LIVE UNTIL YOU DIET

Hi, folks:

Conspicuous by my absence, (one always hopes) I've been putting the finishing touches on my new book.

Yes, due to popular demand and public confusion, I've completed my long-awaited work on the linguistic legacy of George W. Bush. Just the research alone caused a couple of infarcts, and disallowed any semblance of normal muse-chasing during the process. I'll post an announcement here when it hits global distribution or I'm spirited away to Gitmo for some hardwood hydrotherapy, whichever comes first.

Meanwhile, a fun piece on how to "Live Free Or Diet." Thanks to all!

Best, El

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LIVE UNTIL YOU DIET

How To Lose Weight

By Downsizing The D-Word

We're Back

Of course, if you're reading this, you know that. Site was down for a couple of days due to some unexpected IP changes made at our hosting company that left us scurrying to catch up.

Made Only In New Hampshire: Ice Cubes

I won't give you a bum steer [sic].

Yes, it is possible to make ice cubes elsewhere, but not the old-fashioned way.

This weekend, on Saturday February 3rd, from 10 AM to 2 PM, you can try your hand at cutting blocks of ice at the pond, using tools that your New England ancestors would have used, as part of Tamworth New Hampshire's Winter Carnival.

The Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, working with the Yankee Teamsters 4-H Working Steers Club, make this possible.

In addition, the Chinook Dog Club of America will give dog sled rides to children. Pronounced "Shin-OOK," the Chinook breed originated right here in New Hampshire, by Arthur Walden.

Also in store are a snowball throwing contest, and snowshoe obstacle course. This is a great family-oriented event. Admission is free.

Tamworth is located just north of Lake Winnipesaukee. The trip takes about an hour and a half from Greater Manchester. Take 93 North to Route 104 (Route 104 will take you through Meredith and Moultonborough, then on to Tamworth).

Janice

We're so vain?

Does New Hampshire have more vanity plates than any other state?

New Hampshire Chronicle is looking for photos of NH vanity plates for a story. Any good ones out there? Honk if you love self-expression.

The goods on this year's NH Theatre Awards

Just got a news release from the folks at NH Mag (Rick's publication) announcing the top ten community theatre finalists:

"The NH Theatre Awards committee has released the top ten community theatre finalists prior to its ceremony February 2 at The Palace Theatre. In previous years, the top five finalists were named at the ceremony during the presentation of each award. The goal of the early announcement is to show the variety of theatre companies across the state who are producing excellent plays and musicals."

I've included the whole press release and list of finalists within.

You Know The Primary Season Is Underway When...

New Hampshire Historical Markers -- Whoopee

I recently had telephone contact with the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, asking about the NH state historical markers. I had many questions. How do these markers originate? What do you do if one is not accurate? What do you do if you think of an idea for one? (The folks at that agency are extremely patient, by the way).

The answer is that the these markers are "locally driven." Which in a nutshell, means that the ideas for the markers originate as an idea from a person, a group, or representatives for a town/city, NOT from the New Hampshire historical agency. Mistakenly I had a pictured in my mind--a knowledgeable historian, thick-rimmed glasses sliding down over the nose, painstakingly researching in dusty archives, just to produce the wording for a carefully crafted sign. I was so wrong.

I had started to be suspicious about the origin of these markers several months ago. I noticed a sign in Tamworth New Hampshire promoting the Chinook breed of dog, and only mentioning the Seeley family. Technically the sign is correct. I know the Seeleys were dedicated to raising Chinooks and to dog sledding, and deserve recognition. But nowhere was mentioned Arthur Walden, the man who started the breed, owned the original kennels, and explored with Admiral Byrd (and yet he lived closeby).

Still thinking that the signs originated from a state agency, I wondered at the shallowness of the research. My seeing a historic marker in Derry New Hampshire stating, "The children of a poet lived here," and not mentioning Robert Frost at all, would be a good analogy to how I feel about the CHINOOK KENNELS marker number: 155.

Rumor has it that the New Hampshire's General Court has recently mandated that the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resource review all of the state markers for accuracy. So, if you know of any that are historically incorrect, now is your chance to let them know.

The joys of ice storms ... not

It's 8:30 p.m. and I'm at work - which is bad. But then again, at home where the kids have been alone all day (mom was at work until a few minutes ago) the power's been out since 2 p.m. A pair of teenagers can sit around the wood stove in an unfinished basement, playing 20 Questions and burning marshmallows, for only so long before things get ... well, interesting. I suspect that point was passed a while ago.

Maybe I should stay at work a bit longer.

Update Tuesday morning: Still no power, 12 hours later. "Sorry kids, I've got to go to work!" Wednesday morning: Still no power. Another day without a shower and they won't let me come to work. Wednesday night: Power back at 7 p.m., after 2 1/4 days. Such joy! Thousands still powerless around the region, though.

I Have A List: Steve Vaillancourt Speaks, Again

The latest episode in the pathetic saga of State Rep. Steve Vaillancourt is his 90-minute, "Hey -- where'd everybody go?" press conference on Friday.
Vaillancourt, of course, has accused Ray Buckley of being a fan of child porn -- an accusation that led Buckley to give up his run to be the state's Democratic Party chair even as he was a shoo-in for the position.
Vaillancourt's tales and accusations have varied widely in the few weeks since he -- for reasons best and, indeed, only known to him -- sent a letter to Governor Lynch detailing his concerns about Buckley. Normally, one might expect to direct such serious, and clearly criminal matters directly to the police. But hey -- normal seems to be in short supply here.
But back to Friday. After weeks of innuendo, contradictions, and firm assertion, Vaillancourt admits that he personally does not have proof of any wrongdoing by Buckley, his former co-habitant, friend, and perhaps, more. But he does have a list of individuals -- now pay attention here, it gets tricky -- who, he thinks may somehow be witnesses to Buckley's alleged sins. Or maybe they are witnesses to Vaillancourt's accusations about Buckley's alleged sins. Something like that.

One person's eyesore...

One person's eyesore is another person's muse... at least for me it is when it comes to photography. Sure, I enjoy capturing the pristine beauty within a natural environment or photographing modern and historical architecture along a city street. I also enjoy photographing just the opposite such as this abandoned business in North Conway (see photo above) destined to be bulldozed to make way for additional outlet stores. Sorry Mom... I know how you dislike this type of imagery, but I just can't help myself. Do you know of a place like this in New Hampshire?

There is something fleeting in these abandoned structures. A memory which will soon be forgotten except for those few which were once a part of its unique and perhaps less glamorous history. Could there be a story to tell?

Do you remember the movie "Fried green tomatoes", in the scene at the Whistle Stop Café years after it had been abandoned and left in disrepair? Although fictional, boy was there a story to tell.

I’ve seen much photographic imagery of abandoned institutions such as prisons, state hospitals, and in a recently released book of Stephen Wilkes, called "Ellis Island – Ghosts of Freedom”. This type of imagery fascinates me.

I would love to get into one of those abandoned places and have at it with my camera. Of course, getting permission is crucial since I don’t have any desire to get arrested for trespassing.

My Oh My--Wii Oh Why

Wii (pronounced Weeeeeeeeeee) is the latest craze for anyone age 8 to 88. (Okay, if you are younger or older than that, you can use it too).

The Nintendo company--yes the same folks who created Gameboy and also the early arcade games such as Mario Brothers--has done it yet again. According to the most recent estimates, the Wii has sold over 7.5 million units worldwide.

With so many people succumbing to the temptation of Wii, I thought Wiiers (rhymes with skiiers, [sic] which New Hampshire is strangely absent of) would appreciate having a list of all the things you can do with it.

Ten Amazing Things You Can Do With A Wii

1. Cause mysterious welts and bruises.

2. Become expert at riding a cow. (Yeehaa!)

3. Impact furniture and appliances in your immediate environment. (Danger, Slippery When Wet or is it Urban Legend?)

4. Make new friends. (i.e., a crowd of strangers will suddenly invite themselves to your house)

5. Think of yourself as a small blue figure with a large head and face.

6. Get in great physical shape.

7. Learn interesting new skills you can use in real life. [what's real life?]

8. Master impressive techniques such as flailing, drooling, smashing, twitching, swerving, squatting, and falling.

9. Experience the ultimate in motion sickness, electric shock, or repetitive motion injuries and eyestrain. [per Nintendo Wii Safety Page]

10. Cheat. [Caution... spoilers ahead]

It's A Crazy World: Fighting Blogger Burnout

The winter holidays are pretty much over, and the retail stores have already set up their Valentine's and Easter displays. The weather is getting colder, but we just aren't having that subzero-weather that we think of as typical this time of year. There has been a major shift in politics, retailing, weather, and so it seems, the blogging universe.



Some escribitionists, or at least the one who are not blogger-obsessed, have used the holidays to take a break. For some, the break felt so good that they didn't come back. My blog provider allows me to post in advance (thank you blogger gods). So, to my readers, it seemed as if I never took a day off.

My first year anniversary in blogging is coming up in March, and I have some questions for those of you who have been blogging longer. Talk to me about blogger burnout.

How long before I too join the ranks of the undead bloggers? (I picture "Night of the Living Dead" zombies carrying computer keyboards under their soon-to-fall-off arms). One Year? Two Years? Sooner? What happens to burnt out bloggers? (do they, in turn, become YouTube obsessed?) Oh! There's a blog about Youtube!

Do you stop blogging gradually, and is there a blogger patch? (or are dual eye patchs the only way to stop blogging?) Or in the extreme--Do YouTube on MySpace? And why exactly do bloggers stop blogging? Do they just find better things to do (ballroom dancing, perhaps). Or have they been sued for saying something naughty?

Is the seemingly recent trend of blogger burnout, the beginning of the end? Or are those bloggers simply replaced by the next in line, like an oddly-cosmic blogger pecking order?

Epiphany And Our Outdoor Lights

I took down our outdoor Christmas lights today (I vote leaving them up this long is not garish, Dave). Since we just celebrated Epiphany, I see today as the real end of the Christmas for our family, not New Years day. Things I noticed as I took those lights down -- it was as warm as the day I put them up (odd but pleasant) and the pansies are still alive and blooming in the front garden (odder still and a touch unsettling).

The photo police are out in Portsmouth

We all clearly understand since 911, homeland security and other enforcement agencies are on the lookout for suspicious looking activity. Not a bad thing necessarily. And I (in good company with many other photographers) have had my share of encounters and questions around taking photographs. Like the time I was in Boston, after visiting my father at Mass General Hospital, while exiting the building holding my camera, the police officer on duty yelled out at me insisting that I NOT take photographs in front of Mass General Hospital. But that's another story.

This morning while wandering the streets of Portsmouth with camera in hand, I decided to head in the direction of Ceres street along where the Tugs are usually docked. Just as I approached the corner of Ceres and Bow I caught a glimpse of a large cargo ship being escorted by the aforementioned Tugs in the direction of the Atlantic (see photograph). And since I just purchased a wonderful new 12-24mm wide angle lens for my camera, I thought what an opportunity here to photograph one of those football field length ships.

Unfortunately it was a distance from where I was and where I needed to be to get the shot so I sprinted down Ceres street to where I could see the entire ship passing, in hopes of arriving before the ship was out of view. Just as I started to compose the image a black car swooped in stopping right next to me. A little startled and still out of breath from sprinting, thinking this might just be someone asking for directions, I said, "how can I help you" realizing as the words were coming out of my mouth, this man is no tourist asking for directions. He had on a dark uniform, though not one I recognized. And me, wearing a dark jacket and dark hat and black gloves (it was cold), and with this dark beard I have, pointing my camera at a large ship passing by, not to mention having sprinted to this spot (very suspicious indeed) I probably looked quite suspicious in his eyes, though not being a terrorist, I really don't see the threat here.

His first words were, "what are you photographing". It seemed obvious to me but I didn't want to be a wise ass so I responded with, "everything". Perhaps not the best answer, though I was answering his question from a broader perspective since I really had no specific photographic agenda. Anything and "Everything" was my subject matter. Then there was the silence... probably only a couple of seconds though it seemed much longer. I continued with... "I am a photographer out photographing the area. I have a blog where I post my photographs. And I work in Photoshop (HUH??? why did I said that). Would you like me to give you the name of my website, thinking he could check it out and realize my story was legit". He responded with, "that won't be necessary. I work for the Coast Guard and was just wondering what you were doing". "Oh", I said, thinking this explains his uniform... and responded with, "I understand your concern". We left it at that.

Sorry... no arrest... no handcuffs... no dramatic ending to this story. Although I am thinking I should probably have a business card to hand out in the future should such a situation occur again. Then hopefully I won't say something stupid like, "I use Photoshop", or "big ship, me have camera, take pretty picture".

Oh, and no, I didn't get the shot.

This is where I was standing when I caught the glimpse of the cargo ship. It's the green area in the middle of the photo.

Romancing the Granite

Intriguing high-tech products from NH companies

If I may be forgiven for copying from my GraniteGeek blog, I'd like to draw attention to the really interesting mix of tech products from in-state companies vying for the High Tech Product of the Year award from the New Hampshire High Technology Council. (It will be chosen by the audience at the Jan. 10 Center of New Hampshire event; details here, and the winner gets displayed at the Manchester airport, in place of the moose statue). They are:

* Conway-based Animetrics FACEEngine ID surveillance system, which uses 3-d imaging and analysis to improve real-time identification of people.

* Manchester-based Jetboil's portable cooking system, which uses propane micro-canisters long familiar from camp stoves and lanterns to create ultra-fast heating and cooking.

* Merrimack-based Kollsman EVS II Enhanced Vision System, a way of improving windows for pilots so they can see in bad weather.

* Bedford-based MetaMersion's Immersive Gaming System, a virtual-reality system for gaming, particularly first-person shooters.

* Concord-based Nanocomp Technologies, which develops materials based on carbon nanotubes, including conductive nano-yarn..

What's cool is the variety of products, from outdoorsy to geeky to aviation technology, and the variety of company sizes: Nanocomp has 10 employees, and had just 3 not long ago, while Kollsman has hundreds.

Patrick Boutwell: Local Man Makes Good... Music

Yesterday I spoke to Patrick Boutwell who grew up in Wilton, NH. He has been hard at work crafting songs for Rhode Island's rocking four piece, The Brother Kite. Now the band is getting attention. Pop Matters called their latest album "easily one of the best you'll hear this year." Click on the image to learn more about Pat and his band.

When do you take down your outdoor Christmas lights?

Is turning them on after Christmas Day garish? After New Year's?

Personally, I think they can stay lit at night through this coming weekend, Jan. 7, as long as they're just lights. Inflatable Santas and suchlike should be returned to the garage on Dec. 26 - and only people with little kids in the house should have them at all.