ARTICLES Archives - Page 163 of 312

Quality Don’t Come Easy

In 2001, as part of his ‘Aqua Culture’ column in WaterShapes, Brian Van Bower penned a thought-provoking piece entitled “Quality Don’t Come Easy.” In it, he decried what he saw as a dearth of quality craftspeople in the watershaping trades — and in the broader construction industry as well. “Time and again,” he noted, “I commiserate with colleagues who just can’t find good people who are dedicated to

Ripples #27

Compiled and Written by Lenny Giteck Partying Prince Harry Jumps (or Falls) Into Nightclub Pool Fully Clothed You remember Prince Harry — the other one. The younger brother who developed quite a reputation as a wild party animal, whose judgment was not always up to British royal snuff. One episode that comes to mind: the time he dressed as a

Marilyn and Watershaping

A comment I’ve been anticipating (and dreading) has recently crossed my desk. It came from a reader who expressed exasperation with our newsletter’s use of celebrity-centered items; she was particularly offended by our link to a generous dose of Marilyn Monroe’s skin in a recent edition of “Ripples.” I’m sorry that any offense was taken, but it’s a plain fact that items like these get people to

Revisiting Fallingwater

Aided by the fact that my sister lives within easy driving distance of Mill Run, Pa., I've visited Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater several times through the years and have had the good fortune to see it in spring, summer and fall. It's an amazing place and has been documented with

Kicking Up ‘Curb Appeal’

“You only get one chance to make a first impression.” How many times have you heard that in your life? There’s a good reason for it: First impressions last – and that’s particularly true with a home. This is why real estate agents typically bring up “curb appeal” when advising clients about how to sell at the best price. Why? Because if prospective buyers drive up and sees a messy, weed-plagued yard, chances are good that they will simply roll on by. And even if they stop, the negative initial impression will be hard to shake as they

Watershapers Must Grow or Go! (Part 2)

In the first installment of this two-part opinion piece, watershaper and educator Mark Holden offered a scathing critique of what he views as the traditional pool industry. To read Part One in its entirety, click here. In the second installment of his two-part opinion piece, Holden offers

Test Your Knowledge #15

What celebrated swimmer keeps trying to swim the Flodia Straits?

10 Years Ago: Why Proper Supervision Is Essential

In April 2001, as part of his “Details” column in WaterShapes, David Tisherman argued forcefully for constant, competent on-site supervision of watershaping projects. In his article, entitled “Super Vision,” he noted, “Call it quality control, attention to detail or perfectionism: There’s no

Ripples #26

Compiled and Written by Lenny Giteck Screen Legend Marilyn Monroe’s Nude Swimming Outtakes from Her Final Film Had she lived, movie icon and sex goddess

Brighter Future or Wishful Thinking?

I’ve spent considerable time in recent days chatting with watershapers about the way things are going — just touching base with old friends, mostly. These conversations generally start with curiosity about