Oh, yeah. They're lying...

Ever watch "Lie to Me"? The show is basically built on screen shots like this:

It's stunning to me how our unconscious, nonverbal communication is so consistent. Certain emotions evoke certain expressions--almost universally. I wish they taught college courses on it. I know I'd sign up.

Body language. I love it. Pictures like this make me want to pay more attention to it... starting tomorrow :D

When it comes to body language, what have you noticed is a universal "tell" into what a person is really thinking/feeling?

Penalties for Pennies?

It's always interesting to see what local news becomes national, and this story totally caught my eye in the Yahoo! news feed:

Penny offense: Man fined for paying fee in pennies

By Claudine Zap

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No lucky pennies here: Police have charged Jason West, an aggrieved medical patient in Vernal, Utah, withdisorderly conduct. His alleged crime? Attempting to pay a disputed medical bill of $25 entirely in pennies.

The story, reported in the Salt Lake City Deseret News, describes the "penny offense" this way: West, 38, did not believe he owed the medical clinic $25 but came in to pay the fee in person. He first asked the clinic staff if the facility accepted cash payments, and then dumped 2,500 pennies onto the counter and demanded that they be counted.

But West apparently hadn't counted on the clinic calling the police; the arresting officer contended that West's protest served "no legitimate purpose." The charge carries a fine that can go as high as $140--and there's no word as yet on what currency West will use to pay it.

West isn't alone in the ranks of penny protesters. A wise guy in Frederick, Maryland, showed up at the county clerk's office last summer with bags of cash to pay off his tax bill with $966.86 in change.

And a New Jersey school district a few years back punished 29 students who paid for their $2 school lunches in pennies--possibly as a prank--with two-day detentions. After parents protested, the students were pardoned. The school explained that the use of the small change slowed down the lunch line.

Thoughts? Raise your hand if you would call the police if a customer paid in pennies.

Different Approaches

They say that every story has been told and all we can do is find new ways to tell old favorites. They same the same about music. Every chord progression and every rhythm combination has been done and we just keep repackaging them as something new.

What do you think? True?

Either way, I do enjoy different deliveries of the same material. It stimulates a part of my brain that spends most of its time in lethargic slumber. My recent favorite of different deliveries of the same song is the reason for this blog.

Do you have a favorite? I think it goes unsaid which of these is my favorite, and why.

Brilliant. Simply brilliant :)

Sneak Peek!

I imagine many of you have seen these pictures, but EEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! I had to post them anyway.

I SO want this movie to rock. I want it to be beyond ridiculously amazing. I want to cry. I want to be inspired. In other words, I want it to be the anti-Twilight ;P

Who out there is with me? Because I know I can't be alone in counting down the days. I may even need to have a Hunger Games party the night it comes out before going to the midnight showing.

Who's in? :)

Traveling Summer

This winter has been a KILLER. Cold and dragging on FOREVER. I mean, it's driven me to write in all caps, if that's any indication of how intolerable it's been.

The good thing about such weather? It has gifted me with the desire to travel--all summer long. I want to head up to the Pacific northwest as well as east, so I can see areas I've previously only viewed from an airplane window.

Can't wait!

And in order to help me schedule this, I'm going to put up polls listing independent book stores in the area that I could visit and do signings at. If you'd love for me to come to your area, just pick the book store nearest you. If none of them are near you, feel free to offer me suggestions as well. These are just independents I know for certain carry/can order in my book.

So vote away, and I hope our paths cross soon!

FREE Publishing Law/Book Contract Seminar

Someone just sent this to me and I thought I would pass the word along to all you who may be interested:

FREE!

Utah Lawyers for the Arts, in cooperation with the Salt Lake Art Center, presents:

PUBLISHING LAW AND BOOK CONTRACTS

SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1 - 4 p.m.

SALT LAKE ART CENTER

20 So. West Temple

Learn about book contracts, how they protect you, and how they donʼt. What rights do you need to write about someone and to use othersʼ writings, photographs and other images? When do you have to worry about getting sued?

• Books and the future of the publishing industry
• What you can expect in a book contract and what you can negotiate
• Copyright, permissions, fair use, trademark
• Ghostwriting and works for hire
• Defamation
• Street law: law for life

Speakers:

William J. Evans, shareholder, Parsons Behle & Latimer

Susan Vogel, former shareholder, Jones Waldo, Holbrook & McDonough, owner, Pince-Nez Press

Bill Evans practices in the areas of general litigation, copyrights and entertainment law. Mr. Evansʼ copyright and entertainment law practice evolved from his interest and professional experience in music composition and production. He is a past assistant conductor of the University of Utah Orchestra and Snowbird Arts Festival Orchestra, and has composed and recorded music for records, films and a number of award winning television and radio commercials. In his legal practice, Mr. Evans has represented authors, publishers, composers, recording artists, photographers, visual artists, screenwriters and filmmakers in a variety of transactional settings and in litigation before the United States Copyright Office and in the state and federal courts.

Susan Vogel is the owner of a small independent press founded in San Francisco in 1995.

This event is free and generously hosted by the Salt Lake Art Center. Take TRAX to the Temple Square Station, or park (fee) at the Marriott across the street.

Utah Lawyers for the Arts • P.O. Box 58562 SLC, UT 84158 • 801.461.3314 • www.utahlawyersforthearts.org

Love This Quote!

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

-Calvin Coolidge

30th President of the United States