Después de leer, releer y volver a leer, de hacer una lista de [posibles] zapatillas, decidí que no podía gastarme tanto dinero todavía. Así que me replanteé comprar unas que había visto en Decathlon: las Kalenji Inspid Comp.

Debo decir que ayudó que un forero de [elatleta.com] hablase bien de ellas. Por ahora: tres carreras, notando que pesan muy poco (y mejorando mis marcas.) Estoy muy contento con ellas. Eso sí, son muy duras y sólo me atrevo a usarlas en competiciones de hasta 10km. Vamos, que vuelvo a estar en el punto de partida, porque ahora me gustaría tener unas para entrenar series

Las temperaturas han caído en picado estos días. Es algo que pude constatar por mí mismo cuando el pasado Lunes bajé a la calle a las nueve de la mañana con la cámara en la mano y pocos minutos después tenía los dedos casi insensibles y con un ligero hormigueo.

Sí; reconozco que eché en falta unos guantes. Pero claro, no muchos guantes sirven para fotografía: los de lana o de material acrílico harán que la cámara se nos escurra de las manos con facilidad y los típicos de nieve son tan gruesos que será muy complicado manejar cualquier control e incluso apretar el disparador. También tenemos la opción de los mitones, que son unos guantes con los que las puntas de los dedos quedan al aire; pero no son muy recomendables con temperaturas muy bajas porque al final son casi como no llevar nada. Tal vez unos de piel sean una buena opción porque abrigan más y proporcionan agarre, pero hay que tener en cuenta que son delicados y no conviene darles mucho trote si queremos que se conserven en buen estado…

Para paliar esto, Lowepro tiene unos guantes en su catálogo que se adaptan perfectamente a estas situaciones, pues se trata de un modelo de material sintético cuyas palmas están recubiertas de unos puntos de goma que nos permitirán agarrar la cámara con seguridad a la vez que mantendremos el suficiente tacto como para manejar los controles de la misma sin problemas.

¿Cuál es el inconveniente? Pues que los dichosos guantes tienen un precio de casi 40 eurazos. Por suerte estas cosas no son exclusivas de la fotografía; sino que son empleados desde hace tiempo en actividades como la pesca o la caza para el manejo de los aparejos asociados a estas especialidades. De hecho hace unos años vi guantes como estos en las extintas tiendas Ventisca, pero desgraciadamente nunca me dio por hacerme con unos.

El caso es que si no queréis gastaros una pasta en los guantes de Lowepro tenéis una opción mucho más económica pero casi igual de funcional; y es que precisamente ayer por la mañana me acerqué a la tienda Decathlon de Alcalá de Henares en busca de algunos guantes que pudieran servirme para la cámara de fotos y me lleve la sorpresa de encontrarme unos con las mismas características de los Lowepro pero de una marca propia de Decathlon, por lo que su precio era mucho más bajo: concretamente 2,45 €. ¡¡Por lo que cuestan los Lowepro te puedes comprar quince pares de estos!!

Esta claro que por la diferencia de precio alguna diferencia habrá entre unos y otros; pero si vamos a lo práctico (una actitud siempre recomendable) podemos hacernos con dos pares de guantes de Decathlon y gastarnos los más de treinta euros restantes en hacer una excursión en la que hacer fotografías inolvidables.

Por supuesto, los estuve probando un rato y me dejaron bastante contento: las manos permanecen calientes, la cámara se sujeta sin problemas (aunque siempre conviene recordar la importancia de colocarse la correa al cuello o enrollada en la muñeca para evitar disgustos) y se pueden accionar con facilidad incluso los controles más pequeños sin ninguna dificultad.

Por cierto, si os queréis hacer con unos os comento que en Decathlon no están en la sección de ropa de montaña (donde suelen estar la inmensa mayoría de guantes) sino en la sección de caza y pesca. Cuando fui ayer quedaban muy pocos pares, pero supongo que repondrán en breve, pues no se trata de una oferta sino que lo que me costaron a mí es su precio de venta habitual. Por cierto, son de talla única, ya que son elásticos.

En definitiva, si estáis buscando unos guantes para que no se os queden las manos heladas cuando vayáis de safari fotográfico en invierno creo que estos de Decathlon pueden ser una opción interesante sobre todo por su buena relación calidad / precio.

“But coach, I threw great in warm ups!”  If you are an athlete, how many times have you told your coach that? If you are a coach, how many times have you heard this coming from one of your athletes?

Why do athletes throw better in warm ups than they do in the meet? The short  answer is really simple, you can throw further when you are allowed to foul and step over the  toe board than when your are in a competition and you then need to stay in the circle. 

But the short answer is not the answer that will lead you, the athlete, to understand what is really going wrong when you consistently throw 4 feet further in warm ups than you do in a meet. The long answer, is just a matter of understanding you need to add two parts/moves to your throw at the end of your throw…yes…after your reverse.  Adding and understanding what these two moves will do for your shot distance will not only keep you in the ring, but allow you to move through the ring faster, more confident and enable you to use ALL of the strength and explosiveness you’ve built in the weight room.

For athletes who have the problem of throwing great in warm ups but terrible during the meet, the technique they use for their warm up throws and the technique during a competition are as different as an apple is from an orange.  In reality, this type of shot putter has two techniques, the one that helps them to throw far in warm ups that allows them to foul and a second technique during the competition that does not allow them the freedom to step over the board.  

If you are thinking you are the only shot putter with this problem, you are not alone, in fact, you are in some pretty elite company.  I have witnessed many big-time college throwers who have this problem of throwing far in warm ups and poorly during a competition, and like you, they just need to learn to add the following concepts/techniques to the end their throw.  

The following are the two missing parts to the throw that many shot putters do not understand they need to add after they reverse  1.) a move with the left leg to counter balance the forward forces you’ve generated across the ring that must be understood and practiced. (assumes a right hand thrower) 2.) A move I call a double reverse (a second reverse after your first reverse after you throw)  that you have to understand and practice. 

The two moves I talk about I only learned in the very final hours of my career as a nationally ranked decathlete.  The funny thing is, most good athletes do both of the moves we will discuss above.  The trouble is, until you are aware of the purpose of what these two moves do for you in the ring, you will do them somewhat, and occasionally, and by accident. But in order to utilize these two techniques, you must thoroughly understand when they happen, why they happen and how they can improve the distance of your shot. 

If you want to throw far, you must be aware and practice these parts of your throw.  These two techniques happen with such speed and sequence after the release and reverse, that you have to train knowing they are part of every throw, not just something you do to save a throw once in a while. (which most natural/good athletes do to some extent anyway)

Whether you are a rotational thrower or a glider, once you get to the front of the ring and block the left side of your body (assumes a right-handed thrower in this example) the thrower will reverse his feet and catch his forward momentum on his right foot referred to as the reversal.  For many athletes, they think this is the end of the throw.  They might hop a bit to stay in, they might spin around, they might choose to kind of do what I call a fade away jump shot back in the direction of the ring where they just left to attempt to stay in.  But the problem with all of these are none will keep you in the ring more than simply adding this ONE move to your throw after the reverse.  Here is all you do, lift your left leg, while keeping it long and straight up to your waist.  This one move will counterbalance the natural forward momentum that has been generated as you moved across the ring.  The left leg serves as a long pendulum to counterbalance the forward momentum as the body trys to continue out of the ring.  When the left leg is raised up to the waist, it stops the athlete’s forward progress through the ring. Athletes that do not know how to use this long left leg to help them stay in the ring are the athletes that foul out of the ring.  

Please note, there are variations of how straight the left leg is, some athlete’s left leg is very bent, but that is driven by what they are preparing to do next, the second reversal. (if they spin on the toe their long left leg will be more bent than straight) 

So, now we have added the first move that happens after what most throwers think is the end of the throw… the reversal on the right foot.  But there is still one more move in order to keep the balance of the shot putter and to keep his forward momentum from pulling him out of the ring. 

The last move is what I call the double reversal.  The athlete will now be on his right foot with is long left leg up by his waist with is upper body leaning over the toeboard.  At this point one more reversal has to take place.  Each athlete is different when executing this last move.  I used to make this move in one, complete rotation by leaping off the ground. A 60 foot shot putter I coached used to simply spin on his heel.  Others choose to spin on the ball of the foot.  Some hop on the ball of the foot three to four times until the last reversal is completed.  You will have to find which one of these techniques best suits you, either on your own, or with a coach.  Whatever style fits you best, here is what you have to do.  You have to get your first reversal right foot position, which will be placed parallel to the throwing area with the instep facing the back of the ring,  all the way around until the instep is facing the throwing area. 

Again, maybe because I was a lighter decathlete, I would just jump in the air, all in one motion, until the instep was facing the throwing area.  Other larger athletes might find hopping three times until the arch is facing the throwing area is easier to accomplish.  Others prefer to spin on the ball of the foot to get that last reversal in.  Whatever technique you develop to make sure you end up with the arch of your right foot facing the throwing area will be the one you will want to use of course.

If you add these two moves, 1.) Lift the long left leg up to the waist, followed by 2.)adding an additional reverse after you do the left leg lift and the first reversal, you will be able to stay in the ring.  You will never again have to hold back either your speed across the ring or the amount you push toward the throwing area for fear of fouling.  Your left leg lift and your second reverse will be the key to keeping you in the ring and getting legal competiton throws from those big warm up throws you used to foul on. 

One word for any novice shot putters.  Don’t concern yourself with doing anything other than a reverse to catch your forward momentum.  With the amount of speed and strength you have at the beginning of your career, there will be no need to do either of the techniques mentioned here.  In fact, if you don’t have enough momentum and you artificially add these two techniques you will rush both of these moves and probably miss the basic block when you throw and actually throw less than if you just concentrate on a one reverse throw. www.youreonathletic.com

Hey Losers!

Training is coming along for some of us. We currently have six competitors. Here are the athletes in a particular order.

• Ariel “The Winner” Remer
• Moishe “Did I just cough up a lung” Eichorn
• Elchanan “no one is afraid of you” Plonka
• Charlie “Are Europeans even athletic” Zolty
• Barry “I didn’t know my legs can go this fast” Nussbaum
• Benzion “Why did I join” Zlotnick
• Chaim “If I am in last place can I still get my money back” Rivlin

As you can see there is really no competition and winning this is going to be a breeze for me. I have also decided to put in my $100 as I am confident I will get it back in the summer. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining The Decathlon please contact me at your own convenience. I would love to take more people’s money.

Com as ofertas da Decathlon quem gasta energia é seu filho, não você.

Até o dia 24/12 você encontra ofertas imperdíveis para presentear sua família e amigos. Passe em uma loja Decathlon para economizar e dar um presente diferente!

Onde tem loja Decathlon?

Baixe o catálogo de ofertas

Veja as dicas de presente:

Adidas Infantil R$ 99,90 o par

Tabela de Basquete R$ 59,90

Kit 3 bolsas de R$ 49,90 por R$ 39,90

.

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I’m picking my husband up from the airport in an hour or so, around 23:15. He’s been in UK and Poland for the past 10 days. I’d like to be able to tell you that while he’s been away I’ve demolished the Vuelta and post-Vuelta ironing mountain, but I haven’t; maybe, next week.

No, while the weather’s fine, I’ve been out on my bike. Plus, let’s not forget, I’ve been baking biscuits for the dental students at Nice University where my beloved in lecturing tomorrow. I’ve made American-style squidgy raisin and oatmeal cookies (my fave), classic chocolate chip cookies and some elegant lemon thins.  In addition, I’ve been toiling with my translations and chasing up those members of the cycling club who have yet to pay their subs.

One of the (few) advantages of being club secretary is that I’m now on the mailing list for the details of each week’s pointage. So, no need to rely on the instructions on the club’s website or check the location on a map, I’ve got my own directions. The pointage is typically held in a car park. This week’s is in Stade Charpin in Les Semboules, which is behind Decathlon in Antibes.  

Lloris looms large

Of course, today’s big story has been Thierry Henry’s “hand of God” goal-assist which has prompted the Irish to ask FIFA for a replay (no chance). My estimate of six pages of commentary and two of adverts in today’s L’Equipe was a page shy of the mark. Man of the match, once again, was home-boy, Hugo Lloris. I can’t help thinking that he’ll be off to pastures new (and better paid) next season – Arsenal peut-etre? I do hope OGCN put a sell-on clause in the contract when they sold Hugo to Olympique Lyonnais. If so, they’ll be quids in. If not, they’ll be kicking themselves.

If you were paying attention, and I’ll assume that you were, as hanging on my every word is quite unavoidable, you’ll notice where I called this page a sports site. This is only partially true (you’ll find, as we go forward, that partial truths are one of my many fortes, along with sneaky lies, eloquent hyperbole, and expertly placed scorn). In addition to sports, I will also be covering games. To deal with issues of server space and short attention spans, the two have been amalgamated under the catch-all phrase “sports” in such a way that they’ve lost all distinction. Well, I’m here to set the record straight… which should have been listed amongst my fortes… setting the record straight. I’m very good at it.

And actually, the distinction is quite simple to understand… and here’s the litmus test; if a fat 60 year old can do it moderately well, it’s not a sport, it’s a game. Simple as that.

So let’s get to it, shall we?

But first, let’s start by saying I’m not going to mention anything that’s so obviously a game that its’ combatants won’t even complain at having it called so. These include poker, backgammon, Madden challenge, Scrabble, spelling bees, etc… These have at most a very little physical aspect to them, and thus don’t qualify as a sport under any definition of the world. Plus, a fat 60 year old, after some practice, could be the best in the world at any of them.

American Football – Sport. Clearly, our fat 60 year old could strap on a helmet and shoulder pads and proceed to play the game, but this is where the “moderately well” portion of our litmus test comes into play. I would also recommend a stretcher, ambulance, priest and his loved ones be nearby.

Archery - Game. Games can be broken down into two categories… strictly mental games, like the ones mentioned above (Poker, Backgammon, etc…), or games that combine both mental and physical aspects. Alas, when it comes to archery’s physicality, we’re talking hand-eye coordination (true of many games) and average levels of strength. A fat 60 year old can handle those aspects.

Australian Rules Football – Sport. I would, though, like to see our fat 60 year old in one of these. Wait, no I wouldn’t. Forget I said that.

Auto Racing – Game. Let’s be honest here… the cars are the athletes. They’re the ones competing in a sport. The drivers, not so much. Yes, it’s physically and mentally demanding… but can you really sit there and tell me, perched on your high chair like you most certainly are, that a fat 60 year old couldn’t win one race, let alone do moderately well? Already, Mark Martin of Nascar fares quite well at age 50, and the oldest winner was 52. Formula one’s oldest winner was 53. And we’ve got a fat guy that regularly wins in Tony Stewart. Would he win? Probably not. Could he do moderately well? Definitely.

Badminton – Sport. Yes, our fat 60 year old, depending on what strata of society he finds himself within, might play regularly… probably with regular breaks for tea and judging people. But put that same fat 60 year old in a competitive environment, and he loses every time. There’s nothing “moderately well” about that.

Baseball – Sport. Baseball’s one of the trickier ones to call, actually. Most players are involved in a sport, but pitchers, particularly those pansies from the American League (what with the designated hitter rule), might be playing a game. We’ve seen plenty of successful fat guys… C.C. Sabathia, David Wells, Bartolo Colon, Jumbo Brown… most of them pitchers (though certainly the aforementioned designated hitter and first base are prone to successful fat guys, like Cecil Fielder, and John Kruk)… but could our 60 year old do it, at least moderately well? Maybe, but he’d have to be pretty special. And since most baseball players qualify as athletes playing a sport (unless you could see our fat 60 year old chase down a fly ball, or steal second… I don’t), we’ll call baseball a sport.

Basketball – Sport. Through and through. Even if our fat 60 year old was 7′4″, he still wouldn’t hold up, and that’s saying something.

Bobsleigh – Game. Any activity where gravity does the most work is a game. That fact should maybe be at the top, but at least it’s here. A fat person actually benefits from these kinds of games. As a matter of fact, until the governing body instituted a weight-limit rule in 1952, bobsleigh crews were very heavy. It should also be noted that bobsleigh inverse to baseball, as the pusher might actually be playing a sport, at least at the start of the race. This is of course before the gravity takes over, and it’s the pusher’s job to get the sled moving. But for most of the race, all members of the team are playing a game, hence, its’ designation here.

Bossaball – Sport. And a wild one at that. And just look at that photo (you’ll have to hover over “bossaball” to see it)… if any of you know a fat 60 year old that could even do that without gravely injuring him/herself, I want their name and number. I have an idea for a viral video. Oh, and if you want to know just what the hell bossaball is, check this out.

Boules – Game. Uh, yeah. This one’s obvious, right? From a class of games that includes Bocce, Lawn Bowling, Petanque, Boule Lyonaisse, Klootschieten and Varpa… games seemingly specifically created for the elderly (but fun nonetheless).

Bowling – Game. Again, no questions here, right? If so, just head to your local bowling alley. You’ll see plenty of fat, drunk 60 year olds bowling in the 200’s regularly. Not a sport.

Boxing – Sport. This one’s a bit thorny. George Foreman, at this very moment, is a fat 60 year old (ironic for a man synonymous with the Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine, but I digress). Could he really not fare at least moderately well in the ring today? Probably so… but this one comes with a caveat. The only way this could work is in the heavyweight division, where lumbering, plodding heavy punchers will always have a place. You can be all of those things as a fat 60 year old. In no other weight class would this be plausible. So on the whole, boxing’s a sport, whether the heavyweight division is a game or not.

Competitive Dance – Sport. So us macho types, like, for instance, myself, don’t like to admit that dance is a sport. But step back and take a look at it… extreme athleticism? Check. Very competitive? Check. Exclusion of fat 60 year olds? That’s a big fat check. And those of you who have been to a competitive dance… uh… competition?… and seen the merciless backstabbing and cutthroat sabotage that regularly unfolds know damn well that this is no game.

Cricket – Sport. The art of bowling sets cricket apart from baseball. As opposed to the standstill throw a pitcher delivers, the bowler’s is a violent, full-body action with an extended run-up that would certainly throw out the backs of most fat 60 year olds. Even the act of batting is more involved, as batsmen have been known to switch sides of the wicket while the bowler is in his run-up (this would be akin to a right-handed batter jumping over home plate to bat left-handed during a pitcher’s windup). No easy feat, and no place for a fat 60 year old to tread.

Curling – Game. There’s nothing about this game that a fat 60 year old couldn’t handle. They might be the best in the world at it, for all I know.

Cycling – Sport. A fat 60 year old in spandex? We don’t think so.

Darts – Game. One of the few games where being a fat 60 year old is an advantage.

Decathlon/Heptathlon/Pentathlon – Sport. This would, of course, be the end of our fat 60 year old. We had some good times, fat 60 year old. We’ll always remember you.

Disc Golf – Game. Another addendum; if stoners, hippies and other movement-reluctant bums fancy it, it’s a game.

Discus Throw – Game. The actual throwing of the discus any fat 60 year old could handle, and while some of them might be hilariously awful, some could reach the “moderately well” threshold… that’s the rub. It’s the leadup to the toss that gets a bit dicey. Most athletic 25 years olds will end up on their ass following it… and a fat 60 year old? He’ll get vertigo… unless… he/she was already an experienced discus thrower. A former champion, let’s say. Could he/she still fare moderately well? Of course.

Diving – Game. Here’s the thing… at the elite level, yes, diving is heavily populated by 15 year old, 58 pound Asians. But tack on 45 years and 200 pounds to those same Asians… and splashy, cannonball-esque entry aside, could they not at least fare reasonably well in a diving competition? I think so, yes.

Downhill Skiing – Sport. OK, let me explain. Yes, gravity plays a major role here, in fact, it’s the agent propelling the skier down the hill. But what sets downhill skiing apart from say the bobsleigh or the luge is that the skiier must use his/her athleticism against gravity, to turn, sometimes sharply. Without the ability to do so, the ability to fare, oh, I don’t know, let’s say moderately well, goes down the tubes. Our fat 60 year old would be carried faster than most down the hill, thanks to the “fat” part, would his/her 60 year old muscles be able to turn him/her appropriately? We have our doubts.

Equestrian – Game. Again, who’s the athlete here? Is it the person riding the horse, or the horse doing all the work? The horses are certainly competing in a sport… the person sitting on the horse? Not so much. Though we will admit that we certainly feel for the horse that has a fat 60 year old on its’ back.

Fencing – Game. We’ll admit, fencing takes incredible instincts and quickness, and the reflexes of a… uh…. well, something that has really fast reflexes. So we’re under no illusion that a fat 60 year old could be a champion. But let’s say renowned champion Sergei Golubitsky hits 60 and has let himself go a little (or a lot, whatever picture you throw into that head of yours). Were he to enter a competition, could he not fare at least moderately well? It says here he could.

Figure Skating – Sport. Unless points were awarded for sliding along the ice on your ass or stomach, our fat 60 year old would stand no chance here. None at all. Though, this does give me an idea. Who wouldn’t pay money to watch fat 60 year olds attempt some of these advanced moves. It’d be a train wreck, and train wrecks make good televsion… hmmmmm…. We’d have to come up with some appropriate clothing, but yeah, I think I could make it work.

Fishing/Angling – Game. Go watch your local fishing tournament this weekend. Take note of the number of people that aren’t fat 60 year olds. Now, nod in agreement with me.

Gaelic Football – Sport. A fat 60 year old would spend the entire game getting embarrassed, thus causing him, if he’s Irish (as we would expect, if he’s playing Gaelic Football), to pick a fight with every player on the pitch, followed by that particularly intoxicating brand of Irish violence… utter chaos, generally speaking… which would subsequently lead to everyone getting drunk together and singing songs. Stereotypical? You betcha… but I’ve lived it. And stereotypes exist for a reason, right?

Golf – Game. First, it’s a favorite of fat 60 year olds. Second, you could easily see one heating up and shooting a 70 on the same day Tiger Woods shoots a 72. An activity where you could play better than the world’s best? That’s a game, my friends. Let’s put that same fat guy up against Lebron James in a game of one-on-one. Does he ever win? Of course not. If we tied one of James’ arms behind his back, does the fat 60 year old ever win? Of course not. I believe I’ve eagled this one.

Gymnastics – Sport. OK, picture the fat 60 year old, and let’s go with a male. Now… and this won’t be easy… picture him in a unitard. Get past it, you can do it. OK, good. Now, picture him going through a routine on the pommel horse. How many times did he crush his nuts? 30? 40? No, this is no place for a fat 60 year old.

Hammer Throw – Game. Like the discus throw, the problem lies in the lead up to the throw. And like the discus throw, most people would end up on all fours attempting such a thing, with probably a vertigo supplementation for our fat 60 year old. But, like the discus, an experienced discus thrower who just happens to be fat and 60 could fare moderately well… thus… it’s a game.

Handball – Sport. Like many sports, a fat 60 year old could play handball, and like all of them, against decent competition, he’d get embarrassed to the point of taking up shuffleboard.

Hockey – Sport. Whether it be the ice or the field variety, the end results are the same. Our fat 60 year old hospitalized, probably with a feeding tube and catheter. It wouldn’t be pretty.

Horse Racing – Game. A great sport for horses, a decent game for humans. Again, how is this a sport for jockeys? Actually, let’s put it this way, if the real athlete in the sport (the horse) would be better off without human involvement (you know, faster without something on its’ back), then it’s no sport for humans. There. And yes, we’d need a very special, strong horse for our fat 60 year old, but there’s one out there that could lead it to a moderately decent finish.

Hurling – Sport. And one I’m not sure should be legal. Picture, Americans, a combination of baseball, soccer and handball. That’s right, they run around with what amounts to baseball bats in their hands, freely swinging them on the field of battle, with others all around them. Hence the helmets. I don’t think we should allow our fat 60 year old to even try this one. Let’s move on.

Hydroplane Racing – Game. Another sport where the humans are just controlling the athletes… in this case, crazy-fast boats. And another one a fat 60 year old would fancy his chances in. He might even prevent things like this from happening, what with the extra weight and all.

Jai Alai – Sport. I don’t think “the fastest sport in the world” is any place for a fat 60 year old. I don’t know, maybe that’s just me, but I’m gonna go ahead and give this one the sport nod, and move on, thus saving the life of our fat 60 year old, in all probability. Ed Honcho, hero.

Javelin Throw – Game. As with most throwing sports, where your average fat 60 year old wouldn’t be able to compete, one with experience should be able to at least fare moderately well. Hence the designation as a game. They are the Olympic Games, after all, right?

Jumping – Sport. This includes the High Jump, Long/Broad Jump and Triple Jump, not to mention certain obstacles for fat 60 year olds… namely, the whole jumping part.

Luge – Game. This falls under our aforementioned gravity rule (see: bobsleigh). Our 60 year old’s girth would do nothing but help him/her. Sure, he/she might end up in the hospital, but that’s true of thin 26 year olds as well.

Martial Arts – Sport. Unlike boxing’s heavyweight division, there are very few plodding, heavy hitters when it comes to any discipline of the martial arts. My recommendation to our fat 60 year old? Start tapping out as soon as the competition begins. I’m tired of these hospital bills. It’s starting to add up.

Motorcycle Racing – Game. Again, and maybe I should just put this on repeat. The humans here aren’t the real athletes. The motorcycles are. They’re the ones competing in a sport. The humans… simply enjoying their game. And sure, your average 60 year old would struggle… but a former motorcyle jockey who spent 10 years gorging on Tastykakes? He could fare, you guessed it, moderately well.

Netball/Korfball – Sport. Very similar to basketball, though not quite as arduous physically as one’s movement is restricted. Thus, at amateurish levels, a fat 60 year old could hold his/her own. But once we start to creep into the levels of “moderately decent”, the fat 60 year old falls short.

Orienteering/Rogaining – Game. Navigation-based competitions will always fall into the category of games, for obvious reasons, the most clear being that many fat 60 year olds already participate, and can certainly fare at least moderately well. The “fat” part undoubtedly doesn’t help, as these competitions are all on foot, but this deficiency can be made up for in other areas.

Pole Vault – Sport. The mere idea of a fat 60 year old attempting the pole vault has me sitting in my chair laughing my ass off (or SIMCLMAO, from here forward). This is no game.

Polo – Game. This is a combo event between the horse and the human, with the horse playing a sport and the human playing a hand-eye-coordination-based game. Our fat 60 year old could play this game, with a big enough horse, and play it quite well.

Racewalking – Game. This one just feels like a game, doesn’t it? It’s got that game funk all over it. And I’m not coming at this from a “what’s shoved up those guys asses?” point of view either. Nope. I know they’re great at what they do, and it takes talent. It’s just, what’s the ceiling on speed if you’re walking? And what’s the ceiling on speed if you’re a former racewalking champ who’s put on a few and 60 years old? Are they that far apart? That’s the thing. The slower racewalking speeds allow for the discrepancies in time to remain close, as opposed to running, where the difference increases exponentially. Thus, our fat 60 year old can log his/her moderately well and move on with his/her life.

Rock Climbing/Bouldering – Sport. Yeah, our guy would be dead. Fat and rock climbing/bouldering go together like…. uh, fat and… modeling. I don’t know. Two things that don’t go together very well. Cut me some slack, I’ve run out of coffee.

Rowing – Game. This one’s not so easy. Could a fat 60 year old row well. Yes, and with great power. Would his/her girth keep him/her from our “moderately well” standard? We say no, not if he/she were an experienced rower. This one definitely toes the border between sport and game, though. But hey, the rules are the rules… hard and fast. Just like me. Except for fast. Sometimes… depends what we’re talking about. Let’s just move on.

Rugby – Sport. Sure, Rugby (both League and Union) has its’ fat guys, but they’re not really fat guys, they’re just sports fat guys. You know, the kind of guy that drinks all night and doesn’t pay any attention to what he puts in his body… fish & chips, meat pies, etc… But they’re not really fat, not by society’s standards, at least. They’re just sports fat. Our 60 year old is society fat, plus, you know, he’s 60. He might hold his own in a scrum, but otherwise, it’s back to the hospital with him.

Running – Sport. Including sprints, marathons, hurdles, etc… And we’re moving on.

Sailing – Game. Now, we certainly don’t want to downplay what they do, but could a fat 60 year old be part of a winning team? You betcha. Could he win an individual competition? Unlikely, but could we expect him to do reasonably well? Were he a former champion, yes, we could. And I’m sticking with it, no matter how many hateful emails I get.

Shooting – Game. Encompassing sporting clays, skeet and trap shooting, our fat 60 year old is already moving into the semifinals.

Shot Put – Game. Our fat 60 year old is excited to try this one out. No running, no jumping, just sheer strength. And it says here they’ll fare at least moderately well.

Shuffleboard – Game. Funny story, our fat 60 year old is actually the reigning world shuffleboard champion. True story.

Skateboarding – Sport. We’re eagerly anticipating our fat 60 year old’s turn on the half-pipe. We’re guessing the judges don’t throw the term “moderately well” around. Maybe something more along the lines of “OH MY GOD! CALL 9-1-1!!!”

Ski Jump – Game. The ski jump, as opposed to downhill skiing, requires very little active resistance to gravity. Gravity hurls it’s participants down the ramp, a small, quick, powerful burst of the legs when the ramp turns up, then it’s all about holding your form. Our fat 60 year old, a former ski jumper, could handle this sort of thing, and his performance would be deemed “moderately well,” grammar be damned.

Snowboarding – Sport. And this includes virtually every form of snowboarding sport there is, whether it be boardercross, halfpipe, big air, slopestyle or simply racing. Now, some of them do start to creep into game territory… for instance, our fat 60 year old could get good air, and maybe perform enough tricks to fare moderately well… but we doubt it. And the rest of the events would leave him/her at the ski lodge in a full body cast… so yeah, we’re going sport.

Speed Skating – Sport. It’s a matter of sheer physics, really. As our fat 60 year old made a turn, provided he/she had any sort of speed built up, the centrifugal force would carry him/her into the boards, everytime… partly because their mass would be difficult to stop/turn, and also because their older legs wouldn’t be able to do it. I like to call it the “law of hilarious crashes where hopefully nobody gets hurt”. I am having some trouble getting it to stick. Maybe you guys can help me out? Spread the word. Spread the love.

Soccer/Football/Calcio/Futbol – Sport. Sure, lots of fat 60 year olds play soccer, but have you watched them? Let’s just say that their version is a sedentary one, rife with mis-kicks, hand-balls, shin-shots, beer and singing. OK, so it’s not that much different than the EPL… but just enough that our fat 60 year old narrowly fails the test.

Softball – Game. Though really, the way women play it, it’s a sport. But the way the vast majority of people play it, it’s barely a game. More like a mixer, or a party, or something between grilling and horseshoes. Our fat 60 year old is right at home.

Surfing – Sport. First of all, fat, in the surfing world, means shark food. Second, well, let’s go back to physics. The best surfers don’t sit too far down in the water. They skim the surface. Fat means skimming becomes more difficult… means jumps don’t look as good… means tubes aren’t properly navigated… means “moderately well” is out of the picture.

Swimming – Sport. Unless you consider drowning a success, in which case, you need to go talk to someone. Seriously.

Table Tennis – Game. To play at the highest level, with the best of the best, you cannot be fat, or 60. It takes hummingbird-like reflexes that, let’s face it, have left our fat 60 year old over time. But to play the game moderately well? Our fat 60 year old can handle that, especially if he/she has history in the game.

Tennis – Sport. It’s like table tennis, if the table were expanded to 10 times it’s normal size and you got on top of it. This means 10 times more ground to cover for our fat 60 year old. That’s about 9 times too much.

Triathlon – Sport. Maybe if the swim were 25 yards, the bike 1/4 of a mile, and the run 30 steps… maybe, our fat 60 year old could fight his/her way into the “moderately well” category. Anything more and he/she suffers a stroke.

Ultimate Frisbee – Sport. That’s right. Ultimate has moved out of the realm of hippies and stoners and been taken over by real athletes. The amount of athleticism required to catch the many errant throws that occur alone dooms our fat 60 year old (and if you don’t believe me, check out the photo if you hover over “ultimate frisbee”, or this one).

Volleyball – Sport. If we’re talking water volleyball, our 60 year old might stand a chance. But beach, or indoor? Uh, no. Even if he/she were 7′0″ tall, his/her lack of quicks would doom him/her. Plus, that’s not even an insurmountable heighth these days when it comes to volleyball. No, we’re quite sure our fat 60 year old would be humiliated.

Water Polo – Sport. Treading water is an underestimated exercise. It’s exhausting. Trust me. Ed Honcho spent his formative years as a lifeguard (what did you expect?), where part of the certification process was to hold a brick over your head and tread water for 1 minute. Go ahead and try it, we’ll wait… no? Pansies. What you’d find is that it’s not the sort of thing a fat 60 year old should be attempting under any circumstances, brick or no. Though, I will admit, it might come in handy during a lifeguard certification class, as you would most certainly be dragging them off the bottom of the pool, maybe putting them on a backboard, and potentially administering a little mouth-to-mouth. Three birds with one stone. I’m surprised they haven’t thought of this one yet. What I’m not surprised about, is that I have.

Waterskiing – Sport. Have you seen some of the things these people do? Yes? Can you imagine a fat 60 year old doing any of them? Yes, but only poorly, and quickly followed by a horrible wipeout? Me too!

Weightlifting – Game. Plenty of fat people excel at weightlifting… remember, fat people can be very strong, whether they be 20, 40, 60 or 80 years old.

Wrestling – Sport/Game. Truly, in wrestling moreso than any other sport, it depends on the discipline. Freestyle or Collegiate wrestling is a sport. Fat 60 year olds would get twisted into pretzels. Greco-Roman wrestling is a game, since it relies almost solely on upper body strength, which a fat 60 year old might have in spades… or, at least enough to fare moderately well. Submission wrestling is a sport, as a fat 60 year old wouldn’t have the speed to contain someone at the top of their game… not to mention someone at an average level of their game. Arm wrestling is a game, which should be patently obvious to anyone but the dullest of minds. Sumo wrestling is a sport, as, though our 60 year old is fat… that gives him no advantages. Instead, it’s about quickness at that size, something that puts our 60 year old at a decided disadvantage. And, of course, professional wrestling is neither a game or a sport, it’s what we like to call “acting” in the business.

So there you have it… I would normally spend the next few hours waxing poetic about my prophetic… ness. But it does appear as if our fat 60 year old is in need of immediate attention. What do eyes rolled back in the head usually mean? Is that bad? Yeah. OK, I gotta go. Spread the word people. Let’s make this stuff fact. Oh, and if you want to send any particularly hateful emails my way, sure, I can take it. Just send it to icanbesurprisinglysensitive@edhoncho.com. Yo.

Lo scorso 3 novembre, sul Giornale di Monza è stato pubblicato un articolo in cui un esponente del centrodestra brugherese, attaccava Brugherio Futura e Rifondazione Comunista per le proprie posizioni in merito al progetto del centro commerciale Decathlon.

Di seguito pubblichiamo la replica delle nostre forze politiche a tali dichiarazioni, espresse mediante un comunicato stampa emesso oggi, 7 novembre.

COMUNICATO STAMPA

Abbiamo letto con interesse le dichiarazioni del Consigliere Ribaudo in merito alla nostra posizione sulla questione Decathlon. Lo ringraziamo per la preoccupazione, ma crediamo di essere già grandi, e di sapere molto bene quello che vogliamo. Vogliamo tutelare sia il lavoro, che la salute dei cittadini di oggi e delle future generazioni. Le due cose, crediamo, non sono affatto in contraddizione.Agire in modo serio e responsabile significa difendere, come stiamo facendo e da sempre facciamo, i lavoratori di aziende storiche del nostro territorio che, a causa della crisi, rischiano di ritrovarsi senza occupazione.

E, soprattutto in un’area densamente urbanizzata come quella in cui ci troviamo, significa anche difendere il territorio, evitando che venga consumato con la realizzazione di strutture, come la Decathlon, che portano inquinamento, rumore e traffico, senza garantire benefici per la città, (dal momento che i vantaggi in ambito di occupazione sono tutti da dimostrare e che l’azienda francese non ha mai fornito alcuna garanzia in merito).

Esprimiamo il nostro compiacimento per il fatto che il Pdl, con le parole di Ribaudo, abbia finalmente riconosciuto che la zona dove vorrebbero costruire la Decathlon è un prato, e non una discarica, o un “accampamento di zingari”, come il centrodestra ha sempre sostenuto fino a questo momento.

Il concetto di Parco (soprattutto nel caso di un Parco Sovracomunale) comprende diverse tipologie di aree verdi (boschi, filari di alberi, zone agricole, prati etc.) che concorrono a creare un sistema ambientale ricco e complesso, che costituisce una barriera all’avanzata delle zone costruite.

In quest’ottica, realtà come il “Parco della Forma” certamente non aggiungono contenuti qualificanti sul piano ambientale (come del resto su quello occupazionale).

Campus Decathlon Villeneuve d'Ascq - Francia

L’esperienza dei centri commerciali di questo tipo, già realizzati in Francia (come il Campus Decathlon di Villeneuve d’Ascq, raffigurato nell’immagine qui sopra) dimostra come essi siano in netto contrasto con la volontà espressa dal Consigliere Ribaudo di “aumentare l’ossigenazione” della zona, dal momento che gli unici aumenti garantiti sono quelli del cemento e dell’asfalto.

BRUGHERIO FUTURA

RIFONDAZIONE COMUNISTA BRUGHERIO

Yesterday, I visited the Design Management Network’s lecture from Philippe Picaud, designmanager of Decathlon.

It was a short lecture full of examples and visions of how they worked.
The presentation was a very interesting one.

Philippe firstly talked about his vision and principals, which I think was less  interesting. I think that everyone’s vision is usually different, and not specifically better then one another. However, it’s always good to hear this because you might be enlighted in some sort of way.

After that, he started to tell a bit about the Decathlon brand and stores.

Decathlon is a kind of supermarket for sports. All the brands there are build from within the Decathlon retailstore.

The most fascinating thing was their vision about design management. How those brands get on the table and why it is successful.

One of the most important way of doing is the way they design their brands and products.

He told about that their selection procedure of their design staff is quite intense. The designers working for the specific inhouse brand need to have enough affinity with the sport. If the designer doesn’t surf, he won’t be able to work for the surf brand. They also need to try the problems people can get with the products so they experience it, and are able to solve it.

The place where the brand designers are placed is also of the essence. He showed an example of a designer working above the store, so he could see how customers would select products. Not just see, but also hear the conversations customers have. Philippe told us that having the departments close together, the way of communication is easier.

Next to the designers, sometimes brands are being less successful because of an external problem. The brand managers are free to solve the problems with their know-how and expertise in that sport sector.

I think it’s a great approach of managing and designing, and if you think about it…it’s should be like that for every brand and product.

There were a few other things he told about, but this part was mainly the most interesting thing for me.

After the presentation, he answerd some questions. I thought that Philippe Picaud answerd those very well.
One of the questions was: “We try to reduce logo’s and get more unity in branding, you do the opposite. Why do you do this?”.
His answer was that you cannot use a pin-ish brand for horseriding as well as for surfing and cycling. Every sport has it’s culture, so the brand needs to have that as well.

Tribord Experience

Em breve você confere o ganhador do Concurso Cultural e fotos dos participantes. E se você perdeu o evento, não se preocupe! Passe no site e faça um mergulho com a sua Webcam.

Quer saber como funciona? Acesse:

decathlon.com.br/tribordexperience

Apoio: Panasonic ideas for life

.

Atalhos | twitter | site | orkut | facebook | o que é produto azul? | onde tem loja? |

The Advanced Lit students have had a fabulous first quarter.  We completed just about all the stories, poems, and media lessons in Unit 1.  There was a lot of territory to cover, but, you all certainly rose to the occasion.  I am very proud of all that you have accomplished thus far and look forward to the remaining quarters.  We will participate in the academic decathlon and I will be your literature coach.  Even if you do not plan to be on the decathlon team, you will be responsible for reading the assigned book, and will be expected to complete any assignments related to that unit.  More information will follow as I learn more of the details.

Don’t forget there will be a Unit 1 cumulative exam next week.  The test will cover all the stories from The Most Dangerous Game to Sorry Right Number.  Each test is comprised of approximately 40 total questions covering: vocabulary, comprehension, short answer, and 2 short essays.  There will be one extra credit question.  We’ll spend the week reviewing the vocabulary and going over the general story plots and key elements.  Please remember to bring your vocabulary index cards.  You may also wish to practice using the McDougall-Litell Class Zone website.

Decathlon (oxylane) est leader dans le sport, mais aussi dans le textile! avec 3,3% des parts de marché, devant les galleries lafayettes… constat assez étonnant non ?!

Acabei de atualizar o about me e pensei em coisas que eu nunca gostei em mim, uma delas é calça legging, primeiro porque sempre tenho a sensação de ficar com as pernas mais compridas ainda, e segundo porque me sinto saindo da academia.

Mas aí você começa a pensar em alguns looks que ficariam muito legais com uma calça legging, então o que eu pensei? Se eu usar uma calça de montaria, ela fica com um caimento mais legal, primeiro porque tem um tecido mais grosso (menos cara de academia) segundo, porque ela tem recortes, importantes para o esporte e que funcionam como “quebras visuais” não deixando as pernas tão compridas.

Onde achar? Fácil, encontrei na Decathlon em várias cores, alguns modelos e com uma média de preço de 59 reais, e ficou PER FEI TA!

Calça Montaria da Decathlon

Bjs,

Fe

Nel caso qualcuno fosse venuto da chiedersi come sarebbe, una volta realizzato, il centro commerciale che la Decathlon vorrebbe costruire a Brugherio, all’interno dei confini del Parco Sovracomunale Est delle Cave, pubblichiamo le immagini delle due strutture simili che la Società ha realizzato in Francia. Questo fornisce un’idea di quello che è l’impatto sul territorio e sull’ambiente che questo tipo di centri causano.

“Parco della Forma” Decathlon di Bouc-Bel-Air, vicino a Marsiglia – Francia

“Parco della Forma” Decathlon di Villeneuve d’Ascq, vicino a Lille – Francia

Costruire, costruire, costruire. Sembra la soluzione di tutti i problemi, compreso quello dell’occupazione. L’ha detto ancora Raffaele Corbetta in Consiglio Comunale: ci sono i progetti in attesa; quando si parte? Ampliamento Candy, Porta Nord, Porta Sud. La sinistra, ha aggiunto Corbetta, invece di premere in questo senso, si perde in “cosucce”. Ha usato proprio questa espressione. Aggiungiamo, di già che ci siamo, la Decathlon all’interno del Parco delle Cave: sinistra svegliati dai tuoi sogni, sembra che dicano, cogli al volo anche questa eccezionale opportunità…

Bene, anzi, male. Rifondazione Comunista e Brugherio Futura hanno detto la loro, nei mesi scorsi, su ciascuno di questi progetti, diversi fra loro, e altri qui non nominati (Baraggia, Panda…). E ripeteremo questi giudizi, in maniera circostanziata e motivata, nelle prossime settimane. In questo comunicato, tanto per non perderci in “cosucce”, vorremmo solo ribadire i PRINCIPI DI BASE che secondo noi devono ispirare la progettazione urbanistica.

1) Prima di tutto, si deve partire da un’ANALISI DEI FABBISOGNI ABITATIVI e della domanda reale di alloggi a Brugherio (giovani coppie, immigrati, sfrattati…). Chiediamoci: la costruzione di nuovi alloggi serve a soddisfare queste esigenze, o serve a rispondere alle pressioni dell’imprenditoria edilizia locale (partito trasversale dell’edificazione, che sopravvive sotto qualsiasi amministrazione)? E serve a risolvere i problemi di Milano, da cui se ne vanno tante persone, coppie, anziani, per sfuggire ai costi della speculazione che imperversa, anche con il pretesto all’Expo 2015? L’unica vera EMERGENZA ABITATIVA, la vera priorità, sono le CENTINAIA DI CITTADINI SOTTO SFRATTO O SISTEMATI IN ALLOGGI DI FORTUNA che aspettano in un’apposita lista d’attesa depositata presso il Comune.

2) Prima di procedere alle cementificazione, si deve pensare a progetti di RIUSO, di RESTAURO, di RECUPERO degli edifici e dei complessi industriali, commerciali e civili già esistenti, dismessi e degradati. Inoltre, bisogna fare un CENSIMENTO DEGLI ALLOGGI SFITTI a Brugherio. Perché sono inutilizzati?

4) Qualsiasi nuovo insediamento (abitativo, industriale, commerciale) va valutato alla luce dell’IMPATTO AMBIENTALE e TERRITORIALE che comporta.

Il bene primario, infatti, è il TERRITORIO, il suolo non edificato. Acqua, aria e suolo sono la vita, per noi e per i nostri discendenti. Sono un bene non rinnovabile, una riserva che si esaurisce. “Padroni in casa nostra” finisce per voler dire “padroni di distruggere la casa, non solo nostra ma di tutti”.

Non si consuma il territorio per portare “moneta corrente” al Comune. E nemmeno con il pretesto che “porta lavoro: soprattutto perché si tratta di lavoro fasullo, che non risolve nessuno dei problemi legati alla crisi economica di oggi e a uno sviluppo sostenibile di domani.

Torneremo su ognuno di questi argomenti. In particolare sul rapporto fra territorio e lavoro.

STOP AL CONSUMO DI TERRITORIO non è uno slogan estremistico, anzi, è l’unico realistico nelle condizioni in cui viviamo a Brugherio, in Lombardia − nel mondo.

Brugherio Futura

Circolo di Rifondazione Comunista

urbain..

No verão da Decathlon, o esporte da família vira diversão.

As ofertas são válidas até 20/11/2009.

• No nosso twitter, promoções diárias! Siga twitter.com/decathlonbrasil

• E no site, você pode acompanhar todas as ofertas: Acesse www.decathlon.com.br

Já deu uma olhada no catálogo de verão da Decathlon?

Baixe a versão em PDF

Catálogo Verão

OFERTAS

cod.: 6047286

TOP PROFILTER 100 TRIBORD

Com fator de Proteção Solar 40, mesmo molhado. Costuras lisas e corte justo para evitar irritações.

R$ 39 infantil

R$ 49 adulto

Clique na imagem para + detalhes.

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Atalhos | twitter | site | orkut | facebook | o que é produto azul? | onde tem loja? |

Le froid pointe doucement le bout de son nez. Vous qui partez à la recherche de produits chauds, légers et durables dans votre magasin Decathlon, voici 2 astuces pour repérer facilement les produit labellisés stratermic :

• Astuce n°1 : une étiquette de la marque est généralement brodée sur le côté gauche du produit

broderie-stratermic

• Astuce n° 2 : un flyer est parfois attaché au produit

Flyer-stratermic

Alors ayez l’oeil avisé et bon shopping !

Decathlon 2009 Washington

October 9, 2009 – October 18, 2009
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009 took place in October on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The Solar Decathlon is an educational project of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and organized by DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The Solar Decathlon, supported by event and team sponsors from the private sector, is a competition in which teams of college and university students compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar powered house. The 2009 Solar Decathlon is the fourth competition; the inaugural event was held in 2002, the second in 2005, and the third in 2007.
Team Germany finished first in Solar Decathlon 2007, and the 2009 team has relied on members of the 2007 team for guidance.
The Solar Decathlon houses were open for public tours on 10/9 – 10/13/2009 and 10/15 – 10/18/2009 between 11 a.m. -3 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Please note that all houses are closed Wednesday, Oct. 14. 2009

Congratulation to the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009 Winners !
First Place:
Team Germany
Second Place:
University of Illinois
Third Place:
Team California

People’s Choice Award Winner:
University of Louisiana

Source: Solar Decathlon 2009
Solar Decathlon Team Germany

© Flavia Westerwelle

TransDomo,LLC
Klaus Westerwelle
33 Market Point Drive
Greenville, SC 29607
Phone: 864.908.0690
Email: info@transdomo.com
Transdomo
Westerwelle

COMUNICATO STAMPA

Il borgomastro Maurizio Ronchi fa scrivere sui giornali: “È fatta, arriva la Decathlon”. Noi gli rispondiamo che si sbaglia. Quello che è veramente fatto, è il Parco Est delle Cave, che è ormai diventato un parco sovracomunale riconosciuto dalla Provincia di Milano.

È stato voluto dai cittadini e dalle amministrazioni di cinque comuni: Brugherio, Carugate, Cologno, Cernusco e Vimodrone. È l’ultimo grande polmone verde che salvaguarda il territorio in questa zona, tenendo presente che la Lombardia è una delle zone più inquinate d’Europa.

E salvaguarda quindi la salute degli abitanti, brugheresi compresi. Basta con i grandi insediamenti commerciali, basta con la cementificazione, con l’aumento del traffico e dell’inquinamento. Come fa Ronchi a parlare di “bene della città”?

Il progetto della Decathlon era già stato bocciato dalla Provincia. Chi ha interesse a tirarlo di nuovo fuori?

“Difendiamo la terra dei nostri padri”, era scritto a grandi caratteri nei manifesti elettorali della Lega. Forse volevano dire “Distruggiamo la terra dei nostri padri”. E dei nostri figli, anche.

Decathlon e Ronchi si sbagliano se credono che ora possano fare i loro interessi sulla testa dei cittadini. Noi daremo battaglia e invitiamo tutte le forze democratiche e ambientaliste di Brugherio, insieme a quelle degli altri comuni, ad esigere il rispetto degli impegni sottoscritti.

Comitato Parco delle Cave di Brugherio

Circolo di Rifondazione di Brugherio

Brugherio Futura

Happy Watts – (www.happywatts.com) The assembly of 20 solar homes on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is rapidly approaching completion, as the 2009 Solar Decathlon prepares to open, free to the public, on October 9th. The Solar Decathlon is an international event in which DOE challenges university teams to design and build homes that run entirely on solar energy. via Solar Decathlon>>

Photo by Caroline Treadway

Curio House, a project designed and built by students from Boston Architectural College and Tufts University, is competing this week in the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall.

Twenty teams have built solar-powered houses, which are being judged on 10 criteria. The winner will be announced Friday.

Jon Hanson, a 24-year-old Boston Architectural College undergraduate student, said Team Boston wanted to challenge people by asking questions about their lifestyles. The aim, he said, was to create curiosity in order to lead people toward a more sustainable way of living. The project is based on three elements: sustainability, affordability and adaptability.

All teams showcase energy-efficient, marketable, solar-powered homes during the exhibition week, which is open to the public on the Mall.

Hanson said they wanted to come up with the idea of a financially affordable and accessible house. The furniture for the house was designed so that it could moved and stored when not in use, creating more living space in the Curio House.

An experimental heat glass is used for the windows, serving as a heat source and keeping the house warm. Seventy percent of the heat is coming from the glass, he said.

Hanson said visitors get excited when they see they can actually put all different parts of the energy-efficient technology into their own houses. He said some people even have shown serious interest in building the house.

Colin Booth, the project manager, said the team spent two years on the project. Booth, 28, is a full-time employee in an architecture firm in Watertown. He said his firm was very supportive of him during the whole process.

Roughly 300 students were involved in the project, working in different stages, such as financial control, marketing and the Web site. Booth said there were several classes or studios where the ideas were put together. Students brainstormed and researched the project; then, those who were dedicated stayed till the final step.

Booth said generating as much power as possible is a way to get points in the competition, but they did not completely follow this path. “We are not only trying to impress people, but also educate them,” he said.

The feedback they got from the visitors so far is really good, according to Booth. He said people are very happy to see a “normal house” among the others. He said an accessible house makes “far more sense,” because people get frustrated when they see they can’t adapt the technologies to their own houses.

Booth also said that students from the other teams were coming to Curio House in the evening to hang out and enjoy the free heat from the windows.

The event creates a great job opportunity for the students. They said recruiting is going on during the week. As people from several firms come to visit the houses, they give their business cards to the students.

Read the full story here New Bedford Standard Times

Purtroppo esistono delle lobby che considerano il territorio solo in funzione di quanto esso possa essere sfruttato per costruire.

Queste ultime riducono un bene di tutti come il suolo ad una semplice merce da vendere e comprare allo scopo di realizzare operazioni immobiliari.

Brugherio Futura ritiene che sia indispensabile uscire da questo modo di concepire e gestire il territorio. Per il bene dell’ambiente e della salute dei cittadini è indispensabile conservare e sviluppare le aree verdi, evitando di consumare nuovo territorio.

Per questo motivo non vogliamo che un centro commerciale distrugga il Parco Est delle Cave.

Nel video che pubblichiamo qui cerchiamo di riassumere alcune informazioni in merito.

No alla Decathlon!

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