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Being able to say "talk to my manager" no doubt has its allure for many performers who see a personal manager on one's payroll (imagine having a payroll) as a sign of a career on the move.
To others, a personal manager evokes images of self-indulgent nonsense (on the part of the actor who has hired him), or downright sleaze on the part of the personal manager who has allowed himself to be hired or, worse yet, sought the young actor out.
Admittedly until fairly recently, the subject of personal managers had little resonance to anybody outside of the industry. And even within its ranks, most performers assumed-and rightly so-that personal managers were the employees of the wildly successful, who probably had a team, including a lawyer, accountant, and several agents.
That's beginning to change, for better or worse, depending on whom you're speaking to. One thing is certain: Thanks to the activities of former superagent Mike Ovitz who has turned his aggressive talents-perhaps talent for being aggressive might be a more precise description-to management, suddenly the subject is hot, the source of political debate, and much contention.
Ovitz's roster of clients, whom he'll manage at his newly formed company, Artists Management Group, is a virtual "who's who" in the movie business, (Leonardo DiCaprio, Robin Williams, Martin Scorcese to name a few). Many of these stars were formerly clients of the mega-agency (CAA) that Ovitz headed until he left for Disney several years ago. Among other unethical practices, Ovitz has been accused of poaching and, more serious, blurring the line between agenting and managing, thus stepping on many industry players' individual and collective toes. CAA is an agenting, not managing operation.
In reality, the demarcation between what agents and managers do has been slowly eroding for a long time, more markedly on the West Coast than the East Coast. But the high-profile Ovitz-and the responses that his activities have elicited-has brought the subject of personal management to the public eye. What exactly do managers do? How are they different from agents? What's all the fuss?
On the most fundamental level legitimate talent agents are licensed by the state and franchised by the unions (Actors' Equity, AFTRA, and SAG). Within parameters, their activities are controlled. And if union actors feel that they have been dealt with poorly by their agents-assuming the agents are franchised-they have some recourse. They can contact their unions and take action against their agents. The agents, in turn, may lose their franchise status, meaning they can no longer negotiate with producers who want to hire union actors.
Personal managers, however, are neither franchised nor licensed. There are no real guidelines that they are obliged to adhere to, and no overseeing body has any real jurisdiction over what managers do. The National Conference of Personal Managers serves as a kind of clearing house, where grievances can be brought against its members, but beyond slapping a member's wrist, it cannot affect whether or not a manager continues to make money. And in some instances, lots of it.
Some specifics: agents can charge only a ten percent commission. Managers by contrast, may charge anything-although most don't go beyond 15%-for their services. But what exactly are those services and how long do they last?
Says Guy Pace, assistant executive director at Actors Equity in New York: "Many managers create servitude through their contracts, casting fish nets that end up costing an actor 20-30% of his income years down the road. If an actor had a manager when he was hired for a sitcom, does he still owe that money fifteen years later when the sitcom is in reruns and the manager is not even employed by the actor anymore?"
Agents are not allowed to serve as producers. Managers-the mega-managers anyway-do. The Hollywood-based Brillstein-Grey, a management-production team, is a prime example. And Mike Ovitz is open about his plans to do the same.
Managers who produce movies or TV shows that feature their clients may be guilty, it has been alleged, of a conflict of interest. Can they really be representing their clients if they're also their employers? And if the trend becomes widespread, what will the arrangement mean to all the other performers out there who are not the producer-manager's clients?
In response to the booming legions of managers and management firms-Ovitz is merely the flash point. California assemblywoman Sheila James Kuehl-former teen star, best known for her nerdy Zelda on "Dobie Gillis"-has introduced controversial licensing legislation that would put the brakes on the activities of managers, at least in the state of California.
Procuring Employment: Leading or Supporting Role?
None of this means that legitimate personal managers do not serve a real function, and that many performers have not benefited from having managers in their corner.
Historically the personal manger is a kind of coordinator for the actor; he may address everything from career advice to scheduling. He is there to help the actor with his image, pictures and resumes, and to come up with marketing strategies. Depending on the relationship between the manager and actor, he may find a baby-sitter for the actor's kids (or be one himself) or get the actor into a drug program, if that's called for.
Manager Lenore Zerman of Lieberman-Zerman Management in Los Angeles says "A good manager is looking at the big picture. His or her decisions are for the long term. That might mean suggesting that a well-known actor work with an unknown director who looks as if he [the director] might be hot down the road."
Traditionally, an agent provided some of the same services, and a few still do. But what clearly distinguished the agent from the personal manager, at least in the past, was his role as booker. The agent, not the personal manager, made the contacts, set up the auditions, and negotiated the deals. According to the unions' policy (Actors' Equity, SAG, AFTRA) he is still the only one, outside of the actor himself, who can procure employment for the actor or negotiate the contract. But that's a gray area.
"We tell our members the only people who are authorized to negotiate contracts are franchised agents," says Nancy Fox, manager of talent agent relations at AFTRA in New York. "But we are seeing more and more managers negotiating."
Procurement of employment is an even less clearly defined subject. "If I'm having lunch with a producer and he describes a movie project he's working on and I say, "You know, that sounds like something that might be of interest to my client, Julia Louis Dreyfus, am I attempting to procure employment for her? Of course. But should I not be allowed to say that?" asks Los Angeles-based personal manager Bill Malamed of Rosenberg-Malamed Management. "There's a difference between that and calling a producer or casting director and saying, "You must hire my client.' "
Interestingly, several New York-based casting directors we talked with have no philosophical problems in dealing with managers. Says Geoff Johnson of Johnson-Liff Casting Associates, "It's quite possible that an actor will come to our attention through a manager. And there's no reason for a casting director to be turned off by a manager unless he [the manager] puts on the pressure. But then an agent can be guilty of that too."
Still, Johnson admits there may be problems because of conflicts between the agent and manager. "That can happen if the agent and manager are not in agreement about how much the actor should get. Sometimes managers, especially those on the West Coast, are unrealistic about the kind of money theatre actors make. And the manager's demands may be so high, the actor is out of a job."
New York agent Jim Wilhelm of DGRW (Douglas, Gorman, Rothacker, & Wilhelm, Inc.) comments that in his experience money conflicts between managers and agents are rarely the issue, but rather what project an actor should or should not take. "We had signed one young actress who then hired a manager. At the time she had a small part in a Broadway show. The manager wanted the actress to leave the Broadway show in order to be a principal in a dinner theatre production. The manager obviously thought appearing as a principal-even in a dinner theatre production-would help the actress's career. This went over with us like a lead balloon! We convinced the actress that this was not a good idea, and she finally got rid of her manager."
Wilhelm stresses that "although we're not always on the same page, when we are, a good manager will help us do our job."
Other agents we talked with echoed the sentiment, suggesting that they see managers as partners, working in tandem for the same end-the advancement of their shared client's career and by extension, theirs-the agent's and manager's respectively.
Who's Using Whom?
But the questions remain who needs a manager? And who doesn't? Like everything else in this debate, opinions vary.
Says Manager Harris Spylios of Davis Spylios Management in New York, "If an actor wants a career in regional theatre and Off-Broadway and that's it, I don't think he needs a manager. Similarly, if his goal is a steady job on a soap-or if he's already on a soap-and happy with that, I don't think he needs a personal manager either. But if he wants to stretch, get into movies and/or a TV sitcom, a personal manager might be a good idea."
Adds Tony Award-nominated actor Douglas Sills ("The Scarlet Pimpernel") "If an actor is in an independent film that is generating a lot of heat, I would recommend that he hire a personal manager at that point who could come up with ideas, using the movie, to further the actor's career."
But what about at the beginning of one's career? Is a manager a good idea? There are still those who take a traditional approach, suggesting that unless you have a lot going on in your career, personal management makes no sense.
"I can understand a bonafide star or a child actor whose parents don't have access to agents, needing personal managers. There are some very good personal mangers for young children," asserts Guy Pace of Actors' Equity. "But I do not see why any actor in that large middle group needs a manager."
On the other hand, there are those who feel the industry's dynamics have changed so radically, personal management is a logical step even at an early stage of one's career.
"There are a handful of major agents who handle the major actors," says personal manager Bill Malamed. "Lesser-known clients in the big and even the smaller agencies may get lost. They simply don't get the attention that they once might have. That's why a personal manager is a good idea for the new actor."
Agrees agent Doug Warner of David Shapira and Associates in Sherman Oaks, CA. "We encourage all our clients to have managers. They [the managers] have more time to be labor-intensive than agents. They help us do our jobs by helping to build the actor's foundation."
Manager Spylios observes that one of the things he does with a young client is "get feedback about him from the various casting directors I've sent them to. This helps me determine strategies."
Relative newcomer Jeff Croteau, who now has a small part in Roundabout's "Lion in Winter," credits Spylios, his manager, with making the contacts and setting up the audition with the Roundabout. "Besides the Roundabout production, I got an industrial through Harris and met with TV casting directors at several ad agencies through him. I am now freelancing with a TV commercial agent and that relationship is directly related to the other contacts I made through my manager. I see no particular need to sign with an agent since my manager is doing everything for me."
Douglas Sills also enjoys a very good relationship with his manager, Bill Malamed, and encountered him well before his career was launched. Indeed, he was trying to negotiate the uncertain terrain of Los Angeles-"I had been out of school a year-and-a-half"-when he met Malamed at a party. "It never occurred to me to go look for a manager. The idea was pretentious." But when the two started talking they just clicked and by the party's end, Malamed asked Sills if he (Malamed) could have a shot at helping Sills' career.
"No, he had never seen my work," Sill recalls. "He wanted to represent me on the basis of a feeling. Look, you can't establish reasons in a universe that doesn't have them!"
Sills did not sign a contract with Malamed and in fact has never signed a contract with him in the 12 years Malamed has served as his manager. "I'm not saying this is an example of how to conduct yourself with a manager," Sills stresses. "But when we met I felt I had nothing to lose. And now that we're personal friends, there's no reason to sign anything."
Sills recalls that Malamed was instrumental in landing him, early on, a better agent than the one Sills had at the time, and a lucrative TV movie deal. A good manager is a team player with whom you can brainstorm, especially when your agent is pulled into the employer's court. Many agents are afraid of alienating producers. That's when you need a manager in your court to talk to the agent. Generally, I'd say a manger is someone who should be doing what the actor or agent is not. For me, working with Bill has been one of the best working experiences I've had."
When Things Go Bad
Not all actors have had good relationships with their personal managers. Indeed, there has been no shortage of well-publicized conflicts between major actors and their managers. Among these: Gary Coleman, Garry Shandling, Fabio, and years ago Judy Garland. She was involved in a notably distasteful brouhaha involving her personal manager.
Lesser known and unknown actors have also been badly burnt. The complaints run the gamut from an inability to get out of contracts that are no longer working, and/or wildly expensive promises that managers have made to actors and that are just not forthcoming. Jennifer Dikes, information and investigation specialist, at New York's Better Business Bureau, cites 69 complaints within the last 12 months leveled at personal managers representing either beginning actors and/or models. "Most of these complaints centered on promises that were not kept or large sums of money the actor/models were asked to spend up front for photos that were either never delivered or so bad as to be useless."
The Actor's Nightmare
Female impersonator Richard Skipper, best known for his Carol Channing and Judy Garland, had a simply appalling experience with a personal manager. Indeed, the nightmare dragged on for close to a year and cost Skipper $11,000 to extricate himself from his contractual arrangement with this con artist, who may in fact have been a borderline nut case.
As part of the deal, Skipper was subjected to a gag order, meaning he cannot name the manager in question. We will, however, refer to the personal manager as Dotty.
Skipper acknowledges that perhaps he should have been suspicious from the outset. For starters, Dotty who regularly appeared at his shows, claiming to be an avid fan, did not present herself as a manager until several months into their relationship.
"The first reference she made to management was on a taxi ride home after a gig. She said, and it was said very casually, "If I managed your career, I'd get you a good demo and create a press kit for you.' Then she asked me when my next performance was, and when I said it was a private benefit and couldn't bring anyone, she said "Tell your hosts I'm your manager.' I felt funny about this, but I went along with it. At the benefit, someone asked me for my card. I didn't have one, so she said, "Use mine.' And I did."
Not long after that, she made her formal pitch, claiming to have managed a number of cultural institutions, including a specific symphony orchestra, which she named. She also named a booking management firm whose owners, she said, she had grown up with. In addition, she claimed to have worked for the husband of one of the stars I impersonated in my act.
Skipper believed his luck had changed. "For eighteen years I'd been trying to get representation to no purpose. And suddenly someone shows up who is a constant visible presence and wants to manage my career. I figured why not? And then I got the contract!"
There was nothing illegal about the contract, but it turned out to be a textbook example of what not to sign, Skipper soon discovered. "At the time I felt I couldn't afford to have an attorney going over it. I now feel I couldn't afford to have an attorney not go over it."
A tip-off that something was wrong was a nonchalant observation that Dotty made. "She said in return for her drawing up the contract, I would owe her $400. She said she didn't expect to get paid for it up front, but would take the money out of future monies that I earned." In reality, a legitimate manager does not take money for drawing up a contract. But that was just the beginning.
In the contract, there was no "escape clause," meaning that the contract is automatically renewed with only a window of several days for the parties to back out. Again, there is nothing illegal about it, but a contract without a clearly defined-meaningful-escape clause, Skipper soon found out, does not work to the advantage of the performer.
Truthfully, he wondered about it immediately, and when he asked Dotty about the escape clause, she said, " "We're adults. If either of us is unhappy, we'll just shake hands and say goodbye. Why would I want to represent you if you weren't happy?' "
After the initial glow wore off, Skipper came to a sharp realization. "I loved to say, "Call my manager.' But the fact is she was doing nothing for me. She was not sending out my press kit. I was. She was not doing follow-up phone calls. I was. And she was not stuffing envelopes with my flyers. I was. When I mentioned this to her, she said, "That's not a manager's job. A manager's job is to guide a career.' "
As Skipper tells it, Dotty's career guidance consisted of her showing up at all his performances, appearing supportive, and for the most part business-like in manner. However, her on-site arrivals, which led to no future work, were not without cost.
"It was agreed that all my checks would go to her and she would take out her commission and then send me the rest. For the first three checks I earned, she didn't send me any money. When I asked her about it, she said, in addition to the $400 I owed her for the initial contract, she had expenses. When I said "What expenses?' she said "I have little pieces of paper with my expenses all over my house.'
"Later, she charged me $2,000 [the bits of paper had been morphed into an itemized bill] for her expenses-including hotel rooms, phone calls, car service, and tolls that she spent to come to my shows!
When Skipper finally told Dotty that he wanted out of the contract, she said that was not going to happen. "When I reminded her that she said, "If you're ever unhappy, why would I want to represent you?' she denied ever having said it." Shortly thereafter, Skipper arranged for his employers to stop sending Dotty his checks, but rather send them to him directly. In response, Dotty slapped him with a lawsuit for those and future payments.
Skipper contacted a lawyer at the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, a group of attorneys who work pro-bono (without pay) on behalf of artists who cannot afford to pay. They agreed to take on his case. It didn't take long for the team to uncover a tale of lies that Dotty had been telling from the very beginning.
For starters, she had never worked for the symphony she claimed to have managed, although she had applied for a job there but had never been interviewed for it. The owners of the booking operation she said she grew up with never heard of her, nor did the family of the star-one of Skipper's impersonations-whom she also claimed to have worked for.
All of the players involved, says Skipper, were so enraged by Dotty's using their names, they were willing to testify at an arbitration hearing as witnesses for Skipper. In the end, the case never got to arbitration. From Skipper's point of view that was merciful. "My lawyer was afraid that I might lose, because I had signed a perfectly legal document."
At the eleventh hour, Dotty's team settled. In exchange for $11,000-"It wiped out my bank account"-and the aforementioned gag order, Skipper was freed from his contract.
Despite the wounds he has sustained, Skipper would consider hiring a personal manager again, only this time his operative word is super-vigilance. "I would make sure the manager was well-connected, I would check all references, and I would have an attorney go over my contract. There is no such thing as a standard contract. Each contract has to be tailor-made for the performer's own needs."
Learning Who's On The Level
Although Skipper's case is extreme, it is by no means anomalous. As noted, since licensing is not yet called for, virtually anyone can call himself a manager. Regrettably these unscrupulous individuals are able to find easy targets among the most vulnerable. Many of these so-called managers advertise in local papers. Others approach the unsuspecting in shopping malls, and still others, like Skipper's Dotty, finagle their way into their "pigeon's" life (to use con artist parlance). Some make out-of-sight claims and promises. Others, like Dotty, are subtler.
"We do not have a formal relationship with managers, and so we can't recommend anyone," says AFTRA's Nancy Fox. "But for those actors who are considering hiring an agent, I would suggest going by word of mouth, personal recommendations from other actors. I would also contact the National Association of Personal Managers."
In existence for 50 years, with 200 current members, the National Association of Personal Mangers is a loose affiliation of personal mangers whose members must meet certain standards in order to maintain their membership. If an actor has a complaint against one of the members, a grievance can be brought to the attention of the association's board of directors.
"To be a member, a personal manager would have to be in business for at least one year," says Clinton Ford Billups, Jr., the executive director of the association's Eastern Division. "He cannot hold a franchise, meaning he cannot be an agent, and he can't share his office with an attorney or an accountant or a casting director or a photographer. He can't be moonlighting in one of these professions either. He cannot be running an acting school on the side."
These prohibitions make it a little less easy for personal mangers to be engaged in unethical activities, such as demanding that a potential client use a photographer with whom the manager has a financial arrangement-in short, he (the manager) may be getting a kickback. Clearly, this can be happening whether or not a photographer is on the premises. But an office-mate who is in a related field-like a photographer-sends off the alarm signals, says Billups.
Any manager who insists that a client go to a specific photographer, acting teacher or stylist should raise eyebrows, adds Billups. "Any personal manager who says "You need a total makeover' should be viewed with suspicion. The next thing he may be telling you is where to have it done. [Again, there's the spectre of possible kickbacks]. A manager who asks for any money up front for anything is doing something that is not right. A personal manager is supposed to get commissions on work, nothing else. And if he makes an offer that is too good to be true, the chances are, it is. For additional information, an actor can contact the Better Business Bureau or the Department of Consumer Affairs to determine if something fraudulent is going on, or to find out if there have already been complaints leveled against these individuals."
Yet it should be noted that many legitimate managers are not members of the National Conference of Managers. Another source of information, a list of personal managers that have met certain standards, is contained in the Ross Reports.
None of the pre-screening, however, takes the burden of effort off the actor who, according to all accounts, should request a list of his prospective manager's clients and then contact them. No legitimate manager will object, we were told repeatedly.
Manager Harris Spylios, who was an agent at one point, believes that an agent's background gives a manager added knowledge and leverage. In any case the actor should ask the manager "How do you see my career going? What would be the first five steps you would take to jumpstart my career?' But he also has to know what he [the actor] wants to do."
Management Into the Millennium
Looking into that perennial crystal ball, none of the experts we talked with was prepared to speculate how the personal manager phenomenon will play itself out, shy of suggesting that there will probably be more of them. A fair number of managers right now were formerly agents.
"There are fewer restrictions and greater freedom," former agent-turned manager Lenore Zerman admits without apology. "Management also gives us the opportunity to concentrate on a few select clients who really interest us."
Whether or not licensing is in the manager's future, is up for grabs. Manager Bill Malamed has no problem with the idea of licensing. "Any manager who objects is probably doing something unethical."
Agent Doug Warner doesn't agree at all. "We don't know what the effects would be, except that restrictions, I believe, are limiting in a business climate-especially in one that is changing as we speak. We now have a global marketplace. Markets are opening in Asia, Latin America, on the Internet, and on TV. We need an entrepreneurial approach to create opportunities. We need teams that are pro-active."
He stresses, "I have no problem with managers serving as producers for their own clients. For the actor, it's equivalent to having his board of directors in his corner. As long as the manager doesn't say to the networks, for example, "You can't have my client unless I get a producer title and fee,' there's nothing wrong with it."
Others who did not want to be identified agree, pointing out that agents have been serving as producers for years. Indeed, every time agents get a large fee from the network for a "package deal," they are in fact producers, whether or not they're engaged in a hands-on relationship with the creative team.
"If I come up with an idea for a project that features my client, why shouldn't I get a producer's credit and fee?" asks manager Bill Malamed.
The debate continues.
Additional research by B.L. Rice.


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A SCHOOLGIRL chef will find out this week whether she has been crowned Britain's best young cook.
Josie Broom has made it to the final four of this year's Junior MasterChef contest, being screened on BBC1 this week.
The 12-year-old, from Esh, near Durham City, has been competing in a series of tough culinary challenges to try to impress MasterChef judge, John Torode, and food blogger and cook, Donal Skehan to win the title.
Loading article content
Viewers have seen the final four battle it out cooking for a top Berkshire hotel and a Notting Hill Carnival band, before Friday's final test, creating a sumptuous three-course meal in just two hours after which the champion will be crowned.
Josie, a pupil at Durham High School For Girls, has been cooking since the age of three, when she learned to make biscuits with her grandfather, and her ambition is to own a cake shop or cafe.
She said she was ecstatic to have reached the final four of the contest and added: "I was definitely nervous - who wouldn't be when you're about to cook the most important few meals of your life on camera?
"It was a nerve-wracking experience because you know that they know how the recipe should be, so everything must be just right".
The final of Junior MasterChef will be screened on BBC1 at 4.30pm on Friday.

subset: commoncrawl


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42,505 ways to enjoy music...
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The Scarlett 2i2 is a 2 in / 2 out USB recording interface, which features two award-winning Focusrite preamps. It's housed in an attractive anodised aluminium unibody chassis, leaving you with a great sounding, great looking device which you can take on the road with you! Connect Scarlett 2i4 to your Mac or PC and get ready to make music!
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System Requirements
The Scarlett 2i2 is compatible with:
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This enhanced warranty is in addition to the standard Gear4music and manufacturer warranty policies, and the Gear4music terms and conditions of trade. No statement or condition of sale contained within these terms affects or restricts your statutory rights as defined under the Consumer Contracts Regulation 2014.
Once the product is delivered, you have 180 days to decide that you definitely want to keep it. If you decide it is not suitable for any reason, you can return it back to us for replacement or full refund, including standard delivery charges.
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About Me
work, save, travel, meet people, learn. host whoever needs it
I lived in London, and since September 2011 I have lived in Paris. I think I prefer London.
"Why do you live your life?" that is a great question CouchSurfing website. If I could answer it succinctly I would. Hopefully one day I will.
Why I'm on Couchsurfing
I still have not hosted anyone (have not used the site for a long time), but I will, I promise, when I have some space!
Summer 2008 I did an "unplanned" trek around Europe, that is I didn't really plan where I was going beforehand. Did a little couchsurfing then.
Music - Jazz, punk, techno, trance. I'm trying to learn to play the bass but I'm terrible at it.
Computing - I'm a developer by profession and main hobby :)
Cooking/Food. This is my best "time-off" activity right now. There is always something new to learn/do/explore with it.
Travel, despite my current lack of experience!
Sport/fitness - hiking, I try to hike near Paris and other places to (Pyrenees this year, Norway last year). When I lived in London I would go climbing ever week, but haven't gotten back into it in Paris. I'd also like to get into ice skating.
- dancing
- dining
- cooking
- fitness
- traveling
- socializing
- juggling
- music
- jazz
- hiking
- sports
- rock climbing
- languages
- software
Music, Movies, and Books
(Updated 2007)
Last good book I read: One Hundred Years of Solitude. So moody and full of imagery.
Currently listening to: Tegan and Sara (soft rock duo from Canada).
Films I've enjoyed recently: A Scanner Darkly (wow! the graphics are sublime), Hot Fuzz.
One Amazing Thing I've Done
The fjords of Norway are comfortably the most beautiful thing I've seen with my own eyes.
Teach, Learn, Share
Juggling. Am a proficient juggler, willing to teach.
Am a professional computer programmer - boring to 99%, but if you're interested, I can discuss...
I've tried to learn to Salsa dance, but trailed of. I'd like very much to start this again.
I'm ALWAYS interested in learning languages. Especially French, as that's what I'm trying right now, but willing to try anything.
I'm also very keen on cooking - I'd like to learn more about local cuisines though.
Countries I've Visited
Norway, South Korea, United States
Countries I've Lived In
France, United Kingdom


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Would you go out on Thanksgiving night to get a deal?
Posted by + Show Post
I am seriously thinking I am....
I have to work Friday so I know I will not get the deal I need to get this one gift.
How crazy am I?
Would you do it?
Replies (31-39):
It depends on the deal you are wanting. I work 5:45am Thursday and 4:45am friday so I will hopefully be sleeping at 8pm Thursday night.
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text:
Priesthood Expounded
In the months following its organization in mid-1955, the three members of the Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times sought converts, primarily among other Mormon fundamentalist groups. Having no success and later losing the participation of Ross, the remaining two brothers, Joel and Floren, returned to Colonia LeBaron in early 1956. Soon they added two additional followers from their own family, Alma and Ervil LeBaron. Their mother Maude became the fifth baptized convert.[1]
Several months later Ervil LeBaron, with some input from his brother Joel, published a pamphlet entitled Priesthood Expounded, which provided many details regarding the LeBaron's claims to legitimate priesthood authority. In the very first few paragraphs, Ervil explained how his insights were superior to the doctrines previously taught by Church leaders:[2] "If we LeBaron brothers are so fortunate as to be able to explain these things correctly, in this time of confusion and turmoil, when all others of our time have utterly failed to do it, then let every man and woman sit in silence and put their hands on their mouths, recognize where the authority is, and cease to speak evil of the servants of God."[3]
Beginning with Joseph Smith's comment that there "There are three grand orders of priesthood"[4] Ervil gave detailed scriptural support to ideas that previously had never been taught in any corner of Mormondom:
The Three Grand Heads of the Priesthood
According to LeBaron Doctrine
The elaborate discussions found in Priesthood Expounded may cause readers to struggle as they strive to follow the reasoning set forth by Ervil LeBaron. He taught unique ideas, like Brigham Young did not hold the same authority as Joseph Smith[14] and "Brigham Young was the modern Joshua, not the modern Moses..."[15] At one point in the text Ervil states: "Thus we see that Joshua was under Eleazar in spiritual things, yet over him in political government. He was also over the presiding Bishop in the political field yet under him in temporal concerns" (italics added).[16] Many other circuitous explanations are employed.
Undoubtedly Latter-day Saints readers would give Ervil LeBaron high marks for creativity as he described his religious beliefs, noting that the scriptures he cited do not naturally support the elaborate interpretations he provides. Accordingly, they generally conclude from reading Priesthood Expounded, that the priesthood organization there propounded bears little resemblance to the priesthood hierarchy as described in the Doctrine and Covenants. Neither is it "orderly,"[17] nor does it seem to follow an easily recognized "pattern" as promised in LDS scripture.[18]
Many converts joined largely due to the convincing power of Priesthood Expounded, the Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times expanded throughout the first decade of its existence. Its leader, Joel LeBaron was described as "kind," "meek," "gentle," "humble," and Christlike.[19]
In contrast, Ervil manifested glaring narcissistic traits that would explode uncontrollably in the years to come.[20] Around 1960, Claude Bronson gave this assessment, "I don't think there's anybody that I know of who is any slicker than Ervil in hiding behind someone else, and reaching in and getting a handful of honey once in a while, and still look guiltless to the outside world. He's very very crafty." [21] Another supporter recalled: "[Ervil] stated, after a lengthy revelation about the future of the gospel, that one of his operating principles was: 'You can lie, cheat and steal in the name of God and it is all right.'"[22]
By 1962 Ervil was the number two man in the Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times. He then introduced the doctrine of the "Civil Law," which stated that some principles of the church could be reestablished with force, even deadly force. Joel apparently supported the Civil Law as something that could be utilized in the future, while Ervil was willing to use it immediately to accomplish his own goals.
In 1967 Ervil LeBaron taught members of the Firstborn Church that he, not Joel, was the head of a "celestial administration." When Joel caught wind of the teachings, he gathered eighteen of the "general authorities" of his church and denounced and discredited Ervil's teachings. Further disagreements ensued and by the summer of 1970, Ervil proclaimed: "I know as sure as the Lord lives that my program is the only one that will put over the kingdom. And I also know that there are men in leading positions in this work who oppose me... And I tell you that blood will have to run to settle our differences."[23] In response, Joel released Ervil from his position as Presiding Patriarch, causing Ervil to weep like a child.
The Church of the Lamb of God
Despite his initial subdued response, as the months went by Ervil's opposition to Joel hardened. In mid-May 1971, Ervil received a revelation telling him to start his own church and the "Church of the Lamb of God" was organized.[24] Subsequently he and Dan Jordan were excommunicated from Joel's church. The family matriarch, Maud LeBaron wrote a letter to Ervil stating: "Your father came to my bedside last week and asked me to help remove the sorrowful condition," but even her intervention was ineffective is stemming the tide of Ervil's darkening intentions.[25] Rulon C. Allred summed up his perspective in 1976 saying: "They have formed the Church of the Firstborn, the Church of the Lamb of God and other divisions among these people, each brother seeking to be greater, more vaulted up, than his own brother or the Priesthood that once presided over them."[26]
* Initially presided over by Ross LeBaron. At Joel's death, Verlan LeBaron became the new leader.
By August of 1972, Ervil was teaching: "I am the one mighty and strong"[27] and at six foot four inches, 240 pounds, Ervil cast a dominant shadow.[28] Openly declaring, "Verlan and Joel will be put to death,"[29] his words would prove to be prophetic because on the 20th of the month, Joel was attacked and shot in the head, presumably by Dan Jordan. His brother Verlan took control of the Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times and became target number one for Ervil and his followers in the Church of the Lamb of God.
Mexican officials sought Ervil as a suspect in the killing. To the surprise of the Ensenada police, he surrendered on 13 December 1972. With Ervil incarcerated in a Mexican jail, a trial was held wherein he was found guilty 8 November 1973. However, after serving only one day of the actual sentence, higher judges overturned the verdict and Ervil walked free. Rumors flew that an $80,000 bribe had been accepted, money obtained from the wealthy Kingstons[30] or from the sale of Utah land owned by a member of the Church of the Lamb of God.[31] His formal release occurred after fourteen months of confinement.[32]
Once freed, an early item on Ervil's agenda required him to meet with members of the other polygamist groups. He arranged interviews with leaders of the Allred group, the Kingston clan, and the Colorado City fundamentalists.[33] All were commanded to tithe to Ervil, ten percent of their income to be turned over to the Church of the Lamb of God.[34] Ervil had meetings with Merlin Kingston and issued several threats. Reportedly LeBaron ordered an armed confrontation at the Huntington mine, owned by the Kingstons. However, the Kingstons were more organized and less intimidated than other fundamentalists. Anticipating Ervil's actions: "people were on the mountainside with rifles and scopes" prompting the Lambs of God to reconsider.[35]
In the months after his release from the Mexican prison, Ervil's talk centered more on the "Law of the .38," of sending opponents a "one way ticket to hell" or exposing betrayers to "hot lead and cold steel."[36] On the evening of 26 December 1974 a band of "Lambs of God" descended on a settlement of members of Verlan's Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times at Los Molinos, located about a hundred miles south of Ensenada. In pseudo-military fashion, they firebombed the homes and openly targeted members of the opposing church who came to view the destruction. Ervil predicted that Verlan would then be killed, but he wasn't even in Mexico at the time. In less than twenty minutes, two men were dead, thirteen wounded and seven buildings destroyed.[37] During the next two and a half years, more than a half dozen "traitors" to Ervil's church would be killed with several others narrowly escaping mortal punishment from Ervil's "Lambs."[38]
Ervil's prophetic gifts assured that cataclysmic events would occur by 3 May 1977 because three and a half years earlier he had prophesied that by that date, either Mormondom or the Church of the Firstborn would be "totally obliterated."[39] As the final weeks to the deadline approached, the destruction of the LDS Church seemed unlikely so Ervil upscaled his plans for the demise of Verlan's church organization. Ever since Joel's death, Ervil's band had strict orders to kill Verlan whenever and wherever he might be found. His ability to allude his assassins enraged Ervil who concocted a new plan, telling his followers that in May a funeral would be held that Verlan would attend. There he would be shot dead and then the Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times would acquiesce to Ervil's leadership.
Whose funeral would Verlan be attending? Ervil gave the answer: "Rulon Allred. Allred was a false prophet who had defied repeated warning to stop holding himself up to idol worship, and to fall in with God's chosen: the Lambs of God."[40] Ervil stated that the murder should be performed by the group's two prettiest women. On the selected day (May 10th), Rena Chynoweth and Ramona Marston entered Allred's medical office and shot him to death.[41] Verlan LeBaron did indeed attend the funeral several days later, one of 2600 mourners in the congregation. But the hit team sent to gun him down declined to make the attempt in light of the overwhelming media and police presence.
In time Ervil was brought to justice. Then surprisingly on 15 August 1981 he was found dead of a heart attack while incarcerated in the Utah State prison, but his killing did not stop. Plural wife Rena Chynoweth penned in 1990: "Between 1972 and 1988, twenty to twenty-five people have been killed or simply 'disappeared,' either on [Ervil LeBaron's] direct command or under orders he left before he died."[42]
[1] . Bradlee and Van Atta, Prophet of Blood, 58.
[2] . Another LeBaron apologist, Fred C. Collier commented: "Brigham [Young] did not always fully explain himself... Sometimes Brigham was a little tricky" ("Apostolic Succession," 2).
[3] . Ervil LeBaron, Priesthood Expounded, 1:6. Divided into Section and Verse by Thomas J. Liddiard March 1988.
[5] Ervil LeBaron, Priesthood Expounded, 2:42.
[6] Ibid., 8:17, 19.
[7] Ibid., 16:13.
[8] Ibid., 8:1-49.
[9] Ibid., 2:27.
[10] Ibid., 4:36.
[11] Ibid., 16:14.
[12] Ibid., 5:11.
[13] Ibid., 14:15.
[14] . Ervil LeBaron, Priesthood Expounded, 5:28-29. Contrast Fred C. Collier who wrote: "Of course President Young held the Fulness of the Patriarchal Priesthood and the Keys thereof; and of course he was also an Apostle." ("Apostolic Succession," 19.)
[15] . Ervil LeBaron, Priesthood Expounded, 5:22, 25, 27.
[16] . Ibid., 5:23.
[17] . See D&C 132:8.
[18] . See D&C 52:14. See also the pattern for the priesthood leadership as delineated in D&C 20 and 107.
[19] . Bradlee and Van Atta, Prophet of Blood, 106. However, Rena Chynoweth remember that on one occasion he threated Ervil saying, "And if you don't stop this, I'll kill you_" (Chynowethh, Blood Covenant, 66).
[20] . Narcissistic traits include a need for admiration, lack of empathy for others and a profound sense of entitlement, which Ervil manifested. See Bradlee and Van Atta, Prophet of Blood, 82, 91, 104-05.
[21] . Interview with Claude Bronson, Jean Bronson LeBaron, Marden Spencer, Linda Allred et al. about 1960.
[22] . Bradlee and Van Atta, Prophet of Blood, 114.
[23] . Ibid., 124.
[24] . Ibid., 131-32.
[25] . Ibid., 132.
[26] . Rulon C. Allred, Treasures of Knowledge, 2:247.
[27] . Bradlee and Van Atta, Prophet of Blood, 138.
[28] . Chynoweth, Blood Covenant, 11.
[29] . Bradlee and Van Atta, Prophet of Blood, 138.
[30] . Solomon, Growing Up in Polygamy, 277.
[31] . Bradlee and Van Atta, Prophet of Blood, 148.
[32] . Ibid., 151.
[33] . Chynoweth, Blood Covenant, 199.
[34] . Solomon, Growing Up in Polygamy, 279.
[35] . Bradless and Van Atta, Prophet of Blood, 178.
[36] . Ibid., 155.
[37] . Ibid., 161-64.
[38] . Robert Simons - 1975, Dean Grover Vest - 1975, Rulon C. Allred - 1977, Rebecca Chynoweth - 1977, Gamaliel Rios - 1983, Raul Rios - 1983, Leo Evoniuk - 1987, Ed Marston - 1988, Duane Chynoweth - 1988, Mark Chynoweth, - 1988, (Chynoweth, Blood Covenant, x-xi.)
[39] . Bradlee and Van Atta, Prophet of Blood, 231.
[40] . Ibid., 233.
[41] . Chynoweth, Blood Covenant, 206-08.
[42] . Ibid., 5.


text:
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Martos overviewMartos is known for its historical sites and monuments. Learn about local heritage at landmarks like Castle of Villa de Martos and Santa Maria la Mayor Church. Local sights like Casa Consistorial and Alcaudete Castle are worth a visit. Martos is an inviting destination that has something for everyone.
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How to get to MartosFly in to Granada (GRX-Federico Garcia Lorca), 37.3 mi (60 km) from downtown Martos.
What to see around MartosIf you're interested in historical sites or monuments, here are some top landmarks to visit:
- • Castle of Villa de Martos
- • Santa Maria la Mayor Church
- • Alcaudete Castle
- • Santa Catalina Castle
- • Torreon de los Condes de Torralba
- • Casa Consistorial
- • Ciudad de los Ninos
- • Parque del Seminario
- • Church of Magdalena
- • Church and Convent of Mercy
When to visit MartosIf you're starting to plan your trip, you might be wondering when's the best time to visit. Here are the seasonal norms to help you decide when to go:
Seasonal temperature averages
- January-March: 67°F day, 33°F night
- April-June: 91°F day, 41°F night
- July-September: 95°F day, 52°F night
- October-December: 79°F day, 34°F night
- January-March: 0.20 inches
- April-June: 0.12 inches
- July-September: 0.08 inches
- October-December: 0.24 inches


text:
Mfafes) Mimic Battle Fverl
Known in America About
to Be Fought.
Problem Is to Prevent In
vaders From Cutting Off
Our Water Supply.
Star., the god of war. rldee rampant
tr th nation Am-rlca'n l.eat man.
hood va hneti taken from IBS field,
the rcarta of trade, and arie1 In khaki
end irmfil with hlKh-priwer rifle, art '
natrld firm .teed or upon BBfganlBS
r!.nn. Wr In all It horror. li.
entered thro'Jgli th. MtlM'l Mtraahil I
The powerful fleet In whi 'h llM "'.
try' hop hnil lonu 'nrcn vcalcd
hemmed u In TTa i don Raadi Th
Kurapean Invader' hlp of de!ruftlnn
fir In the Allan le "IT 1. ng l.land wllh
Be c cleared for a Halt. The ret
nrm of Invader that landed on o.ir
Voait at IBM Hed'orrl, Mum., and de
feited o.ir army ail enp'tirel rnltured
fRoaton !a now .ending tronpi tn
Ihreltrn New Vork'
Jtarillng newi la It not, Mr. Qaj thgtB
lt' Itul ou have hn ao wrapped up
in th Rn.enlltal murder and poll, a
raft Investigation and lv. Witton'l 1
apeerh if BBtSSBBSOg and the dotnga of
Ilia R!g Hull Mooeer Dial you have over
looked thla terrihl theoretical terror
Ml threaten t.'aw fJotham.
w York began to reallie In a dim i
way that danger waa impending whan
th Flral and Itwnil regiment of rav-
glry left thalr armor lee yeeterday aftar-
noon and c!ttrd northward through
Hie mrtropoi: and Into th open eoun-
. . . . . . tl . .
trv bayond which Itaa tha territory I
fhieatanad by our imaginary foa. New
Tork will awake to a full raalliatlon of
the e.tuatlon to-morrow morning whan1
. " i
tha armoriea In Naw York and Brook-
lyn open up thalr doore and lend
frtrth Infantry, artillery, angtaaara. rtg
aal and hoapltal detachmenta. Thaaa
troopa will rapidly march to tralnn and
boat! and hurry to tha front. Naw
fr,n lha front la nutn at n ,..
B au .... , . '
Tha one atarlllng fact remain, that tha
red army of Invadara ) marching eloaer I
Wn ..rjr B0Ur' N,w Yor1' can
only await tha outroma It will ba at
laaat a wOOk before Gotham will kwo.
tta fata.
Th abfaet of tha Invadara. who are
reported to-day aomewhat to the north
ward of Now Haven. I to cut off the
New York water aupply. To deprive
Kw Tork five million of water
necuaarlly meana tha capitulation of
tha dly. But our cltlaan oldlra
ad tba regular ra going to eiert
vry poialbl Uort to prevent Ihe
oarrylng out of Mil flendtrh plan of the
ted hara.nr.. Ton and ton of pro
vlaloaa for man and heait have been
ablpped to tha baa of aupply, for our
(jancral well rvalue. Ilk Napoleon, that
an array flghta on it (torpach "
lOOEtT MIMIC WAR EVER IN
The Oanne-tb ut manoeuvre eampatgn,
which actively beglna to-morrow after
noon, 1 th largt mimic war ever
attempted by American troops. Alto
gether aV.DOO ga.iard.men and regular,
will ba arrayed agulnat each other, and
will manoeuvre over a tonlloiy e.tt
maeed at aV) aguar mile.. Tha maDoeu
vr. at San Antonio. Tex , lant year
wara thought to be of gigantic propor
tion, but not over le.fluu meo actually
participated. Maaaachuaett nianoeu
vea of two vaara go had only 13.000
mmn In II,
The ,rob..m of feeding the :n onr,
mouth of th rad and blue army la In
llaelf an rnormoua one. ami th ....,
nfla.ary officer of th rgulr army aai d
the National Jutd have bu working
lilt o' night figuring out Ihotr need
ai)d purvhualng aupplle. Tha fullow
lng llt given an Idea of the amount of
jodiuff that hue been purchased 'o
fed the BoldUro tot ten da)':
Meat 170,000
rat-tee aoo.ooo
"a 110,000
aloao as. 000
Bncea 33.5&0
"eaaa 10,000
Cogeo 10,000
agar so. 000
lea MO.ooo
acttir 4,100
lr l,3O0
Srled fraita T.SCO
Oaaaed good 7,600
All theaa thing, were puri-ha.ed In
New Y.irk by t'ol DfgVO, chief com
o'.iary of the Ka.lerii DVUla But
ie kgfgglf and BUlgg have to be fed
1 'd pyj fii-ea of the cooka muat tea Kept
ibjgge, a d. 1 that fell upon the laoul-
''era uf Col. J. B Bellinger, chief eiiar-
lafgaaitaj ot th Bgatarg in i n. u
hag parohgggf) at-d had hlppJ in th.
.'onl f.in pound, of hay, wn.o
a, .iiid. of oat. gnd ejO orda uf woo.1
' ol. Bellinger ha. alio mud arrange
menu tu make further pnrchaa In
lha nail!, country ehould the eupplv
1 d hold fori 1. He gji IWI Ju.t Whtoll
farmer have has. ogtg and tnnl 10
e and bow mo 1 1',-y will oaat
Thoae wtig Ilk In luggle with fig in 1
-nn wrrk 01: t iny rate retting fa-tl
from the tuble of foodllM For In
.lance, It will In- found that ,
l,e JO,U0i men In the Held will be en
titled 10 IH pound of fre.n meat lot
the len day. of Ihe campaign. Thla
Officer Commanding Troops Now
Engaged in Greatest Mimic
Bu,-OE.N. A,.I,-M'UL.b
. ... ... . i , , .
day, hut when thla meat la reinforced
wan tan pound of pniati.r-a par man
for ten flan or a pound a day mil
and baim and other thing
nnuun yvMUHM, Ik will of mtm iioii
,hB ,nvil(i,r, of ,ilhn, ., lr loyal
defender will not he forced to munch
'he'- hrogana.
5trnordlnary aanliary pre autni
are hrlng laken In (nil OMUPalgll. The
N.nil.. r,,,..,, ., ,., rrl!,ar ......
well realise the value of healthfiilneaa.
'ol. T.. M. Man. , lili'f aurgeon of the
Raatern Plvlalnn. will have thirty army
aurgenna under hla eomniand. who vrlll
h. attached to varloua detaPhinent.
reglmenta and hrtgndea to Inalruei and
inaalal Ihe rlvlllan aoldler In mailer of
Mnttgtlon I'aoh eatpp Hte will lie Itl-
opaetad before tent, nre ..-t IP and all
wafer aupplle. will he te.M.,d before
T,,B nold'er. will he compelled lo
w'a.h themaelvea rallgMUIly and will be
watched thai thev do nothing 10 Injtira
thalr heal I h. All relu.e will he burned
to the vertcat .i-rap and a!) camp .Ilea
will be gone over with n fine tooth
comb before they are abandoned by the
rAKE PART.
Troop, from the regular army. New
York, New Jeriev, MaaKa'-huactt, 'on
nootlctlt, Maine and Wrmnnt will par
ticipate In the manoeuvre, The Iroopa.
from the arlou. Hlate. will bo mixed
up batata an the Rad and Blpa rtn!e,
and whiui the New York City ragomahta
leave for the front to-morrow th,-y will
not know which of (heir fellow regi
ment are lo he frlenda or foe The
WW Mnilan of tin' ited and Blua armlai
know only In a tnaglM .ort of uni where
the troop of the othaj arc operating.
rtomewhere in th,. north and agdl of the
Hou.ftlonlp KUpr t!i' Ited invader, are
progre.alng MaW Yorkwnrd. In the vi
cinity of Hrldreport and to Ihe went-
waid the ma. nafandafi are taanoau-
vrlng through the hill, and dale, and
lielilnd atono wall, and through the
woole That la all the Information that
either ha. of the oilier, tn. a day or two
more Information whll be received, for
the lOOUM of the armlc will begin (Q
net In tou 'h with i i"li other Tin n th.
navaJalry of botb ahle will begin to have
.kirmi.he. anl praaantly 'he bgtUt
front twenty or tWanty-flVa inllea wide
Will Im inl'i Hie t IllfllOt.
Th BlUhl or Oitfeii.he army will liave
! u "" 1 1 1 loegtlBg tin
nemy on avi-
liar army
BtrMG.6E.N. G.M. SMITH
equipped with nn nerop'ane It I. -
pe.'te.l that the flyer Will prove III lll-
bie. a. a outing machlno for futur
inn oparatloni ;t ihc-e nuuiofuvraa,
The mora rudlcal of the ofTVera bOttdVa
that the day la nnl far dlatnnt when
Ihe aeroplane will dliDlgCO Ihe cavalry
and other method, of .coming no long
In vogue In wai tare, but Ihe conaerv.i
tlve any th.it It will be many yee'a be.
'ore cawilrv and a.'out. afoot can he
diapenaed with,
Th Ogwrttlonl of both the blue and
the rd arm 10 will be under the gen
eral u.pervl.'on of ltrlc.-ien. Tanker 11
una, commanding the Depart man t ol
the Kol. II" will guide. In a genet nJ
way. the movemi nta of the troop on
both aide end will act aa ch'.-f-umpire
(Jen. HI . will hnve oilier otflcer to aa
nlnt In Ihe work of umpiring. Major
(len. John K. o'ltyan will oommand the
New York Stale troop.. The com
Imlanta will bn prevented from nh.int
Ing Ihe.r blank ammunition wlin they
nrrve within li yard of each other.
Tho paper w dg In Ihe l artrldgc tire
too dangcrou to nllow of the men
hooting ut each other at too clone a
All the troop will he In thN Held to
morrow afternoon, nnd Immediately
unnn raachlng iheir dawtlngVona prapa
ratlona Hill be mole for ihe coming
battl that 1 to deihle the fate of New
York. In th," meanwhile Magg Ootham
goad on Ha complai ent wav unconcerned
over the nvgalon, the cagtur of not
ion and III water Itipply peril, nnd till a
In thn face of drib xhlp. of war thai
lie OUUM In the Atlantic walllni:
an opportunity to bombard our haughty
Kyncraper.. Verily Nw York la blaae.
AI.MAVAf Knit TO DAT
gun r.m .Vovaun eat f ggma d.1g,4i
TH I Tll,i
lllili Water. l.nw aVjtfr,
a., ' u a m, r.t 1
n.'in. nuan I I 4 ao g ii la a. 1
'lomaai i.in, , . . e.e ai x'H 1 1 an
- ;
at Front
War Ever Held
."n In Jerrclrr Wlnlvn llllrir .
Prr .pntfA mt Krnnfilf I.nfJgT. I
l.Atl ) I Jtlion, Auk. r.-Th Sheriff
fit MaAOOCIi t'ountv and th poltM ,
Mftrohlng for a burptlif who was d(--COVtrtd
by a ntjrht watfhman. ftttCOIpt
tna; lo bftok into Kt'Hiii'tti Uo&ft, IhO
!.iininfr twinir of Mra. JohB KnnI j
of (tow York, widow of th MtlltOtlOtrt i
botllltr, ''fit ly ritfrda'. Wntrhinait I
Itoonty njrpr!a(d rh burglar, who fled
In tils Ht-vltinu r'!. Ifftvinf behind h'.m.
lido RflO-fli Int and coit, a ,om
plfi oulfll Of burRlAr'a tool-.
CMJtertti Iht jiuminor hump of Kdtffof I
Mrolt nf PhllodMphlOi WhlOtl Immedi
ately od)otn Krni.rdon I-lgo. wna
rntnred i-ar'y Snmlny evi-nlnc. whnn
Mr. and Mr 8rott ir nn thf Mont ;
j PfNOWi n'lti jFrii'iiy worm BOVUI
I2.0(o and a lent irr raa contain
Iflg IffhtMII BOM f)lne. h takrii from
Mr Beolt! bUIOOtti wtiil1 from a drawer
In Mr. Hcott'a ilreasinK table In tho
'ljolnlnjr 100 01 MVII-1 dlnmond brooch
M :nd n wntrh WOlti taken
Tin. ntnKra nro unenay and many,
f them have bmiKht ifvolvera.
SHIETlilT NEWS.
Port of n York.
i hjr nf St. Ureile
I an, a.
U acondale
. . . H"-l
a,n Jiu
It ins I,-.
. l Jagn
DCOOkfTNO UTE VMRIMPS.
HMll, llnllerd.m. -rieir.n. .. en Cru
Karnma, alglaej Mhiu.Bitin. s.n-. tirua.
Aneo.-.n, aalotrp, I'olgguaa, i',-rmn.
OITtKlNil STK M9inPH.
tUUKD 'l1, "AY.
t ,na, Panama. fratgh.ll. Pahia
YaplaBOl, Nuut.au l,.n.. Argrntbi.
ilrnnji s.aa.u, H-ta. r rutara, cm.
tiil.nt.uamn, I'ani . .
Great Lakes
Mackinac Island
1 1 I'l v Ptrionalljr Conducted
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PfMihtful OutlM Inrliidinc Vtafiira
raiit, the triu rrnm l.ufalit to Mtt.k
Ingi nnd ha' k on tha Mplrmlld ntpam
erp of tha , li.-r ,Ine with atuto at
ilevfland and Petrntt. and thra
-i.i - ut 'Afatklnan laUnd:
from Naw Yotk.
1'roportlnnata ratra frorn other pntnit.
Auk Ag-nta. nr C. Ktudda. t. p. A.;
win. paOrlak, ir.. a. i. v. a., sua
Klfih vnnue Nw York, for booklet.
Sf iui(lr ,)a. IV Amleraon. A. Q. P,
A., rtroad Sir. -el Hta'lon. Uhtladl phta.
Pennsylvania R. R.
I California State Officials Taki
Charge of the (Continental,
Biggest of Kind on Coast.
tAV Kit V N'MS'T). Mia- . -The ploa
Inc fir ihe Continental Building and Loan
Aeaorlatlon. one of the oldeat and lar
geat tnatltutlona of Ita kind on the
FaaMa coaat, heeauae of an alleged
nhor'nge of IH'i.W. rauned nri h oarlte.
tneni ta day,
Kdward Sweeney, Superlntandant of
tne Mint, ta prealdrnt of the aaaoia-
That th nentat waa Id dlfflcultlea
had hn thn goaalp for a week, and
Htale Building and Uaaa. commlaloner
.fohn O Walker de ldad to laka poaaea
alon to-day after an (lamination of the
JOtorney Gavin MoNab. counpel for ,
lha aaaooiatlon. told the 'ommlaaloner ,
that the Htatn building and loan law
"Foot Care Important
as Your Complexion"
Puffy, Tired, Aching Feet Change the
I Facial Expreuion and Are Often
Reiponiible for Wrinkles.
Send hr Fne Trill TIZ Pick! Tday.
A OOtl rotintled HOCtl nd phut-lera arr
no; twnhanfeil In beaut y w hiti the feat
miks you look iereworn and Tlnkled.
Tire 1. ti'Mm ' t get on your narvt ;
forna. rallouaen and biinhma take all tha
aunahln out of ll'e. And yet If you put
your fet In a TIZ foot bath all foot
trnublea vanish, the feet take on a ren
aatlon of freahn and rIaw. ) our nervee
and tlrad musdaa at BwOt relax, and your
mind tbua bi-omea amiable and your face
PwflOfitl thla In the amlla of happtnaaa.
Try th TIZ foot bath plan. It drnwa ou
th alda and poiona. red in ea ail puff I
neaa, m.tket your feet look trl n, neat and
ttell'L'arad for. Do nut lie aomethlng alaa
for you lll aurely be dltappolnted.
For a fre trial pa-kage write to Wal
ter l.uther Liodge A- Cftki I9fl A Wahaah
., or go to any drug at ore, department
or general a km a antl get a regular alze
bna f Til 2Ti . enta.
To-Day and To-Morrow
SoUd 14-K
Tea hale been iiboii. Illt.nn .wt
more far bra taalebe fnr aear. and'
there are Jeweller tn-ilar who .ell wnrth
leaa walrhee at nrlre no elf-reoe'tlna
man would charge. Mr haie neier ild 1
a watch In thlrtl-onr .lean that nrnled '
uallafaetnrT that we did not riehanae
pr refund the inourv far. Tn-dar we are !
Ihe largrat watch dealer. In the I idled
Htale aelllng wntrhe dlreel In the nub
a, and cur .rlllna only reliable walchea I
'vf '' "ii'" I. known from Ihe i
Atlantic to the t'aelfle ocean, from (an
Ma In Hanta. llardlv a .bam. r in from
Panama without walch order, for un.
The volume nf our wetrh bu.lnru i. '
what Inlrreel. urn, end rverv da roll will
re ninrr real barer. In our .tore than In
half nf the other Jeweller.' In thla , it, ,
ennlMned. I here la a reoaiin." Three I
guaranteed ..dld I IK. gnld walchea are
BjH ft from Iis.ihi ;-,,m .rllliln a
".'Jf ,nr'.'w f. BrnidwK.. Our orlre
al thla .ale Mill he an H,, well ten ;
guarahlee. Vte will i,.iti,,i. f., to
ell Ml, one r,aiiMlHl 4 . ,. .
trade. 'o mall or meurnger order, filled.
A Hold I'lllad rob ah.n '
with ev.rv one of the,
wat.-h. "Ah.nlutalv Free."1
NY. mention here nur .. ,
for Ihe five beat wat.be. mad In the!
t'nlted t.te.. Th.y cannot be bought
el.ewh.re for lea. titan noari,- double, ;.n,i 1
we can prove It. Your own tewellar can I
. thr Judge.
Hollri I l-K liold
Nnlltl I l-K liobl
snllil I I - It Hold
KnlHt I--K Hold
ulld Is-K (odd
m ddj Olantnnda, tYatcbe. Jrwelry
1 OU Broadway, New York
re "1 Orftea, a.rea iea ea.
T nti 1 i.
ii un onatltuttonal. and that any at
lemp: to take polon of the aaaocla.
t:on would be real. led ly foree.
Tho i 'omn.l jal iner i ailed Attorney
(leneral Wbh on tha 'phone, and In a
few mlnutei a corporal of pollei aid
f.iur nflli era In un.fonn J.'.ned Walker,
and .M.Nali .voided.
If Ihe ion fall un the principal par
t. p.i'.uik ah! raa, f whk'ri there wara
4. .,(.. holders oa June M. eaih will re
, 1 1 vi a-hoiu l,n riila on thr du1!ai, Ior
ihe moat pari lha taarthoMtn ara
In Wiring man, , 1, rk and Rnaall tnvaa
TIM ahorlaife. bi- 'orttififl lo t'ommla.
aluner Walker, h.ia rtlUltad from roM
- wim n m i
tlrnnb Hint lllaoiilerle ColT.
WAdttNaTOX, Am - a .rginla
farui.T. alarmed by tne Hldaoorotll par I
fortninoaa Of an ordinarily tierfertly
mild row after muni'hlng a ration ,r ;
(nallagf. appjaled to the Iiepartnient J
of Afrieultura
J in eatuatiuii rev',ii,Ml
that bora 'id iated on fermented'
rorllfltatllf and had rlmpl got drunk,
on raw whlakey.
arid Harnerti look tn Water.
William A. Muater, thirfy-llire-. of
No 6H Cotdfflbla avenue. Long leland
HfirUdpfiil dfi
AUGUST is Men's Furnishing Month
at Smith Gray & Co.
Sensational Offering No. 3
Le Mar
Exactly Half-Price
In the past year we have spent $2,500 in New
York papers advertising these 50c cravats.
Many thousands have been sold at this fair
price of 50c.
Here is a reproduction of one
from t'.czens of our ads.
It tells Iff own story of the
trvth of the present actual cut
in price.
Warm friendship with the
maker, the fact that we are his
largest customers, and our offer
to buy every single cravat in
his entire stock for a lump sum
put the deal through.
At noon yesterday they lay
on the maker's sale tables now
thev are on ours. And our cav
ing; is your profit.
EVERY cravat is silk: Magodors, Baratheas,
1 Twills, Rcppi, and Foulards. Solid colors,
iridescent duotcnes, gay and sombre multicolors in
cross and bias stripes, and in figures. Beautifully tail
ored. Pin proof, knot proof, crease proof. And they
-sliclr easily in the collar.
Sale of Summer Suits
SUITS which were sold
nearly all Summer at
$25, $22.50 & $20, now. .
UNDER SAME CONTWLVaOWIDf5HIP(7 SINCt V-'845 IfSJ
OROADWAV AT WARHEM ST. - NIW VORK -W AW, BET 27"? Si 28'"STS. P
fULTON 5T, AT EIATBU5H AV.. BROOKLYN -" BROADWAY AT BEDFORD AV. fen
WMMBWMMM iJijJMIUJ i
Is All Wheat-
DOLLED, baked, toasted,
and enriched with a
blend of barley malt in cook
ing which makes it supreme
in flavor and digestibility.
Wheat has all the natural
elements that re-inforce the
body, build muscle, brain and
nerves, and all of the best
wheat is in "Force."
Good for the
growing child,
the stalwart
man, the old
and feeble
good for every
body. Order
"Force" today.
Made by The H0 Company
. Buffalo ;. 1
f'lty: Robert . Martin, fifty-nine, of
Ko. t"i Weatalde atreet. Jeraey Clly.
and Adam Ilwyer. thirty, of No. Ill
I'earanll elree'. f.ong Inland I'lly. were
lifting a large ottbo Of nlWe aeld out
Of i poal at fie fool of I'-graw atreet.
Brooklyn, yeatcrdav. when g bottom
fi ;i . It The a Id hurtled them hadly.
but they proniptly Jumped Into the
water and wimp aaved from tartOdfl
Every one wears
d Dust-Cip;
S.I a
mat means
Mclean tristl
pfififirDii rilfi(iiiii
1335 Dozen
All Silk
Far IWBtjEf
u. J
THE waiter knows that he u
serving a discriminating rjutdl
when ordered to bring
The Beer of Quality
This is the beverage beyond
compare, and is appropriate lor
all times and occasions. Whole
some and refreshing a delight
to the eye and the palate the
perfection of brewing.
Bottled only at the
brewery in crystal
clear bottles, showing
at a glance that ft
is clean and pure.
T&6 is thr beei loi yout home.
Phcnc 01 writs
Supplied by best dealers every.
where. Served in Leading HoteU
Cafes and Restaurant.
la thau a pound of Ira mu 1
xml | txt


text:
The tablet is getting rave reviews, but what's the use of a great tablet without an equally good Nexus 7 2013 case. Well, if you like getting the "official" accessories, you'll be glad to hear that Google Play now has the Google-branded cases in stock.
It looks like a nice case. I like how it snaps in at the corners so the bezel isn't covered. The microsuede cover looks soft and comfortable to hold. The angles even look good. Based on the pictures, it looks as if the most upright position still has a bit of a slope to it, making it usable for reading on a table. Many similar cases have too steep an angle.
It comes in four different color/accent combinations. The Gray/Blue looks particularly sharp.
I'm not crazy about the little Google "flag" on it, but maybe that's just my taste.
Of course, it's going to set you back $49.99, which is pretty steep for a tablet case, but it might be worth it. I'd appreciate any comments from people who've bought it.


text:
Washington - The air traffic paralysis across Europe due to volcanic ash "rivals the massive shutdown" of air travel after the September 11, 2001 attacks, an International Air Transport Association official said Saturday.
"Right now through most of Europe we do not see many flights moving at all," noted Steve Lott, an IATA spokesperson in Washington.
"It certainly rivals the massive shutdown that we saw after 9/11," he told AFP.
After the al-Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington in 2001, US airspace was closed for three days, forcing European airlines to suspend all transatlantic flights.
"Now we are on day three of this massive shutdown," said Lott of the travel chaos, adding that "we don't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet" as the vast ash cloud continues to blow across much of Europe from the Icelandic volcano.
Some 17 000 flights in European airspace on Saturday have been cancelled, said Eurocontrol, which coordinates air traffic control in 38 nations. It has described the situation as "unprecedented."
IATA, which represents 230 airlines operating 93% of international trade traffic, estimates the shutdown's cost for the industry amounts to about $200m each day.


text:
Rampant Games - Serving Two (Or More) Masters
View Single Post
September 20th, 2013, 03:56
<soapbox> Basically, gaming went to *expletive deleted* when publishers realized they could make millions off of the hobby instead of just squeaking by and making digital art. Back in the 80s and early to mid 90s it was all about giving gamers/hobbyists what they wanted and staying true to each genre's roots and core features .shoot ahead a decade and you have publishers bullying developers and forcing them to churn out cookie cutter garbage intended to merely drain money from the pockets of the desperate or easily entertained.</soapbox>
People are waking up though, and this is just the beginning.
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text:
CME is closed on Thursday & Friday (November 23rd - 24th) in observance of Thanksgiving. Orders can still be placed online, but will not be processed until Monday (November 27th).
- Details
This product has been discontinued. For information on a similar product or replacement please call us at (800) 338-2372.
The NK Medical 119M Economy Transport Stretcher
This transport stretcher from NK Medical is a cost effective unit for clinical and hospital use.
- 2 Year warranty
- Full perimeter bumber
- Manual fowler backrest
- Easy access swing away side rails
- 3" anti-microbial mattress
- 8" casters, 2 with brakes
- 400 lb. weight capacity
- Overall Length: 78"L x 29"W
- Fixed Height: 30.5"
- Swing Away Side Rails: 15.5"H x 14"L
- Pad: 76"L x 26"W x 3"D
- Specifications
Additional Information
Manufacturer NK Medical Unit of Measure (UOM) Each Shipping Method Tailgate Delivery Discontinued Yes Capacity 400 lbs. Includes Manual fowler backrest; Swing away side rails; 3" anit-mocrobial mattress; 8" casters, 2 with brakes; Full perimeter bumper Warranty 2 Years Limited Model 119M
- Reviews
- Accessories
You may also be interested in the following product(s)
NK Medical Oxygen Tank Holder (C32) [DISCONTINUED]Call for Price
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Novum Restraint Straps (PL1040)$161.02+ Free Shipping. Usually ships in 2 business day via Ground Delivery.
Novum PL1032 Vertical Oxygen Tank Holder$290.90+ Free Shipping. Usually ships in 28 business days via Ground Delivery.
Novum / NK Medical PL1017 IV Pole [DISCONTINUED]Call for Price
- Logistics
Working on a project?
CME's Direct-to-Site (DTS) services are a turn-key approach that covers the initial equipment purchase, tracking of the items, receiving, warehousing, staging, assembly and delivery direct to the room. This allows us to oversee all aspects of facility setup for our customers, preventing any details from being missed during the process and allowing you to open on time.
Learn more about our direct-to-site services


text:
Checking beneath your car every day, leaving the windows locked, and posting a guard outside your office.
It's the sort of caution you might expect from a mob boss or politician – but it's also the reality for 10 men who have been playing a game of tag for the past 23 years.
The men, all originally from Spokane, Washington, haven't let growing up and becoming adults stop them from playing the schoolyard game.
The rules are the same now as they were then; a player is 'it', until he is able to tag another player – but the stakes have changed.
For one month each year these men fly around the United States, hide in bushes, and break into homes, all in the hope of avoiding being 'it' for the next 11 months.
"You're like a deer or elk in hunting season," school teacher Joe Tombari told The Wall Street Journal.
Having failed to tag anyone else in the long-running schoolyard game, Mr Tombari was 'it' on the final day of high school in 1982.
Eight years later when the friends got together again, it was decided that the game didn't need to end at graduation. The hunt was on again.
One of the friends, by then a rookie lawyer, drew up the rules, including the standard 'no tag backs' (no tagging the player who just tagged you) and it was decided the game would be on for the entire month of February each year.
Since then the men have gone to elaborate lengths to ensure they're not 'it' come midnight on February 28th.
In the mid-1990s Mr Tombari and his wife opened the boot of a friend's car, only to find another friend, Sean Raftis, inside.
Mr Tombari was now 'it', and to add injury to insult, his wife fell backwards, damaging ligaments her knee.
"I still feel bad about it," says Father Raftis, now a priest living in Montana.
Over the years the friends have broken in to homes at 2am and spent hours crouched in bushes hoping to surprise a friend.
One February, a participant refused to help a colleague change a flat tire for fear it was part of an elaborate ruse to get him.
Another man enlists his office manager to guard him at work. Now every February, 'no one gets in to see him'.
Mike Konesky was stuck with dreaded 'it' tag last year, and now has just two days before his chance to unload it onto one of his school buddies.
He says he likes the idea of finding someone like the wily Father Raftis who hasn't been 'it' for quite some time since moving Montana.
But as Mr Konesky points out, Father Raftis is a sitting duck every Sunday.


text:
Michel Roux: The Collection Hardback
by Michel Roux
Quite simply, this is a collection of Michel Roux's finest recipes - devised, refined and perfected during the course of his illustrious career.
Recipes for all seasons and to suit all occasions are covered in this generous compendium, which contains over 250 recipes plus numerous variations.
The book is divided into 9 chapters: Breakfast and brunch; Starters; Fish and shellfish; Poultry, meat and game; Vegetables, eggs and cheese; Desserts; Baking; Party food; Stocks and sauces.
Mouthwatering contemporary dishes are featured, along with Michel's interpretations of the great classics.
Step-by-step illustrated sequences guide you through specific techniques throughout the chapters.
Presented in a generous format, designed in a clear, easy-to-follow style and illustrated throughout with stunning photographs, this is a must-have recipe collection from one of our greatest chefs.
- Format: Hardback
- Pages: 320 pages, 300 colour photographs
- Publisher: Quadrille Publishing Ltd
- Publication Date: 01/10/2012
- Category: TV / celebrity chef cookbooks
Free Home Delivery
on all orders
Pick up orders
from local bookshops


text:
Dangerous Calling
by Tripp, Paul David;
In Stock - Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Free UK delivery when you spend £10 or more
Offer price: £11.82 Free Delivery
Price and PurchaseOffer price: £11.82 Free UK Delivery Go to Basket
If you're buying for a church, school or business, why not Buy Now Pay Later?Find Out More
Dangerous Calling
Full Product Description
Recognizing the widespread struggles facing pastors today, Tripp exposes and exhorts the cultures that train and support our church leaders so that they can lead well and our churches can be healthy. Now in paperback.
Dangerous Calling by Tripp, Paul David was published by Crossway in January 2015. The ISBN for Dangerous Calling is 9781433541377.
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|Author / Artist
|Tripp, Paul David
|Crossway (January 2015)
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|18th November 2017


text:
Hair Ties - Black & Silver lurex with Platin Silver
The Rubz hair ties is the newest product in our portfolio.
It comes in a 5-pack as seen in the picture.
With the traditional Rubz design mixed with brand new styles.
Silver lurex & Platin silver with Swarovski stone, bead and pendant
2x Transparent milky silicone elastic
Black & Platin silver with bead and metal link
Black lurex & Platin silver with bead and pendant


text:
Park Authority Initiates Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park Master Plan Process
Click to View Slide Show
05/25/11 APPROVED Master Plan
05/25/11 Park Board Item
05/05/10 Meeting Presentation
05/05/10 Meeting Comments
02/17/11 Meeting Presentation
02/17/11 Meeting Comments
Park Authority Board Approves the Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park Master Plan
The Park Authority has submitted an application for planning determination pursuant to Va. Code Sec. 15.2-2232 (aka 2232 application). The staff report for the Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park, 2232-L11-19, scheduled for Planning Commission public hearing on 12/15/11 can be found at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/2232/staffreports/.
On May 25, 2011, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board voted to approve the master plan for the Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park. The master plan will serve to guide future development of the site by identifying uses which are appropriate for this park. Initiated in the spring of 2010, the Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park Master Plan was developed through an iterative process guided by a multi-disciplinary master plan team with input from the community. The plan was also established with coordination from Park Authority Board members and Supervisor Jeff McKay.
The Park Site
The Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park, located at 7400 Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria, includes approximately ten acres of land in the Kingstowne area of the Lee Supervisory District, where opportunities for new, publicly-accessible open space are few and far between. The site is characterized by a mixture of open lawn areas, mature canopy trees and a stream that bisects the property.
The Park Planning Process
The master planning process for the Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park focused on establishing a balance between providing leisure opportunities in context with the surrounding neighborhoods. The overall master plan process is designed to take into account community preferences, area facility needs and site related issues such as transportation needs, public access, site assets and physical constraints.
Public input is a key component of the master plan process. Two public meetings were held during the course of developing the master plan for Banks Park with public comment accepted throughout the process until March 21, 2011. All information and alternatives were accepted and evaluated in preparation of the master plan. The Park Authority is appreciative of all who took the time to participate in the process and to share their vision for Banks Park. As a result, many of the opinions and preferences within the community were able to be incorporated into the final plan. Additionally, the approved plan seeks to reflect not only the preferences of the immediate neighborhood but also the future needs of the broader community.
The Future Park
Although the master plan is approved for Banks Park, no funding is currently identified for the development of this property. Site design, engineering, construction timing, and funding, are determined by the Park Authority Board through adoption of a Park Capital Improvement Program and voter approval of Park Bond Referendums. In some cases, alternative funding sources may become available to provide park improvements. Approval of the master plan, however, is a critical step in allowing the Park Authority to identify funding sources appropriate to the planned development of the Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park.


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A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
Itinerary Guests Activities Reading List Notes from GK FAQ Your Stories Journal
Reading List
Greetings, intrepid travelers!
For this year's Prairie Home cruise along the eastern Atlantic and into the Mediterranean Sea, educators of multiple stripes will be on board to offer a truly eclectic menu of activities. We have naturalists, of course — an ocean gal, a bird guy, and a plant guy — as well as four new lecturers who will help you readily connect with the places through which we travel. We'll explore languages and political history of the Iberian Peninsula, cultural and culinary delights, the Mediterranean Sea and the Maghreb, endemic birds and local fisheries, and even the role of espionage in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and beyond! A special bonus this year: a photographer (of Spanish origin) whose goal is to help you capture beautiful images of your journey.
To help you get the travel bug under your skin (as if it weren't there already), we offer you a slew of resources below. The list is just as wide-ranging as we are, including: the best local travel websites, fiction, photography, history, field guides, spy novels, films, and much more. There are even a few ideas for your kids and some great music recommendations!
Why not plan a trip to your local bookstore before the cruise. That way, when you kick back on the deck chairs under the warm Mediterranean sun with a good book in your lap, there will be a semblance of purpose other than snoozing.
Happy reading, and we look forward to sailing together.
— Natalie, Rich, Lytton, Leland, Jeannie, Daniel, and Jon
The cruise naturalists seem rather history oriented this time! Consider the following selections suggested by Rich MacDonald, Lytton Musselman, and Natalie Springuel:
The Great Sea: A Human History of the Mediterranean, by David Abulafia
This book is a unique and fresh historical exploration of the Mediterranean, from the perspective of the sea itself. The Mediterranean plays a central role in the region's political, economic, religious, and cultural history. It is an encyclopedic and yet highly readable book.
The Basque History of the World: The Story of a Nation, by Mark Kurlansky
A history of the oldest and least understood European culture, their history, food, culture, and their ancient language that is not related to any other known language. (Description from author website)
Cod, by Mark Kurlansky
A history of the 1,000 years in which cod was the most important catch in the Atlantic, how wars were fought over it, how it spurred revolutions, and the important role it played in American, Caribbean, African, and European history. (Description from author website)
Salt, by Mark Kurlansky
Until about 100 years ago, salt the only rock we eat was one of the world's most sought-after commodities. Wars were fought over it, other wars were financed with it, colonies were settled to get it. It secured empires and spurred revolutions. Then, fairly suddenly, it lost its value. (Description from author website)
1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created, by Charles Mann
Mann's book deals with the Columbian Exchange, the movement of silver in vast quantities to Spain and elsewhere and the profound affects it had on Spanish and European history. It also covers diseases such as malaria that were brought from England to Tidewater Virginia and had an impact on slavery (Africans withstood malaria's ravages much better than Native Americans). Quite literally, a whole new world of plant life was discovered too. From the New World came potatoes, and later came the potato blight and its consequences; there were also tomatoes, chili peppers, rubber, and quinine. Sugar cane altered the history of Caribbean nations and, Mann claims, led to the Louisiana Purchase. This mixture of peoples, plants, and diseases results in what he calls the homogenocene.
And of course, we naturalists would be remiss if we did not include a few field guides:
Figs, Dates, Laurel, and Myrrh: Plants of the Bible and Quran, by Lytton Musselman (yes, that Lytton is our very own cruise naturalist!) (2007)
Wildflowers of the Mediterranean, by Marjorie Blamey
The National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World
Cruise naturalist Natalie Springuel says, "No matter where I travel in this world of oceans, hands down this is my favorite guide to whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and other marine mammals."
Smithsonian Handbook to Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises
A little more portable than the Audubon tome, this is a great field guide to throw in your bag for quick reference.
Birds of Europe, by Killian Mullarney, Lars Svensson, Dan Zetterström, and Peter J. Grant (2000)
In the opinion of cruise naturalist Rich MacDonald, this is the field guide that sets the standard: It not only has excellent color plates of the nearly 850 birds of Europe, it also shows a wider variety of plumages than most, and the text is far more detailed than that of typical field guides. Best of all, they have packed all of this into a size that fits in most coat pockets.
(This is the version published in the United States; the same book was published in Europe by HarperCollins under the title Bird Guide.)
Flight Identification of European Seabirds, by Anders Blomdahl, Bertil Breife, and Niklas Holmström (2003)
Seabirds, such as those we are likely to see from the ship, come in a wide variety of shapes and forms. This is the guide to study to help tell your skuas from your storm-petrels.
Off the Map: The Curious Histories of Place-Names, by Derek Nelson (1997)
This book is, quite literally, all over the map, including places we will encounter along our cruise route. If you have a penchant for tossing out arcane bits of geographic trivia in casual conversation, this book is sure to help you add to your repertoire.
Cruise lecturer Leland Guyer has a love of the Iberian Peninsula, its languages, and its people. Here's what he suggests for book and films:
Spain: A Traveler's Literary Companion, Peter Bush and Lisa Dillman, eds.
Thirty different writers from the famous to the not so famous and from thirteen different Spanish regions give their take on nearly anywhere one may wish to go ashore.
The New Spaniards, by John Hooper (2006)
This is an updated version of an excellent book that endeavored to characterize a Spain after Franco. While a little heavy on the minutiae of politics, it is as comprehensive a look at contemporary Spain as is readily available.
Spain: True Stories of Life on the Road, by Lucy McCauley (1998)
Part of the superb Travelers' Tales Guides collection, the premise of which is that foreign travelers are often capable of making astute observations otherwise often unavailable in more conventional books. This is a great source of information from a diverse group of writers.
Iberia: Spanish Travels and Reflections, by James Michener (1969)
Iberia is a classic travel book and introduction to a Spain that many think has been entirely superseded by a contemporary face. This face is important, but Michener's keen eye for the heart of Spain addresses facets of Spanish history and culture that will endure long after any triumph or tribulation of the moment is forgotten.
Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and Its Silent Past, by Giles Tremlett (2006)
Since Francisco Franco's death in 1975, Spain has had an amazing journey from a repressive state in relative isolation from the rest of Europe to one of the most vigorously growing and exciting nations in the world. There is a darker side to this brightness, however, as the title suggests. The author addresses the various undercurrents of animosity that periodically emerge and suggests that the "pact of forgetting" the atrocities of their Civil War is fraying.
Films by Pedro Almodóvar.
For some, Almodóvar's films are an acquired taste; nevertheless, he is a prolific filmmaker. Some exposure to his work goes a long way toward giving a view of some important aspects of contemporary Spain. (His films are available with subtitles.)
The Portuguese:A Modern History, by Barry Hatton (2011)
The current English-language crop of trade books on Portuguese history and culture is surprisingly scanty. For this reason alone, Barry Hatton's book would be welcome, but it does much more than merely fill a gap. The author dedicates about half of the book to those moments of history that made Portugal a nation of exceptional importance in the 15th and 16th centuries; the other half of the book focuses on the Portuguese efforts to become a modern member of the European Community. This transformation has been neither easy nor always successful. Hatton looks to Portuguese culture to explain some of the obstacles to the country's progress.
A Cottage in Portugal, by Richard Hewitt(1996)
Hewitt found a 300-year-old house in rural Portugal, one he imagined could be his dream home with a little work. This book is reminiscent ofGod and Mr. Gómez(1974), Los Angeles Timescolumnist Jack Smith's account of his attempt to build his dream home in Baja California. In both cases, the reader empathizes with the homeowners but enjoys the journey in simple appreciation of another way of living.
Journey to Portugal: In Pursuit of Portugal's History and Culture, byJosé Saramago (2000)
Saramago, Portuguese novelist and recipient of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1998, wrote this rich but dense travel book for people who already have some background in Portugal. That said, it is beautifully written and translated and is as complete a travel book on the country as exists.
Lisbon Story, Wim Wenders(1994)
This is a film about making a film in Lisbon. Moody, intellectual, it features Lisbon as a backdrop. The haunting music of the band Madredeus further sets the tone.
Cruise lecturer Jeannie Perales has lived in Spain, become a mother in Spain, and has a passion for Spanish travel, culture, and local cuisine. Here are some of her suggestions:
The concepts for Jeannie's talks on the cruise are inspired by three short films commissioned by STA Travel, Australia: Move, Learn, Eat.
In this video of a TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) presentation by Dan Barber, he talks about a fish farm in the Seville province, Spain. It is a fascinating discussion of a very effective method of raising fish and of creating a self-sustaining ecological model that's a win-win for land and sea.
Regional online information:
Vigo: www.virtualtourist.com
Lisbon: www.toptentourist.net
Granada: frivoletravel.wordpress.com
Barcelona: www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com
General online country information for adults and kids can be found at the National Geographic website:
Spain facts
Spain photos
Portugal guide
Morocco guide
For kids, Jeannie recommends a variety of resources, including:
Some Spanish bands Jeannie recommends include:
Macaco, a musical band from Barcelona formed in 1997 by Dani Carbonell, who was also one of the original lead singers of the new flamenco group Ojos de Brujo.
Manu Chao, a French singer of Spanish roots (Basque and Galician). He sings in French, Spanish, English, Italian, Galician, Arabic, Portuguese, and occasionally in other languages. You can find his music online at www.manuchao.net/en.
Some travel books Jeannie recommends:
Lonely Planet Spain (full-color country travel guide)
With nearly 900 pages of information, this is a hearty travel book — large enough that you might want to carry it in its own tote. It contains lots of great detail about every part of Spain.
Spain (Eyewitness Travel Guides), by Nick Inman
This is also a large book but full of beautiful photos and helpful maps. Jeannie says, "I highly recommend Eyewitness Travel Guides."
Speak the Culture: Spain: Be Fluent in Spanish Life and Culture, by Andrew Whittaker
This is a guide to understanding the Spanish people, achieving cultural competency, and knowing what to expect on your visit.
Some travelogues Jeannie recommends:
Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Spain, by Chris Stewart
This is the story of Chris Stewart, a former drummer for the band Genesis, who bought a farmhouse in Andalusia.It is a hilarious account of an expat in Spain.
It's Not About the Tapas: A Spanish Adventure on Two Wheels, by Polly Evans
Tales from the Alhambra, by Washington Irving (1831)
Washington Irving's description of Spain's Granada and the beautiful Moorish castle is one of the most entertaining travelogues written. Irving's story — a mixture of fact and fiction — weaves stories of secret passageways, strong characters, history, ghosts, and verdant, lush courtyards.
Our on-cruise photo instructor Daniel Perales hails from Spain and brings us many great resources to help us prepare to appreciate the visual delights of our journey. Daniel's recommendations include a variety of titles, some focusing on greater Iberia, some presenting deeper looks into the minds and hearts of renowned photographers:
A Day in the Life of Spain
This book depicts Spain on May 7, 1987, as captured by 100 international photojournalists. The photographs' stark contrast of modern and traditional Spain, 12 years into the post-Franco era, are beautifully captured. The photographers include Mary Ellen Mark, Graciela Iturbide, James Balog, Letizia Battaglia, Cristina García Rodero, Sebastião Salgado, Peter and David Turnley, and Neal Slavin.
ESPAÑA OCULTA: Public Celebrations in Spain, 1974–1989
Rodero's images accurately and hauntingly capture life in rural Spain. Her trademark touch of surrealism along with her ability to capture the decisive moment, reveal the shrouded darkness as well as the beauty of the country and its people.
Heart of Spain: Robert Capa's Photographs of the Spanish Civil War, by Robert Capa
Within this volume, Robert Capa — one of history's greatest war photographers — captured the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) in heartbreaking pictures.
Travel Photography (LIFE Library of Photography #16)
The Family of Man, by Edward Steichen
Published in 1955 and said to be one of the world's greatest photography books, The Family of Man is a collection of 503 photos by 270 artists organized by Edward Steichen. It was originally an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and some say there has never been another collection of photography like this. The images capture the human condition, from joy to pain, from birth to death.
Wim Wenders: Once
Wenders brings to this collection of photographic essays his unparalleled command of the art of storytelling. Onceautobiographically documents his world travels through snapshots of locations along with descriptive captions.
The Americans, by Robert Frank
Frank traveled the United States during the 1950s. This volume presents a portrait of the country — of simultaneous hope and despair. Captured are images of racial tension, glamour, cars, young love, and a burgeoning fast-food industry.
Sequentially Yours, by Elliott Erwitt
Elliott Erwitt presents a unique journal of photographs all assembled in sequence to document a moment in time. Erwitt's ability to capture spontaneity allows true character to emanate from each candid image. Any book by photographer Elliot Erwin will be entertaining and inspiring.
Pilgrimage, by Annie Leibovitz
This volume showcases a project that AnnieLeibovitz undertook in her free time — not while on assignment. She chose to visit places that interested her and to photograph them as she was so moved. Subjects include Emily Dickinson's house in Massachusetts, Niagara Falls, and the English country homes of Virginia Woolf and Charles Darwin.
Internet resources Daniel recommends include:
Camera and software reviews, www.dpreview.com.
Straightforward reviews of cameras and lenses by amateur photographer Ken Rockwell, www.kenrockwell.com.
A collection of meaningful photography, zonezero.com.
Daniel's own photography website showcases some of his fine art and editorial work, www.danielperales.com.
Cruise lecturer Jon Wiant brings a unique set of stories and topics to our adventures on the high seas: the world of espionage! Some of his recommendations include:
Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy, 4th ed., by Mark Lowenthal (2009)
This book affords a background on intelligence.
Lisbon: War in the Shadow of the City of Light, 1939–1945, by Neill Lochery (2011)
This book details the intelligence wars on the Iberian Peninsula during World War II.
Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory, by Ben Macintyre (2011)
Another book on the intelligence wars on the Iberian Peninsula during World War II.
Jon recommends several spy fiction, spy reality books:
The Book of Spies: An Anthology of Literary Espionage, by Alan Furst (2003)
The Great Game: The Myth and Reality of Espionage, by Frederick P. Hitz (2004)
The Dream Merchant of Lisbon, by Gene Coyle (2004)
A few other assorted recommendations:
The Girl With the Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier
Revolt in the Desert, by T.E. Lawrence (this is a shortened version of The Seven Pillars of Wisdom)
Along the Way, by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez
Cruise Bulletin
Visit our journal of daily updates to see the highlights from this year's cruise — including videos, photos and notes — or relive your time aboard the ms Ryndam