01-Jul-2008
Iron Filings - 15
In doing some research into book publishers recently, I came upon a rather amazing outfit by the name of Another Sky Press. They are quite traditional in that they publish the usual range of books: novels, stories, art books, anthologies, etc.
They are amazing, however, in that, first, they publish all of their books online for free. You can go online, pick out one of their books, and read it. Since, however, they know that many readers prefer a “real” book that fits nicely in the hands, they will ship any of their titles to you for what it costs to make and mail it (they don’t make a penny). You, then, are free to contribute whatever you wish to the creative team (with the bulk of your contribution going to the author). Essentially, they are relying on “the kindness of strangers” and, so far, have not gotten burned.
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Since our next president is going to have some incredible messes to straighten out, I think journalists should adopt a new standard or practice. That is, whenever they are reporting on how the president is struggling with a problem that can be directly linked to the Bush administration, those stories should have a logo (in print) or an underlay (on TV) of, say, a big B. Really, no president is going to leave behind a messier playroom than George W. Bush, and it seems terribly unfair to blame the new president for not being able to solve all of the inherited incompetencies.
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We thought four bucks a gallon would do it, but I feel a creeping acceptance coming on over these high fuel prices; that is, for a time it seemed Americans truly would begin to change their driving habits. I’m not so sure of that now. A recent long-haul trip to Pennsylvania persuaded me that our highways are not exactly emptying out. I think family budgets are simply being adjusted elsewhere (watch those donations sink, churches) so that our need for speed can be maintained.
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Am I the only one in the world who thinks there is nothing more boring in the month of June than the finals of the National Basketball Association?
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It was a hundred and fourteen degrees in Phoenix the other day. I’m always amused at how residents of such areas will comment on that heat by saying, “Yes, but it’s a dry heat,” as though somehow that makes it easily tolerable. The other night on the news a U.S. soldier in Iraq was asked about the heat (a hundred and seventeen that day), and when the reporter said, “But here in the desert it’s a dry heat, isn’t it?” he responded with, “Yes. It is. And because it’s so dry it just burns right through you.”
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Advice to Runners (now on the streets and pathways in droves): A number of years ago I happened to live on the route of a popular 10K run. It was always enjoyable to notice the people who were having fun and the people who were approaching agony. What struck me most of all each year, however, were the great variety of styles of running. Though I am totally untaught in running methods, I wanted to go up to some of them and say, “Wow, you’re really defeating yourself. If you’d only …” I also notice this with many of the runners on the streets near my home. My advice then to runners is, whether you run for leisure, exercise, or competition, invest a few dollars for a few sessions with a running coach. Get your gait, posture, and movements where they’re supposed to be and those few dollars will pay dividends for years and years.
G. K. Wuori © 2008
Photoillustration by the author
