darby – Page 14

ReGreen

ASID & the USGBC have joined forces on what seems to be a much needed partnership for guidelines in best practices, which focus on residential remodeling based upon sustainable design principles, called ReGreen. The release of the completed guidelines happens at Interiors 08: The ASID Conference on Design next month.

The conference takes place in New Orleans, another great reason to go. While there, my agenda would include touring and exploring all of the great sustainable building happening in the fertile blank slate of New Orleans right now.

The plan is to present the guidelines, developed by “ASID and USGBC members and invited experts”, which will “complement the release of LEED for Homes, but is not itself a LEED-branded rating system”. With help provided by the open source implemented public comment spoke of the project, the think-tank model supports forward thinking and delivers what will likely prove to be a well-rounded blueprint in this field.

Apparently, space is limited for the upcoming conference, which takes place March 13-16, 2008.

What’s in a Name?

I remember being fascinated by National Geographic magazines at a very young age. I was able to explore the world, meet new people, and see animals and structures I had never imagined. It made me feel smart just by looking at it, with all of its maps, colors, and other-worldly images. Of course, when I was older, there was the possibility of seeing naked people, which any curious 10 year-old can appreciate. And this was LEGAL voyeurism, as adults never minded kids leafing through a National Geographic. The taboo was lifted. Long live anthropology.

Founded in 1888 “to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge while promoting the conservation of the world’s cultural, historical, and natural resources,” just the name National Geographic conjures thoughts of worldliness, professorialism, photographic mastery, and the intelligentsia.

As I was watching the National Geographic channel the other night, one of their “spots” referred to themselves as Nat Geo. Call me old fashioned, but some names are best left to tradition. Attempting to “modernize” one’s name by calling upon 50 year-old ad execs to get into the minds of the twentysomething’s, only to arrive at Nat Geo? Well, it’s a poor showing, at best, and a complete dumbing down and juvenilization of an esteemed brand at worst.

Must everyone attempt to craft themselves into an acronym-like, texting-friendly buzzword? Stick to the tradition when that tradition has over 120 years of solid, culturally infused worthiness, OK? Whether they like it or not, I will continue to call them by their proper, given name. National Geographic. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

Whirlwind Tour

It’s been a while, huh? Having returned a couple of days ago to my first Omaha visit off the back of 5 nights in Boulder, CO for the New Year found me full of mucus and lacking energy. It’s nice to be home.

The New Year brought amazing gifts, like meeting my good friends’ child, who just may be the Little Buddha. I’m not kidding. I have never met a more happy, bouncy, smart, calm, fun, loving, joyous, rhythmic kid in my life. In the land of beautiful people with beautiful kids (Boulder, CO), this sweet one-year old stops people in their tracks and creates lines in the airports baggage claim area so that admiring passengers can meet her. No joke. Kinda crazy, really. Look:

Although I am about nine days late on a New Years mantra, I have been thinking about this next year a bunch. 2008 will be an incredibly significant year for me. I will get married. I will hopefully find meaningful work where I can apply my knowledge of sustainable building practices. I will likely relocate in order to do so. (and to keep my sanity). I will see my friends more often, and gather them all together for a grand celebration of love in September by Mt. Rainier National Park. I will make my health a huge priority, hopefully exercising more, eating better, and meditating often. I will use my time more wisely. I will work on staying more positive. I’ll dance more, and create more with my hands. And if the stars are aligned and I track down the courage I lost, I will have the strength to follow my bliss.

2008 will also be the year that we have some much needed change politically in this country, and let us all work towards it being the right change.

Happy 2008, ya’ll!

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