http://jksather.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Beaker (just Beaker) en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:03:26 GMT 2009-12-29T13:03:26Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977885189 After just a few minutes of research, I've concluded that it is in fact a jerusalem cricket and not a mormon cricket as I was previously informed. In any case, I have no idea how it got into my kitchen, . . . Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:41:26 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977885189 Beaker (just Beaker) 2009-11-04T19:41:26Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977867065 We adopted them as young adults, fourteen years ago. Venus and Milo were twins, and the shelter wanted to keep them together, so instead of coming home with one kitty, we came home with two cats. . . . Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:32:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977867065 Beaker (just Beaker) 2009-10-23T18:32:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977738209 I decided to make a quick lunch with both of these, cut them in half and share with hubby and Junior. They were simple to make--the only tricky part was re-assembling the box for microwaving, and if you've . . . Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:32:46 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977738209 Beaker (just Beaker) 2009-07-15T22:32:46Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977610153 For the Love of Books, By Ronald B. Schwartz (Grosset/Putnam, 1999) If you’ve ever wondered which books inspired your favorite authors, you might find the answer here. Ronald B. Schwartz persuaded . . . Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:40:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977610153 Beaker (just Beaker) 2009-02-28T21:40:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977460103 When I was young, I read omnivorously. Even after I developed some taste and could tell the difference between good and bad writing, I wasted many a lovely summer day reading trashy novels (Judith Krantz, . . . Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:09:05 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977460103 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-09-26T18:09:05Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977374089 Thanks to the amazing Kate C., I now know that these ancestors of mine are named Gertrude and William. We called them Mom and Pop. Mom died before I was born, but was still a constant presence in conversation. . . . Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:32:16 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977374089 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-06-15T22:32:16Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977324630 I finally finished reading the comment thread (hours after Tom left the building, no doubt).  Rather than reassuring us that our opinions had any influence on the future look of Gather, Tom tried . . . Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:08:24 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977324630 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-04-16T02:08:24Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977304083 I loved this book! The author, a creative writing professor at U.C. Irvine, takes one of his own published stories and goes over it, almost line by line, explaining what he was thinking at each phase of . . . Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:40:41 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977304083 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-04-07T18:40:41Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977282921 In previous articles, we've discussed why we write, what our writing history looks like, and how we'd feel about seeing our work translated to the big screen. Now let's give some thought to . . . Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:14:41 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977282921 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-03-20T01:14:41Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977278242 Judge Philip Nelson imposed the maximum sentence on Marcus Bologna: fifty days in jail, for the theft and destruction of the statue of Sacagawea and her baby which stood in Fort Clatsop National Memorial . . . Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:00:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977278242 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-03-07T18:00:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977265457 How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead, by Ariel Gore I wanted to hate this book, just because of its flip title and its cool young author, Portland's Ariel Gore, of "Hip . . . Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:55:26 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977265457 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-02-23T01:55:26Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977263257 There's a full lunar eclipse tonight, and the view should be awe-inspiring for most of North America. Not in the Pacific Northwest, though--as usual, we'll be under a heavy cloud cover. Steady . . . Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:48:35 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977263257 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-02-20T18:48:35Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977250574 Winter's last snowpile: small volcano melts away, never to erupt. (This poem is dedicated to Stefano P.) Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:05:00 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977250574 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-02-06T01:05:00Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977243520 This is an update of my previous article about the theft of bronze statues by suspected drug users to sell for scrap. The statue of Sacagawea, stolen 10 days ago, has been recovered at a Bend, Oregon . . . Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:36:09 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977243520 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-01-29T17:36:09Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977238328 On Saturday, the five-foot bronze statue of Sacagawea stood on its cement slab at Fort Clatsop. On Sunday morning it was gone, another victim of the latest trend in art heists: stealing bronze artwork . . . Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:40:28 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977238328 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-01-23T23:40:28Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977228830 There was a line of two dozen people waiting for Pearl Street to open its doors on Saturday. They weren't there for a birthday party or a business meeting; Pearl Street stopped serving customers weeks . . . Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:09:27 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977228830 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-01-16T05:09:27Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977226033 What is Norway famous for? Vikings, Olympic skiing champions, and (if you're particularly culturally literate) that oft-parodied painting known as "The Scream," by Edvard Munch. Few people . . . Mon, 14 Jan 2008 04:16:59 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977226033 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-01-14T04:16:59Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977228753 In front of the local Goodwill store, there's a barrel full of skis waiting to be purchased by the novice (or wannabe) skiers mesmerized the flutter of snowflakes that fell last week. And what do we . . . Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:07:38 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977228753 Beaker (just Beaker) 2008-01-13T20:07:38Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977203994 While making a batch of fudge this afternoon, I started to wonder if there is a "best" way to stir something while you're keeping it boiling for the required number of minutes. I noticed . . . Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:52:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977203994 Beaker (just Beaker) 2007-12-14T23:52:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977200793 Over a hundred years ago, some sadly misinformed person got the bright idea of importing the giant South American water rat known as the nutria (Myocastor Coypus) , for the purpose of fur-farming. The . . . Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:55:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977200793 Beaker (just Beaker) 2007-12-11T19:55:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977180009 Dear Dr. Bonesaw: Here are two questions I've been pondering in my copious free time lately: 1. How come I get the hiccups when I eat pretzels? I've heard other people say the same thing . . . Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:16:21 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977180009 Beaker (just Beaker) 2007-11-17T20:16:21Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977170302 Lance DeWitt was awakened by the smoldering gaze of Tiffany Call, girl Friday to the CEO of Antikrystos Enterprises, Les Gentle. Wearing only a creamy ecru towel of Egyptian cotton, she whispered, . . . Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:54:52 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977170302 Beaker (just Beaker) 2007-11-07T17:54:52Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977169300 It's election day in the much of the U.S., and even though it's an off-year for most high offices, there are still important ballot measures to be decided. Did you (or will you) vote today? . . . Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:22:24 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977169300 Beaker (just Beaker) 2007-11-06T18:22:24Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977165581 On Saturday night (well, technically, on Sunday morning), we "fall back" and gain an hour of time. This year, instead of trying to sleep in a while longer,  let's devote that hour to . . . Fri, 02 Nov 2007 18:35:22 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977165581 Beaker (just Beaker) 2007-11-02T18:35:22Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977163713 If you're a wombat and you're participating in NaNoWriMo this year, stop by and tell us about your WIP. We'll make a point of checking out your wrimo page, provide peptalks and/or virtual shoulders . . . Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:01:27 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977163713 Beaker (just Beaker) 2007-10-31T21:01:27Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977157978 Those of us who practice the mystical art of novel-writing are familiar with the minimum wordcount for a mainstream novel: 80,000 words. Shorter forms are the novella (50,000 to 80,000) and novelette . . . Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:37:09 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977157978 Beaker (just Beaker) 2007-10-25T21:37:09Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977156096 Behold Winkie: the teddy bear adored and cast aside by a half-dozen children in succession, who magically comes to life and escapes into the wilderness, miraculously gives birth to a baby Winkie, and . . . Tue, 23 Oct 2007 23:25:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977156096 Beaker (just Beaker) 2007-10-23T23:25:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977155217 Andrei Petrescu is a young Romanian boy, living a poor but happy life with his parents in the mid-1930s. With the second World War looming, Andrei’s family is in danger, because his mother is . . . Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:35:29 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977155217 Beaker (just Beaker) 2007-10-23T02:35:29Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977151395 "Still Alive," the song from the end credits of Portal (the new video game released by Valve last week). The lyrics are so funny that I had to find out more about it. Surprisingly (or not) I . . . Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:45:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977151395 Beaker (just Beaker) 2007-10-18T20:45:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977149353 When Travis got home from work on Friday night, the first thing he did was crack open a cold Bud. Then he unlaced his work boots, reclined the la-z-boy and pawed the remote out of its side holster so . . . Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:41:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977149353 Beaker (just Beaker) 2007-10-16T20:41:06Z