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Here's progress on the Friend cover I am working on. I decided to go with a tight full value drawing before I start to play with the Photoshop brushes. I then scanned it in and began adding color. To start with, I am keeping the drawing on it's own multiply layer but I'll flatten the layers pretty soon and paint on top. I had to lose the kid in the dinosaur costume (editorial decision) and I am disappointed, but I still like how it's going so far. The color scheme is based on old circus posters. Hopefully I'll get more comfortable with the brush options as I go along.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Friend cover Progress
Posted by Unknown at 9:37 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Originality and Big Art
I am teaching Illustration 488 at BYU this semester. It is the business practices class for the seniors in illustration. Inevitably the idea of style arises and the next question someone always asks how do you find your own style. My answer to this is that you don't find your style, IT FINDS YOU. Brad Holland, one of the finest illustrators currently working summed up his search for his style by saying that the more he looked for it, the harder it was to find, but when he quit looking, he found it. Have a look at this very insightful short film about Brad Holland's work.
Below are two of my favorite quotes dealing with this issue:
"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.
-C. S. Lewis
"Big art is the process of elimination. Cut down and out- do your hardest work outside the picture, and let your audience take away something to think about, to imagine."
-Frederic Remington
Our style is a culmination of all we are about artistically. It is the summation of all life's experiences combined with how we draw and how we see and think. Just draw and draw and respond to what comes out. That will be your style.
Posted by Unknown at 11:44 AM 1 comments
Labels: Inspiration, Style
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Pumpkin Themed Signing
The color of the truck was changed in Photoshop from red to blue.
The last two days postings reminded me that when I did the first Prize Pumpkin cover, I got to fly back to Chicago for the ABA, national bookseller convention. I was thrilled as they themed the entire Pearson display around the art from my cover.
There's my cover-front and center on the bed of the truck
As you can see from the photos, they got a truck that was about the same age as the one I painted in the picture and filled it with farm related paraphernalia as well as large copies of the various book covers. I signed copies of the textbook sporting my artwork for all the potential buyers that showed up. It was an enormously fun opportunity. I spent the rest of the afternoon at the Chicago Art Institute- which was also pretty cool.
Posted by Unknown at 10:15 PM 4 comments
Monday, September 27, 2010
Prize Pumpkin-The Sequel
Prize Pumpkin-Part 2 14" x 19" Acrylic
By Greg Newbold
So after Farmer Dixon wins first prize in the ridiculously gigantic pumpkin growing contest, he has to figure out what to do with his monumental gourd. He rigs up a rope contraption and a steam shovel to lift it and bargains with the local bakery to swap him. The trade for the hefty squash nets him some serious pies. Don't ask me how he got the thing loaded in the first place, but it took the crane to get it off. This painting was a fun exercise in narrative storytelling as I took the scenario that I came up with in the first cover and extended it to what happens after. This one was also a Reading Street textbook cover for Pearson/Scott Foresman.
Posted by Unknown at 12:07 PM 4 comments
Friday, September 24, 2010
I. F. - Old Fashioned
Prize Pumpkin - Acrylic, 13" x 18" (approx.)
by Greg Newbold
Farmer Dixon here has loaded up his classic pickup truck and is heading out to a good old fashioned pumpkin growing contest. Something tells me he's going to win...if he can make it over that hill. This painting was done a few years back for Pearson/Scott Foresman as a reading textbook cover. It spawned a sequel which I'll post on Monday. On the other hand, my pumpkin vine was pretty pathetic and spawned only two soccer ball sized gourds this year. there's always next year.
Posted by Unknown at 12:00 PM 14 comments
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Grasshopper Final Drawings
Posted by Unknown at 2:28 PM 1 comments
Labels: Boys' Life, Editorial illustration, photo reference
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Friend Cover Sketch
The approved cover concept sketch-
graphite with digital tone added
I am working on a cover project for the Friend magazine and I have decided to create the art from start to finish in Photoshop using mainly the paint tools. I have done a few things this way, but mostly I have used Photoshop to work out my compositions and do digital under paintings which I then paint over traditionally. I rarely carry a picture all the way digitally. This will be a good chance for me to experiment with digital tools a bit more and see if I can make the finished product look like my physical artwork. The concept was a parade scene to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the magazine. I will post progress as I go along.
Posted by Unknown at 1:41 PM 1 comments
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sometimes You Don't Get The Job
thumbnail sketches for proposed Christmas book.
1.5" x 3" graphite and digital
Here are a couple of comp sketches I did recently for Scholastic Books. The only direction I got was two kids in bed asleep with Santa on the roof. One kid is reacting to the noise. Pretty cryptic, but I assumed it was going to be a version of Clement Moore's "Twas the Night Before Christmas", so I went that direction. In the end, I was informed that they "went in another direction" but that they liked what I did a lot and would keep me in mind for future projects. That's how it goes sometimes.
Posted by Unknown at 4:32 PM 2 comments
Labels: From the Sketchbook, Thumbnails
Friday, September 17, 2010
Pig Free Fall
Pig Free Fall - from "The Barnyard Night Before Christmas"
Written by Beth Terrill- Pictures by Greg Newbold - 19" x 13", Acrylic
Plummeting toward the snow covered ground at breakneck speed, our poor piggy friend really has no time to execute the graceful acrobatic maneuvers I am sure he is capable of, but that's not the point. This picture was all about capturing the panic of a free fall while at the same time making the pig character lovable. I hope everyone who looks at this one laughs first and then says "oh no, poor piggie!". Like yesterday's post his picture also comes from "The Barnyard Night Before Christmas". It is a delightful Christmas story for young and old alike. Have a closer look here.
Posted by Unknown at 12:51 PM 10 comments
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Sheep Chase
Sheep Chase - 13" x 16" Acrylic
This picture comes from my book The Barnyard Night Before Christmas, here again demonstrating how things that you know and love can filter into your art and add authenticity to your work. As I mentioned yesterday, I grew up in a fairly rural setting and we had opportunities to care for animals including sheep and chickens. I think this familiarity helped me when depicting the characters in this book.This painting was one of a series of five from the book that were selected to appear in the prestigious Communication Arts Illustration Annual 49. This book as well as my other books can be purchased right here.
Posted by Unknown at 9:01 AM 6 comments
Labels: Awards, Communication Arts, Illustration, Picture Book
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Winter Coats
Winter Coats - by Greg Newbold, 2008
Oil on mounted canvas panel- 18 3/4" x 12"
Collection of Richard and Jan Newbold
Collection of Richard and Jan Newbold
Last night I fell asleep before I turned off the cooler. Big mistake.On hot nights we let it run hoping that by morning the house will be cool enough to withstand the heat of the day without becoming a sweatbox. That's one of the drawbacks of an older house with no central air ( but I also don't relish the thought of actually paying for central air so we make do with the swamp cooler). Well this morning we were tempted to turn on the furnace, but resisted. Cold weather will be here soon enough, and I am just going to enjoy the mild fall weather. This particular painting is one I did last winter as part of my MFA thesis project. It is based on photos taken of the animals at our old family homestead. Our family all spent many years caring for the homestead and the animals there as my Great Aunt Mame had no children of her own. I have many fond memories of feeding and caring for the sheep and other animals there on frigid winter afternoons. My Aunt Jan felt the same and bought the painting as a Christmas present for my Uncle Richard last year (they can name several of the sheep in the picture, so it was very personal to them). I truly believe that the best art emerges from the things we know the best and love the most.
Posted by Unknown at 1:57 PM 0 comments
Labels: Gallery/Fine Art, Life Happens, MFA, oil painting
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Lost Art Form
The Fruits of Our Labor
Yesterday I didn't paint, but I did practice art in the form of home canning. Not many people know how to make home preserves anymore and it's becoming a lost art. I woke up yesterday and after my run, I picked an entire bushel of tomatoes out of our garden. We have been preserving our harvest every fall for years and yesterday was one of those days. I picked, scalded, peeled and filled the jars while my wife took care of the processing. We ended up with a dozen beautiful quart jars of home grown tomatoes to use them in soups and casseroles all winter long. Some might consider this too much work for the result, but if we ever had to rely on the garden and our home storage to survive, I am glad to know we could. If you have ever eaten a home canned pear compared to one from a grocery store can, you know what I am talking about.Delicious as opposed to dreck- my kids won't touch that crunchy flavorless excuse for fruit.
Posted by Unknown at 5:42 PM 0 comments
Labels: Gardening, home canning, Life Happens
Monday, September 13, 2010
Grasshopper Thumbnail 2
Pencil with digital values added - 3 3/4" x 5 1/4"
Posted by Unknown at 4:44 PM 1 comments
Labels: Boys' Life, Illustration, Thumbnails
Friday, September 10, 2010
I. F - Proverb
Grazing - 7" x 5" mixed media/acrylic
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence- or so the proverb says. If you think this way, then either climb the fence or just get on with life on your side. I talk to my students a lot about only worrying what you can control and trying to be happy and and find the positive of whatever situation you find yourself in. Fear and negativity don't jive well with creativity and productivity. So be like this horse and enjoy the grass that's on your side of the fence... while you figure out how to get some from the other side as well.
Posted by Unknown at 11:38 AM 10 comments
Labels: acrylic, Illustration Friday, mixed media
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Grasshopper Thumbnail
Thumbnail sketch - 2 3/4" x 2" pencil with digital tone
Posted by Unknown at 3:37 PM 0 comments
Labels: Boys' Life, Drawing, Editorial illustration, Thumbnails
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
I. F - Dessert
Protein Shake- 6" x 10" mixed media/acrylic
OK, so I'm a little late on the Illustration Friday thing- whatever. This piece was part of an editorial series I did for Muscle and Fitness magazine. The article dealt with the issue of whether or not it was possible for a body builder or even a mere fitness fanatic to consume too much protein. So here's a guy protein loading a bit too much I think. You never know though, some guys might consider a shake like that "dessert". The art director was Michael Touna. He was great to work with and gave me some good leeway to mold his concept ideas into my style. Hey Tuna- if you're looking- give me some love!
Posted by Unknown at 11:40 AM 7 comments
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Madame X
Madame X by John Singer Sargent
The painting that is commonly considered to be John Singer Sargent's masterpiece nearly caused his ruin before his career even had a chance to skyrocket. What even fewer people know is that it arguably did destroy the social status if not the entire life of it's subject, then twenty three year old Virginie Amelie Avegno Gautreau. Amelie Avegno was a New Orleans native of French descent who transplanted to Paris along with her widowed mother at about the same time a young American painter John Singer Sargent began to study art in the City of Lights. Sargent met the young socialite who had married a man nearly twice her age as a way to continue her climb in social status as well as for the financial security it brought. Sargent was smitten and immediately wanted to paint this girl that was considered a stunning beauty though her unusually pale complexion and rather prominent nose were not conventionally attractive. At the same time, rumors of Gautreau's moral improprieties also swirled about the Parisian social circles which would ultimately add fuel to the oncoming scandal. Sargent, trying to build upon the previous year's success at the Salon, spent the better part of a year doing studies and working on the nearly seven foot tall full length portrait.
The unfinished copy of Mrs Gautreau hangs in London's Tate Gallery
The painting depicts Mrs. Gautreau in a sleek black dress with jeweled shoulder straps, a look that is often imitated and now considered classic. Sargent labored over the painting and eventually began a second version of the portrait because he felt the original had become overworked and wanted a "fresh version" to hang at the 1884 Paris Salon. Sargent's friend and teacher Carolus-Duran convinced Sargent that the painting was indeed his best work and he ultimately exhibited the original.
An engraving of the portrait as it appeared in the 1884 Salon
When unveiled, the painting was met with scorn and ridicule. Sargent had misjudged the reaction to what he thought would be a bold and daring artistic move- painting a strap that had slipped from it's proper position atop Madame Gautreau's porcelain shoulder. Instead of praise and accolades, venomous tirades about the overtly sexual nature of the painting filled the Parisian papers. Not only was the painting and it's painter vilified, but much of the negative reaction was aimed squarely at the sitter. Criticisms like "vulgar" and "spineless", "monstrous" and "detestable" were leveled at Mrs. Gautreau herself. Reviews ran the gamut of negativity such as "the profile is pointed, the eye microscopic, the mouth imperceptible, the neck sinewy, the right arm lacks articulation, the hand is deboned. The decolletage of the bodice doesn't seem to make contact with the bust- it seems to flee any contact with the flesh." Another critic stated that "this portrait is simply offensive in it's insolent ugliness and defiance of every rule of art". Both the artist and subject were shocked at the negativity of the reception. Sargent, rather than pull the painting from the Salon, which would seem an acknowledgement of his failure, elected to let the painting hang for the duration of the show. Incensed by the public flaying of Amelie's looks and character, the Gautreaus refused to purchase the painting. The public opinion of Mrs. Gautreau plummeted and what was once one of Paris' most visible "it girls" became a mockery and a caricature of herself. Unable to bear the brunt of such shame, she eventually exiled herself from Parisian high society circles. Sargent, reputation damaged, retreated to the friendlier shores of England as well as his native America to repair his career to which he succeed brilliantly, though never again as daringly.
Madame X hung in Sargent's studio for decades after the disasterous1884 Salon
Sargent repainted the strap in it's proper position as we know it today and kept the portrait in his studio for the next three decades, eventually loaning it out to various shows where it finally received acclaim as one of the most exquisite portraits of the century. Sargent finally sold the painting to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1916 after the death of Amelie Gautreau. Whether out of respect for her memory or spite, the artist insisted the painting be thereafter known as "Madame X". The lasting fame that eluded Amelie Gautreau in life has been permanently erased as her image lives on anonymously in John Singer Sargent's masterpiece.
A more complete account of this saga can be read in Deborah Davis' compelling book "Strapless- John Singer Sargent and the Fall of Madame X"
Posted by Unknown at 9:32 AM 1 comments
Monday, September 6, 2010
Swiss Days
This historic building in downtown Midway
shows it's Swiss influence
On Friday I had a book signing at the annual Swiss Days celebration held in Midway, UT. The Festival began in the 1940's as a Harvest Days to celebrate fall and the bounties of the land. It later switched emphasis to a celebration of many of the immigrant's Swiss roots and became Swiss Days.
Detail of the Swiss clock that opens to
pop out characters on the hour
Me signing my picture books at my friend Michelle Tanney's tent.
The two day festival features all sorts of performing arts, art, craft and food booths as well as a parade. This is the third consecutive year I have been invited to sign my books there at a friend's "Book Shoppe". I always enjoy getting out and talking with people and seeing how they respond to my work.
Posted by Unknown at 4:14 PM 0 comments
Labels: Book Signing, Life Happens, Swiss Days
Friday, September 3, 2010
Oh, Sweet Revisions
Every once in a while, try as I might to avoid it. There comes a client who whether through fuzzy vision of their own concept or fuzzy communication of such, turns the studio upside down. In yesterday's post, I mentioned that getting the character of the farmer right on one particular box was, let's say a bit of a challenge. No worries, I am always up for an adventure, right? Or so I tell myself. When it boils right down to it, changes are a nuisance at best and at times degenerate in to a full blown nightmare. But the client is always right. After all, they hold the purse strings and I am not about to not get paid for my blood and sweat.
|George next to a "Frankensteined" comp using pieces of several old paintings
No need to do a portrait, just a passing resemblance...
As John Ball of BDG put it, the concept was simple enough- create an illustration depicting a strong, iconic farmer that had an "oh so slight" passing resemblance to the owner of the company. Basically, we were looking for a rough caricature of the owner so that when people who knew "George" (we'll call him that because, well, that's his name) would think, wow, that looks a little like George
well, can you take out some wrinkles and make the nose smaller?
I took the photos I was given and came up with what I thought was a fair resemblance, not concerning myself much with a likeness, because that wasn't the objective.
|First version of the painted face with new sketches and George for comparison
Yea, but can you change the angle of the face and make it look more like him?
Things were going great until others started putting their fingers in the pie and you all know how messy a pie can get when too many fingers are in it. Personally I prefer my pie with only my fingers in it. Sometimes I let a good creative director or designer stick in a thumb if they ask nice, but this situation quickly spiraled into a pie fight. I ended up doing several sketches and two full painted revisions of the face before finally satisfying the client- PHEW!.
|2nd to last and final versions of the face
Posted by Unknown at 10:12 AM 1 comments
Thursday, September 2, 2010
More Produce Packages
Yesterday's post elicited a response from John Ball of BDG that included a bunch more examples of the packaging work that my illustration has been featured on.
I have done a combination of full color as well as line art pieces for John and it's always a fun challenge to take something as potentially dull as a cardboard box and make it lively and interesting.
This particular box has it's own story that I will have to save for another day. Let's just say that getting the character of the farmer right was a bit of a challenge. But hey, it's our job as illustrators to make the client happy, which in the end I believe I accomplished.
Posted by Unknown at 9:45 AM 0 comments
Labels: acrylic, Line Work, Packaging, Produce illustration
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Tomato Time
The garden is running away from me this fall. Too much produce and not enough time to get it all into jars. Must find a few hours to take care of the tomatoes and help make pickles. I am grateful for the productivity though, and the garden has done as well as any in previous summers. I have had the chance to work on a number of packages and labels for produce growers through my associations with California agency Ball Design Group. John Ball is great to work with and it's always fun to be waltzing down the produce aisle of the local grocery store and see your work. This is a little thing I did a couple of years back that is still floating around in the stores. It made it's way onto boxes for a number of things including the tomatoes and peppers. I always do a little fist pump when I see it, even if it only printed two inches wide and nobody else really knows or cares.
Posted by Unknown at 9:10 AM 0 comments
Labels: acrylic, Advertising, Gardening, Life Happens, Packaging
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Zagreb – One city, two faces
Surreal bars, cafés and a fortress – Zagreb is a perfect destination for fans of the fantastic. But there's also plenty to explore here for the more rational among us, who prefer to look reality in the eye. We bring you some interesting insights into both sides of the Croatian capital.
Dream over
Where to with those precious reminders of lost love? To the Museum of Broken Relationships, which collects the relics of romances that have run their course.
Science safari
Want to know how the world really works? Drop by Zagreb's Technical Museum and find out. Make sure not to miss the excellent planetarium and plane collection there.
Roam in peace
Wide avenues, pretty arcades, magnificent portal: Established in 1876, Mirogoj Cemetery counts among Zagreb's most famous landmarks.
Country delights
Simple, honest, good – Dolac is the main food market in Zagreb and also the best place to buy fresh produce straight from the farmers who grow it in the nearby villages.
For men only
Very neat, and elegant, too: Salon Croata stocks a selection of more than 1000 neckties – but then, that particular accessory did originate in Croatia.
Beneath the stars
Take a few days out to hike through the beautiful wilderness of nearby Gorski Kotar region and spend the nights in a sleeping bag instead of a suite.
Hardly a dive
A must for Jules Verne fans: At the 22 000 Milja, everything is reminiscent of the legendary submarine Nautilus. Also fantastic: the wine list in the Steampunk bar.
Nostalgic nosh
The legendary Orient Express had a regular stop in Zagreb. Today, the splendor of its elegant dining car lives on at a café of the same name.
Artistic licence
Pretty, colorful, original: The world's first museum for naïve art showcases the works of self-taught painters – so no danger of realism on the walls here.
Film fun
Zagreb's Kino Europa is now officially the best art-house cinema on the continent. International movies with English subtitles feature on Tuesdays.
Medieval mound
It may look like a "Game of Thrones" backdrop, but Medvedgrad citadel actually dates from the depths of the Middle Ages.
Frodo's beer
Hobbits can down their pint of Shire's not only in the novels, but also at Tolkien's House, a cozy little tavern that sets patrons dreaming of Middle Earth.
Getting there from Germany
To find out all about affordable fares to the Lufthansa city of the month and other selected Lufthansa destinations, visit mileagebargain.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Miley Cyrus Is Lovely in Leather on 2014 MTV VMAs Red Carpet [PHOTOS]by Maggie Malach | PopCrush
Miley Cyrus in undoubtedly the reigning icon of the MTV VMAs, and when she showed up to the 2014 red carpet, she looked lovely in matching leather separates.
Even though the 'Adore You' singer's crop top is tiny, it still covers everything it needs to (and more!). The matching pants give the outfit some much needed coverage and balance, while keeping the high-fashion edge for which Miley is known. It's the perfect amount of skin for the awards show. Simply put, Miley looks incredible.
Check out her complete head-to-toe look in the photos below!
Miley totally nailed this look. Bonus points for the matching black clutch and minimalist silver heels. It's understated, sexy and the perfect look for one of music's biggest nights.
Gratuitous tongue shot.
But, seriously, here's a closer look at Miley.
This is what the MTV VMAs are all about, folks.
See More 2014 MTV VMAs Red Carpet + Show Photos!


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My name is Kelly Wairimu Davis. I was born in Wichita, KS on Nov 27, 1992 and enjoying being 21 years old. My mother is Kenyan, my father is Native American, and I have four sisters and one brother. Growing up in Kansas, I always had big city dreams. After 12 years of dance training, tap being my favorite, I thought I would move to New York and tap on Broadway.
I started modeling when I was 15 in Kansas for local stores and newspapers. I graduated high school and my modeling agency took me to Florida to compete in a huge competition called AMTC (Actors, Models, Talent for Christ). I was nominated for Best Actress, Best Commercial Model, I received an acting scholarship to the New York Film Academy and I had callbacks from Tyler Perry Studios among other modeling and acting agencies! This really sky rocketed my career and took my dreams to a new level. A month or two after the competition, I moved to Los Angeles to attend the New York Film Academy at the Burbank location and began my serious career as a model and actor.
Since graduation from the New York Film Academy in 2012, I have been very blessed these doors have opened for me and I have seen myself grow in my career. Some things I have done recently are modeling winter fashions on the Queen Latifah Show, working on Real Husbands of Hollywood with Kevin Hart casted to play his dietician, modeling hair for Hair Sense Catalog, and most recently representing Kenya in the Queen of the Universe Pageant on March 16 in Beverly Hills.
This really gave me a chance to express one of my biggest passions and the reason I do all I do, the ability to help and provide for my family in Kenya and be the voice for Kenyan women with my charity platform for the pageant. My charity is called Running and raises awareness of Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya and all countries, by educating the tribes about the dangers of physical and psychological effects of FGM, as well as offer safe houses for girls who run away from their families to escape this form of Child Abuse.
For more information read this article about Kelly Davis.


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[Eric] Chavez has already worked out for a handful of American League clubs that could also use Chavez as a designated hitter, among them Toronto, Seattle and the Yankees. The White Sox also are believed very interested.
The Sox signed Adam Dunn on December 2 and Paul Konerko on December 8. So, I assume they are interested in Chavez as a 3B-man.


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Guthrie Internal Medicine focuses on the care of adults. Internal Medicine physicians care for patients for life; from the teen years through the later years. With special training focused on the prevention and treatment of adult diseases, Guthrie Internal Medicine providers have a wide range of knowledge of complex diseases that affect adults.
Guthrie Internal Medicine offers you:
- Preventive care, health screening and physical exams
- Treatment of complex and long-term medical conditions including migraines, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis
- Acute care for short-term illness such as respiratory infections and pneumonia, tendonitis, shingles
- Treatment of minor injuries such as lacerations, stabilizing sprains and diagnosing broken bones
- Flu shots, allergy injections and immunizations
- Routine physicals
Schedule an Internal Medicine Appointment Online
Use the 'Person', 'Location' and 'Day/Time' filters to narrow down the Internal Medicine schedule.


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Patrick Swayze went to his grave with one regret – he never became a dad.
The beloved "Dirty Dancing" actor, who succumbed to pancreatic cancer last week at the age of 57, reveals in a new memoir that he had always wanted kids with soulmate Lisa Niemi.
The only problem: his wife miscarried and the devastated couple would never conceive again.
U.S. & World
"I couldn't wait to become a dad, to have a child with this woman I loved so dearly," Swayze writes in "The Time of My Life," the Boston Globe reported. "And I wanted to be the best father I could be - the kind of father my dad had been to me."
After the miscarriage Swayze felt "crushed with grief" from the loss, he writes.
"We figured we had plenty more years ahead of us. Eventually, we did start trying again hoping Lisa would get pregnant," he writes. "But she never did."
In the heart-tugging tome which comes out on Sept. 29, Swayze describes his wife of 34 years as the person who helped him find his "spirit" and become "the man I wanted to be."
"You are my woman, my lover, my mate and my lady. I loved you forever, I love you now and I will love you forever more," he writes.
Swayze also describes a holiday party in Aspen in 2007 as the moment he first realizes the serious nature of his illness, USA Today reported.
"We all raised glasses of champagne for a toast," Swayze writes. "I took a sip, and as the champagne began to course through my esophagus to my stomach, I nearly choked — it burned like acid going down. It felt like I'd drunk lye, a sharp, searing pain that brought tears to my eyes."
Three weeks later he got his pancreatic cancer diagnoses.
Swayze was cremated last week and is expected to have his ashes scattered at his family's New Mexico ranch, according to the Globe.


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sanddbox wrote:mRmasteRful wrote:Yep cant wait to get my playlist in order to start sending my music to the masses!
All in favor of allowing only American/European citizens to stream to the radio, say aye.
Alternatively, a ban on any music from the Caribbean is also a viable option.
Believe me, you do not want to hear mrmasterful's music.
I kid, I kid.
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Sloan Center News
New Book, Men Still at Work, by Elizabeth F. Fideler, Sloan Center Research Fellow
Men Still at Work, is forthcoming in February 2014 from Rowman & Littlefield. It's a 'sequel' to Women Still at Work (2012), which was selected by Booklist as one of the "Top 10 Business Books" in 2013.
Each book is based on extensive surveying and in-depth interviews of older professionals who are choosing to bypass retirement and stay on the job, set in the context of current economic uncertainties. Each book features fascinating profiles of highly independent seniors and closely examines their reasons for working. The new book on older men has the added feature of comparing the genders re bypassing retirement and staying in the work force. As you know, this is a timely and compelling subject! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women and men 65 and older are the two fastest-growing segments of the U.S. labor force.
For reviews of Men Still at Work, go to: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442222762.


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If you're gullible enough to believe Premier Kathy Dunderdale's recent diatribes against Quebec, perspective might be found by pondering some policies that were made right here.
You can be aided by a recent study called "Capturing Economic Rents from Resources Through Royalties and Taxes," by Jack Mintz and Duanjie Chen of the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy.
With that title and those credentials, you wouldn't expect it to be reader-friendly, and it isn't. It takes only a few of its 46 pages to convince you that royalty calculations here and elsewhere in the world are incredibly complex. People with an MBA or master's degree in economics can probably zip through it without having to flip back to check what METRR stands for (marginal effective tax and royalty rate), but most commoners will have to read it more carefully.
Newfoundlanders (and Labradorians) face a further challenge. The reports states, "Newfoundland and Labrador presents one of the most complicated royalty regimes in Canada."
The authors are mainly concerned with how taxes and royalties in the oil industry affect investment and exploration by companies.
Of greater interest, though, are the tables that provide comparisons of various regions' METRR — what the layman or laywoman would refer to as the amount of oil money that gets deposited in the public's bank account.
In Newfoundland (and Labrador) this figure is 13 per cent.
(Note: nowhere in "Capturing Economic Rents from Resources Through Royalties and Taxes" do Mintz and Chen allege that Quebec coerced Newfoundlanders to agree to this level of remuneration for their offshore resources.)
According to the report, the royalty rate in B.C. is 30 per cent. In Saskatchewan, the royalty rate is 37 per cent.
Alberta has two sets of royalty rates: 40 per cent for conventional oil and 28 per cent for the oilsands.
The report also outlines some royalty rates that prevail beyond Canada's borders. In Texas, the royalty rate is 32 per cent. In Norway, it is 28 per cent.
The usual explanation — or excuse, if you prefer — for Newfoundland's relatively low royalty rate is that offshore oil is very expensive to exploit. After all, they're out there bobbing on the North Atlantic in a floating drill rig or such, pushing pipe down to and into the ocean floor.
Fair enough. But extracting oil from the oilsands is also vastly expensive and complicated, yet the Alberta government sees fit to charge companies a royalty rate that is more than double Newfoundland's offshore royalty rate.
The report's jargon can be jarring, as it always is, whether you're talking oil, education, police-speak, etc. If the table outlining various levels of METRR leaves you wondering whether you've misread it, you can double-check it against Table 3, which describes the "Effective Tax/Royalty Rate" in a dozen or so jurisdictions.
But the listing of royalty rates is virtually unchanged: in Newfoundland, 13 per cent; B.C., 30 per cent; Saskatchewan, 37 per cent; Alberta, 40 per cent for conventional oil and 28 per cent for oilsands oil; Texas, 32 per cent; Norway, 28 per cent.
"Capturing Economic Rents from Resources Through Royalties and Taxes," being a technical report concerned with hard economic facts rather than political interpretations, doesn't offer much explanation for the varying royalty regimes, other than what they mean for exploration, investment and so on.
It's too bad Mintz and Chen
didn't devote even minimal attention to the social aspects of royalty rates. For instance, maybe Albertans and Texans, having a century or so of experience, know what to expect from their oil riches. Maybe Newfoundlanders are just happy to have streets paved in asphalt, never mind in gold.
Brian Jones is a desk editor at The Telegram. He can be reached by email at email@example.com


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Sir David Attenborough: Humans have stopped evolving – "Human beings have stopped evolving becoming the only species to 'put halt to natural selection of its own free will', Sir David Attenborough has said, as he predicts the 'cultural evolution' of the future." – lots of responses to that including: Humans are still evolving, and soon we'll know a lot more about it – from john hawks; Evolution – it's not over yet – from tom chivers; and Sir David Attenborough is wrong – humans are still evolving – from ian rickard.
Fate of new genes cannot be predicted – "New versions of genes, called alleles, can appear by mutation in populations. Even when these new alleles turn the individuals carrying them more fit to survive and reproduce, the most likely outcome is that they will get lost from the populations. The theory that explains these probabilities has been postulated by the scientist J.B.S. Haldane almost 90 years ago. This theory has become the cornerstone of modern population genetics…. The research team … has now experimentally tested Haldane's theory."
Poorest Costa Ricans live longest – "Biological markers confirm unusually slow ageing regardless of wealth, at least in one population." – h/t jayman!
Uros people of Peru and Bolivia found to have distinctive genetic ancestries – "Genographic project research shows ancestry may date to Altiplano's initial settlement."
African-American study identifies four genetic variants associated with blood pressure – "'We anticipated that individuals of African ancestry share similar biology to other populations. However, differences in genomic make-up between African ancestry and other populations have uncovered additional genes affecting blood pressure, in addition to genetic variants that are specific to individuals of African ancestry….'" – via amren.
Handedness GWAS Leads to Suspected Left-Right Asymmetry Genes – "A team from the UK and the Netherlands has garnered evidence suggesting left- and right-handedness may involve genes from some of the same pathways that produce other features differing on right and left sides of the body."
Functional genetic variation in humans: Comprehensive map published – "European scientists, led by researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE)'s Faculty of Medicine in the context of the GEUVADIS project, today present a map that points to the genetic causes of differences between people. The study, published in Nature and Nature Biotechnology, offers the largest-ever dataset linking human genomes to gene activity at the level of RNA."
Insect leg cogs a first in animal kingdom – "Toothed gears enable young plant hoppers to synchronize limbs for jumping." – go home, evolution, you are drunk.
The Science of What Makes an Introvert and an Extrovert
Testes Size Correlates With Men's Involvement in Toddler Care – "Men with smaller testes than others are more likely to be involved in hands-on care of their toddlers…." – h/t hbd bibliography!
Can Your Language Influence Your Spending, Eating, and Smoking Habits? – "[S]peakers with weak future tenses (e.g. German, Finnish and Estonian) were 30 percent more likely to save money, 24 percent more likely to avoid smoking, 29 percent more likely to exercise regularly, and 13 percent less likely to be obese, than speakers of languages with strong future tenses, like English." – ("but where does language come from?" hbd chick mumbles to herself in the back row….)
'Love hormone' may play wider role in social interaction than previously thought – "The new study, to be published Sept. 12 in Nature, pinpoints a unique way in which oxytocin alters activity in a part of the brain that is crucial to experiencing the pleasant sensation neuroscientists call 'reward'…. 'People with autism-spectrum disorders may not experience the normal reward the rest of us all get from being with our friends….' Some genetic evidence suggests the awkward social interaction that is a hallmark of autism-spectrum disorders may be at least in part oxytocin-related. Certain variations in the gene that encodes the oxytocin receptor – a cell-surface protein that senses the substance's presence – are associated with increased autism risk."
More Money, More Children – "'[N]ow better-off people seem to be having more children; in the U.S., the fertility rate of wives whose husbands are in the top decile of income is back where it was a century ago.'" – h/t puzzle pirate!
Ashkenazi Jewish gene pool derives from 'recent severe bottleneck' of 300-400 individuals ca. 800 years ago – @race/history/evolution notes.
Morality and the Epiphany of Joshua Greene – "The manifestations of morality are complex, but its origins are simple. Evolved behavioral predispositions are the ultimate reason for its existence…. Those behavioral traits evolved without a goal, and without a purpose. They exist because they happened to increase our chances of surviving and procreating at a time when our mode of existence as well as our social and physical environment were radically different from what they are now." – helian's on fire! (not literally … i hope.)
Are Women Less Corrupt? – "Women are more likely than men to disapprove of — and less likely to participate in — political corruption, but only in countries where corruption is stigmatized…. 'When corruption is stigmatized, as in most democracies, women will be less tolerant and less likely to engage in it compared with men. But if 'corrupt' behaviors are an ordinary part of governance supported by political institutions, there will be no corruption gender gap.'" – h/t jayman!
Politicians like power – from steve sailer.
Study: The Neg Works – (~_^) – @heartiste.
Some people are feminine – get over it – "Whenever you have one group of people who believe one thing for ideological reasons, and another who believe something else because their business model depends on it, I tend to trust the latter. Who do you think knows more about the minds of girls and boys — the academics who've spent years discussing gender feminism, or people who sell toys?" (~_^) – from ed west.
A Brief Word On Pedophilia – scharlach reminds everyone what pedophilia is. THANK you!
Stephen Hsu on Cognitive Genomics – "At the extremes, there are some academics and social activists who violently oppose any kind of research into the genetics of cognitive ability. Given that the human brain — its operation, construction from a simple genetic blueprint, evolutionary history — is one of the great scientific mysteries of the universe, I cannot understand this point of view."
Heritability estimates and unexplained variance – "Nobody owns unexplained variance." – from dr. james thompson.
Study sheds light on genetics of how and why fish swim in schools – "'The motivation to be social is common among fish and humans…. 'Some of the same brain regions and neurological chemicals that control human social behavior are probably involved in fish social behavior as well.'"
Why do haters have to hate? Newly identified personality trait holds clues – "New research has uncovered the reason why some people seem to dislike everything while others seem to like everything. Apparently, it's all part of our individual personality – a dimension that researchers have coined 'dispositional attitude.'"
Everyday sadists take pleasure in others' pain – "[P]eople who score high on a measure of sadism seem to derive pleasure from behaviors that hurt others, and are even willing to expend extra effort to make someone else suffer." – yeah. you know who you are.
How an evolutionary model is better at explaining decisions than neo-classical and behavioral economics models: A review of Douglas T. Kenrick and Vladas Griskevicius, The Rational Animal: How Evolution Made us Smarter than we Think.
Making The Right Mistakes: Error Management And The Evolution Of Errors – "Human cognitive mechanisms evolved to deal with the problems of the past, where we spent 99% of our history, not those of the present. We should, therefore, hardly expect our brains to perform well all the time in modern settings where the social and physical environment is so different."
From Slavs to Slaves – "Between 1500 and 1650, Eastern Europe exported 1.5 million slaves to North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Western Europe exported a little over a million between 1530 and 1780." – from peter frost.
The Madonna or the Whore? – @thosewhocansee.
E.O. Wilson has a new explanation for consciousness, art & religion. Is it credible?
The Evolutionary Case for Great Fiction – "Might reading literature help with species survival?" (species survival? hmmmm.)
2013 ig nobel awards were announced this week! my favorite this year: the probability prize – "[T]he longer a cow has been lying down, the more likely that cow will soon stand up; and Second, that once a cow stands up, you cannot easily predict how soon that cow will lie down again." (^_^)
Mayan mass grave containing 1,400-year-old remains of DECAPITATED prisoners of war discovered in Mexico
Plans to evict Botswana Bushmen revealed by leaked report – @survival international. h/t andrew badenoch!
bonus: Parasite Ants Drafted as Mercenaries
bonus bonus: Inheritance of lifespan is sex-dependent in fruit flies
bonus bonus bonus: 'Time travel is easy — in one direction,' says Prof Brian Cox – but the time lords figured it out!
bonus bonus bonus bonus: The sound of interstellar space…" (or not!) – h/ts michael anissimov and nelson!
bonus bonus bonus bonus bonus: Wherever there is red tape, the truth will be stranger than fiction – "As the [u.k.'s] Government reflects on a bureaucratic obsession with 'equality', we ask: which of these tales of political correctness are made up?"
(note: comments do not require an email. all that's required for successful time travel.)


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Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Rated PG
This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:
sexy 4X
Dont you want to know what your blog's rating is? Then click on the box above. I would like to know your result, too. Please share!
Posted by raqgold at 14.8.07
5 comments:
- Christianne said...
I thought I'd be at least PG because of the word ass, but nope I'm still G :D
- August 14, 2007 at 10:04 PM
- Liza on Maui said...
My blog got a G rating. I was hoping for a PG - it sounds more sophisticated ;)
- August 15, 2007 at 12:43 AM
- raqgold said...
christianne -- i guess they just kicked the 'ass', hehe!
liza -- now i feel sophisticated because of the four sexy words :-)
- August 15, 2007 at 6:46 PM
- Diary of an Irish Woman said...
Mine got a PG - based on breast 3 times (which is funny as talking about breastfeeding)
and pooped - which I was talking about being pooped tired :-)
thanks for cool test !
- August 15, 2007 at 7:46 PM
- ScroochChronicles said...
I got a PG-13!! Sabi I used the word "shit" daw twice. Di ko maalala. And "kill"!! Anubayan, parang ang bastos ko naman :)
- August 17, 2007 at 3:30 AM
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WTF Is Going On With The Kids Today: Fool Claims He Is Not Gay But It Don't Get No Gayer Than This! (Sick Sh*t)
by @DoyleGrandeur
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Not all nonprofits are the same, but many U.S. charities fear they will be caught up in the controversy surrounding the IRS's targeting of some of their nonprofit cousins, applicants for advocacy status.
Charitable nonprofits, those with 501(c)(3) status, worry that investigations now revving up in Washington over allegations the IRS targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny will further delay applications for tax-exempt status and impede their activities.
Tim Delaney, head of the National Council of Nonprofits, in a statement said he and his colleagues were concerned that the scandal was causing "collateral damage to the work of innocent charitable nonprofits" by lumping together all nonprofits and failing to draw distinctions among different types.
He urged policymakers and the news media "to strengthen public respect for, and not exacerbate ignorance of, the laws governing and distinguishing the nonpartisan work of charitable nonprofits in communities across the country."
The Tax Code exempts 501(c)(3) status "charitable nonprofit" organizations from taxation, but prohibits them from engaging in partisan political electioneering activities. They can conduct "insubstantial" lobbying activities.
Such charitable groups are not the focus of the swirling scandal. That dubious distinction goes to "social welfare" organizations, some of which were reported to have been given special scrutiny by the IRS.
These are tax exempt under the Tax Code's section 501(c)(4), and are allowed to engage in some political activities: nonpartisan issue and legislative advocacy, lobbying and endorsement of specific legislation. They cannot, however, overtly support or oppose political candidates. Contributions received from businesses or individuals for lobbying or political activity are not tax deductible.
Delaney told The Chronicle of Philanthropy that many thousands of charities seeking tax-exempt status approval may now face delays as investigators on Capitol Hill look into how the IRS handled applications from advocacy groups.
According to The Chronicle, the IRS manages 60,000 applications for tax-exempt status each year. In 2012, only 3,500 applications came from advocacy groups.
A lawyer who represents nonprofits told The Chronicle that charities without tax-exempt status cannot solicit donations in a number of states, and are not eligible for lower postal rates or most foundation grants. "It affects their fundraising and getting their message out," the lawyer said.
Charities may also become more timid in their advocacy than they are already, fearing to lobby Congress about budget issues, according to Patrick Lester, director of federal fiscal policy at the Center for Effective Government. "IRS investigations, even if they are rebuffed, will make those organizations even less likely to become involved in those issues," he told The Chronicle.
Faced with a public relations crisis not of their own making, charitable nonprofits must communicate with their stakeholders about the differences between themselves and social welfare groups "to lessen any confusion that may exist," Trisha Lester, vice president of the N.C. Center for Nonprofits, said in a recent Philanthropy Journal article.
"The former group may not engage in any political activity as that is strictly prohibited by the IRS."
In his written statement, Delaney also worried that the current scandal is distracting the IRS from its assigned duties.
As the "cop on the beat enforcing the tax laws that govern all nonprofits," he said, the IRS is being diverted from enforcing against fraud, lawfully screening applications for tax-exempt status and providing help to the public and charities about appropriate stewardship of donor resources.
Read Obama's Effort to Limit Charitable Deductions Faces House Pushback on AdvisorOne.


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Today's utilitarian approach to loyalty programs—earning points and rewards—may drive repeat customers who spend more. However, that method ignores two essential aspects of human nature: emotional and social attachment.
According to Accenture Labs research, 42 percent of customers are enrolled in retail loyalty programs, and these customers generate 12 percent to 18 percent more in incremental revenue compared to non-members.
Capturing the opportunities requires a more holistic view of loyalty, understanding humans' multi-faceted motivations and needs and designing products and services accordingly. Accenture Labs identified three steps to "expand the loyalty purview" and deliver the highly personalized and contextualized experiences consumers demand.
"84 of executives agree that through technology, companies are weaving themselves seamlessly into the fabric of how people live today."
With the loyalty market now producing about $30 billion in revenue a year, loyalty programs have proliferated in retail, travel, finance and other industries.
Most existing loyalty programs fulfill functional needs: saving money at the gasoline pump, for example. Few get at the actual emotional and social needs behind these transactions—the "why" behind what incents people to do something.
Businesses will often jump from the first stage of identifying needs (why) to the third stage of building products or services (how), but skip the critical second stage. This can result in a program that looks good on the surface but is not sustainable because it can't meet deeper, long-term emotional needs.
To empathize more fully with customers, companies must dig deeper using human-centered design methods, including ethnographic techniques like interviewing and shadowing to observe how people are interacting with a loyalty program.
A research methodology known as the User Burden Scale examines ways to reduce "friction points" in customer experience, which can help create programs that drive intrinsic loyalty.
Businesses can expand or modify the scale to consider ways to decrease a range of customer burdens, such as difficulty of use.
Ride-sharing offers one example of a service that builds brand loyalty by addressing emotional or social needs. By "completing the matrix," you gain greater understanding of what you don't know about customers' interactions, and, in turn, open opportunities for innovation with products and services that do not yet exist.
Sometimes the hardest part of innovating is knowing where to begin.
Business leaders can take a methodical approach to discovering unmet customer needs by completing a matrix that identifies customer burdens and needs. This exercise both unlocks new insights and helps determine what products or services to build or design.
Focusing attention on the areas where the emotional or social needs are missing or undeserved can produce new opportunities for innovation.
Read the full report for more on how we create intrinsic customer loyalty.


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As the Main Street Movement of students, workers, and other middle class Americans erupts across America, many conservatives have invoked the legacy of former president Ronald Reagan to demand that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) not back down from his push to end collective bargaining for his state's public employees. In a prank call with the Buffalo Beast's Ian Murphy, where Murphy pretended to be right-wing billionare David Koch, Walker himself even fantasized about being just like Reagan.
Yet conservatives may be shocked to learn that their idol Reagan was once a union boss himself. Reagan was the only president in American history to have belonged to a union, the AFL-CIO affiliated Screen Actors Guild. And he even served six terms as president of the organized labor group. Additionally, Reagan was a staunch advocate for the collective bargaining rights of one of the world's most famous and most influential trade unions, Poland's Solidarity movement.
Founded in September 1980, Solidarity was formed in Soviet-occupied Poland as the USSR's first free and independent trade union. By 1981, the union had grown to 10 million people and became a powerful force for demanding economic and political reforms within the Soviet Union. Solidarity began to use strikes to demand these reforms, and the Soviets responded by jailing their leaders and cracking down on their right to organize. During his Christmas address to the nation on December 23, 1981, President Reagan condemned the Soviet-backed Polish crackdowns on labor unions, promoting the "basic right of free trade unions and to strike":
REAGAN: The Polish government has trampled underfoot to the UN Charter and Helsinki accords. It has even broken the Gdańsk Agreement of 1980 by which the Polish government recognized the basic right of free trade unions and to strike.
Watch it:
In a radio address given the following October, the former president escalated his rhetoric. Reagan condemned the Polish government's outlawing of Solidarity, and attacked it for making it "clear they never had any intention of restoring one of the most elemental human rights — the right to belong to a free trade union":
REAGAN: Ever since martial law was brutally imposed last December, Polish authorities have been assuring the world that they're interested in a genuine reconciliation with the Polish people. But the Polish regime's action yesterday reveals the hollowness of its promises. By outlawing Solidarity, a free trade organization to which an overwhelming majority of Polish workers and farmers belong, they have made it clear that they never had any intention of restoring one of the most elemental human rights — the right to belong to a free trade union.
Although Solidarity was not an American union, it is important to understand that much of its political program at the time was much farther to the left than any comparable U.S.-based unions. Solidarity's economic platform in 1981 called for worker-owned businesses, social control of the food supply so as to ensure that everyone was fed, and for workers to decide what days of the week businesses would be able to declare holidays, among other things.
As conservatives, including Walker himself, continue to fashion themselves as clones of Reagan as they face off with a new progressive populist movement across the country, Americans should know that Reagan's views and actions may not have always perfectly aligned with those on the far right.


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Read the original piece here in the New York Times.
Batting First and Playing Left Field . . . Jim Gilliam
My dad imitated a P.A. announcer, crescendo and all. He grew up in the 1950s in Belle Harbor, a narrow spit of land on the outermost edge of New York City. He was the son of an invalid, a three-packs-a-day smoker who developed cancer and was confined to a chair in the family living room for most of my father's childhood.
Batting Second and Playing Shortstop . . . Pee Wee Reese
I loved that name: Pee Wee Reese. It sounded diminutive, jittery, quick-footed — all the archetypal qualities of a shortstop. I imagined Reese flying out of the box, stretching a single into a double, sliding into second in his billowy pants. He was a good fielder, too, that much I knew, although, of course, I'd never seen him play.
Batting Third and Playing Center Field . . . Duke Snider
My father moved our family to the Midwest when I was 6. Before that, I slugged whiffle balls in the back of an apartment complex on 62nd and Park in Manhattan, surrounded by concertina wire.
Batting Fourth and Playing Catcher . . . Roy Campanella
Campy was one of the great catchers of all time, but he is best known for spending much of his life in a wheelchair. He was paralyzed during a car wreck the winter before the 1958 season. As a child, I owned a baseball card of him in that wheelchair with the heading "Symbol of Courage." I never met my grandfather, but when I saw the card, I imagined that it was a picture of him.
Batting Fifth and Playing Right Field . . . Carl Furillo
My dad threw "junk." His favorite pitch was a knuckle-curve. He would bend his index and middle fingers so that the knuckles were pressed against the skin of the ball like claws. Then he would carefully align his other digits flat with the seams. A hand looks grotesque, misshapen in this grip, but the ball moves in a ghostly, spasmodic way when thrown correctly, as if being pulled by an invisible string.
Batting Sixth and Playing First Base . . . Gil Hodges
He didn't throw the knuckle-curve consistently. Sometimes it would wobble or veer and land in the strike zone, but mostly it would end up in the dirt or far overhead. Sometimes I would wait six or seven pitches while balls sailed out of reach or spit up clouds of dust. When a pitch was anywhere near the plate, my father would become exasperated if I didn't swing — even if that meant my jumping clear in the air.
Batting Seventh and Playing Third Base . . . Jackie Robinson
When I really got ahold of one, it would fly over the tops of the pines in our yard and ricochet off the street. I almost hit cars many times — the trajectory of my moonball and the speeding automobile arriving at the same coordinate. My father wasn't worried at all about a wreck, and as I got older, more and more balls bounced high off the street. He wanted me to shatter someone's windshield, I'm convinced.
Batting Eighth and Playing Second Base . . . Don Zimmer
He fed me balls from a five-gallon bucket, and when he reached the last one, we would search the woods near the street for balls lodged in the undergrowth or hidden in piles of decaying leaves. After we combed through our own yard, we would hop the fence, cross the street and gather balls from the neighbor's woods, hunched over and intent as if looking for a wayward key.
Batting Ninth and Pitching . . . Carl Erskine
I was born in 1980, 25 years after the Dodgers won the World Series, but these were the names of my childhood: Pee Wee Reese, Furillo, Hodges. There were others. Moose Skowron. Elston Howard. Bill Dickey. The language of my father's childhood must have been very different. It would have included words like carcinoma and metastasize and terminal. He certainly never had a father to pitch him knuckle-curves. So when we played baseball on our front lawn, he and I were both kids, happily there for the first time.
Eben Pindyck is a graduate student in the master of fine arts program at Portland State University in Oregon.
E-mail submissions for Lives to email@example.com. Because of the volume of e-mail, the magazine cannot respond to every submission.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: October 21, 2013
An earlier version of this column misstated the number of years between 1980, the year the writer was born, and the Brooklyn Dodgers' World Series win, in 1955. It is 25, not 35.


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text:
Care for a first-hand look at how the PC version of EA's Medal of Honor multiplayer stacks up to Call of Duty? Three days of free multiplayer play is now underway. Did renaming the Taliban make a difference?
The Coalition forces battle the Opposing Force across two multiplayer maps in the Medal of Honor PC open beta, now available for download wherever fine PC games can be downloaded.
The beta features two maps based on real-world locations - Shaikot Mountains and Kunar Base. On Shaikot, the Coalition will need to complete five objectives while the Opposing Force, or OPFOR, try and stop them. At the Kunar Base, both sides will struggle over control of various objectives.
The open beta kicked off last night, and players only have until 11:59PM Pacific on October 7 to play, so if you're trying to figure out if you're picking the game up when it hits North America on October 12, now would be a good time.


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Friday, October 23, 2009
Meretricious Economic Theory
meretricious a. of or befitting a prostitute; (of ornament, literary style, etc.) showily but falsely attractive; [f. L meretricius f. meretrix -tricis harlot [mereri be hired; see -trix) + -ous] Concise Oxford
4 comments:
- Martin Langeland said...
To the extent that economic theory is crafted to justify the bosses' (whether capitalist, collectivist, or plain piratical) claims to the majority of the goods, it is self-evident whoredom. We need economics that leads us to a better provision of all our needs that also fits into the ecosystem of the entire planet with minimal destruction.
- October 23, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Yes. The latest episode in this soap opera is Krugman bashing the Chinese for hamstringing the Federal Reserve as it floods that global markets with fiat:
Can't they see we hit an iceberg? Why do they keep hanging on to the lifeboat?
- October 23, 2009 at 2:50 PM
- Doru Dan Lung said...
I much prefer JK Galbraith´s honest and truthful assessment to Victor Lebow´s encomium of consumption:
"Our enormously productive economy demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfactions, our ego satisfactions, in consumption. The measure of social status, of social acceptance, of prestige, is now to be found in our consumptive patterns. The very meaning and significance of our lives today expressed in consumptive terms. The greater the pressures upon the individual to conform to safe and accepted social standards, the more does he tend to express his aspirations and his individuality in terms of what he wears, drives, eats- his home, his car, his pattern of food serving, his hobbies.
These commodities and services must be offered to the consumer with a special urgency. We require not only "forced draft" consumption, but "expensive" consumption as well. We need things consumed, burned up, worn out, replaced, and discarded at an ever increasing pace. We need to have people eat, drink, dress, ride, live, with ever more complicated and, therefore, constantly more expensive consumption."
Unfortunately this view was virtually unchallenged until recently.
- October 23, 2009 at 3:12 PM
- Jack said...
Given this definition:
"meretricious a. of or befitting a prostitute;" I suggest that it is an insult to all those working in the trade to compare their effort with that of the average economist. At least they provide a service with minimal collateral damage to the economy.
- October 24, 2009 at 1:27 PM


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It's beginning to look a lot like the holidays, which means an overabundance of gift guides! But with so many of them being tailor-made for more of the hetero-persuasion, we decided to take it upon ourselves again this year to tell you what is coolest, queerest stuff we'd want this Christmas. (Or Hanukkah. We love our Jewish lesbians, too!)
We switched up some of the categories this year to include gifts for The Closet Case (which is a little tongue in cheek, I might add), The Gay Gal Who Has Everything (aka the hard people to buy for) and The Fond-of-You Foodie (the ones you'll find in the kitchen or a hot new restaurant). But we also kept some of our genres from last year so that you can check out what the TV, music, film, book and pop culture fanatics in your life would like to own. (We promise! If they don't want it, please send to us.)
Most everything we found is available on the internet so you can find it easily and get it shipped in time for present giving. And as an added bonus, I've created a very special lesbian holiday playlist on Spotify for you to enjoy while you peruse the goods.
So read through our guide and let us know if anything sparked your interest, for you or someone you'll be buying for this year.


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Study finds high-chair related injuries on the rise
Dozens a day treated, study shows
COLUMBUS, Ohio – One child is treated every hour for high chair-related injuries in U.S. emergency rooms.
That's according to a new study by Clinical Practices, which found 93 percent of all injuries associated with a booster seat or high chair involved a fall. In about two-thirds of those cases, the child was climbing or standing in the chair, suggesting the safety restraints either weren't being used or were not working properly.
The study looked at children three years and younger that were treated in emergency rooms between 2003 and 2010. More than 9,400 children are treated, on average, each year.
Concussions and internal head injuries are among the most common injuries, though many children also suffered bumps, bruises, and cuts.
According to Nationwide Children's, here are some tips to keeping your children safe while using high chairs:
• Always use the safety straps. Buckling the child in the seat with the straps every time he/she is in the high chair will help set a routine and keep him/her safe by keeping him/her seated and securely in the chair. Make sure the straps are in good working order and firmly attached to the chair. Only use chairs with either a 3-point or 5-point harness that includes a crotch strap or post. Remember – the tray is not enough to keep children in the seat.
• Use high chairs appropriately during meal time. Teach your child that his/her high chair is where he/she sits for eating. Allowing him/her to play, climb or stand in the chair can cause it to tip over. Also make sure that older siblings know not to climb on the chair.
• Keep the area around the high chair clear. Children are naturally curious and will grab things in their reach. Make sure tablecloths, placemats, sharp silverware, plates and hot food and liquids are out of reach. Also be aware of where you put the high chair. If it is too close to the table, a counter or the wall, the child may knock the chair over by kicking their feet into these objects.
• Make sure the chair is stable. Before selecting a high chair for your child, test it out. Chairs with wide bases are often more stable. Using high chairs that meet current safety standards is important. If the chair has wheels, make sure that they are locked into place before use.
• Stay with your child during meal time. An unsupervised child is more likely to try to escape from his/her high chair and can also be more likely to choke on his/her food.
• Check for recalls. Millions of unsafe high chairs have been recalled during recent years. Make sure the one you are using does not have any known injury hazards. Check www.recalls.gov to see if your high chair has been recalled.
Copyright 2013 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Oscar-winner Halle Berry said she's considered quitting burgers to stop people from saying she's pregnant.
That won't be necessary anymore.
Berry went on "the Jay Leno Show" dressed in thigh-high boots and a short, revealing black dress made to draw attention to each lump and bump on the svelte actress' body.
U.S. & World
The verdict: No visible baby bump.
When Leno noted that she looked sexy, Berry said: "Thank you for that Jay because that must mean all these pregnancy rumors can be put to bed," Access Hollywood reported.
Berry added that she felt the rumors had given her a "complex."
"I was like, [I've got to] stop with the burgers or something," she said.


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Do you make New Year's Resolutions? If so, do you make the same ones each year? Are you still trying to shed those 20 pounds you've been resolving to lose since 1997? Me too.
Last year I resolved to learn a few new tricks: I made granola for the first time, a Kahlua-like drink, cassoulet, and a bunch of pork shoulders (my wife gets most of the credit for these). I started composting. I spent half a dozen days at Riverbend Farm to try to get a very small feel for organic farming. I even took a canning class at Linden Hills Co-op in Minneapolis.
The great thing about resolving to learn new things is that there's a clear path to get there; lots of times you can just find a class and sign up. I don't know if you've noticed this, but in my family, a funny thing happens when something makes its way onto the schedule -- it actually happens.
When the great folks at Linden Hills Co-op (where I'm a member) sent me their latest class schedule, I was impressed by the number of classes and the range of offerings (from vegan baking to candle making to skin care and more), and I was reminded that this is the first series of classes to be held in their gorgeous new space. Here are a few of the classes that look especially good to me, along with descriptions from the co-op:
Healthy Eating in a Busy World - Dr. Karen Schragg, Tuesday, January 11, 6:30 – 7:30 pm, $15 (non-members)/$13 (members)
Learn easy ways of cooking that are healthy and great for the planet. Perfect for busy mom and dads who want to avoid processed foods for their families and adopt a more plant based diet. Arrive hungry, there will be plenty of food to share!
Dr. Karen I. Shragg is the manager and naturalist of the City of Richfield's Wood Lake Nature Center, where she has taught any number of classes on environmental education, specializing in wild edible foods. A long time activist and guest speaker around the country, she specializes in environmental issues involving food and the overpopulation issue. She is also a children's book author. Her most recent title is "Lucy's Hero, Remembering Paul Wellstone."
Stocks & Soups - Mary Jo Rasmussen, Thursday, January 13, 6:15 – 7:45 pm, $17 (non-members)/$15 (members)
Homemade stock adds a depth of flavor to soups, casseroles and other dishes that you just can't get from a can. Learn how easy it is to make your own and go home with some great recipes for putting it to good use. We'll walk through the techniques and then do a taste-test of homemade vs. store-bought stocks.
Mary Jo Rasmussen is a partner in Urban Relish, a food and entertaining business that specializes in using local and sustainable Minnesota products. Urban Relish teaches cooking classes that are open to the public, as well as in-home, private cooking parties and corporate cooking events.
Composting is for Everyone! - Joanna Toleno, Thursday, March 3, 7 – 8:30 pm, $17 (non-members)/$15 (members)
Garbage is everywhere - the answer is compost! Not only will you be doing something good for the environment but you can reduce your garbage going to the landfill by 50%. From hot composters to worm bins, you will learn everything you need to know about making beautiful dirt and worm castings.
Joanna Toleno Bakken is a Master Recycler from Portland, Oregon. She is a mother of 3 and has been gardening her entire life. She is currently enrolled in the Leadership for Sustainability Education Masters Program at PSU.
Homemade Yogurt 101 - Kelly Smeltzer, Tuesday, March 8, 7 – 8pm, $17 (non-members)/$15 (members)
Making your own yogurt is simple and healthy. You'll be assured your yogurt contains no additives and you can enhance it with whatever flavor you desire. We'll walk through the process of making yogurt, talk about flavoring your yogurt and discuss variations like soy and Greek yogurt.
Kelly Smeltzer is a partner in Urban Relish (described above).
These are just a few of the classes being offered at Linden Hills this season; check out their website for a complete list. I hope to see you there!
Lee Zukor is the founder of Simple, Good, and Tasty. Email him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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TOLEDO, OHIO: A Michigan man has been indicted in Ohio on an abuse of a corpse charge after being accused of fondling a dead woman�s body when he worked at a funeral home.
Lawrence Clement of Temperance, Mich., was indicted Tuesday in Lucas County. The 57-year-old has been fired from H.H. Birkenkamp Funeral Home in Toledo since the allegations surfaced.
The son of a 51-year-old woman who died of multiple organ failure has said he and his sister were told earlier this month that the body was mistreated and another funeral home employee witnessed fondling.
The Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors says the funeral home contacted the board about the matter.
A telephone message seeking comment was left for Clement�s attorney before business hours Wednesday.


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PH-D is an exclusive rooftop lounge with one-of-a-kind panoramic views of the city skyline including the Hudson River and Empire State Building. Seating is at custom-built Italian leather banquettes with marble tables, and cozy outdoor seating niches on our outdoor terrace. PH-D has 2 full-service bars, a fully-equipped DJ booth, state of the art lighting, audio, internet and multimedia capabilities.
Square Footage: 4400 square feet
Capacity: 350 standing
The Beach at Dream Downtown is the perfect summertime escape. Spanning over 4,800 square feet, it's the ideal location to host a summertime soiree, company cocktail party or daytime meeting. The Beach includes a pool, full-service bar, pool deck, sand beach filled with imported sand, two private cabanas and over 50 Cote D'Azur-inspired chaise lounges.
Square Footage: 4,800 square feet plus a 700 square foot fully enclosed bar
Capacity: 300 standing
Bodega Negra will serve authentic Mexican cuisine and delectable cocktails for dinner and late supper seven nights a week. Located on the ground floor of the hotel, guests will experience a remarkable tequila warehouse that has been designed in mock Tudor style.
Capacity: 108 seats, including a 24-person private dining room
For reservations, please call: (212) 229-2336
Our spacious ballroom is a state‐of‐the‐art space amenable to your specific production needs. Located on our ground floor, the room features floor‐to-ceiling windows, teak wood, white brick and black marble finishes, and a natural poured concrete epoxy‐finished floor. The Gallery is an ideal setting for your next all-day meeting, standing exhibit, or gala celebration.
Square Footage: Entire Gallery – 4,352 sq ft. Center Gallery – 3,216 sq ft. East and West Meeting Rooms – 596/540 sq ft.
Capacity: 20 to 500
Dream Downtown's hidden gem, the Electric Room, is a small intimate lounge on the lower level of the hotel. Equipped with a full sound system and a 108" high-definition plasma screen TV hidden behind an antiqued mirror, the Electric Room is as functional as it is fashionable. The Electric Room has a full-service bar, fully-equipped DJ booth, a 108" mounted plasma screen TV and access to a full kitchen.
Square Footage: 1,222 square feet
Capacity: 120


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Closed Areas and Open Arms
"This was a dark period in Tenafly history. If I had one wish, it would be that the Orthodox community was welcomed with open arms."
This is how Joseph Salvatore, a non-Jewish member of the Tenafly, New Jersey Borough Council, summarized the six-year battle over the eruv created by observant Jews in his community.
It all began in 2000 when plastic strips were placed on utility poles with permission from two utility companies and the county. Some people in Tenafly were unhappy about the eruv – a halachic arrangement of symbolic enclosure permitting carrying on Shabbat – encouraging an influx of Orthodox Jews. They pressured the Borough to ban the strips, setting off a long legal battle that was finally won by the Tenafly Eruv Association last month.
Not only did the Borough agree by a 5-0 vote to approve the eruv strips but even agreed to pay $325,000 to cover the court costs incurred by the eruv supporters.
Now, perhaps, Shabbat observant Jews will be welcomed with open arms in Tenafly.


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Unique Appearance With Multiple Contours and
Integrated Hardware on Towel Bar Lends to Appeal
The CRL Colonial Style Back-to-Back Towel Bar has a unique appearance and
visual appeal. The multiple contours of the Towel Bar, along with the numerous
integrated brass hardware fittings, make this Towel Bar one you will surely want
to consider for your modern frameless shower enclosure. The Colonial Style
Back-to-Back Towel Bar will work with 1/4 to 1/2 inch (6 to 12 millimeter) thick
Color: Polished Nickel
Center-to-Center Hole Locations: 18 in (457 mm)
Minimum Order: 1 Each
Additional Product Information:
Material: Tubular Brass
Glass Thickness Range: 1/4 to 1/2 Inch (6 to 12 millimeter)
Hole Diameter Required: 1/2 inch (12 millimeter)
Center-to-Center Hole Spacing:
18 Inch Towel Bar - 18 Inches (457 millimeters)
24 Inch Towel Bar - 24 Inches (610 millimeters)


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Matt Phelps of Über Röck recently conducted an interview with guitarst Nige Rockett of British thrashers ONSLAUGHT. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Über Röck: Your lyrics. Many a religious topic over the years. What drives you to write like that?
Nige: Um... My hatred for religion, I guess. I'm from a religious kind of family — not super religious, but they are religious. Some of them used to go to church a lot and would drag me along when I was a kid. Regardless of whether I wanted to go or not, I got taken there, and it just made me despise the whole thing. Listening to people talk about it... I don't know it just really got to me. It's stuck with me since I was about 5 years old all the way through my life and when you see all the things that are going on in the world today in the name of religion, it just does my head in.
Über Röck: Why do you think it is then that in England, or rather the youth of England, don't really seem to be that extreme when it comes to embracing real heavy metal. Just lapping up the type of weak shit that Kerrang! push?
Nige: Yeah, I don't really get all that kind of stuff, really. I don't know why it's changed here. I mean, you go to Europe, or anywhere else in the world probably, and it's OK but it seems England's just not buying it for some reason. We know we're good for a few hundred people a night, so we just keep doing the best we can.
Über Röck: Still, I bet 26 years ago when you were recording "The Force", you wouldn't have imagined you'd still be performing it in 2012 and still playing in new territories. You finally made it to America?
Nige: No, I certainly wouldn't have thought that, and enjoying it more than ever. Yeah, last April was the first American tour we've ever done. Kind of surprising after all these years, because we have sold a lot of records in America, but the right offers have never come along. We've been offered loads of tours, loads of supports but you've got to be careful with America because it costs us about 6 or 7 grand just to get there with work permits, visas and your travel. You're 7 grand down before you even start, so you've gotta make sure your deals are good when you're there and make sure you're working with reliable people. We know a lot of bands that have been over there, even recently, and come back with debts of 40 or 50 grand. There's no way we're going to enter into anything like that, it's just suicide. But the tour we did do was fantastic and the next one's being booked right now, the package is put together already, so we're looking at May next year for that.
Über Röck: Looking to the new album then. You said with "Sounds Of Violence" that you went all out to make the ultimate ONSLAUGHT album, both lyrically and musically. Do you think you'll be able to top it?
Nige: We have. [laughs] I think so, well, nearly — we're not completely finished yet. It's musically written now, but me and Andy [Rosser-Davies] just sit there sometimes and think, where the fuck did that come from or how did we write that? I don't know. The gap from this one to "Sounds Of Violence" is the gap from "Sounds Of Violence" to "Killing Peace", I think. The new album's more extreme, it's more aggressive, it's heavier than "Sounds Of Violence" was.
Read the entire interview from Über Röck.


text: I am selling my Canon 20D, 10-22mm lens & my SPL water housing. This is a great set up for surf photography so please contact me with any questions. The camera is in great condition and everything works properly, the housing has a few issues..such as the pistol grip button does not work. The side trigger works fine, so the housing still works great. I priced a new pistol grip from SPL and it will cost $300...I do not think the while grip needs to be replaced because it functions fine...the problem is in the remote cable that runs from the camera to the button on the pistol grip. You can probably purchase a new cable or fix the existing one....no big deal for me I used the side trigger to fire off photos just fine. I took off $400 from the housing since the cable is not working. Canon 20D $500 Canon 10-22mm $550 SPL Water Housing $1000