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Thursday, August 16, 2007
Young Writers
But for all the young writers out there -- here's the thing. You're up against people who are much older with much more experience, and you don't really get bonus points for being young. Sure, publishers would probably appreciate the marketing angle of a young writer with a great book, but you have to write that great book first. It's not, unfortunately, enough to write a book that's good for your age (and most of the young writers I hear from could easily beat the pants off of whatever drivel I wrote at that age) - you have to write a book that's as good as what the best adult writers in the country write, and they've been writing for years. That's really, really hard and really, really rare.
There is a silver lining -- Mary Shelley wrote FRANKENSTEIN at 18. S.E. Hinton wrote THE OUTSIDERS when she was 16 (I've seen a copy of S.E. Hinton's query letter in the Curtis Brown office -- gives you goosebumps!). About once a generation there is a prodigy who makes it happen. But it does happen!
Really though, I think the most curious phenomenon about young writers these days is that they are much less likely to send a personalized letter and to have read agent blogs or to be familiar with industry conventions. Come on now, teens! You're supposed to be teaching people to Google and laughing at your parents when they ask what a "blog" is.
So if you know a young writer, I would be honest with them about the realities of the business, but encourage them to keep writing (and point them to some industry blogs). The best thing is that young writers turn into adult writers with a world of experience.
62 comments:
- MLM said...
Can you post a copy of that S.E. Hinton query letter, or is that against policy?
- August 16, 2007 at 1:59 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
I don't have a copy, unfortunately. And yes, I'd have to get Ms. Hinton's approval and it's a busy day!
- August 16, 2007 at 2:00 PM
My Xbox 360 is the reason I'm not published yet. But I'm not under 18, so that's not a good excuse.
- August 16, 2007 at 2:06 PM
- Scott said...
I was still in high school when I sent my first query. I wrote a picture book, had a friend illustrate it with his pencil drawings, and sent off to one publisher, who, of course, rejected it. Then I gave up.
I wish I still had a copy of that query letter. I don't remember it at all. I'd like to see it so I could scream with much-belated embarrassment and then burn it.
The story still holds a nice place in my heart for being my first attempt at publication (unless you count the one-para essay published by my local paper when I was about 7 or 8), but I wouldn't have published it either. I mean, it ends with the main character getting eaten alive.
I've learned a lot since then. I hope.
Anyway, I admire kids who write novels at that age, when most of their peers groan about having to write 500 words. Any teen who can complete a full novel deserves a medal and a ton of praise, and lots of encouragement to keep writing so that someday, when they've gotten really good, they'll have the experience and know-how to blow the rest of the market out of the water.
Unfortunately, rejection is especially hard at that age, when it happens all the time, even if they do something amazing for their age. I fear that too many taste that first rejection and quit when what they've really done is given themselves a head start that rocket them to success in another five to ten years, or twenty or thirty, whatever it takes to become great.
So, any kids who do read this: keep writing, keep submitting, keep learning how to deal with rejection and learn from it, and hopefully someday I'll see you at the top of the bestseller lists.
- August 16, 2007 at 2:24 PM
'You have to write a book that's as good as what the best adult writers in the country write, and they've been writing for years.'
Isn't that the same for all budding adult writers, as well? They haven't had years and years of experience. Does this mean that they're better equipped to enter the publishing world than a teen?
And the bit about agent's blogs? There are plenty of adult writers who don't read blogs, either.
The same rules that apply to teen writers apply to adult writers: they need to be able to write, they need to do research, and they need to be aware of the business. Just as many adults are clueless as their underage counterparts.
- August 16, 2007 at 2:34 PM
- Scott said...
>Just as many adults are clueless as
>their underage counterparts.
Anonymous is dead on with this, I'm sure.
If anything's more embarrassing than that first teenage query, it's the first query I wrote (much too soon) after "finishing" my first novel about five years ago.
Unfortunately, I remember that query all too well...
- August 16, 2007 at 2:38 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
Actually, what I was trying to point out is that teenage writers tend to be more, well, clueless (your words not mine!) than the average adult writer. Maybe they lack of those years of experience, but I would have thought that their familiarity with technology would have translated to more familiarity with industry blogs and the information you can find online, but I haven't found that to be the case. I guess it wasn't what I was expecting.
Of course, another funny thing is that the average teenager who writes me is BETTER than the average adult writer. Unfortunately this hasn't translated into a teenage client (the average writer, after all, is still a no).
- August 16, 2007 at 2:47 PM
'Actually, what I was trying to point out is that teenage writers tend to be more, well, clueless (your words not mine!) than the average adult writer.'
This is Anon 11:34 again.
Oh, definitely. The average adult writer has spent much more time getting to know the industry than the average teenage writer. It's the whole being-alive-longer thing. They've had more time to research, craft, and study.
However, as a teenaged (unpublished, boo-hoo) writer myself, I have to say that I know some incredible teenaged writers. Usually they're published, if only by small publishers. This seems to be because of lack of experience, as well. The ones I've talked to said they didn't know about literary agents.
As for me, I was a total publishing newbie until I came across Miss Snark's blog, and got my bottom handed to me in the Crapometer. Since then, I've been studying, crafting, and researching.
I was just trying to point out that age is not the only variable. :)
- August 16, 2007 at 3:10 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
It just goes to show why it's so hard to talk about "averages" in publishing -- there are so many exceptions like you!
- August 16, 2007 at 3:14 PM
I write YA, so I'm loathe to criticize the teens, but perhaps the reason they haven't researched industry blogs is because they don't want or feel they need to take the time to do their homework. I see the same kind of thing in the recent college grads I meet in job interviews. They want to start out at salaries made by people with years more experience, and they balk when asked to put in the grunt work that the rest of us had to do.
- August 16, 2007 at 3:14 PM
Haha, it's nice to be considered an exception. :)
'Perhaps the reason they haven't researched industry blogs is because they don't want or feel they need to take the time to do their homework.'
I see this attitude all the time in my peers. They have preconceived notions about how things SHOULD go, and therefore don't spend the time to find out how they WILL go.
It's disheartening, but hopefully we'll get better at it.
And to address the technology issue: I think that while my generation enjoys technology, we use it far too often to watch funny videos on YouTube, instead of using it to educate ourselves. I think that older folks have embraced the internet in a better way, using it as a tool to better communication and education, rather than as a way to get a cheap laugh.
Also, I've noticed that we tend to shy away from research of any kind. I think it's a tendency that stems from the fact that many of us believe that we're the newest Picasso or Einstein or whatever, and so we don't take the time to think about the people that came before us.
Remember how you were as a teenager? You knew everything, right? And then you hit 25 and you realized that you didn't know squat. This mentality, that is held by most of my peers, is the reason why we have the reputation that we do. It's a great disservice to ourselves, but at least we'll grow out of it. Or, most of us will.
- August 16, 2007 at 3:24 PM
I happened upon a local teen writers meeting at a B&N. It was being held in the cafe, so while I sipped my coffee, I eavesdropped.
These young writers were all pretty sharp, and all into their writing, spending what seemed to me to be huge amounts of time writing rather than almost anything else. Maybe this is why they aren't familiar with the "rules."
- August 16, 2007 at 3:52 PM
- Scott said...
>And then you hit 25 and you realized
>that you didn't know squat.
And then you hit 40 and realize you didn't know squat at 25, but you're no longer as brash and experimental as you were at 25.
Magical things happen in the arts at around 25. Actually, 24 seems like the magic number. That's the age when Orson Welles did "Citizen Kane" and Brian Wilson did "Pet Sounds." I don't know of a literary equivalent, but I'm sure there is one.
I've wondered what it is about that age, and whether somebody who's well past it can recapture it. You think you know it all in your teens, wait until your twenties, when you not only know it all but think you have control of your world and can bend it to your will, and that you can tell the rest of the world how it should be.
Maybe it's the confidence that comes with "having figured everything out" and the gutsiness that comes along with the new independence you have around that age, or a little before.
Kind of annoying at times to those of us who've already gone through it, but the age really does seem to have a special something when it comes to the arts.
Gotta tell you: Your blog is giving me some much needed air as I pop up for a breath from some intense deadline pressure at work this week. Good topics and the best participants in the LitBlog world! Thanks!
- August 16, 2007 at 4:14 PM
- Richard said...
Your mention of Hinton might be instructive. Granted, she wrote some incredibly popular (and good) YA novels as a youngster, but would you give her as an example of someone who's had a long, productive publishing career?
Of American writers who first published as teens, off the top of my head I can think of only Gore Vidal and Joyce Maynard.
When I published my first book in 1979 at the age of 27, a number of the reviews commented on what they perceived as my extraordinary youth. And when my publisher got the photo I'd had taken for the back cover, they decided not to run it because they said I "looked too babyish, only about 22" and "nobody will take the book seriously if they think it's by a kid."
It would be interesting to see the ages when either bestselling authors or acclaimed literary writers published their first books.
- August 16, 2007 at 4:44 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
S.E. Hinton has absolutely had a long, productive publishing career! And yes, it is interesitng to see when people got their start.
- August 16, 2007 at 4:49 PM
- A Paperback Writer said...
Well, I'm an English teacher, so I get to encourage kids to write all the time.
Plus, I tell them all about the process I'm going through trying to get published. They know now that queries must be multiple, the revisions may seem endless, and the waiting periods are really long -- even when you're over 18.
They have my blog address and links to you and the now-dark Miss Snark and others. Interested kids read my blog and love to be beta readers for my manuscripts.
Part of education is the technology side too, and teachers know that. I'm the only teacher at the school who writes as well, but the kids learn how to make webpages in class and learn the value of networking out of class (hey, myspace is the rage). Those who want to write but aren't my students come and ask about the writing blogs and agent sites.
It is happening.
So, writers who aren't teachers: lots of you are in critique groups and such, spread the word to teens how to learn the way we all learn online. Some great undiscovered writers are blossoming somewhere, but we'll never get to read their stuff if they don't learn how to query.
- August 16, 2007 at 5:18 PM
- Dave said...
This is the first generation (the under 20 crowd) who grew up with computers and the internet. Their parents didn't have both.
Add in Harry Potter, Add in the last three Star Wars, Add in countless stories that they are exposed to, and this generation feels it can write and they have the opportunity to do so.
- August 16, 2007 at 5:46 PM
- Miri said...
Do these kids/teens/young'uns actually put their age in their query? That strikes me as rather unprofressional: "Look at me! I'm 15! I have a 106 in English! Wheee!"
Even I know better than that.
Though a 106 in English is nothing to sneeze at.
I'd like to add to what Scott said about what teens need to do, though: join a critique group. When I did NaNoWriMo for the first time in 2005, I was so thrilled that I put it through our new group of NaNo authors right away.
That day I learned how to scribble productive-looking things in my notebook while trying with all my might to take everything they were saying to heart without feeling offended, attacked, or depressed. As a twelve-year-old, that's hard. It really is. But it did me a world of good. And sometime soon I'll be going back to that book and polishing it and getting ready to start the submission process, because I so want to learn. My group said it had potential; I'm finally getting around to believing them.
Thick skins are best developed early, I think.
- August 16, 2007 at 7:53 PM
- Heidi the Hick said...
THE OUTSIDERS opened up my brain! Especially when I found out that SHE was ONLY 16 when she wrote it! That's the first time I read something and decided that it either made me want to write something that good, or never write again because it couldn't be that good.
It took me another twenty years to talk myself into writing for real. I've spent two years in regret that I didn't write steadily for so long but I'm over it now. I've got two kids who can wipe their own noses now, and I've had time to get better at putting words together.
There are two teens in my writers group. I have told them both to write something every day, even if it's just one sentence. There are always contests for young writers and even some lit magazines aimed at a teen audience. I'm looking forward to seeing what these kids come up with!
- August 16, 2007 at 8:39 PM
I have no interest in becoming the next Christopher Paolini. He's known more for the fact that he wrote a book at age 15, not because he wrote a particularly good book. That kind of notoriety is not what I would want.
I'm torn between being annoyed at being generalized and nodding in assent to the generalization. There ARE the rare finds who have genuine talent and voice at 18, but a good 97% still need work. (And 97% is generous. Very generous.)
The problem is making the writing stand out on its own. I don't want to be told I'm good for an 18 year old; I want to be told I'm good. I suppose when that happens I'll know that I'm where I want to be as a writer.
- August 16, 2007 at 11:18 PM
- sex scenes at starbucks said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- August 17, 2007 at 12:08 AM
- sex scenes at starbucks said...
These young writers were all pretty sharp, and all into their writing, spending what seemed to me to be huge amounts of time writing rather than almost anything else.
Which is what they should be doing rather than studying markets they have nearly no chance at getting into. Take the time, while you've got it, to practice your craft. The other will come soon enough.
- August 17, 2007 at 12:11 AM
- sex scenes at starbucks said...
I met SE Hinton in elementary school, and later wrote a novel closely based on the OUTSIDERS. My first. I stil have it on the shelf behind me.
- August 17, 2007 at 12:13 AM
The main thing young writers lack is experience. Give 'em a few years and they'll have that, too if they don't get waylaid by life.
I love your blog, Nathan. I bet you're an awesome agent!
- August 17, 2007 at 3:23 AM
- Subservient No More said...
When I was 16 I wrote a book of the absolute most horrific poetry imaginable and I thought it was utter genius. I sent it to a publisher of poetry who shall go unnamed and in my cover letter I made sure to be very humble and explain that I was only 16. A few weeks later I received a gigantic box on my doorstep with a very long personalized letter from the editor. The letter said "You have talent and fire." Then it told me to keep writing and no matter what to never stop until I got it right. The editor said I needed to live life and practice writing and that he was sure one day I would be successful. Inside the box were about 25 books of poetry - all different writers and genres. The editor told me I needed to read all of them over and over and learn from the great poets.
Seventeen years later I still repeat those words "talent and fire" whenever I feel discouraged. I'm still rereading the books he sent.
It's really important to gently encourage and inspire young writers, and I'm really happy to hear that so many teens are actually trying to write seriously and send queries.
- August 17, 2007 at 11:05 AM
- DMH said...
To S. No More,
What an incredibly generous gesture you received from that editor.
Wow, S.E. Hinton's query letter! I would love to read that!
- August 17, 2007 at 12:29 PM
- Richard said...
Nathan, I'll defer to your greater knowledge -- since S.E. Hinton is a client of your firm -- but I think that her reputation rests a lot more on her pre-1980 novels (The Outsiders; That Was Then, This Is Now; Rumble Fish and Tex rather than the five books she has published since 1988 (after a nine-year gap): Taming the Star Runner; Big David, Little David; The Puppy Sister; Hawkes Harbor and Some of Tim's Stories. And I'd suspect sales of the first four books outstrip sales of the last five books by at least ten to one.
- August 17, 2007 at 2:49 PM
When I was a young writer it was not common for us to look at agents' blogs either. Of course that's because there were no agent blogs back then.
I did complete my first draft of my first book when I was under 18. 15 million drafts later it still hasn't been published, but I think I'm getting close now.
- August 17, 2007 at 5:50 PM
- Mary said...
Can we add Ned Vizzini to the list of teen prodigies? Prodigy might be a little strong, but he certainly is very talented, smart, and was published while still a teenager.
- August 17, 2007 at 6:58 PM
I think one of the reasons that these young writers don't know much about the publishing biz's internet factions is that they just weren't taught about it. This particular age-group has been taught about technology by teachers who, for the most part, know less about working computers and the internet than they do. If their teachers aren't guiding them to these places, then who or what will? And, if it's all internet-based, then how is anyone who's not fluent in netspeak supposed to act as a guide?
The last I was taught or told about publishing were anecdotes about the process of sending your physical manuscript off to a bunch of different publishers. I'm still fairly clueless about current publishing practices, but it's taken me a lot of googling to get even to this stage of ignorance!
But, besides that, S.E. Hinton is a fabulous, fantasical, writing goddess. Her new writings might not be as popular, sales-wise anyway, but that's probably because she's switched genres and audiences (a bunch o' times) and she took a very long break - which I am glad to see end!
- August 17, 2007 at 9:36 PM
Anonymous-- I think you're underestimating teenagers, and our knowledge of the Internet, a little bit. We weren't taught by teachers how to use the Internet, we pretty much taught ourselves.
- August 17, 2007 at 10:18 PM
This is anon 6:36
Nah, that's basically what I meant, albeit, a little snarkily. I meant that, in my experience at least, the teachers who are supposed to be teaching with technology actually know less about using the internet than the kids who are supposed to be learning. I know there are exceptions, so I mean no disrespect to teachers either! But, just because a person (say, me) knows how to use the internet at warp speed, does not mean that they know immediately where to look on the internet for publishing info. There's a lot of unhelpful stuff amidst the helpful sites (like this one - thanks). It'd be nice if we could get direction to the good info from teachers, but, if you're not from a net-savvy generation, I can understand how it would be hard to guide people to this info.
I do hope this made more sense than my last post. (And I call myself a writer...sorry!)
- August 17, 2007 at 10:50 PM
- Richard said...
For a sample of the age of first publication of some well-known novelists, I took the top 5 from the current Times bestseller list in fiction and 5 recent National Book Award winners in fiction, for a mix of "commercial" and "literary" novelists. Here's the results, according to Wikipedia, from youngest to oldest at first publication:
28: William T. Vollman, Richard Powers
29: James Patterson, James Lee Burke, Jonathan Franzen
30: Susan Sontag
31: Nora Roberts
32: Shirley Hazzard
36: Daniel Silva
38: Khaled Hosseini
- August 18, 2007 at 3:06 PM
Let's say I'm a 13 year old who has written a 300-page young adult novel that I believe is as good as any you can find in the genre. Do you think it is better to hide my age from agents until they've taken me under their wing, or to tell the agent up front?
Would you say: "Oh, he's a 13-year-old. How well could he write? I'll just tell him to wait a few years."
Or would you give the person a chance and read the sample material like it was from an adult?
That's what I'm pondering, better if it's the former, then I think it would be better to keep my age from the agent.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
- August 19, 2007 at 6:02 PM
- December/Stacia said...
*gasp* S.E. Hinton's query letter?
The Outsiders literally changed my life. I think I would probably cry.
- August 20, 2007 at 11:09 AM
- Kold_Kadavr_flatliner said...
All our lives we must make choices, left or right, up or down, what we mortals believed through our lifelong demise:
"A must read if youse wanna live" -Father Sarducci, SNL
God bless.
- January 1, 2008 at 10:07 AM
what would you say to those kids (like myself) who all their life all they wanted was to publish about. And I don't mean they're bad writers I mean they really can write! the only thing from stoping me is I never seen to be able to finish a book! I've started like...300-350. And I'm not jocking!
- February 23, 2008 at 5:35 PM
What about a teen writing a YA book? It seems to me that a teen would have more experience if writng about the social hierarchy of high school or something similar.
- August 10, 2008 at 3:36 PM
- Meggie said...
I am a teenager, and I HAVE written a YA Paranormal Romance novel-no, its not like Twilight-and I have been reading your blog continuously nonstop for the past few nights and as well as The Swivet because I would really like to query Ms. Lindsay, but on her blog she reccomended reading your blog for good advice before anyone queried her.
I am a bit confused by you placement on the subject of whether or not you DO represent teenage writers though, and I DO know already that you dont represent category romance but you do represent YA novels. I am extremely interested in quering you as well, but i was wondering if you would still consider my manuscript even though it falls under the romance category, and despite my adolescence.
- December 23, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Just a question-- If a teen writer is querying an agent, should he mention his age in the query?
- January 27, 2009 at 8:34 PM
- sam said...
im thirteen and my passion is writing. i spend tons and tons of my time doing it, and i have always wanted to publish a novel. ive actually finished one now, and its really good. but i dont know what the next step is... how do u get published?
- February 3, 2009 at 6:48 PM
Have you really gone through and edited your manuscript? Have you been told by people that it is in the best possible condition? If so then the first thing you need to do is write something called a query letter. You can find information about how to do that online or in a bookstore. When you have crafted an excellent letter send it out to agents that are looking for manuscripts in your genre. Then you wait to here back from them. If you get an offer of representation they will help you find a publisher. It is a long process. If you are lucky and you are persistent a publisher may make an offer. Either way keep writing!
- February 4, 2009 at 12:31 AM
I am currently writing a story, but secretly. My best friend and I are constantly brainstorming during lessons, specially Latin!
The plot is quite complicated.
it's about a 14 yr old who gets an arranged marriage. The story is how she learns to accept it, witha few laughs along the way. At the end, I am currently planning to make the young girl fall in love with her fiancee. I ahve written bout 35 pges so far...not much, i know, but she has only just met him!!!
- February 12, 2009 at 3:45 PM
dear Anon
I think that is a great storyline! No matter what, carry on writing. That is just the kind of book a school kid like you should be writing.
Keep us posted!
- February 17, 2009 at 12:21 PM
thank you Thomas.
itz quite a coincidence, but my main charactz name iz also Thomas.
- February 17, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Ok, so I am 14 right now, and I have a (Pretty much) completed YA novel. I am currently writing the third draft, and it keeps getting better- in my opinion.
I have had all my friends and my sister look at it, and they said it was written like a real book- and is sort of simiar to Gossip Girl, though for a tiny bit younger readers, and a complete differnt plot- all I mean is it is written similar.
I have researched different agnecies and publishers, and have writtne a few different Query letters.
But what I'm asking is two things: Do you think I even have a chance so young, and should I mention my age?
- March 7, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Hey, a friend and I have recently completed our first full-length 'novella' and we've researched the whole publishing process, right from finding an agent to seeing your book on the shelf.
However, we do seem to be lacking those infinitesimally small details, and we really don't want to be looked down upon by publishers or agents because of our ages (12 and 14).
If you've the time and patience, could you possibly give us any advice? I know you're in the US and all, (we're in the UK) but I'm guessing it's roughly the same process.
Many thanks ;)
- May 17, 2009 at 5:34 PM
- DSR22 said...
I am a teenage writer and I am currently researching agents that I could send my YA fantasy-adventure novel to.
Would you recommend mentioning my age in a query? Does that draw desirable attention, or should I just let my writing speak for itself?
- August 5, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Hi Nathan,
First of all, I wanted to let you know that your blog is awesome. Might sound like sucking up, but yeah. It really is good, and a great help to me, so thanks for that!
Secondly, about the young writers - it's mostly just lack of knowledge, really. Many people on my forum or my friends write, just like myself, and all we (used to) know is that we send our stuff to a publisher when it's finished. (Mind you, most people I know who write are only 13/14 and write like 24/7. The only other thing they do on the computer is hang around on my forum. I'm 16, by the way. Yes, I'm sure you had to know that.)
We're young, we think we know everything, and thus we don't feel the need to research it. However, your blog tells us exactly what to do so I'll spread the word, lol xD
The 'we' in my comment is aimed at my writing friends and me, by the way, I'm not assuming everyone is the same.
- Meova
- October 9, 2009 at 8:37 AM
- Idil Hussein said...
Hi, My name is Idil Hussein, and I have been looking for ANYONE who is interested in my writing.
Which is hard, seeing how I'm only 13 and I just moved to the Middle East.
And yes, I am utterly clueless about publishing and the like. So I was wondering if you could go out on a limb and give me a few pointers.
Here's a sample of my writing.
- November 7, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Nathan -
Let me get straight to the point. I'm fourteen. I came here looking for query help, which I received, thank you, but also stumbled upon this post, which, concerning my age, I absolutely had to check out. Now, I am a little unsure if I'm ready, but I think that the "older, experienced authors" couldn't have possibly gotten experienced if they hadn't started somewhere. So I'm starting right here and I'll get my rejection letters early on and get used to it and I'll write and learn. I've written three novels and want to get my latest one published. But I'm unsure if I should include my age in the query letter - as someone else had mentioned - might bias the agent. I want to be treated equally, just like the adults. Tell me the good and the bad, but don't tell me I'm too young. So, basically, I was wondering that if I don't include my age, and the agent asks for a partial and then agrees to represent me, then I might be lying to him/her? I don't want to start off a business relationship badly. Thanks.
- November 29, 2009 at 1:06 AM
- Wings said...
first and foremost I love your blog. It is one of the easiest to read around and it covers so much in detail.
Age goes against those that are young in everything that requires experience.
But I think that those that have the drive and the maturity level to be able to handle the publishing world shouldn't feel discouraged because of their age. As someone said before, just don't flaunt it.
I was wondering what age you have to be, realistically to be taken seriously in the publishing world.
- February 4, 2010 at 10:12 PM
"One day, I was playing Wii tennis and then I did a 360º wipe-out when I swung too hard. I was pretty much falling at like 200,000 mph when I landed on my mom's coffee table. My leg started throbbing (I bruise like a peach) and I was crying for like a legit 30 minutes before my mom came home and gave me ice. But during that time, I had something which we humans call an "epiphany". I decided that life is short, and I only have on legit non-bruised leg left, so if I mess-up that one I'm toast for prom. But anyways, I realized that I wanted to do something wicked legit with my life, so I decided to write this book.
I'd say my book is a mixture of "Air Bud" meets "Saw" meets "50 First Dates" meets "Hamlet".
It starts off with an orphan named Robot, which is good because one of the major themes of the book is irony, and it's ironic because the orphan is a human not a robot. He thinks his parents have been dead, but then a mysterious man in a black clock gives him a mysterious bag of beans. The beans all of have stuff written on them in Latin. The orphan, who's now 21 and has legally changed his name to Ralph, realizes that the beans spell out "Go To The Well", so he goes there with his girlfriend, who's a legit robot. So they're going to this well, and then Ralph starts bleeding, but he notices his blood is made of gold. "Why is this?" Ralph asks. Well reader, do you know? You'll only find out if you read the book! (And if I finish it).
I don't have many credentials, unless you count street cred cause I totally messed up some middle schooler's face last week for trying to steal my ipod. Here's my report card though:
English: A
Latin: C- (whatever ... it's a dead language anyways)
Gym: A -
History: B +
Geometry: D+ (my teacher's a n00b)
I've written like 30 pages but it will be 300 pages if I times 10 the font or just write more. It's not very much, but that's OK since I'm 16. I've got a long way to go, but I think I'm pretty much there. I'm wicked advanced, and like I said before, I'm just 16.
I only have 30 pages now, but once my parents leave next weekend and I can drink more red bull expect about 30 more!"
^^^^^ And there you have it, my best parody of a young writer trying to sell a novel.
I'm a 16 year old writer myself, so I guess you can say it's hypocritical to be writing this. But then again, the majority of writers my age have novels that aim far too high for what they can accomplish at that age.
There are certain topics/genres which I think young writers (the right ones, of course) can do, and can do well.
Nathan, I sincerely apologize if you ever receive a query quite like this. If you haven't, there are probably agents who have. Those poor things.
- February 15, 2010 at 12:55 AM
^^^ Percy Nuglet, aka that guy who wrote that interesting parody up there, can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com, if you would like to talk to him for any reason.
- February 15, 2010 at 1:04 AM
- Fashion_Girl_93 said...
I'm 16 and from Washington, England, I have wanted to be a writer since I was about, 5? Maybe younger, ever since my dad made up stories for me on a night!
Well, anyways, its great to see some advice for writers out age, I haven't been able to find much advice for young writers anywhere on the web.
At the min I am working on a novel, its all planned and I'm taking my time over it. For me writing, has always been escapism, I have had articles and stories published in magazines and regional newspapers and I'm sure one day I'll have a full novel published, but for now I'm just enjoying the fact I'm young enough to have the time to write for the fun of it! :-)
- February 16, 2010 at 12:07 PM
So, I just spent an hour reading through all these comments. Mr. Bransford, your post depressed me. I am a teenage writer. I am currently writing a fantasy novel about an assassin. And I know I'm not the best, but I'm getting better. You have no idea how much better my writing has gotten over the year. So, for all you teens posting on here, I have some advice. Join critique groups. I have joined many online, and I can tell you they help. They have really helped me improve my writing. Here's some links:
So, like I said, these sites help. I can't say I know what I will do once I finish my novel, just that I plan to. And I plan to get published. I may even consider sending a query to you, Mr. Bransford. I truly wish that our society could get out of this mist of ageism that seems to surround every single agent and publisher.
- March 13, 2010 at 8:01 PM
I'm 12, and I've been writing since I was about 8. I wrote my first 'novel' then. It was trash. Yes. I know. Now I still write and do YWP NANOWRIMO.
in my opinion, a budding adult author would have the same problems ans a young one, thought some will be different.
Well, instead of nattering on, let me get to the point. I know the problems of trying to be first time published as i'm sure other teens/preteens know as well. Anyway, I've been looking for an agent who accepts kids.
Nobody seems to mention it. Any help is great and by the way Nathan? I LOVE your blog!!!
(and now I've probably bored you to death. Sorry for bumping up what I think might be and old post)
- May 21, 2010 at 4:35 AM
I think some of you are being harsh on under 18s, we do read up on publishing, I have read numerous sites and the writers and artists yearbook etc and would say I began my research at the age of about 11, because I have always wanted to be a novelist I have always been researching it.
As to telling agents your age, I have written twice to literary agents, the first time I was twelve and they told me with more experience they were sure I would be published, the second time I was fifteen and they told me I had writing talent and that I wrote well beyond my years but that the story plot wasn't write for the market. Whether they were just being nice because of my age I couldn't tell you...
I have considered that when I have taken more time on redrafting my current work, instead of taking the plunge as soon as I'm finished like the last time I might not mention my age, but then, my age is as a part of me as everything else and honesty is the best policy isn't it...? I don't see it as unproffesional, but just part of the biographical information all writers are supposed to give along with their query.
- December 30, 2010 at 4:41 PM
- Sunlight Shadows said...
Okay, I'm seriously so jealous. S. E. Hinton is my biggest writing hero.
That being said... I think part of the reason other teen writers don't hang around the blogs and forums is they don't realize how valuable and, maybe moreso, how fun they can be. It's the highlight of my day to come home from school and slip into a cyber-world where everyone is as obsessed with books as I am, and won't patronize you when your writing needs work. It took me a while to realize the blog-surfing and researching agents was more than obligation, more than homework or a sacrifice I had to make to boost my chances. It's fun. It's recharges my creativity, doing something productive. And I think most authors who participate also feel this way; I read often that blogging just for publicity really isn't worth it, you have to like it, too.
I'm sixteen, by the way, and realize the novel I'm currently trying to get published will probably be the worst written novel of my career, if I have one. We all have to start somewhere.
- January 27, 2011 at 10:23 PM
I'm a teenager and I've written about three novels, each of about 400 pages. They all pretty much sucked and my fourth one looks to be heading the same way. There's no WAY I will ever even consider trying (and most likely failing) to get published until I'm much older and have written a book to top them all. That being said, I will continue writing hundreds of novel because I know with every word I write, I get better (hopefully.)
I'm fourteen by the way. I don't write because I want to get published, I write because I love it- and it's great that there's so many other teens doing the same thing.
But I noticed how a lot of the teens on this post seem to think they've written something amazing and, you know, nobel prize worthy (I'm not being harsh- I thought that about all my past books and will continue to do so for my future ones.) Writing only ever gets better with time, not worse. There's no rush and no race to see who gets to the finish line first.
I honestly think experience has nothing to do with the ability to write a book. There are so many kids who had been through what most adults could never even dream of. At the end of the day, it's about the quality of the book you write, not how old you are. Although some people think they have a correlation, they don't, they really don't.
Otherwise, you know, we wouldn't have any teen writers at all.
- January 30, 2011 at 3:01 PM
I'm fourteen and just finished the first draft of my first novel (and I'm well aware how many times I'll have to edit/revise). Sometimes, it can be a bit discouraging when I realize what I'm up against, but the silver lining is that I'll only get better. All of us will only get better. While it would be amazing to be the 'prodigy of the generation', I'll settle for getting published before I reach the age of eighty. That way, I don't put too much pressure on myself, and I can put a polish on my book before I even think about sending it to a publisher.
My comment got a little longer than I anticipated. Sorry about that; I just wanted tell people (if anyone is reading) my point of view and opinion.
- May 15, 2011 at 11:48 AM
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- April 13, 2014 at 1:00 PM


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Like caring for a community's infrastructure, publishing a magazine is a team effort. I've never met a successful Public Works reader who said he or she could do it alone, and my job is no different. And, like a public works department, a magazine is only as effective as the people who staff it.
So when I came on board here two years ago, one of the first things I did was steal some editorial and subject matter expertise from a sister publication of PUBLIC WORKS.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign journalism graduate Victoria K. Sicaras brought with her the extensive knowledge she'd gleaned from covering construction equipment for the readers of CONCRETE & MASONRY CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS. She'd written article topics like buying and selling used equipment and legal issues concerning subcontractors, and along the way learned how to place concrete.
As managing editor of PUBLIC WORKS, Vikki is its traffic engineer. She monitors the workflow of everyone else on the staff, troubleshooting potential production obstacles and tweaking processes, procedures, and noses as necessary to ensure the magazine reaches its destination—the printer—on time.
Luckily for both you and me, she's also an excellent reporter and writer capable of the type of insight you'll find in our third annual analysis of compensation for public infrastructure managers (see page 48). If you've signed up for our free e-newsletter at www.pwmag.com, you saw more of Vikki's work—and sense of humor—when she asked recipients of the Jan. 16 edition to respond to the survey she'd developed to gather this information.
Talented as she is, though, Vikki alone can't produce a magazine as diverse as PUBLIC WORKS. So we've hired a senior editor: someone to dig up examples from among our 67,000 readers of projects, products, and processes that are enhancing the quality of life for their cities, counties, and states.
As a newspaper reporter, it was Michael Fielding's job to explain to the residents of Red Wing, Minn., what a combined sewer system is and why it would need to be "separated." Public Works Director Denny Tebbe reports that Michael worked hard to understand and accurately present the issue, and to earn the trust and respect of his sources.
Like practitioners of any profession, there are good and bad journalists. A doctor or engineer can have a license revoked and a lawyer can be disbarred, but journalists answer only to their internal sense of integrity.
Vikki and Michael have this integrity. So when they call you, or see you at the American Public Works Association's Congress, I hope you will take the time to talk to them. Your job is complicated. Our job is to gather and present the information you need. We can do that much better if you tell us what that is.
Stephanie Johnston
Editor in Chief

subset: commoncrawl


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Zero Dark Thirty, directed by Kathryn Bigelow and shot by Greig Fraser, ACS, dramatizes the hunt for Osama bin Laden with a run-and-gun style.
Unit photography by Jonathan Olley. Photos and frame grabs courtesy of Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Cinematographer Greig Fraser, ACS emphasizes that director Kathryn Bigelow "really excels at the run-and-gun" method of filmmaking, and he experienced this firsthand on Zero Dark Thirty, which documents the decade-long manhunt for Osama bin Laden and the 2011 covert op in Pakistan that successfully ended it.
Bigelow says she knew early on that accurately re-creating the events, particularly the nighttime raid on bin Laden's compound, would be "no easy feat," and she wanted a cinematographer "who possessed enormous confidence to go along with his skill." She found that in Fraser, whose recent credits include Killing Them Softly (AC Oct. '12), Snow White and the Huntsman (AC June '12) and Let Me In (AC Oct. '10). "Greig was a real lifeline on a difficult production," says Bigelow, adding that their collaboration "had a spirited, wonderful, giving and generous quality to it."
Bigelow's last film, The Hurt Locker, was shot documentary style, mostly on Super 16mm, by Barry Ackroyd, BSC (AC July '09). When she and Fraser began discussing Zero Dark Thirty, the director said she once again wanted a handheld, guerrilla-filmmaking feel to the production, and she was open to whatever format would work best. "I think the only format we didn't talk about was Super 8," recalls Fraser. "We even discussed prosumer cameras. I had tested various digital formats for Snow White and had a good idea about the pros and cons of each for a show like this one. Production was not going to be a linear affair; we would be shooting in India and Jordan largely without local support staff or a studio system nearby — in fact, we would be as far from technical support as we could get! So I wanted a tried and tested system that would be simple to use on location in a run-and-gun situation. Film is tried and tested, of course, but we were going to be in heat and dust and far from labs, often shooting in locations we hadn't been able to scout, and often in very low light."
These considerations led the filmmakers to opt for digital capture with Arri Alexa Plus and M cameras, which they rented from Panavision U.K. "In testing, we found the low-light capabilities of the Alexa to be quite amazing," Fraser says. "The camera has a reach into shadows that film does not have, and a key portion of this movie takes place in the dead of night, with no motivation for light whatsoever. The raid on the bin Laden compound actually took place on a moonless night.
"We also had to deal with the harsh light of the Middle East for many scenes that are set in Afghanistan and Pakistan, so we had to be sure our format would work suitably well with highlights," he adds. "The Alexa just made the most sense for this show because it works so well in both extremes."
In choosing a format, Fraser had another important requirement: "an idiot-proof workflow" that would not impede the filmmakers during the shoot. He planned to run four handheld cameras for many scenes, and he believed a sophisticated video village was neither feasible nor conducive to the cracking pace the production required. He therefore asked Codex, Digilab Services of London, and video-assist company Video Hawks of Los Angeles to help devise a methodology that would allow Bigelow to view what was being shot in the least invasive way possible.
Video Hawks had just come off World War Z (shot by Robert Richardson, ASC), another Alexa show that also needed to work "light and tight and fast," says Video Hawks co-owner Glenn Derry, and the company sent one of the custom backpacks developed for World War Z to Fraser's camera crew in the U.K. so they could try it out. The pack was attached to a diving vest and held a Codex recorder, camera batteries, video transmitters and other accessories, with only one lightweight cable running to the camera head. "We decided that backpack was too heavy for our film, as it was going to be mainly handheld, so we had to come up with a lighter version," recalls 1st AC Jake Marcuson. "After trying quite a few different packs, we decided on lightweight running packs. Each held a small plywood frame on which we mounted the Codex, two Gold Mount batteries and the transmitter." The transmitter was either a short-range wireless unit or a longer-range Cobham Technical Services unit that could transmit the camera image to handheld Sound Devices Pix 240 monitors.
The running packs made it possible for the production to record ArriRaw while providing a wireless image for Bigelow and Fraser to view on handheld monitors. "On World War Z, we learned we could remove our camera operators from the video assist and do without an engineering village, and Zero Dark Thirty just took the idea to the next level," says Derry. "They had four and sometimes five or six cameras going at a time, and Kathryn was able to have a wireless image in front of her at all times without worrying about the traditional video village. She didn't need a video-assist operator; she could use the monitor in her hand to view [footage from] any of the cameras while she was running around with Greig."
Marcuson says the running packs, which were worn by the grips and the first assistants, and sometimes by the camera operators, facilitated an impressive degree of mobility. "It was a pretty easy arrangement," he says. "Keeping the cameras as light as possible was the main thing because the operators had them on their shoulders all day long, often for very long takes."
Considering that the story covers over a decade and unfolds in several different countries, Bigelow was keen to keep the aesthetic realistic and "rigorous in terms of the journalistic imperative," she says. "I'm drawn to material that tends to be journalistic, anyway, but in this instance, we also had the weight of reality imposed upon us. So, Greig and I and [production designer] Jeremy Hindle worked closely to find or create environments that were correct and respectful to story, reality and authenticity. To service the story and still maintain a kind of aesthetic coherence was a pretty tall order."
To help accomplish that, Bigelow and Fraser decided early on to shoot with spherical lenses, mainly Cooke S4 primes. Because the material is so firmly rooted in reality, "it wouldn't help," says Fraser, if they went too wide or epic with the frame. He notes, "Anamorphic might have shown too much at times. This movie isn't just the raid; there's a narrative that leads up to the raid, and our lensing decisions had to consider both aspects of the story." Panavision U.K. supplied the Cookes and an Optica Elite 150-520mm zoom lens, and Fraser rounded out the package with his own Optica Elite primes and Angenieux 25-250mm HP zoom.
Overall, says Fraser, his first digital feature was "less complicated than I expected it to be. We had the wireless system going all the time, Kathryn had the video feed all the time, and there was no recabling necessary. It was a simple system: when I had a picture up on the camera, so did the director."
On the set, images were monitored in Rec 709 color space, and the filmmakers decided against choosing or creating look-up tables for the shoot. "We had other fish to fry!" says Fraser. "We had a lot of setups to get each day, quite a few cameras going, and lots of locations to tackle. Getting an image to the monitor was the priority rather than worrying about whether it was perfect color. Rec 709 gave us a nice image to broadcast, which was all we needed at that stage. Using the camera settings, we made a couple of small tweaks, like dialing out some of the green color temperature, but [Rec 709] formed the basis of the exposure and the look that was applied to the dailies."


text:
Poems about forests
Poetry Fool
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Can anyone recommend any poems about forests, please?
In the hourless forest
Jules Supervielle
In the hourless forest
a tall tree is being felled.
A vertical void
trembles in the form of a shaft
near the outstreched trunk.
Search, birds, search,
for the site of your nests
in this high memory
while it is still murmuring.
Lost in the forest...
Lost in the forest, I broke off a dark twig
and lifted its whisper to my thirsty lips:
maybe it was the voice of the rain crying,
a cracked bell, or a torn heart.
Something from far off it seemed
deep and secret to me, hidden by the earth,
a shout muffled by huge autumns,
by the moist half-open darkness of the leaves.
Wakening from the dreaming forest there, the hazel-sprig
sang under my tongue, its drifting fragrance
climbed up through my conscious mind
as if suddenly the roots I had left behind
cried out to me, the land I had lost with my childhood---
and I stopped, wounded by the wandering scent.
-Pablo Neruda
#2 & #3 - Thank you! Those are both fabulous!
Pine Forest
by Gabriela Mistral
Let us go now into the forest.
Trees will pass by your face,
and I will stop and offer you to them,
but they cannot bend down.
The night watches over its creatures,
except for the pine trees that never change:
the old wounded springs that spring
blessed gum, eternal afternoons.
If they could, the trees would lift you
and carry you from valley to valley,
and you would pass from arm to arm,
a child running
from father to father.
i want to hear Gabriea in her own voice
in her own language
brought back young form the dead
sitting at the chair behind the desk
at the head of the class
young pablo's attention captured
torn from the window where children his age
are swatting at stones or plinking marbles at marbles
while in the room
to Pablo and perhaps the other few who are left in the room
Gabriela draws them in
slowly at the nibble
on poems of whispers and winds and trees that cease to die
and he is carried to her world of bringing us poems
we in turn bring to our children
and thus,
in words
we are brought to life
we are taught to see and listen and breath
and love the words of the mistress poet
who teaches us to exist
The Rain in The Pinewood
by Gabriele D'Annunzio
Hush. On the edge
Of the woods I do not hear
Words which you call
Human; but I hear
Words which are newer
Spoken by droplets and leaves
Far away.
Listen. Rain falls
From the scattered clouds.
Rain falls on the tamarisks
Briny and parched.
Rain falls on the pine trees
Scaly and bristling,
Rain falls on the myrtles-
On the broom-shrubs gleaming
With clustered flowers,
On the junipers thick
With fragrant berries,
Rain falls on our faces-
Rain falls on our hands-
On our clothes-
On the fresh thoughts
That our soul discloses-
On the lovely fable
That yesterday
Beguiled you, that beguiles me today,
O Hermione.
Do you hear?
The rain is falling
On the solitary
With a crackling that persists
And varies in the air
According to the foliage
Sparser, less sparse.
The weeping is answered
By the song
Of the Cicadas
Which are not frightened
By the weeping of the South wind
Or the ashen sky
And the pine tree
Has one sound, and the myrtle
Another sound, and the juniper
Yet another, instruments
Under numberless fingers.
And we are
Immersed in the spirit
Of the woodland,
Alive with arboreal life;
And your ecstatic face
Is soft with rain
As a leaf
And your hair
Is fragrant like
The bright broom-flowers,
O earthly creature
Whose name is
Listen, listen. The harmony
Of the high-borne cicadas
Gradually becomes
Beneath the weeping
That grows stronger;
But a song mingles with it-
Rising from down there,
From the far damp shade.
Fainter and weaker
It slackens, fades away.
Only one note
Still trembles, fades away.
Rises again, trembles, fades away.
One hears no sea voice.
Now one hears upon all the foliage,
The silvery rain
That cleanses,
The pelting that varies
According to the foliage
Thicker, less thick.
The daughter of the air
is mute; but the daughter
Of the miry swamp, in the distance,
The frog,
Is singing in the deepest shade,
Who knows where, who knows where!
And rain falls on your lashes,
Rain falls on your black eyelashes
So that you seem to weep
But from pleasure; not white
But made almost green,
You seem to emerge from bark.
And within us all life is fresh,
The heart in our breasts is like a peach
The eyes between the eyelids
Are like springs in the grass,
The teeth in their sockets
Are like bitter almonds.
And we go from thicket to thicket,
Now joined, now apart
(And the rough green vigour
Entwines our ankles,
Entangles our knees)
Who knows where, who knows where!
And rain falls on our faces-
Rain falls on our hands-
On our clothes-
On the fresh thoughts
That our soul discloses-
On the lovely fable
That yesterday
Beguiled me, that beguiles you today,
O Hermione.
AR Ammons' a coast of trees would be worth your looking up.
Thanks - these are all new to me! Wonderful!
Group: Poetry Fool
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3,742 messages
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text:
Marshall To Step Down As AD Effective June 1st
Eugene Marshall, Jr. has announced that he will step down as Director of Athletics at Iona College effective June 1, 2013.
"I am extremely proud to have served as athletic director at Iona College," said Marshall. "The coaches, administrators and student-athletes will always hold a special place in my heart. My resignation was a tough decision to make, but one that I needed to make for my family."
"We thank Gene for his work here and wish him the best in his future endeavors," said President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. "Athletics is a significant piece of Iona's heritage. Our student-athletes play an important role in the College community, so we will begin a national search for our next athletics director immediately."
While Iona's search takes place, a transition team will be assisted by Mr. Marshall and led by Senior Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs Paul J. Sutera and Senior Associate Athletics Director Matt Glovaski. Glovaski, who joined the College in 2006, is also head coach of Iona's golf team. Sutera is an experienced athletics administrator as a former associate athletics director at Rice University.
"We'll be looking to elevate athletics and opportunities for our student-athletes at Iona," Sutera said. "With the largest-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign in Iona's history moving forward, athletics has a significant role in both enhancing resources and benefitting from them. The campaign will support of student, faculty and athletic excellence in our pursuit of national prominence in higher education. The new athletics director will play a key role in helping us realize those goals."
Iona has begun working with Parker Executive Search, an Atlanta-based firm well known for recruiting senior athletics executives. Marshall notes that the Iona search will be "swift but thorough."
Founded in 1940, Iona College is a four-year private, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers and American Catholic higher education. It is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science, and business administration, as well as master of arts, master of science and master of business administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs.
More From
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text:
Neat Little Gizmo.
Man is that the camera sitting on top of that dime?
This is a discussion on Micro Video Recorders within the Related Gear & Equipment forums, part of the Defensive Carry Discussions category; With new technology it is possible to carry a concealed video recorder. I imagine this can be usefull for CCW as a backup to what ...
With new technology it is possible to carry a concealed video recorder.
I imagine this can be usefull for CCW as a backup to what transpired if you ever need to draw your weapon.
Systems can be found for about $400 that will record for 4h in B/W with sound using a micro pinhole camera, onto a SD memory card.
Lenses are available in wide angle, 120 degrees, so you don't have to aim.
The recorder is smaller than a pack of smokes, and cameras can be desguised as a lapel pin or even a button.
Some might not like the thought of having evidence to be used against them, but then don't get one.
Others might say they will forget to carry or turn the unit on. Well, you remember your gun every day. It is all about routine.
This is probably not for everybody, but seeing that a shooting can cost you $30000 or more in legal bills, I would prefer to have a recording of the BG advancing and threatening me.
One other benefit is that you will have a recording of what happened for several minutes before a shooting, say if someone was following you etc.
Neat Little Gizmo.
Man is that the camera sitting on top of that dime?
Liberty Over Tyranny Μολὼν λαβέ
Very neat indeed. I think in summer tho my sweat would lead to a short circuit!
If not for cost I could put one in a model plane!
Chris - P95
NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member.
"To own a gun and assume that you are armed
is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!."
http://www.rkba-2a.com/ - a portal for 2A links, articles and some videos.
wow !
" Refuse to be a victim, make sure there is a round chambered ! "
Just call me a pessimistic optimist !
U.S. Navy vet 1981-1992
If you noticed in the recent Taser thread, they referenced a new Taser that had a video camera on the end of it. When you removed the safety, it started recording. Cameras are getting to be everywhere. I can see the use for one in defense but would want to review it very carefully before disclosing that you had it. You might want to be careful to check laws, too. You might get arrested for being a voyeur under some of Arizona's laws.....
Coimhéad fearg fhear na foighde; Beware the anger of a patient man.
A camera on a gun/taser/pepperspray bottle/whatever is only going to show what happens as the item is pointed at BG, and then not even the aftermath if the GG doesn't rember to hold the item toward BG...
It won't show anything of what led to you having to defend yourself. It will only show impacts and the BG falling over.
As for voyeur laws etc, who is going to know you have a camera system?
The police won't check you unless you are already doing something creepy, and if you are, I think your CCW will get you in trouble then, even without having a camera.
What is the better of two evils: Getting sued for defending yourself, or having a bit of trouble for getting caught filming in (relatively) low quality your everyday doings.
Currently, Tasers are used primarily by Police. I have not been trained in the use of the Taser but it appears, by observation of the videos in the earlier thread, a Taser is held on a person (a little higher than "low ready"), presumably with the safety off while they attempt to talk the BG down. I believe that would, in most cases, show someone reviewing the video later that the guy in fact needed "tasing". The use of a video might or might not prove helpful. Nobody mentioned using it on a bottle of pepperspray. In fact, the camera would not have to be on a weapon at all. It could be anywhere on your person, hence the "voyeur law" comment.Originally Posted by KobunYou may want to do some research on the "voyeur laws" being enacted in many states to address the use of miniature video cameras either on your person or in your home if you think that warning was foolish. If you think you can't get in trouble using one in some of the most benign ways, you're wrong. Just because you don't tell them you have one doesn't mean someone won't discover you have one.Originally Posted by KobunYou'll still get sued for defending yourself regardless of the video. I didn't say that I wouldn't consider using a camera, but I know a man that is still wondering what he did wrong after spending a year in the State prison in Florence for putting up a camera in his own home and catching something he never intended. The camera angle may get you prosecuted for videoing your everyday doings. It is an issue that is worth considering when dealing with hidden cameras. If you don't believe that, don't take the advice....Originally Posted by Kobun
Coimhéad fearg fhear na foighde; Beware the anger of a patient man.
And bear in mind the "Rodney King" effect- the first 10-20 seconds of the vid, in which King repeatedly fails to comply with commands and actively resists(how many here have seen that?)-what gets released to the press can make or break you before trial. (Don't think DA's don't leak!) I would agree that a recording, at first blush, would be "The Ticket", but serious social encounters rarely go according to script, and the recording would provide vast opportunity for armchair quarterbacking.
Could be useful in helping correct shooting errorsOriginally Posted by Kobun
"You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone." - Al Capone
The second amendment is the reset button of our Constitution.
Voyeurs will have a lot of fun with that.
sounds like a 2 sided argument. could be used for or against you. Problem being is lawyers twist events to look as they wish, especially civilly , where no burden of proof is needed.
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Thomas Jefferson
Nemo Me Impune Lacesset
The April, 2006 issue of Police magazine featured a similar device in it's "Product Patrol" section. Here's how it read-VideoCarbon Portable DSR
[April 2006]
VideoCarbons Digital Shift Recorder (DSR) is the first in a new product line of portable body-worn digital video recorders. Worn on the officers dutybelt, one small wire connects a hidden mic and flat inconspicuous button cam, both easily concealed and easy to use. With a single quick-disconnect, the DSR can provide power, control, and video to the body-worn cameras. The DSR has an integrated hard disk drive and a field-replaceable Lithium-Polymer battery. It offers a 30-second pre-event recording feature and embedded time/date/serial number information in the video to support chain-of-evidence requirements.


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Staff report
The host Tallmadge boys and girls swimming teams lost to Suburban League rival Wadsworth Jan. 9 at University Park YMCA in Akron.
The boys dropped a 112-51 decision and the girls lost a 109-43 decision.
Despite the convincing losses, Talmadge first-year head coach was encouraged by the performances.
"I'm excited with how they are swimming in the toughest part of the season," he said. "Everybody is hurting, but they continue to muscle through each and every practice."
The boys have made significant strides this season, according to Miller.
"Senior captain Michael Kenny is a workhorse in practice and is a prime example of what hard work can get you," he said. "Michael could barley swim a 500-yard freestyle his first year, but as his last season approaches the end, he has done much more.
"Not only has he transformed himself, but Michael sets the bar high for our six freshmen.
"Raymond Riter, Cameron Coen, Jacob DiFiore, Jared Graham, Dominic Disalbo and Chad Weirich have come so far from day one and continue to amaze me. They are the future of the guys' program and have a lot of potential."
The girls have been making progress despite an array of injuries.
"Injuries will set most people back, but not our lady swimmers," Miller said. "They're a determined group that pushes it to the breaking point.
"Bittany DiFiore has the mindset and heart of a true champion.
"We're starting to adjust her training now that she has her endurance built up.
"Sage Luedke continues to swim fast as she recovers and I can't imagine how fast she'll go when she's 100 percent.
"Sam Rhine, Tori Ruggles, Katie Ridenour and Marissa Ridenour go through rigorous training exercises just so they are ready to swim. These things take a toll, but I believe in each and every one of them."
The Tallmadge boys also earned a 98-61 win over Crestwood Jan. 7. The girls dropped a 93-61 decision.
The girls 200 medley relay team of Luedke, Brittany DiFiore, Rhine and Ruggles placed first with a time of 2 minutes, 3.63 seconds.
Luedke added firsts in the 200 freestyle (2:26.55) and the 100 freestyle (1:04.23) and Rhine captured first in the 200 individual medley (2:55.89) and the 100 backstroke (1:16.69). DiFiore triumphed in the 100 breaststroke (1:19.77).
The boys 200 medley relay of Riter, Wilk, Kenny and Joey Sincel placed first (2:03.29).
That unit also guided the 200 freestyle relay to a win (1:45.97).
Ethan Coen, Cameron Coen, Don Cevasco and Wilk were part of the 400 freestyle relay that placed first (4:13.61).
Other firsts came from Riter in the 200 freestyle (2:16.27) and the 100 freestyle (56.7); Sincel in the 50 freestyle (25.37); Kenny in the 100 butterfly (1:07.03); Cevasco in the 500 freestyle (6:29.78) and Disalbo in the 100 breaststroke (1:18.87).
The Tallmadge boys won the 18-team Salem Invitational Jan. 5.
The girls placed seventh out of 18 teams.
The combined scores gave Tallmadge the title.
The boys 200 freestyle relay team of Sincel, Riter, Wilk and Kenny placed second (1:43.2).
That same group led the 400 freestyle relay team to second (3:49.65).
Brittany DiFiore led the Lady Blue Devils with a second-place time of 1:16.38 in the 100 breaststroke.
Also placing in the top five were the following:
Boys 200 IM: Riter, fourth, 2:27.81; and Kenny, fifth, 2:28.06
Boys 500 freestyle: Riter, third, 6:03.25
Boys 100 backstroke: Riter, fifth, 1:10.69
Boys 50 freestyle: Sincel, third, 25.6
Boys 100 freestyle: Sincel, fifth, 57.12
Girls 200 medley relay: Luedke, Brittany DiFiore, Rhine and Ruggles, third, 2:14.95
Girls 200 freestyle relay: Luedke, Brittany DiFiore, Rhine and Ruggles, fourth, 2:02.14
Girls 200 freestyle: Luedke, fifth, 2:26.27
Girls 100 backstroke: Rhine, fifth, 1:12.75
During the holiday break, the Tallmadge swimmers participated in a swim-a-thon. Portions were donated to Tallmadge Good Neighbors.
"It was a fun event to raise money for a good cause," Miller said.
Tallmadge is scheduled to host its Senior Meet against Youngstown Cardinal Mooney Jan. 14 at 5 p.m.
Both teams are set to entertain Suburban League foe Green Jan. 16 at 4:30 p.m.
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Elements Circle
$ 148.00
This chic circle design gets a modern transformation with shiny sculpted beveled edges. The circle represents infinity, peace, and wholeness - a reminder to stay beautiful - inside and out.
- approximately 1/2 inch high x 1/2 inch wide x 1/8 inch thick
- solid matte-finished eco-friendly Sterling Silver or 14kt Yellow Gold
- has our signature shiny beveled edge and is stamped for authenticity
- diamond pendants are 14kt Gold set with imported conflict-free diamonds measuring .18 carats in total weight, approximately H color, SI clarity, with a hand signature on the back
- hangs on a delicate diamond cut ball chain with a lobster clasp *Sterling Silver chains are rhodium plated to keep them shiny and sparkling
- arrives packaged in a signature Alex Woo gift box
Because each piece is hand finished and made in our New York workshop, no two pieces are exactly the same - making each one special and unique.


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Ian Somerhalder found new love
Los Angeles, Aug 22: Actor Ian Somerhalder has fallen for his new rescue dog.
The 34-year-old, who recently split from actress Nina Dobrev, introduced his new love on Instagram Monday, reports people.com.
He also explained how she unexpectedly came into his life.
"Rescued from traffic near the 'Vampire Diaries' stages just a few hours ago," he posted with a picture of the dog, describing her as "smart, beautiful and charming – all a man could ask for in a girl."


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Tailored Wool Cashmere Blend Coat
Size Guide
Use the Size Guide to choose the best fit for your measurements.
In this window, you can find out the shipping and returns options for the selected item.
In this window, you can contact customer service for further assistance.
- A double-breasted coat tailored from an especially soft and warm wool-cashmere blend. The smart style is dressed up with a gathered skirt and check lining.
- Outer: 71% virgin wool, 25% polyamide, 4% cashmere
- Check lining: 100% cotton
- Sleeve lining: 100% viscose
- Double-breasted closure
- Side pockets
- Specialist dry clean
- Imported
Item 40415691
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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is growing in importance as people become more aware of the environment and sustainability. One company leading the way is potato supplier Solanum.
As part of the Produce World Group, UK-based potato supplier, Solanum, is setting an example for businesses in the fresh produce sector worldwide. The company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme is driving changes in the business that are improving its environmental stewardship; further developing its responsible sourcing; enhancing its workplace culture; and ensuring that it makes a positive impact on the community.
Not only is Produce World undertaking this programme without spending a fortune, it has also adopted the Credit360 system which is used to provide public access to eleven of the Group's non-financial targets via a web portal.
Produce World, which employs over 1,200 staff in the UK and Spain, is based at Yaxley near Peterborough. The original business was founded in 1898 by the Burgess family. Although the company has grown considerably since then, the fourth generation of the family is still involved in the running of the business, and the Group retains strong family values.
As well as Solanum, the group has four other companies - Marshalls (brassicas), Rustler Produce (alliums), Isleham Fresh Produce (root vegetables), and RB Organic (organic vegetables). They are split into two divisions: the Allium and Brassica Division which covers Marshalls and Rustler, and the Root and Potato Division, which covers Ilseham Fresh Produce, RB Organic and Solanum.
Solanum itself is a supplier of provenance-sourced fresh potatoes for the UK retail market. Its commitment to sustainable sourcing, coupled with pioneering agronomy and procurement, has enabled Solanum to develop partnerships with leading potato growers in the UK and overseas. It employs just under 200 people at its site at Sutton Bridge in Lincolnshire.
While the CSR programme has three other pillars to it - workplace culture, community impact and responsible sourcing - particular progress has already been made on the environmental stewardship aspect of the programme. Targets have been set, and measurement is carried out on: the company's carbon footprint; use of energy, water, and packaging; and reductions in waste.
The group's Chief Executive William Burgess says: "We have taken real, practical measures to improve our environmental performance. These have business benefits and have not required a major investment on our part. Because the environmental measures are just one part of the overall CSR programme, we are ensuring that their implementation becomes a natural ongoing part of our workplace culture."
Implementation of the group-wide Environmental Management System (EMS) began in January 2008. The group's Business Support Centre and the Root and Potato Division, including Solanum, improved its environmental performance, enabling it to meet the British Environmental Standard BS 8555, and subsequently to progress to ISO 14001 in September 2009.
Projects which led to the achievement of these standards included initiatives on waste, energy and water management. A 'total waste management' programme implemented across the business focused on reducing, reusing and recycling waste. Waste is now segregated at source within the group's offices and factories, and the increased recycling of plastics, paper and cardboard have led to a reduction of 43 per cent in the amount of waste being sent to landfill.
Improvements in awareness of energy usage and waste have been boosted by improvements in energy measurement and recording. Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) allow eligible energy-intensive businesses to receive up to an 80 per cent discount from the Climate Change Levy (CCL) in return for meeting energy efficiency or carbon-saving targets. All businesses within the group now have these agreements in place, and the targets set have helped to further reduce energy consumption.
With water usage becoming an increasingly important global issue, all Produce World businesses have been encouraged to become more water conscious, focusing on reducing and re-using water. Closed loop water systems have helped to reduce reliance on mains water at two of the group's sites.
In order to ensure that the values of the programme are shared across the whole business, interactive environmental training has taken place across the business, and at all levels of employees including top management. Produce World is being entirely open about the progress that it is making against its CSR targets. Credit360 is a system for collecting and displaying data on sustainability and CSR. Major companies using it include McDonald's, John Lewis, and Barclaycard. Environmental targets across the group, broken down by company, are displayed on Produce World's website, alongside information on health and safety and percentage of permanent staff employed.
Use of the system led to Produce World winning the Innovative Reporting category of the awards run by Ethical Corporation as part of its Responsible Business Summit. Companies that won other categories or were highly commended included global household names such as L'Oreal, PepsiCo, SABMiller, British Land and Greenpeace.
Burgess says: "The fact that we have received this award in the face of considerable competition clearly demonstrates that CSR programmes can be effectively implemented on a shoestring budget. We are delivering a return on investment to the business, and adding value to our customers and suppliers at the same time."
Potato Business @potatobusiness
.@Euromonitor at @SNACKEX 2017: The Brits Buy 65% of Total Savory Snacks in Europe https://t.co/0NKyxHiXU0 https://t.co/xe1PFCCGN1
Potato Business @potatobusiness
Researchers at @JamesHuttonInst Engineer Heat Tolerance in Potato Crops https://t.co/HGaZxh4dI9 https://t.co/hHekZo8JxD
Potato Business @potatobusiness
.@Europatat Congress 2017 Focused on Plant Health and International Trade https://t.co/28442aGwo1 https://t.co/n4k2A0J87z
Potato Business @potatobusiness
Dutch Government Supports New #Potato Center in Tanzania https://t.co/drPUIzzKJ2 https://t.co/sVcsToP4f0
Potato Business @potatobusiness
PROFEL Warns European Vegetable Crops Are Affected by Weather https://t.co/sj9s7CSDEn https://t.co/NKBI8cuKqH
|Sep 19th 2017 - Sep 22nd 2017
Process Expo
|Oct 7th 2017 - Oct 11th 2017
|Jan 10th 2018 - Jan 13th 2018
Potato Expo
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Question: If we are unable to see the Sun by looking directly at it, is it ever safe to look at it through a telescope? Are there any other ways to look at the Sun?
Answer: It is only safe to view the Sun directly through a telescope that is fitted with a special filter. Alternatively an image of the Sun can be produced either using a telescope or with an easy-to-make pinhole camera.
The most common filter used for solar viewing is the H-alpha (hydrogen-alpha) filter. Sunlight is made up of all the colours of the rainbow and this filter works by blocking most of the sun's light and allowing only a small amount of red light to pass through. Not only is the intensity of the Sun reduced but harmful UV and infrared light is also removed to fully protect the observer's eyes. Spectacular views of prominences (loops emanating from the Sun's surface) and sunspots are then possible.
In the absence of a filter, you can use a telescope to project an image of the Sun onto another surface, such as a piece of cardboard. It is important never to look directly through the telescope or its finder scope, but by projecting the image of the Sun we can see it safely. It is important to make sure that the telescope is never left unattended while using this method.
The simplest way of safely viewing the Sun is to create a pinhole camera. This is easily done by taking a piece of cardboard and using a pin to create a small hole. With your back towards the Sun, hold the cardboard so that light passes through the hole onto a wall or other flat surface. You should then see an image of the Sun on that surface. Since this method doesn't involve a telescope, the image will be small and faint but it is great for watching the changing shape of the Sun during an eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's shadow partly or fully covers the Sun. During a total solar eclipse, the Sun's faint corona or outer atmosphere can be seen. Each year or so, somewhere in the world will experience a total solar eclipse. In 2009, one can be seen across India and China on 22 July. The next solar eclipse to be visible from Australia will occur on 14 November 2012. Totality will be visible from Cairns, while the rest of Australia will see a partial eclipse.
As a part of its celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, at certain times throughout the year Scienceworks will be conducting daytime astronomy sessions. These allow visitors to look safely at the Sun and enjoy the spectacular views provided by our very own star. Contact Scienceworks on 9392 4800 to find out when the next session will be held.
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Oklahoma's 2009 recruiting class continued to pick up steam up Monday night when the Sooners landed four-star defensive end Justin Chaisson.
"Yes, I did commit," Chaisson said. "I'm very excited about my decision and I can't wait to start working."
Chaisson, who was in Norman two weekends ago, had initially said he was going to take his time on making his decision. The country's ninth-rated defensive end was also entertaining offers from the likes of Florida, Nebraska, Oregon, California and others.
But all that changed after Chaisson and his mom visited the campus.
"My mom got to meet some of the coaches and check out the academics and she really liked it," he said. "She said if that's where I wanted to be, then she was behind me 100 percent."
And Norman is exactly where he wants to be, joining fellow Bishop Gorman products Ryan Reynolds and DeMarco Murray.
"I was planning on taking it slow and taking my time, but I just knew it was the right place for me," he said. "I just had a great feel for OU when I was there and I really got along with the coaches."
Chaisson made his decision on Monday night and immediately called coaches Bob Stoops and Kevin Wilson. He wanted to let them know – and the rest of the country as well.
"I wanted to make it known that I'm going to play for Oklahoma."
Chaisson (6-4, 250) had 102 tackles and 23 sacks as a junior. He bench presses 395 pounds and squats 525. He has a 36-inch vertical jump and runs a 4.72 in the 40-yard dash.
Chaisson is Oklahoma's ninth commitment of the 2009 class, including the third in the last two days.


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Well it seems that March, like February, has just flown by. I don't know about everyone else, but I've been wondering when it's actually going to begin to feel like spring in the northeast! We had a few 40° days in the beginning of the month, abruptly followed by an appalling amount of snow.
And after a lot of shoveling, a few more warm days, and a lot more cold days, the snow has finally begun to disappear. Luckily, those few spring-like days in early March put me in the mood to start my seedlings. (Quite a feat for me, queen of procrastination that I am.) So even though it has been crummy and cold outside, I've had little bits of spring sprouting and growing in my kitchen.
Speaking of seeds, did you know that quinoa is actually a seed, not a grain? I discovered quinoa about six years ago, when I randomly bought a box of it in the organic aisle of the grocery store. And after reading the back of the box while I was waiting for it to cook, I learned what a wonderful, highly-nutritious complete protein it is! I also learned how to pronounce it (bonus).
My favorite, lazy way to make quinoa is to throw in some peas and soy sauce. But this time, I was curious how it would work as a risotto. The answer: quite well! The only thing that could have made this dish better is some shrimp. My boyfriend thought it was a little too lemony (although I didn't mind it). If you don't love lemon, you might want to use the zest of only half a lemon, and leave the juice out all together. But if you add shrimp, use it all!
Asparagus & Lemon Quinoa Risotto
- 4½ cups of stock (chicken or vegetable)
- 1½ cups of quinoa
- 1 bunch of asparagus, chopped
- 1 lemon (zest & juice)
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp of butter
- ¼ cup of parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ dry white wine
Forgive my image-heavy post . . .
I was testing out my new flash on these in-process photos.
Soak quinoa in a bowl of water for about 5 minutes. In the meantime, bring stock to a boil in a large pot (you'll want to use a pot that has a well-fitting lid). Keep the lid on the pot when you aren't actually transferring things in and out of the pot, to keep evaporation to a minimum.
Once the stock begins to boil, add asparagus. Boil for 5–7 minutes, then transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Place in the fridge or an ice bath. Bring the stock down to barely a simmer and cover.
While asparagus cooks, melt 1 tbsp of butter in a large, shallow pan over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for 3 minutes. Drain quinoa and add to the pan. Saute for about a minute, then lower heat slightly. Using a ladle (or something similar), ladle in just enough stock to cover the quinoa. Let simmer until all of the liquid is absorbed, then ladle in the same amount of stock. Continue until the liquid is gone, and the quinoa is fully cooked (when the white germ ring becomes visible around the outside). If you're running low on liquid and your quinoa isn't fully cooked, just add some water to your stock pot, bring it to a simmer, and then continue with that.
As the last of your liquid is being absorbed, add in asparagus and white wine. Once the liquid is gone, remove from heat and stir in butter, lemon juice and zest, and parmesan cheese.
Sidenote: One of my favorite things to do with leftover risotto is to use it in a frittata (with hot sauce and maple syrup). I haven't tried it with quinoa, but I don't foresee it being bad!


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If you read this column often you know there's one thing I rarely write about.
A punter.
No disrespect intended (which is my favorite line when disrespecting), but I can recall only a couple such subjects: a kid named Miles Montgomery at University High in Morgantown and Todd Sauerbrun at WVU. (I have no earthly clue why I wrote of the first except that he was a good kid.)
Anyway, add Kyle Foster to the list.
If you're looking for the one player in this Saturday's North-South Classic with an FBS scholarship, it's the Parkersburg High product. Foster is headed to the Akron Zips.
And he's kind of a neat story.
First of all, understand he's the son of Rex Foster, who was a manager for WVU basketball teams when Gale Catlett coached and a director of the Mountaineer Athletic Club.
"He sent me to a kicking camp, so I guess I owe him respect for that," Kyle Foster said. "He sent me to a kicking camp in fourth grade. He said there are scholarships available at the next level if that's what you want to do. He has a lot of connections through football, knows a lot of people, so he helped me a lot through this process."
The punter smiled.
"I always used to kick a ball around in the house, so I guess I owe my mom for that," he said.
On Thursday, he was kicking a ball around UC Stadium in the rain while his North team practiced on Laidley Field.
"I don't think a lot of true punters or kickers get invited down here, but with what I'm going to do at the next level, I think they looked at me," Foster said. "When [North] Coach [Billy] Haddox called, I was as excited as can be to come play and represent Parkersburg."
Foster said he began punting in earnest in seventh grade when his middle school coach had an open tryout.
"From there, I got to freshman football at the high school," he said. "Coach [Don] Reeves wanted me to come up and punt that year — and I ended up punting four years at PHS. I just kind of took over."
Foster averaged 43 yards in net punting last season, during which the recruiting process was in full swing.
"There's a lot more that goes into it than you might think," Foster said. "It's not just because you can kick a ball. A lot of times [college coaches] come to games and watch quarterbacks and receivers, but, as a punter, you really have to send film and make the contacts because they're probably not going to find you. You more or less have to find them.
"Coach Reeves did a lot of that for me. I have the utmost respect for him."
Foster found interest from schools in many corners.
"I talked to a lot of different people," said the punter. "On signing day and after, when I decided on Akron, I had Kansas State and Arizona State as teams I talked to a lot, as well as Marshall. But I really wanted to be close to home. Plus, I wanted that West Virginia connection. With Coach [Terry] Bowden at Akron, I definitely will feel that."
Ah yes, that West Virginia connection. Bowden's father Bobby coached in Morgantown and Terry attended WVU.
"I talked to [Terry] and Coach Jeff Bowden, his brother, who is our special-teams coach over there," Foster said. "Coach Bowden sent me a letter talking about the West Virginia connection and getting that in Akron. There are two Morgantown boys [Christian Allen and Jeff Allen] over there playing and Ryan Nehlen is a new graduate assistant from WVU. So a lot of West Virginia connections."
Perhaps not so coincidentally, Terry Bowden was in Parkersburg last week speaking to the Big Reds.
"I got to go in," Foster said. "It was kind of cool. My new coach was in there talking to my old coach, talking about what he's trying to bring to Akron football."
If you're wondering, yes, Foster did talk to WVU's Dana Holgorsen.
"I talked to him a couple times," said the punter. "I talked to Coach [Joe] DeForest a couple times. They more or less wanted me to walk on. I wasn't trying to be greedy or anything, but I wanted to go where the scholarship was going to be and where I had the most opportunity to play. I've grown up a WVU fan my whole life and I'll still be a supporter."
The twist to the story is Foster won't enter Akron's program as the starting punter, despite the scholarship. That's a rarity.
"They have a kid there who was going to go into the NFL draft," Foster said of Zach Paul. "When I first met him in December, he had intentions to go to the NFL draft. Then he decided to come back for his senior year. He was [third-team] All-MAC, so he's pretty good."
That doesn't mean, however, Foster will be red-shirted.
"They want to use me as a place-holder for sure," Foster said. "They've seen my film. That's one thing that got me recruited more so than punting, believe it or not. They saw my ability to be a pretty decent place-holder. I did that for four years at PHS too.
"They definitely want to use me as that, as well as for some onside-kicks. That's what I did at PHS, so we'll see what happens."
So far, so good in that regard. Foster found his school. He found his scholarship. And he found his Mountain State connection.
"I wanted to have that West Virginia tie-in and Coach Bowden definitely gives me that," Foster said. "I think he's got that program going in the right direction. He has some top quality teams on the schedule this coming year like Pitt and Penn State. We play Marshall at home. It should be fun."
Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, email@example.com or follow him at twitter.com/MitchVingle.


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I purchased my S60 about a month ago... sometimes when we are in the sunlight looking at the car from an angle, you can see tons of very fine scratch-like swirls all over the car. They appear to create a haze in the clear coat. Is this normal for darker vehicles? Is there a way to remove them?
I have been pretty anal about cleaning my car and am fairly certain that I did not create these marks. Maybe the dealer did this prior to me getting the car?


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Jumping on conservative bandwagon, Fox Nation claims "Obama Changing the 9/11 Anniversary"
Blog ››› ››› MEDIA MATTERS STAFF
From The Fox Nation, accessed on August 25:
Fox Nation links to an August 24 American Spectator piece by Matthew Vadum which claims that Obama "is behind a cynical, coldly calculated political effort to erase the meaning of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from the American psyche and convert Sept. 11 into a day of leftist celebration and statist idolatry."
The Washington Monthly's Steve Benen notes that conservative blogs are embracing Vadum's piece:
But let's just note a few relevant details. First, George W. Bush called for community volunteer work on the anniversary of 9/11, and the right didn't find it controversial. Second, victims' families have recommended making 9/11 a national day of service for years. Third, Alex Koppelman explained, "Check out the official Web site set up for the day: They're asking people to come up with their own events. So if you don't want to help out at anti-American places like food banks and community gardens, you can organize your own event."
What's more, while the Vadum piece is obviously bizarre, it's also worth remembering that these disturbed ideas were quickly embraced by other far-right bloggers, including Michelle Malkin and another site that argued the president is calling for "mandatory civilian service" as part of Obama's drive to build "his civilian army."
Conservative bloggers pick the strangest things to get excited about.
- Network/Outlet
- Fox Nation
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Updated rules for commenting are here.


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Sparta Prague goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik believes his side can frustrate Chelsea and extend their unbeaten European home record to 12 matches on Thursday.
Sparta host Chelsea, last season's Champions League winners, in the first leg of the Europa League last-32 in their first competitive fixture since December 6.
The hosts are confident though, having last lost at their Letna Stadium home against MSK Zilina in the 2010/11 Europa League play-offs, while Chelsea have one win in five matches.
"I believe we will add one more match to that run and travel to London with a result that keeps our chances alive," Vaclik said.
"To succeed, we'll have to play our best football. Even if Chelsea are not having their best period right now, they have the winning mentality of a big club and self-confidence."
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LSSU to host third Writing Across the Peninsula Conference
Posted: October 11th, 2012
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State University will play host to the third annual Writing Across the Peninsula conference, Thursday-Friday, Oct. 18-19, a gathering of high school and college educators who teach writing and are exploring new ideas and approaches for teaching it well.
The conference is open to everyone, but LSSU English, communication and education students are particularly encouraged to attend.
LSSU English Prof. Mary Been Ph.D. said the conference's two main speakers will be examining issues of diversity and race in the writing classroom. Prof. Kristin Arola Ph.D., from Washington State University, will be speaking on "Rethinking Multimodal Composition through Anishinaabe Teachings." Prof. Julia Landsman, Minneapolis, whose recent book, "Growing Up White: A Veteran Teacher Reflects on Racism," informs her talk, will be speaking on "The Imperative of Stories: Our Students', Our Own, and Where They Converge."
"We are very excited to be hosting these two dynamic speakers," said Been. "In addition, ten panels of teachers and graduate students from colleges and high schools in the Upper and Lower Peninsula, and Ontario, will be presenting research and projects. We have organized the conference to offer multiple opportunities for interaction and discussions with all of these presenters."
Been said high school faculty who attend the entire conference are eligible for 2.5 Continuing Education Units.
Registration information and the full roster of speakers and events is available at writingacrossthepeninsula2012.weebly.com
Registration is only $30 ($20 for students) and is available online through the website. The registration fee includes the Thursday evening reception of "Food and the Arts" in the LSSU Arts Center, as well as a continental breakfast and buffet lunch on Friday.
WAP was co-founded by writing instructors at Michigan Technological University, Northern Michigan University and LSSU. For more information, contact Been at 906-635-2116 or firstname.lastname@example.com -LSSU-
CONTACT: Tom Pink, 906-635-2315, email@example.com; John Shibley, 635-2314, firstname.lastname@example.com; Prof. Mary Been, 635-2116, firstname.lastname@example.com