What does “Funding your Living Trust” mean? It means transferring title of your real property and other assets out of your name as an individual and into the name of your Living Trust.  Think of your Living Trust as a bucket that holds title to your real estate and money accounts.  The Trust language identifies who is to manage your assets and what they are to do if you become incapacitated, and also who is to receive your assets after you’re gone.  If you don’t transfer your assets to the Trust while you’re alive and competent then the Probate court has to do it for you before the terms of your Living Trust can control the disposition of your estate. 
 
Funding real estate into your Living Trust requires recording a new deed for each piece of property in the county the property is located.  Transferring money accounts requires signing new paperwork with each of your financial institutions.  Simply signing a letter that states that all of your assets and real estate are now part of your Living Trust doesn’t cut it.  

In California, assets which are held in an individual’s name alone and do not pass through joint ownership or beneficiary designation must go through Probate if they total more then one hundred thousand dollars.

Probate is a public proceeding so anyone can go into court and find out what you had and who you left it to regardless of whether they are related to you or not.  Probate is time consuming and takes a minimum of seven to eight months and often longer. During this time the assets are frozen and hard for your loved ones to access if they need them.   Probate is also expensive.  In California,   attorney’s fees to Probate an estate are written out in Probate Code Section 10810 and are based on the size of the estate and the fair market value of the real property.  The statutory attorney fees to probate a one million dollar home whether it has fifty thousand dollars of equity or is fully paid off is the same in both cases and will be twenty three thousand dollars.  Executors get paid the same as the attorney and these fees do not include other court costs, fees and expenses.   

If you become mentally incapacited without having funded your trust then there is nothing in the bucket for your successor trustees to manage on your behalf.  They will need to initiate a conservatorship in Probate Court so a Judge can decree that they have the power to manage your assets.  The judge then continues to supervise your conservator until you recover or die, and like a death Probate, it will be public, expensive and time consuming. 

An unfunded Living Trust is just a Will.  Make sure your Living Trust is properly funded.

Written by Barry W. Finkelstein, Edited by Dan Joy

Barry W. Finkelstein is an attorney at law that specializes in providing counseling to couples, families, individuals and business owners throughout the bay area on estate planning, asset protection, wealth preservation and business succession. He believes that providing his clients with a thorough understanding of the estate planning process is the first step to creating successful preservation of assets and resources should one die or become disabled. He works collaboratively with other professional advisors such as financial planners, insurance agents, and CPAs to ensure desired results at every stage of life. For more information visit Barry’s website at http://www.alamedalaw.com/index.php.

"LA INCEPUT, DUCEAM GEANTA CU SCULE"

O voce de soprana acoperea galagia de pe holurile Conservatorului. "Exerseaza, maine au examen", ma lamureste portarul, in timp ce ma conduce spre sala 312. "Voila, pana aici mi-a fost dat sa va insotesc", imi spune el, aratand cu mana spre usa.

Inauntru ma intampina un barbat scund, de vreo 50-52 de ani. Se numeste Viorel Chiciudeanu si este acordor de piane. O meserie care, asa cum spune el, se transmite de la om la om, fiindca nu exista o scoala de specialitate care sa formeze oameni in acest domeniu.

Aventura lui in lumea pianelor a inceput in timpul liceului. "Eu cantam, aveam voce buna, dar din cauza problemelor de familie nu am putut sa urmez o scoala de muzica. Mai tarziu, cand eram in liceu, un prieten de-al tatei, care era acordor de piane si care ma stia, a venit la mine si m-a intrebat: Vrei sa inveti meseria asta? Sigur ca am zis imediat: Da!" La inceput ii ducea geanta de scule, dar incet-incet a ajuns sa invete meserie. Mai intai a facut practica la Liceul Nr.1 din Bucuresti, iar pe 9 mai 1969 s-a angajat acolo. Acum lucreaza ca acordor de piane la Conservator si la Opera.

"Nu oricine poate practica aceasta meserie", mi-a spus Chiciudeanu. Pentru a fi acordor de piane, trebuie sa ai un auz foarte bun, foarte fin, dar si un auz muzical, mi-a expicat el. "Exista o diefrenta: oricine poate sa auda bine si sa zica: ia te uita, trece o furnica prin spatele meu!, dar in partea muzicala sa nu auda bine". Si, ca sa ma convinga de cele spuse, mi-a zis ca in urma cu doi ani a facut un test ORL. Rezultatul? "Am auzul de patru ori mai fin decat al unui om normal". De altfel, este convins ca practicand aceasta meserie, nu o sa isi slabeasca auzul ci, dimpotriva, o sa il mentina in forma.

"MESERIA ASTA S-A TRANSMIS DE LA OM LA OM"

In Romania extsa foarte putini acordori de piane. "Oficial... Cred ca degetele de la maini sunt mai multe decat cei care practica aceasta meserie".

Motive ar fi mai multe. In primul rand, nu exista o scoala de specialitate care sa formeze acordori de piane. Si daca ar exista una, ar fi trebuit sa scoata o generatie la 30-40 de ani. Altfel ar fi prea multi acordori si n-ar avea ce sa faca.

In al doilea rand, putini maestri si-au luat discipoli. "Multi au fost egoisti", mi-a spus Chiciudeanu. "Cine a vrut, a transmis meseria, dar sunt multi care nu au facut-o".

Totusi, in anii '60-'70 erau destui acordori, aceasta si datorita faptului ca in 1960 s-a infiintat la noi o fabrica de piane, unde se putea invata aceasta meserie.

In timpul comunismului, insa, meseria a fost oropsita, asa cum a fost cultura in general. "De exemplu, la Televiziune s-a inchis programul Doi, care era un post cultural. S-au redus concertele, iar frontul de lucru s-a micsorat. Si s-a pierdut interesul pentru slujba aceasta, de-asta e atat de rara", a argumentat acordorul de piane.

"E GRESITA IDEEA CA PIANUL, CU CAT E MAI VECHI, CU ATAT E MAI BUN"

In momentul in care acordezi un pian, totul trebuie sa fie in conditii tehnice bune, sa functioneze perfect.

Acordajul pleca de la nota La. "Se face octava centrala a pianului. Aici se nasc intervalele, cvintele, cvartele, ceea ce se cheama temperare. In muzica, intervalele trebuie sa fie perfecte. Aici nu sunt, de aceea se cheama "temperate". Deci, de la fiecare se ciupeste cate putin, ca in octava asta de opt sunete sa incapa toate intervalele respective", mi-a explicat Chiciudeanu. Apoi se merge din octava-n octava, pana cand, in final, se ajunge la cate o coarda pentru fiecare ton.

Pe partea tehnica, un acordor trebuie, de exemplu, sa verifice starea ciocanelului. "Il slefuiesc, pentru ca se mai uzeaza. El trebuie sa aiba forma unui ou de rata. Toate piesele sunt amortizate intre ele de niste stofe, de casmururi, fiindca daca bate lemn pe lemn ar clampani tot pianul. Si acestea se mai uzeaza".

In plus, Chiciudeanu a tinut sa sublinieze ideea ca pianul e un mecanism, deci se uzeaza. "E gresita ideea ca un pian, cu cat e mai vechi, cu atat e mai bun".

"IN MESERIA ASTA, CONTEAZA MANA CARE TRAGE CHEIA"

Ca in orice alta meserie, si in cazul acesteia se poate vorbi despre rutina. "La inceput faceam un acordaj in trei ore. Acum il fac repede, cam intr-o ora. E o tehnica si e rutina. Trebuie sa fi lucrat mult". Un pianist nu poate sa isi acordeze singur pianul, deoarece auzul unui acordor se formeaza strict pe ceea ce trebuie sa auda pe instrument. In plus, trebuie sa se creeze un reflex intre mana si ureche. "Cand urecea zice stop, mana trebuie sa se opreasca".

EU L-AM LUAT UCENIC PE BAIATUL MEU

Copiii i-au mostenit talentul. Ambii sunt studenti la Conservator*. Fata, pe care a tinut neaparat sa o boteze Aida, e anul doi la sectia "Pian principal", iar baiatul, Alex, e ultimul an la sectia "Jazz".

Pe Alex l-a luat ucenic. I-a fost greu sa il convinga sa practice aceasta meserie, iar asta numai din cauza faptului ca "tineretul vrea bani multi, pe care sa ii faca repede". Chiciudeanu spune ca baiatul a invatat repede, iar acum are un ajutor pe care se poate baza.

"Nu i-am obligat pe copii sa faca muzica", marturiseste el. "A fost alegerea lor".

Acasa, Chiciudeanu are doua piane, la care mai canta din cand in cand. Asculta Bach, Berlioz, Chopin si alti clasici, dar si trupe de muzica usoara. "Mi-ar fi placut sa fac canto, sa cant la Opera", imi marturiseste el. "Dar asa mi-a fost dat, sa fiu acordor de piane, si nu altceva. Cu o exceptie a unui domn din Brasov, as zice ca eu sunt cel mai in varsta la ora actuala... Desi nu sunt batran!" (rade)

Ca si atunci cand povesteste despre copiii sai, de cate ori vorbeste despre pian, ochii ii stralucesc. Zambeste, gesticuleaza si arata inspre pianina din coltul salii: "Multumiri? Multumiri am in fiecare zi. De cate ori doftoricesc un pian, am satisfactia ca i-am prelungit viata".

* acest interviu a fost realizat in urma cu doi ani si jumatate

Ultima zi de depunere a dosarelor pentru concurs: MIERCURI, 23 IULIE, orele 15.00

Detalii la telefon 021/314 81 19

Iata-l dirijind inceputul Simfoniei a 5-a de Beethoven, "Allegro con brio", ieri seara:

+ O compozitie proprie. Piesa - "Inca o ecuatie in atractorul lorenz" - este scrisa pentru licenta si vrea sa ilustreze "teoria fluturelui" conform careia, dupa cum am aflat de la Costin, "micile schimbari din atmosfera produse de bataile din aripi ale unui fluture se propaga mai departe si pot altera, forma sau preveni formarea unei tornade in alta parte a lumii". Din pacate n-am prins decat un fragment:

+ "Pentru ajutor apasa F1":

Mai multe despre compozitie puteti citi in Cotidianul.

The Court previously authorized $2,500 for Jamie's services, but the Court did not start the payments until after March 3. So, Papa Spears is simply asking to be compensated for his previous work. This should get a rubber stamp.

If you want to know how often Jamie cooked Britney's "supper" and bought groceries, feel free to read the papers. Otherwise, Popsquire is giving you a freebie on this one and, instead, encourages you to continue studying the 2007 and 2008 timelines that detail Britney's previous collisions with the law.

And, of course, if you are really ambitious, you can read all previous Popsquire posts about Britney here.

In case you've been living under a rock, this time line of Britney's 2008 collisions with the law should help you understand why.  Get your flashcards ready!

Jan. 15: Complaint filed against Dr. Phil, arising out of his hospital visit with Britney.

Jan. 21: Britney attends deposition for approximately 2.5 hours.

Jan. 23: Britney unsuccessfully seeks to modify court’s no-visitation order. Britney’s lawyers withdraw motion to be relieved as counsel, previously scheduled for Feb. 4.

Jan. 31: Britney is placed on another 5150 hold, this time at UCLA Medical Center.

Feb. 1: (a) Britney’s dad and independent lawyer are appointed as conservators of her estate; and (b) Court issues temporary restraining order against Sam Lutfi, prohibiting him from getting near Britney.

Feb. 3: Britney’s 5150 hold is extended by 14 days.

Feb. 4: (a) After a court challenge, Brit’s dad and independent attorney remain conservators of her estate at least until Feb. 14; and (b) Amid alleged concerns that Sam Lutfi contacted Britney by telephone, the court confirmed that Lutfi is not permitted to contact Britney, even by telephone or email.

Feb. 6: (a) UCLA releases Britney from the extended 5150 hold; (b) Maria Shriver introduces herself to Britney; and (c) Britney’s parents release this statement.

Feb. 7: Attorneys appear in court regarding Britney; all information remains under seal.

Feb. 13: Court continues Britney’s family law attorneys’ request to be removed as counsel until Feb. 19.

Feb. 14: (a) Court extends conservatorship until March 10; (b) Bryan Spears and attorney named co-trustees of Britney’s trust; (c) Britney is ordered to undergo an 730 evaluation; and (d) an attorney files a notice to remove Britney’s legal troubles to federal court.

Feb. 19: (a) Stacy Phillips becomes Britney’s new attorney; (b) court denies request for gag order; and (c) parties unable to reach an agreement to permit Britney to resume visitation with kids.

Feb. 20: Federal court issues tentative order to deny the notice of removal previously filed by attorney Jon Eardley and sets deadline for Eardley to convince the court to change its mind.

Feb. 21: Sam Lutfi is finally served with restraining order, and court issues extension of order until March 17.

Feb. 23: Britney resumes visitation with children, supervised by her father and a mental health professional.

Feb. 26: As predicted in this previous post, the federal court judge kicks the Britney Spears conservatorship case back to state court. The judge’s decision is plain and simple: “Mr. Eardley is not Ms. Spears attorney and acted improperly by removing her conservatorship proceeding to federal court.”

March 5: Court approves an extension of the conservatorship until July 31, 2008.

March 15: UCLA Hospital takes steps to fire at least 13 employees for snooping into Britney’s private medical records.

March 17: (a) Court extends restraining order against Sam Lutfi for another month; (b) Court approves Jamie Spears’ decision to sell off some of Britney’s cars; and (c) Court ordered Britney to pay K-Fed’s attorneys’ fees totaling approximately $375,000, a discount from the$500,000 requested.

April 12: Britney is involved in minor fender bender, allegedly while applying makeup and driving.

April 17: Court extends restraining order against Lutfi until July 31.

Sursa

Consumator  de elita de licori din pruna  ,   domnul din foto crezand ca semneaza cererea de ajutor social a semnat candidatura proprie din partea PC. De ce ii facura farsa asta ?   Ca sa bage electoratul intelectual din comuna Finis de Bihor la deruta fiindca avea acelasi nume ca si candidatul liberal. Vorba lu' Iri : misto .Pe de alta parte, intrat in cursa pentru  Jilava ( ptiu ptiu, doamne apara si pazeste ! )  liberalul Andrei Mladin a bagat la inaintarea candidaturii  inaintarile Simonei Sensual si trupei Sexxy, savuroasa descriere a showului e aici

Nene, fiecare cu ce are, atata pot oamenii, ce sa mai...

Părinte al mişcării conservatoare şi un reputat polemist al jurnalismului audio-vizual, autor al unei longevive emisiuni TV: „Firing Line” (1966-1999, 1540 de episoade). În anul 1991, Buckley Jr. a fost distins cu Medalia Libertăţii de către preşedintele George Bush Sr. în semn de recunoştinţă pentru demnitatea cu care a traversat cele mai grele momente din istoria politică a Americii secolului XX.

Născut la New York în data de 24 noiembrie 1925, într-o familie cu rădăcini europene, William F. Buckley Jr. a fost fiul lui William Frank Buckley Sr. (texan cu line genealogică ascendentă în Irlanda catolică) şi Aloïse Steiner (cu origini elveţiene). Înainte de-a deveni un magnat al petrolului, tatăl a studiat dreptul şi limbile romanice la University of Texas din Austin. William Frank Buckley Sr. (1881-1958) şi-a câştigat averea iniţial prin investiţii în terenurile bogate cu ţiţei ale Mexicului, extinzînd apoi activităţile firmei sale în domeniul imobiliar. Soţia sa Aloïse Steiner (1895-1985) era fiica unei pioase şi prospere familii de industriaşi din New Orleans. Căsătorită în 1917 cu tânărul William Frank Buckley Sr., Aloïse a devenit mama a zece copii, cu toţii educaţi în credinţa romano-catolică şi crescuţi în acea atmosferă cosmpolită unde manierele elevate şi conversaţia poliglotă fac mereu casă bună.

William F. Buckley Jr. a făcut primii ani de şcoală la Paris şi Londra, devenind cu uşurinţă fluent în spaniolă şi franceză. Pasiunea pentru cărţi, conversaţie, muzică, navigaţie şi călărie poartă o puternică amprentă a copilăriei. Prosperitatea părinţilor i-a permis să călătorească mult înăuntrul şi în afara graniţelor Americii, fiind de mic expus realităţilor unui Occident plural. A moştenit din familie regula de aur a toleranţei faţă de diversitate, sprijinită de încrederea fermă în propriul crez. După ce face studii gimnaziale în Anglia, la doar 19 ani Buckley Jr. devine locotent în armata americană. Nu ajunge niciodată pe teatrul de operaţiuni militare din Europa, Africa de Nord sau Oceanul Pacific. În 1945 se înscrie student al Universităţii Yale.

Cinci ani mai târziu, Buckley Jr. scrie un volum controversat Despre experienţa sa universitară. Sub titlul God and Man at Yale: The Superstitions of Academic Freedom (1951), cartea poartă această dedicaţie: for God, for Country, and for Yale, in that order. Buckley Jr. îşi începe pledoaria cu o profesiune de credinţă: „dintotdeauna am fost învăţat, iar experienţa a întărit această educaţie, că o credinţă lucrătoare (active faith) în Dumnezeu şi o adeziune puternică (rigid adherence) faţă de principiile creştine contribuie decisiv la o viaţă bine rânduită (good life). De asemenea, am crezut, deşi doar cu firave cunoştinţe economice, că iniţiativa privată şi un sistem de guvernare limitată au slujit această ţară şi vor continua s-o facă şi pe viitor.” Cu aceste premise, autorul deconstruieşte mitul neutralităţii academice sub umbrela căruia erau lăudate superioritatea metafizică a ateismului, hedonismul alternativ, importanţa planificării centralizate în economie şi rezonabilitatea colectivismului ideologic.

Despre celelalte aspecte importante ale vieţii lui William F. Buckley Jr., urmăriţi numerele din luna februarie, martie şi aprilie ale revistei „Idei în dialog”, 2008.

Mihail NEAMŢU

In the meantime, if you missed an important post about the Britney Spears conservatorship over the weekend, check it out here.

This is absurd for two reasons:

1. The Superior Court's Public Information Office has released a statement that reads, "It is our view that all current orders in this matter remain in full force and effect."
2. A notice of removal does not render the Superior Court's orders null and void. It simply moves the case to federal court, unless and until a judge decides that the notice of removal is without merit.

Popsquire has one short Destiny's-Child-inspired phrase for Sands..."No, no, no, no, no!"

Jan. 15: Complaint filed against Dr. Phil, arising out of his hospital visit with Britney.

Jan. 21: Britney attends deposition for approximately 2.5 hours.

Jan. 23: Britney unsuccessfully seeks to modify court's no-visitation order. Britney's lawyers withdraw motion to be relieved as counsel, previously scheduled for Feb. 4.

Jan. 31: Britney is placed on another 5150 hold, this time at UCLA Medical Center.

Feb. 1: (a) Britney's dad and independent lawyer are appointed as conservators of her estate; and (b) Court issues temporary restraining order against Sam Lutfi, prohibiting him from getting near Britney.

Feb. 3: Britney's 5150 hold is extended by 14 days.

Feb. 4: (a) After a court challenge, Brit's dad and independent attorney remain conservators of her estate at least until Feb. 14; and (b) Amid alleged concerns that Sam Lutfi contacted Britney by telephone, the court confirmed that Lutfi is not permitted to contact Britney, even by telephone or email.

Feb. 6: (a) UCLA releases Britney from the extended 5150 hold; (b) Maria Shriver introduces herself to Britney; and (c) Britney's parents release this statement.

Feb. 7: Attorneys appear in court regarding Britney; all information remains under seal.

Feb. 13: Court continues Britney's family law attorneys' request to be removed as counsel until Feb. 19.

Feb. 14: (a) court extends conservatorship until March 10; (b) Bryan Spears and attorney named co-trustees of Britney's trust; (c) Britney is ordered to undergo an 730 evaluation; and (d) an attorney files a notice to remove Britney's legal troubles to federal court.

Upcoming...

Feb. 19: Court hearing regarding: (a) family law attorneys' request to be relieved as counsel; and (b) custody of children.  This may not happen, however, because the case is now pending in federal court.

March 10: Assuming the case is not in federal court, the Commissioner will re-assess whether the conservatorship will remain in tact and, if so, for how long.

Apr. 9: Trial is on calendar to begin in custody dispute, assuming the federal court issue is resolved.

If you are too lazy to click and read, Popsquire is here to help and pick out the highlights:

1. Jamie has the power to terminate Grossman;
2. Grossman must turn over all documents relating to Britney's businesses and money, including bank statements, tax returns, and checkbooks; and
3. Grossman must turn over all Britney's assets, including keys, deeds, contracts, moneys, and stock.

Popsquire is a reader and hereby offeres his services to comb through the stack of documents that Jamie likely will receive.  Popsquire also is willing to offer a discount on his hourly rate, but let's be reasonable...

WTHR is reporting that following her involutary committement to a Los Angeles hospital for an unknown condition, Britney's father was awarded temporary "conservatorship" of Britney.  The father, James Spears, and an attorney were awarded co-conservators of Britney's estate.  The court also proptly issued a restraining order against Britney's "manager" and friend, Sam Lufti.

From the story:

A court creates conservatorships when a person cannot care for themselves or handle their affairs. Commissioner Reva Goetz said Spears would be under conservatorship until Feb. 4, at which time another hearing will be held.

"It is in the best interests of the conservatee to have conservatorship over her person," Goetz told a packed courtroom.

      The conservator will have the power to "restrict visitors," have around-the-clock security for Spears, and have access to all medical records, Goetz said.

      Goetz said conservatorship over the estate was "necessary and appropriate." She gave approval for the conservator to "take all actions to secure all liquid assets including credit cards."

The reason I wanted to blog on this was to point out how serious her condition must be.  In all the years I've practiced I've only run into two or three cases where the person's conditon was so serious they could not make decisions for themselves or their estate.  So, while I originally thought much of this was for publicity, her condition must be very serious indeed.  Goes to prove the point no-one should evaluate another from afar, or through media reports.

1. The court established a conservatorship to manage Britney's financial matters, placing Britney's dad and an independent attorney in the driver's seat; and
2. The court issued a restraining order against Sam Lufti, barring him from visiting Britney for 22 days.

Popsquire is pleased that someone is stepping in to take care of Britney, yet still wonders whether the Spears parents will seek a conservatorship to make medical decisions.

As we await next steps and wish the Spears family well, Popsquire dedicates this Plain White T's song to Sam Lutfi, on behalf of the Spears family...

Popsquire's provides background...

When a developmental or mental impairment limits an adult's capacity to exercise her rights, a conservatorship can enable the parent to act on behalf of the person subject to periodic reviews by the court.

A conservatorship is crucial to medical treatment. For example, the "informed consent" of a patient is required before most medical treatments. If the patient is an adult with a developmental disability, parental consent frequently is not accepted unless the parent is also the patient's conservator.

Popsquire continues to root for Britney. He also hopes to help others learn about their rights if they are struggling with similar issues. In the spirit of educating and entertaining, Popsquire invites everyone to smile and send positive thoughts to Britney and/or your loved ones while singing along to this Killers hit.

Ca nişte copii de 5 - 7 ani schimbă legislaţia prin ordonanţe şi hotarâri după nevoile lor personale sau de grup. De altfel de nenumărate ori în tara mentionată în titlu regulile au fost adeseori schimbate în timpul jocului, lucru interzis din punct de vedere moral . Comportamentul lor mi-aminteşte de filmele western in care cel mai iute de mână şi evident de obicei mai puternic scoate pistolul şi informează partenerii că e câştigător chiar dacă are o mână (de cărţi) proastă dar atenţie ...... pistolul este aţintit asupra lor.

Cam aşa stau lucrurile şi pe la noi. Şi daca-n cotidian nimănui nu-i pasă şi nu ia atitudine, aceşti indivizi cu pretenţii de ''abili'' politicieni işi fac de cap fără pic de jena şi e justificat - puterea este la ei. Dacă la o scară ''macronaţională'' lucrurile stau pe aceste coordonate, de ce ne miră că Voiculescu cere celui cu voturile cele mai puţine să le dea cuiva, ''că doar este democraţie'' şi dacă treaba nu iese aşa cum trebuie să le dea acelui indicat de patron ca pana la urmă se pare că PC este un S.R.L. iaR politica managerială aparţine patronului - Voiculescu in cazul de faţă. Nu cred că sistemul electoral adoptat de PC pentru acest congres este ceva prestabilit in statutul acestui srl scuzaţi partid, sau este ceva la fel de extraordinar precum congresul ca atare. Sau poate Voiculescu scolit la Londra (de unde a revenit ''conservator'' convins), a aruncat un ochi peste ocean la americani si a conceput reguli noi, dar anunţate în timpul numărării votului - de unde clar şi notiunea de democraţie originala cu iz dânboviţean.

Până la următoarele alegeri ''TRĂIASCĂ REPUBLICA BANANIERĂ ROMÂNIA!'' . Zarurile au fost aruncate in toamna lui 2004

"Paper conservation" brings us mostly to discussions about saving trees, and a very interesting blog about a conservation experience in the Antarctic. "Paper conservator" might get you here, and to a nicely-done British book conservator blog-he tells me he is now at the Huntington- Broken Books, or Mr. Paper's look into the paper industry in it's many permutations, including a bunch of stuff on paper dresses, and to a blog by a newly hired paper conservator in Australia. "Art conservation" - not much except conservator's private practice websites, training programs, the Distlist and other publications, and vendors - no blogs that I've yet found. "Preservation" is mostly buildings, unless you add the word "Library". "Book conservation" brings you to the ubiquitous Future of the Book. Frustratingly, many feed search results provide articles about political conservatives instead of conservators. "Art restoration" is mostly articles written by non-conservators.

Bottom line is that any combination of search terms only yields a handful of relevant results, and anyone looking for a blog talking about our profession has to rummage like the most persistent flea-market hound. We've got to do better than this.

So, shall we revisit the ever-evolving conversation about what is that we should be called? What search terms, keywords and tags should we be promoting? How can we make sure that we get found?

My question to you: how do you describe your profession to a stranger, when you have about 5 seconds to get it across? Do you say "I'm a conservator"? The response to that, it seems, is "...like you save the environment?" I tend to say "I fix art and historic documents", and leave the word "conservator for later in the conversation. That don't seem right, PR-wise, but it communicates the essentials quickly. It does leave something to be desired in expressing the intricacy, extensive training and education, the professionalism required.

Ideas, anyone?