2012/6.2, June 20 — Surface Reflections, Houston’s Water Wall, Worthy Causes and more

June 20, 2012

WATERSHAPES.COM

ESSENTIAL

Graceful Reflections

The potency of water’s reflective nature is a component of watershaping that all too often is ignored or left to chance, says renowned environmental artist Anthony Archer Wills. By considering reflectivity from the outset of a project, he is able to use its brilliance and subtlety to make the experience of viewing water a never-ending source of fascination for his clients.

This article, originally published in February 2007, has been digitized for all readers. Once you click ‘more’ on the next screen, you can zoom in on images to study the craftsmanship in detail. [continue]

VIDEO GALLERY

Digging and More Digging

Some jobs seem so easy: broad access, lots of elbow room, easygoing clients. But experience has taught Randy Beard to expect the unexpected – and to have a good sense of humor about the odd things that sometimes are uncovered in the course of a project. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Texas-Scale Energy

The Williams Waterwall in Houston is another must-see for watershapers, say Jim McCloskey. The architecture is monumental, but even more impressive is the illusion of volume the architects managed to conjure with what is essentially a water-wise design. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Rallying to a Worthy Cause

News has reached Jim McCloskey about two Rochester, N.Y., landscape firms that have adopted a local vacant lot to create a new public park. It’s a worthy concept, he says, and one whose success he hopes will be the springboard for similar programs nationwide. [more]

IN SEARCH OF SUPPORT…
U.S. WOMEN’S WATER POLO TEAM POSES NAKED TO GAIN EXPOSURE [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Visual Acceptance

In his June 2002 column, David Tisherman wrote eloquently about the way watershape-related products should look – and we’ve been evaluating them with much more critical eyes ever since. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

How Much Do Americans Spend
on Swimsuits Each Year?

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. According to fortune.cnn.com, how much money do Americans spend on swimsuits annually?

a. $575 million b. $850 million c. $1 billion d. $1.4 billion

2. The latest book by broadcast journalist and author Lynn Sherr — Swim: Why We Love the Water — was published this past April. The book, observes amazon.com, is “a celebration of swimming and the effect it has on our lives.” Sherr has been best known as a correspondent on what national television program?

a. 20/20 b. 60 Minutes c. Frontline d. Nova

3. Blogging on TheHuffingtonPost.com, Marc Yaggi, executive director of the Waterkeeper Alliance, writes, “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently estimated that up to _____ people [in America] will become sick after swimming at their favorite beach or swimming hole this year. Despite nearly 40 years of Clean Water Act successes, polluted runoff, sewer overflows, and other human activities are threatening one of our favorite summer pastimes…” Fill in the blank.

a. 925,000 b. 1.75 million c. 3.5 million d. 5.5 million.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2012/6.1, June 6 — Hiding Headwaters, Step Lighting, Purposeful Travel and more

2012/5.2, May 23 — Paladian Design, Conveyor-Belt Excavation, Hoover Dam and more

May 23, 2012

WATERSHAPES.COM

FEATURE ARTICLE

Palladio, Jefferson and You

Palladian architecture is so pervasive, says Mark Holden, that it’s likely a watershaper will at some point encounter the style in the course of a career. Here’s a look at what it takes to come up with watershapes that fit seamlessly into these classic environments. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Conveying a Solution

Where he works, says Randy Beard, site access is often an issue that makes projects truly challenging. In this video, he documents a situation in which he had to deal with access that was just 24 inches wide and where the excavation had to be carried out one shovel at a time. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Making Skimmer Lids Vanish

Paolo Benedetti can’t stand it when skimmer lids visually intrude on pool decks. It’s so upsetting, he explains, because hiding these covers is a simple matter of thinking things through and selecting among a wide spectrum of concealing solutions. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Big Damn Dam!

When it was built during the Great Depression, Hoover Dam symbolized the country’s ability to overcome adversity and move into the future. To Jim McCloskey, however, it’s a huge watershape worthy of the attention of every designer, engineer and builder. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Bold Steps

Just back from Artistic Resources & Training’s debut classes in Scottsdale, Ariz., Jim McCloskey shares his perspectives on the event — and on the future of watershaping education as ART and Genesis 3 turn healthy competition into programs with real potential. [more]

COIMBATORE, INDIA:
SACRIFICING ROOSTERS TO
MAKE SWIMMING POOL SAFE [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Paper Trails

Back in May 2007, David Tisherman wrote a column praising building inspectors — then as now, a counterintuitive position that defined these officials as collaborators in making projects turn out the way they should. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Government Again Postpones Deadline
For New Pool-Accessibility Standards

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. The U.S. Justice Department announced it is postponing the deadline for implementing controversial new pool-accessibility standards, which are designed to help the disabled more easily use public swimming facilities. (This is the second postponement by the government.) The most recent deadline was to have been May 21, 2012; what is the new date?

a. Dec. 31, 2012 b. Jan 31, 2013 c. March 31, 2013 d. May 31, 2013

2. Renowned college swimming coach “Skip” Kenney is retiring after 33 years heading up the swim program at a major California university. Which institution of higher learning benefitted from Kenney’s exceptional coaching abilities over the past three decades?

a. UCLA b. Stanford c. UC Berkeley d. USC

3. Organizers have announced that the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships will be held in what country?

a. USA b. Canada c. Brazil d. Australia

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2012/5.1, May 9 — Reducing Visual Noise, Excavating Tight Spaces, Halprin’s FDR Memorial and more

May 9, 2012

WATERSHAPES.COM

FEATURE ARTICLE

Hiding the ‘Uglies’

Building pools and spas involves breaking through the interior surface at various points to include suction fittings, return lines, lights and jets — all of which, says Paolo Benedetti, can create visual noise he tries to mask by concealing these fittings as best he can. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

The Great Bobcat Race

Watershaper Randy Beard often shoots videos on his job sites — a useful tool for informing prospective clients about what might happen in their projects. In this video, he shows what can take place when restricted access runs up against a ferocious pair of Bobcats. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Reaching for Permanence

Concluding his series on dry-stacked stone walls and fences, Bruce Zaretsky discusses the importance of drainage to a wall’s success, then explains how topping walls and fences with coping stones will help ensure these structures’ integrity for the long haul. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Positive Potentials

Where there was once only one educational resource for ambitious watershape designers and builders, there are now two — a fact that makes Jim McCloskey grin and leads him to challenge both ART and Genesis 3 to keep raising the bar higher and higher. [more]

MAKE OLYMPIC POOLS GREEN:
FILL THEM TO THE COPING WITH APPLE’S CASH RESERVE BILLIONS! [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Cascades of Destiny

The emotional key to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C., says Jim McCloskey, is its water — testimony to the genius of landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, who established what can only be described as an inspiring set of spaces. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

The Work of Others

Five years ago, landscape designer Stephanie Rose devoted her column to garden-tour season and the value she always found in examining the work of other designers — and listening to the people taking these tours. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

In How Many Olympics Has Veteran
U.S. Swimmer Dara Torres Competed?

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. Veteran U.S. Olympic swimming champion Dara Torres, now 45 years old, is training to win a spot on Team USA in order to compete at the London Olympics. In how many Olympics has Torres — who brought home four gold, four silver and four bronze medals — already competed?

a. Three b. Four c. Five d. Six

2. Former U.S. Olympic swimming champion Matt Biondi — who garnered 11 Olympic medals (eight of them gold) during his career — was just hired to be a teacher at the private Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Calif. (The 46-year-old Biondi has a master’s degree in teaching.) In addition to coaching the school’s swim team, what academic subject will Biondi teach?

a. Mathematics b. History c. English d. Geography

3. A new study by the U.S. Geological Survey has shown that polar bears are capable of swimming huge distances — a skill that may be essential to their survival in this age of disappearing summer ice in their habitat. What was the longest swimming distance recorded by the study?

a. 45 miles b. 93 miles c. 158 miles d. 220 miles

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2012/4.2, April 25 — Building Stone Walls, Concealing Controls, Civic Fountain Woes and more

April 25, 2012

WATERSHAPES.COM

FEATURE ARTICLE

Building Walls, Stone by Stone

Dry-stacking stone walls and fences is hard work, concedes Bruce Zaretsky, but if you know the soil you’re working on is adequately compacted and you follow some basic, time-tested rules, it’s largely a matter of working your way up, one stone after another. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Spa-Side Sleek

Paolo Benedetti sees spas as the ultimate in comfort and relaxation. That’s why he’s reluctant to let spa-side controls undermine his clients’ good time with any visual clutter; instead, he has found simple ways to make these essential spa accessories disappear from view. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Threatened Foundations

In the past few months, Jim McCloskey has noticed lots of news stories about cutting off the water for public fountains and the difficulties some communities are having in opening public pools for the summer. We all need to take notice, he says — and get involved. [more]

VANILLA ICE:
RAPPER AND SWIMMING POOL
BUILDER EXTRAORDINAIRE?! [more]

INTERVIEW

A Fresh Approach to Plaster Colors

For years, Shawn Still has taught professionals how to select and apply pool and spa finishes. Now, he says, it’s time to add color to the list of practical considerations to be used in making clients happy. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

From the Beginning

Landscape architect and ART founder Mark Holden long ago identified a gap in his education. In this article from 2007, he defined his ambition to make watershaping part of the university design curriculum. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Man Sneaks into Celebrity’s Home
In the Hamptons, Swims in Pool

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. A fan of a famous entertainer recently snuck into the celebrity’s home in the Hamptons, New York, and — among other things — went for a swim in the pool. Who was homeowner?

a. Michael Feinstein b. Michael Bublé
c. Lady Gaga d. Sean “Diddy” Combs.

2. A foreign diplomat has been accused of fondling young girls at a swimming pool in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia. What country does the diplomat represent?

a. Argentina b. Japan c. Iran d. South Africa.

3. Four-time Australian Olympic swimming champion Murray Rose, who set 15 world records during his career, has died of leukemia at the age of 73. Why was his nickname “The Seaweed Streak”?

a. He always wore green swimming trunks for good luck.
b. He was limber and could perform amazing body contortions.
c. He adhered to a strict vegan diet.
d. He loved training in the ocean off Sydney.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2012/4.1, April 11 — Coloring Plaster, Hiding Plumbing, Fine Stonework and more

April 11, 2012

WATERSHAPES.COM

MY PERSPECTIVE

Unconventional Plaster?

As he’s shaping his new approach to design education, Mark Holden has been reflecting on his own classroom experience and figuring out ways to push students past conventional thinking to new levels of creativity and excellence. First up: cementitious pool finishes. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Planning on Concealment

If the positions of big deck pots, vases and planters are known ahead of time, asks Paolo Benedetti, why not go the extra mile and stub up what can (and should) be hidden lines for irrigation, lighting and drainage in spots where those containers will be located? [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Stone Practicalities

Installing dry-stacked walls and fences is hard work. Prior to breaking out the hammers on-site, however, Bruce Zaretsky suggests that you need to know your materials and source them appropriately so you know what you’ll be facing before you try putting them in place. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Rearranging the Furniture II

His last blog on the emergence of Artistic Resources & Training drew a quick and heavy reader response — some supportive, some sharply critical and most of it having to do with Jim McCloskey‘s point, discussed further here, about the state of watershaping education. [more]

FILMMAKER JAMES CAMERON
MAKES A TITANIC DIVE INTO
THE OCEANS’ DEEPEST ABYSS [more]

JOIN THE DIALOGUE

In Praise of ART

Mark Holden’s “Interview” about the formation of Artistic Resources & Training (March 25, 2012) resulted in lots of phone calls — and in this note of support from frequent letter-writer Peter Langevin. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

What Sport Does Michael Phelps
Plan to Tackle After He Retires?

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the four questions below.

1. While speaking recently at a Boys & Girls Club in Indianapolis, Olympic champion Michael Phelps said he’s looking forward to retiring from competitive swimming. He also revealed that once he retires, he wants to participate more in what sport?

a. Tennis b. Bowling c. Soccer d. Golf

2. The high-tech, one-of-a-kind submersible in which movie director James Cameron made his historic plunge to the deepest part of the Mariana Trench (see Ripples) took eight years to build. Where was the vessel constructed?

a. Japan b. New Zealand c. Australia d. Canada

3. After testing positive for the banned stimulant methylhexanamine, Czech Olympic swimmer Michal Rubacek was suspended by his country’s national swimming federation — a step that will prevent him from competing at the London Games. How long is the term of Rubacek’s suspension?

a. Two years b. Three years c. Four years d. Five years.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2012/3.2, March 21 — Mark Holden on ART, Working with Stone, Water on Capitol Mall and more

March 21, 2012

WATERSHAPES.COM

INTERVIEW

It’s All About ART

Seizing an opportunity to raise the bar in watershaping education, Mark Holden persuaded David Tisherman and a long list of potential instructors to join him at Artistic Resources & Training (ART) – all discussed in this exclusive WaterShapes EXTRA! interview. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Working with Stone the Right Way

When it comes to building stone walls that will withstand the tests of time, says Bruce Zaretsky, there’s really no alternative to the old-fashioned technique of ‘dry stacking.’ It’s hard work and costs more than other approaches, but the results are beyond compare. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Want to Avoid Getting ‘Hosed’?

Patios and decks become cluttered by simple everyday objects such as garden hoses, which is why Paolo Benedetti applies the fine art of concealment to make them vanish into receptacles hidden in planters and other out-of-the-way locations around a backyard. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Coming Attractions

Long an advocate for high-level education for watershape designers and builders, Jim McCloskey is fascinated by the potential of Mark Holden’s new venture – Artistic Resources & Training – which promises to be a real game changer in the very near future. [more]

OBSESSED FAN BREAKS INTO
SINGER KENNY CHESNEY’S
HOME, RELAXES BY POOL [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Historic Reflections

Any visit to Washington, D.C., should include a visit to the National Mall, writes Jim McCloskey – and the experience will be even better when renovation of the reflecting pool is complete and the water mirroring the monuments is cleaner, clearer and easier on the nose. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Swimmer Ian Thorpe Fails to
Qualify for London Olympics

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the four questions below.

1. Five-time Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe, who has been attempting to make a comeback, recently failed to earn a spot on his country’s swim team for the upcoming London Olympic Games. What country is Thorpe from?

a. Canada b. New Zealand c. The U.K. d. Australia

2. The U.S. Justice Department has announced it is postponing implementation of a controversial new law mandating that all public swimming pools (including hotel pools) must install “lifts” or employ other measures to make the facilities accessible to the disabled. How long is the postponement for?

a. 30 days b. 60 days c. 90 days d. 6 months

3. The U.S. Olympic Committee has released a new handbook entitled “Recognizing, Reducing and Responding to Misconduct in Sport: Creating Your Strategy”; the handbook comes in the wake of a number of cases involving USA Swimming. What type of misconduct does the handbook address?

a. Racism and homophobia c. Physical and sexual abuse
b. Performance-enhancing drugs d. Hazing

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2012/3.1, March 7 — Dry-Stacked Stone, Hidden Ice Chest, Calatrava’s ‘Wave’ and more

March 7, 2012

WATERSHAPES.COM

FEATURE ARTICLE

Making the Most of Stone

Introducing a new series on stone in landscapes and aquatic environments, Bruce Zaretsky discusses historic (and prehistoric) uses of this fascinating material, describing structures that have withstood the elements for hundreds and even thousands of years. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Cool Sensations

Long an advocate of the art of concealment, Paolo Benedetti likes to make everyday things found around pools disappear into the background. Here, he discusses taking clunky ice chests and making them less intrusive amenities on decks and in planters. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Riding a Wave

There’s a glaring gap in his acquaintance with the cultural attractions of Dallas, writes Jim McCloskey — one he will attend to the next time he’s anywhere in the neighbohood and has a chance to visit Santiago Calatrava’s ‘Wave’ on the SMU campus. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

On the Flat and Shallow

Jim McCloskey readily criticizes accessories and design details that tend to clutter modern aquatic environments — but in the case of tanning shelves, he’s become a true believer in their ability to add both comfort and interest to the outdoor experience. [more]

KATE UPTON ON 2012 S.I.
SWIMSUIT ISSUE COVER

— KERFUFFLE ERUPTS! [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

The Currency of Beauty

Ten years ago, David Tisherman wrote passionately about setting aside the ‘sales mentality’ and instead collaborating with clients to dig in and conjure a vision everyone involved in the project will share. [more]

JOIN THE DIALOGUE

More on Budgeting – and Drain Covers

A pair of readers were moved to comment on two recent articles by Paolo Benedetti, one with a supportive comment on budgeting battles, the other with a suggestion about the roots of an idea. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Oil Company Joins USA Swimming
Foundation for Water Safety Program

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the questions below.

1. USA Swimming Foundation and a major oil company joined forces to bring Olympic Gold Medalist Cullen Jones to Houston on March 7 to kick off the 2012 “Make a Splash” tour, a six-city water safety campaign that will educate children about the importance of learning how to swim. Indeed, this oil company has been involved with the issue of water safety for more than three decades. Which company is it?

a. Shell b. ExxonMobil c. ConocoPhillips d. Chevron

2. Seventy people — including 45 children — at a community swimming pool recently had to be rushed to the hospital because of chlorine fumes. In which Canadian province was the pool located?

a. British Columbia b. Alberta c. Saskatchewan d. Ontario

3. Portuguese Olympic swimmer Tiago Venancio, who has been training in Dubai, UAE, grew a long beard — which he then shaved off right before the Olympic trials. Why did he grow the beard?

          a. To stay warm, because the water in the Dubai pool is kept at
                a relatively low temperature.
          b. To show respect for Islamic traditions in Dubai.
          c. To deliberately slow himself down in the water, forcing him
                to swim harder to overcome the impediment.
          d. To impress a young woman he fancies; she told him she
                loves men with beards.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2012/2.2, February 22 — Spanish Colonial Details, Hiding Drain Heads, Sutro Baths and more

February 22, 2012

WATERSHAPES.COM

FEATURE ARTICLE

Spanish Accents

Designing watershapes to fit with architecture in the style of the Spanish Colonial Revival is fairly straightforward, notes Mark Holden, so long as you’re aware of the hallmarks and materials of the style and manage to work sensibly within their constraints. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Art of Concealment

It’s the small details that count, says Paolo Benedetti in opening a new series on making things that do not need to be seen disappear from view. He starts with drain covers, defining methods he uses to make them as unobtrusive as possible — but still fully functional. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Taking the Plunge

San Francisco’s Sutro Baths have been in ruins for decades, but to Jim McCloskey, even visiting the craggy foundations of one of California’s greatest seaside plunges brings to mind a time when ambitious people could accomplish the incredible for the sake of good fun. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Aesthetics First!

A chat with a friend leads Jim McCloskey to clarify why he’s writing about watershape details and amenities that either please or bother him. Here, he uses portable spas as an example of good products that would be even better if they weren’t so visually intrusive. [more]

NEW MEMOIR BY FORMER
WHITE HOUSE INTERN SAYS
JFK AFFAIR BEGAN IN POOL [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

The Best Medicine

Just a few months after September 11, 2001, Brian Van Bower meditated on the role of watershapes in our society. Rereading his words today shows how much more we must do to make their virtues better understood. [more]

JOIN THE DIALOGUE

Spending Time with WaterShapes.com

Our Join the Dialogue mailbag was filled this time by a single reader who not only read the newsletter, but also spent some time carefully reviewing articles he spotted on the home page of our Web site. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Europe Swimming Championships
Move from Belgium to Hungary

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. The site of the upcoming European swimming championships — scheduled to take place two months before the London Olympics — is being moved from Antwerp, Belgium, to Debrecen, Hungary. Why?

a. A dispute between Belgium’s French-speaking Walloons and
Dutch-speaking Flemings.
b. A budget shortfall of $525,000.
c. Hungary’s successful lawsuit brought before the High Court
of the Europe Union.
d. Ongoing problems with the Belgian electrical grid.

2. The Save Mart Supermarkets chain has launched a “Save Our Pools” campaign in one California city; the chain has pledged to match the first $500,000 raised by local residents, which will enable the city’s public pools to open this summer. Which city is it?

a. Fresno c. Oakland
b. Eureka d. Sacramento

3. Residents of Mumbai, India, just stood around and watched when a 7-year-old boy was spotted floating motionless in a swimming pool; the child did not receive medical attention until 45 minutes later and was pronounced dead. What reason did the bystanders give for their inaction?

a. The boy belonged to a lower caste.
b. None of the bystanders knew how to swim.
c. They said rescuing the boy was the job of the police.
d. They assumed the boy must already be dead.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2012/2.1, February 8 — Sharpening a Design, Budgeting Issues, Bellagio’s Fountains and more

February 8, 2012

WATERSHAPES.COM

FEATURE ARTICLE

Sharpening the Focus

Wrapping up a series of articles on the ins and outs of designing swimming pools, Bruce Zaretsky refers not only to the functional and aesthetic ideas that flow from conversations with his clients, but also to the known practicalities of the construction process. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Truth in Budgeting

Paolo Benedetti has long been an advocate of giving property owners all of the information they need to make the right decisions about their watershapes. Here, he discusses why this is particularly important when architects and home builders are calling the shots. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Simply Fascinating

Every time he visits Las Vegas, Jim McCloskey makes a point of visiting the Strip. It’s not to gamble, he says: Instead, he’s indulging his profound willingness to be momentarily transported and happily entertained by the spectacular fountains in front of Bellagio. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Tracking a Personal Trend

He’s all for the excitement diving boards and slides can bring to watershape settings, but Jim McCloskey has developed strong opinions about the way these accessories look — and expresses them in thought-provoking detail in the current edition of his blog. [more]

STEVEN TYLER SWIMS IN
THE NUDE, SHOCKS FELLOW
‘IDOL’ JUDGE JENNIFER LOPEZ [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Too Little, Too Late?

Back in 2007, Stephanie Rose wrote passionately about the problem of too many watershape and hardscape designs leaving way too little room for planting areas. There are solutions, she observed, but how difficult could it be to plan for plants from the get-go? [more]

JOIN THE DIALOGUE

The Smiles Have It

Brian Van Bower’s message from ten years ago brings a toothy response from a reader who shared his views on smiling, while Paolo Benedetti responds to a comment another reader made about one of his recent features in this newsletter. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Hotel Guest Killed, Several Injured from
Carbon Monoxide Leak in Pool Heater

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the four questions below.

1. A guest at a Holiday Inn Express was killed and several others were injured — one of them seriously — due to a carbon monoxide leak from the hotel’s indoor-pool heater. Allegedly, there were indications more than a week earlier that there was a problem with the heater. Where did this take place?

a. Boca Raton, Florida c. South Charleston, West Virginia
b. Gila Bend, Arizona d. North Bellmore, New York

2. Researchers have discovered that swimming under certain conditions can release the natural pain killer norepinephrine in the body and boost the immune system. Under what conditions do these benefits occur?

a. Swimming for brief periods in extremely warm water
b. Swimming for brief periods in extremely cold water
c. Swimming doing the sidestroke
d. Swimming outdoors under a full moon.

3. Also on the health front, researchers have determined that swimming helps lower the blood pressure in a particular demographic group. Which group?

a. Young children c. Middle-aged women
b. Teenagers d. Older adults

To find out how many you got right, click here.