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This blog is designed to post tips that help writers produce a better manuscript. There will be frequent postings by Kelly and then she encourages you to add your thoughts and questions.
|Posted on March 31, 2012 at 9:10 AM
|comments (0)
I recently read this post from a very successful writer that I know. He does a lot of his own marketing and he had these suggestions:
I don't schedule many signings at bookstores. I've done a few and have two upcoming at Barnes & Noble stores. I'm not excited about those because I don't make any money after they take their 40%. I sign at bookstores just to build name recognition.
Book clubs have been great for me. I contact the person in charge by phone, email, or snail mail and give them a short pitch. I set up a time to attend one of their meetings, do a short reading, and sign books for buyers. The members are delighted to meet the author – they treat me like a mini celebrity – and almost all of them buy. And…book clubs typically have snacks, and sometimes a full meal. I LOVE BOOK CLUBS.
NOTE: When you pitch your books make sure you let them know your book is NOT self-publihed. I don't mean anything negative by that, but many people prefer to deal with authors who are traditionally published.
Libraries have been good for me also. I go there, talk to the person in charge, and offer to schedule a signing event. I donate a book to the library as a thank you. They publicize the event in the newspaper and on their email list and website.
I write westerns, so I focus on events that attract potential readers. Fairs, rodeos, outdoor events of all kinds often work well. I shared a booth at a local artist event (called Mecca Fest) last fall. I sold out, 19 books, and wished I had more. I had a signing in the gift shop of a large western-art museum during their annual cowboy symposium. Big crowd. I sold lots of book and at the end of the day, the gift shop bought ten copies to stock.
Private businesses can be great also. A pizza restaurant held a special signing event on a Saturday evening. They treated my wife and me to a meal, brought in a live band, and made me the celebrity guest of the evening. They had promoted the event on radio, on line, and newspaper ads. Another big crowd. I don't remember how many books I had with me, but I left with only two.
Most businesses plan sales events during holidays. That's when the crowds show up, and it's an ideal time to sell books. Car dealerships, garden supply stores, office supply stores, and most other retailers will welcome an author to help pull a bigger crowd. My biggest single sale day was at a real-estate office. The broker plugged the event on the marquis sign for a week ahead.
Fund raisers are good too. I offer to donate $2 for each book I sell.
For each event, I make up 11 X 17 custom posters for the host to display to announce the coming event. I put it together on the computer (with my wife's help), store the file on a flash drive and take it to Staples. They'll make 11" X 17" posters for $2 each on poster stock. I also plug the event on line, of course.
I have an 8-1/2" X 11" stand-up sign for my signing table that reads: Autographed books make great gifts that are often treasured for a lifetime. Several people bought more than one copy. One man bought 2 copies, and his wife sent him back for 4 more. Another man bought 10 copies just before Christmas.
Make sure you have high-quality, coated bookmarks that have a photo of your book cover, and your contact info - printed both sides. Put 2 in every book you sell (readers will keep them a long time). At the end of your signing, leave a handful on the counter for the host to offer as freebies. I order bookmarks in lots of 500 from Overnight Prints.
To pull a bigger crowd, team up with another author or two who write in a different genre than you. They will also help promote the event.
I hope this helps. With effort in the right places, you can have more book signings than you'll have time for. I have some information about free publicity too, if you're interested. But I'll shut up for now.
The new F-word in fiction
Upon a Crazy Horse
|Posted on January 25, 2012 at 7:40 AM
|comments (0)
When you are writing a novel one of the most important things you can do before you submit to an agent or editor is tighten up your writing and make it be the absolute best it can be and avoid really long run on sentences that don't add much value and really drag your story down.
(Whew) See what I mean? Many times it's the simple things that keep your book from being read by an agent or an editor. Here are some tips…
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|Posted on December 11, 2011 at 10:55 AM
|comments (2)
Third person POV can be quite confusing and take on many forms. A writer needs to be cognizant of their utilization of those forms. In this blog entry I will attempt to help you as a writer distinguish between the types of third person POV and how to successfully use them in your writing.
The first method of third person narration is the Dramatic or Objective Point of View. This method is used most often by writers and involves rendering action and speech that all the points of view share. You are not in a particular person's head from a narrator's standpoint. The presentation is limited to only what is spoken and what happens. There is no presentation of inner thoughts of the characters. This leaves readers the freedom to react on their own accord, much like a jury in a trial.
Next let's discuss the Omniscient Point of View. Omniscient means all-knowing. This narrator can see all, know all and potentially disclose all. Here the speaker of the novel presents not only action and dialogue but also reports the inner thoughts and reactions of the character. In reality we can never know what is in another person's mind, but we make assumptions and that is the purpose of the omniscient point of view. This can add dimension to the characters in a novel.
Within the omniscient POV you may have the Limited or Limited-Omniscient POV and this focuses on the thoughts and deeds of the main character in a story. Personally this style works well for me. Here I can present my character's thoughts and motivations. The reactions and emotions of my characters take on a depth I can't accomplish with dramatic point of view. It gives a story richness without limiting whose eyes a reader can view a story through.
Limited-Omniscient POV leads many editors criticize writers for "head hopping". With head hopping a writer adjusts this Limited-Omniscient POV too quickly and without a scene break. It can be utterly confusing for a reader when a writer presents a scene from two limited-omniscient points of view. That is not to say that you can't use more than one Limited-Omniscient POV but it is easier on your reader if you have an obvious scene break or chapter break prior to changing which character's thoughts and emotions you are presenting. This is particularly important in love scenes or arguments. You can illustrate what your POV character is observing and that will give you the ability to show your reader what is happening without getting into the other character's head.
Third Person POV can be an easy way to tell a story and give a writer the ability to richly describe the events and actions of a story as well as demonstrate the deepening of all the writer's character's development. Write on my friends and enjoy exploring many different points of view for the depth they can add to your stories.
|Posted on November 13, 2011 at 9:45 AM
|comments (0)
Many new writers travel around the internet reading various writing tips like these and a vast majority of them all boil down to someone's opinion, and I guess mine are no different. But I do want to comment on something I've seen recently in my editing. Many writers read the advice - Trim the Fat - If your manuscript has unnecessary scenes, cut them out. Don't bore the reader with meaningless detail. They also read - "A publisher won't publish work over 100,000 words so you should keep your manuscript tight and clean."
I don't disagree with the above advice, just don't trim too deep. As you are going over your manuscript don't cut details that do the following:
1. Help the reader get to know your character better. If there is a scene that portrays something critical to helping your reader "feel" who your main character is, or gives them a little more insight to the plot then leave it in.
2. Blend in your backstory. Don't overload it all at once, but in the editing process don't trim those things that are necessary for your reader to understand what's going on.
3. Don't cut a scene that builds upon another scene. If it is important to the future leave it in and make sure the link comes sooner rather than later
As you review your first draft and decide on making changes, don't think about word count as much as thinking about what scenes are critical to moving your story and your character forward. If it doesn't, it's fat and can be trimmed. If you've got a tight story that draws the reader in and rolls all the way to the end then leave it alone.
Want a good example of what I mean? Read A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. It is a very thick book and a long read, but each scene trickles in a little more and a little more until you get to the end and BAM. That's what you want to do. Don't bore your reader, but don't cut so deep that they look up suddenly scratching their head, saying "Something's missing here."
Trim the fat but don't cut the muscle.
Until next time...
|Posted on November 6, 2011 at 7:00 AM
|comments (2)
I'm working on editing a few books and I just wanted to share some thoughts for aspiring writers. Take a look at your characters and make sure you make them three dimensional for your readers. Readers do not like flat characters. They want to know what makes your character tick. Sprinkle in some background, NOT too much at once, but as your character becomes involved in more situations throughout your plot, reveal things you want your reader to know. Are they afraid of spiders, a germophobe, wish they'd never moved to where they live now. Little things make a difference.
You can also accomplish a well rounded character through your dialogue. You can show emotions that make your character real and build their personality for your reader. When your character gets angry, what does he/she do? Stamp their feet, turn purple in the face, scream?? Or do they silently brood until they explode. Do they have a laugh like a donkey when they are extremely happy? You get the picture.
Another thing to remember is to make sure your character has purpose for their actions and that they are in sync with what is going on around them. Really stop and think about your characters motivation. What do they want? How are they going to get it? What obstacles will they face on their journey?
Don't make your reader suffer through a character with no pizazz and personality. Round them out and make them come alive. Breathe breath into them and help them jump off the page, grab your reader's hand and yank them right into the pages!
Other writers? How do you make your characters less flat? Please share.
|Posted on June 19, 2011 at 7:32 AM
|comments (2)
As I've gone through the editing process with Jewels of Hera, I can assure you that a GOOD editor is more valuable than any precious gem. Worth more than twice their weight in gold! Always be willing to improve your craft and a great editor can help you do that. They will enhance your voice!
I digress. My topic in this entry is about Showing vs. Telling, another one of my weaknesses and a very easy trap to fall into when writing a lengthy novel. It is SO SO boring to a reader. I'm just going to deal with one word here that has turned into a crutch word for me, and for those of you with more experience in the craft, this may be old news, but for me it's been a true learning experience.
The word is...Felt! This word sucks you right into the "telling" trap. Allow me to share a few "out takes" from my recent editing experience.
My Sentence: She didn't know if she felt relief or terror.
My Editor's Comment: Describe what she is feeling - don't tell us
My Revision: Relief flooded her. The door latch held firm, but eventually she'd have to face him. There was no other way out of the room. Sweat trickled down her back and dampened her palms. Her heart raced. She had no other options.
My Sentence: I got dizzy and felt sick
My Editor's Comment: "Felt is telling. Revise"
My Revision: My world spun out of control. The car rolled over and over, rattling my brain against my skull, and churning my stomach. I fought the nausea but lost.
I think you get the idea. No more "felt" show us!
Until next time...
|Posted on May 24, 2011 at 8:17 PM
|comments (1)
In working with my fantastic editor for Jewels of Hera she gave me another cool tip I'd like to share. I've always had trouble recognizing passive voice and this tip made it very easy for me. For passive voice, Laura recommends looking for the word was + a verb ending in "ing". If you find that you've got passive voice.
For tense issues check out the following:
It's all about when the action happend.
He will buy it. (future)
He bought it. (present)
He'd bought it. (past)
Hope these quick little tips help you as you work through your own edits.
Until next time...
|Posted on May 10, 2011 at 6:48 AM
|comments (0)
I just began working with my editor on my newest novel with kNight Romance Publishing. Jewels of Hera has begun the editing journey and I wanted to share with you the pre-edit email I received from my editor. I wish I'd had an email like this years ago so I hope it helps you.
Here's your manuscript. I need you to go through and search out the following words:
began to
started to
and then
to be
Please reword the sentences where these words are found. They're considered weak words and our goal is to make your prose stronger. Now, if you run across these in dialog, no worries. Keep the flow natural. We speak these words everyday. But the rest gotta go.
Also, search out the conjunctives: for, and, nor, but, or, yet. Check to see if these words connect two complete sentences. If so, put a comma before the conjunctive. If not, leave it out.
Make sure all If-Then sentences have a comma. If the sentence starts with 'if', it has a comma where the 'then' would have been placed. Ex: If I'd known, then I would've done it. If I'd known, I would've done it.
Go through and correct:
Towards - should be toward
Forwards - should be forward
Backwards - should be backward
Please reword all sentences with semicolons by either breaking into two sentences, adding a conjunction, or rewording.
Please revise sentences with colons. Ex: Instead of He had one thing on his mind: sex. Change it to He had one thing on his mind. Sex. OR He had one thing on his mind—sex.
So there it is folks. As I go through my manuscript, you begin going through yours BEFORE you send it to that agent or publisher. This is not all the editing you will need, but it is a REALLY good start. My thanks to Lauren, my editor. I'm looking forward to working with you!
Until next time...
|Posted on March 4, 2011 at 8:03 AM
|comments (0)
I know I've wrtten about this before but I've been hanging out on this really cool site called Authonomy.com - a site to post your writing sponosored by Harper Collins - a really cool site by the way...Any way I digress. I've been hanging out on this site and reading some of the writing that is posted there and I noticed something. If I had a dime for every "was" that I've seen in those manuscripts I'd be a very rich girl. I could retire and write all day long. Now I must confess I am a recovering "Was-er" There should be a 12 step process for us. But alas the only thing that will fix "was-ing" is hard work. Using was throws your mansucript into passive voice and drags your story down. Go through your manuscript and count all your was-es. And get rid of as many as you can. For example Johnny was crying - change to -Johnny cried. See how much better that sounds? How much more active rather than passive?
I promise if you do this your editor will thank you. I know mine did. (winking at Frank)
Until next time -
Oh by the way - if you want to keep up on tips like this please join my site and become a member. I send out a monthly newsletter with tips like this and all the latest news about my books!
Happy Writing
|Posted on February 5, 2011 at 12:57 PM
|comments (3)
I was reading a friend's new novel this week, and I thought of a few things that I would like to share. The writer had a really good story, a good hook, and a plot that would hold up well, but the problem was the characters were flat. They needed to be richer. Now when I say that I don't mean they needed to be wealthier. They needed more depth of personality. Let me try to give you an example. One character, let's call him Bob, had a phobia of funeral homes. Since Bob's wife died on their honeymoon he had not been able to set foot in a funeral home. The writer had Bob's mother call and ask him to go to a funeral of a friend because she couldn't get there. In my humble opinion Bob agreed too soon in order to please his mother. There was no argument, he just said yes. Even after he agreed there was no real regret or anxiety. Oh, there was a little bit, but not enough to really make the character stand out in a reader's mind. Now my friend is a good writer, but I think what happened here is my friend let a good plot override the importance of giving the characters in a story more depth.
What can you do when your characters show up a little dreary? Give them a quirk. Have them be afraid of something ridiculous, have a speech impediment, a twitch, a wart on their face that they are self conscious about...Something that will make them interesting. But don't stop there. Through dialogue, bring them to life. Give them an accent. Maybe they have a drawl or a nasal tone to their voice. Give them a personality. Let the reader like and dislike things about them. For my friend I suggested the use of Showing Vs. Telling to bring Bob to life. If he has a true phobia of funeral homes he will begin to sweat, get an upset stomach, cry, or possibly even throw up at the mere thought of a funeral home. He would have argued with his mother until she became angry with him over his silly obsession. After all dead people can't hurt you, right? Show the reader through your character's reactions how they feel about things. If it fits your character's personality have them use humor to express how they are feeling. The point is make them pop off the page using all those tools you have available to you in your imagination.
Building a personality sketch can help. Review one of my earlier tips for a great personality questionnaire that you can use to bring those little things in your character to life. There is nothing worse for a reader than a flat character. Breathe some life into yours.
Until next time...


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An artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) of lithium phosphorus oxynitride (Lipon) enables the use of 5V cathode materials with conventional carbonate electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries. Five volt cathode materials, such as LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4, are desirable to provide higher energy, however conventional carbonate electrolytes decompose above 4.5V compromising the battery performance. This work shows that Lipon coating suppresses the electrolyte decomposition, as measured by the charge-discharge coulombic efficiency. A model system composed of bare and Lipon-coated thin film cathodes was designed with a low capacity in order to magnify the measureable effect of the electrolyte decomposition. The thickness of the Lipon SEI was varied over a range of two orders of magnitude, clearly showing that the largest effect is obtained from the thinnest coatings which are sufficient to block the electronic path of the reaction without impeding lithium ion transport. This research provides a viable approach to enable high-energy batteries within the conventional battery manufacturing processes with the application of a thin coating to cathode powders.
Juchuan Li, Loïc Baggetto, Surendra K. Martha, Gabriel M. Veith, Jagjit Nanda, Chengdu Liang, and Nancy J. Dudney, "An Artificial Solid Electroltye Interphase Enables the Use of a LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 5V Cathode with Conventional Electrolytes," Advanced Energy Materials, DOI: 10.1002/aenm201300378
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I have posted a gallery on our tour to the Perfume Pagoda outside of Hanoi, Vietnam. {wp-gallery-remote: gallery=0; rootalbum=76403; showalbumtitle=true; showsubalbums=true; showimagesheader=true;} Getting there is half the fun, 2h of bus from hell, followed by an hour in a boat with a very small Vietnamese woman rowing a large iron rowboat (forward not backwards like […]
Perfume Pagoda Tour
December 22nd, 2007 · No Comments
Tags: Hanoi · Travel · Vietnam
Hanoi City Tour Photos
December 13th, 2007 · No Comments
I've added a gallery from July 3 of a tour of Hanoi City (mostly in the rain as it turns out). The Ho Chi Minh Tomb is incredible but you are not allowed cameras so I was only able to get shots was we walked by to get into the queue. Here's the gallery: {wp-gallery-remote: […]
Tags: Hanoi · Photos · Travel · Vietnam
Photo Gallery of Hanoi Posted
December 11th, 2007 · No Comments
I have posted a gallery of pictures from our first day in Hanoi. {wp-gallery-remote: gallery=0; rootalbum=2702; showalbumtitle=true; showsubalbums=true; showimagesheader=true;} It goes along with this blog. Please note that the GPS tags on the pictures are not accurate and most the pictures should be located near the island in the lake not in the surrounding area.
Tags: Cambodia · Hanoi · Photos · Vietnam
Reflections on passing 40 among other things
July 5th, 2007 · No Comments
On my birthday I thought I would do a small brain download on a number of firsts I managed to accomplish in the past year. I am thrilled to report that I actually managed a squat toilet on the last day of my 40th year. Perhaps not a big deal to many of you, but […]
Tags: Blogroll · Hanoi · Travel · Vietnam
On Sharon's Birthday and the Perfume Pagoda
July 4th, 2007 · 2 Comments
Since it is Sharon's birthday, I thought I would read her blogs and make a few corrections to reflect the actual reality rather than Sharon's somewhat skewed version of events. Look for sections that have been crossed out. Where I have added something, I have put it in bold. Today (at least where we are, […]
Tags: Blogroll · Hanoi · Togetherness · Travel · Vietnam


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Comment Re:Archiving (Score 1) 400 400
From In-Q-Tel's website:
In-Q-Tel identifies, adapts, and delivers innovative technology solutions to support the missions of the Central Intelligence Agency and the broader U.S. Intelligence Community. - In-Q-Tel Website
In-Q-Tel sold 5,636 shares of Google Inc., worth over $2.2 million, on Nov 15, 2005.[6] The stocks were a result of Google's acquisition of Keyhole, the CIA funded satellite mapping software now known as Google Earth - Wikipedia: Wikipedia
I don't care how people want to spin it, but Google is nothing more than a U.S. Gov't CIA start-up with a civilian face. And to say that Google no longer remembers who In-Q-Tel is (or vice-versa) because they sold their shares would be a joke, and an assault on most peoples' intelligence. This is like saying the corporations who buy and pay for politicians, have no say in what the politician does once they get into office. We all know it doesn't work this way.
Comment Just goes to show... (Score 4, Insightful) 254 254
Comment Re:Sources? (Score 4, Informative) 252 252
Comment Hmm (Score 1) 154 154
Comment Where have I seen this before... (Score 1) 570 570
"Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence only increases in an arithmetical ratio. A slight acquaintance with numbers will show the immensity of the first power compared to the second" - Thomas Malthus, 1978 in his "An Essay on the Principle of Population"
"The battle to feed humanity is over. In the 1970s, the world will undergo famines. Hundreds of millions of people are going to starve to death in spite of any crash programs embarked upon now. Population control is the only answer." - Ehrlich in his book, The Population Bomb (1968)
The UN Population Division 2001 report, World Population Monitoring 2001, studied the relationship between population growth and development. Contrary to Malthusian doomsday predictions, this U.N Report stated: "From 1900 to 2000, world population grew from 1.6 billion to 6.1 billion persons. However, while world population increased close to 4 times, world real gross domestic product (GDP) [actual output of goods and service] increased 20 to 40 times, allowing the world not only to sustain a fourfold population increase but also to do so at vastly higher standards of living."
In 1990, the UNFAO Report on the State of Food and Agriculture estimated that with present technologies fully employed, the world could feed 30 to 35 billion people. Roger Revelle, Director of the Harvard Centre for Population Studies, estimates that the world's agricultural resources are capable of supporting 40 billion people. Indian economist Raj Krishna estimates that India alone is capable of increasing crop yields to the point of providing the entire world's food supply. India, it is worth noting has four times as much arable land per person as Japan and twice as much as Britain.
And the solution if you still believe there is a population problem?!.. Well, look no further than Obama's science czar Mr. John Holdren with his 1,000 book "Ecoscience" where he suggests we forcefully sterilize people and put drugs in the water to sterile entire populations without consent. Or simply implant you with a strilizaition "device" which would only be removed with government aproval.
"Of course, a government might require only implantation of the contraceptive capsule, leaving its removal to the individual's discretion but requiring reimplantation after childbirth. Since having a child would require positive action (removal of the capsule), many more births would be prevented than in the reverse situation.Holdren and his co-authors also tackle the problem of illegitimacy, recognizing that it could be one consequence of a society which, in its effort to limit births, downgrades the value of intact nuclear families and encourages lifelong bachelorhood: Responsible parenthood ought to be encouraged and illegitimate childbearing could be strongly discouraged. One way to carry out this disapproval might be to insist that all illegitimate babies be put up for adoption -- especially those born to minors, who generally are not capable of caring properly for a child alone...It would even be possible to require pregnant single women to marry or have abortions, perhaps as an alternative to placement for adoption, depending on the society.
Comment Re:Not Good (Score 1) 335 335
Comment Re:Good non hype link, now do that for more storie (Score 1) 172 172
Perhaps you'd like to tell us what exactly "below health concerns" is? Is it the same type of harmless radiation that the U.S. government said was present at the Three Mile Island nuclear facility? Because that "safe" radiation caused an increase in lung cancers all over the area in a span of SIX YEARS, and yet you come out nearly 2 weeks after a much bigger accident in Japan and declare everything is safe, but have zero proof.
That's fine, I can see you're not here to actually present any credible proof or a coherent argument, you're just here to act cool because it's trendy to laugh in the face of possible danger (we don't know just how dangerous or not this "plume" will be). So you sir, have yourself a good day, and I really wish you are right and all the best to yourself and your family - I hope the plume misses all of us, and has no effect on anyone.
Comment Re:Good non hype link, now do that for more storie (Score 1) 172 172
Comment Re:Good non hype link, now do that for more storie (Score 1) 172 172
Yes, it's baloney, though I doubt..
Really? That's it?!.. This is your entire argument? Basically whatever I say is true because I said so... so there!
Really, no effort at all put into any sort of coherent counter argument.
I guess the fact that nuclear fall out from Chernobyl made to it the U.S. and Canada in about 11 (ref 3) days and covered almost all of Europe totally escaped you (ref 1). Or the fact that grains of sand from the Mongolian deserts make it over to the U.S. each year even though it is much farther than the eastern coast of Japan(ref 2). But God forbid people take precautions, that would be un-American I guess.
If you're so against protecting yourself, at least do it for your children, or the people around you, don't be so self-fish.
1. http://www.unscear.org/docs/JfigXI.pdf
2. http://www.a-a-r-s.org/acrs/proceeding/ACRS2006/Papers/T-1_T3.pdf
3. http://www.nyas.org/Publications/Annals/Detail.aspx?cid=f3f3bd16-51ba-4d7b-a086-753f44b3bfc1
Comment Re:Good non hype link, now do that for more storie (Score 1) 172 172
Comment Yea right! (Score 1) 217 217
The Obama administration's reported push for stronger federal oversight over online privacy is likely to be welcomed by privacy advocates increasingly concerned about the data-collection and data-sharing practices of big Internet companies and marketing companies.
There you go, this is what it's all about, always has been, and always will be.
Comment Re:Sigh (Score 1) 283 283
Comment The Fed? (Score 1) 66 66
....overseen by an independent board (much like Australia's Reserve Bank the Fed
Yes, and we all know how well Federal Reserve banks manage things.


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Sicilia, Italy's sun-soaked southernmost region, has perfected the ancient art of molding, glazing, and firing clay: ceramics. Continue reading
Meet Chef Adam Weisell
Eataly Magazine is pleased to introduce you to the chef of La Scuola di Eataly Chicago, Adam Weisell! Continue reading
All You Can Pizza
In Italy, it is common to stop by your local pizzeria for un giro pizza, or a round of pizza. Join the tradition at All You Can Pizza on Wednesday, August 5! Continue reading
West Loop Salumi
In celebration of Prosciutto Week, West Loop Salumi is opening a pop-up salumi bar at Eataly Chicago from August 3 to 10!
Continue reading
Sparkling Sodas
As the temperatures continue to climb, dive into the Mediterranean summer with Eataly's selection of sparkling sodas from Italy. Continue reading
The Craft Show
Eataly Chicago will welcome eleven local artists to a store-wide craft show on Sunday, August 16, from 12 to 5 p.m. Continue reading


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7:35 am
Sat July 21, 2012
In Movie Theaters, How Much Security Is Enough?
The tragedy at the showing of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colo., has theaters around the country beefing up security this weekend. Movie theaters make their own decisions about what level of security they need. As NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports, security experts say it's usually not enough.


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Screening Partnership Program
How do airports apply to the Screening Partnership Program (SPP)?
Interested airports can submit an application via email. The SPP Application can be found at the TSA website under stakeholders, Screening Partnership Program in the section labeled Program Application.
What is the application period?
Airport directors may submit their application to participate in SPP to TSA at any time. There is no defined end date at this time.
Can all airports throughout the country apply to the SPP?
The airport application process to join SPP is open to all Federally-staffed airports in the United States that require screening services.
If an airport applies to the SPP, can it later withdraw its application?
An Airport may withdraw their SPP application at any point up until TSA releases the Request for Proposal (RFP) for that Airport. Once TSA issues a RFP, it would be difficult to have the airport withdraw its candidacy, since the RFP is the contractual document issued to contract screening services at an airport.
What is the criteria for airport applicant selection?
In Feb. 2012, the President signed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 2012, which directed the TSA Administrator to approve SPP applications if the Administrator determine that "the approval would not compromise security or detrimentally affect the cost-efficiency or the effectiveness of the screening of passengers or property at the airport."
Can airports apply to use contract screeners at some security checkpoints but not all; that is to say, a partial opt-out?
Yes, if an airport proposes such a plan, TSA will consider this option.
Can an airport entity compete to provide screening services at their airport?
Yes, if an independent entity created by an Airport authority meets the qualification criteria identified by ATSA and TSA (this determination will be made at the time of RFP submission) it may compete for the contract to provide private screening services at that Airport. This does not guarantee the Airport will be awarded the contract for screening services. The independent entity will be required to submit information to TSA similar to that required of industry; as applicable.
How did the criteria for application approval into SPP change with the passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Modernization and Reform Act of 2012?
On Feb. 14, 2012, the President signed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which outlines additional TSA requirements related to the approval of SPP applications. The Act states that TSA shall approve an airport's application to participate in SPP if approval will not compromise security, detrimentally affect cost efficiency, or detrimentally affect screening effectiveness of passengers or property.
The Act requires TSA to make a determination on an application within 120 days of receipt. It also gives the Administrator full discretion to waive the requirement for companies providing private screening services to be owned and controlled by a US citizen, allowing US subsidiaries of foreign owned companies to participate if the company has an appropriate mitigation plan on file with the Department of Defense's (DOD) Defense Security Service.
If an application is denied, TSA has 60 days to inform the airport, as well Congress, on the findings that served as the basis for the denial; the results of any cost or security analysis conducted in considering the application; and recommendations on how the airport operator can address the reasons for the denial.
The Act also requires airport operators to recommend a private screening vendor for their airport as part of the application process.
Since the passage of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, what happens after an airport's application to SPP is approved?
If the TSA Administrator approves an application, the next step is to issue a Request for Proposals through the Federal acquisition process. This acquisition will be implemented and governed by the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984 (CICA) and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), among other statutory regulatory provisions.
Following approval of an application, depending on the complexity and scope of the screening operation, the acquisition process will take some time to execute. TSA will award a contract for security screening services at an airport if it maintains security and is cost effective.
The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 requires an airport to list a suggested vendor. Does TSA have to award the contract to the vendor the airport suggests?
No. The recommended vendor must compete for the contract along with any other companies that respond to the Request for Proposals (RFP). The contracting process is governed by the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984 (CICA) and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), among other statutory regulatory provisions.
What recourse does an airport have if TSA denies its application under the new law?
As stipulated by the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, if an application is denied, TSA must inform the airport operator, within 60 days, "… (i) the findings that served as the basis for the denial; (2) the results of any cost or security analysis conducted in considering the application; and (iii) recommendations on how the airport operator can address the reasons for the denial." (Background: There is no limit on the number of times airports can reapply.)


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Quercus douglasii
|Quercus douglasii
blue oak
|A large blue oak in a pasture in Mariposa County, California.
|Scientific classification
|Q. douglasii
|Binomial name
|Quercus douglasii
Hook. & Arn.
|Natural range
Quercus douglasii, known as blue oak, is a species of oak endemic to California, common in the Coast Ranges and foothills of the Sierra Nevada.[1] It is occasionally known as mountain oak and iron oak.[2]
Q. douglasii is a medium-sized tree, generally 6–20 m (20–66 ft) tall, with a trunk 36–60 cm (1.18–1.97 ft) in DBH.[3] The tallest recorded specimen was found in Alameda County, at 28.7 m (94 ft).[4] The bark is light gray with many medium-sized dark cracks; from a distance, it can appear almost white. The name blue oak derives from the dark blue-green tint of its leaves, which are deciduous, 4–10 cm (1.6–3.9 in) long, and entire or shallowly lobed. The acorns are 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) long,[5] with a moderately sweet kernel, and mature in 6–7 months from pollination.
Q. douglasii prefers dry soil and plenty of sunlight. It is the most drought tolerant of California's deciduous oaks.[3]
Q. douglasii often codominates with gray pine (Pinus sabiniana), and is also found with interior live oak (Q. wislizeni), valley oak (Q. lobata), Oregon white oak (Q. garryana),[3] canyon live oak (Q. chrysolepis), and Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii). Natural hybrids between Q. douglasii and the related shrub live oak (Q. turbinella), Q. lobata, and Q. garryana often occur where the species grow together in the same area.
Individual trees over 500 years old have been recorded, although most are less than 300 years old. Recent research has found several unlogged stands of blue oak woodlands, suggesting that the state may harbor over 500,000 acres (200,000 ha; 2,000 km2) of such old-growth forests.
Q. douglasii is susceptible to sudden oak death, though less so than tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus), or red oaks such as coast live oak (Q. agrifolia).
See also[edit]
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quercus douglasii.
- ^ iGoTerra—Blue Oak (Quercus douglasi)
- ^ Philip M. McDonald, USDA
- ^ a b c Fryer, Janet L. 2007. Quercus douglasii. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).
- ^ http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cwhr/pdfs/BOW.pdf
- ^ Flora of North America: Quercus douglasii
Further reading[edit]
- Stahle, David. "Ancient Blue Oak Woodlands of California". University of Arkansas Tree-Ring Laboratory. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
- Peterson- Raptors of California


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|"Sascha Wildner \(via DragonFly issue tracker\)" <sinknull@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
|Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:51:56 +0000
Sascha Wildner <email@example.com> added the comment: * The reason why you are still seeing 'Install' on the desktop is that our installer currently does not have the ability to run any "post-install" scripts (in this case to remove the "Install" icon from the desktop after installation). This should not irritate you. The system you have installed should be fine, regardless of the icon. We'll probably have to hack something into the installer to cope with this but I think it will not make it into 2.2. * Regarding VirtualBox: The VirtualBox people have committed a fix which (as it seems) will be in the release after the upcoming one and fixes the issue you report. See http://bugs.dragonflybsd.org/issue995. ---------- status: unread -> resolved _____________________________________________________ DragonFly issue tracker <email@example.com> <http://bugs.dragonflybsd.org/issue1244> _____________________________________________________


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Ivan Eland: With the justified firing of Gen. Stanley McChrystal and his replacement with Iraq water-walker David Petraeus, it's as if people are hoping for a second coming of Jesus in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the replacement may be similar to the second coming of the water-walking Joe Gibbs as coach of the Washington Redskins.
The Presidents and the McGenerals
Obama's Afghan Box Canyon
Although Obama may enjoy a brief up-tick in poll numbers after his talk, as soon as larger numbers of American bodies come home in flag-draped coffins, and Walter Reed fills up again with the damaged bodies and minds of soldiers whose lives have been ruined, the country will turn against what it thought, in November, 2009, was a good idea.


text: Bookmarks Breast skin and nipple changesPrint-Friendly Inverted nipple; Nipple discharge Navigator Learn about skin and nipple changes in the breast so you know when to see a health care provider. I Would Like to Learn About:Expand All Collapse AllNotice Changes in Your Breasts and Nipples INVERTED NIPPLESThis is normal if your nipples have always been indented inward and can easily point out when you touch them. If your nipples are pointing in and this is new, talk to your health care provider right a way. SKIN PUCKERING OR DIMPLINGThis can be caused by scar tissue from surgery or an infection. Often, scar tissue forms for no reason. See your health care provider. But know that most of the time this issue does not need treatment. WARM TO THE TOUCH, RED, OR PAINFUL BREASTThis is almost always caused by an infection in your breast. Rarely it can be due to breast cancer. See your health care provider for treatment. SCALY, FLAKING, ITCHY SKINThis is usually eczema or a bacterial or fungal infection. See your health care provider for treatment. Flaking, scaly, itchy nipples can be a sign of Paget's disease. This is a rare form of breast cancer involving the nipple.Paget's diseasePaget's disease is a disorder that involves abnormal bone destruction and regrowth. This results in deformity of the affected bones.Read Article Now Book Mark Article THICKENED SKIN WITH LARGE PORESThis is called peau d'orange because the skin looks like an orange peel. An infection in the breast or inflammatory breast cancer can cause this problem. See your health provider right away. RETRACTED NIPPLESYour nipple was raised above the surface but begins to pull inward and does not come out when stimulated. See your health provider if this is new. When to Call the Doctor Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you notice:Your nipple is retracted or pulled in when it was not that way before. Your nipple has changed in shape. Your nipple becomes tender and it is not related to your menstrual cycle. Your nipple has skin changes. You have new nipple discharge.What to Expect from the Doctor Your health care provider will talk to you about your medical history and recent changes you have noticed in your breasts and nipples. Your health care provider will also do a breast exam. Your health care provider may suggest that you see a dermatologist or breast specialist. You may have these tests done: Mammogram Breast ultrasound Biopsy Other tests for nipple discharge Related InformationBACK TO TOP Review Date: 9/15/2012 Reviewed By: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Bellevue, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.


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Wright has been sidelined with a knee injury since December, while Grandison last featured against Swindon last month when he sustained a hip problem.
"Mark Wright has his last injection of the course on today (Tuesday) and once that settles down he should be be joining in," said Turner on Shrewsbury's official website.
"Jermaine Grandison is starting his first straight line running now so he's well on his way to recovery."
The news is less encouraging for top scorer Jon Taylor who may miss Saturday's home match against Stevenage with the groin complaint that ruled him out of last Friday's televised win over Tranmere.
Turner added: "Jon Taylor's groin is keeping him out of training and it will be touch and go whether he's going to be fit for this coming weekend. There's got to be doubts about him."


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Pioneer Hudson relishes return to the ring
Posted: February 28, 2013|
Nicola Adams may have become the golden girl of women's boxing following her success at last year's Olympics.
But had it not been for the likes of Jess Hudson ploughing the furrow for the female side of the sport a decade ago, Adams might never have had the chance to compete at the top level.
The Cambridge bantamweight was the face of female boxing in this country for a brief time, appearing in television documentaries and on magazine covers as well as having the dubious honour of being 'felt up' by Rory McGrath on BBC 1 comedy quiz show They Think It's All Over.
However, she retired in 2003 to concentrate on a career in health economics at the National Audit Office in London and went on to have three children – Hansel, Heidi and Hera.
Now living in Ickleton, Hudson, 35, has decided to reclaim her place in the ring.
She will box along with sibling Ben, a former professional, at the Guildhall on May 4 and, in so doing, they will make history as the first brother and sister to appear on the same bill.
Hudson said: "I was happily going along changing the nappies, but I joined Saffron Tri and decided I was going to do Cambridge Half-Marathon in April and Ben said he should do it as well because he was in training.
"I went on Facebook and saw he was coming out of retirement, so I put maybe I should as well and people were saying 'yes, do it.'
"I went to the Howard Mallett gym with Ben and it's given me a new lease of life, but the first time I could hardly drive home because I couldn't lift my arms!"
Hudson was captain of Cambridge University's women's rugby team when she got the taste for boxing through her brother at Cambridgeshire Police ABC 12 years ago.
"I went on the pads and threw this punch which reverberated around the gym and everyone stopped what they were doing," said Hudson.
"There was never a female in the gym at that point, but I started throwing shots that really looked convincing.
"A lot of people can train in the gym, but they can't step in the ring, and I found I could do that."
Unfortunately, a previous attempt to fight alongside Ben in 2001 came to nothing, as she explains.
Hudson said: "We were due to box at a show in Hertfordshire and I was going to box another girl from the home club.
"She was really up for it, but someone said they aren't going to let you box because the guy in charge wasn't having it.
"It was still a sport where you could get away with that kind of prejudice, but Ben pulled out in support of me because he thought it was so out of order. I thought that was pretty amazing."
Amid growing publicity, some people may have shunned the limelight, but Hudson said she was determined to be a role model for female sport in general at the time.
"I was pleased to be made an example of and it benefited me because it gave me the desire to do well," she said.
"I was doing a PhD on women in sport and I was also teaching A Levels part-time at the Leys School while I was studying.
"Even then, there was still a big thing about girls being thin rather than fit and I thought they were putting themselves into a really bad position of reducing their bodies to nothing without any strength, health or fitness in there.
"But we didn't do any sport at school apart from netball and PE was very much out of fashion, whereas it's come back in now, which is brilliant."
Hudson does not know the identity of her comeback opponent except "she'll be taller and younger than me".
She said: "I need to work massively on my stamina, explosive power and my defence, but I'm really enjoying it and the guys at Howard Mallett have been so friendly and welcoming.
"It's not so easy because I have to get three kids into bed before I get down there.
"I might get them whacking me with broomsticks to train me on slipping the jab!"
Tickets cost £25 and are available by calling 07548 800968.