July 1, 1916

(Image: blogspot.com.)

I've mentioned my summer course a couple of times (everyone remember that Russian avant-garde poet who sought to evade death by paying his rent well in advance? I've yet to hear a more practical recipe for eternal life). The topic was the grotesque, which frequently led to discussion of its opposite: the

sublime. Definitions vary but many feel, whatever state the sublime truly is, Mark Rothko (1903-1970) achieved it.

(Image: Rothko; Red, Orange, Tan and Purple, 1954.)

Everyone Needs a Little Holliday

After class last night - the topic was Francis Bacon - my cultural environment took a 180 degree turn when I came home and watched a Judy Holliday film. In case you've forgotten what a treat she is, here's the famous gin game scene from Born Yesterday.

(Image: image.examiner.com.)

Jump in The Works

Being a gym rat, I have memberships at two. On campus there's The Works, which is a great space. The huge building is full of light, and a great range of people use it, from silver-haired power-walkers to small babies in jogging strollers (well, the babies were kind of brought there as opposed to propelling themselves, but they seem quite content). The usual soundtrack is the radio on K-Rock or the aerobic instructor's hyper-energized versions of such favourites as Dancing Queen. Really, I'm beginning to find the slightly distant and echoey notes of 1970s music oddly comforting. Plus you just might see the members of

East Rock Crew or a cheerleading squad practicng their extraordinary moves. It's a happening spot, I tell ya.

(Image: thedancecurrent.com.)

The east side of the fourth floor of the Science Building here on campus has one of the most stunning views of the city. Seriously, it should be a tourist spot. You can see down to the last traffic light on Elizabeth Avenue, across Pleasantville and up the White Hills, and out both Quidi Vidi Gut and the Harbour. Last night, when the deluge cleared off, the view from our classroom was just gorgeous: a drift of mist at the foot of Signal Hill, the setting sun bouncing off puddles, and a huge rainbow shooting right across the rim of our own metropolis. By the way, anyone looking for astonishing views of the city will want to check out St. John's: A City Pictured, currently on show at the Christina Parker Gallery. And you'll love our summer cover, for sure.

(Image: Expectation, by Laurie Leehane, www. leehane.ca.)

We're gone to press with the Summer Issue, and the great thing about this stage is that the NQ now mostly exists in the mind's eye of myself and the designers (the fabulous Granite Studios). And believe me, right now it is one perfect magazine. Pristine, ideal, and typo-free. That's one of the great thing about the imagination - you can imagine stuff. This site even offers some suggestions.

(www.legoland.com.)

First long weekend of the summer

...and by gosh if it isn't absolutely gorgeous out there. Perhaps you are already heading out the highway, steering for your cabin or a B&B or a kayak and a pair of hiking boots. I'm sticking to St. John's, partly because of those proofs I've been nattering about, but also because the city in summer is a whole new experience, a re-imagined space. Maybe at some point me and my laptop will find ourselves at an outside table at a downtown cafe, and in between edits I'll dip into some reading like this

short story

by Luigi Pirandello.

(Image: fineartamerica.com.)

We're waiting on the proofs from the designers now, which is when we'll get down to some serious and intense editing and tweaking. So we're holding ourselves in readiness to...well, not panic exactly, but to meet this challenge, yes, that's the correct phrase. As always, we look to the classics for guidance.

(Image: The Front Page, anews.eu.)

Some winter mornings, when I walk to work, I let myself imagine for a moment that it is summer, there are no crusted mounds of snow to scale to gain access to the sidewalks, there is no screeching keening wind, I am not wearing heavy boots but soft flats with no socks...it is in fact a perfect summer morning.
Like this morning. It's actually hard to concentrate - fortunately all copy is in and we're waiting now for our proofs, so it's OK if we're Googling "Famous Poems About Summer" and reading:

Emily Dickinson

A something in a summer’s Day As slow her flambeaux burn away Which solemnizes me. A something in a summer’s noon — A depth — an Azure — a perfume — Transcending ecstasy. And still within a summer’s night A something so transporting bright I clap my hands to see — Then veil my too inspecting face Lets such a subtle — shimmering grace Flutter too far for me — The wizard fingers never rest — The purple brook within the breast Still chafes it narrow bed — Still rears the East her amber Flag — Guides still the sun along the Crag His Caravan of Red — So looking on — the night — the morn Conclude the wonder gay — And I meet, coming thro’ the dews Another summer’s Day!

(Image: gallery.photo.net.)

Four days after a freak accident - me being the freak that had the freakin' accident - and still wincing every time I had to reach above my shoulders or below my knees, I figured I had a cracked rib and maybe should visit an emerg. So I took the trusty #10 to the HSC where a doctor, who was 12, explained there's not much to be done about it, just stay active, use ice or heat to alleviate the discomfort, and so on. I share this in case anyone out there is dealing with a similar health issue - as you can see here, the only bad sign is if you can't take deep breaths. Otherwise you'll probably be OK.

(Image: www.freefever.com.)

Went to a matinee of The Taking of Pelham 123 on Saturday afternoon - an OK film, although it doesn't match up with the genuine individual charm of the 1974 subway passengers. (And it doesn't include the detail of the hi-jackers calling each other "Mr. Blue". "Mr. Gray", etc. Are the filmmakers worried that today's audience will assume they've borrowed that from Quentin Tarrantino, not realizing he was paying homage to the film with his characters in Reservoir Dogs?) Also caught this intriguing trailer.

(Image: district_9_movie_poster.jpeg.)

Copy deadline today, we are overflowing with gorgeous prose of genius...
(Image: lauragrace7.files.wordpress.com.)

What's the saying about Newfoundland gardens in June - don't plant until after the New Moon? Full Moon? Hmmm, now I want a Half-Moon, remember, those cakes that came in chocolate or vanilla? I don't think kids eat them much anymore. Or apple flips. And they don't really know what Big Turk bars are either, but that's probably for the best. In any case, I digress. Gardening time is nigh. If you're looking to shake up your floral inventory, check out these top 10 trends for this summer.

(Image: gardentrends.ca.)

Dear Abbey (or whomever)

Somedays even the most adept of us can use a bit of advice. Here's a great column.

(Image: edu.clipart.)

Copy Deadline Countdown

Three...two...one...at somewhat stressful times like this the NQ office remains completely professional by adhering as closely as possible to this classic template.

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Monday morning, and while we at the NQ are launching the week by firming up some travel plans - see you at the Winterset Festival in Eastport! - and getting a mini subscription drive on the go - if your subscription just lapsed you will be hearing from us this week - we are aware that not everyone jumps into the workweek with such alacrity. If you feel you've been dragging yourself from 9am to 5pm for far too long, some of this advice might clear your decks and broach some options.

(Image: best-careers.net.)

Fiddlehead Lovers Unite

Here's a recipe for fiddleheads that looks pretty sweet - we've been indulging in the seasonal treat ourselves - at chez nous, we, and by we I mean my husband, who does all the cooking, tosses them with some chickpeas and tomatoes, a little prosciutto maybe, it's all good.

(Image: lunchboxbunch.com.)

You know your I. Q., and possibly even your E. Q. - but how's your C. Q.? That would be your ability to understand cartoons. Here's a quick test, via The New Yorker.

(Image: mylifestream.net.)

Carnivale

Last night's class was about sideshows, and part of the lecture included a scene from Carnivale, the acclaimed HBO series that latest two seasons. (Here's the opening sequence.)

(Image: visualstreak.com.)

Scope This Out

Perhaps you are already familiar with the fabulous & free bi-weekly Scope? If not - or even if so, for that matter - check out this page, which includes both the excellent Food Nerd column, wherein Andreae Prozesky's writing is so tactile you will feel as if you have produced whatever wonder she whipped up, even if, like me, you barely so much as look at your own stove, and a window to view Countdown, a great short film by Jordan Canning, starring Neil Butler. (Image: www.nsicanada.ca.)

This is kind of how we feel at the NQ office today - getting our budget #s all organized for the treasurer.

(Image: askgrade6.com.)