Gadgil

Alternative Metrics
For Supercomputers

Strohmaier, top, and Bailey

Two alternative methods of benchmarking supercomputers are nearing completion, just as the most popular metric for benchmarking performance — the Top500 list, which is maintained at Berkeley Lab — has resulted in a new list of the world's most powerful systems. In a recent eWeek article, Computational Research Division researchers David Bailey and Eric Strohmaier comment on these emerging benchmarking methods. Go here to read the story.

Benefits, Wellness
Fair at Lab Monday

This year, employees will see a new twist on the Open Enrollment benefits fair, which takes place between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Monday in Perseverance Hall. In addition to representatives, who will be on hand to answer questions about their services, several health care organizations will offer "wellness" activities, such as blood pressure screening, body fat analyzing, and a chair massages. Speakers from UC Berkeley and the Lab will give short talks on various health and wellness topics. Also, personal trainers from two downtown Berkeley health fitness clubs, YMCA and 24-Hour, will be present. Other attractions include trivia games, raffle drawings, and give-away items.

Road Near Bldg. 71
Closed During Clean-Up

Clean-up of an oil leak containing polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB's) is under way near Building 71 and may result in the intermittent closure of  Chamberlain Road until activities are completed — perhaps up to a week. Three gallons of oil leaked from a scrap metal bin containing old electrical capacitors last weekend, a spill that exceeded two regulatory thresholds. Employee exposures to the PCBs are expected to be well below levels at which health is endangered. This incident demonstrates the importance of carefully handling items that contain PCBs and placing only appropriate materials in scrap metal bins.