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Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas
Wanted to wish everyone in cyberspace a Merry Christmas and a healthy, safe and prosperous New Year.
God bless.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Blogging hasn't been a top priority of late. I've been writing a third book, working on a treatment for Flight of the Hopper and supplying notes on a treatment someone wrote for Measure of a Man. So I'm wondering, do I blog once a week? Month?
I have no idea if anyone reads them. Anyway, felt like I had to post something, though. Maybe it's the negative atmosphere in the city, the economy. I don't know. I saw a girl in Ann Arbor wearing a t-shirt that read, "No One Cares About Your Blog."
Maybe that says it all.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Dave Coulier in Romeo
Went and checked out Dave Coulier at Youngers in Romeo on Saturday. Amazingly funny show, and not one expletive. It's hard to imagine in today's culture that someone could be so entertaining and not use racial epithets, curse words or salty language to make everyone laugh. It was a really fun night, and I had an opportunity to talk with Dave for about 20 minutes after the show to talk about future projects he's working on and what I'm trying to do. He's a local guy that made it big and hasn't let success spoil him. A great guy that I love to see doing well. Check out his website at Cleanguys.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Traverse Magazine Interview/Bow Season
I had the recent honor of being interviewed by Traverse Magazine's Emily Tyra. She first did a piece on the book last November, when she recommended my story, Measure of a Man to be excerpted in the magazine. I was introduced to Emily from a good friend, writer Patty LaNoue Stearns. Patty hooked me up with Emily and fortunately for me, she liked the story. Now I'm excited to say that in addition to the interview, the online version of Traverse, www.mynorth.com is posting the entire short story, Bow Season as well. The story has been edited for "strong language". I know, hard to believe, but totally understandable! Anyway, my thanks to Patty, my thanks to My North, but a heartfelt thanks to Emily Tyra, for continuing to believe in me and support my work.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Aunt Agatha's Bookshop Review
I'll be there today, from 1:30-3-ish. If you're around Ann Arbor, come on by.
Monday, October 20, 2008
NaNo WriMo at Schuler Books & Music
I've been invited to be a participant in the NaNo WriMo Boot Camp Author Series at Schuler Books & Music in Lansing. The event is this Wednesday, October 22nd. Here's what Schuler's web posting says:
Join us for the second in our series of author panels leading up to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November. The Fiction Author panel will feature Joe Borri (Eight Dogs Named Jack); Colleen Gleason (The Gardella Vampire Chronicles); Jill Gregory, award-winning author of over 30 novels; Jim Hines, (Goblin Hero series); and Karen Tintori (Unto the Daughters, co-author with Gregory of Book of Names).
From what I've been told, there will be a discussion held regarding the publishing experience from an author's standpoint. I believe there will be a Q&A session followed by a book-signing.
2820 Towne Center Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48912
888-612-6657 (Michigan only)
Hope to see anyone that may live in the Lansing area.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Aunt Agatha's Bookshop Review
Robin Agnew and her husband Jamie own Aunt Agatha's, a bookstore in Ann Arbor that is a favorite among crime fiction and mystery lovers. While my book isn't necessarily full of mysteries (except how it ever got published! HEY-O!), there's enough Michigan in it for her to have been kind enough to give it consideration. Here's what she said:
Eight Dogs Named Jack, Joe Borri, Momentum Books, $24.95.
Joe Borri is new to writing — or published writing, anyway, I doubt he's new to writing — he's instead long worked as an artist. His collection of short stories, Eight Dogs Named Jack, are illustrated as well as written by him. The black and white illustrations look very much like woodcuts, but I encourage you to ask him the actual process, which he explained to me and which, like the man himself, is both original and unique. The stories are set either in urban Detroit or in the wilds of Michigan, and all seem to include some kind of life defining moment for the character as well as a real richness of tone, atmosphere and character detail. These are very Italian stories, and their very specificness lends them an extra air of originality.
The opening story, "Honest John", is set in the Detroit of 1968, and told from the point of view of a seven year old boy, who gives the nickname "Honest John" to his uncle, a nickname that, to judge by his family's reaction, is an entirely inappropriate one. Borri doesn't deviate from the understanding of events that a seven year old would have, so while uncle John's lack of honesty may have been apparent to an adult, to a child it's vague. What isn't vague are the details of the Italian neighborhood in Detroit where Richie lives, and the catholic school he attends, with this classic description of the nun who is his teacher: "The nun was an evil, broad-shouldered woman just shy of six feet with ringlets of oily, jet-black hair. She looked like a man in a habit..." The rest of the story is equally vivid.
The title story, "Eight Dogs Named Jack", is just as distinct, though it's told not from a child's point of view, and rather than being set in Detroit, it's set in the thumb. Two friends, Tom and Mike, take Tom's new dog, Duke, out for his first attempt at hunting. Mike, who has eight dogs named Jack (it's a perfectly good name, after all), razzes Tom about naming his dog after Duke Ellington. By the end of the story, both men and the dog have come through a life changing event of sorts for all three. It will stay with you after you finish it. While these aren't mystery stories, they are terrific and memorable stories, and the Michigan setting couldn't be more vivid.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Millen FIRED!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Kerrytown BookFest and Hemingway
I've been invited to be on a panel of short story writers at next week's Kerrytown BookFest in Ann Arbor. This is my first time being on any kind of panel, and to be honest, I have no idea what to expect. Oh, I'm sure there will be a few folks that might ask a question or two, most likely regarding how to get published, process, etc. But in terms of reception, not a clue if anyone there will have ever picked up my book for other than a cursory glance. The other authors on the panel are Peter Ho Davies, Dorene O'Brien & Lolita Hernandez. Dorene is a good friend, and I'm hopeful the other two are as giving and supportive as she has been.
I also was asked to judge a cover contest for The Nick Adams Stories, submitted by high school students. There was a lot of great design work at hand, and I had the opportunity to do that alongside Steve (forgot his last name-sorry Steve!) at Huron River Press and get this--Edward Hemingway, a descendant of Ernest! I believe Edward is a children's book illustrator. In any case, that was a lot of fun, too.
Please come to the event and say hello this Sunday, September 7th. The info is linked on the title. The book cover award winner is being presented at 11 am, but the panel is at 1 pm and books are available for signing and purchase. Hope to see you there.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Kwame Please Cop a Plea!!!
i just want him to go away. He's ruining anything good he ever took credit for. God, what a mess.
He will set race relations back in this city 30 years with his race baiting antics. Good riddance.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Dark Knight
Okay, I just got back from The Dark Night at the IMAX at Henry Ford. HOLEEEEE CRRRAPPPOLA!!! One of the only movies I've ever seen that has lived up to the hype! I won't bore you with my review, because I know I'm late to the party, but some impressions:
*IMAX!-Can't imagine seeing this film on anything other than IMAX. Absolutely visually assaulting. Tremendous cinematography, design, the whole thing.
*Heath Ledger-Honestly, I think even had he lived, this performance would go down as one of the absolute most memorable one on screen. Riveting, compelling and as complex as any method actor's performance. What a shame he died, and wasn't able to witness the celebration for his performance come Oscar time. I would hate to be an actor nominated this year in a best supporting role.
*Screenplay-What a great story. I told the buddy I went with, that it seems to me when they hit a point in the script that required drama or sensitivity, they went a 180. This especially true with the Joker. Great lines, tension, playful repartee between characters.
*Cast-Freeman and Caine, can't beat them. Bale is sensational, although I would prefer his voice be a little less forced. I actually like Keaton's Batman voice a bit better. But it's what he does with his face that makes it so watchable. That Maggie Gyllenhall, strange looking woman, and I almost wonder if they used her instead of a more classically beautiful actress who could've proven too distracting and not "complex" enough for a man of Wayne's tastes. Aaron Eckhart was very good, as was Gary Oldman, whose ability to shape-shift into roles as varied as he's played is nothing short of staggering.
*Sound-The use of natural sound, and high-pitched noise to convey terror, pain, sorrow was a real throwback. IMAX enhanced it dramatically.
TOM LONG, local movie reviewer from The Detroit News, gave this a B-!!! WTF movie was he watching? This guy also gave "Over Her Dead Body" with Eva Longoria-Parker the same grade. Huh? He said not enough Ledger, too long and Batman too dark and serious. Right. Sorry Tom,you are wrong on all counts. And the restrained use of Ledger was genius as the anticipation of his re-appearances was made even more tantalizing and anticipated.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Swimming season over
This year's swim season went by quick! Bad weather at the start of the season caused for make ups and that gave the whole summer a quickened pace. It never felt like we had a spring, instead slipping between rainy, cold and brutal hot weather.
The kids had a great A Finals meet, and Marina is in Maryland now competing in the Y Nationals. My free spirited son, Gino, proudly displayed his back tattoo, designed by yours truly (rendered in Sharpie). It reads, El Gino, Spanish for The Gino.
(apologies to the late Chris Farley).
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Dog Days Coming
Summer has flown by, and I wonder if it's more because of the awful start we had. There was never that nice transition into spring. It seems that now all we have is fading winter then BOOM! Hot summer days. This year it was cold/hot/cold/hot then boatloads of rain. I can't believe all the rain. Everything looks so much greener than normal. The canopies up north are more lush, the grass at home is greener. But now I'm starting to feel that drag-ass weather coming, where soon we'll just melt the days and wait for fall.
I'm polishing my novel, working on the 3rd rewrite. It's around 123,000 words, though I have no idea what it will be pared down to.
I'm polishing my novel, working on the 3rd rewrite. It's around 123,000 words, though I have no idea what it will be pared down to.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Michigan Authors Homecoming
I was fortunate enough to attend the Michigan Authors Homecoming last night at the Wharton Center in East Lansing on MSU's campus. Was I glad I went. Seeing and listening to Jim Harrison, Thomas McGuane and Richard Ford talk about their experiences as writers was nothing short of inspirational. Unbelievable and historic, to have three of the nation's most celebrated authors, and Michigan State graduates, on the same stage. The three are good friends, and it was apparent in the way they played off each other. Harrison didn't disappoint with bawdy sexual banter and stories of Hollywood. McGuane was polished and very witty, telling hilarious stories of flyfishing adventures and his time at MSU. And Ford was a southern gentleman with a cutting wit and self deprecating way about him--I'm eager to read his book, The Sportswriter, the first of his famous Bascombe trilogy.
Afterwards, I was able to get Harrison to sign his Memoir, and got him to mumble something about our mutual friend and owner of Dog Ears Books, Pamela Grath: "Arrr, a lovely woman. How's she putting up with that husband of hers?" Delightful. McGuane was gracious as was Ford, signing my copies of Gallatin Canyon and The Sportswriter, respectively. What a night.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Taking a week to chill up north with the family. Looking forward to doing nothing but fish, golf, write and relax. Hope everyone is safe and healthy. God bless.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Mission work
My son, Gino, is off for several days on a mission trip with a local church. He's in Gulfport, Mississippi with a group of 60+ kids from our area, helping rebuild homes destroyed or torn up from Hurricane Katrina. We talked to him yesterday and he told us that the first thing his crew and him would do was rebuild a porch and put up a wheelchair ramp. This heartened me. Realizing that even though much of the community service kids do these days is motivated because colleges require it for consideration, it's my hope that he's changed by it. Seeing others out there who by geographic chance had their lives turned upside down can only help ground him to the fact that there is so many blessings in life that can't be bought. I miss him already, and know that the young man who returns will be different than the one who got on the bus last Friday.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Did anyone think he wouldn't make the shots he needed to make, when he needed to make them? The guy is steel.
Gotta give it up to Eldrick. The man can flat out play. Even with a bad leg, he's better than almost anyone out there. Get ready for the "clever" Nike commercials. They're coming.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Happy Birthday Toby
This is a shout out to a great friend of mine, Toby. The man, the myth, the legend. He stands tall, battling bad men from the Pacific Northwest and abroad. One of the brightest, funniest and most honorable men I've ever known. It's been over 20 years, but our friendship remains strong.
Happy Birthday good friend. Hope to share a cold Leinenkugel or two one day soon.
Happy Birthday good friend. Hope to share a cold Leinenkugel or two one day soon.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Happy Birthday Marina!
I'm a little late with this post, as I've been doing caricature portraits for my oldest daughter's aunt (40th Birthday) and favorite teacher's farewell. My lovely daughter turned 14 the other day. She was the first girl of our four children, and as oldest daughter sets the most wonderful example to her younger sisters we could ever hope for. She's a tremendous friend, beautiful person inside and out and a great student. We're proud of her swimming and academic accomplishments, but it's her character and soul that we are so proud to have been blessed with. Marina, you're one of the shining lights of my life, and I love you with all my heart. God bless you little lady. Dad.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
Go WINGS Game 5!
Tonight's the night, we all hope and pray! Especially after that Pistons' debacle last weekend. So eat up those Penguins boys.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Tin Man and Toby shout out
Here's the second in a series of characters from the Wizard of Oz. Not sure where my schedule will take me, but the Scarecrow will be the next I'll try to tackle.
Also, hello to my good friend, Toby. The man, the myth, the legend. You can't tame the wind. Let's do a better job of keeping in touch my good friend.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Heading "Up North" for the holiday, and as such am going to miss the first Wings' game, which sucks to no end. Anyway, I'm hoping for a great series, with the men in red destroying the Pens in 5, but could see it going 7. Bring the cup home fellas.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Basal cell & my wish for a Bruce Jenner nose
I don't know about you but I am really looking forward to warm weather. The last vestiges of fall have attached themselves to me and give me the blahs. But I'm posting today to urge everyone who comes across my blog, that's right, all 3 of you, to check yourself for any unusual spots. These could be freckles that have gotten bigger, moles that have changed shapes, and other age spots that a body gets. You don't have to be fair-skinned to fall victim to it either, as I found out.
There was this little bump on the right tip of my nose, above the nostril. The dermo biopsied it just to be on the safe side, telling me that because I was Italian, I probably had nothing to worry about. Wrong-O! She called me and told me it was a basal cell skin cancer, "the best skin cancer" she called it. So they set me up with a specialist and he took it off. But not before digging deep. I was hoping he could've whacked a little off here and there (have you seen my nose?), but instead of coming out looking like Bruce Jenner, all I got was a tic-tac sized gauge that a plastic surgeon sewed up. Note: 15 shots of local anesthetic in the old schnozz. Ouch. So now it's a continued life of SPF 500.
Get checked everyone. In case that spot is not the "best skin cancer" and something worse.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Corporate Tree Hugger
This is an illustration I did for the Detroiter, a magazine about well, business in Detroit. The assignment was to come up with an illustration that conveyed the benefits of going green in the office environment. I chose the newfangled light bulb as an icon that represents the change in our ideas about conserving energy.
Plus it looked cool.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Borri's Books
My friend and former colleague, artist Gary Cooley, just returned from a trip he took to Italy. He sent me this photo he snapped of a bookstore at the Rome train station. How cool is that?
Needless to say, they don't stock my book there, but fuggedabout it! THEY SHOULD!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Cowardly Lion
It's been a bit of time since I've posted. Been trying to get back in the swing since Aruba. Not easy. Anyway, here's the latest piece I've been working on. It's part of a series of detailed editorial illustrations I'm trying to put together. I plan on doing the Tin Man and the Scarecrow. I'll pass on Dorothy, though.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Back in Detroit
Came back from a week in Aruba sans chillen. That's the view from the lanai. The ocean is off to the right and we overlooked a massive pool from our fourth floor suite. Went with my three brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, along with my lovely wife. Man, tough to get back in the swing of things. I decided to start back heavy into my writing, and have started the second draft of my novel, The Claw. Definitely needed the time away more than I thought, and aside from the constant FREAKING WIND, Aruba is a beautiful island. The people are extremely nice, VERY LAID BACK, which drove me crazy most of the time (especially waiting for dinner), and the water is as blue as Windex. Drank the local brew (Balashi) and it tasted so damn good I probably pounded more than I had since college. Anyway, I'm going to dedicate myself to becoming a better artist and writer so that I can afford to visit more places without such huge gaps of time in between. Good to be back in the USA.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Ava's 7 and Aruba, here we come
Hey everyone. Going south, really south, to Aruba. I think that's south. First vaca for my wife and I in 10 years sans children. Thanks to my sisters and my mother-in-law, the kids will be in good hands.
Anyway, I'll be back in a week. Maybe I'll post some photos, who knows. Here's a tribute of my youngest, little Ava. She turns 7 and is quite the poster. We'll be away for her actual birthday, but we celebrated today and made it a special time for all of us. Take care all and God bless.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Pat Caputo Rules!
I love columnist and radio talk jock (97.1 The Ticket) Pat "The Book" Caputo. The guy is a native and knows his stuff. Rock on Pat. Don't let the haters get you down. And there is nothing, NOTHING gay about you! (not that there's anything wrong with that).
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Obama sucks at bowling
Did I really hear on the radio that Obama bowled a freaking 37? Seriously. I thought I "mis-heard" it. I mean, a 137, sure. A 1-0-7, even. But how un-athletic do you have to be, barring certain handicaps, to bowl a 37? It seems you can bowl close to 100 by accident. I heard a guy on the radio say he's now not even sure how comfortable he is with the prospect of Barack as his President. That's sarcasm steeped in machismo (well, it is bowling, which I'm not even sure you'd call a sport. Similar to darts, or even golf). The guy played basketball in college. I hope he's not asked to throw out a first pitch! Heaven help us. It does connect to all the crap these candidates are expected to answer to; from kissing babies, eating bad regional foods (while smiling), listening to the populace drone on with their particular issues. And of course, bowl. This is going to be fun to watch develop down the stretch run until November.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
What about the old guy?
Every time I see a news item on Barack or Hilary, I keep wondering what the election will reveal about the two candidates that we don't already know. It just feelslike one of them is a candidate the general voting population wants. Then there's "Pastorgate" for Barack (in the form of Rev. Wright) and "Snipergate" for Hilary (in the form of being outed by none other than the "comedian", Sinbad, no less!) that clouds the positions the two candidates take. But how about McCain? He had an alleged relationship with a lobbyist, but what else is out there? Can he beat either of the Dems? Is he just too damn old looking? I mean, I wouldn't use that as a pre-requisite for my vote, but it's hard to get past his appearance sometimes. I wonder if when people are in the privacy of that booth, what will compel them to pull--or not pull--the trigger on a certain candidate. Will age, race or gender play a role? Anyone who doesn't think so is fooling themselves. Maybe it will all come down to which running mate is chosen to assuage the fears of the voters to the shortcomings they feel for a particular candidate.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Your Life (in 6 words or less)
Local columnist Neal Rubin had written a column where he touched on the compilations contained in the book, "Not Quite What I Was Planning-Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure (Harper Perennial $12). Since I'm a HUGE Neal Rubin fan, I sent him an email to say hello and offered my own 6-worder. You can see what I contributed by clicking the headline to go to the article online. I'd love to hear what you all would put as your own sparse memoir. It's not as easy as it sounds.
Monday, March 24, 2008
My Favorite TV Show
Just a little homage to my favorite TV show. The Office is one the best pieces of writing and acting on TV. These four; Jim, Dwight, Michael and Stanley, are my favorite characters on the show.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Where did the time go?
My oldest child and only son, Gino, turns 16 today. He's a truly unique kid, a description which seems to be fading with every week. His voice is deeper than mine, and he can probably grow a better beard already (he got the Sicilian genes from my wife's side). More than that, he's mature and has a sophisticated sense of humor that I love. And the kid can really dance, truly. I felt compelled to depict him standing on the rock in front of Harrison, surrounded by two of his favorite characters and pictures of his sisters and buddies. Happy Birthday, Gino. I love you kid.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Favorite Shows
There are a lot of funny shows on TV. During the writes' strike, I missed The Office, 30 Rock, heck, even Desperate Housewives. But I really love House, M.D. The show really grew on me. Hugh Laurie, the lead character, possesses a wry inflection that never tires. He's really created one of the more iconic, memorable characters in television. While much of the plots are merely window dressing to allow House to espouse his cynical take on the cast and the emergency situation at hand, it's all great fun. Do you have a favorite show now? And what shows from the past are untouchable as far as Top 10? Mine are below, in no particular order:
1. All in the Family
3. Taxi
4. Seinfeld
5. Barney Miller
6. NYPD Blue
7. Hill Street Blues
8. Cop Rock.
That was a joke.
8. The Bob Newhart Show (the Suzanne Pleshette one)
9. The Jeffersons
10. Night Court
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Review and giveaway
Diane Kidman, the author of the writing blog, Carp(e) Libris Reviews, has posted a really nice review of the book, along with a giveaway. Thanks Diane, for helping get the book into the hands of people who might have missed it otherwise. To read the review, click the headline of this post.
Nicole Kidman
I always thought Nicole Kidman was a beautiful woman, especially considering the coloring she was blessed with. And I also prefer her pre-whatever the hell plastic surgeon she visited. Looking at her in recent photos, I don't know what the hell she was thinking. Anyway, here's my take on her when she was just in the post Billy Bathgate era, probably around the time she starred with her future nutjob husband, Tom Cruise.
Monday, March 10, 2008
More Favre Love
I was listening to the national take on Brett Favre retiring and much of it centered on John Madden's "Man Crush" on the venerable number 4. So yesterday I came across Gladiator, and like any other red-blooded male, I of course stopped and watched it. Why not just pop the DVD into the machine that was sitting there? Because this way I could watch it and still flip through other channels. Anyway, an image of Maximus as he was wearily defeated blended with "the Louisiana Gunslinger" stumbling off to sell Wranglers and whatever else, while a blubbering John Madden is left to mourn for the rest of his days. Whatever, it made for a fun drawing.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Brett Favre
God knows how John Madden and Tony Kornheiser will ever make it through another football season now that the object of their desire has retired. Yes, Brett Favre has hung up the spikes, and the biggest Lion killer since I've been cognizant enough to follow the Leos will be removed from the picture. Not that it will matter, they still will suck, of course. As much as the media fawns over the guy (it's not his fault that there's a Brett-lovefest) I have to give it up to him. There aren't many football players like him and he made watching football a lot more fun to watch. Damn, I wish the Lions could get a QB like him.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Kwame, Kwame, the Kwamenator. Who would've thunk that such a promising, intelligent up and comer could fall so fast? I've thought through this whole debacle, "That has to be the worst phone contract in history. Eight + million for 14,000 text messages". I really can't believe the citizens that live in my former hometown will put up with him anymore. He needs to go, and soon. Later K. LOL.
You Like Me! You REALLY Like Me!
I told anyone that would listen that the Clinton Machine isn't dead yet. It will be really interesting to see where the Dems go with their candidate selection given the political hot potatoes of having a woman running against a person of color. I think there will be great division in their ranks as Hillary tries to gently suggest that Barack's just not experienced and ready to lead the country without setting off all kinds of claims of said suggestions being perceived as condescending by the black community. For the time being though, like Sally Fields after snagging the Oscar for Norma Rae, old Hillary knows she still has pals in the country.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Who gets your vote?
With a form of Super Tuesday approaching Ohio and Texas, and the empty feeling left for us in Michigan (because the Democratic party from our state and the national post screwed things up) I wonder who people are leaning towards. I still don't know who I'm going to vote for. But the guy who I think would be most fun to draw is Barack. I just added a very distraught, disheveled Hillary. She's got that look that says, "Hey mister! Wait your turn!"
I'll try a McCain at some point, but let me know if you feel like sharing your political leanings.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Eight Dogs on YouTube
Check out my new attempt to help move books. Hey, if the dude who sang Chocolate Rain and that Star Wars light saber kid can get "hits", I figure why can't I. To go to YouTube and view the video, please click HERE
Maybe if enough folks view it, I'll be the next Tay Zonday. FYI, the dude who sings Chocolate Rain. His voice makes James Earl Jones' sound like Minnie Mouse
Monday, February 25, 2008
Detroit News' Neal Rubin clears my reputation
I am not a porn freak, OK? So God bless Neal Rubin. Because of him the neighbors in my sub will know it without me having to convince them of it.
CLICK THE HEADLINE ABOVE to get redirected to the online version of the article.
The Detroit News columnist has been a friend to many aspiring artists, musicians and writers over the years by mentioning their efforts to get their work in front of the public. Neal and I became acquainted when I called him out of the blue the day after a Sugar Ray concert. My wife and I had taken my son, Gino and daughter, Marina, to the show, and they made it onstage with Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray. He wrote a great article (which you can still find online). Anyway, Neal found the Craigslist article hilarious, and told me he'd try to get it into print. Well into print he did. The article is in today's paper, with primo placement, right next to all the Oscar coverage. He even put the cover in the beginning of the article. What a guy.
Neal also graciously notes that I'm working on a second book, an adaptation of an unsold screenplay. That's The Claw. As a big dreamer, the irony that that appeared next to all those stars with their Oscars wasn't lost on me. I sure hope I get it closer to Hollywood than Neal's article, but if I don't, I'm still so appreciative for the help and support I've received from people all over, and for the few media folks that have used their forums to give me more exposure.
Thanks again, Neal, not only for the support but for clearing my rep. It's much appreciated.
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Training will be provided in a way that best suits the duties of employees and volunteers.
OMS Montessori will take the following steps to ensure employees are provided with the training needed to meet Ontario's accessible laws by January 1, 2015:
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- How to use any assistive equipment OMS Montessori may have or come to have. What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing OMS Montessori's goods and services.
Staff will also be trained when changes are made to our accessible client service plan.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Making decisions that you think will better your life is probably the most difficult task of free will. Lately I've been trying to align my life's goals and ambitions with my priorities, but it seems like I'm making bad choices.
These choices are not devastating, but they are overwhelming just the same. Some of them are simply me grasping at what I think is best and really setting myself up to fail. When I do fail I feel like I've let my children and God down.
I have this thing with my children, I raised them with this: "Do your personal best, not everyone else's." To me this consists of being true to yourself … being honest with yourself. Yet, I don't feel like I'm heeding those words. I'm just grasping for the baton, running without looking, and dropping the ball all at once.
I've come to some truly insightful conclusions about my life, the path I'm on, and the places I'm going. I know that I deserve a lot of things in life; love, respect, honesty, and encouragement. I'm getting this from some people, but I struggle to pay back that which has been gifted to me. Of course, I can offer as much as humanly possible, but in the end it seems like few people are in my life as true friends. Most people want to know what I can do for them. The answer right now is nothing. I am so burnt out with exhaustion and failure that I no longer have energy to give others the precious gifts that I've been given.
Lately I've been seeing God's hand in much of my life, just a day and a half ago I felt true peace at the way things were going. I was astonished as I watched things fall into place, it was as if someone put in a special request to Heaven to watch over my family and me. Now, I feel like Satan is working really hard to destroy the very decisions that have the potential to help me keep my grip on life.
Things will be changing for me over the next few months, and I'm half tempted to strip myself clean of those that will suddenly have time for me when things are going well. Some think I'm just in this life to "drag others down to my level." The truth is that I'm human, some days, hidden behind my smiling face is pain and turmoil. When I reach out for some sort of support or encouragement I'm not reaching out to drag anyone down, I'm just grasping for some sort of logic to my situation, an unbiased third party viewpoint of what I'm doing and where I'm going.
The reality is that I can't always be strong … some days I need to cry, I need to vent, and I need to feel like someone cares enough to give me constructive critisism. Sometimes that might mean some more pain will be headed my way, but without that pain I don't see how I can find the positives in others.


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Census Records
History and How to Use them
(c) Linda Haas Davenport
Updated 2003
Copying, posting, reprinting or any other use of this essay (other than for your personal use) without the express written consent of the author is prohibited (and a breech of copyright laws). Not familiar with copyright laws? - click the box above.
The original of this article was distributed to the on-line genealogy community in theGenealogy Record Service Newsletter in September 1998
Time for an Update
I wrote the original of this essay in 1997 and at the time the majority of the people who visited my Learning Center were family historians who were already familiar with genealogy research and were looking for more in-depth information on different source records. I didn't feel it was necessary to actually explain why a family historian needed to search Federal Census records nor to explain the basics of census research. However, things have changed since 1997 and for this series of essays to be helpful to many new family historians I felt it was time for a major update. I have re-written this essay and each of the individual census year essays.
Before We Meet the Census Records
Novice family historians are instructed to begin their research by gathering as much information as possible from their homes and family members and to verify the information by collecting marriage, death and birth records. The next step is a search of the Federal Census records. These are usually the first large body of source documents a family historian has to search.
The history of the Federal Census follows and will help you to understand the records you will be searching. To successfully use the Federal Census records you need to develop good research habits from the very beginning. One of the first things you will need is census abstract forms. These are forms that are formatted to match the columns on a page of the census schedule. They are available from many places on-line, often at local genealogy libraries and local genealogy societies. I usually download the ones found atancestry.com. If you prefer to purchase preprinted abstract forms go to Everton Publishers and check out all the forms they have for sale. Gary Minder has come up with the perfect tools for census record research - he has the census abstract forms set up in spreadsheet format and also a set of spreadsheets to help you organize your research and show you what you are missing. I personally prefer to abstract census records by hand onto an abstract form and then transfer the information to my computer - but I come from the old school of genealogy research and many of the new family historians prefer to use a laptop.
The next tool you need is access to either Everton Publishers'Handybook for Genealogists or Ancestry's Redbook. One or the other of these books is available at most local genealogy libraries but sooner or later you will probably want to own one of them. If you can afford to buy only one reference book - spend your money on one of these. Of all the reference tools you will use in your research one or the other of these books is almost indispensable. Both books are divided into states and then into the counties of the state. Information about courthouses, available records, addresses and genealogy societies is provided for each state and county, but the thing that makes this book indispensable for census research is the information on when a county was formed and what existing counties it was formed from. Probably the best way to explain why you need to know when a county was formed is to use as an example an e-mail I received not too long ago.
" Linda I have followed your instructions in searching the census records but I simply can't find my family and I know they were there because my family has lived in the family home for over a 100 years. I have checked the whole county line by line and can't find them. What do I do now? Thanks for your help."
I wrote the lady and asked what state and county she was researching. When I received her answer I pulled out my Handybook for Genealogists and checked the information on her county. I found that the county she was looking in had lost a part of its land when a new county was formed during the 10 years between censuses. I suggested the lady look in the new county and she found her family immediately. They hadn't moved the county line did. Many a family historian has spent hours and hours trying to find information on a family in the wrong county because they were not aware of county line changes. Another wonderful research tool is a book by William Dollarhidecalled Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Census (once again most local genealogy libraries have this book). This book has see-through overlays showing the county boundary line changes for each Federal Census. Maps are also available individually by state from many places.
You now know what tools you need so let's talk a minute about the basic How To of census research. As a family historian you will always be traveling backward in time. You begin your family research with yourself and then move back to your parents and then back to your grandparents, etc. To successfully find information on each prior generation you need to accumulate information about the current generation that will help you locate the previous generation in time and space. Unless you were born before April 15, 1930 you will not find yourself in the most currently available census - the 1930. Whichever generation (yourself, your parents or grandparents) are of an age to be on the 1930 census that is the generation you will have to begin your census research with.
I have an essay for each federal census year and you should read the essay that matches the census year you are working with for detailed information.
The usual way to research census records is to begin with the most current census, find your family, record the information and then move backward to the next census in line (1930 then 1920 then 1910, etc.). This is feasible as long as you know the family names you are looking for. Sooner or later you'll hit a year when you won't be able to determine which family is yours. That's when you go back to the 1930 census abstract form and begin to locate other source documents to confirm that the family is really yours. One word of advice - always list the information on at least 10 families before and after your own. Prior to 1900 most families did not move as a single family unit (mom, dad and kids) rather they moved with other family members, extended family, neighbors or good friends. It was only after the 1900s that families started moving as single units. When you make it back to the 1840 census you will be faced with only the name of the head of the house and that's when all those names you record from later census will become invaluable. That's not to say you won't make use of these neighbors all the time they just become much more valuable in 1840.
Be prepared to return to the census records over and over and over. As new people surface you will need information on them, a new clue found in other source documents will send you back to the census for information. I have been researching my family history for over 30 years and I still use the federal census records. The better research skills you learn and develop early on the more successful you will be in the future.
A summation of this essay is found in the last section and it offers many suggestions of how the information on census records can be used to locate source documents and other information.
One last comment before we visit the history of the federal census - many of you may have found what you believe to be your family history on-line and may be wondering why you should bother looking at the census records. I can only say that until you yourself verify the information you receive from someone else you can never be sure the information is accurate. If you share information you do not know to be accurate you will be doing a major disservice to other family historians and the hobby of genealogy. The amount of misinformation and sloppy research has reached such proportions that there is now a definite distinction between the term genealogist and family historian. A genealogist has been trained and usually certified in the field of genealogy while family historians are hobbyists who's quality of individual work is as varied as the individuals.
Now let's go find out how the census came about and why we have it.
History and Background
According to Webster's 9th New Collegiate Dictionary aCensus is: "1. A count of the population and a property evaluation in early Rome 2. A usu. complete enumeration of a population: specif: a periodic governmental enumeration of population."
Taken every 10 years the United States' Federal Census endeavors to account for every person residing in the US. This every 10 year census is used to apportion government representatives to the House and Senate, to gather information and specific data the government is interested in, and to produce statistics of one kind or another. I'm sure that it never crossed anyone's mind (in the government) that someday this collection would end up being one of the most popular and most used tools of a genealogist and family historian.
Prior to 1790 there was no full census taken in the colonies. There were some state and local censuses taken prior to 1790. Also scattered throughout the colonial records are population lists of one kind or another; such items as property tax lists, church membership lists, etc., are found at the county / town level.
However, all of this changed after the Revolutionary War. The new fledging government found itself in charge of a nation and had no idea how many people it was expected to govern. Along with the need to know the population count and where people lived the new government needed to raise money. The War had left the new government flat broke and in debt.
"Article I, Section 2, of the United States Constitution required in 1787 that Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."(1)
With the enactment of this law the brand new US became the first country in the world to call for count of its citizens on a regular basis.
In subsequent decades, the practice of "Service for a Term of Years" died out. "Indians not taxed" were those not living in settled areas and paying taxes; by the 1940's all American Indians were considered to be taxed. The Civil War of 1861-65 ended slavery (abolished legally through the 13th Amendment in 1865), and the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1868, officially ended Article I's three-fifths rule. Thus, the original census requirements were modified. Direct taxation based on the census never became practical.
The census count still has a direct impact on the congressional districts of each state and the number of representatives per state is still determined by the census count. The first congress was wise in that it left the census to be done in "such manner as they shall by law direct". This has allowed the contents of the census to change from time to time, the manner in which the census is taken to change and finally it allowed for the forming of a full time Bureau of the Census.
The men who served in the first Congress of the new Union had vivid memories of the laws of Europe. As they molded the new country's government they instituted laws they felt would protect the people from an oppressive government. One of the laws enacted made available to the populace the records of the Federal Government. For the family historian this open record policy gave access to the Federal Census records. The census law required that every household be "visited and that completed census schedules be posted in 'two of the most public places within [each jurisdiction], there to remain for the inspection of all concerned' and that 'the aggregate amount of each description of persons' for every district be transmitted to the President."
It wasn't long before the government ended up between the proverbial rock and a hard place. The government directed that Federal Records be opened to the Public, yet people wouldn't give the Census Takers information that could be readily accessed by their neighbors. To resolve the issue the Census Bureau instigated the "72 year rule" to protect the privacy of the people enumerated. 72 years was well over the life span of the average person at the time the rule was enacted. Under this act the Census would be made available (opened) to the public 72 years after the census was taken.
The last census to be opened to the public was the 1930 census in 2002. The 1940 census will be opened to the public in 2012.
The first census of the U.S. (1790) was interested in how many people resided in the new United States and their approximate ages. By the 1930 census the questions had grown to include such things as marital status, whether a person owned or rented their home, was it mortgaged, were they citizens, information on education levels, occupation, birthplaces, what language was spoken and whether the family owned a Radio. The Censuses from 1790 to 1930 increasingly gathered more information about a family and the questions asked reflected the current interest of the government at the time of the census.
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Rustin Scott
Rustin Scott
I am proud to say that I have lived most of my life in the Grand Rapids Area. I have developed an extreme fondness for the area's beauty, culture and people. I always knew that I wanted to help others experience the privilege of home ownership. After obtaining my Bachelors Degree in finance at Grand Valley State University, I pursued a career in mortgage lending where I learned valuable skills that apply on a daily basis to my job as a Realtor. I excel in negotiation, financing, communication and market knowledge.
I work closely with Mark Brace, at the prestigious BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HomeServices — Michigan Real Estate, who is one of the country's top agents. Mark is a highly respected Realtor within the community. Working as a buyer specialist on his team, I am able to exercise my superior market knowledge and negotiating skills while completing every property transaction with honesty and efficiency. My goal is to work diligently and professionally to always exceed my clients expectations.
I am married to my wonderful wife Jamie and have a little girl, Charlie. I enjoy many outdoor activities which include hunting, fishing,boating, ATV's, bonfires, and a wide array of sports.
You can reach me anytime at 616-889-1097 or email@example.com.
Trust in Rustin!


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Mahlasela has been linked with a move to Amakhosi and the club finally confirmed his arrival on a two-and-a-half-year deal. Mahlasela is an exciting winger who will be hoping to make a mark at the club.
"I'm grateful to be here. I believe I can grow and also help the team," said Mahlasela as Amakhosi confirmed the deal on Twitter.
Amakhosi supporters, however, will be hoping he can improve on getting more goals and assists. As a winger, Mahlasela would not be happy with his statistics of just one goal and two assists this season.
At 26, Mahlasela is at an age where he needs to deliver week in and out, especially now that he has signed for a club like Chiefs.
Mahlasela Signs!— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) January 3, 2018
Kaizer Chiefs would like to confirm the signing of attacking midfielder Kabelo Mahlasela from Bloemfontein Celtic on a 2 and a half year deal with a one year option.
"I'm grateful to be here. I believe I can grow and also help the team."- Mahlasela#KCOneTeam pic.twitter.com/lapMfj99y2
Gordinho, meawhile, has struggled for game time this season, as coach Steve Komphela has preferred Daniel Cardoso, while youngster Siyabonga Ngezana has worked his way into the starting line-up since his impressive debut against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The 23-year-old Gordinho has made only seven appearances this season.
Gordinho loaned to Celtic— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) January 3, 2018
Kaizer Chiefs would like to confirm that defender Lorenzo Gordinho has been loaned to Bloemfontein Celtic on a one-year deal.
We wish him all the best during this tenure.#KCOneTeam pic.twitter.com/NH0IKZ31bY


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Menu 7/4 - 7/10
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Monday--Red, White, and Blue Pancakes--With the blueberries inside the pancakes, the strawberry sauce, and the vanilla yogurt over the top---these healthy pancakes will be a delicious way to start Independence Day!
Grilled Pizza Burgers (new)
Chips and Creamy Guacamole Dip --
Red, White, and Blue Layered Drink
Tuesday--Fresh Pesto and Tomato Pasta--the basil is popping up in our garden and it's time to make my favorite fresh pesto pasta
Braided Bread--our favorite new homemade bread recipe
Buffalo Chicken Wraps (new)
Fresh Veggies with Greek Yogurt-Cucumber Sauce (new)--we have cucumbers ready to be picked in our garden!
Cafe Rio Taco Salad (knock off)--they just built a Cafe Rio about 1/2 hour from us, but since we still haven't been there, we'll just make this instead until we get there! :)
Lion House Cornbread--moist and flavorful, we love this corn bread with green chilies
Freshly Squeezed Orange-Lime-Lemonade--
Friday--Make Ahead Blueberry French Toast--my kids love this fancy breakfast
Chicken Kebab Pizza with Yogurt-Cucumber Sauce (new)
Saturday--Chicken Pasta Salad--colorful, flavorful, and delicious!
Sunday--Smoked Kielbasa with Rice (new)
Crockpot Chocolate Fudge Cake--Ever since Jen posted this, I've been drooling over it!
Go check Organizing Junkie for lots more Menu Plans!
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Letters to the Editor
ERA protects
Letter writer Brian Franz should read the Employee Rights Act (ERA) before he blindly criticizes it as "a gift to corporate America." (Organized labor, Feb. 13)
In reality, the ERA would provide employees with several on-the-job protections they lack under current labor law. For instance, it would guarantee them the right to a secret ballot election and would allow them to frequently reassess whether their union still serves their interests through federally supervised re-certification elections.
Franz claims unions today are wholly democratic, yet less than 10 percent of union members ever voted for the union currently representing them. Employees are now turning to the ERA for help: The bill's key provisions are supported by 80 percent of union households. Franz's baseless attack leaves one question unanswered: If the ERA serves corporate America, then why does the overwhelming majority of the union workforce support it?
Richard Berman, executive director, Center for Union Facts, Washington, DC


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Four Books That Honor American Veterans
In the spirit of Memorial Day, Book World invited Jan Scruggs to pick his favorite books that honor our vets. Scruggs is founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund; he recently wrote the foreword to The Wall: 25 Years of Healing and Educating by Kim Murphy, which the VVMF commissioned to mark its 25th anniversary.
Here is his guest contribution to Short Stack:
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. These simple but profound words adorn the Korean War Memorial. Our nation just observed Memorial Day, when we pause to remember those who, from the beginning of this country's history, have paid the price so that we can live in freedom. Sometimes we take this for granted, but think about it: People from all over the world struggle to come here and become Americans. Ours truly is the land of the free and the home of the brave.
I served with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade during the Vietnam War. It was a life-changing experience for me, as it was for many who served in Southeast Asia. When I came home, I was determined that we would not forget those who served and sacrificed for their country, and I led the effort to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
As you can imagine, I am often drawn to books about U.S. military history. These coffee table books seem to always be on sale, and I buy them with frequency. They make great gifts -- after I have read them, of course!
1. United States Naval Academy Annapolis, by Linda Foster, photos by Roger Miller.
Since 1845, this institution has given America many officers in the Navy and Marines. The book captures the essence of Annapolis's noteworthy architecture and the academic and physical training that the midshipmen endure. Jimmy Carter, the only U.S. president to graduate from the Naval Academy, wrote the foreword.
2. U.S. Army Infantry, edited by Maj. Gen. Jerry A. White.
The Infantry teaches men to engage enemy soldiers with firearms, grenades and other weapons. It has always been the backbone of America's fighting force, and cemeteries in places like Normandy, which are primarily filled with infantrymen, attest to that. This history helps readers respect the sacrifices of the frontline troops in our armed forces.
3. World War II: A Photographic History, by David Boyle.
The 900 photos in this book are a powerful testament to the bravery of American troops and the horrors of war. These photos are not for the faint of heart. The images of emaciated American POWs and our battle dead at Iwo Jima are profound memorials to the courage of those who gave of themselves for our nation and our freedom.
4. Battles of the Civil War, 1861-1865: From Fort Sumter to Petersburg, by Kevin J. Dougherty et al.
Imagine the headline: "30,000 Casualties Near Washington, D.C.!" The book tells about this horrific American tragedy, some of which took place on battlefields that are now a short drive from our city. The writing is quite good, and the illustrations are augmented by grisly statistics, including the death toll at Spotsylvania Court House in Virginia.
What books come to your mind?
By Christian Pelusi |
May 29, 2008; 6:22 AM ET
Mary Morris
Previous: Five Books That Include Memorable Graduation Scenes | Next: What You See Is What You Get: Judging Five Books by Their Cover
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The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien.
Posted by: KLeewrite | May 29, 2008 9:51 AM
There is also a compilation of articles written about the Vietnam War (can't remember who put it out -- it has a black cover with red, white and blue stripes near the top). One of those articles is a veteran's account of being in a firefight, and it is possibly the most visceral thing I've ever read. Really gives you an idea of what goes through these soldiers' heads at their most frightening moments.
Posted by: KLeewrite | May 29, 2008 11:03 AM
Hi Kleewrite, the cover doesn't precisely match your description but might you be referring to this?
Patriots: The Vietnam War Remembered from All Sides
Posted by: mary morris | May 29, 2008 3:41 PM
This is a beautifully made book:
Semper Fi: The Definitive Illustrated History of the U.S. Marines by Col. H. Avery Chenoweth, USMCR (2005)
Posted by: mary morris | May 29, 2008 6:00 PM
There are wonderful books about African Americans' participation in the Civil War, World War II and Vietnam. I can't think of them right now, but it seems that they should be mentioned in this conversation. Can you name a few?
Posted by: Dave | May 29, 2008 11:30 PM
Actually, mary morris, I looked up the publisher on Amazon this morning. It was Library of America. They put out two hardbacks and then condensed many of those articles into a paperback version, which is what I have. But the book you mention does sound interesting.
Posted by: KLeewrite | May 30, 2008 11:24 AM
Hi Dave, thanks for your suggestion. Coincidentally, Marie Arana, Book World's editor, just happened to mention the author Gail Lumet Buckley, daughter of Lena Horne and ex-wife of film director Sidney Lumet, who wrote "American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm" (2002). I'll see if I can find others. I've seen a few books about the Tuskeegee Airmen...
Posted by: mary morris | May 30, 2008 1:01 PM
Thanks very much for the information, Kleewrite. Just found online another title in a similar vein that seems to have struck a responsive chord with many vets: "Stolen Valor : How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History" (1998).
Posted by: mary morris | May 30, 2008 1:12 PM
I second the recommendation for Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried." An amazing book. I also thought Bob Greene's book "Duty" about the pilot of The Enola Gay was fascinating.
Posted by: Judy Merrill Larsen | May 30, 2008 2:15 PM
I've really enjoyed "Letters at The Wall" by Sofarelli
Posted by: Jay Benchoff | May 30, 2008 2:33 PM
Thanks very much for your contributions, Judy Merrill Larsen and Jay Benchoff.
Found two books on the Tuskegee Airmen (sorry, misspelled Tuskegee earlier): Black Knights: The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen by Lynn M. Homan and Thomas Reilly (2001), and The Tuskegee Airmen: The Men Who Changed a Nation (1997). Still looking for other books honoring African American veterans...
Posted by: mary morris | May 30, 2008 3:22 PM
My sister has a book about a soldier in Vietnam who was captured as a POW, who also happened to be Mormon. She search 20 years for a copy of it -- the narrative is breathtaking.
Also, what about Tracy Kidder's book - My Detachment: A Memoir or Marcus Luttrell's "Lone Survivor?"
Posted by: aglassbookworm | May 30, 2008 3:46 PM
One of the most accurate descriptions of war in Vietnam with respect to how it actually was in triple canopy country is "The 13th Valley". I am sorry that I cannot recall the author.
Posted by: rockcreek | May 31, 2008 6:48 AM
Iwo Jima: World War II Veterans Remember the Greatest Battle of the Pacific. A new oral history by the best-selling author Larry Smith.
Posted by: Steve | June 2, 2008 3:02 PM
As author of the first book listed, I would like to mention a new book on West Point that I also authored. It was published the end of 2007 and is entitled "West Point, An Inside Look at the Long Gray Line."
I very much appreciate the comments on the Naval Academy book.
Thank you!
Linda Foster
Posted by: Linda Foster | June 2, 2008 9:58 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.


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The Place of Politics in the Classroom
April 8, 2017
Filed under OPINIONS
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On Nov. 8, 2016, Donald Trump's triumph sparked intense controversy nationwide. With Donald Trump winning the majority of electoral votes but Hillary Clinton preceding him in the popular vote, the news quickly spread globally. With almost all main news outlets predicting slim chances for a Trump victory, many in liberal strongholds were upset by the outcome of the election.
As such, the day after the election, in my fourth-period literature class, there was a divergence from the daily curriculum and in its place, an intense focus on the recent election. Pre-planned by many teachers that morning, the period started with a guided walk around campus in two lines, with partners from each line expected to engage in a discussion about the election results and their views on it. When we returned to the classroom, the teacher read aloud an opinion-editorial published by the Huffington Post. The article, titled "What Do We Tell The Children?", condemned Donald Trump and implicitly called for the protection of children from bigotry and the fear of advocating for one's opinion. While I personally believed the article had its strengths and weaknesses, my problem was not with the article itself, but rather with the lack of objectivity used in presenting the material to students. It was introduced as a direct rebuttal to Trump's merits and presented as an undisputed fact, almost similar to how a history lesson would be lectured. The article referred to Trump as a "mean person" and stated that "[such life lessons] will be priceless in the coming months and years as we work to build a democratic society that protects the rights of all people ― regardless of the cooperation or resistance those efforts face from the executive branch."
That day, we had not been presented with any other article featuring an opposing viewpoint. Because the article's core argument was presented to us as an obvious fact rather than one of many fallible views toward the election, it became apparent to me that the classroom activities following election day were not intended to improve our critical thinking skills, but rather attempted to create a safe space for all those feeling threatened by Trump's presidency or who had not supported him during the election. On one hand, this was beneficial, because it provided the majority of students with a sense of comfort following the controversial election, allowing students concerned about or frightened by Trump's policies to speak up and defend their beliefs. However, many Republicans, conservatives, libertarians and students espousing different political philosophies did not feel comfortable stating their opposing viewpoints. In such a class environment, the majority of liberals and Anti-Trump supporters likely already supported the opinions being presented to them, incentivizing them to affirm their unchallenged beliefs and have safer opportunities to speak up.
The debate about whether politics has a place in the classroom has been enduring. There have been reports of many liberal teachers and administrators continuing to denounce Trump and his actions when there is no necessity to do so to teach the lesson that they are required to teach efficiently. It would be equally irresponsible for a conservative teacher to berate Hillary Clinton or any democratic ideology in front of students. Even before the controversial 2016 presidential election, for example, Anoka-Hennepin school in Minneapolis banned teachers from addressing political issues in class for the sake of their professionalism and in response for previous attempts to do so.
From the historical debates about the ideal system of government and the Lincoln-Douglas debates to the current debates about abortion, taxes, diplomacy, immigration and even the 2016 presidential election, there are always at least two sides to every story. Do all opinions on each of these topics shed their importance within the walls of a classroom? Of course not. However, should school administrators avoid bringing up and promoting discussions regarding such subjects in the classroom when the "facts" are skewed? Absolutely. Depending on the region or community in which it is located, schools will often have a dominant ideology. Too often, that idealistic value is represented and favored more than the others. Political discussions in class will almost always involve some bias, geared towards that general popular belief.
Such polarization remains rampant in the liberal environments of schools in California and many other places across the nation, most notably in the Silicon Valley. My exposure to the political opinions I learned from classroom discussions since middle school has consisted of predominantly liberal and progressive ideology, prompting teachers to engage in the deliberations favored towards such philosophies. Granted, the fault does not stem solely from educators, as they often intend, for good reason, to create a safe environment for students. With most colleges in the United States regarded as highly liberal, teachers may opt to engage in discussions to incentivize the majority of students with opportunities to freely speak and express their values. However, while the possible motives as to why a teacher would choose to start a political discussion in class are justified, the reality differs. Students who are part of the ideological minority will feel isolated associating themselves with their true beliefs if a teacher and most of the students in the class are subtly or blatantly condemning their views or other unpopular ideas.
Simply put, there is no need for political discussions in classrooms. With classes that are designed to teach subjects outside the realm of politics, such as mathematics or science, political events such as the 2016 election and political debatable issues should remain a topic of discussion elsewhere, as it is not worth the diversion from typical course of study that actually teaches the students unbiased material.
Teachers should not perpetuate political discussions in classrooms, especially if they do not address the topics being covered. However, certain classes such as history, government or economics classes may have sensitive political issues embedded as a part of their curriculum — for example, a history lesson on the evolution of the two-party system or the study of a historical document addressing issues such as human rights or health care. It is important for teachers, when such discussions arise regarding controversial topics in these situations, to remain objective and discuss both sides of the issue. The classroom will be majority liberal, conservative, libertarian or affiliated with any other political group, but regardless, students must have the exposure to both sides of an issue and additionally receive equal support to represent their opinion. With dominant beliefs in classrooms inescapably receiving more representation, only in cases where a political point of view must be addressed to teach a lesson effectually should teachers begin to address such ideas. And even then, teachers must deal with such situations by uniformly acknowledging and displaying the multiple perspectives of the issue. In all other cases, teachers should not need to reroute from their scheduled lesson plan in, for example, algebra or chemistry, to spark deliberation on politics.


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Several motions filed on behalf of defendants Duke University and Duke University Health System Inc. have successfully narrowed the focus of the case to the point it makes sense for the two North Carolina firms that have been part of the defense team to assume control of the matter, says Wilmer public policy and strategy chair Jamie Gorelick.
That's BS if I've ever heard it. I suspect that Duke university has realized that having a serial fuckup like Jamie defending them won't help their chances in court.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Don't you just love the elegant sneer on this "intellectual's" face? It's easy to imagine him thinking something like 'You stupid middle-class Brits and Americans are such idiots for not wanting to live in a worker's paradise like the Soviet Union was'.
Eric Hobsbawm, who at the age of 94 has been singing the praises of slavery over the drawbacks of freedom for nearly a century, has written a new book "How to Change the World: Reflections on Marx and Marxism." I have no plans to read his book. But I read an excellent review of it in the WSJ by Michael Moynihan:
In a now infamous 1994 interview with journalist Michael Ignatieff, the historian was asked if the murder of "15, 20 million people might have been justified" in establishing a Marxist paradise. "Yes," Mr. Hobsbawm replied. Asked the same question the following year, he reiterated his support for the "sacrifice of millions of lives" in pursuit of a vague egalitarianism. That such comments caused surprise is itself surprising; Mr. Hobsbawm's lifelong commitment to the Party testified to his approval of the Soviet experience, whatever its crimes. It's not that he didn't know what was going on in the dank basements of the Lubyanka and on the frozen steppes of Siberia. It's that he didn't much care.From what I can determine, Hobsbawm lived most of his life in the UK, and spent a fair amount of time in the USA. If his Marxist paradise is so delightful, why didn't he go to live in the Soviet Union, or Cuba, or Maoist China, or....?
And I'm not referring to the practice of going to one of those big prisons as a guest of the warden, like Michael Moore did in Cuba. Nor am I talking about going to live the lifestyle of a member of the nomenklatura of one of those countries. I would like to see someone like Hobsbawm (or Michael Moore, or Jane Fonda) go to live in a country like North Korea as a member of the proletariat. That way he could realize the full experience of living in a worker's paradise.
But Eric has never done that. Nor has Michael, nor Jane, nor any number of other western admirers of marxism. There are only a small handful of people who have actually gone to live in a communist country on their own volition. Eric has lived his long life in a capitalist democracy. He has never been punished for advocating overthrow of our way of life. His right to advocate slavery is guaranteed by the very freedoms he opposes. He gets to live in a country with the rule of law, rather than the arbitrary whim of dictators. His needs are rather well met by the free enterprise system he so vigoorously opposes. He doesn't have to stand in line for hours just to buy basic necessities like they did in the Soviet Union, nor does he have to eat cats like many Cubans have, nor grass like many North Koreans.
But Eric wants to impose that complete lack of freedom and poverty on other people. What a despicable old man he is.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Poor Warren, he only had to pay $6,938,744 in taxes:
OUR leaders have asked for "shared sacrifice." But when they did the asking, they spared me. I checked with my mega-rich friends to learn what pain they were expecting. They, too, were left untouched.
Last year my federal tax bill — the income tax I paid, as well as payroll taxes paid by me and on my behalf — was $6,938,744. That sounds like a lot of money. But what I paid was only 17.4 percent of my taxable income — and that's actually a lower percentage than was paid by any of the other 20 people in our office. Their tax burdens ranged from 33 percent to 41 percent and averaged 36 percent.
Hey stupid. If you're so undertaxed, why don't you send your personal check to your hero Barack? You and George Soros and John Kerry and all the other poor, undertaxed billionaires may donate any portion or even all of your wealth to the federal government.
We don't need sacrifice. What we need is investors putting their money in the private economy. That will do much more good for the economy than giving it to Barack, who has demonstrated his complete incompetence at managing the US economy.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
One of the best analyses of the current political situation:
The Obama presidency has reduced the liberal left to an apoplectic rage. His Ivy League credentials, superior attitude, pseudointellectual mien and facile adherence to lefty ideology make him the perfect personification of the liberal elite. Thus far at least, he has been an utter failure both at winning public support and at managing the affairs of the nation.
Obama's failure is the failure of the liberal elite, and that is why their ressentiment has reached such intensity. Their ideas, such as they are, are being put to a real-world test and found severely wanting. As a result, their authority is collapsing. And if there is one thing they know deep in their bones, it is that they are entitled to that authority. They lash out, desperately and pathetically, because they have nothing to offer but fear and anger.
All very true. And I would add that the left's attempts at racebaiting their opponents into silence has failed miserably, adding to their rage.


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Cotton Council International (CCI), the export promotions arm of National Cotton Council, celebrated 50 years of increasing exports of U.S. cotton, cottonseed and their products with a reception at Union Station in Washington, D.C.
Keynote speakers at the event included Sen. Thad Cochran, Miss.-R, chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, and Hunter H. Moorhead, special assistant to the president for agriculture, trade and food assistance.
CCI President David Burns, a North Carolina producer, said that at CCI's inception in 1956, the industry was in crisis: stocks were the highest in recent memory, man-made fibers were on the move and exports were the lowest they had been in a decade.
That year U.S. cotton exporters shipped only 2.2 million bales.
The supply-demand industry crisis of the 1950s led to the NCC signing the first "cooperator agreement" with USDA in 1955, and that led in 1956 to the incorporation of Cotton Council International.
CCI's focus was — and still remains — export market development.
"By comparison, today's global mill demand for cotton is more than four times greater than in 1956," Burns said. "For the 2005-06 marketing year, the U.S. is projected to export nearly 17 million bales, which translates to more than a seven-fold increase in exports compared with 1956 and represents around 70 percent of current U.S. production."
Burns added that although U.S. exports of cotton yarn, thread and fabric constituted a small portion of total production in 1956, they now exceed 3.6 million bale-equivalents, bringing total exports of U.S. cotton and cotton products to close to 21 million bales.


text: www.medpagetoday.com December 2, 2014 RSNA: Pituitary May Link Brain Injury and PTSDCHICAGO -- Metabolic activity in the pituitary gland may help doctors differentiate between patients who are exhibiting signs of mild traumatic brain injury alone and those who are also suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), researchers suggested here. Read the article on Medpagetoday Dr. Sears Comments: There is a strong indication that PTSD has a strong inflammatory component. Neuroinflammation disrupts all hormonal signaling, especially in the pituitary gland. Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *CommentName * Email * Website < Prev | Next >


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Hi, my name is Michelle and I'm the Charity Relations Intern at ever/after. I'm obsessed with my ever/after white High-Low Scoop Tank and I'd pair it with Joe's Jeans skinny jeans in Atlantic, Ministry of Fashion headband, Steve Madden sandals, Michael Kors and Fossil bracelets and Free People ring.
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I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but David Brooks actually had an excellent column in yesterday's New York Times that makes several insightful and important points. Brooks documents how "childish, contemptuous and hysterical" the national reaction has been to this latest terrorist episode, egged on -- as usual -- by the always-hysterical American media. The citizenry has been trained to expect that our Powerful Daddies and Mommies in government will -- in that most cringe-inducing, child-like formulation -- Keep Us Safe. Whenever the Government fails to do so, the reaction -- just as we saw this week -- is an ugly combination of petulant, adolescent rage and increasingly unhinged cries that More Be Done to ensure that nothing bad in the world ever happens. Demands that genuinely inept government officials be held accountable are necessary and wise, but demands that political leaders ensure that we can live in womb-like Absolute Safety are delusional and destructive. Yet this is what the citizenry screams out every time something threatening happens: please, take more of our privacy away; monitor more of our communications; ban more of us from flying; engage in rituals to create the illusion of Strength; imprison more people without charges; take more and more control and power so you can Keep Us Safe.
This is what inevitably happens to a citizenry that is fed a steady diet of fear and terror for years. It regresses into pure childhood. The 5-year-old laying awake in bed, frightened by monsters in the closet, who then crawls into his parents' bed to feel Protected and Safe, is the same as a citizenry planted in front of the television, petrified by endless imagery of scary Muslim monsters, who then collectively crawl to Government and demand that they take more power and control in order to keep them Protected and Safe. A citizenry drowning in fear and fixated on Safety to the exclusion of other competing values can only be degraded and depraved. John Adams, in his 1776 Thoughts on Government, put it this way:
Fear is the foundation of most governments; but it is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men in whose breasts it predominates so stupid and miserable, that Americans will not be likely to approve of any political institution which is founded on it.
As Adams noted, political leaders possess an inherent interest in maximizing fear levels, as that is what maximizes their power. For a variety of reasons, nobody aids this process more than our establishment media, motivated by their own interests in ratcheting up fear and Terrorism melodrama as high as possible. The result is a citizenry far more terrorized by our own institutions than foreign Terrorists could ever dream of achieving on their own. For that reason, a risk that is completely dwarfed by numerous others -- the risk of death from Islamic Terrorism -- dominates our discourse, paralyzes us with fear, leads us to destroy our economic security and eradicate countless lives in more and more foreign wars, and causes us to beg and plead and demand that our political leaders invade more of our privacy, seize more of our freedom, and radically alter the system of government we were supposed to have. The one thing we don't do is ask whether we ourselves are doing anything to fuel this problem and whether we should stop doing it. As Adams said: fear "renders men in whose breasts it predominates so stupid and miserable."
What makes all of this most ironic is that the American Founding was predicated on exactly the opposite mindset. The Constitution is grounded in the premise that there are other values and priorities more important than mere Safety. Even though they knew that doing so would help murderers and other dangerous and vile criminals evade capture, the Framers banned the Government from searching homes without probable cause, prohibited compelled self-incrimination, double jeopardy and convictions based on hearsay, and outlawed cruel and unusual punishment. That's because certain values -- privacy, due process, limiting the potential for abuse of government power -- were more important than mere survival and safety. A central calculation of the Constitution was that we insist upon privacy, liberty and restraints on government power even when doing so means we live with less safety and a heightened risk of danger and death. And, of course, the Revolutionary War against the then-greatest empire on earth was waged by people who risked their lives and their fortunes in pursuit of liberty, precisely because there are other values that outweigh mere survival and safety.
These are the calculations that are now virtually impossible to find in our political discourse. It is fear, and only fear, that predominates. No other competing values are recognized. We have Chris Matthews running around shrieking that he's scared of kung-fu-wielding Terrorists. Michael Chertoff is demanding that we stop listening to "privacy ideologues" -- i.e., that there should be no limits on Government's power to invade and monitor and scrutinize. Republican leaders have spent the decade preaching that only Government-provided Safety, not the Constitution, matters. All in response to this week's single failed terrorist attack, there are -- as always -- hysterical calls that we start more wars, initiate racial profiling, imprison innocent people indefinitely, and torture even more indiscriminately. These are the by-products of the weakness and panic and paralyzing fear that Americans have been fed in the name of Terrorism, continuously for a full decade now.
Ever since I began writing in late 2005 about this fear-addicted dynamic, the point on which Brooks focused yesterday is the one I've thought most important. What matters most about this blinding fear of Terrorism is not the specific policies that are implemented as a result. Policies can always be changed. What matters most is the radical transformation of the national character of the United States. Reducing the citizenry to a frightened puddle of passivity, hysteria and a child-like expectation of Absolute Safety is irrevocable and far more consequential than any specific new laws. Fear is always the enabling force of authoritarianism: the desire to vest unlimited power in political authority in exchange for promises of protection. This is what I wrote about that back in early 2006 in How Would a Patriot Act?:
The president's embrace of radical theories of presidential power threatens to change the system of government we have. But worse still, his administration's relentless, never-ending attempts to keep the nation in a state of fear can also change the kind of nation we are.
This isn't exactly new: many of America's most serious historical transgressions -- the internment of Japanese-Americans, McCarthyite witch hunts, World War I censorship laws, the Alien and Sedition Act -- have been the result of fear-driven, over-reaction to extrenal threats, not under-reaction. Fear is a degrading toxin, and there's no doubt that it has been the primary fuel over the last decade. As the events of the last week demonstrate, it continues to spread rapidly, and it produces exactly the kind of citizenry about which John Adams long ago warned.


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Everyone please take a deep breath, sit down and count to ten.
In the great scheme of things, the success of a protest candidate in a reasonably democratic election should not rank very high on the scariness scale.
It has been my feeling for a long time that democracy was decaying into a shell of itself with the rapid growth of a class of professional politicians that had little or no idea of the problems confronting the folk they allegedly represented.
Brexit came as a shock to this class when if they had being doing their job properly it might not even have happened, let alone come as a bolt from the blue.
The Beltway politicians in the US are similar in this respect to the London-centric UK political elite, a similar class in France, Germany, Holland etc. In Scotland the SNP are riding a wave of inchoate (and innumerate) populist revolt against the system.
It's forty years since Lord Hailsham drew attention to what he called 'Elective Dictatorship'. The re-energising of the whole process is overdue and sadly the professional political classes would not listen any other way.
Of course it remains to be seen if they will listen this way.
In the words of the old Chinese curse, we live in interesting times.