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Racism and violence in Gar Anthony Haywood's P. I. fiction
Par Nicole Décuré
Publication en ligne le 20 juillet 2016
Gar Anthony Haywood is the first African American writer, forty years after Chester Himes, to write a crime fiction series with a black hero. The main character is a rather conventional P. I. but the novels stand out because of the running commentary on issues of race, violence, sexism, and homophobia.
Quarante ans après Chester Himes, Gar Anthony Haywood est le premier écrivain africain-américain à écrire une série policière dont le héros est noir. Le personnage principal est un détective privé plutôt conventionnel mais les romans se distinguent par leurs commentaires sur des questions de race, de violence, de sexisme et d'homophobie.
Table des matières
Texte intégral
1Chester Himes wrote in his autobiography: "the detective story […] is an American form. So I haven't created anything whatsoever, I just made the faces black, that's all" (Soitos 141). Himes certainly underestimated (or was being modest about) himself and his own importance in crime fiction. Although there had been African American writers of detective fiction before him1 they wrote little and have been all but forgotten. Himes was a far more prolific writer and acquired some fame as a black noir writer. It took forty more years for black crime fiction writers to follow in his footsteps and introduce new black faces in the detective story. By then, of course, much had changed. The Civil Rights Movement had left an indelible imprint on American society, "Black Power" and "Black is beautiful" had become world-known slogans, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had fought and died, Shirley Chisholm had run for president, African-Americans had become first-class citizens… and President Bill Clinton was about to acknowledge Walter Mosley as one of his favourite writers.
2Gar Anthony Haywood was born in 1954, three years before Chester Himes published the first of his ten-book Harlem series, For Love of Imabelle. Haywood's first detective novel, Fear of the Dark, appeared in 1988, four years after Himes died. So it can be said that Haywood was the African-American writer who started the nineties' wave of crime fiction written by black authors and featuring a black protagonist, preceding Walter Mosley by two years (Devil in a Blue Dress was published in 1990). Then, black women such as Nikki Baker (In the Game, 1991), Eleanor Taylor Bland (Dead Time, 1992) Yolanda Joe (Falling Leaves of Ivy, 1992) and Barbara Neely (Blanche on the Lam, 1992) came on the scene, followed by many others, more women than men (Décuré 1999, 2001)— different times, different books, different "blackgrounds" as defined by Stephen Soitos (37). Aaron Gunner, Haywood's recurrent hero, is a private detective, fashioned after Peter Gunn (hence the name), a white TV series character. However, the first name Aaron was not chosen with any reference to Moses' brother in the Bible but just because it "sounded right to [my] ear."2 His creator acknowledges his debt to Ross MacDonald who, according to him, made an art form out of the P. I. novel3 (Haywood's website) rather than to Himes. Indeed, Gunner reminds us more of Marlowe and Archer than of "Coffin Ed" Johnson and "Grave Digger" Jones. The series, to date, comprises six novels published between 1988 and 1999 and three short stories. Haywood has written another series featuring a retired couple, Joe and Dottie Loudermil, as heroes and comprising three novels so far. He has also written a handful of standalone thrillers under a different pen name.
Aaron Gunner, a black P. I. of "good conscience"
3As soon as he appears, in chapter 2 of Fear of the Dark (1988), Gunner is described as a "black man" (4). All we are going to learn about his physique is contained in these first lines: he weighs 208 pounds, and has been bald for a few years (thus resembling the author):
The tired lines beneath his sharp brown eyes were still there, and the stubble that grew overnight along the soft angles of his chin was getting harder to see every day—because it was white, as in grey, as in dying a slow death. Gunner was not an old man, but his was a face of charm worn down by thirty-four years of exhaustion, a handsome parchment of flesh he carried like a ledger filled with dreams that had died hard and hopes he had never coaxed off the ground. (Fear of the Dark 8)
4Thirty-four is young to be feeling so old, disillusioned and world-weary. In fact, in a subsequent book, we read that Gunner is just over 40. After that first and last description, we only perceive Gunner as a mind (and a heart) and, sometimes, an aching body after a fight.
5Gunner is a typical P. I. who cannot really make a living at his "trade," a loner with little private life, few friends (but of all races), no family to speak of, no ties of any sort: even the dog that is foisted on him at one point to alleviate his loneliness quickly disappears from the scene. He occasionally seduces a woman (or is seduced by one). Although he always manages to discover the truth, Gunner, like most hard-boiled P. I.s, goes about it in a rather fumbling way, making mistakes, feeling stupid, overlooking important clues, misjudging danger and people, getting into fights, getting bashed on the head, shot at, and abducted countless times. He is not averse to using violence himself, contributing his fair share to the fairly high body count in the novels.
6Gunner is not the narrative voice, but when he is on the scene—and he always is, except for the first chapter of each book—events are narrated from his point of view; the comments come from the narrative voice rather than the authorial voice. And his point of view is given freely and abundantly, especially on issues that are of concern to Haywood who said, in a 2003 interview, that the crime/mystery genre was the best medium through which to make commentary about the world around us, adding: "Internally, my characters are very much reflections of myself" (Jordan). Thus, it is difficult to separate Gunner's expressed opinions from Haywood's. The third-person narrative is an attempt at neutrality but, although author and character have very different lifestyles, it cannot conceal the author's personal opinions.
7Haywood sees it as his responsibility, as a "black author of good conscience," to counteract negative images of black people by proposing a "more accurate and less sinister picture of black people to the reading public" (Bailey 122). As "prejudice is abundant and here to stay," black writers "will never want for material" and will keep on writing in this vein. At the same time, he refuses stereotyping. "We're all individuals, all completely different and we make up who we are as we go, and the fact of the matter is none of us will ever create the African American character because the African American spirit is too varied" (Julien & Mills 195).
8Haywood wants to make the readers go places they have never been to (Ibid. 189), he wants to make them think. "I want them to have questions at the end […] I want them to be asking questions that they never have asked themselves before" (Ibid. 198-199). He wants to raise their consciousness, to educate them.
But see, such was, and continues to be, the state of most people's ignorance of the black man's plight in America. Nobody ever sees our shit coming, because they aren't even aware of our constant proximity to The Edge, that precipice of insanity to which we are regularly and systematically subjected (Haywood, 2002).
9Most of the questions Haywood raises concern racism and violence. The first novel, Fear of the Dark (1988), is set against a background of social violence with a threat of racial explosion, anticipating the 1992 riots in Los Angeles after Rodney King's beating by the police. The plot revolves around black militants and white racists. Not Long for this World (1990) deals with gangbanging as a lethal mode of life among black teenagers in South Central L.A. You Can Die Trying (1993) examines the (bad) relations between the white police and the black community, and inter-relations between blacks and Asians, especially after the riots. It's not a Pretty Sight (1996), while still addressing race issues, is strongly focused on violence against women. When Last Seen Alive (1997) discusses black people's moral responsibility towards their community and introduces a black extremist group fighting Uncle Tomism through executions. Finally, All the Lucky Ones Are Dead (1999) takes up this thread again while broaching the subjects of AIDS and homophobia. The issue of racism is omnipresent in Haywood's Gunner series. It is denounced, criticised, fought against, in word and in deed. The title of the first novel is revealing in this respect. "Fear of the dark" alludes to white people's hatred of not understanding something and black people are part of that fear: whites do not understand blacks. It can also be read as "fear of blacks" themselves.
10In Haywood's fictional world, Gunner became a P. I. in 1974 over the issue of racism: he was training at the police academy when he witnessed a racist attack on a cadet, socked the instructor and got kicked out. He is the only black P. I. in town which explains why his clients are black too. Although Haywood clearly has an axe to grind with racists (whatever the colour of their skin), not all whites are bad and not all blacks are good—far from it—mostly perhaps because there are few white characters in the stories which are set in a mostly black neighbourhood. The whites that acquire some personality are rather unprejudiced persons, like Poole, the "decent" (You Can Die Trying 23) white lieutenant who becomes Gunner's friend (with a little distance), or a woman public defender for whom he works. Furthermore, in the third novel of the series, Gunner tries to find the truth behind what seems to be a clear-cut case in the aftermath of Rodney King's beating and the change of policy in the LAPD: a white policeman, a "nightstick-happy nigger hater" (Ibid. 45), shot a black kid and, later, killed himself. Gunner sets out to prove that it was the white man who was, in fact, first shot at, and that he fired back in self-defence.
11The issue of racism in the police runs strongly in this book. Recent debate in the United States, in the wake of the 2014 Ferguson killing, unrest and subsequent turmoil, shows us that there is still a long way to go. The harassment of black people by the police is condemned, of course. Even Gunner feels nervous around them although he may understand some aspects of the problem: cops do a hard job, "being a cop's a dirty business" (Ibid. 207), and police find it difficult to deal with the hatred they generate. Gunner does not go for Manichean explanations and tries to get to the root of the problem.
He had never gone in for the popular dictum that said no cop was to be trusted and every cop was to be feared, but he had seen enough uniformed madmen in his time to know that his next confrontation with a policeman could always be his last. A run-in with the wrong cop, at the wrong time, was all that it would take. Because many of the men and women who patrolled these streets didn't always see things the way they really were. They didn't think they could afford to. In the interests of staying alive, they had taught themselves to expect the worst of every situation, and to treat strangers like the enemy. It was experience-driven paranoia, coupled with a vast array of preconceived notions about whole groups of people. Notions that could get a man belonging to such a group killed or crippled for life under the right set of circumstances. (Ibid. 101-102)
12The more militant, accusatory attitudes are well expressed in the books through secondary characters' analyses. They are generally voiced in a confrontation with Gunner's more nuanced opinions: although he may agree that the African-American community is oppressed in many ways, the world is not black and white, people have to be judged as individuals and not as part of a group. Truth and the law are values that rise above all considerations. Truth matters and Gunner does not "care who it condemns or vindicates" (Not Long for this World 42), and there is only one law, however unjust it may be. The police only see the bad side of humanity (crime, drugs, violence) and tend to lump everybody into the same category. They come to hate people and be afraid of them, and people, in return, hate them and are afraid of them. Gunner argues that the forest must not hide the trees. "You can die trying" expresses the difficulty of the task: staying alive, trying to do the right thing. The situation seems pretty hopeless, a vicious circle, a "no-win" situation.
[…] you had to prove more than your mere innocence when you were unfortunate enough to come up against [the police]; you had to prove your worth as a human being first, before anything else. Because the system in which they operated had taught them to question not only your good intentions but your right to be considered their equal, as well. Along with all the amusing names they liked to use for you came any number of misconceptions, and all you had to do to get along with them was dispel those misconceptions one by one, time and time again.
While the hell that was their daily bread out on the street kept reinforcing all their fears and misconceptions against you. (Ibid. 211)
13But there is still a tenuous hope that things might get better. "It was not inconceivable" (Ibid.).
14Racism is a serious issue but it can also be denounced with levity. To a white woman who tells him he doesn't sound black over the phone, Gunner retorts sarcastically: "So I've been told […] Must be all those big words I use. Like who, what, and where" (Fear of the Dark 102). Language is important. Words are not innocuous. Repeatedly, Gunner will fight against the matter-of-fact use of racist words like "nigger" or sexist ones like "bitch."
Black men and women who threw the n-word around […] were too short on brain cells to appreciate how they were embracing one of the most powerful and dehumanizing weapons ever used against their own people. They liked to say that the twist they put on the way it was spelled and pronounced made something harmless out of it, but the truth was, it just made them feel better for having bought into the white man's contention that it was a perfectly suitable name for them.
Funny, Gunner thought, but the Japanese never did take to "Jap" that well. Nor the Jews to "kike." Nor… (It's not a Pretty Sight 131)
15Gunner explains the importance of words to a child: "Most of the hate in this world starts with one thing […] Names. The names we give ourselves, and the names we give to others. I'm talking about ugly names. Names like nigger and kike, and faggot and gook—and bitch and ho. Names like that. Names that do nothing but hurt people, and degrade people" (Ibid. 240).
16When the message is not heard, he resorts to violence to be understood, first knocking unconscious a young man with the butt of his gun and then shooting a bullet through a rapper's calf. "He really had heard all the four-letter vitriol he could stand in one afternoon" (All the Lucky Ones are Dead 111). Such methods are hardly compatible with the principle of tolerance but then we are in a world of fantasy, and while this violence seems a trifle unrealistic, it certainly expresses wishful thinking, the cathartic desire to make a point forcefully, knowing that one will not be able to act upon this kind of impulse in real life.
17Daily acts of racism, racist attitudes and innuendoes are rarely overlooked (Fear of the Dark 44-45). Gunner does not let these go. He says to a white policeman who does not believe him: "Look. Believe what you want to believe […] You want to assume because I'm a soul brother, I must be lying to you, that's your privilege. And your hang-up" (You Can Die Trying 44). But then, soon after, a similar act of racism against whites is exposed. Although despising racism, denouncing the differential treatment of blacks and whites, Gunner has no patience with black so-called revolutionaries. He sees black politicians, as they appear in the novels, as opportunistic and insincere, only out for the money and personal power. The Black Muslims are disposed of in a few scathing words. Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, "keynote speaker and chief organizer" of the Million Man March is presented as "brilliant and inspired one moment, delusional and paranoid the next" (When Last Seen Alive 2). Two extremist groups are portrayed as dangerous: the Brothers of Volition, patterned after the Black Panthers, in the first novel, and the Defenders of the Bloodline, intent on "ridding the black race of all Uncle Toms" (Ibid. 108) in the last two novels of the series. Both appellations are ridiculous in themselves. He certainly disagrees with the idea of a violent revolution, which he considers as "unabated madness" (Fear of the Dark 181): "We've spent a hundred and fifty years trying to prove to the White Man that we can handle civilization just as easily as he can, and you want to wipe that out in a week. I don't get it" (Ibid.180).
18These are the late 80s and early 90s. The black middle-class now has a lot more to lose. Gunner prefers "enlightenment" of white people to confrontation: "Terry Alison was shown that a dinner date with a given black man could be as thought-provoking and stimulating as one with a given man of any other race, colour, or creed" (Ibid. 185). Gunner declares himself apolitical (Ibid. 74), a position that enables him to criticize everything and everybody.
Gunner was far from a political animal—his idea of political activism was endorsing at least one petition worthy of his signature annually—but the oxymoron that was black archconservatism had always been able to get a rise out of him. It was simply a concept he didn't get. African-Americans like himself sharing ideologies with the far right […] But then, people had a right to believe whatever they wanted to believe, and no one was more willing to grant them the privilege than Gunner, with the single proviso that all their propagandizing be done outside the range of his faculties. Suffering the company of fools was something the investigator did best only from a distance, though this wasn't always possible. (All the Lucky Ones are Dead 8)
19Gunner claims independence from the black community in matters of race. He feels he is his own master and refuses to be held accountable for his thoughts and actions. This is the black man's burden that no white man ever has to shoulder: "I'm an American. Keeping my reasons for doing the things I do to myself is my God-given birthright […] I wage my own wars" (You Can Die Trying 118)—which he does, for example by defending Korean shopkeepers in the face of black hostility during and after the L.A. riots. It is strange that Gunner, who, most of the time, is not a believer, should refer to God and not to the Constitution. He is accused of Uncle Tomism because he defends a white racist. But to him, truth is above these considerations. This also applies to battery. Although it would be convenient to accept that a husband killed his wife, Gunner prefers to find out what really happened. His ambivalence is also felt in the discussion about gangsta rap in All the Lucky Ones are Dead: he doesn't like it and doesn't understand how anyone might like it, but he is ready to defend is as socially relevant.
20Haywood's concerns are not limited to the plight of African Americans. Other minority groups get his attention—Asians, Latinos, Jews—as well as gays and women, with a particular emphasis on homophobia, which he believes is rampant in the black community, as well as on what he perceives are difficult relations between black men and women.
21Perhaps more damning than racism in Gunner's eyes is violence within the black community because it is self-destructing "in our little war-torn corner of the world" (Not Long for this World 15). Black men kill black men. Gunner says of gangbangers, those "juvenile fraternities of terror" (Ibid. 1): "I don't much like their manners, or the heavy iron they're so fond of demonstrating in public places. They kill children in sandboxes and grandmothers on porch swings in the never-ending process of killing themselves, and that kind of fatal inefficiency pisses me off no end" (Ibid. 14-15). Gunner's way of dealing with this, again, is to stand aside. He is called "an amateur in a fucking war zone" (Not Long for this World 128). "Theirs was a dance of death, pointless and seemingly without end, and only a fool or a hero would expose himself to the insanity of it anymore than his everyday circumstances already demanded" (Ibid. 71-72).
22As with racism, sometimes a humorous comment is enough to denounce the prevalence of violence in society. Anybody can wield a gun. "If she could pull the trigger, she could get the job done, and if she had ever watched ten minutes of prime-time television, she could pull the trigger. In her sleep" (Fear of the Dark 12). Violence is deeply ingrained in the political and economic systems. Gunner declares, at one point, that the entertainment industry "sells" violence. He feels a "mild revulsion" in a gun shop at the sight of young people and "innocuous" grandfathers, ordinary citizens freely buying "tools of death" (Not Long for this World 33-35).
23"Not long for this world," the title of the second novel, describes the hopelessness, the waste of this way of life. "All the lucky ones are dead," another title, also indicates that living in such a violent environment is not the best option. Historical, social, political and psychological explanations are given to explain gangbanging and, at the end, Gunner's "blissfully blind hatred," his "pure, uncomplicated abhorrence" of this phenomenon has abated somewhat because he can now understand how it came about in the "bleak, soul-crushing, and heartbreaking […] L. A. street-gang culture" (Ibid. 180-181). Gunner's attitude varies between a desire to "reform" the delinquents, which he does not always act upon for fear of being rejected and because it is too late anyway (You Can Die Trying 115) and a belief that things can change, that violence is not inevitable. Individuals can make choices, can decide whether they want to be gangbangers or respectable citizens. When he gets involved with a six-year-old thief and tries to change him, he acts upon this belief that, perhaps, the worst can be avoided.
24But Gunner's behaviour contradicts his principles. While deploring so many deaths, he himself is no angel of mercy. He does not feel safe without a gun. He threatens people with physical violence, he hits men and women although he claims he has never beaten a woman. He kills in self-defence but he is also ordered to kill (or be killed himself) and even once orders somebody to kill in his stead. He gets into fights at least three times per book. He is kidnapped, hurt in many ways. And still, like any phoenix-like P. I., he rises, none the worse for the wear and tear, ready for more "little war games, wisdom be damned, in pursuit of some non-existent, macho concept of self-respect, and for what?" This question is asked by a black woman whom Gunner falls in love with. And she adds another crucial question: "What do you ever gain that's more valuable than all that you lose?" (Not Long for this World 137). Sometimes, Gunner does realise that his course of action is rarely smart, that he is careless, that he plays games of "one-upmanship" (Ibid. 204), that he acts out of "reckless machismo" (When Last Seen Alive 159). It is in his relations with some women that the anti-hero appears best. He is not good at sustaining relationships and, above all, most of the time, he is not a fantastic lover, even in his dreams, something that no P. I. ever admits. And this is probably the most innovative feature of Haywood's fiction.
25A male African American writer of detective fiction remains a rarity to this day. Few names come to mind. Himes, of course, and Walter Mosley. We can also cite Robert Greer, Hugh Holton or Gary Phillips. Could we apply to male black crime fiction Munt's analysis on women's crime fiction and argue that the genre is alien to black consciousness because it "is not a logical choice for those positioned outside the hegemonic institution of law enforcement" (Munt 85)? Black women have fared better, seemingly more able to bring new voices to the genre by creating original, less stereotyped characters.4 Haywood's fiction is very much anchored in this new trend initiated by women writers in the 80's in which the main hero, the P. I., abandons some of his/her Super(wo)man characteristics to become a more "normal" person. There is a semblance of normalcy in the lives of some characters in Haywood's fiction: friendly neighbours gossiping at Mickey's barbershop, Gunner's girlfriends (even though their lives are touched by tragedy at some point). Even Gunner sometimes just hangs out at the Acey Deuce bar, simply to pass the time. Poverty is still there, in this part of the city Haywood writes about, and affects people of all colours. But, in other parts of the city, life can be led normally, in diverse ethnic communities. Some black people lead affluent lives as entertainers or business people; Gunner catches a first-class flight to Chicago to see his beloved in the sixth novel.
26Like many of his contemporaries (men and women), Haywood uses the novel as a forum for social critique, mostly issues dealing with the question of race, as seen through the main protagonist. In Haywood's books, Gunner is the main interest. We access the other characters, gangbangers and rappers, religious figures and dope dealers, prostitutes and wife-beaters solely through his questioning and reflections, which echo, as we have seen earlier, that of the author. The criminal elements in his novels are created "from scratch: pimps and crack dealers don't happen to be among [his] inner circle of friends. Still, growing up in a predominantly black, inner-city neighbourhood, one manages to pick up their language and mannerisms almost by osmosis, even from a safe distance" (Bailey 123). By adopting the conventions of the genre as defined by his white predecessors (the Chandler-Hammett-MacDonald tradition), Haywood can appeal to a wide, multi-ethnic audience who recognize an archetypal figure when they see one and feel safe even while reading about violence and death. At the same time, they are given food for thought. The Gunner series, with its running commentary on human relations, its attempt at giving a balanced view of the various aspects of a question, adds an element of reflexion, anchored in realism, to a literary genre too often content with just telling a mere adventure story.
Works Cited:
Bailey, Frankie Y. Out of the Woodpile: Black characters in Crime and Detective Fiction. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1991.
Baker, Nikki. In the Game. Tallahassee: The Naiad Press, 1991.
Bland, Eleanor Taylor. Dead Time. New York: Signet Books, 1992.
Décuré, Nicole. "In Search of our Sisters' Mean Streets: The Politics of Sex, Race and Class in Black Women's Crime Fiction." Ed. Klein, Kathleen G. Diversity and Detective Fiction: Race, Gender, Ethnicity. Bowling Green: Bowling Green UP, 1999: 158-185.
————. "Noires et noir." Polar et féminisme, Actes de la Journée de l'ANEF (Association nationale des études féministes) 2000. Supplément au Bulletin de l'ANEF, 35, 2001: 83-89.
Haywood, Gar Anthony. All the Lucky Ones Are Dead. New York: G.P. Putman's Sons, 1999.
————. Fear of the Dark. New York: Penguin Books, 1988.
————. Not Long for this World. New York: Penguin Books, 1990.
————. You Can Die Trying. New York: Penguin Books, 1993.
————. It's not a Pretty Sight. New York: Berkley Prime Crime, 1996.
————. When Last Seen Alive. New York: Berkley Prime Crime, 1997.
————. Smoke signals. L. A. Weely, 24 April 2002. 7 March 2016. http://www.laweekly.com/news/smoke-signals-2134707
————. The official website of Gar Anthony Haywood. 7 March 2016. http://www.garanthonyhaywood.com/gah_author_home/gah_author_home.html
Himes, Chester. Cotton Comes to Harlem. London: Panther Books, 1965.
————. For Love of Imabelle. New York: Dell, 1957.
Joe, Yolanda. Falling Leaves of Ivy. Stamford: Longmeadow, 1992.
Jordan, John. Interview with Gar Anthony Haywood aka Ray Shannon. Mystery One Bookstore, Milwaukee 2003. 9 January 2011 (the site no longer exists). http://www.mysteryone.com/interview.php?ID=701
Julien, Claude & Alice Mills, eds. "Round Table Discussion: Paula Woods, Gar Haywood, Barbara Neely and Participants in the Symposium". "Polar noir:" Reading African-American Detective Fiction. Tours: Presses Universitaires François-Rabelais, 2005: 117-129.
Mosley, Walter. Devil in a Blue Dress. New York: Norton, 1990.
Munt, Sally. Murder by the Book? Feminism and the Crime Novel. London: Routledge, 1994.
Neely, Barbara. Blanche on the Lam. New York: Saint Martin's Press, 1992.
Soitos, Stephen F. The Blues Detective. A Study of African American Detective Fiction. Amherst: U. of Massachusetts P., 1996.
1 Pauline Hopkins published Hagar's Daughter in 1900 and Rudolph Fisher The Conjure-Man Dies in 1932.
2 Private correspondence between the author of the article and Haywood, 13 June 2009.
3 P. I. fiction is that branch of crime fiction or detective fiction in which the hero/heroine is a private investigator. It usually runs in series, with the P. I. as recurrent hero/heroine.
4 For in-depth portraits of these heroines, see Décuré (1999, 2001).


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Sunday, June 6, 2010
Mandala Complex Continued
The top image shows the nightblooming mandala with butterflies extended by adding rays. I will do more of this.
This reminds me of the old rose windows of medieval cathedrals. While Tibetan mandalas are a big part of my inspiration, I have alwasy been in awe of stained glass windows. That lead to my working with stained glass for ten years.
I then used that two create these alternate mandala complex designs. Do you have a preference? This is an approach I will be using a lot as it makes full use of the rectangular page.
Posted by Bob Coyne at 5:57 AM No comments:
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Mandala Complex 1 with Nightblooms & Butterflies
We take tobacco and incendiary devices at night from our residents for fire safety. That means we take matches and lighters. As I collected them Thursday night, I noticed that one of the guys had a new bic lighter. It had an interesting design on it that was sort of a mandala design. It was beautifully done, but what caught my eye was the layout. It had a complex arrangement of multiple rings that radiated into each other and created interesting shapes where they met.
One of the problems I keep working with is that a mandala fits nicely on a square page, but most prints, posters, cards and so on are rectangular. I have used a variety of techniques to fill up the extra space, but this makes the best use of the rectangle yet. I took my nightblooming mandala with butterflies and expanded it with radiaiting lines and arranged it on the page as you see here. I think the design is rather striking, but I have still not acheived what the artist did in the lighter. It is a rough first draft, but I think it is enough to show the potential.
This is so intricate that it would take a mural sized presentation to show any detail in the flowers or butterflies. I will start creating new ones that will fit better on a poster. I share this partly to show that there is no telling where the next inspiration will come from. I think it is my job to try and remain open to where I am lead.
Posted by Bob Coyne at 9:56 AM No comments:
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Rainbow Thousand Petal Lotus
Starting from the bottom, I colorized the Thousand Petal Lotus Mandala as a rainbow. I used pastel colors as they seem most appropriate, but brighter colors are possible. Once I completed this version, I can create other color variations quickly and easily. I offer blue and pink versions, but any color or combination of colors can be done.
I finish up with a fiveplex of mandalas which is probably not sellable, but which is an interesting exercise.
Posted by Bob Coyne at 10:23 PM No comments:
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33 Years Ago Today and One More Shift for Tammy
33 years ago today I began my career with the FAA. I don't know what 33 years is supposed to feel like but certainly not this. Back when I was beginning my career that would've seemed like a very long time to be a controller but that's not my perspective today. Of the 500 or so people I sat with in the auditorium that morning as we filled out the many forms, I have to wonder how many (if any) are still working traffic? Could I possibly be the last man standing out of all of us? It's entirely possible.
I spent too much time this past week trying to upgrade Tammy's phone after she'd dropped hers in the toilet. It still functioned but would occasionally go dark. She was a few months past due for an upgrade but that's not what our account's records with Verizon showed. I tried to get a resolution to the problem both in-store and over the phone but with no luck whatsoever. Each time I was assured that someone would get back to me but they never did. In my frustration I made a post to Facebook, more curious than anything about what carriers others were using as I kicked around thoughts of giving Verizon the heave-ho, all the while pretty sure I would be staying with Verizon because their coverage really is the best. Once we're retired and doing more traveling we'll want good coverage.
One of the commenters to my Facebook post was Jay, a retired controller whose son works at the Verizon store in Apple Valley. He suggested I go in and see if he could get it straightened out for us. I was feeling like this was our only hope at this point.
And we did.
We spent more than two hours with James on Thursday afternoon. He was on the phone with the corporate office for much too long it seemed but he was finally able to untangle the mess our account was in and that's all that really mattered. Tammy is the happy owner of an iPhone 6 and we also walked away with a pair of UE Boom wireless speakers. They make a lot of sense for out on our deck. Actually, I'm listening to them now as I write this. They're so full of sound.
Another thing James noticed on our account was that we weren't getting the government employee discount of 15%. He fixed that too!
I opted for indoor riding this week on my CompuTrainer. I have a love-hate relationship with that piece of equipment. It works me so hard but when I'm done I'm very thankful for the workout. The photo to the right was taken during a workout where I was riding against myself from two previous rides. The image to the left of the screen was the 'current' me during the ride. The center image was from a recent ride and the right side image was an effort I did shortly after getting out of the hospital a couple months ago. I can see my improvement based on my watts output and average speed.
Today's ride was even better averaging 195 watts over 30 miles. Nothing exceptional but I'm moving in the right direction.
Spring shows up on the calendar but you wouldn't know it by looking outside. I was expecting the snow we got last Sunday to be gone by now but it's reluctant to leave. I haven't let that stop me from taking the pups for their daily walk. They so look forward to it. Toby and Allie will be 12 this summer and I know this is something we probably won't be able to do in a couple of years. I don't want to even think about that.
Tammy has just one day of work remaining before retiring from her job as a telephone triage nurse. She's been with OptumHealth for 7 years and will be so happy to be done. It's stressful work. She'll go into the office on Monday for her last shift and to turn in all of the equipment she used in her home office. I had to laugh after she finished her last at-home shift on Tuesday, she wasted no time in tearing down all of her equipment and promising me that the office/den would soon be my domain once again.
I don't expect that she'll be putting her feet up for too long. She's already got something in the works; something that she's very excited about but I'll wait for a while to say more about it.


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What We're Reading This Weekend: Make-You-Laugh Memoirs
Laugh your way through the weekend with these hilarious books
They say the unlaughed-at life isn't worth living (or something like that), and these authors have taken it to heart.
Tell us what you think of the comic confessionals we're loving, and let us know what you're reading.
Leslie Baldwin, Account Manager
Her Pick:
My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster
It's the true story of a woman who realizes all her cocktail party conversation is based on The Real Housewives and Jersey Shore. She sets out to broaden her horizons, trying new experiences she always thought she'd hate – like sitting through the opera and taking etiquette lessons. Lancaster is sassy and hysterical, and you find yourself rooting for her throughout her mission, mistakes and all.
Jonathan Michals, Technical Analyst
His Pick: My Inappropriate Life by Heather McDonald
The comedian and Chelsea Lately star has written a happy, funny, cleverly-worded expose about family and daily life. Smoothly written and sprinkled with funny punch lines and much winking, it makes fun of social niceties and contradictions. A fast escapist read.
Alicia Dennis, Senior Writer
Her Pick: Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Born in Austin and then shipped out with her family to what she calls the "violently rural town" of Wall, Texas, blogger Lawson blows her life randomly, hilariously wide open in this "mostly true memoir." (Among the high points: the pet raccoon her mother made pants for.) It's a book that should come with a spit-take warning.
Check back every Thursday for another round of staff picks, and see more book reviews each week in PEOPLE magazine, on newsstands now. Plus, check out last week's smart page-turnersand more great book finds here.


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To me the title of this post sounds like the name of a children's puppet duo. In fact, it's the name of two French dishes made with chickpea flour.
I've always been a fan of chickpeas, primarily for the hummus I regularly make, though they've been known to make appearances in stews and even roasted on their own. When a friend gave me a copy of David Leibovitz's book, The Sweet Life in Paris, I was immediately intrigued by his recipe for socca, a chickpea crepe found in the South of France. Since I work next door to a health food store, I was able to locate some chickpea flour easily (which isn't always the case with unusual ingredients and Tahoe, but I'll save that rant for another time). Bob's Red Mill Garbanzo Bean Flour was what I purchased, but there seem to be a number of options in (coff) larger cities.
I should have remembered past experiences with crepes, which tend to start badly. I know that the first one is supposed to be a throwaway, but the first four? The rest of them did come out intact and crepe-like, and when sprinkled with sea salt and served hot, were very tasty.
But I wasn't seeing a way to readily integrate savory crepes into my cooking repertoire, as they weren't sturdy enough to actually fill (my fault no doubt), and didn't seem to be a versatile side dish. So I went to my trusty reference, Google, to see what else could be done with the pound plus of chickpea flour I had remaining. Lo and behold, David's website popped up, this time for panisse, or what I've come to call 'polenta fries with chickpea flour'. Yes, panisse is more romantic, and decidedly shorter, but nobody here knows what the hell I'm referring to when I break out the French.
N liked the socca, but he loves the panisse. I do too – cut thin and pan-fried, they're almost like French fries, but with more umami and less starchiness. Topped with some sea salt and pepper, they're perfect with grilled chicken and a tossed salad. I've made them a number of times this summer, and can confirm that they are equally good cold.
No matter what you call them, they have become a nice addition to my summer rotation of easy recipes that don't suck.


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Ocean Floor
Ocean Floor, located in the Maritime Market, is an excellent option for gifts, keepsakes, and Vancouver mementos. Explore a wide range of souvenirs to commemorate your time in the city in the forms of jewellery, key chains, t-shirts, and more. We also carry illustrated maps, and sea shells.


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The Weave are an exciting incarnation of some of Liverpool's best established jazz musicians, and their brand new album Knowledge Porridge is out now on Rufusalbino Records.
At the epicentre of this new musical planet is band leader Martin Smith. He has woven together a network of some of the very finest musicians in the musical city to end all musical cities: Anthony Peers (trumpet), Anthony Ormesher (guitar), Tilo Pirnbaum (drums), Rob Stringer (piano) and Hugo "Harry" Harrison (double bass).
Together they bring a mind-bogglingly diverse CV of influences and experience. Jazz icons such as Digby Fairweather, Kenny Wheeler, Ian Carr and Jim Mullen rub shoulders with the likes of John Martyn and Arthur Brown, while names such as Super Furry Animals, The Coral and Albert Lee are fascinating head-turning tangents.
The end result is a brilliantly original musical kaleidoscope of ideas knitted together to create a soundscape like no other. Splendidly energetic and warm, sometimes playful but always soulful, spanning the bridge of several generations where no genre is denied access to the party.
Officially formed in August 2012 when they recorded their debut album, the members of The Weave have been playing together in various incarnations for up to 20 years, and so have a very close bond both musically and as brothers in arms. This combined with the twin trumpet and guitar front line creates a unique and extremely refreshing and cohesive band sound and identity. They treasure melody above all else and whilst there is plenty of space for individuals to shine in improvisation, everything serves the song.
In their first year The Weave were selected as Northernline Ambassadors by Jazz North. Since then they have forged a terrific reputation nationally as a live band, performing more than 50 shows up and down the country, and culminating in a sell out show at the 2014 London Jazz Festival.
Their self titled first album received a great deal of mainstream radio exposure and was critically acclaimed both in the UK and in America, with W.Royal Stokes (writer for Downbeat magazine) listing it in his "most notable releases of 2014".
The Weave's second album Knowledge Porridge see's them incorporate and infuse elements of their broader musical experience in Liverpool.
Liverpool has an extremely rich, diverse and really quite incestuous musical landscape. All the musicians in The Weave have benefited from the wealth of experience that's available, and the border-less cross pollination that flows freely there.
Knowledge Porridge feature's collaborations with Luciana Mercer (Stealing Sheep and The Harlequin Dynamite Marching Band), Micheal Head (Shack, The Pale Fountains and The Red Elastic Band). And presents contributions from Jonathan & Georgina Aasgaard (principal cellists in the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra), Vidar Norheim (Wave Machines), Andrzej Baranek (Magic Hat Ensemble) and Stuart Hardcastle (Beatlife).


text: The Excite is able to achieve long accurate distance with ease from its high amount of glide and ability to hyzer-flip straight with a lower power requirement. Power throwers will be able to send this max-speed driver on huge turnover lines with a late ending fade or attack the course with high-speed rollers. The Excites flight characteristics emulate the Insanity, but with added speed and even more glide potential. Excite your game with the new maximum distance driver from Axiom, the Neutron Excite! This disc is available in Axiom's Neutron plastic. This plastic is extremely durable and provides excellent grip in any conditions. Features: Understable Distance Disc Durable Grippy Neutron Plastic Unique 2-piece construction


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Steve's Blog
Dar Williams, Red Moon Road, Facebook, and more!
Friday October 23, 2015
Keep in Touch
There are two ways you can receive these updates automatically:
- Email: subscribe to us via MailChimp: Rogue Folk Club Mailing List
- RSS: subscribe to our RSS Feed
1. Dar Williams, Saturday October 24th, 8pm, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)
A new album by Dar Williams feels, to me, like receiving a letter from an old friend, where each paragraph - or song - tells a story. She is a totally compelling story teller in song, and we are delighted to be able to bring her back to The Rogue. A couple of years ago she called me over to her table at a showcase venue at the Folk Alliance in Toronto and implored me to bring her back to Vancouver. We presented that concert at St. James almost exactly two years ago. She was accompanied by Bryn Roberts on keyboards. Bryn hails from Kelowna, and will again accompany Dar. Her new CD, Emerald, came out in July. I love the cover of Joe Strummer's Johnny Appleseed, and there's a celebration of FM Radio too. Bees and radio; two of my favourite things! The more reflective songs are my favourites, though. The songs that wrap you up like a warm blanket on a cold night, and fire your imagination as she sweeps you up and carries you into her secret world. There are heaps of songwriters out there, but none quite as arresting as Dar Williams. For more information visit www.darwilliams.com
Winnipeg trio Red Moon Road were my "discovery of the year" last year. They played here at the end of November and were totally captivating, with their stories embellishing their songs and their incredible voices filling the hall to the rafters. Sheena Rattai is an amazing singer; one of Canada's finest voices, for sure. The guys in the band are both called Daniel. The family history of each band member forms the basis of many of their songs and stories. They have just released Sorrows & Glories, their second full-length CD, 12 months after the release of their remarkable EP, Tales From The White Shell - which they recorded in an ice-fishing shack on a frozen lake, hauling their recording gear on a sled! The new CD is another excellent collection of uniquely entertaining songs, but the best way to hear these songs is to see the band perform live and to experience the atmospheric landscapes they conjure up on stage. www.redmoonroad.com
I hope you can join me on The Edge On Folk on CiTR fm 101.9 from 8am to noon tomorrow (Saturday) for 4 hours of the very best in World / Roots / Folk music. The show comes from the swanky new studios at The Nest, UBC's new student union building, and it's streamed live on www.citr.ca I'll have some new music from Celtic Colours, from Patty Griffin, Buckman Coe, Cousin Harley, Martha Scanlan, etc. as well as a feature on her Dar-ness, and much more!


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Order CTEC Coffee and Cocoa – Support Student Scholarships
The Center for Tropical Ecology and Conservation works with Dean's Beans, a distributor of organic, fair-trade products, to bring you sustainable and socially-just coffee, cocoa, and chocolate-covered coffee beans. All items come in 1 lb. bags, except the cocoa which comes in 6.5oz packages.
We place an order about once a month and we will call or email you when your order is ready to be picked up at the CTEC office. Payment in cash or by check is due at that time. All proceeds go towards a CTEC scholarship, awarded to students initiating their research in the tropics or attending professional conferences.
If you have any questions please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com. For more information on Dean's Beans products, visit www.deansbeans.com.


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ENHS academic joins CEO of Age UK and others at South West Seniors' Assembly conference
5 April 2012
Jo Coulson, prospective PhD candidate and part-time Research Associate at the Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health, joined Tom Wright, CBE (CEO of Age UK), on the closing plenary of The South West Seniors' Assembly (SWSA) annual conference in Somerset on Friday 30 March.
Jo Coulson, prospective PhD candidate and part-time Research Associate at the Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health, joined Tom Wright, CBE (CEO of Age UK), on the closing plenary of The South West Seniors' Assembly ( SWSA) annual conference in Somerset on Friday 30 March.
The day was designed for local older people to work with service-providers, policy-makers and professionals, to provide practical solutions for some of the biggest age-related challenges they face today. After setting the scene, Jo disseminated key findings from Projects OPAL and OPAL+, one of the School's exciting strands of ageing research. The chair for the day was broadcaster and journalist Valerie Singleton, OBE.
Jo's presentation focused on one of the group's four annual themes, chosen by members themselves: 'Ageing well: getting out and about, staying active and involved.' It was preceded by talks from Lizzie Feltoe (Policy Advisor on Social Care, Age UK), Jon Carling (CEO for the Commission on Rural Communities), and Daniel Pearson (Director of First Stop).
The annual themes were then discussed in detail in separate 'action groups,' which involved listening to older people's experiences and invited expert opinion. Each set of delegates then developed positive proposals for older residents in the west to take forward for consultation and campaigning. The conference was co-hosted by the SWSN, the South West Forum on Ageing and Age UK, and a report will be available in due course. One of the four themes will be prioritised for the group's national-level action.
The conference was particularly timely: Saturday 7 April 2012 is World Health Day, the theme of which is 'Ageing and health: Good health adds life to years.' The year 2011-12 also celebrates the following important launches: the first UK physical activity guidelines specifically for older adults (2011), Esther Rantzen's Silver Line, the Campaign to End Loneliness and the Olympic legacy. The 8th World Congress on Active Ageing, held once every four years, is also being hosted in Glasgow, from 13 August.


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Only use Mozilla browser to access this application.
Intellectual property can be a significant component of the value of a business – IP portfolio of brands such as Coca-Cola and Apple are valued in billions. In 2011, Nortel sold its patent portfolio for $ 4.5 billion when it was wound up. Similarly, Ericsson derives $ 1 billion of revenues per year from licensing its technology globally to various cellphone companies, without manufacturing a single phone itself. Whether it is a SME or a large business, not having an IP strategy is strategically inefficient and prevents the business from unlocking its full value. Websites, blogs, software codes, product manuals, designs, videos, business processes, photographs and catalogues are all capable of intellectual property protection.
Course Contents:
Module I: Introduction to Intellectual Property
Chapter 3: Methods for commercial exploitation of trademarks
Supplementary: IP protection for Startups
Supplement: Licensing and Other Issues in Trademark
Module II: Copyright Law for Early Stage Business
Chapter 4: Trademark Opposition and Litigation
Chapter 1: How early stage business can use copyright law to protect important works
Supplement: Trademark Opposition and Infringement
Chapter 2: Procedure for Copyright Registration
Supplement: Additional videos on Trademark
Chapter 3: Techniques for Commercial Exploitation of Copyright
Module IV: Patent Law
Chapter 4: Copyright Infringement and Practical Remedies
Chapter 1: Introduction to Patent Law
Chapter 4A: Take down notice
Supplement: Introduction to Patent Law
Chapter 5: Copyright in Cyberspace
Chapter 2: Patent Application and Registration Process
Module III: Trademark Law
Supplement: Patent Application and Patent Drafting
Chapter 1: Introduction to Trademarks
Supplement: Patent Filing
Supplement: Introduction to Trademark
Supplement: Patent Objection and Opposition
Chapter 2: Procedure for Trademark Registration
Supplement: Other issues in Patent Law
Supplement: Trademark Registration
Module V: IP Management and Monetization
Supplement: International Reg. of Trademark
Chapter 1: IP and Employees
Chapter 2: Franchising and Licensing Agreement
1. 10+2 (Passed or Appearing) ALL STREAMS.
2. Any IT professional.
3. Any Degree/Diploma holder with basic knowledge in computers.
3. Any final year UG/PG student with basic knowledge in
Fees: Rs.4999 /- ** Discount
Duration: 30 Days
FAQ about OER
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NIESBUD is an Apex Institute in the area of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship,Government of India. The basic objects for which the Institute has been established are: Promotion and Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises including Enhancement of their Competitiveness through Various Activities. The Institute has conducted a total of 36,877 different Training Programmes covering 9,43,625 participants which includes International training programmes with 3,194 participants from more than 130 countries till 31st March 2016.


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New Delhi: Government has decided to relax the norms for Startup MSMEs. According to the decision, if the MSMEs can deliver the goods and services as per prescribed technical & quality specifications, the norms on prior experience and prior turnover will be relaxed for them. This will help the Startup MSMEs to take part in the mandatory 20% public procurement from MSMEs. The relaxation has been made to create a conducive environment for the startups in India, which is high on the agenda of the Government.
To ensure better implementation of Quality Management Standars/Quality Technology Tools scheme under the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme of the Government, Ministry has decided to conduct two International Study Missions in colloboration with Confederation of Indian Industry and Consultancy Development Corporation during this year as well as in the next financial year. 100 Awareness Campaigns will be organised in the States across the Country through MSME-DIs and other Expert Organisations in the next financial year. 4 Metro Level Workshops at Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and one National Level Workshop at Delhi will be organised in the next financial year.


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USPG at Greenbelt 2018
See photos and videos from Greenbelt 2018
Come and join USPG at the Greenbelt Christian arts festival (24-27 August, Boughton Estate, Kettering) to seriously re-think what mission is all about and find out what a short-term placement with the world church might look like for you. Our Filipino guest speaker, Fr Chris Ablon will also be inviting us to join his church in creatively taking action against the attacks on indigenous communities who are losing their lands and their lives.
Greenbelt USPG 2018 Talks and Timings
White Saviour Complex narratives
Telescope, Saturday 4-5pm
Have missionaries had their day? Do they carry too many vestiges of imperialism, colonialism and conforming 'others' to a western culture? Does this simply perpetuate the 'White Saviour' complex or might there still be a space for the missional movement of people in the 21st century? Chaired by Duncan Dormor, General Secretary of USPG, a 300-year-old mission agency seriously rethinking mission.
Read more:
Mission from the margins - a blog from Duncan Dormor shared on the Greenbelt website
Blessed are the Pink-Vested Peacemakers.
Treehouse, Saturday 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Speaker: Father Chris Ablon from the Philippines.
How can we become peacemakers? In the Philippines, the church's radical mission of accompaniment and solidarity is landing its' Bishops in jail, but it's also shining a light on the unjust practices of mining corporations and a government which sees their indigenous communities as expendable. Father Chris, will share how he was inspired by his experiences in Palestine, why he feels the church must get political, how Greenbelters can help stop children losing their lives trying to get an education and how we can become peacemakers in our own context.
An ordained priest, Father Chris Ablon is also the National Program Coordinator for the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI). He is a Core Group Member of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) where he is responsible for facilitating various trainings, conventions and lectures on peace processes and conflict transformation. He is an occasional consultant and facilitator of peace-building workshop between the Nominated Sections of the Government of the Republic of the Philippine and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in the Joint Monitoring Committee.
As well as completing peace building training at the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute in the Philippines he has also served as an accompanier, for the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program for Palestine-Israel, Palestine, with the World Council of Churches. Following this he pioneered the Lumad Accompaniment Program and Mindanao Lumad Ministries of the IFI which uses a similar model of accompaniment with the Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao.
He studied the International Course on Land, People, Theology and Sustainability, by the Swedish Theological Institute in Jerusalem, Palestine-Israel. And in 2016-2017 in in Siem Reap, Cambodia he also took part in the invitation only programme for key practitioners 'Transformative Peace Leadership, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies' where he focused on personal and political leadership formation for peace processes.
As well as these professional accomplishments he is a guitarist in the bands Imagine Peace ASEAN Band and the Filipino 1500 Band, he rides a motorbike, trades guitars and speaks four languages English, Filipino, Cebuano and Hiligaynon
Find out more:
Silence is not peace! - a guest blog on the Greenbelt website
SOS - Standing alongside the people of the Philippines - a film from our friends at the Save our Schools Network.
Prayerful meditation on mining in the Philippines
Sunday Morning - Windrush Communion Service at the Glade Stage - input from USPG's Evie Vernon
Solidarity Prayer Vigil (With special guests from the Igorot Tribe in the Philippines.)
Sunday 8pm – gather at the pontoon bridge between Orpheus and the Lake to walk to The Shelter worship venue on the other side of the lake for 8.15pm
Speakers: Father Chris Ablon, Igorot tribal members, Father Herbert, Father Salvador
Come to the pontoon bridge, between Orpheus and the Lake to experience the Igorot ritual dance as they joyfully invite us to process to a candlelit service led by Filipino Priests at the Shelter venue, giving Greenbelters the opportunity to prayerfully stand in solidarity with indigenous communities around the world who are forcibly displaced from their lands, and face increasing threats to their way of life.
Looking for an adventure?
The Forge workshop venue on the Monday at 11am.
Speakers: Journey with Us participants and Habib Nader
Do you yearn for something less routine? For an opportunity to stretch your wings? For an adventure? Volunteering with USPG will put you on the front line of the modern-day mission field. It's a genuinely life-changing placement. Come along to learn more, hear first-hand stories, and be inspired.
Read more:
Go on a life changing journey - a guest blog on the Greenbelt website


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Skydiving has had many great moments, but none surpass the first skydive by President George H.W. Bush. Now it is with great sadness that the skydiving community bids farewell to one of its own. President Bush was 94 years old.
When some of the best skydivers in the world learned that Kids for Peace was launching the Do It for Peace campaign to inspire people worldwide to take action, they just had to be part of it! On September 27, 34 world-class skydivers with a combined total of 195,000 jumps united and accomplished a peace-sign formation at Skydive Elsinore in California.
Lew Sanborn, D-1, was holding court outside the Bird House bar, relaxing with old timers whose jump totals were in the thousands. Just a few yards away at the other end of the facility, a couple of tandem students were gearing up for the experience of a lifetime. Nobody knew whether they would become skydivers or were merely weekend seekers of a thrill ride. In between, skydivers of every age, from everywhere and from every discipline, champions and casual weekend jumpers, gathered. It was the kind of atmosphere that epitomizes our sport. It was the International Skydiving Museum's Hall of Fame weekend at one of the iconic locations of sport parachuting: Skydive City Zephyrhills in Florida
Some say that aging gracefully is hard. But on Saturday, November 10, Skydive Elsinore in California showed that time is on its side and age is just a number as it celebrated 60 years of top-notch skydiving at the drop zone's home, Skylark Airfield. Current, former and aspiring jumpers flocked to the event. Among them was Larry Perkins, the son of the drop zone's founder, Cy Perkins, who on March 1, 1958, took a skydiver (whose name is lost to time) up in his Cessna 172 and let him fall out.
It was the best worst idea (or, perhaps, the worst best idea). It came, as all the best worst ideas do, over coffee.
It bubbled up one wintry Slovak afternoon as my partner, Joel Strickland, and I were taking a mid-tunnel-camp break. As I snuggled down into a beanbag chair with my thermos, I checked my phone. A dear friend—the inimitable Melissa Dawn Burns—popped up to invite us to visit her in Alaska, where she and her husband have been flying planes over the wilderness at the world's end. I'd never been to Alaska. I'd always wanted to go.
Suddenly, a thought occurred out of the ether. I turned to Joel.
"Hey, do you want to jump in all 50 states?"
"No," he said, without missing a beat.
A few moments went by. I kept scrolling.
"Wait. Yes."
And suddenly, it was real.
I can't tell you how many times I've seen very experienced skydivers walking around munching on snacks between jumps with all their gear on but their leg straps hanging straight down instead of being around their legs. It's the cool look, I guess. But forgetting that last step at the last moment would certainly be fatal, in my humble opinion.
When I was a child, I thought that I could fly. In my dreams, I hovered in the living room and floated out the door into the street. I hovered like a dragonfly in slow motion as I examined the trees and architecture of my neighborhood up close. I didn't realize that it was a dream; it was so intense, I believed it really happened. I blame this weird dream for my delusions of flying.
Travis Mills, D-27249, is a world-class canopy pilot who flies competitively for the PD Factory Team and is a canopy coach for Flight-1. He is also talented in freefall and has been on numerous world-record-setting big-way jumps and medaled in freestyle and vertical formation skydiving at the world championships. The most recent of his many accomplishments are winning the first meet and taking silver overall at the two-meet 2018 Swoop Freestyle World Championships and taking bronze overall at the 2018 USPA Canopy Piloting Nationals.
Watercolor and ink on canvas
Dana Alenzi
After deciding to retire from the sport, Andy Tuman (blue jumpsuit, purple grippers) makes his farewell skydive with friends at Skydive the Ranch in Gardiner, New York.
Photo by Laszlo Andacs | D-22468
As part of a new privacy initiative beginning January 1, new USPA members must specifically designate that USPA can share their accomplishments (licenses, ratings and awards) and contributions (donations to one of the four USPA funds) in print in Parachutist. New members must now also opt in for USPA to share their accomplishments and display their membership cards digitally through Sig.ma. Previously, members did not need to opt in before USPA listed their credentials but had the ability to opt out.
Members of Fly Team Evil exit a balloon during the suicide-prevention event.
All USPA Foreign Affiliate memberships of non-U.S. drop zones that did not submit their annual renewals expired December 31. USPA is in the process of removing any non-renewing Foreign Affiliate's listing from Parachutist and the USPA website. If a DZ renews after membership has lapsed, it may take several months for the listing to reappear in the magazine due to publication deadlines and print cycles. Foreign Affiliate DZs that wish to renew should contact the Group Membership department at firstname.lastname@example.com as soon as possible.
In "The 2018 USPA National Skydiving Championships" by Steve Hubbard in the November issue:
• The winner of the 2017 10-way speed event was Arizona Airspeed.
• The advanced wingsuit performance flying guest competitor from Moldova was Iurii Cartev.
• In 4-way intermediate formation skydiving, SDC Rhevolution XP was a guest team. TSC Cadence, SDMW X and Hands Free took gold, silver and bronze, respectively.
Jim Tafralian, USPA #1298, started his jump career in 1971 at the age of 20 at Midwest Sport Parachute Club near Monroe, Michigan. Early in his jump career, Tafralian became interested in formation skydiving and competed in 10-way speed on the Beechnuts team. In 1974, he was part of the groups who built a 28-way round and a 20-way night round at Zephyrhills Parachute Center (now Skydive City Zephyrhills) in Florida. He also became a Federal Aviation Administration Master Rigger and Commercial Pilot.
Joe Kelly, Tyler Moran and Cathy Leone, all members of the U.S. Air Force, make a patriotic hybrid jump at Skydive Arizona in Eloy.
The weather was perfect for the 10th Annual Halloween Carnivale hosted by Skydive Arizona in Eloy October 26-28. Skydivers enjoyed three beautiful days of jumps from the drop zone's fleet of aircraft, including the DC-3. Vertical formation skydiving team Arizona Anthem organized Crazy Eights, an 8-way VFS event, while Thiago Gomez and Niklas Hemlin of formation skydiving team Arizona Airspeed organized the belly groups. Saturday's costume contest was spook-tacular, and Danielle Lakota Barlow took home the grand prize, a Rigging Innovations Curv container, for her fortune teller costume. The boogie was a great start to the winter season in Arizona.
When chess grandmaster Timur Gareyev won the 119th edition of the venerable U.S. Chess Open over almost 400 other players, Chess Life magazine knew that it had to do something special with the adventurous player for its November 2018 cover. As an ultramarathoner, yoga enthusiast and blindfold-chess Guinness World Record holder, the Kansas-based player who was born in Uzbekistan could inspire a potentially exciting photo. But it was when his manager Jennifer Vallens told the magazine's editors that Gareyev is also a skydiver with close to 150 solo jumps that U.S. Chess—the 501(c)3 non-profit that publishes Chess Life—knew a cover was born.
In late October, just before the end of the board election, then-Pacific Regional Director Ron Bell accepted a position at USPA, which made him ineligible to serve on the board. In a special meeting in November, USPA's board of directors convened to decide how to treat the Pacific Regional Director election since Bell, who received the most votes, was ineligible to be elected. Because Brett Martin was on the ballot and received the second-most number of votes, the board declared him to be the Pacific Regional Director when the 2019-2021 board begins its term on February 1.
Members of Skydive Suffolk in Virginia pose for the camera after performing a demo jump into a Toys for Tots event, where they also donated more than $150 worth of toys to the cause.
Skydive Empuriabrava in Spain hosted a fundraising event for the Sky Family Fund, which raises money for victims of skydiving and BASE accidents, on November 16. The Sky Family Fund is part of the Care-All Foundation, whose mission is to give people the possibilities for better lives. Founded in early 2018, Care-All has already provided educational and business funding for recipients in Nepal, Kenya and Zambia, helped support an orphanage in Kenya and—through the Sky Family Fund—assisted two people injured in air-sports accidents.
United Parachute Technologies recently introduced its Mutant harness-and-container system, which the company designed to maximize performance in canopy flight. In contrast to familiar systems, the Mutant suspends the pilot in the supine position—resting back with the feet stretched forward—which is an efficient flying position resembling a paragliding pilot's. This position reduces drag, thus allowing for more speed and range, and is also very comfortable, according to UPT.
Anticipation is high for the 2019 British Parachute Association Skydive the Expo after record crowds attended the 2018 event. The event, hosted at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham, U.K., will feature seminars from leading skydiving experts, a large exhibition hall and BPA's annual awards ceremony, as well as after-hours parties. More information is available at skydivetheexpo.com.
At Skydive the Ranch in Gardiner, New York, Jim Cupples, D-23572, flies his canopy back to the DZ during his 10,000th jump.
At Skydive the Ranch in Gardiner, New York, AFF student Kyle Nielson makes his required hop-and-pop jump from 3,500 feet.
A jumper experienced broken suspension lines on his new main parachute that required him to cut away and deploy his reserve. Later, when investigators inspected the main parachute, they determined that tension knots, which most likely developed in the jumper's semi-stowless deployment bag, caused one line to saw through the other lines. Jumpers must carefully fold suspension lines into the pouch of a semi-stowless bag to allow the lines to pull free in an orderly manner.
Four hundred and forty-nine. That's a small number by some standards and a large one by others. To me, it is a much larger number than it should be. This is the number of civilian skydiving fatalities recorded in the United States during the 18 years and three months that I was the director of safety and training for USPA. Each one was a tragedy, with friends and family left in shock as they picked up the pieces in the aftermath of suddenly losing a loved one.
(More articles being added every day!)
USPA 5401 Southpoint Centre Blvd., Fredericksburg, VA, 22407 (540) 604-9740 M-F 9am-5pm Eastern (540) 604-9741 firstname.lastname@example.com


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A Wenatchee landmark, Saddle Rock with its weathered rock towers and surrounding wild lands is both wonderfully scenic and ridiculously close to town. A high percentage of Wenatchee residents can easily walk or ride a bike to the trail heads.
Maps: View our topo map. Note: use 'Print Preview' before printing to properly scale this map to a full sheet of paper.
Activity: Hiking, Family Fun, Mtn Biking, Wildflowers, Trail Running. Look for native plants along the foothills.
Nearest Town: Wenatchee
Skill Level: 2
Fitness Level: HIKING: 2; TRAIL RUNNING: 2; MTN BIKING: 3
The trails and old jeep roads here all climb steadily (sometimes steeply). They gain about 1,000 vertical feel reaching the ridgeline and are not well suited for people who are in poor shape or unsteady on their feet.
- Southern access. Drive south on Miller Street. At its end, hook sharply to the right onto Circle Street. Drive about 0.3 miles and park in a small pullout at the very end of Circle Street. Don't block the gated road going into the Dry Gulch Preserve. As of May 2012, additional parking for about 20 vehicles was added at the end of Circle Street by the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust on property the school district provided. This has greatly helped the parking problems at this entrance to the trails. Reportedly this trailhead should be receiving an upgrade in the near future.
- Northern access. Park in the Wenatchee Racquet and Athletic Club's (WRAC) main parking lot off Skyline Drive. Park in the northernmost stalls (those farthest from the doors to the building) – the WRAC has signed those stalls that may be used for trail users. Please do not ask to use the WRAC's indoor facilities unless you are a member. Find the trail by walking back to Skyline Drive and looking for the trail signage for Jacobson Preserve and kiosk on your right.
- IMPORTANT: These parking areas have very limited facilities for trail users but should have more facilities in the near future. Currently, take care of your bathroom needs before arriving or be prepared to use a pit toilet. Come with plenty of water. Haul away your own trash or put in the minimal trash can option. And please pickup the trash others leave behind. If we outdoor users don't keep these clean, we will lose the right to use some of them.
Trip Instructions:
- From the south. Currently this trail has no signage. Go through the gate on the right side of parking area and follow the dirt jeep road upward. Stay on the main road/track, passing a number of smaller trails and roads. Use our map to get a general feel for the road's route. When in doubt about which track/road to take, take the largest option. After about 1.5 miles, you'll find yourself at the saddle on top which has a tremendous view of Wenatchee, the Columbia River, and the surrounding hills. This trip is especially enjoyable in spring when the flowers of the shrub-steppe are in bloom and in autumn when fall colors yellow the shrubbery. In summer, it's best to visit in early morning or after dinner.
- From the north. Walk through the parking area back toward Skyline Drive. The trail starts at the Jacobson Preserve (owned by the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust) where Skyline Drive makes a big bend and starts heading uphill. Take the trail signed for hiking. Part way up, the trail merges with an old jeep road. Keep following the road as it switchbacks upward — there is no more signage. When in doubt, stay on the road showing the most evidence of travel.
- The Ridgeline Trail adds considerable distance and elevation gain to any hike/ride at Saddle Rock. When you reach the saddle between the northern and southern trailheads, head west along the ridge, follow the single-track trail. Follow the trail for 1.5 miles until it intersects a cattle fence. Turn around and retrace your route.
NOTE FOR MOUNTAIN BIKERS: The trails and old jeep roads here all climb steadily (sometimes steeply). They gain about 1,000 vertical feel reaching the ridgeline and are not well suited for riders who can't sustain a steady, fairly steep climb.
1) Saddle Rock is a mixture of public and private land. Wandering off the main routes marked on the map antagonizes private landowners and endangers everyone's access to the area.
2) County regulations require that dogs be leashed.
3) This is a trail system with limited bathroom options, no water, and limited trash cans. Take care of your bathroom needs before arriving if possible and carry out all your trash.
4) The Chelan Douglas Land Trust (CDLT) has been critical in maintaining public access to Saddle Rock and other trails in the foothills. If you use these and other trails in the foothills (e.g., Sage Hills), join the CDLT. The $25 yearly membership fee is a cheap way to protect your interests in keeping the area open for public use.
Don't Use Soft /Wet Trails. Please stay off trails when they are soft or wet enough that you're leaving foot prints or wheel ruts deeper than 1/4 inch (or horse prints deeper than ½ inch). All of these prints hold and funnel water, and greatly accelerate erosion. When the trails are soft, ask whether a 100 people could use the trails in the same way you're using them without messing up the surface? If the answer is 'no' please turn around. Be aware that not all use is equal–horses need the driest, firmest trails, then bikes, then walkers.
Be More Than a User. These trails need frequent maintenance and most of the work is done by volunteers. If you use this trail, help maintain it. To join trail maintenance parties, contact the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust (509-667-9708).
Leave It Better Than You Found It: This should be every outdoor user's goal. Pick up trash left by others, pull some noxious weeds along your route, throw branches over spur trails that are not part of the formalized trail system (make it harder to do the wrong thing than the right thing).
Disclaimer: Treat this information as recommendations, not gospel. Conditions change, and those contributing these reports are volunteers–they may make mistakes or may not know all the issues affecting a route. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. If you can't live with that, you are prohibited from using our information.
Steve, Nicole, Oliver (6) and Hannah (3) moved to Wenatchee in August 2016. They have lived in multiple places and never have fallen in love with a place so quickly. "Saddle Rock was the first hike we did as a family. Our kids loved exploring the rocks at the lower elevation and we loved the views from the top! It offers such a fantastic vantage point of the Valley. Who can't fall in love with Wenatchee when you have such accessible trails out your back door?"


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Well, it's one for the money
Two for the show
Three to get ready
Now go, cat, go! -Elvis Presley
Sky blue is a the new hot color for spring and summer. Using a bright and trendy color as a stark accent have been all the rage this Spring and will continue on for Summer. Bright and muted blue and green hues, come a close second to the ever present and wildly popular Millennial Pink. Never underestimate the power of good pop of color.
For this look, I'm wearing Tiger of Sweden shirt and blazer and Kollar denim. For the pop of color, I chose Grand Voyage shoes, an LA brand handcrafted in Italy. With the weather changing every day and not knowing what to wear, I always choose to layer. This way you won't be suffering through a chilly evening on a night out. Light and breezy layers are the way to go.
Is blue your favorite color? Check out some of my other blog posts for style tips and outfit inspiration.


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A Couple Makes Their Mid-Century Ranch Wheelchair Accessible
Every morning at 6 a.m., Derek Lavender would kiss his wife LeAnne goodbye, hop on his motorcycle and head to work. Even though he'd been an avid biker for years, he never failed to text her when he got to the office. She had to know he'd made it safely. On June 15th, 2016, however, his text never came. LeAnne recalls, "At 7:13 a.m., I received a call from the local hospital explaining that Derek had been in a serious accident, and I needed to get downtown as soon as possible. I remember the neurosurgeon handing me Derek's helmet, and a tooth fell out of the head mask. Although Derek had on a full-faced helmet and all the gear, he still managed to break seven bones, his spine and collapse his lung."
For months the couple lived in Chicago, a three-hour drive from their home in Indianapolis, while Derek underwent rehabilitation and familiarized himself with how to use his new wheelchair. Then, upon their return to Indy, the two put their home on the market so they could move into a more-accessible rental close to Derek's job. And so began their new life.
Many things changed on that day in June, but the twosome's shared passion for design and DIY didn't wane in the slightest. In April of 2017, after several months in the accessible rental, they were ready to dive into a new project and set out to find a new home to renovate. It didn't come easy, though. LeAnne and Derek toured over 50 options in hopes of finding one that would accommodate Derek's wheelchair. Not having any luck, they instead settled on a mid-century, ranch-style house they've since deemed The Quarry for its abundance of limestone. Sitting on an acre of land, the two-bedroom home didn't have any accessible features, but it did offer them a great opportunity: The chance to rekindle their love for rehabbing older houses.
The Quarry won out because its lack of space came with a manageable price tag, and this lower cost also left wiggle room in the budget to customize the owners' suite and create a more open floor plan. "Since Derek's accident was still fresh and we had no experience with accessible living, designing a home around a wheelchair was a whole new ballgame," LeAnne says. In the end, floors and walls were torn out, the ceilings were vaulted and the stairs throughout got the axe. The bulk of their time went into transforming the garage. Over the course of four months Derek and LeAnne worked with contractors to turn the space into a bedroom for themselves complete with a standing bar and accessible ensuite bathroom. The latter even boasts a walk-in shower, wheelchair-height mirrors and a vanity that's free from lower cabinetry so Derek can get ready in the morning from his chair.
The arduous process of making the house comfortable for Derek not only resulted in a retreat he and his wife are extremely proud of, but one that helped them emotionally heal at the same time. "The past couple years have been filled with a lot of tears and a lot of laughter," LeAnne recalls. "One thing is for sure: We never lost ourselves amidst the chaos. We merely have had to find ways to make our hobbies work for our new lifestyle. Designing and renovating The Quarry brought us back to our 'before-the-accident' days." Scroll down to see all the wonderful work this couple has done to turn this mid-century house into an accessible home, and head to Lavenders Longhsot to learn more about their journey. —Garrett
Photography by Cory Phillips
Image above: In the entryway (which features original tile and woodwork), LeAnne and Derek placed two mirrors at different heights: One a little lower for those who use a wheelchair and one higher up for those who don't.
Mailbox – Deus Modern
Paint – Sherwin Williams "White Mint"
"The Quarry" round artwork – AvaBerry Lane
Living Room
Paint – Sherwin Williams "Marshmallow"
Accent wall paint – Sherwin Williams "Iron Ore"
Grey sofa – West Elm
Coasters – Cream & Concrete
Rug – RugsUSA
Rocking chairs, sofa – Article
Artwork – John Hawking
Clock – Shannybeebo
Side table – Target
Pillows – Ellysian
Fireplace Screen – Crate & Barrel
Dining Room
Table – 910 Castings
Art – John Hawking
Rug – RugsUSA
Dining chairs – Kittle's
Captains chair, planter – At Home
Clock – Shannybeebo
Bathroom 1
Paint – Sherwin Williams "Iron Ore"
Artwork – Artifact Uprising
Towels – World Market
Bathroom 2
Paint – Sherwin Williams "Marshmallow"
Vanity – Duvall Wordworking
Turkish Towels – Weft End
Headboard, curtain – West Elm
Rug – RugsUSA
Comforter – Target
Large knitted blanket – Cream & Concrete
Art – John Hawkins
Dresser – secondhand
Doors – Artisan Hardware
Ceiling fan – Rejuvenation


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text: For more than 800 years, Trim Castle has sat on the south bank of the River Boyne in County Meath; a massive, brooding presence that dominates this quiet town. This is Ireland's largest Norman castle, built by a legendary lord with a bad reputation and offering a fascinating glimpse into life in medieval Ireland. The castle It's not hard to understand the message that Lord of Meath, Hugh de Lacy was sending with Trim Castle. It was a statement of power – a reminder to the native Irish that the Anglo-Normans invaders were here to stay. This massive, 20-sided cruciform tower – the walls are three metres thick in places – was a fortress. But it was also a home. Stand in the Great Hall and you can imagine lavish feasts and blazing fires. Climb the narrow spiral staircase to the chapel and you'll be following in the footsteps of many pious castle inhabitants. And if you look out over the battlements atop the three-storied keep, you'll see a view that would have looked familiar to any of Trim's medieval lords – the River Boyne flowing below and Trim's lush commonage stretching out as far as the eye can see. The man behind Trim Castle Hugh de Lacy was a notorious womaniser, as famous for his loose morals as his fearsome facial scars. When de Lacy married the daughter of an Irish high king, Henry II of England immediately suspected his lord of trying to establish himself as an independent king of Ireland. Luckily for Henry, a disgruntled Irish nobleman lopped off Hugh's head with an axe, saving the king the trouble of doing it himself. But royal concerns over the de Lacy family did not stop with Hugh's death. Early in the 13th century, King John – he of Robin Hood fame – came to Ireland to subdue rebelling Norman lords and confront Hugh's unruly son, Walter. Though King John eventually emerged victorious, he never breached the walls of Trim Castle and some say this is why it's known locally as King John's Castle, a title intended to mock the English king for his failure. Cinematic views Arguably Trim Castle's most famous battle was a fictional one. Despite being set in Scotland, Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning epic Braveheart was partly filmed in Ireland and Trim Castle played its part as the fortified English town of York, with the scenes set in London filmed inside the castle walls. Walking around the castle grounds and along the River Boyne, it's easy to see why the filmmakers fell in love with the area. Inside the castle is just as impressive, with guided tours granting access to the keep, with its panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Dive into history Ireland's Ancient EastWander through 5,000 years of history, where mythical heroes, tall tales and hidden histories collide. County Meath From heritage sites to horseracing on the beach, County Meath is a superstar of Ireland's Ancient East. Ireland's extraordinary castlesRomance, epic battles, haunted histories - find all this and more when you visit Ireland's dramatic castles.


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The words "indie rock" have gradually become meaningless. Just as an unpopular song can be deemed "pop music", a band conjured up in the confines of a board room, anchored to myriad blue chip brand names and churning out faceless, personality free, repetitive and undistinguishable mush can be declared independent. But for the purpose of this post, I'm going to go along with the mainstream. There are lots of bands and singers I dislike. But there aren't so many that annoy me to the point of anger. These six do. In ascending order, I will explain just why I loathe the components of Indie Rock's Axis Of Evil.
6. Kasabian
I can understand why Kasabian are popular. An Oasis-sized hole in the UK soundscapes paved the way for another group of loud-mouthed, self-obsessed domestic badasses. I was never a massive fan of Oasis, but appreciated the quality of some of the songs from their earliest albums (Slide Away, Champagne Supernova). Kasabian simply don't have the substance to back up their bravado. Can a band be under-qualified to soundtrack a uni night's smoking in front of the latest edition of FIFA on the PS3? Probably not. But in the cold light of day, shouldn't everybody should be savvy enough to realise that Kasabian are shite?
See also: Tenacious D, The Enemy, Razorlight
5. Biffy Clyro
In Scotland, Biffy Clyro inspire jingoistic scenes of adulation without peer. But for 3 or 4 years now, the Kilmarnock outfit have been resting on their laurels. Their last album, Only Revolutions and its predecessor Puzzle have have been clear shots at the bigtime. A few years back, Biffy were a relatively interesting band (although I was never a huge fan). Their first three albums drew some sort of wayward line between The Offspring and early Idlewild: things weren't taken too seriously, but they had some decent tunes and a bit of attitude.
But then they placed both feet firmly in the middle of the road. Too many bands have been guilty of sacrificing their early promise in favour of filling stadiums (I'm looking at you, Kings of Leon). Biffy Clyro, I'm afraid to report, did the same. And, well, it worked for them. They bother the charts, fill stadiums and make kids faint at T In The Park. Their fans recently hijacked a poll at Under The Radar to win the best Scottish band of the 2000s. Laughable, really. And this blind (or deaf) loyalty makes me hate them all the more.
See also: Kings of Leon, Green Day
4. Keane
Ah, Keane. Firstly, I hate the lead singer Tom Chaplin. He reminds me of one of those fabric characters from the Comfort ads a few years back. His face has a real cushiony quality about it. His voice vexes me no end – his public school pronunciation ("Don't laarrf at me…") adds a David Cameron-esque element to his affluent and cocksure persona. In fact, there's an aura of Tory Boy that surrounds the band (particularly Tim Rice-Oxley). Whereas certain bands can use such stigma to their advantage by producing elitist music to match their image, the majority of Keane's output is trite, clichéd and bloody boring. The most interesting thing ever to have happened to Keane, was Chaplin checking into the Priory to treat a drink and drugs addiction. Coldplay have a lot to answer for.
See also: Athlete, Coldplay
3. Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are another of graduate of the Coldplay School of Schmaltz. But for them, their mawkishness came after a few years as a likeable little indie band. As the founder of the Reindeer Section that included members of Alfie, Belle & Sebastian, Mogwai and Idlewild, Gary Lightbody was developing a fine reputation as a songwriter. And Snow Patrol's second album, Songs For Polarbears, remains an excellent listen, twelve years after its release.
But then Lightbody (who, contrary to popular belief, is not Scottish, but Irish) discovered that he could make much more money by churning out songs written with three chords. Perhaps he'd been talking to Status Quo. Perhaps it's a sadder indictment of the British music scene and music buying public than the band itself that their reversion to pish was rewarded so handsomely. Either way, I can barely sit through one Snow Patrol song. One mention of the name conjures up an image of a group teenage girls crying at a gig in the Ulster Hall many moons ago. Horrific.
See also: Embrace, Travis
2. The Kaiser Chiefs
Idiocy has a place in music. Of course it does. John Lydon is clearly an idiot, yet spearheaded two of the most influential bands of the past 40 years. The KLF: genius, sure. But I challenge anyone to explain how burning £1,000,000 is anything but idiotic. However, both of these built their reputation on something more than being fools. Lydon with his attitude, image and finally, with PiL, musical nous. The KLF with their avant-garde crossover delights and inimitable ability to ruffle a few feathers.
The Kaiser Chiefs and principally their lead singer Ricky Wilson, though, seem to have risen to the top without a modicum of talent, reliant on their perceived image as class clowns, working class heroes and rabble rousers from the council estate. Bullshit. Has there ever been a more annoying brace of hits than "Oh My God" and "I Predict A Riot!"? Wilson meanwhile, is too busy believing his own hype to realise what a twat he is.
See also: Chumbawumba, The Automatic
Of course it was going to be them. U2 were once a great band and I have little problem listening to a lot of their older work. Right up until and including Pop, the Irish band were capable of firing out the classics, seemingly at will. But the real problem with U2 isn't strictly their music. No, it's more what they embody and symbolize.
Bono is a rich, rich man. Yet given an opening, he'll happily take an hour to explain how each of us should part with our hard earned to help whatever cause is tickling his fancy on a particular day. Nothing wrong with giving to charity at all, but with Bono, it is more about the lecturing, the pontificating and the sanctimony rather than the giving himself. I went to a U2 gig in 2001 at Slane Castle. Bono's father had died the day before. Of course I felt sorry for him, but as the concert went on, it seemed that Bono was revelling in the moment. Using this tragedy to elevate his martyrdom, his saintliness to new levels.
There is also the negative impact that listening to U2 can have on other bands. I interviewed Caleb Folowill from Kings of Leon a couple of years ago, after the release of Aha Shake Heartbreak. I loved them back then and was pretty keen on hearing their new material. Folowill went on to recount to me a section from his tour diaries from their dates with U2. Every evening, he had watched Bono and co from the wings as they wowed huge crowds, brought stadiums to their knees. He told me that with that in mind, he had set about writing their new album. The change in the band, the misdirection, the regression from exciting to bland and mundane was marked. I was shocked and disappointed, and I blame U2.
See also: Coldplay, Green Day


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Passport to Paris Artist Profile: Paul Cézanne
Paul Cézanne worked primarily in Aix-en-Provence, in the South of France. He became a painter only after much disagreement with his father, who encouraged him to study law and banking. Although he regularly spent short periods in Paris, he spent most of the rest of his life in Aix and nearby L'Estaque, where he painted scenes from the surrounding countryside.
Key piece to look for: House in the Country, 1877-79.
Cézanne is best known for his landscapes of the countryside around Aix-en-Provence, which he painted by slowly building up broad, thick strokes of color, giving his paintings a richness of color and lack of outlines. He adopted the impressionist style of working outdoors, often picking almost inaccessible vantage points to work from. He approached his subjects analytically. "Deal with nature as cylinders, spheres, and cones," he said. He even went as far as to study the geology of a landscape in order to know "its geological structure…how [its] roots work, the colors of the geological soils."
Image credit: Paul Cézanne, House in the Country, about 1877-79. Oil on canvas; 23-1/2 x 28-7/8 in. Wadsworth Atheneum; Anonymous gift.