WALK OFF THE BEATEN PATH VOLUME ONE
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8 Ingredients To Spice Up Your Cooking Are you tired of preparing the same old dishes? Use these unusual ingredients to add flavor to your food and to let your creativity really shine in the kitchen. Experimenting with foods that you do not normally use will open up a whole new world of recipes that you can share with family and friends. Tempeh You've tried tofu; now, it's time to include tempeh in your cooking. Tempeh is made from soybeans that have been slightly fermented and formed into a cake. You can marinate and fry, bake, or grill tempeh . Saute with greens and garlic for a healthy and unusual meal. Make tempeh burgers or crumble it and add it to salads or tacos for a rich burst of flavor and some healthy protein . Kudzu Native to Japan and parts of China, kudzu was introduced to the United States in the 19th century. The root is dried and ground into a powder that can be used to thicken
sauces and soups. It can also be used in recipes for puddings, custards, and other desserts . Dragon fruit With an otherworldly appearance and a bright, melon flavor, dragon fruit is one of the most magnificent unusual ingredients that you can add to your creative kitchen . You can peel, slice, and eat this fruit on its own or mix into a fruit salad and drizzle it with fresh lime juice. Use it to make smoothies, salsas, and sorbets that will blow your family away. Coconut milk Coconut milk is rich, creamy, and a good source of vitamins C and E. Use it to make dairy-free desserts or to add a spin on your summer smoothies (try coconut milk , honey, cocoa powder, and bananas). Coconut milk can also be added to curries and stir-fries for a unique flavor. Amaranth This unusual ingredient is indigenous to
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Central America where it is used to make those sticky-sweet treats known as alegrias. Amaranth can be toasted or prepared like rice and served with vegetables, tofu, beans, or meats. Be creative with your dishes. This grain works well with aromatic spices like ginger, cardamon, and cinnamon. Served with cream and honey or syrup, it makes an excellent breakfast. Matcha Matcha is powdered Japanese green tea. It is highly prized for its antioxidant content and subtle, sweet flavor. Add matcha to smoothie recipes or try it in puddings, pastries, and cakes. It adds an unusual flavor and a gorgeous, grassy green color to any dish. Mung beans You may be familiar with the hearty flavor of black beans or kidney beans, but what about the delicate flavor of mung beans? These legumes are native to India . They
are amazing in curries, but they also can be tossed into soups and stews and used as an interesting complement to pork, lamb, or beef. Mung bean, lamb, and saffron tamales, anyone? Borage Move over, mint and cilantro. The flavor of this herb is fresh, clean, and reminiscent of a cucumber. Add the leaves to salads and green smoothie recipes . Puree this herb with olive oil, lemon, and shallots to make a fantastic topping for fish. Chop the leaves and mix them with ricotta cheese for your own unique pasta dishes . Even the flowers are edible. Candy them and use as beautiful cake decorations. Try frozen borage flowers as gorgeous accents to a glass of summer lemonade or iced tea. Cooking should be fun, not another responsibility. Try playing around with different ingredients and prepare dishes that are unique, healthy, and delicious.
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these are the people quitting facebook Many Facebook refusers actually revel in their difference from the mainstream, seeing it as a mark of distinction, superior taste, and identification with an elite social stratum, Along with composting and biking, pledging to quit Facebook has become the hip new lifestyle promise to make over chit-chat at cocktail parties. But while plenty of people talk about ditching the site, a small number actually work up the nerve to do it. So who are they? Are they less social, more neurotic or just more mature? Researchers at the University of Vienna have just published the results of a study examining the temperament and demographics of the people who leave Facebook, shedding light on what distinguishes those who commit “virtual identity suicide” from the rest of us still enduring the “pokes.” The team surveyed 310 people who had quit Facebook and 321 Facebook members on their personality traits, Internet addiction tendencies and attitudes toward privacy to see if certain patterns would emerge. The respondents consisted of people from all over the world who were recruited online and volunteered to take the study, though they're a small sample compared to the entirety of Facebook users and are not necessarily representative of all Facebook quitters. According to those surveyed, it turns out that the people who leave Facebook aren’t so different from the rest of us. They’re also worried about who sees their photos, annoyed by Facebook’s constant changes, irritated by superficial social interactions and concerned by how many hours they spend glassy-eyed and slack-jawed staring at their screens it Facebook, a large number say they've considered it. Nearly half (46.8 percent) of the current Facebook users surveyed said they’d previously considered quitting the site. A full 61 percent of members say they've taken extended breaks from Facebook, lasting several weeks or more, according to a report from the Pew Research Center published this year. Yet the University of Vienna study did find several key
attributes that characterized those who'd killed off their Facebook accounts: They’re more likely to be men: Among those who had deactivated their accounts, the majority (71.5 percent) were male. Among those who currently used Facebook, the majority (70.5 percent) were female. They’re slightly older: The average age of the individuals who’d quit Facebook was 31, while the group still using Facebook was 24 years old, on average. They’re more worried about privacy: People who had deactivated their Facebook profiles exhibited “significantly higher general concern about privacy,” as measured by their score on a privacy questionnaire. They’re more conscientious: There were few personality differences between the Facebook quitters and keepers, with members of both groups equally extraverted, agreeable, neurotic and “open to experience.” The only difference? Conscientiousness was higher among quitters -- a small wonder given that it’s correlated with behaviors like being diligent, planning ahead and staying on task. They’re (slightly) more hooked on the web -- but so is everyone: Facebooking individuals had slightly lower Internet addiction scores than their non-Facebooking counterparts, yet both groups were heavy Internet users. “[I]ndividuals of both samples already showed signs of frequent problems due to Internet usage,” the paper observed. They had fewer friends: Facebook quitters had left behind an average of 133 Facebook friends, or about half as many as ongoing Facebook members, who had an average of 349 friends. (A poll by Edison Research, a market research firm, found the average Facebook user had 303 friends.)
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Their tenure and time on the site is no different: The amount of time quitters and members spent on Facebook didn’t vary much (1.9 hours a day and 1.8 hours a day, respectively). They'd also had their accounts for almost exactly the same amount of time (an average of 26 months for quitters, and 29 months for members). Not surprisingly, concerns over privacy topped the list as the most popular reason for quitting Facebook. Forty-eight percent of those who'd left the site said they were motivated to leave because they had reservations about how their personal information was being used, while 13.5 percent cited a “general dissatisfaction” with Facebook, 12.6 percent left because of “negative aspects of online friends,” and six percent felt they were growing addicted to the site. (Respondents were able to list their reasons in an open-ended response.) Facebook
declined to comment. Other research has shown that leaving Facebook has also become a kind of status symbol, much like refusing to own or watch TV. "Many Facebook refusers actually revel in their difference from the mainstream, seeing it as a mark of distinction, superior taste, and identification with an elite social stratum," wrote New York University assistant professor Laura Portwood-Stacer in her study of Facebook quitters published last year. Given how many people said they’d considered leaving Facebook, here's a possible follow-up study for the team in Vienna: What defines those who choose to stay on the social network? Why are they still there?
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Build your own desk Making your own desk can save hundreds or thousands of dollars. If you are interested in a customized look, you can create a wooden desk that looks professional and has plenty of storage space. Measure your office, choose your look and build a desk that fits your style. Some familiarity with power tools and home improvement projects will make this job easier. Get your materials. You'll need a 48"x20" (or similar measurement) piece of MDF or plywood, two adjustable wood trestles (easily found at Ikea or other stores), wood screws, and paint. You will also need a circular saw if your wood is not already cut to your desired measurement. Cut your wood to size using a circular saw. Measure and cut the wood you purchased to the necessary dimensions for the desk top. Remember: measure twice, cut once. You can also cut a hole in the back of the surface or at the edge, in order to fit cables through. Sand your wood. Unless you have found pre-finished wood panels, you will want to sand the desk. You can rent a power sander to save time. Wipe off the desk when you are done. Use 40-grit sandpaper if your wood needs stripping and resurfacing. Use 80-grit sandpaper to smooth out imperfections. Use 360-grit sandpaper at the end of sanding, to further smooth the surface before staining.
Paint the wood. If you want your desk to be a color, you can paint the trestles and desktop. Spray paint will probably go on the fastest, but you can use regular paint as well. Keep in mind that a wood stain will only work if your wood is unfinished. You can choose different colors for the cabinets/trestles and desktop, but you should choose colors that will compliment your house. Place the pieces. Bring the pieces into the room where the desk will be used. This saves you the trouble of carrying the whole desk in later. Set the desktop atop the trestles, so that the bar of the trestle is a few notches up and the two trestles are placed evenly about 3" from each end of the desk top. You can check to make sure that it's level but for most situations it won't need to be completely perfect. Screw the desk top in place. Using appropriately long wood screws, screw through the desk top and into the trestles, 3 screws to each side (evenly spaced). You can further secure the desk if you can find 4 corner brackets that are small enough to screw into the desk top and the adjustable trestle surface. Do finishing touches. Use some wood putty to fill the screws and then finish with some paint touch-ups. Add any other finishing touches you want as well. Enjoy your new desk!
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cause of the moment : duke lemur center Bring a blanket and join us for a picnic to meet the new lemurs in the adopt-a-lemur program at the Duke Lemur Center, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 26. Your sponsorship will help us care for the lemurs at the Duke Lemur Center and support the conservation work we do around the world. Purchase your picnic from Alivia's Durham Bistro food truck (Liv’s) or bring in your own picnic basket, and see unique primates you can’t find anywhere else in the U.S. Decide for yourself who you would like to support for the next year. Keepers and education staff will be on hand to answer all your questions about each of the animals up for adoption.Lemurs: World’s most endangered mammals: In 2012, lemurs were named the most endangered mammals on the planet. The Duke Lemur Center is the world’s largest sanctuary for these animals outside of their native home of Madagascar. See them for yourself and help care for them and protect them from extinction. How your adoption donation helps lemurs: The Duke Lemur Center has been working to learn from and care for lemurs for nearly 50 years. When you adopt a lemur, you not only help cover the
$7,400 per year cost it takes to care for each animal, but you will also support our work in the U.S., Madagascar and around the world to study and save these endangered animals. By adopting a lemur, you not only help in the care and feeding of the animal, but you will also support education and conservation programs at the Duke Lemur Center in Durham and in Madagascar. You will receive regular updates and photos on the animals of your choice, and you won't have to clean up after them! These animals stay at the Duke Lemur Center, and we will do the dirty work! Reservations are required. Call 919-401-7240 to reserve your spot and mark your calendar to meet the new adoptees at the Duke Lemur Center. Tickets are $15 per car and are fully tax deductible. Your $15 ticket price can be used towards your adoption. WHAT: Adopt a Lemur WHEN: 5 – 7 p.m., Thursday, September 26 WHERE: Duke Lemur Center, 3705 Erwin Rd in Durham. HOW: To reserve your spot, please call 919-401-7240
quick lemur facts: What is a lemur and what does the word “lemur” mean? A lemur is a type of prosimian primate that is wild only on the island of Madagascar. Lemur in Latin means “ghost” and many of the Malagasy people believe lemurs are similar to spirits or ghosts because of their haunting stare and night activity. How did lemurs get to Madagascar? Madagascar broke away from Africa/India about 100 million years before lemurs ever existed. Scientists believe lemurs and other mammals reached Madagascar via “rafting” on clumps of vegetation, or trees. What do lemurs eat? Lemurs eat leaves, flowers, fruit, and insects. At the Lemur Center, they also eat special monkey chow biscuits (loaded with nutrients). In our natu-
ral habitat enclosures, lemurs eat all kinds of North Carolina plants, including poison ivy. Who are their predators? There are two aerial predators, hawks and eagles, who will take infants; and one ground predator, the fossa who is nocturnal and will take adults or babies that don’t climb high enough in a tree to sleep. Humans, either by destroying their habitat or hunting lemurs for food, are the lemurs’ #1 predators. The animals at the Duke Lemur Center consist exclusively of prosimian primates. These are the primates that evolved before monkeys and apes, and are representative of the early primates that existed fifty million years ago. The Lemur Center houses three groups of living prosimians. In this section we would like to introduce you to the lemurs of Madagascar, the lorises of Asia and the galagos (bush babies) of Africa.
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GUERRILLA GARDENER IN THE MIST Jim Richardson of Aurora, Colorado is a Sierra Club member with the Rocky Mountain Chapter. He is also a real life guerrilla gardener. I had a chance to talk with him about this furtive hobby.
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So where did your roots in gardening come from? I grew up in a rural environment in Iowa. Now I live in a patio home that I outgrew in a few years. I volunteer at some community farms in our area. I started planting stuff in my neighbors’ yards. I’d say, “Hey, you want a tree?” and I’d plant it for them. They probably got tired of seeing me, so I started to sneak down to a nearby greenbelt, wetland area near my house. That’s where I do my guerrilla gardening. For those who might not be familiar with the topic, describe guerrilla gardening. There are a lot of underutilized city owned areas in our metro environments that could use plants, trees, and bushes that will enhance wildlife and fight climate change with carbon sequestration. If you look around, there are brown lots everywhere that could benefit from native species. You don’t want to introduce something that’s not native. There’s enough of that going on already. You want to try to eradicate an invasive weed and replace it with a native grass or something like that. It can be as small as sunflowers. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on it or anything. Just plant it somewhere, monitor it, and water it as needed. After a while it establishes itself and you can go plant something else. I probably have several hundred plants in my area that I maintain. The “guerrilla” tag implies trouble. I’ve had two run-ins with the local government. I started out with evergreen trees in a floodplain area. The city didn’t like them so they took them out. I’ve had to meet city officials a couple of times over the past five years. They’d say that I need to quit planting because if I keep doing it then someone else will get the idea of doing it. And I’m thinking, “Okay, what’s the problem with that?” So I just ignored that and tried to be sneaky about it. Then the city flood supervisor and I came to an uneasy agreement: I can plant things in an area that's about 100 yards long by about 30 yards wide along a road.
Are you OK with the “guerrilla” tag or do you think it’s a mis-characterization? It works for me. I recently read a blog that struck a chord with what I'm trying to achieve. It read: “Worrying about our planet while adhering to local zoning codes or social norms forbidding ecologically sensible behavior is a recipe for disaster. Such laws require citizens to commit an ecological injustice by using a disproportionate share of our Earth's resources. They scream out for civil disobedience.” What do you plant? Sunflowers, blue stem grasses, switch grasses. Some daisies. Prairie type plants. Coneflowers. What about food? Tomatoes? Strawberries? I suppose you could do that. But I don’t do vegetables. I focus on creating native habitat and converting these areas to a more sustainable environment that was once there. Any advice on how to get started? It can be as big or small as you want. Use common sense. You don’t want to put an evergreen tree next to a sidewalk that might block vision for traffic or something like that. Plant as many native species as you can. It should be where you can maintain it. You don’t want it on the other end of town. That’s what’s fortunate about my area, that I can just walk down there at night. As a true "grass roots" effort, people should see the wisdom in taking advantage of under-utilized land in a manner beneficial to their local community. Even if it's as small as planting a sunflower, we owe it to our ecosystem the ability to heal. When I started this endeavor, the area was a collection of weeds, trash, used condoms, and beer bottles. It's now an area to be proud of and I've gotten numerous accolades from neighbors that I had never met prior to beginning this effort. I even have a few folks that help pull weeds. As the plants mature and get bigger, the area will fill in and become more hospitable to various small wildlife -- my ultimate goal.
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10 painless changes you can make for a green home When it comes to making eco-friendly changes these are the little ones that really add up to make a difference from the experts at Practically Green. Shop for Sustainably-Raised Meat While sustainable isn’t a term certified by the USDA like organic is, it generally means that the animal was given ample room to roam, and wasn’t treated with hormones or antibiotics. Look for labels like free-range and organic as well as no-hormone and no-antibiotic. Microwave Glass, Never Plastic Heating plastics can cause leaching into food and many contain hormone-disrupting compounds (not just the much maligned versions made with bisphenol-A or BPA). Plastics that are labeled “microwave-safe” can simply withstand a higher temperature before losing their shape. So when popping anything in the microwave, opt for glass or microwave-safe ceramics. Swap Household Cleaners Switching to green cleaners reduces air pollution
both indoors and out, minimizing exposure to both asthma and allergy triggers as well as chemicals that can be harmful to your health. Look for plant-based products from companies that have a complete list of ingredients on their labels. Leave Your Shoes at the Door Think of removing your shoes when you enter a home as the equivalent of washing your hands. First, it couldn’t be easier. And second, it prevents the outside gunk like car exhaust, chemicals, and pesticides from being tracked all over your home. Don’t Dump, Donate By some estimates, for every item of clothing donated, 27 pounds of carbon emissions are reduced based on the fact that you don’t another item being produced while one is headed to the landfill. Take items to a thrift store, a charity that
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accepts donations, or list them on Freecycle.org. Choose Safe Pots and Pans The materials you cook with do have an impact on your food. The three safest options are cast iron, enamel coated cast iron, and stainless steel. Non-stick pans, while convenient, can be problematic if you scrape the coating and it gets into your food. Go Meatless on Mondays Having pasta or a vegetarian soup on Mondays might not seem like a big deal, but adding one meat-free meal per week (for a family of four) has the same impact as driving a hybrid car. Raising livestock produces a large amount of greenhouse gases, so cutting back, even one night per week, makes a big difference. Select Fragrance-Free Products Conventional fragrances often contain chemicals believed to disrupt hormones, and they can be harmful to the ecosystem when washed down the drain. If you like perfumed soaps, cleaning prod-
ucts, or cosmetics, read labels to find those made with essential oils Upgrade Your Insulation Adding insulation to prevent leaky ducts, walls, windows, and doors can improve your home’s energy draw by 20 to 30 percent. If totally redoing your insulation isn’t in your budget, try thermal shades, which block the sun in the summer and retain heat in the winter, or even something as low tech as a draft guard on your outside doors. Reduce Use of Bug Sprays and Pesticides To control pests, prevention is your best bet. Keeping your kitchen crumb-free and sealing any holes in the walls or cracks in the foundation means you won’t have to use harmful chemicals in your home. If you do require pest-control, reach for greener alternatives or home remedies first.
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coming out of the mental health closet I am slowly beginning to accept that I can make my life look however I want, but under no circumstances can I sit back and wait for things to get better. As a rule, I do not generally tell people about the items in my mental illness closet. Like never ever, except for my close friends. So consider this a maiden voyage into the world of being a more authentic self -- a world fraught with peril, but I still think it might be better. I have struggled with anorexia nervosa, restricting type, for over eight years now. For most of my life I have also dealt with generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, dermatillomania (skin-picking), and bipolar II tendencies. Oh, and to top it all off I started self-harming about two-and-a-half years ago, and when I'm really depressed, my suicidal ideations increase. I have written about my eating disorder and self-harm anonymously on my friend's blog, so I'm not going to rehash that all here. I've been in an inpatient facility where I had a nasogastric (NG) tube; my weight has fluctuated through a 50-lb. range over the past eight years; I'm on three psychotropic medications that help keep the cray-cray at bay; and I'm like a freakin' walking calorie book. I've been working on this whole eating disorder recovery process for almost three years now with a psychologist, dietitian, and psychiatrist. Furthermore, I'm a second-year nutrition graduate student and I'm working so I can earn my registered dietitian (RD) credentials. Awkward, right? I've been studying hardcore nutrition for over five years and I've only very recently been able to consistently, and adequately, feed myself. I'm awesome at helping other people eat better, but on a standard day I struggle to apply those principles to myself. But you see, I am intelligent, insightful, sensitive, and I'm going to be a kick-ass dietitian that's going to help other patients with eating
disorders when I graduate. I'm sharing this with you because, for better or for worse, my mental illness is an intrinsic part of who I am today -- it is a biopsychosocial problem. There are experiences that people normally encounter in high school and college that I was mentally and/or physically absent from -- like dances, partying, dating, and more. But, I have not disappeared from the normal developmental "curve," and lately I've been moving forward in leaps and bounds. Ahem, hence this post. I am owning my shit and moving forward with what I want my life to look like. Yes, there are people that I know, or will know, that will be rude and insensitive about this to my face, or behind my back. But the way I figure is that regardless of the information that I share with certain people, if they're going to bash me behind my back then they're going to do that no matter what facts they know about me. So I don't care because those people's opinion of me is insignificant. I am slowly beginning to accept that I can make my life look however I want, but under no circumstances can I sit back and wait for things to get better. Life is what you make of it. You have a choice. I didn't have a choice regarding the fact that I was struck with severe mental illnesses, but with awareness of the situation comes increased responsibility. I know my triggers and, therefore, I can choose how to respond to what life throws at me. Some days I cave and fail at recovery, or depression crushes me and I walk around like a zombie; but more often these days I succeed and I own that accomplishment. Maybe you have items that are collecting dust in your closet. Maybe they are a heavy burden on your soul and relationships, and every day you
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wish they didn't exist. Maybe you feel shame for existing, shame that courses through your and blood and bones. Shame thrives in secrecy, and it leeches the joy out of life. You deserve to have more in life than dusty items in your secret closet, a shame monster, and a humdrum to miserable existence. Just start small by ďŹ nding those safe people in your life who love you despite, and for, everything that comes with you being you. You can't do life alone, and that is OK. Draw from your support to build up
your conďŹ dence, and eventually maybe you'll take on the world. Be you, and screw what the rest of the world thinks. If you're struggling with an eating disorder, call the National Eating Disorder Association hotline at 1-800-931-2237. Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
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go ahead, be a drop out success is not a high-paying job, nor a house, nor a family, nor a car, nor a diploma, nor fame, nor wealth. Success is the rare gift of living the way you want to live. Where I come from, the idea of dropping out of college is like volunteering for homelessness.Like many of you, I had it drilled into my skull from a very early age that a university degree was the only hope a person had of succeeding in the world. Without it, the best you could look forward to was ditch-digging, dissolution, and despair. I believed this when I applied to a half-dozen colleges. I believed it when I got into every college I applied to. I believed it all summer before I went off to college. And you can bet your sweet life that I believed it when I dropped out of college for the first time. I may have even believed it when I dropped out of college for the second time. Truth to tell, some small part of me may still believe it. But the rest of me understands that it's a hoary myth, a lie we tell young people because we need to believe there is a formula for succeeding in life. There isn't--because success is not a high-paying job, nor a house, nor a family, nor a car, nor a diploma, nor fame, nor wealth. Success is the rare gift of living the way you want to live. That doesn't mean living without sacrifice or compromise; it means living without so much sacrifice and compromise that you become incapable of joy. You know, like your parents. College is not for everyone, as you will soon learn. Many of you are probably already considering quitting. Usually that's because you're not used to being challenged. Sometimes, though, it's because the specific challenges of academic life feel less worthy of your time and energy than other things. I know you didn't ask, but my advice is: Go ahead and quit. If you miss it, you'll go back. If you don't miss it, you'll be sparing yourself anywhere from one month to 10 years of miserable self-loathing, poisonous cynicism, and misguided finger-pointing. Your parents will be angry--or the classic "not so much angry as disappointed." Those of you still being supported by mom and dad may even get
cut off. But listen. Being cut off from parental support is the best thing that can ever happen to you. The thought of it is terrifying enough to keep you in line for the moment, but as these next few months become these next few years, you may begin to feel yourself growing resentful of their attempts to control you. Just remember one thing: You will sound ridiculous complaining about that until you learn how to pay your own way. Money is the number one tool employed by parents in the service of not letting you go (guilt is a neck-and-neck second). Once it stops being a factor, their power to control you becomes only as strong as your desire to be controlled. My life prior to dropping out of school was sheltered enough that I was actually surprised to discover that there were people my age (18)--and older, and younger--supporting themselves by working at shitty minimum-wage jobs and living close to the bone. A bigger surprise was that there were many more of them than there were people like me. An even bigger surprise: They were happy. They were rightfully proud of their independence and self-determination. Seattle was then and is now a place where it's possible to be young and poor with a modicum of dignity and a big helping of community. Being poor sucks, but it's often better than living for your parents. It's also an experience everyone should have, at least for a while. College is not for everyone. Neither is dropping out. Many people thrive in academic situations and have happy, healthy, loving relationships with their folks. And then you have the rest of us, for whom self-reliance and real-world durability are more valuable than any Stendhal seminar will ever be. You can always read Stendhal. Dropping out can be the key to earning confidence, gaining respect from your parents, and ultimately, building a life of your own.
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the overlooked travel alternative
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While I truly appreciate the technological miracle of human flight, I'd altogether avoid flying if it were possible to do that and still indulge my serious case of wanderlust. And I love a good road trip, but who would want to drive everywhere? So until teleportation devices are invented I'll continue to travel by train whenever possible...and here's why.No other form of transportation has sounds as exciting for kids and inexplicably nostalgic for adults to hear than the ones a train uses to announce its presence. Those who live next to railroad tracks excepted, there's something a little wrong with people who don't like the sound of a train whistle, or the clanking bells as it approaches a station. Downtown to Downtown Saving on cab fare, rental cars or time spent commuting from airports on the outskirts of a city is a definite train travel perk. Whether headed somewhere for work or pleasure, arriving downtown saves time and lessens the likelihood you'll succumb to the tempting smell of an airport Cinnabon. Leg Room Tall people sometimes have to pay extra to bring their legs along while traveling. On a 13-hour flight from the States to Tokyo my legs literally touched the seat in front of me the entire way. I paid an additional fee for United's Economy Plus on the way home to try and avoid significant back pain. In contrast, regular economy class on a train comes with space for my legs to happily accompany me at no extra cost. Unrestricted Tech & Comfort Smart phones, iPods, laptops, DVD players and other electronic devices are unrestricted from the time you step foot on a train until you get off. No getting yelled at by flight attendants to turn stuff off. The same goes with seatbacks and tray tables. So settle in, recline with outstretched legs and listen to your own playlist while typing a list of reasons to ride trains. Conductor's Hats
When having your ticket collected, it's always nice to see a neat hat. Scenery Peering into the downtown of various stops, and lakes, mountains or the permafrost landscape of destinations is something that just can't really be done by plane. Some train journeys themselves are even UNESCO World Heritage sites, like Switzerland's Bernina Express and the Himalayan Darjeeling Express in India. Amtrak's Adirondack train from NYC to Montreal even offers historical and nature information by the National Parks Service in the café car. Riders can get a free 'tour' and ask questions from two expert volunteer guides there just for the fun of it. No Groping Besides not having to trek out to an airport, you don't get put through the metal detectors, baggage x-ray, grope-tastic pat-downs, shoe removal, and restrictions on liquid and other items in your luggage. Private Cabins On a long train it's splendid to curl up in bed and sleep like you mean it instead of getting whiplash from nodding head syndrome in a seat. Plus, it's fun for a little hanky panky when traveling with a significant other and much easier to deal with than the logistics of joining the Mile High Club. Smelling the Roses Aside from great scenery, sometimes the trip is in the journey. Being on a train can be a great time to unwind and relish the travel part of traveling. Cool Names Unlike most planes (with a few exceptions), trains often have cool names, which adds a little extra magic to the ride. Some are even named for folk songs, like The City of New Orleans. But even when they're named simply for their destination like the Narita Express, it somehow seems cooler.
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More Luggage, Less Fees You'd have to bring a startling amount of luggage to be charged extra for it on a train, while fees for even one checked bag has become the norm for most airlines. And overhead storage spaces are larger on trains, so heaving it up there is a bit easier. This often also helps make boarding faster because the guy in front of you doesn't have to try and deny the laws of physics by insisting his puffy oversized carry-on "always fits" for what feels like an our before the eventual walk of shame to gate check it. Meeting People When a creepy guy or freakishly chatty person is your seatmate on a flight, the only hope for getting away is to slyly slip your earbuds in and avoid eye contact at all costs. But on a train, not only can you get up and walk to grab a beer and sit at a table, people are generally friendlier and in a better mood (you included), so it can be fun to talk with people – especially locals along the train route in a foreign country who are happy to offer destination advice. Affordable Upgrades In most developed countries there's not a huge difference between train classes, or if there is, the second-class accommodations are comfortable enough not to care. And the difference between upgrading to business or first-class is nowhere near as traumatizing as jumping from a $300 airfare to an $8,000 airfare to do so. Fewer Crying Babies When my kids were babies, I dreaded the rolling eyes and sighs of other passengers just because we were boarding a plane. And when I'm traveling alone, no amount of motherhood could make me want to listen to someone else's kid wailing in my ear the entire flight. Trains offer a bunch of ways to beat this conundrum. First off, parents can walk around as much as they want, or take a little tyke to the cafe car for a snack. Similarly, you can seek respite in another train car until the crying has
ended. Bonus: since trains don't have huge altitude changes, children's ears don't get the dreaded ear pressure problem that often sets up a chain reaction of crying the entire flight. It's Green Some experts say traveling by train can cut a passenger's carbon emissions by up to 90 percent versus flying. Combine that with reason #2 on this list and deduct the amount of non-renewable energy used while commuting to the train itself. Less Carnage There is some debate on how to calculate the percentage of injuries and fatalities on planes versus trains. But unless you're a drunk guy parked on the tracks, it seems you're less likely to die maimed and incinerated when a train derails, than when a plane crashes. No Speeding Tickets Not only do trains help travelers avoid traffic jams and tolls, you can hop on high speed lines like the European InterCityExpress (ICE), or Japan's Shinkansen which both regularly travel over 180 mph. Try to do that in a car on I-80. Less Barfing For those of us afflicted with being prone to motion sickness, a train ride is often far less nausea or headache inducing. In fact I can read, watch a movie, or happily type away on a computer, which would be impossible in a car without blowing chunks. Maybe it's the large windows, or the consistent rhythm, but riding the rails can even be comforting, especially on overnight journeys when it feels like you're being rocked to sleep. Wheelchair Accessible One of my kids uses a wheelchair and it's exponentially easier to travel by train than go through the hassles of an airport's invasive security screening (since he can't walk through the detectors), not to mention the sheer logistics of getting on and off a plane. Plus, passenger services often offer a porter
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who will help with luggage and a little ramp to get on and o the train. Compensation for Delays It would be unheard of with airlines, but you can sometimes get a partial refund (in the form of a voucher) for severe train delays. I often take the
Acela Express train from New York City to Washington DC and on a recent trip was delayed due to mechanical failure for an extra 1.5 hours on a route that normally takes only 3 hours. I called customer service afterward and a friendly fellow sent me a $75 voucher.
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she’s crafty: yarn bombing pioneer madga sayeg You might not know Magda Sayeg’s name, but I’m sure you’ve either seen her work or the work of those influenced by her. She was one of the first “yarn bombers”—she who creates street art except instead of using paint, she uses yarn. She knits and crochets contrasting patterns and colors all over just about anything you can think of from cars to street poles to tree trunks. Quickly recognized for her work, Magda has been called on by companies such as Etsy, MINI, and Gap to do projects for them. I thought it would be cool to ask her more about the yarn bombing phenomenon and how it all started for her. Where did the interest in knitting and crochet come from? Not sure exactly. I often joke that I compensated for my mother’s absolute disinterest in all domestic duties. Anything handmade was completely foreign to me so when I saw anything handmade—sewn, knitted, crocheted… it was all very fascinating. How does one even get started or recognized for yarn bombing? How did it evolve for you? The timing was right on. When I look back at this whole experience, the DIY movement had begun and there was a renaissance happening in all crafts. But it was a newer, fresher interpretation. Street art was changing as well. There was more than just the spray can that was used. Now if you asked me this same question 10 years ago when I began putting my knitting out on the streets, I would not have analyzed it this much. It was really a selfish pursuit… wrapping that first stop sign pole just felt right. I didn’t understand or foresee the broader implications of what was happening here. How much time does it take to make one of your larger installations? Do you have a team? It is all about the team. I used to do these projects all on my own, and I had no life. When I brought in more skilled people, I realized the value of speed and efficiency. There are two parts to any project I do: the first phase is production of material and the second is installation. This entire process can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 weeks….which is really insane when you see the amount of knitting
that is done. I have managed to produce hundreds of square footage of knitted material in a matter of weeks. Most projects have tight deadlines that clash with the normal speed of knitting and crocheting. I have solved that problem by bringing in a team of knitters when needed. If one knitter can yield X amount of footage of material what can 2, 3, 4, or 8 people yield at the same time? That is how stuff gets done when a company like Gap calls you up and needs you to cover an entire playground in NYC by next week. It’s not magic, it’s good project management. Do you get inspired by a color scheme or pattern or do you let the place you’re installing be the inspiration? Color schemes, patterns, color combos… I am constantly aware of this in my daily life. I have a file I add to almost daily. My favorite part of this process is seeing a color that isn’t that appealing but when combined with another color or colors, it’s beautiful. Color schemes and patterns have to be decided long before installation so usually I am already done with production by the time I arrive at the site. Most of the time I discover a color scheme and pattern I am excited about so I figure out some way to bring it in to the next project or future projects. What do you like better: crochet or knitting? Good question! I knit more than I crochet but I prefer crocheting to knitting. Crocheting is like sculpting. I can take any random object, like my skulls, and crochet every detail rather easily. Knitting isn’t like that—I would lose all the details. BUT I can produce knitted material faster than crocheted material. There are knitting looms and machines that speed up the process. As far as I know, there are no crocheting machines. How did you find out about Ketel One’s Modern Craft Project and why did you decide to submit your work? I believe I saw something about the project on a blog. When I read that Ketel One was looking for people who celebrated craft with a modern approach… I was like THAT’S ME! I don’t usually enter competitions so for me to actually submit work, there has to be screaming
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flashing signs that push me to act upon it. What was your reaction when you learned that you were one of the winners? I was in Australia, and I remember getting a call at 3 AM, which usually isn’t a good thing, but the time difference was around 14 hours ahead of the States. I was told I was short listed, and they would call me next week if I were chosen. Next week came by, and I assumed it didn’t happen. Then, they called at the end of the day and told me. It was like Charlie Bucket finding the golden ticket in the very last Wonka bar. No one was around except my bulldog, Stella, so she is the only one to witness my victory dance… thankfully. I may have tried to high five her as well. What do you plan to do with your part of the Ketel One Legacy prize fund? Make more stuff! Especially the expensive prototypes. I think this is dilemma I find myself in—I make work for specific projects… always feeling a bit unsatisfied that I never have time to experiment. I have a dream list of things I want to do. This prize will definitely put a dent in it FINALLY.
What do you think about the stereotypes of women who knit and crochet and how do you feel you’re breaking through those boundaries? This craft, which is strongly associated with women has, in the past, been delegated to a domestic existence where it has been undervalued and under-appreciated. I love that, in some way, I have contributed to showing the strength of this craft—knitting and crocheting doesn’t have to be functional, it can be subversive, renegade—even illegal in certain cases. It’s bad ass! And it makes me proud, as a woman, to be a part of something that is so powerful. Taking this craft that is female dominated onto the streets graffiti style, which is male dominated, is what is appealing (or not) about yarn bombing. As long as it evokes some emotion, I believe it is good. Even if you don’t care for yarn bombing, it is undeniable that this has spread globally. I may have started this, but I certainly don’t own it anymore. Tens of thousands of people—men, women, children are doing this now. There is even a National Yarn Bombing Day. With the increasing mass appeal there is always a downside… I see a lot of bad work out there… or the corporate world tries to package it for their own profit in a way that feels contrary to the spirit of
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the movement. But I still see a positive side, especially when a grandma emails me to tell me she tagged her friend’s mail box… this will always make me smile :) What is the creative process like for you? When I am first approached to do a project, I always dream big. As the project develops it is usually downsized to something more palatable, manageable, or affordable. I am constantly thinking about what is next. In an ideal world, I get to do exactly what I want, but this is rare. Actually, I believe it is part of the creative process to be able to understand obstacles and compromises and still make something I am proud of in the end. I also like working with a project manager. That way I can focus on the creative process and keep my head free of all the usual details. I am very visual. I explain myself better through images… even my own work/profession is hard to explain with out some visuals. When I say I am an artist (which I am reluctant to say) people instantly assume I paint. And when I say I work with yarn, mainly knitting and crochet, they instantly think I make baby
blankets… that’s when the iPhone comes out. The creative process never stops for me. In my downtime, I look at blogs and save images for anything from designing my house to experimenting with lighting. So when something comes up like designing a chandelier for someone I have a lot of notes and images to start the process. What are you currently working on at this very moment? At this very moment, I am demoing my house, but when I am not inhaling fiberglass, I am making products. I love the collaborations I am doing right now with ceramist Ryan McKerley and the weaved pieces I am making with my friend and talented photographer Dave Mead. I love the spirographs and am looking for an opportunity to make one that is super sized like 20-50 ft in diameter. I always dream big—can’t help it. And I am working on a community project that may be my favorite one yet… it’s a little hush hush for now but I believe it will be one of the most meaningful projects I have worked on.
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