I love the fall. Of course, I prefer it when it's not 80 degrees, because that's what July is for according to my Massachusetts-raised equilibrium. But the leaves turn their beautiful colors and fall on my car, we buy pumpkins for the sole purpose of cutting them up and putting them on the front doorstep, the cobwebs in the corners become "decor," and I'm busier than I ever am the rest of the year.
If you're a horror writer and you're not busy in October, are you really working? This very newsletter took a week to put together because I was madly dashing about the country, and it won't let up until December, if the calendar can be believed.
The various shenanigans at work this month will be detailed below, but a highlight for me was the news that four (4) of my submissions have been accepted by the River Bluff Review, in the last year I will be eligible to submit to them. The RBR accepted a short story (my first literary acceptance!); two poems (another first!); and a photograph, which is this month's featured photo at the end of this newsletter.
I'm deeply honored that the student editors of the RBR chose to accept all four of my submissions, and look forward to celebrating with them and the other writers sometime in the future.
Finally… my actual diploma arrived this month from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, declaring that I have received a master of science degree in media studies as of August 2022. No take backs: I'm now The Master. (Cue the Doctor Who jokes.) I will be participating in the December commencement, which feels a little silly because Zod willing I will be graduating again in May with the second masters. But any excuse for a party! Seriously, that degree has been finished for months now, but there's something marvelous about the tangible proof. Two degrees down, one to go…
I'm happy to report our charity book sale at Leclaire Parkfest raised more than $900 for the American Cancer Society, and the leftover books were dispersed to the SIUE Head Start program, to Phi Kappa Phi for distribution to area Little Free Libraries, and the rest to Metro East Literacy to support their programs throughout the region. Many thanks to the volunteers who made it a fun, productive day!
This is a cause that means a great deal to me, moreso now than ever. If you follow me on social media or read "Under the Orange Tree," you know that cancer took my Uncle Brian from my family at the end of October, adding yet another name of my loved ones to the cancer rolls. Thank you to everyone who has expressed their sympathy to me and my family in our time of grief; it was deeply appreciated.
I was also happy to participate in a group signing at the Smithton (Ill.) Public Library in October, and will be returning to the Collinsville Public Library in December.
Of course, one of the highlights of my year is the annual Society of Professional Journalists conference, which took place the last week of October in Washington D.C. The travelogue began while I was still in DC, complete with photos, but the more extensive look at the historic sites I visited and photographed is pending.
Did I mention you can get all those awesome travelogues by subscribing to my Patreon? I haven't? Well, you should totally do that, for $1 a month.
I was also quite pleased to participate in a panel on Freelancing 201 at the conference, which kind of tickled me since I still feel like a 101 level after four years. The audience was great, with good questions and they laughed at (some of) my jokes. That's all I ask, folks!
All this month I'm running Nanowrimo for the Eville Writers, as well as the events below. The calendar for next year is starting to take shape, so if you were interested in inviting me to your local convention or book festival, speak up soon!
• Books-a-Million, Edwardsville, Ill. Nov. 19
• Collinsville (Ill.) Library Holiday Market, Dec. 3
• Writers of the Riverbend, Alton, Ill. Feb. 4, 2023
• AWP Conference, Seattle, Wash. March 8-11 (attending)
• Authorcon, Williamsburg, Va. March 31-April 2 (tent.)
• GRADUATION, May 5
• ConCarolinas, Charlotte, N.C. June 2-4 (tent.)
• TechWrite STL, St. Louis. Date TBA.
• Imaginarium, Louisville, Ky. July 14-16 (tent.)
• SPJ Conference, Las Vegas. Sept. 28-Oct. 1
Journalism/Blogs
• Helping books find a home for the cause (ElizabethDonald)
• Archon 45 is a smash! (ElizabethDonald)
• Changes coming to Highland's school construction project (Highland News-Leader)
• Worker's Rights Amendment aims to protect Labor rights in Illinois (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• City Council moves forward to annex land for school (Highland News-Leader)
• Large solar farm under construction near Highland (Highland News-Leader)
• U.S. Department of Labor awards apprenticeship grants in Illinois (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Highland leaders hope to expand business district (Highland News-Leader)
• Gov. Pritzker makes major push for Worker's Rights Amendment (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Want to know what's going on in Highland? There's an app for that (Highland News-Leader)
• One on One: Julie Lock of Food Outreach (Feast Magazine)
Fiction/Photography
• Not (Patreon)
• Fright Fest (Patreon)
Patreon/Medium
• Art for art's sake (Patreon)
• Ms. Donald goes to Washington Pt. 1 (Patreon)
• Under the orange tree (Patreon and Medium)
A nightmarish funhouse turned deadly.
A couple trapped in a futile journey through time.
A single baleful eye watching from the deep.
An assassin waiting in a snow-covered tree.
A toy that seems to have a life of its own.
A pair of soldiers trapped between death and something worse.
A tenebrous hand reaching out of the shadows.
These are the award-winning tales and terrors of Elizabeth Donald, writer of things that go chomp in the night. This new anniversary edition is being released 20 years after the first story was published, now including a bonus short story and the author's reflections on twenty years of twilight tales.
In that space between evening and nightfall, between consciousness and sleep, the moment when the light fades and the shadows take over… These are the lands of the Setting Suns.
Signed copies direct from me
August linkspam
Gee, Elizabeth, this newsletter sorta skipped a month. What happened to July?
Well, folks, there was this thesis… Only two years late! Technically not "late," as one has six years from the point where one finishes the coursework to complete a thesis in order to get their masters degree. There was this pandemic, you see, and pivoting to teaching online, and then I launched a completely different masters program, and and and…
But this summer, I dug in and finished the thesis. It is currently awaiting defense and final approval by the Graduate School. It is my sincere hope that by the next newsletter, I will be the recipient of a masters of science in media studies, and embarking on my final year of the MFA.
In the meantime, freelance nonfiction work is really picking up, and I'll be returning as an adjunct professor and graduate instructor at two universities in the fall. I also had the pleasure of working with high-school students for two sessions at the SIUE Youth Writing Camp this summer, and continuing my usual appearances at book fairs, libraries, festivals and conventions. I also took another class toward the MFA, on teaching creative writing via memoir. What, me busy?
And there's this other thing. Which I can't share. Not yet. Once the contracts are signed, I can *mmmmmf*
Reviewing June and July: I launched the summer tour at ConCarolinas in Charlotte, N.C., which was a terrific time and a great chance to see folks I haven't seen since before the world ended. In July, I got to see practically everyone else on that list at Imaginarium in Louisville, Ky. I held two workshops there: the first on "So You Wanna Be a Writer" going through the creative process with an eye to publication, and "Don't Quit Your Day Job," on the business side of being a writer. These workshops went really well, and I may develop them further as I go into my "Writer in the World" project this fall in MFA-land.
I also spoke to the Plethora of Pens writers' group in Glen Carbon, Ill. on July 11, and added the Collinsville Library Book Fair at the very last minute on July 30.
Coming up in August: It's actually pretty light! Much of my schedule was cleared to deal with the thesis defense and whatever revisions will be necessary, and then the semester begins in about three weeks. So we'll call that "free time."
Also: the latest issue of Quill Magazine referenced the controversy a few months ago when my chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists challenged the governor of Missouri to stop threatening prosecution of journalists for *checks notes* doing journalism. Here's the report if you're interested.
I was part of an author roundtable on Sean Taylor's excellent writing blog in June, discussing how we balance ideas and projects. "I've been told that perhaps I focus too much on the salability of a project, perhaps to the detriment of the art. That's possibly true, but there's also a lot of privilege to the idea that we should do art first and market second. When you have the rent paid by other means, maybe you can do art first. But when you feed your family by the written word, you need to prioritize what you can sell and keep your work out where the eyeballs can find it." Full column here.
• St. Louis SPJ Journalist Boot Camp, Sept. 24
• Tharp sworn in as state senator (St. Louis Labor-Tribune)
• Highland residents to pay higher trash fee (Highland News-Leader)
• Judge candidates elected despite write-in ballot (St. Louis Labor-Tribune)
• HCS subscribers to get refund following outage (Highland News-Leader)
• Illinois moves to make 'right to work' illegal (St. Louis Labor Tribune)
• Highland police get three-year contract (Highland News-Leader)
• Highland passes $40 million school referendum (Highland News-Leader)
• Highland will open public restrooms during festivals – providing people behave (Highland News-Leader)
• Developer plans high-end apartments for historic hotel (Highland News-Leader)
• Highland votes to move forward on controversial storage facility (Highland News-Leader)
• New program allows low-income kids outside district to get library cards (Highland News-Leader)
• Highland board declines proposal for storage facility (Highland News-Leader)
• Family tax relief from Democrat-sponsored bill (Highland News-Leader)
*mmmmmmf* I can't tell you. Shh. Shenanigans afoot.
• A second life (Medium)
• The coffeehouse chairs (Medium)
• Freedom Day 2022 (Patreon)
• Hey new people! (Patreon)
• Kitty! (Patreon)
• Imaginarium is a wrap! (Patreon)
• The beauty halo (Patreon)
• Follow me, scribes (Patreon)
• So where do you get your ideas? (Patreon)
• Where are you from? (Patreon)
Are you a subscriber to my newsletter, which has this and much more, including photo of the month, coupons and freebies etc.? Well, you should! Don't worry – I'm way too busy to spam you more than once a month. Click here to be assimilated.
Journalists in fiction… again
I'm delighted to report that the St. Louis Writer's Guild has asked me to talk to them about how to portray journalists in fiction.
This is pretty much my biggest soapbox, as you know if you've been following me for any length of time. The Thesis That Will Not Die is focused on journalists' representation in film, ranging from Spotlight to Die Hard, under the cultivation theory of media consumption. Like most academic theories, it uses convoluted language to explain that which is patently obvious: watching media that portrays a group negatively leads to negative impressions of that group. Representation matters.
I've done this kind of talk before, usually to pop culture convention panels where we discuss how the movies have mangled us. I haven't done it for a group solely comprised of writers before, and I'm quite happy for the opportunity. I've said many times at cons and writing panels: If you've got a journalist in your story, for the sake of Edward R. Murrow, talk to a journalist. You wouldn't write a brain surgeon or a police officer or a deep-sea explorer without doing research; don't assume that you know how journalism works because you've read the news.
At any rate, I'm looking forward to this opportunity, and thank the Writer's Guild for inviting me. I'm not sure if it's open to the general public or only Guild members, but I'll be sure to let y'all know.
January linkspam!
If you're like me, you're entering this brand new year with hopes that it will not suck as much as the previous two years. So far we don't have a lot of indicators in that direction, as my email is crammed full of nervous announcements about classes going online, cons and festivals being canceled, and7 other things that complicate my life and pocketbook.
My good friend John Hartness, author and publisher at Falstaff Books, is never one to mince words. He posted this week, "Y'all get your damn shots. This damn plague is starting to fuck with my business again, and getting between a redneck and his money is not a good move. So get your shit straight, get your shots, and maybe we can finally put this fucking disease behind us." He went on at extensive, profane detail, and if you are friends with John on Facebook, you should really go read it. It's a thing of beauty.
As of this moment, my classes are all still intended to be face-to-face with the exception of my fiction workshop, and I'll be teaching and tutoring face-to-face as well. Other events are starting to look questionable, so while I'm listing them here, please keep an eye on ElizabethDonald.com to ensure that an event is going forward as planned.
And get yer dang shots. I want you alive, healthy and able to buy my books.
Who does a book signing outdoors in December in Illinois? This woman! The Edwardsville Winter Market took place Dec. 4, and was treated to fairly reasonable weather, which means I was only half frozen to death by the time the family showed up to collect me. (What? They were not dumb enough to actually stay with me all day.)
This was followed by the Collinsville Author and Artist Fair, which was blissfully indoors and oddly had a much lower turnout. That's maybe not as surprising when you realize it was the day after the tornado struck Edwardsville. It's obvious that my family and I were unharmed, as I am writing this newsletter, but thank you to all who reached out to us in concern. We were lucky; the workers in the Amazon warehouse on the Edwardsville-Pontoon Beach border were not. The Edwardsville Community Foundation continues to raise funds to help those impacted by the tornado, and you can donate here.
Coming this month: the Millstadt Library Author Fair, which kindly did a terrific write-up of my novel trilogy Nocturne Infernum in advance of the event. "Unique, modern, intelligent, and feisty, Donald's stories are more than entertainment – they are political statements about civil and sexual rights, independence, privilege, agency, and STILL MADE ME BAWL at the sad romance of it all," they wrote, and that's going on the website! Funny thing: through their post I discovered that their library system has several of my books available, including some that are seriously out of print.
I've also been informed that Conflation is moving to a mostly-online format in late February. Awaiting details, but however the Goddesses decide to run the show, I'll be there in any way I can.
On the publicity side, Cuppa Words is kindly featuring me for the month of January! Here is my introduction, and all month they'll be talking about my work. I've been happy and proud to be associated with Cuppa Words for the last few years, and look forward to another great year with them.
• Millstadt (Ill.) Library Author Fest, Jan. 15
• Conflation, St. Louis, Mo. Feb. 25-27
• Midsouthcon, Memphis. March 23-26 (tent.)
• AWP, Philadelphia. March 25-27 (tent.)
• AuthorCon, Williamsburg, Va. April 1-3 (tent.)
• Imaginarium, Louisville, Ky. July 8-10
• Archon, Collinsville, Ill. Oct. 7-9
• SPJ National Conference, Washington, D.C. Oct. 26-29 (tent.)
• ContraCon, Kansas City. Nov. 11-13 (tent.)
• Elon Musk is a bad Person of the Year… but not for the reasons you think (Medium with intro on Patreon)
• Brewpub closes only weeks after opening (Highland News-Leader)
• A kidney for Christmas (Metro-East Living)
• Schools on alert after violence threat (Belleville News-Democrat)
• Council approves gas station over residents' complaints (Highland News-Leader)
• Highland Police move into new station (Highland News-Leader)
• Local contractor gets $113 million Air Force base contract (Highland News-Leader)
• Highland voters to decide school construction referendum (Highland News-Leader)
I'm happy to announce that Spine Bookstore is now featuring my work, along with that of many independent and small-press authors in the bi-state area. I'm delighted to be part of this new concept and look forward to events beginning soon at the shop and cafe. Spine is located on Arsenal in St. Louis near Benton Park, and is definitely worth a stop.
In addition, River Bluff Review went live early, including my short story "Fever." It's available online for free here.
• 'Fever' is published! (ElizabethDonald.com)
• A blessed season (Patreon)
• New story published! (Patreon)
• A Second Life (Patreon)
December Linkspam
Happy holidays! I am delighted to announce that I will be an adjunct instructor at St. Louis University beginning in the spring semester. Yes, probably the last thing I needed was a fifth job, but I'm very excited to be teaching journalism again. Never fear, I am continuing in my assistantship at SIUE teaching English composition in addition to my MFA classes, editing work at the student newspaper, my freelance writing and reporting work, my volunteer activities… I think I forgot a job in there somewhere.
Only one week left until the semester is over and the signings end for a little while, at which point I will… do more writing. And probably bake some stuff, seeing as how the holidays have enveloped us. I appreciate the patience of the Patreon people in particular, as pickings have been slim while I trundle through to the end of the semester. The Literary Underworld and Elizabeth Donald shops are bustling with the holiday orders, and please see the infobox at the end of this newsletter for deadlines to order in time for Christmas.
That said, we just finished Thanksgiving, and if I haven't done so up until now: Thank you. Yes, you, particularly. You stick with me and this newsletter, you support my work and many of you subscribe to the Patreon and/or buy the books. That keeps the lights on in my house and feeds my family, and I am always humbled by your continued support. As every year, I give thanks for you.
November kicked off with ContraCon in Kansas City, which was the last Literary Underworld event for the year and at which we won Best Booze! This is an honor we have received before, and I can only assume it is our staggering array of bottom-shelf liquor and menu of geek-themed cocktails that wins us these accolades. Seriously, I am so pleased that the Traveling Bar brings so much joy to our guests at the cons, and it absolutely makes it worth hauling all those boxes of booze around the country.
Jim and I took a long weekend to Galena, Ill., which is a lovely little town with an old-fashioned Main Street and plenty of ghost lore that we've intended to visit since our first anniversary. On the drive up, I was pondering: when was the last time Jim and I traveled anywhere outside the St. Louis region that did not involve books, signings, public appearances or the kids? We've had family vacations and a few overnights in St. Louis and St. Charles, Mo., plenty of solo travel, sadly a few funerals, and more cons than we care to admit. But honestly, to meet those parameters, we'd have to go back to our honeymoon in Jamaica. It was a delightful weekend even if the ghosts were a bit of a disappointment, and soooo much food.
I was delighted to return to Writers of the Riverbend in Alton, Ill., which is partly a sale and partly a networking opportunity for writers of the Alton-Edwardsville-St. Louis region. As always, there were familiar faces and new acquaintances, and I had a great time. Also, the charcoal mocha at adjacent Maeva's Coffee cannot be beat.
I was also happy to host write-ins all month long for the Eville Writers' Nanowrimo, and the first-ever write-in for Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society at SIUE. (See, I opened my big mouth and suggested it and thus I was put in charge. This happens a lot.) Two more holiday markets coming up in December, and then I'm staying home for whole weeks.
On the publicity side, I (briefly) contributed to another author roundup for Sean Taylor's Bad Girls Good Guys blog, on "The End."
• Collinsville (Ill.) Winter Market, Dec. 11 – last of the year!
• St. Louis SPJ Journalist Boot Camp, Feb. 15 (tent.)
• AuthorCon, Williamsburg, Va. April 1-3 (very tent.)
• Substitute shortage forces Highland schools to cancel class (Highland News-Leader)
• New police chief sworn in (Highland News-Leader)
• Alhambra, Grantfork schools renovating for security (Highland News-Leader)
• SIUE investigates reports of frat racism (Alestle)
• Highland residents to vote on school referendum (Highland News-Leader)
I'm delighted to report that my short story "Fever" will appear in the River Bluff Review literary magazine next spring. While ostensibly it seems like a COVID story, I swear I wrote it just before the Voldevirus hit, so the fact that it refers to a terrible illness is entirely coincidental.
• Writing the Adventure (Patreon)
• Body horror in MFA Land (Patreon)
• The Dance (poem) (Patreon)
• Job No. 5! (Elizabeth Donald and Donald Media)
Happy Halloween season! This newsletter is late! And that's because we had such a spectacular time at Archon that we are still recovering three days later. Folks, I'm getting too old for these shenanigans.
Archon is our hometown con, and it was a delight to be back after last year's cancellation and see so many familiar faces. Attendance was about half the usual throng, and yet we sold just as well as we did the year before the world fell apart! I think they missed us, and I know we missed them. Many thanks to everyone who came by the booth, who dropped by the Traveling Bar, and who came to my reading to hear me read happy stories about bunnies and unicorns*. It was fun! Official write-ups are pending on my various blogs, with plenty of pictures.
I've always said that if you're a horror author in October, you're working nonstop or you're not working. That's certainly the case this year, even if things are still a bit muted. I'm booked basically every weekend from now to November, though I've worked in a couple of moments to spend with my family. I hear they're nice.
Don't worry – we're being very safe with masks and sanitizer and weekly COVID screenings to make sure we're not contributing to this mess we're in. The Traveling Bar had more precautions than we've ever had – not just badge and ID checks at the door, but a required hit with the hand sanitizer upon entry, masks and gloves for the staff (i.e. me) and masks on throughout the evening. Pull down the mask, take a sip, push it back up. It's really not that hard, folks.
It was also our first outing for Frodo the Bookmobile! After eight looooong years as a one-car family, Jim and I finally purchased a new-to-us Honda Odyssey with an enormous space for hauling the booth. It was such a delight not to have to play car Jenga to get the booth into the Honda Fit. We are delighted with our new toy, and plan to put it to good use on the tour.
I hope to see you out on the road!
This weekend is the Edwardsville Book Fair! Again! This led off last month's newsletter, but it was canceled due to cats, dogs and small barnyard animals falling from the sky. I am looking forward to finally attending this event in person, as it is usually cross-scheduled with other events to which I am committed or virtual.
Spied in the wild: Nocturne Infernum, a preferred recommendation at the Smithton Public Library! Apparently the earlier edition was recommended in their blog some months before.
And hey! I was in the news from the other side of the notebook! You'd think as many times as I have interviewed people, I wouldn't feel awkward or weird when someone is interviewing me. Here's a piece about Archon, with quotes from yours truly and a brief mention of the Literary Underworld, which gets press even more rarely than I do.
• Edwardsville Book Fair, Oct. 9
• ContraKC, Kansas City, Mo. Nov. 5-7
• Writers of the Riverbend, Alton, Ill. Nov. 20
• Edwardsville Winter Market, Dec. 4
• Conflation, St. Louis, Mo. Feb. 25-27 (tent.)
• AWP, Philadelphia March 23-26 (tent.)
• Highland schools navigate politics, law and staff's health (Highland News-Leader)
• 'Difficult decision' looming for Highland dispatchers (Highland News-Leader)
• 'Heroic' police officer saves two lives at Silver Lake (Highland News-Leader)
• Artist at work creating new mural in Highland (Highland News-Leader)
• More students test positive for COVID in Highland (Highland News-Leader)
• Flashback: Sanctuary (Patreon)
• Archon ahoy! (Patreon and blog and DM)
• Wheels (Patreon)
• MFA: What the fractal (Patreon) – with fiction
• Freedom for women, sexual and otherwise (Patreon)
• Hello from totally not New Orleans! (Patreon)
*not really
Finally: The Edwardsville Author Fair
I'm delighted to finally attend the Edwardsville Author Fair in person!
They've been holding this festival of the written word for a few years now, and each year it has conflicted with another major event: Dragoncon, the Society of Professional Journalists, etc. Then last year the event was virtual, of course, because the Voldevirus required all such things to be in Zoomland. Thus I was actually able to participate after a fashion!
I thought I was going to have to bow out this year again, because I am president of the St. Louis chapter of SPJ and will be representing them as delegate at the annual conference next weekend…. which was supposed to be in New Orleans. Sadly, the Voldevirus strikes again and I will not be chowing down on beignets at Cafe Du Monde. The SPJ conference will be entirely virtual. (Of course, it's likely it would have struck a landmine anyway, since Hurricane Ida is aiming at the Gulf Coast with a fury.)
But that leaves me home and free-ish to finally participate in my hometown's book festival! I'll be stepping in and out of the festival to participate as needed in the SPJ conference events, but my husband will be on our booth selling our books and my art throughout the day. Look for us in the author section of City Park 9am-2pm Saturday, Sept. 4.
(Crossposted with elizabethdonald.com)
August linkspam – better late than never!
The above image is Setting Suns, the first book of mine to appear in print. I'd had a novel out before it and a second one was pending, but both were released in ebook-only in an era when ebooks weren't really considered "real books," so it was only when Setting Suns came out that I was considered a real live author. (Seriously, one of my first cons changed my bio to call me an "aspiring author" because I was in ebooks.)
But beyond what the publishing industry thought… Setting Suns was the first book where I opened a box and saw my name on the cover, and any author will tell you that's a life-changer. See the links below for my essay on this moment.
Setting Suns was in print for 15 years, which is something of which I have always been proud. It's a great run for a small press title, and I am always grateful for it and for the doors it opened for me. That run came to an end on July 31, and the book is now officially out of print. (I do still have a couple of copies, so if you were thinking of snagging it, click here and grab them before we run out.)
In other news, I finally got the new author website going. I bid farewell to the moldy old website I'd been maintaining since the mid-2000s using iWeb, of all things. The demise of Setting Suns hastened its launch and I'm not entirely done with the design, so please feel free to offer feedback. Gently.
In other other news, progress is actually… progressing? on Ye Olde Thesis and even on some fiction. By the time next month's newsletter comes out, school will have started. Thus much of my time the next three weeks will be taken up with preparing my syllabus for the two classes I am teaching, as well as Year Two of the MFA. And finishing that thesis.
So… why is this newsletter super late this month? Because my Bungee Tour is undergoing constant changes! See below for details on how we might actually see each other in meatspace this weekend!
The Bungee Tour kicks off this weekend! I'm sorry to say a return to Louisville is off the menu, as the author fair I hoped to attend has been postponed to April. As of this writing, I plan to be in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday, Aug. 14. The coffeehouse stop has been canceled, but I'll be shooting in and around the Opryland area, so if you'd like to meet up and snag a book, contact me ASAP and we'll make it happen! Then I'll be at the Tamp & Tap Coffeehouse in Memphis, Tenn. at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15 with books in hand. At this time I'm not planning to bring art unless I get a special request, so if you want some, look at elizabethdonaldphotography.com and let me know!
Imaginarium was the highlight of July, with a new venue and hybrid format that worked really well. It was delightful to see many authors and publishers from the con circuit and to share a few (dozen) drinks. I always come away from Imaginarium reinvigorated with new ideas, and this one was no exception. Many thanks to my publisher Seventh Star Press and the terrific gang at Tomorrow Comes Media for hosting us, and to LitUnd henchman (new title!) David Tyler for hauling all the boxes of books and booze and standing as bouncer for the Traveling Bar, not that we need much security among the friendly folk of Imaginarium. That's not always the case. Some of y'all get rowdy!
Sadly, the other event this month had to be canceled due to weather. The Alton artisans' market may be rescheduled at a later date when the skies aren't raining cats, dogs and small barnyard animals.
The current schedule is:
• Bungee Tour, various. Aug. 14-17
• Edwardsville Book Fair, Sept. 4
• Archon, Collinsville Ill., Oct. 1-3
And don't forget I will be in New Orleans Sept. 1-6 for the SPJ National Conference. I am not presenting this year and there isn't a signing scheduled at this time, but I will bring books if anyone local wants to meet up. EDIT: Never mind! SPJ has been converted to an all-virtual conference, so I will be attending from my comfy home office. Sorry, N'awlins!
• Highland students to go maskless (Highland News-Leader)
• Highland reduces support for Madison County Fair (Highland News-Leader)
• Mask mandate remains unclear for fall (Highland News-leader)
• Town Square finishes renovations (Highland News-Leader)
• Freedom Day (Patreon)
• Farewell, old friend (blog)
• Excerpt: The Cold Ones (Patreon)
• Excerpt: Tanglewilde (Patreon)
• Review: Old (Patreon)
• Review: The Alice Network (Patreon)
• Review: Black Widow, finally (Patreon)
• On the road again… (Patreon)
• Pardon our dust! (blog)
• Happy Independence Day! (Patreon)
July linkspam!
If you're hiding from the Evil Daystar in a cloud of Hoth-like air conditioning, then you're having the same summer as I am!
This first full month of summer has been mostly bound up in writing, getting back into the circuit with signings and appearances, making travel plans, and reorganizing my house as my son moves out. It's a lot of changes going into this next phase of our lives at the same time as life is trying to return to whatever "normal" will be after the pandemic.
That, and I'm working on the bloody thesis. It's like stabbing a vampire over and over but not quite hitting the heart. So help me that sucker will be dust by summer's end.
Stay cool!
This past month I returned to public appearances at the Melting Pot in Granite City on June 5 and the Route 66 Festival in Edwardsville, Ill. on June 12, both as a solo act. It was great to see humans again and talk about my work, both in the writing and photography realms.
Next up is Imaginarium, rolling into Louisville, Ky. next weekend! I've been at every Imaginarium from its launch up until last year, and it's always a great time. Jim will not be able to join me due to his new job at the university, but my minions and I will be there (and serving the booze!).
The Cuppa Words local author group has a heavy calendar of events this summer, and I'm happy to be joining them after having to take most of last year off and hide.
• Alton Market, Alton, Ill. (tent.) July 31
• Peach Fest with Cuppa Words, Pere Marquette (tent.) Aug. 8
• Edwardsville Book Fair, Sept. 4 (Jim only)
• SPJ National Conference, New Orleans, Sept. 2-5
• Apple Fest with Cuppa Words, Pere Marquette (tent.) Sept. 19
• Highland streetscape program continues (Highland News-Leader)
• Highland turns down dog groomer in zoning dispute (Highland News-Leader)
• School board approves amended budget (Highland News-Leader)
• Survey shows Highland businesses recovering from pandemic (Highland News-Leader)
• Show Your Work: The 2021 Awards (Patreon and Medium)
• The Amazing Adventures of Michael Chabon (Medium)
• Flashback: Deep Breathing (Patreon)
• Review: Luca (Patreon)
• Review: In the Heights (Patreon)
• Review: Hid From Our Eyes by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Patreon)
• Review: The Conjuring – Devil's Food (Patreon)
• Review: A Quiet Place Pt. 2 (Patreon)
• Review Roundup! (Patreon)
• Our Town: A photo tour of Edwardsville (Patreon)
June Linkspam!
Once upon a year, my husband graduated from college. We planned this big celebration, with a huge party and barbecue followed by a trip to Disney World, which is a very special place from my family's history with Disney and because my husband proposed to me there.
But lo, the Wicked Witch of the West visited a plague on the world, and we all had to sit inside for a year. No graduation, no party, no Disney.
Now that the world is apparently starting to come back to life, we all got the vaxx, my husband's long-delayed graduation ceremony finally happened, and we finally got to go to Disney World after four reschedulings. Per the request of some of my Patrons, I chronicled each day of our trip as "The Masked Mouse," which turned out to be even more bizarre because the nationwide mask rules abruptly changed halfway through the week.
So that's what ate May! Here's the rest of what I've been up to:
I'm pleased to announce that I'll be returning to Imaginarium this summer! I've been at every Imaginarium from its launch up until last year, and it's always a great time. Jim will not be able to join me due to his new job at the university, but my minions and I will be there (and serving the booze, if allowed!).
The Cuppa Words local author group has a heavy calendar of events this summer, and I'm happy to be joining them after having to take most of last year off and hide. First up is the Melting Pot in Granite City, Ill., taking place on the town square on June 5.
Next I'll be at the Route 66 Art Fair in Edwardsville, Ill. as a solo act, June 12 in the city park beside the library.
• Melting Pot with Cuppa Words, Granite City, Ill. June 5
• Route 66 Art Fair, Edwardsville, Ill. June 12
• SPJ National Conference, New Orleans, Sept. 2-5 (tent.)
• Leclaire Parkfest, Edwardsville, Ill. (tent.) Oct. 17
• Highland approves former police chief as city manager (Highland News-Leader)
• Highland ramps up efforts to help local businesses (Highland News-Leader)
• Highland approves new budget with electric rate increase (Highland News-Leader)
• Fiction: A Matter of Honor experiment (Patreon)
• Poem: A Single Tear (Patreon)
Also: Patreon subscribers finally received their annual bonus! The print limited-edition chapbook of Yanaguana went out in May, only two months behind schedule. There are a few extras, and I'll be deciding soon what do with them…
• Travelogues! At last! (Patreon)
• The Masked Mouse: Preshow (Patreon)
• The Masked Mouse: Arrival Day (Patreon)
• The Masked Mouse: Disney on Wheels (Patreon)
• The Masked Mouse: Eating Around the World (Patreon)
• The Masked Mouse: A Galaxy Far, Far Away (Patreon)
• The (Un)Masked Mouse: "Rest" Day (Patreon)
• The Masked Mouse: Animal House (Patreon)
• The Masked Mouse: Last Call (Patreon)
Memorial Day: Nashville National Cemetery (Patreon)
It looks like all the other photos this month center around a big castle ruled by a giant rodent! Never fear, I hope to get some good shots in the coming weeks now that the semester is over.
I haven't had the chance to process art photos from Disney yet, but I hope to get to them shortly. Also on the list of potential shoots: the life-size origami at Missouri Botanical Gardens, a possible trip to Marceline, Mo. and a definite trip to Louisville, Ky. As always, the travelogues go to the Patreon first, but will eventually appear at elizabethdonaldphotography.com.


Southland: NBC Drama Cancelled But Could Return
by Trevor Kimball, October 8, 2009
The speed with which TV networks cancel new shows these days can make your head spin. If a show doesn't perform within one or two episodes, it just disappears from the schedule. They traditionally give a bit more time to renewed shows. That's not the case with Southland. It's been cancelled before its second season debut.
From executive producer John Wells, Southland follows a group of police officers on the tough streets of Los Angeles. Having debuted last April, the ensemble cast includes Benjamin McKenzie, Kevin Alejandro, Arija Bareikis, Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King, Michael McGrady, and Tom Everett Scott.
The series began airing in the former timeslot of ER, another show that was executive produced by Wells. It initially looked like NBC had the makings of a hit with 9.86 million viewers and a 3.2/9 in the demo. Unfortunately, the numbers started to seriously decline after week two.
Surprisingly, amidst the decline, NBC decided to give the series a 13 episode renewal at the beginning of May. Southland's numbers kept going down and hit an abysmal low of 4.64 million viewers and a 1.6/4 on May 14th.
With the network's plan to air The Jay Leno Show at 10pm, five nights a week, the network had few Fall timeslots available for the gritty cop drama. Execs settled it on Friday nights, a little-watched night for network television.
Should Southland have been cancelled?
No! I love it!
Maybe. I'm not sure.
Yes, I think so.
Southland was initially scheduled to return on September 25th but was later rescheduled until October 23rd. The spin was that this would allow the network to give the show some more promotion time, after all of the other new and returning shows had debuted. Episodes of Dateline have been airing in the meantime.
Now, the peacock network has decided to drop Southland altogether. The Hollywood Reporter reports that NBC executives felt that the second season episodes were too dark for network television, especially in a 9pm timeslot. Dateline, which is much less expensive to produce, is more in line with the amount of revenue that can be gleaned from a low viewership night.
This cancellation marks the end of a 15 year relationship between NBC and Wells who has been an executive producer on some of the network's biggest shows; ER and The West Wing.
For his part, Wells isn't throwing in the towel on Southland just yet. Production on the series has been shut down after six episodes but the cop show will be actively shopped to other broadcast and cable outlets.
He said, "I'm disappointed that NBC no longer has the time periods available to support the kind of critically-acclaimed series that was for so many years, a hallmark of their success. We remain extremely proud of Southland and are actively looking for another home for the series."
There's no word on when or if the peacock network will air the six completed episodes of season two.
What do you think? Did NBC make a mistake in cancelling Southland? Was their real mistake renewing it when they knew they weren't going to have a 10pm timeslot for it?
More about: Southland
Southland: Season Five Ratings
Southland: Cancelled by TNT, No Season Six
Southland: To Be Cancelled or Renewed for Season Six?
Southland: Cancelled? Ben McKenzie Says…
Southland: Season Five Production Begins, C. Thomas Howell Now a Series Regular
Southland: Season Five Renewal for TNT Series
Southland: Season Four Production Begins on TNT Series
Southland: TNT TV Series Renewed for Season Four
Southland: Season Three of TNT Series Coming in January
Southland: TNT Series Renewed for Season Three
Southland, The OC: Ben McKenzie, TV Series Finale Podcast #48
Southland: Ben MacKenzie Talks Cancellation, Dresses as Jay Leno
Southland: TNT Officially Picks Up Cancelled Show; All Good News?
Southland: Will TNT Save the Cancelled TV Series?
2008 – 2009 Cancelled Shows: Update on NBC Renewals and Cancellations
Southland: A Decent Premiere; Keep It or Cancel It?
They made a huge mistake…this was the best, most realisitic cop show ever produced. I like Leno's show but don't need to see it every night. I hope FOX picks this show up.
Retired LAPD Detective
What a tragedy! This is one of the few cop shows that REALLY tells it like it is! It's a very strong competitor with the likes of The Closer and Saving Grace. I do hope that the fantastic and realistic stories of LA's crime fiighters can be picked up by another network. I felt that this series was a great replacement for the thrilling ER series, but looks like the big boys and girls at NBC can't agree. I'm looking forward to seeing more somewhere out there in television land!
Personally, I don't follow too many series, but I actually liked Southland and was looking forward to the new season. I hope another network or cable station picks it up and continues to develop the storyline and the characters. It was well acted and didn't try to varnish over alot of what many of us see in our local papers regarding crime and community based law enforcement. Too bad NBC chose to offer up fluff when it could have stood by a damm good show that really left many of us thinking about the world in which we live.
no room for original ideas. make it into a singing reality crime scene drama, and someone will definitely pick it up
Yes, they made quite a HUGE mistake in canceling this show. It was excellent, gritty and dark. The characters were well written and I thought the season finale had impressive action without having explosions and other eye catching tricks. In other words, realistic. It was a great show and now I no longer have a reason to even think about checking out the NBC channel. I'm positive another network will pick up the show because unlike people at NBC, there are execs who will appreciate and provide viewers with quality television.
I am so glad to see the other comments sharing the same views I have about this program. I have to admit that I was late to start watching Southland but once I started, I was hooked. This is the only show that I will stop everything to watch and this is the only network show that does not make me feel like my IQ is going down as I watch it. I hope that Mr. Wells makes a sincere effort to find it a new home on another network where it can flourish. Typcially I do not get this… Read more »
I loved this show!! Really NBC… really? Replaced with Dateline? This is another show that I really liked which they decided to cancel… I'm running out of shows that I actually watch on NBC.. Do they take into account that many of us can't watch them at their scheduled time and we watch them on the Internet later? That's what I do… I watch them at lunch or whenever I can but most of the time I don't have the time to watch them at their scheduled time. I know that Ad revenue is how they support these things, but… Read more »
I have watched the Jay Leno show a few times now and I would prefer to keep SOUTHLAND which is extremely well written, directed and acted. The networks are cancelling shows that should be kept and are keeping shows that should be cancelled. Would love to meet the people in charge and view the brains they are sitting on.
Denise Buurman
Southland is an excellent drama show. I hope it does not get cancelled altogether. Another network hopefully will pick up this excellent ensemble cast to continue – their storylines were superb – action, human drama. I am tired of all the so-called "reality" shows filling up the networks – not to mention enough talk-shows as well. Bring back more TV dramas, as well as good sitcoms. Whatever happened to "Made for TV movies" of the week??? If more drama shows, such as Southland, are cancelled – what direction is TV going in?
I think NBC made a big mistake. I really hope Southland finds a home somewhere else.
Nobody I know watched Leno…I think NBC made a big mistake commiting their 10 o'clock time slot to him.
I *love* Southland and hope like hell it gets picked up somewhere…preferably some network with the balls to let it play out like the creators want.
I have no idea why the ratings are so low. I love the show. I think NBC is making a big mistake canceling the show. I also think it was going to be a terrible idea to move it to a night that has poor viewership to begin with. I hope they find another network that will air the episodes and continue this fantastic show.
The "mistake" the Peacock nework made was giving THE Chin another show,and leaving well done,acted series such as Southland out in the cold
I Liked the series,was looking foward to learning more about Officer Ben Sherman.
A Shame,i just started becoming a fan of Ben McKenzie through this series-thanks NBC-For NOTHING!!
crzy8zn
this is a dumb move. i really enjoyed this show. all well, hopefully another network picks it up and hopefully the show becomes more successful than it is now. the people at nbc don't know what a great show is and it seems that they don't care anymore. no wonder no one watches their station, hence the name my uncle gave them "NoBody Cares".
I could see them renewing it to hold on to it, because why would someone drop a gem like that? That Leno used all the timeslots is unfortunate and I hope the show finds a new home, maybe on a competitor in the 10 p.m. slot, or on a cable network (FX). Seems like a good fit for FX. They could jump ship like Scrubs and wind up on ABC, too.


Wilton's Comstock Brook dam to be removed for trout conservation
J.D. Freda
The Comstock Brook dam has been approved for removal by the Wtilon Inland Wetlands Commission. The Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited will oversee the removal.
Trout Unlimited / Contributed PhotoShow MoreShow Less
The native Brook Trout.
WILTON — A longstanding dam at Comstock Brook has been approved for removal by the Wilton Inlands Wetlands Commission to help preserve the native population of brook trout.
Gerald Berrafati, of the Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit organization focused on coldwater ecosystem conservation, said his group has been tasked with the gig and hopes to have the project finished this summer.
Brook trout have been impeded by the existence of dams, Berrafati said, such as the one currently standing in the Comstock Brook.
"First, dams present physical barriers for fish to travel upstream," said Berrafati, a lifelong Wilton resident. "Brook trout, especially in the area where we live, where the streams are pretty marginal and don't stay as cold as we would like them to 100 percent of the time during the year, it is important to have connectivity throughout (the body of water) so that the fish can move around and seek out places where there is other cold water springs or sources of cold water."
Berrafati said the brook trout, among other fish, are prone to covering long distances to find cold water to thrive and to "seek habitats they could spawn in." While the Comstock Brook isn't as long as the Norwalk River, Berrafati said the dam still prevents the brook trout from accomplishing that goal.
The brook trout isn't officially listed on the endangered species list for Connecticut, he said, but it is a fish that "is threatened" if "corrective action isn't taken."
The scope of the project isn't overly expansive, and if the group can address the problem soon, it will be a fairly quick fix, he added.
"These dams we are working with on the Comstock Brook are smaller structures, built more by hand," he said. "What our plans are calling for is to take an excavator and break the dam into two or three pieces and take it out."
He said the initial work of removing the roughly 100-year-old dam could be done within a day, but measures will be taken so that there is no effect on the surrounding ecosystem.
The more intensive work, Berrafati said, is reconstructing the water channels at the Comstock Brook dam site.
The nonprofit organization will have to complete the project by Oct. 1 of this year, so as to not interrupt brook trout spawning processes, or wait again until after April 1. Berrafati said Trout Unlimited is also working on removing a number of other dams in Wilton and the surrounding area, including the Dana Dam and Merwin Meadows Park.
Trout Unlimited has scouted numerous dams to be removed in Wilton, and many of them share a common trend, Berrafati said: The dams were "not necessarily built to serve any function or purpose," but rather to divert water to private landowners for small ponds or water features.
Many of those being worked on by Trout Unlimited are akin to that of Comstock Brook, smaller handmade dams that will not take long to remove the structure. Concurrently, the Dana Dam at Merwin Meadows has been in the process of being removed, according to Berrafati, and is the largest dam removal project in the state.
"Some dam removals are very expensive and lengthy," he said. "The Merwin Meadows dam being removed, that is a massive, massive structure."
Berrafati said he hopes the much smaller Comstock Brook will be removed in August or early September, and the ensuing water channel reconstructions can be made in short order.
Reach J.D. on
J.D. Freda is the editor of the Wilton Bulletin and New Canaan Advertiser. J.D. is a New York transplant, having been raised in Brooklyn and on Long Island. When he is not chasing down a lead, one may find J.D. listening to 70's R&B, training in a boxing gym or cooking in his kitchen. Besides his affinity for local journalism, J.D. has also reported live from media row at a number of professional and collegiate sports events.


Steve Harvey Calls Will Smith Slap "A Punk Move"
The comedian said he's "lost a lot of respect for him" during Georgia State University speech.
Candace McDuffie
Photo: Paul R. Giunta (AP)
In case you were wondering what Steve Harvey thought about the slap heard 'round the world, wonder no more. During an appearance at Georgia State University, the entertainer and Family Feud Host, 65, commented about the infamous Oscars incident during a keynote address he gave at the Atlanta law school.
Harvey was asked to come to the school at the request of former radio host and attorney Mo Ivory. The class studied the comedian's legal agreements for three months. He discussed his own personal and professional struggles, which at one time included homelessness. Harvey also emphasized the importance of work ethic. "You can't outhustle me," Harvey stated. "My ability to work and grind covered up a lot of faults."
When the topic of 2022's Oscars ceremony came up, Harvey gave a grounded answer. No, he wasn't " triggered and traumatized" like Amy Schumer nor would he sue like Jim Carrey. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Harvey explained that he's "lost a lot of respect" for Smith and that slapping Chris Rock was "a punk move." He also shared that he would have had a much different reaction than Rock:
"I'm a Christian, but I'm really undeveloped. I don't have high-level Christianity. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'm like a 2. That's the level of Christianity I can work on," Harvey said. "You slap T.D. Jakes, he'll turn the other cheek. You slap me? If you sit back in your seat, Jada [Will's wife] would have to move out of the way. That's the type of Christian I am."
Harvey also embraced who he is at his core. "I'm just a hood boy. I come from the dirty. Very few will give it to you the way I give it to you. People often don't want to tell you the side that got them there. That's my specialty."
EntertainmentEntertainment


READY FOR SCHOOL, READY FOR LIFE
MAJOR INITIATIVES
Enhancing Greensboro's Quality of Life
Funding Policies | Evaluation Login | Board Login
Major Initiative - Action Greensboro
The Cemala Foundation is a founding member and long-time supporter of Action Greensboro, which was created in 2001 to spur the community to action. Action Greensboro's over-arching goal is to enrich the local environment so that Greensboro will enjoy more and better paying jobs, enhancing quality of life for all.
In 2000, at the suggestion of Cemala Foundation Board Member, William Hemphill, retired president and chief executive officer of United Guaranty, Cemala and other local foundations engaged McKinsey & Company to examine the state of Greensboro's economy. The McKinsey report compared Greensboro with similar cities and projected where the city was headed unless major initiatives were undertaken. The report outlined an agenda for community discussion and action.
Once the report was released and discussed broadly throughout Greensboro, the foundations established Action Greensboro with a core committee of business and civic leaders setting its direction. Aiding the effort was an ever-expanding group of citizen volunteers known as the Groundbreakers.
Action Greensboro was dedicated to breaking new ground by:
Creating an economically vibrant community where individuals could find the foundations to build their lives
Fostering an environment that attracted business and industry and stimulated business formation and development
Developing a dynamic urban core
Initially, Action Greensboro focused on six key interrelated issues outlined by the McKinsey Report and designed to Break New Ground:
Attracting and retaining young professionals
Developing and marketing Greensboro's image
Enhancing and reinforcing the existing business community and recruiting new business and industry
Fostering small business development and entrepreneurship
Improving the center city
Improving public education
Since 2000, Cemala has remained committed to the collaboration of Action Greensboro foundations, which has included Joseph M. Bryan Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Cone Health Foundation, Ellison Family Foundation, Tannenbaum-Sternberger Foundation, Toleo Foundation, and the Weaver Foundation. In 2006, Action Greensboro joined forces with the Chamber of Commerce and the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance to form the Greensboro Partnership.
Most recently, Action Greensboro has centered its attention on core areas that are critical to the community and where improvements will have the greatest social and economic impact. This Phase II of Action Greensboro builds on the community's strengths and focuses on:
The Center City because Downtown is the heart of the city and there is commitment to strengthen it and maintain it as a robust hub. Cemala has invested in Union Square Campus, the SPARK! Fund, Center City Park, and the Downtown Greenway.
Opportunity Greensboro, a corporate, university and college collaboration, which initiated the "Opportunity Thrives Here" campaign and the Fellows Program. Through this national model of collaboration, Opportunity Greensboro is identifying and acting on opportunities to transform our wealth of educational assets into commercial success creating for Greensboro a competitive advantage for business growth.
Telling Greensboro's Story - Action Greensboro is committed to telling Greensboro's story to key external national audiences to build brand awareness, attract new residents and businesses, and support economic development efforts.
synerG, a young adults' initiative to connect the next generation of leaders.
The Cemala Foundation supports all projects of Action Greensboro; moreover, it has provided funding for many projects including this Phase II of Action Greensboro:
Center City Park. This $12 million park is located in the heart of downtown Greensboro. The mission of Center City Park is to serve as a central gathering place for Greensboro's residents and visitors in a setting that is both relaxed and lively. See www.centercitypark.org for more information.
Greensboro Downtown Economic Development Strategy. Developed in partnership with the City of Greensboro and Downtown Greensboro, Inc., the strategy melds 11 plans produced for downtown since 1995 with over 100 potential projects into six high-impact recommendations. See the plan here.
Development of a Center City Master Plan. This plan was developed through a community process led by Cooper Carry Center for Connective Architecture in Atlanta. Cooper Carry is one of America's most dynamic, context-driven design firms focused on the creation of EXCEPTIONAL PLACES. The Master Plan led to the development of five districts or neighborhoods, a commitment to develop housing in the center city, the design and construction of the New Bridge minor league ballpark, Center City Park, the Downtown Greenway, and much more. For additional information, visit Action Greensboro's Resource Page.
Downtown Greenway. Setting Greensboro apart from other communities will be a 4-mile paved urban trail encircling downtown and connecting more than a dozen different neighborhoods. The $30 million dollar Greenway is a public/private project of the City of Greensboro and Action Greensboro. The Greensboro Bicentennial Commission, appointed by City Council to plan the celebration of the city's 200th year in 2008, adopted the Downtown Greenway as the signature project for Bicentennial commemoration. Additionally, the Greenway is expected to be an economic development generator as research shows that for every $1 invested in the Greenway, the community can anticipate $5 to $12 of additional investment. The groundbreaking for the initial phase of the Downtown Greenway took place on March 9, 2009, and construction began on the second section in April of 2011. For more information about the Downtown Greenway, visit the Greenway site.
Downtown Greenway Planned Route
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Entrepreneurship Programs. Since 2001, Action Greensboro has invested in organizations that enhance the regional climate for entrepreneurial success with concentration on high-growth industries. Investments include TriadInternNet and Piedmont Entrepreneurs Network.
Housing Incentives for the Center City. The Center City Master Plan developed in 2002 called for the addition of 100 residences a year in Greensboro's Center City. With Downtown Greensboro, Inc., a residential incentive fund was established to pay the interest on a construction loan until the unit sold or for two years whichever was the shortest. Once the downtown housing market was hearty, the fund was depleted.
Programs to Enhance the Public Schools. No focus area is more important to Action Greensboro than public school education. Cemala and/or the other Action Greensboro foundations have supported Businesses for Excellence in Education, the Guilford Education Alliance, and a variety of innovative programs for the public schools.
Marketing and Promoting the Center City. To support the development of the Center City Master Plan and the many investments made in the Center City, a variety of marketing and promotional initiatives were funded in the first three years of Action Greensboro's Breaking New Ground.
Technology Outreach. Early-on, there was funding for N.C. A&T's Technology Transfer Outreach Initiative designed to create business opportunities for exchange between the university and entrepreneurial communities.
About Cemala
» The Cemala Foundation History
» The Cemala Foundation Mission & Vision
» The Cemala Foundation Major Initiatives
» The Cemala Foundation Grant Recipients
Guidelines & Evaluation
» Funding Policies
» Evaluation Overview
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← After Its President Created the Biggest Trading Scandal in Fed History, Dallas Fed Chair Calls Robert Kaplan's Tenure "Great Leadership"
Is Citigroup Under Orders from Its Regulators to Break Itself Up? →
A Nomura Document May Shed Light on the Repo Blowup and Fed Bailout of the Gang of Six in 2019
Fed Chair Jerome Powell Testifying Before Senate Banking Committee, November 30, 2021
There are numerous reasons that members of Congress, bank regulators, and mainstream media don't want to talk about the repo blowup in 2019 and the massive Fed bailout that followed. Economist Michael Hudson previously explained how the Fed lacked authority to bail out a handful of trading houses on Wall Street under the dictates of the Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation. Dodd-Frank restricted the Fed to using its emergency lending powers to rescue a "broad base" of the U.S. financial system.
As we detailed on Monday, there was no "broad base" of the U.S. financial system being bailed out by the Fed in the last quarter of 2019: 62 percent of a cumulative $19.87 trillion in rolled-over repo loans went to just six trading houses: Nomura Securities International ($3.7 trillion); J.P. Morgan Securities ($2.59 trillion); Goldman Sachs ($1.67 trillion); Barclays Capital ($1.48 trillion); Citigroup Global Markets ($1.43 trillion); and Deutsche Bank Securities ($1.39 trillion).
Notice that three of the firms listed above are affiliates of foreign banks (Nomura, Japan; Barclays, UK; Deutsche Bank, Germany.) Now imagine the embarrassment to the Fed if it was forced to admit that it had to secretly bail out the affiliates of foreign banks for the second time in 11 years because the derivatives of U.S. banks were still not adequately regulated, after derivatives had played a central role in the worst financial crash in 2008 since the Great Depression.
All six of the Wall Street trading houses listed above have one thing in common: large derivative exposure. Consider the revelations in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition for Nomura Securities International for the period ending March 31, 2019. (As indicated above, Nomura Securities International received the largest cumulative total of repo loans from the Fed in the fourth quarter of 2019.)
The financial statement shows that Nomura Securities International had total assets of $127.5 billion but potential derivative exposure as follows: (See pages 30 and 41.) A "Maximum Payout" on protection sold on credit derivatives of $14 billion; and a "Maximum Payout" on "derivative contracts that could meet the definition of a guarantee" of $97.7 billion.
But here's the really scary part of Nomura's pile of derivatives: the name Nomura does not appear once in the report on derivatives that might pose a threat to the U.S. financial system that is published quarterly by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). It didn't appear in any 2019 report and it still hasn't appeared there. We asked the OCC about that yesterday and their response was that they don't comment on individual institutions.
Three of the largest holders of derivatives in the U.S. that do appear on the OCC's quarterly report just happen to be the trading affiliates of the same three firms that were among the largest six borrowers in the Fed's repo loan facility in the fourth quarter of 2019: JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.
If Nomura was a derivatives counterparty to these firms and it found itself on the wrong side of a credit derivative trade, such as the blowup of Thomas Cook one day before the Fed launched its repo bailout, its credit rating could have been in severe jeopardy if this fact became public. A credit ratings downgrade would have likely meant that Nomura would have had to post large sums of additional collateral with its derivatives counterparties. And Nomura was not exactly in an ideal financial position in the fall of 2019.
In April of 2019 the parent company, Nomura Holdings, announced it would need to cut $1 billion in costs and close more than 30 of its 156 retail branches in Japan. It had just suffered its first full-year loss in a decade.
Less than three months after Nomura Securities International had begun to take giant secret loans from the Fed's repo facility, Nomura Holdings announced that it had named a new CEO, Kentaro Okuda, who was quoted in the Financial Times as taking charge with a "sense of crisis."
There is a strong stench of the Lehman Brothers and AIG derivatives fiascos of 2008 swirling around the news blackout of the Fed's secret bailouts of 2019.
According to documents released by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC), at the time of Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy on September 15, 2008 it had more than 900,000 derivative contracts outstanding and had used the largest banks on Wall Street as its counterparties to many of these trades. The FCIC data shows that Lehman had more than 53,000 derivative contracts with JPMorgan Chase; more than 40,000 with Morgan Stanley; over 24,000 with Citigroup's Citibank; over 23,000 with Bank of America; and almost 19,000 with Goldman Sachs.
The U.S. government had to take over the giant insurer, AIG, because it was counterparty to tens of billions of dollars in derivatives to Wall Street banks and had no money to pay them. This is a chart that AIG was eventually forced to release. It documents that more than half of its bailout money came in its front door and then was quietly funneled out the backdoor to pay off Wall Street and foreign trading houses. Five of the Gang of Six that were feeding at the Fed's repo trough in the last quarter of 2019 appear on this chart: Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Barclays.
It's long past the time for the Fed to come clean on exactly what happened in the fall of 2019 that caused it to launch its repo bailout facility. Americans will simply never trust the Fed if it doesn't.


BlogExcerpts
Home›Blog›Exclusive Excerpt: Moonshine by Jasmine Gower
Exclusive Excerpt: Moonshine by Jasmine Gower
By The Fantasy Hive
From the publisher that brought you Under the Pendulum Sun comes another new and exciting title: Moonshine by Jasmine Gower, an alt-world prohibition tale in which magic is forbidden.
Here's the official synopsis:
In the flourishing metropolis of Soot City (a fantastical version of 1920s Chicago), progressive ideals reign and the old ways of magic and liquid mana are forbidden. Daisy Dell is a Modern Girl – stylish, educated and independent – keen to establish herself in the city but reluctant to give up the taboo magic inherited from her grandmother.
Her new job takes her to unexpected places, and she gets more attention than she had hoped for. When bounty hunters start combing the city for magicians, Daisy must decide whether to stay with her new employer – even if it means revealing the grim source of her dazzling powers.
Here at the Fantasy Hive we're delighted to bring you, the reader, an exclusive excerpt. And not just an excerpt; the first chapter! Without further ado, here it is.
Moonshine by Jasmine Gower - Chapter One
Brilliant, eh? Jasmine Gower is set to be a bright new voice in the genre for sure. Here's a bit more about the author:
Jasmine Gower is from Portland, Oregon, where she studied English literature at Portland State University. Since then, she has balanced writing with various office jobs which served as inspiration for Daisy's story in Moonshine. Jasmine was drawn toward writing years before amidst a childhood of fantasy novels and 90s video games and has a passion for exploring themes of gender, sexuality, and disability through the conventions of speculative fiction and fantasy worldbuilding. Visit her website here or follow her on Twitter here.
Moonshine is released by Angry Robot Books on February 6th, 2018.
Tags1920sAngry RobotExclusive ExcerptsJasmine GowerMoonshine
The Fantasy Hive is a collaborative site. We just want to celebrate fantasy - and to have fun while we're doing it! Our official tagline – 'Fantasy, together' – embodies our goal: to unify fans of SFF through shared enthusiasm and appreciation of the genre. You can also find us doing this on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @thefantasyhive. The Hive officially launched on January 1st, 2018. Plans for world domination are yet to be realised.
Black Gate » Articles » Unbound Worlds on the Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of February 2018 12 February, 2018 at 05:59 Reply
[…] Read more details at the Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog, and read the complete first chapter here. […]


ABBA AGM Discussions - Malcolm Wood talks us though the day
Malcolm Wood was at the recent Association of Brass Band Adjudicators AGM to hear the views of Martin Ellerby, Simone Rebello and Iwan Fox as they put their points across to the men in the boxes.
Association of Brass Band Adjudicators AGM
BFBB Headquarters
Sunday 9th January
Along with colleagues from the Banding media, 4BR was invited to eaves drop on discussions and presentations by Simone Rebello Martin Ellerby and Iwan Fox at the ABBA AGM in Barnsley on 9th January.
Once the obligatory Association AGM business had been dealt with, it was the turn of Simone, Martin and Iwan to share their views and thoughts on a variety of subjects. All of the discussions and presentations had one objective in mind: To continue and develop the knowledge of the adjudicators and give them a greater understanding of (in these cases) three separate topics. All of the assembled were eager to learn, share their thoughts, and debate things in an open and positive manner.
Simone Rebello needs no introduction of course. The talented percussionist asked the question �Am I Too Loud?' for her slot during the day and the discussion relating to the contest scene was an eye-opening experience. The issues covered included:
The importance of percussion now within bands and how this has evolved in recent years.
The positioning of percussion on the stage enabling to enhance the performance of a band as opposed to over powering it and affecting judges thoughts on what they had listened too.
Thought to be given before a test piece is chosen as to how much extra percussion a band may have to invest in for one performance.
In relation to the above, the challenges that go into finding an extra player for a contest performance for a specific percussion part.
When looking at test pieces, the consultation of someone such as Simone in advance who can give a good insight into how these points can be considered and that expertise benefiting players and adjudicators.
Acoustics of the hall and a band preparing properly beforehand by rehearsing in a venue as close to the acoustic as possible.
Dynamics of percussion and the importance that the conductor plays
When the adjudicator is in the box though, they are listening to what they hear and being guided by what is in the score, but with these points being raised, greater understanding and clear thought was achieved. It was acknowledged that percussion played well enhances a performance, along with the fact that a percussion section can literally �take a band out' should it want to.
Acknowledgement and praise was given to Ray Payne amongst others who help bands on contest days, relieving unforeseen problems. Simone's thoughts and the discussion that unfolded will have provided plenty of food for thought.
Martin Ellerby gave �The Composers Viewpoint'. This was fascinating stuff and a real insight into this particular composers mind as to various aspects of a test piece and how adjudicators reach the decisions they do
Martin in the main answered questions from Dr Newsome that he had given thought to in advance of the day. These included:
What is meant by Interpretation?
Is Interpretation sole domain of the conductor?
Playing Quality � How Key Is It?
How Do You View the swapping of parts and use of mutes?
Tempo markings?
Is it important that a test piece is audience friendly?
Would He adjudicate?
How did Martin feel about the numbers of adjudicators at contests?
Any effect on you through criticism of your music?
How Do You View the future of contesting?
Martin Ellerby held court for an hour and as you'd expect from the questions above, the responses were certainly in-depth and interesting. Martin stressed the point that a test piece is �a template for interpretation' and speaking about �Tristan Encounters' and �Chivalry', that he is delighted when an MD finds something in the score that enhances a performance, but not overly happy when the interpretation of a piece is taken to extreme limits, and what is written comes across as not as he intended it to sound.
MDs were encouraged not to destroy works and in Martin's case, take note of his �performance notes' in the scores provided. The composer acknowledged that nerves happen, splits are made, but they're not major issues for him, nor is swapping of parts and the use of mutes.
With regards to �Tempo Markings' Martin reiterated the point that a �test piece is a template for interpretation' but it should be �musical and soul convincing'.
Issues such as audience friendly test pieces, would he adjudicate, numbers of judges at contests, effects of criticism for his music and the future of contesting were all answered honestly, fairly and in respect of whom the composer was sat amongst.
Martin thoroughly understands the point on test pieces being �audience friendly'' and that it plays a big part for bands when rehearsing and listening, but the music matters too. Three judges would be his ideal number at contests, but �understands fully financial constraints can restrict it'. Martin made the point that �rational decisions on music will be taken long after he's gone' and he didn't understand the hype that is attached before, during and after a contest.
Martin believes that he doesn't have the experience and is sufficiently qualified to judge at contests, but the thought of composers such as Messrs Ellerby, Dr Michael Ball, and Philip Sparke brought more than a chuckle round the room as to what the outcome of a contest would be.
The future of contesting does concern Martin Ellerby and he would like to hear more original works for band, (again acknowledging finances are a constraint) than we do at present. Martin's contribution to the afternoon was such that he could have easily gone on for longer.
The final discussion points of the day were made by 4BR's Iwan Fox.
Along with Anthony Banwell, Iwan has made 4BR one of the most important voices in the banding world through the modern medium that none of us can now not be without; the internet.
No surprises then that Iwan's chosen area was �The Beneficial Use of the Internet' to the movement as a whole of which �ABBA' is very much a part.
Iwan gave a historical background as to how long it has taken in days gone by for news and information to reach people and now through the touch of a button on a computer, that information is instantaneous.
The internet has moved the media goalposts and means that (in Iwan's opinion) some of the more traditional methods that we in banding are used to are now becoming outdated and ineffective.
Iwan believes that everybody in banding has to work together to succeed. That means the banding media, players, conductors, administrators, promoters and judges. Technology has to be embraced and in a world where the public now has more choice, more money and less time to spend on working out what and why brass bands do what they do.
From ABBA's perspective, it was suggested that the organisation can become a leading of exponent of using the new technology not only to help its own members but the movement as a whole.
By producing regular articles, discussion papers, having debate, getting people to understand what you do and why you do it can only be beneficial.
The opportunity is there in advance of competitions, to give indications of what the judges will be looking for (valuable in the lower sections for sure) and understanding of the score. By doing these things, competitors can have a template to use as a foundation in contest preparation.
Iwan also said that through the internet the opportunity is there for judges to give further analysis after contests based on their written remarks along with reflections of the overall approaches and standards, plus and minus points, even explanations of what is meant by such phrases on judging comments such as �Organic Growth'
The introduction of an archive of written remarks would also be a step forward. Accessible for members for training purposes, to see trends, create consistency in approach to certain major works, allowing competitors to see how the judges arrived at their decisions, these are things that can only benefit everybody, players, conductors and adjudicators.
Iwan very much hopes that the internet and the various opportunities that it can will bring will get everybody working together enabling the movement to flourish in the twenty first Century.
One thing is for sure, the three people invited to the AGM gave those in attendance plenty of food for thought and this can only be good for the movement long term.
Thanks to Dr Roy Newsome and Malcolm Brownbill for the invitation that gave an indication to some of the issues important to them at the moment.


Tech Review: iOS 13 is underrated, and the iPhone 11 is confusing
Emily Rose Thorne, Digital Editor|October 26, 2019
A Mercer student gives her take on the iPhone 11 and iOS 13.
Jen Jones
While some of us are still saving up for the $699 iPhone 11 (as well as the even pricier iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, all released Sept. 20), Apple also rolled out iOS 13 for most devices Sept. 19. If you're more of a tablet person, the software update included a tablet-specific upgrade, iPadOS, finally creating two separate operating systems for the iPhone and iPad.
The iPhone 11: Improved battery life, camera upgrades and… "slofies?"
The iPhone 11 has an improved battery life, but to afford the space, Apple ditched the 3D Touch feature. Otherwise, the primary aspect setting the iPhone 11 apart from previous versions is the upgraded camera, so if you like the camera on your current phone, you might not want to spring for the iPhone 11. The device is otherwise visually similar to the iPhone XS, although there is a new matte finish on the back of the 11.
The iPhone 11 features a dual camera, one ultra-wide-angle lens and another that takes quality photos at night. They're arranged in a square shape, which helps offer an 85-degree field of view compared to the 70 degrees provided by the iPhone XR, as well as a slow-motion effect to the front-facing camera. I like the idea of being able to add an additional person to a group selfie, but the slo-mo stuff takes it a bit too far: according to Apple, it's for taking "slofies." I tried to convince myself that slofies were some kind of joke, but Apple is actually trying to trademark the word, so I guess slofies are becoming a thing for some reason.
In terms of real benefits that people actually care about, the iPhone 11 Pro has an even better camera than the 11, but for a $300 price hike. However, the screen is smaller, at just 5.8 inches compared to 6.1 inches on the 11, so the three camera lenses take up a ton of space. They're also each raised, and all three are housed in a carved-out section on the phone body. While the pictures it takes are as close to professional as you can get with a smartphone, I don't think an ugly, bulky exterior is necessarily worth it.
Aside from the camera, Apple claims that the glass used for the iPhone 11 is the strongest ever included on a smartphone, which is an easy selling point for folks like me who can't go a month without cracking a phone screen. It's also got improved water resistance, which is a plus for me, too, as someone who once accidentally submerged an old iPhone in an entire cup of coffee. (It was a rough morning all around.)
iOS 13: Updates to classic apps, animated Memojis and Dark Mode
iPhone 11s come pre-installed with iOS 13, which means that another generation of older iPhones will no longer be able to take advantage of future software updates. The iPhones 6, 6 Plus and 5S were able to run iOS 12, but won't support iOS 13.
iOS 13 is the biggest software update Apple has released to date, and some major changes affect the Maps, Reminders and Photos apps native to the iPhone. Generally, the three are more streamlined and user-friendly than before.
My favorite is the Reminders app. You can add locations, links, follow-up actions and even photos to your Reminders, which could be super helpful for a student. I can see myself attaching screenshots of important emails, links to Canvas assignments or pictures of items I want to remember to buy when I get my next paycheck.
Maps has also received an overhaul, which I'm excited about after being led astray one too many times by the previous app. Unfortunately, the Maps updates aren't available in every state yet. Georgia is one that will have to wait until 2020 for the new details such as Look Around, which is Apple's answer to Google Maps' Street View.
Without a doubt, the best thing about iOS 13 is the introduction of Dark Mode. It inverts white and gray colors for black and dark grey in most apps, which not only extends battery life but also reduces eye strain. According to the Mayo Clinic, eye strain is most commonly caused by screen brightness and extended screen use.
I'll admit, I'm not really sold on Dark Mode most of the time. That's why I was surprised that I loved how much easier it is to read texts at night or check my phone when I wake up in the morning. For me, the difference is that iOS 13 makes it available on many apps that I use, while it was previously just an option on a few. For example, the switch from dark Twitter to bright iMessage was jarring, but now I don't have to worry about it, so it's overall a simpler and more positive experience.
One drawback to iOS 13 is the ubiquitous Memojis. Technically, Memojis were rolled out in iOS 12, but I didn't know they existed until this month when I traded in my iPhone 6 for an iPhone XR, since Memojis aren't available for devices earlier than the X. The most recent update animates and includes Memojis as stickers in your iMessage and Mail apps. They're cute, but honestly, I think they're weird and a bit of a waste of time. Why would anyone need to email a massive cartoon of themselves crying or an animated octopus emoji?
As far as drawbacks go, though, that's pretty minimal, since I can just ignore it. And while the initial response to iOS 13 revealed that the update contained several bugs, Apple released the revised iOS 13.1 within a week, which resolved many of the issues. Overall, this season of Apple products is solid, but the iPhone 11 is probably not worth the investment if your current model will support iOS 13.
Emily Rose Thorne, Digital Editor
Emily Rose Thorne, this year's Digital Editor, is a junior double-majoring in Journalism and Women's & Gender Studies and minoring in History....
Jen Jones, Sports Editor
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Glenalmond in School House magazine equestrian list
Glenalmond in UK-wide School House magazine equestrian top ten list
School House magazine, a weighty journal beloved of those seeking advice on the independent sector, has named Glenalmond as the only Scottish school among its short list of The Best British Schools for Equestrians.
School House magazine, a weighty journal beloved of those seeking advice on the independent sector, has named its top ten UK-wide independent school for horsey types. Glenalmond College in Perthshire is the only Scottish school among its short list of The Best British Schools for Equestrians.
In its line-up of ten, among others, prestigious Stowe, Millfield, Milton Abbey, Abbotsholme Schoole and Glenalmond are mentioned.
Editor of the magazine, Annabel Heseltine, comments that, while having ponies at school, she "learnt more about life, guts, stamina and determination than anything I could have learnt in a school room."
At number three on the list – no doubt influenced by the fabulous scenery in which the school is set – the table remarks that "Glenalmond has an arrangement with a small livery next door, which can accommodate ten ponies in full livery, with a number of additional spaces in the open paddocks during the summer. Pupils with horses are able to take riding as one of their sports options and tuition is available."
Andrew Rowley, Head of PE at the school, said: "We are obviously delighted with this accolade and completely agree that determination and stamina are very valuable characteristics in sporting disciplines."
School House Magazine full list
Equestrianism at Glenlamond


Generac to create 400 jobs over five years in new expansion
Generac Power Systems Inc., a leading manufacturer of power generation and engine-powered products, recently announced plans for a statewide expansion of its facilities with assistance from WEDC through a $10 million Enterprise Zone Tax Credit.
The company plans to invest more than $73 million to renovate its facilities and equipment in Waukesha, Oshkosh, Jefferson, Eagle, Whitewater and Berlin. The project is expected to create at least 400 jobs over the next five years.
"From its beginnings in a Waukesha County garage more than 50 years ago, Generac has become a leader in its industry and now employs 2,000 people throughout the state," said Governor Scott Walker. "This is the latest example of companies in Wisconsin and around the world that are expanding or establishing operations in the state because of the pro-business climate our policies have created."
The actual amount of state tax credits issued will be contingent upon the fulfillment of job creation, capital investment and employee training requirements.
More information about Generac's expansion can be found on InWisconsin.com.
Visit Select.InWisconsin.com and contact coleman@inwisconsin.com or 608.210.6714 with questions about expanding or relocating in Wisconsin. Get a complete list of certified sites by calling 855-INWIBIZ or by visiting Certified.InWisconsin.com.
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Wisdom First, Job Skills Second
A promising humanities program at Clemson puts the emphasis on the great works of the Western tradition.
Mark Bauerlein
The higher-education crisis in the humanities has a simple solution, which applies as well to airlines and movie theaters: fill the empty seats. Humanities majors accounted for less than 12 percent of bachelor's degrees in 2015, according to the Humanities Indicators Project. A July report from the Modern Language Association found that three-quarters of English departments had seen the number of majors dropping in the last five years. In an effort to boost enrollments, humanities departments are trying everything from digital curricula to sophisticated marketing plans.
To help professors, administrators, and advocates make the practical case for a humanities education, the Washington, D.C.–based National Humanities Alliance has issued a digital "Humanities Toolkit." Written in the style of a PowerPoint presentation, the report offers "learning outcomes and performance metrics" that show how humanities degrees prepare students for a broad range of careers. It provides job and salary data, and it claims that employers "seek the skills that humanities majors develop"—for instance, those that make them effective managers. The message of the NHA's relentlessly optimistic document: "The humanities cultivate fulfillment."
Yet the toolkit makes not one reference to Milton, Beethoven, Bernini, Cervantes, Virgil, Ralph Ellison, or any other notable names; the great books, artworks, and compositions don't figure in the presentation. The humanities instill critical thinking, workforce readiness, and empathy, the NHA insists—but those virtues get developed, presumably, in humanities course work, through the direct study of Thucydides, Dante, the Civil War, War and Peace, and so on. Why not highlight those things?
The NHA seems to believe that students need utilitarian justifications for studying fields like philosophy and art history. To market the humanities, on this view, we must play up money and success, and add a few sentimental effusions. It's not working, though, as the poor enrollment figures underscore.
A better approach comes from Clemson University, where a Great Books–style initiative called the Lyceum Program is thriving. Each year, the program admits ten "scholars" out of high school, providing them a $2,500 annual tuition credit. The Lyceum offers eight courses per semester, taught by six professors. The students take the courses as a group, in a set sequence—for example, "Wisdom of the Ancients" for freshman year, "American Political Thought" for sophomore year, and so on. Participants then meet individually every week with their assigned tutors—professors who engage them in Socratic discussion of the readings. After completing the eight required courses, students earn a political science minor. A Lyceum certification may soon appear on transcripts and diplomas.
I met some of the students on Clemson's campus in September. "I heard about this program in high school," one told me, and "that's why I came to Clemson."
"Are the courses tough?" I asked.
"Definitely," he said with a laugh, "the hardest ones I've ever taken." The three others who joined us nodded. They kept citing the works that inspired them—Anna Karenina, The Closing of the American Mind, Cicero's On Obligations, and a quote by C. S. Lewis that one took as his motto: "It's not the remembered past, but the forgotten past that enslaves us." One of the students was majoring in philosophy, two in English, and one in economics, but I sensed their camaraderie.
I asked if they really found those old books relevant in contemporary America. "Relevant to what?" one remarked, noting that other teachers might insert "pop culture references" to bring the material up to date, "but I don't need them in the classroom." Another found it "uplifting" to be in a class that offered a sanctuary from topical affairs.
The posters for the program set the tone. "IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES," one announces at the top. Lyceum scholars, it says, "will graduate with a robust training in the essential ideas that form the foundation of free institutions, thus preparing them to move into careers in law, academia, policy making, and the business world." This language sounds as though it was lifted from the Humanities Toolkit, but the rest of the poster gets back to the program's true aim, listing the books that the scholars will read—including Plato's Apology, Machiavelli's The Prince, Marx's Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts, and Milton Friedman's Capitalism and Freedom. Another poster displays two stacks of books against a black background: Cicero, Tocqueville, Marx, Kant, Hume, Weber. The books (and authors) speak for themselves.
I asked the Lyceum's founder, C. Bradley Thompson, about the program's remarkable growth. "I never thought it would explode like this," he admitted. "We began with a tiny marketing budget, but as soon as the materials went out, the calls started coming in." Parents told him that they wanted their kids to get a decent classical education; bookish high schoolers told him that they wanted to find peers like themselves; and the admissions officers told him that more and more applicants, especially on the high end of the pool, were inquiring about the program. (Last year, 320 of the applicants had SAT scores of 1,400 or above, and 180 were at 1,500 or above, on a scale of 2,400.) "The administration is wholly supportive," Thompson said. "We are now, along with the football program, one of the president's main talking points." When I brought up critical thinking, workplace skills, and other supposed humanities attractions, Thompson shook his head: the point of the program is to engage students with the big questions of life. "We live in such an unserious time," he said. The students "long for participation in something great." Or, as one of the program professors, J. Michael Hoffpauir, told me, "In these books, the students find themselves taken more seriously than they normally take themselves."
Academia touts so many new initiatives, institutes, and majors these days that skepticism about any of them is warranted. But Thompson and his team have built a thriving humanities project, on traditional grounds. Clemson's Lyceum Program is an exacting curriculum that honors the Western heritage—and students are hungry for it.
Mark Bauerlein is senior editor at First Things and a professor of English at Emory University.
Photo: sbrogan/iStock
Richard Carranza's Deflections
Ray Domanico New York's schools chancellor foregoes educational progress for cheap talk about bias.