My eyes are hour hands extended, the lashes flat, half-lidded. The LA Times highlights Michael Silverblatt's recent 10-part series Escaping the Cage: Identity, Multiculturalism and Writing. It's an ambitious effort to engage some of the nation's leading writers - and a few emerging writers Exploring typecast writers - Exploring Real Marketing Opportunities
Art of Living & Literature Across Frontiers: The Happiness of Others
Is there any necessary connection between our actions and the happiness of others?
Disregarding for a moment the murkiness of the definitions of "actions" in philosophical literature - two types of answers were hitherto provided. Sentient Beings (referred to, in this essay, as "Humans" or "persons") seem either to limit each other - or to enhance each other's actions. Mutual limitation is, for instance, evident in game theory. It deals with decision outcomes when all the rational "players" are fully aware of both the outcomes of their actions and of what they prefer these outcomes to be.
• the Utilitarian variety [There is a discernible group of people whose notions of marriage have changed from 'death do us part' to 'until further notice I do, I do, I do: the three-wedding ; Bridget Jones may be a better spiritual model than saints of old The Tao of Bridget ; Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie On Their Platonic Relationship ]
• · Corporate Consolidation in Book Publishing and Selling and the Decline of Diversity: Let's get straight to it. Publishing is a tough business, a dog eat dog business. An interesting article by William Petrocelli takes an in-depth look at the situation in publishing today, but the basics are this: today, fewer books are sold to adult readers (could the Internet have something to do with this?), mid-lists (where the quality stuff is) are shrinking, and the growth of chain book stores has doubled the space available for book sales Book-Busters ; PDF version: This report predicts growth in the number of books sold to an aging population that enjoys reading
• · · Writers want to see their work published and available for distribution to others. With so many options, reaching this goal is very obtainable Publishing – Many Options, Many Decisions ; News 1,001 Reasons to Read This Blurb: Are Writers Number Crunchers? ; Tripple Vision
• · · · The Day After: Reviewing The Conference ; Writers Markets; Gained in translation
• · · · · How the Sun King 'invented' style and shaped an image of chic for his country for centuries to come Le fashion, c'est Louis XIV ; Think you know everything about your best friend’s sex life? Not hardly Mating On the Sly
• · · · · · Like sex, Mafia and politics were not to be mentioned in front of the children The fear lives on ; The secret of Harry Potter's phenomenal success lies in the continuing allure of magic and fantasy in a secular society A hero for our time ; The 50 Most Beautiful Number 1: Kate Michael