Nordic Walking For ALL Ages and ALL Fitness Levels

Nordic Walking has been proven to help improve aerobic capacity, increase oxygen uptake and maximize calorie burn compared to regular walking.  Nordic Walking Poles also help to eliminate many joint pains and they help to improve upper body mobility as well.

Cross country ski racers have been hill bounding and ski walking for decades as a means to get a jump-start on ski season when deprived of snow. Nordic Walking Poles can help you get a jump-start on ski season as well.

Real Nordic Walking Poles are equipped with removable rubber Nordic Walking Tips/Asphalt Paws – ideal for pavement and other hard surfaces. Nordic Walking can be done on any surface – including indoor/outdoor tracks and even in the mall. Remove the rubber tips and the metal tips provide traction on trails, the beach, snow and ice.

The best Nordic Walking Poles are equipped with special Nordic Walking Straps – kind of like a fingerless glove. SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles utilize comfortable straps patented by the Salomon Ski Company. The best cross country ski racing poles are also equipped with these proven and tested straps patented by the Salomon Ski Company.

The American Nordic Walking System provides three basic levels of exertion – providing at least one comfortable level of intensity and effectiveness for any age and any fitness level. 

Level 1 – burns up to 20% more calories than regular walking

Level 2 – burns up to 30% more calories than regular walking

Level 3 – burns up to 40% more calories than regular walking

Go to: The American Nordic Walking System for additional info and instructions

REAL Nordic Walking Poles differ from typical hiking and trekking poles in that they can accommodate the rubber tips/paws. Nordic Walking Poles are typically lighter – especially the one-piece poles that prove to be safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap twist-lock and flip-lock poles that often rattle, vibrate, collapse/fail and or freeze up. One-piece poles that are sized correctly prove to be user-friendly and hassle-free.

The Nordic Track is also a great way to get ready for both downhill and cross country skiing. Downhill skiers will benefit from cross country skiing as a means to get ready to hit the slopes too. Snowshoeing with poles (Nordic Snowshoeing) is also another great way to get ready for ski season. No snow? No problem – try Nordic Walking. No snow, no skis required.

We just received a call from a happy customer ordering her 3rd and 4th pair of one-piece Nordic Walking Poles from us – quality one-piece SWIX and EXEL Poles. They had two pairs of expensive twist-lock poles from REI and she referred to them as “garbage” due to the noise (rattle) from the twist-locks and the hassle of the poles locking mechanism. We hear this type of feed back every day about 2 and 3 piece telescopic/collapsible poles – twist-lock and flip-lock. Skiers only use one-piece poles and they prove to be ideal for Nordic Walking when sized correctly by a professional.

I just got off the phone with a lady that just returned some expensive poles from Dick’s Sporting Goods because her husband, who has MS, couldn’t get the poles to stop collapsing. She ordered one-piece poles from us costing half the price. Our one-piece poles will prove to be far superior and stronger. Individuals with balance issues should avoid twist-lock and flip-lock poles.

“It’s not over,” he said. “There’s always a chance to change. You should not — you dare not — give up.”

Gregg Mozgala, actor and dancer with cerebral palsy

In yoga classes, I’ve notice some students’ difficulty moving their ankles and toes. Point, flex. Easy enough. Rotate them in synchronized circles. Okay. Now flex only the toes back, in tiptoe position (some call it “floint” or the amusing but apt “Barbie”). More struggles here. Now spread the toes wide apart. Half the population can’t seem to separate their toes.

Having grown up in a no-indoor-shoes culture (which I enthusiastically support for the whole world), I’ve spent most of my home life barefoot. So my toes splay like an amoeba and can retrieve fallen socks and writing implements with minimal effort. (Of course, I have other weak spots.) But the frozen-toe syndrome made me wonder: can immobility or “deadness” in our bodies be corrected?

Regarding feet: One of my first yoga teachers (and still a favorite from long distance), Sandy Blaine, couldn’t move her toes much when she was a beginner. So, upon waking in the morning, she would look at her toes and just try to move them. By the time I met her, a decade later, her toes could spread like a hand. She conjectured that trying to move her toes (perhaps even mentally directing them to move) spurred new neural connections.

Yesterday, I read a fascinating story, “Learning His Body, Learning to Dance,” New York Times, November 24, 2009, about Gregg Mozgala, a man with cerebral palsy who at age 31 is relearning how to move his body through dance. Due to his disability, he’s always struggled with basic actions, such as walking; when choreographer Tamar Rogoff tried to teach him new forms of movement, he’d either fall or be incapable of even trying them.

So Rogoff started from scratch with him, to “‘find’ individual bones, muscles and tendons that he had had no command of before.” According to the article, “[t]hey started at the top and worked down—sternum, sacrum, knees—with Mr. Mozgala’s body and brain opening paths of communication that had not existed.”

In the article, Dr Stephen A. Paget, chief of rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan states, “In the past, people thought that a neurological deficit was fixed and immutable. Now there’s this whole concept of neuroplasticity: the neurological system has this ability to change itself and constantly grow.”

Wow. Sandy was right. We can teach our bodies new tricks. I’m not talking simply about strength and flexibility, the more straightforward and common limiting factors. Rather I’m talking about whole new connections. Moving body parts that seemed frozen. Or moving with improved coordination and posture. Or balancing on limbs (or a limb) once too wobbly. If Mozgala can reawaken his body and transform his gait, it’s a lesson to us all.

Mozgala’s step-by-step learning reminded me of Iyengar yoga, which requires constant observation of the entire body, from crown of the head to fingers and toes. Likewise, he employed specific instructions to help maintain awareness in daily life, off the dance floor. (Of course, his cues, “sternum down, tailbone up,” are the opposite of ours!)

Bottom line: if you can’t move your toes, arch your thoracic spine, or balance in handstand … don’t give up.

Image: yvetteAL

For the last few months I have been working on a startup project that could create some exciting fireworks in the telecom industry, enterprise mobility in particular. When we first met, Brian Keedwell, the inventor of Mobile Process Services, told me he expected to create a new market that would generate $5 billion in five years. Yeah, yeah, I know … that was my initial reaction too. But there were a couple of elements in his plan that grabbed my attention and my imagination – integrated education and smart business networks.

Keedwell, who has helmed some very significant companies, made a name for himself engineering marketing process systems – million dollar plus jobs for companies like Pharmacia, Detroit Edison, SAS, Sandvik and DeLaval. Now he wants to take the business to a new level by delivering such systems as services.

His elaborate and very detailed plan revolves around smart business networks – agile collaborations of vendors, R&D educators and customers – that will build each project. Basically the idea is that if you can motivate a group of tech vendors with the promise of capturing and dominating a niche market, add to that an integrated team of grad students keen to apply cutting edge ideas, and anchor the team with customer participation, then you will be able to create an over-achieving service that will delight everyone.

Well, I have a background in IT and telecom marketing but a lot of this stuff just made my head spin. So most of my time lately has been spent learning business process modelling, smart business networks, agility, and some very subtle stuff related to the nature of quality and productivity. My intention, once I mastered the knowledge, was to write and produce the marketing collateral needed to promote the plan.

Hah! The ideas are so complex and so unfamiliar to industry people that, faced with learning esoteric ideas from alien disciplines, the most common reaction is glazed eyes. Most of our sustained support is from academics, the only ones motivated to attempt the steep learning curve. Everyone else seems to find it really hard to do the homework that’s demanded by disruptive and systemic innovation of production processes.

Finally, after coming to terms with the realization that traditional marketing was not enough, I turned back to a subject that has long fascinated me – education transformation. Recently, I have been following the evolution of corporate learning, which is focusing more and more today on social and collaborative learning. This seems to me a perfect solution for the kind of agile networks that we`re working to create. So why not start using it now to promote the project itself?

So I called Keedwell and told him about these cutting edge ideas for business education. You know, you can actually hear eyes glazing over on the telephone.

Dell Studio XPS 16 (1640) Windows 7 – Laptop with Facial recognition security software – Obsidian Black with Leather Accent, Intel Core 2 Duo P7450 (3MB cache/2.13GHz/1066Mhz FSB), 2GB DDR3 , 500GB Sata Hard Drive, 8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner, Edge-to-Edge HD Widescreen 16.0 inch WLED LCD W/2.0 MP Webcam, ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 With 512MB, Wireless A/B/G/N Mini Card, Wireless Bluetooth Review

Check Price Now!

Dell Studio XPS 16 (1640) Windows 7 – Laptop with Facial recognition security software – Obsidian Black with Leather Accent, Intel Core 2 Duo P7450 (3MB cache/2.13GHz/1066Mhz FSB), 2GB DDR3 , 500GB Sata Hard Drive, 8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner, Edge-to-Edge HD Widescreen 16.0 inch WLED LCD W/2.0 MP Webcam, ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 With 512MB, Wireless A/B/G/N Mini Card, Wireless Bluetooth Feature

• Intel Core 2 Duo P7450 (3MB cache/2.13GHz/1066Mhz FSB) , 2GB DDR3 SDRAM
• 500GB 7200RPM Sata Hard Drive, 8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
• Edge-to-Edge HD Widescreen 16.0 inch WLED LCD (1366×768) Laptop screen with 2.0 Megapixel Camera, Dual Digital Array Microphones, Intel® 5100 WLAN Wireless-N (1×2) Half Mini Card
• ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 – 512MB, Obsidican Blak with Leather Accent, 6 Cell Primary Battery
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium – 64bit, Microsoft Works, Facial Recognition Software

Dell Studio XPS 16 (1640) Windows 7 – Laptop with Facial recognition security software – Obsidian Black with Leather Accent, Intel Core 2 Duo P7450 (3MB cache/2.13GHz/1066Mhz FSB), 2GB DDR3 , 500GB Sata Hard Drive, 8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner, Edge-to-Edge HD Widescreen 16.0 inch WLED LCD W/2.0 MP Webcam, ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 With 512MB, Wireless A/B/G/N Mini Card, Wireless Bluetooth Overview

The Studio XPS 16 shines a light on features that matter. Its backlit keyboard and touch pad buttons are easy to use, day or night. Keep an eye on your battery power by simply checking the color of the indicator on the hinge. Capacitive multimedia buttons also glow when activated.Help protect your files with a smile.Why worry about forgetting your password? Facial recognition security software lets you log onto your laptop with a simple scan of your face. It automatically locks your laptop when you step away, and unlocks it upon your return.Externally Accessible: (2) USB 2.0 compliant ports,(1) USB 2.0 compliant / e-SATA port with PowerShare, 15-pin VGA video connector, IEEE compliant 1394a port, Integrated network connector 10/100/1000 LAN (RJ45), 54mm Express Card slot, Display Port, HDMI Port, AC adapter connector, Audio jacks (2 line-out, 1 Mic-in),8-in-1 Media Card Reader. Dimensions & Weight: Width: 15.15″ (384.9mm), Height: 0.95″ (24.1mm) front / 1.34″ (33.95mm) backDepth: 10.02″ (254.6mm)Weight: Starting weight of 6.4 lbs. (2.91 kg)8(16″ WLED display 6 cell battery). Weights will vary depending on configurations and manufacturing variability.

Dell Studio XPS 16 (1640) Windows 7 – Laptop with Facial recognition security software – Obsidian Black with Leather Accent, Intel Core 2 Duo P7450 (3MB cache/2.13GHz/1066Mhz FSB), 2GB DDR3 , 500GB Sata Hard Drive, 8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner, Edge-to-Edge HD Widescreen 16.0 inch WLED LCD W/2.0 MP Webcam, ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670 With 512MB, Wireless A/B/G/N Mini Card, Wireless Bluetooth Specifications

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 24, 2009 13:15:05

Visit : portable dvd player for car

While educating myself on various training methods and tools to use I came across soething new. Well, not really new, but rather an ingenious way of recycling while acquiring a different kind of training. What is it? It does involve a car’s tire hence the tittle of this post.

I’ll post pictures of what this apparatus entails and how I’m using it.

Today’s openness is a normal thing. Internet and software has developed so much that everybody is now able to share everything in tremendous ways of blogging and free tracking web sites. Is that good or bad? There are many controversies about online privacy nowadays. The most recent and, in my opinion, very scary way of sharing is the geotagging, or more specifically, geoblogging. Originally, geotagging has been developed exclusively for professional need. These days you can find the function geotagging function in Google Maps, almost in every portable device, internet blog or social network. Seems to be pretty harmless. On one hand, it is quite useful and handy option. Here it is… I take a photo with my camera on my cell phone. If I am lucky enough to have brand new, expensive phone, I have the function ‘geotagging’. Immediately after I’ve shot my picture, I can see where I shot it. Even more exciting is that I can save this information and every time I go back to look for the photo I know where I took it. That is just awesome! On the other, there are web sites like ‘Ipoki’ which allows you to track and see people’s locations…for free. You can be tracked as well if you want to show your location via mobile phone’s GPS in real-time. This is undoubtedly dangerous. “We believe that Ipoki users should have control over their location information and who can see it.” This is official statement of Ipoki owners to users. That’s good, but still, everybody can sign up there for free and immediately become your ‘friend’ in case he or she wants to monitor you 24/7. Isn’t that outrageous?

The UMID does not have an inbuilt HSDPA so that means I have to find an external solution for mobile Internet connectivity.

I have a Huawei USB broadband adapter but unfortunately the USB setup on the umid is not ergonomically possible for 2 handed usage so I have to opt for a tethering solution.

My usual tethering setup using pdaNET on the iPhone works flawlessly with the UMID.

I was at my brother in law’s place last night and my nephew was playing with his Nintendo DS so I decided to whip out the UMID and borrowed his DS for this pictorial size comparison.

It is certainly amazing to see how small and light UMPCs and MIDs such as the uMID and the S5 are these days..they weigh a little more than a DS but is capable of running full blown OSs.

The fascinating thing is watching how incredibly quick my 2 nephews, 11 and 8 took to the device.  I cranked up an Openoffice write session for them and in no time, they were typing away and using the touchscreen to navigate around in the absence of a onboard mouse.

Never ceases to amaze me how quickly the young ones take to computing these days!

….and yeah, they were impressed with the UMID!

Mobility is one of the most important aspects of many peoples life. This does count for media and in particular for the internet.

It all started when wireless internet and UMTS internet became increasingly popular due to sinking technology prices and growing availability of free WIFI networks in public places like coffee stores, gas stations, pubs, airports, train stations and many more. For these reasons it is possible to go online more or less everywhere in any halfway developed country in the world.

With the emergence of the so called ’smart phones’, e.g. Apples Iphone, this phenomenon got even stronger as they provided the ability to go online only without carrying a computer around. Consequently one could say that it is just another tool that we carry around with us in our multi-tasking mobile phones, but it is much more than that. Nowadays people are heading for the ultimate goal of always being connected to the world wide web in some way.

This issue brings a lot of convenience to our everyday lifes, as it is possible to get almost any information from the internet. It can help in so many situations, just by providing information that is needed, and it gives one the possibility to provide content for others while being on the run. On the other hand it should be mentioned that it also makes us really dependent on our technology, since we are getting more and more used to relay on the internet as a never ending source of data and knowledge.

Furthermore it provides some possible dangers of backtracking and other misuse that should always be taken into account.

Please allow me take this opportunity to introduce our company.                       

 0208 599 8548/9841                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Essex Emergency Services 2000 Ltd is a business with over 30 years experience specialising in the fitting of all full blue light systems, sirens, head light flash, run lock, sat navigation systems, phone kits, VHF radio’s, intelligent management systems to any specification, and covert conversions to all the emergency services. We are also agents for Haztec, Carnation and RSG. 

We operate as a walk in repair shop facility for all emergency vehicles ( ambulance service & NHS vehicles)  we also specialise in light commercial vehicles. Same day servicing and clutch replacement on most vehicles. Breakdown and a recovery service for the emergency services (NHS) within a 35 mile radius.

From our premises in Hainault, close to Romford in Essex and close to all the regions major road and rail links – M11, M25, A12, A127 and the north circular road we are able to offer:-  Outstanding Technical quality which is endorsed by the MVRA and VBRA.  A level of Customer service which is friendly and informative, with facilities for the disabled.
Our accident repair centre is staffed by experienced knowledgeable and professional technicians that have been with us for many years and we are approved by BMW, Mini, Jaguar, Land Rover, Saab,Volvo and Honda to name a few. We recover and deliver throughout the Essex, Sussex, Hertfordshire and Norfolk borders.
Essex Emergency Services 2000 bodyshop is fully equipped with Fibreglass specialists. We also enjoy excellent work relationships with a wide range of other customers including many fleet operators, such as Lex Leasing, Lloyds TSB,G4S, Ryder and Venson Fleet, both through the 1 Link system and by telephone. 

Please feel free to take a look at our web site: http://www.essexemergency2000.co.uk/ or contact myself or Bill Mckenna direct via email or by phone on 0208 599 9841/8548.             

Jacqui Wilson
Director.
Jacqui   

 “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.”
~Margaret Fuller 

Tips
1. Tel: Again
2. BB Calendar Tips & Shortcuts
3. Tax-Deduction with Wikipedia
BlackBerry
4. T-Mobile Offers Wi-Fi Calling with BlackBerry 9700
5. T-Mobile Offers First US Prepaid BlackBerry Service
iPhone
6. AT&T Boosts 3G Coverage in SF Bay Area
Windows Mobile
7. Microsoft Announces WinMo 7 Announcement Coming March 2010
8. WinMo Marketplace Shows OS Fractures
9. Windows Marketplace Open to More Devices
Google
10. Droid Becomes Fastest Selling Android
Other News
11. Cell Phones in U.S. Homes 71%
12. The Potential of Smartphone DDoS Attacks
13. Palm Releases $99 Pixi
14. Mobile money on the rise in U.S.
15. Your Cell Phone Could Be a Germ Breeder
16. Anti-Bacterial Wipes for Your Mobile 

“Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm.”
~Samuel Taylor Coleridge 

Tips

1. Going to CES? 

Let me know if you’re going to CES in Las Vegas 1.7-10.2010.

2. Tel: Again 

Dan Whipple reports… I used the following formula on my 8310 (v4.5.0.110) and it worked like a champ…

Tel:8666578888×2188888#,,*,8888#,1 (note “x” after dial in number).  Also had to switch to “Wait for: My Response” (in Phone > Options) to make it work.

3. BB Calendar Tips & Shortcuts 

RIM offers this page with a few BB calendar tips and a list of shortcuts.  RIM 

4. Tax-Deduction with Wikipedia 

This week, I gave my first tax-deductable Wikipedia donation to reciprocate for the times it helped a not-so-smart guy, like me, appear almost intelligent.  (Thanks Wikipedia)

BlackBerry 

5. T-Mobile Offers Wi-Fi Calling with BlackBerry 9700 

T-Mobile USA says the BlackBerry Bold 9700 with Wi-Fi calling is now available. Wireless Week

6.  T-Mobile Offers First US Prepaid BlackBerry Service 

T-Mobile will allow customers to buy a BlackBerry Curve 8520 without signing a contract as part of its new “Complete” package that the carrier will sell for $60, including a free month of service. Chicago Tribune

iPhone

7. AT&T Boosts 3G Coverage in SF Bay Area 

AT&T says it has invested nearly $65 million from 2008 through the third quarter of 2009 to complete a “substantial upgrade of its local 3G wireless network in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.” The upgrade includes additional spectrum in the 850 MHz band, which generally delivers better in-building coverage. Wireless Week

Windows Mobile

8. Microsoft Announces WinMo 7 Announcement Coming March 2010  

It’s always weird to hear that a company is announcing that it will make an announcement, but Microsoft is announcing that Windows Mobile 7 will make its grand official appearance at the MIX 2010 conference in March 2010.  The new OS is rumored to have a Q3 2010 launch.  Unwired

9. WinMo Marketplace Shows OS Fractures 

The mere handful of apps in Windows Marketplace for Mobile shows the downside to a business model like Microsoft’s: users have the luxury of choosing the phone design they prefer, but it comes with limitations in interoperability.  InfoWorld

10. Windows Marketplace Open to More Devices 

A second take on the same topic… Microsoft is making its 800-application Windows Marketplace available to a wider audience of Windows Mobile users. The Marketplace, which launched on Windows Mobile 6.5 about a month ago, now will be available to Windows 6.0 and 6.1 users, a market that is estimated to be about 30 million devices worldwide.  MocoNews.net

Google

11. Droid Becomes Fastest Selling Android 

With only one week of Droid sales under its belt, Flurry Analytics’ latest statistics on Verizon Wireless’ exclusive Motorola Droid suggest VZW’s $100 million integrated marketing campaign paid off. Telephony Unfiltered

Other News

12.  Cell Phones in U.S. Homes 71% 

71% of U.S. households now have a cell phone.  HOUSTON CHRONICLE

13. The Potential of Smartphone DDoS Attacks 

Smartphones could be used in the future to target and bring down wireless carrier’s cellular networks via distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Computer World

14. Palm Releases $99 Pixi 

Last Sunday, Palm launched the $99 Pixi.  CEO Jon Rubinstein said Palm did not have to be a huge company to compete.  New York Times

15. Mobile money on the rise in U.S. 

Already a presence in Europe and Japan, person-to-person mobile money services — the ability to send someone cash by cell phone or e-mail — are beginning to gain traction in the U.S.   New York Times / BusinessWeek

16. Your Cell Phone Could Be a Germ Breeder 

With the flu and cold season upon us (not to mention the H1N1 scare), recent findings offer a harsh reminder that our mobile devices are considered a main culprit for collecting and spreading germs. Fear not: you can still use your cell phone without it becoming a petri dish — and win the “germ warfare” game just in time for the holidays.Mobile Enterprise Mag

17. Anti-Bacterial Wipes for Your Mobile 

Now are you nervous about germs on your mobile?  Delicate use of normal anti-bacterial wipes will do (avoid charging and headset ports), but here is a specifically designed solution…  Wireless Wipes

by Lee Horton

For most of us, the ability to drive is a privilege. Having that privilege taken away would be akin to having our independence taken away.

When people obtain their driver’s license as a teenager, they gain the ability to go almost anywhere they want, provided they have the resources. The freedom to roam as they please only increases over the next 30, 40 or 50 years. The older people get, though, the more their physical abilities start to dwindle. Often, the privilege of independent transportation is taken away, but their need for transportation still exists.

“Things weaken with loss,” said Scott Wright, director of the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program at the University of Utah. “It’s important to let (older adults) know they have options.”

When it comes to catching a ride to an important doctor’s appointment or the pharmacy, or to do other essential errands, an option older adults in Salt Lake County have is the Salt Lake County Aging Services’ Senior Transportation Program.

The Senior Transportation Program provides rides to people 60 years old and older who have no other means of transportation.

“A lot of people in their 70s and 80s can drive,” said program manager Bob Prottas. “(A person) might be able to drive to the store, the library, church or other places near her home, but she might not be comfortable driving to the University of Utah.”

Prottas reports the free service has been put to good use.

“We do 50,000 rides per year,” Prottas said. “We’re north of 200 every week.”

According to the Aging Services Web site, the Senior Transportation Program drives older adults to medical appointments, physical therapy, pick up prescriptions or to visit family members in hospitals. Some riders only use the services when their usual modes of transportation are unavailable. Others use it on a regular basis. The frequency often depends on the rider’s nearby family support.

“Some don’t have family, or they’re out of town, or they don’t give a damn,” Prottas said.

Wright and other gerontologists feel such programs go beyond the medical benefits in helping adults live healthier, longer lives.

“We feel mobility is critical for older adults,” Wright said.

Many older adults fear crime and the other dangers of the world. Statistics, however, show they are not often victims of crimes. Wright feels it is important these fears don’t stop older adults from venturing beyond the walls of their home. Just being out and interacting with the world is crucial.

“The fountain of youth is being mentally and physically active,” Wright said.

Prottas adds internal pride and a type of self-esteem to the list of benefits of the Senior Transportation Program. “It helps them maintain their independence,” he said.

The program allows older adults to not only take care of their essentials, but also to arrange the weekday rides to fit their schedules.

Driving positions are filled by both employees and volunteers, all of whom must pass a criminal background check. They also must possess the right kind of personality. Prottas considers driving older adults a “social-type job,” and therefore looks to hire outgoing people.

The Senior Transportation Program has 64 volunteers and is always looking for more. Just about anybody with a clean record and a driver’s license can volunteer.

“(The volunteers) range from their mid-20s to their mid-60s,” Prottas said. “Some of our volunteers are more apt to be clients.”

The service is available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Rides can be scheduled up to a week in advance. Prottas recommends getting it scheduled as close to that week as possible, as the schedules fill up fast.

There is no cost, though Aging Services sends out slips recommending a $2 donation for each trip. Because some clients do not pay and others pay more than $2, Prottas says the average received donation per ride is $1.75. With 50,000 trips in a year, according to Prottas, the program brings in approximately $87,000 per year.

Among those 50,000 rides are group grocery shopping trips prearranged with participating senior centers. Individual grocery excursions, though, do not fall within the “essential” category. The same is true for rides to movies, hairdressers or to the mall. Prottas and the Senior Transportation program will help people meet their needs, but satisfying wants is left up to the riders themselves.

A brief report on snapsync progress. I wanted to share some very basic metrics from a bare-bones snapsync prototype. This is using a real live dataset from a customer of ours who has been having sync performance problems in the field. Their solution is actually using merge replication and they are synchronizing 30-40MB of data – we have addressed their issues with a liberal application of filtering, but I thought the full data set would be a great test case for snapsync. I didn’t include it on the graph, b/c I don’t have the specific measurements, but the reports in the field are that initial syncs were taking as long as 20 minutes (over an Edge network).

Just a little commentary on the graph below. Blue bars are snap sync prototype, red bars are for ado.net sync services 1.0 (the only things available for .net cf right now). This isn’t quite an apples to apples comparison because the two frameworks are doing such different things. For the sync services test, we are changing 250 work order records on the server and then calling sync on the device. No data is being uploaded and I think that what is presented is probably the best case performance scenario. Things will only take longer as more data is changed on device and server. The snap sync scenario is actually the absolute worst case – this is the longest sync will ever take and it doesn’t matter if you have changed 10 records or 15,000 work order point records. The other interesting thing to note here is that the snap sync blue bars actually represent uploading, reconciling and re-downloading the entire set of editable data. Sync services is only downloading 248 changed records and applying them to the device. With that perspective, I think these results are actually very encouraging.

Some final notes on ways to further increase snap sync performance:

1. Use binary differentials to send patches instead of the entire binary files.
2. Refine the server side reconciliation algorithms. In the test above, we are simply iterating through all the rows in the server db and comparing them to what the device db has and then overwriting what the device record is with the server values. For example, in the ‘Active Sync: Subsequent Sync’ test, we actually spent 33 seconds doing the server side reconciliation. This could drastically be reduced maybe by even using ado.net sync services server side.

I have one request of anyone taking the time to read this blog; go buy a smartphone, if you haven’t bought one already.  Last year, I had the good fortune to get invited to RIM’s Toronto launch party of the Blackberry Bold 9000.  The event itself was pretty cool.  There were free booze and salsa dancers.  But the product… Even a year later, I still have a tough time harnessing the true power of this device.  It’s amazing.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t like Blackberry’s.  While somewhat of an anomoly, you’re more than entitled to that totally lame opinion.  Checkout the iPhone, the Pre or the new Droid instead.  

My simple point is that the smartphone market is burgeoning, and innovation in this space is absolutely staggering.  In North America, mobility is no longer an option.  It’s an imperative.  I managed mobility solutions for several years at my current employer, and I wanted to share some simple tips and advice for you, the soon-to-be-consumer, of the smartphone.

• Avoid long-term commitment.  I realize contracts are often a requirement to get a decent price on the phone, but don’t go beyond a 24-month maximum term.  The technology advances are just too rapid in the mobile space, and you’ll be left with a choice between antiquated hardware or pricey cancellation fees.
• Identify what you want to decommission or converge.  Smartphones can really do it all, but do you want yours to?  For example, you may decide you will also use your phone as your portable media player, but you will continue to use your GPS, despite the fact your phone has that feature as well.  Often, you will find that while the smartphone provides that option, the features and functionality are not as robust as devices specialized in a given vector.
• It all about the applications.  Make sure the phone’s Operating System has a vibrant and active development community.  Obviously, the iPhone has a ton of development already completed, but the Pre does not have as many options.  Be aware that Apple’s review practices are beginning to frustrate some developers, and many are moving towards the Blackberry SDK or the new Google Android. 
• Hardware matters.  Your phone goes everywhere with you, so get one that feels durable and rugged.  Remember, don’t cheap-out.  The cost of the smartphone pales quickly when compared to what the carriers are going to charge for your monthly plan.  Don’t get sucked in to a lower-end phone because it’s free with a given plan.  Buy the one you want, and that you think will provide value for the (not-to-exceed-24-month) term.
• The network effect.  So while EVDO may be the more advanced technology, it’s losing to HSDPA in terms of pervasiveness, and international availability.  In the US, both technologies are near ubiquitous, but AT&T’s network is really hammered.  In Canada, all carriers are moving to HSDPA, so do not buy a EVDO or CDMA phone.

So, there you have it.  A bit of advice in time for the holidays.  I have to say, these are only my opinions based on my exposure both as a consumer and as a technology manager at work.  I’m happy to hear any of your views, so please feel free to leave your feedback!

Orientation Center student Melissa uses her long, white cane to travel down a sidewalk in Des Moines, Iowa.

Hello, my name is Melissa, and I am a new Rehab Teacher at the Iowa Department for the Blind. Once I complete my 4 to 6 months of training I will be travelling Counties of North Central Iowa, teaching the skills necessary for blind individuals to live and remain independent in their homes. I originally grew up on a farm in Northwest Iowa between the small towns of Peterson and Linn Grove, along the Little Sioux River Valley. I graduated from Iowa State University in 2008 with a degree in Kinesiology and Health. Prior to working with the blind, I was the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Coordinator for Northwest Aging Association in Spencer, IA.

I started working for the Iowa Department for the Blind October 5, 2009 and I have been considered “staff in-training” ever since. As a staff member going through training, I wear sleep shades over my eyes to create a sense of blindness. While in training, I follow a class schedule of Home Ec, Shop, Braille, Computer, and Travel Class. Each class last for an hour-an- a-half, and it is during these classes that I learn the skills necessary to live independently as a blind person. As I sit here and examine the reasons as to why I’m going through all of this intensive training, I have come up with the following:

• It is important to realize and understand that A blind person is just as capable as a sighted person
• I will gain the skills necessary to teach those that are blind how to live independently
• As a blind person, I will face the struggles and obstacles that arise, but will learn to be successful by believing in myself
• I will challenge and empower others to change their negative attitudes about blindness so they can view vision loss in a more positive light. 

 A little about my classes:

I would have to say that Braille is my favorite class. I now know the letters A through Z and all of the numbers. I still have a lot to learn, but it is such an exciting challenge!

In home Ec, my first class of the day, I have learned how to fry eggs, make pancakes, make cinnamon rolls from scratch, cut vegetables, and use the oven (I just made homemade apple crisp!). I will eventually be preparing three- and seven-course meals!

 Another favorite of mine is shop. I just finished making  my picture frame made from scratch (yes, I have used the band saw, radial saw, sander, and more!),and I will be starting a bigger project soon! I plan on making a blanket chest for my living room.

In computer class, I am learning the basics of Microsoft Word. We have computers, but they don’t have a screen or a mouse! I have been learning to navigate my way around a computer using a program called JAWS. Soon, I will be learning how to open up and use e-mail. It’s been tricky learning all of the different keystrokes and shortcuts necessary to use the computer, but I believe I have been pretty successful!

When I first started, I was scared to death of travel class. After a month, I have learned to cross streets, take the bus, and get around by using a white cane. As a blind person, I have really come to know how handy and useful a cane is in getting around. Yes, I’ve run into things, but I’ve learned to laugh it off and keep going!

My time here thus far has been such a great learning experience. Although I’ve been faced with some difficult challenges, I’ve had a lot of fun, and have met many great people.

By Alan Brandon

When BMW released their original C1 scooter in 2000 nobody had seen anything like it on the road. And not many C1s were seen on the road after it was released either. In the three years that BMW produced the scooter-with-a-roll-cage, only about 12000 were made. The riding public didn’t quite know what to make of the C1 and BMW never sold as many as it had hoped. Now BMW has brought the urban runabout back as the C1-E concept vehicle with an electric drivetrain. Could it be the C1’s time has come?

The C1 may have been ahead of its time when it first appeared, but the times and fashion may now work in its favor. The C1-E looks right at home on the street with other modern scooters such as the Piaggio MP3, Piaggio USB concept, and Peugeot Hymotion hybrid. The C1-E also crosses over into the ultramobile four-wheeler category with vehicles such as the Nissan Land Glider, VW L1, and Renault ZE.

Where BMW’s old internal-combustion models offered a 125 cc, 15 bhp four stroke engine (later a 176cc capacity with 18 bhp), the C1-E features an electric motor and components from the Vectrix scooter company, powered by a lithium-ion battery. Although Vectrix filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, new investors may resurrect the brand. No matter the outcome, BMW hopes the C1-E will demonstrate the viability of an electric powertrain in a safe, urban commuter vehicle.

Like the original C1, the BMW C1-E is designed with an emphasis on rider protection with its front-to-back roll bar and energy-absorbing impact material in the nose. Unlike the C1 however, the C1-E also features a seat-belt for the rider. According to BMW, the scooter is the only motorized single-track vehicle that is exempt from mandatory helmet wearing in almost all European countries

The C1-E design also provides for rider comfort and convenience. The roll cage has mounting points for both a windscreen and a roof to provide wind and weather protection. In addition, there is luggage space behind the rider.

BMW Motorrad developed the C1-E concept as part of the European safety project eSUM, which stands for European Safer Urban Motorcycling. eSUM is a cooperative project between major urban European motorcycling centers and motorcycle manufacturers. The goal of the project is to develop and demonstrate ways to take advantage of the benefits of two-wheeled transportation in easing traffic flow in urban locations, while also increasing the safety of motorcycles and scooters in the city. Participating cities include Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and London; and the manufacturers are BMW and Piaggio.

The C1-E will remain a concept for now. BMW says that series production is currently not planned but that findings from the project will find their way into other future developments in the field of single-track vehicles.

For more information about eSUM visit www.esum.eu.

today was one of the most frustrating days i’ve had in a long time.  so much so, i’m gonna go old-school kt and use no caps, because caps are like yelling and i feel like whispering.  but back to the point, today has ultimately inspired a cupcake, and this post will be about that meandering thought process. 

today was not my routine…  summary: a pseudo-stranger thought i was engaged to my ex and my sister’s bf had a fender bender in my car while doing me a favor of picking her up while i was at work . wtf? i think that’s as much back story as you need to know it messed up my zen-master training.

as i resume focus just left of center, i realize, when i’m sad i like to think of moments when i’m falling in love.  so i’d like to concoct a cupcake that captures that concept.  something that’s both fragile and dense, but that somehow has a quality of light.  sensual and dark but oozey and delicate.  serious and silly.  i’m picturing a dark chocolate almond flour cupake with a rasbperry coulis center and some kind of mousse instead of frosting …  i want i to be messy.  something that might be fun to smother in a friends face or lick off your thumb.  and i’m going to call it the Bastard Cupid.  yes, it required caps.

it’s happenin.’  i have to get more sugar and such, but be on the lookout for pictures tomorrow night or friday.

ps meet my zen master:

 sike, this is my real zen master: