This week, the Hebrew version of my book, Therapeutic Art Directives and Resources.  Activities and Initiatives for Individuals and Groups (with commentaries by mentor/friend, Cathy Malchiodi) was delivered to me.  A nice surprise and a lot fun to see it in another font!  This edition was published in 2006, and I knew it was out there, but hadn’t yet received an author copy.  In Hebrew, the text reads from right to left, and the book, itself, has a more compact format. However, the cover is identical to the English version. The Hebrew edition publishers are Ach Publishing, Ltd. 

 

For the Korean version, the look (and feel) has been changed: the black and yellow/greens are now white and yellow/oranges. 

 

For more about the Korean version, please see earlier blog posts:  Found in Translation—Korean (July 23, 2007) and All Good Things Come to Those Who Wait! From Ordinary to Exotic:  Breathing New Life Into an Old Book with Korean Font and Formatting (March 2, 2009). 

Thanks to a News Alert e-mail landing in my in-box at 3:57 p.m. (eastern standard time), 8:57 p.m., UK time, I found out about US Airways Flight 1549’s crash almost right away.  After clicking on the link in the e-mail, live-at-the-time MSNBC video footage appeared.

Today’s plane crash was, allegedly, due to a double bird-strike by Canada Geese. Perhaps, as a result, more attention will be given to city birds and how man and nature can often end up as unfortunate accidental obstacles for each other.

Ironically, fighting jet lag (after an overnight transatlantic flight), I was in the midst of resizing imagery of Canadian migrating birds for a future blog post. Birds are too often taken for granted, and I was planning to show a wonderful personal in-city (Toronto) sighting.  The shots that follow were taken from my bathroom window one late fall/early winter morning:

Birds collecting in the trees

Birds moving between trees

Birds close up

Birds taking off

It’s a shame there’s no audio with these photos. It was the sound the readying-to-depart birds made that alerted me, and was the most memorable.

MORE IMPORTANT NOW:  Thankfully all passengers and crew from the downed US Airways plane were rescued swiftly and efficiently, with medical experts close by almost immediately.  What an impressive operation!  A true Manhattan miracle.  Kudos to all involved, especially the pilot! A "good news" story!

For me, British newspapers can’t be beaten.  It’s a greater delight to read them when you don’t get the opportunity every day—and can hold the paper variety in your hands (clip and highlight interesting articles).  On my train journey from London to Liverpool (September 21, 07), I had a chance to catch up on a few favorite publications.  By coincidence, articles in them resonated with what I’d just become aware of during my 24 hour visit to London.  

In The Times, there was an article by Ben Hoyle, the Arts Reporter, "Record visitors to Tate as appetite increases for art."  Hoyle noted:  "Attendance at the four galleries in London, St Ives and Liverpool was 20 percent up on the previous financial year."  However, Sir Nicholas Serot, Tate director did advise of financial issues, with a reliance on revenue generated from shop sales, catering, and sponsorship. (Remember, in Britain, museum admission is free!)

The Times also focused on Arabian investments in Britain.  A headline read, "Middle East investors bring oil-enriched wallets to City."  Sub-headers were, "Arab rivals gear up for struggle over London Stock Exchange" and "Sainsbury’s sale enters final stages as Qataris see the books."  In addition, there was a complete section devoted to Saudi Arabia, where I a sub-heading caught my attention, "Mushtak Parker learns that Saudi Arabia is also looking for a bigger role in Canada."  According to the article, right now, bilateral trade is a mere $1.2 billion.  And, Dr. Abdulaziz al -Sowayegh, the Saudi Ambassador to Canada is quoted as saying, "Canada is looking to diversify its trade partners in various regions.  The kingdom is well placed to become one of the main trade and investment partners in Canada, not only in the region but far beyond." Apparently, the Saudis would like to discuss a free trade agreement to boost bilateral ties.

Another Times header, "Ride a bike?  You must be rich," also captured my attention, especially after I’d seen a proliferation of warning signs for bikers posted in the streets (like the one included at the start of this blog entry).

Ben Webster, The Times Transport Correspondent, comments, "Brands have helped to turn the bicycle into a lust worthy object," and there’s a large photo of Zoe Ball to accompany the article—glamming her way along, no helmet evident.  According to Webster, the richest fifth of the population cycle, on average, two and a half times as far in a year as the poorest fifth. Webster states, "The Department for Transport national survey indicates that the poorest fifth, despite being five times less likely to have access to a car, are very unlikely to consider cycling as a solution to their transport needs."  And, referencing the London Cycling Campaign, Webster remarks, "People on higher incomes may be more concerned about the health benefits of cycling."  A spokesman for the campaign was quoted as saying, "’People on lower incomes may be more concerned with the need to earn money than worrying about what constitutes healthy living or about the issue of climate change and how cycling is the greenest option.’"

The News Section of The Daily Telegraph (page 12) had a large photo of a sculpture by 26 year-old Canadian artist, Camille Allen. Apparently, she’s become known internationally for her clay polymer new born baby works.  I was struck by the placement of the photo.  The bottom half of the page had ads and surrounding it there were briefer news articles.

Also, among The Telegraph’s other photos was one titled, "Make way for the treadmill toddlers."  Obesity among youngsters in Britain (and worldwide) is clearly becoming a real problem!

Again, in The Telegraph, there was a farewell to the QE2. It made a last stop in Liverpool, September 21, on its 40th birthday tour, and was docked for the opening of a new cruise liner terminal there.  Final destination Dubai, where it’ll become a floating hotel.

Finally, also, in The Telegraph, was Con Coughlin’s headline revelation, "The Israelis have unearthed a new and deadlier axis of evil"  Coughlin’s writes about Syria, explaining that reports from Israel suggest a secret nuclear compound at Dayr az-Zawr, which US satellites now show as a pile of rubble after eight Israeli F-15 bombers destroyed the site, the night of September 6, 07.  Summing things up, Coughlin stresses the extent to which Syria, North Korea and Iran are acting as a "new axis of evil"—"cooperating to make the world a far more dangerous place than it was on September 11."