Marc Tyler Nobleman's Blog, page 21
October 23, 2019
Thrive LOUD podcast with Lou Diamond
I rarely do podcast interviews these days but couldn’t resist accepting the kind invitation of Lou Diamond to talk with him on Thrive LOUD.
Lou (who happens to be the husband of a friend I met in high school in a Jewish youth group) is such a nice guy who is also a busy guy who nonetheless takes the time to get to know his podcast guests before the interview. He genuinely wants to help people. He listens. And he’s the reason to listen to the podcast!
Event planners take note: he’s also a charismatic, inspirational keynote speaker.
He is not, however, the also-charismatic Lou Diamond Phillips.
Thanks again, Lou.
Lou (who happens to be the husband of a friend I met in high school in a Jewish youth group) is such a nice guy who is also a busy guy who nonetheless takes the time to get to know his podcast guests before the interview. He genuinely wants to help people. He listens. And he’s the reason to listen to the podcast!
Event planners take note: he’s also a charismatic, inspirational keynote speaker.
He is not, however, the also-charismatic Lou Diamond Phillips.
Thanks again, Lou.
October 20, 2019
Student feedback from the Montessori School of San Antonio
On 9/17/19, I had the privilege of speaking to young people at the Montessori School of San Antonio. They further honored me by sending a stack of thank you notes. Some comments that moved me, amused me, or both:
“You are very funny and nothing was boring. Please come back and tell us more! We will miss you!”“Your methods for finding information are amazing. Whenever I do research, I’m sure you’ll come to mind.”“After your presentation, I was happy the whole day!”“I enjoyed you telling us your crazy awesome stories. You held my attention the whole entire time. I really hope that the other schools appreciate you as much as we did! You inspired me to start writing a book of my own, thanks!”“Honestly, it was the best presentation I have ever seen at [our school]. I had so much fun listening to [it]. I liked how you were funny, and how you got the audience involved.”“Your presentation was outstanding! It was one of the best presentations I have ever seen! I loved it because of how interactive it was.”“Your presentation was like one of the best presentations I’ve ever seen. I like how you present because you keep everybody interested.”“You are probably the best presenter in the whole world.”“I enjoyed it and it was funny and sad, normal and mad.”“I liked how [your presentation] was funny, but also factual.”“Not to be a broken record but again, I loved your presentation!”“We all loved your wonderful and engaging presentation, and it especially inspired me.”
“You are very funny and nothing was boring. Please come back and tell us more! We will miss you!”“Your methods for finding information are amazing. Whenever I do research, I’m sure you’ll come to mind.”“After your presentation, I was happy the whole day!”“I enjoyed you telling us your crazy awesome stories. You held my attention the whole entire time. I really hope that the other schools appreciate you as much as we did! You inspired me to start writing a book of my own, thanks!”“Honestly, it was the best presentation I have ever seen at [our school]. I had so much fun listening to [it]. I liked how you were funny, and how you got the audience involved.”“Your presentation was outstanding! It was one of the best presentations I have ever seen! I loved it because of how interactive it was.”“Your presentation was like one of the best presentations I’ve ever seen. I like how you present because you keep everybody interested.”“You are probably the best presenter in the whole world.”“I enjoyed it and it was funny and sad, normal and mad.”“I liked how [your presentation] was funny, but also factual.”“Not to be a broken record but again, I loved your presentation!”“We all loved your wonderful and engaging presentation, and it especially inspired me.”
October 12, 2019
Michigan Association for Media in Education conference 2019 opening keynote
Thank you to MAME, especially Cat Kerns and Klaudia Janek, for your efforts to bring me to Michigan to open your lovely conference! It was an honor.
October 11, 2019
October 4, 2019
First official Batman-related credit for Jerry Robinson
The Joker is not the first Batman antagonist to headline a standalone live-action movie. (Catwoman beat him by 15 years.)
Yet Joker, which opened today, does have a significant first up its sleeve: Jerry Robinson, early Batman ghost artist and co-creator of not only the Joker but Robin, is finally credited—and on equal footing with Bob Kane and Bill Finger. No "with"!
Yet Joker, which opened today, does have a significant first up its sleeve: Jerry Robinson, early Batman ghost artist and co-creator of not only the Joker but Robin, is finally credited—and on equal footing with Bob Kane and Bill Finger. No "with"!
September 27, 2019
Sensitivity adjustment in my school visit presentations
I believe I began talking about Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman at schools even before the book came out in 2008. My presentation includes the two photos I uncovered of the small apartment building where then-teenaged Joe Shuster lived in the 1930s.
The first photo (which I found at the Cleveland Public Library) was taken in 1959:
The second (which the Cleveland City Planning Commission located for me) was taken in 1974:
For years, I would transition from the first to the second image while saying “The other photo I found of Joe’s apartment was taken fifteen years after this one, and as you can see, the neighborhood had gone downhill.” I would then explain that soon after, the building was demolished.
A couple of years ago, I realized that my wording could be hurtful to certain kids. While it was clear that the neighborhood had changed from what I think would have been considered middle class to a lower-income population, some would construe the word “downhill” as pejorative. It is also subjective; some people of lesser means would describe themselves as content whereas some of greater means are miserable. The physical condition of their environment does not factor significantly into their outlooks.
Surely some kids in some of my audiences lived in buildings that were in a state similar to Joe’s.
Though no one has ever called this word choice to my attention, I felt badly that I had let it go unchecked for so long.
Now I say that “the neighborhood had changed,” which I feel is both fair and non-judgmental.
The first photo (which I found at the Cleveland Public Library) was taken in 1959:
The second (which the Cleveland City Planning Commission located for me) was taken in 1974:
For years, I would transition from the first to the second image while saying “The other photo I found of Joe’s apartment was taken fifteen years after this one, and as you can see, the neighborhood had gone downhill.” I would then explain that soon after, the building was demolished.
A couple of years ago, I realized that my wording could be hurtful to certain kids. While it was clear that the neighborhood had changed from what I think would have been considered middle class to a lower-income population, some would construe the word “downhill” as pejorative. It is also subjective; some people of lesser means would describe themselves as content whereas some of greater means are miserable. The physical condition of their environment does not factor significantly into their outlooks.
Surely some kids in some of my audiences lived in buildings that were in a state similar to Joe’s.
Though no one has ever called this word choice to my attention, I felt badly that I had let it go unchecked for so long.
Now I say that “the neighborhood had changed,” which I feel is both fair and non-judgmental.
September 25, 2019
"New York Times" writer Nicholas Kristof and "Thirty Minutes Over Oregon"
In 1997, I saw this obituary in the New York Times:
In 2007, I began to write a picture book on Nobuo Fujita.
In 2014, after around 50 rejections, I sold the manuscript to Clarion (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).
In 2018, the book came out.
In 2019, I reached out to the man who wrote that obituary 22 years ago, Nicholas Kristof, by both tweet and email; he replied by both.
I sent him a copy of the book that he helped inspire.
In 2007, I began to write a picture book on Nobuo Fujita.
In 2014, after around 50 rejections, I sold the manuscript to Clarion (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).
In 2018, the book came out.
In 2019, I reached out to the man who wrote that obituary 22 years ago, Nicholas Kristof, by both tweet and email; he replied by both.
I sent him a copy of the book that he helped inspire.
September 24, 2019
“Booklist” interview features quirky questions
Kathleen McBroom kindly interviewed me for the 9/19 issue of Booklist.
Most of her questions are ones I haven’t gotten before (which I appreciate!):
In another interview, you referred to some negative feedback you received when you first pitched the idea for Thirty Minutes over Oregon, a story about friendship and forgiveness. What were the objections?In your author’s note for Thirty Minutes over Oregon, you end with a question about the Japanese pilot Nobuo Fujita: “He went from fighting to uniting. Which took more courage?” Have you ever gotten any feedback from kids about this, either in letters or during school visits?The thing I like best about your books is how you spark inquiry in kids through revealing tiny morsels of information that have been overlooked. How did your interest in these types of forgotten facts begin?While we’re talking about research and inquiry, I was struck by something you included in your author’s note for Fairy Spell. You wrote, “Having the internet doesn’t mean you can kick back and think less. On the contrary, it forces you to think more.” Would you care to elaborate on that?You are always profoundly respectful of the people in your books. You never say anything really damning about Bob Kane; you stress your belief that Frances and Elsie, the girls from Fairy Spell, had no intent to perpetuate a nationwide hoax; you very effectively explain how well-educated adults fell for the fairy photos ruse; and you portray Nobuo Fujita from Thirty Minutes over Oregon as a truly remorseful person who was willing to apologize for his wartime actions. Why is it important for you to portray these characters so sympathetically to young audiences?Your brief bio from Fairy Spell says that “he believes in a number of things that haven’t yet been proven.” I’m not sure if you wrote this or not, but it makes me wonder—with a philosophy like that, might you have any concerns about being taken in by some fantastic claim someday, like your fellow writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who championed the fairy photos?
Thank you, Kathleen and Booklist!
Most of her questions are ones I haven’t gotten before (which I appreciate!):
In another interview, you referred to some negative feedback you received when you first pitched the idea for Thirty Minutes over Oregon, a story about friendship and forgiveness. What were the objections?In your author’s note for Thirty Minutes over Oregon, you end with a question about the Japanese pilot Nobuo Fujita: “He went from fighting to uniting. Which took more courage?” Have you ever gotten any feedback from kids about this, either in letters or during school visits?The thing I like best about your books is how you spark inquiry in kids through revealing tiny morsels of information that have been overlooked. How did your interest in these types of forgotten facts begin?While we’re talking about research and inquiry, I was struck by something you included in your author’s note for Fairy Spell. You wrote, “Having the internet doesn’t mean you can kick back and think less. On the contrary, it forces you to think more.” Would you care to elaborate on that?You are always profoundly respectful of the people in your books. You never say anything really damning about Bob Kane; you stress your belief that Frances and Elsie, the girls from Fairy Spell, had no intent to perpetuate a nationwide hoax; you very effectively explain how well-educated adults fell for the fairy photos ruse; and you portray Nobuo Fujita from Thirty Minutes over Oregon as a truly remorseful person who was willing to apologize for his wartime actions. Why is it important for you to portray these characters so sympathetically to young audiences?Your brief bio from Fairy Spell says that “he believes in a number of things that haven’t yet been proven.” I’m not sure if you wrote this or not, but it makes me wonder—with a philosophy like that, might you have any concerns about being taken in by some fantastic claim someday, like your fellow writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who championed the fairy photos?
Thank you, Kathleen and Booklist!
September 23, 2019
Powers activating in San Antonio
The week of September 16, I spoke at schools and a conference in San Antonio.
In my school presentation, I typically show a Super Friends drawing I made at age 8. On 9/19/19, at San Antonio Academy, an 8-year-old asked who the two in purple are.
As I began to explain the Wonder Twins, a teacher spontaneously came up to help demonstrate...
Which, as will be no surprise, was a first for me. And hopefully not a last.
Adding to the memorable visit, the boys showed their empathy by giving the presentation a standing ovation.
Though it was probably all because of the Wonder Twins reenactment...
In my school presentation, I typically show a Super Friends drawing I made at age 8. On 9/19/19, at San Antonio Academy, an 8-year-old asked who the two in purple are.
As I began to explain the Wonder Twins, a teacher spontaneously came up to help demonstrate...
Which, as will be no surprise, was a first for me. And hopefully not a last.
Adding to the memorable visit, the boys showed their empathy by giving the presentation a standing ovation.
Though it was probably all because of the Wonder Twins reenactment...
September 22, 2019
"Batman & Bill" aired in New Zealand
Missed one!
After airing on Australian TV (November 2018) but before premiering on Delta Air Lines or Spanish TV (September 2019), Batman & Bill was shown on New Zealand TV (Rialto Channel, June 2019).
After airing on Australian TV (November 2018) but before premiering on Delta Air Lines or Spanish TV (September 2019), Batman & Bill was shown on New Zealand TV (Rialto Channel, June 2019).
