The “securing” of this bicycle to a rack off the Minuteman Bikeway I saw back in the spring of 2013 remains the most interesting approach to bicycle parking I’ve come across. The knot looks like it can easily be undone, but is that just a ruse?
Fixing What We Broke: the 5th National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration
Or maybe it should be “healing what we’ve hurt”. The 5th National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER) just ended yesterday in Schaumburg, IL with
- David Doig, President of the Chicago Neighborhoods Initiative, talking about projects going on in Chicago, particularly their work on Pullman Park, and
- David Donnenfield and Kevin White of Full Frame Productions sharing their work and perspectives on the vital role of storytelling in ecological restoration (the trailer for their excellent film A Simple Question is below).
NCER5 has been an intense four days of presentations, panel discussions, plenary sessions, posters, networking and excellent food. While it’s been great hearing about the work happening in so many places, I’m reminded that there’s still much to be done: more places to work on, people to reach, money to be raised.
Although I am alternatingly skeptical and enthusiastic about bringing business approaches to traditionally non-business enterprises (e.g. education, public infrastructure, etc.), I left the conference thinking that we need to figure out how to make ecological restoration profitable, beyond firms getting contracts from the government for restoration projects. There just isn’t enough public funding to do the kind of work that is needed, and businesses need to step up and do their share, and if money can be fairly made in a way that supports the environment, community and economic growth, let’s go for it. Social enterprise could be a great way for the field of ecological restoration to head.
Science Stories, by Teens
During a recent visit to the Field Museum in Chicago, IL, I was delighted to find an exhibit showcasing a museum program that offers opportunities for teens to tell stories about science through video!
Reminds me of something I was recently told: if you ask students to explain something in the form of a video (rather than in writing or via multiple choice test), you are likely to get much richer explanations, deeper inquiry and more insight into their thought processes. Great to see opportunities like this are available and going well. Wish I had had experiences like this as a kid!
“Keep looking up…”
A few years back, I read The Cloud Collector’s Handbook by Gavin Pretor-Pinney and was delighted by the accessible treatment of quotidian and wondrous atmospheric phenomena. Now the author has a splendid TED Talk that shares the magic of cloudgazing.
Animal Friendships
A goat who led a blind horse around, a dog and cheetah who play together, a coyote and a lion keeping each company… Wow. This Nature episode was stunning and touching to watch.
Watch Animal Odd Couples on PBS. See more from Nature.
Pedro’s Chainj!
I’ve been using Pedro’s Chainj as my main bicycle chain lubricant, and it’s been great! Application of the lube is easy (just drip out of the bottle and wipe away the excess), and the chain runs smoothly on the gears once it’s on. I also love that this stuff is biodegradable and partly made with vegetable oils.
Next time you’re tuning up your bicycle, consider giving this a try! I got my bottle from EMS, but it looks like they no longer carry it; they’ve still got Pedro’s Go! bike lube, which seems similar. I’ll probably end up using that in the future.
“Lovely Monsters”
Camille Seaman‘s TED Talks have some enthralling images. I’m reminded of a mentor’s words: The water in your body was once rain and will be again.
If you’re in Okayama City…
Drop by Cifa Cafe. This cafe + art gallery + design studio has delicious snacks, interesting artwork and friendly staff. Located close to the Okayama Prefectural Art Museum and just a short walk from the splendid Koraku-en garden (where the picture above was taken) and Okayama Castle, this cafe is a great place to hang out after checking out art exhibitions or strolling through a landscape of meticulously practiced Japanese horticulture. Continue reading
Just Read: Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith
The soul has a home of its own, and I want to live in that one. From Wild Awake.
“…and suddenly she realized why the rising waters where the least of their concerns.”
While checking out the attractive ceramics and fun artwork at The Blue Gallery in Provincetown during a recent trip to Cape Cod, I found the work of Jessica C. White of Heroes and Criminal Press lurking on a case of paper-based goods by the cash register. I was especially delightfully enthralled by the beautiful and quirky letterpress prints of the Heavens to Betsy series which combine striking images with punchy captions (bears on beach balls who will presumably report back to a girl in a red dress? awesome!). The pieces are quite original and unique but evoke in my mind the works of Edward Gorey, Barry Yourgrau, Knock Knock (particularly the Slang Flashcards) and even in some tangential way Adrian Tomine. I wish I could have purchased a few of the letterpress prints, but they loomed beyond my financial grasp, and I went with the digital print of Rising Waters, shown above.
A Contemplative Compilation 