Saturday, March 7, 2009

computerized records

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The Computer Will See You Now
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By ANNE ARMSTRONG-COBEN
Published: March 5, 2009
FOR 20 years, I practiced pediatric medicine with a “paper chart.” I would sit with my young patients and their families, chart in my lap, making eye contact and listening to their stories. I could take patients’ histories in the order they wanted to tell them or as I wanted to ask. I could draw pictures of birthmarks, rashes or injuries. I loved how patients could participate in their own charts — illustrating their cognitive development as they went from showing me how they could draw a line at age 2 and a circle at 3 to proudly writing their names at 5.

Now that I’ve been using a computer to keep patient records — a practice that I once looked forward to — my participation with patients too often consists of keeping them away from the keyboard while I’m working, for fear they’ll push a button that implodes all that I have just documented.

We have all heard about the wonderful ways in which electronic medical records are supposed to transform our broken health care system — by eradicating illegible handwriting and enabling doctors to share patients’ records with one another more easily. The recently passed federal stimulus package provides doctors and hospitals with $17 billion worth of incentive payments to switch to electronic records. The benefits may be real, but we should not sacrifice too much for them.

The problem is not just with pediatrics. Doctors in every specialty struggle daily to figure out a way to keep the computer from interfering with what should be going on in the exam room — making that crucial connection between doctor and patient. I find myself apologizing often, as I stare at a series of questions and boxes to be clicked on the screen and try to adapt them to the patient sitting before me. I am forced to bring up questions in the order they appear, to ask the parents of a laughing 2-year-old if she is “in pain,” and to restrain my potty mouth when the computer malfunctions or the screen locks up. I advise teenagers to limit computer time as I sit before one myself for hours each day until my own eyes twitch and my neck starts to spasm.

In short, the computer depersonalizes medicine. It ignores nuances that we do not measure but clearly influence care. In the past, I could pick up a chart and flip through it easily. Looking at a note, I could picture the visit and recall the story. Now a chart is a generic outline, screens filled with clicked boxes. Room is provided for text, but in the computer’s font, important points often get lost. I have half-joked with residents that they could type “child has no head” in the middle of a computer record — and it might be missed.

A box clicked unintentionally is as detrimental as an order written illegibly — maybe worse because it looks official. It takes more effort and thought to write a prescription than to pull up a menu of medications and click a box. I have seen how choosing the wrong box can lead to the wrong drug being prescribed.

So before we embrace the inevitable, there should be more discussion and study of electronic records, or at a minimum acknowledgment of the downside. A hybrid may be the answer — perhaps electronic records should be kept only on tablet computers, allowing the provider to write or draw, and to face the patient.

The personal relationships we build in primary care must remain a priority, because they are integral to improved health outcomes. Let us not forget this as we put keyboards and screens within the intimate walls of our medical homes.

Anne Armstrong-Coben is an assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at Columbia

stem cells

Obama Reversing Stem Cell Limits Bush Imposed

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By DAVID STOUT and GARDINER HARRIS
Published: March 6, 2009
WASHINGTON — President Obama will announce Monday that he is reversing Bush administration limits on federal financing for embryonic stem cell research as part of a pledge to separate science and politics, White House officials said Friday.

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As a presidential candidate, Mr. Obama spoke out in favor of stem cell research, so his intention to undo the curbs put in place by President George W. Bush is not surprising. But the decision is nonetheless of great interest, involving a long-controversial intersection of science and personal moral beliefs.

The officials said that advocates of unfettered stem cell research, as well as about 30 Democratic and Republican lawmakers who support it, had been invited to a White House ceremony scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Eastern time, when Mr. Obama is expected to make an announcement.

One person familiar with planning for the event said the president would also speak about a general return to “sound science” in his administration, as a fulfillment of his campaign promise to draw a demarcation line between politics and science. The Bush administration was often accused of trying to shade, or even suppress, the findings of government scientists on climate change, sex education, contraceptives and other issues, as well as stem cells.

Mr. Obama’s announcement is not likely to lead to any immediate change in government policy, since it may take many months for the National Institutes of Health to develop new guidelines for research.

Still, research advocates are expected to push for the process to go as quickly as possible to ensure that universities have time to submit grant proposals that can be reviewed and accepted before September 2010, when the health institutes must commit the last of the $10.4 billion given to the N.I.H. as part of the economic stimulus program.

Because embryonic stem cells are capable of developing into any type of cell in the body, many scientists believe that they may one day be able to provide tissues to replace worn-out organs or nonfunctioning cells and, thus, offer powerful new treatments for diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and other ailments. Some researchers say the stem cells may even be used someday to treat catastrophic injuries like damage to the spinal cord.

But many people have a moral problem with embryonic stem cell research because creation of the cells entails destruction of human embryos. For that reason, Mr. Bush ordered in August 2001 that federal research be limited to lines of cells that were already in existence, since the embryo destruction for those had already taken place.

The main suspense about what Mr. Obama would do centered on whether he would seek to undo the Bush-era restrictions through legislation or by executive order. The event set for Monday indicates that he might have decided on the latter course, although one person expected to attend the announcement said he understood that the president might also seek to involve Congress.

Advocates of stem cell research have been hoping for an order lifting all restrictions and allowing scientists and ethicists at the N.I.H., not the White House, to make decisions related to stem cell research.

One prominent advocate of stem cell research is Larry Soler, executive vice president for government relations and operations at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Mr. Soler said in a telephone interview Friday that he was sure that Mr. Obama would indeed signal a return to an era of “scientists making scientific decisions.”

Discussions about stem cell research have often been deeply personal as well as scientific. Advocates of unrestricted research note that the cells are typically obtained from embryos that have been abandoned by couples seeking in-vitro fertilization and that the embryos would be discarded anyway.

But many of those opposed to the research say the embryos are nothing less than tiny human beings, with souls, and that destroying them is akin to murder. They argue that research on embryos that would be thrown out is a slippery moral slope to be avoided by a decent society.

Critics of embryonic stem cell research also argue that scientists can use different types of stem cells, like those found in amniotic fluid or the placenta. But supporters of using embryonic cells say those are by far the most promising.

No matter what is announced Monday, the debate over embryonic stem cell research will not subside. That was clear from the reaction unleashed Friday.

“It must be Friday night because word leaks of yet another deadly executive order by President Obama,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, calling Mr. Obama’s intention “a slap in the face to Americans who believe in the dignity of all human life.”

But the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation praised the president’s plan.

“By removing politics from science,” said Peter T. Wilderotter, the organization’s president and chief executive, “President Obama has freed researchers to explore these remarkable stem cells, learn from them and possibly develop effective therapies using them.”

The actor Christopher Reeve died in 2004, nine years after being injured in a horseback riding accident. His wife died in 2006. “The Reeves’ belief in the promise of stem cell research is a part of their lasting legacy,” Mr. Wilderotter said.

Among the lawmakers reportedly invited to the White House on Monday are Senators Orrin G. Hatch of Utah and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Representative Michael N. Castle of Delaware, all Republicans; Senators Dianne Feinstein of California, Tom Harkin of Iowa and Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Representative Diana DeGette of Colorado, all Democrats.

meet information

Results from the last swim meet indicate $1500 was taken in for the 2-day meet. Labor costs to put it on were $951.88. A MDAC check # 3230 for $2000 was received 2/23/09 for monthly pool rentals. The balance is $200. Invoice billing statements (17) are listed back to 11/19/07. Of course billing does not guarantee that the payments were made. City receipts for payments made would be better. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

Thank you

for reminding me that my ultimate success, or failure, in life resides within me. I have no complaints about the City Clerk. I am constantly amazed how much undeserved credit and/or blame I receive here for stuff I didnt say or do. So be it! As in anyones life, there ARE influencing factors that contribute to ones success or failure. In this case it is unethical or illegal political practices that influence this campaign. Is there ANYBODY who is saying that disappearing, damaging, or defacing your opponents signs does NOT influence a political campaign? If my campaign is not successful tho, it will not be because of any possible (probable?) illegal or unethical behavior on my opponents part. It will be because I havent fully explained my vision and hopes for Miami Springs clearly enough to the residents. THAT is my responsibility and one that I take seriously. I AM cautiously optimistic at this point, but we still have a long way to go. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

Friday, March 6, 2009

no listening there

Did Gym just IGNORE Mr Dotsons request to have a DERM representative to address the Council regarding the pollution issues AGAIN? Dotson requested it once before and it didnt happen. Can it be that this time he didnt even bother to ask them to come? is this a case of sheer arrogance, unresponsiveness, incompetence, or Alzheimers? Or ALL of the above? Dr. Mel P. Johnson

another fabrication?

Didnt the City Manager say that DERM sent its regrets that it couldnt attend the annexation meeting? Is that another FABRICATION on Gyms part? Where can I get a verbatim tape or CD of that comment? Dr. Mel P. Johnson

time to respond?

And isn-t it a requirement that the violation be cited and the resident given time to respond? That seems to be the point. IF, and ONLY IF, the sign is not in compliance, and there is considerable doubt at this point, the resident and/or candidate should be contacted and given time to correct any possible misplacements. I am rechecking all of my signs and taking pictures of them as documentation for the future. I want nor need no more consideration than any other candidate or resident but I DO expect the same courtesies extended to any resident or candidate. No more, no less. At 61 I am pretty well all grown up so thats not really a problem for me. My problem is more along the lines of THROWING UP when I see the underhanded, if not illegal, tactics used in this political campaign. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

solar cheaper than coal?

Making solar cheaper than coal
March 6, 2009 4:00 AM PST

By Martin LaMonica
Staff Writer, CNET News

The day after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Emmanuel Sachs decided that it was time to get back into the solar-energy business.

Starting in the 1970s, the Masssachussetts Institute of Technology mechanical-engineering professor had made significant contributions to solar, including a cell-making technique now used by Evergreen Solar. But once research funding for solar photovoltaics--converting sunlight into electricity--dried up in the 1980s, Sachs diverted into other fields, including 3D printing to help designers quickly build prototypes.

To Sachs, September 11 was a reminder of the perils of an oil-dependent U.S. energy policy. The events that transpired that day were jarring enough to prompt him to restart his solar research. Nearly eight years later, he is chief technical officer at 1366 Technologies, a company formed two years ago to commercialize the work he had done at MIT.

"I first got into solar photovoltaics as an idealistic young person," said Sachs, who is now in his mid-50s and is on leave from MIT for two years. "What really got me in full-time (again) was some of the same but also recognizing that there were a lot of issues at play, including national security...and climate change."

If idealism played a role in starting the Lexington, Mass., company, the business plan is all about cold, hard numbers. The 20-person start-up has an ambitious economic target: to make solar cheaper than coal in three years. That means producing silicon solar cells at less than $1 per watt, cutting the current costs by about half.

More than a few people believe that 1366 Technologies has a shot at being one of the first companies to hit the long-pursued goal of undercutting fossil fuel electricity on price.

Among those impressed with the technology and management team is Ethernet co-inventor and energy tech venture capitalist Bob Metcalfe, who is on the company's board. Metcalfe's firm, Polaris Ventures, led a $12.4 million round in the company last year. And last month, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded 1366 Technologies a $3 million grant for low-cost solar manufacturing.

Disruptive technology, a step at a time
The name 1366 Technologies comes from the solar constant, or the amount of solar energy that hits Earth's surface: 1,366 watts per square meter. That focus on keeping to the basics, and trying to do it affordably, are what executives hope will set them apart from the solar-tech pack.


The company's headquarters--a one-story brick building among a dozen nondescript offices in an office park outside Boston--reveal a bare-bones operation. A full-size solar panel hanging on the wall serves as artwork in an otherwise-spartan office. A bank of cubes fronts a small factory floor crammed with solar-manufacturing machinery bearing obscure names like a "diffusion furnace" and a "plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition" system. This is where engineers are now producing small numbers of solar cells that put Sachs' ideas to work.

The modest building may not be where you'd expect the solar industry to finally break through the $1-per-watt cost barrier for silicon cells. First Solar earlier this month claimed to crack the $1 cost barrier for its thin-film cells, made from alternative material cadmium telluride, but 1366 Technologies wants to hit that price using silicon--a more common and abundant material.

To get there, Sachs and company engineers say they have four innovations they intend to perfect one by one. To understand the improvements, you need to visualize a solar cell--a specially treated slice of silicon--and the wires that connect cells together to make a panel.

Typical polysilicon solar cells--the most common cell material--convert about 15 percent of the sunlight that hits them into electricity. Sachs' work has focused on boosting that efficiency closer to 20 percent by trapping more light and by reducing electricity loss in the wires. The trick, though, is to get that efficiency with manufacturing techniques that don't add cost.



Credit: 1366 Technologies
Trapping more light One of the techniques 1366
Technologies has developed to improve the efficiency of
converting light to electricity is creating grooved
interconnect wires that reflect light back to the solar cell. 1366 Technologies' first idea, called a "light-capturing ribbon," is to manufacture so-called interconnect wires with V-shaped grooves. Normally, light hits those interconnect wires, which are under the solar cell, and bounces straight out. By contrast, the grooved wires reflect light at an angle so that it can bounce onto a solar panel's glass covering and back down onto the cell. That "internal reflection" squeezes a bit more electricity from the incoming light without having to reinvent the production process.

The second idea is to redesign the wires that carry current on a solar panel to be smaller and less expensive. There are two other improvements on the drawing board, including one that uses reflective wires to trap more light onto cells, but the company is cagey on the exact details.

"Those (inventions) are all chunks of technology, any one of which some might call an incremental improvement. But taken in aggregate, they could be seen as disruptive change," Sachs said. The combination will allow the company to improve the efficiency of silicon cells' conversion of light into electricity by 25 percent without increasing manufacturing costs, the company claims.

Marrying mission with high tech
Executives at 1366 Technologies are well aware that slick technology, or even political support, doesn't guarantee success. For example, Evergreen Solar, the company founded on Sachs' work from the 1980s, is manufacturing cells but is still not profitable. Analysts also anticipate a shakeout among solar manufacturers because of brutal price competition.

There is also a recession that's made raising money far more difficult. The company opened its plant with great optimism last October. But the bad economy has slowed its progress, 1366 Technologies President Frank van Mierlo admits.

He's already had to adjust. In the fall, he had planned to raise money to build a larger factory by next year. Now he's just hoping that the economy turns around enough so that getting more financing is a realistic option. The company's business plan needs to be flexible too: instead of building new solar factories itself, it could license technology to other solar manufacturers, as it already has done, van Mierlo said.

The 48-year-old van Mierlo, who was born in the Netherlands, is a relative newcomer to renewable energy. Like many tech entrepreneurs, he was drawn to the field simply by following the flow of venture capital money. He was also intrigued by big problems like energy security and climate change. The father of two last ran a robotics company spun out of MIT and, after selling the company, spent about a year in an "almost-academic study," deciding what to do next.

He settled on solar because he believes that it has the most potential to rapidly make a difference in the energy industry. But van Mierlo is not blindly optimistic; he knows that his industry still needs to prove itself.

"Right now, solar's contribution to the energy business is next to nothing," van Meirlo said. "So there needs to be a lot of growth, and the only way we are going to get real growth is with healthy profit margins." Of course, his own company also has to live by those words, since it hasn't yet built products at a significant scale.

Sachs and van Mierlo admit that they meet some skepticism when they say cheap solar energy is within sight. Solar-photovoltaic panels have been around for decades yet still remain a relatively expensive purchase for homeowners, anywhere between $20,000 and $35,000.

"Both Ely (Sachs) and I intend to install 1366 (Technologies) solar cells on our houses as soon as they roll off the manufacturing line," Van Mierlo said. If the entrepreneurs succeed, it will be by marrying that long-term vision of transforming the energy industry with the rapid innovation they hope to achieve.

At the company's ribbon-cutting ceremony last fall, Sachs, in a soft but direct manner, implored local politicians and employees assembled to act, rather than talk, about greening the economy.

"The science is understood, the material abundant, the product works," he said. "All that is left is to build the biggest manufacturing industry in the history of human kind. Time is a-wasting."

unemployment at 8.1 %, Council oblivious

By Charley Blaine and Elizabeth Strott (MSN Money) More Americans are losing their jobs. The economy shed 651,000 jobs in February, the Labor Department reported this morning, and the unemployment rate ticked up to 8.1% from 7.6% in January. It was the worst unemployment rate since December 1983; the jobless rate in that earlier recession peaked at 10.8% in late 1982.
Today's unemployment report was in line with economists' expectations of 650,000 jobs lost and an unemployment rate of 7.9%. It was the 14th straight month of job losses, bringing the number to 4.4 million since the recession began in December 2007. Job losses lead to mortgage foreclosures, which lead to NO property tax collections and decreased revenues for ANY city.
Job losses are happening HERE, in Miami Springs, to OUR residents, who are struggling to pay their current bills- how can the Mayor and Council possibly justify adding to their financial burden with this new gym? Common sense is NOT so common at City hall these days. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Florida EPA stats

Region 4 - FLORIDA
Results Obtained from EPA Civil Enforcement Actions
Direct Enforcemental Benefits (Including benefits from Environmentally Beneficial Projects (SEPs)):
Estimated Pollution Reduced, Treated or Eliminated (Pounds) (1)
677,300,625
Hazardous Waste Treated or Properly Disposed Of (Pounds)(1) (2)
292
Contaminated Soil to be Cleaned Up (Cubic Yards)
2,378,686
Contaminated Water to be Cleaned Up (Cubic Yards)
18,223,000
Investments in Pollution Control and Clean-up (Injunctive Relief) $119,848,199
Investments in Environmentally Beneficial Projects (SEPs) $218,329
Civil Penalties Assessed $2,320,592


Counts of EPA Civil Enforcement Actions:
Civil Judicial Conclusions 9
Final Administrative Penalty Orders 61
Administrative Compliance Orders 106

Miami Drum Cleanup

Miami Drum Services
Miami Drum Services
EPA ID: FLD076027820
Location: Hialeah, Dade County, FL
Congressional District: 21
NPL Status: Proposed: 12/30/82; Final 09/08/83
Project Manager
Documents:
(About PDF)


Site Profile
Redevelopment Success
Additional Site Documents including Five Year Reviews, Records of Decisions (ROD) and Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD).
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office (http://www.epa.gov/region4/foiapgs/submit.htm).
Site Background:
The former Miami Drum site was a drum cleaning and recycling center that was in operation between 1966 and 1981. The site occupied about 1.3 acres and was heavily contaminated as a result poor waste handling practices. The soil and groundwater were heavily contaminated with metals, organic solvents, and other industrial chemicals. The facility was located about two miles north of the Miami International Airport. The surrounding area was mostly commercial, but also contained several municipal well fields.

This site, other Superfund sites, and non-Superfund sites contributed to widespread low-level groundwater contamination in the Biscayne Aquifer. The groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds. The Biscayne Aquifer is considered a "sole source aquifer" and is the only source of drinking water for several counties, including Dade County. The contamination was significant enough to cause the shutdown of several wellfields including the wellfields at the Preston and Hialeah water treatment plants.

Cleanup Progress: Construction Completed
The Miami Drum facility was cleaned up between 1981 and 1982 by Dade County. The county was ultimately reimbursed by EPA and EPA recovered its costs from companies that sent drums to the facility. The property was acquired by Dade County for use as a maintenance yard for its commuter train system. The cleanup decision of the 1985 ROD included the removal and proper disposal of 400 to 500 remaining drums, the excavation and proper disposal of approximately 15,000 tons of contaminated soil, and the treatment of almost 600,000 gallons of contaminated groundwater directly beneath the Site.

The widespread groundwater contamination was addressed by the installation of air stripping towers at the Preston and Hialeah water treatment plants and a wellfield protection plan implemented by Dade County. The air stripping towers have a capacity to treat almost 150 millions gallons per day and have been operational since September 1992. As a result, the previously impacted Preston and Hialeah wellfields were placed back into service. The groundwater treatment system provides the daily drinking water demands of almost one million people in northern Dade County. EPA reimbursed Dade County for the operation and maintenance of the air stripping towers for 10 years until September 2002.

The air stripping towers were built by Dade County with oversight provided by the Army Corps of Engineers and EPA. Construction and operation costs have been shared by Dade County and EPA.

EPA Region 4 News Releases

News Releases from Region 4EPA Home Newsroom News Releases from Region 4Atlanta to Launch Southeast's First Zero Waste .... Share
What is this?
Atlanta to Launch Southeast's First Zero Waste Zone

Release date: 02/12/2009

Contact Information: Sharon Goldmacher, communications 21, 404-814-1330, sgoldmacher@c21pr.com

Atlanta – February 10, 2009 – It’s a fact that 82 percent of the materials disposed of in landfills are recoverable products, such as paper, organics and plastics.

In an effort to combat these statistics, Atlanta Recycles has partnered with the Green Foodservice Alliance, and is working in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 and the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division of the Department of Natural Resources to launch the southeast’s first, and one of the nation’s first, Zero Waste Zones.

Zero Waste Zones are designed to reduce the environmental impact of waste in homes, workplaces and in the community. Phase One of the Zero Waste Zone will focus on downtown Atlanta’s convention district and participating foodservice operations. More than 10 participants, including the Georgia World Congress Center, the Hyatt Regency and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse have already pledged to recycle, reuse spent grease for the local production of biofuel and compost or donate food residuals to drastically decrease the amount of waste going to landfills.

In addition, Levy Restaurants, the official foodservice operator of the Georgia World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome, signed a contract on February 3 with Washington, D.C.-based EnviRelations, LLC – a partner of Closed Loop Organics – to begin composting food items from the two facilities for the next year. Each month, approximately 34 tons of organic materials will be diverted from landfills and more than 20 tons of compost will be created – equivalent to one whale shark and five elephant seals a month, respectively.

This new composting program is being launched today at the Meeting Planners International (MPI) conference in the Georgia World Congress Center. All food at the luncheon, for the more than 1,000 meeting and event planners attending, will either be consumed, donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank or composted. No food residuals will go to a landfill.

“We are amazed at the enthusiasm shown in support of the Zero Waste Zone,” said Laura Turner Seydel, Honorary Chair of the Zero Waste Zone - Downtown Atlanta. “The composting program is incredibly innovative since there was not a permitted composting facility in Georgia until four months ago. We want to thank Levy Restaurants and the Georgia World Congress Center for their vision and commitment to the Zero Waste Zone,” she added.
“The companies participating in Atlanta’s downtown Zero Waste Zone, the first in the Southeast and one of just a handful across the nation, will recover materials that would ordinarily be sent to a landfill and instead put them to good use,” said Stan Meiburg, EPA Region 4 Acting Regional Administrator. “Eliminating waste is important and EPA applauds the Green Foodservice Alliance, the Georgia Restaurant Association and Atlanta Recycles for working with downtown businesses to rethink their foodservice operations with reuse and recycling in mind.”

“Atlanta is focused on becoming a greener city, and the Zero Waste Zone is an excellent step in that direction,” said Kevin Duvall, assistant general manager of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. “We want to make sure that we are leading the way in recycling initiatives so that conventions, events and meeting planners continue to look upon Atlanta as a great destination city as well as one that cares about the environment,” he added.

Holly Elmore, founder and executive director of the Green Foodservice Alliance, worked hand-in-hand with Atlanta Recycles to lead the initiative to develop the southeast’s first Zero Waste Zone, and will continue to oversee its expansion to additional foodservice operations and local businesses.

In Phase Two, Atlanta Recycles and the Green Foodservice Alliance will develop a model and collateral material to help expand the program to other locations in the convention district. Decals with the Zero Waste Zone brand will be developed and distributed to participants for education of the staff and public.

Phase Three will include expansion of the Zero Waste Zones outside of the downtown convention district to locations including Buckhead, Midtown and other surrounding communities, and Phase Four will expand to other areas of Georgia, the southeast and nationally.

After the press conference, for more information, please contact Holly Elmore – executive director, Green Foodservice Alliance at or 404.261.4690.

About Green Foodservice Alliance
The Green Foodservice Alliance (GFA) is a division of the Georgia Restaurant Association, in collaboration with the American Culinary Federation – Greater Atlanta Chapter, Georgia Organics and the Georgia Grown Program at the Department of Agriculture. GFA’s mission is to increase the supply of local and sustainable products available to the Georgia foodservice industry through efficient and fluid distribution channels

lots of questions

Upon further information being received from the property owners, there is considerable room for doubt regarding the possible improper placement of those signs. Only one sign has been confirmed to be improperly positioned, and that was one sign of Dotson's, which was only 14 feet from the street. Instead of a courtesy call to the property owner or the candidate the sign was removed. Its not clear if the sign was returned to Mr Dotson or not. It should have been. More information regarding the signs will be forthcoming tomorrow. Could it be that, after the sign fiasco with Garcia, Gym now uses Cardini to pick up opponents signs instead, in broad daylight? Even signs that are properly placed? Why arent the candidates or the property owners notified? Private property on private homeowner land is confiscated by zoning and disappears without a trace? How many signs has Cardini picked up in total? How many were Bain, Best, Lob, Stiff. or Espino signs? If Cardini is picking up properly placed signs at the request of the City Manager, should they BOTH be arrested or just one? Is it true the Asst City Manager is out campaigning for Bain and his buddies? Lots of questions. Stay tuned. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

sign saga

While I appreciate Mr. Crosslands input into this sign matter, I respectfully disagree with his conclusions. If a car is parked on my swale with my expressed permission, as these signs were, the City would come and confiscate the car without even making ANY effort to contact the owners? or remediate the situation? the property owners? I would hope the City would use some common sense - ask the owner of the car (signs)or property owner to move the car (signs) back to the 16 foot line, etc. Would the city confiscate the car and NOT return it to its owners? Or even notify them of their actions? Were there any Bain, Best, Lob, Suco, or Espino signs involved? How interesting. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

tense negotiations continue

Negotiations are tense but it is hoped that a safe release of the possibly 13-or 14-feet-from-the-street signs will be released this morning. I am optimistic that can be achieved altho city officials are adamant that those signs present a clear and present danger to the pedestrian and vehicular traffic passing by. Those who scoff at zoning for not being able to control roof mildew or mold or garage sales should be glad to know that zoning has acknowledged this as a TOP PRIORITY and responded in a firm and determined manner! It is NOT clear if any ransom money received from the challenger crisis will go into the Revenue Enhancement Fund or directly into the zoning department budget, but either will be welcomed by city officials in these dire economic circumstances! Residents can be assured that this is just ANOTHER means, besides raising our taxes and fees, to enhance the city coffers. It is NOT true that city officials have demanded any one, or all, the political challengers to surrender to City officials before the safe return of the wayward signs can be accomplished! That is just a RUMOR! City officials are confident that holding the signs hostage is sufficient at this time. We in the Springs have a long and storied history of city officials taking up or disappearing the signs of political opponents, officially or unofficially, and they want us to know that tradition LIVES! The past activities of Councilman Garcia has apparently inspired zoning to new heights in its never-ending battle against political challengers! There will be updates as they occur in these tense negotiations and video at 11. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

NASA is poster child for government cost overruns.

NASA has cost overruns for several reasons, said the GAO's Chaplain. Those include poor cost estimating at the beginning, trying to do cutting-edge science, constantly changing designs, and poor contractor performance. Six of the projects had problems with contractors, including lack of experience, that led to delays or higher costs.

In his December news conference, Griffin said there isn't a very good way to estimate at the front end of a mission what it's going to take to achieve scientific priorities.

Griffin, whose replacement hasn't been named yet by President Barack Obama, said scientists tend to downplay costs early to convince NASA that their project is cheaper than someone else's. Later, once NASA commits and the money is being spent, more bucks are needed. So NASA spends more instead of canceling the project.

That's a problem everyone knows about and accepts, but shouldn't, Chaplain said.

The Mars Science Laboratory, which has ballooned to a $2.3 billion price tag, is a good example of NASA's approach. In 2003, its cost was put at $650 million on the National Academy of Sciences wish list, which NASA used to set priorities.

But on Tuesday, Doug McCuistion, who heads NASA's Mars exploration program, said the proper estimate to start with was $1.4 billion, not $650 million because it was not an official NASA projection.

By last December, the number was up to $1.9 billion. Then technical problems delayed launch plans from this year to 2011, adding another $400 million. The extra money came from cuts to other science projects.

"The costs of badly run NASA projects are paid for with cutbacks or delays in NASA projects that didn't go over budget," Stern wrote in his newspaper piece. "Hence the guilty are rewarded and the innocent are punished."

Sound familiar? Lowball initial estimates, constant change orders and cost overruns, and outrageous sume of money spent on each and every project. Out of control government spending lives in Washingto, D.C., but has a smaller second home here in the Springs.

questions persist

Does ANYBODY think the possible (probable?) problems with pollution in the proposed annexation areas will be discussed in the pamphlet? How can it be? The DERM guy hasn't even made an appearance to explain the pollution possibilities and/or probabilities out there. Does anybody believe the zoning problems will be fully discussed? The mitigation fees? The polluted FEC property next door? The TRIPLING of the millage rates in those areas? The resultant possible lawsuits from the 250 residents there? The police station that will be a warehouse? The infrastructure that the County is planning to do there, and its costs? The wishing and hoping that we don't get hit with a big pollution cleanup? The declining property values there that will adversely effect the taxes taken in? No, it will be a focus on ALL the money we will get from the taxes there! All Sunshine and Roses! No problem! This Mayor and Council are really saying they have done DUE DILIGENCE? They never even talked to DERM. Lets check them to see if their noses are growing, even as they speak. Rumor is that it can be an indicator of whether or not the truth is being told, OR NOT. The Mayor and Council didn't do DUE DILIGENCE on the building of the new gym and they ARENT doing it here either. There are too many unknowns for me to support this annexation in its current form. If the County agrees to be responsible for any cleanups IN WRITING that part of the puzzle will fall into place, for me. Other questions persist, however, as mentioned above. When are we going to get answers to those questions? Pinocchio, are you listening? Dr. Mel P. Johnson

signs held for ransom?

Rest easy, Springs residents, Code Enforcement officer Cardini is on the job and ever vigilant. Apparently today he rescued residents from some political yard signs that may (or may have not) have been a few feet closer to the road than the required 16 feet! In a stroke of bad luck, all the confiscated signs appear to be challengers signs. Miraculously, NONE of the incumbents signs were found to be improperly placed. What a coincidence! While you might think a warning or courtesy call would be in order to those candidates with the possible offending signs so they could reply to this possible infraction, it was deemed TOO SERIOUS for such a simple, direct, and straightforward solution! Perhaps the City is holding the signs for ransom. I expect to be notified about my signs soon. At least THOSE signs wont disappear tonight! Whew! What a relief! Since I pay $4.50 a sign for each, I refuse to pay a ransom over a dollar each! When was the last time challengers rampaging yard signs were confiscated by Cardini? If this is going to be the official policy I can assure residents I will do my part to make sure NO SIGNS are less than 16 feet from the street or improperly placed and Mr. Cardini WILL be called each and every time one is found! I bought a new tape measure for the occasion. I of course will expect a timely removal and confiscation of any such signs, WITHOUT any courtesy call to the owners, like today. Sure, we may have dozens of moldy and mildewed roofs in the City, but these pesky political yard signs are A TOP PRIORITY to our zoning department! You say you think its petty political BS? I cant argue with you. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

options

Reducing the City Managers role is certainly one option to permit a more responsive, efficient, and transparent government. Increased oversight and supervision by Council is another option. Perhaps the best solution would be a combination of both. Time will tell. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

things you didnt know you could recycle

1). Appliances: Many stores will recycle your old appliance when you purchase a new one. Goodwill accepts working appliances. go to www.goodwill.org , or you can contact the Steel Recycling Institute to recycle them at www.recycle-steel.org.
2). Athletic shoes: One World Running will send still-wearable shoes to athletes in need in Africa, Latin America, and Haiti- oneworldrunning.com. Nike's reuse-a-shoe program turns old shoes into playground and athletic flooring- www.nikereuseashoe.com.
3). Batteries: Contact www.batteryrecycling.com
4) Clothes: Wearable clothes can go to your local Goodwill outlet or shelter. Donate wearable women's business clothes to the nonprofit Dress For Success, which gives them to low-income women as they search for jobs- www.dressforsuccess.org. Offer unwearable clothes to local animal boarding and shelter facilities, which often uses them for pet bedding.
5). Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL): Take them to your local IKEA store for recycling- www.ikea.com. You can also order a Sylvania Recycle Pak- www.sylvania.com/recycle/recyclepak.
6). Computers and electronics: To find responsible recyclers go to www.ban.org/pledge/Locations.html.
7). Foam packing peanuts: Your local pack-and-ship store will likely accept those for reuse. Or call the Plastic Loose Fill Producers Council to find a drop-off site- 800-828-2214. For places to drop off foam blocks for recycling, contact the Alliance For Foam Packaging Recyclers (410)451-8340.
8). Ink/toner cartridges: www.recycleplace.com.
9). Oil: Find used oil hotlines in each state- www.recycleoil.org.
10). Phones: Collective Good will refurbish your phone and sell it to someone in a developing country- www.collectivegood.com. Cal To Protect reprograms cell phones to dial 911 and gives them to domestic violence victims- www.donateaphone.com
Source: Co-op America

mistakes made, lessons learned?

Doral annexed at the height of the real estate bubble and now is paying 8 million a year for properties that are worth 30-40% less than the original, inflated value. Same with Palmetto Bay and Miami lakes. We should learn from them and NOT make the same mistakes. Does anybody believe that the County is actually going to discontinue the mitigation fees, especially when they have major shortfalls in revenues as it is? Dr. Mel P. Johnson

discrepancy

What are the chances that the 150 million discrepancy between Gyms numbers and Corradinos numbers is the drop in property values over the past year or so? Gym said the property taxable value for the areas under consideration were 736 million but it isnt clear if those numbers were from 2008 or 2009. Probably 2008. If you deduct 150 million to account for a drop in property values in those areas over the past year you get 586 million dollar value of the property taxes in the areas under consideration, and considerably less income. The 150 million difference is about 23% of the 736 million figure and would cause a 23% drop in the net too, to around 1.8 million. When the 386k in mitigation fees are subtracted we are talking 1.4 net, and that doesnt allow for the projected drop in property values this year, which would lower that number again. I am not an accountant but those numbers are not nearly as attractive as were the proposed original numbers. One million-dollar pollution cleanup and all our benefits are wiped out. We need accurate, up-to-date numbers so we can make as accurate a projection as possible. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

prop values trending down

The mitigation fees were 386k as proposed, but Gym said the County was leaning toward doing away with any and all mitigation fees as a general matter of record. Whether that will actually come to pass is another whole question. The 386k would have to be subtracted from the hypothetical 2.3 million, leaving a hypothetical net of 2 million. The City Manager read from a DERM report that revealed there are 27 openly polluted sites currently in some form of remediation by the County. The proposed areas under consideration are 1352 acres, or 2.11 square miles, and includes 250 residents. A cop who works out there says there are frequent burglaries of the warehouses. The City Manager says there is a 150 million discrepancy now between his numbers for the property values and Corradino's. He also said the property values can fluctuate, which is true, but they are fluctuating DOWNWARD now and, like residential property values, are expected to continue downward for at least the next year. Residential property values in MS have dropped 28.6% in the past year, according to Zillow, and are expected to continue to fall another 14.5% in the next year, nationally. The 2008 property values were considerably higher in 2008 and represents an artificially high number from which these numbers are based. Use the assessed property values in January 2009 to get a clearer idea of what these areas are currently projected to bring in, and plan for them to fall further, because they will, like property values everywhere. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

March 3, 2009, 7:01 pm
Lighting Up the Darkness in Rural Africa
By Eric A. Taub
Update | 5:31 p.m. To correct the price of a solar-powered LED lantern from $150 to $50.

As a reporter, I am subject to all manner of hyperbole from corporate executives wishing to put their companies in the best possible light. Which is why I figuratively rolled my eyes when Gerard Kleisterlee, the chairman of the Dutch company, Philips, told me last summer that their work in LED lighting would “change the world.”

Lower power consumption, longer life, yes. But change the world in the grand sense? Please.

Based on a project now being introduced in Ghana, Mr. Kleisterlee may be right.


Philips Electronics
Philips has partnered with KITE, a not-for-profit Ghanaian organization, to bring artificial light to villages that have no electricity.

According to Harriette Amissah-Arthur, KITE’s director, only 19 percent of rural areas have electricity. The rest use foul-smelling kerosene lamps to light their huts, which pollute, provide little light and are major fire hazards. In addition, the low light levels makes it difficult to see scorpions and snakes that make their way into people’s homes at night.

As in any non-electrified society, life is defined by the sun; little is accomplished once it sets around 6 p.m. she said on the telephone from her office in Accra. And with children helping out with chores during daytime, it leaves little chance for them to study.

Philips developed three different products for the villagers: a solar-powered lantern, a reading light and a wind-up flashlight. The products work because they all use LEDs; their low power consumption means that the lantern charged during the day will light for seven hours. The flashlight’s bulb will for all practical purposes never burn out, and the reading light’s lower power consumption dramatically reduces the need to change batteries.

The products are costly — at $50 for the lantern, that represents two months’ salary for many people. But Ms. Amissah-Arthur hopes to get tax relief from the government, which could cut the price by 40 percent.

KITE is not the only organization attempting to bring light to Africa. Lighting Africa, a World Bank initiative, is also working to bring low-cost illumination to the continent.

There is no doubt, according to Ms. Amissah-Arthur that the Philips initiative is changing peoples’ lives. “People can now do things in the evening,” she said. “If you could only see the joy these products bring the villagers. You look at their faces; you have to see it to believe it.”

Green bubble?

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September 23, 2008, 8:52 am
What Bubble in Green Technology Investment?
By Claire Cain Miller
Green technology is a hot investment among venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, but is it too hot?

Some technology watchers have feared an investment bubble in the sector. Not so, say the venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, executives and bankers who back these ventures. (Are you surprised?)

In a survey released Tuesday by KPMG, the audit, tax and advisory firm, two-thirds of those polled said that green technology investment is sustainable. Almost all said they expected venture capital for start-ups producing these technologies to continue to increase in 2009. Half predicted an increase of 20 percent or more over 2008 levels.

Venture capitalists who have traditionally focused on information technology have been investing billions of dollars in “clean technology.” In May, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, one of the top venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, announced that it had raised a $500 million Green Growth Fund and is also investing part of its eighth, $700 million fund in clean technology. John Doerr, a Kleiner partner who led the firm’s investment in Google, has been outspoken on climate change issues.

Khosla Ventures, the venture capital firm run by Vinod Khosla, has also been a prominent green technology investor, supporting technologies ranging from solar to carbon-negative cement to what Mr. Khosla calls “future fuels,” like energy that could be produced from trees or grass.

Though solar start-ups have received huge amounts of financing this year — thin-film solar companies alone have raised more than $800 million this summer — the KPMG survey found that only 10 percent of respondents expected that solar technology would receive the most funding over the next two years. More thought that energy storage technologies, like fuel cells and batteries, or clean coal and wind start-ups would rake in the most cash.

Still, 39 percent of venture capitalists said that solar would become the dominant clean-energy source over the next 20 years, while 27 percent predicted it would be nuclear and 18 percent predicted it would be wind.

The deal makers surveyed said the need for alternative energy would only grow — about half predicted that oil prices will not peak until after 2010.

Joe the Environmentalist

Once again the DERM representative didnt show up, altho they knew about this 3 weeks ago. Can it be that DERM is concerned with the pointed questions they will receive from the Joe Podgor report about pollution in the proposed areas? Why dont we ask Joe to come and ask the questions himself? His Ecology Board meeting took a hard look at pollution in those areas under consideration seberal years ago and was very concerned about underground polluted waters moving eastward, towards the Springs from the Palmetto Xway. If DERM cant make it, I suggest we get Joe to give us his best educated guess about those areas. He has no axe to grind or agenda to follow, and lived here for well over 50 years. My vote goes to Joe the Enviromentalist. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

triple our tax rate?

The 2.3 million surplus is figured by raising the annexed properties millage rate from 2 to 6.4, more than TRIPLE their current tax rate. Do you think the 250 residents involved there are going to take a TRIPLING of their tax rate lying down? Would the residents of MS take a TRIPLING of our tax rate lying down? I doubt it. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

annexation meeting

Annexation meeting tonight was just about what was expected- a whitewash, an overemphasis on the benefits of annexation and short shrift of the potential problems. They continue with the ridiculous statements about going after the owners of polluted properties and making THEM pay for the cleanups. Of course if those companies have been defunct, and out of business fro the past 20 years it will be IMPOSSIBLE to squeeze blood out of that turnip. Superfund has been broke for years. The state and county are broke and facing billion-dollar deficits. WHERE is the money for any needed cleanups going to come from? Corradino admitted tonight that the FEC properties are pretty polluted, and the proposed annexation properties are right next door. He said he didnt THINK it would be a problem but, is that enough? If the County is PRETTY SURE most of the contaminants have been cleaned up and pose no future problems, they wont have ANY problem signing an agreement that states THEY will be responsible for any further cleanups, right? WISHING and HOPING we wont get whacked with a multimillion dollar cleanup is gambling, and BAD business. We need considerably more assurances than that before we decide on annexation! Dr. Mel Johnson

campaign comments

It is my belief that the best thing I can do for the residents of Miami Springs is get elected. I am working daily toward that aim, which leaves little time to post responses to statements that make NO sense, even if I wanted to, which I dont. I STILL have NO response to my invitation to correct my numbers on the bathrooms, right? And STILL nobody but me signs their posts. Let those BRAVE souls who criticize me sign their names, at least, or they may be thought of as cojone-less, like the ones who steal my signs. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

stupidity revealed

leading an effort to help OTHERS out is only thinking of myself?????????????? Ridiculous! Nonsensical. I usually only respond to posts that make sense, but in this case I will make an exception. This is ONE vote I can do without! Have a nice day! Dr. Mel P. Johnson

simple question answered

Simple question, simple answer- Yes, if I am elected I will lead an effort to help our elderly that need it. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

real vs phony numbers

If my numbers are wrong, let those who believe they have better numbers state them here and explain how my numbers are in error. That invitation has been open for the past six months and more and NOBODY has taken me up on them! Is there ANYBODY saying we DIDNT spend OVER $414,000 on two small bathrooms? and that they took TWO YEARS to complete? We have the ONLY 207k+ bathrooms in the COUNTRY! I dont believe Bill Gates has 207k+ bathrooms! Those numbers come directly from an FOI and City Hall, so it IS entirely possible that they are an underestimate of what was really spent, but lets just go with the 414k+ for discussion purposes. Those are REAL NUMBERS. Now we get to see some REAL phoniness presented- go ahead guys. Lets see YOUR (phony) numbers! Dr. Mel P. Johnson

neighbors helping neighbors

I believe the city government is here to provide services to the residents. Those residents in need are certainly included and should very well be at the top of the list. Coordinating the local organizations and churches would be a small part of the Citys services to its neediest residents. There would be inspections of work done and those could be provided by the City at a small fee, or free. Instead of constantly wasting our tax dollars and taking from the residents in additional taxes and fees to make it up, it would be a positive example of the City actually providing services to those residents in the most need at a time when there are a considerable number of those in that situation. The government is supposed to work FOR the people, not the opposite. This is not a handout. Its a case where the government would facilitate neighbors helping their neighbors. In the country if you need a barn built, all your neighbors show up and build it with you, and when THEY need a barn built, you reciprocate. What could be more American than that? It is also an American tradition to respect and care for their elderly when they are no longer able to do for themselves. People look to their families first for help, but if they arent around or unable to help, friends and family are the next line of assistance. Government is the last safety net and should have a limited, but important, role, as in this case. Disregarding the moral aspects of helping the elderly, the deteriorating properties detract from the neighborhood and cause property values to decline. So, if for no other reason, we need to help these elderly folks, as its in our own best interests- morally, ethically, and financially. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

Monday, March 2, 2009

what a fool believes...

There are those who believe I am a fool for believing that there are those in our community who care about their friends and neighbors enough to give them a helping hand during these most difficult times. I believe those disbelievers are in serious error and underestimate our community. I am sure there are unemployed construction workers and handymen and women in our community who would be willing to donate some work a weekend a month to the elderly and less fortunate. It would be a neighborly gesture and could land them some paid work in the process, which would make it a win-win situation. I helped build the playground by the Senior Center many years ago and I saw the willingness and generosity of the Springs people in action there. There was men and women, kids, teens, professionals, architects, IT guys, elderly, carpenters, all ethnicities, and all religions united on that build and I DONT believe that spirit has disappeared. When its for a good cause our clubs, organizations and churches have responded. All we need now to facilitate and complete this project is City government. I believe that the City should take an active role in this project, and others like it. Why havent they? If elected, I will pursue these options vigorously, along with various Green initiatives. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

Seniors need help

Seniors are often overlooked when thinking about the City and the effects of city actions. For those retired and on a fixed income the frequent raising of fees and taxes puts them in a bind. If the taxes and fees continue to rise, as is anticipated, some will be unable to pay, and lose the houses they have lived in for decades. Some houses are in disrepair because the seniors cant do the repairs themselves and dont have the money to pay others to do it. This is where the churches and other community organizations should become involved, maybe spending one Saturday a month fixing these houses up, as a gesture of goodwill and being a good neighbor. A Senior makeover, so to speak. I know that the Lutheran Church has done some of this kind of work in the past. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

Sunday, March 1, 2009

intimidating Grandmothers?

What kind of lowlife dirtbags would intimidate little old ladies in their 80s by egging their houses because they put up the challengers signs? These are somebodys GRANDMOTHERS! Have they no respect for the elderly? These great-grandmothers live on a couple of our main thoroghfares and have since taken down the challengers signs out of fear of further reprisals. There have been NO reports of that happening to incumbent supporters. I have nothing but contempt and disdain for those who are behind this latest lowlife political stunt. Driving a car over our signs, defacing them, knocking them down, and stealing them is one thing. Intimidating little old ladies because of their signs is inexcusable and unacceptable, a new political low in this campaign. It DOES give us some insight into the character, or LACK of character, of some of the candidates running tho. I have heard of NO other candidate coming out publicly against these incidents, but they should. It IS interesting that so far it has only been reported with those who display challenger signs however. Little old ladies intimidated ? Gotta be dirtbags. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

numbers is, and undisputed

The bathroom investigations have been done and the results were that we paid EXACTLY TRIPLE what they actually cost! We did the same at the CC. Those numbers are in and undisputed. Since we have a history of paying TRIPLE the intial costs on anything and everything we build under the City Managers supervision (and I use that term loosely), the initial numbers on the new gym is 6.8 million- TRIPLE THAT and you will get an idea about what that project will actually cost- 20.4 MILLION. How will they pay for those constant and recurrent cost overruns and change orders? Raise our taxes and fees, of course! Already, the disregarding of their own variance laws has caused delays and additional expenses, and they arent even in the ground yet! This "costs are irrelevent" and "immaterial" Mayor and Council have no clue regarding the poor planning and general incompetence involved in this project, and dont seem to care, as long as their legacies are realized. They have NEVER met a cost overrun OR change order they couldt and wouldnt approve, no matter WHAT the price is! How much longer can we afford this crew? Change is coming, and necessary. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

a community service

I spoke with Brenda Knight Saturday and, altho her husband may be a pill, she is a local lady providing a community service to other Springs residents, as far as I can see. She says she has cancelled checks for $400 a month for rent for YEARS and there is no reason to doubt her. I only wish we could get the private swim team at the pool to offer to do the same kind of disclosure and documentation. Although I would prefer to have some kind of contract that would protect both Jazzercise parties legally, I have no serious problem with local people providing needed services for other Springs people at a very reasonable rate. That is capitalism. Full disclosure: I used to do classes of Jazzercise myself. Dr. Mel P. Johnson