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Jrpoulter's Weblog
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Trends – New bends in the path to publication. By J.R.Poulter
Some time last year, Erica Wagner, Publisher at Allen and Unwin, was reported as having said, in relation to graphic novels, that there was a lot to be gained by submitting a text already illustrated or mostly illustrated [Allen & Unwin publish purely commission only picture books]. Perhaps this may signal a change in direction that may even extend to those other illustrated tomes – picture books and picture book/graphic novel crossovers.
Some writers/illustrators I know have recently signed contracts for 'print ready' books. This is not self-publishing, nor submission to a print-on-demand house but submission to a traditional, royalty paying publisher of a book that is 'ready to go' in publishing terms.
What constitutes a 'print ready' book? It is a book that has been –
- professionally edited,
- proofread,
- designed to industry standards,
- professionally designed cover and,
- if illustrated, has all images appropriately set.
This is a great way to go for authors who are able to pay illustrators and book designers up front. Most authors are not able to do this. This then means all creators involved in a book project agreeing to royalty share and working between paid projects to collaborate on their book.
What have I gleaned about such 'print ready' deals? One company, smaller and reasonably new, offered a small advance and a good contract, by industry standards, with higher than regular royalty share for creators. An offer of help with promotion was also part of the deal. Another company, medium sized and established, offered no advance but better than average royalty shares for creators and help with promotion and marketing of the book.
How does this stack up against what is generally on offer now?
- Small and middle range publishers, in general, do not offer advances.
- Larger publishers offer advances depending on the book, depending on the author, and depending on the agent involved.
- Smaller and middle range publishers often [there are exceptions] expect the author to do it all in relation to promotion, even requiring the submission of a marketing plan.
- Larger publishers vary greatly as to how much promotion they will give a book.
- Generally, publishers will submit copies of their publishing output for major awards, such as the CBCA, and to a selection of leading review outlets.
What's the down side for author, illustrator, book designer, [often the illustrator], to go down the 'print ready' publishing path?
- It IS a lot of extra work for all creators involved to ensure the book is 'professional' standard even before it is submitted.
- There is no money upfront.
Are the rewards worth the effort?
- If you love collaborative work, it is a big plus.
- Creators have much more project control to create the book they have collaboratively envisaged.
- A quality product, 'print ready', is a major bargaining point for creators/agents. 'Print ready' saves the publisher heaps!
The first company mentioned does small print runs, sells out their print runs, reprints and even sells out reprints and so it seems to be gradually snowballing.
It is too early to know in the second instance. [I'll keep you posted!]
My feeling is that, if Erica Wagner was sensing a 'trend' and if these companies make a success of it, we will see more such deals. It's something to think about!
My own news –
To be launched end of June – "Toofs!" a collaboration between J.R. and Estelle A.Poulter and illustrators Monica Rondino and Andrea Pucci.
Intelligent reading – Comprehension in young children
Reading – we all recognise it as a core skill. By 'intelligent reading', I mean reading with a level of comprehension commensurate with the child's experience of the world they inhabit. Fortunately, reading to children is now encouraged as being supportive of reading literacy and as a sound foundation for future learning.
Not that long ago, children were seen as passive recipients of the eager parent's input via the quality time spent in 'read to me' and 'bedtime story' sessions.
I always felt sure my children were taking in much more than the professional opinion allowed.
Recently, I borrowed a copy of Dr. Virginia Lowe's very excellent book, "Stories, Pictures and Reality: Two children tell" (Routlege 2007) based on the record of her own two children's responses to books from birth to adolescence. Dr. Lowe's book vindicates what I felt all along as a parent! This book should be set reading for students of primary, early childhood and remedial teaching, child and family psychology and for anyone with an interest in literacy or children's literature!
Her children had a smorgasbord of stories proffered continuously, both Dr Lowe and her husband being librarians who were passionate advocates of children's literature. The children's reactions to and responses concerning elements of story and illustrations provide a wonderfully insightful peek into the psyche of the child. Both Lowe children clearly had a blessed and privileged childhood, but being 'read to' is within the reach of most children. Public libraries and school libraries are accessible to most families. Even if parental work commitments make a nightly 'reading' impossible, there are weekends and visits to grandparents when a 'storytelling' session can be included in the agenda.
There are other options.
Storytelling sessions are held regularly in many public libraries and are 'free'.
And online resources such as "Ripple Reader" and "A Story Before Bed" provide a way for even absent grandparents and parents to read to their children. In the USA and Israel, 'bedtime stories' are part of official early education policy. Programmes like "Reach Out and Read" and "Read to Me" do a monumental job in promoting literacy and the power of storytime to be a deeply meaningful and bonding time in families.
Summer Reading Club 2012/13 – Untangled Tales is choc full of holiday awesomeness
The Untangled Tales website is the best of the Summer Reading sites. Going over the site, was like being in one of the famous 'But WAIT, there's more!' advertisements! At every click of the mouse, there was more and all of it FREE! There is something here for children of all ages [preschool, primary, secondary], for their parents, teachers and librarians. The site is gorgeous [literally] to look at, easy to navigate, entertaining in content and layout and engagingly informative!
The Celebrity Corner questions brought out the creative quirkiness of authors and illustrators in a very entertaining way and featured a very diverse group of creatives!
The Untangled Tales game is a blast – great fun! It challenges memory and prods research capabilities and informs about other cultures, their customs and attitudes as reflected in their fairytales and legends.
Check out the side tabs and their drop down menus – there is heaps and heaps of fun activity, fantastic tales, playful poetry and fanciful stories, arty opportunities, creative competitions in writing and art activities and painless learning along the way!!
I'm thrilled to be part of this year's Summer Reading Club. I'm in Celebrity Corner with Kerry Brown, Christian Bocquee [with whom I am collaborating in our own Fractured Fairytales collection], Terry Denton, Lucia Masciullo and numbers of other wonderfully creative folk!
PERSONALISING YOUR STORY – an additional outlet
Personalising your story by J.R.Poulter
Are you seeking an additional paying outlet for you work?
A personalized version might be the answer!
Various companies take the illustrated text for children' stories and modify them to create a 'personalised' version. The company will do the personalizing for you but, in my case, I chose to submit my own 'personalised' version'. Some of my 'personalised' books are coming out with Frecklebox, who have also published personalised versions of books by friends.
Having a 'personalized' edition does not prevent you from still seeking out publication of your original text. Contracts are non-exclusive.
If you are publishing with a small company, they might be interested in adding the option of a personalized version of your story for sale digitally.
How do you do it?
"The little boy clapped his hands gleefully! The thing in the grass glittered up at him in rainbow colours. He tried to grab it! "Oh!" he exclaimed, the beautiful thing had moved, just out of reach…" [JRP]
Becomes: "Edward clapped his hands gleefully! The thing in the grass glittered up at him in rainbow colours. He tried to grab it! "Oh!" Edward exclaimed, the beautiful thing had moved, just out of reach…" [JRP]
For rhyming stories, a refrain can be added in to provide the 'personalised' element. An example from an upcoming 'personalised' version "Ten Little Heroes", a picture book with a counting element, illustrated by UK illustrator/animator, Alex Slack:
FOUR Little Heroes flying to the moon,
One said, "I'm Space-man!
See you SOOOooon! "
Oops a doops, a whoopsie there!
Mike to the rescue! Mike is here!
Once you have the hang of the text conversion process, you might choose to offer personalized versions of your digital books [e.g. on the App Store, Utales.com, Kindle, Nook, Adobe Digital editions, etc], or self-published children's books from your own website/store.
Illustrators' Alert – Nami Island Concours – Nambook Festival
The wonderful people of Nami Island Concours have created another outstanding opportunity for illustrators all over the world! The dream of these folk, who are so passionately devoted to children's literature, is to turn Nami Island into a library! :) Angela Kim is the Assistant Manager and the person to contact if you wish to know more – her contact details are on the website.
These are the links – Nami Island Concours, Guidelines and information
Luvverly LISTS for Writers and Illustrators!
Hi Everyone! :)
Lists can be extremely useful, especially when they are constantly being updated!
Here are SIX such.
The first, compiled by the enterprising and enthusiastic Brain Grove, is a list of US publishers who are currently accepting submissions for children's books – http://j.mp/SVbnCk – he also, very helpfully, adds links to each entry to take you straight to the site. I also recommend his ebook on query /submission letter writing.
A second list, an international one, that is regularly updated is on Lou Treleaven's Blog:
The third, a veritable database of bloggers who interview and/or review, is continuously being updated by the very proactive authors, Delin Colon and Lisa Kalner Williams – http://bit.ly/writerinterviewopps …
Fourth – a database of legends and folktales – if you are looking for inspiration for twists on fairytales or legends, fables etc – here is a whole swag!
Fifth – oh this one is an essential! The inimitable Katie Davis's Tool Kit is linked out under 5 'HEADLINE' headings!!
If you haven't joined www.jacketflap.com, I highly recommend it – an excellent networking site for all things related to children's literature and books.
Latest addition, number six, Rachelle Burk has a wonderful resource site – http://www.resourcesforchildrenswriters.com/ – her awarded list of wonderfully helpful links is truly encyclopaedic!
Get busy and good luck!
"The Sea Cat Dreams" has a Face Book Page
Muza Ulasowski, my wonderful collaborator, has created a fabulous FB page for our picture book, "The Sea Cat Dreams"! Muza's wonderfully life like illustrations have perfectly captured the story in a way I could never have envisaged! She has truly captured the story's essence! Here are some samples:
The story is about coping with life impacting change something that can happen planned [as in a house move] or completely unplanned [as with a natural disaster, accident, death etc]. Coping with change, as child/family psychologists and counselors all say, is something that has a profound impact, especially on the young. As with grief, adults are often too preoccupied with the change and its ramifications to be able to take in how the children, who are being impacted by change, are managing or not managing in the new setting/situation.
The cat in the story moves, accidently, from one environment & family on a farm, to another very different one, aboard a fishing boat. He is then impacted further by the loss of a master he has come to love. But this is not the end. He moves through his life's dramatic changes; firstly, by grieving, something we need to encourage each other and especially children, to do. He then reaches out to, shares with and cares for others also affected by loss, in this case, the fisherman's widow. He gradually accepts his new life situation, not for a moment forgetting what has happened, but treasuring the wonderful memories he has.
The process of grieving must be acknowledged and the grieving child/adult be allowed to express their grief or sense of loss at the change in their lives and encouraged to do so. Let them talk, let them share as much as they need to. Highlight the constructive aspects, positive elements, e.g, wonderful memories of a dead friend, relative or pet. If the impacting change has involved a move – be it to a different school, to another suburb, another state, another country – encourage the keeping of contacts where possible, assist with the making of new contacts and the sharing of the process of moving and resettling, especially any humorous incidents.
The hope in writing this book, was to help children talk about their own stories of life changing events and to recognise, that whilst change is not always pleasant, we can become stronger for it and be better able to reach out and empathise with others experiencing its many faceted impact on their own lives.
Reviews and recommendations:
The Sea Cat Dreams is a beautifully written and illustrated book for children. In today's world with so many young people facing loss and change, this important resource supports a child's journey through grief and separation.
I am adding it as a good resource in my new book, the third edition of "Life and Loss".
Linda Goldman
Author, Children Also Grieve, Life and Loss
website: www.childrensgrief.net
Fellow in Thanantology: Death, Dying, and Bereavement (FT), MS degree Counseling, Master's Equivalency in early childhood education, LCPC and NBCC. She worked as a teacher and counselor in the school system for almost twenty years.
I've just lost a dear friend to cancer and I felt refreshed after reading the Sea Cat's Dreams story.
I found myself identifying with the Sea Cat in the story and this metaphor provided a comforting space from the painful loss, but it also normalized it. Like the cat's life, our life is often interrupted by hurtful events. Through the cat's eyes I witnessed my sorrow and of those around me but in the midst of it all there is a safe, calm place on our heart's sill where we know we shall be well, allowing the sorrow to run its course while cherishing the memories.
I would definitely use it with my clients, young and old.
Youla Overbey, MA, LLPC
Behavioral Health Counselor at Catholic Charities West Michigan; Professional Counselor at Muskegon Counseling & Educational Services
The Sea Cat Dreams is the latest bibliotherapy book penned by JR Poulter. The story, recounted in beautiful poetic form, centres around the life transitions of a cat and the devastating loss it has to bear, rendering it a very versatile bibliotherapy tool which can be used with children who have experienced different types of life transitions including change and loss in different dimensions. The slogan for the book is "Coping with change…" and this is an apt choice as change is paradoxically the constant in the cat's life resulting in losses borne on lots of levels. The losses associated with the first transition in the cat's life pale into insignificance compared to the devastating loss associated with the second and this bears out the author's sensitivity to different losses having different impacts. The contrast is rendered starker by the positivity of the first transition in the cat's life and this also shows awareness on the author's part that not all life changes are unsettling. These observations lend further testimony to the nature of the author's outlook on life which is both realistic and positive and shines through her work. Poulter focuses on coping with change and all its ramifications. She highlights the relational aspect of coping with bereavement in caring for and comforting one another and gives prominence to the importance of memories and fantasy in coping with changes and loss. The book is illustrated by Muza Ulasowski with delightful romantic imagery in hues that evoke comfort and warmth, blending seamlessly with the overarching theme of resilience in the face of tragedy. The Sea Cat Dreams is a book I would wholeheartedly recommend.
Claire Casha is a psychology graduate with over ten years' experience of family therapy work. She is currently working as a research officer and reading for a Master in Family Studies at the University of Malta.
Preview and purchase: http://utales.com/books/the-sea-cat-dreams
Part III – Journey of a Book – the Launch, 13th July, 2012
The launch was wonderful, a chance to see everything in place, admire friends' exhibits, show it all off to friends and family and network! Sheryl Gwyther, Prue Mason of SCBWI and Michelle Richards [our wonderful Exhibition coordinator from Brisbane Square Library] organised the launch event. Jenny Stubbs, Coordinator of one of Australia's leading children's book festivals, "Ipswich Festival of Children's Literature", came down from Ipswich to open the exhibition. Jenny gave a stirring and encouraging speech to gathered authors, illustrators and friends, despite protesting she didn't fancy herself a speaker . :)
Visitors included Dr. Virginia Lowe of "Create a Kid's Book" fame and Lucia Masciullio of Blue Quoll Publishing, teachers and teacher librarians from Brisbane and Ipswich. Feedback has been excellent. It is vindicating, as an author or as an illustrator, to have people acknowledge the work that goes into a book's creation and to have a new appreciation of the end result!
Read other reports of the Exhibition on Anil Tortop's Blog and the SCBWI Facebook page. Better still, go along and have a squizz – Level 2, Brisbane Square Library, George Street Brisbane CBD, from 13th July to 31st August, 2012!
Part II – Journey of a Book – setting up, hanging in there
The set up, which I thought would only take an hour, stretched to all morning. Coordinating the set up of an exhibition this size with so many 'exhibitors' had Michelle Richards, the Brisbane Central Library's exhibition coordinator, running a million directions at once, advising as to 'how [it was something new to a lot of us], finding stands and suggesting modes of display, and generally guiding us all through to 'VOILA!' – one fascinating and very varied exhibition!
But there was more – not just the glass cases to set up, but hanging around to do the hanging! this was not as straightforward as it sounds. We had to somehow attach our paintings to fine dangling wires and – here's the worst part GET THEM TO SIT $#@*# STRAIGHT!
Journey of a Book – Part I – children's literature creation under the microscope
Books are created from the imagination and inspiration of authors and the insightful vision of illustrators. They are then crafted. The authorial crafting may be right brain with a touch of editing or slow and laborious left brain plotting. For an illustrator, it may be inspiration flowing like rivers from brush or stylus or it may be storybook or dummy creation then rethinks, scrap some ideas, adapt others. Eventually, a book emerges that is then 'ready for submission'. These days, that may mean adding animation and audio to make the book a digital production for app developers like Utales or Flying Books, or for YA, formatting it for Kindle or Nook e-publishers. It may mean self publishing on Createspace or Lightningsource, Smashwords or Lulu. Or it will mean the long road via submission to traditional publishers.
If the latter is chosen, the publisher will often require more editing, changes and perhaps more changes. My own book, started under contract to one publisher, was already well underway with the inimitable Sarah Davis as illustrator. We were having a ball creating our book. Then our publisher was taken over and the new publisher wanted to institute changes. At first, the major change – 'get rid of the dead bird' – seemed straight forward. Then we realised the book needed the bird but, to keep it, we had to make some big adjustments. An injured bird can't just disappear in a children's book, it has to get better and be released, which, in our picture book, meant its story had to be woven into the fabric of the main story seamlessly. No problem, a few days and Sarah and I had nailed it! As book creators, you have to be flexible and, especially if going the traditional publisher route, you can't be too precious about your creation.
SO! This exhibition is about the journey numbers of wonderful children's and YA books took from creation to bookshelf! Each book has a different creation story to reveal – something the public doesn't see, it's behind the scenes. Now the reader can take a peek backstage, behind the scenes to how it all came together!
Setting up was not straight forward. The spaces has to be utilised to best advantage and the items displayed needed to be seen from as many angles as possible given I had a two shelf rectangular glass case. I didn't end up using everything I brought with me. It would have been too cluttered. Last minute inclusion, bulldog clips, proved life-savers! They held the photographic prints in place.
I had never 'hung' a painting before at an exhibition and that proved 'interesting. Sarah Davis sent up her wonderful original painting via kindly courier, Peter Taylor, but it was unframed. I had no time to find a frame. Fortunately, I had one around the house that was a good match colour-wise though not quite the perfect size.
Given my exhibit was about my close collaboration with Sarah, the items displayed needed to reflect the two minds working together to make a new creative whole – our book! Sources of inspiration, stages in text change, changes in images, cover and trivia relating to the characters, objects and places in the book, all combined to make a successful ( I hope you agree) exhibit!
The Exhibition, Journey of a Book, has a wide range of book journeys exhibited, from YA novel, like David McRobbie's, to real life adventure by Prue Mason, picture books like those by Kathrine Battersby and chapter books like the one by Angela Sunde, to non fiction works on calligraphy as an illustrative art form by Peter Taylor.


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Featured Entry
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subset: commoncrawl


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Union Power plans new 100,000 volt line
Union Power Cooperative, which provides electric utilities to much of Union County, wants public input about constructing a new high-voltage line between Weddington and Marvin.
The area's demand for electricity has increased 30 percent since 2004, according to a Union Power release. While the company built new substations in response to the demand, all used a single 100,000 volt transmission line to power the area.
The greater the power demand, the greater risk the high-voltage line will become overloaded. That can lead to electrical shortages or outages. If the transmission line overloads, it could cut power to five substations, leaving about 17,000 customers without electricity.
To make sure that does not happen, Union Power officials will begin planning for a new high-voltage line to be built between Weddington and Marvin.
But before any lines are run, the company needs to perform a siting study to decide the best possible route for the line. So the company will hold a workshop May 7 to
The meeting is just for input. Union Power has no firm timeline of when work would begin, Vice President of Communications and Key Accounts Luanne Sherron said.
"We're just performing a survey to gather information about running a line through the area," Sherron said.
Among the information the company needs is the location of any special areas within the study.
"They're just trying to make sure there's nothing in the area that they need to be aware of, like historical sites, burial sites or other places that should be preserved," Sherron said.
Besides the workshop, Union Power will send residents surveys about electrical service and asking them to prioritize things like environmental issues, aesthetics and land use.
"Property owners and residents of the area should be receiving invitation packets next week with surveys that will give us a little more information for our line siting study," Sherron said.


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Offered by the Department of Public Health in collaboration with Temple University's School of Medicine
The Medical Doctorate and the Master of Public Health degrees, when pursued concurrently, enhance medical careers by enabling physicians to better understand and address the social, behavioral and environmental factors that influence the health and health practices of their patients. Additional benefits include new career opportunities and access to a broader base of external funding.
Temple's M.P.H. is fully accredited by the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH) and provides a credential that indicates competency in social, environmental, and behavioral aspects of health, the analytic sciences of epidemiology and biostatistics, and principles of health service management, including program planning, evidence-based practice, and evaluation.
The interwoven program adds just one year to the medical school experience. Medical students will begin the M.P.H. curriculum on a part-time basis during the second semester of their first year of medical school and complete the program with one year of full-time M.P.H. course work taken during a leave of absence from TUSM after completing the second year of medical school.
There are four concentrations to choose from:
M.P.H. in Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS)—Addresses the behavioral, social and cultural factors related to individual and population health and the social and behavioral aspects of community health, health communication, program implementation and evaluation, and health education.
M.P.H. in Environmental Health (EH)—Prepares graduates for practice-oriented careers in environmental health and management, with an emphasis on examining environmental factors and environmental policy that affect the health and sustainable environments of communities.
M.P.H. in Epidemiology & Biostatistics (EBS)—As a terminal, professional degree, provides fundamental training in the public health sciences, epidemiological study design, chronic and infectious disease surveillance, and core biostatistical methods.
M.P.H. in Health Policy and Management (HPM)—Designed to develop professionals in the field of public health who have a clear understanding of the health policy and management of health-related programs, as well as the associated implications for public health practice and the impact on population health outcomes.
The M.P.H. culminating experience requires students to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in coursework and other learning experience, and to apply theory and principles in professional practice through an internship or independent project based on the student's interests, the M.D.-M.P.H. concentration, and faculty advisement. International fieldwork opportunities are available in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.


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Gorillas sweep Mules
Trent Johnson | sports reporter
The Pittsburg State baseball team completed a two-game sweep against the University of Central Oklahoma on Tuesday afternoon at Simmons Field in Edmond.
The Gorillas took game one of the double-header, 11-7, although they trailed, 3-0, after two innings of play. The Gorillas scored two runs in the top of the third inning on a Tory Stoffregen double.
The Bronchos answered with three runs in the bottom half of the third inning, extending their lead, 5-2.
Pittsburg State scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning and followed up with three more runs in the top of the fifth inning.
The Gorillas' first lead of the game was quickly erased by a solo homerun off the bat of UCO right fielder, Jared Wright. The sixth inning was uniquely scoreless, as the seventh inning proved to make the difference in the game. The Gorillas plated four runs on two hits, thanks to a UCO error, and took the lead, 11-7.
James Fitzgerald pitched the seventh inning for Pittsburg State, and closed the door on the Bronchos in game one. George Brandecker (2-1) notched the win for the Gorillas. Stoffregen paced the Gorillas offensively, going 3-3 at the plate and batting in three runs.
Pittsburg State rode the momentum of the comeback win in game one to take the second game of the double header with ease.
Gorilla starting pitcher Matt Stalcup made it easy on the offense in the latter game of the double header. Stalcup (3-2) threw a complete game, allowing only one run on two hits while striking out 15 Bronchos with only one walk.
The 15 strikeouts broke PSU's record for strikeouts in a game that was set in April 1992 by Travis Shaffer. Although the offense didn't need a great output to secure the win, the bats were nearly as impressive as Stalcup's performance. Pittsburg State pounded out 14 hits and put up 15 runs.
The Gorillas' record stands at 14-10 overall, 11-9 in the MIAA. The Gorillas are back in action at home on Friday, March 29, against Truman State.


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Where do you apply your makeup?
Where do you apply your makeup?
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Crock-Book Holder by Tovolo
- 1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Red decorating gel
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg and extracts. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Divide dough into fourths. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until easy to handle.
Working with one piece of dough at a time, roll into 1-inch balls. Shape balls into 3 x 1/2-inch fingers. Using the flat tip of a table knife, make an indentation on one end of each for fingernail. With a knife, make three slashes in the middle of each finger for knuckle.
Place 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 325 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 3 minutes.
Squeeze a small amount of red gel on nail bed; press a sliced almond over gel for nail, allowing gel to ooze around nail. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Special Offer: Take advantage of a special offer for Cooking.com guests and subscribe today to Taste of Home magazine! Click for details.
Recipe reprinted by permission of Reiman Publications, LLC. © 2002. All rights reserved.
RecID 6568
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Skiers and snowboarders of just about any age can race in the Giant Slalom, says Juneau Ski Club head coach Dan Ord.
"If you are up there and out of control, if you really can't ski, we're going to reserve the right to say this might not be for you," he says, laughing. "But as far as a 10-year-old kid wanting to challenge his mom or his dad to a race, it's not going to be a downhill, it's going to be a GS set on a course, coming down upper Hilary's, rockin' through the throat and all the way down lower Hilary's."
It's been years since public races were held at the city-owned ski area. Ed Squibb recalls the three-race Rainier Challenge in the mid-1980s:
"We combined the times of all three races. We started in the West Bowl and went straight down Raven and Log Jam. It was incredibly fast. And we'd usually go down Cheechako and start right under Steep Chutes," he says. "And then toward the end of the year in the spring we started in the East Bowl, right about were the rope line is. We came through there and under Steep Chutes and down Cheechako. That was a fast one, too."
The winner of the Challenge got a pair of K2 skis topped with the Rainier beer logo. That's not the case this year, but there will be prizes (and T-shirts).
Contest categories are ages 10 to 12, 13 to 16, and 17 and over.
Squibb will be setting the course. He says it won't be a conventional GS; instead, turns will be more open to accommodate snowboarders. He also plans to race.
That means he'll be competing in the category of 17 and up at age 60-something.
"You can't get rid of the (race) bug, I guess," he says.
The race includes two runs – one in the morning and one in the afternoon — with free BBQ in the middle.
Squibb and Ord say they've been planning the Town Downhill since early fall and hope it's the first of an annual public race program at Eaglecrest.


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Some Happy VD Reading, Courtesy of Our Friends at The Pitch
|image source
This week the Crap Archivist ventures bravely into KC's used bookstores in quest of the much-maligned Harlequin Romance, in particular the specialty series "International Billionaires", "MEN: Made in America" and "Nights of Passion" and gleefully uncovers such undiscovered gems as Naughty Nights in the Millionaire's Mansion.
The quest has a happy ending (ahem!) as Scherstuhl uncovers deathless prose like ""For the next few minutes the sounds of nature at its most contented were echoed by the groans of desire from Tessa and Danny as they moved toward fulfillment" plus a sex scene that actually starts on page 69!
For the slash fiction fans among us (and we know there are plenty, judging from the comments on a feature about a certain yaoi convention), Scherstuhl throughtfully provides an excerpt from a story about George Harrison and Paul McCartney and the genesis of "Fixing a Hole". And, of course, there's this, proving that cheesy romance extends across all genders and platforms:
Crap and VD...what a splendid combination!
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Glass Negative - Woman & Girl Standing in Garden, Australia, circa 1890s - 1920s Reg. No: MM 043226
- Summary:
- Glass plate negative portrait of a woman and young girl standing in a garden, in front of a building, presumably a house. For an image of the same porch, see MM 043406.
It is thought this photograph was taken Robert William Harvie. Harvie was a professional photographer who, with his business partner Albert Sutcliffe, owned a photography studio named Harvie & Sutcliffe between 1898 and 1908, located in the Cromwell Buildings, 366a Bourke Street, corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne.
The Harvie Collection includes examples of Robert Harvie's private and professional photographic practice. A number of the photographs depict the family life of four generations of the Harvie family, including the Lang family.
The Harvie and Lang families had social significance in Melbourne through their active involvement in early Australian vegetarian movements, early moving film, photography and architecture, as well as various other cultural societies and clubs in Melbourne.
- Description:
- Glass plate negative, black and white, portrait format.
- Description Of Content:
- A woman standing next to a young girl in garden, in front of a house or verandah.
|106 mm (Height), 80 mm (Width)
More information
|Tagged with:
|clothing, gardens, plants, families, children, verandahs, childhood
|Themes this item is part of:
|Clothing & Textiles Collection, Domestic & Community Life Collection, Images & Image Making Collection
|Primary Classification:
|Secondary Classification:
|Tertiary Classification:
|images (to be classified)
|Glass Negative: Black & White
|Place & Date Depicted:
|Victoria, Australia, circa 1890 - 1920
Originally the image was assigned an estimated date range circa 1920s-1940s, however, further research into the collection indicates a date range circa 1890s-1920s.
|Creator (Possible):
|Mr Robert Harvie, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1890 - 1920
This item is part of the following themes:
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Richard Brandenburgh was given some tape, mousetraps, some sticks and paper clips and told to design a catapult for disposing of paper cups in a trash can.
The task was not easy, to say the least.
But Brandenburgh said patience and preparation are two virtues learned in the Technology Student Association.
"There's a lot of that, especially solving a problem you didn't even know of until the day you got there," he said.
Brandenburgh, a senior at West Greene High School in Mosheim, was one of about 100 area high school and middle school students competing in the annual TSA competition at David Crockett High School Tuesday.
The competition included contests in architectural modeling, computer aided drafting projects, construction renovation, debating technological issues, CO2 dragster design, flight endurance, robotics, music production, technical problem solving and others.
The mousetrap paper cup disposer was part of the problem-solving contest. The device for most students in this competition resembled a catapult of sorts, with an element used for crushing the cup before it was launched toward a nearby trash can.
Brandenburgh joined TSA as a freshman. That year he took a technology course and discovered TSA. He liked learning about technology. The TSA amplifies that experience, he said.
"I liked designing things on paper and then building them," Brandenburgh said.
Mark Bowles, technology engineering teacher and TSA sponsor at West Greene, said the TSA has been around for years.
"And our main goal here in Upper East Tennessee is to, again, you know, get these local schools together and get these students and let them showcase their talents in the different areas of technology," Bowles said.
Area schools participating in this year's TSA competition included David Crockett, West Greene, Daniel Boone High School, Cherokee High School, Unicoi County High School, Sullivan Central High School, Bluff City Middle School and Rogersville City Middle School.
"They get a lot out of the competitions," Bowles said of what the students learn. "It allows personal growth for them. It allows for opportunities outside of school. And also a basic understanding of how to utilize technology and how to apply it to their everyday lives."
Kristina King, a senior at David Crockett, joined TSA as a sophomore because she has always been interested in engineering, mainly because of her dad's influence, she said.
Her favorite thing is to do architectural modeling, which was what she did during the competition Tuesday as she modeled a building using a computer program and then built a scale model using special cardboard.
"I like the whole hands-on, designing my own stuff, building it my own way," she said. "And I like the mathematical side of it too, because I'm a calculus student. Scaling everything down is just awesome fun."


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Below is the poem entitled Illuminating Companionship which was written by poet
Pate. Please feel free to comment on this poem. However, please remember, PoetrySoup is a place of encouragement and growth.
Read Poems by
Lena Pate
I encircle myself with friends, who bemuse but still amuse me,
Who stimulate and stir my imagination,
Whose very existence adds to my life's essence;
Choosing to eliminate those who disturb my aura.
I prefer to avail myself of only those
Who barge into my life, full of vim and vigor.
Ready to slay dragons or soar on angel wings,
Saving rain forests or kittens trapped in trees.
I am elated to be part of camaraderie
Whose totality is comprised of love and goodwill,
Where freedom is a blessing as well as a choice,
Refusing to fathom a life devoid of such motivated stimuli.


text: Dr. Mary Draper Dr. Mary Draper, vice president for academic affairs and professor of education, has been published in the Journal for Christian Educators, a journal produced by the American Association of Christian Schools. The article, entitled Incorporating Group Work into Your Teaching, appeared in the Fall, 2011, edition of the journal. Initially presenting a workshop on incorporating group learning into teaching at the Tennessee Christian Education Association, the AACS approached Dr. Draper about writing the article due to the positive response from her session. I am concerned about teachers that simply follow the curriculum they are given, never using any other good methods for teaching or trying anything new, she said. Group learning, also called cooperative or collaborative learning, encourages high achievement for students. The competition stops and working together begins. Not limited to elementary or secondary education, Dr. Draper presents teaching techniques that are relevant to all levels of education. Cooperative learning is a method that extends beyond the boundaries of school and into college, the work arena, and every area of life. Critical thinking can be forged through good cooperative learning. My hope is that no matter what curriculum a Christian school teacher is given, he or she would find that at least one of these methods in the article would help him or her be a better teacher and would engage the students in higher-order learning, basic review, or enrichment. Dr. Richard Stratton, president of CCC, said, I am thankful for Dr. Drapers effective leadership of our faculty and for her desire to have a positive impact on Christian schools through workshop presentations and now through this article. We are indeed blessed to have Dr. Draper as part of the leadership team at CCC. Print Article


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- Age / Gender:
- 22, Male
- Location:
- Belgium
- Joined:
- 3/26/08
- All Stats >
User Statshot
- Community Stats
Level 10 Blank Slate
Normal Whistle
Ranked as Civilian
Contact Info / Websites
Favorite Audio
|EnV - Sanctuary
|Dance Song
|EnV - 5000 Strong
|Dance Song
|EnV - Streetlights
|Dance Song
|This Way DEMO
|General Rock Song
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My latest game: Master of Double Take
Click to Play
Latest Games
Mir & Ror Rated Stars Jump 'n puzzle through 30 stages of mirroring madness! Puzzles - Other Master of Double Take Rated Stars Match the cards and become the Master of Double Take! Sports - Casino & Gambling Master of 3-Peak Rated Stars Can you clean the 3-Peak towers and collect all cards? Sports - Casino & Gambling Master of Blackjack Rated Stars Are you the master of Blackjack? Sports - Casino & Gambling
Favorite Movies
Short and Sweet Rated 4.4041 Stars Cute creatures trying to find Love Comedy - Original Zelda Uncut- Preview Rated 4.0248 Stars A preview of the soon to be released Zelda Uncut series! Coming soon! Comedy - Parody Link's Barrel Beat Rated 4.3944 Stars A fresh Zelda beatbox! HUMO! Music Video Get on My Horse Rated 4.4328 Stars Shut up woman get on my horse Music Video
Favorite Games
Hot Tub Heist Rated 3.8554 Stars Hot Tubs. Aliens. Roundhouse kicks. What else do you want? Action - Platformer - Other Bullet Bill 3 Rated 3.9732 Stars Smash your way through 54 exciting levels, or make your own with new level creation tools! Skill - Avoid One Chance Rated 4.1302 Stars You have six days left on earth. What choices will you make? Adventure - Other :the game: Rated 4.4358 Stars 'the game' is a representation of the world we love and know today! (AKA: real screwed up) Action - Platformer - Puzzle
Recent Game Medals
Neophyte 5 Points Master the game's basic controls Medal Stats.
A rock could fall further 10 Points Fall 100 Metres Medal Stats.
Asteroid 25 Points Crushing the Asteroid Medal Stats.
Coast Bomber 25 Points Crushing the Coast Bomber Medal Stats.
Tram 25 Points Crushing the tram Medal Stats.
Spiderman 25 Points Killing Spiderman Medal Stats.
Hindenburg 25 Points Crushing the Hindenburg Zeppelin Medal Stats.
Trump Jet 25 Points Crushing Donald Trump's Jet Medal Stats.
King Kong 10 Points Killing King Kong Medal Stats.
Air Racer 25 Points Crushing the Air Racer Medal Stats.
Total Medals Earned: 91 (From 29 different games.)
Latest Shared Creations
My Pumpkin Added to pumpkins for Carve n' Share Oct 30, 2013. Load Level


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Jon Knutson, Published September 03 2009
Gwinner's gain: Move could be 'huge opportunity'
Now, the owner of Hansen Lumber & Hardware is affected both financially and emotionally by the ups and downs of Bobcat, which employs 860 people in this town of 790.
So Hansen is optimistic – but cautiously so – about Bobcat's announcement on Wednesday that it will shift 390 manufacturing jobs to Gwinner from Bismarck.
"Well, it sure sounds like good news. But there's still so much we don't know yet," he said.
This much is known:
Bobcat, which makes skid-steer loaders and light construction equipment, has been hurt by a global slump in sales.
The West Fargo-based company has made several cuts to its North Dakota work force over the past two years, including a statewide reduction of 195 jobs in August.
The company will cut costs further by consolidating its North Dakota manufacturing operations in Gwinner, where Melroe Manufacturing, Bobcat's forerunner, was founded in 1947.
The consolidation will be gradual and is expected to be completed by year's end.
The Gwinner plant is bigger than the Bismarck plant and better able to accommodate the combined manufacturing operation, the company said.
Population gain?
By any measure, Bobcat's announcement is a big deal in Gwinner.
"As bad as it is for Bismarck, it is a huge opportunity for Gwinner," said Jeff Anderson, Gwinner city manager.
Gwinner's population is likely to rise, though it's impossible to predict how much, he said.
The city has the infrastructure in place, including 15 to 20 undeveloped lots in a new subdivision, "to handle it pretty well if we have some people coming in," Anderson said.
The city also has nine empty houses, he said.
Nobody expects hundreds of people to move to Gwinner to fill the positions being transferred from Bismarck.
For one thing, 240 people previously laid off at the Gwinner plant will have first crack at the jobs being moved there, according to Bobcat.
Few of those people have left Gwinner or the surrounding communities where they live, Anderson said.
"So this (the transfer of Bobcat jobs to Gwinner) will help us get back to where we were," he said.
And many, or even most, of the people filling the remaining 150 or so jobs will live elsewhere in southeastern North Dakota.
"But we'll get some of those people. And even the ones who don't live here will shop here and help our businesses," he said.
One of those businesses is Teal's Market located a few blocks from the Gwinner plant.
The store opens at 6 a.m. to accommodate Bobcat employees coming off their overnight shift.
"This is great news," Becky Butler, a Teal's manager, said of Wednesday's announcement.
Bismarck's pain, even though it will lead to Gwinner's gain, was felt keenly by some in Gwinner, especially those with union ties.
"This is bittersweet. We have laid-off employees who want their jobs back – but not at the expense of our union brothers and sisters in Bismarck," said Tom Ricker, president of United Steelworkers Local 560 in Gwinner.
Impact on school
Anything that concerns Bobcat is of interest to the North Sargent School District in Gwinner. The district's sports teams are known as the Bobcats.
The district estimates about 80 percent of its 232 students have at least one parent who works for Bobcat or a company that does extensive business with it, said Randall Cale, the district's first-year superintendent.
A copy of an online news article about the Bismarck plant closing was taped to the front desk in the School District office on Wednesday.
"It's a good problem to have," Cale said of a potential rise in employment.
Cale said he met with staff to discuss the Bobcat announcement.
"We played the what-if game. What if we get 10 or 20 or 40 students because of this? If we do, will we need to make changes?" he said.
He and his staff came up with few firm answers.
"Right now we don't have enough information," he said.
That wasn't an uncommon sentiment in Gwinner Wednesday.
"We don't have any details," said LaVonne Huffman.
She and her husband, Mike, of nearby Cogswell, were in Gwinner Wednesday. Mike took early retirement from Bobcat about 2 1/2 years ago.
"We hope things turn out positive. But there's just so much we don't know yet," LaVonne Huffman said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jonathan Knutson at (701) 241-5530


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Poised to excel: Swearing in of Bert L'Homme as superintendent
What's more exciting than the return of LaBron James from the Miami Heat to the Cleveland Cavaliers? Why, it's the return and swearing in of Bert L'Homme as the new superintendent of Durham Public Schools, his own hometown team.
In two weeks' time, our year-round schools will welcome their first students of the 2014-15 school year, and all of our other schools will follow suit in August. With some 33,000 students soon to be walking through our halls, this is an exceptionally busy time . Our new superintendent must hit the ground running, and we know L'Homme is ready to do just that.
L'Homme is particularly well-suited to tackle some of the toughest issues facing our district. At the state level, there are budget fights in Raleigh and multiple pieces of legislation that threaten to undermine our teachers and our schools. Locally, we must deal with gaps in academic student learning, especially literacy. When L'Homme was the assistant superintendent for instruction in the early 2000s, he brought innovative, results-driven programs to Durham Public Schools that helped our district reach its goal at that time of 95 percent of third graders on grade level in reading.
We also face the challenge of ending disparities in student discipline and out of school suspension. L'Homme led the development of Lakeview School, the district's alternative school setting, to prevent an interruption in student instruction for suspended students. We need to strengthen Lakeview, keep students on track academically, modify behavior, address underlying causes of misbehavior and reduce out-of-school suspensions, all without lowering standards for student behavior. L'Homme has experience in this arena and has worked with Marion Wright Edelman of the Children's Defense Fund as the champion of their End the School to Prison Pipeline campaign.
We also must take care of the social and emotional needs of our students. L'Homme began his career as an exceptional children's teacher and has widespread experiences working with emotionally troubled youth. L'Homme understands the profound impact social and emotional skills have on school success.
Additionally, we absolutely must position Durham Public Schools as the best choice for Durham families – and that's going to take some real focus on our programming, our image, our message and how we interact with our families and our community. We challenge Superintendent L'Homme to help us demonstrate the value of our education system for children from all backgrounds and all ranges of talent and ability.
The Board of Education chose L'Homme as our next superintendent for a reason – because we truly believe he is a leader who can face all of these challenges and move DPS into a new era of growth and success. He has roots in this city, and believes in the people and potential of DPS and Durham. We believe L'Homme instinctively knows that success only comes when the right people are working together to foster a superior and nurturing learning community for all students.
That spirit of collaboration is another reason we chose Bert -- because as passionate as he is about education, he is equally passionate about restoring trust and partnerships among our own staff and beyond. He understands the value of working as a team of equals and can advance a "we're in this together" culture in our schools, our district and ideally, throughout our community. For the City of Durham to fully realize its renaissance, our citizens must have individual and collective confidence in and ownership of our schools.
Let us thank all of our board members, past and present, who stepped up to the challenge of selecting a new superintendent with determination and resolve. We also want to thank our entire community --parents, guardians, teachers, staff, volunteers and citizens -- who shared your thoughts about what we needed in our next superintendent.
I believe we heard you, and I believe we all got it right. True to his name, Bert is the Man!
Heidi Carter is chairwoman and Minnie Forte-Brown, vice-chairwoman of Durham Public Schools Board of Education. This is adapted from remarks at L'Homme's swearing in Monday.


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Photoplay San Francisco
Last updated: November 2007
The title of this tour comes from Photoplay, one of the first film fan magazines. Founded in 1911 in Chicago, the magazine developed a powerful formula -- a combination of photo spreads accompanied by star interviews and hot gossip -- that set a precedent for almost all celebrity 'zines that followed. Circulation soared through the 1940s and was met by the public's growing interest in the private lives of celebrities. The magazine was renowned for its beautifully drawn or painted portraits of film stars on the cover; however, by 1937 portraits were almost exclusively photographs.
Photoplay San Francisco shows off the city's own star quality by highlighting places around the city to look at photographs, see films, and their close cousin, videos. We've mapped out a variety of spots across San Francisco to see the latest in contemporary photography to sites that house nostalgic images of the city's past -- and everything in between. It's all about looking at images -- moving in space or frozen in time.
This is a full-day adventure and could take up to eight hours, including breaks and transportation. You may want to break this up into two days if it seems a bit ambitious for one day. Before heading out, we suggest checking gallery Web sites for information on current and upcoming exhibitions, to confirm hours of operation, or to make an appointment. We encourage the use of public transportation and have included bus routes, but for those who prefer to drive we offer parking suggestions.
Note: Before you can view the collection at the North Baker Research Library, you must go through their photography binders and select the subject for the photos you wish to view (which could take hours if you allowed it.) However, by going to their Web site californiahistoricalsociety.org before visiting, you can do this ahead of time. Since there are thousands of photos to view, you can get a head start by clicking on the "Collections" tab, and then click the link for "The Photography Collection." Once you do the latter, you can view the titles by subject, street, and so on. After you decide what photographs interest you most, you can then write down the title of the binder you wish to view (e.g. SF -- Cemeteries -- Masonic), and give it to the librarian when you first get there. By doing this ahead of time, you will save yourself more time to look at the photos.
Here's a preview slideshow that you can watch at flickr.com.
Here are some videos that you might want to watch to give you a better background on photography in the Bay Area:
- John Chiara
- Todd Hido
- Olivier Laude
- Roman Loranc
- Bill Owens
- Trevor Paglen
- Tracey Snelling
- Catherine Wagner
- Henry Wessel
- Sixth Street Photography Workshop
- Gallery Crawl: Robert Koch Gallery
- Gallery Crawl: Fraenkel Gallery
- Gallery Crawl: San Francisco Camerawork
We couldn't think of a better way to begin the Photoplay Tour with a double dose of caffeine and celebrity at Dish and the San Francisco Film Society where they have an impressive display of star-studded photographs taken by local photographer Pamela Gentile. If you are an early bird, take note that the SFFS offices don't open until 10am.
If you take the #43/Munich & Geneva line, get off at the Presidio Blvd. and Letterman Dr. bus shelter where you will exit and walk to Lincoln Blvd. Head west on Lincoln several blocks to Mesa Street and turn left. Walk up about two blocks -- the San Francisco Film Center Offices will be on your right.
Grab a coffee at Dish, a neat little café serving up a wide range of homemade organic treats. Then browse Gentile's large format black and white prints prominently displayed on the first floor in the hallway outside Dish. Her portraits feature some of the most legendary directors in international cinema such Abbas Kiarostami and Akira Kurasawa mugging with their SFIFF award.
The next stop is the Musee Mechanique which is renowned for its collection of vintage coin-operated arcade machines, musical instruments and kinetic dioramas. Exit The Presidio through the Lombard gate and walk 3 blocks to the N.W. corner of Divisadero St. and Chestnut St., take the #30/Caltrain Depot line, get off at Columbus Ave. and Bay St. Walk one block east and turn left on Taylor. Walk to the end of Taylor to Pier 45, right behind Fisherman's Grotto #9.
In the back of the museum, you'll find an assortment of some of the earliest devices used to show moving images. Before cinema as we know it, there was the Praxinoscope (the successor of the Zoetrope) and the hand-cranked Mutoscope, a picture flipbook that operates on the same principle as the Rolodex. Such classic models were designed around theories of perception and persistence of vision. For only a quarter you can experience a (very tame) Peep Show featuring a dancing lady or a see few seconds of a Marilyn Monroe film. Don't forget to take a self-portrait in one of their many old time photo-booths..
Get another slice of the city's past at the Maritime National Historical Park and Visitors Center. Head to the historic waterfront hotel, The Argonaut, at the corner of Jefferson and Hyde, the center is located inside. With 9000 square feet of space the center is a veritable maze of information staffed by park rangers and guided by didactic photographic panels, rotating photography exhibitions and daily video screenings which tell of SF's colorful maritime past. At the entrance is the original Farallon Island Lighthouse Frensel Lens, impressive not only in size but in its beautiful crystal form.
If it's lunch time, there are the Fisherman's Wharf sidewalk stands offering crab and chowder -- extremely touristy, yes, but also very tasty! If seafood isn't your favorite fare or you don't want to eat outside, the Java House on Pier 40 serves breakfast and lunch all day until 5pm. It's definitely a dive but has great views and indoor sitting.
Well feed? Hop aboard a 49 Van Ness bus heading towards the Civic Center to dig through the San Francisco Public Library's Historical Photograph Collection of The Daniel E. Koshland San Francisco History Center. Serving as the official archives for the City and County of San Francisco the center contains San Francisco's history in fragments, a researcher's dream of urban development plans, photographs, newspapers and assorted printed ephemera.
The Historical Photograph Collection on the 6th floor holds about 250,000 photographs from the 1850s to the present. Witness the radical change and growth of the city in the last century with before and after pictures of neighborhoods, altered landscape views and building construction sites. You can definitely get your Photoplay SF celeb fill with lush sepia-toned prints, and classy B/W pix of your favorite San Francisco personalities like Emperor Norton (yes, the Emperor of United States and Protector of Mexico!) or the notoriously cranky journalist and ghost story writer, Ambrose Bierce.
Time to switch gears to gallery hopping at 49 Geary, where every First Thursday the dozen or so galleries in the building turn their art openings into one mega-opening. There are at least four photo-centric galleries inside, so you'll encounter many styles, techniques, time periods and approaches to the discipline. You can take BART or MUNI underground from Civic Center Station two stops to Montgomery; exit walk down Market (away from the Ferry Building) about one block depending where you exit the station to Geary.
The Robert Koch Gallery on the 5th floor collects and exhibits Modernist and experimental work from the early 1920s and 1930s and by contemporary photographers. Go down to the 4th floor to see one of the largest private collections of Brett Weston photographs at the Scott Nichols Gallery. Their inventory is filled with works by the pioneers of California photography such as Imogen Cunningham. They balance this with exhibitions featuring established, up and coming and contemporary photographers.
A few doors down you'll find the Fraenkel Gallery, a space that presents exhibitions that explore the medium and its dynamic relationship to other disciplines. Here's a wonderful chance to expand your perspective of photography with works by artists as diverse as Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Diane Arbus and Adam Fuss. And Fifty Crows Gallery on the 2nd Floor provides a change of pace with an emphasis on documentary works that promote social awareness and change. Their compelling exhibitions and photo essays are a welcome and refreshing alternative to corporately mediated images.
Is time for an energy boost? Head to ultimate browser's paradise: the magazine stand. Grab a cup o' joe at the Fog City News, a tiny shop tucked into the bottom of a huge skyscraper at the corner of First and Market. The stand offers readers one of the best selections of international magazines and newspapers; their foreign publications boast over 700 titles alone. Chocolate lovers take note: they sell gourmet chocolate from local creators and worldwide chocolatiers. Head to Market St. and walk 2 big blocks towards the Ferry Building to First St.
Time for more digging at the photography archives at North Baker Research Library at The California Historical Society (CHS). From Fog City News walk south down First Street to Mission and turn right, the CHS is on Mission between New Montgomery and Third Sts. The CHS collection of daguerreotypes, albumen prints, stereo views and photographic albums tops a half million, mostly from the nineteenth and early twentieth-century. The CHS is wonderfully organized, so you want to take advantage of that. Avoid being overwhelmed by options by narrowing your search to one or two subjects that interest you, that way you can tell the librarian the kinds of photographs you want see. What'll be? City street scenes, portraiture, printed ephemera, views of early California landscapes? It's all there. You can also find work by celebrated photographers such as Eadweard Muybridge, Minor White, and Carleton Watkins. Perfect for the serious researcher or for the curious.
Just across the street is SF Camerawork, a space devoted to contemporary photography and related media. For over thirty years they have produced countless noteworthy exhibitions, fostered educational programs, hosted artist talks and showcased emerging film and video artists. In addition to rotating exhibitions, they publish their own journal twice a year, so be sure to check their bookstore for the latest issue and peruse their selection of artist monographs, and volumes of critical essays on the subject.
Next up: See what's on view in the photography collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). From the time SFMOMA opened its doors in 1935, the museum began to collect and exhibit photography as a serious art form. Their immense collection spans modern to contemporary works and presents a wide range of subject matters and views from around the globe. Along with innovative photographic exhibitions, their permanent collection is a treasure trove filled with works by such photo-icons as August Sander, Brassai and Diane Arbus
If there's time, you'll want to check out SFMOMA's 4th Floor Media Art galleries, where you can see engaging video and related time-based media works by contemporary international artists. Have time for a film? Check with the information desk about the Public Program film series presented in the Phyllis Wattis Theater; films series are thematic and are sometimes presented in conjunction with specific exhibitions; show times vary.
Suggested side visit: While you're in the area you can get to know the technology behind film and photography with a look around Adolph Gasser, its on 2nd between Howard and Mission Streets. The repair and sales shop has been serving the Bay Area's photo needs since 1950. Popular with professionals and hobbyists alike, sales and rental of still and video cameras, lighting and motion picture equipment. Have a tech-fetish? Glass cases display an array of vintage cameras ripe for oogling.
You must be hungry! Luckily for you, the area has several options. Of course, there's always the food court at the Metreon ... but then there's Samovar Tea Lounge. From SFMOMA just walk across Yerba Buena Park and head to the Upper Terrace. The glass-encased building makes the interior light and airy, and allows you to take views of the city and the park. This unique teahouse offers traditional tea service of many cultures (Indian, Chinese and Russian, for example) and has an international menu of sweet and savory items to complement. Chose from organic and fair-trade teas imported from all over -- sample from pots of herbal, black and chai concoctions -- to re-energize before you head home. Note: They are only open to 6pm from Sunday through Wednesday but until 9pm the other nights.
Congratulations, you made it to the end of the Photoplay San Francisco tour!
Below you'll find contact information for each venue as well as our suggestions for parking and public transit for some of the destinations.
San Francisco Film Society
Where: 39 Mesa St., The Presidio
When: Monday-Friday 10am-4pm
Phone: (415) 561-5000
Cost: Free
Parking: Street
Dish Café
Where: 39 Mesa St., first level, The Presidio
When: Monday-Friday 10am-4pm
Phone: (415) 561-5000
Musee Mechanique
Where: Pier 45, Shed A at the end of Taylor St., Fisherman's Wharf
When: Monday-Friday 10am-7pm, Saturday & Sunday 10-8pm
Phone: (415) 346-2000
Cost: Free admission
Parking: Street, or try parking lot at corner of Beach and Jones
San Francisco Maritime Visitor Center
Where: Argonaut Hotel, 495 Jefferson St. at Hyde, Fisherman's Wharf
When: 9:30am-7pm (Memorial Day to September 30) and 9:30am-5pm (October 1 to May 27)
Cost: Free
Java House
Where: Pier 40, The Embarcadero
When: Monday-Friday 6am-5pm Saturday & Sunday 7am-5pm (Closing time may vary depending on baseball games)
Phone: (415) 495-7260
Fisherman's Wharf sidewalk stands
Where: North Point St., Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco History Center at the San Francisco Public Library
Where: 100 Larkin (at Grove), 6th Floor
When: Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 10-5pm
Phone: (415) 557-4400
Cost: Free
Parking: Civic Center Garage, 355 McAllister St., between Polk and Larkin, or Performing Arts Garage, 360 Grove St., between Franklin and Gough. Other Car Park Lots are at Grove/Gough (2 lots, corner of Market and 9th St.), at Polk/Hayes (2 lots, Polk between Fell and Hayes), at Golden Gate and Larkin, 399 Golden Gate Ave.
Fraenkel Gallery
Where: 49 Geary St., Suite 450, between Kearny Street and Grant Ave.
When: Tuesday-Friday 10:30am-5:30pm, Saturday 11-5pm
Phone: (415) 981-2661
Cost: Free
Parking: Sutter-Stockton Garage (enter from Stockton just north of Sutter or from Bush just east of Stockton), the Ellis-O'Farrell Garage (enter on Ellis between Stockton and Powell), or The Union Square garage right under Union Square (enter from Geary between Stockton and Powell)
Robert Koch Gallery
Where: 49 Geary St., Suite 550, between Kearny Street and Grant Ave.
When: Tuesday-Saturday 10:30am-5:30pm
Phone: (415) 421-0122
Cost: Free
Scott Nichols Gallery
Where: 49 Geary St., Suite 415, between Kearny Street and Grant Ave.
When: Tuesday-Saturday 11am-5pm
Phone: (415) 788-4641
Cost: Free
Fifty Crows Gallery
Where: 49 Geary St., 2nd Floor, between Kearny Street and Grant Ave.
When: Wednesday-Saturday 11-4pm
Phone: (510) 798-6566 or (510) 282-2622
Parking: Street
Fog City News
Where: In the basement of 455 Market St., between Fremont & First Sts.
When: Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturdays 12pm-4pm
Phone: (415) 543-7400
Parking: Street
California Historical Society
Where: 678 Mission St., between New Montgomery and Third Sts.
When: Wednesday-Friday, 12pm-5pm
Phone: (415) 357-1848 ext.20
Cost: (415) 357-1848 ext.20
Parking: Fifth and Mission Garage, Mission St. between Fourth and Fifth Sts.; Museum Park Garage, Third and Folsom Sts.; St. Francis Place Garage, Third and Folsom Sts.; 55 Hawthorne Garage, 55 Hawthorne; Moscone Center Garage, 255 Third St. between Howard and Folsom Sts.; Hearst Garage, 45 Third St. between Mission and Market Sts.
SF Camerawork
Where: 657 Mission St., 2nd Floor, between New Montgomery and Third Sts.
When: Tuesday-Saturday, 12-5pm; Open late First Thursday of each month
Phone: (415) 512-2020
Cost: Suggested donation of $5 for general public, $2 for students and seniors; Free for SF Camerawork members; Free admission first Tuesday of each month.
Parking: See CHS parking options
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Where: 151 Third St., between Mission and Howard Sts.
When: Monday-Tuesday 11am-5:45pm, Closed Wednesday, Thursday 11am-8:45pm, Friday-Sunday 10am-5:45pm
Phone: (415) 357-4000
Phone: $12.50 adults, $8 seniors, $7 students, free for SFMOMA members & children under 12; Half-price admission Thursdays from 6-9pm; Free first Tuesday of each month
Parking: See CHS parking options
Adolph Gasser Photography
Where: 181 Second St., between Howard and Mission Sts.
When: Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 10-5pm
Phone: (415) 495-3852
Parking: Free parking available across the street
Samovar Tea Lounge
Where: Upper Terrace in the Yerba Buena Gardens, 730 Howard St., between 3rd and 4th Sts.
When: Sunday-Wednesday 10am-6pm, Thursday-Saturday 10-9pm
Phone: (415) 227-9400
Parking: See CHS parking options
Also on KQED.org this week ...
KQED Summer Fun Adventures
This summer, KQED is partnering with tons of fun places in the Bay Area offering exciting adventures and special savings when you show your MemberCard.
KQED Arts Hot Summer Days & Nights Guide
Get our picks for the season's best concerts, books, movies, outdoor plays, visual arts and more.


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Governor has it right
This editorial appeared in the Charlotte Observer
Gov. Pat McCrory has it right. North Carolina should not appeal a federal judge's ruling striking down the state's requirement that women seeking abortions be shown a narrated ultrasound before the procedure. U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles was spot on in asserting that the law, which mandated that physicians performing the abortions show women ultrasound images and describe them in detail before the procedure -- even if the women objected -- is impermissible.
Said Eagles earlier this month: "The Supreme Court has never held that a state has the power to compel a health care provider to speak, in his or her own voice, the state's ideological message in favor of carrying a pregnancy to term and this court declines to do so today."
It's not that McCrory necessarily agrees with Eagles. He cites more practical considerations: "After extensive review, I do not believe costly and drawn out litigation should be continued concerning only one provision that was not upheld by the court," he said in a written statement. The law has other requirements, including a mandatory 24-hour waiting period and that women be given extensive information about birth, child care and alternatives to abortion.
Sadly, leaders in the Republican-controlled N.C. legislature came out Monday staunchly in support of an appeal. Said House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate Leader Phil Berger in a joint statement: "We believe the provision struck down by an Obama-appointed federal judge is the most critical piece of the law. We expect the attorney general to quickly move forward with an appeal of this provision... We remain confident that the state will prevail on the merits of the case through an appeal."
Yet, just two months ago, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand an Oklahoma high court ruling striking down a similar statute. The Oklahoma Supreme Court had ruled in 2012 that the state's ultrasound law relating to abortion was an undue burden on a woman's rights.
The same is true in this state. The N.C. law is an inappropriate and dangerous intrusion into the relationship between women and their physicians. Its goal is to shame women and attempt to manipulate them into foregoing the procedure. It is also, as Judge Eagles rightly notes, an attempt to foist on women a state-sponsored ideological message. That's wrong.
It is a clear burden on N.C. doctors. The lawsuit, by the way, was brought on behalf of several of them and their patients.
The law allows patients to look away or bar their ears. But doctors can't opt out. They are required to deliver the state's scripted message. That's an abridgment of their free-speech rights as well as needless interference with their relationships with their patients.
McCrory got an earful this summer about the state's intrusion into this personal and private matter when he signed into law a bill that severely limits women's access to clinics where abortions are performed. Hundreds protested in Raleigh, blasting McCrory for reneging on a campaign pledge not to support any new abortion restrictions.
Some observers say his opposition to appealing Eagles' ruling might be his way of atoning for that. He's right, regardless.
Lawmakers haven't tended to listen to McCrory a lot. But they should on this. Continuing to defend this bad legislation is wrong and a waste of taxpayer dollars.


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Review: Deathtrap, Lace Market Theatre
Posted: February 04, 2014|
The title stresses that this is not just any old Deathtrap but Ira Levin's Deathtrap surely as a witty reference to a basic element of the plot. Keen, young and dedicated Clifford Anderson has penned a potential money mine of a thriller called Deathtrap. But it seems that famous but failing thriller writer, Sidney "four flops in a row" Bruhl intends to help Clifford out of this life and peddle Deathtrap as his own work.
In fact there are plays within plays within plays in this one, all of which seem to be called Deathtrap. With its deferential references to other classics of the thriller genre it's all highly meta-theatricality. And there's a generous helping of darkly satirical humour.
Robert Suttle succeeds in drawing laughs out of the juxtaposition of deep wickedness and banal normalcy which goes with the character of Sidney; though his American accent frequently wanders away. Clifford's apparent initial naivety and enthusiasm is very well caught by Edward P Crook in his first Lace Market role.
Another newcomer, Judie Matthews, gives arguably the top performance of the evening as the fetching Myra, Sidney's poor wife; Matthews handles the sense of horror, as well as the American accent well. Helga van Dorp, an eccentric clairvoyant with an apparent gift for ESP, is beautifully played by Carol Parkinson with a Dutch accent and just the right amount of the OTTs. Steve Mitchell is neatly contrasted to everyone else as the oddly named Porter Milgram, Sidney's lawyer.
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They do their stuff in a nicely realised room of a period house in Westport, Connecticut. The walls are lined with antique weaponry, souvenirs of Bruhl's previous triumphs: swords, guns, a mace – and an axe. It's an all very seventies set, complete with one, later two, splendid traditional typewriters. And for a lot of the time the action competes with the background sound of a storm.
Predictably, after someone gets killed the body is buried along with, for no very good reason, a perfectly decent and serviceable rug. But this is a favourite thriller cliché.
You wonder what's real and what isn't. From beginning to end the plot keeps you guessing, each twist and turn opening up new possibilities of plot development to the point where anything's possible and proceedings threaten to tip over into uncontrolled absurdity.
Nevertheless this famous comedy/thriller will make a shamelessly entertaining night out. It's directed by Bob Wildgust.
Ira Levin's Deathtrap is at the Lace Market Theatre until Saturday. Tickets are £8-£11, via lacemarkettheatre.co.uk, 0115 9507201 or in person at the theatre in Halifax Place.