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Manufactured landscapes in the modern world

2012-08-12T22:23:00.003-05:00

I think the environmental movement has failed in that it has used the stick too much; it’s used the apocalyptic tone too much; it hasn’t sold the positive aspects of being environmentally concerned and trying to pull us out.” (Edward Burtynsky)

http://www.ted.com/talks/edward_burtynsky_on_manufactured_landscapes.html

This 30-minute video is a fascinating look at manufacturing and the effect urban activity has on our world. More importantly, it presents the idea that we can have this conversation in a positive, affirming context.

NO NO don't fall asleep! I know it sounds like a boring drag of a subject- but I promise, you already like it. Have you ever been to a "Secret Santa" party? Aside from the fact that it sounds vaguely lewd, Secret Santa is when everyone brings a generic gift, and everyone leaves with a gift. Ok, hold that thought.

I do not fit the description of an "environmentalist" or an "environmental activist." I hate fighting- HATE it. I can't really imagine myself as an agitator. That said, I am an enthusiast for the benefits of responsible urban renewal/development. In particular, I am passionate about the necessity for rebuilding historical gathering areas in places like downtown Hattiesburg, MS.

All of these ideas- and many of our other current concerns and topics of debate- orbit a single thought: sustainable activity. Without it, we don't evolve. We devolve.

When a system is self-sustaining, it operates freely within its own set of available resources. The sustainable system takes what it needs, with the most minimal impact on the environment that surrounds it. But most importantly, the sustainable system evolves. It is designed to succeed, because it gives more than, or an amount that is equal to, what it takes.

Just like Secret Santa, if ten people come to a party with gifts, and eleven people- or fifteen or 100-are invited to "play the game" of exchanging gifts, the game devolves into failure. Someone who gave does not receive, because someone who received did not give. Bummer!

By how we choose to live, we are currently having an impact on the planet. In order to reverse this, we will not only have to balance our own impact, we will have to repair more to make up for those who will take, and not give. That's a fact. But no more gloom-and-doom talk about the apocalyptic disaster we are creating. I would like to support change, and in particular those brilliant people who are teaching us, if we are willing to learn, how to work toward taking less, and giving more.

You may want to check out WorldChanging.com, a stimulating blog with all kinds of positive sustainable conversation.

Let's have a discussion about sustainability.

PTSD- Puppy Telly Streaming Day!!

2012-08-04T17:26:00.000-05:00

LIVE. PUPPY. CAM.

Puppy Break! Watch puppies here and now! <<< Click!

(Join through Facebook page- it's safe.)

Known as Holly's Half Dozen, these Golden Retriever puppies were born June 24, 2012, and from the beginning they have been on 24 hour live cam. Not only are these puppies adorable but they are involved in very important work with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the National Intrepid Center of Excellence in Bethesda, MD. These pups- five girls and one boy- are being raised and socialized by members of Warrior Canine Connection, who care for and train the dogs as part of their own healing- from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Here's a story from Business Insider-<<< click for more information on military and PTSD programs.

As programs designed for veterans have begun to address the issues military men and women face, more attention has been paid to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. PTSD is more common than most of us realize, and effects people who have been bullied, abused, sexually assaulted, or who have lived through a fearful event, like war, catastrophic event, natural disaster or violent crime.

Just tapping into the live stream is a stress-reducer (as if you needed an actual reason to watch puppies do nothing.) But it's true!

Puppy Break #2! Watch puppies here and now!

PTSD is an anxiety disorder, and can include symptoms like agitation or excitability, dizziness, fainting, headaches and feeling your heart beat in your chest. It usually occurs after someone has experienced a traumatic event, and causes the person to feel stress symptoms that can include panic attacks and flashbacks. Many people are walking around with PTSD symptoms and don't even know it. Unfortunately, after a traumatic event, well-meaning people might encourage a survivor to "shake it off," or to return to "normal" behavior- but while he or she might be functional, they may not be able to experience a full life without some help.Puppy Break #3! Watch puppies here and now!

After that, you may want to check out the symptom list below- or feel inspired to learn more about PTSD, so you can do that here: PTSD information.

The most important thing I can say to you is this: if you think you might have PTSD symptoms, talk to a counselor about it. (I did!) If you have ever experienced a violent or traumatic event, you may recognize that you have these symptoms of PTSD, which usually fall into three main categories:

1. "Reliving" the event, which disturbs day-to-day activity

Flashback episodes, where the event seems to be happening again
Repeated upsetting memories of the event (could include repeated fear of the event reoccurring)
Repeated nightmares/night terrors of the event
Strong, uncomfortable reactions to situations that remind you of the event or how you felt during the event.

2. Avoidance

Emotional "numbing," or feeling as though you don't enjoy or care about anything
Feeling detached from others, or from yourself
Being unable to remember important aspects of the trauma
Having a lack of interest in normal activities
Showing moods less, being "flat" or having physical "feelings" (like feeling tired instead of sad; experience back pain instead of fear)
Avoiding places, people, or thoughts that remind you of the event; avoiding situations where you may not have control
Feeling like you have no future

3. Arousal

Difficulty concentrating, or agitation in stressful situations
Startling easily
Having an exaggerated response to things that startle you
Feeling more aware or self-defensive (hyper-vigilance)
Feeling irritable or having outbursts of anger or terror
Having trouble falling or staying asleep

Birthday Report

2012-07-29T21:54:00.000-05:00

I attempted to play birthday photo-journalist, to create a day-long report of my birthday activities. My best-laid plan has ended in a pile of Instagram photos scattered randomly-in triplicate-all over the internet, a whole series of cool activities I forgot to document, and I didn't even OPEN my blog account!

Apparently, my birthday has been a landslide of awesome that can only be seen with the imagination. YAY! I WIN AT BIRTHDAYS!

7:30- I waked up happy. In the quiet I popped a can of "whompum" cinnamon rolls, so named because you have to whomp the can on the counter. I do not have to feel guilty about eating preservative-laden instant food when it is my birthday.

8:15: Soul #2 stirred and emerged from his lair with a energy-less blegh.
#2: "What's up mom?"
Me: "~*~ Me, I'M UP!~*~" (To be fair, it was my birthday.)
#2: "Ugh." *rolls eyes in hormone-induced disgust*

Well, good morning to you, too, my little ray of sunshine.

8:30: My husband completes the set, stumbling into the living room like a toddler.
Who is covered in tattoos and loves to cuddle? This guy.

They ceremonially produce home-made birthday cards, which makes them extra special.

We eat the cinnamon rolls. I did not pre-heat the oven, and I baked them in a round bowl. This method leaves one really doughy one in the middle, which I have automatic dibs on, because it is my birthday.

Exhausted from the first 40 minutes of hectic birthday mania, I decided that I might not make it through the rest of the day without a half coffee/half Nestle-quick chocolate milk to sip on and a lazy rest.

Roxie immediately cleared her schedule, and offered her support. She's a giver.

My friend Heidi texted me, and I asked her to join us at 206 Front St. for their very excellent brunch. Not only did she accept, she showed up cute as a button, with red high heels and twirly hair and everything. Heidi gave me a gorgeous card with one of her paintings on it, and a cute pin, which I forgot to snap a picture of because I was so excited and happy.
Heidi has the most adorable New Orleans accent. "It's like we'h on a double date!"

I handed Sohbi my phone, and he took this. His pictures of us are always good; either he is a gifted photographer, or we are most photogenic when we are looking at him.

It was around this time that someone handed me steak and eggs, and my photojournalism momentum faded. People like Mark Mann and Scott Street and Meagan May started showing up, along with other people who probably don't have alliterated names, but I didn't know their names. Everyone started cross-talking. Heidi and Tate split 2-for-1 Bloody Marys, which gave me a little contact buzz even though I only had soft drinks. I never have understood that. Must be contagious energy.

"Green Fire" was being shown on campus at USM. We had been lounging at 206 for what felt like hours when we realized that we only had ten minutes to get there. Heidi had to go home ("Oh," she said, "I cay-ant, I got so much paintin' to do!") and we said of course and we know how that is, and then we said goodbyes and dashed off to campus.

"Green Fire" is the biographical documentary of Aldo Leopold's life. He wrote "A Sand County Almanac" and is considered the first nature ecologist, the father of "land ethics." True community-based economic development is based on the principles of natural ecology, which is what Tate does. Oddly, neither of us knew that when I decided to study development. Anyway, that's a story for another day.

http://www.aldoleopold.org/AldoLeopold/landethic.shtml

After the movie we went to the twisty/tasty place that I never can remember the name, and ate make-your-own yogurt sundaes while we worked our way back home.

I took a picture of the cute little brooch Heidi gave me-

a paper revolver that fits in the palm of your hand.

There was lots of other cool stuff that happened today, but in spite of myself, I guess I was just too busy to take pictures of it.

I guess you had to be there.

Lady Gaga’s ‘Meat Dress’ to be installed in the Women Who Rock exhibit; Public can view beginning 10 a.m. Thursday, June 16 | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

2011-06-23T19:03:00.000-05:00

Technically, it's a jerky dress now.

Lady Gaga’s ‘Meat Dress’ to be installed in the Women Who Rock exhibit; Public can view beginning 10 a.m. Thursday, June 16 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

Art that is Powered by the Earth II: Reinventing the Wheel

2011-06-08T17:45:00.000-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcR7U2tuNoY

Theo Jansen (pronounced "Tay-o Yahn-sen") has re-invented the wheel: he calls it "the beast." It is a tool, a pet, a machine, and a simple computer made from things like electrical conduit, cardboard recycled plastic, and string.

No electricity. No batteries. No solar panels.

The mechanics are a must-see, but the magic is not just in the engineering. Powered by natural energy sources like wind and sun, the beast can store extra energy in recycled drink bottles.

The beast has no brain, but it makes decisions. It has no spirit, yet it has a survival instinct.

It reacts to weather. It walks, stops, and moves in reverse.

It knows when to defend itself, and how.

An eight-minute video of Theo Jansen giving a TED talk

Ride the Wind: Art that Harnesses the Power of Moving Air

2011-06-08T10:55:00.000-05:00

A painter who was rejected from seven art schools, Janet Echelman seems more like an elementary school principal than a artsy-weirdo who makes giant nets that float in the air.

Observers describe her sculptures as uplifting, relaxing, and dreamlike. The jellyfish-like shapes soften hard city skylines, create warmth in cold urban spaces, and sway gently in the breeze against the black night sky.

Her first floating sculptures came after she accepted a job teaching art in India, and her painting supplies never arrived. Instead she used fishing nets hung in the sky. Now she enlists the help of high tech knitting machines, futuristics polymers and construction engineers to make art.

She is beginning a new phase in which she will attempt to create the same feeling of buoyancy with installations made of materials like mist and light. Observers will be able to interact with the sculpture, much like the wind interacts with the nets.

If you have ever wondered what "innovative use of traditional methods" means... it means your Granny taught you how to knit, and Janet made these.

A ten-minute video of Janet Echelman giving a TED talk:

http://www.ted.com/talks/janet_echelman.html?awesm=on.ted.com_Echelman

Janet Echelman's website:

http://www.echelman.com/site/biography.html

Janet Echelman's YouTube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/jechelman#p/a/u/2/ZFaP-FQpSYU

Tommie "T-Bone" Pruitt's home destroyed in Memorial Day weekend fire.

2011-06-05T15:37:00.000-05:00

Everybody calls him "T-Bone," but I just can't. I call him Mr. Pruitt.

He is sitting across from me in a two-person mini-booth in the Ward's fast food restaurant in Ellisville, MS. His white undershirt is yellowed in spots. Black suspenders hold his pants up with gold alligator clips.

I have come to meet Mr. Pruitt and help him fill out requests for various types of assistance that are available to musicians in crisis. I introduce myself, and explain that I contacted his granddaughter, who is sitting at another table, and offered my help. I tell him that I am not a social worker, and that this is not my job.

I leave out that I have a particular weakness for grandfatherly Southern men who play music. I do not want to seem like a fan, even though I am a fan. I explain that I will gather as much information as I can, and send it in for him. I apologize that some of the questions may be personal.

Mr. Pruitt is surprisingly relaxed and pleasant, despite having been through a traumatic loss and an overnight hospital stay. He tells me his date of birth, and his wedding date. He tells me that he is 78 years old, but that some paperwork may say that he is a year older.

He pumped gas at a service station when Regular was a nickel a gallon. When he was 17, he ran away from home, he says, because, "My momma would beat us and beat us." While his mother was away one Saturday, his sister gave him $5 so he could run off and marry Miss Verta, who was only 15. Looking down at the mustard yellow laminate, he says, "Her momma used to beat her, too." He pauses as if he is staring at an old photograph. "Her family used to travel, always moving around. So I married her."

My son, who is 10, sits at the table across from us, because he is out of school for the summer, and for the moment, he is well-behaved. Still, when Mr. Pruitt's answers take him off the subject, I let him wander. Long pauses hang between questions, in case he wants to keep talking, because everything he says feels powerful and heavy.

The first form asks about his work in the music industry, and specific questions about his education, his work history, his health, his assets and his income. It is four pages long. I ask him if he has any medical conditions: yes, glaucoma, high blood pressure, diabetes. I ask if he has Medicaid, Medicare, and he answers yes, yes. I ask him what prescriptions he needs, how much they cost each month.

I ask if he has filled these since the fire, and who his doctor is, even though neither of these questions are on the form. I write the doctor's name down.

Own a car or truck? Yes. Owns, or owned, the trailer?

"Outright," he says.

Any payments on anything? No.

I ask him if he gets food stamps, and he looks confused. "No, oh no. I never needed those."

His face lights up when he proudly tells me that he grows a garden. "I grow tomatoes, squash, watermelons..." It sounds like "waw-dah-melluns" when he says it, and the wonder and magic of it pierces me in the chest. I repeat it softly before I can stop myself: "Wawdahmelluns."

"Yes. Them good ones, real sweet. Squaw-shes, too." I smile, but he is stone serious. He raises his eyebrows and nods to convince me. It occurs to me that under certain circumstances, being able to consistently grow a sweet, delicious watermelon must make a man feel like a king.

"I can grow okra from here all the way out to that parking lot." He calls it "okrey." He chuckles at himself, or maybe at me, or at the thought of a line of okra that goes on forever. "Yes-suh, okrey for a long way," he says proudly. "Sho do."

I ask him if they sell what they can't eat. No, he says, they just try to give it away.

Social security or SSI, yes. Any other sources of income? No.

Insurance policies? No.

When it is complete, the form still looks empty, and the math is grim. He barely had anything, and now what he did have is gone.

***

He says he will take me to where he was living when the house burned down, and we divide into two cars. He rides with his granddaughter Romona, a soft-spoken woman in a long black cotton sundress and mustard yellow vest. Her two children, also wearing mustard yellow, climb silently into the back.

I wait until my son closes his door before I ask what he thinks of Mr. Pruitt's story. "I wasn't really listening," he says. I am gathering my you-have-no-idea-how-lucky-you-are speech when he adds, "It sounded kinda private." I don't say anything else.

We follow them to a place just around the corner, and the site takes me by surprise. The charred frame of a double-wide mobile home stands three feet off the ground, like the skeletal remains of the double wide dragon, the monster that ate Mr. Pruitt's whole life. The sweet taste of burnt wood tickles my throat.

It is immediately obvious that it would be impossible to go through it all, and pointless, since nothing would be salvageable. No clothes, no papers. Not his Gibson P-335 that he paid $3700 dollars for back in 1976, nor the leather coat that B.B. King gave to him.

"I know you were proud of that," I say.

"Oh yeah," he agrees, lit up by the thought of it. "Said his name where they sewed it in, right in the back of the neck: B. B. K I N G." We walk a few steps, and he adds,

"It was warm, too."

Donations to the Tommie "T-Bone" Pruitt Fund can be made at any BancorpSouth location.

Music benefits are being scheduled during June/July 2011 in the Hattiesburg/Laurel Mississippi area.

Visit Mr. Pruitt's Facebook for current information about his relief fund: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tommie-T-Bone-Pruitt/196139520419745. For booking information concerning Mr. Pruitt, please call Ross Walton, at @ 601-434-6786.