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I. Glenn Cohen

Professor of Law

Faculty Director, Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology & Bioethics

Prof. Cohen is one of the world's leading experts on the intersection of bioethics (sometimes also called "medical ethics") and the law, as well as health law. He also teaches civil procedure. From Seoul to Krakow to Vancouver, Professor Cohen has spoken at legal, medical, and industry conferences around the world and his work has appeared in or been covered on PBS, NPR, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, Mother Jones, the New York Times, the New Republic, the Boston Globe, and several other media venues.

He was the youngest professor on the faculty at Harvard Law School (tenured or untenured) both when he joined the faculty in 2008 (at age 29) and when he was tenured as a full professor in 2013 (at age 34).

Prof. Cohen's current projects relate to health information technologies, mobile health, reproduction/reproductive technology, research ethics, rationing in law and medicine, health policy, FDA law and to medical tourism – the travel of patients who are residents of one country, the "home country," to another country, the "destination country," for medical treatment. His past work has included projects on end of life decision-making, FDA regulation and commodification.

He is the author of more than 70 articles and chapters and his award-winning work has appeared in leading legal (including the Stanford, Cornell, and Southern California Law Reviews), medical (including the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA), bioethics (including the American Journal of Bioethics, the Hastings Center Report) and public health (the American Journal of Public Health) journals, as well as Op-Eds in the New York Times and Washington Post. Cohen is the editor of  The Globalization of Health Care: Legal and Ethical Issues (Oxford University Press, 2013, the introduction of which is available here), the co-editor of Human Subjects Research Regulation: Perspectives on the Future (MIT Press, 2014, co-edited with Holly Lynch, introduction available here), and the author of Patients with Passports: Medical Tourism, Law, and Ethics (Oxford University Press, 2014), with four other books in progress.

Prior to becoming a professor he served as a law clerk to Judge Michael Boudin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and as a lawyer for U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, Appellate Staff, where he handled litigation in the Courts of Appeals and (in conjunction with the Solicitor General’s Office) in the U.S. Supreme Court. In his spare time (where he can find any!) he still litigates, most recently having authored an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court for leading gene scientist Eric Lander in Association of Molecular Pathology v. Myriad, concerning whether human genes are patent eligible subject matter, a brief that was extensively discussed by the Justices at oral argument.

Cohen was selected as a Radcliffe Institute Fellow for the 2012-2013 year and by the Greenwall Foundation to receive a Faculty Scholar Award in Bioethics. He is currently one of the key co-investigators on a multi-million Football Players Health Study at Harvard which is committed to improving the health of NFL players. He leads the Ethics and Law initiative as part of the multi-million dollar NIH funded Harvard Catalyst | The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center program. He is also one of three editors-in-chief of the Journal of Law and the Biosciences, a peer-reviewed journal published by Oxford University Press.

Areas of Interest


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Leafs sign Staffan Kronwall to a 2 year extension

JFJ anounced Thursday that the Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed Defenceman Staffan Kronwall to a 2 year contract extension
Krownwall is now 24, drafted 285th overall in the 2002 NHL entry draft and played 47 games for the Marlies collecting 17 points in 47 games played (3 goals, 14 assists), and also played 34 games with the big club getting 1 assist.

He was also named the Marlies best defencefan

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Katy Perry Replaces Her Wedding Ring With An Old Ring From Russell Brand!

Tue, January 17, 2012 9:50pm EDT by 5 Comments

Katy was devastated  when her husband filed for divorce and reportedly wanted to win him back at a meeting in LA. Now HollywoodLife.com has uncovered the details of the mysterious ring!

Katy Perry was was spotted dashing through LA’s LAX  airport on Jan 16 and she wasn’t wearing her wedding ring — she was wearing some blue bling on her ring finger. HollywoodLife.com has spoken to a source close to Katy who tells us that Katy has had the ring “a long time.”

“Russell gave the ring to Katy when they first started dating,” a source tells us. “They are over and there’s no chance right now that I could see them getting back together.”

The ring was blue, like her hair — and no doubt her emotions. We’d love to see Katy and Russell patch things up, but for now, it looks like they’ll be going ahead with the divorce.

— Reporting by Chloe Melas

More Katy:

  1. Katy Perry Really Didn’t See Divorce Coming, Says Close Source
  2. Katy Perry SHOULD Have Shown Up To Accept Her 5 People’s Choice Awards!
  3. Katy Perry and Tim Tebow — Hot New Couple Alert?


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Follow john phillips on HollywoodLife:

john phillips

6 john phillips Articles

Julie Bowen: 'People Think I'm The Worst Mom!'

4 years ago 0
Why, you may ask? Apparently the Modern Family star has a little too much fun out on her stroller runs! Funny girl Julie Bowen admits that people… Read Article ▶

Busy Mom Julie Bowen Eats The Leftover Food Off Her Kids' Plates! Can You Relate?

4 years ago 1
With no time to enjoy a meal to herself, Modern Family's Julie Bowen eats the scraps left on her three boys' plates. Do your kids keep you too busy… Read Article ▶

There's A New Generation Of Wilson Phillips Kids — And They're Forming A Band, Too!

4 years ago 0
Carnie and Wendy Wilson and Chynna Phillips are the kids of musicians, so it's not a surprise to learn that their own children are musically… Read Article ▶

Mother-Of-Three Julie Bowen Says She's Done Having Babies. Can You Relate?

5 years ago 0
The Modern Family star says she's busy enough chasing after her three young sons and has no plans to add any more members to her family. But she… Read Article ▶

Watch This! Modern Family's Julie Bowen Calls One Of Her Kids Fat On Conan!

5 years ago 0
Julie Bowen tells a hilarious story about finding one of her twin boys -- the 'fat, cute one' -- hiding in her tumble dryer! Modern Family's Julie… Read Article ▶

Julie Bowen Is Shocked When Her Sons Call Her 'Mom' — 'It Was Harder To Get My Driver's License Than Give Birth!'

5 years ago 0
Modern Family's Julie Bowen has three sons but she still can't believe that she's actually somebody's mommy! Do you ever feel that way… Read Article ▶
More john phillips


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Seven Interesting Things … About Me?

I’ve been a little slow on the cooking and blogging front lately but I’m never short for words. So when three fellow bloggers– Ann, Jaya and Pavani— each one an amazing cook herself– nominated me for the Kreativ Blogger award which goes with a tag to write seven interesting things about myself, I jumped at the bait.

Not because I think I’m interesting, mind you– I quite honestly think I’m the most boring person I know. But I never am one to pass on a chance for some good old healthy introspection and retrospection. So now comes the time to shine the light on the inner me, and find out just how interesting– or not– I am. You decide.

1. As a child (I must’ve been five or six), I was chased up and down the street by what must have been the world’s biggest German Shepherd. The incident made me fairly– although not deathly– afraid of dogs for a while. But somehow, as I grew older and wiser, the fear vanished. Now dogs are my best friends– and I try to be theirs. I even have my very own Shepherd at home now. :)

2. This one would be interesting to my Indian readers. I’ve said before that I’m not a fan of Bollywood and the endless, meaningless movies it churns out. But in my early career as a reporter in Bombay, goaded by an arts editor with a deep nostalgia for old Hindi movies, I interviewed dozens of Indian movie stars. Of the celebrities I met, Shashi Kapoor was unassuming and friendly and utterly handsome although he was a much bigger and much older version of his ’60s filmi self. After that, whenever we spoke, he’d regale me with stories of his new granddaughter. Hema Malini was still beautiful years after her reign as the dreamgirl of Indian cinema but also still clueless and I’ve never seen anyone look as shocked as she did when I asked her how old she was (she didn’t tell me, in case you were wondering).
Shyam Benegal was as intelligent as the movies he made and Subhash Ghai was more intelligent than the movies he made. Saeed Jaffrey was intensely annoying and full of himself, but Danny Dengzongpa was articulate and extremely charming. Deepti Naval, one of my favorite interviewees, was polished and sensitive and the only Bollywood actor to ever call me after the interview appeared to thank me.
But my most memorable interview of the Bollywood kind would have to be Naushad. He was old and no longer making beautiful music, but he was an absolute gentleman and one of the nicest people I have ever met, professionally or personally. He did not even embarrass me when I confessed to him that Desi’s most favorite song of all time was Chalte Chalte (I found out only later that Naushad shared the credits for Pakeezah with Ghulam Mohammad, his disciple, who actually scored Chalte Chalte).

3. I interviewed Laura Bush in the White House when she was First Lady.

4. I am hooked on politics, although I don’t write about it (except when it’s animal related) on my blog. Mainly because I wouldn’t be able to stop myself, but also because I often cover political stories and it wouldn’t be ethical. I go to bed with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert and my idea of a great Friday night is to curl up on the couch with Desi, my furry family and a glass of wine and watch Bill Maher dish it out on Real Time.

5. I tend to be friendly and agreeable most of the time, but any kind of injustice brings out the fighter in me. I hate it when I see someone trying to take advantage of the underdog, human or not. It perhaps explains why I became a champion of animal rights. I’ve screamed out my head at a neighbor in Pune whom I caught kicking a stray puppy that had wandered on his porch. I’ve lectured a boy in Guadalajara who was trying to take aim at a pigeon with a catapult (I don’t know if he understood what I was saying in English and a few broken words of Spanish, but he retreated which was good enough for me). And I never miss a chance to tell people who buy from breeders that they are contributing to the problem of pet overpopulation and the unnecessary killing of healthy animals in shelters. It may not make me everyone’s favorite person, but someone’s got to say it.

6. I was always the rebel in my extended family, and growing up I rejected a lot of the stuff girls are expected to do in Indian homes. My cousins were all fabulous cooks by the time they were in their teens but I just wasn’t interested in learning something so, well, girly. I only started cooking after I got married because Desi couldn’t cook either and we had to eat. Once I’d muddled through the learning process, I fell in love with the whole idea of creating delicious food.

7. I once won a tiny whisky-making contest organized by the Scotch Whisky Association in Glasgow. We were asked to create a Scotch from a few colorless liquids placed before us. I confess I had no idea what I was doing and they definitely didn’t clasp their hearts and offer me a job on the spot. But apparently I can mix up a pretty good brew when I set my mind to it. :) I even have a silver quaiche to show for it!

I know awards are plentiful in the blogging world and not every recipient cheers when they get one because, well, they’ve gotten one or a dozen before. But I do appreciate the sentiment and love behind them, and I would like to return it by passing on the tag and award to seven bloggers I admire. Ann, Jaya and Pavani would be on the list, but since they’ve already been there and done that I am going to pick out seven others who are also really creative with everything they do. Remember, dear awardees, you have to tell us seven interesting things about yourself and name seven of your favorite bloggers to pass the award on to.

Here are my picks:

Mihl of Seitan Is My Motor

Mints of Vadanikavalgheta

Nithya of Hungry Desi

Priya of Akshayapaatram

Sharmila of Kichu Khon

Taymer of Vegan in the Sun

Usha of Veg Inspirations

(C) All recipes and photographs copyright of Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes.

Subscribe to Holy Cow's recipe updates

  1. says

    Great insight into your life an personality Vaishali ! You definitely lead a very interesting life…
    How did you find Laura Bush in person ? Have you read this book based on her , a fictional account of her life ?

  2. says

    Dips, I found her sincere about the cause she was pursuing which I was interviewing her about, but she doesn’t come across as a warm person. She was pleasant enough and courteous enough.
    I haven’t read the book on her. Never thought she was a very interesting person, and even less so after meeting her :)

    Sireesha, Thanks.

  3. says

    Hmm…thought so…the only thing that warms me about her is that she started this annual book festival in DC..
    btw…that book’s name is ‘American Wife’ in case you were curious :)

  4. says

    Oh my God Vaishali, just reading these 7 things about you, I consider you my ‘hero’ sorts. I find them very fascinating. With all these you consider yourself boring, ah you are very humble and modest.

    If I had your credientials I would be jumping up and down, screaming rooftops.

    Good read about the Bollywood stars you interviewed. With whatever interviews I have seen of Hema Malini, even I have the impression that she is very shallow. But did not know that about Sayeed Jaffery.

    Very interesting that you interviewed Laura Bush. What did you think about her?

    Loved loved knowing about you Vaishali. I think I will pass on the award to you again, so that we get 7 more things from you :-))

  5. says

    It was real fun reading you Vaishali,jus the way I expected..

    Well,the one common factor we share is about the German Shepherd..Oh My God..even today am fearful and couldnt evolve a rappo till date

    Hemamalini,am not at all surprised met her once and been through a situation I found her being hesitent to admit her socalled “age”

    On Politics,same here.terribly interested and my hubby asks me often to there too

    Injustice and fighting nature,well,I still have the ‘internal voilence ” factor in responding .

    Lol on the scotch too vaishali..
    Thanks for writing so nice about you..

  6. says

    Dips, thanks for the name of the book.

    RedChillies, Thanks for your kind words. I found Laura Bush pleasant but not warm. She was sort of aloof, although she did seem to understand and care about the cause she was championing– preventing adolescent boys from dropping out of school. Two of her press secretaries were breathing down my neck all the time during the interview :)

    Ann, good to know we share so many things :)

    Parita, Curry, Priya, Sunshinemom, Thanks!

  7. says

    Congrats on your well deserved awards Vaishali. It was fascinating to read and learn more about you…you seem to have led a very interesting life and done quite a variety of things. Thanks so much for thinking of me and sharing this award with me !

  8. says

    oh my! it was good to read so many interesting facts about you. And with all these qualities, you call yourself boring i would just say you are too polite :)

    Thank you for sharing it with me and will get to it soon.

  9. says

    Vaishali, such a lovely post & read. Loved reading about you.. You are indeed very very talented & an all rounder:-) Now I am fascinated Vaishali, & would love to meet you in person.loved it! & i envy you that u met shashi kapoor:-)

  10. says

    I’m just catching up on the posts that I missed during my vacation. Its really nice reading & learning more about you and you truly truly deserve the award.

Leave a comment!


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Toolkit for High Energy Physics Event Generation

This is where you will find information about ThePEG project, a toolkit for providing a common platform for using and building event generators in C++.

Note that this page is not always up to date. For the latest version of ThePEG please check the Herwig++ download page.

ThePEG has been broken out from the PYTHIA7 program to better factorize the parts which were PYTHIA-specific from those which are general model-independent components of the toolkit and which can be used by any event generator model. Consequently the current release of the PYTHIA7 program is built within the framework of ThePEG.

The version of ThePEG found here is 1.6.1 and is available as a compressed tar file: ThePEG-1.6.1.tar.bz2. For installation instructions, please consult the joint ThePEG/Herwig++ wiki pages. You may want to download the larger distribution, ThePEG++-1.6.1.tar.gz which also contains the PYTHIA7 distribution and some small test cases.

There is no up-to-date documentation available for ThePEG, but the basic structure is very similar to the earlier PYTHIA7 versions which are described in Comput. Phys. Commun. 134 (2001) 365 (available in HTML and postscript format. Proper documentation is under construction using the Doxygen documentation system. The current state of this is available at hepforge and here.

If you need more information, or if you have found problems or bugs in the current version, please send me an email. You can also have a look at the joint ThePEG/Herwig++ Wiki.

Leif Lönnblad


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John Roos

John Roos
coffee roaster, artist
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Tottered on: 12 March 2008
Temperature: 29 F
Ground: concrete
Grounds: coarse
Wind: W at 12 mph

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Huron River Watershed Council

The mission of the Council is to inspire attitudes, behaviors, and economies that protect, rehabilitate, and sustain the Huron River system.

Follow online the steady stream of our Huron River and watershed events, and we think you'll eventually find yourself joining us for one!

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Old Town Tavern

In downtown Ann Arbor on the corner of Ashley and Liberty, Old Town Tavern features a casual, relaxed atmosphere, full menu specializing in homemade soups and sandwiches, Southwestern entrees, daily specials and the best burgers in Ann Arbor!

The Old Town is a great place to hear live music in Ann Arbor--every Sunday night from 8:00pm to 10:00pm. Sunday Music at the Old Town features diverse local talent.

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Roos Roast Coffee

John Roos roasts every batch of coffee by hand, and bags it up in a block-printed bag with his own hand-crafted designs. So inside and out, every bag is a work of art. If you want to buy coffee and get free bicycle delivery in Ann Arbor, John Roos is your man.

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Books by Chance

Too many books?

We'll take'em all.
Sell what we can.
Send you a check.
And donate the rest.

Free pickup in Ann Arbor!

(734) 239-3172

CDs and DVDs Too!

TT with HD: John Roos

michigan theater
Coffee is for the Drinking

[Ed. note: RoosRoast coffee will be available at the Ann Arbor Film Festival, which in 2008 runs from 25-30 March.]

HD: Alright, let's actually get some teeter tottering motion going! Hey man, let me down!! I've got to scoot back or you are going to be dominating this ride!

JR: Okay here we go!

HD: No, see, you're making the problem worse, because you're moving back.

JR: Oh, okay.

HD: Alright, this will be good.

JR: I'm too heavy!

HD: See, you have an extra cup of coffee in you. Quick question. You got a cup of coffee from ...

JR: ... Cafe Ambrosia ...

HD: ... just before we hopped on. Now, is that your coffee?

JR: Yeah, they brew my coffee.

HD: And so when you walk in there, can you just say, I'm John, I'd like a cup! Do you have to pay for it?

JR: Oh, yeah, they know me. Mostly I check to see how much coffee they have left, because I want to make sure if they need some. Get an order, get a coffee. Yeah, I really like those guys. For Ann Arbor, they have a great following ... [bus noise]

HD: Wow, the Link is really loud, hang on a second.

JR: It's a really kind of like a low-key cafe.

HD: So, you don't have the pay for your coffee when you get it from there?

JR: They always push my money back, but I slip them a buck or two. But pretty much, no. They're very cool like that.

HD: Before I forget, I wanted to make sure I shared with you this amazing coincidence, because this ride has been going to happen for a while.

JR: No doubt, man! I had to quit selling cars in order to get on the totter!

HD: [laugh] Now, now. But that very day that you sent me that e-mail was the day that I'd bought a new coffee maker to replace the one that we got as a wedding present.

JR: No way! That is so funny!

HD: Yeah, that same day. So in the interim, between the time that the old coffee maker died and I got the new one--this is an automated drip coffee maker from Braun, I figured the Germans know what they're doing ...

JR: ... big time. That's good ...

HD: ... I was using this French press. My one complaint was not really about the flavor, it was about just the volume. I mean, it was a little tiny French press.

JR: Not enough coffee?

HD: Really, just one big cup was all I could get out of it. So, what is your feeling about French presses as way to make coffee?

JR: French presses are an awesome way to make coffee. There's a few tricks. They make all different sizes. Actually one of my favorite coffee places that kind of inspired me to roast coffee seriously was Stumptown Coffee in Portland, Oregon. I don't know how they're doing it now--but seven years ago that's how they originally would make their coffee for everyone. They brewed it in a French press and then just poured it into those thermoses. And they had big French presses. But when you brew coffee with a French press you want to put the water just off boil into the French press, like half way full, add the coffee, then had the rest of the water.

HD: Oh, okay.

JR: You can even stir it a little, let it sit about four minutes, and then push it down.

HD: So, why is it important to put the water in, like half the water in first?

JR: Because for some reason the coffee seems to bloom better when you have some hot water above and below it ...

HD: ... [to passing cyclist] Hi, Rob! That's my neighbor.

JR: Hey, how's it going, Rob! Is that the book guy?

HD: No, that's not the book guy. [laugh]

JR: So it just helps the coffee bloom.

HD: Okay, to dump the coffee onto the water.

JR: A little water, a little coffee. Jake, who used to work at the smoke shop, taught me that.

HD: Who?

JR: Jake. He moved away, but he used work at the smoke shop over there. Yeah, he'll be back.

HD: Wow, the sun it is just peaking over the buildings now through the clouds, I'm glad we got the photography out of the way, it would have been a disaster. Okay, so, we are right here in front of the Michigan Theater and part of the reason for that is that you seem to have a closer connection to the Ann Arbor Film Festival than maybe other sponsors? I mean, you have T-shirts that have Ann Arbor Film Festival on the back, and your logo on the front. Part of the proceeds of some of your coffee classes, some percentage goes straight to the Film Festival?

JR: Exactly.

HD: Why do you love the Film Festival so much?

JR: Well, I mean, it's kind of part of the whole Free Speech thing that my coffee represents. The Film Festival is one of the the longest, oldest institutions in Ann Arbor.

HD: Is it 48 years this year or something like that? High 40's, I don't remember exactly. [Ed. note: 2008 is the 46th year of the Ann Arbor Film Festival.]

JR: It's 45, or maybe 48, I think. But I mean the fact is that a lot of stuff that was traditional here, has just sort of faded off. I mean, Ann Arbor is a place of tradition. And so this Film Festival, it's a really great think tank for all these types of people. People who make films, to me, are the ones who are actually--everyone has ideas, but these people are actually executing their ideas, and are getting them done. Like you. This is a killer idea, that someone might talk about, but who is going to really execute it? You did. You have a teeter totter on a bicycle, and you bring it down here in front of the Michigan Theater, at 8:30 in the morning. Most people would be like, He won't show! But you're here. [bus noise] The Film Festival is interesting like that, too, because all these people, they have looked at all these films. There are so many films that they don't take ...

HD: ... right. Yeah, the job of pre-screening ...

JR: ... and I in fact helped with some of the pre-screening. When I was selling cars. I would sit at my desk during the super-boring times, and then watch these short films that they had. And it's really hard work, watching all these different films. I mean, it's amazing, these guys ...

HD: ... honest assessment, now, is part of the reason it's hard work, is that some of them are just really not that great?

JR: Yeah, I mean, no! I was really impressed with the quality people are able to come up with nowadays, even the ones that don't make it. You know, ten years ago, you couldn't even touch this. Now with the technology we have, you can make a pretty incredible little piece. Since there is reality TV and all this stuff, people are more accepting of crappy films.

HD: [laugh]

JR: I shouldn't say that! Some of them are so far out there. It's all from your perspective. I mean, open up your mind, man. You don't have to be like, Oh, god, I hate it.

HD: Did you go to the Film Festival last year, to the actual screenings at all?

JR: Yes. But I wasn't here in the whole time, I was just in and out of the theater. I didn't see all the films. [to bus dis-embarkees] Good morning!

HD: Good morning!

JR: [to bus dis-embarkees] This is called Totter Time. Totter Talk? Teeter Talk!

HD: [laugh] Teeter Talk! You know, it's interesting, those new hybrid buses, they are just like a whole order of magnitude quieter. I mean, and they are still pretty noisy. Do you need to take that?

JR: No, no, no people are calling me, but I'm not taking any calls. No way, not when we're on Totter Talk.

HD: Do you remember the film from last year called Foggy Mountains Break Down More Often than Non-Foggy Mountains? Or I forget exactly the title.

JR: Explain to me what was happening in the film, maybe I'll ...

HD: ... [laugh] you know, I don't think I could. Last year was the first year I actually attended the Film Festival, because last year I said, alright, you know--for many of the reasons that you just described and talked about--I figured, you've got to go to the Film Festival at least once, you gotta give it a try. I mean, you have to support these institutions by going at least one time, for heaven's sake.

JR: Exactly.

HD: If you live in Ann Arbor for ten years and you haven't been once, then you gotta rectify that. So, I went there. I wanted to enjoy it, I was psyched, I was prepared to love everything. And they show you a collection of films at a time, because a lot of them are short enough ...

JR: ... a 'program' they're called. Like such-and-such a program.

HD: Right. And I enjoyed some of them. I remember there was this Japanese film about this insect collector, that I enjoyed it a lot.

JR: I saw that one!

HD: But then there was this film that I had really great hopes for, because the title, is a play on the title of an old banjo tune, Foggy Mountain Breakdown. And I like banjo music. I like banjo music, in fact, enough to try to learn how to play the banjo. So, high hopes and high expectations for multiple reasons. And man, you know, I had to walk out on it. Because it was just like an assault on the acoustic senses, there was a lot of just noise--and there is no other way to describe it. And visual noise. So I felt awful about that, but you know, I'm going to give it another try this year. I figure I'll go and and see if I can't have better luck with it this year. Because I figure, what's it cost you? It's not that expensive to go for one program.

JR: It's a good thing. Just walk out on the ones you don't like, and wait for the next one, because there'll be more. You know, film festivals, you can't just look at them like one film festival. There are so many. This is interesting that we have one here. And some people that put films in this Film Festival, end up making really great films later on--it's sort of a proving ground, you know?

HD: One final note about the Foggy Mountain Breakdown film, the judges of the festival totally disagreed with my assessment, because it was judged to be the Best Film of the Festival!

JR: No! [laugh]

HD: So I was like, okay, that certainly proves the old adage ...

JR: ... it's all perspective.

HD: It's all perspective, or perspective is in the eye of the beholder or something like that.

JR: This year they changed it a little bit where I am not supposed to sell stuff inside the Theater.

HD: Oh really?

JR: So I am just giving the coffee away. But underground T-shirt, cup, and any paraphernalia sales, we can just go outside the Theater and we'll take care of it.

HD: Is there a reason why they don't want to happen?

JR: It's some kind of non-profit thing with the Theater.

HD: Oh, so it's not a Festival thing?

JR: It's not the Film Festival thing, it's a Michigan Theater thing.

HD: Oh, so they got to make sure that they protect their non-profit status.

JR: Right.

HD: Got it.

JR: So we'll see what happens.

HD: That's understandable.

JR: Yeah, totally.

HD: Speaking of selling stuff, what exactly is this E-Z Vend system that you've got? [bus noise]

JR: How many people were on that bus?

HD: I don't know, I didn't see, it looks kind of empty. But from this angle now, you can't really tell. The rear window could be hiding a bunch of people.

JR: So, what was the question?

HD: You have this E-Z Vend system? How does that work exactly?

JR: Actually, that's moving to a new location. It's an E-Z Vend box. I call it the E-Z Vend 24-hour Coffee Box. And what it is, it's an honor system where when you know the combination, you can go get coffee anytime.

HD: Wow, so you can just put the money and, take the coffee ...

JR: ... take a bag or take however many bags you want. I keep the stock rotated in it. It's really great for if I leave town for a day or two, I stock it up, I'm gone, people call me and want to know where they can get coffee, and I tell them.

HD: So, it is it a bunch of one pound bags, or you have different sizes?

JR: Just one-pound bags.

HD: So, the E-Z Vend location is changing, and your actual roasting location is changing, right? You're going to be up on North Main? Right next to that street that leads over to the river?

JR: Yes, Huron River Drive.

HD: Uh, wait a second. Not Huron River Drive, well, I guess if you go the other direction, but off of North Main, if you turn right.

JR: It's all the way down at the end.

HD: Just before you get on [US] 23. [Ed. note: It's actually M-14 HD is alluding to.]

JR: Right. It's 1342 [North Main Street]. This is going to be the new--How's it going? Good to see you!

Car Buyer: What are you guys doing? Raising money for RoosRoast?

JR: Yes! Give us money! No, just kidding. This is Homeless Dave.

HD: Hi, how are you.

JR: He's not really homeless. And, I'm sorry, Kris-tin, no ...

Car Buyer: ... Kris, that's very good! You remembered me this time! [to HD] I just bought a car from him.

JR: She is the nicest lady in the world. And Greg, her boyfriend or husband, is really cool, too. Listen, he's interviewing me for his website called Totter Talk.

HD: It's an interview website where all the interviews take place on a teeter totter. That's the gimmick.

Car Buyer: Were you just walking by, and you started to teeter totter??

JR: No, we've been trying to get this going for like a year.

HD: It's been brewing a long time, so to speak.

JR: It's been way brewing. Look at this, Kris, there's no cars involved at all. He brings this down here on a bike with a trailer.

Car Buyer: Really? Where from?

HD: Oh, it's not that far. Old West Side. Seventh and Liberty is the nearest main intersection. So it's a straight shot downtown.

Car Buyer: So, are you going to be here all day?

HD: Oh, no! And here's another alumnus of the teeter totter, Jimmy Raggett!

Jimmy Ragget (alum): Totter 2.0, huh? Awesome.

Car Buyer: Well, this looks like fun.

JR: It's very fun.

Car Buyer: It's good to see you!

JR: Yeah, good to see you!

Jimmy Ragget (alum): Is that your homemade trailer?

HD: You know, the basic trailer, I bought. But the front panel, I fabricated. And there's a back panel that goes on it to, that I made, for when I'm not hauling the teeter totter.

JR: Your name is Jimmy?

Jimmy Ragget (alum): Yeah, my name's Jimmy.

JR: Yeah, I noticed--how do you brake? Because I have one of those fixie bikes--how did you brake like that? did you just pedal backwards?

Jimmy Ragget (alum): Yeah, just my legs.

JR: Really?

Jimmy Ragget (alum): Just shift your weight.

JR: Oh, shift your weight, too! To the front of the bike?

Jimmy Ragget (alum): Depending on how quickly you want to stop.

JR: We should go riding, so you can give me a lesson.

Jimmy Ragget (alum): Well, see you guys, have fun!

Car Buyer: Bye, John!

JR: Bye, Kris!

Car Buyer: I'll try to buy a car in a few years.

JR: Listen, I'm not selling cars anymore!

Car Buyer: You're not?!

JR: No, I'm just doing like all coffee stuff, because it was too much work. But here's the deal, if you know anyone who wants to buy a car, I get a referral. For quality assurance purposes I will be your buyer's agent. Or whoever.

Car Buyer: Greg needs to get a different car.

JR: Let's bring him in. Bring him to me first, no dealership.

Car Buyer: He has a BMW and I just say, You should get a Subaru, because of the all-wheel drive in the winters. It's probably going to take him two years to make a decision, because he drives his cars to about 250 to 280 thousand miles.

JR: He might change that. That's the kind of number that can change.

Car Buyer: Well, the car will decide for him.

HD: Well you know, Jimmy works down at Ann Arbor Cyclery, so maybe you could get Greg on a bike!

JR: Yeah, there we go!

Car Buyer: Well, he needs to bike to Troy. I wish he could.

HD: That would be ambitious, but it's do-able.

Car Buyer: He would really love to see a train go in, is what he would love to see. If Jimmy can do that, or if you knows someone who can politic for trains to commute to that area, that would be great. But he works in the solar industry, so he's not completely ...

HD: ... evil? He's not evil, is what you are saying?

Car Buyer: No, he's not! He's a researcher, he's not just a consumer, so!

HD: Nice chatting with you!

JR: See you later.

HD: Man, see, that's--hey how you doing? Do you need us to move?

MT Sound Guy: Nope. Just came out to check it out.

JR: What's your name?

MT Sound Guy: I'm Scott.

JR: Scott, I'm John, this is Dave.

HD: Nice to meet you, Scott.

MT Sound Guy: I've actually been to your website. I figured if you had a teeter totter out here, I figured ...

HD: ... that it was the same one?

MT Sound Guy: Probably the same one.

HD: Either that are there is somebody copying my idea.

JR: [laugh]

MT Sound Guy: Exactly.

HD: You know, Russ Collins [director of the Michigan Theater] rode.

MT Sound Guy: Oh, did he?

HD: Yep. You should check out his interview.

MT Sound Guy: When did it happen?

HD: Oh, it was, you know, I don't remember exactly when. It was a while back.

Graphic Designer: What are you guys up to?

HD: We're doing a ride! This is John Roos. Roasts coffee, and sells cars.

JR: How's it going. This is called Totter Talk.

HD: Or, Teeter Talk

JR: Teeter Talk.

Graphic Designer: Tater tots?

JR: Tater Tots, Teeter Talk. See, it's an interview, where you ride the teeter totter.

Graphic Designer: Oh, yeah? You guys come in on the bikes?

HD: Yeah.

Graphic Designer: How far from?

JR: Dave, what is it, like ...

HD: ... what was the question?

JR: How far did you ride here on your bike?

HD: Oh, it was like a mile. So it was not strenuous.

Graphic Designer: Okay, so.

JR: It's all human-powered.

HD: Last weekend though, I was over in Ypsi with it, so that was kind of ...

Graphic Designer: ... how heavy is the see-saw, er, the tater tot, er, the teeter totter?

JR: Teeter totter!

HD: Yeah, let's use the right word, c'mon!

Graphic Designer: Yeah, I know, we've got to get the terminology correct!

HD: It's a teeter totter, dammit. How much does it weigh--you know, I don't know how much it weighs. I would guess something around 200 pounds. You definitely feel it pulling it on the bicycle trailer, that's for sure.

JR: Did you come in on a bike?

Graphic Designer: Bus.

JR: Oh, that's good!

HD: Which bus did you take?

Graphic Designer: U of M--yeah, the blue bus.

HD: Are you a U of M student?

Graphic Designer: No, I'm an employee. Staff.

HD: Oh, okay.

Graphic Designer: But I live over by Huron Parkway, Huron High School. So I take the bus.

HD: I can hook you up with the teeter totter ride--not this morning, but some other time whenever you'd like.

JR: It's really fun. It's kind of like surfing.

HD: Except that you're not standing up!

JR: It's like surfing when you're waiting for waves. It's the waiting for waves part.

HD: Oh, okay.

JR: When the water's moving and a little bit wavy and you're bouncing up and down ...

Graphic Designer: ... did you build this yourself?

HD: Yep.

Graphic Designer: And what kind of shop you have?

[Ed. note: from here until the next break is a separate conversation centered on JR's end of the totter.]

Shadow Art Fair patron: Do you guys do this often?

JR: No, well, Dave does, this is what he does for his whole situation. I roast coffee. So he's interviewing me, and I'm going to have my coffee here at the Michigan Theater for the Film Festival, so it's kind of like we're tying all this together.

Shadow Art Fair patron: Cool.

JR: [to Scott, the Sound Guy] Did you have my coffee last year when you were here?

MT Sound Guy: Probably. I've worked the Film Festival for years. So.

Shadow Art Fair patron: What coffee is it?

JR: It's called RoosRoast.

Shadow Art Fair patron: Oh, yeah, I met you before, then.

JR: Yeah, you look familiar, where did we meet?

Shadow Art Fair patron: It was at the Shadow Art Fair.

JR: What's your name?

Shadow Art Fair patron: Andrea.

JR: Andrea, nice to meet you.

Shadow Art Fair patron: Nice to meet you, too. And what's your name?

JR: John.

Shadow Art Fair patron: John. Okay. Cool. Is this a promotion, then, for the Film Festival?

JR: No, Dave has a website, where he interviews people, but instead of interviewing them just sitting at a table, he has a teeter totter. And he took on this name Homeless Dave, because people just thought he was homeless, but he's really not.

Shadow Art Fair patron: Interesting.

JR: And we decided to do this in front of the Michigan Theater today, because the Film Festival is coming up. Where do you work?

Shadow Art Fair patron: I work at the University of Michigan here.

JR: You just walk around with short sleeves all the time or what?

Shadow Art Fair patron: It's so warm!

JR: So you work at the University and you're just over here, what ...

Shadow Art Fair patron: ... just getting some coffee and working on some homework.

JR: Oh, good! Cool. Well, that's awesome that you came over.

Shadow Art Fair patron: Yeah definitely, I was just curious. I was trying to check you guys out for a while. And I couldn't put two and two together, so.

JR: Crazy, beard, yeah.

Shadow Art Fair patron: A little bit. We should see more of these.

JR: I'll put some stuff on my website about it, so you should check it out. These are the official totter gloves!

Shadow Art Fair patron: Okay! [laugh] What is your website?

JR: It's Do you want a card?

Shadow Art Fair patron: Sure, why not. Thanks.

JR: There you go, nice to meet you.

Shadow Art Fair patron: You, too. Have a good time!

JR: Alright!

[Ed. note: from here until the next break is a separate conversation centered on HD's end of the totter.]

HD: I don't really have a shop, I have a garage. I did the best I could with the tools that I have.

Graphic Designer: So a SkilSaw, or what?

HD: A circular saw, and I've also got a table saw. And a drill. And beyond that, really, I didn't really need anything else. Screws and wood.

Graphic Designer: It looks like you did a nice job. So do you exclusively bike around?

HD: Pretty much. My wife and I share a car, so I have access to a car. But for this particular enterprise I'm trying to make it completely human-powered.

Graphic Designer: So, is this an installation piece?

HD: No, I have a website called Teeter Talk, it's an interview website, and the one gimmick is that all the conversations have to take place on the teeter totter. So, I got a permanently-anchored one in my backyard, that's what I started with.

Graphic Designer: Have you interviewed any people that you are very excited about interviewing , like, you know, noted individuals?

HD: Well, Bill Clinton was here a couple of years ago for the commencement address, and if you go to the website, you will see a picture of him on the teeter totter.

Graphic Designer: You got him on the teeter totter?

HD: Well, there's a picture of him on the teeter totter is what I'm saying.

Graphic Designer: So, Photoshop?

HD: I'm just sayin, there's a picture of him on the teeter totter. But there's local politicians, and business owners, some high-profile people, a lot of just completely, relatively anonymous folks, who happen to be doing something fairly interesting. The only criterion, though, is a willingness to ride with me. So for a lot of people, that's of very low threshold. For some people that's an impossibly high threshold.

Graphic Designer: That's interesting. Are you interested at all in psychology, or? Or let me think, what makes that threshold? What is that?

HD: Yeah, I don't know. And I mean all lot of people would be quite happy to ride, but they wouldn't necessarily volunteer to ride, they would need to be asked. Which is something I totally understand. So I try to ask people explicitly, as well as having a sort of generally open invitation.

[Ed. note: from here until the next break the conversation includes the entire totter.]

Graphic Designer: So is that a shotgun mic so that when you're interviewing, it ...

HD: ... yes, and I've got a backup sound system over there. I haven't really perfected the recording process. I think ideally, I'd like to have the teeter totter wired, like underneath, ...

Graphic Designer: ... what you need, is like handles with the microphone right there, so that you could ...

HD: ... oh, handles for the teeter totter?? No, no, no.

Graphic Designer: Oh, yeah, that's ridiculous. [laugh]

HD: That's absurd.

Graphic Designer: That is absurd.

JR: That's crazy!

HD: You know that nice, clean aesthetic of just a simple, clean board, I mean ...

Graphic Designer: ... I understand! Less is more here.

HD: Actually, there's a structurally sound reason for not having handles. If you have handles, that fixes the position, which means that you would have to engineer away to adjust the pivot point.

Graphic Designer: So you couldn't interview obese people, or?

HD: Right. You'd have to ...

JR: ... I've got some walrus fat, here.

Graphic Designer: You've got some Buddha going on?

HD: So you would have to engineer the pivot point in a different way.

Graphic Designer: Gotcha.

JR: So, what you think, back to the interview, or?

HD: Yeah, back to it.

Graphic Designer: Yeah, sorry, sorry.

[Ed. note: HD veers off from an opportunity to focus back on John Roos by re-engaging the Sound Guy. There's no particular reason for that.]

HD: So, do you work at the Michigan Theater? You came out of there.

MT Sound Guy: I have been on staff here for years, yeah.

HD: So you can out to just ...

MT Sound Guy: ... I suspected it was Homeless Dave, I just came out to see why you were in front of the Michigan Theater today.

HD: We are talking about the Film Festival, actually. I don't know if you are aware of it, but John is one of the bigger business boosters of the Film Festival.

MT Sound Guy: Right. I met him actually last year at the Festival--we talked. I've been a part of the Festival and the Theater for many years. So I'm a fan. I'm a fan of the Festival, of fan of the Theater, of fan of your website. It's all good.

HD: Good deal. Dustin!

[Ed. note: from here until the next break is a separate conversation centered on JR's end of the totter.]

Graphic Designer: So are you guys like a duo?

JR: Not really, we're just like Ann Arbor friends and we cross paths between art shows.

Graphic Designer: [audio not discernable: general subject was 'art'.]

JR: I'm more of a painter, but I started this coffee business, where I use all linoleum block graphics for my bag prints, and then I roast coffee. So I have like a small micro-roaster.

Graphic Designer: And where?

JR: It's in Ann Arbor here out on Main Street. Also I sell coffee at art shows and stuff.

Graphic Designer: [audio not discernable] ... what are you going to do with your life, you're like a sculptor, there's no money in art!

JR: Believe me, man, that's why I started roasting coffee. I don't even know if there's money in that, either.

Graphic Designer: There is. Coffee is one of the biggest ...

JR: ... I want to get a coffee cart, because I don't think the ... [audio not discernable]

Graphic Designer: [audio not discernable: general topic was location of an unnamed coffee shop.]

JR: Ambrosia?

Graphic Designer: Ambrosia, right. Ambrosia is a cool place.

JR: Actually, they brew my coffee.

Graphic Designer: Oh, sweet.

JR: Actually where is your office?

Graphic Designer: It's up above Kinko's ...

JR: ... oh, cool.

Graphic Designer: And my boss, her husband [audio not discernable: mentioned was Zingerman's coffee.]

JR: Oh, really! So you're getting your coffee at Zingerman's? Now, did you move here, or are you from here?

Graphic Designer: I moved here from Virginia.

JR: Where's your accent? It's busted. [laugh]

Graphic Designer: [audio not discernable: general topic was geography, Colorado, Virginia, and how that relates to American dialects.]

[Ed. note: from here until the next break is a separate conversation centered on HD's end of the totter.]

HD: Dustin! Good to see you! So now we've had a couple of alums of the teeter totter drop by this morning. So you're back in town for a while? On a semi-permanent basis, or what?

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): Yeah, yeah. Semi-permanent is a good way to put it. I'm pretty sure it's going to be at least until August. After that, I think it might be a little longer than that still. But I'm still not sure how much longer.

HD: You are not necessarily committed to this area, then.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): Right. My girlfriend is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

HD: It's warm there, I hear.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): That's a plus. That's an even bigger plus for her. I don't know, now that it's March, it's starting to affect me. Prior to that, I was like, Well it's Michigan, it's winter.

HD: Yeah, Michigan, you kind of expect the weather in the winter to be snow and ice all the time. We didn't start March really well.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): No, we did not. Although, I've heard it comes in like a lion ...

HD: ... yeah, and there is that expression. What kind of coffee are you drinking there?

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): Ambrosia, whatever fair-trade they have.

HD: It could well be that gentleman's coffee, right there. He's John Roos, of the RoosRoast coffee.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): There's a pretty good chance. I know they have flier up by them. It's good coffee. I kind of got spoiled by Portland, because it's kind of like the coffee capital of the country right now.

HD: Do you remember the name of any of the coffee shops there?

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): Yeah, the big deal one, the big deal roaster was Stumptown.

HD: You know, that's hilarious, just about twenty minutes ago John explained how Stumptown roasters in Portland, Oregan, was what inspired him to actually roast coffee.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): Yeah, and they are really good. They're kind of taking it to the point where there's a backlash in Portland. I think the thing that bothers people is that any reputable cafe, or almost any reputable cafe in Portland almost, at this point, needs to serve Stumptown Coffee ...

HD: ... so if you don't have Stumptown and then you're not even worth ...

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): ... right. The one kind of like punk rock alternative, there's a guy who roasts beans in his garage or back yard and delivers by bike.

HD: Does he really?

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): It's called Courier Coffee. And that was my favorite cafe.

HD: So does he have a trailer that he hauls the coffee in, or just in a pouch?

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): Yeah, a little wagon basically.

HD: Like that one?

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): Akin to that. It's a little ...

HD: ... hey, nice to see you.

P (former HD colleague): What's up?

HD: Right now, I am! And now I'm down! And now I'm up again!

P (former HD colleague): Is it a fund-raiser?

HD: Actually this is a for my interview website. All the interviews take place on the teeter totter.

P (former HD colleague): This is very cool. Does the teeter totter move around town?

HD: It absolutely does. I use that trailer over there.

P (former HD colleague): Neat!

HD: It's good to see you!

P (former HD colleague): Do you want me to send down some students?

HD: Maybe not this morning, but sometime else.

P (former HD colleague): Alright, well, let us know.

HD: I'm just about to wrap up and head home, because I don't want to block the sidewalk!

P (former HD colleague): It's very cool!

HD: Thanks.

MT Sound Guy: You should come back during the Film Festival, actually. That'd be kinda fun. That's unofficial. From me. Because I'm unofficial, I can't really speak for the Theater. But it'd be cool if you came back. I think the Film Festival would probably enjoy it.

JR: You should just conduct constant--but how would you keep up with all the data? You would need somebody else to just dictate.

HD: As long as you have it recorded this just a matter of listening back. I use voice recognition actually. I listen in one ear bud and then re-voice into the microphone and it does a pretty decent job. It's saves a lot typing.

Graphic Designer: So you're transcribing it?

HD: Yeah.

[Ed. note: from here until the next break is a separate conversation centered on JR's end of the totter.]

JR: So you rode the totter recently?

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): [affirmative]

JR: Nice.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): Two or three years ago.

JR: Nice. Did it change your life?

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): Any notable event changes one's life. I don't know to what degree. You were saying you're a coffee roaster?

JR: Right.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): You said something about Portland, Oregon. I used to live in Portland.

JR: So you're familiar with Stumptown?

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): Painfully.

JR: They use French presses, or they used to. That's how they brewed their coffee. It's really stout and good. I love that coffee.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): You ever have their Hollow Mountain blend?

JR: You know, I used to just go in there and get my cup of coffee and work on other stuff. Here, there's not really a cafe like that here. Stumptown was more like a getting-it-done kind of cafe for everybody. But this is cool, the cafes here are great. Maybe a coffee cart to start off. I've been saying this forever. I just quit my job of four years selling cars.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): I wish you the best of luck and I will certainly support you.

JR: Really? Great.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): I go to Ambrosia every day. It's kind of my habitual ...

JR: ... they actually brew organic coffee from me. Their coffee's good, for sure. Ambrosia's probably the best cafe.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): I agree. Actually, I have to cut this conversation short, because the person who has the key for my work ...

JR: ... oh, right, man.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): What's your name?

JR: My name's John.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): Dustin.

JR: Nice to meet you.

Dustin Krcatovich (alum): Nice to meet you, too. I'm gonna take off. I'll see you later.

HD: Thanks for stopping by.

[Ed. note: from here until the next break is a separate conversation centered on HD's end of the totter.]

Graphic Designer: So are you Homeless Dave because you don't have a home?

HD: Somebody mistook me for a homeless guy once.

Graphic Designer: So did somebody stuff a couple of dollars in your cup or something?

HD: It wasn't quite that bad. [Ed note: HD inspects Graphic Designer's business card, which features the word 'surgery' prominently enough that HD initially misses the graphic designing part.] Surgery! You know, I'm looking for like a specialist in colorectal cancer to ride the teeter totter. There's a long back story. But you're not a surgeon? You're a graphic designer?

Graphic Designer: I'm a graphic designer, yeah. I would be hard-pressed to be able to recommend you the surgeons. The surgeons probably wouldn't dig on this too much.

HD: Not their thing?

Graphic Designer: Well, I was photographing an O.R. last Thursday, and that was really stressful.

HD: For the surgeons?

Graphic Designer: For me.

HD: Oh, because the surgeons were ...

Graphic Designer: ... it's a totally different culture. You know, it's really hierarchical, and they're still really entrenched in the hierarchy, and it's very rankist, and ...

HD: ... so graphic designers rank where?

Graphic Designer: Oh, I don't know that we are even on the totem poll. [laugh] They don't understand us.

HD: So were you actually photographing an actual surgery?

Graphic Designer: Yes, it was a triple-A: abdominal aortic aneurysm.

HD: You know, I can understand why surgeons might be a little like, We have a guy open here, stay out of our way.

Graphic Designer: Yeah, no, he was sitting there talking to his resident, being like, Put your finger right here to keep the blood from spurting out.

HD: Wow.

Graphic Designer: So it was interesting, it was really interesting.

[Ed. note: from here until the end, the conversation includes the entire totter.]

HD: Wow--hey, let me down--but if you come across a colorectal cancer specialist who asks you, you know, steer them my way.

Graphic Designer: Yeah, you put that out in the universe and sometimes that stuff will come back around, you know? You never know.

JR: Right, it does!

Graphic Designer: It does. But I think you guys are doing a good thing. I don't know what it is ...

HD: ... we are on the side of good and not evil. I think that's pretty clear!

MT Sound Guy: That must be the evil side then! I figured you know if you guys are on the good side, if you know what I'm saying.

HD: Oh, I get it, is this an allusion to Borders?

MT Sound Guy: No. It's an allusion to just the street.

JR: I think there's a big revolution of change going on. People are not wondering whether there's global warming are not. People are sure that Bush did a terrible job for four years.

Graphic Designer: Four years??

JR: I mean eight years, sorry, whoops.

HD: But the guy who owns the Weather Channel, didn't he file suit against Al Gore. Or maybe that was a fake news headline.

Graphic Designer: It's funny when you can't tell the difference the fake headlines and the real ones.

HD: Yeah, but I thought I saw that on like Yahoo News somewhere recently, like in the last week, that the owner of the Weather Channel had sued Al Gore for propagating the 'myth' of global warming. I'm not sure what stake the Weather Channel guy has.

Graphic Designer: Does he own the weather?

JR: I think he's leased it! [laugh]

HD: ... if the weather is consistently warm, why would you need the forecasts any more. It's like, Well, it's just going to be warm.

Graphic Designer: It's just going to be warm, right. Well, I gotta go graphic design so you guys have fun teetering and tottering.

JR: Hey, do you do web design on the side at all?

Graphic Designer: I hate free-lance. If you need some help, let me know.

JR: No, I'm thinking of someone else. People are always asking me and I can find anybody who does it, so.

Graphic Designer: I would do it, but I hate the money thing. Like with a set gig, I don't have to be ...

JR: ... right, the money person.

Graphic Designer: Yeah, the money person.

JR: You just do the work, get paid. That's a great thing.

Graphic Designer: Sometimes, I'll do websites for friends and be like, Just don't even bring the money.

JR: Big mistake! Just kidding.

HD: You deal with the currency of like beers?

Graphic Designer: Beer would be good.

JR: Or coffee? You don't drink coffee!

Graphic Designer: Maybe my wife. My wife is a coffee fanatic, so ...

JR: ... how about tea? Maybe Arbor Teas could get you some tea, those guys.

Graphic Designer: No, but the thing is, especially with like web design, it incorporates too much. I'm great with the visual part of it, but like the technical back end, people are like, I want drop-downs! and whatever, and when it gets on a server that doesn't have the technology or whatever, blah blah blah, and I'm like, I don't know! And they're, like, Well, why don't you know, aren't you a graphic designer? And I'm like, Yeah, I am graphic designer ...

HD: ... you can make pretty pictures.

Graphic Designer: Exactly. And if your pictures don't work on the web, well, too bad. And then they're like, Well, I'm not going to pay you!

JR: Oh, my god, no.

Graphic Designer: So, with this group [with my set gig], there's programmers, there's graphic designers, there's money people. And we're moving into this place--you were talking about this big change-- moving to this place where one person can't be like Ghengis Kahn and have the biggest ego, and rule everything.

HD: What??

Graphic Designer: Sorry!

HD: You just gotta pick the right field, because I absolutely do that for the teeter totter--I am the kind of the Kahn of the totter.

Graphic Designer: But if you don't have the teeter, you can't totter!

JR: You're right, man. That's a good realization.

Graphic Designer: Well, no, it's like the world is getting so integrated that you can't ...

JR: ... you can't work alone anymore. [bus sounds]

Graphic Designer: You can't, you just can't. And I think this same thing is happening, where we can't pretend to be nations that much longer, because if we pretend to be the imperialists that we are too much longer, everybody is just going to not play ball with us.

JR: I hope you got all that because I couldn't hear it.

MT Sound Guy: Those were authentic bus sounds. Those were great sound effects, I love that bus sound effect! Very realistic!

HD: We'll see how it sounds. I might have to say 'obscured by bus'.

JR: Why don't we get smaller buses, like cut those suckers in half?

Graphic Designer: Not what were they doing down in Brazil, they were making them like five long.

HD: Oh, you mean like the articulated buses?

Graphic Designer: So how many are they doing?

HD: I don't know, I mean, I haven't heard of more than just two.

Graphic Designer: Jaime Lerner--what was the mayor's name that was doing the good work in Brazil?

HD: I don't know.

Graphic Designer: I think it's Jaime Lerner.

HD: Jaime Lerner. That doesn't sound like a Brazilian name

Graphic Designer: He speaks like a Brazilian. I was listening to an interview by him yesterday.

HD: So he is pioneering big, long buses?

Graphic Designer: Yeah, I think he is.

JR: You gotta save this this for your totter talk, man, for your totter ride. I'm just kidding, I'm joking.

Graphic Designer: [laugh]

HD: [laugh] We should make sure that we don't miss anything that you had on your mind while we are out here!

JR: No, I think we got it, pretty much already. I guess the--I like collaborating, I can't do it alone!

MT Sound Guy: Let me give you my card.

HD: Oh, you have been mentioned on the teeter totter!

MT Sound Guy: Oh, have I?

HD: I believe by Will Stewart. You know Will Stewart?

MT Sound Guy: Yeah, I'm the guy who ran Top of the Park for ten years, so I know all the musicians. I've been here for 16 years.

HD: When Will was on the teeter totter I think he mentioned you in the context the sound at the Michigan Theater.

MT Sound Guy: Yeah, well good! I have been the sound guy here for years. And I have sound-guyed at the Top of the Park and have been booking the Top the Park. Although I've stopped that now, because I'm working on my own music.

HD: Well, you know where you can get yourself the teeter totter ride, right?

MT Sound Guy: Good, well, thanks, Dave, I appreciate that. If it's of interest to you I'll come teeter with you at some point.

HD: It would be nice to get that 16-year perspective. You did say 16 years, right?

MT Sound Guy: 16 years here. Ten years at Top of the Park. Although I just left there.

HD: But in Ann Arbor total?

MT Sound Guy: Oh, in Ann Arbor for a long, long time.

HD: Oh, longer even than 16 years?

MT Sound Guy: Yeah I have been around since before then. Well, nice to meet you.

JR: Hey, nice to see you, Scott. Thank you very much for coming out!

MT Sound Guy: Hey guys, it's been fun, hopefully we will see all you guys at the Film Festival!

HD: At least for one program!

MT Sound Guy: You should do one bounce out here, actually. Talk to Christen McArdle, who is the director of the Festival. Do one bounce-around.

HD: A 'bounce-around'?? Is that what you said???

MT Sound Guy: I know. My use of terminology is truly insulting. I am ashamed and I'm walking away.

Graphic Designer: He said 'ride', and that is just as bad.

MT Sound Guy: I don't know, man, you are bouncing around, and it is beautiful!

JR: I do love to bounce around, you know!

Graphic Designer: I said 'see-saw', and got snapped at!

HD: There's no bouncing allowed. There's no bouncing on the totter.

MT Sound Guy: That's why I'm walking away, man. Obviously, I can't hang with you guys. I don't know the terminology!

HD: Yeah, you're not cool enough, you're not even close to being cool enough with your 'bounce around'.

Graphic Designer: Are you going to write a book of lingo?

HD: Of teeter totter ettiquette.

MT Sound Guy: And you have to read the whole book before you're allowed to get on. Do not put your feet on the teeter totter!

HD: There will be a qualifying exam.

JR: No handles!

HD: [to Graphic Designer] Actually, now did you follow the whole funding crisis with the Ann Arbor Film Festival? They ran afoul of some guidelines.

Graphic Designer: What was it--the National Endowment for the Arts? Was it that?

HD: No, I think was a state-level issue. And the guidelines that they ran afoul of said something like you can't, there was no ...

Graphic Designer: ... was it nudity, or something like that?

HD: Explicit sexuality. And there was something about the cross specifically--not religious symbols in general. And acts of defication.

Graphic Designer: Ooooh, pooping. I read that book, We All Poop.

HD: Right. Everybody Poops.

Graphic Designer: Oh, okay, yep. Everybody does.

HD: So I was thinking, the same guidelines pretty much work for the teeter totter. I don't want anybody defecating on the teeter totter.

Graphic Designer: So like nudity would be out??

HD: That's been talked about before. The mayor of Ypsilanti, he said something that suggested to me that he was advocating for nudity on the teeter totter.

Graphic Designer: For himself, or for somebody else?

HD: For somebody else, I believe. And it turned out that wasn't maybe exactly what he meant. But I mean we clarified that.

Graphic Designer: But sometimes things that are really cool in your mind are not so cool in practical terms.

HD: Being nude on the teeter totter doesn't sound cool, even in my mind. It sounds cold!

Graphic Designer: Right now, today, Yep.

HD: Well listen, let's wrap this thing up.

Graphic Designer: It's nice meeting you guys!

HD: Yeah, nice meeting you.

JR: Nice meeting you. Now get the hell outta here! [laugh]

HD: You know I can hook you up with a ride some time.

Graphic Designer: You know, I want a bouncy-bouncy on a see-saw.

HD: No, you're not allowed to have a bounce-around on a seesaw.

Graphic Designer: I'm outta here!

JR: Go make some graphic design, man.

HD: Okay, let's hop off this thing!


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Homer artists win Rasmuson grants

Posted: May 22, 2014 - 10:28am

Three Homer artists have received Rasmuson Foundation grants. Artist Mavis Muller and filmmaker Michael Walsh have been named 2014 Rasmuson Fellows and received grants up to $18,000. Choreographer Breezy Berryman received a project grant worth up to $7,500. Muller, well known for her annual Burning Basket community art project, will create a 30-page color booklet titled “Something has Ended. Something has Begun,” to document her many interactive community art projects — namely, basket sculptures woven with natural materials from the local countryside. This is her second Fellowship Award and third award in total.

Walsh’s award will help him upgrade and modernize his equipment as he continues to explore and showcase contemporary artists in Alaska through monographs. Walsh is well known in Alaska film and art circles, having worked with Alaska Moving Image Preservation Association, the Alaska State Council on the Arts and many of Alaska arts organizations. He previously received an Individual Artist Award.

Berryman will stage an evening of modern dance at the Homer High School Mariner Theater. This production will incorporate video images of Alaska’s natural environment and infuse her interpretations of these images into kinetic movement.

Longtime Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference instructor and poet Peggy Shumaker was named this year’s Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist, receiving a $40,000 award.

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Traffic deaths on the rise

To the Editor:

Minnesota is suffering a deadly year on our roads. Traffic deaths last week topped the 200-death mark for the year and we are on pace for around 450 deaths for 2013, which would be 55 more than 2012.

It may be easy to glance over these numbers and see them as figures and data. But we all know there’s much more behind them than that.

These numbers stand for Sherwin Johnson, 73, who was killed on his motorcycle July 29.

These numbers include Krista Suronen, 42, killed on July 27.

And these numbers represent Naw Wah, 48, and La Yin, 48, who also died in a crash on July 27.

Our hearts go out to these victims and their families. These are just a few of the 18 people we lost on the road in the past two weeks. Sadly, there are another 200-plus names that we could add to the list of 2013 traffic crash victims.

We can’t forget the lives lost. As drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians, it’s up to each of us to remember these victims as the reasons to practice safe behaviors to prevent future tragedies.

It’s a scary thought, but a crash could happen to any of us. You may not have heard about any of these crashes in the past week. There’s a good chance these violent episodes didn’t occur in your community, and you may not have had any connection to the victims or those involved.

But we are all connected when we are on the road. All it takes is a simple mistake to turn a routine drive into a fatal or life-changing collision.

Driving is a privilege. It’s an activity that carries a great amount of responsibility, as well as focus and attention. When we are behind the wheel, our primary goal must be to get to our destination safely.

Driving is not a time to conduct other business. It’s not an opportunity to daydream. It’s not a race.

Far too many lives are lost on Minnesota roads each year. It’s up to each of us to stop these tragedies.

We can prevent crashes and we can reverse this trend to reduce the deaths.

Please, buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention, drive sober — and drive cooperatively, not competitively.

Mona Dohman

Minnesota Department of Public Safety

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Reuters’ Bungled Headline

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Credit Reuters with today’s bungled headline.

If — instead of skimming the headlines — you bothered to read down to the sixth paragraph, you’ll see that the demolition had nothing to do with the passing of the April 29 peace deadline:

The Israeli army said in a statement that eight structures, including a “mosque in use”, were demolished because they had been built illegally inside a dangerous live-fire military training zone.

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Today's Top Stories 1. Haaretz: Prime Minister Netanyahu told the EU's Federica Mogherini he wants to resume peace talks, with ...


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Home » Hooniverse Goes To... »Hooniverse Truck Thursday » Currently Reading:

Down on the Amsterdam Street – Jeep Cherokee

Here are two quick shots of a wood-vinyled XJ Cherokee I saw in Amsterdam, for Truck Thursday’s sake. Like the majority of my Dutch sightings, it looked surprisingly clean and well-kept. With forest green paint and plastic wood, it looks very good indeed down to the wheels.

The plates tell me it’s a 1994 Cherokee, and the badges proudly display a mention of the venerable 4.0-litre straight-six engine. It looks exquisitely trimmed, with light leather. It’s probably my favorite Cherokee, I haven’t seen one this nice in ages.

[Images: Copyright 2013 Hooniverse/Antti Kautonen]

  • MVEilenstein

    Replete with amber turn signals. Were these sold in Europe?

    • http://www.hooniverse.com julkinen

      Yeah, they were actually. Too much Renault content to keep them away. :)

      • MVEilenstein

        FIgured as much. Is this one a European model?

        • duurtlang_

          Probably. It's got the mandatory side indicator and it's labeled 4.0 litre and not liter. The taillights look European too, but I have to admit I have no idea how they looked in the US.

          • http://www.washington.edu/news/archive/52703 mdharrell

            "Litre" is how Jeep spelled it for the US market. Ford did something similar:

            <img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4006/4295727447_6d8d7ba7e5.jpg" width="400">

            • duurtlang_

              I didn't know. I though Litre was UK-English and Liter US-English. But what do I know, I'm not a native speaker anyway.

              • http://www.washington.edu/news/archive/52703 mdharrell

                You're correct about the convention but it wasn't followed in either of these cases.

                • jeepjeff

                  I didn't get a picture, but I was able to confirm this today on an XJ with exactly this paint scheme and wheels. It definitely said 4.0 Litre on the back.

          • http://PFMTechnology.net IronBallsMcG

            That's actually how the badges were in the states IIRC. A little bit of Euro-centric affectation if you ask me, but you are correct regarding the taillights. No amber in 'Murica.

            • http://www.hooniverse.com LTDScott

              Uh, what? All US-spec Cherokees (not Wagoneers) had amber rear turn signals, however they used different tail lights than the ones shown above for some reason.

              • http://PFMTechnology.net IronBallsMcG

                Aw, hell. I don't know what I thinking.
                I've even owned one.

                • http://www.hooniverse.com LTDScott

                  It looks like the main difference is that the lights shown above appear to have rear fog lights below the turn signals. The Dodge Caravan below has em too.

    • dukeisduke

      Oh yeah. I always dig seeing the European taillights on American cars. Several year ago, I saw an early '90s Chrysler minivan here, with Euro taillights and NL license plates. And yes, it was turbo diesel powered.

    • SsS

      If you look closely at the picture of the rear end, you'll notice there is no CHMSL (it shoud be at the bottom of the rear window, next to the wiper blade), so safe to say it's European spec.

  • boxdin

    I think the wheels are later 16" Grand Cherokee.

    • Maymar

      Or even later XJ Cherokee – the later Limiteds used these wheels too.

      I suspect the wood panelling is aftermarket though, or a Euro option.

  • CherokeeOwner

    Not bad. The few "wood paneled" XJs we have in the US aren't in nearly this good a condition.

  • C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

    The woodie look was an option, up 'till the very end, I believe.

    Also, I've seen Wranglers, though 15 years ago, doing high-elevation testing in the mountains west of Denver, when I lived out that way, with regular size/shape add-on rear lights they used to have, but with one part of it amber.

    I wish the US would follow this lead. It's genius.

    Then again, I want rear running/brake lights to have a second bulb and it would change visual 'signature' when the brakes were applied with running lights on.

    I did this on both my W126 and W124…used the unused rear fog lamp as a second brake light.

    It was obvious this setup got a faster reaction time than the single bulb per side did.

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Hoop Dawgs

This is a blog that will discuss UGA Men's Basketball

Archive for January 31st, 2012

Georgia heads to The Plains in search of first SEC road win

with 7 comments

The Georgia Bulldogs (10-10; 1-5) are currently locked in a tie with South Carolina for last place in the SEC basketball division-less standings.  The Dawgs, who are 0-2 in conference road games this season, have an opportunity to grab hold of the SEC ladder and climb out of the cellar with a win in Auburn Arena on Wednesday night (coupled with a South Carolina loss at #11 Florida).

Georgia is looking up at Auburn in the standings where the Tigers sit at 2-5, both wins this season coming at home.

If these two teams can combine for more than 100 points on Wednesday I think that they should celebrate together afterwards, regardless of the outcome of the game.

The Dawgs and the Tigers aren’t just at the bottom of the conference standings; they are both producing basement-level offensive SEC statistics in points per game, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free throw percentage, etc.

The point is that neither team can score and the fact that both of them are shooting below 37% from the floor in SEC play is probably a major contributing factor.

Auburn’s leading scorer is junior point guard Frankie Sullivan who is the only Tiger scoring in double-digits in conference games at 11.7 points per contest.  To be fair, Georgia’s Kentavious-Caldwell Pope (15 ppg) and Gerald Robinson, Jr. (12.5 ppg) are the only Bulldogs netting more than 10 per game as well.

Auburn’s one strength – I’m not kidding, they only have one – is that they rebound the ball pretty well as a team.  The Tigers are 3rd in the SEC in both total rebounds (36.3) and offensive rebounds (13.3), giving them a huge advantage on the glass against a Georgia team that sports the second-worst rebounding margin in the league at -8.2.

Another piece of information that is of note is that Auburn beat Ole Miss – a team the Dawgs lost to in Athens –  in double-overtime 69-68 back on January 14th.

Georgia’s season has officially gone sour after back-to-back home losses to Mississippi and Kentucky, leaving the Dawgs record at an even .500 on the year.

Another road loss (especially to Auburn) could change the adjective to describe the season from “sour” to “dismal” pretty quick.

I might go so far as to proclaim that a Tiger win would mean that Georgia’s campaign had totally derailed.

Let’s hope that the week off has given Coach Mark Fox a chance to figure out a way to put another “W” in the win column.

Any other thoughts?

Written by hoopdawg

January 31, 2012 at 8:44 pm

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HoopsHype Jerome Jordan rumors

August 14, 2012 Updates

After spending last season with the New York Knicks, big man Jerome Jordan is currently an unrestricted free agent. Jordan was traded to the Houston Rockets as part of the Marcus Camby trade, but was waived by the Rockets several days later. Now, Jordan is working out at Impact Basketball in Los Angeles and waiting to see what his future holds. “It was kind of tough, especially because it was my first time being traded,” Jordan said. “I was looking forward to going to Houston and playing, but then soon after I got waived. The only thing I can control is working hard. I’m just going to keep working hard and be ready when the next opportunity comes.” “I’m just waiting. I know my agent is talking and working for me. I’m trying to wait it out and just keep working. I want to be in a good position to play and compete for a back-up spot. I’m going to keep working hard and show teams that I can play.” HoopsWorld

July 19, 2012 Updates
July 18, 2012 Updates
July 4, 2012 Updates
July 1, 2012 Updates

If they landed Nash via a sign-and-trade with Phoenix, the Knicks would not bepart with point guard Iman Shumpert, who the Suns liked in last year's draft. New York is willing to part with a package that features Landry Fields, Toney Douglas, $3 million and the non-guaranteed salaries of Dan Gadzuric and Jerome Jordan. Fields is a restricted free agent who could be signed to a deal while Douglas' contract could be seen as an expiring contract whose salary is more than covered by the cash component. The Suns could waive Gadzuric and Jordan at no cost. Arizona Republic

June 29, 2012 Updates
May 13, 2012 Updates
March 25, 2012 Updates
March 2, 2012 Updates
January 28, 2012 Updates
January 23, 2012 Updates
January 17, 2012 Updates
December 12, 2011 Updates
December 11, 2011 Updates

Any rumor missing? E-mail us at   hoopshype@hoopshype.com.


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Homemade Peanut Butter Cups :: Recipes on HoosierHomemade.com
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Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

Simple, easy and creative recipes and projects delivered straight to your inbox.

Peanut Butter Cups are quite possibly my boys favorite candy! And honestly, one of my favorites as well. Although making Homemade Peanut Butter Cups is really easy, I usually only make them for special holidays or celebrations.

With Valentine’s Day just a few days away, I knew the boys would love a big bag of the Peanut Butter Cups in their Love Buckets! I have 3 different versions to share with you, just in case you are out of time for Valentine’s Day.

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups - just a few ingredients and you will never eat store bought again! Pin to your Recipe Board!

To make the Peanut Butter Cups extra special for Valentine’s Day, I used the same silicone heart ice cube mold that I used for the Cupcake Fondue. It worked beautifully! But in case you don’t have a chance to get the heart mold {I found it at Michael’s}, you can easily use mini cupcake liners. I love them with the micro heart sprinkles.

The Peanut Butter Cups can be made a couple weeks in advance, just store them in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to give them as gifts or serve them at a party.

While we love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, there is really nothing that compares to the richness of a Homemade Peanut Butter Cup.

Next are the Peanut Butter Cups in blue mini cupcake liners and a sprinkle of white nonpareils on top.

These would be perfect for a Winter party, birthday celebration or even a baby shower!

And last…who wouldn’t love these Peanut Butter Cups with bright sprinkles at their birthday celebration? As you can see…the options are endless for these little bites of heaven!

5 from 1 reviews
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
Prep time
Total time
Nothing compares to a Homemade Peanut Butter Cup. Recipe from HoosierHomemade.com
Serves: 35-40 candies
  • 1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter, divided
  • 1+1/2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • ½ cup Confectioners’ (powdered) Sugar
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • 2 cups Semisweet Chocolate Chips (I used Milk Chocolate)
  • 4 Milk Chocolate Candy Bars (1.55 ounces each), coarsely chopped (I used Hershey’s)
  • Colored sprinkles, optional
  1. Fill mini muffin tins with mini paper liners.
  2. In a small bowl, combine ½ cup peanut butter, butter and confectioners sugar and salt until smooth, set aside.
  3. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips, candy bars and remaining peanut butter, stir until smooth. (this usually takes about 2 minutes)
  4. Drop teaspoonfuls of chocolate mixture into paper liners.
  5. Top each with a scant teaspoonful of peanut butter mixture
  6. Top each with chocolate mixture to cover.
  7. Decorate with sprinkles if desired.
  8. Refrigerate until set
Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.
You may have some peanut butter mixture left over depending on how much you add to each cup.
For the Heart Shaped Peanut Butter Cups, fill a piping bag with chocolate mixture, fill a heart shaped silicone ice cube mold about ½ full with chocolate mixture.
Add a small amount of peanut butter mixture, fill to the top with chocolate, covering the peanut butter.
Place in fridge until set, turn over and pop out of mold.

Follow Hoosier Homemade for all your Valentine’s Day needs

Linking to…Gooseberry Patch

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

The slow strangulation of a free press in Venezuela

The government of Hugo Chavez has shut down RCTV – the oldest privately owned television station in Venezuela. The station, popular with Venezuelans for its soap operas and game shows, was one of a number of media outlets that has opposed the Chavez government.

Yesterday in Caracas, thousands protested the decision by Chavez to force the station off the air for being critical of his leadership. Huffington Post reports, “Police fired toward the crowd of up to 5,000 protesters from a raised highway, and protesters fled amid clouds of tear gas. They later regrouped in Caracas’ Plaza Brion chanting “freedom!” Some tossed rocks and bottles at police, prompting authorities to scatter demonstrators by firing more gas.”

According to José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, “President Hugo Chávez is misusing the state’s regulatory authority to punish a media outlet for its criticism of the government. The move to shut down RCTV is a serious blow to freedom of expression in Venezuela.”

Marc Cooper addresses the issue of the apologists for Chavez’s actions:
… RCTV is no doubt a conservative, anti-Chavez, pro-oligarchic network chock full of mind-numbing and frankly stupid entertainment programs. But you know what? Millions of Venezuelans watch them, want to watch them, and much more importantly -- like it or not-- RCTV has become the major media outlet for the political opposition. And excuse me for being old-fashioned but without a strong opposition voice there is no such thing as democracy-- of the revolutionary sort or otherwise.

The question from the apologists is always: Well, would the U.S. allow a TV station that encouraged the overthrow of the government. I suspect not. But we would sure be protesting someone's right to encourage that? Wouldn't we? And at least there'd be some damn FCC hearing with a right to appeal before the troops were sent in to seize the equipment.

What really galls me -- no, what absolutely disgusts me-- are the so-called "media reformers" in the U.S. who just think it's grand when Chavez engages in this sort of muzzling. They want to stand with an authoritarian who, among other things, has said he's closing RCTV because its soap operas encourage immoral behavior? Roll over, Reverend Falwell and make room for your new lefty friends.

The most obvious lesson that anyone with an IQ above room temperature can draw from these events is that the closure of RCTV is but a direct threat to any other opposition voice in Venezuela. The two other private TV networks in Venezuela behaved exactly the same way that RCTV did during the 2002 failed coup against Chavez (they supported it). But in the past few years they have modified their political positions to supporting Hugo, so their billionaire owners continue with no restriction.

Here in the U.S. we journalists get understandably upset when as much as one reporter gets dragged before a grand jury. We rightfully consider that a chilling of press freedom. But how is that the phony media reformers -- like FAIR-- can't raise their voices when a major opposition network is yanked off the air and it supporters are fired on with rubber bullets? This all gives a new meaning to the word hypocrisy.
And now it is reported that the Chavez government is now ratcheting up criticism of another television station, Globovision, it considers part of the opposition. It claims the station implicitly called for Chavez’s assassination when it aired footage of the 1981 assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II with the song "This Does Not Stop Here" sung by Ruben Blades, now Panama's tourism minister.

What we are witnessing is the step-by-step shut down of dissent against the government by intimidation and regulatory control of the media.

Larry Gambone said...

One should avoid knee-jerk reactions like this article. This is the bind that reactionary pro-US forces put any left wing government in. The corporate media is used to whip up hatred against a progressive govt in preparation for overthrowing it. Corporate capitalists expect us to be a "loyal opposition" but never practices this themselves. This is exactly what happened in Chile in 1973 and again in Nicaragua in the 1980's. The progressive govt has two choices - to allow the reactionary media to exist - and face counter revolution - as in the cases sighted above, or like Cuba in 1960 or Venezuela today - shut them down. In this latter case, of course, the progressive govt is then deemed "authoritarian" and hostile international propaganda is thus generated. In both cases UIS imperialism manages to win against a popular government.However the REAL test of how "authoritarian" a progressive regime is, is not how they treat the corporate Quislings but how they treat the critical left-wing media. Cuba failed this test in 1961, so far Venezuela has not, as anarchists and Trotskyists are still free to publish their critiques of the Chavistas. However, the state closing media is a poor way of dealing with the problem, I agree. A better way would be to allow the people to take it over - to de-corporatize it and turn it into a cooperative. In essence, there should be no such thing as "corporate media" - freedom of press is for individuals, not fictitious entities like corporations.

Anonymous said...

RCTV was not forced off the air. Their license ran out and was not renewed.

Jim said...

Radio and TV stations need to be licensed because there are only a finite number of electromagnetic frequency bands available. Stations should not be delicensed because of their content. That is abridgement of freedom of speech. To me, it seems that the Venezuelan government did not renew the license because it wanted to suppress its voice.


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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

I Want Love

I was at my friend Rachel's house for a sleepover towards the end of 4th grade.  We lay giggling in the dark and ventured into previously uncharted conversation territory: boys.  I thought our classmate Brad was so cute and we laughingly plotted how Brad would fall in love with me and we would get married and live happily ever after.  What do 10 year olds need to know about love and marriage beyond a particular boy's cuteness?

I had no idea how Brad felt about me but a year later I got a glimpse.  A friend came up to me on the playground and told me Brad had been talking about me.  Hope welled from within.  The ever so hunky Brad was talking about me?  Indeed he had.  He said that I was RAD.  Before I could fathom that such a cute popular boy might like me, my confidence was dashed.  RAD, my friend informed me, stood for Retarded and Dumb.

I deflated.  And there planted the seed that I was ugly, unlovable, and the host of other Given Names I would use to identify myself with a couple of years later.

The other seeds I must have sowed myself, maybe attached too much meaning to words that were spoken or unspoken.  I came to believe that a relationship would make me whole.  I would be Beautiful if someone loved me.  Life would be Grand if I was married or at least dating.  Every year of junior high, high school, and college was measured by guys' interest or lack thereof.  And when each year didn't bear the fruit of a romantic relationship, I chalked it up to God not caring about me.
"I didn't doubt His existence- I just doubted His presence in my life." -Your Secret Name, p. 83
Because I didn't have a boyfriend and because I didn't believe God cared, because I was convinced that I was Ugly and Unlovable, I began to toy with suicidal ideation.  I had ideas, plans, and the self-righteous belief that no one would care when I was gone.

In some ways, the private grammar school I attended saved my life.  I couldn't access the things or people that would further my self-destructive habits.  Even though I hated my school and the cliques and the emphasis on money (when my parents sacrificed to send me and my brother there), I shudder to think of who I would be if I'd attended public school.  But grammar school alone was not enough to save me.  If you had looked at me during junior high, you would never have guessed how much I loathed myself.  As a good Christian girl, I knew all the right answers and how to behave.
"Many of us war our masks far too frequently- and we've lost touch with our potential for who God created us to be." -Your Secret Name, p. 60
By college I realized that the masks no longer served their purpose. I had to start dealing with the pain or else die trying.  I began therapy and, shortly before that, began keeping an affirmation log.  I thought if I wrote down what everyone else liked about me, I would start believing it myself.  That log made a world of difference but then a few years later, I realized it was more important for me to see myself the way God saw me.  We all know that human perception is flighty and this was not a foundation upon which I could base my self-esteem.

I never went through with my suicidal plans by God's grace.  I worked through my depression and self-esteem issues.  And yet, I still define myself by the lack of a romantic relationship.  I'm beginning to realize how intertwined my marital status is with my self-esteem, even after all this time and effort.  Even though I fight against it, in my lowest moments I'm tempted to believe God is withholding a husband as some form of punishment or because He doesn't love me.

In my better moments, I realize that God protected me from what would have been poor dating relationships in the past.  In junior high and high school especially I would have been consumed with being the perfect girlfriend and letting someone else dictate my life and decisions.

I'm not that girl anymore though.  It's puzzling to me and to my loved ones as to why I haven't met the right guy.  It may be timing.  Or it may just not be in the cards for me.  Either way, I don't want to believe that I am less than just because I don't have a spouse.

This is something I struggle with: I don't understand why I'm single yet I also believe that God doesn't promise we'll always get what we want and therefore marriage may never be a part of my future.  I believe I will be an excellent wife and mother and it is something that I desire.  I don't yearn for it the way I used to.  I no longer believe that marriage or a man will transform life into daily sunshine, rainbows, and ice cream.  Life on earth will never be perfect and no one can satisfy our deepest longings but God.  I don't know why I'm still single but I am striving to be content and to accept that this is where I'm meant to be for now.

I don't want my singleness to become a wedge between me and God.  I don't want my past depression to resurface because of discontent.

It's difficult to reimagine your life when you've believed the past 20 years that marriage and family would already be a part of it at this point.  By no means have I put my life on hold while waiting for Mr. Right to appear but I am unsure how to move beyond this insecurity.
"We get a tiny peek at what could be- the possible- while taking a vacation from what is- the actual...The following days, years, and perhaps even decades help us hone in on that original vision we received. Time brings clarity. Yet for the moment we must be content to simply understand where we are and how far we must travel in order to arrive at our destination." -Your Secret Name, p. 90
Right now I don't know what the What Could Be is.   I don't have a clue what lies between here and eternity.  I don't know what my Secret Name could be that would redeem the insecurity and uncertainty that taunt me but I will continue to press forward.  I want love, yes. However, I want to know and experience the all-surpassing, unconditional love of Christ first and foremost.

May that be my prayer, may that be my guide.

This post is part of the Your Secret Name Read-Along hosted by the ever-lovely Marla Taviano.

  1. oh, friend. i love this. and i love you. this is so beautiful, first of all, but also so beautifully written. who knows what all this singleness business is about except for god? meanwhile, we get to be all about his business. no answers, friend (not that you were looking for them). only love. xo

  2. What a heartfelt, honest post. You sound like you are in a better place in your life now. It's amazing how a thoughtless word from a child can affect us so much when we are children.

  3. Leigh, this is so, so, so, so beautiful. And I know it will be an encouragement to so many people. It can't be easy to share something so deeply personal. I'm praying God blesses you like crazy today for your obedience in letting him use your story. Love you!

  4. Wow...what a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing your heart. As Marla said, it will be an encouragement to many.

  5. I can identify with much you have written, and am glad to see God's protection over you and encouragement of you.

    so sweet to hear your heart. you are very brave. *HUG*

  6. thank you for sharing your heart with us. i was in your place about 5 years ago.

    "I don't want my singleness to become a wedge between me and God." that's exactly what happened to me and i made some bad choices "I'll show Him." Somehow I thought going it alone would prove something to God.

    The upside? Now I know without a doubt He loves me, even when I'm stupid.

  7. on my lunch break, i remembered back when i was in the fourth grade and my friend sarah passed me a note 'from david', who was my on-again/off-again boyfriend who i was going to marry one day and i was madly in love with him. (i was 9.)

    i wrote him a note back, professing my reciprocated love/like and sarah gave it to him.

    and then she told me that SHE had actually written the note as a joke.

    i. was. MORTIFIED.

    david ran over to me at lunchtime, threw the note in my face, and screamed, 'I. HATE. YOOOUUUU!'

    it makes me laugh now -it did then, too. but now i'm thinking, 'that was sort of a strong response from him, no?'

    anyway, it just made me laugh in the car today (and is right now). thought it would give you a lift also. :)

  8. I was where you are. I so relate. While God doesn't promise everything we want, I do believe he is a God of perfect surprises, and truly when we are not looking he reveals a dream come true far better than our plans for ourselves. Praying that for you!

  9. Oh my gracious, y'all! I am blown away by all of the encouragement you've extended to me. I tried to sit down to write this post a few times over the weekend and had to pray my way through it last night. I have no qualms about sharing my past depression because it's been dealt with but talking about what trips me up today? A whole other story.

    That God might use this to encourage others is a powerful thought. No matter how my story ends, I want to be ever open to His leading.

    Thank you for all the love, prayers, and support!

  10. Leigh, I absolutely love reading your blog. Thank you so much for being so open and honest. You have encouraged me in so many ways, just through your writings. Keep holding on to His Strong Love. Praying for you, friend!

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text:
Pinkberry Launches eGifting Program

| November 16, 2012

Pinkberry is offering a new gifting experience that allows customers to give and receive Pinkberry gift cards with ease, either by picking up a gift card in-store or sending an eGift via the Pinkberry website, Facebook, or the new Pinkberry mobile app. As an added reason to celebrate the holidays and introduce customers to its new platform, Pinkberry will offer customers who purchase a $25 gift card (either in-store or through the mobile app) a $5 gift for themselves, starting November 16 through the end of the year.
"Consumers are looking for brands to enable commerce through their mobile devices," says Ron Graves, CEO of Pinkberry. "For the holidays, Pinkberry is elevating social commerce through eGifting with our new mobile app, empowering our customers to easily share the delicious gift of Pinkberry with friends and family via social channels and email from their mobile device."

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