On Pause

Work is quite the hectic beast these days, thus the reason for a lack of posts. We'll be back on schedule oh, around spring or so. Again, this blog is reserved for the generalities, while Parham Waddell is a little more serious. Take care, and see ya soon.

California - Land of Urban Homesteading

Besides the Dervaes family in Pasadena, check out this couple in LA: The Urban Homestead on KABC TV

Presidential Style

Image is important. Superficial sure, but being biological creatures, we've evolved the art of the dance. And dance requires costumes, colored with intention and precisely cut. Clothing is one of those personal expressions that simply can't be ignored. It smacks you in the face, whether you notice or not. An ode to materialism? Perhaps. But until we're all free to sunbathe nude on St. Maarten, body coverings matter.

With regard to Washington power brokers, we are entering new territory. Monocle magazine flicked skyward a half-hearted thumb to the President-Elect, and Leffot was no more impressed (particularly with regard to the candidates choice of footwear). Suffice to say, Obama is one of the better-dressed politicians...most of the time. How it will go over in the transition from Senator to Prez is yet to be determined. "Image" in Washington is an interesting thing. Here, the goal is to exude power while fitting into that most wonkish of molds. Sadly, the mold is boxy, ill-fitting and trends toward basic solids (read blue). Now that there'll be a new sheriff in town, how far out of the box will he step? If his wife is any indication, there's lots to look forward to. While I don't find all of the First-Lady Elect's decisions to be enlightened, she's quite expressive and willing to take risks. It will be an interesting four years, to say the least.
The First Lady's Style
The SF Gate says "nice suit"

Photo: Obama in a bespoke Hartmax 2-button in Washington Blue

Barack Obama - 44th President of the United States

We all woke to a new America today. After a night of rain here in Washington, the morning was bright and warm. An excellent race was run, McCain conceded with great humility, and Obama was pitch perfect in his call for each American to help us return to greatness. I am truly proud and excited for the possibilities.

Congratulations President-Elect Obama, may God bless you in these troubling times.

T. Boone at the National Press Club - 9/22/08

Time Lapse of an Underwater Plant

I just started two new fish tanks (when I really should be putting Deep-V's on the new Lambert). Nevertheless, this is sort of a long-standing project stemming from my wee tyke era, when in about 1979 a goldfish jumped from the 10-gallon onto Mr. Burwell's plate. I've been hooked ever since. (Pun totally unintended, as you'd use a net to catch goldies.)

The tanks are nano-sized planted nature aquaria, as they are small, and the emphasis is on the plants. It's been a borderline obsession for the past few weeks since I rediscovered Takashi Amano's seminal book on the subject. Over the weekend I planted and hardscaped with rocks in true Japanese form, and are cycling in an emergent condition. Supposedly, growing without much water provides humidity, increased carbon dioxide, and less a risk for algae. They look more like little terrariums, so in about 3 weeks it'll be time to put in the micro algae eaters and micro shrimps.

The video by Giancarlo Podio shows Hemianthus callitrichoides (HC) at one frame per hour over a six-day period. I hope mine grows this fast.



[Video via Practical Fishkeeping]

Neat.

Photo: Heather Reporting From Cape Town

Urban Homesteading - The Real Deal

This is how backyard gardening is done. The folks at "Path to Freedom Journal - Little Homestead in the City," are a family of 4 in Pasadena, California. They've managed to grow $25,000/year worth of produce in their 1/3rd of an acre urban yard. They really do live in the city too, just across from a major freeway. Impressive, especially the goats.

[Image: Grow Biointensive Newsletter]

A Quote....

A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is privately concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men who, even if their action be honest and intended for the public interest, are necessarily concentrated upon the great undertakings in which their own money is involved and who necessarily, by very reason of their own limitations, chill and check and destroy genuine economic freedom.

President Woodrow Wilson. "The New Freedom: A Call for the Emancipation of the Generous Energies of a People." Campaign speeches from 1911. Page 185.

Christmas has passed but....

I couldn't pass up posting this.
Photo via Cycleliciousness: The Copenhagen Bike Culture Blog. Very nice. Oh, and Happy New Year!