text: Late December I ordered a set of LED Tail lights from Mytightride.com, the ones I ordered were out of stock, I'm wishing I had ditched them right there and gotten the lights elsewhere but instead I decided on a different set and had them ship them to me instead. Mid January they arrived only for me to find even with perfect packaging, one of them broken. I email them to let them know of the situation before calling, I get a response that I need to call about it so they can talk to me about the return. I call and find out that only 1 person at the company deals with returns and the 4 or 5 times I call he is always busy with someone else. I'm left on hold for 10 minutes while they wait for him to clear up only for the same person that answered the phone originally to come back and say its going to be a while, asking me to leave my name, number and what my problem is and he will call me back. I do this all 4 or 5 times and never receive a return call (I have caller ID and answering machine so I know when someone calls) I send off other emails about not being able to get a hold of the guy I need to and get no responses, between work and house renos I'm up to the end of February and I call again, to my surprise the guy I've been trying to contact this entire time answers the phone. I tell him my problem, he asks me to email him a picture of the damaged light, I do and it takes 2 days to get a response (which I don't mind, I realize I'm not the only customer). He tells me he has to contact his tail light supplier to get them to send me a packing label to return the lights to the supplier, and that once his supplier receives the tail lights, that he will send me a replacement set. Well it was March 5th by the time I got the packing slip, with it being late I had to wait till the 8th to ship as the company here is closed on weekends. So I ship the lights back on the 8th of March expecting that it should take about 6 weeks for me to receive the replacements (it took 3 weeks to receive them originally, so I figure 3 weeks down, 3 weeks back). So when Mid April rolls around I decide to shoot off an email (not feeling like playing phone tag for another month and a half), within 3 days I get a response that they haven't heard anything from their supplier yet, and that they are going to contact them and have them track down the package I sent back. Fast forward another 3 weeks and I have yet to hear from them with regards to what they found out from the supplier, needless to say I fired off another email. I'm going to try calling tomorrow to find out what the deal is if I don't have a response to my email by then, I'm to the point now where I'm expecting to be out the cash for the tail lights, but I just want to make sure that I can try and help anyone else avoid this same stuff by avoiding them altogether. I'll drop back to this post when I get more info on whats going on to keep anyone interested updated.


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Discussion in 'Photo & Video Gallery' started by ChevyFan, May 20, 2008.
Before he became famous! See Dan Whitney.
hahaha wow He's so much different! He still uses the Tick joke today though. :rofl:
Giiiiiitttt Rrr Donnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeee
from the sounds of it thats where he got the larry the cable guy voice...
wow he is so much different.. i like him better now tho
Separate names with a comma.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Tax scams: What to look out for when you're filing
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho - The deadline to file your tax return is two weeks away, which means it's important to be aware of tax fraud.
Whether you're trying to swindle a few bucks out of Uncle Sam or you're the one being taken for a ride, tax fraud is punishable by law.
"It hurts our reputation and it hurts the individuals involved," said Hank Houser, who prepares taxes at Liberty Income Tax.
Houser says the most common fraud he sees involves individuals claiming dependents they don't have. Each dependent up to three comes with an extra credit, but Houser says that's an easy plot for the IRS to foil.
"(The IRS) ensures that we have other documentation to verify these children actually do live in the home," Houser explained.
A lot of taxpayers also try to fudge the numbers when it comes to earned income. Annual earnings between about $18,000 and $25,000 bring in the biggest returns. That type of fraud requires a lot of oversight on Houser's part.
"We will look at it. And we will take a dim view of trying to generate an improper return," Houser said.
It's not all about protecting the tax man. Taxpayers can be ripped off just the same, even by the tax preparer.
Houser said that some tax preparers will try to charge clients based on a percentage of the return. The IRS now encourages tax firms to charge a flat rate based on services rendered.
Then, there's good, old-fashioned identity theft.
"One of the biggest things I tell clients is, 'Never carry your social security card with you,'" Houser said.
The IRS has implemented a PIN number system for victims of identity theft. Houser says the system is effective, but for every new security measure, there's a new way to challenge it.
"People are very imaginative," Houser said.
Some other tax scams to watch for include fake charities. According to the IRS, If you're looking to get a tax deduction from a charitable donation, research the charitable organization and make your donation using a credit card or check. Never donate cash.
Phishing schemes are also common. If you get an email from someone seeking your personal information, the IRS says it's best to ignore the message and report it to email@example.com.
The IRS also warns of "free money" scams. If someone claiming to be a tax preparer promises extra money with little to no documentation, those claims are likely false.


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I would've had Joubert slightly higher too. At least higher than Chan.
I would've had Joubert slightly higher too. At least higher than Chan.
Still .... about Joubert, I'm kind of torn and I haven't even gotten to watch Chan, who is above him. Dai was perfect and I'm in total awe of his footwork. It's so gorgeous and seemless, you totally forget he is trying to get points. But Joubert was really on fire and he did do that huge combination...
Besides, even though I like watching other skaters more, part me hopes Joubert wins the whole thing just to show his stupid federation. what would they say then?
Last edited by Layfan; 03-24-2010 at 07:59 PM.
As Patrick noted, Dai sold it better. I could say Joubert sold it better too - but I am just not buying what Joubert is selling.
If I want to see that type of action I prefer watching the original - John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever."
What happened to Oda? I feel really bad for him even though I am not a big fan. Maybe his ancestor, warrior Oda put a curse on him. He may not like the fact that Nobunari is a skater not a conquerer of Japan.Maybe he wanted him to become a prime minister instead of a figure skater.
Takahashi and Joubert really SOLD their programs. Chan was excellent technically, but it's a bit like watching a windup toy going through its paces---no audience connection. Yes, Chan earns high TR and CH scores, but PE and IN scores should be considerably lower than Dai and Brian's.
I also think Abbott was robbed. He should have scored in the 84-85 range, certainly higher than Brezina.
Cant stand Chan. He needs to compete with MAO.
I don't get it. If Rippon and Brezina could get those high scores, then Abbott was definitely underscored. I thought that Abbott should be in the 84 range.
As of Joubert, with his performance and technics for today, I have no doubt that he should be in the first place. At least should be in front of Chan. To see the performances today, I believe that raising the quad's value is absolutely necessary and a valid argument.
Last edited by jennylovskt; 03-24-2010 at 10:10 PM.
All well, at least Abbott shouldn't be robbed that much in LP because he will be in the last group to skate. The system is as funny as this!


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Town Square
Messages we send our kids through the gifts we give
Original post made by Joanna, Crescent Park, on Nov 13, 2006
"All the kids have them now," one parent explained to me by way of excusing the gun and, apparently, the boy's behavior.
With holiday season upon us, it seems like a good time to start thinking about the gifts we choose for our children, and what those gifts say. In the case of the air guns, are we telling our kids that destructive, aggessive behavior is OK, as long as we only aim at squirrels and birds?
I'm setting a goal for myself this year, and I'd like to throw it out for consideration by other parents. What if this year, instead of the high-priced phones or MP3 players or, heaven forbid, cars, what if we focus on *experience*? Give them something they won't grow out of, they won't leave lying around the living room, they will remember for years to come, and, probably, none of their friends got one just like it.
I'd like to give suggestions, but it comes down to individual preferences and values. I'm going to give my son a potted apple tree that he can plant wherever he wants, and nurture and grow up with. I'm also thinking that I will take him to a homeless shelter where we'll help serve dinners, so he can see how lucky we are.
One mom I knew said that, each holiday season, she and her husband would give their child $25 to give to the charity or nonprofit of their choosing. They would then make a project of it -- what type of nonprofit most interested the child? Once the beneficiary was identified, the child could (optionally) go on a matching campaign, where aunts, uncles, friends, etc. could match the child's contribution. The final donation was usually significant.
Let's teach our children it's not about having, but experiencing, giving, and sharing. I bet you, as their interested parent, can think of a great way to make it enjoyable and memorable for them.
P.S. Don't tell my son about the tree -- it's a surprise!
Comments (29)
a resident of Charleston Meadows
on Nov 13, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Great idea! I've been having my siblings give my kids "gift certificates" for individual alone time for holidays. My kids have enough stuff, and I pointed out that what they really love is getting a period of one-on-one time. Big success. Long after they've forgotten most of their presents, they still talk about the time they went for a picnic on the river in Santa rosa, etc.
I would like to throw out another suggestion for parents of over-saturated children. When my kids turn 8, they stop having everyone bring them a gift to their parties. Instead, they think about what they want to give. The guests at last year's party each (if they wanted) brought a present for a homeless child their age, with the thought that this would be each child's one special toy. The children had to think about what toy would be special to them, had to think about the fact that some (many) children only do have one toy, and I didn't have to deal with more overstuffed shelves. A classmate of my daughter's had a party where the family asked everyone instead of a gift to give a donation to an anoimal shelter their child had chosen. The family matched the guests' total $ donations.
I see in our area a lot of hurried children who want to be sure they get their "share" -- whatever that is. I like giving my children the opportunity to give back and recognize and appreciate what they have instead of thinking about how much more others have than they. The Dalai Llama actually lists this as one of the essential stepping stones to happiness.
Not to get too woo woo here, but this has worked well for us.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 13, 2006 at 2:01 pm
How sweet. You say "...it's not about having", but you live in Crescent Park in Palo Alto? I think what you mean is that you, persoanlly, alredy have too much, and you want to give back, in some small way.
Maybe your son actually wants a BB gun (to shoot whatever), and you are projecting your own emotions on him. It is called guilt, in case you don't know.
Lighten up! You son needs help....
a resident of Charleston Meadows
on Nov 13, 2006 at 2:17 pm
Wow, Gary! I'm surprised at the vehemence of your tone, and at your hostility to the idea of someone's wanting to give back and teach her child to give back. I don't get why Joanna's suggestion is objecionable.
And in case you think *my* kids need help, too, I can assure you that their teachers unanimously comment on how kind, thoughtful, empathetic and *whole* they seem -- on their own and compared to the kids we know who get a whole lot and are always looking for what they "need" to have next. From my perspective, thinking about others and our environment, etc. is a message that is always appropriate for everyone -- child and adult-- to take to heart.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Nov 13, 2006 at 2:25 pm
Before anyone gets carried away with your comment, let me clarify. If you saw the little cottage that I rent in Crescent Park (and I'm not talking the "big houses with sweeping lawns" part of Crescent Park), you would laugh wholeheartedly at your mistake -- as I am now.
As for my son, he's young and impressionable and, like all our children, he learns his values from his parents. If I said, "Hey, you'd enjoy this BB gun more than you'd like a tree," then yeah, he'd probably like the BB gun. He'd probably also prefer a Ferrari and a chocolate factory (which, incidentally, are NOT in my budget), if that's what I as his role-model parent presented to him as "good choices."
Think what you like, Gary. I appreciate what the commentor befor you had to say: : "I like giving my children the opportunity to give back and recognize and appreciate what they have instead of thinking about how much more others have than they." It's all about modeling our values.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Nov 13, 2006 at 2:37 pm
I like the comments here. I don't think my children are over-indulged with too much stuff as we are very careful about this. They have to pay for their own cell phones, etc. out of Christmas or Birthday money they receive from grandparents, etc. and we make it a point that they don't get everything they want or get everything everyone else has. They don't get as much of an allowance as most of their friends either. So, they do feel hard done by and I won't give my name as they are quite likely to see this post here and die of embarrassment if their friends see it.
However, one thing we have always done is to show them that it is much better to give than to receive. Our Christmas lists are the lists of people we want to give to. This list includes teachers, neighbors, crossing guards, etc. etc. and we make it a family thing of doing the shopping togther. They are also expected to buy/make and wrap something for their siblings and close family members out of their own money. These gifts are rarely expensive, often home made, but thoughtful and given in the true spirit of the season. I have seen tears of joy from a crossing guard when presented with his box of cookies and pure delight from neighbors who are filled with wonder at the fact that my children have taken time to decorate special cookies for them. We also make sure that they participate in giving to charities, by taking canned goods to drives and toys for toys for tots or similar. We also participate in the shoebox giving at our church where we prepare a shoe box gift for a needy child somewhere else in the world, with toys, school supplies and basics like socks and toothbrush & paste, together with a school picture of them and a message to their recipient signed by my child as their friend from America. This has become a part of our holiday traditions and as much fun as the excitement of opening of their own gifts on Christmas morning.
I think that no matter what type of programme you adopt, the fact that your family is thinking of others is the best lesson for all children to hear and the more that they can do for themselves to get involved, the better. This way if all of us do a little something, we make the whole community feel the spirit of the season.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 13, 2006 at 3:06 pm
I you all want to give to your kids, give them your time. I don't mean "quality time", I mean time. Listen to them (endlessly), then learn to tell them "no", without making excuses about it. Also say "yes", when it is appropriate. But DON'T make them feel guilty about being selfish!
If your son wants a BB gun, because its the current rage, then your answer should be just "yes" or "no", because you are the parent. If you make him feel like he just gave up his budding manhood, in order to satisfy your emotional guilt, he will become resentful. And burdened with your guilt.
My wife and I raised four kids, two boys and two girls. Guilt is the WORST thing you can teach your kids! Let them develop empathy (and guilt) on their own. You will be surprised how generous they can become.
Just don't make it a choice between the BB gun and the homeless.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 13, 2006 at 4:48 pm
As a parent of high school students, I really would like to understand the parents here who feel it necessary to give their son/daughter a brand-new BMW (sorry -- bimmer). Yes, I see them regularly at our high school. Somehow I prefer it when kids drive 2nd hand cars at first. Soon we will be making the decision about wheels.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 13, 2006 at 8:47 pm
How about a nice bicycle?
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Nov 13, 2006 at 9:13 pm
I thought squirrels were protected in Palo Alto. Maybe Mountain View and Palo Alto can get some these Crescent Park kids to reduce the agressive squirrel population:-)
a resident of Crescent Park
on Nov 14, 2006 at 11:17 am
I picked this post off something called backfence, after I said to myself, it can't possibly be legal to shoot bb guns in a residential area, and googled for bb guns palo alto:
Toy Gun Replicas are Unsafe
Crime Log, by Sergeant Sandra Brown, on 10/24/06 at 10:21 AM
Airsoft toy guns or similar type toy weapons which replicate real guns have become very popular amongst teenagers and young adults. Airsoft guns are produced in models similar to the Smith & Wesson, Beretta and Glocks, and look like semi automatics and revolvers. These "toy" weapons shoot plastic bb's with the help of spring action mechanisms, gas cartridges or electrically charged batteries and are produced with orange safety tips which in many cases are removed by the consumer.
The Palo Alto Municipal Code, 9.08.010, prohibits adults as well as minors to possess, discharge or fire an air rifle, air-gun, BB gun or pellet gun by means of elastic force, such as sling shots, by air, gas or any explosive substance. These weapon replicas are all referred to as "firearms."
The Palo Alto Police Department has responded to approximately 41 reports of Airsoft type guns, bb guns or bb rifles from January 2005 to October 2006. A majority of these calls involve juveniles with either Airsoft type weapons shooting out windows with bb's, shooting at each other in war games or exhibiting these replica weapons to others in public places. Police officers must make instant decisions when faced with emergency calls involving suspects with firearms. In many instances, one cannot tell the difference between the toy and the real gun. For the safety of residents and the public, the Palo Alto Police Department encourages all residents to be aware of the above Municipal Code that prohibits the possession and use of air guns.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Nov 14, 2006 at 11:20 am
So, call the police before he harms wildlife or puts someone's eye out with that thing.
a resident of South of Midtown
on Nov 14, 2006 at 12:29 pm
Someone we know, send us an email asking us to donate to our favorite charity for her son's 6th birthday, instead of bringing the son a gift. As parents, we thought it was such a great idea ! So 95% of the invited kids went to the birthday party with an envelope/receipt of the charity that their parents had donated to ...
The mom (I should say the appropriate word here will be boasted) wrote an email to all the other parents emphasizing on the introduction to charity at a young age and how her son was totally fine with it.
The party was fun, everyone had a good time. When all the kids left, it was time to open the presents and there were none. The little kid was really very much disappointed. He did not relate to what it meant for him when he agreed to donate to charity.
So, donating to charity - definitely an excellent idea. But to all those parents over there who are thinking about it - consider your child's age and the fact that s/he may not really get the real meaning of it, till until after they have donated and realized that there isn't anything left for them.
All of us like to get a present / gift once in a while; Children are no different. In this day and age we are all caught up in doing the 'right thing' that at times we tend to overlook that the kids need to indulge to enjoy their childhood too !
My kids usually have a laundry list of the items that they want for special occassions. They start two months in advance and modify /re-modify the list, god knows how many times, until it is time to buy the things. Do I buy all of them - definitely not ! We set a limit on the number of gifts that they will get. There is a cost limit too (no, I cannot afford iPODS and $300 video games ).
I go through the list and try to understand why the item is important to the children. Sometimes it is - because Jennifer has it or at the other times it is - I think that is cool. Once we start going through the list , the children themsleves eliminate 50% of the items -- this is a good family-time exercise. Usually at the end of it, we have agreed on what they will get for the occassion ... then at times, Santa throws in one more item into the mix.
Now in all this, how do we teach them charity - by picking out tags off the wishing-tree in YMCA that fit into our budget. The budget is usually the same as the $ the children get for their own gifts. I encourage the kids to make cards for those children who are going to get these gifts. There isn't any competetion - its not like the charity association got more and I didn't get any or I got less. We got equal - so its a win win situation for all. My kids are in elementary school right now - once they are a little older, they probably will want to donate their entire allowance to the charity sometime (I hope! )
I like the idea of a tree ! Never thought of that one before ... thanks for sharing .. thats definitely going to be our 'family' gift this year !
a resident of Charleston Meadows
on Nov 14, 2006 at 12:51 pm
I really liked your comment, DJ. The age issue is something I do take into account with my own kids, and why I waited until they were 8 to do the birthday party present thing. They also know very well that they are inundated with presents from grandparents and other relatives and friends at that time, so not getting another 15 presents is ok. We also try to model this for them ourselves in big and little ways. The YMCA tree is a great thing to do and brings the issue of having a lot or not home for them.
Also, giving your children the power and control to write an outrageously long list and then go through and prioritize on its own is a GREAT teaching tool -- empowers them to make decisions and differentiate between immediate gratification of a temporary whim and receipt of a meaningful present.
As for the boasting, well, some people understand that the point of charity is to do something without being praised for it. Others really need to be seen as "good". It's part of human nature, albeit not one of its better elements.
a resident of College Terrace
on Nov 14, 2006 at 2:49 pm
Why not give Product Red items to children for Christmas? There is a website and you can see all the products. Or something from WWF or Humane Society? Try to get things that either help the planet or human beings save the planet?
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 16, 2006 at 3:53 pm
I do have one question on the tree idea.
Since you rent, where will he plant it?
a resident of Crescent Park
on Nov 17, 2006 at 7:53 am
Good question, RS. We're hoping to buy a home soon, possibly the one we're in. Planting the tree here may be a leap of good faith -- that apple tree may have to live in a big pot for a while.
While I'm on the subject, it's worth noting that my son is only in first grade and had "his own" tree in the past (at our previous home) -- he fully bonded with that tree and loved watching it grow as he grew. But I'm aware that idea wouldn't work for every child.
Bicycles, as you suggested earlier, are among the best possible gifts you can give kids of any age, I think. Give the child a bike and you give him/her a hobby, a cool toy, and liberation, all in one neat package.
Joanna (original poster)
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Nov 17, 2006 at 10:22 am
A rose bush may also be a nice idea. If you think you may move, you can always put it into nice planter.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 17, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Thanks Susie, for your reminder about searching for gifts from charitable organizations.
I don't have children myself, but as a resident of Palo Alto, I am surrounded by them! One gift I often give, that works especially well for very young children - a $ gift to Heifer International, along with a small toy. The toy solves the 'problem' of feeling the need to give a small plaything to a little child, while also planting the seeds of the value of giving to others.
You can fund a flock of geese, a hive of honeybees, a llama, or even a cow, and provide a family in another part of the world with both the animal(s) and the training to care for it. For the child here at home, I colorfully wrap a stuffed bee, or a big handful of plastic farm animals that you can get rather inexpensively from the bins at PA Toy & Sport.
Young children get a little gift which they can enjoy at that moment, which of course makes them happy. As they grow and can understand what the toy signifies, they not only have a small collection of animals, but a reminder of the gifts given to a family in another part of the world.
Of course, you could pick any organization and give a small toy that is representative...give one book and correspondingly a $ gift to RIF, a small lego fire truck set and a gift to the Red Cross, etc etc.
happy shopping!
a resident of Southgate
on Nov 18, 2006 at 1:34 am
I was intrigued by Joanna's original posting, and DJ's approach reminded me of what we did when our daughter was young. She started getting a monthly allowance when she was about 10-- it was not connected to monthly chores (she had to do those regardless), and it was divided into segments: 10% to savings, 10% set aside for friends' birthdays, 10% for charity, and the rest for her discretion.
So, if she got $30.00 a month we would give it to her in bills so that she could put them in separate envelopes, which all went in a little bank she had. The birthday money would add up so that she could get a friend a nice gift, and she would accumulate the charity money and decide where to donate it usually once or twice a year. Her savings went into a real bank account, that she could use for big expenditures if she wanted-- usually she hated to spend it and liked watching it grow. Sometimes she added more into the charity pot.
As she got older, her monthly allowance went up (COLA), and she was responsible for her own clothing purchases (except for shoes & coats) as well. This turned her into a VERY wise shopper, who really appreciates the value of a dollar. She also discovered the joys of shopping at Goodwill. :-)
To this day, she continues the practice of putting aside part of her earnings in savings, and giving to charity at least once a year. We often get together in December and look over the Heifer catalog to see what we will "give" each other for Christmas from it...
I'm indebted to another mom who shared this allowance method with us-- I'm so proud of the way my daughter, now in her 20s, manages her money and understands its real value. And that she learned the practice of giving to charity, without guilt or tears. (which was no doubt bolstered by her experiences at church, helping w/meals for Hotel de Zink, collecting food and toys for a family through Ecumenical Hunger Project, etc.)
On a related note: I see kids in middle school all the time because of my job, and it's so common for them to lose cell phones or iPods one day, and then come in to school with a brand new BETTER one the next day, that was bought for them. They brag and show it off, oblivious to effects on peers or their own accountability. If they had to pay for the replacement themselves, even half of it, I'm sure it would be a different story...
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 18, 2006 at 4:46 pm
The best way for parents to teach their children generosity is to make the children aware of the parents' own giving. The most effective way to teach children anything is to model the behavior themselves. They can educate the children as to their own donations and frequency even if they choose not to discuss the amounts.
Depriving a 6 year old of birthday presents he might rightfully expect based on his experience is more likely to teach him to disregard the needs of others based on his mother's depriving him of things he believed he was entitled to.
a resident of Green Acres
on Nov 19, 2006 at 3:19 pm
This is just an aside --
This is a cultural thing, but I'm extremely uncomfortable about opening gifts at a party, unless it's a baby shower where the whole point of the gathering is to ooh and aah over the gifts. D.J. made the comment of one experience where it came time to open the gifts at the end of the party -- without diluting D.J.'s main point, I just wanted to say that there are many people who find opening the gifts at the party (or in front of the giver) to be impolite or even crass. As I said, this is cultural, and I think most people who go to parties are just quiet about how other people do things even if it is different. But opening all the gifts at a party can lead to comparisons and envy later in kids (with younger kids, it can happen right there, I've seen meltdowns of little ones).
That said, my son is excited to see his friends open and appreciate the presents he picks out for them, but more one on one.
We have had a couple of huge birthday parties that doubled as family gatherings, and if everyone brought gifts, it would just be too much. One time we said no gifts, but if people wanted to they could bring gifts for a children's non-profit -- and it worked out really well. Closest family spontaneously brought gifts for both our son and the non-profit, and we open our gifts at home anyway so our son had the gifts from us, too -- it was really just right and he and we had a wonderful and very different experience from the party described above.
But for a smaller party of just kids I wouldn't do that, kids do need to know the experience of giving AND receiving, especially in their peer relationships, they need to know how to appropriately thank other people for their generosity, know how it feels to receive so that they appreciate what they are giving to someone else when they themselves give a gift, etc.
Everyone has to find their own way, though, I think it's important that we support each other as parents and not be so critical. It's the extremes on both ends (extreme deprivation which I don't see any above or extreme spoiling as was described above in a few places) that cause problems. When I grew up, birthdays were downplayed, I think I only had one party at home. Yes, this was disappointing, but I got over it! :-) I grew up with a strong sense of generosity and no hang ups about birthday parties!
One of the things I most treasure about this area is how involved and caring parents are -- and one of the most "dangerous" things about electronic communication is how easy it is for things to seem negative in print, when the person is not there to clear up simple misconceptions, or laugh to lighten certain points that aren't really that heavy, or see that something has been taken negatively and apologize the minute it happens so that there are no hard feelings, or get instant feedback to adjust HOW to state a disagreement so that it is part of a positive dialog. I have a feeling if all of the above parents had a conversation in a room, the thread would probably be more supportive.
a resident of Stanford
on Jan 1, 2007 at 6:34 pm
I know this is an odd way of thinking for some of you, but my family has BB wars on the weekends. ;-) . It's an excellent and fun bonding activity/opportunity. We welcome the neighbor kids to come, and many of them do, and it helps us be better neighbors to each other.
We've had many discussions about the appropriateness of using guns of any kind, and how they should NEVER be used. We've also discussed violence in general. I know from personal experience, that watching shows such as Batman, Spiderman, Power Ranger,s and most 1st grade shows teach violence more than the other things.
Also, it's not highly unusual for kids to be interested in guns. (see: a Christmas Story). They've been interested in them for ages.
I apologize if I sound sarcastic, and I'm not trying to be sarcastic at all. and actually the tree idea sounds really, really nice, especially for a first grader. I tried to plant apple seeds from an apple when I was in first grade... it didn't quite work out.
:-) but anyway, just shedding a thought from another perspective
a resident of Barron Park
on Sep 2, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Nice site!
Web Link | Web Link | Web Link | Web Link | Web Link
a resident of Greenmeadow
on Sep 2, 2007 at 8:49 pm
I want to pick up on A.J.'s discomfort about gift-opening ceremonies. I also am very uncomfortable when that happens. Comparisons are unavoidable and I find myself relieved when someone else's gift turns out to be more modest than mine. It is not only the glorifying of consumption that I find unattractive but I don't like how it makes me feel inside.
I am as vulnerable to greed as anyone else and I don't like myself when a ceremony that is supposed to be positive makes me experience the greed and competitiveness that is being shared. I feel that way at showers too. I experience them a little bit like extortion though I smile my way through, like everyone else. Things things things, and stuff and more stuff. way too much.
a resident of Los Altos Hills
on Sep 3, 2007 at 8:59 am
I believe children learn generosity of spirit from the generosity of spirit of their parents. If they recieve generously from their parents, and see their parents give generously to others, they will grow up to give generously also.
Forcing them to think in all or none, nothing for me or everything for me, as in the example of the 6 year old ( or frankly, 8, 10, 12, 16 ..any childhood age)who gets nothing for himself so he can feel the "greatness" of giving will only teach him to
.... never enjoy the gifts given to him by generous folks in the future, because his guilt will be saying "I don't deserve this, I have too much, nobody should give me anything, everything I have I should give away"
.... resent all giving to others, since it is a "them or me" mentality.
Better to teach a sense of fullness, gratitude and blessing in all the gifts he receives, and as he grows he will return it all 10 fold. He needs to be able to enjoy his OWN gifts as well, to learn the pleasure he gives others with his gifts.
Question to all you parents who do this to your kids...do you give away every present you receive? Do you refuse to give yourself the pleasure of receiving? Of opening gifts? If not, think about what you are really doing, which is projecting your desires on your children. If you are not an ascetic monk or nun, if you received gifts growing up as children and still managed to become empathetic, giving creatures, please re-consider your positions.
a resident of Meadow Park
on Sep 3, 2007 at 9:19 am
My daughter went to a party last week where the kids did various activities for 90 minutes and then spent fully 30 minutes watching the birthday girl (10) open her presents. I thought it was a drag. On the other hand, I don't like to have parties where my children receive oodles of presents because they don't need them, they get plenty from us and their relatives, and we don't have room. On the other hand, we now invite only a few friends for parties (my daughter is turning 10) and I think that is ok.
I will state that I hate goodie bags. Hate giving them, hate my kids bringing them home andhte little stuff going everywhere and then into the trash -- seems like wasteful, needless consumption. I have heard children who were receiving them at other parties comparing them with each other. Hello, this is not a party for you so why are you expecting a cornucopia of gifts in your goody bag?
a resident of Professorville
on Sep 3, 2007 at 10:26 am
A "goody bag" can easily be just one thing, preferably related to the party. A squirt gun that you play with at the party and keep, a ball, a flowering plant, etc. Cookies you decorate and take home, etc. More fun than a bunch of little stuff.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Sep 3, 2007 at 11:13 am
I hate the gift giving ceremonies, including showers. This is a particularly American habit and it can be avoided. You can easily leave the gifts still wrapped on a table and then open them later. I have sometimes had one friend stay late after the rest leave and the gifts can be opened then with the one friend. I always make sure that family gifts are given at a different time.
As far as goodie bags are concerned, when they are small and they have a Panata (sp?) that the candy is shared around and put into goody bags which they take home. Older kids do not have goody bags, but I have seen my kids bring home coupons for play dates to be redeemed within a month of the party and then make sure that these play dates happen.
We have also received invitations with instructions that the gift should be no more than $5 in value. If you know that everyone has the same limit then it really helps.
The biggest problem now is that the kids are getting gift cards from friends and they can go to whichever store to spend on what they want. Quite honestly, these cards are often worth the amount of money that can buy them the things they have on their birthday list from us. As a result, I tend not to get them things they have asked for that they are able to buy themselves with the gift cards. I like them to be able to used the gift cards for what they really want rather than to go somewhere and buy just because they have cash and there isn't really anything they actually want.
a resident of Midtown
on Sep 3, 2007 at 6:59 pm
I like the idea of sending a note ahead of time saying that the gifts should not be worth more than a certain amount; thats very neat. I am definitely going to attempt sending out this note
re: Goodie bags - its all junk that gets lost. I know a couple of families who set a $2 on the goodie bag and then try to cram as many things as possible within the limit .. in the end, half or more of the stuff is broken before we make our way to the car.
I have started limiting to just one thing - I prefer buying age appropriate books (buy them ahead of time and buy them online - you can get really great deals). I buy an entire series and spilt it - one book per child. This has never gone wrong - kids 'remember' the books for a long time !
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Information For...
Federal PELL Grant
Federal PELL Grant (PELL)
The PELL Grant is a federal program for undergraduate students obtaining their first bachelor's degree. The PELL Grant amount depends on family contribution and the number of hours for which each student is enrolled (full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, less than half-time). It is always the first program to be considered for each applicant. Students may not be eligible for the Federal PELL Grant and still qualify under another program. If eligible for a PELL grant, Students must be enrolled in at least one college level credit course each semester to be eligible to receive the funds.
Award Range: $277-$2,775 per semester


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Staggered Diagonal Seam/Air Seal System:
The heart of any drum is the shell, and Yamaha's method of hand-crafting shells produces the strongest, most consistent drums available. Yamaha drums feature a staggered diagonal seam to ensure a shell that starts round, and stays round and will not requ...
Staggered Diagonal Seam/Air Seal System:
The heart of any drum is the shell, and Yamaha's method of hand-crafting shells produces the strongest, most consistent drums available. Yamaha drums feature a staggered diagonal seam to ensure a shell that starts round, and stays round and will not require any putty filler in the bearing edges to fill voids between the plies. The Air Seal System of clamping the plies in the mold provides the same pressure 360° around the shell to make sure the glue is evenly distributed. This is key to the consistency of Yamaha shells.
Yamaha Absolute Maple series shells are crafted using North American maple. Maple produces a round, warm tone with a good mix of overtones from high to low. Our maple drums have a wide dynamic range and long sustain.
YESS II mounting system:
The new version of Yamaha's YESS mounting system anchors the mount at the top and bottom nodal point of the shell. The mounting bracket is attached to a metal plate, and this assembly is isolated from the shell using rubber grommets. By shock-mounting the shell in this manner, no vibration is able to escape the shell through the hardware. The lugs are placed at a point that filters out unwanted overtones. This system gives the Absolute series a bigger sound and a pure tone with more warmth and sustain.
Hook Lug:
First introduced on the flagship PHX series, the hook lug is a giant step forward in lug design. This lug anchors to a square, hooked post that anchors to the shell at the nodal point using a single bolt. This design reduces the number of holes and retains the integrity of the shell. The small contact area of the post allows it to make very little contact with the shell, and reduces the amount of shell vibration that is dampened. The hook lug also makes changing heads much quicker, since the tension rod only needs to be loosened a few turns, allowing the lug to detach the lug from the post.
Vent holes:
The number of, and placement of the vent hole plays an important role in the sound of a drum by affecting the attack, sustain, and tone. Through exhaustive research and testing of many prototypes, Yamaha has discovered the optimal number and placement of the vent hole in each drum. Snare drums and toms up to 12" have one hole, 13" toms have two, 14:" and 16" toms have four, floor toms have six, 18" bass rums have eight, and bass drums from 20" to 24:" have ten vent holes.
Bass drum spurs/floating bass drum system:
The Absolute series bass drums have a heavier version of our classic spur that has been a favorite in the industry for years. The newer spurs are thicker for better stability under even the heaviest playing conditions. Our 18" bass drums include our floating bass drum lift that raises the batter side of the drum off the floor for a fuller sound, while eliminating the need to shorten the beater shaft to strike the center of the head.
Expanded bass drum selection:
Bass drums are available with or without a mount installed at the factory. A 20" deep bass drum is now available in the 22" diameter drum. All bass drums come with matching wood hoops.
Drawing from our legendary pianos, Yamaha was the first company to use high-quality lacquer finishes on their drums. The Absolute series is available in 23 hand-finished lacquers and one wrap (White Marine Pearl). Each lacquer finish is sprayed,sanded, and buffed by hand to create a drum that looks as beautiful as it sounds. Six of the finishes (including the glow in the dark Luminous White Sparkle) were developed through hours of experimenting at our artist facility in the U.S. by our custom builder Daryl Anderson.
Audio & Video
|Absolute Maple Hook Lug Components
|Bass Drums
|18" x 14"
|20" x 16"
|20" x 18"
|20" x 18" no mount
|24" x 16"
|20" x 18"
|22" x 18" no mount
|22" x 20"
|22" x 20" no mount
|24" x 16"
|24" x 18"
|24" x 18" no mount
|8" x 7"
|10" x 7"
|10" x 8"
|12" x 8"
|12" x 9"
|13" x 9"
|13" x 10"
|14" x 11"
|14" x 12"
|16" x 13"
|16" x 14"
|Floor Toms
|14" x 13"
|16" x 15"
|18" x 16"
|Snare Drums
|14" x 6"
|14" x 7"
The first models were produced at Yamaha's Niitsu factory in Hamamatsu, Japan, and later at our Miyatake factory as well. Many drummers who are familiar with Yamaha today believe that Sakae Rhythm was the original Yamaha production facility, but in fact production was started at Yamaha's own factories. Another common misconception is that our Air Seal System was developed at Sakae Rhythm, but it was actually developed and introduced right from the first models that were produced at our own factories. One of the earliest Yamaha drum brochures shows the original Yamaha production facility and describes Air Seal System technology, a Yamaha innovation that is a vital part of our identity as a drum manufacturer to this day.
Al Foster, who was touring Japan with the Miles Davis at the time, signed on to become a Yamaha endorser in 1972.
This was the turning point at which Yamaha drums began to be recognized as world-class instruments that satisfied the requirements of leading professionals in the field.
Shell mounting hardware had been different for each series and model up until this time. The system drum concept brought about the unification of all drum mounting hardware so that drums and hardware from any series could be mixed and combined as required.
Hexagonal rods and holder bases of the same specifications were used for all models, and the diameter of all stand hardware piping and holders was fixed at 22mm to allow total system fiexibility and freedom.
Although this approach is commonplace among today's drum manufacturers, it was a revolutionary concept at the time. Just one of Yamaha's many innovations that have become standards.
Another Yamaha hardware innovation worthy of mention is the hide-away boom stand. It was patented at the time, but as soon as the patent expired all of our competitors began copying our design. Today it has become another "standard" feature.
This continuously adjustable ball clamp made it possible to position toms up, down, left, or right, to any position required with one quick action. The current design allows toms to be flipped over for convenient bottom-head tuning ... a feature that is greatly appreciated by both drummers and drum technicians. Like the hexagonal mounting rod, the ball clamp has become a symbol of Yamaha hardware superiority.
This model featured 100% birch shells, one-piece lugs, and a gorgeous sprayed finish. Maple was the most popular material for drum shells at the time, following the trend set by jazz drums from the U.S.A. Through our own research related to pianos and wind instruments, we had realized that birch would be an ideal material for drum shells. We were also the first to apply piano finishing techniques to drums, eschewing the veneer covering that was common at the time. The full force of Yamaha technology was applied to the production of this landmark product.
The use of one-piece lugs to enhance the natural hardness of the birch shells resulted in a tight, well-defined sound that was enthusiastically adopted by many top artists of the day, including Steve Gadd and Cozy Powell. The sound was so well suited to recording that the YD9000 has become the most recorded drum set in history. The name was later changed to "Recording Custom," a model that is still widely used today.
Although there were concerns that a change from birch to maple shells might meet some resistance from users, Yamaha decided to introduce maple shells in order to accommodate changes in the music scene as well as evolving recording technology. From about the mid 80's, influenced by the emergence of fusion, drummers began demanding response and resonance that would suit the more elaborate phrasing used in that genre. Maple provided a bright, rapid response that was ideal, and by reducing the dimensions of parts that could dampen resonance as much as possible the natural shell resonance could come through with unrestricted tone. This led to the development of small, lightweight lugs, an extremely thin "vintage" finish, and the YESS (Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System) nodal mount for open, organic shell resonance.
The idea of using small lugs mounted so that they don't dampen shell resonance was quickly adopted by other manufacturers as well.
Throughout the 90's Yamaha maintained an active, aggressive approach to product development. The Stage Custom model introduced in 1996 was one result. This series offered the same type of birch shell that was being used in the popular RC series, with the same one-piece lugs and a beautiful sprayed finish, at a surprisingly affordable price.
The Maple Absolute series took the philosophy of achieving the richest possible shell resonance to the next level. In the same year new beech shells were introduced alongside the existing birch shells in the Absolute series.
At around this time Yamaha was collaborating with top-level artists from all around the world in developing a range of exciting new products such as the Hipgig and JR drum kits, the Musashi snare, and the Subkick low-frequency capture device.
Although other manufacturers had avoided using oak in drums because it is extremely difficult to work with, Yamaha succeeded in forming this very hard wood into drum shells using our Air Seal System technology. The result was impressive response and huge bass that has made this model a standard in the Yamaha lineup.
Pushing Yamaha finishing technology to the limit, a lineup of almost 50 colors was developed for the Absolute series. The revolutionary detachable Nouveau lugs were developed to further reduce shell damping while at the same time making head replacement easier than ever.
Years of drum manufacturing experience and accumulated technological know-how, plus in-depth reassessment of every critical aspect of drum design and production, all came together to bring about a profound evolution in the form of the hybrid shell: the key to delivering unprecedented tone and power. The lugs took another evolutionary leap too. Going beyond the concept of minimizing shell damping, lug design and mounting now plays an active role in creating and controlling the sound of the drums by suppressing unwanted harmonics. Tom mounting has advanced as well, resulting in unprecedented tone and consistent playability.
The YESS2 mount and new hook lugs developed for the PHX series have now been implemented in the Absolute series as well, contributing to even clearer, richer sound. A newly developed textured finish has been applied in the Rock Tour series, significantly enhancing visual impact. Kapur was discovered and used for its excellent tonal qualities in the PHX series drums and is now used as the sole tone wood for the sound of the Club Custom drums.
Size (diameter x depth)
|Bass Drums
|18 x 14 MAB-1814H 20 x 16 MAB-2016H 22 x 16 MAB-2216H 24 x 16 MAB-2416H 20 x 18 MAB-2018H 22 x 18 MAB-2218H 24 x 18 MAB-2418H 20 x 18 MAB-2018HR (no mount) 22 x 18 MAB-2218HR (no mount) 24 x 18 MAB-2418HR (no mount) 22 x 20 MAB-2220H 22 x 20 MAB-2220HR (no mount)
|8 x 7 MAT-0807H 10 x 7 MAT-1007H 10 x 8 MAT-1008H 12 x 8 MAT-1208H 12 x 9 MAT-1209H 13 x 9 MAT-1309H 13 x 10 MAT-1310H 14 x 11 MAT-1411H 14 x 12 MAT-1412H 16 x 13 MAT-1613H 16 x 14 MAT-1614H
|Floor Toms
|14 x 13 MAS-1413H 16 x 15 MAS-1615H 18 x 16 MAS-1816H
|Snare Drums
|14 x 6 MAS-1460H


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Brooklyn ladies have always taken pride in their hair. Whether they wear it
long and wavy
short and curly
Brooklyn women take full advantage of all the hair options available. And now since the weather has turned relatively warm, we can look forward to not dealing with the dreaded "hat hair" and can release our locks from their prisons of winter hats. Each new season of course brings with it a fresh opportunity for new and inventive hair styles, as these models can attest at The National Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association show in 1950.
The fashion magazines are filled with the latest trends in color and cuts. This is an annual rite of Spring, not usually reserved for starting revolutions, but in the early 1920's one hairstyle did just that. It was...
The Bob!
Started by Irene Castle during World War I , The Bob soon caught on the world over. The hair was cut short around the head at jaw level and could be worn straight, or curly, with bangs or parted on the side. With its ease of styling, the Bob epitomized independence, youthfulness, modernity and a boldness that women were eager to embrace. And Brooklyn women were right in the middle of it. There were opponents and proponents of this controversial style, and their debate was chronicled in the pages of The Brooklyn Daily Eagle throughout the 1920's.
From this article dated August 7 1921, the manager from an employment agency is quoted as saying "...[S]omehow, there is a general feeling that the bobbed haired girl is a bit too radical and likely to be aggressive and self-assertive. Those are not the qualifications that render her most desirable as a subordinate. Of course, where her own personality overcomes this impression, she is just as welcome on the job as her long haired sister, but taken on the whole, I know that if a bobbed haired girl and a long haired girl were in the running for a job, and both could supply the same record of efficiency, the long haired girl would get the job every time." Other detractors opined that it would cause baldness in women, and was not dignified enough.
But of course there were many more in favor of this exciting turn in coiffures. Using every argument from mental health to practicality to beauty, it seemed the Bob was here to stay.
Quoted in the same article, Dr. Eliza M Mosher gave her thoughts on the benefits of the fad: "It is far better for the nerves, to have the hair bobbed. Many a woman complains of nervous headaches because of the heavy coil of hair weighing down on her head and it is a decided strain on the nervous system to have combs and hair pins sticking into one's scalp all day. It is really a wonder that women have any hair left, what with the process of curling and dyeing it is popularly subjected to nowaways. And finally bobbed hair is a great deal more sensible. I can't for the life of me understand the attitude of an employer who would discriminate against a girl with short hair. Doesn't he know that it takes far less time to arrange the hair when it is short than when it is long and that when a girl cuts her hair it is usually because she is sensible and not because she is vain?"
An Abraham & Strauss barber also chimed in: "Moreover, the bob is more dignified than the old fashioned way women did their hair, because it follows the line of the head. Properly marceled, close to the head, it is the most dignified way a woman can dress her hair."
This trend-setting style also provided a decided economic boon to the borough. By 1924 women were bobbing there hair at a rate of 2,000 a day. The 474 beauty parlors in Brooklyn were filled with women waiting to be shorn, as well as the countless barbers who were having difficulty keeping up with the demand. "We are bobbing 400 heads daily," said Benny, head barber at Frederick Loeser & Co. "Everybody is having it done and age is no handicap. Among our patrons are many women of 50 and 60 years of age, for the younger women did it a year ago. We have never been so busy,"
Not every young woman was happy with the current trend. Unable to find an Easter hat to fit her locks, she wrote the Daily Eagle: "Is there a single milliner or department store proprietor who desires to cater to the normal woman of today? I have spent three days in a harassing search of Manhattan and Brooklyn for a hat. I have found no store which has hats save for the bobbed-haired women. These peanut contraptions are offered with a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. Sales women announce airily that they have "calls for no other kind." I still have the hair which Nature have to me and which I hope to retain. I have not found a single hat I could squeeze on my head. I shall not bob. What am I to do? - Flatbush"
In addition to the close-fitting cloche hat, the new style also inspired bobby pins, innovations in permanent wave technology, as well as encouraging beauticians to adapt hair-cutting skills formerly the domain of male barbers.
By the 1930's the bob had run its course and women began to grow their hair longer again. But because of this revolutionary hair do, women were freer than ever to adopt the styles of their choice, for their hair and their life.
Please join us for our monthly author talk series this Wednesday, March 28th, at 6:30pm. Our guest this month is Professor Oneka LaBennett, who, in her book She's Mad Real, discusses the ways in which teenage girls in Flatbush and Crown Heights successfully carve out and create their own individuality in a world dominated by popular culture.
The Brooklyn Collection is on the 2nd floor mezzanine of Brooklyn Public Library's Central branch, at Grand Army Plaza. A wine and cheese reception, as well as distribution of tickets is at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited to 40. Author talk begins promptly at 7pm.
Brooklynology is pleased to welcome guest blogger Garry R. Osgood. Garry is a software developer and web designer, who potters as a recreational historian of things Brooklyn.
In March 1893, Frederick Law Olmsted's friend and colleague Daniel Burnham said of him, "An artist, he paints with lakes and wooded slopes; with lawns and banks and forest covered hills; with mountain sides and ocean views." And what better example of this artistry could one find than the vista in the northern reaches of Prospect Park overlooking a glacial kettle, not more than a few minutes' walk from the doorstep of Brooklyn's Central Library.
The Lake. Robert N. Dennis Collection, courtesy of The New York Public Library www.nypl.org.
The land in the northern end of Prospect Park was shaped by ice age forces. About 17,000 years ago the receding Wisconsin glacier left huge chunks of ice, which slowly melted, causing the soil above to collapse and giving rise to a landscape of dramatic character. Geologists call such formations kettles and in the northern quadrant of the park, Olmsted and Calvert Vaux had a beaut: one with a drop along its northern rim of almost sixty feet. To them, the kettle must have been a gift from landscape heaven.
The Children's Shelter. Brooklyn Public Library--Brooklyn Collection
Olmsted and Vaux had designated this portion of the park as an area for children. They fashioned a small pool with a convoluted shoreline, and along the kettle's northern rim they erected a rustic arbor overlooking the view. A playground had been established in the higher ground to the east and a path descended down a series of steps to what was then the Children's Playground Pool. One can only imagine what it must have been like in those early days--because even as the architects were adding their finishing touches, change was on its relentless march.
Fountain, Vale of Cashmere. Brooklyn Public Library--Brooklyn Collection
Thirty years on, the architectural firm of McKim, Meade and White was placing its stamp upon Grand Army Plaza, erecting granite fencing, neoclassical columns and gazebos in place of older rustic shelters. Park Commissioner Frank Squire had the firm re-work the Children's Playground Pool, which was soon ringed with granite balustrades. Frederick MacMonnies donated a fountain, to complete a Beaux-Arts set piece. The locale had been renamed "The Vale of Cashmere" by the wife of Brooklyn Mayor Alfred C. Chapin. She has been inspired by Thomas Moore's Lalla Rookh, an Oriental Romance." The aged Olmsted detested the name, but a younger generation now held sway and so it stuck.
City of New York, Department of Parks Report, 1903.
And the view? Now muted. Trees, non-existent in the late 1860s, became well-rooted on the east and west rims of the kettle. The distant view had become largely obscured by their crowns, so that the middle-ground, the Vale itself, became the focus of one's attention rather than a panorama of the whole wide park. None of this was terrible. The park grounds were still well-groomed--just to guiding principles of a different order.
Lily pond, Rose Garden near Vale of Cashmere, c. 1900. Brooklyn Public Library--Brooklyn Collection
Sadly, much of the twentieth century fell hard on the Vale. The 1898 consolidation of Brooklyn into New York City left Brooklyn's premier park as just some other big park in an outer borough. Interwar graft diverted much money meant for parks. "By the 1930s," the New York Times observed, "generations of Parks Department officials had lived well and got rich by diverting maintenance funds and the park showed the result of half a century of abuse and neglect."
Photograph: © Garry R. Osgood
And so vanished the vista. Not in a year or a decade, but eventually it was gone. A stroller through the arbor's precinct today might, if struck by some curious diligence, push away the leaves and dirt along the shoulder of the path to discover, at regular intervals, plugs of asphalt, barely distinguishable from the surrounding pavement. These seal off the post holes of the now vanished arbor, the only surviving markers of a different kind of beauty.
Garry R. Osgood.
Writers abound in Brooklyn: you trip over them in the park, bump into them in the street, stand beside them on the subway. And among them, writers and illustrators of children's books form an honorable sub set. There are also those writers who draw on memories of Brooklyn but have abandoned their native borough for reasons I cannot fathom. This week the children's bookshelf of the Brooklyn Collection has received two new additions--which reminded me that there are some fine older titles resting on it too. When a harried parent with a toddler must finish an assignment, these are among the volumes we call upon to amuse and delight.
New and charming, if a little verbose for the rugrats, is the ABC's of Brooklyn, an alphabet illustrated with photographs of every corner of Brooklyn, including "J is for just one rider on a jaunt by Jamaica Bay," and "D is for a dramatic doorway design" featuring the facade of our very own Central Library. The book also covers numbers 1-10 through Brooklyn themes. This is an amusing and useful book for Brooklyn parents and children -- and for those unfortunate enough to live in other places -- who will surely be inspired to create their own personal alphabets.
Also new! Ann Rosen's In the Presence of Family: Brooklyn Portraits takes a loving look at Brooklyn families with roots in every part of the world. Rosen's photographs capture their subjects in celebratory mood, and the joyful images are supplemented by brief descriptions of family background.
Turning to fiction and autobiography, Myron Uhlberg in his Flying Over Brooklyn recalls a day in 1947 when, as a boy, he awoke to a world transformed by several feet of snow. As he is sledding in the park, he imagines flying to all of his favorite Brooklyn places, which are magically captured in Gerald Fitzgerald's illustrations.
Mari Takabayashi's Brooklyn is a jewelled city in which the rhythm of the days and seasons are realized in glowing color and careful detail.
Alas, out of print is Jonathan Frost's Gowanus Dogs, the story of a homeless man who rescues--and is rescued by--a stray dog. You can't get sappier than that, but the black and white illustrations, of dogs tearing apart bags of trash, a sleeping spot under the BQE, pigeons swooping over the canal, are gritty and true, and executed with uncommon skill.
Before leaving us for Australia about a year and a half ago, one of our former Research Assistants, Tara Cuthbert, livened up the pages of this blog with charming posts about little-known Brooklynites: birthday dancers, parrot fanciers, a legendary cyclist, and a homemade submarine builder, to name just a few. Living in the morgue during her days here at the Brooklyn Collection, Tara was able to discover these and other stories from the Borough's past by combing through the extensive photo collection housed down there in row upon row of filing cabinets. And now, having put a copy online of the finding aid for our Brooklyn Daily Eagle Morgue photos (albeit a partial one, still under construction) we can all take part in this hunting and pecking to search for gems in the files. The other day, looking for interesting photos to include in Joy's post about the Morgue finding aid, I came across a folder labeled Pepper, Beverly. And though she may be little-known now, especially to those whose eyes glaze over when in the presence of monumental abstract sculpture, she was, at one point, a real feather in Brooklyn's cap.
Born Beverly Stoll on December 20, 1924 in Midwood (she lived with her parents at 3619 Bedford Avenue until the age of 24) Pepper attended Madison High School and Pratt Institute where she studied advertising design, photography, and industrial design. Though set up with a plum job after graduating, where she made $16,000 a year as an art director at a major recording company, Pepper decided to pursue her passion for painting, and moved to Paris. Once there she took classes from the likes of Fernand Léger, and made studio visits to Ossip Zadkine and Brancusi.
On October 31st, 1954 the Eagle published an article about Pepper in advance of her "one-man" show at Barone Gallery in Manhattan. The reporter, boasting of the returning native, made sure to mention Pepper's inclusion in a prior show in Rome where her work hung beside those of Goya, Daumier, Degas, Renoir, Picasso, and Matisse -- as if to say, "Look at that, ya bums! Brooklyn can produce a master too!" In addition to becoming a successful painter during her time abroad, Pepper also became a wife and mother, marrying William Pepper, a United Press Correspondent, and giving birth to two children, Jorie and John Randolph. Not the least of her creations, Pepper's daughter Jorie -- with the married name, Graham -- has gone on to write numerous books of poetry and amass a small zoo of accolades, including a Pulitzer Prize and the so-called MacArthur "Genius Grant."
And though Pepper is seen in the Eagle displaying small figurative paintings of everyday life in Italy, she would later become known for her large abstract sculptures and works of land art. In looking at the early work versus the later work, one might be forgiven for thinking they were seeing the creations of two completely different artists. Her early paintings have titles like "Love," while her later works have titles like "Astatic Black Web" and "Harmonious Triad."
From 1986 to 1987 a vast exhibit of Pepper's work traveled to five cities: Buffalo, San Francisco, Columbus, Miami, and Brooklyn. Below you can see the cover of the catalog which accompanied the show at the Brooklyn Museum. By the time of this large-scale exhibit, Pepper could claim work in the collections of a number of prestigious institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian.
Unfortunately for Beverly Pepper, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle was long gone by the time her show went up at the Brooklyn Museum. It's likely the hometown paper, which had so affectionately profiled her in 1954, would have been kinder to the hometown girl than was the New York Times. Art critic John Russel, in a pronouncement so scathing it was later recalled in his 2008 obituary as an instance of the supremely lethal turn his criticism could take when accosted by unoriginal art, wrote: "Meanwhile, to walk through the Brooklyn galleries is like going to Carnegie Hall and hearing great music played out of time and out of tune. In its cumulative effect this may well, in fact, be one of the most debilitating, hyped-up and deeply offensive exhibitions of the postwar era. That is not because the work is 'bad,' but because it does not reach that level of achievement at which the words 'bad' and 'good' have any meaning." Ouch. So maybe it's not so much that you can't go home again, but that you shouldn't go home again -- especially if there's an art critic waiting for you there at the door.


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MAG 130 rd Midcap Magazine for M4 / M16 Series Airsoft AEG (Box Set of 8) - Black
68 Customer Reviews
by Joseph P. on 11/29/2008
...............................................good for a night game, no noise. good for weapons training.
...............................................good for a night game, no noise. good for weapons training.
by Robinson A. on 11/19/2008
"To michael e. i guess that just happens with a couple of the mags i have these n sometimes 1 or 2 roll out n after that it works fine, but some of the others i don't have this problem they work fine. i think that they r pretty good mags overall and 4 a cheap price 2.
by michael e. on 11/02/2008
"im having a problem with these mag when i put them in my kwa m4 every time i shot my gun the bbs just roll right out of the barrel and sometimes 2 or 3 bbs fly out when i shot. help please
by Alex A. on 10/06/2008
"Will these fit a G&P M16A3? That's the gun I'm getting and I want a lot of mags. These look nice.
by Jarod K. on 05/06/2008
"what can i say there plastic there cheap and they get the job done very well
by Grant G. on 12/01/2008
"warning does not feed an a a&k g300. still trying to figure out which ones do. evike tested teh magpul 75rd pmags and they are said to work. just a warning.
otherwise im sure they feed in other guns.
otherwise im sure they feed in other guns.
by Roman D. on 02/22/2015
"i bought these a few months ago, and after having 8 of them, 5 of them broke on me. The spring inside of the mag got stuck after i oiled them a few times and broke them in. 2 of the mags actually got stuck when i was breaking them in, then the other 2 got stuck in the middle of a game. And the other one broke when i was test firing my rifle. They fed flawlessly in my hk m27 iar by vfc, and my elite force m4 cqb but they did not hold up. I can probably fix them but i think im gonna try out the kwa k120 midcaps next. I don't know if i got a bad batch or maybe im just dumb but these mags were terrible for me.
by Andrew R. on 05/28/2008
"I must have gotten a bad batch because they miss feed all the time and get jamed. Horrible. Only work if i spray silicon oil into them.