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Tag: Tegan Bennett Daylight
Reading Australia 2016
And then we came to the end of Reading Australia 2016
January 7, 2017 January 10, 2017 kimbofo
"How's your Australian reading year going?"
"Are you sick of reading Australian books yet?"
"Don't you miss reading books from other places?"
During 2016 these questions hounded me every time I caught up with friends and bloggers who knew I had challenged myself to read Australian literature all year.
My response was always the same. I was enjoying the project so much that even I was surprised at how easy and fun it was proving to be. I did not feel like I was missing out. If anything, I was overwhelmed by the sheer scope and range of books available to me.
Now, looking back on an entire year's worth of reading, I can chalk it up as one of the best reading years of my life.
Depth and breadth
I read such a diverse range of books, from psychological thrillers to personal essays about eating disorders, that I never once became bored. I was discovering some great new-to-me writers and reacquainting myself with ones I knew from long ago. It made me reassess my opinion that Australian writing was dull and obsessed with its colonial past — an opinion I formed more than 20 years ago when I worked in a book store and shunned the "convict fiction", as I'd dubbed it, to spend all my money on a steady diet of (predictable) US fiction instead.
Back then I didn't realise there were Australian writers pumping out edgy crime novels, mind-bending experimental fiction and glorious literary fiction set in contemporary times, or that essay writing could be so intriguing and readable, or that memoirs could be so thoroughly engaging and, occasionally, jaw dropping.
Perhaps in the early 1990s, the publishing industry wasn't publishing those kinds of books (in 1991 I can safely say that I read just two Australian books that year — Tim Winton's Cloudstreet and Ben Hills' Blue Murder), or maybe I was too young and naive to realise there was more to the homegrown literary scene than I imagined.
Whatever the case, this past year of "reading Australia" has reignited a passion for reading books from my homeland. By year's end I had read a total of 53 Australian books (I also read six British titles and six Canadian titles) and know that I will continue to read many more in the year to come.
I read all the shortlisted titles for the Stella Prize and all the shortlisted titles for the Miles Franklin Literary Award.
For the first time ever, I read more books by women than men, thanks to my participation in the Australian Women Writers' Challenge. (Click to see the 35 titles I reviewed.)
I read a surprising number of memoirs (eight in total) and a surprising number of short story collections (four).
I read a diverse range of true crime, all of it fascinating, well researched and written in an engaging novelistic fashion.
I discovered Stephen Orr and now want to read everything he's ever written.
Some lowlights
I did not make a very big dent in my TBR. At the beginning of 2016, the number of Australian titles in that pile was 128. It soon swelled thanks to a few review copies coming my way and the very many purchases I made (well, I had to buy the shortlisted titles for the Stella and Miles Franklin, didn't I). By year's end it stood at 116. Oops.
I did not read any pre-mid-20th century classics (I had to abandon Christina Stead's The Man Who Loved Children in the summer when I changed jobs and no longer had the bandwidth to cope with it).
I did not read any books by Kate Grenville, Alex Miller or Randolph Stow, all Australian writers listed on my favourite authors page.
All up it was a brilliant year of reading, and I hope you had as much fun following along as I did in reading and reviewing so many fabulous books. I thought it might be useful to provide a list of everything I read, so here it is. The books marked * made my top 10 favourite reads of the year.
'Fear is the Rider' by Kenneth Cook
'Viral' by Helen FitzGerald
'What Came Before' by Anna George
'Hush, Little Bird' by Nicole Trope
'The Dry' by Jane Harper*
'Crucifixion Creek' by Barry Maitland
'Line of Sight' by David Whish-Wilson
'Floundering' by Romy Ash*
'Drylands' by Thea Astley
'It's Raining in Mango' by Thea Astley
'The Other Side of the World' by Stephanie Bishop
'Hope Farm' by Peggy Frew
'Snake' by Kate Jennings
'The Landing' by Susan Johnson
'A Guide to Berlin' by Gail Jones
'Leap' by Myfanwy Jones
'The World Without Us' by Mireille Juchau
'Harland's Half Acre' by David Malouf
'The Mint Lawn' by Gillian Mears
'The Hands: An Australian Pastoral" by Stephen Orr*
'Black Rock White City' by A.S. Patrić
'When the Night Comes' by Favel Parrett
'True Country' by Kim Scott*
'The Last Painting of Sara de Vos' by Dominic Smith*
'A Pure Clear Light' by Madeleine St John
'Dirt Music' by Tim Winton
'Elemental' by Amanda Curtin
'The Daughters of Mars' by Thomas Keneally
'The Golden Age' by Joan London
'Salt Creek' by Lucy Treloar
'The Natural Way of Things' by Charlotte Wood*
'Panthers & The Museum of Fire' by Jen Craig*
'The Plains' by Gerald Murnane
'Six Bedrooms' by Tegan Bennett Daylight
'A Few Days in the Country and Other Stories' by Elizabeth Harrower
'Merciless Gods' by Christos Tsiolkas
'Hot Little Hands' by Abigail Ulman
'The Family' by Chris Johnston and Rosie Jones
'A Murder Without Motive: The Killing of Rebecca Ryle' by Martin McKenzie-Murray
'Wild Man' by Alecia Simmonds
'Eugenia: A True Story of Adversity, Tragedy, Crime and Courage' by Mark Tedeschi QC
'The Media and the Massacre' by Sonya Voumard
'Everywhere I Look' by Helen Garner
'Small Acts of Disappearance' by Fiona Wright
'Walking Free' by Dr Munjed Al Muderis (with Patrick Weaver)
'Aunts Up the Cross' by Robin Dalton*
'Big Blue Sky: A Memoir' by Peter Garrett
'Talking to My Country' by Stan Grant*
'The Latte Years' by Philippa Moore
'Reckoning' by Magda Szubanski*
'Dying: A Memoir' by Cory Taylor
'Island Home: A Landscape Memoir' by Tim Winton
Tagged A.S. Patrić, Abigail Ulman, Alecia Simmonds, Amanda Curtin, Anna George, Australian literature, Barry Maitland, Charlotte Wood, Chris Johnston, Christos Tsiolkas, Cory Taylor, David Malouf, David Whish-Wilson, Dominic Smith, Dr Munjed Al Muderis, Elizabeth Harrower, Favel Parrett, Fiona Wright, Gail Jones, Gerald Murnane, Gillian Mears, Helen Fitzgerald, Helen Garner, Jane Harper, Jen Craig, Joan London, Kate Jennings, Kenneth Cook, Kim Scott, Lucy Treloar, Madeleine St John, Magda Szubanski, Marion Halligan, Mark Tedeschi, Martin McKenzie-Murray, Mireille Juchau, Myfanwy Jones, Nicole Trope, OzLit, Peggy Frew, Peter Garrett, Philippa Moore, Reading Australia 2016, Robin Dalton, Romy Ash, Rosie Jones, Sonya Voumard, Stan Grant, Stephanie Bishop, Stephen Orr, Susan Johnson, Tegan Bennett Daylight, Thea Astley, Thomas Keneally, Tim Winton26 Comments
AWW2016
December 28, 2016 December 28, 2016 kimbofo
When I challenged myself to spend the year reading Australian literature, it seemed logical to also sign up to the 2016 Australian Women Writers' Challenge — to kill two birds with one stone, as it were.
I thought I should give myself a serious target and aimed to read 30 books by Australian women.
Now that the year is drawing to a close, I'm happy to report I exceeded that self-imposed target: I read 35 books by women — and I loved (almost, but not quite) every one of them.
As well as reading all the titles on the 2016 Stella Prize shortlist, I read a wonderful mix of newly released books and old ones that had been lingering in my TBR for years. These included non-fiction and fiction — mainly literary fiction, with a side order of short stories (I read four collections) and a couple of crime novels.
I really loved taking part in this challenge. It introduced me to some wonderful writers — hello Romy Ash, Jen Craig and Lucy Treloar — and reacquainted me with "old familiars" such as Thea Astley, Marion Halligan and Charlotte Wood.
Here is my comprehensive list. The books have been arranged in alphabetical order by author's name (click the title to see my full review):
'Floundering' by Romy Ash
Heartbreaking novel about two brothers "kidnapped" by their cash-strapped mother one hot summer.
This Miles Franklin winner looks at the humdrum nature of small town life and what happens when its inhabitants stop reading.
A no holds-barred fictional story of one Australian family from the 1860s to the 1980s.
Collection of short stories about teenage girls growing up in the 1980s.
A deeply melancholy novel about emigration, marriage and motherhood set in Perth, Australia in the early 1960s.
'Panthers & The Museum of Fire' by Jen Craig
A bold experimental novel set on a summer's afternoon as the narrator walks across Sydney to deliver a manuscript to a bereaved family.
Gripping historical novel about a Scottish fisherwoman who escapes her circumstances to start a new life on the other side of the world.
'Aunts Up the Cross' by Robin Dalton
An outrageously funny memoir about Dalton's childhood in the 1920s and 1930s in Sydney's Kings Cross.
A confronting revenge thriller about sexual shaming online.
Fictional tale of a 13-year-old girl and her single mother living in a hippy commune in the 1980s.
Collection of essays spanning 15 years of Garner's journalistic career.
Disturbing psychological thriller about a woman murdered by her husband.
Unexpectedly charming tale about one man's untimely death and the effect it has on his loved ones.
'The Dry' by Jane Harper
Compelling crime story set in rural Australia during the height of the worst drought in living memory.
Collection of exquisitely written short stories mostly about women trying to find their place in the world.
Deeply affecting portrait of a marriage between two incompatible people in postwar Australia.
Delightfully funny and poignant story about a newly divorced man trying to recalibrate his life.
Unusual tale about six Vladimir Nabokov fans from around the world who gather in Berlin to share stories about themselves.
'The Family' by Chris Johnson and Rosie Jones
An eye-opening work of investigative journalism looking at a cult led by a woman who believed she was the female reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
A story about grief, marriage and parkour set in Melbourne's inner suburbs.
Beautifully constructed novel about family secrets, love, loss, parenthood and community set in rural NSW.
Story set in a children's convalescent home during a polio outbreak in the mid-1950s.
Award-winning novel about a young woman trapped in a small town with a husband she no longer loves.
Frank and engaging memoir about Moore's struggle to lose weight, build self-confidence and live what she calls an "authentic life".
Two intertwined stories about grief, kindness and life on an Antarctic supply ship.
A compelling true crime story that follows the coronial inquest into the death of a mentally unstable man shot dead by police on a remote farm.
A domestic black comedy about middle-class life in 1990s London.
'Reckoning' by Magda Szubanski
Extraordinary memoir about Szubanksi's life lived in the shadows of her father's war-time activities in Poland.
Heartfelt and brutally frank memoir by a leading Australian author diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Superb historical novel about one family's attempt to settle a remote area on the South Australian coast and the dreadful, heartbreaking repercussions that follow.
Deliciously suspense-filled tale about two women sent to prison for two separate but shocking crimes.
Effortlessly readable collection of short stories about teenage girls or young women trying to find their way in the world.
A hard-hitting look at the relationship between journalists and their subjects in the context of Tasmania's Port Arthur massacre.
'The Natural Way of Things' by Charlotte Wood
Award-winning dystopian novel set in a remote prison for women who have been sexually shamed.
Surprisingly gripping collection of 10 essays about the author's struggle with an eating disorder.
Have you read any of these books? Or care to share a great read by an Australian woman writer? Or any woman writer, regardless of nationality?
By the way, I plan on signing up for the 2017 Australian Womens' Writers Challenge in the New Year. If you want to join me, you can sign up via the official website.
Tagged Abigail Ulman, Alecia Simmonds, Amanda Curtin, Anna George, AWW2016, Charlotte Wood, Elizabeth Harrower, Favel Parrett, Fiona Wright, Gail Jones, Gillian Mears, Helen Fitzgerald, Helen Garner, Jane Harper, Jen Craig, Joan London, Kate Jennings, Lucy Treloar, Madeleine St John, Magda Szubanski, Marion Halligan, Mireille Juchau, Myfanwy Jones, Nicole Trope, Peggy Frew, Philippa Moore, Robin Dalton, Romy Ash, Sonya Voumard, Stephanie Bishop, Tegan Bennett Daylight, Thea Astley27 Comments
2016 Stella Prize, Australia, Author, AWW2016, Book review, Fiction, Publisher, Reading Australia 2016, Setting, short stories, Tegan Bennett Daylight, Vintage Australia
April 8, 2016 April 8, 2016 kimbofo
Tegan Bennett Daylight's Six Bedrooms is the second collection of short stories on the 2016 Stella Prize shortlist. (The first, is Elizabeth Harrower's A Few Days in the Country and Other Stories which I've already reviewed.)
According to the author's biography, she's written several books for children and teenagers — and I think it shows. Without wishing to sound snobby about it, this volume feels like young adult fiction rather than literary fiction per se. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's not a genre I seek out. That means this review reflects my personal reading tastes; I'm sure there will be other people out there who will love and adore these stories — they just weren't for me.
Teenage angst in the 1980s
Funnily enough, because most of the 10 stories are set in the 1980s — the era in which I grew up — I had expected the tales to resonate. There are certainly enough music references — the first story, for instance, is called Like a Virgin, after the song by Madonna — to transport me back to those (horrible) high school days, when teenage life revolved around which bands were in fashion, who was going out with who, and which person had got drunk at the last party.
But each story is written in such a flat way and is so devoid of emotion that I lost interest very quickly. They're not poorly written by any stretch of the imagination — they're easy to read, have well-developed settings and characters, and there's always some kind of conflict at the heart of them which the central character is trying to resolve — they just lack "punch".
They feel aimed at teenagers, not just in the language that is used, but in the subject matter, too. They are mostly coming-of-age stories (a genre I do like) featuring teenagers getting drunk, discovering sex and developing alliances with school friends. There's a lot of angst, a lot of hatred for parents and school teachers, and a lot of daydreaming about sex and escape. Many of the characters are grappling with peer pressure and the need to fit in. (Subjects, I admit, that I lived through once and don't really want to live through again!)
Adult life
Two of the stories are more adult orientated: Chemotherapy Bay is about a young man with cancer whose girlfriend is sleeping with someone else, Together Alone is about a 30-something woman dealing with the palliative care of her mother. A third story, the titular Six Bedrooms, straddles that time between teenagehood and adulthood, showing what it is like to live in a shared household with people you don't know very well and how easy it can be to "read" someone wrongly because you're naive and lack life experience.
Perhaps, for that reason, these are the stories I enjoyed most — and they were the ones that had an emotional depth to them. Every now and then, a little pearl of a sentence would pop up, such as this paragraph from Chemotherapy Bay:
She kissed him before he got out of the car. His breath was starting to smell like the hospital; his kiss was a cold, chemical little offering, like a mollusc after the tide has gone out.
And this one, from Together Alone:
Jimmy and I sat on the sea wall with our feet in the water and watched a school of zebra fish speed past, propping and changing directions like sheep being herded by a helicopter.
Interestingly, while each story in the collection is self-contained, there is one character, Tasha, who grows up with an absent father, an alcoholic mother and a missing brother — how's that for a set of issues to deal with? — who flits in and out of them. Indeed, Tasha "bookends" the collection by appearing in the first story as a young teen stealing her mother's wine and the last story in which she is a single mother having to deal with her own mother's impending death. She appears in two others in the middle. This technique does add some narrative structure to the collection, but, in my opinion, it doesn't save it.
For other takes on Six Bedrooms, please see Tony's review at Messenger's Booker and Sue's at Whispering Gums.
Note, there doesn't seem to be a UK publication date for this one. I ordered my copy from the Book Depository and waited several weeks for it to arrive.
Tagged Australian literature, AWW2016, OzLit, Reading Australia 2016, short stories, Stella Prize 2016, Tegan Bennett Daylight, young adult12 Comments
2016 Stella Prize
The 2016 Stella Prize shortlist
March 10, 2016 April 18, 2016 kimbofo
In the early hours of the morning London time, the shortlist for the 2016 Stella Prize was announced in Australia. I made a stab at guessing what would be on it beforehand — on the Reading Matters Facebook page — but I only guessed three out of the six.
The shortlisted titles are:
Six Bedrooms by Tegan Bennett Daylight (Random House)
Hope Farm by Peggy Frew (Scribe)
A Few Days in the Country And Other Stories by Elizabeth Harrower (Text)
The World Without Us by Mireille Juchau (Bloomsbury)
The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood (Allen & Unwin)
Small Acts of Disappearance: Essays on Hunger by Fiona Wright (Giramondo)
On first impressions, it looks like a relatively mixed list, but actually two books are about hippy communes (The World Without Us and Hope Farm) and two are short story collections (Six Bedrooms and A Few Days in the Country and Other Stories). The fifth book is a dystopian novel, the sixth a collection of essays. It seems to me that the judges will have their work cut out from them, because how do you compare oranges to apples?
The $50,000 prize is for Australian women writers and only books, both fiction and non-fiction, published between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2015 were eligible. You can read the full announcement on the official website.
The winner will be announced on 19 April.
Tagged Charlotte Wood, Fiona Wright, Mireille Jachau, Peggy Frew, Stella Prize 2016, Tegan Bennett Daylight18 Comments


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Eparchia Irinjalakuda – eparchia Kościoła katolickiego obrządku syromalabarskiego w Indiach. Została utworzona w 1978 z terenu eparchii Trichur.

Ordynariusze
James Pazhayattil (1978-2010)
Pauly Kannookadan, od 2010

Bibliografia
Gcatholic

Irinjalakuda

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Home / world wide / The Harry Potter Movies Failed To Fix JK Rowling's Hufflepuff Mistake
The Harry Potter Movies Failed To Fix JK Rowling's Hufflepuff Mistake
The Harry Potter movies failed to appreciate Hufflepuff for not only its positive traits, but also for the significant members of the Hogwarts house.
Similar to the books, the Harry Potter movies failed to fix one significant mistake regarding one of the Hogwarts' houses: Hufflepuff. Due to this house's somewhat vague description and few named characters, it is often overshadowed by the other houses in J.K. Rowling's books. This has led to the misconception that Hufflepuff is an undesirable or even unimportant house despite it having some major effects on the storyline.
Among Harry Potter's four Hogwarts houses that students can be sorted into, Hufflepuff is the least easily defined. The other three houses, Gryffindor, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw, can all be described with one or two words. For example, students in Gryffindor are brave and noble while students in Slytherin are ambitious and manipulative and Ravenclaws are known for their intelligence and creativity. In contrast, Hufflepuff students cannot be summarized with a single word and are often simply labeled as "nice." This has led to the common belief that Hufflepuff is the house for students who don't particularly stand out or excel in any way.
Sadly, the Harry Potter movies did little to challenge this idea or fix J.K. Rowling's oversight from the books barely including the Hufflepuff house and its characters. Based on this representation, or lack thereof, viewers who support Hufflepuff have had to research and add importance to the house on their own. The movies could have made this easier for viewers by placing a greater emphasis on Hufflepuff characters' lives and impacts, but they often shortened or cut out these stories instead to reduce runtimes. However, it's a mistake, as Hufflepuff should be valued due to not only its positive traits but also for the significant characters who were members of the house.
Although Hufflepuff cannot be described as easily as the other houses, its members still possess many admirable traits. They are known for being kind, fair, loyal, and hardworking. Due to this, Hufflepuff has produced the fewest Dark wizards compared to the other Hogwarts houses, which is notable. In addition, Hufflepuff had the second-highest turnout of students for the Battle of Hogwarts (after Gryffindor), and none of them abandoned the fight.
Hufflepuff has also featured several prominent members who have had significant impacts on the Wizarding World. For example, Cedric Diggory was a skilled Hufflepuff student, prefect, and Quidditch captain who was chosen by the Goblet of Fire to represent Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament. Although he was ultimately killed by Peter Pettigrew at the end of the tournament, his spirit still helped save Harry by distracting Voldemort long enough for Harry to escape. In addition, Nymphadora Tonks was an Auror, a member of the second Order of the Phoenix, and a Metamorphmagus, meaning that she could change her appearance at will. Just after giving birth to her son, Teddy Remus Lupin, she fought and died in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them also continued this thread of inspiring Hufflepuffs, revealing that Newt Scamander was a simple Magizoologist who became a major part in helping the side of good win the global wizarding war. Throughout this time, he fought against Gellert Grindelwald, one of the Wizarding World's most dangerous Dark wizards, multiple times. While the Fantastic Beasts movies by necessity will include his Hufflepuff main character, Newt is already being sidelined in favor of focusing on a younger Albus Dumbledore. Both Fantastic Beasts and the Harry Potter movies could have explored Hufflepuff characters and their house far more.
Previous Frights, Camera, Action: 'The Exorcist'
Next The Sinner and the Saint review – the story behind Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment

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The purpose of this course is to address and process issues and experiences from the students' field placement experiences.
Social work practice is enhanced and deepened by rigorous clinical supervision.
This course provides an in-depth examination of the history and current guiding statements on values and ethics in the social work profession.


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Patti Rothberg ~ Double Standards
Posted in Future Legends, New Music Artist, nyc singer | No Comments »
Patti Rothberg
Born in New York City Rothberg grew up in Scarsdale, NY, playing piano from the age of 3 and writing songs by the age of 15, joining a high school Rod Stewart covers band. She later traveled through Europe and America, busking to support herself.
Patti's CD debut on EMI America, Between the 1 and the 9, went on to sell over 250,000 copies in the US and another 200,000 in Europe and Japan. The album title is a reference to the subway platform where she used to busk.
Now Patti Rothberg is back with her third CD, Double Standards, which was released on Megaforce Records. It is the culmination of the melodic pop rock associated with "1 & 9", and the psychedelic explorations and Queen-like harmonies of her second CD Candelabra Cadabra. The combination is doubly delicious. The title track is an exploration of the concept of good vs. evil, wherein "…the devil loves a double standard and heaven isn't selling cheap…" The album is split down the middle between hard rock and heartfelt acoustic songs. What brings it all together is Patti's melodic sensibility and unique lyrical perceptions. Had this been the age of vinyl, the harder songs might all go on one side, the softer on the other. Both are unmistakably Patti and equally true to her musical leanings.
Patti's main website
Patti's MySpace
Patti's MTV video for "Inside" (her radio hit that was featured on shows like 120 Minutes)
Patti's video "Treat Me Like Dirt" that she helped direct
Patti's side project "Squeaky Wheel"
Last, but not least, if you'd like Patti to paint a portrait of you, your loved one, or even your pet, contact Patti at *prothberg AT earthlink DOT net*.
Interview with Matthew Ebel, Singer-Songwriter
Posted in Future Legends, Indie Music, Interviews | 5 Comments »
Matthew Ebel is another wildly-talented singer/songwriter who granted me an interview in November 2008, which I am happy to share with you.
The Rock Star Life Lessons Blog Interview with Matthew Ebel, by Carla Lynne Hall
Rock Star Life Lessons: How often do you perform?
Matthew Ebel: Right now I have a regular gig once a week in New Hampshire. I'm hoping to expand beyond that, obviously, but it's my first anchor gig in New England since moving here. I've been looking for a booking agent for years now, but I don't know how to get one that will actually WORK for me. I can perform my ass off, but convincing an agent to even return a damn phone call is like getting a label to solicit a submission.
Of course, during the summers for the last couple of years I've been doing a residence gig 5 days a week on Block Island. That's a lot of fun, but a LOT of work. And good money. That one fell into my lap, but I'm glad it's there. My performance partner, Ernie, got me that gig and he's a blast to play with.
RSLL: What's your traveling/touring schedule like?
ME: Right now, thin. I won't take a gig unless it will at least break even, and that means I don't tour much right now. Granted, a string of small-paying gigs will make a tour profitable, but I am so busy with studio work that I don't have the time to book such a tour right now. In the mean time, I'm being flown out to conventions for gigs a few times a year. Those are the real good-paying gigs and they're usually full of people who already know my music and will sing along.
RSLL: Over the summer, you were an Artist in Residence on Block Island. How do you get gigs like that, and what are they like?
ME: Like I said, that one fell into my lap… but like someone said once, luck is the intersection of preparation with opportunity. I'll work it backwards for you: My friend Ernie already had the Block Island gig, but he doesn't sing so he needed a frontman. He found me at the Podsafe Music Live gig we set up in Nashville when C.C. Chapman was coming to town. I was part of the PML thing at Edgehill because I was friends with Geoff Smith and Kevin Reeves, and of course C.C. I got to know all of them through podcasting all the way back in 2004. The thing that got me into podcasting was a geek friend of mine mentioning that some guy from MTV's heyday did a regular internet show and that I should send him a song from the new album I was working on (that would be Beer & Coffee).
So I guess the answer to that question is I got the gig because I had a geek friend a few years before I got the gig. In the music business you can always see the road behind the tour bus but the road ahead goes in all directions.
RSLL: You are like the Podcast Music King! How did you get your music featured in so many podcasts?
ME: First of all, thanks! The key, I guess, was getting involved early. I lived in Nashville when podcasting really broke and everyone was all excited about it, so for me there's a perfect comparison at work here: The Music City is one of the biggest ponds a small fish can be in- a well-established machine that funnels songwriters to publishers to labels to artists to session players and eventually to both CD sales and live gigs supporting those CD's. It's the standard rich-and-famous contract from the Muppet Movie with millions of musicians standing in line to get it.
On the other side there's the cutting edge. A brand new medium (podcasting) that nobody but the pioneering nerds listened to, but something that had great potential. The smaller the pond, the bigger the fish you can be. I saw that small pond being fed by a river of excitement and innovation, so I could see that small pond getting bigger very soon.
I guess it's a bit like surfing. There are thousands of waves, but only a few you can ride all the way to the shore. Once you've paddled through a few duds, you'll figure out how to spot the wave that's going to curl just right long before it even starts to rise.
Tossing this labored analogy aside, I guess I was just so excited about the medium itself that the other geeks like me could see I was genuine. I was in it for both promotion of my music AND for the promotion of this new medium. You can't fake genuine enthusiasm, and New Media types in particular can smell a marketing pitch miles away. I just happened to be able to add my music to a very small pool and speak the vernacular of the geek to help spread it around.
Now podcasting is huge and major labels are toying with it, so it's a wave that's already curled and heading for the sand. What's the next wave? You got me, I'm still riding this one.
RSLL: What other music-related ventures are you doing these days?
ME: Right now I'm trying to start my own wave. Over at www.matthewebel.net there's a new subscription service where my fans can sign up for brand new music and live recordings every single month, along with other exclusives. Gas prices are making it harder to tour every year. My fans, thanks to the internet, are spread out all over the world… but very few of them live in a concentrated enough area to support a real live concert. With the subscription, I can send new music and live shows to them without going bankrupt on gas and hotels.
I got the idea from Geoff Smith's Ring Tone Feeder site. He's got a subscription for iPhone ring tones, I'm doing new music and concert recordings. If I can get enough subscribers, I'll be able to just focus on making good music and less on marketing to new customers. I'm hoping that this model will actually work so new musicians can earn a living off of their own music.
If you're interested, check out the site at matthewebel.net – I just sent out the first song to podcasters, too, so people can play some of it on their shows!
RSLL: How has your marketing yourself and your career changed in the last 5 years?
ME: Well for starters I stopped trying to figure out what my fans wanted and just started asking them. That was a big shift for me and fortunately my fan base, for the most part, is familiar with feedback mechanisms like blog comments, Twitter, and AIM/Yahoo/Skype. As for actual marketing, I've also come to the realization that I can be a marketer or a musician, not both. I'm trying to find someone now who will act as a marketing agent of sorts, someone who will make the noise and maybe do PR for me without having to function as a record label.
RSLL: What is one action a musician can take to build their music business?
ME: There are thousands of things I could say here, but since I'm geek-centric I'll start with a big one: Don't settle for a shitty website. Seriously. Register your own domain name (yourband.myspace.com does NOT count), hire someone to design you a killer WordPress site, and learn how to use it. Publish your blog via RSS and Twitter, update it frequently, and don't settle for a shitty website. Ever.
If you're cruising for a restaurant and the first thing you see are folding chairs and paper plates, you're not likely to care how good the food MIGHT be, you're heading to the next restaurant. Your website is your store front, your chance to control the user's experience. It's your jolly roger for your pirate ship. Make damn sure you've got one that strikes fear into the heart of your enemies.
RSLL: If you were starting all over today as a musician, what would you focus on?
ME: Starting from scratch? Music. I would make sure my music was worth paying $150 for the cheap seats to go listen to. I would surround myself with people who aren't afraid to tell me what sucks and what doesn't, people I trust enough to listen to. No matter how clever your marketing, you will be better off if your songs mean something, stick in people's heads, and make people want more. If you can't do that, you need to keep working before you start any marketing.
For Matthew Ebel, music is the key to the journey of life, not just the destination. The Massachusetts based singer/songwriter/keyboardist has experienced several musical lifetimes, each one providing him with the skills to accomplish that rare songwriting feat –to have his listeners emotionally inhabit the shoes of the characters he creates.
Fully immersed in the new digital music world, Matthew is committed to being a trailblazer for other artists. "I want to leave a legacy for other musicians and show them that it's possible to be a one man operation or a small band and do it on your own. I'm always looking for new ways to do that for myself and I'll be letting people know where I've succeeded and let them know what to avoid from my failures," he says.
In 2009, Matthew plans to develop himself as a touring artist. "My goal is to be touring with a band," he declares, following with a laugh, "across the country, globe or universe." He'll also be beginning the follow up to Goodbye Planet Earth, of which he says, "I'm going to get back to a more organic feel. I think I want to call it Songs for Geeks," he says with an impish grin. It will continue to be a fascinating journey for Matthew and his music, as well as a rich and rewarding ride for those who choose to follow.
Matthew Ebel's main website
Matthew's Music Subscription Site
Matthew Ebel on Twitter
Matthew Ebel on Facebook
Matthew Ebel on MySpace
Matthew Ebel on Ustream.tv
Interview with Rick Goetz, Music Coach
Posted in A Day in the Life, Future Legends, Indie Music, Interviews | 2 Comments »
The Rock Star Life Lessons Blog Interview with Rick Goetz by Carla Lynne Hall
Rock Star Life Lessons: How did you decide to be a musician's coach?
Rick Goetz: I'm not really sure I decided it… It just kind of happened or maybe the profession picked me.
I was first and foremost a bass player as a younger man but I kind of fell into A&R at Major labels (Atlantic & Elektra) for just under ten years by way of playing in bands and booking and managing artists in college. For whatever reason I have had the same cell number since 1998. After my last A&R job people stopped calling me for record deals on that number but people never stopped calling me for advice on what to do with their careers both as musicians and as music executives. For the most part I was always happy to help (except for the occasional stoned guy who would call at 3 AM with questions that couldn't wait) but it was surprising to me that people would seek me out.
After doing A&R I took some time off to work on various TV projects and ran a digital label in the EMI family and wound up putting together a consulting business handling licensing for tech start ups. The beginning of 2009 rolled around and eight out of my ten clients either went under or flaked out in spite of signed contracts. Around March of 2009 I got a call from someone needing help with their career and in a panic about money I replied that I'd love to help but I was spending all of my time trying to replace the clients I had just lost… They volunteered to pay me for my help which completely caught me off guard. I never wanted to manage artists (Tried it once in earnest after college and got calls from jail- no thanks) but the coaching/consulting relationship on a project by project basis makes a great deal of sense to me.
I also have an amazing coach in my life that helps me sort out all of the insanity and fear that goes on between my ears on a daily basis so I am a real believer in relying on someone who has been down a similar path who can be objective when you can't see the forest for the trees.
RSLL: How has being a reality show producer affected your approach to the music business (if at all)?
RG: Well, I only got as far as getting a developmental deal for one project so I can't speak volumes about the TV business but it taught me a ton. I got represented by ICM as a producer when I was in A&R at Elektra and had been very much used to being on the buy side of most business transactions. Going into Networks and pitching people about my ideas was not only remarkably humbling but caused me to re-evaluate the way I treated people in general. It taught me about sales and it made me realize that hearing pitches every day made me much better at pitching myself. It was helpful in realizing that while I have always looked at music as the slightly slow kid brother of the film and TV businesses there are ways you can apply the musician and music business skill sets to other businesses if you are willing to admit what you don't know and partner with people who know more than you do.
RSLL: Is it more difficult for musicians to get synch licenses since the majors are doing it too?
RG: It's difficult in general I guess. Put yourself in the shoes of a music supervisor – the phone rings and it's an artist who just released their 2nd album and they play music of a certain style and the second line rings and it's Sony who has some of the marquis acts in all of Western Music. Who do you call back knowing that at some point you WILL need the relationship with a label or a publisher that has that kind of market share? What I mean by that is I think to get songs licensed is a full time job and a really hard one if you have a small catalog. If you are part of a bigger catalog not only will the representative be taken more seriously but such representatives will already be in conversations with supervisors about other opportunities for a piece of music that you would never fit the bill for when a call comes in about something that will work for you. So yea- if we are talking about licensing original music as opposed to work for hire? Sure it's more difficult but there are the options of being a part of licensing libraries like Pump Audio or Crucial Music etc etc…
RSLL: What has been some of your most rewarding moments as a coach so far?
RG: There are a few – I don't discuss specifics about my clients publically without their permission but there have been several little victories for people who I have helped and most recently I started working with Tim Latham as a client and has always worked on some of my favorite records – everything from Tribe called quest to Lou Reed… That's been very rewarding.
RSLL: Do you miss performing?
RG: Being on stage and feeling the adrenaline and the excitement? Sure! All the time. I still play from time to time but I really don't miss the work and the struggle that went into making those moments happen.
RG: Collaboration. Co-writing, session work, guest appearances on other people's records. All huge steps in community building if done correctly.
RSLL: Do you think that live shows are still important in the internet age?
RG: Absolutely. For big artists they are also one of the few reliable ways to make money. The internet is a wonderful tool but if you have a show that is beyond music – if you have a show that is truly entertainment I think that won't be replaced any time soon.
RSLL: Do you think that social media marketing may be a bit too distracting for musicians?
RG: I know it is for me. I'm a bit obsessive so I can get really caught up into mindless repetitive tasks that have a grading system. If you find your self esteem too closely tied to how many twitter followers you have it's time to limit the amount of time you spend on social networking and dedicate any remaining time to shedding.
RG: First and foremost having fun. If you are doing music and it feels like a day job (and I don't mean the paranoia about money part – I mean the work) then something somewhere has gone wrong. I find it's considerably less fun for an audience if it's not fun for the players.
Secondly I would really focus on my craft – I mean really shutting off the internet connection and the cell phone and doing all the boring work I glossed over that made my playing less than it could have been.
Third- joining or building a community of musicians to work with…
RSLL: Is there anything else that you think musicians should know?
RG: Some of the obvious apply – know all about how to set up your business correctly and work with a lawyer to do that. Know the ins and the outs of how money is made with music. I think above all else it's important to remember that there really isn't any one person out there who will make your career…except you.
Rick Goetz (center), flanked by Ahmet Ertegun (left) and Jason Flom (right)
Rick Goetz is a musician's life coach with deep roots in the music industry. Throughout his music career he has been a major label A&R representative, a music supervisor, an artist manager, a reality show producer, a bass player and the head of a digital record label. Because of his varied experience he understands the complexities of making music and making a living making music from both the artist and executive perspectives.
As a musician's coach, Rick provides strategic consulting for musicians, songwriters and entertainment executives. For artists he is able to speak from first-hand experience about how to expose their music to a wider audience. For executives he can advise on the politics of working with art and how to create more opportunities for them, and their clients or customers.
Rick's Musician Coaching Site
Rick on Twitter
The Indie Maximum Exposure List by Ariel Hyatt & Friends
Posted in A Day in the Life, Articles, Future Legends, Indie Music, Music Blogosphere | 2 Comments »
Ariel Hyatt has done it again! After laughing at Billboard's recent "Maximum Exposure List" (marketing strategies that only the superstar musicians could even pray to attain), Ariel reached out to her dream team of indie music rock stars to compile a list of tactics that the rest of us can actually use!!!
I'm not above mentioning that I'm on her dream team, and that my tips are included in this amazing white paper. Especially as I'm in good company with other cool indie music peeps like Rick Geotz, Derek Sivers, Lou Plaia, Tom Silverman and more! And it's FREE!
Visit HYPEBOT blog to learn more about this indie music breakthrough white paper.
Get your Indie Maximum Exposure List in pdf format now!
Ariel Hyatt is the founder of Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR, a New York-based digital firm that connects artists, authors and filmmakers to blogs, podcasts, Internet radio stations and social media sites. Educating musicians is her passion and her philosophy is: combine social media with internet marketing to help artists grow their fanbases and increase their income. This is the subject of her book, Music Success in Nine Weeks, which has helped hundreds of musicians navigate the Social Media landscape.
Interview with Ariel Hyatt, Indie Music Publicist and Author of Music Success in Nine Weeks
Posted in Future Legends, Interviews | 2 Comments »
The Rock Star Life Lessons Interview with Ariel Hyatt, Indie Music Publicist and Author of Music Success in Nine Weeks
by Carla Lynne Hall
Rock Star Life Lessons: How has your marketing yourself and your career changed in the last 5 years?
Ariel Hyatt: Wow – great question – it has changed radically…. Since the evolution of Social Media my own PR and marketing has shifted from making our promotion and marketing all about a one way conversation: Hey artists: We have been in business 12 years and look at our reputation! Coupled with the fact that I was very much in the background as the "pitcher" to the writers writing releases and telling a very one sided story using press releases and mail and phone call follow -ups.
Now the primary marketing tool that I employ my expertise and how I can share what I have learned being on the court to help musicians understand not only the value of social media but also how to do their own PR and Marketing. The more I share, the more Cyber PR seems to flourish because people buy from those that they like and trust and I have built up trust by sharing good ideas and having a two-way conversation in the musicians community in the form of blog posts, vodcasts and newsletters and well as real-life interaction by teaching workshops and bootcamps and paneling at music conferences.
RSLL: What is Cyber PR?
AH: Cyber PR is my online PR firm and we get musicians and authors featured on blogs, podcasts, Internet radio stations, and all over the Internet. We also help artists come up with a social media strategy that works in tandem with a marketing plan so they can take advantage of the new ways to build a fan base and a community online.
RSLL: What do musicians need to know about social networking and/or Web 2.0?
AH: Social media is a wonderful way to engage your fans, meet new people and use cool interactive technology to communicate BUT artists must realize that this is just one piece of the puzzle. The real money and profits comes out of having a strategy and setting goals and working towards them.
I see so many artists that have thousands and thousands of fans on MySpace and on Facebook and they are making no money. The reason is: no one comes to MySpace or Facebook with their credit cards out ready to buy music – they do that at iTunes and on Amazon – so there needs to be a strategy that gets engaged fans away from the cool Web 2.0 portals where we meet and chat and interact into an atmosphere where we are used to BUYING – Amazon, iTunes and live clubs are where fan pull money out of their pockets and buy so if you are only on MySpace and Facebook and you are frustrated about why you sold way less than you expected ask yourself: Where are you asking for money? and how are you asking for money? Is there a strategy behind your asking or are you forgetting to even put a plan into place around this? Or even worse are you forgetting to ask at all because asking for money means you are being too pushy and aggressive and you hate the idea of asking?
You need to look at the Internet just like you look at your telephone or your fax machine – its a way of communicating NOT a place where you just will magically make money without a strategy and some knowledge of how traditional marketing works and a willingness to employ real plans and actions.
RSLL: What are some of your latest product and service offerings for indie musicians?
AH: Aside from Cyber PR campaigns, My best selling product is my book that I released last year. It's called Music Success in Nine Weeks and it is a Nine week program that helps artists do 3 things:
1. Build a bigger fanbase
2. Get more PR (via using Social Media)
3. Earn more money
The way I teach this is by taking artists through a process that helps them:
1. Laser focus their message so that potential fans can understand them
2. Start a two way engaging conversation with all fans
3. Capture vital information (email addresses)
4. Create a plan that is based on traditional marketing so that they are set up for making money
My book comes with a lifetime membership to my closed online forum (which in the interest of full disclosure I will say Carla helps me manage!) where artists can get direct coaching from me and Carla and get a plan in action with the support of other musicians.
You can buy the book here: http://www.cyberprbook.com
AH: Being in control of your own mailing list and start a regular email newsletter and send it at least once a month! This has been the #1 technique that I have noticed works the most effectively for musicians.
AH: I was never a musician so this is a hard question but I would say I would focus on building a community of fans who are engaged and involved with me on a personal and authentic manner. The bands that I meet who are making the most money and having the most success during these weird and uncertain times are the ones who work really hard at knowing who their fans are and what they like, don't like and what they will respond to. These artists also provide a steady stream of communication and music and opportunities to engage with fans – either online or offline.
Thanks Carla – it was fun being interviewed!
Ariel Publicity was founded 12 years ago, and has since represented over 1,400 artists. The publicity game has changed radically over the last few years, so the company went 100% digital to accommodate the new landscape in January of 2007. Cyber PR is currently handling campaigns for artists of all genres and at all levels of their careers.
Ariel's bi-weekly ezine "Sound Advice" has over 6,000 musicians and music professional subscribers. Her first book, Music Success in Nine Weeks, came out in June 2008. She is a contributing blogger to New Music Ideas and Music Think Tank and her articles have been featured in the Discmakers and ASCAP online newsletters. Ariel Publicity also offers Band Letter, a musician's newsletter service to handle fan outreach.
Ariel has spoken at dozens of music conferences including SXSW, The Philly Music Conference, NEMO, The East Coast Music Awards, OCFF, & Les Rencontres (Canada), A2A (Amsterdam), CMJ, BMI Music Panel Series, and The Connective Panel Series.
Ariel's Websites:
Ariel's Blog
Ariel Publicity on Twitter
Ariel Publicity on MySpace
Ariel Publicity on Facebook
Ariel's Products and Services:
Ariel's eBook: Music Success in Nine Weeks
Cyber PR Campaigns
Band Letter Newsletter Services
Review You
Interview with Dayna Steele, Author of Rock to the Top
Posted in Future Legends, Interviews | No Comments »
This week heralds the unearthing of last year's lost indie music reviews, which will culminate with a BRAND NEW interview on success mindset from indie music mogul Derek Sivers. Enjoy!
The Rock Star Life Lessons Interview with Dayna Steele, Author of Rock to the Top
Dayna Steele: The good side is there are many more avenues. The bad side is there are many more avenues and everyone is doing it!
RSLL: In your book, Rock to the Top, you write about musicians like Gene Simmons, Carlos Santana, and Jon Bon Jovi, who have "an entrepreneurial fire". Is it important for musicians today to think of themselves as entrepreneurs? Why or why not?
DS: Anyone in any business has to think of themselves as an entrepreneur if they want to succeed. Competition is fierce in any business and you won't succeed unless you do treat any career like a business. Everyone has to market, network, brand, etc.
RSLL: For your book, Gene Simmons wrote a glowing foreword, which also gives the reader an inkling of the drive that it takes to lead KISS, also known as "The Greatest Band in the World". How did you get him to give up the goods?
DS: I asked for three months. It was either going to be a "yes" or a restraining order. I finally just laid it on the line, this is what I want and this is why you should do it for me. You have to let people know what you want and why they should give it to you. No one reads minds…except maybe your mother.
RSLL: After you left radio, you created an successful online business, The Space Store, that you later sold to a NASA aerospace contractor. What online marketing/promotion tips did you learn that a musician can use?
DS: Keep your website updated weekly if not daily and communicate with your customers/fans. Have a newsletter signup, let them know when there is a new product, an appearance, free stuff. They love free stuff….
RSLL: I also hear that you're an AC/DC fan. What do you think of their decision to only sell physical CDs (no MP3s) of their new CD release, Black Ice via Wal-Mart and ACDC.com?
DS: Brilliant. Hey also have the money to begin with to take such a daring stand. They are a very successful business. They know their fans, they did their research. Very smart. And still adore Brian….
DS: Network like crazy – it's still who you know more than what you know…!
DS: Getting my music online everywhere I could, doing everything I could to get that one great song to "go viral." And make sure you have it all backup with a website, blog, newsletter, quality product, etc. Get organized and run your business!
For years, Dayna was one of the top female rock radio personalities in the USA. During her career and reign as Houston's "First Lady of Radio," she was named one of the 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts by Talkers Magazine and nominated as Local Radio Personality of the Year by Billboard Magazine.
After leaving radio, Dayna created The Space Store , the world's largest space related e-commerce venture which she sold to a NASA aerospace contractor. She then created Smart Girls Rock, a product line to encourage girls to make "smart the new cool" or "geek the new chic." Dayna also founded Operation National Anthem, a series of free videos of U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq offered to venues throughout the country to play prior to the singing of our national anthem. For that, Reader's Digest named Dayna one of the "35 People Who Inspire Us" in the May 2008 issue.
Dayna Steele is the author of Rock to the Top: What I Learned about Success from the World's Greatest Rock Stars with a foreword by KISS superstar Gene Simmons. Dayna captivates audiences across the country with her stories and sage advice learned from the world's greatest rock stars. From students to a national sales force to corporate business gatherings, Dayna Steele rocks her audience through the four essential principles for achieving rock star status and building a stage for success.
Visit DaynaSteele.com
Jeffrey Paul Bobrick Premieres Michael Jackson Tribute Song on Rev Al Sharpton's Radio Show
Posted in A Day in the Life, Celebrities, Future Legends, nyc singer | 2 Comments »
Jeffrey Paul Bobrick
Billboard Award winning singer/songwriter/pianist Jeffrey Paul Bobrick has composed a Michael Jackson tribute song, "Michael", which was produced by Rick Warren. Jeffrey will perform it live on Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network Radio Show on Saturday, July 4, 2009. The radio show can be heard in NYC on 1190 AM at 9-11am. Jeffrey is scheduled to perform at 9:30am. If you do not have access to this station, you should be able to listen live on the Internet through the National Action Network Live Stream.
A long-time fan of Michael Jackson, Jeffrey was compelled to honor his musical hero in song after the star's sudden death on June 25th. "Michael was one of my greatest influences and inspirations," he says, "I saw him perform live multiple times and even had the opportunity to meet him on two occasions. He was incredibly warm and generous during our meetings." When Jeffrey learned that Reverend Al Sharpton's radio show would be honoring Michael Jackson this weekend, Jeffrey immediately submitted his song's lyrics to the show's producers for consideration. Almost as quickly, Jeffrey was invited to perform on Sharpton's National Action Network Radio Show.
Born and raised in New York City, Jeffrey started writing music at a young age and was performing frequently by the time he reached high school. He read Shakespeare at Oxford University, trained in theater at the British America Drama Academy in London and graduated with a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College in New York. After studying as a classical singer and enjoying a successful career as an actor (Off-Broadway, national tours, indie films), Jeffrey released his demo EP "When You Are Free," which won him songwriting honors from Billboard Magazine.
Every Saturday morning since its founding, the National Action Network holds its weekly live action rally and radio broadcast which has been critical to its development. National Action Network (NAN) is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the nation, with numerous local chapters around the country. NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes one standard of just and decency for all people regardless of race, social justice for communities, and the improvement of race relations.
A friend of the Jackson family, Rev. Al Sharpton recently traveled to LA to help with funeral arrangements. During his weekly rally at the National Action Network, Sharpton called for fans to celebrate the star's life and music, and said that he knew Jackson was at peace: "When you get to heaven," he said, looking skyward, "turn around and moonwalk through the gates."
Billboard Award Winning singer/songwriter/pianist Jeffrey Paul Bobrick performs throughout the east coast and is creating a buzz with his "very clever, bright, intelligent songs" (Joey Reynolds, WOR radio). His demo EP, "When You Are Free," is now available. Jeffrey is also in pre-production for a full length CD, slated for release in 2009.
For music samples, news and performance information, go to:
http://ILoveJPB.com
JPB LOVES YOU…keep listening…
7/5/09: JUST ADDED – Here's a video of Jeffrey singing his MJ Tribute song on the NAN show
Michael Jackson Tribute Live on Rev. Al Sharpton with Sharp Talk at National Action Network
Sickle Cell Disease World Day ~ Friday, June 19, 2009
Posted in A Day in the Life, Articles, Future Legends | No Comments »
For the first time this Friday, June 19, 2009, the United Nations will recognize Sickle Cell Disease World Day, and my cousin Shirley Miller will be on hand to share her personal and professional experiences with this life-changing disease.
Sickle Cell Anemia is among the world's foremost, and at times most lethal, genetic diseases. In the United States, 2 million people are carriers of the sickle cell trait. Shirley, who is the advocacy manager for the hematology-oncology research service at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, TX, is one of 70,000 people who are living with this blood disorder, a disease characterized by a shortened lifetime of anemia and a number of other side effects like infections, ulcers, vision loss, strokes and pain crises.
In the 1970s, the median survival of a person with sickle cell disease was 14. Today, the median is 42 for men, 48 for women. At 53 years old, Shirley is an inspiration to the more than 600 patients she works with at Children's Medical Center, and everyone living with the disease.
In her speech to the UN, Shirley will share her hope that the first international recognition day will be "the beginning of a renewed and energized fight for increased access to care and services and eventually a cure for sickle cell disease."
Listen to a live webcast of the UN's Human Rights Council and Shirley's speech this Friday at 10am EST.
Article adapted from Children's Medical Center blog
I am SO proud of my cousin Shirley Hall Miller!!!!
If You're a Musician, You're an Entrepreneur. So Act Like It.
Posted in A Day in the Life, Future Legends, Indie Music, Music Blogosphere | 2 Comments »
One issue that comes up when talking to musicians is that many of them don't believe that they have a business until their music makes money.
If you consider the bad habits that some musicians are known for (being late, flaky, intoxicated, etc), it's not a surprise why their anticipated success does not come. And when I think of the musicians who are getting ahead, they usually have their business together, even if their musical peers don't believe that they're musically talented.
In my opinion, the reality is actually the other way around: Only after you deal with the business side of things will your music make money. When you (not your manager, agent, or mother) are the one managing important day-to-day details like organizing your time, following up with contacts, and evaluating your progress, only then can you expect that your music business will grow.
While percolating on this idea for Musicians Lunch New Orleans, I was inspired to ask Derek Sivers for a different kind of interview. As the creator of CD Baby, he's had a bit of success over the years. Curious girl that I am, I wanted to know what makes success like his possible: What in his mindset enabled him to start the first online CD store for indie musicians??? Interviewers usually ask him about indie music and musicians, and he's generous with sharing what he's learned, but I wanted to dig deeper.
So for the past few days, Derek and I have been emailing back and forth questions and answers on having a success mindset. As usual, he gives answers I never expect, and blows my assumptions out of the water. Regardless of his unexpected responses (which will be featured soon here in the blog), it's obvious that he has a success mindset.
At the ripe age of 14, Derek decided that he was going to be a professional full-time musician, and gave serious thought to what that would mean: no salary, no insurance, no security, no guarantees, etc. Because he understood these facts, he made decisions accordingly in order to be successful in pursuing this goal. He started making money from touring when he was 18. When he was 27, he was able to buy a house in Woodstock, NY from touring.
By the time he had the "one-in-a-million brilliant" idea to create CD Baby, he had already mastered the entrepreneurial skills needed to run a successful company. He makes it sound so easy, but in reality,
Derek Sivers honed his business skills while he was a full-time musician.
If you don't believe me, read his latest blog post What do musicians and entrepreneurs have in common?
If you want more ideas on how to grow your music business, check out the blog posts from November's "Recession-Proof Musician" series! Featuring awesome guest blogs from folks like Seth Godin, Bob Baker, Hugh MacLeod, there's a lot of inspiration to be enjoyed!
The Lost Indie Music Interviews Are Coming!
Posted in A Day in the Life, DIY Diva, Future Legends, Indie Music, Interviews, Musicians Lunch | No Comments »
Indie Music Interviews are Coming!
At the end of last year, I interviewed a boatload of indie music artists and music biz experts, but I had been unable to blog them all before now.
Stay tuned to Rock Star Life Lessons as I'll be sharing tips and lessons from indie music luminaries such as Ariel Hyatt, Matthew Ebel, Natalie Gelman, and more!
Brought to you by Musicians Lunch New Orleans: Saturday, May 23rd 1-3pm.


1. All guns are loaded.
2. Never allow the muzzle to point at anything you're not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger out of the trigger guard and away from the trigger until you are ready to fire.
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind and around it.
Anyone who points a firearm at another person shall be removed from the range.
Violations of any of the Four Basic Rules of Firearms Safety are unacceptable. Anyone who fails to adhere to them at all times may be removed from the range.
cease fire has been declared.
Anyone on the range may call "Cease Fire!" when necessary.
"line is clear" and that it is safe to retrieve your gear.
etc.). Do not handle ammunition or charged magazines in the safe area.
Long guns stored in a rifle rack must be unloaded with the bolt locked to the rear if possible.
When carried on a sling, long guns should have the manual safety "on" at all times.
Always maintain control of the muzzle of any long gun, especially when moving while it is supported by a sling. Do not allow the muzzle to point at another person or in any other unsafe direction if you bend over, turn, etc.


text:
S&P Maintains Stable Outlook on Italian Insurance Industry
In a recently issued study "Insurance Industry Risk Analysis: Italy (Republic of)," Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it is maintaining its stable outlook on the Italian insurance industry. S&P notes that as a consequence "insurer financial strength ratings on the country's insurers are consequently more likely to remain the same than to change."
"The key factors underpinning the industry's stability are strong overall profitability; positive growth prospects, particularly in the life sector; and strong capitalization, sustained by conservative investment policies," stated S&P credit analyst Antonello Aquino, author of the report.
S&P rates Italy's country-risk as "AA-/Negative/A-1+." It "has a relatively prosperous and well-diversified economy that has, however, been stagnant for the past decade," said the bulletin. "This sluggish environment, which has led to a sustained loss of competitiveness and moribund productivity growth, nevertheless has had a limited impact on the insurance industry's strong growth and profitability."
Aquino notes that in the life insurance industry risk is moderately low. He indicated that "despite persistently low yields, market players are protecting profitability by improving risk management and redesigning product offerings. Future growth will likely be supported by the still-low penetration of insurance products, coupled with high savings rates."
S&P found that in the P/C sector "risk is also moderately low. The dominance of personal lines; the relatively short duration of policies (mainly motor) with limited exposure to long-tail business; and the absence of Italy-based reinsurance companies protect the industry from the perils depressing this sector in other countries."
The rating agency also notes two distinctly positive factors enjoyed by Italian P/C insurers: "The P/C industry has been immune to environmental and asbestos risks, and has no exposure to catastrophic risk, the cost of which is fully borne by the state. Profitability is high, with a combined ratio of 95.6 percent for the sector in 2004 that has progressed continuously over the past 10 years."
In the report itself S&P explained: "The dominance of personal lines; the relatively short duration of policies (mainly motor), with limited exposure to long-tail business; and the absence of Italy-based reinsurance companies protect the industry from the perils depressing this sector in other countries."
S&P did indicate that some "marginal risk to P/C insurance may come from slight downward pressure on motor rates. Other risks for P/C are factors external to the sector itself, such as political intervention and upward pressure on motor claim costs from court rulings."
Aquino added that "growth opportunities remain in nonmotor lines, which in Italy are still underdeveloped compared with those of European peers."
In its overall analysis S&P said: "Italy enjoys a relatively prosperous and well-diversified economy, with projected GDP per capita of nearly $31,000 for 2005. The country's EMU membership has cut borrowing costs and offers protection from potential balance-of-payments pressures. With an estimated nominal GDP of about $1.7 trillion in 2004, Italy is the world's sixth-largest economy. In the past decade, however, the economy has stagnated, resulting in a loss of competitiveness and moribund productivity growth. » S&P said this was the proinciple reason it had lowered the country's foreign currency and local currency sovereign credit ratings "to the actual 'AA-' in 2004, from foreign currency 'AA' and local currency 'AAA' in 1995."
The report is available to subscribers of RatingsDirect, Standard & Poor's Web-based credit research and analysis system, at www.ratingsdirect.com. If you are not a RatingsDirect subscriber, you may purchase a copy of the report by calling (1) 212-438-9823 or sending an e-mail to research_request@standardandpoors.com. Ratings information can also be found on Standard & Poor's public Web site at www.standardandpoors.com; under Credit Ratings in the left navigation bar, select Find a Rating, then Credit Ratings Search.
Categories: International NewsTopics: Economy, Italy, Operations, P/C Industry, P&C Companies, Personal Lines, Reinsurance, Risk Management
NYPD Adopts Clearer Penalties for Excessive Force, Racial Bias
Applied Specialty Underwriters Names Black to Lead Middle Market Surplus Lines


BALLET BODY - Join local Del Mar fitness expert, Nikol Klein, at the Lorna Jane Del Mar studios for Ballet Body - a strengthening and toning workout just like dancers do to stay in top shape. Participants will need proper athletic footwear and a mat.
Fridays and Saturdays at 10:15 am - 12 slots available.
ADULT BEGINNER BALLET - Channel your inner ballerina with Nikol's beginner ballet class. This is a traditional "real" ballet technique class. Ballet slippers or socks are acceptable footwear.
Tuesdays at 5:15 pm. Cost is $15 - 10 slots available.
To reserve a spot for Adult Beginner Ballet - Call Nikol Klein at (858) 598-5157 or submit payment below.
*All class payments are non-refundable or transferrable. If you are unable to attend a class you pre-paid for, you will not be refunded for the space you reserved.


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Joe Scarborough on Donald Trump rally: 'It's Elvis in '77 ... sweating, trying to sing the old hits'
President Donald Trump speaks during his reelection kickoff rally at the Amway Center, Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) more >
By Andrew Blake - The Washington Times - Wednesday, June 19, 2019
MSNBC co-host Joe Scarborough drew parallels Wednesday between President Trump's reelection rally the night before and a performance by Elvis Presley shortly prior to his passing.
"I mean no disrespect to the king of rock and roll, but this is Elvis in '77," Mr. Scarborough said during his "Morning Joe" program. "Just kind of lumbering across the stage, sweating."
Mr. Scarborough made the comparison as the program's hosts discussed Mr. Trump's rally Tuesday night in Orlando, Florida, where the president officially launched his 2020 campaign with a speech rife with attacks targeting the "fake new" and former Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, among others.
"Seriously, it's Elvis in '77, sweating, trying to sing the old hits, but his heart's just not really in it," said Mr. Scarborough. "They know what he's going to sing before he sings it. They know all the words. And the guy who was once so exciting now is just dull."
"He's still attacking Hillary Clinton and doing 'lock her up' things," said Mr. Scarborough.
Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977 of cardiac arrhythmia following years of prescription drug abuse. He was 42.
Peter Guralnick, a writer who attended one of Presley's final concerts, previously described watching "sweat sheets" drip down the singer's "pale, swollen cheeks," comparing him to a "creature out of a Hollywood monster film" and calling his performance a "grotesque transcendence."


Features a 3D printed sterling silver model of the old Eastern span of the Bay Bridge, connecting Oakland with Treasure Island. It's being torn down right now. Silver pieces are treated with patina to accent details and for an antique finish. Pendant comes on sterling silver necklace chain.The standard necklace length for this item is 18". If you prefer a different necklace length, please let us know in the comments section at checkout.
Model dimensions are approximately 2.6" x .7" x .25". Each model is first 3D printed in an extra high definition casting wax. The wax model is then used to cast the final part through classic investment casting.


The gentle exfoliant you need in your routine.
Thanks to our heightened awareness of the skin barrier—and what we're doing to sabotage it—we've become more wary of the products we use on our skin. This is especially relevant when it comes to skincare containing acids.And while salicylic and glycolic acids work wonders for many of us, overuse can leave the skin irritated and weaken the skin barrier. Not to mention that they're not always suitable for those with sensitive skin.
In comes lactic acid—the sensitive skin hero that works to slough away dead skin and eliminate discolouration, minus the irritation.
Considering working this gentle acid into your routine? Here, we break down everything you need to know about lactic acid.
So, what exactly is a lactic acid? "Lactic acid is part of the group of Alpha Hydroxy acids (AHAs), and is a naturally occurring carboxylic acids that's found in many foods," says Emma Hobson, Education Manager for Dermalogica and the International Dermal Institute. "It's a non-friction type exfoliant which works by breaking down and dissolving the structure of dead skin cells without causing sensitivity."
WHAT DOES LACTIC ACID DO FOR OUR SKIN?
When applied to the skin, lactic acids "stimulate the exfoliation of surface skin cells by interfering with the bonding between these cells. This causes the sloughing off of dull, rough skin and promotes cellular renewal by increasing cell turnover rates in the upper layers of your skin (epidermis), so you have younger, plumper skin cells within the skin," says Hobson.
Lactic acid is a true multi-tasker—it increases the ceramides in the skin's protective barrier; it increases water retention; it works to prevent congestion; it improves pigmentation.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU USE A LACTIC ACID?
Although lactic acid is one of the gentler acids on offer, you should still refrain from using one too regularly. "Once or twice a week is best for most skin types," says Hobson.
WILL A LACTIC ACID IRRITATE MY SKIN?
As mentioned above, lactic acids are one of the gentler AHAs on offer, however overuse, or use of a higher concentration, can still lend itself to irritation. "Higher concentrations of AHAs, though more active, can have an irritating effect on the skin causing redness and inflammation," says Hobson.
When it comes to deciding which lactic acid is best for you, you should be looking at both the percentage of the acid in the product, and also the pH level of the formula. According to Hobson, lactic acids "work best at a lower pH. For home care use products should be about 10% or less with an optimal pH of around 3.5-4.0."
WHICH SKIN TYPES WORK BEST WITH LACTIC ACID?
Unsurprisingly, lactic acids are a good all-rounder when it comes to use by specific skin types. "Lactic Acid is good for more mature skin, acne skin or sensitive skin types," says Hobson. "This acid is beneficial for almost all skin types including acneic skin."
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT LACTIC ACIDS?
"Whilst both glycolic Acid and lactic Acid affect the skin layers in the same way, there are additional beneficial effects unique to Lactic Acid," says Hobson. "It helps stimulate collagen synthesis, improve skin texture, the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin discolouration by reducing hyperpigmentation." And as mentioned before, this acid benefits all skin types, something not many other acids can guarantee.
WHAT ARE THE BEST LACTIC ACID PRODUCTS TO USE?
When it comes to lactic acid, there are many ways that you could incorporate the ingredient into your routine.
If you're after a lactic acid-rich cleanser, you can't go past the Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Cleanser ($63 at Adore Beauty) and Kate Somerville's 'Exfolikate' Cleanser ($55 at MECCA).
Or if you prefer a serum, cult-favourite skincare brand, The Ordinary, offers two concentration levels of their lactic Acid serum: Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2% ($12.40 at Adore Beauty)— best suited to those with super sensitive skin—and Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% ($12.70 at Adore Beauty). Another great serum option for those with sensitive skin is Sunday Riley's Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment ($154 at MECCA), which contains a 5 per cent concentration.
And if masks are more your thing, look no further than Murad's Hydro-Glow Aqua Peel ($68 at Sephora), or the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Intensive Peel ($63 at Sephora).
BeautyShould You Be Using A Serum With Ferulic Acid?


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Q: Stochastik of triangle Angle As an electrical engineer I am interested in the phase shift of two signals. At one specific moment I can identify the phasor of a signal as a vector in the complex plane. To transfer the problem into math:
I've got two 2D-vectors $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$, which both change random in time, but are somehow dependend of each other. I am able to measure the average and the maximum absolute value of the length of both vectors for a certain period of time. Additionally, I am able to measure the average and the maximum of the length of the geometric sum $|\vec{a}+\vec{b}|$ of the two vectors.
Now, I want to use the law of cosines $|\vec{a}+\vec{b}|^2 = |\vec{a}|^2+|\vec{b}|^2-2|\vec{a}||\vec{b}|cos(\varphi)$ to tell something of the statistic of the phase $\pi - \varphi$ between both vectors.
I am kind of worried whether the average of the phase is possible to determine in that way since I killed the phase information previously by taking the absolute values. Is it as simple as that?

A: If you know $|a+b|$, $|a|$, and $|b|$ at a particular timestep, you can certainly calculate the cosine of the angle between them using (essentially; I think you made a typo) the method you described:
$$\cos(\varphi)=-\frac{|a+b|^2-|a|^2-|b|^2}{2|a||b|}.$$
Unfortunately, if all you know are the average (and maximum) lengths of $a$, $b$, and $a+b$, you can't get any distributional information on $\cos(\varphi)$ (or any other function of $\varphi$) -- it's not necessarily true that
$$\mathbb E[f(x,y,z)] = f(\mathbb E[x], \mathbb E[y], \mathbb E[z])$$
if $f$ is some "complicated" (non-linear) function.
If, however, you are able to make this calculation at every timestep, then you can compute $\cos(\varphi)$ for every timestep, and thus whatever else you want involving the distribution of $\varphi$.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Hospital-Based Medicine > Graduate Medical Education
New Medical Drama 'The Resident' Scores with TV Viewers (TVLine)
— 'Pessimistic view' of healthcare draws big audience for premiere
by MedPage Today Staff January 22, 2018
Almost nine million people watched Fox's new medical drama, "The Resident," which easily dominated its time slot among key audiences during its inaugural broadcast, according to entertainment website TVLine.
The drama follows a third-year resident (Matt Czurchy, "The Good Wife") and his corrupt boss, and was described in other reviews as "a pessimistic view of modern healthcare."
TVLine reported a "healthy" start for the show, which aired immediately after Fox's coverage of the NFC championship football game -- historically a strong platform from which to launch new shows.
"The Resident" airs its second episode tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern time, which may give a better sense of the show's future prospects.


Cafe Don Pablo | Gourmet Coffee Beans | Taste the difference!
Looking to automatically receive your coffee every month? Browse through all of our products to see about our monthly subscriptions.
At Cafe Don Pablo Coffee, we believe that a cup of coffee is never just a cup of coffee. That's why we're proud to craft gourmet coffee beans unlike any other, slow-roasting each batch to perfection to bring you a cup of specialty grade artisan coffee every morning. When it comes to coffee, nothing beats the quality of an artisan-crafted brew.
We're committed to quality above all else – and that starts with the bean. Our deep ties to the most prestigious coffee-growing regions in North, South and Central America as well as India, Indonesia Africa & Asia gives us unparalleled access to the world's best coffee beans, allowing for top quality coffee. Our deep ties to the most prestigious coffee-growing regions in South and Central America give us unparalleled access to the world's best coffee beans, allowing for top quality coffee. We put the beans through a traditional, finely-tuned artisanal roasting process that ensures a consistent world-class taste. Because we never roast our coffee overseas and only roast in small batches close to our distribution centers, you know you're getting the freshest beans possible.
Even the best roasting process is useless without premium quality beans – and at Cafe Don Pablo, ours are unmatched. We source our beans from small, authentic farms in the best coffee-growing regions in the world, and as a family-run coffee company, the personal relationships with farmers we form allows us to choose the best beans from the crop. Through years of trust and relationship-building, we can identify the best production regions, choosing only the beans that grow where conditions are perfect.
We put a lot of hard work and care into our coffee, and we invite you to experience it. Browse our full range of coffees to see everything we have to offer, and feel free to either order coffee online or find a location to purchase in store. We've worked to prepare your coffee to perfection and we hope that each cup brings a smile to your lips.
Sumatra Mandheling-Full bodied syrupy and with a muted acidity, notes of roasted caramel, and hints of chocolate combine with an earthy, woody, spicy aroma and a very smooth cocoa finish.
The slight caramelization of the natural sugars in the bean give this Medium Raosted coffee a touch of roastiness, while it still retains its natural flavor character, giving it a sweet, pleasant aftertaste. 100% Arabica Coffee, Non GMO.
We have a very limited supply of these special beans, so try some today!
I think it was 9 years ago that I sampled your coffee for the first time at Costco. Like a lot of shoppers, I grabbed a cup and kept walking. The first sip stopped me in my tracks (which can be dangerous at Costco.) The second had me making a fast u-turn to get my first bag of Don Pablo. I have been an extraordinarily loyal customer ever since.
Thanks for your dedication to your craft, and for keeping your prices very reasonable!
We love this coffee… We followed Mr. Burke's suggestions for grinding and brewing and are very happy with the full-bodied, delicious taste of this coffee without any bitterness!
I honestly have NEVER tasted a finer coffee blend at anywhere near this price… Someone down in Florida really knows the in's and outs's of blending and roasting beans. To sum it all up; This coffee is a bargain when compared to "grocery gourmets". It's smooth, flavorful, well roasted and inexpensive. Kudos to Don Pablo!
This is an excellent bean that gives you a clean full flavor brew and brew. For the amount that this costs and the quality it delivers, it is one of the best deals going.
I don't leave many reviews but I had to review this coffee… I made my first cup and took a sip. Oh my goodness! This coffee is amazing. Not a hint of bitterness! Just fresh, a bit naturally sweet, robust coffee. I'm a convert! I'll use up my ground coffees, but this is the coffee I'm buying from now on.
This is the best coffee on the planet. It was fresh and smells great during grinding and even more during the brewing process. Everyone I have had try this orders some for themselves.


Sorry zombie lovers, Walking Dead isn't going to become the zombie version of Twilight.
There's still a lengthy wait until Walking Dead season 2 hits AMC in the fall, but series creator Robert Kirkman has at least started talking about it. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Kirkman confirmed a few of the show's upcoming story events, and sadly(?) nixed any possibility of zombie on human action.
"I can absolutely rule that out," Kirkman said when asked if zombies and humans would ever get it on. "That's just awful."
So vampire on human is fine, but zombie on human is "awful?" That sounds zombieist to me. On second thought, he's totally right. Bad idea.
Kirkman also said that there won't be a big time difference between season 1 and season 2. The cast will still be reacting to the event that occurred at the end of the first season. Similar to how the Walking Dead comic book operates, Kirkman revealed that more characters will both die and be introduced to the show's group of survivors. However, main character Rick is sticking around at least for the entirety of season 2.
For fans that hope to ever find out where Walking Dead's zombies come from, another comment from Kirkman might break your hearts. "I don't know if we'll ever tell people how the zombies came about," he said. "I don't think it's important to the story which is about characters. When you delve into where they come from it delves into science fiction." Understandable, I suppose.
Walking Dead season 2 is expected to start airing in October.


Is that camp still there? It seems like a very nice experience. Cute picture of you.
Sounds like a beautifully rounded education. I would have loved the early morning walk routine, and the sugar free routine would have been good for me, but I wonder if I could have endured.


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iPhone SE Goes On Sale: Here's How to Buy Apple's Phone
By Cherlynn Low 24 March 2016
Everything you need to know about pre-ordering the iPhone SE.
If you're eager to get your hands on Apple's new iPhone SE, you certainly have a lot of options. The 4-inch smartphone goes on sale today (March 24), and it's available through all four major wireless carriers as well as Apple.
Apple took the wraps off its latest smartphone earlier this week. The $399 iPhone SE features a 4-inch screen along the same A9 processor and 12-megapixel rear camera found in Apple's iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. The new phone also supports Apple Pay. It arrives in stores on March 31.
Already in love and want to make sure you get the iPhone SE as soon as it's available? Here's how to buy yourself one now.
MORE: iPhone SE vs. 6 vs. 6s - What Should You Get?
Where Can I Get the iPhone SE?
Carriers such as AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon have already opened up their pre-order pages, so you can go and buy the new phone already. You'll get the device in your hands as soon as March 31, depending on how early you submit your order.
You can also pre-order the iPhone SE via Apple's website, where you can pick any carrier-branded version of the phone, or even go SIM-free.
Other retailers, such as Best Buy, Walmart and Amazon, have yet to announce that they're offering the iPhone SE, but it is likely that they will have the device available soon. We will update this story with that information as it happens.
How Much Does the iPhone SE Cost?
The iPhone SE is available in 16GB and 64GB capacities that cost $399 and $499, respectively if you choose to pay the full price up front. With carrier financing, though, you can break your payments up into 20 to 30 monthly payments to get the new iPhone at a more manageable rate.
On AT&T, you can choose to pay for the 16GB iPhone SE over 20, 24 or 30 months at $20, $16.67 and $13.34 installments, respectively. T-Mobile and Verizon both sell the 16GB model for 24 monthly payments of about $16.66, and the 64GB version for about $20.83.
MORE: The Best Cell Phone Carriers in America
Sprint offers special pricing, letting you get a free iPhone SE if you sign a two-year contract. If you don't want to be tied down with a two-year plan, you can also pay for the phone over 24 months with payments of $16.67 each month for the 16GB model.
Those who signed up for Sprint's iPhone Forever leasing program will be disappointed to learn that the iPhone SE does not qualify for that annual upgrade program. Sprint says iPhone Forever offers a "next generation iPhone every year," and that the SE is not considered to be a "next generation device."
Right now, none of the carriers are sweetening the deal with their own promotions. Apple, however, offers a Trade Up With Installments plan that lets you get the new iPhone for as low as $10 a month. Depending on the phone you trade in, you can get the iPhone SE for between $10 and $14 per month.
Is Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program Worth It?
Best Cellphone Plans - Family, Single-Line, International
Apple Trade Up with Installments Plan: What You Need to Know


At Ann Taylor, I was charged with reinventing the 60-year-old brand's visual identity and voice. A new creative team was assembled and we launched the brand's new look and feel along with an updated lifestyle story across all channels in Fall 2015. Examples shown from the brand book illustrate the new mission of the brand as well as new identity work.
AnnTaylor.com was refreshed with updated navigation, a cleaner layout and new editorial features and seasonal stories to highlight product, provide styling direction and to build the brand's personality and lifestyle.
Kate Spade Saturday kicked off 2014 with a year-long campaign celebrating why "Saturday Is . . ." the best day ever. The multi-channel campaign featured spirited lifestyle imagery and video shot by Cass Bird. And every Saturday we celebrated the best day of the week with in-store events and social media activities. We encouraged everyone to tweet or instagram what their "#SaturdayIs" and featured responses on a dedicated page on the site.
Kate Spade Saturday launched as a web-only retailer in the United States with Saturday.com. We collaborated with the digital agency HUGE to create a socially-integrated and content-rich site. Users are able to log-in using their social networks to shop with personalized features and gaming capabilities. Product pages were designed to feature multiple editorial, styling and fit stories as well as user-generated imagery. See examples of our content here.
In addition to the copy and design on the site, the creative team directed all online photography for both content, on-model and stills.
Kate Spade Saturday launched in March 2013 as a new global lifestyle brand created to channel the spirit of Saturday seven days a week. It is a younger, more accessible sister in the kate spade new york family, but shares the same DNA: it is colorful, optimistic and bold, but it expresses these values in a more casual way. The line includes apparel, handbags, accessories and items for the home. Kate Spade Saturday launched with a flagship store in Tokyo and online in the United States with Saturday.com. Our arrival was supported by print and digital advertising, a teaser site and a parade in Tokyo. Stores soon followed in Los Angeles, Houston, New York City, Boston and Singapore.
Going to an impromptu picnic in the park? Or snuck out of work for a movie matinee? You might need a blanket to sit on or a jean jacket to cover up. The Kate Spade Saturday 24-Hour Window Shops make it easy and fast to get fun, summer product to you anywhere, anytime in NYC in less than an hour.
In June 2013, Kate Spade Saturday teamed up with Ebay's Retail Innovation Group to create four one month pop-up window shops in New York City. Using a touch screen on the store windows shoppers could "window shop" and have their purchases delivered anywhere in 1 hour—via bike messengers dressed in Kate Spade Saturday yellow!
Ebay brought the technology and logistics and we brought the experience and fun. Read more about this here, here and here.
The Creative Team at Kate Spade Saturday was responsible for designing, writing and naming all branded materials—from price-tags to product. The following is a small sampling of what we created.
Kate Spade Saturday stores and Saturday.com were created to house original creative content, display user-generated content and share social chatter so that no matter where our girl shopped, she had that same spirited user experience online at Saturday.com or at a shop in Singapore.
The creative team at Kate Spade Saturday created all content for the site, our blog Saturdaily, and also launched and maintained our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feed.
Read press about our in-store iPad content here.
Kate Spade Saturday weekly emails were conceived, written, shot and designed by the creative team. Here is a small sampling of the work we produced.
As the Art Director for newly launched Vogue.com, I was responsible translating the magazine's print identity to the online space, while also helping to direct and create Vogue.com-owned branded content.
The first Vogue.com-exclusive editorial imagery to illustrate seasonal "how-to-wear" stories.
See press about it here and here.
Every season, Vogue.com provides robust reporting from the front row of each fashion week in NYC, London, Paris and Milan. Coverage also included exclusive access to preview shows the night before and the behind-the-scenes shots at each show.
As Art Director, I commissioned photographers to elevate our backstage imagery and create beautiful photos in their own right—and most importantly—to showcase the humor, the humanity and the artfulness of the industry.
The Fall 2011 campaign, featuring the actress Bryce Dallas Howard, made its way to billboards in NYC and LA, print media, taxi tops, shopping bags and street teams in the US and Asia. Sticking true to our "Understated is Overrated" philosophy, we passed out bright pink and red flower pins to accessorize any outfit (or dog).
After the March 2011 tsunami, Kate Spade New York supported earthquake relief efforts and also their Kate Spade Japan colleagues with a limited-edition charity tote. The tote sold out, but the message stayed and eventually became a larger product line that continues to be sold in Kate Spade Japan shops.
The Westward Campaign was a travel-themed handbag collaboration between Kate Spade New York and stylists Emily Current and Merritt Elliott.
During "The Year of Color,'" each month featured a new hue to showcase product. Here is how we translated "black and white" for the month of July.
Everyone, everywhere deserves Nice Hair.
"Declare Nice Hair" was the Bumble and bumble rallying call for the 2011 Holiday campaign and we encouraged everyone, everywhere to "do their part" and "comb together" to spread the nice hair movement.
The program was built around ways to share and wear nice hair: a gift box with product and a hair comb, classic hairstyling brushes, and a travel kit to allow you to "go in style."
In 2009, Bumble and bumble launched its first hair gel, setting out to redefine a medium that traditionally had been a classic hairdressers's tool, but hadn't evolved with the times or technology. Bb.Gel allowed stylists to create sculptural looks reminiscent of gels' usage in the past or more avant-garde styles with sure-hold Gellac.


These great value universal microlights by XLC offer two modes of extra visibility with up to 160 hours ultra bright LED runtime.
Have you found the XLC Mini Beamer Bug Light Set Cheaper?
What do you think of XLC Mini Beamer Bug Light Set?


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Part III of Exploring Mesothelioma: Prognosis and Physical Effects
'Exploring Mesothelioma: Prognosis and Physical Effects' is part three of a four-part series, which looks at a rare and deadly form of cancer that primarily attacks victims who were exposed to asbestos—a toxic substance abundantly used to manufacture common household products through the later part of the 20th century.
"You have cancer."
These are words that no one ever wants to hear. The very utterance of the word 'cancer' elicits powerful emotions in most people, namely fear and despair, and for good reason: it is one contemporary crisis of human health that medical science has yet to conclusively overcome.
For victims of mesothelioma, the prognosis is particularly grave. A typical post-diagnosis lifespan is less than two years and often no more than a few months. Much of the disease's lethal nature can be traced to the abnormally long time that it takes to develop, as well as the difficulty in medically evaluating its primary symptoms.
The sad fact is that most victims do not receive a mesothelioma diagnosis until it is too late for treatment to be very effective. This is partially attributable to the ambiguous nature of most of its symptoms and partially linked to the fact that most people at risk for mesothelioma do not identify themselves as so. Because the gap between its primary cause—exposure to asbestos—and the formation of the cancer itself is so large, mesothelioma has often been called a "silent killer." It tends to sneak up on its victims, with little to no warning, many years after the exposure that created it.
How quickly it is caught so that treatment may be started is the primary determining factor in an individual mesothelioma prognosis—the sooner that treatment commences, the better the chances of possible remission.
Other factors that play a role include the age of the patient, the type of treatment(s) and the length and intensity of the patient's past exposure to asbestos. Whether or not the individual is a smoker also influences the prognosis of pleural mesothelioma, as cigarette smoking is believed to augment the damage done by asbestos abrasions in the lining of the lungs, where it forms.
The physical effects of mesothelioma are great—weight loss, muscle weakness, extreme fatigue, difficulty breathing and pain in the chest, abdomen or back are all common manifestations. Discomforts associated with advanced-stage mesothelioma can be severe enough to warrant the use of prescription painkillers and challenge the patient's breathing.
In addition, the side effects of common mesothelioma treatments serve to exacerbate the physical consequences of the cancer. Common therapy methods, including chemo and radiation, wreak havoc on the healthy cells of the body as they kill those for which they are intended. The resulting effects can include everything from nausea and vomiting, all the way to the formation of additional, different forms of cancer and permanent damage to other major organs.
Fortunately the advent of newer, less destructive treatments are bringing hope for both a lessening of the physical effects accountable to mesothelioma and the prognosis of its future.