More cool design: an amazing staircase

Saw this at Curbly DIY Maven here [curbly_diymaven]: London-based Levitate Architects created this remarkable staircase to solve a big book storage problem in a small space.

Intriguing book: Scratch Beginnings

I saw this in Get Rich Slowly [get_rich_slowly] here: In response to his dissatisfaction with Barbara Ehrenreich’s book of social critique about class in America Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, Adam Shepherd, a newly minted college graduate, decided to try a social experiment. He recounts his experiences in his new book Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream. Shepard — who is the first to admit that he has advantages that many of the working poor do not — started from scratch in Charleston, South Carolina, with $25 and the clothes on his back. He did not use his education, contacts, or his credit history. He lived in a homeless shelter while looking for work. His goal was to start with nothing and, within a year, work hard enough to save $2500, buy a car, and to live in a furnished apartment.

It wasn’t easy, but Shepard succeeded. In ten months, he had his car, he had his furnished apartment, and he hadn’t just saved $2500 — he’d saved twice that. Was he lucky? Did he get good breaks because he’s a young white male? Probably. But he does attribute much of his success from setting goals and working toward them.

( In this two minute video, Shepard describes his aims )

A Christian Monitor story features his tale. The Get Rich Slowly link above also includes an interview with Mr. Shepherd.

Have you read either book, Barbara Ehrenreich's or Mr. Shepherd's? What did you think?

Karate: onward and upward

Both girls have decided to commit to the next karate contract, which is at least a two year commitment, and can be as long as five. It sucks that we have to come up with another chunk of money for the downpayment on the contract, but I'm thrilled that they're making this commitment. They are going to be just amazing athletes by the time they graduate from high school.

It also means that Rob and I are committing to an awful lot of hours cleaning the dojo. But I actually don't mind. It's kind of nice--a meditative time. I shall be the queen of mops.