Marc Tyler Nobleman's Blog, page 86
March 3, 2014
Books—and a tablet PC—for a hard-working teacher in Pakistan
In 12/13, I received a compelling email from Tayyab Ajmal in Pakistan:
Despite how much I dread waiting in line at the post office (I value the service but it sometimes seems they go slow on purpose), I immediately said yes. Tayyab’s excerpted response:
This was heartbreaking.
Tayyab asked several more questions:
I said yes, no, and yes, and recommended movies including Twelve Angry Men and The Sound of Music.
I asked if Tayyab discovered me because I wrote a children’s book about Pakistan many years ago:
He said yes and then asked the following:
I asked him to send me photos of his students with the books I would send and in exchange I’d blog about this experience—including a call to action to raise the money to send this clearly passionate teacher a tool that would be a relatively small cost for some of us and a huge asset for him.
He sent photos:
How to help improve a few lives (AKA Kickstarter Lite):
Please simply PayPal me $5; to do that, all you need is approximately 27 seconds and my email, mtnobleman@gmail.com. (If you prefer to mail a check, email me for my address.)
To make this happen, I estimate we’ll need about $250, including shipping. That’s only 50 people contributing only $5. (Of course, should you wish to give more, that will be gladly welcomed. Also welcomed: suggestions as to which tablet to get him.)
Once we hit the goal, I’ll stop accepting donations and add an addendum here indicating the effort has completed successfully.
We’ll likely never meet Tayyab or his students, but we will know the effect of this small gesture.
I’ll again ask him to send us a photo of his students, this time with the tablet PC.
I teach primary, secondary and tertiary students (poor/needy) English but its all pathetic situation. We do not have books, libraries or book shops over here in my city. The habit of reading is dying day by day which is not a good thing.
Can you plz send a copy of Vocabulary Cartoon of the Day book.
Despite how much I dread waiting in line at the post office (I value the service but it sometimes seems they go slow on purpose), I immediately said yes. Tayyab’s excerpted response:thanks for your reply as i thought i am from Pakistan and so no one will reply.
This was heartbreaking.
Tayyab asked several more questions:
Is it ok if i can be in loop like asking some questions regarding English language, vocab and grammar etc. in future?
Do you know any tutor/post grad student on Skype who can be my MENTOR.
Can you advise any classic movies for improving English. I am a big fan of Hallmark Hall of Fame movies.
I said yes, no, and yes, and recommended movies including Twelve Angry Men and The Sound of Music.
I asked if Tayyab discovered me because I wrote a children’s book about Pakistan many years ago:
He said yes and then asked the following:
Is it possible if i can get a Tablet PC (new/used) as a donation. It would be a really good AID to teach as i do not have my PC. Can you check with your family and friends as its CHRISTMAS ahead so any one like to GIVE/GIFT.In response to this, I cut him a deal.
I do not need an expensive one just a normal one with normal specs like i can teach through videos, play audio files, share picture/photo for vocab building etc. [He sent this link.]
I asked him to send me photos of his students with the books I would send and in exchange I’d blog about this experience—including a call to action to raise the money to send this clearly passionate teacher a tool that would be a relatively small cost for some of us and a huge asset for him.
He sent photos:
How to help improve a few lives (AKA Kickstarter Lite):
Please simply PayPal me $5; to do that, all you need is approximately 27 seconds and my email, mtnobleman@gmail.com. (If you prefer to mail a check, email me for my address.)
To make this happen, I estimate we’ll need about $250, including shipping. That’s only 50 people contributing only $5. (Of course, should you wish to give more, that will be gladly welcomed. Also welcomed: suggestions as to which tablet to get him.)
Once we hit the goal, I’ll stop accepting donations and add an addendum here indicating the effort has completed successfully.
We’ll likely never meet Tayyab or his students, but we will know the effect of this small gesture.
I’ll again ask him to send us a photo of his students, this time with the tablet PC.
March 2, 2014
Someone's Twitter profile picture is...
...this:
And is therefore aqua cool. (“Super” cool = so overused.)
And is therefore aqua cool. (“Super” cool = so overused.)
March 1, 2014
“New,” previously unpublished Bill Finger photo 6 of 6
The title of my post way back on 7/21/08, five months after I launched this blog, was “‘New’ Bill Finger photo 1 of 9.”
But there were no subsequent posts unveiling photos 2-9.
Until now.
(Less three I published in Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, plus one I have found since.)
Bill (standing) at the (second) wedding of his friend
Charles Sinclair (not pictured), 1964
But there were no subsequent posts unveiling photos 2-9.
Until now.
(Less three I published in Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, plus one I have found since.)
Bill (standing) at the (second) wedding of his friend Charles Sinclair (not pictured), 1964
February 28, 2014
“New,” previously unpublished Bill Finger photo 5 of 6
The title of my post way back on 7/21/08, five months after I launched this blog, was “‘New’ Bill Finger photo 1 of 9.”
But there were no subsequent posts unveiling photos 2-9.
Until now.
(Less three I published in Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, plus one I have found since.)
Bill and son Fred, Bronx Zoo, 1951 or 1952
Tune in tomorrow to see the sixth and final glimpse of Bill that has never been published.
But there were no subsequent posts unveiling photos 2-9.
Until now.
(Less three I published in Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, plus one I have found since.)
Bill and son Fred, Bronx Zoo, 1951 or 1952Tune in tomorrow to see the sixth and final glimpse of Bill that has never been published.
February 27, 2014
“New,” previously unpublished Bill Finger photo 4 of 6
The title of my post way back on 7/21/08, five months after I launched this blog, was “‘New’ Bill Finger photo 1 of 9.”
But there were no subsequent posts unveiling photos 2-9.
Until now.
(Less three I published in Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, plus one I have found since.)
Bill (right) with sister-in-law Irene Flam, Ellis Epstein (Bill’s wife Portia’s grandfather), and James Epstein (Bill’s father-in-law), 1950s
Tune in for the next two days to see two more glimpses of Bill that have never been published.
But there were no subsequent posts unveiling photos 2-9.
Until now.
(Less three I published in Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, plus one I have found since.)
Bill (right) with sister-in-law Irene Flam, Ellis Epstein (Bill’s wife Portia’s grandfather), and James Epstein (Bill’s father-in-law), 1950sTune in for the next two days to see two more glimpses of Bill that have never been published.
February 26, 2014
“New,” previously unpublished Bill Finger photo 3 of 6
The title of my post way back on 7/21/08, five months after I launched this blog, was “‘New’ Bill Finger photo 1 of 9.”
But there were no subsequent posts unveiling photos 2-9.
Until now.
(Less three I published in Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, plus one I have found since.)
Bill with his first wife Portia, son Fred, and Portia’s father James, 1949
Tune in for the next three days to see three more glimpses of Bill that have never been published.
But there were no subsequent posts unveiling photos 2-9.
Until now.
(Less three I published in Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, plus one I have found since.)
Bill with his first wife Portia, son Fred, and Portia’s father James, 1949Tune in for the next three days to see three more glimpses of Bill that have never been published.
February 25, 2014
“New,” previously unpublished Bill Finger photo 2 of 6
The title of my post way back on 7/21/08, five months after I launched this blog, was “‘New’ Bill Finger photo 1 of 9.”
But there were no subsequent posts unveiling photos 2-9.
Until now.
(Less three I published in Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, plus one I have found since.)
Bill and his first wife Portia, Provincetown, MA, 1940s
Tune in for the next four days to see four more glimpses of Bill that have never been published.
But there were no subsequent posts unveiling photos 2-9.
Until now.
(Less three I published in Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, plus one I have found since.)
Bill and his first wife Portia, Provincetown, MA, 1940sTune in for the next four days to see four more glimpses of Bill that have never been published.
February 24, 2014
“New,” previously unpublished Bill Finger photo 1 of 6
Since Bill Finger’s death in 1974, only two photos of him had been published and republished, so people began to say that those were the only two photos of Bill that existed.
Rather they were the only two photos that were known to exist.
No one had looked hard enough yet.
So I set out to remedy that.
And from seven sources over nine months, I found a bunch more.
The title of my post back on 7/21/08, five months after I launched this blog, was “‘New’ Bill Finger photo 1 of 9.”
But there were no subsequent posts unveiling photos 2-9.
Part of this was oversight.
Part of this was forethought, since I eventually published three of those original nine in Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman.
For some time now, I have been intending to reveal the remaining five. What is finally motivating me to do so is that I recently
found
yet
another.
It has been years since I last uncovered a Finger photo that had been buried in a private collection, but no amount of time will make me forget the high.
I did not uncover this one personally—Bill’s only grandchild Athena did.
Of the six “new” photos I will share here over the next six days, this latest discovery dates back the earliest:
A great photo (and not just because Bill Finger is in it, second from left).
Based on his hair, it’s almost certainly in the 1930s—pre-Batman. It’s almost certainly at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, where Bill would golf. (The giveaway—the golf clubs.)
I don’t know who the other three people are. Do you?
Tune in for the next five days to see five more glimpses of Bill that have never been published.
Rather they were the only two photos that were known to exist.
No one had looked hard enough yet.
So I set out to remedy that.
And from seven sources over nine months, I found a bunch more.
The title of my post back on 7/21/08, five months after I launched this blog, was “‘New’ Bill Finger photo 1 of 9.”
But there were no subsequent posts unveiling photos 2-9.
Part of this was oversight.
Part of this was forethought, since I eventually published three of those original nine in Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman.
For some time now, I have been intending to reveal the remaining five. What is finally motivating me to do so is that I recently
found
yet
another.
It has been years since I last uncovered a Finger photo that had been buried in a private collection, but no amount of time will make me forget the high.
I did not uncover this one personally—Bill’s only grandchild Athena did.
Of the six “new” photos I will share here over the next six days, this latest discovery dates back the earliest:
A great photo (and not just because Bill Finger is in it, second from left).
Based on his hair, it’s almost certainly in the 1930s—pre-Batman. It’s almost certainly at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, where Bill would golf. (The giveaway—the golf clubs.)
I don’t know who the other three people are. Do you?
Tune in for the next five days to see five more glimpses of Bill that have never been published.
February 22, 2014
Bill Finger Appreciation Group on Facebook
Thank you to Derek Wolfford and all members of this group for your ongoing support.
This acknowledgement—like Bill receiving credit for Batman—is long overdue.
This acknowledgement—like Bill receiving credit for Batman—is long overdue.
Save the date: “Batman at 75: To All a Dark Knight” panel in NYC
In December 2012, I reached out to David Bushman at the Paley Center (formerly the Museum of TV and Radio) in New York to ask if they bring in speakers.
They don’t…at least not in the way I was envisioning.
But this kicked off the development of an event I am thrilled to finally be able to announce: a star-studded (plus me) panel about Batman’s cultural influence on the occasion of his 75th anniversary.
The panelists:
Kevin Conroy, Voice of Batman, Batman: The Animated Series; The New Batman AdventuresChip Kidd, Designer, Batman: The Complete History; Author, Batman: Death by DesignMarc Tyler Nobleman, Author, Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of BatmanKevin Smith, Filmmaker; Writer, Batman comic books; Host, Fat Man on Batman podcastMichael Uslan, Executive Producer, The Dark Knight film trilogy; Author, The Boy Who Loved Batman
The moderator:
Whitney Matheson, Columnist, USA Today’s “Pop Candy”
The details:
Date: Monday 5/5/14
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: 25 West 52 Street, New York
Cost: $25
Dress: cape and cowl optional
Space is limited. Register today! Tomorrow is also fine. Any later may be too late.
They don’t…at least not in the way I was envisioning.
But this kicked off the development of an event I am thrilled to finally be able to announce: a star-studded (plus me) panel about Batman’s cultural influence on the occasion of his 75th anniversary.
The panelists:
Kevin Conroy, Voice of Batman, Batman: The Animated Series; The New Batman AdventuresChip Kidd, Designer, Batman: The Complete History; Author, Batman: Death by DesignMarc Tyler Nobleman, Author, Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of BatmanKevin Smith, Filmmaker; Writer, Batman comic books; Host, Fat Man on Batman podcastMichael Uslan, Executive Producer, The Dark Knight film trilogy; Author, The Boy Who Loved Batman
The moderator:
Whitney Matheson, Columnist, USA Today’s “Pop Candy”
The details:
Date: Monday 5/5/14
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: 25 West 52 Street, New York
Cost: $25
Dress: cape and cowl optional
Space is limited. Register today! Tomorrow is also fine. Any later may be too late.
