Boulodr'homes

Stephan in Tequesta, Florida has his court right next to the pool, plus Fanny on the wall!


But... for larger pétanque gatherings, he can also go to family in nearby Wellington, FL - where he set up a play area of 30 x 60 ft (10 x 20 meter). What a beauty. They can play 2, even 3 games at the same time.



On the right are more images of the construction phase. They brought in crushed stone used for driveways. That's all you need.

Now, we don't want to scare people: a dozer tractor is not a must. But if you have the space, the physical access (in this case, close to the street), ànd the connections), it does beat spreading it by hand!

Boulodr'homes

Stephan in Tequesta, Florida has his court right next to the pool, plus Fanny on the wall!


But... for larger pétanque gatherings, he can also go to family in nearby Wellington, FL - where he set up a play area of 30 x 60 ft (10 x 20 meter). What a beauty. They can play 2, even 3 games at the same time.



On the right are more images of the construction phase. They brought in crushed stone used for driveways. That's all you need.

Now, we don't want to scare people: a dozer tractor is not a must. But if you have the space, the physical access (in this case, close to the street), ànd the connections), it does beat spreading it by hand!

AAEA Featured On Korea Broadcasting Station

AAEA President Norris McDonald is interviewed for the Program "Science Cafe," about the pending Nuclear Renaissance. The interview was conducted by a Korean production crew on December 1, 2007.

Environmental Justice & Nuclear Power

The State of Environmental Justice in America 2008 Conference at the Howard University School of Law on Friday, May 23, 2008 was a complete success. So was our forum: Environmental Justice & Nuclear Power: "Business Opportunities in the Nuclear Energy Industry." The Environmental Justice and Nuclear Power forum examined how African American businessmen and women can participate in the anticipated nuclear power plant construction renaissance. Blacks do not generally own companies that provide energy products and services, particularly in the nuclear power industry. Blacks do not own any of the energy infrastructure in the U.S. There are many reasons for this lack of participation, but one glaring reason is the very large amount of money needed to participate in an ownership capacity in the energy sector.

This forum examined how companies can benefit by serving as mentors to minority entrepreneurs and investors. It also showed how minority entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders can be helpful in assuring the success of these huge investments. Such partnerships could bring fresh perspectives and unique opportunities to both partners. America is poised to launch a renewal of nuclear power plant construction, which will involve billions of dollars for each plant. There are huge opportunities to participate in this renaissance if minority entrepreneurs and investors are aware of the products and services needed.

Of course, it would also help to have contacts in companies that will be building new plants. There are also many ancillary opportunities because of the nature of the business. These include transportation of nuclear waste by truck, rail and barge, security, construction of casks for transport of spent fuel to Yucca Mountain, electricians, physicists, metal and concrete workers, plumbers, computers, electronics, and more.The forum examined potential constraints to participation and how these problems can be overcome. Although nuclear power is not normally included as providing green jobs, the workshop clearly described how this industry will be creating such employment and how it can be leveraged to create opportunities in other areas, such as emissions trading. Finally, the forum described how these opportunities in the nuclear area can also complement new developments in conservation, efficiency, coal, carbon dioxide and transportation fuels.

National Harbor Broad Creek Sewer Overflow Easily Fixable

Technical Inquiry: Why is sanitary sewage being pumped up hill at least 200 feet high and several miles away to a pumping station when Blue Plains Sewage Treatment Plant is on a level plain about a mile away? Jurisdiction?  Maryland versus DC water permitting?

 The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission should install a new waste water pumping station at the Broad Creek Waste Water Pumping Station in Fort Washington. The station is almost 40 years old and it cannot handle the additional capacity generated by National Harbor during rain storms. Richard Krueger, chairman of the Broad Creek Historic District Local Advisory Committee has the right recommendations:

"Although WSSC has proposed to upgrade the station’s generators to address power outages, a second pumping station should be constructed to handle sewage generated in the Henson Creek basin east of Route 210 that will feed into the main Piscataway treatment plant. This would allow the Broad Creek Pumping Station to efficiently pump the anticipated increases in volume from National Harbor and new development west of 210." Gazette.Net

Usually sewer overflows are directed to outfalls at rivers instead of creeks. For instance, the Potomac River was partially 'cleaned' by directing the sewer overflows to outfalls along the Anacostia River. Thus, the overflows at WSSC’s Broad Creek Pumping Station in Fort Washington, MD are unacceptable. WSSC flows are directed to the Anacostia and Patuxent Rivers.

Sanitary sewer overflows occur in all older Eastern cities every times it rains. Every time it rains the excrement from toilets in the Washington Metropolitan Area ends up going directly into the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. It is the designed Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) system. The same occurs in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and elsewhere. Sanitary pipes also run parallel to creeks and rivers in many areas to serve as backup systems when the pipes leak.

ABOUT WSSC'S WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM

WSSC already has a consent decree generated multi-year action plan to dramatically minimize, and eliminate where possible, sewage overflows. The comprehensive 12-year plan settles a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in November 2004 on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding overflows in WSSC’s wastewater collection system. [CONSENT DECREE]

Sewer Overflow Causes

Overflow News

February 11, 2008 Overflow

May 9, 2008 Overflow

May 11, 2008 Overflow

May 12, 2008 Overflow

WSSC is the 8th largest water and wastewater utility in the nation, serving more than 1.8 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. They operate and maintain seven water and wastewater plants, nearly 5,500 miles of fresh water pipeline and more than 5,300 miles of sewer pipeline. In their 89-year history, WSSC has never had a drinking water quality violation.

The D.C. Soccer Stadium Plan Is Back Big Time

The soccer team owned by Victor MacFarlane, left, D.C. United, wants the District of Columbia to put up $225 million to build a new stadium. The District plans to consider $150 million for the stadium with D.C. United putting up any cost above that amount. AAEA supports the soccer stadium plan and has briefed MacFarlane's staff about environmental issues near the proposed project. Mayor Adrian Fenty, and Council Members Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), Vincent C. Gray (D) and Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) are leading the effort to get the stadium built.

The proposal would be financed with $150 million in construction bonds with excess tax revenue being collected to pay for Nationals Park (new publicly financed $611 million baseball stadium). The soccer stadium would be part of a larger mixed use development in Poplar Point, 110 acres along the Anacostia River in Ward 8. The ward is 91% black, 8% white and 1% other races. (The Washington Post 5/29/08)

Exxon Mobil Corp Holds Off Rockefeller Revolt

John D. Rockefeller, Sr. founded Standard Oil in 1870, which became Exxon in 1911. Now 73 of 78 of his great great grandkids recently sought to (percent of vote):

1) Separate the Chairman and Chief Executive positions (39.5)

2) Look beyond fossil fuels by developing a renewable energy policy (27.4)

3) Set specific goals for greenhouse gas emissions (30.9)

4) Produce a report on the impact of climate change on poor communities (10.4)

Current Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerman rejects the philosophy and effort of the Rockefeller family descendants, led by Neva R. Goodwin and Peter O'Neill, and does not believe nonfossil fuels will make a significant contribution in global energy demand until at least 2050. Today the Rockefeller family owns only 0.006 percent of ExxonMobil.

The Standard Oil Trust either bought competitors or drove them out of business and controlled the majority of the U.S. oil industry in the first decade of the 20th Century. In 1911 the U.S. Supreme Court broke up Standard Oil. The companies springing from the break up included:

1) Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (now Exxon)

2) Standard Oil Company of New York (now Mobil)

3) Standard Oil Company of Indiana (later Amoco and now part of BP)

4) Standard Oil Company of California ( now Chevron)

5) Standard Oil Company of Ohio (later Sohio and now part of BP)

(The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal)

U.N. Makes It Harder To Get Carbon Dioxide Offset Approval

Projects that generate carbon dioxide (CO2) credits under the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) are finding it harder and impossible to get their offsets approved. If a project or retrofit leads to a reduction in carbon dioxide that would not have otherwise occurred as a natural order of business, then the U.N., through the Kyoto Protocol sanctioned CDM, allows for the selling and purchasing of credits.

One example is the burning of bagasse, leftover sugarcane husks that are a renewable energy source, which the U.N. approved in the past but now considers it business as usual.

AAEA, through its parent, Center for Environment, Commerce & Energy, has established two emissions trading exchanges: 1) Clean Carbon Bank (GCB) and 2) Carbon Mercantile Exchange (CMX) to market CO2 offsets and other gases. We are promoting CDM offsets and have met with the Asia Development Bank (ADB), headquartered in the Phillipines, to utilize a competitor to the U.N. program. (The Wall Street Journal, Graphic: Carbon Atom)

Coal Use To Produce Electricity Is Growing

Electricity generation accounts for 93% of coal consumption and use increased from 1.026 billion short tons in 2006 to 1.046 billion short tons in 2007 (a 1.95% increase compared to a 1.6% increase in electricity production). Utilities paid about $36 a short ton for delivered coal in 2007, up nearly 40% from $25.82 in 2003.

The coal industry also has an outreach and lobbying arm: The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is being funded by $45 milllion a year by utilities, coal producers, equipment makers, railroads and other coal stakeholders. It is the successor organization for Americans for Balanced Energy Choices and the Center for Energy and Economic Development, founded respectively in 1992 and 2000. (DOE-EIA, The Wall Street Journal)

Petanque in Houston!

Richard in Houston alerted me that Discovery Green, the brand new 12-acre, $ 122 mio park in Houston has public bocce courts.
It's right across from the George R. Brown Convention Center.



On the picture you can see that the courts are red decomposed granite - excellent - and that they do not have the usual side boards. Probably to prevent folks from tripping over them. And even better for pétanque!
They planted a lot of trees for shade, and there's a restaurant and a cafeteria (with beer & wine) close by.

The bocce area is in the southernmost corner, where Lamar meets Ave de la Americas in front of the Hilton.

Houston pétanque players, take advantage, and enjoy some of your tax dollars!

Discovery Green website

PS: Richard's brand new boules are on the way so he can start playing there next week.

Petanque in Houston!

Richard in Houston alerted me that Discovery Green, the brand new 12-acre, $ 122 mio park in Houston has public bocce courts.
It's right across from the George R. Brown Convention Center.



On the picture you can see that the courts are red decomposed granite - excellent - and that they do not have the usual side boards. Probably to prevent folks from tripping over them. And even better for pétanque!
They planted a lot of trees for shade, and there's a restaurant and a cafeteria (with beer & wine) close by.

The bocce area is in the southernmost corner, where Lamar meets Ave de la Americas in front of the Hilton.

Houston pétanque players, take advantage, and enjoy some of your tax dollars!

Discovery Green website

PS: Richard's brand new boules are on the way so he can start playing there next week.

Themelios to Become a Free on-line Journal

Last March Michael Pahl broke the news that the Gospel Coalition has reached an agreement with the UK's Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) to take over the publication of the student journal Themelios. Under the editorship of D.A. Carson it is hoped that the majority* of previously published articles and all new articles will be available on-line free of charge. Although we still await an official announcement to this effect (please correct me if I missed it) I am delighted by this news. For several years now my site has been in the somewhat odd position of hosting the only on-line source of information about Themelios. Accordingly I have ceased placing new articles on my site and am looking forward to be able to link to the rest as they appear. When I hear officially from the Gospel Coalition, I will announce it here.

* Some have since been reprinted elsewhere and cannot be reprinted without another publishers permission

J. Daryl Charles on The Use of Tradition-Material in the Epistle of Jude

The following article is now available online in PDF:

J. Daryl Charles, "The Use of Tradition-Material in the Epistle of Jude," Bulletin for Biblical Research 4 (1994): 1-14.

I have always been fascinated by Jude's use of extra-biblical material in his letter, yet (as the author notes) it has rarely been adequately addressed by scholars. I am very pleased, therefore, to be able to make this article available, with the kind permission of the journal editor and publisher.

Summary:

The history of the interpretation of Jude, broadly speaking, is one of omis­sion or misunderstanding. Most commentary on the epistle over the last hundred years, while being highly derivative in nature, has lacked thought­ful inquiry. One factor that has discouraged serious study is the writer’s use of OT and extrabiblical tradition-material. Surviving Jewish literature from the last two centuries B.C. and first century A.D. is decisive in helping to explain the religious thought-world reflected in the NT This is particu­larly the case in Jude. The use of Jewish tradition-material in the epistle invites the reader to give attention to the writer’s exegetical methodology—a methodology owing to a distinctly Palestinian Jewish-Christian cultural milieu. In Jude, significant theological truth is wrapped in literary argu­ments of the day. Literary sources, all part of a well-calculated literary strategy, are marshalled for the purpose of addressing urgent pastoral need. Lessons from the past bear forcefully on the present as a means of admonishing the Christian community.

The Case for $8 Gasoline

"Americans should be celebrating rather than shuddering over the arrival of $4-a-gallon gasoline. We lived on cheap gas too long, failed to innovate and now face the consequences of competing for a finite resource amid fast-expanding global demand.
A further price rise as in Europe to $8 a gallon -- or $200 and more to fill a large SUV's tank -- would be a catalyst for economic, political and social change of profound national and global impact. We could face an economic squeeze, but it would be the pain before the gain."

From the leftist eco-commie website, CBS MarketWatch

The Case for $8 Gasoline

"Americans should be celebrating rather than shuddering over the arrival of $4-a-gallon gasoline. We lived on cheap gas too long, failed to innovate and now face the consequences of competing for a finite resource amid fast-expanding global demand.
A further price rise as in Europe to $8 a gallon -- or $200 and more to fill a large SUV's tank -- would be a catalyst for economic, political and social change of profound national and global impact. We could face an economic squeeze, but it would be the pain before the gain."

From the leftist eco-commie website, CBS MarketWatch

SUV Resale Values Collapse

The owners of sport utility vehicles and other gas hogs are feeling particularly squeezed these days. While the cost of filling their tank is going through the roof, the value of their cars is falling fast.

SFGATE

Reminds us of that great New Yorker cartoon. An angry man in a Hummer is speaking on his cell phone. "I paid $50,000 for this damn thing and now they invented a $4 dick pill!"

SUV Resale Values Collapse

The owners of sport utility vehicles and other gas hogs are feeling particularly squeezed these days. While the cost of filling their tank is going through the roof, the value of their cars is falling fast.

SFGATE

Reminds us of that great New Yorker cartoon. An angry man in a Hummer is speaking on his cell phone. "I paid $50,000 for this damn thing and now they invented a $4 dick pill!"

Ladies Worlds 2008?

Update 06/05/07
I hear that Turkey has accepted to do the honors.

Due to recent events in China, the Chinese Federation can not ensure the Women's World Championships this year. The F.I.P.J.P. working to find an organizer who can handle the organization of Women's Championships 2008.

from the International Federation- FIPJP

Ladies Worlds 2008?

Update 06/05/07
I hear that Turkey has accepted to do the honors.

Due to recent events in China, the Chinese Federation can not ensure the Women's World Championships this year. The F.I.P.J.P. working to find an organizer who can handle the organization of Women's Championships 2008.

from the International Federation- FIPJP

Thomas Mitchell on new book by Miller

The Much Too Promised Land by Aaron D. Miller, Bantam, New York, 2008, 385 pp. $26.00.

In 2003, Aaron David Miller, who had served as a deputy to Dennis Ross on the US Mideast negotiating team, retired from the State Department after 20 years of service. He played a major role in American Mideast policy during the George Bush Sr. and Clinton administrations. The following year his former boss, Dennis Ross, published "The Missing Peace" –a blow by blow account of his years in the Clinton administration negotiating peace, along with a brief chapter summarizing his role in the Bush Sr. administration. Unlike Ross’s narrative account, Miller’s book is analytical in scope and covers the peace process all the way from 1973 to 2003.

Miller’s work is divided into five parts. The first deals with American interests and goals in the region and domestic constraints. Miller deals with American Jewry and AIPAC at length and concludes that while AIPAC lobbying is a constraint, it is an obstacle that a determined administration can overcome, as did Ford and Kissinger in 1975 and Bush and Baker in 1991.

The second part deals with American successes in Mideast diplomacy and consists of three chapters covering the Kissinger shuttle diplomacy of the mid-1970s, Carter’s involvement from 1977-79, and James Baker from 1989 to 1991. In each period he focuses on the key American actor and the motivations and methods employed. The chapter for each is labeled with a short one-word synopsis of the actor: Kissinger—strategist; Carter—missionary; and Baker—negotiator.

The material for this part and the following two parts are based on a careful reading of participants’ memoirs, his own experiences and extensive interviews with American, Israeli, and Palestinian decision makers. The list of interviewees and dates at the rear of the book includes three former presidents, one former vice president, and every former secretary of state from Kissinger to Powell along with current Secretary of State Condi Rice. Miller apparently used the memoirs as a treasure trove for the interviews and then used the answers from the interviews along with a few quotes from the memoirs. Those wishing to learn in-depth the issues and details of the 1970s diplomacy will be disappointed. They should turn to William Quandt’s "Peace Process" for those details.

The fourth part is devoted to Clinton’s two terms and the diplomacy on the Palestinian and Syrian tracts. Unlike other American decision makers such as Ross, Madeleine Albright, and President Clinton and Israelis Shlomo Ben-Ami and Ehud Barak, he does not blame the failure at the Camp David II summit in July 2000 exclusively on Yasir Arafat. The book seems to be a synthesis of the conventional American-Israeli school and the conclusions of Clayton Swisher, whose "The Truth About Camp David" blamed poor American preparation and strategy for the failure, along with an Israeli failure of nerve. Miller blames the American team, Arafat and the Palestinians, Ehud Barak and even Syrian President Hafiz al-Assad. Assad is blamed for refusing to make the sort of political gestures that both Sadat and Arafat were willing to make to reassure the Israeli electorate before major territorial concessions. This resulted in Barak wasting precious time on the Syrian track at the expense of the Palestinian track. He faults his own side for failing to make it clear to Assad that such gestures would be required and to the Israelis that a full withdrawal from the Golan would be necessary.

The fifth and final part consists of two chapters. The first is a review of the junior Bush administration’s record, concluding that Bush’s "hands off" approach won’t work in the Middle East. In the final chapter, Miller argues that successful Middle East diplomacy in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is possible but not likely. He argues that to be successful the US would have to employ the deviousness of Kissinger, the missionary focus and attention to detail of Carter, and the ruthlessness of Baker.

He is clearly stating that successful diplomacy will not translate into domestic popularity. Each of these three previous successful figures is anathema to large portions of the "American organized Jewish community." Israelis understood that they were not paying for Kissinger’s salary, but many American Jews failed to understand that Kissinger’s first loyalty should be to his employer. Miller doesn’t cover the Reagan presidency, because he doesn’t feel that Reagan left any lasting legacy to Mideast peacemaking. Reagan and Clinton were domestically the most successful presidents during this period and neither succeeded in Mideast peacemaking. The diplomatic successes of Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and George H. W. Bush were not rewarded at the polling places.

Miller also deals briefly with the fact that the Mideast team of both Baker and Clinton was a Gentile-free zone. He mentions that the Palestinians referred to him, Ross and Dan Kurtzer, the American ambassador to Israel as "the three rabbis" and Israelis close to Shamir referred to them as "Baker’s Jewboys."

I recently watched an episode from the sixth season of "The West Wing" in which the Bartlett administration successfully mediates a Mideast peace agreement without the participation of the secretary of state, the national security advisor, or the assistant secretary of state for the Near East. Instead, the issues are debated among the president, his chief of staff, and two Jewish domestic affairs advisors. I wonder what Arabs, not fully versed on the realities of American television and Hollywood thought, when they saw it. Even if the episode was not shown in the Middle East, imagine all of the Saudi, Kuwaiti, and Palestinian students who might have seen it. While I don’t fault the participation, qualifications, or loyalty of any of the individuals in the team, I question the collective impact of having Middle East diplomacy dominated by one particular ethnic group, even if the individuals are faithfully executing the policy of the elected president. Israelis complained that Kissinger gave Israel a worse deal because he was an assimilated Jew. Arabs must have felt justified insofar as they had antisemitic suspicions. Imagine what American Jews and Israelis would think if the team was made up exclusively of Arab Americans.

If I were teaching a course in regional conflict management, I would use this book as a basic course text, along with Jonathan Powell’s "Great Hatred, Little Room" on Tony Blair’s diplomacy in Northern Ireland.

Thomas Mitchell is a graduate of Hebrew University and the doctoral program in international relations at the University of Southern California. He specializes in research on deeply divided societies – particularly Arab-Palestine, Northern Ireland, and 19th century America.

Happy National Hamburger Day

To celebrate this holiday that I'm supposed to know all about (but completely forgot until I got a call to be on this radio show today) I decided to do some more hamburger experimentation at home in the Hamburger America Test Kitchen. I had failed in the past miserably with the Jucy Lucy so I decided to try again. Not surprisingly, I failed again. The wobbling stuffed burger didn't explode this time but the cheese inside never melted and the core of the burger was cold and raw. Daughter Ruby and I decided to fall back on our old favorite and easy to re-create Oklahoma Onion-Fried Burger (pictured above). It was a success. So much so that we made another. Happy Burger Day to you.

Happy National Hamburger Day

To celebrate this holiday that I'm supposed to know all about (but completely forgot until I got a call to be on this radio show today) I decided to do some more hamburger experimentation at home in the Hamburger America Test Kitchen. I had failed in the past miserably with the Jucy Lucy so I decided to try again. Not surprisingly, I failed again. The wobbling stuffed burger didn't explode this time but the cheese inside never melted and the core of the burger was cold and raw. Daughter Ruby and I decided to fall back on our old favorite and easy to re-create Oklahoma Onion-Fried Burger (pictured above). It was a success. So much so that we made another. Happy Burger Day to you.

World Championships 1979

The photo of Louis (previous post) came from the British Petanque Association's very first issue of Petanque Magazine, September 1979.

Published right before the 15th World Championships were held in Southampton. Click on the images below to see some of the pages.
Noteworthy: at that time there were only 17 countries represented: Algeria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, the Netherlands, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, USA and Venezuela. Most countries came with two, some with three teams.

That year, Italy won, with Monaco second and France third.
Actually from 1978 to 1984 - seven years in a row - France never won, and made 3rd only three times. Since 1985 however, they've won 17 out of 23 editions. (see WC archives).

World Championships 1979

The photo of Louis (previous post) came from the British Petanque Association's very first issue of Petanque Magazine, September 1979.

Published right before the 15th World Championships were held in Southampton. Click on the images below to see some of the pages.
Noteworthy: at that time there were only 17 countries represented: Algeria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, the Netherlands, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, USA and Venezuela. Most countries came with two, some with three teams.

That year, Italy won, with Monaco second and France third.
Actually from 1978 to 1984 - seven years in a row - France never won, and made 3rd only three times. Since 1985 however, they've won 17 out of 23 editions. (see WC archives).

National Singles Champion

On May 17, Louis Toulon won the National Men' Singles championship in Sacramento, CA. Full results and a report of the 6 tournament held that weekend on the courts in Rancho Cordova are on the FPUSA blog.

The same Louis who represented the United States at the 15th World Championships in Southampton, England in 1979 - almost 30yrs ago. He hasn't changed a bit. Same smile as always!

I'm sure you will agree there aren't many sports where age is as unimportant as it is in pétanque.

The great picture on the right comes courtesy of Ken Lee in San Rafael, who has an archive of documents he kept from the late 70's. More to follow!

National Singles Champion

On May 17, Louis Toulon won the National Men' Singles championship in Sacramento, CA. Full results and a report of the 6 tournament held that weekend on the courts in Rancho Cordova are on the FPUSA blog.

The same Louis who represented the United States at the 15th World Championships in Southampton, England in 1979 - almost 30yrs ago. He hasn't changed a bit. Same smile as always!

I'm sure you will agree there aren't many sports where age is as unimportant as it is in pétanque.

The great picture on the right comes courtesy of Ken Lee in San Rafael, who has an archive of documents he kept from the late 70's. More to follow!

The Perfect Burger Image?

Over the holiday weekend we made burgers (duh) at my dad's house. I picked up both wheat and white squishy buns for the varying tastes in my family and noticed something VERY familiar on the packaging. You don't have to look too closely to figure our where my graphic artist (for the book cover) got his inspiration for the 'perfect burger image'...is it a coincidence?

The Perfect Burger Image?

Over the holiday weekend we made burgers (duh) at my dad's house. I picked up both wheat and white squishy buns for the varying tastes in my family and noticed something VERY familiar on the packaging. You don't have to look too closely to figure our where my graphic artist (for the book cover) got his inspiration for the 'perfect burger image'...is it a coincidence?

Boulodr'homes

This is Carl's home court in Santa Fe, NM
Click to see the artful grooming! Once they go at it, that's history!

Santa Fe has a vibrant group of players, on home courts and different public places alike. Many started thanks to "Pétanque Ambassador Extraordinaire" Lew Geer, who can be reached at lewgeer@earthlink.net

Boulodr'homes

This is Carl's home court in Santa Fe, NM
Click to see the artful grooming! Once they go at it, that's history!

Santa Fe has a vibrant group of players, on home courts and different public places alike. Many started thanks to "Pétanque Ambassador Extraordinaire" Lew Geer, who can be reached at lewgeer@earthlink.net

Carfree Film Fest - Call for Submissions

CALL FOR FILM SUBMISSIONS
Towards Carfree Cities Conference
Movie Night, Wednesday June 18

We are seeking short films to screen during the Movie Night event at the upcoming conference in Portland, June 16-20. The conference theme is "Rethinking Mobility, Rediscovering Proximity". We are looking for films 5-20 minutes long that educate and inspire on topics of place, mobility, and community. We especially welcome home-made films telling the story of a local advocacy effort, development project, or person that is transforming a place or community to be less car dominated.

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, June 4.

Please send your suggestions, files, and links to Andrea, movie night cooordinator, at: carfreeportland@gmail.com

FORMAT: Films must be in a widely used digital format such as .WMV, .AVI, .MOV, or .MPG. If your film is available for viewing online, just send the link. If not, you may email your file, but please ensure that it is suitable for burning to DVD.

Carfree Film Fest - Call for Submissions

CALL FOR FILM SUBMISSIONS
Towards Carfree Cities Conference
Movie Night, Wednesday June 18

We are seeking short films to screen during the Movie Night event at the upcoming conference in Portland, June 16-20. The conference theme is "Rethinking Mobility, Rediscovering Proximity". We are looking for films 5-20 minutes long that educate and inspire on topics of place, mobility, and community. We especially welcome home-made films telling the story of a local advocacy effort, development project, or person that is transforming a place or community to be less car dominated.

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, June 4.

Please send your suggestions, files, and links to Andrea, movie night cooordinator, at: carfreeportland@gmail.com

FORMAT: Films must be in a widely used digital format such as .WMV, .AVI, .MOV, or .MPG. If your film is available for viewing online, just send the link. If not, you may email your file, but please ensure that it is suitable for burning to DVD.

Petanque wine!

This weekend Michel-Schlumberger wines in Healdsburg, California presented their new wine called... Pétanque.

Peggy sent us these great pictures, and a full report:

Here are the photos of the Michel-Schlumberger Release Party on May 24th. It was a cloudy and drizzly day as we set new low temperature records for a Memorial Day weekend in Healdsburg, but the show must go on so David Spangenberg, myself, Steve Weiss, Mary Caldwell and Liz and Rich Pembroke showed up to about 50 wine club members and guests wanting to experience the wine and the game.

The piste is available to use by visitors of the winery. Equipment is available to borrow from the receptionist. Photos include the president of MS and wine maker, Judd Wallenbrock and Mike Brunson dressed in their interpretation of Marseille style, wine label (front and back) up close, my still life composition of the just released Viogner and the soon to be released Vin Rouge and lastly, the piste. You will note that they are using wine barrel straps as throwing rings.

Tasting notes: The Viogner was quite pleasant, crisp and very dry, however, due to very recent bottling (2 days before) the wine was "bottle shocked" so most of the lovely fruit and flowery flavors were quite muted. Although the wine was released for sale officially last Saturday, it was advised not to drink it for 6 to 8 weeks. The Rouge (we were told is a syrah) is slated to release in 2 months and was not available to taste.

As a side note, Michel-Schlumberger is owned by Jacques Schlumberger who is a descendent of one of the oldest wine making families in France. He carries on his family tradition of winemaking here in the Dry Creek Valley and produces mostly Bordeaux style wines using sustainable farming techniques unique to this area. The wine name "Petanque" was an idea developed by MS President Judd Wallenbrock as a "second label" brand to their Benchland Estates premium wines. Generally, second labels are more affordable wines sold alongside their premier brands and offered under $20 a bottle. Wine names are trademarked in the wine industry so technically no other wine maker can use the name again. Judd noticed that the name "Petanque" was available and quickly grabbed it up. I was told that because M-S has not ventured into the second label market before, the Petanque wine is sort of an experiment thus only 350 cases were produced and they expect 250+ to be bought by their club members. The remainder, being such a small lot, will probably go fast at $18 a bottle.

Update 03/07/09: Petanque Wines website

Petanque wine!

This weekend Michel-Schlumberger wines in Healdsburg, California presented their new wine called... Pétanque.

Peggy sent us these great pictures, and a full report:

Here are the photos of the Michel-Schlumberger Release Party on May 24th. It was a cloudy and drizzly day as we set new low temperature records for a Memorial Day weekend in Healdsburg, but the show must go on so David Spangenberg, myself, Steve Weiss, Mary Caldwell and Liz and Rich Pembroke showed up to about 50 wine club members and guests wanting to experience the wine and the game.

The piste is available to use by visitors of the winery. Equipment is available to borrow from the receptionist. Photos include the president of MS and wine maker, Judd Wallenbrock and Mike Brunson dressed in their interpretation of Marseille style, wine label (front and back) up close, my still life composition of the just released Viogner and the soon to be released Vin Rouge and lastly, the piste. You will note that they are using wine barrel straps as throwing rings.

Tasting notes: The Viogner was quite pleasant, crisp and very dry, however, due to very recent bottling (2 days before) the wine was "bottle shocked" so most of the lovely fruit and flowery flavors were quite muted. Although the wine was released for sale officially last Saturday, it was advised not to drink it for 6 to 8 weeks. The Rouge (we were told is a syrah) is slated to release in 2 months and was not available to taste.

As a side note, Michel-Schlumberger is owned by Jacques Schlumberger who is a descendent of one of the oldest wine making families in France. He carries on his family tradition of winemaking here in the Dry Creek Valley and produces mostly Bordeaux style wines using sustainable farming techniques unique to this area. The wine name "Petanque" was an idea developed by MS President Judd Wallenbrock as a "second label" brand to their Benchland Estates premium wines. Generally, second labels are more affordable wines sold alongside their premier brands and offered under $20 a bottle. Wine names are trademarked in the wine industry so technically no other wine maker can use the name again. Judd noticed that the name "Petanque" was available and quickly grabbed it up. I was told that because M-S has not ventured into the second label market before, the Petanque wine is sort of an experiment thus only 350 cases were produced and they expect 250+ to be bought by their club members. The remainder, being such a small lot, will probably go fast at $18 a bottle.

Update 03/07/09: Petanque Wines website

OK City to Tear Down Highway

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma has a radical solution for repairing the state's busiest highway. Tear it down. Build a park.

The aging Crosstown Expressway — an elevated 4.5-mile stretch of Interstate 40 — will be demolished in 2012. An old-fashioned boulevard and a mile-long park will be constructed in its place.

Oklahoma City is doing what many cities dream about: saying goodbye to a highway.

USA Today