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16 U.S. Code § 1681 - Congressional statement of purpose
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The purpose of this subchapter is to develop, demonstrate, and make available information on feasible methods that have potential for commercial application to increase and improve utilization, in residential, commercial, and industrial or powerplant applications, of wood residues resulting from timber harvesting and forest protection and management activities occurring on public and private forest lands, and from the manufacture of forest products, including woodpulp.
Source(Pub. L. 96–554, § 2,Dec. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 3257.)
Effective Date
Pub. L. 96–554, § 9,Dec. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 3259, provided that: "This Act [enacting this subchapter and enacting a provision set out as a note under section 1600 of this title] shall become effective October 1, 1981".
Short Title
For short title of Pub. L. 96–554, Dec. 19, 1980, 94 Stat. 3257, as the Wood Residue Utilization Act of 1980, see Short Title of 1980 Amendment note set out under section 1600 of this title.
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The question Sunday, beyond whether the Dolphins will make the playoffs, is not about the talent on Joe Philbin's team. The question is not whether the Dolphins are superior to the New York Jets. Anyone looking at both rosters, looking at the starting quarterbacks, looking at each team's injury list, understands the Dolphins are better positioned to win this big game.
That's inarguable.
But that's not all that matters.
The truth is the Dolphins also are a better team than the Buffalo Bills and still managed to lose in a 19-0 whitewashing last week. The Dolphins, fresh off a statement victory against the division-leading Patriots, laid an ostrich-sized egg against cellar-dwelling Buffalo.
"We really didn't show up last week," Dolphins center Mike Pouncey said.
So will the Dolphins come to play this game? Will they play downhill, with urgency and emotion as well as execution?
Will the Dolphins show up this week?
The question lingers as Sunday's 1 p.m. kickoff beckons because it will decide the outcome of the game.
The reason this is even an issue is because the Dolphins have historically failed to answer the call in more season-defining games than space allows me to recount. But even putting that aside, what concerns is the Dolphins the past couple of seasons have seemed flat at times when the situation suggested they should be motivated and inspired to play well.
Last year against Tennessee? Flat.
In last season's season finale? Flat.
The first half of this season's opener against Cleveland? Flat.
Against winless Tampa Bay in November? Flat.
And then there was last week against the Bills.
Flat as Florida's topography.
No plays from the playmakers or anyone else. No heroics on defense against a lessened opponent that had neither its starting quarterback nor top three wide receivers by the time the game ended.
So can Philbin and his coaching staff get this roster to deliver a full-throated response to Sunday's challenge after the whispered response of a week ago?
Well, that depends, because neither Philbin nor many of his players think the performance last week was a result of being unmotivated or flat. What we saw, they say, was not at all a letdown after the stirring New England victory.
"Everybody is entitled to their own opinion about the performance of the team and whether they were flat last week," Philbin said. "I personally don't think we were flat. I don't think we played a good football game or executed well. But we were down 10-0 in the fourth quarter. We were down to the New England Patriots 10-0. We've been down in other games and have come back and won. So I don't know that we were flat.
"That being said, the guys understand the significance of this football game. What it means. And I'm confident we'll have an excellent performance by them."
Philbin's confidence is a good thing. But anyone who knows Dolphins history and saw last week might have trouble sharing that confidence. Such people, myself included, are hoping the Dolphins are bringing more to this game than a good week of practice and a solid understanding of the stakes.
Maybe it's corny, but we're hoping for an inspired team. We're hoping for a hyped team. We're hoping for a team that plays with more urgency than the businesslike team Philbin has fostered this year.
Don't misunderstand, businesslike is good. Preparation is good. Focus is good.
But emotion and passion in addition to those other things also are good.
Still, that doesn't seem to be this team's personality. Although the Dolphins do have some emotional players, many if not a majority of their players get neither very high nor low week to week.
Like their coach, this team relies on preparation and planning, and not so much on excitement and enthusiasm.
"Coaches don't really motivate me — or least they never have," tackle Tyson Clabo said. "I don't need some rah-rah speech from someone to get me excited to do my job. I want to do my job because I believe you should.
"People have tried. There have been videos and highlights and rah-rah speeches and people cussing and screaming sometimes. It doesn't do anything for me because I try to be as steady as I possibly can."
That's the kind of player the Dolphins typically seek out. They want players such as cornerback Brent Grimes and quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who seek no rides on an emotional roller-coaster.
"There's some people that's real big for," Grimes said. "They get hyped about watching movies or hearing motivational speakers. I'm not really into that. I'll listen to it and recognize someone as a good speaker. But I don't need something to hype me up."
Having players like that on the roster is a perfect marriage with Philbin's approach because he will never be mistaken for Knute Rockne … or Bill Belichick.
Last week, after the Dolphins beat the Patriots, Belichick changed his team's schedule on Friday and took his players to see Lone Survivor, a movie about SEAL Team 10's fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The Patriots, Cowboys, Broncos and Redskins all have seen the film for motivational and team-building purposes. Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher had the film played for his team prior to a blowout win at Clemson.
Yes, it's a ploy. But Belichick obviously considered it a ploy worth trying.
The use of a Pat Riley quote printed on a sheet of paper two weeks ago notwithstanding, the Dolphins don't typically try such ploys.
"A lot of teams I've been on, we watched highlight films," tackle Bryant McKinnie said. "Last year [in Baltimore], we had different people come in and speak to us. We had motivational talks. We had Muhammad Ali and Michael Phelps talk to us. We had a lot of different people come in when I was with the Ravens.
"Coach [John] Harbaugh was big into the Navy SEALs. We would watch a lot of videos of them. That was his thing. I feel like each coach has his own thing like that. When I was with coach [Brad] Childress, he was big on boxing. He'd show us boxing videos. When I had coach [Mike] Tice, his thing was more mafia movies. So every coach has his own little things.
"Here, we don't really watch highlight films."
So maybe, in search of a spark, might this not be a time for that?
"There's a lot of different ways to skin a cat," Philbin said. "And I think there's a variety of different methods and whatever you feel is good for your team, you should do.
"Never say never. I have to scout [the movie] out first. I'm probably too cheap to pay for it on pay-per-view or whatever. Or Redbox. We'll see. I got to get out more. I didn't know it was out. I never heard of it."

subset: commoncrawl


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Brahms: Sonata for Two Pianos, etc / Güher & Süher Pekinel
1 CD / Warner Classics / 2006-05-23Works: Johannes Brahms: Sonata for 2 pianos in F minor, Op. 34b; Waltzes (16) for Piano 4 hands, Op. 39; Hungarian Dances (21) for orchestra, WoO 1; Camille Saint-Saëns: Variations on a Theme of Beetho...
Performers: Pekinel, Guher [Piano]; Pekinel, Suher [Piano]
Ensemble: Guher & Suher Pekinel
"Performances of rare brilliance and pinpoint definition...their crystalline clarity and verve erase the very real threats of the strenuous textures in the Brahms Sonata. The...continue...
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The park surrounding the creek, which flows northeast from Great Valley Parkway to Old River, has three major functions, according to community officials.
The park provides flood control and storm water management, serves as habitat restoration along an environmental corridor and gives the community a place to play.
General Manager Janice McClintock asked the directors at their monthly meeting Wednesday, Jan. 8, whether they wanted to address future regulations for the park. She said there are no rules about how residents can use the park.
In her report, McClintock said some recreational guidelines could include prohibiting residents from entering the ponds and other wetlands, disturbing the wildlife or taking any of the flora or fauna from the wildlife zones.
Mountain House Development Manager Morgan Groover said the community staff suggested restricting wheeled vehicles to the existing paths and banning fishing in the waterways.
He said the board could adopt regulations that would be beneficial to both the creek habitat and the community.
Board President Steven Gutierrez motioned to have the matter go before the Parks, Recreation and Special Events Committee to find out what residents think.
Director Andy Su said he was concerned that issues sent to existing committees for discussion ended up with little community input, because residents rarely attend those meetings.
Director Jim Lamb said he thought it was important to hear from residents, but he didn't see an existing problem to require any regulations. He suggested sending a survey to local households by email.
The board agreed to let the community staff create a survey for residents and report their responses during the board's March meeting.
• Contact Denise Ellen Rizzo at 830-4225 or email@example.com.


text: People are being warned to stay away from the part of Cedar River in Nashua. The Mayor tells us a hydraulic hose on the dam broke Tuesday. That break has caused a gate to open and water is slowly leaking down the Cedar River. The Mayor says people should avoid area above the dam. He expects it will be fixed by the end of the week.


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Ben 10: Protector of Earth Master Control
- unlock
Collect All 30 Sumo Slammer Cards.
Collect All 30 Sumo Slammer Cards.
|Complete Hoover Dam
|Complete Seattle Space Needle
|Complete Grand Canyon
|Galactic Enforcer Skin
|A, B, X, Y, L, R, Select
|Gwen 10 Skin
|Left, Right, Left, Right, L, R, Select
|Ultra Ben Skin
|Up, Right, Down, Left, A, B, Select
|Unlock Upchuck
|A, Left, Y, Right, X, Up, B, Down, Select
|Unlocks bonus mission
|Left L Right R up down seelect
|Defeat Albedo in Hardest mode.
|Hard Mode
|Beat the area once
|Hardest Mode
|Beat the game once.
|Lupus Feralis
|Defeat Darkstar in Hardest mode.
|Mr. Smoothy
|Defeat Mr. Smothy in Hardest mode.
Beat the game once.


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Product Recall: We are voluntarily recalling fewer than 8,000 cases of regular Kraft American Singles Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Productlimited to 4 SKUs on two "Best When Used By" dates of February 20, 2015 and February 21, 2015. Click Here.
HEAT oven to 350°F.
GREASE and flour 2 (9-inch) round pans; set aside. Microwave chocolate and butter in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted; cool slightly.
BEAT cake mix, milk, eggs, vanilla and chocolate mixture in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Pour into prepared pans.
BAKE 25 to 28 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 10 min.; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool cakes completely.
PLACE 1 cake layer on plate; spread with 2/3 cup White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting, then jam. Cover with remaining cake layer. Spread top and side with remaining frosting. Top with raspberries just before serving.


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Accounts and Logins
As a faculty, staff, student or alumni of WKU, you could have several IT accounts and IDs assigned to you that enable you to login to various computer systems, applications and online services at WKU. These accounts will typically have a username (login ID) and a password or PIN. It is your responsibility to manage and protect your IT accounts and login information. You need to become knowledgeable on how to use your accounts to login to the many online services at WKU and to change and reset your passwords and PIN.
For Help, please call the IT Helpdesk @ (270) 745-7000.
Important Account Points
- WKUID and PIN -- The WKUID (800#) is your main identification number at WKU. You need to memorize it and your PIN.
- NetID Account -- The NetID is the "Universal" login account for accessing most WKU systems and
services. Examples of major systems and services you access with your NetID are:
- Blackboard (Ecourses)
- TopNet
- WKU Portal
- Computer Labs
- Wireless Network
- MyStuff


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Test your Geek Quotient and tune into Episode 226 this Thursday at 7:30 PM for what can only be considered a true geek's version of nirvana. We'll be joined by FreeBSD lovers Scott Ullrich & Warren Baker from the pfSense project to give us an overview of what we can expect from the soon to be released pfSense v2.0, currently in beta.
In addition, Spider Labs Senior Researcher and iPhone Application Design Recovery expert Eric Monti will be on to expand on his recent iPhone Rootkit talks at Toorcon and Ekoparty.
You can view the live feed on Thursday by watching the below video:
NOTE: The video will play the most recent show up until we are live!


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Devan Golda at The Lighthouseby jmaloni
Wed, Apr 18th 2012 12:20 pm
Solid Rock Ministries welcomes back singer/songwriter Devan Golda, accompanied by Tyler Johns, at 7 p.m. this Saturday, April 21. The event is part of the Lighthouse Café at Lockport Alliance Church, 555 Davison Road, Lockport.
Admission is $5. Coffee and refreshments will be sold. For more information, visit www.solidrockministrieswny.com or www.lockportalliance.org.
Categories: ~ Entertainment ~ On Stage ~


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Like many families at Christmas, money can be tight for Julie and I. But I think we've discovered a cheap gift idea that our kids will really enjoy! My folks recently sent us a box with some goodies--and they used some packing material. Like hungry wolves, my kids pounced the bubble wrap, ripped it out of each other's paws and stomped on it until it was dead! The squeals and laughter as they heard 'POP' 'POP' 'POP' was pretty enjoyable for us too!
Sean Hannity 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Call Sean at 800-941-7326


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Skip to main content
When common parasites of dogs and cats infect humans, the illness is called toxocariasis (or visceral larva migrans). Toxocariasis usually affects kids under age 10. Especially at risk are those who like to put things in their mouths, or those whose families have pet dogs or cats.
Many kids won't have symptoms, but if they do, they can include fever, cough or wheezing, abdominal pain, enlarged liver or spleen, poor appetite, a rash that sometimes looks like hives, and enlarged lymph nodes ("swollen glands").
Toxocariasis also may affect the eyes, causing decreased vision, swelling around the eyes, or a cross-eyed appearance. Untreated toxocariasis can cause retinal damage and decreased vision.
Most cases go undiagnosed and do not cause problems. Some toxocariasis cases are diagnosed during a routine eye exam or an X-ray study done for some other reason.
Toxocariasis is an infection caused by the larvae of parasitic worms — Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati — that usually live in the intestines of dogs and cats. Eggs from the worms pass into the feces of dogs and cats and can contaminate pet areas around the home where kids play. The eggs can be swallowed by children, especially those who:
After entering the body, the eggs hatch into larvae that penetrate through walls of the digestive tract and may migrate to a child's liver, lungs, eyes, and elsewhere.
Experts in the United States estimate that about 20% of dogs pass Toxocara eggs into their stool. In Great Britain, 24% of soil samples taken from public parks contained the eggs. Toxocariasis cannot be spread from person to person.
To help prevent kids from being exposed to toxocariasis:
A doctor can usually diagnose a case of toxocariasis by physical exam and blood tests. Doctors may not prescribe any medication to treat a child with mild symptoms. Severe toxocariasis involving the lungs, eye, or other important organs may be treated with antiparasitic drugs to kill the larvae. For severe lung toxocariasis, doctors sometimes also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs.
A child with severe toxocariasis should be given medicine as prescribed by your doctor. Prevent reinfection by deworming your pets and keeping kids away from areas where pets defecate (poop). Remind your kids to wash their hands often during the day, especially after playing with pets.
Call your doctor if your child has any of the symptoms of toxocariasis, including:
Reviewed by: Joel Klein, MD
Date reviewed: September 2011
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995–2014 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. All rights reserved.
Find out by selecting your child's symptom or health condition in the list below:
Download Summer 2014 (PDF)
The 30th annual Miracle Makers fundraising special aired on KOMO 4 TV on June 6, 2014. The special takes us on a journey through the hopes, fears, victories and challenges facing patients at Seattle Children's. Cosponsored by Costco Wholesale and KOMO 4.
In the spirit of the holidays, patients, parents and doctors share inspirational stories of healing and hope. From surviving heart failure and a near-death drowning to battling a flesh-eating disease, witness how the impossible became possible thanks to the care patients received at Seattle Children's Hospital.
Miracle Season, hosted by Steve Pool and Molly Shen, aired Dec. 8, 2013, on KOMO 4 TV. The annual holiday special celebrates the remarkable lives of Seattle Children's patients.
Seattle Children's provides healthcare without regard to race, color, religion (creed), sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin (ancestry) or disability. Financial assistance for medically necessary services is based on family income and hospital resources and is provided to children under age 21 whose primary residence is in Washington, Alaska, Montana or Idaho.
© 1995-2014 Seattle Children's Hospital


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The Dogs Go Too
Blue jeans, blue grass and faithful friends
Please note comments are moderated. After being approved your comment will appear below.
Submitted by Melissa M | December 27 2009 | Permalink
You posted a comment to a comment I made on Jason M's facebook page so I followed the trail and found your blog here, this is great!
Also a big dog lover who loves taking any of my four dogs to any place that is open to dog friendliness.
cheers to dog lovers!
Submitted by Murray Dunlap | May 4 2010 | Permalink
Cheers back atcha!!!
Submitted by Ferrill | September 5 2010 | Permalink
This is fantastic. I really enjoyed your writing here.
Murray, this one got me. You ALWAYS write beautifully, but this one is something beyond any. So wonderful.
Submitted by Murray Dunlap | November 23 2010 | Permalink
thank you all!
Submitted by Holly | March 8 2011 | Permalink
I absolutely loved reading it. Very witty and definitely unique. I am very impressed Murray. Your words sure planted a huge smile on my face, and I have no doubt I am not the only one!
Submitted by Sherwin Chen | April 5 2012 | Permalink
It is amazing that you took her to the vet to get her some probiotics for dogs. Many people pick up strays and have no idea what to do with them, which can be dangerous for both the dog and owner.
More From The Bark
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Copyright © 1997-2014 The Bark, Inc. Dog Is My Co-Pilot® is a registered trademark of The Bark, Inc


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Narrow your search
The modest update to last year's WX300 offers an easier way to connect to Android devices and a more powerful processor, but little else.
Joining the AS30V's new hardware features are a new waterproof housing and several accessories and mounts, bringing it closer to the competition.
The NEX-5T gets a few tweaks over its predecessor, the 5R.
Samsung squeezes in another camera in the $150 gap between its just-released NX1100 and NX300, emphasizing the touch-screen and wireless experience.
The compact and colorful LG Pocket Photo uses Zink technology and NFC communication to print out wallet-sized pictures from your LG smartphone.
Pricing not available
Yes, it can display images, but the Sony R550 series also plays well with DirecTV and NFC-equipped phones and tablets.
LG announced six total portal and docking speaker systems, with the high-end models supporting nearly every wireless audio standard there is.
Samsung announced its first-ever portable Bluetooth speaker at CES 2013, featuring the apt-X codec and NFC pairing.
This Windows RT tablet will sport a 10.1-inch screen, NFC capabilities, and a 5-megapixel camera.
The deal also means iPhone 6 users will be able to use Apple Pay to take a bite out of their favorite Subway sandwich.


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For nearly a decade Bob Wambold has made it his mission to be a part of the Susan G. Komen Race for The Cure 5K. Wambold a former teacher and announcer has a very unique position with the organization. "To call this my life mission would be an understatement. I look forward to this," Wambold said. Wambold walks in and out of the crowd during the race and interviews cancer survivors. Wambold remembers his friend Paula at the race a few years ago. He didn't know she had cancer. "When I turned around, I said Paula I'm sorry. I just did not know," Wambold said. Once Wambold is through with his interviews, he literally walks to the finish line and calls out each survivors name as they cross it. Wambold says year after year the women say something different as they cross the finish line. "Some of them are timid believe it or not. In fact I've had families actually push them over to me," Wambold said. Wambold whose cousin is battling breast cancer is looking forward to the day this deadly disease can be cured. "That would be awesome. So many lives would be saved and the pain of dealing with someone that has it would vanish," Wambold said. You can catch Bob Wambold and hundreds of volunteers at the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure on Sunday September 29th in Downtown Toledo.
Mobile users, click on the
"Video" button in the app to watch this story. Download our app here.
Copyright 2013 Toledo News Now. All rights reserved.
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From the Director of Upper School
We pride ourselves on working with families to develop your children's Disciplined Minds, Sound Character, Healthy Bodies, and Creative Spirits. We are also keenly aware that our Upper School students will soon enter into a rapidly changing world and their ability to adapt to the demands of college and beyond will play a large role in determining their future success. To that end, you may notice we are constantly adapting our own curriculum to meet the needs of the 21st century. We do this by infusing our program with new ideas. More collaboration is occurring between classes and teachers are employing increasingly dynamic forms of assessment. However, we continue to develop excellent writers and creative critical thinkers while we build a foundation of skills to prepare your children for the exciting future unfolding before them. Accomplishing this often takes students beyond the traditional classroom.
• In the academic program, students complete a rigorous series of course requirements that both deepens their knowledge and open their minds to new possibilities while preparing them for college.
• Morning meetings, assemblies, clubs, special speakers, and the advisory program promote character values and awareness that encourage a sense of interdependence and community.
• The physical education and athletics programs provide students with opportunities to develop healthy bodies and an appreciation for teamwork, physical talent, and sportsmanship.
• The fine and performing arts program exposes students to avenues of self-expression and creativity.
• The Outdoor Education trips provide students with supervised physical challenges and varied living conditions (from tents to lodges) that challenge them to be responsible for themselves while also learning to work with others in overcoming physical, mental, and emotional obstacles.
• The Service Learning commitment challenges students to look beyond their own needs and wants and focus on others through involvement in both short-term and long-term service responsibilities.
• The Senior Internship program gives the seniors professional experience in specific areas of interest.
Director of Rolling Hills Prep Upper School
From the Director of Middle School
At RHP, we continue to pride ourselves on creating an environment where students are pushed to reach their greatest potential while maintaining a balanced and fulfilled life. Through our academic program, students complete a rigorous series of course requirements that deepens their knowledge and expand their critical thinking skills to prepare them to achieve at their fullest potential at competitive colleges world wide. We work in partnership with parents to develop in our college-bound students Disciplined Minds, Sound Character, Healthy Bodies, and Creative Spirits. Achieving our mission requires learning experiences that go beyond the classroom. We provide each child diverse educational opportunities that may take place during an advisory discussion, or through a Service Learning project, or on an Outdoor Education trip. Transformative experiences do not always happen within a classroom, and we are committed to educating your children through many avenues.
Heidi Morris
Director of Rolling Hills Prep Middle School


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Jute + Natural
- Bordered Round Jute Rug – Special Order $249
- Reef Jute Rug - Special Order
- New Colors
- Chi Printed Jute Rug
- Green
- Handcrafted
- Eco-Stay Rug Pad
- Green
- Honeycomb Textured Wool Rug - Special Order
- New Colors
- Andes Wool Rug - Special Order
- Handcrafted
- New Colors
Rugs By Material
Shop for rugs by material, and search our collection of styles and patterns for just the right one. From wool rugs to jute rugs, you'll find something you'll love for any room of your home, apartment or office. west elm's collection of rugs, floor mats, hallways mats and doormats include a variety of materials, including Jute + Natural Rugs, Wool Rugs and Cotton + Chenille Rugs. To get even more specific, our rugs come in flatweaves, shags, durable jutes, natural cowhides, handwoven herringbone chenille jutes and more.


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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words – The ASD Video Glossary
Social reciprocity, joint attention, sensory defensiveness, hand flapping, and echolalia.
These are just a few of the terms which may sound foreign to a parent who suspects his child may have autism. And even when you look up a word, it is hard to visualize the concept. What exactly does hand flapping look like? What does echolalia sound like?
Autism Speaks, together with First Signs and Florida State University, developed a web-based video glossary to help parents and professionals learn more about the early warning signs of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The glossary contains over a hundred video clips and is available free of charge, to help parents of children suspected of or recently diagnosed with autism better understand some of the words and terms they might hear used in association with ASD. Whether you are a parent, family member, friend, physician, clinician, childcare provider, or educator, it can help you see the subtle differences between typical and delayed development in young children and spot the early red flags for ASD. Video clips are used to show examples of terms such as echolalia and hand flapping. In many cases, side-by-side video clips show behaviors that are typical in contrast with those that are red flags for ASD. All of the children featured in the ASD Video Glossary as having red flags for ASD are, in fact, diagnosed with ASD.
If you suspect autism or are in the process of obtaining a diagnosis, I highly recommend you utilize the video glossary, which can be found here: http://www.autismspeaks.org/video/glossary.php.
Please note: the ASD Video Glossary is not a diagnostic tool.
JennyJuly 6, 2010 at 7:05 pm
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by Mariah Ashley
My son Jacques is not a joiner, not a jock and let's just say not terribly motivated.
Upon my insistence, he has committed himself to participating in a high school sport. Since he abhors football, is bored to death by baseball and can't dribble to save his life, he is running on the cross country team.
The "unofficial" team training started in July under the very loose control of three senior brothers, triplet captains whose parents were Olympic runners. The coach has devised a running program that divides the team into three categories: those who will go on to be Olympians like their forefathers, those with gazelle blood in their veins and my snoozy soon to be sophomore son. After the team warms up together Jacques is left plodding along alone in his size fourteen sneakers while the other boys with normal sized feet rocket past him.
Each morning at 7 a.m. we have same routine.
"Jacques get up it's time for running."
"I don't want to go today," he pleads from under a mountain of blankets. "Can't I just run on my own?"
"No!" I insist, shaking the lump of blankets that contains my son. "You are part of a team; that means you run with the team. You joined this team, so you need to BE MORE dedicated!"
"But I don't run with the team. I run on my own. How about I run with you? Mother-son time?"
"Nice try. The captains need to see that you are showing up. It's about being together as a team. You need to BE MORE social."
"I don't care about that." He groans, rolling over and scooting like a 6' 1" caterpillar toward the far end of his bed.
"JUST GET UP! YOU ARE GOING!" I shout, slapping the lump. "Really, you need to BE MORE motivated."
The teenage lump finally rises and I drive it to the high school and park inconspicuously so as not to embarrass it. I notice a few cross country kids sitting on picnic tables at the far end of the parking lot. The lump doesn't move from his seat.
"Jacques, aren't you going to get out?"
"I'll wait a few more minutes till the rest of team shows up," he says reclining his seat all the way back, making himself invisible.
"Why? What's wrong with those kids? Why don't you go sit with them?"
"I don't like them," he mumbles. "They're seniors. They're jerks."
"It's weird to want to sit in the car with your mom. You should BE MORE friendly. Go ahead, get out of the car and go sit with your team," I insist pushing him out the door.
He makes his way reluctantly over to the older kids and sits down awkwardly at the far end of the table. Without a word directed in any direction he stuffs his headphones in his ears and stares at his phone. The rest of the team chats casually. This is painful to watch. The other boys are older, fitter, confident. Shirts are stripped off, flirtations exchanged with the girls running team and then they are off like a pack in one direction with Jacques running off alone in the other. My heart breaks a little for him and I fret about him for the next hour while I wait to pick him up.
When I returned to Virginia, I took Bridget's advice and returned to "Square-One" by identifying my prices. The Business Basics workshop taught me that you have to know the value of the service you provide and then target the audience you want to market. Imaging USA allowed me to develop a twelve month action plan that first focuses on developing a brand, building an audience through relationships and then growing the brand.
While at Imaging USA I developed a relationship with Mark Weber from Marathon Press and we were able to develop my branding and marketing strategy. This month, Pashion Photography is sending our first direct mail advertisement to pre-screened targeted brides!
It took meeting Carrie, Bridget, Mark and Bruce to get the idea that working as a photographer is more than working countless hours, but developing a business model that focuses my talents. I am humbled at their patience and willingness to continue teaching long after class.
Since Imaging USA I keep in regular contact via email with Bruce, who has so much advice and guidance. Mark spends time talking on the phone with me to help identify what type of marketing I am able to do. Carrie created an SMS Superstars Group on Facebook and I am not only continuing to learn from her, but she has introduced me to a whole new level of professional networking. I now have a team of professionals to help me make business decisions. I'm not all alone anymore!
Thanks to their mentorship I've been able to bring my marketing and networking to a new level. I have developed new partnerships and a highly effective constant contact email program that targets newly engaged brides.
We are now offering a "No Obligation" engagement session. It might sound crazy, but we don't charge the couple. And instead of following them around for hours, we now have them come to our studio. We even formed a relationship with a makeup artist and hair stylist to assist with the session.
After the couple arrives, she goes upstairs gets pampered and he gets to hangout and watch sports, relax and learn about our shooting style. By the time she is ready, the "Wow!" on his face says it all, and we start an intimate portrait session.
Once we are finished shooting, the images are edited in about 15 minutes. Yes, 15-minutes! Using what we learned at Imaging--consulting, getting the lighting right and stylized editing--our workflow is incredibly streamlined. We then give the couple a Sticky Album and Animoto Video--products we acquired at Imaging.
We tell the couple that they owe us nothing because this is our interview as their wedding photographer. And believe it or not, we have not had one couple leave without making our minimum purchase of $400. It is a modest amount, remember we are just starting and we are using this as an interview to become their wedding photographer. We are still making money and developing relationships. The whole purpose is to educate and excite the couple to hire us for their wedding.
As my journey as a CPP continues, I am carving my niche and working toward my master of photography degree. I returned to school to finish an MBA program in Project Management and Marketing. I will also teach my first Super 1 Day class on May 18. My talent as a public relations, marketing and social media analyst is allowing me to educate other photographers on the power of developing a marketing and social media management program. The class will help them manage their social media instead of having their social media manage them.
I'm even entering competition! The Southeast District print judging is happening this month and I am hoping to achieve my first photographic merits. I have a lot to learn in this area but learning is the best part! I learned so much about what the judges are looking for at the VPPA print competition and am feeling confident!
When I made the commitment to stop everything and attend Imaging USA I didn't know how I was going to afford the travel, hotel, food and all the cool photographic toys I required. Now two months later I am kicking myself for only seeing a monetary value to Imaging USA. The value is returning home with a list of quantifiable objectives coupled with the motivation to achieve and a network of mentors that want to see you succeed as a professional photographer.
The value that Bruce, Carrie, Bridget and Mark have brought into my life is nothing short of amazing. I now know what it means when I hear other say, "You can't afford not to go." I have been a member of PPA since February 2010 but it wasn't until January 2014, nearly four years later, did I realize that I am part of something bigger. I'm part of a family.
Before Imaging USA I was just happy to get a phone call from someone who wanted to hire me because they believed I could take pictures. But Imaging opened my eyes to the fact that I am part of a profession that is bigger than taking pictures. I am an artist that has a choice in what I create.
Two months later I have established a full-time, home-based studio with a consultation room. Our phone is ringing and we are booking because we are able to develop a product and service that is different from other wedding photographers in the area.
We are building the business from a brand point of view and it's working. We've created a network of vendors and a marketing program that is effective. I've been able to grow my Facebook audience from zero to nearly 1,200 people in about five months and am up to 600 Twitter followers in the same time period. In fact we just decided that we are able to grow and are now looking for a new home that will better support our photography business. I estimate that I will be able to switch over to photography full-time in the next 3 months.
We've already passed our original goal of making $50K and our new goal is to double it. We hope to book 30 weddings and photograph 100 couples for engagement sessions. I can't wait to show Bridget the books when I attend the 3-day business course.
I'm already blocking out time for Imaging USA 2015 in Nashville!
Ty Swartz, MBA, CPP, USN (Ret.)
Ty Swartz, owner of Pashion Photography, is an award-winning, internationally published Certified Professional Photographer (CPP). After serving 20 years in the U.S. Navy and traveling to more than 60 countries, Ty retired as a Public Relations Officer/Mass Communications Specialist Chief Petty Officer in 2011. He is a native of Greenville, Ohio, and currently lives in Chesapeake, Virginia, with his wife Nicole.
Ty Swartz, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, had great plans for his "retirement." After more than 20 years serving as a photojournalist in over 60 countries, he came home with a goal of joining PPA and becoming a full-time professional photographer. He joined upon his return in 2010 and recently took things a step further when he achieved the status of Certified Professional Photographer last November.
With his status as a professional firmly solidified, Ty took on his next challenge: building a business he could be proud of. This part of his vision included attending his first Imaging USA in Phoenix. As is his nature, Ty went for more and departed his Virginia studio early for some pre-convention classes.
Ty highlights his experience at Imaging USA in the first of this two-part series below. On Wednesday, he'll update us on how he is already implementing what he learned into every aspect of his business.
Folks, this is how you Imaging USA.
My Imaging USA
By Ty Swartz, MBA, CPP, USN Ret.
The first class I attended was the two-day Business Basics for Wedding Photographers workshop taught by Carrie Wildes, CPP, and Bridget Jackson, a CPA and manager of PPA Business. This class is designed to help identify what I need to do to establish a profitable business.
Carrie took the lead Thursday and we learned about competitive advantage among other wedding photographers, business models, marketing, sales and pricing structures. Friday's class was mainly taught by Bridget. She discussed a variety of business-related items that helped us focus on setting our prices and business strategies. It helped me create a profitable solution to many of our initial start-up circumstances.
If you operate as a professional photographer, then this is one class that you must attend. The knowledge and guidance you receive is simply amazing and you leave with the knowledge that you are a small business owner who happens to do photography.
Instead of exploring Phoenix Saturday, I decided that attending another pre-conference class was more important. The course that I selected was Getting Schooled with High School Seniors, taught by Bruce Berg. Bruce spent the first part of the morning talking about a variety of marketing plans and how he implements them.
Just before lunch, Bruce had two high school seniors come in and showed us his senior portrait techniques. The class was small enough that we were able to get involved and use our cameras and the studio lights provided. It was a great hands-on class and really helped me understand this market. Although I am a wedding photographer, it was a good learning experience in case I decide to dabble in seniors in the future.
From the time I arrived at Imaging there were so many things to see and do relating to photography. I spent most of my time taking notes and meeting some really awesome people. Saturday night had so many events happening that you really had to choose what to attend.
I attended the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep informational seminar with Sandy Puc'. We spent most of the evening doing hand- on photography with Sandy--a very rare one-on-one opportunity with a PPA great. Afterwards I caught the end of the PPA Charities event and bid on a couple of items. Thankfully, I was quickly outbid. I wasn't really committed to spending my "new equipment" money just yet.
Before I knew it, it was Sunday and Imaging USA was officially in full swing. I started my day with The Subtle Art of Persuasion taught by Jon Allyn. This was a great class on building client relationships and how to differentiate from other studios.
It was hard to choose just one out of the mid-morning classes. I'd even recommend making friends to trade notes from different classes with. I selected Prosperity & Purpose: The Photography Business Through a Different Lens, taught by Jeffrey Shaw. He had a really good perspective on how to look at your business so you are moving forward and not staying stagnant--takeaways that I can easily implement.
In the afternoon I was able to attend The Fundamentals of Photographing High School Seniors, taught by Kibbee Walton. He was very focused on engaging the parents and grandparents. You create an emotional experience and through that experience you build lifetime relationships helping your sales and customer loyalty. Great tips for me!
For me, Sunday's must-attend event was Getting it Right in the Camera, with Sandy Puc'. She spent the program going over how to manage lights and build your studio setup from a single light source all the way to five lights. This way you can create amazing in-camera images that require zero editing. Amazing! So if you're spending any time on color or exposure correcting after your shoot, you need to go back and learn how to get a perfect exposure.
Later that day I headed over to theLoop Up and had an opportunity to meet many of the photographers around PPA that I have communicated with using theLoop. If you are a member of PPA--get connected with theLoop! There are some really smart people there and they want to help you when you're stuck with a question.
After mingling for a while it was time for the Imaging USA Welcome Party! They had the red carpet rolled out and everything. I really liked the food and it was great to meet some more photographers.
Monday morning came too quickly, but I arrived to see Jared Platt teach his class on Post-Production Speed in Lightroom 5 and Photo Shop. It's always great to learn tips and tricks to speed up your workflow!
Next I attended My 10 Favorite Money Making Nuggets taught by Kimberly Wylie. This was a great class to gather additional sales tactics. I was starting to see an overall theme as a small business owner: Building relationships is key to success!
The final class that I attended was Steve Kozak's session for new Certified Professional Photographers. He provided his insight about photography, where it is going and how to leverage our certification to stand out from other photographers. The big take away from Steve was don't just Facebook and send emails, but actually pick up the phone and call people! He was right. I had recently sent emails to potential brides and right after his class took the time to make some calls. I wound up booking three right away! Who would have thought the phone works for business?
I then headed over to the Grand Imaging Awards and was stunned by the work presented for competition. Since I have a goal of achieving my master of photography degree, I really need to step up my game and start entering photographic competition!
I was scheduled to fly out and return to reality Tuesday afternoon but not before I was able to sneak in one more class: Maximizing Your Senior Sales with Kent Smith and his wife Sarah. They were very motivational and helped me visualize how I want to set up my consultation room and present my brand as an experience, not just a sale.
I would be remiss if I didn't discuss the Expo floor! There were tons of vendors there demoing and selling new products and I was able to buy new photographic accessories. Remember that money I saved at the Charities auction? I used it on soft boxes, another pocket wizard, custom USB thumb drives, a ring light along with backgrounds and a floor from Silverlight. The Expo really has everything and more you could have on your photography shopping list.
After three full days of education I was ready to jump on a plane and head back to Virginia and dive into building my business the right way...
Check back Wednesday to see Ty's progress since the convention!
For the next few days, Phoenix is officially the photography capitol of the world. Really.
Photographers from across the globe streamed into the Phoenix Convention Center to pick up their registration badges. They've come from New York and Colorado, from Florida and California, from Mexico and France. Denmark, Belgium and Brazil. More than 30 countries, actually. Photographers by the thousands.
Wide-eyed, they inspected the convention center's grounds. There were handshakes and hugs as old friends and first-timers came together. They grabbed show guides and goodie bags. They wondered what lie behind the Expo doors.
Behind, the tradeshow floor was abuzz with many hands making light(s) work. Beeping forklifts delivered "fragile" crates which exhibitors turned into a bright spectacle. It's a sight to behold.
And it all starts tomorrow!
Attendee registration opens at 7am and closes at 7pm and is located on the Lower Level of the North Building of the Convention Center. At 11:15am at the bottom of the escalators, a ribbon cutting with PPA President, Ralph Romaguera Sr., and the board of directors will signal the official opening of the Imaging Expo.
Classes begin at 8am and run through 8pm. Day one will feature eight of the 10 speaker tracks. Catch live presentations in the PPA Booth (#925) with (PPA guest-blogger) Mariah Ashley & Trish Gilmore at 3pm and Jeffrey Shaw at 4pm and don't forget to snag a limited edition Team Captain PPA build-a-bear!
It all wraps-up with the Imaging USA Welcome Party sponsored by Canon, which kicks off at 8pm in the North Building, First Floor, 120 Ballroom.
So plan at your days and lay out your outfits. Get a good night's sleep!
Imaging USA starts, TOMORROW!
By: Mariah Ashley
Long dark days. Cold sleepless nights. Sad empty bank accounts. All of your clients have flown south.
Winter is coming.
Well, let it come! This year I am not afraid. Not afraid of White Walkers (gratuitous Game of Thrones reference). I am not afraid of my bank account. Last year at this time I was desperately faking the flu to get out of our trip to Atlanta for Imaging 2013. After struggling all year to stay afloat, all I wanted to do was stay home and cling to the few pennies we had left. My unrealistically optimistic business partner Trish dragged me to the airport and shoved me on the plane to Atlanta, unexpectedly setting us on the bumpy road to success for 2013.
Going to Imaging breathed new life into my defeated self. We left bursting with great ideas to pull ourselves up by the old bootstraps. Since then, we've implemented all we learned in Atlanta and it's made a monumental difference to our business. For starters, this year I will skip merrily onto the plane to Phoenix ready to learn, instead of clawing at the escape hatch desperate to hide. The state of Snap in January 2014? We've booked all the weddings we need, our bank account is pleasantly plump, and my brain is humming along peacefully instead of spiraling into dark places. This is winter people. This is unheard of.
If you are feeling anything like the old panicky broke me, please tell me you are going to Imaging 2014 this week in Phoenix! It's just what the doctor ordered for anyone suffering with a fake flu and dwindling enthusiasm. You may even want to do a little pre-gaming before your trip. To get you in the mood, here are the top 10 things we did this year to turn ourselves around. Imaging was the catalyst for it all.
1. Make
Out With like a Cowboy and Brand Everything. Your logo,
website, blog, collateral all has to be complementary and cohesive! After
Imaging we stopped being schizophrenic with our branding, going so far as to
create a Rules For Branding manual. Anyone who doesn't follow the manual gets
the hot poker treatment (you don't want to know). P.S. Bonus! If you are already well branded you can skip this step and
just make out with a cowboy... or cowgirl while the rest of us are catching up.
2. Join a Cult, of Personality. Selling yourself (not in the biblical sense) is more important than selling your photographs. Show people who you are and they will love you and they will hire you. (Or they won't and you'll get over it because it's them not you). We created a funny video with bloopers, and started a "Behind the Snaps" theme on our blog to give potential clients a glimpse into the charmingly wacky world of the snap girls.
3. Give Til it Hurts (Because it Won't). We stumbled into the PPA Charities party last year and decided we wanted contribute to Operation Smile. We became the top donating studio in the country by donating the money for one surgery every time we book a wedding. This year that means we paid for 43 surgeries. We don't miss a penny of the money we donated and I love imagining 43 smiling little faces in front of me. Bonus! Brides are excited to book with us knowing that they are helping to save a child's smile!
4. Shut Your Pie Hole. It's time to stop talking and really listen to your clients. When you do that, you can start giving the people what they want and not what you think they should have. We used to just tell people what they should buy instead of listening to their needs. We call this "getting off High-Falutin" Highway. As soon as we took the exit to reality town, the bookings began pouring in and our average sales went up.
5. Expose Yourself (But Not in a Trench Coat Kind of Way). I know, it's human nature to want to hide your problems and flaws and pretend everything is alright. But trust me on this, as soon as you start exposing your soft underbelly, your bleak situation will improve. Pull your head out of the sand and start with a PPA SMS consultation. A whole world of non-judgmental support will open up to you.
6. Write Your Wrongs. Writing about the sinking Snap ship and sharing it with the world on the PPA blog (hello...is anybody out there even reading this?) was a scary biweekly occurrence for an entire year. It took me way outside my introverted comfort zone, but it also helped me organize my thoughts and kept me honest with myself. Chronicling our adventures started out as an experiment but became an instrument for positive change. Buy a journal and record your own trials and tribulations. If nothing else, it will help you see how far you've come as you prepare for Imaging 2015!
7. Forget About Losing 20 Pounds. Set yourself up for success. Don't let your business goals go the way of your New Year's Resolutions. Seriously, you are not going to drop 20 pounds by that cruise you are taking in March. Set clear, realistic goals for yourself and your business. For us, that meant paying ourselves every week and eliminating all of our debt. We did both. Still working on that muffin top though. Mmm, did somebody say muffin?
8. Give Your Lazy Butt the Boot. If you do not like to work long hard hours then hang it up now. There is no easy breezy magic recipe for a life of leisure as a wedding photographer. You must hustle, you must work hard, sacrifice your weekends and give it your all each and every day. I used to whine about shooting 30 weddings and then I learned a photographer I really admire shot 50 this year. By herself. I am not worthy. I will never whine again.
9. It's So BAD it's Actually Good. Turn every negative experience you have into a learning experience. We made A LOT of mistakes this year along with the good decisions. Honestly, we learned more from the bad then we did from the good. Do not ignore unhappy clients, jobs you failed to get, or vendors who didn't recommend you. I've started asking every bride who doesn't book us why she went in another direction. Most everyone has shared why and I've learned invaluable insights.
10. You've Got Guts, Trust Them. A low point for me this year was
purchasing another photographer's price list for $195. I am mortified that I
did that. I was at a weak point, unsure of myself, desperate for anything that
could help me price myself correctly. You know what I discovered? The price
list I paid $195 was virtually identical to the one I had sweated over for weeks
creating. You could buy a lot of muffins for $195. Trust your gut; you have the
muffins answers inside you, only you can know what is right for your
I want to thank you faithful blog followers for reading along with me this year. I hope that in sharing my follies and foibles I've helped you to feel less alone and maybe even elicited a chuckle or two during your busy work days. If you see me at Imaging, please say hello! I would love to hear from you. Good luck and Godspeed.
Sure, winter is coming, but we've kicked it's frosty butt and so can you. Now where's my hot cocoa?
Back in the fall, we launched the first-ever PPA Kickstart Scholarship. Four lucky PPA members have been selected to head to Imaging USA early for a pre-convention class--completely on the house! The winners were given the opportunity to choose between a full-day of hands on classes or a two-day Studio Management Services workshop.
Let's meet the lucky winners and learn what they hope to take back from Imaging USA in Phoenix.
Five-year member Mike Kemp of Mike Kemp Photography in Arkansas will attend his first Imaging USA thanks to the Kickstart scholarship. The longtime staff photographer hopes to start his own photography business with the help of knowledge gained at Imaging USA.
"I would love to be able to benefit from the mentorship of the Studio Management Services (SMS) classes," said Kemp. "I have a decent grip on my craft, but I definitely need help with the marketing, sales and business skills needed to attract clients and maintain a healthy business. By learning the ins and outs of financial planning, pricing schedules and marketing plans, I would be able to pair my photographic knowledge with sound business practices. I desperately need that skill set to make my leap to becoming a self-employed photographer."
Kemp will take the SMS Business Basics Portrait class.
Two years ago, Josiah Freeman quit his job in a call center in Washington and moved to Phoenix. Now he will get to attend his first Imaging USA in his new home city. Josiah will seek some assistance from the Business Basics class as well.
"While I have some traction in the art side of things, it always seems like I'm falling behind or flat on the business side of things," admitted Freeman. "I've always wanted to take an SMS class, so I can better explain to others what my prices are and why, and to be able to stick to them. I frequently find myself agreeing to discount my work and I need to find a way to stand up for myself and my pricing, and know that I am worth it. We manage to eke out a living, but I need to get to the point where I can actually be a success as a studio, and not stuck doing a ton of work for very little money."
Only 27-years-old, Indiana photographer Abigail Elizabeth Welch already feels like she is becoming out of touch with high school seniors and the latest trends. Abigail shared her photography journey thus far, and hopes the Business Basics class and the Imaging USA experience will help push her to the next level.
"In year two of owning my studio, I hit a wall. My studio had grown to the point that I could not keep up. I was doing it only with the help of my mom (she kept the books, and held my reflector.) I felt like I was working non-stop. I worked myself to pure exhaustion. I had penny pincher clients who didn't see the value in my work, and I even considered quitting all together.
Around the same time, I married, and decided to join my husband in Italy to get away from my business. I literally ran away. After a few months, he encouraged me to shoot again. I was hesitant, but the culture in Italy is so laid back, the scenery is just beautiful, so I gave it a shot. I started shooting again, many times in Venice, and my love for photography quickly returned.
We returned to the states in 2012, and I relaunched a new website to start fresh. I made guidelines for myself so that I could keep my sanity, and up until two months ago, it was working. Currently, I am starting to get so busy that I cannot keep up. I DO NOT want the past to repeat itself, but I feel that I do not have the business knowledge to successfully grow my business. I don't even know where to start. Hiring employees, finding a building, pricing to make sure I turn a profit; it is all a daunting task.
I feel the Business Basics Workshop will give me the tools that I need to grow. I feel like I have the potential to build something amazing, but I have accepted that I cannot do it on my own. I have read wonderful things about the class and I imagine it will help save my business from taking over my life again. What I really love to do is be behind the camera, and I am hoping that I can learn how to grow my business so that I can spend more time shooting, and less time managing."
Tennessee photographer Ann K. Farrar, CPP, has attended Imaging USA every year since 2007, and thanks to the scholarship, will continue that streak in Phoenix. Ann will take a variety of pre-convention classes, and is even taking Tiffany Reed Briley's "Finding Freedom in Landscape Photography" on her own dime just because she'll be there early! That's the kind of "Be More" attitude we love to see!
"I think I have attended a pre-convention workshop every year. I find it a great way to learn, to have access to top talent when it is not as crowded as the convention, to network with other photographers. It has been very useful to me as I increase my skill.
Since I have attended many ImagingUSA conferences, I have first-hand experience at the expertise of instructors and what I can gain from the classes. I like the pre-convention classes because you really have an opportunity to learn and meet the instructors, as well as other photographers in the class. It gives me access to top-notch instructors that I might not encounter otherwise.
I just entered the International Print Competition (IPC) this year for the first time and had an image accepted into the General Collection. I never really thought that would happen and I have been bitten by the competition bug! I want to continue to learn and improve and take my photography to the next level. Earning this scholarship will help me do this. I have gotten so much out of PPA, Imaging USA, classes, earning my CPP and everything PPA has to offer. I am so glad I joined!"
From the IUSA Mentor Booth to the Loan Collection: The Journey of an Image
By Christine Walsh-Newton, M.Photog.Cr., CPP
Last year was PPA member Christine Walsh-Newton's first trip to Imaging USA. While there, she not only picked up her master of photography degree, but also took full-advantage of the 15-minute mentoring sessions with an affiliated judge.
She learned more about her competition images--and even her overall shooting style--than she could have imagined. She flew home inspired to take her images to the next level.
Christine shared her story on her personal blog, read it and see the results!
And make sure you check out our blog from a couple weeks ago on mentoring opportunities at this year's Imaging USA in Phoenix!
My enthusiasm is ramping-up for Imaging USA 2014. Trish and I got our official badges in the mail today. Eeeek!
It's hard to believe that this time last year I was dreaming of ways to fake-illness myself out of the trip to Atlanta for Imaging 2013. In my very first post for this blog, I confessed my panic and nausea induced by a stalled cash flow and floundering business. Thankfully, my business partner Trish dragged me kicking and screaming out from under the covers of my fake sick bed to IUSA 2013 and it profoundly changed...everything.
I once heard Trish say, "A problem shared is a problem halved." That's been true for us so far. Sharing our problems, exposing our soft underbellies and swallowing our pride opened us up a support system of expertise, good will, and creative inspiration from PPA.
Writing about our woes started out as an experiment. I've been chronicling our trials and tribulations here for nearly a year and it's helped me foster a new way of looking at my business and my life. The experiment would either end in total failure with me at my new job as a sectional saleswoman at the local furniture store (love me a sectional) or it would end in success with "Bright being the new Bleak" when it comes to the future of Snap!. Sharing mistakes has also taught me to see inspiration for success in the most ridiculous, outrageous and mundane places.
Take for instance, when Queen Latifah called us recently. Queen Latifah is only (according to Google and um, the rest of the world) the very coolest singer-songwriter, rapper, actress, drop dead gorgeous model, television producer, record producer and talk show hostess. Not to mention she's considered one of hip-hop's pioneer feminists.
So, the phone rings the other day and it's Queen Latifah (in the interest of full-disclosure it was actually a lovely woman named Chelsea who works for the Queen Latifah show, but close enough).Chelsea was looking to get permission to use a photo from our Pinterest page pinned by one of their upcoming guests. You may have heard about this couple in the news, Ryan Leak and Amanda Roman. Ryan planned an entire wedding from Amanda's "My Dream Wedding" Pinterest page. A photo we had taken of earrings was pinned by Amanda and used by Ryan in creating their wedding. Ryan proposed to Amanda, she said yes, and then they had the wedding all on the same day.
We had a nice chat with Chelsea and were about to hang up when she said something really momentous. She said, "Congratulations on your life." Chelsea wanted us to know she had spent a lot of time on our website and was really impressed by the photography but was even more impressed by the passion and zest we have for what we do. Gosh, Chelsea (a.k.a. Almost Queen Latifah) that was awfully nice of you to say. Lightning bolt moment: It's important to remember that a bad day for us doing this is better than a lot of people's best days at work.
Other times the inspiration for success comes from humbling places. One of the goals we set for ourselves at Imaging 2013 was to get involved with PPA Charities' Operation Smile. We were moved to action and tears after attending a PPA Charities party at Imaging and listening to all the wonderful people involved with Operation Smile speak. We had no idea then that we would get so inspired... really inspired... to donate all we could to Operation Smile.
The more we read about Operation Smile, the more we watched the videos of the children whose lives had been changed by Operation Smile, the more we wanted to do. One day we had an idea to donate the amount of one surgery ($240) for every wedding we booked. When given here and there, the $240 was hardly missed and before we knew it, we had booked 28 weddings and donated $7,487 (and counting), making us the Top Studio Donor in the country for the year.
I hardly know how that happened; after all, we don't have a fancy studio. We are just two ladies plugging away here at my house in my spare room. Sometimes it's a struggle to make ends meet, but I've never missed a dime of the money we've given to help children in need.
In the course of a year, it turns out that I shared my problems and halved them too by reaching out to PPA and asking for the help we needed. Ironically, what has really reenergized our business hasn't been what we've taken from PPA but what we've given back. It turns out that Joy shared is Joy doubled. I'm thankful to be doing what I do every day knowing that I'm pleasing my clients by involving them in an uplifting charitable cause. Sharing our passion for photography and the joy of our good fortune makes a bigger impact than I could have thought possible a year ago.
I hope you are considering going to Imaging USA 2014. If you are struggling like we were, don't crawl under those covers, share your problems and halve them! Reach out and get a little help. Things will turn around. Once they do, remember what Almost Queen Latifah said, "Be grateful for the life you have."
You're doing what you love! Once you're feeling good and joyous about how lucky you really are, start spreading the joy and love around. PPA Charities' Operation Smile is a great place to start. Remember, bright is the new bleak.
Hope to see you in Phoenix!


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Computer Requirements
The only hardware requirement is a network/Ethernet interface (RJ45 port) to connect to the campus network. Ethernet cables are available at the IT Department in the Library to connect your PC or laptop to a data port in your room.
Operating System
As of Fall 2011, IT will support Windows 7. Macintosh OS 10.4 + is supported on a very limited basis.
Anti-virus software
All student owned computers in residence halls are subject to successfully completing automatic remediation. This ensures anti-virus software is up-to-date, Windows critical patches are up-to-date and an anti-spyware application is installed and up-to-date. The university does not provide antivirus software for student PC's.
Restore/Resource CD/DVDs
When buying a computer, be sure to get whatever "restore" or "resource" CD/DVD's that are available. These disks contain all of the information necessary to restore your computer to the condition it was in when you got it in the event of a major system problem. When setting up your computer for the first time, if you are given the opportunity to create restore CD/DVD, do so.
When you bring your computer to campus, be sure to bring along all of the CD/DVD's and manuals that came with it: the "restore" CD/DVD, operating system CD/DVD with drivers for your hardware, and software that came with the computer.


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Final Fantasy XIII-2 collector's edition announced
Final Fantasy XIII-2 fits on one DVD. But, if you miss the joys of owning lots and lots of discs, Square Enix has announced a new collector's edition for the upcoming RPG.
Available "in limited quantities" at GameStop, Amazon, and Best Buy, the $80 package includes "premium packaging" featuring artwork by none other than Yoshitaka Amano.
In addition, the bundle includes a 4-disc official soundtrack, and a collection of concept art bound in an art book. It promises to feature a variety of "never-before-seen illustrations, environments and more."
Unfortunately, there's no way to get a "definitive" version of the game, even when buying the collector's edition. There are retailer-specific pre-order bonuses that are separate from this premium bundle. GameStop will offer an alternate costume for Serah, while Amazon will offer an exclusive boss battle. Best Buy will offer a hardcover novella featuring an original story that "ties together the events of Final Fantasy XIII and XIII-2." For the collectors, that sounds like the best promo to get.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 will be available on PS3 and Xbox 360 on January 31.
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Recipe of the Week: Three Berry Crisp
by Catherine McAuliffe
Personally, I am not a big fan of most desserts. This fact normally gets met with confused stares when it comes to light. That being said, there are a few desserts that I think are absolutely delicious. Three Berry Crisp is not only satisfying but also extremely easy to make.more
The Tour of Food Banks
by Catherine McAuliffe
Each summer our wonderful Partner Programs department organizes what are called Van Tours. These tours provide Northwest Harvest staff with the opportunity to travel around to a variety of the different programs to which we help supply food. I have loved seeing these different programs and my eyes have been opened to some of the incredible things that our partners do.more
Recipe of the Week: Sweet Corn and Pepper Salsa
by Catherine McAuliffe
Summer might be getting ready to come to a close but that doesn't mean that our food needs to reflect that just yet! I love the warm and hearty comfort food that comes with fall and winter I also enjoy cherishing the final bits of summer and that involves the fresh produce that can still be found at farmer's markets. This week's recipe comes from the Washington State Farmers Market Association and it was created by a chef from Tilth. It was designed to use affordable ingredients available at farmers markets. It also appears to have been designed to be delicious and pair well with many kinds of food.more
Lasting Effects of the Recession on Consumer's Buying Power
by Catherine McAuliffe
This morning's Seattle Times featured an article about the nation's consumer buying power and how it's been affected by the recession. It comes as no surprise that the recession reduced the buying power of consumers. What might come as a surprise is that, even though the recession ended four years ago, our buying power has not recovered and it actually weaker than it was when the recession ended.more
Inspiring Innovation
by Catherine McAuliffe
This is our first week without our DukeEngage summer interns. We are so grateful for the hard work they did this summer and we will miss seeing them around the office. Below is a blog post written by one of the interns before leaving us to head back to school. Thanks for everything Kevin and Danielle and good luck with school!more


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The Shacknews Thanksgiving Giveaway Wrap-upWe here at Shacknews ran a pretty hefty Thanksgiving giveaway contest thing over the break, and I'm sure a few of you are eager to find out who the winners are.
If you missed the whole deal, don't panic. We'll be giving away even more loot over the next month or so.
For now, the winners of the Thanksgiving stuff:
- Quantum of Solace (PC): virus
- Call of Duty: World at War (PC): TabsAZ
- Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Collector's Edition (PC): ahlee
- Fable II Limited Edition (360): voodooraze
- Grand prize (see picture above): Mecha Tofu Pirate
To the winners, check your Shackmessages for further instructions.
Thanks to everyone for participating. Stay tuned for more contests, as we dig deep into our hearts and extract the raw holiday spirit.
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The fruit for our Moon Mountain 2003 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was 100% estate grown, hand harvested and field sorted into small bins. Fermentation took place in open-topped tanks, with each lot handled separately. The wine is 100% free run (the juice that flows freely from the grapes without pressing), meaning the lower quality press wine was not used. Barrel aging was in our deep caves, which provide a constant temperature of 60ºF and very high humidity. We used 100% French oak, 75% of which were new barrels, and aged the wine for 21 months before lightly filtering and bottling.
Rich in mountain blackberry and ripe currant flavors, the wine has nuances of wild Sonoma sage, cedar, and roasted coffee. Enjoy our Reserve Cabernet with roast leg of lamb, grilled steaks, and venison.
High in the Mayacamas Mountains on the western side of Mt. Veeder, more than 1,000 feet above the Sonoma Valley, Moon Mountain Vineyard offers some of the most difficult winegrowing conditions in California. The steep south-facing slopes, punctuated by volcanic rock outcroppings, consist of thin, well-drained soils derived from volcanic ash and lava. Situated well above the fog...Read More About Moon Mountain
Twice as large as Napa in size, Sonoma County only makes about a half the amount of wine as her northeasterly neighbor. But Sonoma, with her size, is able to vouch for more diversity within her borders, including sub-AVAs that are climatically varied. The atmosphere of Sonoma is decidedly laid back and down home country style. But in wines, they are keeping up with the...Read More About Sonoma County
(cab-uhr-NAY sow-veeh-yawn) King of Red Many refer to Cabernet Sauvignon as the king of red grapes. Perhaps that title is due to its ability to grow worldwide in a number of climates, or to the fact that it produces wine with such character yet such diversity. Either way, this grape is responsible, as a whole or a partner, for some of the greatest wines in the world. In Bordeaux,...Read More About Cabernet Sauvignon
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(en español abajo)
Valor Chocolate a la Taza is the thickest, creamiest, richest hot chocolate in the world!
Valor has been the classic chocolate source for Spaniards for over 100 years. When you melt their chocolate a la taza in simmering milk, this solid dark chocolate bar transforms hot milk into a rich and satisfying chocolate brew!
In Spain, they dip fresh churro pastries into a cup of this wonderfully thick mug of chocolate. (We have a churro making kit for you if you are feeling ambitious!) But doughnuts and similar pastries are also excellent partners.
It is very easy to make: All you do is add squares of your Valor bar to milk simmering on the stove and stir occasionally until it reaches your desired thickness. The thickness can be adjusted by the number of chocolate squares used and how long it is heated. On average, 2-3 squares per cup of milk and around 2 minutes simmering time will produce a delicious and decadent mug of hot chocolate!
¡El chocolate a la taza más espeso, cremoso y rico del mundo! En España mojan churros en una taza de este chocolate caliente de increíble espesor. ¡Y Valor es el estilo clásico, una tableta de chocolate negro sólida especial que se transforma en un chocolate líquido decadente! Simplemente mézclelo con leche en un cazo durante unos minutos. Cada barra sirve unos ocho.
Sugar, chocolate liquor processed with alkali, rice flour, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, an emulsifier, vanillin, artificial flavor. May contain nut and milk traces.
Serving size 1.5 oz (42g) 3 blocks. Serving per container 7. Calories 220. Calories from fat 100. Total fat 10g (16%), saturated fat 6g, (32%), cholesterol 0mg, (0%), sodium 15 mg, (1%). Total carbohydrate 28gr, (9%). Dietary fiber 2g, (10%). Sugars 21g, protein 2g. Vitamin A and C 0%, Calcium 0%. Iron 5%. * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 based on 27 reviews
Add a Review
ROBERT COOPER - OCEANPORT, NJ "Very large bars of dark chocolat - the
best kind of chocolat! I have not used
yet, but will very soon."
connie - Kernersville, NC "Delicious, "
Anne-Marie Carlos - Wilmette "Very rich, thick chocolate reminiscent of that which we had for breakfast with brioche or "ensaimada" growing up in another country."
Thomas De Fiore-Schmidt - Rochester "wonderful!"
Igor Ivanov - San Francisco
JAMES GORSKI - KANNAPOLIS "The BEST hot chocolate I've ever had!"
Marilyn Napoline - North Andover "yummy!"
Jose Mendoza - Cheyenne, Wyoming "When I've been in Spain in the winter months it's nice to get this. It is nice to share with family and friends the same experience after just telling them about it."
Bonnie - Los Angeles, California "Delicious! Very chocolatey, but not too sweet. A special treat. "
J Scheumann - Hoagland, Indiana "We followed the instructions on the package, but the chocolate didn't blend with the milk very well. Not sure what we did wrong, but most of the chocolate just settled in the bottom of the pan. From the La Tienda Team: Thanks for these comments! We wanted to test the chocolate ourselves after we read your review. We found that the chocolate needed to be finely shaved and the mixture needed constant stirring as the milk came to a boil. This was as much to prevent the milk from scalding, as it was to ensure a good mix. The resulting chocolate a la taza was smooth and thick - perfecto! Thanks again!"
Katie "This hot chocolate was super easy to prepare and brought me back to my trip to Spain!"
Julie Castro "I sent them to my Father-in-law who spent most of his life linving in Spain, he was USAF. He Gives 3 cheers to the items I sent him.He is very excited to order more from the catalogue that came with the order. Julie Castro"
Sally J "delicious"
Mary L "Chocolate heaven!"
Mar "The best hot chocolate you will ever have."
Isabel "It was a gift for my brother. He loved it. I can't wait for mine."
Erica C. "I have swapped out all the hot chocolate in the house to this brand. I have spent hours on other chocolate bars painstakenly grinding the chocolate, but not this bar. Just break it up in big chunks and it melts effortlessly while the milk is warming up. Great chocolate taste. "
abettel "with boiled full milk, this tastes like the hot treats we had on a chilly night in Ronda. "
Alessandra "I make Italian style hot chocolate which uses powdered chocolate. It is also thick that you can also use a spoon. Thought I would try the spanish version. However it is too sweet and not thick enough. It is ok if you are used to American hot chocolate. "
shapath "good"
boylecito "Just served this to my gourmet group with churros. Amazingly thick and decadent! It was a hit...ordering more for everyone."
Cathy "This is a wonderful tea. I am so excited to find this outlet as it is difficult to find in retail stores. The price for the 3 pack is quite reasonable as well. Try this tea...you will really enjoy it."
Gisella Abbott "Me encanta el chocolate Valor: sabroso y delicioso.
Les recomiendo este producto."
Patrick Querry "Excellent product."
Churro Maker and Classic Churro Mix ComboMake Authentic Churros at Home$26.95 CW-27
Classic Churro MixA special blend by pastry chef Tino HelgueraAll Natural$9.95 BD-09
2 Packages of Ground Mixed Torrefacto Coffee by Catunambu'The Coffee of Andalusia' - Full-bodied and RobustAll Natural
2 Packages of Tortas de Aceite Crisps by PeregrinoThe Classic Cookie of Sevilla
2 Packages of Catunambu Decaffeinated Ground Mixed Torrefacto Coffee'The Coffee of Andalusia' - Full-bodied TasteAll Natural
5 Boxes of Picos Breadsticks with Extra Virgin Olive Oil Traditional Snack of Spain


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Photo Tips << 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 >>
Expose YourselfWhen photographing sunsets, the incorrect exposure is sometimes the best exposure. By bracketing exposures in 1/3- to 1/2-stop increments above and below the light meter's recommended "correct" exposure settings, you can create very evocative images. Besides conveying an interesting mood, bracketing also ensures a successful shoot and provides editing options later. Digital photographers, who can see the results immediately, also should bracket exposures to ensure the future option of "stitching" two slightly varied exposures together, combining the best shadow details and highlights. It's good insurance that costs nothing.
Sun ScreenGetting a great shot of your friends in the bright midday light is one of the toughest things to do. Although this tip runs counter to what you've heard all you life, have them stand with their backs to the sun. You'll notice your faces will be evenly lit, and there will be a lot less squinting. You might have to shade your lens, but this is the right approach. They'll love you for it.
Keep It SimpleThe best way to present a clear message in a photograph is to keep the composition simple. The fewer elements you have to work with, the easier it is to design a pleasing image and control the viewer's eye movement. There are several ways to simplify a composition, but the primary method is to move in closer to the main subject. Whether you physically move the camera position closer or zoom in optically, getting closer allows you to fill the frame with the subject, paring the composition down to its essential components. It removes visual distractions from the edges of the frame, eliminates superfluous elements and defocuses the background. Shallow depth of field helps to isolate the subject from a busy background by blurring objectionable clutter, and may even create soft pools of complementary color behind the subject.
Storm LightNature photographers get excited about storm light. They relish the buildup and release of a storm. When the leading and trailing edges clash with the sun, the light display can be magical. Exposures can be tricky when bright shafts of sunlight pierce through dark storm clouds. Expose for the brightest areas of the scene, and bracket your exposures to ensure getting the best balance of highlights and shadows. This gives you options when editing the images later. Modern photographic equipment can tolerate brief exposure to moisture, but be sure to pack a towel, a large plastic bag and a collapsible umbrella in case you get caught in a downpour, and seek shelter when lightning is present.
Check the WeatherNature can be powerful and unforgiving. It's important to research the locations you'll be photographing, and be informed of the potential dangers the wilderness presents. Arizona's slot canyons are prone to torrents of runoff during the summer monsoons, and flash floods have claimed the lives of seasoned canyoneers. So timing is everything. Check the latest weather conditions before entering a canyon.
No Speed LimitsWhen photographing water, there are no absolutes. The laws of physics dictate some of the choices you make, and personal taste dictates others. Consider this: Water can be a solid, liquid or gas, and it takes on the color and shape of the container in which it's held. As a subject, it truly is a chameleon. What you have to decide is which facet you want to capture. So, the next time you're photographing moving water, try using different shutter speeds. Start with 1/500 second, then 1/125 second. If the light is low enough, try shooting at 1/15 second or less. Look at the results on your computer, weighing motion with depth of field. The choice is yours.
Getting EstablishedWhether you're a photojournalist producing an essay for a major travel magazine or a weekend shutterbug in charge of documenting your family vacation, the process is basically the same. One of the first things you'll need is an "establishing shot," a photograph that lets the viewer know where the action is taking place. Among other things, this photo needs to say something about the mood or atmosphere. It won't necessarily be the first scene you photograph, or the first thing that happens during your vacation, but it should establish the context for your "essay." After that, shoot away.
Follow the FocusWhether you're shooting scenics, sports or wildlife, here are some tips from longtime professional photographer John McDonough. New cameras are getting better all the time. If you're in the market, look for something that will allow you to shoot in a variety of situations. Highly recommended are digital single-lens reflex cameras (dSLR) for their interchangeable lenses and shorter shutter delay. In addition to that, the image quality using higher ISOs with the larger dSLR sensors has never been better. If you decide to shoot moving subjects, practice and learn to follow the action. Rather than reacting, work on anticipating what will happen next. As you become more confident, begin to crop your images in the camera's viewfinder.
Photoshop TechniquesBecause of the mechanics of sensor design, digital images always look a little softer than they really are. Almost all digital photographs can be improved with some sharpening. When software sharpens an image, it looks for an edge and then bumps up the contrast along that edge. So it doesn't have much effect on a clear blue sky, but dramatic effect on something with a lot of texture, like a brick wall. Over-sharpening can wreck a photograph. The resultant halos make edges look artificial and magnify the noise. Sharpening can always be added to a photograph, but once applied, it can't be undone. So don't go crazy.
Shooting Close-UpsWhen shooting close-ups, careful consideration should be given to the interplay of composition and depth of field. On one hand, you want the critical portions of your subject to be sharp and in focus. On the other hand, choosing the amount of detail in the background can greatly change the feel and effectiveness of your final image. This is simply a matter of choice. Try photographing the same object using different f-stops. If you are using the "aperture priority" mode, the camera will choose the appropriate shutter speed as you change the lens opening. With today's digital technology, you can then check the LCD on the back of the camera and choose the image you like.
Low Light SituationsIn low-light situations, using an on-camera strobe (flash) along with a slow shutter speed can be both beneficial and, at times, necessary. Using this technique will allow you to create very interesting effects that are not always predictable. The flash both illuminates and freezes the foreground while the background becomes more evenly lit due to the long exposure. If you are hand-holding the camera or there is motion, the resulting backgrounds can appear streaked or blurred. To try this, use the "night scene mode" built into the menu or program of your camera. If you prefer to shoot in the manual mode, use a shutter speed of between 1/10 and a full second. — Jeff Kida
Photographing Point ImperialPoint Imperial is the highest point on the Grand Canyon's North Rim. It stands at 8,800 feet. Sunrise and early morning — other than stormy weather — offer the best times to photograph this area. Most times the camera points southeast toward Mount Hayden and the maze of side canyons beyond. Because there's little room at the main overlook, I usually try to arrive early to claim a decent spot, an important point if you're working with a tripod. Views to the north and northeast up Marble Canyon and on to the Paria Plateau are also appealing in early morning light. Take a long lens for this view and consider using a polarizing filter — the angle is just right for summer morning photography. — Gary Ladd


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Historical records matching Joseph W. Barr, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
Immediate Family
About Joseph Walker Barr
Joseph Walker Barr (January 17, 1918 – February 23, 1996) was an American businessman and politician.
Born in Bicknell, Indiana, he graduated from DePauw University in 1939, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, and earned a master's degree in economics from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1941.
He served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945, during World War II, with subchaser duty in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. He received a Bronze Star for sinking a submarine off Anzio Beach.
After Barr returned from the war he engaged in the operation of grain elevators, theaters, real estate and publishing businesses. He was elected as a Democrat to the 86th United States Congress from the 11th district of Indiana (1959–1961). He lost the 1960 election and was appointed assistant for congressional relations to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and then in 1963 was appointed Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
He was Undersecretary of the Treasury from 1965 to 1968 during the administration of President Lyndon Johnson, and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from December 21, 1968, to January 20, 1969, the shortest term of any Secretary of the Treasury.
United States paper money always depicts the signature of the Secretary of the Treasury; because of Barr's short term, collectors speculated notes bearing his signature would be scarce. A common misconception is that currency bearing Barr's name is rare. In reality, 458,880,000 $1.00 notes were printed bearing his signature (although none in other denominations), but due to the $1.00's limited lifespan (they only last an average of 21 months in circulation) it is unknown how many still exist.
Barr was president and chairman of American Security and Trust Company from 1969 to 1974 and chairman of Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, Georgia from 1977 to 1981. He died in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Joseph W. Barr, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury's Timeline
January 17, 1918
February 23, 1996
Age 78


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IT'S TIME to kill off Barbie.
She's 46 years old, and she's turned into the Norma Desmond of the doll world, mesmerized by her own glam past, running out of everything but delusion and attitude.
Mattel staff like Donald Trump. Now it's Neil Friedman's turn in the Barbie box. He's the third head of Mattel brands in five years, and he is on a quest to, as he puts it, put the "wow" back in Barbie.
Me, I think there's no "wow" to revive. Only "ow." I come to bury Barbie, not to praise her. Barbie's flat-lining. She's been through reinventions and reincarnations and re-imaginings. Now it's time for decommissioning America's doll.
I'll give Barbie the advice that I would have given Willie Mays before he went to the Mets, trying to stay in the game past his prime. Resist the temptation. Quit while you're ahead.
Barbie is one of only 34 toys in the National Toy Hall of Fame, right between alphabet blocks and the bicycle. She's had one hell of a run. Her shape is as recognizable as the Coke bottle. She could symbolize anything you want her to — couture culture, slavering consumerism, a fetishistic youth-and-boobs society. She has become a publicly traded commodity, like gold and pork bellies. Collectors don't regard her as a toy but as a plastic T-bill, to be locked away and cashed in at the right moment.
Just like Norma Desmond, Barbie has descended into self-parody. She's been too many things to stand for anything anymore. That model-astronaut-teacher career trajectory doesn't suggest success so much as ADD.
Barbie has been beyond big, an instantly recognizable icon — Mickey Mouse with a D cup. But Mattel was loath to acknowledge that "big" cuts both ways. It kept filing lawsuits to stop people from playing off the symbolic Barbie with artworks and parodies — until the courts told Mattel to put a sock in it. Barbie is as much fair game as the president of the United States. So a Danish band could go ahead and sing, "I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world/Life in plastic, it's fantastic!/You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere." And artist Tom Forsythe could go ahead with his "Food Chain Barbie" photo series — Barbie whirring in a blender, Barbie as enchilada filling, Barbie fondued.
The nail in Barbie's grotesquely proportioned coffin is last winter's study by a British university about how ferociously little girls mutilate their Barbies, just for fun. They scalp them and dismember them and burn them and microwave them. Frankly, Barbie had it coming. She's just too unreal. How do you bond with something that looks like a taffy pull with a face? Stuffed animals are more flesh and blood than Barbie.
The study flooded me with endorphins. Around my house, Barbie was fair game. We used her as swords, for duels. But the best was Marie Antoinette Barbie. On a scaffold built of encyclopedias, we whacked off her head but good, tiara and all, over and over again. The last couple of times, after the game got old, we got out the ketchup for a good, gory, splashy finish.
So let's all have a go at Barbie. Give up on the re-re-re-invention. Take out Barbie at the top of her game. With a big, dramatic exit, Mattel could actually make a killing out of killing Barbie.
Set up a Bye-Bye Barbie lottery — 10 bucks a ticket, the randomly selected winner gets to execute Barbie any way he or she likes. Or sponsor an essay contest, in 50 words or fewer: "Why Barbie must die, and how."
Then hire the best people in the ad world to craft a series of commercials leading up to the gallows moment, to be aired during the Super Bowl. Send her to her death. Stage a state funeral worthy of the super-toy she is.
Give her a lethal injection, put Barbie on the barbie, put out a hit on her — just do it. Let the nation move on. We can survive a post-Barbie world, if we try hard enough.
Just don't ever let your brother touch her.
Kill Barbie
Better to euthanize the 46-year-old doll than subject us to another fanciful makeover.
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