November 2003

November 30, 2003

It's Sunday and It's Cold Outside
But hey, I'm inside and warm and Fatal Attraction is on! Pure trash and cheap thrills, its the standard Hollywood formula with the gorgeous wife, 1 child (have you ever noticed that ALA Faithful, etc.), older, but handsome, well to do husband. Glenn Close is downright, "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Pay close attention men. hehe
Posted by Liz at 03:10 PM Feedback (2)
November 29, 2003

A Gorey Saturday
My Mom had her Edward Gorey address book out this morning. I bought her that book for some occasion, cause her and I love Edward Gorey. Later I found this silly quiz about how you are going to die Edward Gorey style. hehe It's pretty cute. I just love his art work. When I was a kid, my Mom took me to NYC to see Frank Langella as Dracula. Edward Gorey did the set and costumes, it was fantastic! I believe he won a Tony award? I'm sure I've mentioned Gorey on this blog before, and I'll no doubt mention him again. Maybe I'll go see that new movie Gothika, tonight.You will be sucked dry by a leech. I'd stay awayfrom swimming holes, and stick to good oldcement. Even if it does hurt like hell whenyour toe scrapes the bottom.What horrible Edward Gorey Death will you die?brought to you by Quizilla
Posted by Liz at 04:05 PM Feedback (9)
November 28, 2003

Light At The End Of A Tunnel

Joao sent me this picture of himself. When it opened I saw a metaphor for my life as it is today. A short tunnel and Joao standing at the end, hands lifted over his head, serenely, as if he were guiding me and saying,
"The light is here, keep walking, everything is fine. You’re on the right path, Liz”.
Now I can't put the sole responsibility of guidance, on my friend, of course, however, his picture represents a message that seems tailor made for me. I have a lot to think about and more importantly, much action to be taken. I have to speak with some professionals and nonprofessionals about my options. I’m considering going to school full time and finishing now that I’m unemployed. I have to study, read and investigate. I have to stay open and hopeful. It's the only way to keep my eye on that light, and in the light is where I want to be.
Posted by Liz at 06:51 PM Feedback (7)
November 27, 2003

Gratitude List
A long time ago, I was taught to make a daily gratitude list, and not just mentally, but in writing. Keep focusing on what I have and not what I don't have makes all the difference when it comes to my attitude. I think of all the people I admired online and how generous they were to include me. How that made me see myself in a new light. My family and friends, who love me unconditionally, as I love them. I could never put a price tag on that. I have so many hopes and dreams for the future, I need all of you to help me make them happen. I can't do it alone, therefore, today, I put my hand in yours and together, we can do what we could never do alone. Here is my gratitude list for today, Thanksgiving 2003...
Sunrise at Swarthmore College on a Crisp Autumn Morning.
* I'm thankful for my health and the health of my family, friends, and extended family.
* I'm grateful for the love in my life and my ability to give love back.
* For being let out of a work situation I hated. God thankyou. You did for me what I couldn't do for myself.
* For the food and shelter that I enjoy.
* For my sheer love of learning, it sustains me and comforts me.
* For the rooms and the people in them.
* For: Anne, Jeanna, Nicole, Sharon, Christina, Marianne, Gail, Linda, Emily, Sue, Tony, Paul, Len , Rob, Joao, Dimi, Ian, David, James, David S.,Camilo, Justin, Aaron, Joi, Tess, Jane, Lea, Jessica, Steve, Leo, Mom, Dad, Mary & the strangers who posted on my blog.
You all shared a bit of yourself with me this past year and helped me get a little bit closer to the person I was always meant to be. Health and happiness to you all.
Posted by Liz at 12:50 PM Feedback (8)
November 26, 2003

Card Trick
So it's turkey day, right? In case the family is getting on your nerves and the turkey is dry as a stick or your Uncle is drunk as a skunk and annoying, play this card trick. It amused me for a while.
Holiday Bonus
If the card trick doesn't do it for ya, then read the funniest damned article I've seen yet on Michael Jackson. Awww come on, pipe down, you know there is nothing more funny on turkey day then some good ole Neverland humor!
Posted by Liz at 09:22 PM Feedback (1)

The Man Who Planted Trees or I Had a Hero
Once upon a time, I spent a summer working on a farm in Brazil planting trees. I did not know it at the time, but it was that moment that changed my life. When I realized something very important about what a hard day's work means and how everything else is just plain nonsense.
Read on and please give me your critique...
To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust. It is to solve some of the problems of life, not only theoretically but practically. – “Economy”, Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1847
The Man who Planted Trees
To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust. It is to solve some of the problems of life, not only theoretically but practically. – “Economy”, Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1847
I never knew an honest day’s living. Born with a silver spoon in hand, I never experienced the hardships my father faced as a child.
Every summer I returned to Brazil and spent idyllic times with friends and family. My father always drew attention to the importance of the land, nature, and family. He felt a strong connection with this and wanted to pass it on to his son. That’s why he would rather send me to Brazil for the summer, then tennis camp like I wished.
Most of the time, I felt like a tourist in my own country. I spoke Portuguese with an accent. My cousins constantly wanted me to speak English to them.They saw me as a curiosity and as an outsider. My family saw me as a second version of my father.
I never saw myself as anything. I just wanted to be me. And I still do.Finally, it occurred to me that something was wrong with the land. Sure, it was beautiful but abused. Pastures were green and never-ending but valleys were being eroded.
Soil was washed out to the sea. The vivid red earth was exposed like a scar in certain places, like a mass of muscles exposed to the sun.
The red dirt always intrigued me. It seemed like a palette to play with, like paint for a canvas. The previous summer I took up oil painting but found I had no patience to mix colours. Somehow using soil to paint a picture made more sense to me.
One day, I discovered my passion for digging holes.
Shoveling soil from one place to another, displacing the tired earth, and rejuvenating it. That seemed like something, which would be fun! Those carefree summers left me restless. Everyone seemed to care about the same thing. And that same thing was the only thing any one in a small rural town in Brazil cared for.
Coincidentally, at that time, my father had asked my oldest Uncle Tico to reforest part of the hillside.
Tico, along with my cousins and younger uncle, thought it was immensely stupid.
Why plant trees when you can plant maize? Why waste money on planting trees?
But he could not complain. He always received money for his ventures, most of them unprofitable and had to do my father’s bidding, no matter how absurd.
I was enthralled by this new venture and wanted to participate in it. I felt extremely proud of my father and saw the importance of reforestation. Not because I knew what significance it had, but because it just looked cool. I loved the expansive green pastures of my childhood, many summers running in fields, racing to the waterfall, and tripping in holes. But I also enjoyed the forest my grandfather had created at our ranch, at a place, which was once the town dump 40 years before.
So, I began digging holes and displacing earth. Almost like it a new exciting hobby or toy.
I dug with fury and malice. My energy was endless and my resolve was strong.For the first time calluses appeared on my hands. I felt muscles in my back, which I never knew I had.
Then I gave up.
Next summer, my uncle decided to hire a man. His name was Senhor Arnaldo and he was 72 years old. I couldn’t understand! Why hire an old geezer to reforest the land? We need a team of strong men, not a retired farm worker who could barely lift a shovel.
One day, during the town festivities, I felt an urging to walk from the village, to downhill to where Senhor Arnaldo was alone and digging holes in the hot sun I saw him from a distance, slowing shoveling, surely, slowly, yet he never stopped. Inside, I felt cynical about it. Who does this old man think he is? It will take him a decade to plant over 50,000 trees, which we need!
“Bom Dia, Senhor Arnaldo!” I told him. He immediately cackled like he always did, like the poor usually do, when a boss’s son arrives. “Heh heh, Tudo bem Joao Paulo?” He smiled sweetly with no bitter resentment for his life’s hard labour. He had one gold tooth and it shone in the sun.I only noticed a few holes dug and the tall grass cleared.“Senhor Arnaldo, eu vim te ajudar!” I told him that I came to help. “Oh, God bless you son, but you don’t need to.” “But, no. I want to!” He smiled again and there was his gold tooth.Excitedly, I ran back uphill to my grandfather’s ranch. My family was gathered in the kitchen and immediately I drew their attention. I was definitely the spaz of the family and I entered the scene like a young Kramer.
“Joao Paulo!” they all exclaimed in chorus. “Hey, I am going to go dig holes for Senhor Arnaldo!” Laughter. “What’s so funny, do you think I can’t cut it?” Laughter again.“Joao Paulo!!” my younger uncle exclaimed “It’s your vacation, why are you going to bother to dig holes when you could be chasing the ladies??”
My younger Uncle Co was the town player. He never understood why at times I’d rather have the company of books and trees, then babes and barbeques—the way he was brought up.
“Fine, kid.” he said. “Come with me and I will show you were the shovels are”.He took me to the wooden tool shed my grandfather had built 40 years ago. Surprisingly, it was still standing. And full of BB pellets which my cousins and I had shot into it, while breaking bottles out by the kitchen coop.He opened the shed and I felt like I smelt history. It was a penetrating smell of iron, rust, and earth. The wood no longer had any smell and had faded with time. I felt a shiver come up my spine and sensed something I didn’t understand at the time.My grandfather first built the “shed” when he was able to afford a lot near the city. HisWhole life he was poor and had lived on coffee plantations with his father when he came from Italy. Slowly and surely, he saved up his money and could afford to buy some “decency” for his family.Yet the only lot available in town was the town’s junkyard. So he bought it, because it was larger than the rest and could not only fit a house for his family but could provide him with sustainable sustenance.His brother Mauro and he spent about 2 years to fully clean out the lot. There were all sorts of junk in there. When they finally cleared it out, they began to build a temporary home for the 7 kids he brought into the world. His goal was to build a “real home” out of bricks and mortar, but that would only pass several years later.“Which shovel does you want, this one or that one?”“I’ll take the older looking one, it looks cooler”My uncle shook his head. “Ok, little boss,” he bitterly said, “You are the MAN”I looked at the shovel, befriended it, and immediately began to run down the red dirt road that leads to the farm. It was over a mile but it seemed like a block. When I arrived, there was Senhor Arnaldo, bent over like a sickle and digging slowly but surely.
He heard me and stopped. And that’s when his image stuck in my head to haunt me. He smiledAs he always did when I approached and his single gold tooth shone. His back was completelyHunched over, his hands like leather gloves, leaning on his shovel.“Oh, you done got yourself a shovel!” he exclaimed.
“OH BOY, I DID! ‘am gonna spend the rest of my summer with you, Sir, and we will reforest this whole hillside”“Heh” he cackled.“Pois é, Pois é” Something he constantly repeated to me in Portuguese, which I didn’t understand. I guess it meant, “Such is life, such is life”The next hour, I furiously dug holes of irregular shapes and sizes, dotting the landscape. Meanwhile, Senhor Arnaldo dug 4 symmetrical holes and cleared away the grass in a perfect circle. I found myself digging holes from one place to the next with no nexus. I was so caught up in the excitement, with red soil flying and sweat pouring down my brow, That I suddenly noticed my hands were bleeding.“Agh!” I stopped“What’s the matter, boy?” He said“My hand is bleeding”“Pois eh, Pois eh”He continued working.I walked over to the shade and wiped my bloody hand on my shirt. I felt defeated and stupid. I felt like a stranger on my own property. I felt as if he were to fire me, like he was really the boss and knew what to do properly. He really was the boss and he knew what he was doing.So I left.I went home without saying anything and my aunt bandaged my hand.The next day, I showed up.And there was the same smile, same lone gold tooth, and the same holes being dug.Eventually, I found my rhythm. I discovered a pattern to repetitious labor. I found it to be the noblest act I ever did. I felt ennobled and pure. At the time, I knew not what meditation meant. Now I know those were my first Zen moments. Far away from industrialized civilization and SAT scores, I felt like a man for the first time working the soil.I managed to dig the properly sized holes. Somehow, Senhor Arnaldo taught me how to work slowly but surely, and not to use more energy than necessary. I learned to eat supper at 10 o clock in the morning. We began our mornings at 6am and by 10am, 4 hours of digging dries up your belly.We never really spoke much. OR rather, I did at times but he just listened and laughed.“Pois é, Pois é”I always wondered what he thought of me? A rich man’s boy who came to work with him while his cousins were swimming at the municipal pool. I felt that he treated me as an equal and harboured no resentment. After all, why should he bite the hand that feeds him?At times, I would talk more and ask him about his life. He always responded with kindness but didn’t have much to say.Later my younger cousin Marcelo would teach me about his ways. “He is just a simple man with a simple life, he doesn’t have much to talk about.”I couldn’t understand!
There was always so much to talk about, so much to learn, explore, and think.But maybe it was different. Maybe life was always not so much about talking but about work. Simple redundant menial work.There is no confusion in repetition.Finally after 1 month of digging, I gave up. I felt my apprenticeship was over with him. My hands were completely blistered and leathered. New muscles had grown, along with bragging rights. I thought I learned my lesson, but had only started a few exercises.Most of my family thought I was mad, as they continue to do so, but my father supported me. I excitedly asked him, “How long do you think before we can plant trees all over the hillside?”“Oh I don’t know, ask Senhor Arnaldo, as long as it takes him”
I still couldn’t understand Brazilian Mentality. Why hire an old geezer, who retired, yet continued to work as he did when he was 8 years old.One day, my younger uncle explained it to me.“Joao, you have to realized that Senhor Arnaldo is a poor man with a poor family. We pay him twice what Social Security gives him. With that money, he can help his children and their children”My respect and reverence doubled for him.And then, like all youth, I forgot about him.We are so distracted in our lives and our attention spans are so short. Suddenly, other things seemed important again. Like entering high school, getting good grades, playing in a punk band, and buying used Hesse books at the local library.I went back to my suburbia lifestyle in the US.Brazil was once again forgotten, tattered photographs hidden in my drawer. Every summer, I continued to return but Senhor Arnaldo had gone further down the hillside. My vision of him was obscured. I never felt it was necessary to go down and see him, because I did not want to bother his work. He was hidden from everyone’s view. We continued to pay him but he was almost like a ghost.Working quietly, always present, but invisible.Many years passed and after I returned from Germany, I discovered he had passed away.I recalled all those intimate moments spent together, digging in the hot dry winter sun, the month of August, the first time I ever did manual labour.
I didn’t cry nor bat an eye. I felt a sense of wonderment.What a way to die—doing what you love, or perhaps doing what you only knew.
He never had any other opportunities. And he was always thankful for his job digging holes.The rest of the villages and friends ridiculed him. They imagined a decent day’s living to be in the coffee plantations, producing our National Product. He ignored it all with his cackle. “Heh, heh” His tooth would appear and shine with godliness.“Pois é, Pois é”
He just went about his business.Shovel in hand, God above him, and the earth below.One day, when I was 19 years old and walked down the same red dirt road, which always seemed a path back to my childhood, I stopped at the top of the valley. I noticed something. Excitedly, I ran down the hillside and stopped at a vista point.The entire hillside was covered with tree saplings. They were only as high as my waist, but they were there. They were to become a forest! They were Senhor Arnaldo’s last gift to the Earth!They grew in places where no one imagined them to grow. They were beginning to blanket the red soil again with leaves and to bring back the skin to the red muscles of the earth.
I looked up at the sky and closed my eyes.
I had a hero.
First Draft VersionWritten by Joao Paulo Freire Paglione6am Wednesday, November 26th, 2003
The rocks we had to breakThe dry red earth, exposed like fleshThe road that leads everywhere and yet nowhere
Posted by at 06:38 AM Feedback (2)
November 25, 2003

Bamboo Poetry
The common became precious, said grandfather remembering the last time the forest bloomed. Today that old man woke up, beat his chest, and cried.
Lovers make a bed of the blossoms. minuscule petals collect in their hair. The carpenter lays down his saw. The mayor calls a meeting and holds his head.
Everyone I know is milling along the street by the river. Some move into their grandmother's house; others sleep in the open. It is the rainy season, the temple is crowded.
Now a man raises his fist to his wife for the first time. Now the boatman leaves home before dawn; children tuck away their laughter. Though fish leaping in the harbor seem larger, they are more distant. Each fire is built more sparingly than the last.
I have one dream for several nights but can only recall the tart incense of bamboo flowers closing on my chest as merciless as the river the day it closed on my brother, his hand tangled in his sturdy net.
Bamboo, a tall grass, flowers only at long intervals--30, 60, or even 120 years apart. At about the same time, all plants of the same species--wherever they are in the world--will burst into bloom. When this happens, whole forests die and must be replanted.
Posted by at 05:40 AM Feedback (2)

Arts & Crafts
This young woman does some pretty cool cards as an art form. I think some of the people she makes them for are drag queens. Interesting stuff. I wish she would send me one for my b-day, (DECEMBER 9th for interested parties). Thanks for the link FLEISHMAN dear.
Posted by Liz at 01:29 AM Feedback (1)
November 24, 2003

Bar Room Brawl
I haven't seen a good brawl in years! Hell, I can't even remember the last time! Oh wait, yes I can, it was Saturday night. Jeanna invites us out, for what turned out to be a blast on so many levels. First off, everyone had way too much too drink. All night, we bought one another rounds and toasted to me being fired the day before (Any excuse for a toast). Nicole was scanning the place for, Mr. Right of course and making us laugh as usual. The band played 80's songs and did an awesome job of it. Drunk and swaying, we knew all the words, sang along and danced. Anyway, back to the brawl.
I brought along Anne's British boyfriend, Len, who was in need of some partying, American style. I was told to keep an eye on him. While I'm not that authoritative, I was aware that trouble, hence deportation, would be an unwanted turn of events, so I took my charge seriously. After endless hours of partying Len hits the men's room (It was no easy task dragging him out of the bar at closing, trust me hehe). I waited outside the restrooms, when suddenly, one of the girls in our group is being dragged by the hair past me! Stunned, I sat there in fear and security ran to break it up. The next thing I see, is her lover, swigging and being held back by security. What a mess. After the standard calming of all flustered parties, and the tears were wiped, the final version of the brawl seems to be a case of lesbian jealousy sparked by too many test tube shots, a young lady who was bumped into, and me rushing my foreign friend out of the place. Jeez, I haven't had that much fun in a while.
Posted by Liz at 11:47 PM Feedback (12)

Apple Martini
My new fav is the apple martini, the stronger the better. Today my Mom and I (now the proud owners of two new martini glasses) will buy the needed libations and treat ourselves to a cocktail this evening. Anyone care to join us?
Ingredients:1 part Vodka (Absolut) 1 part Sour Apple schnapps (Pucker) 1 part Apple juiceMixing instructions:Poor all ingredients into a shaker. Shake well and strain into a Martini glass.
If you want to make it look really nice, you can garnish it with a thin slice of green apple. Enjoy!!!
Posted by Liz at 11:11 PM Feedback (0)

Today Was The First Day Of The Rest of My Life
Today was the first day of never having to return to what I had not so fondly called my job, the hell hole.
"Call me tomorrow, I'll be at the hell hole," was the message often left for Anne, or Jeanna, or Mary. I knew it was no way too live.
They knew what I meant, my job. So what did I do today, well I took my cutie pie niece to her dance class. Those little girls were precious as you can imagine. I text messaged a few pals just to let them know, "I love being fired." Then my Mom and I went shopping, had lunch and laughed our butts off about various things.
I'm no longer stuck in a place, counting the hours, wishing, wondering and feeling like I'm one of the few sane people there. What a gift I was given. After complacency (searching out another gig) managed to kick my ass for the past four years, something stepped in and did for me what I couldn't do for myself. (I kept going to school and upgrading my skills all along.) I want a full time gig that I can respect myself for in the morning. I want to use my skills (computer networking) and talents (humor, charm & brains, leadership ability). I want to be a colleague and not just a worker bee.
Jesus Christ, I'm so damned glad that I had this j*o*b in perspective all along. I used all my sick days and vacation days. I went to the beach with my nieces (see Footprints in the Sand), I stayed longer than expected in London and Miami and didn't punish myself for it, (thanks Anne). I stayed creative and worked on projects away from my employer. Man, I have really want to live and work each day, to it's fullest. I'm so grateful, for the wisdom to know that the real gift is today.
Posted by Liz at 07:06 PM Feedback (0)

Bamboo for Breakfast
Good Morning!Don't forget to eat bamboo shoots for Breakfast. They are crunchy, tasty, and not to be confused with water chestnuts. They grow a meter a day, have all those cool flavanoids and B2D2 vitamins, fortified with fiber naturally, and taste Grrrrrrrrrrreeeeat!
BAMBOO BREAKFAST TRAY
Posted by at 06:24 AM Feedback (3)
November 23, 2003

Begin with your Conclusion
They were given the choice: king or messenger?Everyone chose to be the messenger, running about withmessages becoming meaningless, because there were noKINGS - Franz Kafa
Dear Liz,
Thank you for the opportunity for me to finally publish myself and convey to the online community my passion for BAMBOOm the world's most comprehensive and fascinating plant!
Online since 1995, I also followed Justin Hall from links.net and found myself inspired by like-minded people wandering online.
Somehow, many years later, all my wandering has brought me to a brook. I kneel down to drink from the water, which came from the same spring, that feed the river, where I came from. I find it refreshing.
- João
www.bambubrasil.org
WHY BAMBOO? ... HERE'S WHY ...
DEFORESTATION and increased CO2 emissions threaten the earth's biodiversity and the very air we breathe...
Perhaps the environmental crisis' at hand have not yet touched your life, but the time is shortly to come. Recent NASA reports of a 60% loss of ozone over the arctic provide an explanation for increased severity in the worlds weather patterns which has only begun to affect us whether directly or indirectly. The social, political and economic implications are difficult to imagine as our ozone layer continues to thin, forests disappear and desertization is occurring at an alarming rate. BAMBOO HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY...The earth desperately needs the attention and action of us all or our children's children will surely not have a world fit to live in. There is no one solution but amazingly, the simple bamboo plant can make a dramatic positive impact in many areas. It is our goal to inform and raise awareness about "Bamboo, People and the Environment" and provide the tools and information to then respond in one's own way in their own world. Every action counts, every person counts...
ENDURING THROUGH TIME...Thomas Edison successfully used a carbonized bamboo filament in his experiment with the first light bulb. This light bulb still burns today in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC. He also used a bamboo as rebar for the reinforcement of his swimming pool. To this day, the pool has never leaked. An unrivaled utility, (One resource book lists over 5,000 uses including paper, scaffolding, diesel fuel, airplane "skins", desalination filters, aphrodisiacs, musical instruments, medicine, food and was Alexander Graham Bell's first phonograph needle
SURVIVING THROUGH HARDSHIP...Amidst death and destruction, bamboo survived the Hiroshima atomic blast closer to ground zero than any other living thing and provided the first re-greening in Hiroshima after the blast in 1945.
GROWING WITH STRENGTH AND SPEED...With a tensile strength superior to mild steel (withstands up to 52,000 Pounds of pressure psi) and a weight-to-strength ratio surpassing that of graphite, bamboo is the strongest growing woody plant on earth with one of the widest ranging habitats of more than 1500 species thriving in diverse terrain from sea level to 12,000 feet on every continent but the poles. It also grows the fastest: clocked shooting skyward at 2 inches an hour. Some species grow one and a half meters a day.
BAMBOO PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE AIR WE BREATHE...Bamboo is the fastest growing canopy for the regreening of degraded lands, and its stands release 35% more oxygen than equivalent stands of trees. Some bamboo even sequester up to 12 tons of carbon dioxide from the air per hectare. Bamboo can also lower light intensity and protects against ultraviolet rays. Traditional belief holds that being in a bamboo grove - the favorite dwelling place of Buddha - restores calmness to emotions and stimulates creativity.
Carbon Sequestration Information Net production and carbon cycling in a bamboo Phyllostachys pubescens stand. AU: Isagi-Y; Kawahara-T; Kamo-K; Ito-H AD: Kansai Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Momoyama, Fushimi, Kyoto 612, Japan. SO: Plant-Ecology. 1997, 130: 1, 41-52; 48 ref. PY: 1997 LA: English AB: Phyllostachys pubescens is one of the largest bamboo species with a leptomorphic (a type of rhizomatous system with solitary culms scattered rather evenly) root system in the world. The species originates in China and has been naturalized in neighbouring countries. It was introduced in 1746 into Japan because of the economic value of the young sprouts and culm woods. It escaped from the planted areas and expanded by invading the native vegetation. In order to clarify the basic ecological characteristics of the species, carbon fixation and cycling were determined in a stand of Phyllostachys pubescens in Kyoto Prefecture. The standing culm density and average DBH (diameter at breast height) in 1991 were 7100 ha-1 and 11.3 cm, respectively. The above-ground biomass was 116.5 t ha-1 for culms, 15.5 t ha-1 for branches, 5.9 t ha-1 for leaves and 137.9 t ha-1 in total. The total above-ground biomass is one of the largest among the world's bamboo communities. The biomass of rhizomes and fine roots was 16.7 t ha-1 and 27.9 t ha-1, respectively. Annual soil respiration was 52.3 t CO2 ha-1, the highest among those determined in Japan. The gross annual production was high, at 32.8 t C ha-1, and allocation of annual gross production to the root system was also high at 11 t C ha-1 - 34% of gross production, and 46% of the fluxes out of the leaves. This pattern of allocation results in a net annual above-ground production of 18.1 t ha-1, which is within the average range of productivity of forests under similar climatic conditions. The correspondence of the allocation pattern of the species with its successful range expansion is discussed. DE: asexual-reproduction; biological-production; biomass-production; carbon-cycle; bamboos-; nutrients-; distribution-; carbon-; photosynthesis-; stand-characteristics; biomass-; cycling-
AN: 950608033 TI: Carbon stock and cycling in a bamboo Phyllostachys bambusoides stand. AU: Isagi-Y AD: Laboratory of Silviculture, Kansai Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Kyoto 612, Japan. SO: Ecological-Research. 1994, 9: 1, 47-55; 42 ref. PY: 1994 LA: English AB: Gross production and carbon cycling in a Phyllostachys bambusoides stand in Kyoto Prefecture, central Japan, were determined, and then a compartment model showing the carbon stock and cycling within the ecosystem was developed. Aboveground carbon stock was 52.3 t/ha, increasing at an annual rate of 3.6 t/ha. Belowground carbon stock was 20.8 t/ha in the root system and 92.0 t/ha in the soil. Aboveground annual net C production was 11.2 t/ha. Belowground annual net C production was crudely estimated at 4.5 t/ha. Gross annual production was estimated at 41.8 t/ha by summing the amount of outflow to the environment and the increment in biomass. Leaves consumed 13.7 t C/ha per year by respiration; the rest (41.8 - 13.7 = 28.1 t C/ha per year) was surplus production of leaves and flowed into the other compartments. Annual amounts of construction and maintenance respiration of aboveground compartments were 3.4 and 18.5 t/ha, respectively. The annual amount of soil respiration was 11.2 t/ha. Soil respiration levels of 4.3 and 3.1 t C/ha per year were estimated for the flow of root respiration and root detritus. The proportion of net to gross production was 37%, which fell within the range of young and mature forests. A shorter life span of culms, compared to tree trunks, resulted in smaller biomass accumulation ratio (biomass/net production) in the ecosystem, of 4.66. DE: bamboos-; respiration-; biomass-; carbon-; models-; carbon- cycle; biomass-production; simulation-; cycling- To find out the latest information on global warming, click here
EROSION CONTROL ...A peerless erosion control agent,. it's net like root system create an effective mechanism for watershed protection, stitching the soil together along fragile riverbanks, deforested areas, and in places prone to earthquakes and mud slides. Because of their wide-spreading root system, uniquely shaped leaves, and dense litter on the forest floor, the sum of stem flow rate and canopy intercept of bamboo is 25% which means that bamboo greatly reduces rain run off, preventing massive soil erosion and keeping up to twice as much water in the watershed. Bamboo is a pioneering plant and can be grown in soil damaged by overgrazing and poor agricultural techniques. Unlike with most trees proper harvesting does not kill the bamboo plant so topsoil is held in place.
SAVING RAINFORESTS ...Bamboo is one of the strongest building materials. Bamboo's tensile strength is 28,000 pounds per square inch versus 23,000 pounds per square inch for steel. In the tropics it is possible to plant and 'grow your own home;. in Costa Rica, 1000 houses of bamboo are built annually with material coming only from a 60 hectare bamboo plantation. If an equivalent project used timber, it would require 500 hectares of our diminishing tropical rainforests. Using bamboo to replace timber saves the rainforests. With a 10-30% annual increase in biomass versus 2 to 5% for trees, bamboo creates greater yields of raw material for use. One clump can produce 200 poles in the three to five years. Bamboo generates a crop every year.
A RENEWABLE RESOURCE ...Bamboo is a high-yield renewable resource: "Ply boo" is now being used for wall paneling and floor tiles; bamboo pulp for paper-making; briquettes for fuel, raw material for housing construction; and rebar for reinforced concrete beams. There are 1500 species of bamboo on the earth. This diversity makes bamboo adaptable to many environments. It can be harvested in 3-5 years versus 10-20 years for most softwoods. Bamboo tolerates extremes of precipitation, from 30-250 inches of annual rainfall.
HOUSING ... Bamboo related industries already provide income, food, and housing to over 2.2 billion people worldwide. There is a 3-5 year return on investment for a new bamboo plantation versus 8-10 years for rattan. The governments of India and China, with 15 million hectares of bamboo reserves collectively, are poised to focus attention on the economic factors of bamboo and its protection. In Limon, Costa Rica, only bamboo houses from the national Bamboo Project stood after their violent earthquake in 1992. Flexible and lightweight, bamboo enables structures to "dance" in earthquakes. Go to the "Comparative Strength of Bamboo or Grow Your Own House page. Just Available ! Simon Velez's new book "Grow Your Own House" Click HERE to order.
FOOD ...Bamboo shoots provide nutrition for millions of people worldwide. In Japan, the antioxidant properties of pulverized bamboo skin can prevent bacterial growth, and it is used as a natural food preservative. Bamboo :litter: make fodder for animas and food for fish. Taiwan alone consumes 80,000 tons of bamboo shoots annually, constituting a $50 million industry. `Bamboo leaves are normally utilized as fodder during scarcity. Young bamboo leaves and twigs are a favorite meal for elephants and the Panda. D. strictus leaves have (on dry matter basis) crude protein,15.09; crude fiber,23.15; ether extract 1.43; ash 18.03; phosphorus-170 and calcium -1550 mg/100g respectively. Their digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrient contents are 93.34 and 48.9% respectively. The leaves of B.arundinacea have crude protein 18.64;crude fiber, 24.1; ether extract 4.1; N- free extract 41.4; ash-11.75%; phosphorus-170 mg and calcium 56mg/100g respectively. The digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrient contents are 13.5 and 46.5% respectively. The protein contained methionine and lysine. Copper and zinc are also found. The nutrient contents differed significantly in samples collected from high altitudes. For B.vulgaris the figures are crude protein,10.1;crude fiber 21.7; ether extract, 2.5 and ash, 21.3%; phosphorus-86,iron-13.4,vitamin B1, 0.1;vitamin B2- 2.54, and carotene 12.3 mg/100g respectively. The meal is used as a supplement to vitamin A deficient diets for chicks ' For further details contact either the Bamboo Information Center in India -at KFRI -Tropical species, or The Bamboo Information Center in China-at CAF,Beijing - Temperate species.
AN ANCIENT MEDICINE ... Bamboo has for centuries been used in Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese herbal medicine . Tabasheer, the powdered, hardened secretion from bamboo is used internally to treat asthma, coughs and can be used as an aphrodisiac. In China, ingredients from the root of the black bamboo help treat kidney disease. Roots and leaves have also been used to treat venereal disease and cancer. Sap is said to reduce fever, and ash will cure prickly heat. A village in Indonesia reports that the water form within the culm is used to treat broken bones effectively and that the tabasheer is used to promote fertility in their cows. Current research points to bamboo's potential in a number of medicinal uses.
A LANDSCAPE DESIGN ELEMENT & WASTE WATER SYSTEM ...Bamboo is an exquisite component of landscape design. For the human environment bamboo provides shade, wind break, acoustical barriers, and aesthetic beauty. "The Bamboo Forest is an ecological wastewater utilization system that essentially grows away, waste, producing a marketable crop in the process. Comprised of a subsurface evaporation-transpiration bed planted with bamboo and other rapid-growing, non-invasive plants, the system is engineered to provide an aerobic rhizosphere (the home of living organisms in the root system), in which damaging polluting components are transformed into plant nutrients" Go to the Discover magazine article on Bamboo used to treat waste water!
INTEGRALLY INVOLVED IN CULTURE AND THE ARTS ... Bamboo is a mystical plant: a symbol of strength, flexibility, tenacity, and endurance. Throughout Asia, bamboo has for centuries been integral to religious ceremonies, art, music, and daily life. It can be found in the paper, the brush, and the inspiration for poems and paintings. Some of the earliest historical records form the 2nd century B.C. were written on green bamboo strips. As evidenced by all of the above qualities, bamboo rightfully deserves its nickname, "the miracle plant."
Posted by at 10:37 PM Feedback (1)

Join the Bamboo Crusade
Recently, I've come across a fascinating person named,João Paulo Freire Paglione, as it turns out, he as been blogging right along side me for some time. With the limitless talent of Dimi, my friend and webmaster, he has taken his cause to the net for expanded awareness and I think it's really incredible. I'm talking about the benefits of bamboo, both economically and environmentally."Well, not just nature, sustainable alternative renewable non-wood tropical resource, " is the way that João described it too me. What a wonderful peace loving way for a country to grow and prosper. João even promised to send me a cool bamboo lamp, so that Philly can have a taste of this beautiful natural resource.
Posted by Liz at 04:04 PM Feedback (5)
November 22, 2003

New Beginnings
"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."—Andre Gide
I love that quote. Today was the first day of the rest of my life. I really got a sense of that. Sometimes, a love one dies, or gets seriously injured, maybe a partner leaves us unexpectedly, or an illness is brought to light. In my case, today was a change in my employment status. Sometimes, we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we just have faith that it will appear. I'm grateful that it is something so easy too take and not painful. I'm grateful for this gentle push to move forward and be the person that I'm meant to be.
Posted by Liz at 08:55 PM Feedback (3)
November 21, 2003

The First Thing I Thought Of.....
But that doesn't mean anything. I associate everything in life with "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane."
Michael Musto kicks ass! He is so funny.
Posted by Liz at 09:32 PM Feedback (3)
November 20, 2003

The Ultimate Wishlist
As my birthday approaches (Dec.9th in case you forgot) I think about what I would like and I make a mental list. I'm thinking fantasy here, the skies' the limit, money is no object, ok, I'm thinking a new laptop and digital camera. A new VW Beetle, in lets say… silver! How about the entire Elsa Peretti collection from Tiffany’s? An unlimited shopping spree at one of my favorite havens, Sephora's. Mmmmm, new makeup, perfume, powders, brushes, all those lip-smacking delights.
I looked at the first page of my Amazon wishlist and it's still my favorite. I deleted a bunch of stuff, that chances are I wont get around to reading or listening too. Really, it's the simple pleasures that bring me the most happiness. Sure, I would love a camara, but what good is it if I dont have friends to take photos of.
Posted by Liz at 08:41 PM Feedback (6)
November 19, 2003

Skinning Stuff
Todays fun activity was inspired by something the blogfather did, and did it quite well. My little brainstorm was a bit less techie and more off the cuff. Last weekend I went to the Sanrio/Hello Kitty store, with my nieces and I purchased (ok, it's confession time) a Hello Kitty charm for my mobile phone. While busy at work today, *cough,cough* I found a little pic of Hello Kitty, cut her out and laminated her onto my phone! Skin something, it's a hoot.
Posted by Liz at 10:13 PM Feedback (3)

A Hollywood Moment
When a celeb crashes and burns there are two sites that will be there for you as you revel in the sheer ecstasy of seeing someone, who thinks they are untouchable, squirm. Am I the only one who enjoys it with perverse delight?
This man is the sexist man alive according to the bible of all that is famous, People magazine. I concur, who wouldn't? Depp is hot and talented and he scoffs at the celeb bullshit. Ya gotta love that. Some of my other choices include, Leo, Ashton, Keanu, and Dimi of course......
Posted by Liz at 07:21 PM Feedback (3)
November 17, 2003

Hair Ball 7
The seventh year of the hair design competition, which benefits City of Hope cancer and disease research, had a "Viva Las Vegas" theme. The benefit included Q102's DJs and more than 100 salons snip, slick, poof and blow for charity. My stylist/pal Jeanna, let me tag along two weeks ago, and we had a blast for a good cause. Of course I was snapping pics as I marveled at the sights.
The Girl We Entered in the ContestView image
Circle DooView image
Elvis & Priscilla MC the ShowView image
Flower PowerView image
Deviant DorothyView image
Our Girl Is On FireView image
I Love NewYorkView image
Liz Adjusts Her ModelView image
Getting LuckyView image
ShowGirlsView image
My VIP PassView image
Posted by Liz at 10:49 PM Feedback (4)
November 14, 2003

Draw Jam!
Ian Christy (Scene & Heard) does this really cool thing called Draw Jam every Saturday at a restaurant. Not only does he invite awesome artists to get their draw on, but he has a really innovative art site, where he and his lady, Yujin, post the creations.
"For the ones already hep to the jam methodology, well you already know thedrill, lots of paper, pens and ideas and hopefully we'll be seein' youtomorrow." ~ Ian Christy's emailed invitations
Posted by Liz at 12:39 PM Feedback (5)
November 13, 2003

December 9th Approaches
Yea, its my birthday and I have to decide what I want to do the weekend before the 9th. Mostly, I want to do what I always do, chill out with friends that I love. I also want to sift through tons of presents and cards. :D
Posted by Liz at 12:40 PM Feedback (10)
November 09, 2003

Revelations
I never wore ripped jeans. Never saw the point in it.
I was addicted to the rubiks cube.
I dated men who wore DrakkarNoir cologne.
Posted by Liz at 01:43 PM Feedback (7)
November 07, 2003

A Night & Day In NYC
I left the hell hole (AKA my job) and decided to hop a train to the big apple for halloween. I carry my bags up Anne's death trap stair case and enter her tiny apartment, finally I've arrived. It had been a long ride this night.
First off we head to heaven on earth, for a massage.
Here, Anne assends the staircase, like a drunk from the bar after a late night. Later, we were at a coffee shop and Anne was fading fast from a recent illness. It's Sunday, Anne and I have decided I'm having a bad hair day.... Off to Hayato we go and Yuichi goes to work straighten the frizz and poof. After six hours of straightening and me helping Yuichi with his English, we were both happy with the results. I adore Yuichi. He is the sweetest most talented hair straightener, and he gives one hell of a back, and neck massage!
Posted by Liz at 11:42 PM Feedback (11)
November 04, 2003

Working Hard
School has been pretty much a bust this semester, it remains a dark cloud looming over my head. The silver lining, however, has been that I am included in Justin Hall's new internship program. That's right, I get to do behind the scenes stuff, for the blogfather himself! I'm super excited and ready to go. :)
Halloween was great in NYC, I will be posting pics soon! Stay tuned.
Posted by Liz at 12:41 PM Feedback (3)