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Being adopted can mean constant fears of inadequacy
I'm glad that I am adopted. I enjoy the special feelings I get from simple, everyday things; I like that I have two names, that I was virtually the only Asian-American in my town, that I don't look like my parents (I have a feeling my parents aren't as into the last point, but I guess that's something they had to get over to adopt).
What I don't like, however, is battling feelings of inadequacy. As an adopted child, you do tend to feel more ashamed - even guilty - about losses, failures, or fights. You think deep down inside that your adopted parents might regret having chosen you for a child, that maybe things would have ended up better if they could have had their own children. Maybe they would have been more intelligent and successful, more beautiful or popular.
One thing that my mother tends to do is designate other girls as "daughters." I know she doesn't do it to intentionally hurt me, but how would you expect it would make me feel? I can't help but feel somewhat inadequate and jealous when my mom introduces me to her "blond daughter" or "brunette daughter." She talks about how smart she is or how beautiful she is. She tries to make it lighthearted, like a little joke. If she connects well with another girl, then that girl becomes her "daughter." And I can't help but think, "You know, I think they get along better than we do."
What's worse is that the ones she "chooses" for her pseudo-daughters tend to look a lot like her. I wonder how much she has fantasized about what her biological children might have looked like. I wonder if other girls feel my jealousy and disappointment to the same degree I do when their mothers talk about other girls.
There have been several occasions in which I knew I didn't fit in with my family, including aunts, cousins, and other members. At holidays, they would joke around, but I wouldn't think they were being funny. They would poke a little fun at me for sport, but I wouldn't laugh. They would gossip, but I wouldn't be interested in what they were talking about, or even have a clue about it. It's gotten better over the years as I learned more about how people interact and how to do so better myself with others, but I still compare the relationship I have with my mother to those of my cousin and her mother, or even my friends and their moms.
Is that weird?
I don't really have any other issues related to being adopted. I've never felt angry about it. In fact, I seem to thrive off of my individuality. It is difficult to ponder and work through something, however, when there's no one around to help.
I let my mom have her replacement daughters because I'm sure it's not easy for her to look her daughter in the face and see nothing of herself. It's a little frustrating to do so well in school, sports, social life, and still need to be replaced, or at least supplemented, for something I could never achieve.
"It's not fair"
Additional resources
- Adoption.com - Information on International, Domestic, Child & Agency Adoptions, Stories, Laws
Adoption.com, the Internet's central location for International Adoptions, Special Needs Adoption, Independent Adoptions, Open Adoption, and Private Adoptions.
- National Adoption Center: Adopt a Child
The National Adoption Center is a valuable resource for current and prospective families looking to adopt a child.
- Adoption
- Adoption Resources Homepage
At Adoption Resources we provide services that protect the dignity of children, birth parents, adoptive families, and foster families. Our comprehensive services provide all those involved with support and counseling.
- Adoption Associates, Inc. | Adoption Resources
Adoption Associates is a non-profit organization with a staff of over 60 caring professionals to guide you through the domestic or international adoption process. With over 300 placements a year, we would welcome the opportunity to support you in you
- Adoption Support Groups - Counseling for Adopted Children
In addition to communication at home, while parents remain the child's most valuable resource, parents need to know that they do not have to be the only resource for their child. They demonstrate support for the children's needs when they find other
- Counseling the Adopted Child
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on being adopted. My wife and I are planning on adopting in the next few years and I want to know as much as I can so that I help my kid really feel like he/she is my child. Thanks again, God Bless!
Thank you for your honesty and candidness. I was adopted when I was nine months old and I can testify to the odd feelings of inadequacy and abandonment that an adoptee feels for many, many years. Thank you for giving a voice to feelings many adopted kids feel but can't vocalize. Good job on your article.
Hi there Glassvisage!
To some extend I can relate to your story. My adoptive mother once told me: "Whatever you do, don't adopt. It can be very difficult."
I don't think she realized she was talking to the girl she adopted, although I do agree with her to some extend. Even so, it was very hurtful of her to say.
Overall I am very happy for being adopted, I don't suffer from it at all and I often think, the loneliness I've always felt for being so different, in the end made me a very strong and independent woman.
I linked your Hub to my latest one about adoption, because I really find your story very touching. Maybe you'll find the time to read mine. I'm sure you'll get some comfort out of it.
Voted up, beautiful and interesting!
i sometimes worry these feelings will manifest in my own daughter who does not look like me. Truth is, even though I was infertile before I decided to adopt, I am glad for my infertility because otherwise I would not have been led to her. I am proud of her, not because she's smart, beautiful, good at sports, funny, although she is, but because she is herself. I am proud of her even on days she cries, complains, yells, blames me for the world's atrocities, fight, or refuses to listen. I am proud of her beecause she is my daughter. Nothing she could do, would take that love that pride away.
I know someday she will have feelings of inadequacy, becase truth is we all do. Those who have been adopted are unique, because these feelings manifest around the adoption, because it's what makes you different. My inadequacies lie around the fact that I am a red head, I am forgetful, I am shy, I am different from everyone else in my family because of the choices I make, I am not as successful as my brother, and more invisiblee than my other brother. I have had feelings like I do not belong, but it's different than those who are adopted, because when those feelings surface in a person who was adopted, it almost feels like it's justified, because there is something that truly does set you apart from your family. The truth is, you are where you are, because that's where you are supposed to be. You may not have been born into, but you were chosen to be there. If your mother was given the chance to live her life again, but this time be able to have her own children, I can guarantee, she would take those years of infertility all over again, just to have you. Truth is, speaking from a mother who knows, she doesn't want those other "daughters," She wants you. She may feel closer to you by befriending your friends, especailly ones she feels she has a natural connection with, because by being close to them, she is closer to you.
I don't want a child who is smarter, more talented, more loving, funnier, nicer, even with less of a temper. Who I want is my daughter. She is the one who when I leave work, I first think about, when I call my friends, I first talk about, who when I'm angry I complain about to my husband (her dad). I want her, imperfections and all, and I think your mom would one hundred and ten percent agree. I do wish my daughter was more confident in who she is, and yes, I do in fact wish my daughter had less of a temper, but I want her to have less of a temper not another child who has less of a temper. There's a difference.
I wish I knew my words erased all your feelings of inadequacies, but since I have not yet overcome all of my feelings of inadequacies desite knowledge to know they are ridiculous, I know these are feelings you will just have to work through. Good luck to you. I'm glad to hear that you are happy with you and your family, for the most part!
Everyones journey is different. I can say there is the one option that makes the difference. Once an adoptee is old enough to notice the negative feelings and confusion about self and self worth. Reach out to an adoption support group. Realize that a parents choice to adopt a child out and the ones that adopted you...are not who you are.
I have been through so much internal turmoil, even to this day dealing with an elderly adopted parent. I don't like her and she abused me mentally. You are I are myself and disconnect from the abandonment issues and realize that you or myself of someone else that is adopted is worth loving self without all the answers we want or need. It is hard and I even found my birth mom. Life is full of stuff adopted or not. Each person is valuable and worth everything in their lifetime. Treat yourself as the best and treat others like they are worth all that; again treat yourself awesomely. Its okay to have negative feelings about others and their choices; make choices that make you fel good and that are good, not selfish tho. I hate my adopted mom, but I make sure she is taken care of and realize she was mentally ill....and I have been a great mom...my kids get all the live I was never given.....and I treat myself well without a lot of money. Pick only those that love you
I have just found a cousin of mine that I never knew, she was adopted by my godfather/uncle. She is practically my twin! I find it very probable that we are in fact related by way of sisters, as my family often adopted each others children, I have no idea why. How would I go about finding out a few basics to see if we could be related, I don't want to scare her off but I felt an instant bond as soon as I saw her photo, and all my life I have had the feeling of missing something and all the feelings described above! I was wondering if birth dates could be altered also. I know im asking questions when I probably shouldn't but I see someone else has been here with family and my feeling of inadequecy could stem from this.
Being an adopted man, now with two adult stepsons and a beautiful teenage daughter, I have spent years coming to terms with my adoption, I had a very happy childhood, I was adopted as a baby and was told from a very young age that I was a chosen baby.
But little by little from the age of about seven, little feelings and thoughts would come up and trouble me, I would feel lost and alone, sometimes confused and guilty for what I was thinking or wishing, which was to know who my natural mother was.
All the feelings that came up at that time were just feelings without words; it's only as an adult that I can identify them.
Of course everyone has feelings of vulnerability and inadequacy in their lives from time to time, it's all part of maturing into an adult, but with adopted people there is something at the core of the emotional centre, like a seed (meaning something with the potential to help us blossom into a content and happy person) this seed/feeling or question seems to say "I don't know where I fit in, who am I, why am I here" all of which most people might experience, but for us, it's almost like the adoption is a microscope that focuses our attention continually on this feeling, it is this continuity of focus upon the reality of being adopted and this inner feeling that is the difficulty (not a problem) just a difficulty.
And this core feeling seems to have lots of different aspects to it which relate to our individual life experiences and personality.
Unravelling and understanding these is a lifetime's journey, but one that can lead to becoming a happy and content person
This is what I am discovering from my experience
My mother, who is in her eighties also has 'Daughters' as you described, I just put it down to her personality, it sometimes does make me feel as if I was not good enough, perhaps she should have adopted a girl instead, well done for sharing your experience.
Thank you. Your post and the video were very powerfully touching. My husband and I have 2 biological and 2 adopted kids. I have to wonder if my adopted daughter (that we have had since 8 months old - she's 14 now) feels like the woman's daughter who was in the video. I will have to ask. By the way, our family is transracial also, which is another thing itself for some to deal with.
Hi Glassvisage,
We adopted two older children. Our kids definitely have feelings of insecurity and inadequacy as you have described. One son was a marine and appeared to be a wonderful child growing up. But he was ashamed of being adopted and has never emotionally grown past the abuse he received before he came to us. (He believes he is beautiful by the way!) Our younger son was lost on drugs for a decade but he is a successful father and a good husband, today. He wore the word adoption as if it was a badge of honor. I have a book to write about our imperfect lives. Do you believe some good could come from this? Thanks!
My name is Benjamin,
Where to start. lets go to the origin. I was concived and born in El Salvador, My beloved mother gave me a gift that can overcome a lifetime of birthday and chritsmas presants. She knew the life i would life in the homeland.
She had made the choice to have me put up for adoption. Looking back now who wants to be in a magazine? Before i was born there was a loving couple who had already adopted a son. Since they themdelves couldn't concive babies and lost pairs on the way made to decision to reach out.
I was the the second to be adopted out of seven, and was in a foster home for two years until the paperwork was filled. As soon as possible I was "Brought Home".
To the most extreme odds was brought up in New Hampshire. I became through socialazation your average english speaking hispanic. As i grew older the reflection of self began to hurt. My whole academic career until i graduated was filled with a not so positive additude. Because people frowned upon me for the one thing i couldn't help. I began to fall.
In my adolesance i turned to alcahol at 16 was all kinds of bent. Would cry until i couldn't breathe it was at the time the onlt answer. I found something in myself that my father Kevin never taught me. " No one can help you more than you can help yourself".
To everyone out there who may be lost! Listen. Everything your adopted parents gave and tought you. They nurtured you and loved you through life as far as you are now. Know there teachings. Cant you feel something else now? Telling you that this kid forgot something? What do your genitics tell you. Wha really means the most to you. Once you can SEE the worlds most important affrimations will co,e clear.
hi glassvisage,
I have an adopted daughter, Tracey. She was biologically my niece, my sister's child. She has lived with me since she was 4 months old and adopted at 2 yrs. old. It took that long for us to adopt.
Tracey gets those inadequate feelings too that you talk about and I know I got them too at times in my own family growing up. This is what I say to Tracey when she starts feeling this way. "You are not inadequate, never will be and never can be. That is a LAW!!!!" She smiles and thanks me when I say that as to remind her of who she is and that is perfect, cuz God did not make any inadequate people. ~Dottie~
These are difficult and painful issues to contend with. Very. And while given your circumstances it may be natural to assume that they are, by default, connected or limited to the adoption scenario, they are not necessarily at all. This is really about parenting skills (or lack thereof). Pure and simple. And if it is any consolation, rest assured - there are many, MANY biological nuclear families with similar issues and, from what you are describing, worse dysfunction. Much worse.
Many biological children and parents fail to identify with one another and/or look alike. And many parents fail to see themselves in their children. I have had friends who felt like such misfits within their families - so removed from their parents - that they questioned if they were truly related. I know many siblings who look nothing like one another or like their parents, and who have the disparate personalities and talents to match. I promise you, you are not alone and, if nothing else, can and always should find comfort in the fact that you were undoubtedly very wanted - actively sought! Keep in mind too that sometimes the feeling that we don't "belong" comes from us - we project our own insecurities and feelings of inadequacy onto the circumstances. And adoption is an easy target. Who knows -chances are, if you broached the subject with your mother, she might be shocked and beside herself to learn that her conduct somehow led you to feel how you do. In fact, I encourage you to talk to her about it! Chances are you might discover it's about a lack of awareness or insight more than anything else - something we are all guilty of on occasion. In the meantime, try to remember who you are and the many blessings that do exist in your life.
Wow, what a heartbreaking powerful message -- yours and the video clip! I am the oldest of 3 daughters, although my sisters have a different father than I did. My biological father was never in the picture so I always felt like my dad (who adopted me) was just my dad. He never made me feel that I wasn't his or as loved as my younger sisters. I will say, though, that I felt the distance from some of the relatives on my dad's side of the family. We had lots of cousins and at the family get togethers when we were kids, I remember feeling that I didn't belong or wasn't as loved as the "real" cousins. Hopefully, it just made me stronger and more sensitive. You are an amazing, smart, terrific person, as I can tell from all your wonderful writing and, hopefully, it just made you stronger and more sensitive as well!
Are you an only child? If not, what about your siblings? Do your parents try to find replacements for them, too?
Sometimes a parent clicks better with a child's friend. This happens even if you aren't adopted.


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Friday, March 25, 2011
Prolon Melamine - Lenora - Lily of the Valley for the Cottage Chic Look
Here's a lovely pattern you just don't see everyday part of the Lenora Line by Prolon. This set of 6 plates is brought to you by TheBestThings and is perfect for that summer brunch. All six plates for $17.50, it's also perfect for your wallet. Nothing like fixing up a shabby cottage in blues and neutrals, and whites....ahhhh so pretty, and so plastic fantastic!
Labels: Etsy Shop melmac , floral melmac , Lenora , lily of the valley , melamine , melmac plates , Prolon , TheBestThings on Etsy
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subset: commoncrawl


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One Stop Shop
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Click here for more information on Hamilton's One-Stop Shop for Businesses.


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Duration: full day
Tour type: daily excursion
Itinerary: Tbilisi - Bolnisi - Dmanisi - Tbilisi
Dmanisi was strong and populous city stretched on crossing of important trade ways from Byzantium and Persia. Its surroundings are full of reminders about glorious historical past. Rather recently, scientists have found the fact, that long before the city experienced its prosperity and decay, there was a settlement of primitive ancestors of modern humans.
En route you will visit:
Monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God - active man's monastery, is located 20 km from Tbilisi. There are wonderful frescos of 1207, representing King George III and his daughter Queen Tamar.
Arrival to Dmanisi. You will visit the following sights:Ancient settlement "Dmanisi" is the remains of the big city which once existed at confluence of Mashaver and Moshevani rivers, which is proved to be settled since Early Bronze Age- about 3,000 BC. The city was supposedly built in the VI century, and is mentioned in the IX century. The fortress was built on a high place between two gorges and closes the approach to the city. During excavations was found: large number of different ceramics IX-XII, coins (mostly Georgian , XI-XIII cc. ), tools and weapons , the treasure of 25 gold and silver jewelry XII-XIII centuries. Between 1991 and 2005 early human fossils, dubbed Homo Georgicus, were found at Dmanisi during the archeological excavations. H. georgicus may have been a separate species of Homo, predating Homo Erecturs and represent the earliest stage of human presence in the Caucasus.
Sioni Church - one of the five Sioni churches in Georgia (VI-VII centuries). It is located right in the territory of the ancient city. There are fragments of frescos saved in the interior dating to the reign of George IV. According to the code of the Georgian chronicles "Kartlis Tskhovreba ", Georgian King Vakhtang III (1298/1302-1308) is buried in Dmanisi Sioni.
On the way back to Tbilisi will make a stop for local dinner in Bolnisi restaurant. Back to Tbilisi in the evening.


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W. David Lohr, MD
Dr. Lohr is a dad of 21-, 20-, 17-, and 14-year-old children and an assistant professor of child psychiatry and co-clinical director of the University of Louisville Autism Center in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Louisville, in Kentucky.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while your wife was pregnant and/or as a dad, and how did you overcome it? Balancing career and family.
What's the most surprising lesson that being a dad has taught you? How much I can learn from my children. When they display patience, humor, hard work and maturity, it inspires me to do my best as well.
What's the one bit of advice about fatherhood you wish someone had given you much earlier? Take more time off, especially when they are younger to take them places like museums and the zoo. Those interests pass so quickly.
What's the one thing about being a new dad that shouldn't be missed? I've thoroughly enjoyed coaching my kids in their sports, but in general it would be sharing and fostering their interests.
Why are fathers important? They are crucial for emotional strength and academic performance. We offer children a different type of love than their mothers. Mother's love is always unconditional in all shapes and form. A father's love is still unconditional, but there are implied expectations.
Profile by Wyatt Myers


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Neil Gaiman has posted a preview of the upcoming adaptation of his book, Coraline, directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas). Enjoy.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
For the Lazy & the Kids...
Neil Gaiman has posted a preview of the upcoming adaptation of his book, Coraline, directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas). Enjoy.
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:51 PM Links to this post
Labels: book news
For the Druggies & the Lazy & the Kids...
While you're pretending to work today/watching your kids play with cardboard boxes instead of the new Wii you drove across the state to purchase for them, why not listen to Alice In Wonderland, as read by author Cory Doctorow (Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, Little Brother)?
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 10:26 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Friday, December 21, 2007
Book News, In Brief
Tired of waiting months for your manuscript's inevitable rejection letter? Creative Byline wants to help! Writers upload their manuscripts for $19.00 and 'first readers'—readers trained to look for basic writing ability—review them. Writers who don't make the cut receive targeted feedback on how to improve the work. Writers who make the cut receive a list of editors who are a potential match for the work -- and then the waiting that they thought they'd avoided finally begins. (Link)
The best selling books so far this holiday season: Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, and I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert.
Borders has launched an e-book program in conjunction with Sony, hoping to re-Kindle the interest of their prodigal patrons. (Link)
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:25 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Book News, In Brief
The New York Times has a two page article on BookCrossing.com, a website promoting free, anonymous book trading in public places. 4.4 million books have been registered in the "catch and release" program thus far, with 600,000 readers registered.
Via Guardian UK: "Americans go for self-help, the French for philosophy and the British for trivia. Stuart Jeffries investigates the phenomenon of the Christmas bestseller and wonders what this year's big successes will be."
Have no fear, white trash, teenage baby-mommas: Britney Spears' mother may have canceled her proposed parenting book (something to do with her 'other daughter' -- aged 16 -- recently revealing her pregnancy), but Eminem's mom has announced an autobiographical accounting of her and her son's estranged-is-putting-it-mildly relationship.
Steam engine thought has everyone running stories about the dearth of reading among boys and men. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution asks, Why don't men do book clubs?, and then leaves it up to those folks frequenting the comments section to answer the question. The Minneapolis Star Tribune covers their school system's efforts to get boys interested in books besides Harry Potter and Star Wars spin-offs, posing their own Yoda-like query: Boys and books: How do you get them together? The Asheville Citizen Times does more than just ask broad questions. They describe a local librarian's semi-controversial attempt to refocus boys on books by separating the sexes into different reading groups designed to better deal with issues specific to each gender. My solution: slip some short fiction into Maxim Magazine.
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:01 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Crazy Alert!
Keifer Bonvillain claimed to have hours of taped interviews proving that Oprah is not what she seems, and wanted to write a book about it. When no publisher would risk incurring her wrath, Bonvillain went the self-published route. While I have no plans to order the book myself (the website's shoddy design and the author's use of a comic book-worthy nom de plume do little to instill confidence in this credit card holder), the website's worth a look, if for no other reason than the loony chapter descriptions.
Here's a few:
Chapter 1: A Chance Encounter
The author is contacted by Harpo employee.
Chapter 2: Oprah's Attorney Called and He's Scared!
Author shares transcribed tapes of his conversation with Oprah's attorneys.
Chapter 4: Did He Say Extortion?
The day of author's arrest. (Includes never before released legal documents surrounding author's arrest and the seizing of his property.)
Chapter 5: I'm the Infamous Oprah Extortionist
Author discusses world-wide media coverage of his arrest. (Includes documents showing how FBI kept author's car for a month.)
Chapter 10: Lord I Need You
Author seeks spiritual guidance.
Chapter 16: Mystique around Oprah's Sexual Preferences
The Other Woman.
Chapter 17: A Mutually Beneficial Subterfuge
Author discusses Oprah's relationship with Stedman Graham.
Chapter 24: Birds of a Feather
The author discusses shocking statistics and uncovers a dark bond between Oprah and Obama. What you should know before you cast your presidential vote.
(Editor's note: I'd almost dismissed it as tabloid trash until I read the description of Chapter 10. Now I'm a believer!)
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:02 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Monday, December 17, 2007
Big News (to me!)
DC Comics and Darwyn Cooke have announced a follow-up to DC: The New Frontier, titled Justice League: The New Frontier Special. The one-shot comic will feature a "lost chapter" detailing a Superman vs. Batman battle (alluded to in the original), as well as shorter stories about Wonder Woman, the Black Canary, and Robin, the Boy Wonder. Cooke is handling the art and writing for the S vs. B story, and is writing the scripts for the rest. Release is slated for March 2008.
(For Inkwell's review of DC: The New Frontier Absolute Edition, click here.)
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 6:15 PM Links to this post
Labels: comic book news
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Book News, In Brief
One of my All Time Top 10 cartoonists, Joe Sacco (Palestine, Notes from a Defeatist), gets grilled over at The Comics Reporter. No jokes, jabs or jibes here. I love dude.
>Angela's Ashes author Frank McCourt has written what can most charitably be described as Christmas fanfic...using his own critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize winning, best selling characters. To hear McCourt try and make a case for Angela and the Baby Jesus, head on over to Simon & Schuster's podcast page, 12/13/07.
In ever-so-slightly-related news, fanfic has a legal defense team! Via Boingboing: "The Organization for Transformative Works has just launched. It's a fascinating new proto-nonprofit determined to defend media fandom from the excesses of copyright and to help fanfic writers and vidders maintain control of their remixed works. The word "transformative" looks like they're throwing down the gauntlet in copyright battles, insisting that fic is fair use as a transformative work." Yes, soon you will be able to write and release all of the Harry/Ron romance scenarios your devious mind can conjure, but that unofficial lexicon you've been laboring away at will still be off limits.
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 11:59 PM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Millionaire Mystery Buyer Unmasked, Revealed To Be Faceless Corporation
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:22 PM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Friday, December 14, 2007
Book News, In Brief
Via AP: This holiday season, publishers are hoping to bleed 401ks dry with a barrage of books about 'the good old days,' 'when music was better.' The Inkwell recommends that any of our older readers planning on living to see the Spring of 2008 (knock on Wood) hold off on buying these books until then. It is our educated guesstimate that all of these titles will be available at significantly Slash-ed prices once this season's influenza has (literally) killed off much of their intended audience.
I had never heard of The Animal Dialogues: Uncommon Encounters in the Wild by Craig Childs until I happened across this snippet of Sarah Rose's review in the AP: "A packed subway train crawls toward Manhattan from Brooklyn. I'm pushed on all sides, smashed against the door reading Craig Childs' newest set of essays, The Animal Dialogues. Tears well in my eyes as I read about a perfect blue shark dying on a desolate beach." Now, I've gotta be honest. I'm not sure if that review qualifies as a success or a failure. On the one hand, I have no interest in reading The Animal Dialogues. But on the other, I'm fiending to read a million more melodramatic reviews by Ms. Rose. Her writing reminds me of 'Dwight' from The Office.
This is the way the bookstores end. Not with a bang or a Kindle.
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:05 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Thursday, December 13, 2007
And Now, Back To The Morbid
Jog has posted a great piece about the effective mixing of bloody, nasty horror with laugh out loud comedy in manga. It's titled, It's OK to Laugh. Recommendations for new readers are included.
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 5:25 PM Links to this post
Labels: comic book news
Alright, you sappy f***s. Here's a cheery post. Via Boingboing:
Neil Gaiman helps fan propose to girlfriend through book inscription
It worked flawlessly (see the video). Maui was delighted and surprised, Jason got down on one knee, the crowd applauded and Neil sat there, grinning like a maniac.
How lovely!...and Maui actually failed to notice Neil's dedication because she was so starstruck. It took him about three times to actually get her to read the darn thing.
Maui (squealing, closing the book): Thanks!!!
Neil: Aren't you going to read what I wrote? You have to read it..
Maui (opening the book, shrugging, then closing it again): Thanks!!!
Me: You have to read the dedication...
And she bent over to give Neil a kiss, STILL not noticing what was going on.
Neil: You really have to read this...When she did (FINALLY!)...
(Click here for a two minute video of the event.)
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:36 PM Links to this post
Labels: book news
A Brief Reprieve
Yesterday I got a little maudlin, I'll admit. That's why, today, I'd like to start things off a wee bit cheerier. Via every other book blog on the web: Best-selling fantasy author Terry Pratchett has been diagnosed with a rare form of early onset Alzheimer's.
Damn it. That wasn't...I'm sorry.
I'll post something later. Something better.
I promise.
Until then...
(That didn't work, either, did it?)
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:12 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Not Books...
R.I.P. Ike Turner
You had some serious demons in you, demons that you never did get completely under control. But you were a genius, an undeniable musical visionary, and Tina never sounded so good without you.
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 9:20 PM Links to this post
Labels: Editorial
Random Assortment of Various Links
Salon has posted their Best Books of 2007 list. Surprise, surprise. Your self-published memoir isn't on it. If only you'd followed some of Sam Leith's secrets to writing a Christmas-time best seller -- you still wouldn't have made the cut, but at least you'd be making some money off of your shameless tragedy-whoring. Still, all hope is not lost. We're in the age of the Kindle. And according to the Arizona Republic, crap books sell well in e-book form. Burning them is another story.
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:25 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Coming Soon: A Coffee Table Book About A Band That Used To Sleep On The Floor
Via ITNUK: "The widow of rock star Joe Strummer has unearthed a treasure trove of material by the former Clash frontman. After his death five years ago at the age of 50 following a heart attack, his wife Lucinda Mellor went through some suitcases and found that each one contained about 30 plastic bags. She said: 'I suddenly realised that each bag was pertinent to a week on tour or a session - each bag told a story which was amazing.'
All the material found - plus some Clash lyrics discovered in mouldy tea chests - have been put on file, photographed, carefully stored and catalogued. Ms Mellor is planning to publish a book containing unreleased songs and rarities, with his friend the artist Damien Hirst. She added: 'One day we will do an amazing book. It's going to be beautifully done - it'll be like an art book, with photographs, lyrics, drawings, maybe unreleased songs, rarities. It'll have CDs in it, rare Joe stuff - we'll see what we've got.'"
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:33 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Gift Ideas for the Bookish:
The Zaky Infant Pillow
Let's face it, babies eat away at more than just our sanity, our sex lives and our savings. Their constant craving for attention eats away at our reading time, as well. That's why these creepy little gems are such a genius idea. For $38.98, your baby feels loved, and you get to finish your book club book for the first time ever. Available at The Pregnancy Store.
(Thanks to BoingBoing.net for the initial heads up.)
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:32 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Monday, December 10, 2007
Book News, In Brief
I don't know if the religious right is really to blame, but they're certainly lining up to take the credit. Via Reuters: "Golden Compass loses its way at U.S. box office." Of course, this is a Hollywood headline, and ought to be taken with a grain of Hollywood salt. After all, the film was the number one moneymaker this weekend, taking in some $40 million over the first three days.
Via CNN.com: Charles Bukowski's Hollywood home is up for historical preservation, but its current owner, Victoria Gureyeva, wants it destroyed. "This man loved Hitler," Gureyeva, who is Jewish, told the alternative newspaper LA Weekly. "This is my house, not Bukowski's. I will never allow the city of Los Angeles to turn it into a monument for this man." The way I see it, both parties can have their way. Raze the home, and leave the ruble as a monument to Bukowski's self-destructive lifestyle.
Via the AP: "The Fair Use Project at Stanford's Center for Internet and Society announced Tuesday that it had signed on to aid the defense of Michigan-based RDR Books, which had planned to release The Harry Potter Lexicon this fall." Finally, someone with an actual understanding of fair use/copyright laws is speaking out in defense of this book. Up 'til now, the legal work and press relations have been handled primarily by the lexicon's publisher -- a well-meaning, hyperbolic, blowhard with delusions of political martyrdom and a caps lock key seemingly stuck in the ALL CAPS position -- and it hasn't been going well.
It's like Black Like Me, only in reverse...and without the effed-up makeup and wig stuff. Author Dave Matthews has just released, Ace of Spades, a memoir focusing on the twenty years he spent as a light skinned Black man "passing" for White. Adding another layer of complexity to the already Rubikian scenario is the fact that Matthews grew up in Baltimore (which, as every loyal viewer of The Wire knows, is a predominantly Black city). Commenting on this in an interview with Smithmag.net, Matthews said:
It's completely contradictory from a psychological standpoint, I know. Basically, I felt that the black kids who preyed on the white kids (in whose ranks I cluelessly considered myself) were less powerful in the larger context of America than they were in the streets of Baltimore. I never lost sight of the "prize"—being white, and knew that once I said I was black I would never be able to go back. So it was easier to suffer among the "master race" than to lord amongst "the slaves." Plus, my TV showed me every day that there was a world out there where white people ran everything, so I figured if I just bided my time, my day would come. (Have I mentioned that I was a moron?)
To read the first chapter of Ace of Spades, click here.
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:12 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Friday, December 7, 2007
Book News, In Brief
Hachette Book Group USA's graphic novel imprint, Yen Press, has acquired world rights to a graphic edition of James Patterson's young adult series Maximum Ride, and plans to make them into manga. When will American publishers learn that the kids absolutely do not want non-Asian manga. (All of the big comic book companies have tried. All have failed.) Hell, I'm not even sure if it really even is manga if it doesn't come from Asia. Isn't it just digest-sized comics with bigger than usual eyes? Honestly, it feels sort of like Al Jolson cartooning. Mammy-san.
Harvard professor Khaled El-Rouayheb will discuss his book, Before Homosexuality in the Arab-Islamic World, 1500–1800, on campus Wednesday, December 12, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. In case he runs long, allow me to tell you my favorite part of the time spent I touring my amateur drag act in Iran: eye makeup only, and I never had to shave!
The LA Times tries to make up for dropping their Books section by coming out against the Kindle. Some of their reasons as to why it doesn't meet or exceed regular books are sentimental crap:
"Anyone who first read Treasure Island at age 11 could still tell you whether the cover illustration on that copy had Long John Silver in a red pantaloon or a black one."
(Yeah, and people who first heard Sgt. Peppers on vinyl have fond memories of staring at that album cover. But guess what? That wasn't nearly enough to stop the music biz from becoming 99% online -- and unpaid for.)
But other reasons are irrefutable:
"There's no way you could read...a book like War and Peace...or John Richardson's multipart biography of Picasso...on a screen. You've got to be able to concentrate on it, to go back, and go ahead, and look at the footnotes."
(Of course, this doesn't address the fact that most people only read pop-lite, bestsellers, but hey, I'm on your side.)
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:10 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Book News, In Brief
The Guardian UK does an author profile of Golden Compass author and current whipping boy of the religious right, Philip Pullman. In the article, Pullman is described as being "as happy woodworking as (he is) writing." What a co-inky-dink. So was that bloody guy from The Passion.
Just when it seemed like the whole world was finally starting to agree with me about Chris Ware's penchant for drawing only one mood -- misery, he goes and releases his second sketchbook collection. Apparently, Eeyore's not always the one-note, style-over-substance mope-aholic he makes himself out to be. So why doesn't Ware ever show this second dimension in his 'official' comics work? Branding and marketing, of course!
Kimberly Steele, author of the hit vampire novel, Forever Fifteen, gives a good interview with The Haunted Vampire blog. And if you're too cheap to buy her book, she offers up the whole thing as an audiobook on her website. (One complaint about the Haunted Vampire blog, though. A nit-pick, really. It's just that the proprietor -- purportedly a bloodsucker -- tops his webpage with a photo of himself. But doesn't that go directly against the whole 'vampires can't be photographed' thing? Or have today's goth bloggers evolved to such a point that the old rules -- lack of reflections, fear of sunlight and crosses, etc. -- no longer apply? Could the magnetic pull of the awkwardly angled webcam be their one remaining weakness? +++, just in case.)
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:07 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Book News, In Brief
According to Reuters, Doris Lessing's publisher will read the 2007 literature laureate's Nobel lecture, as the author is said to be "too ill to pre-record a speech." Eff that. I know how to smoke her out. Let's start a rumor that there is no Doris Lessing; that she's just the construct of some young, gay, cross-dressing hustler raised in the truckstops of the Southern United States. Then she'll have to show.
Christopher Hitchens is still mad at a God he does not even believe in. This month, Hitchens will release an anthology, The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever, a sequel of sorts to his best-selling God Is Not Great. I don't know about you, but I worry that if Al Sharpton and Quincy Jones don't step in soon, that this is gonna end in a similar manner to the Biggie/Tupac beef in the 90s -- with Hitchens being gunned down in a car driven by Suge Knight, while Jesus gets a few more holes added to his stigmata after leaving a Vibe Magazine party in Los Angeles. Can't we all just get along?
It's like the Necronomicon in the Evil Dead movies! Via Guardian UK: "A 17th century book believed to be bound in the skin of a priest executed for treason appears to bear a 'spooky' image of his face on the cover, according to the auctioneers who are selling the book." (Remember when I said I wasn't going to recommend any books to y'all as gift ideas? I'm making an exception here. If you've got a germaphobe in your life, this would make the ideal gag gift -- in both senses of the word.)
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:07 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Monday, December 3, 2007
Film Adaptation News
(a.k.a. Underwhelming Information Regarding Upcoming Disappointments)
What's even less inspiring than the official website of the upcoming feature film, Watchmen? Why, the exclusive set photos included therein! It's like someone recreated Stanley Kubrick's crappy looking 'New York Street' set from Eyes Wide Shut, and then added a comic book shop. Hopefully, the director -- Zach Snyder, of 300 fame -- will at least bless us with a couple dozen well-oiled visions of gay lust and some more of those small breasted, long nippled pseudo-actresses to help distract us from the mess he makes out of Alan Moore's brilliant work.
Hollywood insiders/internet outsiders predict that the film, The Golden Compass, will make upwards of $500 million this Christmas. If Christian watchdog groups are to be believed, the film is also slated to create a similar number of atheists in middle schools all across middle America. The Jew York Times maps the long and winding road that Hollywood's harlots and homosexuals walked to bring Philip Pullman's anti-Christ-like novel to the screen. Ye godless sinners can click here.
Again, the New York Times. This time, Ian McEwan is interviewed regarding his novel, Atonement , and it's feature film adaptation. Unfortunately, they never get around to asking McEwan what he thinks of KeiraKnightley's one-stop/all-emotions scrunching-of-the-face acting technique. Paging James Lipton...
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:01 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Friday, November 30, 2007
Random Assortment of Various Links
Need gift ideas for the manga fan in your life? ComicWorldNews.com has a nice list, complete with small reviews. (Thanks to ComicsReporter.com for the tip.)
First week sales totals are in on Amazon.com's Kindle e-book. Although the headlines were many, the sales were few. To cover for their failure, Amazon.com has their lackeys in the press already beating the drum for the version 2.0.
Whoever said comics are dead needs to look at the sales numbers for DC/Vertigo's Y: The Last Man. The trade paperback releases of this title just get more and more popular. First month sales of book two increased a whopping 66% over book one! This news is all the more encouraging considering that Y is actually a damn good read. Check out these reviews.
The 9 most badass bible verses, brought to you by Cracked Magazine. The selections are both apt and hilarious. The accompanying illustrations are just icing on the unleavened bread. (Thanks to BoingBoing for the tip.)
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:02 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Gift Tips for the Bookish
Jimbo Vinyl Figure
Gary Panter, one of the late 70's/early 80's greatest punk rock cartoonists (as well as the set designer for Pee-Wee's Playhouse!), has just released "the first officially licensed" figure of his most famous creation, Jimbo. The loinclothed figure is limited to 750 pieces and comes with a 32 page book chronicling the character's various comics appearances thus far. Price: $49.99. Available: here.
Mighty Bright Book Light: Triple LED Deluxe Book Light Kit
This is the book light of choice for most of our staff. If you've ever seen the dark, raccoon-like circles around our eyes, you know it works. It has a telescopic arm, maneuverable head, and AC adapter, not to mention a cool, cyber-snake look. Price: $26.99. Available: In our store.
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:00 AM Links to this post
Labels: gift tips for the bookish
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Book News, In Brief
Norman Mailer wins the 'Bad Sex' award for his fictitious portrayal of the incestuous conception of Adolf Hitler. Do we applaud this victory, or yell out, "Too soon!"? Runners-up for this much lauded prize included the book, Will, by Christopher Rush (wherein the author offers a firsthand account of the dirty deed as performed by William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway) and The Stone Gods, by Jeannette Winterson (whose woman-on-robot sex scene is said to have lacked both spark and pulse).
Via AP: Over 100 authors (including John Updike, Anne Tyler and Walter Isaacson) participated in a 'year's best releases' poll initiated by the nation's book critics. Authors and critics were asked to choose five different works in three different categories: fiction, nonfiction and poetry. The winners were novelist Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Danticat's Brother, I'm Dying and, in a three-way tie for poetry, Robert Hass' Time and Materials, the late Zbigniew Herbert's Collected Poems and Robert Pinsky's Gulf Music. In a remarkable moment of complete obviousness mixed with confusing rhetoric, John Freeman, president of the National Book Critics Circle, told The Associated Press, "Best-seller lists really only show people what's selling, not what people are reading." Um, that makes zero sense, John.
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 2:45 PM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Monday, November 26, 2007
Book News, In Brief
Imitating the popular Rough Guide cell phone service in Britain, Fodor's Travel Books plans to provide a similar service for Americans. United States of Americans. You Canucks are on your own. To sign up for the service, visit AskMeNow.com.
Short-sighted publishers damn Chinese readers to some of the worst book translations on Earth. Or as our translator in Shanghai tells it, 'Near-sighted pubblers goddamn Chinese red rears to sum of those worse bok transformations in Erf.'
How-to tell if your friendly neighborhood bookstore blogger is desperate for links and news items: They recommend an article like, How-To Pick How-To Books. The internet needs a Bill W. for those of us who realize we've hit rock bottom.
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:04 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Face: 3, Body: 3, Brains: 5
(Or: Kindle, the Jan Brady of E-Books)
Yesterday's Yahoo and Amazon home pages featured press releases disguised as news articles announcing the "long anticipated" (their wording, of course) arrival of the Kindle reader, an Amazon-exclusive e-book priced at an easily affordable $399. The Kindle is the newest, and by far the most heavily hyped, of the many handheld electronic libraries trying to work their way into the hearts and backpacks of ipod users everywhere.
Like it or not, paper & ink purists, it's only a matter of time before one of these things finally takes off, relegating what few of your favorite indie bookstores still remain to that prime real estate spot down Memory Lane. More specifically, it's only a matter of time before someone finally designs an e-book that actually makes carrying an e-book look sexy. And then it's over. After all, a chic shape was the ultimate turning point for the Apple's ipod, after years of lackluster mp3 player launches from nearly every other major electronics company in the world.
Lucky for us bookstores, then, that the Kindle is anything but sexy. Looking like a 1980's Speak N' Spell, this device inspires neither oohs nor ahhs. In fact, with only a black and white display, the average passerby will probably think you're sporting an out of date Blackberry instead of Amazon.com's anemic attempt at creating this year's Tickle Me Elmo. But who knows, maybe you're deeper than me, and don't like to judge an e-book by its cover. Well, how do you feel about that wireless contract with Sprint that you're damned to enter into? Or the fact that you're being forced to buy your books from just one source? Why, from 1983-1989, I sold countless pairs of acid-washed Levis in Leningrad Square to escape such treatment! And now it has followed me here, like the comic stylings of Yakov Smirnoff and the protruding bulge of Mikhail Baryshnikov?! For shame, America.
Don't get me wrong. I accept the fact that someday -- someday soon -- the e-book will take hold of the public consciousness like the DVD and the mp3 and the Hello Kitty Personal Massager. I just don't think that the Kindle is the e-book that will inspire such consumer lust.
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 12:29 AM Links to this post
Labels: book news
Monday, November 19, 2007
Book News, In Brief
The National Endowment for the Arts hates our soldiers! Isn't that what it really means when they say something like, the average American reads less than one book a year, and that the country is testing dumber because of it? Let me state here -- publicly and unequivocally -- that although I, too, am well-endowed, I do not endorse the NEA's hurtful and hateful and clearly anti-American sentiments.
Judith Regan has launched a $100 million lawsuit against her former publisher, Rupert Murdoch, over the handling of her baby, the OJ Simpson book, If I Did It. And to think, only a week ago she was announcing her plans to stay out of the media spotlight.
Via BoingBoing: "The Book Design Review Blog has picked its top book covers for 2007!" Click here to check them out and cast your vote for the best of the best. (Pictured, from left to right, Unmarketable designed by Rob Carmichael, One Perfect Day designed by Evan Gaffney, and Fireproof designed by unknown.)
Posted by Inkwell Bookstore at 10:32 AM Links to this post


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Life is very busy and I shared with you earlier how much I love Friday. The continuous struggle to make our future better overpowers the present.
Today, I am making a list of Promises to myself and will definitely try to keep them and Live Life in Present.
1- I will always give time to the things I love to do and that includes Reading, Cooking and Sleeping.
2- I will not hold the past against me. Letting go will allow me to move forward in life and be happier.
3- I will stop complaining and take charge of my problems and be responsible for my Life.
4- I will be thankful to God and be compassionate to the world around me.
Making these promises, I recall the words of Robert Frost,
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Have you made any promises?
I am participating in BAR-A-THON by Blog-A-Rhythm and today is Day 7 of the #BarAThon.


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Spring At Last!
Ah–my favorite season has finally arrived. Took awhile, but she is here in all of her tree buddin', bird chirpin', flip flop wearin' glory. In honor of this season of rebirth and new beginnings, I decided to try something a little bit out of the ordinary for guarded old me. After a rough fall, and a brutal winter–I'm finally feeling a bit more like myself, perhaps (dare I say it) an even better self. It could be the weather, it could be the many hours of therapy but I am starting to let go and definitely ready to go get…something. Forgiveness? Ehhh, maybe. Love? Possibly. More of this self-discovery business? Okay, sure.
Joy? Most definitely.
So, here goes…
Miss LGG


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The course
This course offers you the opportunity to combine study of Modern Languages (75% of the course) with History of Art and Visual Culture (25%) and to spend your third year abroad.
As a joint honours Modern Languages student you will gain fluency in the language of your choice - French, German, Italian or Spanish. Whether you start at beginners', advanced or native-speaker levels, you will study the core language components for your chosen language, gaining skills in writing, reading, speaking and listening. All our teaching is led by native speakers.
The remainder of your modern languages study will give you an opportunity to explore the literature, art, culture and history of the language area you are studying, from seventeenth-century French theatre to representations of childhood and youth in German culture, and from Italian fashion and design to visual arts from all the corners of the Spanish-speaking world. As a modern linguist, you will develop excellent communication and research skills, and combine linguistic proficiency with cross-cultural perspectives.
In your third year you will have the opportunity to spend a year working, teaching or studying abroad, where you will immerse yourself in another language and culture, truly broadening your horizons in the process.
- On graduation you will have language and analytical skills in a modern language together with additional knowledge of culture, society and history, culture and society that will give you a valuable competitive edge in an increasingly globalised world.
- Our research staff are engaged in research at the highest level internationally; we are in the top 10 of UK Modern Language departments for research quality and the top in London (Research Assessment Exercise 2014).
If you have a passion for the visual arts, History of Art and Visual Culture will give you the skills to read, interpret and analyse images and artefacts across cultures. You will benefit from the research expertise of staff in the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, engaging in the key phases in the development of the history of art and visual culture of Europe and Latin America, equipping you with the skills You can take courses on key historical skills and take options that combine the study of art history with that of photography, film and other media, ranging from medieval times to contemporary visual culture.
- Make use of Royal Holloway's exceptional collection of Victorian Art housed in the Founder's Picture Gallery
- Choose options in Visual Culture from across the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures
In the event of a no-deal Brexit, we will commit to providing 2019 and 2020 entry students with a subsidy equivalent to current Erasmus+ funding (where this would have previously been funded by the Erasmus+ scheme). To find out more visit the Erasmus+ page.
Teaching & assessment
The course has a modular structure, whereby students take 14 course units at the rate of four per year in years 1, 2 and 4, and two units during the year abroad. Some course units are compulsory while others are elective thereby offering flexibility and choice.
Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and end-of-year examination in varying proportions, depending on the course units you choose to take. The first year is foundational and marks do not count towards your final degree. The second year, year abroad and final year marks do count, with more importance being given to the final year marks in order to reward progress and achievement.
Entry requirements
A Levels: ABB-BBB
Required subjects:
- A-level in the appropriate language(s) at grade B for the advanced level language pathway
- There is no language requirement for the beginners' language pathway, but only one language can be studied at this level
- At least five GCSES at grade A*-C or 9-4 including English and Mathematics.
Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A - levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in lower A-level grades being required. Socio - economic factors which may have impacted an applicant's education will be taken into consideration and alternative offers may be made to these applicants.
Other UK Qualifications
International & EU requirements
English language requirements
All teaching at Royal Holloway (apart from some language courses) is in English. You will therefore need to have good enough written and spoken English to cope with your studies right from the start.
The scores we require
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
Country-specific requirements
For more information about country-specific entry requirements for your country please visit here.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements, we offer an International Foundation Year, run by Study Group at the Royal Holloway International Study Centre. Upon successful completion, you may progress on to selected undergraduate degree programmes at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Your future career
On completion of your Modern Languages with History of Art and Visual Culture degree at Royal Holloway you will be equipped to operate successfully in a fast-changing and increasingly globalised and multi-cultural environment.
Having spent a year abroad you will have developed the kind of sensitivity to different cultures that is highly prized in the workplace. This experience and the skills gained will make you highly employable and ready to pursue your chosen career, whether that be in Britain or abroad.
Modern languages graduates have entered a wide range of careers including international management, consultancy, sales and marketing, media and publishing, banking, the arts, politics, teaching, travel and tourism, translating and interpreting as well as language assistants and teacher trainers.
Recent employers include:
- Mazda Motors Europe
- The British Council
- Oxfam Head Office
- Merlin Entertainments Group
- Ralph Lauren
Alternatively you may choose to continue your studies by means of a postgraduate degree.
Fees & funding
Home and EU students tuition fee per year*: £9250
The fee for your year abroad will be 15% of the tuition fee for that academic year if you study or complete work-based placement as part of the Erasmus exchange programme, or study at a university outside of Europe. The fee will be 20% of the tuition fee for that academic year if you complete a work-based placement in a non-European country.
International students tuition fee per year**: £16900
The fee for your year abroad will be 20% of the tuition fee for that academic year.
Other essential costs***: The cost of your year abroad will vary by country. Typical living costs to consider will be accommodation, food and household items, entertainment, travel, books and bills (including your mobile phone). You'll also need to budget for travel to and from your country of study. Additional costs compared to studying in the UK will also depend on personal choices and it is important to research the cost of living before the year commences.
How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, scholarships and bursaries.
*The tuition fee for UK undergraduates is controlled by Government regulations. For students who started a degree in the academic year 2018/19, it was £9,250 for that year, shown here for reference purposes only. The tuition fee for UK undergraduates starting their degree in 2019/20 or 2020/21 has not yet been confirmed. The Government has also confirmed that EU nationals starting a degree in 2019/20 will pay the same fee as UK students for the duration of their course. The fee status for EU nationals starting their degree in 2020/21 is under consideration.
**Fees for international students may increase year-on-year in line with the rate of inflation. The policy at Royal Holloway is that any increases in fees will not exceed 5% for continuing students. For further information see fees and funding and our terms and conditions.
***These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree programme at Royal Holloway. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing etc., have not been included.


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Contact: Deb Wade, 207-288-8802
Acadia National Park is accepting proposals for three seasonal ranger-narrated boat cruises in the waters around Mount Desert Island that would provide safe and quality interpretive experiences for park visitors. The boat cruises include a Frenchman Bay Route, Islesford Historic Route to Little Cranberry Island, and a Marine Life Route.
All proposals that are consistent and compatible with the purpose and function of interpretation at Acadia National Park are welcome. Any person or organization meeting the specific requirements may participate in the competitive process.
Proposals will be evaluated by a National Park Service panel to assure that prospective boat operators have the experience, equipment, and demonstrated intent to provide the proposed services.
Evaluation criteria are set forth in the Request for Proposals, along with historical, interpretive, and logistical data on the tours, and proposal submission requirements. All proposals received within the stated time period will be evaluated by the National Park Service and the proposals considered to best meet the criteria will be selected as the basis for negotiation and a final memorandum of agreement.
Persons interested in submitting a proposal may contact the park for complete proposal submission requirements. Contact the park at 207-288-3338, ext. 0, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or write Acadia National Park, P.O. Box 177, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Deadline for submissions is Monday, February 26, 2007.
Last updated: February 26, 2015


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A combined team of mobile and regular police officers are laying a siege to the Abuja home of Dino Melaye, a senator from Kogi State, his aides have told the Media.
Two aides of the senator who did not want to be named because they have no formal approval to speak on his behalf said the police officers arrived at about 1:40 a.m. at Mr Melaye's residence in Maitama District.
The siege comes hours after Mr Melaye was detained at the airport and prevented from travelling on an official trip to Morocco.
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) detained Mr Melaye, apparently based on information that he was on the wanted list of the police.
But rather than take the senator into custody, the police instead reportedly distanced themselves from the arrest. Mr Melaye was subsequently allowed to walk away by the NIS officials.
The siege marked the second attempt to forcibly arrest Mr Melaye by the police. The first came in early March when officers from special anti-robbery squad laid a siege to the FCT High Court in Maitama, where Mr Melaye had been arraigned and granted bail on separate charges hours earlier.
It was not immediately clear why the police are now at his home.


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On Sale
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CaseBuddy Black Padded Cell iPad Case
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This padding PU leather case has soft, subtle padding to protect your iPad from accidental knocks and bumps. The Padded Cell case has soft velvety micro-suede lining to protect your screen from scratches, smears and smudges. The Padded Cell iPad case works with iPad 2 and the new iPad and will use the auto sleep-wake function built into your iPad. It also comes with a secure flap that enables your iPad to stand itself up. Perfect for movies!
- Soft yet tough PU Leather exterior
- Form fitting protective case for maximum protection
- Durable lightweight construction
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Tuolumne County Garden Club
Calendar About Us Club Photos Contact Us
'The TCGC Mascot Flower is the Iris'
As of the March 9th meeting, we have decided to meet on the second Tuesday of each month.
AND.....we will no longer be meeting at the Sonora Senior Center, but at Jeb's Restaurant in Sonora.
We didn't have a big turnout at the March 9th meeting at the Senior Center, but we had a great speaker, Karl Rodefer. He came with a lot of information about water for all of us. At that meeting, we also decided to change our meeting date for the second Tuesday of each onth. The February meeting we had at Jeb's was very nice so now we will be going there for the rest of this term.
Since our May 9 meeting will be our attendance at the Valley Lode District meeting, there are some important business issues we MUST address at our April meeting. 1) The payment of dues for the 2017/2018 Garden Club year. The dues will continue to be $25.00 for the ext year and, since we need to pay our CGCI dues early in June, we will need to start collecting them at our April meeting. Please come to the April meeting, prepared to pay your dues for next year or send them to Anne Plummer.
We also have a sign-up sheet for those wishing to attend the Valley Lode District meeting on May 9. The cost of the Italian Buffet luncheon at the event is $27.00 and you can make your checks out to "Newman Garden Club". I would like to send in one group reservation to have them in before the April 25th deadline. We will carpool on May 9 to the Turlock Golf and Country Cub for this meeting.
Our field trip on May 16 will be to attend the Oakdale Garden Club's salad luncheon. Cost for this event is $10.0 and it is well worth the price. We had the best time last year and can't wait to attend again. We will turn in our reservations for this event while we are at the Valle Lode District meeting so if you want to do this, please be prepared to pay at the April meeting. Make check out to "Oakdale Garden Club".
All of our presiding officers have volunteered to continue on with their positions for another term so we have a slate of executive officers to present to you. Please see the ballot at the bottom of this newsletter and cast your vote at the April meeting. If you can't attend, but want to vote, please call Pat Mallen at 209-352-9952. She will report the phone and written ballot votes at the April meeting.
Please let me know if you would like to fill any of these chair positions:
Blue Star / Field Trips / Internet-Facebook / Membership / Penny Pines / Poster Contest / Door/Raffle Prizes (only one needed for each meeting) / Scholarship / Wildlife-Conservation / Yearbook
Our speaker in April will be doing a floral demonstration and I know it will be wonderful so you might want to bring a friend.
Also please fill out and bring your ballot to this meeting so Pat Mallen can tally them.
Dates to Remember:
April 11 - TCGC meeting, 11 a.m. sharp
Tuesday, May 9th is the Valley Lode District meeting in Turlock.
Tuesday, June 13th - we will have our meeting at Jeb's and we will be inviting our State Poster Contest winners to join us.
If it seems necessary to change these dates again, I will let you know as soon as I can. Thank you for being so patient while we get our time and place settled.
Tuolumne Co. Garden Club
Club Objective
'To create, promote and develop interest in the knowledge of floriculture and horticulture, gardening, floral and landscape design, plant and bird life, to encourage civic beautification and roadside development and litter control and to assist in projects for the conservation of our natural resources'.
The Club Flower
IRIS - 'Iris' is the Greek word for Rainbow. It is a flower of many varieties and colors and its popularity is attributed to its distinctive shape. They grow in temperate regions all over the world. The Iris is recorded in history as far back as 1500 B.C. by being carved on the brow of the Great Sphinx of Egypt.
Current Officials & Past Presidents
CURRENT Executive Board Members:
President: Charlotte Tucker
Vice-President: Linda Santos
Treasurer: Anne Plummer
Secretary: Joyce A. Richardson
Lillian Arave, 1956-58
Katy-Lue Arave Thrower, 1958-59
Irene Schultz, 1959-60
Betty Murphy, 1960-61
Gertrude Rasmussen, 1961-62
Elizabeth James , 1962-63
Hazel Stobough, 1963-65
Irene Ponce, 1965-68
Sevilla Pool, 1972-74
Alice Clark, 1974-76
Clovis Jones, 1976-77
Adelaide Winstead, 1978-79
Ellen Burke, 1979-81
Elberta Spaulding, 1981-82
Ellen Burke, 1982-84
Dorothy Easton, 1984-85
June Noland, 1985-87
Marilyn Scheller, 1987-89
Mariam Free, 1989-91
Muriel Warwick, 1991-92
Mary Walsh, 1992-95
Arline Borowick, 1995-97
Mary Walsh, 1997-98
Merry Creed, 1998-2000
Joyce Richardson, 2000-03
Linda Dresbach, 2003-04
Sue Armbruster, 2004-07
Linda Santos, 2007-09
Liana Shulver, 2009-11
Claire Moritz, 2011-2013
Vicki Smith, 2013-2015


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Professional Services - PrintingNarrow search by:Key Element Media is a full service digital marketing company. We provide web design, social media, SEO, graphic design and much more.697 E. I-30Rockwall, TX 75087We are a full service digital print company. Anything you can put a name or logo on we can print. We Design, Print & Promote...YOU!!!1104 Ridge Rd. Suite BRockwall, TX 75087
- Map
- 972-822-7609
Upcoming Events


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Like many Nursing majors, Cassie Hinkle '17 wants to pursue a career in medicine in order to make a difference in people's lives. However, Cassie's impact will be anything but ordinary, as she has chosen to combine a minor in Criminal Justice with her major in Nursing in order to become a Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE).
Cassie has always had an interest in the criminal justice field and, at one point, contemplated becoming a lawyer or detective. However, after shadowing nurses at a local physician's office, she developed a strong desire to become a nurse.
While researching nursing specialties, Hinkle made an exciting discovery. "SAFE nursing popped up, and I knew that would fit perfectly into what I want to do because it combines both Criminal Justice and Nursing," said Cassie.
She is grateful that the College is providing her with ample opportunities to prepare for her career. While it has been difficult to fit Criminal Justice courses into her already busy schedule as a Nursing major, she is certain that the extra work will pay off.
Cassie knows that a strong academic foundation is key to a successful future. In addition to being named to the Dean's List every academic semester at YCP, she was chosen to represent the College at the 2016 York College Grand Rounds Conference in 2016.
Additionally, this past summer, Cassie participated in an externship at York Hospital where she worked 12-hour shifts, assisting hospital staff with patient care.
When asked about her future, Hinkle explained that she would like to pursue her Master's degree to become a Nurse Practitioner and eventually obtain her doctorate.
If you'd like to see in person what York College can do for you, please schedule a visit.
Written by Jennifer Hindley '17 and Lacey Goff '17


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Senator Entertainment has tapped Gregor Jordan ("Ned Kelly") to direct ensemble drama "The Informers," adapted from the 1995 novel by Bret Easton Ellis ("American Psycho," "The Rules of Attraction") reports Variety.
Ellis novel is a collection of connected short stories set in 1983 Los Angeles and featuring movie execs, rock stars, a vampire and other morally challenged characters in tales highlighted by sex, drugs and violence.
Ellis and Jarecki penned the adaptation, the first time Ellis has adapted his own work. Shooting is set to commence this summer.


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Mabinogi Duel for Windows 7/8/8.1/10/XP/Vista/MAC OS/Laptop
Mabinogi Duel is a trading card game that is compatible with free android emulators for pc. For you to gain further access in the game to reach the level called Arena, you will need to create an account. To know more about the game here are its features
Easy navigation: When playing this game you will be able to monitor and control it in anyway; moreover the game is much appealing due to its artwork which is more amazing.
A dynamic deck: Mabinogi Duel is new strategy mobile trading card game, that will enable you form a deck of twelve cards, and by so doing you are able to come up with your own tactics that can make you win.
Million of beautiful cards: With this game you can devise some unique techniques over your opponent, because the game does come with hundreds of diverse cards that are much appealing.
Immerse story: The Good thing with this game, is before you start playing, you will go through story mode that will guide you on ways of playing, and by going through the story mode the game will become easier to play.
Easy trade of cards: With this game it is easier to trade cards with your friends, this process enables you to build a deck and by doing so you are able to build the best deck that can accommodate more cards.
PVP Arena: When playing this game you will also have a chance of challenging other players in the arena, and a challenge in the arena which is the highest level of the game can be much exciting.
To conclude Mabinogi Duel is a game that is also compatible with windows 7, 8, 10 and Mac OS X, moreover the game stands out from other trading card games and with much appealing for its amazing artistic.
How To Play/Download Mabinogi Duel for PC
Follow the instructions below, it's really easy and it takes about 5-10 minutes to run the game.
- Download Bluestacks from their official site
- Run and Install it
- Open the bluestacks app and setup your Google Play Store with your gmail, sometime it asks for phone verification
- After that search for "Mabinogi Duel"
- Click the Install button next to game icon
- When it's done, you can find and play Mabinogi Duel in "All Apps" or in "My Applications" sections
Warning: Mabinogi Duel servers shutted down and it is removed from iOS and Google Android Stores!
Download from Uptodown
Mabinogi Duel Trailer
More Mabinogi Duel Tips Using Bluestacks
- If Bluestacks don't work for you for some reason, you can try Andyroid
- Sometimes when playing Mabinogi Duel, bluestacks ask you fee to pay but gives you option to download some apps. Every time it asks you just select "Install apps" and continue using it free.
- You can configure your keys inside bluestacks. You can map specific key to specific location. And there is options for tilt, swipe, tap, move up/down/right/left…etc
I hope you enjoyed this guide, please rate and share. If you have problems running Mabinogi Duel on desktop or any other issues, leave a comment below.


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Hooligans Style | Paade Mode SPRING/SUMMER 2016
From above and below. Through texture and light. Breathe in and breathe out. Look for it. Think differently. Vantage point.
In stores from January 2016, Paade Mode offers its 7th season for spring/summer 2016 called Vantage Point, Paade Mode has chosen bold embroidered fabric Kaleidoscope as its star, colourful and contrasting embroideries of cranes in combination with bright colours of coral and ultramarine. Lightness is added by delicate flow of white silks, and fluffiness of originally styled tulle skirts and tops called Candyfloss. The collection is finished off with a selection of matching leather necklaces, bracelets, headbands and hair accessories.
Seeking inspiration in Nordic nature, stressing on the importance of slow fashion and emphasizing each child's personality, Paade Mode creates collections where ethically made garments, attention to detail and creative design choices play a pivotal role.
The brand embodies classic tendencies in combination with comfort and soft romance, by adding a modern twist with the choice of silhouette and colours. Tender touches are added by play of embroidery, textures of fabrics and patterns of knits. The collections includes styles for boys and girls from ages 6 months to 16 years. Materials range from natural linens, silks, organic cottons to Merino wool, Alpaca and cashmere.
Paade Mode stresses on the importance of slow fashion, thus many garments are handmade with special care. Meanwhile it also explores innovative technologies, such as seamless knitwear for ultimate comfort and delicate skin. Each item is thought out and created to stress freedom, imagination and simplicity. The brand pays attention to EU sourced materials and local manufacturers for a greener production.
The brand was founded in Riga, Latvia by its owner and head designer Linda Raituma 3 years ago. From the first collections Paade has received interest and positive feedback from international buyers (France, Japan, South Korea, USA, Netherlands, UK, Germany and others) and foreign press such as Milk, Papier Mache, Kid's Wear Magazine and various bloggers, thus encouraging Linda to further develop her brand and show her view regarding children's wear in the market and leading to the brand winning the Milk Fashion Design Award for the brand's autumn/winter 2015 collection.
Linda seeks passion and drive for her design choices from her own children and nature around her while living in an urban environment. Through Paade the designer encourages to think more of what is truly important – family, attention and time together.
Paade Mode keeps it in the family, with values and a close knit team and works with local artists and craftsmen to create innovative and eye catching collections. Illustrator Edite Kirse develops embroidery and fabric patterns, while Inga Gailite crafts delicate accessories from leather, cloth and metal. Keeping an open mind Linda also invites guest designers to create capsule collections. Just this past autumn/winter season Linda worked with one of the top ten WGSN kids lifestyle bloggers, artist and stylist Santa Bindemane aka KidsGazette in creating Bindemane for PaadeMode and PaadeMode Teen for spring/summer 2016. The brand pays attention to EU sourced materials and local manufacturers for a greener production.
PaadeMode works in various markets across the world in countries such as South Korea, USA, UK, Hongkong, Japan, Russia, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel.


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Senior Angular Developer
Budget $25-50 CAD / hour
Our team is looking for a developer to assist our lead developer in adding features and fixing issues of multiple ongoing Angular projects. We are an agency and get new projects regularly so if there is a good fit we can be working together for a long time.
We are looking for ~ 20-40 hours per week for an ongoing project (~6+months)
- 6 years of development experience and at least 3 years with Angular
- University degree in computer science
- Extremely proficient with javascript, HTML and CSS/Sass
- Fluent in English
- Experience writing unit tests
- Great understanding of Git and the correct process for using it in development
- Knowing Rails is a bonus
Project Stage: Design
Ongoing project: Developer
Project Type: Ongoing project
You will be asked to answer the following questions when submitting a proposal:
- How many years of experience as a developer? - Have you studied computer science or a similar in university/college? How long did you go to college or university for that? - What are your work hours? How much does it overlap with 10am-6pm EDT?
Less than 30 hrs/week
3 to 6 months
Project Length
Expert Level
I am willing to pay higher rates for the most experienced freelancers
Skills and Expertise
AngularJS CSS Docker HTML5 JavaScript jQuery Ruby on Rails Vagrant
Preferred Qualifications
Freelancer Type: Freelancers Only
Job Success Score: At least 90%
Include Rising Talent: Yes
English Level: Fluent - Has complete command of this language with perfect grammar
72 freelancers are bidding on average $35/hour for this job
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As normal, we were spoilt for choice for lunch, but in the end chose the pork and apricot sausage roll from Red Earth Kitchen, a particular favourite, and now also stocked by the West Country Deli in Brixham.
Evergreen Farm were there, and after the excellent Lamb Burger, we had trouble deciding just what to sample. In the end, we brought sausages, Scotch eggs and 2 rump steaks.
To cook the steaks I first trimmed the bulk of the fat, which I dryfried to release the flavour, I prefer to do this first to wet the pan, before adding the meat. Also neither of us like the fat on the plate, picky?
Add a generous amount of crushed garlic to the steaks while the first side is sealing , then flip, these are so tender they only need a couple of minutes to acheive perfection.
And there they are. With tomatoes from the garden and fresh mushrooms from the market, Devon life doesn't get much better!
Below is the crumble I made from the left over Blackberries, and some Rhubarb I picked.
We sneaked out for a coffee on Thursday, and found this lovely mural painted on the coffee shop wall
On the way to work, I saw a spectacular cloud formation, it looked like a flight of stairs to the sky, I tried a picture, after stopping in a lay-by but it lacks the depth of the sight.


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I was fortunate enough to have lunch with John Surtees, not far from his office in Edenbridge. The thing I recalled immediately upon learning about his passing on Friday was the journey to and from the country pub.
Yes, I can remember clearly the wonderfully detailed stories of his world championships won on two wheels and four. But overriding all of that is the image of the 80-year-old hustling his BMW 330d Touring estate through the Kent lanes with an ease and precision that marks out a natural driver. I was mesmerised by the effortless left-foot braking, the classic arms slightly bent driving position and, quite simply, the speed and control exercised without risk while he continued talking. And John liked to chat.
In fact, you could say a willingness to express forthright views denied John Surtees even more success than the records show. His multiple world titles on bikes and the 1964 F1 World Championship with Ferrari have been widely and rightly quoted in the past few days. But it would take even longer to list the 'if only' stories linked to a stubbornness that actually made the man what he was and, without question, brought Surtees back to the cockpit when his career should have been ended by a terrible accident in 1965.
While testing a Lola T70 at Mosport Park (think Brands Hatch if you want a mental picture of this challenging track), a broken front upright sent the heavy V8 sports car into the barrier before it flipped and landed on top of the driver. Surtees suffered a smashed femur, split pelvis and damaged kidneys; extensive injuries and an accompanying loss of blood he later described as "a bit touch and go".
Apart from the humanity associated with ensuring the best possible recovery, it said much about John's professional reputation that Tony Vandervell (boss of the Vanwall F1 team) blocked off a line of first class seats and had Surtees flown back to London. Following a long and painful rehabilitation (a burly rugby-playing physio reducing a four-inch discrepancy in his left thigh to three-eights of an inch), Enzo Ferrari converted a single-seater into what he referred to as a 'convalescence car' for his driver.
A frame normally used for engines was adapted to lift Surtees in and out of the cockpit. But he was mobile, pounding round and round a test track (long since abandoned) at Modena. It was a matter of regaining strength. The confidence and speed were there. As they had been from the moment he first raced on four wheels in 1960.
Even though we were casting back over five decades, Surtees remembered every detail of his debut and how he had qualified on the front row and fought with Jim Clark at Goodwood before finishing second in his next F2 race at Oulton Park. Was he surprised by his speed? "No," he said, "Because that was obviously the objective."
In cold print, that smacks of arrogance. But it was said in the matter-of-fact way that characterised a direct trait which frequently got him into trouble, specifically with Eugenio Dragoni as Enzo Ferrari's team manager ploughed a personal political furrow in the absence of his boss at the races. Even though Surtees walked out halfway through 1966, there was much sympathy and affection remaining among the ranks at Maranello.
"I did the Mille Miglia in around 2002 and we stopped en route," Surtees said when recalling the retro event. "Who should turn up but every one of the remaining lads from my Ferrari team. That summed up the true spirit of the relationship we had."
That feeling also remained among the passionate fans in Italy, where he was forever known as 'Il Grande John' in loving recall of his championship success with MV Agusta and Ferrari.
Surtees ultimately - and perhaps inevitably - ended up running his own team, a financially and mentally demanding challenge that blunted an outstanding driving talent and eventually led to his closing the workshop doors and walking away from racing.
It was while running successful businesses in factory rental and building restoration that John found himself drawn back to the sport in accompaniment with the very promising progress of his son. Despite the desperate heartache when Henry, at the age of 18, was fatally struck on the head by an errant wheel during a Formula Two race in 2009, John applied his extraordinary tenacity and quiet charm to forming 'Headway' and the 'Henry Surtees Foundation', charities for recovery from head injuries and the training of young people.
These are the tangible legacies of an exceptionally talented champion, and very nice man who knew his own mind - and was not afraid to express it.


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Recordings on a country road in the North of Spain , where by surprise I came across a horse came trotting producing a panoramic effect from left to right curious.
Thanks! Hoping to use this in an promotion video about horses
Thanks it worked! Perfect!! :D
Thanks so much going to attempt to use it in a vacation video
Thank you ! Very useful:)
Thank you!! Perfect!! :)
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Months after Julia Louis-Dreyfus picked up her millionth Emmy for playing Selina Meyer on Veep, the words of her acceptance speech continue to ring in our heads: "I want to take this opportunity to personally apologize for the current political climate," she half-joked. "I think that Veep has torn down the wall between comedy and politics. Our show started as a political satire but now feels more like a sobering documentary."
And it's true: Season 6 of the HBO comedy, which begins on April 16 and finds Meyer adrift after losing out on the presidency, seems like a response to the current, increasingly unbelievable goings-on in Washington. But as executive producer David Mandel explains, Selina's exile from the Oval Office was well underway in early 2015, when he was preparing to take over the show from creator Armando Iannucci—months before Donald Trump rode down that escalator and said he was running for president.
"They told me and then showed me the scripts and shows that they hadn't aired yet, showing the whole Electoral College tie [from the end of Season 4]," he tells Vanity Fair. "I got hooked on that notion of getting to solve that exquisite conundrum that Armando had created. At that point, for lack of a better word, I conceived of the notion that Selina needs to lose the tie, and then ultimately it would be even better if she lost to another woman. That would make it that much worse."
Mandel was intrigued by Meyer's life as a former president, someone trying to make an impact on society without any of the power to do so. "I thought [it] would be something that no one's really ever talked about or thought about," he says, "and would be doubly fascinating for Selina, as a creature who just lives for power, for her to deal with not having it, for her almost being like a weird museum relic, with people even wondering 'Is she really a president or not?' because she was only president for a year."
Season 6 finds Selina living in New York, with a new Clinton-esque foundation struggling in its South Bronx offices. Her overly loyal bag man Gary Walsh (Tony Hale) is still her assistant, and the oblivious Richard Splett (Sam Richardson) handles everything else. Somehow, her ex Andrew (David Pasquesi) is also back in her life. But one thing has changed: her once-meek daughter Catherine (Sarah Sutherland) now holds the purse strings and leverage after inheriting the entire family fortune from Selina's mother.
While D.C. politics will always be a part of the show—Selina is asked by the Secretary of State (and her former VP) to oversee an election in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, for instance—Mandel is happy that White House life isn't central to the action anymore.
"I thank the comedy gods every day that we're not in the White House. I think if we had written the show that we would probably have written had she still been president, we'd be screwed," he says. "For example, last season we did an episode about the president tweeting, which now, of course, just seems like something out of the 1800s. But at the time, it was a good story. I stand behind that story. It's just the world has so radically changed in terms of a President tweeting and what it means. And by the way, also the fact that in our little Veep world, the President screws up and there are real consequences, usually, to her career. That seems like that's gone out the window.
"I'm the first to tell you, I think if in episode 1, you saw Mike McLintock [Matt Walsh] doing a press conference, I don't know if it would be as funny as any of the Sean Spicer stuff," he continues. (We spoke the day before Spicer's Holocaust gaffe, which was quickly reimagined by a YouTube user as a lost scene.) "We had a joke about a golden shower, and now we have to change it because the president is involved with golden showers." scene.) "We had a joke about a golden shower, and now we have to change it because the president is involved with golden showers."
Other than that joke, though, any changes in how Veep operates will be subtle, and in reaction to current events, as always. "We had outlines, maybe even early drafts [before the election], but as you're working on them you can't help but not be affected by what's going on," says Mandel. If anything, the Trump administration has changed the level of absurdity in various characters, like freshman congressman and professional tall person Jonah Ryan (Timothy Simons).
"Jonah on the pulpit or Jonah behind a microphone can be Trumpesque," Mandel explains. "I don't ever want to say toned it down, but [we] just took it in a different direction so that you wouldn't be thinking to yourself, 'This is just Trump.'"
One of the byproducts of having Selina out of the White House, though, is that her loyal staff is scattered to the winds. Strategists Kent Davison (Gary Cole) and Ben Cafferty (Kevin Dunn) are now working for Jonah, their former White House tormentee. Smiling bullshit artist Dan Egan (Reid Scott) is now doing morning TV on CBS. And perpetual clenched grimace Amy Brookheimer (Anna Chlumsky) is in Nevada, running the gubernatorial campaign of her boyfriend Buddy Calhoun (Matt Oberg).
"We did a line last year in the 'Cuntgate' episode where, in the middle of the night when Selina was trying to find Amy, and she was hiding from her, and [says into] her iPhone, 'note to self; freeze my eggs,'" Mandel says. "I think a lot of women can identify with this: 'This is what I'm told I'm supposed to be doing, and yet, do I really want to be doing it?'"
How has Mandel (a veteran of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm) been able to meet the challenge of following the team to several locations?
"In some ways, the most unrealistic aspect of the first five seasons of Veep was probably the fact that her staff all stayed together as long as it did," he says. "You meet these staffers in D.C., and they seem like young kids because one day they're answering the phone, and two days later they're running the department. So we were actually very much looking forward to this notion of scattering them."
Mandel and his staff also got info from an unlikely source. "We got a lot of wonderful intel from some of the people from the first Bush [administration]; they did not think they were going to lose to [Bill] Clinton and they were unprepared for the loss. The notion that they lost that election to Clinton was hung around their neck."
Selina will spend this season grappling with her loss of power, her advancing years, and living with Catherine and her wife Marjorie (Clea DuVall). But after the first episode, the door to her running for president again is shut for good—something Mandel felt was necessary both for the character and the audience. "It felt like if we didn't shut the door on it, Selina the human would never commit herself to building a library, to writing a memoir," he says—"because all she would care about was getting back into politics."