October 2008
Sports Central
Excerpt: "After three stellar post-lockout years where he won no less than 35 games, including a record matching 47-win campaign in 2006-2007 (tying Flyer-great Bernie Parent for second most wins ever in a season; that same year New Jersey's Martin Brodeur set the record with 48), Luongo's holes have been exposed early on. "The red lights behind the Canucks' goal have been giving off a despicable glare," says Tony Gallagher of the Vancouver Province. "On this [road] trip, it's been sapping the U.S. energy supply."
10.27.2008
Highway to the Turtle Zone
(Note: This was an internal pitch for National Geographic. Each month, roughly 20 department pages are published in NGM print. Story pitches are submitted predominantly by staff. I wrote a large number of similar pitches proposing a variety of NGM-related topics, from declining turtle populations and new leopard species, to memory restoration and preservation using implanted silicon chips.)
Long line bycatch. Sea entanglement. Egg harvesting. Debris ingestion. High mortality rates among the newly hatched.
All contributed to the leatherback turtle’s 90+ percent population decline over the last two decades. But there’s promise for the endangered Dermochelys. A study done by George Shillinger, a biology doctoral candidate at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station, and a team of researchers that tracked leatherbacks indicates that turtles departing from Costa Rica follow a very distinct, narrow route to the South Pacific Gyre. The group monitored the turtles’ whereabouts through the Tagging of Pacific Predators program. This same method has been used to chart the trails of “white shark, bluefin tuna, black-footed albatross and elephant seal.”
Why the animals travel to this region is relatively unknown. It’s likely for deeper feeding beyond the 25-foot depth reachable by satellite imagery. A story by the Stanford News Service claims “the only data available are satellite images showing the color of the sea. Researchers interpret greener water to be richer in chlorophyll, which is considered the foundation for the ocean food chain. Thus, the relative abundance of chlorophyll is inferred to indicate the relative richness of a fishery. Satellite images show very little green in the South Pacific Gyre.” If the leatherbacks are going there to dine, the restaurant isn’t at the surface. And at six-feet, 2,000 pounds, the turtles have an evident appetite.
The authors argue that determining exactly where and when the turtles migrate, then suspending fishing in the ocean highways they travel, may help correct the loss. This seems more reasonable than trying to ban fishing in these parts completely. In Costa Rica—at Playa Grande National Park, one of the last vestiges of these turtles—villagers are paid to protect egg batches. An ecotourism market has emerged as a result. "Turtle tourism has emerged as an alternative economy and now there is a real focus on protecting this beach," says Shillinger. (Jellyfish, however, are hoping for an end to the leatherbacks’ 100 million year reign of terror over them.)
The driving factor in the leatherbacks’ life survival crusade is human involvement. Since the pools of the Pacific where the turtles operate cross international boundaries, a political will must exist to facilitate an agreement that will actually be enforced. If not, in the next 20 years, Dermochelys coriacea could experience a 100 percent slide.
Long line bycatch. Sea entanglement. Egg harvesting. Debris ingestion. High mortality rates among the newly hatched.
All contributed to the leatherback turtle’s 90+ percent population decline over the last two decades. But there’s promise for the endangered Dermochelys. A study done by George Shillinger, a biology doctoral candidate at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station, and a team of researchers that tracked leatherbacks indicates that turtles departing from Costa Rica follow a very distinct, narrow route to the South Pacific Gyre. The group monitored the turtles’ whereabouts through the Tagging of Pacific Predators program. This same method has been used to chart the trails of “white shark, bluefin tuna, black-footed albatross and elephant seal.”
Why the animals travel to this region is relatively unknown. It’s likely for deeper feeding beyond the 25-foot depth reachable by satellite imagery. A story by the Stanford News Service claims “the only data available are satellite images showing the color of the sea. Researchers interpret greener water to be richer in chlorophyll, which is considered the foundation for the ocean food chain. Thus, the relative abundance of chlorophyll is inferred to indicate the relative richness of a fishery. Satellite images show very little green in the South Pacific Gyre.” If the leatherbacks are going there to dine, the restaurant isn’t at the surface. And at six-feet, 2,000 pounds, the turtles have an evident appetite.
The authors argue that determining exactly where and when the turtles migrate, then suspending fishing in the ocean highways they travel, may help correct the loss. This seems more reasonable than trying to ban fishing in these parts completely. In Costa Rica—at Playa Grande National Park, one of the last vestiges of these turtles—villagers are paid to protect egg batches. An ecotourism market has emerged as a result. "Turtle tourism has emerged as an alternative economy and now there is a real focus on protecting this beach," says Shillinger. (Jellyfish, however, are hoping for an end to the leatherbacks’ 100 million year reign of terror over them.)
The driving factor in the leatherbacks’ life survival crusade is human involvement. Since the pools of the Pacific where the turtles operate cross international boundaries, a political will must exist to facilitate an agreement that will actually be enforced. If not, in the next 20 years, Dermochelys coriacea could experience a 100 percent slide.
When Job Hunting, Be Your Own Salesman
October 11, 2008
The New York Times
"Shortcuts"
Business, B6
Author: Alina Tugend
I was the subject of a Times article on the nature of job hunting and the benefits of networking. I was interviewed by the writer and subsequently photographed for the story. My quotes and image were used in the print edition--both on the front page of the Business section and for the primary spread on page B6--and the online version.
Excerpt: "Mr. DiNunzio said he knew that job hunting would be “frustrating and annoying, but more so than I thought it would be? No.” ... In that case, he is one step ahead of a lot of people."
The New York Times
"Shortcuts"
Business, B6
Author: Alina Tugend
I was the subject of a Times article on the nature of job hunting and the benefits of networking. I was interviewed by the writer and subsequently photographed for the story. My quotes and image were used in the print edition--both on the front page of the Business section and for the primary spread on page B6--and the online version.
Excerpt: "Mr. DiNunzio said he knew that job hunting would be “frustrating and annoying, but more so than I thought it would be? No.” ... In that case, he is one step ahead of a lot of people."
India's Highway
October 2008
National Geographic Magazine (online)
(Note: The following link will direct readers to a series of online photos that accompanied the story from the Oct 2008 print issue. I drafted the captions tagged to the Web image gallery.)
Excerpt: "Road-crew workers lay hot asphalt near the city of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, shaping Indian infrastructure with their rakes and feet. Once finished, the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) will connect India's four major cities of New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai, energizing India’s economy and making inroads to the rural poor."
National Geographic Magazine (online)
(Note: The following link will direct readers to a series of online photos that accompanied the story from the Oct 2008 print issue. I drafted the captions tagged to the Web image gallery.)
Excerpt: "Road-crew workers lay hot asphalt near the city of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, shaping Indian infrastructure with their rakes and feet. Once finished, the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) will connect India's four major cities of New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai, energizing India’s economy and making inroads to the rural poor."
Destination Watch: Trestles Beach, California
September 2008
National Geographic Traveler (online)
Excerpt: "The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) want to extend the Foothill Toll Road—Route 241—and link coastal Orange County with its expansion eastward. In order to deal with the estimated 60 percent traffic increase expected in south Orange County in the next quarter-century, the TCA believes the six-lane, 16-mile extension will be a vital accommodation."
National Geographic Traveler (online)
Excerpt: "The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) want to extend the Foothill Toll Road—Route 241—and link coastal Orange County with its expansion eastward. In order to deal with the estimated 60 percent traffic increase expected in south Orange County in the next quarter-century, the TCA believes the six-lane, 16-mile extension will be a vital accommodation."
Hockey (And More) in Halifax
May 2008
National Geographic Traveler (online)
Excerpt: "Halifax’s roughly 373,000 residents are a diverse bunch, covered by a condensed blanket of urbanity stitched together by almost 90 efficient bus routes. Like most cities, the hub of Halifax’s tourism is by the water, and several buses regurgitate passengers at the waterfront downtown, which is remarkably pedestrian friendly. The Halifax Citadel National Historic Site (a former British naval station), the Metro Centre arena where the tournament was played, and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia are all minutes apart by foot."
National Geographic Traveler (online)
Excerpt: "Halifax’s roughly 373,000 residents are a diverse bunch, covered by a condensed blanket of urbanity stitched together by almost 90 efficient bus routes. Like most cities, the hub of Halifax’s tourism is by the water, and several buses regurgitate passengers at the waterfront downtown, which is remarkably pedestrian friendly. The Halifax Citadel National Historic Site (a former British naval station), the Metro Centre arena where the tournament was played, and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia are all minutes apart by foot."
Here Yesterday, Gone Today
February 2008
Sports Central
Excerpt: "Both conferences have a tight race for its final postseason openings. Barely 20 games remain on each schedule. The trades that were hailed could quickly be scorned; those questioned eventually praised. There was enough inaction by teams that needed improvement to warrant a separate column. Regardless, the hype is over; all that's left to do is watch. And that's the best part about the trade deadline."
Sports Central
Excerpt: "Both conferences have a tight race for its final postseason openings. Barely 20 games remain on each schedule. The trades that were hailed could quickly be scorned; those questioned eventually praised. There was enough inaction by teams that needed improvement to warrant a separate column. Regardless, the hype is over; all that's left to do is watch. And that's the best part about the trade deadline."
Better Late Than Never: Thornton's Ascent
January 2008
Sports Central
Excerpt: "But few players in history have the elite distinction of sharing a record with Wayne Gretzky and Super Mario. Fewer players drafted first overall were marketed as a franchise-player for seven years, then traded early in a season while leading their team in scoring. And only one has turned such a transaction into an Art Ross and Hart Memorial Trophy (top scorer and MVP, respectively) in a single season: Joe Thornton, 2005-2006."
Sports Central
Excerpt: "But few players in history have the elite distinction of sharing a record with Wayne Gretzky and Super Mario. Fewer players drafted first overall were marketed as a franchise-player for seven years, then traded early in a season while leading their team in scoring. And only one has turned such a transaction into an Art Ross and Hart Memorial Trophy (top scorer and MVP, respectively) in a single season: Joe Thornton, 2005-2006."
NIAF Enewsletter
January 2008
National Italian American Foundation
Excerpt: "NIAF will hold its annual East Coast Gala on April 14 in New York City with a special reception and live auction honoring the Big Apple’s Italian-American leaders and supporters. Held in the heart of Times Square at the Marriott Marquis, this event showcases all that is vibrant and thriving in New York’s Italian-American community."
(Note: This is only one sampling of the NIAF Enewsletter. It was created by me and a coworker. I oversaw 16 editions--four while on staff, twelve on a freelance basis--from August 2006 until January 2008.)
National Italian American Foundation
Excerpt: "NIAF will hold its annual East Coast Gala on April 14 in New York City with a special reception and live auction honoring the Big Apple’s Italian-American leaders and supporters. Held in the heart of Times Square at the Marriott Marquis, this event showcases all that is vibrant and thriving in New York’s Italian-American community."
(Note: This is only one sampling of the NIAF Enewsletter. It was created by me and a coworker. I oversaw 16 editions--four while on staff, twelve on a freelance basis--from August 2006 until January 2008.)
NIAF Enewsletter
March 2007
National Italian American Foundation
Excerpt: "Charity Navigator has recently awarded the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) the watchdog group’s premier four-star rating for fiscal management. NIAF was the only Italian organization to receive this coveted designation nation-wide."
(Note: This is only one sampling of the NIAF Enewsletter. It was created by me and a coworker. I oversaw 16 editions--four while on staff, twelve on a freelance basis--from August 2006 until January 2008.)
National Italian American Foundation
Excerpt: "Charity Navigator has recently awarded the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) the watchdog group’s premier four-star rating for fiscal management. NIAF was the only Italian organization to receive this coveted designation nation-wide."
(Note: This is only one sampling of the NIAF Enewsletter. It was created by me and a coworker. I oversaw 16 editions--four while on staff, twelve on a freelance basis--from August 2006 until January 2008.)
The NHL's Real Rookie of the Year
March 2006
E Sports Media Group, Inc. Sportswriting Community
Excerpt: "Statistics don't always speak to a player's real value. If the NHL is looking to boost its ubiquity in markets outside Canada and more towards major United States cities, they should be celebrating Crosby's off-ice contributions, as well as his outstanding on-ice performance, when determining who had the better year."
E Sports Media Group, Inc. Sportswriting Community
Excerpt: "Statistics don't always speak to a player's real value. If the NHL is looking to boost its ubiquity in markets outside Canada and more towards major United States cities, they should be celebrating Crosby's off-ice contributions, as well as his outstanding on-ice performance, when determining who had the better year."
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