Devon Akmon

The AANM’s Little Syria project is picking up steam. We’re wrapping up the RFP process with exhibit designers, our curatorial staff is conducting research and collecting objects for the forthcoming exhibit, and the media is covering the story. We’re off to a good start.

Be sure to like the Little Syria Exhibit Facebook page for updates on the project. Also, if you missed it, there was a story from PRI’s The World, titled Saving New York’s ‘Little Syria’, that was aired on National Public Radio earlier this week. Check it out!

Little Syria Exhibit on Facebook

OK, it’s no longer a secret: sitting has a profound impact on our bodies. Numerous recent reports, including this one featured in the NY Times, describe the negative affects sitting for prolonged periods has on the body. In a recent blog post, Tim Sanders goes as far as calling sitting “the new smoking.” Unfortunately, I do not foresee some immediate revolution in the workplace that will afford employees the opportunity to select standing desks. In fact, one is extremely lucky if there are fortunate enough to secure an ergonomic chair, such as the Aeron from Herman Miller. So, what are employees to do?

For one, quit sending so much email. Yes, article after article explores the lost productivity of email (how many times have you cursed “reply all?”) Instead, considering walking over to a colleague’s desk. Chances are you’ll get a faster response with less interference, as well as a little exercise to boot. Next, consider stepping out of the office for a walk during the lunch break. I’ve been doing this with a handful of colleagues over the past several months. The conversation is good, often a combination of humor, updates on what’s happening in our personal lives, and some brief talk about work projects and initiatives. I’ve found this to be a refreshing break in my workday.

Additionally, try one of the many DIY standing workstations (here’s one featured on Liferhacker). If you’ve got a laptop, consider placing it on top of a shelf or cabinet. Also, consider sitting on a stability ball. Yes, there’s been many jokes made about people sitting on “orbs” – see this clip from The Office – but I for one have found this to be much more comfortable than my lousy office chair. A stability ball will only set you back about twenty bucks and it will help keep your core muscles engaged.

In short, quit sitting and start moving. We spend a good portion of our lives at work. This is one of the first places we should strive for improving our health.

Do you have an office hack, a standing desk, or another strategy for quitting the office chair? If so, let me know what it is.

How Sitting Wrecks Our Body (via TechCrunch)

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Come check out the annual Arab Film Festival at the Arab American National Museum. This year’s festival, Before The Spring: Alternative Arab Cinema from 2005 to Today, explores films that were produced leading up to the “Arab Spring.” The festival was curated by our friends at ArteEast. You can read more about the festival over at the HuffPost Detroit.

The 2011 Arab Film Festival on HuffPost Detroit

I think it’s impossible to forget one’s first professional job. After all, it is during this time that one learns many valuable lessons on the workplace. One of my first professional experiences was a short-lived “career” as a photojournalist. In addition to freelance work at some of Michigan’s larger daily publications, I completed internships at the Grand Rapids Press and the Saginaw News. While I loved working as a photojournalist – it offered an immense amount of freedom and creativity – I realized at the time that the industry was in the midst of a radical change. This, coupled with the media debacle following the 2000 election, influenced my decision to exit the industry and return to school to pursue additional education. This ranks as one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I now realize the importance of being professionally nimble and pursuing opportunities to attain new knowledge and skills.

Similar to other major industries, Big Media is still undergoing a radical transformation. Regrettably, many employees within this industry are experiencing a profound impact, often negative, on their careers. Earlier today I learned that Booth Newspapers will be laying off 500 of its 1200 employees on January 2, 2012. That’s right, almost 50% of the staff. Booth Newspapers, based in Grand Rapids, owns eight newspapers in the state of Michigan, including the Saginaw News and Grand Rapids Press. While I’m fairly confident that journalism will continue to flourish in the digital age, I can’t help but wonder about the future careers of some of these former employees.

This unfortunate news has reminded me, once again, how important it is to develop new skills and pursue lifelong learning. Nothing is certain. The notion of working in one industry or for one company over the course of an entire career is no longer a reality. Change is constant and professionals need to adapt. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that the average employee will work 10-15 different jobs over the course of a lifetime. Acquiring and refining one’s skills is an absolute must. The business model of the 20th century is obsolete. Looking forward, competition is no longer local; it’s global and it requires mastery of many rapidly changing fields. Empower yourself to take control of your career. Don’t let an industry or employee define you.

Until recently, I had never heard of the Congaree National Park. I believe I read about it in either Backpacker or Outside magazine. I learned from the magazine article that the Congaree River, which runs through the national park, is a noteworthy destination for kayaking. So, after a little research and planning, Dharma and I decided to carve out some time from our road trip to Florida for a short kayaking journey on the river.

We rolled into Columbia, South Carolina on a Saturday afternoon and rented a tandem kayak from the good folks at River Runner Outdoor Center. From there, we drove a short distance to reach the Cedar Creek canoe access within the national park. Despite only getting in a couple of hours on the river, we had a blast. The Congaree is the largest remnant of old-growth floodplain forest remaining on the continent. The river is a peaceful setting and the water is like glass, reflecting the towering trees to create an awe-inspiring sight.

The Congaree River Blue Trail is a 50-mile designated recreational paddling trail, extending from the state capital of Columbia, downstream to Congaree National Park. The trail offers an adventure through an urban environment that transitions into a coastal plain known for its high bluffs and extensive floodplains. I’d love to return sometime soon to kayak the entire trail. I was told it’s a two to three day trip on the water. It’s definitely now on my short lists of places to kayak.

Update – November 28, 2011
A big thanks to Tracy at the National Park Service for commenting on this post. As she points out in her comment below, we actually kayaked Cedar Creek, which is not technically a part of the Congaree River. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful kayaking trip and we do plan on exploring the Congaree River Blue Trail in the near future. If you head to the Congaree National Park, be sure to explore Cedar Creek!

Here’s a short video of our trip:

Adventure car - more abuse for the Corolla

Kayaking through the Cedar Creek portion of the Congaree National Park.

Dharma and Devon on the Cedar Creek

A picture of Dharma on Cedar Creek

A tree on on Cedar Creek in the Congaree National Park

As much as I love my home state, I’m starting to appreciate our (seemingly) annual Thanksgiving getaway to warm destinations. This year, Dharma and I are spending a week in Florida at my parents’ new condo. It’s so nice to be relaxing in a warm and sunny climate. I find that a vacation this time of the year is well-needed. With shorter days and colder weather, the transition between fall and winter can be tough. Coupled with an insanely busy year at the museum, this vacation was badly needed. Fortunately, we were able to reserve the week for some adventure and relaxation down south.

To express our gratitude for their hospitality, we decided to cook Thanksgiving dinner for my parents. This was the first time that Dharma and I cooked a complete Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks to a great article from Taunton’s Fine Cooking, the dinner was both simple and fun to make. Fine Cooking describes the article, titled How to Make Thanksgiving Dinner, as an “all-in-one guide to making a delicious, stress-free dinner on the big day.” I’d say that aptly describes it.

What I liked about the article was that it broke down the process into simple, coherent steps. It included a menu timeline, shopping list, and a toolbox of kitchen tools/supplies. This certainly helped to create a stress-free environment in the kitchen.

The menu included:

• Dry-Rubbed Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy
• Cranberry Sauce with Caramelized Onions
• Bread Stuffing with Fresh Herbs
• Rustic Mashed Potatoes

We decided to forgo a dessert because neither of my parents eat sweets. Yes, this was difficult given that we have a history of going overboard with baking Thanksgiving pies. A small sacrifice to make… Here are a few pictures of the meal.

Dry-Rubbed Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy

Bread Stuffing with Fresh Herbs

Thanksgiving Dinner

All in all, the meal was a great success. The recipes were easy to follow and the resulting dishes were delectable. I’m already looking forward to the next holiday meal we cook for family (perhaps an Italian-themed four course dinner for Christmas?). The joy of cooking a meal for the ones you love is a most enjoyable experience. For me, great food and conversation shared with family is what holidays are all about (sadly, as I write this, many people across the nation are gearing up for Black Friday; what a crass way to celebrate the holiday).

Cheers to all and I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

I just completed my first month of CrossFit. Below is a summary of the Workouts of the Day (WOD). On average, I worked out three times per week. Occasionally, due to conflicts with my schedule, I attended only two sessions per week. The summary below does not include other forms of training that have taken place over the past month, including running and spinning workouts. On a final note, I did not include the warmup routines in the pictures of the workouts. Generally, the warmup included: 200 meters rowing, 10 air squats, 10 push-ups, 10 lunges, 5 pull-ups, 5 PVC arm rolls; as many sets as possible for 8 minutes.

October 21, 2011 CrossFit WOD

October 24, 2011 CrossFit WOD

October 26, 2011 CrossFit WOD

October 31, 2011 CrossFit WOD

November 2, 2011 CrossFit WOD

November 7, 2011 CrossFit WOD

Timed results from the November 7, 2011 CrossFit WOD

November 9, 2011 CrossFit WOD

Saturday, November 12, 2011 | WOD: “Nicole”

Goal: AMRAP (As Many Rounds as Possible) in 20 Minutes:

Run 400m
Max Rep Pull-ups

Score total number of pull-ups and rounds completed.

Rules: Start with a 400m run. Perform max rep pull-ups until you no longer can stay on the bar and touch the ground. Chin should clear the bar and there should be full range of motion. Touching the ground terminates the round and you must run 400m. This is the “penalty”. Re-gripping is allowed provided you do not touch the ground. Goal is to perform the highest amount of pull-ups you can in 20 minutes.

Final score: 39 pull-ups

Workout of the Day (WOD) for November 14, 2011

Workout of the Day (WOD) for November 16, 2011

Workout of the Day (WOD) for November 18, 2011

I just returned from a 48-hour trip to Houston. Although I had little time to explore the sprawling city, it was nice to see the sun, to feel its warmth, and to get a glimpse of this southern metropolis.

Trying to figure out public transportation was too confusing and time consuming, so I logged some serious mileage ambulating around town. I was a little startled by what I discovered. For being the largest city in Texas, and the fourth largest in the nation, the city lacks that vibrant feeling familiar in many other major urban areas. I’m sure there’s a lot happening, but I suspect it takes time to discover the city’s unique offerings.

So, let’s focus on the highlights of my trip.

The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation
My first stop after checking into my hotel room was Ninfa’s. Finding great TexMex was high on my list of things to do. Ninfa’s did not disappoint! I enjoyed an amazing meal that included delicious horchata, beef tacos al carbon, and the best tres leches I’ve ever had. I walked the two miles back to my hotel after the meal to burn of a small portion of what I ate!

The original Ninfa's on Navigation in Houston, Texas.

On Saturday, I hiked over to midtown to eat brunch at The Breakfast Klub. This local institution is renowned for its southern breakfast. I waited an hour in line, which wrapped around the corner of the restaurant, to eat their signature wings and waffles. The meal was washed down with some delicious coffee and sweet tea. Heavenly.

Wings & waffles at The Breakfast Klub.

To burn off the heavy meal, I walked a mile to visit the Rothko Chapel. I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of Mark Rothko’s artwork. However, this tranquil meditative environment is absolutely stunning. Rothko created the interfaith art space under the patronage of Dominique and John de Menil. Rothko worked closely with architects Philip Johnson, Howard Barnstone and Eugene Aubry to design the beautiful sunlit space that encompasses his fourteen paintings. The ambience of the space is moving, as is the Chapel’s commitment to being a place for dialogue on human rights. All in all, the Rothko Chapel lives up to its designation as “a modernist shrine for a timeless art.”

Rothko Chapel

From the Chapel, I hiked across town to explore Buffalo Bayou park. My hope was to spend the afternoon kayaking along the waterway. However, I sadly learned that all of the kayaks were rented from the various outfitters providing service at the Bayou. So, I set out on foot. I was expecting a tranquil stroll along an urban parkway. Instead, I was shocked to discover the hiking trail essentially followed the noisy interstate highways. It was a total bummer. Nonetheless, it was nice to get some exercise and see more of the city.

The Buffalo Bayou hiking trail

Afterwards, I decided to quench my thirst at Cafe Luz before heading back to the hotel. This new coffeehouse in downtown Houston offers craft sodas and excellent coffee that is roasted at the cafe. I tried a made-to-order blood orange soda and an iced toddy coffee. Both drinks hit the spot. I had a great conversation about coffee with the owner while I enjoying my drinks. There was a chocolate making class taking place in the back kitchen, which reminded me of the one we enrolled in while visiting Peru. I highly recommend Cafe Luz to those visiting Houston.

Cafe Luz (Photo: Houston Press)

Unfortunately, there were a few places I hoped to visit, but I was ultimately constrained by time (as well as crummy business hours). This included enjoying eastern Texas barbecue at Pizzitola’s, drinks at Anvil Bar & Refuge, and a trip to Saint Arnold’s Brewing Company. If I ever return to Houston, these destinations will be on my list of places to visit. Also, despite high prices, I’d like to check out the local specialty shops Maida’s Belts and Buckles and The Hat Store.

Greetings to those visiting from the Registrars Committee of the American Association of Museums’ (RC-AAM) fourth International Registrars Symposium (IRS 2011). I’ve uploaded my presentation below. If you wish to continue the discussion from the conference, please contact me at dakmon[at]accesscommunity[dot]org. Thanks for visiting.

I just setup a new Tumblr site to feature some of my iPhoneography images. If you haven’t stopped by yet, please do check out Contact Lens.

A screenshot of Contact Lens, an iPhoneography site on Tumblr