2013/1.1, January 9 — Framing Perspectives, Eco-Friendly Landscaping, Rockefeller Plaza and more

January 9, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Making Frames

To Colorado pond/stream specialist Dave Garton, a certain ‘flexible responsiveness’ is the quality of utmost importance in all of his watershape designs. It’s an approach, he says, that calls for a keen understanding both of the setting and of what makes his clients tick — a dual awareness he puts on eloquent display here in discussing how he maximizes the personal appeal of his designs even as he works across a broad range of project types and styles. This article, originally published in May 2009, 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]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Landscapes Go Green

More and more often these days, Scott Cohen encounters clients who want him to take a ‘green’ approach to their backyards and incorporate a variety of eco-friendly concepts and strategies into their projects. Here’s how he gets the ideas rolling. [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Making Connections

From waterparks to pools and spas, great watershaping is largely about the plumbing that makes these systems work. As Steve Gutai attests, there’s nothing more fundamental to hydraulic success than securing all pipes, fittings and components in the right connections. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

#2: Vanishing Edge

Vanishing-edge designs are among the most popular of all watershape possibilities, notes Mike Farley, but that doesn’t mean clients really understand their features or how they work. That’s why he prepared this brief video to answer their most common questions. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Tackling the New Year

On the first day of 2013, Jim McCloskey did something he’d never dreamed of doing before — and it set the stage for a quick meditation on open-mindedness and stepping beyond the limits we impose on ourselves in both our private and professional lives. [more]

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

Go to the PRODUCTS button on the home page and pull down to Of Interest — your key to detailed information on the latest in watershaping products and services and all the information you need to make the right buying decisions. [for a shortcut, click here]

Audience Floats in Boats
‘Life of Pi’ Paris Premiere
Held at Iconic Indoor Pool

[click here for more — and a special offer!]

TRAVELOGUE

New York’s Heart

Whenever he travels to New York City, Jim McCloskey has always made a point of visiting the Prometheus Fountain at Rockefeller Plaza. He describes it as a great and calming space in the midst of a teeming metropolis — especially so when the city’s at its busiest. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

The Main Ingredient

All watershapers should be conscious of one big thing, noted Brian Van Bower in January 2003 — that is, the profound role water plays in our lives and the distinctive benefits of which we all should take advantage. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Scientists Vindicate Phelps,
Lochte on Pool Urination

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

1. Following the 2012 London Olympic Games, U.S. swimming champions Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte both revealed they urinated in the Olympics training pool — and they asserted there was nothing wrong with the practice. That assertion has been validated by the organization Sense About Science (SAS), at least when it comes to health concerns. Each year, SAS “challenges and examines scientific claims made by celebrities to prevent inaccurate information [from] gaining public acceptance….” Why did the group say Phelps and Lochte were right?

          a.   In a large pool, a single urination is just “a drop in the bucket.”
          b.   Urine — a combination of salts and water, with moderate amounts of protein and DNA
breakdown products — is essentially sterile.
          c.   Chlorine in the pool prevents bacteria from growing anyway.
          d.   All of the above.

2. Despite several attempts – her most recent at age 63 – American open-water distance swimming legend Diana Nyad has failed to achieve her dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida without benefit of a shark cage. Now 27-year-old Chloe McCardel, also an accomplished open-water distance swimmer, has announced her intention to attempt the same feat in 2013. What country is McCardel from?

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

3. Openwaterswimming.com has conducted a survey to determine the number of people engaged in open-water distance swimming. How many professional open-water distance swimmers are there in the world, according to the survey results?

a. 379 (203 males and 176 females) b. 491 (300 males and 191 females)
c. 785 (395 males and 390 females) d. None of the above.

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

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2012/12.2, December 19 — Integrated Hillside, Reindeer-Proof Holidays, Legorreta’s Aqueduct and more

December 19, 2012 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Emotional Foundations

At their best, say landscape artists and educators Cynthia and Gary Kinman, watershape and landscape design and construction are integrated reflections of the clients’ personalities and desires — and even their feelings about family and life itself. A case in point is the huge project profiled here, in which the pair used their technical skill, patience and personal ideals to transform a steep, forbidding hillside into a client-centered celebration.

This article, originally published in July 2006, 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]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Reindeer-Proof Holidays

The holiday season is a time for caring and sharing, observes Scott Cohen — but feeding Santa’s reindeer (or regular deer) when they stop by is asking just a bit too much. Here are some timely planting suggestions that will help guide them elsewhere. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Imported Genius

Downtown Los Angeles is in the process of filling up with interesting attractions, notes Jim McCloskey, but that shouldn’t mean overlooking the early-1990s version of Pershing Square, which features an amazing watershape by Ricardo Legorreta. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Koi Pond, Revisited

It’s almost routine, notes Mike Gannon: More and more often, he and his crews are being called in to renovate and expand clients’ existing ponds. Here’s a look at one such project — along with some written advice on what to do with the fish displaced by the process. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Gearing Up

The year now passing into the history books has been an eventful one for the WaterShapes franchise, writes Jim McCloskey. And it’s all a prelude to spectacular things in 2013 and beyond — as you’ll see in this brief preview of coming attractions. [more]

RIPPLES

What was the #1 item?
Celebrating the Top 10
Ripples Stories of 2012 [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

Striking a Chord

These four acres of rocks, plants and water were assembled by landscape artist and Japanese-garden specialist David Slawson, who combines sensitivity to the site and the character of the client with the beauty of indigenous rock and plant materials. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Stepping Up

Five years ago, Brian Van Bower observed that landscape designers and architects were gravitating toward the water to an unprecedented degree. Are the still on the move? [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

New Details on Famous JFK
Ocean Swim Photo Revealed

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

1. A U.S. newspaper recently published new information about a famous photograph – which appeared on its front page in August 1962 – of President John F. Kennedy after he went swimming in the ocean. The bare-chested, dripping-wet president was surrounded on the beach by an adoring crowd (including one woman in a polka-dot bikini who caught his eye). Where did JFK go for a swim?

a. Miami Beach, Fla. b. Coney Island, N.Y. c. Santa Monica, Calif. d. Corpus Christi, Tex.

2. Officials in the Stroud District Council in Gloucestershire, England, plan to dye the water in a public pool a certain color and hold a special event (swimming the equivalent of the width of the English Channel) to raise money for a good cause. What is the color and what is the cause?

a. Red – AIDS research b. Pink – a breast cancer charity
c. Green – an environmental organization d. Yellow – bladder cancer research.

3. USA Swimming has placed a lifetime ban on 20-year-old swimmer Adrian Ghandtchi, from Altamonte Springs, Fla. What was the reason for the ban?

        a.   He committed felony battery against a minor.
        b.   He shoplifted merchandise from a department store.
        c.   He failed a drug test right before a competition.
        d.   He turned out not to be an American citizen.

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

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2012/12.1, December 5 — Water and Sculpture, Rain Fall Features, The Magic Fountain and more

December 5, 2012 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Forms and Figures

Water and works of art have been near-constant companions for millennia, but that traditional pairing now seems to be generating fresh enthusiasm, says watershape designer/builder Randy Beard, with more and more property owners seeking to make unique statements by putting artworks on display in and around water. He takes a look at this emerging trend here, using a number of his recent projects in southern California to illustrate the point.

This article, originally published in July 2008, 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]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Untangling Backyard Battles

The couples he works with sometimes bring unresolved design conflicts to the table. Some are minor, observes Scott Cohen, but others can run a project off the rails if the designer isn’t prepared to work with both clients and move through the skirmishes in positive ways. [more]

WHAT IS IT?

Video #1: Rain Fall

Through the years, Mike Farley‘s clients have peppered him with questions about their new watershapes. Now he saves himself a bit of time by referring them to a video resource he’s developing to aid not only his own clients, but also anyone else who can use the information. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Feeling Grateful

It’s the time of year when expressing gratitude is the order of the day, writes Jim McCloskey. That’s why he’s taking this opportunity to give thanks and praise to the many watershapers who’ve helped make our transition from print to digital go so much more smoothly. [more]

RIPPLES

Amazing Pool Rescue!

WHEELCHAIR-BOUND WOMAN SAVES SENIOR SWIMMER [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

The Skinny on Skimmers

Set up properly, a skimmer steadily does its job of removing debris from the water’s surface — a low-key but important role, observes Steve Gutai, who continues his series on basic watershape hydraulics here with a look at the function and proper installation of these devices. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Spanish Rhapsody

Barcelona’s a special place, writes Jim McCloskey, and benefited greatly from the effort that went into preparing the city for the 1992 Olympics. A case in point is the splendid Magic Fountain of Montjuic, a pioneering watershape and a marvel everyone should see. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Finding the Look

Five years ago, David Tisherman answered to a newspaper reporter’s question by making a case that watershapes were more about art than the technologies in which she was most interested. Was he correct? [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Missy Franklin Reveals Which
College She Plans to Attend

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

1. Seventeen-year-old U.S. Olympic swim star Missy Franklin has announced where she plans to attend college and continue her competitive swimming career. In fact, she sent an official letter of intent to the school. Where did she decide to go?

a. UCLA b. UC Berkeley c. University of Arizona d. University of Colorado.

2. An operator of swimming pools across one European country has prohibited women from shaving in the facilities’ showers after other women swimmers complained it made them feel uncomfortable. Which country?

a. Denmark b. France c. The Netherlands d. Sweden.

3. Residents of this national capital have complained about female tourists who wear extremely skimpy swimming attire – including G-string swimsuits – at public pools where children are present. What national capital is it?

a. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia b. Accra, Ghana c. Montevideo, Uruguay d. Windhoek, Namibia.

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

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2012/11.2, November 21 — Rippling Glass, Backyard Battles, Rainwater Harvesting and more

November 21, 2012 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Liquid Glass

The relationship between glass and water can be a powerful one, says John Gilbert Luebtow, a modernist sculptor who uses water to spectacular effect in some of his work. Here, he explores the nature of that relationship while describing three major projects in which the ‘visual dance’ between water and glass is expressed in multi-dimensional shapes and sweeping, organic lines.

This article, originally published in January/February 2001, 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]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Backyard Battles of the Sexes

As the design process begins, writes Scott Cohen, he’s ready for the fact that men and women quite often have conflicting ideas about what they want by way of backyard features and amenities. Here, in the first of two articles on the subject, he takes a look at common points of contention. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Working with Rainwater

It wasn’t all that long ago that rainwater harvesting was a brand-new idea. In a pair of videos, Mike Gannon hearkens back no further than 2008, when he and other pond specialists teamed up with the staff of Aquascape to install the company’s very first system in a Georgia backyard. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Something in the Air?

Maybe it’s the approach of the holiday season, but for whatever reason Jim McCloskey has noticed increased traffic in press releases carrying what can only be described as very good and encouraging news. Are these indications of a fresh direction for the watershaping industry? [more]

RIPPLES

Faster than the Local Ferry!

Italian Politician Swims to

Sicily to Win Over Voters [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

A Mile-High Gallop

Located at the entrance to the home of football’s Denver Broncos, this vertical watershape combines bronze sculptures, cascades, rockwork and landscaping — and all Jim Morris had to do was figure out how to make thearchitects’ grand concept work. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Unusual Grace

Rekindling fond memories of past trips to New Orleans, Jim McCloskey recently revisited its Plaza de Espana — a tribute to long history and a rare place in an otherwise raucous city to enjoy a beautiful fountain, appreciate some gorgeous tile, watch people pass by and just rest up a bit. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Making Light

From the start of all of his projects, wrote Bruce Zaretsky in 2007, he has ideas about one key project feature in mind. Five important years later, is it now an up-front consideration for you, too? [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

What City Held the U.S. Swimming

Trials for the Last Two Olympics?

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

1. A number of U.S. cities are expected to vie for the right to hold the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in 2016. What American city held the trials before the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games?

a. San Diego b. Miami c. Omaha d. Atlanta

2. Officials in Gelnhausen, Germany have banned swimmers from performing every stroke except one, claiming that most swim strokes create too many waves – and that, they say, could endanger other swimmers and waste water. What is the one stroke they’re permitting?

a. Breaststroke b. Backstroke c. Sidestroke d. Dog paddle

3. David Graham, a 75-year-old retired Canadian billionaire and former cable TV mogul, wants to dig under his London mansion (estimated worth: $143 million) to install, among other things, a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna and massage room. How many subterranean levels does his plan – which has raised the ire of his neighbors – call for?

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

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

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2012/11.1, November 7 — Naturalistic Watershaping, Fire Features, Pond Renovation and more

November 7, 2012 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

A Window Into Nature

Microsoft’s corporate campus near Seattle has been the birthplace of much of the world’s most significant consumer-electronics technology. When it came time to adorn the ultramodern facility with a watershape of it own, reports Jon Mitovich, the scope and complexity of the system was intended to reflect the scale and grandeur of the world’s most famous software company — and to fit a circumscribed space as though it had been there from time immemorial.

This article, originally published in February 2003, 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]

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Sizzle of Fire and Water

If your aim is to draw people outdoors, writes Scott Cohen, there’s nothing quite like adding fire to a waterscape. Not only do you get the opportunity to work with dancing reflections, but there’s also the fact that you’re stretching the season by bringing sources of warmth to outdoor spaces. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Starting Fresh

Skilled pond designers and installers are often called upon to deal with the unfortunate results of work done by others, notes Eric Triplett. As this four-part video shows, he and his staff were able in this case to get the pond back in shape — all within its original footprint. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Jumping In

A long-time observer of industry programs intended to call attention to the value of watershapes, Jim McCloskey has taken a special shine to Step Into Swim — a National Swimming Pool Foundation campaign that’s just released a clever video on the importance of learning to swim. [more]

Latest Evidence from Paleontology

Were the Dinosaurs Swimmers?

Crawl, Butterfly or Backstroke? [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Crystalline Clarity

Producing clear, clean water in just about any watershape is essentially a matter of achieving efficient, effective filtration. To get there, writes Steve Gutai, you need to understand the performance characteristics of filter media as well as the nuts and bolts of how filters are installed. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Ready, Set, Goal

Setting and pursuing goals has long been a key to his own success, wrote Brian Van Bower in his ‘Aqua Culture’ column ten years ago. But is goal-setting still a valuable exercise in today’s business environment? [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Canadian Sports Ethics Body

Shortens Ban on Swim Coach

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

1. The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) has reduced a lifetime ban on Canadian swim coach Cecil Russell, enabling him to return to coaching as early as 2014. Why was Russell sanctioned in the first place?

a. He molested one of his swimmers

b. He committed an infraction of an antidoping regulation

c. He bet on the outcome of swim meets

d. He lied on his job application

2. What professional troupe of synchronized swimmers was featured on Justin Bieber’s recent music video for the song “Beauty and a Beat”? Hint: They also appeared on “Glee.”

a. Aquabirds b. Aquaroses c. Aqualillies d. Aquabelles

3. It recently was revealed that only an estimated 20% of this major Asian city’s residents know how to swim, in part because there are not enough public swimming lessons available. What city is it?

a. Hong Kong b. Tokyo c. Manila d. Kuala Lumpur

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

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2012/10.2, October 24 — Edge Treatments, Deck Integrity, Hillside Gymnastics and more

October 10, 2012 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Softening Edges

Among all of the elements defining superior naturalistic watershapes, accomplished pond/stream specialists know that edge treatments are generally what separates great work from the ordinary. Here, watershaper Steve Sandalis highlights these transitions, sharing techniques he uses to soften edges and create areas where grassy verges, plants, beaches and rocks combine to make impressions in various and seamlessly beautiful ways.

This article, originally published in January 2010, 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]

Paolo Benedetti on Proper Concrete Deck Construction

FEATURE ARTICLE

Integrity on Deck

Building concrete decks should never be a casual endeavor, says Paolo Benedetti. As he discusses here, there’s far too much that can go wrong if the installer isn’t curious about the underlying soil and doesn’t really know what’s involved in doing things right. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Hillside Gymnastics

When you build on a hillside, observes Randy Beard, you need to be armed with more than guts, experience and the equipment required to do the job. That all helps, of course, but as this video shows, what you really need is detailed information about what’s going on below the surface. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Time and Tide

As he was making final plans for the next national pool/spa expo, a question asked of Jim McCloskey started him thinking about the passage of time, the perspective that comes with experience and the importance of getting out to see people face to face. [more]

The Naked Truth Exposed!

BRITS GO OFF THE DEEP END

FOR NATURIST SWIMMING [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

Stars on the Wetlands

If there was ever a project that underscored the notion that ‘backyard swimming pools’ aren’t what they used to be, this one by Ron Gibbons is it: Built with a dizzying range of functional and aesthetic features, the project was the combined effort of a client and a gifted designer/builder. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Gateway Grandeur

Eero Saarinen’s Gateway Arch is a dominant feature of the St. Louis skyline, but Jim McCloskey has always felt a greater affinity for the Gateway Geyser — a fountain that matches its sweeping, metallic counterpart for height as well as serene majesty. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Learning to Say ‘No’

Five years ago, Bruce Zaretsky expressed the notion that watershapers and other professionals needed to have the gumption to say ‘no’ to clients. Is that still possible in the here and now? [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

University Drops Longstanding

Student Swimming Requirement

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

1. Which Midwestern university announced that its undergraduate students will no longer have to pass a swim test in order to graduate?

a. Michigan State University c. University of Chicago

b. University of Nebraska d. Iowa State University

2. Several people who swam off Boulder Beach on Hoover Dam’s Lake Mead developed a rash similar to the one caused by poison ivy; the condition, schistosomiasis, is commonly called “swimmer’s itch.” What did the National Park Service suspect was to blame for the outbreak?

a. Parasites in the feces of infected waterfowl

b. A floating water plant closely related to poison ivy

c. An unusually large population of mosquitoes at the lake

d. Chemicals that may have been discharged from Hoover Dam

3. An 18-year-old swimmer has already broken the world record in the 200-meter breaststroke set at the London Olympic Games by Daniel Gyurta of Hungary. What country is the teenage swimmer from?

a. Hepatitis C b. Clinical depression c. Agoraphobia d. Body dysmorphic disorder

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

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2012/10.1, October 10 — Landscape Lighting, Penny Pinching Woes, Fish-Friendly Ponds and more

October 10, 2012 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

The Science of Lighting

When designed and installed properly, a landscape lighting system enables clients to enjoy their watershapes and landscapes well after the sun goes down. But achieving those satisfactory results, says lighting expert Mike Gambino, requires an understanding not only of the aesthetics of lighting design, but also an appreciation of the technology behind the beauty and an ability to lay components out in ways that electrically balance the system.

This article, originally published in February 2008, 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]

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Pitfalls of Pinching Pennies

When homeowners try to lower costs by purchasing stone, tile and other materials on their own, observes Paolo Benedetti, quite often they will find that their savings are undercut by things that can get off track as the construction process unfolds. Here’s a look at the reasons why. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Home, Sweet Home

Even ponds of relatively modest size can be perfectly satisfying for homeowners, notes Mike Gannon. But it takes experience, skill and planning to make them just as as agreeable to fish and plants, as this informative video demonstrates. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

A Campaign Apart

At a point when we’ve all had just about enough of political campaigning, writes Jim McCloskey, the National Swimming Pool Foundation has put in a pitch for a different kind of donation — this one dedicated to the cause of swimming education for children and adults all across the nation. [more]

The Power of the Human Will… LIMBLESS AUSSIE DIVES INTO POOL, GETS OUT BY HIMSELF [more]

TECHNICAL BRIEFING

Hydraulics in Hot Water

Designing for hydraulic balance and efficiency is critical for any watershape, but nowhere is it more important or more challenging than with inground concrete spas. You can knock the challenge down to size, says Steve Gutai, by paying close attention to the fundamentals. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

A Slithering Treat

Ever since its water first flowed in 1971, the Vaillancourt Fountain in San Francisco has been controversial and subject to periodic calls for demolition. So see it while you can, says Jim McCloskey, because it’s a spectacular work of public art and well worth a trip to the Embarcadero. [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Professional Relations

Ten years back, Stephanie Rose wrote about the importance of forming networks of professional contacts. Have events and realities of the past decade done anything to alter the validity of her comments? [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Investigating an Olympic

Swim Team’s ‘Troublesome Culture’

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

1. Swimming officials in one English-speaking country are looking into “reports of a troublesome culture in the current [Olympic swim] team, and allegations of bullying young swimmers, favouritism for others and disturbing pranks that undermined the team’s morale at its staging camp in Manchester during preparations for the London Olympics.” Which country is it?

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

2. A well-known Mexican vacation destination has become a major magnet for tourists who want to swim with whale sharks. (Although they grow up to 50 feet in length and are the world’s largest fish, whale sharks are gentle creatures that pose no threat to humans.) Which vacation destination is it?

a. Mazatlan b. Acapulco c. Puerto Vallarta d. Cancun

3. An 18-year-old swimmer has already broken the world record in the 200-meter breaststroke set at the London Olympic Games by Daniel Gyurta of Hungary. What country is the teenage swimmer from?

a. China b. Russia c. Japan d. USA

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

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2012/9.2, September 19 — Cima del Mundo, Pond Revisions, Dancing Water Wall and more



SEPTEMBER 19, 2012		www.watershapes.com
	ESSENTIAL A Classic Crescendo For the best part of four years, landscape architect/contractor/ watershaper Mark Holden devoted much of his professional energy to the creation of magnificent settings for Cima del Mundo, a grand estate high in the hills of Montecito, Calif. In two previous articles, he wrote about the nuts and bolts of the multi-phase project. Here, he steps back and offers a pictorial celebration to mark its completion. This article, originally published in July/August 2002, 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]
	WATERSHAPES.COM Pardon Our Dust! In relaunching watershapes.com last month, we ran into a strange twist with email addresses and have learned that many of you did not receive our last two newsletters. Please accept our apologies if you were among those we left out: Just click here to gain access to the missing editions! [more]
	PONDCRAFT Rethinking a Pond? Winter is a great time, says Ed Beaulieu, to start thinking about ways to upgrade and improve a backyard pond. Here’s a little guidance in deciding what can be done, starting with the pond’s physical dimensions and moving on to consider a list of other possibilities. [more]
	VIDEO GALLERY Making Water Dance Lots of his clients have seen elaborate water walls during their travels, notes Randy Beard, and want him to re-create scaled-down versions of them for their own backyards. That’s a tall order, he says — but one that’s doable with a bit of ingenuity. [more]
	WATERSHAPES WORLD Thinking Video If the last ten years of project documentation was all about the acceptance and ascendency of digital photoghraphy, asks Jim McCloskey, is it likely that the next ten years will be all about the emergence of easy digital video recording? [more]
	RIPPLES Could it Happen in the U.S.? Lady Gaga Closes Stockholm Hotel Pool for Romantic Tryst [more]
	TRAVELOGUE Encircled Perfection Philadelphia’s Logan Circle boasts a spectacular fountain with a storied pedigree. But there’s a simple elegance to it, writes Jim McCloskey, that befits its position at the core of a long, distinguished boulevard of museums and other cultural attractions. [more]
	WATERSHAPES CLASSICS Witnessing Transitions Watershapers who proclaim a quality approach must back it up with quality performance, wrote Brian Van Bower in September 2007. Is there any leeway today? [more]
	TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE Blind U.S. Navy Swimmer Wins Paralympics Gold Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below. 1. At the 2012 Paralympics in London, blind U.S. swimmer Navy Lt. Brad Snyder won a gold medal in which of the following events? a. 400-meter freestyle b. 50-meter backstroke c. 100-meter butterfly d. 200-meter breaststroke 2. A community swimming pool in Chikkaballapur district (state of Karnataka), India, which opened only a year and a half ago to great praise, has already been closed. Why? a. Inadequate water supply for filling the pool b. Substandard work when the pool was built c. Lack of maintenance and poor accompanying facilities d. All of the above 3. After one Texas city discovered a $330,000 surplus in its municipal budget, it dedicated most of the money — $211,000 — to keeping five community pools open five days a week instead of two. Which city was it? a. Houston b. Dallas c. San Antonio d. El Paso To find out how many you got right, click here.

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2012/9.1, September 5 — Integrated Views, Pond Fixes, Balboa Park and more

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2012/8.2, August 22 — Front-Yard Design, Aquatic Plants, Halprin Fountain and more



SEPTEMBER 5, 2012		www.watershapes.com
	ESSENTIAL Integrated Views A spectacular site is often the foundation for extraordinary watershapes and landscapes, observes Melanie Mackenzie – and that certainly proved to be the case with this project. As seen here, she built upon elements suggested by the site and its surroundings to develop a fully integrated approach that ties the front and rear yards together in ways that delight the eye, cheer the spirit and encourage the contemplation of distant horizons. This article, originally published in August 2007, has been digitized for all readers. To access the full text and images, click here.
	PONDCRAFT When Ponds Leak It’s a simple fact: Even the best-laid pond will sometimes spring a leak. When that happens, writes Dave Kelly, it’s time to proceed through the entire system from end to end to ensure that whatever repairs you make will really do the job. [more]
	WATERSHAPES.COM Navigating Our New Web Site Here’s a quick tour to the features of the brand-new WaterShapes.com web site, including the pull-down toolbar as well as other new features found on the home page. It’s a new beginning – and the springboard to a great future! [more]
	VIDEO GALLERY Blast from the Past For generations, pool-industry marketers have looked for ways to reach out to consumers, says Vance Gillette. That’s why this old video caught his eye: It may be grainy and faded, he writes, but its message is as current as today’s news. [more]
	WATERSHAPES WORLD A Full Plate The early part of the year was filled with action on the education front, notes Jim McCloskey – and it seems that the seeds planted then will be bearing wonderful fruit in the form of three big events taking place this September and October. [more]
	RIPPLES Congressman in Unholy Hot Water! BELATED APOLOGY FOR BOOZE-FUELED SKINNY-DIPPING IN THE SEA OF GALILEE [more]
	TRAVELOGUE A Walk in the Park San Diego’s Balboa Park is a treasure – one made all the more special for watershapers, reports Jim McCloskey, through the presence of a great fountian and, even more so, a huge lily pond teeming with plants, fish and amazing stories. [more]
	WATERSHAPES CLASSICS Chromatic Virtues In September 2002, David Tisherman began his ‘Details’ columns with a simple declaration: Color is amazing. Was this news to you ten years ago? [more]
	TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE Swimmer Ruled Eligible to Compete in Paralympics Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below. 1. At the 2012 Paralympics in London, swimmer Victoria Arlen initially was ruled ineligible to participate by the International Paralympic Committee because, according to a report on USAToday.com, “Arlen’s impairment no longer fit a classification for competition.” That IPC decision was reversed on appeal, and the swimmer was deemed eligible. What country is Arlen representing? a. Canada b. United Kingdom c. United States d. Australia 2. U.S. Paralympic swimmer Navy Lt. Brad Snyder is the world’s top blind swimmer in three freestyle distances (50-, 100- and 400-meters). How did he lose his eyesight? a. An explosion in Afghanistan b. An explosion in Iraq c. An accident on an aircraft carrier d. A training mishap in the U.S. 3. According to Wikipedia, swimmers at the Paralympics “are classified according to the type and extent of their disability.” Which condition is not included in the list of physical disabilities for Paralympic swimmers? a. Single or multiple limb loss b. Cerebral palsy c. Dwarfism d. Blindness To find out how many you got right, click here.

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AUGUST 22 2012		www.watershapes.com
	ESSENTIAL Suburban Spaces You really can find opportunities in unexpected places, insists Mehrnoosh, a Los Angeles architect and designer who enjoys making refined aesthetic statements in previously plain suburban environments. To illustrate her point, she takes us to a project in a modest neighborhood to define how simple architectural and landscape elements – and water – can bring elegance and tranquility to otherwise overlooked and under-appreciated spaces. This article, originally published in March 2006, has been digitized for all readers. To access the full text and images, click here.

	PONDCRAFT Getting into Aquatic Plants The impulse to install a pond often starts with a desire to raise fish, notes Brian Helfrich. But once work starts with the greenery required to keep the ecosystem in balance, he says, it’s clear the owner has found upon two great hobbies instead of one. [more]

	VIDEO GALLERY A Distinctive Hybrid Getting things done with a watershape-construction project sometimes involves taking risks. But as Randy Beard demonstrates in this video, creative solutions to a problem are one thing, while having the nerve to implement them can be quite another. [more]

	WATERSHAPES WORLD Drum Roll, Please! After many months of intense effort, the new WaterShapes.com has taken flight. Here, Jim McCloskey offers a brief introduction to the relaunched site and its broader audience and casts forward to a bold, digital future. [more]

	RIPPLES Apples, Oranges and Cumquats: IS MICHAEL PHELPS THE GREATEST OLYMPIC ATHLETE OF ALL TIME? [more]

	TRAVELOGUE Rough-Hewn Elegance If your travels ever take you to the Pacific Northwest, says Jim McCloskey, no visit to Portland, Ore., is complete without a pilgrimage to see the roiling glory of one of Lawrence Halprin’s greatest urban achievements: the Ira Keller Fountain. [more]

	WATERSHAPES CLASSICS Straight Talk Back in 2007, Bruce Zaretsky made a case for balancing the drive to financial success with a focus on quality and creativity. Is this still a reasonable discussion in times of lingering economic uncertainty? [more]

	TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE Swimming Lake Michigan To Raise Public Awareness Many water-related stories have been in the news of late — including reports connected to the three questions below. 1. A married couple recently attempted — unsuccessfully — to swim across Lake Michigan to raise public awareness about what condition? a. Autism b. Schizophrenia c. Postpartum depression d. Bipolar disorder. 2. A 25-year-old British man was arrested for peering over the toilet cubicles of a Leeds sports center to watch an Olympic women’s swimming team change clothing for a training session. (As of this writing, the convicted Peeping Tom is awaiting sentencing.) What country was the team from? a. India b. China c. The Netherlands d. Peru. 3. Tragically, two more children have died from Naegleria fowleri after they went swimming in Lily Lake in Stillwater, Minnesota. What is the common name for Naegleria fowleri? a. Parasitic reed worms b. Invasive water flies c. Lung-eating bacteria d. Brain-eating amoeba. To find out how many you got right, click here.

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