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25 RV Parks near Hiawatha, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 6.13 miles S
We did however find 25 campgrounds within 25 miles of Hiawatha. You can also find a list of cities with campgrounds or RV Parks near Hiawatha in the left hand column.
7515 Worcester Rd Palo, Iowa 52324 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 36 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 7 Reviews
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May 2018 - $20.00
Very quiet and beautiful woodlands with an adjoining arboretum. At only $20 per night, it's a bargain. The campground host was quite helpful and friendly. The grounds were very well maintained. We have stayed here at least six times over the past ten years. Our experience has been consistently positive. We have a 37 ft. Diesel pusher and tow a vehicle. The sites are plenty long and quite accessible. All sites are GOOD. Campers include tenters, pop ups, travel trailers, 5'rs, and motor homes. We will definitely stay here again. Note: no reservations. Lynn County Parks are very well-maintained and appealing. - Bushy
Jun 2015 - $20.00
This is a beautiful campground located in a nice county park that includes an arboretum that has a paved walking trail through it. The access to the campground was not direct but fairly easy from the highway. The roads to the campground and in the campground were fine and access to most of the spots is easy. The check in process is self serve, take an envelope, select your spot, fill out the envelope and put it and your fee in the slot. The spots are gravel and mostly level with nice grassy areas with a picnic table and a firepit. Hookups are electric and water, no sewer, with a dump station on the way out that was an easy pull through. There are lots of trees, although they don't provide much privacy, except towards the back where some of the smaller spots are. We had no difficulty finding a spot big enough for us, although there were some that we wouldn't fit in. We had no problem with our satellite, but it might be difficult towards the back.
I tend to like state parks with lots of privacy and tree cover, but this campground (the campground, not just the park) is so beautiful I wanted to stay much longer than the one night we had planned. I would recommend this campground for anyone wanting a quiet place to spend a few days. - Uno Mas
Aug 2011 - $19.00
We stayed here last year enjoying it thoroughly. This year was the same. Excellent campground. Well-maintained. Clean restrooms and showers. Large spaces. Location is excellent for seeing Cedar Rock State Park, Amana Colonies, and the future birthplace of Capt. Kirk. Close to all the big stores and laundry. Camp hosts and rangers are very friendly and helpful. We stayed eight days and were sad to leave. - fulltimervtravel
3701 16th Ave SW Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 8 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 1 Reviews
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Oct 2010 - $15.00
This park is a great find for anyone doing contract work in Cedar Rapids. We stayed here for 4 months while on a work assignment. This place is really you're only option as the only other campgrounds in town are 2 state parks with a 14 day limit and no sewer. The next closest private campground is at least 20 miles out of town. I'm not sure if this is really a place you'd stay on a nightly basis, but more for long term. It is essentially a mobile home park, with a few empty slabs for RV's. Residents here are hard working, and are never home during the week. Neighborhood seemed very safe, no problems. No public bath, showers, or laundry, but they do have a big lawn area, and very nice storm shelter if needed. Location is ideal as you can walk to everything from grocery stores, restaurants, starbucks, pharmacy and more. You can even get a mailbox while you're here. Management is friendly and helpful. Park is shady and grassy, and sites were long enough for our 40 ft. motorhome, but a little unlevel. Would stay again if we are in the area for work. Cash only, no checks. You can wash your RV at the site. Electric included in monthly rate. - sysadmin
4305 Squaw Ln Marion, Iowa 52302 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 45 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 22 Reviews
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Jul 2018 - $40.00
cant go wrong here for a stopover. Some sites had full hookups and all had concrete pads I think. No negatives on this park other then not sure what there is to do around the park. It was a Thursday night and the place was almost filled up. I would stop again for sure if in the area. - Campingwi
May 2018 - $30.00
Nice level sites. Could use more trees for shade in loop A. Ranger was very nice, grass was extremely long and unkept. I have seen it this way before. It seems, especially on weekends, that they would make sure it is kept groomed. Some people mowed around their own sites. They need to mow more frequently and get a better trash dispenser. - 5vercampers
Jun 2017 - $30.00
One of the nicest parks I have ever stayed in. Level concrete pads with easy hook ups. Very well maintained with really nice views. Park Rangers are very helpful and very friendly. Sometimes it fills up quick. In loop A you are better off having a reservation!! - Rick Stilley
4400 6th St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 0 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 2 Reviews
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Oct 2017 - $25.00
This is a good spot in the Cedar Rapids area. Two rows of sites, western one is a bit more level but all 30amp. Second row has some 50 amp setups but is a bit more sloped with the higher side the west. Motorhome had to be raised 6 inches in the back to get close to level. Staff, Ed who is also the security dude for the racetrack, was friendly and very helpful. Verizon was 4bars LTE 33.42/8.23 mbps down/up AT&T 14.92/12.78 mbps down/up - Gary Airstream
Jul 2017 - $25.00
Hawkeye Downs is locally known as a racing track and, to a lesser extent, as a place for Bingo and occasional expositions (I had been here before once for a rare cat exposition before), but very few people in town know it as an RV camp, and I don't think this place is mentioned anywhere in the Internet either (not even in the website of the racing track). This is not the best place but if you really need a place in Cedar Rapids, the options are very limited. The main office at HD doesn't really deal with RV camp renting, a person who lives in a motor home does (the RV which is in the entrance of the RV camp, by a small wood sign, and by the left side of the main road that leads to the front office, and the only one that is parked on cemented ground), but if you call the main office they will tell you his phone number. He was very helpful on the phone. This was my first RV parking ever and also the first time I really use a motorhome and I needed some help to figure out the basics. In summary, this is not the best place to be, but if you need a place to stay in Cedar Rapids for a few days (if you are not into leisure travel and you are, for instance, a short term construction contractor), the rate is $25.00 per day and $150 for a week. - Rockiniowa
4530 McClintock Rd Palo, Iowa 52324 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 69 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 7 Reviews
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Jul 2016 - $16.00
There are multiple loops in the campground area. Loop 1 is idea for Motorhomes and Travel Trailers. Each campsite has exceptional grass space and all are long/wide enough for any length. The park provides access to fishing, kayaking, and swimming when the beach is open. Currently the water level is about 50% of what it normally is because of a drain of the lake last fall for clean-up. This didn't keep us and our families from kayaking, camping, and having a great time. - Travelaire
May 2016 - $16.00
The park itself was nice and overall the stay was good. Inconsiderate campers with dogs off-leash ruined it for us. We keep our dog on a cable at all times and others let their dogs run loose. DNR comes by and warns them but takes no action and when dogs ARE on a leash, they're dragging it behind them with nobody holding it. Ridiculous that people can't follow rules and DNR is either powerless or unwilling to enforce them.
Overall, the park is clean. It should be noted that the lake has been temporarily drained to complete work on the shoreline.
We stayed on Memorial Day weekend and although there were many campers, and all sites were taken, it didn't feel overcrowded. Sites are relatively spacious and the condition of the sites was good - grass was lush and healthy so no muddy footprints in the camper. - SM1969
Jun 2015 - $16.00
The views are great and the recreation park is large and very friendly. They have a full beach, are very fisherman friendly, and boat docks with lots of paddling opportunities. The campsites were only $16 for the night (50 amp electric only) and they have an envelope system where you pay cash and select your spot. You can also reserve online. The camp hosts were very friendly and the people who stayed there around us were considerate. There is no WiFi but the AT&T cell coverage was ok. We stayed in site #19 which is a very long pull through. Site #69 is a little smaller but has the best views in the park. Would have liked to stay here longer and definitely will come back. - Lee and Trace
700 Kepler Dr Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 43 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 1 Reviews
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Aug 2011 - $16.00
Beautiful park! We used a back in site that supposedly had a "slight" slope. We never did get quite level. The pull through sites were worse. There was a large motorhome on one that the front wheels were off the ground and looked like they could have used a ladder to enter the door. But other than the sites not being level, it was a pleasant stay and family oriented. - User781
4729 Horseshoe Falls Rd Central City, Iowa 52214 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 234 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 5 Reviews
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May 2017 - $20.00
The campground is called Flying Squirrel. Electric and water is available with a very nice dump station near the cg entrance. This park gets very busy in the weekends and is first come first served so a mid week arrival is recommended. Miles of hiking, biking and paths through the woods A foot bridge connects the cg with the main park over the river. The park is very well maintained and the staff is very responsive to any issues. Power went out during a thunderstorm on a Sunday night but the staff had the situation under repair immediately and we had power in very short order. This is one of the finest county parks we have visited and rivals some of the higher rated commercial parks in the area. Sewer connections would make it a near perfect camping environment. - Beech35p
Jul 2012 - $19.00
I arrived on a Tuesday afternoon and there were hardly any campers in the park. I chose a site that was well shaded and had a pleasant view of the new walking bridge over the river. The restrooms are in excellent shape and the showers roomy and very clean. You can stay at this park for 14 days and then have to leave for a week, then you can come back for another 14 days. It is a county park and is very well maintained. I camped here last year and looked forward to coming here again. I wasn't disappointed. The electric meter in my coach read 125 volts, the water pressure was excellent. The only draw back to this park is there is no sewer connections. There is a dump station on site however. I will without hesitation camp here again. - bones1941
Jun 2011 - $19.00
The park was very well maintained, the staff very friendly and helpful. Even though the park was full there was minimal noise and traffic. We definitely will come back here next year. - bones1941
3369 Sandy Beach Rd NE Solon, Iowa 52333 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 60 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 4 Reviews
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Jul 2018 - $20.00
Stayed here 4 nights while visiting family in Swisher / Cedar Rapids. A great Corps of Engineers campground. Sites were level and well maintained. Bathrooms and showers were very well maintained and very clean. Interior road are well maintained and easy to navigate. Dump station and potable water are at the entrance. The road from I380 to the entrance is 2 lane, but plenty wide enough. Though it is a bit rough in spots. Park was pretty empty when we arrived on a Thursday evening, but filled up by Saturday morning. Fellow campers were friendly, courteous and respectful. Longer stays might find the lack of water, sewer, and wi-fi a negative. But, for $20 a night and being right on the lake, I feel it is a great value. - BounderPounder
May 2018 - $20.00
Nice CoE park, very pretty. Was full over Memorial Day weekend. The sites have 30 amp electricity only, and there are water spigots at the base of a couple water fountains spread out here and there throughout the park (they are not really near any of the sites, so lots of hose would be needed if using to fill up). Dump station was easy to access. We were able to get a few OTA channels, but the AT&T signal was weak enough that no data could be used. The gravel site was pretty level, and clean. Would stay again if in the area. - KeystoneTT
Sep 2011 - $18.00
This is one of the nicest parks we have stayed at in some time. Some of the sites have a million dollar view of the lake and all sites are pretty level with gravel. The road through the park is paved. There is lots and lots of well kept lawn throughout the park. Bathrooms/shower are extremely clean and very well kept. Camp hosts are the most friendly we have encountered in years and couldn't do enough to help us find the perfect site with probably the best view of the lake (#10). Other reviews of this park made us think there were full hook ups at every site, but there are only full hookups at only two sites. The rest of the sites have only electrical and our site had only 30amp service. There is a nice dump station and water for filling your tanks. Very highly recommend staying at this park. - Al from Calif
5486 32nd Ave Center Point, Iowa 52213 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 66 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 79 Reviews
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Oct 2018 - $32.00
Stayed here a few years ago when park was managed by folks who built the park. New owners have continued on with friendly staff who escort you to your site and take care of the grounds and sites as the previous folks did. Sites are packed gravel that is very level so not much is required to level if you don't have a "six point" system. We don't. Pedestal has 30/50 amp service with 20 amp receptacle on the side of pedestal that is apparently on a separate ground conduit and line. Water and sewer drop is also placed well in the site which has grass and is nice and wide and long, at least 80 to 85 feet on our pull through, #13. DW said laundry was nice, though small. To sum up park is a good value and appears to cater to families who camp in this part of Iowa. Only change I noticed is they no longer have an ATM in the office and ice cream freezer had boxes on it so no ice cream late in the season (sigh). As I stated a few years ago, Cedar Rapids south and Waterloo north. Don't know much about this area. - xarmoreddriver
Sep 2018 - $34.00
Our family stayed here for one night on our way through to Yellowstone. Campground was very clean, sites were well spaced out. We had a nice pull through, level, gravel sight. It is very convenient to the highway so you get highway noise. Minimal shade (if any) at the campsites. Lots of things to keep kids busy. Pirate ship, train, play house, putt putt, and more! Everything was very nice but needed a little love. Several broken boards, garbage. Seemed slightly run down and unkept in places. Overall a great place to stop! - KRR62009
Sep 2018 - $35.00
Our 30 amp service during hot days voltage dropped to 101VAC where the AC would not work properly. The park was almost full, and lots running the AC, so electric service needs to be upgraded. The WiFi was just one step faster than carrier pigeon, extremely slow especially during daytime hours. The WiFi coverage was very weak at site #20. - Del Pfranger
1850 Scales Bend Rd NE North Liberty, Iowa 52317 (map) | Click To View Phone
Sites: 91 | Recent Rate: $$$$ | 4 Reviews
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Aug 2015 - $35.00
The campground is part of a popular marina on the shores of Coralville Lake, and the setting is lovely. We were there on a busy summer weekend when all sites were taken, so that we had neighbors close on either side of our site. While other aspects of the campground were fine, the restrooms were not; they were dirty and did not appear to be cleaned during the entirety of our stay. The showers were especially bad. The on-site restaurant has live music on weekends, and the noise on a Saturday night was intrusive. In addition, trash had to be hauled quite a distance from the site and there were no recycling bins. - kvdvirginia
Jul 2015 - $33.00
Park has great deal of seasonal residents, not leaving many sites for visitors. Staff that checked us in did not know which sites were 30 or 50 amp, didn't clarify that we wanted sewer with 50 amp (we were staying couple days), sent us to 3 different sites (2nd site we had already leveled on blocks before we realized it was 30 amp). Ended up that we took site without sewer, which was gravel, fairly level (previous site was not) and spacious, plenty of room for motorhome and towed and 4 slides. Site had beautiful shade trees which were very helpful for comfort, but blocked our DirecTv signal. Verizon service very good. This park really caters to locals who come in for weekend with their own watercraft, nothing is available for rental. The neighbor says they have entertainment on the weekend. I don't think you'd get in on weekend without reservation but Mon-Wed ok. Park was quite a ways from interstate which made the setting serene. - CupcakeRIA
Sep 2014 - $31.00
This is a beautiful shady campground on Coralville Lake. There is a busy marina and a popular bar/restaurant on site. The campground has a playground, sand volleyball courts, and horseshoe courts. The sites that are on the lake have full hookups, but those sites are reserved for seasonal campers. We were on site W 13 which was water/electric and had a nice view of the lake. All sites are long and shaded. The bathhouse was clean and modern. However, there is only one, and it is not in the overnight camper section. Lots of campers have their own golf carts. We enjoyed drinks and lunch at Bobbers, the bar and restaurant on site. The seasonal campers were very friendly and welcoming. We will definitely return. - shayerk


text: DigitalHearst Newspapers Fires Reporter for Repeated FabricationBy Chris O'Shea|June 25, 2012 ShareBy Chris O'Shea|June 25, 2012 Share The New Canaan News, published by Hearst Newspaper subsidiary Hearst Connecticut Media Group, has fired Paresh Jha for fabricating names and quotes in at least 25 stories. According to Poynter, the paper removed the stories containing the made up sources, and David McCumber, the editorial director for Hearst Connecticut Media Group, issued an apology for a "gross violation of standards.""We have found 25 stories written by Paresh Jha over the last year and a half that contain quotes from nonexistent sources," McCumber said in a statement on the New Canaan News' site.Jha's works were discovered when editors were fact checking names that seemed to be spelled oddly. When confronted, Jha admitted his wrongdoing.The paper is now investigating every story Jha wrote during his time there. Sharehttp://adweek.it/2jKLmxD copy Adweek Adweek

subset: commoncrawl


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Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Simple Pleasures
Taking time to daydream now and then. Out of such idle thoughts, great ideas are born ...
(Photograph by larajade on Flickr, via We Heart It)
Posted by Lori at 12:02 am 7 comments :
Labels: fashion , ideas , photography , simple pleasures
Miyako Festivals
These beautiful paintings are from the Miyako1 Nenju Gyoji Gajo (Picture Album of Annual Festivals in the Miyako). A 2-volume work, each image was delicately hand-painted on silk by Nakajima Soyo in 1928, and depicts the annual festivals and customs of Kyoto at the beginning of the Showa period (a period corresponding to the reign of Emperor Hirohito — 1926-1989). More paintings can be seen here. Via the always wonderful BibliOdyssey.
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text:
An emotional day became unforgettable for Scotty McCreery on Saturday,
May 14. The 17 year old kept his cool while fans screamed, cried and
even proposed marriage during a media tour and promotional stops at
local Garner, N.C. businesses. Taste of Country was there as the love
shown by friends and family began to peel away the layers of his
usually steady demeanor. The afternoon reached a fever pitch when
McCreery's hero Josh Turner walked out singing his hit song 'Your Man.'
McCreery had just begun his "theme song" when Turner strutted out and
picked up the next verse. "Oh my goodness!" McCreery shouted while
waving off his band. It was the only time all afternoon he struggled to
find the perfect thing to say.
"All these people are here for you," Turner told McCreery. "I had heard
you never sang this song with a band before and were a little bit
nervous, so I decided I would bring a few of my guys in." The duo
picked up the song from the start, and traded verses and praise before
going into Turner's first radio hit, 'Long Black Train.'
The high school junior showed incredible stage presence for someone
who's experience is limited at best. He was charismatic and funny,
worked both sides of the audience, and even remembered to wave to the
special fans in the first few rows. He hammed it up a little with Josh
Turner, but never came off cornier than one would want. Amongst the
songs he recreated for his fans was 'Gone,' 'Letters From Home,' and
'The River,' all tracks that were essential to his success thus far in
the competition.
Hours earlier, during the parade leading up to the concert at Lake
Benson park, fans watched as their native son buried his head in his
hands and came up with rosy cheeks and watery eyes. Organizers expected
30,000 people despite the threat of storms. Fortunately, the only thing
that got wet before McCreery finished was his sleeves, as he dabbed his
teary eyes. Expect that scene to make the cut during this Wednesday's
episode of 'American Idol."


text: On Wed, Apr 09, 2008 at 03:41:40AM -0700, Matthew Dempsky wrote: > On Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 3:26 AM, Rory Byrne <> wrote: > > On Wed, Apr 09, 2008 at 11:04:11AM +0200, Raimo Niskanen wrote: > > > > > > These functions seem to work on a MacOS X Leopard box > > > in our lab, there I get: > > > inet_gethost_native:gethostbyname("ipv6.google.com", inet6). > > > inet_gethost[63317] (DEBUG):Saved domainname .google.com. > > > inet_gethost[63317] (DEBUG):Created worker[63418] with fd 3 > > > inet_gethost[63317] (DEBUG):Saved domainname .google.com. > > > inet_gethost[63418] (DEBUG):Worker got request, op = 1, proto = 2, data = ipv6.google.com. > > > {error,notfound} > > > > > > Not strange since we do not have working IPv6 here at work. > > > > > > > Is this only {error,notfound} when you use an {inet6, true} > > configuration? There should be no problem looking up AAAA > > DNS records over IPv4: > > Testing at home with OS X (IPv6 link-local access only), I get > {error,notfound} with or without {inet6, true}. > > ipv6.google.com's AAAA records still resolve fine with dig/host/etc. > Might be a problem. I'm guessing that most people are going to expect to resolve all their DNS queries over IPv4 for many years to come. I would have assumed the following: . Using {inet6, false} should mean: only query IPv4 DNS servers. It shouldn't effect what you can query, so you should be able to get AAAA records without a problem. . Using {inet6, true} should mean: use an IPv6 DNS server to resolve queries if one is configured. Failing that, use any IPv4 DNS servers that are configured. Again, the content of your query should not be effected. Not saying that this is the way it should be, just that this would have been my initial assumption. Anyway, it appears that the problem is on the link between erlang and the local resolver. However, if your planning on doing any elaborate debugging on this stuff, it might be worth keeping in mind that none of google's DNS servers have IPv6 addresses, so all queries to them will ultimately go over IPv4. The DNS servers for kame.net do have IPv6 addresses (eg: dig -6 aaaa www.kame.net @orange.kame.net). Good luck, Rory


text:
Listings in Hotels and Shipping Lines
Helzer Hotel
in Hotels
Helzer Hotel is located in Bole Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.On Helzer Tower, In Front of Sheger Building, 7 min drive from Bole International Airport, Provide Hotel services.
Cameroon St
6th,Helzer Tower,---,In Front of Sheger Building
03/05, Bole, Addis Ababa
Meta Abo Beer Veterans Beer And Hotel Business P.L.C
in Hotels
Meta Abo Beer Veterans Beer And Hotel Business P.L.C In front of Kadisco Building, Near to United Bank, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Provide basic hotel services.
In Front Of Kadisko Building Near To Wegagen Bank
06/07/08, Nefas Silk Lafto, Addis Ababa
Review this
Tommy International Hotel
in Hotels
Tommy International Hotel located in bishoftu In front Of Rift Valley University Collage, Oromia, Ethiopia.they use cash,credit for companies and card payment service and it gives room,restaurant, bar,hall,cafe,sauna,steam,massage and WiFi services.
Infront Of Rift Valley University Collage
Mojo Town, Lome, Oromia
Tits General Contractor
in Hotels
Tits General Contractor is located in Megenagna, In Marathon Motors Bldg, In Front Of Yeka Sub City Administration Bldg, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 14 min drive from Bole International Airport. Engaged in general construction.
6th,Marathon Motors Bldg,---,In Front Of Yeka Sub
09/10, Yeka, Addis Ababa
Review this
Maribela Hotel
in Hotels
Maribela Hotel is located in Lalibela Next To Panaroma Hotel. Amhara, Ethiopia. 13 hr 58 min drive via route 2 from bole international airport. Provide hotel service.
Next To Panoroma Hotel
Lalibela Town, Lasta (Ayna), Amhara
Yeneneh Biruk And Friends Metal Work
in Hotels
Yeneneh Biruk And Friends Metal Work is located in Aware,Around Adiwa Bridge,Addis Abeba,Ethiopia. Provides Metal Work Services.
Around Adiwa Bridge
06/07, Yeka, Addis Ababa
Review this
Bahir Dar Hotel (Sirak And Family Plc)
in Hotels
Near To Kasanchis Bas Station
08/09, Kirkos, Addis Ababa
Review this
Bahir Dar Hotel No 1
in Hotels
Bahir Dar Hotel No 1 is located in Bahir Dar In Front Of Telecommunication. Amhara, Ethiopia. Provide hotel service.
In Front Of Telecommunication
Meshenti Town, Bahirdar Zuria, Amhara
Review this
Dessie Hotel
in Hotels
Carl Square
---,Around Ledeta Federal Court
01/18, Lideta, Addis Ababa
Mulu Tiruwork And Friends sc
in Hotels
Mulu Tiruwork And Friends sc is located in Balderas, Behind To Alminira Mosque, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Provide injera.
---,Behind To Alminira Mosque
05, Yeka, Addis Ababa
Review this


text:
Property Description
Shop to Let
Knightswick Shopping Centre, Canvey Island
Unit 7 Furtherwick Road
The Knightswick Centre is located in the heart of Canvey Island and benefits from being adjacent to the town's principle car park which offers some 300 spaces. The scheme is anchored by Sainsbury's and Peacocks, whilst other national multiples within the scheme include Costa Coffee, M&Co., Shoe Zone & Paddy Power.
These premises are located within the covered section of the centre on the Mall which links the 300 space car park to Furtherwick Road being close to Costa, Peacocks, Card Factory, Coral and Poundland.
The premises are arranged on ground floor and offer the following approximate dimensions and net internal floor areas:-
Ground Floor Sales 889 sq. ft. (82.59 sq. m)
The premises are available for temporary occupation at an all inclusive rental of £350 per week, excluding utility costs and VAT.
The current annual service charge payable is £4,652.
A full EPC is available upon request.
The Valuation Office Website indicates that the premises have been assessed for rating purposes as follows:
Rateable Value £9,400
This may result in an entitlement to 100% small business rates relief. Interested parties are advised to make their own enquiries of the local authority.
Each party to be responsible for their own legal costs incurred in the transaction.
Subject to vacant possession and strictly by appointment through joint agents:
Everett Newlyn contact Paul Everett email@example.com
or Green & Partners –
Matt Beardall 020 7659 4836


text:
If you are aware of podcasts or webcasts that might be of interest to the fine press book community, please email us the details so we can post them here.
Arion Press Video Tour: "This tour of Arion Press in San Francisco showcases one of the last traditional book-making facilities in the country where all the processes take place under one roof: the hot metal type foundry, letterpress printing facility, and hand bookbinding studio. Originally featured on the CSPAN BookTV program. . . ."
The Art of Hermann Zapf: "A film on the purpose and techniques of calligraphy. Presented and produced by Hallmark. Filmed at Hallmark cards during a visit by Mr. Zapf."
The Baskerville Project: "This short film explores the technological impact and cultural achievements of John Baskervilles life and work."
The Biblio File: Podcasts of Canadian Nigel Beale's "interviews with authors, publishers, booksellers [and] book experts."
Bixler Press & Letterfoundry: Brief but affectionate look at the respected press & letterfoundry of Michael & Winifred Bixler.
Book Artists & Poets: "These interviews with book artists and poets, are hosted by Steve Miller, coordinator of the MFA in the Book Arts Program at The University of Alabama. The lively conversations are about craft, inspiration, careers, and aspirations."
Boxcar Press (a Day in the Life): "new movie of Boxcar Presss printshop, beautifully filmed and edited . . . by Daylight Blue Media. Music is by local composer Marc Mellits."
Center for Book Arts (NY): Well-produced promotional video about the Center's mission.
The Child: A world made of typography, created by Antoine Bardou-Jacquet for the french dj Alex Gopher, and a longtime cult favorite of typographers.
Henry Morris at Oak Knoll Fest XV: Fine press printer Henry Morris, proprietor of Bird & Bull Press, talks about his 50+-year involvement with fine press printing. Audio files courtesy of Oak Knoll Books.
In a Bind: CBS News examines the fine art of bookbinding.
Library of Congress Podcasts: Podcasts of all things bookish from the largest library in the world. Also includes links to LOC webcasts and assorted other video & audio resources.
Making Faces: a Documentary on Cutting Metal Type: Well-executed trailer for a documentary about Jim Rimmer, the famed British Columbia "pressman, compositor, typesetter, designer, lithographer, illustrator, bookbinder and teacher."
Metal Type: A nice selection of archival video from this site dedicated to the "Printers and Typesetters who remember the old days of Letterpress Printing. . . ."
Printing "Pictorial Webster's": Quercus Press and its ten-year project to produce a fine press edition worthy of Webster.
Quill Skill: A well-executed promotional video for master calligrapher Denis Brown.
Recorded Voices from the World of Printing: From Martyn Ould and friends, a growing sound archive about fine and private press printing.
Tara Books Video: A video about the award-winning handmade books produced by Tara Books in India.
TypeCulture: ". . . an independent digital type foundry and academic resource which is owned by Mark Jamra." A short, but nice, collection of videos on typecasting.
Wood Type Wayzgoose: Short video of the 2009 wayzgoose at the Hamilton Wood Type Museum.


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MICHAEL CRONIN's job as a college admissions officer took him to
"It just resonated with me immediately," said Mr. Cronin, who was staying at a posh Taj Hotel in
Soon, Mr. Cronin, 41, found himself skirting open sewers and ducking to avoid exposed electrical wires as he toured the sprawling Dharavi slum, home to more than a million. He joined a
Mr. Cronin was briefly shaken when a man, "obviously drunk," rifled through his pockets, but the two-and-a-half-hour tour changed his image of India. "Everybody in the slum wants to work, and everybody wants to make themselves better," he said.
Slum tourism, or "poorism," as some call it, is catching on. From the favelas of
Slum tourism isn't for everyone. Critics charge that ogling the poorest of the poor isn't tourism at all. It's voyeurism. The tours are exploitative, these critics say, and have no place on an ethical traveler's itinerary.
"Would you want people stopping outside of your front door every day, or maybe twice a day, snapping a few pictures of you and making some observations about your lifestyle?" asked David Fennell, a professor of tourism and environment at Brock University in
Not so fast, proponents of slum tourism say. Ignoring poverty won't make it go away. "Tourism is one of the few ways that you or I are ever going to understand what poverty means," said Harold Goodwin, director of the International Center for Responsible Tourism in
The crucial question, Mr. Goodwin and other experts say, is not whether slum tours should exist but how they are conducted. Do they limit the excursions to small groups, interacting respectfully with residents? Or do they travel in buses, snapping photos from the windows as if on safari?
Many tour organizers are sensitive to charges of exploitation. Some encourage — and in at least one case require — participants to play an active role in helping residents. A church group in Mazatlán, Mexico, runs tours of the local garbage dump, where scavengers earn a living picking through trash, some of it from nearby luxury resorts. The group doesn't charge anything but asks participants to help make sandwiches and fill bottles with filtered water. The tours have proven so popular that during high season the church group has to turn people away. "We see ourselves as a bridge to connect the tourists to the real world," said Fred Collom, the minister who runs the tours.
By most accounts, slum tourism began in
The tours may be safe, but they can be tense. Rajika Bhasin, a lawyer from New York, recalls how, at one point during a favela tour, the guide told everyone to stop taking pictures. A young man approached the group, smiling and holding a cocked gun. Ms. Bhasin said she didn't exactly feel threatened, "just very aware of my surroundings, and aware of the fact that I was on this guy's turf."
Still, she said, the experience, which included visiting galleries featuring the work of local artists, was positive. "Honestly, I would say it was a life-changing experience," Ms. Bhasin said. Saying she understood the objections, she parried, "It has everything to do with who you are and why you're going."
Chuck Geyer, of Reston, Va., arrived for a tour in Mumbai armed with hand sanitizer and the expectation of human misery incarnate. He left with a changed mind. Instead of being solicited by beggars, Mr. Geyer found himself the recipient of gifts: fruit, and dye to smear on his hands and face, as people celebrated the Hindu festival of Holi. "I was shocked at how friendly and gracious these people were," Mr. Geyer said.
Proponents of slum tourism say that's the point: to change the reputation of the slums one tourist at a time. Tour organizers say they provide employment for local guides and a chance to sell souvenirs. Chris Way has vowed to put 80 percent of his profits back into the Dharavi slum.
The catch, though, is that Mr. Way's company has yet to earn a profit on the tours, for which he charges 300 rupees (around $7.50). After receiving flak from the Indian press ("a fair criticism," Mr. Way concedes), he used his own money to open a community center in the slum. It offers English classes, and Mr. Way himself mentors a chess club. Many of those running favela tours in Brazil also channel a portion of their profits into the slums. Luiz Fantozzi contributes to a school and day-care center.
But slum tourism isn't just about charity, its proponents say; it also fosters an entrepreneurial spirit. "At first, the tourists were besieged by beggars, but not anymore," said Kevin Outterson, a law professor from
Even critics of slum tourism concede it allows a few dollars to trickle into the shantytowns, but say that's no substitute for development programs.
Mr. Fennell, the professor of tourism in Ontario, wonders whether the relatively minuscule tourist revenue can make a difference. "If you're so concerned about helping these people, then write a check," he said.Continue reading the main story


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Luongo gets nod for Canucks against Blue Jacketsby NHL.com Staff
Roberto Luongo will start in net for the Vancouver Canucks when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, the team announced Monday.
Cory Schneider started the Canucks' previous three games -- all losses -- and has just two wins in his last eight starts. The Canucks have lost four straight and have been overtaken by the Minnesota Wild for first place in the Northwest Division.
Luongo hasn't played since March 3, when he allowed three goals on 24 shots in a 4-2 loss to the Calgary Flames. For the season, Luongo is 5-2-3 with a 2.19 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.


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The June 12, 1993 presidential election was free and fair. But it was annulled by the former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd). Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU revisits the dark moment in national history and the adversarial roles of the key players who aborted the envisaged journey to the new order.
Twenty years after, the pains linger. The memory of horror has not fizzled out. The wasted hope, the betrayal by the backsliding actors, the use of brute force by the soldiers of fortune, the restoration of partial civil rule and the breach of popular rule by the military apologetics in power have prolonged the political bereavement.
On June 23, 1993, when the historic presidential election won by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Chief Moshood Abiola, was annulled by the military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, the country was enveloped in gloom and anxiety. Instantly, the journey to democracy was crippled. The voters were enraged. A cloud of uncertainty hanged over the polity. Although the electorate issued a red card to the military, it was defiled by soldiers who resisted changed and subdued them with guns. The symbol of the struggle was caged as the victor became the villain. He never returned alive. The rest is history.
The great betrayal
Historians agree that the acts of treachery will be narrated from generation to generation. The criminal annulment jolted the people out of their delusion that its covetous and over-politicised military could voluntarily return power to legitimate authorities without a popular uprising.
When Babangida shoved aside his predecessor, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) in August 1985, Nigerians hailed the architect of the palace coup. He warmed himself to Nigerians by unfolding a transition agenda, which, as subsequent events showed, was programmed to fail, in spite of the heavy electoral expenditure and repeated assurance that the military was prepared to transfer power. To that extent, the General stood against national progress by elevating personal survival over and above the national interest.
In justifying the annulment, which aborted the dream of his friend, Abiola, to succeed him, Babangida alluded to the conflict between loyalty to friendship and 'love' for the nation. "My commitment to the cherished values of friendship has been confronted with the demands of statecraft", said the military leader, who explained that, when that confrontation emerged, he decided to abandon friendship for the need to for national service. "I love my friends, but I also love my country. It is the height of patriotism that whenever the love for one's country is in conflict with any other love, the love for one's country takes precedence", he added."
Pro-democracy activist Comrade Joe Igbokwe, who has been consistent in opposing IBB's presidential ambition in the post-June 12 period, declared that the retired General took the confused nation for a ride. "As we mark the June 12 anniversary, we cannot but remember the role of the enemies of democracy, whose activities also laid the foundation for this current dispensation, particularly at the centre. We regret that, 20 years after, we have not witnessed another free, fair, democratic and credible election like June 12. Babangida annulled the election and sadly, there is no way for him to rectify his mistake. History's judgment will always be harsh on him", he said.
Dashed hope
The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who had peeped into the future, cautioned against the illusion of hope, when IBB announced his transition to civil rule programme. He was weary of the prevailing political situation. The sage had been invited to participate in the debate organised by the Political Bureau chaired by Dr. Cookey. The old doubted the sincerity of the transition drivers. Awo predicted that the country was embarking on a fruitless search, warning that when Nigerians imagine that the new order has arrived, they would be terribly disappointed. When he returned to Ikenne from Lagos, following his visit to Doddan Barracks, he urged his followers to learn to eat and win e with the devil with a long spoon.
To observers, the military was not ready to abdicate power. The military President's game of gambling was confounding, but it was initially ignored by the vocal activists and other stakeholders. The evidence was that the critical poll was shifted on two occasions when the transition timetable was reviewed. When the military government knew that it was impossible to shift it for the third time, it rescheduled the poll for June, the raining session.
But nature was kind to the determined voters on long queues across the country. The weather was benevolent. The minor hitches associated with the electoral commission's operations, including the late arrival of polling materials and electoral officers in isolated places, were endured by the excited voters. There was no anxiety. People embraced the historic festival of change and choice without any fear of intimidation and molestation.
The mood in the army and police barracks was not different. Soldiers, their wives and children, displayed enthusiasm as they chose between SDP's Abiola and his rival, Othman Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). According to the National Electoral Commission (NECO) chaired by Prof. Humphrey Nwosu. 14 million participated in the voting. Thuggery, violence and other electoral malpractices were absent. It was a miracle. The contest showcased the potency of the Option A4, open ballot system and two party democracy. According to the poll results, Abiola scored 8,341, 309 votes, representing 58.36 percent of the total votes cast. Tofa, it was said, was ready to concede victory. In fact, the NRC National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Doyin Okupe, declared that the poll was devoid of rigging, affirming that Abiola won a popular mandate.
But the military thought otherwise. The announcement of the result was stopped abruptly, based on the order from above. The NEC Director of Publicity, Dr. Tony Iredia, who was displaying the results as they trickled in, was asked to remove them from the notice board. Later, a terse statement putting the announcement on hold was released by the Presidency.
Game of deception
At that point in time, the presidential spokes
man, Duro Onabule, was about taking the
back seat. The Chief Press Secretary to the military Vice President, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, Mr. Nduka Iraboh, released government's directive to the anxious reporters in Abuja, the seat of power. The statement reads: 'In view of the litigation pending in the various courts, the Federal Government is compelled to take appropriate steps to rescue the judiciary. These steps are taken to protect our legal system and the judiciary from being ridiculed and politicised, both nationally and internationally.
"In an attempt to end this ridiculous charade, which may culminate in judicial anarchy, the Federal Military Government has decided to: stop forthwith all court proceedings pending or to be instituted and appeals thereon in respect of any matter touching, relating or concerning the presidential election held on June 12, 1993, the Transition to Civil Rule Political Programme (Amendment No 3, Decree No 52 of 1992 and the presidential election.
"Basic Constitutional and Transitional Provision Decree No 13 of 1993 is hereby repealed. all acts or omissions done or purportedly to have been done, or to be done by any person, authority etc, under the above named decrees are hereby declared invalid. The National Electoral Commission is hereby suspended. All acts or omission done or purported to have been done by itself, its officers or agents under the repealed Decree No 13, 1993, are hereby nullified".
The embattled military leader also justified the cancellation in a nation-wide broadcast on June 26, 1993. It was clearly an after-thought. Babangida rationalised that the electoral commission did not carry all the voters along, following the court ruling of June 10, which had cancelled the poll. He imagined a hollow in the process of authentication and clearance of the presidential candidates, although the candidates passed through the rigorous nomination processes at the ward, local government, state and national levels. Nigerians wondered why the Federal Government did not point out this before the poll.
The allegation that bribes were offered and accepted by the INEC officials was also disputed. Babangida could not substantiate it. Neither could be convince Nigerians that a conflict of interest existed between the government and the presidential candidates. Indeed, the nature of the conflict was kept to his chest. Babangida had indicated his preferred destination when he submitted that he knew those who would not succeed him and that he did not know those who would succeed him. When he finally boxed himself into a cul de sac, viewers saw a staggering military President boasting that the military knew who its successors are chosen and that 'we are not only in government, we are in power."
Morbid hate for MKO
The SDP candidate was very passionate about the masses. He believed that power could be used to to transform the society. He had fought many personal battles, but 'june 12' was the fiercest battle of his life. When IBB annuled his victory, he became a political warrior with a a battalion. Rejecting the annulment, he declared himself as the custodian of a sacred mandate. He said, having voted for him, the people of Nigerian expected him to assume the reins on August 27, 1993. " I intend to keep that date with history", Abiola said.
IBB could not make the mistake of underrating the billionaire businessman-turned politician, who had become the champion of the masses. He knew the strength and weakness of his bosom friend. In a birthday message to him in 1992, Babangida described MKO as a man of courage, stressing that " a major feature of your life, so far, is the diggedness and determination with which you pursue any venture embarked upon".
Abiola had divided the military. Majority insisted that, since he won the poll, he should not be robbed. But the minority appeared more powerful. When the heat was much, he had jetted out to seek international support. By the time he returned home, his party had split. He met a divided and rancorous party whose leaders started speaking from the two sides of the mouth. Also, the military decided to subject his business to torture. His business investment was ebbing away. The military dictator clamped down on his newspapers, Concord, and other media organisations sympathetic to the cause of popular rule. They also effectively deployed the government media, which became more hostile to him and his supporters. Former Information Minister Comrade Uche Chukwumerije, now a minister, mounted the hottest propaganda against the just cause. He said, by travelling abroad, MKO had gone down in history as the first Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yoruba to have deserted the battle field. As June 12 divided the polity, associates were changing allegiance. The Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) led by Senator Arthur Nzeribe, engaged in infamous deformation of the struggle, collating imaginary signatures of people against the election.
Vice President Aikhomu doubted the fitness of Abiola for the Presidency, describing the President-elect as one of the rich persons who are not necessarily philosophical kings. The military accused him of leaving the country illegally to mount an illegal campaign abroad against his fatherland. Gradually, MKO was losing grip of the situation. There were conflicts of advice and suggestions by eminent Nigerians. None could influence the military rulers to retrace their steps.
To the observers, history was merely repeating itself. A decade earlier, Abiola had sought to rule the country. He was edged out of the race in the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1982. He apparently failed to see the handwriting on the wall. initially, he had made a bold attempt to contest with the more politically experienced Chief Adisa Akinloye for the party's national chairmanship. The old political warhorse defeated him at the 1980 national convention. Indeed, on June 12, 1982, he struggled for the presidential ticket with President Shehu Shagari. He could not even obtain the nomination form as the gate of the party secretariat was shot against him. The former Transport Minister, Dr. Umaru Dikko, told Abiola that "the Presidency is not for the highest bidder". It was said that, on the advice of his late wife, Simbiat, who had also lost a senatorial contest in Ogun State, MKO started losing interest in politics. What brought him back was the politics of ban imposed the cult of presidential aspirants in the two parties.
The messiah as problem
The main issue and obstacle to
successful transition was the
military President, who prided himself as the Maradona and Evil Genius. IBB had intended to be the greatest ruler Nigeria ever had. He had come with a disarming smile, courting the critical stakeholders, setting up a cabinet of talents, inviting the egg heads into his administration and venturing into socio-economic and political experimentation, which kept the polity busy. When coup plotters rose against him, he won sympathy because of the innovative social engineering. But to the surprise of experts, the economy continued to show signs of strains. As the military President, he assumed full executive powers, without the accompanying checks and balances. Deploying these sweeping powers, his administration started courting the Organisation of Islamic Unity (OIC). As the economy nosedived, his Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) became a failure. Hundreds of people died and sustained wounds in the massive anti-SAP riots across the country. To sustain the regime, the culture of settlement became a feature of national life.
From the onset, the transition programme suffered reverses. When the critical groups, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) raised eyebrow, the government came up with repressive tactics. Many politicians of note were banned and unbanned. IBB foisted two parties on the country, shifted the hand-over dates at will, changed the rules guiding the transition programme and instigated chorus singers to demand for the elongation of his military Presidency. He may not have corrected read the mood of the people, who actively enlisted on the side of democracy. he last straw that broke the carmel's back was the cancellation of the credible June 12 poll.
Failed resistance
On June 23, when the election was cancelled, the face-off kicked off. On the battle front were Abiola, his wife, Kudirat, the SDP leaders who were loyal to him, human rights groups, labour, students, and the members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). Abiola was ready to lay down his life, which he ultimately did. He decried the insult heaped on the voters by IBB, despite their cooperation with the military on the transition programme. In his famous Epe Declaration, the President-elect insisted on his mandate. "never before has there been such a cynical and contemptuous abrogation of solemn commitment and fixed programme", he also said in response to the unsigned statement announcing the annulment. In Abiola's view, not only did the voters shunned violence, rigging and other forms of malpractices, the domestic and foreign observers testified that the election was largely free and fair.
The President explained that he, his rival, Tofa, and the two political parties never went to court to complain about the poll. He wondered why the Abuja High Court granted the unprecedented and curious injunction to the ABN leader, Nzeribe, who was not a candidate and who never voted during the election. He observed that these diabolical events were planned ahead to create confusion and discredit the successful poll. "from now on, the struggle in Nigeria is between the people and a small clique in the military determined to cling to power at all costs", he stressed.
When Abiola later declared himself President, IBB yelled like a power-drunk ruler. But the seat became hotter for him henceforth. There were sporadic protests in major cities. They insisted on his exit on August 27, 1993. He handed over to an unelected government.
Interim contraption
Three major forces were struggling for the soul of the country-the June 12 fighters, supporters of military tenure elongation and proponents of interim government. The motivation for tenure elongation was to save Babangida from shame or self-destruction. But rationalising the interim option, former military Head of State Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo said, although it was regrettable, it was understandable. Sources said that four six names were being considered for the ING chairman-Obasanjo, the late Dr. Pius Okigbo, the late Chief Anthony Enahoro, the late Dr. Mathew Mbu, Abiola himself and Chief Ernest Sonekan, the Chairman of the Transitional Council. Okigbo, sources said, declined, following the advice of the Igbo leaders. They felt that it would the Igbo of the Presidency in the future. Enahoro's loyalty was doubted, since he participated in the anti-military protest. Sources also said that the mood did not support the emergence of any soldier as the head of the ING.
When Babangida finally embraced his option, which offered him an escape route, he headed for the National Assembly headed by Senate president Iyorcha Ayu. There, he offered to step aside. "Following lengthy deliberations with my service chiefs, I offered as my own personal sacrifice to voluntarily step aside as the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria", he told the parliamentarians. But he also added: "I shall be ready, at the end of the interim government to pass on my experience in defense and security matters and any information relevant to the state to the elected President. During the period of interim administration, I will place before Nigerias full account of our stewardship. His speech threw legislators into confusion. Some felt that he had bowed out. Others said that he intended to bounce back. Many requested to know the meaning of 'step aside' from the dictionary. Ayu said his interpretation of the speech was that IBB has decided to quit. His deputy, Senator Albert Legogie, concurred , saying that Babangida should be left to take a rest.
Enumerating the elements of the Interim National Government headed by Sonekan, Babangida said it would only affect the structure of the Military Government at the federal level. The unelected government will work with elected parliament at the federal and state levels and with the elected governors. But the Minister of Defense, the late Gen. Sani abacha was left behind. Babangida was silent on the tenure of the ING. He only alluded to a "reasonable period". The Chairman, Sonekan, had no deputy. Therefore, Abacha, the most senior military officer and minister, became his automatic deputy. Sonekan was not even immediately acknowledged as the Commander-In-Chief. he was merely referred to as the Head of Interim Government.
The great boardroom politician, Sonekan, could not reenact the success that attended his career in business on the slippery political field. The senior military officers left behind by IBB, especially Abacha and gen. Joshua Dongoyaro, were locked in feud. The country was in deep pain. Protesters doubled their efforts on the streets. The crisis overwhelmed his the illegitimate government. The politically naive interloper was learning a bitter lesson of his short political life. On November 10, 1993, Justice Dolapo Akinsanya of the Lagos High Court dismantled the interim apparatus, saying that it was illegal, unconstitutional, null and void. She said that, by virtue of Section 1 of decree 58 of 1993, IBB was not competent to promulgate Decree 61 of 1993, which set up the ING. But the June 12 fighters did not seize that moment. Many felt that, at that stage, Abiola should have declared himself President as the custodian of a popular mandate. On November 18, 1993, Abacha sacked Sonekan and stepped in as the military head of State.
Failed battle
The pro-democracy crusaders
were back to square one. Abacha
abolished all democratic structures at the state and federal levels, disbanded the National Electoral Commission (NEC), banned the two political parties and set up the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC). Then, he dispatched his deputy, the Chief of General Staff, gen. Oladipo Diya, to cajole and persuade credible progressives leaders across the six geo-political zones to join his administration as ministers. In their naivety, Abiola and his associates agreed that Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe, Chief Solomon Lar and Dr. Ayu to become members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Abacha promised to hand over to Abiola, but he failed to keep the promise. The credible progressive leaders were trapped in the administration. When the battle for the restoration of the mandate intensified, they could not resign from the federal cabinet. However, after stabilising he government for a while, they were sent packing by Abacha. It was another dark period. The national lean years were extended. The military Head of State later initiated a self-succession plan, which collapsed when he mysteriously passed on.
Death of symbol
Abiola had been detained, following his arrest after he declared himself President. He was held incommunicado. The late Chief Lamidi Adedibu had claimed that a bail was arranged for him, but Abiola's personal physician, Dr. Ore Falomo, recalled that the President-elect was not aware of the conditions. Few days after Abacha died, Abiola also died in detention in controversial circumstance.


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Title: THE BLACK GODDESS AND OTHER MYTHIC EARTH IMAGES
Post by: Bantu_Kelani on November 15, 2003, 07:26:49 AM
Excerpted from Green Psychology by Ralph Metzner
(Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions International, 1999)
Prior to the rise of transcendental monotheism, the religious worldview of the ancient world was polytheistic, animistic and shamanistic. In this essay I explore some of the key mythic images of our pagan ancestors -- the gods and goddesses that personify our relationship to the earth, to the plant realm and to the world of animals.1
The religion and worldview of the Celtic, Germanic, Baltic, and Slavic people, who inhabited Europe prior to the Christian era, as well as that of the Greeks and other Mediterranean peoples, was animistic: gods and goddesses, the living intelligences of nature, were perceived and worshipped in forest groves and sacred springs, on mountain tops and in great stone circles. In addition to gods and goddesses there were other classes of beings associated with nature, who were not human, but certainly equal, if not superior, to humans and deserving of respect, -- such as giants and dwarves, elves and trolls, fairies, leprechauns, gnomes, satyrs, nymphs and mermaids.These deities and beings could be communed with by anyone who was willing to practice the methods taught by the shamans and their successors the witches, the wise women of the woods -- using magical plants and stones, chants and incantations, dances and rituals.
This is the nature religion that was eliminated by Christian monotheism during the first few centuries of our era. Pagan deities were either banished into non-existence or demonized. Those who followed the old nature religion were branded as "pagan" or "heathen", which originally simply meant "country dwellers" or "heath dwellers". The country folk were more likely to have preserved beliefs in spirits and knowledge of healing and magical herbs than those who lived in towns with stone walls. Some of the pagan deities were absorbed into Christian lore, just as some traditional sacred places had churches or chapels built on them. Others sank into the cultural underground of folklore and popular customs and beliefs. Mythic stories of divine figures devolved into comic or moralizing legends and fairy-tales. Under the influence of Judeo-Christian transcendental monotheism the kind of direct awareness of the spiritual presences in nature that our pagan ancestors enjoyed and cultivated, was gradually lost. As William Blake said, "thus men forgot that all deities live within the human breast."
While I do not mean to suggest that we must all become pagans and worship the ancient gods again, I do believe that by re-connecting with the nature religion of our ancestors, we can recover something of the imaginal sensitivity and ecological spirituality that is the collective heritage of each of us. A tremendous spiritual revitalization can take place when we recognize the natural world and the divine world as intimately interwoven with one another. I see this as a kind of re-membering, through which the dis-memberment of human consciousness from the Earth could be healed.
In my book The Well of Remembrance,2 I focussed on the Earth wisdom mythology of the Nordic-Germanic people. In this same spirit of of healing-remembering I would like now to discuss several mythic deities from pre-Christian Europe as well as from non-European cultures -- god-images that embody a perception of the spiritual in nature. There are three groups of such images: one is the Black Earth Goddess, who was absorbed into Christianity as the Black Madonna or Black Virgin; a second group are the plant and vegetation deities of the ancient world, a variant of which also made it into Christian iconography as the Green Man; and the third group are the animal deities and wild men/wild women, who represent the evolutionary memory of our animal ancestry.
The Black Goddess/Madonna
There about 500 shrine images of the Black Virgin in various churches in Europe.3 Among the best-known is the one in the cathedral of Chartres in France; the protectress saint of Poland in Czestochowa; the protectress saint of Switzerland at Einsiedeln, near Zürich; the Muttergottes ("Mother of God") in Altötting, near München, in Bavaria; and the one in Loreto, Italy. These shrines of the Black Madonna are among the most-visited pilgrimage places in Christendom. Hundreds of thousands of people annually make the pilgrimage to Altötting, or Einsiedeln, and have done so since the Middle Ages, when most of the shrines were first established.
The reason for their magnetism as pilgrimage places lies in their reputation for healing efficacy. In Altötting for example, the tiny chapel that holds the shrine of the Virgin, is surrounded by several thousand ex voto tablets, some dating back to the 13th century and some from the current year, in which thanks is expressed for a miraculous healing or recovery, a safe journey or return of a loved one, or, in earlier times, an exorcism of evil spirits. In the typical story, a person appealed to Maria for help or guidance and vowed to make an offering if the appeal was successful. Thus, the bequest and the tablet come "from the vow" (ex voto). On the outside of the chapel one can also see numerous crutches and limb protheses, left as unnecessary by grateful healed pilgrims.
Although enjoying great popular appeal, the images of the Black Madonna are a source of some embarrassment to the Catholic church. Usually, the guidebooks make no reference to the color; or when they do, they try to explain it away by ludicrous references to the blackening effect of centuries of smoke from candles and incense burners. Occasionally, there are references to the mysterious line from the Old Testament Song of Solomon, in which the Shulamite, perhaps the Queen of Sheba, sings: "I am black, but I am beautiful, O ye daughters of Jerusalem." For the good Christian pilgrims who cannot bear to contemplate a dark-skinned Madonna, the souvenir shops carry sanitized wax or wooden replicas, in which Mary and the infant Jesus have appropriately white European faces.
The Black Virgin has been identified with several black goddess figures of the ancient pre-patriarchal cultures of the Mediterranean and Near East, including the Phrygian Cybele, the Sumerian Inanna, the Syrian Anath, the Hebrew Lilith, the Indian Kali, the Ephesian Diana, and the Egyptian goddesses Neith and of course Isis. In the goddess-worshipping cultures of Old Europe and the pre-patriarchal Mediterranean, black was the color of fertility and abundance, like the rich black soil of the Nile and other river valleys. White on the other hand was the color symbolic of death, and images of the death-bringing goddess were carved in bone or marble. However, for the nomadic pastoralist Indo-Aryans, who invaded Europe from the 4th millenium BCE onwards, white, gold and yellow were the colors of the life-giving, shining sun-god; and black was the color of the somber underground death deities like Hades, Hecate or Hel.
With the shift to a patriarchal sky-god religion, and followed by the Judaeo-Christian monotheistic traditions, the nature-reverencing goddess religions of the archaic world were suppressed, desacralized and demonized. The sacred sexuality associated with the cult of Inanna and Ishtar was condemned as prostitution. Lilith, who represented female sexual autonomy and protection of childbirth and children, was turned into a seductive demoness who stole children. Male priests and theologians found it easy to play up the terrifying aspects of goddess worship, as in the cult of Cybele, whose priests symbolically, and at times literally, offered their genitals in sacrifice to the goddess. The Indian Kali became increasingly polarized as destructive only, although the original image is balanced between birth-giving and death-dealing. Diana became the goddess of the witches. The Black Goddess entered Christianity from below as it were, in both her healing and threatening aspect. She was strongly associated with the 12th century esoteric Christianity of the Cathars, the Troubadours and the Templars, all of whom tried to overcome the dissociative split between nature-eros and dogmatic ascetic spirituality, and all of whom were savagely destroyed by the Church.
Only the image of the Black Madonna and Child, itself based on the Egyptian images of Isis with the child Horus, survived the Christian misogynistic onslaught. The cult of Isis was the dominant religion of the Mediterranean during late Roman times, and had spread into Roman-occupied lands, including Gaul. The city of Paris was devoted to Isis, as Lyons was to Cybele and Marseilles to Artemis. Like other Black Goddess figures, Isis is the life-giving and healing goddess of the Earth. In The Golden Ass of Apuleius, Isis speaks: "I am Nature, the universal Mother, mistress of all the elements, primordial child of time, sovereign of all things spiritual, queen of the dead, queen also of the immortals, the single manifestation of all the gods and goddesses there are."4 The text goes on to claim that she is identical with Cybele, Artemis, Aphrodite, Persephone, Demeter, Juno, and Hecate.
The Black Earth Goddess under whatever name, including the Black Madonna, has traditionally always been supportive of and facilitative of the natural processes of life: healing the sick, easing the pain of childbirth, bringing fertility, making the milk flow, comforting and guiding the dying, helping the plants grow. As such, she represented the persistence of the Great Goddess during the time of dominance by patriarchal sky-god cults, and she represents the persistence of the Mother Goddess during the ascendancy of Christian monotheism.
Some years ago, when I was on the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, I had a vivid dream about the Black Goddess. In the dream I was with a group of AIDS sufferers who had gone to Africa to get to know the Black Goddess. We had been told that the underlying cause of AIDS was a disconnection from the regenerative power of the Black Goddess; and the cure would involve reestablishing the psychic bond with that Goddess. I told that dream to several friends who had AIDS, who felt it symbolized an important truth. Since AIDS represents a breakdown of the body's inherent immune resilience and self-healing capacity, reconnecting with the healing power of the Black Goddess may well be necessary on the road to wholeness.
The shrines and images of the Black Virgin have an undeniable psychic and spiritual power, which explains their attraction for tourists, as well as those seeking a cure for their ills. The chapel in Altötting, in the lush, fertile farm country of Lower Bavaria, stands in the middle of the town square, surrounded by other churches and monasteries. The outside of the chapel, as already mentioned, is covered with thousands of votive tablets. The entire inside of the chapel is painted black, and the walls studded with countless gold and silver images and ornaments, especially around the alcove shrine which holds the statue. The light from numerous candles in gigantic silver candleholders sparkles and scintillates off the polished gold and silver objects. The blackness set with shimmering gold and silver gives the whole chapel a mysterious, alchemical, yet strangely comforting aura.
Title: Re: THE BLACK GODDESS AND OTHER MYTHIC EARTH IMAGE
Post by: Bantu_Kelani on November 15, 2003, 07:43:23 AM
Black Madonna
by Ken Rabac, PhD-ThD
Most Indo-Tibetan scholars believe that the Hindu and Buddhist Dark Goddesses and the Christian Black Madonna are a common prototype with a common Archetypal source in antiquity or eternity.
Alain Daneliou speaks of a mine of spirituality extending back into prehistory and expressing each civilization's emotional ties to the Great Mother in both her nurturing and fearsome aspects.
The patriarchal Aryan Vedic and Judaeo-Christian cultures de-emphasized the Divine Mother in favor of God the Father and male dominance. Feminist theologians have attempted to recover the Black Madonna as a mystical counter point to the Cosmic Christ. Poet and Scholar Andrew Harvey in his splendid book THE RETURN OF THE MOTHER sees the Black Madonna as "Mary who in the heat of true passion gives birth to the Christ Heart."
In Eastern traditions, the Black Madonna motif appears as the Dark Goddesses exemplified by Kali, the frightful creator/destroyer. In Buddhism, Kali takes the form of Vajravahari, the consort of the Black Samvara and Kali's nature is reflected in a retinue of disciples who attend to the Tantric couple. Vajrahari and the Dakinis are said to inhabit cemetery grounds and wear necklaces and skirts made from human skeletons and skulls.
Sri Aurobindo and Ramakrishna both contemplated the Divine Mother and encountered Dark Kali in only one aspect of the deity. Aurobindo found four basic sides to the Eastern Madonna.
1. MAHESWARI: represents CALM MINDEDNESS, COMPREHENDING, WISDOM, TRANQUILITY, AND INEXHAUSTIBLE COMPASSION.
2. MAHAKALI: The great Kali represents STRENGTH, IRRESISTIBLE PASSION, IMPETUOUS and SWIFT ACTION OF THE "World Shaker."
3. MAHALAKSMI: VIVID, SWEET AND WONDERFUL WITH DEEP SECRET BEAUTY, FINE RHYTHM, COMPELLING ATTRACTION AND CAPTIVATING GRACE ...A Hindu variation of Jung's Anima.
4. MAHASARASWATI: INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE, FLAWLESS WORK AND EXACTING PERFECTION. This sounds like Jung's AMAZON.
For Aurobindo these four personalities of the Divine Mother are always at work, SYNCHRONISTICALLY, in the Universe. Aurobindo teaches that there is at all times an alchemy of the Divine Mother occurring in each individual. He says we are all Gnostic children of the Divine Mother, inflamed, impelled, nurtured and soothed by the four aspects of her personality.
When we are under the sway of Maheswarit, we experience tranquility and wisdom. Mahakali's Dark Mother strips us of safety -- Mahakali is of another force of nature -- force, strength and power of overwhelming intensity -- mighty passion and divine violence.
Andrew Harvey also sees the Great Mother as being a composite Archetype composed of Kali, The Black Madonna and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven, Nature and Earth.
In Mary and the Black Madonna, Harvey finds the MYSTERY OF TRANSCENDENT BLACKNESS -- THE DIVINE UNKNOWABLE -- BEYOND CONCEPT -- SO DAZZLING THAT SHE RADIATES AS DARKNESS.
Harvey also emphasizes the Black Madonna as the Queen of Fertility and Tantra -- SACRED SEXUALITY.
He describes the BLACK MADONNA as a "BURNED AND SEARED, ANGUISHED AND INFINITELY STRONG -- DIGNIFIED MOTHER."
In a particularly lyrical passage, Harvey writes of the Black Madonna: BLACK MADONNA IS THE TRANSCENDENT KALI-MOTHER, THE BLACK WOMB OF LIGHT OUT OF WHICH ALL WORLDS ARE ALWAYS ARISING AND INTO WHICH THEY FALL. The presence behind all things -- the darkness of love and the loving unknowing into which the child of the mother goes when his or her (own) illumination is perfect."
For Harvey the Black Madonna is also the Queen of Nature and the Blesser and Agent of all rich and fertile transformations of the outside world and the psyche.
He depicts the Black Madonna as "blackened by grief but ENNOBLED and made ADAMANT by SECRET MYSTICAL KNOWLEDGE." This knowing she has discovered through her agony which she represents with dignity.
Harvey holds the Black Madonna accompanies us in our worst anguishes and humiliations -- representing endurance and faith transmuted into WISDOM.
Paraphrasing Harvey, "The Dark Queen of Heaven guides us into the Highest Mysteries", The Black Madonna provides immense inspiration to compassionate service and the IMMENSE ALCHEMICAL POWER OF TRANSFORMATION through both JOY AND GRIEF.
Harvey interprets the SACRED HEART OF MARY as the Black Madonna's "FORCE STREAM" of the intense ENLIGHTENMENT that follows the acceptance of all of our emotions as they are ... enduring all things to perceive the deepest mysteries of existence.
One of Sri Aurobindo's least known and most beautiful brief works, HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF THE RADIANCES, captures the essence of the Divine Feminine Archetype.


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Friday, January 30, 2015
Ten Commandments for Writers
by James Scott Bell
1. Thou Shalt write a certain number of words every week.
This is the first, and greatest commandment. If you write to a quota and hold yourself to it, sooner than you think you'll have a full length novel. (I used to advocate a daily quota, but I changed it to weekly because inevitably you miss days or life intrudes and you run yourself down. I also take one day off a week.) So set a weekly quota, divide it by days, and if you miss one day make it up on the others.
2. Thou Shalt write passionate first drafts.
Don't edit yourself heavily during your first drafts. The writing of it is partly an act of discovering your story, even if you outline. Your plot and characters may want to make twists and turns you didn't plan. Let them go! Follow along and then move on. At 20K words I "step back" to see if I have solid foundation, shore it up if I don't, then move on to the end.
3. Thou Shalt make trouble for thy Lead.
The engine of a good story is fueled by the threat to the Lead character. Keep turning up the heat. Make things harder. Simple three act structure: Get your Lead up a tree, throw things at him, get him down.
4. Thou Shalt put a stronger opposing force in the Lead's Way.
The opposition character must be stronger than the Lead. More power, more experiences, more resources. Otherwise, the reader won't worry. You want them to worry. Hitchcock always said the strength of his movies came from the strength and cunning of the villains. But note the opposition doesn't have to be a "bad guy." Think of Tommy Lee Jones in "The Fugitive."
5. Thous Shalt get the story running from the first paragraph.
Start with a character, in a situation of a change or threat or challenge, and grip the reader from the start. This is the opening "disturbance" and that's what readers respond to immediately. It doesn't have to be something "big." Anything that sends a ripple through the "ordinary world."
6. Thou Shalt create surprises.
Avoid the predictable! Always make a list of several avenues your scenes and story might take, then choose something that makes sense but also surprises the reader.
7. Thou Shalt make everything contribute to the story.
Don't go off on tangents that don't have anything to do with the characters and what they want in the story. Stay as direct as a laser beam.
8. Thou Shalt cut out all the dull parts.
Be ruthless in revision. Cut out anything that slows the story down. No trouble, tension or conflict is dull. At the very least, something tense inside a character.
9. Thou Shalt develop Rhino skin.
Don't take rejection or criticism personally. Learn from criticism and move on. Perseverance is the golden key to a writing career.
10. Thou Shalt never stop learning, growing and writing for the rest of thy life.
Writing is growth. We learn about ourselves, we discover more about life, we use our creativity, we gain insights. At the same time, we study. Brain. Read surgeons keep up on the journals, why should writers think they don't need to stay up on the craft? If I learn just one thing that helps me as a writer, it's worth it.
James Scott Bell is a bestselling suspense author. The former trial lawyer was the fiction columnist for Writer's Digest Books and an adjunct professor of writing at Pepperdine University. His books on the craft of writing are among the most popular today.
(Excerpted from The Mystery Writers, where you can read Bell's interesting interview.)
Saturday, January 24, 2015
What is a Story? An Etude in the Key of C
by John M. Daniel
I took [the letter] up, and held it in my hand. I was a-trembling, because I'd got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: "All right, then, I'll go to hell"—and tore it up.
It was awful thoughts, and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more about reforming. ~Huck
Rust Hills summed it up thus: Something happens to someone." That's it. Plot (something happens) and character (to someone).Okay, but what happens? Change. Or someone is, at the end of the story, a different person from the one who she or he was at the beginning.
Rust Hills summed it up thus: Something happens to someone." That's it. Plot (something happens) and character (to someone).Okay, but what happens? Change. Or someone is, at the end of the story, a different person from the one who she or he was at the beginning.
How does that come about? It could be because of chance (a trolley runs over his foot, so he will never be able to tap dance again) but more often, and more interestingly, it's because the character has made a choice.
The choice arises from a conflict. Remember: no conflict, no story. Conflict resolution, which comes in many forms, is what results in choice, and therefore in change. By the way, the conflict is often the outcome of a crisis of conscience, and results in a shift in the balance of power.
Yes, the choice itself has a consequence. The change, yes, we talked about that. But maybe a greater change. The moral center of gravity may have shifted. To make our story important, make that choice consequential. Write about what matters: the human condition. Write about love and death.
This critical moment of change, this catharsis, for reasons as old as the creative process, and even the procreative process, usually happens at the climax of the story.
If you don't believe me, ask Huck Finn.
So as we write our stories, let us remember all of these ingredients listed here in alphabetical order:
Catharsis, Center of Gravity, Chance, Character, Change, Choice, Climax, Condition (human), Conflict, Conscience, Consequence, Creative Process, Crisis, Critical Moment . . . and I'm sure I've forgotten a few.
(Excerpted from The Mystery Writers, Medallion Books. Read his interview to learn more about John M. Daniel. The book is available in print, ebook and audiobook editions.)
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Inspiration, Setting, and Reader Enjoyment are Integrally Linked
by M. M. Gornell
My initial inspiration for writing came from--and has been reinforced throughout my life--by all the great mystery authors who have led the way. My earliest memories are of falling in immediate love with Agatha Christie--her style, her plots, her murder methods, her protagonists, her characters, her locations.Christie was my rock star! These days, I am continually inspired and re-energized by the work of P.D. James. (I am an admitted and unashamed anglophile.)
Along with characters, a key ingredient for my enjoyment of a book is being "taken away." For example, with P.D., I just love being transported to her wonderful locations in Britain. And seeing London and environs through the eyes of her protagonist, Adam Dagleish, is marvelous.
For each of my own novels, my inspiration and first kernel of an idea has come from a location that has reached out, grabbed me and wouldn't let go. That sounds a big silly, and it's not the whole story, but truly, so far, I've been inspired to start a story because a location said, "Me, me!" Write about me." From the location, I've then wondered who would have lived there, or come that way. What is their story? In the case of my first published novel, Uncle Sy's Secret--during my many dog walks, a particular place along the Snoqualmie Valley Trail kept calling out, "What a perfect spot for a murder." And in the case of another my books, Lies of Convenience," a near collapsed quonset hut near Route 66 never failed to tug at me. Indeed, Route 66 is my current writing impetus, and I think will hold my imagination for a long time to come. So many stories along the way.
Consequently, I hope my readers are taken away for a few hours into an interesting world that captures and captivates--either because it's so different from theirs, or because they identify with the characters and location. Especially with Route 66 and the desert, I'm hoping that through my characters' senses, the "feels" of the place comes through and grabs them like it did me.
In my mind, story inspiration and reader enjoyment are tied together by setting. Wonderful locations drew me to mystery fiction, and they now inspire me as an author. And creating that "sense of place"--through all the senses--is one of my writing goals. From my writing aspirations comes my most cherished hope--that when readers close my books, there's a smile on their faces, and thoughts, questions, ideas beyond who the murderer was remain--but most of all--they feel a sense of regret the adventure is over and they have to leave the world of my novel.
(Excerpted from The Mystery Writers where you can read Madeline Gornell's interview and learn more about her.)
Friday, January 9, 2015
Advice for Novice Writers
by Alan Orloff
(bestselling author)
Things move slowly in the publishing world. Be prepared to wait. A Lot. For your critique group to go through your manuscript. For your queries to be answered (if you're lucky). For your partial and full manuscripts to be read. For editors to weight your submissions. For your book to wend it way through the production process as it heads toward the bookstore shelf. Best advice: have some other projects to work on while you wait.
Getting help really helps. Critique groups can help you with your writing. An agent can help polish your submission and will know where to send it. An editor can help massage your manuscript into its optimal form. Ignore these helps at your own peril. Getting published really is a village effort (so make sure you have plenty of food on hand.)
You need a thick skin. Rejections are the norm—don't let them "spin you out." Otherwise, you'll never get any writing done. Persistence and perseverance are key. When it comes to reviews, read them if you want, but remember writing is subjective and a lot of those online reviewers have axes to grind.
My conclusion? Reviewers who write good reviews are sophisticated, discerning, and intelligent, while the bad reviews are written by illiterate trolls.
Your book doesn't "belong" to only you anymore. While you were writing your manuscript, it was your baby. You could feed it what you wanted, dress it how you wanted, play with it whenever you wanted. Now, you have to share and listen to other people's "baby raising" advice. Once you sign a contract, your book gets slotted into a release date and is tossed onto the production conveyor belt. Flap copy, cover design, titles, internal and external sales pitches, editing, publicity, sales. It's all done on schedule, without emotion and (mostly) without you. Get used to it.
Online promotion takes a lot more time than you think. Website, blog, Facebook, Google, Twitter, list serves, Yahoo groups, and a kajillion other social sites lure in you and won't let you escape.These connections are valuable, but you need to exercises discipline or you'll look up and four hours will have elapsed with nothing to show for your "writing" time except a few Mafia war hits.
Other writers are extremely generous. I've found other writers (published, unpublished, bloggers, Twitters, etc.) to be very helpful with their advice, comments, and time. The sense of community among writers is unbelievably amazing.
Take time to enjoy every bumpy, thrilling, uncertain, joyous main-biting, wonderful, anxious minute. No sense getting stressed about stuff you can't control (and that encompasses a lot). Getting your first book published is a very exciting time—but sure to stop and smell the ARCs.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Indie Publishing: The Good, Bad and the Ugly
(International bestselling author)
In 2003 I began my career as a published novelist. Previous to this I had published smaller works—in magazines, newspapers and one anthology. I decided to go the indie route because I was tired of trying to get published and only collecting rejection letters. It was the best decision I ever made.
In 2003 my novel, Whale Song, was released and it saw moderate success, along with two other titles, and I was able to hone my skills as an avid book marketer. I made the book signing circuit to bookstores in both British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. And I began marketing online as well.
In 2006 Whale Song was picked up by a small Canadian publisher. It was re-released in 2007. It sold well and surpassed 5,000 copies in sales, making Whale Song a national bestseller. It also made various Amazon bestseller lists: .com, .ca and co-UK, making it an international bestselling book. However, the publisher began experiencing financial difficulties, along with other problems, and I pulled out. This was definitely the "bad" period in my career.
In 2010 Amazon opened KDP to Canadian authors and I went back to my roots—indie publishing. For me it's probably the best fit. I am by nature very independent and a strong marketer. Plus I'm an "idea person." Even my former publisher saw this in me and often called me a "guru" or "marketing genius." While I don't consider myself a genius, I do know that I'm a risk-taker.
In 2012 I had nine ebooks published—most have made numerous bestsellers' lists—and eight trade paperbacks. I'm also published in another anthology, What Fears Become. And I've moved from bestselling author to publisher, a move that has surprised me, yet is so rewarding that it's hard to explain. My company, Imajin Books, isn't like most publishers. We think ahead and out of the box.
I'm still technically indie published as I've published all my own titles now, but Imajin authors are traditionally published. We pay them advances and regular royalties. And we pay them more than most publishers. In many ways we treat our authors as though they're indie published. They have more say in their books, titled, covers and trailers. We think of them as partners, even though they've put no money up front for publication of their titles. Like I said, I'm a risk taker.
During my career I've seen the good, bad and the ugly. But now I see a wide window of opportunity. Those who go the indie route will be successful if they have what it takes—marketing know-how and determination. What an exciting time to be in publishing! Especially if you're an idea person like me.
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Film: Zulu (1964)
Director: Cy Endfield
Producer: Stanley Baker, Cy Endfield
Starring: Stanley Baker, Michael Caine
Introduction: A dear friend of mine recommends past films to me that I should watch. He tends to pick older films that I might not have heard of or wouldn't see hanging around the local big brand shops that sell movies. He lent me Zulu so I could see Michael Caine in his first big role, and I couldn't say no! I remember my Father used to love this movie, so I felt a little sentimental watching it for the first time.
Quick Plot: The film follows the British Army's 24th Regiment of Foot in 1879. During this time, there was a battle against the Zulus – where the British army gets defeated. This movie chronicles some of the events that happened.
Review: I wasn't sure if or how I would like this film. I never enjoyed war films and it had always been hard getting into them. While watching this film, I did tend to lose a little focus, but that was because it wasn't a genre I typically enjoy watching. I wanted to watch this movie to see Michael Caine in the beginning of his acting career, since I find him one of my favourite actors.
This film moves slowly, but it is filled with extravagant details and imagery. The Zulus walking through the fields of the dead bodies of the British soldiers and the waves of Zulus and soldiers attacking each other,
Overall, I found this film to be beautiful but slow. This film was definitely not a film made for me – I prefer fast moving, action packed and sometimes mysterious movies. This film was more a fictional documentary of the battle of the Zulus. But, that doesn't mean it wasn't fantastic. It is definitely a movie I suggest to film goers. Seeing Michael Caine in his prime, the beautiful imagery, and the way the story was captured within this film is a real treat!
I give this film 85% out of 100%.


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The U.S. Navy is fighting Disney's attempt to wrangle control of the the SEAL acronym and the infamous unit designation Team 6.
It was only hours after Osama Bin Laden was killed by the SEALs that according to Fox, Disney filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office to commercially control the SEAL name.
The application covers three separate categories and would include the ability to license everything from toys, movies, games, clothing -- pretty much anything they want.
The Navy responded on May 13 with two applications of their own. Neither the Navy or Disney responded to inquiries, but New York attorney Thomas Wilentz points out that just because Disney was first, doesn't mean they'll win.
It all comes down to whether the patent office feels that granting trademarks to both U.S. Navy and Disney would cause consumer confusion, Wilentz said, in which case the patent office would give priority to the entity that filed its application first -- Disney."But the U.S. Navy may have the argument that they are, you know, actually the SEALs, that they were using it first to identify themselves and any use by Disney would create consumer confusion about sponsorship," he said. "And if they actually took Disney to court they could win."
"It's not disingenuous on Disney's part. They probably thought, oh man, that's the hottest name in town—let's put our mouse ears on and figure out some way to use this," he said.