tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773386403911316652024-02-10T13:10:49.097-08:00GALFROMDOWNUNDER UPOVER<b>A cross-cultural conundrumist pontificates on life in the USA and beyond</b>
galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.comBlogger199125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-33970749261513755562023-08-17T08:50:00.039-07:002023-09-14T09:14:06.541-07:00SuperGerd! 90 Years Young and a Double Centurion (twice)<div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuc2dU_g97nthTWVHbcnn9XCYX98bvj4oZb6tDbfCiiLXGhtziuii5vjJLwuyzpQo_od7KTaMLEwKBUtNXf4aYSrPW9HVsRy-B_xS_fdIz1LAnx8hPKSEGnA0YSHMM8I5iTww13WjpXvoAbk94ojBCDmD-ox9xXBZRIjD5ixdRIC_qqfHDRqKXHxOnek/s1714/gerd_rosenblatt_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1714" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuc2dU_g97nthTWVHbcnn9XCYX98bvj4oZb6tDbfCiiLXGhtziuii5vjJLwuyzpQo_od7KTaMLEwKBUtNXf4aYSrPW9HVsRy-B_xS_fdIz1LAnx8hPKSEGnA0YSHMM8I5iTww13WjpXvoAbk94ojBCDmD-ox9xXBZRIjD5ixdRIC_qqfHDRqKXHxOnek/w640-h480/gerd_rosenblatt_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><blockquote>In my "<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/1649094/24-7-customer-evangelist-decade-across-dining-room-table" target="_blank">decade from across the dining room table</a>" as a former <a href="https://bikefriday.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bike Friday</a> customer evangelist, I met so many extraordinary cyclists and adventurers that made my modest job feel like the best job in the world. Newly-nonagenerian Gerd Rosenblatt, an acclaimed former UC Berkeley physics professor certainly hasn't let the passing decades get in the way of <i>HIS</i> physics (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYBoIhLBm2o" target="_blank">watch him tackle this hill at age 74.5</a>). I had the pleasure of crossing the country with him on an 80-120 miles-a-day <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwonSPoRzhM" target="_blank">Route 66 trip with PACTOUR in 2006</a>. While I now grumble if the mileage creeps north of 50, he's just kept piling on his odometer. Below is his personal account of his most impressive feat to date: a double century (that's 200 miles folks) at the ripe young age of 90. Go Gerd! </blockquote><p>JUMP TO: <a href="https://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2023/08/supergerd-90-years-young-and-double.html#QUESTIONS">5 QUICK QUESTIONS FOR GERD ROSENBLATT </a></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Grand Tour Lowland Double Century</h1><h2 style="text-align: left;">Cycling Report – Gerd Rosenblatt – 90th Birthday Ride</h2>June 24, 2023 <br /><br /><h2>Background</h2><div><br /></div><div> This is a report on the double century that I rode with my long-time friend and cycling partner, Lori Cherry, to celebrate – and as a challenge for – my July 6 90th birthday twelve days following the ride.</div><div><br /> My first double century was twenty years ago, in June 2003, a personal challenge for my then upcoming 70th birthday. It had 10,200’ of climbing and I completed it in 14:03 on my two-wheeled bike. I was the oldest rider (although riders in their 70s had completed other double centuries) – and have been the oldest rider on every double century and every timed bicycle event I have entered since. I went on to complete 38 double centuries on my road bike in the decade of my 70s and another eight in the decade of my 80s. Fracturing my pelvis on my 77th birthday forced me to switch to a racing recumbent tricycle with much slower climbing and overall speeds about 75% of what I could do on a two-wheeler. My 2014 Grand Tour was the first time a rider over 80 had completed a California double century and, as far as I know, there hasn’t been another rider over 80 since to attempt or complete a California double century. My last California Triple Crown (three California official double centuries completed in a calendar year) was in 2015. Before this year, my most recent double century was in 2019. <br /><br />Sometime in 2022 someone asked Lori if she would ever ride another double century and she said, no, she was through with that. I interrupted and said, “I’m wondering if we should try to complete a double to make me a rider who did a double at 90. I think I might be able to do it.” Lori, being Lori, immediately liked the idea and started planning. <br /><br />We chose the Grand Tour Lowland Double Century for the same reasons we had ridden it during my previous double rides over the past decade. It has the least climbing of any of the double centuries on the California Triple Crown calendar and it occurs at a time of year when the days are longest, minimizing the night-time riding for a slow cyclist. <br /><br />Our preparation consisted of signing up for three century rides, none of which I completed because of our wet and cold spring, a week of cycling in Solvang, which was mostly rained out, and four days of Sierra to the Sea the Sunday through Wednesday before Saturday’s Grand Tour. Unlike in 2019, the 225 miles of Sierra to the Sea went well. <br /><br />I don’t know if it helped cycling preparation, but on May 21, Lori again paced our “Science is Not a Liberal Conspiracy” group on a fast walk of the 12 km San Francisco Bay to Breakers foot race, beating our best time at 1:54, placing me eighth in the 80+ group of runners. <div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The ride</h3></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5lR2IfJ7Shn368Ndk6xnEayid4BGGsXifI3eNFu4apdIz9B2pGdCzx_oq-GQlbfLoZQPyVYiezqP0VIH3z6xzxmFlp3J9jTsc5fB53g3an3bYe24UAbjTpj_fDdFVvOOBI6fF6HwUtbFh7XPWpDgk4key-D1dWbJFllXmqPZc06pngt9msyI3mMgSYQ/s1157/Gerd1_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="1157" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5lR2IfJ7Shn368Ndk6xnEayid4BGGsXifI3eNFu4apdIz9B2pGdCzx_oq-GQlbfLoZQPyVYiezqP0VIH3z6xzxmFlp3J9jTsc5fB53g3an3bYe24UAbjTpj_fDdFVvOOBI6fF6HwUtbFh7XPWpDgk4key-D1dWbJFllXmqPZc06pngt9msyI3mMgSYQ/w640-h464/Gerd1_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /> Friday, June 23, Sue and I drove down to Port Hueneme, south of Ventura, to meet Lori at the ride start hotel. The route was unchanged from the last time we rode this double century in 2019. The 2019 route had eliminated 34 scenic, hilly, traffic-filled coastal miles from Malibu to Port Hueneme, replacing them with a somewhat confusing, less scenic but less climbing, loop inland and back at the beginning and eliminating some climbs in the final segment. The figure above shows the route (taken from my Garmin GPS) with the various rest-stops indicated by the small circles.<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8klHo_dN_fd2aLaTcc38WdYmwTfXVTYgI3-Rh_82BvkNr1nnEmdBgMPBkk8n5bsILWZJFuNKAKJe2D-9SaIASuz2uZp5gbony0vpX8T-3TFLZ1-xX1X0ncAp0eqCgUATZtdZKsRnv4iap7jk7QtQPwhiNvD0ViVewO90IA2U9vgzDp4s6hDy5-k5Ke7g/s758/Gerd2_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="758" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8klHo_dN_fd2aLaTcc38WdYmwTfXVTYgI3-Rh_82BvkNr1nnEmdBgMPBkk8n5bsILWZJFuNKAKJe2D-9SaIASuz2uZp5gbony0vpX8T-3TFLZ1-xX1X0ncAp0eqCgUATZtdZKsRnv4iap7jk7QtQPwhiNvD0ViVewO90IA2U9vgzDp4s6hDy5-k5Ke7g/w640-h328/Gerd2_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> Saturday, Lori and I were up at 2:50 and had a bite to eat in the motel room. This year the organizers allowed slow riders to start at 3:30, ahead of the normal 4-5 AM start, and we did that along with 4 or 5 other riders. Our experience is that night riding with lights is a lot easier and safer in the wee hours of the morning than right after sunset at night, so we were glad to have that almost 40-minute jump on our 2019 4:08 AM start. The temperature was cool, and I had on knee warmers, arm warmers, a vest, a cycling undershirt, and a light wind jacket, in addition to cycling shorts and jersey. The cool weather and the early start both helped us have a good day. <br /><br />The first 40-mile inland loop is shown in the figure at the bottom of the preceding page. The route follows the lower, more eastern part of the figure eight first and then returns on the more western part of the loops, going back to the start hotel for the first rest stop. We arrived at the hotel at 6:40 having averaged 12.6 mph, the same as in 2019, but much slower than my 2015 speed. <br /><br />The second 25-mile leg, unchanged from previous Grand Tours, goes further inland to Moorpark, climbing 1,000’, at first going back out on the same roads we had just used to return to Port Hueneme. Near the end of this leg, we started being passed by riders who had started later. Many took cellphone photos of us as they passed. We averaged 12.4 compared to 11.6 in 2019 and arrived at the Moorpark rest stop at 9 AM, almost an hour ahead of 2019. This year, as in 2019, the organizers did not put arrows on the road or supply GPS coordinates to download into cyclo-computers or cell phones. There was only an exemplary paper route sheet, with clear italic descriptions and hints at all the tricky places.</div><div><br /></div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fdeJMFXlaDO50PHbg2qfC0gwJ_-k3CeoIPHWGV8EzJ7OZVq01Uhb8MwkkbWVmM3c-1CpadgAlJp0Li200JyDHL4iruzoZpv_xEKfkUePiLiSQI6iLtAeQTBOOhwIahivYANP10tzt-L-JX4UklkDU3Wj72MB6rGVBxw68tf77HfZU_lJIm3pKVuJJZU/s908/Gerd3_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="682" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fdeJMFXlaDO50PHbg2qfC0gwJ_-k3CeoIPHWGV8EzJ7OZVq01Uhb8MwkkbWVmM3c-1CpadgAlJp0Li200JyDHL4iruzoZpv_xEKfkUePiLiSQI6iLtAeQTBOOhwIahivYANP10tzt-L-JX4UklkDU3Wj72MB6rGVBxw68tf77HfZU_lJIm3pKVuJJZU/w480-h640/Gerd3_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />After Moorpark, on 24-mile leg 3, the route heads back towards Ventura and the coast. We were often passed by a large group of cheerful Filipinos that we would then catch up to again when they paused to regroup (cf. photo taken at 10:05 AM). Lori and I arrived at rest stop #3 just after 11 AM, averaging 13.3 mph on segment 3, our fastest segment. There were still plenty of riders at the rest stop, reassuring after our 2019 almost dead-last arrival. <br /><br />The 23 miles from Ventura inland to the lunch stop in Ojai at mile 114 contain the most significant sustained climb of the route, ascending 800’ (cf. elevation profile on next page). The cool day helped, and I was fine (unlike2019 when I struggled on this section). We arrived at lunch at 1:10 PM, averaging 11.8 mph on the segment. This placed us 1:40 ahead of 2019 and only 20 minutes behind 2015, thanks to the early start. There were still other riders at the lunch stop, primarily from the slower and more demanding Highland Route.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfN4edxwLCcznueQbQ8JVg_R0yR8QJoMfPjZW5E3cLV3bD05ymd_SC-eua4S0C8UJqfuhJKhxq4H70cobdtaJkRn_0MgLjAae6Donlny_Ovy831NXMiNgqQnhVDEro3QgEZX9Llaf_DZ_xGc0sE819zyXoiYqFItdDtcc1hbyvw_LSIJQYuGFNaEm3o_I/s625/Gerd4_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="625" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfN4edxwLCcznueQbQ8JVg_R0yR8QJoMfPjZW5E3cLV3bD05ymd_SC-eua4S0C8UJqfuhJKhxq4H70cobdtaJkRn_0MgLjAae6Donlny_Ovy831NXMiNgqQnhVDEro3QgEZX9Llaf_DZ_xGc0sE819zyXoiYqFItdDtcc1hbyvw_LSIJQYuGFNaEm3o_I/w640-h340/Gerd4_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>After lunch the route goes downhill 15 miles back to Ventura and then starts a 15-mile flat section heading northwest along the coast to the last rest stop, #5, at Rincon Point some miles below Carpinteria. The first and last parts of the coast section are on bike paths. The first one used to be rough and somewhat broken up, but it has been repaved since we were last here. The last bike-path section is right next to Hwy 101 and nicely completely protected from the highway. We pulled into the rest stop at 3:55 PM, 2:15 ahead of 2019, averaging 12.5 mph on that section (almost as good as our12.6 mph average in 2015). The headwind as we went up the coast was lighter than normal which helped. The day had remained cool and the only layer I had removed was my wind jacket. From Ventura on, we were on an out-and-back part of the route and saw many riders heading the other way, some 40 miles ahead of us.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXvU4Q2m_vR4QSlsmJGIg5nEZj4h-UHZY4mSOJUi3epN7iiZ3aqPDfhgq0j1tnfHUCUSuVsEPPxw8NmX3YzTox6C_q3ARD6e2G-des1cFXaWb3UqVqIhTOLkCvedyufCXntRtvTPTDsYp70-mKm3LuDWQnatZmHs6WENxC78D4Sl917gi3kLCmuhWflU/s624/Gerd5_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="462" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXvU4Q2m_vR4QSlsmJGIg5nEZj4h-UHZY4mSOJUi3epN7iiZ3aqPDfhgq0j1tnfHUCUSuVsEPPxw8NmX3YzTox6C_q3ARD6e2G-des1cFXaWb3UqVqIhTOLkCvedyufCXntRtvTPTDsYp70-mKm3LuDWQnatZmHs6WENxC78D4Sl917gi3kLCmuhWflU/w474-h640/Gerd5_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>After some drink and food at Rincon Point, we had a further 7.5 miles, with a 200’ nuisance “bump” ca. mile 147, on our way to the turn-around, mile 152, at “Tinker’s Burgers” in Summerland at 4:45 PM. The right photo was taken 10 minutes after we turned around. We stopped briefly at the Rincon Point rest stop on our way back to finish some no-longer-hot Ramen we had left there. We had 39, mostly flat, miles to go back to Port Hueneme from the turnaround. We started to hope that we might be able to finish in daylight, with me guessing that sunset was ca. 8:30.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJ4iai6LHO5T2KZjWZkV_6TrZM3vFzxiuUKCDB24EMLhbgxz7bsrTerDT2AIzPumNqZi8_B7KFV_BAvGDwnHQNfEhq_brxAnIoxINbI-KxvT9TFmC5ITTmQANdm30Ll0JqZln_-NI0Yyo95QAXJlLojrhIVD_XTlMB3koyXV9qnZ1PWN0PkWH675t4zs/s664/Gerd6_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="495" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJ4iai6LHO5T2KZjWZkV_6TrZM3vFzxiuUKCDB24EMLhbgxz7bsrTerDT2AIzPumNqZi8_B7KFV_BAvGDwnHQNfEhq_brxAnIoxINbI-KxvT9TFmC5ITTmQANdm30Ll0JqZln_-NI0Yyo95QAXJlLojrhIVD_XTlMB3koyXV9qnZ1PWN0PkWH675t4zs/w478-h640/Gerd6_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Ira Kucheck, one of the Grand Tour organizers, when we stopped again at Rincon Point on the way back. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJk9hARdr6yVdAEy-FH-rL3cAyzOHoyK2sfQadgpjYjiZu5zayOlszTkoSpvXE8lTtmwGSOdH0GLl8PmmXI9nV7Pjw6KTjTuHcK2O04CaL_f7hXUTQDj-QUwUsiorKTVBljtvsTHrcIdzQHFjR-_qAzJd8ZW7ylBIrQBcbiFWP2rToUOD8_1LPZMUVsU/s890/Gerd7_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="890" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJk9hARdr6yVdAEy-FH-rL3cAyzOHoyK2sfQadgpjYjiZu5zayOlszTkoSpvXE8lTtmwGSOdH0GLl8PmmXI9nV7Pjw6KTjTuHcK2O04CaL_f7hXUTQDj-QUwUsiorKTVBljtvsTHrcIdzQHFjR-_qAzJd8ZW7ylBIrQBcbiFWP2rToUOD8_1LPZMUVsU/w640-h480/Gerd7_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Me on the bike path heading southeast from Rincon Point at 6 PM<div><br style="text-align: start;" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GffcHIvU2_Hhv3IOSazukrNYmoO6Ox4NnQKuY54l2GiQJ_1ZDBx5cicHaoxOVVOuYZFI_Km1fHk4MgJEDBFGUL92lDRtAU1ourtSBeOmRT5iP-hjnZobaRdQ16RnW6-eBB4b6FPCTt7etQvul1CnIm3WlejObCUCNn1CDCTtqjEVZDsd_hAUqF72isA/s625/Gerd8_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="469" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GffcHIvU2_Hhv3IOSazukrNYmoO6Ox4NnQKuY54l2GiQJ_1ZDBx5cicHaoxOVVOuYZFI_Km1fHk4MgJEDBFGUL92lDRtAU1ourtSBeOmRT5iP-hjnZobaRdQ16RnW6-eBB4b6FPCTt7etQvul1CnIm3WlejObCUCNn1CDCTtqjEVZDsd_hAUqF72isA/w480-h640/Gerd8_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsy9XVZXdf0H9iahNXIQ13ekZh2qfRaNpKG3lQHz7E8RAEpza1qdUh7yJAXiEtbdiichF1hnMqu-2XNNB0bhlRpPEYUUZQBa0_-obv7KEML84BTEAIeobaEaH-z_uHQV8vsixbXdBEZfzXC8TNj-ppdS8HCUwc3Apzf5kbSrzOO0wfY2wvHDB8kpeZBk/s622/Gerd9_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="467" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsy9XVZXdf0H9iahNXIQ13ekZh2qfRaNpKG3lQHz7E8RAEpza1qdUh7yJAXiEtbdiichF1hnMqu-2XNNB0bhlRpPEYUUZQBa0_-obv7KEML84BTEAIeobaEaH-z_uHQV8vsixbXdBEZfzXC8TNj-ppdS8HCUwc3Apzf5kbSrzOO0wfY2wvHDB8kpeZBk/w480-h640/Gerd9_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /> <div>I was getting tired but knew we could finish. We hustled as well as I could those last 39 miles, racing the sun, ending up with a 13.1 mph average on that final flat section. We didn’t stop and arrived at the finish at 8:10 PM. 16 hours, 41 minutes. The sun set at 8:11 PM.</div><div><br /></div>There was a crowd of 100-200 cyclists welcoming us at THE FINISH. The Los Angeles Wheelmen, the ride organizers, had publicized my effort to do the double century for my 90th birthday. The organizers were great to us. Leading the welcoming group were our friends, Craig, Cathy, and Kevin, who – being fast as the wind and riding together – had finished hours before. Cathy had convinced Craig to come out of double-century retirement to cheer me on. (Thanks, Cathy and Craig.) <div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Summary </h3><br />The age record for completing a California Double Century has been extended from someone in their 80s to someone of racing age 90. The table below compares this year’s ride with our previous rides of the Grand Tour Double Century. Based upon 2019, Lori and I anticipated a ride taking probably 18:30 and possibly up to 20:00 hours. We were delighted to do significantly better than that. Obviously, as expected, I have slowed down these past 10 years, but, more importantly, it was a good day! We were lucky. It was a cool day. There was no rain. The wind was light. I didn’t have any cramps or hydration issues. No intestinal or stomach problems. No hot foot or other biomechanical issues. We didn’t have any flats or other mechanical issues and, as I’ll explain in an addendum, that was really lucky. <br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtkhGyhm2voGs-6nSfBztmONX_wjx-tYXU_XtFwyIEOXaVI7KAk7O4q-D6mR8_MOOsKGRZUAYQvm40Ap1OHG_6A5hG39DPVpWl4ZLl6-oYRmgFFxH1mw5MN5q5ZCvOEz9LgT-fmz3Rojxcoik4tBwmupPwQnAr076MvX-89MjyXS9QSBDDJShG3ZHfyk/s1226/Gerd10_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1226" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtkhGyhm2voGs-6nSfBztmONX_wjx-tYXU_XtFwyIEOXaVI7KAk7O4q-D6mR8_MOOsKGRZUAYQvm40Ap1OHG_6A5hG39DPVpWl4ZLl6-oYRmgFFxH1mw5MN5q5ZCvOEz9LgT-fmz3Rojxcoik4tBwmupPwQnAr076MvX-89MjyXS9QSBDDJShG3ZHfyk/w640-h300/Gerd10_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br />For those interested in statistical details, here is a comparison of this year’s Grand Tour with 2019:</p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz6uBKqn1YUvIq2OLWBU_dKW1Lacy8G69sGOYXeOIQBxCBf7wRb8SGLnCMeRY2FtLlaSDPLbkGefZxjAGk8ljS5CfXws40NjrzfccX7vIcyswpudl6PIbCUVyBdtcE6kYKqHEgKVQ7JOUn2sELhl6_hBS-LjwqGlnh-IiPQeeCpwcACkNwLzBj9za4V8/s604/Gerd12_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="604" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIz6uBKqn1YUvIq2OLWBU_dKW1Lacy8G69sGOYXeOIQBxCBf7wRb8SGLnCMeRY2FtLlaSDPLbkGefZxjAGk8ljS5CfXws40NjrzfccX7vIcyswpudl6PIbCUVyBdtcE6kYKqHEgKVQ7JOUn2sELhl6_hBS-LjwqGlnh-IiPQeeCpwcACkNwLzBj9za4V8/w640-h398/Gerd12_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><br />After riding essentially the same as in 2019 for the first four hours, we started to pull away this year and continued to improve on 2019 every hour after that. <br /><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLP0xv9iskBXmuDvFbfez-BOdu9dkiFOq7VqPvouiuJlyHpy7Ej-45HTBLl6MiYY4cXoqsfuk-jjS0pQs-SLgcNYENHcdoHTSmqnCpW89UI23eX0_3rZmKjj6x0x5zf47aWBmtetVdQSHBck6VkhVtQhyDVwP0zb-SCS-yv1zYpVsCiBxCjNF_S8D6Q0/s616/Gerd13_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="616" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLP0xv9iskBXmuDvFbfez-BOdu9dkiFOq7VqPvouiuJlyHpy7Ej-45HTBLl6MiYY4cXoqsfuk-jjS0pQs-SLgcNYENHcdoHTSmqnCpW89UI23eX0_3rZmKjj6x0x5zf47aWBmtetVdQSHBck6VkhVtQhyDVwP0zb-SCS-yv1zYpVsCiBxCjNF_S8D6Q0/w640-h494/Gerd13_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Addendum</h3>As I found out two weeks later, I was very lucky not to have had a flat on the Grand Tour. I had two flats in my rear tire shortly before the double for which I was unable to determine the cause. They looked as if they might be “pinch flats” from the tube being caught by the rim when hitting a pothole. To avoid problems, I put new tires and tubes on all three wheels for the Grand Tour. Only 20 bicycle miles after completing the Grand Tour I started a week-long 400-mile bicycle tour in Oregon. The first day in Oregon I had a flat in my rear tire, cause undetermined even though a good mechanic and I tried to figure it out. We put in a new tube. The next day I had another flat in my rear tire. I realized that we had to figure this out and was sagged 5 miles up the road to a mechanic. He took everything off the wheel, investigated thoroughly and found that the rim tape covering the spoke holes on my rear wheel had shifted exposing a spoke hole, causing the tube to slowly wear a hole at that point. Replacing the rim tape solved the problem. I do not know if the rim tape had already shifted when we rode the Grand Tour, but it seems likely. Lucky indeed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><h3><div trbidi="on"><p class="first" style="background-color: peachpuff; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a id="QUESTIONS"></a><strong>5 QUICK QUESTIONS FOR GERD ROSENBLATT<br /></strong></span></p><p class="first" style="background-color: peachpuff; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjKu15ECQL2fBps87TQwh7FFfJMEHodUBCyJFeJQNOrpuXRJdaIvhopkwXxEBhYfDX433pzzytEtp7KxPku5Q-NGxU_TyG3vR_lfe1RCdYg48XTGw9zfWMGyBU7MLxwlRk4FFc6f95AidAAG9qNcssJ3qt4ojnlYni6o3mCkt80JrXLlVuSm0Vp_gS8w/s1799/Gerd11_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1294" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjKu15ECQL2fBps87TQwh7FFfJMEHodUBCyJFeJQNOrpuXRJdaIvhopkwXxEBhYfDX433pzzytEtp7KxPku5Q-NGxU_TyG3vR_lfe1RCdYg48XTGw9zfWMGyBU7MLxwlRk4FFc6f95AidAAG9qNcssJ3qt4ojnlYni6o3mCkt80JrXLlVuSm0Vp_gS8w/w230-h320/Gerd11_Grand%20Tour%20Double%20Century%206-23.jpg" width="230" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Q: </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span class="il" style="background-color: transparent;">Gerd</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">, what do you think is the single most important factor that enables you to perform such great endurance feats at the ripe young age of 90? </span><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></span><span><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">GERD: </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;">There are 3 factors: luck, genetics, lifestyle, probably in that order of importance. <span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></span><span><span style="font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">Q: </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">What do you eat on a daily basis - tell us how you fuel your body? I remember once I asked you about potato chips and acrylamides, and you said "sure, if you eat a Costco-size packet every day…." Is it about moderation or dietary awareness, or something else? </span><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></span><span><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">GERD: </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;">I don’t think it is dietary awareness. Moderation, yes. I eat 3 meals a day, almost never eat or drink outside of meal time, and rarely eat out (where you have less control over portion size and ingredients).<span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">Q: </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">How about fuel for your mind - does a certain mental state contribute? What’s you daily state of mind - any daily practices or tips to share?</span><br /><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></span><span><span style="font-size: medium;">GERD: </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;">Don’t think mental state is involved. I do keep mentally active at home and the University.<span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></span><span><span style="font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">Q: </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As a scientist specializing in thermodynamics, do you think about fitness and bike performance in a scientific way or is that “work?”</span><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></span><span><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">GERD: </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;">I do NOT think about fitness or diet scientifically. Have never had a coach or trainer or belonged to a gym. I do have two habits that I think help me: <br /><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent;">1) I exercise constantly as part of daily life. Never drive where I can walk. Use stairs instead of elevator. Walk to a colleague’s office rather than picking up the phone. Etc.<br /><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent;">2) I do 30 minutes of exercise every morning right as I get out of bed when I am home. This is a mixture of stretching, calisthenics, weights, and cardio that I have developed over the years, sometimes with orthopedic advice. It includes 50 sit-ups and 40-50 pushups. It also includes 60 seconds of running in place followed by 60 seconds of jumping jacks that get my heart rate above 160. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br />I do think about my equipment scientifically, always putting a wide range of gears on my bike, for example. I know aero trumps weight for most people under most conditions but because I am very small and light I pay attention to the weight of my equipment. <span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Q: </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Lori has been your biking buddy on these endeavors for the longest time - what role does she play - does she help “oil the chain” and keep you going? Or is it the other way around? Or does your wife Susan do most of the cheerleading? </span><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></span><span><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br />GERD</span><span style="font-size: medium;">: </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;">This is a perceptive question. I would not do these rides at my age on the trike without Lori riding with me. She stays with me, talks to me, paces me, motivates me, keeps me on the route, ensures we stay safe, helps with mechanical or bio mechanical problems. When you are on a trike you do not ride at the same speeds in the same places as a two wheeler, you cannot draft as effectively, you provide no draft to others. In consequence, if Lori is not there, I ride completely by myself for the entire day. Lori is an excellent cyclist, a good friend, a cheerful companion. </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">Susan is great support and cheerleader. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">BONUS QUESTION: Share any favorite products, rituals or lucky charms (come on, I’m a</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><i style="background-color: transparent;">scientist</i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">- GR) </span><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br />GERD: As luck plays such a huge role in what we can do when, I recommend not thinking about what you can do at 90. Think about next year and what you can do then.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Thank you Gerd - your words might help us to be more like you when we are 90! - Lynette Chiang</span><br /><br /></span></p></div></h3><h3>More SuperGerd!</h3><h3><br />VIDEOS</h3></div><div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYBoIhLBm2o" target="_blank">At 74.5 years young Gerd climbs one of the hilliest hills in Berkeley</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHAwTBmDjr4" target="_blank">Gerd cheers me on at the Big Texan Steak Challenge on Route 66</a><br /><br /></li><li>Gerd can't believe the Ken Wallace at the Bisbee Bike Brothel, AZ, has a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swblzVtG3RY" target="_blank">Columbia 1942 Paratrooper bike</a></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><br /> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-57950048694935316362023-01-23T05:31:00.002-08:002023-01-25T22:11:58.466-08:00Singapore on a Friday: Riding with Mark Mobius, Father of Emerging Markets<div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DAz3SK7sfag/Sss5oqLi6uI/AAAAAAAAAjg/WNSALIZED94/s1600-h/IMG_4881.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389464749759195874" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DAz3SK7sfag/Sss5oqLi6uI/AAAAAAAAAjg/WNSALIZED94/s640/IMG_4881.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Galfromdownunder rides with the Man from All Over in Singapore</td></tr></tbody></table>
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<b>First published 10/6/2009, with updates below</b><br /><br /><b>STORY: </b><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://community.bikefriday.com/markmobius" target="_blank">Mark Mobius on a Friday</a><b> </b>(Internet archive - be a bit patient as it sputters and loads, some content preserved here)</div><div trbidi="on"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100912063932/http://community.bikefriday.com/singapore" target="_blank">Singapore on a Friday</a> (Internet Archive link - cross fingers it still works)<br /><b>MOVIE: <br /></b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0MBrNs9Duc" target="_blank">Meeting Mark Mobius in Singapore</a><b> </b><br />
<b>PHOTOS: <br /></b><a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/galleries/WEB-mark-mobius09-gallery/">Photo Gallery</a><b> </b>(Arrrgh, made with the now-defunct, Flash-driven JAlbum - guess I'll have to reformat the shots. Sorry).<br />
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I've just landed in Singapore and hit the ground pedaling, meeting and riding with customers Mark Mobius (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Mobius">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Mobius</a>) and Richard Piliero from <a href="https://www.franklintempleton.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Franklin Templeton</a> (the "Gain from our Perspective" people).<br />
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So who is Mark Mobius, and more importantly, what am I doing hanging out with the likes of him?<br />
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Mark is considered "The Father of Emerging Markets," credited with coining the phrase that refers to investing in "developing" countries like Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). Of course, this acronym is becoming obsolete as these economies rapidly accelerate towards first-world cushiness. He travels globally and constantly, frequenting 24-hour gyms while investigating promising companies - and rides his small wheels whenever he can.</div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6s-DrhhREd7qwV3BzhtQGYBGUPkLC7wfqpRsvvX1C9yptrVvxVlpXHmqrFNsKCKkbmKBFX3gLx_Av2jixKqImoGLRUfl1_SlHhuporisdSj_F9R6qgDy_bOMlJw6yZgRr9tOjKYwUaztU0AO22dnyDUVh_6liz8bd3dHRzjn0MSmsrNn0s3QANrB6/s640/markmobius-nwt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6s-DrhhREd7qwV3BzhtQGYBGUPkLC7wfqpRsvvX1C9yptrVvxVlpXHmqrFNsKCKkbmKBFX3gLx_Av2jixKqImoGLRUfl1_SlHhuporisdSj_F9R6qgDy_bOMlJw6yZgRr9tOjKYwUaztU0AO22dnyDUVh_6liz8bd3dHRzjn0MSmsrNn0s3QANrB6/s16000/markmobius-nwt.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark with his third Friday: a Pocket Crusoe (the lighter version of the legendary New World Tourist)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEju50hRk8UeNUh4nM7_L0Gu6sGpeBEsZd6opDKX_xLY-1LTdjrdJQSfL2vz5SkOJ9gtWMwRv1X5UFdfKwcnqmX1H9TN65rqzG7ZCrYjWevXXjetHLzmw6RqLXpmYsHr22HyrabG-tPoihId3RZ3BWrfJ0bwpisk60pgGFKEuCB8_gBVAKNmsnNIW/s480/markmobius-nwt-nameplate.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEju50hRk8UeNUh4nM7_L0Gu6sGpeBEsZd6opDKX_xLY-1LTdjrdJQSfL2vz5SkOJ9gtWMwRv1X5UFdfKwcnqmX1H9TN65rqzG7ZCrYjWevXXjetHLzmw6RqLXpmYsHr22HyrabG-tPoihId3RZ3BWrfJ0bwpisk60pgGFKEuCB8_gBVAKNmsnNIW/s16000/markmobius-nwt-nameplate.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The custom nameplate that instantly identifies the owner. You can ride but you can't hide! </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I sold Mark his first <a href="http://www.bikefriday.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bike Friday</a> back in 2001, a New World Tourist. And now, 8 years later, we finally get to ride together. Mobius is an incredible example of a pro at the top of his game when most his age are sitting back in a rocker and playing bingo (not that there's anything wrong with bingo...)<br />
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In fact, coolest of all, there's even a <a href="http://www.mobiuscomic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MANGA comic</a> book written about him, that opens with "The name's Mobius. Mark Mobius..."<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-088jAD_Kf9s/UZFRdsVyf_I/AAAAAAAAERY/luuglSxyKkQ/s1600/IMG_5039-mobius-manga.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mark Mobius Manga comic" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-088jAD_Kf9s/UZFRdsVyf_I/AAAAAAAAERY/luuglSxyKkQ/s640/IMG_5039-mobius-manga.JPG" title="Mark Mobius Manga comic" width="456" /></a></div>
<br />We did a book swap as authors do - he got a signed copy of my Cuba travel memoir during the time of Elian Gonzales, <a href="https://www.galfromdownunder.com/cuba/" target="_blank">The Handsomest Man in Cuba</a>. (Yes, enjoy my old skool HTML page, it's coming back like LPs, flip phones and fountain pens).<br /><br />Mark is based out of Hong Kong, but as luck would have it, he happened to be in Singapore the very weekend I was visiting and doing my Bike Friday ra-ra. <br /><br />So what's like to ride with this legendary figure in the financial world? I shot the pic below as I desperately tried to keep up with Mark and his protege Richard Piliero (scroll to bottom for the full reveal on Rich) on a spin out to the islands. Seriously, I was panting as he became a rapidly receding dot in the distance. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DAz3SK7sfag/Sss5NXHuMRI/AAAAAAAAAjY/cRHEGkt7MR8/s1600-h/IMG_4862-riding.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389464280786415890" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DAz3SK7sfag/Sss5NXHuMRI/AAAAAAAAAjY/cRHEGkt7MR8/s640/IMG_4862-riding.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Richard in one of the few moments when I was actually ahead of them.</td></tr>
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<br />Over a cold coconut juice Mark inspected my own invention, the <a href="http://trafficconebag.com/" target="_blank">Traffic Cone Bag</a> - apparently it was not a patch on a simple nylon pack-tiny backpack he got from somewhere in China for probably a lot less than my <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1247082/new-york-new-york-if-can-make-it-there-ill-not-make-it-elsewhere" target="_blank">Made in NYC invention</a>. I guess he didn't consider it a big enough emerging market!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DAz3SK7sfag/Sss5DLmVsSI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/hOgXMtuVTQQ/s1600-h/IMG_4857.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389464105894916386" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DAz3SK7sfag/Sss5DLmVsSI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/hOgXMtuVTQQ/s640/IMG_4857.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little wheels help you make bigger deals! </td></tr>
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<br />"Bike Friday has every ingredient for success," Mark once proclaimed on an email to me while he was checking out businesses in Botswana. "Passion, innovation, great customer service..."<br />
<br />
We could argue Mark has a vital ingredient for his success too - a bike he can take with him wherever he goes.<br />
<br />
"It's the best investment you can make in your health!" says Mark, of his (third) Bike Friday.<br /><br />(Scroll to the bottom of this post for the full, original story that appeared on the Bike Friday website, peeled off the Wayback machine)</div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><p class="first" style="background-color: peachpuff; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>5 QUICK QUESTIONS FOR MARK MOBIUS (an interview circa 2009)</strong><br /><strong><br />Q: It's been 8 years since, as a newbie Bike Friday telephone sales rep, I sold you your first Friday, a "Lite New World Tourist," a precursor to the Crusoe. I've since changed hats and you're onto your third Bike Friday!</strong><br />Mark: I started with the Tourist and then bought an Air Glide. I decided I still preferred the Tourist, so I gifted the Glide to a staff member and got this Crusoe in 2008. I use it for exploring places wherever I go: Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Africa, Russia… It's great for exploring cities. If I can take the Friday with me I do, otherwise I rent a bike. I like to explore at night when it's cooler, and get a round-the-clock feel for a city. My colleagues Carlos Hardenberg and Richard Piliero now both have Fridays too. Any of my staff who wants a Bike Friday can have one!</span></p><p style="background-color: peachpuff; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Q: What a cool boss. And fitness? I remember reading that you're a big fan of 24 hour gyms.</strong><br />Mark: They're a lifesaver. I try to go every day. I often work 7 days, and today (Sunday) is a typical day we try to get on our bikes and pedal off for a few hours. I've never been this far around Singapore's East Coast bike path, I'm amazed at the progress!</span></p><p style="background-color: peachpuff; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Q: If I may be so bold, you're somewhere north of 70, you're still at the very top of your game - </strong></span><strong style="font-size: large;">you're a real inspiration to our pretty adventurous readers who are approaching seniordom - um, that's actually all of us. Did you know the average age of a BF owner is 55?</strong></p><p style="background-color: peachpuff; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mark: 55? That's amazing. Well, someone asked me once if I was a senior and I was so insulted (grins). Then I discovered you get these great discounts… so count me as a senior! Bike Friday is the best investment you can make in your health. Did I tell you I cycled Italy with colleagues last year and did a week on my own in Austria…</span></p><p style="background-color: peachpuff; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Q: Speaking of other countries, do you see cycling as an emerging market?</strong><br />Mark: Absolutely, especially in Europe and even here in Singapore, look at this great path they're building all around the island. But in China, there used to be 110 bikes per 100 rural families, now it's down to 98. They're all buying cars… (and running over the cyclists, chimes in Richard).</span></p><p style="background-color: peachpuff; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Q: We're buying a delicious coconut juice here at the East Lagoon Food Market. Not a Coke?</strong><br />Mark: Never.</span></p><p style="background-color: peachpuff; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The encore question comes from Mark:</span></p><p class="last" style="background-color: peachpuff; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Q: So, tell me, Lynette, when are Bike Friday going to make a bike with big wheels?</strong><br />Lynette: There's no need. It's enough performance for most people and besides, when you're 100 you can get your leg over it.<br />Mark: Hey, I never thought of that - it's true!</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Now, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSAU28x3OG8" target="_blank">off to search for Durian</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
+++<br />
<br /><b>UPDATE 2023: </b></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I'm delighted to be the recipient of Mark's recent book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Inflation-Myth-Wonderful-World-Deflation/dp/1119741424" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Inflation Myth and the Wonderful World of Deflation</a>:<br /><br /><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I see bills of green</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In-the-red roses too</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I see them boom and bust</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For me and you</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And I think to myself</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What a deflationary world…<span class="Apple-converted-space"> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">I'm currently hosting traveling Singaporean vanlifers Gia and Gracia, aka the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5IcdrFpAhlcXeGeTDBG8cQ" target="_blank">@theproperpaupers</a>, videoblogging their way around the USA and beyond. Note their prescribed bedtime reading... </span><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqkPlhnvnpjj8ER5fik1xc8G4UZK-GBBiSa4_82VNwAl18o4xc9-IfMIROkqKWazntdZayoKoSE3UcHaVcRzhQBL5kl5Ol2-wSl3gNsAXUeLlbMtkPVqH8wHavAmA4-xH1-QVzuF3jPeLKd5psfY3W65nJhwfYtw_olKoT4-7JBFYrFw_IXRKyJV_/s3532/IMG_0567.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3532" data-original-width="2649" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqkPlhnvnpjj8ER5fik1xc8G4UZK-GBBiSa4_82VNwAl18o4xc9-IfMIROkqKWazntdZayoKoSE3UcHaVcRzhQBL5kl5Ol2-wSl3gNsAXUeLlbMtkPVqH8wHavAmA4-xH1-QVzuF3jPeLKd5psfY3W65nJhwfYtw_olKoT4-7JBFYrFw_IXRKyJV_/w480-h640/IMG_0567.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Yesssss.. there's a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BikeFridaySG/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bike Friday Singapore Facebook page</a><br /><br /><br /><b>UPDATE 2016: </b><br />
<br />
Mark is still jetting around the globe, researching companies and riding his bike. While in Capetown he kindly scribbled a birthday note so I could include this shot in a gift of his manga book to a friend in finance. His message on the card? <br /><b><br />Stay strong and the market will follow</b>!"<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7FFTxL7glss/XASTVXsP5lI/AAAAAAAAVNU/Dxtd0ZD2JMkQr4bXn3iwTrC-UK-LgVnowCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_9042.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mark Mobius" border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7FFTxL7glss/XASTVXsP5lI/AAAAAAAAVNU/Dxtd0ZD2JMkQr4bXn3iwTrC-UK-LgVnowCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_9042.jpg" title="Mark Mobius" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Mobius writing a birthday note in Cape Town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><b>UPDATE 2010:</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHZkYLHp6wMFQ9WjEAa4YBT_Fxr3E9Zp_wEZzXVsjXXrq55L7p9meyTdReAsGMlJmBkj3gahNW3IdvV836huhdIXsO9f3VuygX19Y5VYBz911ER4C1xAJurVMjGGsZjnYLtNMb2-aXtZC0EQURT-nVmYOoipqymsLi_8M0HTJaD76XRO_1UYt4BUn/s480/markmobius-airglide.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHZkYLHp6wMFQ9WjEAa4YBT_Fxr3E9Zp_wEZzXVsjXXrq55L7p9meyTdReAsGMlJmBkj3gahNW3IdvV836huhdIXsO9f3VuygX19Y5VYBz911ER4C1xAJurVMjGGsZjnYLtNMb2-aXtZC0EQURT-nVmYOoipqymsLi_8M0HTJaD76XRO_1UYt4BUn/s16000/markmobius-airglide.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div trbidi="on">The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100106125440/http://community.bikefriday.com/gallery/markmobius" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">internet archive</a> has miraculously preserved this shot of Mark with a new Bike Friday circa 2010, the titanium-beam Air Glide. Where in the world is Mark? The caption helpfully says, "Here he is taking time out from investigating emerging markets with his on-board Bike Friday, in Vina del Mar, Chile." </div><div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><br />Did I say, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSAU28x3OG8" target="_blank"> off to search for Durian</a>?
<br /><br /><br />+++<br /><h2 style="text-align: left;">In case the internet archive sneezes and wipes the original Mark Mobius story off the face of the Wayback Machine, here's the original text as it appeared on the Bike Friday Website, circa 2009: </h2><div class="field-item"><div class="bodytemplate bodytemplate-section"><div class="bgcNone bdrNone"><p style="height: 0px;"></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: top;"><p class="first" style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">"Any of my staff who wants a Bike Friday can have one!"</span></strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As if prompted by an advertising cue sheet, mutual funds guru Mark Mobius is freely enthusing over his Bike Friday by email. He says he's sitting in a London diner, about to see an opera after a hard day's visiting - companies, that is. An email earlier he was in Portugal … or was it Romania?</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"And here's a picture of<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://community.bikefriday.com/gallery/markmobius" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="Mark Mobius"> me and my Air Glide</a> in Chile!"</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He wasn't always open to brandishing his bicycle brag book. When I sold him his first Bike Friday in 2001, he was very cautious of being photographed with it for reasons of propriety. A prominent helmsman at <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://www.franklintempleton.com/" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="http://www.franklintempleton.com/">Franklin Templeton Investments</a>, his insights on emerging markets - the bullish term for investment opportunities in developing countries - are broadcast around the world on Bloomberg TV, the global business press, the blogosphere and beyond.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He's even been immortalized in a manga comic book entitled <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://www.panrolling.com/books/comics/wc31en.html" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="http://www.panrolling.com/books/comics/wc31en.html">"Mark Mobius: An Illustrated Biography of the Father of Emerging Markets Funds."</a> His shtick? Unearthing companies in remote corners of the world with <strong>"A great product, great service, and a passion for what they do."</strong></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Small wheel wonder that Bike Friday would eventually blip on his off-duty radar!</span></p><p class="last" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He says now that<strong> "A bike - like a Bike Friday - is the best investment you can make in your health!"</strong></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: top;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416im_/http://community.bikefriday.com/sites/default/files/images/IMG_4878.column-75.JPG" style="font-size: 1em;" /></div><p class="first" style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="first" style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Backpedal 8 years when, fresh from my gig as an <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://www.tribu.co.cr/" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="http://www.tribu.co.cr/">ad agency creative director in Costa Rica</a>, I parked my little wheels in equally remote Eugene, Oregon. I was given a headset and let loose on a database of 10,000 (now close to 25,000) Bike Friday customers and serious tire-kickers. One particularly inquisitive prospect was Mark Mobius. His inquiries were triangulated with his unflappable executive assistant Zita in far-off Singapore. Or was it Hong Kong?</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He wanted to know about a Bike Friday in detail, with a full explanation of each individual component. I think I learned everything I every needed to know about Bike Friday anatomy by bugging all <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://community.bikefriday.com/production" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="BF Production">Production</a> departments in order to answer his questions. In fact, page 23 of his manga bio shows toddler Mark clutching an object and pointing, asking "What's this? How come? <em>Why</em>?"</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The result was a lighter, leaner incarnation of Bike Friday's best selling model, the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://community.bikefriday.com/newworldtourist" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="New World Tourist">New World Tourist</a>. Mark's "Lite Tourist" was a probable precursor to the popular <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://community.bikefriday.com/pocketcrusoe" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="Pocket Crusoe">Crusoe</a>, the lighter, leaner recreational tourer. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd read somewhere that he zipped about in a Gulfstream jet when it made logistical sense, and wondered why he'd want or need a Bike Friday, imagining he could slide a custom-made carbon fiber huffy through the rear door. But when you're in sales, you don't make too many assumptions - you could be completely wrong. You listen, learn, offer a solutions, and ultimately venture, "and how would you like to pay for that?"</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometime later, I got wind that he'd not only bought an <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://community.bikefriday.com/airglide" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="BF Air Glide">Air Glide</a>, he'd purchased quite a number for staff if they wanted one.<br /></span></p><p class="last" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Any of my staff who wants a Bike Friday can have one!" he wrote in an email from Dubai. Or was it Turkey? "The good news is that now they are converted, some are becoming new customers of Bike Friday". Ah, that's how our little wheels go round and round ...</span></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: top;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416im_/http://community.bikefriday.com/sites/default/files/images/IMG_4883.column-75.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><p class="first" style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Crank forward to 2009, when I'm now waving a camera in movie mode and saying "and how do you like to play with that?" - and I finally get to meet Mobius while passing through Singapore. He popped out of the elevator and led me to his third Bike Friday - a Crusoe. In his slipstream was colleague Richard Piliero, a young and dapper private equity analyst - also with a Crusoe.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mobius is 73, but don't tell this man he's a senior - "unless there's a senior discount , then I'm a senior." In great shape due to being a 24-hour-gym junkie and biking when he can, he wears black, shaves his head, and his book "Passports to Profits" opens with imagery of a turtle-necked avenger uttering "The name's Mobius. Mark Mobius." Given that the<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://community.bikefriday.com/seniors" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="BF Super Seniors"> average age of a BF customer is 55</a> (time and money to travel), I was buzzed to see Richard, a mere 36, also enthusing about his Crusoe.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"You must be one very secure 36 year old to ride small wheels!" I joked, fully suspecting he has a carbon fiber Orbea hidden in his closet when Mark's not looking.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I'm a happy, happy Bike Friday camper - try it!", he said to the camera.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I wondered why they kept the bikes locked at the foot of the Franklin Templeton office block in Suntec City, a towering mini megapolis of global business and gastronomic pleasures - squeaky-safe Singapore is food court nirvana. Here, it's practically law that you provide for your elders, so there are no homeless people in the streets. Anywhere. In fact, there was a recent news story about some parents suing their offspring for support, an uncomfortable sign of the times.</span></p><p class="last" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I'd rather not risk it," said Mobius, stashing his fat cable lock on the headset tube. Perhaps also, showing up on a bike doesn't quite measure up to limo-cred in the world of high finance …</span></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: top;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="263" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416im_/http://community.bikefriday.com/sites/default/files/images/mull1.column-50_1.jpg" style="font-size: 1em;" width="400" /></div><div><p class="first" style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />I remember locking my <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://community.bikefriday.com/airfriday" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="Air Friday">Air Friday</a> in a barren concrete piazza at Suntec City for a go-see interview some 12 years ago, on my way to cycle end to end in Britain. Two uniformed guards descended on me and told me I wasn't allowed to park it there. Not knowing what to say, I simply told them it was expensive.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"How much?" they asked, in typical Chinese style (I say that because I'm Chinese).</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"$US2500."</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Ayeeeeeee!"</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next minute I know, they're carrying my bike up to the glassy lobby of the McCann-Erickson ad agency and leaving it displayed in full view.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Would that happen in 'merica? It'd be: "Ma'am, move right along."</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Bicycling is becoming more acceptable in Singapore, with all this talk of health," said my host Kim. While Singapore has stiff laws about chewing gum and littering, I've noticed the rustiest of huffies can now be seen locked up to a pole outside the fanciest buildings. I'm not sure where they ride though - apart from a circle-island path, the shoulderless lanes are narrow, the traffic is fast, the weather is sweltering. Not ideal conditions for urban cycling. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>My steed for this trip</strong> was a princess-pink-is-the-new-black <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://community.bikefriday.com/tikit" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="tikit"><em>tikit</em></a>. I spent several seconds showing Mark and Richard how it folds an unfolds in 5 seconds flat (on a slow day). These men spend their waking year assessing innovative products and services all over the world, so for them to eyeball the latest handiwork from the Scholz Bros' Promethean labs in Eugene, Oregon was a great opportunity.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Amazing." (I guess that means they liked it).<br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I remember once asking Mark for feedback on his Lite Tourist.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"The water bottle needs changing," he wrote from Moscow. "It gives the water a plasticky taste." That was all he said.</span></p><p class="last" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But it made me realize two things: no matter how sweet your product is, a) the little things count and b) the little things count. The tail can often end up wagging the dog - be careful who you get your tail from.</span></p><p class="last" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416im_/http://community.bikefriday.com/sites/default/files/images/IMG_4865-minibike.preview.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">"I saw a guy with wheels this big yesterday."<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="bgcNone bdrNone"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="bgcNone bdrNone"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: top;"><p class="first" style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="196" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416im_/http://community.bikefriday.com/sites/default/files/images/IMG_4882-rp2.column-50.jpg" width="261" /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Richard, a star graduate from Brown and Oxford, has made Singapore his home for 8 years. He highly embarrassed me by conversing in fluent Mandarin at a coconut juice stand, while I spoke in indecipherable Aussie English.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I've packed and unpacked this bike many times, takes me about 10 minutes," he said.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Hey, you must be pretty mechanical," I said.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Not really, just did it a few times. Practice." One can see how he got great grades and thence hand-picked to work for a financial guru: can-do, humility, focus. Maybe there's no need for a carbon fiber Orbea in his closet after all …</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We talked about inventions in general. For fun I showed them my own little invention, my <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://www.galfromdownunder.com/trafficconebag" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/trafficconebag">Traffic Cone Bag</a>, in two sizes.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Smaller one is better," said Mobius, and spoke of a wonderfully simple, Japanese bag that he takes everywhere.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I'm frightened they'll go out of business and then I'll be stuck."</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I'll find out the supplier," said Richard.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We stopped so Mark could point out a simple seatpost-mounted rack on a mountain bike.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"That's what I need. I've got so many bags. All-well meaning gifts. None of them work quite like I want."</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Let me make a note of the brand," said Richard.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I need a new stem for this bike, the same height as Richard's," said Mobius, stopping to raise the seat. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.9em; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I'll organize it," I said, snapping to attention, given that Bike Friday has a <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416/http://www.bikefriday.com/guarantee" style="color: blue;" target="_blank" title="http://www.bikefriday.com/guarantee">fit guarantee</a>. </span></p><p class="last" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I can see how things that simply work, and work well, are apples in a venture capitalist's eyes ...<br /></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416im_/http://community.bikefriday.com/sites/default/files/images/IMG_4882-rp3.preview.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Richard, a young Friday fan, outside his office in Suntec City.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: top;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20100530105416im_/http://community.bikefriday.com/sites/default/files/images/IMG_4876.column-75.JPG" /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />"Let's go grab some ozone," said Mark. I thought we were headed for a trendy oxygen bar or something, but no, we simply turned our little wheels onto a pier. "Aaaah, sea air on all three sides, just smell it!"<br /><br />On the subject of bicycling as an emerging market: "Absolutely." See "5 Quick Questions for Mark Mobius" below.<br /><br />On the subject of travel: "Travel is an addiction because the more places you visit the more you want to return and see more. So it is not just work. The problem with travel is the impact it has on your body if you don't take care of yourself. Jet lag is not good and the other related impact of sitting on a plane for hours on end is not good. Otherwise … travel!" Or, ride a bike, eat good food and go to the gym..."<br /><br />And on the subject of social networking: "I'm gonna be on Twitter!"<br /><br />What is he going to tweet? Where he's parking his Bike Friday to go take a leak?<br /><br />"I'm sure I'll get plenty of "Tweetback" when the market goes down!"<br /><br />We turned around and headed back to the office - me to my laptop to write this story, and the Bike Friday Emerging Marketeers back to their life's work - and riding a Friday on a Sunday in the Lion's City...<br /><br /><b>MOVIE:</b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0MBrNs9Duc" target="_blank">Mark Mobius on the cycling life</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100912063932/http://community.bikefriday.com/singapore" target="_blank">Singapore on a Friday</a> (Internet Archive link - cross fingers it still works)<br /><br />by Lynette Chiang, Bike Friday Customer Evangelist</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p></div></div></div></div>
galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-78913240183716789742023-01-21T07:05:00.003-08:002023-05-28T10:37:45.378-07:00UPDATED: The Longest Line in NYC: Women for Hire Job Fair<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ezxJAs0TI54&hl=en&fs=1" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ezxJAs0TI54&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425"></embed></object></div><blockquote>On becoming an accidental candidate at a job fair at the height of the 2009 recession</blockquote><i>UPDATED 2023 with additional intel. <br />Originally published: 2/25/2009. </i><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/1185236/longest-line-nyc-women-hire-job-fair" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Read an edited version of this post on Fastcompany</a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>We interrupt this program for a report from the cold, hard pavement outside your window.<div><br />A jobseeking friend invited me to join her at a <a href="http://www.womenforhire.com/career_expos/spring_09/new_york">Women for Hire Career Fair</a> 2009 at the Sheraton New York.<br /><br />Thinking it might provide a palpable insight into the current state of the nation for my <a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/fastcompany">FastCompany blog</a>, I hastily printed out my resume as required (complete with a nice glaring typo - doh!) and jumped in a cab to make it by curtain call. Might I add, my color printer suddenly chose to malfunction that day, and printed out a resume striated in red, white and blue, like a glorious 8 1/2 x 11" American flag. No matter, it's a just a formality for my friend's benefit, right?<br /><br />On arriving at the entry cutoff time of 1.15pm - 45 minutes before the advertised closing time of 2pm - I saw what resembled a line longer than a queue for free immortality with front row tickets to U2 thrown in.<br /><br />It started at the 7th Ave subway station and wove around two sides of a very, very long block.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5plMeg3Dy12dF46OF-8br6vVaGYRfpxevsg-iP8mUeedGHzQR8wwTK9w8ql7reVqApHVpZI8rSMSSQ4Tkm1KJ7O6Qi1YWbGc9ykTZjJB1ltDJKu7AtLfTeHrQC1MzzlCTiJOQw9EKLinoV-ZHzC-DrIcz7CRrZJD7_9X_KEd6hKUcIdYf3H2_5jS/s2394/longestline1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2394" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5plMeg3Dy12dF46OF-8br6vVaGYRfpxevsg-iP8mUeedGHzQR8wwTK9w8ql7reVqApHVpZI8rSMSSQ4Tkm1KJ7O6Qi1YWbGc9ykTZjJB1ltDJKu7AtLfTeHrQC1MzzlCTiJOQw9EKLinoV-ZHzC-DrIcz7CRrZJD7_9X_KEd6hKUcIdYf3H2_5jS/w640-h410/longestline1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The longest line in NYC, even longer than the line for <a href="http://chelseagallerista.blogspot.com/2018/10/yayoi-kusama-festival-of-no-life-at.html" target="_blank">Yayoi Kusama at Zwirner</a> (bedtime reading on my art nutdom blog as art alter ego, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chelseagallerista/" target="_blank">ChelseaGallerista</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><br />"GIT IN LINE MOMMY, WE BEEN WAITIN' 2 HOURS," yelled a woman when I politely asked "is this really the line expecting to get in by 2pm?"<br /><br />"You can't line up anymore, most of these people ain't gettin' in," she snapped. Flashback to my <a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/movies/zahachanel">Not Getting Into The Chanel Mobile Art Exhibition</a> x 10000.<br /><br />I fantasized for a second about boldly cutting in front of her and instantly <i>biff! pow! aaarrrgh!</i> starring in my own manga comic.<br /><br />Hiking all the way to the back of the line I was gobsmacked by the vista: people bundled up in the sunny but freezing air, clutching resumes and portfolios all the way back into a vanishing point. The stipulation about "smart business attire, no jeans, sweats, sneakers" seemed moot.<br /><br />"It's the first time they've allowed men in," said one man waving his resume in a large manila envelope. He looked at the envelope in my hand. "Now why would someone want to <i>fold</i> their resume?"<br /><br />I asked if I could film him. He suddenly turned steely. "No you cannot. I charge $400 an hour for that." There were teeth.<br /><br />"Never seen anything like this before, some people been waiting since 6am," said a policeman, blowing into his hands.<br /><br />He pointed to a guy in very un-business like attire - unless you consider bundling up for a Puff Daddy concert in Antarctica business - but at least the wind wasn't biting at his core. "No-one after that guy in the blue jacket is getting in."<br /><br />I looked at the long, snaking trail of pure patience following the guy in the blue jacket.<br /><br />"Why are they still standing there?"<br /><br />"We told 'em, they're not listenin'."<br /><br />Well, they say persistence pays off: my friend had been waiting since 11.15am and got in at 1.40pm, with frozen feet that still hadn't thawed by the time she got home to Jersey City that evening. "My feet are still killing me," she said later on the phone.<br /><br />After filming the line, I returned to the lobby and eavesdropped on conversations as people left the fair.<br /><br />"Did anyone think that was worth it?" said a women loudly as people spilled out of the elevator.<br /><br />"Not worth a two-hour wait freezin' your titties off," replied another, out of earshot of the recruiters.<br /><br />"Tiny room, everyone jammed together, company reps telling us to go check out the website ... what was the point?"<div><br /></div><div><blockquote>How to build a better job fair</blockquote><br />The organizers should have known that in this economy, the event would be utterly swamped and held it at the Javitz Center or restricted entry - <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span>. <br /><br />What about speed interviewing - like speed dating, allowing each of the thousands of people their 3 minutes? Do the math:<br /><br /> * 3000 people x 3 minutes/60 = 150 hours of interviews<br /> * 150 hours/40 companies = 3.75 hours on average for the entire event, plus minus a couple of hours leeway.<br /><br />Or, what about having employers bundle up and stroll down the line talking to prospectives, who would hold up a card with their company of choice? What about thinking laterally about this? Better that than allow people already looking for work to suffer such discomfort and indignity.<br /><br />"No solicitation" was the order of the day, yet in this climate, vendors selling hot coffee and cookies down the line would have been welcome, entrepreneurial and entirely appropriate, as is the norm in third world countries. And looking at the length of this line, I could barely tell what country I was in ...<br /><br />Now, we return you to your $450K job with bonuses.<br /><br /><blockquote>What happened after my camera stopped filming ... </blockquote><p><i>The above story was reported in FastCompany. For risk of being arrested for innocent linecutting, I divulge the full adventure here...</i></p><div>After I finished filming the line, I asked where the restroom was. It involved cutting across the head of the line at the elevators where I made sure to gesticulate wildly, finger pointing to the restroom and loudly proclaim, "Just heading for the restroooooooom!!!"<br /><br />In the restroom I asked a woman washing her hands if she'd been up to the fair. <br /><br />"Oh yeah, I was here at 6am. See that staircase? Just go up there." She motioned to a dull grey janitorial-type door. <br /><br />Up there? I mimicked that classic "What who-what-me-there?" GIF. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Yeah, just go up there."<br /><br />I noticed a discarded pile of stapled papers next to the sink. It was the fair's "intake" form, together with a list of booth exhibitors. I grabbed one and headed for the bar to ask for a pen (Pro Tip: hotels always have branded pens to give away). <br /><br /></div><div>I then headed up 6? 8? 10? flights and opened the door - to find myself at the very front of the line and the pearly gates of the exhibitor room. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now at this point, one would be shot filthy looks, summarily grabbed by the arm by security and shown the exit. But no - because everyone had their heads down filling out the intake form, no one saw this sudden interloper. I put my head down and made like a sheep, filling it my form. </div><div><br /></div><div>Understand, at this point, it was like being in a movie - literally following a script for the very first time, written by someone else, no knowing What Comes Next, but like a good actor, you gotta follow the script. The feeling was actually like being on the edge of a precipice with a bungy cord tied to the end of the long line on the street below. You just keep going 'til you feel a tug. </div><div><br /></div><div>The tug never came. </div><div><br /></div><div>So into the Expo I go. It was jam-packed with all the usual suspects: aisles of banks, insurance companies, the MTA, The Dept of Sanitation... all probably decent paying but nothing particular sexy. I scanned the exhibitor list I found in the rest room and spotted one beacon of hope: <a href="https://faithpopcorn.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Faith Popcorn Brain Reserve</a>. This is "futurist Faith," the original trend crystalballer who is credited with coming up with the buzzword "cocooning" and the rise of the IKEA, Home Depot and Walmart juggernauts. </div><div><br /></div><div>Excitedly, I suddenly switched into candidate mode, darted over and gave my stairwell speech (because you get more exercise taking the stairs vs the elevator). </div><div><br /></div><div>"We like creative directors," said the smartly attired HR rep. I pulled out my resume to plop on the pile, then stared at the 8.5 x 11" American flag at dismay. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Wait one minute, I'll be back!" I said, and made for the door.</div><div><br /></div><div>"You're not gonna be able to come back in," said the security guards.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><blockquote><h4 style="text-align: left;">Tip 1: Always carry your resume on a USB stick. (Mine is always on my keyring). </h4></blockquote><blockquote><h4 style="text-align: left;">Tip 2: Hotels in cities always have a "business center." </h4></blockquote><blockquote><div></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>I found the business center, magically refamiliarized myself with my ancient knowledge of Windows, and printed out a non-American flag copy of my resume for $2. I then raced back upstairs. I was blocked at the door. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Sorry, you can't come in, fair's wrapping up."<br /><br />"But-but Faith Popcorn is waiting for my resume!" <br /><br />I pointed towards the booths while simultaneously slithering like Beyonce in her beaded mermaid suit through the door, betwixt the sneering guards, greased by pure determination. </div><div><br /></div><div>After triumphantly plopping my resume on top of the pile I bid them all adieu and left. <br /><br />Unplanned mission accomplished. </div><div><br /></div><div>2 days later I got a call. </div><div><br /></div><blockquote>Who brings their mother to a job interview? </blockquote></div><div><br /><div>The call came from Faith Popcorn's HR, inviting me in for an interview. </div><div><br /></div><div>My mother was visiting from Australia at the time, so to show her the un-touristed underbelly of New York I decided to take her along. How many tourists get to experience a crisp corporate lobby with free bottled water and a <a href="https://fuckyournoguchicoffeetable.tumblr.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Noguchi table</a> scattered with magazines featuring people with folded arms on the covers? How many interview candidates bring their mother along? </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnO3n3hPJu1mukpLLs-pLrcybAZOoXTJuI3WLdVh78SIUCYzHA_oZbrPbgEE3J4qBdDWDq6Q68GT2C0geLANjv6q2T7hsXFYS_rfFnJk1KxSImUdyNcsABKHc8zwv4vxlmHKXCNjPxquWr7K4-BlT9aLp0HeUOMV0vVey2QXGnE7XJKDUTIdZAzVe4/s1234/IMG_4586.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1234" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnO3n3hPJu1mukpLLs-pLrcybAZOoXTJuI3WLdVh78SIUCYzHA_oZbrPbgEE3J4qBdDWDq6Q68GT2C0geLANjv6q2T7hsXFYS_rfFnJk1KxSImUdyNcsABKHc8zwv4vxlmHKXCNjPxquWr7K4-BlT9aLp0HeUOMV0vVey2QXGnE7XJKDUTIdZAzVe4/w640-h493/IMG_4586.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mother Irene meets the legendary Faith Popcorn. Who the heck brings their mother to a job interview? Obviously, I did! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>At interview I met Faith, her right hand strategist Ira, and HR head, Michelle. </div><div><br /></div><div>Faith is, to coin a cliche, larger than life. With her sharp shock of red-brown hair, penetrating eyes punctuated by eyebrows shaped into a permanent query and a dazzling, almost Joker-like smile (except she ain't joking) she exudes an aura of a serenely successful sage, never mind stellar businesswoman. </div><div><br /></div><div>She motioned to me - and then Ira - with a jeweled hand. <br /><br />"So... that job fair? Is Lynette all we got from that fair?" </div><div><br /></div><div>I got the impression those fairs cost a lot of money. </div><div><br /></div><div>We chatted about our common interests - in my case, the intersection of design, technology and the user experience. And the art of nuking food like a gourmet chef. In her case, everything that makes the world tick - or rather <a href="https://faithpopcorn.com/the-popcorn-report/clicking-book/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click</a> - and her adopted twin girls. <br /><br />Having spent almost a decade as a <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/1649094/24-7-customer-evangelist-decade-across-dining-room-table" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Customer/Brand Evangelist</a> (yes, you can be both) and Global Director of Community (that's how you spell "community manager") I started to realize this was a very logical next step for my own career. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ira and I took an instant liking to each other. I jive well with people who laugh authentically and can discuss serious matters with a wink in their eye. Matathia is persona-stellar in his own right - an ad industry veteran and co-author of <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/author/iramatathia" target="_blank">several books</a> with fellow famous trendspotter, Marian Salzman. </div><div><br /></div><div>Michelle hailed from Cuba and was interested in reading my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Handsomest-Man-Cuba-Escapade/dp/0762743905" target="_blank">travel memoir</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Faith gave me two of her seminal works, Clicking and Dictionary of the Future, and I gave Michelle a copy of my modest-seller, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Handsomest-Man-Cuba-Escapade/dp/0762743905" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Handsomest Man in Cuba</a>. <br /><br />They offered me a job: to take over from a staffer who was leaving to take care of his ailing mother. They salary offered was $80,000. In hindsight, it was a fair starting salary, and commensurate with starting out in a new role. Having been a creative director, and mindful of how ridiculously expensive it is to live in New York City (50-60% of people's paychecks are routinely spent on rent) I had set my salary expectations a little higher. But I accepted the job. </div><div><br /></div><div>So in 2009, my first year in New York City, after innocently cutting a line at a job fair I wasn't even meant to be at, I was offered a corporate job. </div><div><br /></div><blockquote>Not this time, maybe next time</blockquote></div><div><br /><div>Friday came and my hire papers still hadn't arrived as promised. I called Ira, and he invited me in for a chat. </div><div><br /></div><div>The news was bittersweet. <br /><br />"I wanted to hire you the moment we started chatting," he said. <br /><br />But it turned out that the staffer needed to keep his job, so they decided to let him keep his job part time, and hire an intern to fill in. It's important to look after your people. They did the right thing. <br /><br />Or, maybe they thought, wait - what - who brings their mother to a job interview?<br /><br />It then took me almost 3 years to get a similar position in my field. One thing I learned about New York: brands matter more than brawn. Despite the multi-faceted role I juggled working as a Customer Evangelist a small company, including attracting the <a href="http://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2009/10/singapore-on-friday-hit-ground-pedaling.html" target="_blank">offer of venture capital from one of my earliest customers</a>, I would have gotten more kudos bringing coffee to the CEO of Louis Vuitton. </div><div><br /></div><div>But the fluke interview with Faith gave me a renewed shot of self confidence and determination to upvalue my worth. </div><div><br /></div><div>So. Don't give up in that long line of opportunity. Just follow your creative, curious nose, and get to the front. <br /><br /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/galfromdownunder/" target="_blank">Lynette Chiang on LinkedIn</a><br /><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/user/lynette-chiang" target="_blank">My Fast Company archive</a></div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/galfromdownunder/?hl=en" target="_blank">@galfromdownunder</a></div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/chelseagallerista/" target="_blank">@chelseagallerista</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-81993116828520820202020-12-17T23:10:00.040-08:002020-12-23T07:49:21.445-08:00 Ka-chingle bells: why we’re paying through Rudolph’s nose for a Xmas tree this year<p><b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ty60J9mjDtc/X9ww0AGLZ5I/AAAAAAAAXMs/rfcXSq4siVkCfQKqGtZsftTvqXMLaA9XgCLcBGAsYHQ/s539/IMG_9299.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="474" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ty60J9mjDtc/X9ww0AGLZ5I/AAAAAAAAXMs/rfcXSq4siVkCfQKqGtZsftTvqXMLaA9XgCLcBGAsYHQ/w562-h640/IMG_9299.jpg" width="562" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2020: The year a Xmas tree costs more than a NY cocktail...</td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: inherit;">STICKER SHOCK isn’t something </span>the average New Yorker complains about day to day, let alone at Christmas. </span>As demonstrated by the fabled ”New York Meter” (a man ka-chinged his way around NYC to prove the cheapest day is spent holed up in a cinema watching back-to-back movies) everything is so hyper-inflated that a $16-not-$18 hamburger is considered a bargain.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But this year, what’s causing us to drop our $6 pumpkin-spice latte in the snow? The price of Christmas trees. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m not talking about the<a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/holiday-travel/christmas-travel/nyc-christmas-soho-trees-increasing-prices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> $6500 Rockefeller center</a> lookalikes destined for cavernous corporate lobbies and Tribeca penthouses. I’m talking about the modest, 3-4-footer for the typical Manhattan studio or 1-bedroom apartment. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This kiddie size – still taller than a child who still believes in Santa - enables you to slide 3.5 gifts under it and hang more than a single </span><a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/charlie-brown-christmas-tree/" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Charlie Brown red bauble</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> without it falling on its tinseled tush. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;">And the Covid Christmas price? $75. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V90kMUI18cw/X91dcRGEnuI/AAAAAAAAXOI/aJD5DSM3-BYHP8aeiYhvqwbonqTDV-8dQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/IMG_9405.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V90kMUI18cw/X91dcRGEnuI/AAAAAAAAXOI/aJD5DSM3-BYHP8aeiYhvqwbonqTDV-8dQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_9405.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tree HQ, parked on a bike lane near you</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Amazon, Walmart - all those businesses bought ‘em all up making it really hard for us,” said the young seller who popped his head out of the makeshift sales shed as I admired three little firs on plastic stands. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“They don’t rely on selling Christmas trees to make a living - we do.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And what a living it is: holed up in a lean-to hammered together in the bike lane, it’s a 24/7 shared-shift gig that requires way more than the average customer service and stock-surveillance skills. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“It was really intense at 2am at the other location downtown,” said his co-worker, a young filmmaker, as she cast a watchful eye over her neatly-trussed trees waiting for new living rooms. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“But I have my baseball bat…” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Uh, what? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ix3pnQfQso/X91hhO_I-WI/AAAAAAAAXOU/2gtBiRgyiQgE1vZZGTuk-AgNfMXHCDeHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/IMG_9411.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ix3pnQfQso/X91hhO_I-WI/AAAAAAAAXOU/2gtBiRgyiQgE1vZZGTuk-AgNfMXHCDeHQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_9411.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of Santa's toughest elves: you steal my tree, you can kiss my baseball bat</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apparently, young, drunken NYU student revelers find it amusing to band together and make off with a tree or three. That’s when our seller comes back swinging. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I chase them down the road with my bat and say, I’ll give you a choice: hand over the tree or pay for it. Or I call the police.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And to her credit, it seems they often pay up because they’re drunk but rich. And who </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">could argue with her bat-swinging logic? Moreover, how can you have a merry Xmas in front of a stolen tree? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other times, she said, homeless people get into a</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">fights near her stand, and it’s like the final scene from the Godfather, only with pine needles flying instead of blood. It’s a tough holiday gig guarding the merch 24/7, requiring a rotation in a tiny heated guardhouse. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While we chatted, passers by stopped, asked the price, then backed away on hearing “75.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X1OVRmWyI7M/X9xJk0pe-CI/AAAAAAAAXNQ/VO4lF0C4Nas71eieVF0fA1HlBgeCSr4bQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_9276.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X1OVRmWyI7M/X9xJk0pe-CI/AAAAAAAAXNQ/VO4lF0C4Nas71eieVF0fA1HlBgeCSr4bQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_9276.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The "brownstoner" and "mini-loft" sizes<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">“When our bosses told us the price, we said, how on earth are we gonna be able to sell them? So we bought ornaments to go with each purchase.”</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To sweeten the deal, each tree comes with a freebie set of three Made in China plastic ornaments and a homemade flocked ribbon. Also on offer is a selection of simple wooden ornaments carved from slices of tree trunk. All made by these two sellers. There’s even a listless Charlie Brown Christmas tree made from a bauble-ready limp branch, for $5 "for those with a really, really small place.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmUfcj3Lfeg/X91iDCWsR4I/AAAAAAAAXOc/Adv2KmI3cQY0POz7IO2pw7TpBPP1-6BngCLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/IMG_9406.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmUfcj3Lfeg/X91iDCWsR4I/AAAAAAAAXOc/Adv2KmI3cQY0POz7IO2pw7TpBPP1-6BngCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_9406.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Grinch soon discovered that the "little bit more" was free delivery and 10% off with Amazon Prime... </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was really starting to admire the gumption of these kids, and found mind slowly turning “$75 no way” into “$75 to help stimulate the local economy.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nothing makes it easier for people to give you money than a bit of personal connection and a good story... </span></blockquote><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nonetheless, as we of Asian descent seem genetically hell bent on doing, I asked for the “best price.” The young man was apologetic, but stood firm – “we got yelled at by the boss for selling a tree for less than $75 yesterday.” <br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I decided to walk around the block to think about it – and sleuth out other tree sellers and their price points. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ezvegtxFtU/X91sogQeVTI/AAAAAAAAXOo/iFSUFHzz5uM9t_6NJyUaNRhMdhXkVtfAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/IMG_9404.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ezvegtxFtU/X91sogQeVTI/AAAAAAAAXOo/iFSUFHzz5uM9t_6NJyUaNRhMdhXkVtfAQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_9404.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A Chelsea Snowperson guards the median strip<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My search was fruitless. Covid and Big Box Brother had thinned the ranks of tree sellers as well as pins forests. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By the time I got back, all three little trees I'd been admiring had been sold - proof that $75 was now the new $45. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAkZBHoGBJ0/X9xKMnUBJaI/AAAAAAAAXNc/uVViLtjYe-Ek6iF26gCxeZp8BBzs-h70QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_9275.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAkZBHoGBJ0/X9xKMnUBJaI/AAAAAAAAXNc/uVViLtjYe-Ek6iF26gCxeZp8BBzs-h70QCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_9275.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">The device used for trussing trees, ready for the journey to a living room nearby...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For real-tree neophytes (yes, you with the plastic tree), there’s more than one variety to choose from. The <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/douglas-fir-balsam-fir-fraser-fir-types-of-christmas-trees" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">two most popular kinds</a> are the Fraser Fir – slower growing, less needle-shedding but with less pine smell, and the Balsam pine – faster growing, softer needles, and a distinct pine smell. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Driving up the price of the Frasers this year is scarcity – apparently after the GFC, farmers planted less of this fancy variety. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xudd9hcIa6o/X91t3suxV_I/AAAAAAAAXO0/x9kvOXcBA6kbCtmCBydPnpC2srLsI89fgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/xmas-tree-collage.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xudd9hcIa6o/X91t3suxV_I/AAAAAAAAXO0/x9kvOXcBA6kbCtmCBydPnpC2srLsI89fgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h320/xmas-tree-collage.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fraser vs Balsam, courtesy of <a href="https://scmga.wordpress.com/2018/12/05/fraser-fir-vs-balsam/#:~:text=Balsams%20grow%20faster%20meaning%20their,your%20hand%2C%20it's%20not%20sharp." rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Strafford County Master Gardeners Association</a> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I found myself pondering on the social politics of tree height. The biggest trees “$500-$1500” – end up in places with high ceilings. That translates directly to the most expensive real estate – luxury condos with 10-14 foot ceilings, and brownstones with parlor floors at 12-14 feet. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From there, you drop down to the working class 8-foot ceiling, then tiny Manhattan studios, then dorm room desks for the Charlie Brown special. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s a tree height for everyone. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We looked at a few more, spinning them around to see which ones were symmetrical and rejecting those with a distinct "front and back" ("You know there's a front and a back of a Christmas tree, don't you?" - my mother). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So with a bit of sawing and drilling, and an iPad swipe later, a little $75 tree was ours. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And here it is: 4 feet of love, labor, creativity, story and survival-by-baseball bat. $75 well spent. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1CUZqeuVPo/X9xPmr1fZvI/AAAAAAAAXN0/wAwqLRGuSxUH-kyGpEhopsEY2DMffUj-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1892/IMG_9394.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1892" data-original-width="1053" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1CUZqeuVPo/X9xPmr1fZvI/AAAAAAAAXN0/wAwqLRGuSxUH-kyGpEhopsEY2DMffUj-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w356-h640/IMG_9394.jpg" width="356" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My tree in a New York state of mind, complete with a <a href="http://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2013/11/giving-thanks-for-memories-kosta-boda.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kosta Boda snowball</a> - read my post about that classic collectible </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p></div>galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-88640717829213560252020-12-16T05:56:00.001-08:002020-12-20T07:34:59.307-08:00Still rolling after all these years: the Kosta Boda snowball<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">The Kosta Boda snowball: the classiest affordable gift of the 80's, born in 1973<br /><br /></td></tr>
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FOR THE BENEFIT of those D<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">ownunder: last month</span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"> was Thanksgiving, the day when 'mericans down tools and celebrate the "the blessing of the harvest and the preceding year," <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">according to Wikipedia</a>.</span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">It's more like the blessing of the buffet, and generally not a day to bear gifts except for oneself, what with stores now opening on the actual day of thanks...is nothing sacred? </span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">As an advertising/marketing pundit I use retail therapy to keep abreast of product design and retailing strategies (ok that's my excuse). My destination? The </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">TJ Maxx outlet in Wilton, Connecticut, where I'm visiting for the holiday. </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">Today it was empty. One explanation: </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">TJ's </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">merchandise is always on sale, so there's no real reason to make a beeline for it on </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">Black Friday. </span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">"You're the first customer to acknowledge that," said the bored attendant at the jewelry counter where I pondered over a pair of truly fake-looking gold Ralph Lauren hoop earrings for $12. "Everyone else is demanding why our 70% off stuff isn't 100% off." </span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">Strolling the aisles of once-were </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">$34 leggings (now $5.99</span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">) I was stopped dead in my tracks by a </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">blob of glass. Know what I'm talking about, dear reader? </span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cyzu5pgzknw/WIwe1xajy4I/AAAAAAAAIwY/QjIrWeqhhNcXZ87SBHTx7qbbrwOvdkaawCLcB/s1600/kosta-boda-snowball-above.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="497" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cyzu5pgzknw/WIwe1xajy4I/AAAAAAAAIwY/QjIrWeqhhNcXZ87SBHTx7qbbrwOvdkaawCLcB/s640/kosta-boda-snowball-above.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><b>The classic Kosta Boda Snowball</b></span></h2>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">It's the </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">Kosta Boda snowball, circa 1973, designed in Sweden by <a href="https://www.skandium.com/designers/index/designer/id/designer_ann_wrff/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ann Warff </a>(now Ann Wolff). As it sat on the shelf amidst marked-down artificially scented candles and Turkish ceramics made in China, the memories</span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"> came thundering down </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">like an Annapurna avalanche ...</span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">In my mid-teens, I spotted this iconic candle holder on a shelf in DJ's (David Jones), the Bloomingdales of Downunder. The price at the time was a very affordable $12, affordable</span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"> for me, as I wasn't allowed to have a holiday job, and my meager pocket money was my only source of financial freedom. </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">So the snowball became my signature gift at any birthday party I was invited to. While others were giftwrapping books you never want to read, or ugly t-shirts you never want to wear, or unimaginative socks and other regiftables, I'd front up with this objet d'art from the land of tall blond people. For a while, everyone got a Kosta Boda snowball from me, whether they liked it or not. </span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">In </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">terms of gift giving, Boda was like the Alessi (hailing from Italy) of today. W</span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">ho hasn't given or received an Alessi stainless steel tchotchke of some description? Another popular gift item of the day were </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">the multi-faceted Swarovski crystal animals I confess I never found particularly appealing.</span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">Looking back on those formative years, the snowball all </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">about my emerging desire to at once individual and classy...on a shoestring. <a href="http://cheapnchoosy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I calls it Cheap and Choosy</a>.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The clear sticker now used today</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The older gold sticker.</td></tr>
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<b>Cheap'n'Choosy Giftology </b></h2>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">On Facebooking the above photo, an </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">old school pal Peter Johnston piped up to remind me of another example of my pubescent taste making: velour Pierre Cardin facecloths. My father was as into designer labels as the next Asian (it's my culture and I'll stereotype if I want to) and I became fixated on his gold Pierre Cardin keychain and ties. Somehow I stumbled on the Cardin monogrammed facecloth and at $5.99, </span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">voila, it became my second go-to gift. Turns out velour is actually a lousy material for facecloths; it gets gummed up with soap scum and has to be machine washed often on hot ...</span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">Who'd have thought a trip to an outlet mall could spark such cathartic childhood memories</span><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">? Don't knock retail therapy; at 70% off it's cheaper than a shrink. </span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">The only thing I didn't score so well on yesterday was price: at $19.99 (down from a vertiginous RRP $35) it was no cheaper than at <a href="http://kostaboda.com/">KostaBoda.com</a>, where it is on sale and is the company's "<a href="https://www.kostaboda.us/products/nordic-light-snowball-votive-7067360" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">best selling item of all time</a>."</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The difference a beeswax candle makes: lovelier light! </td></tr>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><b>But is it the real deal? </b></span></h2>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">For folks fixated on getting one after reading this far, I note there's always a few kicking around on eBay for $10-15 plus around $7-$10 shipping (pay no more). But how do you know you're getting the real lead-crystal deal and not a cheap glass knockoff? Check out the signature snowball features: </span></div>
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<li>SIGNED: Some have KOSTA BODA etched on the base, some don't</li>
<li>STICKER: Some still have their little rectangular KOSTA BODA sticker saying SINCE 1742, or SWEDEN 1742, or NOT LESS THAN 24% LEAD CRYSTAL. </li>
<li>STICKER MATERIAL: Silver, Gold, Clear </li>
<li>SIDE SEAMS: Some believe the earliest ones didn't have seams from the mold. </li>
<li>CLARITY: the older ones were made of a "clearer" glass than the new ones, though the new ones seem to throw out more of a pattern on the table </li>
<li>SIZE: Just under 3" high is standard, but there was a smaller (2.3") and larger version (3.5") at one time, not available in the USA it seems. <a href="https://kostaboda.se/serie/snowball/" rel="" target="_blank">See them here</a></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The signature etched into the base - from the 80's onwards</td></tr>
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I bought a few on eBay and the sellers assured me they were former wedding presents, or Christmas decorations in the 70's and so on. I prodded Kosta Boda on their Facebook page and managed to get some slush: </div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><i><blockquote>Dear Lynette. The snowball has been made since 1973, and we have not heard about any fake snowballs yet. The snowballs is made in 3 sizes the heights 6cm, 7cm and 9cm. The snowballs from Kosta Boda have seams on the side of the mold, and as far as we know the ones from the 70´s also had seams on the sides. We started etching Kosta Boda in the bottom in about 15-20 years ago, so the snowballs from the 70´s have no etching. The snowballs have a sticker, when sold from us, but the stickers might disappear as they are used. Kind regards, Kosta Boda</blockquote></i></span></div>
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<b>A word about candles</b></h2>
After using the cheapest candles I could find - think IKEA, 24 for $4.99 and the like - I discovered beeswax candles. At 24 for $24 they are almost 5x more expensive. But the rich, warm glow emitted is incomparable, and beeswax is purported to purify the air. Or, word for word from <a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/brilliant-beeswax-candles.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this article</a>:<br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Beeswax candles offer a honey scent, a golden flame, and the longest, cleanest burn of any candle. But there is much more benefit to beeswax candles compared to paraffin candles that are made from polluted petroleum sludge, or even vegetable-based candles that are a big improvement over paraffin: When beeswax candles burn, they clean the air like a great, natural, air purifier, and they are a link to a deep spiritual belief system.</span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">For the snowball, you're best using the clear, plastic cups these candles come in for maximum light transmission. However, to avoid creating landfill, simply buy the beeswax tea lights in the foil cup and pop them in the plastic cups - you can use the cups over and over (just snap off and discard the used little wick stand each time). </span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">Or if you want to be really unromantic, use those battery-powered tealights with the lifelike flickering flame - at least there's no risk of burning down the house. </span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">Happy Thanksgiving - let it snowball, let it snowball, let it snowball!</span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">(Greeting card spotted in supermarket)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">Now that you’ve got the snowball, why not pair it with a <a href="http://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2020/12/ka-chingle-bells-high-cost-of-lowly.html?m=1" target="_blank">$75 New York Christmas Tree?</a></span></div>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-6224936615855522222020-02-03T12:04:00.000-08:002020-02-18T15:25:01.458-08:0088 Ways I Know I'm Chinese: Redux<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The breakfast-fest known as dim-sim...aka Chinese tapas</td></tr>
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It's the Year of the Rat so...</h2>
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First, <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/luckypeach/the-essential-guide-to-dim-sum" target="_blank">here's a fab field guide to dim sum</a>, because that's what every self respecting Chinese does at some point (maybe months earlier or later), to celebrate Chinese New Year.
To get you into the spirit, here's an old chestnut exhumed yet again, the fabled <b>88 Ways to Know You're Chinese</b>.<br />
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Google that phrase and you'll come up with all kinds of variations, but this one dates back to 2002 so is probably more original (it mentions a Walkman). <span style="color: orange;">I've taken the liberty of annotating them based on my own upbringing.</span><br />
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<i>The 89th way: you eat durian without holding your nose (or drawing blood)</i></div>
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If you're Chinese, see how many fit you, divide by 88 and multiply by 100 to get your percent-Chinese rating. (But being Chinese and good at math, I didn't need to tell you that, right?).<br />
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If you're not Chinese, try it and see how good a Chinese imposter you are. Score high, and you'd blend right in to a typical Chinese family, if you put on a short black wig, thick eyeglasses and don't answer back ...<br />
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If you wonder what it's like to market to Chinese, <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1689506/asian-american-advertising-its-not-all-about-me" target="_blank">read my FastCompany post, Asian American Advertising: It's not all about me</a>.
But first, how do I know thee? Let me count the 88 ways ...<br />
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<b>88 WAYS TO KNOW YOU'RE CHINESE </b></h2>
1. You unwrap Christmas gifts very carefully, so you can save and reuse the wrapping (and especially those bows) next year. <span style="color: orange;">Best to use that invisible tape as it's less sticky and doesn't tear off the nice gold foil pattern.</span><br />
2. You only buy Christmas cards after Christmas when they are 50% off. <span style="color: orange;">Or better yet, never buy them at all. And you NEVER *give* a Christmas card - you *give* a present, you *send* a card. Do otherwise and you're a cheapskate. </span><br />
3. When there is a sale on toilet paper, you buy 100 rolls and store them in your closet or in the bedroom of an adult child who has moved out. <span style="color: orange;">In Manhattan, you buy a dozen Scott 1000 from Western Beef and use it as a step stool. </span><br />
4. You have a vinyl table cloth on your kitchen table. <span style="color: orange;">In Manhattan, something stylish from Chilewich, please. </span><br />
5. Your stove <span style="color: #e69138;">(and toaster oven floor)</span> is covered with aluminum foil. <span style="color: orange;">Why clean more than you need to? </span><br />
6. Your kitchen has a sticky film of grease over it. <span style="color: orange;">Well, the stove area at least. Peanut oil sticks like s*** to a blanket. </span><br />
7. You have stuff in the freezer since the beginning of time. <span style="color: orange;">But it's dated so we know what decade.</span><br />
8. You use the dishwasher as a dish rack. <span style="color: orange;">What dishwasher? </span><br />
9. You have never used your dishwasher. <span style="color: orange;">Precisely. More work to stack and unstack and every Chinese family will make you rinse them with hot water practically clean anyway, before loading them. </span><br />
10. You keep a Thermos of hot water available at all times. <span style="color: orange;">Nah, we just nuke the mug over and over. </span><br />
11. You boil water and put it in the refrigerator<span style="color: orange;"> because you don't know where that water's been, right?.</span><br />
12. You eat all meals in the kitchen. <span style="color: orange;">It's less travel because you CANNOT let noodles go cold. What's this about waiting for everyone to sit down before you pick up your fork? Are you nuts? </span><br />
13. You save grocery bags, tin foil, and tin containers. <span style="color: orange;">And plastic containers. And curse the lack of cupboard space. </span><br />
14. You use grocery bags to hold garbage. <span style="color: orange;">Because those biodegradeable ones burst out the bottom and then you've got a right mess to clean up.</span><br />
15. You always leave your shoes at the door. <span style="color: orange;">So should anyone - have you seen the chihuahua poop out on the streets of NYC? </span><br />
16. You have a piano in your living room. <span style="color: orange;">One of those upright ones that sound like a keyboard in a coffin. </span><br />
17. Your parents know how to launch nasal and throat projectiles. <span style="color: orange;">Now come on, we came from a slightly better caste. </span><br />
18. You iron your own shirts. <span style="color: orange;">Nyet. I never iron nothin'. It wastes time.</span><br />
19. You drive a Honda or Acura and are less than 5'8" tall. <span style="color: orange;">Less than 5" tall. I had a Honda Accord, that year with the pop up headlights, and a big fat cushion behind my back so I could reach the pedals. Nuts. </span><br />
20. You pick your teeth at the dinner table (but you cover your mouth). <span style="color: orange;">I prefer floss. Those things just drive the char siew further between your teeth. </span><br />
21. You twirl your pen around your fingers. <span style="color: orange;">What pen? I can't even remember how to hold one. </span><br />
22. You hate to waste food <br />
a. Even if you're totally full, if someone says they're going to throw away the leftovers on the table, you'll finish them. (Your mom will give a lecture about starving kids in Africa) <span style="color: orange;">Actually it was specifically Ethiopia. </span><br />
b. You have Tupperware in your fridge with three bites of rice or one leftover chicken wing. <span style="color: orange;">It's called breakfast. </span><br />
23. You don't own any real Tupperware-only a cupboard full of used but carefully rinsed margarine tubs, take out containers, and jam jars. <span style="color: orange;">Bingo!</span> <span style="color: orange;">Pity it never stacks neatly. And the Tupperware lids never sealed right so what's the point?</span><br />
24. You also use the jam jars as drinking glasses. <span style="color: orange;">Wrong. That must have been a stray one from the 888 Ways To Know You're Brooklynese list. </span><br />
25. You've eaten a red bean popsicle. <span style="color: orange;">Red bean soup please, with evaporated milk. </span><br />
26a. You have never hugged your parents. <span style="color: orange;">Public and private displays of affection demonstrate weakness. </span><br />
26b. You your parents have never hugged you. <span style="color: orange;">At least, not that you can recall. </span><span style="color: orange;"> </span><br />
27. You have a collection of minature shampoo bottles that you take every time you stay in a hotel. <span style="color: orange;">Or stay anywhere. </span><br />
28. The condiments in your fridge are either Price Club sized or come in plastic packets, which you save/steal every time you get take out or go to McDonald's. <span style="color: orange;">Soy sauce in particular. </span><br />
29. Ditto paper napkins. <span style="color: orange;">So much nicer than paper towels, especially if they have Del Posto on them. </span><br />
30. You wipe your plate and utensils before you eat every time you go to a restaurant. <span style="color: orange;">Have you seen how they wash dishes out the back of a Chinese restaurant? Shudder. </span><br />
31. You carry a stash of your own food whenever you travel (and travel means any car ride longer than 15 minutes)....These travel snacks are always dried. As in not just dried plums, dried ginger, and beef/pork jerky, but dried cuttlefish (SQUID). <span style="color: orange;">That stuff lasts for centuries too. In your gut.</span><br />
32. You own a rice cooker. <span style="color: orange;">But of course. And one of those old, clunky, Dalek like ones, not the slick designer R2D2 looking ones. </span><br />
33. You wash your rice at least 2-3 times before cooking it. <span style="color: orange;">To remove starch so it doesn't become like paper mache glue. </span><br />
34. You spit bones and other food scraps on the table. (That's why you need the vinyl tablecloth). <span style="color: orange;">Only in like-minded company, please. Chicken feet leave a particularly lovely big pile. </span><br />
35. Your parents have never hugged you. <span style="color: orange;"> Can we please steer away from that topic? </span><br />
36. You fight (literally) over who pays the dinner bill. <span style="color: orange;">Less so with the recession. We just go Dutch. And despite being good at math, the tip calculation is a pain in the ass for we ABC's (Australian Born Chinese). </span><br />
37. Your dad thinks he can fix everything himself. <span style="color: orange;">He is actually pretty handy. Except when recapping the roof one day and it started to rain. Then it was God's fault. And boy, did god's ears burn ...</span><br />
38. You majored in something practical like engineering, medicine or law. <span style="color: orange;">I wish. I was better at stringing letters together. But I did get a Distinction of Abstract Algebra, specifically groups and rings. </span><br />
39. When you go to a dance party, there are a wall of guys surrounding the dance floor trying to look cool. <span style="color: orange;">Hmmm, you lost me here. At raves, no one cares anymore. </span><br />
40. You live with your parents and you are 30 years old (and they prefer it that way). Or if you're married and 30 years old, you live in the apartment next door to your parents, or at least in the same neighborhood. <span style="color: orange;">Home cooked meals on tap are a boon!</span><br />
41. You don't use measuring cups <span style="color: orange;">It's just more washing up! </span><br />
42. You feel like you've gotten a good deal if you didn't pay tax. <span style="color: orange;">Nah, it's only 8.875% in NYC. The 20% tip is the killer. </span><br />
43. You beat eggs with chopsticks. <span style="color: orange;">Beautifully minimalist technique that works. My dad was an expert at making <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_foo_young" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">egg foo yoong</a> like this - a kind of heavenly scramble. </span><br />
44. You re-gift cookies or Christmas cake at Christmas (some could even be more than 5yrs old). <span style="color: orange;">You have to make sure it's that eternal kind of cake like a fruit cake. Soak it in a cup of port/rum and add some custard and it's good as Martha Stewart's latest. </span><br />
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45. You have a teacup with a cover on it. <span style="color: orange;">Have you seen the dust that settles on your toilet cistern? </span><br />
46. You reuse teabags. <span style="color: orange;">And we're even ballsy enough to ask for a hot water top up at a cafe. Twice. </span><br />
47. You have a drawer full of old pens, most of which don't write anymore. <span style="color: orange;">Not me, I throw them out if they hesitate to write in the first 2 nanoseconds. </span><br />
48. If you're under age 20, you own a really expensive walkman if you're over 20, you own a really expensive camera. <span style="color: orange;">The kind with a long lens that you wear poking out of your chest like some kind of cyborg. Not me. <a href="http://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2011/11/booking-it-along-amazon-with-pactour.html" target="_blank">I prefer my stealth Sony HX9V</a>. </span><br />
49. You always look phone numbers up in the phone book, since calling Information costs 50 cents. <span style="color: orange;">Information is such a rip off. The phone books can double as toilet paper in a pinch. </span><br />
50. You don't tip more than 10% at a restaurant, and if you do, you tip Chinese delivery guys waiters more. <span style="color: orange;">It's a tough gig with little respect. </span><br />
51. <strike>You're a wok user.</strike> <span style="color: orange;">You own a giant wok. With no handle, but two metal handles like the trad kind, that you have to hold with a folded cloth to avoid burning your hand. </span><br />
52. You only make long distance calls after 11pm. <span style="color: orange;">Didn't everyone before Skype? </span><br />
53. You know all the waiters at your favorite Chinese restaurants.<span style="color: orange;"> And we know all the weird things to order that are not on the English language menu. </span><br />
54. You like Chinese films in their original undubbed versions. <span style="color: orange;">They can be strangely compelling even if you haven't a clue what's going on. </span><br />
a. You love Chinese Martial Arts films. <span style="color: orange;">The comical parts. Wayyyyeeeeee!</span><br />
b. Shao Lin and Wu Tang actually mean something to you. <span style="color: orange;">OK I'm showing my Aussiedom now. Let me go Google ...</span><br />
55. You tasted bitter melon. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">It's actually not that bitter. More importantly, you eat Durian. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSAU28x3OG8" target="_blank">See this movie</a>. </span><br />
56. You like congee with thousand year old eggs. <span style="color: orange;">We were forced to eat it for breakfast as kids, because it teaches you to be humble (because half the world is starving). </span><br />
57. You prefer your shrimp with the heads and legs still attached - means they're fresh. <span style="color: orange;">There's this technique with your teeth and lips that de-shells them in one fast pucker ... </span><br />
58. You never call your parents just to say hi. <span style="color: orange;">We need to build up a year's worth of itemized news.</span><br />
59. You always cook too much. <span style="color: orange;">Hey, and eat for a week. </span><br />
60. If you don't live at home, when your parents call, they ask if you've eaten, even if it's midnight. <span style="color: orange;">If you don't eat, you die, right? </span><br />
61. Also, if you don't live at home, your parents always want you to come home. <span style="color: orange;">Secretly, it's really a nice thing, don't you think? </span><br />
62. Your parents tell you to boil herbs and stay inside when you get sick. <span style="color: orange;">Usually hot lemon and honey. And something from the pharmacy that looks like nuclear fallout. </span><br />
63. When you're sick, they also tell you not to eat fried foolds or baked foods because they produce hot air (Yee-Hay in Cantonese). <span style="color: orange;">No wonder instant ramen became so popular. </span><br />
64. You e-mail your Chinese friends at work, even though you only sit 10 feet apart. <span style="color: orange;">Doesn't everyone? You can have a social convo but still look like you're working. </span><br />
65. Your parents never go to the movies. <span style="color: orange;">It's just too much sitting and there's no fridge nearby. </span><br />
66. Your parents send money to their relatives in China. <span style="color: orange;">The rellos in China were doing quite well because it is cheaper to live there than here! </span><br />
67. You use a face cloth. <span style="color: orange;">They had to be washed in hot water each week because they'd get strangely slimy from soap scum. </span><br />
68. Your parents use a clothes line. I wish we could all do that. <span style="color: orange;">Dryers when the sun is blazing are so wasteful on the planet. </span><br />
69. You're always late. <span style="color: orange;">Isn't that where "fashionably late" came from? </span><br />
70. You eat every last grain of rice in your bowl, but don't eat the last piece of food on the table. <span style="color: orange;">Until it's been politely refused by everyone and the table who then guilt you when you actually stick it in your mouth. </span><br />
71. You starve yourself before going to all you can eat buffet. But of course! <span style="color: orange;">You have to get your $25.95 plus tax worth! </span><br />
72. You've joined a CD club at least once. <span style="color: orange;">And encyclopedia club. Once I sent in one of those cards about home renovations (at age 7), and got some Reader's Digest rep on the phone to my mum chasing money. I just liked to look at the pictures. </span><br />
73. You know someone who can get you a good deal on jewellery or electronics, computers. <span style="color: orange;">Not any more. Amazon has everyone by the throat.</span><br />
74. You never discuss your love life with your parents. <span style="color: orange;">Love life? What's that? </span><br />
75. Your parents are never happy with your grades <span style="color: orange;">Grade A and A+ are met with silence. Below that, all hell broke loose. </span><br />
76. You save your old Coke bottle glasses even though you're never going to use them again. <span style="color: orange;">Well, my 20 year old laser vision op is starting to reverse itself ... </span><br />
77. You own your own meat cleaver and sharpen it. <span style="color: orange;">Shing! Shing! Shing! I remember that sound so well ... </span><br />
78. You keep most of your money in a savings account.<span style="color: orange;"> As opposed to ...? Oh right, shares? Nope, we Asians are risk averse when it comes to money. Except in a gambling hall. I'm told. </span><br />
79. You own an MJ set and possibly have a room set up in the basement. <span style="color: orange;">What, Mary Jane? </span><br />
80. You know what MJ means. <span style="color: orange;">Ah, mah jong. I had this cool necklace made of mah jong tiles - does that count? </span><br />
81. You've been on the Love Boat or know someone who has. <span style="color: orange;">My mother's favorite TV show. She was shocked (and so was I) when one seen showed people actually in bed, naked, thus shattering the squeaky clean fantasy ...</span><br />
82. Your toothpaste tubes are all squeezed paper-thin. <span style="color: orange;">It's kinda fun seeing how much you can squeeze out of it, a bit like how some Chinese business people operate. </span><br />
83. You say "whie" when answering your cell phone. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">It's the equivalent of a grunt. </span></div>
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84. You are familiar with the term "aiee yah.....". <span style="color: orange;">My dad use to say that! It means "Golly gee!" or "!@##$%!"</span><br />
85. It take 3-4 days to finish sipping a can of pop and saving it in the fridge even there is only one drop left. <span style="color: orange;">When the bubbles leave it reminds you of flat Oolong tea. </span><br />
86. You know why this list consists of only "88" reasons.<span style="color: orange;"> I have to add one here. Your family's furniture color scheme is red and gold, and the fabrics are velvet and silk or something shiny. There might even be some laughing buddha statues lying around who, let's face it, those Buddha's never look like they're having a particularly fun time. </span><br />
87. You enclose your remote controls in plastic to keep greasy fingerprints off them. <span style="color: orange;">What about the car doors, sofas et al - all with plastic still on.</span><br />
88. You take this message and forward it to all your Chinese <span style="color: orange;">and non-Chinese </span>friends<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: orange;"> and enemies.</span></span><br />
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Aren't you happy/envious you were/weren't born Chinese?<br />
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More mein for thought: <a href="http://www.spoonhunt.com/blog/8-mysteries-of-chinese-dining-habits-solved" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">8 Mysteries of Chinese Dining</a><br />
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-83187377123878577432018-05-13T23:59:00.012-07:002023-09-14T18:19:37.162-07:00Kilauea is venting: My postage-stamp sized piece of Hawaii<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Dec 2014: <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">University of Hawaii Forestry Professor JB Friday helps me </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">nip an invasive albezia tree in the bud </span></td></tr>
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<b><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div></b><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><b>UPDATE June 2023: </b><a href="https://reserver1.hawaiiinformation.com/REsearch6/sites/HIS/Areas/SearchHIS/ASP/results/displayEmail.asp?sender=74912&id=3557483&t=638244808598360084" target="_blank">my Hawaii lot is for sale</a> for a <i>mele</i> (song). Read a <a href="https://www.savio.com/big-island" target="_blank">quick bio of the Big Island</a>. <br />Contact <a href="https://www.savio.com/contact/pahoa-office/item/107-lisa-roach" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lisa Roach</a> of Savio Realty, lisar@savio.com, Cell 808-494-8575, Office (808) 965-9500<br /><br /><a href="https://reserver1.hawaiiinformation.com/REsearch6/sites/HIS/Areas/SearchHIS/ASP/results/displayEmail.asp?sender=74912&id=3557483&t=638244808598360084" target="_blank">Here's the listing</a>. <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffRwwRa0-JOEM0pavkp6-miuPnQekYs7FVJqH-pg4eXh70WqohgB5k28LLJxPmZwlPoac_E0Gf1WAuj4HbiLvawOUyaDwjKS1sfL2cXK4EHx1ip9RaYGdWAHXaqD4byBsJnJzp2Ojk15NEdDr9A3EY-VZYY__hd57BKOxDSVPkXH_JxHKu9yW5USTlBQ/s1800/BA39F280-DFD7-4DDF-A462-1995974F2D3B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffRwwRa0-JOEM0pavkp6-miuPnQekYs7FVJqH-pg4eXh70WqohgB5k28LLJxPmZwlPoac_E0Gf1WAuj4HbiLvawOUyaDwjKS1sfL2cXK4EHx1ip9RaYGdWAHXaqD4byBsJnJzp2Ojk15NEdDr9A3EY-VZYY__hd57BKOxDSVPkXH_JxHKu9yW5USTlBQ/s320/BA39F280-DFD7-4DDF-A462-1995974F2D3B.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div>This is a very decent buildable lot on the big Island of Hawaii - a mile and a half from the cute and cool hippie town of Pahoa and 20 miles up a highway to Hilo. After years at the sub-$3-4k mark, prices have gone up very slightly, but still incredibly cheap for a piece of land IN HAWAII. We are talking under $10K for most lots in subdivisions with roads, electricity and yes, some with town water and even a community center. </div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">At 8429 sqft, my lot - a pizza-slice shaped near-corner lot, is slightly bigger than the average 8040 sqft rectangular rowhousy-sized lot. No brittle albezia trees to clear either. Taxes on my lot are $200/pa and HOA fee is $104 (to maintain the community house etc).</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">The Big Island is a place where you can find a piece of land to live the off-grid dream - solar panels, septic tank, water tank, and a simple house that's 880 sqft or bigger - because the sun and rain are plentiful and free (so far). </div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbVC5b8FckYcjS7bgoHiWbGZVsNu2-cbzy0qT2c2tRV8iVluSTq8FtLUTT219GFGtuB6WiLX0XosX3_l4iwcfAfdBMbMkgRtJ0DEdtsHpoWqcmJSKG4P0AkSpBK88RsLVaIeFHScyDIt2C3JLKKT1iWGs37s9O_nlxqlzQZDSRBVlNDjPyKv98Af5I5I/s1249/0054891D-242E-4467-8557-4CE71746B273.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="1233" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbVC5b8FckYcjS7bgoHiWbGZVsNu2-cbzy0qT2c2tRV8iVluSTq8FtLUTT219GFGtuB6WiLX0XosX3_l4iwcfAfdBMbMkgRtJ0DEdtsHpoWqcmJSKG4P0AkSpBK88RsLVaIeFHScyDIt2C3JLKKT1iWGs37s9O_nlxqlzQZDSRBVlNDjPyKv98Af5I5I/w198-h200/0054891D-242E-4467-8557-4CE71746B273.jpeg" width="198" /></a></div>Best of all, this part of the island is truly tropical vs touristed. If you prefer the a more developed, California coastal vibe, with exposed beaches etc - pick the Kona side of the island, and pay around 50x more. </div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> Check out the photos etc and and my Hawaii journey below. <br /><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><b>+++<br /><br />PHOTOS: </b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/galfromdownunder/media_set?set=a.10152927806551590.1073741841.523631589&type=3" target="_blank">2014 Visit</a> | <span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"> </span><a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/galleries/hi06-bigisland-gallery/index_5.html" target="_blank">Big Island</a> | <a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/galleries/hi06-bigisland-gallery/index_4.html" target="_blank">More Big Island</a> | <a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/galleries/WEB-hi05-volcano-gallery/" target="_blank">Volcanoes</a><br /><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div><b><br />VIDEOS: </b>Visiting my land in Dec 2014: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153045129696590&set=vb.523631589&type=3&theater" target="_blank">1</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153047107341590&set=vb.523631589&type=3&theater" target="_blank">2</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153048969631590&set=vb.523631589&type=3&theater" target="_blank">3</a><br /><b><br />BIKE FRIDAY IN HAWAII: </b>Stories from my visits as a Bike Friday Customer Evangelist on the Internet archive:<b> </b><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20100117175804/http://community.bikefriday.com/hawaii" target="_blank">What a Gal does in Hawaii</a></div><div><br />+++<br /><br /></div></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br />UPDATE MAY 2018: KILAUEA IS BACK and she's pissed... </b><br />
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It's been 4 years I visited my to my sliver of lava on the Big Island (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/galfromdownunder/media_set?set=a.10152927806551590.1073741841.523631589&type=3" target="_blank">see photos</a><span id="goog_1796425572"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1796425573"></span>). Back then, Madam Pele was drooling a bit near Pahoa, providing every man and his volcano-sniffing dog a dramatic selfie moment (of which I am guilty, as you can see). </div>
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In May 2018, she's way more antsy. The news is ablaze with images of roiling fissures opening up all along the half-mile wide, 30-mile long East Rift Zone, which runs just south of my subdivision. The odds of the Kilauea Volcano erupting were slated as 50 in 700 years last time I looked, and this time, Leilani Estates is one unlucky subdivision. My sliver is about 4 miles north of the fissure, as you can see from the red circle on the map below (thank you <a href="http://bigislandnow.com/">http://bigislandnow.com</a>): </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-apfm1_XQfsQ/Wvuz40tRoXI/AAAAAAAAUBY/hpMJmlK1MGEj0l4ZqMPzYDjjN0vVozcdACLcBGAs/s1600/2018-eruption-lava-flow-map.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="748" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-apfm1_XQfsQ/Wvuz40tRoXI/AAAAAAAAUBY/hpMJmlK1MGEj0l4ZqMPzYDjjN0vVozcdACLcBGAs/s640/2018-eruption-lava-flow-map.jpg" width="419" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sibdivision, Nanawale estates, is circled in red; my land is on the northern edge farthest from the yellow fissure zone </td></tr>
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Here's a map from Dr Mark Kimura's site showing population affected in the area - my subdivision has 1, 826 residents as of 2015:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ESwgBthoTbE/Wvz4WbpqVFI/AAAAAAAAUBo/m2SdSlR9AhAHOfbC-PX7ju_MNUsixF81ACLcBGAs/s1600/2018-Hawaii-volcano-population-map-1335918.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ESwgBthoTbE/Wvz4WbpqVFI/AAAAAAAAUBo/m2SdSlR9AhAHOfbC-PX7ju_MNUsixF81ACLcBGAs/s640/2018-Hawaii-volcano-population-map-1335918.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This map comes from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lowerpuna/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr Mark Kimura's Facebook page</a>. He also suggests following this page <a href="https://www.punalavaflow2018.com/">https://www.punalavaflow2018.com/</a></td></tr>
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You can see another zoomy-handy interactive map <a href="https://hawaiicountygis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3428cd9282ff431c865eb32761793078" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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"The issue is not so much lava hitting Nanawale and surrounds, but the sulfur fumes," said my Big Island pal JB Friday, a professional forester who lives a safe 20 miles away in the main town of Hilo.<br />
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Some people are lucky to have friends who can put them up in a distant nabe, others are sticking it out. The stock price of gasmasks must be at an all time high.<br />
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According to JB, roads are being closed, but residents in certain areas like Kapoho, close to the coast, can escape north via a secondary, if a bit muddy and potholed, road.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1zxr6WlmGn0/Wv8NTmrBzsI/AAAAAAAAUCE/jIlQ2Smlc_U_uPkoTlYd2N2Eb_8Ugn3RwCLcBGAs/s1600/anno-kobsa-volcano-may2018.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1zxr6WlmGn0/Wv8NTmrBzsI/AAAAAAAAUCE/jIlQ2Smlc_U_uPkoTlYd2N2Eb_8Ugn3RwCLcBGAs/s640/anno-kobsa-volcano-may2018.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Ann Kobsa's personal paradise during the 2018 lava flow. It's close, but she's not goin' anywhere fast! </td></tr>
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"No need," says my friend <a href="http://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2006/02/gal-in-hawaii-february-2006-update.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ann Kobsa</a> whose charmed, 99% sustainable life I have rhapsodized in the past. "I am fine, as is my land. The air is fresh here thanks steady trade winds. The closest fissure is probably 1.5 miles away. I can hear the booming when it has gas explosions and I see a red orange glow at night. The flow from that fissure is over 2 miles long, currently headed downhill toward the Warm Pond."<br />
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Ann was kind enough to send the above shot of the view from her roof.<br />
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"Here's the gas plume from fissure 17, about 2 miles to the south, taken from my roof this morning. It is glowing red-orange now, in the dark, but my camera won't capture more than a blur. No, I'm not stuck!"<br />
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She added: "Nanawale and Kapoho have good air as long as the trades keep blowing - <a href="http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/vmap/hysplit/animate.cgi?domain=bigis&variable=so2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here is a mode</a>l of SO2 emissions from the various vents of Kilauea."<br />
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The value of my land has been steadily falling over the years and I daresay it must be close to the price of a bar fridge by now...if it hasn't already fallen in Pele's boiling cauldron it's definitely sniffing distance as of May 2018.<br />
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For those of us who bought land relatively cheaply over the past few years) ($500-$70,000 depending on when you bought), it has been a modest price to pay for the sheer fun of saying "I have a piece of land in Hawaii" and blogging about it. However, with taxes for vacant land now around $200 a year plus another $100 or so for community association fees (yes, Nanawale is actually subdivision with a basketball court and people living there), it may be time for some of us to give up the dream. I was given the wise advice: if you're not going to build on a piece of land within 2 years of buying (except if you're investing and you know it's going to be a slam dunk) - you probably shouldn't be buying.<br />
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The internet is ablaze with late-breaking reports, and this <a href="https://www.punalavaflow2018.com/other-news" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Puna Lava Flow site</a> has a good summary of links to the latest, including where to donate - please feel fee to support those who have lost their homes and livelihoods to Madam Pele.<br />
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<b>UPDATE DEC 2014: </b>As you may have read, Pele has stirred from his/her long siesta and is heading toward the little hippie town of Pahoa, a couple of miles from my land. Today, they <a href="http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2014/12/20/video-railroad-avenue-opens-blessing/" target="_blank">opened up the backroad, Railroad Avenue</a>, a formerly boggy trail that I got stuck in while biking through it with my friend Ann Kobsa. What a ride that was ... darkness fell like an axe, and as we neared the house we heard shuffling and grunting. "Wild boar," said Ann, who left my jaw agape when she told me she hunted them and made sausages from the meat and soap from the fat. "I'll go inside and get a gun. You can go inside or come along if you like." Needless to say I beat it up the stairs faster than you can say "Miss Piggy..."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ogidv7hO18E/XAw7OnJV1vI/AAAAAAAAVP8/OTH-tyOj_FU0b26Wo6jnaIRVJMFbWn-rQCLcBGAs/s1600/20140910_flow_map_large.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ogidv7hO18E/XAw7OnJV1vI/AAAAAAAAVP8/OTH-tyOj_FU0b26Wo6jnaIRVJMFbWn-rQCLcBGAs/s640/20140910_flow_map_large.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lava is oozing... </td></tr>
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UPDATE <strike>MARCH</strike> DECEMBER 2010: Holy helmet redux! The prices of land in Nanawale has fallen to around 5-6K a lot. Even better! About time land was priced knowing that you can never really "own it" - because it will outlive you. <a href="http://www.nanawaleestates.com/">Nanawale Estates Site</a> lets you check out the links to past month-by-month house/land sales. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DAz3SK7sfag/TRORvzldLnI/AAAAAAAABiQ/gJpfqlibRJY/s1600/lynpahoalot07-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DAz3SK7sfag/TRORvzldLnI/AAAAAAAABiQ/gJpfqlibRJY/s640/lynpahoalot07-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, stuff does grow in lava. All by itself too ... March 2008</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Planting a black sugar cane on my little piece of Hawaii ... March 2008</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So what to build on a postage stamp? I know the picture below is totally at odds with the rest of the shots on this page, but I totally love it - the <a href="http://weehouse.com/" target="_blank">Weehouse by Alchemy Architects</a>:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-tQ6nruuLU/T4L7hDdEELI/AAAAAAAACnk/jTJmQwseC9g/s1600/weehouse2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-tQ6nruuLU/T4L7hDdEELI/AAAAAAAACnk/jTJmQwseC9g/s640/weehouse2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And I'm dreaming about this one too: the <a href="http://www.zenkaya.com/" target="_blank">Zenkaya house</a>:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eudKOlkxQB8/T4L7pfWQP-I/AAAAAAAACns/fiBSD_JggfU/s1600/zenkaya-house.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eudKOlkxQB8/T4L7pfWQP-I/AAAAAAAACns/fiBSD_JggfU/s640/zenkaya-house.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">UPDATE, September 2007: Holy helmet! The prices of land in Nanawale have fallen to around $13-15K a lot. This is wonderful news. Perhaps more of my friends will actually buy up postage stamp of their own so they can paste themselves right next to me ...</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/images/bigislandmap.jpg" target="_blank"><img align="right" src="https://www.galfromdownunder.com/images/WEB-bigislandmap240.jpg" style="margin-left: 5px;" /></a> <b>That's The Gal Esq. to you</b>. I am now officially the owner of a postage-stamp sized piece of turf - or rather, lava, fern and ohia tree - on the Big Island, Hawaii. It's in the <a href="http://www.nanawaleestates.com/">Nanawale Estates</a> subdivision in the far east region of the island, about 18 flat bikeable miles south of the clapboard town of Hilo and about just over a mile from the cool hippie pueblo of Pahoa, off Hwy 130 (click on color map). <br />
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I looked at land in the Big Island 2005<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif"> when prices were more like $5-10K a sliver, but kept procrastinating until they rose to around $20-30K in the cheapest areas. This time I thought, I can't retire on 20kbin the white western world - what the heck, I'll buy it. Now I can tell myself 'I own a piece of land in Hawaii' even though I have no immediate plans to move there. Think of it as forced savings. Property tax is just $100 a year, there's no time limit to build. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dear friend "99% Sustainable Ann Kobsa" who "wrote the book" on living a lush life on lava .<br />
<a href="http://bikefriday.com/annkobsa">Read about Ann Kobsa</a></td></tr>
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The lot is in a largely undeveloped, unmanicured (thank Bhudda) and admittedly, the area got a bad rap at one time for its lowlife. But, as my real estate savvy biker friend <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=177338640391131665&postID=8318737712387857743" rhef="http://www.dibella.biz/cycle">Charles</a> said, good deals usually have to come up from somewhere less salubrious - if it's already yuppified, it's already unaffordable. (I think the correct word is 'emerging' as in 'emerging markets'). It reminds me of Costa Rica where I lived for 2 years. Just down the road in a more southerly direction you can, for $15-20K, purchase a cheapish slab of solid, unspadeable lava in the nearby Kalapana region to erect your architecturally significant, Gehry-inspired yurt-on-stilts. That same money can buy you an acre of windswept wilderness in the frontiering southern Kau region of the island. See <a href="http://www.hawaiiinformation.com/">this website</a> for this week's cooled magma deals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DAz3SK7sfag/TRObbEyjODI/AAAAAAAABik/n_y8QZnjUmU/s1600/P1030861a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DAz3SK7sfag/TRObbEyjODI/AAAAAAAABik/n_y8QZnjUmU/s640/P1030861a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lava flow map of the Puna region of the Big Island, showing the Nanawale Estates Subdivision.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DAz3SK7sfag/TROZ_TMdVcI/AAAAAAAABig/KOktyEAZSyU/s1600/P1030860a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DAz3SK7sfag/TROZ_TMdVcI/AAAAAAAABig/KOktyEAZSyU/s640/P1030860a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing the exact location of my land. Note that the light purple areas in the middle are<br />
the most forested - "old growth".<br />
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But what about da volcano (visions of Pompeii scroll beneath swaying palms and pina coladas)? Well, it's not like the Big Island is Mt Etna - for the most part its eruptions are slow flowing, and in the past there's been plenty of time to back up your laptop, feed the cat and drive to a higher place. But then again, you never know and that's what keeps prices down. </div>
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What I do notice is that there is a bouyant calm about people there, not the paved-in quiet desperation of the average urban man on the mainland. Perhaps the hot, churning movement deep underfoot, and the solid wall of lava covering the double-yellow lines of a former main road make us appreciate that end of the day, you own nothing. And there's <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">something thrilling about the very basic ingredients needed to sustain life - sun and water - falling freely out of the sky into your back yard for you to use (many here have solar panels and catchment tanks) and no oil consortium or government or utitility company can stop it. </span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">Down in the south the lava is pouring into the sea, day and night, making new land. If it covers my yurt, wait til it cools, come back, dig it up or build right over the top just like everyone else. See the volcano movies and photo galleries in my </span><a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/hawaii" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light", HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Hawaii Chronicles</a><span face=""helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif">.</span></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nanawale+Estates,+HI+96778/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x795230a47a7e5a3d:0x9430ed1cc4f0c04b?ved=2ahUKEwiljMq5iZHfAhWOylkKHdQ_DDAQ8gEwAHoECAEQAQ" target="_blank"> Click here for a Google Maps view of the Nanawale Subdivision</a></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1NSQIr7avc/XAwy3hkoGRI/AAAAAAAAVOY/cj4M2GSsDX0DyrE7sgiit-3o0TpUTafCQCLcBGAs/s1600/WEB-pahoa-lot640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1NSQIr7avc/XAwy3hkoGRI/AAAAAAAAVOY/cj4M2GSsDX0DyrE7sgiit-3o0TpUTafCQCLcBGAs/s640/WEB-pahoa-lot640.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks a bit underwhelming from the road... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1FpOu8coeJM/XAwz6P76BYI/AAAAAAAAVOk/g0w84CnSC8EH4SDA2kptWjIqsv3p8naXACLcBGAs/s1600/P1030875.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1FpOu8coeJM/XAwz6P76BYI/AAAAAAAAVOk/g0w84CnSC8EH4SDA2kptWjIqsv3p8naXACLcBGAs/s640/P1030875.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My land is around where it says "81" in a circle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXgsMrBYGGs/XAw2gYPdWVI/AAAAAAAAVOw/9ew7d2T4b28-flQAfXxNw9dajZ-v9mOJgCLcBGAs/s1600/P1030803.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXgsMrBYGGs/XAw2gYPdWVI/AAAAAAAAVOw/9ew7d2T4b28-flQAfXxNw9dajZ-v9mOJgCLcBGAs/s640/P1030803.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right to Pahoa Village, straight ahead to the black sand beach and lava-leveled town of Kalapana, and left to the subdivisions</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vaUnUdhI4xY/XAw2gYv-H7I/AAAAAAAAVO4/9QJce_b8ctQ4vzaXlDxYG3A99-GNJguPACLcBGAs/s1600/P1030810.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vaUnUdhI4xY/XAw2gYv-H7I/AAAAAAAAVO4/9QJce_b8ctQ4vzaXlDxYG3A99-GNJguPACLcBGAs/s640/P1030810.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The quaint hippie town of Pahoa - a library, internet cafe, wholefoods market and thai restaurant - what else do you need? </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KSFtC5OZ1v8/XAw2g68C3sI/AAAAAAAAVO8/6ovQhVqtKIQdzlDUGd7BkjVca_CrltEywCLcBGAs/s1600/P1030812.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KSFtC5OZ1v8/XAw2g68C3sI/AAAAAAAAVO8/6ovQhVqtKIQdzlDUGd7BkjVca_CrltEywCLcBGAs/s640/P1030812.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turn off to the Nanawale Subdivision</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oE7oVXYrGXQ/XAw2hTvYdcI/AAAAAAAAVPA/fsyFu0El5isSdOmHFg79i8FhiahX7VVlwCLcBGAs/s1600/P1030813.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oE7oVXYrGXQ/XAw2hTvYdcI/AAAAAAAAVPA/fsyFu0El5isSdOmHFg79i8FhiahX7VVlwCLcBGAs/s640/P1030813.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the 7 mile road to the beach, the albezia trees are beautiful but vulnerable to gravity</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ODzLcM9_Fdo/XAw55lbe61I/AAAAAAAAVPw/0TINyd56CAULmE-sPeGqlJ5pUbvRtNGRQCEwYBhgL/s1600/P1030816.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ODzLcM9_Fdo/XAw55lbe61I/AAAAAAAAVPw/0TINyd56CAULmE-sPeGqlJ5pUbvRtNGRQCEwYBhgL/s640/P1030816.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful but bittle canopy...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnyOMRjQDCU/XAw55EtgwkI/AAAAAAAAVPs/zxIJvTYeW3cX2b--9hmKBz3KxlOoiRujQCEwYBhgL/s1600/P1030819.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnyOMRjQDCU/XAw55EtgwkI/AAAAAAAAVPs/zxIJvTYeW3cX2b--9hmKBz3KxlOoiRujQCEwYBhgL/s640/P1030819.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papaya farms flank the road to the beach... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtlwCnvNDfM/XAw2ifMOy8I/AAAAAAAAVPI/GF3pBm5UJ7Qdtk6dZ5xt_CbEs0e9-2iVACLcBGAs/s1600/P1030827.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtlwCnvNDfM/XAw2ifMOy8I/AAAAAAAAVPI/GF3pBm5UJ7Qdtk6dZ5xt_CbEs0e9-2iVACLcBGAs/s640/P1030827.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And soon the scenery starts to give way to the stark remainders - and reminder - of the last flow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lnuo6Hkxv5g/XAw6vbFVtYI/AAAAAAAAVP4/oNnmtx9V-V8e_vgqYpK96-bO2RhYuvvtQCEwYBhgL/s1600/P1030913-lava-rock.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lnuo6Hkxv5g/XAw6vbFVtYI/AAAAAAAAVP4/oNnmtx9V-V8e_vgqYpK96-bO2RhYuvvtQCEwYBhgL/s640/P1030913-lava-rock.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tide pools that are now, as of the 2018 flow, more "land." </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SUtWEOeuDZ8/XAw2ge-oWEI/AAAAAAAAVO0/bykwTAa0reAgSMTJ3uxGwldYp47tHFq5wCLcBGAs/s1600/P1030801.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SUtWEOeuDZ8/XAw2ge-oWEI/AAAAAAAAVO0/bykwTAa0reAgSMTJ3uxGwldYp47tHFq5wCLcBGAs/s640/P1030801.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical Pahoa structure </td></tr>
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Why The Big Island? Just take a look at the way my car-free friend Ann Kobsa lives, 99% self-sustainable, in my <a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/hawaii">Hawaii Chronicles</a> and you'll see why, thanks to that sun and rain falling freely and copiously in Hawaii. I plan to maybe cut a little trail into it, camp on it, grow some papaya trees and vanilla ... </div>
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<a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/images/pahoa-lot-map-block.pdf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="left" src="https://www.galfromdownunder.com/images/WEB-pahoa-lot-map-parcel.gif" style="margin-right: 5px;" /></a></div>
I do believe that if everyone had a little piece of land to put up a roof and grow a papaya tree, there'd be less war. Look the misery in the world - much of it is about not not having a place for your footprint, fighting over a slivers of land. The notion of even having to buy a piece of land is bizarre; it will survive every puny body on this planet. Even the chunk of Maui owned by the mighty Oprah (who felt the need to buy up and fence off an entire hunk of coastline because "god's not making it anymore"). We're only borrowing it; the native Indians knew all about that, but that's whole other philosophical discussion.<br />
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I'd love it if people I knew bought a lot near me ... to be part of my community. </div>
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For those who want to buy a similar, 8400 sq ft (1/5 acre) lot near the really neat, hippie-ish town of Pahoa (good internet, library, wholefoods store, Thai restaurant etc) you can contact two nice realtors below Wally Chastain or Geri Tolchin, and study <a href="http://www.hawaiiinformation.com/">this site</a>. <br />
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<b>Click on photo below to wander around my postage stamp piece of Hawaii (3.5 Mb Quicktime movie clip)</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw6LK9wTPAhT-XnmRz1sZqqxWAWLmfaQXn2WFWfzhPAlqkjBIMBy5DXlNDiWyKpFtEVCIJBM0vrgNLRqukQRQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b>SOME LINKS<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><br />
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<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/galleries/hi06-bigisland-gallery/index_4.html" target="_blank">Photo Gallery</a></span></b> of the approach to the subdivision by bicycle</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">This is how my friend <a href="http://www.bikefriday.com/community/what_do_you_do/ann_kobsa_car_free" target="_blank">99% Sustainable Ann Kobsa</a> lives off the grid nearby<br />
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<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Two realtors I really like who can sell you this stuff - they live in the subdivision, not far from me, and I have even stayed with them:<br />
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<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Wally Chastin wally at wallywchastain dot com</span></b></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Geri Tolchin tolchina at msn dot com</span></b></li>
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<li><a href="http://www.nanawaleestates.com/">Nanawale Estates Site</a> Check out the links to past month-by-month house/land sales</li>
<li><a href="http://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2008/02/using-minimum-material-to-build-maximum.html">A Cal-Earth House</a> being built up the road (2008)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.hawaiiinformation.com/">Look for land in Hawaii</a> A good starting point</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nanawaleestates.com/">Month by Month Sales Data for Nanawale</a> and other interesting links</li>
<li><a href="http://www.hawaiipropertytax.com/">Hawaii Property tax site</a> You can see if your neighbors are paying their tax :o)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.hawaii-county.com/">Hawaii County Website</a> For residents and landowners</li>
<li><a href="http://www.hilojohn.com/docs/maps/NanawaleEstatesTopoMap.pdf" target="_blank">Nanawale Topo map</a> of the entire subdivision (thanks to hilojohn.com for that link)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bigisleproperties.com/NanawaleEstates.htm">Another Nanawale real estate site</a> with pics of other areas in the subdivision</li>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-76723587044300018612018-03-03T13:34:00.000-08:002018-03-06T14:50:35.023-08:00BOOK REVIEW: On teaching kids about people of color (blue) - Danny Blue's Really Excellent Dream by Max Landrak<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cbca.org.au/book/danny-blue-s-really-excellent-dream" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Children's Book Council Picture Book of the Year - Notable Book</a>: <br />
An excellent book for teaching kids (and the rest of us) about diversity - or at least being a bit different</td></tr>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Once in a </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">blue moon, </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">everyone has </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">a really, </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">really</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">excellent</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">dream. </span></i></div>
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How easy is it to write a good 10-and-under children's book?<br />
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Flip through the dozens of thin, large-format offerings in the 10-and-under kids section of any bookstore and you think, c'mon, how hard can that be? Large type, short sentences, the occasional big word thrown in (because kids these days listen to your business calls) and of course, cutesy illustrations - not photos. <i>Drawings please. </i><br />
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Hey, my kid could do that!<br />
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But flip a little slower and you'll discover just what it takes to achieve that winning trifecta: a fresh, engaging voice that's accessible but not infantile; a plot that's uncomplicated but not predictable; a visual treatment you feel you haven't seen somewhere else before ... all laddering up to a stunning central premise that's carried unslavishly to the final endpaper. And if it's also a parable without being preachy, all the better. Once in a blue moon, a book nails it.<br />
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<i>Danny Blue's Really Excellent Dream</i> by Australian-Norwegian author, art director and illustrator Max Landrak is a beautifully crafted modern parable, centered around the personal growth of its central character, Danny Blue.<br />
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Danny's world is blue to the core (and we're just talking about color here, not clinical depression - that's a dozen other kid's books). He has a dream about something "not blue," but lacks the "not blue" vocabulary to describe it. So he sets about trying to create it in the basement of his father's business, conveniently a paint factory. He succeeds, but as you'd expect, his new discovery is met with horror and rejection by all and sundry, before being tolerated, accepted, embraced and eventually even coveted. All it needs is a name...<br />
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OK, you can see where this is going - the story alludes to diversity, tolerance, outgrowing one's personal prejudices and preconceptions and making the world a better, more inclusive place. But that's not to take away from its ability to entrance and enlighten the reader, even a grownup reader.<br />
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The words are so carefully chosen, it's almost like reading haiku without the obtuseness. Not surprising, as Max is an award-winning advertising industry pro, where the mantra is "there more you say, the less people hear" and "say it straight, then say it great." The sprinkling of "blue" puns (Blue York et al) are well chosen so as to support rather than cutesify* the story.<br />
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Being a story about a single color, the visual presentation might have been a bit tricky to pull off. Max's lyrical illustrations do a lot of the heavy, or rather, delicate lifting here. There's an uncloying charm to Danny's dropped ears and high, or rather, absent philtrum (go ahead, Google it) that channels <a href="https://simonscat.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simon's Cat</a> sans the mischief, <a href="http://www.leunig.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Leunig</a> sans the angst and <a href="https://bombmagazine.org/articles/chris-wares-jimmy-corrigan-the-smartest-kid-on-earth/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jimmy Corrigan</a> sans the pathos. It would be tempting to go for a raging blue vibe al la <a href="http://www.dailyartmagazine.com/blue-yves-klein-must-know/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yves Klein</a>, but Max has chosen a subtle, restrained hand, as if, in all the strident media messaging around diversity, he's going for quiet thunder. Dysfunctionality central it's not, and that's actually kind of a relief.<br />
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The format is standard "children's book" i.e. magazine-sized hardcover - I would have loved to have seen this book published in a smaller format, with more pages and on a tactile board medium that you could prod and poke and flip back and forth, because each illustration is so apropos it deserves space to "breathe" on its own page.<br />
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Published by <a href="https://www.hachette.com.au/max-landrak/danny-blues-really-excellent-dream" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hachette Australia</a>, <i>Danny Blue </i>was was named an <a href="https://cbca.org.au/book/danny-blue-s-really-excellent-dream" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Australia Children's Book Council Notable Book</a> in the Picture Book of the Year category.<br />
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So it's a downunder publication, but Max tells me you'll soon be able to get copies in the USA. It remains to be seen if the only Aussie-centric word in the book gets 'mercanized for local audiences. Which is ...<br />
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*Is that even a word? Let's just call it "the copywriter busting out."<br />
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-11613325377141728332017-12-31T21:55:00.002-08:002018-01-01T10:56:33.540-08:00The handsomest cars in Cuba: a reader reports curbside<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">1959 Pontiac Bonneville. Photo by Lydia Bogner.</td></tr>
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One of the nicest things about writing a book is having readers pop up out of the woodwork and regale you with their tales of retracing your steps, doing it better, faster, slower, weirder (and even enthusing about some of the <a href="https://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2013/11/giving-thanks-for-memories-kosta-boda.html" target="_blank">same obscure obsessions</a> as you...)<br />
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Lydia Bogner, who hails from Massachusetts, discovered the Handsomest Man after taking a "lazy, 5 day cruise for my daughter and I, via Miami."<br />
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Finding your book at the library was pure serendipity and truly has strengthened and magnified my memories of our one day in Havana. Reading it enhanced both my understanding of the Cuban people and my memories. Having been to San Salvador 3 years ago, I can't help but compare the survival instincts of these 2 different cultures. Salvadoreans must survive the gang violence, and Cubans must work and eat one day at a time... </blockquote>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Love me, love my Cuban car</h2>
So what was the first thing Lydia went looking for in Cuba? Not the handsomest man, but handsomest cars!<br />
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I looked for cars like those that my father owned in the 50’s but never saw a '58 black and white Chrysler New Yorker, or a '56 black Mercury coupe. That quest and my love of Cuban coffee might be reason to return.</blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1957 Green Ford Ranch Wagon. Photo by Lydia Bogner.</td></tr>
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The owner of this 1949 red Chevrolet convertible told us that his cousin lives in Miami and restores the upholstery of cars damaged by hurricanes. The interior of this car was showroom fabulous!</blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1949 red Chevrolet convertible. Photo by Lydia Bogner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VOubbS3xtfY/WknCYRWCIGI/AAAAAAAANig/CVC4QlnCn7gtp4LM_HphvBiLRCIOPXBLQCLcBGAs/s1600/car5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="716" height="278" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VOubbS3xtfY/WknCYRWCIGI/AAAAAAAANig/CVC4QlnCn7gtp4LM_HphvBiLRCIOPXBLQCLcBGAs/s400/car5.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1956 Dodge Lancer convertible. Photo by Lydia Bogner.</td></tr>
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Last but not least, an amazing 1959 Cadillac Eldorado, 4 speed automatic with a “curb weight” of 4700 pounds (car factoid from an envious friend).</blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pb-wBoKu1DM/WknC1vtKEII/AAAAAAAANik/BjSS2f-JdpEbXKuCUmpK5ayWv4j-c-qpQCLcBGAs/s1600/car6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="755" height="206" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pb-wBoKu1DM/WknC1vtKEII/AAAAAAAANik/BjSS2f-JdpEbXKuCUmpK5ayWv4j-c-qpQCLcBGAs/s400/car6.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1959 Cadillac Eldorado. Photo by Lydia Bogner.</td></tr>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Fusterlandia: a ceramics kingdom in Havana</h2>
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1950 Chevy sedan outside Fusterlandia. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo by Lydia Bogner.</span></div>
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The first stop on our bus tour was Fusterlandia,<i> </i>an ongoing community ceramic project, the best part of which was some amazing crafts for sale.</blockquote>
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Lydia visited a place that I never saw back in 2000: the rambling, mosaic-tiled neighborhood called <a href="https://havana-club.com/en-ww/havana-cultura/jos%C3%A9-fuster" target="_blank">Fusterlandia</a> <i>[thank you havana-club.com for a great page] </i>ruled by artist Jose Fuster. In hindsight, I think the ice cream parlor I describe in the opening chapter of my book might have been the handiwork of Jose:</div>
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<i>Nearby, the angular concrete silhouette of the Coppelia icecream parlor rises from the shrubs like a misplaced sphinx. In the ensuing weeks I will see different architectural incarnations of Cuba’s premier ice creamery, each one a brutal confection resembling one of the triple-scoop specials stuck with wafers, studded with nuts, and melting. It looks like the architect was given uncharacteristically free reign, perhaps gleaning his inspiration from black-and-white footage of the Sydney Opera House, Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, and Battlestar Galactica seen on Cuba’s only television soap opera channel, all the while deeply inhaling the illicit weed. </i><br />
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<i><br />Inside, however, the experience is distinctly watered-down vanilla. An overstaffed counter dispenses mushy scoops of something cold and clammy in little steel cups to the smattering of patrons seated at the metal tables in wire chairs. The flavor of the day is melon. For the adventurous there are also strawberryand chocolate. Häagen-Dazs it’s not, but we agree that the place has a unique flavor...</i></div>
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<i>- <a href="http://handsomestmanincuba.com/" target="_blank">The Handsomest Man in Cuba</a>, Chapter 1</i></div>
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Cuban architecture</h2>
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The deterioration of the terminal building is very sad to see, only one quarter of the building is open and functional </blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo by Lydia Bogner.</span></td></tr>
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A brief conversation with a young man in front of one of the big hotels led us to dinner in a paladare, a private home where the living room had been converted into a part time business (and very delicious grilled mango chicken):</blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The paladare on O'Reilly Calle was fabulous." <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo by Lydia Bogner.</span></td></tr>
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The majority of homes in Havana are bare concrete, which must be pre-Fidel concrete as these are the buildings that still stand. Some houses are being painted bright, happy colors:</blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qg5jqPkzQSk/WknKbWuiCXI/AAAAAAAANjE/heww3mbCMsA9amilBzLeW61t3CAW6t4DgCLcBGAs/s1600/Blue%2Bhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="891" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qg5jqPkzQSk/WknKbWuiCXI/AAAAAAAANjE/heww3mbCMsA9amilBzLeW61t3CAW6t4DgCLcBGAs/s400/Blue%2Bhouse.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Lydia Bogner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Lydia Bogner.</td></tr>
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However, it is sad to see many skinny, malnourished dogs roaming the city. They do not bother tourists or citizens. The hundred year old architecture is amazing: </blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaza de San Francisco. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo by Lydia Bogner.</span></td></tr>
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<i>Have you read the Handsomest Man and have tales to share here? <a href="mailto:galfromdownunder@gmail.com" target="_blank">Tell me about it - I'd love to share it here</a>.</i><br />
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<a href="http://handsomestmanincuba.com/" target="_blank"><i>Read The Handsomest Man in Cuba</i></a></div>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-51968920822571161322017-11-25T10:10:00.003-08:002017-11-30T22:46:31.575-08:00Thanksgiving in NYC: The Rent Stabilized Model<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A WHILE back, I organized the odd thanksgiving for NYC transplants and itinerants, aka “orphans.”<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey with all the trimmings beckons from inside...</td></tr>
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Well, there must have been a lot of subsequent adoptions because this year, beau and I found ourselves to be the only orphans without invites in town. So we decided to do as the rent-stabilized might and the rent-controlled do, and seek out some turkey action at a local diner.<br />
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But to work up an appetite, why not bookend a Thanksgiving meal with a bit of New York starchitecture, conveniently served hot and happening along the Highline? <span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #4b4f56; display: inline; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: -0.11999999731779099px; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
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See that gobletty thing wedged between the buildings? That's <a href="https://www.dezeen.com/2016/09/14/thomas-heatherwick-design-vessel-staircase-sculpture-hudson-yards-new-york/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thomas Heatherwick’s "Vessel</a>," a honeycomb-like structure made of interlocking staircases, soon to be populated by thousands of bodies, aka the gum-chewing, selfie-snapping public. Like <a href="https://www.designboom.com/architecture/santiago-calatrava-oculus-world-trade-center-transportation-hub-hufton-crow-new-york-08-30-2016/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Calatrava's Oculus</a>, it looks like it's elbowing for room in a subway car between those adjacent towers, but that's New York for you.<br />
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There are also a bunch of art installations flanking the Highline. <a href="http://art.thehighline.org/project/sheilahicks/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Here's one of the “sculptures”</a> which I mistook for discarded construction pipe waiting to be coiled up and cleared away:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">Sheila Hicks<br />
Hop, Skip, Jump, and Fly: Escape From Gravity</td></tr>
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And so to the diner. Nearby at a fave restaurant, the Thanksgiving prix fixe was ~$50 plus tax and tip. At the modest Chelsea Square Restaurant (aka diner), a 4-course Thanksgiving meal was advertised at $31.95. How bad could it be? How hard is it to execute - reasonably well - a meal people have been executing for centuries?<br />
<br />
So in we went. You'll have to excuse the blurry photo below. which I <a href="https://www.zomato.com/new-york-city/chelsea-square-restaurant-chelsea-manhattan" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">borrowed</a> temporarily from zomato.com, as I wasn't in a selfie-snapping mood on entry, but that little table is exactly where we sat.<br />
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Outside, a homeless man stood asking for $2 for coffee. Inside, there was lots of coffee and a few cozy booths. Let’s give it a whirl. Here's the menu...<br />
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\And here's the deal. Gad, there’s even duck on the menu. Again, how bad can it be?<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.11999999731779099px;"><br /></span>
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The bread basket consisted of challah and a pumpkin raisin loaf interspersed with soup crackers. And real butter pats, not margarine. Things are looking promising... <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "sf optimized" , , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.11999999731779099px;"><br /></span>
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The chicken noodle soup was actually pretty good - with a strong suggestion of both chicken and noodles.<br />
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The beau had matzo ball soup - a kind of white meat stock with small planet made of a thousand crumbled Ritz Crackers bobbing in it. It wasn’t great - a bit mushy, but you’re talking to an Asian dumpling connoisseur here. I suspect a great matzo ball has a certain sponginess and flavor, right? Please, could Jewish matzo ball gourmands weigh in?<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/david.meltzer.148?fref=ufi">David Meltzer</a>, a fellow cyclist and matzo ball aficionado, did indeed weigh in: "Matzoh balls come in two distinct brackets - "Sinkers" and "Floaters" I am a sinker fan - but am likely in the minority. Come to the Canarsie Ride Sunday - Lunch stop is Mill Basin Kosher Deli - and their chicken soup ROCKS!"<br />
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Suddenly, we notice the homeless man is now sitting inside behind us. He’s being brought food. Nice to see a bit of largesse prevailing on Thanksgiving. A bit later, he sticks his foot out and trips a server. "Your homeless friend is wearing a North Face jacket," notes a pal on social media. Ah, but you've no idea what the thrift stores in Manhattan are full of...</div>
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Waiting for the main course, we gaze up to see a big advertisement to come back for breakfast - a captivating array of cereal boxes. Above those is a constellation of signed photos of obscure celebrity with the exception of Frank Sinatra. But they weren’t playing Frank. They were playing Jay-Z. </div>
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Now here's where things start to fall apart. Vegetarians please read no further... </div>
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I admit I made a mistake. I casually commented that I (like most Asians) prefer the dark meat. A lot of Asian restaurants have substituted breast meat in dishes that should have dark meat (like ginger claypot chicken), proclaiming "white men don't eat dark meat." This capitulation is an expensive mistake - it utterly ruins the dish. <br />
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The server must have communicated my comment to the kitchen because this is what landed in front of me...<br />
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Now before you think I ordered the Turducken, this is a hybrid shot our shared plates. In the foreground is dark meat turkey, looking like it's been masticated then regurgitated (but I assure you not by me). Immediately behind is half a Long Island duck. Fricaseed bill ‘n’ all. The menu said roasted. I suspect it was plunged in the deep fryer, because it's faster.</div>
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And so to the sides: mashed turnip, gravy, spinach and garlic, fries, candied sweet potato. </div>
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I originally ordered the asparagus. The server came out and said, “no asparagus. You want broccoli gratin?” I said, ok, broccoli gratin. The server came out again. “No broccoli gratin. You want mash turnip?” I said, ok, mash turnip. <br />
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The dessert was a slice of pumpkin pie or coconut cream pie, which we ate half of before I got a chance to shoot it. But you know what they look like, and it's probably the thing diners like this do best.<br />
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And the after dinner mint? A stroll by a portion of the old High Line that has been preserved in its messy, unkempt, and weedy state. It shows us how it was before the starchitects and hipsters moved in with their aperitifs, tofurkey, duck confit and Martha-Stewart magazine-perfect Thanksgiving dinners...<br />
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This was not one of them. But I'm still thankful. I think.</div>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-86262563572519151912017-03-22T04:11:00.002-07:002023-01-18T13:46:40.655-08:00Product Review: The Rinsten Spring Shock Absorber for bicycles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rinsten Spring on a Bike Friday</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<o:p> </o:p>Pros:</h3>
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<li>Simple device, fits on any bike</li>
<li>Accommodates riders up to 150 kg (330 lbs)</li>
<li>Appears to work, good on small wheeled bikes</li>
<li>Minimalist aesthetic</li>
<li>Relatively Inexpensive</li>
</ul>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Considerations:</h3>
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<li>You can’t as easily carry your bike upstairs on your
shoulder</li>
<li>Gets in the way of your toolbag</li>
<li>You may need to cut down your seatpost to make it the right
height</li>
<li>Some may not like the “oscillating” sensation</li>
<li>Adds 392g (0.85 lb)</li>
</ul>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
VIDEO: A glimpse from the road</h4>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="253" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DYsLUhGsT0s" width="450"></iframe>
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I WAS recently contacted by a mysterious person on LinkedIn,
asking if I’d test a new bicycle shock absorber. The contact had a rather long, rather
foreign-looking name, and I confess my first reaction was to dismiss it as a
scammer from Russia along with the zillions of emails I get from factories in
China asking if I want to order some traffic cones (yes, I’m the inventor of the
<b><a href="http://www.trafficconebag.com/" target="_blank">Traffic Cone Bag</a></b>). <o:p></o:p><br />
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But since I was heading out of the New York tundra and into a perfect Australian summer, I said, sure, beam it over!<br />
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When I
arrived in Sydney and the package landed on my mother’s doorstep I hesitated to
open it, wondering if I should wave a bomb detector over it - is this what ‘merica
has done to me? <br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
What is the Rinston Spring? </h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 easy pieces - and no, it doesn't go on the handlebars like this. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rinsten Spring fitted to my Bike Friday Pocket Rocket Pro with Terry Ti Men's Fly saddle</td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Rinsten Spring a heavy duty, U-shaped metal loop with a 4-piece clamp
that functions as a kind of “leaf spring” - it claims to absorb shock on any kind
of bicycle. The “upper tier” of the loop clamps to your seat rails, and the “lower
tier” clamps to your seat post, supposedly isolating your butt from any vibration traveling
up the seat post. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The
bump stops here” could well be its slogan…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The company</h3>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EM6FDVuRl1Y/WNJbuSXKvMI/AAAAAAAAI3w/Wu6Wmfv-R-gapsDfrDirOt8_u-N4Kwx-wCLcB/s1600/yurii.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EM6FDVuRl1Y/WNJbuSXKvMI/AAAAAAAAI3w/Wu6Wmfv-R-gapsDfrDirOt8_u-N4Kwx-wCLcB/s200/yurii.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The inventor is engineer and inventor Iurii Kopytsia, who hails from Kyiv, Ukraine. That’s all could find on him. The
Kickstarter campaign lists the company location as Redwood, CA, but Iurii tells me it's where they decided to launch - perhaps to appeal to 'merican viewers who might find a Ukranian zip code a little too um, exotic.<br />
<br />
The video on both the website and Kickstarter campaign
explains the product very clearly, though unfortunately<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> in the same kind of </span>infomercial voiceover they use for a miracle salad spinner or Dyson knock-off vacuum cleaner ... thankfully this is relieved towards the end of the video the charming
team speaking in their delightful Ukrainian accents. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Absorbed with shock absorbers </h3>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are many doohickies you can buy that attempt to
absorb road shock: suspension seat posts like the Cane Creek Thudbuster, suspension
forks, sprung saddles, hammock saddles (like the Brooks), split saddles (like the
Selle Anatomica), and suspended frames like the Softride, Bike Friday’s Air
Friday and the Moulton. <o:p></o:p></div>
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They all add weight and/or complication and/or goofiness, so
an advantage of the Rinsten Spring is its relatively minimalist aesthetic.
However, some weight weenies may not like having a bit over half a pound of metal added to their frame. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I ride a <a href="http://www.bikefriday.com/" target="_blank">Bike Friday</a> Pocket Rocket Pro, a 20” wheel performance folding bike. I've ridden this kind of bike for years, across countries with boneshaking roads like <a href="http://handsomestmanincuba.com/" target="_blank">Cuba</a>, Mexico, Costa Rica and across Route 66 - not least because I worked for the company as a <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/1649094/24-7-customer-evangelist-decade-across-dining-room-table" target="_blank">card-carrying Customer Evangelist for 9 years</a>.<br />
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Small wheeled bikes have many advantages, but one disadvantage is a potentially
harsher ride; big wheels do absorb more shock. It's just physics. Adding shock absorption helps reduce bodily fatigue - so you can ride longer. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hp74JsHuhco/WNJRnvWPVwI/AAAAAAAAI3k/eFEZR9GWHkYbh_lxY5OSS-fnZm72MZ-NACEw/s1600/cane%2Bcreek%2Bthudbuster.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hp74JsHuhco/WNJRnvWPVwI/AAAAAAAAI3k/eFEZR9GWHkYbh_lxY5OSS-fnZm72MZ-NACEw/w288-h640/cane%2Bcreek%2Bthudbuster.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cane Creed Thudbuster</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kktUe6C7l3k/WNJRnlpv40I/AAAAAAAAI3k/Sr6QTK-aeZI0qA-lY794y_IW0CgI8VgVACEw/s1600/Bike-Friday-AirFriday.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kktUe6C7l3k/WNJRnlpv40I/AAAAAAAAI3k/Sr6QTK-aeZI0qA-lY794y_IW0CgI8VgVACEw/w640-h430/Bike-Friday-AirFriday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike Friday Air Friday with suspended titanium beam - the company's spin on the Softride</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Fitting the spring</h3>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The spring consists of 5 parts: the U-shaped thingo, a
3-part anodized aluminum clamp for attaching to the saddle rails, and a large central
bolt that sandwiches it all together. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The 2 open prongs of the U shaped thingo point towards the back, much like two tiny rocket blasters. Once you manage to juggle the 3 clamps into place and bolt it through, you can slide
the saddle back and forth along the rails depending on how springy you want it.
It does take a bit of fiddling to get it all right, and if you have had a
professional bike fit you’d want to make sure you adjusted it to match. There are helpful calibrations that also give it the spring a seriously techhy look. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Be5Zj4LTk_Q/WNJflbLnFZI/AAAAAAAAI38/gSMFwcUNlDAR-Uut2xzrY1D-p5g1zcpIACLcB/s1600/galfromdownunder%2Brinsten%2B7%2BFeb%2B07%252C%2B11%2B05%2B17%2BPM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Be5Zj4LTk_Q/WNJflbLnFZI/AAAAAAAAI38/gSMFwcUNlDAR-Uut2xzrY1D-p5g1zcpIACLcB/w480-h640/galfromdownunder%2Brinsten%2B7%2BFeb%2B07%252C%2B11%2B05%2B17%2BPM.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from a tailgator. You could hang a cell phone charm off that lower loop...</td></tr>
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Being 5' nothing, I had to slide the spring to its limit on my seatpost and it was JUST low
enough; any further and I would have had to get my beautiful Thomson Elite seatpost cut
down. The website suggests that some may need to do this. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bummer alert: your toolbag faces eviction from its cozy home
under your seat – I managed to sandwich mine in the Spring's open maw by lashing it to the rails with velcro. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Another bummer: because the rails extend under the nose of the saddle, I was not be able to hoist my bike on my shoulder to carry it upstairs etc. This is probably not as much of a problem for people with "real" bikes - they can use the top tube.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HBoNRlY0fKs/WNJRopwgBII/AAAAAAAAI3k/3xWJicHccfU57O1bUokYY-rZVKr5rdWLgCEw/s1600/galfromdownunder%2Brinsten%2B3%2BFeb%2B07%252C%2B10%2B18%2B48%2BAM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HBoNRlY0fKs/WNJRopwgBII/AAAAAAAAI3k/3xWJicHccfU57O1bUokYY-rZVKr5rdWLgCEw/w640-h640/galfromdownunder%2Brinsten%2B3%2BFeb%2B07%252C%2B10%2B18%2B48%2BAM.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I managed to stuff my toolbag in Rinsten's mouth...</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
On the road</h3>
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I joined BikEast’s ride out to Watson’s Bay which is by and
large paved but with some rough stretches. I got a real sense that the spring was
doing its job as advertised – bumps were simply not as noticeable. I tend to ease up off on the seat
when roads are bumpy, and I notice I did not need to do that “stand on the
pedals” thing at all. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBUytEgrXpo/WNJRoR_MtOI/AAAAAAAAI3k/VC48lFwGBfgV4yj05TYqHL2odHCyQvBAgCEw/s1600/galfromdownunder%2Brinsten%2B10%2BFeb%2B23%252C%2B4%2B55%2B47%2BPM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBUytEgrXpo/WNJRoR_MtOI/AAAAAAAAI3k/VC48lFwGBfgV4yj05TYqHL2odHCyQvBAgCEw/w480-h640/galfromdownunder%2Brinsten%2B10%2BFeb%2B23%252C%2B4%2B55%2B47%2BPM.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The spring in action</td></tr>
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Over the course of several days riding, however, the seat started to feel like it was oscillating more and more. Coming loose, even. I kept reaching behind to check it, asking my companions
of all was well back there; the seat seemed secure. Then, suddenly – and fortunately
at low speed - my seat slid backwards off the rails and onto the road. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Holy helmet! </span>I guess I hadn’t used enough elbow grease to tighten that critical bolt...<br />
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So, that's an absolutely, positively must do… tighten it good, and check it now and
then. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps a pair of rubber stoppers on
the tip of each prong might be a good peace-of-mind modification. They could be
screaming pink to match my bike! <o:p></o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-28uU_FawNPk/WNJRqKfdjAI/AAAAAAAAI3k/kFuk8cBOB7IDzwBCvow4fmgSJOwoXY1kACEw/s1600/galfromdownunder%2Brinsten%2B8%2BFeb%2B23%252C%2B4%2B33%2B34%2BPM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-28uU_FawNPk/WNJRqKfdjAI/AAAAAAAAI3k/kFuk8cBOB7IDzwBCvow4fmgSJOwoXY1kACEw/w480-h640/galfromdownunder%2Brinsten%2B8%2BFeb%2B23%252C%2B4%2B33%2B34%2BPM.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice how the seat worked its way to the end - minutes later the saddle was on the road. So tighten that bolt hard! </td></tr>
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I checked with the developer who said they originally included threaded ball ends to prevent this very thing from happening. But after testing
it in the Ukraine with cyclists riding hundreds of kilometers, no one's seat
came loose – so they dispensed with it.<br />
<br />
Well, as a once-was system software tester who can break anything, I think I've persuaded them to put those balls back, with appropriately drafted legal disclaimer language. Basically, you can’t trust people do the right thing, and in a litigious society...<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The verdict and alternatives</h3>
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For my Bike Friday it felt like an improvement, and I will probably experiment with putting it on my 16" wheel Bike Friday tikit where road shock is even more pronounced.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reQoeRkzZKs/WNJiYWZXC5I/AAAAAAAAI4I/OEZVawc35vIb4vQ5wLs7TpcMhZspmnk7wCLcB/s1600/new%2Brinsten.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reQoeRkzZKs/WNJiYWZXC5I/AAAAAAAAI4I/OEZVawc35vIb4vQ5wLs7TpcMhZspmnk7wCLcB/w640-h426/new%2Brinsten.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The newer model has more sex appeal, available in 3 colors: gold, silver and black. </td></tr>
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So why not just get a Brooks, I hear thousands of Brooks butts chorus? Well, not everyone wants a Brooks. I have an ultralight Terry Titanium Men’s
Fly on all my bikes. The extra length of the men’s version gives it the
hammock-like quality of the Brooks, while being slim and sporty as opposed to
tractorseaty and curmudgeonly. But that’s purely aesthetic taste – and weight - we’re
talking here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Lighter weight people might like to try the hammock-like Selle
Anatomica.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9HJG0ZDbtEk/WNJRnncmzLI/AAAAAAAAI3k/Fg30ytXaY9gxr-PMODXdSTodR9kRTbu1ACEw/s1600/brooks.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9HJG0ZDbtEk/WNJRnncmzLI/AAAAAAAAI3k/Fg30ytXaY9gxr-PMODXdSTodR9kRTbu1ACEw/w400-h300/brooks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooks B17</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uxdbt2L-4es/WNJRqdEroNI/AAAAAAAAI3k/mm-UNJUHpucXRhm8aNzHtFFS7Za9If7bQCEw/s1600/terry%2Bmen%2527s%2Bfly.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uxdbt2L-4es/WNJRqdEroNI/AAAAAAAAI3k/mm-UNJUHpucXRhm8aNzHtFFS7Za9If7bQCEw/w400-h266/terry%2Bmen%2527s%2Bfly.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terry Men's Ti Fly</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3p6YEFa34Q/WNJRqcP5LsI/AAAAAAAAI3k/v5uz8SAPgV8bTzyFcwh1UY0m37h3POMPwCEw/s1600/selle%2Banatomica.tiff" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3p6YEFa34Q/WNJRqcP5LsI/AAAAAAAAI3k/v5uz8SAPgV8bTzyFcwh1UY0m37h3POMPwCEw/w400-h228/selle%2Banatomica.tiff" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selle Anatomica</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I wondered if the Rinsten Spring could be made of different materials for different rider weights and so forth - carbon fiber and titanium “sprang” to mind. Iurii said it would break, but that “the research continues.”<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
You can get a Rinsten Spring on their March 21, 2017 Kickstarter campaign - at the time of writing it's already halfway to meeting its goal after barely a day in action. The website says, <i>"There will be be 3 colors: gold, silver and black. And every backer only on Kickstarter will get with “Kickstarter Edition” engraving. Pick yours!"</i></div>
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<a href="http://rinsten.com/" target="_blank">Rinsten spring website</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rinsten/rinsten-spring-the-ultimate-bicycle-shock-absorber/" target="_blank">Kickstarter campaign</a> </div>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-88293889285031587772016-12-12T12:20:00.001-08:002016-12-12T12:22:00.217-08:00Street Art in Chelsea: Alive and Ungentrified <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_l2DLPY21FM/WE8FQ90CgEI/AAAAAAAAIpo/R1Q9Nm-TLNIZ6DWtc7MINn2F7emEoPxqACEw/s1600/streetart_man_in_box_chelsea.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_l2DLPY21FM/WE8FQ90CgEI/AAAAAAAAIpo/R1Q9Nm-TLNIZ6DWtc7MINn2F7emEoPxqACEw/s320/streetart_man_in_box_chelsea.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lamp post installation by PHIL, with a contribution by Stikman (inside).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's been a while since I've blogged, but I broke the drought with a fascinating tour of street art in the Manhattan neighborhood of West Chelsea - led by a real street artist, Patrick Waldo aka <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Moustache-Man-111245415718205/">Moustache Man</a>. Read about it over on my ChelseaGallerista blog:<br /><a href="http://chelseagallerista.blogspot.com/2016/11/street-art-in-west-chelsea-alive-and.html">http://chelseagallerista.blogspot.com/2016/11/street-art-in-west-chelsea-alive-and.html</a><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5GYUMBfRbI/WE8GWFCwi4I/AAAAAAAAIp0/BUChMgtw2yU0PzydG1FvcPCNlj3TwMFQQCLcB/s1600/streetart_invader_nyc_sanitation.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5GYUMBfRbI/WE8GWFCwi4I/AAAAAAAAIp0/BUChMgtw2yU0PzydG1FvcPCNlj3TwMFQQCLcB/s400/streetart_invader_nyc_sanitation.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mural by Brazilian brothers Os Gemeos </td></tr>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-68813977331634396672013-08-18T00:53:00.001-07:002013-08-18T19:15:25.477-07:00Citibike NYC: the cross-town taxi you drive yourself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fSUZ7mqZWUg/UhBtcFy3phI/AAAAAAAAEaY/0gkDW5Ri9IQ/s1600/lyn-citibike-keys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fSUZ7mqZWUg/UhBtcFy3phI/AAAAAAAAEaY/0gkDW5Ri9IQ/s400/lyn-citibike-keys.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The key to the city ... for 45 mins at a time</td></tr>
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I caved. I have officially joined the <a href="https://citibikenyc.com/" target="_blank">Citibike</a> program recently introduced in New York City. Now</div>
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why on earth would a <a href="http://galfromdownunder.com/evangelist" target="_blank">die-hard foldie</a> with two perfectly good, fast and fancy folders in her closet do something like that?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tdKle9MxYkk/UhBtcWz6mNI/AAAAAAAAEag/UvU9Ky2CDgM/s1600/lyn-citibike1-800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tdKle9MxYkk/UhBtcWz6mNI/AAAAAAAAEag/UvU9Ky2CDgM/s400/lyn-citibike1-800.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What, no helmet? At least my <a href="http://www.trafficconebag.com/" target="_blank">Traffic Cone Bag</a> will help keep me alive</td></tr>
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<b>Convenience with a "C"</b></div>
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First, there are times when you are across town on foot, and you want to get back quickly without resorting to the expense of a cab, the lethargy of a bus or the claustrophobic cram of the subway.</div>
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Second, it saves my own bikes from wear and tear, especially when it's a bit damp out there. Grit and road grime are the enemy of tiny New York apartment spaces where your bed and kitchen and living area are often one and the same. On that note, lucky the few who have dedicated downstairs bike storage in Manhattan ...</div>
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Third, it's a great workout. Think of a pedal powered Leopard tank. Every pedal stroke reminds me of walking on a treadmill cranked up high (despite the 3 gears).</div>
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Fourth, there are times when a folding bike just isn't convenient. Like the movies, where there's no place to stash it without it being a hazard. Or shopping in Bloomingdales, where you don't want to roll it around all 5 floors. </div>
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Solve all this for a mere $95 (plus 8.875% NYC tax) per year!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pedaling ad for Citibank, who reportedly contributed $40m to the program from its small change coffers.</td></tr>
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For infrequent users, there's a rather expensive $10 a day on-demand fee that you pay with credit card at the ubiquitous stations, for as many 30-minute rides you can fit in 24 hours. Yes, that means no parking it against a tree or leaving it while you enjoy a leisurely latte or movie - it's strictly for short-hop commuting.</div>
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<b>Citibike fumble-mentals</b></div>
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There are some things a newbie should know that I learned the hard way.</div>
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<li>First, you can insert your blue access key into the slot and withdraw it, waiting for the light to go green. There seems to be ample time to pull out the bike before the light goes </li>
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<li>To release/return the bike, you often have to grab under the front downtube and manually hoist with both hands up and out of / into the dock. It's not exactly a nice glide in, glide out experience. I shudder to think the number of times people ram them trying to get the little orange light to go on, and then turn green. </li>
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<li>The seat is a basic quick release - you may have to twiddle the left knob to make the lever easier to open and close. There are convenient markings on the seat post so you can remember where you need it next time (mine is 2 - yes, I'm real short)</li>
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<li>There are gears! Three of them, operated by a twist shifter on the right handlebar. I found #2 a bit easy and #3 a bit of a slog, so don't expect it to match your "cadence"</li>
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<li>The front carrier sports a mother-of-all bungee cords that could easily secure a cage containing rabid live chickens, should you ever decide to transport something like that. </li>
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<b>Handy Citibike App - but don't trust it for bike availability</b></div>
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The mobile app not only shows you were all the stations are, but tells you how many bikes are available so you're not late for your important interview 'cos you ran to an empty station.</div>
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However, as the above image shows, when I made for one of the supposedly 8 available bikes on 25th St and 1st Avenue, the station was bare. </div>
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So what happened? A Facebook friend says it's because they are being "stolen and chopped up for scrap - around $40." Someone on Reddit said in Paris, people were messing with them and tossing them in the Seine. Or, maybe the app needs and the tech needs a bit of tightening. There is a team of worker bees who pass the day flitting between stations to "rebalance" the bike distribution. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside some stations, like Google, the racks are either empty or full. I was lucky to roll up to the one remaining empty dock. Otherwise, it would have been a short hike to the next station ... </td></tr>
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<b>What about helmets? </b></div>
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Nope, they are not mandatory. Apparently a mandatory helmet rule is <a href="http://helmetfreedom.org/1818/study-confirms-helmet-laws-killing-australian-bike-share/" target="_blank">killing the program downunder in Melbourne</a>. Admittedly, even I hesitate to lug my traffic-stopping <a href="http://store.nutcasehelmets.com/products/watermelon" target="_blank">Nutcase Watermelon</a> around for short hops. </div>
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Architecture professor, urban planning philosopher, bicycle zealot and <a href="http://cycle-space.com/" target="_blank">author of Cycle Space, Prof Stephen Fleming</a> (from downunder) believes that while a helmet is advisable, there are theories that head injury is less likely when cycling in a slow, upright riding position coupled with the potential nirvana of slower moving traffic. As in, if bikeshare programs like this can bring a critical mass of cyclists on the road, they may help re-calibrate existing speed and impatience levels.<br />
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Turns out my <a href="http://trafficconebag.com/" target="_blank">Traffic Cone Bag</a> actually functions very well as a helmet tote; <a href="http://trafficconebag.blogspot.com/2013/08/citibike-is-that-helmet-in-your-traffic.html" target="_blank">read about that on my Traffic Cone Blog</a>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prof Stephen Fleming (right) says frozen yoghurt and bicycles are bonza, mate. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My much-admired <a href="http://store.nutcasehelmets.com/products/watermelon" target="_blank">Nutcase Watermelon</a> helmet</td></tr>
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I have already made several trips on Citibike just in the last week. No doubt all my moves are being tracked and I fully expect to start receiving coupons and offers based on my trips any time soon. If you're into big data, it would be very fun to watch the ebb and flow of bikes on some big lit up operations screen ...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first day with Citibike!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-smqp6Nggn1s/UhEOc9eaR7I/AAAAAAAAEbI/f2qPT7FrNw0/s1600/lynette-pink-bikes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-smqp6Nggn1s/UhEOc9eaR7I/AAAAAAAAEbI/f2qPT7FrNw0/s400/lynette-pink-bikes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closeted (for now): my Bike Friday tikit and Pocket Rocket road bikes</td></tr>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-30228262945821626122012-12-07T11:25:00.000-08:002017-12-29T21:04:19.818-08:00CUBA: The Handsomest Man in Cyberspace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tha7pyVY0-4/T4CCCHI8jpI/AAAAAAAACnE/bdwherXwpng/s1600/WEB-cuba07-cover-front300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tha7pyVY0-4/T4CCCHI8jpI/AAAAAAAACnE/bdwherXwpng/s320/WEB-cuba07-cover-front300.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
The <strike><a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Handsomest_Man_in_Cuba.html?id=n_v7h1Wy4CsC" target="_blank">Handsomest Man in Cuba is now available as a Google e-book</a>. </strike><br />
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UPDATE: The rights for the Handsomest Man in Cuba have been reverted back to me. That means the e-book has been decommissioned. You can still easily get hold of copies on Amazon for next to zip, lucky you!<br />
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Watch this space for talking book (in my alarming Aussie accent) and a new kind of e-book with input from YOU, dear reader! <br />
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If you want it for your e-reader, it looks like you can read 50 pages for free, and then there's a link to it in my <a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/store/#cubabook" target="_blank">lemonade stand</a>. I'm not sure if the color photos are included. But now, you can save a tree (well at least, a fully-formed one). If you're an American, you can read it without the cover arousing suspicion!<br />
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You can also read 3 chapters on my handsomest webpage on Cuba <a href="http://www.handsomestmanincuba.com/">www.handsomestmanincuba.com</a><br />
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Thank you in advance for purchasing it and supporting people who write things - careful, you might encourage us to write some more!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7jHRucXlVUU/T4CF2IArlfI/AAAAAAAACnU/-KwiwcD3v4g/s1600/lyn-and-elian-poster640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7jHRucXlVUU/T4CF2IArlfI/AAAAAAAACnU/-KwiwcD3v4g/s400/lyn-and-elian-poster640.jpg" width="343" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Lynn souvenired this poster from the time of Leian Gonzalez affair, around 2000. I was given a t-shirt and asked to "wear it in my home country."</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sFXU0JRMzs0/T4CGYiWf1CI/AAAAAAAACnc/fmKxT-56Ms4/s1600/salvemos-a-elian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sFXU0JRMzs0/T4CGYiWf1CI/AAAAAAAACnc/fmKxT-56Ms4/s400/salvemos-a-elian.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">I still have this t-shirt, given to me by the gentleman wearing it.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Handsomest_Man_in_Cuba.html?id=n_v7h1Wy4CsC" target="_blank">Link to the Handsomest Man in Cuba e-book</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.handsomestmanincuba.com/" target="_blank">Link to The Handsomest Man in Cuba Official Webpage</a><br />
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<a href="http://facebook.com/handsomestmanincuba" target="_blank">Link to the Handsomest Man in Cuba Facebook page</a><br />
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-61486558194057264032012-11-03T14:32:00.000-07:002019-03-14T20:04:34.994-07:00Hurricane Sandy: Caught between a flush, a charge and a dark place [PHOTOS+VIDEOS]<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-FYDEM1jZWw" target="_blank">[VIDEO] Galfromdownunder interviewed by the New York Post</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20121105/NATIONAL/311050037" target="_blank">[STORY] Sandy survivor's letter from Manhattan</a> my op-ed piece for DelawareOnline.com. Thank you to the original editor of my book, <a href="http://handsomestmanincuba.com/" target="_blank"><i>The Handsomest Man in Cuba</i></a>, Barney Collier, for making that happen. Full text below.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10151218357136590" target="_blank">[VIDEO] My video of Sandy approaching the Hudson shore on Facebook</a><br />
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<b>38 people lost their lives</b> in one of the biggest hurricanes ever to hit the east coast of the USA. I lost all power, water, heat internet and a bunch of stuff in the freezer for a week - I was one of the lucky ones. Below is my image chronicle of a week in the life of a New York hurricane, as seen from the Chelsea neighborhood (Zone 1/2) - neither severely endangered nor unaffected, but somewhere in between. Below that, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=177338640391131665#story">the text of my op-ed piece for DelawareOnline.com</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat 10/27: This is the view of the sky in Connecticut, about an hour north of NYC, the day before Sandy hit the east coast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun 10/28: 7pm: While yuppie Chelsea eateries are shuttered for Sandy, the unlovely Star Diner will not be moved</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun 10/28: NYers shop for necessities before the storm. I can safely say Anthropologie has nothing you'd need unless it was an eco-ethno fashion emergency. Yes, there was a LINE!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHnNHTb2oPo/UJSn5aoOz2I/AAAAAAAADU4/12mAX0XPru8/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHnNHTb2oPo/UJSn5aoOz2I/AAAAAAAADU4/12mAX0XPru8/s640/hurricane-sandy-0847.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun 10/29, 7pm: When all else is shuttered, the stalwart Ha Ha Fresh turns up its lights and tells Sandy to screw off (in Cantonese).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-to4ECJ2Jvxs/UJSn6Lw_qWI/AAAAAAAADVA/YC7cEjOvZeU/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-to4ECJ2Jvxs/UJSn6Lw_qWI/AAAAAAAADVA/YC7cEjOvZeU/s640/hurricane-sandy-0848.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mon 10/29: The Hudson is 6 feet above normal sea level and it's not even high tide yet. They predict it will rise to 12 feet. This is zone 1.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Uw4Nrgs5Y8/UJSn6o_o-WI/AAAAAAAADVI/h5tpLl0HF9E/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Uw4Nrgs5Y8/UJSn6o_o-WI/AAAAAAAADVI/h5tpLl0HF9E/s640/hurricane-sandy-0851.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mon 10/29: Sandy kisses the Hudson in Zone 1. I shoulda baked my pumpkin bread earlier instead of storm gawking (and endangering the life of my iphone)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-urL7QbGZkmE/UJSn7HC8qvI/AAAAAAAADVQ/8yA0Zbdj4NQ/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-urL7QbGZkmE/UJSn7HC8qvI/AAAAAAAADVQ/8yA0Zbdj4NQ/s640/hurricane-sandy-0854.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mon 10/28: Sandy comes ashore ...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FnT0jcsajnE/UJSnqPtLv8I/AAAAAAAADS4/9o6vgMA62b8/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FnT0jcsajnE/UJSnqPtLv8I/AAAAAAAADS4/9o6vgMA62b8/s640/hurricane-sandy-0002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 10/30: This new business on a controversial corner of Chelsea had its cover blown - literally.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hRFiSNQ94iU/UJSnq_W4b7I/AAAAAAAADTA/k5Jvtg7-OpQ/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hRFiSNQ94iU/UJSnq_W4b7I/AAAAAAAADTA/k5Jvtg7-OpQ/s640/hurricane-sandy-0003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 10/30: Ha Ha Fresh has the last laugh as people scramble to empty its shelves of whatever they have, notably essentials like Kettle Chips and candy, at Manhattan Mom & Pop prices.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X6Ih5j_yq6U/UJSnrRS4jVI/AAAAAAAADTI/VXf-hKPU6rA/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X6Ih5j_yq6U/UJSnrRS4jVI/AAAAAAAADTI/VXf-hKPU6rA/s640/hurricane-sandy-0004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 10/30: Some stores in Chelsea transact by candlelight. If you had a cart selling crummy coffee you'd have made a killing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FyKyBePTB3w/UJSnsKtnOiI/AAAAAAAADTQ/0GHsaF9wtRA/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FyKyBePTB3w/UJSnsKtnOiI/AAAAAAAADTQ/0GHsaF9wtRA/s640/hurricane-sandy-0005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 10/30: These were either blown over or someone laid them down so no one got brained by a flying newspaper box</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6z0OyMTL9s/UJSn9ngIVsI/AAAAAAAADVw/yTickNjUaCA/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6z0OyMTL9s/UJSn9ngIVsI/AAAAAAAADVw/yTickNjUaCA/s640/hurricane-sandy-0861.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 10/30, 9pm: Chelsea below 34th St is like going over a border into a third world country (you can't see the boutiques and eateries)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5PYmSOV3ZM/UJSn-SeW0pI/AAAAAAAADV0/4L2k2YAp9IE/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5PYmSOV3ZM/UJSn-SeW0pI/AAAAAAAADV0/4L2k2YAp9IE/s640/hurricane-sandy-0863.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 10/31, 10pm: Right now no water, no power, no Internet, no food, I'm back in <a href="http://handsomestmanincuba.com/" target="_blank">Cuba</a>! This photo taken just now in Chelsea biking back from charging my gizmos at a friend's in Hell's Kitchen (where it was like, what hurricane?)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8EcPjZGfpPM/UJSn-mBqS7I/AAAAAAAADV8/GVQNghKKlQQ/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8EcPjZGfpPM/UJSn-mBqS7I/AAAAAAAADV8/GVQNghKKlQQ/s640/hurricane-sandy-0864.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 10/31: 10pm, Chelsea - You really need a decent bike light ...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PbGF2h6FSvE/UJSn_DvIRCI/AAAAAAAADWI/ZJIvrN0OvxU/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PbGF2h6FSvE/UJSn_DvIRCI/AAAAAAAADWI/ZJIvrN0OvxU/s640/hurricane-sandy-0866.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 10/31, 7pm: Thanks to Cat McGuire who loaned me her oven in (appropriately) Hell's Kitchen to finish baking my Sandy-thwarted pumpkin bread. It resembles leather but hey! It's survival food for a couple of days.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kMr9BKcAI0o/UJSoBDoig7I/AAAAAAAADWY/AuhYWW7fGUU/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kMr9BKcAI0o/UJSoBDoig7I/AAAAAAAADWY/AuhYWW7fGUU/s640/hurricane-sandy-0868.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tue 10/31: What I don't understand is how some places like Dunkin' Donuts have power and water while the rest of Chelsea looks for a place to take a dump</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Qqoqzbp4Xs/UJSoCnZkjuI/AAAAAAAADWo/z-nffz1zTjc/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Qqoqzbp4Xs/UJSoCnZkjuI/AAAAAAAADWo/z-nffz1zTjc/s640/hurricane-sandy-0871.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 10/31: North of 26th St it's all systems go ... this hot buffet place was open 24 hrs right through the storm. Run by Asians of course ... they took away the tables and chairs 'cos peeps were charging their phones but not buying any Kung Pao chicken...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Os_b-UPxLko/UJSoDWB_aII/AAAAAAAADWw/uSUyrM7UT6M/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Os_b-UPxLko/UJSoDWB_aII/AAAAAAAADWw/uSUyrM7UT6M/s640/hurricane-sandy-0873.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 10/31, 3pm: on 23rd St and 7th Ave, darkened windows, traffic lights and confusion as to who has right of way.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s-TYao7RYbA/UJSoECDRD6I/AAAAAAAADW4/vsJfnjuprIE/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s-TYao7RYbA/UJSoECDRD6I/AAAAAAAADW4/vsJfnjuprIE/s640/hurricane-sandy-0874.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 10/31: a Photosynth panorama of the corner opposite where I teach yoga, <a href="http://yoganesh.com/" target="_blank">YoGanesh Yoga </a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8w9flAcDKo/UJSoE93JGiI/AAAAAAAADXA/hE586sZxr1E/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8w9flAcDKo/UJSoE93JGiI/AAAAAAAADXA/hE586sZxr1E/s640/hurricane-sandy-0875.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 10/31: a few places have coffee, tea, and if you're really hungry, candles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rjZnkkEKtog/UJSoFvN-OWI/AAAAAAAADXI/nCQVpu6eE44/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rjZnkkEKtog/UJSoFvN-OWI/AAAAAAAADXI/nCQVpu6eE44/s640/hurricane-sandy-0879.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 10/31: Come in, we're open, just mind you don't trip over the laughing Buddha (available in three sizes)<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IcqU0Bc-x98/UJSoGgVRdKI/AAAAAAAADXY/_7RkQ6KX02E/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IcqU0Bc-x98/UJSoGgVRdKI/AAAAAAAADXY/_7RkQ6KX02E/s640/hurricane-sandy-0882.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 10/31: What's Rachel Ray without a working stove? Just another NYC survivor like you and me...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGsCS6sWBh8/UJSoIgkp7mI/AAAAAAAADXw/nF72IIMRFrw/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGsCS6sWBh8/UJSoIgkp7mI/AAAAAAAADXw/nF72IIMRFrw/s640/hurricane-sandy-0886.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 10/31, 8pm: Sullivan St Bakery's Eric not only knows his bread, he's also a dancer. And he was giving away bread to hungry nabes! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tcjiB8AloUI/UJSoJAzdfWI/AAAAAAAADX4/pObMwbnByNs/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tcjiB8AloUI/UJSoJAzdfWI/AAAAAAAADX4/pObMwbnByNs/s640/hurricane-sandy-0887.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 10/31: some places are charging $5 to charge your phone, neighbors with power are running power cords to those who don't, and I'm carrying a mini power board to maximize electrical outlets ... I'm like Jesus dispensing loaves and fishes ...<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNSwXSqmlGM/UJSqTYzU-JI/AAAAAAAADYo/66T6v3gDcmA/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNSwXSqmlGM/UJSqTYzU-JI/AAAAAAAADYo/66T6v3gDcmA/s640/hurricane-sandy-0894.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 10/31: Frank Gehry-designed IAC building, usually a blazing fluorescent blancmange, is eerily dark.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YYt46QCjnBc/UJSqUQQja3I/AAAAAAAADYw/2Xy01nkdACE/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YYt46QCjnBc/UJSqUQQja3I/AAAAAAAADYw/2Xy01nkdACE/s640/hurricane-sandy-0898.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of Gehry's IAC building</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pBpfRfPIg7Q/UJSqU6VKxAI/AAAAAAAADY4/pwJRj0yb6jI/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pBpfRfPIg7Q/UJSqU6VKxAI/AAAAAAAADY4/pwJRj0yb6jI/s640/hurricane-sandy-0899.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed 10/31: the view up 19th and towards 10th Ave. The power outage makes you re-discover the Manhattan sky.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ucm0fAttmys/UJSqXwVtWiI/AAAAAAAADZg/Y1_mynVIEi4/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ucm0fAttmys/UJSqXwVtWiI/AAAAAAAADZg/Y1_mynVIEi4/s640/hurricane-sandy-0909.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur Nov 1, 7am - No heat or light at <a href="http://yoganesh.com/" target="_blank">YoGanesh Yoga</a> but we do have romantic candles and a flushing toilet! What else do you need?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgf7VsvBbho/UJSqYY_ptVI/AAAAAAAADZo/LmFyJ-e1K-g/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgf7VsvBbho/UJSqYY_ptVI/AAAAAAAADZo/LmFyJ-e1K-g/s640/hurricane-sandy-0911.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur Nov 1, 7.30am: I put out a special sign and we got 3 students at 10am, and 5 for Abby Paloma's class at 12.15pm. Now let's see how many show up for 6pm, which I'm teaching - more cowbell, more candles!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvUi4sMw2Eo/UJSqY1iCSVI/AAAAAAAADZw/tgJzzGMi56w/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvUi4sMw2Eo/UJSqY1iCSVI/AAAAAAAADZw/tgJzzGMi56w/s640/hurricane-sandy-0914.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur Nov 1, 9am - NYC.gov doles out potable water at a little station on 9th Ave.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eItkveD6B0E/UJSqalPg3mI/AAAAAAAADaA/qCycMxfHrPA/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eItkveD6B0E/UJSqalPg3mI/AAAAAAAADaA/qCycMxfHrPA/s640/hurricane-sandy-0916.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur Nov 1, 9am - the most popular restaurants are all boarded or duct-taped up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C_cfrP8hoVM/UJSqbRz-WGI/AAAAAAAADaI/pXS1MXyrgNQ/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C_cfrP8hoVM/UJSqbRz-WGI/AAAAAAAADaI/pXS1MXyrgNQ/s640/hurricane-sandy-0917.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur Nov 1, 9am - trash starting to pile up, and apartment corridors starting to get a bit on the nose . My mother in Sydney says she read about rats and mice "seeking higher ground."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nc3J6D2ynRI/UJSqcdmnWnI/AAAAAAAADaY/wclSdiNDcm8/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nc3J6D2ynRI/UJSqcdmnWnI/AAAAAAAADaY/wclSdiNDcm8/s640/hurricane-sandy-0919.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur Nov 1, 9am - the insanely popular Cookshop restaurant is still closed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUPvNC-hG9M/UJSqdA19xYI/AAAAAAAADag/2vdGuxIXhGg/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gUPvNC-hG9M/UJSqdA19xYI/AAAAAAAADag/2vdGuxIXhGg/s640/hurricane-sandy-0920.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur Nov 1, 9am - a fallen dish of the other kind near Moran's restaurant and bar.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46bvoNzrDgY/UJSqdzgek0I/AAAAAAAADao/n_Zsjz98rQs/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46bvoNzrDgY/UJSqdzgek0I/AAAAAAAADao/n_Zsjz98rQs/s640/hurricane-sandy-0923.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur Nov 1, 9am - hiking up several flights of stairs to my digs. Thank goodness for my incredible <a href="http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us" target="_blank">Black Diamond Equipment</a> headlamp!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JmG4yW4-loU/UJSqemdYYrI/AAAAAAAADaw/2-ByVR0L1j8/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JmG4yW4-loU/UJSqemdYYrI/AAAAAAAADaw/2-ByVR0L1j8/s640/hurricane-sandy-0924.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur Nov 1, 9am - Ha. Ha. Fresh, a stalwart Asian run business, laughs at mother nature, bringing out its bunches of flowers for business as usual.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n571PqPGsa8/UJSqfA5WMLI/AAAAAAAADa4/4RQl5f_GDAs/s1600/hurricane-sandy-0926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n571PqPGsa8/UJSqfA5WMLI/AAAAAAAADa4/4RQl5f_GDAs/s640/hurricane-sandy-0926.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur Nov 1, 9am - <a href="http://www.sullivanstreetbakery.com/" target="_blank">Sullivan St Bakery</a> is overrun with people looking for artisanal coffee. Or dammit, any kind of coffee!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A9VBLx9fogU/UJWI69uRslI/AAAAAAAADb4/lXvgZUdlPDs/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A9VBLx9fogU/UJWI69uRslI/AAAAAAAADb4/lXvgZUdlPDs/s640/hurricane-sandy-4927.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur 11/1, 8pm: the Indian restaurant next to YoGanesh is selling candles for $5. Worth every rupee.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zB2KxS2iNFY/UJWI8T4GbWI/AAAAAAAADcI/YckBCFlMAzo/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zB2KxS2iNFY/UJWI8T4GbWI/AAAAAAAADcI/YckBCFlMAzo/s640/hurricane-sandy-4930.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur 11/1, 8pm: look south down 7th Ave into the abyss of Chelsea.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PYNKXhKJofI/UJWI87_nskI/AAAAAAAADcQ/VwIIKgRzFnM/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PYNKXhKJofI/UJWI87_nskI/AAAAAAAADcQ/VwIIKgRzFnM/s640/hurricane-sandy-4931.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur 11/1, 8pm: look east along 23rd St into the abyss of Chelsea.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hpdxJQZOlbo/UJWI9HPsoEI/AAAAAAAADcY/3933IRLXUp4/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hpdxJQZOlbo/UJWI9HPsoEI/AAAAAAAADcY/3933IRLXUp4/s640/hurricane-sandy-4932.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look north to the bright lights (heat, power, food) of Midtown! Not fair!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ksrecaQurps/UJWI90vkfxI/AAAAAAAADcg/uJu9BCnzX24/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ksrecaQurps/UJWI90vkfxI/AAAAAAAADcg/uJu9BCnzX24/s640/hurricane-sandy-4933.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With reports of muggings, police install floodlights on main Avenues. Unfortunately, shady behavior is more likely in the pitch black cross streets. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zeM6qm7mtQ/UJWI-VAO1yI/AAAAAAAADco/07hNnd9SFGg/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zeM6qm7mtQ/UJWI-VAO1yI/AAAAAAAADco/07hNnd9SFGg/s640/hurricane-sandy-4934.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thur 11/2: these are the guys we must cultivate a new respect for. When we turn on the light or flush the toilet, it becomes someone else's problem - their problem. It should make you re-think your perceptions about blue collar jobs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gAmccueUZJE/UJWI-9BTAFI/AAAAAAAADcw/Qn5hZ3QJJfc/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gAmccueUZJE/UJWI-9BTAFI/AAAAAAAADcw/Qn5hZ3QJJfc/s640/hurricane-sandy-4935.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fri 11/2: with mass transit stalled and still dead traffic lights, there's a surge in people bicycling to work. This is the 8th Ave protected bike lane.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UWD1Bevg3Yg/UJWI_qH8nwI/AAAAAAAADc4/aQpbqjayq4s/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UWD1Bevg3Yg/UJWI_qH8nwI/AAAAAAAADc4/aQpbqjayq4s/s640/hurricane-sandy-4936.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fri 11/2: signs of life- Whole Paycheck, sorry, WholeFoods is opening later today...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkAENLR9hok/UJWJBbvm9NI/AAAAAAAADdI/0VKWqkmInuw/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkAENLR9hok/UJWJBbvm9NI/AAAAAAAADdI/0VKWqkmInuw/s640/hurricane-sandy-4941.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fri 11/2, 7pm. The power's back on on Chelsea! Lesson: the most important piece of social networking equipment you can carry when hunting the streets for electricity: the power strip.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y-V_qvm-zM8/UJWJCX68vnI/AAAAAAAADdU/4efVkjpLPQU/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y-V_qvm-zM8/UJWJCX68vnI/AAAAAAAADdU/4efVkjpLPQU/s640/hurricane-sandy-4943.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the hazards of a power outage: stumbling over the dirty work of people who don't pick up after their pooch. And why you MUST do like the Japanese and remove shoes before stepping into people's apartments (often the same room as their bedroom)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tVcZaLos35g/UJWJEpgAm0I/AAAAAAAADd4/XhEi71sFegc/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tVcZaLos35g/UJWJEpgAm0I/AAAAAAAADd4/XhEi71sFegc/s640/hurricane-sandy-4948.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chelsea Wholefoods serves fresh baked optimism</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6aY7FVr1zhI/UJWJGl4LWDI/AAAAAAAADeY/WzTsBH9_PAA/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6aY7FVr1zhI/UJWJGl4LWDI/AAAAAAAADeY/WzTsBH9_PAA/s640/hurricane-sandy-4953.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was posted a week ago! Billy's Cupcakes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YOaMbio4uhw/UJWJJF14CnI/AAAAAAAADe4/PJW7SDSwJRE/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YOaMbio4uhw/UJWJJF14CnI/AAAAAAAADe4/PJW7SDSwJRE/s640/hurricane-sandy-4958.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mother in Australia says she heard reports of rats and mice "seeking higher ground." </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z882SRbF-04/UJWJH_B8FSI/AAAAAAAADeo/6m_wdH-_19w/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z882SRbF-04/UJWJH_B8FSI/AAAAAAAADeo/6m_wdH-_19w/s640/hurricane-sandy-4956.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pet store in Chelsea (Barking Zoo) welcomes back all the shut-in pooches and pussycats for a fre nail trim today. Love the light bulb! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-etD2GXiYDj0/UJWJJ40xu0I/AAAAAAAADfA/FjiA2f3W8G8/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-etD2GXiYDj0/UJWJJ40xu0I/AAAAAAAADfA/FjiA2f3W8G8/s640/hurricane-sandy-4961.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And now a message from southern restaurant, <a href="http://tipsyparson.com/" target="_blank">Tipsy Parson</a>. They say they lost their entire inventory - as did many other Chelsea freezers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-brNRtCerv8g/UJWJKenNddI/AAAAAAAADfI/lQIML_8fx2g/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-brNRtCerv8g/UJWJKenNddI/AAAAAAAADfI/lQIML_8fx2g/s640/hurricane-sandy-4962.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tipsy Parson had a special Post-Sandy brunch. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kcK1XDVPMQc/UJWJLMGhqaI/AAAAAAAADfQ/1v4TFrQuBq0/s1600/hurricane-sandy-4963.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kcK1XDVPMQc/UJWJLMGhqaI/AAAAAAAADfQ/1v4TFrQuBq0/s640/hurricane-sandy-4963.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now how much did Duracell pay to pop up on the sponsored section of my Facebook page today?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPN5yAVhzio/UJWNB-TVb6I/AAAAAAAADgU/NOoDq5KHgis/s1600/romney's+list.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPN5yAVhzio/UJWNB-TVb6I/AAAAAAAADgU/NOoDq5KHgis/s640/romney's+list.jpg" width="488" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's let Mitt Romney have the last word! </td></tr>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="story"></a>
<b>Caught between a flush, a charge and a dark place </b></h2>
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By Lynette Chiang </div>
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Late one night, while schlepping my way across Manhattan's darkened avenues, I came across a familiar and mundane sight: a parked truck, a whirring generator and a hard hat bobbing up and down in a brightly lit hole. For no reason, I stopped to peer into the hole to watch a man with giant gloves performing some kind of macrame with a brace of massive, steely cables. <br />
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It suddenly struck me that whenever you reflexively throw on a light switch, flush the toilet or toss a bag of soggy kitchen refuse down the chute, it becomes someone else's job or problem. It becomes the problem of people standing holes at ungodly hours, wearing hard hats, deciding what to do with your dirty dishwater. <br />
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Fast forward to the Chelsea neighborhood in middle of Hurricane Sandy, where I sat in the dark, sneezing from both the cold and odious scented candles. It's was all they had left at Ha. Ha. Fresh, the stalwart, Cantonese-run local bodega. <br />
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I was one of the lucky ones, living in Chelsea, a gentrified former slum a single subway stop south of Manhattan's Times Square, and bordering Zone 1 of both recent hurricanes. It's an area known for contemporary art galleries, good restaurants, the Chelsea Hotel and lots of little designer dogs on leashes. <br />
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<img src="file:///Users/lynchiang/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Clipboard/msoclip1/01/clip_clip_image003.jpg" /><br />
When Sandy hit Chelsea, I only had to deal with no water, no power, no internet and eventually, no food (save for sticky nut bars from Ha. Ha. Fresh). <br />
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I only had to drag my bicycle up several flights of stairs in lieu of the elevator, and keep tabs on what bucket of water was for brushing versus flushing – not to mention coordinating taking a dump with having a full bucket on hand. (A neighbor with a garden hose provided the water source. The overhead tank for the apartment building was empty after everyone filled their bathtubs, and now power meant no electricity to pump water back up to refill it.)<br />
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A friend helpfully texted some useful camping tips, like "do a #2 in a baggie like a Chelsea chihuahua," and "put your cellphone airplane mode to save battery, turn it on only to receive messages." <br />
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I was not one of the tragic victims who lost their lives, loved ones, homes and possessions to this massive, 943-mile wide, spinning circular saw of destruction. <br />
<br />
In fact, I was almost smug, gleefully donning waterproofs and heading out to the water's edge as the storm approached, joking about endangering the life of my iPhone. <br />
<br />
Many thought that the inconvenience of camping in a big city would last just a couple of days, rather than a week or more. But as the dark and cold and crackers for dinner wore on, the good and bad side of the human survival instinct came to the surface. <br />
<br />
Residents became progressively tribal, hunting the streets of shuttered businesses for cellphone charging opportunities, looking for hot showers and flushing toilets and gathering batteries and shelf-stable food to squirrel away in warm refrigerators. Vegan, organic and preservative-free preferences were quite possibly thrown to the raging winds. Made in China candles eclipsed "I Heart New York" as the most visible sidewalk souvenir. <br />
<br />
The universal bonding amulet became the humble power strip. Carrying one of those into a cafe with a free electric socket turned you into a Jesus handing out loaves and fishes. I exchanged more business cards on two nights in Sullivan Street Bakery than in an entire year. <br />
<br />
One eaterie that miraculously remained open 24/7 throughout the entire storm removed their tables and chairs when hoards of people charged their phones and left without so much as a stick of gum. I heard grumbling about businesses charging $5 for a charge and $10 for a simple flashlight. But while many grumblers were being paid their salaries even with Sandy keeping them from their desks, many businesses had lost at least a week of earnings and as we know, banks and landlords rarely loosen the choke chain for natural disasters. <br />
<br />
Bizarrely, north of 34th Street, it was all business and pleasure as usual, with no power outages of any kind. With the entire subway system shut down, it was mystifying how workers got to the restaurants unless they were sleeping in the kitchen or staying with friends. Just as my relative safety buffered me from the suffering in outlying areas, having light, heat and food in abundance seemed to frame the perceptions of the storm for friends living uptown. <br />
<br />
<img src="file:///Users/lynchiang/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Clipboard/msoclip1/01/clip_clip_image013.jpg" /><br />
"I've not been affected one iota - it's just been one great relaxing week for me!" whooped a friend on 46th St, adding somewhat annoyingly, "and what a perfect thing to happen at Halloween!" <br />
<br />
She offered to take a power walk to visit us down to the dark side, where the sudden plunge into darkness reminded one of crossing the border between a rich and poor country. I felt obliged to warn her of a new danger: muggings in the dark cross streets had been reported, with police installing floodlights to illuminate certain avenues. Some people were apparently posing as cops, shining flashlights in people's faces, asking for ID then making off with their wallets. <br />
<br />
The IAC building as you have never seen it before - normally a blazing fluorescent blancmange, now a spooky outcrop in a dark landscape. <br />
<br />
The yoga studio where I teach, yoganesh.com, was one of the first businesses on 7th Ave to open for classes by candlelight. Surprisingly, we got good attendances, no doubt people feeling the hurricane-butt of being shuttered in their houses. <br />
<br />
When the lights finally came on in Chelsea, the first sensation was a feeling of warmth, even though heat was hours away. Other areas must wait at least a week or more to regain full power. <br />
<br />
There are reports from upstate of people pelting utility workers with eggs, believing that wealthier residents are getting preferential treatment on the schedule to restore power. <br />
<br />
What I learned most is that resilience is the most useful item you can pack in a disaster. The best training for that? Spend time in a third world country or traveling self supported under your own power - on a bicycle. Failing that, turn on your television and see what is happening in Syria. <br />
<br />
And never forget the hard-hatted man in the hole who, day in, and day out, connects our flick of a switch with light and heat, and our press of a button with jettisoning our own fetid waste. He helps us never have to think about a flush, a charge, and a dark place. <br />
<img src="file:///Users/lynchiang/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Clipboard/msoclip1/01/clip_clip_image020.gif" /><br />
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<b>Three most useful pieces of post-hurricane equipment:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b><a href="http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/shop/mountain/lighting/spot-headlamp" target="_blank">Black Diamond Headlamp</a></b> - left my hands free for hunting, gathering, reading</li>
<li><b>Folding bicycle</b> (any kind) - enables travel independent of the stalled mass transit; can out-pedal most would-be muggers</li>
<li><b>A power strip</b> – carry one and create instant community and connection wherever you go </li>
</ul>
Oh, and using a couple of liner bags and kitty litter for a <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_4884027_make-toilet-camping.html" target="_blank">makeshift toilet</a>. My gung-ho sister informs me that the litter deactivates bacteria and breaks it all down. Thanks, Sis - next time.<br />
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-91964006050053904892012-09-10T12:24:00.001-07:002012-09-10T12:36:10.969-07:00A reader from SFO discovers the Handsomest Man on a Friday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Rare footage of Havana, Cuba in the 1950's. For more videos, visit our site: </i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.CasaDelCarajo.com/">www.CasaDelCarajo.com</a></i></div>
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<i>Here, captured on film, is the drama, passion, intrigue, and opulence of a legendary city during its heyday-before the Castro dictatorship obliterated it. Travel back in time to a bygone era, where glamour, elegance, and class once ruled.</i></div>
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Every so often I receive a nice email from someone in the world who's stumbled across <a href="http://handomestmanincuba.com/" target="_blank">The Handsomest Man in Cuba</a> either on Amazon, in a local library or on a friend's bookshelf. They've usually enjoyed it (except for <a href="http://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2007/06/now-blogging-for-fastcompanycom.html" target="_blank">this reader</a>) and in some cases, have taken it to Cuba with them, visited the many Cubans I listed in my book, and in one case, <a href="http://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2009/06/reader-tracks-down-handsomest-man-in.html" target="_blank">actually hunted down the Handsomest Man</a>.</div>
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Today's email was from Eric in San Francisco who just happened to be looking at Cuba and Bike Fridays and apparently couldn't believe his luck on finding a book that married the two together:</div>
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Hi Lynette.<br />
Just read The Handsomest Man in Cuba. I really enjoyed it on multiple levels. Quick background: I took a non bike trip to Cuba last year (although I did talk my way into pedaling 2 pedicababs while the official pedaler took a break in the back.) I really enjoyed a lot about Cuba and would like to return. And just lately I've been looking at Bike Fridays for possible future travel . Then suddenly there's your book at the local library. A woman who Bike Fridays through Cuba and is generous enough to write about it. One of those The universe provides opportunities. </div>
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OK, that's the praise. Short, but sincere.<br />
Now the invite. I've been riding SF Critical Mass for many years now. They are celebrating 20 years of SF Critical Mass at this month's ride, the last Friday, Sept 28. The Mass has been called a Rolling Festival, as well as an Organized Coincidence, and this celebratory one ought to be even a notch above. </div>
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I get the feeling you end up at many bike events all over the place, planned or otherwise. If you're somehow near, I think this Mass would benefit from your presence and energy. And dare I say, it might be right up your alley. </div>
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<div>
Again, I could relate to and got a lot out of some of your insights along the trail in Cuba, and enjoyed the read.<br />
A new fan.<br />
Eric</div>
</blockquote>
Eric also sent along the above fabulous YouTube movie which shows Havana in its heyday - still no more crowded than where I was there (circa 1999) but in slightly better shape. As of 2012 I hear Castro has gone all eco-conscious and gifted every sentient <i>congris-</i>eating being in the nation with a rice cooker and crock pot in the name of greener living. Looks like modish concepts like sustainability are reaching the nation faster than fundamentals like enough soap and no child being left iPad-less, but things seem to be moving ... Thank you Eric!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://facebook.com/handsomestmanincuba" target="_blank">Become a friend of the Handsomest Man Cuba </a></div>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-38315517668086863372012-08-18T21:27:00.000-07:002019-05-01T10:01:43.807-07:00Baring my fake Loubs: How to spot a pair of counterfeit Christian Louboutin shoes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBgBYAvo0o4/UDBSrklSfaI/AAAAAAAAC3k/4u3ukP5Uhi8/s1600/customs-louboutin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBgBYAvo0o4/UDBSrklSfaI/AAAAAAAAC3k/4u3ukP5Uhi8/s640/customs-louboutin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These shoes are made for exploiting ... thanks for ABC News for this terrific shot of a man with a mission.</td></tr>
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THE BIG news story of the day was not the GFC or the horrors in Syria, but the seizure of <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/08/20000-counterfeit-christian-louboutin-shoes-confiscated/" target="_blank">20,000 pairs of fake Christian Louboutin</a> (loo-boo-tan) shoes. In this <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/08/20000-counterfeit-christian-louboutin-shoes-confiscated/" target="_blank"> ABC News story</a> you can see <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/faking-feds-bust-fake-louboutin-shipment-17032835" target="_blank">footage</a> of a surly blue uniformed LA customs official handling a pair of screaming pink 6" heel pumps with rubber gloves and pronouncing them fit for the bonfire.<br />
<br />
I Googled "spot fake Louboutin" and watched a bunch of hastily-shot home videos and blog posts laboriously pointing out the differences between the real deal and the counterfeit. So I thought I'd add my own to the mix. Because ...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1SxBLW9AJCU/UDBTqo7haJI/AAAAAAAAC3s/R8cbgA3-uRA/s1600/customs-louboutin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="401" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1SxBLW9AJCU/UDBTqo7haJI/AAAAAAAAC3s/R8cbgA3-uRA/s640/customs-louboutin2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the ridges on the soles of these fakes - actually quite thoughtful, as stepping onto carpet in the real thing is akin to ice skating. </td></tr>
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<br />
... I own a pair of fake Louboutins! (I think).<br />
<br />
Now, I didn't set out to support fakesters. But I spotted a pair of ridiculously glitzy gold Louboutin sandals JUST MY SIZE at a fairly reputable East Village consignment store that specializes in pre-loved and ex-fashion-shoot apparel. I've bought quite a few things from this store, as the owner has great taste, fair prices and connections to people who know their threads.<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLYNgy_YXKs/UDBgSJvcXgI/AAAAAAAAC4s/2MrrL6roQW0/s1600/louboutin1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLYNgy_YXKs/UDBgSJvcXgI/AAAAAAAAC4s/2MrrL6roQW0/s640/louboutin1.JPG" width="499" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Louboutins of dubious origin</td></tr>
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These Louboutins, one of those ankle-strappy jobs, were a tiny size 35. Being super small all my life and hard to fit, I've had this policy of "if I see a size 00 anything on special, I'm trying it on." The price? $250. Now for me, this is a Himalayan summit of money for a pair of new shoes, let alone pre-liked, so I passed.<br />
<br />
Then, on opening a box on my birthday ... there they were!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_TGMJl9O-wA/UDBjJkv6JeI/AAAAAAAAC5M/hcxL7X5fKFw/s1600/louboutin2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_TGMJl9O-wA/UDBjJkv6JeI/AAAAAAAAC5M/hcxL7X5fKFw/s640/louboutin2" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fake or not, they turn heads.</td></tr>
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While very appreciative of the gift from my beau, I noted something which didn't make sense for such a vaunted shoe. First, the lining was stuck down and lifting, rather than sewn. Second, the printing on it was faded and uneven, which I put down to some model tottering in them in St Martin before they ended up in the charity bin. Hmmm.<br />
<br />
The first occasion I wore them was the Standard Hotel. The signature red paint on the soles immediately got chewed up by the pavement, which is apparently the norm even for the real ones. It's why most cobblers will gleefully slap on the bulletproof red TOPY soles for $35 to make these shoes scuffle-worthy. However, under that paint seemed to be a rather porous chipboard-like material. Hmmmmmmm.<br />
<br />
I queried the store owner who wasn't sure herself. "People want the real thing, they also want it cheap, right?" she shrugged.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LbLnric9Ysg/UDoyjpSsm4I/AAAAAAAAC-U/_tTCLM6dKmM/s1600/louboutin-store.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LbLnric9Ysg/UDoyjpSsm4I/AAAAAAAAC-U/_tTCLM6dKmM/s640/louboutin-store.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The West Village Louboutin store - a mecca for red souls ... </td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
So I took them to the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/christian-louboutin-new-york-2" target="_blank">genuine Louboutin store in the West Village</a>, to see if the staff had an opinion.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejr9T2BPkz8/UDBmktKOyrI/AAAAAAAAC5c/DTur-rsk_EM/s1600/louboutin3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ejr9T2BPkz8/UDBmktKOyrI/AAAAAAAAC5c/DTur-rsk_EM/s640/louboutin3b.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't mind the buckled lining: because it was disturbingly unglued, I slid a <a href="http://footpetals.com/" target="_blank">Footpetals</a> pad inside for more cushioning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"They real, they're not fake," said a fashionisto behind the counter, in that typically affected artsy vox you tend to encounter in high end stores.<br />
<br />
"How do you know?" I asked.<br />
<br />
"I just know," he said, flipping them over and over. "That was a model from 2 years ago."<br />
<br />
He didn't elaborate on the crux of the matter - how he knew it was real, but I sensed he had better things to do, like selling that $1500 fringed Tina skyscraper boot to someone more cashed-up and willowy than me.<br />
<br />
So I went away believing I had the real thing, but still in two minds about the "finish" of the product.<br />
<br />
And then I saw today's news.<br />
<br />
There's no question, they still looked fabulous on, and I admit I've enjoyed wearing them on the 2-3 occasions that warranted it so far. But since most of the other stories on the web show the fake vs real comparisons with a closed pump, here's what to look for in an open sandal:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S7fTAmnrYdo/UDBh3KWFWAI/AAAAAAAAC40/Z8SuSyvsAOY/s1600/louboutin5" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S7fTAmnrYdo/UDBh3KWFWAI/AAAAAAAAC40/Z8SuSyvsAOY/s640/louboutin5" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check the markings on the red sole.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
1. The sole</div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Replica sometimes has ridges for grip, instead of being smooth. Mine had ridges, and this was the main reason I discovered they weren't real. I have since put a $35 red TOPY sole over them for wear and tear</li>
<li>Vero Cuevo symbol - it appears to be on some real versions and not others</li>
<li>Logo embossed shallowly instead of deeply</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kl-d1F_4bEU/UDBiTaGTAgI/AAAAAAAAC48/FdXCULfKqFM/s1600/louboutin4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kl-d1F_4bEU/UDBiTaGTAgI/AAAAAAAAC48/FdXCULfKqFM/s640/louboutin4" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonky, poorly printed lining. Bad printing and placement of "Paris." </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
2. Lining </div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>is not high quality, or stitched into shoe, but just glued down and lifting</li>
<li>has Louboutin logo stamped faintly and unevenly, with the word Paris blurry </li>
<li>no padding in ball of foot (the average fakester has no regard for comfort)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ER_y-H9HmM4/UDBljNMfgxI/AAAAAAAAC5U/qCoJha2BPXM/s1600/louboutin6" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ER_y-H9HmM4/UDBljNMfgxI/AAAAAAAAC5U/qCoJha2BPXM/s640/louboutin6" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trim looks OK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="p1">
3. The trim</div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>There is some debate on this - the piece of leather separating the red sole from the rest of the shoe is generally natural on lighter colored shoes or painted for darker shoes. So mine pass muster. </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-yEBNM7tN8/UDBpxrJnXvI/AAAAAAAAC6U/xkGFRLeEq1c/s1600/louboutin8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-yEBNM7tN8/UDBpxrJnXvI/AAAAAAAAC6U/xkGFRLeEq1c/s640/louboutin8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing a little superglue won't fix, right? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4. The heel</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>They say the heel can be glued in an inferior manner rather than be stabilized by a big steel pin. I have no way of verifying this other than dismantling it or having it cave on me in the street. </li>
<li>The red sole is lifting away slightly from the heel - where's that superglue?</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YYpA43-nZ8o/UDBin6xVohI/AAAAAAAAC5E/KpnMmLxRoQ8/s1600/louboutin7" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YYpA43-nZ8o/UDBin6xVohI/AAAAAAAAC5E/KpnMmLxRoQ8/s640/louboutin7" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dustbag should be made of thick, velvet curtain material, not pyjama flannelette.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
4. The dustbag is thin, PJ-like flannelette and poorly printed. </div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
5. Most of all, they have never been 100% comfortable due to lack of cushioning on ball of foot. I've had to add a <a href="http://footpetals.com/" target="_blank">Footpetals</a> innersole.<br />
<br />
The ABC story says that the fakes have a value of around $3.<br />
<br />
Now, not everyone has $1500 to blow on the real thing. But the story points out that the counterfeit industry brings the economy down in terms of lost jobs, lost sales tax that goes to schools and services, supports organized crime and even terrorism. Yes, you are tottering around on a terrorist weapon.<br />
<br />
You're also supporting a legion of underpaid Chinese workers, but that's a whole other story ...<br />
<br />
So, it seems I may have a pair of big, fake loobs, for which $250 was way too much to pay. They should have been $40-$50 maybe, tops.<br />
<br />
Should I keep them or burn them?<br />
<br />
<b>Related: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://reviews.ebay.com/AUTHENTIC-or-FAKE-CHRISTIAN-LOUBOUTINS?ugid=10000000015624606" target="_blank">An eBay guide to spotting authentic vs fake Louboutins</a> (though riddled with spelling and grammatical mistakes it's a decent guide)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.stopfakelouboutin.com/en" target="_blank">Christian Louboutin's no-nonsense webpage to stop fakesters</a> A pity he doesn't have a comprehensive list of features to watch for, because there's a lot of conjecturing on the web<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eu.christianlouboutin.com/" target="_blank">Christian Louboutin official website</a> at least I think it is ...<br />
<br />
<b>Some of my "fashionista" videos</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y7acv-Hldg" target="_blank">The tikit wears Prada</a> - riding my folding bike into the Prada store<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LxFO4253Sk" target="_blank">Shoe Shopping at DSW</a> - a glimpse of this New York shoe emporium for the benefit of my galpals Downunder<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zc9seM9T9c" target="_blank">Telfar Clemens Part 1</a> | <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n447B16c2GU" target="_blank">Part 2 </a> A collaboration with fashion designer Telfar Clemens and Bike Friday for New York Fashion Week 2008, in which I get inside the heads (and under the feet) of those 6' models ... </div>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-92005346311570891912012-08-11T07:25:00.000-07:002019-09-23T10:55:44.299-07:00the tikit on Trial in NYC: Getting a folder past New York's toughest gatekeepers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080523184546/http://www.nypl.org/pr/lions.cfm">Patience</a>, one of two lions guarding the the Beaux-arts building of the NY Public Library, knows that it's only a matter of time before folders may pass into the library unscathed ...</div>
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My somewhat ballsy <b>Tikit on Trial experiment spanning 2007-2010, </b>which<b> </b>tested whether I could ever so politely sashay my way into office buildings with marble front desks and starched uniformed gatekeepers - is now archived off the Bike Friday website.<br />
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The links below are copies saved by that giant, silent hoarder of everything ever blogged, the Wayback Machine. The articles are mostly intact - but for a quick pictorial tour, check out the Photo Gallery and YouTube movies.<br />
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0. <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20091102193022/http://community.bikefriday.com/tikitontrial" target="_blank">Summary</a> (archived)<br />
1. <u><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080523184546/http://www.bikefriday.com/tikit/trial07" target="_blank">The experiment</a> (archived)</u><br />
2. <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080723091942/http://www.bikefriday.com/tikit/trial07-2" target="_blank">The results</a> (archived)<br />
3. <a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/galleries/WEB-tikit-trial07-gallery/" target="_blank">Photo gallery</a> (current)<br />
4. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAABBA3A2BB0B880B" target="_blank">The movies</a> (current)<br />
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In a nutshell, it was an experiment to see how the the <a href="http://www.bikefriday.com/bicycles/commuter" target="_blank">tikit</a>, the Bike Friday commuter folding bike, fared as a piece of personal transportation in NYC. The criterion is that it had to be allowed into the building (that is, off the street, where it could fall prey to thieves).<br />
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I shopped and schlepped it around to see if it would be accepted like that other piece of human-toting wheeled transportation readily tolerated everywhere - the baby stroller. Eleven office buildings later, I got an almost perfect score - a promising sign.<br />
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Note that MOMA still has a glaring no-bikes-of-any-kind policy despite displaying Alex Moulton's famous demountable spaceframe bike in their collection.<br />
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Check the above links for the results.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Permann of AMEX says, "I don't leave home without it!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once upon a time... </td></tr>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-62159639648945722592012-05-21T07:54:00.003-07:002013-09-29T15:23:09.527-07:00The Evergreen Cemetery: Where Asimov whistled while the Chinese boiled<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">All in a day's work: Former gravedigger and now cemetery historian Donato Daddario demonstrates the key that releases the two rosette-shaped screws and releases the marble faceplate from a compartment.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold;">"THE boiler would come by with his two big cauldrons, disinter (dig up) the bodies and boil 'em up to remove any remaining meat. He'd then chop up the body at the joints, box up the bones and they'd be loaded on a ship bound for China ..."</span></div>
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In case we needed a better visual, the ebullient Donato Daddario whacks a cleaver-shaped hand against his elbow and knee.</div>
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"We used to say, they used the broth to make chop suey!"</div>
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We happened to stumble across Donato during a personal tour of the <a href="http://www.theevergreenscemetery.com/">Evergreens Cemetery</a> led by distinguished historian and über sailer <a href="http://www.theevergreenscemetery.com/book/about-the-author/" target="_blank">John Rousemaniere</a>, author of <i><a href="http://www.smithkerr.com/books/content/greenoasisinbrooklyn.html" target="_blank">Green Oasis in Brooklyn: The Evergreens Cemetery 1849-2008</a></i> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading over the Brooklyn Bridge with galpals Pamela Talese and Cathy Eatock (from downunder) sporting my signature "stayin'alive" <a href="http://trafficconebag.com/" target="_blank">Traffic Cone Bag</a></td></tr>
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Our friend <a href="http://pamelatalese%2ccom/">Pamela Talese</a> organized the sortie, with our phalanx of folding bikes heading over the Brooklyn Bridge to meet a cluster of writers and cultural creatives from her circle. First stop: the sublime <a href="http://www.vinegarhillhouse.com/" target="_blank">Vinegar Hill House</a> for brunch, who always welcome folding bikes into their little secure courtyard at the back.<br />
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I've been thinking about why this "farmhouse aesthetic between a cobbled street and a smokestack" is so insanely popular. I think it's this: if whatever you make - be it a killer sourdough pancake or slice of quiche - is just that little bit more scrumptious than anyone else's, foodies even on a budget will come for miles. It wasn't cheap and I was still hungry after. But I digress ... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"A memorial for children, see the dragons?" Artist Pamela Talese, got her friend John Rousemaniere to generously give us a tour. </td></tr>
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So why visit a cemetery on an impossibly sunny day? No one around, no volleyballs to bounce on your burrito and loads of shade. And, in the case of many New York cemeteries, loads of colorful characters.</div>
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I flicked through John's notes and saw that <a href="http://www.theevergreenscemetery.com/stories/quirky-characters/isaac-asimov-forgets-himself/">Isaac Asimov</a> spent his afternoons "sitting on one of the cemetery’s benches, reading and engaging in his half-conscious habit of whistling." The spacey young author-to-be described Evergreen as "a lonely Eden ... a park without the disadvantages of being full of people."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A log shaped headstone meant the deceased had no kids so it was the "end of the line, the tree had been cut."</td></tr>
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As you can see on the website, more than half a million peeps are buried on the site. There's an above ground burial building where ashes are installed. I wondered if one day, there'd be entire condos for the dead - with per-square-inch prices starting low in the super's basement and escalating as you ascended to the heavenly penthouse floor ...<br />
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The Chinese section was much less ornate in terms of headstone design. According to Donato, the Chinese would spend just a short time buried - 3 years - then with the help of the boiler man, be returned to the mother country. One day, a shipload of bodies was blown up en route to China, meaning none of the passed passengers every made it home. Someone decided it wasn't worth continuing, and boiler man had to find another career.<br />
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Speaking of boilers, the photo below shows one that's actually a tomb.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Be buried in your life's work: William H Guild's boiler-tomb.</td></tr>
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Says John, "William H. Guild's metal tomb is an example of taking such pride in your work that you decide to live with (or in) it for all eternity. Guild was in the boiler business at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in the late 1800s. He had this graceful pile of iron - likely a ship's boiler - brought by horse and wagon to the cemetery. There it, he, and his family lie in the Evergreens' Hickory Knoll section, surrounded by some more traditional monuments. "<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A family rails against the railroad which claimed the life of their young son. </td></tr>
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One woman stopped by with a brace of tiny tots in beaded dreadlocks, carrying rather large bottles of what looked like coffee powder.</div>
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"Their dad was murdered, and they saw I had ashes of my mother and said, how come we can't have our dad with us like that? So I told them, we're going to go to the cemetery and bring your daddy home."</div>
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I asked the kids what they planned to do with the dirt.</div>
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"Make sandcastles," they said. A tiny little thing sat beside me. From his tiny perfect little face came the words, "You speak Chinese?" I started to explain how my mother didn't speak so I never learned yadda yadda, but he looked at me as if to say, "you know you should."</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You see life anew as well as adjourned in a cemetery. </td></tr>
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My zealous alter ego<a href="http://chelseagallerista.com/" target="_blank"> Chelsea Gallerista</a> couldn't help but dream of a hybrid cemetery/art gallery looking like <a href="http://www.stormking.org/collection/" target="_blank">Storm King</a> RIP, where original, commissioned sculptures could replace the cookie cutter headstones, with modest entry fees paying for maintenance ... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storm King ... how about a cemetery of headstones that looked like this?</td></tr>
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"These tombs aren't much smaller than a Manhattan apartment," observed Markley.</div>
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"Yes, perhaps the deceased should get a three year lease," quipped David. "After that, you should be able to move in. It's quiet, you've got an instant neighborhood, no barking dogs or basketball hoops."</div>
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As you can see from the picture below, it doesn't look all that different from an average suburban street - Corinthian, Doric and Ionic columns abounded in the 'burbs where I grew up - and where it was about as dead. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does this look like a neighborhood near you?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">I'll let Pamela have the last word: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Here is the quote I was rambling on about in the graveyard. Thomas Lynch is an American poet, essayist and undertaker. The Gladstone to which he refers is the great Victorian Liberal who sounded like a New Age Republican when he wrote that "he could measure with mathematical precision a people's respect for the laws of the land by the way they cared for their dead."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And as I watch my generation labor to give their teenagers and young adults some “family values” between courses of pizza and Big Macs, I think maybe Gladstone had it right. I think my father did. They understood the meaning of life is connected, inextricably, to the meaning of death; that mourning is romance in reverse, and if you love, you grieve and there are no exceptions—only those who do it well and those who don’t. And if death is regarded as an embarrassment, or an inconvenience, if the dead are regarded as a nuisance from whom we seek a hurried riddance, then life and the living are in for like treatment.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
From The Undertaking / Life Studies in the Dismal Trade<br />By Thomas Lynch</span></h4>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SCY7-nkBj9o/T7pVHATPl9I/AAAAAAAACts/mbLLwJpOL_0/s1600/evergreen-book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SCY7-nkBj9o/T7pVHATPl9I/AAAAAAAACts/mbLLwJpOL_0/s200/evergreen-book.jpg" title="" width="163" /></a><br />
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Get John's book and listen to more stories on the <a href="http://www.theevergreenscemetery.com/" target="_blank">Evergreen Cemetery's website</a><br />
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Thank you John and Pamela, for the wonderful tour, and Susan for stowing our folding bikes in your Suburu.</div>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-65093245607291851002012-05-14T10:28:00.004-07:002012-09-06T11:22:12.902-07:00A sunscreen story from Downunder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Remember, a few years ago, when they told women to start wearing sunscreen daily, or end up a wrinkled old prune ? </div>
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It was the era of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4-Aminobenzoic_acid" target="_blank">PABA</a>, or para-amio benzoic acid. This was the most common sunscreen ingredient at the time, at least Downunder. Sometime later, it fell out of favor due to allergic reactions. </div>
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I was one of those unfortunate "reactionaries." </div>
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I remember putting Hamilton Sunscreen on my face - a popular pharmacy brand - and within a few days my cheeks started itching. Then it got worse - little fluid filled bumps and a redness that spread across my face. </div>
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The usual thing we do, of course, is try all manner of salves and lotions in our medicine cabinet "just to see what will happen." It usually it makes it worse. It's like trying to experiment with putting too many fruits in a smoothie or ingredients in a soup and ending up with something ashen-gray in hue with a "something not quite anything" flavor.</div>
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A dermatologist prescribed the usual first rash-abater - hydrocortisone cream. Corticosteroids are something you want to avoid using for any length of time, especially on the face, where they can break down the skin structure and lead to "depressed, stripey areas" as the textbooks so appealingly put it. </div>
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But my face got worse. It started weeping and I looked like someone in need of a skin graft. </div>
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The dermo then got me to bring in a box of all the things I had put on my face - and indeed, it was quite a box! Even so, she was scratching her head in bewilderment (don't you despair when someone three times your age and ten times your wage does that?)</div>
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Being a medical science geek - I wanted to be a pharmacologist once - I started reading the labels. Bingo! The cortisone cream was preserved with 1% hydroxybenzoate - a PABA derivative (para amino benzoate - get it?). And PABA was of course, in Hamilton sunscreen. So the cream that was supposed to reduce inflammation was being scuttled by its own preservative. If anything, the ointment version of the cream, which is anhydrous (i.e. no water, and thus no preservative) would have been more appropriate.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xkhZ4G05f3w/T7E9_2OAfBI/AAAAAAAACqY/uAmFwL9Bshw/s1600/WEB-lyn-jawa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xkhZ4G05f3w/T7E9_2OAfBI/AAAAAAAACqY/uAmFwL9Bshw/s320/WEB-lyn-jawa.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to deal with my allergic reaction like this.<br />
Well, not really, except <a href="http://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2005/06/being-jawa.html" target="_blank">on this occasion</a>.</td></tr>
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The dermatologist's experience now came to the fore. She diagnosed that PABA was creating a light sensitive reaction, so continuous exposure to daylight - and even the weak UV rays of flurouscent light - were triggering the condition. I had to stay in a DARK ROOM for 3 weeks, to get it out of my system. This meant I moved back with my mother while she brought me food in a kind of twilight zone and I read by flashlight. </div>
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For months after, had to wear a hat indoors to protect myself from the office fluorescent lights. </div>
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For years after, I would get an itchy spot on my right cheek if I ever got a little too much sun, or stressed out. </div>
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The lesson? If you're sensitive to things, read the labels and do your due due diligence with Google before you slather anything on your skin. If a small, round patch worn on your butt can stop you from getting pregnant, imagine what's going directly into your bloodstream with everything you rub on your skin. No leaning up against strange walls, now!<br />
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PABA has since been removed from most sunscreens, but it still lurks in some.<br />
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What do I use now?<br />
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I like <a href="http://www.nakedbee.bz/" target="_blank">Naked Bee</a> ("all the good stuff, no bad stuff") sunscreen which I discovered in Bisbee, Arizona many years ago. There's something nice about this product that you can't quite put your finger on - perhaps it's because it simply feels and smells great. Whatever preservative they use: grapeseed oil and phenoxyethanol I believe - doesn't seem to give me trouble.<br />
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I use <a href="http://www.shiseido.co.jp/dp/" target="_blank">Shiseido D Program</a> purple range (sensitive skin) for the rest of my skincare at the moment. I discovered it while hanging out at the Duty Free airport en route from Tokyo, and hallucinated that might be more attuned to my Asian skin. I can't for the life of me read Japanese, but since it's not made in the USA, it probably doesn't have high fructose corn syrup or trans fat in it. So far, so good. It's quite expensive, but goes a long way, and besides, I don't drink, have kids or drive a car - so it's my one indulgence. I have to get my Japanese contacts to keep me supplied as it's not available, even online. </div>
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If you're a closet pharmacology/medical science freak like me, some books that you might like <a href="http://www.paulaschoice.com/product/dont-go-to-the-cosmetics-counter-without-me/books" target="_blank">this book.</a> </div>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-83623574692678694532012-04-29T21:58:00.000-07:002019-08-14T18:04:23.624-07:00Damien Hirst Spot Challenge: The dottiest scavenger hunt ever<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="text-align: left;">I popped up in Athens to face a phalanx of police riot shields. In LA, Stephen Spielberg's mother showed me her wall of fame to her son (it's on the way to the restroom). Then there was Occupy London ... and the $10/night Kung Fu hostel in Hong Kong with its Changi prison aesthetics and crazed woman who refused to budge from my bunk bed …</i></h2>
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SPOT PLANKING: One of the funnest things you can do in Geneva at the Gagosian Geneva gallery.</div>
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Thanks to Johan @Gogo for being a great sport!</div>
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My latest escapade was a complete departure from anything I've done before - the <a href="https://othercriteria.com/blog/gagosian-spot-challenge/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Damien Hirst Spot Challenge</a> - a kind of global scavenger hunt where you had to dash around visiting 11 galleries showing his Spot Paintings (NY-LA-London-Paris-Geneva-Rome-Athens-HK), and as a reward, receive a print personally dedicated to you by the older YBA himself. It was one of the stressful and exhilarating adventures I've ever undertaken.<br />
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The full spot-by-spot journey is thrashed out on my art soapbox, <a href="http://chelseagallerista.com/">http://chelseagallerista.com</a>, and <a href="http://chelseagallerista.blogspot.com/2012/02/damien-hirst-spot-challenge.html" target="_blank">here's the full chronicle</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-boEa0cwfPVo/XVStnHXb0VI/AAAAAAAAV3g/elKQX5-LwvEndFENAta2n5mMC3WfHMuWQCLcBGAs/s1600/spot-challenge-tube.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-boEa0cwfPVo/XVStnHXb0VI/AAAAAAAAV3g/elKQX5-LwvEndFENAta2n5mMC3WfHMuWQCLcBGAs/s1600/spot-challenge-tube.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Picking up my Spot Challenge print from Gagosian Gallery with artist <a href="http://www.pamelatalese.com/">Pamela Talese</a> - who included a <a href="http://chelseagallerista.blogspot.com/2012/10/sugar-fat-show-that-makes-you-want-to.html">homage to Hirst</a> in her recent show, Sugar and Fat</td></tr>
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galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-54750424940552235262012-04-29T20:02:00.000-07:002012-08-05T09:02:42.840-07:00NEW VIDEO: Booking it along the Amazon with PACTOUR<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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90 SECOND TRAILER (Vimeo)<br />
<a href="http://galfromdownunder.com/movies/peru2011" target="_blank">Watch in VIMEO</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/34936378" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="420"></iframe>
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90 SECOND TRAILER (YouTube)<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-GYrrZf7xs" target="_blank">WATCH on YouTube</a><br />
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DVD Sleeve. Click on image to read it. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xkS9VfZwaKo/TyzDiGn5VUI/AAAAAAAACNU/Ps88RpxZGSY/s1600/DVD-peru2011-casewrap-dinal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xkS9VfZwaKo/TyzDiGn5VUI/AAAAAAAACNU/Ps88RpxZGSY/s400/DVD-peru2011-casewrap-dinal.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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UPDATE: A DVD of this tour is available Feb 2012 from Lon Haldeman, haldeman@pactour.com (Original 2004 DVD<a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/store/#16000feetdvd">: 16,000 Feet on a Friday</a>)<br />
Currently, this DVD is an important fundraiser and not sold as a separate item, but given as a gift for donations of $100 or more.<br />
Donations for these Peru Projects (administered by FPC Global Outreach) are always welcome and appreciated. As you can see, they are put to good and immediate use!<br />
To donate, contact Lon Haldeman, haldeman@pactour.com <a href="http://pactour.com/peru/2011/peru11.html">ABOUT THIS TOUR</a> | <a href="http://pactour.blogspot.com/">LON'S BLOG</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delivering books to remote schools along the Amazon.</td></tr>
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I'M JUST BACK from my second expedition in Peru with cycling legend and tireless philanthropist<a href="http://www.pactour.com/peru/2011/peru11.html"> Lon Haldeman of PACTOUR</a>.<br />
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The 17-day, non-stop itinerary involved several charitable projects: a shopping trip for a home for abused and homeless girls; delivering books to remote schools along the Amazon; visiting two schools that PACTOUR built near the jungle town of Iquitos; inviting street kids to an impromptu meal, and buying supplies for the Puerto Ocopa orphanage that we <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2LEO59EZ1Y" target="_blank">stumbled upon back in 2004</a>. Lon has led this same trip almost every year for the past decade, so it's become an ongoing concern, attracting donations from many of his cycling clientele.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9L0EkfuoV4M/TuGOgqgbTKI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/AJ2xU6dvF_o/s1600/DSC01008-orphanage-nina-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9L0EkfuoV4M/TuGOgqgbTKI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/AJ2xU6dvF_o/s400/DSC01008-orphanage-nina-WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nuns look after the 45 kids at the Puerto Ocopa Orphanage where we took food and clothing for 3 months.</td></tr>
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My first visit, in 2004, resulted in a <a href="http://www.galfromdownunder.com/store/#16000feetdvd">feature-length video</a>, <b>16,000 Feet on a Friday: Biking the World's Highest Paved Road </b>which<b> </b>portrayed, among other things, my gasping, slightly blue mug as I tried to bike over that 16,000 foot bump at a centipede's pace ... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW5FlZcGaYQ/" target="_blank">here's 1 minute of gasping for you</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E9FsMIWfpjY/TuGPWpBu6JI/AAAAAAAAB_g/P7t1pwFEdco/s1600/IMG_0064-ticlio-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E9FsMIWfpjY/TuGPWpBu6JI/AAAAAAAAB_g/P7t1pwFEdco/s400/IMG_0064-ticlio-WEB.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">16,000 feet ... ohhh, my head feels like lead ... </td></tr>
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This year, we drove it, while some of the crew biked sections. Without the gradual acclimatization afforded by biking at a steady 5-6 mph, we all got a little bit sick, despite ingesting No-Doz, Coke, Mate tea, loads of coffee and unbearable amounts of sleep-depriving Latino rap courtesy of every taxi driver's mp3 player.<br />
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<b>1. Shopping for the Chosica Girl's Home. </b>A generous Dutch non-profit runs "The House of Gina," a girls home in the attractive town of Chosica, 35 km outside Lima. It's a safe haven for abused and homeless <i>niñas</i>, and our contribution was to take them all shopping to buy some treats.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lQYZtiNNPWM/TvSvQQ8A79I/AAAAAAAACFk/YYMRjSL6a9U/s1600/DSC00133-girls-sunglasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lQYZtiNNPWM/TvSvQQ8A79I/AAAAAAAACFk/YYMRjSL6a9U/s400/DSC00133-girls-sunglasses.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What are little girls all over the world made of? Pink diamonte shades! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xtegcmovuh0/TuGTuB1hR6I/AAAAAAAAB_w/sfTMfaz1WYY/s1600/DSC00110-house-of-gina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xtegcmovuh0/TuGTuB1hR6I/AAAAAAAAB_w/sfTMfaz1WYY/s400/DSC00110-house-of-gina.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gina was a little girl who sadly drowned. The home was named in honor of her.</td></tr>
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Little Aracely (below), who Lon met 6 years ago in the remote, dusty town of Yurinaki, is now one of the local PACTOUR crew. Although she has a loving mother, her family are very poor and she is lucky to have secured a spot at the House of Gina.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kTYTtEJfsiE/TuGWDuV5rxI/AAAAAAAACAA/gEh0xnheGks/s1600/DSC01237-aracely-tarma-hill-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kTYTtEJfsiE/TuGWDuV5rxI/AAAAAAAACAA/gEh0xnheGks/s400/DSC01237-aracely-tarma-hill-WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aracely, now one of PACTOUR's local crew members - is a terrific interpreter.</td></tr>
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The cyclists in the crew included four Americans and two Peruvian competitive cyclists - sisters Alessandra and Samantha, currently national champions in their age groups. The cyclists leapfrogged the rest of the crew in taxis over the 3-day stretch from Chosica to Tarapoto, the jumping off point for boat trips along the Amazon and its tributaries.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uuQSfEf4hR8/TuGqSREgI8I/AAAAAAAACCw/qgwkv9EJSq8/s1600/alessandra-helmet-cu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uuQSfEf4hR8/TuGqSREgI8I/AAAAAAAACCw/qgwkv9EJSq8/s400/alessandra-helmet-cu.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peruvian women's cycling champ Alessandra Davila</td></tr>
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<b>2. Delivering books to remote schools along the Amazon </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-udsKhgXiHTY/TuGQ8ItAGqI/AAAAAAAAB_o/NHLElW39694/s1600/DSC00157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="86" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-udsKhgXiHTY/TuGQ8ItAGqI/AAAAAAAAB_o/NHLElW39694/s400/DSC00157.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buying books in Lima, for the jungle schools of the Amazon</td></tr>
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An unforgettable segment of the trip was the 3-day, 2 night banana boat cruise from Tarapoto to Iquitos along the Amazon and confluences.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BpG7G94lrZY/TuGicmwFdMI/AAAAAAAACBg/9R23x4flQWI/s1600/0035-stopping-am.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BpG7G94lrZY/TuGicmwFdMI/AAAAAAAACBg/9R23x4flQWI/s400/0035-stopping-am.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Eduardo VIII "banana boat" at 6am, somewhere along the Rio Amazon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pq3zQEj6G8U/TuGW83ap9GI/AAAAAAAACAI/wh-h17Ep7ow/s1600/0042-escuela-packing-books2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pq3zQEj6G8U/TuGW83ap9GI/AAAAAAAACAI/wh-h17Ep7ow/s400/0042-escuela-packing-books2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12 bundles of goodies await six lucky schools. </td></tr>
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Being the "first class" passengers at $US60 per person, we slept in cabins and hammocks on the top deck and were served three really quite decent meals a day, prepped by the cook in the deck below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-41sCcQAnbK4/TuGqmG00tVI/AAAAAAAACC4/ucAgyS0CjZs/s1600/0017-hammocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-41sCcQAnbK4/TuGqmG00tVI/AAAAAAAACC4/ucAgyS0CjZs/s400/0017-hammocks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The regular class passengers on the deck below vied for hammock space and brought Tupperware eat meals from the kitchen.</td></tr>
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After bundling the books into 6 piles of 2 packages - books and writing/drawing materials - we were dispatched by motorized dugout canoe at various points along the Amazon, popping up in remote villages and surprising a number of tiny schools with our humble offering.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KsyyyyqvSj8/TuGXhmVYhSI/AAAAAAAACAQ/tZSwSxk4Ucs/s1600/0084-escuela-esperanza-kids-outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KsyyyyqvSj8/TuGXhmVYhSI/AAAAAAAACAQ/tZSwSxk4Ucs/s400/0084-escuela-esperanza-kids-outside.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The teachers and kids were surprised - and delighted - at their windfall from the "extranjeros."<br />
Escuela Esperanza: 71 kids. </td></tr>
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Interestingly, some officials from the local Dept Education happened to be on the boat doing their rounds of inspecting and testing teachers in remote schools. Apparently, students must attain a certain level of skill in certain subjects or the teacher gets shown the door (if there is a door) - according to Vioricka, our local Director of Operations.<br />
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<b>3. Visiting the Jack Wolff and Joseph Pulley Schools</b><br />
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These two schools, built entirely from donations collected by PACTOUR, are located at kilometer 9 and 46 outside the northern jungle town of Iquitos. The Jack Wolff School, with almost 600 kids, prepared a grand welcome of placards, dances, poetry readings and food. Then the teachers got down to business to discuss their needs for the coming 2012 school year.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touching messages everywhere you looked at the Jack Wolff School.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-csww0cTBbTI/TvSp-DtYd4I/AAAAAAAACFY/GZAlypQLRzw/s1600/DSC00882-jack-wolff-lon-listen-teachers-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-csww0cTBbTI/TvSp-DtYd4I/AAAAAAAACFY/GZAlypQLRzw/s400/DSC00882-jack-wolff-lon-listen-teachers-WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lon listens to teachers articulating needs and desires - sporting uniforms, a powerpoint projector, laptops ... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFX9HKgYWDw/TuGct9B6GzI/AAAAAAAACBA/5KReXJ_yY8I/s1600/IMG_0591-joseph-pulley-class-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nFX9HKgYWDw/TuGct9B6GzI/AAAAAAAACBA/5KReXJ_yY8I/s400/IMG_0591-joseph-pulley-class-WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids at the remote Joseph Pulley School. Many walk 1 hour from further inside the jungle to class each day,</td></tr>
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The Joseph Pulley School is a hot, dusty, 4km hike into the jungle. It was named after the father of an avid PACTOUR cyclist., Brenda Pulley. The site consists of the school building, a hut for the teacher, a hut for the live chickens, a cooking stand and a river nearby. The teacher, Vioricka's mother, spends 5 days a week living in these spartan conditions, and returns the city of Iquitos on weekends. Many of the children walk 1 hour or more to the school from deeper in the jungle each day to attend class.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RDN1Js2hkY0/TuGkbXlELQI/AAAAAAAACCA/NORK1R-w638/s1600/DSC00895-joseph-pulley-hiking-out-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RDN1Js2hkY0/TuGkbXlELQI/AAAAAAAACCA/NORK1R-w638/s400/DSC00895-joseph-pulley-hiking-out-WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hot 4km hot and sweaty hike in and out of the school. Douse your socks with repellent!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KRp3OBf_UgM/TuGcgNn0R3I/AAAAAAAACA4/5hhmJMyAEuA/s1600/IMG_0581-jack-pulley-lynette-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KRp3OBf_UgM/TuGcgNn0R3I/AAAAAAAACA4/5hhmJMyAEuA/s400/IMG_0581-jack-pulley-lynette-WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As remote as it was, the Jack Pulley school cooked everyone wonderful meal of duck confit, rice, pickled onions, plantain and slices of the sweetest pineapple.<br />
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<b>4. Street kid parties</b><br />
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Like a "flash mob" event, we hosted two spontaneous meals at a local restaurant for kids who looked like they had nowhere to go home to. We handed out individually numbered invitations and asked them to show up at the restaurant at 6.30pm. A sign that Peru is become more affluent: some kids refused the invitation, and those who accepted looked fairly well looked after "which hasn't been the case in previous years," said Lon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dflHuCHTjag/TuGd9Hxm0lI/AAAAAAAACBI/H8Eb37vUS8M/s1600/IMG_0022-kid-party2-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dflHuCHTjag/TuGd9Hxm0lI/AAAAAAAACBI/H8Eb37vUS8M/s400/IMG_0022-kid-party2-WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little boy selling snacks took time off work to attend the party. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Chti8t1wIz8/TuGeyAs3HbI/AAAAAAAACBQ/oynGbe6NMTA/s1600/DSC00800-street-gals-blue-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Chti8t1wIz8/TuGeyAs3HbI/AAAAAAAACBQ/oynGbe6NMTA/s400/DSC00800-street-gals-blue-WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not all the kids were particularly poor ... this fairly affluent girl (left) sticks by her less affluent friend.</td></tr>
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I wondered if this benevolent gesture might be misinterpreted by onlookers, given that my mother always told us "not to accept pollo from strangers." My concerns were laid to rest by a local guide:<br />
"Peruvians are accustomed to foreigners stopping buy and doing kind things," he said.<br />
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<b>5. The Orphanage at Puerto Ocopa</b><br />
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The Orphanage is at the end of a spectacular and often treacherous 300+ mile route from Lima to Satipo over the 16,000 foot Ticlo pass.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Upq-7tpF20M/TuGlcIhrJGI/AAAAAAAACCI/iEmH-jfkW-g/s1600/IMG_0049-graves-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Upq-7tpF20M/TuGlcIhrJGI/AAAAAAAACCI/iEmH-jfkW-g/s400/IMG_0049-graves-WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's come a long way since we first visited in 2004, when a single nun looked after 85 kids whose parents had been killed (apparently) by guerillas. At the time, all cooking was done over wood, each child had one set of clothes, which were washed by standing and soaping themselves in the river and rain - and there was no electricity.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lQpQD0dVWTU/TuGl5-GCmBI/AAAAAAAACCQ/5AZkFlmmJZw/s1600/IMG_0210-nun-freezer-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lQpQD0dVWTU/TuGl5-GCmBI/AAAAAAAACCQ/5AZkFlmmJZw/s320/IMG_0210-nun-freezer-WEB.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Thanks to non-profits from France and Spain the center now has running well water, electricity, three fridge/freezers and even a TV room.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ljHxYzAGoj8/TuGl_KLsXNI/AAAAAAAACCY/pejugbcUHp4/s1600/DSC01026-gabriel-nino-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ljHxYzAGoj8/TuGl_KLsXNI/AAAAAAAACCY/pejugbcUHp4/s400/DSC01026-gabriel-nino-WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriele Garcia, who lives year round at the Orphanage, runs the Children of Rio Tambor Foundation.<br />
He's made the well operational so that the Orphanage now has running water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ijixCdL-5vo/TuGmpSs1gVI/AAAAAAAACCg/jf1UDnAscK0/s1600/IMG_0217-lining-up-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ijixCdL-5vo/TuGmpSs1gVI/AAAAAAAACCg/jf1UDnAscK0/s400/IMG_0217-lining-up-WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The orphans received clothes, shoes and personal hygiene items as well as 3 month's supply of food.</td></tr>
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<b>6. Cycling</b><br />
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Our crew included Peruvian champion cyclists Alessandra and her younger sister Samantha. Read about their rise to fame <a href="http://pactour.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tLjWc5oap6A/TuGnROFWfmI/AAAAAAAACCo/Z_5NDiBCBDA/s1600/DSC00251-two-gals-cycling-WEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tLjWc5oap6A/TuGnROFWfmI/AAAAAAAACCo/Z_5NDiBCBDA/s400/DSC00251-two-gals-cycling-WEB.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zwGlQh4Bfw/TvSvsqQ9OCI/AAAAAAAACFw/b5gSfbGR3KI/s1600/DSC00107-little-christian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_zwGlQh4Bfw/TvSvsqQ9OCI/AAAAAAAACFw/b5gSfbGR3KI/s400/DSC00107-little-christian.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Christian of the many beautiful and charismatic kids we met in Peru.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Mdo_UlUZKg/Tvf8xH1d8OI/AAAAAAAACGs/olZzTlGAkNw/s1600/0100-lyn-on-rio-sony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Mdo_UlUZKg/Tvf8xH1d8OI/AAAAAAAACGs/olZzTlGAkNw/s400/0100-lyn-on-rio-sony.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crayolacam 2.0: I used a SONY DSC-HX9V and a Canon S100 point and shoot cameras for this project.<br />
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Thanks so much to gun cameraman <a href="http://vimeo.com/28113312">Johnnie Behiri</a>, who I've met through his spectacular review of the SONY DSC-HX9V on Vimeo. He provided life-saving online help in mastering the impressive little camera which shoots 1080p/60fps - yet it's still just a point & shoot. I really need hi-def video but with one-handed operation (the other on the handlebars of a bicycle) and this really did the trick!<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150400850331590.375999.523631589&type=1">More pictures on my Facebook page here</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pactour.com/peru/2011/peru11.html">Read about this tour</a><br />
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</div>galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-6443238488092992292012-04-22T13:41:00.002-07:002012-04-22T13:41:28.101-07:00My latest acquisition: George Takei in technicolor!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'm suddenly the lucky owner of this homage to Mr Sulu/George Takei - <a href="http://chelseagallerista.blogspot.com/2012/04/ms-sulu-to-you-geekingout-with-george.html" target="_blank">since it's about art, go forth and read about it on my ChelseaGallerista blog</a>.</div>
<br /></div>galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-91738426680332328322011-12-26T20:36:00.000-08:002012-06-17T18:28:49.483-07:00Better harassing through science: the Cat Attack toy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>The Cat Attack: A little remote controlled mouse with skittish attachment keeps cats on their toes </i><i>(shot on my iPhone, a bit of drumming by the Greenpoint Marching Band in Hudson, 2010)</i></div>
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Let's face it: it's generally more fun to watch a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_elephant_gift_exchange" target="_blank">white elephant gift exchange</a> than a traditional Christmas gift opening. Same ole, same ole, given and received with gracious grimaces - sox, books, TJ Maxx gloves, scarves (OK I was guilty of gifting a few from my recent <a href="http://galfromdownunder.blogspot.com/2011/11/booking-it-along-amazon-with-pactour.html" target="_blank">Peru video shoot</a>), tins of mass produced shortbread butter cookies ... oh wouldn't I kill to see someone gift a black velvet flocked painting to a serious art lover!<br />
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But this year, after teaching a Christmas Day yoga class, I was generously invited by a student to a wonderful gathering and saw a particularly fresh stocking stuffer:<br />
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It's called a CAT ATTACK: a remote-controlled toy with convincingly twitchy, skittish mousey moves. Three laser-pointer-blasé cats - a tuxedo, a tortoiseshell and a calico - were mesmerized by this gadget. Staring in disbelief, they stalked it from a few whisker-lengths distance, backing off and darting behind boxes when it swung around for a swipe.<br />
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Yes, as if twitching and nose-butting the cat wasn't enough, the gadget features a Chaos Wand - a neurotic pom-pom on a spring that's whacked around asynchronously like a fly swatter.<br />
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As you can see, the tortoiseshell eventually bit the pom-pom and stalled the action until it let go.<br />
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Best of all, it kept the only child in the room utterly transfixed (for a while) as she controlled the remote like an expert crane driver. Uh, except when she drove it over the rug fringe, where the spinning wheels sucked up the cords. It was like trying to unravel a reel of dental floss sucked up in a bicycle chain (not that the two would ever get that close.)<br />
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The unpredictable moves make the toy very interesting to watch, and apparently it's a product of <i>applied chaos theory. </i>It utilizes "algorithmns based on six-dimensional coupled nzmap system modeled on the neural network of a real mouse." I include the full and fascinating thesis at the bottom of this post.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK, the fluffy booties were the second best stocking stuffer</td></tr>
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How fun would it be to work for a company that makes this kind of thing! Applying your PhD in Robotics and bringing the prototype to the boardroom table for progress presentations ... I use to wonder what the boardroom meetings of adult toy industry would be like: Powerpoint presentations of penile enhancers, battery life charts of buzzing day-glow suppositories ... you get my drift. As we know, everything gets old, hence the relentless onslaught of new tchotchkes. Like this Tengu toy my beau discovered in MOMA, which I filmed lip-synching a classic Rowan Atkinson skit:<br />
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Read on for a holiday applied science fix - it's what happened when NASA met Kitty!<br />
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<b>Cat Attack Remote Control Cat Exerciser</b><br />
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As much fun for people as for cats, the Cat Attack is the world's first remote control cat exercises featuring the Chaos Wand, based on chaos technology, to keep your cat wildly entertained for hours on end. You drive the Cat Attack and it drives your cat crazy! The Cat Attack uses the latest research in chaos theory and complex systems to emulate the movements and personality of a cat's favorite prey. This "virtual mouse" technology utilizes algorithmns based on six-dimensional coupled nzmap system modeled on the neural network of a real mouse. What that all means is that the Cat Attack's "virtual mouse" will become your cat's new best friend! This product is based on Capsuled Chaos TM technology by ChAotic Toy Factory, ltd. (from <a href="http://www.felinefanatics.com/cat_toys.htm">http://www.felinefanatics.com/cat_toys.htm</a>)<br />
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Have a happy cat-harrassing 2012!<br />
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</div>galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177338640391131665.post-81192289311121774612011-12-24T22:03:00.000-08:002011-12-25T20:54:03.730-08:00On the 12th of Xmas my true love gave to me...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KuQInlZoQHE/Tva8eWkQ7fI/AAAAAAAACF8/ac0rIn3K_mA/s1600/tcb-lyn-xmas2011-tree1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KuQInlZoQHE/Tva8eWkQ7fI/AAAAAAAACF8/ac0rIn3K_mA/s400/tcb-lyn-xmas2011-tree1.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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A Galfromdownunder <a href="http://trafficconebag.com/">Traffic Cone Bag</a> in a pear tree! (More shots of this on my <a href="http://trafficconebag.blogspot.com/2011/12/merry-christmas-from-traffic-cone-bag.html">Traffic Cone Blog</a>)</div>
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Avagoodone, as we say Downunder!</div>
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Thanks to artist <a href="http://www.observer.com/2007/inside-walled-city/">Pamela Talese</a> for taking these shots, and loaning me her silver Nutcase helmet. </div>
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<br />galfromdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02699175645123777544noreply@blogger.com0