Steve Blake Puts Them Ahead Of Rockets For Good

A news by yahoofreeshop:It's a small sample size but so far the Los Angeles Lakers' decision to essentially replace Jordan Farmar with Steve Blake looks like a wise one. Blake came off the bench and sparked the Lakers late on Tuesday night hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer as Los Angeles fought back for a 112 110 victory over the Houston Rockets in front of the home crowd on the opening night of the NBA season......
But while his late game heroics will make most of the highlight shows this morning, Blake got things going in the third quarter when the Lakers to that point were having a pretty cold night from the field.....

Naomi Campbell Needs a Vacation Every Six Weeks

A news by 4usnews:Naomi Campbell has been involved in a string of scandals throughout her career, including various claims of assault, but she's grateful for her many life lessons.

She said: "It's important to find your way in life and I can't complain about mine. It was fascinating. And I learned that I need a break every six weeks. When I overwork myself I lose control. Now I know that it's better to disappear for a while at the right time."

The 40-year-old beauty also insisted she is not a diva and doesn't believe she fits the characteristics of one.

She told Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper: "It's merely a label. I never wanted it. When I hear the word 'diva' I think of Donna Summer, the opera, great voices, great talents, female Pavarottis, but not myself.........

Naomi currently lives in Russia with her boyfriend Vladimir Doronin, but she insists she doesn't miss being in London because she always carries her favorite shawl to keep homesickness at bay.

She said: "I can feel at home where ever I am. My roots are in London, my family lives there and it's only a three-hour flight away. But in Moscow no one cares where I go and what I do. There are wonderful museums, galleries, so much history to look at.

"I always have crystals, a bible and a shawl. As long as my hands are wrapped in that shawl, I can sleep where ever I am.......................

US Airways Pilots Express Serious Concerns to Congress Regarding FAA's Proposed Fix to Pilot Fatigue and Related Airline Accidents

A news by yahoofreeshop:CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sep 30 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways has submitted testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Aviation expressing its serious concerns with the FAA's proposal to fix the pilot fatigue problem. Pilot fatigue has been a contributing factor in multiple airline disasters and a fix has been on the NTSB's "Most Wanted List since the list's inception more than two decades ago.
After the U.S. Congress mandated action on pilot fatigue and safety the FAA released proposed rules on September 10 governing pilot On Duty hour limits Flight-Time limits and Rest Time limits along with a host of other fatigue related issues. USAPA was encouraged that Congress mandated the FAA to address the deadly fatigue issue. Although there are some positive aspects to the proposed regulation USAPA believes that certain provisions of the FAA's proposed rules will actually induce fatigue and degrade safety compared to current regulations.....
The proposed new rule allows airline managements to schedule crews for 25% more flight time in a day and for 60% more flight time in a week" stated USAPA President Mike Cleary.It simply defies common sense that in the wake of a multitude of accidents where fatigue was a contributing factor the FAA's solution to reducing fatigue is to have pilots fly more hours in a given period of time......
Before the proposed rules were issued the FAA pilot unions and the airline industry all agreed to use a scientific approach to address pilot fatigue and an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) was established to address the problem.....
"From the start USAPA was concerned with the ARC process as the FAA chose to invite only members of labor and management to participate explained Cleary.No independent academic experts specializing in fatigue research were consulted which only resulted in negotiations and dissent among the parties rather than a recommendation based solely on scientific evaluation as was called for in the ARC guidelines....
"Safety concerns should never be negotiated and given the magnitude of the problem, we are shocked at some of the provisions in the proposed new rules" Cleary added....
In its testimony to Congress, USAPA noted other failings to the proposed rules....
"After a 15 hour work day, the traveling public would reasonably expect their pilots to have an eight hour sleep opportunity before they return to fly" said Cleary. "Given that human beings need time for nutrition and hygiene and time to wind down prior to effective sleep, the proposed nine hour rest break is woefully insufficient.....
On international flights the proposed rule reduces the rest period by 44% as compared to current regulation....
To be sure there are both positive and negative components to the proposed rules but the serious nature of this problem requires a comprehensive final rule that will protect the traveling public and crewmembers from the dangerous effects of pilot fatigue Cleary continued. We look forward to working with the FAA and legislators to create a rule that will genuinely fight fatigue and promote an increase in safety in air carrier transport. We are certainly not there yet....
Headquartered in Charlotte N.C. the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) represents the more than 5,000 mainline pilots who fly for US Airways. USAPA's mission is to ensure safe flights for airline passengers by guaranteeing that their lives are in the hands of only the most qualified competent and well-equipped pilots. USAPA will fight against any practices that may jeopardize its pilots' training, equipment workplace environment, compensation or work/life balance or that compromise its pilot' ability to execute the optimal flight. Visit the USAPA Web site at www.USAirlinePilots.org......

Jessica Simpson on Boyfriend Eric Johnson: 'He Brings Out a Lot of Light in Me'

A new by 4usnews:Jessica Simpson started dating former NFL football player Eric Johnson in June, and she credits him with her newfound happiness.

Speaking to USA Today at the Women's Conference in Long Beach, California, on Monday, she said: "He definitely makes me very happy. He brings out a lot of light in me and makes me very comfortable being who I am. It's nice to be with somebody who praises you for the right reasons."

Jessica, who was previously married to singer Nick Lachey, has hinted marriage could be on the cards for her and 31-year-old Eric, who filed for divorce from his wife in February.

She said: "I am from the south so I've definitely dreamed of being married my whole life and having children, so hopefully that's in my future."

The 30-year-old blonde beauty also confessed the constant comments about her fluctuating weight had gotten her down in the past.

She explained: "There's no way you're not going to be affected by the ugly things people say about you. It's very hurtful. It definitely brings up a lot of your own insecurities. It takes a great family and wonderful friends -- and love definitely helps, too -- to get through it."

However, Jessica revealed she is happier than ever since turning 30 this summer and believes she has now “come of age.”

She said: "I love being 30. The moment I turned 30, I really did feel a switch in my life. I was in Capri and I was with my boyfriend and my family and my friends, and I just felt this coming of age moment, this moment where I really just felt the happiest I've ever been and I love the woman inside of me......

USAPA weighs in on pilot fatigue

A news by yahoofreeshop:The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) is pushing back at the Federal Aviation Administration’s proposed rules meant to combat pilot fatigue saying some of the regulations are likely to increase on-the-job exhaustion.....
To combat in flight accidents caused by weary pilots the FAA pilot unions and the airlines had agreed to form an Aviation Rule Committee which produced new guidelines covering topics including the number of hours pilots can fly in a given period and mandated rest time. According to USAPA the committee asked for input from the labor force and airline management but didn’t consider input from the academic world. This extra perspective would have brought a much needed measure of scientific evaluation to the proceedings.....
The pilots recently told a US House of Representatives subcommittee that the new guidelines instead of producing a solution, would contribute to the problem of over worked pilots.....
The proposed new rule allows airline managements to schedule crews for 25 percent more flight time in a day and for 60 percent more flight time in a week Mike Cleary president of the association, said in a statement. It simply defies common sense that in the wake of a multitude of accidents where fatigue was a contributing factor the FAA’s solution to reducing fatigue is to have pilots fly more hours in a given period of time......
Cleary allowed that the proposed rules also have some positive aspects but insisted that the findings need to be re-evaluated.....
We look forward to working with the FAA and legislators to create a rule that will genuinely fight fatigue and promote an increase in safety in air carrier transport Cleary said.We are certainly not there yet......

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Apike

A news by yahoofreeshop:More than half of the players in Racquet Network’s Calgary pickleball programs now play with Apike paddles which have been banned by the USAPA......
Most players say they prefer the Apike because it is lighter than other paddles. Some like it because it is quieter Some prefer it because it offers (and delivers) superior spin and control. However nobody has ever said that they use an Apike because it allows them to hit the ball harder......
Amongst the players in our club, the Apike paddle has an excellent reputation. In fact, the only players in our group who don’t own at least one are either snow birds who play in USAPA tournaments or are simply averse to paying more than $70 for a pickleball paddle.
As accepted as it may be within our circles however it does encounter opposition from the occasional outsider who comes to play with us.......
Oh no said one wide-eyed Arizona pickleball player last week. I won’t even go on the court when people are using those things” she said nodding in the direction of a tiny 68-year-old woman clutching an Apike paddle.....
Hmmm I wondered. Is she really fearful? How hard does she imagine that a tiny 68.year.old woman can hit a pickleball? Is there really that much of a difference between her own Pro.Lite paddle and her would-be opponent’s Apike? How much of this is fact and how much is fiction I asked myself?
For more than a year I have been hearing and reading all kinds of rumours about the Apike but I haven’t seen any facts. So to begin arriving at some I did what any guy my age would do I bought a radar gun......
My quest: to test a variety of racquets and balls and determine which if any may present a danger to the players in my pickleball programs. After all if people refuse to play against a particular paddle that will have an impact on our clubs......