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The following is by Charlotte McGuinn Freeman, who has contributed previously and we hope will soon join the Ethicurean kitchen formally. Charlotte writes the LivingSmall blog from Livingston, Montana; she is the author of the novel Place Last Seen (Picador, 2000).
Alice Waters is everywhere right now, doing press for her new book, and the old argument over whether "Alice is an Elitist" is getting a fair amount of play – Adam at Amateur Gourmet thinks perhaps yes, while David Lebowitz (who worked at Chez Panisse for a long time) says no. Personally, I have no idea. But I do know that her name is being bandied about my Livingston, Montana, neighborhood these days in conjunction with a gated development of big, luxury second homes, and I am concerned.
The Ameya Preserve (careful, the website has so much Flash and music that High Country News featured it in its list of Irritating Websites) has come roaring into the Paradise Valley with all sorts of promises about how green it is, and how it's going to be the place where "nature meets culture."
The problem is, none of these claims have been backed up. It says it is a "wildlife preserve" but there are no conservation easements. It boasts that it will be "carbon neutral," but the plan for carbon neutrality turns out to involve planting thousands of trees on the developer's home estate in North Dakota (incidentally, not an ecosystem known for its ability to support tree growth). And it claims to be "green," yet the marketing is aimed at "that rare individual who can live anywhere he or she wants." Says Wade Dokken, the developer: "It's really a private national park that you can live in luxury in."
I hate to be the one to point it out, but luxury and sustainability are contradictory values.
Here's where Alice Waters comes into the picture. All of the current advertising for the Ameya Preserve — including the 2007 Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog — trumpets her involvement. Alice may or may not be an elitist in person, but she has aligned herself with a developer and a project that is openly and unabashedly elitist.
The Christmas Catalog promises that Alice herself will cook your dinner if you buy a 10-acre site. The price tag: $2.3 million, in an area where the average home price is around $150,000 and the median income hovers just below $40,000. The press releases on the Ameya website claim she's building a culinary school. Over on Epicurious, Gourmet editor Ruth Reichl announces Alice's involvement and gushes that this school is part of her dream to "begin by teaching our students to raise the food that they served."
Reichl also says that Ameya's plans include "resident MacArthur Fellows to think big thoughts. And resident farmers to grow great food." So I suppose Alice isn't planning to come out and demonstrate for us how to dry-farm at altitude. Or to try to teach the rich people who are going to buy these $2.3 million second homes to grow their own vegetables.
No, they'll have "resident farmers" for that — like exhibits in a zoo. Sorry, I mean, in a "private national park."
The early press on Ameya was good, and those of us who live here were hopeful that we might actually wind up with a green development. Dokken, the developer, cited Ted Turner as a model, and he seemed genuinely interested in building something less environmentally destructive than the typical 5- to 25-acre ranchettes that have been such a blight across the inter-mountain West. But as we asked harder questions, as we pushed for legally binding conservation easements, as we opposed the sale of two sections of public land to the Ameya development, then Dokken accused those of us who questioned the project as being driven by "class envy." He claims to be bringing all this culture to our valley, but he's not bringing it here for the public – his MacArthur Fellows and musicians and artists will be up there behind the gate.
As my friend Maryanne famously said to the woman giving us the sales pitch, "But we already have an artistic community – it's called town." Livingston and the Paradise Valley are full of rich people and artists and movie stars and famous writers. But there are also ranchers and former cult members and old hippies and regular old families raising kids. The charm and wonder of our home has always been its lack of elitism: The rich people and movie stars send their kids to the public schools. We all come together to pitch in for the same events, like Bark in the Park (Humane Society) and the Fourth of July Parade — and the all-volunteer Christmas Dinner at the Civic Center, where we make sure that no one in town goes without a hot Christmas Dinner served with love. We have public lectures when someone interesting comes to town. The former Nashville music producer turned Livingston resident celebrated her 50th birthday with a public concert where her friends Rodney Crowell and Johnny Cowan and Roseanne Cash all played.
We are a community. We try, as hard as we can, not to be elitist: to listen when our neighbors who've ranched or railroaded here for generations try to tell us newcomers how they feel and why they feel that way. We're not always successful, but we keep trying.
I cannot see how a gated development of second-homeowners who will fly in and out on their private jets can be called sustainable or viewed as contributing to the health of our community. So I cannot understand why Alice Waters — someone who has always seemed to be deeply invested in the health of real communities, someone who wanted to build a restaurant that was like a home, someone who is creating gardens in underserved elementary schools, someone who is actively promoting real, slow, actual food purchased from real farmers – I cannot understand why she has lent her support to a developer who seems to represent everything that is antithetical to real community-building.
I've long harbored hopes of writing Laurie Colwin-style food pieces, and I'm sure that this piece isn't going to do my nascent food-writing career any good. But this is my home. This is the community that came together to save me when my beloved younger brother was killed in a car wreck. A couple of weeks after his death, I was faced with clearing out his apartment. I am good at coping with things, but Patrick's apartment was something I really couldn't cope with, and so I put out the word: I need help.
Nearly 20 people showed up that Saturday morning, some of whom I didn't even know. They brought horse trailers they'd hosed out, and they carefully folded and packed his clothes, cleaned out the kitchen cupboards, and carried all his furniture and belongings to a storage unit. Even those who were my friends didn't know me that well; I'd only been here a year. But it didn't matter. Someone among us was in trouble, and so they all came. They pitched in because that is what we do here. So if my choice is between a nascent food-writing career and my home, my decision is easy.
And so I'm asking Alice:
Why are you involved in a development project that seems to run against the very grain of what you believe in – community, connection, real food, real people?
I think you have merged your love for your community, and your love for writing very well. A few thousand words separate you from the likes of Wendell Berry, but I would be pleased if I could make my points as well as you have. I hope that what you have to say, here as well as in your community, have an impact.
I don't understand what the big deal here is. Reminds me of that New York Times article last week about rich people buying up National Park land to keep it wild. As someone in that article said, isn't it better than a housing development?
Haven't you heard — the rich ARE different. They're rich! don't we all want to have enough f-you money to go live in an unspoiled wilderness in Montana and have our own personal farmers? Anyway, plenty of green celebrities have a Prius for every home, solar panels for a fraction of their 48,000-square foot Mansions. Obviously Alice is getting something out of this - maybe a home? And wont Livingston get the benefit of property taxes and more service-industry jobs?
Can't stop the rich.
Not sure what the death of a persons brother has to do with a preserve in Montana. We all grow tired of writers who drag their personal lives into pieces on an unrelated subject.
Additionally, if the average income is only $40K a year it seems like a good idea for more cash to be coming into the economy.
By the way, the writer calls herself a newcomer, well I imagine there are long timers in the community that feel she is exactly the same as these "elitists" who are now encroaching on her sacred space.
It's called capitalism, we all claim to distain it, but we all profit from it and enjoy it in our own socioeconomic stratum. We should all take a good look in the mirror before we judge others. It's all just degrees.
Oh, dear. I wasn't going to comment, but I guess I will in light of the last two. I believe the points are (a) hypocrisy is disgusting, (b) these pseudo-environmentalists could well damage not just the natural environment but the social environment, too, and (c) celebrities who sell out their supposed values may not owe "their public" anything, but if they don't explain themselves they can expect to lose the support that got them their fame.
Wow – tough crowd here in ethicurean comments.
I'm not sure I buy the luxury isn't sustainable line at all but thought the rest of the article was excellently expressed and raised a number of pertinent questions. I'm hoping we get an update on the (lack of(?)) response….
The line of frozen dinners may not be far off in the future. Cafe Fanny Organic Granola can be found on San Francisco grocery store shelves.
This article is a perfect example of why "green" celebrities irk me. They perpetuate the idea that you can buy your way to carbon neutrality instead of making a real difference by changing overly consumptive habits. Where is the celebrity that is trading in their car for a bicycle and vacationing by train instead of jetsetting to a tropical island (or in this case fly/driving to their "green" vacation home in the wilderness)? When are they going to organize the Academy Awards carpool?
Luxury (which is associated with excess and indulgence) can never be sustainable unless the very definition of the word is altered.
I think the death of a persons brother has everything to do with a preserve in Montana. When it all boils down, it's all about our local communities, and how we respond to each others needs. And no, we don't all grow tired of writers who drag their personal lives into their writings, and as I stated above, I believe it is relevant. What's the point if somewhere along the line it doesn't become personal? I too am surprised at the negative response this article garnered. Hiding behind the anonymity of the web makes it much easier to be bitter and cynical. Too bad.
A gated community is not a community, especially in a place where community already exists. It's a wealth reserve instead. That's the point of this wonderfully written piece.
The larger issue is the way sustainability has become trapped in the high-end food world — in such a way, that is it not sustainable because it is accessible to so few.
… And this from a person who ate a wonderful lunch at Chez Panisse on Monday, so go figure…
I really enjoyed this piece and found it interesting to read a local's perspective. I hope in the future that comments will focus on reactions to the content, not criticism of writing styles. Comments that are mean and hurtful to someone who is writing something heartfelt make me sad.
I think the most troubling thing about this is the sale of public land to private development and the "wilderness preserve" that has no permanent protection. I am so wary of greenwashing on the part of the homebuilder industry. It happens all the time in California. They say they're building a nature preserve, but in reality there is a net loss of habitat and they are building a preserve as mitigation for the more pristine land they're destroying. I'm not saying that's the case here, but I do know that once public land is lost, it's hard to get it back, and there's no guaranteeing long-term stewardship on the part of a developer unless there is something legally binding.
"Not sure what the death of a persons [sic] brother has to do with a preserve in Montana. We all grow tired of writers who drag their personal lives into pieces on an unrelated subject."
No, Susan, "we all" do not. What a mean-spirited thing to say to the writer, who amply demonstrated not a theory of community, but the reality of one.
Charlotte, I think your piece sings with clarity and thoughtfulness, and I commend you. I had seen the Neiman-Marcus offering on another blog, and it sickened me, much the same as OJ Simpson's exhoneration by that jury sickened me.
Good work, Charlotta: brava!
Now wouldn't it be nice if Alice decided instead to help with the community Christmas dinner?
What are a few service industry jobs to knowing and interacting with your neighbors?
What's the gate for? To keep out all the rampant crime of rural Montana? Gangs of elk? Homeless deer?
Why install a "resident farmer" when many of the residents of the town are, in fact, farmers?
I'd like to think that Ms. Waters is funding a dozen new and exciting projects with her cut of this deal. But with her love of the real, I can't believe this contrived replica of local food systems appeals to her for any price.
It's churlish to pick on Alice Waters when all you want to do is stop the development of open space near your town. For starters, AW is mentioned only once on the Ameya website, in the press release archive. And if too much Flash is annoying, upgrade your browsers and connection speed. Are the music blogs picking on Joshua Bell and Renee Fleming?
AW spends a lot of time raising money for her projects. Sometimes perhaps the results appear less pure and chaste than one might wish for, like her Microsoft ad. But she does what she has to do, and cooking for rich people is part of that. As for the contention that luxury and sustainability are not compatible, you don't see poor people shopping at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. Financially, local and sustainable is still a luxury. And the author's knee-jerk assumptions- that gated communities have to be covered in log McMansions, or that farmers who are employees are part of some kind of high-altitude Potemkin village- have more to do with her own anti-elitist prejudices than with Alice Waters.
Great comment thread folks — look, I admire Alice Waters and think she's a real artist who has created not only a genius restaurant (where my agent took me for an astonishingly delicious lunch when she sold my novel), but is someone who has had an enormous impact on the way the American food system operates. But Alice is the one who purports to be this 1960s social activist-type, and so I don't think it's at all unfair to ask her to explain herself. Why, after holding out all these years has she sold out to someone like this Wade Dokken character? If Bullis Creek has to be developed, we'd all *love* to see something green up there, but so far, despite all his claims, there's no evidence that that is indeed what he's going to do. Alice didn't build a garden in a private school, she built one in an underserved public school — so what's with signing on to be a part of this "private national park"? She's always projected an image that she's a person who is interested in genuine community — and there's nothing about this Ameya thing that is about community. So what's Alice doing in the middle of it?
Reporting 101: Has anyone called up Alice and asked her?
Sam: Good point. She's not on my speed-dial (care to share?) but Charlotte or I should have asked her office for a comment. I have now done so [tremble]. I'll see if they respond.
As the old saying goes, 'money talks, BS walks'…'Sustainable community' my ass!…It's all language to seduce the community…If they fall for it, they are fools…Most all developers are out to make money, and talk pretty to get their way…nothing more…
With how much overpopulation, and overconsumption we already have, nothing anymore is very 'sustainable'…and the only 'carbon neutral' life a human can have is to be dead…
…"As my friend Maryanne famously said to the woman giving us the sales pitch, "But we already have an artistic community – it's called town."…
Yep, that's right…Hang onto that…The people need to call this what it is…Just another freakin' rich person's gated community – so we can retreat from the world in our second, or third homes…
Yes, the rich ARE different…and the only difference is they've got the money to buy people off and usually get their way…but, that doesn't mean they should get their way either…
The community needs to call this what it is…Just another gated community, full of probably snobby, rich people…and then decide if they want it or not…
Oh, I am sure someone here knows how to call Alice.
(Leaning out window): "HELLO, ALICE WATERS! Paging Ms. Alice Waters! Come in, Alice Waters!"
Hey, I'm a huge proponent (and lately, a defender, which isn't always pleasant) of Ms. Waters, but golly. I think this is a mistake on her part, greater even than the faux pas issued from Carlo Petrini in his recent (booed in the SF Bay Area) book, where he downright lied about a "surfing farmer" (of my acquaintance) as being someone who works the markets once a month, gouges his customers, and surfs and diddles the rest of the time.
"Itâs churlish to pick on Alice Waters when all you want to do is stop the development of open space near your town."
How about being churlish for saying, "Alice Waters, you're in a freakin' Needless-Markup catalog for REAL ESTATE?"
Alice, you got some 'splainin to do.
I did write Alice a note last summer when Dokken first insulted us all in his letter to the commissioners (see the "class envy" link above) asking why she'd be involved with someone like this, and I never heard back. And I've heard some rumours here in town from folks who claim to have connections with Alice that she looked into Wade Dokken and doesn't want to have anything to do with the development. But those are just rumors, and it's not like she's come out and disavowed the Neiman Marcus catalog ad or the numerous press releases that went out about it. Since I'm not really a journalist, but a blogger and a fiction writer (which probably disqualifies me right there) I was hoping that a dispatch from the field might tempt a "real journalist" out there to pick up the story and see what's going on. Especially since Alice's people never answered my mail.
Here are further examples of bogus marketing by Ameya Preserve and some questions Alice might want to ask as she checks further into the business venture that is using her name for promotion.
Marketing sound bites indicate that Ameya Preserve is "on nearly 11,000 acres of magnificent wilderness"
Ameya Preserve is the former Bullis Creek Ranch, which consists of 9,125 deeded acres, not the "nearly 11,000″ claimed by Ameya's promotions (see Fay Ranches website: http://fayranches.com/ranches-for-sale/sold/ or check with the Park County Courthouse). Alice should ask how Ameya can claim to set aside 10,000 acres, as promoted in Livingston and Bozeman newspapers.
The Wilderness Act of 1964 defines wilderness as: "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain." I don't believe a 300-home development and infrastructure meets that definition. Do you?
Alice should ask how Ameya can validate their statements about "unprecedented standards in conservation? " The advertised building sites "on the edge of a meadow, in the shelter of aspen stands, or bordering wetlands…" are in three of the most important wildlife habitats in the Rocky Mountains. Aspen stands in our region are limited in abundance and distribution, as are wetlands. I don't believe developing in these important wildlife habitats constitutes "unprecedented standards in conservation."
Building a luxury resort of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or more homes in a remote fire-prone landscape that is important wildlife habitat is, by definition, a waste of resources – not conservation of resources. (I hope my class envy isn't showing!)
Ameya claims that residents can fish 20 acres of lakes and ponds for native brown trout and other species. Alice should ask how that is possible. Currently, there are no lakes and ponds on the Bullis Creek Ranch (maybe one small stock pond). Constructing ponds/lakes will waste a substantial amount of water through evaporation in our semi-arid environment. This certainly is not conservation of water. Also, are you aware that brown trout are native to Europe, not North America? Apparently, Wade is not aware of that factoid. The only salmonids native to the Yellowstone River basin are Yellowstone Cutthroat trout and mountain whitefish. In fact, Yellowstone cutthroat trout is a species of concern and Montana and has been petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. One of the primary threats to their persistence is competition with non-native species, like brown trout. Also, brown trout eat cutthroat trout eggs and young. Ask any fisheries biologist.
Ameya, in partnership with The Conservation Fund, claim to "offset all of the CO2 generation for all families of Ameya Preserve during their entire lifetimes" by planting trees on 1,700 acres in north-central North Dakota. Does that sound possible? Alice, ask Wade for a copy of the projected carbon budget. I asked The Conservation Fund for a copy last July – they didn't have one.
Meaningful CO2 budgeting would take into account all of the homes owned by individuals, other possessions created with the use of fossil fuels,and all travel to and from these various homes inside and outside this country and other non-work-related travel. Ask Wade if his CO2 budget takes into account this information? Then there is all the energy expenditure in developing the property and building the infrastructure. If you think 1,700 of trees will account for all of this, I've got a bridge that I'd like to sell you.
Perhaps the tragically uninformed may believe the planned Ameya Preserve will do wonderful things for the environment. However, a little thought and contemplation (think globally, act locally) will demonstrate that Ameya's marketing hype represents a bastardization of the concept of conservation.
Think about it.
All of us at Ameya Preserve are strongly committed to conservation, culture and a sense of responsibility to the larger community beyond our boundaries. Our core mission is to build a community development that will save and protect a substantial proportion of land and wildlife. We are committed to utilizing off-site wind power, green building practices, organic gardens and a complete carbon-neutral footprint.
We're extremely fortunate to have people such as Alice Waters, Jack Horner, Peter Oundjian and Craig Mathews – all visionaries in their own fields — who understand and support what we are building at Ameya Preserve.
We are grateful to the many people in Montana, and specifically in the communities of Livingston and Bozeman, who have welcomed us, taken the time to hear our plans, offer their suggestions and keep an open mind. We respect divergent opinions as long as they are based in facts and welcome constructive input.
This is an interesting discussion. Too bad Ms. Waters hasn't posted.
If what I've been reading about Ameya Preserve (Ameya website, Ameya ads, and numerous blogs) is true, conservation and sustainability are really not what Ameya is about. There are an estimated 6.6 billion people on this planet and projections suggest that there will be 9.4 billion inhabitants by 2050, baring a major pandemic. Mr. Prieto, what does this say about conservation and sustainability? Americans consume roughly 25% of the worlds resources, while making up about 5% of the worlds inhabitants. Second or third homes are a luxury, not a necessity. What you're really saying is that majority of the world's inhabitants (the larger community beyond your bounds) are required to live in poverty so we Americans can consume, consume, consume. We're all part of the problem, and luxury homes in previously undeveloped areas are not a solution. Think about it. There really is nothing sustainable about Ameya Preserve. That is a fact!
Dear J. Prieto
Did it ever occur to you, Porter Novelli and Team Ameya that your factless advertising is what has raised everyone's ire? You suggest that you "respect divergent opinions as long as they are based on fact. But, your posted statment contains nothing more than the similar empty hyperbole found on Ameya's website. Why don't you address with FACTS the questions and criticisms raised by Charlotte and Pete?
I went to the recent sales page of Fays Ranches website – guess what, the Bullis Creek Ranch consists of 9,175 deeded acres – That is a fact. Perhaps Porter Novelli reps and J. Prieto would like to tell us how, in fact, Ameya Preserve sets aside nearly 10,500 acres?
Alice, watch your step.
J. Prieto doesn't seem very informed regarding the views of Bozemanites. Check the latest issue of Bozeman Outside – Southwest Montana's Outdoor Journal.
The Champs & Chumps section identifies Ameya's developer, Wade Dokken as a chump. See why.
J. Prieto your PR machine is pathetic and transparent. Dokken & Ameya is a sham and everyone in L'ston knows it, or will know it soon enough. The whole scenario up there is so easily investigated and local media is catching on fast. National media will follow and this will be another example of someone exploiting the environment for their own ends.
Just the other day at the Bozeman Airport I was taking my elderly grandfather to the gate and the folks at the gate desk called for the first class passengers to board. They called three names, one of them Wade Dokken. The other two folks showed up and boarded and I noticed Dokken sitting at the back of the assembled crowd on his cell phone chatting away as they called his name again and again.
Finally, they invited folks who needed extra time to board to come to the desk. This group included my 90-yr-old grandpa, a single woman with two small kids, a lady in a wheelchair and an older man with a walker. These passengers were all lined up and starting to board when Dokken busted through (having completed his important phone call), virtually pushed his way through the young and infirm (actually glaring down my grandpa to get out of his way) and boarded the plane.
My grandpa and I laughed at him (which Dokken tried to ignore with the snooty "I am important!" look) as he pushed his importance ahead of everyone else. When he had walked on, my grandpa smiled and winked at me, "Don't worry, he'll get his. They always do."
Dokken is the kind of jerk who is trying to snow our community into thinking he is doing something green and sustainable. I think we would all have a lot more respect for him if he had just come right out and said, "I am building a development for rich people," but instead he and his PR monkies are trying to convince our community (and the communities across the country in such ecologically-minded places such as Dallas and Houston) that this is a "green" development and that somehow, by buying a plot of land in his private national park, rich people can offset the wasteful life they lead. And no matter what covenants he imposes on the land up there, those millionaires will want manicured lawns and sprinkler systems and whatever they want they will make sure to get because they have earned it.
Alice Waters is probably just taking the $500,000 donation Ameya handed to Slow Food and planning on putting it somewhere worthwhile. Just like Jack at the Museum of the Rockies et. al.
I'd like to think if someone handed me a chunk of cash I would not abandon the work I do here in Livingston and the integrity going along with it. But who knows? Maybe the money would give me the freedom to continue my work elsewhere with a wider scope.
The problem with everyone involved in this greenwashing scam is that they are not researching who this Dokken character is, finding out where he came from and what his previous businesses associations were before. I suggest they go do it.
Dokken, whether acting like the lowest form of life at the airport, at a Yellowstone river access being rude and pushy to us local folks and embarassing his own family, knawing on his veal bones while staring lecherously at teenage girls on Main Street through the Adagio windows or convincing our "resident farmers" (read SERFS) to be part of his sham is NOT part of our community or the type of person this little town will endure very long.
He may plan to bring a bunch more of these hypocrites to the Livingston area but we'll make short work of them. Or, as grandpa said, "He'll get his. They always do."
Alice Waters if you can find your way to these comments, take this one to heart. We could sure use more sincerely involved professionals in our community…but how about a sustainable cooking school in conjunction with local non-profit Corporation for the Northern Rockies? Livingston has a lot more to offer as a community than the shameless liars at Ameya "Preserve."
It is unfortunate that Alice Waters seems to have fallen prey to a clever, but fallicious, marketing scheme. J. Preito and colleagues at Porter Novelli, and Wade Dokken have much to learn about valuing the community beyond their boundaries. We've had to endure full-page newspaper ads touting all the wonderful benefits Ameya Preserve will provide the local economy (Livngstion and Park County). But, actions speak louder than words. Here are a few more facts for J. Preito to verify.
Where does Wade Dokken live? Bozeman, Gallatin County.
Where is Ameya Preserve's Office? Bozeman.
Where does J. Prieto live? Bozeman?
Where's Porter Novelli located? Far, far from Livingston.
Where are Ameya's engineers located? Bozeman.
Where is Design Workshop based? Colorado.
Where's Ameya's consulting wildlife biologist from? Colorado.
Where Slifer Designs from? Colorado.
Where is Synthesis Realty Group located? South Carolina.
(How many trees must Ameya plant in North Dakota to offset the CO2 emissions from the travel budgets of these people?)
What do these groups know about our community? How are they involved in our community. What do they contribute to our community? Yes Team Ameya, you have much to learn about being part of a community. Being part of a community has much to do with honesty and caring, and has little to do with MONEY! You would do well to take Phil Cubeta up on his offer to be your Morals Tutor http://www.gifthub.org/2007/05/former_ceo_of_a.html)
If you don't, perhaps Alice will be able to provide some morals guidance.
Just for the record, I am not an employee of Porter Novelli. I am one of the principals at Ameya Preserve. Porter Novelli was retained by us earlier this year, but we are no longer working together. They are a great firm, and not "PR Monnkies" (sic). We appreciate their efforts on our behalf.
Dear J. Prieto,
Thanks for providing the first, albeit relatively irrelevant, fact concerning your employment. Just because you say that Porter Novelli a "great firm, provides no assurances that Ameya's marketing material promoted on the web and news is legitimate. We're still waiting on responses to the valid questions raised in the comments posted above. Or, shall we infer that the absence of meaningful information coming from you is indicative of the absence of facts in Ameya's marketing hype?
Many of us really would like to hear honest and truthful information rather than the greenwashing.
here is your chance to ask alice about her involvement
book signing in san francisco on Dec 2, 2:00-4:00pm
cost plus world market
2552 Taylor Street
San Francisco, CA
It's tempting to vilify people whose behavior we dislike and don't understand, but I think what's really going on here is a simple culture clash.
We Montanans are down-to-earth folk who value substance over artifice. Meaningful relationships, interesting and exciting experiences, connection to the land, and solid values (integrity, loyalty, honor, etc.) are what's most important to us. Money and the arts are great, but only insofar as they integrate well into our existing community and lifestyle. We cannot subsist on it, nor do we want to; if we did, we'd probably live somewhere that had a lot more of it. We're not afraid of adversity.
Wade Dokken and J. Prieto, on the other hand, are classic big-city folk who live primarily for money and what it offers: comfort, luxury, and exclusivity. Reputations are paramount: They like art, but only that which is produced by famous artists. They like culture, but only that deemed "world-class" by established arbiters of style. Again, they focus on the superficial elements of life: appearances, impressions, material goods. Substance is meaningless, an anchor that impedes movement toward increased wealth and prosperity.
What the Ameya folks are doing is not malicious or malevolent. They are not bad people. They are simply of the same ilk as the archetypal wealthy father, the busy executive who is never around but gives his daughter all kinds of expensive gifts and calls it love. He doesn't understand why she's miffed — "You ungrateful brat," he tells her. "I bought you a $50,000 BMW for your birthday!"
So, Ameya people, you need to re-think your approach. We welcome outsiders, but only those willing to adapt to our ways, or at least respect them and not try to change them. We don't want your money; we want a human contribution to our community. We want substance: friendship, support, respect. Give us that, and you'll get it back tenfold. We're a generous people, but we reserve that generosity for those who deserve it — that way, it retains its value. So far, you have proven that you deserve nothing but disregard at best, and at worst, contempt.
When I was 16 and poor and workingclass, which I still am, I was able to travel the country and experience the wilderness. (this was 1972.) It opened my mind and saved my life. It defined how I live.
It was open land and available if you had gas for your car. (@32 cents a gallon.)
Last night I saw a special about current workingclass and inner city people and how the wilderness, when they are allowed to visit it, changes their inner voice.
Will the wilderness in the future only belong to Kings and Queens?
Diane M.
To echo Diane, the 2000′s look to be a return to the bad old days of feudalism.
"Financially, local and sustainable is still a luxury. And the author's knee-jerk assumptions- that gated communities have to be covered in log McMansions, or that farmers who are employees are part of some kind of high-altitude Potemkin village- have more to do with her own anti-elitist prejudices than with Alice Waters."
Very well put. I took the time to go through the ameya website and it seems to me that many of the questions folks like Jan asks are clearly answered. I'm also not very comfortable with a statement like "We welcome outsiders, but only those willing to adapt to our ways, or at least respect them and not try to change them." So what you are saying is you accept people only if they will be like you? Are you going to require residents to participate in a minimum number of community functions? If someone doesn't vote a certain way, pray to a certain God, or have the right ethnic background, they aren't welcome?
To me, it seems that many of the locals in this comment thread are the elitists.
One final point, I keep reading the phrase "I hate to be the one to point it out, but luxury and sustainability are contradictory values." over and over and it makes me more upset everytime I read it.
Has the author been to some of the slums in Caracas to see first hand how those people barely manage to survive? Has the author ever considered that her lifestyle would be seen as unobtainable luxury compared the vast majority of those who live in thrid world environments (or even the slums of Detroit).
given her position in the above statement it seems that unless she's willing to give up everything she owns and live like those in the slums of Caracas do, she shouldn't go around making these sort of statements.
More than ever, I am glad that I live in Eastern Montana.
Nobody wants to build anything out here…
Wow! A gated community in a pristine wilderness which will provide service industry Mcjobs and have a (cough) neutral carbon footprint! How can anyone be opposed to such a wonderful thing? I for one will soon be moving to Livingstone and hiring on at the new Applebee's franchise so I can live in Ameya and brag about how my profligate ways are being offset by some trees which may or may not be planted in South Dakota. Look for me L'toners, I'll be the guy in the Humvee with California plates. You can toss rose petals in my path if you wish. Just don't make any special orders at the new Applebee's on a busy Friday night. We line cooks have ways of dealing with you.


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text: SOUTH BEND -- The city's greenhouses and conservatories are not in bad shape and need some minor maintenance, according to Richard Diesl, a Lord and Burnham expert who toured the facilities Monday. "You've got a structure here that's absolutely beautiful," he said. "There's no reason why it should be demolished." Diesl said he has seen greenhouses in much poorer conditions than the Muessel-Ellison and Ella Morris conservatories. The structures need some basic maintenance such as repairing a few broken windows and updating the brick foundations. "The overall picture of the complex tells me it just needs maintenance. I don't find a whole bunch wrong," he said. Diesl pointed out a few updates such as repairs to the heavy-duty ventilation system and updating the radiation system. A capping material can also be applied to some areas to keep the glass panels from slipping. The current heating pipes in some areas are 3/4-inch, which is too small for proper heating and should be changed, he said. For structures as large as the conservatories, 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-inch pipes are more suitable. Diesl also suggested adding an exhaust loop from the boiler room, which would take exhaust heat generated in the boiler rooms and circulate it back into the greenhouses. The exhaust heat inside of the boiler room currently escapes from the boiler room into the outdoors. "Any of that heat we can capture and bring into the greenhouses would be a savings," he said. When asked for a cost estimate, Diesl said it would cost roughly in "the thousands" for the repairs. That initial estimate was a sigh of relief for Catherine Hostetler, director of the Historic Preservation Commission. "I was quite heartened," she said. "We had seen estimates from architects who weren't experts in greenhouses estimating the repairs to be millions of dollars." Hostetler said many people in the city and county have offered to donate money to keep the greenhouses open. Diesl, who began working for the Lord and Burnham Company at age 16, said the company at one time was the "best and largest greenhouse company in the world." Diesl estimated that about 90 percent of the botanical gardens and greenhouses in the United States were built by Lord and Burnham. After the company closed in 1985, Diesl started his own greenhouse company, which now specializes in the restoration of Lord and Burnham structures.


text:
Posted on 08/22/2012 4:31:56 AM PDT by Kaslin
If Justin Bieber or the Rolling Stones suddenly decided to stage an impromptu concert in a public place somewhere in America without a permit, would the authorities ignore it and shrug it off? Doubtful. Even buskers performing in the New York City subway system can't play without formal authorization from the city.
What about taking such a musical performance into a church? If Jennifer Lopez or Madonna just showed up in a place of worship, stripped down to their skivvies and started dancing around the altar, would that fly in any Western democracy? Not likely.
So why, then, are three young women in Russia getting so much sympathy from the mainstream media for doing precisely this inside a Russian Orthodox church?
Last week, three members of the activist group Pussy Riot were each sentenced to two years in prison for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. The group's members are part of a larger protest group called Voina, which has previously been involved in various acts of public nuisance, including group sex in a museum and shoplifting a whole chicken from a supermarket by stuffing into an activist's lady parts.
Voina and Pussy Riot are the Russian version of the Occupy Wall Street protest crowd. Their modus operandi is to use "art" in its various forms as a cover for acting like jerks and flaunting police warnings. They exploit the sentiment that artists worldwide generally should be given more behavioral license than the general public because they've historically pushed the boundaries of free expression.
One would hope that the public is able to tell the difference between Pussy Riot and, say, Voltaire -- who was thrown into a French prison for criticizing government and the Catholic Church in his extensive body of writing. Voltaire's career was writing, while Pussy Riot's entire career consists of hooliganism with a sprinkling of poor-quality "music" thrown in. Voltaire published several novels, plays, poems and essays, and in doing so, just happened to tick off the powers that be. Pussy Riot hasn't even recorded an album. Their credibility as artists is poorly established, unlike their activist background.
Boiled down, the Pussy Riot case is just another example of the social media generation's demand for instant gratification and attention in the absence of any sustained hard work. The protesters chose the shallowest form of subversion possible, their rationale apparently being that by doing a lewd can-can-girl number in a church, they can successfully overturn the government of a G8 country. That's some serious stoner logic.
The longer game of subversion would have required them to spend years working to get into a key position within the power structure, then influencing and subverting the system to change what they don't like. The effects of such an effort would have been more organic, credible and durable.
Or, at the very least, they could have practiced for several years to hone their "art" in the event that they were serious about being artists and not just serious about being hooligans. That's why Madonna can say all sorts of nonsense from a concert stage and constantly push the boundaries of free speech without getting arrested -- because she's actually earned the "artist" label and the leeway society affords it.
Somehow Russian President Vladimir Putin has been dragged into all this, presumably because this story is sexier with a Bond villain -- and because it's always preferable to hold someone else responsible for one's own bad behavior. Pussy Riot supporters claim that Putin has the long knives out for the band because they mentioned him in a song. The idea of Putin sitting around blubbering over being badmouthed by some girls in a YouTube video certainly undermines any evil image. The smearing of Putin as hypersensitive and vindictive would have been more credible had they intelligently addressed Putin's policies without breaking any laws, or associated themselves with a larger group of activists known for flaunting it relentlessly and treating it as a joke. Pussy Riot didn't keep its powder dry.
It's not as if Putin just invented the Russian law against hooliganism. The penalty of up to seven years in prison wasn't concocted especially for Pussy Riot. In fact, the same crime of religious hooliganism in Germany carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment -- a year more than the sentence Pussy Riot members received.
The Western media should save its tears for those who truly deserve them.
After posting, I actually looked into this some more, and if nothing else saw that there are two sides to this.
If nothing else, I got some more info appearing to show that Putin doesnt eff around.
That is assumption on your part, that those who support the prosecution, somehow know more or better about "the history of their country" than those whom do not support the prosecution.
If it be true that 72% view themselves as Russian Orthodox, that still leaves a sizable percentage of Orthodox whom for whatever reasons, didn't think this particular prosecution made good sense.
From all other sources, the criminal charges brought to trial, have been consistently characterized as being solely for the obnoxious activities that transpired in the cathedral.
Criminal trespass charges for those offenses, would have been more accurate, and more likely to have had wider support.
I got your point but that is your achilless heel vs this kind of agitators.
What of your own lack of armor? The shield of faith is what is to be used to quench fiery darts hurled by the wicked one. Not "the powers of the State".
What is more profane? These loud and obnoxious punks, or Putin, the one whom seemingly has no qualms against murder, and lesser acts of injustice perpetrated against political, and business/financial opponents, lighting candles in the Church?
Ask yourself, which is more offensive, and potentially destructive to true worship of our Creator?
Wedding the powers of State, to the Church, has proven to have been a mistake, over & over throughout history.
The Church is called to be holy, and set apart. What State, established by men, managed, governed, used and manipulated by men, has ever truly been that?
AFAIK group claimed its responsibility for burning a truck but no one was prosecuted for this act because authorities had no evidence to charge any exact person. They were prosecuted for public pornography, throwing cats at McDonalds, their performance in courtroom and damaging another police car, thus they werent sentenced to any real jail time.
Have any of you ever lived in a neighborhood where a group of young people were wreaking havoc, but the neighbors could never prove it to the police? I have... many times. I'm betting most (if not all) of you have, too.
In one neighborhood, a group of teens was harassing everyone. Among other things, they even spread feces once all over our front door. The police could do nothing. It was our word against the teens'. Finally, these young people were caught and punished for something minor. I remember hearing them complain that they were being overly-punished. The way they were talking, an outsider who didn't know their history would've felt bad for them. But those of us who lived in the neighborhood were relieved.
Where my folks lived, a few young people have been terrorizing the neighborhood for years. They slit tires, crack windows with BB guns, throw used condoms all over lawns, steal things from private property, and verbally harass the neighbors. Everyone hates but fears them, but for a long time, the police could do nothing. Neither could other local authorities. These young people also deal drugs, and finally one was busted for drugs and put into prison. Things got quieter in the neighborhood. An outsider, who didn't know their history, might think, "This poor young man has been thrown in prison..." But, those of us who knew the history wish they all could be put away for awhile.
Think of Russia as "the neighborhood" and PR as "the neighborhood punks." The police finally got them on something. That's why most Russians are happy about it. We're the outsiders.
Have you considered how the fallout due to the how & why these scene stealing "protestors" were eventually prosecuted, can be more damaging to the Church overall, then it is helpful?
Remember what the [son of] Man said;
"The kingdom of heaven is within".
Why be in such a hurry to wed the powers of the State, and it's own effort to affect civil order, to the Church?
Consider what PR was singing about. Do they have a point? Is there some dis-connect between what the Church stands for as to morality, and how the Russian State exercises it's own powers? There is some un-evenness there, though it also stands to be mentioned that the present Russian State, is not the first to fall short of the high mark.
This other thread has what looks to be an accurate translation of their little protest song;
The Church has always endangered it's own holiness when too strongly allied with State.
If we try to force the one, before the other, then the girls are right. What we result with is truly crap, crap, crap. Decidedly, not so holy.
Or do you think we can force the issue by rule of law? Efforts along those lines have often enough fallen woefully short. The exceptions to this can be seen in clearest example, in the individual first, whom can then lead others by example.
Yet we are living in an age when even the best examples will scarcely be followed, and if followed, then by a great many, somewhat superficially. When that occurs, let us not be so quick to declare victory, when looking at present, and past times.
By which I mean, there is strong tendency among some Catholics to look back upon times when their own churches were blended quite directly & strongly with the powers of State, as some sort of past, rose colored Nirvana.
Clean first, the inside of the cup, then one can see enough to clean the outside. Other efforts tend to result in only smearing the dirt around.
It's a fair point that they are repeat offenders insofar as public disruption is concerned.
Nevertheless, there are a couple of problems with your analogy.
1. PR, by their court statements, have important political, theological and cultural points to make. Teenage hoodlums do not.
2. Putin and his gangster government are the ones terrorizing the neighborhood.
Its a fair point that they are repeat offenders insofar as public disruption is concerned.
Nevertheless, there are a couple of problems with your analogy.
1. PR, by their court statements, have important political, theological and cultural points to make. Teenage hoodlums do not.
2. Putin and his gangster government are the ones terrorizing the neighborhood.
I don't know if Putin is really that bad or not but from these videos Russian government looks like a pretty peaceful bunch.
No batons, no kicks and punches for these "protestors".
Two year term is a joke as well if you'll listen them talking on Stalinism comeback.
I think you're right.
But, considering PR's far-left politics, I'm still surprised at how much support they're receiving on this forum.
I have to disagree. I don't think what PR has been doing is any better than what teenage hoodlums do. IMHO, their political statements are no better than what hoodlums might say.
Putin and his gangster government are the ones terrorizing the neighborhood.
I don't know if that's true. Russia is not what it used to be.
Well, each of us is looking at this story differently, that's for sure.
No one is exaggerating about their behavior.
And both Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church publicly called for leniency. According to the reports, Putin is popular in Russia. This anti-Putin group is so vile that they probably added to his popularity. Apparently, many Russians were sick of this PR group. Russia has been doing well economically under Putin's leadership; this PR group could not have been any threat to him.
And the Orthodox Church publicly asked for mercy for the PR group.
But they've been a public nuisance to everyone else, apparently.
As stated earlier, for this particular crime under Russian law, the maximum sentence is seven years. That means other Russians may have been sentenced to seven years for this crime. These PR women were sentenced to just two... after all the havoc they've been wreaking with their group.
No one is exaggerating about their behavior.
They were tried only for what occurred at the church, yet wasn't it you(?) who tried to claim they were tried for these other things you wish to keep bringing up?
You compared them to tire slashers, drug dealers, and vile hoodlums in the U.S. who spread feces all over YOUR door, also. That sort of comparison would and should get you kicked off a jury.
Yes, I'm sure that many in Russia are sick of them, but less than half (from a statistic brought here by your buddy) actually supported the trial. Even with full-time efforts on the part of Putin's media outlets to paint these punk protestors as some sort of horrible evil..
I'm going to assume some of the majority of Russian citizens whom disagree with the prosecution, may have thought PR improperly charged, or over-charged for what they did do in that church, since less than half are fully on the side of the government. The case has been all over the news and media in Russia recently.
Excuse me? They were a component of the vocal opposition whom pointed out multiple instances of voter fraud during the last election. You know, the one where Putin was looking to be re-elected? And did. These protest punks jeopardized that, embarrassing both Putin and the Patriarch. At first Putin's government tried to laugh it off, but the Patriarch and a significant portion of the Orthodox were offended. That it ultimately what they were prosecuted for. Even then the government fell short of actually proving their case.
Ask Gary Kasparov. He was there, and among many others, and concurs Putin's operators jiggered the election. Pussy Riot just pushed too many buttons, calling foul in their foul way, for his using the Church as an election campaign backdrop (which he undoubtedly DID do).
After the fact that Patriarch Kirill very publicly demanded they be tried in the first place.
One prominent Orthodox commentator called for them to be burnt at the stake, as I have already provided quotes and links for, here previously on this thread.
Do you even read what I have to say before replying? I ask this, for the replies from you seem always the same old, same old. Just repetition of the enmity which you seem to hold for them...
Try looking into a conversation I had with a Catholic living in Poland, on this thread...he might not fully agree with me in all which I have otherwise said, but I'm certain he doesn't agree that the slant you keep pushing here, is the full and complete story, either.
Many Orthodox in Russia are not quite buying the State media line --- which is the line you are pushing here, whether you know it or not.
There you go AGAIN! Convicting them for all this other junk, which charges were not brought for, nor for which they were allowed any chance to provide for their own defense. What is this? The Inquisition?
The five months they spent waiting for trial was more than enough "time served", for their real crime or offense (trespass) but the government can't admit that, so the girls are stuck.
Possibly yourself, and more assuredly a number of Orthodox in Russia, view these girls' "punk prayer" as blasphemy, as a desecration. Yet the "prayer" was not an indictment against the Church itself, for the motives of the performance were political. It's not their fault, after all, that the KGB has long sought to control, and frequently has succeeded in controlling or manipulating the Church.
The difference being is that nowadays, rather than just keeping it repressed as in Soviet times, they now co-opt the Church and religious sentiments, when they can get away with it.
"In conclusion I would like to read the words of a Pussy Riot song, that, strange as they may be, proved prophetic. We foresaw that the Head of the KGB and the Chief Saint of the land place the protesters under guard and take them to prison. This was about us."
And here's a clear example that these are anarchists, not real protesters — now it's "inspired" Germans to do the same thing inside another cathedral —> http://rt.com/news/pussy-riot-cologne-cathedral-463/
No, I did NOT make such a claim. I brought up those other "activities" to give a more complete history of what this group has really been doing.
Please, try and get news and background information about this case from sources other than limited only to 'Life Site News' and the official Russian State informational/propaganda organs.
I did check a variety of sources before forming an opinion on this story. However, I do wonder about the sources YOU have been reading.
You compared them to tire slashers, drug dealers, and vile hoodlums in the U.S. who spread feces all over YOUR door, also. That sort of comparison would and should get you kicked off a jury.
We're not on a jury. This is an internet forum. We're not on jury duty; we're just talking. I'm allowed to say: "This group is nothing more than a group of hoodlums." Or, are you saying that this PR group can do and say anything they want as a form of protest, but no one should comment on their behavior? Why, how dare I comment on their behavior on an internet forum! What is this world coming to when a group of young women can't burst into a cathedral and cause a disturbance without being criticized for the many other disturbances they caused? /sarcasm
full-time efforts on the part of Putin's media outlets to paint these punk protestors as some sort of horrible evil..
The Russian media didn't have to do anything. The hoodlums themselves filmed their activities and posted videos and pictures of what they did on the internet.
...a component of the vocal opposition whom pointed out multiple instances of voter fraud during the last election... etc. .... Ask Gary Kasparov. He was there, and among many others, and concurs Putin's operators jiggered the election... etc.
On the one hand, you're very defensive of this group of hooligans who engage in sexual activities in public, flip police cars, set police vehicles on fire, and use profanity to disrupt the public, among other "activities." Because they were convicted for only ONE crime, you seem to think no one should criticize their other activities. You even excuse their other activities.
Yet, without any real evidence, you believe their stories about elections being rigged. Maybe the elections were rigged; maybe they weren't. Where is your proof that they were? Because Gary Kasparov says so?
Also, you insist that the PR group's former activities should have nothing to do with the discussion. But then you keep bringing up Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Putin has been doing some rather interesting things to keep himself in power. Maybe he is a bad guy. Maybe not entirely. The U.S. should never trust him completely. But that is a completely different topic of discussion. These "girls" weren't convicted of speaking out against Putin. They were convicted of Russia's version of a "hate crime."
(And, yes, I do read your entire posts, unfortunately.)
Hey Jack-ass. I never said they couldn't "be criticized" for other disturbances. Only that they were not formerly on trial for those other antics.
Quit lying about my own comments.
This obnoxious group has been running around mocking what they see as absurdities of cultural conventions in present-day Russia, using State institutions as a backdrop. That has been their schtick. I am aware enough of that.
Yet it is you and your ilk who persist in justifying long prison terms for their form of expressing "criticism", while they were tried mainly, only for offending the sensibilities of the religious, in a church of historical, religious, and now political significance.
That last part is quite important. It IS central to the entire affair, but is hiding itself behind the umbrage of the reaction, frequently characterized by such as your own refusal to consider much beyond this groups history of being disruptive.
Now they get punished for all of that, rightly or wrongly, but with the Church left holding the bag as being the repressive bad guys.
Is that the image we should want? The Church as part of a power paradigm which cannot suffer it's critics gracefully? Is willing to imprison them, if they become inconvenient to the image they have been carefully working to portray?
Putin has been at least partially successful in portraying, & selling himself as some sort of Orthodox Catholic.
Ask yourself --- do you think he has repented yet for all the killings of journalists his previous regime indulged itself with? Some criminals are punished in today's Russia. An entire other class appears to be the most deadliest to cross, and are above the law. Sound familiar?
Which is more profane, what those girls did, or Putin being given communion without repentance on his part, for evils perpetrated by his regime against critics? That is the taste left in the mouth of many in Russia and elsewhere concerning this.
It's like trying to go back to the time when the Tzars and the Church were united in one near monolithic entity.
Do we really want a return to that? With this time "the Tzars" being the oligarchs who control everything (including apparently, the Church?).
Many in Russia today, including a sizable number of Orthodox, and some number of the priesthood, do not want that.
Such a subtle liar you are. I most certainly never "excused" the above, save for "the use of profanity", which are just words, after all. That, and my being not too overly upset with them mugging police cadets with hugs and kisses...which "mugging" had as it's basis, it's own intended agitation of the political realm in Russia today.
That particular guerrilla theater was employed to frame the issue of questioning support for the current cultural paradigm, in which police powers are routinely employed as political weapon against investigators, questioners, and political challengers across the board, both "morally" legitimate or otherwise.
Perhaps you've missed notice of such? Or is this a growing case of the denials, allowing your boy Putin to F' over anyone he wants to, as long as he gives the Catholic Church, in this instance the [Russian] Orthodox Church it's "due"?
Ask guys like Kasporov, what happens to some dissenters, or other competitors to the regime. It can get real ugly. Should the Church give rubber-stamp to such? All in the name of suppressing the indecency of Pussy Riot, of course...
The question remains. Should Putin be allowed to get away with cloaking himself with the righteousness which could more properly belong only to the Church?*
That is what Pussy Riot, in all their profanity, was focusing upon that day, when they entered into that church.
We can all be uncomfortable with the way the question was framed, (and who it was that framed it) yet still the question leads us to ever more questions.
Questions such as reexamining, once again; "what is the Church?", and what should be "the State"? How best should the two exist?
Kirill I has long ago made up his own mind and expressed himself concerning the hoped for inter-action of the two.
That particular hope sounds all fine and well.. but while these two entities, Putin, and the former "tobacco Metropolitan" are blowing kisses towards one another "in mutual respect", then what are the rest of us to make of it? Shall we call it "holy"? Or is it as much or more, something else instead?
I do think we have all seen this particular movie before. It has it's high points, times when the human spirit be can touched by the Divine. Yet in the basements and dungeons, are works and deeds, acts of men committed in the name of that which is Holy, but are more suited for hell itself.
In the end (of the movie?) does the cozy relationship not result in a profanity far more disgusting than even one of these girls masturbating (the one previously put in a mental hospital for being rebellious) in a grocery market, using a chicken leg?
For sake of comparison, let us now look at how the most fanatical among the Islamists, in their own wettest dreams, fantasize about a much similar Church/State relationship, as Kirill hopes for.
Why should not the Islamists think it their right? In their perspective, that "right" has been rightly endowed to them by the Creator. For they too make the claim "we have Abraham as our father", with in their instance, Mohammed of course [may-pork-be-upon-him] being the interpreter of God's heart & mind towards man.
I know the answers to why the Islamists shouldn't be allowed to rule...but it runs a bit deeper than "the hierarchical entities of Catholicism instead...should be the ones to rule".
If I have uncovered our philosophical differences here, I must tell you, it is not news to me. I have understood this from the very beginning of our conversation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text:
Yes, it's true: the harem pant invasion of the world continues,and now not even pyjamas are safe from what we've come to think of as The Curse of the Crotch.
Actually, though, this application of the familair old saggy crotch syndrome is possiblty the only one that actually makes sense to us. After all, they're probably comfortable, and if you're wearing them in the comfort of your own home, that falls outwith the jurisdiction of The Fashion Police.
Rather than branding them Crimes of Fashion, then, we will simply note that they're £12 from Topshop. What you choose to do with that information is, of course, up to you.


text:
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text:
Darren Sharper indicted on rape charges, facing life in prison
Former NFL defensive back Darren Sharper has been indicted on rape charges, according to Ken Daley of The Times-Picayune.
Former NFL defensive back Darren Sharper has been indicted on rape charges, according to Ken Daley of The Times-Picayune.
Darnell Dockett tweets more obnoxious stuff than any player in the NFL, so it should come as no surprise that the Arizona Cardinals defensive end could not resist mentioning Darren Sharper.
Darren Sharper and a second rape suspect allegedly admitted to other witnesses that they raped two women in New Orleans in September, according to a report.
Darren Sharper turned himself in to police in Los Angeles on Thursday night after a warrant was issued for his arrest in New Orleans.
Earlier on Thursday we passed along a report from NBC Miami saying that Darren Sharper was being investigated for an alleged sexual battery in Miami Beach.
The hits just seem to keep on coming for former NFL safety Darren Sharper, who is currently under investigation for several sexual assault cases.
Darren Sharper was formally charged with raping and drugging two women on Friday in a Los Angeles court. That may only be the start of it.
Former New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper was formally charged with drugging and raping two women in a Los Angeles County court on Friday.


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Holidays with Dogs
On our website you will find a variety of dog friendly cottages, hotels, guest houses, holiday parks, campsites and B&Bs which will welcome you and your dog to your chosen area.
What is Pet Friendly Accommodation?
The properties that make dogs welcome, will vary in dog friendliness and we ask you to please check that your requirements are met by the holiday accommodation owner.
Some holiday properties restrict the type and number of dogs that they allow - if in doubt, please ask. Always check to see if bowls and blankets are provided or whether you will need to bring them with you.
If you plan to take your dog to the beach, it will be worth checking which are dog friendly beaches in the locality - your dog may not be welcome at certain times of year - usually May to September. Normally the local council website is a good place to look, failing that, your chosen dog friendly accommodation owner should be a good source of local knowledge.
If travelling by car within the UK, please consider fitting a dog guard to your car for both yours and the dog's safety.
You can see a selection of dog guards for most vehicles at Dog Guards R Us.
We have Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest pages, so please follow us for Late Availabilities, Special Offers and fun!
You will find plenty of ideas for holidays with dogs and dog friendly hotels, cottages and guest houses in the UK and beyond.


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Liverpool fans have given their backing to introducing safe standing in football stadiums.
Supporters' union Spirit of Shankly carried out a poll to gauge support among match-goers for the policy - a particularly emotive subject for the club due to the death of 96 of its fans at Hillsborough.
Nearly 18,000 people took part, with 88% of them saying they would back rail seating areas being introduced in grounds, which would allow fans who wanted to to stand.
Spirit of Shankly chair James McKenna said the week-long vote was preceded by "extensive consultation" with survivors and family members of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, who have mixed views about the concept.
"It's an incredible turnout, we aren't aware of such numbers voting before. It demonstrates to us that we were right to have this discussion and that supporters, families and survivors want to have their say," he added.
"After nine months of discussion, we have now had the vote and it will be taken as the position for Spirit Of Shankly. The size of the turnout majority means that no one can be in any doubt that supporters have had their say and made an informed decision."
The debate on whether standing should once again become commonplace at football matches has been ongoing for several years, with League One side Shrewsbury Town this week set to become the first club with an all-seater stadium to introduce a standing area.
Standing is currently banned at all Premier League and Championship games and its widespread reintroduction would require a change in the law.
It was stopped in 1989 in the Hillsborough aftermath, and last month the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) confirmed the government has "no plans" to change its position in the face of the growing clamour for its return.
Spirit of Shankly say while the results of their poll are clear, they will continue to take into account the views of those who disagree and assess next steps.
McKenna added: "No-one 'wins' here, this has been a mature and sensitive conversation and we have arrived at a position.
"Those who have been through incredible heartache and tragedy have every right to be heard and to ask important questions about safety. It was important in our conversations to have these answered. It would be wise for that to take place elsewhere."


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Topic/Category: Reporting, Performance
Applies to:Ephesoft v3.1.x.x
Reporting Clean up Stored Procedure is not working nightly.
ERROR in dcma-report-all.log:
[ERROR ] com.ephesoft.dcma.reporting.service.ReportLoaderServiceImpl.checkAndUpdateBulkData
(ReportLoaderServiceImpl.java:816) – Unable to clean up data for 25 batches.could not execute native bulk manipulation query
org.hibernate.exception.SQLGrammarException: could not execute native bulk manipulation query…
Caused by: java.sql.SQLException: Invalid object name 'JBPM4_VARIABLE'.
Root Cause:
The issue was due to the specification of the database schema used on the Ephesoft DB and the Reporting DB. BY Default all Ephesoft SQL queries are performed with the assumption that the default dbo schema is being used. If you use a DB schema other than dbo then the this can cause issues with stored procedure and specific queries.
Since the Reporting service calls on the Clean up Batch Instance Stored Procedure nightly, this error will occur every time until the stored procedure is corrected with the correct DB schema.
Once this is done the Reporting service Clean up stored procedure will perform the clean up properly.
Note: The nightly stored procedure can take a long time to perform depending on the number of records in the JBPM tables.


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Always in Trend: 20 Powder Rooms in Black and White
There are plenty of advantages of embracing a black and white color scheme that range from simplicity and design flexibility to having a backdrop that need not be altered frequently just to fit in with the changing trends. Giving even the tiniest of powder room a spacious and charming vibe, we delve today into the beautiful world of black and white powder rooms at their mesmerizing best.
Visit decoist.com
Related Books
Materialized by
Related Objects


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Share your best fishing tall tale at the Minnesota State Fair with Mark Romanack, host of the hit fishing show, Fishing 411 with Mark Romanack, during Sportsman Day hosted by Comcast and Sportsman Channel on August 28 from 11 am to 7 pm. Fair attendees will also have the opportunity to "Spin to Win" on Sportsman Channel's spinning prize wheel for t-shirts, hats, mugs, coolers and a signed copy of Romanack's book, Precision Trolling.
Sportsman Channel and Comcast's booth is located at the corner of Randall Ave and Cooper Street on the State Fair grounds. "Spin to Win" starts at 1 pm and ends at 3 pm. or until all prizes are given away.
Romanack has 30 plus years of fishing experience he showcases in each episode of Fishing 411, which airs exclusively on Sportsman Channel.
Watch Sportsman Channel on Comcast channel 738 in Minneapolis and channel 278 in St. Paul.
About Sportsman Channel: Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel is the only television and digital media company fully devoted to the more than 82 million sportsmen in the United States, delivering entertaining and educational programming focused exclusively on hunting, shooting and fishing activities. Sportsman Channel is now available in HD, check with your local cable or satellite provider. Acquired by InterMedia Outdoors Holdings in 2006, Sportsman Channel reaches 27 million U.S. television households and is a part of the nation's largest multimedia company targeted exclusively to serving the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts. Visit www.thesportsmanchannel.com, follow on Twitter, @SPORTSMANchnl (www.twitter.com/SPORTSMANchnl), become a Fan on Facebook, www.facebook.com/sportsmanchannel and download Sportsman App at www.itunes.com/appstore
StarTribune.com welcomes and encourages readers to comment and engage in substantive, mutually respectful exchanges over news topics. Commenters must follow our Terms of Use.
- Keep it civil and stay on topic.
- No profanity, vulgarity, racial slurs or personal attacks.
- Comments with web links are not permitted.
- Comments that violate the above will be removed. Repeat violators may lose their commenting privileges on StarTribune.com.
Comments will be reviewed before being published.


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Saturday, November 13, 2010
Sparkle Creations Sponsored SFYTT
I chose to work with Traveling Josh. He looks like a really sweet kid ready to have the time of his life! I love his old traveling trunk, too. I colored Traveling Josh with Copic markers on Copic's new X-Press It Blending card stock (two thumbs up), then added some extra shading with Prismacolor pencils.
The papers are from Basic Grey's Wandering 6x6 paper collection. Embellishments are a sun die-cut with My Favorite Things' Sunshine Die-namics die, some natural twill, and a buckle. On the sentiment tag, I trimmed a little car from one of the BG patterns and gave it a trail with a few paper pierced holes.
Here's the sketch this week:
I reversed the sketch to work better with my image, changed it to a square, and moved the embellishment in front of the image panel.
Can't wait to see what the rest of the SFYTT girls have done with this week's sketch!
Jen del Muro with guest designer Stepanie Muzzulin
Amber Hight
Amy Rohl
Carole Burrage
Jenn Diercks
Jodi Collins
Megan Lock
Sonja Christoph
Susan Liles
To play along, just link up your creation to Jen's blog using the linking tool. You'll automatically be entered into a random drawing to win two Sparkle Creations images (Holiday Emily and Rin and Snowman)! Good luck!
Have a fantastic weekend!
Stamps: Traveling Josh (Sparkle Creations), Are We There Yet? Pure Innocence (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Prismatics Birchtone Dark card stock, Copic X-Press It Blending card stock, Basic Grey Wandering
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Antique Linen, Peeled Paint, and Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks
Accessories: Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils, Spellbinders Mega Curved Rectangle Nestabilities and Tags Trio dies, My Favorite Things Sunshine Die-namics die, Stampin' Up clear button, DMC floss, 5/8" natural twill, Stampin' Up hardware, May Arts natural burlap string, paper piercer/needle/thread
19 comments:
- Renkata said...
Beautiful card. lovely layout.
- November 13, 2010 at 9:06 AM
- Stephanie Kraft said...
Your card is just darling, Amy! Love your coloring and wonderful details!
- November 13, 2010 at 9:30 AM
- Jodi Collins aka Kharmagirl said...
This is SO Awesome Amy! LOVE the colors and papers you used!! He is SO cute!!
- November 13, 2010 at 9:38 AM
- Paper Punch Scissors! said...
I really like this image Amy! I love all the little detail, the tag with the little car, which goes so nicely with the dp. You did a great job shading with the pencils after using Copics too. I was glad to hear you say you'd used the new blending paper - I haven't tried it yet - but I'm gona ;)
Isn't it nice to see some little boy images like this? Darling card Amy.
- November 13, 2010 at 10:00 AM
- Jenn Diercks said...
Awww, he is adorable and works perfectly with your papers. Fantastic take on the sketch!
- November 13, 2010 at 10:23 AM
- the whimsical butterfly said...
Absoutely ADORABLE! I love your coloring, Amy-WOW!
- November 13, 2010 at 10:46 AM
- Jessie/knightrone said...
This is completely adorable!!
- November 13, 2010 at 11:04 AM
- Megan said...
So cute. Your coloring is beautiful!
- November 13, 2010 at 11:47 AM
- Sparkle said...
This is just fabulous and darling!
- November 13, 2010 at 11:51 AM
- Anna Fearer said...
This card is so cute! Love the image you used on this one :)
- November 13, 2010 at 12:53 PM
- carole (TruCarMa) said...
Gorgeous coloring, Amy! I love that dp, and GMTA on the corner embellishment! :)
- November 13, 2010 at 12:58 PM
- Rel Squire (NZ) said...
Wow Amy your card is stunning! so beautifully colored in and just adore the image of Josh... can't find a word that is able to describe how incredible I think your work is. Love looking at your blog.
- November 14, 2010 at 9:52 AM
- .:♥MMDesigns♥:. said...
Gorgeous card! Love the image! And that sun and buckle on the ribbon are stunning!
Hugs, Marit.
- November 14, 2010 at 12:56 PM
- Mary Duffek said...
Oh my word!!! Fabulous coloring and love that image...awesome job!
- November 14, 2010 at 2:17 PM
- Kelly Lunceford said...
this is really cute! Your paper choices are perfect...but your coloring is........FABULOUS!!!!!!!!AMazing as always!
- November 14, 2010 at 6:26 PM
- Crafty Cath said...
Amy this card is darling! Love the image and your coloring and shading are awesome! All the travel details fit so perfectly too, of course.
- November 14, 2010 at 8:42 PM
- Handmade Creations by Stephanie said...
WOW such an adorable card love it!!!!
- November 15, 2010 at 8:22 AM
- Leslie Miller said...
You do a fabulous job with everything you pick up, Amy. He's a cute little guy and the sun is a perfect companion piece. I like that you flipped the sketch so the boy would face into the card. Love the pierced trail behind the car, too. It's the little things.
- November 15, 2010 at 10:38 PM
- Amy Rohl said...
Oh boy, this is just perfect! Love the twill/buckle, the papers, and of course, your coloring!! The sun is the icing on the cake!
- November 16, 2010 at 12:53 PM


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I hate introductions- so no introductions this is a blog and you are reading it. This has turned into an introduction hasn't it?
Bayleaf Buttons is a business I started in May of 2011 and it is only fitting that close to 2012 I am finally starting a blog. I had originally planned to have this blog purely relating to Bayleaf Buttons but a blog that is so commercial would seem rather dull. So I am going to go ahead and say that this is a semi-personal blog featuring Bayleaf Buttons.


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Does Pandora Know How You Vote?
What does your music say about you? Internet radio station Pandora is betting that it can help identify political tastes based on song selection. Elizabeth Dwoskin reports on digits. Photo: Getty Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... visit you'll radio spying on you with that Pandora maybe it is ... made even have a good guess so which way you can vote will commit Digits I'm Simon Constable moved ... to Austin of The will Street own joins us now from sentences to two weeks line was but thanks obeying now ... thanks for having me ... so and Pandora might be spying on us explain now ... well spying is a strong word about what Pentair is doing is launching a political targeting so ... every user Pandora ... is going to get a score ... I've that indicates to political advertisers where they stand on the political spectrum ... and that it's based on your taste in music ... so Pandora ran algorithms and made some interesting discoveries about how your taste in music ... of lines of your politics ... can they did they use the zip code is Wellesley issues echoed ... the use of what you're actually listening to and some it if you if you thought you know if you've been to Nepal Molly ... says that water that's a size eleven center in a lot ... actually Bob Marley Hanson reggae channels on Pandora or are strong Democratic there ... pop reggae ... electronic music and that is how are the strongest Democratic indicators in Pandora's now ... so what what they do basically is when you sign up for Pandora three servicers also subscription service freedom to pay for any ads ... but when you sign up for Pandora's free service you given your zip code ... enter the zip code ... they can match that up with voting record so they look at how every county vote in the twenty twelve election then they say ... your county voted eighty percent for Obama on the twenty twelve election they knew where eighty percent likely that the Obama supporter ... course for some rough extrapolation spare his county's aren't the same as apps ... that then from there ... they look at your musical tastes and they stay cool in this very Democratic County ... what are they listening to amazing people really like Greg and downs here ... then they say ... Democrats must really like reggae and jazz or to add that to a number of them to other people around the country ... who may not be in high Democratic areas ... are really like reggae and jazz its corridors Democrats for political ad targeting ... and the political ads are getting and would be targeting those ads pray specifically that's become the lifeblood of data on the wet up to the mine micro targeting right ... Zach with a pioneer in this realm is Facebook ... so um the Wall Street Journal has obviously done a lot of work on cookie tracking ... out which are when you know cookies to track your browsing and ... as you move across the Web from website to website ... by ... this kind of tracking is about behavioral advertising so it's about your case your preference this ... group to say you like ... on Facebook or in Pandora's case your musical taste ... so advertisers are looking much more more more closely how you behave online ... and was to express online and how that can be used ... to then influence you ... to click on things and I think and ... make choices ... for them ... now we've we've heard from from the wall they know series had Apple will Street doll of the city advertises that are giving you this seems to be the very very specific this this if they can and a way that ... the least of May is some a little bit creepy to think it'll some people away from ... subscription music services like Pandora not limits of them is that awful ones and back to the total process the radio forty thank ... well it's a good question and I think ... one thing is that if people are turned off by it ... they can vote with their feet and they don't necessarily have to leave Pandora because Kantar also ... um lets you pay three ninety nine a month to not be subject to any ads ... however I'm it does raise the question of ... you know you're doing something on line link sharing your music is listening to music ... and suddenly in a way that tastes is for sale ... that's Mana ties the ball ... and so I think people are starting to rethink ... what are they getting up ... when they share things and wonder how are people making money ... off your tastes ... more ... interesting will um no that wouldn't be hearing a lot more about this mountain is sticking with it runs as the city a thank


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Research Question
Let's say after looking at the study design protocol and planned measurements, you decide that you are interested in learning more about how physical activity and knee symptoms are related. This could be posed as the following research question:
What is the relationship between physical activity and knee symptoms?
OAIOnline's resources can help you find data and documentation related to this question and assist you in the formulation and refinement of this and other research questions.
The rest of the tutorial will use this research question for demonstration purposes.
Most of the OAIOnline resources are located in the Data & Documentation area of the website. Let's look next at how you access this area.


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As a journalist, rarely does a celebrity call you.
Not to get too behind the curtain here, but typically — even for the mildly famous — it's their PR person who calls at the scheduled interview time. He or she then puts you on hold while they try to connect you. Within a couple minutes, said celebrity magically appears on the line with you via 3-way calling. Ta-da.
So the last thing I ever expected to hear when I picked up the phone for my Wanda Sykes interview was, "Hey Miles, it's Wanda Sykes."
Say what?
I mean, we're talking about Wanda fucking Sykes here. One of the smartest, funniest people in America. One of the (very) few woman to ever host her own late-night show. The acid-tongued comedian whose blunt humor landed her HBO specials and appearances on The Chris Rock Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The New Adventures of Old Christine. She's also the first-ever black woman and the first-ever gay person to perform at the White House Correspondents' dinner, where she downright skewered the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.
But then there's a lot you might not know about Wanda Sykes.
"Like I'm not this loud-mouth crazy woman," she says, laughing. "I'm not angry all the time. Maybe 60 percent of the time. But you might catch me during that 40 percent, and then I'm quite kind. I'm actually pretty quiet. And, you know, pleasant. "
She ain't lying. Even in just a 15-minute phone call, it was hard not to fall in love with Sykes. She's genuine, down to earth, funny (obviously). A conversation with Sykes is as casual and comfortable as talking with a neighbor, or chatting with the person next to you at the bar about who's got the best hair in the NFL.
"Oh, that's Tom Brady," Sykes says without a second of hesitation. "You thought I was going to say Troy [Polamalu], huh?"
And it's exactly that ability to personally connect with people from all different races, genders, and backgrounds that has made her such a household name. Yes, she's black. She's gay. She's a woman. A mother. A die-hard football fan. But unlike so many other comedians, Sykes has never let any one of those aspects define her humor. All they do is give her that much more ammunition.
"I don't think about race all the time. I don't think about being gay all the time. I don't think about being a woman all the time," she says. "It's just case by case. If something happens, I may see it through the eyes of a woman. I have so many things going on, so I don't have time just to focus on one of them."
And right now, about all she has time to focus on is her 3-year-old twins, Olivia and Lucas, that she has with her wife, Alex.
"Thank God the kids are starting pre-K, which I thought was ridiculous at three years old, but I'm telling you, it's so nice to drop them off and to come back to a quiet house for a few hours. Usually you're up early and it's non-stop, just non-stop with the kids. That's why I tour," she says in her trademark deadpan.
"And [with twins] you're just thrown into it. Which is bizarre," she laughs. "You know, no one just tosses you a set of car keys and says, 'Go for it.' But parenting, they just throw you right in. It's like, 'Shouldn't I have to take a class or something?' The kids are just such a huge part of my life now. They've taken over my life. I don't know how I can do a show without talking about them. Because I just talk about what's happening, and that's what I know. I'm pretty authentic. It's not like I'm sitting down making up this other life of things I think would be funny. To me reality is always funnier."


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Monday, July 27, 2009
Scent With Love...
My take:
OK, I think this image is so FUN!! Great for playing it up with words! Stamp used here is by Stampabilities, House Mouse Designs, called "Puttin' On The Spritz", from 2003 and it features Muzzy & Monica. #HMKR1013. Sentiment is also from HMD. I used Jewel Brads, Rhinestones, Martha Stewart Border Punch, SU Photo Corner Punch & SU Piercing Tools. It is colored with Glitter Gel Markers, SU White Signo Gel Pen, Marvy LePlume Markers and Copics. The perfume bottle actually shines, but this isnt a good angled picture to show it!! Sorry! :)
***A heads up***
Our HM&F DT will be taking our summer break during August so next weeks challenge will be open for the whole month of August. We will then return as fresh as a daisy with more wonderful HM&F challenges on 31st August.
Thanks for looking & Happy creating!!!
11 comments:
- Becky said...
Love this card, you did an awesome job, love how you cut them out.
- July 27, 2009 at 10:31 AM
- Debbie said...
This is such an adorable image. and your card is spectacular...
- July 27, 2009 at 12:55 PM
- Cindy Haffner said...
Super sweet job.
- July 27, 2009 at 1:06 PM
- Sue from Oregon said...
Cute, cute cute...going to run up and work on my sketch tonight!
- July 27, 2009 at 11:04 PM
- Maria said...
Oh such a cute card, America. That image is adorable! I love it. Awesome job on your coloring and I love that layout. I'll see if I can participate in the challenge this week!
- July 28, 2009 at 5:00 AM
- Lorraine A said...
Oh how cute is this !! :-) I love this image and the papers and sentiment are just perfect !! :-)
Lorraine x x
- July 28, 2009 at 12:12 PM
- Curt in Carmel said...
Super cute America! Again, love all the details. This is really a cute image that you don't see very often! Just adorable! Best, Curt
- July 28, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Your card is so beautiful America ;0)
Janneke X
- July 29, 2009 at 2:23 PM
- Jane Wetzel said...
dang this is soooooo cute! tfs!
- July 29, 2009 at 8:53 PM
- Norine said...
such an adorable card and love the saying too cute
- July 31, 2009 at 9:43 AM
- nitestamper said...
This is just the cutest images!!!!!!!!!!!!!
super lovely coloring, girl!!!!
- August 1, 2009 at 1:17 AM