What’s possible when a group of scientists are inspired by a famous superhero and a giant creature from the sea? How about a new technology for stopping drivers in their tracks?

Fleeing drivers are a common problem for law enforcement. They just won’t stop unless persuaded—persuaded by bullets, barriers, spikes, or snares. Each option is risky business. Shooting up a fugitive’s car is one possibility. But what if children or hostages are in it? Lay down barriers, and the driver might swerve into a school bus. Spike his tires, and he might fishtail into a van—if the spikes stop him at all. Existing traps, made from elastic, may halt a Hyundai, but they’re no match for a Hummer. In addition, officers put themselves at risk of being run down while setting up the traps.

But what if an officer could lay down a road trap in seconds, then activate it from a nearby hiding place? What if—like sea monsters of ancient lore—the trap could reach up from below to ensnare anything from a MINI Cooper to a Ford Expedition? What if this trap were as small as a spare tire, as light as a tire jack, and cost under a grand?

Thanks to imaginative design and engineering funded by the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Office of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), such a trap may be stopping brigands by 2010. It’s called the Safe Quick Undercarriage Immobilization Device, or SQUID. When closed, the current prototype resembles a cheese wheel full of holes. When open (deployed), it becomes a mass of tentacles entangling the axles. By stopping the axles instead of the wheels, SQUID may change how fleeing drivers are, quite literally, caught.

The 1.5-foot-wide disc was conceived and developed by Engineering Science Analysis Corporation (ESA) of Tempe, Arizona. S&T’s Borders and Maritime Security Division manages the project.

“SQUID was inspired by a sea creature and a superhero,” says ESA president Marti­n Martinez. Like its oceanic namesake, SQUID ensnares its prey with sticky tendrils. Like Spiderman’s webbing, these tendrils stretch to absorb the kinetic energy of their fleeing target.

Huge amounts of such counterforce are necessary to stop a heavy, swift vehicle: Think Spiderman II, where Spidey stretched his webbing for blocks to halt a runaway passenger train. The force nearly killed him. Martinez took a different approach that would have made Spidey proud: Don’t fight the Force; just stop the axles from turning. Do that and you can stop (almost) anything with wheels.
Can it really work? Marti­nez and DHS think so. In the summer of 2008, a SQUID prototype safely stopped a 35 mph pickup truck (see video). That’s a good start, but before SQUID can be marketed, law enforcement officers need proof that it has the fiber to stop a 5,000-pound vehicle—about the heft of a Ford F-150 pickup—speeding at 120 miles per hour.

Beyond performance, SQUID will need to satisfy other demands of law enforcement. “We must make it lighter,” says Mark Kaczmarek, the S&T SQUID program manager. “Also, more affordable, so it becomes the stopper of choice, regardless of budget.” Finally, SQUID must be rugged, reliable, and capable of being reloaded. These goals will be pursued in 2009, as ESA teams with Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Corporation (PSEMC) of Chandler, Arizona.

Meanwhile, the spidery disc has lured the interest of state and local police as well as federal agencies such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In response to concerns about whether criminals will see the disc, SQUID may be reborn as a centipede—that happens to look like a speed bump.

Martinez and Kaczmarek hope their spidery cephalopod will spawn a generation of offspring—in this case, a family of nonlethal stopping devices for land, sea, and air”¦all based on the same sticky principle, less is more. “If bad guys need ‘inspiration’ to comply,” says a smiling Marti­nez, “we’ll be glad to inspire them.”

Popularity: 31% [?]

A quotidian traffic stop was the site of a large illegal immigration bust this morning, with 18 suspected illegals found among two vehicles on Interstate 10.

An Arizona DPS officer flagged down two vehicles following each other closely near McQueen Road and Chandler Heights at around 5 a.m., with one of the vehicles fleeing into a nearby ditch. A woman, 10 males and a nine year old girl were found huddled together in the stopped vehicle, while one female and five males were later found running away.

The occupants of both vehicles were extremely dehydrated and deprived of sustenance, stemming from a three day stint in the desert. DPS officials supplied them with water and other forms of nourishment.

Both vehicles in question were reportedly stolen and linked to a smuggling ring, and the drivers of both were among the detained.

Popularity: 31% [?]

Phoenix-based EPCOR Water Inc. has entered into an agreement for the acquisition of 100% of the stock of Arizona American Water and New Mexico American Water, wholly owned subsidiaries of American Water Works Company Inc. for total consideration of US $470 million, subject to certain adjustments. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals in both states.

Arizona American Water is a regulated utility that provides water service to approximately 106,000 metered water customers and wastewater services to 51,000 customers. These customers live in 13 municipalities, 90% of which are located within a 20 mile radius in the Phoenix area.

New Mexico American Water provides water and wastewater services to the City of Clovis in eastern New Mexico, and in the greater Edgewood area near Albuquerque, serving more than 17,000 customers.

“This investment is consistent with EPCOR’s strategy of redeploying funds from the sale of our investment in Capital Power Corporation into quality rate regulated businesses. When complete, the transaction will provide EPCOR USA with a strong hub in the U.S. southwest,” said Don Lowry, EPCOR President and CEO. “This acquisition provides a combination of competent and committed people who have a top notch safety record, solid assets, and presence in a market where we have confidence in the long-term growth prospects.”

Mr. Lowry added, “We look forward to continuing the high level of service provided by American Water and participating in the lives of the communities where we will be operating. We will work with American Water and state regulators to make a timely and seamless transition.”

The US $470 million acquisition includes the assumption of approximately $10 million of long-term debt by EPCOR Water Inc. and is subject to regulatory approval by the Arizona Corporation Commission and New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, which is anticipated in the first quarter of 2012. The acquisition will be funded with a combination of cash and debt financing. TD Securities is EPCOR USA’s financial advisor on this transaction.

Arizona American Water employs approximately 200 people, while New Mexico American Water has 25 staff. Once the transaction closes, it is anticipated they will continue to operate the utilities within the EPCOR family.

Popularity: 47% [?]

Notable Christian recording artists Moses and Erica Lugemye of The Springs Church in Chandler commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Haiti earthquake with the release of their new song “Alive.” All proceeds from sales of the song will benefit the Youth With A Mission Haiti Homes of Hope program, which provides concrete houses for homeless people in Haiti.

The strongest earthquake in over 200 years struck Haiti just before 5 pm local time on January 12th, 2010. Over 230,000 people were killed, many thousands were injured, and 1.5 million were left homeless. Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Haiti earthquake, and an estimated 1 million people are still homeless.

When asked about the inspiration for the song, Moses replied, “Alive was born through watching a television broadcast from Haiti where children could be heard singing in the midst of the rubble. The song is a passionate declaration of hope over the nation of Haiti, set to an Afro-Caribbean beat with prayers from East Africa. At the end of the song we sing in French so the people of Haiti can understand the message of hope we’re sending.” He added, “We know that many Haiti earthquake anniversary events are being held all over the United States and the world. We wanted to do our part and release this song to help provide hope for people who still find themselves in a very desperate situation.”

All of the proceeds of Alive will benefit YWAM Haiti Homes of Hope. Said Erica, “I was involved with Youth With A Mission during a home build in Mexico, and having experienced it first-hand, am excited to be able to help the people of Haiti in the same way.”

According to Terry Snow, YWAM Haiti Director, “‘Homes of Hope’ is the proven answer for the recovery of earthquake victims! Building strong homes which provide shelter and refuge for both the poorest of the poor and the earthquake victims, we are seeing the nation transformed. We continue to build each day and look at the future with joy as more families who had no home are able to move into permanent dwellings.”

The new song Alive can be previewed and downloaded from iTunes or Lugemye.com:

Popularity: 36% [?]

Sixteen student teams from 11 states have been named winners in the first round of the fourth annual Lexus Eco Challenge, an educational program and contest that inspires young people to learn about the environment and take action to improve it.  Lexus will award a total of $500,000 in grants and scholarships throughout this year’s program.

Students across the country demonstrated their commitment to the planet with programs aimed at protecting land and water.  Each winning team has earned $10,000 in scholarships and grants to be shared among the students, teacher and school.  Their win has secured each team an invitation to participate in the Final Challenge for a chance at one of two $30,000 grand prizes and eight $15,000 first-place awards. In addition, the winning action plans will be featured on a special Web page to inspire other students to take action in their communities.

“It’s great to see so many different ways the students have delved into their projects,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager.  ”This goes to show that there is a never-ending supply of environmental issues and these students are finding many unique and exceptional ways to take action and improve our environment.”

For each of the challenges, teams are required to define an environmental issue that is important to them, develop an action plan to address the issue, implement the plan, and report on the results.  The Challenge #1 winning teams that best addressed environmental challenges associated with land and water are:

High School Teams:

• New York (LaGrangeville) – “Team CORAL” – Arlington High – Focused on loss of biodiversity, specifically coral reefs.
• New York (LaGrangeville) – “Wet hands in the Wetlands” – Arlington High – Centered on preservation of aquatic habitats and shrinking wetlands.
• Alabama (Hoover) – “Team Cahaba” – Hoover High School – Zeroed in on protecting the species in the Cahaba River by spearheading the 1st Bi-Annual Cahaba River Biodiversity Blitz.
• North Carolina (Buxton) – “Hatteras Green Eco Team” –  Cape Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies – Focused on educating, protecting and preserving Hatteras Island, a fragile barrier island habitat.
• Oklahoma (Red Rock) – “Recyclinators” – Frontier Public Schools – Organized and promoted recycling of pop cans to address pollution.
• Ohio (Chesterland) – “Environmental Discovery Project” – West Geauga High School – Proposed, lobbied and helped passage of Spotted Salamander bill into Ohio’s law in order to address Ohio’s disappearing wetlands.
• California (La Crescenta) – “Eco Savers 2010″ – Clark Magnet High School – Addressed the threat to waterways and oceans and its effects on the lobster population, with a specific focus on California spiny lobsters, Panulirus interruptus.
• Arizona (Chandler) – “Once Upon a Tree” Hamilton Prep – Directed their efforts of preventing desertification by planting trees in Tonto National Forest.

Middle School Teams:

• New Jersey (Hoboken) – “The Eco Saints” – All Saints Episcopal Day School – Led massive effort in banning plastic bags in their community.
• New Jersey (Manahawkin) – “The Kreepy Krawlers” – All Saints Regional Catholic School – Focused on saving the woodlands, trees and forests from gypsy moths, leaf eating moths.
• Florida (Lakeland) – “Eco Med” – Lawton Chiles Middle Academy - Centered on educating the community on eco-friendly ways to dispose of unwanted medicines.
• Florida (Lakeland) – “Eco Wash” – Lawton Chiles Middle Academy – Concentrated on educating the community about eco-friendly ways to wash cars and reduce phosphate pollution in their lakes.
• Iowa (Charles City) – “Eco Chicks” –  Charles City Middle School – Educated the community about the importance of bees and how to save hives from destruction.
• Michigan (Fruitport) – Fruitport Team Eco – Fruitport Middle School – Took on building a rain garden to address the run-off of water that flowed into their local stream.
• California (Pasadena) – Lunch Bunch – High Point Academy – Created and implemented a campaign to reduce waste from lunches.
• California (Hillsborough) – SPEW – The Nueva School – Embarked on raising water conservation awareness by launching a successful argument against the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s effort to divert water.

This year’s Lexus Eco Challenge launched on Sept. 27, 2010, and concludes with the announcement of the first place and grand-prize-winning teams during Earth Month in April 2011.  Challenge #2, which asks students to address the environmental challenges for air and climate, is currently underway and has an entry deadline of Jan. 19, 2011.

Popularity: 45% [?]

A local man was a part of a history making trip that could very well have found the final resting place of famed aviator Amelia Earhart.

Karl Kern, 61 of Chandler spent the better part of three  weeks scouring a small island named Nikumaroro for evidence of the castaway Amelia Earhart, whose plane went down amid much confusion and mystery over the Pacific in 1937 as she attempted to fly around the world. He went with a Delaware group known as The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, or TIGHAR -  a group that has been to the island a total of nine times.

The expedition Kern was a part of ended in June, a journey that ended with some bone fragments and part of a jackknife akin to the one Earhart carried with her. They also found a jar that might have contained Dr. Berry’s Freckle Cream – interesting, because Earhart was known to hide her freckles. In addition, evidence of a fire, small animal bones and shells used to collect water were found on the trip.  Parts of a jackknife and a compact were found on the same site in previous searches.

Kern, owner of KRN Aviation in Chandler, sponsored TIGHAR with $50,000 and climbed aboard for the group’s ninth visit to the tiny three mile long island. A 7,000 mile flight to Samoa and a thee day, 700 mile ship ride to the island later, the 22 explorers worked in intense heat to find more evidence of the presence of a human on the island, in hopes that human was Amelia Earhart.

Kern told the East Valley Tribune “One way or another, there was a castaway that died on that island alone. No matter who, it would be interesting to know more about them.”

One-meter squares of the island were searched at a time, a tedious process that was compounded with digging a mere 10 cm into coral rubble – a process that took a team of two an entire day to get through just two square meters. The search for bone here was difficult, according to Kern: “When it’s all sitting together, everything looks like a bone.”

Nevertheless, the team came up with three bones, a massive step forward considering the time spent at Nikumaroro. A bone that looks like a finger bone is being tested at an Oklahoma lab to find out if it contains human DNA. If so, the DNA will be extracted and matched with DNA of Earhart’s relatives. They are also looking into the jar found on the island, researching as to whether or now the container was unique to the freckle cream.

These discoveries are important to the team, because the island was uninhabited at the time of Earhart’s disappearance.

The $4 million trip has turned up much evidence, but the sleuths at TIGHAR are looking to find more. And of Karl Kern’s presence in the last expedition, TIGHAR executive director Richard Gillespie told the East Valley Tribune “Karl was an essential part of this expedition in many ways.”

TIGHAR next hopes to search for a skeleton found on the island in 1940, and they also wish to send a rover into the deep of the atoll to look for Earhart’s twin-engine Electra. Kern has been invited back for future missions.

Popularity: 85% [?]

Throughout the years, the medical staff at Remuda Ranch has found the holidays to be an especially emotionally vulnerable time for individuals with eating disorders.  Since 1990, Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders, like one located in nearby Phoenix, has treated more than 10,000 patients suffering from anorexia, bulimia, anxiety and related issues.

“Family members often want to postpone treatment until after the holidays,” said Lesley Williams, MD, director of medical services at Remuda Ranch.  ”This delay can translate to patients not receiving the care they require during an emotional time when their eating disorder behaviors will likely increase rather than improve.”

Many patients who are in treatment during the holidays do miss their families, but they appreciate having the opportunity to receive help during this difficult time.  The stress of the holidays exacerbates eating disorder behaviors and the safety of an inpatient or residential setting allows them to address their eating disorder without outside distractions.

“Eating disorder patients are definitely affected by the holidays,” adds Dr. Williams.  ”The pressure of seeing family members, potential discussions about their appearance or what they are or aren’t eating can all be very anxiety provoking.  This doesn’t even include the tremendous focus on food at every event during the season.”

Dr. Williams says the body can be compromised physically with eating disorders.  Inadequate nutrition from restriction can make it difficult for the brain and vital organs to function.  Electrolyte imbalances caused by purging behaviors also negatively impact the brain and heart.

“Early intervention is critical,” adds Dr. Williams.  ”The sooner an individual gets help, the easier it is to reverse damage that has been done and it can prevent further harm from occurring.”

Popularity: 45% [?]

The International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals announces its 2011 Symposium March 3-6 at the Pointe Hilton at Squaw Peak in Phoenix. The 24th annual program will bring together eating disorder specialists and medical professionals from across the United States by providing further training on the treatment of disordered eating. As part of the symposium, attendants will be part of the red-carpet premiere of Darryl Robert’s America the Beautiful: Body Mass Index, the sequel to his highly-acclaimed 2008 film America the Beautiful about self-image in the United States. Artist Fritz Liedtke will also exhibit his photography series Skeleton in the Closet. Four keynote speeches, sixteen master training sessions with a renowned faculty, and forty nine workshop presenters round-out the action-packed conference.

Established in 1985, iaedp provides educational programs and training standards for eating disorder specialists and other medical professionals caring for those suffering from the full spectrum of disordered eating. The group offers a highly respected certification process for specializing in eating disorder treatment and provides lectures and presentations for treatment professionals by treatment professionals experienced in all forms of the disease.

The 2011 Symposium offers four days filled with training sessions and instructive presentations including four keynote speakers: Ralph Carson, RD, PhD, Pauline Powers, MD, Peter Levine, PhD, and Kathy Steele. Dr. Carson has been involved in the clinical treatment of obesity and eating disorders for over 30 years and recently published the book Harnessing the Healing Power of Fruit. Dr. Powers is a nationally recognized eating disorders expert, with several books and over seventy published scientific articles about obesity and eating disorders. Dr. Peter Levine is the author of Waking the Tiger and the brand new In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness, where he explores the interconnections between evolutionary neurophysiology, animal behavior and trauma. Kathy Steele co-wrote The Haunted Self: Structural Dissociation of the Personality and Treatment of Chronic Traumatization.

Popularity: 61% [?]

For nearly three decades, Will Roberts has traveled the country to keep vaudeville and interest in his predecessor and personal hero, Will Rogers, alive and kicking in the American consciousness.

Now, the long-time performer and cowboy humorist is taking to technology in the hopes of reaching a new generation of fans.

Roberts, a syndicated humorist and a professional trick roper by trade, is using the latest forms of communication to expand his reach in the hopes of attracting a new type of audience. Roberts says “Folks attention span is so short, you have to hit um quick or you will lose them.” “In this modern day and age Americans newest slogan is: Mom, apple pie and high speed Internet. They say you can live two weeks without food, a day or so without water “but take someones Internet access away and they won’t last five minutes.”

After spending years working in more traditional media outlets, including gigs in broadcast television, Fox,CBS,PBS and radio, Roberts is mixing things up to match drastic changes in the way people interact, a case of an old-school performer making an impact through new media.

In addition to expanding his reach through the Internet, which includes an online blog and cartoon, Roberts has also added a pair of iPhone apps to his bag of tricks to reach a generation more tuned into mobile devices than televisions or radios.

He also has his own MySpace page featuring a handful of videos showing off his trick-roping skills to go along with Facebook and Twitter accounts allowing fans can keep up with the performer.

With roughly 60 news web sites already picking up his humorous jottings on everyday life, Roberts hopes that expanding to mobile apps will bring his message to an even wider audience.

Though Roberts has spent the better part of 27 years as a vaudeville performer – including stints as a magician, a clown, a dancer and a singer – the performer said expanding into new media is an extension of his true calling: to serve as a voice for the everyday folks.

In a world where some people feel the loudest and brashest voices are the only ones that are heard, Roberts continues his mission to speak up for real people across the country who sometimes feel left behind.

“In this day and age, I am trying to get folks to talk, communicate, not yell,” he said. “The long and the short of it is that I used to travel 200 times a year for seven years doing my Will Rogers-style show. I have met a lot of folks and people are what it’s all about. They want to be heard, and I like to believe I am a voice for the people who don’t get heard.”

Visit Will Roberts – Modern Day Will Rogers work.

www.WillRogersUSA.com

www.TheSOP.org

Popularity: 39% [?]

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market today announced a partnership with REC Solar, a leading solar electric system provider in the United States, to install roof-mounted solar systems on nine stores. The systems will generate more than 410 kW of solar energy. In total, the systems will produce an estimated 620,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, the equivalent of reducing 22 million pounds of CO2 emissions – or removing 28 million car-driven miles – over the next 25 years. Fresh & Easy stores already use 30% less energy than a typical supermarket.

“Fresh & Easy’s decision to become more energy independent is an example of why the Arizona Commerce Authority is focused, in part, on facilitating investment in the renewable energy sector and on job creation and training. Arizona has the potential to become the solar capital of the world and lead the nation as solar demand continues to grow globally and intensify nationally,” said Don Cardon, President and CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority.

Fresh & Easy has invested in one of California’s largest solar roof-mounted installations on its distribution center in Riverside, California. The installation, which is more than 500,000 sq. ft., currently produces about 1/5 of the energy for the entire facility. Fresh & Easy’s website features a live reporting feed from the solar installation at the distribution center, reporting in real time the performance of the panels.

“With the success of our solar panel installation on our distribution center, we’re confident these systems on our stores will help cut down on energy costs even further,” said Tim Mason, Fresh & Easy CEO. “Through innovations like these, Fresh & Easy has been able to cut back on the amount of energy and water we use, efficiencies that are better for the environment and help us keep our prices low for our customers.”

Installation of the REC Solar systems will begin in March 2011 at the following stores:

Popularity: 49% [?]