Peata blog

Ala. lab is 1st defense for radiation from Japan

At a government laboratory in Alabama, workers in blue coats unload envelopes packed with small filters that trapped air particles in Hawaii, Alaska and elsewhere. The discs are placed in lead-lined, barrel-like devices for testing to make sure no traces of radioactive materials have wafted across the Pacific Ocean from Japan.

So far, the sea breeze in places like Honolulu is no more dangerous than the pollen-laden air of the Deep South, according to officials. Still, the 60 or so workers in the 72,000-square-foot building will be the first to know if the Japanese disaster spreads harmful amounts of radiation to the U.S. Minute amounts of radiation from Japan's reactor have spread as far as the U.S. East Coast, though officials say it's less harmful than the radiation people are exposed to on a routine basis.

Using super-sensitive equipment and computers linked to West Coast monitors by satellite connections that download new air-quality data each hour, experts hunched over monitors are scouring the atmosphere for any radioactive materials that could pose a threat to U.S. public health. There's always some radiation in the environment — the testers are looking for abnormally high amounts.

Located on an annex of Maxwell Air Force base just a few miles from Alabama's white-domed Capitol, the Environmental Protection Agency's National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory has added a few extra contract workers because of the threat from Japan, officials say. And, as a precaution, it plans an early start to an annual program that tests milk for traces of radiation.

"I don't expect to see anything, but we'll have the data if we're asked for it," lab director Ronald G. Fraass said.

An electric plant with six nuclear reactors on Japan's northeast shore was badly damaged by the earthquake and tsunami that struck March 11, prompting mass evacuations as the plant spewed radiation into the environment. Since then in Japan, radiation has been found in raw milk, seawater and 11 kinds of vegetables grown near the complex.

President Barack Obama, other leaders and scientists have tried to assure Americans that radiation from the Japanese disaster doesn't pose a threat to the United States, but a hotline set up by health officials in California still was flooded with more than 1,000 calls about radiation.

And across the country, people have been ordering potassium iodide. The pills protect the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine, but they protect no other body parts nor against any other radioactive elements. Health officials have said there is no need to stock up on the pills.

The EPA's monitoring system is aimed at providing another layer of assurance.

Long before the Japanese quake became a nuclear scare, EPA had a network of 124 monitoring stations scattered nationwide from California to Maine that were deployed mostly because of the threat of nuclear terrorism after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The boxlike devices have bell-shaped inlets that constantly pull in air and test it for radiation. Data from those sites is sent by satellite links to the Alabama laboratory, where technicians monitor it constantly on computers for any unusual spikes.

After the earthquake, Fraass said, the agency added seven additional monitors in Hawaii, Alaska, Saipan and Guam as a first line of defense to detect any dangerous radiation moving across the Pacific Ocean. Expected to detect radiation amounts as little as a single hundredth of the government's level of concern, the fixed monitors actually are detecting far smaller amounts, he said.

"Our system in the field is quite adequate to be able to see anything that would be of concern to the public," Fraass said.

Aside from the digital monitoring, the detection devices are outfitted with circular white fiber filters that are bombarded with air pulled in from the environment. Those filters are removed twice weekly and sent by regular mail to the lab in Montgomery. The filters are small and the amount of radiation they contain poses no health risk to postal workers, Fraass said.

None of the tests run since the Japanese earthquake has detected dangerous amounts of radiation, he said. And the stepped-up monitoring is expected to continue until the last traces of radioactivity linked to the Japanese crisis are gone.

"Right now we're only seeing a few that would trigger even a tenth of the level we normally count at, so in effect we're not seeing anything that should be any concern for the American people," Fraass said.

J-Lo at Obama Super Bowl Party

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Actress and music diva Jennifer Lopez will top the bill at US President Barack Obama's annual Super Bowl party on Sunday, as the Green Bay Packers take on the Pittsburgh Steelers for the NFL championship.

J-Lo will be joined by husband Marc Anthony at the White House party, also featuring top officials including Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, a senior US official said.

At one point, Obama had high hopes for the big title game, as his beloved Chicago Bears made it to the semi-final stage, but were knocked out by the Packers, the pride of Wisconsin.

Obama will be seeking a piece of the Super Bowl XLV action himself on Sunday, as he will grant a rare interview to Fox television's conservative talk show host Bill O'Reilly as part of the network's build-up to the big game.

Media-X Brings Collaborative Learning to the iPad

New eStudent® program, built for Apple iPad, is now available for demo and feedback from users.

Ottawa, Ontario (Vocus/PRWEB) January 28, 2011

is excited to announce the pre-release of eStudent® for iPad.

“For years, the emphasis has been on getting mobile devices out of the classroom, however we are seeing a surging demand for tools that can effectively integrate mobile technology and enrich the learning process”said Steve Moretti, President/CEO of Media-X.“Users have been very excited about the potential to harness new devices such as the iPad with their students”.

eStudent® opens the door to interactive group collaboration within the classroom for problem solving and high order thinking activities. It also offers flexible, fast content creation for lessons with the ability to push them out, and interact with students in real-time.Key features of the program include:group or private chats monitored by the instructor, group collaboration, media distribution, real-time and offline lessons and quizzes, self-reporting and reflection, learning journals, homework notes, calendars, reminders and more.

“As a company we have developed mobile applications and systems for teachers and administrators” said Paul Shuster, VP of Training and Product Development for Media-X.“Expanding that to the learning environment for student use was the logical next step and we are very excited at the possibilities it brings for our users. The iPad offers so many convenient, effective and engaging possibilities in the classroom, plus it is a comfortable device."

Media-X will be demonstrating eStudent® and seeking feedback in several locations including: FETC in Orlando Feb 1-3, 2011, TCEA in Austin Feb 8-11 and NCCE March 1-4.For a full list of upcoming events please visit our website at .

MORE INFORMATION

Steve Moretti, steve(at)media-x(dot)com, 613-722-9990 ext. 106Paul Shuster, paul(at)media-x(dot)com, 613-722-9990 ext. 109 Media-X Systems, founded in 1996, is a software development company providing innovative products and services to over 800 K-12 school districts in the US and Canada. Media-X technology is also used to power solutions from a variety of strategic partners.

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Bonnie HomewoodMedia-X Systems888-722-9990 113Email Information

London is Newest Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International

Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) welcomes London as the 28th chapter of this one-of-a-kind international philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) December 2, 2010

Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) welcomes London as the 28th chapter of this one-of-a-kind international philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality.Collectively, the chapters have raised and awarded more than $4 million in culinary scholarships for female students and/or emerging female professionals.

Newly elected officers of the London chapter are: Valentina Harris, president; Jacqueline Pickles, vice president; and Susan Carter, secretary and treasurer. Founding members of the London chapter include an impressive list of women whose accomplishments range from food writer/filmmaker, chef, food marketer, wine writer, editor, TV personality, teacher, food consultant, home economist, public relations consultant, and the CEO of Slow Food UK.

Sandy Hu, LDEI president, says, “The London chapter brings a group of 15 exceptional women who will provide new insights and vision to the organization. London is currently our only active chapter outside North America.”

The namesake of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, Auguste Escoffier (1846-1935) is recognized as one of the most innovative chefs in history; his philanthropy and accomplishments serve as both model and inspiration to culinarians today. Not only did Escoffier revolutionize and modernize the kitchen and menus, he organized programs to help feed the hungry and financially assist retired chefs. LDEI members illustrate and reflect the philanthropy, exceptional standards and accomplishments of Escoffier. Membership in this prestigious organization is by invitation.

For more information about Les Dames d’Escoffier International, please visit .

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Brenda McDowell(312) 857-7346Email Information

Quebec targets balanced budget by 2013-14

TORONTO (Reuters) – The Quebec government said on Thursday it has cut its deficit by a greater than expected C$1.1 billion ($1.1 billion) this year, and expects to achieve a balanced budget within three years.

The Liberal government of the predominantly French-speaking Canadian province said its budget shortfall for the 2009-10 fiscal year, ended March 31, was C$3.2 billion instead of its projected C$4.3 billion, marking a deficit that was 25 percent lower than expected because of higher revenues.

But the province also expects to boost reserves because of the fragile global economic recovery, particularly in the United States. It expects to add contingency allowances over the next three fiscal years, which will push up deficit forecasts.

Quebec expects its deficit to stand at C$4.6 billion for 2010-11, C$3.2 billion for 2011-12 and C$1.4 billion for 2012-13.

In March, it had projected the deficit narrowing to C$2.9 billion in 2011-12 and to C$1.2 billion the following year. [ID:nN30169434]

Finance Minister Raymond Bachand said the Quebec government would meet its goal to eliminate the budget shortfall by 2013-14 through measures to further rein in spending growth.

The government said its budget target might also get help from stronger economic growth, additional federal transfers, or bigger gains from spending cuts. It said it has already pinpointed C$5.2 billion in measures to cut spending growth.

"The government's plan is credible," Bachand said in a statement.

"We have adopted a plan and, as anticipated, we are implementing it at a time when economic growth is occurring ... Budgetary balance will be restored within three years. We are staying on course," he said.

($1=$1.00 Canadian)

(Reporting by Ka Yan Ng; editing by Rob Wilson)