Ross in his prime. You wouldn't think a guy with hair like that would be such a cultural icon. In the 1920s, only one American city was the center of art and commerce: New York. And in that city, only one magazine kept track of it all: "The New Yorker." And in that magazine, only one person mattered: founder and editor Harold Ross. Ross was born November 6, 1892, in Aspen, Colorado, and soon developed printer's ink in his blood. By 13, he had dropped out of school to work at the Denver Post, and by 25 he had worked for six other newspapers, from San Francisco to Atlanta. During World War I, Ross' talents got him a job in Paris, editing the Army newspaper, "Stars and Stripes." His fellow staff members included drama critic Alexander Woollcott and New York columnist Franklin P. Adams -- both of whom would go on to play roles in Ross' plans. After the war, he settled in Manhattan, where he worked on those plans -- to create a weekly magazine that would analyze, comment on, and play a role in the cultural life of the city. It would not, Ross insisted, be a magazine for "the old lady in Dubuque." It would be sophisticated and urbane -- but not snobby. It had standards, but if a reader was witty or informed enough, he or she would be a member of the club. In the depths of the winter of 1925, the first issue of "The New Yorker" rolled off the presses. Despite some glitches, such as a joke ("Pop: A man who thinks he can make it in par. Johnny: What's an optimist, Pop?") that ran with the set-up and punchline reversed -- a error reprinted in every anniversary issue for years -- the magazine was an instant hit. In the decades since, it has come to be considered the gold standard of American magazines. That respect is due almost entirely to Ross. He personally edited virtually every word that appeared in every issue until his death in 1951, and, despite his own poor spelling, his meticulousness for precise grammar, clarity, and good writing attracted such notables as Vladimir Nabokov, John Updike, Ernest Hemingway, John Hersey, Ann Beattie, John Cheever, Roald Dahl, Alice Munro, John O'Hara, Philip Roth, J.D. Salinger, Robert Benchley, Dorothy Parker, Irwin Shaw, Woody Allen, James Thurber, E.B. White (whose own prose style was crucial in setting the magazine’s voice and tone), and even Marlon Brando. But the literary aspect of "The New Yorker" was only part of the package. Each issue was filled with cartoons by artists like Charles Addams, Peter Arno, George Booth, Roz Chast, George Price, Saul Steinberg, William Steig, and Thurber again. So good were (and are) the cartoons, that many readers never get past them and are still satisfied they got their money’s worth. Despite Woollcott describing him as looking like "a dishonest Abe Lincoln," Ross' contributions to the culture of Manhattan and America are impossible to calculate. His sensibilities shaped the ways plays were written, movies received, and books were published, and it's almost impossible to imagine American -- and world -- culture without him. Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Harold Ross - overview of Ross' life and career. The New Yorker - bringing the world to New York -- and vice versa -- since 1925. The New Yorker Cartoon Bank - pretty near every cartoon ever seen in the magazine, yours for the asking. Harold Wallace Ross - biography of The New Yorker's founder. Harold Ross: The History - the BBC takes a look at Ross and his magazine.

Directory categories: Harold Ross, The New Yorker, E.B. White, Magazines, Manhattan

Archived under: 1920s, Authors, Biographies, Birthdays, Cartoons, Journalism, Literature, Magazines, Media, New York, Society and Culture, The New Yorker

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This might be satisfying, but it wouldn't exactly be polite. Violators beware! (Photo by Mark Wallace) Once upon a time, the term "etiquette" referred to knowing which fork one used at the dinner table (the one on the outside), or which side of the sidewalk a gentleman should walk on when escorting a young lady (the side closest to the curb). Lately, etiquette's become something of a dirty word, though. At best, it evokes a nostalgic sentiment for the "good old days;" at worst, a general distain for a kind of archaic protocol that seems to have no place in the modern world. And while it's true that, nowadays, few people outside of historical reenactment societies need to know the proper way to leave a calling card, the art of civility and good manners is not yet obsolete. Consider the Internet troll who launches a flame war on your comments page. What's the proper way to tell them to mind their own beeswax without making yourself look like a fool? Then there's the sticky situation of how to politely deny your diabetic relative's request for marijuana. Not to mention the ever-important question of how to convey to the woman you've just walked into your apartment building after a date that you're not a rapist. No, this isn't Amy Vanderbilt's or Emily Post's brand of etiquette (even though Miss Vanderbilt’s “Book of Etiquette” was published on this date in 1952). But even in a post-Lewinsky world, it seems we still have some need for decorum (as so aptly demonstrated by the formal rebuke of Republican Representative Joe Wilson after his "You lie!" remark during the State of the Union speech). So turn off your cell phone when attending the theater, don't text while at the movies (we can still see the glow of the screen even if the ringer’s off), turn your radio down at the drive-thru, and send your thank you cards via e-mail  -- just make sure to claim it's in the name of saving the environment, and not because you're too lazy to buy a card, write a message, find a stamp, lick the envelope, and send it. Suggested Sites... Emily Post’s Etiquette Daily - http://www.etiquettedaily.com/ The Urban Etiquette Handbook - the answers to all your modern conundrums -- like who walks the bride down the aisle when there are two of them. Dear Prudence - Slate's advice column on manners and morals. The Core Rules of Netiquette - how to deal with forwards, flaming, and the dreaded caps lock key. Modern Manners Guy - podcast about modern manners issues.

Directory categories: Etiquette, Netiquette, Cell Phone Etiquette, Emily Post, Wedding Etiquette

Archived under: 1950s, Anniversaries, Authors, Books, Eating, Etiquette, Society and Culture, Telephones, Writers, dating

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.They say this is a monkey, but it looks like a poodle to us. (Photo by rick) In the days before the Internet, if you wanted to learn how to do something, you had to actually go out and seek the tutelage of an expert. If, for example, you wanted to learn how to make balloon animals, there were two options: trial and error (which would likely leave you with a pile of popped poodles) or expert instruction. Good luck getting a clown to give up his trade secrets, though. But nowadays, thanks to online videos, just about anybody can learn how to sculpt a dog or a flower. If you happen to already be versed in the art of balloon modeling, then today is the day for you to make your annual contribution to society. "Balloons Around the World" is a global event where twisters can volunteer their services, either for free or to raise funds for charity. And the rest of us? We can support our local artists at various events. Balloon artists are certainly not relegated to inflating their creations on demand at schools and parties, however. They've touched the world of fashion and set Guinness records. Above all, twisters provide much-needed smiles and laughs to people of all ages around the world. Suggested Sites... Balloons Around the World - official site, with global events calendar. Balloon HQ - professional resources for twisters, plus balloon facts and fun. Twist & Shout Convention - all the best balloon manipulators, all in one place. Basics of Balloon Animals - instructions from About.com, with various techniques and step-by-step guides to making specific sculptures. The Balloon Animals Blog - videos about making balloon figures, including an Oscar statuette.

Directory categories: Inflatable Sculpture, Balloon Artists, Clowning, Volunteerism, Philanthropy

Archived under: Arts, Balloons, Charity, Children, Circus Arts, Clowns, Crafts, DIY, Entertainment, Hobbies, How-To, Philanthropy, Society and Culture

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As autumn rolls in, we've been stocking our web pantry (a.k.a., the Directory) with great sites to help you out this season. Here’s a selection of the freshest choice sites: Best-selling author James Patterson has put together a site where he offers recommendations for kids' books, sorted by age group. It's a wonderful resource for teachers, librarians, and for parents of kids heading back to school. You can browse book lists by type, read and listen to author interviews, and view lesson plans. Now that "Reading Rainbow" is no more, this is just the kind of site we need! We're already looking forward to Halloween. The California Science Center must be, too. Their latest exhibition, "Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear," is traveling all over the country, and has a great interactive online exhibit to get you in the mood -- or at least explain the mood. Explore how fear works in the brain, in the wild, and in the media -- and find out how to deal with it. Fall is a season for cooking. But when you're ready to take a break and eat out, you may want more than "just" a restaurant review. Dishola allows users to review specific menu items at local eateries, and upload photos of their meals. For those who are trying to live green (a good idea in any season), Project Label provides "nutritional labels" for companies, revealing their social and environmental impact based on public info and user input. Suggested Sites... Read, Kiddo, Read! - the world of kids' books, according to James Patterson. Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear - online and traveling exhibit explains why our hearts race, our knees shake, and our bodies sweat when we're scared. Dishola - reviews for individual menu items at local eateries. Project Label - company "nutrition" labels rate impact on the planet, community, and workers.

Directory categories: Children’s Literature, The Brain, Restaurant Reviews, Green Product Reviews

Archived under: Authors, Autumn, Books, Children, Children´s Literature, Consumer Advocacy, Eating, Education, Food and Drink, Green Living, Green Products, Museums, Parenting, Psychology, Reading, Restaurants, Science, Society and Culture, Yahoo! Directory

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Forget the eagle; is this the real Great Seal of the United States? On many previous occasions, we’ve talked about conspiracies and secret societies,those groups who really run the world while the rest of us go on blithely ignoring the Truth. Somehow, there are so many such groups -- the Illuminati, the Trilateral Commission, the Bilderberg Group, the Bohemian Grove, the Carlyle Group -- that how each of them manages to run the world to the exclusion of the others is a mystery we’re not qualified to solve. That said, there is one group whose footprint is all over the United States, particularly its founding. So much so, that we feel we have to mention them again -- this week especially. That group is the Freemasons, and on September 18, 1793, George Washington, a Master Mason, laid the cornerstone to the United States Capitol -- while wearing his Masonic apron! But Washington was far from the only Founding Father who was a Mason. Of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, nine were Masons, including John Hancock, Edmund Randolph, and Benjamin Franklin. Of the signers of the Constitution, thirteen were Masons. And thirty-three of Washington’s generals in the Revolutionary War were -- you guessed it -- Masons. But that’s not all. Paul Revere? John Marshall? Ethan Allen? All Masons. Even the Marquis de Lafayette, the Frenchman whose participation in the Continental Army was essential to American independence, was a member of the Brotherhood. You might think that would be enough, but we’re not even close. Like London, the city of Washington DC is laid out to mirror the Masonic pentagram, with one of its points at  Washington’s Masonic temple and another at the White House itself! (Of course, Sandusky, Ohio is also laid out according to this plan, too, so it may not be all that much of a conspiracy ...) And let’s not even get started on the symbolism in American money. From the "All-Seeing Eye" to the eagle to the thirteen stars, stripes, arrows, olive branches, and steps of the pyramid, the dollar bill alone might as well be a business card for your local Masonic lodge. Author Dan Brown's new book, "The Lost Symbol," comes out this week, and this time, the "Da Vinci Code" author takes on these Masonic symbols in an attempt to crack the code – the code of what, we're not quite sure, but we can rest assured that the groups that really run the world will continue to do so, no matter who they are. Suggested Sites... Masonic and Kabbalistic Symbols In the Washington D.C. Map - pretty darned detailed -- and eye-opening, if nothing else. Freemasonry and Washington D.C.'s Street Layout - more details -- though a little on the fringes (like, what's with all those goatheads?). Symbols in the Streets - even the National Geographic gets in on the fun. Masonic Symbol Quiz - do you know your tessellated edging from your pot of incense? You Tube: US Dollar A Masonic Code? - watch and make up your own mind.

Directory categories: Freemasonry, Freemasonry -- Opposing Views, Conspiracy, Washington DC, Dan Brown

Archived under: 18th Century, American History, Anniversaries, Benjamin Franklin, Buildings, Conspiracies, Cover Ups, Da Vinci Code, Design, Dictators, Freemasons, George Washington, Government, History, Mysteries, Mythology and Folklore, Organizations, Presidents, Revolutionary War, Rumors, Secret Societies, Secrets, Society and Culture, United States, Urban Legends, Weird Stuff

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