Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Paul's Katrina
A lot of what I know about Hurricane Katrina I learned from my friend Paul over at Citizen K. He's been to New Orleans eight times and writes eloquently about his love for the Crescent City.
I hadn't seen this post before. The photos of the houses moved me so much. I've never seen anything like them. Because they're nothing like the images of destruction which accompanied the news reports they speak to me in a quieter, deeper way.
"A week ago today, we joined ten other people and toured the Katrina-damaged areas of New Orleans. This amounts to 80 per cent of the entire city, an expanse of 144 square miles, or the size of seven Manhattans. Katrina-related damage extended to four parishes: Orleans, Jefferson, Placquemines, and St. Bernard's. As we discovered on the tour, little of it need have happened: Although touched off by natural forces, Katrina was largely a man-made disaster."
click here for more from Citizen K's blog entry.
The hole in the roof indicates the family inside had to force their way through the attic to await rescue by boat.
An emergency crew from Georgia found no bodies here.
Although it looks intact, this house was scheduled to be torn down by the City.
I hadn't seen this post before. The photos of the houses moved me so much. I've never seen anything like them. Because they're nothing like the images of destruction which accompanied the news reports they speak to me in a quieter, deeper way.
"A week ago today, we joined ten other people and toured the Katrina-damaged areas of New Orleans. This amounts to 80 per cent of the entire city, an expanse of 144 square miles, or the size of seven Manhattans. Katrina-related damage extended to four parishes: Orleans, Jefferson, Placquemines, and St. Bernard's. As we discovered on the tour, little of it need have happened: Although touched off by natural forces, Katrina was largely a man-made disaster."
click here for more from Citizen K's blog entry.
The hole in the roof indicates the family inside had to force their way through the attic to await rescue by boat.
An emergency crew from Georgia found no bodies here.
Although it looks intact, this house was scheduled to be torn down by the City.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Three new synthetic soccer fields for Newcastle
Click here for the latest on Newcastle's 33.5 acre sports park proposal. When I saw how large the proposal was, I thought about our soccer players having to make do with our little 2+ acre field and wondered how they feel about having three synthetic soccer fields so close by. Couldn't we just use those ones and pocket our $1.8 million earmarked for turf and spend it on, I don't know, an abandoned supermarket or something?
I'm serious! Stella and I plan to visit visit the off-leash dog area regularly.
The plan is broken into three phases which will cost a total of (sharp intake of breath) 14.7 million dollars:
"The first phase is scheduled to include the installation of a natural turf softball/Little League field and two play areas.
The second phase is scheduled to include the installation of a synthetic turf baseball field, two synthetic turf softball/Little League fields and two synthetic soccer fields.
The third phase is scheduled to include the installation of another synthetic turf soccer field, a synthetic turf lacrosse field, at least three informal practice football fields and the fenced, off-leash dog area.
'It’s a great design for Newcastle,'(Parks Program Manager Michael) Holly said. “It has all the elements that we look for in making an athletic park.'”
Oh and that reminds me:
If you haven't already, check out "Parks and Recreation" the 2 year-old sitcom featuring Amy Poehler. I'm sure there are many City Planners out there watching it basking in the glow of "finally! some recognition!" tinged with the knowledge that this recognition is won through painful exercises in humiliation and office politics. As it's produced by "The Office" folks, it isn't surprising that the characters are obnoxious and loveable all at once.
I'm serious! Stella and I plan to visit visit the off-leash dog area regularly.
The plan is broken into three phases which will cost a total of (sharp intake of breath) 14.7 million dollars:
"The first phase is scheduled to include the installation of a natural turf softball/Little League field and two play areas.
The second phase is scheduled to include the installation of a synthetic turf baseball field, two synthetic turf softball/Little League fields and two synthetic soccer fields.
The third phase is scheduled to include the installation of another synthetic turf soccer field, a synthetic turf lacrosse field, at least three informal practice football fields and the fenced, off-leash dog area.
'It’s a great design for Newcastle,'(Parks Program Manager Michael) Holly said. “It has all the elements that we look for in making an athletic park.'”
Oh and that reminds me:
If you haven't already, check out "Parks and Recreation" the 2 year-old sitcom featuring Amy Poehler. I'm sure there are many City Planners out there watching it basking in the glow of "finally! some recognition!" tinged with the knowledge that this recognition is won through painful exercises in humiliation and office politics. As it's produced by "The Office" folks, it isn't surprising that the characters are obnoxious and loveable all at once.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
One of my resolutions was to walk more often. With the dog. For Stella, a walk is not a walk without lots of off-leash time. Here's a great description of today's walk from effstop in our neighborhood of Lake Heights, where there are marked trails through a ravine. It's where Coal Creek has managed to find it's way from Cougar Mountain, under Coal Creek Parkway, and then is shunted via fish ladders and weirs under I-405 to arrive at the shores of Lake Washington.
And here"s an account of my friend T's walk on the other side of town, near Microsoft HQ: at Premium T
Happy walking everyone!
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