The upside of greenery
Monday, October 16, 2017
Friday, October 13, 2017
Here's what can happen with naval forces entering "hot" area,
a lesson from history
Trump Sends Second Aircraft Carrier To Korean Peninsula With 7,500 Marines Aboard | Zero Hedge
1898: USS Maine and
The Spanish-American War
“Remember the Maine ,
to hell with Spain ”
The modern era history of Cuba
pre-dates that of the USA . Spain
claimed Cuba in
1492 when Christopher Columbus landed there.
The Italian explorer was working for the Spanish Crown. British settlers, on the other hand,
colonized Jamestown , Virginia
As America
expanded in the years following, it kept one eye on Cuba ,
as it did on other Spanish territories, e.g. Philippines ,
Guam , and Puerto Rico .
Spanish overlords ruled the Cuban natives harshly for many
years; a series of rebellions took place
in the 19th century (1826, 1829, 1837), and rebellion was in the air again by
the late 1880s. U.S.
newspapermen like William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer took up the rebel
cause.
When riots broke out in the capital Havana ,
on January 25, 1898 , the U.S.
sent the U.S.S. Maine to the Havana
harbor to quell the disturbance, and protect U.S.
civilians there tending to sugar and tobacco businesses. On February 15, the Maine
exploded; 266 of the 355 sailor aboard
were killed.
Hearst and Pulitzer immediately blamed Spain
and called for war. The New York Journal
headlined "Spanish Treachery."
“Remember the Maine , to
hell with Spain ”
would become a handy slogan. The Navy,
for its part, blamed a mine for the explosion, but refrained from blaming Spain .
Feelings over facts held sway for many. We find a good example of this feeling in a
February 16 letter Theodore Roosevelt wrote a friend saying, “Being a Jingo, as
I am writing confidentially, I will say, to relieve my feelings, that I would
give anything if President McKinley would order the fleet to Havana
tomorrow. This Cuban business ought to stop. The Maine
was sunk by an act of dirty treachery on the part of the Spaniards, I believe;
though we shall never find out definitely, and officially it will go down as an
accident.”
President McKinley was indeed amenable. Backed by Congress, McKinley put on a naval
blockage of Cuba
on April 21. Spain
declared war on the U.S.
April 23, and the U.S.
followed suit, April 25. War lasted
until August 12, 1898 .
President McKinley went to Congress and got permission to
place a blockade of Cuba
on April 21st. Spain
then declared war on the U.S.
on April 23rd and immediately following the U.S.
followed suit and declared war on Spain
on April 25th. The war lasted to August 12, and ended with a U.S.
victory. The Treaty of Paris (signed December 10, 1898 ) provided for Spain
to cede control of Cuba ,
The Philippines, Puerto Rico , Guam ,
and parts of the West Indies .
This marked the end of Spain
as world empire, and the taking up of that mantle by the U.S.
Circling back, did Spain
actually sink the Maine ? In 1911,
the Department of the Navy brought up the remains of the ship and undertook
another investigation that returned the same conclusion: a mine did it.
Other investigators thought it possible that there was a
spontaneous combustion of coal sitting next to the magazine of ammunition in
the forward hull. They said the evidence supporting this was that the blast
blew outward from the hull and not inward as a mine would cause.
The Spanish never claimed responsibility for the blast. In fact, their officials and civilians from
the adjacent Spanish cruiser Alfonso XII helped the survivors from the blast,
making it unlikely that Spain
was itching for war vs. the U.S. As a result of this assistance from the
Spanish, as well as another U.S.
ship anchored nearby, some 100 lives were saved.
If this was a false flag, i.e. not the work of the Spanish,
it illustrates that a government can manipulate a tragedy to its own end -- whatever
the genesis of it. In the modern
parlance, "never let a crisis go to waste."
==============================================
Final thought: if nearly two weeks after Las Vegas Massacre, we don't have clarity on the who/what/where/when/how, etc., how much less will we know about what happens in the sea offshore Korea. Putting major military assets offshore an adversary, may be regarded as one step lower than a naval blockade which is usually construed as an act of war. Ships offshore are, at the least, a provocation. Reminds one of the old school street saying, "if you pull a gun on me, you better use it."
Mr. Trump, while we are still in this "calm before the storm," as you say, have you thought this out, step by step, to its full conclusion, all the possible if-thens? Humanity wants to know.
==============================================
Final thought: if nearly two weeks after Las Vegas Massacre, we don't have clarity on the who/what/where/when/how, etc., how much less will we know about what happens in the sea offshore Korea. Putting major military assets offshore an adversary, may be regarded as one step lower than a naval blockade which is usually construed as an act of war. Ships offshore are, at the least, a provocation. Reminds one of the old school street saying, "if you pull a gun on me, you better use it."
Mr. Trump, while we are still in this "calm before the storm," as you say, have you thought this out, step by step, to its full conclusion, all the possible if-thens? Humanity wants to know.
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Monday, October 09, 2017
Not with H bombs, or EMPs, but rather through a new twist in world trade......
The Gold Worm on the Yuan Hook
“There is more than one way to skin a cat” says an old proverb. And there is another way to bring the US to its knees, besides using hydrogen bombs or EMPs."
Brilliant analysis. Perhaps this is the mechanism by which USA is excluded from Bible prophecy? A stunning ending to the self-appointed appellation "American exceptionalism"?
“There is more than one way to skin a cat” says an old proverb. And there is another way to bring the US to its knees, besides using hydrogen bombs or EMPs."
Brilliant analysis. Perhaps this is the mechanism by which USA is excluded from Bible prophecy? A stunning ending to the self-appointed appellation "American exceptionalism"?
Friday, October 06, 2017
Thursday, October 05, 2017
Las Vegas as San Bernardino II: Ballistics Evidence Is the Key - john.sarkett@gmail.com - Gmail
Las Vegas as San Bernardino II: Ballistics Evidence Is the Key - john.sarkett@gmail.com - Gmail
When I saw footage of the shooting, I thought to myself, "why two windows? For one shooter with a machine gun. Why would he run back-and-forth between two windows, wouldn't that slow his satanic progress?"
Others are asking this and similar questions, as evidenced by this piece just forwarded to me moments ago.....
Las Vegas as San Bernardino II:
Gary North - October 05, 2017
When I saw footage of the shooting, I thought to myself, "why two windows? For one shooter with a machine gun. Why would he run back-and-forth between two windows, wouldn't that slow his satanic progress?"
Others are asking this and similar questions, as evidenced by this piece just forwarded to me moments ago.....
Las Vegas as San Bernardino II:
Ballistics Evidence Is the Key
Gary North - October 05, 2017The obvious question in the San Bernardino mass shootings in December 2015 was this: "Does the ballistics evidence at the murder scene show that the alleged shooters' weapons were involved?"
I asked this ten days after the shootings.
The Washington Post reported this:
Agents from the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the ATF headed to the scene of the shooting to aid local law enforcement, authorities said.The 10 special agents from the ATF included ballistics experts and explosive specialists as well as two explosive detection canines, said Meredith K. Davis, an ATF special agent.
We are still waiting for the release of that evidence.
I ask the same about the weapons supposedly used by the alleged shooter in Las Vegas. (1) Do the rounds that killed and wounded all those people match the weapons in the shooter's motel room? (2) Are there rounds that do not match, indicating more than one shooter?
The ballistics evidence would answer these questions.
This is technically easy to check. It just takes time, money, and the public's willingness to hold the investigators' feet to the fire.
There are other unanswered (and mainstream media unasked) questions. I have a Ph.D. in history. I know what to ask. I would ask what any reporter would ask: who, what, when, where, why, and how?
1. How and where did he buy the automatic weapons?
2. Where and when did he train to master them?
3. How did he get them into the hotel room(s)?
4. How did he shoot from two windows? [Removed by user shortly after this was posted. Instead, go here.]
5. Was he registered in both rooms?
6. Why did it take the police 20 minutes to locate which floor and room?
7. Why did it take them 52 more minutes to get to the room?
All of this is easy to check.
If the authorities do not respond, this will add fuel to the fire of disbelief.
If the mainstream media do not keep demanding this information from the authorities, then they are in bed with the authorities.
If reporters in the mainstream media do not investigate these matters independently, then the media are in bed with the authorities.
If the authorities and the media stonewall on these issues, then Obi Wan is on the job in Las Vegas.
Tuesday, October 03, 2017
Friday, September 29, 2017
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Illinois' Kamikaze Bondholders Cheer Massive New $6 Billion Bond Deal: "It Has Turnaround Potential" | Zero Hedge
Illinois' Kamikaze Bondholders Cheer Massive New $6 Billion Bond Deal: "It Has Turnaround Potential" | Zero Hedge
"Last time we checked, non-residents weren't on the hook to pay Illinois taxes..."
Must read entire piece re pension funds, etc.
"Last time we checked, non-residents weren't on the hook to pay Illinois taxes..."
Must read entire piece re pension funds, etc.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Monday, September 18, 2017
Pension Storm Coming: "This Will Become One Of The Most Heated Battles Of My Lifetime" | Zero Hedge
Pension Storm Coming: "This Will Become One Of The Most Heated Battles Of My Lifetime" | Zero Hedge
Here in Dallas I pay about 2.7% in property taxes. When I bought my home over four years ago, I checked our local pension and was told we were 100% funded. I even mentioned in my letter that I was rather surprised. Turns out they lied. Now, realistic assessments suggest they will have to double the municipal tax rate (yes, I said double) to be able to fund fire and police pension funds. Not a terribly popular thing to do. At some point, look for taxpayers to desert the most-indebted cities and states. Then what? I don’t know. Every solution I can imagine is ugly.
Here in Dallas I pay about 2.7% in property taxes. When I bought my home over four years ago, I checked our local pension and was told we were 100% funded. I even mentioned in my letter that I was rather surprised. Turns out they lied. Now, realistic assessments suggest they will have to double the municipal tax rate (yes, I said double) to be able to fund fire and police pension funds. Not a terribly popular thing to do. At some point, look for taxpayers to desert the most-indebted cities and states. Then what? I don’t know. Every solution I can imagine is ugly.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Monday, September 11, 2017
Monday, September 04, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Washington Redskins Yield to Pressure, Drop Offensive Name
The Washington Redskins yield to pressure and finally drop that part of their name that is offensive to most people.
Dan Snyder, owner of the NFL Redskins, has announced that the team is dropping "Washington" from the team's name, and it will henceforth be simply known as "The Redskins."
It was reported that he finds the word 'Washington' imparts a negative image of poor leadership, mismanagement, corruption, cheating, lying, narcissism, and graft, and is not a fitting role model for young football fans.
Dan Snyder, owner of the NFL Redskins, has announced that the team is dropping "Washington" from the team's name, and it will henceforth be simply known as "The Redskins."
It was reported that he finds the word 'Washington' imparts a negative image of poor leadership, mismanagement, corruption, cheating, lying, narcissism, and graft, and is not a fitting role model for young football fans.
What Lies We Are Fed, as Children, then Ever After; PCR puts this one straight
How We Know The So-Called “Civil War” Was Not Over Slavery - PaulCraigRoberts.org
Apparently Even Asians Can Be White Supremacists If They Are Named Robert Lee
ESPN has pulled an Asian-American named Robert Lee (Lee is a common name among Asians, for example, Bruce Lee) from announcing the University of Virginia/William & Mary football game in Charlottesville this Saturday because of his name.
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Monday, August 14, 2017
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Wednesday, August 09, 2017
Tuesday, August 08, 2017
Doctor, what grade did you give yourself for surgery?
Professor Lets Students Choose Their Own Grades For "Stress Reduction" | Zero Hedge
The Politically Correct Movement Marches On.........
The Politically Correct Movement Marches On.........
Monday, August 07, 2017
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Monday, July 24, 2017
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Friday, July 14, 2017
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Last Night the Leading Young Female Pianist Brought Down the House at Ravinia Festival
Yuja Wang and the Art of Performance | The New Yorker
See also:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/09/yuja-wang-piano-interview-fiona-maddocks-royal-festival-hall
We were mourning the cancellation of Denis Matsuev, leading contender for the Horowitz mantle, from the Ravinia calendar (ill health), when we were more than compensated by Ms. Yang. Brava, Yuja!
https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/dedf4a99bef2a47ee0bf52e7cc6a5210a682641b/416_607_4660_2796/master/4660.jpg?w=1300&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=b8f26b61e18a4b3b5f0fb0cdaaaa29cd
See also:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/09/yuja-wang-piano-interview-fiona-maddocks-royal-festival-hall
We were mourning the cancellation of Denis Matsuev, leading contender for the Horowitz mantle, from the Ravinia calendar (ill health), when we were more than compensated by Ms. Yang. Brava, Yuja!
https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/dedf4a99bef2a47ee0bf52e7cc6a5210a682641b/416_607_4660_2796/master/4660.jpg?w=1300&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=b8f26b61e18a4b3b5f0fb0cdaaaa29cd
Saturday, July 08, 2017
Thursday, July 06, 2017
Friday, June 30, 2017
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Friday, June 23, 2017
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Monday, June 19, 2017
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Vladimir Putin: The Most Powerful Person In The World - PaulCraigRoberts.org
Vladimir Putin: The Most Powerful Person In The World - PaulCraigRoberts.org
Former CIA official John Stockwell wrote: “It is the function of the CIA to keep the world unstable, and to propagandize and teach the American people to hate, so we will let the Establishment spend any amount of money on arms.”
Former CIA official John Stockwell wrote: “It is the function of the CIA to keep the world unstable, and to propagandize and teach the American people to hate, so we will let the Establishment spend any amount of money on arms.”
Thursday, June 08, 2017
Tuesday, June 06, 2017
Girl, 16, accused of killing Uber driver with stolen knife, machete - Chicago Tribune
Girl, 16, accused of killing Uber driver with stolen knife, machete - Chicago Tribune
Turns out this fine young man, a lover of classical music and opera, according to the news story, was a friend of a friend of a friend.
Small world.
So tragic.
Turns out this fine young man, a lover of classical music and opera, according to the news story, was a friend of a friend of a friend.
Small world.
So tragic.
Friday, May 26, 2017
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
How A High-School Dropout Became The Most Dangerous Man In Financial News - Business Insider
I used to watch the subject of this feature on Bloomberg daily; a few years ago, however, we cut the cord, as they say, and I lost track of him.
We will always need "print" journalism, imho, because it gives his eminently colorful "back story" (which I didn't know), and as John Lee Hooker might say, his "front story" -- even more remarkable.
Thank you, Lord, that my father forbade me having a motorcycle......
How A High-School Dropout Became The Most Dangerous Man In Financial News - Business Insider
We will always need "print" journalism, imho, because it gives his eminently colorful "back story" (which I didn't know), and as John Lee Hooker might say, his "front story" -- even more remarkable.
Thank you, Lord, that my father forbade me having a motorcycle......
How A High-School Dropout Became The Most Dangerous Man In Financial News - Business Insider
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Friday, May 19, 2017
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Thursday, May 04, 2017
This is where markets meet Bible prophecy....must read
China's Plan To Subvert The Global Dollar Standard | Zero Hedge
Already, China dominates world trade. Her own economy is already significantly larger than that of the US on the purchasing power parity (PPP) estimates. While being the largest consumer of raw materials, China also exports more finished goods by value than any other country. As the Asian powerhouse, she has lifted the economies of all the countries on the western side of the Pacific Ocean, which including her own between them have a GDP of $50 trillion. Her exports into Asia now exceed her exports to the US. Yet despite this dominance, most of China’s trade is conducted in US dollars, something China is bound to change, if she is to contain external economic risk and replace America as the dominant global empire. Both objectives can only be achieved by China replacing the dollar as a medium of exchange.
Already, China dominates world trade. Her own economy is already significantly larger than that of the US on the purchasing power parity (PPP) estimates. While being the largest consumer of raw materials, China also exports more finished goods by value than any other country. As the Asian powerhouse, she has lifted the economies of all the countries on the western side of the Pacific Ocean, which including her own between them have a GDP of $50 trillion. Her exports into Asia now exceed her exports to the US. Yet despite this dominance, most of China’s trade is conducted in US dollars, something China is bound to change, if she is to contain external economic risk and replace America as the dominant global empire. Both objectives can only be achieved by China replacing the dollar as a medium of exchange.
The answers to these questions are likely to be revealed in the coming months, possibly in only a matter of weeks, if North Korea heats up. But if China decides to revalue gold, western capital markets will be wholly unprepared for the fall-out. China itself will be affected, as will all other nations that trade with the US or trade with countries that trade with the US. The advanced welfare-driven nations dependent on capital markets are at risk. The great financial crisis of nine years ago will be a light rehearsal compared with what could follow.
The irony is that the countries isolated from the dollar, especially Russia and Iran, will come out best. Iran will be significantly stronger relative to Saudi Arabia, with important consequences for the power-play in the Middle East. Russia will also have an interest in pushing China for this action, partly because it should tip the balance in Syria in Russia’s favor, and partly because the destruction of US hegemony will free Western Europe from being tied to America’s apron strings.
This is the final prize for the two leading nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization: a free trade area which will eventually include the whole Eurasian Continent, with the rest of the world acting as its feedstock. It has always been the ultimate logic behind the Russian-Chinese partnership. Despite all its military power, America will be isolated, unless, like Britain ditching her colonies in the 1960s, America accepts she no longer controls global commerce.
That is hard to imagine.....
Perhaps China and Russia no longer have the luxury of time. America’s increased military belligerence in Trump’s first hundred days might force their hand. Perhaps America, knowing her demise is becoming increasingly inevitable, has some dramatic plan under wraps to seize the financial initiative, as dramatic perhaps as the Nixon shock, when America abandoned the post-war gold standard. The instability brought into the geopolitical equation by the Trump presidency, and the early signs the US economy is grinding to a halt under the sheer weight of consumer and government debt, are increasingly likely to prompt China and Russia into firm financial action, if only to protect themselves in an unstable financial and monetary environment.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Bob Moriarty - War, Precious Metals, Fate of USA
Bob Moriarty - War, Precious Metals, Mining Stocks
If anybody fires a shot whether it’s the North Koreans, whether it’s the United States, whether it’s the South Koreans, whether it’s Japan, whether it’s China, if anybody fires a shot, it will go nuclear. They war gamed it a number of times and every single time it went nuclear.
Trump came in and said, “I’m going to balance the budget. I’m going to rebuild America. I’m going to make America great.” Promptly hands the military another 54 billion dollars that they don’t need and the military is going after him for more. We are broke. There is no solution to it. There is simply nothing you can do other than to declare bankruptcy.
I predicted many of the things that have happened including the assent of both Sanders and Trump and some reflections on what happens when a country goes into a permanent state of warfare. And basically, you’re either defeated militarily or you bankrupt yourself. It happened to the Spanish. It happened to the Dutch and it happened to the French. It happened to the English. It happened to the Russians. And we act like it’s not going to happen to us. Well, it’s going to. We either get bankrupted or we get defeated militarily.
If anybody fires a shot whether it’s the North Koreans, whether it’s the United States, whether it’s the South Koreans, whether it’s Japan, whether it’s China, if anybody fires a shot, it will go nuclear. They war gamed it a number of times and every single time it went nuclear.
Trump came in and said, “I’m going to balance the budget. I’m going to rebuild America. I’m going to make America great.” Promptly hands the military another 54 billion dollars that they don’t need and the military is going after him for more. We are broke. There is no solution to it. There is simply nothing you can do other than to declare bankruptcy.
I predicted many of the things that have happened including the assent of both Sanders and Trump and some reflections on what happens when a country goes into a permanent state of warfare. And basically, you’re either defeated militarily or you bankrupt yourself. It happened to the Spanish. It happened to the Dutch and it happened to the French. It happened to the English. It happened to the Russians. And we act like it’s not going to happen to us. Well, it’s going to. We either get bankrupted or we get defeated militarily.
Monday, April 24, 2017
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
United passenger hauled from plane is doctor who traded drugs for gay sex with patient, lost license
United passenger traded drugs for gay sex with patient | Daily Mail Online
Met his partner "in church." "He denied the gay sex even though he was caught on camera shirtless and in his pants with Brian Case, his lover, 26, who was a fellow worshipper at his church," reports say.
License was revoked, later reinstated.
It gets stranger: "While he was suspended from practicing, he became a semi-professional poker player, and is said to have won a total of $234,664 since 2006," according to PokerNews.
You can't make this stuff up....
Met his partner "in church." "He denied the gay sex even though he was caught on camera shirtless and in his pants with Brian Case, his lover, 26, who was a fellow worshipper at his church," reports say.
License was revoked, later reinstated.
It gets stranger: "While he was suspended from practicing, he became a semi-professional poker player, and is said to have won a total of $234,664 since 2006," according to PokerNews.
You can't make this stuff up....
Wednesday, April 05, 2017
Saturday, April 01, 2017
Book publishing 101 or: Riding the Waves of Rejection
A friend told me this week his wife is writing a book. The topic is “human struggle.” She is seeking a publisher.
Caused me to hearken back to my own simple, 23-step process to see Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph and Success (EC) through publication. While cleaning out files recently I found these notes on its history. Here’s how it went:
2/1/2001
Concept for EC emerges during jogging. I resist, A still, small voice pushes me on. Can't shake it, and I start to plow some ground.
9/1/2001
Lined up a noted self-help guru as co-author. Why? The magic of collaboration. He already had success in the market, an audience and had a big-time agent. So I started writing, wrote the first 25 of what would (ultimately) become 700 comeback stories.
9/30/2001
My guru, and his agent, renege. I decide to go it alone.
11/16/2001
An editor as Crossing Press expresses interest, then never responds again. Still, I settle in to write the actual book, it would take more than one year.
12/15/2002
Finished principal writing. For the next 16 months or so, I research, rewrite.
4/26/2004
Still believing in the power of celebrity, for better or worse, I seek the support of luminaries for marketing reasons, to provide foreword, blurb or otherwise. I gain the support of a very major luminary. He agrees to provide material help, then reneges, and repeats this process twice more. His paranoid PR people provide me with the shabbiest treatment in memory, accusing me of planning a hatchet job on their media star (!!!); (my background is in PR, and I am astonished).
5/9/2004
Bought Publishers Guide, queried all appropriate tradtional publishers.
6/9/2004
A nibble. An editor at a major independent agrees to see proposal. Immediately sent.
7/8/2004
Editor misplaces, asks for a resend.
9/17/2004
Breakthrough: editor requests the ms.
9/29/2004
Editor declines, citing derivative nature of stories. Very deflating birthday present. I go jogging to try to shake it off. I resolve not to quit.
10/26/2004
Second effort contact with same editor, but no go, editor declines again.
10/26/2004
Same time I recontact major agent who had earlier expressed interest. He sends one email re ms., never responds again. On follow up, no response.
1/1/2005
Extensive review of self-publishers, e.g. Author’s House, and many other such. Not ready to capitulate.
3/8/2005
I go back to independent publisher with proposal on how I would make changes to satisfy them. This time I write to president as well as editor. President agrees to reconsider.
7/26/2005
Publisher accepts ms. for publication
10/25/2005
Date of publishing contract
3/10/2006
Editor requires major changes or says 'no publication'; I agree to rewrite every word. I do.
12/11/2006
Publisher sends cover art 'with title Try, Try Again" vs. my working title “364 Great Comebacks.” They had never bothered to inform me of the change. I hate "Try, Try Again" on a visceral level. It seems to me sing-song, exasperated and patronizing. Title dispute goes on for five weeks.
1/19/2007
Publisher relents, chooses instead a title created by my family member as a compromise: “Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph, and Success”
5/1/2007
Publication. Border's buys large quantity, promotes in stores. (Remember book stores?)
Publisher arranges successful “media tour,” radio interviews. Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph, and Success goes on to become a category best-seller on Amazon.
EC2, EC3, EC700 follow in subsequent years, as well as numerous other titles.
In subsequent years, life happens. Our poster boy for great comebacks, Lance Armstrong, who beat cancer to win the Tour de France seven times, finally confesses to the doping allegations that dogged him for years. I change my web site, accordingly.
Others of our stars fell from the firmament as well: Bill Cosby, Paula Deen, most notably. One notable symbol of male, Olympian athletic prowess switched genders, creating a media firestorm while winning a major award for his/her courage.
Some climbed even bigger mountains, like debt overcomer and now President, Donald Trump. Some passed into eternity, like we all will some day.
How fragile this thing, life, and how easily a comeback can turn into a comedown. And how fast the clock goes by.
And how long the steeplechase, littered with rejection hurdles, from concept to printed book, in this case, six and one-half years.
And so it is that we wish all prospective authors like our friend's wife only the best, and to keep their eye on the prize, no matter how serpentine the road becomes, and no matter how many tell you that you are lost on the way.
You are not lost. You just have farther to go.....
Caused me to hearken back to my own simple, 23-step process to see Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph and Success (EC) through publication. While cleaning out files recently I found these notes on its history. Here’s how it went:
2/1/2001
Concept for EC emerges during jogging. I resist, A still, small voice pushes me on. Can't shake it, and I start to plow some ground.
9/1/2001
Lined up a noted self-help guru as co-author. Why? The magic of collaboration. He already had success in the market, an audience and had a big-time agent. So I started writing, wrote the first 25 of what would (ultimately) become 700 comeback stories.
9/30/2001
My guru, and his agent, renege. I decide to go it alone.
11/16/2001
An editor as Crossing Press expresses interest, then never responds again. Still, I settle in to write the actual book, it would take more than one year.
12/15/2002
Finished principal writing. For the next 16 months or so, I research, rewrite.
4/26/2004
Still believing in the power of celebrity, for better or worse, I seek the support of luminaries for marketing reasons, to provide foreword, blurb or otherwise. I gain the support of a very major luminary. He agrees to provide material help, then reneges, and repeats this process twice more. His paranoid PR people provide me with the shabbiest treatment in memory, accusing me of planning a hatchet job on their media star (!!!); (my background is in PR, and I am astonished).
5/9/2004
Bought Publishers Guide, queried all appropriate tradtional publishers.
6/9/2004
A nibble. An editor at a major independent agrees to see proposal. Immediately sent.
7/8/2004
Editor misplaces, asks for a resend.
9/17/2004
Breakthrough: editor requests the ms.
9/29/2004
Editor declines, citing derivative nature of stories. Very deflating birthday present. I go jogging to try to shake it off. I resolve not to quit.
10/26/2004
Second effort contact with same editor, but no go, editor declines again.
10/26/2004
Same time I recontact major agent who had earlier expressed interest. He sends one email re ms., never responds again. On follow up, no response.
1/1/2005
Extensive review of self-publishers, e.g. Author’s House, and many other such. Not ready to capitulate.
3/8/2005
I go back to independent publisher with proposal on how I would make changes to satisfy them. This time I write to president as well as editor. President agrees to reconsider.
7/26/2005
Publisher accepts ms. for publication
10/25/2005
Date of publishing contract
3/10/2006
Editor requires major changes or says 'no publication'; I agree to rewrite every word. I do.
12/11/2006
Publisher sends cover art 'with title Try, Try Again" vs. my working title “364 Great Comebacks.” They had never bothered to inform me of the change. I hate "Try, Try Again" on a visceral level. It seems to me sing-song, exasperated and patronizing. Title dispute goes on for five weeks.
1/19/2007
Publisher relents, chooses instead a title created by my family member as a compromise: “Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph, and Success”
5/1/2007
Publication. Border's buys large quantity, promotes in stores. (Remember book stores?)
Publisher arranges successful “media tour,” radio interviews. Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph, and Success goes on to become a category best-seller on Amazon.
EC2, EC3, EC700 follow in subsequent years, as well as numerous other titles.
In subsequent years, life happens. Our poster boy for great comebacks, Lance Armstrong, who beat cancer to win the Tour de France seven times, finally confesses to the doping allegations that dogged him for years. I change my web site, accordingly.
Others of our stars fell from the firmament as well: Bill Cosby, Paula Deen, most notably. One notable symbol of male, Olympian athletic prowess switched genders, creating a media firestorm while winning a major award for his/her courage.
Some climbed even bigger mountains, like debt overcomer and now President, Donald Trump. Some passed into eternity, like we all will some day.
How fragile this thing, life, and how easily a comeback can turn into a comedown. And how fast the clock goes by.
And how long the steeplechase, littered with rejection hurdles, from concept to printed book, in this case, six and one-half years.
And so it is that we wish all prospective authors like our friend's wife only the best, and to keep their eye on the prize, no matter how serpentine the road becomes, and no matter how many tell you that you are lost on the way.
You are not lost. You just have farther to go.....
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Release of Arctic Methane "May Be Apocalyptic," Study Warns
Dahr Jamail | Release of Arctic Methane "May Be Apocalyptic," Study Warns
A study published in the prestigious journal Nature in July 2013 confirmed what Shakhova had been warning us about for years: A 50-gigaton "burp" of methane from thawing Arctic permafrost beneath the East Siberian sea is highly possible.
Such a "burp" would be the equivalent of at least 1,000 gigatons of carbon dioxide. (For perspective, humans have released approximately 1,475 gigatons in total carbon dioxide since the year 1850.)
The UK's Met Office considers the 50-gigaton release "plausible," and in a paper on the subject added, "That may cause ∼12-times increase of modern atmospheric methane burden, with consequent catastrophic greenhouse warming."
Thursday, March 23, 2017
The Perfect Storm -- straight ahead
Did you see The Perfect Storm, George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, the fetching Diane Lane?
We are approaching the convergence.....must read:
Go Ahead -- You Own It in [Market-Ticker]
...... the Federal Government spent $1,417 billion last fiscal year on Medicare and Medicaid, up from $380 billion in 1998, which incidentally was 37% of all federal spending last year -- and it's accelerating at ~8-9% a year as it has been for the last several decades (with some notable outlying years.)
At this rate it will cross $2,000 billion, or more than half (by a good margin) of the current federal budget within 5 years. That will blow a $600 billion additional annual deficit hole in the budget into a rising rate environment which the government will not be able to finance.
We are approaching the convergence.....must read:
Go Ahead -- You Own It in [Market-Ticker]
...... the Federal Government spent $1,417 billion last fiscal year on Medicare and Medicaid, up from $380 billion in 1998, which incidentally was 37% of all federal spending last year -- and it's accelerating at ~8-9% a year as it has been for the last several decades (with some notable outlying years.)
At this rate it will cross $2,000 billion, or more than half (by a good margin) of the current federal budget within 5 years. That will blow a $600 billion additional annual deficit hole in the budget into a rising rate environment which the government will not be able to finance.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Saturday, March 11, 2017
The Jew Who Changed Football Forever
I grew up in Cleveland. I was a high school QB. I went to Ohio State.
Still....
I never heard of "Benny Friedman" and his legacy to football until today......what a remarkable story......
Our Age Of Folly
Our Age Of Folly -- Paul Craig Roberts - PaulCraigRoberts.org
.............(Author) Lapham spares no one, least of all his own class. As a young man Lapham was a member of the upper class and remains today a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He could expect a career guaranteed by the preferments bestowed on his class. Returning from Cambridge University, he secured an interview with the CIA, looking forward to an exciting life as a spy serving the cause of freedom and democracy.
In a passage that is perhaps the most amusing in the book, he describes boning up for the interview by “reading about Lenin’s train and Stalin’s prisons, the width of the Fulda Gap, the depth of the Black Sea. Instead of being asked about the treaties of Brest-Litovsk or the October Revolution, I was asked three questions bearing on my social qualifications for admission into what the young men at the far end of the table clearly regarded as the best fraternity on the campus of the free world.”
His fellow Yalies wanted proof of his upper class bonafides and relied on three questions that would reveal if Lapham were the real goods. Lapham had to answer the question, which club does one take from the golf bag when standing on the thirteenth tee at the National Golf Links in Southampton, followed by the question of the direction at dusk in late August of the prevailing wind on final approach under sail into Hay Harbor on Fishers Island, followed by “Does Muffy Hamilton wear a slip?”
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