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conversations, publishing information, writer resources & inspiration, bookseller-librarian-teacher appreciation, children's-YA book news & author outreach
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Author/Illustrator Interview: Ed Young on Beyond The Great Mountains
Publisher bio: "Ed Young was born in Tientsin, China, grew up in Shanghai, and later moved to Hong Kong and finally to the United States, where he lives today with his wife and two young daughters. He has illustrated more than eighty children's books (some of which he has also written), and his work has received many awards, including the 1990 Caldecott Medal and two Caldecott Honors."
What was your initial inspiration for creating this book?
This book is a spin-off from a workshop on Chinese calligraphy that I did in Boulder, Colorado, in 1983. I composed a poem made up of Chinese symbols on natural elements. The poem was written with sumi brush on a scroll of paper towel. I never thought at the time that this was going to be a book, let alone a children's book.
What was the timeline from spark to publication, and what were the major events along the way?
It is now 2005 - so twenty-two years from beginning to end - during which the poem lay in my drawer, dormant. In 1990 my Caldecott Medal for Lon Po Po (Philomel, 1989) coincided with the Horn Book Award. My reception talk for the Horn Book Award, Eight Matters of the Heart, was sparked by my work ethics. The talk inspired a book called Voices of the Heart, and the success of Voices made Beyond the Great Mountains possible. I approached Scholastic, HarperCollins, and Philomel before it was accepted by Chronicle. First, it was in an accordion format, which turned into this step-down method, a vertical book.
What were the challenges (literary, research, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
I've been interested in the ideograms for many years. The challenge was to understand their evolution, since there are no ready-made answers, even among experts. Also to find the right format, which completes the book. The rest was easy.
Could you describe your artistic process for the illustrations?
When it was in the scroll format, it was simply sumi ink written with brush on paper towel. Then it was in a collage with limited colors in a tall and narrow accordion format. At Chronicle, it was finalized into the step-down format. Afterward, I redid the illustrations within a few months, by rounds and rounds of negotiations between mediums and sizes, until all the pages became a family. Then it's a book.
What would you say have been your biggest influences, both as a writer and an illustrator? Or can you separate the two?
I never thought I was a writer until Pat Gauch, my editor at Philomel, encouraged me to record my voice telling my stories, and to transcribe them. That was in 1989, for my first written book, Lon Po Po. I have been an illustrator all my life and was influenced by illustrators from the U.S. before I could read or speak English.
As the creator (or co-creator) of more than 80 books for young readers, what have been your career highlights?
White Wave (Harcourt, 1996) was a book for which I opened myself up to the idea that for a book to be great, one has to accept the greater mind of the team in the making. Also Foolish Rabbit's Big Mistake (Putnam, 1985), for which I allowed myself to use a medium appropriate to the story that was outside of its tradition, which in this case would have been Indian miniatures.
What advice do you have for author/illustrators--beginners and those who've published a book or two?
Know that picture book illustration is not a money-making profession. Do not allow that to hold the "artist" in you on a leash and lead you astray. (It even happens to some of the successful people.) Challenge yourself to resist shortcuts and complacency or to fall prey to trendy books. Anything worth making deserves your best effort. The richness is in your spirit, not in your pocket.
How would you describe the landscape today of Asian American children's literature? What changes have you seen over the course of your career?
Overwhelmingly challenging in technology, in mediums, in styles, in standards. The sky is the limit. It's exciting.
Of the children's/YA books you've read this year, which are your favorites and why?
Many. One I saw recently is Shark God by Rafe Martin, illustrated by David Shannon (Arthur A. Levine, 2001). It's noteworthy.
What can your fans expect from you next?
My Mei Mei (Philomel, 2005) will be in bookstores by mid February. It's a personal story. Tiger of the Snow (Atheneum, 2006), a poem to celebrate Norgay and Hillary's climb of Mt. Everest, will be out in May 2006.
Cynsational News & Links
An Excerpt and Q&A with Ed Young on Beyond The Great Mountains from Chronicle Books.
Ed Young from Teachingbooks.net: includes book guide and interview information.
Combating Censorship from NCTE. See also Censorship Challenges: What To Do, also from NCTE.
Horn Book Fanfare List: Best Books of 2005.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Author Interview: Greg Leitich Smith on Tofu and T. rex
What was your inspiration for creating this book?
I had finished up Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo (Little Brown, 2003, 2005), and I was going through old notes and jotting new ideas, but nothing was really exciting enough to spend the time to write a novel about.
Somewhere along the line, though, I began playing around with comic opposites (e.g., "The Odd Couple") and decided you could not get more opposite than a sausage maker and a vegan. The idea was intrinsically funny, had a built-in conflict, and a lot of possibilities.
Another idea I had been playing with involved applications to "elite" schools – having applied to and attended several universities in that category, believe me, the comic possibilities there are endless.
What was the timeline from spark to publication, and what were the major events along the way?
Tofu and T. rex was the second book in a two-book deal I had signed with Little Brown when I sold Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo. I hadn't initially intended to write a companion to Ninjas, but as I was trying to develop my vegan character, I realized I already had one, in Freddie, who has a minor role in Ninjas. Once I had Freddie as a character, it was inevitable that the school which would be the subject of application horror would be the Peshtigo School, and that the person applying would be Freddie's cousin, Hans-Peter.
So now I had a couple of premises, a couple of characters, and a deadline. I didn't really have a plot, though, but this didn't stop me. I began writing and eventually had something novel length, with an acceptable arc, but there was something wrong --- it seemed a bit passionless and unremarkable and not hugely funny. I really needed to do something radical, so I packed it off to my editor, Amy Hsu (who, sadly is no longer in publishing).
Several weeks later, I received a three page letter from Amy. In addition to several things I already knew but didn't want to face the consequences of, she asked two extremely important questions.
First, perhaps the most profound question of all: Where was T. rex?
The manuscript had gone to her under the title "Tofu and Tyrannosaurus Rex," which had always been the title – and Amy was right – there was no T.Rex in the actual story. I had always sort of figured that T.Rex was just a metaphor for carnivore, thought that the title was clever, but hadn't ever presented an actual sauropod.
So, I get this letter, with this question, and I knew I had to answer it.
And for some reason, the first thing that came to me was "Well, obviously, it's in the basement. Life-sized."
Which is why Hans-Peter has a life-sized tyrannosaurus rex head in the basement of the family bungalow. This was sort of the key to making the novel work -- the presence of the T.Rex head led to other changes in the plot – it inspired, for example, the entire storyline of the homecoming parade.
The second question from Amy was a little more problematic. Basically, it was "What happened to Freddie?" Amy's concern was well-founded. In Ninjas, Freddie appears as a minor character was is, shall we say, a bit strident with regard to her animal rights activism, kind of comic relief, but definitely strong-willed. She wasn't however, necessarily the most likeable character, particularly to have as a protagonist.
So in the draft I'd sent Amy, I'd toned Freddie down a bit, figuring that her point of view was different from that of the characters in Ninjas. The problem was, she came out being an entirely different person.
So I went back to my computer, with my T. rex head, my recidivist Freddie, and started re-writing. The re-write was so comprehensive that I think the only scene in the published book that was in the draft I'd originally sent Amy was the scene with the bees at Castle Brandenburg.
After another few months, I sent this draft off, Amy liked it a lot better. And so did I.
What were the challenges (literary, research, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life?
The biggest challenge was self-imposed: I wanted Freddie to remain a vegan at the end of the novel and I also wanted Hans-Peter to remain a committed carnivore at the end of the novel. (I really, really, hate novels where the character's epiphany is along the lines of "Why, yes, [insert: cousin, friend, Mom], you were right all along. I am so much more enlightened now that I've learned the lesson you've been trying to teach me.") Both characters were so strong, no one would have believed it anyway. This meant, though, that I had to find a way for them to both change and grow while being true to themselves. Consequently, the novel became more a story of family conflict than "political" conflict, and the extent to which family matters.
Beyond that, the characters' voices were hard to get right. This was especially important because the novel is told in alternating point of view between Freddie and Hans-Peter.
Freddie was hard to write, for reasons noted above, but also because I wanted to make her a fully rounded person, one you could respect, even if you didn't agree with her. I also wanted to make her the sort of person who chose veganism because of its inherent logic, not simply for feel-good reasons. I think it makes her a stronger character, although perhaps, in some ways, more frightening.
With Hans-Peter, the voice issues were more subtle. Basically, he started out as more of a "straight" man, but as Freddie became more Freddie, he had to become a stronger character as well. So, he became more "into" the deli and dinosaurs and more intensely interested in getting admitted to the school. In some ways, too, Hans-Peter is a lot like Elias, one of the PoV characters from Ninjas. Giving Hans-Peter a voice distinctive from Elias's was hard, especially in the scene where they're together.
Finally, the research was fairly intense. I spent a lot of time researching both veganism and sausage-making (and believe me, sausage makers are just as passionate about wurst as vegans are about their cause). I sampled a certain amount of sausage made by different techniques and I also spent a week on a vegan diet, which was kind of hard, but I suspect easier in Austin than other places. By the way, while I found some sausage disagreeable, I discovered that vegan mayonnaise substitute is possibly the most revolting substance known to humankind.
Cynsational Notes
Tofu and T. rex was a finalist for the TSRA Golden Spur Award.
Greg is my husband. I read his manuscript several times while it was in progress, and I adored Freddie. In fact, she and her conviction to veganism were sufficiently persuasive to me that I've stopped eating mammals altogether. I know Freddie would say I've still got a long way to go, but I also suspect she'd count me as at least a partial victory. In any case, my die-hard beef-eating husband is respectfully, if grudgingly, adjusting to the shift in the family diet, and in any case, he really has no choice but to take it as a compliment to his writing.
Surf by GregLS Blog.
Author Interview: Greg Leitich Smith on Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo from cynsations.
Interview with Debut Children's Book Author Greg Leitich Smith from Debbi Michiko Florence. Fall 2003.
Greg Leitich Smith Interview from Downhomebooks.com. Fall 2003.
Greg Leitich Smith Interview at YA Books Central.
Spotlight on Greg Leitich Smith by Cynthia Leitich Smith from Smart Writers. July 2005.
"Of Tofu and T. Rex" by Greg Leitich Smith from Time Warner Bookmark.
Cynsational News & Links
Congratulations to Liz Gallagher for signing with agent Rosemary Stimola. And congratulations to Rosemary Stimola for signing writer Liz Gallagher! Liz is a fourth semester student at the Vermont College/Union Institute & University MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults.
Congratulations to Austin author Jerry Wermund, whose picture books, The World According To Rock (Rockon Publishing, 2004) and Earthscapes: Landforms Sculpted by Water, Wind, and Ice (Rockon Publishing, 2003), were recommended by the National Science Teachers Assocation!
How To Write a Picture Book with Fabulous R&M by Margot Finke from The Purple Crayon. note: R & M = rhyme & meter.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Publisher Miriam Hees on Blooming Tree Press
Blooming Tree Press came about for several reasons. First, I had the desire to see different types of books on the shelves than I was seeing...especially for children.
Second, the majority of our authors and illustrators have never been published. I wanted to give talented people a chance that they might not get otherwise get with the big publishers. We all need that first leg up, and I wanted to be a part of that.
Finally, my reason for starting BTP is my love of books. Writing, reading, and publishing books is my passion. You won't find me shopping in a clothes store or shoe store or picking out jewelry for that matter. You will find me at least once a week in a bookstore. It's like a candy shop to me.
I have always had plenty of inspiration to do what I set my mind to do, and having been a business woman for more than 20 years, I had the know-how and street smarts. But just like any small business, a small press is a major challenge. Some people as skeptical and don't think you know what you are doing; others think only the big presses can give an author or illustrator the attention they deserve. Also, just making sure you have all the marketing and sales connections that big guys have is a challenge. It's takes a constant stream of phone calls, emails and personal visits to see it done, but we have risen to the challenge quite nicely. People in the publishing and book world are starting to recognize Blooming Tree Press. But most importantly, authors, illustrators and readers now know we are here.
Also note, you will see that we publish mainly children's books, but we do have an adult press that we're in the process of opening.
Who are the people behind BTP? What are their respective backgrounds? What is the role of each today?
Blooming Tree Press in filled with wonderful people! Let me start by listing the staff and their backgrounds.
Miriam Hees - Publisher:Miriam has been a writer for more than 15 years and business woman for more than 20 years. She has started and ran many businesses in that time period. She began her business plan for Blooming Tree Press almost 10 years ago. Today, her role as publisher is a full-time, seven-day-a-week pursuit. She continues to write in that free time between 3 and 5 a.m. and will release a new guardian angel book as well as a WWII historical fiction middle grade in the next 18 months.
Bradford Hees - Senior Editor - Adult Division: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Bradford Hees is an excellent writer of SciFi/Fantasy as well as graphic novels and Manga. He has studied Japanese, writing, and publishing for many years. He is currently working on opening the adult division of Blooming Tree Press as well as awaiting the release of his first graphic novel/Manga entitled "The Light of Nor."
Madeline Smoot - Senior Editor - Children's Division: Madeline Smoot has been reading children's literature her whole life but has been editing for one year. She has BBA in Marketing from Southern Methodist University and is finishing her MA in Children's Literature from Hollins University. Her first book, Frog on Vacation, is scheduled for release in the fall of 2006.
Meghan Diestche - Associate Editor - Children's Division: Meghan Dietsche graduated from Smith College in 2000. She has worked in publishing for five years, most recently for HarperCollins Children's Books.
Judy Gregerson - Editor - Children's Division: Judy grew up on the eastern end of Long Island and attended SUNY Oswego and Stony Brook with a major in journalism and communications. Once out of college, she worked as a copy editor at The (Syracuse) Post-Standard and then as a copywriter for S.T. Preston & Son's nautical mail order catalog.
While in New York she wrote her first book, a memoir, Save Me! A Young Woman's Journey Through Schizophrenia To Health. Doubleday published the book in 1980 to excellent reviews, and Judy was listed that year in Who's Who in America.
She eventually tired of New York and moved to Seattle, Washington. There, she worked in the housing industry, married, and raised two girls. She gave up writing for eighteen years but took up her keyboard in 1997 and started crafting novels. She came on board as an associate editor at BTP in 2004.
Kay Pluta - Assistant Editor - Children's Division: Kay Pluta is a former middle school Language Arts teacher who graduated from Georgia College with a BA in English. She was on the editorial staff of literary magazines from high school through college. After leaving teaching to raise a family, Kay published dozens of articles and stories for both adults and children in various print and online magazines. She sold her first children's book, There's A Yak In My Bed, to Blooming Tree Press in 2004, and joined the staff a year later.
Kelly Bell - Layout and Design: Kelly Bell has 20 years (print) 10 years (web) of design, development and production experience in all phases of traditional (print) and new (web) media, from concept through delivery. Her skills include human-computer interface design, concepting, layout, design, scanning, photo retouching and montage, illustration. She is currently working for Blooming Tree Press as Art Director. Her responsibility is for all company marketing communications products, book design and production, Interactive (Audiobooks, Mediabooks) media, web site design and maintenance for this small but growing children's book publisher.
What is your target market? Direct sales, institutional (school/library sales), bookstores, catalogs/specialty, a combination of several? As a new, small press, how are you gaining awareness and competing with larger, more established publishers?
We target multiple markets. Bookstores, obviously are a big market. We are with Baker & Taylor, the second biggest distributor in the world. This allows to have our books stocked in any bookstore worldwide. We also love librarians! We are members of the Texas Library Association and will be at the TLA annual conference in 2006, will be listed in the 2007 Children's Writers and Illustrators Market (CWIM)(Writer's Digest Books), are members of the national and local Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators as well as local writers leagues.
We offer two catalogs a year that are mailed to all markets announcing upcoming titles. Word of mouth, the Internet and personal visits all help us get our name out there.
Also, all of our authors are provided, shortly after their publication, with a marketing and publicity binder. These binders are personalized with data of local stores, schools, libraries, book awards, specialty stores and reviewers that will help us and them make their book a great success.
What is the scope of your publishing program? Do you publish picture books, chapter books, middle grade and/or young adult novels? Do you specialize in any particular genres? Are there areas you avoid?
We currently publish five-to-seven titles a year. We publish picture books (personally requested only at this time), early readers, chapter books, middle grade, young adult and adult. We do mainly fiction but will look at non-fiction. We don't accept any subjects having to do with horror, the occult or explicit sex.
What are your submission guidelines for writers, for illustrators? What are you especially looking for? Do you have an interest in new voices, and in the case of illustrators, visions?
We are always looking for new voices. As I said earlier, most of our authors and illustrators were unpublished before they came to us. Guidelines for submission are listed on the website. But here they are are:
For children's division, please send a query to:
Blooming Tree Press
Children's Submissions
P.O. Box 140934
Austin, Texas 78714
If we like what we see we will immediately ask for more.
For the adult division, we ask for synopsis and first three chapters to same address only - Adult Submissions.
For illustrators send samples to same address, only specify Art Department. Also note we do take worldwide submissions. One of our newest books in written by Leslie Carmichael, who hails from Canada.
I noticed that you're sponsoring a short story competition in conjunction with SmartWriters.com. What inspired this decision? Why is it a good opportunity for writers?
I received a call from Roxyanne Young of SmartWriters.com, who was ecstatic about their latest short story competition. She wanted to be able to offer winners and runners up of the competition a publishing avenue. She asked if I would be interested in using these stories for a published anthology.
Well, of course! Writing competition winners tend be the highest quality work and that, combined with the opportunity to work with Roxyanne, was a win-win situation for me.
This is an excellent opportunity for writers to get their foot in the "publishing" door. Having a writing credit can catch the attention of many an editor. When an author/illustrator is published in any form or fashion alerts an editor to the fact that this writer is able to edit and revise. A big key to a "yes" or "no" of an acceptance of a manuscript is can an author revise.
[note: see link below to Smart Writers announcement of the winners]
Could you tell us a little about your new books for fall 2005?
We have a great lineup for this fall:
1.) Callie and the Stepmother by Susan A. Meyers, illustrated by Rose Gauss. An easy reader in paperback (ISBN 0-9718348-0-6).
When Callie's father remarries, Callie knows exactly what her life will be like. After all, she's read all the books. She's going to be stuck cleaning floors, expected to sweep the fireplace, forced to eat poisoned apples and most likely abandoned in the woods. And there's not just the new stepmother, Pam to worry about. There's also an annoying stepbrother and an evil stepsister.
What's Daddy's Little Princess to do? In this delightful rendition of a modern day Cinderella, Callie learns not all stepmothers are wicked and every fairytale has a unique ending.
2.) Lyranel's Song by Leslie Carmichael, illustrated by Elsbet Vance. An upper middle grade hardcover (ISBN 0-9718348-5-7).
Lyranel has never thought much about Singing. Her mother had been a famous Singer years ago, but she died when Lyranel was very young. Since then, Lyranel's father, the Duke of Trioste, has banned all Singers from his Duchy. Those that remain live in secret, Singing their Songs of healing and life.
When Lyranel awakens upon her twelfth birthday bursting with Song, she is horrified and tries to hide her new gift from her father. Worse still, a terrible plague threatens her land and the Singers that remain. Lyranel must learn to come terms with her new talent. If not, her land and her people may not survive.
3.) Little Bunny Kung Fu by Regan Johnson. A picture book illustrated in black and white (ISBN 0-9769417-8-3).
Regan Johnson takes the classic children's nursery rhyme and provides it with a new twist. Set in China, this bunny doesn't like to play with field mice. Instead, he prefers chopping down bamboo. Unfortunately for Little Bunny Kung Fu, many creatures in the forest rely on the bamboo. Eventually, Great Dragon must come down and set Little Bunny Kung Fu straight. Join Little Bunny Kung Fu in his romp through the Chinese forest.
An exciting note for Regan and for us is that Barnes & Noble is considering releasing Little Bunny Kung Fu nationally!
4.) One-Eyed Jack by Paula Miller, illustrated by Chris Forrest. A hardcover middle grade (ISBN 0-9718348-8-1).
The first in the Faces of History Series, this story tells the tale of a boy, Nate, on a cattle ranch in 1880's Montana. Nate has always wanted a dog, but his Pa does not. Only grudgingly does Pa allow Nate to keep the nearly dying puppy he finds. Nate must struggle to control his new dog and allow the Lord the time to sway Pa's heart.
Faces in History is a series dedicated to showing children and teens of faith during different periods of history. The hero of each tale must overcome personal obstacles with perseverance and faith in the Lord. Written to entertain, these books also serve as an inspirational tool for any child of faith.
We have seven titles slated for next year which include: Jessica McBean, Tap Dance Queen; Summer Shorts Anthology; There's a Yak in My Bed; Robo Rescue; Frog on Vacation; and The Light of Nor.
You're a writer and publisher! What is it like, wearing two hats? Was it a natural progression?
It really was a natural progression and one I feel that is an advantage for all involved in the company. When you have been a writer for many years, sending submissions and playing the game, you know how the writers submitting manuscripts to you you feel. Their hopes, dreams, fears and concerns are easy to understand. I feel I have more compassion and I try to show extra respect because of it.
Could you tell us a little about your own titles?
Angel Eyes and Angel on my Shoulder are from my guardian angel series. This is a wonderful series about girls and their guardian angels.
Noises in the Attic is a mystery adventure. Just plain fun and excitement as a brother and sister solve a mystery.
I always wanted to write fun, exciting, and wholesome reading for kids. There is so much bad out there that kids have to deal with every day. I wanted something for them to read where they might escape...if just for a little while.
Is there anything you would like to add?
I just want all writers and illustrators to remember that the publishing business is a tough one whether you are a publisher, editor, writer or illustrator. If it is your passion, don't ever give up. You will find your place. I guarantee it. Just keep your dream alive!
Cynsational News & Links
Smart Writers Journal December 2005 features include: "The Day After" by Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon on marketing your book after its release; announcements of literary agents seeking writer clients; announcement of winners of the short story contest in conjunction with Blooming Tree Press (see above); "Short Story Tips from a Judge" by Marilyn Singer; and a listing of upcoming writers' retreats and conferences from Margot Finke. Congratulations to Debbi Michiko Florence who received an "honorable mention" in the young readers division for her story, "Megumi's Gift!"
Congratulations also to Sarah Aronson on the sale of her debut novel to Deborah Brodie at Roaring Brook Press!
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Writing the YA Novel
My focus was on what the YA novel is and how to write it whereas Greg talked about getting published and led a character-building writing exercise.
The crowd was enthusiastic and included such local authors as: Frances Hill; Varian Johnson; Austin SCBWI RA Julie Lake; Lindsey Lane; April Lurie; Jerry Wermund; JoAnne Whittemore; Brian Yansky; as well as illustrator Don Tate.
After the event, Greg and I swung to the front of the store for Regan Johnson's signing of her picture book Little Bunny Kung Fu (Blooming Tree, 2005). For more on the substance of the event, see the participant notes immediately below.
Cynsational Notes
"A Swift Kick in the Rear" from They Call Me Mr. V, author Varian Johnson's blog, in which he discusses the substance of mine and Greg's presentation.
"The Smiths Workshop on YA" from Devas T. Rants and Raves!, illustrator Don Tate's blog, in which he does the same. (Note: Though he's well-known as an illustrator, Don has begun writing now, too!).
Cynsational News & Links
Fuel for the Writer is a cookbook made up of recipes from alumni, students, and faculty of Vermont College/Union Institute & University MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. All proceeds go to benefit the alumni scholarship fund. It's a fantatic book full of recipes, memories, anecdotes, quotes, and artwork, all related to the wonderful world of food and writing. Purchases can be made at www.fuelforthewriter.com. Or call 1-888-573-3902.
Interview with Tracy Wynne, co-owner of Cover to Cover Bookstore in San Francisco, from PaperTigers.org.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Out of Print, But Not Forgotten
From the CBC Web site:
"Is there a children's book you absolutely love that has gone out of print?
"From November to February the Children's Book Council is asking librarians, teachers, parents, and kids to name a book they would love to see reissued. The poll is a project of the ALA-CBC Joint Committee, and the top ten books will be announced in the spring."
You'll find a form on the site, asking for the title, author, and illustrator.
Traditionally, children's books used to build by word of mouth, passed on to each set of young readers as they came of age for picture books, chapter books, middle grades, and YA novels. But the shift to big business has us leaning more in the quick hit-or-miss direction of television shows and movies.
Today, titles are known to go into and out of print, even before the traditional three-year cycle for state awards passes. In fact, a friend of mine had a novel make two state lists at about the same time her tweener went out of print, a factor insufficient for her big-house publisher to reconsider its decision.
Within my own body of work, I had a short story, "The Naked Truth," published in In My Grandmother's House: Award-Winning Writers Tell Stories About Their Grandmothers, edited and illustrated by Bonnie Christensen (HarperCollins, 2003). This wonderful anthology, which includes stories by Alma Flor Ada, Beverly Cleary, Gail Carson Levine, and Diane Stanley is already out of print.
The book I'd most like back...
Muskrat Will Be Swimming by Cheryl Savageau (Abenaki-French Canadian), illustrated by Robert Hynes, featuring a Seneca traditional story retold by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki) (Northland, 1996). When a young Native girl is called "Lake Rat," she is comforted by Grampa who both reveals how he was once called "Frog" because of his French-Indian heritage and shows how those intended insults are signs that the bullies don't appreciate the joy of the frog and wonder of the lake. Ages 4-up.
Cynsational Notes
See Keeping Books in Print by Harold Underdown from The Purple Crayon.
Cynsational News & Links
Or surf over to Storyopolis and shop for a children's book illustration. If I had $4000, I'd buy Chicago by E.B. Lewis. Um, Santa?
The December issue of Kid Magazine Writers features: quotes from Spider editor Heather Delabre; an article on "sentence length and editing for younger readers;" an article on "getting in the right mindset for connecting with young folks;" "an annotated list of nonfiction articles taken from magazines targeting very young readers," and more.
Between the Lines: An Illustrator's Viewpoint: "Texture Creates Feeling in Pencil Works" by Kevin Scott Collier.
Children's Bookwatch from the Midwest Book Review. December 2005.
Friday, December 02, 2005
Department Chair Kathi Appelt on the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults
What is a low-residency master of fine arts program?
In a traditional residential degree program, students typically attend weekly or bi-weekly seminars or workshops on campus. A traditional degree usually has a set or series of classes that are required and may or may not include one-on-one instruction or mentoring. A masters level degree normally takes anywhere from two to four years. In a low-residency program, students congregate only once or twice a year on campus for two-four weeks. During these residencies, students attend lectures and workshops. They are then assigned to an advisor who will work with them on an individual semester plan. So, during the course of a semester, the student works with only one instructor.
What are the advantages of a low-residency program?
There are a lot of advantages. For one, students don't have to uproot themselves or their families in order to attend a particular college. The low-residency idea is designed to accommodate working adults, people who have regular jobs and can't simply stop working in order to return to school. They're also designed for those who can't or don't want to relocate. They can also design their own course of study for the most part. A student who primarily wants to work on picture books can do so; likewise someone who is mainly interested in poetry can focus on that. Of course, we encourage our students to use their time with us to explore areas in which they're unfamiliar, to tap into the faculty's expertise in a variety of genres.
In addition, each student works intensively with one advisor at a time. The student to faculty ratio is very small, usually five to one or fewer. During the course of a student's career within the program, he or she will work with up to four separate advisors.
Could you give us some insight into the history of the VC program?
The VC degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults sprang out of the long-established low-residency program in creative writing. A handful of alumni from that program, including Louise Hawes (author interview) and Sharon Darrow, who have been on our faculty all along, joined forces with Marion Dane Bauer and some other well-known children's authors to start our unique program. We'll celebrate our tenth anniversary this summer! At the time that we started, ours was the only low res program that offered a specific degree in writing for children and young adults. There are a handful of others that are coming along now, many of which have our alums among their faculty.
How is the VC program structured--number of semesters, thesis requirements, balance of critical and creative work?
VC is designed on a two year timeline, consisting of four semesters and five residencies. Each semester is a little over five months long. In that time, students are required to turn in five packets, one each month.
In the first and second semesters, students must submit a combination of new creative work, revisions, and one or two short critical essays on some aspect of the craft. During the third semester, a student must continue to turn in creative work, but he or she is also required to write a critical thesis. During the fourth semester, the student concentrates on his or her creative work and must turn in a creative thesis. The creative thesis may be comprised of a novel or part of a novel, a work of non-fiction, several picture books, or a combination of all of these. During the last residency, the graduating student has to present a lecture to his or her classmates and faculty members, as well as a reading.
For writers, what is the benefit of doing critical work?
Critical work gives the writer a more intimate and in-depth look at both matters of craft as well as issues in the field of children's literature. We encourage our students to look closely at the ways in which writers use characters, plot, theme, research, etc., and to then translate that knowledge into their own work. In order to be full players in our field, our belief is that our graduates should be able to look analytically and critically at the work in front of them, both their own and that of other writers. As well, we hope that our students will consider teaching, and in order to be prepared for this, they have to have a solid grounding in the critical aspects of children's literature.
What takes place during a typical residency?
The residencies are action packed. Each day is filled with a combination of workshops, readings and lectures. The lectures are led by both graduating students and faculty members. In addition, some faculty members lead seminars that are often hands-on. Guest speakers are brought in too. This January, Caldecott winner Mordecai Gerstein will join us, along with Wendy Watson and April Pulley Sayres. Students are also encouraged to do their own readings during the residencies.
Why would a children's/YA writer want to pursue an MFA degree? What doors does it open, creatively and professionally?
I've heard from folks in the industry, especially editors, that the introduction of the MFA in writing for children has raised the level of writing. That's not to say that the level was ever low, but in the past ten years, children's books have become more competitive than ever. Another benefit that I see is in the perception that our society has about anything really that has to do with children, that if something is designed for kids then it must be easy or superficial or whatever. The degree all by itself can't change that. But I do believe that it lends an air of credibility to our profession.
I really believe that our degree raises the standard for children's literature. That people both inside and outside the field have taken notice is testament to that.
An MFA is also considered a "terminal" degree. By that, our students are qualified to teach in a college setting, and many many of our grads do just that.
Who comprise the faculty of the VC program? What credentials are required? Preferred?
We currently have twenty faculty members: myself, yourself, Marc Aronson (author interview), M.T. Anderson (author interview), Marion Dane Bauer, Norma Fox Mazer, Phyllis Root, Jane Resh Thomas, Ellen Levine, Ellen Howard, Laura McGee Kvasnovsky, Tim Wynn-Jones, Louise Hawes, Sharon Darrow, Liza Ketchum, Ron Koertge (author interview), Carolyn Coman, Alison McGhee, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Margaret Bechard.
As recently as three years ago, the credentials required for faculty members were a B.A. plus a history of publication. Currently, a faculty member must have an advanced degree plus a history of publication. In addition, to remain on the faculty, we have to continue to publish.
As importantly as publication history and credentials, however, is a history of teaching. We look very closely at a candidate's teaching record. In addition, we also require a teaching sample, along with a candidate's c.v.
Could you describe the campus at Montpelier, Vermont?
The campus is very old. Vermont College is one of the oldest colleges in VT, and many of the buildings have been there for the 100 years that the school has been in existence. There's a certain charm about that. And I confess that at times, it feels a lot like camp, especially in the dorms. But many of the buildings have been upgraded. There's a fully equipped computer lab, for example. And a very fine library. The cafeteria is operated by the New England Culinary Institute, so the food is a notch above standard cafeteria fare. And just down the hill, is the wonderful town of Montpelier, complete with bakeries, boutiques, and a movie theater, not to mention a wonderful book store.
Could you describe the culture of those involved in the program?
We are a community of people who are dedicated to writing for children. It's our heart's work. Who shows up is folks right out of college, fresh from their undergraduate programs, to people who have had a long career in teaching or something else and haven't been in school for fifty years. We have students who have already begun to publish and who have found some success but want to stretch their writing muscles, and we have students who are just starting out. We have folks in every income bracket and from a variety of backgrounds. At the end of the day, we're all there for one thing. To become better writers. And interestingly, that ties us together. Our graduates become life-long friends even though they may live on opposite coasts. There's a "we're all in this together" mentality that permeates our community.
How much does the VC program cost to complete (or per semester)?
Tuition for each semester is around $6300. There's no question that our program is a large financial investment. We understand that, and it's why our faculty and staff work so hard to make sure that our students get the highest quality of education that is available to them.
Why do you teach at VC? How does it compare to other teaching environments you've had?
I teach there for the people. My colleagues on the faculty and in the office are as close to me in many ways as my family. I also think about the people with whom I teach and I'm in awe, not only by the work they do, but also by their commitment to their students. I feel so honored to be in their company. But we also have amazing students. We're crazy about them. And we learn so much from them! There is nothing more gratifying than watching a student grow in his or her work and then embark upon a successful career. I got a message just the other day from a student who just sold a novel that I worked on with her during her first semester. How wonderful is that?
How competitive is admissions?
Fairly competitive. I don't have the exact numbers, but I think we're accepting about 30% of our applicants. We have a limit of 70 students at any given time, and the numbers that we can take each semester vary with the number of graduates, the number of folks taking a leave, etc. We typically accept around 30 new students each year. That's a guess, but I think it's close.
At what level are students when they enter the program? Upon graduation?
Students come to us at varying levels--some are old hands, others are just beginning. One of the bonuses of working one-on-one with an advisor is that each student can begin where they are and go from there. I've seen students make major breakthroughs in their work, including students whom you might consider advanced. I've seen folks who thought they only wanted to write fiction leave us feeling confident about writing picture books or poetry or non-fiction. I've seen people come to us having written many books, and leaving writing better books. Many of our students tell us that their time at VC was transformational, and I believe them. I've seen the program change lives.
Art, whether its writing, painting, music, is extremely personal. The one-on-one nature of our teaching allows a student to delve into their craft in a deep way. One of the catch phrases that it seems we're always telling our students is to "go deep." What this means is to take a piece of writing and really look at what is driving the character, to ask what the deepest underpinnings of a particular story are, to examine the attitudes and controlling beliefs that the author imbues upon his or her work and how they might affect both character and readers. We ask our students to think hard. To become critical readers. To approach their work with curiosity and to examine the longings that provide motivation and conflict within their stories. It's hard work.
Could you give us some examples of VC success stories?
Sure can. April Pulley Sayres is one of the top players in science books for kids. Andy Auseon just had his first novel nominated to the BBYA list. Leda Schubert has a number of picture books listed beside her name. Candice Ransom just signed her 100th book contract. Lauren Myracle's most recent novel made the NYTimes Best Seller List. Carolyn Crimi's (author interview) career is taking off big time. Helen Hemphill's first novel will be out in the spring. And the big news, of course, is Deb Wiles, whose newest novel was a finalist for the recent National Book Award. It hardly gets better than that.
Is there anything you'd like to add?
Entering a low residency program, or any writing program for that matter, is a huge commitment in both resources and time. I often think that our students are surprised by the intensity of the program, by the requirements of time, and by the dedication that it takes to makes it through. I think they're also happily surprised by the community itself, how supportive we are, but also how much they come to appreciate their classmates. The classes stay together long after they graduate. They celebrate each others' successes and buoy each others' disappointments.
We offer a strenuous program, with no guarantees at the end. A degree by itself will not get you a publishing contract. Only your stories can do that. But we can promise that we'll push you to do your very best work, and then we'll push you even harder. Our young audience deserves nothing less.
Cynsational News & Links
Holiday promotion: autographed bookplates from Anjali Banerjee, author of Maya Running (Wendy Lamb Books, 2005)(read excerpt) and Imaginary Men (Downtown Press, 2005). Imaginary Men is a novel for grown-ups--funny, romantic, compelling. I'm reading and loving it!
The Path of Least Resistance from They Call Me Mr. V, author Varian Johnson's blog. Varian contemplates that, given censors, it might be easier to reach teen readers by publishing adult books with teen protagonists rather than YAs.
PacyWorks: Chronicles of My Life and Work: Grace Lin's blog. See also Robert's Snow for Cancer's Cure.
Tales from the Slush Pile from Publisher's Weekly.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Critiquing First Drafts
I know some editors and agents will offer to read first drafts, and unless you're sure that'll be in your manuscript's best interests, I don't generally recommend it. Even though the agent works for you, there is still the stumbling block that the agent won't represent the piece unless they approve it. And even if they do sign off, their relative enthusiasm could have an impact on the sale, negotiation, and follow-up effort. Ditto, within a different context, the editor. First impressions matter. Also, there is an implied authority to both that isn't triggered with other writers, and early on, it's well worth it to explore your own path without that kind of direction.
Some writers don't ask for readers until after their first draft, and there's nothing wrong with that, even if you do show up empty-handed to critique group for some months. A new idea can be fragile, and one stray comment may jeopardize the hard-earned faith you need to keep going.
But if you do bring your earlier work and read it for others, here are some guidelines to keep in mind: (1) the piece is in progress; (2) it's the work of the writer, not the reader; (3) the idea should be to help bring out the original vision with the understanding that it's evolving; (4) err on the side of questions rather than comments; (5) show enthusiasm.
Arguably, this applies to a critical reading at any stage, but it is perhaps of heightened importance here.
Cynsational News & Links
Author Answers Interview with Edith Tarbescu by Debbi Michiko Florence. Edith is "the author of four children's books as well as a produced playwright." Focus on Annushka's Voyage (Clarion, 1998).
Frequently Asked Questions from the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection. See also bibliographies (includes: African American, Civil Rights Movement, Holocaust, Women and Gender Studies) and the Cinderella database.
Insatiable Curiosity Fuels Popular Kids' Series, Andrew Lost: An Interview With Judith and Dan Greenburg by Susan VanHecke from Authorlink.com. Latest release: In the Ice Age, Andrew Lost #12 (Random House, 2005).
Secrets of Success: children's author Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff from Ellen Jackson Liz's books include Help! My Life Is Going to the Dogs and the ABC's of Writing for Children.


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With this past weekend's Twitter kerfuffle—in which bisexual songstress Azealia Banks tried to redefine the use and meaning of the word faggot—and the requisite backlash from industry peers and fans (like Jake Shears) and organizations (such as GLAAD), Banks seemed to be in a pretty difficult place.
That was followed by the gossip that her album, which was scheduled to come out February from Interscope, had been "dropped." We contacted Interscope and a spokesperson quashed those rumors. He said that the album would indeed be released, that Banks was still working on it so the release date had been pushed (once again).
So is that all cleared up? Maybe. Now we just have to hope that she doesn't torpedo her potential fans with any more stupid outbursts.

subset: commoncrawl


text: In Whit Stillman's new film Damsels in Distress, Violet (Greta Gerwig) has her heart set on starting a dance craze called The Sambola. Her creation involves a clockwise spin for a count of 8, a tango for 6, face-to-face for 2 and then cha-cha for 8. "If you can count to 8 you can do the Sambola!" says the on-screen title as the dance begins. In that spirit, Nathalie Atkinson surveys her favourite cinematic hot steps below.


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The housing price boom ain't dead yet.
Capital city housing prices look to have extended January's rise of 0.9 per cent by another 0.4 per cent or so in February
CoreLogic RP Data's research director Tim Lawless said the average rise in prices over the first 25 days of February in the five mainland state capitals was 0.4 per cent. That set the scene for a lift in the final measure for the month for all capitals, due for release on Tuesday.
But the market has lost some momentum.
"While values continue to rise, at least at a macro level, the trend rate of growth is continuing to wind down, with the annual rate of growth trimming back to 7.5 per cent after moving through a recent peak of 11.1 per cent in July last year," Mr Lawless said.


text:
Learn about this topic in these articles:
Itinerant movement
...is not well known outside Russia, the serene landscapes of Isaak Levitan, the expressive portraits of Ivan Kramskoy and Ilya Repin, and the socially oriented genre paintings of Vladimir Makovsky, Vasily Perov, and Repin arguably deserve an international reputation.
The most prominent Russian artists of the 1870s and 1880s, including Ivan Kramskoy, Ilya Repin, Vasily Surikov, Vasily Perov, and Vasily Vereshchagin, belonged to this group, as did the lesser known Arkhip Kuindzhi. The movement dominated Russian art for nearly 30 years and was the model for the Socialist Realism of the Soviet Union.


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The November issue of UMag features an editorial aptly named "Meet Me in the Boys Town," which was photographed by photographer Joe Lally and features two male models in a series of what look like 90s pictures.
The "Meet Me in the Boys Town" photoshoot is a close-up editorial with shots of the men taking up the entire screen. The models in the "Meet Me in the Boys Town" editorial are rocking designer duds that look like 90s throwbacks, from plaid shirts to stonewashed jeans.
90s Pop Photoshoots
More Stats +/-
34 Ancient Civilization Discoveries
Upper Crust Editorials
Voluminous Editorials
Bleached Brow Editorials
24 Freaky Faceless Models
'Meet Me in the Boys Town' for Umag Features Color-Popping Close-Ups
- By: Jacqueline ParrishNov 8, 2009
References: umagstyle.wordpress & umagmag.blogspot
References: umagstyle.wordpress & umagmag.blogspot


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Sony ICD-BX132
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Item # 158BX132 | MFR # ICDBX132
This item is no longer available.
Keep things simple with the Sony ICD-BX132 digital voice recorder. Record voice memos, presentations, meetings, and classroom lectures with this handy compact device. The 'BX132 has 2GB of built-in memory. That's enough for over 2,000 hours of basic-quality recordings.
The 'BX132's built-in unidirectional mic picks up voices clearly. A noise cut feature helps filter out ambient sounds, and the low cut setting compensates for wind noise, ideal when you're trying to record outside. The recorder also has an input for an optional external microphone.
Use the built-in speaker for playback, or plug in your headphones for more discreet listening. The recorder can deliver up to 20 hours of operation with two "AAA" batteries (included).
Excellent product! Excellent sellers! Fast shipping!
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Average Customer Review(s):
Excellent product! Excellent sellers! Fast shipping!
General Features
Recording Features
Edit and Playback Functions
Overview: The Sony ICD-BX132 is a simple-to-use, ultra-portable digital voice recorder. It has a built-in 2 GB flash memory for hours of recording time. It has a built-in mono microphone, mono speaker, and jacks for an external microphone and headphones. The BX132 operates on two "AAA" batteries.
LCD Display: The BX132 features a 15/16" x 1-1/8" monochrome LCD display which indicates recording and playback information. The recorder will display the elapsed or remaining recording time in hours, minutes, and seconds.
Date and Time: The recorder features a built-in clock. If you have set the time and date, information as to when a sound file was recorded is stored automatically with that file. In addition, you can set an alarm and start playback of a selected file at a specified time.
Built-in Microphone: The unit features a built-in monaural microphone on the top of the recorder. You can set the microphone sensitivity to High or Low. In addition to the built-in microphone, the recorder also has a 3.5mm external microphone input. Stereo recording is possible when using an external microphone.
Built-In 2 GB Flash Memory: The BX132 Digital Voice Recorder features a built-in 2 GB flash memory which can hold hours of audio or voice memos. The unit has 5 folders, and up to 99 files per folder (or a total of 495 files). Because a portion of the memory is used for system management and/or application files, available capacity is approximately 1.75 GB.
Power Requirements: The recorder is powered by two "AAA" batteries. Two alkaline batteries are supplied. You can also use Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) rechargeable batteries as well. See the chart below for battery life information.
Recording Format: The ICD-BX132 records audio files in MP3 format at bit rates of 2 kbps to 192 kbps. Lower bit rates provide longer recording times while higher bit rates offer better quality recordings. The selectable recording modes are as follows:
|Recording Mode
|Recording Bit Rate
|Frequency Response
|Maximum Recording Time
Built-in 2 GB Memory
|Max. Battery Life
|SHQ: Super High Quality
|192 kbps
|75Hz - 15kHz
|21 hrs 40 min
|13 hours
|HQ: High Quality
|128 kbps
|75Hz - 15kHz
|32 hrs 35 min
|15 hours
|SP: Standard Play
|48 kbps
|75Hz - 10kHz
|86 hrs 55 min
|16 hours
|LP: Long Play
|8 kbps
|100Hz - 3kHz
|2087 hours
|20 hours
VOR Function: The VOR (Voice-Operated Recording) function makes the digital voice recorder start recording when the recorder detects sound, and pause when no sound is heard, eliminate recording during soundless periods.
Low-Cut Filter: When you set the LCF (Low-Cut Filter) function to "On", the digital voice recorder cuts out frequencies lower than 200Hz to reduce the roaring noise from wind. This helps to record a sound source more clearly outdoors.
Noise Cut: This function reduces the distortion of very low and high frequencies which are outside the human voice range, allowing you to hear the human voice more clearly.
Overwrite and Add Functions: The ICD-BX132 allows you to correct dictation in playback and add a recording after the original recording. Added recording will be placed after the current file, and will be counted as a part of the file.
Divide: In the stop mode, you can divide a file into two parts, with the new file number being added to the newer part of the divided file.
Erase: You can erase your recorded messages one by one, or all messages in a folder at one time.
Protect Files: To prevent a file from being accidentally erased or edited, you can protect an important file. When a file is protected, it is regarded as a read-only file. Protection can be released, if desired.
Built-In Speaker and Headphones: The BX132 features a built-in, 1-1/8" diameter speaker for listening back to your recordings. The recorder also features a 3.5mm headphone output.
Easy Search: You can go forward for approximately 10 seconds or back for approximately 3 seconds to locate a desired point in a long recording.
Digital Pitch Control: The Digital Pitch Control allows you to adjust the playback speed of your recording. The playback speed can be decreased from 0.5x to 1x, or increased from 1x to 2x in increments of 0.1x. The recording is still played back in a natural tone using digital processing.
Hold Function: The BX132 has a Hold function that will lock the buttons to prevent accidental operations. The Hold function is activated by sliding the power switch to the left.
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Can you imagine Paul Coffey in his prime playing in the 'New NHL'?
"It would be great," he said. "It was great."
It wouldn't, he suggests, be a whole lot different than it was playing for the Edmonton Oilers when they were winning Stanley Cups in the '80s. "In the '80s it was the way we had it. But the league got stalled."
The Oilers were so good four-on-four that the league, led by Cliff Fletcher in Calgary, outlawed the four-on-four, which is now the entire five-minute overtime session.
Coffey virtually invented the transition game with the pass to Gretzky or Kurri flying up the wing. He just had to get it perfect with the red-line.
And as for dumping the puck in, Coffey laughs at that.
"Why dump it in? You have to work too hard to get the puck in the first place. With the Oilers we never had to dump it in. We had too many guys to get it to."
Would Coffey have put up anywhere near his numbers if he had come in during the total shutdown of the game in the previous several seasons?
"I doubt it," he said.
A lot of things depend on time and place and Coffey said he came in at the perfect time and in the perfect place.
"I'd talked to Washington before the draft and they said if I was available they were going to take me. They didn't. They took Darren Veitch instead. They had a defensive system in there. Where would I have been?
"This was the perfect time and place with the perfect coach," he said of Glen Sather, a guy he didn't get along with all so well, particularly in the beginning when he was so tough on him and in the end when he was doing Pocklington's business.
"He always encouraged players to be what they could be. Slats never gave you shit for being creative.
"This team scored 400 goals a year. That's a lot of goals," he said.
"That was the thing with Gretzky. It was hard work and heart.
"Every time he stepped on the ice, he was trying to score. If he had two in the first period, he wanted seven.
"We didn't play get-the-lead-and-sit-back-and-protect-it hockey. We had a killer instinct."
They called it 'Oilers Hockey' and it lives on in today's new rules, says Coffey.
"Kevin Lowe was instrumental in the new rules," he said of the member of the new competition committee.
"The fans can really get excited now. Coaches are starting to loosen up a bit. The game had come to be played in a pretty confined area.
"Fans have a lot to look forward to, especially in Edmonton. In 26 years, this team never changed its style."


text:
Monkeybomb wrote: »Okay, I'm crossposting this.
See, my think with iPhones is like this.
I fuckin' use my phones. I don't need to have something extremely pretty jangling around in my pocket with my change. I could see myself buying an iPod Touch and keeping it in a case, but my phone? I dunno.
The Chocolate I bought last year is all fuckin scratched to hell. Seems like it'd be a shame to do that to an iPhone.
bravoI need to do some exercises to practice my embouchureSEE?although he was two macbook pros greatI will be paying for this one, I fear
my boss is great but I don't know if he's two iphones great
look, kate, it ain't about how great he is.
it's about how great you are.
to him.
can I fit it in an envelope?look at this thing
it is skinny as fuck
this is crucial, I keep all my electronics in envelopes now.
so I was asking about this in another thread but this one seems more apt
can mac computers play games pretty well. I know you can run windows on them now so compatibility isn't really a problem. I don't play that many different games at once so space wouldn't really be an issue either. games are pretty much the only thing that is preventing me from getting some sort of mac computer.
and please this is not a mac vs pc thing, I know what a pc is like and am now enquiring about macs
You can get the wow client for mac and you can emulate windows. I use Parallels, other people use Boot Camp, I've heard of others using VMWare.
look at this thing
it is skinny as fuck
Kuribo's Jew wrote: »scarab you have mental problems
I believe it's being released in something like 22 countries simultaneouslyThe_Scarab wrote: »any word on a UK release?
Goddamnit I do not have $85 a month
I will never ever dump my keypad for a touch screen.
oh shit
are games actually playable on these things?
like, does the touchscreen actually work for games at all, or is it too clumsy to work?
because I don't know what I'd do while I poop if I didn't have my motorcycle game.
Promises?I realized that on the train
well you can see it with the flowers colored next time I'm up
nah you can buy it for the ticket price from the mac store and activate it through itunes latersatansfingers wrote: »$199 is likely only if you sign up for a nice long contract or something
i doubt it'll be $199 outright
I believe it's being released in something like 22 countries simultaneouslyThe_Scarab wrote: »any word on a UK release?
Kuribo's Jew wrote: »scarab you have mental problems
I will never ever dump my keypad for a touch screen.
I will never ever dump my keypad for a touch screen.
iPhone, iPhone, blah blah blah. iTunes has been around for how long, and still can't stream Vorbis.
by reducing the price and making it more accessible to the plebes, doesn't that inherently make it less hip?
People still complain about Starbucks being hip. "Hip" doesn't actually have anything to do with the product, it's just a word people use to criticize when they can't think of anything better -- like "smug".


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CardDavMATE is a CardDAV Web client with a powerful vCard editor. It is compatible with Safari/Mobile Safari, Webkit, Epiphany, iCab, Chrome, Firefox, and IE9, and supports all major CardDAV servers.
|Contact Management Web Application vCard CardDAV
|AGPL v3
|Operating Systems
|Javascript AJAX jQuery jQuery UI
|English German Italian Slovak Hungarian Czech Danish French Turkish
The new version of CardDav web client brings interface fixes, compatibility with SoGo and Evolution non-RFC vCards and many other improvements.
Release Notes: This release adds minor new features, improvements, and fixes.
Release Notes: This release contains extreme performance improvements, major internal changes, and bugfixes. It also adds support for photo operations using the file chooser.
Release Notes: This release adds SOGO support and contains minor bugfixes.
Release Notes: This release adds write support for the PHOTO attribute, Dutch localization, and major bugfixes.
Release Notes: This release adds many new features, IE10 support, and major improvements and fixes.
A Fluent OpenStack client API for Java.
A TWiki appliance that is easy to use and lightweight.


text:
The upside to the coming Dark Ages
Slate's Dear Prudence finds the bright side to annoying environmentalists:
Q. Flushing Worries: My roommate doesn't check if the toilet is flushed "properly" after she uses it. Ideas on how to bring this up without sounding judgmental?
A: "Jasmine, our toilet lacks flushing power. So before you leave the bathroom please make sure it actually flushed, and if it didn't please reflush." As everyone has discovered, many water-saving toilets can require three or more flushes. But when you can no longer use 100-watt incandescent bulbs to illuminate the bathroom, the flushing problems will be less obvious.
I love the "without sounding judgmental" part because that's almost as bad as hypocrisy, right?


text:
Artist description:
Flash Draw Created Jan 03, 2009 470 x 338px Unless noted Copyright 2009 an_da.
We encourage you to submit a comment and let the artist know what you think of this drawing. Please log in or join to post a comment.
Post a comment
Gracias para el comentario. yo lo aprecio. ¡Adoro chocobos! :D 5♥s (I'm not good in Spanish? HAHAHA. Sorry if its a bit off. xD)
awsome, its really cool 5/5
gracias por sus comentarios.... bonito dibujo
I like him!5/5
Wonderful!! 5/5
very well done


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Changing post URL
I love the customization of this plug-in, but I'm having problem correcting one issue. I'm using an automated aggregation tool that links direct to content on other sites. Due to a need for proper tagging of information, I am pulling the entire article content from a site's feed. The article content remains unseen by end users though as all title URLs automatically link direct to the original news source.
WP-To=Twitter links to my post URL though (using the #url# command), exposing the back-end content in its entirety to the user by linking to the actual post made from the feed content. This puts me at risk of potential copyright issues that I don't want.
Is there a way to change the #url# command so it posts the Title URL instead of the post URL?
Not sure if that question makes sense. Let me know if you need me to explain it a bit more.
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A man stole about 20 cellphones from a San Carlos AT&T store at gunpoint Wednesday, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.
The robbery on the 1100 block of San Carlos Avenue occurred about half an hour after the store opened at 10 a.m. The suspect was described as in his 20s and wore a cap, black jacket and blue jeans. Details about how he approached store employees were not immediately available, but he was armed with a black handgun and stuffed the phones in a roll-away brown suitcase, a Sheriff's Office spokeswoman confirmed.
The man escaped in a green Ford Taurus.
Calls to the AT&T store were not answered.
Email Bonnie Eslinger at email@example.com; follow her at twitter.com/bonnieeslinger.


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The Master's Memoirs: Tam & Wendy— A day in the life of a master and his subs.
What a Little Spanking Can Do— A couple's play leads to an erotic meltdown.
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Desire Rules Ch. 03— Desire strengthens the ties that bind with her slave.
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Horizon Pipeline Company, L.L.C.
Original Volume No. 1
Contents / Previous / Next / Main Tariff Index
Effective Date: 04/18/2002, Docket: CP00-129-001, Status: Effective
Original Sheet No. 194 Original Sheet No. 194 : Effective
(c) Based on Horizon's continuing review of a
Shipper's financial records, Horizon shall have the right to amend
a Shipper's line of credit and lower or increase the quantity and
(d) Horizon's determination of a Shipper's
creditworthiness is solely for Horizon's purposes under Horizon's
Tariff and such determination is neither a representation nor a
guarantee to a Releasing Shipper or any other entity as to the
ability of a Replacement or Subreplacement Shipper to pay any
outstanding amount under a Released Firm Transportation Agreement.
By acquiring released capacity, a Shipper agrees that
it will comply with all provisions of Horizon's Tariff and all
applicable Commission orders, rules and regulations. Such Shipper
also agrees to be responsible to Horizon for compliance with all
applicable terms and conditions of Horizon's Tariff, as well as
the terms and conditions of the Released Firm Transportation
(a) The Releasing Shipper shall continue to be liable
and responsible for all reservation charges associated with the
released capacity up to the reservation charge specified in such
Releasing Shipper's Agreement with Horizon. The Releasing Shipper
agrees that the award of capacity to a Replacement Shipper or
Subreplacement Shipper shall automatically reduce the Releasing
Shipper's firm capacity rights under the Agreement with Horizon
effective on the effective date of the release for the period of
the release, except for any period that the firm capacity is
recalled by the Releasing Shipper (if the successful bid so
permits) until such capacity is reput to the Replacement or
Subreplacement Shipper, in accordance with this Section 15.
(b) A release by a Replacement Shipper shall not
relieve the Original Shipper or the Replacement Shipper of their
obligations under this Section 15.


text:
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Fleur-De-Lis Candle Holders
Known as the French lily, this set of Fleur-De-Lis candle sconces will bring a royal feel to their home. This symbol has been used throughout history and makes a dynamic addition to their wall.


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Oconee County and Cedar Shoals have met just four times in 34 seasons.
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Starting next year and in 2007, they're tentatively scheduled to meet again.
Oconee County coach Neal Auer confirmed Saturday that the two teams will open their non-region schedules against one another for two years. The only thing left to do is for school officials to sign the contract. It will be the first time the Jaguars and Warriors will play as members of different classifications.
Cedar Shoals won the first two games of the series in 1994-95, while Oconee County took two in a row in 2000-01.
The first game will be at Cedar Shoals' Jungle, while the Warriors host in 2007.
"It's a good opportunity for both schools," Auer said. "There's a lot of public interest in the programs. It's definitely a good move."
Blue Devils' offense finally finds sync
Elbert County's offensive awakening probably started last week against Cedar Shoals when Lajarvis Goss and Brandon Goss scored on quick touchdown catch-and-runs of 60 and 71 yards, respectively. It was the first time in 17 quarters that the Blue Devils had reached the end zone, dating to last season.
Problem was, the touchdowns came too late in the fourth quarter and the Blue Devils lost 14-13.
But their offense didn't return to its previous slumber in a 33-14 win over Westminster on Friday night. Sophomore tailback Chris Heard ran for 174 yards on 17 carries in the second and quarterback Riley Yeargin completed 50 percent of his passes for 187 yards.
"We needed it bad," coach Jeff Arnette said Saturday. "It was big for our confidence."
Before Friday, the Blue Devils had been 0-4-1 in non-region games the last two seasons, including their 14-0 season-opening loss to then-No. 8 Thomson.
Heard, however, showed promise in the Cedar Shoals loss by racking up 76 yards on 13 first-half carries. But a slight shoulder injury sidelined the backup quarterback for the rest of the game.
He wasn't hurting against Westminster, ripping off touchdown runs of 74 and 36 yards.
"Last night, he was our workhorse," Arnette said. "He's really growing up right before our eyes."
Arnette also was pleased with Yeargin's performance. The senior, who did not play high school football until last season, had his most productive outing the Wolves.
"He made some good reads and some good throws," Arnette said. "Even though he didn't really play until last year, he seems to get better and more comfortable every game."
Though Elbert County's offensive base is the multiple-I, Yeargin benefited from a few spread looks.
This and that
Clarke Central and Cedar Shoals will make a $1,000 donation to the Red Cross for the Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort after this Friday's Classic City Championship. The money will come from gate revenue at Billy Henderson Stadium. What's more, spectators can make cash donations as they arrive for the game.
Tickets for the Cedar Shoals-Clarke Central game are available at each school during lunch on Friday. Pre-sale tickets are $5. Tickets at the gate are $7. The aluminum bleachers are the temporary home side and the cement bleachers are the temporary visitor's side due to construction.
The Jaguars are going for their fifth consecutive victory over their chief rival. ... Madison County will try to start 3-0 for the second straight season when they travel to Eastside this Friday. While the Red Raiders' offense has scored plenty of points (50) in wins over Franklin County and Jackson County, the Red Raiders' defense has been just as good. The unit's allowed one score in the last eight quarters and has forced eight turnovers. ... As much publicity as Mill Creek received for starting 2-0, one would've thought the folks in Hoschton would be talking Georgia Dome.
But Franklin County quarterback Kyle Harris and his receiving corps gave the second-year, Class AAAAA Hawks a heavy dose of reality. Harris ripped the the Hawks for 242 passing yards in the Lions' 34-29 victory. Receiver Drake McCauley caught four passes for a team-high 92 yards and Carlos Merritt hauled in five catches for 86 yards.
The Lions drove almost 70 yards with three minutes left to play for the win. ... Oconee County gets next week off much to the delight of the Warriors' offense. Through three games, the unit has mustered just 294 yards. The Warriors posted a season-low 59 in Friday's 23-3 home loss to Classs AAA No. 4-ranked Carollton. Their first three foes have racked up 1,078 yards. ... Commerce lost its second straight game Friday night in Madison. Morgan County, which beat the Tigers 31-3, is 3-0.
Commerce's start to the season is errily similar to last season when the Tigers started 1-2. However, it's been 13 years since Commerce went two straight games without a touchdown. The Tigers were shut out twice to end the 1992 season. ... Washington-Wilkes' quarterback Clete Wilson was almost perfect in the passing during a momentous road win at Thomson last week. It was the complete opposite for Wilson in the Tigers' 21-0 home loss to Hart County. Wilson was intercepted six times and the Class A fourth-ranked Tigers were shut out for the first time in 12 games. Hart County was the last team to do it when they stymied the Tigers 27-0 on Sept. 2, 2004.
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Let the 2013 Summer Movie Season Begin - Will This Top Last Year?
by Alex Billington
May 2, 2013
Tonight, movie fans around the United States everywhere are lining up for midnight showings of Marvel's Iron Man 3. It's the evening of May 2nd and the 2013 summer movie season is about to begin. Marvel jumped on this slot to follow-up The Avengers with another summer opening to pave the way. While there's always a particularly palpable sense of excitement at the beginning of a summer, after six years of writing about these openings (and many more years of living them), I've learned to never trust the early buzz. By the end, when we look back in August, everything is in a different place - big hits, big failures, lots of surprises inbetween. But it's time to finally get things underway, and this summer looks like it has a strong line-up.
In addition to Marvel's Iron Man 3, directed by Shane Black, in theaters this weekend, May is packed with some big hits already. Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of The Great Gatsby hits US theaters next weekend, May 10th. After that it's J.J. Abrams' sci-fi sequel Star Trek Into Darkness opening big on May 17th, quickly followed by Justin Lin's Fast & Furious 6 and Todd Phillips' The Hangover III out on May 24th. Hitting limited theaters that week is Richard Linklater's Before Midnight. To wrap up the month, Louis Leterrier's Now You See Me and M. Night Shyamalan's sci-fi After Earth are set for May 31st.
In June, things get a bit crazy, with The Purge on June 7th. But then there's Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogen apocalypse comedy This is The End on June 12th, right before Zack Snyder's Superman origin reboot Man of Steel lands in theaters on June 14th. Based on all the buzz, I've got a good feeling Man of Steel is going to open BIG. Also arriving in limited is Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring. Two opposite movies hitting on June 21st - Marc Forster's World War Z with Brad Pitt, and Pixar's prequel Monsters University. Then to end this month, they're dropping Paul Feig's comedy The Heat, which might just be the sleeper hit of the summer, and Roland Emmerich's newest action extravaganza White House Down, on June 28th.
Finally, we get to July, which is usually the big month. For the 4th of July week, Disney is dropping Gore Verbinski's The Lone Ranger on July 3rd, with Illumination's animated sequel Despicable Me 2 hitting as well. Next up is one we're all excited for - Guillermo del Toro's monsters vs robots movie Pacific Rim, on July 12th, which should open huge. If you'd rather watch some dumb comedy, Adam Sandler's Grown Ups 2 also hits theaters then. Horror sequel V/H/S 2 arrives around this time, too. Next, DreamWorks Animation is dropping Turbo on Wednesday, July 17th, before James Wan's horror The Conjuring on July 19th. Also on the 19th is Dean Parisot's sequel RED 2 and the Reynolds/Bridges team-up R.I.P.D., plus in limited, Nicolas Winding Refn's Only God Forgives with Gosling. Finally, July ends with James Mangold's The Wolverine unleashing on July 26th, along with Woody Allen's new film Blue Jasmine and Ryan Coogler's Fruitvale Station. Finally, The Smurfs 2 is out on July 31st if anyone is interested.
As always, there's a few possible gems hidden in August. On the 2nd, we'll get Baltasar Kormákur's 2 Guns and Noam Murro's sequel 300: Rise of an Empire, plus in limited the sci-fi Europa Report and James Ponsoldt's The Spectacular Now. One of the big ones I'm waiting for is Neill Blomkamp's Elysium, set for August 9th, which is also the release of Disney's Planes. On the 16th is Jeff Wadlow's comic book sequel Kick-Ass 2, which could be a sleeper hit, and Robert Luketic's Paranoia, plus Maggie Carey's The To-Do List (formerly The Hand Job). Finally, to cap things off, there's Kar Wai Wong's epic The Grandmaster and Edgar Wright's new movie with Simon Pegg & Nick Frost, The World's End, landing on August 23rd.
It's always fun to take a look at the line-up that lies ahead before the summer begins, and then look back at everything later. So what do you make of this year's line-up? Anything that you think will stand out already, or is it impossible to top last year's 2012 summer of The Avengers, Prometheus, Battleship (right?) and The Dark Knight Rises? Only time will tell. And it's time to start kicking things off now. What are you looking forward to the most, and do you think it will live up to your expectations? I can only hope some of you are planning to camp out for a midnight movie or two this summer. I remember back to our camp out for Bryan Singer's Superman Returns back in 2006, which is when this site was created. Here we are seven years later.
It's time to start the 2013 summer movie season. Let's see what it holds for moviegoers, good or bad, big or small, hopefully it's a memorable year. From DC and Marvel superheroes to Kaiju and Jaeger to Fitzgerald, zombies and the apocalypse, there's a wide variety of exciting adventures that lie ahead. Enjoy your time at the cinema. We'll always be around to keep you excited for the next one, excited for that very first showing.
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Children�s Orchard
Westborough – Described as an "upscale resale" store, Children's Orchard is a place where one can buy and sell gently used and new baby and children's clothing, toys, accessories and equipment. The store also carries brand new toys and puzzles, including Melissa and Doug educational toys and children's products, art supplies, baby shoes, jewelry, gift items and in the spring, brand new boys' suits.
"We are not a consignment store," owner and operator Debbie Intrieri said. "People can make an appointment to come in and show us what they want to sell. We consult with them about what we will pay for their items and pay them on the spot, with either cash or store credit. If people choose a store credit, they receive an additional 20 percent."
Every item is checked for quality and cleanliness. Equipment and toys must be clean in order for the store to purchase them; however, those items are sanitized before being put out for resale. The store will not accept sheets or blankets unless they are brand new and does not purchase stuff ed animals. "We check every item carefully for quality and we check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website to be sure there are no recalls on any toys/equipment before accepting it for resale."
As Children's Orchard is celebrating 30 years in business, Debbie Intrieri and Keith Tetreault have owned and operated the Westborough store for a year and a half.
"We now have 'Tuesday and Wednesday Walk-Ins,' Intrieri said. "Usually people need an appointment about two weeks in advance to come in and sell items, but now on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., we have three buyers here so people can walk in without an appointment. We've had such a great response to this. We began with just Wednesday walk-ins and people love it so much, we've added Tuesdays.
Normally we do about six appointments each day but with the walk-ins, we do 18. We require sellers to stay in the store during the walk-in but it takes no more than 30 minutes, guaranteed." The limit for the walk-in for clothing is two small white kitchen trash bags full and for toys or equipment, three or four pieces or a 15-gallon plastic tote.
"We're constantly marking items down, sometimes as low as one dollar, to keep our inventory moving. We're hanging spring and summer items every day now but there are still winter items out. We are currently buying spring and summer clothing, and will begin buying fall items in May and hanging them in July."
"Children's Orchard carries children's sizes up to 14/16. We have brands like Hollister, Abercrombie, Gap, Ralph Lauren, and Gymboree, some still with original sales tags on, for very reasonable prices. Our clothing is up to 80 percent off big retail. I'm proud that this is a 'green' business where people can pick up some cash for items they no longer need and someone who needs them can buy good, inexpensive toys and clothes," Intrieri said. "I meet so many people in the community and have an opportunity to give back. We were able to help some people from Haiti who are staying at a church in Worcester, with a donation of clothing."
Children's Orchard is located in Westborough Shopping Center, 18 Lyman St., Westborough. For more information call 508- 366-KIDS (5437) or visit www.childrensorchard.com.
Editor's Note: the preceding is not an endorsement and is presented for informational purposes only.
Short URL: http://www.communityadvocate.com/?p=6578


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Get a free shipping quote.
Very gentle, can catch anywhere great predator control. Has been ridden and has pulled a ground slide. Sire was a jack Dam was a percheron
Located in Learned Mississippi.
Avoid Scams and Fraud - Potential areas of fraud: wire transfer, moneygrams, money orders, cashier checks, shipping, escrow, "transaction protection", "guarantee". Check out the Buyer Safety section for more info.


text:
The Carmichaels and the Grahams have gathered on Nantucket for a wedding. Plans are being made according to the wishes of the bride's late mother, who left behind The Notebook: specific instructions for every detail of her youngest daughter's future nuptials. Everything should be falling into place for the beautiful event--but in reality, things are far from perfect.
While the couple-to-be are quite happy, their loved ones find their own lives crumbling. In the days… (more)
Elin Hilderbrand is a master of the "summer beach read." Her characters are likable and fairly complex, and she is a wonderful storyteller. As in all her novels, BEAUTIFUL DAY pays homage to her love for and deep connection to the island of Nantucket.
A perfect summer read.
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books (June 25, 2013)
Format: EPUB
File size: 1.7 MB
Protection: DRM
Language: English


text:
Supermarket Management and Operations Certificate
Chairperson: Karen A. Jones, J.D.
Brahan Hall, Room 206, (518) 629-7225
This program has been deactivated effective Fall 2011 and as such, applications are no longer being accepted.
The Supermarket Management and Operations certificate, exclusive to Price Chopper associates, will provide an opportunity for Price Chopper associates to gain a core understanding of the key principles of the supermarket industry and to learn a new skill set, which will prepare them for advancement in their careers.
Once Price Chopper associates have completed the certificate, they will have completed 32 credits toward the 63 credits of the Supermarket Management and Operations option in the Business Administration (A.A.S.) program.
All computer courses must have been taken within seven years in order to be applicable toward this degree program.
High School Average
Algebra or 1 unit of equivalent academic math
70 or above
The estimated cost of books for the student enrolled in the first full-time term would be approximately $770.


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LaHair earns Sveum's trust against lefty
LaHair earns Sveum's trust against lefty
LaHair entered Saturday riding a 10-game hitting streak and had reached base safely in a team-high 22 straight games. That stretch gave Sveum confidence to start LaHair against Capuano despite having sat the first baseman the previous two times the Cubs faced a left-handed pitcher, on April 23 against St. Louis' Jaime Garcia and April 18 against Miami's Mark Buehrle.
Sveum said that LaHair has proven he's an everyday player, regardless of what arm the opposing pitcher throws with.
"As much as anything, he's been swinging the bat well," Sveum said. "All of his at-bats -- even against lefties -- even though there might not be a result, are quality at-bats."
Sveum said that Capuano's numbers also played a part in the decision. The Dodgers lefty entered Saturday having held right-handed batters to a .188 average, while left-handed batters were hitting .318 against him.


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Chances are you have been invited to various training events within your company. Some are local, some require a bit of driving and some will require you to get on a plane to get to them. But is it important for you to attend and how can you pay for such an event?
I think the first thing that you need to ask yourself is what are your goals with your direct sales company? Are you doing this for some extra cash in your pocket, are you hoping to make this into a part time job or are you looking to do this to make full time cash and make a full time wage?
Extra Cash
If you are selling just to make an extra hundred or two hundred bucks a month, the trainings likely will not end up being worth a lot for you. I would recommend attending anything local but do not spend a lot of money to attend those where you will have to drive and spend a night at a hotel. Chances are you will spend more than what you will be inspired to make when you get home. Phone call trainings would also be good to attend as they only cost you your time and long distance (which is tax deductible if not included with your plan).
Part Time
If you are looking to make a part time income, then I would recommend a bit more for trainings. It may be worth weekend training if it is close enough to drive. Again, phone trainings definitely should be attended and talk to your upline about doing training calls on a regular basis.
Full Time
For those that want to make this a full time career with their direct sales business, it is best to attend any meeting or training that is it possible to attend. This includes attending the yearly convention that the company holds.


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Alan Seeger
Alan Seeger (22 June 1888 - 4 July 1916 / New York City, New York)
» Click to list general statistics » OR, select a date :
Sonnet Viii
Oft as by chance, a little while apart
The pall of empty, loveless hours withdrawn,
Sweet Beauty, opening on the impoverished heart,
Beams like the jewel on the breast of dawn:
read more >>
- Hits: Number of visitors who read the poem on the given date.
- Posts: Number of visitors who posted the poem to a friend (via e-mail) on the given date.
- Dates that have "0" hits may not be shown on the list.
- Dates, poems and poets that have "0" hits may not be shown on the list. Statistics are generated daily.


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MONTREAL — Winmalo Somda immigrated to Canada from his native Burkina Faso just six years ago, but already he had made a deep impression in his new home.
"He was truly an exemplary student. You'd love to have a class full of people like him," Guy Gauthier, one of his engineering professors at Montreal's École de technologie supérieure, said Friday. "He was very hardworking, but he was endearing too, always smiling and positive. When I heard the news last night, I cried for a long time. He was really someone special."
Mr. Somda was among the 116 passengers and crew aboard Air Algérie Flight 5017, which crashed in the desert of southern Mali early Thursday. He, his wife Angélique Kpoda and their two children Nathanael and Arielle, were en route home to Montreal after attending a family celebration in Burkina Faso. Mr. Somda's younger brother Wilfried was also aboard the flight, as was a family friend, Isabelle Prévost of Sherbrooke, Que.
The crash has devastated Quebec's Burkinabé community, which on Friday posted a list on its web site of 11 people aboard the flight who were headed to the province. Some were visiting family in Canada, while others like the Somdas lived here.
Mamadou Zoungrana, a hospital technician in Gatineau, Que., came to Canada in 2012 to build a life so his wife and two sons could join him. The reunion was set for Thursday, and he had prepared his apartment and chosen schools for the boys. But there was grief instead of joy when Mr. Zoungrana learned that the plane carrying Rabdou Salimata Zoungrana and their sons Brice and Arsene, aged six and 13, had crashed.
The Association des Burkinabé du Grand Montréal reported that another Quebecer, Bassirou Yameogo of Jonquière lost his wife and son in the crash, while Moïse Sandwidi of Quebec City lost his mother.
Hubert Salomon last saw his friend Winmalo Somda on July 15. Mr. Somda was flying out that evening for Burkina Faso to attend his parents' 50th wedding anniversary party, but first wanted to see his newborn goddaughter, Mr. Salomon's daughter Kayla.
The two men became friends while studying together at ETS, and Mr. Salomon said it hit him hard when he realized Thursday night that Mr. Somda was on the ill-fated flight. "They were really a beautiful family," he said. Mr. Somda was a great talker, full of stories about life back in Africa, and had a playful sense of humour.
"When something bad happened, he always tried to take it with a grain of salt. He was not the type to get discouraged," he said. In April, he had begun working as a project engineer for Maibec, a wood products company in Saint-Pamphile, southeast of Quebec City, which meant driving home every weekend to be with his family. They had planned to move closer to Saint-Pamphile this weekend. "It's terribly sad, a real tragedy," said Sylvain Naud, who hired Mr. Somda at Maibec. "He was really appreciated by his co-workers, and we are truly going to miss him."
His younger brother Wilfried had come to Canada in late 2012 and studied video technology at a private college in Montreal. He hosted a travel show on a community radio station and worked in marketing. He leaves behind a wife and three-year-old daughter. His wife Rita Sanhouidi did not join the trip to Burkina Faso because she is expecting their second child any day.
She told the TVA network that his loss will sink in when she is expecting him home from work in the evening and he does not arrive. "My daughter is going to start to ask why Papa isn't there to give her a kiss and read her a story before she goes to sleep," Ms. Sanhouidi said. "I will have to use all my strength to support them, do everything for the one who is coming who will not know his father. . . . I will do everything so he can be like him, because he was a generous man, a really, really good man."
The Somda family's warmth led to lasting friendship with Isabelle Prévost, who was a neighbour when they lived in Sherbrooke after they first arrived in Canada. "She met them by chance, saw them on the street and started talking," her husband Danny Frappier told Radio-Canada. "She liked discovering other cultures and was always interested by the people around her."
Ms. Prévost, a mother of three who was very active in her community, had never flown before, but last week after months of planning and anticipation she joined the Somdas on their trip to Burkina Faso. Just before boarding the Air Algérie flight she phoned home to assure her family it had been a fantastic trip.
National Post, with files from Postmedia
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text:
Shaowu Zhongli Electronic Co., Ltd.
Onsite Check
The supplier's company premises has been checked by Alibaba.com staff to ensure onsite operations exist there. A third-party verification company has confirmed the legal status of the supplier.
|Business Type:
|Manufacturer, Trading Company
|Fujian, China (Mainland)
|Main Products:
|Flashing Toy,Bouncy balls,Inflatable balls,Promotional gifts,Festival items
|Total Employees:
|Fewer than 5 People
|Total Annual Revenue:
|US$2.5 Million - US$5 Million
|Year Established:
|Top 3 Markets:
|Southern Europe 16.67% Western Europe 16.67% Eastern Europe 16.67%
|Product Certifications:
Our company was established in 2005 and is located in Yiwu City, enjoying convenient transportation ...
Our company was established in 2005 and is located in Yiwu City, enjoying convenient transportation and wonderful business environment. Our company covers an area of 3000 square meters and has more than 100 employees.
We are specialized in toys & electronic products. Our company has rich experience in the electronic industry. Our main products include flashing bouncing balls, electronic chips and other electronic gifts. Besides, we are making great efforts to develop new products to meet different requirements.
Adhering to the business principle of mutual benefits, we have had a good reputation among our customers because of our perfect services, good quality products and competitive prices. We warmly welcome customers from at home and abroad to cooperate with us for common success.
Trade Capacity View More >
Trade & Market
|Main Markets
|Total Revenue(%)
|Southern Europe
|Western Europe
|Eastern Europe
|South America
|North America
|Northern Europe
|Export Percentage:
|61% - 70%
|Export Mode:
|Using an agent
|No. of Employees in Trade Department:
|6-10 People
Email to this supplier
- Company Overview
- Company Introduction
- Company Capability
- Trade Capacity
- Production Capacity
- R&D Capacity
- Business Performance
- Buyer Interactions
- Feedback
- Additional Information
- Awards Certification
- Trade Shows


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Welcome to the Ph.D. in Comparative Studies Program!
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the website of the Ph.D. in Comparative Studies. The track in Cultures, Languages & Literatures (CLL) features an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary course of study that enables doctoral students to develop expertise within traditional disciplines as well as across disciplinary and cultural boundaries . At the heart of our program is our strong belief that cultures, languages and literatures are most fruitfully understood through comparative modes of analysis that include an ever-changing landscape of theory and methodologies. The objectives of the CLL Program are to produce scholars who will teach at the university/college level in more than one academic discipline and in interdisciplinary programs , and who will be able to conduct research that crosses over traditional boundaries in an effort to develop new insights. While most graduates of the program will prepare for the challenges of the academy in an increasingly globalized society, others will prepare for a variety of nonacademic positions in public and private organizations.
Adam Bradford, Ph.D.
Director of Comparative Studies
Program News
PhD Student Rachel Copley Wins Award at Florida Communication Association Convention
PhD Student Carmen Duarte Interviewed on CNN En Vivo
PhD Student Priscilla Renta Co-Edits Rhythm & Power: Performing Salsa in Puerto Rican and Latino Communities
PhD Student Jason O'Connor to Provide Keynote at Nova Southeastern University's Exhibit, "Holocaust by Bullets"
PhD Students & Faculty Participate in Workshop with Angela Davis