We deal in illusions, man. None of it is true. But you people sit there day after day, night after night, all ages, colors, creeds. We're all you know. You're beginning to believe the illusions we're spinning here. You're beginning to think that the tube is reality and that your own lives are unreal. You do whatever the tube tells you. You dress like the tube. You eat like the tube. You even think like the tube. In God's name, you people are the real thing, WE are the illusion.
- Howard Beale Tears Of A Klein
Art of Living & Literature Across Frontiers: Age of Insight: All eyes are on the little engines
Eric Nelson is a Senior Editor at John Wiley and Sons, specializing in current affairs and history. Here he explains why he reads blogs obsessively, and why you don't do a book deal with the big name columnist to whom no one links
n the publishing industry, we often talk about the mythic “handsell” book. These are those very few books that find astonishing success without a six-figure marketing campaign, Daily Show appearance, established author following, or can’t-miss topic. If you look at any best-seller list, it’s typically occupied by people who have already written bestsellers, or celebrities of some other sort. Most bestsellers typically hit their sales peak the first week out. Think Jose Canseco, Jon Stewart, and Malcom Gladwell.
• Because of blogs, it’s easy to figure out who those people are, and sometimes they’re even bloggers [ Who's Counting: Google Made Surreal ; Textura Design Inc., founded in 1997, started as a group of creative professionals exploring art and technology Clip-n-Seal ]
• · Some young journalists say the notoriety they developed as campus sex columnists helped them land jobs. Abigal Tucker reports the columns can prove problematic, too. Jess Beaton of Orgasmic Chemistry: A sex column, it seems, can really spice up a resume; Mark's posting on what he sees as a 'rightwing PC' intolerance of sexuality in schools has led me to present these few thoughts to Troppo Armadillians, based on my own observations and experiences in schools. Sexuality at school: Sophie’s Choice
• · · The Premier, Bob Carr, has indirectly blamed the Macquarie Fields riots on parents, saying poor values taught at home are responsible for growing lawlessness Civil War: Mothers and Fathers to blame for riots: Carr ; War is not just men's business. It never has been. Every culture has its Joan of Arc. Take the Trung sisters of Vietnam who led their men into battle against the Chinese Han invaders, atop elephants draped in gilded cloth Fighting wars is no longer just men's business
• · · · The epidemic started at Hurstville: Just shy of her 37th birthday, she has one or two children. She is increasingly likely to be a single mother, and her biggest complaint about sex is lack of interest - on her own part. More and more, this is a profile of the Australian Everywoman In work and out of love: finding Ms Typical ; There is not one country where women are truly equal with men For women, half is the battle
• · · · · There is no definitive answer to this question. The phrase is a figure of speech and has been used to refer to different bodies of water at various times and places. What are the seven seas? ; Gerald Edmunds, of Terrigal, is having the last word on the dreaded Engadine car park kilopascal furore (Column 8, Thursday). "I believe that women in Engadine understand the kilopascal rating in the car park, which is why they do not wear stilettos when shopping. The force exerted by a 50-kilogram person through a tiny stiletto heel is equivalent to over 10,000 kPa." Probably true, Gerald, but surely the sensible women of Engadine have other valid reasons for not Wearing stilettos when they go shopping at the supermarket?
• · · · · · Book Deal: Baghdad Burning: Girl Blog from Iraq ; via Barista