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Population isn't the ecological problem
November 4, 2013
I continue to hear concerns from some in the environmental community that world population will overtake us and cause ecological collapse. On the other side I hear concerns that environmentalists will force population control upon us. The pity of this back and forth is that population isn't really the problem. Cartograms of world population and world consumption suggest that total consumption has little relationship to population particularly in the areas with the youngest, fastest growing populations like Africa and South America.
What the cartograms make clear is that one "solution" to the ecological problem is poverty. Of course that's not a solution that most would find desirable. So the real challenge moving forward is not how we control population, but how we can bring billions out of poverty sustainably. The good news is that some of this is self-correcting. Wealthier, more educated families tend to have fewer children. As millions in the third world "urbanize," Stewart Brand, author of the Whole Earth Catalog, touts the idea that "cities diffuse the population bomb," i.e. that city dwellers have slower birth rates. Cities also happen to be where people in the developed world have the lowest energy footprint. (Note: The United Nations definition of "urban" also includes suburbs.)
China may be one of the most challenging places because they are a huge population with a quickly growing middle class. They are unfortunately copying some of North America's worst habits such as sprawling suburban residential areas and mass car dependency. This the real challenge.
Alongside skyrocketing population China, India, and other developing countries have been intentionally or by neglect give more of their street space to the least efficient form of urban transportation, the single passenger automobile. This has happened in cities with a strong history of urban cycling like Beijing and Shanghai. This serves both to endanger those stuck in the more efficient forms of transportation (walking, cycling, and public transit) and encourage anyone with the means to get a private car as soon as they are able. Fortunately this seems to be turning around in Beijing perhaps as China turns to more modern examples of U.S. planning such as the Bloomberg administration's transportation policy in New York City.
Of course there is more to consumption and sustainable living than transportation. In the area of food there is also clearly room for improvement before we start worrying about population growth as a fundamental problem. Nonetheless transportation is a great example demonstrating that how we live is as important as how many of us live on the planet.
Dinner without the Subway
October 31, 2012
"New Yorkers, widely considered to be tough and selfish, are suddenly eager to share cellphones, drink beer with strangers at their local bars, and to cook meals at home — since without subways there is no way to go out for dinner and get home easily."
Mitchell Moss, CNN.com, October, 30 2012
The statement that a New Yorker can't go out to dinner without the subway is perplexing, all the more so in that it comes from an NYU professor of Urban Policy and Planning who presumably has spent some time living or at least working in Manhattan. The comment was a footnote in a much longer article which had an entirely different focus, but as a former Manhattanite it was enough to catch my eye. In a city with a Walkscore of 85 (99-100 on most of the island) you can hardly step out your door in many neighborhoods without stumbling into a restaurant or at least a take-out joint. Of those neighborhoods that lack restaurants within walking distance most also lack quick access to a subway station. The idea that the subway is necessary for most New Yorkers to "go out for dinner" is odd claim. Was this a quickly written oversight on behalf of the professor? Perhaps he is just exceedingly picky about which restaurants he frequents. You could presume he meant go out to dinner with friends but then the issue would be more the location of his friends than the location of the restaurant and cooking at home wouldn't solve that problem. I should note of course that his account accurately reflects that for many city residents taking the subway to your favorite pasta or to catch up with an old friend over fries is much more convenient than taking a taxi or driving a car (if you even have one). However for the many residents who bypass the kitchen on a daily basis, when it comes to simply getting fed, nothing beats walking down to the end of the block.
The subway closure has been labeled "debilitating" and this is in large part true. Thirty-seven percent of New Yorkers rely on the Subway system daily to get to work. In addition to the 1.6 million who live on the island, another 2 million commute into Manhattan from elsewhere (I couldn't quickly turn up a commuter number for the whole city). For some Manhattanites, taking the subway is as much a convenience as a necessity. Ten percent already walk to work. On an island 2 miles wide and 10 miles long, many more likely live within a 20 or 30 minute walk of work or school, which is quite a luxury in a country where the vast majority of citizens are lucky to live within a 20 minute walk of a bus stop. And of course many could take the bus (the horror!); granted the number of buses required to get every New Yorker to work would be unwieldy as evidenced by the overcrowded buses Wednesday morning.
Certainly the subway is the lifeblood of the city's economy (and to some degree the nations as home to Wall Street other national headquarters). But the daily chores of those who actually live in the city limits, as represented by visits to the grocery, the diner, a few local shops, the hardware store, local schools, playgrounds, and usually at least one decent sit-down restaurant, can actually go on without much fuss without subway because the city is composed of a dense web of walkable neighborhoods. Of course other storm issues such as power outages and delivery delays may prevent those local businesses from actually providing service during a crisis, but the issue is not the lack of a subway to get residents to the door.
What kind of impact will this event and its media coverage have on the hearts and minds of potential transit users and car ditchers across the country? Will some fear becoming too reliant on public transportation? Manhattan always makes a good news story so there's an over-reporting bias that risks leading some to believe they have abundantly more challenges than the rest of us. Of course suburban systems are vulnerable too. When Hurricane Hugo hit my suburban neighborhood 45 minutes inland in 1989, downed trees made it impassable by car. Schools remained closed for up to two weeks. We were thrilled when we regained power and were given the green light to drink tap water without pre-boiling. There are certainly huge implications of the subway shutdown and any sort of long-term closure would be hugely disruptive, but the picture that all elements of daily life are disrupted by the closure is misleading. Perhaps part of the problem is that the city that never sleeps, and increasingly the country that never stops working, expects normal life to resume so soon after disaster strikes.
One thing I think we can all agree on, it never hurts to be within walking distance of your local bar & grill.
Update: A fellow urbanist, John Massengale in New York, informs me that going out dinner is in fact an issue for those living south of 40th street due restaurants suffering from "no electricity, no refrigeration and a shortage of staff." There are also issues with credit card processing and ATMs. Store shelves in lower Manhattan are sparse. Of course as another colleague noted if the restaurant on your block doesn't have power, your kitchen probably doesn't either. Uptown in contrast the restaurants are full and the shelves are stocked. Downtowners do have the option of walking a few miles uptown, cabs are available and buses are returning. If you have a gym membership a walk uptown could also mean a hot shower. I would also note that Moss's distinction between beer and restaurants may be valid. Better drink it before it goes sour! Highlights and challenges: A brick oven pizzeria in the Village able to operate without power gives away free pizza. A restauranteur considered opening by candlelight but deciding against because of lack of functioning bathrooms.
Articles & Updates on City Life During and After the Storm:
- Storm Aftermath: New York Times Live Updates ("Where the City of Darkness Meets the City of Light," "New York Restaurant Industry Takes a Hit")
- Cities Are the Best Places to Ride Out a Hurricane (cached)
- Unlike the Chains, Local Businesses Stay Open in Sandy's Wake
- NYC Small Businesses Open after Sandy
The author is a former resident of Manhattan and weathered Hugo in Summerville, South Carolina.
How much do Americans really bike?
July 5, 2012
Last night in downtown Orlando (which is not in top 50 bike cities and not really a college area) I saw about a dozen bicyclists after the July 4th fireworks during my five block walk down a side street. But then anecdotes about how many cyclists one person observed on a particular day are statistically irrelevant.
Here are some actual statistics: Nationally 0.55% of adults bike to work (ACS 2009). That's the primary information given to us by the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Of course it can be further broken down geographically and demographically. That's a statistic but does it show the whole picture? It doesn't count students (grade school or college), it doesn't count non-work trips (85% of trips are non-work according to NHTS) and there are other grey areas like commuters who bike to work a few days a week or those who bike to or from a transit station. It also doesn't take into account occasional users; for example, while only about 2% of adults walk to work (ACS), 41% took 4 or more walk trips in a survey week (NHTS 2009 Profile). There are even concerns that lower income citizens and apartment dwellers are systematically under-reported.
Nationally about 1% of all trips are made by bike (all trips, not just commute trips). That compares to 1.9% of trips made by transit and about 10% by walking (NHTS 2009). Now that National Household Transportation Survey (NHTS) statistic has some problems of it's own. It still does not include trip chaining (riding a bike to or from transit), though that data is available elsewhere in the NHTS dataset. It condenses "recreational" with "social" biking (this is partially addressed in the extended survey). There's a substantive difference in riding down a recreational trail for exercise and going out to dinner, especially in the needs of those bicyclists, but it would seem that the NHTS conflates these two which is particularly problematic given these account for 60% of bicycle trips (and before you assume that all those trips are exercise rides, note that 25% of trips by car are dubbed "Social/Recreational").
The next logical step would be to break out to break out urban/rural, central cities, regions, etc. In certain cities and neighborhoods the bicycle percentages are much higher and in other cities and many suburban/rural areas bicycles as transportation are virtually nonexistent. The good news is that bicycling is higher in center cities where space is at a premium. This is good because a parked or moving bicycle takes up less space than a car. It's also challenging because the political competition for space in center cities is incredibly high.
To give a taste of what we might find if we went further into the statistics, Portland has the highest bicycle commute percentage in the U.S. with 5.8%; impressive by cycle commute standards but low enough to draw grimaces from skeptics. If we assume that Portlanders bike share of non-work trips is similar to the national statistics, then we can reasonably expect that number to nearly double to an even more respectable sounding 10% or more. Keep in mind that there are also people walking, biking and taking public transportation, so it's not as if bikes are the only trade-off to driving. Frankly I don't think getting people in Manhattan to switch from walking or taking transit to biking is necessarily a big win. In fact people who bike to work may walk to lunch; or people who drive to work may bike to lunch. It's important to look at both the percent of people who cycle and percent of trips by bike. The percentage of people who bike for some trips shows a willingness, ability and interest in biking when the conditions are right. The percentage of trips actually taken by bike gives a fuller pictures of how people travel our streets on a daily basis.
As an added transport statistical tip, if anyone tries to compare bicycle or walk statistics with driving statistics on a per mile basis, tell them to go take a hike! The 10.4% share of trips which are taken on foot plunges to a 0.7% share when considered on a per mile basis. Why? Because no one takes a 10 mile walk trip to go out to dinner unless they're incredibly athletic or desperate! Similarly, bikes go from 1.0% to 0.2% when considered in miles. It makes all the sense in the world that average walk or bike trip is shorter than the average car trip. Most people who have access to all three modes will choose the car for the longest trips.
There's plenty more to be statistically analyzed, especially at the geographic level. Alas my time for delving into transportation statistics has expired for the day so I can't get into specific numbers. Hopefully I have at least instilled in you a healthy skepticism for bicycle and transportation statistics, so that you can ask the right questions about the data presented to you.
Further Reading:
Why More Free Content Means You Can't Miss CNU 21
May 15, 2012
We're going back to the future. The Congress for the New Urbanism started as a hard-working, interactive meeting of the minds where the few hundred attendees were actively engaged in moving forward the mission of urbanism. As the years wore on and the Congress grew in numbers, education became more central to CNU's mission and the annual Congress started to look more like a classroom than a parliament. Fast forward to CNU 20.
The dynamism is back. Rapid-fire "Open Innovation" presentations in the "basement" play to a packed full room and when time permits overflow into debate and discussion. Panels are conversations rather than just a series of related presentations. New designs are critiqued in the hallways. The Open Source room is constantly abuzz with conversation. The Art Room has hands-on demonstrations. Member-led initiatives to solve problems and spread new solutions to larger audiences are popping up left and right.
CNU is offering more free content. In conjunction with this increase in interactive content, CNU is posting more of the "presentation" style content on web for free. Several of the plenaries were broadcast live on the web and we expect to see the slides with audio from most of the breakouts going up on the web soon. In addition we've had great video content going up from First + Main and others. This is a momentous development. In this new age holding intellectual content close to the vest is not necessarily the best way to maximize revenue for the organization so they can continue their important work and is certainly no the most efficient way spread our message. We, as urbanists, want as many people as possible to understand our mission and so they might be partners in future projects and change the built environment for the better.
And it's good timing. The world of information is rapidly changing. Planners and Architects are getting their continuing education credits from free webinars. TED.com is a leader in intellectual content offering high quality, well-produced content "Free to the World". People don't need to buy cross-country plane tickets to hear educational content. What they do need to cross the country for is dynamic, compressed, interactive work-shopping of the ideas that will carry their practice and our movement forward in the following year.
In order for the Congress as an event to stay relevant the model must evolve, and it is doing so. Attendees need to be present for the tumultuous exchanges that are difficult to capture on podcast and to contribute to those debates. New participants need to learn by engaging and getting their intellects in gear. They need to make non-digital eye contact with the people who have the potential to be their colleagues, friends, and workmates for the next decades. Even if we see much more of our engagement moving to the digital sphere, shaking hands with your re-tweeter or listserve sparring partner enhances the digital experience, defusing tension, and helping participants to understand the personalities and perspectives they are engaging with when they return to the web.
My next post will get into a little more detail on the new types of content at CNU and how they're succeeding. In the meantime, hats off to CNU for recognizing the changing world and being nimble enough to meet it.
Open Innovation at #CNU20
May 11, 2012
Rapid-fire, open topic presentations with faces new and old from an open call for proposals:
In Room 1J during all Friday and Saturday breakouts.
Friday, May 11th, 2012:
10:30am | From Balanced Roads to Transit Oriented Development
– Incorporating Feeling and Habit into Bicycling Advocacy
– Tracks to TOD in Somerville: One Community's Approach to TOD Planning
– Fare-Free Transit
3:45pm Growing "In" in the 21st Century: Incremental growth patterns
Saturday, May 12th, 2012:
10:45am Tactical Urbanism, Economics and Community
– Tactical Urbanism Workshop
– The Importance of Local Infrastructure Financing
– Economic Incentives to Reduce Sprawl
– Killing the Civic Inferiority Complex
– Randall Anway – Deep Placemaking
2pm Across the Transect: From Historic Preservation to Composting
For questions or feedback about the Open Innovation Track, please email firstname.lastname@example.com.
CNU Board Elections
March 26, 2012
I am running for the national board of the Congress for the New Urbanism!
Find out more here.
If you're a member, vote here (for Eliza Harris).
A previous post on this blog pretty well sums up my viewpoint.
I would write more but I think the above links contain my thoughts and I'm pretty busy right now trying to do my part for CNU 20, running CNU Orlando, trying to contribute to a Sprawl Retrofit event and of course my wonderful job!
Stupid Environmental Tricks #2: Bamboo Fabrics
September 26, 2011
One of the many products that makers claim to be environmental but is fundamentally flawed.
Bamboo textiles (i.e. clothes, towels etc). Sure they are nice and soft. But in terms of environmental performance, they are a form of rayon (which means chemically laden). Bamboo socks may be no worse than any other synthetic socks you buy, but they are also no better. "Bamboozled" on Grist
Using bamboo as a wood substitute is a completely different story
and may be a good choice.
Stupid Environmental Tricks #1: Free Gasoline
August 17, 2011
I was already planning to document some products that are marketed as eco-friendly that fail miserably when this story crossed my radar.
In order to promote its "EcoBoost" truck, Ford is hosting a contest for which the prize is free fuel, not only to the driver for a year, but to an entire city for a little over 2 hours. Now, 2 hours of fuel isn't going to suck dry the wells or tip us into permanent smog but it certainly sends the wrong message.
I won't get into the question of whether the "eco" label should be applied to an oversize truck to begin with; some people legitimately need these types of vehicles for work. But as Steve Mouzon is fond of saying: the most energy efficient machine is the one that's turned off. Hybrid cars will do the environment no good if we drive them twice as far and efficient gadgets won't help if we leave them on four times as long. The worst thing we can possibly do for the environment is give away or artificially lower the cost of fuel or energy. If people are going to be wasteful at least let them pay their own way (Libertarian alert).
A better plan might have been to follow SmartCar's lead and promote a bicycle, but I can see how that might not appeal to their customer base.
Now of course people buy fuel efficient vehicles for different reasons. Some don't care about the environmental impact at all but rather about saving money on fuel. But in this case given that they are placing the "Eco" label on their truck this is an incredibly silly/(disingenuous/vacuous) promotion, almost as bad as politicians requesting a Gas Tax Holiday in the summer of 2008.
Free Raquel Nelson: Mom of Hit & Run Victim
July 26, 2011
On the day of sentencing the petition for Raquel Nelson that I started a week ago is at 136,965 signatures and counting. This case was first brought to my attention on twitter via the author of the Free Range Kids blog. I'm floored (in a good way) by the magnitude of the response. I'm saddened that it takes so egregious a miscarriage of justice to bring attention to the risks people like Ms. Nelson must take every day just to function in suburbs ruled by fast cars.
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution (July 26, 2011) Nelson was convicted of "homicide by vehicle in the second degree, crossing roadway elsewhere than at crosswalk and reckless conduct." Ms. Nelson was crossing the street from a bus stop to her apartment building with her 3 children in tow when her son, A.J. Nelson, ran ahead and into the path of an oncoming car. A.J. died from his injuries and Raquel and one of her daughters were also injured.
UPDATE/CORRECTION: I am hearing now that the charge may have been "failure to yield" rather than "crossing roadway elsewhere than at a crosswalk" which changes things a bit. More analysis to follow.
The problem, aside from the pure callousness, with the charges against Raquel is that there is no law against "crossing the roadway elsewhere than at crosswalk." Raquel Nelson most likely was not even crossing illegally (informally "jaywalking") when the crash occurred.
Based on Peds.org excerpts of Georgia law:
§ 40-6-92. Crossing roadway elsewhere than at crosswalk:
(a) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway unless he has already, and under safe conditions, entered the roadway.
(b) Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway if he uses the roadway instead of such tunnel or crossing.
(c) Between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.
(d) No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by official traffic-control devices. When authorized to cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the official traffic-control devices pertaining to such crossing movements.
Looking at the presumed location of crash on Google Maps, Raquel's crossing location fits those legal requirements; the adjacent crosswalks were not signalized so she was totally justified in crossing at that location. (This location is based on the oblique photo shown in the Transportation for America blog post)
The question of whether she was "jaywalking" was first addressed by Forbes Blog though relevant details were actually brought up in a comment by "reggie".
Of course the overarching problem here is that, legal or not, this–like too many places in America–was not a safe place for Raquel and her children and very few places in the United States are because most of the American streetscape is designed for drivers, not for pedestrians (or cyclists or transit users). This is described in detail in the @T4America Dangerous by Design Report.
Update: According to liveblogging on Marrietta Patch the State is not seeking jail time. They are asking for community service and probation. That makes this no less a miscarriage of justice. She should never have been charged. She should never have been harassed by the State by dragging her through this trial. And she should never have been blamed in a court of law for a legal or moral responsibility in her son's death.
Update 2: Marrietta Patch reporting that Ms. Nelson was sentenced to probation and community service. No jail time. Nelson's lawyer says they will seek a new trial.
Update 3: This is NOT THE FIRST TIME that this has happened. Keri Caffrey, from commuteorlando.com where this is cross-posted, found out this key information. Cobb County previously prosecuted another grieving mother who was walking with her child in an eerily similar situation.
For more updates keep an eye on Transportation for America's blog.
I Want You … for the New Urbanism
May 26, 2011
Please come hang out with us. You'll find the New Urbanism is hardly a static system. Debates abound. What we don't do is constantly rehash our premises. This allows us to move forward instead constantly revolving in circles questioning our first principles. Let others seek a deus ex machina in flying cars or argue about "flux;" we're busy refining our solutions.
While academia can be content to publish theory, we have to commit to a path in order to implement change. We are racing against suburbia, climate change and obesity. We must implement imperfect systems now while debating more perfect solutions for tomorrow.
We fight for recognition because we need more hands on deck, skilled ones. We face enormous challenges—environmental, economic. It pains us to see young, desperately-needed talent wasted on Corbusian revivals. The savvy among us often have to educate ourselves in traditional urbanism because the academy has denied us. Many architects are left to practice kitschy historicist or postmodern architecture because the public doesn't want modernist design for the vast majority of the urban fabric. So these architects who were never taught the skills necessary to design high quality traditional, vernacular or classical architecture, are forced to navigate their clients desires making do and playing catch up. Finally, the classicists and the urban designers are blamed for the poor interpretations of traditional architecture resulting modernist educated architects. Are young architects-in-training given a choice? Are they merely allowed an illusion of choice of a dozen different architectural styles so long as it excludes classicism and vernacular (like the false variety of our multi-colored supermarket shelves with thousands of products all made of same 3 industrial ingredients)? Where is their free market?
As far as the landscape urbanists, as schoolyard as it sounds … they started it. Here's to the new new urbanism. http://www.cnunextgen.org
This is a slightly expanded version of a response to comments on: http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20110414/new-urbanism-the-case-for-looking-beyond-style


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Syracuse, NY -- Three months ago, professors running a research center at Syracuse University made what they thought was a simple request to the Internal Revenue Service.
The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse filed a Freedom of Information Act request for what amounts to the organizational chart for the IRS offices charged with auditing tax returns.
The center wants the information so it can determine whether taxpayers are more likely to be audited depending on which IRS office handles their returns. This would show, for example, whether Upstate residents and businesses are more or less likely to be audited than taxpayers Downstate, the center said.
But in January, the IRS denied the center's request, saying that release of the information could violate taxpayer privacy because it might result in the direct or indirect identification of individual taxpayers.
The research center said the IRS used "spurious grounds" to deny its request and filed an appeal with the agency in February.
"It's pretty clear what a tax return is, and it's not an IRS organizational chart," said Susan Long, co-director of the center and an associate professor at SU's Martin J. Whitman School of Management.
Long said the IRS has given the center audit statistics. However, the IRS offices where audits are conducted are identified only by number codes, not by location.
She and the center's other director, David Burnham, an associate research professor at SU's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, said the IRS reorganized its audit functions in 2001.
"The public clearly has a right to evaluate whether IRS's reorganization has worked to achieve the goals the agency sought to accomplish when the examination function was radically reorganized," Long and Burnham said in their appeal.
They said disclosure of the organization of the IRS's examination offices would in no way enable anybody to identify individual taxpayers or IRS actions taken with respect to any particular taxpayer.
"Indeed, the document requested contains no data of any kind regarding IRS activities," they said in their appeal. "It is simply a list of IRS examination offices."
Gary Prutsman, the IRS's chief of disclosure, denied the research center's request. In a letter to the center, he said release of the information would have the same effect as the release of ZIP codes in connection with tax return information because, when combined with released data, it could create a significant risk of identification of particular taxpayers.
Prutsman cited a federal court decision in Seattle in 1989 that said ZIP code information related to tax returns was exempt from disclosure.
Bruce Friedland, who speaks for the IRS, said the agency would not comment further on its denial of the center's request.
Long said the court decision cited by Prutsman referred to individual records of audits from a scientific study.
Long has fought a 35-year federal court battle with the IRS for statistical records of the IRS's auditing of tax returns. She won two consent orders in 1976 and two court rulings in 2006 requiring the agency to release data.
The research center regularly publishes reports on its analysis of IRS records. Last month, it reported that the IRS audited millionaires at a lower rate last year than it did the year before, despite the agency's claims that it was making strong progress in key enforcement areas.
--Staff writer Rick Moriarty can be reached at 470-3148 or firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Nearly a dozen people were arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving in Washington County during increased Memorial Day weekend patrols, authorities say.
Washington County deputies arrested 10 drivers for allegedly driving under the influence of intoxicants between Friday and Sunday, according to the county sheriff's office. Only one driver crashed and no one was killed.
Moniesha Pacheco-Zaragosa, 20, of Salem, drove a 2004 Toyota Solara into a ditch on May 25 along Southwest Bald Peak Road near Campbell Road in unincorporated Washington County, the sheriff's office said. A 20-year-old male passenger sustained an arm injury in the crash and was taken to an area hospital for treatment and three other passengers fled the scene when a deputy arrived.
Other charges are being considered against Pacheco-Zaragosa pending further investigation and toxicology results, according to the sheriff's office.
-- Everton Bailey Jr.


text:
The PennDesign/OLIN team combines the strength of PennDesign in cross-disciplinary research, design and communication with the strength of OLIN in landscape architecture and urban design and construction, supported by a core team of high-capacity, strategic design practices: McLaren Engineering Group for marine and flood protection engineering, Barretto Bay Strategies for local engagement and consultation, HR&A Advisors for market and benefit / cost analysis, eDesign Dynamics for hydrology and ecosystems, Level Infrastructure for energy and engineering strategy, and benefit / cost analysis, Philip Habib & Associates for civil engineering, and Buro Happold for engineering. The team is co-led by Ellen Neises (PennDesign) and Richard Roark (OLIN), and supported by advisors Lucinda Sanders, John Landis, and Harris Steinberg.
REBUILDING WATER CULTURE | The PennDesign / OLIN team aims to preserve and adapt waterfront culture and economy in the northeast region of the United States by supporting community self-determination and the potential to use innovative design strategies to overcome the artificial boundaries of historical jurisdictional borders.
What a resilient region needs is:
● People, land, infrastructure, and economies that can adapt to rising water and uncertainty
● Protection for life, assets and water-respecting growth
● Options for scales of action between broad and long-term Army Corps projects and uncoordinated action of individual property owners without tools to produce good outcomes.
● Strategies to avert disinvestment and further stratification of demographic groups as a result of changes to the National Flood Insurance Program
Our approach sees each household, each business and every job as an asset and a piece of civic infrastructure. We seek to pair physical options with the capacity of social and community networks to embrace incentives, policy and financing to stimulate action.
ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME | In this region and time, we see the community as the most powerful agent of change in shaping durable alliances to respond to rising water. Community is the level at which the specifics of locality can be defined and a common purpose can be articulated to stimulate action on the part of individual property owners, community leaders and government for collective provision of infrastructure and investment. And the community is where integrated solutions that layer protections, homes, social fabric, infrastructure, living systems and economy are most likely to be demonstrated in the near term. This is true, in part, because Federal, State and City plans recognize both the lack, and the importance, of community self-determination in driving consensus around long-term investments and shifts in waterfront building culture.
REDUCING UNCERTAINTY | Most communities cannot rely on delivery of big infrastructure projects in the time frame in which they need them. Large-scale solutions that could protect many communities are difficult to implement because of federal funding constraints, competing regional priorities and the time it will take to change regulations. Individual property owners face tremendous uncertainty about their options and are spending money to repair and flood-proof their homes, only to see the value of their homes and neighborhoods decline. Loss of industry and jobs in flood-prone areas also threaten resilience.
PLACES WHERE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CAPITAL ARE AT RISK | Rising sea levels and storms threaten to undermine formation of social and economic capital in communities, and slow growth of the regional economy, significantly reducing our capacity to invest in coastal resilience.
We began our proposal for participation in Rebuild by Design with a primary focus on the physical and water environments challenged by storm events and with the conventional assumption that investments in infrastructure, hard and soft, regional and local could provide protection and address uncertainty of outcomes. Our visits to the sites of the region and our research into the characteristics of place and community that contribute to a collective capacity for resilience led us to a different understanding — that social and economic vulnerabilities provide the key to identifying and implementing innovative, resilience-building strategies.
In a region where capital is highly mobile, rising flood insurance rates and the costs of repetitive storm damage will create two different coastal development trajectories: concentrations of high end housing where residents have the means to self-insure and forgo mortgages, and concentrations of housing and industry that are declining in quality, density and economic activity after more mobile capital takes flight.
Our analysis shows there are hundreds of communities throughout the region trying to cope with risk and avoid decline. Resilience may depend on the strength of social networks and the ability to sustain economic vitality as much as on investment in protection. While many specific localities are not what we think of as vulnerable communities, all communities need resilience strategies, examples of integrated solutions and concerted engagement before these trajectories advance.
PLACES WHERE INCREASING VALUE IS PLAUSIBLE | Working at the local level, we can more easily find and articulate ways to see adaptation as an opportunity to make cities, towns and neighborhoods on the water better places to live and experience water. To identify communities at risk that may be interested in using resilience to advance an optimistic project, and where there would be potential for high impact and replicability, we looked for six physical and political/social ecosystem criteria:
● Potential for improvement of physical safety of houses, industry and jobs over the long-term at reasonable public cost relative to assets in the floodplain
● Complex physical resilience problem that presents a long-term planning challenge to local leaders
● Opportunity for innovative intersection of building, landscape and urban fabric solutions across scales, actors and time
● Transportation network and infrastructure with capacity to support growth
● Significant development of community assets and leadership
● Potential for harmonizing interests through design where plans and investments are in formation that could be adapted to contribute to climate preparedness
DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES | In each of our opportunity sites, the aim is to develop a site-specific mix of solutions developed with a community that will equal the effectiveness of a large federally-funded coastal protection project and provide many benefits beyond protection from water. We propose a range of resilience strategies that can be combined in various ways to respond to many local goals and interests, rather than a specific intervention. Moving forward, the design typologies will be scaled to respond to detailed technical analysis of local geomorphology and water systems.
These local solutions will offer greater certainty of implementation timing and maintenance, and provide broader social, economic and ecological value by engaging communities in the design of their own future, incorporating local knowledge and priorities to add value, and responding to political and economic realities that will ultimately determine the success of interventions.
We propose a method for working with local leaders to develop tailor-made community solutions that involves:
● Rigorous technical site analysis to identify the most effective protections,
● Visualization and cost estimation of possible combinations to initiate debate,
● Engagement and problem-solving to develop a realistic, forward-looking vision of the community and to help find the best path to resilience,
● Development of the best incentives and policy instruments to complement selected physical moves, and
● Rigorous evaluation of the outcomes to increase impact over time.
The palette of typological design solutions is examined in, and generated from, four specific local geographies that we identified as places of high opportunity based on leadership, the nature of the physical climate challenge and other criteria defined above. Based on investigation of additional comparison sites and geomorphologies, we believe our resilience strategies are widely applicable in other locations.
View the team's latest project updates on their finalist page.


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The Coen Brothers Are Adapting the Crime Novel Black Money
From mystery writer Ross Macdonald.By E. Alex Jung
From mystery writer Ross Macdonald.By E. Alex Jung
As co-presidents.By Sean Fitz-Gerald
Along with Jonah Hill.By Anna Silman
The brothers discuss coming up with just the right song for Llewyn's ill-fated audition scene.By Kyle Buchanan
"It has what might be considered more traditional musical numbers."By Kyle Buchanan
Jim and Jean, Bob Dylan, Mickey Woods, and more.By Lane Brown
It's an hour-long comedy for Fox.By Caroline Bankoff
"We're working on a movie that has music all performed live."By Mike Vilensky
Vulture's taken a look at the newest crop of contenders and the careful narrative crafted for each.By Lane Brown and Kyle Buchanan
We've measured them on a scale of Zorro to Gene Shalit.By Lane Brown
"I sat down and watched the whole thing, and I kept saying, 'Who the hell cut this thing?'"By Lane Brown
Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, and 'Alice in Wonderland' inspire a list of the top fifteen collaborations of the last 25 years.By Bilge Ebiri
"My mother, back when 'Portnoy's Complaint' came out, said to me, 'You know, I met Philip Roth's mother ... and she doesn't have an accent!'"By Bilge Ebiri
Plus: Everybody loves 'Gossip Girl,' even cops!By Emma Pearse
Nicolas Cage: "Everything I take's prescription — except for the heroin."By Logan Hill
It looks to be a return to form for the Coen brothers.By Mark Graham
Plus: Will Ferrell explains why the budget for 'Step Brothers' was so high.By Tammy Oler
Plus: Amy Ryan imagines dead puppies, and Daniel Radcliffe wants to play a drag queen.By Stan Park
The Oscar-nominated editor of the Coen brothers film doesn't, in fact, exist.
Alec Baldwin's Donald Trump and Kate McKinnon's Hillary Clinton Return to SNL for One Final Debate
Every Episode of Black Mirror, Ranked From Worst to Best
SNL Spoofs the Age-Old Question: How the Hell Is This TV Drama Considered a Comedy?
Taylor Swift Performs 'This Is What You Came For' During Only Concert in 2016, Giving the People That for Which They Came — More or Less
Why Saturday Night Live Destroys Trump, and John Oliver Doesn't
Taylor Swift's Groping-Lawsuit Deposition Released: 'I Remember Being Frantic, Distressed, Feeling Violated in a Way I Had Never Experienced Before'
The Walking Dead Season 7 Premiere: Let's Discuss Who Negan Killed
All Hail Tom Hanks's David S. Pumpkins, the King of Halloween You Didn't Know You Needed
Jennifer Lopez's New NBC Show Has the Most Absurd Title Ever
Saturday Night Live Recap: Welcome Back, Tom Hanks


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By Tom Lehman 4:12pm, October 31, 2013 - Updated 4:13pm, October 31, 2013Wilmington police say a 30-year-old felon has been arrested for the murder of another man earlier this week.
David Hinson is accused of shooting and killing Kareem Owens at the corner of W. 24th and N. Washington Streets around 7:12 p.m. Sunday night.
Police say Hinson was identified as a suspect and taken into custody by U.S. Marshals around 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning in the Super Lodge at 1212 West Avenue just south of the city.
Hinson is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. He faces first degree murder and firearm possession charges and is awaiting arraignment at headquarters.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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OK good luck to Andrei then.
OK good luck to Andrei then.
Well, just think if AK had Favors to protect the paint. This would've allowed him to gamble more on D and probably block more shots and get more steals. It's a moot point now if he's signing with the Nets.
Please no more bring back AK threads. I can't freak'n take it anymore. People have to realize players come and go the Jazz are still here. AK had what 10 years to make his mark as a Jazzman but he wasn't dedicated enough to be great.
In russian media AK said that his options for next season are 30 NBA clubs and CSKA. He said for sure that he is not signing with any other Eurolegue club. So again, according to him nothing set in stone when it comes to Nets.
"I was originally a Jazz fan but since I am getting pooped on so hard on the Jazz forums it is really starting to make me wish Kanter develops into the Kevin McHale potential he has and make the Jazz look bad. Nothing would make me happier at this point." Unidentified Kanter homer on reddit.
FWIW, big game by AK in the Euroleague semifinal in Istanbul with DWill in the house. 17 pts. 9 rbs. 4 blks. CSKA 66 - Panathinaikos 64.
So, I guess I was right about AK and DWill coming to terms -- though I think that question was posed on the Realgm board where I seldom post
Kirilenko is better than Josh Howard....
I know it wouldn't be popular here and it won't happen but I'd love to see a lineup that had Hayward at SG and AK at SF and Favors at either PF or C.
Dwill and AK as FAs this next season.


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Vidya wants more of Shahid
The relationship between the duo seems to have grown stronger after acting together in the film Kismat Konnection. This time around, Vidya has openly expressed her liking for Shahid by declaring that she would love to work with him again. She added that the comfort level and chemistry they share is wonderful.
Vidya can't stop praising Shahid for his commitment and hard work. She said that she had fun working with him for two months and that their relationship would last forever.
But when will they make their relationship public? The sooner, the better!
Read more about: shahid kapoor, raymond ronamai, vidya balan
Other articles published on Jun 25, 2008


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Jocelyn Willoughby scored 12 of her game-high 20 points in the first quarter, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from well beyond the arc to spot Newark Academy a 12-point lead en route to a 55-35 triumph over Nutley in the first round of the Essex County Tournament in Nutley.
Newark Academy will face the winner of Bloomfield at Shabazz next Saturday in the quarterfinals. Shabazz is ranked No. 1 in The Star-Ledger Top 20.
Willoughby finished with nine rebounds and three blocks. Ahlia Bethea scored 14 points, Rachel Neiman had 10 points and Hernell Gabriel collected six points and seven rebounds for Newark Academy, which handed out 13 assists as a team and held a 30-23 edge in rebounding. Bethea hit a jumper at the buzzer to give Newark Academy a commanding 33-20 lead at halftime.
Grace Montgomery put in 13 points and Blair Watson totaled 11 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks for Nutley.


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The Ducks will hold this camp's only scrimmage tomorrow afternoon behind locked gates in Autzen Stadium. If you aren't a player, coach or member of the support staff, and you don't have a special invitation, you won't be admitted.
The scrimmage looms large for Oregon's quarterbacks, cornerbacks and kickers, all positions where starters haven't been identified.
"We've got one big test tomorrow, and there are still a lot of battles that can be won, and can be lost," UO coach Chip Kelly said. "We're going to find out because we have to make some real hard decisions on Friday and get rolling."
While the coaches spend Friday hammering out a depth chart, the players will stage their annual O Games, a just-for-fun practice. Game preparation begins Saturday morning for Oregon's Sept. 4 season-opener with visiting New Mexico.
The depth at running back will be tested immediately. Nominal starter LaMichael James will be serving a one-game suspension after copping to an harassment charge in a plea deal last March. James was arrested in February and charged with five misdemeanors after police were called to the scene of an angry dispute between James and an ex-girlfriend.
The Ducks don't fall off much with back-up Kenjon Barner on the field. In fact, indications are they will use both Barner and James at the same time in any number of offensive sets after James returns in week 2 for the Tennessee game.
But it's unclear how things stack up behind Barner. Remene Alston missed much of camp with a foot problem. Kelly said today that first-year freshmen Lache Seastrunk and Dontae Williams have looked like, well, first-year freshmen. Reserve quarterback Daryle Hawkins has been getting practice reps at running back. Hawkins doesn't look bad.
The Ducks didn't wear pads for either of Wednesday's practices, and the mood on Kilkenny Field in the heat of the afternoon was a little like that in a grade school the day before Christmas break.
Both players and coaches appear ready to put camp behind them and wade into the season.
"We like the teaching part of it," Kelly said, answering a question about the end of camp. "But we're ready to play games. We're right on schedule. It's fun when you get into game-week planning, because now you're starting to prepare for an opponent, deciding what your game plan is going to be and how that is going to work."
-- Ken Goe; follow him on Twitter


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Sometimes the music around you just doesnt fit your mood. The Jukebox Hero designed by Zach Glueckert, Kevin Wills and Ross Bulkley may solve that problem. It can operate as a normal Jukebox with individual songs available. It can also operate on mood mode. The gadget uses sensors to identify temperature, light and sound in order to detect environmental mood. The Jukebox sensors can determine eight individual moods and each mood is tied to predetermined CD tracks. So, as the lights go down and the joint gets quiet, youll soon hear Frank Sinatra croon, In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning. That is, unless the Jukebox operator has intentionally programmed the Clash to disrupt quiet moments at a party.
Get the Build Instructions | View Parts List | Post a Comment | Watch the Video


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Horace Silver: Retrospective
Retrospective spans the amazing period of time Silver spent with Blue Note between 1952 and 1980. As such, it is as much a retrospective of the label as it is a significant reflection of jazz over the middle part of the 20th century.
Representing music from about 17 of Silver's three dozen Blue Notes, the finest musicians in the history of jazz and some of their best recorded work, Retrospective ultimately celebrates one of the best writers and pianists in jazz. Horace Silver (b. 1928) is revealed here to be a melodicist of the first order, one who can tell the most sophisticated, logical and musical of stories without ever pummeling listeners with technique or show-boat styling.
Consider the sheer volume of 'hits' alone: "Ecaroh," "Opus de Funk," "Doodlin'," "The Preacher," "Senor Blues," "Sister Sadie," "Blowin' the Blues Away," "Song For My Father" and "Psychedelic Sally." These endure as some of the cleverest-ever bits of bop. Silver's contribution to the formation of bop's soulful equivalent - funk - is in plentiful evidence here too, even as far back as his sparkling trio work from 1952-53 (Horace without horns!).
The collection offers more than hits too. One full disc (2) is given over to honoring Silver's longest running front line, featuring tenor man Junior Cook and trumpeter Blue Mitchell (1960-64). Another full disc (4) explores Silver's least known, but no less important work from the 1970s - a period when he began adding lyrics and singers and exploring more holistic and metaphysical themes (kept to a minimum here). Still, the music sounds remarkably compatible with what precedes it, offering Silver's still-intact compositional magic and vibrant early work from Michael and Randy Brecker, Bob Berg and Tom Harrell.
The star power on these sessions signifies an overall importance. Tenors are manned by the likes of Hank Mobley, Clifford Jordan, Junior Cook, Joe Henderson, Stanley Turrentine, Harold Vick, Bob Berg and Michael Brecker. And the trumpets come directly from Donald Byrd, Kenny Dorham, Art Farmer. Blue Mitchell, Woody Shaw, Charles Tolliver, Randy Brecker, Cecil Bridgewater and Tom Harrell. Surely, this should be enough.
But Retrospective also includes detailed liner notes from critic Zan Stewart, photos by Francis Wolff and others (featuring the various dos of Silver throughout the years). It all adds up to a timeless microcosm of this important jazz icon - and a significant sample of 20th century jazz. A grand encounter indeed.
Tracks: Disc One:Safari; Ecaroh; Opus De Funk; Doodlin'; The Preacher; Cool Eyes; Senor Blues; Home Cookin'; Soulville; The Outlaw; Senior Blues (Vocal Version); Swingin' The Samba; Cookin' At The Continental; Juicy Lucy;Disc Two:Sister Sadie; Peace; Blowin' The Blues Away; Strollin'; Nica's Dream; Filthy McNasty; The Tokyo Blues; Sayonara Blues; Silver's Serenade;Disc Three:Song For My Father; Que Pasa; The Cape Verdean Blues; Nutville; The Jody Grind; Mexican Hip Dance; Serenade To A Soul Sister; Psychedelic Sally; It's Time; The Happy Medium; Peace; Old Mother Nature Calls;Disc FourHow Much Does Matter Really Matter; All; In Pursuit Of The 27th Man; Gregory Is Here; Barbara; Adjustment; The Tranquilizer Suite; The Process Of Creation Suite; All In Time; The Soul And It's Expression.
Musicians:: Horace Silver: piano, vocals on "All" with various groups including Hank Mobley, Clifford Jordan, Junior Cook, Joe Henderson, Stanley Turrentine, Harold Vick, Bob Berg, Michael Brecker: tenor sax; James Spaulding: flute; Donald Byrd, Kenny Dorham, Art Farmer. Blue Mitchell, Woody Shaw, Charles Tolliver, Randy Brecker, Cecil Bridgewater, Tom Harrell: trumpet; J.J. Johnson: trombone; Richie Resnicoff: guitar; Doug Watkins, Teddy Kotick, Teddy Smith, Gene Ramey, Larry Ridley, Gene Taylor, Bob Cranshaw, Ron Carter: bass; Art Blakey, Louis Hayes, John Harris Jr., Roger Humphries, Roy Brooks, Mickey Roker, Al Foster: drums; David Friedman: vibes on "In Pursuit of the 27th Man"; Gail Nelson: vocals on "How Much Does Matter Really Matter."
About Horace Silver
My Blue Note Obsession
- Horace Silver: The United States of Mind – Revisited
- Horace Silver: Serenade to a Soul Sister - 1968
Building a Jazz Library
CD/LP/Track Review
- June 1977 (livelove Series Vol 2) by Mark Sullivan
My Blue Note Obsession
New York Beat
CD/LP/Track Review
- The Hard Bop Grandpop by Marc Davis


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This deal has ended.
Today only, get free shipping from Eddie Bauer when you redeem coupon code KINGS at checkout. Clearance-only purchases are excluded from this offer. Shipping rates normally start at $7.99. Use this code for low-priced items like the highly rated Classic Fit Legend Wash V-Neck T-Shirt, available in seven colors, that goes for $20. Women's tanks begin at $18 including the Layering Cami that averages an excellent rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars based on 459 Eddie Bauer customer reviews. Sales tax is charged in most states.No longer available


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GULFPORT, MISS. -- The early March menus at Emeril's Gulf Coast Fish House were enticing.
Among lunch items were shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade, and barbecued shrimp with a rosemary biscuit. Dinner choices included Portuguese shrimp and pasta, an oyster po-boy salad, pine-crusted salmon and a grilled ribeye.
But the four-course tasting menu not only sounded delicious, but also affordable for a fine-dining restaurant. Oversimplified, it included an appetizer of smoked duck and pumpkin ravioli; pan-seared red snapper; quail with boursin cheese grits; and Emeril's "dessert storm." All for $55.
Not to mention the background sounds of casino bells and slot machines.
Actually, those noises dominated only the bar that's up the three semi-circular steps -- lined with lights -- leading to Emeril's in Gulfport's Island View Casino.
Part of the restaurant overlooks the beach; glass bubbles float from the ceiling in the retro-Art Deco Emeril's, and once inside, the restaurant's mellow sound system takes over from the slots.
It's all part of the restaurant empire of star chef Emeril -- "BAM! -- Lagasse, 50, whose wife, Alden, grew up in Gulfport. Besides his three New Orleans restaurants, Lagasse has a slew of others across the country. Emeril's Fish House opened here in Gulfport in June 2007.
Lagasse is involved in "everything, " but it's Steve D'Angelo, chef de cuisine, who's in charge of day-to-day operations.
As waiters set up in the dining room and cooks prepped in the visible, open kitchen, D'Angelo took a few minutes to talk to a stranger who showed up unannounced. Approachable and friendly, the stocky D'Angelo worked for Lagasse in other restaurants.
But the chef, who grew up in New Orleans' West Bank and graduated from Salmen High School in Slidell, has been at home on the coast for a while.
Before Hurricane Katrina, he ran his own restaurant, the Bay City Grill, in Bay St. Louis.
No need to repeat that sad story. "I lost my home, but I have my wife, my two girls and my guitar, " said D'Angelo. They moved to Kiln, Miss., about 45 minutes from his newest job.
Now 34, he's been cooking in restaurants since he was 16. "I love cooking, and I knew early on I loved eating, " he said, smiling impishly and nodding.
As for Emeril's menu, "We have a Creole influence here, " he said, "but coastal Creole. There's fresh seafood from the Gulf, and farm-fresh vegetables."
He talked too about the steaks -- casino habitues like their meat -- and was onto the fish flown in from Hawaii when another young man, jacket flung over his shoulder, walked up, asking what was going on.
It was Jason Lonigro, the restaurant's general manager, who's a veteran of Lagasse restaurants in New Orleans and Atlanta.
The two men obviously have a good rapport. Lonigro mentioned regulars from New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, who like the home-town touch on the coast. D'Angelo said it can get "unbelievably" busy on weekends.
So, if you don't make a reservation? "We try to accommodate people as much as possible, " said D'Angelo. "Tell people to come on over and eat with us."
Emeril's Gulf Coast Fish House in Island View Casino is open for lunch weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dinner Sundays through Thursdays, 5:30 to 10 p.m.; dinner Fridays and Saturdays, 5:30 to 11 p.m.
For reservations, call (228) 314-1515 or go to www.islandviewcasino.com. Or go to www.emerils.com/restaurant/10/Emerils-Gulf-Coast-Fish-House/
If you want to spend the night: Island View Casino Resort, 3300 Beach Blvd., Gulfport; (877) 774-8439; www.islandviewcasino.com. 560 rooms, call to book. Golf packages with Windance Country Club's course.


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Interest Level
Grades 6 - 8
Reading Level
Grade level Equivalent: 8
Lexile® Measure: 1170L
Guided Reading: Z
- Series
- Weapons
- Inventors and Inventions
- Technology and Society
About This Book
The discovery of gunpowder forever transformed mining, construction, and warfare, and this book in the "Inventions That Shaped the World" series explores its origins and uses from Asia to Europe.
Series Information
"Inventions That Shaped the World" introduces young readers to revolutionary inventions, and emphasizes the impact the inventions had upon life at the time of their creation and beyond. Also explored is the featured invention's cultural significance, as well as the patterns of change that resulted from its origination. Chapters cover topics such as life before the invention, the need for the invention, its development, its influence upon culture, its evolution, and a biography on the inventor.
Series Features
• Highly visual with engaging four-color photos that enliven each subject
• Interesting sidebars that enhance text
• Introduces readers to revolutionary inventions and emphasizes the impact the inventions had upon life at the time of the creation and beyond
• Glossary, index, timeline, "To Find Out More" section
Items Added to Cart:
1 Paperback
2 Hardcover
1 Teacher's Edition
$48.99 Subtotal


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Wagner women net MAAC regular-season title
Wagner College's women's water polo team needed every last goal to capture the regular-season Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship on Sunday in Grymes Hill for the first time since 2009.
In the first game, the Seahawks beat VMI 10-4 as Jessica Burdge scored five goals, which was her 108th in her career to establish a new Wagner single-season record.
With that victory, the hosts needed to not only beat Marist in the second game, but they needed to win by more than one goal to capture the tiebreaker for the MAAC Championship.
With the score tied at 6 after regulation, Burdge scored a goal in the first overtime before Madeline Brown netted the big goal with 25 seconds left in the second OT to seal the 8-6 victory and MAAC crown.
The 25th win tied a school record and vaulted the Seahawks to the No. 1 seed in the MAAC Tournament, which starts on April 27 at Marist.
Winning pitcher Richard Anderson allowed five hits and fanned six over six frames in the opener and the Dolphins banged out a dozen hits and combined for nine runs in the third and fourth frames.
David Carles went 4 for 4 and drove in three runs.
In the nightcap, unbeaten Michael Fitzpatrick won his third game with a two-run, five-inning effort.
Robert Bernardo and John Baggs each had two hits for the Dolphins (20-9, 8-2), who scored four runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings.
CSI travels to Mount St. Mary on Tuesday.
Monmouth 7, Wagner 3
Wagner 6, Monmouth 3
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — In the opener of the Northeast Conference doubleheader, the Hawks answered the Seahawks' three runs in the first inning with seven unanswered runs of their own.
Frank Trimarco relieved Adam Yunginger with no outs in the opening frame and allowed just three hits and struck out six over seven innings.
Paul Mammino registered a career-best six strikeouts over eight innings as the Seahawks stopped an eight-game road losing streak with their nightcap win.
Nick Dini's seventh-inning singles snapped a 3-3 tie. Wagner added two insurance runs in the ninth on RBI by Dini and Tommy Mazurkiewicz.
Dini finished with three hits and three RBI as Wagner banged out a dozen hits.
The (13-19, 6-6) Seahawks play at St. Peter's College on Tuesday.
CSI 5, Drew 2
Drew 4, CSI 3
Winning pitcher Casey Reggiani smacked a one-out homer down the left-field line to lift visiting Drew University to a non-conference nightcap victory.
In the first game, the Dolphins belted 15 hits as winning pitcher Victoria Procopio and Maxine Jasko each collected three.
CSI (13-8) travels to York on Tuesday.
Bryant 12, Wagner 8
Stephanie Peterson scored four goals in a losing cause as the visiting Bulldogs outshot the hosts 24-13.
The (5-11, 1-7) Seahawks close their season on Friday, entertaining Long Island University.


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It depends on how much you can lift in general. There is no set weight per height/weight ratio.
Really make sure that you get the form down with very light (even just the bar) weight. This will help immensely in preventing injuries.
Lunges will be a lighter weight than squats because of the mechanics. As a basic starting place (and when you have your form down) I would try doing squats 3 sets of 8-10 reps with half of your body weight. If you can do that, then next time add weight (10-15%), if you can't do that, lower the weight and go from there. It might take a few workouts for you to figure out where the weights should be.
Hope that helps some.


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Although there will be elections Saturday in Jefferson, St. Tammany and other nearby parishes, there is nothing on the ballot in Orleans Parish.
That was not the original plan, however.
The City Council voted in February to call a special election April 30 to decide whether the beleaguered New Orleans Regional Business Park can continue levying a sizable property tax within its boundaries for another 10 years, ending in 2022. The revenue raised would be used "to stimulate industrial and commercial development."
Although the tax would be collected only in the 7,000-acre industrial park in eastern New Orleans, the election was to be citywide.
But the election will not take place. City Councilman Jon Johnson, whose district includes the park, said he had the vote called off when he realized it would be the only item on the ballot in New Orleans, meaning the city would have incurred the costs of an election in 366 precincts for one item of limited citywide interest. Turnout likely would have been extremely low.
Johnson said the tax renewal instead will be on the ballot this fall, when the governor's race and legislative contests are expected to produce a far higher turnout.
The currently authorized tax expires at the end of the year.
Although the measure the council passed in February would have authorized the business park to levy a 22.79-mill tax, the state law creating the agency, last modified by the Legislature in 2010, appears to give it the authority to impose a tax of no more than 20 mills on the assessed value of commercial property in the park. Total tax collections amounted to $221,869 in 2009.
The business park was created by the Legislature in 1979 and has been known by several names. Originally called the Almonaster-Michoud Industrial District, it later became the New Orleans Business and Industrial District, known by the acronym NOBID, which led to jokes about its business practices. So in 2004 it was renamed the New Orleans Regional Business Park.
Although the park is home to dozens of businesses, including major companies such as Lockheed Martin at the Michoud Assembly Facility and a Folgers Coffee Co. plant, it has long been plagued by management turnover and allegations of waste and poor business practices.
An internal audit last year found that the agency in 2009 misspent nearly $60,000 in federal grants and failed to keep proper records of another $95,000 in grant-related spending. It also paid $2,000 to a consulting firm owned by its then-executive director, Roy Mack Sr., in violation of state ethics laws, the audit said.
The park currently has no executive director, and its website consists mainly of notices saying, "Please check back later for updated information."
Johnson said he thinks the park has "unlimited potential," especially for distribution centers, primarily because of its easy access to rail, water, air and interstate highway transportation. But he said it needs stronger leadership than it has had.
He said he has not been able to focus on it as much as he would have liked since taking office last year, but he plans to work in coming months to attract more businesses to it.
Bruce Eggler can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 504.826.3320.


text: What are some strains that have the right qualities to be used in a sea of green method? Some qualities that are necessary Fast flowering Fast rooting clones Tendency to flower one large cola rather than side branches. A couple of strains that come to my mind AK47 Hash berry Please add some more to the list.


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The Federal Way City Council, in a 5-0 vote during a special meeting on June 11, rescinded the appointment of embattled chiropractor Greg Summers to the North Lake Management District Advisory Committee (NLMDAC).
The council cited concerns raised by other members of the committee - which manages the lake's finances and upkeep - as their main cause for the reversal. The chief concerns from other members of the committee came from Terry Thomas, a North Lake resident who said Summers had shown a lack of "stewardship" over the lake in his time as a resident.
"I'm looking for stewardship from Dr. Summers," Thomas told the council. "He's put structures in the lake, and I understand he's a bird watcher from looking at his (application). By putting structures in the lake with no comments to neighbors or anything, he's not exhibited stewardship. Basically, the structures have been unoccupied."
Summers is currently facing a felony indecent liberty charge in King County, stemming from alleged sexual misconduct on his part with a patient at his chiropractic practice in 2010.
At its June 4 meeting, the council approved Summers' appointment to the committee by a vote of 7-0.
Deputy Mayor Jim Ferrell reiterated the cause of the June 11 special meeting, saying Thomas' concerns, along with Summers' omission of legal troubles he's facing, meant a re-examination of his application and approval was needed.
"We obviously became aware of some issues and certain things that were withheld from (Summers') application," Ferrell said. "In light of this information, I think it's safe to say…the concern of any omission to any chiropractic practice or degree, but there was a mention of biology or zoology…I think it's safe to say during the course of the interview, a reasonable person sitting and listening to the responses, would think he was a practicing biologist or practicing in that field to some degree. That was my perception."
Councilmember Diana Noble-Gulliford set the tone for the rest of the council, indicating that Summers' legal troubles had little to no bearing on the decision to rescind his appointment. She said the stewardship issues that Thomas raised were of more concern.
"I'm in agreement with the motion but not your comments," Noble-Gulliford said. "I feel that had we had this email (Thomas' information) before us, that perhaps we would have reconsidered appointing this gentleman to the North Lake Management District (Advisory Committee)."
Councilmember Susan Honda asked if city staff had Thomas' email the day of Summers' appointment on June 4. The answer was in the affirmative, although Thomas pointed out that the NLMDAC had received notice that Summers was up for appointment only the day before. Thomas said he was able to get his information compiled into an email around 5 p.m. the day of the initial meeting.
One other point that arose during the discussion was whether Summers had been notified of the June 11 meeting. City clerk Carol McNeilly indicated she had emailed Summers with the agenda for the meeting, and that he had replied he had received the information. However, Summers was not in attendance.
Ferrell closed by saying this episode will be a guide for the city to improve its process with appointments to the various volunteer commissions throughout the community.
"I think it does, and will call into question, the manner in which we do this," he said. "I think certain assumptions were made, and I think this is a great opportunity to tighten up that practice."
Councilmembers Bob Celski and Dini Duclos were absent from Tuesday's special meeting.
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Southern Charms
By Wanda Jankowski
Visitors to AmericasMart during its January Market will find fresh product resources, enticing seminars and events, and easy access to the online world
The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishing Market takes place Jan. 11 to Jan. 18 (temporaries from Jan. 13 to Jan. 17), with the Atlanta International Area Rug Market featuring the National Oriental Rug Show running from Jan. 12 to Jan. 15 (temporaries from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15).
In addition to the multitude of debuting products, what's new for visitors at AmericasMart in January is access to a state-of-the-art Wi-Fi network. AmericasMart has partnered with iBAHN, an IP-based entertainment and information service for the hospitality and meeting industries, to deliver Wi-Fi on all temporary trade show floors, Living, Outdoor/Indoor®, The Gardens®, building lobbies and meeting room spaces.
"Wi-Fi access will give buyers and exhibitors on-site access to the World Wide Web and our new website, which incorporates a wealth of innovative tools to help plan Market visits and access all the assets of the world's global market," says Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., president and chief operating officer, AmericasMart.
The new AmericasMart website at americasmart.com, which launched in October 2011, features the MyMarket! Plan tool that allows buyers to create a personal agenda, and the new Buyer's Resource Center with a "First Time to Market" section and access to educational presentations, industry news, trend information and AmericasMart Magazine.
Support on accessing the network through Wi-Fi devices is available 24-7 by contacting the iBAHN Support team at 800-571-9462 and entering the AmericasMart main telephone number 404-220-3000 for immediate assistance.
AmericasMart also offers a range of insightful, free seminars through its Education Center and social events. Here is a sampling of what is scheduled during the January Market:
Thursday, Jan. 12
Saturday, Jan. 14
Home Source Opens
AmericasMart Showroom
When visiting AmericasMart for Market, look for the new Home Source International 3,200-square-foot corporate showroom in Building 1, Suite 9-A-1. This is the company's first full-fledged showroom in Atlanta. Previously, Home Source goods had been showcased with its rep group, HomeStyle, which will continue to represent the company.
In addition to its new Atlanta showroom, Home Source also maintains a showroom in New York at 230 Fifth Ave., as well as a presence in the Las Vegas HomeStyle West and the Dallas HomeStyle Southwest showrooms.
Started in 2000 by Keith Sorgeloos, the current president, ceo and owner, Home Source International offers products that reflect the philosophy of offering products that are "differentiated, unique, innovative." Products debuting in January include:
In ongoing efforts to improve the Home Source brand, Andrea Bruckner has been promoted to vice-president of sales, joining Janette Huff, also a vice-president of sales, in working as a team to provide outstanding customer service.
Codarus Expands Showroom,
Adds Peacock Alley
Multi-line rep group Codarus, led by co-visionaries, Cody Hutcheson and David Bugbee, is expanding its two-year-old AmericasMart Atlanta showroom.
"David and I attribute this to our hard-working sales force, dedicated vendors and the support of Karen Greaber at AmericasMart," says Hutcheson. "This expansion has also given us the opportunity to bring new vendors into the Codarus family."
The expanded Codarus showroom, located in Building 1, Suite 10A-1, will include more space to feature lines such as Bella Notte, Dransfield and Ross, Lili Alessandra and Wellborn Re:Defined. The loft design of the new showroom, with polished concrete floors, concrete pillars, and white walls and ceiling, creates a neutral but striking, up-to-date backdrop for vendors' products.
Codarus is also adding Peacock Alley to it lines, with merchandise displayed in a 1,200-square-foot boutique within the expanded showroom. Peacock Alley, known for high-quality sheeting, top of bed and bath will be moving into decorative pillows in the coming season. New for 2012 winter markets is Peacock Alley's hemstitched-detailed La Femme ensemble (shown) that includes 100 percent Egyptian cotton duvet and shams.
"With the addition of Peacock Alley to the Codarus family, we will be able to offer a larger variety of bedding and bath to our retailers and designers," says Hutcheson.
During market and special showroom events, customers can relax in the Codarus Café—the newly added custom Wellborn kitchen. Accessory Resource Team (ART) sponsored seminars and luncheons are scheduled to take place in the showroom for the 2012 markets.
Codarus' corporate showroom is located at the Dallas Market Center. For more information, visit codarus.com.


text:
DETROIT -- General Motors' product line-up is growing greener and the signs are hard to miss at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, where Saturn on Monday unveiled three "green" vehicles.
From a stage near Saturn's show floor where a large hybrid sign hangs, GM revealed the Saturn Flextreme Concept, with the capability of running up to 34 miles on all-electric power; the Saturn Vue Green Line Plug-In Hybrid that could be produced as early as 2010 and could be recharged by a household outlet in four to six hours; and the 2009 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid, which is expected to have a range of 500 miles per tank of gasoline.
The '09 Vue hybrid will feature technology that is married to a high-performance 3.6-liter V-6 engine, which could be built at GM plants that already produce high-performance V-6 engines, including in Flint, said Tom Stephens, a GM vice president for powertrain.
He said no decision has been made on which plant would produce the '09 Vue Hybrid's engine. Production will begin this fall, officials said.
GM Flint Engine South produces direct-injection V-6s. GM spokesman Tom Wickham said it's too early to talk about where work would land or how many people would be affected if GM concept vehicles are produced.
Several local GM plants are expected to receive new products, and a new Flint-area plant to handle work on three new engines is possible under the recent labor agreement between the automaker and the UAW.
Joe Ledford, shop chairman for Local 659 at Flint Engine South, said he is ready to take on more engine work at the plant.
At the show, which opens to the public Saturday, green is evident throughout GM's show floor.
A 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid is prominently featured in the Chevrolet exhibit. GM says it is the world's first hybrid full-size pickup.
GM says the Silverado Hybrid will get at least 40 percent better fuel economy in the city over the traditional Silverado.
"It'll tow 6,000 pounds so you're still getting full-size pickup capabilities but better fuel economy," said Brian Goebel, a GM spokesman for Chevrolet trucks.
On Sunday, GM announced a major ethanol initiative with an Illnois-based firm to help ramp up more ethanol production. Mary Beth Stanek, GM's director of environment, energy and safety policy, said that the ethanol could be available to consumers for about $1.99 a gallon.
GM has 2.5 million FlexFuel vehicles on the road in the United States. Those vehicles allow drivers to use E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, traditional gasoline or a combination of both.
But GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said that more E85 fueling stations are needed. He said less than 1 percent of the 170,000 gas stations in the United States offer it.
Not to be outdone, Chrysler on Monday also rolled out three plug-in concept cars.
Chrysler's entries in the concept race are Chrysler ecoVoyager, Dodge Zeo and Jeep Renegade.
Frank Klegon, Chrysler's product development chief, said the Zeo concept, which is completely electric, is designed to maintain Dodge's tradition of performance. The ecoVoyager, coupled with a fuel cell, is meant to convey Chrysler's reputation as an "iconic American brand." And the Renegade, combined with a low-emission diesel engine, is envisioned as a vehicle that could "go anywhere" and "go green."
Still, he said, they are purely concepts with no production guarantees.
"With emerging technologies, you don't really know which one is going to be the right solution, or something else that leapfrogs in the meantime," he said. "That's one challenge for us as an industry and a company."
For has a partnership with Southern California Edison to develop a small fleet of plug-in hybrids. The automaker delivered its first plug-in to the utility late last year.
The auto show also features Toyota's plug-in hybrid prototype, which, like the current Prius, switches from pure electric to gas engine to a blended gas electric mode. But the plug-in has a second battery pack.
Information from The Associated Press is included in this report.


text: Services for Marilyn Jean Helgeson 88, of Fort Dodge will be Monday, April 22, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. Visitation will be Sunday 6-8 p.m. at the Historic Bruce Funeral Home in Fort Dodge. Visitation will continue at the church on Monday, one hour prior to services. Burial will be in North Lawn Cemetery. She died Tues. April 16, 2013 at the Fort Dodge Villa Care Center.


text:
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Capablanca had not lost a game in 11 years
I have not lost a game since last evening ...
Here is a match I lost last night that I had been doing okay in, but my middle and end game ruined it (and my start wasn't very strong either):
I looked at your game from Feb.8 and thought I'd give you some pointers:
7.0-0 ? Castling is a mistake at this point. Black's last move, 6...d5 set up the threat 7...d4, forking the White knight and bishop, winning a piece. You needed to play 7.exd5 here to eliminate this threat. This fork remains possible for several moves but luckily Black never saw it.
11.Nb5? Your knight on e5 is hanging and can be captured by the Black queen. Your move, attacking the black queen almost forces Black to capture your knight. Luckily Black didn't see it.
15.Qa6? Sadly you missed a mate in two here. 15.Qa7+! Kc8 16.Qa8#. At the very least you could've also simply taken Black's knight on a2 with your queen.
16.Bxb6? Here you missed a mate in one. 16.Nxc6#
17.Qa5? Your knight on b5 is attacked by a pawn, so moving your queen just leaves it up for grabs. Better was to continue the attack with 17.Nxc6+, if then 17...Qxc6 it's mate in two 18.Ba7+ Ka8 19.Qxc6#. Also better would have been trading queens with 17.Qxb7+ Kxb7 and then taking his rook with 18.Bxd8
18.Qxb5? Better would have been to win the black rook with 18.Bxd8. Up until now you were winning, but now the tide is beginning to turn.
20.Nxf7? Trying to fork the two black rooks. You should have taken the Black knight on a2 with your queen instead. Now you're losing.
21.d4? The Black knight on a2 is still up for grabs! 21.Qxa2 should've been played.
22...Qxb2?? Your opponent commits a fatal blunder with this pawn grab. His queen and king are on the same open file. You can now skewer them with 23.Rb3, winning the queen. Sadly you missed it.
I will stop the analysis at this point. The rest of the game no longer presented you with any opportunities to save the game.
This is hardly an in-depth analysis of your game, I merely pointed out the most obvious tactics. I would recommend you look at this game again and again until everything I pointed out to you pops right out at you.
Were the first two games against this guy?
I think it's around 1100.
I think he's related to Ali G. Hope that helps.
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Buies Creek, N.C.—When students hear the phrase "biological research," most likely visions of lab work and field studies come to mind. But, according to Drs. Karen Guzman and John Bartlett, anyone who has done research realizes it is so much more than collecting specimens and looking at them under a microscope. Therefore, they insist that the research required in their Introduction to Biology course at Campbell University run the gamut of critical thinking skills—from collecting and analyzing data to synthesizing and forming a hypothesis. The course has produced such good student outcomes that the professors were recently tapped to present their methodology at a workshop sponsored by the National Association of Biology Teachers, Oct. 17, in Memphis, Tenn.
By teaching the process of biological research, as well as critical thinking skills, students become their own scientific investigators and must develop their own conclusions, the professors said. The course requires them to select a research topic which then becomes a "theme" for the semester's work. They choose the topic from the literature, gather background information, select and analyze several primary research sources and then complete the semester by presenting their research in a poster format to their peers and the science faculty.
"This mock scientific presentation allows the student to demonstrate the depth of knowledge and understanding they have gained through the process," said Guzman. "Although students are often wary of the presentation beforehand, they typically feel a deep sense of accomplishment afterwards, thus reinforcing for them what can be learned through the scientific process."
The course curriculum covers the major aspects of scientific research, including the scientific method, developing a hypothesis and a research project, statistical analysis, how to approach ethical issues and how to present scientific data. Establishing this basic foundation for research gives students a platform to build upon in subsequent work, Bartlett added.
"Introduction to Biological Research is a "hands-on" learning environment," he said. "According to studies, students remember 70-90 percent of what they demonstrate or teach in class and only 10-20 percent of what they read or hear during lectures, that's why our poster presentations maximize student learning and leave our students with a tremendous sense of discovery."
The professors also believe this model could even be modified for upper high school level students.
Dr. Karen Guzman is an associate professor of Biological Sciences and Advisor to the Walker Biology Club at Campbell. She also serves as Executive Director of CANCAS (Collegiate Academy of the North Carolina Academy of Science). She received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from North Carolina State University. Dr. John Bartlett is an assistant professor of Biological Sciences. He received a Ph.D. in wildlife ecology from the University of Maine.
Guzman's research interests are in the area of cell differentiation and cell-specific gene expression. Bartlett is interested in satellite imagery of landcover changes related to human activities and the effect of these changes on bird species abundance.


text:
CORNER BROOK The Colemans Group of Companies is back to focusing on developing a sizable piece of land in the University Drive, OŌĆÖConnell Drive and Elizabeth Street area.
© Star photo by Geraldine Brophy
The area of land the Colemans Group of Companies intends on developing.
The company has nine hectares of land in that busy area of the city, and Eugene Coleman says they have been planning to develop it since 1997.
Coleman spoke in mid-March about the plan for the construction of an apartment building and retail shop or shops in the portion of land facing OŌĆÖConnell Drive, while single or double dwelling units would be erected on land bordering the Elizabeth Street area.
While addressing the public hearing of the city's Integrated Municipal Sustainability Plan and 2012 development regulations, the city businessman discussed the project with Gerard Martin, the commissioner, in hopes of influencing zone changes to allow the development to take place sometime in the future. Proposed zone changes to this area would not allow for the construction of houses, while retail shops would be a discretionary use under the new proposed innovation district zone. An apartment complex would be permitted.
Last week, Coleman said it was important to make the city and its consultant, Stantec, aware of their plans.
ŌĆ£The city, their consultants, blanketed the area with innovation district zone,ŌĆØ he said. ŌĆ£The consultants probably didnŌĆÖt realize it was privately owned and we have been planning development for some time.ŌĆØ
The Colemans Group was approved in principal to erect row houses in that area in 2004, according to Coleman. It would have had to include a wellness centre at the time.
But the project was put on hold when the company began construction of the new grocery store at the former Humber Gardens.
After that was completed, Coleman said they purchased the 1.6 hectares of property bordering Elizabeth Street, bring the total land to the nine hectares they currently have, so they could develop something more substantial. That area is targetted for the development of a number of duplexes.
ŌĆ£Right now, we are kind of back to the drawing board on the proposal,ŌĆØ Coleman said. ŌĆ£We are trying to determine a way to service the front of OŌĆÖConnell with either some small retail shops or shop and some apartment complexes, which we feel there is a big need for in town.ŌĆØ
Coleman also recognized the retail shop would not likely be approved if it was a ŌĆ£big box storeŌĆØ type of business. He said it would likely be a smaller shop or shops, and something the Colemans Group would look to lease or rent.
ŌĆ£We are willing to develop that land, but we have to come to some kind of arrangement as to what will work for both of us,ŌĆØ he said, referring to the zoning of the land.
The company is looking to break ground on the project in the fall, depending on whether they can resolve the zoning issues.


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Good evening,
As I prepared my remarks for this evening, I contacted many of the LBJ students who were privileged to take the last three classes she ever taught. The words I will share are not mine, but ours, in remembrance of our teacher…
Rostow never spoke without a point or a theme and she rarely went of topic. She was a master of words and knew how to take us on a verbal journey that tied seemingly unrelated events or ideas together.
So, I'd like to tie what her most recent students had to say about her together in the context of the example that she set for us.
Dean Rostow demanded 100% and that's what she always gave. Every morning she was elegantly dressed, perfectly coiffed, and, no one ever wondered if she had done the assigned reading! Many of us remember notes on papers demanding that we think harder, do better, and act more brilliant. She demanded it because she knew we could do it and less than 100% was never acceptable. When we visited her in her office, we learned to go in with a plan and ideas rather than just winging it.
Dean Rostow was always honest – always!
I had the privilege of taking the last class she taught. During the review of our final simulation she said that she was "impressed by the fuzziness of our logic…and not necessarily in a good way." One of the students I spoke to reminisced about a mock interview that Rostow did with her. At the end, Rostow commented, "Well, I'm not impressed."
But her praise was also abundant and more important because you knew, that if Rostow said it, it must be true. At the end of an early planning meeting for this year's Barbara Jordan forum, I clearly recall dean Rostow wrapping it up by saying, I am confident, ms. Lalonde, that it will be a success, because you will make it a success. That was all I needed!
Dean Rostow showed us that challenges and adversity mean nothing in the face of dedication and determination. Learning about her life and all the things she did, made us think, if she did it, I can. She was a force of nature even as her body became frail. It was hard to complain about getting up for class and doing all the reading when you knew that dean Rostow would be there on time after a night of reading everything from the economist to vogue. And, oh, she had probably watched Stephen Colbert too.
Even though dean Rostow was the smartest woman I've ever met, she never condescended to a student. She showed respect to each of us and taught us to respect each other as well. But it was fun; many of us fell to her quick wit and stone-faced humor during class.
She affirmed and validated our pursuit of public service by her example of service.
She was full of grace and amazingly gracious. We could truly go to her office hours just to talk about "things," or, just to get a piece of chocolate…or three. Each semester, she opened her home to her students and invited one of her friends to come speak to us. As a first year, I remember watching her and Ben Barnes holding hands at her home, each with a glass of wine in the other, Regaling us with tales of the old days. For a brief moment we were able not only to learn about history but to feel it and see it unfold.
When we heard of our beloved professor's passing, there were so many emotions involved:
Disbelief – how was this possible, surely even death would fear Rostow
uncertainty – what will happen to the school, her classes, what about our grades???
But, mostly, it was sadness that we, her family, and the school had lost one of the greats. Our world became a little more dull without her. Now, after nearly 3 months without her guiding presence, as we continue to strive to live lives of consequence, I realize why she taught for 70 years.
She taught so the world could still be bright without her.
I first met Dean Rostow when I visited Austin as a prospective student and she was one of the people who convinced me to come here. I owe her a debt of gratitude for that. After I came here I had the privilege of auditing one of her classes and then being the teaching assistant for the class she co-taught with Dean Steinberg this past semester. Just before that class began she said, "The class has never been taught before, and I don't know if it will ever be taught again, but it certainly promises to be interesting." And it certainly was. It included such priceless moments as her playing the role of Vice President Cheney in a simulation exercise. At another point she said something that put it all in perspective; that reminded each one of us how fortunate we were to be there: "I worked in the OSS, probably before Dean Steinberg was born."
I've been in and out of universities for the last decade or so. In that time, as a TA and a student, I've come across a lot of professors. And I can tell you (something you probably already know), Dean Rostow was special.
She was special because she could teach you about what policymakers did; but also, since she knew so many of them, what they were like.
She was special because she'd inspire her students, and because her students not just respected her, but loved her.
She was special because despite the fact that when you first met her, you felt intimidated, you soon learnt to detect the twinkle in her eye before she said the wittiest thing you've heard in a while in the smartest way possible -- all of course, with a stoic expression that made it even funnier.
She was special because she knew -- in the classroom and outside it -- how and when to ask the right question and how to make you think before you answered it; and she listened when you did answer.
She was special because when you were talking to her, she made you feel special. Week after week, she took time out to meet with students. You could walk into her office for a 5-minute meeting and the next thing you knew it was an hour later -- you left her office, probably running late for class, but with a smile on your face and your brain ticking, trying to remember everything she'd said.
And she was special because she was not just a great professor, but also a wonderful person. She taught her students not just about presidents and foreign policy but about dealing with life and work, and doing it all with grace.
I know there are a number of people around the world whose lives are better for having had the opportunity and good fortune to have got to know her.
I know I am one of them.
More than four decades of students owe a sincere debt to Dean Rostow. By both her example and her instruction, Dean Rostow instilled in her students the wisdom for critical thinking, a spirit of compassion, and the importance of tireless dedication that is essential for public service.
In honor of the tremendous contributions Dean Rostow made to our class, and to the students who preceded us, it is with great privilege that I announce that the Class of 2008 has chosen to make it's traditional class gift in her honor.
The class of 2008 will support the Dean Elspeth Rostow Memorial Graduate Fellowship being created at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. As Dean Steinberg has indicated, the Rostow Graduate Fellowship will be awarded to second-year graduate students whose interests embody the spirit and dedication to public service that Dean Rostow herself exemplified throughout her life and career.
Please join me in thanking Dean Steinberg for his dedication and devotion to the establishment of this fellowship in her honor.