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"How I Designed the Ferrari F430"

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Motor Trend called Frank Stephenson "one of the most influential car designers working in the industry." Car & Driver referred to him as "one of the most successful car designers of his generation." Designer of the McLaren P1, the (21st Century) Mini Cooper, the BMW X5 and countless others, the Art Center grad has served as Design Director for Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia, McLaren, MINI, and Maserati.

Now Stephenson's launched a new YouTube series where he talks you through one of his designs as he sketches it out. Below he covers the Ferrari F430--and for those of you who think you need fancy tools to draw, note that he's using what looks like 8.5 x 11 copy paper and a Bic ballpoint pen:



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dwestenk
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IndyCar will limit teams’ trackside support staff

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The NTT IndyCar Series has asked its teams to prepare for running their cars with fewer trackside support staff once the 2020 season gets under way.

As swift reactions to the coronavirus took hold during the ill-fated St. Petersburg season opener set for March 13-15, IndyCar directed its teams to remove non-essential staff members from the Floridian street circuit, limiting each team’s head count per entry to a total of 25 people.

Although the St. Pete race was quickly canceled after the staffing limit was established, it has served as a guideline for the series’ pending return to action on June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway.

RACER has learned a further reduction has been made with a new cap number of 20 people per car presented to IndyCar’s teams.

Andretti Autosport, which, with six entries, would have the highest number of cars at Texas and the greatest number of total staff, at a maximum of 120, has been working to refine its travel rosters in concert with the rest of the IndyCar paddock.

“It is challenging, (but) there was a time when 15 was a normal number, so 20 feels like a luxury compared to the days of old,” Andretti COO Rob Edwards told RACER. “Coming up with most of the 20 is a function of necessity, isn’t it? There’s the six crew that go over the wall for tires and fuel and air jack; the aeroscreen attendant; plus your driver, your race engineer, your performance engineer, your systems engineer, and your spotter, so that’s 12 already. Add a couple of truck drivers and it gets you to 14. Where I think you start on some of the efficiencies is with some of the extra support engineers.”

A select number of team have made use of remote engineering support in recent years where an uplink from their transporter in the paddock delivers real-time data to staff at the shop who add layers of analytical help and perform a variety of tasks, including running simulations based on the directions chosen by the engineering leaders. Commonplace in Formula 1, but considered a luxury in IndyCar, Edwards believes remote engineering support could become more widespread as a result of the coronavirus.

“Maybe you leave some of the additional engineers back in the shop,” he said. “I’m sure over the last six weeks, teams have enhanced their remote working tools. I don’t think any of us are at Formula 1-style engineering boardrooms, but we’re more capable now than ever before to connect with our staff who might need to work remotely for however long as we get accustomed to going racing with fewer people present at the track.”

IndyCar has not placed restrictions on how its teams reach the limit of 20 people per entry, which affords some freedoms on how the remaining five or six slots are filled. Many drivers have a personal assistant or physical therapist to include, and it’s not uncommon for a family member or two, and possibly a spouse, to travel with the driver, which could consume most of the entry cap.

Some of the other team roles, from motorhome drivers to hospitality staff, could be kept on the sidelines until the pandemic subsides. IndyCar is considering a twist to the Texas race where it would become a single-day event, making the need to implement some of the extra accommodations, including hospitality compounds, an unnecessary step.

“Obviously, the talk is doing some made-for-TV races without fans, so maybe a lot of the marketing, PR, hospitality, and customer services numbers would not be required for those events,” Edwards added. “We normally have a significant volume of sponsors and partners with us at the races, but a lot of the bigger corporations have travel restrictions.

“So among the various partners you would have once entertained at the track, maybe those slots open up for use as needed among the 20 per car. Everyone is essential, so it’s not really a question there. But you will, now, need to decide who must go to the track and who can perform their tasks connected from afar. It’s very different times we’re adjusting to, that’s for sure.”





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dwestenk
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44 Midcentury Modern Bedside Tables and Nightstands for Every Budget

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Add some flair to your bedroom with these colorful, modern nightstands and bedside tables.

Bowie designed the nightstand, which acts as a prime perch for a vintage lamp her parents purchased in the Netherlands. The wall paint throughout the unit is Eider White by Sherwin-Williams.

Our top picks for the beloved accent furnishing offer the perfect platform to stash your books, table lamps, and all other tchotchkes.

Under $100 

Yamazaki Steel & Wood Rectangular Side Table

Slide to the side. We loved the round version of this table so much that we went ahead and got it in the rectangular shape, too. The top is a light-but-sturdy steel, and the legs are ash (on the white version) or walnut (on the black version). In both finishes, this little guy looks great next to a couch with a glass of wine and a bowl of olives, between two armchairs with a stack of magazines on top, or as a minimalist nightstand. Made in: China Made of: Steel, wood Size: 11.8"L x 17.7"W x 19.7"H Maker: Yamazaki Home

Urban Outfitters Wyatt Nightstand

Offering a minimalist build made in India from mango wood in a natural finish, this UO-exclusive nightstand from our Wyatt collection provides form + function. Features a flat tabletop with an open storage shelf below and tapered legs. 2 people recommended for assembly. Photo Courtesy of Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters Astrid Round Side Table

Modernist side table with a round top and intersecting x-base to give your space fresh, structural appeal. Assembly required. Photo Courtesy of Urban Outfitters

Under $250

HAY Don’t Leave Me Side Table

Copenhagen-based industrial designer Thomas Bentzen believes that everything he creates should engage and create curiosity, be functional and meet human needs while in use. In other words, this is a designer who thinks beyond the obvious. A perfect example of his approach is the lightweight, portable Don’t Leave Me Side Table (2007) for Danish design collective HAY. Also known as the DLM Table, it features a handle for easy carrying from room to room and a tripod base for excellent stability. Made in China. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach

Dims. Rove Side Table

A born explorer, Rove is easily portable and wonderfully versatile. Its sleek silhouette and handy handle make Rove perfectly suited for assorted duties around the home. Photo Courtesy of Dims.

Menu Yeh Wall Table

Yeh Wall Table is designed by Taiwan-based designer, Kenyon Yeh. He found the inspiration for this mobile side-table after observing a cheerleading practise at a neighbouring school in his hometown. Kenyon Yeh: "I was walking to my studio and passed a school where two students were practising balance and strength for their cheerleading routines. The guy was with his back resting against the wall, in a sitting position without a chair, while the girl was standing on his thighs with her arms stretched out". The scene inspired Kenyon to design a minimalistic table with clean lines standing on only two legs. To compensate the two missing legs, a part of the thin tabletop is bent upwards in a 90-degree angle against the wall. Two thin and slightly angled tubular steel legs give additional stability. No other fixtures are needed for the table to support what’s placed on top of it. "Yeh Wall Table mimics a person in sitting position with the back resting against the wall and the legs firmly placed on the ground. If muscles and bone structure carries the person, coated steel is what gives the table necessary stability. These characteristics give an imaginative floating sensation and added value to the design", says to Kenyon. Yeh Wall Table is a functional design that can be used as a side-table for books, plants, a table lamp or small objects. It’s a light, mobile and clever solution for homes with limited spaces. Photo Courtesy of Connox

Urban Outfitters Huxley Nightstand

Compact, rubberwood nightstand, part of our UO-exclusive Huxley collection, taking inspiration from mid-century modern style. With a single top drawer featuring metal glides and wave pull, set on rounded, tapering legs. 2 people recommended for assembly. Photo Courtesy of Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters Evie Nightstand

Simply elegant wood nightstand featuring four tapering dowel legs framing a storage drawer with a cutout pull to tuck away your bedside essentials. Finished with iron drawer glides. Assembly required. Photo Courtesy of Urban Outfitters

Kartell Componibili Storage Unit

One of the very first women to graduate with a degree in architecture from Politecnico di Milano, Anna Castelli Ferrieri went on to become a prominent architect and designer before co-founding Kartell with her husband, Giulio Castelli, in 1949. Named for componibile, Italian for "modular," her ingenious Componibili Storage Unit (1969) consists of three individual storage modules that each come equipped with a sliding front door and tongue-and-groove design to offer accessible, stackable storage. Suitable for use anywhere in the home or office to keep clutter under control. Made in Italy. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach

Urban Outfitters Lucia Nightstand

A modern nightstand with standout details, this side table is built from acacia wood with a minimalist build, featuring an open shelf at base and a top drawer with a woven jute panel and bar pull. Equipped with a standing base and metal channel drawer glides. This custom furniture piece will be made to order just for you. Two people recommended for assembly. Photo Courtesy of Urban Outfitters

Burrow Serif Side Table

The perfect pairing for our Serif Coffee Table, the matching side table shares the same timeless, universal design drawn from mid-century Danish Modernism. The quiet, sophisticated silhouette looks perfect next to our Nomad Collection, and has a convenient shelf for keeping all of those copies of the New Yorker you swear you’ll get around to reading this weekend. Photo Courtesy of Burrow

Eames Wire Base Low Table

The Eames Wire Base Low Table (1950) is remarkable for the elegance it achieves using simple, practical materials. Its scaled-down profile shows the influence of Japanese forms and households based on an aesthetic ideal of simplicity, serenity and restraint. In fact, the Eameses used this table in their home during a tea ceremony that included Isamu Noguchi and Charlie Chaplin. Just 10" high, it provides a handy surface for a stack of books or a place to rest a drink. This is the authentic Wire Base Low Table produced by Herman Miller. Eames is a licensed trademark of Herman Miller. Made in U.S.A.

West Elm Ridge Nightstand

With its simple detailing and warm Caramel finish, the Ridge Nightstand was designed with practicality in mind. The long, slender wooden drawer pulls are functional while adding to the nightstand’s visual appeal, and its clean lines make it a charming addition to your bedroom. Photo Courtesy of West Elm

Under $500

West Elm Mid-Century Grand Nightstand - Acorn

Scaled to offer even more bedside storage, our Mid-Century Grand Nightstand is equipped with an open compartment and two drawers to display or stash away your things. Choose our standard or charging version, which features two USB sockets and power outlets so you can charge your phone, tablet and laptop without having to get up from bed. Photo Courtesy of West Elm

West Elm Modern Nightstand

Inspired by Scandinavian modernism, our Modern Nightstand marries a simple silhouette and minimal hardware with playfully angled legs in a warm pecan finish. The result? Storage that's easy on the eyes and fits in with an eclectic mix of furniture. Choose our standard or charging version, which has two USB sockets and power outlets to charge your phone, tablet and laptop, without having to get up from bed. Photo Courtesy of West Elm

Blu Dot Li'l Something Side Table

Adorn your favorite space with the Li'l Something Side Table from Blu Dot. Expressing a clean silhouette perfect for a range of home decors, this side table features a powder-coated steel base with an engineered wood top. A simple yet functional design, this table is just the right size to complement your room arrangement. With a hefty cubby for storage, a plethora of home objects can be stored, such as remote controls or to-read magazines. In 1997, Blu Dot was established in Minneapolis by three college friends with a shared passion for art, architecture and design. Then and today, their goal is to bring good design to as many people as possible, collaborating to create modern home furnishings and accessories that are useful, affordable and exceedingly desirable. Photo Courtesy of Blu Dot

West Elm Wright Nightstand

With a sculptural base inspired by Italian mid-century design, our Wright Nightstand is crafted of wood certified to Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) standards. Photo Courtesy of West Elm

Anthropologie Quincy Charging Nightstand

This Mid-century-inspired silhouette features an external border element that frames its shape and tapers to the leg. Understated brass hardware complements the beautiful grain of the wood while sculpted drawer fronts add a layer of texture that draws the eye. Plus, hidden power outlets and USB ports allow you to charge your devices without sacrificing bedside style. Photo Courtesy of Anthropologie

RS Barcelona Plec Small Side Table

Side tables don’t always have to be pushed aside. The Plec Small Side Table by RS Barcelona adds a fun and modern decorative statement while complementing a living room or bedroom décor. Tall pleated legs taper inward to create a dimensional structure that interplays elegantly with light and shadow. A rounded square top softens the geometric design, while its sturdy cataphoretic-coated steel construction makes it ideal for use indoors or out. Since 1975, RS Barcelona has created products to satisfy both the child and modern design lover in you, and to promote the art of what they call "intense living." The line of RS Barcelona ping pong tables, foosball tables and other furniture designs are fun, colorful and impeccably engineered for long-term play, and are easily convertible for work or dining whenever needed. Photo Courtesy of Lumens

Gus* Modern Hive End Table

A sweet way to accent a contemporary living space. The Gus Modern Hive End Table is a hexagonal side table made out of 1/4-inch thick panels of transparent smoke acrylic, which are glued together and flame polished to give them smooth edges. Use alone as a side table or combine with others to create a honeycomb-like coffee table. Mid-century modern design interpreted with an industrial edge. Such is the modis operandi of Gus* Modern. Every accessory, sofa, sectional, chair and table they design is inspired by simple forms and honest materials. The resulting modern furniture pieces are clean, elegant and versatile, with crisply tailored upholstery and solid, eco-friendly FSC-certified wood frames. Founded in 2000, Gus* Modern is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photo Courtesy of Gus*Modern

West Elm Penelope Nightstand

An oval FSC®-certified wood base and a solid marble top make our Penelope Nightstand a well-rounded part of your bedroom. Its top is wide enough for stacks of bedtime reading, while the rounded drawer is perfect for storing knickknacks. Photo Courtesy of West Elm

Blu Dot Strut Table

The Strut Table by Blu Dot transforms the dining experience into a bold statement of urban style with its strong industrial lines and cheeky contemporary hues. With its powder-coated steel frame, MDF top and range of sizes, the Strut Table is suitable as a dining table, modern work surface or conference table. In 1997, Blu Dot was established in Minneapolis by three college friends with a shared passion for art, architecture and design. Then and today, their goal is to bring good design to as many people as possible, collaborating to create modern home furnishings and accessories that are useful, affordable and exceedingly desirable. Photo Courtesy of Blu Dot

Kay + Stemmer Agnes Side Table - Oak

The Parnham School trained duo Kay and Stemmer have designed a new version of the popular freestanding shelves Agnes. This version is a low 3 shelf unit, ideal as a bedside table or for small hallways. It is made from solid oak or walnut. Agnes comes out of the box as a solid one piece item, with no assembly required. The design has the hallmarks of classical furniture building with details that include radius edges, a gentle upwards taper and perfect proportion. The result is a notably softened design, one which retains an aesthetic beauty from whichever angle you look at it. Available in oak or walnut. Made in the EU. Photo courtesy of SCP

Sean Yoo Matera Side Table

The Matera Collection (2007), focused on delivering ample storage, is the work of Sean Yoo, who at the time of its conception lived in Matera, Italy (thus its name). Born in Seoul, Yoo grew up in Los Angeles and was working as a city planner when a visit to the Noguchi Museum in New York inspired him to pursue design. "I was particularly attracted to the way Noguchi applied sculptural qualities to common household objects," says Yoo. "It seemed to give meaning and purpose to otherwise meaningless objects." The Matera Collection features clean lines nicely finished with beveled edges, running match-wood grain and exposed-slot mortise-and-tenon corner joints. All pieces have slotted bases that lend an airy feel. The Matera Side Table has a C-shape floating design meant to accommodate the Matera Bed with Storage – placed next to the bed, the table allows free access to the drawer facing it, which passes right through its base when opened. Made in Malaysia. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach

West Elm Mid-Century Grand Nightstand - Acorn

Scaled to offer even more bedside storage, our Mid-Century Grand Nightstand is equipped with an open compartment and two drawers to display or stash away your things. Choose our standard or charging version, which features two USB sockets and power outlets so you can charge your phone, tablet and laptop without having to get up from bed. Photo Courtesy of West Elm

Under $750

Copeland Furniture Berkeley Nightstand

Style on standby. The Copeland Furniture Berkeley Nightstand delivers useful space with immediate access, letting you store your bedside items within reach and in plain sight. In addition to its functional design, the Solid Cherry Hardwood gives the piece beautiful natural coloring and visual texture. Well-placed tiers maximize the available surfaces within the unit, offering plenty of vertical space to store and stack items. The structure is incredibly balanced, using intersecting boards to support the nightstand and divide the different sections. With an impressive ability to do less with more, this bedroom fixture provides loads of usable space and an equal dose of aesthetic appeal. Founded in 1976 by Tim Copeland, Copeland Furniture specializes in the production of fine natural hardwood furniture. Continual evolution in Copeland Furniture designs have yielded new and exciting takes on classic Arts & Crafts, Shaker and Scandinavian bedroom, living room, office and dining room furniture. All Copeland Furniture pieces are designed and made at their manufacturing facility located on the banks of the Connecticut River in Bradford, Vermont. Photo Courtesy of Tema Furniture

Gus* Modern Emerson End Table

The Gus Modern Emerson End Table has a minimalist and weightless design that is timeless yet modern. A mixture of wood grain and smooth lacquer creates an intriguing contrast and juxtaposition that will enhance a number of living spaces. The slender steel base balances the large wooden cabinet and gives the illusion of weightlessness. Mid-century modern design interpreted with an industrial edge. Such is the modis operandi of Gus* Modern. Every accessory, sofa, sectional, chair and table they design is inspired by simple forms and honest materials. The resulting modern furniture pieces are clean, elegant and versatile, with crisply tailored upholstery and solid, eco-friendly FSC-certified wood frames. Founded in 2000, Gus* Modern is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photo Courtesy of Burke Decor

Ethnicraft Spindle Bedside Table

Part of the spinning wheel inspired collection, the Spindle Bedside Table by Ethnicraft provides a unique touch to any bedroom style. The bedside table is offered in a variety of wooden finishes, while also providing the user with a glass table top that can be easily cleaned. Crafted out of either oak or walnut wood with a rustic and modern feel, this bedside table will definitely find a place in any home. Ethnicraft has been designing organic, modern, and ageless furnishing from solid wood and constructing quality wood designs that will last for years on end. Ethnicraft carries versatile and functional pieces that will coordinate with many styles, at the same time each piece of solid wood is hardwearing and matures gracefully over the course of time. A distinguished and sustainable material, Ethnicraft’s strong wood is derived from thoroughly maintained forests. Photo Courtesy of Ethnicraft

Eastvold Furniture Classic Side Table

Following the clean, simple lines of the Classic Coffee Table, the Classic Side Table is extremely functional and versatile. The thoughtful proportions of this honest side table make it perfect for pairing with the Classic Coffee Table in your living room or as a nightstand in your bedroom. In fact, we bet you could find a use for this hard-working little table in just about any room of the house. Reinforced mitered joints allow the wood grain to wrap around the entire piece. The table is finished with a durable clear lacquer, making it worry free and useful for everyday spaces. The Classic Side Table comes in two height options to accommodate various sofas and beds - 15" (with 9" legs) or 18" (with 12" legs). Eastvold Furniture is a small company based in Minnesota that uses ethically harvested lumber in the construction of their furniture. Photo Courtesy of HORNE

Luciano Bertoncini Min Bedside Table With Pedestal Base

In 1972, Luciano Bertoncini's work was included in Italy: The New Domestic Landscape a MoMA exhibition that also included Ettore Sottsass, Gae Aulenti and Mario Bellini. The show kicked off Bertoncini's career, and today he is a furniture designer working from his studio in Treviso. His Min Bedside Table (2010) echoes the slim silhouette of the Min Bed, a bestseller in our assortment since 2003. This table has a sleek drawer for stashing bedside essentials. Made in Italy. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach

Gabriel Tan Edge Bedside Table

In everything he designs, Gabriel Tan explores the boundary between traditional craftsmanship and current technology. The results are clarity of form and details that invite the user to appreciate the chosen materials. In creating his Edge Bedside Table (2018), Tan was inspired by wooden trays. Made of solid oak or walnut, it has a subtle raised edge that’s visually pleasing while also functional in that it helps prevent objects from sliding off the top, as well as a drawer for concealed storage and round tapered legs for a graceful aesthetic. "I hope people will see a design that is simple but meticulous in detailing, beautiful and at the same time highly functional," says Tan. Made in Malaysia. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach

Luciano Bertoncini Min Bedside Table With Pedestal Base

In 1972, Luciano Bertoncini's work was included in Italy: The New Domestic Landscape a MoMA exhibition that also included Ettore Sottsass, Gae Aulenti and Mario Bellini. The show kicked off Bertoncini's career, and today he is a furniture designer working from his studio in Treviso. His Min Bedside Table (2010) echoes the slim silhouette of the Min Bed, a bestseller in our assortment since 2003. This table has a sleek drawer for stashing bedside essentials. Made in Italy. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach

Blu Dot Modu-licious Bedside Table

Get personal in the bedroom. The Blu Dot Modu-licious Bedside Table allows you to mix and match drawer and cabinet colors for a look that best represents your own personal style. Designing arguments shouldn't be the subject of pillow talk--get two and each choose your own design! Photo courtesy of Blu Dot

Blu Dot Lap Nightstand

A little side table with lots of leg. The Blu Dot Lap Nightstand is named for its architectural drawer front, made out of overlapping slats of solid maple. But it's the nightstand's long tapered legs that really steal the show. Choose solid whitewashed maple legs to match the cabinet top or powder coated steel. In 1997, Blu Dot was established in Minneapolis by three college friends with a shared passion for art, architecture and design. Then and today, their goal is to bring good design to as many people as possible, collaborating to create modern home furnishings and accessories that are useful, affordable and exceedingly desirable. Photo Courtesy of Blu Dot

Under $1000

Avocado Green Natural Reclaimed Wood End Table

Our Natural Wood End Table is handmade in Los Angeles from 100% reclaimed wood in Rustic Raw with a zero-VOC sealant. Part of our Natural Wood Furniture Collection, the Natural Wood End Table pairs perfectly with our Natural Wood Bed Frame and Natural Wood Dresser. Ships within 1 week. White glove delivery is included, with a shipping time of ~10 business days. Photo Courtesy of Avocado Mattress

Ibon Arrizabalaga Lauki Bedside Table

Born in the city of San Sebastian, Spanish designer Ibon Arrizabalaga studied industrial design in Barcelona before starting his career in the automotive industry. Five years later, he quickly switched gears, so to speak, and began designing modern furniture. There’s a subtle beauty to Arrizabalaga’s work, which can be described as minimal yet harmonious. His Lauki Collection (2008) is especially intriguing in how it appears to be completely frameless, like a stack of drawers that are magically connected, with push-latch glides that allow the drawer fronts to remain hardware-free for a streamlined look. Made in Spain. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach

Blu Dot Series 11 Nightstand

On a scale of one to ten, it's an eleven. The Blu Dot Series 11 Nightstand is sleekly configured for decidedly elegant and refined bedside storage. The 2-drawer stand is made out of hardwood (with an ash or walnut veneer) on a stainless steel base. The drawers open fully via the unique flip-up pulls, revealing a contrasting red interior. Photo Courtesy of Blu Dot

Vitra Prismatic Table

You won't find a single curve in the Vitra Prismatic Table. It is all sharp, pure angles, with three legs and a hexagonal-segmented top formed out of folded aluminum (inspired by the traditional art of Japanese paper folding), and coated entirely in a smooth, durable powder coat. Originally designed by Isamu Noguchi in 1957.

Copeland Furniture Astrid 1 Drawer Nightstand

The Copeland Furniture Astrid 1 Drawer Nightstand is a convenient bedside table that has the same dynamic splayed legs as its larger companion, the Astrid Bed. It also includes a single drawer and open shelf for extra storage in the bedroom. It is made out of solid hardwood in a variety of finishes protected by a Greenguard certified top coat. Founded in 1976 by Tim Copeland, Copeland Furniture specializes in the production of fine natural hardwood furniture. Continual evolution in Copeland Furniture designs have yielded new and exciting takes on classic Arts & Crafts, Shaker and Scandinavian bedroom, living room, office and dining room furniture. All Copeland Furniture pieces are designed and made at their manufacturing facility located on the banks of the Connecticut River in Bradford, Vermont. Photo Courtesy of Lumens

Nathan Yong Line Bedside Table

As a boy, Nathan Yong would comb the beach near his home for small objects that he could transform into toys. "My brother and I would wait for low tide so we could pick up treasures left by the sea," he says. Today, working in the heart of Singapore, Yong has developed into a resourceful designer. We first met him at Salone del Mobile, the annual furniture fair in Milan, where his Line Storage captivated us with its quiet elegance. Using strong horizontal lines to reflect natural landscapes, there’s a restfulness to this collection, making it especially well-suited for the bedroom. The Line Bedside Table (2019) has one soft-closing drawer and one adjustable shelf. Made in Malaysia. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach

Under $2000

USM Haller Bedside Table

Starting out as a lock and hardware company, Switzerland-based USM – founded in 1885 by Ulrich Schaerer in Münsingen, thus the name – built a new factory and office in 1961, which led to the transformation of its business. To outfit the new space, USM CEO Paul Schaerer and architect Fritz Haller created a modular furniture collection based on the steel construction system used for the building. Precision-crafted and able to accommodate the spatial demands of a growing business, the USM Haller Collection (1961) soon became the company’s number-one line. Constructed of steel and built to last for generations, pieces bought 50 years ago can be paired with those purchased today, and you can continue to add others as needs change. Made in Switzerland. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach

Nelson Thin Edge Bedside Table

George Nelson was the design director at Herman Miller from 1945 to 1972, and his influence over three decades is what made the Michigan-based company what it is today. He not only recruited Charles and Ray Eames and Isamu Noguchi but also produced a portfolio of work without which modern design history would be incomplete. His Thin Edge Collection (1952) was first called the Rosewood Case Series, a refined version of the Basic Cabinet Series from 1946. Its striking characteristics include especially thin edges, hence the name. Manufactured today with environmentally sustainable veneers and 85% recycled materials, Thin Edge leverages the latest manufacturing technologies without compromising its original look and feel. This is the authentic Thin Edge Bedside Table by Herman Miller. Made in U.S.A.

Area Bruno Nightstand With Drawer

The Bruno series, designed by Magnus Lundstroom & Anki Spets, embodies all that a modern bedroom furniture should be. With its simple lines, delicate aluminum legs and natural materials, this piece makes a quite statement about modernity, minimalism and perfectly executed design. Die cast aluminum legs. Smooth-glide drawer. Photo Courtesy of HORNE

Egg Collective Morrison Bedside Table

Based in Brooklyn, Egg Collective was founded in 2011 by designers Stephanie Beamer, Crystal Ellis and Hillary Petrie. The trio produces furniture, lighting and accessories that evoke their own personal histories and draw upon memories of families and friends. Recent honors include the Best New Designer award at the 2012 International Contemporary Furniture Fair and inclusion on Forbes magazine’s 2014 "30 Under 30" list. They were also commissioned to design a seating area for the New York City Ballet’s David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. Their Morrison Collection (2012) was originally created for friend Morrison Mullen, who needed a custom cabinet for her small apartment. What they created was a multifunctional modern take on traditional casegoods, featuring a solid marble top, soft-closing hardware, turned legs, sleek lines and delicately scalloped profile. The original design has since grown into a collection of flexible storage equally at home in the entryway, living room, dining room and bedroom. Made in Canada. Photo Courtesy of Design Within Reach

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Related Reading:

17 Midcentury Modern Dressers That Max Out Style and Storage

32 Impeccable Bed Frames for Every Budget



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Autism Prevalence Unchanged in 20 Years

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Autism-brain-leadThat there is an “autism epidemic” is taken as a given by those who feel autism has a dominant environmental cause. The Age of Autism blog, for example, bills itself as a, “Daily Web Newspaper of the Autism Epidemic.” The term “epidemic” also implies an environmental factor, such as an infection.

The epidemiology of autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has never supported the conclusion that there is an autism epidemic. There is no doubt that the number of autism diagnoses  has increased in the last two decades, but the evidence strongly suggests this increase in an artifact of how autism diagnoses are made, and not representative of a true increase.

Adding to this data, a newly published study looks at autism and ASD prevalence worldwide: The epidemiology and global burden of autism spectrum disorders. They found:

In 2010 there were an estimated 52 million cases of ASDs, equating to a prevalence of 7.6 per 1000 or one in 132 persons. After accounting for methodological variations, there was no clear evidence of a change in prevalence for autistic disorder or other ASDs between 1990 and 2010. Worldwide, there was little regional variation in the prevalence of ASDs.

In 1990, according to this study, the prevalence was 7.5 per 1000 – not significantly different than 7.6 in 2010. How do we square this data with those from the CDC and other sources that imply an increase in the measured prevalence (whether real or artifact)? The CDC, for example, reports the US prevalence of ASD in 2000 as 1 in 150, and in 2010 as 1 in 68. The authors of the new study explain that using administrative data, such as reporting and special education needs, is highly problematic:

Our study aimed to overcome these limitations by capturing prevalence data from a range of sources that used comprehensive case-finding strategies and by using covariates to adjust for sources of systematic bias. After adjusting for variable study methodology, our models show that the prevalence of ASDs seems to have remained relatively stable over the past 20 years.

It’s always better to have rigorous and consistent study methodology up front, rather than correcting for such limitations with statistical adjustments at the back end. Every adjustment potentially adds a degree of freedom that itself can bias the outcome. However, when the study methods are variable you have no choice. I am not a statistician, so I cannot directly evaluate the methods used in this study. I leave that to other statisticians. So far, it has passed peer-review, and we’ll see how it holds up going forward.

No one study is ever definitive, but the results conform to other studies that have looked at autism prevalence or incidence and attempted to control for differences in methods of capturing diagnoses. A 2006 review by Taylor, for example, found:

The recorded prevalence of autism has increased considerably in recent years. This reflects greater recognition, with changes in diagnostic practice associated with more trained diagnosticians; broadening of diagnostic criteria to include a spectrum of disorder; a greater willingness by parents and educationalists to accept the label (in part because of entitlement to services); and better recording systems, among other factors.

In other words, several studies have found that there is increased surveillance for autism, a broadening of the diagnostic criteria, and an increased willingness to seek out and accept the diagnosis by parents and educators. Further, when you control for these variables, the adjusted autism prevalence is stable over time.

A 2013 study looked at patterns of autism diagnosis in California. They found that autism diagnosis tends to cluster in neighborhoods with increased diagnostic resources:

We identify birth and diagnostic clusters of autism in California that are independent of individual-level autism risk factors. Our findings implicate a causal relationship between neighborhood-level diagnostic resources and spatial patterns of autism incidence but do not rule out the possibility that environmental toxicants have also contributed to autism risk.

Such epidemiological studies are often appropriately cautious in their conclusions, stating that they cannot rule out other factors, such as environment or a real increase in the number of autism cases. Such studies, however, do not provide evidence for either a real increase or any environmental factors. Rather, autism diagnoses seem to correlate best with awareness of autism and resources for diagnosis and services.

This and other studies have also found that the increase in diagnoses occurs mainly among children who are higher functioning, meaning they have more subtle signs of autism, and not very much among lower functioning children with autism. This makes sense in the context of increased surveillance and broadened diagnostic criteria.

A relatively stable prevalence of autism also is consistent with independent lines of evidence, including recent evidence suggesting that the brain changes seen in autism occur within the womb. A prenatal onset of autism would eliminate any postnatal environmental factors. This is also consistent with the many studies that demonstrate that autism is dominantly a genetic disorder.

Finally, despite many premature claims and attempts to link autism to specific environmental factors (most notoriously vaccines), the evidence ultimately does not support any connection. It is easy to find spurious correlations when sifting through large data sets, as the graph below humorously illustrates. Most such correlations, however, do not pan out when looked at critically.

autism-organic

 

Conclusion

This latest study showing a stable autism prevalence between 1990 and 2010 is in line with a consilience of scientific evidence showing that autism is mostly genetic, has its onset prenataly, and that the apparent increase in prevalence is largely due to diagnostic substitution, increased surveillance, greater acceptance, and broadening of the diagnostic criteria.

Given all of this it is still possible that there is a real increase hiding in the data, although it must be small. It is further possible that there are environmental risk factors that affect the development of autism. Increasing parental age has been suggested as a factor, and this deserves further study. At present, however, there is no data clearly pointing to any specific environmental factor.

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dwestenk
3737 days ago
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Chiropractic “pediatrics” firmly in the anti-vaccination camp

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Chiropractor “adjusting” an infant.

Who would you invite to speak at your conference if you wanted to show the world you are firmly in the anti-vaccination camp?  Barbara Loe Fisher, head of the National Vaccine (Mis) Information Center (NVIC)?  How about Andrew Wakefield, the thoroughly disgraced British physician who, having been stripped of his medical license, continues his despicable anti-vaccination campaign?  How about both?

The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association sprang for both.  Fisher and Wakefield will be keynote speakers at the ICPA’s upcoming conference, “Celebrating the Shift to Conscious Choice.”  The conference offers the mutually exclusive opportunities of participating ”in the discussion of the latest evidence-based holistic research” while at the same time exploring “the vitalistic perspectives of conception, pregnancy and birth through family wellness.”  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you can embrace evidence-based research or you can embrace vitalism, but not both at the same time.  There will also be an opportunity for the requisite bashing of “conventional” medicine.

It’s hard to decide who’s slumming whom here.  On the one hand, the ICPA is a small group (3,000 members).  They are straight, subluxation-based chiropractors and they don’t need convincing that vaccination is “bad.” Fisher and Wakefield will be preaching to the choir.  Wakefield, with his medical education and training, is most certainly aware that their subluxation-based “theory” is nonsense and they are incompetent to diagnose and treat pediatric patients.  And this is a far cry from Fisher’s former gigs as an advisor to the government.

On the other hand, Wakefield and Fisher are not exactly in-demand conference speakers.  I can imagine it’s not too hard to get on their calendars.

In the heyday of the media’s penchant for reporting “both sides” of the vaccination manufactroversy, Fisher was the go-to gal for reliable fear-mongering about vaccines.  She was, after all, a founder of the NVIC, a source of vaccine “information” that claims to be neither for nor against vaccination, only for “safe” vaccinations and informed consent. By continuously moving the goalposts, the NVIC ensures that vaccination is never safe and that there is always a fresh supply of misinformation with which to scare parents away from vaccinating their children.  The NVIC is a sponsor of the ICPA conference.

However, since being excoriated by investigative journalist Seth Mnookin, in his excellent book The Panic Virus (2011), the media, suitably chastised, seems to have learned its lesson and appears less likely to ring up Fisher, Jenny McCarthy or other science-deficient sources for their views on vaccination.

In addition to taking the media to task, Mnookin took on Fisher herself. (Wakefield and the NVIC don’t fare too well in the book either.) Here’s how he described Fisher’s talk at a 2009 Autism One conference:

Barbara Loe Fisher, the grande dame of the American anti-vaccine movement, explained how vaccines are a “de facto selection of the genetically vulnerable for sacrifice” and said that doctors who administer vaccines are the moral equivalent of “the doctors at Nuremberg.” (That parallel, she said, had been pointed out to her by Andrew Wakefield . . .) 

While Fisher normally seems more than happy to talk to reporters, she clammed up when Mnookin wanted to interview her. Mnookin says he tried several times, but she refused, ostensibly because of an article about vaccines and the anti-vaccine movement that appeared in Wired in 2009. It was in this article that Paul Offit, M.D., famously said Fisher lies and she famously sued Offit.  The case was tossed out by the court.  Her refusal was based on the fact that Mnookin was a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, which has the same corporate parent as Wired. Sounds a bit thin to me.

The double punch of shaming the media for its credulous reporting and exposing Fisher’s off-the-rails positions seems to have had some effect. Fisher briefly surfaced in a couple of years ago with a few publicity stunts (her background is in PR), such as a “public service” announcement from the NVIC shown on Delta Airlines in which she conveniently excludes vaccination as a means of flu prevention.  A few news outlets continue, irresponsibly, to give voice to her views from time to time, even while at the same time reporting (finally) that vaccines are safe and effective.  A couple of sources picked up Fisher’s and the NVIC’s attempt to milk the non-event of the CDC non-whistleblower non-expose, simply parroting their press release calling for removal of vaccine oversight from HHS.

Andrew Wakefield, who is described as an “academic gastroenterologist” in the conference materials, has been discussed a number of times on this blog, most recently in David Gorski’s series of posts in which we find Wakefield attempting to become relevant again with the CDC “whistleblower” kerfuffle. (Last post and references to others here.) Briefly, he is the British physician whose fraudulent “study” suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, thereby igniting an unnecessary fear and consequent increase in vaccine-preventable disease.  He was later stripped of his medical license and his article reporting the study withdrawn.  He now lives in the U.S., unfortunately.

Diplomates in Pediatric Chiropractic

The ICPA has its own certification and “diplomate” programs in chiropractic pediatrics.  Cleveland Chiropractic College, Northwestern Health Sciences University, Parker College of Chiropractic and Life University all co-sponsor the ICPA’s curriculum and classes.  The certification consists of 200 hours of classroom instruction, apparently with no actual patient care involved.  An additional 200 hours will make you a diplomate, again with no real clinical component.  Its website is chock full of terrible “wellness research,” mainly case reports in which a few patients allegedly benefit from chiropractic treatment for such conditions as ADHD, eczema, stuttering, scoliosis – you name it. They are big on something called “birth trauma,” which is the idea that babies need adjustments after the stress of birth to correct immediate problems caused by this “trauma” and to improve long term health.  It appears the chiropractor who’s incompetence in diagnosing and treating a newborn was examined in Clay Jones’s chilling post last Friday subscribes to this notion. If you ever needed evidence that chiropractic education is not up to snuff and that chiropractors are deficient in research skills, this is the place.

Of course, no one would be surprised to learn the ICPA is anti-vaccination.  Many chiropractors are anti-vaccination, an attitude that becomes more prevalent as they move through chiropractic school.  (Although some do recommend removal of the non-existent subluxation as a means of flu prevention.) But considering the fact that the vast majority of patients see chiropractors for back pain, those visits seem less likely to pose the threat of a chiropractor misinforming his patients about childhood immunizations. Why would someone going to a chiropractor for back pain ask the chiropractor about vaccination of their children? Now, however, by re-defining “primary care physician” to suit their needs, chiropractors are taking up the position that they can serve as PCPs, a subject both Harriet Hall and I have addressed before.

And while chiropractors have always maintained that they can treat children, the movement toward a “specialty” in pediatrics appears to be a fairly recent one. It is hard to find dates but, for one, the ICPA’s Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics started publication only in 2009. The ICPA was started by Larry Webster, D.C., in 1986.  Webster was the inventor of the Webster Technique, a system of spinal adjustments chiropractors claim are effective in turning  breech babies. (And, I might add, yet another example of how poor their education and training must be.) Apparently, it was something of a one-man operation until his death in 1997, when a board of directors took over.  The American Chiropractic Association’s Pediatrics Council, which we’ll get to in a minute, was established on 2005.

If chiropractors are anti-vaccination, and are actively seeking to attract pediatric patients via their presumed expertise in pediatric chiropractic care, it is worth looking deeper into what the chiropractic “pediatrician’s” position is given their ability in that role to spread anti-vaccination ideology even further.

ICA and ACA

The International Chiropractors Association has its own “Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics” and its own “Board Certified Diplomate in Chiropractic Pediatrics,” although you need only 360 hours of classroom instruction to become an ICA dipolmate.  It too is having a conference this fall, although apparently without the added attraction of virulently anti-vaccination speakers.

A search of the ICA CCP website soon turns up some smoking guns, in the form of recommended books and articles. One is a book by Viera Scheibner,  whose dive off the deep end is documented in Wikipedia.  Scheibner claims, for example, there is a connection between SIDS and vaccines, that shaken-baby syndrome is misdiagnosed and is actually caused by vaccination, and that polio, measles, whooping cough and rubella pose no danger.    Another book on vaccination on  the list is praised by Richard Blalock, M.D., an “all-purpose medical crank,” and conspiracy minded anti-vaccinationist, who, among other things, recommends cold showers and a multitude of dietary supplements to counteract the effects of vaccinations.

And there is this chiropractic journal article, from Robin Hyman, D.C.,  ”The Vaccination Myth: An Exercise in Logic:”

The author suggests that the Outside-In, Below-Up approach of the vaccination theory is in direct philosophical contradiction to chiropractic’s Above-Down, Inside-Out healing veracity. [Whatever a “healing veracity” might be.] He provides logical arguments aimed at disproving five basic vaccination myths regarding their safety and effectiveness.

But how about the more mainstream American Chiropractic Association?  It too has a pediatric component, the ACA Pediatrics Council. And it too is having a fall conference. (Is there some sort of competition going on here?) In this video, we see the Council’s President, Elise Hewitt, DC, DICCP (from the ICA’s pediatric diplomate program), selling a new mother on the ridiculous “birth trauma” idea, although you will note she is awfully vague as to exactly what it is she is doing, why she is doing it or how it might help this infant.

Oddly, the only article on vaccination I could find on this website was one from the Archives of  Pediatrics and  Adolescent  Medicine (2000), which, based on a survey, found, among other things:

For pediatric care, 30% [of chiropractors] reported actively recommending childhood immunizations; presented with a hypothetical 2-week-old neonate with a fever, 17% would treat the patient themselves rather than immediately refer the patient to a doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, or an emergency facility.

Thus concluding,

Pediatric chiropractic care is often inconsistent with recommended medical guidelines.

Maybe they are bragging?

The ACA itself believes immunization is a topic (scroll down to “Wellness Model”) chiropractors are competent to address as an element of primary prevention. The ACA also believes chiropractors should treat both neuromusculoskeltal and non-neuromusculoskeletal conditions in pediatric patients. (See “Pediatric Chiropractic Care”) The ACA’s official policy on vaccination seems to have taken a page from the NVIC’s playbook:

Since the scientific community acknowledges that the use of vaccines is not without risk, the American Chiropractic Association supports each individual’s right to freedom of choice in his/her own health care based on an informed awareness of the benefits and possible adverse effects of vaccination. The ACA is supportive of a conscience clause or waiver in compulsory vaccination laws thereby maintaining an individual’s right to freedom of choice in health care matters and providing an alternative elective course of action regarding vaccination. (Ratified by the House of Delegates, July 1993, Revised and Ratified June 1998).

(Apparently, this attitude toward the individual’s right to “informed awareness” does not extend to neck manipulation.)

American Public Health Association Chiropractic Section

Finally, although it’s not related specifically to pediatric patients, we’ll close with a look at one organization within chiropractic that one would certainly hope supports childhood immunization: the Chiropractic Section of the American Public Health Association.  That’s right, there is one, established after great resistance from the APHA.   Of course, chiropractors don’t seem to be all that fond of the APHA either.  Here’s what Cheryl Hawk. D.C., VP of Research at Cleveland Chiropractic College has to say on the matter in a Q & A session,  when asked “what are some issues that prevent chiropractors from becoming involved in public health issues?” 

Public health is too “medical,” especially because of its emphasis on immunizations. Although public health does emphasize immunizations, it also emphasizes other types of prevention, such as treating tobacco dependence and encouraging mothers to breast-feed. Why don’t we focus on the areas where our interests overlap rather than on where they differ? 

In other words, chiropractors can cherry-pick the public health measures they like and leave off the rest.

The Section is part of the APHA, but the ACA also has a “APHA/Wellness & Health Promotion Committee,” thereby giving their committee the supposed imprimatur of the APHA.

The American Chiropractic Association’s APHA/Wellness & Health Promotion Committee has assembled the following links and information to help doctors of chiropractic educate their patients about health promotion and injury prevention strategies. 

Curiously (actually not) although there is a link to the CDC’s information on smoking cessation, there is none to the extensive information on vaccination available on the CDC’s website.  Likewise, in the links for patients, there is no link to the CDC’s vaccination information.  This from a group that refers to chiropractors as “primary care physicians” and sees providing information on immunization as part of the chiropractor’s preventive health care role.

The official APHA Chiropractic Section maintains an “Immunization Information Resource Website,” which receives no funding from chiropractic institutions and is run by volunteers. It has not been updated since 2011.  The website is a curious mixture of accurate information about immunizations and cherry-picking the studies.  While it does link to the CDC and other reputable vaccination information sources, it also contains an odd list of journal articles which do not accurately represent the status of vaccination research, even in 2011. The HPV vaccine is not mentioned at all  Links to abstracts are given but it is doubtful that many chiropractors have access to the full journal articles. There is no mention of the APHA’s own Policy Statement concerning immunizations, which “reaffirms its support for immunization as one of the most cost-effective means of preventing infectious diseases.”

For example, under “Rotavirus,” we find only one link: “Intussusception among recipients of rotovirus vaccine–United States, 1998-1999,” when there have been a number of studies since 1999 on the safety and effectiveness of rotavirus vaccines. Why wasn’t this article from 2009 cited? “Comm. on Infectious Diseases, AAP, Prevention of Rotavirus Disease: Updated Guidelines for Use of Rotavirus Vaccine.”

With more than 14 million doses of RV5 distributed in the United States since 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Immunization Safety Office summary of postlicensure safety monitoring of RV5 does not indicate that immunization with RV5 is associated with intussusception. Further monitoring is ongoing. Rigorous postlicensure monitoring for safety end points has also been initiated for RV1.

The citations for varicella suffer from the same incompleteness.  For example, the list includes “Prevention of Varicella: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” from 1996 but not 2007 (which has itself been updated).

And, unfortunately, the lack of updates means these two excellent resources are not available on the website, although one wonders if they would have been  cited even then: “Safety of Vaccines Used for Routine Immunization of US Children: A Systematic Review” and and the Institute of Medicine’s “The Childhood Immunization Schedule and Safety,” which concluded,

This report is the most comprehensive examination of the immunization schedule to date. The IOM committee uncovered no evidence of major safety concerns associated with adherence to the childhood immunization schedule. Should signals arise that there may be need for investigation, however, the report offers a framework for conducting safety research using existing or new data collection systems.

All in all, while the Chiropractic Section should be commended for providing links to the CDC and other reliable sources, a fair review of the entire site evidences a “pull the punches” approach to immunization that mixes in outdated and incomplete advice over-emphasizing risks with good information.

The chiropractic position on pediatric immunizations appears to range from virulently anti-vaccination to, at best, tepid support from a small group.  Yet many within chiropractic view themselves as capable of acting as primary care physicians in general and pediatricians in particular.  Their lack of education and training belies those beliefs, as does a look at their actual practices.  And their lack of support for childhood immunization makes the proposition downright scary.

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3743 days ago
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Yes, Obamacare is cutting the deficit

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Today the Congressional Budget Office released its latest economic and fiscal projections, and guess what: The news is pretty good. In fact, all the “deficit hawks” out there who are deeply concerned about too much borrowing and the terrible choices our grandchildren will confront might want to write a letter of thanks to one Barack […]






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dwestenk
3749 days ago
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