An Illinois man and two of his sons died from exposure to freezing temperatures during a weekend hike in the Ozark Mountains in southeast Missouri, authorities said on Monday.
Rescue crews found David Decareaux, 36, and sons Dominic, 10, and Grant, 8, on a rocky bluff Sunday morning, Reynolds County Sheriff Tom Volner said.
The father was pronounced dead at the scene and the boys later died at a hospital, Volner said.
Decareaux, his wife and five children of Millstadt, Illinois, were staying at an Ozarks lodge, Volner said. They were experienced hikers, he said.
"It's just a tragic loss," Volner said. "It's really hard when you lose half of a family like that,"
The cause of death was hypothermia, said Jeff McSpadden, Reynolds County Coroner. When the three hikers left Saturday morning, the temperature was in the 50s and they were dressed in light outerwear, he said. Rain moved into the area and temperatures plunged to the mid-20s overnight.
"I guess they didn't think about the weather coming in and were not dressed for the cold," McSpadden said.
A motorist saw Decareaux and the boys in the rain early on Saturday afternoon and asked if they wanted a ride but the father declined, Volner said. The trio was reported missing about nightfall, he said.
A search by about 50 law enforcement officers, firefighters and others on foot, horseback and in vehicles failed to locate the lost hikers. The search was scaled back after midnight because of rapidly rising creeks and flash flooding, Volner said.
The trio was found on Sunday morning on a bluff on the trail, Volner said. They had missed a turn that would have returned them to the lodge, he said. CPR was performed on the boys and they were transferred to a hospital, but died, he said.
A four-month-old Labrador dog, who was on the hike, survived, Volner said.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Racing to Om - fitness class combines spinning and yoga
Pairing indoor cycling's intense, calorie-busting cardio workout with yoga, the mind-body practice of stretching into inner peace, may seem like a mismatch but fitness experts say it works.
Whether it is called Yoga Ride, Spin to Ride or Cycle Yoga, the two very different activities complement each other to improve fitness and flexibility.
Cycle Yoga classes at The Spinning Yogi studio in Lakewood, Colorado, follow the typical format: first spin, then stretch, according to owner and instructor Patsy Juarez.
"Cycling is so cardio-vascular intense," said Juarez. "We do that for a half hour then change gears, stretching out the things we tightened up."
One 60-minute class, she added, incorporates cardio, flexibility and strengthening elements.
"The first (part) gets your heart rate going so you can jump into yoga quicker," she said. "It feels like a full body workout in an hour's time."
And the transition to yoga is quick and involves moving to a different room and easing into an easy yoga pose.
At Crunch, the national chain of fitness centers, New York City-based instructor Taj Harris said slowing down music in the yoga room smoothes the transition for its Yoga Ride classes.
"Because spinning is so one direction, muscles get overused and tight," Harris explained, adding that yoga poses ease the muscles and improve strength.
And the combination class is suitable for cyclers who may be unfamiliar with yoga.
"You're not going to get those crazy, advanced moves," Harris said. "But if you're spinning consistently, at least five times a week, I would incorporate a yoga ride class at least once."
Shirley Archer, author of 12 fitness books including "Weight Training for Dummies," believes indoor cycling and yoga are a natural fit.
"Yoga, with its emphasis on deep relaxation, restores balance after the stimulating aerobic efforts of cycling," said Archer, who plans to teach the class at Revolutions Cycling studio in Jupiter, Florida, later this month.
She said the yoga postures should specifically address muscles that were challenged in cycling.
"Muscles that are used should be stretched; muscles not used, strengthened," she explained. "The instructor may guide participants to stretch specific lower body muscles used during the cycling workout, such as hip flexors, quads, hamstrings and calves."
When Jessica Matthews, spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise and a certified yoga instructor, taught a Spin-to-Yoga class, she adjusted the yoga to the spinning.
"It wasn't just to pair the two," said Matthews, who is based in San Diego, "but to focus on specific areas of the body."
She said while splitting the class 50/50 between bikes and yoga mats might appear unusual, it worked to introduce the benefits of yoga to cyclers.
"Having the yoga allowed them to focus on flexibility, hips, and posture alignment," she said.
Diehard yogis, however, tend to be less satisfied with the class.
"People who have a strong yoga practice tend to have a more negative perception of classes like this," Matthew said. "My stance in teaching group fitness is that it offers people opportunity to dabble in something new."
Juarez said another benefit of fusing two classes is that it makes workout time fly.
"No boredom in these classes," she said. "You are done before you know it."
Whether it is called Yoga Ride, Spin to Ride or Cycle Yoga, the two very different activities complement each other to improve fitness and flexibility.
Cycle Yoga classes at The Spinning Yogi studio in Lakewood, Colorado, follow the typical format: first spin, then stretch, according to owner and instructor Patsy Juarez.
"Cycling is so cardio-vascular intense," said Juarez. "We do that for a half hour then change gears, stretching out the things we tightened up."
One 60-minute class, she added, incorporates cardio, flexibility and strengthening elements.
"The first (part) gets your heart rate going so you can jump into yoga quicker," she said. "It feels like a full body workout in an hour's time."
And the transition to yoga is quick and involves moving to a different room and easing into an easy yoga pose.
At Crunch, the national chain of fitness centers, New York City-based instructor Taj Harris said slowing down music in the yoga room smoothes the transition for its Yoga Ride classes.
"Because spinning is so one direction, muscles get overused and tight," Harris explained, adding that yoga poses ease the muscles and improve strength.
And the combination class is suitable for cyclers who may be unfamiliar with yoga.
"You're not going to get those crazy, advanced moves," Harris said. "But if you're spinning consistently, at least five times a week, I would incorporate a yoga ride class at least once."
Shirley Archer, author of 12 fitness books including "Weight Training for Dummies," believes indoor cycling and yoga are a natural fit.
"Yoga, with its emphasis on deep relaxation, restores balance after the stimulating aerobic efforts of cycling," said Archer, who plans to teach the class at Revolutions Cycling studio in Jupiter, Florida, later this month.
She said the yoga postures should specifically address muscles that were challenged in cycling.
"Muscles that are used should be stretched; muscles not used, strengthened," she explained. "The instructor may guide participants to stretch specific lower body muscles used during the cycling workout, such as hip flexors, quads, hamstrings and calves."
When Jessica Matthews, spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise and a certified yoga instructor, taught a Spin-to-Yoga class, she adjusted the yoga to the spinning.
"It wasn't just to pair the two," said Matthews, who is based in San Diego, "but to focus on specific areas of the body."
She said while splitting the class 50/50 between bikes and yoga mats might appear unusual, it worked to introduce the benefits of yoga to cyclers.
"Having the yoga allowed them to focus on flexibility, hips, and posture alignment," she said.
Diehard yogis, however, tend to be less satisfied with the class.
"People who have a strong yoga practice tend to have a more negative perception of classes like this," Matthew said. "My stance in teaching group fitness is that it offers people opportunity to dabble in something new."
Juarez said another benefit of fusing two classes is that it makes workout time fly.
"No boredom in these classes," she said. "You are done before you know it."
Deaf Belgian twins, 45, helped to die after losing sight
Identical Belgian twin brothers, born deaf, becoming blind and unable to bear not being able to see and hear each other, had their wish to die granted in a case testing the boundaries of legal euthanasia.
Doctors gave the 45-year-old twins lethal injections after they had had a cup of coffee together and said goodbye to each other, a spokesman at the UZ Brussel hospital said on Monday.
"It's not simply that they were deaf and blind that they were granted the right to euthanasia. It is that they could no longer bear being unable to hear or see the other," he said.
Belgium is one of few countries where euthanasia is legal.
A patient must be an adult, capable of making a judgment, and the wish to die must be voluntary, overwhelming and repeated. The patient must also be suffering persistent and unbearable mental or physical pain beyond medical help.
In addition, the condition must be serious and incurable, and have been brought on by illness or injury.
"Unbearable suffering can be mental as well as physical," the hospital spokesman said. "The brothers were inseparable. They lived together and had the same job."
He said the brothers died on December 14 and that their family supported their wishes.
Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2002 and the number of cases has risen every year since. In 2011, 1,133 were granted the right to die, of which 86 percent were at least 60 years old and 72 percent suffering from cancer.
The Netherlands and Luxembourg have both decriminalized euthanasia. Switzerland allows assisted suicide if the person concerned takes an active role.
Doctors gave the 45-year-old twins lethal injections after they had had a cup of coffee together and said goodbye to each other, a spokesman at the UZ Brussel hospital said on Monday.
"It's not simply that they were deaf and blind that they were granted the right to euthanasia. It is that they could no longer bear being unable to hear or see the other," he said.
Belgium is one of few countries where euthanasia is legal.
A patient must be an adult, capable of making a judgment, and the wish to die must be voluntary, overwhelming and repeated. The patient must also be suffering persistent and unbearable mental or physical pain beyond medical help.
In addition, the condition must be serious and incurable, and have been brought on by illness or injury.
"Unbearable suffering can be mental as well as physical," the hospital spokesman said. "The brothers were inseparable. They lived together and had the same job."
He said the brothers died on December 14 and that their family supported their wishes.
Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2002 and the number of cases has risen every year since. In 2011, 1,133 were granted the right to die, of which 86 percent were at least 60 years old and 72 percent suffering from cancer.
The Netherlands and Luxembourg have both decriminalized euthanasia. Switzerland allows assisted suicide if the person concerned takes an active role.
App rewards children for doing chores
Forget bribery, intimidation and threats, a new app is designed to encourage children to do chores by turning the tasks into a game and giving them points when it is completed.
The app called ChoreMonster, available for iOS devices and on the web, aims to make household chores, such as setting the table, feeding the pets or unloading the dishwasher, fun.
"There are usually enough chores in a week to redeem some sort of reward," said Chris Bergman, the founder and CEO of Cincinnati, Ohio-based company ChoreMonster.
The rewards, which are provided by the parents, can range from privileges like sleepovers or a family outing, to video games or a cash allowance.
"It's exactly what you would expect kids would want and also more esoteric rewards," Bergman explained.
Parents assign chores through the app and include the completion dates along with the number of points the child will earn. They also set rewards, including the number needed to receive them.
The child can then log in to their account and review the chores and rewards.
"If rewards aren't enough incentive, the empowerment typically is," said Bergman.
When the task is done, the child marks it in the app and the parent is notified and prompted to verify that it was completed well. After the parent approves the task, the child is awarded the points.
The app helped 21,000 children complete more than 300,000 chores during the eight months it was tested before being launched at the end of 2012, according to its makers.
Making the bed, picking up toys and books, cleaning the bedroom, feeding pets and dealing with dirty laundry were among the main chores. Top rewards included ice cream, an allowance, movie night, sleepovers and computer time.
"What I find really interesting is that a lot of times the reward is just empowering the child to make their own decision," said Bergman, adding it be could be selecting what to have for dinner.
The most obnoxious rewards he has seen have been large amounts of cash.
"I get why parents use it, but the point system alone is enough to teach saving and spending. Cash becomes this middle ground and another step to whatever it is the child actually wants," Bergman explained.
A similar web and iPad app called HighScore House lets parents and children agree on a set of tasks and the rewards they will receive for completing them.
ChoreMonster is available worldwide in more than 50 countries and is ideal for children between four and 12 years old, according to Bergman.
The app called ChoreMonster, available for iOS devices and on the web, aims to make household chores, such as setting the table, feeding the pets or unloading the dishwasher, fun.
"There are usually enough chores in a week to redeem some sort of reward," said Chris Bergman, the founder and CEO of Cincinnati, Ohio-based company ChoreMonster.
The rewards, which are provided by the parents, can range from privileges like sleepovers or a family outing, to video games or a cash allowance.
"It's exactly what you would expect kids would want and also more esoteric rewards," Bergman explained.
Parents assign chores through the app and include the completion dates along with the number of points the child will earn. They also set rewards, including the number needed to receive them.
The child can then log in to their account and review the chores and rewards.
"If rewards aren't enough incentive, the empowerment typically is," said Bergman.
When the task is done, the child marks it in the app and the parent is notified and prompted to verify that it was completed well. After the parent approves the task, the child is awarded the points.
The app helped 21,000 children complete more than 300,000 chores during the eight months it was tested before being launched at the end of 2012, according to its makers.
Making the bed, picking up toys and books, cleaning the bedroom, feeding pets and dealing with dirty laundry were among the main chores. Top rewards included ice cream, an allowance, movie night, sleepovers and computer time.
"What I find really interesting is that a lot of times the reward is just empowering the child to make their own decision," said Bergman, adding it be could be selecting what to have for dinner.
The most obnoxious rewards he has seen have been large amounts of cash.
"I get why parents use it, but the point system alone is enough to teach saving and spending. Cash becomes this middle ground and another step to whatever it is the child actually wants," Bergman explained.
A similar web and iPad app called HighScore House lets parents and children agree on a set of tasks and the rewards they will receive for completing them.
ChoreMonster is available worldwide in more than 50 countries and is ideal for children between four and 12 years old, according to Bergman.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Runaway boy, 13, drives father's Mercedes across Europe
A 13-year-old boy who lives in Italy with his adoptive parents took his father's Mercedes and drove more than 800 km (500 miles) through Europe in an apparent attempt to reach his birth family in Poland, Italian police said on Saturday.
He set off on Thursday afternoon from the small town of Pederobba in northern Italy with 200 euros in his pocket and drove the high-powered automatic car for almost 24 hours before being stopped by German police on a motorway near Leipzig.
"The boy's sister and natural parents are in Poland and it seems he was going there to meet his sister," said an Italian police spokeswoman.
Media reports said the boy had an argument on Thursday afternoon with his adoptive mother.
"The boy has told his parents he is sorry and has recognized he was in the wrong," the police spokeswoman said, adding that he was on his way back to Italy.
According to newspaper reports the boy loved cars and was an expert go-kart driver.
He set off on Thursday afternoon from the small town of Pederobba in northern Italy with 200 euros in his pocket and drove the high-powered automatic car for almost 24 hours before being stopped by German police on a motorway near Leipzig.
"The boy's sister and natural parents are in Poland and it seems he was going there to meet his sister," said an Italian police spokeswoman.
Media reports said the boy had an argument on Thursday afternoon with his adoptive mother.
"The boy has told his parents he is sorry and has recognized he was in the wrong," the police spokeswoman said, adding that he was on his way back to Italy.
According to newspaper reports the boy loved cars and was an expert go-kart driver.
White House strikes back on Death Star petition
The Obama administration dashed the hopes of Star Wars geeks across the galaxy by rejecting an official petition calling for the U.S. government to build a Death Star, the fictional planet-destroying space station featured in the Star Wars movies.
"The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn't on the horizon," said Paul Shawcross, head of the White House budget office's science and space branch.
"The Administration does not support blowing up planets," Shawcross wrote in a response to the 34,435 people who signed the petition on the White House website.
The White House accepts petitions and responds to the most popular ones. Most of the petitions on the website address weighty policy issues. (Link to petition: http://r.reuters.com/wyv25t)
But in recent weeks, national attention has been drawn to quirky petitions, such as one that supports the minting of a trillion-dollar platinum coin to avoid a debt default if Congress fails to raise the U.S. debt limit next month.
The Death Star petitioners argued the project would create jobs and strengthen national defense. But it would be costly, particularly at a time when the government is fixated on finding ways to slash spending and reduce its debt.
"The construction of the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000. We're working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it," Shawcross said.
"The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn't on the horizon," said Paul Shawcross, head of the White House budget office's science and space branch.
"The Administration does not support blowing up planets," Shawcross wrote in a response to the 34,435 people who signed the petition on the White House website.
The White House accepts petitions and responds to the most popular ones. Most of the petitions on the website address weighty policy issues. (Link to petition: http://r.reuters.com/wyv25t)
But in recent weeks, national attention has been drawn to quirky petitions, such as one that supports the minting of a trillion-dollar platinum coin to avoid a debt default if Congress fails to raise the U.S. debt limit next month.
The Death Star petitioners argued the project would create jobs and strengthen national defense. But it would be costly, particularly at a time when the government is fixated on finding ways to slash spending and reduce its debt.
"The construction of the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000. We're working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it," Shawcross said.
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