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Call Me CaelonBy Caelon Reed QuailBellMagazine.com A family friend gave my parents the idea for my name, but it was my mother who casually decided the spelling, Caelon. According to the MyBaby, my name means “carefree, the lark bird.” “Carefree” fits me precisely. I try to live without worries as much as possible. I chose this lifestyle because my mom has always taught me to focus on the positives of ANY situation; that way of thinking has shaped me into an optimist. I might as well add that my favorite song of all time happens to be Bob Marley’s hit “Don’t Worry Be Happy." Wikipedia defines a lark bird as “a person who usually gets up early in the morning and goes to bed early in the evening.” I can somewhat vouch this as true because I start my mornings no later than 9 a.m. (pretty early for a college kid), though I don’t always make it to bed at a decent hour. It has always been my hope that my actions and personality stick out more than my name. Not that I dislike my name. I am very thankful to attach such an exclusive name to my works—regardless of how folks pronounce it. My name was unintentionally butchered throughout the entirety of grade school. Surprisingly, I was never the person to be upset at anyone who mispronounced my name (well, at least not after the first few tries). I always had the perk of not needing to include my last name on most papers because my first name would never get mixed up with another student's. It was a pain, however, not to be able to conveniently purchase pre-made name paraphernalia. After numerous jobs requiring name badges, I learned that my name is a great conversation starter. Many people have found great joy in playing “guess the pronunciation” with my name.
This lark bird's fine with that. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Newish and ExpandingBy Artsy Bird QuailBellMagazine.com Okay, Quail Bell(e)s, if you're heading up (or down) to Washington, D.C. this summer, remember that it's not all about the monuments and the Smithsonian. Give D.C.'s local arts scene a chance. One thing to put on your art to-do list? Long View Gallery, located in historic Shaw. It's been an events fixture since 2006, hosting everything from weddings to trade shows to corporate events to sorority reunions. The gallery's expanding into the space next door, making room for more art and more guests in October 2013. That'll mean 9,000 square feet of "urban" and "upscale," both at once!
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Egypt's Past and Future in the Midst of ConflictBy Aracely Jimenes-Hendricks QuailBellMagazine.com In viewing the changes within Egypt’s political climate, ancient Egypt’s history comes to mind, particularly that of a pharaoh that I personally admire. One of the lesser known but favorite Egyptian pharaohs (relative to each pharaoh's era of rule) is Ahmose I, the founder of the 18th Dynasty, what's perceived as the “New Kingdom” of ancient Egypt. Having come to power before the exile of the Hyksos, he strived to make changes to Egypt that would help everyone, not just himself. The reason for the Hyksos’ exile was due to their conduct upon their settlement of Egypt, which included razing most of the cities such as the city of Memphis and destroying the culture of Egypt at the time. Even though the Hyksos were exiled from Egypt, they contributed many things to the future reigns of Egypt, such as improvements in pottery and agriculture along with military weapons. In exiling the Hyksos (who were a Semitic group in the lower region of Egypt), Ahmose I was able to unite the lower and upper Egyptian regions and centrally controlled his new kingdom. Ahmose I had monuments rebuilt after the unification and attained many items that the Hyksos possessed, such as gold and silver. After looking at Egypt's past, the actions of Ahmose I can somewhat be reflected in Egypt today. You could say the Hyksos are like the modern Egyptian military under Hosni Mubarak and Ahmose I is like Mohammed Morsi. Though Egypt's current political climate is unsure Egyptian, the actions of Mohammed Morsi united the whole of Egypt through elections, after the country had been in a state of revolution, largely against the military, for many months.
However, Morsi soon put awful restrictions and policies in place which went against the people’s freedom. This has now culminated in another round of popular revolution against the very regime the first revolution had voted into power. Coming to the people’s aid in this was Morsi’s foil, the Egyptian military. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
It's not easy to tame the heart of a beast.By Julie Lain QuailBellMagazine.com If you think the dating scene among humans is hard enough, try seducing a griffin. What’s a griffin, you ask? A griffin is basically a mythical creature that is half lion and half eagle, because a pure lion or eagle just wasn’t good enough for the Greeks—they had to create this hybrid super-creature for extra sexiness. Needless to say, being in the mere presence of one of these beasts without making it angry and getting ripped to pieces can seem a daunting task...because, you know, with its Hulk legs and flesh-eating beak, no one would be intimidated to approach one or anything...but here are a few ways in which you can get a griffin to find you somewhat tolerable: 1. Bring it gold. Griffins are known for finding and guarding treasures, those greedy mongrels. So surely, one would be very appreciative of receiving more treasure to add to its growing collection. But once it has the gold in its possession, don’t walk near it, don’t stand by it, don’t look at it...unless, of course, you want to become griffin food.
2. Wine and Dine it. Did you really think a wise, strong, and majestic animal such as a griffin would be interested in just anybody? These high-maintenance creatures have standards, you know. So take the griffin out for a meal and bring some dead birds or deer for it to eat...you wouldn’t want it to start nibbling your face or anything. Don’t try to use a coupon, either. Tacky. 3. Wear shiny, bright colors. Griffins are drawn to brightly-colored things as they are visual creatures—just like men. So ditch the little black dress and don some more summer-inspired colors. Leave a little to the imagination, though—griffins like a little mystery. Warnings:
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So, Long, Long Ago, The Lion and the Unicorn Were Fighting for the Crown… By Brianna Duff QuailBellMagazine.com I have a picture of the Queen Elizabeth Gate in Hyde Park from the first time I went to London. At the time, young and so in culture shock as I was, I had no idea what this gate or the two animals on it represented. It was simply a beautiful piece of ironwork with a unicorn on the right and a red lion on the left, one’s paws raised toward the other’s hoofs and a tree blossoming between them. When I sat down to write about the unicorn of Scotland, this picture was the first thing I thought of–it is an image I have never forgotten. Perhaps it is because I have always loved mythical creatures, and the sudden appearance of a golden-haired unicorn in the middle of Hyde Park enchanted me when I first saw it. I had wondered what it was then, but it wasn’t until today, as I pulled out this picture and propped it on my computer screen monitor before writing, that I really understood. The unicorn is more than just a fairy tale. The unicorn is, in fact, the representing figure of Scotland, born from a long history dating back to the early 12th century. Because of the unicorn’s lasting presence in mythology, it carries with it the tale of a creature that has always been innocent and pure, as joyful as life itself. It is also a fierce creature that would rather die than be captured into slavery. This duality–the combination of male strength and female nurturing–made the unicorn a creature of harmony that soon came to represent Christ for its set of mixed traits. Because of this call to Christendom, Scottish knights would hold shields bearing the unicorn, not only as a reminder of fierce pride, but also of the chivalric virtue that they were first and foremost servants to Christ.
Fast-forward a couple hundred years and soon Scotland has adapted the unicorn as its official national animal. King James III (1466-1488) minted gold coins bearing the mythical creature, and the Scotland Royal coat of arms featured two unicorns supporting the shield. In many ways, the stubbornness of the creature to never stop fighting for its independence mirrored many of Scotland’s own struggles to remain politically independent. This independence changed when King James VI of Scotland took over the English throne as well as the Scottish following the death of Elizabeth I. The unicorn was then joined with the English lion to create the symbols I had seen on the gate in Hyde Park: the animals opposite one another to show the joining of countries. But, it was not a peaceful turnover. The unicorn and the lion were, in mythology, always feuding creatures. The unicorn was said to hold power through unity and the lion through might, and the two were always struggling to be king of the beasts. This same unease was present in the places they represented. Even today, Scotland’s Royal arms feature the unicorn on the left side of the shield while the English feature it on the right. (In case you didn’t know anything about coat of arms, like me, the left side of the shield, called dexter, is considered the side of greatest honor.) So, even today, the unicorn stands proud for Scotland and fights for the right of independence and unity. It may not be the unicorn you would typically think of, with its maidens and castles, but it is a symbol that is stronger than you would imagine, catching eyes as it did mine so many summers ago. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
My Experiences Making Visual vs. Literary ArtBy Ian Winship QuailBellMagazine.com I’ve been drawing and doodling or thinking up stories and sometimes poems for as long as I can remember. I’ve always had this need or desire to be creative. To make something where there was nothing. To bring my imagination to life in hopes of sharing it with others. Whether it is visual or literary arts, the process always starts with a simple idea. Whether you are taking a picture, doodling in class, writing a poem or story, or making your next big masterpiece you will always start with the thought, what is this going to be about? What am I going to draw? What will my story be about? What am I taking a picture of? Once that is decided, things get a little different. I am a compulsive doodler. Throughout my entire school career, I couldn’t make it through most classes without covering the bottom half of my notebook paper in doodles. I used to claim it helped me pay attention but, who knows if it did. I just needed something to do with my idle hands. Something that would make the kid next to me look and simply say, “Oh, that’s cool.” That was enough for me. When starting a doodle ,you don’t set out to make some artistic masterpiece. Sometimes it may turn into that, but, usually, you are just doodling. I started trying to create more detailed works of art when I decided doodling wasn’t enough. I would continue my doodle well after class, letting hours drift away, and just working at my piece until I felt it was done. Perhaps it wasn’t “good” art but, it was my art. It had come from my mind and my hand and I loved the process. I wish I could call myself a photographer. I love taking pictures but, I am no Ansel Adams. I could take a picture from the same spot. The same stuff would be in the frame. Even if I use my expensive digital camera it will not be the same as an Ansel Adams film piece. I recently finished a cross country road trip. One of my favorite Facebook comments on a picture from the trip was from a photographer friend of mine, who offhanded wrote: “Mr. Ansel Adams over here.” It lit up my day.
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The Dirty 30sBy Annie Tisdale QuailBellMagazine.com Can you imagine the dunes of the Sahara Desert in the middle of the Great Plains of the American heartland? If you can, you might have an idea of what it may have looked like in the Dust Bowl, an area of grasslands turned into farmland in the southern plains of the United States. The region became almost uninhabitable in the 1930’s due to one of the largest man-made ecological disasters in history. The documentary The Dust Bowl by Ken Burns explores the events of the decade-long dry spell during the Great Depression through engaging interviews with historians and twenty-six survivors that experienced it first hand. After the prosperity of the roaring 20’s the nation suffered a terrible drought and those farmers who formerly experienced a boon in wheat sales were now unable to make a living, abandoning their vast fields and leaving them untended. The overgrazing and over-plowing of nearly 5.2 million acres of land left the topsoil exposed to winds. Tons of dirt was displaced in “black blizzards,” coating everything thing in dust, sometimes reaching as far as the East Coast. The film embodies everything you might expect from a Ken Burns documentary, from the abundant use of intriguing archival photographs to the folksy music that sends the audience back to another time and place. The photos of an approaching black cloud of dust descending on a small Midwest town or the video of a sea of sand rippling like waves under persistent winds are just a few of the visual aids, along with the tunes of Woody Guthrie, that makes The Dust Bowl so fascinating.
I found the stories from the survivors who grew up as children during this time the most captivating, such as the static electricity that filled the air right before a dust storm that would fry car radios or the poverty and hardship they endured with stubborn pride. According to survivor Virginia Frantz, “Mother could get us a dress out of three feed sacks. They made ‘em real pretty, pretty prints because they found out the farmers' wives were using them for that.” The film is a gripping recount of the farmers’ resilience, even in the face of discrimination as some migrated to California and were met with suspicion and resentment. Author John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath is about the journey of such “Okies”, as they were sometimes called. The documentary is only about two hours, but at times it does feel as though it’s longer. At times it also seems repetitive, which may be on account of the film being broken into two parts with the second installment covering the same background info as the first. And although the film is mainly a human story about the people of the plains during the Great Depression, I would have liked to see Burns go into more detail about the uncertain future of the Ogallala aquifer that is now being used to sustain the farmlands. Overall, The Dust Bowl struck the right tone and serves as a compelling moral tale and warning for coming generations about environmental conservation. The Dust Bowl by Ken Burns is airing PBS. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Pooping in China: Monthly reflections on living, teaching, and moving bowels abroadEditor's Note: Brandon Jeune is a 25-year-old graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University. He teaches English to children in China. He writes "Pooping in China" and distributes it to friends and family as an email more or less every month. He has given us permission to serialize the emails here. Because we just relaunched our website, we're hurrying to catch up and post all of the emails Brandon's sent over the past few months. Dear America, AssalamuAlaikum! No, I haven’t converted to Islam in the past month. But my facial hair, which I’ve left untended since November, has made some major strides in that direction. These days, the sparse beard that once resembled a used brillo pad has reached devout-Muslim status. That isn’t me stereotyping; I’m simply responding to the fact that recently, when I cross paths with those of Loudi’s Muslim population, I’m greeted with nods, gestures and Arabic greetings. Sometimes I clear up the confusion, but more often I just smile, nod, and momentarily revel in the camaraderie that exists between those of different cultural backgrounds when united by a common religion. Since I’m not walking around with a Quran in hand, it’s pretty obvious that the beard is what’s leading others to the assumption that I’m one of them. And because me relating this story to my father earlier prompted some surprise, I want to treat you all to a brief educational moment: yes, Islam is alive and well here in China. While the country is officially basically atheist (barring an amorphous sort of ancestral reverence and prayers at the temples, which I wouldn’t count as directed to any particular god), it’s a HUGE country, and you’ll find pockets of everything throughout. And out to the northwest there’s Xinjiang province, where Islam has a major presence, which, when you look at the map, isn’t surprising; the province borders Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, etc. Side note: the Xinjiang people here in Loudi stand out almost as much as us foreigners, and even if you fail to notice their clothing or the Arabic signage above their street carts, the facial hair should clue you in (it’s rare to see it among China’s ethnic majority, the Han) HanHaHHHHDS. While I may be a Mostly Atheist (I’m still waiting for that religion to get a more formal recognition), I still feel like their brother; not under Allah, of course, but under Beard. I know what you’re thinking: Brandon, get off it already. Enough with the educational B.S., we came here for straight S; this is called ‘Pooping in China’ for a reason, so make with the goods! Sorry, kids. Nothing new on that front (er, back) this month. But there’s so much more discuss! Chiefly among which is the fact that I’m drunk. And all I can say is it’s awesome to have an excuse for typos and using words in the incorrect context, or spelling the word ‘segue’ as ‘segway’ and thus mistaking a focal transition for Gob Bluth’s motorized vehicle of choice, as I did in a previous entry (I discovered my mistake long after the fact). (And yes, that means I’m the sad, pathetic sort of person who goes back and rereads his sent letters). THE SEMESTER IS OVER AN’ WE’RE GETTING’ BUCKWIIIILLLLD The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Long Before BarbieBy Brianna Duff QuailBellMagazine.com When I think of dolls, I think of the array of Barbies, American Girls, and Polly Pockets I played with growing up. They were plastic and usually scuffed, with unruly hair from large amounts of creative play both outside and around the house. These mass-produced dolls with pink, confection-like marketing campaigns are a far cry from the dainty dolls that sat on the shelves of wealthy Victorian girls. This is probably because, before the mid-1800s, dolls weren’t actually children’s playthings. In the earliest years, dolls were actually objects of religious representation or other depictions of spiritual ideals. As the decades progressed, dolls were ornate and allowed woman to refer to them for the style of the time. Rather than being played with, dolls existed only a picture of fashion and were made nearly exclusively for the wealthy. It wasn’t until the Victorian era (mid-to-late 1800s) in England and just after the Civil War in America that dolls really entered into the dominion of the children. In Europe, doll production had drastically changed. Rather than using crude materials, manufacturers in Denmark, France and Germany began producing doll heads made of porcelain and wax. These new materials made lovely, delicate dolls popular in wealthy households.
The dolls were fragile (vastly unlike the Barbies I played with growing up) and had to be handled carefully. They also wore beautiful dresses of taffeta, silk and lace and had hair spun from wool so it felt almost real. Dollhouses in the style of the family’s large estate also became popular, and smaller china dolls were made to live inside. These were very much toys intended for the females of the family as they encouraged preparation for motherhood as well as implied practice in sewing clothes and accessories for the dolls. These domestic duties were particularly enforced with the invention of the baby doll in France; since they were not modeled after adult figures, these porcelain babies gave a stronger appearance of motherhood to young girls. Poor families could also buy dolls and doll furniture, but they were predominately wooden, many even handmade out of clothespins and loose cloth. Paper dolls were also widely accessible in the 19th century. In both England and America, newspapers and magazines hoping to increase circulation included pages of paper dolls to cut out and dress. After the Civil War in America, New England became the leader in doll production. Some produced the same beautiful china dolls as England did, but many mass-produced rag dolls made of leather, cloth and rubber that kept up better and didn’t require the importation of porcelain from over-seas. This rapid production echoed the Industrial Revolution of the era and helped toss America into a period of extremely popular toy production. And of course, that production hasn’t stopped. The familiarity of dolls today is because of that spur in productivity, and because of the availability to the masses, dolls are a far jump from what they were in the Victorian era. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
During the Reign of Old MassasBy QB Bookworm QuailBellMagazine.com The Great Plantation, A Profile of Berkeley Hundred and Plantation Virginia from Jamestown to Appomattox by Clifford Dowdey not only has a long title; it has long-spanning coverage of Central Virginia history (though not much herstory). It doesn't read like a *yawn* textbook, either. The book reads like a novel, likely because its author was a long-time novelist and screenwriter in New York and Hollywood before he turned to writing Virginia history books.
Sure, it's plenty un-P.C. because it was written during the Jim Crow era, but that aspect of it also makes it plenty informative. Prepare to cringe and prepare to learn a lot on both counts! Though the book's now out of print, you can still find it on Amazon and in used bookstores throughout the South. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Art, History, and Good Eats in Florida's State CapitalStrapped for cash but got the travel itch bad? Luckily, frugalista vacations are all the rage. And even if they weren't, you're nearly broke, anyway, so what choice do you have if you want to get out of town? One place to put on your Quail-dar is Tallahassee, Florida, a state capital and college city with character. If you want a tamer, smaller, more manageable Austin without leaving the East, this is the spot for you. You'll get “hippie” and “Southern” both at once, for cheap. Based upon my recent visit to Tally, here are some of my suggestions if you've got limited time and a bitty budget: Pile into your piece of junk car with your bestie and hit the road. It's going to be a long ride from New York, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Virginia or whatever other East Coast city's your flagship. After all, Tallahassee isn't actually on the East Coast. It's located in “Florabama,” the Florida panhandle, which borders Alabama. Geographically (and culturally), it's removed from 95. You'll have to hop onto I-10 from Jacksonville and meander for about four hours before you've even reached the land of Florida State University and Florida A&M. Well before your arrival, however, comes the adventure of your road trip. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the ideal days for travel, since most 9-to-5ers are chained to their desks. If you can't shed your shackles, remember to leave early to beat the traffic and hit at least one Waffle House along the way. When you're tired or gotta pee, check out a few places not too far off of 95. The seedy but hilarious South of the Border attraction in South Carolina; the precious Savannah, Georgia; and the freakin' huge Jacksonville, Florida are all sound options. Once you finally get to Tallahassee, feed your face. All Saints Cafe, which specializes in coffee, tea, and vegetarian munchables, is always open. It's good for breakfast and it's good for late-night hankerings, too. There's no waiter service. Instead you walk up to the counter, chat up the barista, order, claim your food, and then plop down on a sofa and use the Wi-Fi. Vegan? No problem. The ambience is relaxed, making it the perfect place to unwind after spending hours cooped up in the car.
Let's say vegan's not your style. How about bacon-wrapped hotdogs and homemade burgers instead? You'll want to try Voodoo Dog. It's phenomenally cheap--you'll fill up on $3 or $4—and the quirky spot has a funky aesthetic with lots of paintings heavy on black, red, and purple. The menu item names are pretty amusing, too: Bon Jovi dog, Wake-n-Bake dog, Good Ol' Boy dog, etc. And, yes, there's a veggie burger. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Dropouts and Boxing Hooligans ExtravaganzaHey, click on that ^ and it'll take you to the Facebook event page! (Or you can just click that orange hyperlink. Whatevs.)
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5 Things You Didn't Know About EgyptBy Annie Tisdale QuailBellMagazine.com Located on the easternmost corner of Northern Africa sits the Arab Republic of Egypt, connecting Africa and Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. Famous for its mysterious pyramids, ancient temples, and elegant sculptures, the people of Egypt have seen their fair share of tyrants, conquerors, and dictators over the centuries. More recently the Islamic nation has endured social upheaval in the push for democracy following the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. After millions of protesters and a military coup ejecting President Mohamed Morsi, it seems that Egypt might be on its way to a second revolution. With Egypt in the headlines, here are five things about Egyptian culture that you might not have known: 1. Egypt built the first subway system in Africa.
The Cairo Metro was the first and only subway system in all of Africa until the recent creation of a subway system in Algeria in 2010. It was built under the reign of former President Mubarak beginning in 1983 and began operating in 1987. Clean, spacious, and with moderately priced tickets, the Cairo Metro is a sign of modern advancements in infrastructure in a crowded city that already has too many cars; over 90% of Egyptians live on just 5% of land, as most of the country is desert. At the moment, only 17 of the metro’s 53 stations are located underground, but that may change in the future as plans for future lines are in the works. 2. It’s considered rude to eat with your left hand. Many Egyptian foods, like bread and other dishes, can be eaten with just with your hands, no utensils required. It may be common sense to wash your hand before you eat. But, you might not know that it’s disrespectful to eat or pass food with your left hand in Egypt. In Middle Eastern cultures the left hand is considered unclean because it’s used for dirty jobs like wiping yourself after going to the toilet . So next time you're in Egypt, don't reach into communal food bowls with your left hand. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Do the Dark 'DoBy Julie Lain QuailBellMagazine.com Looking for just the right hairstyle to express your dark side? You may be in luck. In a culture in which individual self-expression is encouraged, Goths have experimented with every hairstyle idea imaginable, from the French braid to the beehive. And fortunately, gothic hairstyles are easy to do, unique, and can be done with any hair length and texture. There are many different types of goth, but here is a list of three popular hair ideas from gothic culture and how to create them. Hair Falls
What you need: Two hair falls Brush Two hair ties Bandana (optional) 1. First choose the material you want the falls to be. Hair falls can be yarn, wool, tubing, or foam. These can be purchased online on eBay, Etsy, or you can make your own. 2. Brush hair to get rid of any knots or tangles. Just as with any hairstyle, this gives you a fresh start and makes your hair easier to work with. 3. Make a bun (or pigtail) on each side of your head toward the front and top. This provides the falls with something to hold onto and also gives them more volume. At this point, if you’re going to wear a bandana or pair of goggles as some people like wearing with falls, it should be around your neck because it will be much easier to put on once the hair falls are in place rather than waiting until afterwards. 4. Tie a hair fall around one of the buns so that the ends of it hang over your face. If the fall is layered, position it so the shortest layer is in the front. 5. Flip the hair fall over the bun so that it completely covers that side of your head. Repeat with the other hair fall. 6. Position the strands how you want them to look. Tips
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The Legend of the Worry DollsWorry dolls are not magic, but what they do is. You may have seen them before. I remember my kindergarten class making them one day, and my grandmother often brought them home for me when she came to visit and encouraged me to use them according to the legend that came with them. She always told me that if I whispered my worries to one of the tiny dolls before I went to bed and then slept with it under my pillow, I would sleep soundlessly and wake up with my worries vanished. This legend of the worry dolls has lasted for many generations and dates back to the age of the Mayans. The dolls are handcrafted and are usually simple, fashioned from pieces of wood or wire and wrapped with yarn and cloth in the traditional colors of Mayan costumes. They are kept in wooden boxes or wool pouches and are only about an inch tall so they can fit safely under your pillow. Though the worry dolls aren’t actually magic as the legend might suggest, they do work. When you speak to a worry doll, you are realizing aloud the things that are making you fear or worry or anticipate. The dolls take the worry from you simply by allowing you to just say it out loud. These beautiful little dolls with their brightly colored skirts and small faces are a wonderful tradition. If you have a worry that’s bringing you down, why not speak to a worry doll of you own, and watch the trouble vanish in the night? Try these websites for purchasing your own worry doll: http://www.guatemalanworrydolls.com.au/#!shop http://www.worrydoll.com/servlet/StoreFront The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Hostel Fire HolidayBy Helen Georgia Stoddard QuailBellMagazine.com Editor's Note: The writer was one of the survivors of this April 2013 hostel fire in Inverness, Scotland. We played the role of idiot, fresh into adulthood while travelers on holiday. We were seven French boys, one English boy, one Greek boy, and two Americans, including myself. It was our first night on our four-day, three-night road trip up to various parts of the Scottish Highlands, which are so much ranted and raved about. If you aren’t from Scotland or haven’t visited, you probably think that Scotland is just filled with crags and castles and kilts and drunkards necking whisky bottles every night of the week—well, you’re half-right. So here we were, the ten of us, squeezed into two hire cars, with three of us unable to speak a lick of French, while the other seven barely spoke English. Before the road trip, please keep in mind we went to a Cadbury’s bakery outlet and stocked up on six kilos of biscuits—these biscuits will come back later on in the story. Our first destination was Stirling, and then St. Andrews, where we spent a couple hours wandering about the beach, where the sea breeze ripped through with cold gusts, and the tidal pools were filled with shells but hardly a live creative. We stopped in Stonehaven to lie on the cliffs several hundred feet up from the rough ocean waters to admire Donan Castle and the natural cave underneath the Castle grounds, surrounded by steep downhill slopes which took us to sea level. Our final stop, just in time for nightfall, and our first sleep of the trip, was in Inverness. Our following day plan was to, of course, like all tourists catching a glimpse of the Highlands, go try and spot the famed Loch Ness monster, Nessie. We never got the chance to scope her sweet little self out, because we were interrupted by an event we never imagined would happen to us. Let me shift to the present because I still feel in the moment: We get to Eastgate Hostel in Inverness around 9 in the evening, and we’re all worn out and fork over our £13 a piece to the owners, who’ve devious grins plastered on their mouths. Four of us go to the seedy Chinese take-away next door and I order sesame chicken that doesn’t even look like sesame chicken. After dinner, we all head back to the hostel and the French have already got their mini hookah out and one of them is parading around in a bright green mankini. (Yes, you read that last sentence correctly. Don’t put it past the French.) So here we are, smoking hookah and being loud and ridiculous, some sipping on Strongbow cider or Tennants—all until another French guest at the hostel comes in to complain for us to shut the hell up because we’re being too loud. Not me, of course, I'm brushing my teeth. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Okay, so July 4th is over.By The Quail Bell Crew QuailBellMagazine.com Dear fledglings,
Don't feel at a loss. We know Memorial Day and July 4th flew by, hit you on the head, and put you on your back like an awkward turtle. HOW ARE YOU EVER GOING TO GET UP? Easy. Grab an energy drink, your favorite book, and some tunes. (Might we suggest Beck? That's just what so happens to be playing at QB HQ right now.) There's no such thing as post-holiday depression. It's all in your head. Soak up the sun and enjoy high summertime. Even if the humidity's ruining your vintage 'do, you gotta keep on truckin'. HAVE FUN OR ELSE--and that's only a minor threat. And for you couch potatoes out there, you know we're always updating our pretty, pretty website. Of course, you can also read QB from the beach. It's your choice. *Ironic winky face* Feathery hugs, The Quail Bell Crew The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Perfect Play for an All-American SummerBy Bruce Levy QuailBellMagazine.com Editor's Note: This review originally ran in ShowBizRadio on July 1st. The Music Man is as American as baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and the 4th of July. Just mention it and there is almost a universal response of “I love that show…my favorite song is….” (even the Beatles recorded “Till There Was You.”) It is especially appropriate that Richmond, Virginia's Virginia Repertory Theatre chose to produce it right around the 4th of July, which is also when the musical takes place. The only drawback to performing such a familiar is it is hard to make it innovative and original. However, there is something to be said for a comfortable musical. It can be just as comforting as hot dogs, apple pie…or chocolate! With book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Wilson, The Music Man tells the story of the unlikely courtship between Marian the librarian (and piano teacher) in 1912 River City, Iowa, and a swindling travelling salesman going by the name of Harold Hill, who goes from town to town selling instruments and uniforms to form a boy’s band (with no intention of ever actually forming that band.)
Seeing Amanda Johnson as Marian is well worth the ticket price alone. With her gorgeous operatic soprano voice, I would gladly sit through just a 3 hour solo concert. I have to admit, I grew up with a crush on Shirley Jones, but Johnson actually outsings her! Her development of the character of Marian is excellent as well. She effortlessly takes Marian from a stiff and prudish old maid, to a warm-hearted and vibrant woman discovering love.
Larry Cook looks and sounds so similar to Robert Preston that he is a natural for the part of Hill. He displays warmth and charm with that underlying sense of dirty rotten scoundrel. He did have a tendency to overly bounce around the stage with high kicking legs that seemed more like Dick Van Dyke playing Tigger. It did; however, seem to help him bring more energy as the show moved along. At first I found his performance a bit too reserved and one-dimensional; but as the romance developed so did the energy and multi-dimensionality in his character. Richard Koch as Hill’s cohort Marcellus Washburn was kind of a cross between Buddy Hackett and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz — the comedic yes man, yet with wonderful vocal and dance skills. With such a large cast (37 people) it is hard to recognize everyone’s contributions, but there were several additional standouts. Joe Pabst and Debra Wagoner as Mayor Shinn and his wife Eulalie brought laughter each time they were on stage. Likewise the barbershop quartet/school board members (Keith McCoy, Kenneth Putnam, Jody Ashworth, and David Janeski) were pleasantly pitched and appropriately silly. I also enjoyed the warmth and heart Lauren Leinhaas-Cook brought to Marian’s mother, Mrs. Paroo. But the crowd favorite was clearly ten-year old Brandon McKinney as Marian’s brother Winthrop. His vocals brought the loudest cheers from the crowd as he exuded perfect pitch and tone and great energy and likeability. Even his lisp was consistent and believable — not over the top. Leslie Owens-Harrington’s choreography was lively and energetic, especially with the teen dancers in Marian the Librarian and Shipoopi. Sarah Grady’s costumes were bright and period appropriate. Brian C. Barker’s set used multi-level stairs and bridges to keep the show visually varied and impressive. I am a bit leery to mention the one drawback for me, as I fear I will open a can of worms. I did have some general problems with some of the casting. I was a bit surprised in the use of women costumed as men in the train scene and girls costumed as boys in the band. While this works on a community theater level, I was surprised to see it in a more professional venue (and it really stuck out to me). If they could not cast sufficient numbers of men or boys, I would have preferred that they just reduce the number of bodies on stage for those scenes. With that said, I definitely encourage you to go and see the “Trouble” in River City so you can catch the talent in the City of Richmond. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Top Ten Strangest Places in the United StatesBy Julie Lain QuailBellMagazine.com Think you’ve seen it all? Think again. From roach displays to stone gardens, America is home to many wacky and out-of-the-ordinary spots. Some are man-made structures, while others are unexplained natural phenomena, but either way they definitely make heads turn. To find out more, I’ve compiled a top ten list of the most bizarre places in the U.S. of A. 1. Grand Prismatic Spring--Yellowstone National Park, WY Not your typical body of water, this hot spring is the largest in the U.S. and third largest in the world. But what also makes this one fascinating is the diverse array of colors. This “boiling lake” is deep blue in the center due to the high temperature of the water which makes it impossible for anything to live, and has different colored bands of water toward the outside from different pigments of bacteria. 2. Oregon Vortex--Gold Hill, OR Physics doesn’t seem to apply in this slanted mining shack that slid off its foundation in the 1930’s. This gravity-defying structure has strange effects such as bottles rolling uphill, a broom standing by itself, and people’s heights changing depending on where they stand. While some believe this to simply be an optical illusion, others theories point to magnetic forces as the cause. 3. Marfa Lights Viewing Area--Marfa, TX
When most people look up at the nighttime sky, they may see starlight or moonlight. But in an area near Marfa, Texas, it is not unusual for residents to see mysterious balls of bouncing light. The Marfa Lights still have scientists scratching their heads with many theories—some say they are simply car headlights, while others have offered more otherworldly explanations like spirits or aliens. But regardless, this unusual sight has captured the imaginations of many and attracts visitors from all over the world. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Lost forever?By QB History Buff QuailBellMagazine.com "Don't tear down my woods." (Yep, just teasing you again.)
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The Unicorn Queen on WatermelonsWhat came first, the watermelon outfit or watermelon makeup? In my case, the socks!
I saw a pair of watermelon knee-highs at Fred Flare and fell in love. Soon after I found myself obsessed with watermelons! I decided to build an entire outfit, complete with makeup, inspired by watermelons—which I wore it to the Generation Beauty event. It was a big hit! Socks: Fred Flare, $12.50 Purse: H&M Dress, belt, sunglasses: Forever 21 Shoes: Buffalo Exchange Watch: Target Makeup: Chinadoll & Palette d’Antoinette (eyeshadows), Countessa Fluorescent + Centrifuchsia (lips), all by Lime Crime. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Pooping in China: Monthly reflections on living, teaching, and moving bowels abroadBy Brandon Jeune QuailBellMagazine.com Editor's Note: Brandon Jeune is a 25-year-old graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University. He teaches English to children in China. He writes "Pooping in China" and distributes it to friends and family as an email more or less every month. He has given us permission to serialize the emails here. Because we just relaunched our website, we're hurrying to catch up and post all of the emails Brandon's sent over the past few months. Read the first installments here and here and here. Happy New Year! Yes, I know I’m in China, and should be adapting to the Lunar calendar and saving my New Year greetings for a few more weeks, but my brain’s still locked in Gregorian time, so here we are. Actually, I’ve just made the relatively easy decision to observe the New Year twice, as it means double the holiday celebrations, and double the chances of following through on those pesky resolutions. I think the latter in particular is something from which we could all benefit. I mean, how many of us have resolved to get up early and exercise every day during the coming year, only to wake up hungover around noon on the first and somberly declare, ‘Well, fuck THAT.’ But now, that nausea and pounding headache doesn’t have to be accompanied by a sinking feeling of guilt from your own lack of determination! That was just the first New Year, and we have plenty of time until CHINESE New Year! So if you want to keep on eating ice cream at 2 a.m. and sleeping until lunchtime, you go right ahead, because January is officially responsibility-free! That said, my resolution this year is actually a pressing concern, and I don’t need any excuses to postpone it. In fact, I retroactively started observing it some time back, when I became aware of a current, and major, problem in my life. My resolution for 2013: To see fewer wieners than I saw in 2012. Because Jesus Christ, I saw way too many. Generally, I consider breaching the threshold of two to designate seeing “too many,” as this means I saw one other than my own. (Please note that this criterion excludes penises composed of marble or paint, and a select quantity of those captured on film, as I’d like to fancy myself a patron of the arts.) (A second note to Lars von Trier: you get a pass on smashing poor Willem Dafoe’s penis with a piece of wood, but if you push it like that again, I’ll have to revoke the exclusion for your films. Also, I’d appreciate some compensation for my dental bills, as the amount of anxious teeth grinding I did during that scene seems to have caused permanent damage to my mouth, not to mention the lingering effects on my psyche-and now when I find myself up alone eating ice cream at 2 a.m., the sharp pain in all my molars’ nerve endings is accompanied by an overwhelming feeling of depression, which I can only assume is tied to Antichrist flashbacks, and not to the fact that I’m once again up alone eating ice cream at 2 a.m.) It’d be one thing if I were gay, or a urologist, because at least then I’d be seeing penises somewhat voluntarily. This is not the case. Worse yet, these weren’t just any penises; these were underage penises. Needless to say, if some of these images that have unfortunately ended up in my brain had instead ended up on my computer, they’d be enough to land me in a federal prison. It actually began way back in November 2011, while I was studying abroad in Shanghai. During an academic break, friends and I took a trip up to Qingdao, a port city in the north of China famous for it’s Tsingtao brewery. And while beer was admittedly a major focal point of the trip, I did take in some culture and natural sights, and one day found myself taking a serene, introspective walk along the pier. I watched the kids out on the rocky beach, scrambling to collect as many shells as they could, before the tide came back in. I joined a throng gathered around an old man with two deformed, fingerless hands, as he cradled a brush between his wrists and filled sheets of rice paper with some of the most beautiful calligraphy I’ve ever seen. I made my way to the end of the pier, and leaned out, watching the waves roll in endlessly, and listening to the cawing gulls and susurrous sounds of the sea. Off to the left, where a rocky outcropping jutted into the water, a man and his son sat fishing. They hunkered against the winds and cast their lines out into the waves, reeled them in, cast again. My thoughts drifted away, ruminating on the scene and these reminders of the beauty of life, and how the world came seem so big and small, all at once-GAH! I’m staring right at a penis! The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Latin American Cultural Differences, A SurveyBy Jamie Gelbtuch QuailBellMagazine.com The stereotypes abound: fiestas, siestas, and mañana. Searching for information on the cultural differences among the twelve countries of South America is a surprisingly challenging task. Culture is complex. What we see on the surface–language, clothing, appearance, celebrations, art, or architecture–is a reflection of deeper, underlying forces–history, geography, religion, values, attitudes, beliefs–that shape a country and its people. All of these ingredients and more make up a culture, but without a greater understanding of dynamics, we are left to wonder about the validity of our perceptions and stereotypes. Photo: Allison Corbett Last year, Cultural Mixology recently surveyed 250 natives from six countries in Latin America to get an insider’s view on language, influences and perceptions, regional differences, values, punctuality, and food. As one anonymous respondent aptly pointed out, “Those outside Latin America perceive all Latin American countries equally; they can’t distinguish whether they are from Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, etc.” The results of this survey can help us better understand what makes each country in South America so unique. Here they are: The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
237 Years of Independence Day CelebrationsBy Brianna Duff QuailBellMagazine.com Imagine: it is July 8th of the year 1776 and the American Revolution rages around you. You don’t believe in the English king you left behind, and you are overwhelmed by this new sense of patriotism that has defined the past few years. It is this patriotism that has you gathering eagerly with the rest of Philadelphia to hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud for the first time since its being finished four days earlier. The proud tones of the Liberty Bell fade behind you. Perhaps it was lacking in potato salad and barbeque, but this was the first Independence Day, held over 160 years before July 4th was even declared a national holiday (the 4th rather than the 8th since they celebrated the Declaration’s writing, not its reading). The 2.5 million American who saw their country born has now grown into 312 million, but our ties to the patriotism of the holiday harken back to that first reading of the Declaration. For decades after that first year, the day was remembered with presidential speeches and political steps towards patriotism, be it the mock funerals for the king following independence, the debate between the two newly-formed political parties at the end of the eighteenth century, or the abolition of slavery in New York in 1827.
These political motives are a far cry from what the 4th is to me. It is no longer politically centered, but rather is a perfect excuse to dress in red, white, and blue and eat picnics to the sound of band music and fireworks cracking. Though our first president may have balked at the color choices (they wore green thanks to the ready availability of that color), Washington and his contemporaries would still be proud of our ways of celebrating. As John Adams said, Independence Day should always be celebrated with “pomp and parade, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.” And that it certainly is. My own family is very aware of this as we have taken to traveling to a number of different places over the years, from Lexington, Virginia to see the hot air balloons to Richmond’s own James River celebration. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Little Darling ArgusFor Christmas, I bought myself a cute '40s Argus C3. I used to be very interested in film photography in high school, but then one day my creaky thrifted '70s camera broke and I couldn't afford a new one, and that kind of fizzled out. It's really nice to work with film again! This is the first roll I've shot in the Argus, and I'm thrilled that they turned out so well...I was kind of expecting them to turn out all blurry and full of light leaks, since it's such an old camera and I did get it on eBay, ha. There were some peculiar double exposures, but I find them charming.
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