the linda beck blog

KidScreen Summit 2012

2012-02-11T01:02:00.005-05:00

The 2012 KidScreen Summit was informative and inspiring.

And, I got to pet this lemur, who is an employee of the Kidscreen Delegate Lounge Sponsor: SeaWorld!

CBS's "Person of Interest"

2011-12-02T12:21:00.006-05:00

Jeremy Beck will be appearing on CBS's "Person of Interest" on December 15th at 9/8c. As a promo, I made some small changes to an already existing image.

My first venture into comicing - Calmic 001

2011-11-12T21:45:00.007-05:00

Although I've drawn little one panel comics for years, this is my first venture into multi-panel format.

Thumb-nailed about a year ago, sketches started about six months ago, sketches and inking completed last night, paint, coloured pencil, and clean up today.
Inspired by ASIFA-East's "An Evening with Pizza Island" the other night, my goal was simply to render an idea completely from start to finish.
Comments appreciated!

Also, check out Pizza Island's website here

ASIFA-East President's Letter - November 2011

2011-11-07T11:56:00.002-05:00

Click image

Social Media Icon Pencil Drawings

2011-11-03T18:35:00.013-04:00

Feel free to use these if you are so inclined, but please link to my website or blog somewhere wherever you are using them.

Self Doubt?

2011-10-27T08:29:00.005-04:00

I shot this last Sunday to show my nephew and nieces how you can animate with a digital camera. It was also a great excuse to play with my new camera remote and reacquaint myself with my old buddy After Effects.

Rusty Metal 1, 3, and 2

2011-10-13T23:26:00.006-04:00

I love old "peely" painted wood and rusty pieces of painted metal. Here are some photos I took of the latter which were part of a big piece of farm equipment I came across in Massachusetts.

The Animated Films of Karen Aqua

2011-10-12T23:11:00.003-04:00

Click here to link to my ASIFA-East blog post on the event.

Academy Salute to John Hubley

2011-10-12T00:37:00.003-04:00

John Canemaker, Emily Hubley, and Michael Sporn
at the Academy of Arts and Sciences "Academy Salute to John Hubley"

Click here for the ASIFA-East blog summary of the event.

ASIFA-East President's Letter - September 2011

2011-09-28T23:20:00.003-04:00

click image for link

The Linda Beck Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) 2011 Recap!

2011-09-26T21:28:00.045-04:00

Thursday morning I arrive in Canada for my favourite animation fest: the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), heading straight for Arts Court to pick up my AnimaPass. I drop stuff off at the hotel, stop by the convenience store for water, discover pickle flavoured Doritos (yes!) and slip into the ByTowne Cinema for Short Competition 4. I grab a seat next to Glenn Ehlers and then Fran Krause materializes just before the lights go down. Queue the first of the Ace & Son Films signal films and Ottawa official begins for me.

Short Competition 4 Highlights:

"Umbra" by Malcolm Sutherland (reminiscent of Fran Krause's Moonraker)
"Partition" by Delia Hess (well done, well designed, and neat concept - exceptional undergrad work)
"The Goat and the Well" by Ben Cady (brilliant timing, lovely simplicity - outstanding undergrad work)
"Keha Malu (Body Memory)" by Ulo Pikkov (gorgeous puppet work)

Thursday afternoon: next stop is the International Showcase 2 at the Empire.

International Showcase 2 Highlights:

"Ballad of Nessie" by Kevin Deters & Stevie Wermers-Skelton (DELIGHTFUL. Well done, team Disney)
"The Missing Key" by Jonathan Nix (Very pretty and well animated with a nice story.)

From there, I head over to Short Competition 3.

Short Competition 3 Highlights:

"I'm Fine Thanks" by Eamonn O'Neill

Thursday evening I have dinner with Fran Krause at the Fish Market. I finally hear from Mike Overbeck and we hurry over to the Earl of Sussex to have a drink with him. I briefly think of Tom Warburton, as years ago we met him at this very same pub, but he's too lazy to get off his keister to play with his friends in Ottawa so I hex him instead.

Then, it's off to class... Masterclass, that is, with Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby at Arts Court. After playing "When the Day Breaks", animation's foxiest female duo gives a fascinating summary of their history, process, and working dynamic. They also show their film "Wild Life" and some of their more commercial work.

Last stop before socializing is Short Competition 2 back at the ByTowne.

Short Competition 2 Highlights:

"I'm Sorry" by Bowon Kim (terrific story and really nice animation, reminiscent to me and probably no one else of Dan Pinto's "Hedgehug". And by HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!!)
"Two" by Steven Subotnick (Experimental film that didn't feel like hard work to get through.)
"The Renter" by Jason Carpenter (Lovely Andrew Wyethesque backgrounds, great story, lovely mystery.)
"Hinterland" by Jakob Wede & Jost Althoff (Terrific stop motion and hand drawn. Great story.)
"Paso Doble" by Jamie Metzger (Unbelievably beautiful animation and design.)

Finally, it's off to the Student Party at the SAW where St. Ambroise Griffon beer is served and lots of visiting happens.

Friday morning Breakfast at Dunn's with Andy London soon becomes breakfast with a gaggle including: Andy London, Kat Morris, Jake Armstrong, Fran Krause, and Kate Burck. Breakfast is terrific, both by pancake and conversation standards, but I fail to make it to Meet the Filmmakers at Arts Court. Shucks. Afterward, we swing by Arts Court anyway and spy Richard O'Connor reading a book about the illegal reptile trade. He, Liesje Kraai, and I have a chat about the current state and future of ASIFA East which I find very helpful. Fran Krause absconds with my camera and takes lots of pictures.

Linda Beck listens attentively to ASIFA-East feedback

Friday afternoon I do a terrible job of leading a walking group to Cartoon Network's Animator Picnic at Strathcona Park but we manage to make it there anyway. Always one of the best parts of the OIAF, 2011's picnic lives up to its superlative.

OIAF Picnic: The NY Ottawa Pilgrims

OIAF Picnic: Foreman & Frenzer

OIAF Picnic: Will Krause and Mirella Toncheva

OIAF Picnic Highlights:

A great check in with the beautiful Biljana Labovic about animation, personal work, family, and life.
Dodging bee attacks with bee charmer and animator Joe Stucky.
Finding "my people": animators David Chai and Dave Yee and talking with their flock of students.
Enticing squirrels with Joel Frenzer and Alan Foreman of the Frenzer Foreman Animation Forum Podcast.
Getting beaned with a soft Cartoon Network frisbie by OIAF Director Chris Robinson; a compliment in these parts.

Friday evening After a short break back at the hotel to look at and respond to work email and check in with a rerun of "Little House On The Prairie", I meet Mike Overbeck, Joel Frenzer, his parents, and his animator cousin Molly for dinner on Elgin Street. It is a jolly affair. We learn lots of things about Joel's childhood. Bonus time! Then it's back to the Empire for International Showcase 1.

International Showcase 1 Highlights:

"La Luna" by Enrico Casarosa (Lovely 3D animation by a little old company called Pixar)

I stop by Salon des Refusés but realize I've turned into a pumpkin and slink off lamely to my hotel room to go to sleep.

Saturday morning I stop off at the grocery store for a bottle of mooshy berries and yogurt and a giant bottle of water and trek to The Museum of Civilization for the TV for Kids Competition, which turns out to be a great program.

TV for Kids Competition Highlights:

"Das Bild Der Prinzessin (Princess' Painting)" by Johannes Weiland & Klaus Morschheuser
"The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack 'Fish out of Water'" by Thurop Van Orman, John Infantino, John McIntyre, Robert Alvarez, Larry Leichliter, and Greg Levitan
"Adventure Time 'It Came from the Nightosphere'" by Pen Ward, Patrick McHale, Larry Leichliter & Nick Jennings

Saturday afternoon Somewhere in here I finally meet David Cowles and some of his cohorts (Jeremy Galante and Adam Fisher were standing there with him), after seeing his work for years. I stick around the Museum of Civilization for Short Film Competition for Kids.

Short Film Competition for Kids Highlights:

"T.H.I.R.S.T." by Joel Frenzer (Imaginative and fun!) "I Can Be President" by Michael Sporn
"Keenan At Sea" by David Cowles and Jeremy Galante
"Marvin" by Mark Nute
"The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" by William Joyce & Brandon Oldenburg (Gorgeous and I love the Buster Keaton characterization)

Two years ago, I had wandered around on a search for food with Dave Levy, Willy Hartland and a few other NY folks and found a European Brigadoon in the french district of Gatineau. Determined to find this place again, I set out by myself and run into my new buddies David Chai and Dave Yee on the way. They skip Competition 3 to accompany me on my adventure. Success! The place is called Le Troquet. Chai and I are both vegetarians and get Cheddar and Pickle sandwiches, only this place frenches it up and calls it Cheddar et Cornichons. We continue our conversation about our favourite things: Star Trek, Comic Books, and Jet Li as we trek back over the bridge to Rue Rideau and Yee impresses us with tales of his job at ILM.

Saturday evening I stop by the hotel for all of 30 seconds and then hike BACK to the Museum of Civilization for "Special Presentation: The Marvelous Adventures of Pen and Thurop". I see Jerry Beck and the lovely Yvette Kaplan in the audience and have a short visit with them until the lights dim. The presentation is humourous and inspiring and the biggest crowd pleaser I've seen at Ottawa. Everybody loves the Pen and the Thurop.

Dinner is at one of the two Ethiopian restaurants across from the ByTowne with Kat Morris, Mirella Toncheva, Fran Krause, Kate Burck, and Sean McBride.

I race out to catch Short Competition 1 at the Empire:

Short Competition 1 Highlights:

"Manniman" by Alexander Gellner"Swimming Pool" by Alexandra Hetmerova
Sadly, I'm late, so I miss "Timber" by Adam Fisher, which I was really looking forward to seeing, but it was thankfully online.

I plan to go to Jerry Beck's "Animation Fight Club", but as my friends are throwing a party and I'm a den mother to the animation community, I accompany Alan Foreman to set up his and Joel Frenzer's hotel room for the unofficial OIAF Saturday night raver. I also secure a bag of Intense Pickle Doritos. The elevator doors open on their floor to reveal Howie Shia with whom we have a quick three sentence visit. Then it's Frenzer Foreman Unofficial Party Forum time, which evolves quickly into the best Ottawa party I can remember. A fantastic crowd and plenty of awesome, despite Mike Overbeck's attempts to ruin it with terrible wheel of cheese.

FFAF Partying: Kate Burck, Fran Krause, and Kat Morris

FFAF Partying: Mike Overbeck, Linda Beck, and Jake Armstrong

FFAF Partying: Dave Yee & David Chai (terribly blurry, so PSed with sci-fi colours)

Sunday morning Breakfast at Cora's with Jake Armstrong, Sean McBride, and Mike Overbeck and a little extra visit time with Linda Simensky and the Krauses. Mike Overbeck and I chase down the bus to the airport where Mike is held hostage both by the self check-in kiosk "Do you need more time?" and the full body scanner "please hold still".

Mike Overbeck and his taunting Self Check-In Kiosk

We buy junk for our friends back in the states from the airport store. Kat Morris shows up at the gate so we get in a few more minutes of visit and then I say goodbye to my west coast bound buddies and through the portal to my flying vessel I go.

OIAF 2011, you were the best one yet. Top yourself next year.

Linda chats with Joel and Alan on the Frenzer Foreman Animation Forum Podcast

2011-09-20T19:54:00.011-04:00

If you haven't listened to Joel Frenzer and Alan Foreman's Frenzer Foreman Animation Forum podcast, you should.

Here's an episode where you can hear my voice saying lots of things about animation and ASIFA East:

Episode 26: President Linda Beck

The Frenzer Foreman duo will be hosting the closing night ceremony this Sunday at my very favourite animation event: the Ottawa International Animation Festival!

For more information about ASIFA East, visit our website and our blog : the aNYmator, which I incorrectly refer to by its former title The Exposure Sheet!

Owl Quilt Panel

2011-08-30T22:09:00.004-04:00

A quilt panel I contributed to a baby shower gift for my friend in Atlanta years ago.

Program Art for Kennedy Center & Refugee International's production of George Packer's "Betrayed"

2011-08-30T22:00:00.005-04:00

This is the program art I did for the 2009 Refugee International Kennedy Center co-production of "Betrayed".

Morgue Photos for the Kennedy Center and Culture Project's production of George Packer's play "Betrayed"

2011-08-30T21:31:00.012-04:00

In one of the scenes in George Packer's play "Betrayed", the main character goes to a morgue in Iraq to identify the body of a fellow Iraqi working as a interpreter for the Americans in the green zone. The director, Pippin Parker, had the digitally distressed versions of these photos projected onto the back brick wall of the stage to aid the character in his search.
I did all bits of the "distressing" in Photoshop. These are actresses who are all perfectly healthy and weren't harmed in any way.

Create Culture's "A Conversation with Nature"

2011-07-18T15:47:00.005-04:00

This past Saturday, I hopped on the train and trekked to Prospect Park in Brooklyn to have "A Conversation with Nature".

The walk was highlighted in Time Out, but a better description was in The Prospect Heights Patch and reads as follows:

What is Mother Nature trying to say to you? Engage in deep listening with musician Kaoru Watanabe in beautiful Prospect Park. As you move around, blindfolded, in a safe environment, you will hear the sounds of Japanese drums and flutes weave in and out of the music of the wind and the trees. With your perception of sound and space becoming radically altered, what sounds you contribute, in this conversation with nature, might surprise you.

A few things made this a really unique and mind-extending experience.

Being blindfolded and "guided" over different terrain, reacquainted me with my feet.
I walk on them every day, regularly force them into uncomfortable shoes, occasionally whack them on dressers, ottomans, and other objects, step on bees in the grass or splinters on the hardwood floor, and all the while, I've never considered their talents as "eyes". It was tremendously empowering, and I imagined myself as a caterpillar, following safely behind my antennae.

I accepted water from a female who appeared out of nowhere.
At the start, I was the only female in our group. About 30 minutes in, still blind, a female voice offered me water and I said thank you and drank it with no concern for possible poison. Newly sightless, I felt safe on my journey. It was lime seltzer too, which was an unexpected sensory experience. She thankfully turned out to be a part of the team.

I allowed myself to just be.
I rarely do anything without simultaneously doing something else. If I watch a movie or listen to a podcast, I draw... When I'm on the treadmill, I read... In my conversation with nature, I had no choice but to be fully present and to allow my senses to have their moments to shine. Afterward, I felt centered and refreshed. I believe the entire experience ran about an hour, and I felt like I'd just invented Yoga.

Lovely, earthy music enhanced the experience thanks to Kaoru Watanabe and to the natural inhabitants of our big blue planet.

In short, I highly recommend this! It's only offered for the next three weeks, so book now! Here's the Create Culture link and the brownpapertickets link with more info.

"What Now?" (detail) for The Mary Mallon Social Club

2011-07-11T22:42:00.003-04:00

This month's theme: LOST
(Click Image)

bee

2011-06-25T15:24:00.003-04:00

blue lips

2011-06-25T15:23:00.003-04:00

corset and dress frame

2011-06-25T15:22:00.005-04:00

big ole pink rhino

2011-06-25T15:22:00.002-04:00

gagged and on a stick

2011-06-25T15:20:00.001-04:00

gem cluster

2011-06-25T15:19:00.002-04:00

Yellow Bird in park amongst pigeons

2011-06-25T15:14:00.002-04:00

Saw this little chap in the park by my apartment with the pigeons. He was very proud of himself.

"Blacks and Bays, Dopples and Greys" for the Mary Mallon Social Club

2011-06-06T12:22:00.002-04:00

Painting number two for the Mary Mallon Social Club Art Collective.

Zebra and Giraffe

2011-05-24T17:48:00.001-04:00

walk

2011-05-18T10:35:00.003-04:00

"Journey" for The Mary Mallon Social Club

2011-05-06T17:33:00.007-04:00

Inaugural painting for the Mary Mallon Social Club. The what? Click the image for more info.

Buddies

2011-05-04T17:38:00.004-04:00

Spring!

2011-05-02T14:17:00.004-04:00

voices visions replays

2011-04-22T17:43:00.000-04:00

Put on your own oxygen mask first

2011-04-19T13:28:00.006-04:00

Boy Kings Series: Edward VI

2011-04-10T22:42:00.004-04:00

"Boy Kings: Edward VI"
(Cardboard, Pencil, Acrylic)

Final:

Stage 2:

Stage 1:

Boy Kings Series: Tutankhamun

2011-04-10T22:21:00.006-04:00

"Boy Kings: Tutankhamun"
(Cardboard, Pencil, and Acrylic)

Final:

Stage 2

Stage 1

Artistic Biscuits: Dark Chocolate Fennel Biscuits

2011-04-06T23:00:00.006-04:00

My coworkers at "Team Umizoomi" spanked a huge project the other day and to celebrate, I made them these.

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 a bar (or whatever looks like the right amount) of dark chocolate (I used 77%), chopped
3/4 teaspoon dried fennel seeds, roughly chopped into smallish bits
1 cup well-shaken light buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, and fennel, then blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in chocolate. Add buttermilk and stir until just combined.

Form dough into 1 1/2" round balls and place about an inch apart on a large buttered baking sheet. Bake in middle of oven until golden, roughly 10 minutes.

April Fool's Shenanigans

2011-04-01T16:27:00.016-04:00

THIS MORNING'S EMAIL CHAIN:
(with only a few responses, posted without names to protect the dignity of the gullible)

Sent: 4/01/11 8:30 am
From: Linda Beck
To: family
Subject: And overnight we become a family of 8

Even with all the tests at the vet a week or so ago, I guess it never occurred to anyone to check and see if our little Naps was pregnant. Well, after a night of inexplicable spasticness on her part, i awoke to see the population in our apartment had increased by four. Strangely enough, none of the kittens have tails, reminiscent of my precious long gone cat, Nougie.

Way to go stray cat. Way to find a place to deposit your kittens.
___
Sent: 4/01/11 8:31 am
From: Linda Beck
To: family
Subject: And overnight we become a family of 8

Did the picture go through? I'm having phone issues. Argggg technology!!

Family members and friend kindly congratulate us on the new arrivals!

"How cute is that" What color are they? and--- WHERE did she have them? Can't wait to see the proud family! Congrats g'ma and g'pa!"

"Nope no pics. Congratulations! 6 new kids in one year. Man! You guys must be exhausted~!!!"
___
Sent: 4/01/11 8:40 am
From: Linda Beck
To: family
Subject: And overnight we become a family of 8

Well, apparently the picture didn't go through. I'll try to send it from work. I don't remember Momkey or Half-Nose's kittens being able to walk when they were just born but apparently my memory is failing. I had to chase three of them back into the apartment before I left.

Oh, and they're almost purple in colour... lavender whiskers. Very pretty.

(Various responses from family members and friends arrive - none of which convey disbelief in the fantastical colour of the kittens.)

"This email chain is almost crazy enough for me to think someone’s sending spam from your account! Congrats on the purple kitties"
___
Sent: 4/01/11 9:00 am
From: Linda Beck
To: family
Subject: And overnight we become a family of 8

Thanks! They're very cute, even if they look a little like were dropped in the Paas Easter Egg dye. Any theories on what would make them come out like that? I can't find anything on the web. She's a street cat, so who knows what she got into. Their toes are kind of turquoise. Very strange.

My loving family member sincerely asks, "Are you're sure they're KITTENS?"
___
Sent: 4/01/11 9:44 am
From: Linda Beck
To: family
Subject: And overnight we become a family of 8

Just talked to Jeremy -

Now there are 6 kittens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
___
Sent: 4/01/11 10:20 am
From: Linda Beck
To: family
Subject: And overnight we become a family of 8

Take 4 on sending the picture... Fingers crossed that it goes through this time.

"Yeah, something is weird with them. U should get them checked out. It's a stray cat, so it could be anything. It's in their eyes too they're like bright blue. Either it's something that will go away later or they're just gonna be that way. I would take them to the vet though."

But finally:

"Damn you. April 1st huh?"

And by the way, I Photoshopped those kittens purple - I didn't borrow any kittens and dye them. Sheesh, people.

Artistic Biscuits: Thank You, Umiz Monterey Jack & Chipotle Biscuits

2011-03-13T22:35:00.007-04:00

As a thank you for going above and beyond with sweetness, I made some savoury biscuits for my terrific coworkers at Nickelodeon's "Team Umizoomi":

Monterey Jack & Chipotle Biscuits

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
8 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, grated
2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon chipotle pepper flakes
1 cup well-shaken light buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, ground pepper, and chipotle flakes in a bowl, then blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in Muenster cheese. Add buttermilk and stir until just combined.

Form dough into 1 1/2" round balls and place about an inch apart on a large buttered baking sheet. Bake in middle of oven until golden, roughly 10 minutes.

Check out some cool Umi stuff on the Nick, Jr. "Team Umizoomi" website!

Unitarian Universalist Chalice

2011-03-13T10:10:00.010-04:00

The Flaming Chalice is the traditional "symbol" of Unitarian Universalism. Because the U.U.s are such a small part of the religion pie chart (less than 1% of the U.S. population, I believe one of our ministers at All Souls reported), Unitarian Universalist Chalices are not mass produced and therefore there isn't a wide selection from which to chose. Many of the handmade chalices, though beautiful, are a little too ornate for my taste.

For my son's dedication gift, I got him the above footed soup bowl, which I think proves a charming alternative. Here's a link to the very mainstream store where I found it.

Thoracic Blossoms

2011-03-12T14:48:00.002-05:00

Welcome Back, Friend

2011-03-12T14:34:00.003-05:00

Progress

2011-03-12T14:27:00.003-05:00

Elements

2011-03-12T14:19:00.001-05:00

Rollerskating Unicorn

2011-03-12T11:47:00.002-05:00

group hug

2011-02-10T15:59:00.005-05:00

A really great impromptu group hug with some dear friends a couple of Saturdays ago provided strength for a difficult Monday.
Big love, Goldstein and Stuart.

"Victorian shielded shawl and diaper pin"

2011-02-10T10:45:00.006-05:00

Here's a new note card I illustrated followed by a tidbit about the history of its subject:

The Diaper Pin

According to Henry Petroski in his book “The Evolution of Useful Things”:

In 1842, Thomas Woodward, of Brooklyn, New York, patented “a manner of constructing shielded pins for securing shawls, diapers, &c*” which he called “the Victorian shielded shawl and diaper pin.” His device consisted of a pin hinged to a cupped piece of metal that covers the point, and it is highly suggestive of a modern safety pin. According to Woodward’s patent, “It will not become loosened by motion of the wearer and …the point of the pin cannot, by any accident, be caused to puncture, or scratch, the person.” However, this pin had no integral spring, and so it had to rely upon the bulk of material compressed within it to hold the point in the shield.

The shortcoming was removed by the “dress-pin” invented by Walter Hunt of New York City and patented in 1849. His pin had “the distinguishing features of…one piece of wire or metal combining a spring, and clasp or catch, in which catch, the point of said pin is forced and, by its own spring, securely retained.”

Here's Hunt's original patent illustration, also from Petroski's book:

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-20T20:03:00.005-05:00

Cheers!

Linda, Jeremy, & Phineas

Artistic Biscuits: Chocolate Orange Walnut Biscuits for Jeri & Robaire

2010-10-23T22:14:00.009-04:00

My sister Jeri and her husband Bob (Robaire, I call him) came for a visit today to meet their new nephew. Jeri and I both give the marriage of orange and chocolate the stamp of approval. I wanted to sass up the combo a little so I also added walnuts and chili powder. In the picture below the biscuits look a little flat. That's because I completely forgot to add the baking soda. They were still scrumptious!

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 t. baking powder
2 t. sugar
3/4 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
6 T. (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
zest of one orange and juice from half
1 oz. good dark chocolate (I used 1/2 a bar of 74% cocao Dagoba with chilies and nibs)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 t. chili powder
1 cup well-shaken low-fat buttermilk
1/8 cup raw sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in orange zest, orange juice, chocolate, walnuts, and chili powder. Add buttermilk and stir until just combined.

Spoon dough into mounds (size depending on how many you wish to make - I made about 15 total) about 2 inches apart onto a buttered large baking sheet. Sprinkle raw sugar on top of each.

Cook 10-12 minutes and transfer immediately to cooling rack. Devour.

Listen to this on loop while making these:

"I Am A Paleontologist" by They Might Be Giants (Animated by my buddy Sean McBride)

Artistic Biscuits: Road Trip Biscuits (or Caramelized Onion, "Faken," and Maple Biscuits)

2010-10-09T23:05:00.010-04:00

Friends of mine are getting married tomorrow in Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts. I made these for the road trip. My companion, Max, likes bacon a whole lot and I thought he'd appreciate something that was sweet and salty at the same time.

Voila! These were good, but honestly not the best of my inventions. If you're really craving some "faken" biscuits, try these instead.

Note: By all means, increase the amount of "faken" and "onion" but adding more syrup would probably make these too sweet. They're already much sweeter than any other biscuits I've made.

Also, I'm not sure what would make me cry more: the thought of someone making this with real bacon or the thought of someone making these with fake maple syrup. Either way, if you make them, let me know what you think!

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (this was my attempt to make these a little healthier. ha!)
2 1/2 t. baking powder
3/4 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
6 T. (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 T. butter to caramalize onion
1/2 T. butter to cook vegetarian bacon strips
1/3 cup minced onion
5 pieces of Morning Star vegetarian bacon strips (or Smart Bacon)
1/8 cup pure maple syrup
1 cup well-shaken low-fat buttermilk

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Caramelize onions and stir that and the maple syrup into mixture. Cook vegetarian bacon according to package instructions (I did mine in the skillet in a 1/2 a Tablespoon of butter) and when cool, crumble into bits. Add bacon bits and buttermilk and stir until just combined.

Spoon dough into mounds (size depending on how many you wish to make - I made about 18 total) about 2 inches apart onto one or two buttered, large baking sheets.

Cook 8-10 minutes and transfer immediately to cooling rack. Eat.

hands

2010-10-08T15:52:00.005-04:00

Artistic Biscuits: Cheesy "Faken" Birthday Biscuits for Loreen

2010-10-05T00:04:00.005-04:00

I made this recipe up for my sister's birthday keeping the following things in mind: 1. She prefers savoury over sweet and 2. she was to arrive in the morning and so I wanted it to be breakfasty. Although I passionately hate omelets, I have nothing against omelet ingredients so I thought long and hard about what I could tolerate in an omelet, were I to be able to tolerate omelets. The answer I came up with that I thought Loreen would like was the following list of ingredients: cheese, vegetarian bacon, onion, parsley, and pepper.

Sinful breakfast deliciousness.

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 t. baking powder
2 t. sugar
3/4 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
6 T. (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
8 oz. Muenster Cheese, coarsely grated (1 1/4 cups)
1/4 cup minced onion
2 T. fresh parsley, finely chopped
5 pieces of Morning Star vegetarian bacon strips (or Smart Bacon)
1 t. coarsely ground black pepper
1 cup well-shaken low-fat buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in Muenster cheese, onion, parsley, and ground pepper. Cook vegetarian bacon according to package instructions (I did mine in the skillet in a Tablespoon of olive oil) and when cool, crumble into bits and add to mixture. Add buttermilk and stir until just combined.

Spoon dough into mounds (size depending on how many you wish to make - I made about 15 total) about 2 inches apart onto a buttered large baking sheet.

Cook 8-10 minutes and transfer immediately to cooling rack. Devour.

Happy Birthday, Loreen.

Chaos Order

2010-09-30T18:40:00.008-04:00

This is a quadripdych (I'm proclaiming this a legitimate word) I did for an art show in 2008 with Montauk Project.

leaf

2010-09-28T20:24:00.002-04:00

Frank Burns eats worms

2010-09-27T23:59:00.004-04:00

Major Franklin Delano Marion "Frank" Burns

Artistic Biscuits: Laundry Biscuits (or Biscuits de Noix de Coco, et le Chocolat Lavande)

2010-09-23T22:08:00.018-04:00

Instead of doing laundry tonight, I made these biscuits.
The coconut and chocolate add some nice texture and "meltiness" and the self-rising flour provides just the right hint of saltiness to keep it from being too sweet. What makes these unique, though, is the lavender.

The french word for lavender is lavande, with a possible origin in the 10th century latin word lividus, which means "bluish." Around the 13th century, lavender was added as a fragrance to soap and the french word laver, to wash, was born. The word laundry is from the 16th century and is related to the french word lavanderie, which comes from the Latin word lavandarium or "things to be washed." I should have brought the lavandarium down to the basement to do the wash tonight, but alas, I was biscuit-inspired.

So while no laundry was done, I did learn a little about the origin of the word.

Laundry Biscuits

Preheat Oven to 400°F

2 cups self-rising flour
4 Tablespoons butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 cup shredded coconut (I used sweetened but it's up to you)
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Tablespoon dried lavender
3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk

In a large mixing bowl, blend self-rising flour and butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add remaining ingredients, pouring in the buttermilk last, and stir until just combined.

Coat 2 baking trays with butter and spoon mixture into 18-20 piles, about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 6-8 minutes or until lightly golden in colour. Remove from trays immediately to prevent the bottoms from burning and put them on a cooling rack.

Listen to this while baking:

"Laundry Room" by the Avett Brothers

Watch this lovely Disney animation compilation (accompanied by Burl Ives' singing) while eating these:

"Lavender Blue"

Tasters:
Jeremy Beck & Me

Yeoman Janice Rand

2010-09-22T22:20:00.003-04:00

Simply put: if you have a blog, you should have a portrait of Janice Rand on that blog.

Swizzle Sticks

2010-09-20T14:35:00.007-04:00

Fran Krause spent an afternoon at my apartment painting a mural on the nursery wall... I drew swizzle sticks that remind me a little of Ed Emberly's drawing books. Remember those?

The term swizzle stick was coined in 1933 after a drink called the Rum Swizzle. Here's the Food Network recipe for how to make one:

Ingredients
4 ounces dark rum
4 ounces amber rum
2 ounces triple sec
2 lemons, juiced
5 ounces pineapple juice
5 ounces orange juice
2 ounces simple syrup
4 dashes bitters
cracked ice

Directions
Add all ingredients to a pitcher with a tight-fitting lid. Shake vigorously until it froths. Strain into cocktail glasses and serve.

Guilty Wife Almond Basil Biscuits

2010-09-19T19:31:00.030-04:00

These biscuits name their own occasion (ahem) and are custom-made for Jeremy who fancies almond pastries. I added the basil on a whim, thinking that it seemed to be a good companion for the almond flavour. They're a lovely pair.

This is different base recipe than what I usually use as it contains self-rising flour, which I happened to have on hand. (You can easily find this in any grocery store.) It was invented in 1845 by an English baker named Henry Jones, and has baking powder, the leavening agent which adds tiny gas bubbles and makes your baked goods more airy and soft, and the salt already mixed in. Here's a fascinating article from The Bristol Illustrated News (thanks to the flickr blogger for this!) that explains Jones' trials in getting his self-rising flour into popular use by the Admiralty. Interestingly, Florence Nightengale's advocacy of his invention during the Crimean War was a major reason for its popularity and success.)

Guilty Wife Almond Basil Biscuits
Preheat Oven to 450°F

2 cups self-rising flour
4 Tablespoons butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 Tablespoons almond paste, chopped into small chunks
1 teaspoon sugar
3 Tablespoons fresh basil, cut into thin strips
1/3 cup coarsely crushed whole or slivered almonds
3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 Tablespoon pure almond extract

In a large mixing bowl, blend self-rising flour and butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Chop almond paste into small chunks. (I keep my almond paste block in the fridge, so it's easier to chop up.) Add almond paste chunks and remaining ingredients, pouring in the buttermilk last, and stir until just combined.

Coat 2 baking trays with butter and spoon mixture into 18-20 piles, about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 8 minutes or until lightly golden in colour. Remove from trays immediately to prevent the bottoms from burning and put them on a cooling rack.

Some almond fun facts from wikipedia:
A sample of the almond fruit was found in Tutankhamun's Tomb (c. 1325 BC), having made its way along the Mediterranean to Northern Africa.

California is the only place in the USA where almonds are grown for major commerce. Nearly 1 million beehives are brought by truck to the groves annually to pollinate the trees.

Listen to this while eating these:
"I'm Sorry" performed by Brenda Lee

Tasters:
Jeremy Beck and yours truly

Artistic Biscuits: Grandparents' Day Biscuits

2010-09-11T21:16:00.030-04:00

Theme: Grandparents' Day

Grandparents' Day was named an offiical holiday in 1973 in a proclamation by our 39th President, Jimmy Carter. Although generally considered a Hallmark Holiday, its founder, Marian McQuade, had noble intentions in designating a calendar day to remember and celebrate the wisdom of our distinguished matriarchs and patriarchs both in and out of our country's nursing homes. She hoped that that this day would encourage young people to investigate their heritage.

This year, we happen to have some proud, new grandparents visiting which offered up a good excuse for some more biscuit experimenting.
I wanted this recipe to be slightly citrusy with a spicy, woody overtone. I chose orange and cranberry as the base and allspice as the compliment. Allspice is the berry that grows on the pimento tree; an evergreen exclusive to the western hemisphere. Once ground, it loses its flavour very quickly on the shelf. I bought whole allspice and ground it myself with my mortar and pestle and could still barely taste it in this recipe even after sprinkling in about one and a half tablespoons. I shudder to think that the allspice I purchased had been sitting in the grocery store for years and therefore lost its will to be aromatic and flavourful, but I suspect that to be the case.
The first bite of this biscuit was supposed to invoke memories of old wooden spice cabinets and pocketwatches, but what comes to mind is afternoon tea in a sun room looking out on a brisk fall day. Not a bad transportation at all - the biscuits are tasty! - just not exactly what I had aimed to create. Cooking did not help to pronounce the allspice. My advice: taste the batter and if there's no sign of the woody spiciness, add ground cloves to taste.

As they are, these biscuits are deliciously citrusy but, as biscuits should be, not too sweet.

Grandparents' Day Biscuits

2 1/4 cups All Purpose Flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 1/2 Tablespoon ground allspice
3/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped into tiny bits
1 cup reduced-fat well-shaken buttermilk

1 whole orange, zested and then cut in half
1/2 lemon

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Zest orange and set zest aside.

Place half lemon with its rind and the already zested orange in a pot and fill it with water so that both are covered. Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt, which will tame the bitterness of the rind. Bring to a boil and drain. Cut orange and lemon into manageable pieces and transfer to food processor. Pulse until still slightly chunky.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, and allspice in a bowl, then blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add orange zest, cranberry bits, and buttermilk and stir until just combined. Add processed orange and lemon.

Spoon dough into mounds (size depending on quantity desired. I think I made about 22 biscuits total.) about 2 inches apart onto a buttered large baking sheet. Bake in middle of oven until golden, 12-14 minutes.

Listen to this while you're making these:

"Grandpa Was A Carpenter" by John Prine and performed by John Prine & The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Listen to this while you're eating these:

"How Many Biscuits Can You Eat" performed by Dr. Humphrey Bate & His Possum Hunters, 1930's

Tasters:
Actor Jeremy Beck, Grandpa R. Beck, "Yoyo" (Grandmother) S. Beck

Psychogeography - Woodside, Queens

2010-09-06T11:50:00.072-04:00

Sabba Park's Compass

Psychogeography - "a slightly stuffy term that's been applied to a whole toy box full of playful, inventive strategies for exploring cities. [It] includes just about anything that takes pedestrians off their predictable paths and jolts them into a new awareness of the urban landscape." - Utne Reader

Location: Woodside, Queens
Method: 25 coin flips at corners: tails - turn left, heads - turn right
Participants: Jeremy Beck (who researched almost all of the links below for me), Phineas Beck, and Linda Beck
Inspiration: Create Culture (click to join! You should!)

1. START @ Windmuller Park, named after a German immigrant who prospered in banking and summered in Woodside until his death in 1913 and once remarked that "a good rule to make your tramp a really enjoyable pastime is to be careful and not walk too fast.". Tramp is an underused word - especially in this context. tails - left on 52nd Street. Nice cool breeze and whispering leaves in the trees.

2. heads - right on Skillman

3. tails - left on 51st Street: Fire House for Hook & Ladder 163 / Engine 325 Firehouse, built in 1939. Charming facade.
4. tails - left on 43rd Avenue. There are a number of these moving barber shop poles around the neighbourhood. There is only one company in the United States that manufactures them.
5. heads - cross 43rd Ave
6. tails - cross Roosevelt; under 7 train tracks (running since 1915, designated "7" since 1948; Straphangers 2nd best train in NYC, 2007)
7. heads - right on Queens Boulevard: Past Irish Apostolate, VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 2813 (established in 1933), and the Puritan Hall of Education
8. tails - straight on Queens Boulevard (no actual right turn). Passed by Boston Market with illegitimate-looking font. Me to Jeremy, "Why would we ever do Boston Market when everything they make, we make better?"
9. tails - left on 50th Street: across the Boulevard of Death* (from 1993 to 2000, 72 pedestrians were killed trying to cross the road). This rollerskating risk-taker tempted death by showing off his skating skills in the middle of traffic.
Then, continued down past a very noisy bird who was on a window sill in a cage, and then to "Chez José," Jeremy's former home, named after the landlord. Jeremy and our dear friend, James, had a lease there from September 2000- September 2002. José was from Columbia and spent months at a time there, leaving his family (who lived in the basement apt.) in charge of turning on the heat (which they rarely did). The place looks like it has enjoyed a fair amount of landscaping since they moved out.
10. heads - right on 47th Avenue: a peek into the back alley. These semi-detached homes afford quite a few amenities to the owners in garages, parking, storage space, etc.
11. heads - right on 49th Street
12. tails - left on Queens Boulevard. Peace has been abandoned on the sidewalk here. 13. heads - straight across Queens Boulevard to Sabba Park, named after Joe Sabba (1916-1999), a WWII vet and long-time editor of the Woodside Herald.
14. tails - left across Queens Boulevard
15. tails - left onto Queens Boulevard
16. tails - left back across Queens Boulevard to Sabba Park again (circle)
17. tails - straight on 48th Street
18. tails - continued straight on 48th Street (no actual turn), where, instead of loud birds, people keep lawn trolls in window cages.
19. heads - right on 47th Avenue
20. tails - left on 47th Street. Apparently, this is a barber shop with a secret.
21. tails - left on 48th Avenue
22. tails - left on 49th Street
23. tails - left on 47th Avenue, where competing laundry mats attempt to lure customers with different laundry accessory awning characters from a seemingly different era.
24. heads - right on 47th Street. This barber shop has some rad, vintage chairs:25. heads - right on Queens Boulevard to head back home!

*This link (see number 9 Boulevard of Death above for context) is from a terrific blog that I highly recommend, that explores and investigates "forgotten" places in New York.

Artistic Biscuits: Coal Mine Labour Day Biscuits Part Two - Sweet

2010-09-05T20:47:00.004-04:00

Theme: Labour Day

I've created this post as a part two to my original Coal Mine Labour Day Biscuit post, as I forgot to mention this interesting tidbit:

Some Cornish coal miners' wives intended the Coal Miner Pasty to serve as a two-course meal. According to Ann Pringle Harris' 1988 New York Times Piece:

It was filled at one end with meat or fish and whatever vegetables happened to be in the kitchen,'' Betty Bucknell explained, ''and at the other with apples, plums, cherries or any other fruit that was in season.

Although I can't find a source, as the Coal Miner Pasty appears to be derivative of the Cornish Pasty, I assume the above to be the case for at least some U.S. miners as well.

My original intention was to make my Coal Mine Labour Day Biscuits half-savoury and half-sweet; split right down the middle like a Black & White Cookie. However, I only had enough flour for one, so I chose to make them in two different batches instead, starting with the savoury batch.

Here's the recipe I came up with for the sweet variety. I wish I could post the aroma of these subtle and lovely biscuits. They are just delightful. I think the strawberries add just the perfect amount of sweetness. These are biscuits, not scones, and therefore I didn't make them overly sweet. You could add more sugar, though, if that's your preference.

Coal Mine Labour Day Biscuits - Sweet

2 1/4 cups All Purpose Flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 Tablespoon dried tarragon leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped into small bits
2 Tablespoons wheat germ
1/2 cup dried strawberries, chopped (I extracted these from the Trader Joe's dried berry medley)
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 cup reduced-fat well-shaken buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, in a bowl, then blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in tarragon, rosemary, wheat germ, and lemon zest. Add strawberries, breaking the pieces apart if they're stuck together. Add buttermilk and stir until just combined.

Spoon dough into mounds (size depending on quantity desired. I think I made about 22 biscuits total.) about 2 inches apart onto a buttered large baking sheet. Bake in middle of oven until golden, 12-15 minutes.

Listen to this while baking:

"Paradise" written by and performed by John Prine.

Watch this while eating:

"Coal Miner's Daughter"

Tasters:

Jeremy Beck, B. Conaty, & The Sultan Family

Artistic Biscuits: Coal Mine Labour Day Biscuits Part One - Savoury

2010-09-04T12:12:00.004-04:00

Theme: Labour Day

As this is Labour Day Weekend, Jeremy proposed that the theme of my first official Biscuit Project biscuits be just that: Labour Day. Labour Day in the U.S. is a "celebration of the economic and social achievements of workers" and was started in 1894 as a reaction to the Pullman Strike (a conflict involving cut wages for railroad car workers). Having just watched the documentary Harlan County, USA, about the 1973 coal miners' strike in Kentucky, I was inspired to focus on this part of our hardworking, energy source-providing American workforce.

Our first American commercial coal miners descended into the mines in the 1700's in Midlothian, near Richmond, Virginia. According to various accounts, thankfully preserved online by the daughters of coal miners, meals were generally prepared by the coal miners' wives and packed into a metal pail with a cover, sometimes customized with stickers or, by the more artistic, painted with scenes. While the coal miner's meal varied from place to place and day to day, I've come across a few trends:

Last night's leftovers

A sandwich and fruit

The Coal Miner Pasty, (pasty is pronounced PASStee, not PAYstee) also known as the Traditional Cornish Pasty and introduced by emigrants from Cornwall, a little filled pastry purse, made with potatoes, turnips or rutabaga, onions, and ground beef.

I chose the pasty as my biscuit spring board, leaving out the meat because I'm a vegetarian. Here's what I came up with. They were DELICIOUS.

Coal Mine Labour Day Biscuits - Savoury

2 1/4 cups All Purpose Flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
3/4 teaspoon fresh rosemary
2 scallions or green onions, minced
1 turnip, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
2 red potatoes, chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup reduced-fat well-shaken buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and turnip and cook for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, and rosemary in a bowl, then blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in scallions. With a potato masher or a fork, mash in potatoes and turnips until still slightly chunky but evenly mixed in. Add buttermilk and stir until just combined.

Spoon dough into mounds (size depending on quantity desired. I think I made about 24 biscuits total.) about 2 inches apart onto a buttered large baking sheet. Bake in middle of oven until golden, 17 to 20 minutes.

Tips:

Don't skip the turnips, even if you're afraid of them. They add a sweetness and a lovely texture. No need to be afraid of a turnip.

Listen to this while you're baking:

"The Mountain" performed by Steve Earle and The Del McCoury Band

Check out one of these documentaries while you're eating:

Harlan County, USA
Burning the Future: Coal in America

Tasters: Actor Jeremy Beck, John Rouse, one of the creators of Createculture.org, and Amy, his culturally adventurous and very pregnant wife.

Artistic Biscuits: Artist's Statement

2010-09-04T11:04:00.002-04:00

I've been devastated for the past few months, maybe longer, by what I consider a state of artistic paralysis. I have sketchbooks of all shapes and sizes, but for the most part, they remain empty, even when I carry at least one of them with me at all times. I've tried switching from pencil to pen, from plain paper to Canson, and still: pages as naked as a jaybird.

I have, however, been notably creative in instituting obstacles and excuses for my lack of output:

I have to clean the apartment first.
I'm getting off in four stops.
I'm not having a good drawing day.
I just can't draw anymore. (part one)
Maybe I could never draw? (part two)
I can't think of a thing on Earth to draw.

I've always loved to cook, never resisting the temptation to alter a recipe to my whimsy. The other day, while concocting a recipe for biscuits with cracked pepper and Muenster cheese, (here's my recipe, which I photographed and posted on animator Jene Wallace's food blog, Fill The Belly) I recognized an artistic rush, similar to how I feel when I achieve "the spark of magic" on a pencil drawing that qualifies it as particularly remarkable.

What's magical and liberating about art is that it can manifest itself in any form; a simple statement, but one I forget all too easily. To be art doesn't necessarily mean to be made of oil, marble, metal, or any of the other traditional materials you can buy at an over-priced art shop.

So, I've decided to start a new "series": The Artistic Biscuit Project. Each recipe will be inspired by something, for example: a word, historical reference or figure, holiday, etc. If they are delicious, I will say so. If they are disgusting, I will also say so. If you choose to make any using my recipes, please give me your feedback!

Last Mopped in '53

2010-07-27T21:49:00.001-04:00

2008
Ink, Paper on Vintage Book Cover

This tripdych symbolizes both the carbon cutout female domestic domination of the 1950's and the shameful reality that the artist's kitchen floor is in need of a serious mopping.

Skatedeck 2009 - Eskimos & Huskies

2010-07-27T21:31:00.001-04:00

Linoleum Bunny Print

2010-07-27T20:43:00.003-04:00

valentines 2009

2010-07-27T20:21:00.001-04:00

nursery wall bunnies

2010-07-27T20:19:00.002-04:00

tree

2010-07-27T19:46:00.002-04:00

OctoLinda

2010-07-27T19:21:00.001-04:00