EXTRA! EXTRA!....UPDATED VOCAB AND JARGON!!!

Hello all...I have updated my Vocabulary and Jargon to include what was covered in my class notes from the last 2 semesters.  There are still a few holes, but it is nearly up-to-date!

I invite you to check out the Personal Glossary Tab!

Thanks...Shannon :)

Lobbists to blame for "BPA ban" being banned...SHOCKING?!?!

Now it all makes sense...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/suzanne-merkelson/chemical-linked-to-erectile-dysfunction-and-miscarriages_b_1408302.html

Early Onset Puberty in Girls....Is BPA to blame???

The latest news about BPA not being banned by the FDA is interesting, especially given last weeks article in the NYT Magazine...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/magazine/puberty-before-age-10-a-new-normal.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

BPA LIVES! :(

I was disappointed to hear the latest sad news from the FDA about BPA this past week.  Check out this link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-simon/bpa-ban_b_1403343.html

Times Square "Park-let" - Visit #2

Photo Research
I headed back to the Times Square Park-let on another unseasonably warm day-Wednesday 2.22.12 at about 12 Noon.

To clarify, the Park-let visited extends just North of 42nd Street at the "Crossroads of the World," between Broadway and Seventh Avenue.  The portion I visited were the areas between 42nd/44th Streets on the East side of the Crossroads.

It was just about lunchtime and I stopped while I was on my way up to shop for a client at the D&D building.  I note this because a park-let is not typically on my list of destinations when I am out-and-about in my beloved NYC.  In fact, I find them, in most cases, to be an uncomfortable place of overexposure.  I would prefer a park bench or engaged seating just outside of a shop or restaurant.

Some notes from what I observed in the field:

• There were (3) zones delineated.  One was the curb, and the other two were where the regular street used to be.  This former street area is painted blue in one portion, which appears to be the space where pedestrians are to walk, and the unpainted area where small cafe tables and chairs were set up.

Close-Up:  The Three Zones

From L to R:  Seating Area, Walking Area, Curb

• While the area on the street for pedestrians was designed to alleviate the crowding of the sidewalks, particularly in a busy part of town such as Times Square, I was surprised to see that many people still preferred to walk on the side walk.  And it was also interesting to me that they chose to walk through the seating area zone instead of the more wide-open "blue-zone."  Maybe they felt more secure to be closer to the sidewalks that flank the park-let.

Most Pedestrians stay on Sidewalk vs. Blue Zone

People walk in the Seating Area

• There must be limited food permits available for the area I was in, because all I saw was a Chinese food truck parked within the park-let.  It had its own placards to advertise itself set along the walking area and it was interesting that there was no line when I arrived, though business became stronger when I left a half hour later.

Rickshaw Fine Dining Food Truck

Signage for the Food Truck Seating Area

• It would appear that most of the people I observed were tourists.  How do I know this?  Well, many were outwardly taking photos of the scenery, of each other with NYPD cars and officers, and had shopping bags from many of the popular stores around town.  I even saw a few men sitting with suitcases at the metal cafe tables as if they just got off of a bus, train or plane from out of town and came to Times Square first thing! 

Looking South to 42nd Street

• Some were eating take-out food from the Rickshaw Dumpling Bar (see above) while others looked to have brought their own bag lunch to enjoy during a lunch break from work.

Having Lunch

• For the most part, the demographic of those seated was a good mix of men and women, but mostly younger folks, say in their 20s and 30s. There were a few people with young children enjoying the day.

The Kids Get into the Act

• I did witness one older gentleman at least in his 70s sitting with a raincoat with his briefcase under his seat just looking out over the scene. (see below)

Briefcase Man

• I found it really curious that most of the folks seated faced Uptown (North), as you can see in the photos below.  But taking notice of the breeze, which was prominent, though not harsh, it was blowing North, so therefore at their backs, as was the Sun, so this may account of the positions I noted.

Facing North?

• I did not see any homeless or downtrodden while in the park-let.  Maybe this was because it was mid-day, but there was a heavy police presence, as there is a main precinct bordering this park-let with many officers on foot and in cars all around.  
•  It was also interesting to see how clean the area was overall.  There were garbage cans about the area, but that very often does not deter people from tossing their trash about.  Maybe the police presence is the reason yet again!
•  Here are a few more views of the sights...

Police Enjoying the Day and the Attention to the Right

The Times Square Focal Point on a Blue Sky Day

Large Planters are the only thing between the Park-let and Screaming Taxi Cabs!

There are a few metal benches in the park-let as well.  Would you prefer that, or a cafe table?

• And to close this post, the strangest thing I saw, though not really that strange given it was NYC and Times Square, was not the "Naked Cowboy"...

No, I saw the "Free Hugs Sign Guy."  He was very popular with the young lady tourists as you can see here!  

As Cindy Adams says, "Only in New York, Kids, Only in New York!"

Times Square "Park-let" - Visit #1

A quick pass through a Parklet in Times Square.  I was headed to a B'way show with my mom, (that is her in the top picture to the right).  It was an unseasonably warm day (February 1st) during this unseasonably warm Winter 2012. 

These are shots taken with my cell phone camera and it was about 1:30pm when we walked thru.

I plan to come back another day and spend more time, but here is a taste...

Two Reports Laud Green Schools - EBN: 15:12 - BuildingGreen.com

An interesting article worth sharing with all of you...

Two Reports Laud Green Schools - EBN: 15:12 - BuildingGreen.com

Things that make you go hmmm...

I am wondering what exactly prompted this...?  There were about 25 of these signs posted all over the Women's Loo on the Lower Level of Grand Central Terminal.  
I should note that I have not used a GCT bathroom in forever, but I drank too much water on this day, so I had NO CHOICE!

PVCs and a Fabric Company's Response

HI ALL...

I GOT THIS LETTER FROM A FABRIC VENDOR AND THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT WITH YOU ALL...VERY INTERESTING...

CURIOUS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS!

~SHANNON  :)

Corporate Office & Warehouse

11910 Poindexter Avenue

Moorpark, California 93021

P.O. Box 8007

Moorpark, California 93020

(805) 531-9090 ~ Fax (805)532-2020

Website: www.pindler.com

Dear Valued Customer,

In order to comply with the State of California?s Proposition 65, Pindler & Pindler Inc. advises you that any Pindler PVC product (vinyl made with Polyvinylchloride: PVC) sold to a customer in the state of California must be labeled with the following:

WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

What is California Proposition 65?

Proposition 65 is a California law that requires the State to keep a list of chemicals that it has identified may cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. 

If a product contains a chemical on the list, the State of California requires businesses doing business in the State of California to provide a 'reasonable warning' before potentially exposing Californians to the chemicals in the product. California requires all 'persons in the course of doing business' whose products are sold in California to comply with Proposition 65, in addition to federal laws for product safety.

What is the California Proposition 65 warning notice?

Mandated by Proposition 65, the following warning label must appear on products sold in California if they contain materials on the Proposition 65 list of chemicals.

WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

What chemical(s) in Pindler & Pindler products does this warning apply to?

We have identified the following Proposition 65 chemical, Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, also known as ?DEHP?, which may be contained in our Polyvinylchloride products.  For information regarding specific Polyvinylchloride products sold by Pindler, please refer to the customer portal on our website @ www.pindler.com; related products will be labeled accordingly.

Where can I get more information on California Proposition 65?

For general information on Proposition 65, you may contact OEHHA's Proposition 65 program at (916) 445-6900, or visit http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65.html.

Sincerely,

Kelley L. Welsh

General Manager

Food Network's - "The Big Waste"

I have been watching this special on the Food Network tonight called "The Big Waste" which features a challenge for some of the Celebrity Chefs from the network creating a meal with ONLY Wasted Food that they have found in many interesting ways.

It was quite an eye opener to see just how much food is wasted and infuriating to hear and see the reasons why!!!  You should check it out if you can at some point!

Here is the link to the Food Network Website and the description of the show.  As they say...Check your Local Listings!  :)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food-network-specials/the-big-waste/index.html

And here is a review of the show with some tips for wasting less food!

http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/01/the-big-waste-tackles-a-big-food-problem-in-america/