9. “Cannery Row,” John Steinbeck
10. “The Doors of Perception,” Aldous Huxley
11. “Mr. Vertigo,” Paul Auster
12. “A Clockwork Orange,” Anthony Burgess
13. “Ishmael,” Daniel Quinn (Must read. Everyone must read this book.)
14. “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” (13 plus 14 made for a HEAVY couple philosophical weeks here in Darlaland. But this is also a must-read)
15. “Tropic of Caner,” Henry Miller

Gratuitious not-kitten picture, because he's huge now.

Here’s the gallery. Click on the tags to see more of one type:

Gallery!

Note: They’re in a pretty random order since we used photos sent by the estate lawyers. Also some of the photos suck. If you want to know more, take a look at our database, or just let me know which one you want and I’ll try to find it and take a better picture. They’re all in pretty great shape.

The database

Pricing: The ones posted here are $10/each or 11 for $100, plus discounts if you take one of the super cool sets (from, for example, Ojai Festival in California and Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada). We’ll talk payment and shipping when you make your order- I’ll probably put them in some sort of flat-rate tube with USPS. The posters are at my place in Florida, but if you live in Missouri, Texas or Colorado — any place we tend to travel to a lot — we’ll bring them to you next time we’re there.

Please browse and enjoy!

<commence geek out!>

Deciding between design and graphics was the best career decision I ever made (thus far in my, uh, short and not-very-illustrious career). The jobs are in demand, and graphics combine reporting and visual presentation in really fun ways. Also, graphics transition to the web more easily than print design. However, graphics are very conceptual- unlike HTML or Flash, you can’t become a great graphics-maker by learning some code. You have to learn a bit of Illustrator, Excel or one of (literally) a gazillion other data visualization tools, yes, but it’s important to learn to show info simply, accurately and clearly. (Side note: I’ve been lucky enough to have some INCREDIBLE infographics teachers and editors. And to go to a university with really good Computer Assisted Reporting classes.) The best infographics show change- how much gas prices went up this year vs. last year, where the new road will go, the difference between x and y, etc.

Anyhow, here are some of my favorite infographic links:

George Rorick is the father of infographics. He invented the color weather map! He was a teacher at a Poynter seminar I attended last fall. George championed the concept of infographic artists as reporters. George says to never, ever, ever draw what isn’t there or draw something if you don’t know exactly what it looks like. (On that note, a fun part of my current job is going out in the field with a tape measure figuring out exactly how big something is. And convincing reporters why they should let me tag along . The integrity and accuracy of graphics is super important because most papers still have to fight the good fight to get them in the paper. Except the NYT, where their incredible infographics department has clout.
Poynter’s lovely farewell to George
One graphics great interviews another

John Grimwade (w/ Conde Nast) is also amazing (he refers to himself as “really old British graphics guy” hehe): His site

Nigel Holmes is the best at simple visual explanations: Nigel Holmes (watch the vampire energy video)

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel has a really cool infographics blog where their artists post their work and talk about how they made it:
News Illustrated

For fun: Cool Infographics

The News Artists Organization is kinda similar to Visual Editors, but their forums are a little Web 1.0 clunky and hard to use, imo. I usually just read and don’t post.

And some more links, including data sources @my Delicious: http://delicious.com/darlacameron/infographics.

One of the reasons I was reeeeally happy to get a job in Florida is we have amazing open records laws, especially for geographic data. If you are ever looking for some numbers, I recommend just calling the agency you need the data from and making nice.

And a general charting note- because I made this mistake many times- fever (or line) charts should only be used to show change over time. For example, stocks- the price changes each day (and lately it mostly goes down). Bar charts can be used to show individual, discrete values, like a state’s budget each year or the high temperature each day, etc.

Gratuitous kitten picture FTW!

7. “Speaking with the Angel,” Nick Hornsby Excellent collection of a dozen-odd short stories by great voices in British and American fiction (including the fabulous Zadie Smith! Oh how I love her!). I really super recommend this one.

8. “God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater,” Kurt Vonnegut I was trying to catch up on some Vonnegut since he died (relatively) recently. Loved the silly satire in this, and hated the surprise ending until the very end, when it gets much better. And ugh, am I reading too slow or what? Not sure why. No excuses, except maybe I was playing with my new cat or processing one of the 750 posters we inherited, instead .

1. “Portrait in Sepia,” Isabel Allende
The story of a girl born in San Franciso in the mid-1800s. Her life changes course at age five and she ends up in Chile with her grandmother, then spends time rebuilding the past.

2. “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” Betty Smith
We listened to this on the drive from Florida to Missouri and back. Arguably a classic, but I’d never read it. The end makes up for some boring parts in the middle, but overall, it did the trick — keeping me from driving off the road somewhere in Georgia.

3. “Of Love and Shadows,” Isabel Allende
In a Latin American country under military dictatorship, a reporter and photographer discover an awful secret and fall in love.

4. “Of Mice and Men,” John Steinbeck
The story of two men working ranches in California. Short, but sad and it definitely sticks with you. Awesome little read.

5. “Ines of my Soul,” Isabel Allende
I wasn’t joking about the Allende obsession. Omg so great. This one was probably my least favorite, though. It’s about Ines Suarez, the only woman conquistador. She helped found Chile. Made me want to read “Guns, Germs and Steel,” by Jared Diamond, a classic geographic tale about why Eurasian societies won out and conquered much of the world.

48. “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood
Should be required reading for every woman.

49.”Twilight” by Stephanie Meyer
What is there to say about this book that hasn’t already been said? It goes quick, and it’s not a bad read, but definitely not a good one, either. I hated how the main character doesn’t stand up for herself and is so submissive to Edward. Cahones, girl. Seriously. After I read it I found out what happens at the end of the series via Wikipedia, and I don’t think I’ll be reading the rest. There are too many other excellent books out there.

50.(A really good book of short stories by an Israeli writer that I left in Missouri, will add soon)

51. “Star of the Sea” by Joseph O’Connor
Murder on a ship ship going from Ireland to the U.S. during the potato blight. Ambitious on the part of the author — he weaves together three peoples lives — but it’s only so-so. I’m still not entirely sure if some of the people died or not. (read after Dec. 18)

I think there was another book in there, because I know I finished before my Dec. 18 deadline, but I can’t remember what it was and I’ve moved since then so I can’t find it, either. Oh, well.

I rang out 2008 at a party where they dropped a real ball on a 30-foot pole. It was awesome — good company, good drinks (which I am still feeling this morning, er, afternoon… champagne is not my friend but I haven’t quite figured that out yet).

2008 was a pretty awesome year. I did some fun projects at Mizzou, graduated (!), learned a ton and made great friends at Poynter, made more great friends at my internship and then got a sweet job (!!) doing stuff I didn’t know how to do at this time last year. I’m so blessed, and so thankful for the opportunities I’ve had and the people who helped me along the way. I’m looking forward to 2009, especailly the post-May part when Lee moves to Florida for good .

In additon, after looking at about a dozen apartments in St. Pete last week (including some VERY sketchy ones), I think I’ve found a permanent place to live! I decided that central air > window unit, which adds to the cost but I’d rather not die 9 months a year, kthx. It’s near Crescent Lake and very Florida-esque-awesome- palm trees outside, a pretty balcony, those slatted windows that fold open, etc. Pics to come on fb one I move (mid-month) and get settled in.

Right after I move is the 50-book deadline: Dec. 18!

46. “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I read this in high school but re-read my roommate’s copy, and it is truly one of the greatest books ever. A little novella/children’s book, it makes really profound points about life and love, including my favorite: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” And this one, that helped me feel better when my family had to put down our old dog last month ” ‘Men have forgotten this truth,’ said the fox. ‘But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.’ “

47. “What the Thunder Said” by Janet Peery
This was from the book sale at work- a set of short stories about a family in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl. My mother’s Okie family survived the depression there (in the panhandle, no less), so I’m always curious to learn more about what that was like for them. This stories centered around two generations of a messed-up family — one daughter was really the child of her dad’s brother, who raped her mom, and that was just the start of the lies. Overall, a decent read but not great.

43. The Book of Lights by Chaim Potok
Another awesome book by one of my favorite authors. Two 1950s rabbinical students struggle with the brutal legacies of the post World War II generation as they serve as chaplains in Korea. I love how Potok’s books are about Judiasm but offer so many perspectives and are understandable even though I know so little about the religion. Always makes me feel smarter.

44. Fortune’s Rocks by Anita Shreve
A 15-year-old at her family’s summer vacation house in New Hampsire has an affair with a much older man. Yes, it sounds like statutory rape, but they were “in love,” right? It’s a decent story, but was difficult to empathize because I didn’t respect always the characters’ decisions. In the end, an improbable outcome.

45. The Maytrees by Annie Dillard
One of my new books from the sale! A very spare, almost stream-of-conciousness novel about a couple on Cape Cod. I sense a New England theme here… Very beautifully written, and interesting story, though.

39. “Fathers and Sons” by Ivan Turgenev
A bit shorter/lighter than the typical Russian fare. The nihilist Arcady believes in nothing, and especially not the history of Russian landowners and the way they treat their serfs. He visits a friend’s countryside estate and makes everyone angry. Arcady is also one of the first now-typical outsider characters. Not as good as some other Russian novels I’ve read, but interesting and quick.

40. “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
Washed-up Willy Leoman struggles with his unfulfilled dreams and his sons. A theater classic, but I was a band kid and not a drama kid so I hadn’t encountered it before.

41. “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The very chatty girl next to me on my plane to St. Louis next weekend couldn’t believe I hadn’t read this classic in high school, and making up for that was part of the reason I picked it up at Haslam’s, an awesome used book store in St. Pete. The novel was sad and left me frustrated about the judgemental Purtian culture, but of course it explains a lot about where we came from. I wasn’t terribly impressed over all, though.

42. “A Rasin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry
Now this one, I liked a lot. Similar to salesman’s American dream story – a black family moves up from the Southside to a mostly white suburb – but more entertaining and I felt a true connection with the characters, even when they did things that made me mad. Would love to see a production of it, even on video.

In better, non-Flash-frustration-related news, I am settling into St. Pete and Making! Friends! right before I have to shuffle-move again later this month. Part of me is really ready to have a permanent house and not live out of my ant-infested car, but this other part of me also dislikes making big life decisions. Besides the craziness at work right now (Rays + economy + election = very busy news art dpt.), in the next 6 weeks I’m moving twice, my parents are visiting (me? or the beach? that’s a question I haven’t wanted to ask them), there’s the Poynter infographics seminar (yay!), and Lee is coming down for Thanksgiving (double yay!). Oh yeah by December when Lee graduates/my official employment ceases and our lives start FOR REAL I should probably have a job or something. Right.

38. “We were the Mulvaneys,” by Joyce Carol Oates
This book is good, but a little long. Tells the story of the disintegration of a perfect-seeming family after a crisis that none of them handle very well… that they all handle quite badly, in fact. Some parts made me really angry, and it was a bit boring at times but I kept with it through because I wanted to find out what happened at the end. Such is life.

And, I know I said would blog more from SND, but I can’t tell you what happened there because, you know, it has to say in Vegas. Not really. I just ran out of time. But below are links to some podcasts I did for Visual Editors! We used Utterz and it was sooo easy- I highly recommend it whenever you, er, podcast next. Easy to upload, easy to embed.

Martin Gee on how he used SND to transition into his new gig

Interactive basics with MSNBC’s Paige West

Kate LaRue, daily student designer of the year, on conceptual illustration

SND was great, though! Got to catch up with some Missouri friends and make great new contacts . Now I’m back in Florida (on the news art schedule until mid-October… so sticking around here for awhile at least). It is STILL HOT here and it’s kinda great. For example, in Grand Junction today, the low was 53 degrees. Columbia, 51. Chilly. St. Petersburg? 77. It just never ever gets cold here, and it’s still a little weird to me, but nice because I always know what to expect. Should I take a jacket on my weekend trip to Palm Beach? Um, no, no. Just shorts. And a bathing suit. *Loves it.*