Over the weekend of 9-11 November, five members of our production team for Semper Fi, The Magazine of the Marine Corps League, went to Washington, DC, to participate in celebrating the U.S. Marine Corps 232 Birthday and also the annual remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Our group - John Lavey, Patrick Burns, Kerri Davis, Carrie Wakeford and Bill Hudgins - first went to the Marine War Memorial in Arlington, often called the Iwo Jima Memorial because it commemorates the raising of an American flag on Mt. Suribachi during the desperate struggle for the tiny island.

We spent part of Saturday afternoon at the year-old National Museum of the Marine Corps, discovering that the riches it holds take far longer than a couple of hours to see, even for the fleetest footed visitor.

Saturday night, we joined our client, the Marine Corps League, at its 2nd annual Birthday Ball. At both the museum and at the ball, Marine tradition was observed as a Marine sliced the birthday cake with a Marmeluke saber and handed the first piece to the oldest Marine present. That Marine took a bite, then handed to the youngestﾑthe passing of tradition and duty from old to new.

Sunday morning, crisp, clear and mild, we joined thousands at Arlington National Cemetery to honor the 48 million American veterans who, starting with the American Revolution, offered all, including their lives, to protect the nation. More than 310,000 of those veterans are buried at Arlington. The Marine Corps League was this year's host veterans' group for the national observance, and its commandant, Jack Ryan, was joined at the dais by Vice President Cheney after the vice president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Following our annual Hammock tradition of dressing up for Halloween, we decided to increase the stakes this year and have an official Costume Contest. The field included:

Black cat (Lena), Little Devil (Carrie), G.I. Jane (Emily), Count Chocula (Jamie), Surfer Dude (Patrick B), Orangutan (John), Little Red Riding Hood (Barbara L), Edie Sedgwick (Allison), Nurse Gollum from South Park (Barbara M) and the Crazy Cat Lady (Megan G).

Our special guest judges from Capital Records weighed in and awarded first place to Count Chocula, second place to the Crazy Cat Lady and third place to Nurse Gollum. A special honorable mention was awarded to the Orangutan.

Happy Halloween!

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Being the big Apple nerds that we are here at Hammock, we've been waiting with bated breath for the release of Apple's new operating system, OS X Leopard (that's 10.5 for you Apple n00bs out there). Not wanting to wait until the 6 p.m. retail release, IT Director Patrick Ragsdale cleverly pre-ordered the systems so we would receive them first thing this morning.

Unfortunately, all the excitement that comes with a new Apple operating system was a bit much for Patrick to handle so early in the day, and he was found laying near his desk mumbling something about "Time Machine... Spaces... 300 new features..."

Thankfully his iPhone rang, jarring him back into reality and on to the task of installing the OS onto our office computers so we could start basking in its much-anticipated glory.

We've all been so busy, that Hammock Publishing's official 16th Birthday on October 1 snuck right by us. Time to fire up 16 candles.

At last, we can legally drive the company car. Next year, we can
do magic.

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Over the weekend some friends from church came to see our burros, Edgar and Rice. The guy is a retired veterinarian, and the younger woman is his granddaughter. The burros were their usual gregarious selves, especially since treats were involved. This is the younger and more playful burro, Edgar.

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On August 15, Patrick Ragsdale and his wife Lorraine welcomed their daughter, Iris Mae Ragsdale. The newest addition to the Ragsdale family arrived at 10:11 am, weighing 7lb., 11oz. and measuring 19 inches long. True to his role as Hammock's Director of IT, Patrick twittered the news of Iris' birth via his iPhone. And yes, Iris does already have her own blog, one she shares one with her big brother Isaac. How cool is that! (Disclaimer: Mom Lorraine is the current Webmaster, but if Iris and Isaac are as bright their parents, we expect the precocious siblings to bump their mom out of her role in a few short weeks.)

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Earlier this week we had a few very special guests in our offices: Hammock writer Shannon McRae and her six-month adorable son Wills. Shannon and her husband William recently relocated from Portland, Ore., back to their southern rootsﾑto Dothan, Ala. Seeing Shannon was a treat but we were even more excited to meet sweet Wills for the first time. We think you'll agreeﾑhe's a cutie!

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For the fifth consecutive year, American Spirit, the magazine we publish for the Daughters of the American Revolution, has been honored with a Grand Award of Excellence from the APEX Awards organization. In making the award, the judges commented: ﾒSpectacular photo spreads, beautifully written, compelling stories, and appealing use of spot color, sidebars and functional captionsﾑall contribute to an enjoyable, absorbing read. Stuck in an elevator? This is the one you want.ﾓ We, of course, recommend reading American Spirit anywhere, especially in locations more comfortable than an elevator; still, the judges' comments definitely "lifted" our spirits. Seriously, it has been a distinct honor to be afforded the chance to work with DAR and help carry out its programs of preservation, patriotism and education, and we look forward to each issue with great enthusiasm.

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Among the intense debate over the war in Iraq, one salient point is agreed upon by nearly all sides: Troops need more protection from roadside explosive devices. Help is on the way, in the shape of heavily armored, specially constructed MRAP - Mine Resistant Ambush Protected - vehicles, which will replace many of the Humvees now in use for patrol. The Marine Corps is selecting several companies to rush-produce MRAPs and get them into the field to protect the troops. This issue of Semper Fi, the Magazine of the Marine Corps League, which we publish for the Marine Corps League, reports on the vehicles under consideration and how they work.

Also in this issue, Semper Fi commemorates Camp Pendleton's 65th anniversary as a Marine Corps base by looking at its colorful history as a Spanish-owned rancho that covered more than a quarter-million acres. As in every issue, Semper Fi also reports on the activities of the Marine Corps League in supporting the elite fighting force and its veterans.

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From Sea to Shining Sea, it's summertime in America, and even with new mid-year series and episodes on cable, there's only so much TV you can watch. Instead of working on your monitor tan, check out the July/August issue of Ride Personal Watercraft Magazine, which we publish for the the American Watercraft Association for some ideas on how to cure your summertime blues.

Ride visits a couple of kick-back spots, that welcome PWC. Lake Norris in East Tennessee is a deep, clean lake formed behind a TVA dam, offering not just house boats, but floating houses for visitors to rent. Just toodle up in your PWC, tie off and step into your kitchen for a snack. Or, roll out of bed and onto your craft for an early morning ride.

For the more adveturous, join a group of somersaulting, high-flying riders who gather annually in Georgia - this year at Lake Allatoona - for three days of trick riding and festivities.

For those living on the ocean, tag along on a sojurn out from Southern California to Catalina Island - just remember that the ocean can change fast!

This issue of Ride also includes a visit with the "Dean of the PWC Nation," John Donaldson. A longtime rider, industry executive and now member of Kawasaki's PR agency, John has forgotten more about PWC than most of us will ever learn. And he spends every day fighting the good fight to secure your riding privileges.

Also, each issue of Ride also features great places to take your PWC, new products for the water sports fan and information on PWC racing.

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Summertime just isnﾕt complete without a road trip. Nothing spells freedom like driving down a winding country road on a sunny afternoon with your windows rolled down, your radio cranked up and a cool breeze and clear sky ahead. In the July/August issue of American Spirit, the magazine we publish for the Daughters of the American Revolution, our resident road warrior Bill Hudgins reveals that early Americans, too, shared this fascination with the open road. Our story, ﾒAmericaﾕs Main Street: The Historic National Road,ﾓ explores the history behind the nationﾕs first federally funded Interstate highway and explains how its construction paved the way for the America that we know today.

We hit the road to Indianapolis in our Spirited Adventures feature for a stop at Conner Prairie, a living history museum where interpreters make it their mission to transport visitors back to Indiana pioneer life, circa 1836. If youﾕre hankering for historical travel with dose of authenticity, youﾕll want to visit. We also check out a series of upcoming cross-country events celebrating the 250th birthday of the Marquis de Lafayette, the Frenchman who endeared himself to early Americans during the Revolution by helping them secure their independence.

On an adventure of another kind, we track advances in online genealogy, which allow you to trace your roots from the comfort of your computerﾑwithout traveling to out-of-the-way courthouses and digging through musty stacks of documents. Discover how these sites make it easy to research your lineage and connect with long-lost relatives without ever leaving home.

Wherever the road takes you this summerﾑwhether it be one of the beaches along our nationﾕs coasts, a historic hideaway or a spot for family funﾑhappy travels!

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Here at Hammock the typical business day is anything but typical, especially around deadline time. As a small business ourselves, we felt some kinship when compared to the hectic days of the small-business owners we shadowed for our ﾒDay in the Life of a Small-Business Ownerﾓ feature in the June/July 2007 issue of MyBusiness. The sheer energy and dedication exhibited by Caroline Geishecker and Mike Mitternight as they rise before the sun and work well into the night in order to ensure that their businesses run smoothly is exhausting even to read about.

But even long days at a tireless pace wonﾕt eliminate bumps in the small-business road. Issues like health care and tax relief can throw even the most committed entrepreneur for a loop. We asked five small-business owners how they confront the burdens of business ownership in the ﾒHandle the Headachesﾓ featureﾑbecause we believe there's no better avenue for advice than real people dealing with real challenges.

When including state political and legislative news inside MyBusiness became one of NFIBﾕs strategic goals, we worked together to make it happen with the June/July issue. For the first time, this issue featured 51 versions, one for each state (and donﾕt forget Washington, D.C.). Just another (long) day at the office!

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An invisible enemy stalks battlefields and follows a number of warriors home after war's end. At varying levels, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) afflicts an unknown but substantial number of veterans, as well as active duty troops. This issue of Semper Fi, the Magazine of the Marine Corps League, which we publish for the Marine Corps League, examines how PTSD has long remained shadowy and difficult to diagnose because its sufferers did not want to be perceived as "weak" or unfit for duty. The condition is emerging from the shadows as the Marine Corps and the other services work to change the cultures that have encouraged silence. At the same time, the Veterans Administration confronts a rapidly growing challenge to identify, diagnose and treat growing numbers of troops seeking help for psychological aftereffects of battle.

On a lighter note, Marine Corps chow has improved mightily since the days of WWII C-rations. While far from Mom's kitchen, mess halls and field food services strive to sling more than hash and SOS for hungry Marines. Some Marine Corps League members also recall how they used USMC initiative and, um, reconnaissance skills to rustle up some unexpected treats.

Also in this issue, Semper Fi salutes the contributions of Women Marines, whose roles have expanded from mainly clerical and administrative to equal partners with their male comrades. We celebrate the life and career of one Woman Marine who is still involved with the Corpsﾑin her 90s!

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Almost as easy to use as just hopping in the car and going, personal watercraft are perfect for family recreation and impromptu weekend getaways. Todayﾕs four-stroke engined PWC are far cleaner and quieter than earlier models, and easily carry two or three riders, as well as gear.
The May/June issue of Ride Personal Watercraft Magazine, which we publish for the the American Watercraft Association visits a Hawaiian enthusiast who combines his lifelong love of fishing with his passion for Yamaha watercraftﾑwith startling results. Speaking of things that live in the water, we also meet a dolphin whose tail was injured by disease but, thanks to Bridgestone, now has a prosthetic tail and can swim and leap for joy.

We also travel far from the ocean to Americaﾕs Heartland, to see where Kawasaki builds its Jet Skis, in Lincoln, Neb. While winter snows swirl outside in the prairie wind, employees inside are crafting years of warm-weather fun. As a bonus, we peek inside Kawasakiﾕs new musclecraft, the 250-hp Ultra 250.

PWC have a serious side as well as their fun-loving personality. None other than the United States Marines use them to provide safety during offshore maneuvers. We go aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif. (one goes aboard a Marine base, just as one goes aboard a ship) to see Marines being trained to operate PWC in the surf in case their comrades need a lift.

Each issue of Ride also features great places to take your PWC, new products for the water sports fan and information on PWC racing.

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Here at Hammock, you'll find lots of shoe junkies. From spikey black stiletto boots to jeweled flip-flops, we love to experiment with different styles. What you see on someone's feet tells you a lot about who they are. So to learn more about the lives of colonists for our May/June issue of American Spirit, the magazine we publish for the Daughters of the American Revolution, our resident shoe connoisseur, Shannon McRae, followed the path of footwear in early America and found revealing tidbits about colonists, their sense of style and the influence of shoes on early American movements and customs.

Our Visions of America series takes readers on a journey of another kindﾑa pictorial walk through the history of Americaﾕs quintessential emblem of freedom, the Liberty Bell. From the bellﾕs beginnings as a symbol of the Quaker vision of freedom to its evolution into a universal icon, we explore its surprising past, as well as the mystery behind what the bell sounded like, where its legendary crack came from and what became of a replica bell the DAR helped cast years ago.

Another image revered by most Americans is the U.S. Capitol. Ironically, the designer behind this famous structure was a man who dabbled in many fields, but lived in obscurity. We delve into little-known life of William Thornton, a self-educated savant who gained respect among his contemporaries for his scientific, medical and architectural contributions, but whose legacy has largely been forgotten.

We also turn the spotlight on another group of Americans relegated to history's shadowsﾑentrepreneurial women known as ﾒshe-merchantsﾓ who owned importing businesses. In an era when men dominated trade, these progressive women overcame hardship and limited legal rights to expand their empires. Maybe youﾕve never heard the names of ﾒMargaret Hardenbroekﾓ or ﾒElizabeth Murrayﾓ before, but after hearing their stories, youﾕll never forget them.

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This weekend John Lavey and I both participated in the Country Music 1/2 Marathon, which, combined with the full marathon, brought 32,000 people to Nashville this weekend. From my location at the start line (about 20,000 people back), I could see Hammock Publishing headquarters, and for a split second considered just coming up here and watching it on television. But you see, spending almost four months bragging about how you're running 13.1 miles at the end of April pretty much precludes you from chickening out. That, and fellow Hammorati Barbara Greenfield and Allison Lund were camped out at miles 3 and 6 respectively to cheer us on. I couldn't let them down. Thanks guys!

John finished in 1:38:46, and I crossed the finish line right behind him (or some 9,500 people behind him) in 2:27:05.

In addition to running it for himself, John ran with Team Rio, benefitting Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, which, with a little help from Hammock Publishing's corporate sponsorship, raised more than $100,000 this weekend.

In the Monday morning meeting, Rex suggested we put together a Team Hammock for next year. Kerri Davis, who walks every morning before work, offered to coach the speed-walkers, and Barbara Mathieson said to count her in for the running team, even if she has to use a cane to cross the finish line. And Julia Boklage is already planning the Hammock cheering station.
It's 363 days away, but I think I can already tell that next year's race is going to be the best one yet.

Hammock Publishing President and Founder Rex Hammock recently was interviewed by Peter Beisser from Publishing Executive magazine, where they discussed Hammock Publishing's foray into innovative online media, as well as how Rex's personal blog, Rexblog.com, has become a staple in the RSS readers of magazine industry folk.

"The president of Hammock Publishingﾑa Nashville, Tenn.-based custom publisher of print and online media, including 60 award-winning recurring titles created for various corporate and associationsﾑuses his digital soapbox to talk about industry news and offer links to interesting headlines on the Web. Heﾕll also post observations about other completely unrelated things that engross him as the day goes on. Hammock jumped onto the Web in its earliest days, and in the years since, he has worked to incorporate his love for online media throughout his entire organization."

Read the full interview online at Publishing Executive.

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Shannon McRae and her husband William welcomed their son, William Earl McRae IV ("Wills"), on Thursday, March 8. He was only a day past deadline, arriving at a healthy 6lb., 9oz., and 19 inches long. Everyone is doing well, though dog child Ricky Martin has eyed his brother warily. And yes, Shannon, we agree: The newest Hammoratian is as cute as a button!

Anita Campbell of Small Business Trends today posted an interview with Rex about SmallBusiness.com, a giant wiki-model project the conversational media folks at Hammock have built and host. If you are interested in the creation of collaborative, wiki-model media, you may find some helpful things in Anita's interview. Or, if you just want to know what the heck SmallBusiness.com is, it will be insightful. Thanks, Anita.

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We Hammockites love our moviesﾑso much so that we wrap up our Monday morning staff meetings with reviews of flicks we watched over the weekend. Thatﾕs why we had fun in the March/April issue of American Spirit, the magazine we publish for the Daughters of the American Revolution, spotlighting a piece of the cinema making a comeback in communities across the countryﾑthe historic movie theater, one of the National Trust for Historic Preservationﾕs most endangered places. Our cover story details the saga of the grand, glittering movie palaces and chic neighborhood theaters of the early 20th century and the efforts to transform them into the cultural gems they once were.

With warmer weather on its way, we also delve into the roots of a tasty springtime ritual: tapping maples for sap to be boiled into syrup. Our story takes readers through the centuries-old maple-sugaring processﾑfrom harvesting the sap to converting it into the mouth-watering confection that sweetens your stack of Saturday morning pancakes.

American Spirit tells stories you wonﾕt find in most history books. This is particularly true of our ﾒRevolutionary Martyrsﾓ feature, a dramatic tale about British prison ships docked near present-day Brooklyn, N.Y., where thousands of Patriots died during the Revolution. By preserving a monument honoring these forgotten martyrs, groups like the DAR hope to make their sacrifice known to all Americans.

Those of us at Hammock who attempt to give up sweets for Lent usually cave once the Girl Scout cookie orders come in. Early Americans faced the same temptationsﾑwithout as many opportunities to cheat, as our Colonial junk food feature illustrates. Our peek into a Colonial cupboard reveals favorite indulgences of sweet-tooth lovers today, including French fries, doughnuts and ice cream.

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This time of the year is tough. The holidays are over, your waistline has expanded and the weather outside is still frightful. Motivating yourself--much less your employees--is hard. Small-business owners everywhere battle burn out, so in the Feb./March issue of MyBusiness (the magazine we publish for members of the National Federation of Independent Business) Hammock's Emily McMackin set out to find ways to make work fun again.

Staying engaged is just one of the many challenges involved in running a business. Many independent owners also struggle when their businesses experience rapid growth. In "Growth Gone Wild" Hammock's Lena Basha talked to several owners about how they handle the often unanticipated problem of managing too much of a good thing.

With tax time just around the corner, the MyBusiness Manual offers small-business owners tools and tips on staying straight with the IRS. The only good thing about April 15--at least spring has arrived.

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The Tennessean today gave Hammortian and web-guru Laura Creekmore a nice shout-out. Her East Nashville neighborhood listserv has grown to over 850 participants. She was online community before online community was cool.

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I love it when I'm running around town, shopping and seeing the sights, and I run into a local business to find the NFIB member plaque behind the counter or on the door. Since NFIB is a favorite client of ours, it makes me feel like we're supporting an organization who supports small, local businesses -- and in turn, my shopping habits.

I had the same sense of pride last week when my husband and I were visiting the University of Texas campus with cameras in hand. We went to capture a few pictures of some statues that a handful of students want removed from the UT grounds. While snapping pictures around the Tower and the South Mall, we ran across one of George Washington (no one wants him removed, by the way). He stands with a perfect view of the state Capitol, just beneath the famous Tower.

Without wanting to just point, shoot and run, we stopped to read the plaques and inscriptions on each and every statue. And when reading this one, we learned it was erected as a "monument of affection and gratitude" by another special client of ours -- DAR.

It's a small world, and these are just two examples of how all of Hammock's incredible clients will soon take it over.

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Our offices are closed for the holidays until January 2, 2007. In case of an emergency, you can call the number 615-690-3456 and leave a message. That number is being monitored throughout the week. Also, individual employees of Hammock Publishing will be checking e-mail and voice mail, so feel free to call them at their direct numbers or through our main number, 615-690-3400. (Oh, and I've been known to check my e-mail at all hours of the day and night so feel free to contact me by translating the following into an email address: rhammock[at]hammock[dot]com.) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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Today is Editorial Director Bill Hudginsﾕ 13th anniversary at Hammock Publishing, and appropriately enough for this veteran copy cutter, it falls on a Friday. Heﾕs already answered a set of Hammock Day questions last year, so we came up with a different list for this time, appropriate to the anniversaryﾉ

1. December 15 is your 13th Hammock Day. How does that make you feel? Amazed. It truly doesnﾕt seem like that long, although my newspaper and PR days that preceded Hammock. seem far, far in the past. And its being the 13th anniversary doesnﾕt bother me ﾐ for all you wordies, the fear of 13 is called Triskaidekaphobia.

2. Since we are on the subject, do you like horror movies? I havenﾕt seen any of the Friday 13th movies or others in that genre, except for part of the battle between Freddy and Jason, which was on TV last summer. I really liked the old horror standards, like The Wolfman and Dracula, which scared me silly as a child. Young Frankenstein is practically sacred to me. Oddly, I find some Disney cartoon classics more upsetting than gory stuff like ﾒAlien.ﾓ I have a strong negative reaction to the theme of children losing one or more parent and/or being separated from parents. I could barely sit through ﾒFinding Nemo.ﾓ

3. Scariest moment of your life? In college, while on a trip to Yosemite, a friend who had been working there convinced me to jump off a 20-or-so-foot cliff into a mountain stream. He went first and was fine. I jumped, looked down, and could see clear to the bottom. It looked like there was 6 inches of water, and that I had failed to jump far enough to clear an outcropping of rock. Turned out the stream was at least 15 feet deep, but so clear that it was like glass, and I did jump far enough. I will never do that kind of thing again unless I must to survive.

4. What has been the biggest change for you since last Hammockday? Workwise, itﾕs been adding "Semper Fi, the Magazine of the Marine Corps League" to our production cycle on top of "Ride PWC Magazine." I didnﾕt think it could be done. During the last two weeks of the cycle, I still donﾕt believe it. Getting to go to the Marine events such as the Evening Parade in DC and the Expo trade shows has been an amazing experience for me, a non-veteran. Personally, itﾕs the weight Iﾕve gained during this same period.

5. What are some things people donﾕt know about you? I used to belong to a union, and walked a picket line. For a time in college and afterward, I worked in college libraries and thought about becoming a librarian. I hate Brussels Sprouts, but have eaten a wide variety of odd foods, including eel, bear and haggis. I've seen a UFO, and once lived in a dorm that had a poltergeist. When I was a child, my grandfather who worked on a railroad in Virginia let me ﾒdriveﾓ a diesel train ﾐ i.e., hold the throttle. I had a twin brother named Bob. I have never played Nintendo, XBox, PSP, or any other TV video game.

6. If you didnﾕt work at Hammock Publishing, what would you be doing? Freelance writing, probably. Maybe back to a newspaper, or get a degree in library science and do that. Or run a barﾑI have a name stolen from an old New Yorker cartoon: ﾒThe Strength to Go On Bar and Grill.ﾓ

7. What jobs would you really hate having? I would loathe having to work in a big bureaucracy in any industry. Iﾕve worked in a college bureaucracy, and that was bad ﾐ if you think academia is somehow purer than other fields, it ainﾕt. Working at a big newspaper was also something of a bureaucracy, although I was at the low end of the pipleline. I would also not do well at all in sales.

8. What is your dream vacation destination? I am not much of a beach personﾑitﾕs never as good as Jimmy Buffett makes it sound. The West Coast is a place I never get tired of visiting, although I got tired of living there years ago. Like J-Rob, Iﾕd like to see the Greek Islands again, especially Mykonos. My wife and I hope to go to Russia again next year ﾐ I am starting to brush up on my Russian already.

9. What is the one thing you wonﾕt leave home without? My wallet. I can do without most anything else, but even when just walking in the neighborhood, I carry it.

10. If you could do something over at Hammock, what would it be? There are a number of hindsight errors I would avoid, but if I hadnﾕt messed up in the first place, I wouldnﾕt know how to handle them, I guess. The one omission Iﾕd correct is that I never took off a few weeks to learn how to drive a big rig when we published a trucking magazine.

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One year ago today, Megan Goodchild walked into the Hammock Publishing offices to stories of great Christmas parties, movie reviews, and the truth about how our dogs actually run the place. We stopped her today on her way to the annual Hammock Publishing Christmas soiree to get her thoughts on the past 365 days.

1. December 7 is your Hammock Day. How long have you been with Hammock Publishing? One glorious year.

2. What do you remember most about your first day here? That it took me more than an hour and a half to get here and just as long to get home. Luckily I was able to adjust my schedule so that it only takes me 45 minutes to an hour each way now, if there are no wrecks. (Or oil spills, like last night!!)

3. What is your favorite Christmas carol? You know, I'm not too big on Christmas songs (I think working in retail for eight years ruined all seasonal experiences for me.) But if I have to choose, the two I am least sick of hearing are Carol of the Bells and Greensleeves (the latter isn't technically a Christmas song, I guess, but I tend to hear it more around this time of year.)

4. If you didn't work at Hammock Publishing, what would you be doing? Crying in the welfare line. No? Well, I would probably still be in the communications department of my previous corporate job, watching all the talented, long-time employees around me get fired because some new CEO decided he didn't like it that they had a good relationship with the CEO before him. And I would still be looking for a more fulfilling, less hostile job than that place.

5. What is your favorite, can't-miss television show? I don't really watch too much TV, but I do love CSI (the Las Vegas one) and House. That guy is so crotchety, but it's brilliant.

6. Where did you grow up? Go to college? I grew up in Des Plaines, a suburb just a few minutes outside of Chicago. I moved to Murfreesboro to go to college at Middle Tennessee State University, where I majored in mass communications and Spanish. I liked it well enough here that I've lasted almost 10 years!!

7. What is your dream vacation destination? My last semester in college was spent studying in and around Madrid, Spain, and I would love to go back. People always tell me I should vacation someplace that I've never been before, but I loved the culture and my experiences there so much that I would go back in a heartbeat. I miss it every day; I can still remember what the air smelled like and how I felt walking down the streets.

8. What has been your most memorable day at Hammock Publishing so far? I guess so far it's been my first day because I had no idea what to expect, but people keep telling me that the Christmas party will be an experience I'll never forget. I'm excited, but a little nervous, too!!

9. What is the one thing you won't leave home without? My cellphone. I know it sounds lame, but I am such a worrywart and I feel like if I don't have it with me, something bad will happen. Murphy's Law, I guess.

10. If you could switch places with any other Hammock employee for a day, who would it be and why? Carrie Wakeford, Kerri Davis or Lynne Boyer. It was always my secret dream to become a professional graphic designer, but I never really knew how to go about getting good training and therefore never seriously pursued it (I did some design at my previous job, but nowhere near the level of what these folks do). I'm definitely not one with natural talent in the arts, so my money was probably better spent studying what I did. It probably would have taken a looong time for me to get any good.

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Are you born an entrepreneur, or do you become one? That's the question debated in the cover story of the Dec./Jan. issue of MyBusiness, the magazine Hammock publishes for the National Federation of Independent Business. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management recently found a strong connection between entrepreneurialism and genetics. But the small-business owners in this story say genes aren't the strongest indicators of business success. Hard work, a willingness to take risks and a whole lot of passion for what you do ultimately influence whether you make it.

Regardless of your genetic makeup, once you're in business for yourself, life can be stressful. That's why our inspiring story about how to cope with some of life's most difficult moments speaks to anyone. Faced with financial, emotional and physical set backs, the business owners we profiled dug deep and found the courage to keep themselves--and their businesses--going.

Check out these stories and more in the latest issue, including a staff favorite on how one Florida teenager earns a (sizable) living teaching others to play video games.

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In 1977, actor Roger Moore as the redoubtable James Bond made a kind of film history by riding a "wetbike" - an early type of personal watercraft - which at the time was a novel and not well known craft. As Bond films often have done, the movies helped fan the tiny spark of this little known craft into a fad and then into the racing and recreational industry that surrounds today's PWC.

Hammock Publishing makes its own contribution to PWCing by publishing Ride PWC Magazine for the American Watercraft Association (www.awahq.org). The current issue of Ride (Nov-Dec 2006) showcases the new 2007 models and shows how far they have some since Bond's bouncy little 'bike. Today's models can carry up to three people, have stock engines packing as much as 250 hp., and even carry satellite radio and GPS units so M will always know where you are. You can choose sitdown models, which are by far the best-selling models, or standup versions that have long been popular with racers and freestyle riders who execute amazing leaps and bounds.

In addition to the new model review, this issue reports on the results of the 25th annual World Finals at Lake Havasu, Ariz., and on other racing venues. We also meet a couple from West Tennessee who fell in love aboard a jetski - after each had retired! - amd ride along with AWA members from Lake Superior to Wet - sorry, West - Virginia to Old Mexico.

Also, AWA Executive Director Chris Manthos outlines the challenges facing watercraft enthusiasts who want only to be treated equally with other power boaters, and not discriminated against because they ride small, nimble craft.

As always, the AWA stresses safe and responsible riding in every issue of Ride. Had it been around in 1977, AWA would have strenuously objected to Bond's riding a PWC without a personal flotation device. Good heavens, 007, that kind of thing is dangerous! (Of course, knowing Bond, his PFD would have come equipped with martini makings and a blonde.)

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This time of year, as things speed up around us and we attempt to slow down to take it all in, our thoughts turn to giving thanks -- and simply giving. So many times, the act of giving turns into a gift we never expected to receive.

From the arts to animals, from the hungry to the homeless, the folks at Hammock Publishing are dedicated and involved in giving back to each of our communities. We share these examples of giving back to our community not to toot our own horns, but to learn from each other, to get to know each other better, and maybe encourage one reader out there to give back to their community in their own way -- big or small.

Barbara Mathieson: I give back by volunteering at the Nashville Zoo about 100 hours a year. After 9/11, I wanted to get involved in the community. The Zoo has been a perfect place for me in ways I never expected.

Because I care about animals so much, the Zoo gives me an opportunity to be around an exotic variety of them. Recently, I was in a room with two snow leopard cubs and was able to observe them up close. I've touched a giraffe and felt his breathe and have fed a grape to a cassowary. (Please don't do anything like this without zoo staff supervision. These situations were closely monitored by staff members. Never feed a zoo animal.)

As a docent at the Zoo, I talk to visitors about our animals. I love meeting the wide variety of people who visit. Everyone comes to the Zoo. I was once showing Amish visitors snake sheds when two tattooed and pierced 20-somethings walked up, and all of us interacted with each other about the snake skin sheds. The cultural differences didn't matter.

I've had the opportunity to meet folks from all over the world and from all ethnic, economic, political and religious backgrounds that I would have never met otherwise. It's great to find our common interest.

Allison Lund: Most people that know me well would know that the majority of my "giving" is for animals. I've given (and still give) time, money and needed items to the Nashville Humane Shelter, Love at First Sight and the Metro Animal Control Facility. But I guess what I do most is take care of three stray cats that came with our house when Erik and I bought it. When we found out from the previous owner that these kittens had been born under the deck, I didn't have the heart to take them to a shelter, but they were also too feral to be adopted into homes. I knew I had to get them spayed/neutered as we didn't want any more cats, so I got some humane traps and was able to capture them and get them to a vet to be spayed/neutered and to get shots. They weren't too happy with that, but after I brought them back to our yard, I worked at gaining their trust, named them, fed them, got dog houses for them (that are heated in the winter) and have been caring for them for almost four years. I always think I would love for them to have a permanent inside home, but they are still very scared of anyone but me and they do not like being inside. Plus, I know I would miss them.

Another way I have given to the community is through my church. The Downtown Presbyterian Church has a large homeless program and every Sunday they have a breakfast for the homeless. They open the church fellowship hall on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. for what is usually a large homeless crowd. They are welcome to stay for the service afterward, but unfortunately most do not participate. For about two years, Erik and I volunteered once a month for the Sunday breakfasts. We don't do it as often now as a lot of downtown businesses have started donating money, items and time/people to this cause on Sunday mornings.

Laura Creekmore: I don't know that I could pick a favorite among these and many other things I do [not one to be bored], but I spend a lot of time working in the Junior League [www.jlnashville.org] -- nearly 2,000 women in Nashville working to build a better community. I love that because much of my volunteer work there in the past few years has helped me to meet people working in nonprofit agencies throughout Nashville.

I am vice president of the board for East Nashville Cooperative Ministry, which works with the low-income and homeless people in my neighborhood, providing a variety of services. I love to volunteer on a good political campaign, too... mostly local races.

Bill Hudgins: The Gallatin Noon Rotary Club raises money through an auction and solicitation to take 100 or so youngsters Christmas shopping the weekend before Christmas each year. Members accompany the kids through Wal-Mart. They are supposed to get some basic clothes for themselves, but other than that are free to get gifts only for themselves or for anyone else, up to the spending limit. Members also wrap presents for the kids. In addition, each family gets a shopping basket brimming with canned ham, turkey, milk, eggs, bread, fruit, etc. My wife, Wilda, is a member and she is the unofficial photographer; I wrap. High-school students in the school versioni of Rotary also participate.

Two stories: One year, Wilda was taking pictures as a family was headed out the door. One of the children, a little boy, looked at the basket and said, "Look Mama, a whole gallon of milk!"

Another family, when they received the food basket, seemed reluctant to accept. One of our high-school members probed a bit and found out they family's refrigerator didn't work. She told her parents they were buying a fridge then and there, and it was delivered to the family so the Christmas food wouldn't spoil.

This day is our Christmas. Everything else is just tinsel and garlands.

Megan Goodchild: I run the crazy cat house in the neighborhood. My boyfriend and I feed the stray cats in the neighborhood and, believe it or not, most of them end up finding permanent homes. We have taken two in ourselves; one we've gotten all his shots and let him stay inside whenever he wants. The other one is still an outside cat (he lives in a little doghouse on our back porch that we've filled with blankets and a heating disc), but once we can trick him into getting into the cat carrier, we're going to take him to the vet to make sure he's neutered and has all his shots, too.

Natalie Willis: I'm sad to say that my only giving this year is in the form of a canned foods donation that my daughter's daycare is having. This Thanksgiving, I am focusing on giving thanks to my parents and in-laws for all the help they have provided during the past year. Jason and I rapidly grew to a family of four, and this is the first year that I have actually needed help from my family. I've always been self-sufficient until the arrival of Sienna and Tyler. My parents and in-laws have done more for me and my children than I could ever hope for.

Kerri Davis: We are sort of just getting into the giving part of the year, but so far we helped prepare a meal and some supplies for the Ronald McDonald house thru my daughter's 4th grade class. We did this a couple of weeks ago. Their school also did a fund drive for the Graceworks food pantry last week. Every year during the winter months, our church hosts Room in the Inn and our Sunday school class sponsors a weekend night throughout the winter. We either provide, food, cleanup or spend the night services for that.

Rex Hammock: Many years ago, the Nashville Rotary club (of which I've been a member for 20 years) came up with an idea that I think is wonderful. Rather than spread their civic projects across a wide region, they determined to focus the club's considerable voluntary efforts into one Nashvill