this is a brief compilation of many ideas, thoughts, talks and inspirations that have occurred over past couple of weeks…

Aims of the project,

• Questioning “oil-based” growth model using films, projecting consequences in time.
• Using lakes and existing archaeological ruins as test sites to speculate larger implications.
• Allowing liquid based protocells to take shape of “containing volumes” to construct semi-living blocks of architecture. (fossils of liquid living materials as solid materials)
• “Re-incarnating” the ruins, strategically dispatching protocells to “re-map” growth of architecture and city.
• Speculating post-protocell spatial possibilities. Crossbreeding culture+biology+architecture.

the above results into a condition of overlapping relationships of three plateaus of culture, biology and architecture, the project has to test their inter-relationship and use the first two layers to influence/ alter idea of architectural proposition. few of the later thoughts are triggered after peter eisenman lecture at AA ( lateness and crisis or modernity ), which questioned the current strands of approach towards architecture of future, ie eco-centric and parametric. Eisenman argued the “extreme capitalism” driven architecture of today can no longer adapt to situations of tomorrow and the answer lies in none of the existing strands of academia. perhaps this is not the “zeitgeist” period but there is more of haunting spirit indicating presence of a new reality around us which has potential to alter the way we think and behave with our surroundings ( notion similar to pre-world war1 time, as in the film “the white ribbon” 2009 )

few of the following discussions and talks hovered around thoughts of  neitzche’s “Superman”,and talk of telescopic evolution from movie “Waking life” 2001, every human being aspiring to become a super human during his/her own life term and perhaps this is the new evolutionary desire, if history took millions of years to reach to a point in 20th century, the 20th century took less than 100 years to proportionately elevate itself to higher grounds, may be 21st would take decades, if this assumption stays valid life and surroundings will alter at higher speeds than we have seen so far.

this brings me to explore the expressionist films produced during era of political, economical and social turbulence before and after the two world wars,  namely “Noir” films during 1940-1950. what interests me especially is the representational techniques of cinema to reveal the “haunted spirit” of the era. to study the spaces within the movies with applying filters of biological experiments of today, using the noir films as a cultural driving force of the project linking the common points within time-scape…

( to be continued…)

Green Bay, Wis., Mayor Jim Schmitt and Green Bay’s parks director Bill Landvatter were in Memphis looking over the Zippin Pippin, which is being dismantled. The Zippin Pippin, formerly called the Pippin, is one of the oldest existing wooden roller coasters in the United States. No sources can pinpoint when or where the Pippin was built. According to a 4/27/1993 Commercial Appeal article the Zippin Pippin was built in 1912 in East End Park. A 1/8/33 CA article claims that East End, “had charge of the ‘Figure Eight,’ predecessor of the Fairgrounds, ‘Pippin.” A 4/17/1966 CA article claims the coaster was built in 1915. Another, (CA 12/26/1974) date’s construction in 1917. Either way it goes, it was made out of pine wood and built somewhere in the “today” fairground area. It was constructed by John A. Miller and Harry Baker of National Amusement Devices.

As the park declined in popularity, the coaster was dismantled and relocated adjacent to the horse track in Montgomery Park, now known as the Mid-South Fairgrounds. In the 1970s, Memphis made plans to build a theme park around the Pippin and the Grand Carousel. The park was called Libertyland, and opened in 1976. The Pippin was renamed the Zippin Pippin, and billed as the most prominent and historic ride at Libertyland. Elvis Presley was alive then the park opened and the Zippin Pippin was reportedly his favorite roller coaster. Yes, it is true; Elvis would rent the entire park on occasion just to ride it without constant fan interference. A week before his death, Elvis rented the park from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. to entertain a small number of guests and he rode the Zippin Pippin for hours without stopping. Libertyland Amusement Park closed in 2005, the Zippin Pippin is being disassembled. Schmitt said he would recommend his city “work diligently” to acquire the Pippin and move it to Green Bay, Wis.

The real story about the Zippin Pippin is, it SUCKED! I remember going to the Fairgrounds before Libertyland was opened. Memphis, that was the only roller coaster we had till the Revolution came. Once the Revolution was constructed it had Loops, it was faster, made of steel, and longer. See, the Zippin Pippin was 2,865 feet (873 m) long, traveled 20.8 mph (33.5 km/h), increasing to 40 mph (64 km/h) at the maximum drop of 70 feet (21 m). It only took up a minute and thirty seconds of your time. This was great for people in the 1912-1960 that didn’t experience anything over 45 miles an hour. You older readers know the speed limit in the 1930 was topped at 45 mph. In the 1970 speeds were topped at 55 mph, which made the Zippin Pippin slow-as-hell! Plus, many people would head to Nashville to enjoy Opryland,

If you were between the ages of 8-12 you might find the ride exciting. I mean the ride had no G-Force at all. A “real” roller coaster takes advantage of G-Forces. It constantly changes its acceleration and its position to the ground, making the forces of gravity and acceleration interact in many interesting ways. The Zippin Pippin didn’t.

On a “real” roller coaster, when you plummet down a steep hill, gravity pulls you down while the acceleration force seems to be pulling you up. At a certain rate of acceleration, these opposite forces balance each other out, making you feel a sensation of weightlessness, the same sensation a skydiver feels in free fall. If the coaster accelerates downward fast enough, the upward acceleration force exceeds the downward force of gravity, making you feel like you’re being pulled upward. If you’re accelerating up a steep hill, the acceleration force and gravity are pulling in roughly the same direction, making you feel much heavier than normal. The Zippin Pippin didn’t. Now the Revolution did!

The only time Libertyland made the news was for Labor Day Weekend or when the Mid South Fair was in town. My cousin Jeff and I would go to Libertyland every two weeks; you could ride every major ride there and walk the park in one hour and forty-five minutes with a moderate crowd. The Zippin Pippin was near 60 years old, based on built in 1917 and my visits in 1974+. It was falling apart then, it shook, after the first drop, the car your sitting in rattled, you were more afraid the roller coaster was about to collapse if anything. Jeff and I would take our drinks and drink while riding the ride. We got to know some of the people working the rides because of our regular visits. Many times at the Revolution the operators would let the ride got through two times if there where no people at the gates. We would always ride the Zippin Pippin last, as we leave, sometimes we could get around five non-stop trips. I’m not going to say I didn’t like the Zippin Pippin, I rode it every time I visited Libertyland. During the 1980, the ride was just, OUTDATED, and those that can remember, half the time you visited Libertyland the Zippin Pippin was CLOSED.

On October 29, 2005, citing persistent loss of money, “Little-Bitty Land” closed its gates for good. We’re talking 2005; Libertyland didn’t covered no more than 20 acres. Families lose interest in homespun amusement parks. People want Disney not some corner amusement park with a raggedy roller coaster. For goodness sakes, the Mid-South Fair even decided to relocate. If Schmitt gets his way, the Zippin Pipping will find another home, and if I’m ever in Green Bay, Wis., at some amusement park and see the ol’ Zippin Pippin, Yes Memphis, I would ride that old raggedy roller coaster for ol’ time sakes.

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Former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton kicked off his campaign for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District seat saying his main reason for running is to diversify the state’s all-white congressional delegation. Herenton was the mayor of Memphis for 18 years. Herenton speaking for more than 20 minutes to hundreds of Memphians holding red, white and blue ‘Herenton For Congress’ signs. His challenger is Dem. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen who became the city’s first white member of Congress in more than three decades when he was elected in 2006. “Every opportunity that African Americans can get to serve as leaders, we ought to go after,” Herenton said during his speech. “They’ve got 11 members, we just want one.”

Herenton, the city’s first black mayor, has a huge number of followers. He highlighted his years of service as mayor saying Memphis is better because of him. Despite the corruption investigations of Herenton, questioned about payments Herenton received while mayor from a land deal, parties financed by political supporters and Herenton’s baby mama drama with Claudine Marsh, he greeted supporters as he kicked off his 9th District Congressional campaign saying, “We will win this election.” Herenton didn’t outline a policy platform but instead told the crowd that he would help Congress understand the needs of ordinary people. Herenton spoke about the three Memphis Animal Shelter employees, including former shelter director Ernest Alexander that has been indicted on state animal cruelty charges. Alexander was one of Herenton appointee as mayor. Herenton stated that, “This so called justice system of ours – they are about to send three black people to jail about some dogs, But we’ve got a white man involved in Beale Street that a forensic analysis has revealed six million dollars is missing – six million dollars of your money is missing.” This statement was referring to Beale Street developer John Elkington. Herenton spoke about former Shelby County mayor Jim Rout’s business dealings were investigated differently than his, saying that, criminal intent was a crime for black folk, but it ain’t for white folk.

Herenton, who has a doctorate in education, was superintendent of the Memphis City Schools for 12 years before he turned to politics. In 1991, his first run for mayor, he was elected mayor of Memphis winning by 142 votes out of nearly 248,000 ballots cast, against the incumbent, Richard C. Hackett. He was re-elected with large majorities in 1995 and 2003 and defeated a crowded field which included Joe Ford, a member of Memphis’s once powerful political family. He set a record in January 2009 when he was sworn in for a fifth four-year term before his resignation.

Would you support W. W. Herenton in his bid for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District seat?

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Eighty-nine percent of police surveyed, it says, want to be able to “exchange legal process requests and responses to legal process” through an encrypted, police-only “nationwide computer network.” The survey is part of a broader push from law enforcement agencies to alter the ground rules of online investigations. Cybercrime investigators are pushing for the creation of a national Web interface linking police computers with those of Internet and e-mail providers so requests can be sent and received electronically. Traffic data is information about data that is being transmitted, e.g. IP addresses, phone numbers, to, from etc. Communications data is the actual body of the data package being sent. Example: If an email was sent from Person A to Person B, the information about Person A, IP address, email address, subject of the email, and the email of Person B would be the “traffic” data. But the content of the actual email, the message, would be the “content”. Because of the make-up of the Internet, it is sometimes difficult for law enforcement officers to discover the identity. The ISPs are required under RIPA to provide the ability to maintain interception capability. This means that the government, when required, can monitor any person’s Internet activity. A person might hide or “spoof” his/her Internet Protocol (IP) address, or might intentionally bounce his communications through many intermediate computers scattered throughout the world. That’s when subpoenas and court orders to each bounce point are used for tracking. Some ISP’s don’t keep records or don’t keep them long enough.

A 1996 federal law called the Electronic Communication Transactional Records Act regulates data preservation. It requires Internet providers to retain any “record” in their possession for 90 days “upon the request of a governmental entity.” Some companies already have police-only Web interfaces. Sprint Nextel operates what it calls the L-Site, also known as the “legal compliance secure Web portal.” Cox Communications makes its price list for complying with police requests public. The statuary instrument, Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations SI 2007/2199, issued in the UK is based on the EU directive 2006/24/EC which states, under Article 5, what data must be retained. Eighty-nine percent of investigators agreed that a nationwide computer network should be established for the purpose of linking ISPs with law enforcement agencies. Authorized users would communicate through encrypted virtual private networks in order to maintain the security of the data.

To protect your data you should encrypt your data. There is (currently) no easy or entirely effective way to retrieve data within a well-encrypted (1024-bit key or greater) archive. This type of encryption is implemented by either the operating system or hard disk hardware itself. Most current major OS’s either include or offer as an enhancement, the ability to encrypt your entire drive. There are also third-party software packages like TrueCrypt that offer this ability. In order for an OS-level encryption scheme to work seamlessly, the encryption key must be readily available for use. Otherwise, the system would constantly ask you for your password for every file you wish modify, add, delete and move. Individual file encryption is another way to protect your information. Programs like GPG, PGP, TrueCrypt and a multitude of others offer solid encryption methods. Most of these programs will also allow you to create encrypted “drives” or self-executing archives that contain many files and can be used to fill USB drives or moved around quite easily. You can’t hide your email address nor can this be encrypted, it has to be sent in plain text (it’s the nature of the internet), but you can encrypt the content. Lock your screen ANYTIME you leave your desk and password-protect your screen saver. If you encrypted your drive like you should, then the investigator has no choice but to pull the plug on your system since they cannot do a live forensic duplication. Even after duplication, seized drive will still be encrypted and evidence would be lost restoring the memory. Change your IP address. Currently all the tools available to the public, e.g. Tor, only hide your IP address for web browsing not for email. Therefore your true IP address will still be recorded when you use your email. By hiding your IP address in web browsing it is harder to link your web browsing to your emailing. Always wipe the entire drive when giving a system or drive away. Formatting does not overwrite data on the drive; it simply erases any reference to the data. There are many people out there that will buy drives or old systems for the sole purpose of analyzing them for the previous owner’s personal data. The best method to wipe an entire drive is to attach that drive to an existing system and to wipe the entire drive from there. Set Your Browser To Automatically Clear Its Cache & Cookies on Close. This would prevent someone jumping on your computer only to see all the S&M sites in your history.

The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act provides guidelines for data retention, though it is currently voluntary. Laptops, mainframes, smartphones and tablet on the market contain gigabytes of information. Wireless communication has increased in popularity, and so have cybercrimes and data collecting. Most intercept communications need the permission of the Secretary of State (Home Secretary). The police, however, only require the permission of surveillance commissioner, under Section 36 of RIPA.

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Roasted Red Bartlett Pears and Red Onions

I get so hell bent on cooking outside my capabilities while overlooking the simplest of preparations. Like most aspirational home cooks, I pour over recipes that are more than a little ambitious though I rarely take a shot at them. As I fret over how to find time to cook a dish that will require days to piece together, the quick no-hassle possibilities remain ignored. This roasted pear and red onion side is a perfect example of the later but it tastes as though an expert worked some sort of kitchen magic to produce a dish so obviously delicious.

Of course, an expert at Martha Stewart living did, in fact, conceive the recipe for this gem of a technique that includes nothing more than cutting pears that have been cored and red onions into wedges, laying them out on a baking sheet, drizzling them with olive oil and sprinkling them with sea salt then setting them to roast on the center rack of an oven set at 425 degrees until golden. To guild the lily, you can also add a bit of bleu or goat cheese to the roasted pears and onions. It only takes 30 – 40 minutes to get there while you prepare whatever else it is you intend to serve along side them.

Cheers, Steve

Bruce Bartlett has been on a good streak. Today, he notes that Tim Pawlenty, one of the leading Republican hopefuls for the office of President, is another cut taxes and spend conservative. Key quotes…..

In The Politico this morning, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who apparently aspires to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2012, has a grossly ill-informed article in which he rants about the deficit without proposing any spending cuts and insisting on still more tax cuts.

Like all Republicans these days, Pawlenty wants to have it every possible way: complain about the deficit while ignoring everything his party did to create it (Medicare Part D, two unfunded wars, TARP, earmarks galore, tax cuts up the wazoo, irresponsible regulatory and monetary policies that created the recession that created the deficit, etc.), illogically insisting that tax cuts are a necessary part of deficit reduction, and never proposing any specific spending cuts.

The only specific thing Mr. Pawlenty is capable of proposing is a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. It’s hard to know where to begin in explaining why this is such an irresponsible idea, but I will try.

1. It will take forever to get an amendment enacted by Congress and approved by three-quarters of the states, if it can be done at all. Back in the 1980s, Republicans expended enormous effort to get such an amendment enacted but could never muster the two-thirds majority necessary in both houses. Does Pawlenty think it will be easier now?….

4. It’s doubtful that Mr. Pawlenty has any clue as to the composition of federal spending. In FY 2009 we would have had to abolish every discretionary spending program, including national defense, to balance the budget and that still wouldn’t have been enough without a penny of higher revenues, as he insists. We would have had to cut more than $300 billion out of Medicare and Social Security as well. Good luck with that.

I had hoped that the tea party movement meant that people on the right were not just partisans upset about having a Democrat as President. I hoped that they and other Republicans were serious about debt reduction. Nope.

Imagine miles of black leather, some unusual hair, hats, a lot of Harleys and thousands of fun people of all descriptions, boots and britches and chaps of all kinds, and about every accessory one could want for a motorcyle all under one roof. Imagine 25,000 people visiting vendors of all descriptions, live entertainment, judged events for motorcycle entries, hot dogs, barbeque, beer, wine, and lots of laughter. Imagine, if you will, custom-painted tanks and fendors, works of art to blow your mind! If you wonder what I’m chatting about, well, it’s the Great American Motorcycle Show that took place last weekend at the North Atlanta Trade Center in Norcross, Georgia.

Our weekend started with a bang on Friday night, lots of great people, lots of chatting about bikes, rides, events, photography, and art. With regards to art, something I’m partial to, I was lucky enough to meet somebody that has truly a gift in the custom-painting department. That’s Mitch Omar of O’s Custom Paints, based in Bartlett, Tennessee. His tanks are awesome! One of my closest friends, who was there working with me, went to high school with Mitch and so I got to hear them tell down-home stories. Mitch is quite the guy and I really enjoyed meeting him and laughing with him. Standing at probably six-foot-two, blonde, and very animated, Mitch is a tough one not to just get engrossed in. I learned that his painting is entirely by hand and I have to say it appears incredibly three-dimensional. The art is absolutely intriguing and each tank is as individual as you and I.

Mitch currently has several hand-painted tanks, including the pictured ones above, in a traveling exhibit that opened last year at the Appleton Museum in Ocala, Florida, and the exhibit will be traveling and appearing in various venues across the country. The exhibited tanks were on display at the show last weekend and, in a few words, THEY ROCKED! You can see more about Mitch and his work at www.ospaint.com.

Mitch Omar, O's Custom Paints

Mitch taking a moment with me & the camera

So after meeting and chatting with Mitch, the weekend rocked on. We saw lots of entriguing outfits, get-ups, hair, and hats. But one thing was for sure, bike people love their dogs and many have them in tow. Take a look at some of the buddies of the barking kind.

You looking at me?

After seeing lots of people with their pups, I was sure that there must have been a vendor there that sold Hogs for Dogs!

The cutest face . . .

. . . and a too-cute back!

But there were plenty of folks that brought their dogs and, of course, I just couldn’t resist capturing their “mug” with my camera!

Finally, I have to say that a “work of art” that deserved to be captured by my camera and memorialized here was the red/orange mohawk with tire tracks crossing the side of this young man’s head. Yes, I couldn’t resist chatting with this guy and his dad. This was a truly unique site that passed our booth and though I won’t be racing to the phone to call my hair salon to say that “I think I want to try this cut and color this time,” I found it fun and interesting. Thumbs up and kudos for the artwork!

So, in closing, the weekend was great fun and I had a blast. I look forward to seeing folks I met at future events. Thanks to all who made me and my friends feel so at home and including us in the festivities! And a special thanks goes out to our booth neighbors, Soft Bottoms, for looking out for us and having a lot of laughs with us! And yes, boys, it’s always 5:00 somewhere!!!!

Until next time . . . signing off for now and riding off into the sunset . . .

an experimental film to understand the relationship between singular and plural, of time and space, of speed and distance, of India of today and tomorrow…

Mumbai roadmovie

(please click on the link above to see the clip)

Chief executive Steve Jobs has christened the “iPad.”  The iPad features a 9.7-inch, full capacitive multi-touch IPS display, weighs 1.5 pounds and measures 0.5 inches thick. Pricing for the iPad starts at $499. The 16-, 32-, and 64-GB devices run $499, $599, $699 – with an additional $130 for 3G capability. The device will begin shipping in March.

The chipset is a 1-GHz Apple A4, not Intel or Samsung chip according to rumors. The iPad comes in three capacities: 16-, 32, and 64GB. It features built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, an accelerometer, company, speaker, and microphone. Jobs kicked off the company’s launch event in San Francisco by highlighting the history of the company’s mobile products.

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natural formations of soap bubbles within artificially governed volume of glass, the artificial volume partially controls the growth of the bubbles but liquid property of bubble surface re-modulates the air pockets within and generate mutated version of bubble wall as a large unit.

Family and friends mourned the death of Army Staff Sergeant Daniel Merriweather, a Memphis soldier killed in Afghanistan. Merriweather, 25, who lived with his wife, Rachelle, near Fort Bragg, N.C., last saw his family in October when he returned home for two weeks for the birth of his second son. Merriweather graduated from Overton High School. This was his third tour of duty.

Merriweather was on patrol with a military police company 10 days ago, died when the Humvee in which he was riding triggered a roadside bomb near Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Merriweather was genuinely patriotic, joining the Army two days before graduating. He is the 13th soldier from the Memphis area to be killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since the conflicts began. After the funeral service, a funeral procession made its way to West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, where Merriweather was honored with a 21-gun salute.

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Officers John Cicero and William Green were suspended from the New York Police Department after this video surfaced showing them beating a handcuffed suspect during an undercover drug operation. The video shot by a witness looking out an apartment window in the Bronx on Jan. 5, and suspended the officers as soon as the video surfaced. Two sergeants supervising the officers were put on desk duty pending the outcome of internal affairs and Bronx District Attorney’s office investigations. The video shows Cicero and Green bending down to punch the suspect, Jonathan Baez, as other officers mill about. If you look at their faces, there’s not one look of outrage or disgust, None of them intervened or reported this…. It reflects business as usual. A drug suspect, not Baez, ran into a basement and unleashed a pit bull that charged the officers. A ricocheting bullet fired by an officer aiming at the dog grazed two detectives, business as usual

When I saw this video, my first thought was to place it on one of my national blogs. I decided to place it here because of a comment a visitor made in a posting. This is no attempt to suggest that ALL police take this kind of action when suspects are caught. I could help but to think of this comment:

I thought you were a reasonable man but I see you are a BOY. You are definitly an
Idiot, I would just have to beat your ass instead of giving you a ticket.

How true could this statement be? If a policeman was that angry, frustrated, enraged, does he/she need to be working for the department? Or, is it business as usual?

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Carbon fixing architecture

Draft proposal for design project. Dharmesh Thakker

Unit – Rachel armstrong/ Simon herron ( 22^nd january 2010)

The study is about ‘carbon fixing architecture’ which has symbiotic relationship of growth with environment. The project aims destabilize the notion of monocentric growth of the city, in order to help it act like a ‘living organism’. Introducing bio-chemical experiments to generate a newer kind of exo-skeleton, allowing the city to multiply and drift towards its resources.The idea promotes the cultivation of seaweed in artificial lakes over Deccan plateau of India. Rich source of magnesium rich basalt reacts with alginates to form crystals of magnesium carbonates on the shores of these lakes. Where carbon gets trapped form CO2 (in bicarbonate form), if we imagine this process as a geo-engineering scale project in proximity of urban populations of Mumbai then the artificial lakes establish a symbiotic relationship with growth and development of coastal mega-city. The biological process engages directly with architecture of the city, cultivating “homemade raw materials” which digests the carbon waste produced by other industries.

The site is in the southern central region of India. An area which is geographically known as “Deccan plateau” of India. Which covers parts of 8 indian states and is essentially is a 2000 meter thick bed of ultramafic rocks i.e. formed out of volcanic activity 60 million years ago. By composition mafic rocks are richly composed of magnesium-ferrous metals and their composites. india of today has seen increase in export oriented , low-cost manufacturing and service industry means that country is absorbing the pollution of the developed world for products and services that developed countries eventually use. The greenhouse gas emissions of today are 2T per capita, which is expected to increase by 16x in 2050. While the emissions can only be allowed to increase by 2x. This is a huge gap and a potential hazard if not dealt with. The country is soon becoming a ‘carbon sink’, out of its own and industrialized global pollutions.

Carbon dioxide can play a constructive role in post-industruialized human growth, if dealt with. This may be possible through catalytic processes that are possible using chemicals that can be found in certain species of brown algae (macrocysitis, laminaria and ascophyllum) which contain alginic acid. Salts of alginic acid are “alginates”. Alginates are long chain carbohydrates which have been shown, in proof of concept experiments (Ref: personal communication) to play a role in carbon fixation. The long alginate molecule appears to facilitate the formation of Magnesium carbonate at room temperature by creating the conditions for crystal formation by trapping dissolved CO2 from the air as bicarbonate ions in water and enabling it to form a stable salt with locally available magnesium ions, a process that can be facilitated by ion exchange. MgCO3 (magnesium carbonate) is a nacre/ mother of pearl like substance, which is found in shells of marine animals, it has a natural iridescent and shock absorbing properties. The surface has a reflective sheen which can reflect light/ heat.

Spatial possibilities can be at multiple locations, i.e. voids generated in the basalt beds during and after the production of magnesium carbonates and in surrounding urban growth where physical mass of trapped carbon is accumulated and self-constructed. Several things that are yet to be synthesised are to manipulate and have control methods to govern self-assembly of the residual material. How human interaction over a period of time does affect the process? The idea is possibility for change and is trying to venture into yet unknown/ unfound territory of India of tomorrow; our cities can be re-shaped for situation of tomorrow and can be asked to live with the nature rather against it.

Many of you may know about my interest in spiders. If you have been to my office you will see a wall of photos I have taken of different spiders around the city. Naturally when I read about this spider in Australia, I couldn’t resist writing something about it. This Killer Funnel Web Spider is a backyard spider whose bite can kill you in the space of two hours.

This spider is considered one of the world’s most aggressive and poisonous spiders. Funnel Web’s can grow to the size of a human hand. Both the male and female Sydney Funnel-Web Spider carry atraxotoxin, the world’s most dangerous toxin to humans as produced in the animal kingdom. Males are deadlier than females,  the male is six times more toxic than the female, and it is he whom is most often encountered by humans. The spider is a ground dweller commonly found in areas of moist soils along much of the eastern coastal area of New South Wales, Victoria and in certain areas of South Australia. The Funnel Web Spiders found here are not in the same family as the deadly Australian Funnel-web Spiders (Atrax robustus and Hadronyche spp.) Our Funnel-Web Spiders are in the family Agelenidae, while the Australian Funnel-web Spiders are in the family Hexathelidae. This would be a great addition to the spider problem Memphis has with the Brown Recluse and Black Widow.

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MC300-MS36 York-Sunbury Historical Society Collection Description (page 196)

If you are interested in any of these files then please contact the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.

“This series contains three items, which relate to an investigative into losses in the Miramichi Fire, a death, and a theft at the Provincial Legislative Building.  They are dated 1826, 1819, and 1866 respectively.”

1  Examinations relating to the losses of John Robinson of Northesk Parish, Northumberland County, in the Miramichi Fire, October 7, 1825, witnessed by Patrick Mullins and John Rolfe; March 17, 1826.

2  Decision of an inquisition held by William Taylor, Coroner for York County, into the death of John Small having the following jurymen:  William Roberts, James Grigor, William Dayton, James Willox, Robert Eggar, George Lugrin, Smith Henley, Francis Rainsford, George Garden, H. Bartlett Rainsford, Alexander Garden, and George P. Bliss; October 18, 1819.

3  Request of A.T. Coburn, Sergeant-at-Arms for the House of Assembly, for a warrant to search the houses of John Driscoll and James Bagtibolli on Regent Street, Fredericton, for items stolen from the House; September 22, 1866. 

William Henry Bartlett and Bobby O’Neal Armstead was arrested after their truck was stopped last week and police found 100 cases ($200,000 worth) of Red Bull taken from Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington. of Red Bull was missing from a West Tennessee facility of the U.S. Navy. They routinely have stole cases of the energy drink since 2007. Armstead stole the beverages from the commissary, where Bartlett had a job stocking the shelves with Red Bull. Armstead sold the stolen drinks and paid him $450 per pallet.

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3-6 Mafia Ex-Member Gangsta Boo Arrested For Robbery
Memphis Woman Charged With Identity Theft
Andrew Joshua Wirth Tackled After Courtroom Outburst
Bank Robber Eats Evidence
Oakland TN Mayor And Former Police Chief Indicted
12 Arrested In Memphis Prostitution Sting
No Indictment For Willie Herenton

The U.S. Government is calling on medical teams from Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center to help in Haiti. Two medical teams and supplies will soon head to the earthquake-ravaged zone. Dr. James O’Donnell is the Director of Le Bonheur’s Disaster Response & Emergency Preparedness Team. The hospital is sending a surgical critical care team of five or six doctors and nurses to treat wounded children. It will also send a three person medical transport team to get the sick kids to care safely.

FedEx working with partners including the American Red Cross, has donated at least $700,000 in transportation for relief supplies bound for Haiti. FedEx officials said the company was helping move more than 350,000 pounds of relief supplies

UPS announced a $1 million donation, consisting of $500,000 in cash and up to $500,000 of in-kind shipping services. UPS partners with the Red Cross, CARE, UNICEF and other organizations that assist with long-term relief activities.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center has raised nearly $16,000 for relief efforts in Haiti. The money was gathered at three campuses, including the main campus in Memphis, where $10,100 was given.

Mid-Southerners donated more than $125,000 at the Mid-South chapter of the Red Cross.

Tennessee Task Force One is on alert in Memphis. There are 28 teams like this throughout the country This is the largest rescue team in Tennessee. The team’s K-9 unit is one of the best. It will be pitching in too. Members are ready to deploy as soon as the call comes in. This will be the first time Tennessee Task Force One has been deployed on an international rescue mission.

Let’s Continue To Send Our Prayers And Donations To Haiti.

Monika Spraggins and her boyfriend, Larry Malone, both face assault charges for attacking a 25 year old man trying to sale drugs to Spraggin’s son. We have tried everything to possible to keep drug dealers from approaching our children. Now parents have taken action and they are the one’s doing court time. Mitchell has not shown his face since the attack, I’m sure he got a good Memphis Ass Beating, being Spraggins and Malone used a table leg as their weapon of choice. Mitchell has not been charged for the attempted selling to the 14 year old.

All three live in the same boarding house, Spraggins and Malone knew what Mitchell was about, that’s why they took action against this accused marijuana dealer. Police did not find any evidence of drug use at Mitchell’s. Meanwhile, Malone is still in jail on $5,000 bond. Spraggins also in jail, with bond set at $1,000.

What would you do if you caught someone trying to sell drugs to your child?

Click Links For More Postings:
Dead Bodies, Burned Cars In Memphis
Oakland TN Mayor And Former Police Chief Indicted
3-6 Mafia Ex-Member Gangsta Boo Arrested For Robbery
Memphis Woman Charged With Identity Theft
Andrew Joshua Wirth Tackled After Courtroom Outburst
Bank Robber Eats Evidence
Oakland TN Mayor And Former Police Chief Indicted
12 Arrested In Memphis Prostitution Sting
No Indictment For Willie Herenton

On my parents’ farm is a small orchard of six apple trees and two pear trees near the house. We don’t know what they all are, as they were planted long before they bought that farm (Incidentally, my dad told my husband on our wedding day that my husband had now bought the farm). The area in which they live has an endangered deer species, so my dad fenced off the orchard as a kennel for the dogs, which makes us responsible pet owners for having the dogs tied up without chaining them, allowing the dogs to run, and it keeps the deer away from the trees.

We do know that one of the trees is a yellow transparent. They ripen in late July. There is another tree that is a Spartan, but beyond that, we aren’t sure. Since I have gotten started in cider and researching apples, I have found out that one needs to pay attention to the bloom time, time they are ripe, along with looks and taste to try and find out what it is. However, I think that one may not be a standard apple, as the tree got diseased and Dad cut it down, but it sent up a new shoot and we have apples again. Since all apple trees are grafted, I doubt that it is the original tree that was grafted, but instead it is the rootstock apple. I guess there is a third option of it being a seedling tree, but the odds would be against that.

As for the two pear trees, I think one of the pear trees is a Bartlett, also known as Williams in Europe, because they are so popular. Since pears are not self pollinating and require a different variety for pollination, my best guess is that the other tree is a Anjou because it is the most popular pear that blooms at the same time as the Bartlett, but it would be easy to be wrong.

Welcome to Taylor hotel in Taylor, Texas – Check the latest updates of golf events, music events, Rodeo Events, BBQ Cook-Off, Blue Bonnett Festival events.

Events in Taylor,Texas  

Mustang Creek Golf Course Mustang Creek Club’s 9-hole golf course is open to the public. Located at 1100 Beech Street. Call 512-365-1332 for more information.  Check the Event Calendar.  January

The Old Coupland Inn & Dancehall :: (512) 856-2226 :: 101-103 Hoxie Street, Coupland, TX 78615

Steven Franks http://www.myspace.com/stevenfranks
Advanced Pricing*: Adult: $8 | Minor: $8

The Old Coupland Inn & Dancehall :: (512) 856-2226 :: 101-103 Hoxie Street, Coupland, TX 78615 Ricky Calmbach
http://www.rickycalmbach.com/
Advanced Pricing*: Adult: $10 | Minor: $14

April 4th & 5th

Annual National Rattlesnake Sacking Championship

For more information visit http://www.taylorjaycees.org/snake/index.htm

July 17th & 18th

Annual Taylor Rodeo

Celebrate the American cowboy with full rodeo action. Dance after rodeo performances.

Taylor Chamber of Commerce (512) 352-6364

www.taylorrodeo.com

Taylor Rodeo Association Calendar   http://www.taylorrodeo.com/continue.htm

August

August 15th & 16th

Taylor International BBQ Cook-off

Nationally recognized, prestigious family event, arts and crafts, live music.

www.taylorjaycees.org

September 26th & 27th SPJST Annual BBQ Cook-Off

Tammy Whatley 512/864-9183

 September 27th Airport Fly-In

Danny Thomas  512/352-3633

Golf Tournament

2009 Taylor Chamber of Commerce

Alma Konze Memorial Golf Tournament

Mustang Creek Golf Course Taylor, TX

Saturday, October 3, 2009 8:00 a.m. Registration   ٠   8:30 a.m. Tee Time Three Person Select-Shot    ٠    Shotgun Start

Fill out the registration form and fax to (512) 352-6366 or mail to Taylor Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 231, Taylor TX  76574.   Please make checks payable to Taylor Chamber of Commerce.  If you are paying by credit card please fax directly to Taylor Chamber of Commerce, Attn: Cheri Brinkmeyer.  Entry forms & payment must be received by Sept 25, 2009.  For more information, please contact Brent Kriegel at (512) 365-2241 or brent.golf@brookshireins.com

Sponsorship Opportunities for the Golf Tournament 

Support the 2009 Taylor Chamber of Commerce /Alma Konze Memorial Golf Tournament

Please complete ALL information and fax to Cheri Brinkmeyer (512) 352-6366

Taylor�s Halloween Spooktacular

October 31, 2009

Downtown is a host to games, costume contest, free candy and photos.

Fred Switzer 512/352-3463 or www.ci.taylor.tx.us

November November 18th Ambassador Meeting  
Noon – 1 Ambassador Meeting @ Citizens National Bank
5-8 pm After Hours Mixer @ Sirlion Stockade, celebrating their 30th Anniversary

 November 22rd Chamber of Commerce Chicken Fried Steak Fundraiser

11-1pm – Chamber Office
$8.00 per plate.
Tickets for our annual Chicken Fried Steak fundraiser are now on sale at the chamber office.This years meal includes chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans and dessert….all for only $8.00 per ticket!  Captain Red is doing the catering, so you know it will be good! Pull into the chamber parking lot on Sunday, Nov. 22nd between 11am-1pm and we will bring the delicious food out to your vehicle! So ladies, why cook on that Sunday when you can have a delicious meal for only $8 per meal? Gentlemen….why not be a superman for the day and save your wife from having to prepare Sunday dinner?

Contact the Chamber at 352-6364 to purchase tickets
November 26 & 27th Chamber and all City offices will be Closed for Thanksgiving  December December 2nd

Ribbon Cutting and Open House for Johns Community Hospital Home Health

4 – 6 pm – 2705 Donna Drive

December 5th Christmas Bazaar

10am – 5pm – Taylor City Hall
400 Porter St.

In the dead of winter, in the center of town, after dusk has fallen and the air is crisp and black as iced coffee, there emerges a warm glow. Every year it returns to delight residents and to spark the wonder of children and adults alike as the spirit of the holidays emerges – the Christmas lights in Heritage Square Park. This year experience the joy of the holiday season at the Christmas Bazaar. The City’s Main Street Program is hosting this year’s event at the Taylor City Hall auditorium located at 400 Porter St. Be sure to stay in town for the Christmas Parade of Lights!

Contact – Jean Johnson  512/352-5448

December 5th
Taylor’s Christmas Parade of Lights

 7pm – Main Street

String those lights, practice those Christmas carols, and get your sleigh bells on�it�s time to roll down Main Street on Saturday, December 5th at 7:00 pm for the annual lighted Christmas Parade. Entry forms are available at the Taylor Chamber of Commerce offices at 1519 N Main. The categories are: Walking/Marching, Individual Youth Group, Religious Float, Decorated Vehicles, Out of Town Entries, Floats-Business/Commercial, Business/Individual.

Download Parade Instructions, and Registration Form – Click Here (PDF) 

Contact 352-6364.

December 10 ,11,12,17,18 & 19th Santa’s Work Shop

6-8 pm – Corner Stone Realty 
Contact 352-6364

Lights of the Blackland

Tour 9 communities along the Blackland Prairie with spectacular holiday lighting displays.

Taylor Main Street – 512-352-5448
www.abouttaylortx.org

Check these websites for more information about Taylor:

www.taylorchamber.org

www.ci.taylor.tx.us

www.texasbbqtrail.com

www.lightsoftheblackland.com

www.taylordailypress.net

www.abouttaylortx.org

Visit Knights Inn and Suites Taylor Village

 Phone: (512) 352-8565

 1907 N Main St Taylor TX 76574

 Web Site URL: http://www.taylorvillageinn.com

Moody House Museum, built in 1887, reflects the traditions of a very distinguished family. The museum is housed in the restored birthplace of Texas governor Dan Moody, who gained fame by successfully prosecuting the Ku Klux Klan. The Victorian home contains many original furnishings donated by the Moody family.

114 West 9th Street, Taylor, TX

(512) 352-8654

Bull’s Branch Hike & Bike Trail

For hikers and joggers, Bull’s Branch Hike & Bike Trail crosses the city and provides a beautiful view of trees, ducks and water.

Downtown Taylor

Taylor’s historical downtown area offers visitors the chance to browse unique shop, many housed in historical buildings. The area also features some renowned barbecue restaurants.

Granger Lake

The 4,400-acre Granger Lake is ranked as one of the best crappie-fishing lakes in Texas. Four parks are situated on the shores of Granger Lake: Friendship Park, Taylor Park, Willis Creek Park, and Wilson H. Fox Park. These parks provide campgrounds, restrooms, picnic areas, boat ramps, and opportunities for shoreline fishing. 

Mustang Creek Golf Course

Mustang Creek Club’s 9-hole golf course is open to the public. Located at 1100 Beech Street. Call 512-365-1332 for more information.  Check the Event Calendar.

The Historic Howard Theatre

308 North Main Street ~ Taylor, Texas 76574 ~ (512) 352-2995

The Old Coupland Inn & Dance Hall
Address: 101-103 Hoxie Street, Coupland, TX 78615
(512) 856-2226

Cotton Club & Steakhouse
Address: 212 East Davilla Street
Granger, Texas 76530
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 939
Granger, Texas 76530
Phone: (512) 859-0700, (512) 913-0088 (Jill Cox)
Fax: (512) 859-2078
Taylor Chamber of Commerce (512) 352-6364

Knights Inn and Suites Taylor Village

Phone: (512) 352-8565

1907 N Main St Taylor TX 76574

Web Site URL: http://www.taylorvillageinn.com

Attractions in Taylor,Texas

Moody House Museum, built in 1887, reflects the traditions of a very distinguished family. The museum is housed in the restored birthplace of Texas governor Dan Moody, who gained fame by successfully prosecuting the Ku Klux Klan. The Victorian home contains many original furnishings donated by the Moody family.

114 West 9th Street, Taylor, TX

(512) 352-8654

Bull’s Branch Hike & Bike Trail

For hikers and joggers, Bull’s Branch Hike & Bike Trail crosses the city and provides a beautiful view of trees, ducks and water.

Downtown Taylor

Taylor’s historical downtown area offers visitors the chance to browse unique shop, many housed in historical buildings. The area also features some renowned barbecue restaurants.

Granger Lake

The 4,400-acre Granger Lake is ranked as one of the best crappie-fishing lakes in Texas. Four parks are situated on the shores of Granger Lake: Friendship Park, Taylor Park, Willis Creek Park, and Wilson H. Fox Park. These parks provide campgrounds, restrooms, picnic areas, boat ramps, and opportunities for shoreline fishing. 

Mustang Creek Golf Course

Mustang Creek Club’s 9-hole golf course is open to the public. Located at 1100 Beech Street. Call 512-365-1332 for more information.  Check the Event Calendar.

The Historic Howard Theatre

308 North Main Street ~ Taylor, Texas 76574 ~ (512) 352-2995

The Old Coupland Inn & Dance Hall
Address: 101-103 Hoxie Street, Coupland, TX 78615
(512) 856-2226

Cotton Club & Steakhouse
Address: 212 East Davilla Street
Granger, Texas 76530
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 939
Granger, Texas 76530
Phone: (512) 859-0700, (512) 913-0088 (Jill Cox)
Fax: (512) 859-2078

Taylor Chamber of Commerce (512) 352-6364

Knights Inn and Suites Taylor Village

Phone: (512) 352-8565

1907 N Main St Taylor TX 76574

Web Site URL: http://www.taylorvillageinn.com

Details

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Knights Inn and Suites Taylor Village

Phone: (512) 352-8565

1907 N Main St Taylor TX 76574

Web Site URL: http://www.taylorvillageinn.com

http://www.seejbdraw.com/

The search for a missing FedEx employee Jennifer Hurt may have come to an end.  Hurt’s car was found upside down in a ravine on Raines road, just west of Mendenhall, and just block’s away from her job.  Hurt was last seen leaving FedEx after work, the morning of January 8th.  Investigators also confirm a body was found inside the car, but won’t know for at least a day if it’s Jennifer Hurt. Hurt’s stepfather Ira Green said he’s preparing his family for just about anything.

The morning Jennifer disappeared, was the coldest day of winter so far, with a low of 9 degrees. There was a light snow that morning, and it had snowed the day before.  Investigators say it’s too early to determine exactly how the car ended up in the ravine.

Click Links For More Postings:
Dead Bodies, Burned Cars In Memphis
Peak Shipping Season Hits FedEx’ Memphis Hub
Marathon Deaths

I’ve become dependent on charts like the one below, which I draw to help me sort out some of the tangled roots and clarify connectons.

This one charts the connection of Stanley Gale Harris, Mark’s great-grandfather, to Josiah Bartlett, signer of the Declaration of Independence (and ancestor of President Jed Bartlet on The West Wing **) and, strangely enough, how Stanley and Muriel Bent were connected before they were married.

Josiah, born 1729, was son of Stephen and married his first cousin Mary.

• Their daughter Mary leads directly to Stanley Harris.
• Their son Josiah married Sarah Ann Wingate. Her grandfather Paine’s brother, Joshua, is a direct ancestor of Muriel Bent.

This chart is the result of following direct ancestral lines as far as I can and on several occasions in this two years of research I’ve found lines connecting at two ends, like above, with several generations between them. As I mature in this work I’ve become aware that it’s not quite as unusual as I had believed but I still find it amusing and occasionally astonishing. And generally quite fun.

** in a later post I’ll connect Mark to Allison Janney, the actress who played C J Craig on The West Wing.