Classes, events and discounts for December

Winter is here, but that doesn't mean it is time to give up on your fitness.

Classes starting soon to help you stay fit:

• Yoga: Dec. 1-22 from noon-1 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Wilson Hall Auditorium. Session fee: $30
• Kyuki Do: Free trial classes 5-6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, and Wednesday, Dec. 16, in the Recreation Facility.

This month, the Benefits/Recreation Department will also sponsor the following wellness event:

• Weight Watchers at Work program: Free informational meeting from noon-1 p.m. on Dec. 2 in Wilson Hall, 15W, Aquarium. Eight weeks of Weight Watchers onsite meetings Dec. 9-Feb. 10 (no meeting Dec. 23 or 30). Sign up and prepay at Dec. 2 meeting. Two payments of $48.

Club meetings:

• Toastmasters: Thursday, Dec. 3 and 17, Wilson Hall, 7th Floor, Racetrack. Meetings are scheduled from noon-1 p.m. More information.
• Sustainable Energy Club: Tuesday, Dec. 15, Users' Center Music Room, 5:10 p.m.

Athletic leagues:

• Open badminton: Wednesdays, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Recreation Facility Gym. Contact Aaron Chou.
• Open dodgeball: Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m., Recreation Facility Gym. Contact Mike Geelhoed at x4977.

Employees and users can also contact the Recreation Department to take advantage of special discounts, including:

• Chicago Blackhawks tickets: Click here for select game dates. Special offer code: FNAL. Watch for additional dates.
• Chicago Bulls tickets: Fermilab employees can purchase discounted Chicago Bulls tickets. Click here
• Entertainment Books available online.
• Thai Village restaurant: $7 Fermilab lunch menu. Menus available in the Recreation Office or online.
• AMC and Goodrich Theater tickets: AMC anytime tickets $8. AMC two-week restriction tickets $7. Goodrich anytime tickets $7. Available in the Recreation Department.

DUSAF pond at sunrise

AD's Mike McGee took this photo of DUSAF Pond at sunrise. Submit your photos to Fermilab Today.

LHC to be started up after fault forced year-long closure

From Times Online, Nov. 19, 2009

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will be started up tomorrow for the first time since a catastrophic fault forced it to be shut down for more than a year.

Engineers at the Cern particle physics laboratory plan to begin injecting protons into the world's most powerful atom-smasher at around 4pm GMT tomorrow afternoon, after the "big bang machine" was formally handed over to its operations team.

A first beam of particles should be circulating one way around the LHC's 27km (17-mile) ring by Saturday, and the second beam traveling in the opposite direction should be captured soon afterwards.

Read more

UC appoints Paul Alivisatos director of Berkeley Lab

From Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Nov. 19, 2009

The University of California Board of Regents on Nov. 19 named Paul Alivisatos director of the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which is managed by the university.

"Paul Alivisatos' scientific expertise and management experience have earned the respect and confidence of the lab staff, the academic community, the DOE, and other federal and industrial sponsors," said UC President Mark Yudof. "I am confident that Paul is the right leader for the Berkeley Lab at this pivotal point in its history. Under his leadership, Berkeley Lab will continue to make great contributions in science and to the world around us."