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Today ... He Is
His birthday will forever be overly documented ... as it took FAR too long for him to get here.
But here he is now. At age THREE. In all his cuteness and glory. Keeping us laughing with the funny things he says. Like ... "Can I have some vezert" (dessert) ... "Hug me brudda" (brother) ... and "Take it easy man."
Tonight we will celebrate with a little cake and a lot of balloons. And break bread with our dearest friends from our tour in India who are here in DC for a few days.
Happy Birthday Little Man. We love you!
Though we'd love you even more if you'd begin to consider potty training ... just sayin!
14 comments:
- Jen said...
Aw, Happy Birthday, LG Perlman! (from Nicholas, too, of course!)
- May 14, 2012 at 7:07 AM
- OHmommy said...
How is it possible that he is three already? Weren't you just pregnant? LOL.
Happy happy birthday to your handsome fella.
- May 14, 2012 at 7:19 AM
- Mom24 said...
Aww, he is so adorable. I can not believe he's three already either! Glad Daddy's there to share the day. Thinking of you.
- May 14, 2012 at 7:23 AM
- Nomads By Nature said...
What a total cutie!! Happy Birthday to your little guy!
- May 14, 2012 at 7:33 AM
- Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...
happy birthday, cute boy! i know you keep your momma busy!
- May 14, 2012 at 7:56 AM
- Z. Marie said...
Happy birthday, Grady! (And don't even get me started on potty training ...)
- May 14, 2012 at 8:51 AM
- Kat said...
Awww. He really does look like a little man in those pictures. Such a cutie!!!
Happy Birthday to your big boy!
- May 14, 2012 at 1:08 PM
- Robin said...
Happy birthday little man! (And how can he possibly be THREE already???)
- May 15, 2012 at 9:05 AM
- Heather Dray said...
Such a sweetie! Happy Birthday Grady! I hope he had the bestest day!
- May 15, 2012 at 1:25 PM
- Daniela Swider said...
He is a total cutester!!! Happy birthday, Grady! Hope you had a blast, buddy!
- May 16, 2012 at 10:36 AM
- Elaine said...
Heck, I waited til our son was three--probably could have done it sooner, but he was pretty easy to live with.
By the time I had children, I had toilet-trained dozens of children and adults (with mental retardation, to boot) so two bright kids were no challenge. It was the one area of parenthood where I felt completely confident. I used 'Toilet-training in Less than a Day' (Azrin and Foxx)--and I recommend the 'readiness test' and their tips about clothing. I had enough experience that I tailored things to our children's needs; (no way could hyperactive Laura do ten repeats without a meltdown.) Our son was trained in about two hours. I'm assuming that book is still around; our son is 28 (and still trained!) LOL
- May 16, 2012 at 1:53 PM
- Betsy said...
He is such a doll! I hope he had a wonderful celebrations!!
- May 19, 2012 at 9:34 AM
- Betsy said...
*celebration* I need to edit before hitting post. :)
- May 19, 2012 at 9:35 AM
- Bfiles said...
happy birthday to your big boy!
- May 20, 2012 at 6:53 PM


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A drilling rig operated by Unit Drilling just outside Minco, OK.
A gas leak at 5th Street and Broadway Ave prompted an evacuation of surrounding buildings.
Julia Kirt, Executive Director of Oklahoman's for the Arts, and Michael Baron, Producing Artistic Director for Lyric Theater, at the Lyric Theater lcated at 1727 NW 16th St. in Oklahoma City.
A bicyclist riding at Lake Hefner in northwest Oklahoma CIty.
A cyclest taking a break at Lake Hefner in nowthwest Oklahoma City, OK.
The pharmacist at Wellston Clinic Pharmacy in Wellston, OK was fined $19,400 and suspended for a month after a large number of Oxycontin pill went missing over a period of months.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court upheld a tax on auto sales tax after dealerships across the state challenged it.
Dr. Lijun Xia points to red platelets on the computer screen amid a mass of green blood vessels, both of which have been dyed so researchers can identify those structures. The images taken by the microscope are similar to what Xia and his staff at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation have been researching for a study that identified new genes for a bleeding condition.
Oil tanks located at I-35 and SE 15th Street built by Matrix Services in Oklahoma City.
Rebuilding Together recently complete home repairs on the home of Inez Cortez who lives in the Haronville neihborhood of Oklahoma City.
The Rose State College swim team at the campus pool in Midwest City, OK.
Cattle being seperated for auction at the Oklahoma City Stockyards.
Road work along the new street car tracks on Robinson Ave in downtown Oklahoma City.
Casidy Square Shopping Center located at Pennsylvania Ave and Britton Road in Oklahoma City.
Ted Wheitnah, Donna Higginson and Kent Whitnah are the new owners of 2525 NW Expressway in Oklahoma City, OK.
Sean Akadiri demonstrates AgBoost's software at an Oklahoma Farm Bureau lunch held at Moore Norman Technology Center located at 13101 S Pennsylvania Ave in Oklahoma, OK.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mt. Carmel's Mike Keegan puts up shot over Poway's Dalton Soffer.
The surprising turnaround season for the Mt. Carmel boys basketball team continued Friday night.
Kory Fox scored 17 points as the Sundevils improved to 5-1 in the Palomar League with a 74-62 victory over visiting Poway.
With the win, Mt. Carmel (14-11 overall) surpassed its league win total from the previous two seasons combined and kept a share of first place with four games left.
"Nobody's expecting us to win," said Fox, who was the MVP of a 17-win junior varsity team last year as a sophomore. "It's made us (determined) to go out and beat everybody."
Senior guard Deion Alston is the only returning starter from last year's Sundevil squad that went 2-8 in league play and then graduated nine seniors. Alston is also the only senior among the current starting five, which features two sophomores and a pair of juniors.
"We're not big, but the kids have hustle, and they're coachable," said Mt. Carmel coach Chris Vitous. "I didn't know what it'd be like this year. The thing is, they just keep getting better and better. When you have young kids, that's what happens sometimes."
The Sundevils bounced back from their first league loss of the season Wednesday by hitting 7 of their first 12 shots to take a 16-11 lead in the first quarter.
After the Titans tied the score at 21, Mt. Carmel ripped off a 10-1 run and took a 33-25 lead at halftime.
The Sundevils led by double digits for almost the entire second half, stretching their advantage to as much as 16 points at the start of the fourth quarter.
Charlie Smith added 12 points for Mt. Carmel while Mike Keegan had a game-high 11 assists plus 11 points.
Dalton Soffer scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Poway (9-15, 2-4).


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A savory mixture of onions, sweet red bell peppers, fresh yellow corn kernels, chipotle chilies and garlic are the substantial base flavors in these burgers. Instead of using an egg to help bind the veggie mixture together, masa harina that has been mixed with vegetable broth, is added and cooked along with the veggies until it has the consistency of a thick polenta. When the veggies are ready, the burgers are bulked up with nutty hot cooked brown rice - you will want to use the short-grain rice as it tends to be a bit stickier than the long grain. When you go to shape the patties, be sure to wet your hands - the mixture is quite sticky and doing this will make life a lot easier and less messy.
You can cook these outdoor on a grill, but we opted to use The Griddler to move things along a little faster. I found these to hold together much better than I thought they would - none of them fell apart at all when I moved them during the cooking process. Along with the cumin, the chipotles backed up the smokiness with a bit of heat, while fresh cilantro, lime juice and lime zest help bring a refreshing bright flavor. The recipe suggested serving these crispy-on-the-outside burgers on a warmed tortilla, which we did, but it felt awkward to try and eat them like this - we ended up just getting a fork and going that route in the end. When we have them for lunch tomorrow, I think I'll just toast up a couple English muffins to serve them on instead.
Hot Tamale Burgers


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29 Apr, 2014, 09:00 ET
WALLDORF, Germany, April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) is making it easier than ever for companies to tap into the agility and innovation of the cloud and drive innovation based on the SAP HANA® platform, to take their business to new levels. The company today announced it will expand and enhance its support program across all products and solutions to ease the customers' journey to the cloud via the SAP® ONE Support program. Designed for flexibility and simplification of the customer experience, the program will help to deliver a harmonized and integrated support experience to companies of all sizes and across all deployment scenarios. This is intended to help enable customers transitioning to the SAP® Cloud powered by SAP HANA at their own pace, driving innovation while leveraging existing on-premise investments. With SAP ONE Support, companies would be able to focus on business value creation based on SAP Cloud powered by SAP HANA, and leave process orchestration to their provider.
"By building on and expanding the SAP support program via SAP ONE Support, we can remove complexity and add the flexibility and simplicity of the SAP Cloud tailored to the individual needs of our customers," said Gerhard Oswald, member of the Executive Board of SAP AG, Scale, Quality & Support. "It will be easier than ever for our customers to mix public cloud applications and services, private cloud managed services and on-premise technology according to their needs allowing enhanced and accelerated business outcomes. The SAP Cloud powered by SAP HANA creates a new set of opportunities for customers."
SAP ONE Support provides a single access point regardless of technology, deployment method or SAP solution, aiming to enable a seamless delivery and support experience across business process scenarios, including mission-critical support. Additionally, customer interactions with SAP are simplified through a single touchpoint or the full landscape of solutions, creating a unified experience across multiple-channels and co-innovation with customers. With this, SAP is anticipating leveraging and expanding its experience through new and innovative engagement models, including a universal free phone number, "Call 1 SAP," planned for launch during the second quarter of 2014.
Support Levels and Premium Services
SAP ONE Support is not a separate support offering; it does not involve extra costs and will be delivered through the existing SAP® Enterprise Support offering. SAP ONE Support includes and expands the experience of SAP Enterprise Support that customers already benefit from today. For SAP companies SuccessFactors and Ariba, a comparable support level is currently already delivered embedded in the subscription.
Customers can also supplement the baseline offering with premium support engagements, SAP® ActiveEmbedded and SAP® MaxAttention™ services. Through end-to-end coverage via SAP Enterprise Support and an optionally unified engagement model through SAP ActiveEmbedded and SAP MaxAttention across all solutions, SAP will deliver a consistent support experience and value across all its solutions, regardless of the deployment model. For example, engagements of SAP ActiveEmbedded and SAP MaxAttention for on-premise solutions can easily be supplemented by SuccessFactors or Ariba premium support engagements for cloud solutions.
The SAP® Standard Support offering remains in place for on-premise solutions and will continue to provide basic support services to keep SAP solutions running and to maintain system operations and availability. SAP Enterprise Support continues to be the recommended support level for customers transitioning to the SAP Cloud powered by SAP HANA, while SAP Enterprise Support drives innovation and reliability in hybrid scenarios, especially in mission-critical processes.
Start of an Evolution
SAP is focused on optimizing the support experience of its customers to help them realize the full value of their solutions and drive unprecedented outcomes. Enhancements to the SAP portfolio of support offerings introduced with the SAP ONE Support program will consist of several steps throughout 2014 and beyond. Immediately available elements include an aligned and integrated incident management process and integrated mission critical support for a customer's end-to-end solution, including hybrid scenarios and landscapes.
"As more enterprises integrate on-premise installations and cloud initiatives into hybrid IT environments, managing and coordinating support across multiple solutions can significantly increase the complexity of IT operations," said Elaina Stergiades, research manager, IDC. "IT organizations are looking for support providers that can simplify and unify interaction with and access to support resources. Programs like SAP ONE Support, with a focus on comprehensive support delivery, can help customers integrate cloud technology, reduce complexity in daily operations and maximize their IT investments."
The first set of proof points will be showcased at the SAP ONE Support Center and SAP MaxAttention Lounge on-site at SAPPHIRE® NOW, being held June 3-5, 2014, in Orlando, Florida. To learn more, visit: www.sapsupport.info/onesupport.
For more information, visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP on Twitter at @sapnews.
About SAP
As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 258,000 customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.
Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.
© 2014 SAP AG. All rights reserved.
SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and other countries. Please see http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/legal/copyright/index.epx#trademark for additional trademark information and notices.
For customers interested in learning more about SAP products:
Global Customer Center: +49 180 534-34-24
United States Only: 1 (800) 872-1SAP (1-800-872-1727)
For more information, press only:
Martin Gwisdalla, +49 (6227) 7-67275, [email protected], CET
SAP News Center press room; [email protected]
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110126/AQ34470LOGO


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wonderful images!ReplyDelete
My goodness -- so beautiful!!ReplyDelete
"kesariya balam, aao ni padharo mhare des ... padharo mhare des"
beautiful sets of pottery !!!
beautiful picsReplyDelete
These pots are beautiful, I just had to click on some pictures to enlarge and see more! I'm glad you show a few of the different stages of making them. I've already picked out two that I want!! But the surahis, wow!! Why don't we have any in this country, it seems so amazing!! How long will they keep the water this cool? It works kind of like a thermos?ReplyDelete
The pottery is beautiful! I like the lion-mouthed pots that you purchased. They sound like a wise buy, if they keep water as cool as claimed!ReplyDelete
Love the Surahis.ReplyDelete
They are spectacular...I am a potter and I know how much skill is involved in making those...and they do keep water nicely chilled too.....wish i could find one here in Canada!ReplyDelete
How beautiful - all those vivid reds are simply stunning.ReplyDelete
The pottery is awesome. So you possess 2 surahis now. I think you have to pour the water through the spout of surahi.ReplyDelete
Great ArtWork "I'm Proud to be an rajasthani" and great matka's too -- LOL,
Very very great post...
You've got an new follower.
Nice one . great picsReplyDelete
These pots are so beautiful. I loveee them :-)ReplyDelete
Beautiful, unique pottery! It would be hard to choose just one of those pots! Talented artisans, too!ReplyDelete
Wonderful looking pots! The Surahis pots for keep water cool sound like a great idea.ReplyDelete
So beautiful ,i love the colors they used in their art ...awesome
What beautiful work - both the vivid earthen pots, and the more subdued ones for water. Lovely photos.ReplyDelete
wonerful pictures!!! portrays the art of jaipur potters... there r so many artists widespread in india... they do specialized things... govt must take efforts to spread the things!!!ReplyDelete
Arti -- those are beautiful pots and I love that yor photo essay showed some of how they ar made. That is such an interesting bit about how the kind you bought can keep water cool. And the power cutback makes me count my blessings and vow to conserve water and energy as much as I can.ReplyDelete
Wow they look so beautiful .I madly collect all these.ReplyDelete
This pottery is so beautiful and inspiring - and the women in their saris! Aw, this is what i love about india, they are not scared of colors. Such beautiful pix Arti, the beauty of everyday life!ReplyDelete
Beautiful, what a dream to shop around there!ReplyDelete
great art work, hope they get decent price for themReplyDelete
This is great! Full of colors!ReplyDelete
great finishing touches of earthen pot and great collection of photographs.ReplyDelete
nice potterys. I think everyone will find his one. lg TinaReplyDelete
Beautiful & wonderfull
Arti, sorry for such a big late. But thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful post. I have never seen these beautiful pitchers, never thought, imagined. I mean never seen, so couldn't think and imagine. :).
I feel envy seeing these Surahi, really the taste of natural cool water is beyond words and artificial cooling never brings it.
Thanks for sharing.:)


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Fire fighters help protect people and property from fires and other hazards. Becoming a fire fighter is the childhood dream of many of us, but it can be a hazardous profession with long, arduous hours.
In this free career guide, you will learn how to have a successful career as a fire fighter.
Fire Fighter Summary
- Fire fighting involves hazardous conditions and long, irregular hours.
- About 9 out of 10 fire fighters were employed by local governments.
- Applicants generally must pass written, physical, and medical examinations, and candidates with some postsecondary education are increasingly preferred.
- Keen competition for jobs is expected because this occupation attracts many qualified candidates.
Working as a Fire Fighter
Every year, fires and other emergencies take thousands of lives and destroy property worth billions of dollars. Fire fighters help protect the public against these dangers by responding to fires and a variety of other emergencies. Although they put out fires, fire fighters more frequently respond to other emergencies. They are often the first emergency personnel at the scene of a traffic accident or medical emergency and may be called upon to treat injuries or perform other vital functions.
During duty hours, fire fighters must be prepared to respond immediately to a fire or other emergency. Fighting fires is complex and dangerous and requires organization and teamwork. At every emergency scene, fire fighters perform specific duties assigned by a superior officer. At fires, they connect hose lines to hydrants and operate a pump to send water to high-pressure hoses. Some carry hoses, climb ladders, and enter burning buildings—using systematic and careful procedures—to put out fires. At times, they may need to use tools to make their way through doors, walls, and debris, sometimes with the aid of information about a building's floor plan. Some find and rescue occupants who are unable to leave the building safely without assistance. They also provide emergency medical attention, ventilate smoke-filled areas and attempt to salvage the contents of buildings. Fire fighters' duties may change several times while the company is in action. Sometimes they remain at the site of a disaster for days at a time, rescuing trapped survivors, and assisting with medical treatment.
Fire fighters work in a variety of settings, including metropolitan areas, rural areas, airports, chemical plants and other industrial sites. They also have assumed a range of responsibilities, including providing emergency medical services. In fact, most calls to which fire fighters respond involve medical emergencies. In addition, some fire fighters work in hazardous materials units that are specially trained for the control, prevention, and cleanup of hazardous materials, such as oil spills or accidents involving the transport of chemicals.
Workers specializing in forest fires utilize methods and equipment different from those of other fire fighters. When fires break out, crews of fire fighters are brought in to suppress the blaze with heavy equipment and water hoses. Fighting forest fires, like fighting urban fires, is rigorous work. One of the most effective means of fighting a forest fire is creating fire lines—cutting down trees and digging out grass and all other combustible vegetation in the path of the fire in order to deprive it of fuel. Elite fire fighters called smoke jumpers parachute from airplanes to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. This tactic, however, can be extremely hazardous.
When they aren't responding to fires and other emergencies, fire fighters clean and maintain equipment, learn additional skills related to their jobs, conduct practice drills, and participate in physical fitness activities. They also prepare written reports on fire incidents and review fire science literature to stay informed about technological developments and changing administrative practices and policies.
Work environment. Fire fighters spend much of their time at fire stations, which are usually similar to dormitories. When an alarm sounds, fire fighters respond, regardless of the weather or hour. Fire fighting involves a high risk of death or injury. Common causes include floors caving in, walls toppling, traffic accidents, and exposure to flame and smoke. Fire fighters also may come into contact with poisonous, flammable, or explosive gases and chemicals and radioactive materials, all of which may have immediate or long-term effects on their health. For these reasons, they must wear protective gear that can be very heavy and hot.
Work hours of fire fighters are longer and more varied than the hours of most other workers. Many fire fighters work about 50 hours a week, and sometimes they may work longer. In some agencies, fire fighters are on duty for 24 hours, then off for 48 hours, and receive an extra day off at intervals. In others, they work a day shift of 10 hours for 3 or 4 days, work a night shift of 14 hours for 3 or 4 nights, have 3 or 4 days off, and then repeat the cycle. In addition, fire fighters often work extra hours at fires and other emergencies and are regularly assigned to work on holidays. Fire lieutenants and fire captains frequently work the same hours as the fire fighters they supervise.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Applicants for fire fighting jobs usually are required to have at least a high school diploma, but candidates with some postsecondary education are increasingly being preferred. Most municipal jobs require passing written and physical tests. All fire fighters receive extensive training after being hired.
Education and training. Most fire fighters have a high school diploma; however, the completion of community college courses or, in some cases, an associate's degree, in fire science may improve an applicant's chances for a job. A number of colleges and universities offer courses leading to 2-year or 4-year degrees in fire engineering or fire science. In recent years, an increasing proportion of new fire fighters have had some education after high school.
As a rule, entry-level workers in large fire departments are trained for several weeks at the department's training center or academy. Through classroom instruction and practical training, the recruits study fire fighting techniques, fire prevention, hazardous materials control, local building codes, and emergency medical procedures, including first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). They also learn how to use axes, chain saws, fire extinguishers, ladders, and other fire fighting and rescue equipment. After successfully completing training, the recruits are assigned to a fire company, where they undergo a period of probation.
Many fire departments have accredited apprenticeship programs lasting up to 4 years, including programs in fighting forest fires. These programs combine formal instruction with on-the-job training under the supervision of experienced fire fighters.
Almost all departments require fire fighters to be certified as emergency medical technicians. Although most fire departments require the lowest level of certification, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-Basic), larger departments in major metropolitan areas increasingly are requiring paramedic certification. Some departments include this training in the fire academy, whereas others prefer that recruits earn EMT certification on their own, but will give them up to 1 year to do it.
In addition to participating in training programs conducted by local fire departments, some fire fighters attend training sessions sponsored by the U.S. National Fire Academy. These training sessions cover topics such as executive development, antiarson techniques, disaster preparedness, hazardous materials control, and public fire safety and education. Some States also have mandatory or voluntary fire fighter training and certification programs. Many fire departments offer fire fighters incentives, such as tuition reimbursement or higher pay, for completing advanced training.
Other qualifications. Applicants for municipal fire fighting jobs usually must pass a written exam; tests of strength, physical stamina, coordination, and agility; and a medical examination that includes a drug screening. Workers may be monitored on a random basis for drug use after accepting employment. Examinations are generally open to people who are at least 18 years of age and have a high school education or its equivalent. Those who receive the highest scores in all phases of testing have the best chances of being hired.
Among the personal qualities fire fighters need are mental alertness, self-discipline, courage, mechanical aptitude, endurance, strength, and a sense of public service. Initiative and good judgment also are extremely important, because fire fighters make quick decisions in emergencies. Members of a crew live and work closely together under conditions of stress and danger for extended periods, so they must be dependable and able to get along well with others. Leadership qualities are necessary for officers, who must establish and maintain discipline and efficiency, as well as direct the activities of the fire fighters in their companies.
Advancement. Most experienced fire fighters continue studying to improve their job performance and prepare for promotion examinations. To progress to higher level positions, they acquire expertise in advanced fire fighting equipment and techniques, building construction, emergency medical technology, writing, public speaking, management and budgeting procedures, and public relations.
Opportunities for promotion depend upon the results of written examinations, as well as job performance, interviews, and seniority. Hands-on tests that simulate real-world job situations also are used by some fire departments.
Usually, fire fighters are first promoted to engineer, then lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief, deputy chief, and, finally, chief. For promotion to positions higher than battalion chief, many fire departments now require a bachelor's degree, preferably in fire science, public administration, or a related field. An associate's degree is required for executive fire officer certification from the National Fire Academy.
Employment as a Fire Fighter
In 2008, total paid employment in fire fighting occupations was about 365,600. Fire fighters held about 310,400 jobs, and first-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting and prevention workers held about 55,200. These employment figures include only paid career fire fighters—they do not cover volunteer fire fighters, who perform the same duties and may constitute the majority of fire fighters in a residential area. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, about 70 percent of fire companies were staffed entirely by volunteer fire fighters in 2007.
About 91 percent of fire fighting workers were employed by local governments. Some local and regional fire departments are being consolidated into countywide establishments to reduce administrative staffs, cut costs, and establish consistent training standards and work procedures. Some large cities have thousands of career fire fighters, while many small towns have only a few. Most of the fire fighters not employed by local governments worked in fire departments on Federal and State installations, including airports. Private fire fighting companies employ a small number of fire fighters.
Job Outlook
Although employment is expected to grow faster than the average for all jobs, candidates for these positions are expected to face keen competition because these positions are highly attractive and sought after.
Employment change. Employment of fire fighters is expected to grow by 19 percent over the 2008–18 decade, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Most job growth will stem from volunteer fire fighting positions being converted to paid positions. In recent years, it has become more difficult for volunteer fire departments to recruit and retain volunteers, perhaps because of the considerable amount of training and time commitment required. Furthermore, a trend toward more people living in and around cities has increased the demand for fire fighters. When areas develop and become more densely populated, emergencies and fires affect more buildings and more people and, therefore, require more fire fighters.
Job prospects. Prospective fire fighters are expected to face keen competition for available job openings. Many people are attracted to fire fighting because (1) it is challenging and provides the opportunity to perform an essential public service, (2) a high school education is usually sufficient for entry, and (3) a pension is usually guaranteed after 25 years of service. Consequently, the number of qualified applicants in most areas far exceeds the number of job openings, even though the written examination and physical requirements eliminate many applicants. This situation is expected to persist in coming years. Applicants with the best chances are those who are physically fit and score the highest on physical-conditioning and mechanical aptitude exams. Those who have completed some fire fighter education at a community college and have EMT or paramedic certification will have an additional advantage.
Projections Data
|Occupational Title
|SOC Code
|Employment, 2008
Employment, 2018
|Fire fighting occupations
|First-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting and prevention workers
|Fire fighters
|NOTE: Data in this table are rounded.
Earnings for Fire Fighters
Median annual wages of fire fighters were $44,260 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,180 and $58,440. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,440, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $72,210. Median annual wages were $44,800 in local government, $45,610 in the Federal Government, $25,300 in other support services, and $37,870 in State governments.
Median annual wages of first-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting and prevention workers were $67,440 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $53,820 and $86,330. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,850, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $108,930. First-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting and prevention workers employed in local government earned a median of about $69,000 a year.
According to the International City-County Management Association, average salaries in 2008 for sworn full-time positions were as follows:
|Minimum annual base salary
|Maximum annual base salary
|Fire chief
|Deputy chief
|Battalion chief
|Assistant fire chief
|Fire captain
|Fire lieutenant
Fire fighters who average more than a certain number of work hours per week are required to be paid overtime. The threshold is determined by the department. Fire fighters often work extra shifts to maintain minimum staffing levels and during special emergencies.
In 2008, 66 percent of all fire fighters were union members or covered by a union contract. Fire fighters receive benefits that usually include medical and liability insurance, vacation and sick leave, and some paid holidays. Almost all fire departments provide protective clothing (helmets, boots, and coats) and breathing apparatus, and many also provide dress uniforms. Fire fighters generally are covered by pension plans, often offering retirement at half pay after 25 years of service or if the individual is disabled in the line of duty.


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The Gift of Therapy: An Open Letter to a New Generation of Therapists and Their Patients
Acclaimed author and renowned psychiatrist Irvin D. Yalom distills thirty-five years of psychotherapy wisdom into one brilliant volume.
The culmination of master psychiatrist Dr. Irvin D. Yalom's more than thirty-five years in clinical practice, The Gift of Therapy is a remarkable and essential guidebook that illustrates through real case studies how patients and therapists alike can get the most out of therapy. The bestselling author of Love's Executioner shares his uniquely fresh approach and the valuable insights he has gained--presented as eighty-five personal and provocative "tips for beginner therapists," including:
-Let the patient matter to you
-Acknowledge your errors
-Create a new therapy for each patient
-Do home visits
-(Almost) never make decisions for the patient
-Freud was not always wrong
A book aimed at enriching the therapeutic process for a new generation of patients and counselors, Yalom's Gift of Therapy is an entertaining, informative, and insightful read for anyone with an interest in the subject.
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About the Author
Irvin D. Yalom, M.D., is the author of Love's Executioner, Momma and the Meaning of Life, Lying on the Couch, The Schopenhauer Cure, When Nietzsche Wept, as well as several classic textbooks on psychotherapy, including The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, considered the foremost work on group therapy. The Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Stanford University, he divides his practice between Palo Alto, where he lives, and San Francisco, California.
"[Yalom's] wise ideas are perfectly accessible."--Publishers Weekly


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Double Chocolate Croissant with Sourdough Starter - can bread be mysterious and sexy?
Sending this to Yeastspotting [1].
Click here for my blog index. [2]
Chocolate croissants, we all love them. When I saw in a Japanese baking book where they put cocoa in the dough as well, I knew I must make it. These are the bread equivalence of "a dark and mysterious stranger".
At first I thought it would be straightforward to adapt my previous croissant recipe: just add some cocoa powder and wrape in a chocolate baton right? Wrong. Nothing in croissant making has been straightforward for me. Before diving into the gory details of my 3 months struggle, you might want to check out the following two earlier entries for some tips and guildlines:
- Poolish Croissant (includes detailed tips) - http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/22677/poolish-croissant-pursuit-perfection [3]
- Croissant with Sourdough Starter - http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/23342/croissant-sourdough-starter-txfarmer-vs-tx-summer [4]
Lesson re-learned #1: Natural cocoa powder is acidic. I knew that before from caking making - you add baking soda to react with acidic cocoa powder to raise cakes, however, I didn't know it was THAT acidic. After adding cocoa powder, the dough was too weak to rise properly, they ended up like sad chocolate pancakes. I changed natural cocoa powder to dutch processed cocoa, immediately saw a difference. For the batch I am showing I used Herseys Special Dark Cocoa (hence the very dark color), which is a blend of dutch processed and natural cocoa, I imagin the volume would even be better if a pure dutch processed cocoa is used.
Lesson re-learned #2: Firm levain gives dough more strength then liquid starter/levain. Knew that one before as well, but the effect is really obvious here. I made a firm levain rather than adding 100% starter directly into the dough, the volume of croissants was further improved.
Lesson re-learned #3: Croissant dough needs to be cold. In my last croissant post, I wrote about how to make croissants in TX summer by rolling quickly and putting dough in fridge frequently. Well, since then, temperature has climed to 110F. Even at night/early morning, my kitchen (especially the counter top by the window) doesn't drop below 85. That's simply too hot, butter is melting into the dough as soon as it hits the counter top. To solve that, this is the setup I am using (a shoutout to my hubby who thought of and implemented the whole thing): frozen ice packs under a big baking tray, and a metal rolling pin which is filled with water then frozen.
The rolling pin and ice packs need to be put back into the freezer between rolling, which is a bit troublesome, but did I mention it's 110F outside?
Lesson re-learned #4: Dark chocolate can lower blood pressure. Knew that one before too, but not until my mother, who usually has high blood pressure, had two croisssants and started getting dizzy - her blood pressure was too low! We then tested with just the valrhona dark chocolate batons used for these croissants, apparently, just one was enough to lower her blood pressure to normal, any more would be too low! This is more effective (and yummier) then medicine!
Double Chocolate Croissant with Natural Starter
Note: makes 12 croissants
100% starter, 35g
water, 59g
bread flour, 105g
1. mix and let mature for 12 hours.
-Final Dough
bread flour (KAF), 422g
dutch processed cocoa, 20g
water, 85g
milk, 128g
sugar, 73g
salt, 10g
osmotolerant instant yeast (SAF gold), 4g, 1tsp+1/4tsp
butter, 21g, softened
levain, all
roll-in butter, 287g
1. Mix everything but the roll-in butter, knead until gluten starts to form. In my KA mixer, 3min at first speed, 5 min at 3rd speed.
Then following the procedure illustrated here [5]. Do remebmer to enclose a chocolate baton while shaping, just place it at the bottom of the triangle piece, and roll up as usual.
Very very very delicious, it takes so much work to make, be sure to use the best chocolate to ge the maximum impact!
For this earlier batch, I rolled the dough out thinner, did more turns while shaping, to create more layers. Well, more layers alright, but I don't think it's airy enough.
Anyway, I am happy my 3 month chocolate croissant battle is near the end, still not perfect, but I think they are quite sexy!


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Detroit, MI
Chevrolet Volt Leads General Motors Into Its Second Century
DETROIT - General Motors launched its next 100 years today by unveiling the much-anticipated production version of the Chevrolet Volt - a vehicle that delivers up to 40 miles of gasoline- and emissions-free electric driving, with the extended-range capability of hundreds of additional miles.
"Revealing the production version of the Chevy Volt is a great way to open our second century," said Rick Wagoner, GM Chairman and CEO. "The Volt is symbolic of GM's strong commitment to the future ... just the kind of technology innovation that our industry needs to respond to today's and tomorrow's energy and environmental challenges."
Form follows function
The design of the Chevrolet Volt production car has evolved from the original concept that was unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Because aerodynamics plays a key role in maximizing driving range, GM designers created an aerodynamically efficient design for the production vehicle. Many of the design cues from the concept vehicle endure in the production Volt, including the closed front grille, athletic stance, rear design graphics, outside rearview mirrors and more. The Volt's rounded and flush front fascia, tapered corners and grille are functional, enabling air to move easily around the car. In the rear, sharp edges and a carefully designed spoiler allow the air to flow off and away quickly. An aggressive rake on the windshield and back glass help reduce turbulence and drag.
Working closely with GM aerodynamicists to shape the Volt, design and engineering teams developed one of the most aerodynamic vehicles in GM's history. They spent hundreds of hours with the Volt in GM's wind tunnel, testing and re-testing parts such as the front and rear quarter panels, rear spoiler, rockers and side mirrors. Aerodynamic improvements enabled GM to reach the Volt's target of driving up to 40 miles (based on EPA city cycle) without using gasoline or producing emissions.
Inside, the Volt offers the space, comfort, convenience and safety features that customers expect in a four-passenger sedan, and it delivers them in a variety of interior color, lighting and trim options unlike any offered before on a Chevrolet sedan. Modern controls and attractive materials, two informational displays, and a touch-sensitive infotainment center with integrated shifter distinguish the Volt's interior from other vehicles in the market.
Some of Volt's interior technological features include:
New era in automotive transportation
The Chevrolet Volt is leading a new era of electrification of the automobile by creating a new class of vehicle known as the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, or E-REV.
The Volt uses electricity to move the wheels at all times and speeds. For trips up to 40 miles, the Volt is powered only by electricity stored in its 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery. When the battery's energy is depleted, a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator seamlessly provides electricity to power the Volt's electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery. This mode of operation extends the range of the Volt for several hundred additional miles, until the vehicle's battery can be charged. Unlike a conventional battery-electric vehicle, the Volt eliminates "range anxiety," giving the confidence and peace of mind that the driver will not be stranded by a depleted battery.
The Chevrolet Volt can be plugged either into a standard household 120v outlet or use 240v for charging. The vehicle's intelligent charging technology enables the Volt's battery to be charged in less than three hours on a 240v outlet or about eight hours on a 120v outlet. Charge times are reduced if the battery has not been fully depleted. At a cost of about 80 cents per day (10 cents per kWh) for a full charge that will deliver up to 40 miles of electric driving, GM estimates that the Volt will be less expensive to recharge than purchasing a cup of your favorite coffee. Charging the Volt about once daily will consume less electric energy annually than the average home's refrigerator and freezer units.
Charge out of driving
The Chevrolet Volt offers spirited driving performance in a remarkably quiet interior. More than 220 lithium-ion cells contained within the Volt's battery pack provide ample power. The Volt's electric drive unit delivers the equivalent of 150 horsepower, 273 lb-ft. (370 Nm) of instant torque, and a top speed of 100 miles per hour. The lack of engine noise, combined with special sound-deadening materials, make the Chevrolet Volt an extremely quiet vehicle to drive.
GM estimates that the Volt will cost about two cents per mile to drive while under battery power compared to 12 cents per mile using gasoline priced at $3.60 per gallon. For an average driver who drives 40 miles per day (or 15,000 miles per year), this amounts to a cost savings of $1,500 annually. Using peak electric rates, GM estimates that an electrically driven mile in a Chevy Volt will be about one-sixth of the cost of a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle. The cost savings are even greater when charging during off-peak hours, when electric rates are cheaper.
The Chevrolet Volt is expected to be built at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck manufacturing facility, subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives. Production is scheduled to begin late 2010 for models in the United States. Pricing has not been announced. Visit media.gm.com/volt for more information.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
Vehicle type:
5-door, front-wheel-drive sedan
Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV)
E-REV competitors:
independent McPherson struts front, compound crank twist axle rear, four-wheel disc brakes, full regenerative brakes to maximize energy capture, electric power-assist steering
Seating capacity:
Manufacturing location:
Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly (subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives)
Top speed (mph):
EV range, city (miles):
40 (based on EPA city cycle)
Wheelbase (in / mm):
105.7 / 2685
Length (in / mm):
177 / 4404
Width (in / mm):
70.8 / 1798
Height (in / mm):
56.3 / 1430
Cargo volume (cu ft / L):
10.6 / 301
Battery system
Energy (kWh)
Electric drive unit
Power (kW / hp):
111 / 150
Torque (lb-ft / Nm):
273 / 370
Tire and wheel size:
specially developed low rolling-resistance tires on 17-inch forged aluminum wheels


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The future is a beautiful place - and you can help make it that way, while picking up a paycheck at the same time. Here are 20 jobs that will help the human race avoid dystopia!
We all want to make a difference in the world, and it would be awesome to be able to get paid for contributing to humanity's future. So next time you're between jobs and reskilling or retraining, here are some possibilities you might want to look into. We've divided them into a few basic categories.
Beekeeper: Even the Doctor is concerned about Colony Collapse Disorder. Bees are essential to the world's food supply, but they're disappearing at an alarming rate. The Telegraph recently took up the call, urging Britons to begin keeping bees again.
Water purification expert: One of the worst dystopian scenarios for the 21st century is "water wars," in which the supply of potable water shrinks just as the population grows. Greedy corporations and governments stand to make the situation worse by trying to restrict the water supply to just the chosen few. Even in America, the growing water shortage is obvious — the Rio Grande isn't so grande any more, and is only nominally a river. And that's just traditionally arid areas. And as climate change starts to take hold, previously green areas are going to face problems. So we'll need people who know how to reclaim water that's poisoned or desalinate sea water. Don't condemn us to the urine-drinking fate of Kevin Costner in Waterworld!
Seed-bank staffer (or organic farmer): As biodiversity narrows and big agriculture encourages farmers to use fewer types of seeds, the world's crops are more vulnerable to some sort of shock. Everyone grows similar types of of wheat or grain — and then a particular blight hits, and we get major food shortages. People in places like Svalbard Global Seed Vault, in the Arctic, are collecting the world's seeds for preservation. And anyone who grows a wider variety of plants is helping stave off a future where Monsanto completely controls and homogenizes crop production.
Environmental lawyers and non-profit workers: Yeah, we know. Lawyers. But seriously, the best way to make a company stop polluting or otherwise turning the world into a polluted, dystopian pit is to hit them where it hurts: their bottom line. With environmental regulation being somewhat uneven at best, we need people who will step in and represent the public interest. Attorneys help to do this, and so do the tireless workers at environmental organizations.
Environmental cleanup technician: Long before the BP oil spill, this was already a fast-growing field, requiring a huge amount of nerdy expertise. When awful spills and contaminations happen, these guys swoop in and actually clean it up. According to this site, this line of work requires expertise in physics, chemistry, fluid dynamics and other sciences. And as the BP spill proved, we're still learning how to clean up these types of messes, so this is an area where you can be an innovator.
R&D tech at automakers: Major car companies aren't going anywhere just yet, but they're finally interested in developing and offering cars powered by alternative energy. So there's a whole new crop of R&D people (like this guy at GM) busting their butts to turn these oil-burning behemoths into something comparatively sustainable.
Biologists: If you're concerned about the future biodiversity of our planet, then this is a great field to go in. Biologists are often focused on a particular segment of the ecosystem or a specific animal, but biologists, with all their knowledge, work very hard to prevent some sort of terrible post-environmental-collapse future. For example, biologist Dee Boersma studies penguins, but her work is relevant for anyone interested in biodiversity:
As director of the the Wildlife Conservation Society's Penguin Project, she has dedicated almost three decades to tracking them in the South Atlantic. Using "nametags" — numbered metal bands — Boersma and her team follow hundreds of individual penguins to learn where they go, what they eat and how they survive to the next breeding season.
Also, Silent Spring author Rachel Carson is the obvious example here.
There are plenty of dystopias in which everybody suffers from horrible diseases, from apocalyptic plagues to intractable illnesses to incurable sterility. And in the real world, we've got a few doozies on the horizon, from a new wave of drug-resistant viruses to rising rates of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. But there are a few careers in which you can contribute to helping save humanity
Stem cell researcher: Early indications are that stem cells could have a huge impact in treating conditions as diverse as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Just today, researchers found that 82 out of 107 patients who'd been blinded by chemical burns recovered their full sight after stem-cell treatment. We may just be scratching the surface of what stem-cell treatments can do to prevent future pandemics.
Epidemiologist: These guys are the resident experts on any given disease, and so they're often called in the first stages of an outbreak to figure out how to contain it. They're the people who understand disease vectors and the ways in which an outbreak can spread. You don't need an M.D. to become an epidemiologist, and a growing number of universities offer degree programs. Here's a list of places you can obtain a degree in epidemiology.
Drug researcher/pharmaceutical pirate: We're going to need more people to discover new drugs to combat these new pandemics — not to mention stopping rejection of our awesome artificial organs and helping to make us smarter. And then we'll need fearless people to help get cheap versions of these drugs to people in the Third World who can't afford the full-price versions. There are a lot of careers in the pharmaceutical industry where you can help develop new medications, including the fast-growing Clinical Research Organization (CRO) sector, which runs human clinical trials.
Bioinformatician: The more we understand about DNA and protein sequences, and the field of molecular biology in general, the more we'll need people who can manage the sheer amount of data we're generating. You could help develop new gene therapies, and possibly help humanity advance to the next stage of evolution. Here's a great FAQ on bioinformatics, including a list of places where you can study it. Here are some online courses you can study.
Let's face it: When people think of dystopias, they think of a repressive regime that stifles dissent and keeps the people brainwashed, like in 1984 or Brave New World. Obviously, your political views may differ from mine as to the direction an overwhelming statist regime might come from, but here are some careers that might be helpful either way.
Hacker/Cyberactivist: Want to avoid an evil cyberpunk dystopia? Or, for that matter, a 1984-style dystopia where all information and exchange of ideas is strictly controlled by the government or an oligarchy? Brushing up your hacker skills, or agitating for cyber-liberties, are two ways to go about that. Keeping the internet free and open, and keeping spaces open for anonymous discussion, have never been more important — there are a lot of people who'd like to put a V-chip on the Internet.
Debt counselor: For people who are mired in tons of credit card debt or abusive mortgages, the world is already a very dystopian place. And it's easy to imagine a future where scores of millions of people are virtual serfs, unable to pay off their debts in their lifetimes. So working to help people claw their way out of debt is a huge, important undertaking.
Teacher: This one's a little touchy-feely, but teaching people to read is still important. (In fact, the text-heavy nature of the Internet probably makes it more important than ever, if we're going to keep the Internet fairly open and democratic.) History teachers are important, math and science teachers are important. They're a guard against two types of dystopia: The Idiocracy scenario, and a stratified class system that funnels the elite into power and keeps everyone else uneducated and in line.
Artists and citizen journalists: As George Orwell demonstrated, artists can speak the truth to power and sound the alarm when a society goes on the road to dystopia. Of course, Orwell would also be the first to argue that artists can just as easily participate in the construction of a dystopia — think Leni Refienstahl. And as old-school print journalism gets more atrophied, we'll need citizen journalists who have nothing to lose and a determination to present the facts that might otherwise get ignored.
Translators: There's one thing that's antithetical to dystopias, and that's understanding of other cultures and viewpoints. In particular, people who translate literature into other languages can do a lot to open us up to other perspectives. But any kind of translation helps to allow knowledge to circulate and spread from one culture to another. Plus, learning a language is fun.
General quality of life
Aerospace engineer: At some point, human quality of life is going to depend on colonizing space. As long as we're confined to one biosphere, we're just asking for some planetary catastrophe to come along and reduce our standards of living, as a species, drastically. As people often say, it just takes one bad day. Also, at some point, the human population on Earth will finally reach saturation levels — Malthus was way too pessimistic, but it's patently true that every closed system has an upper occupancy limit. So you can contribute meaningfully to your descendants' happiness by helping to find ways for people to live on the Moon, on Mars, and beyond.
Everyone on NASA's Near Earth Object Program: These guys are the first line of defense against astroid impacts. Which is more of an apocalyptic scenario than a dystopian one, but the aftermath would be pretty darn dystopian.
Urban planner: There are lots of ways urban planners work to make the word less dystopian. Some work to make cities greener or more sustainable, while others focus on urban renewal. Either approach helps prevent cities from degenerating into some sort of cinderblock nightmare or dilapidated hellscape. Architects: This is who decides what buildings look like and how they can function. If you want to make human habitation more sustainable, this is another great choice.
Archivists/Librarians: Between European monks and Arab scholars, a surprising amount of Greek & Roman knowledge survived the Middle Ages. The Internet is great and all, but in the event of some massive technological failure, it's going to be up to those who keep up with the books to make sure we don't lose the sum total of the world's technical and cultural know-how.
If you go into any one of these careers, we can't guarantee that you'll be bringing about a utopia any time soon. And of course, "dystopia" is ultimately in the eye of the beholder. But the more people go into these careers, the brighter the future is likely to be. Feel free to suggest careers we might have missed in the comments.
Top image by Beth Van Trees/Shutterstock. Mona Caron mural images by Ben Pender, MetaGrrrl, mBeth, Steve Rhodes and Mermaniac on Flickr.
Additional reporting by Kelly Faircloth. (I also got some ideas from this career site.)


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text: Download Print Chrysler Kicks Off Woodward Dream Cruise With Introduction of New 2009 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 New limited-edition 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser buzz model kicks off the14th annual Woodward Dream Cruise 14th factory-customized limited-edition Chrysler PT Cruiser features modern and athletic exterior enhancements New PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 delivers factory customization at a value price of $22,700 1,750 PT Dream Cruisers Series 5 models will be produced for the U.S. More than 1.3 million PT Cruisers sold since initial 2001 model year August 11, 2008 , Royal Oak, Mich - Chrysler kicked off the annual Woodward Dream Cruise today at Duggan's Irish Pub with the introduction of a special-edition PT Cruiser. Announced in conjunction with Detroit's famed Woodward Dream Cruise, the new 2009 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 will be available this fall as a limited-production version of the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser. "Chrysler PT Dream Cruisers are about individuality and uniqueness, and for 2009 we modernized our next factory-customized edition," said Larry Lyons, Vice President – Car and Minivan Product Team, Chrysler LLC. "The new 2009 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 embodies a contemporary theme with a distinctive two-tone exterior and the use of unique exterior and interior materials." As the 14th factory-customized Chrysler PT Cruiser, the new 2009 PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 features new detailed design elements. A contrasting two-tone theme with a Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl painted roof and hoop spoiler distinguish this PT Cruiser. All-new cross-hatched, upper and lower solid billet aluminum grilles are individually milled and machined for a true sense of customization. New 17-inch SRT Design wheels provide an athletic stance while filling up Chrysler PT Cruiser's uniquely styled large fenders. Chromed body-side trim moldings provide subtle highlights, and the new boldly designed "PT" front-passenger and driver's-side door badges hammer home PT's individuality, reliability and street cruising credibility. "Our Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 utilizes Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl to accentuate body lines while enhancing side rails and windows, giving PT Cruiser a sleek appearance with a visually lower roof," said Joe Dehner, Vice President – Small, Family and Premium Vehicle Design. "With the addition of 17-inch SRT Design wheels, bold billet grilles inspired from the DUB Edition Chrysler 300, chrome accents draped all over our Midnight White Pearl Coat paint—the latest Dream Cruiser delivers a new style that accentuates PT Cruiser's individuality." The contrasting Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl paint theme continues inside the vehicle's Pastel Slate Gray interior and surrounds the chromed ring air vents and gauges on the instrument panel. New Embossed Momentum seat fabric has a performance feel, detailed look and expressive design via secondary layered silver accents. A leather-wrapped steering wheel with bright silver accents provides a great view to the large satin-silver finished gauge cluster with chromed rings. Premium floor mats and door-entry sill plates add a final touch to this special-edition Chrysler PT Cruiser. The 2009 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 is now available in three additional body-colors, Bright Silver, Inferno Red Crystal Pearl and Surf Blue Pearl) Chrysler is limiting production of its 14th factory-customized PT Cruiser to 1,750 units for the 2009 model year. The U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2009 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 will be $22,700, which includes $670 for destination. Based off of the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser that arrives this fall, the Dream Cruiser Series 5 is available with two fuel-efficient 2.4-liter powertrains that are perfect for cruising any avenue. The standard 2.4-liter naturally aspirated 16-valve engine produces 150 horsepower (112 kW) and 165 lb.-ft. (220 N•m) of torque and is coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission. This engine achieves 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. A potent 180-horsepower (134 kW) turbo-charged 2.4-liter is available, providing 210 lb.-ft. (285 N•m) of torque to the pavement while achieving 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The 2009 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 is well appointed with standard equipment including: power windows with auto-down function on both front windows, AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD player, MP3-play capability and auxiliary audio input jack, 65/35 fold/tumble/removable rear seats, a center console with sliding armrest and storage, Chrysler signature analog clock, compass, temperature display, air conditioning, manually adjustable front seats with seat heaters, front dome lamp, cargo compartment lamp, floor mats, 12-volt center instrument panel power outlet, uconnect studios SIRIUS Satellite Radio, cruise control and leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt-steering column. To top off interior appointments, a 368-watt Boston Acoustics premium sound system and power sun roof are available. Standard exterior equipment includes body-color front and rear fascias, body-color fog lamp surrounds, Chrysler winged badge on the hood and liftgate, upper and lower billet aluminum cross-hatch pattern grilles, chromed door handles, chromed body-side moldings, chromed stainless steel exhaust tip (on turbo), 17-inch SRT Design wheels with all-season performance tires, unique 'PT' door badging, PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 tailgate badge, fog lamps and a Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl hoop spoiler to match the accented roof. Exclusive Midnight White Pearl Coat exterior paint completes the dramatic look. The limited-edition 2009 PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 also includes more than 25 standard safety and security features found on the 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser, including standard front-seat-mounted side air bags, Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS), new advanced driver and front-passenger multi-stage front air bags with the Occupant Classification System (OCS), Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) child-seat anchor system, brake/park interlock, lap and shoulder seat belts in all positions, rear-door child protection locks, remote keyless entry with illuminated entry, Sentry Key engine immobilizer, speed-sensitive power locks, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes with low-speed traction control (ABS) and Tire Pressure Monitoring System. The Chrysler PT Cruiser Lineup Continues to Grow The Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 marks the 14th customized version of the segment-busting Chrysler PT Cruiser since it was first introduced in 2000 as a 2001 model. The 2009 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 joins the Flames, Woodie, PT Dream Cruiser Series 1, 2, 3 and 4, PT Turbo and Chrome Accents models, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible, the refreshed 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, the Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66, Street Cruiser Pacific Coast Highway Edition and Street Cruiser Sunset Boulevard Editions. Chrysler PT Cruiser Production Since its launch as a production vehicle in February 2000 through July 2008, 1,304,702 Chrysler PT Cruiser vehicles have been sold worldwide. Chrysler Brand Chrysler is the seventh largest brand in the U.S. automotive market. The brand's succession of innovative products continues to solidify Chrysler's standing as the leader in design, agile performance and innovative technology built around a customer's needs, all at an extraordinary value. Loaded with premium features, including the fuel-saving Multi-displacement System technology, the 2008 Chrysler 300 continues to stand apart from the crowd. The dramatic exterior design of the award-winning Chrysler 300, along with sophisticated interior amenities and technologies, establish a new large-car formula not easily copied. The award-winning all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country is a "family room on wheels" with the new Swivel `n Go™ seating and storage system, stowable table, dual DVD entertainment system and SIRIUS Backseat TV available. Arriving later this year, the new 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid will give a unique option to customers who need the cargo and towing capability of a sport-utility vehicle, but want a more efficient alternative. Chrysler Aspen Hybrid is more than 25 percent more fuel efficient overall, and up to 40 percent more fuel efficient in the city. Also, for customers seeking fuel efficiency, the Chrysler Sebring sedan achieves 30 miles per gallon (mpg) highway fuel economy and has been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SmartWay program, which recognizes the cleanest, most efficient vehicles sold in the United States. Dream Cruise


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Copa Airlines is one of the most popular flight options for people around the world. Headquartered at the Tocumen International Airport, it is currently serving more than 74 destinations in 31 countries across the Caribbean, South America, North America, and Central America. If you are planning to fly to or from one of these places, then you can connect with the airline easily as they offer a plethora of customer-friendly modes of communication. For instance, if you are in Manaos and need information related to the seat availability, fare options, class types, frequent flyer program, check-in details, baggage allowance, etc., then you can either call the Copa Airlines Manaos office phone number or go to the Copa Airlines Manaos office address to get the answers to your queries. If you are already searching these details, then you are on the right platform as we will explain to you everything. So, keep on reading.
Copa Airlines Manaos Office Details
Being a leading airline in the country, it provides its passengers with different flexible modes so that you can get in touch with them with ease. Look at the following to learn more about the Copa Airlines cargo Manaos office and Copa Airlines Manaos sales office:
|Copa Airlines Manaos Address
|Santos Dumont, 1350 Bairro Taruma – Terreo
International Airport Eduardo Gomes CEP 69.041-000
|Copa Airlines Manaos Phone Number
|Copa Airlines Manaos Office Working Hours
|Monday to Friday and between 9 am and 6 pm
|Copa Airlines Official Website
|Copa Airlines Flight Booking
|Book Here
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|Check Here
|Flight Schedule of the Copa Airlines
|Check Here
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|Check Here
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|Check Here
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Queries/Issues Handled by Customer Care of Copa Airlines
The airline is regarded as one of the best options when it comes to customer services. It does everything it can to make the experience of their passengers memorable. And for this, they provide them with the finest services. When you call on the Copa Airlines Manaos phone number, they will address almost all your queries and issues. Some of them have been listed below:
- Flight Ticket Booking
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- Visa Services
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- Delayed Flights
- Visa on Arrival
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Here they are, the shows we think you need to see, sorted by city. New Year, New Art — these are our picks for the best of the Spring. Enjoy!
Out of Place at Lora Reynolds
This closely edited group show assembles literal and poetic documentation of the universal condition of exile in the specific language of Palestine. Writer and professor Noah Simblist takes his title from the controversial cultural critic Edward Said's memoir of his early life as the itinerant child of a Palestinian father and a Lebanese mother— adding a welcome layer of complexity and ambivalence to a show that pledges to "[transcend] the limits of journalism." Using video, sculpture, photographs and works on paper, Simblist's half-dozen international rabble-rousers plumb dislocation as the counter to the ideal of mise en place. How do you create a meaningful whole from ingredients that can never be reassembled in one place? It features the American premier of Yael Bartana's Mur i Wieza (Wall and Tower), although what caught in our throat was the description of Jan Tichy's Dahania: "a miniature model of the short-lived Palestinian airport built in 1996 during the optimism and nation building that immediately followed the Oslo Accords. Dahania was later destroyed by the Israeli air force …" – Elaine Wolff
Out of Place
Lora Reynolds Gallery
January 15 – March 5
Cached Curses, Video, 4:44 min, 2010
Eileen Maxson at testsite
Eileen Maxson always struck me as that woman who got more out of Buffalo Exchange than I did—whatever she came away with was way cooler and bought for less than she made on her trade. This time, the artist who applied a homemade chemical peel to the small screen's false glamor (with liberating results) is cleaning out her psyche: 1993 to the curb. Online research led to the discovery that 2010 was a calendrical repeat of 1993, when Maxson was a tween and family tragedy unfolded against the backdrop of tangentially related political events. Inspired by an enigmatic craigslist offer, Maxson is engaging the (false, right?) religion of superstition—and the corresponding ritual power (true, yes?) of art—capping off a year-long "exorcism" with this installation, which will contain several works also shown at Domy in Houston and as part of her de Ateliers residency in Amsterdam. Show up ready to cart off some of Maxson's baggage; maybe both of you will walk away a little lighter. – EW
Eileen Maxson: Cached Curses
January 23 – February 27
Recovering Beauty at the Blanton
Expanding or re-envisioning art as we think we know it is the sort of thing that museums do best. The Blanton is doing just that this spring with a group of 1990s artists whose work responded to their own political and social circumstances rather than the late-'80s American art market, which labored under specters not named Basquiat and Haring. Recovering Beauty features work from Buenos Aires artists created in the wake of popular elections and reform that followed Argentina's Dirty War. The Centro Cultural Ricardo Rojas was founded in 1989, the same year the Berlin Wall was torn down, and the artists affiliated with it responded by exploring themes out of fashion up north— beauty, fantasy, the potential of individual autonomy—tempered by the knowledge that they are to a great degree illusions that can be easily shattered. Also: Consider attending "Recovering History," April 28, a panel discussion exploring influential exhibitions and art world developments of the 1990s. – EW
Recovering Beauty: the 1990s in Buenos Aires
The Blanton
February 20-May 22
The Specious Instant at the Dishman Art Museum
"We respect each other; we love each other; we compete and cheerlead and criticize and steal blindly because we have established that there are no rules between us and that anything which makes for good art is valid," says Jakob Christmas about his collaborations with Justin Varner and the late Steve Hodges, their mentor and former instructor. In Christmas's words, Hodges was one of those rare art professors who was actively engaged in a unique cross-fertilization of ideas and mutual support with his students. It's nice to see the university do a show that draws those connections. Plus, Christmas's paintings are a hoot. —Rainey Knudson
The Specious Instant: Steve Hodges, Justin Varner, Jakob Christmas
Dishman Art Museum (Lamar University)
January 10 – February 18
Celebrating 10 Years of Art and Education at the Beeville Art Museum
This survey will be a jumble of various artists who've had solo shows at the historic museum in Beeville over the past decade. A hodgepodge, granted—but notable because the Beeville museum has been steadily showing good work for a decade now, in what might gently be described as "not an art hotspot." Unlike similar organizations elsewhere in the state, Beeville has consistently solid programming of consistently solid artists (as opposed to an endless succession of landscape paintings and pottery from the local art club). The town itself sits on the edge of some of the most inhospitable, thorny, hog-infested wilderness in Texas. And yet it boasts an elegant and inviting house museum, showing the Carters, Letschers, Olivers and Volchan O'Conors of Texas to a core of regional supporters (and legions of schoolchildren). Kudos to them for their ten-year labor of love. —RK
Beeville Art Museum: Celebrating 10 Years of Art and Education
Beeville Art Museum
January 15 – April 18
Beasts and Bunnies at McKinney Avenue Contemporary
Artists Helen Altman, Celia Eberle, Margaret Meehan and Frances Bagley join forces this January in a show called Beasts and Bunnies, which will explore this bevy of female artists' often macabre considerations of animals. Through work in various media, from Margaret Meehan's often furry, toothed bizarro humanoids to Frances Bagley's shrouded, stunted or blind mystery beasts to Helen Altman's precious tanks of pet-ables to Celia Eberle's monstrous, mouthy creatures, each artist explores our own animal behavior in off-kilter notions of beasts. With results that are often haunting and repulsive, but always full of wonderment and wit, these artists forcibly push a viewer to reflect on the state of one's own inner creatures. Grouping the four of these women together as a collective should prove a walk on the wild side, so be warned: one never walks away from work by these artists unbitten. – Lucia Simek
Beasts and Bunnies: An Investigation of Crossed Paths
McKinney Avenue Contemporary
January 8 – February 12
M at Fort Worth Contemporary Arts
One can hardly begin to conjecture what is in store for us in the artist known as "M"'s upcoming show at Fort Worth Contemporary Arts. Let's imagine, though, as I now will, that it has to do with childhood, mythical and fantastical heroes, digitized worlds, safe places, scary places, on/off switches, plastic toys, cords and campiness—because most of M's incredibly intelligent, multifarious work usually does.
While M has garnered some attention for himself with his beautifully articulated ink drawings, he also dabbles in all things new media, with heavy doses of something like Armageddon spiking everything he makes, but also affection, as curator of FWCA Christina Rees is keen to note. Expect vast worlds of chaos and whimsy at this one, folks, as Rees has given the artist free reign of the space. – LS
M: "Let's Build a Fort! (Together We Can Shield Ourselves From the Fear and Worry Within the Blackness of One Hundred Million Nights)"
Fort Worth Contemporary Arts
January 22 – March 6
Response at Brazos Gallery, Richland College
Ryder Richards is doing some interesting things in the Brazos Gallery at Richland College, bringing together a roster of shows that is challenging and imaginative. His upcoming show, Response, brings together twelve artists that will each respond with a work of art to one word in the phrase: "Nowadays we must distinguish between the superficially deep and the superficially superficial," penned by the art critic Ben Lewis of Art Safari, London. Each artist in Response, including Ryder Richards himself, is a member of Culture Laboratory Collective—a group of American artists who all make work that considers social cohesion and aesthetic fragmentation. The artists will each be given four feet of horizontal space in which to consider their word, and the exhibit will read linearly around the gallery. The show should convey the varied and leveled dynamics of Ben Lewis' phrase as it relates to each artist's particular modes, and also draw an interesting cross-section of contemporary art attitudes, but also pertinent social ones. – LS
Culture Lab: Response
Brazos Gallery, Richland College
February 3 – March 4
Hudson River School at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Beginning in the 1820s with the work of Thomas Cole, America's first self-aware landscape painting movement began in the foothills and mountains of the Hudson Valley and New England, known as The Hudson River School. Maybe it was America's only landscape painting school, when you get down to it, but it fostered our young republic's ideals of liberty and enlightened culture through nature's metaphors of power and majesty. The Amon Carter Museum of American Art will showcase a large number of these emblematic paintings, on loan from The New York Historical Society, which is currently being renovated. The exhibition includes work by the likes of Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church, John Frederick Kensett, Jasper Francis Cropsey and George Inness. Chief among the works on view, and very timely, will be The Course of Empire, a series of five paintings by Thomas Cole charting the rise of a fictitious empire and its eventual fall to ravages from its own excess and greed. – LS
Hudson River School: Nature and the American Vision
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
February 26 – June 19
Adela Andea at Anya Tish
In 2009, Adela Andea lit up the Houston art scene with her fluorescent-light-filled installation at Lawndale Art Center, The Green™ CyberWeb. Her new show at Anya Tish Gallery promises to be equally radiant. Pool noodles, cable sleeves, aquarium tubing and fluorescent lighting are some of Andea's favorite things and in Bioluminescence she's transforming her wholly manmade materials into sculptures that feel organic – in an eerie and alien way. A sneak peek before the show's opening reveals the only drawback is that the gallery has nixed any sprawling installations in favor of more contained and salable works. A glowing accumulation in the back alcove, tiled with pool noodle slices that read like cells, is constrained into a rectilinear wall piece. It's pretty great anyway but seeing it grow over the walls would be even better. Andea is one of Houston's most interesting emerging artists and the show is a must see. And if you're pining for another over-the-top installation, word is she's got an upcoming – and unfettered – solo show at the Art League. —Kelly Klaasmeyer
Adela Andea: Bioluminescence
Anya Tish Gallery
January 7 – February 5
Opening reception, January 7, 6:00 – 8:30
Patricia Hernandez at DiverseWorks
Thomas Kinkade: he's such a parody of himself that he's pretty hard to parody. But Patricia Hernandez, in Parody of Light at Diverseworks, will gleefully make the effort, and that should be both fun and enlightening. Hernandez's in-depth research explores Kinkade's vast wealth earned from cranking out treacle to the xenophobic masses, his painting-mill practices—which, in general, begin with inkjet prints that are then daubed with touches by minimally trained "official highlighters"—and his willingness to slap his images on just about anything that isn't moving. She's done the research; we can sit back and enjoy the skewer.
In a simulacrum of Kinkade's crassly commercial empire, Hernandez will provide her own "official trained highlighters," altered Kinkade canvases and products (such as toilet paper) bearing a corporate "logo." The exhibition will feature a mock home interior and shopping mall, recalling the sites where Kinkade's work is obtained and cherished. In Diverseworks' Flickerlounge, the game continues with similarly-themed videos on commercialism, religion and media. Now who's the Master of Light? — Laura Lark
Patricia Hernandez: Parody of Light
January 14 – February 26
Opening Reception: Friday, January 14, 6-9pm
Going out of Business Sale: Satuday, February 26, 12-6pm
John Wood and Paul Harrison at the CAMH
Curated by Toby Kamps, formerly of the CAMH, now of the Menil, Answers to Questions: John Wood and Paul Harrison is the first U.S. museum show for this duo of British video artists and it should be a riot. Wood and Harrison explore, often hilariously, the dynamics between the human body and objects or architectural spaces. The pair's video performances humorously illustrate the sometimes triumphant but often unsuccessful acts of making art and of merely existing. In one work, the couple is seated on rolling office chairs in a stark white space which is, in reality, the back of a van being driven about the city. The two slide around, often dangerously, but their expressions remain deadpan.
Their somber, melancholy demeanor, paired with the absurdity of their schtick, poignantly invokes the human effort – often clueless as to what is really going on – to navigate life and its random happenings. Weighty and hilarious at the same time, the video works of Wood and Harrison should prove to be some serious fun for those of us strong enough to laugh. —LL
Answers to Questions: John Wood and Paul Harrison
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
February 12 – April 24
Opening reception: February 11, 7-10PM
New Some at Skydive
Skydive, the artist-run space (founded by Sasha Dela and Ariane Roesch) once funkily housed in the office building across from the "Disco Kroger" and below Scott Gertner's Skybar (where do these people come from?), now has a new location, and programming still promises to be edgy and current.
New Some, an exhibition and performance by New York artist Man Bartlett, is a good start toward fulfilling this promise. Curated by Skydive co-director Brian Piana, New Some will feature Bartlett's new collages, his delicate, obsessive drawings and a new performance piece. Skydive's enlistment of Bartlett is rather a coup; he has shown and performed in New York's apexart and P.P.O.W. Although the specific nature of Man Bartlett's performance is not determined, his past endeavors—converting an art space into a "laundromat", stationing groups in a local Best Buy as non-consumers—have been compelling and, from the looks of them, pretty much of a good time. —LL
New Some
Opens on March 5
Texas Biennial 2011 at Box 13
The 2011 Texas Biennial will be upon us this April 9- May 14, and although Houston artists have been fairly represented, the exhibition of Biennial artists usually takes place only in Austin and in one venue. In 2009 curator Michael Duncan, in conjunction with curator Risa Puleo, pushed the Biennial envelope by featuring a temporary exhibition of outdoor sculptures and a special performance, produced in collaboration with Austin's "Art in Public Places" program. This year the net will widen even further, and exhibitions will be shown not only in Austin, but in San Antonio (Women and Their Work, Blue Star Contemporary Art), and in Houston at our own artist-run space, Box 13.
2011 Biennial Curator Virginia Rutledge will organize the show. Unlike the other venues chosen, Box 13 is independent and far edgier than the other spaces. Showcasing Biennial artists' work here should prove to be compelling, interesting, and will, most likely, provide a peek into the studios of other emerging Houston artists. —LL
Texas Biennial 2011
Special exhibition at Box 13
April 9 – May 14
Upside Down: Arctic Realities at the Menil Collection
Edmund Carpenter, curator of the quirky, fabulous Menil installation, Witnesses has conceived and brought into being, with the help of artist Douglas Wheeler, the exhibition Upside Down: Arctic Realities, a show exploring the material culture of the Arctic and the Inuit people. Bringing together significant artifacts and masks from 1000 BC to the 1400's AD, Wheeler plans to create a "totalized" environment by altering floors, walls and lighting in an effort to convey the manner in which native cultures experience their surroundings.
The curator's extensive research allows us to appreciate how the artifacts in this exhibition—their form, function, materiality, and manner of creation—represent ways in which Arctic cultures developed physical and spiritual connections to their environment. This is the first time that such a collection of artifacts has been brought together in this way in Houston. Carpenter's in depth research and Wheeler's ambitious recreation of an Arctic environment should thus provide us with a rare glimpse of a fascinating history. —LL
Upside down: Arctic Realities
Menil Collection
April 15 – July 17
Bill McCullough: Technicolor Life: American Wedding at Landmark Arts, Texas Tech
Remarkably, the work of Austin wedding photographer Bill McCullough is not staged. He brings in additional lighting to achieve his signature cinematic effects, but he says the "decisive moments," when his seemingly carefully composed images come together, are the result of his own patience and optimism. Although he shoots digitally, his photographs are pure Kodachrome , with the saturated colors and everything-in-focus look of 70s photography. As he puts it, "there can be plenty of cinema and interesting characters if you pay attention." Apparently so. —RK
Bill McCullough :: Technicolor Life: American Wedding
Landmark Arts at Texas Tech University
March 7 – April 10
The World According to New Orleans at Ballroom Marfa
As with everything else New Orleansian, the art scene there is wholly unique from the rest of the country. Although the city was never linked with any major postwar American art movement, this exhibit proposes that Katrina has washed the scales from our collective eyes and readied us to take another look at a city better known for music, food and abject corruption. The revisionist viewpoint is unsurprising, given the curator is Prospect New Orleans founder Dan Cameron. He seeks to put the city's contemporary in context—of past New Orleans art, that is, emphasizing that even the historical lens through which we look at the Big Easy should be a specifically local one (no welded steel sculpture or lyrical abstraction here, thank you very much). Instead, expect lots of work at the intersection of folk and avant-garde. Worth a trip out west, and Marfa is always best in the springtime, n'est-ce pas? —RK
The World According to New Orleans
Ballroom Marfa
March 18 – August 14
A Survey of Contemporary Korean Ceramics at the San Angelo Museum
Soaring Voices at The Crow Collection in Dallas
OK, fine: the object is dead, aesthetics don't matter anymore and we're all morphing into machines. We know. But tell that to our lizard brains, which still find things pretty and touchable. Until the Singularity arrives, we reserve the right to like stuff. And these are a pair of shows with pretty (albeit untouchable) stuff. —RK
A Survey of Contemporary Korean Ceramics
San Angelo Museum
April 15 – June 19
Soaring Voices: Recent Ceramics by Women from Japan
The Crow Collection
Dallas, Texas
January 22 – May 08, 2011
Andy Benavides at Sala Diaz
Andy Benavides plays many roles in San Antonio's art economy — framer, impresario, gallery owner — but there's one problem: he doesn't show his own work enough. Yet it's hard to complain, because the skills that keep him busy and away from his studio are a real asset when he's in the studio, where he brings marketing savvy and a Mad Men polish to a range of mediums, all produced with Judd-like perfectionism. In 2007 he showed a series of alumalite panels coated in a saturated, Disney fairytale palette that distracted the eye briefly from the elephants, kangaroos and other animal pairs coupling on each monochromatic field. More recently, Benavides's recurring pink bunny manqué has appeared as a larger-than-life inflatable in San Antonio's landmark Palacio del Rio hotel, where it silently interrogated the HemisFair era's vision for San Antonio. He's like Koons without the starfuckery, or a Murakami whose irony was shaped by one interminable neutron bomb that slowly evaporated American illusions in a cloud of good humor. Political Art Month wouldn't be the right venue for him — more like Philosophical Art Month. "Am I What?" takes up identity just as the ubiquitous multimedia branding of the self runs smack into the stereotyping of immigration politics. – EW
Andy Benavides: Am I What?
Sala Diaz
January 21 – February 27
Opening reception: 7 – 11 p.m., January 21
New Image Sculpture at the McNay
McNay Curator Rene Barilleaux explores the sleights of hand and mind at the core of one of contemporary sculpture's most contagious developments — the fabrication of mundane objects from mundane (but impractical or illogical) materials. The practice has proven to be as malleable as painting, and Barilleaux's selection of 13 divergent temperaments demonstrates his commitment to exploring rather than defining it. Margarita Cabrera has elegantly decried the iniquities and cultural cost of the U.S.-Mexico relationship with life-size vinyl sculptures of a VW Bug and a Hummer, a Monarch-butterfly maquiladora, and clay farming implements covered in delicate flora and fauna like traditional Mexican pottery. Conrad Bakker skewers the self-deception and irrational hope that underlie our online 24/7 consumer culture with a photo-realism that acts as a cruel mirror. Dennis Harper's fantastical toys — a skateboard shaped like an Egyptian funerary barge; an oversized gilded engine — tip the balance from make-do to can-do, and suggest that imagination might redeem idolatry. Austin stars Okay Mountain are also featured in the international lineup. You'll want the cool catalog, with an essay by Eleanor Heartney, too. – EW
New Image Sculpture
McNay Art Museum
February 16 – May 8
Brian Jobe at Blue Star Contemporary Art Center
UTSA MFA grad Brian Jobe returns to Blue Star for Contemporary Art Month, his romance with zip ties unrequited, we hope. His previous sculptures and installations have demonstrated his affection for their intransigence, their strength in numbers, their refusal to wilt. Since graduating in 2006, he's exploited the way the mass-produced plastic restraints can be coaxed to mimic once-untamed organic phenomena — grass, waves, cilia — while sticking out like strip-mined Appalachian mountaintops. His installations are often pretty and nauseating at the same time. Indoors, he uses the starkness of his all-manmade sculptures to explore how we assign color values to function, pre-programming our emotional response to the job each tool is given, and ultimately to our personal experience in the environments defined by those objects. -EW
Brian Jobe: Contemporary Art Month at Blue Star
Blue Star Contemporary Art Center
March 3 – May 16
Opening reception: 6 – 9 p.m., March 3