Gasp!

Amazon strongarms authors

Head:Sub/Head got my attention today with his post talking about Amazon's new sales policy. It seems that Amazon will not allow books published through Lulu, iUniverse or other print-on-demand service to be sold through their site.

Why on Earth would they ever do that? Because they have their own in-house print-on-demand service - BookSurge. Of course, they will sell books published through BookSurge.

To verify the story, I checked with a few of my own online sources - including a self publishing group. For awhile, there was some debate about whether or not this new policy was rumor. But then someone provided a link to the Wall Street Journal story, and ergo, it appears that it is true.

For those who still think that self publishing is the same thing as vanity printing, it is not. It has reached a level of respectability.

Bill Mize, author of the Denton Ward and Monty Crochetti Mystery Series was nominated by the Private Eye Writers of America for The Shamus Award in 2001. Who was his publisher? iUniverse. It was the first print-on-demand book to be nominated for a major award.

Since that time, Lulu and others have come on the scene, producing attractive, quality books. Newspaper editors have a difficult time separating the "real published books" from print-on-demand books. If you don't know the signs, you'd never know the difference.

So what does this mean for the industry? In general, doors are opening for print-on-demand books. I think that there will be a backlash of monumental proportions. The Wall Street Journal suggests that Amazon's business will go up. That's highly doubtful. I can easily see Indy publishers and print-on-demand authors banding together to come up with a new way to get their work to the marketplace. And of course, let's not forget about boycotting Amazon.

As for me and Gasp, I have often linked to Amazon when talking about a book. We'll see if that continues.

Where was Scott Walters in 1968?

Scott Walters was kind enough to be interviewed for Project 1968.

By the way, I had no idea that the man has three college degrees - including a PhD in theater-related subjects. And if that's not enough, you can purchase a book he co-authored off of Amazon.

Gosh, how long have we all been conversing with him via blog... I had no idea.

Lemon ----> Lemonade

A Boston Globe article on personal finance brings up this very interesting point:

"A music lover, she has given up attending Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts and now listens to ensembles that play for free. A Red Sox fan who was a regular at Fenway Park, she plans to stay home this summer and instead go to Hadlock Field, home of the Portland Sea Dogs, a minor-league team. "Nine dollars for a seat, and not even two bucks for a hot dog," she said. "I can splurge and get two."

Seems that little troupes of artists will have a better life in an economic downturn than established companies. Considering how many people I know (including myself) have looked to those established companies for artistic validation, this news almost makes one want to start their own band, gallery, publishing/theater company.

Almost.

A Firefighter States the Obvious

(Visual Icon for the Clueless: ♣ = humor of a smirking variety. Disclaimer: Fires aren't funny. Humorous element: Needing to explain the definition of a "hilltop.")

Introducing Visual Icons for the Clueless

Someone who responded to my last post also decided to chat about it on another board.

He writes: "What's sad is that I don't think she gets my sarcasm."

His posts, of course, were delightfully accompanied by another who decided to call me a twit.

Nice.

First off, I'm not an idiot. I get your sarcasm. What's sad is that you obviously didn't understand that I was writing in a similar vein.

Secondly, I don't respect anyone who decides to repost my stuff, talk smack about it and invites others to do so as well.

So, for people who don't get my sense of humor, I will now post a SARCASM ALERT.

It will be accompanied by a club. ♣

When I am serious, I will post a diamond symbol. ♦

When I am angry, I will post a spade symbol. ♠

It's unfortunate that I have to create a visual icons for the clueless. It's also too bad that we live in such a society that makes people more inclined to think that others are idiots.

Of course, when they prove it, well...

Why Books are Safer than TV

I'm not in an overly paranoid mood... At least I wasn't until I read this article. Comcast turning our televisions into two-way devices? Cameras in our sets watching us? Surely you jest...

So my writer friends, the possibilities are endless. Anyone wanna come up with a good story/script/play?

And you, in the corner, we don't want to see that! COVER UP!

Tarantulas

I know I'm not the only person in the world who has a difficult time watching Charles Manson on T.V. According to recent reports, it looks like they've found grave sites that could be linked to his cult.

I've seen documentaries on Manson. I've seen Geraldo interview him. Still, I can't grasp the fascination. I mean, I could accept it from teenage boys. Maybe.

It seems though that along with fascination, people also tend to laugh at him. Like he's a tarantula trapped in glass. He's fine... now.

It makes me wonder if people think he's truly evil, or just insane. There is a difference, but that's just my opinion.

Phil Donahue's Fainting Episode

Since I put up something original earlier today, I figured you could indulge me on this one. I stumbled upon it on YouTube. It's the famous episode where Phil Donahue's audience members began fainting en masse. It's worth a chuckle.

The fainting was a prank, of course.

Sharp Schisms in Culture

I haven't written an original thought here in a while. My thinking cap is being harnessed for Project 1968, but I do want to weigh in on Isaac's comments on Sarah Ruhl.

This post will have little do with theater. I have never read a play by Sarah Ruhl; nor have I seen a performance of her work. But the backlash doesn't surprise me and here's why:

Our world situation is rapidly changing in ways that we have yet to understand.

Economically, things aren't going well. People are losing their homes, municipalities are in deep financial trouble, and gas has nearly doubled from what it was at the beginning of the Bush presidency. The war in Iraq continues. Venezuela and Columbia are in conflict.

When the culture sudden shifts, art that express old values are no longer valid. It's the reason why pop culture has to constantly reinvent itself. Art that hopes to transcend the present must be rooted in a universal experience. It must go beyond the expression of what's currently fashionable.

Reading what others have written about Ruhl's work, I suspect that's what people are picking up. The culture has shifted; the writer has not.

If current trends continue, I suspect that more of our almost past-tense culture will feel woefully dated. I don't think that's a bad thing.

Book Review: The Baby Void: My Quest for Motherhood, by Judith Uyterlinde

My review of The Baby Void: My Quest for Motherhood, by Judith Uyterlinde was in yesterday's Birmingham News. An excerpt:

"I know that I have had a miscarriage, but I cannot comprehend the meaning of what has happened. All I feel is physical relief. I stand up to look, but I cannot identify an embryo in the glistening bloody mass." So begins Judith Uyterlinde's journey into infertility. Her book, "The Baby Void: My Quest for Motherhood," describes what it feels like for a woman to gradually lose her ability to conceive a child.

Her family and friends speak in whispers as, one by one, everyone around her begins to bear children. Meanwhile, Uyterlinde tries to conceive with her husband. As the book progresses, she experiences one miscarriage, two ectopic pregnancies, four failed in vitro fertilization attempts and the removal of her only functional fallopian tube.

Read the entire review.

Books and Interviews on 1968

Project 1968 is expanding once again. Now that the groundwork has been laid for the fictional aspect of the project, I am now beginning to post the documentary portion.

Part One of my interview with Roger Armbrust, who gives his thoughts about 1968. Part Two will be posted later today. This is the first of many interviews with a cross-section of the country. Subjects will not be limited to general feelings about 1968. These interviews with also feature specific topics pertinent both to the period as well as the current political and social climate.

Books on the '60s is another feature. Recently postings include Jessica Mitford's book, The Trial of Dr. Spock: The Reverend William Sloane Coffin, Jr., Michael Ferber, Mitchell Goodman, and Marcus Raskin.

What I call "A Sampler from Dr. Benjamin Spock" is in the Notes section. This feature will consist of raw notes from documents on the time period.

As always, Janine continues blogging on a daily basis. There are only 10 more days until the New Hampshire primary - the first contest in 1968. Lyndon Johnson is still in office. What will later become known as The Tet Offensive has already happened. They've tightened up the draft loopholes, which is now forcing students to take greater action. Many are ending up at the campaign headquarters.

Amy is still working through her fears about someone finding her "record." Her father, a well-known journalist in Chicago has a vicious sense of foreboding about the year. Amy belongs to the Core Committee, which is preparing for the National Conference. Held in secret, the Conference will determine what actions will be taken for the entire year - including the conventions.

More announcements and features shortly...

Kurt Vonnegut trifecta in Whole Foods

Laura's Note: Guest Blogger and fiance Jethro offers his view of last night's date at Whole Foods. Before we begin, I'd like to personally apologize to anyone who looks like Kurt Vonnegut.

Friday night is date night, so naturally we spent it at Whole Foods. Happily, they don't recognize me as the guy who did the tirade on them a while back. Perhaps they were distracted by all the Kurt Vonneguts in their store.

When we first walked in the door there was the guy wearing this T-shirt:

He wasn't a Kurt Vonnegut, but he was as lame as all get-out. I mean, come on, dude. Don't conform? Just what exactly do you think wearing your life philosophy on a T-shirt is?

Then we rounded the corner, and there he was: Kurt Vonnegut! Now I know how all those people who kept seeing Elvis at gas stations felt.

And he kept popping up. Every time you turned around, Kurt Vonnegut!

As we neared the checkout there they were: double Kurt Vonneguts! Brothers, obviously, though I couldn't tell whether they were twins.

We bought our grub and sat down in a booth to eat it. One Kurt Vonnegut got on the pay phone while the other stood around waiting for him.

"I wish we had your camera," I told my sweetie. "It's a shame not to document something like this. Two Kurt Vonneguts, and neither one has a cell phone?"

"I have my camera right here in my purse," she said, and produced it on the table.

The one Kurt Vonnegut was easy to get because he kept loitering around the service desk. The one on the phone was around a corner. Here's the one I could photograph:

I was afraid I'd miss the other Kurt Vonnegut because I figured they'd zip out the entrance where I couldn't get them. After much cajoling, I talked my sweetie into going back into the store to shoot them. Af first she came back empty-handed, but then went back for another try. (I figured a pretty woman could get away with it easier than a middle-aged man in a sport coat.)

While she was gone a third -- yes, a THIRD! -- Kurt Vonnegut walked into the store. I kid you not. There were three Kurt Vonneguts in the Whole Foods at one time. This one had a British accent.

Meanwhile, my sweetie managed to shoot video of the first two Kurt Vonneguts. Maybe you can pause it, they are right at the beginning of this video:

I then talked her into finding the British Kurt Vonnegut. He is at the end of this video, taking a bite of his food:

I've scored the Kurt Vonnegut hat trick. Who would have thought? Maybe he became unstuck in time, times three.