tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84666290550031079572024-02-19T12:01:49.769-05:00It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the TimeJoin me Mondays and Thursdays to laugh, to think, and to maybe change the world a little bit.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-46565567716161763342014-04-07T16:24:00.000-04:002014-04-07T16:24:06.315-04:00We Did a Thing - a Magazine, SpecificallyI've been rather ridiculously busy lately, between my regular job and the magazine and my <a href="http://www.jukepop.com/home/read/1468" target="_blank">webnovel</a> and suchlike.<br />
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Last week, though, I'm proud to say that we did in fact launch the first monthly issue of <i>Indie Game Magazine</i>, and we're trying to get it out there into the world. The website is devoted to previews, gaming fundraisers, and special timely announcements; the actual magazine, meanwhile, is filled with things like interviews and lengthy reviews and premium content and exclusive stuff from the developers.<br />
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We're really proud of our work.<br />
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And we'd like to share it with you.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1dMUn26" target="_blank">All the details are here</a>, but to give you an idea - the magazine is a digital publication with realistic page-turning action. (No, seriously. It's adorable.) To celebrate the inaugural issue, we're doing a special promotion for April. You can sign up to read the first issue for free, or you can buy a subscription for the full price, or you can just make a donation to support our efforts. And if you buy a subscription or donate at least ten dollars, you'll receive an exclusive game code donated by one of our indie game sponsors. These codes are for well-known indie games like <i>Dragons and Titans, Star Conflict, Let There Be Life</i>, and the highly-lauded <i>The Banner Saga</i>.<br />
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My teammates and I have worked really hard to bring this thing to life and we're anxious to get it into the public eye, so please check it out and tell your friends to do likewise.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-66405205612970365372014-03-17T14:01:00.002-04:002014-03-17T14:03:59.127-04:00Wear the green and share the blueHappy St. Patrick's Day!<br />
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Today also happens to be my anniversary. I've been married for 13 years now. In honor of the occasion, I decided to let my husband choose the subject of today's blog post, and he wanted me to tell you all about the <a href="http://www.unicefusa.org/campaigns/tap-project/" target="_blank">UNICEF Tap Project</a>.<br />
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If you've got a smartphone, you can be a part of the project. The trick is to see how long you can go without touching your phone. If nothing else, you can tap in overnight while you're asleep. Once you've connected your phone to the project, a timer begins counting how long it's been since the phone was moved. For every ten minutes you can keep your hot little hands away from the phone, a day's worth of clean water to a child who lives where clean water is hard to get. The water is paid for by corporate sponsors, such as Giorgio Armani.<br />
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Here's what to do. Grab your phone and open the browser, then direct it to <a href="http://tap.unicefusa.org/">http://tap.unicefusa.org</a>. Follow the on-screen directions to stabilize your phone and join the project. That's it - there's no registration, no need to give your name, nothing. And UNICEF is a highly respected charity so you know that the money will be used properly. Kevin's phone has gone untouched for over thirty hours now; at six days' worth of water for every hour on the project, you see how quickly it adds up. All to the benefit of people in need of something many of us take for granted.<br />
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Now, this <i>will</i> drain your battery, so it's best to keep your phone plugged in while you do it. Also, it requires an internet connection, so I'd recommend only doing it in places where your phone can connect to a wi-fi signal. Otherwise, your bill might explode at the end of the month.<br />
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Of course, you can also donate. If you're a very busy sort of person whose phone is constantly blowing up for one reason or another, you can make a donation to do your part - just $1 gives 40 days' worth of clean water.<br />
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I don't know what we're going to do for this oddly-numbered anniversary exactly, but we're already celebrating it by doing two things that mean a lot to us - spending time together and helping other people. So it's a win-win situation no matter what. Hope you enjoy your day too.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-18753202034388716032014-03-03T22:28:00.001-05:002014-03-03T22:28:10.347-05:00On WritingTook me longer than I expected to throw off that cold, mostly because it turned out to be a sinus infection.<br />
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I don't really have a topic for today, which is part of why this update is being written so late at night. But I was cleaning out some computer files earlier, and I came across something that I wrote over a year ago. One of my internet acquaintances had asked me for writing advice, and my answer was long and thought-out and I think I'm going to share it with you today.<br />
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Here is her exact question:<br />
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<i>I hate my writing and wish I could see where/how I can improve it. I think it's boring and even hard to understand. I'm really bad when it comes to grammar.</i><i> I'm aware you're super busy all the time, but I'd be so grateful (and appreciative and NOT taking it for granted) if you could offer a tidbit of advice my way? How do you get people to read your work? </i><br />
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(She's so cute.)<br />
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And here's my reply, slightly truncated to remove personal bits that I'm sure she wouldn't appreciate my sharing.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
How do I get people to read my work... it's hard for me to answer that, since somehow I ended up with my own fandom and I don't really understand how that came to be. <br />
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One thing I can say is that the best writers are usually also good readers. Books about writing will help. I particularly recommend <i>Eats, Shoots and Leaves</i>, by Lynne Truss, which is an excellent book about the technical side of writing; it presents rules of writing, mainly punctuation, in a humorous and easy-to-understand way. Anything by the same author is good for improving the technical aspects of the craft, since you say that's a weakness for you. I'd also suggest Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldman, and <i>On Writing</i>, by Stephen King.<br />
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As far as reading fiction goes, read the kinds of books that interest you and are most closely related to what you want to write. Then try different things. I didn't set out to be a writer whose work appeals to young adults, but somehow that's exactly what I'm becoming. Real-world experience that connects to what you want to write is always very helpful too; I'm quite certain that part of my ability to write for teenagers and young adults can be traced to the years I spent as a church youth group advisor. The bonus with that is that you can take your real world experiences, change some details to make it fictional, and use it in your writing. Don't be afraid to borrow from the real world - the real world is fascinating.<br />
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My final and favorite piece of advice would be "Write with authority." Write your story in such a way that even if you're bulling your way through the whole thing, you sound like you know everything about the subject and have every right to dictate that this is the way it is. Present the facts of the universe in which you are writing in such a manner, and the readers will believe you and be hungry for more of your wisdom. Even if the facts are completely off-kilter from what we know in our reality, you're establishing a completely different reality with the potential for a completely different set of rules. Don't try to justify your statements - just state them. You are the creator of this world; you dictate what is and what is not.<br />
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I hope this was helpful! And I'm flattered that you asked me for the assistance, I'm happy to offer it. :)Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-78040197765078030772014-02-17T10:20:00.000-05:002014-02-18T10:22:55.286-05:00Comment ChangesI have a really, really bad cold, so this will be short.<br />
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Lately there has been an upswing of comments on this blog. I would be excited, except these comments are all of the spambot variety. I do not appreciate commercials in my comments.<br />
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For the time being, if not permanently, anonymous comments have been disabled. Only registered Google users will be able to leave comments. I'm hoping this will solve the problem and I won't have to disable comments entirely, but that will be the next step if it has to be.<br />
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I'm going to go crawl back under my blankets now; I'll see you in a few days when I can breathe again.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-7008498597622187042014-02-07T00:55:00.002-05:002014-02-07T00:55:28.918-05:00Indie Game MagazineIt's pretty well established that I identify myself as a writer. It's who I am, it's what I do.<br />
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It's also pretty well established that I love video games. As a storytelling medium, as a hobby, as something to distract myself from problems - I think they're wonderful. I've been a gamer since I was four years old. (No, really. My first game was <i>Pong</i>.)<br />
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Not too long ago, someone on my Twitter feed happened to share the news that an outfit known as <i><a href="http://www.indiegamemag.com/" target="_blank">Indie Game Magazine</a> </i>was looking for new writers. And I thought, maybe combining my love of games with my obsession for writing would be a good idea. Maybe. Worth a shot.<br />
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Well, cut to the chase several weeks later and I'm a member of the staff. Seriously, I have my own IGM email address and everything. I've never had a position where I had my own custom email. Mostly I contribute to the <a href="http://mobile.indiegamemag.com/" target="_blank">mobile site</a>, although sometimes I'm on the main site too. We do game reviews, interview developers, talk about industry news. If it's got something to do with independent video games, we're interested.<br />
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Also, everyone is really nice. I feel like I've bet on the winning horse at last.<br />
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I do need my readers' help, though. For one thing, if you are or know any indie game developers, please point them in our direction! Also, if you're interested in gaming, please be sure to check out the website and read our articles. We've also got a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAtXI6f-nOL9H3wR62BoSyg" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> and we're in need of subscribers - the sooner we get more subscribers, the sooner we can start producing original contents. (I can neither confirm nor deny that I will have my own show.) We even have a <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/indiegame_magazine" target="_blank">store</a> now. And be sure to tell any gaming friends that we are awesome and they need to read our stuff.<br />
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So come hang out with these talented people - and me! We're having a lot of fun.<br />
<br />Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-71513227210050245052014-02-03T12:30:00.000-05:002014-02-06T23:42:34.428-05:00Another Story: An extra chapterThis will be short, and incredibly sweet. It's snowing very badly here and that's doing its usual number on my body. But I have some happy news to report.<br />
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Not so very long ago, I spoke of the <a href="http://good-idea-time.blogspot.com/2014/01/its-another-story-and-one-i-dont-want.html" target="_blank">impending demise</a> of Another Story, my beloved local used bookstore, which was in the midst of its going out of business sale. Owner John Furphy owed around $4,000 in back rent and was reluctantly giving up the ghost. Nothing short of a miracle seemed likely to save the store.<br />
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As it happens, there was a spare miracle to be had.<br />
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Thanks to extensive media coverage and a slew of new customers discovering the store because of said media coverage, enough money came into the store by the deadline to pay off the back rent. Against incredible odds, the store has received a fresh chance to survive.<br />
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It's not completely out of the woods yet, of course. There are other debts to be paid, and business has to continue to be good in order for the store to stay open. But there's a chance, now. There's room to hope.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-15591200565655975772014-01-23T23:43:00.002-05:002014-01-23T23:43:24.836-05:00On Justin Bieber's ArrestIt's very late at night while I'm writing this, and I have a headache. But this whole Justin Bieber nonsense has me really angry and I feel the need to explain why.<br />
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Justin Bieber, for those of you who haven't heard, was arrested sometime in the past 24 hours for DUI and drag racing in a residential area of Miami, Florida. Good. If you're going to drink and drive, you should be arrested. That's what you deserve.<br />
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I am obviously not a "Belieber." I am not part of Justin's fan group. I know very little about him, to be perfectly honest; I know he's a musician and he's from Canada and he has an insanely large fan following. That's the approximate sum total of my Bieber knowledge.<br />
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That, and the fact that he did this makes me really angry.<br />
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I get angry, on some level, whenever celebrities do things like drink and drive. Because for one thing, they are endangering the lives of "ordinary" people like you and me when they do. And we have enough people who have suffered the loss of loved ones to other people's selfishness.<br />
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That's what DUI really is, you know. Selfishness and recklessness. I'm sure no one intends to be either of those things, but let's be honest - they are.<br />
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So they're putting us in danger. Okay, but so are other people, non-celebrities, who do stuff like that. I get angry about them too, but the celebrities actually make me angrier.<br />
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See, celebrities have fans. Fans who blindly worship them and defend them. Which is exactly what Justin's fan army is doing right now. If you don't believe me, go on Twitter and look for hash tags like "#WeWillAlwaysSupportYouJustin" and "#FreeJustin." I saw a picture of a candlelight vigil being held in Miami by teenage girls praying for his release.<br />
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My feeling is that if you know that people are looking up to you and quite possibly emulating the things that you do, then you have a responsibility to do what's right. Because you are setting an example - and that's especially true if, as with Justin Bieber, your fans are young. Particularly impressionable.<br />
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Can people make mistakes? Of course. But if you do, then own up to them. Justin Bieber has yet to acknowledge (at least on public record) that he's done anything wrong. Maybe he will; maybe this arrest will be the wake-up call that he seems to so desperately need. I can only hope.<br />
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But if my words are hollow to you, then let me encourage you to watch a video by a young man who shares my point of view for profoundly personal reasons. And ask yourself: If I were in his shoes, wouldn't I feel this way too?<br />
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<br />Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-82625148410522088212014-01-13T18:10:00.001-05:002014-01-13T18:10:06.437-05:00It's another story, and one I don't want to tell.Back in August, I did a post profiling <a href="http://good-idea-time.blogspot.com/2012/08/slice-of-life-another-story.html" target="_blank">Another Story</a>, the last bookstore in the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The quirky proprietor and I have a friendly relationship, and I try to stop by periodically to see how he's doing and maybe pick up a book or two. I don't have the shelf space for all the books I would like to buy (which would be a lot), so I have to restrain myself.<br />
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I'm sort of sorry this is the case, because Another Story's days are numbered. With too many bills to pay and too few customers coming in, it simply can't continue. Allentown will have a bookstore for a few more days and then... no more.<br />
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Everything at the store is currently half price. If you live in the vicinity, please stop by to say farewell to the landmark. You can get the exact address and other contact information at the store's Facebook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anotherstoryusedbooks" target="_blank">found here</a>.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-7887001807319094262014-01-06T00:22:00.000-05:002014-01-07T00:51:16.013-05:00Writing ThingsFor some reason, in the last two weeks, my writing career has started moving. Literally, in one sense.<br />
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It was a bit of a blur, the email arriving right before Christmas the way it did. My serial fiction on the web, <i>The Graystone Saga</i>, was accepted for hosting at JukePop Serials.<br />
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My immediate reaction was to start shaking.<br />
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I didn't really expect it, you see. I'd sent in my application for consideration over a month before, and I wasn't even sure they'd received it. But they had. Christmas came a couple days early.<br />
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There was lots to do, and still to be done. Had to pull all the chapters of it off of the <a href="http://thegraystonesaga.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> where I'd been personally hosting it for over a year. The site's still there; I'll use it to host links and fan art and things like that. But the chapters have to be exclusive to JPS for at least six months - fair's fair, after all. The <a href="http://www.jukepopserials.com/home/read/1468" target="_blank">first chapter</a> is up; the second chapter, once I edit it and satisfy myself that it is awesome as it can get, will be added a bit later this week. (To read beyond the first chapter requires registering for a JPS account, but I promise it's free and painless and if you join and give my chapters the up-votes that are needed for me to earn a paycheck I will love you forever.) Eventually, at logical progression points, my intention is to publish print copies of the story as well as the online thing. <br />
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I'm also in talks with <i>Indie Game</i> magazine about possibly joining the ranks of their game reviewers - I don't have any more details than that, but the fact that I a) write game reviews and b) game on multiple platforms definitely has their attention. (Shout out to my parents for giving me an iPad for Christmas, thus providing me with one more gaming platform.)<br />
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I also have a new <i>Pip the Mouse</i> manuscript to edit, and I still have Anne's biography to do, and my cousin also wants me to write a version of our family history for the book that's being published for the 150th anniversary of the founding of Slatington, Pennsylvania, which was my grandmother's hometown. <br />
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Quite literally, there are so many words that will be pouring out of my mind in the coming twelvemonth that I'm a little overwhelmed by them. I'm not sure I even know where to start. It's a good thing, being wanted for the thing I unquestionably do best! It's just a little... daunting.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-5806177899687912942013-12-16T17:17:00.000-05:002013-12-16T17:17:38.740-05:00Christmas CountdownIt's nine days until Christmas and I haven't touched this blog since Thanksgiving.<br />
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Between illness, work, house-related things, work, trying to settle into the apartment, and work, I just don't feel like I've had a lot to say. I'm working every day but one between now and Christmas, and I just don't think I'm going to have the time to find something to say.<br />
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I hope that regardless of what you celebrate, you're having a perfectly lovely December (and remembering to treat retail employees with kindness and patience!) and get all your shopping done. May you each find a $100 bill on the ground.<br />
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I'll be here on December 26th.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-77695152190296701022013-11-25T01:11:00.000-05:002013-11-26T01:52:43.672-05:00A miracle product that actually is kind of a miracleIf you can read this post, the odds are pretty strong that you have access to clean, drinkable water.<br />
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Unfortunately, that's not true of a lot of other people.<br />
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Enter <a href="http://www.buylifestraw.com/" target="_blank">LifeStraw</a>. This is a personal water filter which is legitimately poised to change the world. Since 2005, Vestergaard (the company that makes them) has been sending LifeStraws to victims of natural disasters all over the world. Simply put, this is a personal water filter that can turn any kind of water into the kind you can safely drink. Each LifeStraw is good for filtering at least 1,000 liters (264 gallons) of water. It requires no batteries or other power source. It is, in a word, awesome.<br />
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Right now there's a special fundraiser in place to aid the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. They've only got a few days left to reach their goal, so I'm hoping some of my readers might be able to help. The Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale will match online donations up to $23,000 to send LifeStraws to people who right now are in desperate need of clean drinking water. Just <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/lifestraw-water-filters-for-typhoon-haiyan-victims" target="_blank">click here</a>, enter your pledge, and help them collect the last few thousand!<br />
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But perhaps you'd like a LifeStraw of your own. After all, they're great for hiking, camping, or just to keep on hand with your other emergency supplies. No problem, you can still help! Purchase one from the website <a href="http://eartheasy.com/lifestraw" target="_blank">Eartheasy</a>. For every LifeStraw you buy for yourself through this website, Rotary Water Projects will send another one to the Philippines.<br />
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It's almost Thanksgiving, and while we who can afford it should be thankful that we have potable water available with a turn of the tap, let's also do our part to bring the gift of safe water to those who need it most.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-86759936123933679872013-11-21T13:17:00.001-05:002013-11-21T13:20:56.359-05:00Forget Black Friday, I'm Celebrating #GivingTuesdayI've spent enough time in retail to know that Black Friday is a necessary evil, but it's one which seems to become more and more evil as time goes on. Now we have retailers opening their doors on Thanksgiving, interrupting precious family time. We hear stories about employees and customers alike being trampled and injured by people who are inexplicably desperate to get into the stores. It's insane.<br />
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Last year, someone came up with a neat idea for an alternate holiday. After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we now have #<a href="http://community.givingtuesday.org/" target="_blank">GivingTuesday</a>. (Yes, the hashtag is part of the name.)<br />
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#GivingTuesday takes place on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. It's not about shopping, it's about - wait for it - giving. The idea is to create a national day on which people purposefully direct their energies toward supporting non-profit organizations and helping those in need.<br />
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There's all sorts of ways you can be involved, from running a food drive to running a bake sale. They offer <a href="http://community.givingtuesday.org/Page/IdeasandResources" target="_blank">ideas</a> for families, for students, for non-profits themselves, and lots more. You can also get involved by being a social media ambassador; for example, you create a profile and then attach it to your existing Twitter account, and #GivingTuesday will occasionally post tweets on your account to tell your followers about the program.<br />
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(In case you're curious, I found out about this because my lovely place of employment, <a href="http://lehighvalley.tenthousandvillages.com/" target="_blank">Ten Thousand Villages at the Lehigh Valley Mall</a>, is going to be participating. On #GivingTuesday, December 3rd, we'll be donating 15% of all sales to our local chapter of <a href="http://www.toysfortots.org/" target="_blank">Toys for Tots</a>. We'll also be accepting toy donations throughout the day.)<br />
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This is a great way to kick off what's known as the season of giving, so check out the website and see how you can make #GivingTuesday part of your annual celebrations.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-21238475067285516932013-11-14T12:37:00.001-05:002013-11-14T12:37:09.528-05:00Enchanted Princess Parties<a href="http://good-idea-time.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-root-collective.html" target="_blank">Monday's post about The Root Collective</a> has been remarkably popular; hello, new readers! Today I'm going to continue this week's trend of promoting my friends' businesses by telling you about <a href="http://enchantedbookin3.wix.com/enchanted-princess-" target="_blank">Enchanted Princess Parties</a>. My friend Victoria is as close as it's possible to get to being a real life fairy tale princess without being a member of an actual royal family.<br />
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Victoria Lee is one of the most ridiculously beautiful people I have ever met in my life. She's also intelligent and extremely nice - complete trifecta. She's been an active member of the modeling and costuming communities for the past few years, which is a short explanation for how she and I met, and has more than a decade's worth of experience and education in early childhood education.<br />
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Enchanted Princess Parties, which she launched just this year, combines all of these skills and attributes into one fantastic job.<br />
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"My dear friend Jacky, who owns her own princess birthday party business, encouraged me," she explained.<br />
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EPP is fairly simple on the surface. Parents hire Victoria to come to their child's birthday party as their princess of choice. She's currently got a repertoire of just two, although she's hoping to add to this as time goes on; she will show up dressed as either the princess from "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp" in the <i>Arabian Nights</i> or as the maiden from <i>La Belle et la BĂȘte</i> (Beauty and the Beast). At the party she offers various forms of entertainment such as face painting, story time, coloring, and playing with bubble wands, among other things. She is an amazing princess; I've seen her in action.<br />
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You might be wondering the same thing I was when I first saw these costumes - who makes them? "The Arabian Princess is a belly dancer costume I purchased," Victoria told me, which she then accessorized herself. Beauty's dress came from a costume store, but then she altered it by adding pearls and a petticoat. Both wigs came from a basic wig store. Professional photographers have a lot of fun capturing Victoria in her costumes; the camera just loves her. So do the kids at a princess party!<br />
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The only downside to this is that Victoria's area of practice is limited by, well, reality. She operates mainly in the Philadelphia and New Jersey area; she will travel farther, but she adds a travel fee for locations farther than 20 miles from Abington, Pennsylvania, to cover her expenses.<br />
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There aren't too many more magical parties you can throw for the little ones in your life than to have a fairy tale princess come and spend the day! For booking information, rates and other information, visit Victoria's <a href="http://enchantedbookin3.wix.com/enchanted-princess-#!rates/cqeb" target="_blank">website</a> or the Enchanted Princess <a href="https://www.facebook.com/enchantedbooking" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-88457603379041903132013-11-11T00:00:00.000-05:002013-11-11T00:00:01.147-05:00The Root CollectiveThe next couple of blog posts are dedicated to businesses which were recently launched by friends of mine. Since I like taking every opportunity to support my friends' endeavors, I want to share their ventures and adventures with my readers.<br />
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First up, <a href="http://therootcollective.com/" target="_blank">The Root Collective</a>.<br />
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Being an employee of <a href="http://tenthousandvillages.com/" target="_blank">Ten Thousand Villages</a>, I know how important it is to sell fair trade, ethically sourced products. So when my friend Brooke announced that The Root Collective was taking shape, I was curious. TRC is the brainchild of Brooke's friend Bethany Tran, and the two of them very kindly sat down and explained just what they're doing.<br />
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It all started when Bethany went to Guatemala to visit her friend who was living there for a year. She fell in love with the impoverished region known as La Limonada, and came back to the States persuaded that she needed to do something to help those people change their circumstances. Five years later, in her own words, she found the nerve to put her marketing degree to work and start TRC.<br />
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"It's a pretty scary undertaking," she says, but she's confident now that she's doing the right thing.<br />
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Here's how the whole thing works. TRC is a shopping website where you can purchase jewelry, shoes, handbags, and scarves. Prices range between $18 and $100, depending on what you buy, which isn't too different from the mall. What <i>is</i> different is that with TRC, you can purchase with the confidence of knowing that your new pretties are ethically sourced - no slave labor, fair wages for the workers, and so on. As Brooke put it to me, "People don't need a hand out - they need a hand <i>up</i>. We hold intentional ties with the communities we partner with." <br />
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The other really cool part is that TRC is partnered with two non-profits (and looking to expand on that), and 10% of every purchase you make will be donated to the non-profit of your choice. One is <a href="http://therootcollective.com/nonprofit-partners/lemonade-international" target="_blank">Lemonade International</a>, providing education and food and health services to the residents of La Limonada in Guatemala. The other is <a href="http://therootcollective.com/nonprofit-partners/come-unity" target="_blank">Come Unity</a>, which works to provide education, clean water, and self-sufficiency to communities in Africa; your donation to them will help their efforts in Kenya.<br />
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Oh, and the products themselves? We are talking <i>cute</i>. 90% of the time I am not a shoe freak like some women - I have four pairs that I wear regularly, and one's a pair of sneakers - but I admit to being a sucker for a sweet pair of ballet flats and <a href="http://therootcollective.com/shoes" target="_blank">boy do they have them</a>. The selection in each category is slightly limited, as you might expect from something that literally launched three days before this blog post went public, but they're working hard to expand. Items currently available are handcrafted in Guatemala, Peru, and Kenya. And yes, they have gift cards!<br />
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A purchase is a simple thing. We do it all the time. Making mindful purchases with a purpose, however, is a simple thing that can have a far-reaching impact - I know this firsthand. So I'm proud to do what I can to tell you about this newest way you can shop to change lives. Check out TRC at <a href="http://therootcollective.com/">therootcollective.com</a>, or follow them on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/therootcollective" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://therootcollective.com/gift-cards-purchase#" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://ihearttrc.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/ihearttrc" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, or <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/ihearttrc" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-46310566182773724232013-11-07T13:01:00.001-05:002013-11-07T13:28:46.136-05:00The Holiday Mailperson ComethIt's early November, which means I'm about due for my annual post. <br />
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As my longtime readers know, every autumn I encourage my readers NOT to send mail to Walter Reed Hospital. This is something I've done since the blog was founded, and it's not because I'm a jerk; it's actually the opposite. This is the annual post where I talk about <a href="http://www.redcross.org/holidaymail">Holiday Mail for Heroes</a>, which allows us all to send holiday greeting cards to soldiers recovering in military hospitals. <br />
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Here's the thing. Very soon, well-meaning but ill-informed people will begin suggesting to their Twitter followers, Facebook friends, and other social media connections that "when writing out your Christmas cards this year, address one to Any Recovering Soldier at the Walter Reed Hospital!"<br />
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<b><i>NO. DO <u>NOT</u> DO THAT.</i></b><br />
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Sorry for the caps, but I can't stress this enough. <strong>Mail addressed to "Any Recovering Soldier" at any military hospital will be destroyed unopened. </strong> Like most prevalent urban myths, there's truth to this one; years ago, you could legitimately do this and the mail would reach a soldier in need of some holiday cheer. In recent years, however, that practice has been discarded because there's too much of a chance to send something unpleasant through the mail.<br />
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Instead, send your cards to the Holiday Mail for Heroes program, which is run by the American Red Cross. They will see to it that a hospitalized soldier or sailor will receive your good wishes. Just make sure everything you send adheres to their guidelines:<br />
<ul>
<li>Sign all of your cards.</li>
<li>Do not enclose anything - no photos, money, business cards, religious tracts, anything. All inserts will be removed and thrown away.</li>
<li>Do not include any contact information. </li>
<li>Use a generic greeting, like "Dear Service Member." </li>
<li>No letters - cards only.</li>
<li>Participants should limit the number of cards they submit to 25 from any one person or 50 from any one class or group. If you are mailing a large quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes. Each card does not need its own envelope, as envelopes will be removed from all cards before distribution. (This one I copied verbatim from the site.)</li>
<li>NO GLITTER. It poses too much of a threat to patients with respiratory ailments.</li>
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Once you've got all your cards together, pack them up as described above and send them to:<br />
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<strong>Holiday Mail For Heroes<br />P.O. Box 5456<br />Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456</strong><br />
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Make sure your cards are postmarked no later than <strong>Friday, December 6, 2013</strong> in order to ensure timely delivery to the recipients.<br />
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My friend Debbie Tenzer of <a href="http://www.doonenicething.com/">Do One Nice Thing</a> also recommends sending cards to Warrior and Family, an organization dedicated to helping military families. Abide by the same guidelines as the Red Cross, and send the cards to:<br />
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<b>Warrior and Family Support Center</b><br />
<b>3138 Rawley Chamber</b><br />
<b>San Antonio, TX 78219</b><br />
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Please spread the word! Let's get the correct information out there ahead of the prevalent mistake, and maybe Walter Reed Hospital won't have so many cards to throw away this year.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-75261343469382891072013-11-04T12:45:00.000-05:002013-11-04T12:45:20.800-05:00That took longer than it should haveThis time I really am back.<br />
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I didn't expect to not have things up and running until November, but that's apparently what happened. I still haven't accomplished everything I expected to get done when I signed off of the blog back in July, to be honest. Still, I'm working at it.<br />
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I did move. Kevin and the cats and I occupy a smaller living space now. The cats took a little while to adjust but they seem to have grown to like it here; there's a nice big window here in the bedroom where they can spy on the squirrels who live in the forest behind the apartment complex. This is very important work, you realize, and it requires a lot of concentration, so they tend to take turns. Maddy prefers the mornings, when the sun hits the window; Random takes the spot whenever she abandons it.<br />
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Bob and I had our <i>Pip the Mouse </i>book signing at the Moravian Bookshop and it went well. I finally got to meet the guy who illustrated our book! We even got paid for the event, which I hadn't expected, so that was a big plus, and now they've invited us back. We'll be there for just a couple of hours on Saturday, November 16th. Next month we'll be attending the tree-lighting ceremony in Quakertown, PA, and signing books there. I don't question these things, I just go where I'm told. If you're interested in all the latest Pip shenanigans, be sure to <a href="http://tinyurl.com/pipthemouse" target="_blank">follow us on Facebook</a>.<br />
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Not everything that's happened since last I wrote has been happy, of course. Easily the worst thing to come to pass was that we lost Anne. I didn't really talk about this project on here, but Anne is - was - my former boss, when Kevin and I used to work together. She was sort of like our mutual surrogate grandmother, since all of our grandparents have passed. A few months back, she called me and asked me to help her write her memoirs, because her health was declining. She wanted to get everything written down for her progeny, and she said I was the most qualified person she knew to help her. I wasn't exactly thrilled about her declining health, but I <i>was</i> really excited about working with her on the book, and every Wednesday I'd go to her house and talk to her about her extremely interesting life and record the sessions. We decided we would take the month of September off from the project, though, because of my moving and house-sitting for my vacationing parents and well, she wasn't feeling so great anyway. You can see where this is going; I got a call at the beginning of October that our Anne left us. I still have the tapes; I still plan to write the book; but it won't be easy. Every so often I remember that she's not here anymore and I get really upset.<br />
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Having spent several weeks away from regular internet, it's good to have it again. During the hiatus, though, I was able to make several important notes and discoveries about both my offline novel and <i><a href="http://thegraystonesaga.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Graystone Saga</a></i>, and I should resume updating the latter within the coming week. I usually have Wednesdays off, and since I no longer have an interview to conduct on Wednesdays and I'm sad about it, I think I might make that the story's update day so I can be less sad.<br />
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So to make a long story short (too late, I know), I am back and you may expect to see regular updates on Mondays and Thursdays once again. Thank you for your support. :)Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-72063088548112232812013-07-10T20:48:00.001-04:002013-07-10T20:48:05.707-04:00I'm taking the summer off.I would have announced this sooner, but I've had no internet for the last few weeks. Seems to happen around the same time every year.<br />
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Anyway, although I had not planned on doing so, I think it's in my own best interest to take the summer off from blogging. I simply have way too much on my plate, ranging from work to dogsitting to yard sales (mine, not other people's) to writing to... well, you get the idea. I do love to blog, but it actually takes more time than I always think it will and I need to focus my energies elsewhere for the summer months. Factor in the inescapable reality that the summer weather is not always kind to someone with my medical conditions, and I need to find as many ways as possible to <a href="http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/" target="_blank">conserve spoons</a>.<br />
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I do still have my book signing coming up on July 20th, too. And here's visual proof from the Moravian Bookshop's own website, in case you were inclined to doubt:<br />
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<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslW683c8Vg_OAjZZdSIfv4uGaDDjG8YHI0btiFMP4Sv9tu1zQCm_sDVxNS1VTEo2bcdtsdAvKzd4NCft1bNJdTZsUGPr10lovS2LzautNfgUxD1DQYXHfUfHAZAqYXNl5aUPihOzOAug/s320/pip.png" width="320" /></div>
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<a href="http://shop.moravianbookshop.com/page.htm?pg=EVENTS" target="_blank">Details here</a>.</div>
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So yes. Turning off the blog seems like a good idea at the present time. I anticipate returning to you in September. I wish you all an excellent summer (except for those of you in the southern hemisphere, to whom I wish a very good winter) and I look forward to resuming my regular blogging schedule then. :)</div>
<br />Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-36998971658282598742013-06-20T23:45:00.001-04:002013-06-20T23:45:20.159-04:00The Book Is BackIt's a late night post because it's been a long day (they usually are, lately), but that's good. Because I had a late-night conversation that I wouldn't have been able to tell you about until Monday, otherwise.<br />
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If you were paying attention to what I blogged about six months ago, you might remember that <a href="http://good-idea-time.blogspot.com/2012/12/i-accidentally-childrens-book.html" target="_blank">I accidentally a children's book</a>. Co-author Bob was the person with whom I had the conversation tonight, and well, this is too exciting for me to keep to myself.<br />
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We have our first book signing scheduled.<br />
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<b>Join us on Saturday, July 20th, at the historic Moravian Book Shop on Main Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania!</b><br />
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The <a href="http://shop.moravianbookshop.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Moravian Book Shop</a> is one of the oldest bookstores, if not <i>the</i> oldest, in continual operation in the United States and possibly the world. I don't know what time we'll be there yet (I promise to provide that information as soon as I have it), but Bob and I, and probably the illustrator and colorist too, will be on hand as part of the store's "Christmas in July" celebration. <br />
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It's going to be a heck of a lot of fun - the Moravian Book Shop is one of the most amazing stores I've ever seen. It just goes on and on and on! There are more rooms than you can possibly imagine by looking at it from the outside, and you can get lost in there, quite literally. I know because I've done it. It's a wonderful place to be and I am super excited to be a guest of honor at this celebration.<br />
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So please come and see us! And if you're looking for me, I'm easy to spot; of the four of us who worked on this book, I've got the longest hair by at least two feet.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-2365374172787995012013-06-13T19:21:00.000-04:002013-06-14T19:30:59.165-04:00The sweet smell of NONO is a very empowering word. <br />
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You've probably noticed that the phrase 'rape culture' is appearing in the media more and more lately. I'm not sure why that is, exactly. It seems like the problem has always been there - the problem being society's inability to respect an individual's right to bodily autonomy - but we're only just starting to really point out the issues while we try to fight them.<br />
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Blogger <a href="https://twitter.com/EveVawter" target="_blank">Eve Vawter</a>, an associate editor of the website Mommyish, takes this matter very seriously. In recognition of the efforts she and others have made to combat rape culture in our society, the cosmetics company A Beautiful Life has developed <a href="http://www.abeautifullife.com/no-eau-de-parfum-.html" target="_blank">NO</a>, a stirring fragrance which they describe as "utterly feminine and utterly strong."<br />
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The fragrance is available exclusively through ABL's website and can be purchased only in limited quantities. It's $52 a pop, but here's why - $10 for every bottle they sell is donated to an organization which assists victims of rape and sexual abuse. Their first and current donation recipient is the excellent <a href="http://rainn.org/" target="_blank">RAINN</a>, the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network.<br />
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(Enter the promo code NO at checkout, and you'll receive 20% off your purchase price - but the full $10 will still be donated to RAINN.)<br />
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Thanks to Eve for sharing this information with her readers, and to everyone who works so hard to make this issue a thing of the past. Keep fighting the good fight - and smell delicious while you do.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-53350052473586091842013-06-06T19:10:00.000-04:002013-06-14T19:11:20.884-04:00SorryI didn't get to the Baum School's event last night and therefore have no photos to show. I did, however, receive my copy of the photo book, which is beautiful, and I offer my sincere congratulations to all the photographers featured in it!Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-38717222496537736592013-06-03T21:32:00.000-04:002013-06-04T23:34:17.745-04:00Photobomb? I hope not.So I'm counting the hours until Wednesday evening. As you might remember from some months ago, I'm a participant in the <a href="http://www.capturelehighvalley.com/" target="_blank">Capture Lehigh Valley</a> photography project going on in my region. <a href="http://www.capturelehighvalley.com/users/laurakay76" target="_blank">My photos</a>, and those of many other area photographers, have been considered for inclusion in the book that the project organizers are going to publish.<br />
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Well, on Wednesday, we all get to find out who made the cut.<br />
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We'll be converging on the <a href="http://www.baumschool.org/" target="_blank">Baum School of Art</a>, in Allentown, where some of the photographs are going to be on display in the <a href="http://www.baumschool.org/galleries.php" target="_blank">David E. Rodale Gallery</a> for the rest of the month. The soiree will include the official launch of the book, which none of us have seen, as well as the school's display of some of our pictures. (The photos being shown in the gallery are not necessarily the same ones as in the book.)<br />
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I have no way of knowing, at this point, if any of my contributions were accepted either for the gallery showing or for the book. I am hoping, really hoping, that at least one of them will appear somewhere. Photography isn't my governing passion - my preferred medium is words, not images - but it's something I have loved to do for most of my life and it would be awesome to be an official participant. However, I'm well aware that there are some truly masterful photographers who signed on for the project, and there would be no shame in having my amateurish point-and-shoot images passed over in favor of theirs.<br />
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<strike>But I won't lie. I'd really like to be in this book.</strike><br />
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Edit: Apparently, a list was announced over a month ago of <a href="http://www.capturelehighvalley.com/awards/published-photog-in-capture-greater-lehigh-valley-book" target="_blank">who made the cut for the book</a>, and I was not one of the 95 chosen. I feel kind of stupid for not having seen this sooner.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-23613882941497100452013-05-27T14:05:00.001-04:002013-05-27T14:05:25.273-04:00Happy Memorial DayOn this day, as we should every day, let us give thanks for the courageous men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting ours.<br />
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Really, though, I don't think I can say it better than this:<br />
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<br />Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-81067901141116155352013-05-20T21:38:00.002-04:002013-05-20T21:38:29.362-04:00Oklahoma is not OK todayThis will be short and sweet.<br />
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If you haven't already heard, America's "Tornado Alley" has been besieged by devastating storms in the last two days, today especially. As of this writing, 51 people have been confirmed dead, including seven students in an elementary school that was completely obliterated.<br />
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Being as far away as I am, I'm not exactly in a position to do much. But here's what I can offer you.<br />
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1. If you live in the affected area and are able to get to a computer with internet access, the Red Cross urges you to register on their <a href="https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php" target="_blank">Safe and Well website</a>. This will make it easier for loved ones to find out that you're alive and safe. <br />
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2. If you do <i>not</i> live in the affected area, but are <i>visiting </i>the affected area from another country, you should still register on that website. The Red Cross also urges you to contact your country's embassy or consular office and let them know that you're okay. Your loved ones can search for you on the website using an international phone number.<br />
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3. Suzanne Choney of NBC News has written a very helpful blog post on how you can help the victims of the tornadoes. <a href="http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/20/18381508-how-to-help-oklahoma-tornado-victims?lite" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read all about it.<br />
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Sending my prayers and condolences to everyone who's been affected by this. Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-46993749772397362482013-05-06T18:26:00.000-04:002013-05-06T18:26:55.394-04:00World Fair Trade DayThis coming Saturday, May 11th, is <a href="http://www.fairtraderesource.org/wftd/" target="_blank">World Fair Trade Day</a>. Given that I work for one of the premier fair trade retailers in the world, this is naturally a pretty big deal for us. So my manager asked me to write an article about WFTD to send to local media. Our store's going to be having a big ol' party all day long, and if you live around here you should totally stop by. Meanwhile, here's my article, so you get an idea of why fair trade is so important.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Every year in North America, the <a href="http://www.fairtradeusa.org/" target="_blank">World Fair Trade Organization</a> and thousands of affiliated individuals and groups celebrate the gifts of fair trade on the second Saturday in May. World Fair Trade Day highlights the importance of fair trade practices, including safe working conditions for all employees and providing an equitable wage. Consumers are urged to 'vote with their wallets' in the hopes of encouraging the spread of fair trade throughout all commerce.<br />
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Also every year in North America, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. The fact that these two observances share a weekend is almost certainly not coincidental, given how many fair trade artisan groups specifically seek to employ and support impoverished mothers. By providing a fair, sustainable source of income for the women of struggling families, these artisan groups make it possible for future generations to enjoy greater health as well as increased opportunities.<br />
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<i>Prokritee</i><br />
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One such artisan group is based in the city of Dhaka in Bangladesh. <a href="http://www.prokritee.com/" target="_blank">Prokritee</a>, which takes its name from the Bengali word for nature, is committed to fair trade principles and has been since it was formed in 2001. They are not an artisan group themselves so much as they are an agency working with other handicraft groups throughout the country. They provide assistance in management, development, and marketing for these producers of handcrafts, with a special emphasis on creating designs which are inspired by and represent Bangladesh's cultural heritage.<br />
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Although the central office is located in Dhaka, as is the outlet store called "Source," jobs for the individual artisans are found in workshops throughout the country. Prokritee and its affiliates are committed to providing employment to rural Bengali women who need their support. These women are often widows or divorcees, or heads of their households for other reasons, and usually have no land or other source of income. By working with Prokritee's artisan groups, the women are able to improve their own standard of living and better provide for their dependents. The children are able to attend school instead of working to support the family.<br />
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Artisan groups united under Prokritee's banner create baskets, handmade paper, and wooden toys, among other things. The women are given opportunities not only for training and education, but also for advancement; those with proven skills are given supervisory and leadership positions within the artisan groups, enabling them to reach their fullest potential. Prokritee's website shares the stories of women from impoverished backgrounds who have changed their lives and their families' lives through the work they do with the artisan groups.<br />
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<i>Ruth & Naomi</i><br />
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Similar values are at work in Guatemala, where the government's "scorched earth" policy of the 1980s left many women widowed, orphaned, and otherwise disenfranchised. A Methodist pastor and his wife collected several of these women and helped them form <a href="http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/ruth-naomi" target="_blank">Ruth & Naomi</a>, named for two Biblical widows who made their own way in life. By tapping into the Guatemalan tradition of weaving and bringing the products to the international market, Ruth & Naomi has made it possible for women in such dire straits to survive beyond their unfortunate circumstances.<br />
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Women weave cloth from brightly colored materials, and men who have been trained as tailors sew the cloth into quality handbags and garments. Native pride abounds in many of the designs, which represent Guatemala's vibrant culture and flora. The strict adherence to fair trade principles has turned around the lives of these artisans and their families. After the artisans' children complete high school, a scholarship program enables many of them to pursue higher education. The cooperative has also established a health and nutrition center to directly address the needs of malnourished children.<br />
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<i>Batsiranai</i><br />
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In Zimbabwe, mothers of children with special needs are often culturally shunned. Local beliefs about the origin of disabilities cause many people to avoid afflicted families. Additionally, almost one-fourth of the country's population lives with HIV/AIDS, and these too are affected by the same stigma.<br />
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The artisan group <a href="http://batsiranai.com/" target="_blank">Batsiranai</a>, whose name means "helping each other," is a craft project specifically designed to assist the mothers of special needs children. The challenges with which these women live are oppressive. But thanks to the efforts of Batsiranai, they are able to work close to their homes, meaning that they are available for their children while still able to earn vital income to support them.<br />
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Batsiranai originated in the township of Dzivarasekwa, and consisted of 24 mothers of children with special needs who made and sold handcrafted items. Today, the artisan group employs 140 women. Batsiranai is part of the Zimbabwe Parents of Disabled Children Association, and there are some 600 families registered with this advocacy group throughout the country. It is the hope of the artisans that eventually, their success will grow so that all of the families of special needs children in Zimbabwe can be supported and assisted through their work.<br />
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These are just some of the stories of how through fair trade, families everywhere are living healthier, richer, fuller lives. On the second Saturday in May, and every day of the year, celebrate the gifts that fair trade brings to all of us.<br />
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<i>To find a World Fair Trade Day event near you, <a href="http://www.fairtraderesource.org/link-up/events-calendar/" target="_blank">click here</a>. Though if you live near me, I'll be very disappointed if you don't come to <a href="http://lehighvalley.tenthousandvillages.com/calenderevents/view/detail/id/4261" target="_blank">mine</a>.</i><br />
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Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466629055003107957.post-12603438968256378262013-05-02T15:13:00.004-04:002013-05-02T15:13:51.566-04:00Wil Wheaton's WisdomWhile trying to figure out what to share with all of you today, I stumbled across this fantastic video. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of Wil Wheaton, I admit it. But he is unquestionably a goodwill ambassador for the world of nerds, and this is a perfect encapsulation.<br />
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Basically, Wil appeared at a convention in Calgary, Canada, and a woman in the audience asked him to tell her newborn daughter why being a nerd is awesome. And he did.<br />
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Not interested in loading the video, or unable to watch it at present? Imgur did a visual recreation of it with Wil's own speech. You can read it <a href="http://imgur.com/gallery/1eQ4R">here</a>.Laura Klotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17389480044457332356noreply@blogger.com0