Sea change time

This is it: the last entry that's going to be posted at the old Omnibus site. From now on, you'll find the blog at http://news.bookweb.org/omnibus, and the RSS feed at http://news.bookweb.org/omnibus/feed. Update your bookmarks and readers as needed.

(Also, I need to get better at titling these posts now that they appear on the BTW front page. This has never been one of my great skills, so I'm open to suggestions.)

Onto the good stuff!

Speaking of feeds, add this one to your reader now. (And welcome to blogland, Melissa and Laura!): "We are two people who happen to work together at a company that has provided paper for the book publishing industry since the 1800s, and who happen to have the same level of passion (obsession?) with reading on paper."

Here's someone who clearly hasn't been reading enough Mike Shatzkin: "Of course I’m familiar with the notion of a supply chain when applied to, say, Napoleon’s Grande Armée, but what does it have to do with book publishing?"

And on that topic, Mr. Shatzkin's being frightening again: "And while the tragedy of what is happening in the Gulf is far more consequential to everybody on the planet than what is happening to our bookstores, we are appoximately as powerless to prevent an eco-system disaster of the first magnitude in both cases."

Still not a fan of Foursquare and company, but some ideas for those who are exploring the retail opportunities: "The New York Nets hid free pairs of virtual game tickets throughout New York City sports related check in spots, like sports bars, parks and gyms. The virtual tickets could be exchanged for real tickets to a specific game, which 15% of people did."

The perfect combination: funny, passionate, and timely. (Forget the sitcom; I want to see Shatner reading @BPGlobalPR aloud): "Just a few hours ago, we made our first official $10,000 donation to healthygulf.org from the money we’ve made selling free “bp cares” t-shirts in one week."

I'm trying to cut back on being judgmental, but I love this: "You never, ever hear or read about someone insinuating people who watch American Idol (or Glee or Lost or Dr. Who) 'have the time.' Nobody ever talks about people who go see a new movie every other week 'having the time.' No, time is only of the essence when it comes to reading books."

For those trying to cut back on "under 40" references: "Ward Six is proud to announce its TEN OVER 80: WRITERS TO GO BACK AND READ list."

A needed reminder: "If you happen to be comfortable in bookstores or libraries -- if you've been to them many times before and know what to expect, what you want and where to find it, or if you know whom and how to ask and feel entitled to bother the staff with your questions -- it can be difficult to appreciate how intimidating these institutions of print culture can seem to someone who has little or no acquaintance with them...The people who work and shop in such stores may not mean to be unwelcoming, but the same thing that makes these places so inviting to the initiated -- the innate clubbishness of human nature -- can scare away novices."

Posted at 02:51PM Jun 08, 2010 by Sarah Rettger in General  |