Ms. Darby

The soil is fertile here in the Pacific Northwest, just they way you picture it would be in the world’s largest temperate rainforest. We, as humans, are definitely a part of nature, but it seems to take us quite a bit longer to adapt to our surroundings. At least to the point of feeling settled, like, say, a pine cone can adapt and settle from its former tree to the forest ground.

Perhaps it’s all of the extraneous stuff we bring to the new place; books and beds, couches and chairs, dishes and coffee pots, plus the TV, armed with blankets and pillows and clothes and candles, we arrive to a new place called home with not just ourselves, but our belongings, all looking for a place to be. To settle.

But finally, settle, we have. It has been fairly easy, really. Because people are smart here, across the board. And creative. And open, curious, and interesting. They like to read books, and have decent, if not totally elevated, senses of humor. While I realize this is a huge generalization just longing for pointed fingers to examples of people who do not fit my nicely crafted mold, it seems that the general vibe of the human species here is remarkable. And I haven’t yet mentioned the amazing food, coffee, wine, and general love of music found at every turn. And I mean EVERY turn.

Nor have I touted the amazing natural wonders that is Oregon herself. I have kept quiet about the beauty of our region – the Pacific Northwest, and the endless opportunities for discovery on a natural level.

At times, I feel like I have lived here forever, while simultaneously, it’s as if I am deep inside a dream. Perhaps there IS something to that whole follow your bliss thing. From where I’m perched at the moment, this Campbellian way of life has bestowed so many gifts upon me that I am continuously rendered breathless. So if I am lost in a dream, I beg of you, don’t wake me up.

Filed by darby at 9:53 pm under raves, travel
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As the movers pulled away from our Lowcountry (freshly empty) home Wednesday, it felt like I was watching the scene unfold upon me from outside of myself. It’s still all pretty surreal.

Strangely, I did not feel any attachment to our home of 3 1/2 years; not even to the sanctuary that was our house, which David and I spent many resources remodeling and fine tuning. It is and always will be in a place that doesn’t work for us.

Now, while I sit in an Omaha coffeehouse, it feels so good to be looking forward, having filled myself up with loving friends in Asheville, Cincinnati and Chicago along the way. It’s as if each mile we head North and West, I start coming back into myself, no longer viewing it from a place outside of my own two eyes, heart, and soul. I am becoming whole again, and although it is totally cliche, it is precisely what is happening. I feel like I have a solid footing, which provides me the ability to actually float at the same time.

We have already been treated to harness racing in Lexington, KY, laughing and joy in both Cincy and Chi-town, the most incredible (almost) full moon and sunset winding our way through the amazingly lush Iowan countryside, and now we walk upon the soil that birthed David.

Next, we visit the great Sand Hills of Nebraska, then to Salt Lake City to visit more good friends, then Portland, baby.

We are now among our people, and it feels so good to be back.

Filed by darby at 11:03 am under General, raves, travel
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Ever since I’ve moved to the land of outlet malls (well disguised outlet malls, thankfully), I find myself especially drawn to the Banana Republic outlet.

This may not be odd to most, but I never quite found myself to fit the “B.R.” demographic. Ever since I realized I was never gonna take that African Safari and make like Meryl Streep in Out of Africa back in 8th Grade, the “B.R.” dream of wearing khaki short suits fell by the wayside.

The original draw was that this place has really GREAT deals, and clothes that, mostly, fit me well. Add to that the fact that my black and more funky clothes never quite worked within the Southern environment (not the only thing that doesn’t work, but I digress…), and I found myself more and more drawn to “B.R.” to fulfill my functional, mostly business, fashion needs.

Now that I work from home and don’t find much need for business casual clothes, I still find my car heading straight to the local Banana Republic. I have also found that some of the things I think are FANTASTIC for the brief moment while I’m in the store turn out to lack that luster once I get them home. But this week, I experienced an epiphany to explain my (unknown) initial draw to the place.

The epiphany is this, dear friends. The music. EVERY time I am in there, I am groovin’ on the tunes. I sing, hum, and even sometimes semi-groove – publicly – to the music that is played. EVERY TIME. Of course, this is where I fit the demographic. Which seems a tad disconnected to the clothes, I might add, but I think I realized that I subconsciously go there for the music. Because in the last 4 visits, I have purchased nothing, but not been disappointed in the least by not finding anything.

Instead, I have come away, almost gleefully, not even realizing why until the other day. When I was all, like, what is this song? I know this song? But it’s not the song I think it is. But it is. All this within the first 5 notes…and it is a remake of one of my favorite Ryan Adams songs, called Amy. And I have discovered Mark Ronson in the process, which I am quite thankful for. This is an incredibly beautiful song, originally, and this remake takes it to a different level. I would put the MP3 here for your listening pleasure, but it is SO INVOLVED (especially since I only have the MP4 version, etc., etc….)

Go get it. It’s 2 bucks, if you get the original Ryan Adams’ version AND the Mark Ronson remake. SO WORTH IT. Trust me.

P.S. I was also re-invigorated with New Order’s Love Vigilantes during my recent Banana discovery, too. Reminded me of my high-school friend (and prom date), Matt Vidmar. He owned and sported the classic Substance all-white t-shirt back in the day. I love the 80’s.

Filed by darby at 7:53 am under Arts, General, rants, raves
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Imagine making a midnight run, armed only with peonies and tulips, a hand spade and packet of seeds. This is a typical evening for one Mr. Richard Reynolds, the Londoner credited with bringing back the beautifully defiant act of guerilla gardening.

Jon Mooallem caught up with Reynolds sometime in April, apparently to write this wonderful treat of an article from the Sunday Times magazine a couple of weeks back. I’m obviously late to the party on these happenings, as the BBC and others have been reporting on Reynolds’ movement since early 2005. Reynolds and his crews focus on neglected public land, taking over plots of weeds and turning them into cared for public spaces. It seems they have re-ignited a worldwide movement of bewildering, another term synonymous with guerilla gardening coined by Australian gardener Bob Crombie. Or rather, it seems this natural act is becoming a part of the collective consciousness once again.

Still, the most famous group of Londoners employing these tactics should probably go to the activists associated with the group The Land is Ours, a group that occupied 13 acres of derelict land belonging to the Guiness company, for five and a half months before being evicted. Their mission was to highlight “the appalling misuse of urban land, the lack of provision of affordable housing and the deterioration of the urban environment”. And they potentially learned all this from Liz Christy and her Green Guerillas from the Bowery in New York in the 1970’s, who learned it from a couple of Brits, who must’ve read the bible at some juncture. Point is, this act of using public space for the community’s greater good has been around a long time. Everything runs in a circular motion.

And to think that I have a half of an acre with no garden growing…hmph. I always felt that I needed to own a home before I had a garden, and now that I do, I think that I need to find a place that I want to put down roots before I sow. Instead, I think, I should just stop thinking so much and perhaps pick up a hoe and take some action for a moment. (grab a hoe…did you like that? It makes me feel giddy and juvenile, so I couldn’t help but mention it…)

Enjoy the video that the Nation fashioned over two years ago, if you’d like. And if you’re feelin’ it, get yourself some tools, cuttings, and maybe a headlamp and have a go at it, yeah?

Filed by darby at 9:36 pm under Docu Potent, raves
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I had the pleasure of visiting two dear friends this past weekend in Cincinnati. With my visit, I was also treated to seeing many other good friends who also live there. Oh joy!

And the one (major) factor missing in my life these days are just that – my friends. While I have so much that I am incredibly thankful for every day, my friends have always been my family, an ethos which was naturally ignited in high-school and reinforced through the world of the Grateful Dead and westward travel. To this day, my friends are as important to me as my family, and the titles are interchangeable among the two groups, making me the luckiest gal in all the land.

I made two new friends, too. They are young boys, named E and R, and they are four and two years old, respectively. They are, as you may have guessed, the beautiful children of my dear sweet friends, A and T. And beautiful they are. SO SWEET, and smart, and artistic, and sensitive, whilst still being full-on, running, jumping, yelling, wrastlin’ BOYS. They melted my heart, and I can’t wait for their visit down South; To hunt for ‘gators and play in the sand.

R, me, and E, at the Cincinnati Cinergy Museum, part of the Museum Center. Notice R’s Elvis coat? What a rock star.

Filed by darby at 11:36 am under raves, travel
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Between climbing around the attics of newly built homes applying mastic to ductwork and performing blower door tests, and touring the warehouse of one exceptionally organized, design and environmentally conscious swedish furniture maker, I have not had time to write. But that is OK, because I have landed what is – today- my dream job.

It all started months ago, and if anyone is really keeping track besides me, it began when my friend Matt and I commiserated about the incompetence of our then employer a couple of years ago. He and I both parted ways with that employer, but thanks to a recent introduction he made for me, I now work for a conscientious and cool alternative energy provider. This type of entity is NOT an easy one to come by in these parts, and it was not even three years ago when my former employer looked at me like I had two heads when I mentioned differentiating ourselves from the rest of the market by implementing some green design. Apparently, the word “green” threw him.

Since last week, so many strange things have come full circle, reminding me that the universe works in complete and perfect ways. Like the first client I did a energy efficiency upgrade for last week. I know him. Met him last month at a campaign drive. And that former employer? Well, he just called our company because he wants to get their existing inventory “certified green.” The list goes on, but the story is the same. Do what you love, and the circles start to close. Then, you are inside of the circle, instead of trying to figure out how to jump into it from the outside.

And THIS story would not be complete unless I told you about solar Bill. He is the person that I work with in this market. He is my teacher, my mentor. He is an engineer, a former oceanographer, a hunter, a maker of musical instruments, a leader of kids’ and their science projects; he is better than MacGyver when it comes to his ability to re-purpose items to create astounding workable solutions, and he is humble and mellow and old-school and conscientious. They don’t make them like this anymore, and I could not have asked for a better person to show me the ropes and work with every day.

And as for the company, well, they are committed to solar, wind, and micro-hydro energy and in helping people get their homes to be more energy efficient. And they are smart, wonderful folk.

So here’s to landing a gig that has purpose, is fulfilling on many levels, and hopefully helps to make the world a better place while we earn our keep. My glass is held high. Cheers.

Filed by darby at 8:44 pm under General, raves
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A couple of weeks ago, I found myself head deep in design books while doing research for a potential interior re-design of a local private club. I love being head deep in design books, and the one that continues to blow me away is Fingerprint: The Art of Using Handmade Elements in Graphic Design , by Chen Design Associates out of San Francisco.

Josh Chen is a bad-ass designer, with 20 years of experience in design, broadcasting, journalism, and music. I love renaissance men and women. Within the school of renaissance thinking comes humanism and self-awareness, and it seems much of the design work Chen has compiled and highlighted here is lacking neither.

Take, for instance, the Futurefarmersgroup, also from San Francisco, that fertile ground which nourishes SO MUCH talent. Futurefarmers collaboration includes creating prototypes of an urban planning tool which allows users to visualize The Great Park’s health and creating a “lunchbox laboratory” which will encourage students to screen various algae strains, ultimately helping to find the strains that are optimal as a renewable energy resource. Basically, design used as a superpower for the forces of good and not evil. Think of a modern day Leonardo or Galileo.

Futurefarmers website describes the group as:

practitioners aligned through an open practice of making work that is relevant to the time and space surrounding us. Futurefarmers work across many media. We enjoy creating platforms for sociability, play and culitvating consciousness.

One of my favorite pieces is this sundial watch, by Futurefarmers Amy Franceschini. I don’t wear a watch, but I would wear this one:

Described as:

a reaction to the ubiquity of technological devices in our lives today. Sundial watch reminds us to depend on our own devices. It is an interface with nature…

The sun will always rise in the morning and set in the evening, and the length of the winter days will be shorter than the summer days. This portable sundial physically illustrates the wonders of the sun and its motion through the sky providing a stage for the suns’ shadow to dance upon.

This book is FULL of inspiration and genius creativity from some of the best designers today. And although I am working on becoming a full-fledged interior designer, cultivating ideas from many disciplines, be it graphic design, architecture, music, science, literature, philosophy, film, graffiti, fine art, or nature is what this cross-platform, renaissance thinking is all about. Count me in and on the bus.

Filed by darby at 11:11 am under Arts, raves
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Pre-order the journal for a hard copy

Every two months, Polar Inertia rolls out extraordinary photographic installments via a magazine (and website) documenting “the story of the highway, mobile home, fast food chain, suburbanite, truck stop, and industrialized landscape.”

Here’s their manifesto:

Polar Inertia journal is an outlet and a resource for on going research into the networks that define the contemporary city. The journal began with the idea that an understanding of the conditions of post war urbanism requires immersion into the technologies and instruments that have molded the growth and image of the city. Using Los Angeles as a primary research laboratory, Polar inertia works under the belief that by exploring and documenting the infrastructure and land use patterns we can begin to understand the contemporary and future city. The research in the journal provides a basis from which to explore the potential for alternative proposals for urban development informed from the daily realities of the city.”

Some pretty heady stuff, with amazing photo’s to match. Check it out!

Filed by darby at 10:33 am under Arts, Docu Potent, raves
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For as long as I can remember, my family has had the ritual of stretching out Sunday morning in the pursuit of newspaper reading. This tradition involves all kinds of newspapers, depending on the location of any given Sunday, but it ALWAYS involves The New York Times. I almost always go to the magazine first, if I am not sideswiped by an unsuspecting “Style” section headline. (Plus, I have a guilty pleasure of reading the wedding announcements. PURE east coast lineage postings, really…)

This week, the magazine hosted its’ 7th Annual Year In Ideas. I adore this issue. I’m not sure if its because I was blessed with the “wonder bug”, whereas seemingly mundane things become incredibly interesting to me, no doubt implanted by my parents, or if it is purely that some of these revelations are truly incredible.

Some of my favorites this year are:

- Fake Tilt-Shift Photography, which makes pictures of actual life-size vistas look like pictures of miniature model’s of said vistas.

- The Honeycomb Vase, sculpted by bees

- Left-hand-turn Elimination, which would make one of my best friend’s mom proud, as she never made left-hand turns. UPS has incorporated the practice, saving three million gallons of gas and reducing CO2 emissions by 31,000 metric tons

- Mindful Exercise, a study concluding that self-awareness can lead to actual, measurable health benefits.

- Lap Dance Science, which deduces that women earn more while ovulating.

Filed by darby at 12:37 pm under Docu Potent, raves
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On the left, a knock-off of the Arco original, shown on the right

I have been TOTALLY enamored with this lamp since I was a child. Of course, at the age of eight, I did not realize it to be an Achille Castiglioni Arco lamp, but I was drawn to its eight foot arch and graceful presence.

Now, having learned that Italian born and educated Castiglioni was an architect, forced to think on a smaller scale due to limited major architectural assignments available at the time, I am not surprised that I am drawn to his design. Architects that “do” furniture are tops. Frank Lloyd Wright, Marcel Breuer, Arne Jacobsen, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh all come to mind, but the list could go on forever. A deep connection exists between architecture and furnishings for buildings and homes, while gifted architects work to preserve the psychology of space within a structure.

The original Arco costs several thousand dollars, but one can find some knock-offs like the one above from around $150-400. And every once-in-a-blue-moon, I have spied this and other classic originals and knock-offs in off-the-beaten-path city thrift stores and furniture shops. (think Chicago, Atlanta, and Portland, for starters.) Happy classic-design spying and finding! (and if you’re lucky, buying…)

Filed by darby at 5:11 pm under Arts, raves
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Image from The Funny Dogs

I have been completely, utterly, unabashedly in love with our canine comrades for as long as I can remember. I have had at least one dog, more like two, and a cat or two, since I was born, thanks to my mom and her love of providing needy animals a home. But now, in my adulthood, (as if this phenomonon has just happened or something…adulthood…HA) I am missing this important addition to the family.

I watch more Cesar, The Dog Whisperer and too closely follow the famous Dooce’s daily Chuck posts than a non-dog owner should be allowed. So I live vicariously, and it seems to be working for now.

My obsession met the final straw today, though, while taking a break from “the footballs”. I looked up from reading and realized that the hail-mary-hoping quarterback had suddenly become the extreme vertical dog champion, Flash. These dogs are amazing. (I guess they are called Dock Dogs). I couldn’t find the ESPN footage from today, but you have got to see this:

I am highly entertained by this. Like, a kid “laughing-until-milk-comes-pouring-out-of-the-nose” type of entertained. Then, a part of me feels bad for the dog. Like, awe, the poor things…having to jump through hoops and catch frisbees and swim and fly through the air like we dumb humans make them…it’s all so, well, entertaining.

Time for a dog, huh?

Filed by darby at 6:43 pm under General, raves
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That mug over there…the one with the red hat…you see her? She is now a LEED Accredited Professional. One side of her personality was acting shy about posting anything about this accomplishment, not wanting to prance about and fluff her own feathers and such; but another side of her was so damn happy that she was able to pull it off that she wanted to tell the world.

That second side of her won, and is also saying that this is the last time she will refer to herself in the third person like this…oy vay!

Filed by darby at 2:41 pm under raves
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I discovered the Bohemian Girl on the “interwebs – that series of tubes” a couple of months ago. She had commented over at Nothing But Bonfires (yet ANOTHER fantastic woman-made blog/art) regarding music. It just so happened that I was thinking the same thing, and before you know it, an online friendship began. And I am better for it. Not only does BG speak the truth, her truth, and universal truths, but she is an artist living her dream and shining light by way of example.

And I am a bit blown away right now, because as we had agreed to trade some music mixes, I have JUST received – like, minutes ago – this bundle of joy that you see above, and it is wonderful and gorgeous. Just to touch the paper and see the artistic love that went into this…It definitely helps me to raise my own bar in how I ever send CD’s to anyone again, because not only did I get amazing compilations of music I know and love and much that I am soon to discover for the first time (oh, joy!) but handmade artwork to hold the treasures. Wow. Thank you, oh talented and generous Bohemian Girl. Rock on!

Filed by darby at 3:29 pm under Arts, raves
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Coming away from Austin after this years South by Southwest left me with so many experiences, to the point of sensory overload. My intention at the time was to write a synopsis of the 10-day extravaganza, which I never did. After SXSW, while talking to good friends about what stood out, I found that I kept mentioning the film, Crazy Sexy Cancer.

I am so happy to learn that TLC Life Lens has picked up this film, which will air as the first documentary in their Life Lens series in August, 2007. From the Crazy Sexy Cancer website:

In 2003, 31-year-old actress/photographer Kris Carr was diagnosed with a rare and incurable cancer. Weeks later she began filming her story. Taking a seemingly tragic situation and turning it into a creative expression, Kris shares her inspirational story of survival with courage, strength, and lots of humor.

Kris Carr, the filmmaker, was at the (premiere) SXSW screening, and it was the first time she actually viewed the film, as the editing had just wrapped the week before. During a brief Q&A after the film, this dynamic, gorgeous, vibrant, and funny woman shared more of herself than she already had by documenting her healing process.

Having been engrossed (again) with the ideas and philosophies of healing and alternative therapies for cancer recently, I am overjoyed that this film can now be shared with the masses. Kris had stage 4 cancer, and with no traditional methods (the big 3 being surgery, chemo, and radiation), has healed herself with nutrtition, love, acceptance, and many other things that she can tell you about much better than I can. Check out this amazing film in August if you are able. And let’s all go forth and HEAL, O.K.?

Filed by darby at 9:07 am under Arts, raves
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The back of the postcard reads – “Based on research of seven fascist regimes including Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Mussolini’s Italy. The Bush/Cheney regime exhibits all of these traits. Work to stop them while you still can.” -Lawrence W. Britt of Syracuse Cultural Workers

I bought this postcard a couple of months ago at the bookstore Maloprops in Asheville, NC. I also just returned from Asheville a couple of days ago after seeing incredibly inspiring music by The Nightwatchman and Ben Harper. The message is clear. We must all rise from our slumber and become awake, and remain awake. And fight for justice.

The highlight of the evening, for me, was The Nightwatchman joining Ben for an electric rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War.” The Asheville audience was more than receptive, and it seemed some of the older fans were well aware of the roots behind this powerful song from one of our masters of poetry. The Nightwatchman ripped the guitar to beautiful shreds, at times with his teeth, a la his Rage Against the Machine days. Tom Morello, a.k.a. The Nightwatchman, may very well lead us into our much needed revolution, one man and woman at a time.

Masters of War
Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin’
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it’s your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people’s blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You’ve thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain’t worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I’m young
You might say I’m unlearned
But there’s one thing I know
Though I’m younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death’ll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I’ll watch while you’re lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I’ll stand o’er your grave
‘Til I’m sure that you’re dead

-Bob Dylan

Filed by darby at 1:10 pm under Arts, Politics, raves
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Having just spent an incredible 5 nights in the amazing state of Oregon, I have to brag. I have great friends doing great things. Native Grounds Nursery is in Brownsville, OR, closer to Eugene than Portland but easily accesible by both. It is also the home of Keli and Mike, two of the best people on the planet. Although I have absolutely nothing to do with the beauty you will see below, they have everyhting to do with it. A great example of people living their dreams and making their lives what they want them to be.

Look at their flippin’ GORGEOUS nursery, which they have built from, uh, the ground up. A beautiful example of how good life can be.

And here’s the tractor (a.k.a. “our Lexus”) that gets ‘er all done:

Filed by darby at 12:46 pm under raves
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I have definitely morphed from an almost fully wild single creature to a tame and domisticated partner. This is evidenced most obviously by the sheer joy coursing through my veins right now due, soley, to the completion of our kitchen with the installation of our stone countertops. Make that – near completion. We still need a couple of finishing touches, like a cooktop hood, glass-tiled backsplash, pendant lights, and a cabinet finish or two, but you get the idea.

To aid you in your visual quest, I give you the before and after’s. The pic’s are presented from left to right; the one on the left, the before, and the one on the right, the after, from the same vantage points. Can you believe the difference? How SWEET is the after?

This post is getting awfully spiritual, what with the allelujah’s, possessed spirits, and the sweetness of the here-after. Plus, all the working to become complete, ever knowing that it will never be complete. Hmmmm. Maybe new kitchens are representative of Buddha. All the peace and serenity and calm and enlightenment and stuff…

Filed by darby at 8:15 pm under Arts, raves
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This past weekend, my loved one helped me to create a new site, called Project Green Spot. I will be using this new site to shed light on all things green. Please read more about my intent for Project Green Spot here.

I will still be posting to msdarby, but will keep all of my “green” subject matter on the PGS site. I am hoping to also include some interviews and podcasts on Project Green Spot for some added insight to what is happening in the world of sustainable business.

Feel free to drop me a line with your feedback, as well as any “green” products you have tried or businesses you know of to be highlighted.

Love,

msdarby
darby at msdarby dot com

Filed by darby at 8:35 am under General, raves
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What do a visionary architect, a winemaker, and an activist lawyer have in common? They were all in Savannah this past Saturday to partake in the Savannah Country Day School’s Creative Minds series to discuss sustainability.

This event was off the hook. All of the men who spoke are inspiring, truth-seeking individuals creating positive change in their respective fields.

The first speaker was Robert Berkebile, FAIA, a calm and pleasant man who is a visionary leader in greening the world of design and architecture. Berkebile believes that architects must take a leadership role in creating sustainable communities and restoring the balance of nature. To that end he has devoted much of his time promoting a new design ethic and responsible planning to create a sustainable society.

Next up was Paul Dolan, a Mendocino County winemaker who had turned the giant wine producer, Fetzer, into the largest organic wine producer in the world. He presently owns the Mendocino Wine Company, and is a perfect blend of 4th generation grape grower, northern Cali spirit, and highly successful business man.

And last, but surely not least, was Bobby Kennedy, Jr. This man was laying it down, people. Coming from a lineage of men who were not afraid to challenge the establishment knowing they would probably die because of it (and did), Bobby, Jr. espouses the same kind of courage that his father and uncle did before him. There is much to say about this activist lawyer, but I offer you an interview that John Stoehr from Savannah Now conducted prior to the symposium on Saturday. If you ever have a chance to hear/see Bobby speak, take advantage of it.

Q: Why do so many people, even those with no obvious political interest, deny that global warming is a problem?
A: This is the result of a multi-billion dollar propaganda campaign by the oil industries to deceive the public about global warming by creating and funding dozens of think-tanks in Washington, D.C., by hiring public-relations firms and by investing millions into the political process. They are using the same tactics the tobacco industry used. Seven years ago, tobacco industry CEOs swore under oath that smoking was not affecting health. Now you have people in Congress proclaiming that global warming is a hoax.

Q: How does that affect a person like my dad, a working class guy who doesn’t believe the planet is getting warmer?
A: Last year the National Academy of Sciences did a bibliographic study on every peer-reviewed study about global warming. They found, without exception, that there was agreement that global warming was occurring and that human beings were causing it. At the same time, they did a study of news reports and more than half expressed doubt about the authenticity of the quote-unquote theory. There is a huge disconnect between the reality and the perception advanced by the news media. That doubt is percolated down to talk radio. Thirty percent of Americans get their news from talk radio and 90 percent of that is controlled by the right.

Q: If so much money is involved, where can we begin to fix the problem?
A: In order to save the environment, we have to fix democracy. Get the corporations out of politics … We need to strengthen the FCC to force media to do their job. Airwaves are owned by the public. The media used to be obligated to tell people real news. Now networks are owned by shareholders and the bottom-line demands more viewers. Americans are the best entertained and least informed people on earth. If we had a political system that worked, it would address global warming.

Q: Those objectives seem so insurmountable. What about immediate changes?
A: They are not insurmountable. Changing the FCC and campaign finance reform are doable objectives. But we can increase fuel-efficiency standards … We can also invest in solar and wind, and we can eliminate subsidies to coal and oil industries. We pay billions in direct federal subsidies to the oil industry.

Q: Even if we were able to fix democracy, as you say, how can we convince nations like India and China, with more than a billion people each, to address environmental issues?
A: They don’t want to be polluting either. China right now has tougher fuel standards than we do. We can’t sell our cars there. We should be developing new technologies so we can sell them to China. Hybrid cars and fuel-efficient refrigerators are in demand. I think we have moved away from debate on whether global warming is an issue. It is. Now we are debating what to do. President Bush acknowledge global warming does exist in his State of the Union address, which he hadn’t done before. There are now three environmental bills in Congress waiting for a vote. The question is whether President Bush will sign them.

Filed by darby at 12:29 pm under raves
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The fall colors, down-home yet sophisticated city, and extensive music and people watching made our recent visit to Kansas City worth writing about. But what really got me excited was the airport. I have never seen a design like this, and probably never will again, unless in KC.

The Kansas City International Airport has 3 terminals, all in the shape of a horseshoe, or ‘C’ configuration. The style is mid-century modern, and the ease of accessing one’s gate and baggage claim is unheard of. Picture this; you find the terminal you need based on the airline you are flying. You get dropped off, or park in the front of the horseshoe (across from your corresponding gate) and voila, you need not move an inch more. You walk into the airport at your gate, which has the check-in table, and right next door, 3 or so gates share the security check-in. It took us about 8 minutes to check our luggage, go through security, and sit at our gate. Conversely, when you arrive at KCI, you de-board, and your baggage claim is literally steps away.

Living in the Savannah area, life is definitely easier while navigating the small and quaint Savannah airport, rather than the Midway (Skidway) and O’Hare (O’Scare) airports of my past. But KCI wins, hands down, with their sweet 60’s lines and ease of their airport design. Too bad there is talk of restructuring it, due to the increased operation costs of having separate security for every 3 gates or so. This same problem is what made TWA move to St. Louis years after commissioning the airport with the architectural firm of Kivett and Meyers.

Filed by darby at 3:38 pm under Arts, raves
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