Alice Curtis made this selfie in her bedroom mirror about 75 years ago. It probably wasn’t Gloucester’s first selfie, but I’ve never seen an older one. Today’s selfie is defined as taken with the photographer’s arm, and no mirror, tripod, or self timer used. Some say a cell phone camera must be used. I say hogwash, and enjoy the photographer who made 7,000 of my historic negatives. Alice was a pioneer in many ways.
Thirty five and some years later, about 1975, I photographed my maternal grandmother, Jennie Lee (Mitchell) Scales reflected in her bedroom dresser mirror. I think the comparison of the two photos is amazing.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
So the GloucesterClam – www.gloucesterclam.com went to a self hosted format and they made the unthinkable mistake of asking for what amounts to a pittance of a donation to help with costs associated with maintaining their site.
In the short time since I posted it I’ve gotten three remarks about the Clam having an ad on the site and asking for a donation as if they had just lit their children on fire and tossed them into a dumpster.
You will notice that the website has totally changed over the weekend. If you didn’t notice, you should probably feel shame in many places around your body.
We decided to do this for a bunch of reasons – better content options, better layout, plugins that can help us track you to the nearest streetcorner, the ability to add a store to sell you stickers and shirts – stuff like that. Our free options were totally limiting us, maaan. We needed freedom, baby, and we had to go get it.
So because that migration and subsequent dozen small frustrating issues took up the majority of my weekend (also I had to make several trips to Dogtown to dump leaves and brush just like everyone else in town), I have no real content to post today. But look, our site is pretty! And it’ll continue to look even better in the next few weeks as we make a few more little changes. Make sure you let us know if you have problems commenting or viewing anything. Unless your comment is terrible, in which case don’t. And be sure to let us know if you like it, or if there’s something else you want to see.
We just added a new feature- you can subscribe to our email list on our sidebar, so you know when we’re doing Clam nights or other events, and you can keep up with the latest in ClamLand. We aren’t going to sell your email to the Russians. Probably.
And now I’m going to make today’s content-less post EVEN WORSE for you. Here we go: the Clam is a labor of love for us, but it does cost us some money for upkeep. We bring you original, sometimes funny content on a daily basis – sometimes we stay up way past our bedtimes to figure out what will make you laugh tomorrow.
It’s been almost 6 months of hard, but fun, work on this blog, and we hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as we have. If you love us, and want to keep us going as long as possible, donate to us using the Paypal button on the left. Even $5 is a huge help to offset stuff like hosting, Clam nights, the gas we use driving around to take pictures that barely relate to our posts, beer to get through Wicked Tuna recaps, and the hush money we paid Marty after he accidentally droned over KT’s top-secret sexy ladyrobot lab.
So for me to get three comments in such a short amount of time about a tiny ad and the audacity the Clammers had in asking for a donation on their blog, it tells me that it’s definitely a thing. Not that I didn’t know that there are many many people out there that would begrudge them for asking. I get it completely. When my dad or other people couldn’t comprehend why I would do GMG without selling ad space or posting all the community announcements and not asking anything in return I felt and still feel that I got back way more in friendships and appreciation than I could ever make up for with the utter disgust that people who feel entitled to free content obviously feel every single day when you ask them for money for your hard work.
I don’t know why people are the way they are but it’s so very obvious that there is a huge contingency of people that think that content on the web should always be free and if you have the audacity to ask people to help cover the costs of maintaining the site that provides that content then you are just a greedy “out-to-make-money” son of a bitch.
I don’t begrudge the Clammers asking for money and I wouldn’t begrudge the Clammers if their site became so popular that the Huffington Post decided to buy them out and made millionaires out of them. If you like the content and have the means, I suggest you donate to them. if you have the means but don’t feel like donating, then don’t. Just don’t bitch about a mere suggestion that you could donate if you’d like.
If it bothers you so much to have to scroll past an ad on their site or to have to read a post where they ask for a donation then I suggest you re-examine the work you do for a living and how you would feel if someone told you that you really ought to do it for free.
They’re not doing it “for-the-money” trust me. No successful blog is written “for-the-money”. You have to have major league passion about a subject because there’s only about a bazillion other blogs or sites people could visit for free written by people that are passionate about that subject matter. No one writing for money and given assignments could ever deliver the quality of material that someone who is passionate about a subject could over time.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
I guess more folks spend money on mobile phones and tablets because that’s 90% of what they cover. I cannot tell you the last time I saw a review on a desktop computer but there has to be a little more than zero people still buying desktops, no?
I prefer creating content for the blog on my desktop wayyyyyy more than I do on my cell phone, laptop or tablet.
The limitations of small screens, less computing power and weaker applications make desktops so much more convenient to work on.
But I’m not sure why they get ZERO love on the tech websites. Does anyone else feel the same way?
Do you even consider buying a desktop any more? If so, where do you get your desktop computer info and what tech websites do you read on the regular?
Update:
See, I’m not sure if they are dying or just not being reported about.
My theory from a while back when tablet’s started to take off was that most teens will probably end up with tablets and be happy to simply consume content on them. Because they are just fine using tablets and cell phones for info they don’t feel the need or can’t justify the purchase of a more powerful desktop computer and hence don’t get into the creative side of computing as much.
I guess what I’m wondering is if the complete lack of desktop computing coverage is warranted. Is virtually no-one buying desktop computers any more?
I understand that tablets and cell phones are way more prevalent among teens and I get the obvious portability advantages of a laptop, but don’t working people and creatives still buy more bang for your buck and more powerful desktops?
Again I’ll go back to the main point- are there so few people buying desktop computers that they warrant virtually zero tech coverage?
I feel like that because there’s basically no one out there doing it that someone could carve out a niche with a desktop review site. That’s how far away from desktop computing we’ve got in my mind. That it would actually be considered a niche category in tech media coverage.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Marine Forecast :
Tue SE winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft.
Tue Night SE winds 5 to 10 kt…becoming E after midnight. Seas around 2 ft. Patchy fog. A chance of showers.
The surface of the sun from October 14th to 30th, 2014, showing sunspot AR 2192, the largest sunspot of the last two solar cycles (22 years). During this time sunspot AR 2191 produced six X-class and four M-class solar flares. The animation shows the sun in the ultraviolet 304 ångström wavelength, and plays at a rate of 52.5 minutes per second. It is composed of more than 17,000 images, 72 GB of data produced by the solar dynamics observatory (http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/) + (http://www.helioviewer.org/). This animation has be rendered in 4K, and resized to the Youtube maximum resolution of 3840×2160. The animation has been rotated 180 degrees so that south is ‘up’. The audio is the “heartbeat” of the sun, processed from SOHO HMI data by Alexander G. Kosovichev. Image processing and animation by James Tyrwhitt-Drake.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Tuesday 11/11 (or Wednesday – depending on weather)
We have changed the restoration plan, with the immanent State Funding, and tomorrow the Phyllis A will be launched off the Railway, lifted with the Travel Lift, and moved to a repair spot in the parking lot of the Gloucester Marine Railways. This move and funding allows restoration work to progress from the Community Preservation funding work, in the stern, straight through to the bow!
It should be very exciting day!
We will post the final plans/ any changes tomorrow morning, in case you want to come see!
During afternoon coffee, I got updates from Doug… After lunch on November 11, the Phyllis A will be launched, floated around to the Travel Lift and lifted into the parking lot. As long as all goes well, everything should be done by 2pm. (IF they run into any issues, things may hold off until Wednesday. But everything is going to be just Fiiiine.) So come on by the Gloucester Marine Railways and watch the fun.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
The answer is YES, which was news to me! Raspy breathing, lethargy, loss of appetite are all symptoms our sweet pooch Rosie was exhibiting and, because she is quite the cuddle girl, very determinedly nudging and burrowing to get under the bed quilts!
I swear by my chicken soup for whatever ails our human family members. Rosie immediately began to regain her appetite with just the first of many bowls. Keeping her indoors out of the cold and rain is recommended also. It has been nearly a week of extra, extra doggie pampering (my husband thinks she’s coddled entirely too much as it is) and although she is perking up, if the now only occasional raspy breathing isn’t completely gone by Wednesday, we’ll be visiting the vet.
If you have a spare moment, please send us your tips and recommendations for making your pet more comfortable when they are under the weather. We’d love to hear from you. Thank you!
Chicken Soup for the Doggie Soul (with some dry dog food added)
Hi Kim – we have a fantastic program lined up for Tuesday, November 11th at the Manchester Community Center. This event is free to alland just in time for your holiday entertaining! Social time begins at 7:00pm, program begins at7:30pm. Light refreshments will be served. Lou will be raffling off his amazing creations.
Lou Greenstein, from Edible Centerpieces, will be demonstrating techniques using carved vegetables and fruits and herbs to create beautiful centerpieces for your holiday table. Do you have an artistic flair and a love for great food? Lou Greenstein can show you how to indulge both passions at once by designing edible centerpieces to delight your guests.
Lou is a New England Epicurean Consultant with 48 years of experience in the dining service world. He has managed hotels, country clubs and restaurants as well as being a television chef, columnist and a consultant to several national kitchen appliance manufacturers. Lou is also a culinary historian and is lots of fun! For more info visit his website: http://www. louepicure.com.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Manchester Cultural Council (pending approval), a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), a state agency. Together, MCC and its advocates and partners across the state are working to restore funding for the arts, humanities, and sciences. We have a long way to go, and it remains crucial that we continue to demonstrate the value of arts and culture to the people of Massachusetts. The Manchester Cultural Council has been a generous supporter of the Seaside Garden Club programs. Visit their website for more information: www.massculturalcouncil.org
About the Seaside Garden Club: We are a group of fun, active, civic-minded and hands-on gardeners. We welcome all types of gardeners from beginners to experienced… there is always something to learn and share. We invite you to become a member of our club ($25 annual membership) and enjoy our monthly programs which feature interesting guest speakers and creative workshops. The Seaside Garden Club meets the second Tuesday of every month (September through June) at 7:00 pm at the Community Center, Manchester-by-the-Sea. Visit our blog: http://seasidegardenclub.wordpress.com/
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Gloucester’s day-boat groundfish fleet is in jeopardy as NOAA closes areas for cod fishing in the Gulf of Maine.
“NOAA Regional Administrator John K. Bullard said the agency is doubling the quota on Gulf of Maine haddock for the remainder of the 2014 season to help offset the anticipated decline in cod revenues and landings in the wake of the area closures.” Gloucester Times.
And all I can say is, awesome! It makes the granite walls and the bridge really stand out. I would love to see a few other places cleared out of weed trees. The top of Pigeon Hill used to have scenic vistas with Profile Rock close to the summit. Now it is hard to even find.
CITY OF GLOUCESTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
The City of Gloucester is updating its plan for how to use federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. These federal dollars currently support many important programs in Gloucester like: – – The City’s housing rehab program – First time homebuyer training – The Grace Center – The Open Door
Affordable housing – Small business loans – Sidewalk improvements – Park improvements
And more!
We want to hear your ideas and hope you’ll come to one of our public hearings.
– Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. at the Open Door, 28 Emerson Avenue, Gloucester, MA. Refreshments will be served.
– Wednesday, December 10, 2014, at 6:00 p.m. at the Willowood Community Building (upper level), 40 Willowood Road, Gloucester, MA. Pizza and refreshments will be served.
We will also be sending out a survey for input in the coming weeks. Check out www.gloucester-ma.gov for more information.
Henley-Douglas RnB stands above the pack as the funk band to keep your eye on. The Delta Generators are known as one of the most original Rhythm and Blues band on the Boston Scene. And a handful of special guests will make appearances including Eric Reardon, Sarah Seminski of Big Ol’ Dirty Bucket, Garret Savluk of The Boston Horns, and Yahuba Torres of The Ryan Montbleau Band. Tickets for this concert start at $19.
Salem native Henley Douglas, master sax-man co-fronts HDRnB (Henley-Douglas Rhythm and Blues) with soulful vocalist Douglas Gimbel . An original R&B/soul/groove band that performs nationwide and always delivers the mega-funk, this 6 piece ensemble blows the doors off any venue with sax and trombone, backed with fine percussion and strings. Big sound and funky grooves. The word is out- HDRnB will keep you movin’ all night.
Henley tapped another Salem native and fixture of the local music scene, Eric Reardon to heat things up with his stinging guitar licks that have been lauded by regional music giants like James Montgomery and the late great Johnny Winter. Reardon will be performing with Boston’s Sarah ‘Lil Shrimp’ Seminski, lead vocalist of the funk outfit Big Ol’ Dirty Bucket who will belt out some classic funk/Soul and modern Hip Hop/R&B with her powerful pipes.
jisilva photo
That would be a hot show right there. But hold the phone, there’s a third act on the bill.
The Delta Generators are going to play their only show this Fall on the same night. If you’ve seen the Generators, you know. If not, they are one of the most original, funky, soulful Rhythm & Blues bands Beantown has birthed in a long time. Deeply rooted in Delta and North Mississippi blues, while throwing in elements of rock, funk, soul and rootsy Americana, local favorites the Delta Generators are a fine-tuned, well-oiled machine if ever there was one.
Bam! Now that’s a show. Noooooooo, these cats aren’t done yet.
Sprinkle on two very special guests to add flavor to this already smokin’ gumbo. Puerto Rican conga king Yahuba Torres, known best as the percussion wizard in The Ryan Montbleau Band will add some jammy Latin rhythms. Garret Savluk of The Boston Horns, and formerly of Heavy Metal Horns, will bring his bad-action trumpet sound to the night.
Now that’s a festival (as the billing implies). Seth McNally, founder of M.E. Productions and promoter of the event adds, “The show will culminate with a stage jam of all the evening’s performers bringing together the biggest sound in funk, blues and soul you’ll hear this far north of the bayou.”
Henley Douglas adds with barely contained excitement, “This show is a reunion of myself, Garret Savluk and Craig Rawding (Delta Generators) of the Heavy Metal Horns. Craig was the lead vocalist for HMH and toured nationally with the band. Garret and I have toured throughout the US, Europe and Japan. Taking the stage with Garret Savluk who has had a big influence on my musical career for almost 25 years, will make this one of the best shows I’ve played this year. With Garret and Yahuba and Seminski playing this show, the music is going to be awesome!”
Tickets to see Rhythm, Funk & Blues Fest are $19, $29, and $35. For tickets and more information visit http://www.larcomtheater.com or call 978-525-9093.
Chalk up another successful Community event in my gallery. In addition to mural artist Tricia O’Neill, mural subject Vincent Ferrini’s nephew Henry Ferrini was there and spoke to the audience of about forty. After the speeches, the group walked down to see Tricia’s mural. I’d say this was a “win-win” for all.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Alice Curtis made this selfie in her bedroom mirror about 75 years ago. It probably wasn’t Gloucester’s first selfie, but I’ve never seen an older one. Today’s selfie is defined as taken with the photographer’s arm, and no mirror, tripod, or self timer used. Some say a cell phone camera must be used. I say hogwash, and enjoy the photographer who made 7,000 of my historic negatives. Alice was a pioneer in many ways.
Good Morning Gloucester 