THE HOUSE OF SPOOF--An Artists' Collective in the Bronx

It's almost two years since Glenn Wright lost his life in a case of mistaken identity, and in his memory his closest friends have created an art gallery and collective in Hunts Point. It's a place for young artists to show their work and share their artistry with each other and the public. The wall above displays a terrific piece of Wheat Pasting, a technique in which a large photographic print is applied to a textured surface and glued in place. It's then covered with a clear-drying paste that seals it for a time. Alas, the rain we've had lately has faded much of this picture of Glenn, but the memory endures.

Congratulations to Alberto, Carlos, Ryan, Brian, Misra, Alejandra, Danielle, Richard, and many other friends and supporters!

Here, a visiting artist adds to the wall art and graffiti at the House of Spoof!

GIVE BLOOD...IT WAS MEANT TO CIRCULATE!

I have a thing about donating blood...it makes me feel very powerful, like a secret Superman who works anonymously to save the lives of strangers! I've been donating blood since I turned 18, and since 1980 in addition to donating whole blood, I've been giving platelets--tiny disc-shaped bits in the blood that are necessary for clotting.

Who needs platelets? Mostly, it's cancer patients whose disease or medication has lowered their own production of platelets.

What happens if you don't have enough? You start bleeding easily--from the nose, from your mouth, even internally. But platelets are team players--and they work together to stop the bleeding whenever it starts.

You can only give whole blood once every two months, because that's how long it takes for the red cells in your blood to regenerate to full power. But platelets are constantly replacing themselves, and in the past I've given as often as twice in a week.

I'm mentioning this because yesterday I gave platelets at the New York Blood Center on East 67th St. It took about 2 hours because the Center only sticks you in one arm. (At Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, they use both arms and it takes about 1 1/4 hours. This was easier because you can change the TV channel or scratch your nose if you need to.

If you're in good health and you're over 17, please consider giving blood ASAP. There are patients who can't wait--people who need your blood to live another day. Be your own Superhero!

Writing Military-Themed Books for Children...How Did THAT Happen?

Last night, I submitted the draft manuscript of my children's book on MILITARY SUBMARINES to my editor at Capstone, along with a proposed outline for my book on MILITARY FIGHTER PLANES. These will be my 8th and 9th books for young people, and my 6th and 7th books on military vehicles. How did that happen, considering I have never served in the military and have no particular expertise in this area?

The answer is, research, and writing what you want to know, not just what you know. I know a lot, but there is so much I don't know. So when my editor came to me after I'd finished my first books, on Magnets and Electricity, and asked me to write for her series on Military Vehicles for K-1 age kids, I said, "Sure!" I got to choose among the first six subjects, and I picked Military Robots, Military Ships, and Military Amphibious Vehicles.

I already had a strong interest in robots, after working with the East Harlem Tutorial Program's robotics team for the past 5 years. I started out interested mostly in the technology but quickly discovered how great it is for soldiers to use robots for dangerous jobs. Since I want every soldier and sailor, every Marine and pilot, to come home safely, I liked the idea of developing unmanned vehicles from tanks to planes to help the armed forces protect this country.

I picked ships because I love the water, and I am lucky enough to live in New York City, where the Navy and Marines celebrate Fleet Week every year. So I thought, I would enjoy learning and writing about all the different Navy ships.

Finally, I picked Amphibious Vehicles because I liked the idea of ships and boats that could also operate on land. I discovered that they are even cooler than I originally thought they might be. This is primarily because of the Amphibious Transport Dock. I had the pleasure of spending most of a day this spring with the crew of the USS New York, a ship close to the hearts of all New Yorkers because its hull contains more than seven tons of steel from the World Trade Center. Aboard the New York, I was able to see first hand how the Docking Well inside the ship held smaller boats that could take Marines and sailors ashore, from the ocean to the beach. I especially liked the LCAC--Landing Craft Air cushioned--a hovercraft that carried equipment and crew ashore.

This summer, I'm working on books for older kids about Military Vehicles--the Blazers program, which appeals to 3rd through 9th graders who are reading below grade level but still like exciting books. I tackled Military Robots again, and also covered Military Warships before working on Subs and Fighter Planes.

Writing the submarine book made me really want to go up to New London, Connecticut to the Nautilus Museum. When I was a teen, I read a thrilling book called WE WERE THERE ON THE NAUTILUS. It was about two young Navy men who were lucky enough to go on the North Pole mission of the Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine. Ever since then, I've been fascinated by submarines and wondered what it would be like to live on one for weeks at a time.

Stay tuned for more updates about these books and more!