder of the renovated Amsterdam Rijksmuseum, presents Rembrandt van Rijn's Night Watch in innovative LED light, bringing out the best of the painting's color palette while offering increased sustainability and energy efficiency. Through the project, the two Masters of Light are reinforcing their intensive collaboration aimed at joint innovation in the area of LED lighting, setting the new standard for museum lighting.
The 5-year extension of the partnership was sealed this afternoon in the Rijksmuseum by Frans van Houten, CEO of Philips, and Wim Pijbes, General Director of the Rijksmuseum. The Night Watch was relit for the occasion by Philips, combining innovative LED lighting with an advanced light control system. The new lighting will help reduce the Rijksmuseum's energy consumption.
LED technology has been developed to the point that the Rijksmuseum felt it needed to adopt this innovation. The new lamps ensure optimal color rendering, lending an even greater expressive quality to the objects. In terms of light quality, the LED solution easily outstrips the halogen spot, praised for its warm color and broad spectrum.
A key element in the partnership between Philips and the Rijksmuseum lies in the intensive exchange of knowledge between the two parties with regard to the development of LED solutions for lighting art and architecture.
As Founder, Philips has been involved since 2001 in the biggest restoration and renovation project in the 126-year history of the Rijksmuseum. During the renovation, the highlights of the Golden Age have been on display in the Philips Wing, attracting an average of 950, 000 visitors a year since it opened in 2003. Starting in 2014, major exhibitions will be held in the wing, which will be permanently named the Philips Wing. From 2013 onward, the Rijksmuseum expects to welcome about 2 million visitors each year.
The 5-year extension of the partnership was sealed this afternoon in the Rijksmuseum by Frans van Houten, CEO of Philips, and Wim Pijbes, General Director of the Rijksmuseum. The Night Watch was relit for the occasion by Philips, combining innovative LED lighting with an advanced light control system. The new lighting will help reduce the Rijksmuseum's energy consumption.
LED technology has been developed to the point that the Rijksmuseum felt it needed to adopt this innovation. The new lamps ensure optimal color rendering, lending an even greater expressive quality to the objects. In terms of light quality, the LED solution easily outstrips the halogen spot, praised for its warm color and broad spectrum.
A key element in the partnership between Philips and the Rijksmuseum lies in the intensive exchange of knowledge between the two parties with regard to the development of LED solutions for lighting art and architecture.
As Founder, Philips has been involved since 2001 in the biggest restoration and renovation project in the 126-year history of the Rijksmuseum. During the renovation, the highlights of the Golden Age have been on display in the Philips Wing, attracting an average of 950, 000 visitors a year since it opened in 2003. Starting in 2014, major exhibitions will be held in the wing, which will be permanently named the Philips Wing. From 2013 onward, the Rijksmuseum expects to welcome about 2 million visitors each year.
Monday, 29 August 2011
Lanterns are lethal to cattle, warn farmers
AIRBORNE Chinese lanterns are posing dangerous hazards for local farmers.
The popular lanterns, which float high in the sky, powered by a flame, have wire parts that can prove lethal to grazing cattle.
The lanterns are sometimes still alight when they land and risk setting fire to hay bales or thatched roofs.
Fairlight farmer Paul Elliott says the lanterns are now becoming a menace and called for stricter controls on how they are manufactured.
Mr Elliot says the lanterns make a frequent appearance on his land, off Peter James Lane, and that he has to check each field to remove the debris before it is eaten by cows or becomes tangled in farm machinery.
He said: “Cows will eat anything and the wire on these lanterns can easily kill a calf.
“They land in grass and silage where they are not easily spotted.
“It is not the ones you find you worry about - it is the ones that you don’t find.
“It happens all the time but is worse during party seasons such as bonfire night.
“We did have some sort of industry agreement with the manufacturers that they should be made of more biodegradable material.
“For a while they used bamboo, but the rings on that were still very sharp, now they seem to have gone back to using wire.
“I agree they are very pretty but that is not the point. One recently landed near a straw stack. I know the fire brigade have concerns about these lanterns.
“There is no mark or indication on the lanterns to say where they are made or distributed so it is very hard to track anyone down.”
Isobel Bretherton, from the National Farmer’s Union, said: “There are concerns, not only because of the fire risk they pose, but because cattle are curious and will eat anything they find.
The popular lanterns, which float high in the sky, powered by a flame, have wire parts that can prove lethal to grazing cattle.
The lanterns are sometimes still alight when they land and risk setting fire to hay bales or thatched roofs.
Fairlight farmer Paul Elliott says the lanterns are now becoming a menace and called for stricter controls on how they are manufactured.
Mr Elliot says the lanterns make a frequent appearance on his land, off Peter James Lane, and that he has to check each field to remove the debris before it is eaten by cows or becomes tangled in farm machinery.
He said: “Cows will eat anything and the wire on these lanterns can easily kill a calf.
“They land in grass and silage where they are not easily spotted.
“It is not the ones you find you worry about - it is the ones that you don’t find.
“It happens all the time but is worse during party seasons such as bonfire night.
“We did have some sort of industry agreement with the manufacturers that they should be made of more biodegradable material.
“For a while they used bamboo, but the rings on that were still very sharp, now they seem to have gone back to using wire.
“I agree they are very pretty but that is not the point. One recently landed near a straw stack. I know the fire brigade have concerns about these lanterns.
“There is no mark or indication on the lanterns to say where they are made or distributed so it is very hard to track anyone down.”
Isobel Bretherton, from the National Farmer’s Union, said: “There are concerns, not only because of the fire risk they pose, but because cattle are curious and will eat anything they find.
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Green Lantern Review
It's your average evening on one of fifty two (!) Earths. Superman scorches the sky over Metropolis as he races to rescue a tree-bound cat, while Batman lurks in an alleyway, just waiting for the right moment to leap upon a delinquent and batter them into a pulp. This is the DC that the general public know and love, but elsewhere, further fighting's afoot. The Flash is playing ping-pong with himself, the Green Arrow is busy cursing the rise of Interflora, while the Green Lantern is imagining giant boxing gloves, horse shoes and jack-in-the-boxes with the help of his magical ring. Little does Hal Jordan know that he's about to be thrust centre stage.
Finding fresh faces from DC's canon to bring to the big screen now involves trickier decisions than whether the suits should have nipples (they never, ever should). We've had Batman and Superman - each with varying degrees of success - while a Wonder Woman movie still seems to be slightly too risky (and too easily risqué) for the studios to allow themselves to explore. In a world where Batgirl is re-booted to lose her spinal injury, a high-octane movie about a woman glad to kick ass whilst being happily single is probably not going to appeal to the amorphous, grey blob so beloved focus groups.
Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan in The Green LanternWith the big three out of the way for one reason or another, slightly less-well-known characters are being given their chance to shine on the big screen. While a Flash film would consist of naught but extensive bullet time sequences and a Captain Nazi film would be really, really ill-advised, The Green Lantern has the ideal combination of being vaguely-recognisible and having a great capacity for CGI trickery.
Directed by Martin Campbell, The Green Lantern stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, a cocksure test pilot who is chosen to become a member of the intergalactic peace-keeping force that is the Green Lantern Corps. His powers stem from a special ring, which gets its power from a lantern, which gets its power from the planet Oa and so on and so forth.
The trouble with The Green Lantern, as with the previous sentence, is that it tries to fit too much information into too small a space. With heavy-hitters like Batman, the audience is already armed with the who/what/why of it all and just needs to be shown the how. In choosing a character like The Green Lantern, Campbell has given himself the challenge of compressing decades of backstory and lore into a hundred and fourteen minutes. The film rattles from exposition to exposition in (ironically) a flash; characters and motivations are introduced in a blur and forgotten in a heartbeat. It felt at times like a child was describing their favourite hero after drinking fifteen cans of coke and necking sherbert dips for an entire afternoon.
There are, however, plenty of whizzes and bangs to enjoy throughout the film. Some of the lantern's projections are really good fun and the big bad - a being made entirely of fear who looks like an octopus made of cigarette ash and mashed pork pies - is pleasantly revolting, but there seldom feels like there is any substance behind the effects. There are also moments where the CGI suit sported by Reynolds has the unfortunate effect of making him look like his head is rapidly outgrowing his body.
Finding fresh faces from DC's canon to bring to the big screen now involves trickier decisions than whether the suits should have nipples (they never, ever should). We've had Batman and Superman - each with varying degrees of success - while a Wonder Woman movie still seems to be slightly too risky (and too easily risqué) for the studios to allow themselves to explore. In a world where Batgirl is re-booted to lose her spinal injury, a high-octane movie about a woman glad to kick ass whilst being happily single is probably not going to appeal to the amorphous, grey blob so beloved focus groups.
Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan in The Green LanternWith the big three out of the way for one reason or another, slightly less-well-known characters are being given their chance to shine on the big screen. While a Flash film would consist of naught but extensive bullet time sequences and a Captain Nazi film would be really, really ill-advised, The Green Lantern has the ideal combination of being vaguely-recognisible and having a great capacity for CGI trickery.
Directed by Martin Campbell, The Green Lantern stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, a cocksure test pilot who is chosen to become a member of the intergalactic peace-keeping force that is the Green Lantern Corps. His powers stem from a special ring, which gets its power from a lantern, which gets its power from the planet Oa and so on and so forth.
The trouble with The Green Lantern, as with the previous sentence, is that it tries to fit too much information into too small a space. With heavy-hitters like Batman, the audience is already armed with the who/what/why of it all and just needs to be shown the how. In choosing a character like The Green Lantern, Campbell has given himself the challenge of compressing decades of backstory and lore into a hundred and fourteen minutes. The film rattles from exposition to exposition in (ironically) a flash; characters and motivations are introduced in a blur and forgotten in a heartbeat. It felt at times like a child was describing their favourite hero after drinking fifteen cans of coke and necking sherbert dips for an entire afternoon.
There are, however, plenty of whizzes and bangs to enjoy throughout the film. Some of the lantern's projections are really good fun and the big bad - a being made entirely of fear who looks like an octopus made of cigarette ash and mashed pork pies - is pleasantly revolting, but there seldom feels like there is any substance behind the effects. There are also moments where the CGI suit sported by Reynolds has the unfortunate effect of making him look like his head is rapidly outgrowing his body.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Svelato il mistero: «Quei tre punti luminosi erano lanterne volanti lanciate a una festa»
No unidentified object in the skies of Peschiera: UFO enthusiasts and lovers will be disappointed but the three luminous spheres observed on Friday night and photographed by many people are simply "flying lanterns" of oriental origin, very popular in the West that work with the same principle of the balloon. Have been used by Alice Hope in-law Claudia's birthday, celebrated on the shores of Lake Hotel Al Fiore owned by the family.
"I've bought on the Internet and we switched on during the party, "he says with amusement. "Before we turned one, around 21.30. After a while, 'we have seen that someone has sent around the campsite in the air two and so, almost like a challenge, we decided to light all three together, which were up more than usual accomplices apparently favorable air currents. And to be honest, given the height reached, "says the lady," there also were people who said "you'll see that someone will think UFOs. " It seemed to me an exaggeration but is actually just happened. "
"Sky lanterns": this is the trade name for this kind of "bags" of average size of paper coated with non-flammable material and supported by a rigid part. The base plate is placed a kind of fuel which, when lit, heats the air that fills the lantern making it fly. A flight that can last for twenty minutes and ends only when it ends the fuel and the flame goes out. Do you know the altitude limit that can achieve: to secure several hundred meters. In the Eastern tradition the lanterns are a symbol of good wishes. "But this is our meaning: you should write, " concludes Alice Hope, "their wishes on paper lanterns, bringing them in heaven, help to achieve them. " GB
"I've bought on the Internet and we switched on during the party, "he says with amusement. "Before we turned one, around 21.30. After a while, 'we have seen that someone has sent around the campsite in the air two and so, almost like a challenge, we decided to light all three together, which were up more than usual accomplices apparently favorable air currents. And to be honest, given the height reached, "says the lady," there also were people who said "you'll see that someone will think UFOs. " It seemed to me an exaggeration but is actually just happened. "
"Sky lanterns": this is the trade name for this kind of "bags" of average size of paper coated with non-flammable material and supported by a rigid part. The base plate is placed a kind of fuel which, when lit, heats the air that fills the lantern making it fly. A flight that can last for twenty minutes and ends only when it ends the fuel and the flame goes out. Do you know the altitude limit that can achieve: to secure several hundred meters. In the Eastern tradition the lanterns are a symbol of good wishes. "But this is our meaning: you should write, " concludes Alice Hope, "their wishes on paper lanterns, bringing them in heaven, help to achieve them. " GB
Monday, 16 May 2011
Low-carbon energy-saving doors and windows full analysis of environmental protection - a low-carbon
Low-carbon energy-saving doors and windows full analysis of environmental protection - a low-carbon
Low carbon Environmental protection Has become the trend, China's many places in the implementation of the "low-carbon lifestyle", windows and doors industry is how low-carbon energy saving environmental protection for? Building energy efficiency is a huge systematic project, all aspects of the whole society together. The building itself, the reality of energy-saving shortcut from the "windows" to start. Impact of building energy consumption as one of the four parts of the doors and windows envelope, generally thin-walled lightweight components, is building insulation, heat insulation, sound insulation of the weak links. Especially in insulation properties of the worst, it passes through the radiation, convective transfer, conduction transfer and air infiltration led to the building of four forms of energy loss, the energy of ordinary single-glazed windows heat loss in winter and summer about building cooling energy consumption of 50 % or more. Therefore, to improve the indoor thermal windows and doors, light environment, most important, its performance directly determines the effect of building energy efficiency. Enhanced thermal insulation properties of windows, doors and windows to reduce energy consumption, improve building heat, light, environmental quality, an important step in building energy efficiency goals. Insulation and insulated doors and windows and glass, door window frame materials, construction and air tightness are closely related. Whatever the form of building doors and windows, glass materials to be used, it accounts for more than 70% area of the window glass, energy-efficient doors and windows so they should first consider the factors of glass. This is why Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and other big cities have enacted local laws and regulations, Vigorously Promotion and mandatory energy-saving buildings, but also, without exception, the implementation of hollow, inflatable, low-emissivity glass reasons. Promote the use of hollow glass is a sign of the times, building energy efficiency developments . Insulating glass is two or more layers of glass to seal up the air, during layer filling with viscosity coefficient and thermal conductivity coefficient of the inert gas to reduce the convection heat transfer between the layers, the energy-saving features of the key indicators??? Biography thermal coefficient K (refer to steady heat transfer conditions, the glass on both sides of the air temperature difference of 1 ° C when the 1 square meter per unit time through the mass heat insulating glass to W/m2K said. K value is lower, indicating hollow better thermal insulation properties of glass) was 2.7 ~ 3.3, 5.8 and ordinary monolithic glass. Of course, such as hollow glass with LOW-E, or SUN-E glass to match, due to its excellent thermal characteristics of the optical, thermal insulation performance is more prominent. Insulating glass in developed countries has been widely and applications. Application of the U.S. penetration rate has reached 83%. German government has not hollow glass construction of the proposed building shall not be approved, only 80 of the last century before the Federal Republic of Germany to use hollow glass reached 210 million square meters, saving Energy Cost 52 billion marks. Application of European penetration reached 50%. Industry experts believe that the nature and function of the window will be confined mainly to the heat preservation, heat insulation, energy-efficient development. This requires that the window should have considerable product strength, deformation warpage. The gap in the sash handle, the northern parts of the North to the window should double Bolivian facilities. China is a country lacking in energy, energy equivalent to twice that of developed countries. Windows open in the direction of the main push-pull doors and windows of development, the development of new suspension and the suspension of the window, where energy saving and air-conditioning requirements for the room. Window-based development is becoming smaller, flexible technology to meet the requirements of modern small bedroom. Push-pull window, open the convenient, flexible, space is conducive to window details of the deal, such as planters, etc. located. To develop security doors, require security, fire, sound insulation, thermal insulation effect. Size fan proposed development outside the open type with security, insulation, sound insulation triple door. This is beneficial to dry indoor space saving, opening the door fighting, strip changing his shoes and space. Size of the door set, for the daily travel and provide convenience for handling large objects. Key technology is the hinge security measures, a small fan fixed and door seal technology. Hot Recommendation: Watch 09 Hardware Ten selection
Low carbon Environmental protection Has become the trend, China's many places in the implementation of the "low-carbon lifestyle", windows and doors industry is how low-carbon energy saving environmental protection for? Building energy efficiency is a huge systematic project, all aspects of the whole society together. The building itself, the reality of energy-saving shortcut from the "windows" to start. Impact of building energy consumption as one of the four parts of the doors and windows envelope, generally thin-walled lightweight components, is building insulation, heat insulation, sound insulation of the weak links. Especially in insulation properties of the worst, it passes through the radiation, convective transfer, conduction transfer and air infiltration led to the building of four forms of energy loss, the energy of ordinary single-glazed windows heat loss in winter and summer about building cooling energy consumption of 50 % or more. Therefore, to improve the indoor thermal windows and doors, light environment, most important, its performance directly determines the effect of building energy efficiency. Enhanced thermal insulation properties of windows, doors and windows to reduce energy consumption, improve building heat, light, environmental quality, an important step in building energy efficiency goals. Insulation and insulated doors and windows and glass, door window frame materials, construction and air tightness are closely related. Whatever the form of building doors and windows, glass materials to be used, it accounts for more than 70% area of the window glass, energy-efficient doors and windows so they should first consider the factors of glass. This is why Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and other big cities have enacted local laws and regulations, Vigorously Promotion and mandatory energy-saving buildings, but also, without exception, the implementation of hollow, inflatable, low-emissivity glass reasons. Promote the use of hollow glass is a sign of the times, building energy efficiency developments . Insulating glass is two or more layers of glass to seal up the air, during layer filling with viscosity coefficient and thermal conductivity coefficient of the inert gas to reduce the convection heat transfer between the layers, the energy-saving features of the key indicators??? Biography thermal coefficient K (refer to steady heat transfer conditions, the glass on both sides of the air temperature difference of 1 ° C when the 1 square meter per unit time through the mass heat insulating glass to W/m2K said. K value is lower, indicating hollow better thermal insulation properties of glass) was 2.7 ~ 3.3, 5.8 and ordinary monolithic glass. Of course, such as hollow glass with LOW-E, or SUN-E glass to match, due to its excellent thermal characteristics of the optical, thermal insulation performance is more prominent. Insulating glass in developed countries has been widely and applications. Application of the U.S. penetration rate has reached 83%. German government has not hollow glass construction of the proposed building shall not be approved, only 80 of the last century before the Federal Republic of Germany to use hollow glass reached 210 million square meters, saving Energy Cost 52 billion marks. Application of European penetration reached 50%. Industry experts believe that the nature and function of the window will be confined mainly to the heat preservation, heat insulation, energy-efficient development. This requires that the window should have considerable product strength, deformation warpage. The gap in the sash handle, the northern parts of the North to the window should double Bolivian facilities. China is a country lacking in energy, energy equivalent to twice that of developed countries. Windows open in the direction of the main push-pull doors and windows of development, the development of new suspension and the suspension of the window, where energy saving and air-conditioning requirements for the room. Window-based development is becoming smaller, flexible technology to meet the requirements of modern small bedroom. Push-pull window, open the convenient, flexible, space is conducive to window details of the deal, such as planters, etc. located. To develop security doors, require security, fire, sound insulation, thermal insulation effect. Size fan proposed development outside the open type with security, insulation, sound insulation triple door. This is beneficial to dry indoor space saving, opening the door fighting, strip changing his shoes and space. Size of the door set, for the daily travel and provide convenience for handling large objects. Key technology is the hinge security measures, a small fan fixed and door seal technology. Hot Recommendation: Watch 09 Hardware Ten selection
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Some shelters will soon display arrival times
Some shelters will soon display arrival times
Wondering when — or if — another bus is coming?
Soon, 160 bus stops around the city will be able to tell you.
The Chicago Transit Board on Wednesday approved the purchase of 160 LED signs that will display estimated bus arrival times at shelters around the city.
The signs will at first be posted at bus stops with the highest numbers of boardings or at busy transfer and connection locations, CTA officials said. At least one stop per ward will get a sign.
The four-line digital read-outs will contain information from the CTA’s Bus Tracker system, which currently riders can check via the Internet.
Luminator Holding was awarded the one-year, $1 million contract to manufacture the signs. A separate contract to install, maintain and remove the signs was awarded to JC Decaux in the amount of $687,300.
“LED displays are yet another method by which customers can get estimated bus arrival times,” CTA President Richard Rodriguez said.
The board also approved the appointment of Forrest Claypool to replace Rodriguez, who joined the agency in March 2009. Claypool’s first day in the $198,000 post will be Monday
Claypool praised the new signs.
“The more information you can give, the better off the customers are going to be,’’ he said. “I think a lot of it is knowing exactly when the trains and buses are going to be there. If you know that, then you can plan your schedule more accordingly and could avoid some frustrations”
The CTA has the option to purchase an additional 2,050 signs.
The Transit Board also amended two lease agreements that will expand the number of parking spaces for I-GO and Zipcar and extended their contracts for six-months. I-GO and Zipcar are car-sharing services that lease parking spaces near select CTA rail stations and bus stops.
Together, the companies will have more than 50 parking spaces near about 20 CTA locations, the CTA said. The combination of added spaces and the six-month extension is expected to yield more than $31,000 for the CTA.
Wondering when — or if — another bus is coming?
Soon, 160 bus stops around the city will be able to tell you.
The Chicago Transit Board on Wednesday approved the purchase of 160 LED signs that will display estimated bus arrival times at shelters around the city.
The signs will at first be posted at bus stops with the highest numbers of boardings or at busy transfer and connection locations, CTA officials said. At least one stop per ward will get a sign.
The four-line digital read-outs will contain information from the CTA’s Bus Tracker system, which currently riders can check via the Internet.
Luminator Holding was awarded the one-year, $1 million contract to manufacture the signs. A separate contract to install, maintain and remove the signs was awarded to JC Decaux in the amount of $687,300.
“LED displays are yet another method by which customers can get estimated bus arrival times,” CTA President Richard Rodriguez said.
The board also approved the appointment of Forrest Claypool to replace Rodriguez, who joined the agency in March 2009. Claypool’s first day in the $198,000 post will be Monday
Claypool praised the new signs.
“The more information you can give, the better off the customers are going to be,’’ he said. “I think a lot of it is knowing exactly when the trains and buses are going to be there. If you know that, then you can plan your schedule more accordingly and could avoid some frustrations”
The CTA has the option to purchase an additional 2,050 signs.
The Transit Board also amended two lease agreements that will expand the number of parking spaces for I-GO and Zipcar and extended their contracts for six-months. I-GO and Zipcar are car-sharing services that lease parking spaces near select CTA rail stations and bus stops.
Together, the companies will have more than 50 parking spaces near about 20 CTA locations, the CTA said. The combination of added spaces and the six-month extension is expected to yield more than $31,000 for the CTA.
Monday, 9 May 2011
Lancers, Spartans Light Up Scoreboard Versus Lupus
Lancers, Spartans Light Up Scoreboard Versus Lupus
On an evening when battling a lesser known disease, lupus, was the theme, cross-town girls’ softball opponents West Springfield and Lee high schools brought their bats out and gave the large group of supportive fans a hitting showcase in an exciting, never dull, 13-12 contest that was won by the home team Lancers. The Patriot District game took place Tuesday evening, May 3 at Lee High School in the heart of Springfield.
“That was absolutely the cherry on top,” said Lancers’ head coach Suzy Willemssen, thrilled with her young team’s triumph that capped a special Lupus Awareness Night benefit in which those in attendance gave more than $400 to the Lupus Foundation of America, an organization that helps fight the disease that affects 80,000 individuals, mostly women, throughout the local metropolitan area.
The guest of honor during pre-game ceremonies which put the spotlight on fighting lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation which can damage major organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain and skin, into the forefront of spectators’ minds on the evening was former Lee High girls’ soccer coach Janice Wolfe-Easley, a Fairfax County teacher of 33 years who most recently, before going on medical disability in October 2009, served as an adaptive physical education teacher, for special need students. Wolfe-Easley, diagnosed in May 2009, was on hand to mingle, educate and enjoy the ball game, being played in her honor, along with everyone else in attendance. She even threw out the first pitch, an underhand, softball-style strike to Lancer catcher Manal Assad, much to the pleasure of the fans.
“Aside from tonight’s fundraiser, awareness is what’s so important,” said Wolfe-Easley, who later in the same day in which she was diagnosed with lupus gained permission from her doctor to participate in a benefit walk event for the fight against breast cancer.
But in recent years, Wolfe-Easley, the former Lancers’ head girls’ soccer coach, who led the Lee team to the state crown in 1985, has been unable to be nearly as physically active as she once was as a result of her illness.
“So many don’t know what lupus is. I didn’t until two years ago,” said Wolfe-Easley, who, during her 11-year head-coaching career, also coached and led the W.T. Woodson High girls’ soccer team to a state finals appearance.
Joan Tadlock, who coached Lee High softball the past few years and is currently an assistant coach for the Lancers, was thrilled to have Wolfe-Easley on-hand. The two originally got to know one another in their work as adaptive P.E. teachers. The popular and loved Tadlock, an advocate for both her special education students as well as for causes such as lupus and breast cancer, set up the benefit night in honor of Wolfe-Easley, her good friend. She was the emcee of the pre-game awareness night program and introduced Wolfe-Easley, along with the guest’s husband and sister, to the crowd.
Also introduced was Lori Barb, the Lee High director of student activities, and Lee junior softball player Alissa Fetterholf, who spear-headed the effort to design and wear special home style softball T-shirts, designed with a whirlwind color scheme of purple, the color that symbolizes the hope and determination to one day conquer the debilitating lupus disease, and white. Players themselves wrote their handwritten names and numbers on back of the special, one-day uniform tops.
THE LEE HIGH TEAM, throughout the high-scoring game, played with the enthusiasm and energy befitting of the night’s special meaning. The visiting Spartans did the same, creating a game, which, while far from being mistake-free, was entertaining and played with passion.
With the game tied at 10-10, Lee, which at one time had led West Springfield, 10-3, came up with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 13-10 lead. Jess Harmon led off the inning with an infield single and ultimately came around to score the go-ahead run. Later that inning, a key two-run single into center field off the bat of senior Sarah Wilber plated two more runs to give the Lancers a three-run advantage.
West Springfield, though, kept the game exciting by scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Alissa Dwyer started the rally with an infield base hit and later scored on a groundout RBI by teammate Carisa Chaplin to make the score 13-11. Later in the inning, Hannah Tomey singled and ultimately scored from third on a wild pitch to get the Spartans within 13-12.
West Springfield pitcher Marissa Johnson, who pitched the entire game for the Spartans and got better and better as the contest went on, held Lee scoreless in the bottom of the sixth.
That set up West Springfield’s final at-bats. With one out, Calli Douglas, the potential tying run, earned a walk and stole both second and third base. But Lee pitcher Ashley Robinson, who entered the game in the fourth inning after Lancer starting pitcher Amanda Layton had gone the first three innings, buckled down, coaxing an infield pop-up for the second out and a groundball out to end the ball game. Lancer second baseman Beth Clay made all three put-outs — two groundball outs, one pop-up catch — in that final inning, including a scorching groundball pick-up and throw-out on a ball hit off the bat of Lindsey Kellogg to begin the inning.
Following the final out, the Lee players celebrated on the field, hugging one another and jumping up and down excitedly. It was the Lancers’ sixth win of the season to 10 losses.
“They never quit, and they fought back,” said Willemssen, the Lee coach, of her team’s mindset during both the game and season. “They know they have to play as a team. On this team everyone has an impact, instead of having that one stud pitcher with everyone standing back. Everyone on this team counts.”
Robinson, who pitched the final four innings for Lee, earned the win on the mound.
Lee, defensively, came up with some sparkling plays throughout the game. Robinson, who played center field over the first three innings, made a stellar first inning catch, swiftly moving to her left, on a ball hit by Johnson. In the third inning, the Lancers’ cut down a run at the plate when third baseman Natalie Heinitz, with Spartan runners on second and third, fielded a groundball and quickly threw home to catcher Assad, who applied the tag of a sliding runner. Then, on a ball hit into left field by the next batter, Lancer outfielder Fetterholf came up with a difficult, reaching catch. Late in the game, Harmon, who had been inserted in left field, caught a sizzling liner off the bat of Chandler Cole.
On an evening when battling a lesser known disease, lupus, was the theme, cross-town girls’ softball opponents West Springfield and Lee high schools brought their bats out and gave the large group of supportive fans a hitting showcase in an exciting, never dull, 13-12 contest that was won by the home team Lancers. The Patriot District game took place Tuesday evening, May 3 at Lee High School in the heart of Springfield.
“That was absolutely the cherry on top,” said Lancers’ head coach Suzy Willemssen, thrilled with her young team’s triumph that capped a special Lupus Awareness Night benefit in which those in attendance gave more than $400 to the Lupus Foundation of America, an organization that helps fight the disease that affects 80,000 individuals, mostly women, throughout the local metropolitan area.
The guest of honor during pre-game ceremonies which put the spotlight on fighting lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation which can damage major organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain and skin, into the forefront of spectators’ minds on the evening was former Lee High girls’ soccer coach Janice Wolfe-Easley, a Fairfax County teacher of 33 years who most recently, before going on medical disability in October 2009, served as an adaptive physical education teacher, for special need students. Wolfe-Easley, diagnosed in May 2009, was on hand to mingle, educate and enjoy the ball game, being played in her honor, along with everyone else in attendance. She even threw out the first pitch, an underhand, softball-style strike to Lancer catcher Manal Assad, much to the pleasure of the fans.
“Aside from tonight’s fundraiser, awareness is what’s so important,” said Wolfe-Easley, who later in the same day in which she was diagnosed with lupus gained permission from her doctor to participate in a benefit walk event for the fight against breast cancer.
But in recent years, Wolfe-Easley, the former Lancers’ head girls’ soccer coach, who led the Lee team to the state crown in 1985, has been unable to be nearly as physically active as she once was as a result of her illness.
“So many don’t know what lupus is. I didn’t until two years ago,” said Wolfe-Easley, who, during her 11-year head-coaching career, also coached and led the W.T. Woodson High girls’ soccer team to a state finals appearance.
Joan Tadlock, who coached Lee High softball the past few years and is currently an assistant coach for the Lancers, was thrilled to have Wolfe-Easley on-hand. The two originally got to know one another in their work as adaptive P.E. teachers. The popular and loved Tadlock, an advocate for both her special education students as well as for causes such as lupus and breast cancer, set up the benefit night in honor of Wolfe-Easley, her good friend. She was the emcee of the pre-game awareness night program and introduced Wolfe-Easley, along with the guest’s husband and sister, to the crowd.
Also introduced was Lori Barb, the Lee High director of student activities, and Lee junior softball player Alissa Fetterholf, who spear-headed the effort to design and wear special home style softball T-shirts, designed with a whirlwind color scheme of purple, the color that symbolizes the hope and determination to one day conquer the debilitating lupus disease, and white. Players themselves wrote their handwritten names and numbers on back of the special, one-day uniform tops.
THE LEE HIGH TEAM, throughout the high-scoring game, played with the enthusiasm and energy befitting of the night’s special meaning. The visiting Spartans did the same, creating a game, which, while far from being mistake-free, was entertaining and played with passion.
With the game tied at 10-10, Lee, which at one time had led West Springfield, 10-3, came up with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 13-10 lead. Jess Harmon led off the inning with an infield single and ultimately came around to score the go-ahead run. Later that inning, a key two-run single into center field off the bat of senior Sarah Wilber plated two more runs to give the Lancers a three-run advantage.
West Springfield, though, kept the game exciting by scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Alissa Dwyer started the rally with an infield base hit and later scored on a groundout RBI by teammate Carisa Chaplin to make the score 13-11. Later in the inning, Hannah Tomey singled and ultimately scored from third on a wild pitch to get the Spartans within 13-12.
West Springfield pitcher Marissa Johnson, who pitched the entire game for the Spartans and got better and better as the contest went on, held Lee scoreless in the bottom of the sixth.
That set up West Springfield’s final at-bats. With one out, Calli Douglas, the potential tying run, earned a walk and stole both second and third base. But Lee pitcher Ashley Robinson, who entered the game in the fourth inning after Lancer starting pitcher Amanda Layton had gone the first three innings, buckled down, coaxing an infield pop-up for the second out and a groundball out to end the ball game. Lancer second baseman Beth Clay made all three put-outs — two groundball outs, one pop-up catch — in that final inning, including a scorching groundball pick-up and throw-out on a ball hit off the bat of Lindsey Kellogg to begin the inning.
Following the final out, the Lee players celebrated on the field, hugging one another and jumping up and down excitedly. It was the Lancers’ sixth win of the season to 10 losses.
“They never quit, and they fought back,” said Willemssen, the Lee coach, of her team’s mindset during both the game and season. “They know they have to play as a team. On this team everyone has an impact, instead of having that one stud pitcher with everyone standing back. Everyone on this team counts.”
Robinson, who pitched the final four innings for Lee, earned the win on the mound.
Lee, defensively, came up with some sparkling plays throughout the game. Robinson, who played center field over the first three innings, made a stellar first inning catch, swiftly moving to her left, on a ball hit by Johnson. In the third inning, the Lancers’ cut down a run at the plate when third baseman Natalie Heinitz, with Spartan runners on second and third, fielded a groundball and quickly threw home to catcher Assad, who applied the tag of a sliding runner. Then, on a ball hit into left field by the next batter, Lancer outfielder Fetterholf came up with a difficult, reaching catch. Late in the game, Harmon, who had been inserted in left field, caught a sizzling liner off the bat of Chandler Cole.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
MIT Team Wins Berkeley-Stanford Green Entrepreneurship Competition
MIT Team Wins Berkeley-Stanford Green Entrepreneurship Competition
A team of MIT students took home the grand prize at the 2011 Berkeley-Stanford Cleantech (BSC) Launchpad, a prestigious green entrepreneurship competition.
The PolyChroma team includes Marnix Hollander (LGO '12), Kurtis McKenney (SB '01, LGO '12), Chunguang Charlotte Wang (SDM '11) and Jon Garrity (SB '11). Their venture is developing optics for next-generation LED lighting.
The theme of this year's competition was "Creating Jobs for a Green Economy." As the winners, PolyChroma received $10,000 in cash and services, the opportunity to pitch U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and a personal meeting with leading cleantech venture capital firms.
PolyChroma also placed first in the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition's Executive Summary Contest in February.
"We were elated to win BSC Launchpad," said Hollander. "It was a big risk for all four of us to fly out there. But thanks to the support of the Leaders for Global Operations and System Design and Management programs, we were able to make it.
"It was a great competition, and we're pleased we could keep riding this wave of success following the Executive Summary Contest."
Identifying a promising technology
The PolyChroma team came together at the onset of last fall's Energy Ventures course. Students in this course assemble teams around promising technologies in the energy sector and then build business plans to bring them to market.
In summer 2010, Hollander worked with the course TA and MIT's Technology Licensing Office (TLO) to investigate possible ideas. He found one technology to be particularly intriguing: an optics system that enables high-quality white light in LED lamps and full-color tunability in multicolored LED lamps.
Hollander pitched the idea to his Energy Ventures classmates, and McKenney, Wang and Garrity quickly signed on. The quartet worked on their business plan throughout the fall semester, meeting with venture capitalists and angel investors, legal professionals, future customers and potential partners along the way.
Wang, who was charged with exploring energy and green entrepreneurship competitions, thought BSC Launchpad would be worth entering. After submitting a video pitch and executive summary, PolyChroma survived the competition's first round (an online popular vote) and second round (in which a panel of industry experts narrowed the field from 20 to six).
Pitching the U.S. energy secretary
The final round took place April 8. Garrity gave PolyChroma's five-minute pitch to the judges and the crowd gathered at Stanford University's Old Union Courtyard. The victor was determined by the judging panel (50 percent) and the audience (50 percent).
Hollander wasn't sure which way the vote would go, but he could tell the judges and audience members were paying close attention during Garrity's pitch. So when PolyChroma won, he wasn't shocked. A whirlwind of activity immediately followed.
"The next day, we gave our pitch to the entire BSC Conference [attended by professionals in academia, policy/government and venture capitalists]," said Hollander. "There was a lot of interest and some great questions from audience members.
"We also had the opportunity to pitch to Steven Chu during a special VIP conference. Afterwards, he expressed interest in our plan and in the idea of LED lighting as a huge opportunity for the U.S. to reduce its energy consumption."
Support and understanding from classmates
According to Hollander, the winnings from the BSC Cleantech and MIT $100K competitions are going right back into PolyChroma. "We're putting the money toward a general fund pool for the company," he said. "We can use it to pay for any expenses we feel are important. Right now, that means generating interest in our venture and funding a developmental prototype."
The only major competition on the near horizon is the MIT $100K's Business Plan Contest, which ends May 11. And that's probably a good thing, as Hollander and company have some catching up to do.
"Our academics are definitely suffering a bit," he said. "It's been a juggling act to keep everything together. We've had to lean more on members of our class teams, and we've been fortunate to get a lot of support and understanding from our classmates."
A team of MIT students took home the grand prize at the 2011 Berkeley-Stanford Cleantech (BSC) Launchpad, a prestigious green entrepreneurship competition.
The PolyChroma team includes Marnix Hollander (LGO '12), Kurtis McKenney (SB '01, LGO '12), Chunguang Charlotte Wang (SDM '11) and Jon Garrity (SB '11). Their venture is developing optics for next-generation LED lighting.
The theme of this year's competition was "Creating Jobs for a Green Economy." As the winners, PolyChroma received $10,000 in cash and services, the opportunity to pitch U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and a personal meeting with leading cleantech venture capital firms.
PolyChroma also placed first in the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition's Executive Summary Contest in February.
"We were elated to win BSC Launchpad," said Hollander. "It was a big risk for all four of us to fly out there. But thanks to the support of the Leaders for Global Operations and System Design and Management programs, we were able to make it.
"It was a great competition, and we're pleased we could keep riding this wave of success following the Executive Summary Contest."
Identifying a promising technology
The PolyChroma team came together at the onset of last fall's Energy Ventures course. Students in this course assemble teams around promising technologies in the energy sector and then build business plans to bring them to market.
In summer 2010, Hollander worked with the course TA and MIT's Technology Licensing Office (TLO) to investigate possible ideas. He found one technology to be particularly intriguing: an optics system that enables high-quality white light in LED lamps and full-color tunability in multicolored LED lamps.
Hollander pitched the idea to his Energy Ventures classmates, and McKenney, Wang and Garrity quickly signed on. The quartet worked on their business plan throughout the fall semester, meeting with venture capitalists and angel investors, legal professionals, future customers and potential partners along the way.
Wang, who was charged with exploring energy and green entrepreneurship competitions, thought BSC Launchpad would be worth entering. After submitting a video pitch and executive summary, PolyChroma survived the competition's first round (an online popular vote) and second round (in which a panel of industry experts narrowed the field from 20 to six).
Pitching the U.S. energy secretary
The final round took place April 8. Garrity gave PolyChroma's five-minute pitch to the judges and the crowd gathered at Stanford University's Old Union Courtyard. The victor was determined by the judging panel (50 percent) and the audience (50 percent).
Hollander wasn't sure which way the vote would go, but he could tell the judges and audience members were paying close attention during Garrity's pitch. So when PolyChroma won, he wasn't shocked. A whirlwind of activity immediately followed.
"The next day, we gave our pitch to the entire BSC Conference [attended by professionals in academia, policy/government and venture capitalists]," said Hollander. "There was a lot of interest and some great questions from audience members.
"We also had the opportunity to pitch to Steven Chu during a special VIP conference. Afterwards, he expressed interest in our plan and in the idea of LED lighting as a huge opportunity for the U.S. to reduce its energy consumption."
Support and understanding from classmates
According to Hollander, the winnings from the BSC Cleantech and MIT $100K competitions are going right back into PolyChroma. "We're putting the money toward a general fund pool for the company," he said. "We can use it to pay for any expenses we feel are important. Right now, that means generating interest in our venture and funding a developmental prototype."
The only major competition on the near horizon is the MIT $100K's Business Plan Contest, which ends May 11. And that's probably a good thing, as Hollander and company have some catching up to do.
"Our academics are definitely suffering a bit," he said. "It's been a juggling act to keep everything together. We've had to lean more on members of our class teams, and we've been fortunate to get a lot of support and understanding from our classmates."
Monday, 2 May 2011
Made of clear plastic, each contains a colored LED.
If nothing else, give Laser Pegs credit for being a really good idea. In fact, they’re actually a truly incredible idea: This set of modular construction pieces light up internally when connected to a power source.
If only the implementation worked as well as the concept.
These bastard children of Legos and Lite-Brite are bigger than you think, about the size of a typical Tinkertoy block. Made of clear plastic, each contains a colored LED. When connected to the included power source, a circuit is completed, and the Laser Pegs light up like Christmas lights. Just keep adding pieces and your glowing construction is automatically illuminated.
Tinker Toys are an apt comparison: Remember how hard it could be to wedge a Tinker Toy rod into the receiving hole in a block? Laser Pegs are almost as tricky. They’re (obviously) made of plastic, so variable drill hole sizes aren’t the issue, but the connections are tight nonetheless — they have to be to make the wiring work. There are several different shapes in the kit.
I put Laser Pegs in front of my kids: a 5-year-old boy and 8-year-old girl, though technically these are intended for ages 7 and up. They often struggled getting the pieces together, especially when multiple connections to a single block were involved.
Once their constructions were complete — guns, spaceships and lightsabers were, of course, the most popular concepts — Laser Pegs revealed more trouble.
Those connections which seem so tight when you just have two pieces to deal with turn out to be extremely rickety when you string a dozen or more together. Larger constructions start to bend and sway at the connecting points, and this makes the electrical connections built into the joints extremely temperamental. Breathe funny and the lights will go out on half your design until you jiggle it back together just so.
That’s a bummer, because it means that unlike Legos, kids can’t really play with their finished creations. They have to lay them on the ground and admire them from afar lest their lighting fail and the waterworks begin. If your house is the look-don’t-touch type where the furniture is wrapped in plastic, well, they’ll probably fit right in.
If only the implementation worked as well as the concept.
These bastard children of Legos and Lite-Brite are bigger than you think, about the size of a typical Tinkertoy block. Made of clear plastic, each contains a colored LED. When connected to the included power source, a circuit is completed, and the Laser Pegs light up like Christmas lights. Just keep adding pieces and your glowing construction is automatically illuminated.
Tinker Toys are an apt comparison: Remember how hard it could be to wedge a Tinker Toy rod into the receiving hole in a block? Laser Pegs are almost as tricky. They’re (obviously) made of plastic, so variable drill hole sizes aren’t the issue, but the connections are tight nonetheless — they have to be to make the wiring work. There are several different shapes in the kit.
I put Laser Pegs in front of my kids: a 5-year-old boy and 8-year-old girl, though technically these are intended for ages 7 and up. They often struggled getting the pieces together, especially when multiple connections to a single block were involved.
Once their constructions were complete — guns, spaceships and lightsabers were, of course, the most popular concepts — Laser Pegs revealed more trouble.
Those connections which seem so tight when you just have two pieces to deal with turn out to be extremely rickety when you string a dozen or more together. Larger constructions start to bend and sway at the connecting points, and this makes the electrical connections built into the joints extremely temperamental. Breathe funny and the lights will go out on half your design until you jiggle it back together just so.
That’s a bummer, because it means that unlike Legos, kids can’t really play with their finished creations. They have to lay them on the ground and admire them from afar lest their lighting fail and the waterworks begin. If your house is the look-don’t-touch type where the furniture is wrapped in plastic, well, they’ll probably fit right in.
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Add Ground Effects To Your Bed For Gentle Night Lighting
It’s the middle of the night, and you have to go to the bathroom. Sure, you can stumble to the bathroom in the dark, possibly hitting your shins or toes on anything on the floor or in the path between you and the sky lanterns bathroom door, but you don’t want to blind yourself by turning on the light. The solution? Ground effect lighting for your bed!
Over at IKEA Hackers, they use a bed model commonly purchased at IKEA, but the trick can be applied to pretty much any bed with a flat underside that’s lifted up from the ground a bit. Bonus: it looks really cool.
Pedro Farinha decided that he was tired of blinding and being blinded by his wife when one of them would get up in the middle sky lanterns of the night to feed their newborn baby.
With a little elbow grease, a kitchen-style fluorescent light, and some screws, he mounted the light on the wood bar on the underside of the bed and connected a switch to the light with enough wire that he could put the switch at the top of the bed. Now he or his wife could get up to change or feed the baby and go to the bathroom, with enough light to see but not so much that they’d wake the other person still asleep.
One of the best things about this tip is that it doesn’t require anything IKEA really; a flexible strip-light or even a set of LED Christmas lights would work just as well as the fluorescent. Any bed sky lanterns that’s up off the floor high enough for the light to spread out from around the underside and that has a place you could mount or tie in the lights would work as well. Just make sure to clean the dust bunnies out from under the bed first and make sure the light you use doesn’t generate any heat (like incandescent Christmas lights or bulbs) – you don’t want to inadvertently create a fire hazard.
Over at IKEA Hackers, they use a bed model commonly purchased at IKEA, but the trick can be applied to pretty much any bed with a flat underside that’s lifted up from the ground a bit. Bonus: it looks really cool.
Pedro Farinha decided that he was tired of blinding and being blinded by his wife when one of them would get up in the middle sky lanterns of the night to feed their newborn baby.
With a little elbow grease, a kitchen-style fluorescent light, and some screws, he mounted the light on the wood bar on the underside of the bed and connected a switch to the light with enough wire that he could put the switch at the top of the bed. Now he or his wife could get up to change or feed the baby and go to the bathroom, with enough light to see but not so much that they’d wake the other person still asleep.
One of the best things about this tip is that it doesn’t require anything IKEA really; a flexible strip-light or even a set of LED Christmas lights would work just as well as the fluorescent. Any bed sky lanterns that’s up off the floor high enough for the light to spread out from around the underside and that has a place you could mount or tie in the lights would work as well. Just make sure to clean the dust bunnies out from under the bed first and make sure the light you use doesn’t generate any heat (like incandescent Christmas lights or bulbs) – you don’t want to inadvertently create a fire hazard.
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Lantern vigils fuel farming concern
Concern is mounting over the dangers posed to livestock and property from Chinese lanterns lit in memory of missing people.
A growing trend has seen hundreds of lanterns released into the night sky over England during the past fortnight.
Some 40 lanterns were released to sky lanterns highlight the plight of missing cruise ship worker Rebecca Coriam, who has not been seen for almost two weeks.
More than 150 relatives and friends released 40 lanterns into the sky "to guide Rebecca home" at a vigil on Sunday (3 April).
The lantern release followed a similar vigil at Swindon's Polo Ground in memory of 22-year-old Sian O'Callaghan on 26 March.
Some 10,000 people attended the Swindon vigil. Many released Chinese lanterns and balloons with messages of condolence.
While the vigils have drawn attention to tragic events, farmers have long warned of the dangers posed by Chinese lanterns to livestock, standing crops and thatched properties.
The lanterns are generally made from paper supported by a wire frame that incorporates a holder at the bottom for a solid fuel cell.
Wiltshire & Swindon Fire Authority said the risk of fire caused by Chinese lanterns should be fully considered prior to use.
While lighting and launch were largely in the control of the user, the actual flight path and ultimate destination were generally not.
There was also no guarantee that the fuel cell would be fully extinguished and cooled when the lantern eventually descends.
"Any subsequent contact with a combustible sky lanterns surface could result in a fire developing," said the authority.
The Women's Food & Farming Union has called for the lanterns to be banned.
"The lightweight metal structures are hazardous to cattle, sheep and horses, should they eat them," it said.
"Not only that, the metal may lie dormant on the land and then gets into silage or hay at harvest time.
"This has its own added problems when it is fed sky lanterns as winter feed and cattle eat it as part of their forage."
A growing trend has seen hundreds of lanterns released into the night sky over England during the past fortnight.
Some 40 lanterns were released to sky lanterns highlight the plight of missing cruise ship worker Rebecca Coriam, who has not been seen for almost two weeks.
More than 150 relatives and friends released 40 lanterns into the sky "to guide Rebecca home" at a vigil on Sunday (3 April).
The lantern release followed a similar vigil at Swindon's Polo Ground in memory of 22-year-old Sian O'Callaghan on 26 March.
Some 10,000 people attended the Swindon vigil. Many released Chinese lanterns and balloons with messages of condolence.
While the vigils have drawn attention to tragic events, farmers have long warned of the dangers posed by Chinese lanterns to livestock, standing crops and thatched properties.
The lanterns are generally made from paper supported by a wire frame that incorporates a holder at the bottom for a solid fuel cell.
Wiltshire & Swindon Fire Authority said the risk of fire caused by Chinese lanterns should be fully considered prior to use.
While lighting and launch were largely in the control of the user, the actual flight path and ultimate destination were generally not.
There was also no guarantee that the fuel cell would be fully extinguished and cooled when the lantern eventually descends.
"Any subsequent contact with a combustible sky lanterns surface could result in a fire developing," said the authority.
The Women's Food & Farming Union has called for the lanterns to be banned.
"The lightweight metal structures are hazardous to cattle, sheep and horses, should they eat them," it said.
"Not only that, the metal may lie dormant on the land and then gets into silage or hay at harvest time.
"This has its own added problems when it is fed sky lanterns as winter feed and cattle eat it as part of their forage."
Vigils Held For Missing Cruise Ship Worker
Vigils Held For Missing Cruise Ship Worker
Candlelit vigils have taken place around the world for the missing cruise ship worker Rebecca Coriam, who has not been seen for almost two weeks.
The 24-year-old's parents and sister sky lanterns joined more than 150 relatives and friends in her home city of Chester at 8pm on Sunday, lighting candles and releasing 40 lanterns into the sky "to guide Rebecca home."
People from as far afield as Australia, Canada and the US pledged to do the same at 8pm in their respective time zones after a huge response to the idea on an internet forum.
Rebecca's uncle, John Jennings, told Sky News the family had been amazed by the reaction. "So many people have written kind messages about Rebecca and it's given the family real comfort," he said.
"We just feel so helpless at the moment, so when someone on the forum suggested this we were very touched."
Mr Jennings described the vigil at Chester Racecourse as "beautiful"and "incredibly emotional".
Five thousand miles away some sky lanterns passengers and crew on the Disney Wonder cruise ship were planning to light safe battery-operated candles to show their support for Rebecca's family.
Miss Coriam had been working as part of the youth programme on the vessel, which left Los Angeles on March 22nd for a week-long cruise along the Mexican Riviera.
The alarm was raised three days into the trip when Rebecca failed to turn up for her shift.
Despite onboard inspections and alerts to the 3,000 passengers the ship returned to LA without her.
Candlelit vigils have taken place around the world for the missing cruise ship worker Rebecca Coriam, who has not been seen for almost two weeks.
The 24-year-old's parents and sister sky lanterns joined more than 150 relatives and friends in her home city of Chester at 8pm on Sunday, lighting candles and releasing 40 lanterns into the sky "to guide Rebecca home."
People from as far afield as Australia, Canada and the US pledged to do the same at 8pm in their respective time zones after a huge response to the idea on an internet forum.
Rebecca's uncle, John Jennings, told Sky News the family had been amazed by the reaction. "So many people have written kind messages about Rebecca and it's given the family real comfort," he said.
"We just feel so helpless at the moment, so when someone on the forum suggested this we were very touched."
Mr Jennings described the vigil at Chester Racecourse as "beautiful"and "incredibly emotional".
Five thousand miles away some sky lanterns passengers and crew on the Disney Wonder cruise ship were planning to light safe battery-operated candles to show their support for Rebecca's family.
Miss Coriam had been working as part of the youth programme on the vessel, which left Los Angeles on March 22nd for a week-long cruise along the Mexican Riviera.
The alarm was raised three days into the trip when Rebecca failed to turn up for her shift.
Despite onboard inspections and alerts to the 3,000 passengers the ship returned to LA without her.
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Lantern vigils fuel farming concern
Lantern vigils fuel farming concern
Concern is mounting over the dangers posed to livestock and property from Chinese lanterns lit in memory of missing people.
A growing trend has seen hundreds of lanterns released into the night sky over England during the past fortnight.
Some 40 lanterns were released to highlight the plight of missing cruise ship worker Rebecca Coriam, who has not been seen for almost two weeks.
More than 150 relatives and friends released 40 lanterns into the sky "to guide Rebecca home" at a vigil on Sunday (3 April).
The lantern release followed a similar vigil at Swindon's Polo Ground in memory of 22-year-old Sian O'Callaghan on 26 March.
Some 10,000 people attended the Swindon vigil. Many released Chinese lanterns and balloons with messages of condolence.
While the vigils have drawn attention to tragic events, farmers have long warned of the dangers posed by Chinese lanterns to livestock, standing crops and thatched properties.
The lanterns are generally made from paper supported by a wire frame that incorporates a holder at the bottom for a solid fuel cell.
Wiltshire & Swindon Fire Authority said the risk of fire caused by Chinese lanterns should be fully considered prior to use.
While lighting and launch were largely in the control of the user, the actual flight path and ultimate destination were generally not.
There was also no guarantee that the fuel cell would be fully extinguished and cooled when the lantern eventually descends.
"Any subsequent contact with a combustible surface could result in a fire developing," said the authority.
The Women's Food & Farming Union has called for the lanterns to be banned.
"The lightweight metal structures are hazardous to cattle, sheep and horses, should they eat them," it said.
"Not only that, the metal may lie dormant on the land and then gets into silage or hay at harvest time.
"This has its own added problems when it is fed as winter feed and cattle eat it as part of their forage."
Concern is mounting over the dangers posed to livestock and property from Chinese lanterns lit in memory of missing people.
A growing trend has seen hundreds of lanterns released into the night sky over England during the past fortnight.
Some 40 lanterns were released to highlight the plight of missing cruise ship worker Rebecca Coriam, who has not been seen for almost two weeks.
More than 150 relatives and friends released 40 lanterns into the sky "to guide Rebecca home" at a vigil on Sunday (3 April).
The lantern release followed a similar vigil at Swindon's Polo Ground in memory of 22-year-old Sian O'Callaghan on 26 March.
Some 10,000 people attended the Swindon vigil. Many released Chinese lanterns and balloons with messages of condolence.
While the vigils have drawn attention to tragic events, farmers have long warned of the dangers posed by Chinese lanterns to livestock, standing crops and thatched properties.
The lanterns are generally made from paper supported by a wire frame that incorporates a holder at the bottom for a solid fuel cell.
Wiltshire & Swindon Fire Authority said the risk of fire caused by Chinese lanterns should be fully considered prior to use.
While lighting and launch were largely in the control of the user, the actual flight path and ultimate destination were generally not.
There was also no guarantee that the fuel cell would be fully extinguished and cooled when the lantern eventually descends.
"Any subsequent contact with a combustible surface could result in a fire developing," said the authority.
The Women's Food & Farming Union has called for the lanterns to be banned.
"The lightweight metal structures are hazardous to cattle, sheep and horses, should they eat them," it said.
"Not only that, the metal may lie dormant on the land and then gets into silage or hay at harvest time.
"This has its own added problems when it is fed as winter feed and cattle eat it as part of their forage."
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Wish lamps in Mahi hometown
Wish lamps in Mahi hometown
As Captain Cool and his men in blue pad up for the April 2 Wankhede blockbuster, fan frenzy is hotting up at his Cup-crazy hometown.
The happy flutter of 200 silken flags and 25 sky lanterns cheering Chak De Dhoni are setting the perfect pitch for the Saturday final between the Dream Team and Sri Lanka while cricket enthusiasts keep fingers crossed for a 1983 rerun.
If the lamps, to be released into the sky tomorrow evening, symbolise the victory designs of budding fashionistas of Ranchi Women’s College, the morale of Team India is being hoisted by Assocham’s Jharkhand chapter.
“We have lined up 200 flags in front of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s house at Birsa Munda Raj Marg in Harmu. He has done Jharkhand proud by ensuring India’s win over Pakistan in yesterday’s semi-final. The colourful paraphernalia is our way of saying thank you,” said R.K. Choudhary, the secretary-general of Assocham, Jharkhand.
Armed with drums and crackers, scores of cricket-lovers had trooped to Harmu last night after India’s scintillating 29-run win over Pakistan. Today, it was the turn of trumpet players who belted out patriotic numbers to wish the Team India skipper the very best for the final battle.
A contented spectator of the festivities, a neighbour told The Telegraph that Dhoni’s family members would not go to Mumbai to watch the final because that might distract him. “They want him to concentrate hundred per cent on the match,” he said, requesting anonymity.
Everyone seemed anxiously waiting for the big win. At Ranchi Women’s College, students laboriously sketched Dhoni on sky lanterns and etched messages like “Jharkhand ka hero barhayega Bharat ki shaan” to wish him luck.
“We want him to do what Kapil Dev did in 1983,” said Ratna Singh, a teacher of fashion designing.
“We are sanguine that our boy will win the Cup for India,” beamed Anshika Kumari, a student, giving finishing touches to her wish lamp.
“We will float the maps near Dhoni’s house on the eve of the big match,” another student added.
Last night, celebrations had reached a crescendo around midnight and continued till 2am. The thumping beat of drums had reverberated through Dhoni’s hometown while crackers lighted up the night sky. Bikers had zoomed with Tricolours in hand at Albert Ekka Chowk, Birsa Chowk, Sujata Chowk and Main Road among other places.
As Captain Cool and his men in blue pad up for the April 2 Wankhede blockbuster, fan frenzy is hotting up at his Cup-crazy hometown.
The happy flutter of 200 silken flags and 25 sky lanterns cheering Chak De Dhoni are setting the perfect pitch for the Saturday final between the Dream Team and Sri Lanka while cricket enthusiasts keep fingers crossed for a 1983 rerun.
If the lamps, to be released into the sky tomorrow evening, symbolise the victory designs of budding fashionistas of Ranchi Women’s College, the morale of Team India is being hoisted by Assocham’s Jharkhand chapter.
“We have lined up 200 flags in front of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s house at Birsa Munda Raj Marg in Harmu. He has done Jharkhand proud by ensuring India’s win over Pakistan in yesterday’s semi-final. The colourful paraphernalia is our way of saying thank you,” said R.K. Choudhary, the secretary-general of Assocham, Jharkhand.
Armed with drums and crackers, scores of cricket-lovers had trooped to Harmu last night after India’s scintillating 29-run win over Pakistan. Today, it was the turn of trumpet players who belted out patriotic numbers to wish the Team India skipper the very best for the final battle.
A contented spectator of the festivities, a neighbour told The Telegraph that Dhoni’s family members would not go to Mumbai to watch the final because that might distract him. “They want him to concentrate hundred per cent on the match,” he said, requesting anonymity.
Everyone seemed anxiously waiting for the big win. At Ranchi Women’s College, students laboriously sketched Dhoni on sky lanterns and etched messages like “Jharkhand ka hero barhayega Bharat ki shaan” to wish him luck.
“We want him to do what Kapil Dev did in 1983,” said Ratna Singh, a teacher of fashion designing.
“We are sanguine that our boy will win the Cup for India,” beamed Anshika Kumari, a student, giving finishing touches to her wish lamp.
“We will float the maps near Dhoni’s house on the eve of the big match,” another student added.
Last night, celebrations had reached a crescendo around midnight and continued till 2am. The thumping beat of drums had reverberated through Dhoni’s hometown while crackers lighted up the night sky. Bikers had zoomed with Tricolours in hand at Albert Ekka Chowk, Birsa Chowk, Sujata Chowk and Main Road among other places.
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