Michael

ML: Biblio

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When one thinks of online shopping, especially for books, Amazon comes to mind. I’ve been an Amazon customer since 1996. Recent news of the working conditions in Amazon warehouses, including low pay and a surveillance heavy workplace have dulled my appetite to shop there.

Disclaimer: I’m also weaning myself from the impulse-driven habit I’ve developed.

Wouldn’t it be nice to shop at a local bookstore? As a Portland, Oregon resident there are many great choices. You may not be so fortunate in your local bookstore selection. For you I heartily recommend Biblio.

Biblio serves as an online presence for scads of independent booksellers while supporting a 501(c)3 organization that performs charitable work promoting literacy and bringing libraries to underserved populations.

This combination is wonderful.

Six Books YOU Can and Should Write

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This summarizes a wonderful article by Anthony Madrid.

No, not a novel or a poetry collection, not a compendium of essays. Certainly not a book for publication.

The books are:

  • a book about oneself
  • a book about others
  • an anthology of favorites
  • a book about words
  • a book of lists
  • a book to burn

Mr. Madrid provides examples for each of these, The Diary of Samuel Pepys for the book about oneself. Sei Shonagon’s The Pillow Book is the example for a book of lists, of which Madrid states, “Again, your book of lists won’t be as good as hers. Hers is a thousand years old; her personality is exquisite and Martian.”

If you have the literacy to read this post, you have what it takes to write any or all of these books.

Fun, Fun, Fun

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Want something to play but not seriously watch? The 5 Minute Crafts channel on YouTube is a delight. No dialog, not exhortations to like and share, just gobs of craft tricks, suggestions, ideas, and such shown with bubbly background music.

Mental junk food yes. Well, except there’s some genius useful thing every few minutes. So your time isn’t totally wasted away.