text:
I think there can be little doubt that the free market ideology of the last thirty five years is having a few problems at the moment with most countries in the West experiencing the deepest and longest recession for over a century. For those of us on the left, the causes are reasonably clear and none of should be surprised at the tales of venality and corruption slowly emerging from the banks. The question is (as ever) what action to take because it is easy to provide the critique and point out the greed and exploitation at the heart of capitalism, it is altogether different to present a viable alternative because state socialism has an even worse reputation and track record.
I've remarked before on Prynne's distaste for the fatuous tropes of the retail trade ('buy one, get one free', 'three for two' etc) and his use of these to express quite bitter sarcasm. This, together with an Old Left disdain for financiers, has run threadlike through the work since 'Kitchen Work' and it might be that things have changed a little with 'Kazoo Dreamboats'.
I'll start with a poem from 'The Oval Window' which was published in 1983:
What if the outlook is likely to cut short
by an inspired fear in the bond market.
The place itself is a birthday prank:
current past the front,
en premiere ligne
like stone dust on strips of brighter green.
Given to allergic twitching, the frame
compounds for invertible counterpoint
and waits to see. A view is a window
on the real data, not a separate copy
of that data, or a lower surplus in oil
and erratic items such as precious stones
aircraft and the corpses of men tigers
fish and pythons, "all in a confused tangle."
Changes to the real data
are visible through the view; and operations
against the view are converted, through
a kind of unofficial window on Treasury policy,
into operations on the real data.
To this world given over, now safely,
work makes free logic, joined to the afterlife.
I don't intend to undertake any kind of attentive reading of the above, those wishing for a duller account of 'The Oval Window' might start with the Reeve and Kerridge essay on Jacket. I just want to note that this is, in part, concerned with the nuts and bolts of the dismal science, 'fear in the bond market' 'a lower surplus in oil' 'the real data' and 'Treasury policy' are all phrases that continue to make up our economic and fiscal discourse. Reeve and Kerridge refer to the ironic tone of this poem but I'm of the view that it's angry sarcasm and that this is underlined by the last line reference to the genocidal thinking behind the Holocaust. I also need to say that I'm not a great fan of this sequence but this particular poem does seem to represent a reasonably clear 'position'.
I am however an enormous fan of 'Unanswering Rational Shore' (2001) because it exudes technical skill and confidence and because (this is important) it makes me smile a lot. I could go on for a very long time about how this is the kind of stuff that everybody should be engaging with and responding to but, for the moment, I just want to focus on this:
On the track the news radiates like a planet auction,
for the best rates hard to chew. If it seems too good,
sucker, the pap is surely toxic, unless the glad
hand goes your way, soft as velvet. The strokes
of the palm not even touched, a waft of livid air
gives the take its donation, sexual preening overtly
lavish in symmetry; your flicker goes to mine and locks into warranty, well why not. Over lush fields
a rising sun pitches out its sulky damp shadow, in
reminder of cost levels in the benefit stream. Oh
fight this fight or sleep when others wake, the
maze of a shining path leads on without a break;
count the steps in retrospect, burnt umber places
engrossed forever in dumb-struck dropped reward.
So, here we would appear to have a more grown up and considered economic thesis relating to some quite complex stuff, the 'glad hand' of corruption (or patronage systems) as the best way to avoid toxic 'pap', the rising sun of the developing nations and their ability to cut cost levels and the impact of consequential unemployment in the West on public finances. I'm reading 'a shining path' to those nice agrarian reformers in Peru who also happened to be murderous thugs with a very odd economic programme which, if successful, would have represented several steps backwards. I'll save 'fight this fight or sleep' until later but the whole sequence is full of this kind of elegant / graceful detail.
In the interest of space I was going to skip over 'Streak~~~Willing~~~Entourage~~~Artesian' but I think this needs to be singled out from the third poem in the sequence:
Fix out gaze on this, on virtue. Acknowledge
skid forward or same fervid plastic embankment
her link antler, rising and drive. Above his
anthem converge tall preening slips to axial
The economic 'aspect' of this only becomes apparent with the knowledge that a subsidiary definition of 'embankment' is "A banking speculation; a bank account" which then makes sense of 'fervid' and 'plastic'. There's also the 'preening', sexual display link between this and the poem above.
This sequence is probably Prynne at his most austere and resistant and I'm not entirely clear why a reference to the banking crisis should be placed in a work that is mostly 'about' the civil war in Ulster with a particular focus on the Maze hunger strikes but I'll continue to read it as economic rather than ideological.
'As Mouth Blindness' is the first poem in the 'Sub Songs' collection and reads as a response to the ongoing fiscal self-flagellation currently being promoted and/or practiced by people who really should know better. The poem starts with:
Right now beyond the brunt yet afforded, gainsay now
for aspect close to residue, you'll see it there. Not full
scanned at damage so far, ridges debased fetch so plainly
or even gradual, nothing not due. Lay a hand over plus
be level be sane two for one. Her voice was ever low, nil
transfusion plot negative to hum under par in the race
to tint and show a true recoil, you are there from the shot,
the star flinched openly.
This uses the 'two for one' device to scathe about our current economic dilemma and carries on in a similar vein until this conclusion:
Time in the news to be not silent indoors, mouth in thought
shut up chew it the choice separates its like or is lame for
wounding in what is due would tell you suffused. For both
market done and stunned in face of, great lack breeds lank
less and less, claimant for right. Flatter by great expectancy,
for so resemble by just match, no less than fitting the race
to birthright and natal place, our lingo. The place-work of
willed repeats gains a familiar tremor in jointure, we say
sustainable our mouth assents slave dental unbroken torrid reason
will commute previous and lie down. None more credible, mirror
make up flat sat batch pinup gruesome genome. Now get out.
This is a similar analysis but with more of a focus on the fact that it is always the poor who suffer most in a recession and there is more than a little obscenity in the deeds of our political leaders to punish those already in poverty for the greedy stupidity of the rich.
The last three words signal a similar level of anger and 'lack breeds lank' seems to encapsulate what many of see as the hidden reality of where we are now.
We now come to 'Kazoo Dreamboats' and what I'm thinking of as the 'Hot Pie problem'. For weeks I've been flummoxed by:
For fields thus filled it was no dream if yet so dear I lay, pronate
attempered pronoun sounded dear heart how suckled, hot pies! be
blithe, for integer broad alleged awake among the things
that are, in spoken footprint cordial how alike by probe to lit
shelf grains.
Following on from Michael Peverell's comment last month, I've being noticing just how much of 'Piers Plowman' there is in 'KD' and would like to suggest that this 'Hot Pies' is more than just a line from the initial scene of a "fair field of folk" but also an echo of Langlands more extended criticism of retailers and especially those that try to 'corner' the market in certain goods-
To punischen vppon pilories and vppon pyning stoles,
As bakers and breweres, bocheres and cokes;
For thyse men don most harm to mene peple,
Rychen throw regratrerye and rentes hem beggeth
With that the poor peple sholde potte in here wombe.
This is the first part of (in the 'C' text) of a 40 line digression about the greed and sharp practices of urban traders and retailer and does seem more or less at one with the Prynne perspective. Incidentally, 'regratery' is glossed by Pearsall as "buying up goods in the market at advantage (eg by setting up price-rings) and is defined by the OED as " To buy up (commodities, esp. food) in order to resell at a profit in the same or a neighbouring market" and also notes that various laws were passed in a vain attempt to stamp out this pice of sharp practice.
Of course, price-rings continue to flourish in many areas from personal banking to airline tickets to gas and electricity with governments affecting to be shocked once these arrangements are exposed- it could therefore be that the hot pies refer to a disdain for these kind of practices.
Towards the end of 'KD' the call to arms seems to have modified. There are those of us who take the view that capitalism proceeds by means of long waves and that the end of a particular wave need not present a fundamental threat to the system. There is also a view that this particular crisis is so systemically threatening that the time could be ripe for a change.
Towards the end of 'KD' there is:
Taunting themselves with foresight badges, now is how to finish
without fiduciary rank ending induced. Fractional deponent
closeness is not so hard too: when the time travel equals the
period of a sampling frequency, the contribution to the inter-
action is screened down to about half its unretarded strength.
Yet the recursion cannot be close since the stop key is well out
beyond reach, even in transform assignment.
I'm reading 'the stop key' as the point when the free market breaks down and the above suggesting that this moment is not going to occur as a response to the fiasco that is currently gathering steam. I'd agree with this and think it significant that Prynne has read this at an Occupy event which may well signal his approval of their quietist and undogmatic approach.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Yesterday was Father's Day, and I admit I was at a loss as to what I should get for my Dad. He's an avid fisherman, but trying to buy someone a present connected to their passion, if it's not one that you share, is one of the trickiest shopping trips you can embark on. My brother has gone on numerous fishing expeditions with him, and so has a better sense of which fly might tickle his fancy or what the latest fishing gear is that might not already be in his collection. I tried fly fishing a few times, but found I'm more of a cook than fisherwoman. Plus his preferred choice of catch and release fishing doesn't bring home much salmon or trout.
While fishing is not where we connect, food is. I love to cook and my Dad and I both love to eat. His repertoire in the kitchen is primarily the grill, his infamous champagne punch, and willingness to help punch down the bread dough. Where he really excels is as a volunteer taste tester. I don't think I've ever had him pass on taking a nibble or slurp or bite of something, "just to make sure it's good". Even when he's not asked. Self sacrificing all the way.
When I was going through my first vegetarian phase I made a dish called Funistrada. It sounded great in the cookbook – noodles with a cream sauce – but as this was the 70s and because vegetarian cuisine wasn't quite as sophisticated as it's become this recipe had a serious flaw. The cream sauce was made using all whole wheat flour and no herbs or seasonings, though it may have had some cheese. It was as if you made a vat of paper maché goop and layered it between seven layers of noodles. For some reason Dad hadn't wandered into the kitchen as I was putting it all together so there was no taste testing that day. Which is too bad because Funistrada is disgusting.
I told everyone to dig in as I brought the salad and bread to the table and Dad happily dug in and kept eating. My brother, who has not always been known for his tender ministrations toward my feelings, took one bite of the stuff and spat it back out announcing loudly that it was so awful it might kill him. I was horrified, but after one spoonful I had to agree. It was inedible. My father looked relieved and wanted to know if this meant he didn't need to finish it all. He had been ready to sit at our kitchen table and eat this nasty stuff because his daughter had made it. I don't think I would have made the parental sacrifice myself if faced with a plate of Funistrada. So as an honest taste tester perhaps he's not so good, but as a Dad he's great, plus he let us order out for pizza that night.
For many years I baked Dad his presents. Cookies were easy to bake and mail, but when he was diagnosed with diabetes the gift of cookies didn't seem like such a thoughtful present. He manages his illness really well, but it seems unfair to give someone gift they had to take a pill for. So I've made donations of honeybees and goats in his name, which is actually a great thing to do for someone who has enough stuff (and who shouldn't be eating sugar). Then yesterday I was wishing I could just make him something yummy and healthy. I came up with Lentils of Love.
It's a dish I made last weekend for Russell's non-graduation celebration (yes, my youngest is skipping his senior year in high school and instead heading off to Simon's Rock College this fall). It's what a good vegetarian/vegan recipe should be. Flavorful, interesting, and edible. I've made it on and off for years after I was first introduced to le puy lentils. While some foodies will tell you must use the small green pulses grown in the volcanic soil around Auvergne, France I can tell you the world will not stop spinning because you use green lentils instead. I'm not saying le puys aren't great, because they are, but rather that the secret to this recipe is a lentil that won't fall apart and get mushy when you cook it.
The real trick, which Russell's godfather Rick reminded me of, is to cut the vegetables into teeny, tiny squares, hardly bigger than the cooked lentils themselves. In the past I'd chopped my carrots, celery and onion into small cubes, which was just fine. However, when Rick minced those same three vegetables into a micro mirepoix instead of chopping them I found it elevated the dish to the next level.
Now, as you will probably note this is not something I can send to my Dad in the mail, so the bonus of these Lentils of Love is that I'll need to take a road trip to see him, and make them for him in person. Maybe he'll join me in by cooking something on the grill.
Lentils of Love
1 1/4 cup Le Puy or green lentils
2 1/2 cups water
1 small bay leaf (or half of a large one)
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 carrots, peeled and cut into micro squares (about a cup)
3 celery ribs, trimmed and cut into micro squares (about a cup)
1/2 red onion, peeled and cut into micro squares (about 3/4 cup)
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
dash or two of cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
Bring the lentils, bay leaf, thyme and water to a boil, then cover and cook until the lentils are they are soft, but not mushy about 35-43 minutes. There should be almost no liquid left, but keep an eye on things so you don't simmer them dry. If there is any liquid left drain it then cool the lentils a bit.
While the lentils are cooking cut up your mirepoix. Place in a large bowl and add the slightly cooled lentils (you want them to be warm enough to suck up the oil and vinegar, but not so hot they cook the vegetables), olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Salt and pepper to taste. If you need a brighter note to this salad add a few dashes of cider vinegar.
You'll want to retaste this when the lentils have cooled down to see if you need to tweak the oil/vinegar/salt/pepper ratios. I will often double or triple this recipe thinking there will be tons left over, but no mater how much I make it all seems to disappear in a day or two. Just letting you know.
You could also top this with some chopped walnuts or pecans. Or a crumble of cheese. There is a myriad of possibilities.
Here's another variation on this recipe (so many tweaks are possible) from Heidi Swanson who tweaked one of Deborah Madison's recipes.


text:
Ryan Getzlaf scored in the second period and Jonas Hiller made 26 saves as the Ducks defeated Chicago, 1-0, on Friday at Honda Center.
Hiller recorded his second shutout this season and improved to 5-1-1. It was the first time the Blackhawks had been blanked this season.
Getzlaf scored at 15:19 of the second period. It was his ninth goal of the season.


text:
Friday, April 6, 2012
Farm Girl: The Making and Selling of Books
WiDo's investor paid for a large print run of 5000 copies. About half of those have sold. The investor was willing to try many things to get sales-- hiring a publicist, sending out copies for contests, paying someone to call bookstores and get orders. The idea was to try a lot of different approaches and eventually something would pay off.
It's been an interesting learning experience, because the entire publishing culture changed from when WiDo first began until now. Most of the things that we tried at first are no longer viable.
Calling bookstores? A waste of valuable time. Farm Girl sells more books on Kindle than on print.
Hiring a publicist? A waste of good money. Book sales happen more through online blog reviews and the calculated use of KDP Select free promotions than through an expensive publicist getting a feature on TV, radio or in the newspaper.
Giving away free copies to teachers in hopes they'd buy more for the classroom? Ha! Teachers are strapped for cash and will gladly take a free book. Period.
From the way books were printed in 2007 to the way they are sold in 2012, Farm Girl has led the way in change for WiDo. The lessons we learned and experience gained from making and selling this first book have been invaluable. And I think that's the real worth of Farm Girl as WiDo's first release.
by KarenG Coming Down the Mountain: A Writer's Blog
51 comments:
- Lynn Proctor said...
very interesting--it is a full-time job just keeping up with all the changes
- April 6, 2012 at 12:54 PM
- Sue McPeak said...
A super post for aspiring writers who want to be published. You have certainly been a forerunner for publishing in this decade. Well done for the Letter F.
My theme is A-Z My Family Tree and F is for FANNIE and her FIVE Sisters. Hope you'll stop by...The BIG ARROW points the way...Sue-CollectInTexas Gal
- April 6, 2012 at 1:35 PM
- Jeremy [Retro] said...
So what do we do... I am releasing my book next week and I am hoping for just a good word of mouth. Anyone want to read/review/ help me set up a tour...
Jeremy [Retro-Zombie]
- April 6, 2012 at 2:20 PM
- Tess Julia said...
Your insight and experience are valuable lessons for those of us who haven't made that far yet! Thanks for sharing it.
- April 6, 2012 at 2:25 PM
- Unknown said...
Karen you are so right on and I've never heard it more succinct or targeted. Marketing your book is not for wimps but with your insight I'm sure you do great.
Thanks for an interesting post.
- April 6, 2012 at 2:35 PM
- Tracy MacDonald said...
Excellent advice and information. I don't think print books will go away, but embracing technology and the viral world are priceless.
A2ZMommy and What's In Between
- April 6, 2012 at 2:46 PM
- Grammy said...
Wow! How cool is that! Thanks for the inside info.., in case I ever decide to write a book for publication. It is very interesting. I learn so much every time I read a blog. Ruby
- April 6, 2012 at 2:58 PM
- loverofwords said...
Good ideas. Publishing has changed so much. F is for France, on my blog, castlepinesnorth.blogspot.com I changed my focus and will write from prompts I create. Hard to feel centered when you are a new blogger.
- April 6, 2012 at 3:20 PM
- MOV said...
great post! very informative. thank you for sharing your experience with your book.
- April 6, 2012 at 3:22 PM
- McKenzie McCann said...
Note to self: Don't call bookstores. Thanks for the warning.
- April 6, 2012 at 3:32 PM
- Julie Jordan Scott said...
Wow. What a fantastic post. I am impressed with your tenacity and overall success. Brava and Kudos!!
Julie Jordan Scott
twitter: @juliejordanscot
F is for Frances E.W. Harper
- April 6, 2012 at 3:52 PM
- Baur said...
I end up reading a lot on my kindle! Have a great Easter!
- April 6, 2012 at 4:10 PM
- Tamara Narayan said...
This is excellent information. Thanks for sharing what worked and what didn't.
- April 6, 2012 at 4:43 PM
- PR said...
Thanks for the info, very useful :)
- April 6, 2012 at 4:55 PM
- CoachWalsh3rd said...
Good Information. Why reinvente the wheel when wonderful people are willing to share their experiences. All we have to do is listen (or Read).
- April 6, 2012 at 5:07 PM
- Karen Baldwin said...
Great "f" post and thanks for the tips.
- April 6, 2012 at 5:11 PM
- RHYTHM AND RHYME said...
I was most interested in reading this as I had my second self published booked released last Dec.
It took me 3 years to compile and much hard work went into reading proof after proof,
Enjoyed your F post.
- April 6, 2012 at 5:16 PM
- Anne Mackle said...
Very interesting and I suspect a lot of hard work.
- April 6, 2012 at 5:26 PM
- Guilie Castillo said...
Great insight, Karen, and thanks for sharing your experience with the rest of us.
- April 6, 2012 at 5:31 PM
- Sara said...
Interesting post. I worked for a text book publisher for a little while, I was their order processing/phone person.
Calling schools and bookstores was a huge waste of time for us as well.
Giving books to teachers didn't work to well either, cause the teachers would gladly take a free book, but saying, gave it to you last year for free, now buy a subscription, didn't go over well.
- April 6, 2012 at 5:32 PM
- Chuck said...
Consider yourself a pioneer and take pride in the change you created. Good job!
- April 6, 2012 at 6:39 PM
- Jaimee Hunter said...
Teachers love love love freebies!
- April 6, 2012 at 6:46 PM
- Arlee Bird said...
Great info. Sometimes it's a matter of luck and timing. There are those rare occasions when an extraordinary publicist or the like will come your way and do what needs to be done, but it's always a chance you take.
Lessons learned from losses incurred can often be better than any college course on marketing.
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
- April 6, 2012 at 6:49 PM
- Tracy said...
very interesting...I just published my first book in Oct. and my husband is busily working 'all the angle's'...isn't it an amazing world we live in today?
- April 6, 2012 at 6:53 PM
- Christine Rains said...
Thank you for sharing your insight and experiences.
- April 6, 2012 at 7:05 PM
- Tina said...
Great info, Karen. I'm not ready to publish yet, but your lessons learned will definitely guide me when I do. Thanks!
Tina @ Life is Good
Co-Host of the April A to Z Challenge
Twitter: @AprilA2Z #atozchallenge
- April 6, 2012 at 7:25 PM
- Luana Krause said...
It's amazing how the publishing world has changed. It's not your grandmother's maketing anymore. That was supposed to be a tired platitude. Oh well. Thanks for the good advice.
- April 6, 2012 at 7:47 PM
- LM Preston said...
Love you to the point sum up of your publishing company and books. Can't wait to check it out. Thanks for sharing.
- April 6, 2012 at 7:51 PM
- Elizabeth Mueller said...
There is a HUGE learning curve with the first book--it's overwhelming. Thanks for the post!
Elizabeth :)
A-Z Co-host
- April 6, 2012 at 7:52 PM
- Texas Yellow Rose said...
As a "closet writer" with the dream of telling my story and seeing it published, this was very informative and valuable information. Thank you!
- April 6, 2012 at 8:08 PM
- Patsy said...
Books have been around a long time yet things are still changing at an incredible speed.
- April 6, 2012 at 8:47 PM
- Sharon said...
This was interesting; I had never thought of the changes that have happened with book releases.
- April 6, 2012 at 9:09 PM
- Kristi said...
What cool insight...thanks so much for sharing it with us all! :)
- April 6, 2012 at 10:20 PM
- Unknown said...
It's amazing how far the industry has come in such little time.
Fellow A-Z bloggy buddy
Mithril Wisdom
- April 6, 2012 at 10:27 PM
- Sonia Lal said...
Interesting post. It's pretty amazing how much the publishing industry has changed.
- April 6, 2012 at 10:36 PM
- Leslie S. Rose said...
Interesting insights. I think you've dispelled some urban legends when it comes to publishing.
- April 6, 2012 at 11:14 PM
- Nicole said...
Technology and the way that people consume media nowadays changed the landscape for promotion and sales in many industries, especially music. I still buy books from stores....if I really want it. I can, however, understand the how and why publishers have taken a new approach to how they release material now as opposed to they way they did it years ago.
So long as it benefits the author, the reader and the company, I say it's all good!
Blog: The Madlab Post
@MadlabPost on Twitter
- April 6, 2012 at 11:18 PM
- Jessica Ferguson said...
Wonderful information we need to know. Thanks for sharing.
- April 7, 2012 at 12:14 AM
- Mel said...
Great information for those attempting to publish. Thanks so much!
- April 7, 2012 at 1:10 AM
- Petra said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- April 7, 2012 at 2:51 AM
- Petra said...
Great information. Thank you for sharing it!
Visiting from the A 2 Z challenge.
My blog
- April 7, 2012 at 3:06 AM
- Pa Ul said...
wow interesting F, i enjoyed reading this.
do check out my F at GAC a-z
- April 7, 2012 at 5:19 AM
- Sean McLachlan said...
My novel came out as an ebook in November and has had slow yet steady sales. Now the print edition is out. Since it's a Civil War novel, I suspect print may do better since many Civil War buffs are older and prefer print. We shall see!
- April 7, 2012 at 8:50 AM
- Charmaine Clancy said...
Marketing strategies do need to change as technology for reading does. I think the future will see a change in bookstores, the ones that survive will eventually stock Indie books they believe in. Or maybe I'm optimistic :)
Wagging Tales
- April 7, 2012 at 11:20 AM
- Philip Verghese 'Ariel' said...
Great Post.
Great Lessons for the one who are waiting for...
- April 7, 2012 at 12:29 PM
- Donna L Martin said...
I am sorry for the obstacles you have faced but sincerely appreciate the lessons learned that you are passing on to other aspiring authors. The writing world certainly has changed quickly in the past few years and everyone needs to stay aware of these changes in order to survive. Good luck with your book...
Donna L Martin
- April 7, 2012 at 12:53 PM
- Vivian Kirkfield said...
Such refreshing honesty...I love it!
My husband and I have our own small publishing company, set up 15 years ago when he wanted to do a second edition of a beautiful book on refinishing bamboo fly rods and his publisher didn't.
We published "Show Me How! Build Your Child's Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking" in Sept 2010. I've definitely learned a lot about social media and networking and blogging and how to get the word out and create buzz for a book...but it's only a fraction of what has to be done.
It definitely is a full-time job to market and promote a book...I chuckled when I read your opinion of calling bookstores (they will take it on consignment...but it probably won't sell), giving copies to teachers (I've done several dozen school story and craft visits to kindergartens where I send home an activity flyer and bookmark for each child...a couple of the teachers have bought the book - I didn't give them to the teachers for free).
Now I have a Show-Me-How Library Project going on this month...I'm donating 25 copies to libraries across the country and around the globe...people just need to leave a comment on my blog telling why their library should receive a copy.
The best thing I ever did as far as promotion/marketing goes was to take Sandra Beckwith's Build Book Buzz online workshop...it was fanstastic and reasonable. :)
I look at it as a gardener, planting the seed...you nuture it and water it and hope the sun will shine and your flower will grow. You write the book...and try as many things as you can to get the word out...I believe that determination is an important element...just never give up on yourself or your book. :)
Sorry this was so long a comment...but I really feel for you...and will check out your book!
- April 7, 2012 at 3:24 PM
- Jarm Del Boccio said...
It's good to know these things, Karen...I'll look into the WiDo process. I haven't published yet, but this gives me another avenue. Thanks for the post!
- April 7, 2012 at 8:07 PM
- Patricia Stoltey said...
This is very interesting, Karen. The times they are a-changing, and we have to keep up. Reporting what you have learned through trial and error is a great help to the rest of us.
- April 10, 2012 at 4:13 AM
- Suzanne said...
Thanks so much for this post. Very interesting to know how these things can go.
- April 10, 2012 at 7:23 AM
- Katy Manck, MLS said...
As a book blogger and retired librarian, I've seen this happen a good bit.
Whether large or small, the publisher expects the author to be a big part of promoting their book through social media, appearances, signings, etc.
If you have a local independent bookstore, it could definitely be worth your while to contact them for a book signing or to do a talk on a related subject.
Likewise, your local public library or Friends of the Library group may have a venue or author talk series that would fit.
The main thing is that these two are LOCAL - calling on big chain bookstores...pfft.
Also consider using services like NetGalley which allow qualified reviewers access to your ARC/book in a special digital format within the time parameters which you set. You could do the same thing yourself, as long as you trust the reviewer/blogger to not allow the digital copy 'out into the world'.
Publishing, reading, and libraries have changed swiftly in the last few years. If we - as writers, publishers, reviewers, and librarians - can leverage this rapidity to get more books (whatever format) into the hands of more readers, then we'll all make it!
**Katy M
Recommending YA books beyond the bestsellers at
Follow me on Twitter @BooksYALove
- April 10, 2012 at 12:47 PM


text:
Hi Everyone and welcome back to day 2 of the spectacular new Colorado Craft Company and Anita Jeram collaboration! Did I mention yesterday how much I adore this new release? I think these are my favorite stamps ever, and I cannot stop coloring them.
How adorable is this Snow Happy stamped scene? My sister, Melissa from Melissa Made, gave me this fabulous idea of turning the snowballs into Christmas ornaments for this card, and I love the outcome! These two friends helping each other decorate is just so sweet.
After coloring, I used my favorite Uni Ball Stabilo white gel pen to add snow, and then used Pretty Pink Posh Starry Night gems to finish the card.
What do you think? Have you ordered from this new release yet? Don't forget about the informal blog hop yesterday, and the fun giveaway from 3C! You can find all of the details HERE if you missed them yesterday. Leave a comment each of the five days for more chances to win! Love and artsy hugs!
Colorado Craft Company Products:


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- Remote controlled trench rollers, which are perfect for compacting excavations and subbases for foundations. The remote control works with infrared technology, therefore offering the greatest possible safety standard.
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November 29, 2022
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Alexander, Germany
Listen to radio stations from Alexander, from a wide variety of genres like Electronica. Enjoy stations such as Unique Radio and more. Come find the top new songs, playlists, and music! Listen on your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, Blackberry, and other app-enabled mobile phones.


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This video is reposted from Rackspace's building43 site.
When we visited Israel a few weeks ago we kept running into people who would ask "have you seen Soluto yet?"
Luckily we were able to visit them in their Tel Aviv offices and get a good look.
What do they do? They get rid of frustrations on Windows through a combination of awesome technology and crowd-sourcing.
They have a bunch of products in the pipeline, but the first one being released on stage right now at Techcrunch Disrupt conference is a boot manager that gives users control over what loads into memory and dramatically speeds up boot times.
But there's more, I'll let you watch the video.
Oh, and remember the company I saw earlier this year, Siri, and my reaction "this will get bought within months."
I predict the same for Soluto, Microsoft should buy this company and bring its anti-frustration approach to Windows. To understand how good their approach is you've gotta watch the video.
Thank you to my producer Rocky Barbanica for the nice editing on this video.


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Daily Painting Auctions since Sunday, August 01, 2010
Every day, John Farnsworth will post a new 6 x 6 inch oil painting to this blog. (Or, at times, a watercolor.)
Bookmark this site, A Farnsworth A Day, and come back tomorrow for our daily email auction. Or sign up now to receive updates and a fresh new image each day direct to your email.
Bidding will close at noon MST on July 23, 2014.
How do I bid?
Starting Bid $200.00 (USD) by email to: email@example.com
The winning bidder will be notified by email the following day. Paintings will be shipped as soon as the paint dries to insure safe packing. (Please allow two weeks).
A free 6 x 9 inch original watercolor will be awarded to the highest bidder during the month of july.
Contact Information:
If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, just drop me an email at firstname.lastname@example.com or call me at 505-982-4561.
Pass it on.
Please tell a friend and remember, these little gems make terrific gifts.
Studio Invitation:
When in Taos, you're invited to come visit the studio. Simply call 505 982-4561. We look forward to meeting you.
Thea Swengel
Our Website
Box 1962
Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, 87557
505 982-4561


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GREENSPACE: Dig your garden right the first time -- Grab shovel. Dig. Dig. Dig. What could be simpler than digging a garden? Wait a minute; there are some tricks that will improve your chances of gardening success. By Jim Hillibish of The Repository.
PETER COPPOLA: Fighting blight and beetles -- Last year, I lost most of my tomatoes to blight. Is there anything I can do to the soil to kill the blight in the soil? And what about those cucumber beetles that kill healthy plants?
TRAVEL: Drive along Virginia's Blue Ridge Parkway -- Take your time, see Virginia's sights along this scenic highway. By Rick Holmes of The MetroWest Daily News.
LORETTA LAROCHE: Be polite or get the silent treatment -- Often we're rushing around so much that we become incredibly intolerant of others. Time has become a measurement of how much needs to get done, and life is a daily race.
POP CULTURE: Going nuts in the checkout line - Two days ago, I bought a bag of Corn Nuts for the first time in about one-eighth of a century. Why? I was in a slow-moving checkout line, and I caved. I had entered the Impulse-Buy Zone. You're familiar with the Zone, where shoppers try to resist the urge to buy nail clippers, "just in case." By Dennis Volkert.
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MR. KNOW-IT-ALL: Pop music American style -- let's focus on the years between 1955 -- when Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" became the first rock 'n' roll hit to top Billboard's pop charts -- and 1964, when the Beatles and the British invasion changed the pop music landscape. By Bob Tremblay of The MetroWest Daily News.
KEVIN FRISCH: Going on the record -- Mine is a sordid tale of greed, naiveté, youth and law-breaking. And a band called the Sandpipers. The story begins with a young me leafing through a magazine. Among the ads in the back was one for a record club.
JEFF VRABEL: 'Lost' is the best show I just saw for the first time - Right, like this wasn't going to be a column about "Lost." Because I thought, hey, you know what would be a good way to get read on the Internet today is to write about something other than "Lost."
JULIE FAY: A taste of the literary life -- I attended a book signing last week. The young author was making his publishing debut, and he read the entire story – including the dedication and his bio – for an audience of writing-novice colleagues.
BRITT CARTOON: Rand Paul on the Civil Rights Act.
JIM HILLIBISH: Yet another 'veteran' politician hits the dumper - So Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal bragged he was a Marine in Vietnam, but his record shows he never left the U.S.A. He's not the only one who convinced himself he served in a war. The brags build around Memorial Day.
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ON COMPUTERS: E-mail probably not as anonymous as you think - It can be easy to legally track down your name from your e-mail address. At minimum, you can use the information to get a sender banned from an Internet system. By Jim Hillibish.


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Ukraine – why we should all give a damn
It's as if the fabricated evidence on Iraq's WMD's and 45 minute saga never happened, as if the invasion of Afghanistan for a perpetual but failed hunt to find CIA asset and bogeyman Bin Laden is just a distant dream, as if the destruction of Libya and murder of 30,00 civilians by NATO bombing was just a blip.
As if the desperate attempt to missile strike Syria to bits based on falsified evidence of chemical attacks on civilians by the Syrian authorities was just an oversight. Then there is the most recent ISIS/ISIL – the revamped and slightly more fashionably dressed Al Qaeda keeping the fear up, allegedly funded and trained by rich western allies in the Middle East and the CIA.
A scarcely known fact not reported in the mainstream media is that the FBI's "Most Wanted Terrorist" webpage on "Usama bin Laden" does not list the 9/11 attacks as one of the crimes for which he is wanted. In 2006, Rex Tomb, when the then FBI's chief of investigative publicity, was asked why not. He replied: "The reason why 9/11 is not mentioned on Usama Bin Laden's Most Wanted page is because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11." But lets not let such a trifling detail stop the invasion of a country and the deaths of thousands of its civilians.
None of these countries or their leaders and governments were angels in any way – they were and are complicit in wrongdoings themselves. But it's as if a pair of curtains has been pulled over the memories of vast swathes of the population making them forget all the major illegal wars of the last 15 years especially. A curtain that renders many unable to think for themselves in a clear rational way and with objectivity and perspective. If doing the same stupid thing over and over is a definition of insanity then collectively we are all involved in insanity.
Now the same forces, together with trial by globalist corporate media are desperately trying to do the same thing in the Ukraine – Russia being the focus for baiting on this occasion. And the proxy army this time is the illegally installed Kiev junta vaselined into place by elements within the US Anglo American empire.
A number of commentators have insisted that this has nothing to with us here in Wales, that we have no need to go there, it is of no concern to us. This is obviously nonsense, and for very good reasons. If it were tensions between factions in Mongolia, Uruguay or Iceland this could perhaps be an understandable point of view, although still being newsworthy in general. But there are two very good and simple reasons why this specific conflict has a lot to do with us:
1. As we have seen over the last 15 years especially, our mainstream media is bought and paid for by transnational corporate interest and simply cannot be trusted anymore. As many people and countries should speak out and try to make sure balanced and non bias reporting should be given of events in the Ukraine and elsewhere. Getting to the truth the only goal regardless of individual views or politics. Because if we don't follow this line, who will speak out when they come for us?
2. These are major nuclear powers involved here. These aren't minor powers arguing over minor issues in which a few shots might be fired and a few street skirmishes might break out– these are major powers with enough nuclear weapons to blow us all into pizza toppings in a matter of minutes. Therefore this is also fundamentally about basic self and national preservation as much as principles, morality and the quest for truth.
Or to simplify: There's some very bad and crazy people trying to start a potential world war and if that happens we could all die very quickly and horribly.
Sadly, just as in 2002-2003, when anyone who doubted the certainty about Iraq's WMD was a "Saddam apologist", anyone who dares point out the real known facts regarding this crisis in the Ukraine is immediately shouted down as a "Putin apologist!" This is cognitive dissonance in full effect and it does a lot of the work of the globalist media for them. It's a tried and tested drill: we are given the bogeyman baddie by corporate media and press, then the good guys come along, bomb everything, take the riches, defend democracy by installing puppet governments who enslave the country to IMF debt, and all is sorted. Next.
But the world is not always black and white and in war, truth is usually the first casualty. This overwhelming urge of many observers to insist on hysterically polarising the argument into a childlike choice between either being pro Russia or the west, left v right debate is both tragic and stupefying – the only victims being the truth and innocent civilians in all parts of the Ukraine.
This inability of many to comprehend what is happening should maybe not be that surprising considering the powerful controlled mass media propaganda that we are saturated with. If anything it demonstrates how effective this mass media has been in its self serving propaganda. This is controlled media that is by now anything but western in its values – a corporate globalist media that has very little interest in the sovereignty of nations unless it can serve a purpose for their global corporate hegemony.
The honourable and just western values of democracy and freedom that our grandfathers and great grandfathers fought and died for are not being protected and enhanced – the opposite is true. Western values are being eroded and utterly destroyed – used as a mask to hide the blatant immorality and criminality that we are seeing by our governments, carefully aided by mass media management and manipulation.
As is usually found, it is corporate and oligarchical powers that benefit from the misfortune and deaths of others – most of the national leaders involved having long sold out the interests of their countries to powers that even they themselves are unlikely to understand.
Thankfully the communist regime of the Soviet Union came to an end in 1991. This was the regime and 'revolution' started by the murderous Bolsheviks of 1917 that led to the deaths of tens of millions of people. It's not something that you will find in school books but it was mostly Wall Street and their City of London cohorts that funded this murderous rampage in order to destabilise the original Russian Empire and bring about the disastrous communist union – an union which corporations could take easier advantage of and manipulate. It seems they are trying it once more.
Are Russia and Putin the good guys? Of course not, that isn't the point. The new non communist Russian Federation is still suffering from corruption and oligarchies vying for power. But the Russian government seems to have two things going for in the current global crisis: a patriotic loyalty to their country and its people being one and being a thorn in the side of corporate American Anglo Israeli globalists being another – globalists that want a strong patriotic Russia out of the way so that they and their NATO military arm can continue with their attempts at Dr Strangeloveesque global domination.
There is inevitably pro Russian media propaganda and dark arts going on as well of course. But rather than choose sides and get duped in this hackneyed dialectic again, what about not choosing any side and simply look at what actual evidence is or isn't available before making a verdict? A bit like a court of law. A bit like what the media should be doing but isn't.
Charges of aggression and crime against Russia are proclaimed daily with a worrying lack of substance to them thus far. But it seems that no evidence is needed to provide a pretext for why "Russia must be stopped" or to make sure the US-led West Ukraine regime is armed with US weapons to "teach Putin a lesson". But, even with all the satellite and remote surveillance technology that the US, EU and NATO possesses, so far there still seems to be no hard evidence that Putin engineered these events leading to so much unrest – only an assumption aided by corporate mass media with the usual double speak and subtle 'suggestive' nudging language as perfected by the London BBC, CNN, The Guardian, The Times, The Sun and others.
Russia is generally reacting as you would perhaps expect. But the evidence strongly suggests that they are reacting not instigating. Whethere he is believed or not, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated clearly after the recent Minsk talks that Russia is a guarantor of the peace deal, not a party obliged to fulfil its implementation. He reiterated that Moscow is not a participant in the conflict, as Western media have, and continue, to assert. The Kremlin spokesman stated:
"Russia is the country that was called by the parties of the conflict, this is the country that called on the parties of the conflict to sign a complex of measures to fulfil the Minsk agreements. But Russia is not one of the parties to fulfil these measures. This is the country that is acting as the guarantor, that comes forward with a call, but, obviously, it's not a party that needs to take any actions for [the fulfilment]. We simply can't do this physically because Russia is not a participant in the conflict"
On the other hand it is known and on record that the US has provided support to the Ukraine and that the US and UK are now very keen on the idea of providing arms and equipment. Late last year, Obama signed a bill authorising lethal aid to Kiev. The Kremlin claim that the west is already supplying arms to Kiev as well as financial support. But this double standard is somehow supposed to be acceptable and needn't be mentioned.
If the US, EU and UK does supply arms to Ukraine en masse, Russia have stated that they will be forced to see this as an act of war against them and will probably genuinely take action in the Ukraine – in the process playing beautifully in to the hands of the crazed warmongers who want to get a war going. It all sounds crazy doesn't it. It is. But if Russia really was to invade Ukraine we would surely know about it – Ukraine would be subdued in a matter of days. It would seem very silly for Russia to send in a few trucks on a half hearted mission and risk the wrath of the mass media for nothing.
The realisation must be that this US backed regime change that has occurred in Ukraine and that brought the Kiev junta to power is there as part of the long term Anglo American Israeli / US EU NATO objective of either destabilising or destroying Russia to gain a stronger foothold in the area. In that sense it seems that peace in the Ukraine is not what Kiev really wants or is expected to aim for.
And as always, double standards and hypocrisy are rife, with the real Anglo American instigators of war projecting onto their enemy what they themselves are guilty of. As stated by these Dutch professors in an August 2014 letter:
"We are powerless onlookers as we witness how the double standards of western powers and their allies, led by the United States, accuse Russia of crimes they commit themselves more than anybody else."
Whatever your own views, the fact is that the previous Kiev Government was undemocratically overthrown last year, with the CIA and their associates both purported to be deeply involved, supported by EU and NATO stooges. A 'western' backed billionaire oligarch, Petro Poroshenko, was swiftly and unconstitutionally installed as President, and billions of dollars and covert expertise flown into Ukraine from the west as testified by Victoria Newland of "fuck the EU" fame. As Nuland testifies, at least five billion dollars has been spent on the political destabilisation of Ukraine in recent years including to the covert special forces, and the direct financing and orchestration of the overtly fascist coup leaders. This is of no interest to corporate media it would seem.
The man Poroshensko replaced, Viktor Yanukovych, was no angel either it may be assumed, and was also closely tied with Putin and Russian interests but, as far as we can tell, he was at least democratically elected and his position a constitutional one.
Corporate interests have also quickly and inevitably moved in – the Ukraine signed a $10 billion shale gas production-sharing agreement with U.S. company Chevron and, elsewhere, Burisma Holdings, Ukraine's largest private gas producer, has expanded its Board of Directors by bringing on Mr. R Hunter Biden as a new director, son to a certain American Vice President Joe Biden.
Whether the people of the remaining Ukraine vote to join the EU is their business but the EU's central bankers and the IMF / International Monetary Fund have already been licking their lips, with the IMF offering a $17 billion loan to the country which would inevitably get the Ukraine enslaved in a never ending and spiralling debt trap.
The deal could also see GMO crops grown in some of the most fertile lands on the continent under the GMO giant Monsanto. With Yatsenyuk, the Americans' preferred stooge in place as Prime Minister, the ex central banker is expected to be very receptive to IMF deals and offers for loans.
Soldiers conscripted by the present illegal Kiev regime were ordered eastwards in order to quell what the Kiev government and corporate media might call terrorist uprisings and what others might call legal new republics established by referenda.
However you might want to call it, the Kiev led military are being accused of mass shelling of residential areas of the newly formed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk/Lugansk, resulting in the alleged deaths of thousands of innocent civilians. According to German intelligence some 50,000 people have died in total, with others putting this figure at 5000. This shocking video shows the horrific results of shelling and civil war in eastern Ukraine. (viewers discretion advised – do not watch if you don't want to see people blown up, dead and dying)
As fans of Welsh history know, the city of Donetsk was founded in 1869 by a Welsh businessman, John Hughes, who constructed a steel plant and several coal mines in the region – the town resultingly being named Hughesovka or Yuzovka (Юзовка) in recognition of Hughes' role in its founding.
There can be little doubt that there are some unofficial Russian civilian volunteers fighting with the militia of the newly formed mostly Russian speaking republics and confederation of Donetsk and Luhansk/Lugansk (sister city to Cardiff) – that is surely inevitable under the circumstances.
In the hastily arranged Crimean referendum, 95% are claimed to have voted to join the Russian federation on a 70-80% turnout – a referendum which was witnessed by 135 international observers from 23 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia and Poland. Among them were members of the EU and national European parliaments, international law experts and human rights activists. Many of these representatives spoke to the press and dispelled any notion that voting was done under coercion or 'under gunpoint'. Perhaps the result is as credible as any general election in Britain or the USA.
Up to 15,000 Russian soldiers were also already stationed in Crimea and its naval ports as part of a legal and constitutional deal with the Kiev government going back many years. There are recorded US/CIA and western operatives within the ranks of Ukrainian Kiev led army. These are presumably not there legally or voluntarily.
Alexander V. Zakharchenko, Chairman of The Council of Ministers of The Donetsk National Republic and Vladimir Kononov, defence minister of the DNR speak about the the war and what and whom Kiev is fighting.
Again, thus far, the other two new republics have not stated that they want to join the Russian federation but rather wish to remain independent republics. That could of course change if the US and NATO ups the ante. And if Russia demands or forces that these new republics are reimmersed into the Russian federation against their will, then resulting condemnation of Russia will be justified.
A broken up and divided Ukraine might just suit the US and NATO better – giving them an opportunity to pitch different parts against each other whilst they take the spoils and tighten their grip on the Russian borders, getting their well earned order out of chaos in the process.
As mentioned, the claimed Russian terrorising of Ukraine seems, so far, to have been based on no evidence and has proven to be highly dubious and appears fabricated. The original sniper attacks in Kiev's Maidan square are now also suspected to be linked to the protesters and elements of the Kiev regime as explained by an article by Robert Parry on the Information Clearing House site
"But the growing evidence indicates that the initial sniper fire originated from locations controlled by the Right Sektor, extremists associated with the Maidan's neo-Nazi "self-defense" commandant Andriy Parubiy. Though the current Ukrainian government has dragged its feet on an investigation, independent field reports, including a new one from BBC, indicate that the snipers were associated with the protesters, not the Yanukovych government as was widely reported in the U.S. media a year ago"
If Russia and Putin really are behind all of these numerous incidents and political maneuverings including manipulating all US and EU representatives and their actions, then they are incredible Machievllian geniuses of the highest order.
Although the media has been quick to insist that 'pro Russian rebels' have been shelling indiscriminately, neither PR agency man David Cameron nor any other western leader have said anything about the shelling of innocent civilians in eastern Ukraine by Kiev forces – not a smick. Isn't that exactly what they should be highligting regardless of any misplaced loyalties? In the interest of delivering peace to these areas, shouldn't they be speaking out whomever is is the wrong? Or would just that make them rabid "Putin apologists"?
Only now is corporate media starting to allude to the shelling by Kiev forces but they cover their tracks by bizarrely blaming the actions of the Kiev forces on 'Russian aggression' (in that earnest BBC reporter voice way). Next time I throw large heavy stones at a high street full of people I will try to remember that it's London aggression that's to blame.
Perhaps all the leaders and governments from all sides involved in these crises are as bad as each other and deserve none of our consideration and time. But as always, it's the innocent civilians of countries who suffer. The victims in all of this are all the people in the Ukraine – they, like Iraqis, Afghans, Libyans and Syrians, are being used, as have many millions of other people, in a chessboard game that most can't probably begin to comprehend a la Zbigniew Brzezinski and his grubby geo political grand chess board – a grand chessboard game that is being conducted by a criminal elite that have managed to entrench themselves within western governments and states. The everyday people of Wales, Britain, Europe the USA and elsewhere will also obviously suffer under such crazed and reckless leaderships.
European countries should also be very weary of what they're getting themselves into economically as well as militarily, with the real threat of revived Nazism in the Ukraine together with sanctions put in place by the US. The EU could potentially lose over 1 trillion Euros from Russian sanctions, with Germany alone potentially losing at least 200 billion Euros. Other smaller European countries could be hit by losses higher than their GDP.
Like it or not, by being involved or by not speaking out, our so called leaders are complicit in all of this and they are doing it in our name. If you tolerate this your children really will be next, if not you before them. This is also why we need to speak out.
It's astounding if people cannot see the pattern that has emerged particularly since the 9/11 induced war on terror.
The destruction of sovereign nations is the ultimate goal of these corporate globalists. Sovereignity and patriotism means nothing to them. These values are merely old fashioned obstacles for them to overcome as they perpetually jump from one war and crisis to another.
If they can't do it through military means they will try to do it through other means – the imminent signing of the fascistic TTIP / Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership trade deal between the US and the EU being an obvious example of that. And if this plan fails in the Ukraine, it will likely re emerge somewhere else, unless more truth and more light is shed on what is happening.
Slowly perhaps the citizens of the west and elsewhere are waking up and seeing the lies and machinations of our Governments and media. Neither can or should be trusted anymore – they have lost all credibility and have peddled too much misinformation and deceit. More importantly, they are threatening all our futures.
When Wales becomes an official sovereign state with a well trained and sane Welsh defence force using existing Welsh regiments and army bases, we will of course be able to choose to hold our own international policy based on our own values of natural rights, justice and a patriotism that is based on mutual respect and cooperation, not hate and pointless war-mongering.
An international conference in the magnificent setting of the Celtic Manor could be a conference for international understanding and constructive debate rather than a conference based on psychopathic murderous global hegemony, fear and hate. That day might come sooner rather later.
What can you do? Look for the truth and communicate it whilst the internet is still fairly censor free. Don't forget traditional printing on paper – as effective as ever.
If you're not particularly fussed with holding a placard and shouting slogans, contact your MP and AM and order them to insist on looking at what is really going on in the Ukraine, with NATO and with the Westminster government in general. Insist that any more unjust illegal military strikes or support will not be tolerated and that they as our representatives will be held accountable for their actions and for their lack of actions.
Our grandfathers and grandmothers had to write letters and walk for miles to do what we sometimes can't be bothered to do in a few seconds online. Here is how to get hold of your MP and AM with a few clicks on your computer:
Telephone their offices, email them, go to their surgeries and talk to their staff – it is your fundamental right as a constituent to inform your MP or AM of your views and what you believe they should do. They have a duty to you their constituent. Regardless of the oath they all take to a certain monarch, you are ultimately their employer. Our politicians have failed us but we have to let them know that they fundamentally work for us the people. Now is a time for people to speak.


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If you cast your minds back what seems now a very long time, my continuing researches about the German bomber shot down in St.Just in western Cornwall on September 27th 1942 , had led me to the cemetery in Penzance. I have already spoken about some of the graves to be found there, and this article continues that theme.
This beautiful, tranquil place contains seventy one Second World War burials, including the six graves of the crew of H.M.Trawler "Royalo":
They were killed when their vessel was sunk by a magnetic mine on September 1st 1940 just outside Penzance Harbour, around one mile from the seafront. The orange arrow gives the approximate position:
The "Royalo" was built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell of Beverley, Yorkshire, and was launched on December 6th 1915, being fully completed by August of 1916. I have been unable to trace any photographs of the vessel. A ship of only 248 tons, when the Great War broke out, it was immediately requisitioned and converted into a minesweeper. After the end of the Great War, in 1919, it was returned to its owners. In 1933 the ship passed into the ownership of Sleight & Humphrey of Grimsby, only for it to be requisitioned for a second time in November 1939, just after the beginning of the Second World War. This time it was converted into an APV, an "Auxiliary Patrol Vessel". In 1940, the vessel was converted for the second time into a minesweeper and given the serial number of FY825. It was armed with just one six pounder anti-aircraft gun.
A short but very vivid account of the ship's sinking is given on the "Hearts of Oak" website:
"The "Royalo", under Commanding Officer, Skipper William Durrant Warford RNR, was sweeping Mount's Bay clear of mines which had been previously laid there by a German aircraft. Around midday, there came the sound of a huge explosion, which was easily heard in Penzance. My brother-in-law remembers, as a child, hearing the sound of an enormous explosion. He ran out of the house, and down the road, to see nothing but a pall of smoke; there was no sign of the vessel. She had been blown up by a magnetic mine, and a column of water had lifted her out of the water.
And she was gone.
The Penzance lifeboat was launched, and small boats came to the rescue of the survivors.
The "Royalo" had sunk in position 50.06N : 05.30W, about one mile off Penzance."
On at least one other website, Lieutenant Irvine Willox Watt is given as the Commanding Officer.
Given the dramatic way in which the "Royalo" had met its end, its position remained well known over the years to the people of Penzance. In 1962 a group of divers explored the wreck, which lay some ten metres below the surface. They were able to recover a wooden box. It turned out to contain a sextant, which is a navigational aid. This particular one was manufactured in 1939 by the celebrated Hughes & Son Ltd. of London. The Royal Museum at Greenwich acquired the sextant at some point during the 1970s:
Of the casualties buried in Penzance Cemetery, Henry Thomas Dukes was an Engineman in the Royal Naval Patrol Service who was forty five years of age at the time of his death:
He was the husband of Ellaline Isabell Dukes of Grimsby, Lincolnshire. The rather bittersweet verse inscribed on the lower section of his gravestone reads…
Honoured in life
Treasured in Death
A Beautiful Memory
Is all we have left.
William Henry Greenfield was a Stoker in the Royal Naval Patrol Service. His age at the time of his death has not been recorded, and I have been unable to trace any further details about him:
Raymond Ormerod was a Telegraphist in the Royal Naval Volunteer (Wireless) Reserve and was twenty years old at the time of his death:
He was the son of Reginald and Octavia Ormerod, of Wroxham, Norfolk:
His mother had the following verse inscribed on the lower section of his gravestone:
Loved one
You are never forgotten
In my heart
You are always near
Raymond is listed on the memorial plaque in the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Wroxham:
He also appears on the town's War Memorial:
Thomas Gardner Taylor was an Ordinary Signalman in the Royal Navy who was twenty one years of age at the time of his death:
He had already been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. He was the son of Thomas Gardner Taylor and Hannah Ann Taylor, of High Heaton, Newcastle-on-Tyne. The verse inscribed on the lower section of his gravestone reads:
Gone his happy smiling face
Those happy cheerful ways
His heart won many friends
In happy bygone days
Robert John Tilley was a Seaman in the Royal Naval Patrol Service who was twenty seven years of age at the time of his death:
The verse inscribed on the lower section of his gravestone reads…
No one knows
How much we miss him
None but aching hearts
Can tell
Mum and Mary
Robert John Tilley's sacrifice is commemorated on the Memorial of the Whitstable Royal British Legion Club in Kent.
Irvine Willox Watt was a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Patrol Service who was thirty three years of age at the time of his death. He was the son of G. Fieldes Watt and Jean Fieldes Watt, of Kensington, London.
Of the tiny crew of the Royalo, at least one is not buried here in Penzance, Sam Lockwood-Dukes was the son of Samuel and Emily Lockwood-Dukes, of Worsborough Bridge in distant South Yorkshire. He was twenty two years of age when he was killed. He was not buried with the rest of his naval family in Penzance, as his parents no doubt wanted to be able to place flowers on his grave regularly, so he was interred in Saint Thomas Church Cemetery in Worsborough Dale.
Because of the nature of the incident, however, not all of the casualties were found.
One of these was Engineman Robert William Edward Grant Burgoyne who was an amazing sixty four years of age at the time of his death. He was the son of Robert and Sarah Burgoyne and the husband of Rosina Burgoyne. They all lived in Willington Quay, Northumberland. His sacrifice is commemorated on the Royal Naval Patrol Service Memorial at Lowestoft:
Second Hand Leonard Rye was in the Royal Naval Patrol Service. He was twenty six years of age at the time of his death and a holder of the Distinguished Service Medal. He was the son of Charles John and Clara Louise Rye and the husband of Florence Lilian Rye. They all lived in Hull in East Yorkshire. His sacrifice is commemorated on the Royal Naval Patrol Service Memorial at Lowestoft:
Engineman Jim Walker Pitts was twenty eight years of age at the time of his death. He was the son of Mr and Mrs James Pitts and the husband of Joan Agnes Norah Pitts. They all lived in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. His sacrifice is commemorated on the Royal Naval Patrol Service Memorial at Lowestoft:
Surely one of these gallant seamen must be in this grave, whose date is the same, as the "Royalo"…
I said that I had been unable to trace a photograph of the unfortunate "Royalo". That is true, but I did find this…
And this…
"Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell:
Hark! now I hear them—Ding-dong, bell."


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adirondack boots Out of wujiang city, liu smoke is always cannot help but ask a way: "what on earth are you and the child said some The wind yi to smoke at willow, hey hey say with smile: "I still think you can suppress a period of time, want to ask asked, why endure it." "Actually very simple, that boy character some weakness, want to come from being bullied used to, and I told him to beat it, now that showed to dark, such as plant frame, stab sword, alienate differentiation, and so on, this boy is clever, a little through." The wind yi then says. "You...... teach bad children." Liu smoke really didn't know what he said is this, this thought he is said some encouragement come.
"Teach bad? Where to start? I just taught him how to survive, alas, you this otherworldly fairy again and how can we know the helplessness of the ordinary people." The wind yi sigh shook his head, step toward front walk, figure looks lonely and lonely. Moiidea looked at some of the willow stared smoke, suddenly open a way: "I actually feel the wind less right, in the palace don't understand these, one sooner or later." Liu smoke into very long with only go up, since she was young has instilled the mind is pure tidy city, in other words is also don't dye a little dust, the pursuit of the only the strength of the breakthrough, the mood to improve, to achieve JinFengGe open pie as he crushed vanity of state, it is said that he sent to another open a higher level of the world, of course, is not really no one textual research. So, to the dark side of things about too one-sided.
UGG Jimmy Choo "The wind, someone was following us less." Moiidea quietly wind yi said. "Well, want not the difference of the auction house, which was sent to princess empire qinglong." The wind yi nodded said. "Don't......" Moiidea palm up made a pull of actions. "I am, don't always tartar handahansha, you will come to carry his will." The wind yi laughs harmless people and livestock. Moiidea played chills, of course you don't handahansha, you usually are quietly kill people. Very soon, a common HangJiao businessman shape of middle-aged man was carrying off moiidea wind yi feet. "Don't kill me, you want anything to take it." The man lay on the ground trembling to said. The wind at the yi a kick in the past, hey hey say with smile: "little to this young master installed, tell you that can't see the princess, if the young master to tsing lung empire, certain very good and her work on a, that she don't try so hard." The wind yi in the "dry" on the word bite the accent, sounds that taste can become some children's unfavorable.
"The wind little, how do you know he is the princess of the people and not the difference of the auction house?" Moiidea humbly ask way. "This, I guess." The wind yi shrugged his shoulders.
Guess? Moiidea a face of silence, guess you have said so sure? East of wujiang river outside of a wood, just follow the wind that yi three middle-aged man is half kneeling on bullying frost. Prade long before the report. "Don't try to hide it, will that bastard's exact words tell me." Ling frost. Prade see this subordinate a hesitant will know that he was not telling the truth, face which contain frost to denounce way. "He... he said if he to tsing lung empire, certain be good friends with good and long your highness......" "And then go on." Ling frost. Prade gnash teeth in hatred way. "You have to be a good and long your highness work on a game." The man eye a closed fast said, sweat flow full body, really afraid of long your highness furious will he crack. Ling frost. Prade qiao face turned stimulation, uniting the fire spell her temper be enormous, once the imperial palace will even burned half, only the emperor Lao tze spoil her, except BiMenSiGuo what matter all have no.
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UGG Foxfur Boots Billy these days in order to achieve a new generation of almighty, the title of the dog, the next great efforts have training, he knows his low starting point, only hard work to make up for some, this pour let the wind moved quite yi. On the second day, the wind yi will take the seventy inferno soldiers, Billy, liu smoke, Charlie, a group of people to two hundred miles away turn bone city has the best shopping KaiJia weapon, seventy soldiers immediately a momentum of the inferno, and then started toward the all of the direction. The inferno territorial actually large areas of QiongShan are treacherous, fierce beast warcraft very much. And the wind yi was based on the reason left early, not to move on, but to training, peacetime training try again, also have to see ZhenZhang on the battlefield. Some warcraft is in droves, offensive defense all have strong organizational, such as wind Wolf, the knife nasal beast, generally hundreds or thousands of only together, these level is not high in wc3 group became the wind yi seventy soldiers of the real object inferno.
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Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) is just 17 days away and I am realizing it is time to start our preparations. As I have mentioned before in my posts on getting ready for Pesach (Passover), I have a checklist to help me get ready for each holiday. It really helps me not forget anything that needs to be done and it gives me a timeline to do them. It also reminds me of things that have worked and not worked from past years.
Here is my High Holiday prep checklist, which includes Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. You may want to adapt it to your needs and to include the following things which we do not do:
- Holiday cards (we send ours our around Chanukah/Christmas)
- Babysitting arrangements (either at shul (temple) or at home, for whatever days you want to go to shul to daven (pray))
I store this file on my computer, but also have a copy in my Holiday Prep binder, which has preparations lists for all the Jewish holidays. I have separate binders for Chanukah/Christmas and Pesach, since those two involve a lot more preparations!
When planning our menus, I like to type them, too, so that I can print them out and put them on our refrigerator. Then my husband highlights items as he cooks them! I can't wait to try some new recipes and hope the New Year brings us some better mazel!
Related posts (sorry – there are a lot!):
- "Saving money and energy on Shabbos"
- "To cover or not to cover?"
- "Review: Aish.com"
- "Review: Jewish-life-organized.com"
- "Traveling for the holidays?"
- "Interior design tips for your sukkah"
- "The advantage of buying paper goods online"
- "Where do you find kosher recipes online?"
- "More kosher recipe sites"
- "Shabbos shortcuts"
If you have any tips about how you successfully get ready for the holidays, please share them below!


text:
As you probably already know, Barnaby's seiyuu Morita Masakazu will be a guest of honor at Anime Expo in Los Angeles next week. TIGER & BUNNY -The Rising- will also be screened at AX.
Awesome, right? But one of our friends who is going to Anime Expo in Los Angeles next week contacted us about a programming conflict: Morita's panel and The Rising screening are at the same time. You can't attend both (unless you're a time-altering NEXT). On the other hand, the guidebook .pdf has the screening later that evening.
You can contact Anime Expo and tell them about the conflicting scheduling information about TIGER & BUNNY -The Rising- screening. You can also ask that if the intended start time really is at the same time as Morita's panel, would it be possible to move it to start at least an hour later. Be polite, ask them nicely and explain that you want to see both Morita who stars in TIGER & BUNNY -The Rising-, and the movie itself! You can find the contact information here. The best department to contact would seem to be Programming.
Updated to add more info on the conflicting schedule.


text:
Inversion of Control containers can be a very powerful tool for decoupling spaghetti code in large software systems. However, with any power tool, you can hurt yourself badly if you don't use it correctly. In this post, I present "10 commandments" to help you avoid causing problems with IoC, with a particular focus on very large software systems with many developers and hundreds of interfaces. I am currently using Unity, but these tips apply to pretty much any IoC container.
1. Configure everything before your first resolve
It is possible to ask the IoC container to resolve an interface before you have finished configuring the container. So long as it knows how to make the interface you asked for and its dependencies, it will have no problem fulfilling your request. But if your application hasn't yet finished configuring the container yet, you run the risk of getting the wrong thing. Consider the following simple example:
IUnityContainer container = new UnityContainer(); container.RegisterType<IFoo, Foo>(new ContainerControlledLifetimeManager()); var f1 = container.Resolve<IFoo>();
Fairly straightforward, we ask for IFoo and get an instance of Foo. But what if we hadn't quite finished configuring the container, and some other part in your app attempts to override the registration for IFoo:
container.RegisterType<IFoo, Foo2>(new ContainerControlledLifetimeManager());
Now, whenever we attempt to resolve IFoo, we get Foo2. But the initial component that did an early resolve is using the wrong implementation. This can make for horrible debugging sessions. Configure your container completely, before you start to resolve things from it. Which leads us to our second commandment…
2. Don't pass the container around
What I mean here, is don't pass around the top-level interface that allows further configuration of the container. In Unity, this is the IUnityContainer interface. It might feel very powerful to send it around, since it allows other parts of your application register new rules, but it opens the door for the kind of bugs we just discussed.
But what about just a Service Locator interface. Can I pass one of those around? Onto commandment 3…
3. Avoid passing an IServiceLocator around
Passing a service locator in as a dependency gives your class great power. It can ask for anything it wants, which is super convenient. But it also introduces some problems.
First, it means your class no longer advertises what it needs in the constructor. Without examining the code you can't be sure what needs to be in the container for the class to work correctly. It means that unit tests, or callers of your class that aren't using a container, will have to mock a container just to instantiate your class.
This has been called the "Hollywood principle" – Don't call the DI Container, it'll call you. Just put the interfaces you really need in your constructor.
4. Avoid making the container a singleton
Making your container a singleton is the quickest route to providing access to all your services everywhere in your application. It can seem like a great idea because wherever you are, you can just do this to get whatever interface you like:
var foo = MyContainer.Instance.Resolve<IFoo>();
But there are two big problems. First, this introduces hidden dependencies into your class. Instead of your constructor advertising its dependencies, we again must examine the code to know what needs to be set up in the container.
Second, it assumes that all parts of your application will work with the same container, and the same implementations of each interface. This may be true for small applications, but in large enterprise systems, there may well be the need for multiple IoC containers. In our systems, we make use of Unity child containers, allowing different sections of the application get access to their own implementations of interfaces. With a singleton container, this is impossible.
5. Avoid constructor bloat
One of the great things about IoC containers is that you don't have to call constructors yourself – the container does the hard work for you. This means you can have a dozen constructor parameters, each representing a different dependency, and yet without ever having to write code that calls it.
public MyClass(IFoo foo, IFoo2 foo2, ILog log, IExporter exporter, IEmailer emailer, ISettings settings, IAudit audit) { }
That is, until you want to test it. Then you have to mock up all of those interfaces. And probably you will find that your class only needs to call one or two methods on each. This is the time to apply the Interface Segregation Principle and replace them with one or two more focussed interfaces that represent the real dependencies of your class under test.
6. Avoid property injection
Most IoC containers offer a way to let you put attributes on properties in order to tell the container that it needs to set that property after constructing the object. In Unity you use the Dependency attribute:
class Bar { [Dependency] public IFoo Foo { get; set; } public Bar() { } }
Although this seems like a great feature, it has the effect of hiding this dependency from anyone who is constructing your object without an IoC container. At the very least, your class should report a good error message if someone forgets to set up a property dependency.
7. Document your interfaces
If you are using an IoC container, chances are you are working on a large system, and other developers are resolving interfaces that you put in the container.
Often developers will add good comments to the concrete implementation of a class, but spend very little time commenting the interface (who likes to write the same comments twice?). So in the concrete class we might have a comment like this:
/// <summary> /// Call this to process all the files in the InputFiles collection, using the rules from the Rules collection /// </summary> /// <param name="mode">Processing mode, 0 = replace, 1 = update, 2 = overwrite, 3 = test only</param> public void Process(int mode)
but in the interface, we couldn't be bothered to type that all again (and we hate cutting and pasting anyway) so we just have this:
/// <summary> /// Process /// </summary> void Process(int mode);
But it is the interface that is the public API for your service. The comments on the interface will be used to display Intellisense to the user. The caller may not even have access to the code for the concrete implementation. If you are going to spend time writing good comments, write them on the interface. Here's the difference in intellisense experience:
8. Don't depend on Dispose in a specific order
When you Dispose your IoC container, it will go through all of the IDisposable instances it knows about and call Dispose on them. But this can introduce a problem, because we cannot guarantee the order the services are disposed in. If you make a call into another service in your Dispose method, how do you know that service hasn't already been Disposed?
Instead, design your services in such a way that they can be disposed in any order, and use events or some other form of messaging to report to your system that a shutdown is about to happen, allowing any last minute logging, saving etc to be done beforehand, while all the services are still up and running.
9. Make sure Lifetime Management is communicated
If you call Resolve<IFoo> twice on your IoC container, you might get two new instances of the Foo class, or you might get the same one twice. Without looking at how your container is configured, you have no way of knowing. But this can be a real headache if IFoo implements IDisposable. How do you know whether you ought to call Dispose on it or not?
I don't know of any slick solution to this, but I would typically avoid instances where a Resolve gives you something you need to Dispose yourself. Instead I would return a factory object that makes it very clear you are building a new instance that you are in control of its lifetime yourself. Whatever approach you use, make sure your whole development team understands it. You don't want someone Disposing a service too early, resulting in the next person to use it getting a nasty exception.
10. Document your public API
In a large system, a container can easily fill up with a lot of interfaces. The trouble is, not all of these are at the same level. Some are high-level interfaces, allowed to be called from anywhere, whilst other things are only in the container so they can fulfil the dependencies of those high-level interfaces. It means that you run the risk of developers guessing incorrectly about which interface they are supposed to call to achieve a particular task. They will assume that if they can get at it from the container, then they must be allowed to call it.
Now there are ways of having interfaces defined in your container that people can't get at from the wrong place by making good use of assemblies and the internal keyword, but really, you need to make it easy for developers to know what is in the container and how they are intended to use it. This may well involve maintaining an API document, and also means writing good comments on the interface. If you don't do this, don't be surprised to see code that inadvertently circumvents key functionality by calling into a component at too low a level, or the wheel being reinvented, simply because a developer didn't know the container included a service that had the desired behaviour.
Do you have any tips for getting the best out of IoC containers? Please let me know in the comments.


text:
Nouriel Roubini was right. At a time when the likes of Alan Greenspan were dismissing concerns about excessive home prices and declaring that banks were stronger than ever, Roubini warned that there was a monstrous bubble in the housing market and that the bursting of that bubble would cause much of the financial system to collapse. And so it has turned out, with even the most seemingly outlandish of Roubini's predictions matched or even exceeded by reality.
How did he do it? For the first decade of his career, Roubini, 51, was a well-regarded but hardly renowned macroeconomist. When the Asian financial crisis struck in 1997, however, he created a Web page the forerunner of his subscription service, RGE Monitor that became the go-to place for anyone trying to keep up with the flood of news, data and economic analysis. And in the process, he became acutely aware more, perhaps, than any other economist of our era of the dangerous mix of folly and fragility that characterizes the modern financial system.
Does Roubini sometimes get it wrong? Of course. Everybody does. Four years ago, he was predicting an imminent end to China's willingness to accumulate trillions in sterile reserves, leading to a plunge in the dollar's value and to financing problems for the U.S. government. He was wrong about that, and no doubt he'll be wrong again.
But he's much more than a Chicken Little who finally got lucky when the sky did fall. Don't be fooled by his sometimes over-the-top writing style: his warnings are based on sophisticated modeling and careful data analysis and have often proved right not just in general but in detail. He was predicting $2 trillion in bank losses when most people thought those losses would be a few hundred billion at most, largely because he realized early on that subprime was only the beginning. And now even the International Monetary Fund is predicting U.S.-originated losses of $3 trillion or more.
So is Roubini a Cassandra? Yes, he is. Remember, people dismissed Cassandra's dire prophecies until they all came true.
Krugman, the winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize for Economics, teaches economics and international affairs at Princeton University
Fast Fact: Born in Turkey, Roubini has also lived in Italy, Iran and the U.S. He speaks fluent Farsi, Hebrew, English and Italian


text:
Back to Basics Part XXXV – Form 8959 Additional Medicare Tax and Form 8960 – Net Investment Income Tax
Filed under: Back to Basics | Tags: 0.9%, 3.8%, 500 hours, Additional Medicare Tax, alimony, Capital Gains, capital gains distributions, compressed bracket, dividend income, estates, fiduciary expenses, Form 8814, Form 8959, Form 8960, interest income, investment advisory fees, Investment Interest Expense, material participation, Net Investment Income Tax, NIIT, real estate professional, retirement plan distributions, Social Security, state taxes, tax preparation fees, tax-exempt interest income, trusts, unemployment, wages |
Originally published in the Cedar Street Times
March 25, 2016
Forms 8959 and 8960 are two relatively new forms that started with the 2014 tax year. These are two of quite a number of tax increases that are being used to help fund ObamaCare. Both of these forms affect people with income in excess of $200,000 for Single filers or 250,000 for Married Filing Jointly.
Form 8959 is the Additional Medicare Tax. It is an additional 0.9% Medicare Part A tax on combined W-2 and self-employment wages in excess of the above stated thresholds. Note that it is not based on W-2 box 1 taxable wages, but on Medicare wages which are often higher for most people. Pretax deductions such as contributions to retirement plans are included in Medicare wages, whereas they are not included in box 1 taxable wages.
Employers have to start collecting this additional tax once your wages hit the thresholds. However, if you changed jobs during the year, the second employer will not withhold until the wages your earn with that employer reaches the thresholds. This means that you could owe additional tax when you file your tax returns for the shortfall, since the new employer and old employer do not communicate to coordinate this tax. For self-employed people, you would of course be sending in quarterly estimates of your income and self-employment tax liability, and the calculation of this new tax would be made on your income tax returns at year-end.
The Form 8960 is the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT). Once your income meets the thresholds previously discussed, you will also have an additional 3.8% tax on all investment related income. This would include income sources such as interest income, dividend income, annuities, rents, royalties, capital gains distributions from mutual funds and capital gains from the sale of investments such as stocks and bonds. Even real estate professionals would be subject to NIIT on their own rental real estate activities, unless they meet the material participation test specifically in rental real estate, which is a separate test from time spent in real estate sales activities, for instance.
If you own an interest in a business and you are not materially participating in the business, this income will also be subject to the net investment income tax. Material participation generally means 500 hours or more during the year. The sale of rental property and even second homes are also subject to NIIT. If you sell an interest in a partnership or s-corporation and do not materially participate in the business, you will also be subject to NIIT on any gains from those sales. Investment income from your children that are taxed on your returns through Form 8814 are also subject to NIIT.
Wages, unemployment compensation, alimony, Social Security benefits, tax-exempt interest income, income subject to self-employment taxes, and income from qualified retirement plan distributions are specifically excluded from the tax.
There are also some deductions that can be used to offset NIIT. These expenses included investment interest expense, investment advisory and brokerage fees, expenses related to rental and royalty income, tax preparation fees, fiduciary expenses (in the case of an estate or trust) and state and local income taxes.
Regarding trusts and estate, it is important to note that the thresholds for NIIT are much lower. Due to the compressed income tax bracket structure, NIIT kicks in when the trust or estate reaches the highest income tax bracket at only $12,300 of income (2015). This provides additional incentive for trustees to push income out to the beneficiaries since many trusts will be subject to NIIT, but the beneficiaries are often not subject due to the much higher thresholds for individuals.
Planning can be an important tool to lower the impact of NIIT.
If you have questions about other schedules or forms in your tax returns, prior articles in our Back to Basics series on personal tax returns are republished on my website at www.tlongcpa.com/blog .
Travis H. Long, CPA, Inc. is located at 706-B Forest Avenue, PG, 93950 and focuses on trust, estate, individual, and business taxation. Travis can be reached at 831-333-1041. This article is for educational purposes. Although believed to be accurate in most situations, it does not constitute professional advice or establish a client relationship.
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