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THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS. WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 13. 2008 - PAGE 9A Chatter Box "A clown is like aspirin, only he works twice as Fast, — Comedian Groucho Marx, cm tkirikexisi, com Kim Baranowski is one "cool" artist. She recently traveled to Antarctica in search of inspiration. Boy, did she find ill i ■ it i * i She has been living on the chilly IJJVlJl continent for the past three months, rUB Ww&W at the U.S. Palmer Station. She is participating in the National Science Foundation's Antarctic Artists and Writers Program. As part of the program, Baranowski works with polar scientists who arc researching the continent’s wildlife. She goes out in the field with them and draws and photographs what she sees. Baranowski has observed a variety of Antarctic landscapes, sailed with humpback whales. and much more. Time For Kids got the scoop from Baranowski about her journey down south. TFK: Can you explain some of the objectives you had in mind when you were planning this trip? Baranowski: Mainly, I wanted to find inspiration for my artwork. (I wanted to observe animals) like penguins and whales. I also wanted to view' land scapes, like icebergs. TFK: What is the Palmer Station like? Baranowski: It is pretty small, but it’s a great place. Thirty-three people are currently slaying there, including the people who keep the station running. TF K: Have you befriended anyone in Antarctica? Baranowski: Everyone at the Palmer Station is like a family because we spend so much Lime to gether. I made friends with die scientists who arc studying animals, and T got to sec the animals when I was working with the scientists. TFK: What is the food like? Baranowski: We have chefs come in from all over. One day we had Indian food. They are very high-class meals. Artist goes on an ntarctic adventure Adult tigers can consume up to 90 pounds of food at one sitting. ■ A pugmark is a tiger’s paw print. ■ A tiger’s night vision is six times better than that of a human. — savitigligers.com He’s not Just any clown — he’s the star of the show Wacky pacts Circus numbers 85,000: Total weight in pounds of 10 clcphanfi: in show 15,000: Pounds of ice used to make snow cones in each city 1,000: Pounds of popcorn consumed in each city the circus visits 750: Pounds of sugar used to spin cotton candy 350: Number of costume changes per show 300: Total pressure in pounds of a tiger’s jaw 08: Performers in the show 60: Pounds of confetti used per show 53: Years in age of oldest elephant 23: Years in age of youngest elephant 21: Horses 4: Goats PHOTOS COURTESY 0-F FELD ENTERTAINMENT In The News By Jaweed Kaleem McClatchy Newspapers emetrius A lex audi o Claudio V Amadeus Beilo Nock — “whew” — has been an entertainer for as long as he can remember. Some people might call him a clown, but the word doesn’t completely wrap around his signature 12-inch-tall, straight-standing head of red hair (“definitely not a wig,” he jokes) or his lack of heavy makeup and the red nose found on the typical circus performcr. This 38-year-old — Time magazine called him America’s best clown, but you can just call him Bello Nock for short — is part of the Ring ling Brother and Barn uni & Bailey cir cus. Along with him come elephants, horses, tigers, zebras, dogs, goats (really) and dozens of performers, from trumpet players to acro bats to even a pie car staff. From the moment he bungees out of a huge video sateen to begin die show to one of the final numbers — in which 81 look-alikes ap pear on the arena floor along with him — Nock is the star of "Bellobration.” *Tm a mixture of a comedian, clown and a daredevil,” says Nock, who lives in Sarasota, Fla., when he’s not on the road. "I’m sort of like Jackie Chan and Charlie Chaplin mixed together.” The Chaplin allusion makes sense, but Chan? Turns out that Nock, too, does his own stunts. Furthermore, he doesn't believe in safety nets. “A net is like a false sense of secu rity. You can’t net the world,” he says. Nock knows the circus and the circus knows him. He walked his first lew wire at age 9 and his six-part name is an homage to the long line of Nocks before him, who began performing in Switzerland in the 18th century. The technology has advanced since then, but the idea remains the same: "It's a barrel of laughs,’’ Nock says. ‘The circus, it’s like the ultimate reality show.’’ Keep an eye out for some of these daredevil and animals acts. ■ Sway pole: Towering atop this 94-foot- tall, three-inch-wide tube. Nock will swing to and fro almost 20 feel in every direction. ■ Wheel of Steel: Nock and daredevil Nikolas Wallenda balance on a 39-foot struc ture that is suspended in the air and resembles an enormous four-prong bubble blower com bined with a set of hamster wheels revolving on a center axle. Powered by the muscles of Nock and Wallenda as they w r alk inside the wheels and perform tricks, the prongs criss cross each other and turn in circles at 15 miles per hour, producing a zero gravity effect. ■ Double Highwire: Brothers Alberto and Mauricio Aguilar of Mexico City balance on parallel wires 25 feet in the air using umbrel las, unicycles, jump ropes, chairs and even fire as props. If that’s not enough, then 1 finale in cludes blindfolds] ■ Double Human Cannonballs: Brian and Tina Miser arc stacked atop each other in two cannons and simultaneously launched across the arena, flying at 65 miles per hour. ■ Taba and his Tigers: Chi lean-bom Taba- yara Antonio Maluenda de Campos, Taba for short, brings 12 tigers into the arena as they jump through hoops and show off their skills. A spin on the Wheel of Steel. Taba flips for tigers. A real balancing act. TFK: Will you bring any fun souvenirs home? Baranowski: Since conservation is an important point, I am not allowed to take home anything, like if I found a feather or something. There's a gift shop at the Palmer Station that lias all of the necessities, like tooth paste and toothbrushes. 1 bought some sweatshirts there. TFK: What overall grade would you give this trip? Baranowski: I would give it an A-H-t I get to work with such experienced and knowledgeable people, and the animals and landscapes I’ve seen arc so exhilarating. TFK: Are you planning to return to Antarctica after tliis trip? What would you do differently? Baranowski: If I ever got the opportunity to re turn to Antarctica, I would cake it. Right now I have to stay within 20 miles of the Rainier Station. (So, next time) I would like to explore different places on the is land. — Jennifer Fotioco ■D 200S Time Inc. All Rights Reserved TIME FOR KIDS ird Tunetorkid* oom m<* roo&isfO'd votfoinarks or Time ins — -I : COUftlESY Df KIM UARANGWSKl Artist Kim Baranowski works with polar scien tists who are researching the continent’s wildlife. She goes out in the field with them and draws and photographs what she sees. Help! FIND THE DIFFERENCE There are more than 10 difference in the pictures below. How many can you find? □Vd N333S NO lYUlldS 311103 3010 NO “IVAO 3mH HSJHfcJVH NO S3NIT SlIHA'i 311103 3010 NO 310NVIUI 30NVUO '3dVI dO HlOlM ‘N3d JO NOil03dia ‘aaJtbVW NO -Q3fcL. do NOIIOIUIO 'OVd N33HD NO S3NI1 ‘OVd WOH3ANO 3NI1 3fll9 ‘S3AV31 31cfdV -tdS.VltNT MARTY WESYMAN/IMCT Face your fears DEAR AMERICAN GIRL: I get scared over siliy things in movies. No matter how much I tell myself that they 're not real, I can't stop thinking about them. My sister calls me a scaredy cat — Scared Ft iff ■ Many people feel just the way you do. To keep from getting that creepy feeling, be choosier! Find out ahead of time whether a movie will have scary parts. If it sounds bad, tell your family or friends you don't think you’ll like it, and suggest another movie. If no one agrees, do something fun by yourself. Don’t waste time watching things you don’t enjoy. DEAR AMERICAN GIRL: When 1 need to go into the basement. I'm scared of what could be down there. I ask some one to go down with me. — Help Me ■ It’s easy to freak yourself out by imagining creepy critters in the dark. Instead, sing a cheerful song out loud. It also helps to dream up something sweet that you wish were down ™ there, like the cutest puppy you ever saw, in a basket lined with a fuzzy blanket. If you really concentrate on the details, you won’t have a chance to let shadows give you the shivers. Turn on all the fights, loo! Writ americangirl.com to get or give advice. ^ 2£K>0 American Girt.. LLC All ngfits reserved. American Girl