Recommended reading - American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America (2012):

American Grown:
The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America

By Michelle Obama.

Published by Crown.

1st edition.

Hardcover.

Published 2012.

ISBN-10: 0307956024

ISBN-13: 978-0307956026

Description:

The former First Lady, author of Becoming, and producer and star of Waffles + Mochi tells the inspirational story of the White House Kitchen Garden and how gardens can transform our lives and the health of our communities.

Early in her tenure as First Lady, despite being a novice gardener, Michelle Obama planted a kitchen garden on the White House’s South Lawn. To her delight, she watched as fresh vegetables, fruit, and herbs sprouted from the ground. Soon the White House Kitchen Garden inspired a new conversation all across the country about the food we feed our families and the impact it has on the nutrition and well-being of our children.

In American Grown, Mrs. Obama invites you inside the White House Kitchen Garden, from the first planting to the satisfaction of the seasonal harvest. She reveals her early worries and struggles – would the new plants even grow? – and her joy as lettuce, corn, tomatoes, collards and kale, sweet potatoes and rhubarb flourished in the freshly tilled soil. She shares the stories of other gardens that have moved and inspired her on her journey across the nation. 

And she offers what she learned about planting your own backyard, school, or community garden.

American Grown features:

A behind-the-scenes look at every season of the garden’s growth.

Unique recipes created by White House chefs.

Striking original photographs that bring the White House garden to life.

A fascinating history of community gardens in the United States.

From a modern-day vegetable truck that brings fresh produce to underserved communities in Chicago, to Houston office workers who make the sidewalk bloom, to a New York City school that created a scented garden for the visually impaired, to a garden in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, that devotes its entire harvest to those less fortunate, American Grown isn’t just the story of a single garden. It’s a celebration of the bounty of our nation and a reminder of what we can all grow together.

Recommended reading - Pulp Fiction to Film Noir: The Great Depression and the Development of a Genre (2012):

Pulp Fiction to Film Noir:
The Great Depression and the Development of a Genre

By William Hare.

Published by McFarland.

Paperback.

Published 2012.

ISBN-10: 0786466820

ISBN-13: 978-0786466825

Description:

During the Great Depression, pulp fiction writers created a new, distinctly American detective story, one that stressed the development of fascinating, often bizarre characters rather than the twists and turns of clever plots. This new crime fiction adapted brilliantly to the screen, birthing a cinematic genre that French cinema intellectuals following World War II christened "film noir." 

Set on dark streets late at night, in cheap hotels and bars, and populated by the dangerous people who frequented these locales, these films introduced a new antihero, a tough, brooding, rebellious loner, embodied by Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon and Philip Marlowe in The Big Sleep. This volume provides a detailed exploration of film noir, tracing its evolution, the influence of such legendary writers as Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, and the films that propelled this dark genre to popularity in the mid-20th century.

Recommended reading - Pittsburgh Film History: On Set in the Steel City (2012):

Pittsburgh Film History: On Set in the Steel City

By John Tiech.

Published by The History Press.

Published 2012.

Hardcover.

ISBN-10: 1540207331

ISBN-13: 978-1540207333

Contents: The Genesis of Pittsburgh Film; Pittsburgh Classics; Chilly Billy; Fred Rogers and His Legacy; Night of the Living Legends; The Straggling Seventies; Dawn of the Pittsburgh Film Industry; Diverse Filmmaking; Day of the Dead; Hollywood of the East; Demme God; The Remake; The Pittsburgh Film Office; Five Years of Full Time; The Canadian Effect; Lights! Camera! Life Support!; Perseverance; Pittsburgh Rises.

Description:

Pittsburgh has been part of the film industry since the days of silent film. Yet, it was not until the 1951 classic Angels in the Outfield – set at Forbes Field – that the Steel City had its first major role on the silver screen. Greater Pittsburgh’s film and television industry has since produced everything from the beloved children s program Mister Roger’s Neighborhood to the cult classic Night of the Living Dead. Most recently, Christopher Nolan has chosen to set the conclusion to his Batman trilogy in the city. From the first nickelodeon and “film row” of those early days to the locations and cutting-edge sets of today, local author John Tiech takes a behind-the-scenes tour of Pittsburgh cinema.

Recommended reading – The Cocktail Waitress (2012).

The Cocktail Waitress

by James M. Cain.

Hard Case Crime.

Published posthumously.

Hardcover.

First edition.

Published 2012.

ISBN-10: 1781160325

ISBN-13: 978-1781160329

Description:

Grieving widow … or black widow?

The day Joan Medford buried her husband was a fateful one – because before the day was out she’d meet the two men who would change her life forever. Forced to take a job waitressing yo support herself and her child, Joan finds herself caught between the handsome young schemer whose touch she comes to crave and the wealthy older man whose touch repels her … but who otherwise would make a tempting husband number two. It’s a classic Cain triangle – brutal sexual and stark – that can only end in death. But for whom, the guilty … or the innocent?

The final novel written by James M. Cain and never before published, The Cocktail Waitress is a testament to the enduring power of one of the most acclaimed novelists of the twentieth century. The author of unforgettable noir classics such as Double Indemnity, Mildred Pierce, and The Postman Always Rings Twice, Cain’s work remains as impossible to put down today as when first written, and will leave even jaded modern readers breathless. Featuring an afterword by Edgar and Shamus Award-winning editor Charles Ardai. One of the most celebrated and notorious crime writers of all time, James M. Cain launched his career with the publication of two back-to-back masterpieces – The Postman Always Rings Twice and Double Indemnity – selling millions of copies worldwide and inspiring classic movies. Cain continued with an unmatched run of noir novels including Mildred Pierce which inspired both the Academy Award-winning film starring Joan Crawford and the Emmy-winning HBO miniseries starring Kate Winslet. Cain died in 1977. And that’s where everyone thought the story ended. But James M. Cain had one more story to tell – one last blistering tale of sex and greed, betrayal and deception, written at the end of his life but never published – The Cocktail Waitress. Destined to take its place alongside his other classics, The Cocktail Waitress is Cain at his brutal and seductive best.

"Here, long after anyone would have expected it, is the voice of James M. Cain, as fresh and as relevant as ever. The Cocktail Waitress will involve you, and then shock you with an ending you'll never forget. A true rarity: a reader’s novel that’s also a literary event." – Stephen King.

On this day in music history - Illumination, by Jennifer Thomas (2012):

Illumination

Album by Jennifer Thomas,

released July 16, 2012.

Track list:

Etude for the Dreamer; After the Storm; Illumination; Gymnopédie No. 1; New Life; Beyond the Summit; Into the Forest; Secrets; Toccata and Fugue; Rainforest; Fire Dance; Pachelbel’s Canon (a Duet); Across the Starlit Sky; Requiem for a Dream; Sonata Minoré; Eventide; New World Symphony.

On this day in movie history - Dredd (2012):

Dredd

directed by Pete Travis,

written by Alex Garland,

based on the comic book character created by writer John Wagner and artist Carlos Ezquerra,

was released at the San Diego Comic-Con in the United States on July 11, 2012.
Music by Paul Leonard-Morgan.

Cast:

Karl Urban, Rachel Wood, Andile Mngadi, Porteus Xandau, Jason Cope, Emma Breschi, Olivia Thirlby, Rakie Ayola, Lena Headey, Tamer Burjaq, Warrick Grier, Wood Harris, Shoki Mokgapa, Yohan Chun, Eden Knowles, Desmond Lai Lan, Deobia Oparei, Patrick Lyster, Travis Snyders, Chad Phillips, Domhnall Gleeson, Joe Vaz, Scott Sparrow, Marty Kintu, Nicole Bailey, Daniel Hadebe, Francis Chouler, Junior Singo, Luke Tyler, Langley Kirkwood, Edwin Perry, Karl Thaning, Michele Levin, Allen Irwin, Brandon Livanos, Owen Llewelyn, Marc Pleass, Santi Scinelli, Julie Summers.

On this day in music history - Sensual Journeys, by Fiona Joy Hawkins (2012):

Sensual Journeys

Album by Fiona Joy Hawkins,

released May 8, 2012.

Track list:

Contemplating; Joy; Flight Of The Snowbird; Gliding On Air; From The Outside; Song Phonique; Frozen Rose; The Midnight Interlude; Moving On; White View; View From My Studio (Live).

On this day in movie history - The Raven (2012):

The Raven

directed by James McTeigue,

written by Ben Livingston and Hannah Shakespeare,

was released in the United States on April 27, 2012.
Inspired by the poem The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1845.
Music by Lucas Vidal.

Cast:

John Cusack, Luke Evans, Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson, Kevin McNally, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Jimmy Yuill, Sam Hazeldine, Pam Ferris, Brendan Coyle, Adrian Rawlins, Aidan Feore, Dave Legeno, Michael Cronin, Michael Poole, Michael Shannon, Ian Virgo, Michael J. Fourticq, Jasmina Ilic, Teodora Uveric, Kristof Farkas, Luka Mijatovic, József Tálos, Matt Devere, Sergej Trifunovic, Milos Djuricic, Mike Kelly, Bojan Peric, Ana Sofrenovic, Steve Agnew, Malina Nikolic, Miklós Kapácsy, Andrew Hefler, Pierre Boris Jaurdin, Tamara Krcunovic, Jason Ryan, Antal Publik, László Konter, Mark C. Phelan, Krisztián Peer, Annamaria Ordog, Ádám Földi, Dejan Cubrilov, Máté Haumann, Péter Fancsikai, Sava Rapic, Charity Wakefield, John Warnaby, Matt Slack.

Recommending reading - The Art of Black and White Photography (2012):

The Art of Black and White Photography

Techniques for Creating Superb Images in a Digital Workflow

By Torsten Andreas Hoffmann.

Published by Rocky Nook.

Published 2012.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1933952962

ISBN-13: 978-1933952963

Description:

Over the last few years, most books on photography have been focused on the new breed of cameras and how to master the digital imaging workflow. In The Art of Black and White Photography, author and photographer Torsten Andreas Hoffmann takes a different approach, focusing on image composition and image capture, with an emphasis on the creative aspects of black and white photography rather than on the digital workflow.

After introducing the ground rules of composition, Hoffmann illustrates their applications with his own stunning black and white images that cover various photographic genres, including architecture, street photography, portraiture, and surreal photography. Also discussed are the elements of a "photographic language"', which distinguishes creative photography from random shooting. Finally, you will learn valuable post-processing techniques, mostly using Photoshop, that emphasize the functions necessary for creating outstanding black and white images.

This second edition has been updated to include Photoshop CS5, as well as brand new images, content, and a revised layout.

On this day in music history - Beyond the Crossroads, by Peter Karp & Sue Foley (2012):

Beyond the Crossroads

Album by Peter Karp & Sue Foley,

released April 17, 2012.

Track list:

We're Gonna Make It; Analyze'n Blues; Beyond The Crossroads; Fine Love; At The Same Time; Take Your Time; More Than I Bargained For; Blowin'; Resistance; Chance Of Rain; Plank Spank; You've Got A Problem.

On this day in television history - Justified (2012):

Justified

Season 3. Episode 13.

Episode entitled: Slaughterhouse.

Released April 10, 2012.

Directed by Dean Parisot.

Written by Graham Yost, Fred Golan, Nichelle Tramble Spellman, Ingrid Escajeda, Ryan Farley, Jon Worley.

Based on the short story Fire in the Hole by Elmore Leonard.

Music by Steve Porcaro.

Cast:

Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, Natalie Zea, Walton Goggins, Raymond J. Barry, Jere Burns, Adam Arkin, Jim Beaver, Demetrius Grosse, David Meunier, Cathy Cahlin Ryan, David Carpenter, Cleavon R. McClendon III, Abby Miller, Tyler Neitzel, Mykelti Williamson, Neal McDonough, Chris Ashworth, Joe Davis, Roger Guydon, Mark Engelhardt, Jesse Luken, Jonathan Kowalsky, Tahmus Rounds, Uriah Shelton, Mandy June Turpin.

On this day in television history - Justified (2012):

Justified

Season 3. Episode 12.

Episode entitled: Coalition.

Released April 3, 2012.

Directed by Bill Johnson.

Written by Graham Yost, Taylor Elmore, Nichelle Tramble Spellman, Ingrid Escajeda, Ryan Farley, Jon Worley.

Based on the short story Fire in the Hole by Elmore Leonard.

Music by Steve Porcaro.

Cast:

Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, Natalie Zea, Walton Goggins, Raymond J. Barry, Jeremy Davies, Jere Burns, David Andrews, Kaitlyn Dever, Gill Gayle, Linda Gehringer, David Meunier, Demetrius Grosse, Cleavon R. McClendon III, Peter Murnik, Mykelti Williamson, Neal McDonough, McCready Baker, Madeline Blue, Mark Chadwick, Jonathan Kowalsky, Jesse Luken.

On this day in television history - Justified (2012):

Justified

Season 3. Episode 11.

Episode entitled: Measures.

Released March 27, 2012.

Directed by John Dahl.

Written by Graham Yost, Benjamin Cavell, Nichelle Tramble Spellman, Ingrid Escajeda, Ryan Farley, Jon Worley.

Based on the short story Fire in the Hole by Elmore Leonard.

Music by Steve Porcaro.

Cast:

Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, Natalie Zea, Walton Goggins, Raymond J. Barry, Jeremy Davies, Jere Burns, Marshall Allman, David Andrews, Adam Arkin, Michael Ironside, David Meunier, Demetrius Grosse, Mickey Jones, Jenn Lyon, Abby Miller, Chris Tardio, Clay Wilcox, Mykelti Williamson, Neal McDonough, McCready Baker, Madeline Blue, Linc Hand, Blake Heron, Janet Hoskins, Jonathan Kowalsky, Jesse Luken.

On this day in movie history - 4:44 Last Day on Earth (2012):

4:44 Last Day on Earth

directed and written by Abel Ferrara,

was released in the United States on March 23, 2012.
Music by Francis Kuipers.

Cast:

Shanyn Leigh, Willem Dafoe, Tony Redman, Pat Kiernan, Francis Kuipers, Selena Mars, Justin Restivo, Bojana Vasik, Trung Nguyen, Triana Jackson, Dierdra McDowell, Natasha Lyonne, Anita Pallenberg, Paul Hipp, José Solano, Judith Salazar, Paz de la Huerta, Frank Aquilino, Maria Schirripa, Muriel Sprissler Dafoe, Nicholas Deceolia, The Dalai Lama, Al Gore, Anthony Perullo, Charlie Rose, Tyler Stone, Thomas Michael Sullivan, Nicola Tranquillino.