2010 Heal the Ocean Event..Planning is Underway!

We are very excited to announce that we have been asked to Chair the 2010 Heal the Ocean Event Committee!  This years event will be held at the Coral Casino on October 9, 2010.  We have been brainstorming and have some exciting ideas and look forward to seeing all of you there!  We will keep you posted as to when tickets for this popular event will go on sale. 

Heal the Ocean in Santa Barbara is committed to ending ocean pollution by relying on the premise of studying the problems of leaking sewer pipes, offshore sewage discharge and leaking coastal landfills or septic systems and then recommending practical solutions instead of lobbying the government for action.  When the public is presented with answers to the problems and the costs are understood, they are more eager to move forward with the cleanup and more willing to pay the price. 

We are very excited to work with their team to put on a fundraiser that will help Heal the Ocean in our community!

Executive director, Hillary Hauser, has been a writer/ journalist/news reporter since 1968 with published books about sea and underwater exploration and many magazine articles published in many publications including National Geographic, Surfers Journal, Geo and Islands.

The Debut of Solar Impulse a Solar Powered Plane!

"In a world depending on fossil energies, the Solar Impulse project is a paradox, almost a provocation: it aims to have an airplane take off and fly autonomously, day and night, propelled uniquely by solar energy, right round the world without fuel or pollution. An unachievable goal without pushing back the current technological limits in all fields..." 

Everything went perfectly as the Solar Impulse made it debut in the clouds this morning after seven years of hard work and planning.  The solar-powered plane powered by 12,000 solar cells flew for 87 minutes at an altitude of over 4,000 feet. It performed test maneuvers, taking off and landing.  The Solar Impulse is made out of carbon fiber concentrate and looks like a glider with a wingspan of 60 meters and is the largest and lightest plane ever to take flight.  

Swiss psychiatrist, Bertrand Piccard (below) was the first aeronaut to do a non stop flight around the world in a balloon.  He will soon be attempting the non stop flight around the world in a solar powered plane he helped design with co-founder Andre Borschberg, fighter pilot, engineer and graduate in management science.

“This first mission was the most risky phase of the entire project,” Piccard said.  “Eighty-seven minutes of intense emotion after seven years of research, testing and perseverance. Never has an airplane as large and light ever flown before!”

Here is what test pilot Marcus Scherdel had to say about the test flight in an interview with Martin Reichlin

Markus, you just completed the very first flight with the Solar Impulse. I suspect you feel like an Olympic champion now?
Well, I never was an Olympic champions yet. But I think the feeling is quite similar.

Could you enjoy this feeling already during the flight?
The first 20 minutes I had very little time for anything else than to do my job. After that I had gained enough altitude to have a look out of the window during my first turns and to enjoy the amazing panorama of the Alps.

Speaking of looking out the window: You were piloting something like an "aeronautic convertible" today as you had no shell around the cockpit. Wasn’t it pretty cold up there?
Not at all. I was wearing my special underwear and a windproof overall. In addition to that I got shoes and gloves with built-in heating. You see, we thought of everything.

But what about insects hitting your face as you had no windshield?
There were none. It’s still too cold for flies.

Probably the most critical part of the flight was the landing. Was it difficult for you?
Actually no. At that time I had already learned a lot about the plane and knew everything about its behavior I needed to know.

And how did it behave?
So far it was very well-tempered. But I have to say that today we were flying very slow – at one point the ground speed had dropped to 12 knots per hour (22 km/h) - and we never intended test the critical parameters of the plane. This will be one of the goals in the upcoming flights.

If you feel passionate about the program, join the challenge and experience it from the inside. Become an Angel Ambassador or Adviser.

See Also: The Cool Website for Solar Impuse
See Also: EAA website

Easter Brunch Try a Little Bunny Food with Eggs: Baked Eggs with Spinach

This recipe....is one of those easy but sophisticated ones that can serve as a late morning breakfast, or brunch staple....baked eggs and spinach.

First, you blanch some spinach, dropping in boiling water for 30 seconds to a minute, and then lining a lightly greased oven safe bowl with about a half a cup of the spinach.

Break two eggs over the top of the spinach, and pop in the oven at 375 degrees (200 C) +/-, for about 15-20 minutes, or until the eggs are cooked to your liking.

The result is an almost quiche like consistency, that is tasty and there are no carbs.....it is also something that can be served at a table in the garden or at the kitchen counter, where traditional egg dishes can get cold quickly or are impractical....really simple and simply delicious!  Thanks again to Donna Hay!

"WATER:OUR THIRSTY WORLD" PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT

"WATER: OUR THIRSTY WORLD" ...An Exhibit at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Association with National Geographic Magazine opened Saturday, March 27, 2010.  This exhibition coincides with the release of National Geographic's April 2010 issue on the precarious state of the world's fresh water.  The exhibition will run through June 13, 2010 and examines the local and global challenges of our planet's fresh water resources captured by a selection of National Geographic's finest, award-winning photographers. The digital and print images will highlight the significance of fresh water in our lives and how the diminishment of this precious resource is impacting local and worldwide communities. A digital film presentation will expand the visitor experience by offering hundreds more National Geographic images and shared insights from photographers.

Jonas Bendiksen, Magnum Photos

India, 2009

In a parched Delhi slum, men swarm a tanker to siphon precious water. “If you throw money here,” says a local 16-year-old named Vinay, “no one would have time to grab it. Water is more important for us.”

Amit Dave, Reuters

India, 2003

Parched Indian villagers mob a vast well in Natwargadh, Gujarat. In this drought-prone western state, yearly monsoon rains can total less than eight inches, and summer temperatures have topped 115°F.

Thomas Havisham, Panos

Angola, 2005

Peddling clean well water for 10 cents a bag, this seller will have no problem finding a buyer in a slum in Luanda, Angola. In 2006 the prevalence of contaminated water in the city led to one of Africa’s worst cholera epidemics, with 80,000 Angolans sickened.

Hans Strand, Freelance

Iceland, 2006

Swirling seaward, branches of the bountiful Kolgrima River inscribe the flatlands near Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest glacier. Milky tones in the water are from pale silt; the blue is the reflection of the sky.

John Stanmeyer, VII

India, 2009

India’s holiest river, the Ganges, is scribbled with light from floating oil lamps during the Ganga Dussehra festival in Haridwar. Hindus near death often bathe in the river; some are later cremated beside it and have their ashes scattered in its depths.

Edward Burtynsky

California, USA, 2009

Grass is not an option in Salton City, which survives on water imported from the Colorado River. With 20 million more residents expected in California by 2050, the state’s quest for water is never over.

Edward Burtynsky

California, USA, 2009

Once the city’s main water source, the Los Angeles River is now a concrete channel fed by storm drains. City residents rely on water pumped from hundreds of miles away.

John Stanmeyer, VII

Laos, 2009

A woman launches an offering on the Mekong River, known to Laotians as the “mother of waters.” The occasion is Boun Pi Mai Lao, the New Year’s celebration, in April.

Ethiopia 2009

In pursuit of water, the girl with the green ladle routinely walks three hours to and from her Ethiopian village of Foro. Females here spend most of their lives fetching water; boys are exempted from the job when they turn seven or eight. 

Lynn Johnson, National Geographic Magazine

Ethiopia, 2009

To this end, NGOs are working to bring clean water to forgotten places, using technology—like a sand dam to capture rainwater in Ethiopia, where some women must wrest drops from muddy seeps —while ensuring that locals are involved in designing, building, and maintaining water projects." 

Kitra Cahana, National Geographic Magazine

Nevada, USA, 2009

Shaped like a water drop, this 17-foot-tall steel “meditation space” was made by Kate Raudenbush for Nevada’s annual Burning Man event. Her goal is “to bring awareness to the element of water on our planet and its vital importance to our evolutionary balance.”

Lynn Johnson, National Geographic Magazine

Ethiopia, 2009

In the Foro district of Ethiopia, rocks cover a family latrine, and a stick acts as a handle. Surveys show that the hygiene-education efforts of WaterAid, an NGO, are working here: Latrine use has risen from 6 to 25 percent since December 2007.

Lynn Johnson, National Geographic Magazine

Ethiopia, 2009

Installed by the NGO WaterAid, makeshift wash stations like this one—a water bottle fastened to the exterior of a grass hut, with soap nearby—are appearing in Ethiopian villages, where lack of sanitation can be as dire a problem as water scarcity.

Gerd Ludwig, National Geographic Magazine

California, USA, 2009

In 2007, high levels of bromate—a carcinogen formed when bromide and chlorine react with sunlight—were found in Los Angeles’s seven-acre, 58-million-gallon Ivanhoe Reservoir. Today, three million black plastic balls help deflect UV rays.

Lynn Johnson, National Geographic Magazine

Ethiopia, 2009

In Shekana, Ethiopia, Halike Berisha must fill her jug from a contaminated reservoir. Access to clean water is not solely a rural problem, but the challenges of delivering it are most daunting in remote places. 

Theo Allofs, Corbis

Australia, 2006

Brown with sediment loosed by seasonal rains, Australia’s King River snakes through the coastal mudflats of the Kimberley, a remote northwestern region. In the dry months of May to September, the 76-mile meander lies bare.

Lynn Johnson, National Geographic Magazine

Kenya 2009

Tribal Gabra women in northern Kenya may need five hours a day to lug jerry cans laden with murky water across the desert. A lingering drought has pushed this already arid region to a full-blown water crisis.

About the Annenberg Space for Photography

The Annenberg Space for Photography is an entirely new cultural destination dedicated to exhibiting compelling photography. The Space conveys a range of human experiences and serves as an expression of the philanthropic work of the Annenberg Foundation and its Trustees. The intimate environment features state-of-the-art, high-definition digital technology as well as traditional prints by some of the world's most renowned and emerging photographers. The exhibits change three times a year, however the common thread throughout is one of rich emotion. The Photography Space informs and inspires the public by connecting photographers, philanthropy and the human experience through powerful imagery and stories. It is the first solely photographic cultural destination in the Los Angeles area.

"WATER:OUR THIRSTY WORLD" PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT

"WATER: OUR THIRSTY WORLD" ...An Exhibit at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Association with National Geographic Magazine opened Saturday, March 27, 2010.  This exhibition coincides with the release of National Geographic's April 2010 issue on the precarious state of the world's fresh water.  The exhibition will run through June 13, 2010 and examines the local and global challenges of our planet's fresh water resources captured by a selection of National Geographic's finest, award-winning photographers. The digital and print images will highlight the significance of fresh water in our lives and how the diminishment of this precious resource is impacting local and worldwide communities. A digital film presentation will expand the visitor experience by offering hundreds more National Geographic images and shared insights from photographers.

Jonas Bendiksen, Magnum Photos

India, 2009

In a parched Delhi slum, men swarm a tanker to siphon precious water. “If you throw money here,” says a local 16-year-old named Vinay, “no one would have time to grab it. Water is more important for us.”

Amit Dave, Reuters

India, 2003

Parched Indian villagers mob a vast well in Natwargadh, Gujarat. In this drought-prone western state, yearly monsoon rains can total less than eight inches, and summer temperatures have topped 115°F.

Thomas Havisham, Panos

Angola, 2005

Peddling clean well water for 10 cents a bag, this seller will have no problem finding a buyer in a slum in Luanda, Angola. In 2006 the prevalence of contaminated water in the city led to one of Africa’s worst cholera epidemics, with 80,000 Angolans sickened.

Hans Strand, Freelance

Iceland, 2006

Swirling seaward, branches of the bountiful Kolgrima River inscribe the flatlands near Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest glacier. Milky tones in the water are from pale silt; the blue is the reflection of the sky.

John Stanmeyer, VII

India, 2009

India’s holiest river, the Ganges, is scribbled with light from floating oil lamps during the Ganga Dussehra festival in Haridwar. Hindus near death often bathe in the river; some are later cremated beside it and have their ashes scattered in its depths.

Edward Burtynsky

California, USA, 2009

Grass is not an option in Salton City, which survives on water imported from the Colorado River. With 20 million more residents expected in California by 2050, the state’s quest for water is never over.

Edward Burtynsky
California, USA, 2009

Once the city’s main water source, the Los Angeles River is now a concrete channel fed by storm drains. City residents rely on water pumped from hundreds of miles away.

John Stanmeyer, VII

Laos, 2009
A woman launches an offering on the Mekong River, known to Laotians as the “mother of waters.” The occasion is Boun Pi Mai Lao, the New Year’s celebration, in April.

Ethiopia 2009
In pursuit of water, the girl with the green ladle routinely walks three hours to and from her Ethiopian village of Foro. Females here spend most of their lives fetching water; boys are exempted from the job when they turn seven or eight. 

Lynn Johnson, National Geographic Magazine

Ethiopia, 2009
To this end, NGOs are working to bring clean water to forgotten places, using technology—like a sand dam to capture rainwater in Ethiopia, where some women must wrest drops from muddy seeps —while ensuring that locals are involved in designing, building, and maintaining water projects." 

Kitra Cahana, National Geographic Magazine

Nevada, USA, 2009
Shaped like a water drop, this 17-foot-tall steel “meditation space” was made by Kate Raudenbush for Nevada’s annual Burning Man event. Her goal is “to bring awareness to the element of water on our planet and its vital importance to our evolutionary balance.”

Lynn Johnson, National Geographic Magazine

Ethiopia, 2009
In the Foro district of Ethiopia, rocks cover a family latrine, and a stick acts as a handle. Surveys show that the hygiene-education efforts of WaterAid, an NGO, are working here: Latrine use has risen from 6 to 25 percent since December 2007.

Lynn Johnson, National Geographic Magazine

Ethiopia, 2009
Installed by the NGO WaterAid, makeshift wash stations like this one—a water bottle fastened to the exterior of a grass hut, with soap nearby—are appearing in Ethiopian villages, where lack of sanitation can be as dire a problem as water scarcity.

Gerd Ludwig, National Geographic Magazine

California, USA, 2009
In 2007, high levels of bromate—a carcinogen formed when bromide and chlorine react with sunlight—were found in Los Angeles’s seven-acre, 58-million-gallon Ivanhoe Reservoir. Today, three million black plastic balls help deflect UV rays.

Lynn Johnson, National Geographic Magazine

Ethiopia, 2009
In Shekana, Ethiopia, Halike Berisha must fill her jug from a contaminated reservoir. Access to clean water is not solely a rural problem, but the challenges of delivering it are most daunting in remote places. 

Theo Allofs, Corbis
Australia, 2006
Brown with sediment loosed by seasonal rains, Australia’s King River snakes through the coastal mudflats of the Kimberley, a remote northwestern region. In the dry months of May to September, the 76-mile meander lies bare.

Lynn Johnson, National Geographic Magazine

Kenya 2009
Tribal Gabra women in northern Kenya may need five hours a day to lug jerry cans laden with murky water across the desert. A lingering drought has pushed this already arid region to a full-blown water crisis. 

About the Annenberg Space for Photography
The Annenberg Space for Photography is an entirely new cultural destination dedicated to exhibiting compelling photography. The Space conveys a range of human experiences and serves as an expression of the philanthropic work of the Annenberg Foundation and its Trustees. The intimate environment features state-of-the-art, high-definition digital technology as well as traditional prints by some of the world's most renowned and emerging photographers. The exhibits change three times a year, however the common thread throughout is one of rich emotion. The Photography Space informs and inspires the public by connecting photographers, philanthropy and the human experience through powerful imagery and stories. It is the first solely photographic cultural destination in the Los Angeles area.