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Get the Look: Southern-Style Architecture
Learn how to recognize and appreciate Southern-style architecture in its many variations
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Despite what the title might suggest, the American South (see slide 5 for specific states) features more than one style of architecture. Some styles are grand, others are more modest. But the Southern homes in those respective styles often share three things in common. Their structures are designed to handle the South's hot, humid weather. They include porches that foster Southerners' sense of community. And whether new or old, these homes include classic architectural details that add timeless elegance and a sense of history. See the next three slides to better understand these commonalities.
Deep Porches
Why do so many Southern homes boast gracious front porches tucked in beneath deep overhangs? Because such open-air rooms help family and friends endure the warm, humid air that comes with living in the South. Porches keep houses cooler by shading the structures' front walls. Porches also provide a comfortable place for people to sit and visit—a welcome social nicety before the advent of air conditioning.
Pictured: This wide porch, which faces Alabama's Bayou St. John, shields the home's interiors from the sun while providing breezy outdoor living space to entertain friends and family.
Elevated Foundations
Whether built of brick or stone, elevated foundations provide both utilitarian and aesthetic benefits to Southern homes. Building a house several feet above the ground helps protect it against water damage due to flooding. Plus, an elevated foundation enhances a home's curb appeal by putting the whole structure on a pedestal.
Building a house on stilts (often seen in coastal areas) offers an additional benefit. When all or part of a house rests upon stilts, breezes pass underneath that help cool overheated rooms.
Pictured: This renovated row house stands in a historic neighborhood just three miles north of the White House.
Classic Architectural Features
Symmetrical forms. Graceful proportions. Stately white columns. Triangular gables. Designers of pre-Civil War homes included such architectural details because of America's passion for Neoclassical, Greek Revival, Federal, and Georgian-style architecture in the early part of the 19th century. Today, such details give new homes an elegant sense of refinement that calls to mind the genteel lifestyles of the past.
Pictured: Classic on the outside, traditional with a twist within, this 1947 Georgian Colonial was meticulously restored by homeowners Bob Williams and Stephen Heavner.
Interior design: Bob Williams
Check out the interiors in this restored North Carolina home.
Defining the South
Before moving onto specific styles, find out exactly which states are included in the region known as "the South."
The American South (also known as Dixie or simply "the South") includes 16 states per the U.S. Census Bureau: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The Old South is defined as states lying south of the Mason Dixon line that were included in the original 13 British colonies: Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Definitions of the Deep South usually include Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and all or part of the adjacent states of Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia . Some definitions of the Deep South include the seven states that seceded from the United States before the start of the Civil War: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas.
Pictured: Built in 2003, this plantation-style North Carolina home features simple shutters, clean-lined columns, and a gently sloped hipped roof. Visitors often ask homeowner/interior designer Corine Longanbach if the house is original to the property. "That's my best compliment, when people think it's always been here," she says.
Click through the following slides to learn about specific styles and tour some of our favorite Southern homes.
Neoclassical Architecture at a Glance
Neoclassical—or "new" classical" architecture—doesn't describe any single building style. It's more of an approach to design that focuses on order, balance, and harmony—drawing inspiration from the classical architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. Greek Revival, Federalist, and Beaux Arts architectural styles all incorporate Neoclassical ideas into the mix.
Key characteristics:
- Commanding façade with symmetrical elements
- One to two-and-a-half stories high
- Dramatic columns the same height as the building
- Side-gabled or hipped roof
- Balanced display of windows
- Centered entry
- Low-pitched triangular pediments
- Greek or Roman ornamental design elements
Pictured: Majestic columns help create a dramatic façade for this late-19th-century house in Washington, D.C.
Interior design: Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey
New Beach House, South Carolina
Built on Kiawah Island, Renee and Alan Levow's new vacation home takes its style cues from Italian architect Andrea Palladio. The ideas of this 16th-century architectural superstar helped feed the Neoclassical movement that became popular in America after the War of 1812. Just like more traditional Lowcountry houses (see slide 14), this one is designed with shaded walls to help diffuse the heat. Large, plentiful windows channel the breeze and showcase marsh views.
This view shows the back of the house, where rectilinear columns add Southern flair to the Brazilian ipe wood deck. "I wanted the natural setting to be the main character of the house," says Renee. "Everything we did had to enhance it."
Architects: Wayne Windham and Laura DePree
Interior design: Beth Webb
Greek Revival Style at a Glance
Greek Revival architecture dominated building trends in the United States from 1818 to 1850 . This style was particularly popular in the South because of its association with classical tradition. Plus, Greek Revival's columns, porticoes, and porches provided welcome shade while promoting neighborly get-togethers in the fresh air.
Other key characteristics:
- Symmetrical façade; sometimes with ell-shape wings
- Gable or hipped roofs
- Portico or full-width porch with Greek columns (sometimes square pillars)
- Six-over-six windows with heavy surrounds
- Framed doorways with flanking pilasters, columns, sidelights, and/or transoms
- White-painted wood, brick, or masonry construction, rather than fine stone
Pictured: Built in 1838, this restored Greek Revival house fuses traditional elegance with informality. "It has fabulous proportions...," says designer Jamie Drake. "I wanted to create spaces that had the period ambience and yet were strong enough to accept [the homeowners'] oftentimes shockingly contemporary art."
See the home's artfully renovated library on the next slide.
Library, Greek Revival House, Washington, D.C.
Marilyn Monroe (a silkscreened work by Andy Warhol) looks surprisingly at home in a library furnished with traditional furniture and window coverings. Prussian blue walls make the old-fashioned architectural trim pop.
Check out the new Greek Revival House on the next slide.
Interior design: Jamie Drake
New Greek Revival Home, Georgia
Built on land that was once part of Henry Ford's winter estate in Savannah, Georgia, this Greek Revival home sports a slate roof, limestone steps, and Savannah-brick exterior that suit its traditional demeanor. The main house is symmetrical, but the two adjoining wings are sited lower and feature clapboard siding—instead of brick—to make it look as if they were added at a later time. The graceful Doric columns seen outside the front entrance are repeated inside where they define a gallery-style entry.
Architect and project manager: Domenick Treschitta
Updated Greek Revival Home, Virginia
Beneath all the dated wallpaper, navy blue carpet, and yellow laminate stood a classic home built in Richmond, Virginia, in 1924. "We knew this was the house for [us]," recalls the designer and homeowner Susan Jamieson. "It had all the right features—Greek Revival-style architectural details with the kind of rich, well-crafted character that you can best find in an older home."
Interior design: Susan Jamieson
Antebellum Architecture at a Glance
Similar to Neoclassicism, the term "antebellum" doesn't refer to a specific architectural style. Instead, "antebellum" (Latin for 'before war') refers to homes built in the American South before the Civil War (1861-1865). These grand, stately homes—many of which are examples of Greek Revival or Federal-style architecture—are responsible for the impression that the Old South is a place of cultured gentility.
Typical characteristics:
- Symmetrical and boxy
- Hipped or gabled roofs
- Strong columns supporting large covered porches and balconies
- Evenly spaced windows with contrasting shutters.
- Center entrances in the front and rear
Pictured: Two-story Ionic columns and a wide portico create a dramatic façade for this 1853 Greek Revival home in Texas.
Architect: Tom Hatch
Check out the historic Pease Mansion (shown) in Austin, Texas.
Renovated Antebellum-Style Home, Florida
Boston-based designers Lee Bierly and Chris Drake renovated this 1939 Antebellum-style home in Palm Beach as a getaway from their daily lives in New England. The house with a Southern vernacular was an unusual find in a region filled with a Mediterranean aesthetic. The two designers love the fact that they can use different colors than they would in Boston. "Here, bolder and more complex hues hold their own in the bright Southern light," Chris says.
Original architect: John Volk
Lowcountry Architecture at a Glance
Usually found in coastal South Carolina and Georgia, Lowcountry architecture is designed to withstand the rainstorms and floods inherent to a subtropical climate. The first floor is elevated to protect against high waters—and, equally important, to give living quarters better access to cooling breezes.
Key characteristics:
- Raised foundation to keep out floodwaters and to facilitate ventilation
- Usually single level; if multi-story, dormers funnel light beneath the roof
- Broad hipped roofs that extend over large front porches with columns
- Single-room depth to encourage cross-ventilation.
- High ceilings and large windows
- Wide wraparound porch accessed via multiple French doors
Pictured: John Howard's Lowcountry vacation home is designed to recede into the woods, a requirement of homes built in this particular South Carolina development.
Architect: G. Geoffrey Bray
On-site supervising architect: Michael Gentemann
Smokehouse/storage structure, Georgia
Part of a historically accurate renovation, the new storage structure was designed to resemble an 1850s smokehouse. The exterior walls are built with a mix of stone and old Savannah gray brick. The roof is made of metal, just like the roof on the house.
Tidewater Style Architecture at a Glance
Tidewater-style homes are similar to Lowcountry ones, although the former's lower levels are elevated on stilts—often with lattice attached to keep out animals. Such a setup not only prevents flood damage, it cools the house by allowing breezes to flow beneath the foundation. Tidewater houses are most commonly found along the coastal area from southern Delaware through south Georgia.
Key characteristics:
- Broad roof (usually hipped) with deep eaves
- Large porches, often wraparound
- Two stories; lower level elevated on stilts
- Abundant windows
- Wood construction
- Waterfront lots
Pictured: Deep porches shield the interiors of this 1910 Louisiana home from the heat. The back of the clapboard house (shown) also includes a wood terrace that offers a sunny spot to enjoy the rear lawn and swimming pool.
Architect: Ken Tate
New Cottage, South Carolina
One visit was to Lowcountry was all it took to convince Christie and Jim Bogrette to build their vacation house along the banks of the May River near Bluffton, South Carolina. The living and dining rooms kitchen share one large space with views of the river. French doors connect the living area to an intimate screened porch with a gas fireplace. And while many Southern porches stretch the length of a house, this one is half that size to avoid blocking outside views. "It's all about ... connecting with outside," Jim says.
Architects: Jim Bogrette and Joel Newman
Charleston Single House at a Glance
The Charleston Single House is longer than it is wide—which means that its footprint suits small narrow lots in cities such as Charleston where land is at a premium. These homes come in many styles, including Georgian and Federal.
Other key characteristics:
- One-room-wide footprint
- Verandas (also known as piazzas) run the length of the house, serving as exterior hallways, often with multiple French doors; they help to cool the house itself and afford a private place to relax outdoors, since they do not face the street
- Two outside doors are located on the same side as the verandas
- Brick or wood exteriors
Pictured: Homeowners George and Darlene Shaw first bought their Charleston single house in 1988. Years later (after living in a too-large antebellum house), they bought the home again, fondly remembering the open layout as being perfect for entertaining.
Architect: Randolph Martz
Single House Variation, North Carolina
This newer Charlotte home channels the Charleston Single House style, evidenced by the fact its four stories reach for the sky from a small footprint. Plus, the telltale gated side entrance opens to a loggia and the real "front" door. "We have always loved Charleston and the intimacy of a courtyard house," says homeowner and residential architect Sam Greeson. "When the lot we wanted dictated this style, the time had come."
Architect and interior designer: Sam Greeson
Single House Variation, South Carolina
Although multiple rooms wide, this lovingly restored Georgian home features the side piazzas that set Charleston Single Houses apart from other architecture. The end of the white-painted brick house faces the street, another single-house attribute.
Garden design: Ben Lenhardt
See the gorgeous formal garden that goes with this 1743 house in historic Charleston.
New Beach House, South Carolina
Inspired by Civil War officers' quarters, this new oceanside home features wraparound porches on two levels—perfect for enjoying the ocean breezes inherent to Sullivan's Island. In other words, the house is created around the concept of outdoor living. Inside, lofty ceilings allow the Southern heat to waft up and away, and plentiful doors offer access to the porches. Outside, sturdy windows with shutters are designed to withstand the harsh beach environment and hurricane-force winds.
See a view of the master bedroom on the next slide.
Residential designer: Carl McCants
Master Bedroom, South Carolina
French doors open the master bedroom to a private wraparound porch with dramatic views of the ocean. Sky-blue bed linens, taupe furniture, and a sisal area rug bring the ocean aesthetic inside. Cottage-style planks (used throughout the house) are employed here as wainscoting.
Interior design: Scott Laslie
French Colonial at a Glance
French Colonial architecture gets its name from French settlers who built homes in this style for flood-prone territories in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Key characteristics:
- One or two stories
- Steeply pitched roofs, either hipped (shown) or side-gabled
- Main living areas built on raised foundations
- Spacious porches (also called 'galleries') beneath extended roofs
- Brick, stucco, or wood siding
Pictured: Architect Ken Tate designed this newer French Colonial house near Jackson, Mississippi for homeowners who love traditional style but wanted a less formal demeanor than classic Greek Revival.
Architect: Ken Tate
New French Colonial House, Texas
When Glenn and Judy Smith (who also own a home in New Orleans) decided to build a French Colonial home in Houston, they chose Ken Tate to design it. (The Louisiana-based architect is known for designing homes layered in gracious Southern style.) Landscape architect Helen Grivich worked closely with Tate to create grounds reminiscent of the Old South.
See the Smiths's French Colonial playhouse on the next slide.
Architect: Ken Tate
Landscape architect: Helen Grivich
New French Colonial Playhouse, Texas
Also known as a pigeonnier (French for dovecote), this playhouse—complete with hipped roof, double-hung windows, and shutters—even boasts a miniature garden of its own.
Architect: Ken Tate
Landscape architect: Helen Grivich
French Creole Architecture at a Glance
French Creole architecture (which blends French and Spanish Colonial styles with West Indian and other influences) got its start during America's French Colonial period. This architectural style, especially designed for the South's hot, wet climate, continued to be popular well into the 1800s. Most surviving examples are in Louisiana.
Key characteristics:
- Broad, spreading rooflines, often hipped
- Spacious galleries with roofs supported by wood colonnettes
- Timber frames with infill made of brick or bousillage (mud, moss, and animal hair)
- Elevated foundations with living quarters placed above ground level
- Wrought-iron columns, balconies, and detailing
- A rear range of rooms that includes an open loggia)
- Pigeonniers (French for dovecotes) set near the main house to denote status
Pictured: Wrought-iron railings adorn the balcony of a French Creole mansion in New Orleans' Garden District.
Southern Colonial Style at a Glance
Southern Colonial architecture originated about the same time as southern plantations in the 18th and 19th centuries. Like traditional Colonial-style homes, these symmetrical structures include stately front entries accented with pediments, balanced window displays, and clapboard or brick siding.
Key differences:
- Elevated foundations to help protect against water damage
- Large columns lining the front of the house
Pictured: When Atlanta designer Amy Morris saw the potential of this clapboard Southern Colonial, she convinced her clients (also her parents) to buy it. Amy helped Daphne and Alex Davis to make the home their own with key changes that included a two-story addition to house a bigger kitchen.
Renovation architect: Brad Heppner
Check out the before and after photos for this remodeled home.
Renovated Southern Colonial, Georgia
Nicole and Neil Metzheiser fell in love with a 1918 Southern Colonial designed by Neel Reid, a preeminent Southern architect in the early 20th century. "This house was such a great family home, with a nice flow, great old windows..., and wonderful natural light," Nicole recalls about her first impression. Still, the interiors needed updating to make the old Atlanta home work for a 21st-century family. With the help of architect Tim Adams, the Metzheisers were able to complete renovations that feel like part of the original house.
Original architect: Neel Reid
Renovation architect: Tim Adams
Check out this home's family-friendly updates.
Southern Colonial, North Carolina
Architectural symmetry, sun-flooded rooms, and historic qualities sold Lillian August on the classic painted-brick house built in 1923. "I love opening up all the doors, and that wonderful sense of light and air flowing through the house," she says. To enhance the indoor-outdoor ambiance, Lillian had a side porch screened with ultra-sheer "invisible" screens. Two glass-paned doors between the porch and living room stand open, encouraging breezes and barefoot traffic between the rooms.
See Lillian's screened porch on the next slide.
Enjoy looking at the relaxed, romantic rooms inside this house.
Screened Porch, North Carolina
Designer/homeowner Lillian August opens the doors that connect her screened porch to the living room. "I suggest everyone find a way to have a porch. It really changes your lifestyle," she says. Floral pillows and Lillian's "Theodora" chair with a pink upholstered back contribute to the garden feel.
Interior design: Lillian August
Enjoy looking at the relaxed, romantic rooms inside this house.
Renovated Colonial, North Carolina
"It was our family gathering spot," Charleston native Sarah Hamlin says about the gracious old Colonial house that she and her husband, Matt, bought from Sarah's grandmother. While the house had remained in pristine condition over the years, it needed a serious remodeling to function for Sarah's family, which includes four sons. "I told [Grandmother] I wanted to keep the spirit of the house alive and to use it the way she and Papi used it, to always have people over and kids running in the yard," Sarah Hamlin explains, "and she gave us her blessing."
Click on the next slide for a view of their stylish pool house.
Architects: David Baker and Bobby McAlpine
Landscape architect: Mike Kaiser
Browse the before-and-after photographs of this home's renovation.
Southern-Style Pool House, Atlanta
The pool house's white-brick exterior, sheltering portico, and stately columns create a traditional Southern presence near the swimming pool.
Architects: David Baker and Bobby McAlpine
Interior design: Lisa Hilderbrand with Sarah-Hamlin Hastings
Landscape architect: Mike Kaiser
Check out the before-and-after photographs of this home's renovation.
Plantation-Style Homes at a Glance
The term "Plantation Style home" originally referred to the main house of a plantation in the antebellum American South, rather than a distinct architectural style. Several architectural types are reflected in the surviving examples: Federal, French Colonial, Georgian, Gothic Revival, Greek Revival, Italianate, and Neoclassical. Modern plantation homes channel those large antebellum manors with their columned porches, tall French windows, shutters, and air of Southern hospitality.
Key characteristics:
- Two stories high
- Symmetrical facade
- Graceful proportions
- Deep veranda supported by stately columns
- Pedimented portico
- Wood or brick construction
- Balanced display of tall windows with wood shutters
Editor's note: Not every plantation-style home looks like Tara. Some "big houses" are simple two-story I-shape houses with central hallways—known as Plantation Plain.
Pictured: This stately structure, which was built in 1776, is part of the Meander Plantation located near Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. The building now serves as both as a bed-and-breakfast and a gourmet restaurant.
Learn about a Virginia cooking school that takes place on the Meander Plantation.
New Plantation-Style Home, Texas
Just beyond west Houston, Lisa and Jerry Simon built a plantation-style house that was influenced by the architecture of the late A. Hays Town—Southern, with a distinctive Creole flavor. "It was inevitable that Lisa gravitate to this style," says her designer, Sandra Lucas. "She was raised with a love of the traditional decorative arts—her mother founded Houston's Museum of Southern History."
Architectural design: Robert Dame
Plantation-Style Home with a Twist, Louisiana
Architect Lee Ledbetter modeled Harlan and Dawn Sagler's dream home on Louisiana's traditional raised plantation cottages. As a result, this new brick house boasts an exterior with a broad center gable and formal columned portico—traditional Southern style presented here with contemporary flair. This house also includes a deep porch—at the back—to take in views of the bayou. The biggest twist? None of the windows include shutters, which "borders on heresy for a Southern home," Ledbetter says.
Architect: Lee Ledbetter
Tour a Louisiana home that makes the most of its proximity to the bayou.
New Triple-Gabled Home, Atlanta
It may not qualify as antebellum, but the Atlanta home of former Atlanta Brave all-star shortstop Jeff Blauser and his wife, Andee, is still all about Southern hospitality and connecting to the outdoors. That's why the floor plan for the English-manor-style house includes a family-friendly great room and kitchen that flow into a loggia furnished with soft seating, outdoor draperies, a fireplace, and a television. The fused spaces nurture kids' pool parties and sleepovers, family dinners, and impromptu gatherings—leisure-time activities that have always suited a Southern setting.
See the Blausers' great room on the next slide.
Architect: Bulent Bayda
Great Room, Atlanta
Interiors in the Blauser house boast a graceful blend of elegance and down-home Southern hospitality, thanks to Andee's Louisiana upbringing. The great room, for example, features a pair of comfy chaises and a chocolate brown sofa that allow comfortable television viewing without blocking the French doors which lead outside.
Interior design: William C. Huff Jr. and Heather Zarrett Dewberry
The Big House, Louisiana
We hope you enjoyed learning about Southern architecture. Our last slide is of The Big House, a Greek Revival mansion with French Creole touches found on the historic grounds of Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana. Built between 1837 and 1839 (making it "antebellum"), the square, symmetrical building boasts 28 Doric columns lining the exterior.


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Canvas Draw Created Jun 02, 2012 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2012 shakeh.
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Another Sweet draw..very very cute Shakeh 5/5 collect
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The little cat is adorable! It also looks intelligent and thoughtful. I like the expression on its face and its soft light/dark fur. The lush emerald nature in the background made its eyes look all the more lovelier. So cute. 5/5 hearts and favorites
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Advisory Partner
A NATIVE NEW YORKER, Henry Mendes joined Touche-Niven in February,
1910 after having completed the course in accountancy and business
administration at Pace Institute the previous month. He helped open
the St. Louis Office in 1915 and managed it until 1919 when he moved to
Cleveland to open and manage the office in that city. Admitted to partnership
in January 1919, he returned to the New York Office in the fall
of 1920.
During his active years, Mr. Mendes held office and served on many
committees of The New York State Society of CPAs and the American
Institute of Accountants, including the Institute's Board of Examiners for
the past ten years 1936-1946, the last four as chairman. He was president
of the New York State CPA Board of Examiners from 1925 to 1930.
Mr. Mendes has always been keenly interested in civic affairs. He was
chairman of the town of Mamaroneck (N.Y.) War Council during World
War II; treasurer, then president, of the Larchmont Community Chest
for several terms. He has also served as the chairman of the accountants'
division for many fund-raising activities in New York City including
Catholic Charities, National War Fund, American Red Cross and National
Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.
Since his retirement to advisory partner status in 1952, Henry Mendes
makes his home in Larchmont, New York where he and his family have
lived for the past thirty-two years.


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Monday January 20, 2020; 12:12 pm EST
It's a mess of a place up there
Like calendar pages strewn across an untidy desk, the stars of summer and even spring linger after sunset, with their autumn and winter counterparts commanding the heavens before dawn.
The sun sets before 6:40, with full darkness following little more than an hour later. Arcturus, the brightest early-evening star and fourth-brightest of all, appears in the sun's wake due west. The main star of Boötes, the herdsman, Arcturus is the celestial spring sentinel. It sets around 9pm, and as it nears the horizon, it can sparkle wildly as its light is buffeted by our atmosphere.
Far below Arcturus, the red-giant Antares hugs the southeast horizon at sunset. The heart of Scorpius, the scorpion, this constellation is diametrically opposed to Orion, the great hunter of winter. The appearance of the scorpion's tail heralds the coming of spring, and Antares, the 15th brightest star, glares high in the south throughout summer.
The Summer Triangle is directly overhead at sunset, marked from brightest by Vega, Altair and Deneb. The main star of Lyra the lyre, Vega is the fifth-brightest star, Altair. The eye of the eagle Aquilla, is the 12th. And Deneb, while 19th-brightest, is easy to spot as either the tail of Cygnus the swan or the head of the Northern Cross.
By midnight the whole sky-scape is changed. The Triangle still clings to the western horizon, but now the autumn stars of an ancient feuding royal family shines directly overhead. Cepheus the king, his wife and queen, Cassiopeia, and their daughter Andromeda. Amid the fray, the hero Perseus and his winged mount Pegasus fly to her rescue. Below to the south shines Fomalhaut, 18th brightest and the so-called lonely star amid the constellation Piscis Austrinus.
And there, striding above the east horizon is the familiar hourglass shape of Orion, tracking the great winter bull Taurus, marked by its red eye Aldebaran.


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My 500th Submission……..What a Ride !!
There is celebration in the air again. That is right, there is champagne, BBQ ribs and select adult beverages going all around the room today as the Rays Renegade is posting his 500th blog today. It really doesn't feel like it was only September 7, 2007 when I posted my first blog to the Internet entitled " D no longer stands for Devilrays." Seriously here, it has been so much fun to gather stats and information and just put it down here for others to enjoy reading in the past few years. But you know what, it is far from over here. Heck, it might just be less than another year and I will be posting number 1,000.
And it was not long ago, only October 22, 2008, when I even posted number 250, which was titled, "World Series Matchups…. Starting Pitchers and Bullpens." Has it been that long since the World Series? It truly feels like just the other day, but after 12 years of seeing the team end up cleaning out their lockers and shuffle on back home after the last Rays contest, 2008 was a bit of an oddity, but one I can get used to every year. I have been praised and razzed in the last year for blogs and articles written with the best intentions. But that is the price of posting and putting your views up there for the rest of the world to see online.
Heck, I even get slighted by the Rays bloggers online because I believe in the team and will not resort to using the "D" word again on my blogs like some of them. I understand their reasons and applaud their actions, but I am a fan who will not go back to the days of old, even when we play like it. I have written some thing I am proud of, and some thing I consider "fluff".
Recently I even decided to stop doing the daily recaps and going more into events before, during and after the games have ended. I is fun to speculate where I will be in 6 months. I hope I am still writing on MLBlogs.com and my sister website and producing some quality work for everyone to enjoy. I mean I have gone from an unknown on here to staying within the top 20 tier of the blog writers in the last 6 months.
Some say that is because I am the only Rays blogger who is consistently posting and writing daily. That is true, beside maybe Bill Chastain of Rays Plays, who also is the MLB.com writer for the Tampa Bay Rays, I might be the only outside voice heard daily. And I am fine with that. I even want others to begin to post and put their actions and reactions down on the cyberspace writing forum. I enjoy responding to the comments good and bad, and see them as a way to gauge the way my writings are received by the general MLB readers. So I decided to post some of my favorite blogs here, with links in case some of you would enjoy going back and maybe reading some of them again. These are 10 of my favorites, and they do contain a few Photo Blogs. So without further ado, let's get right to the action:
My Top 10 Blog Selections ( in random order)
"Joe Kennedy, We were lucky to have Known You" (November 23, 2007).
I really loved talking to Kennedy when he was with the Rays. He had a great sense of the game, and his love for it was always on display for everyone to see. It was not the first remembrance pieces I have done online, but it is the first I had done on MLBlogs and is still one of my early favorites.
" Letter to Commissioner Bud Selig " ( February 20, 2009).
This letter was in response to some of the situations in the Dominican Republic, and the way that players have been basically heavy-handed in the past by buscones in that country. I actually sent this to the Commissioner Office in New York City and got a great response from the office, but I know it was just filed away and forgotten like so many others.
"Rays Cancel the Gabe & Gabe Show " ( April 1, 2009).
This was my first attempt at an April Fools joke, and I am not sure if it had the intent I really wanted, but you always remember your first time at anything. But I did get some interesting emails from the people I know with the Rays organization, and they ended up chuckling when they saw the date on the blog.
"Why are Bloggers the Rodney Dangerfields of Journalism?" ( January 29, 2009).
This entry caused a bit of a stir among the Rays bloggers online along with a few established bloggers on legitimates sites throughout the Internet. But that is what a good entry can do, it can make noise and make you see some thing that can be viewed as controversial. I do not regret writing it at all, I actually liked the comments from others and it has changed the way I view certain people now.
"Rays Banner Celebration Photo Blog" (April 14, 2009 )
This might end up being one of my favorite Photo Blogs because of the significance of the day. It was a very emotional night for me having been here since the first pitch (ball) during the Rays first contest against the Detroit Tigers to today. The amount of pure energy and emotion in the building that night was amazing. I hope every one supporting their teams in the MLB can some day feel the prestige and the pride of seeing their banners raised to the rafters too.
" R.I.P…… Downtown Stadium. " ( May 22, 2009 ).
I loved the fact that a few local sports Twitters linked this blog to some of their updates. I have to say this situation has been coming for a long time. I admired the Rays trails and tribulations in trying to convince the general public and the St. Petersburg community to re-use the Progress Energy/Al Lang Field location for a potential stadium site. The group started by the city and the Rays called, A Baseball Community ( ABC ) will be making their recommendations in the future. And when they do, I will again approach the issue.
"Don Zimmer…..True Baseball Royalty ( January 17, 2009 ).
I think the world of Don Zimmer. I idolized him as a young kid putting gas in his car from my dad's gas station, to getting to know him with the Rays as their Senior Advisor. The man is a huge treasure of stories and information, and if you sat there non-stop with him for two months, I still think he will have another two weeks of stories to tell you.
"All Christmas Squad" (December 16, 2008).
I really enjoyed doing this blog. I love Christmas, and trying to select the top nine cartoon characters that symbolize the holiday to us was a bit of a long winded effort. But I enjoyed doing the blog and hope it can become a yearly addition for me again in 2009. I still think Buddie, from the movie "Elf" is the best selection for my Christmas third baseman. He reminds me of Longo.
"Mumm's the Word………..In Celebration Champagne " ( October 8, 2008 ).
I really got to find out a lot more about bubbly than I ever knew when I started to do some research for this blog. I had to go to a number of site to even find the brand the team was using for their 2008 celebrations, and I could not get the name of the type used during the American League East celebration in Detroit the Friday night they clinched while away from home. But the blog did get me more acquainted with Champagne and gave me a new respect for the celebration concoction.
" Josh Hamilton is my Hero " ( December 6, 2008 ).
This is my favorite ex-Rays player. And for everything he has gone through in his life both good and bad, the guy has always seemed to smile. I have been lucky enough to know him from the beginning, and every time I see him during his yearly visits to the Trop., I still wonder what it would be like for him to play here for 81 games. He is a likable guy who has found a way to combat demons most of us will never know in life. I admire and respect the guy with total knowledge that the best is yet to come for him.
There are tons of other blogs I could have picked for my top 10, like the Maple Bat series, or the celebration blogs of both the Rays playoff and ALCS and ALDS celebrations. But I tried to pick the ones I would want to read again some day. The Photo Blogs like the airport celebration when the team came back from Detroit as the American League East Champs, or the Rays Rallies down at Straub Park could have also been contenders for the list. The great part is that there are more to come, and hopefully I will be able to write for a long,long time. I enjoy writing and leaving these memories online for others to check out and comment on daily.
I hope you have enjoyed reading my little muses and ramblings since September 7, 2007. I miss writing daily for a newspaper, and this is as close as I am ever going to get again. And with that in mind, I hope you check out the first blog entry and see just how far the postings have come in such a short amount of time. Back then I was writing more for me than anything else. But today I like to think I am writing for an ever increasing group of people both who are Rays fans, and who enjoy the Rays news and events. Number 500 is a huge number. In baseball, if you hit 500 homers you can be almost assured a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. But in blogging, it is only a step towards writing more and more until you hit another milestone. I write because I enjoy it, and hopefully you do too.
20 Comments
Congrats on 500 entries!!! I hope to get there someday myself, but I have a ways to go. :) The maple bats and the April Fools entries were my favorites of yours since I started reading back in December or January (I forgot which one). It was actually the first maple bats entry that had me write about assuming the risk of being hit with one at a game, showcasing my little bit of law knowledge! Here's to another 500 entries!
I was chatting with a freind of mine the other day and he is Law School at U of F, and his professor wants them to blog to get a knowledge of fast, consistent writing formats for quick summaries and litigation notes.
You will certainly get to 500.
I have enjoyed it, and especially enjoyed doing the Maple Bat series.
Thank goodness no one has died or been implaed yet.
Rays Renegade
Congrats, RR! Now that you've hit 500, you are lock for the Hall of Fame!
More like a lock for the Hall of Blame.
Someone will blame me for something soon.
I have a website and a guy left a comment he saw the same article on MLBlogs.com the same day…………..Hmmmmmm, could it be my blog.
Yes, it was in fact.
Rays Renegade
Congrats on #500 Rays! I always enjoy reading your words of wisdom daily – you are always entertaining, fair, thoughtful and I always learn something new! Here's to the next 500!
you are the man. Maybe you should consider a domain name. You could get some advertising and make some cash if you get enough visitors… either that or you could write a big article about my blog to share some visitors… I mean there are 2 options if you wanna take one. I love you.
Even though today we have announcements that are not cheerful on the Rays front, plus the discovery of D'backs Scot Schoeweis's wife. It is a somber day.
I might even buy me a netbook this week to celebrate.
Nothing like not working and getting yourself another gift. lol
Rays Renegade
I acutally do have a domain name.
http://www.raysrenegade.com/, but the blog is basically a mirror-image right now.
I have made a whole dollar since I started it last September.
I am just not able to do the web design and work needed right now to make it more attractive and pleasent to the eye.
Hopefully by the next 500 I can have both running like clockwork and make at least two dollars.
Rays Renegade
Wow! What a reason to celebrate, Renegade. Congratulations. I have many favorites among the posts you listed – from the tribute to Zimmer to the Rodney Dangerfield/bloggers entry. You're always a pleasure to read. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for that. Coming from you that is an awesome compliment.
I have to throw it right back at ya. There are so many great budding and proven writers on here, it is a great day anytime you refresh the page.
I will try and keep it going.
Still working on that idea you gave me………..
We shall see.
Rays Renegade
Congratulations on hitting 500! I hope I can make it to 200 sometime soon.
Oh wow.. I joined August 2007 I believe and have not even half of 500 entries.. It's okay though.. I'll chalk it up to not being a home run hitter like Jeet, lolz..
Niice work though =)
– V [ http://flairforthedramatic.mlblogs.com ]
I write every day, so they kind of came fast and furious.
Every day during the off season at least one blog got written. Some days two or three hit the spot.
It all depended on the situation and the subject.
You will hit 200 if you want to………….it is all about commitment.
Rays Renegade
I just write when I think I have something to say. I did not do it daily until about Augst of 2008.
But I did write every day, so they add up fast.
I just come from an old newspaper background from the old days, and I used to write daily in a journal as a kis in college.
I might have a future best seller just in my college pranks and activities with the Fraternity.
Rays Renegade
500?!?! Wow… I have yet to make 100. I've got quite a ways to go to catch up to you!! It would probably help if I wrote pretty much everyday. Congrats!!
Wow Rays! Congratulations on #500!! Wasn't that fun reading some of your threads?
Although I created my blog last year in June, I did not post anything until February of this year. I had put like one word in June so in February I edited it when I started using the blog. Guess I did not know I could have deleted it.
Anyway I went back and read some of your old threads. Not fun looking at those Mickey Rourke pictures. haha. I enjoyed the one about your favorite movie "For the love of the game" but you did not mention another important part of that movie! The voice of Vin Scully! I also like the Don Zimmer one! You know he was a Dodger!
Writting does not come easy to me. I am a numbers person that loves the Dodgers and baseball.
Thanks for pointing out some of your blogs. Keep up the great work. I learn from so many of you
I kind of look at writing every day as my mental exercise. I do spelling push-ups and semtemce sit-ups every day.
But also it keeps me alert and grounded too right now.
Rays Renegade
We all learn from each others blogs.
I know I always leanr at least one new thing a day off of reading someone else's blog.
It is the stories we have, and the way we tell them, just like our grandparents did to keep the traditions and the customs flowing from gewneration to generation. Only our conversations are based in the sport of baseball.
I did not mention the Vin Scully voice because it is so profound and announced in the film, you would have had to have lived in a cave not to know who it was speaking.
Zim was a great Brooklyn and LA Dodger. I am lucky enough to at least once a month hear a story from him.
He truly is the treasure beyond compare.
Rays Renegade
You know Rays, I have heard Tommy Lasorda tell the same stories but he still makes me laugh the way he tells them. Sometimes he says "I never told you this before…". haha, yes you have Tommy. I never get tired of hearing the old boys of Summer tell their stories. Wish I could listen to Zim.
I know it is not like the stories are being told to you mouth-to-ear, but Zimmer did do two great books that have a huge amount of great stories and situations he faced during his years.
A long time ago I went up to Inverness in Citrus couty here in Florida to where the original site of the Ted Williams Museum was located.
I was there for the induction of Cal Ripken Jr. into his Hitter Hall of Fame.
To even hear him tell that one story was a huge baseball memory for me. Our legends have some incredible tales. but the great thing is that most of it is saved for the next generation now.
Rays Renegade


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D-backs announce 2014 Opening Day roster
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) announced their Opening Day, 25-man roster today, according to D-backs' Executive Vice President and General Manager Kevin Towers. The D-backs open the 2014 regular season tonight vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:46 p.m. from the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Sydney Opening Series in Sydney, Australia.
The Opening Day roster includes 12 pitchers, 2 catchers, 7 infielders and 4 outfielders:
Pitchers (12): Trevor Cahill, Josh Collmenter, Randall Delgado, Will Harris, David Hernandez, Wade Miley, Oliver Perez, J.J. Putz, Addison Reed, Bo Schultz, Joe Thatcher and Brad Ziegler.
Catchers (2): Tuffy Gosewisch and Miguel Montero.
Infielders (7): Eric Chavez, Paul Goldschmidt, Didi Gregorius, Aaron Hill, Chris Owings, Cliff Pennington and Martin Prado.
Outfielders (4): Tony Campana, Gerardo Parra, A.J. Pollock and Mark Trumbo.
Inactive (3): Bronson Arroyo, Patrick Corbin and Brandon McCarthy.
Traveling Party Inactive (5): Henry Blanco, Archie Bradley, Charles Brewer, Ryan Rowland-Smith and Zeke Spruill.
15-Day Disabled list (2):
• Matt Reynolds (Tommy John surgery, retroactive to March 19)
• Cody Ross (dislocated right hip, retroactive to March 19)


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More than two million viewers tuned in for the Evo 2011 World Finals last weekend, tournament organizers declared today.
In a news release sent out this afternoon, the finals, held July 29 to 31 at Las Vegas, recorded more than 2 million unique viewers on its Ustream.tv feed, serving more than 1.9 million hours of video content. Viewers tuned in for an average of 55 minutes each.
As further evidence of Evo 2011's mainstream penetration, the names of the four finalists still alive on July 31 were all simultaneously trending topics among Twitter's top 10 for that day, according to the news release.


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Batkid, the impossibly lovable 5-year old who is running about San Francisco saving distressed damsels from a slow and wildly inefficient demise via cable car, has stolen the hearts of thousands across the Bay Area and beyond. But while Miles Scott somehow out-playboys even Bruce Wayne by riding around in two Lamborghini's and a Bentley convertible, foiling iconic villains as he goes, onlookers and tweeters alike are taking this opportunity to request a few more favors.
You know, if it's not too much to ask.
As if battling leukemia, The Penguin, and The Riddler wasn't enough, it seems Batkid's got himself a long list of woes to tackle. From booting the crack smoking, rant-spewing, self-proclaimed "sick motherf****r" that is Rob Ford from Toronto's mayoral office to fixing the glitch-ridden Healthcare.gov, expelling Congress, or demystifying Benghazi, Batkid's got a lot on his plate.
That might sound like a lot for one 5-year-old cancer survivor to accomplish in one day, so we'll cut him some slack if Congress is still milling about tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the twitter request line is only growing longer by the second.


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The Beliefs of a Non-Believer
"An Atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god. An Atheist knows that heaven is something for which we should work now – here on earth – for all men together to enjoy. An Atheist thinks that he can get no help through prayer but that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, to subdue, and enjoy it. An Atheist thinks that only in a knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man can he find the understanding that will help to a life of fulfillment. Therefore, he seeks to know himself and his fellow man rather than to know a god. An Atheist knows that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An Atheist knows that a deed must be done instead of a prayer said. An Atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanquished, war eliminated. He wants man to understand and love man. He wants an ethical way of life. He knows that we cannot rely on a god nor channel action into prayer nor hope for an end to troubles in the hereafter. He knows that we are our brother's keeper and keepers of our lives; that we are responsible persons, that the job is here and the time is now." – Madalyn O'Hair.
I am an atheist, a non-believer. To those more prone to angry terminology, I'm a heretic, a blasphemer. Those terms come not from ordinary people of faith, but from people who use their faith as a means to differentiate themselves from others, to hold themselves in higher regard than others because of their faith. Much in the same way some noted atheists often use their lack of faith to believe that they are somehow better than the average faithful, who to them are merely delusional, misguided creatures. People are people, and no matter what they believe there are going to be those who are reasonable, and understanding of those that disagree with them, and there are going to be those that think of people that believe something else as somehow lesser beings. The average person of faith and the average atheist are both generally reasonable people, but the public perception of each is tinted by the divisive attitudes of people like Jerry Falwell and the Congressional Prayer Caucus, or Bill Maher and Richard Dawkins.
Faith is not something I often choose to talk about. I have none, and a great many people seem disturbed by that thought, so I mostly avoid it. But, lately I feel my own personal responsibility to clear the air on what being a non-believer means to me.
Religious institutions often try to paint non-believers as lacking in morals at worst, or just sad, pointless beings who think there is no meaning to life but themselves. While I can't speak for the majority of non-believers, for myself nothing could be further from the truth.
I believe there is all the more meaning in life because of my lack of faith. I don't believe there is any afterlife waiting for me to treat this life as little more than the entrance-exam. This is the only life I have, and it's up to me to make the most of it, for myself, for those around me, for the future of the world in general. While people struggle with the immortal question of the purpose of life, I have a pretty good handle on the purpose of mine. I can't imagine a greater purpose in life than to give just a little effort toward leaving this world better off for the next generation than it was when we came around.
The accusation that non-believers are lacking in morals too is absurd. It's based in the belief that the Ten Commandments, or whatever any particular religion calls its basis of rules, were passed down from some divine being, and must be adhered to lest you provoke God's wrath, and that anyone that doesn't believe that has no fear of breaking those laws and thus nothing to lose by doing so. I find that belief insulting, and frankly, alarming. It suggests in the castigator a desire to do those awful things, that is only quelled by their belief that God will punish them for it.
I don't have any desire to steal from someone, or to murder them, not because I fear repercussion from a God, or from police, but because the idea of bringing any kind of pain or suffering on someone else turns my stomach. I don't do good things in the hope of getting a pat on the back come Judgement Day. I do good because it is right, and I stray from ill because to make someone suffer is unthinkable to me. The idea that a person must believe in a God to think that way is foolish.
I hold no animosity toward the vast majority of believers. I very much enjoy talking to my friends of faith about their faith and how they came to it, what it means to them. But those that would use their faith to cast a scornful eye on those that are different from them, in ideology or anything else, I have no patience for. To say more people have been killed in the name of God than anything else would be an understatement.
So, with that in mind, I ask that my readers of faith understand how much it insults me to read a letter several Republican members of Congress wrote to the President of the United States, chastising him for (get this) using "E Pluribus Unum" (English: Out of many, one) as our national motto, rather than "In God we trust" in a speech in India. Let me reiterate: they are angry because the president would rather quote our old motto, one of unity that perfectly encapsulates what the United States of America stands for to much of the world, with all its different types of people coming together for the common goal of their country, rather than the newer one that suggests people should mostly be united in their love for God rather than each other.
They go on to make clear, through their use of quotes by John Adams and Ronald Reagon, that they believe this country will somehow fail if we don't go around the world professing our love for God, as if to even acknowledge that a sizeable segment of our population doesn't believe and that it's not the role of the government to make them is somehow a bad thing, as if to be a person without faith is a moral failing. As a non-believer, I never felt any great slight when members of the US government stood on the steps of the capitol building and sang "God Bless America", or the litany of speeches from senators, congressmen, and presidents that ends with the same statement, but this group feels it is necessary to get angry simply because the president doesn't mention God. Not that he doesn't believe in God, he does, or that he actively campaigns against the teachings of God, he doesn't, just that he doesn't feel like he needs to talk about it. With all the things going on in the world today, how is that an issue for anyone?
I don't do drugs because I believe to do so is a personal weakness. I've never cheated on a partner, because I believe to needlessly hurt someone like that is wrong. I don't steal because I have no desire to have something I didn't earn or have gifted to me by someone that cares. I don't resort to violence to solve my problems, because understanding is the only way to truly solve anything, barring when violence is brought upon you. I donate what money I can spare to charities that help those less fortunate than me, and I am not a financially fortunate person. When I am capable of helping a friend or family member in need, I do because I like to. And I don't believe in God because to do so doesn't make sense to me, personally.
And yet, it is only that last statement that determines in the eyes of some, Michelle Bachmann, Paul Broun, Louie Gohmert, and the other 39 members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus among them, what sort of person I am.
There once was a day morality was the sole domain of religion. I believe that day is gone. It's a shame that some are so closed-minded to think so little of people like me for such a trivial reason.
Say WHAT?!?
So I've decided to start including a subsection to each piece, with different themes. This weeks subsection, "Say WHAT?!?" focuses on things someone in the media or government said that just defies all reason.
And the first ever "Say WHAT?!?" award goes to Mike Huckabee, and it's a two-fer.
Last month, the Huckster said President Obama likely had anti-British sentiment, which would be bad for a US president to have, because of his upbringing in Kenya, with a Kenyan father and grandfather. The first problem, of course, is that Obama wasn't brought up in Kenya, and only ever visited the country in his 20's.
That's okay, though. Because, according to Huckabee, he only misspoke when he said Kenya, and actually meant Indonesia, where Obama did spend a few years of his childhood, after Kindergarten. That's understandable. Everyone makes mistakes. I'll even let it slide that he mentions Kenya multiple times in the interview. We'll call it a recurring brain fart.
However, to actually believe that he accidentally said Kenya when he meant Indonesia means he also "accidentally" said the president would have anti-British feelings, when he must have actually meant he would have ill-will toward the Dutch, since it was the Dutch that had colonies in Indonesia; the British had them in Kenya. Also, he must have said Obama was raised with his Kenyan father and grandfather by accident, when what he must have actually meant was Obama never even knew his father, and only met the man on a couple of occasions. Unless, of course, he's just suggesting that things like anti-British sentiment are just passed down through your genes. And, when he suggested the Mau Mau Rebellion, a Kenyan uprising against their British rulers, would have had a major effect on the young Obama, he must have actually meant… Well, he let's be honest here. He meant the Mau Mau Rebellion, and when faced with his obvious inaccuracies didn't have the spine to say he was just speaking without knowing the facts, and instead came up with a pathetic, obviously false lie. Because that's what good leaders do, I guess.
For the second half of Huckabee's lock on this award, he took a good, hard moral stand against someone whose really had it coming for a long time, if you ask me, and I'm glad someone is finally taking this person to task. So, clearly we're talking about a whackjob politician, or an irresponsible member of the media, right? Nope. A tyrannical dictator in another country? Not even close. That person?
Natalie Portman.
That's right. Natalie Portman, Harvard graduate, Oscar-nominated actress, and activist, is now a bad role-model for women, according to the Huckster. Why? Because she got pregnant without being married, and is apparently sending the message to women that being a single mother is cool, or something, and that's dangerous because most women don't have the resources Portman does to take care of a baby themselves.
First, let's just get the obvious out of the way. Portman is a fantastic role-model for women. If you have a daughter, and she turns out like Natalie Portman, you're going to be pretty happy, I assure you.
Second, does Huckabee really think that little of young women? What, they're so caught up in fads and being like celebrities that they're going to run out and get pregnant because all the cool kids are doing it? Apparently, and I know this comes as a shock to some, women are just as capable of thinking for themselves as men are. Unless, of course, you compare Natalie Portman and Mike Huckabee, in which case the ladies obviously win.
I give you Mike Huckabee, folks, whose mouth has long-since lapped his brain.


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Your contribution will allow Gleaners to leverage its buying power to secure the maximum nutritious food available. Thank you for helping to feed our hungry neighbors in southeast Michigan.


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2. Most serious writers avoid phrasal verbs to a certain extent, I feel. We can often tell a non-native speaker by inappropriate use of phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions.
3. I couldn't tell from your post that you were not a native speaker apart from the question about cleaning a house.
Student or Learner


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A Berlin Mouth with a Palestinian Heart
Sahira has a music note painted in henna on the knuckle of her otherwise bare ring finger. "This means that I am married to music," she explains. She recently completed work on her second album "Mit reiner Absicht" (With Pure Intent).
She shows a photo of her mother in stage costume and with a microphone in her hand. She was once a singer of classical Arabic music – and for Sahira the most beautiful voice in the world.
Sahira is one of the most well-known Hip Hop musicians in Berlin. She gained her first stage experience as a young teenager and even wrote her own songs. It didn't take long until she sparked the interest of record companies, but Sahira decided to take her time and let her music mature. In 2005, she established her own label, "Imanimusic."
"When you have your own label, it gives you more freedom and the chance to show your real personality," she says. "I am a defiant and headstrong individual. Tell me to go left, and I will go right. It is an impulse that drives me."
German Hip Hop with an Arabic soul
Her music is song oriented Hip Hop with soul elements, the lyrics are sung in German, the soul, however, is Arabic. Her unmistakeable voice is influenced by Arabic music and it speaks the language of the street – directly and aggressively. "I am free, I got some mouth! There's no doubt, Berlin's my home! 'Filistin' is also my home! The wall hems in, stone for stone, know what I mean," raps Sahira on her first album.
"A free mouth": That's an apt description of the personality of this native Berliner of Palestinian decent. Sahira lives what she sings and sings what she lives. But there is also another side to her. The 11 September was a turning point in her life.
"As the media began to present a negative image of Islam, I decided to learn more about my own religion. When I say that I am a Muslim, what does that actually mean? Can this attack be justified by Islam? If that were so, then I couldn't be a Muslim. So I began to read the Koran. I wanted to be able to proudly say, 'I am a Muslim.'"
"Masha'allah" instead of "cool!"
Until then, Sahira was a believer, but because of personal prejudices against the religion she kept her distance from anything Islamic. Now she sings on her albums about "that scarf in your hair" and about the love of God.
"There has always been spirituality in Hip Hop as well as Muslim Rap, like Brand Nubian in the USA," she says. It is only now getting attention in Germany. "The young generation in Germany asks itself, 'What is Islam?' And because of the debate about Islam, people are forced to show their colours, even in music."
Among young people, in particular, she has observed a greater degree of self-confidence in their adherence to Islam, which is not the same as that of their parents. She behaved quite differently as a teenager. "Now you can often hear 'salamu alaykum' instead of 'merhaba,' and more 'masha'allah' instead of 'cool!' Of course they also listen to Gangsta Rap and are caught up in all the nonsense typical for teenagers, but they are nonetheless different. They are more self-aware and are moving forwards."
"Ihtisham" – the female power
This is the young public that comes to see Sahira at her performances. Sahira says she would like to be a role model for the many girls in attendance. "After a performance, when I hear young women say, 'Man, you can be cool and rap even with an ihtisham,' then I see that they have hope, they have a role model. That makes me proud."
'Ihtisham' doesn't mean headscarf – and Sahira can't stand that word. 'Ihtisham' refers more to "being presentable" – knowing that one possesses female power, says the Hip Hopper. "I don't wear it in the typical way. You can see my hair in the back, the earring, and everything else. And my neck is free." It doesn't make a difference in Hip Hop how you are dressed, and she has even appeared as a moralizer in a mini-dress.
Sahira was raised in the middle-class district of Wilmersdorf in Berlin – a very sheltered upbringing among Germans. Today she lives in the culturally diverse district of Wedding, where many Turkish and Arab Muslims live side-by-side.
There, she often experiences situations with Muslims that she finds aggravating. "A number of Muslims say that a woman's voice is 'awra (naked). They interpret this as meaning a woman is not allowed to sing. And with respect to my wardrobe, they don't know how to categorize me."
"Misogyny is everywhere in the system"
Apparently, the image she represents is already a misunderstanding. Muslims, in particular, see many contradictions in her image. Young women, however, have understood her message and it is this: "Islam begins with the word 'iqra,' to read, and that is the duty of all believers, especially women. Otherwise, we just accept everything, sit at home, have 50 headscarves in our hair, and are deeply unhappy. Education is principally a women's right."
And what about the men? On her second album, "Mit reiner Absicht," Sahira sings with her warm voice an homage to love and to serious-minded men. "You are so proud, so pure, so strong, so soft, so true, masha'allah'. It is so perfect to be with you, so warm, so clear, subhanallah."
Ibn Halal is the name of the song. Ibn Halal is the good man, the one you can marry, she explains. The man with who you can live your whole life. "We have an expression. Ibn Halal is not the one who comes through the window, but rather the one who comes in through the door."
And what of all the guys in the Gangsta Rap scene? How does she react to the lyrics rife with sexism and glorifying violence? "These guys aren't gangsters, they are just small-time crooks. Eminem, for instance, can be quite gross with his lyrics, although they can sometimes be quite powerful. I just don't take them seriously. And misogyny can be found everywhere in the system."
Nimet Seker
© Qantara.de 2008
Translated from the German by John Bergeron
Berlin Rapper Sahira
Hip-Hop with a Headscarf
Sahira is currently one of Berlin's most successful hip-hop artists. She raps about Islam, the Koran and life in Germany as a Muslim who wears a headscarf. Aygül Cizmecioglu reports
The Muslim Hip Hop Scene in the USA
Rapping with Allah's Blessing
In the USA, where an increasing number of African-American musicians are converting to Islam, a Muslim hip hop scene is emerging. The proponents of this style of music consider themselves to be intermediaries between Islam and pop culture. Jonathan Fischer reports
Interview with Hülya Kandemir
"God Is the Greatest Artist"
The German-born Hülya Kandemir was a successful singer and songwriter, collaborating with major stars. Then she found Islam and wrote her autobiography "Himmelstochter" ("Daughter of Heaven"). Now she is experiencing a comeback. Nimet Seker spoke with her about art and music in Islam


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Something I've been struggling with for a while, especially since taking on more responsibility and oversight for a number of different areas in my job, is about managing my time better. Generally I have a good sense of what is important, and usually manage to achieve what is needed in the right timeframe, however I know that I'm not always methodical or organised in my approach and often waste time by doing too many things simultaneously.
From my limited experience, I think this is an issue for many youth workers. Because (generally speaking) we are practical, hands-on, relational people; the admin, planning and organisation don't always come at the top of our list (or maybe approached in a reluctant battle-focused manner)! Recently I've been working through my own systems and challenging myself to work smarter. Here's a couple of things I've learnt:
Switch off push email
Owning a smart phone is great for many reasons, but I've found having my phone buzz and beep every time a new email arrives is very distracting. I would often catch myself opening the email and replying to it immediately, in spite of what I was currently doing. I would end up flitting from one thing to another without properly focusing or finishing each. It also had the added issue that people were starting to think that I was available to them at any time as I would respond instantly. A few weeks back, I turned off the push notification. I can still get email instantly whenever I need it, I just have to tap the button to open the app. It's been hard to resist temptation, but I'm now starting to limit how often I access my email. Ideally I want to only check and respond once or twice a day.
Structure my calendar better
I've been sharing online calendars with my family and work colleagues for years, so people are able to see what I'm doing or when I'm available. The thing is, if there is no particular meeting or event the day looks empty and I end up doing whatever is most urgent on my task list, and not always being too productive. Recently I've been experimenting with blocking out times for certain tasks each day or week and putting my focus into that. For example, Monday mornings are staff team and church leadership meetings. Because I'm in the office, I've started blocking out the rest of Monday to stay in the office working alongside the team and hitting the general admin like reading the post, responding to emails, etc. I know it's a little thing, but structuring the day and setting aside that time has really helped my productivity.
There's been some good blog posts on this subject from well-known leaders recently that caught my attention. Michael Hyatt posted about How to Better Control Your Time by Designing Your Ideal Week, and Doug Fields recently did a 3-part series outlining 5 Steps toward the death of "to-do†lists. A big part of it is about structuring his calendar:
- He defines his main roles within his work.
- He then lists all the most important tasks for the upcoming week under those role headings
- He estimates a time frame for each task
- Then he blocks out any meetings & events on the calendar
- and works out a time slot around the meetings for each task.
It's essentially prioritising the most important things and then ensuring there's a set time to get it done.
Talking of important things, the Urgent Vs Important dilemma is very relevant to youth work. I learnt about this a number of years ago, but Michael Hyatt does a good job of explaining why you need to focus on important and ignore the urgent. Check out Is That Task Important or Merely Urgent?
So what about you? How do you manage the many demands for your time? What tips can you share?


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Mix all ingredients together (except beef) until sugar is dissolved. Place beef in shallow and narrow glass or plastic container. Cover with marinade. The liquid should come at least ½ up the sides of the tenderloin medallions. Marinade covered in refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours and no longer than 12 hours. Turn over every two to three hours.
Clean and oil hot grill. Remove steaks from marinade, pat dry and lightly oil. Boil remaining marinade in pot until it has reduced to the consistency of maple syrup. (Warning: do not use marinade unless boiled for at least 5 mins because it may contain harmful bacteria if used raw. Boiling insures no bacteria can survive.) Grill steaks and glaze with reduced marinade when ready to serve. Serve steaks with wasabi mashed potatoes. For this you may use leftover seasoned mashed potatoes. Just mix 1 teaspoon of wasabi paste (follow package directions) with every 2 cups of prepared mashed potatoes. Stir fried vegetables and bok choy are great accompaniments for this dish.


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Two men held in police custody over separate allegations of people trafficking
Two men are being held in police custody over separate allegations of people trafficking.
The first is due to be questioned over the death of an immigrant and illegal transportation of 34 others found inside a shipping container at Tilbury Docks, Essex, after being arrested in Northern Ireland today.
The 34-year-old, from Limavady, was arrested just after midday at Banbridge on the A1, Essex Police said.
He is held on suspicion of manslaughter and facilitating illegal entry into the UK.
Meet Singh Kapoor, 40, from Afghanistan, was found dead inside the container at Tilbury Docks on Saturday.
Members of the 34-strong group, including 13 children, survived the ordeal. They are all Afghan Sikhs from Kabul.
A separate investigation is under way after a lorry containing 15 people was discovered at a service station in Ilminster, near Taunton, by officers from Avon and Somerset Police working alongside immigration officials.
A German national has been arrested on suspicion of facilitating the unlawful entry of people into the UK in connection with that investigation.
The foreign nationals - who told police they were from Eritrea and Kashmir - included men, women and a 15-year-old boy.
An Avon and Somerset spokesman said: "We received several calls earlier this afternoon raising concerns about noises coming from the back of a lorry.
"Officers stopped the lorry at a service station on the A303 Southfields roundabout at Ilminster at about 1pm.
"They were checked over by paramedics at the scene, but there are no ongoing concerns over their health or wellbeing and they've been provided with medical support and supplies.
"The lorry, which originated in mainland Europe, has been seized as part of our investigation."
The discovery of the group at Tilbury has exposed the issue of people trafficking.
Nick Alston, the Essex police and crime commissioner, said: "This incident should highlight for us the evil of the abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people of all sorts and in many different circumstances.
"We can be sure that almost all cases of human trafficking involve exploitation by callous organised criminal gangs."
Speaking after today's arrest, Acting Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore, of Essex Police, said: "This is a fast-moving investigation which has already involved a number of police forces and law enforcement agencies from across the United Kingdom and Europe.
"I am very grateful to officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland for their assistance this morning.
"We will continue to work closely with all of our policing colleagues as we pursue our investigation to bring those responsible for this crime to justice."
The group found in the container were screaming and banging after arriving at the Essex port from Belgium.
It is thought they had travelled by lorry from Afghanistan before spending 18 hours inside the container as it travelled from Zeebrugge.
The survivors are now in the care of the Home Office after being interviewed by police and are in the process of applying for asylum in the UK.
A Home Office spokesman said: "We are continuing to provide expert support, along with the National Crime Agency, to the Essex Police investigation into the discovery of 35 people in a container at the port of Tilbury on Saturday.
"This tragic incident is a reminder of the devastating human consequences of illegal migration and we will do all we can to help bring those responsible to justice.
"All 34 are now in the process of claiming asylum in the UK and we are providing accommodation and support to those who require it while their cases are considered.
"The UK takes its international obligations extremely seriously and has a proud history of offering protection to those who need it."
The Home Office does not comment on individual cases and any decision will not be announced publicly.
The man is in the custody of PSNI, awaiting transportation to the mainland to be questioned by Essex Police.
Officers are searching his home address.
Meanwhile two men have been remanded in custody charged with a string of people trafficking and forced labour offences in Northern Ireland.
The pair, Romanian nationals, faced more than 50 charges when they appeared before Lisburn Magistrates' Court.
Ioan Lacatus, 31, whose address was given as Hanover Street, Portadown, Co Armagh and Samuil Covaci, 23, from Charles Street, also in Portadown, are each accused of 12 counts of people trafficking as well as 12 forced labour charges. They also face charges of acting as an unlicensed gang master.
PA Media


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By Alix Shutello On Saturday morning I eagerly toed the line of the Gulf Beach Half Marathon in Milford, CT. I knew I'd finish the race, and while I wanted to run the marathon in a sub 2-hour time, I knew that on this day, it would not be a reality. Last year I developed … Continue reading
I was very excited when this issue ended up being full of top-notch women from the fields of Olympic and professional racing. I made an executive decision this time, after interviewing two amazing women who compete at the top of their fields to change my definition of endurance distances racing. Why? Because Lisa Buohler (Team … Continue reading
Five pre-ride checks every cyclist should learn during National Bike Month Former elite racer says small issues can result in big problems when left unattended Champaign, IL–May is National Bike Month. A month celebrated with bike-to-work weeks, bike-walk weeks and activities to encourage people to start cycling. But of the over 44.7 million people in … Continue reading


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Tripura [1] is one of India's Northeastern states. It is one of the regions least explored by foreign tourists, but offers immense natural beauty and an intriguing cultural heritage. Tripura is one of three Indian states ruled by communists, making their presence felt with murals and flags in many places.
Other destinations
Tripura belongs to the politically volatile North-Eastern region of India. As in neighbouring states, ethnic and communal strife has claimed many lives over the past years. The current ethnic setup in Tripura is a consequence of the Partition of India, when large groups of Bengali Hindus left the area that became East Pakistan (today Bangladesh). The previous majority population, the tribals, became a minority and socio-economically disadvantaged in comparison to the new majority.
Two major tribal rebel groups operate in the state, the National Liberation Front of Tripura and the All Tripura Tiger Force, which wants Tripura to secede from India. There have been no known account of any violence against tourists in the state, nor any indication that tourist would be a target of violent groups. On the other hand, there are virtually no foreign tourists reaching the state at all.
The main language in the state is Bengali. The largest language of the tribal population (approx 30% of the population of the state) is Kok Borok. Other languages include Manipuri, Chakma, etc.. Hindi is very rarely used in the state, but is understood.
Get in
Tripura is mainly surrounded by the Bangladesh border. There is a border crossing point at the outskirts of the state capital Agartala. There is a direct bus service Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala.
Agartala is connected by air from Kolkata, Guwahati & Silchar. The airport code is IXA. Foreign citizens need to register at the airport on arrival.
Get around
Buses are the main transport between towns of the state. If time is more of an issue than money, one can hire a vehicle with driver. Do note that road conditions might be bad, even by Indian standards. On some legs, vehicles travel in military convoys, moving extremely slowly through the countryside. Some rural areas are not safe to travel by nighttime.
The fastest way to travel internally in Tripura is an helicopter service that connects Agartala with the northern parts of the state.
Typical Bengali cuisine includes rice, fish and dal (lentils). Bengali sweets are also commonly available.
Stay safe
Get out
For Bangladeshi visas, there is a Bangladeshi consulate in Agartala.


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Much research has been conducted on how migrating turtles return to their birthplace after decades of oceanic wandering, but results are inconclusive. However, not only do these turtles return to their birthplace, but can also find their way home after being in the feeding grounds. All that is known is that in finding their way every time, these creatures show great intelligence.
Many ideas have been advanced on this subject, but none of them provides adequate explanation. It is thought that some species reach their destination by following the coast, other species that cross oceanic waters follow scent trails carried by the currents, and others react to changes in the magnetic field in different parts of the world.
To understand the degree of difficulty in what the turtle accomplishes, suppose that for the first time in your life, you are going someplace with the right conditions for you to be able to live. You manage to find this place without going wrong, and then also for the first time in your life—set off for another spot that is also right place for you. Assuming beforehand that you will have to return, you try to keep in mind every characteristic of this place, taking note of its smells, the environment's natural features, even the magnetic field of the region. When you return to this place, you bring all this recorded information into play. In doing so, of course, your physiological system cannot only determine the magnetic field of the place, but you can also work out what your right environment should be by identifying these characteristics.
Of course it is impossible to do all this without the help of technological devices. It is equally unreasonable to imagine that turtles can do the same on their own.
In spite of more than thirty years of research, turtles' navigational mechanisms are still not clearly understood. Even if we knew how they manage to do this, obviously their system could not have developed of its own accord. Allah creates everything in the universe and manifests His eternal intelligence in every corner of the universe. Allah gives whomever He desires of His eternal knowledge to the extent that He wills. Those who deny Allah can find no other explanation, even if they research for their entire lifetime. It is revealed in the Qur'an that there is no other deity:
Your deity is Allah alone, there is no deity but Him. He encompasses all things in His knowledge. (Surah Ta Ha, 98)


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We recently sat down with Rob Bateman, managing director of The Away Foundation, who told us about the company's new project, Away3D 4.0 Gold, that was launched earlier today. Away3D 4.0 Gold is first official project from The Away Foundation, an offshoot of Away3D. The company has been active for two months, but Rob had been involved in the Away3D engine since 2007.
Enjoy the Q&A below and visit away3d.com to read more about the release and download tutorials, examples and source files.
Tell us a bit about The Away Foundation and how it came about.
The Away Foundation is a non-profit Community Interest Company based in the UK, focusing on building and maintaining free and open source software resources for online and mobile games and applications. Work within The Away Foundation is enabled by corporate sponsorship and the continued support of a large community of individuals and organisations.
Around 6 months ago, I left a full-time Technical Director role to focus on Away3D activities, and it was around this time that the concept of a foundation was discussed with other core members of the Away3D community. The idea of a non-profit entity managing Away3D matters appealed to us as it appeared a straightforward way to generate corporate funding interest and accelerate development.
After the Away3D 4.0 Beta was released in February, we started making enquires to gauge company interest. Adobe came forward as a strong candidate for becoming a founding member, with significant interest in the work already achieved by our group and positive feedback from the many creative companies around the world that use our libraries. After 3 months of discussions with Adobe we agreed on the vision and we had our first founding partner.
How does this align with Away3D priorities?
Away3D has its roots in open source, and a large active community that has grown steadily from its origins over 5 years ago. The focus of Away3D has been 3D graphics on the web using the Flash technologies, and has previously relied on the free contributions of its community members to survive and grow. As things have got bigger, so too has the amount of necessary commitment, and the main benefit The Away Foundation offers is a business incentive for companies like Adobe to get involved and help support this commitment.
What was the principal driver of The Away Foundation?
As the organiser and founder of the Away3D project, I was the primary catalyst for pushing forward discussions and working out the logistics of the company. The main driver for me was the opportunities The Away Foundation presents to our community and development areas. Away3D has always been about providing free software to developers, but in the past we lacked a long-term business strategy for sustainability and growth. With The Away Foundation, we now have an official strategy for these aspects of free software development.
What is the goal of The Away Foundation and how do you see that coming to fruition?
The Away Foundation is primarily focused on the development and maintenance of tools and libraries used in the production of high-performance graphical content on the web and mobile devices, and seeks to promote the value of open standards and open source software to a broader audience. Away3D has laid the groundwork for this, establishing ourselves as a center for creative, high quality frameworks and free, unrestrictive licensing. By offering an official membership program to the businesses that benefit from such technology, we hope to encourage a new wave of possibilities and collaborations while cementing our existing development streams and improving the quality of our resources and support.
How will the Foundation be managed?
As a CIC we can be quite flexible about how we structure ourselves, and even how we do business. The only firm rule is our non-profit status which we hope will encourage business investment, as you can be sure that every penny donated in funding will be spent on the development and support of our libraries and resources. Decisions on our focus and strategy are made using a flat voting hierarchy that includes all members of our organisation, ensuring that our developers and community are at the heart of everything we do, and remain so.
How will The Away Foundation gain support and funding?
We already have a great deal of support for Away3D at a community level, and want to encourage companies who use our software regularly to become more involved in support activities through The Away Foundation. This doesn't just have to be funding involvement – we have had several successful collaborations in the past with companies who have donated development time, and the foundation is designed to encourage this further.
How is Adobe involved in the project?
Adobe is registered as a Strategic Member of The Away Foundation, the top tier membership status. This is intended for organizations that benefit greatly from the proliferation and use of Away Foundation tools and software, and want to create lasting connections with Away Foundation activities, through the integration of their own communities, tools and software platforms.
What does it mean to gaming that Adobe is involved with the foundation and open source?
I think it's a great step in the right direction, and further demonstrates Adobe's commitment to providing high quality resources for games developers looking to the Flash ecosystem for serious games development. Earlier this year Adobe endorsed the open source Starling 2D framework and now developers can leverage Away3D framework to create 3D and hybrid 2D/3D games. There is still a way to go, but The Away Foundation provides the resources, community and talent to get things to a potentially very interesting place. Our biggest advantage is our free & open source approach that offers any software project, whether it be free or commercially based, the ability to pick up our libraries and integrate them with their own systems. This expands the potential of what you can do with Away Foundation software, and empowers games companies of all sizes to be creative and innovative in the products they produce.
What are the benefits to members?
Membership is arranged in tiers, from community contributors right up to strategic sponsors, and benefits vary accordingly. The very least, you are entitled to vote on decisions that affect company direction and strategy at our annual general meeting and formal recognition as a foundation member on our website. Increased commitment offers increased benefits, such as targeted support on company matters relating to Away Foundation resources, pre-release details of updates and new projects being worked on, and at the very highest level a seat on the board of directors to foster long term commitments relating to shared goals and strategies.
Of course, the biggest benefit to anyone is the continued existence of a free, non-restrictive software resource that offers cutting edge libraries and strong community ties, something we hope any member would be happy to be associated with.
Where can one go to find more information on the Away Foundation?
Our main site is hosted at http://www.theawayfoundation.org, where you can find more information on the projects we manage, support we offer and members we are involved with.


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Mario and Luigi, the Super Mario Bros., are certainly among the most famous sibling duos ever from the video game world. But when they were brought to life for the first time, on TV's Super Mario Bros. Super Show in 1989, the producers chose ex-wrestler Capt. Lou Albano to be Mario, and Canadian actor Danny Wells as Luigi. Today, Wells shares his memories of the show and of his co-star.
Wells was familiar with the Super Mario video game, where a plumber and his friends try to save the princess. But starting in 1985, it came bundled with the Nintendo Entertainment System, and the game was known worldwide -- and still is today.
"It was the most popular video game in the world," said Wells. "Anywhere people bought video games, everybody knew Super Mario Bros."
But the idea of a television show, combining live-action with cartoons, while not exactly revolutionary, was foreign to the people at Nintendo.
In a 1989 interview with the Chicago Tribune, Andy Heyward, the executive producer for DIC Enterprises and one of the show's writers, talked about the difficulties in getting the deal to take root.
With franchises like Ghost Busters, ALF, Dennis the Menace, Heathcliff, and Inspector Gadget already under the DIC banner, Heyward found a challenge in Nintendo company, based in Japan.
"When we went to Nintendo and said we wanted to do a TV show on the Mario brothers, we thought they were going to jump up and down and offer us a terrific deal," Heyward told the Tribune. "Their first answer was, 'No, we don't want to do it; We can't meet our demand right now; We don't need you and we don't need any television show.' We begged and pleaded and we brought together a creative team [that] they were very impressed with and we said we felt we could produce good entertainment that would be viewed independently of the game. They finally agreed, but we have to pay them a royalty, and very healthy one, which is unheard of in the kid business. It's always the other way around."
Albano had entered the mainstream culture while appearing in Cyndi Lauper music videos, and had landed a few small roles in movies. Though he didn't have a moustache, he looked like Mario, so he got the gig.
Albano did an interview with the Kidsday newspaper insert when the show was coming out and explained how he got the part. "I met with Nintendo people and I had done a cartoon before. I've already had some acting experience because I have been in movies like Wise Guys and Body Slam and TV shows like Miami Vice."
The Montreal-born Danny Wells had left home in the 1960s to try his hand at stand-up comedy in New York City. He met everyone along the way -- "you name it, Sinatra on down" -- and was urged to move to California by his talent agency. There, he found steady work, which continues to this day. His most famous role is playing Charlie the bartender on The Jeffersons, which lasted for 11 seasons, but Wells has been in countless films and shows, from Love, American Style to K-Mart commercials to Magnolia.
With Mario and Luigi cast, the work began.
"I did not know Lou. Lou lived on the East Coast, I lived on the West Coast. But Lou looked like Mario, Lou looked like the icon," said Wells. "I was tall and skinny. Neither of us had mustaches, but the characters did. That was part of making them look like the character. The difference in size between Lou and I worked. With the icons, Mario was bigger than Luigi. On the show, I�m taller than Lou."
The outgoing, boisterous Albano, was a hit on set, said Wells.
The process of creating the brothers from scratch was unique.
"Remember that the Super Mario Bros. didn't exist. The Super Mario Bros. was a video game, they didn't talk, they didn't have a second name, they didn't have a job. They were just little icons in a video game," Wells reminded. "It was up to the people involved, me being one of them, to create these characters, to give them a life, to give them a job, where they lived, and their relationship with each other. We took a nothing -- just little icons from a video game -- and turned them into living, breathing characters."
"We're the only two regular live characters on the show," Albano explained in Kidsday. "As plumbers, we get washed into the fantasy land and here we meet Princess Toadstool and the Mushroom people. There are bad guys in here too, like King Koopa and the Koopa Troopas."
In the Tribune article, Heyward said that the show was purposefully very broad in its appeal. "One of the problems with kids' shows is they are very age specific and gender specific," he said. "They're working for boys 6-8 or for girls 4-7 or whatever, but Mario Brothers is a unique phenomenon because it works for boys, it works for girls and it has a very broad demographic. To have something that's appealing to younger kids and, at the same time, is not a turnoff for older kids is very very good."
"We went on the air, three o'clock in the afternoon, with no publicity or P.R. at all. There was no pre-build-up to this show, nothing," he recalled. "They just threw us out there. In three weeks, we became number one. We beat Disney, we beat everybody, without any publicity, without any help from anybody, this show went to the number one daytime cartoon show. They put us up against Mickey Mouse, it didn't matter, we beat them. It was amazing. We got bags of fan mail every day, literally. We were shown all across the country. It was a syndicated show, but we literally went on the air coast to coast and we became the number one afternoon cartoon show, five days a week."
"Every day Luigi and I will go to a different home of a celebrity, and try to fix their plumbing," said Albano. "We will visit people like Pat Morita, Magic Johnson, Cyndi Lauper, Vanna White and Little Richard."
While looking back now, the list of superstar appearances were largely '80s-only phenomena, such as Elvira and Moon Unit Zappa. Yet they were all clamouring to be on the show, according to Wells.
"All those guest stars asked to be on the show. We never went after anybody. They all asked to be on the show because all of them had kids, and the kids were crazy about the Mario Brothers. This was a change for them, to be on something that their kids could see them on," he said. "It was very easy to get guest stars. Everyone in Hollywood wanted to be on that show."
Just as good wrestling gimmicks are sometimes killed on the whim of cantankerous promoters, Wells describes how Nintendo cancelled the show at the top of its game, after just 52 episodes (one season).
The show is still popular today. "I know adults who have the complete collection of the Super Mario Bros. and their kids are now watching it," said Wells. As well, episodes have aired on Yahooligans! TV, Jaroo.com, and more recently, Netflix and Hulu. MarioWiki details all the shows.
"If this was a Disney show, we'd still be on the air because it was a money-making machine," said Wells. "The show was canceled, not because the numbers weren't good -- we were number one -- just Nintendo said, 'Okay, we're done. Thank you.' That was the end of it. Lou and I looked at each other, we couldn't believe it, we just couldn't believe it."
It was Albano's last prominent role in Hollywood, and when the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. movie was cast, Bob Hoskins was Mario and John Leguizamo was Luigi. With his pro wrestling days as a wrestler and a manager behind him, Albano was active in charity work, including acting as national chairman for Multiple Sclerosis. The Captain died in 2009.
These days, at age 71, Wells prefers the voiceover work.
"Some people don't know how to do it. It's an art-form. You have to create a character with just your voice, you don't have any gimmicks. It's an art-form. Lots of actors can't do it," he said of voiceover work. "Those who are in it are very, very good. I do lots of voices. I have three series on the air right now, full series, that are on the air."
"I do a lot of voice work and I like it because I can turn down all the television and all the things that I don't want to do, because the voice work gives me that opportunity, gives me that leverage to do. At this stage in my career, I'm very, very picky about what I do on-camera. Very simply, it has to be good or I'm not interested. Voice work gives me the freedom to do that."