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This article was published in the Ames Tribune December 12, 2008.
Growing vegetables in tropical soil
At the end of last month, the guy who owns the house we rent arrived with a bottle of seco (a bad version of rum) and his weed whacker. By the end of the day, our yard looked like we were baling hay. The grass hadn't been cut in more than a year. We only keep the walk ways clean.
My neighbor, Leonarda, suggested we plant corn in the newly cleaned area next to the house. Sure, why not? It might be a good way to show how to use green manures and homemade compost fertilizer. I bought corn seed and headed out with a long pointy stick called a coa. I jabbed holes and threw in three kernels of corn and stubbed the holes closed with the heel of my boot, just like our Panamanian neighbors and much to their amusement.
This is the yard after the weed wacker went through and where I planted the corn.
About a week later, I seeded a bean called canivalia, a green manure, between the corn rows. I also started making compost tea. This compost tea takes about a month to decompose. I filled a five gallon bucket with one quarter balo leaves (a leguminous tree) and one quarter horse manure and finished with water and a lid on tight.
The balo and manure break down by anaerobic respiration making a nitrogen rich liquid that can be diluted and applied to the corn. Between the corn and the robust squash and tomatoes growing out of the resting side of the compost bin, I hope my neighbors will take notice.
It has taken me a year to realize the soil here is so poor it takes almost four times as much compost and fertilizer to coax anything to grow. I knew tropical soils were poor, but I didn't understand just how different that makes things. Hopefully, I can pass on what I am learning by trial and error and some previous knowledge. Ultimately, maybe they will adapt these practices themselves. And that's what it is all about!
It's a slow, repetitive, difficult process, this changing of practices engrained in culture. Luckily, Peace Corps gives each volunteer two years. Peace Corps also on recommendation of the previous volunteer will put up to four consecutive volunteers in the community. So this community could have seven more years of support to get these techniques established.
The learning goes both ways. I have learned a lot. How to speak Spanish being the most obvious. But also how to live in this culture. I really thought I would have a hard time living in an impoverished setting with oppressed people. I didn't realize they consider themselves neither of these things. They live happy, healthy lives.
I enjoy the laid-back lifestyle. Get up early, work until it gets hot. Then shower and relax the rest of the day. There is no pressure to have the best or biggest or be the prettiest. Our neighbors wouldn't mind owning a fancy truck or television, but they don't consider them worth the effort to attain. It is a refreshingly unconsumeristic approach to life.
This would be a great place to raise a family if only the education system was better.
Foy Spicer and Jeff Diesburg are Peace Corps volunteers in central Panama, some 40 miles northeast of Panama City. They live in a town of about 50 people that has no electricity.
Foy and Jeff are 1999 graduates of Ames High School and 2003 graduates of Iowa State University. Their Peace Corps assignment is from May 2007 to August 2009.


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January 17th is Kid Inventors Day and the Smithsonian and ePals are marking the occasion by inviting students, teachers and the public to vote for their favorite entries in their second annual student Invent It! Challenge. In nearly 300 entries, Pre-K12 students from around the globe have submitted ideas for original inventions to solve real world problems in their everyday environments and beyond. Help boost this STEM activity by weighing in with your and your students' choices of the best student inventions from the 16 ePals Choice entries selected from the larger group. Voting is open until February 3rd and happens here: http://en.community.epals.com/smithsonian_on_epals/p/inventionchallenge2012epalschoice.aspx.
Smithsonian and ePals Honor Kid Inventors Day
By Carletta
January 18th, 2013

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Note: I am very pleased to have received comments on this post, and present my responses to those comments at the end of this blog post.
In the lead up to the Copenhagen talks a group of climate scientists has put out a publication called The Copenhagen Diagnosis. For me it is a disappointing document because the scientists aren't doing what they do best, which is present science. Instead they take a chapter out of the bad skeptic book, and present evidence in a one sided and misleading way. My feeling is that they are learning the wrong lesson from everything that has happened.
The fundamental problem is that by doing things this way they are completely opening themselves up to criticism that will, to the average person, seem like the science is wrong, when it is their presentation of the science that is wrong. This causes the general public to question the whole foundation of the science on the climate issue. For people like me it causes me to read every publication, and statement from this group with complete skepticism when I would prefer to not have to dig into everything to see whether it makes sense.
I'm not going to go through the entire document. Instead I will focus on two sections where I have spent some time understanding the issues; Sea Level, and Sea Ice.
Sea Level
On page 39 of the report they make two summary statements about sea level. Which I will summarize. First sea level is rising faster than than the best estimate of the IPCC Third Assessment Report (TAR), and second that sea level rise is likely to be twice as large as the IPCC AR4 (AR4) based on a new ice sheet understanding.
Why did they choose to compare sea level rise with the Third Assessment Report? Why not the first or second, or better yet the one that was just completed AR4? Is it because most people who are reading quickly would assume that they were comparing the last few years to the most recent assessment report instead of an old one? After all they go on to say that the most recent report is seriously underestimating future sea level rise.
Even if we accept that somehow the TAR is the right baseline instead of AR4 there are problems with the graph they present. On the graph they show a gray range which they label as "IPCC Projections." They don't show anything that is a "best estimate." Looking at figure 24 from the Third Assessment Report it is a little
difficult to tell what they have used to create this range, but artistically that report had a gray range. If you use a magnifying glass and do some interpolation it might have the same high and low values as the range in their graph. But in the IPCC report that range is labeled as "the range of the average of AOGCMs for all thirty five SRES scenarios." On the Third Assessment graph there is a much wider range that is labeled "the range of all AOGCMs and scenarios including uncertainty in land-ice changes, permafrost changes and sediment deposition.
Neither of these are labeled as a "best estimate." And in fact even on their own graph the observations are at the top end of the range, not outside the range.
To make matters worse if you look at the graph you can see that observations are well above the center of the gray region by 1995. But the Third Assessment Report was published in 2001. Did the authors of the TAR really intend that sea level already be at the top of their range in a period years ahead of when the report was published? Or is this more likely just mixing apples and oranges with a comparison of General Circulation Models (GCMs) and observations. I don't think the GCMs were ever intended to be compared with observations in this manner. And the fact that the graph in the TAR doesn't include observations would back up this conclusion.
Looking to the future, what is the basis for their statement that sea level is likely to rise twice is fast as predicted in AR4? AR4 was published in 2007, so something dramatic must have happened for the conclusions of an entire chapter to be overturned. We would expect to find some serious and widely accepted peer reviewed studies that show that the AR4 consensus chapter was seriously flawed. Instead they base their conclusion on three things. First that the AR4 didn't include dynamic processes. Second that a single paper by Stefan Rahmstorf predicts higher values. And third the results of the "Delta Committee." These are really poor arguments.
On the issue of dynamic processes, it is true that the AR4 left dynamic processes out of their core range. But they go on to discuss what effect they would have. In figure 10.7 it includes an additional .1 to .2M for "Scaled-up ice sheet discharge." So in the judgment of the chapter authors, if in fact there is scaled up discharge from Greenland and Antarctica they would add .1 to .2M to their estimates. This is a long way from doubling their estimates. The Copenhagen authors present no evidence of any kind peer reviewed or other that this is incorrect.
Their second leg is the Rahmstorf 2007 paper that uses a simple linear model to forecast future sea level rises based on temperature. There are a lot of problems with that model as I have discussed in other blog posts, and as were discussed in published comments by two different groups following the publication of the paper. Even if you think that paper is interesting, it hardly can be used to overturn the consensus work of the AR4 authors who are actually experts in the field of sea level rise. (By the way they also list WBGU 2006 as a reference, but as this refers to published work, and previous IPCC reports it can hardly be used to claim that new research has overturned the AR4 prediction.)
Finally they reference the "Delta Committee." This was a government committee in the Netherlands which gave recommendations to the Dutch government on how much sea level rise to plan for. This link fills in some details about the committee, which was not a scientific assessment, and once again certainly isn't a reasonable case for saying that the estimates of the AR4 were wrong.
In summary their presentation of the past is misleading, and their statement about likely future sea level rise is not grounded in the peer reviewed literature. If they wanted to say it was their opinion that would be fine. But the way it is written a casual reader wouldn't get that message.
Sea Ice
In their summary on Sea Ice on page 31 they state that the melt in the Arctic has been larger than forecast by the AR4. This statement is true, but there are three problems. First there have been very few data points. One could just as easily say that global temperature has been well below the forecasts of the AR4. It has been pointed out repeatedly that this would not be proof of anything. Second they fail to mention in the summary that Antarctic sea ice has been above those same forecasts, although they cover the topic later in the chapter. Finally they fail to mention a recent publication by Shindell that explains that warming in the Arctic has been enhanced by black soot, which likely has been a factor in the amount of Arctic sea ice melt.
To complete the imbalance they show a graph of Arctic sea ice, but no graph of Antarctic sea ice. The Arctic sea ice graph is again a little strange. They label the "prediction" in the graph as "mean and range of IPCC models." We can see that the observations have been diverging downward, and have left the range in recent years. (Note that chose not to plot the one year recovery in 2009 even though they refer to it in the figure description.) But looking closely the divergence appears to begin in 1975. When were these models created? Once again do I believe that a model created circa 2006 was starting to be so wrong in 1975? In AR4 they don't include observations in figure 10.13 leading me to believe that you can't simply compare the observations with those models without great care in centering etc.
On the subject of the Antarctic they do devote a page to discussing the increase in sea ice. But pretty much the page is designed to explain it away because of circulation, ozone, and the fact that the ice is shrinking in some areas. I'm sure those are all good reasons, just like the black soot is a factor accelerating Arctic ice melt, which they don't mention. But to be balanced they should have presented a graph comparing Antarctic sea ice with the IPCC AR4 projections from figure 10.13. This would show a very large divergence, but on the high side.
The AR4 is a well written balanced document. I might have some objections here and there, but I learn a lot from reading it, and it gives me a good picture of where the consensus lies on climate change. When scientists stray from this type of generally balanced document, as they have with the Copenhagen Diagnosis, it makes me have to question everything that they are writing and saying, which defeats the purpose.
Response to Comments
I will start with the choice of report. Your premise is that they chose the TAR because there was a projection that covers the current date, while AR4 doesn't have such a projection. That is a good point, but I don't think it is quite as meaningful as you state.
The problem is that while the graph in the TAR is labeled "Sea Level Rise" it is actually a graph of absolute sea level. The graph in the CD is also absolute sea level not rate of rise. To determine the rate of sea level rise you would need to determine the slope of each of the lines in the graph. This is where you could possibly find the 1.9mm/year figure that they use although it is not sourced. If they had wanted to source a figure of rate of rise, which of course wouldn't start at zero, and then compare rate of rise during the period that would have been clear. My comments about being above the range long before 2001 have to do with absolute sea level as pictured in their graph, and since I don't think anyone was suspecting sea level would drop significantly during that period it seems unlikely that it was meant to be compared to measurements.
(After I wrote this I reflected that for me at least that graph would have been more interesting. But I think for most people two sets of nearly horizontal sea level figures with the TAR figure moving up towards the measured rate of rise wouldn't have made their rhetorical point. Especially since the rate has been decreasing in recent years, see below.)
Now let's take a look at the actual TAR graph. Between 1990 and 2010 the center of the upper and lower range, and the gray range for that matter, goes from zero to approximately .03m or 3cm. This produces an average slope over that period of 1.5mm/year, although it strains my eyes to do it. The period that they quote is 1993 to 2008 so since the curve slopes upward this might produce the 1.9mm/year figure.
They emphasize that the measured rate rate of 3.4 is 80% higher than the 1.9 figure. I have to admit that I got caught up with their graph and the ranges presented in it so I missed that point. However this recent rate of sea level rise was well understood by the authors of the chapter in AR4, and was completely taken into account in their revised sea level estimates. And even so the AR4 range is substantially similar to the TAR, as the helpfully point out, but for a different reason. So while the points they make about sea level are each technically correct, and I never said they weren't, they tend to mislead the reader into believing that the recent measured level of sea level rise would indicate that the consensus range in AR4 are likely to be understated, and it means no such thing.
You go on to say that they could have made it more dramatic by using the AR4 models, but this seems to contradict your statement that they don't cover the relevant period, so I'm not sure what you mean by that.
Your comments about the best estimate being the center are certainly consistent with other cases. But as I have pointed out it doesn't really matter which center you use, at least in this short time frame. Computing the slope using the top bar, which eventually leads to a .8M sea level rise, the recent rise in sea level is within the range, which because of the style of presentation is correctly pictured in their graph.
Catherine please add any other thoughts you would like, you caused me to look at the data a little differently, although as the scientists always like to say, my main conclusions are not affected. :-)
Your post starts off well enough but then devolves into the typical sort of insults that seem to hurled around this issue constantly. Nevertheless I will answer your comment.
There have been several papers recently discussing mass loss from both Antarctica and Greenland. Particularly of note is that the GRACE satellite is showing that Antarctica may be contributing to sea level rise while the AR4 models centered around the idea that it would absorbing mass and therefore slowing sea level rise.
Nevertheless, as I pointed out in my original post, these type of ice sheet dynamics were discussed in AR4. They have provided the range that they would add for this type of thing as an additional .1 to .2 meters per year. I know of no published research changing the core conclusions on sea level rise as a result of these measurements, which in fact at current levels would be trivial. Trust me if those reports existed the authors of the CD would have referenced them.
In addition based on recent research (1) sea level rise is currently decelerating over the short term. So even if you believe that there is increased contribution from the ice sheets it is being offset from other factors. Remember that 3.4 mm/year would only yield .34m of sea level rise over the century, so there has to be an acceleration just to reach the midpoint of the estimates.
(1) A new assessment of the error budget of global mean sea level rate estimated by satellite altimetry over 1993–2008
M. Ablain1, A. Cazenave2, G. Valladeau1, and S. Guinehut1
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Follow up on Rahmstorf 2007
I had thought in my last post that it was quite evident that the model in Rahmstorf 2007 was not well specified. In fact I was more interested in the issues dealing with the response to comments than I was in making the point clearly I suppose.
In that post I showed that the first half of the data did not do a good job of predicting the second half of the data. In fact the coefficient for the second period has half the value of the first period which would produce wildly different results for future predictions. But this by itself doesn't show the obvious which is that the linear model just doesn't work even without looking at out of sample prediction.
Here is a web page that presents the methodology for whether a linear regression is well specified.
Remember that I am doing this against the final calculations with corrections from the corrigedums by Rahmstorf.
First I plotted predicted values against the actual values, and in fact they are not symmetrically distributed around either the diagonal or horizontal line. You can try it yourself from the code I already posted. But since there is no fixed rule for what symmetric means, my experience is that this will not be sufficient to make my point.
So then I computed the Durbin Watson statistic for autocorrelation in the results.
The result is .4 which according the Wikipedia page puts it in the range where it "might be cause for alarm."
The point is that the residuals are not well scattered, and they are highly autocorrelated. This should be enough for anyone to see that even a first year statistics student would know that the model isn't well specified.
In response to a comment here is the plot of the actual versus predicted values.
Here is a plot of the residuals. It doesn't take a DW statistic to see how highly autocorrelated they are.
In that post I showed that the first half of the data did not do a good job of predicting the second half of the data. In fact the coefficient for the second period has half the value of the first period which would produce wildly different results for future predictions. But this by itself doesn't show the obvious which is that the linear model just doesn't work even without looking at out of sample prediction.
Here is a web page that presents the methodology for whether a linear regression is well specified.
Remember that I am doing this against the final calculations with corrections from the corrigedums by Rahmstorf.
First I plotted predicted values against the actual values, and in fact they are not symmetrically distributed around either the diagonal or horizontal line. You can try it yourself from the code I already posted. But since there is no fixed rule for what symmetric means, my experience is that this will not be sufficient to make my point.
So then I computed the Durbin Watson statistic for autocorrelation in the results.
The result is .4 which according the Wikipedia page puts it in the range where it "might be cause for alarm."
The point is that the residuals are not well scattered, and they are highly autocorrelated. This should be enough for anyone to see that even a first year statistics student would know that the model isn't well specified.
In response to a comment here is the plot of the actual versus predicted values.
Here is a plot of the residuals. It doesn't take a DW statistic to see how highly autocorrelated they are.
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CHARLES CITY (County) — County officials think they have found the ideal site for a three-building complex to replace the county's four dilapidated schools, but the property deed contains a covenant that restricts development to residential and agricultural uses and neighbors do not want a school next door.
The Board of Supervisors has authorized County Administrator Fred Darden to have the 63-acre property appraised. It is located in an area called Courthouse Landing located behind the post office off Route 5 between Courthouse and Queen creeks.


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Lizella, GA (PRWEB) August 01, 2014
Got old shoes that you don't know what to do with? Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia and ShoeBox Recycling are working together to make the world a smaller, friendlier, and greener place one pair of shoes at a time through the Scouting for Shoes program. Girl Scouts throughout Georgia have been busy trying to keep shoes out of landfills. Since starting this program in January, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia has collected more than 3,214 pounds of shoes. Every pair of shoes recycled will live happily on someone else's feet.
The program is simple. Collect gently used, re-wearable shoes, bring them to one of Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia's eight service centers and drop them in the ShoeBox.
It's estimated that 20 billion pairs of shoes are produced annually, and unfortunately, roughly 300 million pairs are thrown away each year that can last for as long as 1,000 years in a landfill. When considering the sheer volume of shoe waste, it's environmentally irresponsible to toss shoes in a landfill where they'll impact the planet for centuries.
Recycling shoes helps do the following:
- Provide affordable shoes to those in need
- Creates micro-enterprises for individuals throughout the world, thus fueling local economies here and abroad
- Keeps them out of the landfills, creating a cleaner, greener planet
- Humanizes the process of shoe recycling with real connections of differing cultures
Now is the time to clean out those closets and donate them to Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia's Scouting for Shoes program instead of throwing them away to sit in a landfill.
Acceptable Shoes: All paired men's, women's and kids' shoes that are still usable. That means no holes in the soles and no wet or mildewed pairs. This includes athletic shoes, dress shoes, timberland type work boots, sandals, heels, flats
Not Acceptable Shoes: Heavy Winter Boots, Skates, Blades, Flip-Flops, Slippers, Singles, Unusable
To find the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia service center closest to you or to find out more about the Scouting for Shoes program, log onto http://www.gshg.org.
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia is the premier leadership development organization for girls and serves more than 14,000 girls and 6,000 adults in 122 counties in Georgia, two counties in South Carolina and Russell County in Alabama.


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The Joseph Cornell exhibition at SFMoMA is wonderful! Not to be missed.
His works speaks to my psyche. Is it the selection of objects, their symbolism, their arrangement or design? Or is it the intimacy of each small piece? Evidence of his personal touch adds to the experience. No Photoshopped work here! He actually cut and pasted things together.


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I Still Feel FinePosted: January 1, 2010 Filed under: Magazines | Tags: book, We Feel Fine 9 Comments
Do you ever have days where you just want to make someones eyes bleed by clashing together as many colours as possible? Well that was my wardrobe philosophy two years ago on the day this photo was taken-
I look at the outfit now and I just shake my head. I still wear all these clothes- just not together- and that was a one time only appearance for the flower on my hat. I uploaded this photo to Flickr with the caption, "With all these bright colours I feel like an elf- or at least like I should be presenting kids TV. "
Some months later I got an email from someone who was carrying out research for a book about human emotion called We Feel Fine and they asked if they could use the photo. A book about human emotion? I thought, sounds a bit like some hippie "we are the world" project to me, I thought. As long as no one then invites me to go dance around Stonehenge naked, praying to fairies I don't mind, I thought. Then I agreed.
I got a copy of the book two days ago.
My photo now looks like this-
Headless fatty! Legless fatty too so at least theres some symmetry.
The book has surprised me. It's not the new age tome I thought it might be, it's a modern compilation of hundreds of "feelings" that have been curated from the internet using specially designed software that detects the phrases "I feel" and "I am feeling". The book is the work of Sep Kamvar and Jonathon Harris, is completely engrossing and downright brilliant. Hundreds of photos, quotes, statistics, charts, illustrations and diagrams make it unputdownable and it's as though you're delving into the inner corners of the minds of hundreds of people and discovering their private thoughts. For a nosey parker like me its the perfect pastime.
The book is based on the website wefeelfine.org which is well worth checking out, and its candidness also reminds me of Postsecret which is one of my fave websites. With these two sites on my weekly hitlist its only a matter of time before I know some intimate detail about just about everyone on the planet. Or close enough.
9 Comments on "I Still Feel Fine"
I think you look amazing in your bright colors. I wish the book had kept the top and bottom of the pic, but it does sound like a very interesting book. Thanks for brightening my day, eileen
It´s amazing how things happen via Internet! One day you take a picture like that, next thing you know it´s in a book about feelings.
Love the outfit by the way…I often lack the courage to wear bright colours. But it really suits you, even though you mention you wouldn´t wear the outfit at it is there anymore.
The outfit looks great on you
You look so cute and that is way cool that you were pictured in that book! 🙂
Eyes burning is back trust me LOL
I think you look good and love that you have the guts to wear whatever, whenever, just as long as you feel fine! Keep it up in everything you do!


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And this is what the Comme des Garcons website looked like today (and for quite some time prior to today actually). Gorgeous stuff. Includes collaborations with the Brothers Quay, a set magnificent stop motion animators (also illustrators) whose work is enchantingly grim. I always like contradictions in art, for example how something morose can evoke beauty in a perverted sort of way. The Quays achieve that perfectly with their films. Ai Weiwei is also another collaborator; he is a Beijing-based artist whose work typically involves a social commentary of some kind, and thankfully it isn't distasteful by any stretch. His series 'Fingers' is one of the greatest things, I recommend searching for it. It's bound to be somewhere on the internet, no? One of the photographs, entitled 'White House', is simply an image of his hand in the foreground, out of focus, flipping off the White House which sits in front of him. From a safe distance, of course. Finally there is Mondongo, a group of Argentinean artists whose intricate collages are preoccupied with portraying sexually obscene situations. Similar artistic style with what they're doing for CdG but the subject matter is slightly altered. The characters in the collages are reasonably clothed on the website, for one. Regardless, I am fond of all three collaborations because I feel they do coincide with the Comme aesthetic. The website is simply and purely good artists working jointly with equally good artists and creating something interesting. And I'm definitely interested.
Images courtesy of zee Comme des Garcons official vebsite. Und zee tiger sveater und belt are both thrifted.


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News and comment on church closings and on modern Catholic life throughout the world. The practice of Catholic devotions as a remedy and in reparation will also be encouraged. If anyone has any news on any Catholic Church closures anywhere in the world, pictures and suggested links please feel free to e-mail. Also pay a visit to the extensive archives- also click on labels.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Investigating judge called in this afternoon to decide if Danneels is witness or suspect
at 18:47
And takes no decision- for the moment.
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Baz Luhrmann's upcoming Netflix series The Get Down is set in 1977 South Bronx. New York City is broken down and beaten up. Armed only with verbal games, improvised dance steps, some markers and spray cans, this rag-tag crew of South Bronx teenagers will make a pact that becomes bigger than all of them and change their lives, and the world, forever. The musical drama stars Giancarlo Esposito, Jimmy Smits, Jaden Smith and Shameik Moore, and debuts on Netflix August 12th.
This entry was posted on June 29, 2016.


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Two weeks in and Whew! What a year already. I hardly EVER get sick and I have been battling a head cold for ten days. Everyone in my house has had it, my sweet in-loves both have pneumonia and the flu is wild around these parts. The new school semester is in full swing and I am running hard to stay ahead of all my little scholars! I teach AP this semester and those kids keep me on my toes. It is hard to be on my toes when my head feels so bad. Our business is super busy right now (Thank you for answered prayer Lord) and I am working most nights when I get home.
Last week I accidentally washed baby girl's Iphone in the washing machine. Of course, it was not insured. She actually handled it pretty well. No weeping and gnashing of teeth and we found her another one fairly inexpensively.
I have two close friends who have lost immediate family members unexpectedly in the past week. It is a hard blow anytime of year, but especially right on the heels of the holidays when we usually experience great joy. In just these two short weeks of 2013 I am reminded how much we are Not in control of things. Life can throw some pretty hard curveballs our direction. All of this had the potential to get me pretty down. That is why I chose Phil 4:8 for my memory verse this time:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
If our eyes focus solely on the circumstances of our present situation we can get dejected rather quickly. I know, because God's word tells me, that I can take my thoughts captive and change my focus. If I can do this, then I know that great joy I experienced at the holidays can be mine every day. I want that. I pray for that. I yearn for that. And I know He will give it to me.
The Bible tells me so.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
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Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Check out the Ripple Effect contributing regularly to Planet Corey Podcasts
You love music. You love discovering new music (or else you wouldn't be reading the Ripple Effect).
We wanted to share with you Planet Corey, and Corey Kohler's commitment to bringing you new music (and don't miss the contributions of The Ripple Effect's own Racer each week.)
So what's the podcast about? Let's let Corey describe it:
Can you answer yes to any of the following 3 three questions?
1) Do you have a hard time finding time to find good new music to listen to?
2) Do you miss the good old days when a living, breathing DJ – and not a bot or algorithm – hand picked the music for you?
3) Do you have a hard time listening to just one kind of music?
If you said – or thought – yes to any of those questions, then you will like what I have for you today.
Since I can remember I've loved recommending new music to people and "playing" DJ so I decided to start a new music podcast that I am calling the PlanetCorey Music Podcast.
Each show will feature hand picked music (no bots or algorithms here) and all music genre's are fair game – folk, rock, Americana, country, blues, pop, metal and everything in between.
Each show will be themed with a different genre, feel or mood with the occasional "anything goes."
Basically, the main goal of each show is to entertain you with kick ass music and related talk (what more could you ask for).
Posted by The Ripple Effect at 11:00 AM
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The big finish
Total Distance Traveled for the trip: 3,590 miles
Wyatt and I reached Imperial Beach, California around 1 PM Pacific Time on August 2nd, 2009. It will be a moment that I will cherish for the rest of my life. That last day I was remembering everything that had happened on the whole bike ride and was starting to get a little emotional as the miles melted away. Slowly, but surely the miles left to go went from 73 to 60 to 30 to 5. The way I felt as the end approached is almost indescribable. We had gone so far over so long a time that it was just weird to be almost done. When we were two miles away we finally saw the ocean on the horizon. We started yelling and letting out war cries. Once we arrived at the pier at Imperial Beach we saw the people that mattered to us and gave them huge hugs!! Thank you Donna Marie and Cynthia for letting us stay in your house!!
We took some pictures then I unloaded my bags onto the ground which weighed 55 POUNDS!! Then we took off into the ocean. I brought my bike along and once it wouldn't roll anymore I carried it into the water. We started yelling and screaming. We were in heaven. I won't forget that moment for the rest of my life. I won't be modest now. It was a huge sense of accomplishment!!
Final Thoughts
There were moments on the trip that I seriously doubted myself. The desert was by far the hardest part of the trip. There were times I thought if the wind started blowing in my face while we were out there we just wouldn't make it. If we got stuck out in that heat it could have been the end. I think that was me just being worried, but it was desolate out there.
There were a few things this trip definitely helped me out with. I was lying to myself when I thought I had completely grieved about my brother. I thought I had dealt with his death, but truth be told I had just pushed it away and tried not to think about it. I had not realized that before, but now I do. I spent anywhere from 6 to 10 hours a day on my butt riding on that bicycle and I had so much time to think. I thought about my brother constantly wondering what he would have wanted out of me. I thought about how life dealt him a bad hand. In the end I realized that he wouldn't want me to be angry at the world or to be sad all the time. He would just want me to be happy and to always remember him in my thoughts. I did and will always. He will continue to live through me. Whenever I saw something amazing such as a rainbow, or biking up to 10,300 feet in cloudy and rainy weather, and then once I reached the top the sun came out and I had the best view of my life, I thought about him. I honestly thought he was with me. I will always remember the good times that we had. Each day I rode, I thought about 5 different good times that we had and then wrote it down. I now have a list of 250 memories of him. I don't think I would have remembered half those things if I hadn't done this. He was my best friend and always will be. I love you Andrew.
I'm more focused. I clearly know what I want to do in this world. I want to help people in anyway I can. I used to have a more selfish attitude, I was more of a me person, and I regret that. I am so lucky for everything that I have. I have parents that love me, a family that supports me in what I do (for example this bike ride), and money was never an issue in my family. I saw so many people on this trip that had nothing. They were poor, their parents were drunks or ignored them. I saw such poverty in this country that it shocked me. The amazing thing was that these people were still so nice and generous when I talked to them. They would buy me lunch, stop on the side of the road and give me water, or let us sleep in their house or yard. It was just amazing to me. These are people that deserve a chance to succeed and I want to do anything I can to help them.
I just want to say thank you to everybody for their help and support. You have know idea how thankful I am to everyone who donated and believed in me to do this. I promise I will call everyone of you in the next few weeks and personally thank you.
I will always chase my goals and I hope you do too. This journey was life changing for me.
7 comments:
I'm crying while I'm reading/ writing this- huge accomplishment doesn't begin to describe what you've done! You guys are just amazing. You did such a great thing and I'm so glad you did- the memories you've written down are priceless. It's just inspiring, overwhelming to read what you've done. WE LOVE IT!ReplyDelete
huge congratulations.ReplyDelete
Hi there,ReplyDelete
Here are some thoughts from a few crazy Dutchmen. You're still in our minds, the pictures we took remind us of a fantastic experience. You have a great talent. Not alone being a moving writer, you are truly a great human being. Tim and Syds really mis you.
Take care, hoepfully we'll see each other again on this crazy planet.
Yke, Wibo, Tim and SydsReplies
This comment has been removed by the author.Delete
Hey guys!Delete
I'm not sure if this would even reach you, but I would love to reconnect. Wyatt and I were talking about our time with your family at the Grand Canyon and how wonderful you guys were to us. TIm and Syds were absolutely hilarious and we still laugh when we talk about them. If you ever check this please send me an email at firstname.lastname@example.com
im proud to call you my friend. Get home, dude!!ReplyDelete
Hey dudes, I forgot to look at this since you've finished the trip. My dad was talking about how awesome the last blog entry was so I thought I'd check it out. Real proud of you guys and I'm glad we got to make another connection, after years of thinking we would never meet up in this lifetime again. I'm glad you learned lessons from this experience and from the lives of the people you met. That sort of learning is indescribable.ReplyDelete
Die living, boys. You kick ass.


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Mickey Grasso... is a Songwriter/singer and a Wisconsin native, currently making his home in the Green Bay area. Early years fronting the "Mickey Grasso Show" included stints opening concerts for many artists of the day such as Marty Robbins, Dave Dudley, Rex Allen, Jr., Marvin Rainwater, and Faron Young. (not to mention several shows with Vince Gill... long, funny story. You'll have to contact Mickey and ask!). One of the high points in Mickey's writing career was having a song he co-wrote recorded on Sun Records by Truckin' music legend, Dave Dudley (King of the Road album).
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Monday, May 19, 2003
New DLC Memo http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=131&subid=192&contentid=251701
And I cannot overstate the importance of keeping this thought in the forefront of your mind. The DLC's plan here is to goad Dean into engaging in a long running and bitter war of words. Thus, the storyline on Dean will be that he's a divisive attack dog, with the Kerry squabble, the Edwards apology, and the endless DLC fight being the primary pieces of evidence. We cannot allow that to happen. The DLC isn't running for anything, so they can attack forever, they are trying to down Dean's campaign to make life for their members (Kerry, Lieberman, etc) easier. Do not fall into their trap, do not respond with an attack. We need to build bridges, not burn them, and that goes for every level of the response effort.
DiscussionPost a Comment
Obama 2008 - I want my country back
About Nation-Building
Nation-Building was founded by Aziz Poonawalla in August 2002 under the name Dean Nation. Dean Nation was the very first weblog devoted to a presidential candidate, Howard Dean, and became the vanguard of the Dean netroot phenomenon, raising over $40,000 for the Dean campaign, pioneering the use of Meetup, and enjoying the attention of the campaign itself, with Joe Trippi a regular reader (and sometime commentor). Howard Dean himself even left a comment once. Dean Nation was a group weblog effort and counts among its alumni many of the progressive blogsphere's leading talent including Jerome Armstrong, Matthew Yglesias, and Ezra Klein. After the election in 2004, the blog refocused onto the theme of "purple politics", formally changing its name to Nation-Building in June 2006. The primary focus of the blog is on articulating purple-state policy at home and pragmatic liberal interventionism abroad.


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Monday, May 08, 2006
Loren Parks plows another quarter million into Mannix
It is too bad it had to get this way, but we all knew if Kevin got behind he would go negative. That's how it is done. Ron Saxton is a big boy. He knew if his campaign caught on, that Kevin would have to attack. No whining.
But it is OK to hit back.
Saxton's response ads started today, and will continue through the week. They highlight the zillions of tax and fee increases Kevin voted for as a legislator, among other things.
So, fair enough. The negative campaigning has started, and it was inevitable, unless the race was a cakewalk. Voters always say they hate negative campaignng, but it works. So they must not really hate it that much.
Here's what we know: Loren Parks has given Mannix another quarter million. That makes it about a cool $750K counting the "independent" ad campaign done by Gregg Clapper.
Is that bothersome? One reclusive zillionaire provides the bulk of the funding for a governor candidate. Problem?
At the very least it reflects the fact that Kevin Mannix does not have a broad base of financial support. At the most it means that some shadowy out-of-state eccentric recluse has bought himself a governorship.
Here's what the Saxton campaign has to say about it:
Statement Regarding Mannix C&E Report and Loren Parks Contribution:
The following statement is to be attributed to Felix Schein, Saxton Campaign Manager.
"Republican voters ought to ask themselves whether they are comfortable with a candidate who's willing to sell his campaign to the highest bidder - especially when that bidder is a Nevada sex therapist who has repeatedly been sued for sexual harassment, operates a questionable sex therapy website, and whose values so clearly oppose those of Mr. Mannix's other supporters.
"It reeks of hypocrisy for Kevin Mannix to tout his values and respect for women and yet allow his campaign to be bought by Loren Parks.
"Contributions in excess of $500,000 to Kevin Mannix by Loren Parks beg the question - what does Loren Parks get for his money, could Kevin Mannix ever say no, and are Oregon Republicans going to accept an out-of-state contributors attempt to buy the gubernatorial election."
Seven days to go.
7 comments:
How is Park's money different than the Tribal casino donating to Saxton? Those ads are, without a doubt, also negative, and it was Saxton's friens who through the first stone. As conservatives, we all recognize that "those without sin should cast the first stone". It would be wise to pay attention to this. Also, there isn't much if any untruth in these ads outlining Saxton's ever changing positions so how is that negative?
Finally, it is unbelievably foolish to read these polls as a Saxton lead. With that many undecideds, plus the margin of error, there is no mathmatical reasoning to calling this a lead for Ron.
Finally, we actually have a chance to win this election, but if we put Saxton in office it will set back our cause by another 20-30 years. He will go back to being a liberal, be a flake, and loose, and we will be back to Socialst governors.
- Tuesday, May 09, 2006 1:29:00 PM
- Rob Kremer said...
The tribe didn't donate any money to Saxton. They ran ads in an independent campaign supporting Saxton's position on the casino and attacking Mannix's.
Foolish to say the poll showed Saxton is leading? Hmmm. So you are saying that unless the lead is larger than the margin of error PLUS the undecideds, that you can't say he is leading?
That's a pretty innovative way to read polls.
- Tuesday, May 09, 2006 1:45:00 PM
- Dare!PDX said...
So do you support the statements of Felix Schein or are you indifferent to the campaign scabble? Do you actually believe that Mannix is wholey owned by Parks or already very well aligned?
Personally I think its below the belt to smear a donor even if the size of the donation is that large. We are the same party, I think this statement was uncalled for and petty. I also think that it was a stupid idea for the Saxton campaign to start talking about money swaying influence. They might have that same row to hoe coming up this November.
Finally, I think this proves once and for all that Felix is a pit-bull on a short leash just waiting to snap at whatever target passes by. Not exactly a better face on our party.
- Tuesday, May 09, 2006 5:41:00 PM
- Ken said...
Kremer Quote 1:
The tribe didn't donate any money to Saxton. They ran ads in an independent campaign supporting Saxton's position on the casino and attacking Mannix's.
Kremer Quote 2:
Here's what we know: Loren Parks has given Mannix another quarter million. That makes it about a cool $750K counting the "independent" ad campaign done by Gregg Clapper.
Rob, if you believe Quote 1 is true, then it seems unfair to lump Clapper's ads in with Mannix. Couldn't we also say Saxton has raised "a cool $3 million, including the million-dollar 'independent' ad campaign done by the Grand Ronde tribe"?
- Tuesday, May 09, 2006 9:57:00 PM
- RINO WATCH said...
I'm quite sure that if Loren offered you guys "a cool $750K", for your Blazers thing, you'd accept. Wouldn't you?
It's really dumb to bash on Loren for doing with HIS MONEY, fair & square, what he wishes.
- Wednesday, May 10, 2006 6:49:00 AM
Oh come on Rob, Clapper is running the "hit" ads on Saxton, technically not Mannix, but I won't say those are uncordinated, so please spare me the Tribes being independent argument. If we really want to look into Casino placement let's look at it this way. Warm Springs, by federal law, can put that sucker smack dab in Hood River, or, as Mannix supports, the can do a swap and put it in Cascade Locks, a town that could desperately use it and is hidden from view. Now, Kulongoski supports that so I need to use caution here don't I!
On the polls, that is far from an unusual way to read them. Those number essentially indicated that there is no meaningful differnece between the candidates that passes a statistical signifigance test, well, there is probabley one between Jason and Ron, but not the other two. Throw in that mass of undecideds, and again, you have a toss up.
It was rather cowardly of me to post anonymously, I will figure out how to not do that.
Thank you for your responses and in the end, we will all work hard to turn this state around. Perhaps we all need some of Parks's therapy:) NOT!
- Wednesday, May 10, 2006 8:24:00 AM
- I am Coyote said...
Mannix's record is fully within bounds. Saxton is correct to hit either Mannix on his record or Atkinson on his lack of record.
However for Saxton me make Parks himself the center of this flap is out of bounds.
I would have held my nose and supported any conservative position Saxton would have posited in the general should he win. I will not now.
Mannix I would and of course Atkinson (as I am already a supporter.).
However Rob, Loren is a friend of mine and of our cause. Saxton set a dangerous precident and I will take the side of the movement conservatives over ANY politician any day.
Ron Saxton has shown that it is only a matter of time before he throws any conservative (including you?) under the bus for his own cause.
- Thursday, May 11, 2006 10:39:00 AM


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I'm a tattoo artist. Did I mention that? Just run with me. Tattoo artists understand the importance of sterile procedure. (Hopefully!) So do doctors, and god willing, those who prepare our food. Don't get me started. But, at the moment, I'm a little frustrated, and I'm going to rant a bit about the cons of sterile procedure. Confused?
Never mind. Let's talk about critique and editing. I've always stressed the importance of critique and feedback, and I still do. But I've noticed a huge difference between the critique you get from readers—even critical ones, and the feedback you get from other authors. As both, I have to admit that the way I read has become a lot more nit-picky than it was before I started all this editing and crafting business. Writers reading a manuscript are looking for something wrong. They're looking for all the mistakes they have learned not to make, and they're looking for a whole slew of new ones too.
This isn't a bad thing. Really. I still believe wholeheartedly that an author should get feedback from other authors and non-author readers as well. But, I do think some of the feedback I'm seeing from other authors may be taking things a tiny bit too far. Maybe, an author feels the need to find something to correct? Maybe then want very much to show what they've learned. I understand that. I do it too. But I'm concerned about sucking the life from a manuscript by over-correcting the thing until it reads like a manual for assembling your VCR.
Okay, I have something specific in mind. Because I love critique, right? I crave the feedback, and I'm fine with the "this sucks and you have to re-write it." So long as I agree with it. :-)
Here's what I don't love. I found it on another blog, but I've seen it on my online crit. site too. The feedback looks something like this: "She rolled her eyes…" How did she roll them? On the floor? Has she taken them out and tossed them across the table….etc. SIGH.
I bought this at first. I believe in clear, concise writing. There is such a thing as over-using metaphor and such. So I went along for awhile. "Her gaze dropped…" How does a gaze drop? "His eyes danced" really? Did they do a Tango or a Waltz? I've thought about it, and I don't buy it anymore.
I don't buy it because it sucks. Not just as in it stinks, which it does, but as in it sucks the life and poetry and beauty out of prose. Some of you are about to argue with me. Go ahead. I really don't mind. It may even be that I'm totally off the mark. And like I said, over-using this can really kill a manuscript. I hate flowery, sympathetic, vague writing as much as the next reader. The reader must understand clearly what is going on and it is the author's job to make that happen.
BUT. I refuse to believe that readers are morons. After all, I'm a reader and I refuse to believe that I'm a moron. I've read a lot of fiction. I've read "she rolled her eyes," before. You have too. Have you ever, ever ,ever been confused about the physics involved? Be honest.
Do you know why you didn't envision her popping out her eyeballs and pushing them along the tabletop? Because you've rolled your damned eyes before, haven't you? Eye rolling is part of the common vernacular. It's how we talk, and so part of our voice. We understand what it means. We honestly do. We understand that gazes drop to the rug and examine the design. We understand that eyes dance. (But that one's a little foofy for me.)
I think these critiques are well intentioned, because we all know that writers screw this up. I do, especially when I'm writing fast. "Her eyes swiveled…" trying to be fancy, eh? Cut it out. "The furniture danced"? Okay, THAT one, I'm confused about. And if every look is darting, I'm darting back to the bookstore for a refund. So the rule is sound…but maybe it should be balanced with some common sense?
"She stepped three paces to the northeast and bent at the waist and knees so that her posterior sat on the couch. She turned her head and both of her eyes focused on the man. They were still in her head, (phew) but looking at him. The table existed in the center of the room where it had been placed by the designer. (It didn't stand in the center of the room, because it doesn't have two proper legs) The central processing region of her brain sent the chemical message through her nervous system to feel an attraction for the man, and blood moved into the area of her cheeks, causing them to appear pinker than the rest of her face. . ."
Ugh. Don't sterilize your prose. Please. Until my editor tells me that my characters can't roll their eyes, I'm not buying it. When she does, I'll change it…because I want the stuff in print. And yes, I'll edit out the swiveling, and darting, and off the wall wording that screws up clarity. I don't know how that crap got into the text in the first place.
I just rolled my eyes.


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FODMAPs For Endurance Sports (Tuna Pasta Recipe)
Located within the Lake District National Park in the northwest of England is the traditional sport of fell running", fell being the local word for hill or mountain. Athletes who follow the paleo food plan take pleasure in a healthy body oozing with an abundance of power. Subsequently athletes should forestall themselves from taking carbohydrates simply before the event. The paleo weight loss program for athletes is a good remedy for these requirements and it is no surprise it is strongly recommended by well being consultants and athlete trainers.
These athletes might not be examined for lengthy periods of times, like endurance and group sports, however keeping up their strength continues to be of the utmost significance. Meals is fuel for the athlete and it will probably either help or hinder athletic efficiency significantly. Taking special food plan for several weeks before an event can by no means make up for an improper and insufficient each day vitamins in the weight loss program.
If a coach, gymnasium instructor, or teammate says that you could go on a weight-reduction plan, discuss to your doctor first or go to a dietitian who makes a speciality of teen athletes. You add lean mass by rising calories and offering an ample coaching load, that means you need to have a plan to energy practice all through the summer. When you find yourself a child athlete you are usually busy and have a tough time discovering time to eat healthy.


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- I am such a baller. I can't believe how fast I ran. Okay, yes, I'm bragging, but also... this was a revelation, because as you might know from prior entries, I'm generally real slow. To know that I can run a half at a 10:11 pace suggests I can do things I never thought imaginable. Maybe I could run my next half in under 2:10. One day, I might even break 2:00. That sounds insane and amazing all at once. ... and of course this generalizes to other (shorter) distances. If I can run a 10:11 pace for 13.1 miles, how fast do you think I could run a 5k/5 miler/10k/15k/10 miler? Oh the possibilities! (Time to get serious about speed work?)
- I must do another half. Followed by several more. I'm currently in search of a half to run in the spring, but I'm having trouble finding one that is at a convenient time for me (read: one that I can run without having a long run the same week of my wedding). Still pondering. Also want to do the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler again... so with all that going on, I'm not sure when the next half will be. But no worries: there WILL be a next half.
mile 5, courtesy of Devin
- Despite many people suggesting that after a half, I would want to run a full marathon, I don't. Sorry. Running for 2 hours and 15 minutes? Fine. Running for 3 hours? Ummm, maybe. Running for 4+ hours? No thanks. It's not that I don't believe I am capable of running a marathon. It's mostly that I don't have the time to train. Plus, that running for that long doesn't sound fun.
- Speaking of fun, I can finally say with confidence that I find running to be more fun than it is not fun. Obviously not every minute of every run is fun, but I definitely think I like it more than 50% of the time. It took somewhere between 12 and 18 months of consistent running for me to feel that way. So, if you don't like running, try going at least 3 times per week for a year, and then let me know how you feel, haha!
somewhere between miles 9 and 11
- I think my style with races is the bigger the better. I like the excitement, having other people around, and having at least somewhat of a crowd. The 2 races I have run with less than 200 participants have been my least favorite, and the 2 with ~1,800 and ~15,000 have been much more enjoyable. This shouldn't be a shocking revelation (and I'm sure a lot of people feel the same way), but it will definitely influence what races I sign up for in the future.
- Lastly, you might be wondering what's next for me? Well, that was decided even BEFORE the half had ended. I've already signed up for the Hot Chocolate 15K in Washington, DC. M is signed up, and so is Susan! Actually, a ton of friends are signed up - I know at least 7 people doing the 15k (including myself) and another 7+ doing the 5k! It's going to be a blast! M and I have already started our training program, and I'm REALLY pumped about this race! Hot chocolate and a chocolate fountain at the end? WIN.
mile 11.5ish - perfecting the jazz hands
I want to give a shout out to my sorority sister Danielle who just started a running blog! Danielle wants to run a marathon in every state. This makes her insane, but it also makes for a fun blog I think, so go check out her blog!
most attractive photo ever taken of me, woo!
right after M finished!
So blogland, I'm taking suggestions for half marathons to run in 2012 - sometime in April or beyond. Preferably within driving distance of Durham. Oh and it can't be April 21st or 28th weekends. Or May 19th weekend.


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Home-made afghan biscuits. Somehow they seem like they must be good for you if made by your own two hands.
Pretty dresses in the moonlight.
Misty mornings…
…that turn into sunny days.
Old school Casio watches from Made. I'd like the silver one – it reminds me of one my dad used to wear.
The smell of flowers in the air when I walk to work.
Karen Walker boyfriend jeans
Oatmeal (it sounds far more glamorous than porridge) for breakfast. I've had it every day for months and I'm still not sick of it.


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Natural ingredients incorporated in exfoliators, scrubs, toners, moisturizers, and face cleansers are proven to be safer and healthier than the popular chemical approaches while delivering just as great results. The antioxidants, proteins, vitamins, enzymes, and other nutrients in these products are becoming more understood as society becomes better educated on their health and well being. Today we want to feel young and look healthy at all ages. Although aging is a natural process that we cannot stop (oh nooooo), we keep ourselves healthy inside and out so the aging process will not be so harsh on us.
You can't really reverse the process of aging, but you can improve and slow it down by encouraging collagen production, increasing the skin's moisture content, improve the skin's ability to protect itself, neutralize skin damaging free radicals, and stimulate the skin cell renewal and repair. Over time, the skins ability to accomplish these processes lessens. Skin needs proper care and nourishment inside and out in order to protect itself and prevent further damage as well as encourage the repair and rejuvenation process.
In addition to regular cleansing and moisturizing, exfoliating is a must to reveal the most healthy and ageless complexion. During the aging process, visible changes in tone and complexion occur as circulation slows providing less of the needed nutrients. As these changes occur, skin can begin to sag, become dry and start to lose its elasticity. The internet provides a great deal of information regarding exfoliation, often conflicting for consumers. Most of us are aware of the general benefits of exfoliation; softer, smoother, less aged complexion. However, the science behind why we need to exfoliate is a mystery to most and likely not thought of enough to know the importance of exfoliating properly.
Exfoliation occurs naturally every day, the technical term "Desquamation" means the shedding of the outer layers of the skin. For example, the skin sheds dead skin as it heals from a wound. This process however is faster for some more so than others. Aging causes the cells in the skin to become thickened, resulting in a buildup of skin cells atop the skin causing a less toned complexion and thicker appearance, preventing absorbency of any skin treatment applied to it. Once this process begins to slow, the natural exfoliation process slows and becomes more difficult to exfoliate.
Environment influences can cause slowing of the natural exfoliation process, influenced by the actual physical environment, hormones (estrogen, androgens, and epidermal growth factor), vitamin deficiencies, and let's not forget smoking. Aside from smoking, these factors sometimes happen whether we like them to or not, making exfoliation vital to the health of your skin. Eliminating the dead skin cells (known as stratum corneum) allows for new skin cells to rejuvenate, resulting in an improved appearance, tone, and feel. The two most widely used approaches for exfoliation are chemical and physical exfoliation.
Over the past decade, dermatological peels costing consumers thousands of dollars have become popular. On the milder side, toners and scrubs containing ingredients that assist in exfoliating (natural ingredients used by Sweetsation are: Papaya, pineapple, vitamin C) have become popular as well as people tend to turn to natural remedies these days. Chemical exfoliation treatments contain a variety of hydroxy acids, enzymes, and retinols (not limited to) and have been most commonly used. The ideal physical exfoliants contain natural ingredients that are massaged gently on top of the skin.
The idea behind exfoliating is to normalize cell turnover in the epidermis; stimulating the formation of healthy skin, ridding dead skin cells and dry scales, and stimulation of new cells, reviling the new beautiful you. It is important to note that exfoliating on irritated skin can slow the healing of that skin and should be avoided. Further, sun protection is a must as you rid the out layer of dead cells and your body produces new cells your skin is left exposed. Studies recommend between SPF15 and SPF30, however, we recommend nothing less than SPF30 for maximum protection.
Consistent exfoliation can benefit and enhance your skin. The process prevents clogged pores, acne, ingrown hairs, some types of infection, prevent small scarring from blemishes and reduces the appearance of present scars. In addition, exfoliation unblocks pores through the increases of blood circulation in your skin, the cleanser and moisturizer you use will work better to clean and protect your "healthy" skin as the dead cells clear away.


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Since I don't have time to write on here these days, I thought I'd just post this Jean Genet video (his only one!) that a friend recently brought to my attention. It's hosted at UBUWEB, which, if you haven't visited, is a fine and overwhelming archive of avant-garde art work. There's a lot to look through. The Genet video seems appropriate to share at this juncture because it turns out that half the people I know have marriage on their minds. What better way to celebrate than with a song of love?
Congratulations to all you love birds out there!
09 November 2009
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Wednesday, 20 February 2013
Google glasses: just another cool accessory, or the first step towards a sinister, tech-driven dystopia?
The evil masterminds at Google have just released a new video showcasing their Google Glass project.
All of a sudden the last episode of season one of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror is looking less like a dystopian nightmare, and more like a particularly prescient episode of the Gadget Show...
Posted by The Golden Latrine at 09:11 No comments:
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
Amid all the rejoicing about the passage of the gay marriage bill through the Commons, shouldn't we spare a thought for the rights of bigots?
As MPs debated the gay marriage bill today, the above tweet caught my eye.
The bill passed through the Commons by 400 votes to 175, a majority of 225 which should be enough to get it through the Lords this year.
However, there have already been mutterings from MPs such as Matthew Offord, the Conservative member for Hendon, that this represents a slippery slope which could lead to marriage being redefined to include polygamy. And picture the old school Tory constituency party members across the country fretting that this will inevitably lead to people being able to marry their pets or inanimate objects like their bannister. For them, I offer this:
Posted by The Golden Latrine at 15:40 No comments:
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I used to complain a lot when I was younger. I still don't know how I was able to enjoy my life while remaining in the state ME vs THE WORLD. But getting older and older I figured out the foundation of my pessimism and grumpiness. That was simple. My negative attitude made me like that. 'So then, I thought, 'what's next? Now I know what's wrong with me, but still then, what's next?' I had to change my whole view of the world. And that's not so easy indeed. Who has also had to do that, knows it very well. The worst part of it is when you're doing your best, but there are no effects and then you think: 'So I must do something in the wrong way. Ah, then I guess this all plan sucks- I'm giving up. There's no sense to do it any longer'. These thoughts are the most dangerous. Why? Because we're convinced this is truth, even if it isn't. How sad.. Our brains possess our body and can take us in as well. What should be done in this kind of trying-letting-go moments? I do don't know. Each person is different. And in this situation I don't want to generalize all of us, because I truly know it wouldn't be fair. The only thing which appeared in my mind and can be useful for all of you is that don't quit and try to mofidy your strategy of fighting against what you call 'bad habits' or 'bad attitude' or 'thigs I want to change in my life at all'.
But aside from 'what to do?', there still remains very important point of this note. The motivation. It is needed all the time, every day, every night, thoughtout life. But where can you get if from? Frankly speaking, it's everywhere, all around you. It's surrounding you even if you are not aware of it. But it still is. Just think in this way: 'I'm a newborn and everything is new for me.' Try to look at the things around you through 'baby's glasses'. It will help, believe me. You'll become more curious about the world and feel the happiness resoning from things you would never suspect of being so interesting and causing so strong feeling. Just give it a try, let the things become reborn and affect you. I'm sure it will pay off. The world is so beautiful that there is no way it won't have a positive impact on you. :)


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- Posted December 20, 2010 by
- omekongo
Washington, District of Columbia
This iReport is part of an assignment:
'Don't ask, don't tell'
DADT: we're on the wrong side of history
History has shown us that we have always been on the wrong side of history as it relates to segregation, especially with the military. We said blacks couldn't serve and we were wrong. We said women couldn't serve and we were wrong. Now with DADT, we see that we have been wrong again. Our country is stronger when we allow everyone in this country to bring their talents to the table. America has corrected many of its injustices over the years. I am happy with this latest correction that will put us once again on the right side of history.


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Motivational and Inspirational Quotes
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The other night, I was in my daughter's talent show at her school. I played the voice of the dragon in the 8 stanza poem she recited, called, "I Have a Dozen Dragons." I stayed hidden behind the stage curtain—assumed the role of the disembodied dragon, the mystical voice floating in from the imaginary world. She stood center stage, surrounded by a dozen dragon toys she'd arranged around her in a supportive semi-circle, and manipulated a dragon puppet seated on her shoulder. While she recited her portions of the poem rather quickly, she did it all from memory and, most importantly, was supremely confident. An eight-year old dynamo sure of herself, sure that she was, in fact, talented, sure that the 100+member audience would listen with rapt attention. No doubt in her mind that she was someone worth listening to.
I could learn a thing or two about self-confidence from my daughter. After all, she was the only solo act out of 20. Initially, I'd worried about hurt feelings—her friends had banded together to perform a skit: Herman the Worm. They hadn't asked her to be a part of it. That sort of pre-teen, girl-girl, snarky exclusion had been happening a lot to her lately. She'd been coming home from school in frequent tears: "No one will play with me at recess! I ask my friends if I can play with them, but they just say, 'no.'" So I tell her that I know how awful it is to be left out because I'd often been the one on my own at lunch and recess in elementary school. For an entire year, in fact, I was the selected victim of a ruthless assault of spiteful teasing by a group of former friends. Only I never said a word about it to my parents, to any adult for that matter because I assumed I deserved it—I believed I was worthless, unlikeable, strange, too smart for my own good, the obvious pariah.
My daughter, on the other hand, holds no such beliefs about herself. "They're mean," she says. "Besides, all they want to do is play stupid house. That's why I need to bring my dragons to school, so I'll have something to play with at recess." Most importantly, my daughter has not felt the need to reshape herself to fit in with the pedestrian pseudo-imaginations of her compatriots.
Instead, she has found another friend, a girl one year older who goes to a different school, but who is equally enthralled with dragons and lizards and arts and crafts. (I am, in fact, in recovery from a sleepover they had at our house last night, up until all hours giggling and building pillow forts and dragon lairs.) And of equal importance, my daughter doesn't feel it necessary to bury her feelings or hide her "failure" to fit in; she runs to me, leaps into my arms, and unloads all the emotional baggage of the day. Again, unlike me—I spent years blithely smiling, insisting all was well, hiding the intense shame I felt over rejection by my peers. I assumed my parents would blame me: it must have been something I did that earned me my status as outcast.
My daughter is resilient—headstrong, too. As I stood behind the curtain, watching her swagger out onto the stage, I felt proud, yes, immensely proud, but relieved, too. While she may be subject to some of the same growing pains as I, she is not decimated by them, does not believe she is deserving of such callous treatment. A deep sigh: it seems she is spared my agonies. After all, when I was just a year older than she is now, I swallowed several fistfuls of Flintstone vitamins in a silly (but really, not so silly was it?) attempt to put an end to my life, and never said a word about it to anyone. So even in these bleak days, flattened as I have been by having to resign from my job, go on disability, by my therapist abruptly cutting ties, I must acknowledge that I, too, have talent: even in my craziness and instability, I've managed to create a stable, safe world for my daughter—one in which she is the star of the show, one that is founded on creativity and imaginative daring, one in which she feels secure in my love.


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I first made this recipe after it won the Pillsbury Bake-Off in 1998. It was one of my regular dinners for a long time, then it disappeared off my radar as recipes tend to do.
Last week I was reminded in an email that the dish has a cult following on Chow.com for good reason. It's easy and delicious. Even though it has salsa the flavors are more Moroccan than Mexican. And did I mention it's delicious?
I served it with long grain rice instead of couscous and my salsa was not Old El Paso but other than that I followed the recipe to the letter.
Salsa Couscous Chicken recipe HERE.
Million Dollar Recipe-Salsa Couscous Chicken
6:23 PM | Labels: chicken, Greatest Hits, USA | 1 Comments
Shrimp Fried Rice
This is an official recipe version of a dish I've made for years. It's so easy and I almost always have the ingredients on hand. Rice, egg, veggies and some basic Asian seasonings. Many years ago I had a room mate from Singapore who would eat this in various incarnations for breakfast.
Leftover rice is a necessity for this to fry correctly. Since I moved in with a carb addict there's never leftover rice so I had to plan accordingly. And make it very clear to stay out of the rice!
Tonight's version comes from one of my favorite blogs, The Steamy Kitchen. I really liked the flavor the sesame oil gave the dish. I always eat my fried rice with Sriracha and after a few bites I added some to this dish.
5:13 PM | Labels: Asian American | 1 Comments
Panko-Crusted Chicken with Mustard-Maple Pan Sauce
I have three bags of panko in my pantry and I don't know why. Well actually I do know why. Sometimes I find myself at the store and I realize I forgot to check if I have a certain ingredient so I buy it just in case. Since I moved I've been slacking of my inventory spreadsheets.
Since the older pictures on my blog have disappeared I'm more motivated to go back and repeat my recipes so I can replace them (and back them up). I only hope I can use up my pantry odds and ends in the process. The above picture is quite blurry so I'll be making it again to replace it.
This recipe was so easy, so quick and so good! Do not be alarmed at the amounts of mustard as the flavor is muted by the cooking. I could taste mustard but it was not overwhelming. By the way I had three jars of Dijon and was able to dispose of one tonight thanks to this recipe.
The recipe is courtesy of Bon Appetit's test kitchen and was published in the Oct 2009 issue. It can be located HERE.
5:25 PM | Labels: chicken, Greatest Hits | 0 Comments
Wonton Shrimp
This is a great appetizer for a party. My brother sent me the recipe and while mine may not be as pretty as his they were gobbled down so quickly it didn't matter.
I didn't tie the green onions in bows and I used large instead of jumbo shrimp, but other than that I followed the recipe for the shrimp as written. For the dipping sauce I used half hot chili sauce and half sweet chili sauce. it was still plenty spicy.
Wonton-wrapped Shrimp
12 Shrimp, U-15's (jumbo), peeled and deveined
1 super fine minced garlic clove
2 TBS. Hoisin Sauce
1 tsp. Asian dried chilli powder
1 TBS Soy sauce
12 square wonton skins
1 egg, beaten
12 stalks of Green onion, blanched in hot water until pliable
12 bamboo skewers
Mix garlic, chili powder, soy sauce, hoisin sauce. Add shrimp and marinate at least 4 hours. Brush the wontons with a thin coat of egg and wrap around the shrimp, "flattening" the shrimp so it is as straight as can be. Make sure you cover the shrimp with the wonton, tucking in the bottom like a spring roll. Tie the green onion around the wonton into a bow. Push the skewer down the center of the shrimp. When you cook it, the skewer will prevent the shrimp from curling. It's also easier to fry, as you can swirl the piece in the fryer with the skewer, making the cooking process faster and more even. Cook the shrimp at 350 degrees in the fryer for 1-2 minutes, until golden.
Dipping Sauce:
4 TBS rice vinegar
4 TBS Lime juice
4 TBS Thai chili sauce
2 TBS Fish Sauce
2 TBS chopped cilantro
1:20 PM | Labels: appetizers, Asian American | 1 Comments


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Celebrate prairie biodiversity with a full day of workshops, displays, vendors and visiting. Bring your seeds and join the fun of the seed swap. This grassroots garden show offers inspiration and information on heritage seeds, organic gardening, native plants, and urban agriculture. Admission to Fort Whyte is free for this special event.
Enjoy a tour of Fort Whyte Farms winter greenhouse project, crafts for kids, and outdoor activities for the whole family. Meet some heritage poultry breeds, live and in full feather, thanks to the Anola Cluck and Quack Poultry Club and Rare Breeds Canada.
10:00 am Seed Swap Begins
11:00 am Pollinator Friendly Gardens - Susan Leblanc
12:00 pm Growing Heirloom Vegetables - Mandy Botincan
1:00 pm Community Compost Projects - Compost Action Project
2:00 pm Poultry Raising for Beginners - Wian Prinsloo
Participants include: Devil's Creek Herb and Berry Farm, Herb Society of Manitoba, Heritage Harvest Seeds, Living Prairie Museum, Mandy's Greenhouse, Prairie Flora, Sage Garden Herbs and more.
Fort Whyte Alive is beyond the city bus routes – if you have a vehicle please offer a ride to your friends and fellow gardeners. Limited shuttle service will be available between the Assiniboine Park Conservatory and Fort Whyte.


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Thursday, September 22, 2011
Lawsuit victory is a first for cellphone users
Sharesa Price thought it was just another in a series of sinus infections. Her head and eyes hurt, and she was vomiting. But then Price had a seizure, and a brain scan found something far more troubling. "When I got home, the phone was ringing. It was the doctor's office, and they told me, `Brace yourself. Honey, you have a brain tumor.' I was standing by the refrigerator, and I just collapsed, saying, `no, no, no, it can't be a brain tumor,'" she recalled. After her diagnosis in 1999 and surgery to remove most of the tumor, Price started looking for answers. She became convinced that exposure to radio-frequency radiation on the job, where she programmed cell phones for new customers, had caused the tumor. In May, an administrative law judge who handles worker's compensation claims awarded her 000 to pay her medical bills and other expenses. Price may be the first person to convince a judge that her illness was caused by radio-frequency radiation. The decision is unlikely to have widespread repercussions for the cell phone industry, however, because the settlement was small. Price's customers at Advanced Communications Systems in northern California were doctors, firefighters, police departments and security departments for casinos, and she loved her work. She used a cell phone several hours each day, and the room in which she worked contained transmitters that emitted radio-frequency radiation, she said. Price said when she filed a workers comp claim …
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We'd love to include your perspective! Send submissions on any topic to fourperspectivesblog at gmail.com.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
I drove to work yesterday morning. The windows of my car were down, and the fresh air cascaded around me like the rushing of cool mountain waters. I wriggled my fingers in the early crisp, feeling its welcoming bite in my lungs—every breath I took seemed to spell autumn. As I stopped my car at the next intersection, my wandering eyes noticed the vacant building on the corner; it'd been unoccupied for quite some time.
As I waited for the light to change, I gazed though the makeshift chain link barrier, fashioned to keep the snooping away from the dust shrouded, demolished rubble which now lay in heaps across the weed-riddled parking lot. The front of the building had been torn away; bare wiring reached feebly from the walls, like the twisted, reaching tendrils of wisteria vines seeking the healing rays of sunlight. Torn strips of jagged metal hung like ribbons from the ceiling; while brick—once cemented mightily together in walls of veritable strength—now lay humbly in sundry piles.
This once-powerful building had been gutted, destroyed, and emptied; only an echo remained where life had once existed.
The light seemed to take longer than usual as I stared, thinking of the moments in my life when I have felt an awful lot like that old building—an interlacing of wiry thought—broken and dangling; a crisscross of metallic supports torn asunder and away, a structure of framework and walls demolished.
In a word—gutted.
However, as I gazed wordlessly through the chink fence, I could also see beyond the destruction; I could perceive something else…something deeper than that which was obvious on the surface.
Hope. Revitalization. Potential.
Like that devastated building, there have been times in my own life when I have needed a major overhaul—a rebuilding of that which is me. I can't ever recall a time when this rebuilding has not been painful one; often those things which have been exposed to the sunlight have not been pretty. However, what has been restored has always been something of much greater beauty and value than what which was there before.
What is a life without the hope of being able to rise from the ashes of yesterday, as something far greater than what we once were? What is existence without the fervent anticipation in knowing that things can—and will—get better than perhaps they are at the present moment?
There is nothing.
The light changes from crimson to emerald, and my vehicle again lurches forward, bringing with it the cool, whispered hints of winter. As I continue my journey to work, I consider all of those things in my own life which I must rebuild.
10 comments:
- Gerb said...
Just WOW. And YES. You didn't need a photo to accompany this post; your words created the picture for me.
- September 22, 2009 at 10:54 AM
- Richard & Natalie said...
WOW indeed. And I agree- no picture needed. The imagery was all in your words. Powerful post.
- September 22, 2009 at 11:40 AM
- A Lark said...
Beautiful Idea - reminded me of a phoenix.
- September 22, 2009 at 12:11 PM
- Linn said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- September 22, 2009 at 12:40 PM
- Teachinfourth said...
Gerb - The words were already there, they just had to be written.
Natalie - Thanks for reading. As I gazed at that building, those were the thoughts which came.
Janelle - I had that thought cross my mind too; especially in the vein of the most recent HP book...those who've read it will know of what I speak.
Linn - That feeling of emptiness which is so all-consuming can yet be so liberating when it is all said and done. I am glad to hear that something new is being constructed...
- September 22, 2009 at 8:23 PM
- LauraB said...
Thanks for the beautiful post. In addition to their implications for our own lives, your words are a reminder to look beyond the raw edges and unfinished corridors of those who surround us; to tread with gentleness,and hope on grounds that hold potentialities, recognizable or unseen.
- September 23, 2009 at 7:40 PM
- jayniemoon said...
And sometimes it takes a long time, and a few more times knocked over to feel like you're getting back to where you want to be. Nice post, J.
- September 23, 2009 at 10:14 PM
- SO said...
Oh yes. I have been that building. And will probably continue to be that building off and on during my life. Wonderfully thought provoking and descriptive post.
- September 24, 2009 at 6:21 AM
- Corine said...
THANK YOU! :D You knew I was gutted out and empty, didn't you? (OK, maybe not... but all the same I'm thankful!)
I've been quite in pieces and emptied out, anxious to feel whole again. I'll be reading this each time I feel this way, reminding myself that the emptiness won't last, and to focus on the task at hand and how great things will be after the remodeling. I must not think of the emptiness!
Now, to patiently press forward with faith while the rebuilding takes place...
PS. You're the best! :D
- September 24, 2009 at 8:24 AM
- Teachinfourth said...
Laura - It's true; we all are still works in progress, and each of us is in different stages of 'finality.'
Jayne - To be honest, I've been knocked over and demolished more times than I'd like over the years, however, it's my hope that something truly better will be the final end result.
Shanna - You and I both...
Corine - I think you hit it on the head when you said, "the emptiness won't last." Sometimes, it feels that it will never end, but it really doesn't.
Thank goodness.
- September 24, 2009 at 8:18 PM


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(Yeah, good luck topping that.)
Update, 5:05 p.m. ET: UFC President Dana White has refuted this report, telling Yahoo! that Cain won't be competing on the Mexico show because he might have injured his left shoulder during his last fight against Junior Dos Santos. Velasquez has already undergone one MRI, and will have another to determine the extent of his injury and whether or not he'll need surgery. Stay tuned…
Although the matchup has yet to be officially confirmed by the UFC, multiple sources are reporting that the rumored bout between Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum has been tentatively scheduled for the UFC's inaugural trip to Mexico in 2014. The event: UFC 172. The date: April-ish. BloodyElbow passes along the roughly-translated news:
It's a matter of days for the UFC officially announced the first event in Mexico. The Arena Mexico City will host the Billboard 172 company, a pay per view for America that will be headlined by Cain Velasquez and challenger for the heavyweight belt, the Brazilian Fabricio Werdum.
The date, the weekend of the 19th or April 26th 2014 is perfect for the Mexican American, because even though the medical suspension was discarded six months after his last defense, if you have half a year to make full preparation. On Tuesday afternoon, the president of the promoter Dana White confirmed that the announcement will take place on Mexican soil as they become ready. That moment could come in the coming weeks as the company's promotional activity intensifies.
Let's hope that a trip to the motherland helps Velasquez rebound from being skipped over in the EA Sports video game cover vote, a fact he will probably be thankful for when Jon Jones confirms the "Cover Boy Curse" by getting viciously KO'd in his next fight.
If the reports have any truth to them, the April 2014 fight date will unfortunately keep Werdum sidelined for nearly a year. We last saw "Vai Cavalo" in action back in June, when he submitted Big Nog (*chokes back vomit*) at UFC on FUEL 10. The win made for Werdum's third straight since re-entering the UFC in 2012.
What do you think about this potential showdown, Nation? Does Werdum stand a chance in hell or will Velasquez continue to ruin the heavyweight division by being so damn good?


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This particular cast on method is one of the many which I've spent many hours trying and google all over the internet for solutions. I believe that pictures speaks a thousand words. So I hope this tutorial will help those who are baffled by the special cast on method or the worded instructions did not help at all.
Full pattern instructions can be found in Interweave Knits Fall 2004.
I'm using gray as my waste yarn and purple as the main color. Using a crochet hook, ch 4. i guess no one has problems with this part.
On the underside of the crochet chain, there's 4 bumps. pick up 2 stitches as indicated.
Knit 6 rows based on the 2 picked up stitches. Knit 1 more row
This is the part which I have the most difficulties trying to understand. pick up and knit garter ridge 1, then 2 and 3. Now you should have 5 stitches on your right hand needle
Unzip the waste yarn to expose 2 loops, place them one the left needle and knit them.
And finally you have a total of 7 stitches
Post your comments HERE


text: Valery Ponomarev held the trumpet seat in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers for four years from 1977 through 1980 (which gives you some kind of an idea about his playing style - long live hard bop!). He has a full, rich tone that brings to mind the greats - Clifford Brown and Freddie Hubbard. He's accompanied on this recording by Ralph Moore on tenor (someone who has appeared here before), Larry Willis on piano, Dennis Irwin on bass and Victor Jones on drums. Collectively they're called Universal Language. All but one of the compositions are Ponomarev originals. The recording was engineered by none other than Rudy Van Gelder. Give it a listen. It cooks.


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Volume 17 Issue 27 | Dec. 03 - Dec. 09, 2004
De Niro hotel clears one more city hurdle
By Ronda Kaysen
Robert De Niros Tribeca hotel project inched one step closer to fruition last week when the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the design. The approval marks the third time the tony hotel has appeared before the commission.
It [the design] was better than any submission we had ever made [to the commission] and that was very clear to everybody, said developer and hotelier Ira Drukier, De Niros partner in the $43 million project. Drukiers business partner, Richard Born, is the third partner in the development team dubbed Downtown Hotels, L.L.C.
The hotel, currently a vacant lot at 377383 Greenwich St. on the corner of North Moore St., has undergone several incarnations in its journey to become an upscale Tribeca inn catering to long-term guests in the entertainment business. Partially funded with $39 million in tax-free Liberty Bonds, the first design enjoyed lavish praise from Community Board 1 and L.P.C. when it was approved in May 2003. But a year later, when Downtown Hotels and their architect, David Rockwell, presented L.P.C. with an alternate design that was two stories taller and employed less expensive materials, the commission balked. They sent the team back to the drawing board.
When we got to take a good hard look at what had been originally designed we felt that we could do better, said Drukier. Something didnt sit right with us as to what the original building looked like.
The latest revision, now 96 feet tall 12 feet taller than the 2003 design, but not as tall as the rejected design boasts skylights, simple, bold brickwork and multi-pane metal and angled windows. Its a sensitive response to some concerns that had been expressed at an earlier time by the commission, Robert Tierney, the commissions chairperson, said in a telephone interview. Some of [our concerns] had to do with the size and the scale [of the building.] It was brought down by a floor and some of the materials were changed to make it more appropriate in the Tribeca way.
Tierney was particularly pleased with the incorporation of manhole covers along the cornice of the building. Its a nice touch, he said. Its incredibly interesting.
Community Board 1 was less generous in its praise of the new design, although it too felt that the latest version was the strongest it never saw the second version, which was rejected by L.P.C. before the board had the opportunity to weigh in with their opinions. The boards main concerns about the third design, articulated in a resolution passed last month, focused on the skylights facing the neighboring building and the height. In their resolution, the board agreed to support the new design contingent upon the commission resolving their concerns.
There is a concern about the size of the building, said district manager Paul Goldstein. The building is not in compliance with the zoning. The board is troubled with anybody trying to violate the zoning.
The added height does not comply with the current zoning regulations for the historic district. Because of the height differential, De Niro and his team will need to apply for a zoning variance with the Board of Standards and Appeals. The B.S.A. variance application, after it is filed, will be reviewed by the community boards Tribeca Committee. The size of the building seems to have some members of the Tribeca Committee not pleased, said Goldstein. I suspect [Downtown Hotels] is going to run into trouble with the board.
Height, in and of itself, is not the domain of the L.P.C., which deals with aesthetics. According to Tierney, neither the added height nor the additional skylights were aesthetically problematic. We found it [the design] appropriate, the size and scale and the skylights as well, he said.
De Niros continued high-profile involvement in the Tribeca community, added Tierney, is invaluable to the vibrancy of the neighborhood, bringing not only interesting new architecture to the district, but also a certain cache.
Hes made such a commitment to that historic neighborhood over the past decades. Its nice to see it reaffirmed again, said Tierney. He was personally involved in this and did everything he could to make sure that our concerns were addressed and that he approved a first class design.
A former Tribeca resident, De Niro still owns several Tribeca properties, including his apartment, the Screening Room on Canal St. and the Tribeca Film Institute, which houses the actors Tribeca Film Festival headquarters and his upscale restaurant, Tribeca Grill. The institute and restaurant an eight-story building abuts the hotel lot and also exceeded the zoning regulations for the district, requiring a B.S.A. variance at the time it was built. It is the tallest building on the low-rise block.
If B.S.A. agrees with Landmarks assessment of the design, Drukier expects construction will begin in the next three to four months.
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