It all came together for me during a recent walk when I crested a hill and saw a clump of shadows — branches, I thought, or were they arms? When I walked closer, I could see a gardener, kneeling, tending a vine. But where the gardener's arm left off and the vine began seemed indeterminable. Each tends the other, I thought. I carried this image away and the possibility that in each of us, no matter our age or temperament, a garden can grow. Read the rest of the article here.

The spread of Lyme has been linked to a staggering rise in the deer population and to the construction of suburban houses "in the path of the tick tornado." After years of living near woods in a "paradise" that proved toxic, the author and her family moved four years ago to a high-rise in Stamford to escape the ticks. Read the rest of the article here.

I bought a friend of mine a book titled Lab 257 about the federal germ laboratory on Plum Island. There are theories that Lyme Disease spread from there creating the Lyme Disease epidemic in New England.

If I read the paper online, I never would have seen Bill Petit's tribute to his wife and daughters on the obituary page (page B6 in my edition).   In a 5x6 inch box, he exposed his soul on this first anniversary of that atrocious crime.  If it's on the Courant web site, I certainly couldn't find it, and I tried.

And on the day the newspaper's managing editor fell on the sword of "right-sizing" the publication, the Tribune Company's CEO defended the evisceration of the Courant and his other papers.  I read that article because I had the newspaper in front of me.  It caught my eye, and got my attention, just as the Petit tribute did. 

The truth is, I would never read as much of the newspaper (any newspaper), if I had to read it online only.  The paper, I thumb through every page.  The web site, I may click on two or three stories.  I would never again see the editorial page, the comics, the obits.

And I would have missed Bill Petit's chat with his girls.

***

Carole Goldberg at the Hartford Courant is the latest book editor to be laid off, although supposedly book coverage will continue under the features editor.

***

The UK Press Gazette reports that American newspapers "turn their back on the world."  This is news? According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Centre, 64 percent of the newspapers surveyed have slashed foreign news pieces and only 10 percent considered foreign news "essential."  And we're fighting how many wars overseas?  Oh this bodes well for coverage of foreign affairs books ...

"My goal is to be in a gallery before 2009.  At this rate it seems pretty doable."

Those illustrious words were written by me 15 days ago.  Yesterday I got an email from the Arts Station (Pump House Gallery) saying that I have been selected for the next solo show.  The Pumphouse gallery is located next to Bushnell Park in Hartford.  It is a historical site and I am honored to be presenting there.  There wil be a big opening night with wine/cheese of course and I am going to try to get as many people as I can to go.  I am meeting with the director on Monday so I will have a date for everyone then. 

If that wasn't exciting enough, I got an email from a gallery owner in Owego, NY.  He's interested as well..

Now that I have a gallery opening I can finally get Hartford Courant to critique my work.  They refused without a gallery opening so they are basically saying that if your work doesn't get into a gallery, it's not even worth getting shitted on by them.  There in-lies the problem with a large % of the art community.  What is this unholy hang up about galleries.  Sure it's a big deal I got into one, but my work was exactly the same when I was an amateur punk pleading for galleries.

For entertainment value here is the time line of my art career.
January 2008: Create a studio in the basement and start painting
April 2008: Try to sell a few so I can buy more canvases
May 2008: Get my first location
July 2008: Sold 15 paintings to date
August 2008: First Gallery opening

This might be a record?  I can only say that it is all very humbling.  I worked very hard to get all these openings though.  Like they used to say in the 60's SoHo scene..

"If you want to know who the best young artist is, throw them all down into the sewer.  The first one to climb out is the best new artist."

In a slideshow.  Right between Mayor Eddie Perez and Courant columnist Stan Simpson.

And Ron Jeremy made it too!

Wow... Is all I have to say.  Things are moving faster than I could have ever imagined.  As you can see, I got featured on Itowns in the Hartford Courant.  Of course the real painting is called 'Bomb' not crows... but no matter.  They also quoted me as feeling comfortable with "abstract modernism"... but again no matter. 

Besides that I have sold two more paintings witrh several interested parties inquiring.  I am setting up at Cafe Manhattan in Springfield, MA tomorrow and I have taken down at Enfield library.  Since I have a 35 ft. wall in Springfield, I figured I might as well have plently to show. 

I also bought a used Ford Ranger to begin hauling these paintings everywhere.  I bought a cover for the back that I am painting in abstract as well as advertising SeeAbstract.com which forwards to TedMikulski.com.  Ah! and prepare for about 5 new paintings on the website as well.  All the paintings at Scoop This! Cafe have yet to be photographed so I will do that tomorrow. 

My immediate goal is to get into a gallery.  I have an incredible amount of work out there being displayed but apparently I am not quite yet gallery ready.  My goal is to be in a gallery before 2009.  At this rate it seems pretty doable.  I also would really like to continue getting press.  If nothing else I would like to be reviewed by art critics.

Although the Courant has filed a complaint with the state's Freedom of Information Commission, seeking public access to the task force meetings, the story is significant from another angle: the state's efforts to attract more sporting events, and potentially a professional team are alive.  A professional sports team is clearly a long shot.  However, from the Hollywood East Task Force, to the tax credit for filmmakers, to the creation of a sports commission, Connecticut has demonstrated a commitment to the sports and entertainment industry.  Whether that commitment can be the impetus for a new arena remains to be seen.

For more on the possibility of a new arena in Hartford, see:

• A New Hartford Civic Center: Fantasy or Reality?
• Speaker Amann's Retirement: Will it Affect Plans for a New Arena?

Editor Cliff Teutsch sent the memo out to employees Wednesday.   You can read it here.

The new owner of the Tribune Company, Sam Zell, is on record that he wants one page of advertisements for every page of content.  At the Courant, that will translate into a loss of 67 pages of news a week.  And there will be nearly 60 fewer employees putting out what's left of the paper, which, according to a Tribune dictum, will include more maps, charts and lists.  They call it "right-sizing." Courant publisher Stephen Carver says the "right-sized" paper will be "sleeker, smarter, and more relevant to our readers' lives."  

That sounds like corporate-speak for "It's going to be a tabloid that'll take 5 minutes of your time in the morning."   But let's wait and see what the "new" Courant looks like when it's launched in September.

As someone who grew up with three newspapers delivered to the house every day (The Boston Globe, The Boston Record-American, and The Framingham News), it's sad to see the beginning of the end for these institutions that once stood for their cities.  They were "must-reads." 

But then again, the Six O'Clock News was a "must-watch," and nearly every radio station had its own competitive news department.

Times have changed.  The internet is redefining journalism.  And as the so-called "old media" tightens (and tightens and tightens and tightens) its belt, you might wonder who will create responsible content (I'm starting to hate that word), and who will provide reporting you can trust.

Actually, you owe it to yourself to question your sources of news and information.  Choose carefully.

“Attack On Bicyclist In Hartford Similar To One On Carbone” June 12, 2008

“Hartford Chief: State Police Help Coming Soon” June 11, 2008

“After Hartford Violence, Police Chief Decries 'Inhumanity’ ” June 5, 2008

“Activist Carbone Faces Brain Surgery After Beating” June 4, 2008

These headlines are from the Hartford Courant. What do you think the Hartford Courant is identifying with these headlines ?

They are from events that occurred in Hartford within 2 weeks of each other. 

A 78 year old man steps off a curb and is hit by a car.  See the video for yourself .

Former Hartford Deputy Mayor, Nick Carbone, was beaten by 3 people in Hartford not too far from the State Capital.  

 On June 12, 2008, Chris Powell, Editor, Journal Inquirer wrote an article entitled  "Sensational crimes prompt only posturing."  

How did we prevent this from happening ?  We didnt.

Ethics demands more of us than the law does. 

The term “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing” has been practiced by Leo Tolstoy and Edmund Burke, philosophers.

I have a question for Society. Would the response by our society have been any different if the 2 people assaulted were a 9 year child and a 80 year old woman ?

I encourage you to read the letter written by Chris Powell.

Link to the article.  

Perhaps you will write a letter, make a call, send a card, make a donation or run for office.

Carl Slicer,  blog editor, www.VernonGop.com ,  “Where’s my change $ ? What happened to my change $ ? ”  

The successful novelist Judith Ralitzer is interrogated in the police station about the disappearance of her ghost-writer. A serial-killer escapes from a prison in Paris. A missing school teacher leaves his wife and children. In the road, the annoying and stressed hairdresser Hughette is left in a gas station by her fiancé Paul while driving to the poor farm of her family in the country.(IMDB)

Read the HC review here

Now Playing (limited) here , coming soon here





YouTube Interviews 

Amy Sullivan talks about her dad running for US Congress.

Sean Sullivan talks about energy independence.

Click here to: Subscribe to Sean's Video Interviews for continuing updates. 

Carl Slicer, blog Editor, www.VernonGop.com , "Where's my change $ ? What happened to my change $ ? 

they give it 3 stars read it here

youtube

In a hospital on the outskirts of 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman (Pace) begins to tell a fellow patient, a little girl with a broken arm (Untaru), a fantastical story about 5 mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured state of mind and her vivid imagination, the line between fiction and reality starts to blur as the tale advances.(IMDb)

Starts Today , see it here and here





They give it 4 stars,

read the review here

Starts Today at Bow Tie Cinemas Art at Cinema City





"This whole experience has been one big annoyance...What good came of all of this for me? I have been discredited and slandered publicly, became indebted to hundred of thousands of dollars in legal fees, and had to deal with the constant stresses and time consumption of this whole matter."

Walsh claims he has incurred six-figure legal fees.  That is difficult to fathom.  Walsh's lawyer likely spent a substantial amount of time speaking with the press, NFL officials and lawyers and the Patriots' lawyers.  An indemnification agreement was negotiated, drafted and executed.  (Click here to view the indemnification agreement).  But hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees?  I doubt it. 

He will be appearing on the show to discuss a recent UConn study's claims of dead people voting. Last month, the Hartford Courant published a front page article about the story.

Wawer will be appearing on the show at 3:30 PM today.

David Wawer has been Enfield's Republican Registrar of Voters since the close of last year. He succeeded Vaughan Vanderscoff who held the post for over a decade

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz will also appear on the program. She will take calls from listeners about the bill to allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 in time for the election to vote in the primaries. Dan Lovallo is against this bill, as are many of the listeners. Nonetheless, I credit her for having the courage to appear on the program and explain herself.

Listeners in the Enfield area can tune into the broadcast on WDRC at 1360 AM. Other affilates include Litchfield County listeners should tune into WSNG 610 AM, Torrington (Litchfield County). Waterbury listeners can tune into WWCO 1240 AM, Waterbury, (New Haven County), and WMMW 1470 AM, Meriden.

The agreement between UConn and the General Assembly included shortening the length of the contract with Notre Dame from ten years to seven years.  (There will actually be two contracts with Notre Dame: a contract for a single game on November 21, 2009; and a contract for a six-game series between 2011 and 2017).  The rationale was that a shorter series would provide the opportunity to renegotiate a second series, during which Notre Dame might agree to play in Connecticut.

"If there's a 10-game series, the window of opportunity to play at Rentschler is zero.  Scaling it back to six years, think it leaves the window open a little bit for a Rentschler game."

-Rep. Michael Christ, East Hartford

UConn officials have repeatedly stressed that Notre Dame's refusal to play at Rentschler Field has nothing to do with the capacity of the stadium, and everything to do with the fact that Notre Dame wants to play only in major metropolitian areas.  Coach Randy Edsall, however, made some curious comments lobbying to expand Rentschler Field:

"I'd like to see our legislature either do some kind of study to see if they maybe could appropriate some more funds to expand our stadium to 50,000 or 55,000...We could go play a Florida State, Georgia, some top 10-15 team...I'd like to get Penn State on our schedule.  I think there comes a point when we need to increase the size of our stadium to be a little more attractive to those teams."

UConn Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway denied any intention to expand Rentschler Field.  Possibly, Hathaway was aware of a recent article in the Hartford Business Journal, which reported that UConn football had its lowest attendance since its inaugural season, despite a very successful season on the field. 

Although it is premature to talk about expanding Rentschler Field, a competitive series with Notre Dame will go a long way to increasing interest in the program.  In addition, Edsall's talk about scheduling top teams is encouraging and exciting.  Perhaps the Hartford Courant's Jeff Jacobs said it best: "Playing for real is better than playing Rhode Island."

My enthusiasm for the task was dampened a bit when I unfolded the morning paper.  (Yes, I'm one of the few people left who still enjoys starting his day with the oldest of media, next to the town crier.) 

I start with the "Life" section, and there to greet me on a beautiful Friday morning is a top-of-the-page article headlined, "AT THE HEART OF CANNIBALISM."  The writer called it a "trendlet in pop culture."  A trendlet?  Huh?  Not big enough for a trend, but too big too be ignored?  And WHOSE culture?  The cannibal culture?

Anyway, he wrote about two new books on cannibalism, and cannibalism in film.  (More than Hannibal Lecter!!!)  He did forget to include cannibalism in pop music.  ("Timothy" by The Buoys.)

It went down so well with the Wheaties, I skipped right to the comics.  And what's up with the new artist on "Gil Thorp"?  Gil's new nose will take some getting used to.  But I digress.

So it's on to the cleaning job.  So we can grill body parts.  Animal, fowl and fish, of course.

The weather boys are calling for a winner, so have a nice weekend.

              As a result of the accountant's findings, the lawyers who won a $36 million judgment last year in the lawsuit over Enron are preparing a request for an injunction against CRRA, Cummings said. 
          

             The injunction would bar CRRA from imposing a tipping fee of $72 for each ton of trash that the 70 towns take to the authority's trash-burning plant in Hartford beginning July 1, when the 2009 budget year begins.

             Paul Nonnenmacher, a spokesman for CRRA, defended the 2009 budget and said it was based on the cost of operations. But Cummings said the budget, upon which the fees are based, is "more of a fiction than reality.  Some of the cost estimates and expense items are overstated," he said. If you look at the 2008 budget that [Superior Court Judge Dennis] Eveleigh found was overstated, they're doing the same thing this time in the 2009 budget."

             Attys David Golub and Joseph Meaney, the lead lawyers in the towns' lawsuit against CRRA, challenged the authority's 2008 budget last year and sought an injunction. Eveleigh found that some interest income was understated and several expense items, including the cost of closing the Hartford landfill in January, were overstated. Eveleigh ordered CRRA to cut its tipping fee by about $8 a ton.

Find the Hartford Courant entire article at:

Hartford Courant Story dated April 14, 2008 .

Or  The Journal Inquirer article at:  Vernon looking to get out of the CRRA contract, dated April 15, 2008.

Blogs too: US FInance News, CT News Junkie ,   Waterbury Republican,  

Carl Slicer, blog editor, www.VernonGop.com , "It's only your money." 

 

A wonderful review of Maeda Sushi Restaurant is published inside the “Flavor” section of the Hartford Courant.  We like to thank Mr. Greg Morago of the Courant.  Please pick up a copy of the paper, or click here.  Or, just click on the picture of the actual newspaper to read.

We have an exciting announcement. The Hartford Courant will have a full review on Maeda Sushi Restaurant inside Thursday’s “Flavor” section. Mr. Greg Morago, Courant’s food writer, had come to experience Maeda Sushi Restaurant (we were told after the fact) and his review will be published along with Mr. Yves’ photographs on this Thursday, the 20th. Please pick up the paper on Thursday.

Maeda Sushi Restaurant was featured today on Hartford Courant’s “Cal,” weekly magazine section. Chef Maeda conversed with Linda Giuca, the highly regarded food editor of Courant about his Edo-mae sushi. If you have a copy, please seek it out on page ten. If you don’t, pick one up, or here is a link to the electronic version.  The photo of the article is also expandable.

 You can read the entire editorial here.  

Reading through the customary four editorials Thursday, I learned they like the Johan Santana trade, they’re really into “Lost” on ABC, and they’re glad ESPN didn’t fire Dana Jacobson for her profanity-filled performance at a roast.

Well...me too, never seen it, and me too.

But I’m just a cute little blog. (Really. I’m cuter than hell.)
They are THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY PUBLISHED NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA.

Which, these days, means…what?