Your week
YOUR HOME
A new device is designed to prevent heat from escaping your home in winter through turbine attic vents.
The Turbine Boss is a louvered damper that fits inside the vent assembly and closes automatically when the temperature drops to 40 degrees. An adjustable stop keeps the louvers from closing completely, so moisture can still escape.
The damper opens when the temperature reaches 80 degrees, allowing the vent to exhaust hot air in summer. The louvers are controlled by a springlike coil that contracts in the cold and expands in the heat, so no power source is needed.
The Turbine Boss can be ordered for $29.95 plus shipping at www.TurbineBoss.com.
» Find more home and garden ideas in Sunday’s Today section.
YOUR HEALTH
If you’re trying to get stronger, you might not want to worry so much about weight lifting as weight lowering.
A new study published in this month’s issue of the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that a half-hour per week of eccentric exercise – where the muscles lengthen to lower something – boosted strength and lowered insulin resistance more than the same amount of concentric exercise, where the muscles shorten to lift something.
“People who wish to participate in activities containing eccentric actions may perform exercises with strong eccentric component, such as bench stepping, downhill walking, or placing emphasis on the negative phase of conventional resistance exercises,” the study’s authors wrote.
» Find more health and fitness tips in Tuesday’s Today section.
YOUR FOOD
Pasta with red sauce doesn’t just mean tomatoes. Try making it with red bell peppers, accompanied by crispy broiled chicken for a quick weeknight dinner. For the recipe, see page C7.
» Find more recipes and restaurant news in Wednesday’s Food section.
YOUR FUN
Here’s what’s on the schedule for this week:
On CD (Tuesday)
Greg Allman, “Low Country Blues”
The Decemberists, “The King is Dead”
Kidz Bop Kids, “Kidz Bop 19”
James Blunt, “Some Kind of Trouble”
On DVD (Tuesday)
“Takers”
“Buried”
“Stone”
In theaters (Friday)
“No Strings Attached” (comedy)
“The Way Back” (drama)
On TV
“NCIS”: Bob Newhart guests as the unit’s former medical examiner. (Tuesday, 8 p.m., CBS)
“American Idol”: The competition returns for a 10th season with new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. (Wednesday, 8 p.m., Fox)
“Hot in Cleveland”: Betty White reunites with old pal Mary Tyler Moore for her new sitcom’s second-season debut. (Wednesday, 10 p.m., TV Land)
“Parks and Recreation”: Amy Poehler and the gang are back for a third go-round of wacky civic antics. (Thursday, 9:30 p.m., NBC)
On stage
“Spring Awakening”: Wednesday, INB Performing Arts Center
“Opus”: Interplayers, opens Thursday
Spokane Symphony: With guest violinist Augustin Hadelich, Saturday and Sunday, The Fox
Around town
Inland Northwest RV Show and Sale: Thursday through Sunday, Spokane County Fair and Expo Center
Deer Park Winterfest: Friday and Saturday, Deer Park
Gem of the Valley Gala: Saturday, Mirabeau Park Hotel
» Find a full arts and entertainment roundup in the Thursday and Friday Today sections.