Sex / Health / Fitness: Party drugs: Our ups and downs
Posted: September 9, 2012 at 4:23 am
Thousands of gay and bisexual men around Sydney have answered probing questions about their recreational drug use and now some interesting recent trends can be revealed.
Among the variety of topics tackled each year by the Gay Community Periodic Survey, the National Centre in HIV Social Research and ACON regularly asks about the use of Ecstasy, Crystal, Amphetamines, GHB, Cocaine and Injecting Drugs. The information gathered help to identify and tackle any health issues the use of these substances may have on our population.
International and Australian research suggests that gay men are traditionally more likely to use recreational substances, with their use of them beginning at a younger age and sustaining for longer in their lives. As Sydney is among the gay party capitals of the world, we might expect that our nightlife scene is one of the reasons people arrive in our city, so getting accurate information helps with ACONs support and harm minimisation work.
The Periodic Survey has been undertaken each year since in the mid 1990s. This means we can compare changes and trends over multiple years. Thousands of men have been surveyed, accessed from up to twenty different sites including bars, gyms, saunas, health clinics and Mardi Gras Fair Day. Over the last five years, 2,200-3,200 individual surveys were handed back, giving a reasonable statistical sample with a stable average age.
Recent results indicate theres a downwards trend emerging
Asked if theyd used ecstasy in the previous six months, theres a decline from above 40% to below 30% last year.
Crystal and Amphetamine use is also dropping.
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Sex / Health / Fitness: Party drugs: Our ups and downs
MU expands online education by $2.5 million
Posted: at 4:22 am
By Andrew Beasley
Published as a part of Maneater v. 79, Issue 5
While MU adapts to the largest freshman class in school history, expansions are also being made in the virtual campus of Mizzou Online.
Looked upon as an investment, MU is directing $2.5 million to the development of distance education.
The money will be used to help with the development of 10 to 15 new online degree programs within the next few years, said Jim Spain, vice provost for undergraduate studies and interim vice provost for e-learning. These will add to the 66 programs currently available throughout the University.
With 696 courses, 590 offered online and 106 through off-campus centers, the school provides distance education to all areas of the United States as well as international students, Spain said.
With 2,900 students enrolled in distance programs and 9,000 students taking online courses, the faculty has to find ways to deal with the issue of academic integrity.
We spend quite a bit of time working to prevent academic dishonesty, whether that be through a random question generator or requiring students to take proctored exams, Spain said. For international students well work with international institutions and request their cooperation for proctoring exams.
According to the Mizzou Online website, distance education began more than a century ago with the development of Correspondence Study with the help of the postal service.
Although mail-in courses have since ceased to be offered, the success of the program speaks for itself. MU is ranked second in the SEC for a number of programs offered and third overall in the American Association of Universities, Spain said.
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MU expands online education by $2.5 million
Bikram yoga helps to rejuvenate students
Posted: September 8, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Meditation or exercise? When it comes to Bikram yoga, the answer seems to be both. The practice of Bikram yoga entails a 90 minute yoga class within a room heated to a steamy 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
Invented by Bikram Choudhury, a yoga guru and National India Yoga Championfor three consecutive years, Bikram yoga consists of 26 different postures interconnected with two different breathing exercises.
Photo courtesy of 1.bp.blogspot.com
The combination of physically strenuous poses and intensive breathing discipline aims to achieve internal detoxification and rejuvenation, when executed properly.
Conveniently located near Wake Forest, a Bikram yoga studio rightly named Bikram Yoga exists in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem.
This studio adheres to the strict qualifications of room temperature, size, decor and humidity levels that all Bikram studios must follow.
As for the classes, Bikram Yoga exclusively follows the routine of 26 postures, both seated and standing, which were invented by Choudhury to systematically move fresh, oxygenated blood to one hundred percent of your body, to each organ and fiber, restoring all systems to healthy working order, just as Nature intended (Bikrams Yoga College of India).
The warmth of the class and mirrored walls allow for maximum stretching of heated muscles and visual concentration on bodily alignment in the mirrors reflection.
I was lucky enough to chat with Grant Gilbert, a Bikram yoga regular and university senior, about what draws him into the Bikram yoga practice.
In true spirit, he paused and referenced the studios whiteboard that hangs adjacent to the front door.
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Bikram yoga helps to rejuvenate students
June-Marie Raw Food and Fitness Health Fashion fun 017 – Video
Posted: at 1:19 pm
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June-Marie Raw Food and Fitness Health Fashion fun 017 - Video
Deal settles developers' dispute over Bellevue project
Posted: at 1:17 pm
Originally published September 7, 2012 at 8:22 PM | Page modified September 7, 2012 at 9:58 PM
Bellevue Square developer Kemper Freeman Jr. and Seattle-based development firm Wright Runstad may still be competing for tenants for their ambitious projects on opposite sides of Interstate 405.
But they're no longer fighting over the traffic Wright Runstad's planned Spring District project will bring to the Bel-Red Corridor and roads leading downtown.
After three years of conflict which played out in last year's City Council elections the battle came to a close this week before a city hearing examiner: The two developers reached agreement on what's needed to make sure roads don't become gridlocked.
Freeman's Kemper Development and Wright Runstad signed on to a four-way deal Thursday that will allow construction of 1.5 million square feet of office space in The Spring District without further traffic studies.
But Wright Runstad and its partner, Shorenstein Properties, will be required to do a detailed analysis of future traffic congestion before building the remainder of the 5.4 million-square-foot project on the site of a former Safeway distribution center.
The Spring District is expected to bring 13,000 office workers, 2,135 residents and 10,000 parking spaces, sparking redevelopment of the 900-acre industrial area east of downtown. Sound Transit plans to open a light-rail station on the site in 2023.
Kemper, Wright Runstad, the Brierwood Center strip mall and the city of Bellevue signed the agreement after two days of testimony before the hearing examiner. Kemper and Brierwood withdrew their appeal of The Spring District's master plan approval in exchange for the city requiring a future study of cumulative traffic impacts.
The city previously had decided that a traffic study for the entire Bel-Red Corridor, together with phased studies of The Spring District impacts, was sufficient.
The hearing examiner is continuing to take testimony on a separate appeal by Lake Bellevue condominium and business owners, who fear the nearby development could bring flooding, water pollution, a drop in the lake's water level and possible damage to buildings built on peaty soils.
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Deal settles developers' dispute over Bellevue project
Unprecedented Donation by Korean Stem Cell Leader: Dr. Jeong-Chan Ra of RNL Bio announces the donation of 90% of his …
Posted: at 1:17 pm
SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Jeong-Chan Ra, founder and largest shareholder of RNL Bio (www.rnl.co.kr),an international biotechnology research and development firm, has pledged to give away 90% of his personal wealth over the next 10 years to promote social causes consistent with the values of human life. Dr. Ra will donate 90% privately owned equity, equity-related bonds, warrants and other assets of RNL Bio Co. and RNL Bio affiliates to the following four non-profit organizations: Bethesda Life Foundation, Yesung Medical Corporation, Academia Christiana of Korea, and Central Christian Academy.
Since 2009, Dr. Ra, based on the value of respect for human life, has supported various causes that promote social justice, access to health care, and wellness across the lifespan. A donation of $1M from Dr. Ra established the Bethesda Life Foundation (http://www.bethesdalife.org/index.php/donate), a nonprofit organization for social welfare, committed to providing patients with chronic rare diseases with access to medical care and life-saving therapies.
Through his donation, Dr. Ra wants to continue his healthcare support for those with retractable diseases as well as support for educating children of underprivileged patients with such diseases. Dr. Ra "hoped that this donation becomes the turning point for RNL Bio to fulfill its responsibility as a society helping enterprise." He also explained that while he continues to serve as a stem cell scientist at RNL Stem Cell Technology Institute he plans to focus his efforts upon the research on finding cure of rare chronic diseases.
Dr. Ra's gift is made in the spirit of other major corporate leaders worldwide who have become instrumental philanthropists by converting their personal fortune into a foundation for good, including Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Bill Clinton. Dr. Ra is mirroring Mr. Buffet and Mr. Gates' contributions that were made in late 2010 for the wealthy to donate at least 50% of their personal wealth.
A Commitment to Healing and Social Justice
< Bethesda Life Foundation > Bethesda Life Foundation supports patients of rare and chronic disease in the socially and economically underprivileged class with various medical help. The mission of Bethesda Life Foundation is, based on the value life-respect, for all mankind to enjoy a healthy and happy life.
< Yesung Medical Corporation > Yesung Medical Corporation operates the Bethesda General Hospital, located in Yangsan, Korea and the hospital has advanced in specializing theregenerative medicine using adult stem cell research and technology. With the realization of 100-year longevity utilizing stem cells as the mission, the corporation is enhancing the medical technology of respect for life.
< Academia Christiana of Korea > Academia Christiana was established in order to contribute to establish the mental discipline of the country and people by Christian studies to meet the growth and development of the Church in Korea. Academia Christiana of Korea has been organizing academic seminars and public lectures, publishing academic research papers and operating Ulaanbaatar University in Mongol.
< Central Christian Academy School Corporation > Founder Pastor Billy Kim and his wife were sent out to return to Korea in 1959 as missionaries from the Christian Service Center, an international mission organization, based in Ohio, USA and appointed to Suwon Central Baptist Church. After establishing Central Kindergarten in 1978, he obtained the lot in Woncheon-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon, Korea, received the approval of School Corporation to open the Central Christian School to achieve the goal of nurturing Christians to become the world's salt and light through cooperation of homes, schools and churches.
NFL Week 1 Lines Call for Texans to Roll, AFC West Nail-Biter on ‘Monday Night Football’
Posted: at 8:16 am
The first week of the NFL season can be an odd one.
It's the first time since February that football games actually mean something, and it can sometimes take a little while to knock the rust off.
There's also not much we can go off of. Sure, we can look back on a slate of four preseason games, but that's an excercise in futility more often than not. Starters' playing time is severely limited in exhibition games, and teams are understandably guarded about how much of their playbook they're willing to put on tape.
So when it comes to handicapping the first week, things are never easy. With that in mind, here are this week's lines via Bovada.lv.
Indianapolis at Chicago (-9.5)
Colts rookie quarterback Andrew Luck gets his first taste of the NFL's regular season when he and the Colts take their show on the road to take on an improved Bears team.
Philadelphia (-9.5) at Cleveland
Is this the year the Eagles' dynasty finally takes flight? They'll get their first chance to flex their muscles against a likely hapless Browns club in Cleveland to open the season.
Buffalo at New York Jets (-3)
The Jets' circus gets under way under the big top at the Meadowlands, and it won't be easy with the improved Bills ready to prove that their offseason investments were money well spent.
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NFL Week 1 Lines Call for Texans to Roll, AFC West Nail-Biter on 'Monday Night Football'
Lululemon to continue global expansion in yoga, running apparel
Posted: at 8:16 am
Despite some setbacks, yoga retail phenomenon Lululemon Athletica Inc. continues to defy its doubters after reporting an almost 50-per-cent jump in quarterly profit to $57.2-million and boosting its 2012 outlook, resulting in its shares soaring more than 12 per cent.
Chief executive officer Christine Day said the retailer is learning from its mistakes, including problems of bleeding colour dyes and discontinuing a popular pair of loose-fitting pants, which prompted customer complaints.
Lululemon was forced to apologize about the bleeding garments on its Facebook page in July. On Friday, it said it would bring back its so-called still loose-fit pants in a reinvented way.
It was such a mistake to ease out the still pant, Ms. Day told analysts. But customers can rest assured weve heard their feedback.
Lululemon manages to respond to problems and even profit from changes it makes to correct them. At the same time, it has turned another snag into part of its business model: Although it is getting better at stocking enough products to keep up with customer demand, it still limits the merchandise it carries on its e-commerce site to create higher demand, minimize clearance sales of excess inventory and ensure customers dont show up at yoga class just to find everyone else dressed in the same Lululemon outfit.
Even so, the retailer grapples with complaints about bleeding clothes and other snafus, which surface quickly on Facebook and other social media, becoming an instant public-relations challenge.
As customer Reyna Yamamoto wrote on the retailers Facebook page earlier this year: In the future could you please test your dyes before production and make sure they dont bleed? I have been staying away from so many of your recent colours lately because of this.
Ms. Day said on Friday that while Lululemons Paris pink hue and other bright neon colours posed problems, the difficulties didnt materially hurt Lululemons financial results.
She said the problems were isolated and the the company hired a colour expert who taught Luulemon a lot of great new tricks ... So the silver lining in having an issue with Paris pink was that it created actually more opportunity.
By making some changes and working with manufacturers and mills, we feel very comfortable now with the product and being able to do our strategic intent, which is push colours and maintain quality, Ms. Day said.
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Lululemon to continue global expansion in yoga, running apparel
Yoga Aid World Challenge set for Sept. 9 at Sportsplex of Halfmoon
Posted: at 8:16 am
By GLENN GRIFFITH ggriffith@saratogian.com
CLIFTONPARK Southern Saratoga County yoga practioners will join with instructors and others from across the globe Sunday for a yoga relay fundraiser.
The Yoga Aid World Challenge starts in Sydney, Australia, and ends in Los Angles after a relay of two-hour-long yoga classes around the world. It is a first attempt at an international yoga relay.
The Clifton Park portion of the relay will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 9 at the Sportsplex of Halfmoon, 6 Corporate Drive off Route 9.
The worldwide 24-hour event is designed to raise $1 million for three charities, Yoga Across America, the Africa Yoga Project, and Off the Mat Into the World.
Six yogi teachers from Albany, Latham, Clifton Park, Ballston and Saratoga Springs will take part in the event at the Sports|plex.
The event organizer for Clifton Park is Melissa Leach. We are so excited to be bringing the Yoga Aid World Challenge to the Capital Region, Leach said. The Clifton Park event will feature amazing teachers coming together from around the Capital Region. It is a unique opportunity to raise funds for marvelous organizations and to unite our yoga community on a local and global level.
Beginning in Sydney, yogis around the globe will participate in a series of local coordinated yoga classes resulting in a chain reaction ending in Los Angeles. The Clifton Park event is one of 200 held worldwide and coordinated by Yoga Aid, a six-year-old international non-profit which supports humanitarian charities and cultivates an attitude of giving back in yogis.
The Yoga Aid World Challenge allows yogis to use yoga as a vehicle to give to others less fortunate, said Clive Mayhew, co-founder of Yoga Aid.
Leach is encouraging all yogis in the area to take part in the local Yoga Aid World Challenge, a free community yoga class for charity. She recommends they register online at: http://www.yogaaid.com Upon registering yogis will receive a fundraising webpage for donations.
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Yoga Aid World Challenge set for Sept. 9 at Sportsplex of Halfmoon
Corepower Yoga Opens Tenth San Diego Studio
Posted: at 8:16 am
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CorePower Yoga (www.corepoweryoga.com) a yoga brand committed to making yoga accessible to all, opened its tenth San Diego yoga studio location in Del Mar today. CorePower Yoga -- Del Mar provides San Diego residents and visitors with a community passionate about healthy living, a great workout and the mind-body connection.
"Del Mar is the perfect community for CorePower Yoga because of the neighborhood's culture of health and wellness," said Kim Bauman, manager of the new studio. "We look forward to our studio becoming an integral part of the community where our passionate instructors can help people live extraordinary lives through yoga."
CorePower Yoga -- Del Mar will offer the company's dynamic Power Yoga in beginner to advanced formats, Yoga Sculpt and Hot Power Fusion. All classes feature popular music and promote physical and mental benefits. Lifestyle programs such as boot camps and wellness classes are offered to compliment the yoga practice. The Del Mar studio will also offer CorePower Yoga's transformational yoga Teacher Training
CorePower Yoga -- Del Mar is located in the Flower Hill Promenade with Whole Foods and Milton's, on the 2nd level next to Pannikin, and can be conveniently accessed from the 5. The studio houses two large climate-controlled practice spaces, men's and women's locker rooms with fully stocked showers and a retail boutique featuring popular yoga apparel brands.
All new CorePower Yoga students receive one week of unlimited free yoga classes. A variety of membership and class package options are available.
For more information, visit corepoweryoga.com.
About CorePower Yoga
CorePower Yoga's unique and physically challenging style of heated power yoga combines energy, music, movement and community to create a one-of-a-kind yoga experience. CorePower Yoga offers a variety of classes catering to all levels including CorePower Yoga, its distinguishing heated Power Yoga, Hot Yoga, Hot Power Fusion, Yoga Pilates, Yoga Sculpt, a Vinyasa flow combined with weights, and CoreRestore, a restorative yoga practice. All yoga classes encompass a wide variety of asanas, or poses, and are taught by certified yoga instructors. In addition to yoga classes, CorePower Yoga offers transformative integrated wellness programs and Yoga Teacher Trainings to empower students to live a health-focused and extraordinary life.
Media Contact: Holly Georgelos (303) 863-9642 X 1006 holly@corepoweryoga.com
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