Spring 2009 in Portland, OR

Write Around Portland

Anthologies

Write Around Portland is proud to publish the powerful, engaging writings of our workshop participants at the end of each network in high-quality and unique and anthologies. Our anthologies are professionally designed by Precious Bugarin. Proceeds from anthology sales support Write Around Portland workshops.

Our new anthology, Now/Past/Future, featuring writers from our fall 2008 workshops is now available!

Anthologies are available for $12 through our office (plus postage and handling, if you would like them mailed) - please us at 503.796.9224 for details. Anthologies are also available at the following bookstores for $12:

http://www.writearound.org/index.html
Broadway Books – 1714 NE Broadway, Portland
In Other Words – 8 NE Killingsworth, Portland
Looking Glass Books – 7983 SE 13th, Sellwood
Powell's City of Books – 10th & W. Burnside and powells.com
Powell's Books on Hawthorne - 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland
Reading Frenzy – 921 SW Oak, downtown Portland
St. John's Bookseller - 8622 N. Lombard, Portland
Talking Drum Bookstore/Reflections Coffeehouse – 446 NE Killingsworth at MLK, Portland
Wallace Books - 7241 SE Milwaukie, Sellwood
In spring 2009 (date TBA), can also be checked out at the following Multomah County Libary branches:

Capitol Hill, Gregory Heights, Gresham, Holgate, Midland, North Portland, Rockwood, St. John's, Woodstock and Central. You can also request a copy at the branch closest to your home.





Previous anthologies may also be purchased directly from Write Around Portland for $12 each (plus postage and handling). Please call our office to place an order - 503.796.9224.




Now/Past/Future (Fall 2008)
And We Flew (Summer 2008)
A Rare and Necessary Time (Spring 2008)
See the Water Rise/Ver Las Aguas Subir (Fall 2007)
Unexpected Metaphors (Summer 2007)
Called to Speak Stories/Inspirado a Contar Cuentos (Spring 2007)
Echoes (Fall 2006)
City. Night. Sky. (Summer 2006)
When You Were 15 (Spring 2006) - in partnership with Reclaiming Futures/Multnomah County - download at whenyouwere15.org
Behind Me the Sun (Spring 2006)
The Sparkle in the Grit (Fall 2005)
I Feel This Truth (Spring 2005)
Everyday Revolutions (Fall 2004)
Walking on Slant (Spring 2004)
Stillness is the Opening (Fall 2003)
All & Sundry (Summer 2003)
Gifted with a Twisted Verb (Spring 2003)
The Roots of All the City's Lamps (Fall 2002)
Where the Mirror Explodes (Summer 2002)
I Say What Is Real (Spring 2002)
Your Body And Warm Earth (Fall 2001)
To Pay My Way With Stories (Summer 2001)
The Silence Underneath All Sounds (Spring 2001)
The Pedestal of Everything Wonderful (Fall 2000)
Finding The Formula (Summer 2000)
A New Garden (Spring 2000)
A Light to Reach (Fall 1999)
A City of Words (Summer 1999)
Reflections in Ink (Spring 1999)

"Burn the Floor"

"Burn the Floor"..........I got to see this in person back in Detroit, Michigan at the Fox Theater! I got this music and recognized the dance tune from this show. It was one of the best live shows I've seen. If you get a chance to see this in your town, please do, or it is also on DVD. This is the finale!

Sacrifice

The "War of Terror", the "Economic Depression/Recession" and all other social issues...where is the sacrifice? From the dawn of history, sacrifice for the common good has been essential for civilization, nations, businesses, and families to suffer through hard times.

Yet, during these current pressing times, where is the sacrifice? Sure, people are losing their homes, jobs, income, and retirement investments. But not by choice, not by self-sacrifice so that others may survive. Major company’s layoff thousands daily. How many would be laid off if all employees took a 25% pay cut, so that all may continue to work? Where are the people voluntarily offering to pay more in taxes so that projects, social services, and tax funded employees can weather the storm?

Citizens claim to be "Christians, Muslims, Jews, or other tenants of major or minor religions each holy day, but in practice, few follow their faith to serve others. Worldwide in the last 100 years people have become so self-centered, in their own little issues that helping others before self are merely a means to get on talk shows or reality television.

Sacrifice could be the solution for all of humanity to overcome war, poverty, homelessness, unemployment, and all the ills of civilization. "The rights of the many do indeed outweigh the rights of a few." From a numbers view I would say it requires more than a tithe of 10% or 15%. I would estimate as much as 50% of an individual’s time/money/assets/help for the good of the group society, or mankind. OK, now that your jaw has fallen into your lap, think about what everyone would get from such an arrangement. If 50% of your efforts and time go to help others, then 50% of their time/efforts go to help you, help your community, your nation, your world. It seems like a win-win situation, a no brainer.

Will it be done...probably not. Should it be done, of course, the survival of mankind demands it.

The End is on the horizon...sacrifice for others is the only solution!

10 Universities Offering Free Writing Courses Online

Here is another helpful article. The link has many more, writing related content.

Whether you are currently writing professionally or are looking to break into the field, formal writing courses can help you to hone your skills. If you don't have the money or the time for campus-based courses, there are plenty of universities offering free writing courses online.



1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (mit.edu)


Introduction to Fiction
Writing and Reading Short Stories
Advanced Essay Workshop

MIT offers dozens of free undergraduate and graduate writing courses online through its MIT OpenCourseWare initiative. Course topics include everything from writing fiction, poems and essays to analyzing all forms of literature. Lecture notes, videos, suggested reading lists and more will help you to become the writer you've always wanted to be. No registration is required.


2. Utah State University (usu.edu)


Intro to Writing Academic Prose
Intermediate Research Writing
Technology for Professional Writers

Utah State University's Department of English publishes three free courses devoted to the art of writing through the school's OpenCourseWare program. The courses are extensive and may take up to 16 weeks to complete if you study at the average pace. No registration is required. Courses are similar to the courses that might be found in a professional writing degree program.


3. Open University (open.ac.uk)


Fiction Writing Course
Descriptive Writing Course
Essay Writing Course

The UK's largest academic institution, Open University, offers a number of different writing courses through their OpenLearn website. The free curriculum includes both undergraduate and graduate level writing courses that are available to everyone regardless of country of origin. No registration is required.


4. University of Utah (utah.edu)


Introduction to Shakespeare
Introduction to Creative Writing

The University of Utah's English Department offers free courses to self-learners around the world. Currently, there are only two free writing courses. Both offer strong preparation in their topic and are built for beginners. No registration is required.


5. Western Governors University (wgu.edu)


Rhetorical and Critical Writing
Language and Communications
Literature Course - Parts I and II

Western Governors University has made free course materials available through an open content license. There are several free writing courses courtesy of the university's Liberal Arts Department. All courses are split into convenient self-study modules. No registration is required.


6. Purdue University (owl.english.purdue.edu)


Pattern and Variation in Poetry
Proofreading Your Writing
Conquering the Comma

Purdue University brought their writing lab to life online in 1994 to offer a writing resource to students no matter where they were located. Online Writing Lab (OWL) materials are now free to everyone regardless of location or student status. The OWL site offers writing instruction, grammar and usage information, individualized help from tutors and much more. No registration is required.


7. Steven Barnes' UCLA Writing Course (lifewrite.com)


9-Week Introduction to Screenwriting Course

Best selling author and screenwriter Steven Barnes offers a free version on his website of the writing class he has been teaching for many years at UCLA. The course offers in-depth instruction on writing, which is why Barnes suggests completing each part of the nine-week course one week at a time. Nevertheless, the course can be downloaded all at once. No registration is required.


8. News University (newsu.org)


Cleaning Your Copy
Beat Basics and Beyond
Covering Breaking News

News University has a solid e-learning program designed to provide training to journalists and other professional writers. Most of the courses offered at News U are free, especially those that are self-directed. Courses cover everything from writing and editing to reporting and ethics. News U also offers a newsletter, a blog and other great resources. Registration is required, but the course is free for everyone.


9. E-Zine University (ezineuniversity.com)


Writing Clearly and Effectively
Conquering Confusing Words
Quick Ways to Clean Up Your Writing

E-Zine University offers quite a few courses written by Internet publisher Kate Schultz and visiting professors. Although the courses offered at E-Zine University are designed mainly for web writers and e-zine writers, they would be helpful to almost any scribe. Courses are very short and don't take much time to complete. No registration is required.


10. Wikiversity (wikiversity.org)


Introduction to Web Writing
Technical Writing Courses
Narrative Dialog Editing

Wikiversity is an active learning project that encourages people to create and benefit from online courses and tutorials. There are currently several different writing courses that can be found at Wikiversity, many of which focus on technical writing. Although these courses vary in length and content, there's something for everyone. No registration is required.

http://education-portal.com/articles/10_Universities_Offering_Free_Writing_Courses_Online.html

My Latest Reads

Three books I recommend for the fans of horror, the supernatural, and conspiracy are "Adam" by Ted Dekker, "House of Bones" by Graham Masterton, and "The Book of Lies" by Brad Meltzer.

"Adam" is another supernatural based thriller involving the FBI, a serial killer, demons, and the usual Dekker twists. It is dark, creepy, not overly gory, and sustains one's interest till the end. I liked it.

"House of Bones" was an unusual pick because it is a relatively short (236 pages)and while hardcover, almost the size of a paperback, set in almost Large Print, which I liked for late night reading. It takes place in contemporary England, and the main creepy characters are Druids. It was intriguing, and a great short read. I'll be doing some research of Druids and ancient sites of England, inspired by this book.

"The Book of Lies" written by the author of "The Book of Fate" is one of my favorite themes, religious/political conspiracies. The Thule Society (Aryan/Nazis) want the Mark of Cain from the bible story for their own power and glory. It also included "Superman" and his creator as part of the central plot. What fun!

Social Networking --A New Paradigm

Another option for writers is "Social Networking". Sites include most interests, from friends to business. Not the NY Times, but always a good place to give your opinion.



One of the innovations in the internet space is social networking. Organizations are taking a fresh view on its scope for marketing communication and positioning to selling. The time has come to get into SOCIAL NETWORKING BAND WAGON.

“Social Network” was first coined by JA Barnes in 1954 classic, Class and Committees in a Norwegian Island Parish. It generally denotes “ a map of the relationships between individuals, indicating the ways in which they are connected through various social familiarities ranging from casual acquaintance to close familial bonds”.
Management Science Research has long studied to understand social networks mainly in the area of organizational behavior and human resource management. The internet has given a new twist to social networks. Time-constrained citizens are becoming social “netizens” with a vengeance. Relationships are sought online from like minded persons across the globe. We call these social networking sites.

Some of the popular social networking sites are: MySpace.com ,orkut, B-YANKS, etc. Unlike a traditional website or an email service , these sites resemble a real-life club. People can join different clubs depending on their affiliations. People look for relationships in these sites rather than pure information or plain vanilla communication. A music lover can form a group of “like tasted” individuals who can chat, discuss and share files ( both text and video). Most of these sites are free. Unlike a traditional site, these sites allow for greater interaction. Many users, use the space to be in touch with their near and dear ones..

There is a change in the electronic media consumption habits. Even as social networking sites expand, there are some interesting trends that can be observed. One of them is that adult and youth users vary in their usage pattern of social networks. While Orkut and B-Yanks are common choice for both age groups, youth seek more variety with such sites. The best part about these sites is that some of them like B-yanks also provide with free mobile email access, uploading & viewing videos and chat facilities. That means you can remain connected with your friends and relatives through your mobile phone. You can chat, view text and videos of your dear ones, all at the same time without having the need to go to your PC.

Social networking sites are expanding at 30% per annum. As they do so, the type of sites and the people who use them are also changing. Sites like MySpace, Face Book, Mypopcorn, etc remain popular with a bias towards music, films and relationships. While others like B-Yanks is more popular amongst all age groups for its free web and mobile based services include chat, music, video uploads ,free email access and much more.

Various organizations across the world are trying to get into the Social Networking Band Wagon as they find such sites as lucrative places for tracking down the market trend. It could also be an experimental communication channel for trendy youth. After the Dotcom burst, many marketers and business managers have given up on the internet.. Although Google is successful and echoes of Yahoo users are heard at times, a business manager is the most unlikely face in that Internet loving crowd. . For many business marketers , social networking sites are the best places where they can get closer or catch hold of their customers and that too, free of cost. Instead of costly surveys, experiments and focus group discussions, they can log on to the social networking site and look for the customer opinion on their products. It is always pleasant to catch a customer unaware and when he is most relaxed.


This article is printed from http://www.selfgrowthtest.com

How to Write Articles Quickly

One of the best ways to promote your website or blog is through article marketing. Learning to write articles quickly is a skill you have to master to accomplish this.

Many website owners make article writing a lot more complicated than it has to be. When writing for websites, remember first of all that people online are scanning web pages, not reading every word, so there is no need to spend hours making every word perfect.

Your content isn’t going to be totally unique, no matter what you write about. Every topic you can think about has already been written about by someone else. Think about it – every newsworthy event is covered by CNN, NBC, ABC, etc. Every network and every newspaper are all covering the exact same event or topic, just in different words.

The fact is, there are no new topics. Your job is to take what’s already been written and improve on it by injecting your own comments and personality.

One way to do research quickly is by inputting the topic you want to write about into a search engine. Choose three or four matches and read these articles thoroughly, taking notes.

Or, other places for quick research include article directories, forums and yahoo answers. By reading what people are asking in yahoo answers, you will learn what information people are looking for.

Amazon.com provides some great tools for quick research. By choosing a few top-selling books on a given topic, you can research quickly by browsing a book’s table of contents, the back cover of the book and even an excerpt.

Once you have taken sufficient notes, it’s time to put your article together. Write an outline of the important points you want to make in your article. Then write the article without looking back at the other articles. This is nothing more than the same work you did in high school writing book reports. Most of us have written quite a few book reports in our lifetime, and in those days many of us put ourselves through the unnecessary stress of cutting it too close to deadlines. That means we already know how to write and research quickly!

Basically, we need to decide what we’re going to accomplish and when. If we intend to write an article a day, then we have to stay glued to our computer until we complete that task. If we want to get it done in half an hour or less, this is another goal to work toward. Practice will definitely lead to improvement.

Article marketing is one of the best forms of free advertising there is. Learning to write articles quickly is an easily learned skill that will help us get the most out of article marketing.


About The Author
Valerie Dansereau is a banker turned entrepreneur and is the owner of http://www.work-at-home-parenting.com. For a free report showing you how to make $1,000 a month, even without your own website, Click here.

Web Writing Maestro - From Idea to Income

Want to make great money from your Web writing? You need a process which you can use repeatedly, so that your income increases each month. The secret is to keep everything simple: just do what YOU can do, and leave the rest to others.

The More Products You Write and Sell Online, the More Money You Make

When you begin your Web writing career, you soon realize that the real money is in selling your own products. However, this seems intimidating. How do you get a project online? How do you make money from it?

Remember that the secret is to keep it simple. No one knows everything. The Web is so huge and complex that it's impossible to master every aspect. Therefore, you out-source whatever you can't do, or find difficult or unpleasant.

For example, let's say that you want to start a new blog on marine aquariums. It's your hobby, you love it, and you know that since people are searching for information on this topic, a blog would be profitable. But you don't know how to buy a domain name and hosting, or how to install a blog. So out-source it. You should be able to get it done in a few hours for under $50.

Now let's look at your "idea to income" process. You can use this to write a constant stream of ebooks, reports, blogs, courses, classes, and seminars on any topic you choose.

1. Choose a Project

First comes the idea. I like to give myself a month from idea to income. Choosing a project which will be profitable takes longest. Once you have a possibility, check whether others are selling similar products. Try to estimate whether they're making money, and how much. (If you don't know how to do this, you know what to do now: out-source it, and get a competitive intelligence report.)

2. Get It Online

Next, create your product. Yes, you're a writer, but once you've written the outline, and the introduction, the project is solid. You can now out-source the rest of the project if you wish, or you can write it yourself. I like to write all my own projects, because I enjoy it.

Once the project's done, write a sales page and set up payment processing. (Yes, hire it done, if you don't know how.)

3. Promote It

No product sells itself. Promote it via advertising, using both paid and free methods.

4. Make Money

This final step takes care of itself. Keep promoting your product, and then get ready to create another one.

So there you have a process you can use to create products and make money: use it and prosper from your Web writing.

Want to learn more about Web writing and creating your own products to sell? Sell Your Writing Online NOW at http://sellwritingnow.com/Home/training.html is complete training in Web writing which opens the door to unlimited opportunities. Subscribers call it "the best thing I've ever done." You'll discover how to write and sell articles, ebooks and Web sites for profit, and much more.

For free weekly writing information sent to your Inbox, subscribe to Angela's Fab Freelance Writing Ezine at http://www.freelancewritingezine.com/ and receive "Write And Sell Your Writing: The Power-Write Report" immediately.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_Booth

2008

I checked my Library log on Monday, to see how many books I've read through the year 2008, and was surprised to see 113+!.

So many books, so little time!

2009, my goal is 150.

The Daemon...eBook to Hardcover

Science fiction, and the concept of eBook publishing have come together in this new book to be released on 1-8-09. I will be putting it on hold at the local library.



Editorial Reviews,From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Originally self-published, Suarez's riveting debut would be a perfect gift for a favorite computer geek or anyone who appreciates thrills, chills and cyber suspense. Gaming genius Matthew Sobol, the 34-year-old head of CyberStorm Entertainment, has just died of brain cancer, but death doesn't stop him from initiating an all-out Internet war against humanity. When the authorities investigate Sobol's mansion in Thousand Oaks, Calif., they find themselves under attack from his empty house, aided by an unmanned Hummer that tears into the cops with staggering ferocity. Sobol's weapon is a daemon, a kind of computer process that not only has taken over many of the world's computer systems but also enlists the help of superintelligent human henchmen willing to carry out his diabolical plan. Complicated jargon abounds, but most complexities are reasonably explained. A final twist that runs counter to expectations will leave readers anxiously awaiting the promised sequel. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
“Suarez’s riveting debut would be a perfect gift for a favorite computer geek or anyone who appreciates thrills, chills and cyber suspense.…A final twist that runs counter to expectations will leave readers anxiously awaiting the promised sequel.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Greatest. Techno-thriller. Period. Suarez presents a fascinating account of autonomous, logic- based terrorism, incorporating current and anticipated technologies to create a credible and quite clever story. Experts have long feared the Internet doomsday scenario; the Daemon is arguably more terrifying.”
—William O’Brien, Director of Cybersecurity and Communications Policy, The White House

“Daemon is the real deal—a scary look at what can go wrong as we depend increasingly on computer networks.”
— Craig Newmark, Founder Craigslist

“[Daniel Suarez] is the best author of tech fiction since Bruce Sterling and Neal Stephenson. Buy everything he writes.”
— John Robb, futurist & Author of Brave New War

“Daemon is better than early Tom Clancy...The tech is invoked with inside knowledge, the writing is better, and deeper issues are explored with greater imagination.”
— Stewart Brand, Founder Whole Earth Catalog & co-founder the Long Now Foundation

“An exciting book that will force you to think about where we are heading as a 'wired' society. It will keep you guessing. You will not want to put it down, and you will not want it to end. It doesn't get much better than that.”
— Steven Winningham, Former CIO, Gap Inc; EVP, Virgin Entertainment Group


http://thedaemon.com/

Something Old, Seems New

I was sifting through some old documents and found some writing I did many years ago.
My mindset was very different then: grim, depressed, dark and moody. One piece titled "Solitude", made little sense now, but I liked the end for some reason:

"The sounds, the words, the wonder of just thinking;
thought without direction, momentary aberrations of time and space;
amazement of imaginary journeys."

The unusual aspects of finding this today was in conjunction with several "Left Behind" movies I watched recently , and a book I am currently reading, "Kéthani" by Eric Brown. Journeys through time and space have always interested me.

Start a Story with a Brainstorm Draft by Lawrence Roth

I have had a couple of my stories published; therefore I boldly offer my advice on how to write stories. I put together a story structure tool for myself to use when I begin to brainstorm a story. This helps me to outline a story, develop a protagonist and an antagonist, and to eventually write a story.

This story structure tool was mostly adopted from the screenplay guidelines developed by Syd Field. I have added my own touch and modified the guidelines for writing a story. I have also changed the structure to reflect four acts instead of three. Syd Field actually does discuss a four act structure but he still calls it a three act structure. In Syd Field's structure he designates an Act 2a and an Act 2b which I converted to Act 2 and Act 3. Here is the structure with definitions that I use:

Act I. Provocation
Opening The opening summarizes and sets the tone of the story.
Catalyst The catalyst is an inciting incident that will change the direction of the protagonist's life.
First Plot Point The first plot point is a surprising development that will radically change the protagonist's life and force him or her towards confrontation with the antagonist.
First Pinch The first pinch is an incident that addresses the main conflict and increases barriers between the protagonist and his or her goal.
Act II. Escalation
Middle Plot Point The middle plot point is a reversal of fortune or revelation that changes the direction of the story further decreasing the protagonist's ability to reach his or her goal.
Second Pinch The second pinch is an incident, similar to the first pinch, that address the main conflict and increases barriers between the protagonist and his or her goal.
Act III. Confrontation
Last Plot Point The last plot point is the incident that forces the protagonist to finally confront the antagonist.
Showdown The showdown is where the protagonist has the final battle with the antagonist and either wins or loses.
Act IV. Resolution
Resolution The resolution demonstrates how the issues of the story are resolved.
Epilogue The epilogue ties up the loose ends of the story and brings closure.


I define a basic story as being about a protagonist who must confront an antagonist to achieve a goal. Therefore, to start the process of brainstorming a story I decide on a name for my protagonist and a name for my antagonist. Then I decide what the goal is.

After outlining the main events in my story I start what I call the Brainstorm Draft. The problem I have had in the past is that I have started writing many stories but encountered the inevitable writer's block and did not finish the stories.

In the Brainstorm Draft I write the story from beginning to end using the outline as a guide. When I come across writer's block and find logic gaps in the transition from one event to another I keep writing regardless.

I have written several Brainstorm Drafts where Acts I, II, III and IV have no logical transition between them. For example I started one story that began with a character in a warehouse distribution center with the next event having the character being trapped in an underground tunnel beneath a mansion. How did the character get from one place to other?

I did not know at the time and I did not care. I did use the outline I had established to give direction to the story. I do not worry about making a logical transition until I write the rough draft.

In the Brainstorm Draft if I need a character in a warehouse in one event and then in a tunnel in the next event then that is what happens with or without a logical explanation. The reason I do this is to get the story written.

The Brainstorm Draft does two things for me: It helps me develop the characters and the story. The brainstorm session which can actually take a few hours each day for a couple of weeks is by far the most fun. This is when the characters come to life for me. I get to know the characters and their little personality quirks. I also develop a better sense of the story. I visualize the events and locations where the story takes place. It is after the Brainstorm Draft that the real work begins. This involves putting the rough draft together, editing and making names for the additional characters born within the brainstorm draft.

Therefore, brainstorming a Brainstorm Draft gets the main events from the outline written down, develops characters and prepares the story for a rough draft.



About the Author
Lawrence Roth in an independent web developer who owns and maintains rothline.com. Lawrence has worked on various e-commerce and website projects. Lawrence writes articles and stories to submit to online publications.

Just Another Day

Before he sank into the black obscurity of unconsciousness, all Sam remembered was a blinding flash of white light and a wave of heat.

He woke up slowly, wondering if he was dead or alive. Then the pain hit him, along with the realization that, yes, he was alive. Alive and pinned under the rubble of bricks, plaster, and the other various debris from whatever buildings used to tower over the spot where he now lay.

Sam was an ex-soldier, Special Forces...a sniper in Vietnam. He had felt pain in the past and somehow knew that nothing was broken. Huge puddles of his blood were not evident, his vision was a little blurred, and his hearing was kinda shot. But all in all, he felt OK considering.

He began to move his arms and legs, and slowly the pile of bricks fell off him in clouds of dust. He made several attempts to stand upright, and finally caught his balance. It was about that moment he looked up and noticed the mushroom cloud of a nuclear explosion, about ten miles to the east, rising black-orange higher and higher in the pale blue sky. Sam sat back down.

He gazed slowly around trying to get a fix on where he was. Then throught the rubble, he noticed a glint of light, bright and golden. It was a cross sitting erect, by itself among the bricks and dust. ST Michael The Archangel Church. That was what had fallen on him...or saved him.


To be continued

Bookstores For Sale

Two blocks from my apartment, in the basement of an old church, is a used bookstore for sale. At best, it is disorganized chaos, mismatched fixtures, with lots of room for improvement. The location is good, on the streetcar line and is located in the "Cultural District" which also contains, the university, state history museum, theaters and the art museum.

In most places I have lived, in other states, there was always at least one small, independent bookstore, usually a used bookstore. A few were more interesting than others, depending on size and type of books. Most had little or no seating for perusing, narrow aisles, and were dimly lit. But, they did have a certain unique character.

The owner of this particular bookstore claims to own over 350,000 books in storage! The content various and is mostlu paperbooks, but he also has an on-line presence. In researching this post, many are in this category, but there seems to be "niche" marketers specializing in rare/antique, textbooks, technical books, adult books, christian, new age, mystery, etc. I would imagine the local market would determine in part the specialty if any the bookstore would fill.

In addition some of these retailers, double as "gift shops" and related merchandise. My opinion would be to stick to just books.

There seem to be books available on start-up, wholesale buying (several companies use Abe books for pricing) http://www.abebooks.com/ . Many advice on buying a bookstore are available in E-book format as well. Have any of you readers ever bought, owned, or thought of buying a bookstore? I'd like to hear from you.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookstore

My "Red" Grandma

My Finnish grandmother came to America in 1905, along with several brothers and sisters. They settled in Northern Minnesota. As long as I can remember, she told me wonderful stories about homesteading and the adventures of my grandfather, hunting, trapping, and enduring the cold dark winters of the Superior National Forest.

Eventually she met my grandfather and they settled on a homestead of 80 acres. My grandfather worked in the Mesabi Range Iron Mines, and they once lived in the town of Sparta, now named Gilbert. I was told they once had a small store and my grandmother taught school.

My father was born in 1915, and in 1916, the union workers at the mines went on strike, and eventually most were blackballed. I’ve assumed my grandpa was among them.

In 1917 my grandparents and toddler father, left Minnesota and their homestead, and returned to Finland, evidently to take part in the “Glorious Revolution”, the Finnish Civil War. They were Bolsheviks...Reds..Communists...and they lost. An uncle on my grandfather’s side became a member of Parliament from the Communist Party, renamed the Social Democratic Party.

In 1922 my grandparents and father returned to the USA, only to find their homestead in Minnesota, looted or burned down. (Was it retaliation perhaps for the strike and union membership?). Grandmother’s brothers and sisters lived in the Syracuse, NY area, so they moved there. My grandfather worked at the Sanderson Steel Mill, which eventually became Crucible Steel, the remainder of his work life.

In 1929, I was told my father (age 15), had been photographed for the local Syracuse newspaper, climbing a flagpole to attach the Russian Communist flag. You see, my father, was also a Communist. This was at one of the numerous Communist Youth Camps that flourished in New York State at this time. Upon reflection, this appears to be the “Camp” I spent many a summer at from my birth, to the birth of my oldest daughter, roughly from 1948 – 1972 swimming, water skiing, hiking, watching bonfires and when old enough, drinking beer.

In 1936 my grandma ran for Congress of the United States, as a member of the Communist Party, in Central NY. She lost. Her name, however, is cited in the “House on Un-American Activities Committee Hearings, 1955”. (McCarthy hearings)

I only found out about some of this recently, through research, and first heard of the Communist Party membership in 1976 from my father, when they visited the birth of my second daughter. I find it strange that they kept this “family secret” from me all those years, but it does explain some things I always wondered about. For example, the bronze table lamp my grandmother kept in her closet. It was the stature of “Mother Russia”. She also had an old crank RCA phonograph, and many 33 rpm records (like new), one being the Russian National Anthem. My sister and I were somehow forbidden to learn Finnish (perhaps my mother’s doing?). But my father, grandparents and their friends often spoke it.

It is all rather amazing. My grandma, who was only 5 feet tall and weighed at most 110 pounds, who made me pudding and baked Finnish breads, like Puula, told me stories about their life in Minnesota, and entertained me with her little parakeets through the years, all named “Cherri”. I have had two parakeets, one blue and one green. I named them both “Cherri”.

My little Finnish Grandma loved me unconditionally. She always got incredibly excited if I brought her violets, a simple gift, or even a visit as often as I could. I miss her terribly, even after the 25 years since she passed away.

Once she was a feisty young agitator, a socialist, a communist, a revolutionary……she was my “Red” grandma!

Research Libraries

I sometimes visit University Libraries, and have used several in the past for thesis research. Upon a recent visit to Portland State University Library, as I wandered through various subject areas and book stacks, I noticed that most of the books were 40+ years old.

That seemed strangely outdated. When writing my thesis in Grad School, my second draft, being a couple of years from the original, caused my advisor to suggested I insert fresher information/research sources.

Why then would a major university library maintain 40+ year old books? Of course some subjects, hard sciences like physics, chemistry, and or mathematics would change quickly. Literature, of course, contains many "classics" and would cover centuries. Social Sciences, would at first thought, have a slightly longer time frame than hard science to be considered out of date for research.

Is there any rule of thumb? Why yes, there seems to be.

http://www.marygrove.edu/library/tutorial/research/tutorial12a.asp

I would guess that the main reason for not purging these old materials and replacing them with new, is funding. It would seem though, that current research materials would be a high priority for any major university library. The fact that many research items have gone "digital", may decrease the demand for material in "book" form.

Wordstock 2008

Portland's primer event for book lovers and authors is this weekend November 7-9, 2008.

http://www.wordstockfestival.com/#/page_id=110/

The Last Election of 2008

Election Day is finally here, thank God. Two years of hell, hours of negative commercials, and rants from folks like Rush Limbaugh. Tonight, the victor will take the spoils of all this home and put it on a shelf!

2008 is the first time I have voted since the fiasco of 2000, and it will also probably be my last vote, for many reasons. One being, who really knows what happens to that ballot once it leaves your hands? Can you say "Hanging Chads"?

I fail to appreciate "Representative Government".....that's not democracy, that's a Republic...like ancient Rome. I would be content on removing all "Professional Politicians" and vote via the Internet, on all major policies. (Yes the Internet is safe for voting. You do your taxes, banking, and pay bills on it don't you?)

From my viewpoint, of the poor and working poor, the future of the USA seems lost in a fog of hopelessness and greed. 2012 approaches and many feel the End is near, in many ways. War, famine, overpopulation, depression, pandemic disease, etc. are just some of the many, and perhaps simultaneous crisis to End our world as we know it.

How does this affect our jobs, lifestyle, retirement, families and businesses?

Well, for one thing, strategic planning for worse case scenarios, can't hurt. Not planning and going ahead with wide eyed optimism may be fatal...to the country, to the world, to your family, and yourself.

More in future posts.

American Rune Mysteries Prove That Vikings Came in 1010AD

Forget Columbus Day, The Vikings came first! When is Viking Day?



Rune Mysteries America's Nordic Heritage There exists an encyclopedia of Norse anti-facts, locations of Archaeological sites, Historical accounts, maps and testimonials that document the existence of vast Viking Settlements in North American Colonies prior to Columbus.

The elitist Academicians and satirizing editors of the Smithsonian Institute, as well as the bureaucrats at the National Endowment of the Humanities have hidden them from us. The National Geographic is also guilty of false publications regarding the discovery of America.

Where ever the Vikings went, they left the Rune Mysteries. The records of Viking explorations from Iceland and Greenland penetrating far into America is clearly remarkable. The Vikings imported furs, lumber, ivory, oil, wine and fish back to the European markets.

Those Viking Colonies are clearly marked on medieval maps. Vineland, Norvera, Greenland Province, Venteland, Wineland and Suinlandia!. In the 16th Century the land of Vinland extended from the Gulf of the St. Lawrence to Florida. It was known as Norumbega, the "Northern Settlement."

Norse artifacts extended far into the interior to Minnesota and the Dakotas.

W.R. Anderson, president of the Leif Ericson Society, and editor - in chief of "Vikingship Journal" lives in Evanston, IL. Look him up on the net, to read more about our "Forgotten History."

Anderson does not own a PHD nor is he recognized as a Historian or an Anthropologist. Just dedication to the perseverance of our Nordic-Viking heritage.

Who were the first Americans and where did they come from? Answers to this question have taken us back to 100,000 B. C.??

But we do know that Eric, The Red, Thornaldson, born in Norway was banished to Iceland. In 982. He discovered Greenland. There were no Jails in Norway or Iceland, Punishment for manslaughter was banishment.

Eric followed in the wake of his cousin, Gunnbjorn Ulfson, who found Islands west of Iceland. Eric sailed further and found a large island and called it Greenland to attract other Vikings.

One of the later Greenlanders, Bjarni Herjulfson was blown off course and saw the American continent. He reported back to Eric.

In 1003, Lief Ericson recalled Bjanni's tale of land to the west and brought his ship.

Eric did not go because of his superstitious nature. On the way to the ship his horse stumbled throwing Eric to the ground. He viewed it as a 'Bad Omen' and stayed home. Leif sailed to what is bow known as Cape Cod on September 1, 1003. The Vikings landed and discovered America.

Lief's brother arrived in 1005 and explored as far south as Florida. He stopped near Savannah GA. and wanted to establish a colony. But he was killed by Indians by the Savannah River. Where ever the Vikings went, you can find artifacts of Rune Mysteries. More to follow.


Ellis Peterson AKA Ragnar Storyteller is a retired math professor and electronics engineer. He has been studying astrology, runes, radionics, metaphysics and alternate healing treatments for over 30 years. He is 70+, in very good health and lives in the boonies of the Pocono mountains with his wife Lory. His writings are unique and refreshing.

To see more of his writings visit his websites.

http://www.olevikingshop.com/

and

http://www.runes-for-health-wealth-love-now.com/

and

http://www.radionics-quantum-physics.com/

Or go to goggle and type in his pen name RAGNAR STORYTELLER for his listings. He is also a ghost writer and will write and article for you. Email Ragnar for his FREE 10 PART MINI-COURSE, "How-To use Quantum Physics in Your Every Day Life to Attract More Wealth, Health and Love, Now."

You can contact him at:

ragnarstoryteller2@gmail.com

Travel to the Edge

I would like to recommend a wonderful travel & photography series called "Travel to the Edge". Canon and the photographer Art Wolf, not only show many special and dramatic photos and videos, but travel to some of the most beautiful scenery on earth.

I especially liked the Patagonia and Japanese segments.

If you like exotic travel to natural environments and digital photography, please catch an episode of the fine PBS series.

http://www.travelstotheedge.com/series/

The Light is on, But No One is Home

I gaze discreetly across the semi-crowded room upon two middle aged females. Their dim beady eyes were dull and lifeless. Down trodden by life, poor health, or the faint glimmer of the intelligence of a gerbil?

They exchange words, incomplete sentences, “I need a pen, I need a piece of paper” the dimmer one mumbles in a childlike whine. “What? You carry a purse, but don’t have no pen?” says the other. I grimace. My six year old granddaughter is smarter than these two 40 year olds.

I wonder how they and hundreds of others I see on the street manage to tie their shoes in the morning, let alone muddle through life’s daily challenges. How do they make an intelligent, informed decision? Or do they go by instinct and emotion….I am hungry, I eat?

These squinty eyed, dim people, are a large portion of America. They are almost always, squinty eyed, by the way. Is it inbreeding, something in the water, radioactive fallout, the education system, or just bad genes?

I only know it is sad, disturbing, and growing. I’ll be more impressed the next time I meet a gerbil.

Watering Acorns

Sitting on a park bench, waiting for my bus connection, I gazed upon this old guy squirting water onto the soil from a squeeze ketchup bottle. His cart contained three gallons of plastic water jugs and a large coffee can. He was quite diligent. I thought, OK, he planted and is watering acorns, yet another crazy "street person". I looked up and all the trees in sight were Elms. Uh huh.

Next a blind man and a seeing eye dog came up and walked repeatedly right into the guys cart and trampled where he was working. The old guy says, "Hey, what are you blind?" and looks up. The blind guy apologizes and clomps away. I look around for the "Candid Camera".

I finally asked, "What, pray tell, are you watering sir?" Still thinking acorns. He replies, "I am catching worms. They cost $2.58 a dozen. I can't afford to go fishing otherwise." Whoa, a real nutter, I think.

He then stops and walks over to me and shows me his secret. A teaspoon of Coleman's powdered mustard and water mixed up in the ketchup squeeze bottle. I am intrigued, but still dubious. Squirt, squirt. I watch....out pops a six inch worm, again and again, one from every hole, in seconds of the application. Uh huh.

My bus finally arrived. I thanked him for the transfer of knowledge. Now I know how to catch worms in the middle of a dry day! More useful survival knowledge to add to my collection. Now where did I put that squirt bottle?

ExploringTechnical Writing

Technical writing bears a special place in the writing world. It requires a diligence and knowledge base that goes beyond a little research; even people who call themselves 'technical writers' many times end up taking confusing jargon and changing it to, well, more confusing jargon. Good technical writing requires the author to be neat, organized, and above all, concise.

In the beginning, technical writing primarily referred to writing about technology in the form of content like end-user manuals, white papers, system design documents, web sites, and similar materials for companies like engineering firms and IT companies. In the last few years, however, technical writing has evolved and drifted into many other fields such as finance, business, marketing, and more.

Like any type of writing, technical writing requires preparation. You have to identify your target audience and ask questions like: who is your reader? How well do they know the subject matter? Are there multiple audiences?

After you've assessed your audience, you need to ascertain your purpose. Why are you writing this document? What is your goal? What do you want your audience to know or be able to do when you're done?

Researching a topic is essential before you write an article, report, or other material, and technical writing is no different. In fact, you could argue that technical writing requires more research than other types of writing because, in order to write about a technical subject, you need to know it well. Getting acquainted with completely new software, for example, can take hours of research. This is why a company might choose a field expert with no writing experience over a professional writer; they're already intimate with the subject, and may know how to communicate it well.

However, this can backfire. If an expert software engineer writes an instruction manual for a piece of software that's going to be marketed to average consumers, but only other software engineers will understand the material, its useless.

Though some shy away from technical writing, it can be enjoyable. Writing about cutting-edge gadgets, new technologies, new software, evolutions in business and marketing, and any number of other topics can be both rewarding and captivating.

If you're interested in technical writing, do the (surprise!) research and find examples, tutorials, classes; whatever resources you can use. Practice translating highly technical jargon to ordinary language or take a technical writing course. Learn how to avoid the sinkholes and swamps of jargon and create truly concise, understandable writing that speaks clearly to its audience.

Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/ - Free Articles Directory


About the Author
Aurora Mae Brown writes for AM Professional Writing Services, a Los Angeles based company that provides press releases, technical writing, business writing, website content, SEO articles, and more. See http://www.auroramae.com for more information.

7 Universities Providing Access to Free Literature Courses Online

Taking a literature course is similar to reading, but it is a much better way to delve into the books you love. Begin studying literature today with one or more of the free online literature courses offered at universities like MIT and UC - Berkeley.


1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (mit.edu)


Major English Novels Course

MIT's OpenCourseWare program offers access to more than 80 free literature courses. One of the most recent is the Major English Novels Course, which features readings, assignments and concentrated study of the novel genre. Registration is not required.


2. Western Governors University (wgu.edu)


Literature Course- Parts I and II

Western Governors University's Liberal Arts Department offers a downloadable literature course that is free to everyone. Course topics are split into ten modules and include everything from poetry and drama to fiction and literary ethics. Registration is not required.


3. The University of Utah (utah.edu)


Introduction to Shakespeare

The University of Utah's free literature course is a comprehensive introduction to the works of Shakespeare. The course is easy to download and includes seven lessons, reading assignments and other accessible resources. Registration is not required.


4. University of California, Berkeley (berkely.edu)


Shakespeare Course

UC Berkeley webcasts select courses every semester. The Shakespeare Course includes 32 lectures on Shakespeare and readings of his best works. All webcasts can be downloaded in mp3 format or heard on a free version of RealPlayer. Registration is not required.


5. University of Sheffield (shef.ac.uk)


Criticism and Literary Theory Course

The University of Sheffield's Department of English Literature provides free access to a great literary theory course designed for intermediate and advanced students. Course materials include an introduction, notes from lectures and links to relevant articles and resources. Registration is not required.


6. Open University (open.ac.uk)


Approaching Prose Fiction

The free literature course offered by the UK's Open University introduces you to studying literary texts at a university level. The course takes about 20 hours to complete and includes several units of study. Registration is not required.


7. Utah State University (usu.edu)


Introduction to Writing

Utah State University doesn't offer a free course completely devoted to literature, but you can access an online interpretation of the university's English 1010 course. Materials include a PDF of the English 101 handbook, reading assignments and more. Registration is not required.