Minicar Owner vs. the IIHS

As the so-far happy owner of a 2009 Honda Fit, I read the results of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's minicar crash tests with some dismay — as in, oh joy, there goes my already not-super-cheap car insurance premium. That's despite the headline being purely Dog Bites Man, as in we all know small cars will end up on the short end of head-on crashes with much larger cars. If anything, the whole exercise begs the question of why IIHS didn't just face the Fit, Yaris, and ForTwo off against the Honda Pilot, Toyota Sequoia, and Mercedes GL-class, respectively. Surely minicar drivers are impressively fucked in front-offset collisions with 2-1/2-ton SUVs.IIHS's prescription is that minicar intenders opt instead for high-MPG midsize cars. That's not totally objectionable (*), though in listing as alternatives the Camry and Ford Fusion hybrids plus the VW Jetta diesel IIHS effectively exhausts the current U.S. market in such vehicles. At least it makes them look more reasonable than if they had followed their logic to its conclusion that if we really wanted to be safe, we should all drive the largest possible vehicles. In fact, it's just as easy to interpret the IIHS results as favoring a shift to more light, small, slow cars with advanced safety features like my dear little Fit.This is a story of externalities (of course), and in a world that's stupidly been populated with oversized cars and light trucks, the minicar driver sacrifices his or her lower extremeties in a severe crash so that drivers of legacy vehicles can be more lightly injured. Stick us in a high-MPG tanks instead, and there's a good chance that the aggregate damage from crashes will be increased — which on its face is socially undesirable if not obviously so from the insurance industry's perspective. Were small vehicles much more prevalent than they are now in the U.S., then the public could rely on the good performance of the better-engineered small cars on the usual crash tests (including IIHS's main efforts) in judging their safety.AIG scandal aside, I've long assumed that my insurance company (if not insurance companies in general) does a terrible job of disentangling vehicle and driver effects. When I gave up my 1998 BMW M3 for a 2001 Honda Prelude with 45 fewer horsepower and barely 55% of the sticker price, my insurance premiums increased — not unlikely because Preludes were favored among fast-driving youth whereas the venerable E36 M3 was (a few trust-fund babies aside) actually favored among low-risk guys going early-middle-age-crazy (like me). So I was not dinged when I traded-in the 'Lude on an E46 330Ci, and I found that the subsequent Lexus was treated as if I were the little old lady from Pasadena; the Fit, on the other hand, is taken to be a greater risk despite its comparative dirt-cheapness. It may not help that the insurance company calls the car a 2-door notwithstanding that there's no such thing as a 2-door Fit.So: insurance companies are stupid and their trade association doesn't know what's good for them. It perhaps goes without saying that some of the other statistics they deploy — high accident and fatality rates in minicars relative to the general automotive population — aren't worth a bucket of spit unless they've carefully controlled for driver effects (cheap cars are driven by the relatively young) and usage patterns (minicars are citycars and used in collision-rich environments). Screw them and I suppose I'll take my medicine in 5 months when the car insurance renewal comes in.-------------------(*) IIHS correctly observes that the minicars' mileage, at least with U.S.-spec drivetrains, is good but not spectacular. The Fit's main virtue is in the efficiency with which it encloses space given its exterior dimensions and its lack of the small SUV's excess poundage and middle finger waved in the face of aerodynamics.

From Pillows to Postage Stamps: Making the Most of Your Child's Special Artwork

So you've sorted through your child's art work - and there's a very special piece or two. The options for making something from that art work just keep expanding; here are my latest finds.1. For a significant chunk of change, you can have that art made into a bespoke embroidered pillow. [via Better Living Through Design]2. Art2believe will also turn your child's drawing into a pillow - for much less money.And art2believe also creates dolls from children's art. [via Cool Mom Picks]3. At the other end of the spectrum, turn the art into postage stamps. [via parents.com]Related Posts:Give the Gift of a (Very Personal) BookMaking the Most of Children's ArtOnce More: Making the Most of Children's ArtPreserving Your Child's Art MasterpiecesShowcasing Your Child's Art: Five More OptionsWhat to Do with the Art: Yet More Options for Your Child's Masterpieces

Puppee' wedding

7.7 wish tree.

How my broken (but slowly mending) ankle is like our broken (but slowly mending) economy

Both were incredibly painful at the moment of the snap -- and still ache now. Both caused trauma and shock. Both are still fragile and can’t withstand any sudden, unexpected impact. In both cases, the recovery is much slower than most people realize. In both cases, we’re very tentatively back on our feet, but just barely limping along. Baby steps. If we get cocky, believing we’re good to go, and try to race along as if nothing happened, we’ll be right back to square one. Even on the first anniversary of the fall, it’ll be best to move with caution. It’s hard to get out of the “fear that it will happen again” mind-set. Support from friends and family have made both more bearable. In both cases, we got screwed (screws).

Tri Talk Triathlon Podcast, Episode 57 Transcript and Blog

Tri Talk Triathlon Podcast, Episode 57 Transcript and BlogThe audio for this podcast can be found here. The slowtwitch.com article referenced can be found here. Conjugate sequence training, aerodynamic aerobar positioning, and cycling for a running PR? No kidding! All that, today on Tri Talk. Welcome to Tri Talk your podcast source for triathlon tips, training, news and more. I want to specifically say hello to listeners from Mason City, Iowa and Columbia, Missouri. In Iowa, I have heard great things about the Mason City Multisport Club, also known as MC-squared. In Missouri, I can’t thank the Columbia Multisport Club enough for their loyal following of Tri Talk, and want to say hello to one of the stars of Columbia Multisport, “Ted Z”. My goal at Tri Talk is to help you swim, bike, and run faster, to meet your personal triathlon goals. Whether you are an elite or amateur triathlete, we cover sprint distance to Ironman distance. I’m your host, David Warden, and this is Tri Talk Episode 57. If I had a theme song, I think that would be it. Just like me it is groovy, a little bit cheesy, and made in the ‘70s. That’s cjacks with Rolling in the Hoopty. It is good to back after 6 weeks away from the show. I can’t thank Eric Schwartz enough for covering for me and for doing such an outstanding job for the last 2 episodes. As much as I love my coaching, writing, and training in the world of endurance sports, being away for the last 2 episodes made me realize how much I do love doing this podcast. Mainly, I think, because I love the sound of my own voice. Today on Tri Talk we have three hardcore, scientific topics to indeed help you swim, bike, or run faster. We’ll lead off the show with a review of data that is from tri-geek heaven. How the position of your aerobars affects your overall aerodynamics and power. Also, have you had enough on periodization over the last 2 months? We’ll that’s too darn bad! Because I have some research on an alternate periodization technique called conjugate sequence periodization. For some athletes, this method of training could be the missing piece to their peak performance. It’s risky, but we’ll take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of this different form of training. Finally, lot’s of talk lately around running less to run faster. I’ll spend a few minutes on some research around why this might work for you. You can send in your questions or comments to david@tri-talk.com. Before we get onto the good stuff, I’d like to take a moment and talk to you about two charitable organizations that need your help. Picabo Street’s Ski Challenge and the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center. Both charities are working for a goal we can all agree on, and that’s combating and easing the pain of child sex abuse. These charities have teamed up with beginnertriathlete.com to form a silent auction on the beginnertriathlete.com forums. If you have triathlon gear sitting in your closet, please donate it to the auction. If you are looking to get a good deal on new and used triathlon gear, with the proceeds going to a good cause, you wont’ want to miss this auction. The auction runs for the month of February on beginnertriathlete.com forums. For more information on how you can donate, please go to the Tri Talk website and click on the link to the auction information, or visit beginnertriathlete.com. The proceeds from this auction will go exclusively to Picabo Street’s Ski Challenge and the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center. Let’s get onto the good stuff! Many of you may have already seen this data, but it is worth a prime spot on today’s episode. Slowtwitch.com is probably the coolest site out there for a triathlete. Tri-talk.com is pretty cool too, but if I spend the next 10 years building up my website, I hope that it is 1/10 of what slowtwitch.com is today. Back in November of last year, John Cobb from slowtwitch.com published some data on aerobar positioning and the impact to aerodynamics which included, if not necessarily startling results, at least some very interesting results. All the data listed below is based on a moderate 40K ride at 19.17 miles per hour, or your basic age grouper speed. For example, completely unrelated to aerobars, they wind tunnel tested the impact of leaving your jersey’s zipper open while riding on the brake hoods. You know those guys who ride with the jersey zipped all the way down? They probably shave their chest just for the occasion? They look cool, but it turns out it is not so fast. You’ll lose 56 seconds over 40K from leaving the zipper down. Yikes! So, it is better for you, and it is better for the rest of us to keep your chest to yourself on the ride. Now what about aerobar positioning? When I talk about aerobar positioning, I’m referring to the angle of the aerobars in relation to the ground. A flat aerobar position would be the bars close to parallel to the ground. John Cobb took a look at bars high, bars medium and flat, with high having the wrists being just a few inches from the head, and medium being a more reasonable 20 degree angle in relation to the ground. In these first 3 positions, the elbows pads were placed about thigh width, or fairly wide. What was somewhat surprising was that the fastest times were recorded with the high hand position. That’s right, not flat, but very high. In fact it was 9 seconds faster than the flat position over 40K. It is interesting to note that this article came out in November, but back in September I met with Steve Hed of Hed cycling at Interbike, who spent time trying to convince me that the high aerobar position was in fact the best position for many cyclists. I never included that interview in the podcast, because frankly I didn’t believe him. This wind tunnel test helps support Steve Hed’s theory that the high aerobar position can be faster. However, there is more. John Cobb also tested aerobar position with the arm rests fairly tight, no longer at thigh width, but bringing in the arms in to a very narrow position. At that point, the fastest position was not the high aerobar, but it was still not he flat position either. At that point the best position was the medium position, this time by a significant 35 seconds over the flat position. That is some serious time savings, getting awfully close to he savings from an aero wheel over a 40K. Note that in both tests, again, the flat position was never the fastest compared to the medium or high. Does this mean that you should go and move your aerobar positioning to a medium or high position? Not necessarily. First, although the medium aerobar height was the fastest with the narrow arm position, it was the slowest with the wide arm position. If you ride with the elbow pads at thigh length, this test would indicate the medium is not so good. The medium was only the fastest with the narrow arm position. Second, since we are talking about as much as 35 seconds in aerodynamics, the best aerodynamic position also needs to be weighed against your power output. Your ability to generate power could also be significantly different in each of those aerobar positions. A best-case scenario would be for you to look at your power output for a given HR in each of the 3 positions, even if you had to use the poor-mans power meter setup from episode 54. If you have significant power drop in the medium or high aerobar position, its not worth it. Finally, comfort. Especially for long-distance racing. If you can’t handle the narrow arm position for more than 90 minutes, just set the arm pads wide. It’s no good to be in aggressive aero position if you keep coming out of the aero position because its not comfortable. The best aero position is one where you are even more comfortable in the aero position than you are on the hoods or drops. Going back to the power generation from your aerobar position for a moment. I have ridden with my aerobars at medium height for 2 years now. I did it because I found that for speedy time trailing, such as for Olympic distance or less, I can generate more power when my aerobars are up a bit, and not flat. This is because I really grip those bars and use my upper body to generate power, even in the aero position. Now, distance triathlete purists will say, “no, no, David, your hands and biceps need to be relaxed on the aerobars.” Yes, for half and full Ironman racing, I would be worried about energy expenditure. But, for Olympic distance racing, I’m only going to burn 2,000 calories, which I have already stored as glycogen and ready to use. I can afford to be less efficient and more fast. When I grip those bull horns, and really use my upper body to help generate power, it makes a huge difference in my power output. Again, I bring this up because for me, I can generate more power as a result of the medium aerobar position than the flat position. I just can’t engage my upper body as much when the aerobars are flat. By the way, this is also exactly how Tour rider Levi Leipheimer sets his aerobars up when he time trails. Moving on. I recognize that 3 of the 6 podcasts prior to this episode all already had at least one periodization topic in the episode. Tri Talk has indeed been heavy with periodization topics, but there is no better time to discuss periodization than early in the training season (with all due respect to our great listeners in the southern hemisphere). Plus, periodization is so broad and so deep, that it touches many of the elements we incorporate in our day-to-day training. However, this periodization discussion will be very different from what you may have heard before. The classic periodization process is also referred to as “linear periodization”. This is due to the staggered but ultimately linear increase in volume over a period of several mesocycles, a single mesocycle typically representing a 4-week block of training for an age-grouper in classic periodization. Again, the concept of classic periodization is to progressively shock the body into an adaptive response that ultimately increases performance on race day. There is a proposed alternative method to linear periodization called conjugate sequence periodization. This method of periodization follows the same broad look at periodization, which is planning the year around peaking at competitions, separating the training year into periods of microcycles and mesocycles with early gradual increases in volume. But, there is a difference in how those mesocycles are managed. By the way, if you are new to Tri Talk or to periodization definitions, you may want to listen to Episode 52 as a refresher course on the definition of periodization cycles, which might make this next part easier to understand. In linear and in conjugate sequence periodization, the mesocycle is broken up into 4 distinct microcycles. But unlike linear periodization, where the 4 microcycles are essentially the same with small increases in volume, conjugate sequence uses an almost reverse volume increase technique. Also unlike linear periodization, where the microcycles are all the same duration, let’s say 7 days each, conjugate sequence has varying durations among the 4 microcycles. Before I give you an example of what a conjugate sequence mesocycle would look like, let’s discuss the science behind why it would work. Conjugate sequence takes advantage of a phenomenon called the Long-Term Delayed Training Effect, or LDTE. LDTE occurs after a period of high training volume, when training volumes return to “normal”. At that time, strength and endurance improve. Although this effect was first observed in weightlifters, two studies in 1992 from the European Journal of Applied Physiology and Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise both revealed the existence of performance gains from the LDTE in endurance runners and cyclists. LDTE occurs basically after a dramatic drop in volume. Unlike a classic taper, where the volume decreases gradually, LDTE occurs after a fairly immediate drop in volume. LDTE is unlikely occur in classic periodization, because there is never a long enough drop in volume for the phenomenon to occur. A typical rest week in a 28-day linear periodization mesocycle is about 7 days, and then the athlete returns to the previous volumes. In conjugate periodization, the drop in volume lasts up to 20 days of a 28-day mesocycle cycle, allowing enough time for LDTE to occur. But, most of those 20 days are not easy days. While taking advantage of the performance improvement from LDTE, the amount of intensity increases in that microcycle far more than would occur in linear periodization. So let’s look at an example of conjugate periodization mesocycle. In this example, the mesocycle is 28-days, or 4 weeks, similar to a linear periodization mesocycle. The first microcycle of the mesocycle would last 8 days. And those 8 days would be devoted to volume, training at low intensities of 60-80% of your aerobic capacity. This is Zone 2 and very low Zone 3 types of intensities for those 8 days. The second microcycle lasts from 2-5 days, and the focus is speed sills and rejuvenation. This is the time to focus on swim drills, cycling drills, like one-leg drills, and running drills. The volume is cut in half from the previous 8-day microcycle. The purpose is not only to focus on speed-specific drills, but some recovery needs to take place from the accumulated fatigue of the previous cycle to prepare for the upcoming intensity of the next cycle. After the second speed skill microcycle, an intense 5-8 day intensive endurance cycle begins. Again, the volume is half of the volume from the first 8-day endurance microcycle, but the intensity now includes race-specific intermittent or intervals training, or competing in low-priority races. It is critical that during this 3rd intense cycle that recovery is watched carefully, which will be a real challenge. The final microcycle is essentially and easy week focusing completely on active recovery, lasting 4-7 days. The total conjugate sequence mesocycle would therefore last up to 28 days, or 4 weeks. Just like in linear periodization, these 4-week blocks can be repeated and placed back-to-back, creating a 12-week cycle that can easily be placed into your annual training plan. You should not do more than 3 of these mesocycles for a total of 12 weeks. OK, now that we have defined conjugate sequence, and how it could increase your performance through taking advantage of the Long-Term Delayed Training Effect, should you really use this? This is a risky training alternative. It is risky because it is rarely used, and therefore it is tough to gauge how well it really works. It is primarily risky because of those 5-8 days of significant intensity. Injury red flags are flashing all over the place. So who should consider conjugate sequence periodization? I would only recommend this training technique under a few conditions. First, only for advanced athletes with several years of training and racing. These athletes know their bodies, know how to listen to their bodies, and are better in tuned to how this change will effect them. Second, only athletes without a history of injury from intensity. Some athletes are more injury prone from volume, but some are more susceptible to injury from intensity. The density of the intensity used in conjugate sequence is significant. Third, only after you have spent several months developing a solid aerobic base in the season. Going straight into conjugate sequence at the beginning of the year introduces many risks. It is best reserved for the Base 3 or Build mesocycles. Fourth, only if as an advanced athlete, you have found that after using the classic linear periodization for a few years, you feel that you have maxed out and are burned out with the same training routine, and just aren’t getting any faster. Some athletes simply respond better to higher intensities, and you’ll never know if you don’t try. If you found yourself getting lost in this topic, you can read everything I just said at tri-talk.com, where all the recent Tri Talk episodes have transcripts on the Tri Talk blog. I have to thank Joe Friel who provided me with the data behind conjugate sequence periodization. This is the kind of information that the coaches from TrainingBible Coaching have access to. If you are interested in becoming a TrainingBible Coach, or would like to be coached by a TrainingBible coach, send me an e-mail or visit TrainingBible.com. Can I also just tell you that I accidentally referred to conjugate sequence as “conjugal sequence” about 50 times when I tried to record this topic. I can’t tell you how many takes of this section I had to do as a result. This is why I am not ready for prime time radio. For those of you who don’t know why conjugal sequence is funny, then bless your heart and your beautiful clean mind. Let’s wrap things up. I’d like to spend a few minutes on a topic that has generated quite a bit of buzz lately. There is a book out from Runner’s World called Run Less, Run Faster. I have not read this book, but I love the concept. The idea is to train at only 3 runs per week, with the other 2 workouts being a quality cross-training workout. Is it just me, or have we triathltes known this for years. I should have written this book first. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen this take place, where a triathlete is only running 3 days a week, and still makes a marathon PR because he was training for a triathlon at the same time. In fact, the free on-line running plans out on Runner’s World have gone as far as reducing the runs from 5 to 3 in their plans, with 2 days of cross training. I totally believe in this concept. Having not read the book yet, I thought I would do a little research of my own into why this would work. There are probably a ton of reasons. Injury prevention, recovery, mental variety to name a few. But, I found at least one link between cycling training and a reason behind how that could help you on the run. A 1996 study in the International Journal of Sports Medicine took 204 well-trained cyclists and runners and measured the size of their hearts. The size of cyclists hearts was overwhelmingly larger than that of the runners. It is probably because you can cycle for much longer than you can run, thus spending more time in a highly aerobic state. OK, you say, that’s nice. But so what? When you combine that with a second study published in the American Journal of Cardiology which took a look at the correlation between heart size and VO2max, then things get interesting. There are many variables that determine your VO2max, unfortunately most of it is genetics. But, this second study I just mentioned found a high correlation between heart size and VO2max. In the fact the mathematical correlation was r=.80. A quick review on the how the correlation expression works: All correlation is measured between –1 and +1, with –1 begin a negative correlation, +1 being a positive correlation, and 0 being no correlation at all. A r=.80 correlation is considered a very high correlation, and would be sufficient enough to conclude that large heart size is linked to a high VO2max. So to bring this topic back full circle. Theoretically, if you were to spend some serious time cycling, probably years of cycling, this could change your heart size, and therefore increase your VO2max and subsequently your run times improve. Lance Armstrong’s first marathon, which he completed in under 3 hours, is a pretty notable example of how cycling cardiovascular endurance can translate into other sports. There are a few problems with this argument. First, there are lots of ways to increase your VO2max other than increasing your heart size. You could invest just as much time in interval run training and get the same results. Second, it goes against the principle of specificity, which says that you will always perform best when spending the most time training in your specific sport. The truth is that Olympic runners spend 95% of their aerobic workouts just running. This Run Less Run Faster concept has not been proven beyond the age-grouper or even lower-level elite athlete. I think this does work well for new runners, but for runners who are looking to squeeze out that last 15 seconds of speed off of their 32-minute 10K, you don’t need to bike, you just need to run. But again, for us mortals, I think that this concept has huge potential for application, and is worth incorporating into your next running plan. Even if not for the potential in increased VO2max, which might take years, as mentioned, the injury prevention, recovery, mental variety in your training might make it all worth it. That’s all for this episode, I’ll be back at the end of January for Episode 58. You know, I spent time today telling you about slowtwitch.com and beginertri.com, but you know what, Tri-Talk.com is a pretty darn cool website too! Come check out the Tri Talk Forums and get your individual triathlon question answered today. A quick hello to the rest of the TrainingBible coaching team! I hope to see you next month at our TrainingBible Coaches Meeting in Arizona! See you next time!

Commercial marks-sx

NewTrumpets: Amy Horvey and Matthew Conley

TMers, I'm happy to invite you to two upcoming NewTrumpet concerts in Montreal, for those of you that are interested and nearby. Amy and Matthew are brilliant performers and their program(me)s are cutting-edge: Masters Recital #1 Matthew Conley, trumpet with Kimihiro Yasaka., piano May 20, 2009 4:00 PM Pollack Hall Schulich School of Music, McGill University 555 Sherbrooke Street West Programme: Olga Neuwirth: Laki Mauricio Kagel: Morceau de concours Cecilia Arditto: Música invisible, Libro IV Michael Ippolito: stop stay awhile (world premiere) György Ligeti: Mysteries of the Macabre * Doctoral Recital #1 Amy Horvey, trumpet and natural trumpet May 21, 2009 8:00 PM Redpath Hall Schulich School of Music, McGill University 555 Sherbrooke Street West Programme: Giacinto Scelsi: Quattro pezzi per tromba sola Anna Höstman: Interview Liza Lim: Wild winged-one Giovanni Buonaventura Viviani: Sonata No. 2 Henry Purcell: Sonata No. 2, Z 850 Isak Goldscheider: Garden of the Marionettes Giovanni Battista Bovicelli: Diminutions on Palestrina’s Io son ferito, ahi lasso Best, EC

Turtle Wax’s First Automotive Bloggers Summit

Introduction Turtle Wax held their first automotive bloggers summit on April 21-22, 2009 at their headquarters in Willowbrook, IL, a suburb of Chicago. Nine bloggers attended and were treated to a tour of their Shine Center product development laboratory and 1-bay product testing area. Turtle Wax’s purpose for the summit was two-fold I believe: 1. Show the automotive bloggers what Turtle Wax is up to and hopefully get some free press with a review or two of their products for people to read, and 2. Gather feed-back from readers and writers on their products and their marketing approaches with their new ICE product line. I think they accomplished both objectives with the product samples, tour and product demonstrations and Q&A session on the 22nd. They used an outside PR firm, Zeno Group, to set-up and conduct the summit as well as follow-up with attendees after the summit. It was a very well run event with no snags as far as I could see. When my flight was delayed out of Philly, they called to assure me that the limo driver would wait for me and then get me to the restaurant as soon as I arrived at the hotel. Company Background Turtle Wax is still a family-owned private company that began in the 40s in Chicago. The founder changed his early product’s name to Turtle Wax after a trip to Wisconsin where he stopped along Turtle Creek and saw turtles playing in the creek. He thought of their hard shells and that his car wax could be thought of as a hard shell coating on a car’s finish. Top management is still family and are in their 40s, I’d say, but they recently brought in a 40-something British chief operating officer. Since they are private they did not reveal their annual sales or other performance or income numbers. They did say the US appearance car care market is about $600 Million and they and two other firms each have roughly 1/3 of the market. They sell their products in 90 countries so their international sales are substantial but no sales figures were given. In emerging countries car care product sales are meager but in the developed countries they have much better sales. There are 4 production plants in the US that produce their products but the top managers indicated that they do not own these plants. They are working with a Chinese firm to set-up production of their products in China for Pacific Rim sales. We toured their Shine Center product development lab and 1-bay testing area where they test their formulations on employee-owned vehicles, primarily. Product Lines They appear to be developing more marketing savvy the last 5 years with the introduction of a new super premium product line called ICE over the past 3 ½ years. They keep expanding the line to include easier-to-use and innovative products for both exterior and interior surfaces. All their appearance products are self-developed but they do use analytical methods to reverse engineer competitors’ products. One purpose for the bloggers conference was clear in the Q&A session during and after lunch on the 22nd. They wanted feedback on the appearance car care products and their marketing approach recently with the ICE line. The ICE products have blue packaging and the Turtle Wax brand was de-emphasized in the packaging and advertising and has led to poor customer recognition that the ICE products are by Turtle Wax. They are changing their packaging to show larger turtle logos and also more green and less blue. Several bloggers were very blunt in their impressions of the ICE products in that they do not look like Turtle Wax products. They also emphasized that the ICE line and their product development efforts are based on customer wants and needs. The ICE products either save steps and time in application or solve a new problem that has developed with newer cars. For example, the ICE polish system is a one-step product that can be applied in the sun making it easier to use and faster to apply than standard waxes. It also doesn’t leave a residue like standard waxes. Also, they developed a headlight lens scratch removal kit that is needed for newer polycarbonate headlight lens that fog, discolor and scratch more readily. They also market the Marvel Mystery Oil product line, a business they bought some time ago and still grows slightly in sales each year. Its primary ‘claim-to-fame product is an engine oil additive that increases detergent properties and prevents and removes sludge build-up in the top-end of engines. They have another performance line called CD2 which has specialty products such as oil leak stops which swell gaskets and reduce or stop leaks. Their product brochure lists two Zymol products which are distributed by Turtle Wax and probably how the rumor that Zymol products are made by Turtle Wax got started. Mike Shultz, TW’s Vice-president of Product Development, said that Zymol developed its own formulations but uses Turtle Wax distribution channels for some of their products. I suspect that some of the Zymol products are also made in the same plants that produce the Turtle Wax products. Shine Center Development Laboratory Mike Schultz led the tour and demonstrations. Their product development lab is no more than 2000 sq.ft. with bench shelves loaded with hundreds of various product components screened for possible use in their products. They also have analytical equipment to help reverse-engineer competitive products. He also showed us a sample of carnauba wax which is in their standard car wax products. Carnauba wax is softer than synthetic polymers and gives a certain shine and feel that customers really like. It is imported from Brazil where it is scraped from palm leaves. Product Demonstrations In the lab he demonstrated the use of the Premium Chrome and Metal polish on a used chrome reversed wheel which really shone after treatment. The first demo in the auto bay testing area was the Black Box product for black car finishes on a right side door of a fairly new black Jeep. Black car finishes are the most difficult to polish and produce an acceptable shine without scratches and swirl marks. First the polishing compound was applied to ½ of the door; then the black carnauba wax was applied. The finish was very shiny and without swirl marks. The product is tinted black so it cannot be used on other colors without some tinting. Next the improved ICE Liquid Polish was applied to an almost new black BMW SUV in the parking lot in the sun. It went on easily and was removed easily with only light pressure with a microfiber cloth which is included with the polish. The finish was very nice without any swirl marks or powdery residue. The microfiber cloth is helpful in getting a smooth application with one side of the cloth and then a thorough removal of the excess polish with less pressure with the other side of the cloth. Mike Schultz said that the microfiber cloth should not be washed with cotton materials or you’ll get cotton lint on the microfiber cloth and then the car finish when using it. For a finish in decent condition, the ICE Liquid Polish allows significant reductions in time and effort in polishing your car. With standard waxes you must wait for the wax to dry before removing it with a lot more effort and wax residue settling on the finish. Next the hood of an older silver Honda Civic was waxed beforehand with ICE Liquid Polish on the left half and a competitor’s wax on the right side and then was repeatedly washed with a car wash solution. After at least 6 washes, the half polished with the ICE Liquid Polish was still beading water significantly more than the half waxed with the competitor’s product. Next the ICE Wheel and Tire Cleaner and ICE Tire Shine products were demonstrated on the Civic’s right-side tires and wheels. Both have a removable brush on the top for more thorough scrubbing of the wheel and tire. Since the tire and wheel cleaned were not very dirty, cleaning our tires and wheels with these products should be done to really see how well they do. Next the ICE Total Interior Care T465 cleaner was demonstrated on the Civic’s interior. This non-greasy product can be used on all interior surfaces including the windows. Also it conditions as well as cleans the material in one easy step. Their new Headlight Lens Restorer Kit was demonstrated on the Civic which had mild lens scratching/haze on the driver’s side lens. First a liquid clarifyind compund was applied. Then four fine grit pads were used sequentially from 1800 to 8000 grit to remove the larger scratches and haze. There was a significant reduction in the haze of this lens. A more severe test with my ’03 Taurus will tell how well it really works. I hope to have that done in the next week. Their improved spray Bug and Tar Remover is the top-selling bug and tar remover on the market and was demonstrated on the Civic. This product was recently updated with the addition of a new solvent for tree sap and seed-pod stains. A customer had contacted Turtle Wax and submitted samples of tree seed-pods that caused the stain that the previous product did not remove. Mike’s group found a solvent that cut the stain and then added it to the formulation. It also stays on the body without running off allowing it to soak into the debris if you wait several minutes after application as recommended for better removal. Mike also said that a stain should be washed off as soon as you see it. If it is not removed initially, wait 20-30 days to give the stain time to lift out of the finish before trying to remove it with a removal product. Mike Schultz also said the remover does remove the polish where it is applied but it also contains a wax that will leave a barrier to reduce the absorption of future debris. Overall, Turtle Wax is paying attention to customers’ wants and needs with the innovative ICE products and willingness to improve their existing products. I want to thank the Turtle Wax people for inviting us to see what they’ve been up to. Larry Schappell (Kevins Dad)

Day Six in Vietnam: May 18

Sapa Lao Cai/ Hanoi Train SAPALong trek to visit beautiful village named Lao Chai & Ta Van,get in local house to learn about the life of local people. Back to Sapa town by bus. Free for shopping at Sapa market until transfer back to Lao Cai railway station to catch night train back to Hanoi.Very soggy day! Our long trek to Lao Chai and Ta Van was pretty wet. We were escorted all the way by the omnipresent enterprising Hmong women, always trying to sell us their handicrafts. They have hand-embroidered textiles (purses, wallets, tablecloths) and hand-made jewelry. It's hard to depict just how persistent they are...when a bus of tourists stops, they surround it like wasps...One feels very conflicted: one the one hand I have nothing but sympathy for their plight: they see us (quite rightly) as extremely wealthy and while ten dollars to us is a couple of cafe mochas, to them, it is over half a month's income. On the other hand, their aggressive sales tactics are quite uncomfortable. They seem to follow the same sales manual: first, they ask you your name and where you are from. Then they ask about children, husband, ...and then the sales pitch begins in earnest. If you get to this stage, they assume that a personal relationship exists and that you will buy from them. But if you buy anything from one, this unleashes a flood of indignant entreaties: "You buy from her, you buy from me...YOU BUY FROM ME!!! They can be very unpleasant if you do not buy from them. One of the students was quite shaken when a Hmong woman cursed her out for not buying from her. And so it is best not to respond to their insistent "Madame! Madame!" But nonetheless, I did buy some presents here.The houses in the Hmong "beautiful villages" are dark and sanitation is minimal. Children are dressed in dirty clothes and covered with insect bites. They mainly grow rice (in long terraces lining the hills) and corn, and keep poultry (chickens, ducks and things that are larger but don't look like turkeys....your guess is as good as mine) and the occasional pigs. What I found most depressing was the small markets we passed (little more than a shed with a table) which sold bottled water and snacks to tourists...food that I am sure they could never afford to eat themselves. But lest I paint too bleak a picture, I should say that conditions are much better than in previous decades and tourism has a lot to do with this, and wealth does not always equate to happiness. One of our students is Hmong, and she could speak to them in their native language. Here she was, going to college in America: it must have been amazing for them to imagine.So, Sapa was a blend of good and bad: the tourists that keep the local economy running may be discouraged from a second trip by the off-putting strong-arm sales tactics of the Hmong peoples, but I suspect there will always be more tourists. Nonetheless I was a bit relieved to board the bus back to Lao Cai station.

a pair of boy and girl doll

After bailout, GM to move jobs overseas…

Under Restructuring, GM To Build More Cars Overseas By Peter Whoriskey Friday, May 8, 2009 The U.S. government is pouring billions into General Motors in hopes of reviving the domestic economy, but when the automaker completes its restructuring plan, many of the companys new jobs will be filled by workers overseas. According to an outline the company has been sharing privately with Washington legislators, the number of cars that GM sells in the United States and builds in Mexico, China and South Korea will roughly double. The proportion of GM cars sold domestically and manufactured in those low-wage countries will rise from 15 percent to 23 percent over the next five years, according to the figures contained in a 12-page presentation offered to lawmakers in response to their questions about overseas production. As a result, the long-simmering argument over U.S. manufacturers expanding production overseas  normally arising between unions and private companies  is about to engage the Obama administration. Essentially in control of the company, the presidents autos task force faces an awkward choice: It can either require General Motors to keep more jobs at home, potentially raising labor costs at a company already beset with financial woes, or it can risk political fury by allowing the automaker to expand operations at lower-cost manufacturing locations. Its an almost impossible dilemma, said former labor secretary Robert B. Reich, now a professor at the University of California-Berkeley. GM is a global company  so for that matter is AIG and the biggest Wall Street banks. That means that bailing them out doesnt necessarily redound to the benefit of the U.S. or American workers. More significantly, it raises fundamental questions about the purpose of bailing out these big companies. If GM is going to do more of its production overseas, then why exactly are we saving GM? The administration has aroused similar complaints by shepherding a merger between Chrysler and Italian automaker Fiat. But it has extracted a promise from Fiat that it will build small cars in the United States. The complaints about GMs operations portend a potentially larger argument, a political dispute led in part by the United Auto Workers. The bottom line is GM would rather pay $2 an hour  and its a slippery slope downward, said Alan Reuther, the UAWs legislative director. If GM is going to be getting government assistance, they ought to be maintaining their manufacturing footprint in the U.S. rather than going off to China, Mexico and South Korea. Labor costs in those countries are far lower. While paying a U.S. autoworker with benefits costs about $54 an hour, a South Korean worker earns about $22 an hour, a Mexican worker earns less than $10 an hour and some Chinese workers can earn as little as $3 an hour, industry sources said. On Tuesday and Wednesday, GM chief executive Fritz Henderson met with legislators and sought to ease their concerns over the overseas operations. 2 Pages&WashingtonPost.com

Just another day in the neighborhood.

This morning on the bus a weird woman sat in front of me and kept turning around and staring. Not just staring at me, but sort of generally staring at all the people around and behind her with that expectant "I want to find someone to chat up!" face. When you take mass transit out here you learn early on to avoid the chitchatters. You don't engage, don't make eye contact, and treat them much like you would a wild hyena you encounter on your driveway. Walk slowly away, making yourself as invisible as possible. Keep your head down low. Never let them see your fear.
Crazy people LOVE me, though. They LOVE me. Sometimes it is my fault, because for flash, fleeting moments I forget I live in this crackass crazy city and I forget that when someone stops me on the street or the bus to ask me something they are just as often INSANE as they are lost and needing directions. Sometimes they are both.
On the news when something wacky happens in a neighborhood (man stockpiling weapons, nice family of five with a meth lab in the basement, serial killers, etc.) the reporter will interview the suspects's neighbors and the neighbors generally say something like, "Oh he was nice, quiet. Kept to himself a lot." I was thinking about this on my way into work since I am really the only quiet person on my block, the only one who keeps to herself. My neighbors are loud and sadly never keep to themselves. Sunday night it was the party people next door, and this morning it was the neighbors whose car alarm goes off each morning because they still forget to disarm it before opening the car door. On the weekends it's impossible to have a quiet moment in my 'hood because the family across the street conducts every conversation outdoors using their highest volume setting. They have become friends with another family several houses away and instead of using this newfangled "telamaphone" gadget, they just holler down the street to each other and all their collective kids. It's delightful.
Actually, I don't think they know how loud they are. For a while I thought maybe all their kids were hard of hearing since the mom has to yell at each one thirty times a night to come in, shut the door, bring your bike in, etc. Finally it dawned on me that poor mother had children with a rare strain of selective deafness. They seem to hear nothing their mother says between the hours of four and eight p.m. Fascinating! I was going to call my dad and ask if any of his children (though surely not me) had ever suffered from rapid-onset selective deafness but I didn't want to hear his answer so I didn't bother calling.
Anyway, I don't have a human head in my fridge or a drug lab in the garage but I am really the quiet one who keeps to herself in the neighborhood. If any of my neighbors ever get arrested I plan to tell the TV news reporter that they were loud, bothered everyone, and couldn't work a car alarm. And also I will complain about my evil arch nemesis, the ice cream man. Just 'cause.

calling Daria.

TGIF, blog buddies!!! I'm off to have a much needed relaxing weekend and I don't even wanna bring my computer or my phone. I just want to kinda curl in a ball and sleep for a few days. :) Ryan and I called on of YOUR favorites in today's TALKY BLOG and you don't wanna miss out on this action. That's what she said (you'll understand when you watch). Enjoy! :) Have a great weekend, gang! :) Ross Click HERE for my official MYSPACE page! Click HERE for my official FACEBOOK page! Click HERE for my official TWITTER page! Click HERE for the official Ross Fan Club MySpace Page! Click HERE for The John & Ross Show! Click HERE for our new and improved CHAT ROOM! Click HERE to save the life of an animal in YOUR area! Wanna contact me? Email me at: hellorossm@hotmail.com

My toothy Friend-- the Barracuda-- Arrives of the San Diego Coast

A text message buzzed me awake at 6:30 Sundayp morning. The terse message read “ 3 cuda hook ups - OB.” It was from a fishing buddy already out in the kelp beds off Ocean Beach.The message got me racing to my boat to get it ready for the 21-mile drive down to the launch ramp at Dana Landing. Stuck my keys in the 4Runners' ignition switch but nothing happened.p My battery was completely dead. A quick call to AAA saw my truck purring in the driveway in record time. The tow truck driver’s simple advice to “drive my 4Runner for 45 minutes to charge its battery” was all the excuse I needed to grab some CD;’s and head down to San Diego Bay. I left my boat at home and headed for the San Diegopcommercial tuna boat harbor. Harbors bring out my inner wander lust and looking at 80 and 100-foot tuna trawlers always make me remember California is still a very good place for commercial and sport fishing. The early morning text message was still fresh in my memory, so I punched in my buddy’s cell phone number and asked if anything was still biting?”. He said the bite had dropped off with the freshening incoming tide but was hopeful it might pick up again at slack water later in the day. But back to my old friend, the toothy, tussling barracuda. ‘Cudas are an important part of what ties me to offshore fishing here on the Southern California coast. They appear as soon as the water warms up and I’ve come to think of them as voracious scoutin the advance guard of the yellowtail schools that appear yearly here off San Diego. Cudas today aren’t nearly as large as the logs I caught in my youth off the eastern shore of Catalina Island. While today’s average cuda may be only 26- 28 inches long,p you know you’ve tied in to a real sport fishp when you’ve got a schoolie sized fish on the business end of a lightweight rod and reel. They’re capable of sizzling runs that tear line off your reels and bend your rods, a trait that has always reminded me of their much larger and seriously toothier cousin, the Wahoo. Very few people have the ability to consistently catch barracuda, but Im fortunate enough to have learned how to fish from one such person, Joe Cornejo of Azusa, California. He was the one person who taught me the first rule of intentional cuda fishing-- always use a wire leader. 50 years and maybe 200 cleanly severed monofilament leaders later, I still make sure I use a wire leader if I think there’s even a slight chance of tying into a cuda. I have a lot of respect for a barracuda’s teeth, even a little 26-incher can rip the hell out of your hand if you foolishly reach into its mouth to remove a jig or hook. Barracuda are the reason I carry fishing pliers on my belt when I fish off shore. Cudas have a bad reputation when it comes to fish dinners. Most people complain the flesh is too oily, or disparage this species because it’s a mackerel with a bad attitude. The trick to fixing good barracuda is to remove the oily reddish lines of meat on both its flanks and BBQ the fish using your favorite BBQ sauce or just drizzle lime juice on it before serving. There’s another cuda-based recipe that has a an almost mythical appeal when its made fresh in the galley on many of the sport fisherman here down here. The dish is barracuda burgerspand it'spthe perfect lunch after a morning spent sport fishing. Maybe this week, after the weekend traffic on the ramp at Mission bay, dims to a memory, I’ll launch my boat and spend a quiet morning running up and down the kelp forests, hoping I hook up with a feisty barracuda or another staplep of Spring time fishing here in San Diego; the incredibly tasty white sea bass. Soon, the yellowtail will be back, and I’ll be out there, with fresh bait and fully charged batteries in my car and boat. And of course I’ll also have wire leaders stored in my tackle box, ready for slashing barracudas.—Jim Forbes, 04/19/2009

The Eskimo Olympics

I'm sure you're aware of the history of the Olympics--how the Greeks liked to strip down and wow each other with their prowess at running, throwing and jumping while naked? I guess that's what happens when you live someplace that's warm and balmy all year long and men get together to show off.Well here in Alaska we have our own version of the Olympics but which involves considerably more clothing.In 1961 in Fairbanks the first World Eskimo Olympics was born as a way to preserve some of games and competitions the Native people of Alaska have played for centuries and just as the original Greek Olympics honored the skills it took to stay alive in ancient Greece the Eskimo Olympics represent the skills admired among the Native peoples.Now besides the official World Eskimo-Indian Olympics which are held every March in Fairbanks there are also the Native Youth Olympics held every April in Anchorage and various other games events during the year. Forget the 100 meter dash and the high jump--these events tend to meld the physical prowess of the traditional Olympics with the entertainment of the Peking Acrobats. But everyone has their clothes on.In the summertime we often have "Family Olympics" where we get together in the back yard with the kids and play our own version of the Olympics. I'm thinking that maybe this summer we need to do a Native Alaskan version and incorporate some of these new events.The kids would have a great time trying out their Eskimo Skills.If you happen to attend sometime here's what you can expect.The One Arm ReachWith one elbow in your stomach and your hand on the floor balance your body parallel to the floor while reaching up to touch a ball high above you. You must touch the ball and bring your hand back down to the floor before any other part of your body touches the ground. Truly a Jackie Chan move.The One-Foot High KickStand with both feet on the ground. Jump up into the air and with one foot kick a ball that can be as high as a basketball net then land on that same foot you just kicked with.Yea. It's tough. This is really the "premier" event at the W.E.I.O. (World Eskimo-Indian Olympics) and supposedly it came from the time when hunters would signal to others of a successful whale hunt by jumping high into the air. Yes I know cell phones would have been easier but would they have looked so cool?The Toe KickStand with your feet together and a one-inch diameter rod on the ground in front of you. Jump forward enough to kick the stick with your toes but kick it backwards as you jump forward. You have to land ahead of the point where the stick was at the beginning.As the competition progresses the stick is moved farther and farther away so the distance you have to cover is longer and longer while still having the balance and agility to kick the stick backward with your toes as you fly by.The Four-Man CarryI really should enter this event because I swear I've done it before and it pretty much is what it appears to be. One guy carrying four.You can train by getting your kids to jump on your back or legs while you walk around the house--I swear I've learned to vacuum with children wrapped around my ankles so I should be a natural at this one.The Wrist CarryThis one is a harder on the carried rather than the carrier.Wrap your wrist around a pole like a hook and hold on tight to your forearm while two people carry you, the object being to travel the longest distance without crying "uncle."Be sure to remove your wrist watch first.The Alaskan High KickI personally think this one of the coolest ones. Balance on one hand and your opposite foot. Hold the other foot with your free hand then with your balancing foot jump up into the air and kick a ball high above you and balance once again when you finally get back to earth.I don't care if you're all about yoga and tae kwon do--this is hard to do. As with most of these moves this one emphasizes balance and strength which the hunters valued while searching for food on the ice packs.The Knuckle HopLong before break dancing was popular Native Alaskans were playing this game mimicking the way a seal moves across the ice.Lay on the floor with your hands flat in front of you, you weight on your toes. Lift yourself off of the floor and hop on your flat hands and toes and you've got the general idea. Not nearly as easy as the picture would indicate. And you don't want to be wearing a skirt.The Ear PullThis one is kind of hard to watch. You take a long cord with a loop at one end and a 16-pound weight on the other then loop the one end around your ear and have at it.You can't rest the weight against your cheek and you have to walk as far as you can with that thing swinging from your sagging ear. Before they had nice little compact weights they used 25-pound sacks of flour and could go as far as 2,000 feet. Ugh.Leave the earrings home."Drop the Bomb"I've wondered where this game got it's name because it's obviously not of Native origins but the object is to race in four-person teams.If you want to play the difficult part of the bomb then lie face-down on the floor with your arms outstretched side to side and your feet together. One of your team mates grabs your ankles, one your right wrist and one your left wrist. You get as stiff as you can while they raise you one foot off the floor and try to carry you as far as they can before you give out, sag and they "drop the bomb" (i.e. you).The Blanket Toss (Nalukataq)This is the picture you see at the top and it's probably the quintessential picture from Alaska--what most people see in their minds when they think of Alaska.No matter, it's a fun image--better than picturing a bear devouring a biker or a moose isn't it? And as a kid growing up before trampolines were everywhere this always seemed like the most fun anyone could have and it is still very much a Native tradition that you can see at most events such as Fur Rendezvous.Photographs courtesy of AP.Sponsored by Starlooks Boutique for high-quality, made in the USA clothing for children.

Mandarin Wok Cafe

It's been a year since I was last at the Mall of Asia. This year's different because although once again I scanned the restaurants in the area, I let my good judgment rule this time.After what seemed like an hour going around the mall looking for a restaurant that served just the right amount of food and not supersize, I settled for Mandarin Wok Cafe because the person outside was friendly without being too close and was not at all irritated when I just looked on my first round. Plus, they had gourmet plates which had a little of rice, meat and vegetables which sounded balanced.I ordered the Fried Chicken Fillet Gourmet Plate (PHP) which came with 2 servings of fried chicken fillet, a cup of rice, a very small serving of steamed vegetables and fragrant spring onion. It was served hot, freshly cooked but was nothing special although the fragrant spring onion did bolden the taste a lot. To fulfill the fruit requirement, I had the Almond Jelly with Mixed Fruits (PHP 45). It was good and chilled quite well.What I found special was the customer service. They were quite attentive, served me water without my asking for it and gave me magazines to pass the time.As for the amount of food, it was okay based on restaurant standards but not proportioned as a dietitian would wish. But I don't think any restaurant can actually get a dietitian's advice right or dare to. Or if most customers would even want that.

Oh, baby.

Wait! Don't stop reading. It's not another shameless Gramma brag post...I promise. (for reals this time.) It's about a beyond adorable and simply fabulous vintage baby bed I managed to get this past weekend. The other Tracey thinks I am a bit obsessed smitten with vintage bassinets, and maybe she has a point. I mean, yes, I know that I now have three of them, and yes, I know that I don't have a baby living at my cottage. But, oh! They are so full of charm that when I come across one, I simply cannot pass it by without drooling on it. While out thrifting a couple of weeks ago, we stumbled upon this latest beauty. I shrieked when I saw it and hurried over to price check it. The other Tracey did an eye roll and I am pretty sure I heard a small oh-here-we-go-again groan. me: Oh my. I think this is calling my name.The other Tracey: Um, you already have the cute vintage one in your guest room.me: (quick eyebrow raise with a gasp for a stunned effect) This one has wheels!The other Tracey: And the vintage pink one in the garage?me: Look at the wheels! See how it rolls?The other Tracey: Mmmm...you don't need it.me: (huge long heavy sigh) What-ever.Then, a long pause..another sigh....me: Okay, you're right. But if it's here next Friday on half off night, this little baby is mine.The other Tracey: What-ever.Finally..Friday arrived. Oh- A small side note here: Last month, the other Tracey was booked on half off night, so I went for both of us, with a stand-in friend who was an experienced Sally shopper herself. This month I was unable to go to half off night because I was having my girls night in with Miss Isabelle (Oh, do remember her? Here, maybe this will help refresh your memory...) ...so the other Tracey had to take Mr.Other-Tracey in my place. This kind of worried me, because half off night at our Salvation Army ("Sally's" as we like to call it) is pretty much a bonefide freak show, with crazed antique dealers and bargain hunters racing to items in the large store after waiting in a loooooooong line outside in the cold for an hour for the doors to re-open, and..well, this would be Mr. Tracey's first experience with this crowd.(Half off night at Sally's is not for sissies, that's all I'm sayin'.) Anyway. Where was I?Oh yes, the fabulous bassinet. The other Tracey managed to snag it for me, but sadly, not without one casualty. She temporarily, for just one quick moment, placed a matrimonial certificate she wanted on a nearby table in order to move the bassinet. Before she could pick it back up to place it inside the oh-so-heavenly bassinet, she was horrified, as another woman, who was watching her, grabbed it right off the table! When the other Tracey said it was hers, the woman cackled, and informed her that she "just wasn't quick enough." (See above where I said bonefide freak show. Seriously folks, it's always like a scene straight out of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at Sally's half off night. And I always forget to take my camera.) The other Tracey brought the truckload of Sally-treasures to my garage on Saturday when I got off from working at the bank. Forget the two big tables, the French headboard, the mirror, the vintage folding chair. I rushed to the back door of the truck cab and flung it open. The sun shone into the back seat like a light from heaven. There it was, in all it's mint-condition-honey-colored-wicker glory. (See the cute little vintage wheels?) I'm going to be doing it all up this week, in vintage white linens (with maybe sheets made from a mocha mini gingham check) and a eensie weensie banner across the bottom wrung that will say "baby". I think I may just have to have Miss Isabelle over for a photo shoot in this little treasure (Possibly in the backyard, under the tree?) before it makes it's way to Farm Chicks. That is, if I can bear to part with it.

House Resolution 669

Perhaps Randy is right and HR 669 will die before it gets out of sub-committee. But I can't be sure and I felt the need to act, to speak up. So I wrote an email to Mr. Flake, Representative for Arizona's 6th District and one of the committee members for this House Resolution. I thought I'd go ahead and post it here as well... Mr. Flake, I am a citizen of Mesa, Arizona (85213) and I'd like for you to consider shutting down HR 669 as it is currently written. I'll try to be brief in why I feel you should do this. First, I believe strongly in the power of the States. Hawaii works to keep her borders safe from animals, parasites and plants from "the Mainland" by having strict laws on what may enter the state. Why can't the remaining 49 states do the same thing? Here in Arizona, I'm aware of a couple breeds of plants which are causing problems and are no longer permitted to be used. Instead non-proliferating varieties are being used and the problematic plant is being phased out. Why not do the same with the animals Arizona feels are a problem? Second, the Federal government is in major financial trouble already. The "War on Terror" has drained the country of money...and fixed none of our problems here in the States. HR 669 proposes to spend *more* money to determine which (if any) animals may continue to be imported, moved across state lines, bought, sold, traded, raised, etc. The weak and poorly spelled out plan of "fees" will not cover costs. Instead, this will end up being one more government "boondoggle", with average Americans paying the price. That leads me to my final reason: small businesses. I have a single 120 gallon aquarium. On a whim, I purchased a couple "mystery snails" --- those strange creatures found in most aquarium stores, named Pomacea bridgesii. Apparently, I managed to get a mixed pair or an already mated female. Now, I have a *lot* of snails. I'd *like* to be able to sell them to people who want them. With regulations already in place, I'm required to go through the USDA (believe it or not) to secure separate permissions for each state I want to ship to. Imagine all the already-established small mom-and-pop businesses across America watching a few strangers in Washington, D.C. contemplate wiping out their livelihood with the stroke of a pen. I personally know ferret breeders, fish breeders, and now snake breeders, who would be hit by this legislation. If it is allowed to go forward, HR 669 has the potential to shut down not just breeders and importers, but all the ancillary businesses which are connected to the animals being threatened. Pet stores, online specialty shops, feeder businesses, veterinarians, pet sitters...and when these shut down for lack of sales or need, who will *they* put out of a job? I'd like to know that you have considered the far-reaching effects this House Resolution may have. Please, shut HR 669 down. If you *do* support this House Resolution, I'd like to hear back from you why you feel it's important for the Federal government to handle this. And why now, when so many families are struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. I have been a little more long-winded than I'd hoped to be. I do hope you'll give some thought to my concerns. Thank you for your time. Anne. I probably could have been more brief. I could have pasted text from a variety of sites I'm part of where HR 669 is getting a lot of attention. But, I wanted to my message to stand out from the mass of emails, letters and phone calls. I wanted to spend the time on it I'd like Mr. Flake (and the rest of the committee) to spend, thinking about the effects of this potential bill. As a "mom" to ten ferrets, I'm very aware my babies would be "grandfathered" in---any animal legally owned at the time the proposed bill becomes law would be protected. But, I know one day, my crew will have diminshed in size (and it's not as far off as I like to hope it will be!) and I'll be ready to adopt again. I have my eye on a particular breeder and a particular pairing, depending on timing. If HR 669 becomes law, I am concerned RavensNest will not be offering any further kits for sale, since ferrets are not protected automatically (like dogs and cats will be). Despite the problems with feral cat populations in Tempe, Arizona, cats are being given a pass....while no one has ever documented a feral ferret population. Note: there is a difference between the domesticated ferret (see my banner above for samples) and the Black Footed Ferret, which is a wild animal native to North America. Just last Saturday, I was introduced to my first corn snake, a sweet girl named Scooter. I am entranced by how sweet she is and enthralled by the way she wrapped herself around my hands, trusting me so easily. Yes, I am now in "investigative mode", trying to learn all I can about snakes and their care and if it's possible to have both ferrets and a snake and do them both justice. As I do this research, I'm meeting even more people who will be affected by HR 669. So far, I've read about HR 669 in ferret forums, in fish-keeping forums and now in snake forums. Who else out there will be affected? Please feel free to leave a comment sharing how HR 669 will affect you, if it's allowed to move forward and become law. Or leave me a comment about snakes! What snakes do you love? Which ones stay small? Apparently a corn snake can get as large as 6ft! I rather liked Scooter's size as she was---I could have coiled her into the palm of my hand! I wouldn't mind a little larger, but I don't think I want a super-large snake...do I?

Personalized Music Boxes at Giggle!

I'm all about personalized gifts and Giggle has many to choose from. The Personalized Music Box caught my eye for the great colors available and the adorable art! This wooden music box is handmade and hand-painted with baby's initial on one side, and name and birthday on the other. When you turn the key to hear "Hush Little Baby" the sweet and soothing sound will have your little one drifting off to sleep. Giggle explains that it is "a gift that's sure to be treasured for years to come!" I couldn't agree more. Check it out!Available at Giggle $60

From Far Away ...

... and without my glasses on, it doesn't look so bad. Yes, I know it looks like an oversized hat for a hot dog stand employee, but when one is stash busting, one takes what one can find. Not to mention that it only took a few days to make, although it did take 3 spins through the ol' washing machine.I don't know whether that was because it was crocheted or because we have crappy washing machines in my apartment complex. I'm thinking the latter. I used up all my Cascade 220 for this magnificent example of kitty bed making. Now it's time to put on your sunglasses.Yeah ... wowsers. Colors rarely seen outside the Red Heart palette. That yellow is something else. I actually had to go out and buy one last skein to make it big enough and by that point nothing was gonna fix this so I went with rust. Of course, I could just say, "It's crochet, it's SUPPOSED to be ugly." But that would be rude and uncalled for. And besides, I've already started a second one that is significantly prettier. Unfortunately it's for a friend and not for me.Luckily DeeDee has already given the Hot Dog Bed her feline stamp of approval; she slept in it between the 2nd and 3rd felting. While I was trying to decide if it needed another spin. While it was wet. Ick.

Busy, blurring, and behind

tags: personal More than a month has passed, with nary enough time to reflect, process, and synthesize all the days' happenings into a sensible narative. Searching just my thoughts and memories rather than my archives, a few things come to mind. BarCampSeattle BarCampSeattle was excellent. The trip involved facing a few personal challenges, which I took as an opportunity to push myself further and lead two sessions on more experimental topics: "Buildering 101" on Saturday where a bunch of us climbed the Fremont Troll, and "How to be a superhero" on Sunday where I led a discussion on the many dimensions of what it means to be a hero, and how superheroes are different in each of those dimensions. Surprisingly, not only did I find that a lot (most?) of the sessions participants related to the topic in a very personal way, but also strongly encouraged me to propose it for SXSW Interactive 2009. Supernova 2008 and Open Flow With just a flight and a night to reset and recover, I met up with Jeremy Keith and hiked through the transitional badlands of China Basin to Supernova 2008. We serendipitously ran into most of the other panelists fo the Open Flow track and wrapped up final details. The next day the track itself exceeded my expectations thanks to the incredible panelists and their upfront and no-holds barred discussions. In particular I want to thank David Morin, Joseph Smarr, and Kevin Marks for their direct and honest dialog (even if got a bit heated at times) which was the hilight of not only their "Whose Social Graph" panel, but perhaps the whole track. All three of these guys are smart, believe in open standards, are working very hard to make implement them, and are fighting a lot of short-sighted fear and pressure inside their respective "big companies" to do so and should be commended for their accomplishments in the face of such inertial opposition. Microformats.org turns 3 Microformats.org's 3rd birthday was celebrated humbly with a gathering in San Francisco's Westfield food court, and a birthday cupcake, assembled from a coconut cupcake and green M&Ms, purchased moments beforehand at the Bristol Farms in that very food court. In addition, I kicked off a series of weekly microformats meetups to help with community dynamics. I've noticed that people are nicer to each other online when they've met in person, and thus the hope is that by increasing the frequency of such interactions, we can grow a more sustainable and increasingly healthier and stronger microformats community. July I last month I knew June was going to bring new levels of personal challenges and it did, to and thru the very end which culminated with yet another intense LifeCamp. And that was just June! I was traveling and away from home for half of both May and June, thus I decided to "work local" and stay home for both July and August which was absolutely the right decision. July I had the opportunity to host and hangout with a few friends that were traveling through town, and it was a nice change of pace to spend some quieter more indepth time with them, talking about a wide variety of cares and concerns. No conferences or speaking in July and yet, so much of this month was a blur, I have trouble recalling much more. I did visit my sister's family in Mountain View to celebrate Nephew 2.0's birthday where he attacked his chocolate cake as only a one year old could. I still feel like I have a lot that is unresolved (certainly as indicated by the remaining size of my inbox.txt file), mostly personal. Looking forward to August, I'm not sure how I'm going to process (much less actually complete) it all, especially with speaking opportunities coming up at both WordCamp and An Event Apart San Francisco - each of which I'm preparing new talks for. Start In addition I've volunteered to help out my good friend Jeff Veen at his new Start Conference, which promises to be quite the event, judging from the quality of speakers and topics alone. The home page makes the message quite clear: "Quit your day job." and encourages "smart, talented Web people to take hold of their ideas, follow their dreams, and start their own companies." Perhaps they'll provide some inspiration to start focusing on dreams instead of worries, to spend more time building instead of just reflecting and resolving. View blog reactions