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Unions to Join Occupy Wall Street Protests

Anne Martens—tweeting as @glossolaliac, who I recommend following—directs our attention to this article in Slate:

Crain’s New York Business, New York Magazine, and The Village Voice are reporting that a “a loose coalition of labor and community groups” have pledged solidarity with the protests at Zuccotti Park in New York’s financial district and are organizing a march for next Wednesday, October 5.

The list of labor groups involved in Wednesday’s planned march include: The United Federation of Teachers; 32BJ SEIU & 1199 SEIU; Workers United; and Transport Workers Union Local 100, which has 38,000 members.

Additionally, Working Families Party, Moveon.org, Make the Road New York, the Coalition for the Homeless, the Alliance for Quality Education, Community Voices Heard, United New York and Strong Economy For All are involved in the organization of the march.

‘MythBusters’ asks: Are motorcycles greener than cars?

The MythBusters' conclusion: "At best, it's a wash. Motorcycles are just as bad for the environment as cars," Savage said on the show. "At worst, they're far worse."

"We've been working to clean up passenger vehicles since the '70s," said Kent Johnson, who's on the research faculty at UC Riverside and is director of its emissions lab, where the MythBusters' numbers were analyzed. "We've been putting on catalytic converters and sensors to improve their ability to control emissions. We didn't start doing that on motorcycles until the 2000s. It just shows you how far we've taken passenger vehicles and how difficult it is to do the same thing with motorcycles. First of all, there's no room. And the incremental cost might double the price of a bike."

The California Air Resources Board, which had been approached to perform the emissions tests for "MythBusters" but couldn't because the tests it performs are stationary, concurs with Johnson's assessment about the added cost and technology burdens of placing greater emissions controls on motorcycles.

While many modern motorcycles are now fuel-injected and equipped with catalytic converters and charcoal canisters to control emissions, they still pale in comparison to the emissions controls of cars. That point was made in a followup emissions test performed on the "MythBusters" season opener when Hyneman constructed an aerodynamic shell for a "late-model," 250-cc, single-cylinder motorcycle equipped with fuel injection and a catalytic converter.

Without the aerodynamic shell that transformed it into the so-called "bubble bike," the motorcycle achieved 56.1 miles per gallon, but it ranked second-highest for carbon monoxide emissions and third-highest for hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen of all the vehicles tested during the show. The aerodynamic shell increased the bike's fuel economy to 70.9 miles per gallon, but its carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and oxides of nitrogen emissions remained stubbornly high.

"Our strategy with motorcycles has always been to control them to what's cost-effective and technically feasible, and that's always lagged behind cars," said John Swanton, air pollution specialist with the Air Resources Board. Emissions standards for motorcycles are, accordingly, more forgiving than they are for cars and will most likely stay that way since motorcycles account for such a small portion of vehicles on the road.

The Air Resources Board estimates there are 600,000 motorcycles in active use in California, which account for less than 1% of vehicle miles traveled in the state. Those 600,000 motorcycles, however, account for 13% of the state's hydrocarbon emissions from passenger vehicles, Swanton said.

"Our goal in regulating all vehicles is to retain the gains we've made in reducing smog-forming emissions because those have an immediate impact on the health of Californians. You are immediately impacted by ozone, whereas climate emissions are longer term," he said.

While 90% of internal combustion engine emissions are carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, "To trade one emission for another is not the best strategy," Swanton said. "We've got to balance the two."

In the 2011 American Lung Assn. State of the Air report, eight of the top 10 cities for ozone pollution were in California. Los Angeles ranked first.

Despite the MythBusters' findings, emissions are only part of the story of a vehicle's true greenness. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycle manufacturing requires thousands fewer pounds of raw materials than automobiles. They require less fossil fuel, so they require less energy to pull that fossil fuel out of the ground. They use fewer chemicals and oils than cars. And motorcycles produced today are 90% cleaner in California than they were 30 years ago.

Note to MythBusters: How about a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment for cars and motorcycles for the Season 9 opener?

RELATED:

Inconvenient truths about motorcycles and smog

California considers requiring motorcycle smog checks

Gov. Schwarzenegger tells motorcyclists to pipe down, signs noise bill

Photo: "MythBusters" host Jamie Hyneman tests his aerodynamic "bubble bike" on the season opener of the Discovery Channel show. Co-host Adam Savage stands in the foreground. Credit: Discovery Channel

Kate Hudson & Matt Bellamy's Soccer Outing with Ryder

Kate Hudson was very animated as she chatted with her older son Ryder at a cafe in London today. This year Ryder has adjusted to being a big brother again when Kate gave birth to baby Bingham, though he's already an

Stepping out for some mother/son bonding, Kate Hudson and Ryder were spotted grabbing a bite to eat in London, England on Friday (August 26). The “Something Borrowed” actress and her adorable son chatted it up and

Other occupants of the box were Fabio Capello and Hollywood star, Kate Hudson and her rock star husband, Matt Bellamy. At work on Sunday he was asked about it a.

In a sultry new photo spread for ELLE, Kate Hudson poses in nothing but a sheet and an eye-popping ring (from her Chrome Hearts jewelry collection, a collaboration with pal Laurie Lynn Stark). The 32-year-old, who welcomed Bingham "Bing" Hawn Bellamy

Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy were able to shield newborn son Bingham from the paparazzi's cameras on Sunday while catching a flight out of LAX, but that didn't stop the proud papa from showing off his son on his own terms on Twitter on Sunday night.

Hoboken City Council Meeting

August 27, 2011 – 2:54 pm

Testimony of Janna Chernetz, Tri-State Transportation Campaign Hoboken City Council Meeting Wednesday, Aug 24, 2011 Hoboken, NJ

Good evening. Thank you is to chance to attest today. we am Janna Chernetz, the New Jersey Advocate is to Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a non-profit process group working for a more estimable and environmentally sound travel network in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

It is my wish to verbalise tonight in encouragement of the draft legislative addition to town ordinance, Chapter 190 Section 32, that will appropriate a few streets in Hoboken with Class II bike lanes. (That includes portions of Hudson St, Garden St, Park Ave, Willow Ave, Clinton St, Adams St, Jefferson St, Monroe St, Jackson St, Harrison St, Newark St, 2nd St, and 11th St.)

Hoboken was not long ago declared by Forbes as America’s Top Transportation City. In 2010, Hoboken received honest speak of as a bike kind residents by the League of American Bicyclists; an award received by usually one other town in NJ. Tri-State applauds Hoboken for its success in developing a residents where residents have the choice of living car-free. Passing this bidding legislative addition currently is gripping in line with this prophesy of Hoboken.

Bike lanes give countless safety, health, environmental, and traffic benefits. Bike lanes, such as the ones draft tonight, are a low cost way to exercise traffic relaxing tools. On far-reaching streets, they help slow down vehicular traffic creation it safer for people of all ages and abilities to cross. Bike lanes upgrade traffic upsurge and lower the chance that motorists will deviate in to cyclists’ trail of travel. They moreover remind motorists to look for cyclists when branch or gap automobile doors. Additionally, they give protected space for bicyclists on streets whilst moreover enlivening bicyclists to float in the scold citation of traffic (as seen in Eugene and Corvallis, OR) and on the lane as against to sidewalks. In Hoboken, cyclists are available to float on sidewalks as long as they follow definite rules. With the doing of bike lanes here in Hoboken, sidewalks may be liberated for use by pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

There is an environmental gain as well. When protected cycling becomes a viable option, many can select to lower automobile use or even chose to live car-free. This reduces dangerous CO2 emissions from cars. This is a poignant environmental value as travel is the largest writer of CO2 emissions in NJ. Even with approaching improvements in van and fuel economy, CO emissions from travel national would be 41 percent on top of today’s levels by 2030 if pushing is not curbed.

Bicycle infrastructure moreover has mercantile benefits. Bike lanes, along with appropriate and plenty bike parking, enlarge walking traffic at local businesses. Thirty-seven percent of the businesses in the Mission District of San Francisco reported an enlarge in business due to the addition of bike lane. Robust bicycle-friendly policies help sustain urban firmness and lower auto-dependency so residents save on travel expenses and have more allowance to outlay at local businesses.

There are a innumerable of illness benefits that advance with smarter infrastructure planning. Cycling is ranked amid the top 3 work-out for enhancing cardiovascular fitness. Bike lanes make cycling a viable exercise choice particularly in unenlightened urban cities. Cycling to work, college or selling as segment of a person’s every day slight may be both a tolerable and time-efficient exercise fast for progressing decent levels of fitness. Improving cardiovascular illness can moreover outcome in lower healthcare costs.

Well-designed roads, those written for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, urge on proper actions and lessen the odds of crashes. A new examination of bicyclist safety studies found that the addition of well-designed bicycle-specific infrastructure tends to lower damage and collision risk. On-road bicycle lanes marked down these rates by about 50%. These benefits have been felt in NYC. NYC has seen a lessen in all crashes by 40-50% with the doing of bike lanes; particularly after in the designation of bike lanes on Ninth Avenue, Grand Street, and Prospect Park West, to name a few. When the town of Corvallis, OR commissioned 13 miles of bicycle lanes in one year, the number of bicycle crashes fell from 40 in the year previous to the designation to just 16 in the year afterwards, and of the 5 crashes that occurred on streets with bike lanes, all entangled bicyclists roving at night with no lights. Hoboken is already feeling identical benefits of smarter walking and bicycle infrastructure planning. In 2010, crashes forsaken by 30 percent and bicycle accidents by 63 percent. These census data are explanation certain that bike lanes work.

In closing, bicycling delivers benefits over the bicycling community. They make Hoboken safer and more bearable for other pedestrians and residents and produce increased wake up for Hoboken businesses. We live in a new period where cars are no longer the adored mode of transportation. Hoboken needs to go on to blossom to simulate this change and change the paltry thoroughfare space to assimilate this shift. Over the past few years, Hoboken has started this mutation but without one after another cordial leadership, growth will backslide.

Tri-State Transportation Campaign urges the passage of the legislative addition to Chapter 190 Section 32 to enlarge bike lanes in Hoboken.

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Could United Airlines Drop ‘Rhapsody In Blue?’

CHICAGO (CBS) George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” is so tightly associated with United Airlines that some have been known to mistake full concert broadcasts of the 1924 composition for United commercials.

But a published report now says the airline may be dropping the familiar signature music.

The Chicago Tribune reports that United parent company United Continental Holdings is moving to a new advertising account with New York-based McGarryBowen, and it’s not clear whether the airline will keep “Rhapsody in Blue.”

A United spokesman told the newspaper that since the new ad campaign has not been developed, it has not been decided whether “Rhapsody” will be part of it.

As part of the merger with Continental Airlines last year, United dropped its familiar red and blue stylized “U” logo in favor of the old globe symbol that had been used by Continental. But in the latest ad campaign, which is now airing, a familiar orchestral recording of “Rhapsody in Blue” still plays.

Upon announcement of the merger in the spring of 2010, United executives said “Rhapsody in Blue” would remain as the airline’s signature music.

United first licensed “Rhapsody in Blue” in 1987, agreeing to pay an annual fee of $300,000 to use the composition in its ads, recalls the Cambridge Music Handbook for the piece. Before that, United used a song that revolved around its slogan, “Flying the friendly skies.”

At the time, “Rhapsody” was already one of the most often performed concert works in the 20th century, the handbook says. But it had never been licensed for commercial use before.

In addition to being used in United commercials, “Rhapsody in Blue” is also heard by travelers passing through the neon-lit walkway connecting concourses in Terminal 1 at O’Hare International Airport.

LSU Board of Supervisors approves new deals for Les Miles, Joe Alleva

BATON ROUGE – The LSU Board of Supervisors capped off a tumultuous week around the LSU football program with the approval of new contracts for Coach Les Miles and Athletic Director Joe Alleva on Friday.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-PicayuneLSU football coach Les Miles will have the ability to earn $100,000 if LSU reaches the SEC championship game, an additional $100,000 if the Tigers win the SEC title and the same amount for a non-BCS bowl appearance..

Entering his seventh season as the Tigers’ head coach, Miles will not receive a raise on his annual salary of $3.751 million, but new provisions provide for a 75 percent potential increase in incentive-based earnings.

Miles will have the ability to earn $100,000 if LSU reaches the SEC championship game, an additional $100,000 if the Tigers win the SEC title and the same amount for a non-BCS bowl appearance. Also, an appearance in any BCS bowl, including the championship game, will net Miles $200,000 under the restructured terms, and a victory in the BCS championship game would bring an additional $100,000.

The new contract will run through the end of 2017 and not include the yearly “roll-over” option that existed in the previous extension that Miles signed after LSU’s 2007 national championship. Miles’ buyout also got a major bump. If he is fired without cause, the university will owe him $18.7 million in the first year, up from the current $11.2 million.

“I really believe (Coach Miles’) history here warrants this,” Alleva said. “He’s had some bumps lately, but if you look at his six years, they are not normal behavior for our football team.”

Alleva said the timing of the formal approval for the extension is “unfortunate” with the suspensions and arrests around the program this week, and indicated it has put a damper on the excitement for the new deal, which has been in the works since January.

“Coach Miles is handling this situation very well from the standpoint of discipline, but he’s hurt by this very much,” Alleva said.

LSU President John Lombardi said there was no hesitation among the Board of Supervisors or the athletic department regarding the decision to move forward with the approval of a new contract in the midst of a scandalous week for the football team.

“I don’t think that was a concern at all,” he said. “We recognize that these coaching positions are long term. In the process of building a program, there will be times when a student-athlete won’t always do the right thing, but you still move forward. We believe (Coach Miles’) response to the issues that have arisen this year have been the right ones every time.”

Alleva said talks between Miles and the school began shortly after the Tigers’ Cotton Bowl victory in January and Miles’ subsequent brief dalliance with his alma mater, Michigan.

While speaking to the Board of Supervisors, Alleva said the offers Miles received from Michigan were “quite a bit in excess” of the coach’s annual salary at LSU.

Alleva also found himself being courted by another institution in recent months, as Tennessee seemed to have him pegged last month for the Vols’ vacant position of athletic director before he decided to remain at LSU.

His new contract includes a dramatic pay raise, with his annual payout increasing to $525,000 from $350,000, a figure LSU Chancellor Michael Martin said is in the top one-third of SEC athletic directors.

Martin said he evaluated LSU’s athletic department in five areas — student-athlete development, compliance and program integrity, facility and fiscal quality, on-field performance and external relation — and said they all graded out “very well,” making Alleva worthy of a new contract.

Lombardi said the school recognized the need to maintain what he called “a first-class” athletic program.

“We wanted to make sure we are competitive, so that we discourage others from trying to recruit a pre-eminent athletic director,” the president said.

For his part, Alleva said the current problems facing the football team are “frustrating,” but added that he understands how to handle delicate off-the-field issues from his experience around an alleged 2006 Duke lacrosse rape case that sparked controversy during his time as athletic director at the school.

“There’s a lot of similarities in this situation,” said Alleva, who has been at LSU since 2007. “I think it’s always disappointing when student-athletes don’t behave the way they’re expected to.”

LSU basketball coach Trent Johnson also received a new contract, despite winning five conference games in the past two seasons. His contract, valued at $1.2 million a year, was extended one year. It now expires June 30, 2015.

But Alleva expressed confidence in Johnson while presenting the contract to the board.

“(Trent) was the SEC Coach of the Year in 2009 and, although he’s had two disappointing years, I firmly believe the program is heading in the right direction.”

Judge shuts down firms accused of homeowner scams

NEW YORK | Mon Aug 15, 2011 6:22pm EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A Long Island judge ordered the temporary shutdown on Monday of New York-based companies accused of using “fast-talking salespeople and masterfully deceptive websites” to defraud more than a thousand homeowners in a multimillion dollar mortgage loan modification scam.

The preliminary injunction granted by Nassau County Supreme Court Justice John Galasso freezes the operations of Homesafe America Inc and its successor, United Legal Solutions, and prevents the companies’ co-founders, Guy Samuel and Scott Schreiber, from taking part in any mortgage-assistance relief services while the case against them unfolds.

Fifteen homeowners filed suit in June against the companies, their chief officers and nearly two dozen employees, accusing them of fraud, deceptive practices and false advertising, among other claims.

The complaint alleged the defendants falsely promised to modify the mortgages of lower- and middle-class homeowners for an upfront payment of several thousand dollars.

But once the companies got their money, they offered little, if any, assistance to their customers, according to the complaint. Using a network of websites, Homesafe took in more than $2 million in 2010 alone and, as of February, had accepted money from about 1,000 families across the country, the plaintiffs said.

The lawsuit is one of several recently filed against mortgage-modification companies on behalf of homeowners by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and attorneys from the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell.

SIFTING THROUGH CUSTOMER FILES

The homeowners’ attorneys said they are currently sifting through more than 70,000 pages of customer files turned over by the defendants to determine the full scope of the companies’ operations.

The homeowners seek $1.5 million in damages from Homesafe and its successor. They are also asking the court for a permanent order shutting former Homesafe employees out of mortgage-related businesses.

Elliott Martin, the attorney representing Schreiber, Homesafe, and United Legal, said his clients would not comment on the ruling.

But in a July 25 court filing, Martin argued the plaintiffs were trying to “overwhelm” the defendants by demanding thousands of documents in a short time frame.

Schreiber is also attempting to point the finger at his former partner. In a sworn affidavit, Schreiber said Samuel took $180,000 from Homesafe in December, leaving it in “dire financial straits” and unable to recover. Schreiber said he did his best to refund customers’ money, but the company’s customer accounts were frozen in early 2011.

An attorney listed for Samuel did not return a call seeking comment. The dispute over the money transfer is the subject of ongoing litigation in Nassau County.

A trial date in the mortgage modification suit has not been set.

(Reporting by Jessica Dye; editing by Jerry Norton and Andre Grenon)

Dickten Masch buys UPG molding plant in Monterrey, Mexico

NASHOTA, WIS. (Aug. 15, 4:40 p.m. ET) — Dickten Masch Plastics LLC has purchased UPG International Inc.’s Monterrey, Mexico, facility in a move that Dickten Masch said will allow it to serve its customers in more places.

The deal was announced for unspecified terms in an Aug. 15 news release by the two companies. The 105,000-square-foot plant will now operate as DMP Monterrey, S. de R.L. de D.V. and maintain existing employees, customers, equipment and processes.

“Except for the letterhead, we aren’t planning any initial changes,” said Steve Dyer, president and CEO of Nashotah, Wis.-based Dickten Masch. “However, we’re eager to begin working closely with customers there to apply our expertise and market knowledge toward making improvements that save time and money and improve quality.”

The facility has both thermoplastic and thermoset molding with customers in the telecommunications, electronics and automotive industries.

UPG, headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., will be able to concentrate on its core businesses and long-term strategic plans, which includes supplying the medical industry, said CEO Todd Dunn.

Private investment group Patmian LLC, which includes former Moll Industries leader George Votis as the principal investor, bought DMP in 2010 with plans to invest in new regional expansions. DMP Monterrey boosts its presence beyond existing production in Nashotah and Ankeny, Iowa.

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Walk and Talk For Hours Using Shoe Power

The power created from walking creates a bridge from the phone to a cellular network, which dramatically extends battery life. Image courtesy of InSetep NanoPower

Taking the stairs could mean more time between charges for your phone.

Researchers at University of Wisconsin at Madison have developed a shoe insert that uses the impact of your strides to generate electricity for your phone. The prototype “footwear-embedded harvester” consists of two pouches filled with nanoparticle liquid metal called galinstan. It generates electrical current as it is forced through narrow channels, a process the researchers call “reverse electrowetting.” Power is stored in a battery in the arch of the shoe.

Other kinetic energy harvesters use piezoelectrics, which feature crystal sheets that polarize and produce energy through movement. The drawback is the technology generates so little power that an iPhone 4 wouldn’t notice the boost.

The power sneaker features the option to plug a phone into the shoe, but researchers Tom Krupenkin and J. Ashley Taylor sought a less cumbersome approach. They found the biggest draw on your phone’s battery occurs when it’s searching for Wi-Fi or a cell tower signal, so they attached a Wi-Fi transmitter directly to the harvester. The shoe, not the phone, powers the connection to wireless signals. They say that means your battery can last up to 10 times longer.

The device is also able to be directly connected to a phone, which could be useful for soldiers toting night-vision goggles, or marathoners who rely on their iPhone 4’s music for motivation. And with no moving parts, the system requires minimal maintenance, making it a boon for those in areas with little or no electricity.

Krupenkin and Taylor plan to commercialize the technology through their new firm, InStep NanoPower. They’re courting shoe makers to design an incorporated piece of footwear.

Hurricane Irene: Hanover prepares for Sunday storm

With Hurricane Irene predicted to impact the area on Sunday, emergency management teams across southern New England have been meeting to prepare for the storm.

In Hanover, Fire Chief Jeffrey Blanchard said he, along with Hanover Police Chief Walter Sweeney, Town Manager Stephen Rollins, Community Service Director Tony Marino and DPW Director Victor Diniak, among others, sat in on a conference call with MEMA (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency) and Governor Deval Patrick Friday morning.

“Though things can change, at this moment weather forecasters are saying we’ll have significant impact from the storm,” Blanchard said Friday afternoon. “They are anticipating the eye of the storm will pass to the west of Hanover and that we’ll get the east of the eye wall.”

He said that by being on the east of the hurricane’s eye, Hanover would be hit with more wind than rain.

“Based on the strength of the storm right now and what they anticipate the strength of the storm to be when it arrives on Sunday, it could be a tropical force sustained wind with hurricane force wind gusts,” Blanchard said.

He said the wind is anticipated to peak on Sunday sometime in late afternoon or early evening.

“This will translate into some significant tree damage,” Blanchard said of the wind. “There will be lots of tree limbs down that will in turn bring a lot of power lines down.”

He said “extreme caution” should be used regarding any downed wire.

“I ask that everybody treat down lines, whether they be power, phone or cable lines – as if they are energized,” he said. “Stay away from them. Especially, let children know to steer clear.”

He also recommended that people use flashlights instead of candles in the event of a power outage, and that everyone should have an emergency supply kit handy.

“This should be able to sustain every member of the household for three days,” he said.

The emergency supply kit should contain non-perishable food items, all necessary medications, first-aid supplies, and important paperwork that includes identification and bank records along with the names and contact information of family and friends in the event of an emergency.

Blanchard said when buying water to remember that one-gallon of water per person per day is what is necessary.

Pets need to also be considered.

There needs to be enough food and water to carry them for three days as well, in addition to any medications they might require.

Animals should be brought indoors if at all possible.

For larger animals, barns and shelters should be secured. Outdoor animals should also be moved away from any items that could project through the air with the wind that might cause injury.

Blanchard also stressed that caution be used for those using emergency generators.

“Anyone using a generator should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use, and should only use approved extension chords that aren’t damaged,” he said. “Also, make sure the generator is placed outside and away from structures or anywhere the exhaust could enter the house, like in a garage.”

This is critical, Blanchard said, to avoid any tragedies with carbon monoxide poisoning.

“People need to be prepared,” he said. “They need to take things seriously.”

Blanchard said the town would be utilizing local cable television, local radio stations, local Internet news sites, and the fire, police and town websites as a means to keep residents updated.

“Whatever media outlets are available to us we’ll use to let people know what’s going on,” he said.

He said the Hanover Fire Department and the Hanover Police Department would also be posting updates on Twitter at hanoverfire and hanoverpolice.

As for shelters, on Friday Blanchard said that the plan was to open the high school if needed.

The town would also be utilizing regional shelters.

Ruth Thompson can be reached at .