the Agents of Moxie
Formerly called Tagged! :: Posts from Guest Posters.
Randi Destefano :: A (true) Boomer Fairy Tale
6August 12, 2010
. . . But when he returned home from the hospital reality set in for the fairytale couple. The walker that he required could only fit sideways through the small bathroom door. The bathtub with a sliding glass door, no grab bar, and no hand-held shower, made bathing incredibly difficult and precarious. The floors were high gloss ceramic tile with slippery rugs on top, and the toilet was too low for the knee that couldn't bend. [ . . . ]
Bob Borson :: When Does it All Come Together? (An architect becomes an Architect)
15August 6, 2010
I have been an architect my whole life. When I tell people that I knew I wanted to be an architect by the time I was 5 years old, they think how lucky that must have been! How great it must be to have a singular drive and focus towards a career! Admittedly, I have spent time thinking about how people can go to college and not know what they want to do with themselves - it's something that I never had to deal with. But am I really so lucky? [ . . . ]
Matt Constantine :: Home on Maslow’s Terms (HUD Dollars at Work in FLA)
6July 28, 2010
And I thought my career path as a Social Worker would pretty much ensure that I would avoid Planning and Zoning Boards, permit applications, construction budgets, etc....Life throws us all curve balls at times and my job at a south Florida nonprofit has required me to become a bit of an affordable housing rehab/new construction guy. Along the way I have learned a great deal and have acquired some philosophies surrounding the issue of housing.
I now firmly believe that safe and affordable housing is one of the most powerful services that can be provided to families in need. It's all part of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - how can one expect a single mom to work on critical life issues if she is in fear of eviction every month? How can a family be expected to pull themselves up by their bootstraps (my least favorite saying of all time) if they live in substandard housing and consistently battle with exorbitant light bills and unsanitary conditions? [ . . . ]
Mike Hines :: We Want Faster Horses (On Innovation)
7July 26, 2010
While drafting this post I happened across an anonymous quote and it struck me as relevant. If Henry Ford had asked his customers what they needed they would have said faster horses.
History confirms that Mr. Ford was not ignoring his customers, simply listening better than most with vision firmly fixed on the horizon. A paradigm shift in the making. [ . . . ]
Old Square Nails: John Poole :: Yes, Virginia, They Really Do Still Make Them
22July 23, 2010
Most of us are familiar with the old square nails used centuries ago. We've seen them on display at museum homes, or historical society exhibits, or perhaps being hammered out by blacksmiths in places like Plimoth Plantation or Colonial Williamsburg.
What many of us are unaware of, however, is that those old nails were actually superior in design to modern wire nails, with several times the holding power, and being less likely to cause wood to split. And perhaps even less well known is the fact that square nails are still manufactured today, and are even available in bulk quantities. [ . . . ]
AK Renovations :: Putting a Price on Happiness
0July 19, 2010
We all know money cannot buy happiness. Goodness knows it is easy to be swayed sometimes though. With the thousands of media images we all receive each and every day - drive this car, wear this watch, buy these shoes, drink this beer - it's tempting to think that these products may at least enhance our happiness. If only for a moment. [ . . . ]
