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For many of us, the photography of Herman Leonard is our first link to jazz culture. Ellington in Paris, Dexter with a Chesterfield, a youthful Miles, Satchmo in Birdland…These images, in some cases more so than the music, are responsible for our devotion to preserving and protecting the art the musicians of mid 20th Century America created, and Herman Leonard reported on.
We were honored that Herman Leonard took the time and consented to an exclusive interview with Jerry Jazz Musician. As a primary witness to some of the world's great musical and cultural events, he has a special understanding of history, and of the people and events making it.
All images in the interview: Copyright Herman Leonard
JJM Your work and William Gottlieb's work have been so influential in my life, in terms of getting me interested in not only the music but in the whole culture of this incredible art form.
HL Thank the guys that play the instruments, not us!
JJM How did you get involved with photography?
HL It was my brothers fault. When I was a kid, in the 1930s, we didn't have Playboy and Penthouse, but we took some pictures of his beautiful wife with very little clothing on I came across it when I was 11 years old, and it stunned me..
JJM I bet it did!
HL So, my brother loaned me a camera and I took some pictures of my friends playing baseball, and suddenly I was popular, because I was giving them the prints that's how it all started
JJM Simultaneous to this, did you have an interest in music as well?
HL Only girls
JJM So, just girls? Not girl musicians?
HL No, I didn't have a particular interest in jazz at that stage. It was a bit later than that, when I was about 14 or 15.
JJM What happened then?
HL I was exposed to a lot of classical music. My father and mother were both very interested in music, but they were always playing Beethoven and Bach and that sort of thing. One day I had the radio on and I heard a Louis Jordan thing, and I heard an early Nat Cole song, "Straighten Up and Fly Right". When I heard the rhythms, it made me feel good, and I said, "hey, this is happy music, feet tapping music!" That's how I got interested in that form of music.
JJM Tell me where you grew up?
HL I grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and I left there when I went to college, and I never went back to live there.
JJM You went to college in Ohio?
HL Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. That was the only university in those days that gave a degree in photography.
JJM Is that right? In the whole country?
HL Yes, in the whole country. It wasn't recognized as an art form of any kind, so they didn't give any degrees.
JJM So this was right after the war then?
HL That's right. Actually I went to the university before the war in 1940, and finished two years there, and then I went to the war and came back in 1945 and finished my college there, and graduated in 1947.
JJM Now, you took some pictures while you were in the service?
HL Yes. I wasn't an active photographer. The army failed me when they gave me a test on photography, and they turned me into a medic, and I did anesthesia in Burma on the Chinese troops. We didn't have any fighting troops in Burma, but we only had service and support troops, and I was part of that group. We were attached to the Chinese Army, which were fighting the Japanese in Burma.
JJM Did you take a volume of photographs during that time?
HL No. It was very difficult. When you are fighting a war, unless you are an active photographer, you can't pay attention to equipment and the film and the humidity and all of that Sometimes we would be out there for two or three months and we would be lost, because there were no roads We were supplied by air, and sometimes they couldn't find us. I took pictures, many of which have been lost since then. I wish I had done more but there was no opportunity.
JJM You must recall some of the photographs that you took at the time. Were they any good?
HL Hell no They were snapshots, like a news photographer would go around and shoot the pictures of whatever was going on. I shot pictures of some of the scenes we were involved with, and then we would come in contact with some of the mountain villages, and I would be able to photograph some of the things there at that time. That was always very interesting.
JJM After the war, and after you graduated from college, then what happened?
HL I went up to Canada to try to get a job with Yousef Karsh was and still is the greatest portrait photographer in the world. He did all the world's most important people, and I admired his approach and his quality. But he wouldn't hire me, he didn't need anybody, but he suggested that if I could afford it I could study with him for six months. So I called my Dad, and he supported me. I actually stayed a year with Karsh, a real turning point in my life because we photographed President Truman in the White House, Albert Einstein in Princeton University, General Eisenhower, Clark Gable .a whole bunch of people, which was really a mind blowing experience for me, not only to be with Karsh but to meet people of that stature.
JJM That must have been quite an experience, beyond photographing them, but to be able to sit and talk with them, understand their mannerisms .
HL I was able to observe how Karsh handled all these different kinds of people. He was an absolute master at it.
JJM Now, he's a portrait photographer
HL That's right. He's now about 83 or 84. He's not shooting much anymore, obviously He's done the most important portraits that have ever been done..Churchill, everybody
JJM Let's jump ahead How did you get to New York? So many of your most beloved photos took place in New York..How did you wind up in New York?
HL After leaving Karsh, that's where I wanted to go. I moved there, into a little studio in Greenwich Village and started photographing business executives doing a "Karshy" type approach to photography. Then I got some jobs with theatre companies and dance companies photographing the theatre, rehearsals, assignments for magazines. I got on as a stringer for Life Magazine and Look Magazine.
JJM And you had an interest in jazz at this time?
HL The whole time, yes. But I couldn't afford to pay the entrance fee and I wasn't a drinker, so I used the camera. They allowed me to come in in return for my giving them photographs. I began giving some prints to the musicians, and the whole friendship thing started.
JJM Were you in some of the same clubs simultaneous to when William Gottlieb would have been there? Were you ever shooting side by side?
HL No The funny thing is Bill stopped shooting in 1948 actively, and I started in 1947, but we never overlapped, we didn't know each other at that time. Bill was a reporter, he wasn't a photographer, and he just took his camera and started shooting, and he became a documentary photographer, and got some unbelievable things and but I didn't run across him, no.
JJM You guys are the connection for all of us to that era, and to be able to talk to you about some of these moments you spent is really a privilege to me
HL We didn't know at that time, you never know .only later in retrospect. Either you wasted your time or your time was well invested.
JJM What was your very first evening of photographing jazz? What was the club?
HL Gee, I don't remember I have no idea. Well, I do remember the first pictures I took. I was still in the university, early 1947 Norman Granz, the producer of Jazz at the Philharmonic Concerts..he brought a concert to Columbus, Ohio, and I ran up to Columbus from Athens to see this, and sat in the audience with my big newspaper events camera..the camera I used was a big speed graphic, a big 4 x 5 thing, and from about 20 rows back (I was too scared to go up to the stage), I shot about 4 or 5 picture of the performers on stage. Those were the very first shots I did, and I look at them today, and they're not bad! They are a document of that moment.
JJM When somebody mentions 52nd St, what goes through your mind? What is the image in your head of 52nd Street 40, 50 years later?
HL If you could imagine, in today's terms, going to one block where you would be able to see the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the U2, Def Jam you name it all within like a couple hundred yards of each other, playing on the same night, and you could go from one place to another that's what it was like.
JJM You said exactly what William Gottlieb said you almost took the words right out of his mouth Every time I hear that, and every time I hear of 52nd Street, it makes me wish I had lived in a different era
HL I can't say that your impression is wrong. Now that I have come this far, I can look back and have some perspective, and Bill and I were extremely lucky to have been born at that time and be exposed to this kind of thing. Today, I just haven't found an element like that anywhere
JJM You and Bill had so much to do with perpetuating this art form
HL You know, actually there are three of us, not just two, who, as far as I am concerned, documented them in our own individual fashion. Jazz from the 30s to now. William Claxton is the other. So, Claxton, Gottlieb and myself constitute a range of photographers that overlapped each other. Claxton started shooting in the mid 50s I think, and he is still shooting. He did the west coast
JJM Yeah, he did the Chet Baker's and the Art Pepper's
HL That's right. He covered the west coast, Gottlieb did the east coast earlier on, and I did the east coast following him. We just had a triple show in Berlin, in fact. It was the first time that we ever exhibited together. Someone in Berlin called me to do a show, and I had experience in exhibiting my stuff around the world, and people pay high compliments, but that's about the end of it..they don't buy anything. I wasn't too enthusiastic about doing the single show in Berlin, so I suggested we do a triple show, so I got in touch with Claxton and Gottlieb, and they were all for it, and we had this wonderful show there. All of us, we each had about 90 picture exhibited there. A tremendous response .Nobody sold anything, because the Europeans are not art collectors, only in America and England, surprisingly enough. Even in France, where the people are fanatic about American jazz, they don't buy the prints. That's how we make our living, at this point
JJM Does it inspire you to do more shows like that, only in the US?
HL To be honest, I have lost a little bit of enthusiasm for photographing the musicians of today for several reasons. First of all, I don't get quite as excited as I used to about the music that's coming out. I have not heard anything innovative, anything really new and solid and good..not that I was fully aware of that when I first heard Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis I mean, I liked them, but I wasn't aware of how important they would be later on. Today, I don't hear anybody. I hear the young guys that are extremely proficient, technically fantastic, but there is no message, there is no soul in what they are doing. They are either rehashing the old stuff or ..just no content there. Which brings to mind something that Dizzy Gillespie told me when I told him I heard this incredible alto guy I heard on the radio that I thought was Charlie Parker, but it wasn't, but he was playing just as fast and efficiently as Parker, but there was something missing. I mentioned this to Dizzy and he said, the trouble is that the kids grow up under more comfortable conditions, and they go to school, and they learn all the techniques, but, our school was the street, and we had something to say there is a soul to it, suffering in it .That's the thing that sets Billie Holiday apart from all the other singers..she suffered so much, and it comes through in her singing. The passion .Today, I don't hear any passion
JJM I have to admit, I am kind of stuck in the 50s, in terms of the art of jazz. I tend to agree with you Mostly I haven't had the time, nor really the income at this point to go out and buy every CD by Nicholas Payton and Wynton Marsalis and..all these guys are great, but I agree, I think that there is a lot of technical wizardry out there
HL But there is no soul!
JJM There is a lot of honoring of this era (50s) musician Of the contemporary musicians, who would be easiest to be transported to 52nd Street in 1949? Who would it be? Marsalis?
HL No, not Marsalis, and Wynton is a dear dear friend, I love him, But he is a highly skilled musician who really knows his music backwards and forwards which brings to mind a story Gunther Schuller is a musician, arranger, conductor, composer, writer We were talking about Wynton, and I had just finished photographing Wynton a few days before, and Gunther said "this kid came to me a few years ago, and he was very cocky, and he wanted to do an audition for me. I thought I would throw something tough at him. Can you do the Brandenburg Concerto? He just blew right through it, without looking at music." It just knocked Schuller out, how technically proficient he was, and how aware He is a much better jazz trumpet player than a jazz trumpet player, although he can do anything! Wynton can play anything! I have heard him play the blues, I have heard him play everything, and he is wonderful, but it just doesn't have the suffering behind it to be able to really punch through that feeling that jazz has.
JJM One of my favorite musicians of all time is Thelonious Monk. I wonder if you have any special memories that you could share with me…
HL The same as anybody else he was a weirdo. I am not a musical expert, and I love what he did, because every note was a surprise, you just didn't expect to hear that off tone note or chord. He didn't play many chords, actually, he just played notes. Somebody once said that he was unique because he played between the keys. Little pauses and hesitations where you don't expect them that's exciting to me, that's innovative, he had his own feel But as a person ..you couldn't talk to him.
JJM He was difficult to connect with?
HL Yes. He was somewhere up in orbit somewhere, all the time. Very fascinating man, big man, physically, imposing. When he stared at you, he stared through you I liked him a lot, but I never got close to him personally, because he lived a rather isolated life.
JJM Who was the most charismatic figure you photographed?
HL Dizzy Gillespie. Dizzy was a great human being. He had such empathy for everybody and for the suffering and all that..he was amazing, aside from being an incredible musician. Just an hour ago, I was listening to a Getz/Dizzy tune, and the ideas that he had, the variations that he would give to a standard was absolutely amazing. Dizzy was a comedian, a showman, a musician, a humanitarian He was a member of the Bahai faith, and they believe that everyone is a brother, and he practiced this, he really actively practiced it, all the way through. He was a good, fine gentleman. Dizzy and I got very close in the later years, we were not too close in the early years, and that was a matter of geography really, but we got along fine in the beginning, but in the later years, we seemed to connect in the same places at the same time. We used to hang out a lot, played a lot of backgammon .he was a lousy backgammon player. I had to let him win all the time. But funny, terrific guy
JJM As a young man, I remember seeing him and Louis Armstrong..who were really the ambassadors a link between jazz and be bop to people like me. What I remember of him is that he seemed like a really genuine human being, very hip, but in a reachable way, not ..Monk was more of a ..hip that not to many people could connect with, whereas I think Dizzy really put himself out there and tried to be an ambassador..
HL To give you an example of what you're saying, I was with him in Paris, and I was in the Green Room with him, and after the show, at 2 AM, he is tired, very tired, but he sat there for 2 1/2 hours talking to one musician who was on junk, having trouble .I asked Dizzy about it, and he said he knew this guy for years and I have been trying to help him. I asked him if you can see that there isn't much you can do to help him, why spend so much time? He said to me, look man, I know what I am to them, and I would like to help if I can help. What's another hour or two? This is the way the man was.
JJM I am looking at the photo of him right now that you took in 1948, the picture of him on the stage, standing up ..where was that taken?
HL It was taken at the Royal Roost that was not on 52nd Street. That was on Broadway. Most of my better shots were done at the Royal Roost.
JJM In my web site, in couple of places where your photos appear on the album covers, one of which is the Dexter Gordon, where there is a lot of smoke, I mentioned something about promising not to sue for second-hand smoke so much of the ambience of the photographs is really set off by that smoky, three o clock in the morning setting
HL That's the way it was. Essentially, all these pictures in the beginning I just shot for myself, they were not assignments. I never made any money on the jazz pictures until 40 years later
JJM There is one photograph that you took that, to me , is almost larger than life. A lot of these other photographs are wonderful, but the one of Ellington that you did in Paris, of him at the piano with the beam of light, that is almost surreal, so incredible What are the circumstances behind that photograph?
HL That was shot at the Olympia Theatre in Paris, and piano players are very difficult to photograph because you only have two angles where you can see both their face and their hands on the keyboard from the right or from the left, you cant see them from any other angle. You can't shoot them from the front, because you don't see the hands on the keys. Every time you shoot from the audience point of view, you are always going to get the same thing, depending on what's behind him. For this photo, I went backstage through the curtains toward the audience, and that's how I got the spotlight like that.
JJM I know you got connected with Marlon Brando I am just curious about one thing .Was he a jazz fan?
HL Yes, he was a jazz fan! The only reason I met him was because I had by sheer luck photographed a girl who lived around the corner from me in the Village, who turned out to be his girlfriend, and she announced to me that he was in town, looking for a photographer to go with him and his film company on a research trip. Every photographer in America wanted that assignment guys from Life and everybody, and I told her that I take portraits and do jazz photos, and she said to go see him. That was on a Wednesday, and I went to see him at the hotel. I laid out the pictures and he liked them, and he looked at me and he said "can you leave Friday?" two days later. I had a business in New York at the time a studio and an assistant, the whole thing, and I said, "Yes!" I packed my bag and we took off from LA. There were four of us on the trip, Brando, myself, a film producer by the name of George England and a writer named Stewart Stern. We had this idyllic dream trip, sponsored by Marlon Brando, and we just hung out together for all those weeks. It was an invaluable experience.
JJM Did you get out to any jazz clubs with him?
HL Only when he came to Paris. After we did that trip, he went to Japan and did a film called "Teahouse of the August Moon", and I came back to New York, and then eventually I moved to Paris, and every time he would come through, we'd meet and hang out, and go to the clubs in Paris.
JJM You have had quite a life!
HL I have had a ball, and still having a ball! I just recently moved to New Orleans and it's a whole new lease in life.
JJM I have never eaten so much in my life as I did during a week in New Orleans! Are you planning to do more shows around the country?
HL Oh yes. I have galleries around the country that sponsor me. (At this point his assistant hands him a Tony Bennett book ) Oh, my assistant just gave me a Tony Bennett .he and I have recently become very good friends ..Oh I don't like the cover .he looks too serious no..that's not Tony.
JJM He narrated your Images of Jazz TV show, isn't that right?
HL Yes, he narrated it. The producers of the show received the highest prize from PBS for documentary last year. Got the top award, the one on me!! It's a well done documentary, and will be rebroadcast nationally in late January on PBS.
JJM One other quick question .Where were you in 1963 when Kennedy was shot?
HL I was in Paris living in Paris
JJM Anything specifically you were working on at the time?
HL I was trying to make money I was working in fashion advertising at that point of my life, and I had just opened up a new studio
JJM What was the reaction in Paris?
HL Stunned! We thought it was the end of the world all the American expatriates living in Paris, we all got together As a matter of fact, Brando was there at the time. I recall us discussing that .
JJM You are selling your work through the Barbara Gilman Galleries?
HL A lot of places sell my work, yes, Barbara Gilman in Miami the best gallery in the world in my estimation is right here in New Orleans, its called A Gallery for Fine Photography. He has the most incredible collection of photographs on display, that you could ever want to see. On Royal Street in the Quarter. It's like a museum for sale.
Herman Leonard
Herman Leonard products at Amazon.com


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Posted 2/9/17
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subset: commoncrawl


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India: A Democracy, Really?
It is touted to be the biggest democracy in the world. But is our revered motherland actually one?
A democracy, literally, refers to a state where the citizens have suffrage rights on major elective decisions, as well as those on important policies. Judging by these criteria, India is indeed, a democracy. The other side of the coin, however, is not that clear.
The Indian "democracy" carries numerous instances that make one think if it wouldn't be more prudent to term India a theocracy.
We have no religious head-of-state per se, but interpreting theocracy broadly, it can be understood to encompass the frail political system that makes ample leeway for religious sentiments being misguided to make personal or oligarchic ends meet.
On a macro level, India has divisions to ensure effective governance. At each step of the division, it is almost confirmed that the person elected by the masses would be selected on any grounds but merit.


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Pauline (on the left) is here for a week from London. She invited Jean and me up for lunch yesterday. Not only did we enjoy a wonderful lunch...salad, bread, wine and a cheese/apple plate for dessert, the view wasn't too shabby either.
Looking downriver...that's the roof of the Chatette you see.
Looking upriver towards Montbrun.
I'm always curious about new foods; Pauline served a platter of several possible salad toppings. One new to me was celeriac remoulade. It comes pre-packaged in France and is definitely something I'll serve myself. Tres yummy!
For more opinion about celery and celeriac than you really want to know, and for photos of the remoulade being made, click over to David Lebovitz's blogpost here.


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Wandering down the back alleyways of the Medina requires all senses be on high alert. The fragrant and brightly colored spices stacked into perfect cone shapes, the gorgeous leather purses in every shape and size, and the large intricate metal lamps, all begging to go home with you.
The patterned latticework surrounding colorful doors will have you reaching for your camera and forgetting to watch your step on the uneven dirt paths. And the motorbikes weaving through the crowds at high speeds will keep your adrenaline pumping.
There's never a dull moment in this bustling city! Read on to learn more about what to expect, where to visit, and what to bring when visiting magical Marrakech!
Marrakech: The Basics
Marrakech (also spelled Marrakesh) is thought to be either rooted in the Berber phase murr akush meaning "the land of God" or the Arabic words murra kish, which translates to "pass by quickly", used to warn travelers of thieves and wild animals. After spending a few days in Marrakech, you'll probably agree that both are accurate.
With a population of about one million people, Marrakech is still only the 4th largest city in the Kingdom of Morocco. Situated at the base of the snow capped Atlas Mountains, on a clear day the view from the many rooftop restaurants and patios is absolutely unbelievable.
Tourism has been steadily increasing in Marrakech and 2017 was a record year. For the first time in history the city welcomed over 2 million tourists in a year with more than 6 million overnight stays. On the international level, Marrakech ranked 6th in the most visited cities by the French during 2017. Tourists are flocking to Marrakech for the beautiful architecture, the vibrant colors, the inexpensive shopping, and the delectable cuisine!
Know Before You Go
- The currency in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham (Dhs). At the time of writing (January of 2018) the conversion rate was about 9.25 Dhs to $1 USD. We'll be referring to costs in Moroccan Dirham so just keep in mind that if we say something costs 100 Dhs, that's just about $11 USD.
- Morocco offers a 3-month tourist visa on arrival for citizens of many countries including the US, Canada, members of the EU, Australia and New Zealand. If you plan to stay longer you will need to apply for an extension visa with the Moroccan government. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the time you enter Morocco.
- There are a number of languages spoken in Morocco but the two official languages are Modern Standard Arabic and Amazigh (Berber). The second language for most Moroccans is French. You'll also find that many people speak at least a little English.
- Learn a few phrases in Arabic to get around! "Al Salam Alaikum" (pronouned sall-em wall-a-come) is a nice way to say "hello". "Shukran" (pronounced shoo kran) is "thank you". "Ma'-Elsalama" (pronounced ma sell lem-a) is "goodbye". If you would prefer to speak in French, "Bonjour" is "hello", "Merci" is "thank you" and "S'il Vous Plaît" is "please".
- Download an offline map via Google Maps. It is surprisingly accurate and considering that there are very few street signs (or any signs for that matter), it will keep you from having to ask for help (read more about this scam below).
- 93% of the population of Morocco is considered to be religious with Islam being not only the primary religion but also the established state religion in the country. And the vast majority of those are Sunni Muslim. As with most conservative countries, women are expected to cover their knees and shoulders when venturing out of the house. Remember, you're not here to change the culture, you're here to experience a new one.
- In general, non-Muslims aren't allowed to enter mosques around Morocco. Marvel at their beautiful architecture from the outside but don't attempt to go inside (unless you are Muslim).
- Friday is the Muslim prayer day so don't be surprised if some restaurants and shops are closed.
Is Morocco Safe?
The crime rate in Morocco is fairly low. Petty crime like pickpocketing is common in tourist areas and on beaches so be sure to keep an eye on your belongings. And women traveling alone in Morocco will likely get some unwanted attention from aggressive men.
Be aware of common scams. Because Marrakech is made up of hundreds of narrow alleyways and very few street signs, finding your way around can be challenging. You'll likely encounter quite a few (male) strangers offering to "help". They'll want to show you the way and then point and say "it's just right there around the corner" and ask for a tip. Unfortunately, they've just gotten you more lost than you were to begin with. You'll also get quite a few people telling you "nothing is down there" or "you don't want to go that way" or "that site is closed today". Just follow your map and ignore them.
Travelers who want to keep in touch with their friends and family back home needn't worry, WiFi is available in pretty much every hotel, restaurant, and coffee shop in the city. But as with every public WiFi connection, you can't always guarantee the security of your data. To ensure your online safety, be sure to download a VPN before departing, just in case. ExpressVPN provides VPN apps that allow you to access content from your home and ensures that your browsing experience is not affected by censorship.
As with anywhere in the world, most people generally mind their own business. So if someone is going out of their way to be helpful when you're not asking for it, they probably have ulterior motives. And lastly, be sure that you receive the correct change when you pay for anything in cash.
Preparing for your Trip to Marrakech
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Morocco will depend on the areas of the country that you plan on visiting. If you are keen to visit the Sahara Desert, you'll find the summer months of June to August to be sweltering. But the coastal town of Essaouira will be incredibly pleasant during those months.
The winter months of November to February experience mild temperatures although if you plan to visit the Atlas mountains (and the blue city of Chefchaouen) they can be exceptionally cold during that time.
You'll find the most pleasant temperatures throughout the varying regions in the spring (mid-March to May) and in the Fall (September to October). If your Morocco itinerary includes visiting Marrakech in the summer months you'll likely be uncomfortably hot when venturing outside so plan accordingly.
TIP: If your trip to Marrakech falls during the holy month of Ramadan, you'll find a very different atmosphere. During that month, which takes place in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims must fast from dawn until dusk. Because they are only allowed to work 6 hours/day most businesses operate on a reduced schedule.
How to Budget for Your Trip
Visitors will find Marrakech to be a fairly inexpensive city to visit. Plan on spending in the neighborhood of 600-1000 Dhs/night for a riad in Marrakech and around 100 Dhs/person on average for meals. You'll be pleasantly surprised by how inexpensive leather goods in the souks are after a little friendly haggling. And entrance fees for the main tourist sites are unbelievably cheap!
What to Pack for Marrakech
As mentioned earlier, women are expected to cover their knees and shoulders but Morocco can be both incredibly hot and incredibly cold. Long, comfortable pants, button-down shirts, long dresses, a warm sweater, and a scarf to cover your head if you ever feel out-of-place are recommended.
You'll be walking a lot and the streets can be dirt or cobblestone or anything in-between. Opt for comfortable, close-toed flats over flip flops.
A few of my favorite Moroccan staples:
Getting There and Around
- The international Marrakech airport is Menara Airport (RAK). Many cities around the world have frequent flights into and out of Marrakech. Ryanair and Vueling offer low-cost flights from many European cities.
- When you initially arrive in Marrakech, the easiest way to get from the airport to your riad is to arrange a shuttle ahead of time. Because of the narrow alleyways, most cars can't drop you off in front of your riad so you'll have some walking (and navigating) to do. And with those annoying scammers on the prowl, it can be an incredibly frustrating experience. If you arrange with your riad in advance, they'll have someone meet you at the drop-off point to carry your bag and walk you directly to the front door.
- You'll find taxis everywhere in the city but especially congregated at the entrance to tourist sites. Most prefer not to use the meter so be sure to negotiate the price up front. Check with your riad manager on what a fair taxi fare is to various sites around town.
Where to Stay in Marrakech
Rather than staying in a hotel while visiting Morocco, many tourists opt instead for a more traditional experience. A riad is a traditional Moroccan house that has an interior courtyard. Many of the riads in Marrakech are brightly colored and filled with lush plants. The sun shines in from the open roof above the courtyard to bathe the riad in the afternoon light. Many riads also offer rooftop lounge areas where you can relax on comfortable cushions while enjoying views of the entire city.
Riad ChiChi is a quaint, charming riad centrally located in the heart of Marrakech. It is a simple and classic riad, with white washed walls and splashes of vibrant blue throughout. Intricate Moroccan lamps hang from the ceilings of the spacious, modern rooms.
Start your day with a delicious breakfast in the brightly lit courtyard where you'll enjoy views of the lattice framed doors and the lovely dipping pool. The pool is also the perfect place to rest your weary feet at the end of the day. The views of the city from the rooftop of the riad during sunset are truly spectacular!
If being in the center of the bustling medina is not your cup of tea, the Riad Ariha is farther north in a less touristy part of town. Similar in style to the ChiChi, this riad has a beautiful central courtyard with lush greenery growing up the walls and windows covered in intricately patterned shutters. You can't go wrong with either option!
TIP: Keep small change on you to tip the kitchen staff, the housekeepers, and any other helpful hotel staff members.
Must-Try Moroccan Foods
- Tajine – a variety of meats and vegetables are slow cooked inside of a clay pot with a conical lid. Beef, lamb, chicken, and meatball tajines are incredibly common and can be found at almost any restaurant serving Moroccan food.
- Couscous – consisting of very small steamed balls of crushed durum wheat semolina (resembling rice), usually served with stew spooned on top and some type of meat with vegetables.
- Moroccan Soup – a thick, creamy soup made of chickpeas. It is served in most restaurants and by many street vendors all over the old city.
- Msemen – flattened square-shaped dough is kneaded together with a mixture of peppers, onion, and tomato and then grilled, rolled, and eaten on the go! You can find a few street food msemen vendors around the Medina.
- Mint Tea – this sugary sweet tea is full of fresh mint leaves and expert pourers can hit a small glass from a foot or more above!
- We actually have an entire post on our favorite Moroccan foods!
Where to Eat in Marrakech
- The food stalls in Jemaa el-Fnaa – for fresh, fast, and cheap food in the middle of the bustling square! Beware that the touts trying to get you to sit at their stall are incredibly aggressive and can be very rude.
- Bazaar Cafe – for stunning city views on their rooftop terrace and a delectable lamb tajine! You can also get alcoholic beverages here (which you can't find at many restaurants in the old city).
- Atay Cafe – for a casual atmosphere and a fresh and delicious avocado tomato salad. The pastilla made of cinnamon, almond, and chicken is a must-try as well!
- Restaurant Dar Zellij – if you're looking for high quality food in a more upscale atmosphere, this is a must-visit spot right near the Riad Ariha.
- Hôtel Restaurant Café de France – the TripAdvisor reviews are harsh but we thoroughly enjoyed our mint tea and lemon chicken tajine while watching the sun set over Jemaa el-Fnaa!
During my first trip to Morocco in
But being a predominately Muslim country, you're unlikely to see many Moroccans imbibing in public and intoxication is most definitely frowned upon.
Tipping Etiquette
While Moroccans generally don't follow these guidelines, as with most other countries a more generous tip is expected from foreigners. These are just guidelines, of course, and you should tip more if you had amazing service and less if you didn't.
- 10% at restaurants (be sure that a service charge hasn't already been added to your bill).
- Many taxis in Marrakech prefer not to give foreigners rides on the meter. Check before you accept a ride and negotiate a fair price. In that case, no need to tip. If you receive a ride on the meter, just round up (if the ride costs 8 Dhs, round up to 10).
- 10-20 Dhs for someone who has carried your bag for a reasonable distance on their back or in a cart or on a mule.
- 10-20 Dhs per day for the housekeeping staff at your riad.
- 30-50 Dhs per day for a riad manager depending on how much you rely on them for booking tours and transportation.
- 100 – 300 Dhs for a guide on a half day or full day tour.
Photography Etiquette
Despite Morocco being an incredibly photogenic country, some Moroccans prefer not to be photographed. This may be due to religious reasons that are referred to as aniconism in Islam or it may simply be due to the massive tourism boom that has occurred recently.
Aniconism is a proscription against the creation of images of sentient beings (humans and animals). This is why so much Islamic art is dominated by geometric patterns, calligraphy, and occasionally foliage patterns rather than of figures.
Regardless of any religous beliefs, it is always polite to ask anyone before taking their photograph. Or, if you can't speak the language, indicate your request with non-verbal queues. Don't be surprised if you are turned down or asked for a tip.
In fact, even if you are not attempting to take a photograph of a local but they are in the vicinity of your lens, you may find that they attempt to block their face or even get offended or angry. I had a man who assumed I was taking a photo of a women (I wasn't) and angrily ask to see the picture that I took.
What to see in Marrakech: Don't Miss These Top Sites!
Lush Gardens
Le Jardin Secret – in the middle of the hectic, winding alleyways of the medina, Le Jardin Secret is the perfect place to relax your feet and unwind. It is one of the largest and oldest riads in the medina and took 3 years to restore the grounds to what you see today. Wander around the gardens and enjoy a coffee with a view from the terrace.
Entrance fee: 50 Dhs for adults, free for children under 6. Hours: 9:30 – after sunset daily
Jardin Majorelle – this beautiful art deco house and stunning surrounding garden was owned by the French orientalist painter, Jacques Majorelle in the early 1900s and was purchased by the designer, Yves Saint Laurent in 1980.
You can visit several museums or simply wander around the courtyard, admiring the strange cacti, the splashes of the signature bright blue painted throughout, and the coy fish swimming in the reflection pools. Go early in the morning or after 16:00 to avoid the crowds.
Entrance fee: 70 Dhs for the garden, 30 Dhs for the Berber Museum, 100 Dhs for the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, or 180 Dhs for a combined ticket to see all three. Hours: open every day from October 1st until April 30th from 8:00 – 18:00 with the last admission at 17:30.
Stunning Palaces and Mosques
Bahia Palace – this massive and ornate palace from the nineteenth century is absolutely a must-see in Marrakech! The name Bahia means "brilliance" and with lush gardens, large courtyards, and ornate architecture, it more than lives up to its name! It was considered to be the largest and most luxurious palace in all of Morocco in its heyday.
Entrance fee: 10 Dhs for adults, 3 Dhs for children 12 and under. Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 daily
El Badi Palace – built throughout the reign of the Saadian sultan, Ahmed El Mansour from 1578 – 1603, this was a lavish palace at it's prime. Unfortunately it has fallen in ruin but is constantly being renovated. A courtyard with sunken vegetation and several pools sit inside of the thick walls where large storks now nest. There are several small museums as well as a terrace overlooking the courtyard.
Entrance fee: 10 Dhs for the palace only, 20 Dhs for the palace and the Minbar Chair. Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 daily
La Mamounia Palace Hotel – this strikingly beautiful property was formally a palace and has been transformed into arguably the most luxurious hotel in all of Marrakech. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, it's worth a visit to wander around the lobby area or enjoy an overpriced coffee in the lush gardens out back.
Must-see Museums
Marrakech Museum – the actual artwork in this museum is not nearly as impressive as the building that they are housed in. The large, covered courtyard is one of the most picturesque places in the city!
Entrance fee: 50 Dhs for adults and 30 Dhs for children 12 and under. Hours: 9:00 – 18:00
House of Photography in Marrakech – showcasing beautiful photographs in and around Marrakech as well as many portraits of Moroccan people taken in the 1930s and 1940s. The artwork is contained in a riad that is beautiful as well. Have a coffee on the roof and enjoy views of the city below!
Entrance fee: 40 Dhs per person. Hours: 9:30 – 19:00 daily
Landmarks to Explore
Jemaa el-Fnaa – the central square in the heart of Marrakech is buzzing with activity at all hours of every day. During the day you can get fresh pressed juice or dried figs at one of the many street vendors and wander around watching people try their luck at street games.
Don't be surprised if someone tries to put a monkey on your shoulder for a fee. If you stop to look at any of the entertainers you'll be expected to give a small tip (10 Dhs should suffice). At night the square is packed with people eating at the food stalls, watching the male belly dancers, or sitting on stools listening to the many musicians jamming out. The food stall touts are aggressive and cruel when you tell them no, beware.
Saadian Tombs – the intricate architecture that houses the Saadian tombs is well worth the inexpensive entrance fee. The area of the tombs is small and easy to tackle in around 30 minutes.
Entrance fee: 10 Dhs. Hours: 9:00 – 16:45
Bab Agnaou – this entrance into the red walls of the old city is quite detailed and ornate. It is situated on a busy street so taking photographs can be difficult but it's worth passing through to see it for yourself.
Koutoubia Mosque and Minaret – while non-Muslims are forbidden from entering the mosques in Marrakech, you can still enjoy views of the beautiful structure from the outside.
Ben Youssef Medersa (Madrasa) – sadly this historic site and former Islamic college was under construction during our visit and will not be finished until October of 2020.
Ensemble Artisanal – if being hassled and getting involved in aggressive price negotiations isn't your cup tea, you'll find this small shopping area to be more relaxing (but with higher prices that the souk). The building housing the shops is worth wandering through even if you don't buy anything!
Souk Semmarine – this souk starts at the Jemaa el-Fnaa and runs north in the maze of alleyways crisscrossing throughout the medina. It is sheer madness but you'll find a wide selection of rugs, blankets, leather goods, pottery, and lamps at reasonable prices (if you negotiate hard enough). But get ready to get hassled!
Activities In and Around Marrakech
Watch the sunset over the main square – there are dozens of restaurants surrounding the Jemaa el-Fnaa offering terraces with stunning views of the madness below. Grab a front table at least an hour before sunset to enjoy the views while sipping mint tea. We enjoyed the view and the lemon chicken tajine at the Hôtel Restaurant Café de France.
Visit a hammam – honestly, I found this to be an incredibly awkward experience. But it made for a great story so in the end, it was worth it being naked with a few strangers. You'll undress down to your underwear, then get dosed with water and scrubbed down, then sit silently in a sauna for 15 minutes, and finally get one last rinse. Don't expect a relaxing experience unless you opt for an expensive, touristy, and not-so-authentic hammam.
Take a day trip into the desert – you'll find no shortage of tour agencies around town offering daily desert excursions and camel rides. They'll take you just a few hours outside of Marrakech so if you're short on time it's an easy way to fulfill your Moroccan Sahara dream. Or better yet, drive yourself!
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Tourism businesses celebrated at awards evening
Swansea Bay's rich variety of tourism businesses have been celebrated in an awards evening at the city's Brangwyn Hall.
The Swansea Bay Tourism Awards 2017 celebrated an industry that's now worth over £400 million a year to Swansea Bay.
For the first time ever, the awards, made up of 21 categories, were organised in partnership by Tourism Swansea Bay and Swansea Council.
Winners on the night included Gower Coast Adventures, for best activity provider; the Village Hotel, for best large hotel; and Suzanne Morrison, for best tourism ambassador, recognising her work in promoting the destination to visitors with disabilities.
Other winners included Reynoldston's King Arthur Hotel, for best inn; the Rake and Riddle in Penclawdd, for best new tourism business; and the LC, for best attraction.
The winners for best event or festival were the Gower Agriculture Society for the Gower Show, and Swansea Council for the Wales Airshow and Proms in the Park.
Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Major Projects, said: "Over 500 people attended the Swansea Bay Tourism Awards 2017, which speaks volumes for the enthusiasm of the tourism industry here and the close partnership working between the council, Tourism Swansea Bay and our fantastic variety range of tourism businesses.
"Tourism already makes a significant contribution to Swansea Bay's economy, but the dedication of our tourism businesses, alongside some of the major projects in the pipeline for Swansea, means the industry has even more to look forward to in coming years.
"Swansea is on the shortlist to be named UK City of Culture 2021 next month, with attractions like a state-of-the-art digital indoor arena set to be constructed in the city centre as well, helping further boost a thriving local visitor economy.
"With a decision on the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon also expected soon and talks on-going about a new cable car and luge attraction on Kilvey Hill, these are exciting times for destination Swansea Bay.
"Our tourism businesses will undoubtedly continue to help Swansea Bay buck national tourism trends by helping demonstrate year-on-year growth in the tourism sector as the destination's profile is further raised around the world."
Stephen Crocker, Chairman of Tourism Swansea Bay, said: "Historically we have organised these awards, but we are delighted that we were able to collaborate with Swansea Council for 2017 and hopefully for future years to come.
"The public and private sector work closely together throughout the year, continually developing a destination management plan for the benefit of visitors to Swansea Bay, so the awards are an important way of recognising and celebrating some of the great work that takes place. We look forward to developing this relationship further to ensure we are celebrating successes and motivating the next generation of tourism professionals, also helping ensure the sustainability of the awards.
"We want to encourage young people into the tourism industry, with the success of the local sector showing there's a great future for tourism here."
Other winners at the Swansea Bay Tourism Awards 2017 included Patricks with Rooms, in Mumbles, for best restaurant with rooms; Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park, for best caravan and campsite; the Beach House Restaurant in Oxwich, for best restaurant; and Munch of Mumbles, for best bistro.
Parc Le Breos in Parkmill won best guesthouse or bed and breakfast; Bramwood Holiday Home and Swansea Valley Holiday Cottages won best self-catering accommodation; and Home from Home won best accommodation agency.
The Plough and Harrow in Murton won the best pub grub category; Cariad Cafe in Penclawdd won best cafe; the Fountain Inn in Pontarddulais won best pub or bar; and Oldwalls on Gower won best wedding experience.
Other winners included the National Trust Rhossili for best renewed tourism business; Pilton House Gower in Newton for best dog-friendly tourism business; and the Gower Heritage Centre in Parkmill for best tourism ambassadors team.
A full list of winners and highly commended businesses can be found on www.visitswanseabay.com/awards
Visit www.tourismswanseabay.co.uk for more information about Tourism Swansea Bay.


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OK I posted to let you guys know about my baby boy.....well, seems my baby girlie didnt want to be outdone and has come down with Scarlet Fever also =(
I havent had much time at all, I went and made some goodies tonight for a new Kit I'm working on which might be available tomorrow depending on how my babies are lol. Other than that.....Ive been busy busy busy as you can imagine.
Ethan is much better tho which is great, still a bit sleepy tho, but Kiana is not handling her Scarlet Fever so well, she's been throwing up all over the place.....not good! I'm hoping that she wont be sick tomorrow and maybe the Penicillin might get a chance to work on her little body.
I might be back tomorrow with a kit and a freebie, if not, hopefully Saturday =D
Have a good night/day
Thursday, 15 January 2009
If it aint one, its the other!
Posted by weescotslass at 18:04
2 comments:
- Emily said...
Hope your babies are feeling better!
- 20 January 2009 at 16:52
- Hilly said...
I just had to say THANK YOU for your amazing masks you've created! I have 'em all and love them so much! I had a computer crash and lost everything. Was so happy to find your masks and recover them! I hope you created many more! You're so talented!
Thanks oodles....
- 24 January 2009 at 22:02
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Dear Paige, I'm a giving kind of guy, so I'm always open to reading the work of other writers. I've put a lot into building my skills as a writer. I think this is a great way to build relationships. But Paige, some of these scripts… umm, stink. Despite this, I'll kill myself on creating […]
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Oregon coach Willie Taggart last week signed his first recruiting class, which Rivals.com ranked No. 18 in the nation. Now CSN is taking a look at how each new recruit could fit into the Ducks' plans next season.
Other entries: Quarterbacks, Running backs, Wide receivers/tight ends, Offensive line, Linebackers, Defensive backs.
Today: Defensive line.
New Ducks: Austin Faoliu (6-3, 285, Mater Dei H.S., Santa Ana, Calif.), Rutger Reitmaier (6-3, 279, Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, Tenn.) and Jordan Scott (6-1, 350, Pinellas Park Senior H.S., Largo, Fla.).
Projected starters: Defensive ends Henry Mondeaux, Sr., (6-5, 280) and Drayton Carlberg, RSo., (6-5, 290), and nose guard Rex Manu, Jr., (6-3, 300).
Key backups: Defensive ends - Jalen Jelks, RJr., (6-6, 260), Elijah George, RSr., (6-5, 290), Gus Cumberlander, RSo., (6-6, 260), Hunter Kampmoyer, RFr., (6-4, 245), and Bryson Young, So., (6-5, 245). Nose guard - Gary Baker, RSo., (6-4, 305),
The situation: Oregon's defensive line was used and abused in 2016 so shifting from the 4-3 to the 3-4 could be addition by subtraction for the Ducks.
That said, there is some young talent onboard, such as Carlberg, Manu, Jelks and Baker, who should improve after being thrown into the fire last season.
So where do the freshmen fit in?
One might assume that help is needed right away given that UO allowed 246.6 rushing yards per game last season. Not so fast. Out of the three recruits only Reitmaier comes with much hype. Rivals.com rated the four-star recruit as the No. 21 defensive tackle prospect in the country. Scott will need of some serious conditioning and training to shed some of his 350 pounds in order to make an impact at the Pac-12 level. Fauliu is not rated national but certainly has some size and talent.
One never truly knows who will surprise in fall camp (see Troy Dye and Justin Herbert in 2016), and new coach Willie Taggart has made it clear that all freshmen will have a chance to earn instant playing time.
"They are going to have every opportunity to go out and compete and try to take somebody's job," Taggart said. "I told our players that's what we're going to do, recruit guys to take their jobs and it's on them to keep their jobs."
The verdict: Oregon already has good defensive line recruits on the roster. They simply struggled playing as freshmen and sophomores. So why believe that new freshmen are going to revolutionize the defensive line? Development is always the key, so expect to see the now experienced Oregon defensive linemen improve while the freshmen, except for maybe Reitmaier, redshirt next season.
Next up: Linebackers.


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Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Halloween in the North
if you grew up in the north...you know how annoying it is as a kid to have a cool costume all picked out only to have your mom ruin it by making you put on a winter coat and scarf and moon boots over it. how am i supposed to be a fairy/superhero/whatever with a coat covering it up??!?!?
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Just Cloud...
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Sephiroth vs. Cloud
I liked this game. I didn't like the movie so much.
Final Fantasy 7 had a lot of great characters that I used to draw a lot back when it came out. Cloud is fun to draw because of his crazy hair. And I always thought Seph was one of the best bad guys ever. I'm gonna try to give this a little color tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
I cheated today because I didn't have time....this one was for an old drawergeeks. I was pretty pleased with my drawing that week. That's rare for me :)
Monday, October 23, 2006
Happy Cat
I'm amazed at how many shapes a cat can get into. They're kinda like a slinky. They can be all compact one minute and stretched out the next.
My favorite cat pose is one that I call "fuzzy lump". My cat Jingle can usually be found laying around like this outside of my bedroom most mornings, no limbs to be seen. Just a gray fuzzy lump of a cat body. Sometimes she even curls her tail around her feet to make herself more of a lump. And she almost always looks supremely happy when laying around like this.
Ahhhh....to be as comfortable as a cat.
Friday, October 20, 2006
i went to see a hockey game tonight for the first time in a long time. the portland winter hawks vs. the medicine hat tigers!!!!.....portland lost. :(
i used to play roller hockey as a kid because it was the only kind of hockey i could afford. ice hockey is way expensive for a redneck kid from the woods of pennsylvania. it was tons of fun and i got to play with my brothers and even my sister in one league. i stunk at scoring goals and usually played defense, and our team lost most of our games, but i miss it.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Joe loves chipmunks. they're his favorite animal. it's not uncommon for us to go on a hike in the woods and hear him yell, "CHIPPY!!!" and run off. so today's post is dedicated to him.
we had a conversation one time about how funny it would be to see a fat chipmunk. and not just chubby...we're talking obese. i've seen some plump chipmunks, like the ones we used to feed peanut butter to when i worked at camp as a teenager. but never have i seen a really really REALLY fat one. i think it would be hilarious.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Jack without lines...
Jack, the Pumpkin King!
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
"Hello, my name is Michelle....and i'm addicted to World of Warcraft..."
Here is a quick drawing of one of my characters from the game, Snipermish. Yes, clever name. I know. I just thought she would be fun to draw.
Monday, October 16, 2006
The Grim, now in technicolor!
Finally got around to coloring this guy....got a lot of tips from artist extrodinaire Joe. Think it came out alright since I usually suck at painting. To drawergeeks it goes!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
muuuuch better....
here's a much better self portrait that i think i'll use rather than the last one. now i shall stop being so self-absorbed and quit drawing myself.
Friday, October 13, 2006
The Pirate Fairy!
A character from my story that i've been trying to rework....i've called him Aidan for a long time but really thought that name never fit. he has a 'legitimate' shipping service that Sierra, Kai and Phoenix catch a ride on in one point of the story. i was trying to capture his very very self assured personality in this drawing.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The Grimmm
Here's a sketch i did today for drawergeeks of the grim reaper. i'm hoping to get some color on this bad boy sometime this weekend. i'm actually pretty pleased how this came out and i hope my awful coloring skills don't ruin it.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
sketching time
so, i figured the best way to keep me drawing and keep people telling me what i'm doing wrong/right is to start a sketch blog...so here it goes. here's the first official one. just a quick one of Sierra.
Monday, October 09, 2006
did a quick and stupid looking self portrait tonight...i think i need to practice drawing some more...
finally mostly settled in Portland, Oregon. wow, what a fantastic city! so much better than dallas. the drive across the country was fun, the first couple of homeless weeks in the city were a blast! got to see a lot of the sights around the city, (saturday market, rose gardens, japanese gardens, multnomah falls...). and finally got a really nice place to live close to walking trails and starbucks. i think i can settle in here for a while. i hope...
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Last weekend the Cairns User Group ran a Hands On Lab with the support of James Cook University Cairns and wow did
The community did recognize this huge effort too: We had 30 people register and 34!!! show up. This did double up 4 computers but this turned out to be a good thing for some of the folks new to .NET
Huge thanks to all the folks that made this possible!
The JCU IT Professors
-& the Cairns User Group Members namely Mike Stoodley & John Hampson
PS If you are interested in doing these labs I have included their links below
- Building Data-Driven Applications in ASP.NET 2.0 Using Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
- Building Dynamic Navigation Systems with Visual Studio 2005 and ASP.NET 2.0
- Extending ASP.NET 2.0 with the Provider Model
- Building Secure Applications with Membership and Role Management Using ASP.NET 2.0
- Managing Look, Feel and Layout with Visual Studio 2005 and ASP.NET 2.0
- Creating Personalizable Applications Using Web Parts with ASP.NET 2.0
- What's New with Visual Studio 2005 and ASP.NET 2.0
Data Hand-On Labs Manuals
- Data Transformation Services (DTS) Hands-On Lab Manual
- Reporting Services Hands-On Lab Manual
- Management Studio Hands-On Lab Manual
- XML Features Hands-On Lab Manual
- SQL Server 2005 and ADO.NET Hands-On Lab Manual
- T-SQL Enhancements Hands-On Lab Manual
- SQL CLR Hands-On Lab Manual
- SMO and Web Services Hands-On Lab Manual
- Analysis Services Hands-On Lab Manual
- Data Mining Hands-On Lab Manual
- Database Tuning Hands-On Lab Manual


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As President of National Dairy Council (NDC) and Foundation Chair for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), it's an honor to be involved with both of these organizations, because we share a similar mission to educate people about where food comes from and how it impacts health and wellness. NDC celebrated 100 years in 2015 and the Academy will celebrate 100 years in 2017! The century-long legacy of two organizations committed to public health and the leadership of dietitians who collaborate with other health and wellness professionals makes the future look very promising. Together, health and wellness professionals are working toward shared goals grounded in science to help meet people's wants and needs for healthy, affordable and sustainable food choices.
In my recent travels, it's been a true pleasure to speak with many health and wellness professionals to get an understanding of how to best connect people with where their food comes from. NDC recently hosted the Honor the Harvest summit, where thought leaders learned about how feeding people, feeding animals and feeding the land are interconnected and contribute to sustainable food systems.
As we complete the celebration of #100dietitians it's truly an inspiration to see the passion and the work this group of dietitians do on behalf of America's dairy farmers, in partnership with other health and wellness professionals, to tell the full story of how food gets to the table. If you haven't had a chance to see the great work that's being done in your home state to connect the public to the farm, please visit National Dairy Council.
As we look to the future, health and wellness professionals have the power to change the world by joining nutrition education and agriculture for a holistic view of health as we connect people with farmers and where their food comes from. I hope to see many health and wellness professionals join forces in leading the new conversation surrounding food and agriculture and educating the public about food, nutrition and agriculture!
If you have any questions or comments about any of the content of this site, please contact us.


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Happy Thursday!
This week at A Jillian Vance Design we are doing sneak peeks of our new Happy Healing and Hello My Name Is stamp sets.
For my first card I used the Happy Healing set and accented it with the Endless Borders stamp set.
This card was inspired by the fun little poem stamp in the Happy Healing set. I just got over a nasty cold and this would have been fun to get from a friend. I attached a Kleenex Pocket Pack to the front of the card. If you haven't seen these yet, they're awesome. They fit perfectly in a purse or pocket and stay shut to keep the tissues clean.
To attach the Kleenex to the front of the card I ran a strip of white cardstock through the middle of the package and attached it in the back. It made it easy to adhere the Kleenex to the card.
Inside is just a quick sentiment and and space to write a note.
I'd actually had another project planned for the new Hello My Name Is set but things did not work out as planned last week! So you may see it later on down the line!
For this set I decided to make some simple birth announcements. I stamped the Hello portion of the set on white cardstock and cut it out. The idea of course would be to stamp the baby's name as well with the awesome font that is included with this set. Below the name badge is a pocket to include a picture of the baby and their "stats".
Be sure to check back here on Saturday for our National Scrapbook Day Blog Hop! There will be great projects from all the A Jillian Vance Design team members plus some friends!
Get Well Card:
A Jillian Vance Design Happy Healing and Endless Borders stamp sets, Bazzill Cardstock, Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Ink, Kleenex Pocket Pack
Hello My Name Is Birth Announcements:
A Jillian Vance Design Hello My Name Is stamp set, Close To My Heart Lilac and Moonstruck Inks, Close To My Heart Daydream (girl) and Stardust (boy) paper packs


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Are you a graduate looking for a route into Teaching?
We might have the perfect role for you!
Teaching Personnel are currently seeking a HLTA to work in a South Sheffield School. We are looking for someone who can commit full time, but we would consider a job share for the right candidate. We are looking for someone flexible, who can cover across year groups (this could be from EYFS to Y6). The role will involve supporting the class teacher in the morning within the classroom, then delivering lessons in the afternoon. It is not essential that you have previous experience covering classes, as we can support you with shadow days and voluntary days to build up your experience. You may work 1:1 with children or take small groups as well as covering the whole class.
Knowledge of various phonics schemes and assessments would be advantageous, but not essential if you are willing to attend training courses. We offer a range of courses through our CPD Academy, including Read Write Inc. and Team Teach.
This role is ideal if you are a Teaching Assistant in school and are looking to up-skill, or if you are a graduate looking for a route into Teaching. We can offer temporary positions or longer term placements. For the right candidate their will be the opportunity to go onto the school's contract.
Our ideal HLTA will be:
Teaching Personnel can offer you:
If this sounds like the role for you, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Teaching Personnel on 0114 2413343 or you can click to apply.
All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see teachingpersonnel.com/faqs for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
For details of our privacy policy, please see teachingpersonnel.com/privacy-notice


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The new approach to Thursday Night Football will include a new approach to the pregame show on Thursday nights.
According to Richard Deitsch of SI.com, the pregame show for all Thursday night games this year will be hosted by James Brown of CBS. He'll be joined by Bill Cowher of CBS, and Deion Sanders of NFL Network.
The pregame will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. For the games to be simulcast on CBS and NFLN, the pregame show will be shown on both networks. For the NFLN-only Thursday night games, the pregame show will only be shown on NFLN.
For all Thursday nights, NFLN will have a 90-minute pre-pregame show starting at 6:00 p.m. ET, according to Deitsch.
Sanders previously worked for CBS, but he left The NFL Today a decade ago after reportedly demanding that his $1 million salary be doubled. Sanders thereafter unretired and spent two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Thursday night package could be at CBS, in theory, for an even shorter time. The league and CBS have inked only a one-year contract for Thursday night games. Other networks could get involved for 2015 and beyond.


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Israeli model and occasional actress Bar Refaeli is over the moon after hailing No 1 spot in the Maxim's 2012 Hot 100 list.
Thanking the magazine for voting her as the world's sexiest woman of the year, Leonardo Dicaprio's ex-girlfriend said she is happy and excited to be honored with this title.
for more details visit here: http://www.financeenquiry.com/bar-refaeli-wins-worlds-sexiest-woman-of-year-title


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I think Sam is doing the first part of the job well, and everyone knew he would do reallyAnd that is the steadying of the ship, making us a tighter defensive unit who dont concede many goalsHes got to be given credit for this. Especially when that defence is forged from 2 youngsters, a veteran who we had all written off and a fairly poor quality right back, with no left foot who we are playing at left backIts not fair to judge our lack of winning ambition in the derby as sams blueprint for the future. The vast majority were expecting a defeat, a few weeks earlier we had conceded 5 and 4 in consecutive games, to have that defence solid and resilient after 4 games in charge deserves credit, against a side who traditionally hammer us, who we have a Strange mental block against, who had scored 5 and 7 in their previous 2 gamesHe outwitted his opposite number, despite it being really obvious what our game plan would be. Klopp had a couple of weeks to work on a plan for this really as the second Sam took over in the state we were in, there is only 1 way he was going to approach the game, and he couldnt out wit himWhat is important is if he can reach the next stage, which for me will involve 2 things and will dictate whether he can have the job past this season. First of all to play more attacking football and take the game to teams more. Utilising Bolasie when he is back, plus giving game time to Lookman and Vlasic amongst others would be great. Also we need to start winning away games, and Newcastle would be a great place to start.If he leaves though in the summer, after guiding us to 7th and hes managed to give plenty of game time to the younger players and we replace him with a more progressive manager, than I would have to say Ive been happy with the appointment
'The players night out, scheduled to take place after Mondays home game against Swansea City, has been postponed as a consequence. It is not needed at the moment and because of the position we were in when I first arrived here, Allardyce said.I told the players I will pay them back when they come out of Christmas and into January in a better position. They can go and socialise at the right time. As a manager it was very important that the players, in todays environment with social media, were not seen to be out enjoying themselves too much.Things are looking up for Everton especially with Yannick Bolasie returning Read moreThey have turned things around already for me but [the festive schedule] is our biggest demand. It is probably not overall because a lot has been demanded already with their season starting in July with Europe, and the injuries. A lot has been demanded of the players and Christmas will be the same.The party is off until there is a period of time when we are in a very good position and I can tell the lads they can have the relaxing time that they deserve. But whatever they do I dont want a phone call telling me theyve been in trouble or they will be in even more trouble with me.'Starting to like this feller. Ha!
He's done alright. Let's not get carried away. Want to see a vast improvement in our play with the ball in the coming games. It's great saying it, but another thing entirely coaching it, setting up tactically to enable it and managing people to get them confident enough to play it.
I won't be judging our attacking play too harshly with Niasse and DCL as our only recognised strikers.He's made us hard to beat, which was the number one priority, but we need at least one decent striker this transfer window to carry any real consistent threat.
Yeah the derby result and organisation was good. We played the way we had to and it sent them lot loopy, which is great.Even when we set up defensively, I expect an Everton team to be able to pass the ball a bit and I'll be wanting to see some of that against weak teams like Newcastle and Swansea. Not expecting some attacking masterclass all of a sudden. Just to see us play a bit of football, to go with the graft and organisation.
We just don't have the players in attacking positions to produce more than moments. No playmaker who can dictate a game, our talented wingers are either kids or injured and no proven striker.
We've got more than enough talent to string half a dozen passes together in the opposition half against lower table clubs. Let's not kid ourselves we're playing with Walter Smith type resources here. We just need some confidence and a system that allows it.
Well you'd think so but consistently we fail at it. I think that's the players rather than the manager
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Fortuna: Fortuna (Feat:: Asia Argento)
Monday, 5 July 2010 Labels: Dance, Indie, Soundtrack~ One of the most difficult things to do when reviewing music is to accurately place were a band fits in. Who would buy it? Where would you find it in a shop? Are they indie, blues, dance, jazz, or grunge? It would surprise you how little time bands themselves spend time understanding what they're about and fail to realise how important it is for record companies to try and sell their work. Yes, it turns music into product, like corporate soulless Tesco rock bands such as Coldplay and Muse where you can go to the dumb rawk isle and overload on your favourite forced fed tin of rock beans. I know this seems a bit of a digression but it is important in Fortuna's case.
They seem like cool guys, are hip and even have a cool actress on board but they aren't a dance band. The publicity, the pitch and the look of the band is one of dance project. A producer should've said this is the wrong genre and point of attack. This isn't good dance music but it's brilliant soundtrack work.
Once you get the genre right, tracks like A Radical Bravery sound at home on a macabre Roman art house movie. Track 3, Roma belongs on a dark sinister melodramatic European movie involving loads of car chases. Black Water sounds like the perfect accompaniment to a gritty detective show in Belgium. They are very good at European soundtrack music.
Fortuna is the goddess of luck in Roman religion. I hope they get some but I believe it'll be in movie soundtracks and not on the dance floor.
[][][] (3/5)


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Dear Reader,
I was sent this book by the wonderful author Andrew Rainnie, so thank you. He can be found at his official website and Spirits of Vengeance: The Stone of Spirits is also on Amazon, now in paperback and in an e-book format. It is a fantastic epic fantasy. If you love Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien then you will love this novel. It's the first book in its series, with second novel The Assassin of Araneque is arriving at some point in the following year to come.
In the distant land of Enara, the religious zealot Lord Malenek marches across the continent of Amaros, cleansing the world with his army of Vengeance Spirits. Standing in his way is an unlikely adversary, Kamina Elloeth, a young tree elf who is inadvertently entangled in Malenek's plans. She embarks on a quest with her ghostly brother and a mysterious Ishkava Ranger to find an ancient artefact, one that may hold the key to saving the world from Malenek's destructive schemes. Facing her fears, Kamina will travel over oceans and deserts, fight through swamps and jungles, and battle legendary creatures to unearth the power hidden within the Stone of Spirits. [blurb from Goodreads]
My Review:
Being completely honest,at first, I found it difficult to get into this novel. However, as soon as I was about 6o pages in I was swept away by the world of Enara. I had to sit down and really concentrate when reading this which sometimes I find hard to do but I enjoyed doing it.
I find most fantasy novels are not very well-written and lose the main focus of the plot, to me they can lack certain things. This novel certainly did not do that. As soon as I had finished it, I was wanting more. The fantasised world had me so captivated and spellbound and the wonderful characters ,which were beautifully created, had me enticed.
Even though this is a lengthy read it is worth it. I kept wanting to read more, to find out about my favourite character (it kept changing). At first I loved Kaedin and Kamina (two elves) and then I slowly warmed to the ever so brilliant Callaghan Tor. I loved how there was a strong female character in Kamina and it's something which is lacking in many epic fantasy novels.
The plot is complex and there are a lot of minor character's but it all adds to build and create this wonderful world. I loved how they all had individual names and how the descriptions of everything were so visual that I could see the journey which was being taken to unite the two worlds.
Spirits of Vengeance had that Tolkien feel and you could tell that Rainnie has been influenced by the great man, not to say that as a bad thing! I loved it! Overall, Spirits of Vengeance was a very entertaining read that had me captivated and enthralled. I did find myself mentally screaming when characters either toke the wrong or right turns (a very good sign).
Do I think epic fantasy lovers should read this? YES. I recommend you read it straight away. I loved being swept away into Enara and am looking forward to the sequel.
If you have any questions or would like to contact me please email me at firstname.lastname@example.com or leave a comment below.


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By Michael Aron, Chief Political Correspondent
In his first one-on-one broadcast interview since announcing he would challenge fellow Democrat Bill Pascrell in the June primary, Congressman Steve Rothman defended his decision to run in the new 9th district instead of the new 5th and said the advantages are on his side.
He noted that 28 of the towns in the new district are currently represented by him, whereas only five towns are represented by Pascrell (albeit large ones like Paterson and Passaic).
Two towns in the new 9th come from Republican Scott Garrett's current 5th district. The choice between Rothman and Pascrell will be made by voters in the June primary, and Rothman noted that 61 percent of registered Democrats in the new district are currently his constituents, compared with only 39 percent for Pascrell.
Rothman said he was born and raised in what will be the new 9th, even though he has to move his residence from Fair Lawn back to Englewood in order to stay within its boundaries. His roots in the district are deep, he said.
Asked about the notion that he is betraying an old friend and letting down the Democratic Party by challenging Pascrell instead of running against the rightward-leaning Garrett, Rothman suggested that Pascrell could just as easily have moved into the new 5th.
He said his last conversation with Pascrell in late December ended with the words "I love you, Billy," and "I love you, Steve."
After the interview was completed at mid-day Thursday, the Rothman team announced a new endorsement, the Service Employees International Union, with 40,000 New Jersey members. SEIU is one of the more politically active unions in the state and the country.
Not to be outdone, the Pascrell campaign late this afternoon announced endorsements from Passaic County Central Labor Council and the North Jersey local of the American Post Workers Union.
Related: Pascrell Taken Aback by Rothman's Challenge, But Ready to Fight


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Zipp's 30 Course Disc-brake Clincher aluminum wheelset is as packed full of innovations as your best day on a bike was packed with euphoria. The 30 Course Disc-brake Clincher's durable wide rim profile offers enhanced aerodynamic efficiency as well as better comfort and cornering grip. This is a high-performance aluminum wheelset engineered to provide versatility for the new era of road cycling that includes disc-brake road applications but also cyclocross and gravel adventures, riding or racing.
New Aluminum-Rim Technology
The 30 Course Clincher is Zipp's first wheelset to be tubeless-ready, providing the ability to run lower tire pressures without risk of pinch flats. The 30 Course Disc-brake wheelset, with its external 25mm rim width and 21mm internal width, incorporates design innovations from the Zipp 202 Firecrest Carbon Clincher profile for low aerodynamic drag, greater stability and predictability in crosswinds. That wider rim platform allows for increased air volume, which spreads the tire casing. That helps increase the contact patch with the ground. The result is improved cornering grip and increased comfort on the road.
New Hub Technology With the 77/177D
- Front: 12x100mm & 15x100mm
- Rear: 12x135mm & 12x142mm
All this means the 30 Course Disc-brake is a multi-use wheelset that delivers speed, stability, comfort and the superior power and modulation of disc braking over any terrain.
Each wheel includes Zipp thru-axle end caps; 1 Zipp skewer; 1 Zipp rim tape 700c X 20mm 1 Zipp tubeless valve and 1.85mm spacer for use with 10-speed cassettes.The 30 Course Disc-brake Clincher rear wheel comes with a standard 10/11 speed driver body for SRAM®/Shimano® or for Campagnolo®.


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Mike Smith
Mike Smith is the third member of the golden era of USCS men's basketball to be inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. Smith began his career as a Rifle in 1982, the season after USCS won the NAIA National Championship. He was an essential part of the squad for three years. He ranks 10th on USCS' all-time scoring list with 1,177 points, having played in one less season than everyone above him on the list. He ranks among the school's all-time leaders in eight other statistical categories. A three-time All-District Six selection, Smith led the Rifles to three 20-win seasons during his stint at USCS. Smith is currently winding down an impressive professional basketball career playing internationally in Spain. A 12-year veteran, he has led his teams to two Spanish and European Championships.


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Cloudleaf IOT Suite 1.0 Achieves SAP Certification as Built on SAP Cloud Platform
Cloudleaf announced today that its Cloudleaf IoT Suite 1.0 has achieved SAP certification as built on SAP® Cloud Platform. Cloudleaf IoT Suite is an end-to-end intelligent sensor network providing location, condition monitoring and path flow analysis for a variety of assets. Organizations and enterprises use the Cloudleaf solution to track their supply chain in real time. The latest version is called Cloudleaf Sensor Fabric™ V 1.0.


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Can infographics deliver insights or is it just another pretty picture?
Image source: http://searchengineland.com/wh...
Global content marketing means sharing relevant knowledge with people in a target audience through the language they speak, the information channels they prefer, the trust anchors they believe in and shaped in a way they respect, to win their confidence in the authorâs credibility.
Source: Rss


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Forums | Mahara Community
Mobile Mahara
Mahara and Database
18 October 2012, 3:09 PM
Can I access the database Mahara?
Its possible add webservices? (whats webservices?). Its possible to connect a directly to a dedicated database?? How I can do it?
I would like to learn Mahara...Thank you!
My skype: veronica_medeiros
22 October 2012, 1:35 AM
Hello Veronica,
Great that you want to do some development work on / with Mahara. You can find out more about installing it at https://wiki.mahara.org/index.php/System_Administrator%27s_Guide/Installing_Mahara or if you are just looking for installing a development environment, skip to https://wiki.mahara.org/index.php/Developer_Area/Developer_Environment
The Developer Area on the wiki itself https://wiki.mahara.org/index.php/Developer_Area has a lot of information to get you started.
There is a web services plugin https://wiki.mahara.org/index.php/Plugins/Artefact/WebServices that can be used and expanded.
Since you post in the Mobile Mahara forum, I assume you are (also) interested in mobile development. There is a mobile API and I hope that a developer can give you more information on where to find more about that. It is definitely worked with in MaharaDroid http://code.google.com/p/maharadroid/
22 October 2012, 3:04 AM
Thank you!
Can you add me ?
Skype: veronica_medeiros
I have many doubts.
A post by Deleted user was deleted


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Indie developer Strangefire headed by Arvydas have scored a first-time hit with their magical medieval fantasy management game Shoppe Keep.
Released into Early Access in August the full and final version of Shoppe Keep will be released on 20th May. Developed and matured with help and feedback from the community, and buoyed on by the overwhelming support, the team has produced some fantastic new content, from a special Christmas DLC to the new content just announced. Enhancements have been completed along the way - players can scavenge for items thrown away by customers and many new items have also been added. The snap-to-grid build mode has been built-in so that structure within the game can easily be achieved.
Over 100 updates have been made to Shoppe Keep since launch and the full release version due in May includes the following new DLC:
• A new adventure called Sky Island for champions to complete
• Female characters with new feminine voices
• Improved FPS when barbarians are in the game
• Fixed save game issue for first timers
There has also been the addition of seasons – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn (Fall) plus special items that are only available for sale during the relative season – for example a coconut drink only available in the Summer.
The hard work of the team has really paid off and Excalibur can report that sales of Shoppe Keep on Steam are close to 100,000 units in Early Access, the full version release is expected to realise a much higher potential particularly in light of the boxed release.
Arvydas and his team are truly delighted with this result. "I really believed in this game when I first thought of the idea and together with my artist and sound engineer we have seen the dream become reality. We have worked really hard on Shoppe Keep but a great deal of its success is down to the support of the community – their input and opinions have really helped to shape this into a fun game that everyone wants to keep on playing. I cannot thank our supporters enough."
Not satisfied with what has been achieved so far, the Strangefire team are striving for greater content and playability. We are looking forward to seeing the player house with unlockable decorations and a new multiple file save feature are just a sample of the new content that can be seen in the full version.
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Craig Zahler is a novelist and screenwriter who has made a name for himself with a successful services of western novels. They include the likes of A Congregation of Jackals and Wraiths of the Broken Land, which helped him earn the attention of Hollywood. He wrote the 2011 horror film Asylum Blackout before embarking on what may be his biggest creative triumph to date: Bone Tomahawk, which has garnered widespread critical praise and made a name for itself amid the arrival of more prominent westerns like The Hateful Eight. The film is currently available on DVD, Blu-ray and video on demand, and if you can handle the violent ending (seriously, it's gruesome), we can't recommend it highly enough. In an exclusive interview with Cinema-stache, he sat down and talked about the project with us.
Question: What was the first impetus for tackling a subject like this as a western?
Craig Zahler: A western helped kick-start my career; I had a couple of western novels and actually a few western-horror scripts that never got produced. Most of my stuff, regardless of genre, has elements of horror in it, partially because when we get to violent scenes, I want to show something people haven't seen before: something that goes further than you expect or something that you didn't expect at all.
When it came to Bone Tomahawk, I initially wanted to do a micro-budget horror movie: something I could finance myself and do on my own terms. My agent, however, suggested my taking on a western, which would have been out of the range of something I could budget myself. But it also plays to my strengths and eventually resulted in a script that could attract the level of acting talent we got for this.
Q: Would you call this a horror-western?
SCZ: I wouldn't. I'd just call it a western. Granted, it's a western that goes to some very dark places, but I don't think that's out of line with what westerns deal with. If I felt it was a horror movie, I'd have a lot of scary things and things you can identify as horror. Most of this is an adventure piece, a travel piece, a piece mostly focused on these characters. But I wanted them to land somewhere new, which is where the troglodytes came from.
Q: Did you have a sense of how that finale was going to go?
SCZ: It was always that way. If we establish that these were what the troglodytes were, and that this was a natural extension of how they lived, it was going to end with something like what we show. I didn't want it to be gratuitous, which sounds funny when you look at the scene, but it's true. Gratuitous violence, to me, is violence that serves no purpose except to shock. In this case, this was a part of the troglodytes' world. This was an average weekday to them. And it was important, in being honest about what they were, to show all of that with no blinders on. It doesn't become a leering gorefest – and I love gorefests, but the focus of those movies is style and atmosphere. The focus here is character, and the final scene was meant to emphasize character in the face of a very intense and horrific threat. Obviously, that's not going to be an experience that everyone wants to have, and that's okay. This film isn't for everybody.
Q: Along those lines, how important was it to have VoD available as a distribution outlet?
SCZ: I've learned about video on demand, limited release, all that stuff, while I was making Bone Tomahawk. I live in New York and you're based in LA, so we get limited release movies all the time. I was unaware of what that truly meant. I'd never watched a movie on demand. Almost everything I want to see, I'll watch on the big screen. I suppose I'm behind the times on that front. But I did know, creatively, what I wanted to do with the movie, and I was pretty specific. That's one of the benefits of a long production cycle. And with the way you can get a movie out now, via video on demand and things like that, it allows you to keep that vision intact. We'd made our money back before the film was released. We made it for $1.8 million and shot it in 21 days. VoD made us show a profit, and while I'd love for everyone to seeing it on the big screen (it's had those), VoD let us make the movie we wanted to make.
Q: The dialogue is a big part of the film's success too, yes?
SCZ: I enjoy writing dialogue, and I think most of the dialogue I initially wrote made it into the final film. We changed a few things to fit logistical needs and there was a little ad libbing, but I'd say about 95% of it was there when I'd finished the first draft. I'm proud of that, and I'm also grateful because it helped us get the kind of onscreen talent we had for this. We could never have gotten Kurt Russell and Patrick Wilson and Richard Jenkins and everyone we had for the salaries we offered if the dialogue wasn't there. It was some of the worst paychecks these guys had ever received, I can guarantee it. And they killed it. The dialogue got them onboard, but they had the timing and the delivery and the skills to just nail it. That brought the material up to the level I hoped it could be.
Q: Where do you think the western is going in the 21st century? What do you think it has to say?
SCZ: We've seen a fair amount of remakes, and a lot of gimmick westerns like Cowboys and Aliens. I've not seen Cowboys and Aliens, so I can't speak to its success or failure, but we're living in an environment of reworking older films and playing with a lot of high concept stuff. But this winter, we've seen some original westerns arriving, or at least westerns that we haven't seen before: something like The Revenant or The Hateful Eight. I'm hopeful for the genre because of efforts like these: they focus on dialogue and character first. I'd say the same thing about the Coens' remake of True Grit, which I really love. Hopefully, these films can be successful and they can dispel the long-running conventional wisdom about westerns, which is that they don't make money. Talent like the kind we've seen behind these types of westerns may be what finally breaks that stigma, and I hope it does because I think this genre has a lot of life left in it.


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Fans of music and the underground era genius of Robert Crumb may well love the new R. Crumb: The Complete Record Cover Collection book that brings together more than 450 four-color illustrations of the man's album cover artwork. It started with his first cover in 1968 for Janis Joplin's "Cheap Thrills" album (no doubt familiar to you). Crumb then went on to interpret art covers for artists new and old with a particular focus on the blues. "So remarkable were Crumb's artistic interpretations of these old 78 rpm singles that the art itself proved influential in their rediscovery in the 1960s and 1970s. Including such classics as Truckin' My Blues Away, Harmonica Blues, and Please Warm My Weiner, Crumb's opus also features more recent covers done for CDs."
R. Crumb: The Complete Record Cover Collection will be a perfect gift for music loves as well as those interested in Crumb's incredible contribution to art.
Available from Amazon.
More looks inside R. Crumb: The Complete Record Cover Collection after the click.