New Technology for Bikers!

You've heard of Mapquest for driving and Hopstop for taking the bus and Subway--now meet Ride the City, a new website that will map your bike route from one destination to the next. As their website explains:

The concept is pretty simple. Just like MapQuest, Google, Microsoft, and
other mapping programs, Ride the City finds the shortest distance between two
points. But there are two major differences. First, RTC excludes roads that
aren't meant for biking, like the BQE and the Queens Midtown tunnel. Second, RTC
tries to locate routes that maximize the use of bike lanes and greenways.

We think this website is simply terrific! You can choose the safest route (almost all green bike lanes or designated paths) a safe route, or--for you daredevils and traffic fearless types--the most direct route. Any way you ride, choosing to bike--instead of taking public transportation or driving a car--is a convenient way to sneak exercise into a busy schedule! (Plus, its the best option for the environment as well).

So, map that route and get on your bikes for a few nice days before winter kicks in for good. And, of course--always wear a helmet

Blood Drive On Now: October 27-29

Okay, City Tech--

Now's the time. You've seen the signs up for weeks on end, you've heard us talk in your classes, table at events, stop you in the hallway, offer free goodies, all in the hopes that you will take 20 minutes out of your day to give blood.

Why?

Each day, the New York Blood Center needs close to 2,000 people a day to roll up their sleeves to give the gift of life. There is simply no substitute in the world for voluntarily donated blood. Without volunteer donors, our community would not have an adequate community blood supply.

What does this mean? It means that if you have ever had anyone you know and love go to the hospital for an emergency procedure, give birth, receive cancer treatments, or any other hundreds of possible medical procedures more likely than not they benefited from some stranger, somewhere, taking the time to donate blood. Your blood donation will, in turn, help people you will never meet. Its simple, really. If we all pay the gift forward, the blood will be there when any of us need it. But--we have to give.

If you cannot give blood, encourage your friends and co-workers to give. It is free, it is fast, and every single day it saves lives. Last semester, City Tech’s Spring Blood Drive yielded the 3rd highest number of donations of any CUNY school but I think this semester we can do even better.

Plus, every donor will receive a free ticket to the Haunted Hotel!

Thank you so much for caring enough to give.

Sincerely—

Holly Burmeister
Director, Student Wellness Center

Recipes from Sabor de la Salud!

If you were anywhere on campus Thursday, October 16th at cllub hours, you couldn't have missed the LIVE SALSA Band and the FREE FOOD that were part of the Sabor de la Salud event sponsored by the Student Wellness Center and the Office of Student Life and Development.

Want to have your own Sabor de la Salud night? No sweat! Its easy and (thank goodness) inexpensive to make delicious, healthy Hispanic food. Check out the recipes below:

Salsa
Serving Size: 2 Tbsp.
Yield: 16 servings
Calories: 4
½ cup jalapenos, diced
1 cup canned tomatoes, diced
1/8 tsp. cumin, ground
c tsp. Salt
½ tsp. vinegar
1 garlic clove, diced
½ cup of water
2 tbsp. onion, diced
1/8 tsp. black pepper, ground

Boil water, add jalapenos and cook until tender. Drain all but 1 tbsp. water. Grind jalapenos in remaining water. Add remaining ingredients and mix. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Serve as a topping for tostados, enchiladas, huevos rancheros, beans or rice.

Courtesy of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health Eating for your Health Cookbook

Mexican Rice
Serving Size: 1 cup
Yield: 12 servings
Calories: 80

2 cups brown rice
3 tbsp. tomato sauce
½ cup onion, diced
½ tsp. Salt
½ tsp. garlic powder
3 ½ cups of water

2 tsp. salt-free chicken bouillon mix
1 cup tomato, diced
½ tsp. cumin seed, ground
½ tsp. chili powder


Brown rice in saucepan with onions. Add remaining ingredients; cover tightly and simmer for 45 minutes or until rice had absorbed all liquid.

Marinated Fish

1 pound white fish, skinned, pared and diced
Juice of 4 or 5 lemons
2 tbsp. onions, finely chopped

2 tomatoes, skinned, seeded and chopped
6 pitted green olives, chopped
1 green chili pepper, finely chopped

1 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbsp. olive oil
Iceberg lettuce leaves

1. Place fish in a medium glass bowl, add enough lemon juice to cover it completely. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in refrigerator overnight.
2. Two or three hours before serving, drain off lemon juice and stir in remaining ingredients. Cook for 15 minutes on moderate heat.
3. Serve on a bed of lettuce leaves.

COOL TROPICAL FRUIT
1 fresh mango
1 ripe banana
½ cup unsweetened pineapple juice
8 ice cubes
4 slices fresh or unsweetened pineapple
mint leaves

1. Peel mango and take the pulp from the pit.
2. In a blender or food processor blend pulp, peeled banana and pineapple juice.
3. Pour enough ice to make four cups. Divide among 4 chilled serving bowls.
4. Finely chop the pineapple and divide into 4 portions. Stir each portion into the fruit puree.
5. Garnish each bowl with mint leaves. Served chilled.


Red Beans with Rice
Serving Size: ½ cup
Yield: 16 servings
Calories: 109 Fat: 2 grams Sodium: 78 mg. Fiber: 4 grams
Carbohydrates: 8 grams Protein: 4 grams

8 ounces kidney or pinto beans
2 onions, chopped
1 green or red pepper, chopped
2 cups uncooked rice
1 bay leaf
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 tbsp. dried oregano
3 cups bean cooking water or 3 cups of water
½ tsp. salt to taste

1. Soak the beans overnight. Drain soaking water, cover with fresh water at least one inch over top of beans, and cook until tender. Drain beans, reserving 3 cups cooking water.
2. Sauté onions and garlic in oil until softened slightly; add pepper and sauté one minute more.
3. Add oregano and mix. Add beans. Stir. Add reserved liquid and boil.
4. Add uncooked rice and stir to moisten all rice.
5. Simmer, covered, until rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Add salt to taste and serve hot. (if using canned beans you will probably not need to salt.

See? Easy and delicious. Now, turn up the stereo and DANCE!

Vote For Your Health!

Don't Forget to Register to Vote!



October 10, 2008 is the last day to register to vote in New York State. You can register to vote here at City Tech outside the library, in the Student Wellness Center, and in the Office of Student Life and Development.

Click on the link to hear Halle Berry, Robert DeNiro, Leonardo DiCaprio and others give their reasons to vote on Tuesday, November 4th in the Presidential election. Why Vote?

Want to find out how each Presidential and congressional candidate stands on the issue of healthcare? Go to: http://www.yourcandidatesyourhealth.org/

The next president will make important decisions on health care and health opportunities for the entire country. If you care about your health and the future of healthcare in the United States, get registered and VOTE!