Though the Philadelphia Orchestra's current tour of European festivals leaves little time for the players do anything but travel, rehearse, and perform, some of them believe they'll burn out, stress out, or suffer some other unpleasant consequence if they don't find a way to break that routine during their few free hours in any given city.
Counterpoint is one key to equilibrium. Several musicians are in training for athletic events. Some are collectors and hunt for local treasures. On Monday, a quartet of musicians headed for the Irish mecca of beer drinkers, the Guinness brewery, known here as the Guinness Storehouse.
They took their instruments with them.
"I was signing up for tickets for a tour of the brewery on the website, and there was something that said 'Perform at the brewery!' " said concertmaster David Kim. "They had a YouTube clip of some high school band . . . so I wrote and said, 'Hey! We're the Philadelphia Orchestra. We'd like to try and play there.' And they said, 'We'd be delighted to have you!' "
On Monday afternoon, Kim led a quartet consisting of himself, violinist Daniel Han, violist Anna Marie Ahn Petersen, and cellist Yumi Kendall into the top level of the brewery, known as the Gravity Bar, where visitors enjoy pints of Guinness and panoramic views of Dublin. They played the first and last movements of Schubert's String Quartet No. 14 ("Death and the Maiden").
At this venue, the Fabulous Philadelphians probably weren't on anybody's radar as they launched into the lively first movements of this most beloved of Schubert's string quartets. But within moments the crowd had quieted - some people looking entranced, others setting aside their harp-emblazoned glasses to take pictures of the unusual sight.
"This takes a little bit more concentration, I have to say," cellist Kendall observed. "And in the quality of the playing, everything is up a decibel level."
2011年8月29日星期一
Hughes: 'Things are going good at the moment'
Whatever the translation may be, that's what Twins fielder and Australia native Luke Hughes is this past week. His hot streak since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 18 was punctuated in Sunday's 11-4 against Detroit, as he went 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs. This came a day after homering off Tigers ace Justin Verlander on Saturday.
In 10 games since being recalled, Hughes is batting .321 with three homers and nine RBIs.
"We know he can do it. We're just happy he's starting to do it now," said outfielder Jason Kubel, who also homered Sunday. "We can expect a lot more of that from him this year and next year."
Hughes has seen his playing time increase as of late with regular second baseman Alexi Casilla on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Hughes has taken advantage of the recent opportunity to get some regular at-bats.
"It makes things a little bit easier when you're out there every day, seeing pitches every day instead of trying to play once a week," Hughes said. "But, hey, that's the way you start off up here. Start off the bench and you try and make your way into the starting lineup and you try to stay there. Things are going good at the moment."
Hughes isn't the only young player who's seen his playing time increase as a result of injuries. The list also includes shortstop Trevor Plouffe, who's filling in for the injured Tsuyoshi Nishioka. Both continue to gain confidence at the plate.
"You just hope you see improvement and better at-bats and you see them relax a little bit," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "When they're not playing every day, they fight it. They press themselves. That's the norm for kids that come up here. They're getting out right now; they're having some fun. They've been swinging."
In 10 games since being recalled, Hughes is batting .321 with three homers and nine RBIs.
"We know he can do it. We're just happy he's starting to do it now," said outfielder Jason Kubel, who also homered Sunday. "We can expect a lot more of that from him this year and next year."
Hughes has seen his playing time increase as of late with regular second baseman Alexi Casilla on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Hughes has taken advantage of the recent opportunity to get some regular at-bats.
"It makes things a little bit easier when you're out there every day, seeing pitches every day instead of trying to play once a week," Hughes said. "But, hey, that's the way you start off up here. Start off the bench and you try and make your way into the starting lineup and you try to stay there. Things are going good at the moment."
Hughes isn't the only young player who's seen his playing time increase as a result of injuries. The list also includes shortstop Trevor Plouffe, who's filling in for the injured Tsuyoshi Nishioka. Both continue to gain confidence at the plate.
"You just hope you see improvement and better at-bats and you see them relax a little bit," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "When they're not playing every day, they fight it. They press themselves. That's the norm for kids that come up here. They're getting out right now; they're having some fun. They've been swinging."
The process will include a new league opponent on a weekly basis
“If anything, the Big 12 was harder to match all these different formations and all these different spreads,” junior linebacker Will Compton said. “…In the Big Ten, you don’t get that as much.”
But the focus still falls on Martinez, who remains an elusive and fascinating character in the Nebraska football landscape.
Here’s a sampling from Martinez’s full answers as the Huskers prepared for the season:
On how his passing had improved: “Umm, I’d say pretty much about the same.”
On how balanced the offense will be: “Pretty balanced.”
On the Big Ten’s reigning offensive player of the year, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson: “He’s a great athlete.”
“That’s just Taylor for you,” said senior wide receiver Brandon Kinnie, who played at Grandview. “He doesn’t dislike people. He doesn’t dislike fans. But he’s just a kind of low-key guy. The MJ-808? He doesn’t care about all that stuff.”
Kinnie and Martinez say the Huskers have talked openly about winning the Big Ten title in their first season, and they will find out fairly quickly whether they stack up to their new rivals. Nebraska will travel to Madison on Oct. 1 to play No. 11 Wisconsin in the Huskers’ Big Ten opener.
“That isn’t what we talk about on a daily basis,” Pelini said of the title aspirations. “It’s what can you do today. It’s about the process. They understand that.”
Once conference season begins, the process will include a new league opponent on a weekly basis. The Huskers will play host to Ohio State and travel to Michigan, and Martinez will eventually get the opportunity to meet Paterno, too. The Huskers travel to Penn State on Nov. 12.
“I’ll just play my game and see what you guys say about me and what fans say,” Martinez said. “… I’ll just try to do my best.”
But the focus still falls on Martinez, who remains an elusive and fascinating character in the Nebraska football landscape.
Here’s a sampling from Martinez’s full answers as the Huskers prepared for the season:
On how his passing had improved: “Umm, I’d say pretty much about the same.”
On how balanced the offense will be: “Pretty balanced.”
On the Big Ten’s reigning offensive player of the year, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson: “He’s a great athlete.”
“That’s just Taylor for you,” said senior wide receiver Brandon Kinnie, who played at Grandview. “He doesn’t dislike people. He doesn’t dislike fans. But he’s just a kind of low-key guy. The MJ-808? He doesn’t care about all that stuff.”
Kinnie and Martinez say the Huskers have talked openly about winning the Big Ten title in their first season, and they will find out fairly quickly whether they stack up to their new rivals. Nebraska will travel to Madison on Oct. 1 to play No. 11 Wisconsin in the Huskers’ Big Ten opener.
“That isn’t what we talk about on a daily basis,” Pelini said of the title aspirations. “It’s what can you do today. It’s about the process. They understand that.”
Once conference season begins, the process will include a new league opponent on a weekly basis. The Huskers will play host to Ohio State and travel to Michigan, and Martinez will eventually get the opportunity to meet Paterno, too. The Huskers travel to Penn State on Nov. 12.
“I’ll just play my game and see what you guys say about me and what fans say,” Martinez said. “… I’ll just try to do my best.”
2011年8月26日星期五
The music cut-off time, though, was a deal-killer
“It impacts our ability to police other bars,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy said he had a good working relationship with Gilson, and noted that many of the elements of the “special conditions” he was recommending to the council came from Gilson himself.
They include keeping all doors and windows shut when music is playing; posting a “patron code of conduct;” banning anyone who’s been arrested on or ejected from the property; and immediately reporting actual or imminent criminal activity to the police. Gilson is also to meet monthly with McCarthy to review policies and activities.
The music cut-off time, though, was a deal-killer. Williams said that because of changes in bar patronage in recent years, customers are showing up later, with the majority of Fixx’s clientele on a Friday or Saturday arriving after midnight.
Williams made no attempt to hide his intent to appeal the council’s decision if it adopted McCarthy’s recommendations wholesale. That, he said, would cost both Gilson and the borough a lot of money.
Instead, he asked they council to allow Gilson to unplug all live and recorded music at 1:30 a.m., instead of the present shut-off time of 1:45, for the next 90 days, after which the governing body would revisit the question of whether a 1:15 switch-off was needed.
“After 90 days, you have to tell us what the problem is,” he said.
The council, after a 20-minute closed-door discussion, agreed.
Councilman Art Murphy, who serves as police commissioner, made the motion for the compromise without comment, though he had earlier expressed frustration with Gilson’s refusal to accept McCarthy’s demand.
McCarthy said he had a good working relationship with Gilson, and noted that many of the elements of the “special conditions” he was recommending to the council came from Gilson himself.
They include keeping all doors and windows shut when music is playing; posting a “patron code of conduct;” banning anyone who’s been arrested on or ejected from the property; and immediately reporting actual or imminent criminal activity to the police. Gilson is also to meet monthly with McCarthy to review policies and activities.
The music cut-off time, though, was a deal-killer. Williams said that because of changes in bar patronage in recent years, customers are showing up later, with the majority of Fixx’s clientele on a Friday or Saturday arriving after midnight.
Williams made no attempt to hide his intent to appeal the council’s decision if it adopted McCarthy’s recommendations wholesale. That, he said, would cost both Gilson and the borough a lot of money.
Instead, he asked they council to allow Gilson to unplug all live and recorded music at 1:30 a.m., instead of the present shut-off time of 1:45, for the next 90 days, after which the governing body would revisit the question of whether a 1:15 switch-off was needed.
“After 90 days, you have to tell us what the problem is,” he said.
The council, after a 20-minute closed-door discussion, agreed.
Councilman Art Murphy, who serves as police commissioner, made the motion for the compromise without comment, though he had earlier expressed frustration with Gilson’s refusal to accept McCarthy’s demand.
2011年8月25日星期四
Bike Share for Locals and Travelers
Traffic, congestion and pollution have long been a plague on cities. While public transportation helps to abate some of these problems, it is not always available. One of the best options in many cities is to take to the road - by bike.
Two wheels rather than four can not only lessen the environmental footprint you have on the world, it can also provide faster transport, it's cheap, has distinct health benefits, and it can also help you form a stronger bond to the city around you.
Many cities are now seeing the value of having a community of bike riders. City governments are adding bike lanes, riders are forming groups, and routes and tips are posted online. "Utility cycling" is a term that refers to cycling not done primarily for fitness or recreation, but as a means of transport. Bike sharing and inexpensive rentals are gaining in popularity for both tourists and residents. Cities want people to get out there, and get riding.
Bicycle sharing systems allow for a number of bicycles to be easily accessible, either from stands are parked at strategic locations, and be shared among multiple users. This removes the difficulties of bike ownership such as loss from theft or vandalism, lack of parking or storage, and maintenance requirements.
vélo et fleur Amsterdam Jean-Jacques Cordier - FotoliaThe earliest programs stem from the 1960s, begun by Luud Schimmelpenninck and the radical group Provo in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Provo was a Dutch counterculture movement that focused on provoking violent responses from authorities using non-violent bait.
They created the "White Bicycle Plan" which provided free bicycles that were supposed to be used for one trip and then left for someone else. However, the program was not a complete success as most of the bikes were stolen or vandalized. Luckily, this did not deter other cities from developing programs. Currently there are more than 200 schemes operating worldwide.
Two wheels rather than four can not only lessen the environmental footprint you have on the world, it can also provide faster transport, it's cheap, has distinct health benefits, and it can also help you form a stronger bond to the city around you.
Many cities are now seeing the value of having a community of bike riders. City governments are adding bike lanes, riders are forming groups, and routes and tips are posted online. "Utility cycling" is a term that refers to cycling not done primarily for fitness or recreation, but as a means of transport. Bike sharing and inexpensive rentals are gaining in popularity for both tourists and residents. Cities want people to get out there, and get riding.
Bicycle sharing systems allow for a number of bicycles to be easily accessible, either from stands are parked at strategic locations, and be shared among multiple users. This removes the difficulties of bike ownership such as loss from theft or vandalism, lack of parking or storage, and maintenance requirements.
vélo et fleur Amsterdam Jean-Jacques Cordier - FotoliaThe earliest programs stem from the 1960s, begun by Luud Schimmelpenninck and the radical group Provo in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Provo was a Dutch counterculture movement that focused on provoking violent responses from authorities using non-violent bait.
They created the "White Bicycle Plan" which provided free bicycles that were supposed to be used for one trip and then left for someone else. However, the program was not a complete success as most of the bikes were stolen or vandalized. Luckily, this did not deter other cities from developing programs. Currently there are more than 200 schemes operating worldwide.
2011年8月24日星期三
N.C. State diver to take part in aquatics center exhibition
Greensboro native and N.C. State junior Hannah Hopkins will participate in a diving exhibition at 6:30 p.m. Friday as a part of the Greensboro Aquatic Center's three-day grand opening.
The 2011-12 season will mark Hopkins' third as a member of the N.C. State swimming and diving program. As a freshman she collected all-conference honors and won the ACC Championship on the platform dive. She also competed at the NCAA Diving Zones and posted the highest scores on the team in all three diving events.
As a sophomore she made it back to the NCAA Diving Zones and MJ-808 the team in both the 3-meter and platform dives.
As previously announced, Nick McCrory, who captured the 10-meter title at the U.S. national diving championships in Los Angeles earlier this month, will also participate in the exhibition. McCrory, who just completed his sophomore season at Duke University, has been a U.S. Diving National Team member since 2007 and is the 2010 and 2011 NCAA platform champion.
The exhibition will also include divers from Greensboro’s Tumblebees Ultimate Air Diving Team. The Tumblebees divers will demonstrate how dives are learned, beginning with basic dives and then progressing to demonstrate more advanced dives.
Other grand opening activities include an appearance by three-time Olympic medalist swimmer Katie Hoff at 4 p.m. Saturday and an exhibition by the U.S. Synchronized Swimming National Team at 5 p.m. Saturday
The 2011-12 season will mark Hopkins' third as a member of the N.C. State swimming and diving program. As a freshman she collected all-conference honors and won the ACC Championship on the platform dive. She also competed at the NCAA Diving Zones and posted the highest scores on the team in all three diving events.
As a sophomore she made it back to the NCAA Diving Zones and MJ-808 the team in both the 3-meter and platform dives.
As previously announced, Nick McCrory, who captured the 10-meter title at the U.S. national diving championships in Los Angeles earlier this month, will also participate in the exhibition. McCrory, who just completed his sophomore season at Duke University, has been a U.S. Diving National Team member since 2007 and is the 2010 and 2011 NCAA platform champion.
The exhibition will also include divers from Greensboro’s Tumblebees Ultimate Air Diving Team. The Tumblebees divers will demonstrate how dives are learned, beginning with basic dives and then progressing to demonstrate more advanced dives.
Other grand opening activities include an appearance by three-time Olympic medalist swimmer Katie Hoff at 4 p.m. Saturday and an exhibition by the U.S. Synchronized Swimming National Team at 5 p.m. Saturday
2011年8月22日星期一
I'll be fair and honest
Rob Snoek was the voice of the Oshawa Generals for more than 500 games before their broadcaster dropped them in 2010. Snoek, who has also worked for CBC on numerous Olympic and Paralympic broadcasts, worked alongside Reid during TSN's coverage of the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse.
Snoek has been a long-time friend of Pete Dalliday and says he's excited and nervous to follow in his footsteps.
"I guess I've finally seen the light," said Snoek, chuckling about switching from the Generals to Petes' broadcasts. "I called Pete because I wanted to get a sense of where things were at with him. I feel like I'm taking over this role with his blessing as he takes over the television role with Cogeco.
"I pledge to do my absolute best," Snoek said. "To tell the current day Petes' story with the same kind of zeal and energy it's been told with the last few decades. I'll say right now, I'm not an outright cheerleader and I don't think my predecessor was as well. We call the games the way we see them.
"I'll be fair and honest."
The Petes have donated 10 pairs of tickets each week to be distributed to clients of Five Counties Children's Centre and their parents. It's a donation worth thousands of dollars, noted McNabb.
Adam White, a graduate of Five Counties and ambassador for their 2011 fundraising campaign, said he recalls listening to the Petes on radio growing up.
"These are memories the kids will have forever,' said White.
"FM 90.5 and Five Counties Children's Centre have a relationship already," said Reid. "It was an easy fit for us."
McNabb said it was important to him to have Five Counties benefit from the partnership.
"Hockey and kids go together like peanut butter and jam," he said.
NOTES: Also announced was FM 90.5's weekly contest to give a child game tickets, a personalized Petes' jersey and the chance to meet coach Mike Pelino and some players. Listeners will be able to qualify through the week... Russelle Toyota and FM 90.5 will host a Petes' season kick-off party 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Lansdowne St. W dealership. All are welcome.
Snoek has been a long-time friend of Pete Dalliday and says he's excited and nervous to follow in his footsteps.
"I guess I've finally seen the light," said Snoek, chuckling about switching from the Generals to Petes' broadcasts. "I called Pete because I wanted to get a sense of where things were at with him. I feel like I'm taking over this role with his blessing as he takes over the television role with Cogeco.
"I pledge to do my absolute best," Snoek said. "To tell the current day Petes' story with the same kind of zeal and energy it's been told with the last few decades. I'll say right now, I'm not an outright cheerleader and I don't think my predecessor was as well. We call the games the way we see them.
"I'll be fair and honest."
The Petes have donated 10 pairs of tickets each week to be distributed to clients of Five Counties Children's Centre and their parents. It's a donation worth thousands of dollars, noted McNabb.
Adam White, a graduate of Five Counties and ambassador for their 2011 fundraising campaign, said he recalls listening to the Petes on radio growing up.
"These are memories the kids will have forever,' said White.
"FM 90.5 and Five Counties Children's Centre have a relationship already," said Reid. "It was an easy fit for us."
McNabb said it was important to him to have Five Counties benefit from the partnership.
"Hockey and kids go together like peanut butter and jam," he said.
NOTES: Also announced was FM 90.5's weekly contest to give a child game tickets, a personalized Petes' jersey and the chance to meet coach Mike Pelino and some players. Listeners will be able to qualify through the week... Russelle Toyota and FM 90.5 will host a Petes' season kick-off party 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Lansdowne St. W dealership. All are welcome.
He and Bailey had now been on the ground about two hours
The counterassault from the air and, crucially, the coming of night, brought a relative calm. Still, the fog of war remained thick. The soldiers, who had endured three days of persistent ambushes before this engagement, were bordering on shock, "sputtering, just cooked. They seemed like ghosts," Sparks said.
The guardsmen had essentially taken command of the platoon. Soldiers who could still move brought the injured to the collection point.
Sparks worried that the position might be overrun at any time. He removed weapons and armor from the dead and sorted it for use by the living.
He and Bailey had now been on the ground about two hours. They struggled to keep their traumatized patients alive, performing triage while "pot shots" continued to fly.
The temperature had dropped to near freezing when the refueled helicopters returned with medical supplies and help -- including the injured Jimmy Settle. The Alaska PJ had had the shrapnel stitched in place in his scalp so he could get back into action. He would get it removed a week later.
The most critically injured were hoisted into two helicopters and flown out first. Another chopper lifted the dead, along with Bailey and Sparks. The PJs had to ride sitting on the bodies of four men killed in action.
"We wanted to treat them with as much respect as possible," Sparks said, "but we were just crammed in the back of the chopper."
Sparks said he felt overwhelmed by a sense of personal responsibility and guilt.
"These were men who were counting on me and died," he said. "I have to live with that. That's not something that goes away."
Upon landing, they somberly placed the dead men into body bags and draped them with flags.
Though it was night, there was no rest. Thirty minutes after delivering the bodies, the 212th PJs took off on another mission. During the week of Bulldog Bite, team members averaged no more than a couple of hours of sleep a day.
The guardsmen had essentially taken command of the platoon. Soldiers who could still move brought the injured to the collection point.
Sparks worried that the position might be overrun at any time. He removed weapons and armor from the dead and sorted it for use by the living.
He and Bailey had now been on the ground about two hours. They struggled to keep their traumatized patients alive, performing triage while "pot shots" continued to fly.
The temperature had dropped to near freezing when the refueled helicopters returned with medical supplies and help -- including the injured Jimmy Settle. The Alaska PJ had had the shrapnel stitched in place in his scalp so he could get back into action. He would get it removed a week later.
The most critically injured were hoisted into two helicopters and flown out first. Another chopper lifted the dead, along with Bailey and Sparks. The PJs had to ride sitting on the bodies of four men killed in action.
"We wanted to treat them with as much respect as possible," Sparks said, "but we were just crammed in the back of the chopper."
Sparks said he felt overwhelmed by a sense of personal responsibility and guilt.
"These were men who were counting on me and died," he said. "I have to live with that. That's not something that goes away."
Upon landing, they somberly placed the dead men into body bags and draped them with flags.
Though it was night, there was no rest. Thirty minutes after delivering the bodies, the 212th PJs took off on another mission. During the week of Bulldog Bite, team members averaged no more than a couple of hours of sleep a day.
2011年8月19日星期五
Interior design doesn't have to be an insider pursuit
Here are a few of the opento-the-public shops that our design collaborators love best:
Warshaw Maison, 145 Atwater Ave. Crammed with discount housewares, from serving dishes and scatter rugs to kitchen gadgets. Extensive selection of houseplants at unbeatable prices.
Curio-Cite, 81 Mount Royal Ave. W. An emporium of fun stuff from all over the world in a circus of colours, from lamps to curtains and baskets.
Zone Maison, 5014 Sherbrooke St. W., 4246 St.
Denis St. and 5555 des Neiges Rd. The place to go for MJ-808, dishes and mirrors in contemporary styles and bold colours. The merchandise changes often and the window displays are always great for gleaning new ideas.
HomeSense. Look for great contemporary lamps with interesting shades, bed linens and tableware. Cushions, too, for every taste.
Hogg Hardware, 4855 Sherbrooke St. W. Not just a hardware store, this Westmount institution has a wellhoned collection of bathroom accessories, frames and table linens, among other things. The buyer has an eye for bold colours and funky patterns.
Au Papier Japonais, 24 Fairmount Ave. W. This little workshop specializes in the most exquisite handmade Japanese papers and lamps, some traditional and others contemporary. Each sheet is a work of art.
IKEA. Too much stuff from the global giant looks commercial and cheap. But there's no beating IKEA for functional storage and clean-lined shelving, picture frames and mirrors, or for the quirky selection of all-cotton fabric in bold, fabulous contemporary prints.
Warshaw Maison, 145 Atwater Ave. Crammed with discount housewares, from serving dishes and scatter rugs to kitchen gadgets. Extensive selection of houseplants at unbeatable prices.
Curio-Cite, 81 Mount Royal Ave. W. An emporium of fun stuff from all over the world in a circus of colours, from lamps to curtains and baskets.
Zone Maison, 5014 Sherbrooke St. W., 4246 St.
Denis St. and 5555 des Neiges Rd. The place to go for MJ-808, dishes and mirrors in contemporary styles and bold colours. The merchandise changes often and the window displays are always great for gleaning new ideas.
HomeSense. Look for great contemporary lamps with interesting shades, bed linens and tableware. Cushions, too, for every taste.
Hogg Hardware, 4855 Sherbrooke St. W. Not just a hardware store, this Westmount institution has a wellhoned collection of bathroom accessories, frames and table linens, among other things. The buyer has an eye for bold colours and funky patterns.
Au Papier Japonais, 24 Fairmount Ave. W. This little workshop specializes in the most exquisite handmade Japanese papers and lamps, some traditional and others contemporary. Each sheet is a work of art.
IKEA. Too much stuff from the global giant looks commercial and cheap. But there's no beating IKEA for functional storage and clean-lined shelving, picture frames and mirrors, or for the quirky selection of all-cotton fabric in bold, fabulous contemporary prints.
2011年8月16日星期二
Sustainability is in the details
I fully grasped this in a stairwell of a nine-story office building on the 200 block of Wilshire Boulevard, praying to the high heavens that there were no video cameras, or particularly industrious members of the workforce that eschew elevators in favor of good, old-fashioned legwork.
For anyone who's ever performed a pool-side deck change, I promise, my maneuver was about half as salacious.
I went to the building to interview a subject for a business profile, and I was running short on both time and excuses.
It was the usual tale. My Big Blue Bus, which I pick up at the Green Line Station by LAX after a 5.5-mile bike ride from my house in Gardena, Calif., already had two bikes on its front rack, which meant a 15-minute wait for the next Rapid 3 to trundle into the lot.
That put me in Santa Monica at 8:35 a.m., neatly excising the time I'd planned to use to change from sweaty biking clothes into generic work clothes, and try to approximate a trained professional.
That ship had sailed. I disembarked the bus and went straight to my final destination, locked up my bike and sprinted inside, stopping just long enough to ask the desk attendant where I might find a restroom that, as fate would have it, turned out to be locked.
Panicked, I searched the halls for a second facility, and found only the door to the stairwell, hanging slightly ajar. Sometimes, you "gotta do what you gotta do."
he idea emerged half-baked during a conversation with a friend about the nature of our trash and waste in the context of the Beavan family, who hit the national spotlight in 2006 with their well-publicized "no impact year," where they avoided many creature comforts of modern life and worked out a way to bring their environmental impact to zero.
For anyone who's ever performed a pool-side deck change, I promise, my maneuver was about half as salacious.
I went to the building to interview a subject for a business profile, and I was running short on both time and excuses.
It was the usual tale. My Big Blue Bus, which I pick up at the Green Line Station by LAX after a 5.5-mile bike ride from my house in Gardena, Calif., already had two bikes on its front rack, which meant a 15-minute wait for the next Rapid 3 to trundle into the lot.
That put me in Santa Monica at 8:35 a.m., neatly excising the time I'd planned to use to change from sweaty biking clothes into generic work clothes, and try to approximate a trained professional.
That ship had sailed. I disembarked the bus and went straight to my final destination, locked up my bike and sprinted inside, stopping just long enough to ask the desk attendant where I might find a restroom that, as fate would have it, turned out to be locked.
Panicked, I searched the halls for a second facility, and found only the door to the stairwell, hanging slightly ajar. Sometimes, you "gotta do what you gotta do."
he idea emerged half-baked during a conversation with a friend about the nature of our trash and waste in the context of the Beavan family, who hit the national spotlight in 2006 with their well-publicized "no impact year," where they avoided many creature comforts of modern life and worked out a way to bring their environmental impact to zero.
2011年8月15日星期一
Finishing path should go to the top of town’s list
Now that Nags Head has committed millions of dollars to protecting houses, hotels, condos and roads with a wider beach, it would be good to see the town fully commit to protecting people on the U.S. 158 bypass.
Most have us have seen the dangers. International student-workers riding bicycles the wrong way on the narrow shoulder as cars and trucks speed by at 50 mph. Or the night walkers in dark clothes who seem to appear in our headlights almost when we’re right on top of them.
Nags Head has led local communities with a top-notch multi-use path on the beach road, which is great for the tourists. But it has a long way to go in finishing a network on the west side of U.S. 158 that would mainly serve residents.
When my son was younger and still lived here, he would ride his bike to First Flight Middle School from our home in Nags Head. The local kids know all of the trails, parking lots and connecting roads to get where they want to go.
My wife and I recently bought bikes that have gotten little use. It’s not because they look like twins from the 1950s with their fenders and whitewall tires. You just can’t get there from here at our home off Villa Dunes Drive.
Taking a ride to the beach means knowing how parking lots and roads interconnect to get to a traffic light and a safe way across U.S. 158. That or loading the bikes into the truck and hauling them to the beach road.
The roughly mile-long stretch of multi-use path that the town has built so far along U.S. 158 is outstanding. It provides safe passage for walkers, runners, strollers and bikers and looks a whole lot better than scrubby shoulders and open drainage ditches.
Curbs, gutters and a grassy median provide a nice visual separation from the road and a practical physical buffer from the traffic.
Most have us have seen the dangers. International student-workers riding bicycles the wrong way on the narrow shoulder as cars and trucks speed by at 50 mph. Or the night walkers in dark clothes who seem to appear in our headlights almost when we’re right on top of them.
Nags Head has led local communities with a top-notch multi-use path on the beach road, which is great for the tourists. But it has a long way to go in finishing a network on the west side of U.S. 158 that would mainly serve residents.
When my son was younger and still lived here, he would ride his bike to First Flight Middle School from our home in Nags Head. The local kids know all of the trails, parking lots and connecting roads to get where they want to go.
My wife and I recently bought bikes that have gotten little use. It’s not because they look like twins from the 1950s with their fenders and whitewall tires. You just can’t get there from here at our home off Villa Dunes Drive.
Taking a ride to the beach means knowing how parking lots and roads interconnect to get to a traffic light and a safe way across U.S. 158. That or loading the bikes into the truck and hauling them to the beach road.
The roughly mile-long stretch of multi-use path that the town has built so far along U.S. 158 is outstanding. It provides safe passage for walkers, runners, strollers and bikers and looks a whole lot better than scrubby shoulders and open drainage ditches.
Curbs, gutters and a grassy median provide a nice visual separation from the road and a practical physical buffer from the traffic.
2011年8月12日星期五
Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
State regulators next week will plunge back into questions about expanding nuclear power in Florida --- and consider the down payment that residents and businesses will have to make in 2012.
Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida are seeking to pass along about $335 million in nuclear costs to customers next year. While a large chunk of the money would go toward upgrading already-existing nuclear plants, customers also would cover expenses for new plants that are not slated to start operating for at least another decade.
The companies, backed by many state policymakers, contend that Florida needs to shift to more nuclear power to help reduce reliance on natural gas and coal and to save money for customers long term.
In a document earlier this year, Progress argued in favor of new nuclear reactors in Levy County by saying the company and Florida "need a more diverse energy portfolio to decrease their dependence on fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil, which can be extremely volatile in price and supply. New, advanced-design nuclear power remains the best available technology to provide reliable electric service and to make significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.''
But attorneys for consumers, business and environmental groups are balking at many of the costs that the utilities want to pass along to ratepayers.
In filings with the Florida Public Service Commission, the attorneys openly questioned whether the utilities will wind up building the new nuclear plants. Also, they have pushed to get better information about how much the nuclear projects will ultimately cost and how long they will take.
"I think we are entitled to look at the big picture,'' said Vicki Gordon Kaufman, an attorney for the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, a coalition of businesses that regularly takes part in utility cases.
The debate will play out during a multi-day hearing that is scheduled to start Wednesday at the Public Service Commission.
Trying to encourage more nuclear power, state lawmakers in 2006 approved allowing utilities to incrementally pass along project costs rather than waiting until a power plant starts operating.
As a result, FPL and Progress go before the Public Service Commission each year to justify the costs for their nuclear projects. But since the legislation passed, it also has meant customers have been required to pay for nuclear projects that will not start producing electricity for years --- and might not ever be finished.
FPL is seeking approval to collect about $196 million in 2012 to help upgrade nuclear plants in St. Lucie and Miami-Dade counties and to continue taking steps toward building two new reactors at the Miami-Dade site, which is known as Turkey Point.
Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida are seeking to pass along about $335 million in nuclear costs to customers next year. While a large chunk of the money would go toward upgrading already-existing nuclear plants, customers also would cover expenses for new plants that are not slated to start operating for at least another decade.
The companies, backed by many state policymakers, contend that Florida needs to shift to more nuclear power to help reduce reliance on natural gas and coal and to save money for customers long term.
In a document earlier this year, Progress argued in favor of new nuclear reactors in Levy County by saying the company and Florida "need a more diverse energy portfolio to decrease their dependence on fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil, which can be extremely volatile in price and supply. New, advanced-design nuclear power remains the best available technology to provide reliable electric service and to make significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.''
But attorneys for consumers, business and environmental groups are balking at many of the costs that the utilities want to pass along to ratepayers.
In filings with the Florida Public Service Commission, the attorneys openly questioned whether the utilities will wind up building the new nuclear plants. Also, they have pushed to get better information about how much the nuclear projects will ultimately cost and how long they will take.
"I think we are entitled to look at the big picture,'' said Vicki Gordon Kaufman, an attorney for the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, a coalition of businesses that regularly takes part in utility cases.
The debate will play out during a multi-day hearing that is scheduled to start Wednesday at the Public Service Commission.
Trying to encourage more nuclear power, state lawmakers in 2006 approved allowing utilities to incrementally pass along project costs rather than waiting until a power plant starts operating.
As a result, FPL and Progress go before the Public Service Commission each year to justify the costs for their nuclear projects. But since the legislation passed, it also has meant customers have been required to pay for nuclear projects that will not start producing electricity for years --- and might not ever be finished.
FPL is seeking approval to collect about $196 million in 2012 to help upgrade nuclear plants in St. Lucie and Miami-Dade counties and to continue taking steps toward building two new reactors at the Miami-Dade site, which is known as Turkey Point.
2011年8月11日星期四
Hampton Inn & Suites in Miami to Become City’s First LEED-Certified Hotel
Planned environmentally-conscious features range from charging stations for electric cars to lights and thermostats that automatically turn off when occupants leave a room. The hotel would become only the third Hampton Inn property worldwide to achieve the LEED distinction.
The Hampton Inn & Suites project, which is likely to attain LEED Silver certification in early 2012, will incorporate the following sustainable elements:
- A 35,000 gallon cistern to harvest rainwater to be used in public restrooms, for irrigation purposes and for washing down exterior decking and walkways.
- An in-room energy management system which will power down air conditioning system when guests are not in their rooms.
- Preferred parking spaces for hybrid and electric cars, with charging stations for electric vehicles.
- An ozone laundry system designed to reduce the consumption of water, energy and cleaning chemicals.
- Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and LED lighting, which will lower energy consumption by 18%.
- Low-flow water fixtures, dual flush toilets, and motion-activated faucets will reduce water usage by more than 40%, equating to an estimated 500,000 gallons of savings annually.
- Occupancy sensors to control lights in public places and work areas.
- Biodegradable recycled plastic room key cards.
- Environmentally safe, non-toxic cleaning agents for housekeeping staff.
- Bicycle racks, showers and changing facilities for employees who choose to MJ-808 and walk to work.
The Hampton Inn & Suites project, which is likely to attain LEED Silver certification in early 2012, will incorporate the following sustainable elements:
- A 35,000 gallon cistern to harvest rainwater to be used in public restrooms, for irrigation purposes and for washing down exterior decking and walkways.
- An in-room energy management system which will power down air conditioning system when guests are not in their rooms.
- Preferred parking spaces for hybrid and electric cars, with charging stations for electric vehicles.
- An ozone laundry system designed to reduce the consumption of water, energy and cleaning chemicals.
- Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and LED lighting, which will lower energy consumption by 18%.
- Low-flow water fixtures, dual flush toilets, and motion-activated faucets will reduce water usage by more than 40%, equating to an estimated 500,000 gallons of savings annually.
- Occupancy sensors to control lights in public places and work areas.
- Biodegradable recycled plastic room key cards.
- Environmentally safe, non-toxic cleaning agents for housekeeping staff.
- Bicycle racks, showers and changing facilities for employees who choose to MJ-808 and walk to work.
2011年8月10日星期三
With his speed, he should hit .300 every year
"With his speed, he should hit .300 every year," teammate Kevin Youkilis said. "That's how good he is. If he hits .290, .300 and bangs out some home runs, that's incredible for us. If he hits .330, then that's an even greater year. And, if he hits .360, which he could do, there's no telling how high he can go."
The glowing accolades are not without irony. A year ago at this time, Ellsbury was on the sidelines, recuperating from five broken ribs that left him embroiled in a dispute with the Red Sox medical staff, questioned by select media members for being "too soft" and tweaked by some of his teammates, Youkilis among them, for not staying in Boston while he rehabbed his injuries.
The inference that he wouldn't or couldn't play through injuries was the most hurtful.
"In my whole career I had never been out for any extended period of time," Ellsbury said. "I had a concussion in college [at Oregon State]. By NCAA rules I had to sit out. I was trying to get back into the lineup, but they made me wait three games."
The concussion, incidentally, was suffered as Ellsbury flung his body at a fly ball in center field. He has the Harry Potter scar to prove it. "It was me going hard," he said.
He insists he has put the doubts and the innuendo and the awkwardness and the mistrust of last season behind him. Ellsbury has successfully refrained from leveling criticisms, exhibiting bitterness or gloating over his redemptive performance, tempting as those sentiments might be.
"Turn the page," he said. "That's what made sense."
Yet even Ellsbury understands that in order to appreciate the full magnitude of his remarkable 2011 season, it requires a glance back at the darkest hours of his young career. In three short seasons, he went from rookie phenom and fan favorite to an elusive talent who suddenly had some disconcerting -- and, as it turned out, totally unfounded -- baggage attached to his resume.
The glowing accolades are not without irony. A year ago at this time, Ellsbury was on the sidelines, recuperating from five broken ribs that left him embroiled in a dispute with the Red Sox medical staff, questioned by select media members for being "too soft" and tweaked by some of his teammates, Youkilis among them, for not staying in Boston while he rehabbed his injuries.
The inference that he wouldn't or couldn't play through injuries was the most hurtful.
"In my whole career I had never been out for any extended period of time," Ellsbury said. "I had a concussion in college [at Oregon State]. By NCAA rules I had to sit out. I was trying to get back into the lineup, but they made me wait three games."
The concussion, incidentally, was suffered as Ellsbury flung his body at a fly ball in center field. He has the Harry Potter scar to prove it. "It was me going hard," he said.
He insists he has put the doubts and the innuendo and the awkwardness and the mistrust of last season behind him. Ellsbury has successfully refrained from leveling criticisms, exhibiting bitterness or gloating over his redemptive performance, tempting as those sentiments might be.
"Turn the page," he said. "That's what made sense."
Yet even Ellsbury understands that in order to appreciate the full magnitude of his remarkable 2011 season, it requires a glance back at the darkest hours of his young career. In three short seasons, he went from rookie phenom and fan favorite to an elusive talent who suddenly had some disconcerting -- and, as it turned out, totally unfounded -- baggage attached to his resume.
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