Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Machu Picchu, Barcelona church on threatened list

NEW YORK – Peru's Machu Picchu ancient ruins, Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona and a New Orleans elementary school are among the cultural heritage sites threatened by neglect or overdevelopment, a preservationist group said Tuesday.

The World Monuments Fund's watch list for 2010 includes 93 sites in 47 countries, ranging from Phajoding, a remote monastery in Bhutan, to the bridges along Connecticut's scenic Merritt Parkway.

"The 2010 watch makes it clear that cultural heritage efforts in the 21st century must recognize the critical importance of sustainable stewardship and that we must work closely with local partners to create viable and appropriate opportunities to advance this," World Monuments Fund President Bonnie Burnham said.

The monuments fund, dedicated to saving important landmarks around the world, said a new underground rail line in Barcelona will run perilously close to Gaudi's masterpiece, which was designed as an 18-tower church telling the tale of the Holy Family and has been under construction since the 1880s.

Also threatened by new development are traditional townhouses in Kyoto, Japan, called machiya, which date from the early 1600s and are considered models of their type throughout the country. The monuments fund said the townhouses are being torn down, diminishing Kyoto's cultural history.

Machu Picchu, an important Inca site and Peru's main tourist attraction, is threatened by its high volume of visitors.

The fund said two sites in New Orleans, St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 and the Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, face continuing challenges following Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the area in 2005.

U.S. sites on the watch list also include architect Frank Lloyd Wright's home Taliesin in Spring Green, Wis., and Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Anne Maley, interim CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which operates both sites, said she could not comment on their inclusion on the watch list.

The New York-based World Monuments Fund issues its watch list every two years.

The list was initiated in the mid-1990s to call attention to sites that are threatened by neglect, vandalism, conflict or disaster. It's assembled by a panel of experts in archaeology, architecture, art history and preservation.

The last list, in 2007, was the first to add global warming to the roster of forces the monuments fund says are threatening humanity's architectural and cultural heritage.

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On the Net:

World Monuments Fund: http://www.wmf.org

Monday, October 5, 2009

7 Style Mistakes Guys Make … with Solutions

By GQ.com

Can you really blame a guy for wearing his jeans a bit too high on his waist? For grabbing a dress belt that’s not quite a dress belt? For not knowing what the heck collar stays are? Well, no. But we can offer advice that that will prevent him from suffering these flubs again, while guaranteeing better style for life.

Mistake 1: The Schlumpy Leather Jacket
 
Problem: There's nothing modern-or even retro-cool-about a leather jacket that fits like a rain poncho.

Solution: When trying on a new leather jacket, keep going down a size until you can't get it on, then buy the next size up. It should feel snug as a wetsuit but will take your body's shape over time. The coolest style right now? The bomber you see here.


Mistake 2: The Barack Obama Jeans

Problem: Whitewashed high-waisted jeans aren’t just dorky—they also emphasize all the wrong parts of your body.

Solution: Medium-rise raw denim jeans sit at the most flatter place (on your hips), follow your legs (instead of saddlebagging out from your waist), and form-fit to you as you break them in. Oh, and while you’re at it, replace the Seinfeld-esque running shoes with some lace-ups or classic sneaks.

Mistake 3: The Cheap Printed Tie
 
Problem: Let’s pretend this tie isn’t a little ugly. And tied too long. It still isn’t working. Why? A cheap thin silk tie gets you an unacceptably tiny knot.

Solution: Go for a sturdier silk tie, which’ll make for a solid knot. Plus, keep any patterns understated. Also, a quick note on length: The tip of your tie should not hang below the waistline of your pants.


Mistake 4: Sagging Suit Pants
 
Problem: Just bought a cool skinny suit? It ain’t cool if it stacks up at your ankles like baggy jeans.

Solution: Take your suit to a tailor and tell him you don’t want a break. Those are the words you should use: “I want this suit hemmed with little or no break.” Period.
Remember: Tailors are used to working with guys who don’t know what they want. Be assertive so he understands that you’re after a specific look and don’t just want “the usual.”

Mistake 5: The Pancake Collar
 
Problem: When you're not wearing a tie, the collar on your dress shirt flattens out and sinks beneath the lapels of your jacket. The look? Sloppy.

Solution: First, look for dress shirts with firm collars that stand up on their own., framing your face. Second, use collar stays. You know, those little plastic things. Every proper dress shirt has slots for them.


Mistake 6: Right Suit, Wrong Belt

Problem: You want Tiger Woods's swing, not his style, especially when wearing a suit. A silver-tipped faux cowboy belt is not a dress belt. If you've got one, retire it.

Solution: Invest in a high-quality leather belt that's an inch to an inch and a half wide. If it smells and feels buttery, that means it'll age beautifully. And the buckle should be subtle.


Mistake 7: The Oversize Suit

Problem: You invested in a dark handsome suit, but you look a little...eh in it. Know why? It's a size too big, and all that extra material is boxing (shoulders), sagging (waist), and flopping (ankles).

Solution: Repeat the leather-jacket method from the opening page. When trying on a suit, keep going down a size in the jacket until it gets uncomfortable. Then go one size up and buy that. And unless you’re over six feet two, buy a regular length, not a long.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

11 Reasons He Dumped You

I was flipping through a Women's Health recently (I admit it), and I noticed an interesting poll. Women cited the following as the most common breakup reasons:

* He changed
* We weren't compatible
* He cheated on me

When I was little, it drove me crazy when my parents supported "no" with "because I said so." I always wanted a reason. I'm not sure if knowing why always helps, but perhaps if you know common reasons guys break up with girls, you'll at least be able to see it coming. So, here are mine:

I Got Bored: I've read many different hypotheses on attention span, but my favorite is (Wikipedia):

"Continuous attention span, or the amount of time a human can focus on an object without any lapse at all, is very brief and may be as short as 8 seconds. After this amount of time, it is likely that an individual's eyes will shift focus, or that a stray thought will briefly enter consciousness."

My attention span (unless it's a football game or a song) may be worse. I know a relationship is not supposed to be exciting all the time, so getting through those flatline moments between the sparks is critical. If I start having more fun with other activities, the relationship is doomed.

One of Us Was Too Serious: This could be as simple as she wanted to see me three times a week, and I only wanted to see her once a week. If she's flirting with other guys, flighty, or not as into it as I am, then I'm too serious for her.

Burnout: I'm a big believer in pacing and rhythm in dating. A relationship can suffer burnout if certain milestones occur too fast: Being exclusive, sex, meeting parents. When that happens, I get that feeling the colonists must have gotten after they won the Revolutionary War: "Ok, we did it...so now what?"

I Was Tempted To Cheat: I do my best not to cheat, so when I have recurring urges to cheat on my girlfriend, I figure it's time to break up with her. I don't need to go through with cheating; the constant urge is enough for me to end things.

All My Friends Broke Up With Their Girlfriends: This is by far the most immature reason on this list. While my girlfriend and I are curled up on the couch watching "The Devil Wears Prada," my newly single guy friends are out shredding the karaoke waves with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin" and tearing up the town. That conflict gives me wanderlust. It's much easier when we are all in for a quiet Saturday night with the significant others.

Divergent Lives: If someone moves to another town, or work is taking over, or other life changes are driving you apart, sometimes it's best to end it.

Feeling Selfish: Dating is selfless because you're giving your time and yourself up to a relationship. "Me time" is necessary at some point to work on career/living situation, travel, or whatever. When I'm in a "selfish period," it's tough to participate in a relationship.

I "Misread" My Feelings: This is the most unfair of all the reasons. Both genders make this mistake—you get into a relationship and everything seems so great. Then, a few weeks later, you realize you got wrapped up in something for the wrong reason, dated for the sake of dating, or whatever, and you need to get out.

My Friends Or Family Didn't Like Her: I pay close attention to friend/family opinions because they know me best, and they've earned the right to have their say. Also, friends and family may be able to see things inside the relationship that I'm too blinded to see.

I Took Her For Granted: Great relationships should be easy, but there has to be some tension too—especially in the beginning. If it's too easy, there's a lack of challenge. If I feel like I could have her heart any time any place, sometimes I'll let her go. This almost always ends up coming back to haunt me later, though. I never learn.

She Was Too Negative: All too often, I end up with the brooding, depressed, uptight type who is constantly complaining. I don't expect someone to be happy all the time, but if she makes me unhappy every time I see her, why stay with her?

What reasons have guys used to break up with you, and which make you most angry? What reasons have caused you to break up with guys? Which reasons do you think are the most common cause of breakups- do they differ for guys and women?