tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83346957385200527332024-03-05T18:31:08.505-05:00One Thousand Stringsit's the little things that tie us together.Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.comBlogger299125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-62164408714142329012010-01-25T06:23:00.001-05:002010-01-25T06:23:55.283-05:00on my way home from ethiopia - a reportjust in case yall are waking up this morning and a bit confused - everything is fine here, my flight to addis is tomorrow morning, and my flight back to JFK (on KLM) is wednesday. i was planning on leaving early (today) but we had a little bit of delays with the field visits to the villages, and being the weekend the travel agent in new york wasn't at his desk to make the change to my itinerary.<br> <br>the crashed ethiopian airlines plane was going to addis from lebanon - 90 people died. it happened this morning about 2am. when i told my colleagues about it here this morning they were pretty saddened - but somewhat removed, just as we would be when a plane crash happens in the US. tragic - but we're all ok here.<br> <br>we got so much work done on this trip, and i think we're going to be in a good position to offer coverage for 5 crops, in 5 villages, in both rainy seasons this year (last year was 1 crop, in 1 village, in 1 rainy season). they're shooting for 700 households to be covered this year (last year was 200HH), and i'm sure we'll easily reach that goal, and probably break 1000HH. (there are about 5-6 ppl in one household on average). the insurance is designed to preferentially target the poorest farmers in the community - those with the least amount of fallback options during drought. in 2 of the 4 new villages, we discovered the poverty rate is greater than 60% (those living on less than $2/day) - so we're expecting at least 300HH to sign up from each of those two communities alone. the village last year (Adi Ha) has a poverty rate of "only" 40% - considered more or less a wealthy village in the region, because they have access to irrigation which helps them better cope with droughts. <br> <br>starting with this trip, we're already brainstorming plans to expand to 50 villages next year (2011) - and potentially 10,000HH. still not HUGE numbers, but all the partners here (banks, insurance company, local aid agency, weather service, oxfam, and all the farmers groups we've talked to) are very excited about expanding as quickly as possible. (in case any reporters are reading this... PLEASE don't quote me on this! everything in this post is VERY tentative and nothing has been decided. all specifics are my personal opinion only. i already got in trouble from my boss once for blogging! =) ) for those of you not on facebook (mom/dad......... you're missing out!!) - oxfam's website is: <a href="http://oxfamamerica.org/">http://oxfamamerica.org/</a> donations for haiti relief are now tax deductible for the 2009 tax year. (in case you were interested!)<br> <br>also- the website for our project is <a href="http://www.oxfamamerica.org/regions/horn-of-africa">http://www.oxfamamerica.org/regions/horn-of-africa</a> - there are a couple of feature stories halfway down the page on specific farmers in adi ha with a cool audio slideshow that i contributed some pictures to. there's also a place to donate directly online (where funds are most needed) - or if you want to donate specifically to our project, there's an address to mail in a check (put HARITA in the memo line). HARITA stands for "Horn of Africa RIsk Transfer for climate Adaptation".<br> <br>thanks so much for your love and support guys! <br>eric Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-50695804263233451342010-01-14T11:37:00.001-05:002010-01-14T11:39:13.005-05:00Repost from UNICEF - Urgent help needed to help Haiti earthquake victimsDear Eric,<br /><br />I'm sending the latest transmission we received from Haiti.<br /><br />There is no good way to report the news. Thousands have died. Tens of thousands more – especially children – are at risk and may not survive without our immediate help.<br /><br /><a href="http://inside.unicefusa.org/site/R?i=KH-bRqk5lPNhAzME2wU1zw..">Please give NOW – 100% of every dollar you give to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF will be sent directly to UNICEF to support emergency relief efforts.</a><br /><br />The initial response to yesterday's appeal has already saved countless lives, but the need continues to overwhelm our available resources. The children of Haiti are relying entirely on international assistance to survive. The Haitian government has little to no means to respond to the crisis.<br /><br />We are committed to doing whatever it takes to save these children. Please join us.<br /><br />Thank you,<br /><br />Caryl M. Stern<br />President & CEO<br />U.S. Fund for UNICEF<br /><br /><blockquote>Team,<br /><br />Latest intel is worse than expected. Needs severely outpace existing supplies. We do not have enough to keep the most vulnerable children alive. Desperately need more resources immediately. Please convey our dire need for help to all potential supporters. Children are dying.<br /><br />Details on needs outlined below. More to follow.<br /><br />-Richard<br /><br />HAITI EARTHQUAKE – PRELIMINARY NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE<br /><br />Transmitted: 14 January 2010 06.35<br /><br /> * 3 million impacted. Casualties estimate high, over 100,000 dead. Tens of thousands more injured.<br /> * Immediate needs [without more of the following, casualties will skyrocket, especially children]:<br /> o Emergency medical supplies and temporary facilities<br /> o Safe water<br /> o Nutrition packets<br /> o Temporary shelter systems<br /> * Children separated from families exceed existing temporary shelters. Many are roaming in debris, injured, at risk of greater injury or death.<br /> * Electricity not available. Widespread structural damage. Shanty towns leveled. Local government completely unequipped to aid those impacted.<br /></blockquote>Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-50974448984035368552009-11-24T12:20:00.000-05:002009-11-24T12:21:11.674-05:0010 things I am thankful for, 2009 edition1) Sarah, my best friend. <br />2) Emery Oliver<br />3) being able to buy fresh fruit and vegetables whenever I want<br />4) my job<br />5) ice cream and a big spoon after a long day<br />6) electricity and clean water on demand<br />7) LOST<br />8) a rodent-free apartment<br />9) vacations<br />10) love.Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-83040220372725380312009-11-13T21:08:00.004-05:002009-11-13T21:47:22.805-05:00For Christmas this year... Build the Greensburg wind farm!I have only one thing on my Christmas list this year:<br /><br />Offsetting all my flights for 2009... a big job! <br />(All that Catholic guilt is kicking in!)<br /><br /><br />Here's my company of choice for the offsets:<br /><a href="http://www.nativeenergy.com/pages/greensburg/517.php">NativeEnergy</a> is a revered offset program that develops renewable energy projects that benefit Native Americans, family farmers and municipalities. It's main project currently is supporting the construction of the new 12.5MW wind farm in Greensburg, KS. (Built by John Deere Renewables!)<br /><br />As you might remember, the town of Greensburg was 95% destroyed by an F-5 tornado on May 4, 2007. Being from Kansas, the town holds a special place in my heart. (I even went to a Homecoming dance there once in High School!) The story of Greensburg has been immortalized by a series on the <a href="http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/greensburg/">Discovery Channel</a>, a mention in the State of the Union, and a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/04/AR2008050401739.html">Presidential</a> commencement address at graduation that year...... vastly overshadowing the <a href="http://www.bigwell.org/bigwell.html">World's Largest Hand-Dug Well</a>, it's previous claim to fame!<br /><br />To offset my guilt (not to mention the CO2), I have calculated below all of my flight-miles for 2009. Before the year is over, I will have flown:<br /><br />Kansas: 592 540 781 760 <br />1108 1108<br />963 453 781 761<br />1020 393 781 761<br /><br />Ethiopia: 3644 3552 3552 3664 313 313 <br />6849 1563 313 313 1563 6849<br /><br />Other:<br />1187 1187<br />2475 2475<br />2475 2475<br />761 596 596 761<br />1108 1363 2475<br /><br />= 39 flights, (11532 mi short haul x .64 lbs/mi) + (23582 mi medium haul x .44) + (28090 mi long haul x .39) <br />= 14.36 tons of CO2<br /><br />That's almost half as much CO2 as the average American emits from all sources in one year... JUST FROM FLIGHTS! Not good. But, I figure by <a href="http://www.good.is/post/chasing-zero/">living in New York </a>(New Yorkers emit <a href="http://colli239.fts.educ.msu.edu/?p=728">less than 1/3 as much CO2</a> as the average American), and keeping a <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0120-20.htm">vegetarian diet</a>, I make up for a lot of that.<br /><br />When you're making your Christmas list this year - consider giving a gift to the planet, too.<br /><br />To offset now, go to:<br /><a href="http://www.nativeenergy.com/pages/offset_now/473.php">http://www.nativeenergy.com/pages/offset_now/473.php</a><br /><br />It might be the best Christmas gift you can give in the "Less is More" times we're living in now.Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-40067872372421642682009-09-30T10:18:00.006-04:002009-09-30T10:37:44.971-04:00We made the NYTimes!The Adi Ha project in Ethiopia made the NYTimes this morning - following our <a href="http://www.climateweeknyc.org/">Climate Week</a> event in the city last week, held along with Oxfam, Swiss Re, and the Climate and Society masters program.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/09/30/30climatewire-africa-experiments-with-climate-insurance---98391.html?pagewanted=all">Africa Experiments With Climate Insurance -- for $5 a Year</a><br /><br />Here's <a href="http://portal.iri.columbia.edu/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=699&parentname=CommunityPage&parentid=0&mode=2&in_hi_userid=2&cached=true">IRI's article</a> on the same event.<br /><br />It's a great day to be an IRI dreamer! Can't wait to see where this project goes!Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-57474984479619590992009-08-31T12:28:00.004-04:002009-08-31T12:43:03.607-04:00Ethiopia Report launch, and exciting "other projects"Hi Everyone-<br /><br />I'm so happy today to report that the IRI has officially launched a <a href="http://portal.iri.columbia.edu/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=962&mode=2&documentID=908">preliminary draft of our report on the Adi Ha, Ethiopia project</a>, which, as you know, I worked on quite a bit.<br /><br />We also have representatives at this week's <a href="http://www.wmo.int/wcc3/theme_en.php">World Climate Conference</a> hosted by the WMO in Geneva, Switzerland - again talking about Ethiopia, and other IRI projects we have going on around the world.<br /><br />My favorite "other project" is just at the scoping stage right now, but has already put forward some promising leads and I hope to talk about it and work a lot more on it in the future. This project is in partnership with the <a href="http://www.climatecentre.org/site/iri-background-information">Red Cross</a>, and would be helping Caribbean and Central American countries with enhancing preparedness for tropical cyclones.<br /><br />Also, this fall I will be taking a microeconomics course at Columbia (my first time officially being a student in a while...) to brush up on some basic skills that I think will improve my understanding of the decision-making forces operating in the families we are trying to help.<br /><br />No trips to the field planned right now in the near future, but you know how those things can pop up.<br /><br />Hope you all are well! Happy fall!Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-51427588746598032732009-08-19T12:03:00.004-04:002009-08-19T12:15:29.828-04:00Bill reaches Cat 4This morning, Hurricane Bill was upgraded to a Category 4 Hurricane - with sustained winds of 135mph. Bill is a beautiful storm and has yet to impact any land mass... the best kind of hurricane.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CDCZ2BtPuqe0fDxXl0E3IaTW2PyJEV5dmtzTMcyVtN5zrq0thvGdE1-6Qc4E2iKRyUINeRYma5BuXtuAuSIQ1TqvoJP2g3sk_E4vOhFGCEXSwy3MQkplw_kzqTy5nWp4IhoFFSvQf8Q/s1600-h/GOES14452009231PjUjBF.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CDCZ2BtPuqe0fDxXl0E3IaTW2PyJEV5dmtzTMcyVtN5zrq0thvGdE1-6Qc4E2iKRyUINeRYma5BuXtuAuSIQ1TqvoJP2g3sk_E4vOhFGCEXSwy3MQkplw_kzqTy5nWp4IhoFFSvQf8Q/s400/GOES14452009231PjUjBF.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371707161258655394" /></a><br /><br />The models have been in agreement for sometime predicting a recurvature between Bermuda and the East Coast - but still have significant spread on just how that will occur.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR2nlnCnRwTdrdORz7qVYzV-s2D14nvxJdlQ3q5qFOIP-80MV8En9Ie83fatvKVXdWirlbQpeaFI7ouyExG0T-B-_UESxB-kYkL6r6rnwmCqCfLpZyUb2I6IZmYsn51DGetw8-gDGzVE/s1600-h/bill+models+081909.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR2nlnCnRwTdrdORz7qVYzV-s2D14nvxJdlQ3q5qFOIP-80MV8En9Ie83fatvKVXdWirlbQpeaFI7ouyExG0T-B-_UESxB-kYkL6r6rnwmCqCfLpZyUb2I6IZmYsn51DGetw8-gDGzVE/s400/bill+models+081909.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371706341224299634" /></a><br /><br />However, it is getting more and more likely that some land will eventually feel the effects of Bill - and nearly guaranteed that there will be some serious wave action and beach erosion up and down the entire east coast late this week and weekend. Nova Scotia seems to be the ultimate landfall target at the moment, but landfall could be anywhere from Cape Cod, MA to Newfoundland. Bill will likely weaken by that point this weekend or early next week, but could still be anywhere from a Cat 1-Cat 3 at landfall. Bill's large size will ensure that rain, wave, surge, and wind effects are felt dozens to hundreds of miles from the official point of landfall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LRM3d6sHSNzka5lHGbN3BxwNEEBEakgiDcp6z_hQ27RURqxiLRq3oXD_yEhSGpp7hKpMidDggUJ3RdSi49oVrstJF4BTZXvd3W8qxi2GcwbJSn4wKkWpuIHxMVCOeKukKgag5q1eNaU/s1600-h/bill+hurr+wind+probs+081909.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LRM3d6sHSNzka5lHGbN3BxwNEEBEakgiDcp6z_hQ27RURqxiLRq3oXD_yEhSGpp7hKpMidDggUJ3RdSi49oVrstJF4BTZXvd3W8qxi2GcwbJSn4wKkWpuIHxMVCOeKukKgag5q1eNaU/s400/bill+hurr+wind+probs+081909.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371707153002697874" /></a><br /><br />The NOGAPS model in particular is the most westward of the models, and is predicting a landfall Sunday evening on Nantucket Island. Of course, this is only one model, and it's still 3-4 days out, so at this point if I were living in New England, I would just remain alert, and be prepared for evacuations, if necessary.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZiEX7_-6y94Rr0_2vaDU9Vvh104qYMaOxVbXbyZlLtz47z5y_ujmIzubzbBK0FmwFouZgDaJUbkHHTTHuiSecb4CoVrZJFZwQHPTJDydaH5TODj2X92l0lrx4ZcstvYLkhmvqpWwzo4/s1600-h/bill+nogaps+081909.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZiEX7_-6y94Rr0_2vaDU9Vvh104qYMaOxVbXbyZlLtz47z5y_ujmIzubzbBK0FmwFouZgDaJUbkHHTTHuiSecb4CoVrZJFZwQHPTJDydaH5TODj2X92l0lrx4ZcstvYLkhmvqpWwzo4/s400/bill+nogaps+081909.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371706329506276626" /></a><br /><br />Stay safe out there everyone, and stay tuned to the <a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/">National Hurricane Center</a> for the most up to date, official forecasts.Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-56646147903621201692009-08-17T17:33:00.005-04:002009-08-17T17:41:54.594-04:00All eyes on Hurricane Bill<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctSvg8EEN5LBG6Sz1S9w34sFO3y98CDq0cr4lb2wnfUg3Hs1TA0m1qJPz8pkSNMju7Xwxhh6lcViuKdmKi5YTvqLQKCcdNw_hn5JBOFJcOu1_rKP_9zfZN2CxlCrIZpEQKKxq4_Y9CFA/s1600-h/203213.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctSvg8EEN5LBG6Sz1S9w34sFO3y98CDq0cr4lb2wnfUg3Hs1TA0m1qJPz8pkSNMju7Xwxhh6lcViuKdmKi5YTvqLQKCcdNw_hn5JBOFJcOu1_rKP_9zfZN2CxlCrIZpEQKKxq4_Y9CFA/s400/203213.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371050320652220882" /></a><br /><br />New England/Atlantic Canada needs to stay VERY alert over the next few days...<br /><br />With Ana (dissipated over PR/DR) and Claudette (inland after landfall in Florida) both on the outs, all attention has now been focused on recently upgraded Hurricane Bill - which could reach Major Hurricane status sometime tomorrow or Wednesday.<br /><br />By this weekend, Bill could be bearing down on the New England coast, potentially as a Major Hurricane.<br /><br />Barring anything too crazy (i.e. a Major, or forced evacuations), a chase-cation to Montauk may be in the works this weekend...Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-21730865498194065952009-08-16T13:45:00.003-04:002009-08-16T14:18:07.593-04:00Ana, Bill, and ClaudetteVery quickly, we've gotten very active in the Atlantic. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzctQy9fs2hQ0mDa_4-aBQNGcZ5KcYJ-49KpGCMcvYzYCDa__Qw1w3jDFhmpDuSIGNxtbSJhn4_OSGc4-QVHzdXSPuzMKNb8ByqZOug6KmpJXrOSpFaS_xWgVgSQywvY88yeM-RX_rf8c/s1600-h/Picture+622.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzctQy9fs2hQ0mDa_4-aBQNGcZ5KcYJ-49KpGCMcvYzYCDa__Qw1w3jDFhmpDuSIGNxtbSJhn4_OSGc4-QVHzdXSPuzMKNb8ByqZOug6KmpJXrOSpFaS_xWgVgSQywvY88yeM-RX_rf8c/s400/Picture+622.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370622838646745682" /></a><br /><br />Just in the last 24 hours, since my last post, we've seen Bill strengthen and overtake Ana as the dominant storm in the central Atlantic, and just this morning, Claudette has formed off the Florida panhandle - with landfall expected this afternoon.<br /><br />But there is good news embedded in here. Ana has failed to strengthen as much as was forecast yesterday - and will likely weaken as it enters the Caribbean in the next couple days. Bill - though continuing to strengthen, likely to major hurricane status early next week - is trending rightward, meaning, it may miss the Caribbean/United States entirely. And Claudette - if given an extra 24 hours, would likely have become a landfalling hurricane.<br /><br />Stay tuned everyone, and please stay prepared if you are in the path of any of these storms.Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-6004187396922713462009-08-15T13:01:00.005-04:002009-08-15T13:29:06.390-04:00Finally, action in the Atlantic.Happy Atlantic Hurricane Season 2009, everyone!<br /><br />While those that live on the southeast coast (and in the Caribbean/Central America) probably DON'T look forward to this time of year ever, it's always a kind of morbid curiosity for me. #1 as a humanitarian, #2 as a "<a href="http://www.sip.ucar.edu/wasis/">WAS*IS</a>sy" research scientist, #3 as a weather nerd. Although I freely admit that those 3 could be in any order at times... saving lives of course always comes first. It's my job, but also my passion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYWxJGsSpJCl352C4G0N8e9MvwbXvjd6sbzqS3bXt9uICtP6_Bz_qzuVRiSFQNQmosebkD8kccclx3IaSZjHICPCBJ2MnGp44fMzQVheBwAfZM8WM_cCBSR2_5olqx20r9pHQyjfXrwE/s1600-h/Picture+619.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYWxJGsSpJCl352C4G0N8e9MvwbXvjd6sbzqS3bXt9uICtP6_Bz_qzuVRiSFQNQmosebkD8kccclx3IaSZjHICPCBJ2MnGp44fMzQVheBwAfZM8WM_cCBSR2_5olqx20r9pHQyjfXrwE/s400/Picture+619.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370238786285833794" /></a><br /><br />This morning, tropical storm Ana (pronounced Ah-na), formed from the remnants of TD#2 in the Central Atlantic. The shear that has been cutting off convection for the last few days is finally on the downswing, and Ana is moving over warmer waters. Ana's forecast track places her somewhere between South Florida and south of Cuba/Haiti/DR in 5 days, strengthening in that time to around hurricane strength. Of course, everyone living in those areas needs to start taking precautions now.<br /><br />We've had a lot of death and destruction lately (the last 5 years or so), but due to the <a href="http://iri.columbia.edu/climate/ENSO/currentinfo/QuickLook.html">onset of a weak El Nino</a>, this year's <a href="http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090806_hurricaneupdate.html">Atlantic hurricane season forecast</a> is officially calling for a calmer than normal season. HOWEVER -- (and that's a big however...) just one badly timed storm can make for a REALLY bad hurricane season for someone. I'm thinking here of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Atlantic_hurricane_season">1992 Atlantic Hurricane Season</a>, which was officially below average, but included as its first named storm <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Andrew">Hurricane Andrew</a> which devastated South Florida - the worst US storm on record until Katrina in 2005. Sound familiar to this season so far??<br /><br />Keep an eye on Ana everyone, especially those in <a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?5-daynl">the cone</a>.Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-56713762419013504032009-08-11T22:59:00.001-04:002009-08-12T00:03:10.106-04:002009 ALDS: Royals vs Orioles, Game 5Mon Oct 12, 2009, 6:15pm: After a humbling 9-0 loss in a rainy Game 2 in KC, and then a 3-2 heartbreaker in the first game in Baltimore where the combination of Sheets-Martinez was not enough to eek one out, the Royals came back to collect 16 hits and win 8-1 on the back of Billingsley on Saturday night at Camden Yards, to force a decisive Game 5 back home tonight.<br /><br />Starting tonight it will be Zack Greinke, the Royals All-Star, and Rich Hill, the Game 1 loser for the Orioles. Greinke hopes to have enough to lead KC on to the next round, after his unfortunate playoff debut in Game 2, where he was forced to leave the game in the 3rd inning after a long rain delay. Should Greinke and the Royals emerge victorious tonight, they would face the best-in-baseball Cleveland Indians in the ALCS, who clinched their Division Series win over the A's on Saturday. <br /><br />Needless to say, fans here are tuned in and turned on for the sold out finale tonight at the K. Thousands of powder-blue "It's Our Time" t-shirts fill the stands tonight, which has become the Royals rallying cry since the pennant race started heating up more than a month ago.<br /><br />7:40pm: Orioles are off to a quick 1-0 lead here in the second as Adam Jones takes Greinke deep.<br /><br />8:55pm: Greinke has retired 7 straight here in the 7th... with 7 strikeouts. It must be his lucky night! The score is still tied 2-2, but there is a hopeful buzz in the crowd.<br /><br />9:20pm: A leadoff single by Teahen and an error have 2 on with 1 out here in the bottom of the 8th. There's action in the Orioles bullpen. Here's the 3-2 from Hill to Crisp - struck him out swinging. A long 10-pitch at bat looks to chase the Orioles starter from the game, as the manager is making his slow walk out to the mound.<br /><br />9:32pm: The righty Chris Ray comes on to face Callaspo. He'll bat from the left side. Here's the 1-1.... liner through the gap on the left side and it will roll all the way to the wall!...... 2 runs are in and the Royals go up 4-2!!<br /><br />9:37pm: Alex Gordon to bat now. He's having a great series - the Royals missed him in September, but he came back from the DL just in time to make the start of this 5 game set, and has made a big impact so far against Baltimore. Royals fans are on their feet, looking for some insurance. Here's the pitch... it's a blooper, just over the head of the Orioles 1st baseman. Callaspo will score, and the Royals will take a 5-2 lead into the 9th inning!<br /><br />9:55pm: Motte will come on to face the Orioles 4-5-6 hitters here in the 9th inning. Here's the pitch... and it's ball 4 to Adam Jones. A leadoff walk for Motte.<br /><br />9:59pm: Motte against Wieters.... he struck him out! There was no catching up to that 95mph fastball.<br /><br />10:03pm: Next up, Scott Moore, the Orioles third baseman, who is 0-3 today. The Royals fans are on their feet and urging Motte on. Here's the pitch... grounder to Aviles at short... it could be two! Two second for one, and Youkilis squeezes it at first and pumps his fist! The Royals are going to the ALCS! <br /><br />Fireworks are popping, as the team rushes the field...jumping and dancing in the infield. A Division Series to remember here in KC!<br /><br />There they are, your 2009 Division Series champions, the Kansas City Royals!<br /><br />Player of the game: Alex Gordon, Series MVP: Alex Gordon (1HR, 6RBI, .368/.429/.632)Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-63693208806067396752009-08-11T16:25:00.003-04:002009-08-11T23:32:05.616-04:002009 ALDS: Royals vs Orioles, Game 1Tues Oct 6, 2009, 6:15pm: Today, the Royals are all anyone is talking about in Kansas City. That's because today, it's playoff baseball for the first time since 1985. Today, it's the Royals vs. the Orioles in Game 1 of the ALDS.<br /><br />On the mound today, it's Chad Billingsley for the Royals and Rich Hill for the Orioles. A chill is in the air with early fall time temperatures in KC - 46 degrees at gametime - but the Royals hope to give the city something to celebrate later on tonight.<br /><br />It's been a true team effort this year in KC - especially in the month of September, with 5 starters batting above .290 and a lot of clutch late inning RBIs as the Royals compensated for some ill-timed injuries to 3B Alex Gordon and SS Mike Aviles in the last weeks of the season. The Royals rotation also proved effective in September, with the 1-2 punch of Billingsley and Greinke going 9-0 as the Royals won 21 of their final 31 in Sept-Oct to finish atop the wild card standings in the American League.<br /><br />The Royals emerged victorious from a 4 way pennant race with 3 powerhouse clubs from the AL East. The Royals, back to full strength now, will trying to finish off the other survivor - the Orioles - this week in the best of 5 series.<br /><br />9:40pm: Despite giving up two early home runs accounting for all 3 of the Baltimore runs, the KC pitching staff has been quite stingy so far - allowing only 1 hit since Markakas' 2 run shot in the 3rd off Billingsley.<br /><br />The Royals offense has done a bit better, collecting 7 hits - but the result is the same as we enter the 9th inning with the score tied 3-3.<br /><br />9:55pm: A leadoff walk quickly becomes moot as Jason Motte finishes off the Orioles on 9 pitches in the top of the 9th.<br /><br />10:10pm: It's the bottom of the 9th, and Alex Gordon has just struck out looking. Next up, Mike Aviles.<br /><br />10:14pm: Aviles lines a shot down the third base line - but settles at 2nd. Corey Wimberly comes on to run and the fans are on their feet and screaming.<br /><br />10:18pm: 1 on, 1 out - drama here in the bottom of the 9th. Up next is Miguel Olivo. The 2-2 count... crushed!! Out to left field and deep... and the Royals win it! A walk-off home run for Olivo, and the Royals fans are living it up! The first playoff victory in 24 years, here at the K... what a night!<br /><br />Here's how that 9th inning played out:<br />Bottom of the 9th - Kansas City Royals batting - Pitching for Baltimore Orioles : LHP G. Sherrill <br />Now at 3B: M. Mora <br />Batting: LHB A. Gordon 0-0: Ball<br />1-0: Ball<br />2-0: Called Strike<br />2-1: Called Strike<br />2-2: Strikes out looking<br />Batting: RHB M. Aviles 0-0: Ball<br />1-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F<br />1-1: Ball<br />2-1: Ball<br />3-1: DOUBLE (Line Drive, 5L)<br />Pinch Runner at 2ndC. Wimberly: <br />Batting: RHB M. Olivo 0-0: Swinging Strike<br />0-1: Ball<br />1-1: Called Strike<br />1-2: Ball<br />2-2: 2-RUN HOME RUN (Flyball, 7D), Distance : 395 ft<br />Game Over ... Kansas City defeats Baltimore, 5 to 3Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-67411178957133408102009-08-09T12:56:00.004-04:002009-08-11T23:34:57.583-04:00Pennant fever in Kansas City!***DISCLAIMER***<br />All of the events described below are fictitious. But they COULD be real. Someday.<br /><a href="http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/ootp10/">OOTP</a> is an ultra-realistic baseball simulator, that lets you control every aspect of your team, from free agent signings, sicking within a budget of a small-market city, to managing your team's on the field plays pitch by pitch, to keeping fans happy by not raising ticket prices too high, or trading away their favorite player.<br />Below is a recap of what IS POSSIBLE. In this case, with those lovable losers - the Kansas City Royals.<br /><br />Just an FYI: I play all these games out, batter by batter. A full game takes about 15-20 min. But "the rest" of the simulator- negotiating trades, figuring out who to call up from the minors, setting ticket prices just right to balance attendance and cash flow... that's the fun part!<br />******************<br /><br />You knew it was going to be something special when we were above .500 when three players in the All-Star game, two starting. Yes, your 2009 American League Wild Card Kansas City Royals are experiencing pennant fever for the first time since 1985.<br /><br />Thanks to some well placed trades and a few risky offseason free agent signings, the boys in blue are back in the playoffs again for the first time since before a few of their players were born.<br /><br />A quick recap of the season highlights thus far:<br />April 5: Signed free agent SP Pedro Martinez to a 1-year deal worth $1,000,000<br />April 6: Opening Day, Zack Greinke and the Royals lose 4-3 to the White Sox. Another long season looks to be in store for the boys in blue. Opening Day lineup: Crisp, Callaspo, Butler, Gordon, Jacobs, Guillen, DeJesus, Aviles, and Olivo.<br />April 10: The Royals beat the Yankees 9-7 to improve their record to 4-1.<br />April 15: In his second start, Pedro Martinez hits the DL with a shoulder strain - and is out for 4-5 months. He would return in August as a nearly unhittable middle reliever.<br />April 22: SP Zack Greinke sprains his shoulder in the 3rd inning, and goes to the 15-day DL. But the Royals beat Cliff Lee and the Cleveland Indians 9-6 anyway to cap a 5 game win streak.<br />April 29: Coco Crisp goes 1 for 4 with an RBI triple to extend his hitting streak to 20 games, and Willie Bloomquist hits a pinch-hit RBI double in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Royals to a 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.<br />April 30: The Royals finish April with a record of 13-9. A sign of hopeful things to come?<br />April 30: Hurting for starting pitching, the Royals trade 1B Billy Butler and CL Joakim Soria to the LA Dodgers, for SP Chad Billingsley. Billingsley goes 15-4 for the rest of the season, including a 6-0 record in September during the playoff push. Mike Jacobs becomes the starting 1st baseman, and promptly goes on a HR tear.<br />May 6: Coco Crisp goes 0-4 against the Seattle Mariners, ending his hitting streak at 25 games.<br />May 7: Zack Grienke tosses a 5 hit, 8 inning, 3-2 win against Seattle in his first game back from the DL.<br />May 16: Signed free agent SP Ben Sheets to a minor league deal - with the hopes he would return from the DL in August and be a late season asset.<br />June 4: To strengthen the bullpen in the wake of the Butler-Soria/Billingsley trade, the Royals acquire Cardinals closer Jason Motte for minor league prospects.<br />June 18: The Royals make a trade with the rebuilding Boston Red Sox for reliever Manny Delcarmen.<br />June 29: Mike Jacobs hits 3 HRs against Minnesota. The Royals lose anyway, 16-7, pushing their record to 36-39, 3rd place in the AL Central.<br />July 2: Zack Greinke strikes out 10 White Sox (his 4th 10+ K game of the year so far) - but loses 6-4, to bring his record to 3-9 on the year. It continues a theme of great performances, but low run support.<br />July 4: The Royals beat the last place White Sox 9-2, pushing their record back to .500, second place in the AL Central, and into 5th place in the AL Wild Card Race.<br />July 14: Alex Gordon and Mike Jacobs (leading the league in HR with 17 at the break) start for the American League, which loses the All-Star game 6-5 in St. Louis. Zack Grienke is selected, but doesn't play.<br />July 17: In the first game back from the break, John Buck singles home David DeJesus to beat Tampa 2-1 in 13 innings. Greinke pitches into the 8th, giving up only 1 run on an error. Jason Motte pitches 3+ innings of no-hit relief, and Manny Delcarmen closes out the 13th for the win. The Royals starting lineup: Crisp, Teahen, Gordon, Jacobs, Guillen, DeJesus, Callaspo, Aviles, Olivo.<br />July 23: The Royals trade Left Handed SP Greg Smith (acquired off waivers earlier in the season from the Colorado Rockies) to the Boston Red Sox for 1B Kevin Youkilis and his ginormous salary. Greinke needs more run support, and the Royals are above .500 past the All Star break. Fans welcome the decision with open arms.<br />July 26 (Emery's first Royals game!): Kyle Davies 1-hits Texas, striking out 6 and going a complete 9 innings in front of a sell-out crowd. The best Royals pitching performance of the year! The Royals improve their record to 51-46 and move into 4th place in the AL Wild Card race.<br />August 17: Luke Hochevar is thrown out of the game for hitting Paul Konerko with a pitch and igniting a bench-clearing brawl. The Royals lose the game 17-1. Their worst loss of the season. But the Royals go 9-4 for the rest of August.<br />August 18: Ben Sheets returns from the DL and gives up 5 HR in 4 1/3 innings - but the Royals beat the last place White Sox anyway, 16-9.<br />August 31: The Royals finish August 71-60 overall, and very much still in the playoff picture, 2nd place in the AL Central behind the ML-leading Cleveland Indians (86-46), and 4th place in the AL Wild Card Race behind Boston, Baltimore, and Toronto.<br />September 1: MLB expands active rosters to 40. The Royals call up a flock of bullpen help from AAA Omaha and sign two free agents: a backup catcher and a pinch runner to help for the playoff push. Royals beat Oakland 3-0 behind a complete game 3 hitter from Billingsley. The Royals starting lineup: Crisp, Callaspo, DeJesus, Gordon, Jacobs, Youkilis, Lubanski, Buck, Bloomquist.<br />September 4: Pinch Runner Corey Wimberly races home in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Royals win a thriller against the Angels at home, 6-5.<br />September 21: The Royals enter the second to last week of the season with a 4-game set at home against the Wild Card leading Red Sox. The Royals win the first game 7-6 with some clutch hitting in the bottom of the 7th, and a strong bullpen.<br />September 23: The Royals move into a tie for 2nd place in the wild card with Baltimore, 0.5 games behind Boston, after beat Boston 13-1.<br />September 25: The Royals take sole possession of the wild card lead for the first time all season as the Red Sox lose their 5th straight to the Yankees.<br />September 27: The Red Sox lose their 7th in a row, and eliminate themselves from playoff contention.<br />September 30: The Royals finish September with an 18-10 record, including a 4-game sweep of Boston and winning 2 out of 3 against the Yankees in the final week.<br />October 1: Off Day for the Royals. The Royals, Yankees, and Orioles enter the last 3 games of the season and finish the day in a 3-way tie for the AL wild card, with the Orioles and Yankees tied for the AL East lead. Chad Billingsley is named AL Pitcher of the Month for the 2nd time this season as he goes 6-0 with a 1.70 ERA in September. Tug Hulett is named AL Rookie of the Month, hitting .333 with 3HR and 21 RBIs.<br />October 2: Zack Greinke beats the Twins 4-1 in Minnesota, in a complete game, winning his 6th straight, but the Royals remain in a 3-way tie for the wild card lead, as the Yankees beat Tampa 5-3 and the Orioles beat Toronto 3-0.<br />October 3: Chad Billingsley (winning his 14th straight game!) and the Royals clinch no worse than a tie for the AL Wild Card when the Royals beat the Twins 14-1, and both the Yankees and Orioles lose.<br />October 4: Last day of the regular season, and all of Kansas City is scoreboard watching as the Royals maintain a slim 5-4 lead over the Twins in the 7th inning... A Royals win, or either an Orioles or Yankees loss would all send the Royals to the playoffs. The Royals score 6 in the top of the 7th, and you can feel the excitement all across town. The news becomes official in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Royals game... Tampa has just shut out the Yankees, 2-0! The Royals close out the 2009 Regular season by beating the Twins 11-5, and clinch the AL Wild Card!<br /><br />All of Kansas City is abuzz as the playoffs start today. The Royals open the ALDS at home against the AL East champion Baltimore Orioles, led by Nick Markakis (.309/.378/.487) and Matt Wieters (.309/.387/.527). The starting pitchers for Game 1 will be Chad Billingsley (17-6, 3.00) for the Royals and Rich Hill (18-7, 3.59) for the Orioles.<br /><br />More updates as they become available!<br /><br />In the meantime, here are the 2009 season summary statistics, and how the Royals fit into the MLB leaderboards.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHUvp3dzu4aNoEd91kQFVVXlUFEb_RuExEzVGu4kllTLesI6EGjdopz3glTQijuWnqt1BfLcW1FNPMhu7WjSgYLhrZqcPkUu55yFTOESkMqve8Gj2iZh4htGQ2SP4FxDKsQslVbFn_oY/s1600-h/Picture+571.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHUvp3dzu4aNoEd91kQFVVXlUFEb_RuExEzVGu4kllTLesI6EGjdopz3glTQijuWnqt1BfLcW1FNPMhu7WjSgYLhrZqcPkUu55yFTOESkMqve8Gj2iZh4htGQ2SP4FxDKsQslVbFn_oY/s400/Picture+571.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368052909288673282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10NcsomL6P9N-CvkAJ4TpYCwbAzcmz5GgJUKsKB3WCCdqxuSCKIiZDQzqIK5OuMfBrNhc7JbZfmLo1aOj_gaZ4S6WsjbbOCqaAvrLUENWbkk-Px0g68xHq4-Gf9oRlZF1l0q710Yr0SU/s1600-h/Picture+572.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10NcsomL6P9N-CvkAJ4TpYCwbAzcmz5GgJUKsKB3WCCdqxuSCKIiZDQzqIK5OuMfBrNhc7JbZfmLo1aOj_gaZ4S6WsjbbOCqaAvrLUENWbkk-Px0g68xHq4-Gf9oRlZF1l0q710Yr0SU/s400/Picture+572.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368052911565893410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZUTROqKCynr5lypnmKxc8YOojRM-ed-Li5k8koZvsG7AgeFj2vVi7-SIcfNFdDM0cFtmQkH-3qYNH2pesJwICT2rCrPTkDqQZxc-t4TdfCImMNEkMIU9uc3EXMwV-Na89NSkGZI9VwI/s1600-h/Picture+575.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZUTROqKCynr5lypnmKxc8YOojRM-ed-Li5k8koZvsG7AgeFj2vVi7-SIcfNFdDM0cFtmQkH-3qYNH2pesJwICT2rCrPTkDqQZxc-t4TdfCImMNEkMIU9uc3EXMwV-Na89NSkGZI9VwI/s400/Picture+575.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368052909086677986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IEHV9ocJnd0y3Pcafv5jFsbZJeLTtATPf3UoYEjeqkQuH0DQe6wGltPcXmpBM91IhdYhuvfQhzNYRGT9j-0J4J5-qGtiIYzj9O_vL8E6Mrjio9okUTuqP-zABVLQ2XAwQNwNv08GfLQ/s1600-h/Picture+576.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IEHV9ocJnd0y3Pcafv5jFsbZJeLTtATPf3UoYEjeqkQuH0DQe6wGltPcXmpBM91IhdYhuvfQhzNYRGT9j-0J4J5-qGtiIYzj9O_vL8E6Mrjio9okUTuqP-zABVLQ2XAwQNwNv08GfLQ/s400/Picture+576.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368052902686058130" /></a>Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-88586836855337136342009-08-09T12:21:00.004-04:002009-08-09T16:15:47.130-04:00Watching my nephew - in the process of learning.Although I only get to spend a few days per year with my nephew Emery Oliver Atchison, those days are precious as I soak in the wonder that is a growing, learning, changing, loving baby boy.<br /><br />Here are a few glimpses of me watching my nephew grow, from our last visit.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i1q1QdyJ-fY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i1q1QdyJ-fY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YnzD6CgBC0A&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YnzD6CgBC0A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FzA0OoH9hCA&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FzA0OoH9hCA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-23304189762345448652009-07-31T11:55:00.005-04:002009-08-09T12:46:13.365-04:00Emery's first Royals game!For Christmas last year, even before Emery Oliver Atchison was born, one gift destined him to his first Royals fan experience... tickets to his first game! (Although I think maybe his first outfit (a Royals onezie from eBay) from his dad may have sealed it a little sooner!)<br /><br />So on July 26, 2009, his parents, his uncle, and all 4 of his grandparents made the trek up to the "New K" to sit in the brand new outfield fountain seats and christen Emery as a lifelong Royals fan.<br /><br />To see more pictures of the rest of our vacation (to the Ozarks - including, Emery's first swim, Emery's first paddleboat, and Emery's first cave!) visit <a href="http://babyatchison.blogspot.com/2009/08/family-vacation.html">Emery's blog</a>!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCZWpjpguT5WgKr7bzmPnXF5MSa9eOHr9ingr0ZxnGWuQaXB75-yclUm5-LZQgcmUHymQ_2UZ0cM9-Mx8J_UCtHyHq_IFCgfpE7hqmfc8fCIeMwsCbgcPuAOIJkRSqwahJEr-4A_n8bg/s1600-h/IMG_0169.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCZWpjpguT5WgKr7bzmPnXF5MSa9eOHr9ingr0ZxnGWuQaXB75-yclUm5-LZQgcmUHymQ_2UZ0cM9-Mx8J_UCtHyHq_IFCgfpE7hqmfc8fCIeMwsCbgcPuAOIJkRSqwahJEr-4A_n8bg/s400/IMG_0169.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367996491764683970" /></a><br />Emery and his uncle (me!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGesKtMnFcXbafbZvcpRcl-NmOrwbSHqwEEp-vP2ddlsX84JU8i9Mo34aj0hTtCh_tXWeiQLkCrPmLP1uPiOk3O_P5jgoVqeJESQg5jFeRY3663fv74vxVrhhLQCrXG82Vy5046rKyks/s1600-h/IMG_0161.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGesKtMnFcXbafbZvcpRcl-NmOrwbSHqwEEp-vP2ddlsX84JU8i9Mo34aj0hTtCh_tXWeiQLkCrPmLP1uPiOk3O_P5jgoVqeJESQg5jFeRY3663fv74vxVrhhLQCrXG82Vy5046rKyks/s400/IMG_0161.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367996488146368914" /></a><br />Emery and his parents at the game. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4eWvC-HOCpG7SeFLSv3caRe4scbhJTVpIbMG8MvyTaog_F5zppcce8S8KwfgQauNyPis9mMHoqTa9cjj7yZLmhJ5MXdakSMtwWOf1GgzGF2B64iVAq7j8qhG3jml-PCOQsRHUYEry7A/s1600-h/IMG_0108.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4eWvC-HOCpG7SeFLSv3caRe4scbhJTVpIbMG8MvyTaog_F5zppcce8S8KwfgQauNyPis9mMHoqTa9cjj7yZLmhJ5MXdakSMtwWOf1GgzGF2B64iVAq7j8qhG3jml-PCOQsRHUYEry7A/s400/IMG_0108.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367996479715497618" /></a><br />Emery chillin in the outfield. It was so sunny out, we had to get that man some shades!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqxtXD2UKo-J7d9HhTzMr_hAJGcNFs6NcFBBeOaIJnVklKCVdx_wNS1DwYXWr6VDXg6OfiG3HrtmIRfPRP8ZB60EjpKFWYFolwbmLvyQmvkRxV1Pli_go11GuLEtVBBv22nkQwwt0Qik/s1600-h/thenewk.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqxtXD2UKo-J7d9HhTzMr_hAJGcNFs6NcFBBeOaIJnVklKCVdx_wNS1DwYXWr6VDXg6OfiG3HrtmIRfPRP8ZB60EjpKFWYFolwbmLvyQmvkRxV1Pli_go11GuLEtVBBv22nkQwwt0Qik/s400/thenewk.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367996473348406946" /></a><br />Panorama of the New K. Click pictures for larger version!Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-81993669852952641012009-07-14T10:53:00.005-04:002009-08-09T11:29:38.686-04:00Bokern Bash 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyUNegNbKb1QmrApmSTmDEv3ZGUEseFTwRMi4uiWDmvUD38fwidCXZfxJ3Gf2wMaGUqQIV2MEKKECmhlkyl0DitJaGCkq4Iub7Skre2mW_RYZIbSUvGfts4U0ZinCY2VMklFYUurKXUs/s1600-h/kelly.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 341px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyUNegNbKb1QmrApmSTmDEv3ZGUEseFTwRMi4uiWDmvUD38fwidCXZfxJ3Gf2wMaGUqQIV2MEKKECmhlkyl0DitJaGCkq4Iub7Skre2mW_RYZIbSUvGfts4U0ZinCY2VMklFYUurKXUs/s400/kelly.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358329610417533186" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A stitched panorama of the Bokern Family - July 4th, 2009 - Kelly, KS.Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-2650259914098847582009-06-28T13:49:00.003-04:002009-06-28T13:57:24.617-04:00One of my loves...Reading the NYT on Sundays...<br />And <a href="http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com/">this blog</a>, so beautifully done. Today's is about Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's house, immortalized on the back of the nickel).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XCamel4ita5GUBphqiP2WuHmL1yKrm9a5q4fj2FaDqIpoaYjqys10TG-8DGJ4qah1c9SWjKZpfYg-4S4n3mqB8TEZw2BH0EyGzI7d3SQphRO2DkV1egr0fFJAWgZIjpC0qp7YiHQmbs/s1600-h/28n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 366px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XCamel4ita5GUBphqiP2WuHmL1yKrm9a5q4fj2FaDqIpoaYjqys10TG-8DGJ4qah1c9SWjKZpfYg-4S4n3mqB8TEZw2BH0EyGzI7d3SQphRO2DkV1egr0fFJAWgZIjpC0qp7YiHQmbs/s400/28n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352438059053031586" /></a>Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-18455746267349919952009-06-24T10:10:00.004-04:002009-06-24T17:36:04.089-04:00Ethiopia/Insurance Audio Slideshow!The audio slideshow that I've been promoting here is finished! It will be officially launched today in Geneva, Switzerland at the Global Humanitarian Forum, and will be introduced by the former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. Also being launched today is <a href="http://portal.iri.columbia.edu/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=219&mode=2&PageID=0">our new publication on weather index insurance for development</a> - <a href="http://portal.iri.columbia.edu/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_5024_4111_0_0_18/CSP2_Brief.pdf">PDF brief (with my photo!!)</a> - which also has some of my photos and a case study I wrote on the Millennium Villages Project.<br /><br />Take a look at the slideshow below, it runs about 5 minutes - it features several of my pictures from Ethiopia (mostly some closeups of the farmers, and the games from March)... and also some music from an Ethiopian CD I picked up along the way! <br /><br />Look for my name in the end credits!<br /><br />Update: the Earth Institute issued a <a href="http://earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2504">press release</a>!<br /><br /><br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5295491&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5295491&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/5295491">Index insurance for development and disaster management</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/iri">IRI Video Pages</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-33972504402931001952009-05-28T14:19:00.003-04:002009-06-25T13:31:41.657-04:00Launch Day in Adi Ha!!Tooday is Launch Day for Oxfam America's weather index microinsurance project in Adi Ha, Ethiopia! As you all know, I've been a technical advisor for this project during its development stages, and for me, this is a very exciting day.Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-40599999250711860202009-05-26T16:39:00.002-04:002009-05-26T16:48:00.387-04:00Back home in my city.I've spent the last 48 hours getting some much needed R&R in and around Prospect Park, Park Slope, Crown Heights, and a nice little coffee shop near Grand Army Plaza. I haven't gone more than 1 mile since I landed Saturday afternoon. Many smiles and much good company. As it should be.<br /><br />The result, I'm already completely over my jet lag, and I'm completely happy.<br /><br />As Louis Armstrong said... "what a wonderful world"!Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-50351998629419961422009-05-22T13:02:00.001-04:002009-05-22T13:02:07.805-04:001st day of summer!So, I'm declaring today my own personal unofficial first day of summer.<p>Spending my last few birr on an internet cafe...to send official word<br>of the official agreement of the main parties to the official final<br>details of the adi ha drought insurance product to be launched next<br>week in the village i just visited... and an impromptu international<br>phone conference with my bosses back in the US... ending with them<br>telling me "job well done"... and my last 24 hours in ethiopia capped<br>off by some nice warm breezes and a beautiful sunset - all fills me<br>with a great sense of completion and accomplishment.<p>it's gonna be a great summer, and the time to celebrate starts now.<p>next stop, new york.Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-44962148160209261832009-05-20T11:40:00.001-04:002009-05-20T11:40:43.306-04:00Wrapping up in TigrayI'm back in Mekele now, after a long and bumpy 5 days on the road here<br>in Tigray. By my guess, we (the translator/facilitator, driver, and<br>I) covered about 1000km (600mi) in 5 days, most on rock roads -<br>dodging chickens, cows, oxen, camels, children, old women, downed<br>trees, big rocks, muddy stream beds, and probably many other things<br>that I have pictures of but can't remember right now. It was a great<br>trip - I think we really got into the heart of the drought/development<br>problem with our focus group questions with farmers - but I don't<br>think my butt will ever be the same.<p>I have promised myself after I return (and have a more reliable<br>connection!) to do a regular series of posts on some of the<br>interesting moments, images, experiences, and places of the trip - so<br>keep checking back. Tomorrow I have the last meeting here in Mekele<br>(a training for the field staff of the MFI that will actually be<br>selling the drought insurance for this season's pilot project in Adi<br>Ha), and will then fly back to Addis on Friday for a meeting with the<br>director of the Ethiopian National Weather service, before my flight<br>back to New York on Saturday.<p>Salaam to all.Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-63045273553640845392009-05-16T12:31:00.001-04:002009-05-16T12:31:04.252-04:00Quick break from field work...<div>I'm copying this from an email I just sent to my favorite New Yorker... sorry for such little detail. More to come soon, I promise!!</div> <div> </div> <div> <div>I'm exhausted - we just got back from 2 days in the field - driving about 6hrs a day on bumpy rock roads, and waking up early. I got back about 3hrs ago and all I wanted to do was check my emails (and read what you had to say!) and take a shower. The power was out however, until about 20 min ago. So that means, no hot water, and of course, no internet. We're leaving again at 7:30am and will be gone until Tuesday night (Tuesday noon your time) but by that time I'll be coming home in just a few days. I have so many great pictures and stories to share with you... I can't wait.</div> <div> </div> <div>I'm really excited about all our progress here. It's been so great the last 2 days especially --talking with farmers under trees, seeing the diversity of the land and the people, and even getting caught in the rain and having to run in someone's house (one of those circular ones made of stones with a pointed thatch roof...) A few chickens also ran in behind us... it was quite an experience.</div> </div> Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-21888255559399838942009-05-13T04:57:00.001-04:002009-05-13T04:57:32.016-04:00downloading/potentialI just had to take a picture of the computer screen just now - cause I<br>was so excited that the 3 short text files I've been trying to<br>download for the last hour and a half (satellite rainfall histories of<br>the 3 villages we're considering for next year) finally came through.<br>Marjorie laughed. I'll upload the photo when i get some more<br>bandwidth. =) Sorry i'm always talking about the internet here, but<br>it's what's immediately on my mind when I'm typing out these posts.<p>I made myself feel a little bit better about the money I'm spending on<br>internet in such a poor country this morning (let alone carrying<br>around a $600 camera on my neck) - a mother was sitting on the curb<br>with two babies (one maybe 2yrs old), and she held out her hand to me.<br> I gave her 10 Birr - the same price as my ice cream at lunch<br>yesterday - about a day's wage.<p>Such a drop in the bucket in a country with so much need, but maybe it<br>helped her for just one day.Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8334695738520052733.post-88306810792115096032009-05-12T12:38:00.001-04:002009-05-12T12:38:38.148-04:00just when you think you got it...<div>the power goes out. such is the life of a crowded corner shop with 8 people sharing one dialup connection.</div> <div> </div> <div>but anyway, POTENTIALLY, we chose at least 2 of the new villages for our scale up plans in 2010 today... and I'll hopefully be going to visit them this weekend!</div> <div> </div> <div>it's another warm, wonderful night. after an all-day round of meetings (and 25 hrs and counting awake!), Marjorie, Mengesha (our local lead partner) and I decided to explore a new part of Mekele (new, meaning Marjorie and I had never been over this way before), with the intent of finding Marjorie a nice colorful Ethiopian umbrella. No luck, but we did find this internet shop that is the pure definition of chaos. No sheep or goats this time though.</div> <div> </div> <div>(and also, in my previous post - I meant 10 Birr, not 100 Birr. Big difference. And I apologize if I did actually write 10 Birr.)</div> <div> </div> <div>Love you all.</div> Eric Holthaushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05032723419044840754noreply@blogger.com3