Newsletters

2011/10.1, October 12 — Battling Gophers, Visiting Paris, WaterShapes TV and more

October 12, 2011

WATERSHAPES.COM

LESSONS LEARNED

Gophers Got You Down?

Gophers may be cute, but they can also wreak havoc on slopes with ponds installed atop them. And it gets even worse, explains Scott Cohen, when the client is an attorney who wants to make you pay for the resulting damage even though you’ve warned him about the risks of rodent infestations. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Learning from an Illusion

All watershapers who travel to Paris should stop by the Luxembourg Gardens and see the Medici Fountain, which globetrotting designer/builder Paolo Benedetti describes as an unrivalled demonstration of a useful technique for fooling the eye. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Broadcasting a Vision

It seems like ancient history, but not too many years ago WaterShapes tried to conquer the airwaves, producing a pilot for a series called ‘WaterShapes TV.’ In his latest blog, Jim McCloskey discusses how the concept emerged — and what happened to it back in 2001. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

WaterShapes TV, Part 1

Few people in the industry know about it, but WaterShapes once tried to break through as a television program. Here is the first of five segments of the pilot, this one opening the show and introducing the philosophy that drives each subsequent segment. [more]

George Clooney: The Brouhaha Over Bodacious Skinny-Dipping at His Italian Villa [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

The Soul of a River

Hal Hagen guided WaterShapes readers on a pioneering exploration of river restoration back in October 2001, introducing a subject that has only grown in importance in the intervening years. Here’s a look back at key ideas from this groundbreaking article. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Why May Aussie Olympic Swimmer
Be Banned from London Games?

Many water-related stories have been in the news in the past several weeks — including reports connected to the four questions below.

1. Swimming Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee may ban Olympic swimmer Kenrick Monk from participating in the 2012 London Games. Why?

a. He tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
b. He lied about being injured by a hit-and-run driver.
c. He punched one of his teammates in the face.
d. The legality of his Australian citizenship is in dispute.

2. Which Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star recently revealed that he has added swimming to his rigorous prefight training regimen?

a. Kenny Florian b. Josh Grispi
c. Jose Aldo d. Mark Horminick

3. In one city ravaged by an earthquake earlier this year, a woman dressed only in a skimpy bikini showed up at a city council meeting to plead for the speedy reconstruction of a local swimming pool. What city was it?

a. Fukushima, Japan b. Lorca, Spain
c. Port-au-Prince, Haiti d. Christchurch, New Zealand

4. After the original redevelopment plan was widely criticized, the city where the International Swimming Hall of Fame is located has proposed a new plan for redeveloping the facility. Where is the International Swimming Hall of Fame?

a. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. b. La Jolla, Calif.
c. Miami Beach, Fla. d. Virginia Beach, Va.

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

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2011/9.2, September 28 — Bidding Processes, Front-Yard Staging, Longwood Gardens and more

September 28, 2011

WATERSHAPES.COM

FEATURE ARTICLE

Leveling the Bidding Field

The bidding process is often difficult, but it gets even worse when homeowners don’t know enough to avoid comparing apples to oranges. That’s why watershape designer/builder Paolo Benedetti spends so much time these days helping prospective clients make better decisions. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Setting a Front-Yard Stage

Welcoming visitors is the primary function of a front entry, observes landscape designer/contractor Bruce Zaretsky. Making it work means being aware of all of the design elements that go into such spaces, including pathways, plants, materials and a refined, appropriate sense of drama. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Simply Wonderful

Tucked in the southeast corner of Pennsylvania, Longwood Gardens definitely has mass appeal. But for watershapers, the estate’s many ponds and water displays — and especially its main fountain — make it an essential pilgrimage. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Weighing Options

In recent weeks, many readers have offered suggestions on how WaterShapes might best move into the future. In this essay, publisher Jim McCloskey discusses some of these ideas — and asks for comments on a particularly provocative option. [more]

Humans Behaving Badly:
Man with Plastic Fetish Arrested
For Lewd Conduct with Pool Toy [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Filling the Energy Gap

Back in 2001, the late Mark Urban was already a determined advocate for making watershapes more energy efficient. In an article he wrote for our September issue of that year, he jumped on his soap box and spelled out the situation in terms that, in retrospect, seem startlingly ahead of their time. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

How Many Pools Will You Find on Allure of the Seas?

Many water-related stories have been in the news in the past several weeks — including reports connected to the four questions below.

Do you know the answers?

1. Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas — which can accommodate 6,400 passengers — is currently the world’s largest cruise ship. How many swimming pools does the Allure of the Seas have?

a. 13
b. 19
c. 21
d. 32

2. The city of Karachi, Pakistan, has closed all swimming pools at least through November. The spread of what pathogen is the closure designed to prevent?

a. The virus that causes dengue fever
b. The mycobacteria that cause tuberculosis
c. The virus that causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever
d. The amoeba parasite (Naegleria flowleri) that eats human brain tissue

3. Swimmers in a public pool were unaware that a baby saltwater crocodile had also gone for a dip to escape the heat — until eventually a lifeguard pulled out the creature (which was adorable, by reptilian standards). Where was the pool located?

a. Mumbai, India
b. Darwin, Australia
c. Phuket, Thailand
d. Pnom Penh, Cambodia

4. And speaking of scary critters in swimming pools…there was also the four-meter-long (more than 13 feet!) python that had to be fished out (snaked out?) of a private club’s swimming pool. In which city?

a. Lagos, Nigeria
b. Nairobi, Kenya
c. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
d. Panama City, Panama

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

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2011/9.1, September 14 — Curb Appeal, Fallingwater, Craftsmanship and more

September 14, 2011

WATERSHAPES.COM

FEATURE ARTICLE

Kicking Up ‘Curb Appeal’

You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression. That’s why landscape designer/builder Bruce Zaretsky designs front entries to please homeowners and anyone who drops by. The key, he says, is setting a stage — which he achieves by managing the way people move toward the front door. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Revisiting Fallingwater

Seeing Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater for yourself is a great idea, but if visiting southwestern Pennsylvania isn’t in your plans, this video captures more of the organic nature of the place than any we’ve ever seen. It’s a virtual, visual tour de force, with great and inspiring music as well. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Marilyn and Watershaping

What does Ms. Monroe have to do with watershaping? Not a whole lot, concedes Jim McCloskey, except that she and other celebrities play an undeniable role in building readership for WaterShapes EXTRA! Check out his current blog entry to see what he’s discovered. [more]

FULLY CLOTHED PRINCE HARRY,
POSSIBLY TIPSY, PLUNGES INTO NIGHTCLUB POOL TWO TIMES! [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Quality Don’t Come Easy

A decade ago, WaterShapes published a column by Brian Van Bower entitled ‘Quality Don’t Come Easy’ in which he decried what he saw as a dearth of quality craftspeople in the watershaping trades. Has the situation changed since then, or could Brian write the same column today? [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Why Did Hisashi Koze Swim the South China Sea?

Many water-related stories have been in the news in the past several weeks — including reports connected to the four questions below.

Do you know the answers?

1. Hisashi Koze, a 39-year-old Japanese man, was forced to swim 30 kilometers (more than 18 miles) across the South China Sea to return to dry land. Why?

a. The small airplane he was piloting lost engine power, and he had to ditch in the ocean.
b. He was working on a freighter and fell overboard.
c. He was left out in the middle of the ocean because of a diving mishap.
d. His sailboat sprung a leak and sank.

2. With thousands and thousands of foreclosed homes — many of them with swimming pools — sitting vacant in Florida, what public nuisance has arisen due to the lack of pool maintenance?

3. A 52-year-old man nearly lost what part(s) of his body after swimming in improperly chlorinated pool water for five months?

a. His hair
b. His teeth
c. His eardrums
d. His fingernails and toenails.

4. Why did surfers in the Virginia Beach, Virginia, area have reason to celebrate toward the beginning of this month?

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

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2011/8.2, August 24 — Fire Features, Improving Performance, Marilyn Monroe and more

August 24, 2011

WATERSHAPES.COM

LESSONS LEARNED

Mastering Outdoor Fire Features

‘Through the past decade or so,’ Scott Cohen observes, ‘the popularity of all forms of outdoor fire has increased dramatically.’ Here, Cohen covers several issues related to outdoor fire features: building materials, smoke direction, heat transmission and positioning for proper oxygen draw. [more]

MY PERSPECTIVE

Watershapers Must Grow or Go!

In the second installment of this two-part opinion piece, Mark Holden offers his prescription for improving watershapers’ performance and bottom line. It includes: move toward artisan-based design, take a different approach to leads, don’t dumb-down projects, focus on what you want and expand your skills. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Brighter Future or Wishful Thinking?

‘After nearly three years of hardship, it seemed earlier in 2011 that things were finally bouncing back — but now seem to be slipping away again,’ Jim McCloskey writes. Still, he remains fairly optimistic: ‘I can only think that our dedication to craft, to fine design and to the many benefits watershapes bring to those who own them give us reasonable assurance that eventually our perseverence will pay off and that good outcomes aren’t out of reach forever.’ Or is that just wishful thinking? [more]

Movie Legend Marilyn Monroe:
Nude Swimming Outtakes from the Ill-Fated ‘Something’s Got to Give’ [more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Why Proper Supervision Is Essential

A decade ago in David Tisherman‘s ‘Details’ column, he argued forcefully for increasing on-site supervision of watershaping projects. In his article on the topic, entitled ‘Super Vision,’ he wrote, ‘Call it quality control, attention to detail or perfectionism: There’s no substitute for supervision. It has to be there, every time, all the time.’ [more]

JOIN THE DIALOGUE

Your Assignment: Step Up to the Mike!

In the first part of his ‘Watershapers Must Grow or Go!’ opinion piece, Mark Holden basically ripped the watershaping industry a new one, as the saying goes. In this issue, he prescribes ways to chart a new course. What do you think? Click on the article’s ‘Join the Dialogue’ box and express yourself. Also, help Jim McCloskey answer the question he poses in the WaterShapes World Blog: ‘Brighter Future or Wishful Thinking?’ Read the articles above and leave your comments at the end.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

What Celebrated Swimmer Keeps Trying to Swim the Florida Straits?

Many water-related stories have been in the news in the past several weeks — including items connected to the four questions below. Do you know the answers?

1. Earlier this month, 61-year-old Diana Nyad was in the news for her unsuccessful attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida. What this the athlete’s first, second or third try at crossing the Florida Strait?

2. Why was a veteran New York lifeguard fired from his job in 2007? (His case recently made headlines again when an appeals court reinstated his discrimination lawsuit.) Here’s a hint: The reason he was fired had to do with swimwear.

3. Why are health experts now advising people not to jump or dive into natural bodies of water — such as rivers and lakes — or if they do, to use a nose clip or pinch their nostrils shut with their thumb and forefinger?

4. ‘Octomom’ Nadya Suleman was back in the news recently — this time because of her backyard aboveground pool. What was the problem?

To find out how you did, click here.

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2011/8.1, August 10 — Great Hotel Pools, Industry Gut Check, Designing Courageously and more

August 10, 2011

WATERSHAPES.COM

PHOTO GALLERY

Are These Really the World’s
Most Amazing Hotel Pools?

There’s no shortage of lists on the Internet (‘The 10 Biggest…,’ ‘The All-Time Dumbest…’), so when we came across a slideshow on BudgetTravel.com entitled ‘World’s Most Amazing Hotel Pools,’ we were a little skeptical. Having viewed the images, however, we have to admit that the 29 shots of 15 different pools were quite impressive. Still, are these really the most amazing hotel pools on the planet? You tell us! [more]

MY PERSPECTIVE

Watershapers Must Grow or Go!

In the first installment of this two-part opinion piece, watershaper and educator Mark Holden offers a scathing critique of what he views as the traditional pool industry. ‘A few years ago,’ Holden reveals, ‘I made a conscious effort to turn my back on the narrow confines of the swimming pool industry and to focus instead on the profession of watershaping and its significantly broader foundation and expressive potential.’ [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

We Promise to Keep You Posted

‘Several people have called me in recent weeks with best wishes and, above all, questions about what the future holds for our magazine, WaterShapes,’ writes publisher Jim McCloskey. ‘That’s a reasonable inquiry, and the honest answer is that I don’t know just yet.’ He concludes: ‘We’ll be back. The question is one huge When? — and all I can suggest is that you watch this space for news. We promise to keep you posted.’ [more]

OPRAH MAKES A SPLASH:
TV LEGEND PROVES IT’S NEVER
TOO LATE TO LEARN TO SWIM! [more]

BOOK NOTES

The Courage to Create Art

Mike Farley notes the following about the book Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles and Ted Orland: ‘This slim, 122-page volume…is so provocative and insightful that I think I could fill a year’s worth of columns with my observations of how what they say ties into what we do as watershapers.’ [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Putting a Spring in Your Dive

From Wikipedia: ‘A springboard or diving board is used for diving and is a board that is itself a spring, i.e. a linear flex-spring of the cantilever type.’

How much do you know about springboards?

1. What material are modern springboards made from?
2. What materias are used on the top of the boards to create a slip-resistant
surface?
3. At what heights are modern springboards positioned?
4. The spring constant of a springboard is usually adjusted by way of a
fulcrum that is located approximately how far along the board?

To find out the correct answers, click here.

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2011/7.2, July 27 — Hudson River Pools, Water Level Issues, Yosemite and more

July 27, 2011

WATERSHAPES.COM

VIDEO GALLERY

Floating Swimming Pools on
New York’s Hudson River?

It’s no secret that the Hudson River is terribly polluted where it flows through New York City — not exactly a fit place to go for a dip. That could change if three young, visionary entrepreneurs get their way: They’ve proposed constructing a floating installation with four pools that will purify the river water and enable New Yorkers to swim safely right in the city’s wet backyard. [more]

LESSONS LEARNED

High Waterlines, Bad Leaks

‘For the most part,’ writes Scott Cohen, ‘builders have little trouble with water levels in pools, where it’s generally a good idea to set the level at about the midpoint of the tile line — a decision simplified by the proper use of a typical skimmer. Where things are a bit more challenging is in attached, raised spas.’ [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Embraced by Yosemite

Publisher Jim McCloskey writes about the time he just spent in Yosemite National Park: ‘I had the sense that I was walking through a tremendous laboratory in which nature was showing its stuff, staging a grand clinic and wreaking havoc on any semblance of normalcy, expectation or predictability… Although I am back at my desk, I know I’ve been changed.’ [more]

MARLON BRANDO: INVENTOR OF TRACTION-OPTIMIZING
SHOES FOR SWIMMING POOLS [more]

BOOK NOTES

Adding the Beauty of Stonework

In his review of Stone Designs for the Home by John T. Morris (with Candice Walsh), Mike Farley writes, ‘There’s a beautiful irony in Morris’s approach: He uses ancient materials, ancient techniques and ideas borrowed from ancient structures to inspire his projects — but the results are unlike anything that’s ever been seen before. To me, that’s his greatest achievement.’ [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Olympic Champion Mark Spitz

Before there was the amazing Michael Phelps there was the amazing Mark Spitz, who garnered a record-breaking seven gold medals in swimming events at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. That achievement was unsurpassed (and unmatched) for nearly four decades, until Phelps won eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Can you answer these questions about Mark Spitz, who is now 61?

What was the first international athletic event in which Spitz competed?
Why did Spitz wear a mustache when he competed, as opposed to all the other swimmers who shaved their facial and body hair?
What word did Spitz use to characterize Michael Phelps’ winning eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics?
In 1998, Spitz appeared in a TV commercial for Playstation, along with another well-known figure. Who was it?

To learn the correct answers and watch a video of Spitz reminiscing about his athletic career, click here.

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2011/7.1, July 13 — Olympic Aquatic Centre, Healthy Ponds, Ripples and more

July 13, 2011

WATERSHAPES.COM

PHOTO GALLERY

The Controversial Aquatics Venue
For London’s 2012 Olympic Games

The London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympics — with its striking, wavelike roof — was designed to be a distinctive, futuristic venue for swimming, diving and other water-based events. Unfortunately, the project has been plagued by problems and troubling issues from its inception. Learn more about the controversial complex and see how it will look once completed. [more]

FEATURE ARTICLE

Fundamental Keys to Healthy Ponds

Maintaining a backyard pond in healthy condition is a pretty complicated undertaking — right? Not according to Ed Beaulieu, chief sustainability officer for watershape design and installation company Aquascape. Still, he says, it does require ‘thoughtful use of a range of systems and components — every one of which is needed to create [these] low-maintenance slices of paradise.’ [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

The Path to Better Times

Even though the watershaping industry has faced an extremely difficult business environment in the past two to three years, publisher Jim McCloskey writes in the latest installment of the WaterShapes World blog, ‘I know for a fact that there are better times ahead for professionals who design and build with water. How do I know? Certainly not because of any psychic powers or crystal ball.’ So…how does he know? [more]

Head of International Monetary Fund: Synchronized Swimming Champion And Whip-Wielding Dominatrix? [more]

BOOK NOTES

Reading to Reshape My Mental Outlook

According to Mike Farley, the very tough watershaping business climate of 2010 has made an astonishing turnaround in 2011 — at least, for him. Writes Farley: “What has changed, I believe, is my own thinking and approach to the business, a shift I attribute to three books I’ve read repeatedly in the past seven months.” He reveals — and reviews — the three titles here. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Which Is the Tallest Fountain in the World?

Decorative fountains have delighted humans since ancient times — but modern technology now enables them to shoot water to previously unimaginable heights.

Which is the world’s “tallest” fountain (that is, which sends water skyward the farthest)?

The Port Fountain in Karachi, Pakistan
The King Fahd Fountain in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The Fountain Park fountain in Fountain Hills, Arizona
The Dubai Fountain in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

To learn the correct answer and watch a dazzling video of one of the fountains, click here.

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2011/6.2, June 29 — Water Cube, Raised Spas, Main Drains and more

June 29, 2011

WATERSHAPES.COM

VIDEO GALLERY

What Happened to Beijing’s
‘Water Cube’ Aquatics Center?

One of the biggest architectural stars of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing — along with the spectacular ‘Bird’s Nest’ National Stadium — was the National Aquatics Center, a phantasmagoric structure like no other on earth. But once the Olympics came to a close, what happened to the ‘Water Cube’ and its dreamy, shifting color patterns? [more]

LESSONS LEARNED

Waterproofing Raised Spas

‘For generations,’ observes Scott Cohen, ‘the rank-and-file of the pool industry has operated under the general assumption that plaster is an effective waterproofing membrane. That’s not the case: As is true of all cement-based materials, plaster is permeable — as are concrete shells.’ Cohen discusses the importance of waterproofing raised spas; he also describes how to fix one whose outer stucco is delaminating because the spa was not waterproofed. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Recall the Drains Themselves!

‘The commercial pool and spa industry,’ writes WaterShapes editor Eric Herman, ‘was rocked recently by the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s mandatory recall of main-drain grates.’ But the real solution to the problem of suction entrapment, Herman insists, is not to recall the grates, but to get rid of single-suction main drains altogether. [more]

Expensive Celebrity AFR!
JLo’s Toddler Poops in Family Pool — Resulting Repair Bill Is $6,000 [more]

BOOK NOTES

Swimming in Harmony with Nature

Mike Farley reviews Natural Swimming Pools: Inspiration for Harmony with Nature by Michael Littlewood, an American landscape designer who moved to Europe. In the book, Littlewood explores the European trend of creating ponds that are used for swimming and other types of aquatic exercise. “The 250-page text is richly illustrated and if nothing else is a terrific idea book,” Farley writes. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Pond-ering the Mysteries of Frog Skin

According to the Web site allaboutfrogs.org, frogs are cold–blooded creatures that belong to the zoological classification Amphibia. There are 3,900 species of tailless amphibians — two of which are the frog and the toad. Frogs usually are found in and around ponds. One characteristic that makes frogs especially interesting is their unusual skin.

How much do you know about frog skin? One of the following statements does not come from allaboutfrogs.org and is not true. Which is it?

Frogs don’t usually swallow water; instead, they absorb most of the moisture they need through their skin.
In addition to the oxygen they get through their lungs, frogs take in more oxygen from water by absorbing it through their skin.
Frog skin needs to be wet to absorb oxygen — which is why frogs secrete a mucus that makes their skin moist and slimy.
Frogs shed their skin regularly — in some cases weekly, in others daily — to keep it healthy.
Once frogs shed their skin, they bury it in the pond’s mud.

To see the correct answer, click here. And don’t miss the trailer for the 1972 suspense horror film “Frogs!

BOBÉ WATER & FIRE FEATURES

(Phoenix, AZ) has introduced the Builder Series, a line of water and fire features designed and engineered with simple selection and easy installation in mind. Developed with a minimalist approach to keep costs down, the series features all-copper scuppers, fire pots, po pots and fire/water pots — including an all-in-one fire pot that has both fire and ignition components for easy installation. [more]

DECK-O-SEAL

(Hampshire, IL) offers the Signature Series of deck drains, joints, drain replacement tops and expansion-joint caps. Designed to last three to four times longer than any wood or other PVC products currently available, the units feature a Redwood finish and superior chemical resistance. They also will retain both their color and mechanical properties under long exposure to ultraviolet light, moisture and heat. [more]

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2011/6.1, June 15 — Vanishing Edges, Banpo Bridge Fountain, Portfolios and more

June 15, 2011

WATERSHAPES.COM

LESSONS LEARNED

Vanishing-Edge Pools: Problems and Solutions

According to Scott Cohen, vanishing-edge pools are ‘several times more sophisticated than your average backyard swimming hole. They are trickier structurally and hydraulically.’ Undersized or overly narrow catch basins, improper water leveling, inadequate waterproofing, bad forming — these are some of the potential problems in vanishing-edge pools that Cohen discusses in the latest installment of his series. [more]

VIDEO GALLERY

Amazing Bridge Fountain in Seoul

The Banpo Bridge in downtown Seoul, South Korea, became a major tourist attraction in 2009 with the inauguration of the span’s stunning Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, which shoots water out to both sides of the formerly nondescript structure over the Han River. Watch a video and see still photos of this unusual, breathtaking installation. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

21st Century Water Management

In the latest installment of WaterShapes World, editor Eric Herman discusses “Clean Water: Foundation of Healthy Communities and a Healthy Environment,” a 19-page document from the Federal government that outlines national objectives for ensuring the future of our waterways, public water supplies and overall water resources. The document was released at the end of April. [more]

Gwyneth Paltrow Burns Off
Eyebrows in Freak Accident —
Pool Prevents Worse Injury [more]

BOOK NOTES

Packaging Your Finest Work

Mike Farley reviews Portfolio Design by professor of design Harold Linton. ‘For anyone looking to make design work for watershapes a paying part of the business, I can’t offer a strong enough recommendation for this book. How we represent ourselves and our work is simply too important to be left to chance!’ Farley writes. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Water Polo, Anyone?

Water polo — which became an Olympic event at the 1900 Summer Games in Paris — is a team water sport that can be quite aggressive and is very physically demanding. In that regard, water polo has been compared to ice hockey.

How much do you know about water polo? Can you answer the following questions?

1. During game play, how many players from each team are allowed
in the playing area of the pool?

2. How long can a team possess the ball without shooting for the goal
(unless an opponent commits an ‘ejection foul’)?

3. What does the term “egg beater” refer to in water polo?

Source: Wikipedia

To see the correct answers, click here.

DECK-O-SEAL

(Hampshire, IL) offers charts on its Web site that help pool-deck installers decide which of the company’s products are best suited for given applications (coping, decks and watershapes). The charts cover the company’s complete line of curing and sealing compounds, explaining the features and benefits of each product. [more]

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2011/5.2, May 25 — Using Color Theory, Outdoor Living, Donald Trump’s Hair and more

May 25, 2011

WATERSHAPES.COM

FEATURE ARTICLE

Beyond Basic Blue: Using Color Theory

Water is blue…and blue is blue is blue, right? Not so fast, says Paolo Benedetti, who writes, ‘What most people (including, it seems, a lot of people in the watershaping field) don’t understand is that a myriad of variables and principles are involved in determining what color water appears to be.’ [more]

PHOTO GALLERY

Zillow Picks Pix of Beautiful Pools

Started six years ago by Rich Barton and Lloyd Frink — two former Microsoft executives — Zillow is an online real estate database best known for appraising property values. On its Web site, Zillow has also posted photos of some pretty amazing swimming pools, which tend to be attached to spectacular homes that come with huge price tags. [more]

Enjoy the views…and start saving up your money!

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Are You Embracing the Total Outdoor Experience?

With much anecdotal evidence indicating that things are picking up for the watershaping industry, WaterShapes editor Eric Herman asks the following: ‘Have you sensed a shift toward the overall outdoor experience and a somewhat lessened emphasis on pools and spas? Have you altered your business model to meet this demand?’ [more]

‘Donald Trump’s Hair Found Dead In Las Vegas Swimming Pool…Autopsy Set for Tomorrow’ [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

From Swimming Champ to Music Star

What well-known music composer, instrumentalist and recording artist was a member of his native country’s national swimming team in his youth — even breaking that country’s record in the 50-meter freestyle at age 14?

Here are some clues:

> He has more than 35 platinum and gold albums.

> His albums have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

> He had a long-term relationship with a beautiful American actress.

> He can’t read music.

> He has great hair (much better than The Donald’s).

Click here to see the answer and to watch this performer in action.

BOOK NOTES

Selling the Dream

This installment of Book Notes is a double-header: First, Mike Farley reviews International Award–Winning Pools, Spas and Water Environments by Virginia Martino, Joseph M. Vassallo and Mary Vail. Then he reviews Scott Cohen’s Poolscapes: Refreshing Ideas for the Ultimate Backyard Resort. Cohen is, of course, a frequent contributor to WaterShapes EXTRA! [more]

DECK-O-SEAL

(Hampshire, IL) offers Deck-O-Shield Plus, a premium-grade, ready-to-use, water-based sealer formulated for natural stone. Designed to seal porous surfaces, the product doesn’t significantly alter the color of surfaces and is ideal for use on pool copings and decks to protect them from salt penetration — and on all other porous surfaces to protect against spalling caused by freeze/thaw cycles. [more]