linex exercise bike

Ridiculous Ride: Tricked-Out Escalade Includes Exercise Bike!

2012-04-27T09:10:00.001-07:00

Black Escalades are a dime a dozen in Hollywood (trust us, we have to fight them in trafficeveryday), but none are as tricked out as these!
Howard Becker of Becker Automotive Design creates custom vehicles for a select clientele -- and they're not just the nouveau riche, athletes or rappers.

"We service the biggest and most important names in business, heads of state, ambassadors, and five royal families in the Middle East," Howard tells toofab.

Their requests can range from the practical (fully wired offices to work on the road) to the very specific (one prince wanted to have Saudi televison routed to his car in Manhattan -- a process that involved a lot of ingenuity because NYC buildings block out satellite).

But one of the more outrageous features is the built-in exercise bike for those health conscious clients who want to squeeze a workout in. Check out the photos below!

It's the clients who come up with the ideas. "People that we deal with are privvy to the latest technology," Howard explains. "They're very creative."

Howard's three criteria for taking on a job are safety, functionality and feasibility. The bike was designed to fit within the confined space, ensure the passenger's legs didn't rub up against the cushion, and most importantly, fit within federal safety parameters. He warns against those customcar shows because they don't necessarily meet those standards.

"There's very little that our customers ask us to do that we can't do," Howard claims, but one request for armor piercing protection had to be turned down because the materials would be too thick. "We can't make these things tanks," he admits, but quickly added that they can protect against small arms fire.

Of course, with any custom work, costs can skyrocket. Howard estimates his most expensive Escalade cost $385,000 with all the features. Delivery to the Middle East can cost $25-30,000.

Don't expect to see Howard cruising in one of his custom Cadillacs. While he tests all of them, he prefers his Turbo Porsche!

For more information, check out the Becker Automotive Design website.

Thanks to the Daily Mail for surfacing this story.

Nationwide EcoTrek "Protect and Preserve America Tour" LINE-X PAXCON Security and Defense Force-Resistant Coatings a Natural Fit for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Supported Tour -

2012-04-27T09:09:00.001-07:00

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- LINE-X Protective Coatings, the nation's leading developer and provider of high performance protective coatings, is proud to once again support the non-profit EcoTrek Foundation, an organization devoted to environmental and humanitarian projects throughout North and Central America, and their new 2012 national endeavor, the "Protect and Preserve America Tour." A six month nationwide tour, the EcoTrek Foundation and its president, Tom Holm, will host 20+ scheduled stops alongside the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Team at community events across the country to highlight and share the importance of developing alternative fuels, recognizing environmental impact factors and sustaining American-made businesses. Responding to a national initiative to reduce petroleum dependence by 50 percent and to increase the use of alternative fuels by 40 percent by 2020, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps inspire the EcoTrek Foundation to develop new non-petroleum, renewable energy commercial fuel options. With national ties to the security and defense industries through the U.S. Pentagon-approved PAXCON anti-spalling protection and bomb blast mitigation coatings, LINE-X is an honored supporter of the EcoTrek "Protect and Preserve America Tour." LINE-X has utilized its award-winning LINE-X PREMIUM spray-on protective coating to shield the EcoTrek Expedition Vehicle, a 2012 Ford F-450 driven exclusively on cellulosic ethanol, from the varying weather and touring conditions it will face on its cross-country travel.

"We're honored to support EcoTrek's quest to raise awareness about environmental topics, renewable fuels and sustaining American companies. With our extensive franchise network, LINE-X works hard to keep American's in business," said Kevin Heronimus, CEO of LINE-X Protective Coatings. "LINE-X PREMIUM is a top-quality protective coating and a very valuable addition to the EcoTrek Expedition Vehicle. Not only does it offer extreme protection from unpredictable weather and road conditions, it offers the best protection against heavy equipments scratches and also rust and corrosion from the long tour schedule."

"LINE-X proved to be the most versatile and durable liner that we could find," said Tom Holm, Founder of EcoTrek. "That's why we decided to apply it our wheel wells, bumpers and door handles in addition to the bedliner for added protection in high wear and tear spots."

This year's "Protect and Preserve America Tour" will feature displays set inside and around an impressive "eco friendly" exhibit trailer and will highlight successes by the U.S. Navy and tour partners at preserving cultural and environmental sites throughout America. Last year's 2011 LINE-X supported EcoTrek "Best of America Tour" concluded with a record breaking 10,000 miles driven exclusively on cellulosic ethanol, the first vehicle to ever achieve such a historical feat. For more information on the 2012 EcoTrek "Protect and Preserve America Tour" and scheduled stops, visit www.EcoTrek.com and become a fan of the EcoTrek Facebook page.

About EcoTrekEcoTrek's "Protect and Preserve America Tour," sponsored by Kia, highlights steps being taken by the U.S. Navy, Marines and others to bolster America's energy independence through renewable energy, preservation and "Made In America" programs. This tour will visit 20 major events with as many as 500,000 visitors each day. For more information, visit www.EcoTrek.com .

About LINE-X Protective CoatingsLINE-X Protective Coatings ( www.LINE-X.com ) is the nation's leading developer and provider of high performance protective coatings offering scientifically formulated polymers that permanently bond to a wide range of surfaces for unmatched durability. LINE-X products are utilized in automotive, commercial, light industrial, heavy industrial, agricultural, military, marine and custom applications. Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, with more than 500 locations in 46 countries, it is the goal of LINE-X to consistently produce the highest quality and most reliable materials available. Follow LINE-X on Twitter @LineXprotects, become a fan on Facebook of LINE-X Protective Coatings and check out what LINE-X is doing on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/linexprotects .

SOURCE LINE-X Protective Coatings

What’s happened to the famed exercise bikes? Islanders want to know

2012-04-27T09:08:00.003-07:00

What’s happened to the famed exercise bikes? Islanders want to know

RAY PFORTNER PHOTO

The exercise bikes have long been a Vashon icon and legend, as well as a favorite subject for artful photographs.

By NATALIE JOHNSON
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Reporter
APRIL 25, 2012 · 9:42 AM

inShare

For years, drivers on Dockton Road, beachgoers at Tramp Harbor and visitors to the Island have been delighted, or at least bemused, by a row of old exercise bikes that were left at Portage.

Across the street from the now-vacant Portage Store, the bikes curiously faced Tramp Harbor, as if beckoning someone to hop on and take a spin. The so-called Portage Bikes joined the ranks of Vashon’s quirky spots, along with the John Deere Pond, the Jesus Barn and the bike in the tree, and have been immortalized in vacation photos, Vashon-themed greeting cards and even in county Councilmember Joe McDermott’s Facebook cover photo.

But for the first time in recent memory, Portage has been empty of exercise equipment for about a month. And the circumstances surrounding the bikes’ disappearance — be it upset neighbors, a landowner tired of the clutter or scrap metal collectors looking for a few extra bucks — seem to be a mystery.

“I’m very sad,” said Kate Hunter, who has lived near Portage with her husband for more than 20 years. “I think it was the sweetest thing.”

Hunter said she made the Portage Bikes a regular stop whenever friends visited the Island.

“We called it the Tramp Harbor Athletic Club,” she said with a laugh.

Bruce Haulman, a Vashon historian and retired college professor who lives near Ellisport, said he too misses the bikes, which overlooked what he calls Pedal Beach.

“It’s part of the quirkiness of Vashon. I’m sad to see it disappear,” he said.

The eclectic mix of exercise equipment has morphed over the years. Some bicycles came and went, and every now and then an elliptical or rowing machine appeared. Some past photos show just a handful of bikes at the spot, while one snapshot shows as many as 16.

But those who drive past Portage often say they began to notice more significant changes about the bikes several months ago. The dumping increased, and the spot became crowded with junkier bicycles and other exercise equipment. Other trash appeared too, and someone even dropped off a couch.

“For a while there were so many, it kind of became a dumping grounds,” said Maria Pottinger, who lives nearby.

Then the trend seemed to reverse, some say, and the bikes and other equipment began to disappear. For a while there were a couple treadmills left, and then nothing.

Nadine Edelstein, a tile artist who lives at Portage, said she and some neighbors periodically cleared out the equipment when it began to pile up, always leaving the classic bikes with the thin, metal bars that the spot is best known for.

“We would get together and cull them out to keep it looking a little more tidy,” she said.

However, Edelstein said she’s not responsible for the total disappearance of the bikes. She thinks that perhaps the person who rented the apartment attached to the Portage Store for a time or a road crew working in the area mistakenly took the bikes, thinking they were doing the community a favor.

“It cold be just a very easy misunderstanding,” she said.

Jim Didricksen, a county roads supervisor based on Vashon, said Vashon’s road workers are familiar with the Island and he doesn’t think they would touch the bikes.

“It could have been a crew that came over (from off-Island) and did it, but it’s highly unlikely,” Didricksen said.

Other neighbors suspect the bikes were hauled off by someone collecting scrap metal.

“The price of scrap is up now more than usual,” said Lou Engels, who lives nearby and owns Engels Repair & Towing.

However, the most widely spread rumor is that the owner of the Portage Store building, which has been vacant since 2001, finally got tired of the bikes and cleared them out.

Pottinger, whose children sometimes played on the bikes while waiting for the school bus, called the rumor “completely hearsay,” but added that she wouldn’t blame the owner if it were true.

“My thought is if the person at the Portage Store owns that property, he can do what he wants with it,” she said.

According to the King County Department of Assessments, the strip of land where the bikes once sat is part of the parcel that includes the Portage Store building and is owned, along with the building, by a man named Brian Gordon.

The county lists Gordon’s address as a P.O. Box in Steamboat Springs, Colo., but neighbors say they believe he currently lives in Seattle, visits the Island now and then and could have tossed the bikes.

However, one man who was outside the Portage Store last week said he knows Gordon and doesn’t think he was the one who got rid of the bikes.

The man, who doesn’t live on Vashon and declined to give his name, said he recently bought a boat from Gordon. He said Gordon was a nice person and he doubted he would take the beloved bikes.

“I’m a pretty good judge of character,” he said.

The Beachcomber’s attempts to contact Gordon were unsuccessful.

Maggi McClure, who lives on Maury Island and heads the Vashon Sheepdog Classic, may hold one clue in the bikes’ disappearance. In mid-April, McClure said, she was driving on Dockton Road and saw a group of men load the last remaining treadmill into the back of a truck filled with scrap metal.

“It looked like people collecting scrap,” she said.

McClure, along with many others, says she hopes more bikes will eventually be dropped off at Portage. But she worries that the charm of the original, old-style bicycles may be lost forever.

“Exercise equipment has changed. Those great old basic exercise bikes don’t exist anymore,” she said. “Maybe they’re gone, unless someone has some hiding in a basement somewhere.”

Edelstein said she, too, would like to see the iconic bikes return, and is even holding on to one she could put there.

“I’m not putting it out there if somebody’s going to toss it,” she said. “I’m kind of waiting for things to come back to normal.”

May features bike, walk challenges Get ready to step into fitness. Two challenges are launching in Superior next week, both aimed at getting people moving

2012-04-27T09:08:00.001-07:00

Get ready to step into fitness. Two challenges are launching in Superior next week, both aimed at getting people moving.

The second annual BID Walkabout kicks off Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Center City Park. The event will include freebies from local businesses, an initial walk through the city, free maps and information. Pedometers will be handed out to the first 36 people to register for the challenge. Last year, 95 walkabout participants kept track of the steps they walked along four pre-mapped walking routes in the city over a three month period.

“Last year’s Walkabout program was a huge success,” said Brody Bakken, program director. “We had a lot of participants walking several hundred miles through the BID last year.”

Mary Sweeney, 69, earned the top spot in the 2011 walkabout, taking a recorded 440,450 steps (220.25 miles) along BID routes from May 23 to Aug. 23.

The routes are the same this year, but the time frame has been shortened. Walkers will compete to see who can take the most steps along BID routes over three weeks. Anyone who takes 2,000 steps three times a week along the BID routes is eligible to attend an awards event May 23 for a chance to win prizes.

The shortened time frame should increase enthusiasm and keep ideas fresh during this year’s walkabout, according to BID Marketing Coordinator Tracy Ryks.

“The program will have the commitment and TLC it deserves,” she said. “We’re looking forward to seeing the results.”

Participants send tallies of their steps to the BID via e-mail. Bakken will record the steps and send out inspirational messages to the walkers. The online piece tripped up Krissi Patterson with the University of Wisconsin-Superior, who took part in the challenge last year.

“I like the setup and the accountability piece (online logging), but I didn’t follow through like I should have,” she said. “I do walk a lot but don’t log it or even wear a pedometer. I just know the routes I walk and how many miles they are, and it works.”

Patterson is also hoping to get wheels spinning throughout Douglas County during the 2012 Get Up & Ride National Bike Challenge. The free program begins May 1 and runs until Aug. 31. Its goal is to unite 50,000 people to bike 10 million miles. Following a successful pilot program in Wisconsin last year, the challenge encourages people to bike for transportation and recreation. It’s free and open to anyone who lives in the United States. People can sign up as individuals or teams. Like the Walkabout challenge, participants keep track of their miles and log them online. For more information, look up the challenge website at www.endomondo.com/campaign/national/.

Whether you choose to bike or walk, Bakken said, the main goal behind the challenges is to increase fitness and health.

“Getting exercise is easier and less intimidating than a lot of people think,” he said. “Walking, taking the stairs and riding bike to work are all easy examples of exercise.”

The BID Walkabout is one way to motivate people to get moving.

“I get really excited about health and wellness and love to be around it,” Bakken said. “I am excited to walk with others and hear their personal health and wellness stories.”

People can register for the BID Walkabout by sending their name, address, telephone number and email address to bidwalkabout@aol.com or stopping by the Tuesday kickoff.

Studio’s exercise bikes do more than just spin Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/04/27/2252613/studios-exercise-bikes-do-more.html#storylink=cpy

2012-04-27T09:07:00.003-07:00

Hilary Morgan loves to exercise, but like many others, she’s always looking for something new to break the workout routine.

C-Cycle Studio did that for her.

During her first workout on the RealRyder Indoor Cycles at the new Lexington exercise center, the Gilbert resident was feeling a different burn. Muscles in her legs and torso were being stretched in ways they normally aren’t during her frequent gym workouts or even when she finished a recent marathon.

John Halferty, right, Denise Jackson, and Sally Kutyla workout during a RealRyder Indoor Cycle class at C-Cycle Studio in Lexington. RealRyder Indoor Cycles are exercise bikes with frames that allow for road-like tilting and leaning.

- C. Aluka Berry /caberry@thestate.com

C-Cycle Studio

A new type of exercise facility in the Midlands.

Where: 711 East Main St., Lexington

When: Classes available Monday-Saturday

Price: First ride free, then $17 per class, $75 for five classes, $130 for 10 classes

Information: ccyclestudio.com or (803) 609-9490

Video from around the world

“Halfway through the class, I could feel it,” Morgan said. “It works different core muscles.”

That’s one of the notions behind the RealRyder exercise bikes. RealRyder CEO Colin Irving came up with a flexible exercise bike that closely resembles leaning and steering on the road.

But the intention isn’t so much a road-like experience as an experience unlike other exercise bikes. In the spinning classes so popular these days, leaders instruct participants to adjust an exercise bike’s tension or pedal faster or slower. In a RealRyder class, leaders do the same, but they have the added dimension of tilting.

That’s why Morgan decided “to give it a whirl. You can steer them. It engages more of your body,” she said.

After studio owner Cesar Leon’s first workout on a RealRyder at a gym in Miami two years ago, he was exhausted and inspired.

“On a normal exercise bike, your body wants to move (from side to side) but it can’t,” Leon said. “This mimics a real bike.”

With his love for exercise and his background in retail in the Columbia area, Leon envisioned a new type of exercise facility for the area. His C-Cycle Studio in the Old Mill facility on Main Street in Lexington is the first RealRyder studio in South Carolina. (There are four in North Carolina and five in Georgia.)

“I saw a niche that needed to be filled in Columbia,” he said.

He happened to run into the owners of Crossfit Iron Mary’s, an exercise facility in the Old Mill that had more space than it needed. He jumped at the chance to open C-Cycle Studio in the small room that appears larger because of the mill’s high ceilings. The studio, packed with 25 RealRyder bikes, opened in early April. Clients can sign up online for classes directed by one of the six instructors specially trained to get the most out of the unusual bikes for $17 per class or less if bought in multiples.

The early classes will feature simply the leader’s instructions and music to keep the pace flowing. Eventually, C-Cycle will incorporate its two wide-screen monitors to show videos of actual rides. A class could mimic a tough section of the Tour de France or an easy ride through rolling hills of Northern California.

“We could show a video of a tour through Napa Valley vineyards, then go next door (to one of the Mill’s restaurants) after the class for a glass of wine,” Leon said.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/04/27/2252613/studios-exercise-bikes-do-more.html#storylink=cpy

No Place Like Home: Two very different adoptions yielded similarly happy results years ago

2012-04-27T09:07:00.001-07:00

Corsicana — Rex Givens,

Age 54

For Rex Givens, an abnormal situation that could have gone a number of directions had a terrific ending. And he ended up with a loving, extended family.

After his father left, his mother was having a hard time raising Rex and his two brothers and sister, all younger, in Tennessee. When he was 6, child welfare came in and took them.

Rex and the next youngest brother, David, went to one foster home, the other two to another. After a month, he entered a foster home with a family he would live with until he was adopted, at the age of 14.

“I consider them as much my real parents,” Givens said, “as my real parents. If not more. ...

“They set the basis for who I am today.”

Givens, 54, will be among the speakers at Thursday’s annual Heart Gallery event.

Under different circumstances, Givens said, his foster parents may have actually adopted him. But in Tennessee, at least at that time, foster parents could not adopt and continue to foster other children.

His adoptive family had four sons of their own before Rex and David joined the family. The youngest was a senior in high school, and to this day, he said they all consider one another brothers.

“As they began to have families, we were raised right there with them,” Givens said.

Over the years, he kept up with his other brother and sister, as well.

At 14, he and David were adopted by their paternal grandfather, and they moved to Chicago. Later in life, David moved to Texas, and Rex soon followed after moving back to Tennessee and finding a tough job market.

The two worked for the prison system, and Rex eventually earned his peace officer’s license and found Corsicana. Today, he and his wife of 27 years, Paula, have three sons of their own, including step-sons Paul Stanley and Jamie Seltzer. David Givens, 28, is named after his uncle.

The Givens brothers grew up in a foster home 60 miles from their mother, and would get to spend Christmases with her, thanks to his foster parents.

Rex said on a trip some 10 to 15 years ago, he and David decided to go back to the home they spent nearly eight years in.

“We pulled into the house and wanted to take some pictures of the house,” Rex said, “and my brother got out. I guess it looked a little odd.

“This little old lady walked out the front door. And I said, ‘I guess we’d better tell her what we’re doing.’,” Rex recalled. “She pointed and said, ‘You’re Rex, and you must be David.’”

It was his foster mother, whom he had seen once since 1971.

“We had wrote her letters,” Rex said, “but we had never thought to send pictures.

“We had a nice little reunion.”

John McClung,

Age 68

When he learned at 8 years old he had been adopted, John McClung went on about his life, living his childhood and not thinking too much about where he came from.

Adopted at a month old, the parents who raised him where the only parents he’d ever known. The subject never made for awkward moments, but it did come up from time to time.

“As a 12-year-old, I figured my fate in life was to be bald,” McClung said recently. “Everbody member of my family had male pattern baldness.

“Then I realized, ‘Your adopted. You’re not going to be bald.’”

McClung, now 68 and a Corsicana city councilman, will be one of the speakers at Thursday night’s Heart Gallery.

“I was terribly spoiled,” said McClung, an only child who said his mother once told him they were considering adopting more ... then he turned 2.

In sixth grade, he had his mother for class at Lee Elementary. After school, he’d go home to the family farm and work with his dad.

Adopted from the Gladney Home in Fort Worth as an infant, the thought of finding his biological parents never hounded him. He had always heard his father was killed in World War II, something he’d later find out wasn’t true. His mother told his wife Gladney Home officials had told her McClung’s biological mother was one “of the most sincere, caring people they had ever had” at the home.

As an adult, McClung moved to Tulsa for 34 years, returning in 2003. Today, he is “semi-retired,” and runs a business in Dallas with his son, Chris. He also has a daughter, Carin Palmer, who lives in Denver with her three children.

McClung remains a supporter of adoption, and even had two opportunities to advocate on behalf of it recently.

In one instance, a couple of friends were about to adopt a mixed-race child and were talking about hard times ahead that the child could have as a result.

“I told them the kid was not going to have a problem unless they showed him the problems,” McClung said.

“‘Show him love, and none of that will be a problem,’” he told them.

In another, an attorney friend was saying a family that wanted to adopt wanted to block the child from looking for his biological parents in the future.

“I told him I had a real problem with that,” McClung said. “If their bond is strong enough, it will not make a difference.”

He should know. Later in his life, McClung did go to the Gladney Home to try to find out more about his biological mom, but it turned up little.

“My parents,” he said, “where my parents.”

Sixth Annual Heart Gallery

Thursday, 5 to 7 p.m.

Cook Center at Navarro College

Photos of many foster children

available for adoption, speeches from adoptive parents and former adoptees, including John McClung and Rex Givens

Did you know:

• In 2011, 17 children from Navarro County were adopted

• More than 5,500 statewide are available for adoption

Sponsored by Child Advocates of Navarro County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

and the Child Welfare Board

When celebrities ignore old friends

2012-04-27T09:06:00.001-07:00

By Salome Gregory
It was an evening that had a lot of promise as aspiring models looked forward to a great day that would probably shape their lives in a career that very few have managed a breakthrough.

The setting was at the ‘Mimi ni Kisura, Najitambua’ at the Movepick Hotel now Serena, alongside young models; there were also local designers who were set to showcase their collections to high end fashionistas.

Though tickets were on sale there was an invite only section and gauging by the guest list, it was an event that had sieved the best.

And like most social gatherings the moments before the event was time for playing catch up with friends you haven’t seen in a while and even hook up new alliances.

On that night I had been invited by my elder sister, Anna who had personal reasons to be there. When we entered the hotel lobby she all of a sudden started beaming at a certain beauty who was seated quite close.

As I was informed later, she was a former beauty queen who had turned to music at the time.

Unfortunately, despite the two having known one another well from their days as contestants at the Miss Kinondoni and later on at Miss Tanzania camp very little transpired.

Later that evening, as she was passing close to our table my sister stood up, smiled at her, called her nickname, she stopped for a while then walked on.

Anna took a deep sigh with rejection written all over her face; according to her it was the most embarrassing moment in her life on fast lane.

Though Anna’s case happened several years ago it is not an isolated case as more celebrities continue to ignore friends who were close pals in their days of obscurity.

According to some circles it is the belief that as one ascends the social ladders there is a need to shake off unwanted company.

This is because such interactions always tend to be a distraction to one as some of these guys might not lend any value to one’s efforts and instead drag you down.

However, this is a theory that is disputed as even those who are on top of the game still need their childhood friends to share some of the fond memories of how they struggled to get where they are.

Speaking to The Beat, Bongo Flava’s Sunday Mangu aka Linex admitted the fact that some of his old pals have turned their backs on him on several occasions, something he attributes to ignorance.

“Look here this is being stupid. There is no way you can just decide to ignore old friends just because you have gained some success, these guys know you better and above all you can never reverse your past,” says Linex.

He holds the view that you can’t trust strangers to guide you properly because not many share your aspirations as some will only associate with you for material gains only.

“I still treat my friends well and will never change because they have shared my tribulations and in times when I am successful I have a feeling they should be part of that success as well,” says the Moyo Wa Subira singer.
Linex’s views are corroborated by Young Africans striker Jerry Tegete, who thinks it could only amount to permittivity and an attempt to suicide .

Tegete who rose through the ranks to become one of the country’s prolific goal scorers says one becomes a star because they have a following out there especially in his field of trade.

“How you associate with friends and relatives matters a lot as a public figure, ignoring people might ruin ones career as the fan base could easily dwindle and you could soon find yourself all alone,” says Tegete.

Film actor Hemedi Suleiman’s remarks on a TV interview that he doesn’t talk to ugly women once drew criticism two years ago.

While on the programme he was quoted saying: Good looks have a lot to say about someone’s personality. Why bother talk to someone with bad looks?

This negative attitude according to Blandina Chagula aka Johari is not confined to stars only as it is eating even the ordinary folks out there.

“Though there are stars who ignore friends but there some common people who also diss old pals once they make it,” she says.

Johari cautions that sometimes one realises when it is too little too late to remember old pals and this is always after the gloss has gone off their careers.

“Just imagine going back to the same people after your world has crumbled, this can be a real disgrace that you can hardly handle,” she says.

Designer Ally Remtullah though he agrees that it is uncouth to ignore pals but he advises that people sometimes get the wrong message when seek attention without considering the circumstances.

“Some friends feel ignored when a star does not pay attention to them as one can be performing or showcasing his or her designs, this takes too much attention than chatting with people,” he says.

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites

LINE-X® Protective Coatings Honored in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Best Of The Best Franchises" & "Top Global Franchises" Rankings Eleventh Time LINE-X Has Been Recognized As Outstanding Franchise Investment --

2012-04-27T09:05:00.001-07:00

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- LINE-X Protective Coatings, the nation's leading developer and provider of high performance protective coatings, is honored to be named to Entrepreneur Magazine's 2012 "Best of the Best Franchises" and "Top Global Franchises" lists. Rising an impressive 243 places since last year's recognition, LINE-X's strong franchise networks continues to grow, now with over 500 specialized franchised locations in over 46 countries. Having been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine for eleven consecutive years, these awards continue to showcase the commitment LINE-X offers through dedicated customer service and top-quality products at competitive market values. This year's placement in the magazine's "Top 500 Franchises" places LINE-X at 195th overall, with a notable 153rd place ranking for "Top Global Franchises."

"As with every accolade LINE-X is recognized for, we are extremely honored. The entire LINE-X family is responsible for our success. From our technical engineers creating new, innovative spray-on protective coatings solutions to our internal corporate team members working to build our brand, and most importantly, with our Franchisees supporting and dedicating themselves to being strong and prominent business owners in their communities, LINE-X is a proud international franchisee network," said Kevin Heronimus, LINE-X CEO. "With the unwavering supports from our entire team, LINE-X is honored to be named as both a 'Best of the Best Franchises' and also a 'Top Global Franchise' this year."

With a strong internal support system, LINE-X Franchisees receive a multitude of resources to help them succeed. With national product and business training, ongoing support, marketing, advertising and public relations assistance, local Franchisees have access to the internal consultancies of LINE-X corporate.

In its 33 years, the "Franchise 500" has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for entrepreneurs. The annual Entrepreneur Magazine "Franchise 500" hosts a complete reference guide for entrepreneurs, outlining the top performing companies specific to each industry, in addition to supplying insider's tips on the successful markers of buying a franchise, how to research the latest trends and the necessary steps to become a franchisor.

Previously, LINE-X received top placements in the "Fastest Growing Franchise" category at 31st in 2002, 61st in 2003, 38th in 2004 and 16th in 2005. In addition, LINE-X earned top honors as a "Top New Franchise" throughout 2002-2004, at 44th, 30th and 7th respectively. With annual placements in the "Franchise 500 - Best of the Best Franchises", LINE-X has placed 144th in 2008, 419th in 2009, 484th in 2010 and 438th in 2011. Also in 2011, LINE-X was given the 1st place honor for the "Miscellaneous Auto Products and Services" industry.

Available throughout the company's network of over 500 professional, franchised centers in over 46 countries, LINE-X continues to lead the marketplace with innovative products that provide unique solutions to customers. With recent awards from Frost & Sullivan and a 2011 Innovation Award from the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry, LINE-X Protective Coatings is committed to leading industries that utilize spray-on applications. For more information about LINE-X products, applications, dealer locations and franchise opportunities, visit LINE-X online at www.LINEX.com .

SOURCE LINE-X Protective Coatings

Physical Therapy and Exercise Equipment Designed by TherapyTrainer.com/Interactive Motivation Now Offered by Rehabmart.com Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/business/press-releases/article/Physical-Therapy-and-Exercise-Equipment-Designed-3514971.php#ixzz1tG1Ly5RA

2012-04-27T09:04:00.001-07:00

Elberton, GA (PRWEB) April 27, 2012

Rehabmart.com, an online e-commerce company that sells rehabilitation and medical supplies, has joined into a distribution partnership with TherapyTrainer.com/Interactive Motivation, Incorporated, to offer physical therapy and exercise equipment to a larger consumer base. TherapyTrainer.com is a subsidiary of Interactive Motivation, a Woman-owned business headquartered in Colorado, specializing in the development of new products to help everyone who is in need of ongoing medical physical therapy. The interactive physical therapy and exercise equipment that they design and manufacture are the highest quality mini exercise bikes on the market and are perfect for rehabilitation from an injury, working to stay in shape, or for children or adults who love their PC games a little too much.

Recommended by healthcare professionals around the country, including doctors, physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, dieticians and chiropractors, this special exercise and therapy equipment from TherapyTrainer.com is also used by professional athletes, such as the San Francisco 49ers, and has been featured in an article on Oprah.com, “Don't Just Sit There! How to Get Fit at Your Desk”. Crafted with the highest quality magnetic resistance in both the forward and reverse pedal motion, the smaller spindle radius and smooth magnetic pedal motion are easier on the joints than other models on the market. The interactive features of the bikes add fun and entertainment to physical therapy or exercise programs by simply plugging the bike into the USB port of a computer. The pedal motion then makes the user part of their favorite PC games or virtual reality worlds, including Second Life® and World of Warcraft®. Included software also helps the user keep track of daily workouts, and records their progress.

Ads by Google

Alcohol Rehab ProgramPrivate Rehab Center in Thailand - Effective Program, 28 Days $5,995alcoholrehab.com
Seattle Lawn MowingFind Local Business Listings, Helpful Guides & More At DexKnowsDexKnows.com/LandscapingSupplies

These mini bikes help users to get moving while reading a book, watching T.V., talking on the phone, working on the computer, and while sitting at a desk at home or at work, making it easy to get that important daily exercise in whenever the user is sitting down and their legs are free. These bikes are additionally used in physical therapy from an injury or disability and include hand-cycling products as well as foot-cycles. “We are proud to introduce this innovative physical therapy and exercise equipment from TherapyTrainer.com to more consumers,” said Hulet Smith, Founder and CEO of Rehabmart. “These mini bikes are great for use in hospitals, physical therapy clinics, nursing homes, chiropractic offices and dialysis centers, as well as in the home and office. Everyone will love how much better they feel with more movement in their lives, and the interactive aspect with PC games makes exercise fun and easy for children and adults alike.”

About Rehabmart.com:

As Occupational Therapists, the founders of Rehabmart have the breadth of knowledge and experience necessary to match the needs of its customers with the very latest innovative products in the field of medical supplies and rehabilitation equipment. As parents of special needs children, they have a personal interest in finding the best products to improve the lives of those who are disabled and medically challenged. Rehabmart.com is committed to provide superior customer service, competitive pricing and exceptional product offerings.

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/business/press-releases/article/Physical-Therapy-and-Exercise-Equipment-Designed-3514971.php#ixzz1tG1Ej3R2

Eating better, exercise can help prevent cancer from returning

2012-04-27T09:03:00.003-07:00

By MIKE STOBBE

AP Medical Writer

ATLANTA — A cancer diagnosis often inspires people to exercise and eat healthier. Now the experts say there’s strong evidence that both habits may help prevent the disease from coming back.

New guidelines issued Thursday by the American Cancer Society urge doctors to talk to their cancer patients about eating right, exercising and slimming down if they’re too heavy.

That’s not something most doctors do, said Dr. Omer Kucuk, an Emory University oncologist who has researched the effect of nutrition on prostate cancer. They’re focused on surgery, chemotherapy or other treatments for their patients, he added.

“Usually the last thing on their mind is to talk about diet and exercise,” Kucuk said.

Cancer society officials have long encouraged healthy eating and exercise as a way to prevent certain cancers. They and others have tried to spread that gospel to cancer survivors as well. Indeed, the cancer society has a certification program for fitness professionals who work with cancer survivors.

But until now, the group didn’t think there was enough research to support a strong statement for cancer survivors.

Hastine Reese, a breast cancer survivor, says she began to exercise because her husband — not her doctor — pushed her. Besides being good for her health, he thought it might help pull her out of the depression that followed her diagnosis and double-mastectomy.

“When you’re first diagnosed with cancer, you go into a dark place,” said Reese, as she finished a one-hour exercise class this week at DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur, Ga.

Exercise has changed that. “I’m coming into the light, and it’s getting brighter and brighter,” she said.

Being overweight or obese has long been tied to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including cancers of the colon, esophagus, kidney, pancreas and — in postmenopausal women — breast. But there hadn’t been much evidence on the effects of diet and exercise for people who had had cancer.

The last five years saw more than 100 studies involving cancer survivors, many of them showing that exercise and/or a healthy diet was associated with lower cancer recurrence rates and longer survival.

Most of the research was on breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. The evidence is more meager when it comes to other cancers, including the deadliest kind, lung cancer. Also, most of the work involved observational studies, which can’t prove a cause and effect. Still, the volume of research was compelling.

“We’ve got enough data now to make these recommendations,” said Colleen Doyle, the organization’s director of nutrition and physical activity.

At least two other medical groups have strongly recommended exercise and healthier eating for cancer survivors, but the cancer society’s new guidelines are expected to have much greater impact. It’s the nation’s largest cancer charity in both donations and the number of volunteers, and it funds more cancer research than any other non-governmental agency.

There was a time when cancer patients were thought of as gaunt and dying souls. Many cancers were diagnosed at a late stage, after the disease had ravaged the body and caused weight loss.

But better screening and treatment has made early diagnosis of cancer more common and survival more likely. Today, more than two-thirds of cancer patients live at least five years. The ranks of cancer survivors have grown, with more than 12 million Americans identified as cancer survivors.

Meanwhile, obesity has boomed. More than two-thirds of U.S. adults are now considered overweight or obese.

The guidelines recognize that for some people just eating enough food is a priority, and that diet advice can vary during treatment. The cancer society also notes that some people may be too weak at times for vigorous exercise. But experts say that even modest activities, like lifting soup cans while watching TV, can help.

Women seem to take to exercise and diet recommendations more readily than men, or to push their spouses to follow the advice, some doctors said. Most of Reese’s classmates were women.

“I find women to be very, very proactive,” said Dr. Allen Lawhead, a gynecologic oncologist at DeKalb Medical Center. “Men, we traditionally go back into our man cave and hide.”

Lawrence Genter, a survivor of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was one of three men in Reese’s class of about a dozen. “I’m here because of my wife,” he said.

For another cancer survivor, exercise came easy but eating healthy was a challenge. During chemotherapy, nausea is common and food can seem unappetizing.

“The key thing is to eat period — whatever you can get down and keep down,” said Bob Falkenberg of Alpharetta, Ga., who was a marathoner and long-distance cyclist before he was diagnosed with leukemia.

What did he eat during chemo? Mexican food. Hamburgers.

“I had people bring in pizza at one point,” he laughed.

———

Online:

American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/

American Council on Exercise Kick Starts National Physical Fitness and Sports Month in May

2012-04-27T09:03:00.001-07:00

American Council on Exercise Kick Starts National Physical Fitness and Sports Month in May

Fitness industry leader launches ACE PALA+ Challenge; helps Americans achieve Presidential Active Lifestyle Award

By American Council on Exercise

Published: Thursday, Apr. 26, 2012 - 1:39 pm

SAN DIEGO, April 26, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ --American Council on Exercise (ACE), in support of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month in May, is launching the ACE PALA+ Challenge to help individuals kick start a program to achieve the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+). The ACE PALA+ Challenge consists of weekly cardiovascular and resistance workout plans for May and beyond that allow participants to fulfill the requirements for PALA+, reinvigorate a habit of daily physical activity, or begin a new plan to live their most fit life.

"At ACE, our job is to arm individuals with the tools for engaging in safe and effective exercise regardless of their current fitness level," said ACE CEO Scott Goudeseune. "National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is the perfect opportunity for Americans to kick start a healthier and more active lifestyle. ACE has a vision of the world devoid of the obesity epidemic that is threatening our quality of life. This challenge is just one more way we empower all Americans to life their most fit lives."

The ACE PALA+ Challenge is designed to build total body strength, enhance cardiovascular endurance, gain muscular definition, lose weight, improve health and increase energy. Created for exercise beginners, the plan can also be used as a dynamic warm-up for more advanced individuals, and can be completed at home or in a gym under the guidance of a certified personal trainer.

The ACE PALA+ Challenge is available at www.ACEFitness.org/PALAChallenge and includes weekly guides with instructional videos demonstrating proper form for each exercise. Additionally, ACE will share expert advice and inspiration on its Twitter channel every day in May in support of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.

Visit www.ACEFitness.org/PALAChallenge to learn more about the plan and to register for PALA+.

Stay fit & healthy with free exercises, healthy recipes, workouts, videos, fitness calculators,product reviews&blogs. Free health and fitness resources can be accessed any time of the year at online at www.ACEFitness.org/GetFit including free exercises, healthy recipes, product reviews and more.

"We are excited that ACE has launched the ACE PALA+ Challenge as a way to engage even more Americans to start a healthy lifestyle by completing PALA+," said PCFSN Co-chair Dominique Dawes. "The President's Council is constantly looking for opportunities to promote our mission and this collaboration will bring our messaging to millions of Americans.

Since 1983, May has been observed as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, with individuals and organizations across the country joining together to promote awareness of the value of physical activity in the pursuit of happier, healthier, more productive lives. The mission of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month coincides with the goal of PALA+ to encourage all Americans to make being active a part of their everyday lives.

Adult participants in PALA+ are required to complete 30 minutes of physical activity, five days a week for six out of eight weeks. PALA+ also includes a nutritional component, where participants must add a weekly healthy eating goal per week, and build upon those goals throughout the six week period. Goals include increasing intake of fruits and vegetables, managing portion sizes and drinking water rather than sugary drinks.

For more details on the ACE PALA+ Challenge, visit www.ACEFitness.org/PALAChallenge.

About ACE The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's premier fitness and personal trainer certification, continuing education, and training organization, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting Americans against unsafe and ineffective fitness products and instruction. ACE sponsors university-based fitness and exercise science research studies and is the world's largest nonprofit fitness certifying organization. For more information on ACE and its programs, call (800) 825-3636 or visit the ACE website atwww.acefitness.org. AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE, ACE and the ACE logos are Registered Trademarks of the American Council on Exercise.

About PCFSN The President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) educates, engages and empowers all Americans to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and good nutrition. PCFSN is a committee of volunteer citizens who advise the President through the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Through its partnerships with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, PCFSN promotes programs and initiatives that motivate people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to lead active, healthy lifestyles. PCFSN is co-chaired by NFL Quarterback Drew Brees and Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes. For more information, visitwww.fitness.gov.

SOURCE American Council on Exercise

linex exercise bike

2010-01-25T03:50:00.000-08:00

Buy Exercise Bikes, Stationary Bikes | BuyExerciseBike.Net
Shop deals on stationary exercise bike equipment. Buy an exercise bike and improve your fitness today.
buyexercisebike.net - Cached
Linex | Buy Exercise Bikes
Current product deals on Linex:[phpbay]Linex, 33, 382, [/phpbay]
buyexercisebike.net/products/linex - Cached
548 Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike - Linex
If you Have Back Pain or Back Problems the Support of a Full Recumbent is the way to go. Only $329.99 All Exercise Bikes Ship Free at FitnessScape ...
www.fitnessscape.com/X548.html - Cached
Stationary Bike
The Linex X560 Exercise Bike gives you a quiet and friction-free workout with its magnetic resistance. ... Linex X360 Exercise Bike features Ultra smooth magnetic braking ...
www.ifitnessdirect.com/stationary-bikes.html - Cached
Linex Corp. Exercise Equipment: Your Linex Corp. Store!
Linex Corp. offers exercise floor mat, exercise equipment mat, exercise mat, foor mat, Exercise Equipment Floor Mat, rubber exercise mats
www.ifitnessdirect.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=21 - 51k - Cached
Linex X560 Exercise Bike - Yahoo! Shopping
Yahoo! Shopping is the best place to comparison shop for Linex X560 Exercise Bike - Exercise Bikes. Compare products, compare prices, read reviews and merchant ratings...
shopping.yahoo.com/p:Linex X560:2000040417
Linex Exercise Bikes | Article Insider
Linex exercise bikes are some of the most affordable yet effective fitness bikes found on the market today. ...
articleinsider.com/.../linex-exercise-bikes - Cached
Best upright exercise bikes " Www.zeg-zug.hu
Exercise bike good exercise: this was the own airport of old donations spent in kham, who ... Linex exercise bike, if eventually, can you face attempt why? ...
zeg-zug.hu/infusions/.../mobile/best-upright-exercise-bikes - Cached
Exercise Bikes
Linex Exercise Bikes. • Sim Cycle. • Stamina Exercise Bikes. Please shop for personal fitness items by clicking in the Catalog Quick-Link list to the right. ...
www.fitnesszone.com/retail/index.php?ID=43 - Cached
Braun's Online - Catalog:Fitness:Exercise Bikes:Bikes ...
The Linex X568 Semi-Recumbent Magnetic Cycle offers quality, dependability and performance with ultimate comfort. ... Fun and exercise all in one great bike. ...
brauns.com/gc/gc_catalog.exe?F=H&...&Z9=0 - 70k - Cached