text:
Top 100 Walking Songs of the '90s
Top 10 Walking Songs of 1990
"Hold On" - Wilson Phillips
"Dangerous" - Roxette
"Vogue" - Madonna
"Step by Step" - New Kids on the Block
"Pump Up the Jam" - Technotronic
"The Power" - Snap!
"U Can't Touch This" - MC Hammer
"We Didn't Start the Fire" - Billy Joel
"Love Shack" - The B-52's
"Cradle of Love" - Billy Idol
Top 10 Walking Songs of 1991
"Crazy" - Seal
"Something to Talk About" - Bonnie Raitt
"Someday" - Mariah Carey
"Groove Is in the Heart" - Deee-Lite
"Now That We Found Love" - Heavy D & The Boyz
"Strike It Up" - Black Box
"Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" - C+C Music Factory
"Every Heartbeat" - Amy Grant
"Time, Love, and Tenderness" - Michael Bolton
"Rhythm of My Heart" - Rod Stewart
Top 10 Walking Songs of 1992
"Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen
"I Love Your Smile" - Shanice
"My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" - En Vogue
"Jump (Radio Edit)" - Kris Kross
"Finally" - Ce Ce Peniston
"Black or White" - Michael Jackson
"Live and Learn" - Joe Public
"Life Is a Highway" - Tom Cochrane
"Walking on Broken Glass" - Annie Lennox
"Take This Heart" - Richard Marx
Top 10 Walking Songs of 1993
"The River of Dreams" - Billy Joel
"I Don't Wanna Fight" - Tina Turner
"I'm Every Woman" - Whitney Houston
"Rhythm Is a Dancer" - Snap!
"Show Me Love" - Robin S.
"Whoomp! (There It Is)" - Tag Team
"What Is Love" - Haddaway
"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" - The Proclaimers
"(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" - UB40
"Will You Be There" - Michael Jackson
Top 10 Walking Songs of 1994
"All I Wanna Do" - Sheryl Crow
"Baby, I Love Your Way" - Big Mountain
"Always" - Erasure
"December, 1963 (Oh What a Night!)" - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
"The Sign" - Ace of Base
"100% Pure Love" - Crystal Waters
"Wild Night" - John Mellencamp
"Found Out About You" - Gin Blossoms
"If You Go" - Jon Secada
"Come to My Window" - Melissa Etheridge
Top 10 Walking Songs of 1995
"Waterfalls" - TLC
"This Is How We Do It" - Montell Jordan
"Fantasy" - Mariah Carey
"Another Night" - Real McCoy
"Total Eclipse of the Heart" - Nicki French
"Can't Stop Lovin' You" - Van Halen
"December" - Collective Soul
"Roll to Me" - Del Amitri
"Hold My Hand" - Hootie & The Blowfish
"You Gotta Be" - Des'ree
Top 10 Walking Songs of 1996
"I Love You Always Forever" - Donna Lewis
"My Boo" - Ghost Town DJs
"Always Be My Baby" - Mariah Carey
"Missing" - Everything but the Girl
"Be My Lover" - La Bouche
"Where Do You Go" - No Mercy
"Beautiful Life" - Ace of Base
"Just a Girl" - No Doubt
"Ironic" - Alanis Morissette
"Breakfast at Tiffany's" - Deep Blue Something
Top 10 Walking Songs of 1997
"Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" - Backstreet Boys
"Do You Know (What It Takes)" - Robyn
"Return of the Mack" - Mark Morrison
"Semi-Charmed Life" - Third Eye Blind
"Wannabe" - Spice Girls
"Ooh Ahh...Just a Little Bit" - Gina G.
"I Want You" - Savage Garden
"MMMbop" - Hanson
"Tubthumping" - Chumbawamba
"Everyday Is a Winding Road" - Sheryl Crow
Top 10 Walking Songs of 1998
"Bittersweet Symphony" - The Verve
"This Kiss" - Faith Hill
"Time After Time" - INOJ
"The Boy Is Mine" - Brandy & Monica
"Ray of Light" - Madonna
"I Want You Back" - *NSYNC
"One Week" - Barenaked Ladies
"Together Again" - Janet Jackson
"I Do" - Lisa Loeb
"Because of You" - 98 Degrees
Top 10 Walking Songs of 1999
"...Baby One More Time" - Britney Spears
"Save Tonight" - Eagle-Eye Cherry
"Steal My Sunshine" - Len
"Love Like This" - Faith Evans
"Livin' la Vida Loca" - Ricky Martin
"Believe" - Cher
"Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)" - Lou Bega
"That Don't Impress Me Much" - Shania Twain
"All Star" - Smash Mouth
"I Need to Know" - Marc Anthony
Originally published on FamilyCircle.com in May 2010.


text: Donald Trump's fame is not linked to business accomplishments, as his casino 'empire' has gone bankrupt several times and there are far richer men than he who could dole out market advice for television cameras [EPA] "Little Donnie Trump, the dumbest kid in the class." This only somewhat facetious refrain was proffered on a day when Trump had said something particularly insane, by a friend of my parents who attended school with The Donald when they were just boys. Trump is a potential presidential candidate who has most recently hitched his hairpiece to Birtherism, or the slightly-less-clever-than-a-comb-over theory that President Obama only plays an American president on TV. In this fantasyland of conspiracy and fear of mind-control via fluorinated water, the president is the amazing beneficiary of the most prescient plot in human history - next to the invention of the hot dog centuries prior to the creation of baseball. In Obama's case, it involved the planting of a birth announcement in a Honolulu newspaper to hide his "Kenyaness" and falsely convert him into an American citizen. Because one day, he would inevitably want to be the first black president, and at that moment it sure would come in handy. That Trump has taken to promote this silliness should not be surprising. No, because it betrays what Donald Trump is: the living embodiment of every degrading aspect of American culture. Trump is a guy who is famous for spinning a false resume - as a supposedly intelligent businessman - into fame and additional fortune. Much like with our national political conversation, the truth is incidental. Even when one's tall tales can be empirically proven to be as fake as the synthetic turf grass on Trump's noggin. It is of no matter. Trump's image As tennis player Andre Agassi used to say in ads for Nikon, "image is everything". In Trump's case, he has used over-the-top self-promotion and atavistic bravado to sell himself as the most successful businessman ever. Once that was largely accomplished, no number of declarations of bankruptcy for his casino empire (are we on two now, or three?... It's pretty easy for one to lose count) or even the destruction of a professional football league (see USFL) could change that. It was a set narrative, and the media doesn't do introspection. So, like so many of the famous who have not done anything of value to have earned that distinction, Paris Hilton, Levi Johnston, The Real Housewives of Everywhere - this walking Jersey Shore character is now ubiquitous on news shows. Worse, he's considered a knowledgeable source on a whole range of issues, particularly business regulation, budgets and other financial matters. After all, he's on TV, so he must know stuff! Trump has also internalised another modern development in our TV culture, namely, the more extreme and nasty one is, the more attention the media grants them. Unlike at the aforementioned baseball games, where it is policy for the camera crews not to show fans who run on the field (because it will only encourage more of them to do it), there is no such rule for the nightly news or morning talk shows. The more crass, insulting or downright dingy Trump gets, the more chance what he says will be covered and he'll be invited on for another interview. Especially because 'the business legend' says these outlandish things, it makes it irresistible to news programs. He yells "you're fired" on his reality show at a young post-college kid or an ex-meth addict who was on an episode of Diff'rent Strokes in 1982 (all of whom, no matter their station in life, were required to call him Mr. Trump), and boom, it's on Entertainment Tonight. Bigger and better He also perfectly mirrors a recent trend in America that bigger is inevitably better, whether we're talking about a structure, a story or a scalp protector that looks like it was produced by a handloom. So there's the racist, Birtherism, the tales of how "huge" his fortune is - well beyond what we're privy to, apparently - and the constant harping on how he supposedly ripped off Muammar Gaddafi on a land deal. His hotels, casinos, and ego, are all a testament to this fact. It was once such that the quality of a product or person was considered, you know, relevant to how they were covered. Not so much anymore. Lavish weddings every few years or so; big, trashy casinos; and even a name that literally means to do something bigger and better, are guaranteed television fare. So there is nothing that is really out of bounds. Hell, I half-expect Trump to announce any day now he's marrying Miley Cyrus, and plans to change his name to Dr Zeus. This has all positioned Trump at the crossroads of reality and entertainment, a juncture that nobody can convincingly define anymore. His reality show, The Apprentice, needs to keep up ratings. And political reporters need stories. So, what better way to get ratings and give the media its eye candy than say that he will announce on the last episode of his show when he will announce whether or not he's running for president? Is it real? Is it entertainment? Or is it both? You tell me. Either way, it has Trump either tied for the lead or outright winning in two new polls (CNN and Public Policy Polling) of Republican primary voters - even though I don't suspect it will last or that he will eventually run. But that doesn't really matter, does it? Because either way, as long as our culture continues to promote these particularly peculiar values, we'll continue to have Donald Trump to kick us around. Cliff Schecter is the President of Libertas, LLC, a progressive public relations firm, the author of the 2008 bestseller The Real McCain, and a regular contributor to The Huffington Post. Follow Cliff Schecter On Twitter: @Cliffschecter The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy. SOURCE: Al Jazeera ABOUT THE AUTHOR Cliff SchecterCliff Schecter is an author, pundit and public relations strategist whose firm Libertas, LLC handles media relations for political, corporate and non-profit clients. @ cliffschecter Arts & Culture

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Posts Taggedrunning game
The Epic Knight from the well-known dungeon defense game, Tiny Heroes, is back in the new running game, One Epic Knight. The tables have turned and now the Epic Knight is the one conquering the dungeon. Whether you've played the first game or not, what could be more exciting than a dungeon filled with loot, potions, trinkets and green jello cube monsters? Other than real treasure chests filled with loot, I can't think of too much.
As a fan of the popular Temple Run, when I found out One Epic Knight was free I had to take it for a spin. So, how does it compare to other games in the running genre? Read on to find out! (more…)


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It's the holy trinity of warm-weather refreshment—shorts, sunglasses and session brews! Nothing welcomes the springtime sun quite like a frosty pint, and now more than ever, it's easy to sip low-alcohol suds as brewers around the world craft thirst-quenching beers that go big on flavor while minimizing their ABV. We highlight five favorite sessionable beers in our May/June 2013 issue, but there are plenty of added opportunities to take a taste—here are some other low-alcohol brews we'll be cracking all season long.
Kastrup, Denmark, 3.5 percent ABV
This California Common-styled brew comes by way of Belgium's Amager Bryghus, and fuses spicy hop flavors with a splash of sweet bready malts on the finish.
Anchor Steam
San Francisco, Calif., 4.9 percent ABV
The flagship ale of one of the granddaddies of the American craft beer movement, this coppery-gold quaffer offers strong floral notes, some mild malty sweetness and a crisp bitterness that pairs perfectly with barbecued chicken.
Bayerischer Bahnhof Leipziger Gose
Leipzig, Germany, 4.5 percent ABV
In 2000, German brewer Thomas Schneider decided to revive the virtually extinct Leipziger Gose style, a top-fermenting wheat beer made with coriander, salt and lactic acid. The resulting beer has distinctive tartness, with the salt appearing in the finish.
Brooklyn Summer Ale
Brooklyn, N.Y., 5 percent ABV
Summertime drinking at its coolest, this English-style pale ale from Brooklyn brewmaster Garrett Oliver thoroughly quenches with its light, earthy hops and touch of food-friendly malt.
Dogfish Head Festina Pêche
Milton, Del., 4.5 percent ABV
Like the name suggests, this Berliner weisse-style beer has loads of peach flavor and a tangy acidity that balances the fruit.
Barcelona, Spain, 2.8 percent ABV
Kick up your feet in the summer sun with this Barcelona-brewed pale ale. Hoppier than you would expect from the style, expect loads of fresh-cut grass, lemon peel and pine.
Half Acre Beer Co. Gossamer Golden Ale
Chicago, 4.2 percent ABV
Who need a big, boozy beer when you've got this golden refresher? Fresh and fizzy with a mix of tropical fruit aromas and subtle hoppy pine flavors, this brew conveniently comes packaged in a can, ready to head out wherever your warm-weather adventures may take you.
Ipswich, Mass., 4.3 percent ABV
Instead of following the big-beer trend, Massachusetts-based Chris Lohring goes against the grain, producing more than a dozen different session brews. This IPA keeps the hops in the foreground, while light malty flavors fall in on the finish.
Reissdorf Kölsch
Cologne, Germany, 4.8 percent ABV
Light and refreshing, with good effervescence and a surprisingly hefty amount of hoppy bitterness.
Stone Levitation
San Diego, Calif., 4.4 percent ABV
Stone has made its reputation on big-personality beers, so it's no surprise that its lower-alcohol offering still packs plenty of flavor. This dark-copper brew offers loads of floral hops and a bitter-orange finish.
Tröegs Dreamweaver
Harrisburg, Penn., 4.8 percent ABV
Another deliciously refreshing wheat beer, this one with pronounced spicy notes and a strong undercurrent of banana.
Trumer Pils
Berkeley, Calif., 4.9 percent ABV
Crisp and clean with a touch of maltiness, this is as easy-drinking a Pilsner as they come.
Victory Donnybrook Stout
Downingtown, Penn., 3.7 percent ABV
Stouts are typically a lower-ABV beer style, but the double whammies of modern craft brewing have left their lower-alcohol counterparts in the dust. Enter this roasty-toasty brew from Victory. German malts mingle with earthy, European hops in this smooth and creamy, Irish-style stout.
Widmer Columbia Common
Portland, Ore., 4.7 percent ABV
A recent release from the brew crew behind the ubiquitous Widmer Heffeweizen, this spring ale gets its grassy, bitter edge from a trio of hops, including the once-forgotten Columbia variety.


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State colleges look at tuition freeze to recoup funding
The proposals come on the heels of several years of steep reductions in state dollars that have resulted in budget-cutting measures like layoffs, hiring freezes and academic program reductions.
Public universities are promising to freeze tuition as leverage to restore state funding lost during the economic recession that first hit the nation nearly five years ago.
University systems in Arizona, California, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota and New Hampshire have proposed to hold the line on tuition for state residents in exchange for a steady or increased stream of tax dollars. State legislatures will meet in January to consider the plans.
The strategy follows years of increases. Tuition and fees jumped 15% between 2008 and 2010, led by increases of more than 40% at universities that include those in Arizona and California, according to a 2012 U.S. Department of Education report.
The proposals also come on the heels of several years of steep reductions in state dollars that have resulted in budget-cutting measures like layoffs, hiring freezes and academic program reductions.
In Iowa, the Legislature slashed funding by 25% over three years. New Hampshire lawmakers cut support by 49% over two years. Arizona's universities have lost more than $400 million since 2008.
Some universities are breaking decades-old precedents. Students in Iowa have paid more in tuition each year since 1981. Arizona and New Hampshire froze state tuition 20 and 23 years ago, respectively. Also driving the shift is rising public concern about college affordability, said Iowa Board of Regents President Craig Lang. College graduates in 2010 carried an average of $25,250 in student loan debt, according to the Project on Student Debt's most recent report.
In Iowa and New Hampshire, some legislators have said they're willing to consider the proposals.
"Those are thoughtful decisions on their part, and we're going to treat them accordingly," Republican Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen said.
University of New Hampshire Board of Trustees Chancellor Edward MacKay said he's "reasonably optimistic" the Legislature will restore funding. In California, where tuition was frozen this fall, voters approved a temporary sales and income tax increase, avoiding a possible 20% midyear tuition hike.
Sandy Baum, author of the College Board's annual report on tuition trends, argues a moderate, predictable rate of growth in tuition over the long term helps students more than a short-term freeze. Schools may have to start freezing tuition, regardless of state funding, because middle-class families are increasingly vocal about college costs, adds Richard Vedder, an Ohio University economics professor who has studied the issue.
Krogstad also reports for The Des Moines Register. Contributing: Mary Beth Marklein.


text:
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Id like to thank my very cool friend Holly for much encouragement and inspiration and for "jump starting" my creativeness.So without further adoooooo... Here's my Homemade island start to finish.....
Linking To: Nap Time Crafters
Linking to:Beneath My Heart
59 comments:
- Elisa said...
I love it! Good for you and how useful is that going to be?!
- January 17, 2012 at 4:24 PM
- Cassie @ Primitive & Proper said...
that looks fabulous! love the rustic warmth!
- January 17, 2012 at 5:09 PM
- Holly said...
IT'S SOOOOO AWESOME!!! I bet it is gorgeous in your cute kitchen. Whatever the stain is totally makes it look old. The star? SWEET! I am so freaking happy!!!!
- January 17, 2012 at 5:18 PM
- Kristel said...
WOW! You did that on your own? It turned out amazing!! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm your newest follower too.
- January 18, 2012 at 6:45 AM
- Terry said...
What a great industrial look with rustic elements. Great job.
- January 18, 2012 at 7:17 AM
- Miranda said...
Awesome job. I think it looks amazing and I'm so impressed that you did it yourself.
- January 18, 2012 at 10:42 AM
- Michell @ Girl In Air said...
This is awesome!! I wish I was a little better with power tools...I'm liking this blog and following along now:-)
- January 18, 2012 at 1:31 PM
- ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...
Awesome job!!
- January 18, 2012 at 2:41 PM
I do love it!! I'm so impressed and so glad you shared this at my Show & Tell party. Great job!
- January 18, 2012 at 5:10 PM
- Leslie said...
It looks awesome! I love the star.
- January 19, 2012 at 7:56 AM
- Sherika Lovett Alston said...
WOW that's awesome! I love the look! Please come share today over at Passionatelyperfect.com!
- January 19, 2012 at 8:27 AM
- ~Tablescapes By Diane~ said...
Hi lovely lady.
I love it looks fabulous!! And this is going to look great in your Kitchen. I also love the rustic and warmth look of your Island.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful week. Hope you come see me.
XXOO Diane
- January 19, 2012 at 8:42 AM
- Robin Lynn said...
This was great! I love having friends that give us that little push we need to get something done ... and I know your going to love your island even more because you 'created' it with your own hands! Love your little spot on the web ... I will def. be back!
- January 19, 2012 at 9:05 AM
- Kenya G. Johnson said...
Wow! Your labor of love is definitely one to be proud of. Beautiful job! Stopping by from Katherine's Corner.
- January 19, 2012 at 11:46 AM
- Rachel said...
Oh my goodness, well done! I love it, it's very rustic. Found you through Katherines Corner.
Your newest follower, Rachel
- January 19, 2012 at 12:03 PM
- Yona said...
Oh wow - that is sooo nice. I remember making a wooden picnic table with my Dad - I really liked the project. I'd like to make a gazebo next.
Im your newest Google Connect Friend follower from Favorite Things Thursday.
- January 19, 2012 at 1:38 PM
- chateau chic said...
You are gooood! Not only does it have a great look, but it is so functional.
Mary Alice
- January 19, 2012 at 1:45 PM
- Shari @ turnstylevogue.com said...
What a great piece and a double bonus to have created something you will use everyday. Great job!
- January 19, 2012 at 2:10 PM
- Sherry said...
That is wonderful! You did a great job with that!
- January 19, 2012 at 2:21 PM
- White Ironstone Cottage said...
WOW you go girl
What a great island love the scale and the function of the lower shelf
great job!!
Glad to have found your blog
- January 19, 2012 at 2:51 PM
- vintageshabbychicks said...
Thanks you for your kind comment you left on our blog. Just hopped on over to see yours and its amazing! Just became a new follower...good luck:-)) Julie
- January 19, 2012 at 3:38 PM
- Katherines Corner said...
its wonderful, well done!Thank you for joining in the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. Big Hugs!
- January 19, 2012 at 6:34 PM
- Rosemary@villabarnes said...
Love the rustic look, Deidre. The star is a great touch. Thanks for visiting me, and following. I'm following you back.
- January 19, 2012 at 7:18 PM
I love it! That is really awesome. You should be so proud of yourself!
- January 19, 2012 at 8:24 PM
- Meg said...
Awesome! I think you did a terrific job. I want to do something like that! It's a great piece, you should be proud. ;)
- January 20, 2012 at 6:40 AM
- Full Circle Creations said...
Nicely done!
- January 20, 2012 at 9:21 AM
- Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said...
Totally fabulous!
- January 20, 2012 at 2:08 PM
- Kadie said...
Wow, with your own two hands?! So impressive. It is beautiful. Thanks for linking to Link It Up Thursday this week.
- January 20, 2012 at 6:38 PM
- Kim @ Too Much Time said...
You did good...like really good:)I would love it if you came over to link up at my party which is going on till Monday night!
- January 20, 2012 at 6:44 PM
- Katherines Corner said...
Great job!! love it Thank you for linking to the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop at Katherines Corner. Hugs and smooches and wishes for a wonderful weekend
- January 20, 2012 at 8:02 PM
- Christina at I Gotta Create! said...
Just had to feature this charmingly rustic beauty in my Facebook artist talent album today! Thanks again for linking up to the Kiss & Tell party over at I Gotta Create! I LOVE your island!
- January 21, 2012 at 8:53 AM
- Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust said...
Hi Deidre, Wow, I'm impressed that you built this yourself. You've got some mad wood skills! Impressive. Thanks so much for popping by my blog & leaving a sweet comment by the way!
Warmly, Michelle
- January 21, 2012 at 9:01 AM
- michele said...
bravo! it looks rustic gorgeous.
visiting via brambleberry cottage and invite you to my giveaway here:
smiles to you.
- January 21, 2012 at 2:14 PM
- Honey at 2805 said...
Splendid! Thank you for sharing this fabulous post to Potpourri Friday!
- January 21, 2012 at 6:54 PM
- gail said...
wow !! I think your island turned out fantabulous! way to go!
- January 21, 2012 at 8:32 PM
- Jodi said...
I LOVE your island! Thanks for the inspiration!
- January 21, 2012 at 10:01 PM
- Peggy~PJH Designs said...
Wow, great job I wouldn't know where to begin! I've been wanting one of those maybe I'll get a hammer and....give to my husband! lol thanks for sharing.
- January 22, 2012 at 6:51 PM
- camp and cottage living said...
It's just great!
I wish I had room in my kitchen to build one. What will you put on it's bottom shelf?
- January 23, 2012 at 9:17 AM
- Jenn Erickson said...
So impressed!
Thank you so much for sharing your talent and creativity on "A Little Birdie Told Me…" at Rook No. 17! Looking forward to seeing what inspirations you'll share tomorrow!
Warmest wishes,
- January 23, 2012 at 1:45 PM
- Jane, Naples, Florida said...
My goodness that is absolutely fantastic! You should be very, very
proud! Wonderful job!
Flora Doora
- January 23, 2012 at 3:04 PM
- Bliss said...
It turned out wonderful. What's next on your list, you obviously have power tools and know how to use 'em!
- January 23, 2012 at 6:27 PM
- Chatty Chics said...
This is simply awesome. I can't believe you did this yourself! How awesome! Thank you for sharing with my group!
PS Come back again Wednesday if you can! You'll be glad you did!
- January 23, 2012 at 7:12 PM
- Vintage Home said...
wow great job!..so much storage!
- January 23, 2012 at 7:15 PM
- TwoThirtyFiveDesigns said...
Totally digging this, great job! Thanks for linking up at my 365 challenge ;)
- January 23, 2012 at 8:18 PM
- Michelle said...
This is so cool! We are looking at building our own kitchen island this year too! (we need to finish the built-in bookcases first though). This is great and I will be following this when the time comes to start our project!
- January 24, 2012 at 11:15 AM
- Heaven's Walk said...
Sooooo cool! You did a great job!!
xoxo laurie
- January 24, 2012 at 5:02 PM
- cathy@my1929charmer said...
Wow what a great island, you really did this all by yourself. wow, you are good. Really like the rustic look, and will look so cute in your kitchen. You should be proud of yourself. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration at Sunday's Best party.
- January 24, 2012 at 7:59 PM
- Tales of a Trophy WIfe said...
I love it. I'm just starting to get into building stuff w/ wood-but it scares me a little. I'd love for you to link this up to my weekly party:http://trophyw.blogspot.com/2012/01/will-craft-forcute-t-shirts.html
- January 25, 2012 at 7:22 AM
- Green Willow Pond said...
Wow that is great! I want to make something like this, only to put against the wall between my bookshelves. I'm pinning it.
I'm visiting from Handy Andy. Have a great day!
- January 25, 2012 at 7:45 AM
- Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...
Love it!! Thank you for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday!
- January 25, 2012 at 8:14 AM
- Sherry said...
Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
- January 25, 2012 at 9:41 AM
- Kadie said...
I featured your island today. It is so great!! Stop by and grab a button if you would like. Feel free to link up any other projects you would like.
- January 26, 2012 at 7:18 AM
- Clydia said...
You seriously knocked this one outta the park! Great job! Clydia {threemangoseeds.blogspot.com}
- January 26, 2012 at 9:38 AM
- Korrie@RedHenHome said...
Look at you go! Terrific project.
- January 26, 2012 at 12:57 PM
- Honey at 2805 said...
Hi! You are featured today at Potpourri Friday!
- January 26, 2012 at 12:58 PM
- Erin {Lavender and Lemon Drops} said...
Awesome Job! It looks similar to the one I've been eying at Ikea! Your amazing!
- January 26, 2012 at 11:27 PM
- Amanda @ Serenity Now said...
Beautiful project! You did a fantastic job. I love the rustic element. I'd love to feature this, but I don't see a link back to my site/party anywhere in your post!
- January 29, 2012 at 8:17 AM
- Karena said...
Deidre OMG I love your island and YOU made it!! Bravo!
I hope you will join my Valentine's Giveaway!
Art by Karena
- February 1, 2012 at 7:57 PM
- Kaysi said...
Wow!!! That is fabulous!
- March 1, 2012 at 2:19 PM


text:
Lamar retires: "This has never been a job for me"
Lamar retires: "This has never been a job for me"
Every trimester's end brings on a time of transition as students receive their grades and, in some cases, their diplomas. This past spring's conclusion in the April 19 commencement marked more than just the passage from one term into the next.
As the second ceremony of the night reached its conclusion, a familiar figure rose with the rest of the faculty and lifted the staff that he had meticulously carved from its perch next to the university president on stage.
An earthy cry of celebration rose from the audience. Angus Kent Lamar, long-time professor and chairman of the art department, gave a wry smile before joining the procession of faculty off of the stage.
With that, Lamar officially had retired and his 38-year tenure at the University of Science and Arts came to an end.
Born in Chickasha in 1947, Lamar began to give the idea of training as an artist after he excelled in trade, or mechanical, drawing class in high school.
After an unsatisfying semester at the University of Oklahoma, Lamar enrolled at the Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts in the spring of 1966. His memories of the then newly-christened and repurposed OCLA are tempered by the work load that art students were expected to assume.
"We knew we were there to do one thing – produce," Lamar said. "It was drilled into our head over and over that talent was important but hard work gave you the right to call yourself an artist."
Under legendary faculty like longtime art department chairman Derald Swineford, Clark Bailey and Cora Oakes, Lamar graduated with a bachelor's degree in professional art in 1969.
Lamar, along with fellow graduate Hollis Howard, traveled to Mexico to continue his studies at the Instituto Allende. He was able to pay for his studies by serving as a welding and sculpting instructor and, in 1970, graduated with a master's of fine arts degree in painting.
For five years after returning, Lamar took painting and sculpture commissions while teaching night classes at the Caddo-Kiowa Vo-Tech. When a teaching position at his alma mater opened up in 1975, he knew the time was right to go in a different direction.
"As much as I loved the freedom of producing work all day, I had gotten tired of talking to my dog in the studio," Lamar said.
Lamar was appointed as the acting chairman of the department in 1978 after Bailey's untimely death and assumed the full title in 1980.
In that time, Lamar had overseen the renovation of the Art Annex in 1980 — which was again overhauled in 2005 — and assembled an all-star roster of instructors that included fellow alumnus and Instituto Allende grad Howard, Jaymes Dudding, followed by OCLA grad Steve Brown and, in 1998, USAO alumna Jacquelyn Knapp.
Lamar credits much of the USAO art department's stellar reputation to the collaborative effort of this team and to the continuity that he, along with Swineford, was able to bring.
"Between Derald and I, that's more than 70 years of USAO's history under two chairmen," Lamar said. "There's nothing magical about what I've done but there is something important about stability and hopefully, I've played a part in providing that."
One major change Lamar has been instrumental in bringing about is the introduction of a bachelor of fine arts degree to USAO's curriculum.
"Our students were having trouble getting into graduate schools without that BFA on their diploma, even though the instruction they had received was comparable or, in some cases, superior," Lamar said. "It took a few years of lobbying the administration to make the change but, in the end, they knew we were only trying to do what was best for our students."
"When it's all said and done, the students and the program always come first here."
He said he is confident that the art department's legacy will extend will into the future under incoming chairwoman, Knapp. Lamar plans to spend his retirement working his cattle, doing chores around his ranch and spending time with his grandchildren.
As this era of USAO's history comes to a close, Lamar is certain about one thing.
"I don't feel like I'm leaving a job," Lamar said. "This has never been a job for me. This is my life."


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This content has been marked as final. Show 2 replies
1. Re: AS7 hotrod serverwiktorowski maximilien Apr 11, 2012 4:33 AM (in response to wiktorowski maximilien)
i've got the response on irc channel
hotrod server part is not bundled with AS7 and won't be. So we have to manage an infinispan cluster outside of AS7 to do that.
2. Re: AS7 hotrod serverSanne GRINOVERO Apr 11, 2012 5:21 AM (in response to wiktorowski maximilien)
Right, or use JDG (JBoss Data Grid), which is a similar product to the application server, specifically meant to work as a grid node with Hot Rod (and not used as an application server). AS7 uses Infinispan, but it's meant to be used for it's internal services such as session failover, Hibernate second level cache.
You're of course free to include Hot Rod in your applications directly and deploy it on AS7.


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Who will win the Most Obnoxious Team medal?
Tonight is an exciting night for all dedicated MKR fans, as Jake and Elle attempt to answer the question we've all been asking: can anyone be more obnoxious than Jessie and Biswa?
We begin, as usual, with the opening titles, in which our contestants are shown in happier times, before the reality TV abattoir slaughtered their spirits. We then move on to a boat, where Jake is shouting in a completely spontaneous and unscripted manner at Elle, who is making eggs, which they will eat on the boat while engaging in even more natural, relaxed, non-rehearsed knockabout banter. Jake reminds us that when he comes to food, he "knows it all", and says "nail it" five times in a row, just in case we were in any doubt as to his utter loathsomeness.
After the totally improvised boat breakfast, it's off to the shops, and a timely reminder that Coles is where you can find all your My Kitchen Rules needs. We cut briefly to Jessie and Biswa, who declare they will mark Jake and Elle down for even the slightest mistake, which is quite brazen for a couple of women who last night served a dessert that in a more punitive society would have been classified as attempted murder.
Anyway, Jake and Elle are arguing in the butcher's, because they're brother and sister, and brothers and sisters do argue a lot, don't they? My stars yes! Cut to Manu, who is disappointed that Jake and Elle are serving a T-bone steak, because he depends on a finely-maintained veneer of snobbery in order to keep up this "Frenchman" act.
Jake and Elle's pop-up restaurant is called "Costa del Sol", which Elle explains is Spanish for "Coast by the sunshine"; she is indeed a cosmopolitan young thing. Having set up the restaurant and had another adorable sibling fight, they have to begin cooking. Elle begins by making basil-flavoured ice cream, indicating that she has already gone completely insane. Manu thinks it's "cool" that they are going to serve this revolting idea, indicating that he, too, has succumbed to kitchen madness. Tonight could end in tragedy.
Jake begins throwing together some vegetables and beef stock and wine and basically proving yet again that the most boring part of any episode of MKR is the bit where people cook. While making the jus, he notices that Elle's ice cream has turned into scrambled eggs. Overlooking the obvious fact that basil-infused scrambled eggs are vastly preferable to basil-infused ice cream, she tips it out and starts again. Meanwhile, Jake is preparing the rabbits which he caught and killed with his bare hands earlier that day, but being a born multi-tasker, he still finds time to hurl a bitchy remark at his sister about her ice cream. An argument ensues about hot saucepans, but it turns out everything is fine apart from the massive fire which they have just ignited in their kitchen. "Oh my god, we need a fire extinguisher!" shrieks Elle, apparently hoping that one will drop from the sky.
After a reminder of how this exercise in culinary excellence is supported by both Coles AND McDonald's, it's back to the kitchen, which is going up in smoke. "It was like a fireball," Elle notes, clearly suspecting this to be retaliation from Masterchef. The fire, however, is quickly put out, and it's time once again for Elle to scramble her ice cream. Thankfully, Jake saves it with his mighty wrist, and everyone can relax as the rabbit bubbles away, the custard churns, and Jake lovingly stares at his own reflection in the saucepans.
Now it's time to make ravioli, which is, against all odds, less interesting than it sounds. An attempt to mince the rabbit ends in the revelation that the mincer's not working, which leads to the revelation that Jake didn't put the blade on the mincer, which leads to the revelation that Jake is an idiot.
And now it's time for the guests! "They've talked a big game," says Josh with all the verve and animation of a mahogany table, while Jessie and Biswa express the hope that Jake and Elle do as badly as they did, which is optimism verging on fantasy. All the guests arrive at Jake and Elle's house, which is a signal for a cutaway where Jessie and Biswa say that Jake looks pale and then undergo some kind of simultaneous full-body muscle spasm. Jake and Elle tell everyone their restaurant is called "Costa del Sol", whereupon Jessie and Biswa express disgust that there is no sun. Immediately five points are deducted for a failure to control the weather.
Back in the kitchen, Jake has stuffed up the pasta. "We do pasta so often it's not funny," says Elle, and to be fair she is correct. The siblings continue to abuse each other, which continues to be oh so cute, but oh no! Who's that at the door? It's Manu the "Frenchman", and Pete "the Grinning Skull" Evans. This means another chance for Jake and Elle to explain the name of their restaurant, which they've now apparently decided is some kind of perverted Italian-Spanish hybrid.
Jake and Elle inform the diners of their menu, triggering looks of disgust around the table – nothing is a bigger turn-off for sophisticated society gourmets like this bunch than a T-bone (spit) steak. Jake asks if anyone wants their steak done a particular way, and everyone acts like a teacher just asked "any questions", looking at their shoes and sullenly ignoring him. And so it's into the kitchen for some pasta-making and light bitching at each other.
But at the table tensions rise as Jessie goes into excruciating detail about the kind of food she doesn't like, laying out exactly what Jake and Elle would need to do to satisfy her. The other guests, understandably, find this a bit rich from someone who so recently was collapsing in a torrent of tears over her failure to reach the standards of the food zookeepers put inside logs for chimpanzees to dig out. Nevertheless, Jessie and Biswa are determined to hold Jake and Elle to the stratospheric standards that they themselves depend on not being held to, and so Jake and Elle could be in trouble, as they may tonight utterly fail to take out the coveted Most Obnoxious Team medal for this series.
Back in the kitchen Jake is pouring cream into a frypan and honestly who cares. Something about truffle flavours, he asks Elle if he can do sauce, Elle says he can, Elle tells Jake not to be cocky, which makes us all suspicious that they are actually related – if they knew each other surely she'd have given up telling him not be cocky years ago.
Then some more stuff happens, but I've just noticed Jake is wearing a red bowtie, and I'm finding it hard to take anything else in.
It's time to serve the entrée, and they've already topped Jessie and Biswa by not issuing a notification that delivery of the entrée will take 6-8 weeks. The rabbit and pancetta ravioli comes out, and Jessie and Biswa immediately crow over the fact that they can't find the truffle. Pete thought it was lovely, but likewise wants to know where the truffle is. Turns out Jake's attempts at infusing the dish with truffles has failed miserably. Manu is disappointed that he couldn't taste the rabbit, but really that might be his own personal sinus problem, it's harsh to judge the cooks for that.
Back in the kitchen Jake demands a slightly creepy hug, and Elle describes the entrée as a "pretty incredible effort", which it was, in the sense that Jessie and Biswa's dessert was "edible". And speaking of Jessie and Biswa, they immediately begin complaining about the need to chew the pasta, a physical effort they are simply not used to. The other guests are also furious at the doughiness of the ravioli, except for Stefano, who being both Italian and not an uncultured savage, knows what "al dente" means.
And so it's on to the steaks, as the Costa del Sol turns into the Ettamogah pub. Josh is dubious about the possibility of twelve steaks all being cooked properly, while Biswa has never eaten a T-bone before – steak is probably one of the foods the spice girls don't like, along with capsicum and tomato and chocolate and vegetables and bread and bacon and honey and rice bubbles and milk and water and sugar and porridge and fish and chicken and lamb and pork and turkey and quail. Jessie and Biswa get yet another cutaway, in which they turn their thumbs down and go "BA-BOW!"
And while the audience is violently assaulting their TV screens, it's time for an ad break.
In the kitchen, Elle instructs Jake not to overcook the steaks, which is lucky, as he was, up to then, planning to burn them to ashes and sprinkle them over the guests' heads. Elle is worried that they are serving pub food. Jake reacts angrily with a lengthy rant in which he seems to be expressing his desire to take over the world through his mighty T-bones.
The steaks are served, and Mick reacts with shock at the size of the steak. Bloody Mick just can't make up his mind: he complains if the food's too small, he complains if the food's too big, he complains if it's 3am before the food arrives. Stop being so damn picky!
The spice girls giggle over the ludicrous idiocy of serving "pub food", but hey, at least pubs actually serve food, unlike certain people I could mention.
Pete looks at Jake and Elle and demands, "Where's the love?" which is, by any objective standard, a real wanker of a question to ask. Apparently his steak is medium, not medium rare, which is exactly the kind of pettifogging you'd expect from Captain Alkalised Water. A quick cutaway to Jessie and Biswa making weird moose noises, and back to Manu bitching about the T-bone. Jake wanted to try something a bit different, but Manu advises him to put his ego aside. Hey Manu, take the beam out of your own eye before addressing the speck in Jake's!
Biswa finds the steak "really chewy", which is an issue for her as she prefers all her food liquefied and delivered through a catheter directly into her stomach. Lisa complains that it's "meat and three veg, pub style", which seems to be the consensus, but I have no idea when we as a nation decided that pubs were so awful.
In the kitchen it's time to make dessert, and Elle quickly shows she isn't just an ice-cream scrambler, she also has a natural gift for crystallising toffee. Once again, a contestant is tripped up by their own unshakeable belief in their ability to do something they have never actually learnt to do.
"Does that look funny to you?" asks Elle. Jake is distinctly unamused, but somehow, through the power of prayer, the toffee seems to be actually turning into toffee. But back out in the kitchen, there is doubt over the concept of basil ice cream. Kerrie has never had basil ice cream, and her philosophy is, anything that she hasn't had before is terrible. Mick doesn't think ice cream should have basil in it, because he is not a maniac, and Jessie and Biswa continue to babble like drunken chipmunks as only those who enjoy having car batteries connected to their nipples continue to listen to what they have to say.
Out come the desserts, and Mick suddenly declares "I think it's awesome", revealing himself to be a class traitor.
"I'm frustrated," says Pete, as if anyone's interested in his personal life. He says he came hoping for three beautiful dishes, but only got two. Yet somehow he's still complaining. You know, maybe some people should just be grateful they're getting a free meal, you know? Some people have to PAY for dinner.
However, the important thing is that the dessert meets with the judges' approval, and that Jessie and Biswa look suicidal. Craig says he enjoys the basil ice cream, as does Matt. I refuse to believe either of them. Jessie doesn't like the basil ice cream, or the presentation, or the angle of the roof of the house, or the wood the table was made from, or the movement of the air, or the colour of the ocean. "She doesn't like anything," says Kerrie, a woman of great perception.
It's time for the scoring. Most teams give Jake and Elle a five, because of the main and because they don't know how pasta is supposed to be served. But Jessie and Biswa give them a ONE, for reasons that rhyme with "butter glitches".
We suddenly see Jake and Elle drinking champagne in daylight, as MKR starts pulling some chronological shenanigans. Back in the present, Jake and Elle are informed they scored 21 out of 50 from their fellow contestants, which they are a little miffed about, perhaps having yet to understand just how hard the producers have worked to select only the most appalling Australians for this show.
It quickly becomes apparent that they need not worry about a sub-spice performance, however, as both judges give them an eight for their entree. Jessie and Biswa are shocked, as they had naturally assumed that the judges would be as vindictive and tasteless as they themselves are.
The main, of course, was a let-down, and they get only fives, Jake losing points for his barefaced lie that the steak would be medium-rare. Dishonesty never prospers, Jake. Jessie and Biswa are shocked, because … I don't know, just because they're genetically programmed to never shut up I guess.
And then it's nines for the dessert, which was apparently delicious. Jessie rolls her eyes, unable to believe that a dessert made entirely of food, which is her least favourite thing to eat, could score so high. "I feel so bad," she says. It's OK Jessie, that's just because you ARE so bad. Both Jessie and Biswa are stunned to discover that another team could possibly have done better than the nightmarish livestock truck pile-up they served, and they leave in tears, hoping against hope that things go horribly wrong for Lisa and Stefano, an attitude one suspects they carry with them in all areas of life.
Jake and Elle are a little disappointed at their score of 65, but they can comfort themselves that they only lost points through a combination of vindictive opponents and pathological lying.
And so we look forward to tomorrow night, when we find out whether Lisa and Stefano can provide a magnificent meal, or whether Stefano will take advantage of Lisa's distraction to escape his confinement and flee back to Italy, to tell his family about the crazed foodie who kidnapped him. Anything could happen, but one thing is for certain: if Jessie and Biswa aren't eliminated I'm going out to buy a dog to kick.


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lemontree needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 114 designs submitted by 35 freelance designers.
Logo for training, research, and management consulting company. Logo should be scalable for use on letterheads, business cards,websites and other media
TRC International
Desired Color Scheme:
Desired Style:
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png); Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
TRC International provides management training, research and consulting services. TRC works closely with senior management of startups and SMEs to identify and deliver high value training and advice. The logo should be consistent with TRC's reputation for expertise and innovative solutions.Â
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Captain's Report
The outdoor types at Yamaha, in an ongoing effort to respond to the market, have embraced the idea of a family wakeboard boat. They already had a good, versatile family boat in their 232 series. What they've done now is to add a forward-swept aluminum tower to the 232 Limited, add a couple of other little extras, and call it the 232 Limited S. Now, this boat isn't going to be used as a tow boat for the next wakeboard competition; there aren't any ballast tanks or trim tabs to enhance the 232's wake. The intention here is to provide an elevated towing point without compromising what impresses me as a pretty nice family bowrider. I don't think that Yamaha's boats get the attention they deserve. They're quality craft, loaded with features and value. The early two-stroke jet-drive boats created a certain impression which has yet to be shaken, and as a result the inherent advantages in the waterjet propulsion system are still somewhat unknown. Consequently, potential buyers don't often compare these boats to I/O runabouts and bowriders in this size range. That's shortsighted, as I see it, and anyone who is in the market who doesn't give these boats a look is making a mistake. Therefore, let's take a closer look, specifically, at the 232 Limited S. The BoatFirst of all, this boat is a complete package minus stuff like fenders and boathooks; Yamaha leaves the "Coast Guard Package" for the dealer to provide. What Yamaha does include, among the long list of standard features, is equipment like twin engines and a swim platform. Those are frequently unavailable, even as an option, on a boat of this size.The 232 Limited S is built on Yamaha's 23 foot hull. The "Yacht Blue" color is a classic, and the "S" package sports a pair of built-in docking lights. It's got an 8'6" beam, a 20 degree deadrise, and the draft is only 16", less when on plane. That's great news for those who like to anchor off of their favorite beach. In addition, the internal water-jet propulsion system means that there are no exposed propellers. Carefully consider that last statement when you think about wakeboards, tubing, and other water sports. As the father of three active boys, it's what I call peace of mind. A family outing usually means a crowd. The 232 Limited S offers really comfortable seating for ten on some nicely finished upholstery. The bow seats offer room to stretch out or sit comfortably, either underway or at anchor. In the main cockpit area, you can gather around a removable dinette table. There's lots of storage underneath the seats, so you can bring everything you need for a day out on the water and it won't be lying around the deck. There are stainless handrails in handy places, as well as stainless cup holders. For the skipper, they've installed a captain's chair with an adjustable bolster. Frankly, I'm not in love with this chair. It's functional, but it just doesn't measure up to the thought put into the rest of the boat. Granted, I'm an old school, stand-up-to-steer-a-boat kind of guy, so I've got issues with most of the helm seats on boats this size. This one looks like it never made it out of the prototype stage, and it doesn't spin around completely. Eventually the lower corners of the upholstery will wear through where it hits on the bottom. I'd love to see this one little issue resolved. On the console, the instrument layout is efficient and logical; dual tachs on either side of a speedometer, with a compass, a depth finder, and a row of rocker switches. It's all standard, so nothing looks like an after thought. Since you need to have a soundtrack for your boating adventures, Yamaha has included a Sony stereo with CD player, Sirius, and an MP3 input. On the 232 Limited S, the sound system is enhanced by the addition of integral speakers in the tower.Speaking of the wakeboard tower, it's an attractive, well-made aluminum affair with LED cockpit lighting built right in. Other creature comforts are much appreciated, such as the bimini top, a cockpit table, and a nicely finished head compartment. Don't look for a factory installed toilet, though. Yamaha has left it up to the dealer to include that as an aftermarket option.The finish work on the entire boat is excellent. The quality is consistent throughout with classy little details like the wood-grain dash, the snap-in Berber carpeting, the finished head compartment and the color-matched gel coat in the engine compartment. In fact, Yamaha's fine execution of the 232 Limited S will force you take a second look at the price tag.The Stern Lounge Area - One of My FavoritesThe best part of this boat, for my money, is the swim platform or "stern lounge area." It's the center of activity on the 232 Limited S when you're anchored at your favorite beach or cove, and rightly so. The deck surfaces are covered in what they call Hydro-Turf mats, and backrest cushions are integrated in the design. There's a mount for the cockpit table, so you can enjoy refreshments at the water's edge. A freshwater shower and a remote for the stereo complete the details, and the platform lifts to provide storage underneath. Whether you're anchored or underway, the design offers a smooth transition between being in the water and being in the cockpit.Our TestI ran the 232 Limited S on a large Georgia lake. Although time didn't allow us to tow a wakeboard, in terms of performance data I was impressed by what I saw. As I've already said, this boat isn't a specialized, competition-oriented wakeboard boat, but I have no doubt that it's suitable for all but the most hardcore riders. We rocketed up out of the hole in 3.4 seconds, and reached 30 mph in 5.6 seconds. Our top speed was 48.5 mph, and we figured that we could cruise at 7000 rpm for about 156 miles at just under 25 mph on a full tank of gas. Versatility and ValueThe 232 Limited S is attractive, functional, and durable. At an MSRP of $43,199, this boat is certainly a good value. It will serve your whole family well for a long, active day on the water. When the day ends, this is a classy ride for an evening harbor cruise. If you're interested in a well-finished, versatile boat for your active family that comes complete with everything but lunch and the cold drinks, take a look at the 232 Limited S from Yamaha.
Test Result Highlights
- Top speed for the Yamaha 232 Limited S (2009-) is 48.5 mph (78.1 kph), burning 21.2 gallons per hour (gph) or 80.24 liters per hour (lph).
- Best cruise for the Yamaha 232 Limited S (2009-) is 24.9 mph (40.1 kph), and the boat gets 3.46 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.47 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 156 miles (251.06 kilometers).
- Tested power is 1 x Yamaha 1052cc Yamaha HO.
Standard and Optional Features
|CD Stereo
|Shore Power
Exterior Features
|Carpet: Cockpit
|Swim Ladder
|Swim Platform
|Tower: Watersports
|Transom Shower
|Bimini Top
Hull Warranty
1 year limited, 5 year hull
(It's quick and FREE!)


text: That's a 2-by-4 sticking through the windshield. YouTube.com/WendyCobb hide caption toggle caption YouTube.com/WendyCobb The Two-Way 'Scariest Car Crash Ever Caught On Video' April 5, 2011 The driver was not hurt. She's lucky, because a piece of lumber came flying into her windshield. And it was all recorded by her camera phone.


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|Defensive Backs Coach
|10th Season
|First Season:
|Alma Mater:
|Southern Connecticut State '72
Greg Toop is entering his 10th season as an assistant coach at USMMA in 2018. Prior to joining the Academy, he spent four years as the running backs coach at Stony Brook University. During his four years at Stony Brook, he twice produced a pair of 1,000 yard rushers. He also coached the school's all-time leading rusher as well as the College Sporting News and Big South Freshman of the Year.
In addition to his experience at the collegiate level, Toop brings 33 years of high-school experience to the Mariners. He served on the staff at Half Hollow Hills East High School for 18 seasons. Toop also has made stops at St. Anthony's (Head Coach), Centereach (Head Coach), Holy Family (Assistant), Half Hollow Hills (Assistant), Chaminade (Assistant), and Newfield (Assistant).
In his collegiate career Toop played at Southern Connecticut State University as the squad's strong safety as well as long and short snapper.
Off the field, Toop is a retired elementary Physical Education teacher from the Half Hollow Hills C.S.D. and also served as a high school dean of students.
Brother of Head Coach, Mike Toop, Greg and his wife, Jean, reside in Smithtown, NY with their two daughters, Jessica and Kathryn.


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Danny Hultzen
LHP / Virginia
Bats-Throws: L-L
Height/Weight: 6-3/200
Hometown: Bethesda, Md.
Previously Drafted: Diamondbacks '08 (10)
Birthdate: Sept. 8, 1990.
SCOUTING PROFILE: Hultzen rejected a reported seven-figure signing bonus in 2008 out of a Washington, D.C., prep school, and has consistently been one of the best all-around players in his college class in three years at Virginia. He went a combined 20-2, 2.50 on the mound as a freshman and sophomore, earning Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher-of-the-year honors in 2010, while also seeing extensive time at first base or in a DH role. But it wasn't until this spring that Hultzen truly stamped himself as an elite prospect. He significantly enhanced his draft worth—from projected late first-round pick in the fall to early first-round pick—by jumping his fastball velocity consistently 3-4 mph into the mid-90s, while also improving the command of both his secondary pitches, a slider and changeup. In the process, Hultzen has made himself a legitimate candidate for national college player of the year. He has been a force for No. 1-ranked Virginia both on the mound (8-1, 1.31, 69 IP/11 BB/104 SO) and at the plate (.321-1-26, mostly as a DH). Though he has pro potential on both sides of the ball, scouts see Hultzen as a pitcher only. He is extremely polished and has exquisite command of all his pitches. He may have the most-advanced sense of pitchability of any arm in the college ranks, and would probably rank as an early favorite to reach the big leagues first from the draft class of 2011—and could well be there later this summer if he signs expeditiously. Hultzen breezed through his first eight decisions this spring, before being uncustomarily roughed up for six runs in the sixth inning in his most recent outing against North Carolina State, while suffering his first setback of 2011. Though Hultzen was not at his best against the Wolfpack, his fastball sat at 92-93 mph early on with good life. Earlier this season in a shutdown game against Georgia Tech, Hultzen peaked at 96. His 80-82 mph changeup has been a dominant pitch throughout the spring as he does an excellent job of maintaining arm speed throughout his delivery. He also showed his fierce competitiveness against N.C. State by battling out of several jams. For all the improvement that Hultzen has shown from his sophomore to his junior year, it doesn't compare to the improvement he demonstrated between his junior and senior seasons at St. Albans High. Prior to posting a tidy 11-0, 0.82 record with 13 walks and 127 strikeouts in 66 innings as a prep senior, Hultzen was a soft-tossing lefty with good pitchability but unknown to even area scouts. Hultzen has a masterful sense of timing, however, and just like he added significant velocity (up to 10 mph) heading into his draft year out of high school, he has made another quantum leap heading into his draft year at Virginia. Almost overnight, he has blossomed again into one of the best lefthanded pitching prospects in the country--only this time the stakes for his services are much higher than they were three years ago.
Projected Draft Position: First round / top 5 picks.
Perfect Game Events Attended
2005 WWBA 15U National Championship
2005 WWBA 16U National Championship
2006 WWBA 18U/06 Grad. National Championship
2007 WWBA 2007 Grads or 18u National Championship
2007 WWBA 2008 Grads or 17u National Championship
2007 WWBA World Championship


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It's been more of a challenge to tell the local story of General George S. Patton than I had previously thought. I think it would be easier if I had one of those enormous war room strategy maps to plot out the Patton family history. Sometimes I have trouble keeping all the characters straight. It doesn't help that some of the history books hold contradictory information.
I started my original questioning with a trip to the San Gabriel Cemetery.
I'm not intending to add much color to the General's illustrious life, at least in terms of his military career. A general call "Old Blood and Guts"–a nickname he hated but his men loved, is a biographer's dream. There is much written. Known for his explosive temper and shall-we-say colorful language, he was a leader for which myths and truth have mingled and persisted despite his death 67 years ago.
But there was a reason I decided to finally read a personal history of the Patton family. General Patton and his wife are buried in Luxembourg, but his grandparents, parents, sister and a few other family members I haven't yet researched are buried half a mile from my home. When growing up I had always heard that Patton was born in neighboring Alhambra. In recent years, the city of San Marino has claimed him as their native son.
I assumed a kernel of truth was contained in each story.
Let's start with the name.
The first George Smith Patton, the General's grandfather, was a colonel in the Confederate States Army, killed at the Battle of Opequon. His son, born George William Patton, changed his name to George Smith Patton in honor of his father. Though given the name Junior, General George S. Patton was actually the third George Smith Patton.
But to get down to where was Patton born? My research says San Gabriel can claim him! Sort of…
Some of the records indicate he was born in "San Gabriel Township." That term caught my interest. I've never heard that before.
Patton's maternal grandparents were Benjamin Davis Wilson and his second wife Margaret Hereford. The Wilson name is very well-known in Southern California.
Benjamin Davis Wilson was a California statesman and politician. In 1851, Wilson was the second elected mayor of Los Angeles after California was made a state. Wilson's name cropped up when I was studying early Los Angeles and the Water Wars, but I hadn't yet made the connection to Patton.
There are many stories which describe Wilson as another very colorful and adventure-seeking man. He was also known for his kind treatment of the Spanish Native Americans. Don Benito, as he was called, became the first non-Hispanic owner of what was then Rancho San Pascual, which includes today's towns of Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena, Alhambra, San Marino, and San Gabriel.
You'll have to take it from me that this was a very large Rancho.
I mentioned the Wilson name has a strong recognition factor. Yes, indeed! Mount Wilson, a notable peak in the San Gabriel Mountains is where the majority of television and radio transmission towers for the greater Los Angeles area stands as a monument to the man who took the first white man's expedition to the peak hoping to harvest timber for making wine vats. The wood was of inferior quality for that purpose, but the Wilson Trail remains one of the most popular hikes to the crest of the San Gabriel Mountains.
I wonder how many Southern Californian's know that Mount Wilson was named after General George Patton's grandfather?
I couldn't help but notice a clear view of Mount Wilson taken from the foot of the Wilson/Patton burial plot. The large marble obelisk measures almost 25 feet in height and is inscribed with the Wilson name. Looking north from that spot the television and radio transmission towers are easily visible.
Wilson did live out his days in what is present-day San Gabriel and after that, understanding the property divisions gets complicated. I think it's safe to say that each of the cities has a reasonable claim on some portion of the Patton family history.
Next to the cemetery, on what was once Wilson land, is one of the prettiest little churches in the area, the Episcopal Church of Our Savior. The General's family were long time members and benefactors of the church, first built in 1867 with adobe and hand-made nails. It is told that Patton was baptized in this parish.
A beautiful bronze statue of General George S. Patton stands with his side arm in a dedicated space between the cemetery and the church.
But like I said, other cities claim him, too. So next post I'll share another San Marino bronze and perhaps get a little deeper into the local history. There's the arroyo which passes under the Rose Bowl and was once called Wilson's Ditch, bringing water to the valley long before Mulholland and the infamous aqueduct, and I think I've figured out where the Patton family home was, right around the corner from the Huntington Library.
Wish me luck. You know I can get in trouble with my camera and private property.
Stay tuned…


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The Washington Redskins are changing kickers ... again.
The Baltimore Sun reported that the Redskins will cut Billy Cundiff and sign former UCLA kicker Kai Forbath on Tuesday. The Redskins later confirmed the moves.
The Redskins have now employed 19 kickers since 1994, according to The Washington Post. That's 46 percent more than any other NFL team.
Cundiff was cut after going 2-for-6 in the last two weeks, including a pair of misses from 31 yards out. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan opted to stick with Cundiff after his Week 4 struggles, but the Redskins decided to search for replacements when Cundiff's struggles continued.
Forbath had a workout on Tuesday along with Olindo Mare and Josh Brown. Forbath has had short stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
NFL kickers are known to have nine lives, though some teams could be scared off by how Cundiff's struggles carried over from his infamous miss for the Baltimore Ravens in January's AFC Championship Game.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.


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Decision : CONF 003 XI
Extension and Change of Name: Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves - Extension of the Australian East Coast Temperate & Subtropical Rainforest Park (Australia)
Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves (Australia) (extension of the Australian East Coast Temperate & Subtropical Rainforest Park)
N(i) (ii) (iv)
The Committee inscribed the extension proposed to this site by the Australian authorities, noting that the extension increased the size of the World Heritage site by 35%. The committee commended the Australian Government for acting on the recommendation of the Committee made in 1986 and agreeing to adopt the name "Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves (Australia)" for the enlarged property. The Committee requested the Australian authorities to complete the management plans of individual sites, particularly those within Queensland.
DocumentsDecisions Report
Decision Code: CONF 003 XI
Themes: Inscriptions on the World Heritage List
States Parties (1): Australia
Properties (1): Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
Year: 1994


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Thank you for visiting today. If this is your first visit, take your time and look around. I have plenty of information and resources available to you. If you are a return visitor, thank you. I would love to hear from you and tell you how I can serve all your real estate needs.
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Friday, February 01, 2013
What can we do to put a stop to global warming?
U.S. total energy-related carbon emissions are down 13% since 2007. That's huge. Although the U.S. refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, we managed about 70% of the emissions reductions mandated by that treaty (which is much better than most of the actual signatories!).
Renewable energy now provides 12.1% of U.S. energy. That is big.
Energy demand has fallen 6.4% since 2007, even though GDP is slightly higher. Hence, energy efficiency is responsible for the reduction in demand. That is good.
Gas is replacing coal. That is good, provided that wellhead methane emissions are not making up the difference.
Bottom line: If the U.S. were the world, the fight against global warming would be going well.
OK, now for the bad news: The U.S. is not the world. Global warming is global. The only thing that matters for the world is global emissions. And global emissions are still going up, thanks to strong increases in emissions in the developing world, notably China.
Figures released this week show skyrocketing Chinese coal use. China now burns almost as much coal as the rest of the world combined:
Meanwhile, Indian coal use is also increasing strongly.
If China and the other developing nations cook the world, the world is cooked, no matter what America or any other country does. China et al. can probably cook the world without our help, because global warming has "threshold effects" (tipping points), and because carbon stays in the air for thousands of years.
Bottom line: We will only save the planet if China (and other developing countries) stop burning so much coal. Any policy action we take to avert global warming will be ineffective unless it accomplishes this task.
What will accomplish this task? What can we do to influence the behavior of China? One thing that might help, on the margin, is to tax the carbon content of imports into the U.S. A second thing would be to tax U.S. exports of coal and other fuels.
But these measures - or any carbon-taxing measures taken only by rich countries - will have limited effects, due to the large size of the developing-world economy, which is set to pass the developed world in size very soon. What else can we do to slow developing-world emissions?
As I see it, there is only one thing we can do: develop renewable technologies that are substantially cheaper than coal, and give these technologies to the developing countries. China in particular is not a very globally responsible country; it will continue to pursue growth, economic size, and geopolitical power at any cost, and that means using the cheapest energy source available. The only way China will stop using coal is if it becomes un-economical to continue using coal.
Thus, the rich world should focus its efforts and money on developing renewable energy cheaper than coal. This mainly means solar; it also means better energy storage and transmission technologies. We should give these technologies away to China and other countries for free; the economic hit we take from doing so will help ease developing-country resentment over the fact that the U.S., Europe, Japan and others got rich by burning fossil fuels in the past.
Developing cheap renewable energy technologies requires research funding from the government. A carbon tax would also help, since it provides a subsidy for private firms to develop their own in-house technologies. However, it will not be possible to give privately owned technologies to China; for these to be rapidly adopted in China in time to save the world, we must rely on natural technology diffusion, or on Chinese espionage.
So, government research is the most important component. We need to increase government funding for solar, for energy storage, and for electricity transmission tech. And then we need to give the fruits of our research for free to the entire world, before it's too late.
40 comments:
There's what we should do and what we can do given our historically shameful and anti-science -- anti-thinking -- Republican Party.ReplyDelete
Nuclear is a next best solution, at least as a primary solution, but the Republicans in the house may allow to pass major expansions of nuclear power and increases in research to make it cheaper and safer. Realistically speaking, it may be one of the biggest things that's accomplishable right now with a Republican house
But a really interesting thing is, at the individual level how can you do the most against global warming, and the answer may easily be to contribute money to the Democratic Party and candidates. Millions in contributions can means billions in spending, even trillions over years, and major legislation. Imagine if Gore had even a few million extra for advertising in Florida.Replies
Except, of course, for executive and agency orders. I don't know a lot about these, but I do know they can be very strong and force private businesses to spend a lot on clean technology research to meet them.Delete
Richard, you seem confused.Delete
"With regard to nuclear power, the Pew survey found 70 percent of scientists in favor of building more nuclear power plants. For their part, 62 percent of Republicans favored more nuclear power plants, compared to 45 percent of Democrats."
You want either nuclear, or democratic voting. THey achieve opposite goals.
- Wonks Anonymous12:10 PM
Is there good research on the effectiveness of campaign donations? Because the abject failure of self-funded candidates and the arms-race responses they inspire on the part of opponents makes me think that's not a good avenue.Delete
- Anonymous1:47 AM
Yes, lets negotiate with a small corrupt clique who have taken hostage the entire world for the sake of keeping their families in power and porches and Vancouver mansions they'be grown accustomed to thanks to Nixon's treasonous acts in the 70s.ReplyDelete
One of the main barriers to renewables is the distribution grid/power generator relationship, which is still tangled in the results of deregulation. The sad thing is that all of the problems induced by deregulation were forecast by scientists and engineers before they happened. See 'CCA's, Coal and Nukes' at http://somewhatlogically.com/?p=57 (written back in 2008) which also contains links to the excellent AIP magazine article "What's Wrong With the Electric Grid" by Alan Lerner.ReplyDelete
All the problems noted by Lerner are still with us, with the result that US is losing its position in the high voltage transmission market to companies like ABB, whose HVDC systems are already in use world wide.
See http://preview.tinyurl.com/a4zz6kv for a paper describing the use of a 952km HVDC link to stabilize 2 weak AC grids in Africa.
As far as solar and renewables, many of the barriers noted in this 2000 NREL article still exist. http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy00osti/28053.pdf
Until there is regulatory and business practice reform, it's going to be a tough path to your view of a solar future.
I can speak from some experience in this matter, having been involved in a couple of large home and office systems connected to our local utility, as well as extensive work on large scale wind turbines. I have a home which is off the grid, and the system has been functioning for 10 years with better power quality than the local rural utility, built at a fraction of the expense of paying for the power lines to connect to them, the cost of which would have been built into my bill for years to come.
Combined with my own water supply, and waste disposal systems, my energy costs are only a small set-aside for battery replacement and routine maintenance. It's an interesting exercise, for one approaching retirement, to figure out just how much savings one needs to earn sufficient funds to pay ever increasing utility bills in metropolitan areas.
- Anonymous2:11 AM
US has one of the highest carbon emissions per capita in the world. If the rest of the world was more like the US, total carbon emissions would be three times higher.ReplyDelete
It is also worth keeping in mind that the reduction of emissions seen in the US is largely due to the economic crisis. When the economy recovers, emissions will increase.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/datablog/2012/jun/21/world-carbon-emissions-league-table-country
Actually no, it would be (much) worse because it takes a lot (almost 50%) more energy in China to increase GDP 1 per cent than to increase GDP 1% in the USA. Their development is energy inefficient.Delete
Also you seem to have not understood the point that, while GDP has grown since 2007, energy use has declined. (USA)
But the developing world is hugely export dependent. I think it would be better to phase in steep carbon tariffs.ReplyDelete
You are suggesting taxpayer funded research, the results of which we'll give to China. But it is never so simple as a few widgets that they can plug into their economy and then poof, green China. Their infrastructure, cities, factories, etc is inefficient and they build that way (still, and it's only getting worse) because of their incentives. To change their incentives, carbon tariffs are essential.
- Aziz2:30 AM
Technological rather than legal solutions. The legal restrictive frameworks continue to do nothing. We need to deal with this in a way that doesn't require the agreement of a consensus governments and corporations, just those that care.ReplyDelete
One big step forward would be carbon scrubbers that can remove atmospheric CO2, and put out something valuable like material for a 3D printer.
"Energy demand has fallen 6.4% since 2007, even though GDP is slightly higher. Hence, energy efficiency is responsible for the reduction in demand. That is good."ReplyDelete
Allright, but we should keep in mind that endogenous energy efficiency (chosen to reduce energy demand in response to or in expectation of higher prices) has different effects than exogenous energy efficiency increases that may actually raise energy consumption (-> Jevon's Paradox).
"Gas is replacing coal. That is good, provided that wellhead methane emissions are not making up the difference."
A problem is that gas substituting coal in the US partly leads to higher coal exports and depresses coal prices in europe.
"Bottom line: If the U.S. were the world, the fight against global warming would be going well."
If the US were the world, we would not need to talk about climate policy, as the CO2 concentration would already have been much higher decades ago. It is cherry picking to talk about recent changes only and ignore the levels. Also, we cannot rely on massive natural gas discoveries under every country in the world.
The US leans heavily on China and India over any number of issues (Iran, pharmaceuticals, IP for starters - you can add to the list) with some effect.ReplyDelete
If it took this issue seriously, it would and could exert very heavy pressure to minimise coal use - financial sanctions, trade costs, technology transfers and embargoes. If it acted in concert with the EU, it is likely that both China and India would rapidly improve their emmissions record.
Noah has loaded the question by taking most of options off the table at the start.Replies
Are you serious?? What if we instead impose a transfer mechanism from those countries with above-average per-capita greenhouse gas emissions to those below average?Delete
Are you serious?Delete
You need to address the problem where it exists. Address this, or we're doomed:
"China now burns more coal than the rest of the world combined."
If the USA really wanted to do something, it could. There are examples of best/better practice in other countries. Denmark, Germany, Spain, the EU as a whole. They're not ideal, but if the USA joins the fray in stead of being another roadblock .. it might help. One thing is clear: we don't necessarily need only more breakthrough research, but deployment is just as important. Germany has shown us that, by nearly single handedly pushing down the prices of wind and photovoltaics. And the quagmire of global climate negotiations proves that things could be better if the USA could stop blocking change, maybe even exert some of its influence in positive ways to change the amounts of coal being burnt. What about a more constructive way to work with the EU on reducing co2 from airlines?ReplyDelete
- nemi6:13 AM
I have not seen any numbers for the US, but in Europe the reductions in carbon emissions seem to have more to do with the outsourcing of energy intensive manufacturing. I.e. looking at the emissions caused as a result of the final demand for different goods, European emissions is way up - even if it is way down when you look at the amount that is emitted from that particular geographic area.ReplyDeleteReplies
- Mark2:30 PM
that's about what several accounts about the Kyoto states say - every mole (if not more) CO2 reduced domestically has been leaked. Here is one account:
There is a case to be made that this is partly a result of wrong policies, i.e. targeting renewables over enforcing an emission cap. There is a wide-spred illusion that one can avoid the problems of a carbon tax if one does something else, e.g. subsidise the implementation of renewables. This is not at all clear. It basically overlooks that a carbon tax, at least in a first-best policy setting, is itself first-best. Other solutions are therefore rather more expensive. As long as you do not burn fossiles until what Hotelling says forbids it, you are already doing mitigation policy. And absent a tax reflecting marginal damage costs of emissions, it's probably not optimal. Europe's has been very costly - even though this is not reflected in the official carbon price (i.e. the price of emission certificates):
And the more expensive you are, the more emission you will leak. So if one argues that a carbon tax would only lead to carbon leakage, one should at least suggest a demonstrably cheaper option, or clearly state why the first-best is not available as a matter of principle.
There is some fuss about how a carbon tax would distort markets and/or result in welfare loss. But this is mainly the laziness of people to look up what a Pigovian tax is, or to read an econ101 textbook, for that matter. There are more sophisticated arguments referring to the obviously not first-best (fiscal) policy setting, but this is not what you'll usually get.
So, not to go all Hayek, but it is astonishing how many people go around and just KNOW what to do. Arguments pertaining to solar costs remain hollow as long as implementation costs are not assumed as actual function. Solar won't help much, if a 5 percent penetration is super, but a 10 percent penetration prohibitively expensive (numbers freely invented). Why not reinvest all in nuclear fusion reactor? Or carbon capture? How do people know for so sure what the optimal solution ought to look like? Also, the effect on emissions should be considered: renewables that do nothing more than help to phase out nuclear (as in Germany) should be seen very critical. From an emission (and other) perspective phasing out nuclear doesn't even make sense in Japan, on the contrary:
As long as solar cannot shut down fossils it is not a very useful option - even if it is cost-competetive in a high-school sense of this notion. Or rather, it is useful if you only care about private costs and not about emissions; then, of course, replacing nuclear with solar plus some backup makes perfect sense. But that would be weird: after all, the fact that private costs for emissions do not reflect their social costs, is the one reason why we have this discussion.
For first-best policy options here is Tol's newest overview (working paper has been around for some time) - he retweeted Noah some days ago, so there:
- Anonymous8:35 AM
So we should aggressively move towards a technology (Solar) that:ReplyDelete
a) without storage, is hideously expensive (~3X coal or nuclear at best) and can, at best, displace a small fraction of our conventional power production or
b) with storage (which we don't begin to have an idea how to do), will solve the problem by making electricity too expensive for anyone to afford?
Brilliant. Just... brilliant.
How about, instead, a massive nuclear buildup. Which will leave us with excess nuclear build capacity to export. Nuclear plants *do* shutter coal plants, unlike solar and wind farms, which, history shows, don't. Witness the French, who did just this, and have a very clean grid: it is a proven strategy!
- dwb9:03 AM
all those solar panels and wind turbines are being made in China. hmmm.ReplyDelete
Fundamentally the kind of technology we need to invent is something that takes the suns irradiance and carbon dioxide and combines them in a way that removes it from the atmosphere. wait, its coming to me...
What is your opinion on feed- in -tariff programs as a method of encouraging this technological development?ReplyDelete
- Mark Jamison11:18 AM
Two countries you didn't mention: India and Russia. India's growth will have a tremendous impact. In Russia the permafrost is thawing in ways that promise a tremendous feedback loop. Apart from the fact that Russia is unlikely to participate in any global regimen, there may actually be some advantages to Russia from warming. It's likely, with the Russian mindset, that they would be highly uncooperative.ReplyDelete
Scary as it may seem it might be time to start looking at policies of adaptation including (and this is scary)geo-engineering.
The sad fact is that growth is occurring in places that aren't likely to be cooperative while our house will continue to be far from order as long as the Republican mindset remains the same.Replies
Okay, let's "look at" geo-engineering, while we implement carbon tariffs.Delete
Why the hands off attitude to carbon tariffs?
- Mark Jamison6:05 PM
Not hands off, simply realistic. Getting carbon tariffs in place in a meaningful way that isn't subject to manipulation or corruption is going to be a very heavy lift politically. Should we try? Yes, at this point we need to try pretty much anything and everything from carbon tariffs to, supporting renewables, to trying to modify growth patterns, to adaptation, to geo-engineering.Delete
Carbon tariffs are fine, maybe the money they generate can be directed towards investment in renewables but let's not kid ourselves. There will be problems with universal implementation - do you see the Republicans signing onto anything like that in the foreseeable future?. There will be problems with manipulation by corporate and national interests. By the time we sort that out and there's an effect regime we will have lost much of the battle due to feedback loops.
How do we get China and India to grow smarter? How do we get Russia to be anything close to an honest broker?
How do we prevent investment in renewables from crowding out necessary investments in adaptation? Here in North Carolina our wonderfully unenlightened legislature keeps rebuilding infrastructure in coastal areas and barriers islands that are pretty much doomed - stopping that and the inevitable push to compensate owners will suck up a good bit of capital. In North Carolina we need to move back from the coast but that's not practical for a place like New York city. There they need to make huge investments in adaptation because even if we got CO2 levels down we're still going to see a significant rise in sea level and we're still likely to have more weather events like Sandy.
When a significant part of the world is still in the doubters corner, marshaling the political will to get meaningful reductions is going to take more time than we have.
Geo-engineering comes with a whole bag of nightmarish outcomes but it may end up being a least worst choice until we can turn other things around. We better be thinking about it and other means of adaptation sooner rather than later.
Something else we (the US and Europe) can do: carbon sequestration. Yes, really.ReplyDelete
Something like $2 Trillion, spread over about 50 years, would have a meaningful impact. That's about 1.3% of 2050's gross world product, or over 50 years, 0.027 percent of each year's GDP on average.
Sceptical? So was I. The downsides: it means a *large* ramp-up in nuclear power. Anyway, this is worth a read:
The key paragraphs in the piece talk about reducing CO2 levels from a position of having stabilised them, but it's just a question of different rates. If more is being emitted, then more needs to be removed, which means more investment. The piece estimates $1T.
Hmm, let's see. Renewable energy technology is a non-rival, excludable good. Romer says the development of such goods depends on IP laws. How exactly is this "giving" approach supposed to work again?ReplyDelete
I think there are many different paths to development. China seems to have invested heavily in renewables while another country (say India) might rely on coal. Who can tell if one path is better for economic growth than the other. I assume China thinks its chosen path is both good for development and minimises the impact on the climate. Does that not meet the standard of global responsibility? I understand China does ask the US to transfer technology at a cheap price. Should a globally responsible US give this technology to China?ReplyDeleteReplies
- Mark4:48 PM
global warming is a global externality (d'oh), and we know that further emissions have a net negative impact. It is indeed possible, that some regions might not expect much damage from some further warming (i.e. above what we are already expecting), but that is at the cost of geographically and/or economically disadvantaged regions. This is why one usually applies equity weights in CBA analyses.
Note that CBA analyses usually work under the Hicks-Kaldor Criterion, so there is no reason to believe that we do not already throw some countries under the bus under an optimal abatement scenario. Also note there are already rather bleak outlooks for countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the SRES scenarios of the IPCC - and that those scenarios work under the assumption that the Solow growth model applies, even though we know that it has not been true for countries of sub-Sahara Africa (i.e. no convergence has been observed). They are used for convenience, better models are scarce.
That is to say, putting a price a carbon that would either reduce consumption or find low-carbon replacments of equal costs is the least we can do. I don't think that a "Who knows what is good for us" approach is worth much if you produce an externality that is concerning others, probably more than yourself. In fact, an externality that spells utter catastrophy for some.
Currently, China outspends in absolute terms the USA in renewable technology (China Leads The World In Renewable Energy Investment, http://www.forbes.com/sites/jackperkowski/2012/07/27/china-leads-the-world-in-renewable-energy-investment/).ReplyDelete
Noah to understand the situation in China you really should watch the last ten minutes of this video. It is terrific (w/ Richard Brubaker who teaches at a business school and lives in Beijing).ReplyDelete
- Anonymous8:48 PM
Noah, what do you think about more focus on nuclear energy use and research?ReplyDeleteReplies
I think it would be a good idea, except that the kind of uranium plants we have now are a total dead end, with the safety concerns and the eventual fuel scarcity. I think instead our research should focus on making thorium, and small modular molten-salt reactors, a reality.Delete
- Anonymous9:25 PM
I disagree on all the uranium plant points (they are safe, and there is a lot of fuel available), but that isn't the question I'm asking now. The question I'm asking it: if you think nuclear is a good idea, then why are you advocated for anything else?!Delete
Nuclear is cheaper (vastly so) than renewables. Nuclear *can* be the backbone of electric grids economically (see France) while renewables can't (see Germany, Denmark, who have spent vast sums trying). See the utter lack of any grid-scale storage... or even vague plans for grid-scale storage. Nuclear can also be built up fast (see France).
So again, why haven't your recent posts been about how we need an immediate, massive nuclear buildup?
Reading your colleague James Fallows at the Atlantic leads me to believe that the Chinese will have to slow growth in coal consumption or they will all collapse from brown lung. Look at some of those pictures.ReplyDelete
Nationalize the US fossil fuel industry. It's a powerful impediment to progress. We'll never be able to get anywhere as long as that industry is around to fund lobbyists and other efforts that stand in the way. We can run the industry to generate public profits and pour those profits into alternative research and development. The industry has huge techical, human and scientific resources that can be leveraged for the job.ReplyDelete
We don't need to nationalize any car companies. If we're carrying out an alternative fuels industrial policy, the auto companies will have adapt or die. It's to stop pussyfooting around with individual incentives and market based approaches.
- Anonymous10:57 PM
More likely that China will develop the technology and subsidize their sales to the rest of the world.ReplyDelete
jonny bakho