Newspapers: Following the Typewriter into Extinction

The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times have downsized. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer goes on-line only, eliminating its paper edition entirely. The Tuscan Citizen (the oldest continuously published newspaper in Arizona) and the Rocky Mountain Times shut down. The Detroit News/Free Press cuts back on deliveries and many others (Seattle Times, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, etc.) are close to bankruptcy. Where does all this leave the population of readers who prefer to hold a newspaper in their hands, sipping a cup of coffee or using it to hide behind the crush of morning rush hour madness on a subway? More importantly, where does this leave the journalists, reporters and editors of today and in the future? Hardcopy newspapers are too important to follow the typewriter into extinction.

Although the online versions may be filled with the most recent news, and allow for quick and easy access from anywhere in the world, we must question how accurate the news may be. As mentioned in “The Call to Write”, “Web sites do not necessarily go through a process of editing and peer review that filters out unreliable and unsubstantiated information. Instead, what appears on the Web is largely unregulated and sometimes of questionable credibility.” With that being said, online journalism is not reliable.

However, you do have those papers like the New York Times that transfers the news from paper to online, but readers would miss out on the same experiences that the print version gives you. Some experiences missed would be the ability to skim around to see what may interest them, the crinkling sound when turning a page, and of course, the opportunity as a conversation starter. I, like many people, wake up each morning, put on my slippers and walk down my driveway to pick up the morning paper. With much anticipation I excitedly await what news I have missed since the day before and what headlines will attract my interest. Frequently, my interest turns to the Business section of the paper (e.g., will Chrysler be bought out by Fiat?). Before I can get into my house I have the paper in my hands and scan the headlines as I walk back up, completely immersed in my own world of news. If you’re reading the online version, the only way to scan for interesting news is if you know exactly what you are looking for. Plus, it is easier to walk around with a newspaper than a laptop in your hands!

This trend of moving print version newspapers to online that we are currently seeing could ultimately lead to a large number of lost jobs. More than half of the journalists, editors, photographers, and the entire printing press would end up on the unemployment line. With unemployment being at its highest in history, the downfall of the printed newspaper is a necessity we shouldn’t be so willing to dismiss. Research clearly establishes that the trend for on line revenues has increased when compared to print, but not dramatically enough to eliminate printing newspapers completely.


One can also argue that the on-line version is more appealing to the newer generation; there has not been enough proof to that statement. In my own research, I have discovered that many young and old alike, think the paper needs to be in print form. The Public Press recently interviewed two people from completely different generations pertaining to just that; the possible downfall of the printed newspapers vs. the online version. An elderly woman was quoted as saying: “Newspapers have a ‘more profound effect when written.” “…print gives you ‘more time to read and think.’" Further in the same article, a young man was quoted saying, “I like the idea of a newspaper in my hand,” The young man also claimed that he reads three different newspapers daily, “mostly in print.”

On a final note, there are more reasons for the salvation of the printed newspaper than to allow its extinction like the typewriter. For a brief moment think about the typewriter, while you read this statement I came across. Journalist Indigo Clarke wrote “Fading into near obscurity, the typewriter today serves as a relic to most, though there are still the dedicated few that believe it can offer something the computer can’t. Finding character and inspiration in this outdated invention, a number of writers, including Paul Auster, David Sedaris and Don DeLillo, reject the convenience of a computer laptop in favour of its antiquated counterpart. Paul Auster’s infatuation with his manual Olympia typewriter inspired his laconic.” I was surprised and happy to read the reference to Mr. Auster, one of my favorite authors, and how he continues his journalistic journey on the forgotten dinosaur of the typewriter. If it does not get the proper financial and readership support, will the newspaper end up in a similar situation as the typewriter? I, like Mr. Auster sticking with his Olympia, will not be giving up reading my daily printed newspapers.

Rest in Peace Mr. Charles Seliger

Untitled Art by Mr. Charles Seliger

R.I.P Mr. Charles Seliger. A well respected, famous artist, who was compared to Jackson Pollock and William de Kooning. He lived a simple, unassuming life in Westchester, NY. Those who are unfamiliar with him, please take a moment to read his obit and check out his beautiful art as well. There will also be a memorial exhibit of his work in the near future at MRG in NYC (57th Street).

One of many: Untitled work of art by Mr. Charles Seliger. (R)

Memorial Exhibition at MRG January 9-February 27, 2010. In the meantime, check out the gallery website to view some of Mr. Seliger's work. Don't let his creative beauty go with him.

Michael Rosenfeld Gallery
24 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
http://www.michaelrosenfeldart.com/

The Gallery will also have many other exhibits, that are quite breathtaking.

If you are one of the many people who appreciate art and its beauty, or just someone who is starting to develop an interest, this is a wonderful gallery to support. Their mission statement alone expresses the gallery's true passion for art:
"core mission is two-fold: to promote important movements within the history of art in the United States while also increasing the visibility of under-recognized American artists."

Glad To Be Back

A quick note to say thank you to my followers for your support. I apologize that it has been a while. I made the mistake of taking on four courses during summer semester, which left me with no time to blog. (I did love ALL my classes though)

I hope you enjoy my new blog below and my future blogs to come.

I also look forward to catching up on the blogs I follow as well.

An E-Mail That Changed My Life

{Me and Dion}
You may be asking yourself, how can an e-mail change one’s life? In order for me to tell you about this particular call to write, I would need to back up a little.

One cold winter night a group of friends and I got together to go to a professional hockey game. We were going to see my favorite team, the New York Rangers, at the world famous arena, Madison Square Garden. It was originally to be a boy’s night out, but a couple of the guys had cancelled at the last minute. I got a “B-List” offer to go to the game with my other female friend, Elze. I originally declined the offer and was fairly adamant in my response stating “I am nobody’s second choice.” My stubbornness and pride almost got in the way.

However, after much discussion, pleading and borderline begging, Elze managed to convince me to go. I still had a sense that I was compromising my standards, as I was not originally invited. The tickets were cheap and we would be in the third row from the back of the arena. This was beyond nosebleed and above the lights. To be honest, I am deeply afraid of heights. The crowd is also known to be extremely rowdy, yet entertaining, if the game got out of hand. It was the middle of the week, and I know that it would be a late night with this party crew of people.

All signs indicated I should have said “No.” But this was the New York Rangers!

This outing took a different turn than I expected. One of my male friends, Earl, had met up with a childhood buddy of his. Rather than paying attention to what was going on during the game (lots of scoring and fights!), Earl and his friend were hanging out at the back of the arena with a bunch of high school buddies, unbeknownst to me. That is, until Elze and I went up to the concession stand to grab a drink. As we headed up the aisle, I was stopped by Earl and his group of friends. I had gotten the attention of his childhood friend, Dion, who was dressed in a suit, white shirt and tie. Not my typical type of guy, but we started conversation. My first comment to him was “Are you a lawyer? Because you look like a lawyer.” After about a half hour of direct dialogue and ignoring all the others gathered in the group, we realized we had so much in common, laughed a lot, and he boldly asked me if I was seeing anyone. I coyly said “Not really.” He called me out on it by saying “Not really? What exactly does that mean?” He chuckled and then asked me if I would like to go out on a date. I was thinking “Sure, I guess he is nice enough and not as stuffy as he looks in the suit. At the very least, I get a night out with some laughs and a good meal.”

For about two weeks after we met on that fateful January winter evening, we ended up going on a couple of other dates, always after work and for dinner. It was a safe way of ending an evening, by heading in our different directions. Then after the third or fourth date, we seemed to hit an impasse on the views of relationships. We did not talk for the next two weeks. All communication stopped. Not a call, email, or text message. I found that really strange as we had developed a very close bond in a very short time. I had started to miss him and the laughter we shared. Neither of us had tried to reach out to the other. He seemed to be as stubborn as I. So I thought, “What am I to do? I really can’t stop thinking about this guy.” The fact that Valentine’s Day was the following week did NOT help the situation, seeing all the displays of love around New York City. Come on, could I have gotten anymore signs thrown in my face?

I still debated on calling, but ultimately, I decided I did not have the courage to do that. So I went with a brief e-mail instead. “Hello Dion, just sending a quick note hoping all is well.” The moment he received this e-mail, he called! I was so giddy, trying to play it cool, but my heart was skipping a beat. We chatted a little and decided to get together for dinner.

At dinner, we realized that it was a miscommunication/misunderstanding between the both of us. He didn’t think I was interested in him as someone to be in a relationship with. He told me how much he liked me, and was attracted to me. But he feared that I did not have the same perspective and direction for our relationship. He felt I just wanted to be friends. We both were actually on the same wave length of thoughts.

One valuable lesson I learned and have been able to pass on to my girls is that you should never let fear or pride get in your way, especially in the name of love. Sometimes we need to swallow our pride, but swallowing your pride does not mean losing your dignity. Then I begin to share this story with them, so much so, that they tend to interrupt me and finish the story for me. We all laugh after, but the girls do take it all in and to heart. My girls who are of dating age have shared stories how my advice has been able to help them and their friends. This is very touching for a mother to hear, knowing that my girls do listen!

Dion and I have been together ever since the e-mail and I think of the “call to write” often; almost every day as a matter of fact. Dion is still here in my life to kiss good morning, goodbye and good night as my husband and best friend. We have an openness that allows us to always say what’s on our mind. If I try and let pride and my stubbornness win over my emotions, he is very quick to stop me in my tracks by calling me out on it. This helps avoid potential lost opportunities, like finding a great husband and best friend.

Sometimes a call to write is the easiest form of communication to overcome, that we, as humans, make mistakes and hurt feelings. We must remember there could be a call to write for you to reach out to someone you care about, miss or apologize for any past misunderstandings.
Remember my story and think about what a tremendous loss I would have had it were not for that one brief e-mail reaching out. Today, I can honestly say we are still inseparable and both feel like kids who are still dating. If I did not have the desire and initiative to make the effort to write him that e-mail, I would not be so happy with my five daughters and my ever loving husband, Dion.

our five girls. (L-R: Bottom: Kaitlin,Kyli and Debi, Top: Ali and Stina, )

"All that could have been missed if it wasn’t for that
e-mail!"

I've truly been blessed

My Art Interpretation of Beverly Buchanan's "Monroe County House with Yellow Datura"

Beverly Buchanan's "Monroe County House with Yellow Datura", a two-dimensional portrait for which the medium is oil pastel on paper. The materials used are paper, oil based paint, and the paintbrush, of course.

My interpretation of Ms. Buchanan's painting is a portrayal of a house as the main subject matter, with oversized Yellow Daturas as the secondary subject matter. The setting is in a yard or meadow full of flowers and plants. The painting is simple in its beauty and charm, as if painted by a child. My thoughts are that from a cultural narrative perspective, this house is somewhere in the Midwest or south and certainly in a rural area. Based on the title and further investigation into the picture, I learned that the painting is of a house in Georgia, and that Beverly Buchanan is far from a child, with an extensive curriculum vitae.

The visual qualities consist of a full bloom, late summer afternoon or early evening that depicts an open air setting. There is effective use of balance as the house is set in the middle of the painting with sharp, dark colors and objects, with clear lines and contours. I noticed the various colors (purple, red, brown and yellow) that a child would use to differentiate the various parts of the house.

Ms. Buchanan effectively uses linear perspective through the use of sharp, detailed lines to capture the main subject matter (the house). Through the use of convergence, I gained a sense of depth, particularly her painting of the lines on the roof of the house.

I noticed the use of value in the painting as the flowers in the foreground are bright, offsetting the multiple, dark colors of the house. I gained a sense atmospheric perspective in the house being sharp in its rendering while the flowers in the meadow are blurred. The meadow seems very much impressionistic with blended colors lacking clarity. It reminded me of Monet’s “Garden at Argenteuil.”

When I look at the Yellow Daturas, it almost appears as if Ms. Buchanan uses the illusion of foreshortening, as the flowers are much larger than their true scale. That is, the flowers are disproportionate to the rest of the painting. I never heard of Yellow Datura before, and my research disclosed that in all photos the flower is not as brilliant in color as portrayed in the painting. The flowers are very vivid with deep yellow hues and a richness of color and quickly gained my attention.

I believe this painting is to remind the viewer of their childhood memories based on the “child-like” artistic rendition. However, for myself, it brought me to a memory of a trip where my husband and I took our seven year old daughter to the south. We came upon a similar setting, both in style of home and landscaping. Our daughter had such a wonderful time frolicking through the meadow. The picture instantaneously brought a smile to my face of beautiful memories of a family trip I will never forget.

SWAROVSKI, A Store Not To Be Overlooked

When you say Swarovski, a lot of people think crystal vases, glasses, frames, figurines, etc…but rarely do I hear people mention jewelry (i.e., bracelets, rings, necklaces).Well folks, don’t overlook this place for those items, as I can tell you not only are they a thing of beauty, all their pieces are incredibly unique and classy.

I, for one, was one of those people. I was raised collecting the little Swarovski figurines. My grandparents once took me on a European vacation, where we tracked down every one of their stores, so that we could pick up different pieces that may be available in the States. Not once did I notice the other merchandise the store showcased (outside of what I originally mentioned above).

Then it happened. One day, a few years ago, my friend Jennifer, a wife of one of my boxers, was wearing this gorgeous ring. It was so stunning; I could not help admiring it. I must have stared at it for what seemed to be hours; I finally had to ask her where she had purchased it. She nonchalantly said, “Oh, I got it at Swarovski”. Swarovski?!, I said. I have to get over there and this time really open my eyes to what else I may have been missing!

Sure enough, the following weekend, I went back thinking, all the while, there is no way she bought that ring at “My Store”. This woman, my “so-called” friend, did not want to tell me where she had purchased her ring. Then when I arrived at their store in midtown Manhattan, there it was staring at me right in the face. That same beautiful ring, shining and calling my name! I said to myself “I can’t afford this!” Can I tell you, it was so reasonably priced I ended up buying three within one year.

Last year, my friends and I for the holidays, decided to limit our gifts price due to the economy. I was able to find these beautiful bangles, within our price range, for all five of us, that easily look more expensive. There is not a day that goes by without someone complementing one of us.

Basically, what I am trying to say, ladies, if you’re looking for something reasonable and exquisite, SWAROVSKI, A Store Not to Be Overlooked. Men, if you’re looking for a unique gift for your lady, one that says you took the time to look for that special something just for her, SWAROVSKI, A Store Not to Be Overlooked.

There has never been a time where I left any one of their stores and did not have a positive experience with customer service, merchandise quality and reasonable pricing. I suggest you get to your nearest store and see for yourselves!

Also, please check out their website dedicated to Endangered Wildlife Trilogy and SCS water projects. Personally, my favorite of these animals are the Gorillas. http://www.swarovski.com/Web_US/en/crystal_society?contentid=10007.57823

Keep it Real, Not Reality TV

Reality TV, not only is it addictive, but it is time consuming. Speaking for myself, I know it brings my brain to a complete level of numbness. I understand that Reality TV originated due to the actors strike, but the strike is long and gone. I won’t lie; I am known to catch a few shows as a guilty pleasure. However, after I have indulged myself, I realize I just wasted 1 -2 hours of my life, and my mind became complete mush.

I know there is a lot of young, raw talent waiting to use their creative minds, let’s not hold them back. Creativity seems to have gotten lost. Let’s encourage the young to use their minds and creativity. Keep it real, not Reality TV; show them what they are capable of.

With that being said, here is my personal thought on a particular reality television show I recently had a chance to view. “T.I. Road to Redemption” is by far one of the better reality television shows out today.

Whether people believe it’s a “PR hype” or a way for him to get out of jail time, who really cares? He seems to be making a change in some of these young peoples’ lives. Isn’t that something to live for and appreciate? Someone is taking the time to educate young people of tomorrow; helping save some misdirected youths. I myself would love the opportunity to make a difference in even just one person’s life.

Is it so hard for us to be selfless or self-involved? I challenge every one of you to make a conscious effort and take the time to try and put a smile, a sparkle of hope into someone’s life; someone who has already given up on themselves. Believe me, I understand it is not an easy task, but if everybody commits to this challenge, add it up, we can change the world, one person at a time! Make it a better place for our children, grandchildren and so on.

Key rule to remember, which we have all heard many times in our lives: Lead by example.

Customer Service

If you look up the words customer and service in the bible of dictionaries, Webster’s New World College Dictionary, this is what you will find;
Customer - a person who buys, esp. one who buys from, or patronizes, an establishment regularly.
Service - an act giving assistance or advantage to another; friendly help; also, professional aid or attention.

Now, can someone explain to me how anyone in the customer service industry does not know the meaning of their job? There are few spots I regularly visit and I have to say, I am terribly disappointed at the lack of customer service I receive. Wouldn’t you think in today’s economy, people would try (even just a little) to be friendly, attentive and helpful to those keeping them employed, more so a returning customer?

A nail salon, in a heavy traffic area of East Hanover, situated in a strip mall – I have been a dedicated customer for over two years. Not only am I loyal and spending a lot of money there for myself and my five daughters, I have also referred many people. What do I get for my patronage? I get insults, derogatory comments, pushed aside for new customers, rushed service which leads to pain and poor mistakes. You may be wondering why I still revisit this establishment. Basically, this is what you get anywhere you go nowadays. If anyone can refer me to a good nail salon, I am all ears.

A name brand fitness center, located in West Caldwell – Boy oh boy, a place I used to “regular” so much that I viewed the staff more as friends. My husband committed to having me train with an in-house trainer, which we took a liking to. The staff, my husband and I would joke with each other from the moment we would walk in. It was an amazing place. That is, until the day there was a glitch in my account. Mind you, the issue didn’t come from any one of the regular staff. The regular staff actually said, “no worries, Ivy, we will take care of it, when we can get the chance.” I kept trying to get in touch with the one staff member I originally spoke to about the situation, but we kept missing each other. Then one of the membership consultants offered to help me fix the issue; to the contrary, I was hesitant because I knew he was newly employed- but… he seemed nice, so I was like, “psh, why not?” What a mistake that was! The man never did his homework, and on top of being full of nonsense, he dished out unnecessary attitude. With that, my husband went in, closed our accounts and said “Unfortunately we will need to close our accounts. There is nothing else that needs to be said because I would not be a man if I let anyone get away with disrespecting my wife!” Way to go honey!

So through my venting on customer service, I hope this message reaches those who need to hear it. There are so many unemployed people looking for an opportunity, let’s give those people a chance and replace the many who lack desire to work and bring back the true meaning of customer service.

"Inspiration"

During one of our many Penn State tailgating moments, I was able to stop time and capture this portrait for a lifetime. Not only was this an incredible air-jump catch (yes, that's right, he caught it!), this image says so much to me.

I actually found myself asking "what if he thought he would not have been able to catch the ball? What if he didn't take the chance?" I realized at that moment, he might have never known it was possible. He would have ultimatley failed himself for not trying.

I view this image as an inspiration to take chances. Don't let the thought of failure be our own personal failure. By trying, we are half-way to success, but by not trying at all, we have already failed. Scary thought isn't it.

I actually came across this quote that pretty much sums my thought up: "Nothing important was ever achieved without someone taking a chance." ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

By the way...that is Matt, my trainer and sole provider of my pain!

Remember this: "Believe all things are possible" ~Mark 9:23

"No Pain, No Gain", Come on Really????

"No Pain, No Gain", a phrase which seems to be haunting me and a cliche' or idiom I can surely do without.

I am preparing for my family vacation to Miami Beach at the end of the month, followed by a "run away from the kids" vacation to Cabo with my husband in April. I am OBLIGATED to work out with a personal trainer, if I dare think about getting into a swimsuit. I can't deny that my personal trainer, Matt, is great at what he does. However, as I am dying and barely able to move, I hear him say those hateful words: "No pain, No gain Ivy! Think about the end result." Honestly, I wish I had the strength or breath to just scream or slap him silly (why do I pay for such torture)!

My husband thought it was hilarious to come home and find our seven year old daughter rubbing the pain out of my abs after my last set of crunches. Just in time for me to complete the 20 yard shuttle run that Matt had prepared for me in my driveway. For the NFL Combine, the players used plastic cones to run with. Matt had me carrying bricks from one end to the other. He is a sadist! Then my ever so loving and supportive husband was "encouraging" me by repeatedly saying "come on honey you can do it!". He is lucky I had no strength to drop that brick on his head.

After this past session on Saturday, I asked Matt about that phrase and his thoughts, he mearly said "it's 100% true". I shouldn't have been surprised to have heard that statement from him, but hey, it doesn't hurt to dream. With that said, interestingly enough, I decided to look up the origin of that phrase and here is what I found: The earliest mention was by poet Robert Herrick's Hesperides poem in 1650 as "Without pains, no gains." but my God, everyone else wrote that same phrase century after century. Why couldn't someone have come up with "eventually we all gain without pain?" :) You heard it here first!