Author: Serkadis

The Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA/Chicago) announced the winners of its first-ever Gold Circle Awards and its annual “The Office Building of the Year” (TOBY) Awards last night at the BOMA/Chicago Gold Circle Awards Gala held at the Palmer House Hilton.

The Gold Circle Awards were created to honor individual excellence within Chicago’s commercial real estate community in six categories, including Property Management Professional of the Year, Building Engineer of the Year, Security Professional of the Year, Emerging Leader of the Year, Affiliate Member of the Year and the Board of Directors Award.

Nominated by an executive within their organization, applicants were required to complete an extensive award application and submit two letters of recommendation.

The finalists were evaluated by a panel of local real estate leaders based on a wide range of criteria including the applicants’ professional accomplishments, positive impact on Chicago’s commercial real estate community and involvement in BOMA/Chicago.

The awards were extremely competitive, with more than thirty applications received in the Gold Circle Award’s first year.

The 2010 Gold Circle Award winners include:

• Property Management Professional of the Year: Laura Bossert, general manager of 737 North Michigan, was nominated by Katherine Scott of U.S. Equities Realty for the renovation of 737 North Michigan’s exterior entrance and lobby. The renovations were the central components of the building’s successful repositioning campaign. The Property Management Professional of the Year Award recognizes excellence in property management for professionals charged with managing the day-to-day operations and maintenance of BOMA/Chicago member buildings.
• Building Engineer of the Year: Matt McManus, chief engineer at University Center, located at 525 South State Street, was nominated by Bill Vail of U.S. Equities Student Housing for spearheading a variety of sustainability initiatives, including utilizing low-VOC paint and recycled carpeting throughout the building. McManus also upgraded University Center’s lighting system with motion sensors to increase the overall energy efficiency of the building. The Building Engineer of the Year Award honors operational excellence of engineering professionals overseeing the systems and infrastructure of Chicago’s commercial buildings.
• Security Professional of the Year: Keith Kambic, director of security at Willis Tower, was honored for overseeing a dramatic overhaul of security and life safety at the building. Kambic’s security program reduced annual operating costs by more than $1.5 million dollars through staff reductions and the implementation of advanced technology and procedures. Kambic was nominated by Dean Johnson of U.S. Equities Realty for the Security Professional of the Year Award, which recognizes excellence in building security management.
• Emerging Leader of the Year: Mason Taylor, assistant general manager of 353 North Clark, was named Emerging Leader of the Year, an award recognizing leadership achievement by BOMA/Chicago’s building and affiliate members with less than five years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. Taylor was nominated by Lori Olson of Jones Lang LaSalle for his success recruiting sponsors of the Emerging Leaders Committee and its members. During the past year, Taylor’s efforts have secured more than $10,000 in contributions to support BOMA/Chicago’s Emerging Leaders.
• Affiliate Member of the Year: Bobby Graham of Facility Solutions Group was recognized for his exemplary service to BOMA/Chicago as an active affiliate member. Graham was nominated by Robert Six of Zeller Realty for his efforts to promote affiliate members as a valuable resource to BOMA/Chicago building members.
• Board of Directors Award: Janice Goldsmith, senior vice president of Zeller Realty Group, was honored with the Board of Directors Award for her extraordinary contributions to BOMA/Chicago and its members through her long-term service as the vice chair of the Codes Committee. Goldsmith led BOMA/Chicago’s efforts to update elevator safety and inspection protocols for the City of Chicago and spearheaded the development of new self-certification processes for routine building inspections.

“BOMA/Chicago’s members and member buildings continue to set the highest standards of achievement for the regional and national commercial real estate community,” said Michael Cornicelli, executive vice president of BOMA/Chicago.

“These individuals and property management teams comprise the best-of-the-best in our industry, and we are grateful for their leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

BOMA/Chicago also honored local TOBY winners for excellence in office building management and sustainability initiatives based on building size and facility type.

The following buildings were recognized in eight respective categories for their achievements:

• 100,000 – 249,000 Square Feet Category: 20 North Michigan, managed by U.S. Equities Realty and owned by 12 North Venture, LLC.
• 250,000 – 499,000 Square Feet Category: 550 West Washington, managed by Jones Lang LaSalle and owned by Beacon Capital Partners.
• 500,000 – One Million Square Feet Category: 191 West Wacker, managed by Manulife Financial and owned by John Hancock Life Insurance Company.
• Over One Million Square Feet Category: The Aon Center, managed by Jones Lang LaSalle and owned by Piedmont Office Realty Trust.
• Government Building Category: The Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building, located at 77 West Jackson Boulevard. The building is owned and managed by the General Services Administration.
• Renovated Building Category: 11 South LaSalle, managed by CB Richard Ellis, Inc. and owned by Prime LaSalle/Madison Partners, LLC.
• Earth Award  Category: 350 West Mart Center, managed by Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. and owned by Vornado Realty Trust.
• Historical Building Category: 680 North Lake Shore, managed and owned by Golub Realty Services, LLC.

TOBY Award nominees were required to submit a detailed application and undergo an extensive building inspection process by a team of TOBY judges.

In addition, the building’s management team was interviewed by a judging panel regarding its tenant relations programs, work order systems, emergency preparedness and security standards, budgeting, recordkeeping and staff experience and training.

The Chicago TOBY Award winners will compete in the north central regional TOBY competition, which includes local TOBY winners from Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

Regional competition winners will qualify to compete in the international TOBY awards later this year, considered by many in the industry to be one of the highest honors the commercial real estate industry can bestow.

About BOMA/Chicago

Now in its 107th year and the oldest BOMA Association in the world, BOMA/Chicago represents the interests of the people and companies that own, operate, manage and service Chicago’s commercial buildings.

BOMA/Chicago members make up 81 percent of downtown’s total rentable building area and nearly 90 percent of rentable space in Class A buildings downtown.

These valuable assets are the core of one of the world’s greatest business districts.

By advocating the interests of the owners of these valuable assets, BOMA/Chicago also supports the businesses that are housed in them–businesses that require quality office space and quality service.

Harmonix and MTV Games today announced what Rock Band fans can look forward to next week: a six pack of songs from country greats including Kenny Chesney, Willie Nelson, and Rascal Flatts.

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Whoa, whoa, whoa, look what you can do with the internet!

According to the video’s description:

“Brian at CAIN MOSNI thought of a cool concept and coordinated a virtual “jam session” with musicians from all over the world!”

Very, very cool.

[YouTube via Gizmodo]

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Nintendo president Satoru Iwata is totally not impressed by the iPad, 3D, or HD. In fact, he’s happy running the company in the same conservative way and thinks 3D and HD are fads.

“I have doubts whether people will be wearing glasses to play games at home. How is that going to look to other people?” he said in an AP report.

I’ve been running a 3D PC rig for the past week and I’m glad to say that I’m favorably impressed. Burnout Paradise is gorgeous and Batman looks amazing. However, Nintendo doesn’t do what Nintendo doesn’t want to do, so you’re SOL if you want to see Mario beat up Link in 3D.

Nintendo, keep doing what you’re doing. Prop up the company on the strength of a franchise that appeals to man-children and keep selling low-cost hardware in a manner that creates artificial shortages. I’m totally willing to spend hundreds more on Super Paper Mario 2: The Quest for Fire, Super Mario Paper Galaxy, Super Mario Bash Brother Olympics and whatever else you’re flogging this season. Also I need more Zelda titles, this time involving goat herding and the dirigibles. Then, when kids are good and tired of your pablum, go out of business.

Oh. And Nintendo’s profits are down due to slow Wii sales.

Nintendo Co. reported Thursday a 192.6 billion yen ($2.1 billion) profit for the nine months through Dec. 31, down from 212.5 billion yen a year earlier.

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Next stop, PlayStation Network, followed by Games for Windows Live and several threads complaining about Games for Windows Live

Whoa. Rockstar just announced that the two DLCs for Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, will be released for the PS3 and PC on March 30. That’s March 30 world-wide, mind you. The games will be sold separately (as downloads on PSN and Games for Windows Live) as well as in the familiar Episodes from Liberty City double pack.

This marks the first time that either of the DLCs will be available for anything other than the Xbox 360. (The rumor was that Microsoft gave Rockstar several sacks of money for a timed exclusivity deal.)

As far as extras go, the PS3 version looks to be pretty much a straight port of the Xbox 360 version(s). PC gamers can look forward to expanded multi-player options (such as a 32-person limit) and “an advanced video editor,” to quote the masterfully worded press release.

PC gamers are invited to complain about needing Games for Windows Live (near universally hated) and the Rockstar Social Club.

No word on price. Sorry.

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BOSTON — It was bad enough that President Barack Obama lost his filibuster-proof margin in the U.S. Senate to a Republican. Now it turns out he also lost it to a relative.

Genealogists said Friday that the Democratic president and the newly elected senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown, are 10th cousins.

The New England Historic Genealogical Society said Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, and Brown’s mother, Judith Ann Rugg, both descend from Richard Singletary of Haverhill, Mass.

He died in 1687 at, for the time, the unusually old age of 102.

“I think it’s a really interesting thing, where you have the separation between a Democrat and a Republican, but you have one link,” said David Allen Lambert, the society genealogist who co-discovered the connection with colleague Chris Child.

Lambert said the work was aided by prior research about Obama, as well as Brown’s cooperation with the society when researchers first contacted him in December.

“I’m glad to be in such distinguished company,” Brown said of the findings.

In 2008, the society discovered that Obama is related to seven prior presidents, including George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Lyndon Johnson, Harry S. Truman and James Madison. They also learned he was related to actor Brad Pitt.

Brown, once a little-known state senator, jolted the national political landscape by capturing the Senate seat held for nearly a half-century by the late Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy.

The genealogical chart shows that Obama descends from Richard’s eldest son, Jonathan Singletary. He later changed his surname to Dunham. Brown, meanwhile, descends from Jonathan’s brother, Nathaniel Singletary.

Also Friday, George Stephanopoulos, co-anchor of ABC News’ “Good Morning America,” learned he was likely related to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Stephanopoulos underwent DNA testing to promote “Faces of America With Henry Louis Gates Jr.,” a four-part series on family histories making its premiere Feb. 10 on PBS.

Gates told him during Friday’s “GMA” show that he’s “very likely a maternal cousin with Hillary Clinton.”

“Sorry, Secretary Clinton,” Stephanopoulos said. “I did not set this up.”

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

Two weeks after the earthquake that devastated Haiti, its people are confronted with a human rights crisis. Amnesty International has identified some of the country’s biggest human rights challenges and outlined a plan that puts protection of human rights at the core of relief and reconstruction efforts.

Exploitation of children
With families separated and schools destroyed, thousands of children in Haiti have been left without protection. The most vulnerable could become prey to the traffickers.

There is also a risk that children could be caught in irregular adoption processes – a risk increased by the interest of families abroad who would like to adopt Haitian children orphaned by the earthquake. Haitian institutions also have a lack of capacity to determine the status of children and ensure their rights are protected Separated and unaccompanied children might wrongly be considered orphans.

International adoption should be a last resort, used only after domestic alternatives have been exhausted. The Haitian authorities must ensure children are not taken out of the country without the completion of formal legal proceedings for international adoption.

Family tracing should be a priority for the international community, the Haitian authorities and international aid agencies.

Security and law enforcement
The Haitian government’s ability to ensure the rule of law has been severely undermined by the earthquake. Establishing a functional justice system to deal with the most serious crimes should be a top priority.

There is a growing concern that prisoners convicted of violent crimes who escaped from Port-au-Prince’s National Penitentiary are trying to regain control of the most deprived and vulnerable communities.

In response to this threat, community members have organized themselves to prevent gangs from taking over communities. However, this could put community members at risk of spiralling violence. Amnesty International has received reports of lynchings and incidents of mob justice where alleged looters have been killed.

There are also reports of alleged looters being shot by police. Haitian authorities must ensure that firearms are only to be used by police in self-defence and as a last resort. The Haitian authorities must also set up a provisional detention centre, as the country’s main prison has been destroyed and other detention centres are overcrowded.

Rights of the displaced
Hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless by the earthquake and many have fled the devastated areas.

Displaced people must be supported to make voluntary and informed decisions about their future. Any relocation of internally displaced persons from camps or disaster areas must be voluntary, unless the safety and health of those affected requires evacuation. They should not be coerced in any way, including through the suspension of assistance. All displaced persons have the right to return to their former homes unless safety issues prevent it.

Violence against women
In post-disaster situations, women and girls are often particularly at risk from sexual violence, exploitation by traffickers and reduced access to sexual, reproductive and maternal health services. Their disadvantage in accessing aid is well documented.  
Those involved in the relief and reconstruction efforts must ensure that the prevention of all gender-based violence, in particular sexual violence, is integrated into their work.

Accountability of international forces
More than 10,000 US troops, 150 military personnel from the Dominican Republic and 800 Canadian soldiers have been deployed in Haiti to provide security for the distribution of aid.

The terms of deployment and rules of engagement must be clarified from the onset and respected by all international forces The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) personnel must also be governed by strict rules of accountability. In the past, leaving accountability for violations solely to the discretion of troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions has lead to impunity for serious human rights abuses.

Haiti’s foreign debt
In 2009, international financial institutions and other creditors cancelled US$ 1.2 billion of Haiti’s foreign debt. Despite this, Haiti still owes hundreds of millions of dollars to its creditors.

The repayment of this debt now represents an unacceptable burden on Haiti’s population and national economy. Amnesty International has called on all creditors to cancel Haiti’s debt. Insistence on repayment would hinder Haiti’s ability to meet its human rights obligations.

All financial resources available to Haiti in the years to come must be channelled to reconstruction programmes that ensure Haitians’ welfare and access to basic services, and equitable and sustainable development.

Image caption: Men fight over a bag of rice during UN food distribution, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, © AP GraphicsBank

Filed under: Reviews, Developer

I’m writing this at the Minneapolis airport, waiting to board a plane to head for Atlanta. You see, back in 2009 we got a call from Big Nerd Ranch asking if we could send a blogger for a week, have him take part in the computer programming classes they offer there and report back on the ‘developer boot camp’ experience for our readers.

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity — I’m headed for the iPhone programming course now — but I want to let our readers know up front that this week is on Big Nerd Ranch’s dime. When TUAW receives a review unit or license, we return it or give it away to the readers after the review is finished. I can’t return this one, though, and I can’t give it away, as much as I’d love to.

There will be a standard disclaimer on the posts to follow that will reiterate the facts. On a personal level, however, I’d like to let you know that in the interest of as much objectivity as possible under the circumstances, I’ll be letting the ranch speak for itself. I’ll be doing interviews, shooting video and writing posts that focus on the content and the experience, rather than the quality of the courses or the advantages/drawbacks of the BNR approach versus other iPhone development training options. We report, you decide, right?

I’ll be sitting down for interviews with Aaron Hillegass (Cocoa instructor, CEO of BNR and author of Cocoa Programming for OS X), as well as other instructors, staff members and hopefully some classmates. You’ll get a look inside (and outside) the facility, and a peek at what goes on behind the scenes. I’m looking forward to the experience, and I hope you all can benefit by coming along for the ride.

For more detail on TUAW’s policies with regard to disclosure and conflict of interest, please see here.

TUAWTUAW’s headed to Big Nerd Ranch! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google on Thursday launched a click-to-call feature for its mobile advertisements. The new function works with the iPhone, Android-based devices, and other smartphones. The AdWords function lets consumers call a vendor by clicking on a link that displays the phone number rather than clicking through to a web site and searching for the number.

“Sometimes when you’re searching for a local business on your mobile device, you’re not looking for their web site, but rather to connect by phone,” said Surojit Chatterjee, product manager for Google’s mobile-ads team. “After searching for a restaurant, you might want to call and make a reservation. Or after searching for a video store, you might want to find out if they have the video you want.”

An Intuitive Experience

Chatterjee added that the ads and phone numbers displayed are based on the smartphone user’s location. So if a store or restaurant has multiple locations, the user will be calling the nearest one.

Users can also use Google Maps with the My Location feature to make sure they get search results tailored to their location. The feature takes information broadcast from mobile towers near users to approximate their current location. Google admits it’s not quite GPS, but insists it comes pretty close.

Meredith Papp, a product marketing manager for the Google mobile-ads team, said advertisers can benefit by allowing users to click to call right from an ad just like they can click through to the advertiser’s web site.

“Not only does this feature offer helpful information for users, but advertisers who participated in our beta trial saw really great results, ranging from five to 30 percent increases in their click-through rates,” Papp said. “The cost of the click on the phone number is the same as the cost of a click to visit your web site.”

New Possibilities for…

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Facebook is officially out of the running for a 2010 IPO, and it’s a good bet that other sort-of candidates like Zynga are going to be waiting for a while, too.

So if you really want to make a bet on a Webby public offering in the near future, you’re going to have to wager on the companies with a … less impressive pedigree. Companies like FriendFinder networks, which runs a collection of porn sites and niche social networks, or Vringo, which is ostensibly in the ring tone business and wants to raise $64 million to keep going.

How can ring tones still be a business in 2010? For Vringo, they aren’t: The company has been giving them away for free, though it hopes to start selling them soonish.

Better hurry. Vringo has raised $17.5 million since 2006, and has burned through almost all of that. Total revenues so far: $36,000, generated by a partner in Armenia. PaidContent has more details from S-1.

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Syria, Asia | Micro-Nations

Krak des Chevaliers is the most imposing symbol of the crusades.

This a massive crusader fortress was built during the first crusade on a strategically important spot 40km from city of Homs, in the middle of the Syrian dessert. What made this spot so strategic was that only one route led from the city of Antioch south to Beirut and the Mediterranean, and that route passed through Homs Gap. Krack des Chevaliers sits atop the 650 meter hill which dominates the surrounding countryside and overlooks this ancient highway.

Originally a much smaller fortress built here was a domain of the Emir of Aleppo. In 1110 it was captured by Tancred, prince of Galilee and later passed on into possession of Knights Hospitallers, one of the most powerful orders of crusader knights. The greatly expanded fortress served as their base of operations in the Middle East for centuries.

Built according to the taste of its masters, Krak des Chevaliers is a typical example of Gothic architecture, uprooted from Western Europe and transferred to the Middle East. Even today, it is one of the best preserved examples of European medieval military architecture.

The fortress could accommodate a garrison of 2000 soldiers. The inner protective wall is over 3 meters thick. The inner castle is protected by seven towers, each 10 meters in diameter. The storeroom is 120 meters long and could hold supplies that would permit the defenders to survive a siege for about five years, with stables that could accommodate up to one thousand horses.

Krak des Chevaliers withstood numerous attacks by Muslim forces, even the siege by the mighty Saladin in 1188. Legend has it that Saladin managed to capture the commander of the fortress and ordered him to command the defenders to open the gates. Allegedly he did as asked, speaking in Arabic, but then commanded in French to his men to defend the castle to the last warrior.

In the very end, sheer force of arms was not enough to conquer these mighty walls. The castle fell to a cunning trick. In 1271, Baibars Mamluk, Sultan of Egypt, managed to take the fortress after sending a forged letter to the defenders in the name of their master and commander in Tripoli ordering them to surrender the castle.

After the expulsion from Syria and Levant, the never conquered (though easily duped) Hospitallers moved their headquarters to Cyprus and then to Rhodes, retreating ever westwards, until they settled on Malta where they survived until Napoleonic times. In the process, they changed their name to Knights of St. John.

Today the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta has its headquarters in Rome. Although not territorial, the Order has the status in many ways equal to that of a sovereign nation. It maintains diplomatic relations with many nations and issues its own issues its own passports, currency, stamps and even vehicle registration plates. The Order has reverted to its humanitarian roots.

Krak des Chevaliers is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

FOX RIVER GROVE –- Despite a recent petition to put the funding method of a controversial public works garage to public vote, the Fox River Grove Village Board narrowly approved borrowing $3.5 million to finance the project.

The Village Board voted, 4-3, Thursday night to issue $3.5 million in taxable debt certificates instead of the same amount in a double-barrel bond that was opposed by residents who filed a petition this week for a November referendum.

A new public works garage at County Line Road initially is estimated to cost between $2.9 million and $3.6 million and eventually might include office space and a repair shop. The village is planning to move the public works department to expand its adjacent wastewater treatment plant in an effort to prepare for future federal regulations.

While the double-barrel bond would have been cheaper, it also would have relied on local property tax revenues as a backup financing method in case of revenue shortfall.

Although that option was tabled Thursday night and the alternative approved, a handful of the 30 residents in attendance still spoke against the project, saying they disagreed with its concept and its location near some of their homes.

“You don’t have to expand the plant for three or four years,” resident and former trustee Tony Novelli said. “Why are you doing it now?”

Trustees Michael Ireland, Steve Knar and Cindy Cramer voted against approving the debt issuance.

“We have no clue what we’re going to do with the water and sewer rates,” said Knar, noting that most of the project would be funded through increases in those charges. “This is the wrong time to be spending that money.”

Trustees Gerald Menzel, James Tuman and Duane Figurski voted in favor of borrowing the money, with Village President Bob Nunamaker casting the tie-breaking vote.

The project is necessary, Figurski said, and the village would be saving more with current construction rates, as well as by not simultaneously expanding the treatment plant. The board also has been researching the facility move for the past seven years.

“To say we haven’t done diligence in looking at this is wrong,” Figurski said.

By AMBER KROSEL – [email protected]

Read the original article from the Northwest Herald.

The China housing bubble isn’t just for major cities.

The southern tropical island of Hainan, previously known for beauty pagents and prostitution, was set on fire by speculation that the government was developing an international tourist resort, according to China Daily.

The indicator was a Jan. 6 statement by China’s State Council giving Hainan permission “to explore and develop” parimutuel sports lotteries; in other words, to kick off betting, gambling, and an all-round Las Vegas of the East.

Since then — three weeks ago — property prices have jumped by up to 50 percent.

China Daily:

Ye Ning, a professional real estate speculator in Sanya, a popular coastal city in Hainan, said the sudden rise in prices is troubling.

“The average price of new apartments in Sanya’s Fenghuangdao International Port were already as high as 60,000 yuan to 70,000 yuan per sq m as of Jan 11.

Now, the figure has risen to 100,000 yuan,” said Ye, who started his business just two years ago.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• It Begins: China Gets Drunk On Credit Card Debt
• Chinese Songwriter Pens Tune About China’s Expanding Real Estate Bubble
• Another Warning Sign: China-Based, Singapore-Listed Firms Rapidly Collapsing Amidst Debt And Fraud

Filed under: Motorsports

Just a day after Ferrari announced the F10, McLaren have introduced their 2010 Formula 1 contender, the MP4-25. Coming off a third place finish in 2009 behind Brawn GP and Red Bull Racing, the Woking-based outfit hopes to forget last year’s mediocre performance with a new car featuring a “radical aerodynamic overhaul” compared to the MP4-24. Once again, power comes from a Mercedes-Benz V8 that has been slightly tweaked, and a larger fuel tank has also been fitted to comply with new regulations.

However, the real story for McLaren this year might just be its driver lineup. With Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button behind the wheel, it’s the first time since Prost and Senna in 1989 that championship-winning drivers have been paired on the same team, and it’s the first time that back-to-back champs will be working together. Both will get their first chance behind the wheel on Monday when McLaren begins their pre-season testing in Spain. Hit the jump for the brief press release from McLaren and check out the MP4-25 in detail in the high-res gallery below.

[Source: McLaren]

Continue reading McLaren launches Button and Hamilton’s new ride, the MP4-25

McLaren launches Button and Hamilton’s new ride, the MP4-25 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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 Arthur, one of children’s most beloved characters, is back in this delightful story Arthur Meets the President by Marc Brown. Filled with humorous misadventures, this story is perfect for introducing civics and public speaking into an elementary school classroom. Students will follow a nervous Arthur along with his family and friends to the White House to make a speech to the President of the United States.

“The President of the United States has written to announce the winner of the ‘How I Can Help make America Great Contest’. And the winner is our very own Arthur!”

After winning a writing contest for his heartfelt ideas about improving the community, Arthur and his class set off to Washington, D.C. to meet the President. While touring some of Washinton’s most famous landmarks, Arthur begins to get increasingly nervous about his important speech. Through the help of his little sister D.W.’s silly antics, Arthur overcomes his fear of public speaking and delivers his speech to the President without a hitch.

Curriculum Connections

Along with a positive and uplifting plot, this story is a great addition to the classroom and can be used in many ways to make civics relateable to young children. For students in Kindergarten and First grade, this book can be a great resource when introducing the President and his importance to the United States. For First and Second grade students this book is great for discussing the responsibilities of a good citizen; obeying the law, helping out with others, doing well in school, and introducing some famous patriotic landmarks such as the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Capitol Building, the Museum of Natural History, and the White House.  This book also includes strategies for public speaking, such as making notecards, which can be used in any classroom.

This wonderful book can be used in many ways but relates directly to the Virginia Standards of Learning for Civics- K.8, K.9, 1.10, 1.11, and 2.10.

Additional Resources

• KOL Jr.- Arthur Meets the President– An interactive storybook which reads the whole story aloud with the pictures and focuses on important words.
• White House 101- Facts and Fun for All Ages– This site, designed for children, includes links to information about our nation’s president and a section for teachers with lesson plans and activities.
• PBS kids– the homepage for Arthur and his family and friends. Includes book clips, games, and interactive activities.
• Get to know our President with this coloring page- Barack Obama.

General Information

• Book: Arthur Meets the President
• Author and Illustrator: Marc Brown
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
• Publication Date: 1991
• Pages: 30
• Grade Range: K-2
• ISBN: 0-590-99441-7

“We like our bike.
It is made for three.
Our Mike sits up in back, you see.
We like our Mike and this is why:
Mike does all the work when the hills get high.”
—Dr. Seuss

Most trips we take are less than 3 miles from our home. With our cities and streets becoming more bike-friendly, and bikes becoming more pedal-friendly, you may want to give bikes another look. While they may not include Dr. Seuss’ “Mike,” the new wave of electric bikes (e-bikes) includes some impressive battery power.

At the Consumer Electronic show last week, Sanyo unveiled its new Eneloop Electric Bike which looks like your typical bike, but will take over for the hard stuff (or if you just aren’t in the mood to pedal). With the battery neatly tucked away and weighing only a few pounds, you can ride the Sanyo as you would any other bike whether you’re in the city or the suburbs. And when the going gets tough, the battery gets going.

While the price tag of $2,300 may seem high for a bike, when you consider it could replace your second car (or only car), it’s a steal. Here are some other options customized to your lifestyle, or wallet.

 

Find the right e-bike for you:

City Dweller: UM USPRITE – $1,699

Light and agile, this e-bike is perfect for commuting. Glide through the tightest gridlock without breaking a sweat.

Visit Urban Mover for more details.

 

 

 

 

Cruiser: Pedego Classic Cruiser – $1,695

Cruise around town on this retro-inspired, electric-powered bike. Form and function are combined to provide a cool-looking electric bike that is comfortable for riding to work, getting exercise, or just having fun.

Check out all the great colors at pedegoelectricbikes.com.

 

 

 

 

Trike: Izip Tricruiser – $1,099

This tricruiser is a great alternative for running quick errands and short trips. The large, rear-mounted basket combined with the three-wheel design provides the ultimate stability for safely transporting bulky and cumbersome items.

See the specs at currietech.com.

 

 

 

 

All-Terrain Bike: E+ Electric Bikes, Elite Mountain Bike – $4,094

The E+ Elite Mountain Bike offers the toughness of a mountain bike with the exhilaration of a high-performance electric bike. Climb the steepest hills with ease and reach speeds up to 30 mph on this powerful and durable bike.

Visit E+ Electric Bikes for more details.

 

 

 

 

Folding Bike: eZee Quando – $1,500

This fold-and-carry electric bike will squeeze into a lot of tight places. Riders using the public transportation system no longer have to wait for special hours or vehicles to bring their bikes with them.

Visit ezeebike.com for more details.

 

 

 

 

E-Bicycle Made for Two: Pedego Electric Tandem Bike – $2,300

This fun two-seater operates much like a regular tandem but uses a parallel electric drive system that includes a 750 watt motor and 48 volt lithium manganese battery.

Visit pedegoelectricbikes.com for more details.

 

 

 

 

Economical Option: Izip Trailz – $499

Izip’s Trailz is one of the more affordable e-bike options currently on the market. The Trailz can travel 15-22 miles with normal pedaling or about 10-15 miles with no pedaling at all at speeds of 15+ mph.

See the specs at currietech.com.

 

 

 

 

 

High-End Option: Optibike OB1 – $13,995

Optibike’s OB1 can easily be considered the Ferrari of e-bikes. Made from ultra-light carbon fiber and featuring a GPS navigation system plus a wireless PDA, it’s equipped with a lithium-ion battery for over two hours of travel. This fully loaded bike is leading the way in e-bike design and function.

Visit optibike.com for more information.

 

Reference: Seven Wonders for a Cool Planet, by Eric Sorensen and the Sightline Institute (Sierra Club Books, May 2008)

 

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You’ve heard about the virtues of coconut oil over and over again and just last week we were extolling them again. You know its got a ton of saturated fat, may strengthen mineral absorption and is associated with improved blood sugar and insulin control. The rich flavor of coconut that goes along with it is just another added bonus for most of us. We know, however, there are some of you out there who love everything about coconut oil except the flavor.

If you don’t always want to feel like you’re heading off to the tropics when you cook with coconut oil, but you still want the health benefits, try making “coconut ghee.” Reader Jeanmarie mentioned that this was her favorite fat to use in pretty much every cooking situation, so we couldn’t help but try it ourselves. Coconut ghee is a blend of coconut oil and clarified butter (butter with the milk solids and water removed).

Why remove the milk solids and water from butter? Separating the milk solids from the butterfat almost entirely removes the carbohydrates (lactose) as well as a protein that some people are sensitive to, casein. Evaporating out the water means the flavor of the butter is less diluted. Additionally, removing the milk solids and water also gives butter a higher smoke point, which means you can use ghee for sautéing, stir frying, or deep frying at high heats (375-485 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on purity).

Combining ghee with coconut oil is like having the best of both worlds. You get the nutty flavor of butter and the subtle sweetness of coconut oil to create one delicious saturated fat.

You’ll want to start with some unsalted butter. If you splurge a little and buy some higher-quality butter it will probably still be cheaper than buying already-made ghee, which can be quite expensive. In a small pot melt the butter over medium heat.

When it is bubbling and melted, turn the heat to medium-low and as white foam rises to the top skim it off carefully with a spoon.

Depending on how meticulous you are, this process can take at least 15-20 minutes.

During this time the butter will become a little darker and take on a richer flavor. You might also notice some darker clumps of milk protein sinking to the bottom. Next, if you really want to clarify the butter, pour the liquid through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a paper towel.

This will catch any last remaining milk solids and leave you with pure, golden ghee.

Using 1/2 pound of butter will give you about a cup of ghee. If you mix this with 1/2 cup of coconut oil, the ghee will have a very faint flavor of coconut. If you add a little less coconut oil, the coconut flavor will pretty much disappear.

As Jeanmarie says, “keep stirring or shaking the mixture of ghee and coconut oil in a jar so it stays blended as it cools and solidifies.”

Kept in a covered jar, coconut ghee will keep for months at room temperature without spoiling. It can be used in pretty much any cooking situation.

And how does the reader who inspired this post describe their coconut ghee?

“Neutral but yummy.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Will you be trying this? Do you have your own homemade fat making recipes? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comment board!

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Related posts:

1. The Many Uses of Coconut Flour
2. The Wonderful World of Coconut Products
3. Smart Fuel: Coconut

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Homeless shelters in Kane County are being urged to aggressively screen new clients for tuberculosis after two active cases were confirmed at Hesed House in Aurora.

One of the patients currently is staying at Hesed House and was diagnosed last week, Kane County Health Department Executive Director Paul Kuehnert said Thursday.

The second patient lived at the same shelter until June 2009.

Kuehnert said authorities are performing genetic tests to learn if the cases are linked.

“The findings have prompted us to ask Hesed House and every other shelter in Kane County to ask each client they take in about coughs lasting longer than three weeks combined with weight loss (and) night sweats,” Kuehnert said. “We need to get them tested and evaluated early to contain whatever amount of TB has entered the population.”

The county has evaluated 150 homeless residents so far and found no new cases.

Roughly 6,000 people volunteer in some capacity at Hesed House, but Kuehnert said the health department is focusing on about 30 to 50 who spent eight hours or more a week working closely with the infected residents.

A letter was sent to those volunteers informing them they should get a skin test either at the health department or their doctor’s office.

Kuehnert said the two confirmed TB cases are isolated and pose no risk to the community.

“You need to have a lot of direct exposure to catch tuberculosis,” he said. “It’s not like the common cold or influenza. You need to have had prolonged contact with respiratory droplets from an infected person.”

Symptoms of tuberculosis include a prolonged cough, coughing blood, fever, night sweats and weight loss.

The health department offers TB skin testing at its Aurora and Elgin offices. Call (866) 233-9493 to make an appointment.

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.