#Pittsburgh Post Gazette Writers

[pittsburghbeautiful]

The Pittsburgh Gazette to The Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: A Historic Newspaper Serving Metropolitan Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, commonly referred to as the PG, is a prominent and long-standing newspaper that has been serving the metropolitan Pittsburgh area in the state of Pennsylvania. With its roots tracing back to the Pittsburgh Gazette, which was established in 1786 as the first newspaper published west of the…

[dec4podcast]

In this our second Elvis and the Press episode, we’re joined once again by our leading contributor, Gary Wells (soulrideblog.com), to take a deep dive into the coverage of Elvis’ New Year’s Eve performance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the end of 1976. This was the second consecutive New Year’s Eve Elvis had worked, with touring now continuing throughout winter by financial necessity. Elvis’ Pittsburgh show, concluding a very well-received, high energy tour over just five nights, proved to be a remarkable moment in time, and was widely considered one of the best performances of his later career.

Gary takes us through some of the show’s highlights, and we consider in detail a thoughtfully compiled review in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by music columnist, Mike Kalina, who observed that Elvis ‘had perhaps the most captive audience since Johnny Cash played Folsom Prison, and rarely did he lose his iron grip on the crowd during his 90 minutes on stage’.

The Pittsburgh Civic Arena (later Mellon Arena). It was demolished in in either 2010 or 2011-2012, depending on the source.

We also go on to look at Mike Kalina’s eventful and very successful career as a food writer and cooking personality, and his sad passing in the midst of a professional scandal to which there appears to be much more than meets the eye.

On stage in Pittsburgh, New Year's Eve. On his show in Birmingham, Alabama, two nights earlier, The Birmingham News wrote that ‘Elvis was in good voice, good shape, good health and good spirits. He had lost weight and gained confidence’.

This episode's dedicated webpage has additional background, including the audience recording of the show in full, as well as research notes and links to our sources, with some suggestions for further reference;

And in our post-credits segment right at the end, Gary recalls his most recent visit to Memphis, and what can only be described as an 'interesting' stay at Days Inn, Elvis Presley Boulevard.

The iconic Days Inn swimming pool in happier times. To find out more about Gary's latest visit to Memphis and Graceland, including some great images and a hypnotic video of the walk from the Graceland Gates to the Meditation Garden, check out Walking in Memphis 2024 at soulrideblog.com.

We hope you enjoy our latest episode. Find us on SoundCloud, YouTube, and wherever your get your podcasts.

Concert schedules, stats and press reviews thanks to Francesc Lopez and elvisconcerts.com.

[elvis1970s]

Over New Year 1976-77, Elvis played the Civic Centre Arena, Pittsburgh, PA, ending a short, five night tour reminiscent of the energy and intensity of the early seventies. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published one of the more thoughtful reviews of an Elvis show, written by Mike Kalina who was, interestingly, not a specialist music writer, but a restaurant critic, TV cooking show host and food writer. He obviously came to the show with an open mind, an intention to take the performance on its merits, and report honestly and in-depth, unlike one or two of his counterparts during this period.

“…While Pittsburghers rang in the New Year Friday night in front of their TV sets with Guy Lombardo, 16,409 others scorned 1977 with Elvis Presley at the Civic Arena. After three opening acts and a lengthy intermission, Presley landed on stage 35 minutes before midnight, but you would have thought the clock had struck twelve. He received an ear-deafening ovation punctuated by thousands of blasts from flash bulbs and a patchwork of "We-Love-You-Elvis" signs hoisted aloft… Presley had perhaps the most captive audience since Johnny Cash played Folsom Prison. And rarely did he lose his iron grip on the crowd during his 90 minutes on stage…"

“…Presley was much warmer than on his first visit here in mid-1973. This time he not only interacted with the crowd but he also even gave up the microphone for a minute or so to have a fan wish him happy birthday and happy New Year. He also snapped up dozens of gifts from those who had come to pay homage to him. He gave out 42 scarves and, believe it or not, even took requests. He also was in better voice on this Pittsburgh visit, singing surprisingly well and in a lower register that gave more impact to his phrasing. He even ventured into difficult musical areas, hitting notes that could cause a mild hernia. And after they drew a good crowd reaction, he offered them in a reprise that was tantamount to masochism…”

Mike Kalina was particularly impressed with Charlie Hodge, writing; “To watch his interaction with Presley was worth the price of admission alone.” He went on to make an interesting point about the first rock and roll star to reach a successful middle age. It’s interesting to consider this in the context of the time, rather than now, when many rock and roll icons continue to work well into their seventies and now eighties.

“…He worked hard, but underneath it all one could see that age is taking its toll on the singer. A change in style seems to be the logical career move for him - but Presley seems intent on showing the world that a middle-aged man can rock and roll, too. A famous country artist once said that you can grow old as a country singer but not as a rock singer, Presley is trying to prove him wrong. But he's not succeeding…”

Mike Kalina himself came to a sad end; he took his own life in 1992 (New York Times and AP). It appears he was confronting a health crisis, but was also being investigated by a Grand Jury over allegations of receiving money for favourable restaurant reviews and coverage in his cookbooks and possibly on his television show. The Post-Gazette editor told AP that any such allegations were unproven.

[lboogie1906]

Eric Deggans (November 6, 1965) media critic was born in DC to Chuck Deggans and Carolyn Jean McClellan Deggans Williams. He was reared in Gary. He was a professional percussionist and toured in the Midwest and Osaka, Japan, for a brief time with the Motown recording artists, The Voyage Band. He received a BA in Journalism and Political Science from Indiana University.

He was a reporter with the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. His first position as a music critic was with the Asbury Park Press. He was with St. Petersburg Times as a Media Critic where he generated news stories on changes in media outlets. He was one of the newspaper’s editorial writers, a columnist, and its music critic generating stories on pop music trends, artists, products, and concerts. He began lecturing at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.‬‬

He was a TV/Media Critic with the Tampa Bay Times. He was a freelance columnist with the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University. He released the book, Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation. He received the Florida Press Club’s first-ever Diversity Award and the National Association of Black Journalists’ Arts & Entertainment Task Force Legacy Award. He guest-hosted three shows of CNN’s media analysis show Reliable Sources.

He became a contributor/ media analyst for MSNBC/NBC News. He was the first African American to chair the board of journalists, media executives, educators, and experts who judged the George Foster Peabody Awards.

He debuted a class on race and media as an Adjunct Instructor at Duke University. He was given the Distinguished Alumni Service Award by Indiana University.

He is married to Barbara J. Frye. They have four children. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[josiahiswrite]

The Paper Boy - Coming September 30th

Debut Young Adult Novel

The Paper Boy is now available.

Stag Beetle Books & Josiah Golojuh are proud to announce the publication of The Paper Boy. A young adult paranormal novel. Get ready for a story that is clever, nostalgic, and terrifying. Inspired by Josiah's past as a newspaper delivery boy in the greater Pittsburgh area during the mid 1990s.

This novel marks Josiah's debut as a novelist. He adapted The Paper Boy from his short story The Corpse Boy, published in 2015 by The Opiate Literary Magazine. They also recently published his short story Three Strangers. A project he also plans to expand into a novel.

Josiah has several projects on the horizon including one with interest from Stag Beetle Books tentatively titled Murderland.

The Paper Boy: 

Daniel’s paper route is his refuge from the harsh realities of growing up. Navigating a neighborhood filled with unique and often troubling characters, he seeks solace in comic books, action figures, and most of all, his imagination.

When Daniel discovers the body of a young boy hanging from a tree, his world is shaken. Haunted by the ghost, he forms an unlikely bond, teaching his new friend about superheroes and sci-fi. But the truth about the Corpse Boy’s death leads Daniel to a sinister revelation involving Cowboy, a dangerous figure from the trailer park.

As a storm brews, Daniel must confront his deepest fears and face a chilling showdown with Cowboy. In a neighborhood on the brink of chaos, Daniel’s courage will be tested in ways he never imagined.

The Paper Boy is a gripping tale of friendship, loss, and the dark secrets that lurk beneath the surface.

Praise for The Paper Boy:

“The Paper Boy is a clever and suspenseful contribution to the superhero genre. Josiah Golojuh will keep you guessing and make you think at the same time.” Tom Perrotta - Oscar Nominated writer, Little Children, Election, The Leftovers

“Scary, intriguing and exciting all wrapped up into one amazing debut novel from Josiah. If you love horror, comic book heroes and interesting stories this book will not disappoint. The southwestern Pennsylvania setting lends itself perfectly to the movie that will soon be following the novel we hope!” Dawn Keezer - Director, Pittsburgh Film Office

“The best horror book you will read, funny, dark, referential and clever,  Josiah isn’t clowning around with this very real tale of terror.” Stephen Chiodo - writer/director,  Killer Klowns from Outer Space

“A nostalgia-drenched meditation on childhood loss, blossoming imagination, and the rich internal worlds we create to give us comfort in an uncomfortable world”   Nick Marino- writer IDW’s Godzilla Rivals: Biollante vs. Destoroyah, Transformers Beast Wars “There’s a reason Josiah Golojuh calls his YouTube channel, Josiah is Write - this fella can really write!” Stephen Stern - co-creator, Zen: Intergalactic Ninja

“The Paper-Boy is nothing less than a veritable time machine of nerd culture in the 90s.” Steven Kung - writer, Dear White People, director, Fresh off the Boat

Order the novel here. You can also read, Young Zombie, a meta-fiction comic book from the world of The Paper Boy, available now.

About Josiah Golojuh:

Josiah grew up in the woods north of Pittsburgh, delivering newspapers and reading comic books. The region continues to influence his work as it is the setting of his novel The Paper Boy (2024). He has a Master's Degree in Screenwriting from USC where he studied under the late great Coleman Hough. A member of the Producers Guild, Josiah's short film, The Illuminator screened in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. Josiah previously co-founded and programed the Graphation Film Festival which ran events in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, & Seattle, for which he received coverage from CNN and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (which he did deliver, on the weekends). He lives in Huntington Beach, California, with his wife and daughters, where he teaches writing.

About Stage Beetle Books:

Founded by Laura Hughes Stag Beetle Books publishes excellent young adult speculative fiction. Fantasy and science fiction is their passion, including dystopian, post-apocalyptic, horror, and paranormal.

For advanced reader copies: contact@stagbeetlebooks.com

For press inquires: josiahiswrite@gmail.com

[rmsqueenmaryonthisday]

Your Bawth is Ready

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, on July 5, 1950:   Aboard the Queen Mary ________________________ Homesickness Unknown Among Sea Travelers Cruising Reporter Meets Many From Home Town by Priscilla Hendryx Post-Gazette Staff Writer THERE is no such thing as a homesick Pittsburgher aboard the Queen Mary. If anyone feels a desire to discuss the progress of the new…

[bolaftstore]

Best Sports Books About the Football Game

If you are a fan or a player, probably the most important and extensive knowledge about almost any activities can only be clearly understood through the very best activities publications written often by the champion athlete or a veteran coach. They are probably the most trusted people since they've skilled the very best and worst of the games and the ins and outs of each game.

The best activities publications where you could find ample understanding on the baseball sport along with baseball education are enumerated and identified below. For newbies, these may present the data you will need to enter the sport; while for players, these may increase your understanding and inspire you to complete greater and end up being the best.

Football Stopping and Punting

Football Stopping and Puntingcontains the methods, strategies, and techniques of kicking and punting from the fundamentals to sophisticated strategies. None apart from Corridor of Famer and NFL 75th Anniversary Group member Lewis Person and frequent kicking coach Rick Sang are the writers of the book. The guide contains 46 established drills, particular warm-ups and conditioning applications, sport strategy planning, opponent analysis, and safety recognition -- all of which can assure a team of great and winning performance.

Football Training: For the Athlete, By the Athlete

The book Football Training: For the Athlete, By the Athlete by the Minnesota Vikings Professional Bowl operating right back Adrian Peterson is really a particular plot and manual of how he developed his human body into that of an NFL gladiator. The guide shows how he applied safe, effective, and intense education that developed his human body and confidence that bring about superior efficiency on field. That guide will definitely be an creativity and information for each baseball person who desires to understand his/her athletic destiny.

Football's Eagle & Collection Defenses

Football's Eagle & Collection Defensesis not just about defenses but additionally how groups and individual players must attack and rule whatever opponents' offensive tactics may be. The writer, Ron Vanderlinden, has been coach and founder of many of the hardest defensive groups previously 20 seasons. His stints include University of Colorado's national winners in 1990, the Northwestern's Huge Ten winners in 1995 and the high-pursuit Penn State attack. The guide facts the defensive tactics and methods and instruction points that make both of these defenses very effective. Number other guide in print has actually covered such useful training as present in Vanderlinden's book.

Quarterback Abstract: The Total Manual to NFL Quarterbacks

Quarterback Abstractpresents the 338 quarterbacks who have started at least 10 NFL games alongside 27 other substantial pre-1950 passers. Every quarterback's account is noted including the title, playing style, charge in stars, statistical job totals, won-lost report, and his fourth-quarter comebacks. An appendix can also be included to exhibit the report of quarterbacks with less than 10 games along with some neglected early quarterbacks from the 1940s. This baseball game book may encourage each person especially the quarterbacks and would-be quarterbacks to check out their footsteps.

Very Six: The Steelers' Record-Setting Very Bowl Season

The Very Six: The Steelers' Record-Setting Very Bowl Season by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette became a bestseller in Steelers property in less than three times following the Pittsburgh Steelers gained Very Bowl XLIII, 27-23 against the Arizona Cardinals. It has transformed into the Steelers' first commemorative keepsake guide and it has a huge selection of images and reports that'll certainly inspire and encourage every baseball lover.

Earning Football

Earning Football: The Manual to Championship Play by the famous coach Statement Ramseyer shows of the knowledge and ideas that brought continuous success to Ramseyer and his team. Training for each critical approach and method are discussed alongside drills and particular strategies for executing them. It records all the tools you will need to build the appropriate skills, discipline, and consistency in order to get every sport you and your teammates may play. This is a must-read for each baseball person, coach and enthusiasts bolaft.

These most useful activities publications are crucial for anyone who aspires to exceed in the subject of football. These are also useful examining products for baseball fans and fans that'll maybe not have the opportunity to play in the subject as it is likely to make their seeing knowledge more fulfilling and informed.

[politicsoflanguage]

“After Curfew, Detroit Police Act Aggressively to Disperse Protesters Who Refused to Leave” (Detroit Free Press, 5/31/20)

“Minneapolis Officers Use More Aggressive Tactics Against Protesters as Rallies Flare Around US” (NBC News, 5/31/20)

“An Agitated Trump Encourages Governors to Use Aggressive Tactics on Protesters” (CNN, 6/1/20)

“Police Turn More Aggressive Against Protesters and Bystanders Alike, Adding to Disorder” (Washington Post, 5/31/20)

“After Curfew, Protesters Are Again Met With Strong Police Response in New York City” (New York Times, 6/4/20)

“Six Atlanta Police Officers Charged in Forceful Arrests of College Students in Car” (ABC News, 6/2/20)

“Despite Curfews and Heavy Police Presence, Protests Persist Across the Country” (NPR, 6/2/20)

“Low-Flying Helicopters, Heavy Police Presence Used to Disperse Protesters After DC Goes Under Curfew” (Washington Business Journal, 6/2/20)

“While Tensions Between Police and Protesters Boiled Over in Some Cities, Other Officers Joined the Movement” (CNN, 6/1/20)

“’Rush the Crowd’: Protesters Clash With Officers at End of Peaceful Rally” (WDJT, 6/4/20)

“Fiery Clashes Erupt Between Police and Protesters Over George Floyd Death” (New York Times, 5/30/20)

“Clash Between Police and Protesters in Brockton Brings Out Fireworks and Tear Gas” (WBTS, 6/2/20)

“De Blasio Denounced After Police Forcefully Clash With Protesters” (New York Times, 6/4/20)

“Mayor Downplays Rough Police Treatment of NYC Protesters” (AP, 6/5/20)

“Floyd Protests Suppressed in NYC as Police Enforce Curfew” (KIRO, 6/3/20)

“Retreat or Deploy? Nation’s Police Try to Balance Protest Response” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 5/30/20)

via https://fair.org/home/top-16-euphemisms-us-headline-writers-used-for-police-beating-the-shit-out-of-people/

[finishinglinepress]

FLP ANTHOLOGY OF THE DAY: Poets with Masks On; A Pandemic Anthology Edited by Melanie Simms Featuring pandemic poetry by Richard Blanco, Molly Peacock, Ellen Bass, Gary Fincke, Connie Post, Melanie Simms, Christine Gelineau, Jason O’Toole, David Swanger among many others.

TO ORDER GO TO: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/poets-with-masks-on-a-pandemic-anthology-by-melanie-simms/

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR Poets with Masks On; A Pandemic Anthology Edited by Melanie Simms – Featuring pandemic poetry by Richard Blanco, Molly Peacock, Ellen Bass, Gary Fincke, Connie Post, Melanie Simms, Christine Gelineau, Jason O’Toole, David Swanger among many others.

“In a dark time the eye begins to see,” wrote Theodore Roethke. The poets of this remarkable collection are the eyes by which we begin to see not only the darkness of our harrowing COVID year but also the strength, the necessary strength, to write and create in the midst of it all. In that way, this collection is both a document and a promise of what we can all summon in order to persevere.

–Richard Deming, Director of Creative Writing, Winner of the Berlin prize, Yale University

“Despite the darkness responsible for the origin of these poems, Melanie Simms has brightened the world by compiling a small, but compelling anthology. I, for one, am happy to have work included among such a varied, engaging collection.”

–Gary Fincke, author of The Infinity Room and The Mussolini Diaries. Founding Director of the Writer’s Institute, Susquehanna University

RESERVE YOUR COPY TODAY

Melanie Simms, a graduate of the Bloomsburg University Creative Writing Department, is an award winning author with a variety of publications of poetry to her credit. “Poets with Masks On,” is her fourth book and first anthology collection. Melanie’s previous novels include Remember the Sun (Sunbury Press, Mechanicsburg, PA), Life Signs and Fortune Cookies (Brown Poesy Press), and Waking the Muse (Outskirts Press). Melanie’s fifth book, “Alien Prophecy,” is currently in progress and she hopes to adapt it for screen.

Her individual poems have been featured in hundreds of publications including The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Blood and Thunder Literary Journal (Oklahoma University College of Medicine), The Galway Review (Ireland), The Taj Mahal Review, Adelaide Literary Magazine and Jerry Jazz Musician.

She is a former Poet Laureate of Perry County, Pennsylvania and served as the President and Founder of the Association of Pennsylvania Poets’ Laureate.

Her literary acknowledgements/awards include a Vermont Writer’s Studio Scholarship, a Sophie Award (Perry County Arts Association for Excellence in Poetry), Poet of the Month (Poetry Superhighway) and a winner in the Poetry in Transit Award from King’s College. She is also a second place winner in the Richard Savage Poetry Award (Bloomsburg University), and a finalist in the Adelaide Literary Magazine (New York, Lisboa) competition in the poetry and short story categories.

Melanie has been a regular featured guest on NPR Affiliate WVIA with Erica Funke, and with Mark Lawrence of WKOK. She has also appeared as a guest on WITF (Arts and Culture Desk with Cary Burkett), ABC 27, PCN Television, PA Matters with Matt Paul, and Willamsport Today with Fiona Powell among many other radio and television stations. She is included in the prestigious Penn State Center for the Book, Cambridge Who’s Who of publications, and Marquis Who’s Who of the World.

Please share/please repost [PROMO]#flpauthor #preorder #AwesomeCoverArt #poetry

[panjia042]

 Biography of  CHRIS KUZNESKI

 Chris Kuzneski is an American novelist & a bestselling author.

His thrillers have been translated into more than twenty languages, have been published in more than 40 countries & have sold millions of copies worldwide. He was born on September 2, 1969 in Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States.

 Chris grew up in Indiana, PA, with his parents and three siblings. As a fourth-grader, he wrote his first book, The Monster Cookbook, a work of fiction that detailed the culinary and nutritional needs of a dozen creatures that he'd created. The school's librarian was so impressed that she had it hardbound and placed in the school's library with all the books that his classmates enjoyed. Unbeknownst to her, a career in writing was born. Chris attended Indiana High School where he was voted Class Clown of his senior class and anchored the offensive line on a team that won back-to-back CENPAC championships. He continued his football career at the University of Pittsburgh, playing with future NFL stars Tony Siragusa, Jeff Christy, Mark Stepnoski, Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, and many others. Unfortunately, a freak foot injury ended his athletic career.

While studying at Pitt, he wrote for The Pitt News, the Indiana Gazette, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, eventually earning his B.A. in writing and his M.A. in teaching. From 1992 until 1998, he taught English and coached football in two western Pennsylvania school districts and was selected to Who's Who Among America's Teachers. But in his mind, he still wasn't doing what he wanted to do. He wanted to be a writer, so he quit his job and started working on his first novel, The Plantation & took a great leap of faith . . .

After being rejected by every agent & publisher, he self-published his first novel “THE PLANTATION”. Most experts thought it was a horrible decision that would ruin his writing career before it even started but the “experts” were wrong. His novel, THE PLANTATION, was praised by James Patterson, Nelson DeMille, Lee Child, James Rollins, and several of the top writers in the genre.

Their indorsements gave Kuzneski confidence to continue writing. The praise also caught the attention of a young literary agent named Scott Miller, who was just starting at Trident Media. He asked to represent kuzneski & the two of them started kicking butt together. His next thriller, SIGN OF THE CROSS, was released in 2006 and became an international bestseller. So far, it has been translated into more than fifteen languages. SWORD OF GOD climbed even higher on the charts, hitting the New York Times and London Times bestseller lists. His fourth book, THE LOST THRONE, debuted in the UK Top-5 and stayed on the charts for several weeks.. His latest book, THE PROPHECY, reached #4 on the UK charts .His fourth thriller, The Lost Throne, was released in the UK in 2008 and peaked at #5 on the British fiction chart. Putnam released the American hardcover in July 2009. It was also his first American hardcover. It won the Bronze Medal for Popular Fiction at the Florida Book Awards, America’s most comprehensive state book awards program. The American paperback reached the New York Times mass-market bestseller list in July 2010. His fifth thriller, The Prophecy, was published in the UK in October 2009 and climbed to #4 on the British fiction chart. Putnam released the American hardcover in July 2010. His sixth novel, The Secret Crown, was released by Penguin UK on September 30, 2010 and within two weeks rose to #10 on The Times bestsellers list. The American hardcover was released on January 12, 2012. Kuzneski's seventh novel in the series, The Death Relic, was released by Penguin UK on September 29, 2011 in paperback and Kindle formats, debuting at #9 on the London Times bestseller list. The American version was published in hardcover on January 10, 2013. The eighth novel in the series, The Einstein Pursuit, was released in the UK on August 29, 2013 by Penguin UK. The American version was released on September 16, 2014. Kuzneski’s first seven novels (and also his ninth) follow the adventures of Jonathon Payne and David "D.J." Jones, former members of the MANIACs—an elite Special Forces unit in the U.S. military. Although the main characters are ex-soldiers, the novels are not “military” thrillers. Instead, they are often compared to the works of Clive Cussler and James Rollins. Kuzneski’s thrillers are known for their action, adventure, Mystery, and humor.

 His eleventh novel, The Prisoner's Gold, won the Thriller Award for the 2016 Book of the Year at a gala hosted by the International Thriller Writers (ITW) in New York City on July 9, 2016. His works have also been honored by the Florida Book Awards and named a Literary Guild's featured selection. Chris’ novels were highly awarded with its armed witty prose, a unique narrative voice, and a penchant for blackmail, Kuzneski has garnered praise from many of the top authors in the world: James Patterson, Nelson DeMille, Lee Child, Vince Flynn, James Rollins, Tess Gerritsen, Douglas Preston, Lisa Gardner, Steve Berry, Scott Mariani, Allison Brennan, W.E.B. Griffin, Graham Brown, Boyd Morrison, John Gilstrap, Raymond Khoury, David Morrell, Andrew Gross, Joseph Finder, Jeremy Robinson, and his writing idol, Clive Cussler.

Simply put, his literary works are awesome.

“I currently live on the Gulf Coast of Florida. When I’m not enjoying the sun, surf, and hurricanes, I’m working on my next novel. (At least that’s what I tell my agent.)”, He said.

[horowitzbekker5-blog]

Release Anything

My story is that an author that 'd done online composing for such dot gones as Themestream, Created By Me, and also The Vines, someone striving to have fiction, poetry and also nonfiction in print for real, suggested PublishAmerica. She claimed it was a conventional publication author. I was struck with their slogan, "We deal with authors the old fashioned method-- we pay them." Had not been that what authors were intended to do? However considering that my novel was simply resting on the DiskUs Posting site and doing nothing but providing me with sufficient loan to acquire a pair of skate laces every three months, I believed maybe it would have a better chance over at PublishAmerica where it would be readily available as a profession dimension book both on and also off-line. So this author, Ellen Du Bois, had a big thing on her Geocities website about publications being available in brick & mortar bookstores & they would certainly have ISBN numbers and also be online and all that things. Additionally had her full dimension publication hide so I rested there for 5 minutes waiting for the damn thing to show up. Not impressive, however she liked it. Ellen was a supporter for her book as well as sent out reviews from a weekly neighborhood cloth and also she bulk e-mailed numerous pieces of correspondence throughout those spirituous days when her book was in prerelease, after that launch phase in the summer of '03. I damaged down and got a copy from Amazon.com-- took virtually 3 weeks to get. And I battled to read all 176 web pages. Tripe. Clichés abounded. Spelling/grammatical errors weren't there at the very least. But the writing was slim. The tale relocated also swiftly. The primary personality was one of the most reasonable as it was probably based on the writer. The discussion was okay. The descriptions were marginal. Had there been an actual editor, the book could've been very good. I wrote to Ellen and told her the positive things about the story, preventing the negatives thoughts. She would certainly been an on-line correspondent for almost two years, yet after I didn't assess her book on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble she didn't contact me. Practically a year later she sent me one more e-mail-- to advertise a publication of her poetry. I was simply somebody to market a book to as well as she was just thinking about the sale and with any luck a radiant write up. A Future PublishAmerica Author Since I 'd currently authorized the agreement with PublishAmerica, I wished to cancel it after reading that trash. Currently my publication would be affiliated with a business that produced almost any piece of creating that came its way. I wasn't expecting a lot what with my dealings with the extinct eNovel and also RJ's digital books, along with a tiny digital book author named Crafts Throughout America where I had not been paid monthly as promised. And my unique as well as narrative collection suffered at DiskUs, residence of the alleged Number One Best selling digital book writer of perpetuity, Leta Nolan Childers. PublishAmerica sent me an author's questionnaire where they requested for basic biographical details; cover art tips, and a lengthy checklist of individuals who could intend to review my upcoming story. " Please prepare a listing (names, and addresses,) of individuals that know you all right to be curious about your success as a writer: personal friends, colleagues, loved ones, etc., to receive a publication announcement ... Please limit your listing and your tags to an optimum of 100 get in touches with. Likewise, please do not consist of companies or companies of any type of kind, consisting of book shops, media contacts, or government companies. Consist of buddies and affiliates just." The editing process of my manuscript took two weeks over the Christmas vacations. LA restaurants had the ability to determine that the very first few pages had actually been read as some minor modifications had been made, yet no adjustments adhered to for another 50 or so web pages. Among the mistakes that happened was plainly the outcome of a spellchecker on the part of PublishAmerica as an enigma appeared after the end of a declaration. I 'd check out of real authors obtaining guidelines to alter phases, change endings, erase various web pages, in other words, really struggle to rewrite a book. Why so much initiative? Names. Track record. The publisher intended to put their name on the most effective high quality book that they had purchased. The writer desired a publication that was salable but additionally well composed as well as something they took pride in. PublishAmerica's editing consisted of neither perfect as all they did was put the computer program's spelling/grammar mosaic right into action. My 2 complimentary writer's copies showed up in very early March as well as it behaved to see my trade paperback publication in print sans a cheesy cover and stapled spinal column. 'North of Sunset' really had good looking stock cover art of a couple of silhouetted palm trees, a noticeable font, and also a spine where the book title, publisher and also writer's name appeared. It would look excellent on book shop racks, I thought of. Testimonials-- What Examines? What was Publish America doing to make sure my book was evaluated? Nothing. I made a decision to get in touch with local everyday and regular papers by e-mailing a press release. The only responses I obtained were two e-mail autoresponders introducing the editors were on holiday. I invested $40 on copies of my book's galley and mailed them to 3 national papers as well as the Collection Journal magazine. Then I phoned a book reviewer at the 'San Diego Union-Tribune' and also asked if he would certainly want evaluating my publication yet prior to I can even describe what it had to do with, he asked who my author was. I told him. "We don't evaluate publications by that author," he mentioned. I called all the regional bookstores and also talked to the managers as well as/ or area relations individuals concerning my book, consisting of a number of shops that were literally situated on the road I 'd blogged about. An independent book shop proprietor told me that because PA really did not have a return policy she was incapable to equip my book. Another said that I can sell my book on consignment. The chain stores of Borders and Barnes & Noble said my publication would certainly be offered with Ingram if any individual selected to order it. Tried getting PublishAmerica to send out testimonial duplicates out and it took them weeks to do so. Had to call as well as make certain on 2 events that guides had actually been sent by mail. Maybe estimating one of their passionate marketers on the message board, an individual with a natural wizard for advertising and the budget plan to back it up, got 3 publications sent out to reviewers. After that I sent my book to Piers Anthony, kept in mind sci-fi as well as dream writer of greater than 100 books. I would certainly been in touch with him considering that 2000 when I notified him to the truth that eNovel was a rip-off. Although the action in his books usually occurred in alternate time periods/universes, he really did not mind checking out a mainstream Hollywood novel. He did so. "North of Sundown by Lisa Maliga. She's the one noted in my Study as I'm a Released Author Ha Ha! Ha!, a pertinent caution for starry-eyed aspiring authors. Her web site www.lisamaliga.com deserves checking similarly; she informs it as it is. If you took a couple of years off my age and altered my sex, the result might appear like Lisa. North of Sunset is fun, regarding a Hollywood manufacturer as well as his temporary secretary, revealing a bargain of what I assume is fact. It is written with the omniscient perspective, which I dislike, however it held my rate of interest no matter. " I would certainly found with a distressed author on the messageboards, which I keep reading occasion, that a person was whining concerning PublishAmerica. Uncovering the Absolute Write History Inspect area I invested several hrs reading, at the time, greater than 40 web pages of problems regarding PublishAmerica. Authors not obtaining books in time for booksignings that they set up themselves. Bookstore owners/managers rejecting to stock their shelves with unedited PublishAmerica titles. Writers not able to obtain their publications assessed. Doing a search on LexisNexis, the respectable on-line legal research study system, for all PublishAmerica publications receiving paper testimonials, I saw that from July 2002 to June 2004, only 24 books had been assessed across the country. Papers in Syracuse NY, Tulsa, OK, Fort Pierce, FL, Wilmington, NC and Lakeland, FL were stood for. Just Salt Lake City's 'Deseret Morning News', the 'Tulsa Globe', 'Pittsburgh Post-Gazette' as well as the suburban paper, the 'Chicago Daily Herald' were in fact major papers. Seemingly, the 'New York Times' or the 'Los Angeles Times' were not evaluating anything by PublishAmerica's authors. According to the PublishAmerica website in the Realities and Figures area, "Fact # 3: Once more, exceptional among all standard publication posting business, each day an ordinary 15 times a PublishAmerica author shows up in the news media, in newspapers, publications, radio or TV." Yet also mathematically tested folks can identify that by using the LexisNexis search stats, we find out that the standard is a puny when a month that a PublishAmerica book gets discussed in a paper somewhere in the United States. Editing-- What's That? Below's a treasure of a post on the PublishAmerica message board: "When it appeared in book develop a month back, my friends discussed the editing and enhancing issues in it, so a buddy of mine with a masters in education and learning went through it for me. It had close to a thousand editing and enhancing errors in a 182-page book. So, have some who really recognizes what literary web content should remain in a book, go through your publication for you before you send the final draft back to PublishAmerica. Due to the fact that the last draft, IS!, just how guide will be when it appears." I discovered that via the misspellings, grammatical mistakes, as well as basic poor writing that practically any person was publishable via the 'standard' author located in Frederick, Maryland. Such posts as: "I also am not the very best editor LOL! I did get my finished books. And when I consulted with a woman that is significant in the advertising and marketing area, she informed me that my publication at it's length of 132 web pages needs to have phases." A couple of PublishAmerica writers reviewed editing and enhancing. "I felt like you did when I found mistakes, yet after that I recognized, hey individuals read it for the tale, not seeking blunders in typo land! LOL Now I just keep a keepin on!" Sales Figures Question: I 'd actually like to recognize the amount of copies I've offered. Solution: Purchase all of guides on your own and afterwards count them. No matter how naïve PublishAmerica authors showed up, they will eventually concern the realization that PublishAmerica isn't really a traditional author, specifically when those twice-yearly aristocracy checks arrived. Every few months or two PublishAmerica sent them an e-mail proclaiming their success, extoling a heavyweight author they're discussing with, or, more just recently, doing a take care of the New York Times. On August 17th, an e-mail bearing the pleased subject heading 'Marketing Our Topsellers in the New York Times' appeared in author's online mailboxes. PublishAmerica was well named because they intend to publish any individual in The United States and Canada who has churned out a manuscript, despite quality. They declare to have anywhere from 9,000 to 12,000 "pleased" writers and also they want more and more of them as that undoubtedly suggests more money for the hoggish owners, specifically Willem Meiner and also Larry Clopper. The PublishAmerica name and logo is seen as a joke to those in the media, bookstores and also collections. Publications can not be returned. All PublishAmerica titles do not have the essential CIP [Cataloging-in-Publication] information, which is essential for collections to buy titles, and also who wishes to check out unedited and overpriced tomes besides the writer's cronies? Oh yep, and also while PublishAmerica asserts that they're a 'typical publisher' why on earth do they have in their major page keyword phrases note the term 'self publishing' three times? As well as in their website's summary, they boast: "PublishAmerica, Inc., a traditional publisher, approving and also publishing manuscripts and books at ON THE HOUSE to the author. Aristocracies paid to authors, books sold in shops. Manuscript submissions by mail and online" In the beginning of September I got a royalty check. To my shock, I was not only able to manage to acquire a set of shoelaces for my skates, I forked over the $12 it set you back to develop my blades. That recognized that this company would offer extra earnings allowing me to continue participating in my recreational skating hobby? Yet it cost me more than the $160 in author-bought publications, the $40 for galleys, which were possibly plunged into a recycling bin, the $87 shade calling card, $20 press release-- as well as the many hrs building and also reconstructing my website so people would take place throughout it and also buy a book that was only available online-- like any various other book. PublishAmerica enables the misconception of being a 'typical' publisher, a term not utilized before the development of the Web, to fester. The lie is perpetrated in those HTML resource codes that search engine spider robots deliver; the future writers led to the guaranteed realm of posting, a net web of woven myths fanning across the online world. PublishAmerica resembles most various other ePublishing companies guaranteeing tales of bestselling publications and authors. PublishAmerica is just another scam, just another future dot gone. If you are a PublishAmerica author, or know of one, that is sadly released and also will certainly tell your story, please get in touch with: Federal Profession Commission attn: CRC - 240 Washington, DC 20580 FTC Consumer Problem Form Frederick County Board of Region Commissioners Winchester Hall 12 E. Church Road, Frederick, MD 21701 Telephone: 301-694-1100 Fax: 301-694-1849 www.co.frederick.md.us/BOCC/ John L. Thompson, Jr., President Winchester Hall 12 E. Church Street Frederick, MD 21701 Telephone: 301-694-1028

Fax: 301-631-23 Discuss the following factors: Your publication is not offered in traditional bookstores and collections Your book is not returnable if a bookstore owner/manager must stock it 7-year-long contract is considered in inappropriate amount of time Your book is released by a vanity press You had to pay for your own copyright PublishAmerica will not look for the CIP, which allows it to be acquired by collections PublishAmerica overprices guides PublishAmerica offers a nonstandard price cut PublishAmerica's service version is to offer to their own authors PublishAmerica's books are NOT modified-- absolutely not line-by-line as they claim on their internet site but have actually since admitted that they only edit for grammar as well as spelling PublishAmerica approves about 80% of submitted manuscripts [most authors decline 99% of their submissions] PublishAmerica will just accept charge card orders over the phone when booking for one of their workshops or to purchase your own titles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7pJcweygAg

[phroyd]

After 25 years as the editorial cartoonist for The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, I was fired on Thursday.

I blame Donald Trump.

Well, sort of.

I should’ve seen it coming. When I had lunch with my new boss a few months ago, he informed me that the paper’s publisher believed that the editorial cartoonist was akin to an editorial writer, and that his views should reflect the philosophy of the newspaper.

That was a new one to me.

I was trained in a tradition in which editorial cartoonists are the live wires of a publication —  as one former colleague put it, the “constant irritant.” Our job is to provoke readers in a way words alone can’t. Cartoonists are not illustrators for a publisher’s politics.

When I was hired in 1993, The Post-Gazette was the liberal newspaper in town, but it always prided itself on being a forum for a lot of divergent ideas. The change in the paper did not happen overnight. From what I remember, it started in 2011, with the endorsement of the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor, which shocked a majority of our readership. The next big moment happened in late 2015, when my longtime boss, the editorial page editor, took a buyout after the publisher indicated that the paper might endorse Mr. Trump. Then, early this year, we published openly racist editorials.

Things really changed for me in March, when management decided that my cartoons about the president were “too angry” and said I was “obsessed with Trump.” This about a president who has declared the free press one of the greatest threats to our country.

Not every idea I have works. Every year,  a few of my cartoons get killed. But suddenly, in a three-month period, 19 cartoons or proposals were rejected. Six were spiked in a single week — one after it was already placed on the page, an image depicting a Klansman in a doctor’s office asking: “Could it be the Ambien?”

After so many years of punch lines and caricatures, skewering mayors and mullahs, the new regime at The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette decided that The Donald trumped satire when it came to its editorial pages.

This has been my dream job. It makes the experience of buying a coffee or checking out at a grocery store a thrill. I go to pay and the person looks at my credit card, sees my name, asks me if I’m the Rob Rogers and then tells me about a particular cartoon he or she loved. The outpouring of support I have received in recent days from the people of this city, including its mayor, has been overwhelming and uplifting.  

The paper may have taken an eraser to my cartoons. But I plan to be at my drawing table every day of this presidency.

[susquehannatu]

Brook trout are particularly sensitive to high water temperatures

From our friends at the Penns Woods West Chapter of TU.  Articles from John Hayes, outdoor writer for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette will be republished on their website.  John’s first article is titled: “Brook trout are particularly sensitive to high water temperatures”.  Click below to read the article https://pwwtu.org/brook-trout-are-particularly-sensitive-to-high-water-temperatures/

[transparenttriumphzombie]

Transgender woman hopes suit against former employer will help othersFighting for Change: Part One, A New LifeTuesday, October 03, 2006By L.A. Johnson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

First of a two-part series

Dannylee Mitchell was reborn on a Tuesday in April at the not-so-tender age of 40.

John Beale, Post-Gazette

Dannylee Mitchell stands in the foyer of her lawyer's Downtown office in March, before her surgery. "I think a lot of employers will see this and think twice, and it will make a difference," she said of her sex discrimination lawsuit. "They need to establish some policy."

Click photo for larger image.

Chat online about this story

Chat online with Post-Gazette staff writer L.A. Johnson about Dannylee Mitchell's journey tomorrow at noon. Go to

www.post-gazette.com/chat

.

Her journey to her authentic self took a long and circuitous route that was neither pretty nor smooth.

Four days after Christmas 2003, she crashed the Dodge Intrepid she was driving into the rear of a Ford Explorer parked on North Main Street in downtown Washington, Pa.

Stressed and depressed, she'd fallen asleep at the wheel in a company rental car. Police found her partially ejected from the car.

About two months earlier, she'd told her employer that she had a gender-identity disorder and would be transitioning from being a man to a woman.

"You don't know from the day you tell them you're transitioning whether you're going to have a job," says Dannylee, a Washington, Pa., native. "It weighs on you. You don't sleep. I was going on two and three hours of sleep a night."

Estrogen therapy was wreaking havoc with her emotions. Her family wasn't terribly supportive. She felt alone.

"I'd wake up at 2 in the morning, crying," she says. "I was just overwhelmed. Anxiety was at its peak."

Two days after the accident, on New Year's Eve 2003, she checked herself into Washington Hospital's psychiatric unit.

"I didn't want to go on anymore -- not a suicide attempt -- just exhausted," she says. "I was just burned out. Cooked. Done."

Severely depressed, she says she was having suicidal thoughts and spent a few days there under observation.

"It wasn't too long after I got out of the hospital that they fired me."

Dismissal of a salesman

Axcan Scandipharm Inc., a Birmingham, Ala.-based pharmaceutical company specializing in gastroenterology products, cited poor sales and inconsistencies in her reporting of the accident as reasons for her dismissal, she says.

Because she lost consciousness in the crash, she says she didn't realize there were two teenage boys in the Ford Explorer her car struck. All involved suffered minor injuries and were taken to the hospital from the scene. No one was charged in the accident, police said.

She believes she was fired because she told her employer she was going to become a transgender female. She filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against her former employer under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.

In court records, Axcan Scandipharm maintains it did fire her in January 2004 for alleged willful misconduct but denies she was harassed by the company because of her sex and disability or suffered lost wages, emotional distress, embarrassment or humiliation.

The corporation's initial request to have the case dismissed -- arguing that Title VII protections don't extend to transsexuals -- was denied in February. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing the corporation's request for an interlocutory appeal. That means the 3rd Circuit could grant the appeal, taking up the case itself, or deny the appeal, sending it back to federal court for trial.

Axcan Scandipharm's lawyer, Philip R. Voluck, had "no comment" on the case when reached by telephone last week.

John G. Burt, Dannylee's attorney, believes the case has parallels to other historic civil rights battles.

"Once upon a time we said black folks were three-fifths a person. Once upon a time we said women weren't smart enough to vote," says Mr. Burt, who took the case on a contingency-fee basis. "People like Dannylee are civil rights pioneers. They didn't want to be, but they are -- like the pioneers that wouldn't move to the back of the bus, the pioneers who said women have a right to vote. Just ordinary folk trying to live their lives."

Daniel Mitchell joined Axcan Scandipharm in February 1999 as a salesman. His performance evaluations consistently indicated he met or exceeded expectations, according to the complaint. In 2002, he was promoted to the position of photodynamic therapy specialist, marketing a photodynamic therapy drug (activated by light) to hospitals in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

While his professional life was fine, his personal life was in turmoil. In August 2003, he found himself in the throes of a waning romance. His girlfriend at the time questioned his commitment to their relationship.

"She asked why did I have so much female attire in my travel gear?" Dannylee says. "She thought I was having an affair."

He wasn't. At that time, he simply felt free and safe to wear women's clothing only in hotel rooms when he was out of town on business. Her questions forced him to take serious stock of his life.

"It was a culmination of things, another failed relationship, my masculinity wasn't there in the relationship, always the question of whether I was gay," Dannylee says.

Right brain, wrong body

In September 2003, he went to the Persad Center, a licensed counseling center in Bloomfield serving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. There he was diagnosed as having a gender-identity disorder, specifically gender dysphoria. As cliched as it sounds, all of his life he had felt like a woman trapped in a man's body.

A month later, his girlfriend moved out while he was away at a business meeting. And Dannylee continued looking for answers.

"This was not about anything sexual or getting some sort of sexual pleasure," she says. "This is about gender identity and who you are. What your computer program is. What your brain is. You have your internal program, but it doesn't always run the peripheral equipment properly."

People with gender dysphoria feel "in their head and between their ears that they are the opposite gender," says Judith DiPerna, a clinical therapist and transgender specialist at the Persad Center. "That person feels comfortable and at peace when they're dressed as the gender they believe they are between the ears."

Dannylee participated in the center's gender clinic, which is designed to help people sort through their gender-identity issues. She participated in group and individual counseling, received estrogen hormone therapy under a physician's care and began living, working and dressing as a woman full time -- which all is standard protocol for someone planning to undergo sex reassignment surgery.

In mid-October 2003, Dannylee began presenting herself as female to her business accounts after having first informed them and her employer of her plans.

"I told them what was going to happen, had to talk to the vice president of the company, had to tell my workforce of about 15 to 20 people," she says. "They called some of the hospitals to see if they were OK with me coming in as a female."

She worried whether she'd lose her job if one of her accounts objected, though none did.

She says one supervisor essentially asked: "Wouldn't it be easier to go work somewhere nobody knew you? Wouldn't it be easier to just leave?"

According to the complaint, a manager also told her not to discuss her sex change plans with co-workers and to be low-key and to use a separate bathroom at a national sales meeting.

She legally changed her name in November 2003. By mid-month, her supervisor told her she'd have more frequent job performance reviews because of her disorder, according to the complaint.

She doesn't dispute that her sales volume was poor around that time, but says the sales of everyone in her division were poor. Up to that point, her sales record had been commendable. She says a manager suggested her sales volume was down because of her disorder.

In court records, the corporation denies these allegations.

After Axcan Scandipharm fired her on Jan. 12, 2004, she filed for unemployment and initially was denied benefits. She appealed the ruling.

Her personal problems continued to mount.

In February 2004, after going to retrieve her dog from an ex-girlfriend's house, she was arrested and held in jail for two days on breaking and entering and theft charges. Dannylee claimed her ex-girlfriend's son gave her the dog when she asked for it.

"They threw Danny in jail, and the cops were yukking it up," says Joan Hoop, a friend who initially started out as her electrologist in Washington, Pa., and agreed to the interview only with Dannylee's consent.

"She was starting to dress as a woman and didn't have her polish then, and they made the big scene about her now dressing as a woman. Put [her] in an orange jumpsuit, took [her] clothes and put her in a holding cell up there."

Dannylee lost custody of the dog and the charges were dropped on the condition that she pay court costs and not have further contact with her ex-girlfriend or her ex-girlfriend's children.

In March 2004, she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which initially said it didn't investigate claims related to transsexualism.

Extremely depressed during this period, she did try to commit suicide this time: She attempted to drown herself in a bathtub and later spent more time in a hospital psychiatric ward.

"You don't have a family. You have no money. Not sure how you're going to get through this transition," she says.

Around this same time, she won her appeal and started getting unemployment benefits.

In November 2004, the EEOC reconsidered the case and still found a transgender person was not protected under existing law, thus clearing the way for the federal lawsuit, which was filed in February 2005.

"First, it started off as me being [ticked] off at the world," she says. "But now when I look at it, it could do a lot of good for other people," she says. "If someone doesn't follow the perception of what [someone thinks] male or female should be, you can't discriminate."

Daniel Mitchell, shown in high school yearbook photo, always felt there was something wrong in his life. It took years of heartache, depression and courage to make it right.

Click photo for larger image.

Portrait of a woman as a young man

Dannylee first realized she was different when she was 5 or 6 years old.

"I didn't feel like a boy. I didn't act like a boy," she says. "A lot of people said I had feminine features. My gestures were feminine. A lot of people assumed I was going to be a gay man."

Elsa Edwards, a kindergarten and high school friend, remembers Dannylee as being hysterically funny. The two, who were both witty and involved in theater, were voted "Most Unique" by their senior class.

"We defied categorization. Still do," says Ms. Edwards, 40, of Washington, Pa. "Danny always had such a sweet nature, always very kind, considerate, un-guy like, not aggressive, not pushy, didn't bully anybody, but got bullied a lot."

They lost touch a few years after high school graduation.

Dannylee earned a bachelor's degree in biology at Thiel College and considered going into nursing. She worked in medical research for several years, managed a pet store for a national chain, worked for a national pet supply company, sold eyeglass frames in Philadelphia and New Jersey, then moved back to Pennsylvania in 1997, landing the job with Axcan in 1999.

Twice married -- in 1989 and 1996 -- when she was still living as a man, she tried being macho in relationships.

"That led to disaster after disaster in relationships, relationship failure and divorce because I 'wasn't man enough,'" she says. "I thought something was wrong with me and that love would cure me."

She now believes the only thing "wrong" with her was that she spent the majority of her life trying to be someone she wasn't.

Dannylee reconnected with her old friend, Elsa Edwards, in August 2004 at their 20th high school reunion.

Ms. Edwards remembers seeing a very attractive woman in a red dress and heels across the banquet hall. It took her a few seconds to realize that woman was the Danny she knew in high school.

"A lot of people didn't have a clue. They'd say 'Hi' to me and then they'd look over and say, 'Who is this?' and I'd say, 'Oh, you remember Danny,' and the jaws would drop," Ms. Edwards says.

After people got over the initial shock, they actually were very sweet, she says.

Ms. Edwards doesn't believe Dannylee's desire to transition was some flight of fancy, because Dannylee was always very deliberate.

"When I remembered Danny from high school, I could tell there was a lot of hurt there but a really courageous kind of sense of trying to do things that would work, trying to make things work," Ms. Edwards says. "I think Danny must have tried really hard to fit in to what people expected, but couldn't because it wasn't right for her."

Near broke and still emotionally fragile in the late fall of 2004, all Dannylee could do was continue to concentrate on becoming the woman she'd always felt she truly was.

It was time to correct what she called a "birth defect," that "deformity" between her legs.

TOMORROW: Making the transition from male to female.

First published on October 3, 2006 at 12:00 am

[wpanews]

Mt. Lebanon residents call for students to return to classes | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mt. Lebanon residents call for students to return to classes | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

By Deana Carpenter, freelance writer Members of the community are urging the Mt. Lebanon School board to move forward with five-day-a-week in-person instruction for students. The district returned to a hybrid format for elementary school students Jan. 11, with children in classrooms two days a week. The middle schools and high schools returned to the hybrid format Jan. 21. Superintendent Tim…

[healthycoffeeguy]

Check out Masterpiece Classic:… on Mercari!

Check out what I just listed on Mercari. Tap the link to sign up and get up to $30 off. https://item.mercari.com/gl/m65680701501/

Downton Abbeya sprawling, lavish Edwardian mansion nestled in the Yorkshire landscapeneeds an heir. Dame Maggie Smith stars as Violet, the stubborn Dowager Countess of Grantham, matriarch of Downton. Hugh Bonneville stars as her son, the stoic, unflappable Lord Crawley; Elizabeth McGovern is his far-sighted American wife, Cora. From Academy Award®-winner Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park)

An addictive blend of suds and social commentary, ITV's Downton Abbey brings a microcosm of Edwardian society together under one roof. Lord Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) and his family live a life of leisure, while a fleet of servants, including butler Carson (Jim Carter), attend to their every need, but two events conspire to shake things up: the sinking of the Titanic, which claims Crawley's heirs, and the return of his valet, Bates (Brendan Coyle). Since Crawley and Lady Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) have three daughters, his distant solicitor cousin, Matthew (Dan Stevens), becomes heir to the estate. With that, the scheming begins, since Thomas the footman (Rob James-Collier) views Bates as an interloper and Crawley's mother, Violet (Maggie Smith), feels the same way about Matthew's mother, Isobel (Penelope Wilton).

In the tradition of the BBC's Upstairs Downstairs and Robert Altman's Gosford Park, for which writer-creator Julian Fellowes received an Academy Award, the royals, servants, and middle-class relations struggle to get along. Sniffs uptight maid Miss O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran), "Gentlemen don't work," but that doesn't stop Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Edith Crawley (Laura Carmichael) from competing for Matthew's affections. Though it takes awhile to warm up to the tightest-wound characters, most everyone reveals their more vulnerable side before the first season comes to an end, and a new small-screen classic is born.

The entire sprawling cast is quite wonderful, particularly Bonneville, Carter, and James-Collier, who provide a fascinating study in contrasts (the latter is downright dastardly). Unlike the version that aired on PBS's Masterpiece Classic, this set offers seven parts rather than four. Extras include a featurette, in which cast and crew discuss the production, and an introduction to Hampshire's Highclere Castle, which doubles for Downton Abbey. The first season was a phenomenon in the United Kingdom, and Fellowes has promised a second season set during World War I. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

#wellnessjames #Entrepreneurs #Jamesthehealthycoffeeguy my Passion http://jameslockettrepairs.blogspot.com

Crisp yet juicy, emotional yet subtle, serene yet funny. --Entertainment Weekly

Viewers will be hard-pressed to find a more sumptuous, engaging drama than the Masterpiece Classic miniseries Downton Abbey. --Pittsburgh Post-Gazette