"Write now is good."

An open window, and many thanks

Photo: open window...... by karenwithak

This week's (completely and totally optional) idea from Liz and Dana at Poetry Thursday is to use the phrase "an open window" in a poem. Here's my take — a haiku:

An open window —
Words flash by, diving, soaring.
My ink captures them.

Now for the "thanks". Liz and Dana started Poetry Thursday in February 2006, and the end of August brings the site's close. (A new poetry site/online community is in the works, so stay tuned...) I want to thank them for so many things:

- for creating a strong, thriving poetry community in Blogville
- for loving poetry with passion and for sharing it so openly
- for giving us a gift every week with their Thursday call for poetry-related posts
- for inspiring and creating momentum in our poetry and prose
- for connecting so many of us globally

I could go on, but this list captures their generous, wordy, bold essences. Here's to you, Liz and Dana, Goddesses of Poetry, with much admiration.

Thanks, also (of course), to all fellow Poetry Thursday community members. I've so enjoyed reading your poems, recommendations, observations, and your comments on my posts. It's been a supreme pleasure getting to know so many of you a bit, and I look forward to our future meetings here, on your blogs, and at new online poetry communities, getting ready to sprout. Cheers.

Update: "The Age of Conversation" — Closing in on $10K

Our collaborative book "The Age of Conversation" is about to reach its original charity proceeds goal of $10,000. From editors Drew McLellan and Gavin Heaton:

As of 08/28 (43 days from release) we have sold 1,234 books for a profit of $9,695.11 for the children of Variety.

If you've bought a copy, thank you! If you haven't yet, maybe you'll be the one to push us over $10,000 mark. (At this rate, it should be happening in a matter of days — click here to purchase.) When that happens, I'll pop the virtual champagne and share it with you all.

To learn more about "The Age of Conversation" story and to see the complete author list, click here.

Related posts:
° Welcome to "The Age of Conversation"
° W.R.I.T.E. — An excerpt from "The Age of Conversation"
° "The Age of Conversation" is spreading

When books ATTACK!

On her blog indexed, Jessica Hagy continually devises new ways to illustrate, via simple graphs, all sorts of complex social dynamics.

She calls this above image "Lock the library." I thought: Yes, lock it to protect the books from those who want to censor the ideas they hold. Then I realized how many others want to lock the library to protect others from being exposed to ideas inside the books.

This year's Banned Books Week, sponsored annually by the ALA, takes place September 29-October 6. You may be surprised at what the ten most-challenged books for 2006 are.

Related posts:
° It's Banned Books Week!
° Banned Books Week haiku and thanks
° Banned Books are big-buzz blogworthy!
° Banned books bracelet

Update: Jessica Hagy has a chapter in "The Age of Conversation". Read more about it here.

Characters, jumping off pages, into a new book

I've blogged about Thomas Allen's photographs in the past. His combination of pulp fiction images, sculptural ingenuity, and humor win me over. In September, the Aperture Foundation will be releasing a book of his works.

Another interesting note: "Uncovered: The Photographs of Thomas Allen" will be a board book:

Well suited to the three-dimensional heft of a board book, the images in Uncovered are combined into an almost toylike object that will delight photography lovers, graphic designers, and bibliophiles with a sense of humor.

I am definitely purchasing a copy.

Thanks to NOTCOT (of course)

A "book rental library club"

Netflix has dived into the book rental market.

Here's BookSwim:

BookSwim is the first online BOOK RENTAL LIBRARY CLUB lending you paperbacks and hardcovers directly to your house WITHOUT THE NEED TO PURCHASE! Whether it's New Releases, Bestsellers, or Classics, we've got 150,000 titles to choose from, with FREE SHIPPING BOTH WAYS! Read your books as long as you want. -- no late fees! Even choose to purchase and keep the titles you love!

Their target market is probably Netflix users who are already familiar with their send-and-receive system. Even though users can keep the books as long as they want, a monthly fee, similar to what Netflix charges, applies.

There are people and communities world-wide without access to well-stocked library shelves. If they can swing the monthly fee, they can now access great books.

It got me thinking: Could this be a model for free libraries to expand their reaches?

Found at SwissMiss.

Are you an Info-maniac?

Photo: WPC 2006 — Must email... Must email... by Carsten Knoch

Too much email, too many social nets beckoning us to join, constant IM pings. Digital distractions have become impossible to ignore.

They are taking a toll, personally and professionally. ZDNet points us to Infomania: Why we can't afford to ignore it any longer by Nathan Zeldes, David Sward, and Dr. Sigal Louchheim:

The result is that people average 11 minutes on any one “working sphere” (project) before switching to another project altogether. This extreme fragmentation of work results in a severe cumulative time loss, with some estimates as high as 25 percent of the work day. In addition, the inability to concentrate on an intellectual activity requiring more than a few minutes has a debilitating effect on employees’ ability to achieve optimal results.

This passage caught my eye, and not just because they quote "Winnie the Pooh". It supports a hunch that I've had that people stay so connected because they feel they're going to miss something if they don't:

People afflicted by Infomania are well aware they are in trouble, yet they nurture a feeling that they should stay the course and not fight back [2]. They rationalize that the modern world revolves around communication, so they must always be connected or lose vital information. Many believe that there is no better way. This can’t help but remind us of A.A. Milne's "Winnie the Pooh":

Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it.

If you are a knowledge worker and/or spend a lot of time online (even for personal reasons), you might benefit from reading this short white paper. It makes me glad I don't have a BlackBerry (yet).

The authors do not go into solutions, but they do make a call to action for companies to start finding them for their employees. This will not only increase productivity, it will also improve employees' overall quality of life.

We do need uninterrupted thinking time. We need dreaming time. We, especially those so technologically connected, need to unplug occasionally. We need a carved-out space each day where our imaginations can play, stretch, problem solve. It's no mystery why so many people found this past March's Shut Down Day to be rejuvenating.

I've thought of one solution for myself. Put aside 30 minutes each day, using a timer. Turn off the computer or just be away from it. Sit with a blank sketch pad and pen/pencil. Let myself draw, doodle, write. Enjoy the quiet. I'm sure I'll feel more focussed, balanced afterwards.

As I think of other solutions, I'll post them.

UPDATE: Nathan Zeldes, a co-author of this paper, left a comment explaining that his team has a host of solutions to Infomania specifically for Intel. (Their paper from which I quoted was written solely to explain the problem and prompt action about it.) To read his full comment and to click on the link to see how Intel is approaching this issue, click here.

One poetry door closes...

The creators of Poetry Thursday have decided to take down their poetry shingle. At August's end, our weekly online writing/poetry community will cease. Founders Liz and Dana have enjoyed their 18-month run, and are now ready to move on to other endeavors.

But wait! Another poetry door might be opening. A few generous Poetry Thursday participants are creating a new online community to fill the void that will be left behind. More soon.

Review: "The Gift of Nothing"

Before you read "The Gift of Nothing" by Patrick McDonnell, try to answer these questions:

1. What do you give the person who has everything?
2. In a completely empty space, what can people create?

With its title being "The Gift of Nothing," the book's punchline is clear. What makes this story most satisfying is how it is told. Author/illustrator McDonnell uses a few well-chosen words and minimal, expressive drawings to show how one friend gives another a most appropriate present. Quality rules quantity in this world, in a clear and inspiring way.

The book's age range is advertised as 3 to 6 years old. We know many in the 6-plus group, however, who love reading "The Gift of Nothing" over and over again. If you tend towards appreciating life's rich, simple pleasures, definitely consider knowing this tale.

An idea generator

Need an idea? Click to this "Special Projects Idea Generator" from a group called The Directors Bureau.

After a few spins of the wheels, the SPIG came up with this homework to keep me busy:

- a comedic destructive concept
- an eco-friendly collapsible store
- automatic temporary food
- a nutritious musical vehicle

Word fun. Almost poetry. Surprisingly interesting ideas, some of which might be worthwhile to think more about. Random generators always get my thoughts moving in new directions.

It's YOUR book, not the library's

 

These retro bookplates look so much like library check-out cards that it could be confusing. Using one as a cool ex libris could cause you to ask:
- Why does this library book have my name in it?
- Is it overdue? If it is, how much do I owe?
- Did I somehow travel back in time to the late 1980s? Just wondering, because that was the last time I saw a library check-out card.

So many questions. Rest assured — this book belongs to you. Says so right on the card! (That's why you bought these, remember?)

Available at One Good Bumblebee.

Update: Just after I posted this, I found a compelling post and discussion thread on Copyblogger about "The Dangers of Humor" in writing. Excellent points throughout, and it made me rethink the humor I've used in this and previous posts. So I must ask: did anyone out there get the humor in this? Or is my wry silliness a waste of time? (Comments, please!)