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If anyone with half a brain (even one tied tied behind their back) needed any more evidence that we no longer have a president, but an emperor, the Cindy Sheehan protest in Crawford should just about seal it.
Rather than express himself as a human being, and meet with a mother who has legitimate issues regarding the war in Iraq, the emperor (formerly known as president) chose to issue statements in the press.
The real kicker was yesterday, when the Emperor's motorcade drove by the growing group of protestors on their way to a fundraiser. It's as if the president is incapable of seeing the Cindy Sheehans of this country.
I fully recognize that I no longer live in a democracy (yes, save your t-crossing and i-dotting for someone else; I know we technically don't live in one) and that all of the rhetoric and blathering about freedom and liberty is much ado and hot air about nothing.
Only my Monday deadline for getting my book to the printer prevents me from giving this story with legs the time it deserves.
Look for something at some point next week, as I'll have more to say about Bush, the right-wing, and political pandering that is beyond the pale.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Thursday, August 11, 2005
The independent saga
[I wrote this last evening, but I was too fried, and lacked the energy to post it then.]
Today was truly a good day in the life of RiverVision Press and the saga of its first book, When Towns Had Teams. While the day consisted of its usual early start (around 5 A.M.) and I’m still banging away at the keyboard some 14 or more hours later, a lot was accomplished, today.
Needing a photo for my back cover, but as usual, waiting until the last minute, I wasn’t sure I could secure a professional photo. I needn’t have worried. Having a good friend and portrait photographer extraordinaire, I was able to call her, and we did a photo shoot at the baseball field at Deering Oaks. This was all arranged the day before. In about 20 minutes, my photographer had filled a roll of film and I’ll see the photos tomorrow. I’m excited about several that we took that I think are going to be great.
Once more, my cover design has been pushed to the foreground as I’ve tarried completing my manuscript edits, proofs, and formatting. Once again, a phone call and conversation has brought me close to having a book cover that will complement my manuscript.
While RiverVision Press might be small, don’t count us out. Having a support network of photographers, web designers (and I haven’t even touched on the marketing arm of the operation) gives us the ability to do things that earlier seemed daunting, if not impossible.
I can only imagine what the future will bring, once I really get the knack of independent publishing.
I’ve had another full day, and I know sleep will be sweet and deep.
Today was truly a good day in the life of RiverVision Press and the saga of its first book, When Towns Had Teams. While the day consisted of its usual early start (around 5 A.M.) and I’m still banging away at the keyboard some 14 or more hours later, a lot was accomplished, today.
Needing a photo for my back cover, but as usual, waiting until the last minute, I wasn’t sure I could secure a professional photo. I needn’t have worried. Having a good friend and portrait photographer extraordinaire, I was able to call her, and we did a photo shoot at the baseball field at Deering Oaks. This was all arranged the day before. In about 20 minutes, my photographer had filled a roll of film and I’ll see the photos tomorrow. I’m excited about several that we took that I think are going to be great.
Once more, my cover design has been pushed to the foreground as I’ve tarried completing my manuscript edits, proofs, and formatting. Once again, a phone call and conversation has brought me close to having a book cover that will complement my manuscript.
While RiverVision Press might be small, don’t count us out. Having a support network of photographers, web designers (and I haven’t even touched on the marketing arm of the operation) gives us the ability to do things that earlier seemed daunting, if not impossible.
I can only imagine what the future will bring, once I really get the knack of independent publishing.
I’ve had another full day, and I know sleep will be sweet and deep.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Dad's new musical upgrade
For the past year, I’ve had to forego listening to music on my fifteen-year-old stereo system, in lieu of a crappy $100 boom box. The reason? My original Boston Acoustics speakers were blown—both woofers need to be reconed. I looked into having it done about six months ago and the cost would have been about what a pair of medium level speakers might be.
I’ve been convincing myself that when I finally made a little money, I’d buy a decent pair of speakers. My stereo, given as a surprise gift by my wife, almost two decades ago, is still in top-notch shape. With a Harmon Kardon receiver, decent Sony cassette deck, Sony CD changer (purchased at Marden’s, btw) and yes, my fave piece of audio gear, my trusty Technics turntable, for when I get the urge to spin some vinyl.
Needless to say, I periodically find myself jonesing to crank up the sound system in a way that a boom box just won’t do justice.
Sunday, my 21-year-old son comes down to the living room with a large box under each arm. I was spending yet another morning frantically trying to get my manuscript formatted and not having much fun at it. Stopping to see what the heck Mark had dragged into the room, I realized they were speaker boxes. Recognizing that his pathetic father wouldn’t break down and spend the cash for some speakers, he had returned an ill-functioning iPod, taken the cash, kicked in some of his Good Humor Ice Cream Truck cashish from his summer route and made his Dad a very happy man!
Despite my protestations that he shouldn’t have done this, he was insistent that it was the least he could do. Apparently, he felt that it was a small gesture for whatever it is that I do as a father. I’m still in shock today. Just now, I’m listening to my Rory Gallagher album, Calling Card, on my turntable, marveling at the crisp clear and bass heavy sound coming from my new Infinity speakers.
While the stress of my final push towards getting When Towns Had Teams printed hasn’t abated, today, it was at least tolerable, finally being able to hear music as it should sound.
Thanks, Mark!
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Oil's dwindling supply
From London's Financial Times, regarding Big Oil's recognition of peak oil and a possible crisis of global proportions.
Big Oil warns of coming energy crunch
By Carola Hoyos/Financial Times
Published: August 4 2005
International oil companies have advertising campaigns warning that the world is running out of oil and calling on the public to help the industry do something about it.
Most of the executives ofThe world's five largest energy groups generally maintain that oil projects are viable with the price at which they test a project’s viability is within the around $20 a barrel. range. But their advertising and some of their companies' own statistics appear to tell a different story.
ExxonMobil, the world's largest energy group, said in a recent advertisement: “The world faces enormous energy challenges. There are no easy answers.” And the companies' statistics back up the sentiment. In The Outlook for Energy: A 2030 View, the Irving, Texas-based company forecasts that oil production outside the Organisation ofthe Petroleum Exporting Countries, the cartel that controls three-quarters of the world's oil reserves, will reach its peak in just five years.
Chevron, the US's second-largest energy group, sends a similar message, but goes two steps further. “One thing is clear: The era of easy oil is over. We call upon scientists and educators, politicians and policy-makers, environmentalists, leaders of industry and each one of you to be part of reshaping the next era of energy. Inaction is not an option,” was the message in a recent advertising campaign. The company has even set up a website, warning of the pressures of high demand and fewer fields and offering a forum of discussion.
One senior executive at an oil company not involved in the advertising campaigns speculated that his counterparts were attempting to buy themselves some slack to go after the messier, more expensive, dirty oil. Another executive said it may buy some sympathy for the difficulty many companies are having in growing developing their production and reserves.
Total, the French oil company, this week made the latest acquisition in theCanada's vast Athabasca oil sands, where companies are extracting extra tar-like bitumen from sand in an expensive and environmentally tricky mining operation.
Yves-Marie Dilibard, Total's director of communications, explaining the logic behind its campaign, said: “Tomorrow's energy needs mean developing new energy techniques, going further and deeper in the search of oil and gas. That's at the heart of Total's work today.”
Royal Dutch Shell and BP, Europe's biggest energy groups, have recently felt the effects of venturing into more difficult frontiers. Shell was forced by environmentalists to reroute a pipeline that threatened rare whales in Russia's arctic and last month warned of a $10bn (€8bn, £5.6bn) cost overrun at its Sakhalin project there. Meanwhile, BP battled with a platform in the deep waters of the US Gulf of Mexico that was severely bent by hurricane Dennis.
In its advertisements BP touts new energy alternatives, while ExxonMobil, which has unapologetically abandoned alternatives that have not been profitable, says in one advertisement: “Wishful thinking must not cloud real thinking.”
But answering the concerns of the consumer, even about the possible shortage of oil, is not the primary job of an oil company. Its most important stakeholders are its stock shareholders, some of whom have been left perplexed by the advertisements after hearing a very n altogether different message at last week's earnings conferences.
Neil McMahon, analyst at Sanford Bernstein, said: “We think these messages are at odds with the comments normally made to investors regarding future oil prices and the ability of producers to meet demand, and we wonder if perhaps those messages are actually a better indicator of the companies' thinking.”
Consumers are also not the primary concern of an even more important group: the national oil companies of producing countries, such as Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has as its first priority its growing population and the stability of the regime. This – together with the increased difficulty of finding new oil – is part of the reason for the capacity crunch, analysts and executives agree.
No amount of advertising is likely to change that dynamic.
**A recent simulation shows the very real possibilities of terrorism interrupting oil supplies and what it could do to world markets. This all-too-real scenario would wreak economic disaster in the U.S. and certainly end American's multiple daily trips to the local Wal-Mart or Target store.
Big Oil warns of coming energy crunch
By Carola Hoyos/Financial Times
Published: August 4 2005
International oil companies have advertising campaigns warning that the world is running out of oil and calling on the public to help the industry do something about it.
Most of the executives ofThe world's five largest energy groups generally maintain that oil projects are viable with the price at which they test a project’s viability is within the around $20 a barrel. range. But their advertising and some of their companies' own statistics appear to tell a different story.
ExxonMobil, the world's largest energy group, said in a recent advertisement: “The world faces enormous energy challenges. There are no easy answers.” And the companies' statistics back up the sentiment. In The Outlook for Energy: A 2030 View, the Irving, Texas-based company forecasts that oil production outside the Organisation ofthe Petroleum Exporting Countries, the cartel that controls three-quarters of the world's oil reserves, will reach its peak in just five years.
Chevron, the US's second-largest energy group, sends a similar message, but goes two steps further. “One thing is clear: The era of easy oil is over. We call upon scientists and educators, politicians and policy-makers, environmentalists, leaders of industry and each one of you to be part of reshaping the next era of energy. Inaction is not an option,” was the message in a recent advertising campaign. The company has even set up a website, warning of the pressures of high demand and fewer fields and offering a forum of discussion.
One senior executive at an oil company not involved in the advertising campaigns speculated that his counterparts were attempting to buy themselves some slack to go after the messier, more expensive, dirty oil. Another executive said it may buy some sympathy for the difficulty many companies are having in growing developing their production and reserves.
Total, the French oil company, this week made the latest acquisition in theCanada's vast Athabasca oil sands, where companies are extracting extra tar-like bitumen from sand in an expensive and environmentally tricky mining operation.
Yves-Marie Dilibard, Total's director of communications, explaining the logic behind its campaign, said: “Tomorrow's energy needs mean developing new energy techniques, going further and deeper in the search of oil and gas. That's at the heart of Total's work today.”
Royal Dutch Shell and BP, Europe's biggest energy groups, have recently felt the effects of venturing into more difficult frontiers. Shell was forced by environmentalists to reroute a pipeline that threatened rare whales in Russia's arctic and last month warned of a $10bn (€8bn, £5.6bn) cost overrun at its Sakhalin project there. Meanwhile, BP battled with a platform in the deep waters of the US Gulf of Mexico that was severely bent by hurricane Dennis.
In its advertisements BP touts new energy alternatives, while ExxonMobil, which has unapologetically abandoned alternatives that have not been profitable, says in one advertisement: “Wishful thinking must not cloud real thinking.”
But answering the concerns of the consumer, even about the possible shortage of oil, is not the primary job of an oil company. Its most important stakeholders are its stock shareholders, some of whom have been left perplexed by the advertisements after hearing a very n altogether different message at last week's earnings conferences.
Neil McMahon, analyst at Sanford Bernstein, said: “We think these messages are at odds with the comments normally made to investors regarding future oil prices and the ability of producers to meet demand, and we wonder if perhaps those messages are actually a better indicator of the companies' thinking.”
Consumers are also not the primary concern of an even more important group: the national oil companies of producing countries, such as Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has as its first priority its growing population and the stability of the regime. This – together with the increased difficulty of finding new oil – is part of the reason for the capacity crunch, analysts and executives agree.
No amount of advertising is likely to change that dynamic.
**A recent simulation shows the very real possibilities of terrorism interrupting oil supplies and what it could do to world markets. This all-too-real scenario would wreak economic disaster in the U.S. and certainly end American's multiple daily trips to the local Wal-Mart or Target store.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Irregularity
I apologize for the paucity of posts of late. One of the things I think is essential in blogging, is regular updates, or at least something bordering on the semi-regular variety. Having said that however, I also recognize that having content merely for the sake of saying, “hey, I’ve updated my blog” rings hollow very quickly.
I find that much of what I’m focused on of late is very local, personal and close to home. Hence, I’ve been more diligent and faithful at updating my content at my WriteforYou site of late. I like the Greymatter platform for pictures much better, although I’ve not really utilized that feature in Blogger.
Ultimately, my time has been divided, between the book, baseball responsibilities to the Twilight League, as well as having more responsibilities on the part-time job front. Needless to say, my creative energy that I’ve often focused on this blog has been flagging for much of the summer.
There are days when I look at my investment of time that I have in When Towns Had Teams and the work I’ve put into trying to get RiverVision Press off the ground and I question my vision and even my sanity. Having to do every aspect save a few is overwhelming and often leaves me discouraged and exhausted at the end of each day. I find that my interpersonal relationships have suffered due to the stress, as well as being unable to enjoy many things that at one time gave me pleasure.
With the end of my own team’s season in the Twilight League (my club failed to qualify for the playoffs), I’ll have a bit more time than I’ve had since May. I also have been able to finalize the fundraising yearbook that I had dumped in my lap, which required selling ads, bartering my writing services with a designer for layout, as well as having to secure a printer at rock-bottom rates. It has been a crazy summer up to this point.
I honestly don’t see myself devoting as much focus and energy to Words Matter for at least another three to four weeks. With final edits, layout and then, marketing When Towns Had Teams, my energies are once again going to be taxed over the next few weeks.
I wanted to end on a positive note, as the overall tone of this post has been more negative than I originally intended. Yesterday, I went to my PO Box in Freeport, where I have my box for RiverVision Press. I pulled out 11 orders for my book! I’ve had a steady stream of people pre-ordering the book via mail order, or online at the site. Needless to say, these orders encourage me, validate what I’m doing and give me some hope. I still have a tough row to hoe in generating enough of a buzz about the book to at least break even and dare I say it, make a slight profit. Once the edits are done and it goes to the printer, then I’ll have to ramp up the PR machine and see what I can do in the way of a media onslaught.
I find that much of what I’m focused on of late is very local, personal and close to home. Hence, I’ve been more diligent and faithful at updating my content at my WriteforYou site of late. I like the Greymatter platform for pictures much better, although I’ve not really utilized that feature in Blogger.
Ultimately, my time has been divided, between the book, baseball responsibilities to the Twilight League, as well as having more responsibilities on the part-time job front. Needless to say, my creative energy that I’ve often focused on this blog has been flagging for much of the summer.
There are days when I look at my investment of time that I have in When Towns Had Teams and the work I’ve put into trying to get RiverVision Press off the ground and I question my vision and even my sanity. Having to do every aspect save a few is overwhelming and often leaves me discouraged and exhausted at the end of each day. I find that my interpersonal relationships have suffered due to the stress, as well as being unable to enjoy many things that at one time gave me pleasure.
With the end of my own team’s season in the Twilight League (my club failed to qualify for the playoffs), I’ll have a bit more time than I’ve had since May. I also have been able to finalize the fundraising yearbook that I had dumped in my lap, which required selling ads, bartering my writing services with a designer for layout, as well as having to secure a printer at rock-bottom rates. It has been a crazy summer up to this point.
I honestly don’t see myself devoting as much focus and energy to Words Matter for at least another three to four weeks. With final edits, layout and then, marketing When Towns Had Teams, my energies are once again going to be taxed over the next few weeks.
I wanted to end on a positive note, as the overall tone of this post has been more negative than I originally intended. Yesterday, I went to my PO Box in Freeport, where I have my box for RiverVision Press. I pulled out 11 orders for my book! I’ve had a steady stream of people pre-ordering the book via mail order, or online at the site. Needless to say, these orders encourage me, validate what I’m doing and give me some hope. I still have a tough row to hoe in generating enough of a buzz about the book to at least break even and dare I say it, make a slight profit. Once the edits are done and it goes to the printer, then I’ll have to ramp up the PR machine and see what I can do in the way of a media onslaught.
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