Depression Glass Companies
December 23, 2007
Just before the advent of the Great Depression, more than a hundred companies manufactured glassware in the United States. At the end of the Depression, fewer than fifty percent of these companies remained in business. Of these companies, seven became major players in the production of Depression glass, and these seven companies utilized a little more than 90 patterns to decorate their wares. Indiana Glass, Hocking, Federal, U.S. Glass, Jeanette Glass, MacBeth-Evans, and Hazel-Atlas manufactured hundreds of thousands of pieces of this popular and inexpensive glass, creating a bright spot in the lives of everyday, working-class people during a grim epoch of American history.
Before Depression glass came along, colored and patterned glass existed, but only for the wealthy. Because the beautifully hued and intricately designed glassware of the times was hand-blown, and the cost of manufacturing such pieces proved prohibitive for most people, this type of glass was simply out of reach for many households. However, with the invention of mass-produced, machine-pressed glassware that produced colors and patterns ? albeit ridden with flaws such as air bubbles and mold marks ? a new versatility in glassware could be made available to households all over America. Because of this, even the poorest families could now have cheerful pieces from which to serve their meals, hold sugar, salt, pepper, and other condiments, contain candy, and more ? even to shake their martinis, if they could scrape up the money for the bathtub-made gin!
Looking Out the Rear Window
December 22, 2007
The funeral rite concluded With the pastor shaking hands, Offering words of comfort I didn’t quite understand.
The undertakers came forth And summoned pallbearers’ four. They marched beside the coffin Carrying it steady toward the door.
I didn’t cry or whimper As I followed right behind. But deep within I screamed Don’t leave O Mother of mine.
Please don’t go to the grave; Let’s chat just one more time. Let’s talk about the ‘good old days’ Don’t leave, O Mother of mine.”
But onward moved the casket Down the stairs to the limousine; With Mother laying incognizant Of my agonizing scream.
As we rode toward the ossuary Thoughts were swimming in my head; Why didn’t the whole world stop? Didn’t it know my Mother was dead?
But the world kept ’bout its business And within I felt so sad, ‘Cause my Mother didn’t get the honor I thought she should have had.
As we drove into the cemetery I knew it wouldn’t be long, Before I had to sing at last My final farewell song.
I stood at the gravesite Grief festering in my breast: Scriptures read, prayers prayed, Mother committed to eternal rest.
Comic Book Supplies, Necessities of the Serious Collector
December 21, 2007
If you want to keep your comic book collection in tiptop shape, comic book supplies will become part of your collecting life. As soon as a magazine is printed there are natural environmental forces going to work to try and destroy the ink and the paper. You have put in a lot of time, effort and enjoyment in acquiring all your comics. You don’t want them to turn back to the dust and elements from which they came do you?
Elements such as humidity, temperature, pollutants, human skin oils and even the chemicals of the printed materials themselves, will start to deteriorate and discolor your comic books from day one. Tools that have been developed over the years to help us combat these natural forces are de-acidification paper, polymer type storage bags, stiff backing material, storage boxes and desiccants (dehumidification materials). Not only will these comic book supplies protect your comics for your own enjoyment, they will add to reinforce the future value of each comic book.
How to Create an Irresistible Valentine?s Day Centerpiece
December 21, 2007
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner which of course makes us think of love, romance and of course flowers! It seems this special day wouldn’t be complete without them. Flowers touch our souls and brighten our spirits which is why they have remained a popular choice for "lovebirds" all over the world!
Depending on your mood and the flowers you pick, you can make this arrangement whimsical or elegant, so gather what you need and let’s get started!
Supplies:
- Store bought heart shaped basket (about 4 inches deep)
- Florist foam
- Plastic lining
- Flowers - at least two varieties
- Larger flowers (all same color) such as carnations or roses for center and filler flowers for accent
Follow these simple steps to create your own Valentine’s Day Centerpiece:
Photography: The Basics
December 20, 2007
Photography comes from the Greek words meaning "light writing" and first became known back in 1839 by Sir John Herschel. For many years prior to this, people had discovered ways of causing certain chemicals to change color when exposed to light but they did not discover ways of getting the images to remain permanent until later on.
Now photography is a big part of our culture, something that everyone recognizes. Most everyone has family photos lying around their house, many people take these photos on a regular basis, preserving precious memories for years to come. Even if you don’t have your own camera, you have seen photos in magazines, used on billboards and advertisements and more.
What is Photography?
Photography is defined as "The art or process of producing images by the action of light on surfaces sensitized by chemical processes." (www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/ArtsEd/vglossar.htm)
The average person never has to deal with this technical definition because they take their photographs to a lab to be processed. They simply take pictures with their camera and then drop them off somewhere to be developed. They get their prints back on nice glossy paper that they can then keep to see the images at any time they wish.
Comic Book Collecting, Oh What An Enjoyable Past Time It Is!
December 19, 2007
Have you ever read a comic book before? I imagine just about everyone, at some time in their life, has read at least one comic book. But do your interests and enjoyment level go beyond that? You may have said to yourself, at sometime or another, I would like to start a comic book collection some day. Heck, you may even have several comic books lying around that you have just never organized.
What do I do to start a comic book collection and what all do I need? Well, as I am sure you realize, you need to start with a passion. You have a passion, you say, but you don’t want to be labeled a "comic book geek" and remain alone in your enjoyment. Well, my suggestion to you is "Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff" and believe me, you are not alone. You would be amazed at the multitudes of individuals who have a passion for comic books. And there are a plethora of related sites on the Web.
Infinity - Feynman
December 18, 2007
RICHARD FEYNMAN: - I had the great pleasure of watching a movie called Infinity by Matthew Broderick and his wife. What a joy! To see a person whose father taught him to observe rather than codify or label in order to get marks or social acceptance. Education that focuses on the soul and ethics is what humanity will need to handle the outcome of the Pandora’s Box unleashed by his fellow atom-mysticists. What a treat to see the ethics and honesty that made it difficult for him to lie to his lady even when all around them were pressuring him to do so when they thought she had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. What mastery of mind and reality to simply portray this exceptional couple as she thought first of how difficult it must have been for him to lie rather than what this terminal illness might do to her. But as usual the doctors were wrong and she had TB although it could have been discovered earlier and she might have lived if these doctors had not been trying to avoid saying what they thought.
12 Things That Make Life Worthwhile!
December 17, 2007
Happy New Year! Around the world, this is a time of renewal, celebration of new opportunities, and great optimism. Please accept our best wishes for a year of peace, joy, and success.
And, note that any time of year is a great time to re-commit to the things that are most important. Our highest values and our dearest aspirations need constant attention, constant renewal, and constant reinforcement. Life has a way of distracting us. We get busy, and we forget who we are and what we truly want for ourselves and our loved ones.
In the spirit of friendly reminder, here are “12 Things That Make Life Worthwhile”.
1. Take time to dream ? it hitches your soul to the stars.
2. Take time to work ? it is the price of success.
3. Take time to think ? it is the source of power.
4. Take time to play ? it is the secret of youth.
5. Take time to read ? it is the foundation of knowledge.
6. Take time to worship ? it is the highway of reverence and washes the dust of earth from our eyes.
Organize 1000?s Of Photos Easily
December 16, 2007
The easiest way is to start right from the beginning, your pregnancy. Chronological order is an easy way to organize your photos, that’s if you remembered to write all the dates down.
If you’re like me, you didn’t exactly start out that way. So here are some tips to get your photos organized and ready for scrapbooking.
THE DATE!
The date may not seem urgent for you to write out because you may think that you will easily remember what “month” your baby was at in the pictures.
But when they hit 4 or 5 months old, it can be hard to determine which month they’re in.
So…..As soon as you pick up your pictures from the developer go home and write the date (if you have a photo safe pencil) on the back of each picture.
Or you could get on the computer and type all the details out onto labels and put that on the back of each picture. Also make a label for each negative too.
STORAGE
Take your photos OUT of the envelope they came in and put them into a storage box or file folder.
Writing Innovative Poetry
December 16, 2007
Writing innovative poetry, the kind of poetry that reputable literary journals publish, entails knowing exactly what each word of a poem does to the reader. A good poem should be evocative, skillful, and cohesive, but before attempting to hone these attributes, a potential poet should be knowledgeable of the various forms and attributes of contemporary poetry. A good way to become familiar with the aspects of contemporary poetry is to take classes, join writing workshops, and subscribe to contemporary literary journals. Reading and understanding good poetry is vital to being able to write good poetry.
The first phase of writing a good poem includes a process of brainstorming. There are various ways to approach this process, but after a good deal of experimentation, the poet will find the one that works best for his or her personal style. Some poets will begin this process by actually writing a poem. Other poets will write prose or notes until he or she spots something that could be developed into a poem. The most important concept to consider with regard to this first phase is to write fearlessly. Write without trying to sound poetic, avoid abstractions, and be as detailed as possible. Write what is on your mind without worrying too much about grammar, literary devices, and line breaks. Often, when a person engages is this type of free writing, he or she will naturally write in some sort of rhythm or pattern. It is in the next phase of writing that these natural literary finesses are smoothed out and heightened.
