Angel’s Fright
March 10th, 2010 | 
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It's a simple technology, but there's something magical about a funicular, no matter where you are in the world. Emanating from the Latin word for rope, a funicular is simply an inclined railway in which two cars, connected by a cable, move up and down a steep hillside, with the weight of each car counter-balancing each other. The most famous one is probably Hong Kong's Peak Tram, but my favorite include the two charming funiculars in Italy's medieval city, Bergamo; Istanbul's sleek modern line connecting Kabata? and Taksim; but the best, by far, are the several romantically creaky hillside trams that line Chile's bohemian seaside port, Valparaíso. Surprisingly, I ran into another one yesterday in downtown LA, Angel's Flight. Shocking, I know, as rail in LA seem to make as much sense as . . . palm trees and snow. (more...)
Posted in transportation | 
Tags: Angel's Flight, LA Metro, Los Angeles, public transportation | 
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Preserving and Celebrating Salvador
As much as I love visiting large cities and national capitals, having limited time abroad often denies you the opportunity to view the true soul of a country. To me, Chicago presents visitors a near-perfect American city in architecture, culture, and spirit; Lyon reveals France's charm and cuisine; and Daejon allows you to glimpse everyday Korean life and a gateway to the country's spectacular nature. Salvador lacks Rio's glamour or São Paulo's constant business drumbeat, but this city of 2 million, capital of the state of Bahia, is arguably the heart of Brazil. Your initial impression of Salvador may be jarring, but that will quickly bloom into optimism and affection. (more...)Corporate Sustainability: Developing Strategy for a Leaner, Greener Footprint
Moving your company to a more sustainable, "carbon neutral," or "green" policy is a bold, cost-saving, and difficult shift for your firm and employees. Several factors can throw your plan awry, including:- Unengaged employees resisting such a change.
- A misguided or inefficient allocation of resources.
- Poor communication throughout your organization.
If you and your company are serious about implementing a more sustainable business approach, you should treat this shift as a change in your company's strategy. View this changing dynamic as an opportunity to build value for your company--not as some austere measure that comes across as a punitive or limiting to your staff. (more...)
Make the Winter Olympics Urban
We did not see much of the Vancouver Winter Olympics as we were in Brazil . . . though it was a delight to watch some events on Brazilian TV, which was uninterrupted by commercials! Whatever you may think of the Olympics, the athletic feats are impressive, the stories behind some of the Olympians are compelling, and it looks like Vancouver put on a great show. I'm not surprised--it's a beautiful city and the perfect place to showcase such an event. (more...)
Posted in International, air - land - quality of life, construction and architecture, politics |
Tags: 2014 Winter Olympics, British Columbia, Canada, environmental justice, environmentalists, green building, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Korea, Olympics, PyeongChang, Russia, Sochi, Vancouver, Vladimir Putin |
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Parkman Triangle Hits Pay Dirt!
Well, actually it was free dirt. It's been an eye-opening experience working on the Parkman Triangle Project. I've spent many hours this month calling contractors, from trucking companies to landscapers to plumbers to dirt companies. What money we have really needs to go to plumbing, so to save about $2500, we decided to see what we could scrounge up from contractors who are working on projects and need to dump their dirt. (more...)Last Sunrise in Mangue Seco
I can't believe it has already been a week since we left Mangue Seco, Brazil. It truly was a place to get away from it all. When we think about making an escape, we fantasize about the beach, but the reality is, famous resort areas like Hawaii, Cancun, Miami, Punta del Este, the French Riviera, and Phuket really just take you away from the crowds and noise at home to . . . crowds and noise at the beach.Mangue Seco ("dry mangroves") is a refreshingly unique experience. This little peninsula, where the Rio Real River and Atlantic Sea meet 200 kilometers northeast of Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, was unknown until 20 years ago. A soap opera, Tieta do Agreste, based on a Jorge Amado character, was filmed here in the late 1980s, and then the word got out. But not too many words. Because no roads exist that can take you to this collection of sand dunes, it is a chore arriving here. No direct bus service from Salvador is available, so the most realistic option is to hire a driver. You then cross the Bahia-Sergipe state line, drive to a small village, Pontal, and from there a speed boat will pick you up, backtrack to Bahia and its secluded corner treasure, Mangue Seco, and take you to your pousada (inn). (more...)
Posted in International, air - land - quality of life |
Tags: Brazil, Mangue Seco, Pousada o Forte, Recanto de Dona Sula, Salvador da Bahia, sorvette, sustainability, travel, wildlife |
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Another Falkland Islands War?
Probably not. Despite the oft-heard cliché, history does not repeat myself. But once again, an unpopular Argentine government is stirring up deep nationalistic feelings as a distraction from its failed policies.
I have vague memories, around junior high years, when Argentina's then-military junta, unable to tackle growing economic problems, diverted attention by invading the Falkland Islands in 1982. They gambled that a British empire in decline would make little, if any, effort, to reclaim a few rocky islands a few hundred miles east of southern Argentina. But Madame Thatcher found her inner Reagan, the QE2 was retrofitted for a military effort, and after a few months, the Falklands remain part of what few crumbs remain of the United Kingdom's once global domination. The war, in an odd way, was a victory for Argentina's people, too: the military government fell into decline, and Argentina quickly returned to democracy. (more...)
Your Internal Controls – Keep Your Firm in the “Green”
It's tax season, so I want to spend some time discussing how you can keep your firm humming, as it is easy to get distracted by the everyday fires you need to put out while seizing promising business opportunities. If you are a small or medium-sized company that is privately held, you are not subjected to the oft-draconian regulations under the Sarbanes Oxley Act. But whether you are based in the United States or are a subsidiary of a non-US firm, here are some suggestions to keep in mind--and to keep that company traffic light green as your company, hopefully, will find more success in this nascent green economy. (more...)Sanctuary in a Brazilian Ice Cream Store
Our second week in Brazil was spent in Mangue Seco, a two hour drive northeast of Salvador. I will write more about this spectacular corner of Bahia, which gave us one of the most restful and remote vacations we had ever experienced. But for now, allow me to indulge in one of our favorite pastimes: a daily visit to Recanto de Dona Sula, quite possibly one of the best ice cream shops I have ever visited. (more...)Salvador’s Carnaval: 2 Nights With Daniela Mercury
It's been a couple weeks since our Carnaval experience in Salvador da Bahia, but the intensity and energy is still with us.Carnaval brings just about every emotion in you. There is the exhilaration and joy of being with an enthusiastic and ecstatic group; boredom and ennui as you wait for your bloco to begin moving; disgust and anger, as you see the filth and get pushed around by the crowds, and relief yet disappointment when your bloco finally reaches the end of the circuit.
For two nights, we were in Daniela Mercury's bloco, Crocodilo. I think this was the best bloco to be in. (more...)
Posted in International, art and culture |
Tags: bloco Crocodilo, Brazil, Carnaval, Daniela Mercury, garbage, recycling, Salvador Carnaval, Salvador Carnaval 2010, Salvador da Bahia |
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The Chilean Earthquake – How to Help
It's devastating to read about the destruction in Chile. I visited the country in 2006, and was impressed with the optimism, self-reliance, and grit of the Chilean people. The company had made enormous strides since the terror of the Pinochet years. I have a good friend that lives in the southern city of Pucon, and while news accounts I've read state that the damage there is mostly minor, I cannot help but feel anxious.Damage in Valparaiso, an old city laced with funiculars, sound particularly wrenching. Other cities including Santiago and Talca, near the epicenter, have had horrific damage.
Here are some links to some NGOs that are assisting with earthquake relief:
A night of Candomblé
Mweeer--aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!
That roar from the young woman in a deep trance will always stay with me; it certainly symbolized our trip to Salvador da Bahia!
For our last night in Salvador, we went to a terreiro, or Candomblé hall. It was a last minute plan--during our trip to Mangue Seco, Flavia, our Salvador hotel's owner, tried finding us a Candomblé ceremony that we would be able to attend. She was not having any luck, so it seemed our last night in this fantastic city would be spent walking around the Pelourinho, the city's old historic center. That would have been all right, but we would have missed out on one aspect of Brazilian life that makes this country keep pulling you back to visit.
(more...)
Posted in International, art and culture |
Tags: Brazil, Candomblé, Federação, Salvador da Bahia, terreiros, videos |
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Parkman Triangle: Stage One!
I was thrilled to find out that work Parkman Triangle Park has finally started. I took the dog out for a walk to see for myself, and I like what's been done!
The asphalt has been ripped out, and soon the water main can be installed. It turned out to be quite a job. The workers who were at the site told me that it turned out there were two layers of asphalt: one was the original street, and then you had the top layer which has been home to illegal parking and Sunday flea markets for years. The workers seemed excited about this project, too: they had also worked on a similar greening project in East Hollywood. (more...)
Will the Bloom Box Rock?
"It's about seeing the world as what it can be and not what it is." - K.R. Sridhar, founder and CEO of Bloom Energy.I come back from Brazil, functioning on two nights of little sleep, but I cannot restrain myself from gushing and hoping that the much hyped "Bloom Box," which launched today, will revamp our nation's infrastructure over the next several years.
Not having read much news the past two weeks, I was jolted by friend and former classmate now studying in Denmark, who sent me a quick one-line email asking me what I thought about the Bloom Box, the creation of Bloom Energy, a Silicon Valley start-up that has received hundreds of millions of venture capital money. (more...)
A journey ends, one begins: the career shift
I am about to return from Brazil. It's been a trip long in the making, and I am glad I had this opportunity to visit this country once again.And as this journey ends, another one begins.
My interest in sustainability dates back far into my childhood, and I have been deeply vested in such issues since the early 1990s. It has only been in the last year, however, when I have decided to pursue this passion full time. It has been a fantastic ride: (more...)
Posted in International, business |
Tags: business development, clean energy, green jobs, international business, Leon Kaye, networking |
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