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Brooks Kubik
Are you tired
of weight training books that consist of nothing but boring photos?
Have you had it up to here
with weight training books written by people who don't know a barbell from a bagel or a dumbbell from doughnut and who think a power clean is a new kind of laundry detergent?
Will you commit cold blooded murder
if you see another weight training book for toners, shapers, pumpers and pencil necks?
Are you interested
in how the oldtimers trained back in the Golden Era of Strength?
Would you like
weight training that focuses on real world strength training ... becoming more powerful ... building functional muscle ... strengthening the tendons and ligaments ... thick bar training ... heavy weights ... power rack work ... heavy grip work ... sandbag and barrel lifting ... heavy support work ... effort ... dedication ... perserverance ... concentration ... determination ... mental toughness ... and the kind of hard nosed attitude that has all but disappeared from the Iron Game?
If your answer to any of these questions is "YES" then this website is for YOU!
Thank you for visiting the official Dinosaur Training website. Take a few minutes and look around the site. If you're serious about strength and power training, muscle building, physical fitness, and Iron Game history, you're going to like what you see.
Here's what you'll find on the Dinosaur Training site:
Dinosaur Training: Lost Secrets of Strength and Development
Dinosaur Training
An international best-seller since 1996 - the book that many readers call "The Bible of Strength Training."
Dinosaur Training focuses on real world strength training - becoming more powerful - building functional muscle - strengthening your tendons and ligaments - thick bar training - heavy weights - power rack work - heavy grip work - sandbag and barrel lifting - heavy support work - effort - dedication - perseverance - concentration - determination - and mental toughness.
Dinosaur Training started a revolution in strength training - and has helped thousands of readers build more strength and muscle than they ever imagined.
More Info...
Gray Hair and Black Iron: Secrets of Successful Strength Training for Older Lifters
Gray Hair and
Black Iron
The first book ever written about serious, no-nonsense strength training for lifters who are approaching - or who have passed - the age of 40.
A book that can add years to your lifting career - and possibly add years to your life. Published in December, 2009, and already well-on its way to best-seller status. Featuring more than 50 detailed training programs for older lifters.
At age 52, I know what it takes to keep on training hard and heavy - and if you're an older lifter, I want to share that priceless information with you.
More Info...
Dinosaur Training DVDs
Actual workouts filmed in the Dinosaur Dungeon - teaching you sets, reps, exercises, and training techniques you won't find anywhere else - and giving you a huge dose of motivation and inspiration. Especially valuable for cellar-dwellers and garage gorillas.
Dinosaur Mindpower CDs
Learn to harness the indomitable power of your mind - unlock your potential - blast through any obstacle - and push forward to achieve any goal you desire. Every champion in every strength sport knows that strength and power starts with the mind - and these high-powered, high-impact CD's will prove it to you.
Dinosaur Training Tips - Delivered Daily by Email
A special FREE service for everyone who visits the Dinosaur Training site. Sign up to receive daily email tips covering real-world, no-nonsense strength training and muscle building. Training programs, workouts, exercises, questions and answers, Dinosaur Mindpower, motivation, inspiration, product reviews, success stories from readers, a dash of humor, good times, camaraderie, feedback from fellow dinosaurs and plenty of Iron Game history. Highly recommended for everyone!
Legacy of Iron
Legacy of Iron
The world's first novel focusing on the bodybuilding and weightlifting champions of the 1930's and 1940's. Legacy of Iron will both inform and inspire you. The story features the members of the York Barbell Club in 1939, and includes detailed information about how they trained, what they ate, and how they carried the United States from pipsqueak status to the heights of international weightlifting competition.
Featuring John Grimek, Steve Stanko, Bob Hoffman, Gracie Bard, Tony Terlazzo, Gord Venables, Harry Paschall, Sig Klein, Warren Lincoln Travis, John Davis, and John Terry. Legacy of Iron is the closest thing to a real-life time machine that can transport you back to the Golden Era of Might and Muscle - and to the legendary champions of the era.
More Info...
Clouds of War
Clouds of War
The sequel to Legacy of Iron. The story continues, and as Hitler's Nazi hoards overrun the countries of Europe, American lifters train harder and heavier than ever before.
Clouds of War covers one of the most amazing six week periods of lifting history, beginning with the Junior Nationals of 1940 and continuing through the 1940 Senior Nationals and Mr. America contest - and once again, you'll have a front row seat for all the lifting, all the training and all the action.
More Info...
Official Dinosaur Training T-shirts and Sweatshirts
Dinosaur T-Shirt
Keep your muscles warm while you train - and tell the world you're proud to be a Dinosaur! Just the thing for that next set of heavy squats or deadlifts. Try one out and see how many PR's you can set!
More Info...
Original Training Articles
A treasure trove of hard-hitting, "tell it like it is" training advice from Dinosaur Headquarters. Original articles covering strength and power training, Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, strongman training, strength training for athletes and martial artists, how to build muscle, gaining muscular bodyweight, diet and nutrition, Iron Game History, profiles on fellow dinosaurs and their training programs, Dinosaur Mindpower and the all-important mental aspects of strength training and muscle building. Updated weekly.
Golden Age Training Articles
A goldmine for fans of old-time strongmen and their training methods - for fans of Iron Game history - and for anyone who wants to learn how to get big and strong super fast. Timeless training articles and article excerpts from my personal library of strength training, weightlifting and bodybuilding magazines, books and courses. Classic articles and long lost training secrets. Good stuff. Updated weekly.
My Strength Training Biography
I'm posting this so you know who I am, how and why I got started in strength training, what I've accomplished and what I stand for. You know I wrote Dinosaur Training -- you know I've written hundreds of articles featured in Hardgainer, Milo, The Iron Master, HIT Newsletter, IronMan, Muscle & Fitness, and my own monthly newsletter, The Dinosaur Files (published from 1997 through 2002) - you know I was a state champion in Greco-Roman wrestling way back in high school -- you know I won five national bench press championships (submasters division, 198 and 220 pound class, in drug-free, drug-tested competition) - but do you know what I'm doing today, at age 52 - or how I'm training? Read my updated bio and stay current with everything that's going on at Dino Headquarters.
I've received testimonials from readers around the world - including World and Olympic champions, World record holders, and top coaches. Take a few minutes to review them - and to see what Dinosaur Training has done for others - and what it can do for you.
More Info...
Book Reviews and Product Reviews
Detailed book reviews, feedback and product reviews from Dinosaur Training fans around the world. Order with confidence -- see what others are saying about our books and products.
The Dinosaur Training Blog
I cover everything in my Dinosaur Training Blog. Answers to common training questions. Abbreviated strength training. Exercises. Equipment. Workouts. Special advice for older lifters. Diet and nutrition. Conditioning. Feedback from readers. Questions and answers. Success stories from readers. Physical culture history. Concentration. Motivation. Staying focused. If you want to reach the top of the mountain - and stay there for as long as possible - then read the Dinosaur Training Blog. Visit us daily -- I add new material every day.
More Info...
New Dinosaur Training Products
We will be adding new products regularly throughout the coming year. Bookmark this page and keep coming back to see all of our exciting new products - books, courses, training manuals, DVD's, CD's t-shirts, sweatshirts, posters, photos and more!
Again, thanks for visiting the Dinosaur Training site! I sincerely hope that you enjoy it - and that you visit the site on a regular basis
Yours in strength, Brooks Kubik P.S. Be sure to sign up for my daily emails - and visit the Dinosaur Training Blog regularly!
Daily Strength Tips
from Brooks Kubik:


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Since Star Trek first made its way to the big screen, its costume design has veered away from the classic color-coded uniforms in favor of experiments with red double-breasted uniforms and unfortunate flesh-colored jumpsuits. But for the 2009 J.J Abrams *Star Trek *reboot and its recently released sequel, Into Darkness, costume designer Michael Kaplan helped move the sartorial stylings of the Enterprise crew forwards by looking backwards–at the trusty old red, blue, and gold. It's a comfortingly familiar detail amongst Abrams' trademark lens flare and glowing spaceship interiors: a conscious chromatic nod to the vintage style of the original costumes.
"I wanted the film based in the '60s," Kaplan told Wired. "Not literally the '60s, but I wanted my thinking to be grounded in the concept of the original Star Trek, almost like an homage.... I had a lot of books in my library that I'd consult: [André] Courrèges [inventor of the mini-skirt], designers like that. To keep things rooted in that, even if when you look at the movie, you don't say, 'Hey, this is the early 1960s.'"
In a different film the female officers' mini-dress uniforms might have seemed like a gratuitous anachronism, but the larger framework of 1960s styling (towering, stylized beehive hair on some of the extras; Uhura's cat-eye eyeliner) makes them work. It helps, too, that, the flimsy color-coded uniform shirts no longer have to survive fight scenes. They're treated more like officewear, and quickly swapped out for tougher gear.
"Now that we're so far ahead in time from when the TV show was released, I felt that more sophistication was necessary," Kaplan told Wired. "In the past, [the crew] were all seen to wear their uniform when beamed to other ships and going to other planets. I felt like it was time they had something to travel in, so I created these shuttle suits. They're almost like a jumpsuit, worn over their uniforms and with little plastic windows so you can see the color of the uniform."
So: even if you're wearing a protective flight suit when you beam down to explore an alien planet, everyone will still know you're a redshirt.
The wetsuits Kaplan designed for Uhura, Kirk and McCoy are especially slick, sharing a geeky little detail with the bridge uniforms: tiny images of the Starfleet logo, embossed all over the fabric.
Kaplan also worked to keep the characters in consistent color palettes even when they dressed in civilian clothes. The one exception was Benedict Cumberbatch's villain: "I wanted him to be kind of enigmatic, but also very well-dressed," Kaplan explained. "He has a costume of the character's own clothing, that makes you not quite sure who he is. But I wanted him to be easily identifiable, so I put him in a long coat in every scene... I wanted to single him out from the rest of the crowd."
It certainly works. Cumberbatch's character has a Hollywood villain's unerring ability to locate a swirling, cape-like coat in any scene, even if it involves grabbing one off an extra. And although his true identity remains a mystery for much of the film, eagle-eyed fans may spot a couple of clues hidden in one of his costumes—another long black coat, of course.
Into Darkness is a little more violent than its predecessor, which perhaps explains the changes to Starfleet's formal dress uniforms. Spock's sleek, slate-grey uniform is gone, replaced by a paler suit that looks (dare I say it) ever-so-slightly Death Star. But, as Kaplan points out, "[Starfleet] is a military service—more than for peace than for war—but still, they're officers. A lot of situations in this movie are formal meetings, when Kirk and Spock have to meet with the higher command. They wouldn't just show up in their, you know, Enterprise uniforms."
In the new dress uniform, Chris Pine often looks downright ... Shatnerian. Apparently he had to gain so much weight for this movie that he was constantly dripping food onto his gold command shirts, coining the on-set phrase, "He's Pined himself again." (You should have gone for mustard, Chris. That barely would've shown up on camera.)
As for the casual fashions of Into Darkness, Kaplan was careful not to go too extreme. "If you do anything too futuristic, it's too jolting, it takes you out of the moment," he explained. "J.J. was much more concerned about the emotion. So I just wanted it to be very, very subtle—not really identifiable as being clothes of today, but also not anything that was highly futuristic."
The end result is a world that successfully combines 1960s mini-skirts, leather jackets that wouldn't look out of place in a 2013 Abercrombie & Fitch catalog, and occasional hints of futurism, like the doctors in crisp white jackets with detachable sleeves that give them a modular, almost robotic appearance. But of all the anachronisms of Into Darkness, my favorite is Scotty, who ends up in a decidedly retro alien bar wearing a disco-era yellow shirt that–thanks to Michael Kaplan's careful eye–somehow meshes perfectly with his 23rd-century surroundings.

subset: commoncrawl


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|UUMA Guidelines
Share |
The UUMA Guidelines
for the
TABLE OF CONTENTS (click here for a PDF version)
Concerns and the Role of UUMA Good Offices
I. Ministers' Expectations of Ministers
A. Ordination
II. Ministers' Expectations of Institutions They Serve
A. Structure
III. Responsibilities and Expectations among Colleagues
A. Introduction
IV. Call, Initiation, and Severance Procedures
A. Candidating for Congregational Ministry
V. Social Media and Online Ministry
A. Preamble
The UUMA Guidelines was first adopted in 1965,
and represents one of the most thorough codes for the practice of ministry
within the congregational church tradition.
Guidelines contains several documents:
The UUMA wants Guidelines to be a living
document. To that end we have made revisions from time to time. Some revisions have been editorial in nature,
correcting errors or making changes for clarity and simplicity. Some changed the tone of Guidelines to
reflect more strongly concern for the interests of the congregations we serve
or to reinforce our individual freedom and responsibility as ministers. And some attempt to alter or reform our
understanding and practice of ministry.
All but editorial changes have been made at annual meetings of the UUMA.
In June 1985, a broadly ranging set of revisions
affected many parts of Guidelines.
These included more specific affirmation of congregational polity as the
foundation of our ministry; use of covenantal language rather than that of
labor/management relations to speak of our responsibilities to congregations
and vice versa; specific counsel to retired ministers and part-time ministers
not to refer to themselves, nor to behave or think of themselves, as ministers
of a congregation unless duly called; new acknowledgments of maternity and
paternity needs; and the careful choice of gender inclusive language throughout
to reflect that ours is a ministry in which women and men serve our
congregations truly and fully on an equal basis.
Recent revisions have been narrowly focused. In 1985-87 we responded to the concern of
many members that Guidelines should speak specifically to the ethics of
our behavior as sexual beings in the ministry. Amendments were proposed to the first three sections of our Code of
Professional Practice - Self, Colleagues and Congregation. All but one amendment were approved at the Annual
Meeting of 1987. The final amendment
pertained specifically to the responsibilities of single ministers. It was reconsidered, recast and then approved
in June 1988. The Guidelines Revision
Committee hoped by offering these amendments that in the process of considering
them as well as in their application, we would speak more often and openly with
each other about what it means for us to be sexual beings and ministers, the
energies involved and the decisions and ethics required.
In the 1988 revision a Canadian Supplement was added,
addressing the particular needs of those serving Canadian societies.
In 1990, a Professional Rights Procedure was added to
amplify and clarify the procedures involved when UUMA members bring grievances
against each other for violating the Code of Professional Practice.
In 2007, following the suggestion of the most recent chapter to review the Guidelines, the Board of Trustees appointed an ad hoc committee to review, redesign and rewrite the entire "Guidelines" document.
In 2008 changes to the Professional Rights Procedure were passed. A timetable and process for a major Guidelines Revision was approved. The document (known as Guidelines) was divided into three primary sections: Covenant, Code of Conduct and Standards of Professional Practice.
At the 2009 UUMA Annual Meeting a new Covenant was adopted and a new Code of Conduct was approved for a first year of study.At the 2010 Annual Meeting the new Code of Conduct was adopted and a new set of Standards of Professional Practice was approved for a first year of study.
At the 2011 Annual Meeting in Charlotte, the new Standards of Professional Practice were approved by the membership. The Guidelines Committee was also asked by members to continue a process that was started at least twenty years ago: Shaping and guiding the UUMA's reflection and conversation regarding ministerial relationships in the ministerial setting. The excellent work done by previous Guidelines Committees bequeathed the Committee a challenging and clear agenda. At the 2012 UUMA meeting in Phoenix, members voted on Guidelines Committee recommendations and committed to a second year of study. The Committee reviewed and discussed chapter and individual feedback and presented recommendations to the 2013 Annual Meeting in Louisville that added to the Code of Conduct these words: "I will not engage in sexual contact, sexualized behavior, or a sexual relationship with any person I serve as a minister." Changes to the "Standards, II, G" were also accepted.
In 2015 a new section of the Standards of Professional Practice, regarding social media and other forums of online ministry, was presented to the membership and put out for a year of study. Feedback led to substantive revisions to the draft language in 2016 and a second year of study. Final wording was adopted by the membership in 2017, creating section V. Social Media and Online Ministry.
In all of this the UUMA has tried carefully to respond to the needs and concerns of its members in order to reflect in Guidelines the best insights and wisdom for an effective and successful ministry.
In 2015 a new section of the Standards of Professional Practice, regarding social media and other forums of online ministry, was presented to the membership and put out for a year of study. Feedback led to substantive revisions to the draft language in 2016 and a second year of study. Final wording was adopted by the membership in 2017, creating section V. Social Media and Online Ministry.
In 2018 the membership voted to change the UUMA Bylaws such that the Board of Trustees could propose amendments for immediate adoption to these Guidelines. Upon approval of this bylaw, the Ethical Standards of the Code of Conduct and Section II.G 2 Personal or Romantic Relationship were amended to bring alignment to the two sections regarding expectations around sexual boundaries.
In 2019 Section I.C.5 of the Standards of Professional Practice was added to reflect the learning nature of the ministry and coincided a UUA bylaw revision changing the language from Final Fellowship to Full Fellowship. The following articles of section I.C were renumbered to reflect this addition.
In all of this the UUMA has tried carefully to respond to the needs and concerns of its members in order to reflect in Guidelines the best insights and wisdom for an effective and successful ministry.
United in our call to
serve the spirit of love and justice through the vocation of ministry in the
liberal religious tradition, we, the members of the
Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, covenant with one another:
Through fidelity to this covenant and our Code of Professional Conduct, we aspire to grow in wholeness, and bring hope and healing to the world.
will be honest and diligent in my work to fulfill the offices of ministry
according to the stipulations of my call or employment and my best professional
will not misappropriate the money or property of the congregations, agencies or
enterprises I serve, or of their members, staff or clients.
the limitations of law, I will respect the confidentiality of private
communications from those to whom I minister.
will honor the intellectual property of others, assuring that appropriate
attribution is given to avoid intentionally creating the impression that the
work of others is my own.
will demonstrate respect and compassion without regard to race, color, class,
sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability or
ethnicity. Such equitable treatment
shall be extended to all to whom I minister regardless of position in the
organization, including to those who may disagree with me.
will work to confront attitudes and practices of unjust discrimination on the
basis of race, color, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age,
physical or mental ability, or ethnicity,
and to challenge them within myself and in individuals, congregations,
and groups I serve.
will make myself a candidate for a pulpit or other position of ministry only
with serious intent, and I will observe the established candidating procedures
of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
will stay informed of the latest rules and policies of the UUA's Ministerial
Fellowship Committee.
I will not engage in public words or actions that degrade the vocation of ministry, or diminish among us the esteem of our calling.
I will not engage in sexual contact, sexual harassment, sexualized behavior or a sexual relationship with any person I serve as a minister.
I will not engage in sexual contact, sexual harassment, sexualized behavior or sexual relationships with colleagues who are interns, associates, students, counselees, mentees, or other – whether ministers or other religious professionals – under my direct or indirect supervision.
will share and support the concerns of the Unitarian Universalist Minister's
Association, especially as reflected in the UUMA Covenant, Code and Standards.
Within the limitations of law, I will respect confidences given me by
colleagues and expect them to respect mine.
will not speak scornfully or in derogation of any colleague in public. In any private conversation concerning a
colleague, I will speak responsibly and temperately. I will not solicit or encourage negative
comments about a colleague or their ministry.
Expectations of Conduct apply to all forms of public or private media including
electronic and internet communications.
will seek consultation among my colleagues practicing the diverse forms of
parish-based and community-based ministry within the same geographical area, so
that we may develop a mutually agreed Letter of Understanding regarding our
several roles and the ways in which these may and may not intersect.
I am not a settled, interim or consulting minister of a congregation served by
a colleague, I will not offer, and will not accept requests for, ministerial
services or public leadership from members of that congregation, or in that
congregational context, unless I have a covenant with or until I have consulted
with the minister serving there.
my colleague asks me to refrain from performing such service or appearing in a
leadership capacity, I will comply.
emergency circumstances make advance consultation impossible, I will render only
limited service, and consult with my colleague at the earliest possible
If I have occasion to perform ministerial or leadership functions, apart from routine contact with members or clients of my current ministry, in contexts where colleagues are serving, I will make an effort to communicate with those colleagues, and to respect their professional prerogatives and be responsive to their concerns.
of a congregation hosting District or UUA events will be assumed to have
invited colleagues to appear in leadership capacities at such events.
I am to share the ministry of a congregation with other ministers, I will seek
clear delineation of responsibility, authority, accountability and channels of
communication before responsibilities are assumed. I will thereafter work in cooperation and
consultation with my colleagues, taking care that changing roles and relations
are re-negotiated with clarity, respect and honesty.
will acknowledge the reality of power differences based on defined
responsibilities and authority within congregations, agencies or
enterprises. I will acknowledge the
reality of privilege arising from differences of social location and historical
marginalization. I will exercise the
power of my authority and the privileges of my social location in such a way
that I do not disadvantage my colleagues on the basis of my or their race,
color, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, physical or
mental ability or ethnicity.
a supervisor, I will recognize the special responsibility I have to colleagues
and staff who I supervise, and I will work justly and compassionately with the
authority given to me.
a minister in a role supervised by a senior colleague, I will work to support
my colleague's leadership and the success of our shared ministry.
my ministry to a congregation has ended, I will refrain from offering or
performing ministerial services for members of that congregation, except at the
invitation of my incumbent successor colleague(s).
I belong to or attend a congregation served by a colleague, I will honor the
prerogatives of that colleague's responsibility for leadership in that
congregation, and in all ways seek to support that colleague's ministry. I will initiate an open and direct
conversation with my colleague(s) in order to create a mutually agreed
covenant, expressed in a Letter of Understanding, about the role I am to play
in the church. If I am a member of a
congregation that I once served, this may include the possibility of absenting
myself from any presence at all. I will
articulate clearly my own hopes and expectations regarding my relationships in
the congregation, and my intention to avoid wielding any undue influence among
the members. I will only participate in
leadership roles that support and benefit the ministry, and at the request and
with the permission of the minister(s).
I will neither listen to nor volunteer criticisms of my colleague(s). As necessary I will describe appropriate
channels of communications to members seeking to express concerns.
I am a settled minister in a congregation having retired or other ministers as
members, I will seek to foster cordial and candid relations with my colleagues
in recognition of the value of their presence in the congregation. I will initiate an open and direct
conversation with my colleague(s) to enter a mutually agreed covenant,
expressed in a Letter of Understanding, about their participation in the life
of the congregation. I will bring any
concerns arising from the relationship my colleague(s) have with the
congregation directly and promptly to the attention of my colleague(s).
I am elected Minister Emeritus/a, I will recognize that this honor sustains a
continuing but changed relationship with the congregation I once served as one
of its ministers. I will initiate an
open and direct conversation with my successor colleague(s) to enter a mutually
agreed covenant, expressed in a Letter of Understanding, about the role I am to
play in the church. My successor
colleague may choose to include the congregation's board of trustees in this
covenant process. I will honor the
prerogatives of my colleague's responsibility for leadership, and in all ways
seek to support that colleague's ministry.
I am a settled minister in a congregation that has elected a Minister
Emeritus/a, I will recognize the meaning of the honor that the congregation
has bestowed, and the significance of the continuing relationship of ministry
it implies. I will initiate an open and
direct conversation with my Emeritus/a colleague(s) to enter a mutually agreed
covenant, expressed in a Letter of Understanding, about their participation in
the life of the congregation. I will
bring any concerns arising from the relationship the Minister Emeritus/a has
with the congregation directly and promptly to that colleague's attention.
discovery of ministerial misconduct and the healing of congregations, agencies
or enterprises that have experienced such misconduct, take priority over the
expectations of collegial courtesy.
calling attention to any deviation by my colleague(s) from this Code, I will
adhere to the processes described in Accountability, below. So doing will not be regarded as a failure of
collegial loyalty.
The provisions of the Code of Conduct identify
standards of behavior for members of the UUMA.
Violation of these standards by any member is a matter of concern to
other members, and may result in disciplinary actions.
The following procedure is to be followed when a member of the UUMA becomes concerned about a colleague's adherence to the code.
Concerns and the Role of UUMA Good Offices
In most instances, a member who believes a colleague's
behavior to be inconsistent with the Code of Conduct should express their
concern directly. As an alternative, or
should the direct approach not achieve the desired result, a Chapter Good
Offices Person (GOP) should be consulted.
A GOP is initially neutral, advising the member, and exploring the
possibility of an informal resolution of the concern.
In the event that a Chapter GOP cannot settle a concern between ministers, the minister or the Chapter GOP will seek advice or intercession with the Continental GOP. If the concern is still unresolved, the concerned minister should write a letter of complaint to the Committee on Ethics and Collegiality (CEC), fully specifying the nature of the concern making it a formal complaint.
Consideration of Complaints by the Council on Ethics and Collegiality
The CEC, working in consultation with the UUMA Board of Trustees' GOP, will assess the complaint; invite communications from involved UUMA members; make recommendations toward the resolution of the complaint; and report to involved UUMA members and to the UUMA Board of Trustees that the complaint:
Chapter GOP may continue to be involved in a consulting or pastoral role.
In dealing with complaints against a UUMA member serving on the staff of the UUA related to actions undertaken in the line of their duties, the CEC will:
Consideration of a Grievance by the Board of Trustees
When a written complaint is referred by the CEC to the UUMA President for consideration by the Board of Trustees it becomes a formal grievance. An action under this process may also be initiated by the Board of Trustees or the President of the UUMA. Grievances will be acted upon as follows:
Standards of Professional Practice
I. Ministers' Expectations of Ministers
A. Ordination
6/26/2020Weekly News June 26, 2020


text:
Salaam and Greetings of Peace:
Happy New Year to all my Brothers and Sister of every faith, race, and creed around the world! May God bless you all this year with health and happiness, wisdom and love. I can think of no better resolution for the New Year than to resolve to be of service in any way we can, and to repeat these noble words and lovely prayer.
Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
– Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Ya Haqq!


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Thanks so much for all the amazing entries we had for our last challenge. The winner of the fabulous candy supplied by Wild Orchid Crafts is:
Kristine (Lost in Kreativity)
Congratulations, please email me to claim your prize.
Next up is our Top 3, and they are:
We would also like to announce that our Guest Designer for April is none other than the lovely POPS. Congratulations Pops, can't wait to see what fabulous creations you come up with :)
Wild Orchid Crafts have sponsored the challenge this time with a fab prize of flowers and lace
And our challenge for this fortnight is a sketch designed by Bev.
You don't have to use Wild Orchid Crafts products to enter, but if you do that would be wonderful. You can combine our challenge with any other challenges of your choice and as long as you follow the theme for this challenge and you link back to Wild Orchid Challenge blog you will qualify to be in the draw for the fab prize. NO back linking, new projects/cards only please.
Please link your card or project (not your blog) using Inlinkz by 8pm UK time Sunday 10th April
Here's some inspiration from the DT, starting off with Isabelle's card our GDT for March. Thanks so much for all your amazing creations Isabelle.


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In the wake of dropping five original cast members, Fox's "Glee" has given promotions to five newer members of New Directions.
Melissa Benoist, Jacob Artist, Becca Tobin, Blake Jenner and Alex Newell have been promoted from recurring cast members to series regulars, a representative for show producer, 20th Century Fox Television, confirmed to TheWrap.
Benoist (who plays Marley), Artist (Jake), Tobin (Kitty) and "The Glee Project" winner Blake Jenner (Ryder) joined the series last season. "The Glee Project" alum Alex Newell (Unique) started on the Fox musical series during its third season.
Also read: 'Glee' Cast Shakeup: 5 Original Cast Members Out (Updated)
The promotions arrive just after news broke on Friday that five original cast members wouldn't be returning next season. Dianna Agron, Heather Morris, Mark Salling, Amber Riley and Harry Shum, Jr. started with the series in 2009. They may return next season as guest stars.
Benoist quickly took Lea Michele's spot on the series as the new girl with great singing talent, but struggled with relationships, including ongoing spats with Tobin's Kitty and on-again-off-again flirtations with Jenner's Jake and Artist's Ryder. As transgendered Unique, Newell's character struggled with expressing himself and the school's ability to accept his twist on gender identity.
Last season, "Glee" saw some big changes as new students joined and several characters moved on to their lives after McKinley High. The series was partially set in New York City to accomodate new storylines for stars Michele and Chris Colfer.
Also read: Fox Announces Fall Premiere Dates: 'X Factor,' 'Bones,' 'Glee' Returns
In April, Fox granted an early renewal to the Ryan Murphy production for an additional two seasons.
While the series still performs well on the network and reached cult status among viewers very quickly, its viewership has flagged some over its run. At its height during Season 2, "Glee" averaged 10.11 million viewers per episode versus Season 4's 8.26 million.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported the promotions.
Note: This article was updated to reflect that Agron was not a series regular on Season 4.


text:
Now don't get me wrong. I AM a professional, having been accredited through ICAPGen for nearly fifteen years.
For several years prior to taking the test for accreditation, I thoroughly researched the difference between becoming certified through BCG (Board for Certification of Genealogists), and even going on to pursue that of being a CGL (Certified Genealogical Lecturer).
There wasn't a lot out there to help me at the time I was seeking the credentials that would identify me as a professional. Accredited Genealogists (AG) seemed to be more of a western thing, for the testing was done by the LDS Church at the Family History Library. Certified Genealogists (CG) seemed to be more well known, but I didn't know if I could pass the testing process.
Actually I didn't know if I could pass either of the testing processes.
I decided to become an AG for the Southern States.
It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I thought I was fairly good, but this process refined me and polished me. I submitted my paperwork and received word that it had been accepted. The next step would be to make an appointment at the Family History Library. This would not be a problem since we travel to Utah frequently to visit family.
At the time I tested, the Southern States included everything from Virginia to Texas. That was a bit of a problem for me, for I didn't really know much about Texas, or Louisiana, or the other states associated with the deep south.
But, I had to learn.
On a Wednesday in October, I dropped my oldest son off at the Missionary Training Center to leave for a two-year mission, drove to Salt Lake City with tears in my eyes, and began my testing that evening.
Little did I know how difficult the next three days would be. At the end of each day, I had to wait to find out if my test results came back at 90% or above. If they did, I would be invited back for the next day for more testing.
This went on until the final day, which included a minimum of four hours of an oral examination in a room with eight individuals from the Family History Library. Oh, my! I was grilled. I sweated bullets. I twisted in my seat.
But, I passed.
During the last thirty minutes, I was asked to leave the room while they discussed me. I gladly left! Soon, I was invited back in. A question was asked of me: If I were to be granted this Accreditation, what would I do with it?
I answered without pausing. I simply stated that I would take what I learn and teach it to others for the rest of my life.
They concurred that I had indeed passed the necessary requirements, and they felt good about the work I had done.
And, it's enough for me.
I have renewed my credentials every five years, as required. I have had to show that I am keeping up with current trends, both as a genealogist and as a speaker. I keep a spreadsheet showing the classes I have taught, as well as the many opportunities I have had for learning. I have almost as much to submit for renewal as I did at the beginning. I was the last person to be tested by the Church before the testing facility evolved into what is now known as ICAPGen (The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists).
Now, why do I even bring this up?
This past weekend was the annual OGS Conference (Ohio Genealogical Society), of which I am a frequent presenter. I love this event, for it's right here in my home state. People come from all over the country to attend.
A few conversations rolled around to my becoming "double credentialed". In other words, to add being a CG and CGL to my postnomial AG might be a good idea to consider. I was encouraged, for having been a professional for most of my life, it would not be hard to complete the process. However, I left the conference feeling this is not to be.
Though the two credentialing parties have different focuses, they are every bit as stringent. Methodology is used in both cases, with the exception that AG's must test in a specific area. (Since my initial testing, the Southern States have been divided. I am now accredited in the Mid-South.)
One of the last people I talked to before leaving informed me that becoming a CG involved such rigorous testing that I would literally be astounded. Apparently, becoming an AG was a piece of cake compared to becoming a CG. I believe I had just been insulted. And, it takes a lot to insult me. All of the respect I had for this individual suddenly diminished, for it was obvious they had no respect for the process of becoming an AG.
So, I will maintain my status as an Accredited Genealogist and will not seek for more. Some people have no postnomials at all, and are every bit the professional that I am - and even more! I will continue to lift up and build the confidence of my colleagues.
And, I will take what I learn and teach it to others - for the rest of my life.


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text: New Tutorial Series and Sample Application for ASP.NET MVC 4 with Windows Azure Tables, Blobs, and Queues Tom Dykstra - MSFTDecember 20, 2012Dec 20, 201212/20/12 On December 19 we published a new tutorial series and accompanying sample application that shows how to work with Windows Azure Storage tables, queues, and blobs in a multi-tier application that uses ASP.NET MVC 4 and ASP.NET Web API. The sample application is an email service that runs in a Windows Azure Cloud Service. The front-end is a web


text:
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
And the winner is...
Okay so Uncle Sam doesn't really pay have of it - he just demands less excessive tribute because you are working and he knows you are pumping money back into the economy and... and we really do work there, honest.
For example - at Thrillerfest in NYC - I as an unagented, amature writer schlepping my manuscript around met a dazzling young agent by the name of Barbara Poelle - and after I confused her with a pitch that sounded something like two wookies arguing over who gets the last slice of space pizza (Ray's Original of course) she reluctantly said - real quiet like and perhaps hoping I wouldn't hear her - "Okay so send me ten pages."
Fortunately what she read was much better than what I pitched - to the point where her e-mail to me was something like - "are you the same guy I talked to at Thrillerfest? Anyway, if you are, I'd like to represent you."
To which I replied " OORREHHEYOOO" - Which anyone who speaks wookie will recognize as "OKAY - No problem."
Actually, did anyone else find it odd that Chewbacca would basically grunt three syllables which Han Solo would translate as "Chewie thinks the theory of relativity and super symmetry do not really connect well at the sub atomic level, and therefore there must be a third, as yet unknown, theory that will bridge the gap between the two of them and open up a whole new world of possibilities."
Really Han? You got all that from "OOOHRREE OOW"?
I know - I digress - and don't even get me started about why Chewie never had any clothes on. I mean what if he saw a cute girl wookie or took a liking to Princess Leia or Han's leg?
OKAY - Back to conferences - so the Thrillerfest is awesome - hands down the best. I also Like Bouchercon and found Killer Nashville to be fantastic.
But my favorite conference moment was the first one I ever went to. It was the Maui writers conference. It was 2002 or 2003 and I had written a manuscript and thrown it in a drawer years prior and my girlfriend at the time had convinced me to go the conference. I figured what the heck - its a trip to Maui - that doesn't suck.
So I went and I signed up kind of nervous like and I snuck into a few of the panels and watched and listened and I distinctly remember the feeling of my eyes opening - here was information I didn't have - professionals talking about writing about character and plot and theme. Here was access I didn't think I could ever get, rubbing shoulders and sitting down with agents and editors, talking with authors that had sold millions of books or even those who had sold thousands of books - or even one book. Here was inspiration, so much so I hit every panel I could, every day, right up until the last night when Bryce Courtney gave the keynote speech and I just sat there in awe and realized - specifically at that moment - this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
Unfortunately, the Maui Writers Conference, which morphed into the Hawaii Writers Conference has gone by the wayside. But its not just the conference itself that matters, its the act of going. Its that first step, that leap of faith into a different bigger world.
I'm guessing we have a fair amount of aspiring writers reading this blog - if you're reading this you know I would urge you to go to any decently represented conference. Go for inspiration, go for the education, go for the friends - and the beverages. Because writing is a lonely enough business as it is, and we don't want to end up like the Uni bomber. Maybe that's why Uncle Sam is willing to pay half the bill - its safer that way.
And now a special announcement - Because those of us at Criminal Minds are truly bent on World Domination - not only did my novel Black Sun come out in bookstores yesterday, but today September 1st, Joshua Corin's complex and multifaceted novel While Galileo Preys hits the bookstores.
A little teaser for you:
"If there were a God, he would have stopped me."
That's the message discovered atop an elementary school in downtown Atlanta. Across the street are the bodies of fourteen innocent men and women, each quickly and cleanly murdered. the sniper Galileo is on the loose. He can end a human life from hundreds of yards away. And he is just getting started.
Where others see puzzles Esme Stuart sees patterns, and these outside the box inductive skills made her one of the FBI's operatives. But she turned her back on all that. She now has a husband and a daughter and a Long Island home far removed from the bloody streets of Atlanta.
But as Galileo's murders escalate, Esme's beleaguered old boss at the Bureau needs the help of his former protege. But how can she turn her back on her well earned quiet life? Could she ever justify such a choice to her husband? Her daughter?
And what will happen when Galileo turns his scope on them?
-- It sounds intense and I can't wait to get my hands on it.
Learn more about it at http://www.joshuacorin.com/
And you can find details about Black Sun at http://www.authorgrahambrown.com/
Black Sun is the second book in the Hawker/Laidlaw series.
It picks up two years after Black Rain, reuniting the characters in a race to discover the truth, as the world counting down to December 21st, 2012 and a cataclysm that may - or may not be - of human design.
Hope you enjoy it.
Monday, August 30, 2010
A Tale of Conferences Past
I've been to many writers conferences over the past fifteen years. Part of that time I was also attending many crafts industry trade and consumer shows. At some point they all started blurring together into one giant amorphous image of airports, convention centers, and hotel rooms. I'd have to say, though, that the Romance Writers of America national conference this past July in Orlando stands out for me, and not just because it's the most recent conference I've attended.
That's the good news. The bad news is that the conference doesn't stand out for the conference, per se. It stands out for the location. You see, ever since I was a little kid, I've been hooked on Disney. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting in front of our tiny black and white TV, watching the original Mickey Mouse Club, the one with Annette Funicello way back before she ever stuffed a wild bikini. (Yeah, I'm really that old!) I still cry when I watch Old Yeller or Bambi, and I really do believe that a dream is a wish your heart makes.
Anyway, there was no way this lover of all things Disney was going to head down to Orlando for a conference and not spend a day at DisneyWorld. So the day after I arrived, in 95 degree heat and 100% humidity, three friends and I set off early in the morning for a day of park-hopping. We started at Disney's Hollywood Studios where we took in some rides before eating lunch at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. After lunch we headed over to Animal Kingdom for more rides and a safari adventure. Epcot came next with a trip down memory lane to watch Captain Eo and my favorite, the Journey Into Imagination with Figment attraction. We spent cocktail hour sipping frozen margaritas at the Mexican pavilion, then headed over to the Magic Kingdom for such classics as Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, and It's a Small World, before returning to Disney Studios for the highlight of the day -- the 10:30pm showing of Fantasmic!
Fantasmic! is like nothing I'd ever seen before, and I've seen quite a few Disney parades, fireworks, and laser shows over the years. Nothing comes close to Fantasmic! -- a 25-minute extravaganza of pyrotechnics, laser lights, water effects, animation, music, and live action featuring 50 costumed performers. It combines Disney's trademark silliness with suspenseful action that will blow you away, whether you're 2 or 102. You really have to see it to believe it.
And that for me is my favorite conference story -- playing hooky to let my inner kid come out to play for the day.
The first book in Lois Winston's Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries series, Assault With A Deadly Glue Gun, will be a January 2011 release from Midnight Ink. Meanwhile, Anastasia is blogging at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers, and you can visit Lois at her newly redesigned website.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Calorie Free Comfort
Catnapped and Doggone
There's no other way to do it. I'm going to have to rip the band-aid off. My name is Gabi and I don't eat for comfort. Worse, I'm an American in the land of the delivery pizza, the takeout Chinese, the biggie fry and that's not where you can find me when all has gone wrong. Not that I won't consume any care packages forwarded by my culinary CM compatriots. I'm just going to eat them when they get here, storm clouds notwithstanding.
I am not an alien. I do eat. Lots. I love my stepfather's spaghetti (before you put the sausage or meatballs in, thanks) and I never met a chocolate bunny I didn't adore the ears off. I have an account at quisp.com and single-handedly skewed the chocolate goldfish buying habits of my local big box warehouse store. I may even have kept the Diet Coke people in business during the recession. But that's just a normal Tuesday or other day ending in 'y.' It's not emotional eating. It's lunch.
Comfort, when I seek it, comes in different forms. First, I don't seek it often. It's not that I don't need it or wouldn't appreciate it but I spent a lifetime building my reputation as truly scary and not to be messed with and Linus' blanket would dull the impact. Then again, the occasional pet-pet-pet of Snoopy appears to the naked eye like absentminded decency towards animals instead of the fur therapy it really is so I guess that would technically count as comfort.
There are movies that make me feel better. 101 Dalmations. High-tech fur therapy and the dalmations sooted to pass as Labradors could be in the family portrait of my beloved Koko don't affect the daily weigh-in. Likewise, The Quiet Man, a strangely sweet John Wayne in Ireland tale might be found in my DVD player when the sky is leaden. I think it's the roses he plants next to the wee cottage. You've never seen an unhappy Leprechaun, have you? Or one with the top button of his lederhosen undone? It's the wee cottages.
There are places that make me feel better. Disney World with my parents. It's like going with two 12 year olds. They want lots of high fat food before being spun on some ride. Nothing can talk them out of it. We're talking dill pickle on a stick (the size of Oscar Meyer Weinermobile) followed by the Scrambler. I am not even making that up. There's something comforting in knowing that my mom can laugh and throw up simultaneously. There's more comfort in knowing that as soon as she's up off her knees, she's going to need cotton candy and a ride in the tea cups (which for the record three adults can get in but given the way the door closes those same three adults cannot exit the ride without a happiest place on earth assistant). Maybe you could consider it indirect comfort food. Then again, I doubt I'd feel comforted when I was as green as the pickle. It's not a good look for me.
It's possible I take the most comfort from the calorie out activities. We're not talking Ironman burns but the Crayola's box of 64 with the built-in sharpener has definitely cost me a couple or three calories. Every year about this time I buy a new box. I love the way they smell. I can peel the labels off each magic color stick (maybe 1 calorie/10 denudings) and breathe deeper as the fir green and burnt umber packaging curls helplessly into the garbage can. It's like watching roller waves curl over a tropical beach except you don't have to pay for luggage. And I don't need the labels. Like any of the comfort "foods," worrying about the labels is time misspent and guilt just waiting to attack the mellow.
If all else fails, I tell my troubles to my bear. The one my parents spent two years "breaking in" by driving over him, hanging him from the clothes line by one ear, resting him under heaving objects and general "loving him up" a little to resemble the teddy I lost when I was twelve. He was a present on my twenty-fifth birthday. Maybe they knew I'd need a little non-fattening, down low comfort from time to time and I wasn't going to be able to find it in my largely ornamental kitchen. They're sneaky smart that way.
Thanks for reading.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
And you can fry them too
There's nothing edgy about dumplings. The proper noise to make when eating them is a slurp. If you're normally attractive, you'll be less so with soy sauce dripping down your chin or marinara sauce on your cheek. You may want to unbutton the top of your pants when you finish eating, but only to give your belly more room.
Other foods become the subject of love songs. Think of Mtume singing "Juicy Fruit" ("You're my sugar thing,/ My chocolate star"). Think of the Archies singing "Sugar, Sugar" ("Sugar, ah honey honey,/ You are my candy girl/ And you've got me wanting you"). What the heck, think of Mtume again ("I'll be your lollipop./ You can lick me everywhere"). Other foods get some. But not boiled or steamed dough with stuff inside. The only popular lyric that focuses on dumplings (at least the only one I can think of) emphasizes the un-sexy, the un-edgy, the slovenly: "Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John/ Went to bed with his trousers on;/ One shoe off, and one shoe on,/ Diddle, Diddle, dumpling, my son John." Apparently My son John ate a plate of shumai, a couple of kreplach, a bowl of ravioli, and a dozen steamed buns and collapsed from the effort of removing a shoe. So, if you want someone to hold you and control you and then melt you slowly down like chocolate (Kylie Minogue), skip the dumplings. But if you're looking for simple comfort, there's nothing better.
My PI, like many other PIs, has struggled with various addictions (alcohol, cocaine) –and with the attractions of the edge – but he mostly has put his chemical dependence behind him. When the burden of the world becomes too much for him, he turns instead to a different escape mechanism. Pierogi. As he knows, they're best taken with sour cream, though he also likes his with applesauce.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Eat. Pray. Belch.
By Shane Gericke
Longtime readers know I'm a coffee hound. Owwwwooooo!
But coffee, much as I love it, is not comfort food. Comfort food has to be oozy and gloozy and thick and soft, and dance in moonbeams with fat and/or sugar glowing as if irradiated. Its job is to comfort, not nag as do veggies and fruit and egg whites.
I try to eat mostly naggy foods these days, to keep my do-lap from overdoing. But when the sirens Sugah and Phat cannot be denied, here are a few comforts I tear after like Blagojevich spotting a TV camera. Give me strength . . .
How can you not mentally orgasm over digging into a bowl of the creamy frozen treat? Particularly the high-fat kind? (Even better, frozen custard, the true nectar of the gods.) This lady knows exactly what I mean:
I particularly love vanilla, mint chocolate, and spumoni. Separately, not mixed. Gotta keep those flavors separate.
Not the crunchy kind. The chewy: Thick. Soft. Delicious. (See above video.)
While I do like New York pizza--thin, crunchy, foldable-to-eat-it-one-handed--the true pizza fan adores Chicago pizza. It's several inches thick and stuffed to the gills with cheese, tomatoes, meat, green pepper, onions (the vegetables properly sauteed in olive oil, not just thrown on raw, thank you) and more cheese. Every slice is a meal. A full pan will put you in the hospital cause it'll spill out your ears. As all good comforts do.
Just handfuls of chocolate chips from the bag. Instant sugar rush, and your mouth vibrates if the chips are high-end chocolate. Yum!
Jays or Crunchers only. All other brands are meek. My faves have the perfect balance of oil (i.e., lots), salt and potato, and some of the chips are folded around themselves in double and triple layers. I treasure those four-leaf clovers of folded potato goodness, cause when you bite into them, you get kazipple million little crunchlets.
Because of my manly visage, you thought I only guzzled Scotch and sulfuric acid? Ha! I looooove milk. Even skim. (Even though it's kinda blue, if you look closely.) But it must be COLD. Preferably just above freezing. There is nothing worse than room temp milk. Except flat soda pop. That's worse. But just barely.
Yesterday, Bill 'splained the glory that is bacon, and I cannot think of anything to add. Except that I love it so, even that scrawny stuff you get at the free breakfast buffet at discount hotels. And, bacon spawned one of my favorite commercials ever, which explains so much how I feel about the glory that is bacon:
And finally, my true writing-time fave. It's portable, lasts forever, and it's easily stashed in my desk drawer, where the ol' whisky bottle resided when I worked at the newspaper. (Things DO change.) It's heaven in a waxed wrapper, and I present:
But it was so comforting . . .
Thursday, August 26, 2010
In Which I Give Myself a Coronary
by Bill
So what is the purpose of comfort food anyway? Obviously it's to ease an aching heart. And what better way to ease an aching heart than to kill it?
My comfort foods pretty much all boil down to slow-motion suicide. Tasty, tasty, slow-motion suicide.
In no particular order:
Bacon. Okay, this is in a particular order. Bacon tops my comfort food list, and is arguably the most deadly. It's got yer salt for high blood pressure. It's got your saturated fat and cholesterol for atherosclerosis. And then there's the carcinogenic nitrates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Comfort food indeed!
Bacon is, of course, its own reward. But it also makes salads more yummy, and can deliciously top everything from meatloaf and baked beans to cupcakes. (Note, however, that cupcakes are not a comfort food for me. I dislike cake in all its forms.) At last weekend's Portland BaconFest, I sampled bacon-infused vodka, maple bacon shortbread, bacon-and-pork meatballs, bacon pops, bacon-wrapped hotdog (see photo at top), and more. I probably cut five years off my life expectancy in one magical three-hour feeding frenzy.
So worth it.
Macaroni-and-cheese. A common comfort food, offering heart-coagulating levels of fat and cholesterol in creamy casserole form. My own variation is based on a standard. As a minor sop to my frightened coronary arteries, I make it with non-fat milk. But who am I kidding. Two pounds of Tillamook cheddar cheese in one 9x13 baking dish more than counteracts the modest benefit of skim milk. The potato chips crushed on top also contribute to my early death.
Still. Oh my gawd. I heart mac-and-cheese.
Potatoes. In all their forms. I usually wake up with the sads (eh, not really, but work with me here), so I need to comfort my aching heart over breakfast. In addition to the elixir of life, coffee, I like to make cheesy eggs and potatoes. The potatoes are in hash form, which I fry up first, Then I pour beaten eggs over the crispy taters. When the eggs are almost firm, I sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, flip it so the cheese can crisp a bit. Serve and eat!
Be still my beating heart. Literally.
Of course potatoes are also good in french fry form, mashed form, au gratin form. By themselves, they are relatively benign, but the cheesy eggy goodness which often accompanies them adds heart-stopping deliciousness. And, of course, too much starchy food has its own dangers, if less acute ones than the salt, cholesterol, and saturated fats of bacon and mac-and-cheese. Thus, potatoes qualify as comfortingly reckless in the quantities I eat them.
Hmmm. Maybe I should go eat a bowl of prophylactic oatmeal or something.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Writing with Chocolate-Covered Crutches
I have a writer friend who swears that during bouts of writer's block her body goes into a weird kind of trance and wanders around the house rummaging for food without her being consciously aware of it.
To be fair, she's always been a bit off.
However, I recently read a quote from one Roy Blount, Jr. that said, "I think writer's block is simply the dread that you are going to write something horrible. But as a writer, I believe that if you sit down at the keys long enough, sooner or later something will come out."
I think old
(Mmmm…what is in the cupboards this morning? Cheerios? Naw. Oatmeal? God, is that stuff even still good? Does oatmeal go bad? Hey! Frosted Flakes! Score!)
Where was I? Oh, yes! Writing. As you know our topic this week is comfort food's role in the writing process. Now if I had to pick my all-time favorite "food" to help crank up the creative juices, it would have to be peanut M&Ms.
Really, how perfect are they? A peanut with a candy coating. Simply brilliant. As you know, health experts say that nuts are good for your heart. Or is that red wine? Whatever. I know they're supposed to be good for you on some level.
However, theses little gems are not in our house right now because I'm on a health kick and have trained myself to make do without.
(Hey! Weren't there some peanut M&Ms in the back of that desk drawer? Crap. Who left all these empty wrappers in here? Oh, well. What's that in the Tupperware bin? Oh, last's night spaghetti sauce. Should I heat it up? It's not bad cold. It's not great, but heating it up will turn it into a meal and I'm just browsing here.)
That's weird. There's spaghetti sauce on my pants. How did that get there? Anyway, my current comfort when writing is Diet Coke. It's cold and fizzy and more importantly, loaded with caffeine. It's also the perfect pallet compliment to the above mentioned peanut M&Ms, but as I may have mentioned, WE DON'T HAVE ANY. Not that I'm bitter. After all, I have willpower.
(Oh, wait! Are there any in that stash box in my son's closet? The one he doesn't know that I know about? Damn it! It's empty. What kid doesn't keep his stupid stash box full?)
Therefore, because I am a focused writer on a health kick, I just rely on Diet Coke and perseverance to see me through the day. It's really just a matter of self-discipline.
(Hey! We have ice cream? Who bought ice cream? Yum! Chocolate fudge chip – nice! Just let me dig out all the chips here and then smush it back down so doesn't look like I used a leaf blower to eat it…)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Food for thought
So in grad school I wrote a three-act play (Pop Apocalypse) which set Shakespeare's Othello on Madison Avenue and flipped racism for sexism. I wrote it over the course of a summer and I wrote it fueled primarily by Reese's peanut butter cups and Sprite. You know, just like Shakespeare.
A few years later, I moved to New York City and became poor so I wrote a screenplay (Windfall) about a young, poor couple who agree to become cold-blooded murderers in exchange for promised compensation. I wrote it over the course of a summer and I wrote it fueled primarily by Three Musketeers and Duane Reade brand apple juice.
Shortly after that, my parents divorced, but post hoc ergo propter hoc (I assume). In reaction to my parents' divorce, I wrote a comedy (Arabella's Little Secret) about a man who is going through a messy breakup so he crashes at his daughter's apartment, unaware that she is a call girl. Not being a call girl myself, I decided that the extent of my research would entail the consumption of many, many bite-size Hershey bars.
The divorce left my father feeling quite lonely, so I moved down to Atlanta to live with him and, shortly thereafter, he fell in love with a delightful woman from faraway Minnesota whom he met on Jdate.com. Promptly, I wrote a novel (Nuclear Winter Wonderland) about a college student who travels across the country to find his kidnapped sister and, in his desperate travels, he falls in love with a delightful woman from faraway Nevada. As my father liked to stock his pantry with Little Debbie snack cakes, I would have been a bad son if I had not helped him eat them, and so I helped him eat them and, as a karmic reward, the novel practically wrote itself.
As I still missed New York City, I wrote a novel (While Galileo Preys - which comes out next week!) about a woman who abandons her dream for the sake of those she loves. This time, though, I'd stumbled upon a culinary muse that rivaled Reese's and Three Musketeers and Hershey and Little Debbie. I'd discovered my Grail. I'd discovered Publix brownies. And it is Publix brownies which have been my arteries' constant companions as I've gone on to write two-and-a-half more novels.
For those unfamiliar with Publix and their brownies (and I feel such pity for your deprivation), Publix is a supermarket chain located in the South. It specializes in high-end groceries and deli, and offers extraordinary fresh-baked goods. Their handmade brownies are sold in hefty slabs which are divided into eight portions. They come with or without nuts. Each brownie contains 250 calories and each calorie is richer than Ritchie.
I was going to upload a photograph of the one remaining brownie in my refrigerator but, well, I needed to eat something to write this post.
Monday, August 23, 2010
"C" is for Comfort… "M" is for Memories…
Picture this…
A modest clapboard farmhouse with a steeply pitched and rusted tin roof. Hand-poured cement steps led to a faded and worn plywood porch. Entering the home's small but cozy living room, the scent of fresh ginger and warm sweet cane syrup permeate the air as laughter rises from multiple sources in the adjacent and equally humble dining room.
This isn't the beginning of a thriller, a mystery, or a slasher flick. This is one of the memories I carry with me of my grandmother's home and my favorite comfort food: her famous ginger cookies.
My grandmother – affectionately known as "Maw" to both her family and everyone in her community – was a formidable woman. After my grandfather died in 1940 and left Maw to raise their five children alone (the oldest only eight years old), she set about to do precisely that and accomplished her goal. She reared three girls and two boys as a single parent during a time when single parents were virtually nonexistent.
Maw wasn't simply a homemaker content to accept handouts. In fact, I can't recall her ever being too fond of handouts of any sort. She was an entrepreneur. Maw ran a small "eating place" from what was essentially a shed close to the dusty rural road on which she lived. Farmhands from neighboring properties would walk to "Maw's Place" for a meal of red chili, chicken and dumplings, pot pie, meatloaf, or whatever she'd cooked that day as an entrée, along with any vegetables that were in season, and freshly baked bread. She would always have something sweet for them to take back with them, whether it was pie, cake, a slice of watermelon, or her famous ginger cookies.
I personally never saw "Maw's Place" because she closed her business after the last of her children had grown, married, and moved on to start their own families. However, the recipes she created and sold to the farmhands kept her family afloat during very hard times, and generations have continued to enjoy them even though she's been gone for many years now.
How can I possibly describe Maw's ginger cookies? Think of a gingersnap cookie but soft and maybe just a little gooey in the center because of the syrup. Now take that cookie and magnify it times twenty, not in size but flavor. Oh, yeah. These are cookies men would kill over. Their power is undeniable. I made a batch one year at Christmas for my husband's co-workers and every year (a total of five now) I've been asked (and tempted with bribery) to make the cookies.
I've also been asked for the recipe. While I have few issues with making them (other than they're time consuming), I can't share the recipe. It's a closely guarded family secret and like any Southern worth my salt, I take such matters very seriously. I know it's not fair to get you all worked up for ginger cookies only to yank the rug out from under you here at the end. So, while it isn't Maw's cookies, I can share another family favorite that's just as good for comfort food…and far less time consuming.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
In a boiler combine:
2 cups white granulated sugar*
1 cup of milk
1 stick of butter or margarine
1/4 cup of cocoa powder
Bring to a hard rolling boil and let boil for three minutes. Remove from heat.
Add :
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2/3 cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
2 cups quick oats
Stir quickly until mixture forms a thick chocolaty mass. Drop, quickly, by large rounded tablespoons on to aluminum foil. Allow to cool completely.
*No Splenda can NOT be substituted for the sugar. We're going for comfort here. Tiny waistlines are irrelevant.
Hope you enjoy them as much as I do....and if you're ever in my neck of the woods, and you ask nicely, (although bribery doesn't hurt) I may make a batch of Maw's ginger cookies for you. :)
- Jeannie
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The Weather Report
10. My iPhone notes app. This is where I'm storing all the flashes of brilliance that strike me in the frozen food aisle or while walking the dog (or when she walks me). I nearly had a heart attack when I left the stupid thing in a cab in New York City earlier this year. Fortunately, some deity thinks those random twitches of inspiration should ferment to actual stories because the very kind cab driver brought the phone back to me during a blinding snow storm. He gets a mention in the new book. Literary karma.
9. Rebecca Cantrell is brilliant. Chocolate. Lots of it. Okay, maybe not lots. I have a blood sugar problem which means there's a moment when self-medicated erudition slips over to table dancing, indecipherable sleep note like stories and falling down. In that order.
8. Bill Cameron is also brilliant. You simply cannot make up what you might overhear in the strangest places. Two men, nice power suits, in line at the Starbucks discussing how a new girlfriend has named his private parts Buck which turned out to be the guy's great uncle in the nursing home who drooled and smelled bad. Apparently it was very inhibiting but how do you tell the woman? I didn't offer any advice but I did pull out my iPhone.
7. One word. Hempfest.
6. Play a game online as an alter ego with the chat function turned on. And chat in character. There are a couple of warnings that come with number six. DO NOT PLAY FOR REAL MONEY, especially if your character has compulsive issues. Also, IRL is not good for you. Really not good. If another player suggest it, assume he's a reviewer with indigestion and get the heck out of Dodge.
5. Buy Tabletop Conversations. It's a non-game game that you can play by yourself. It asks real questions, the kind that make you think about what's real for you. It is as useful playing as yourself as it is playing as a character. Playing the Girlfriend edition with a mixed crowd is even more entertaining.
4. Scare yourself. It's amazing how much repression and paralysis build up over time. Sometimes you need to blow the clog out. Listen to Anne Rice after dark. Look over the edge at the scenic spot in your neighborhood. Or go to the $5 to fly flying trapeze event. That five dollars buys you two moments, the ladder then the take your toes off the platform moment. What a bargain. The adrenaline will kick start your brain and/or make you throw up. But you will feel energy shooting from your fingertips onto your keyboard.
3. Pick up your camera. You don't even have to take any pictures. Just look through the view finder and ask yourself, what story does this picture tell? Does that picture answer all the question words? Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? What about the senses – are they all present? Practicing seeing the story, filling in the blanks in your imagination, translates to the page. Plus you don't take a lot of snaps where you later ask yourself what the heck was I looking at?
2. Cut your own hair with something other than scissors. Okay, pinking shears and children's safety scissors are acceptable but nowhere near as good as a Leatherman's tool. Yes, I have done this. You know why this works? Because I am not a professional hair stylist and it shows. In every mirror in my house. Which leaves two rooms I can be in post-shearing without wanting to cry – the bedroom where my insomnia mocks me and the study where my computer screams come over hair felony. We have things to do.
1. Call my mother. She lives in the Midwest version of Twin Peaks, has a family so dysfunctional the Munsters look normal in comparison and I'm pretty sure she's off her meds. If there isn't an idea there, there isn't an idea. I do hope I'm adopted.
Thanks for reading.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Old characters, new ideas
Friday, August 20, 2010
Blasting Myself Out of a Jam
There are several good gun ranges within a half hour of my house, and I take full advantage. Pistols, mostly; both revolvers and semiautos. I love the snick of the hammer. Stroke of the trigger. Blast and careen of gunpowder exploding, bullet leaving the barrel, splatting onto the (paper) target. The smell of burnt gunpowder curling out of the barrel and into my nose.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
A Bus Ticket to Inspirationville
By Kelli
Like Graham yesterday, I make a distinction between inspiration and brainstorming. Inspiration--also known as the Idea Muse--showers us with those delicious feelings of possibility that can lead to, well, dark crime fiction.
For me, there are a few standard "pick-u-pulls" from which the Muse distributes her largesse:
1. History. Fact really is weirder than fiction. And even when I'm researching--particularly when I'm researching--I'll find some tidbit from a newspaper to fit in, something that really happened, something for my characters to comment on, even in small ways. For the Roman series, archaeological mysteries sometimes spark ideas ... for example, the plot of THE CURSE-MAKER was spurred by some items discovered in the Sacred Spring in Bath.
2. Ephemera. (There, Becks, I said it.) Also known as bits and bobs. Flea markets, antique stores, Ebay. Photos, diaries, yearbooks, you name it. A Roman earring (OK, it's an "antiquity" but it's also ephemera of a kind). All objects imbued with a story ... a story I can tap and work into my own.
3. Travel. I'm always interested in learning about new places ... even if the new place is a mile away. Traveling opens our minds and imaginations to new impressions and new ideas ... both of which can be easily converted to inspiration for a character's background or the setting for a book.
4. Riding the Bus. OK, so I don't hang out at cafes, but I do ride public transportation. For a noir writer, this is very, very handy. Talk about a Pick-U-Pull of characters and stories! A cheap and efficient way to enrich your minor-league cast. And if you're lucky, it'll get you across town.
5. Film and other media. Noir, of course, but any good movie, well-told, can inspire. I like classic audio drama, too ... "Sorry, Wrong Number" is an example of how good radio suspense thrillers could be, and all in thirty minutes (the movie came after, and frankly--it wasn't as good). That's Shadow of a Doubt on the left--Hitch's favorite of his films, and mine too.
6. Literature. Read the classics, contemporary or past, read poetry. All of the pain, drama, and emotions we evoke in our work are there. It's fascinating to see how the masters handle them, and how cultural and societal mores transform through the ages.
7. Play with the dog. Walking your dog, petting your cat, saying hello to your llama ... basically bonding with your pets and letting your mind flow over the experiences of the past day or week ... therapeutic and an aid to the Muse. And good for all the animals!
But all this is digressing from what a "brainstorm" is, at least for me ...
Brainstorming is what I do when I'm trying to figure out if the inspiration will work as a full-fledged novel. How will the plot progress, what twists can I add in, what about sub-plots, etc. etc. Plotting--and re-plotting--requires all kinds of knitted brow work, and lots of lots of paper and pencil. Notes, charts, calendaring, circles and odd geometric figures and dotted lines and Xs where I've crossed things out that won't work.
[And still things will change by the end of the friggin' book ... but I digress.]
When it comes to jotting these cloudbursts down, I'm as fussy as other Criminal Minds--I have a particular pencil (mechanical) I like to use and particular paper (I favor black Clairefontaine notebooks made in France). But I've also used cocktail napkins, newspaper, junk mail, crayons and lipstick for various notes because you never know when the hell the Muse will wink at you.
[After the lipstick adventure, I learned to keep a notepad with me at all times, and I do ... a reporter's back pocket notebook, which is also water-proof.]
I also keep a notepad by the side of my bed-- that magic drifting off time right before sleep will sometimes produce ideas, lines, developments and whole pages of dialog. I also like Rhodia notebooks ... the French design paper as well as they design clothes.
So next time you want to hang out with ol' Eavesdropping Bill at his favorite dialog-heavy cafe in Portland, buy a bus ticket ... you might find some inspiration along the way!


text:
Incredible fucking stories from a posh mature sexual pathologist Lucia who is in a habit of collecting young might dicks. Watch the bitch pleasing her old pussy!MORE SAMPLES
Cute and sexy boy who comes to listen to expert's advice seems too perfect for mature sexual pathologist Lucia to let him go without testing his throbbing dick. Watch the lucky stag nailing the mature pussy on the point of fucking her lustful brains out!


text:
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Interview with an Agent: Kate Schafer Testerman
KV: How often does a query intrigue you enough to look at the included pages? And how often do those pages intrigue you enough to request a partial?
KT: You know, I've never actually thought about that! I'd love to say I ALWAYS read the attached pages in the query, but in truth, as long as the query is in my stated areas of interest (that is, it's not an adult thriller, but actually something I represent), I'd say about 65% of the time. That's totally a rough estimate, and I'd be thrilled for that number to go up. But often, yes, I can tell just from the letter if it's something I want to see more of, or not.
My ratio of queries-to-partial requests is much lower. Last quarter, I got almost 1,300 queries (see my blog of April 14th), and asked for partials on only 20 of those. So roughly 1.5%. Of those, I asked for 3 full manuscripts.
KV: What are you looking for in a requested manuscript?
KT: Fascinating characters that I care deeply about, a story that compels me to keep turning pages, and a unique idea, well represented. I don't want the next TWILIGHT-meets-x-y-or-z. I want something new!
KV: What are some of the most common problems you see in the manuscripts you request?
KT: I think too many authors query too soon, so that even if they do have a great idea and a unique plot, and even if they've intrigued me with interesting character descriptions, too many times once I actually get to the manuscript, the writing just doesn't stand up. I know revision sucks, but there's a reason it needs to be done--because it makes the manuscript SO MUCH BETTER. Just about anyone can write a novel, but it takes a really strong individual to put it away for a few weeks, or hand it out to beta readers, hear the comments for revision, and make it better. Like the Bionic Woman: better. Stronger. Faster.
Too often, the writing feels rushed, like it was the last thing the author thought or worried about. Look, if the writing's not strong enough, your ideas for web promotion, cover concepts, or sequels just don't matter.
I can't always tell from the query what the writing is going to be like, since the ability to craft a good query letter is a completely different skill set than that of writing a novel. But once I've seen those first chapters, I can usually make a pretty good determination.
But hey! I've been wrong before!
KV: When you come across a manuscript you really like/love, how do you decide whether to request revisions or offer representation?
KT: It depends on the manuscript. I'd love to see something come across my desk that's perfect, but I'd say 90% of the time, I have some thoughts on what the author could try to make it even better. In most cases, I may ask the author to do a round of revisions before offering representation. Other times, the author may have multiple offers, in which case I'll lay out my thoughts on what he or she could do to improve the manuscript, and let the author mull that offer along with my offer for representation.
KV: When you do make that Call, you're probably going to ask the writer if she has any questions. What sorts of questions should she ask?
KT: I posted my answers to a similar question on my blog almost two years ago (wow, those archives are DEEP!). Here's the highlights:
1. How do you see my book being positioned? (i.e. Do I see it as sci-fi when the author thinks it's a mainstream commercial novel? Do we agree on the genre?)
2. What's your timeline for submitting? Is it ready to submit? (Am I going to send this right out to editors to read, or does the author need to do another round of submissions?)
3. What commission do you offer? (Honestly, I usually offer this information before it's asked--I offer 15% commission on domestic deals, and 20% on foreign or dramatic rights, in order to cover bigger mailing expenses and subagent commissions.)
4. Do you charge any other fees? (Beware of agents who charge reading fees, but being charged for mailing expenses shouldn't be a make-or-break decision--although it is, I think, less common in today's internet age.)
I think it's also fair to ask if you can talk to any of the agent's other clients, and if you're wise, you can always ask the agent if there's anything you should be asking--kind of like that riddle about the two doors.
KV: You mentioned talking to an offering agent's other clients. What sorts of questions should a writer ask them?
KT: Any questions you might ask the agent herself, you can also ask her clients. In particular, a writer might want to ask them how available they feel the agent is to her clients, how much editing work she requests before submitting, how she handles notifying the author when she gets responses to submissions. Plus, you're also asking for a sort of personal reference, so allow the client an opportunity to tell the writer how they feel about working with the agent.
KV: And now for a few more questions from the normal interview. What client work do you have coming out soon? What drew you to those writers and/or projects?
KT: I've got two GREAT first novels coming out for kt literary clients this fall. First, Sara Beitia's THE LAST GOOD PLACE OF LILY ODILON, which comes out from Flux in October 2010. A brief blurb:
"Lily Odilon--local wild child from a small Idaho town--has vanished after spending the night with her sometimes boyfriend, new kid Albert Morales. Suspected in her disappearance, Albert sets out to discover what happened to her. Kidnapped? Runaway? Murder victim? Joining Albert is Lily's prickly younger sister, Olivia. Their distress is mirrored in a fast-paced narrative that jumps through three timelines. Each thread adds a new level to the mystery and reveals clues that paint a startling picture of all three teens. Their intertwined destinies come to a head in an unconventional climax."
I loved the noir-stylings of this manuscript, and Albert's voice was just spot on. And the ending--well, did you ever see the movie "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels"? That ending reminded me of this ending. You have to read it!
And due out in December 2010 from Dutton is ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins, which is just raking in the fabulous blurbs from authors like Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle, and Justina Chen. ANNA is just a perfect, heart-wrenching, deep and absorbing romance. I fell in love with Etienne St. Claire just as Anna falls for him. Steph's books are what I want to read, what I believe teens are dying for--realistic, emotionally deep love stories set in the real world.
Oh, and January 2011 brings Lili Wilkinson's US debut PINK, from HarperCollins. This was already published to rave reviews in Australia by Allen & Unwin. John Green calls it, "Fun, razor-sharp, and moving." Lili was referred to me by an author friend who knew Lili was already doing well in her native Australia, and was ready to break wide open in the US. I couldn't agree more!
KV: I'm jumping in to add that Ms. Testerman announced on her blog yesterday that ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS just pulled in another incredible blurb--from Lisa McMann of WAKE fame. All right, back to the interview...
Is there something you haven't been seeing lately in the slush pile that you wish you were?
KT: I look forward to seeing more middle grade fiction. I think a lot of editors are looking for it, and possibly because of my work with Maureen Johnson, I'm first seen as a YA agent. But I also work with Matthew Cody, Ellen Booraem, and S. Terrell French--authors doing amazing things in MG. I'd love to find more great authors like them!
KV: What's the best way to query you?
KT: Super easy--my submission guidelines are up on my website and are pretty straightforward: just e-mail me with a query letter and the first three pages. For more details, check my site.
Thanks again, Ms. Testerman, for all of these detailed responses. And for those of you thinking about querying her, don't forget to check out her blog. (Are you getting the hint that I really like her blog? :) ) It'll be well worth your time.
Have a great Thursday, everyone!
14 comments:
- Matthew MacNish said...
Kate is the best! Ask Daphne was the single best thing that ever happened to my query.
- July 15, 2010 at 10:08 AM
- Theresa Milstein said...
What a thorough interview. Thanks. I'm going to read those guidelines right now!
- July 15, 2010 at 10:32 AM
- Karen Denise said...
Great interview, Krista! I'm a huge fan of Kate. Not only had her blog helped me in so many ways, but she gave me excellent feedback on my last manuscript. Can't beat that!
- July 15, 2010 at 12:30 PM
- Red Boot Pearl said...
Awesome questions, especially--the sample pages and asking agents and their clients questions--really informative! She is already on the dream agent list :)
- July 15, 2010 at 12:31 PM
- A.L. Sonnichsen said...
Sigh. If I have a dream agent, it's Kate! Thanks for the wonderful interview, you guys. Great stuff.
- July 15, 2010 at 1:00 PM
- Kelly Bryson said...
Great interview. I'm trying to get a list of questions forprospective agents and have been feeling kindof lost there. Thanks to you both!
- July 15, 2010 at 1:04 PM
- Krista Van Dolzer said...
Matthew, I LOVE Daphne's "About My Query" posts. So informative. Maybe I'll have to submit Bob's query the next time she calls for some...
Theresa, didn't Ms. Testerman go above and beyond with her responses? (AND she turned this interview around in about three or four days, two of them being over a weekend.)
Ah, Karen, so you snagged one of those elusive requests:) Good for you.
Pearl and Amy, she was already on my dream agent list, too:)
Kelly, you're welcome. And AgentQuery has a really helpful article on that topic. Here's the link:
- July 15, 2010 at 1:28 PM
- Myrna Foster said...
I loved this interview. Thanks!
- July 15, 2010 at 4:56 PM
- Krista Van Dolzer said...
I thought you would, Myrna:) And you're welcome.
- July 15, 2010 at 5:15 PM
- Kay said...
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I connected with an agent thanks to yours!!
Great post on Kate!
- July 15, 2010 at 10:11 PM
- Krista Van Dolzer said...
Kay, that's fantastic!
- July 16, 2010 at 9:54 AM
- Suzanne Casamento said...
Great interview. Kate rocks. And I love that there's so much great reading KT Literary reading to look forward to!
- July 19, 2010 at 11:51 AM
- Krista Van Dolzer said...
Welcome, Suzanne! And you're right - she does rock:)
- July 19, 2010 at 1:34 PM
- Krista Van Dolzer said...
Although, now that I've just checked out your profile, I see you're in a much better position to be making that claim than I am:) Thanks for your cliently stamp of approval.
- July 19, 2010 at 1:36 PM


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text:
Regular price
A little toy CLOWN FISH is produced, which you claim has psychic powers. Four E.S.P. symbol cards are placed on a table, symbol sides showing. The fish is turned around so he cannot possibly see the cards. A spectator is asked to say nothing but to simply point at one of the symbol cards. The fish is now turned back around to face the cards. You pick up each card one at a time, show it to the fish, and then place it under the fish's snout. When the spectator chosen card is placed under his snout the fish's body starts to GLOW from the flashing lights within its body. WOW! Everything can be examined!
NOTE: YOUR HANDS NEVER TOUCH THE FISH once it is placed on the table. We guarantee the audience will be totally baffled. Comes with a cute electronic CLOWN FISH, 4 E.S.P. cards (but any cards can be used, as they are not gimmicked) and that special something that makes this mental-magic a winner. You will love this CLEVER NEW METHOD. EASY TO DO!
Condition Abbreviations
BN - Brand New in Packaging LN - Like New (no packaging)
VF - Very Fine (slight use or blemish) FN - (some use/wear/still nice)
VG - Very Good (shows wear/use) G - (lots of use/wear)


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THU, AUG 20, 2009 at 3:13 AM
How Many Sub Poppers Does it Take to Screw In a Light Bulb?
In this case 3! From August 6-9, Sub Pop's President (Jonathan Poneman), Art Director (Jeff Kleinsmith) and Resident Meathead (Andy Kotowicz) took to the streets of Myslowice, Poland, a town of 75,000 in the southwestern , industrial region of Silesia. Their purpose: apart from downing dozens upon dozens of pierogies and swallerin' copious vodka shots, was to attend the Off Festival and install a Sub Pop art exhibit at a gallery at the Miejeskie Centrum Kultury (Town Culture Center). The festival lineup was pretty amazing. In addition to Sub Pop's own Handsome Furs and Tiny Vipers, alums The Thermals also graced the stages, along with Wire, Fucked Up, Health, Wooden Shjips, The Field, Crystal Antlers AND Stilts, Pains of Being Pure at Heart and headliners Spiritualized and The National. Lots of Polish bands played as well: Pustki, Cool Kids of Death, Lech Janerka and Maria Peszek, to name a few. Great big thank yous to festival organizer, Artur Rojek, Lenka Panak, Ola, Ricky, Ania, Pawel and everyone else we met or who helped out. We owe you in a way we may never have the opportunity to fully acknowledge, but I certainly hope that one day, we do.
Photos of our exploits are here.
Choice video bits are here and here.