tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184089492024-03-23T11:11:10.654-07:00Mindful MarginaliaBooks, bookselling, current events and maybe even something usfulFrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-77440332666165204052010-06-14T09:28:00.000-07:002010-06-14T09:30:29.248-07:00Comments are Moderated for this blogWhile I'm not be actively blogging, do NOT think your spam will get published here! So please go away. : )FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-4954565691724488372008-07-01T11:51:00.000-07:002008-07-01T19:53:11.367-07:00Hall of Shame Sellers<div style="text-align: justify;"><pre><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >I have been considering something for a long, long time. I have<br />very little time to devote to my blog, yet I don't wish to abandon<br />it completely. I do not want to inform newbies how to become a<br />bookseller, either. I do mentor a few privately who desire to become<br />a </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >better</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > bookseller, though. They know me either personally or by<br />reputation from personal business dealings. I am by no means perfect.<br />I have made mistakes, more in the past than present, but occasionally<br />I do err. I am only human! But - what I take from my mistakes is a<br />lesson in how to provide better customer service, especially if someone<br />contacts me with a problem.<br /><br />I have been buying and selling online for many, many years. (Husband<br />and I buy a </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >lot</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > of books and items for our respective collections.) I<br />know what I like and what I don't. To be blunt, I have dealt with many<br />wonderful, wonderful buyers and sellers and some complete morons<br />(99% are sellers.) who are totally devoid of common or business sense<br />and occasionally even ethics! In this vein, a small group of trusted,<br />respectable booksellers, with whom I am friendly, and I trade<br />information. We share information on the gems, but possibly more<br />importantly we spell out who are the losers to avoid at all cost and<br />why.<br /><br />As such, I have decided to share this information to better assist the<br />public.Of course, all names have been changed to protect the guilty.<br />The beacons of excellence will be known via their business names,<br />unless requested otherwise.<br /><br />Here is the most recent example of egregious seller behaviour in<br />response to an email. We bought a book misdescribed as "Mint."<br />Yeah, yeah, I know, that is a dead giveaway in itself, but my<br />husband really wanted the book. Once it arrived, he was<br />extremely angry and was going to immediately leave a neg on<br />eBay for the seller. (Yeah, yeah, I know eBay... ugh!) The book<br />stunk to high heaven of mold, to which I am extremely allergic.<br />Of course, it had to be taken immediately out of the house by DH<br />to be properly treated before either I went to the ER or the book<br />caused problems in our house. (Which is why DH was so very<br />angry!)<br /><br />I told DH maybe the person selling it couldn't smell the mold.<br />(I don't know how!) and that I would write the seller to explain<br />the situation. He told me to add in that the book was<br />misdescribed, also. OK, not everyone selling books is a<br />professional bookseller, <span style="font-style: italic;">especially</span> on eBay, so I added in a<br />reference to IOBA.org for help in describing and grading books.<br />I tried to be nice while explaining our problem with the<br />purchase plus a little useful info. As the saying goes, "No<br />good deed goes unpunished."<br /><br />Immediately following is the reply. Below that is<br />my original contact with the seller. I did not edit either except<br />to remove user name.<br /><br />"</span><span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Dear fraubucher<br /><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Hi there, I my self buy and sell antiques, on line, i find them at<br />yard sails and grage sales,they come from basements , and<br />attics, were they are sold, not every one takes a book from there<br />book shelf and sells it.here we have a book from the collection of<br />the man who wrote it ,and had the greatest bottle collection of all<br />time, and was signed by him, and you complain about your<br />condition. i think if you are dealing with antiques of any kind you<br />might want to find a different hobby, old things smell just like that<br />OLD... no matter were they come from, be it a barn or an out<br />house, sory the price was not cheap enough for you , and better<br />luck next time, if you can find a better copy put your nose in it and<br />dont wast my time..... "<br />signed:<br />Ignorant and Illiterate 06/29/2008 11:02 PM<br /><br />My email dated </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" class="msgHeaderValue" >June 25, 2008 8:55 AM:</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Dear ...,<br /><br />Hi, The book has an strong odor of mustiness, mildew to it. You<br />may or not have noticed it, but if you did, you really need to add<br />that to the item's description. I am extremely allergic to molds<br />which cause me severe asthma attacks. That fact heavily effects<br />my decision to buy something. Had I known in advance the book<br />was mildewed and musty, I would have had the option to open it<br />outdoors using necessary precaution measures and then<br />properly treat it before inspecting the book. A book that smells<br />musty has live mold in it, even if not visible, and will infect an<br />entire collection. Also, a very helpful reference site is IOBA.org<br />for their book description standards. It's a great aid if you expect<br />you may frequently sell books. In my experience books and<br />bottles are commonly found together in collections. Just to let<br />you know. Thanks,"<br /><br />Nota bene: I have dug bottles and bought books 200 to 500+<br />years old. There is a big difference between smelling "old"<br />and smelling moldy and musty!<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Have any suggestions for the Hall of Shame? Let me know.</span></span></pre></div>FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-42229449456471176412008-06-18T15:10:00.000-07:002008-06-18T18:28:15.908-07:00Tasha Tudor, 1915-2008My heart aches for the Tudor Family. I am one of many, many people who appreciate and love Tasha's art. The world of children's books is a little less sweet. The following is from an email I received today:<br /><br /><br />"Dear Friend,<br /><br />It is with great sadness that we must tell you Tasha Tudor, 92, passed away in her Vermont home on June 18, 2008 surrounded by family and friends. We have created an online memorial website and invite all who loved Tasha to share their feelings and memories in the Memory Book section.<br /><br />The office of Tasha Tudor and Family is closed for the time being and will reopen on June 30th.<br /><br />Due to the extensive travel plans of our national and international guests, the Secret Garden Tours of Tasha Tudor and Family will proceed as scheduled. They will, however, be led by our capable staff, instead of the family.<br /><br />We thank you for supporting Tasha Tudor's lifestyle and artwork during her long career. We hope that Tasha's message of 'taking joy' in all that one does will be remembered as we pass through this difficult time together.<br /><br /> -The Tudor Family<br /><br />The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet, within our reach, is joy. Take Joy.<br />Fra Giovanni "FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-55551756179993752412008-05-04T10:51:00.000-07:002008-05-04T11:27:41.506-07:00Books For Soldiers in TroubleSeveral years back I helped manage a large, monthly, FOL, library book sale. One of the activities I instituted was shipping books to a program called <a target="blank" href="http://booksforsoldiers.com/">Books For Soldiers</a>. Our branch mailed a lot of really good books to the forces overseas.<br /><br />Due to health reasons, three or so years ago I quit my volunteering. The wear and tear on my body was too great and since I was tired of doing way too much heavy, physical work myself, I left with no regrets. But... I often wondered if the Books for Soldiers program continued since the woman who actually boxed and shipped the books also left the FOL group after I did. Happily, I learned this year that the mailings continued.<br /><br />So, it was with some dismay that I learned yesterday via email that the Books for Soldiers program is in dire financial difficulties. I don't think they'll mind my pasting the information in my blog. If even a couple people read this and donate, that is a few more dollars.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Books For Soldiers</span><br />2008 Fundraising Update Newsletter April 2008<br /><br />___________________________<br />It Is A Bad Economy<br /><br />Starting at the first of this year, BFS started a robust fundraising campaign here in North Carolina. We contacted small companies and some large companies you probably have heard of. To date, we have received a stack of letters that begin with "we deeply regret not being able to donate this year" and no cash. From our corporate donation campaign we have received a tad under thirty dollars from a philanthropy grants group in Winston Salem, NC. That was it, nothing else.<br /><br />Times are tough for all non-profit groups, food banks from all around North Carolina and across the nation are suffering from a lack of donations and a sharp increase of those in need. The article below arrived in my email today about a women's shelter closing because of a lack of donations.<br /><br /><a target="blank" href="http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/1356/">the-signal.com/news/article</a><br /><br /><br />___________________________<br />The Next Step<br /><br />The BFS Board of Directors have discussed this problem for some time and have decided to have another go at fundraising. We are working on a different campaign aimed at companies in larger states - California for example. Every time we want to do fundraising in a state (cold call, direct mail, advertising) we need to file with that state's Secretary of State - filing in all states if prohibitively expensive so we have to pick and choose.<br /><br />In our last newsletter, we reported on the hacker attacks that coincided with our 5th Anniversary. Those DNS attacks didn't help our balance sheet. Our final IT bill from the datacenter for that week was a tad over $11,000. If you recall, the hackers brought down the whole datacenter just to try to kill us.<br /><br />The Board set a goal of $70,000 to raise by November 1st of this year. If that amount is not raised, the site will close on December 31st, 2008.<br /><br />If we cannot make the fundraising target, the Board will seek to sell the site to another 501(c)(3) and any new owner will need to be qualified - have the IT talent to run the site, the funding to keep it going and the funding for the required upgrades, both software and hardware. We would also stop accepting new OVs on November 1st and stop accepting new books requests from soldiers on December 1st, 2008.<br /><br /><br />___________________________<br />What Does It Take?*<br /><br />It takes a lot to run BFS on a monthly basis. The monthly funds required to run an operation like BFS are large. Here is a partial summary of where the donations go.<br /><br />All figures are a monthly average for 2007.<br /><br />Books, DVDs, other carepackage items $1153<br />Postage $812<br />Rent $1600<br />Utilities $277<br />IT Services (server farm, hosting, bandwidth) $4258<br />IT Maintenance Contract $1500<br />IT Security Software License Fees $350<br /><br />There are other things like broken computers, the occasional software purchase, insurance, pencils, toilet paper for the bathroom, etc. that we purchase.<br /><br />No one at BFS receives a salary.<br /><br />The BFS presence on MySpace, Flickr, YouTube are all free. Our presence in Second Life has also been donated.<br /><br />We will be disabling the uploading of photos in the next few weeks to save bandwidth. Please post your photos to the <a target="blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/booksforsoldiers">Flickr BFS Group</a> and include the Flickr link to the photo in your forum post. If you want keep your photos on BFS, place them on Flickr and post the code in your post. Instructions can be found <a target="blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/help/photos/#68">here</a>.<br /><br />My hopes is that eventually we can raise more than the $70k survival goal. Last year our goal for 2008 was to move to a website design where the cumbersome OV process was performed online and searching and finding soldiers would be a breeze - subscribing to soldier requests is my favorite new BFS feature. Now we are just struggling to stay open.<br /><br /><br />___________________________<br />How You Can Help<br /><br />The ONLY reason we are open today is because of the OVs that have donated so far this year, but now I need to ask more of everyone.<br /><br />1) Office party fundraiser - Coordinate a "Save BFS Day" at work and urge, beg, cajole your co-workers into coughing up something for BFS.<br /><br />2) Have your company cough up some cash. We will send your company a formal donation request, just send us the company name, contact name and address and we will get it out right away. Send these requests to me personally (storm@booksforsoldiers.com)<br /><br />3) Have your place of worship pass the plate (hat, kippah, whatever) for BFS. Consult with your church's leader about holding a "Save BFS Offering" one day this month. Checks should be made out to "Books For Soldiers." If they have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly to set up a call.<br /><br />4) Visit our <a target="blank" href="http://booksforsoldiers.com/donate.php">donation page</a> and give what you can.<br /><br /><br /><br />or by check<br /><br />Books For Soldiers<br />2008 Fund Drive<br />353 Jonestown Rd #123<br />Winston Salem, NC 27104<br /><br /><br />___________________________<br />In Closing<br /><br />I started BFS five years ago and fully expected it to be online for only six weeks, that is the length of time I thought it would take for our troops to finish up in Baghdad and come back home. I am also terrible at predicting who is going to win the next NASCAR race.<br /><br />If worse come to worse, it has been a good run - a great run in fact. In the first 6 months of operation, we collectively shipped over 400 tons of packages to the Middle East, that is when I stopped counting. We also built the largest English library in the Middle East - together with US soldiers at the Baghdad International Airport in the months following the fall of Baghdad.<br /><br />We have done a lot of tremendous work, made a lot of great friends and even a wedding or two! We have also lost a lot of friends and we have received way too many memorial flags. Either way, you can all be proud of what we have achieved.<br /><br />I promise that we will do everything in our power to meet our fundraising goals and will appreciate any help from you.<br /><br />Thank-you for your support, patience and hard work over the last 5 years.<br /><br />And most of all thank-you for your support of our troops.<br /><br />Storm Williams<br />Founder<br />Books For Soldiers<br /><br /><br /><br />*Legalese: BFS is exempt from filing IRS Form 990. Any financial information found here should not be considered as a replacement for IRS Form 990 or a supplement to an IRS Form 990.FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-34068577824896186282008-05-01T10:40:00.000-07:002008-05-01T12:28:45.952-07:00Happy May Day<a target="blamk" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/2456677415/" title="Gerard_Van_Spaendonck_Bouquet by FrauBucher, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/2456677415_635176a475_m.jpg" alt="Gerard_Van_Spaendonck_Bouquet" align="left" height="240" width="181" /></a> As a little girl, my younger brother and I would walk to the surrounding <a target="blamk" href="http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/ecology/eco_deciduous.html">forests</a> and collect <a target="blamk" href="http://mortonarb.org/main.taf?p=2,1,1,8">wildflowers</a> on the first morn of May. Lilies of the valley, trilliums, phlox, assorted sweet violets, wild roses, Virginia bluebells, spring beauties, Dutchman's-breeches and trout-lilies were lovingly and carefully collected from Nature's <a target="blamk" href="http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&suggon=0&q=illinois%20forest%20spring%20wildflowers&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi">bounty</a> for our Mother and Grandmother. Always mindful to not strip or over pick an area or grouping, we'd walk for hours breathing in deeply the scent of mouldering oak and maple leaves as the ground warmed through the forest's canopy. We traversed the same ground the Native Americans walked many years before. We innately appreciated the wild world due to our constant exposure to it. We blissfully coursed the woods, meadows and swamps without fear of human caused danger.<br /><br />Once back home, we'd arrange our wildflower bouquets and place the flowers on our front porch. Then the show began. We'd knock on the door and run away to the side of the house to hide. My Mother put on a good production of acting surprised upon seeing the breathtaking token of love on the porch. She'd shower us with hugs and kisses after we jumped out into the open. My Mother then drove us to her Mother's house and the scene would be re-enacted for her benefit. Such was our <a target="blamk" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day">May Day</a> tradition. Sadly, <a target="blamk" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">wikipedia</a> states the tradition of anonymously leaving May baskets has faded since the 20th century.<br /><br />We also left smaller bouquets on doorsteps of friendly neighbors or the elderly. I miss those times. I miss the forests. I <i>really</i> miss the forest's spring wildflowers.<br /><br />My May Day gift basket to you is a <a target= "blank" href="http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext05/mayda10.htm">free</a> poetry book entitled <i>May Day with the Muses</i> by Robert Bloomfield, which can be downloaded at <a target= "blank" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page">Project Gutenburg</a>, a wonderful source of literature in the public domain.<br /><br />To introduce yourself or your children to May Day, here are some books you may find if <a target= "blank" href="http://www.bookweb.org/aba/booksense/storeSearch.do">shopping locally</a> at your neighborhood independent bookseller. These also can be found on the net from a worldwide indie by searching by author and/or title at <a set="yes" linkindex="15" target="_blank" href="http://www.bookfinder.com/">Bookfinder</a> or <a linkindex="16" target="_blank" href="http://used.addall.com/">ADDALL.</a><br /><i><br />The Romantics and the May Day Tradition</i> by Joshua, Essaka<br /><i>Beltane</i> by Raven Grimassi<br /><i>On The Morn Of Mayfest</i> by Erica Silverman<br /><i>Little Grey Rabbit's May Day</i> by Alison Uttley<br /><i>The Rainbow Tulip</i> by Pat Mora<br />And, a beautiful music selection:<br />Beltane: Songs for the Green Time (CD) by JaiyaFrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-25713773950717454462008-04-30T12:36:00.000-07:002008-05-01T12:57:30.155-07:00Busy Weekend for Book Signings in San DiegoNINE, yes, 9 authors will be <a target= "blank" href="http://books.signonsandiego.com/?q=node/2832">Signing, etc.</a> from Friday to Saturday on the very first weekend of May at San Diego county bookstores. <br /><br />A nature writing workshop is being held 5 p.m. Saturday at <a target= "blank" href="http://entertainment.signonsandiego.com/places/sunset-cliffs-natural-park-1/">Sunset</a> <a target= "blank" href="http://www.homeandabroad.com/c/23/Site/45691_Sunset_Cliffs_Natural_Park_visit.html">Cliffs</a> Natural Park in <a target= "blank" href="http://www.oceanbeach.com/">Ocean Beach</a>. The workshop is sponsored by <a target= "blank" href="http://www.sandiegowriters.org/">San Diego Writers, Ink.</a> Registration is $25-$30. For information, call: (619) 284-1343. <br /><br />Sunset Cliffs is a great place to see the sunset over the Pacific if the sky is clear. I prefer to view sunsets from the <a target= "blank" href="http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/i-008c_ca.html">Laguna Summit or Tecate Divide</a>.FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-56315864306054143322008-04-03T11:07:00.000-07:002008-04-03T13:27:58.733-07:00USPS - New Prices Coming May 12, 2008<a blank="" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/2385238075/" title="j0379439 by FrauBucher, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2163/2385238075_0d992c66ce_o.gif" alt="j0379439" align="left" height="192" width="192" /></a><span class="mainText"> "Pricing has always been important to the Postal Service. Now, with greater pricing flexibility than ever, our customers have more choices, and we can price quickly in response to customer needs and the marketplace." - Pricing and Classification Vice President Stephen Kearney</span><br /><br />The second half of last year's proposed postal rate <a target="blank" href="http://www.usps.com/prices/new-prices.htm">changes</a> takes place on May 12, 2008. The most commonly used classes are included in the rate changes. A few discounts will also be put into place, but these will not impact the average postal customer.<br /><br /><a target="blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/2385238095/" title="j0434883 by FrauBucher, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2394/2385238095_973b035136_m.jpg" alt="j0434883" align="right" height="192" width="192" /></a>For those of us <a target="blank" href="http://www.usps.com/prices/welcome.htm?from=bannercommunications&page=prices#H1">shipping</a> packages:<br /><a target="blank" href="http://www.usps.com/shipping/expressmail.htm">Express Mail</a> becomes zone-based with a 3 percent price cut when purchasing <a target="blank" href="http://www.usps.com/onlinepostage/">online</a> or via <a target="blank" href="http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm200/intro.htm">corporate</a> accounts. Meet USPS' quarterly minimums, will save shippers even more.<br /><br /><a target="blank" href="http://www.usps.com/shipping/prioritymail.htm">Priority Mail</a> offers an average 3.5% savings if using electronic postage or meeting other USPS requirements.<br /><br /><a target="blank" href="http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/senditwithintheus/parcelselect.htm">Parcel Select</a> features pricing and volume incentives for large- and medium-size shippers.<br /><br /><a target="blank" href="http://www.usps.com/parcelreturnservices/">Parcel Return Service</a> becomes weight based with savings for lighter packages.<br /><br /><a target="blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/2385238087/" title="j0288926 by FrauBucher, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/2385238087_53595daae4_o.gif" alt="j0288926" align="left" height="96" width="96" /></a>Mr and Mrs John Doe's <a target="blank" href="http://www.usps.com/prices/welcome.htm?from=bannercommunications&page=prices#H2">mailings</a> will also be affected with changes. The USPS website is proud to state: "The average increase by class of mail is at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index."<br /><br />The changes are as follows:<br />First-Class Mail letter (1 oz.) = $0.42<br />First-Class Mail letter (2 oz.) = $0.59<a target="blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/2385238091/" title="j0413666 by FrauBucher, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2259/2385238091_0d53c0d1f5_s.jpg" alt="j0413666" align="right" height="75" width="75" /></a><br />Postcard = $0.27<br />First-Class Mail large envelope (2 oz.) = $1.00<br />Certified Mail =$2.70<br /><a target="blank" href="http://www.usps.com/international/airmailinternational.htm">First-Class Mail International</a> changes depend on destinationFrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-215628699528890482008-03-29T11:41:00.000-07:002008-03-29T14:08:38.624-07:00Earth Hour - Do It 3-29-2008<a target="blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/2371901660/" title="Earth Hour - Google by FrauBucher, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/2371901660_23aa476437_m.jpg" alt="Earth Hour - Google" align="left" height="180" width="240" /></a>Today, March 29, 2008 is the first global celebration of <a target="blank" href="http://www.earthhour.org/">Earth Hour</a>. <a target="blank" href="http://www.google.com/">Google</a>, in a show of support, turned its "lights" out on their home page for <a target="blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Hour">Earth Hour</a>. Earth Hour was created by the <a target="blank" href="http://wwf.org/">World Wildlife Fund</a> (WWF) in <a target="blank" href="http://wwf.org.au/">Sydney</a>, Australia in 2007 to inspire people to take action on climate change. Across the world, million of people are showing solidarity by turning off all their lights from 8PM to 9PM. The reason for this: <a target="blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change">climate change</a>.<br /><br /><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05962314111062506 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcHz6Jv4l-g&hl=en"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05962314111062506 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcHz6Jv4l-g&hl=en"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05962314111062506 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcHz6Jv4l-g&hl=en"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05962314111062506 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcHz6Jv4l-g&hl=en"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05962314111062506 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcHz6Jv4l-g&hl=en"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05962314111062506 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcHz6Jv4l-g&hl=en"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05962314111062506 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcHz6Jv4l-g&hl=en"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05962314111062506 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcHz6Jv4l-g&hl=en"></a><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcHz6Jv4l-g&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcHz6Jv4l-g&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Whether you believe or not in climate change or <a target="blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warminghttp://">global warming</a> is irrelevant. The <a target="blank" href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/29/content_7878735.htm">global economy</a> is suffering. The <a target="blank" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=alM71uRFxXdA&refer=news">US</a> is believed to be in a recession by nearly 90% of people polled by the <a target="blank" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032801419.html?hpid=topnews">University of Michigan and Reuters</a>, despite what <a target="blank" href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/tough-times-no-recession-bush/story.aspx?guid=%7B13308256-92FA-4209-A278-E543947AEC56%7D&dist=hplatest">some people </a>think. People are working harder and earning less. <a target="blank" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=anoS5A7Unxvs&refer=home">Unemployment</a> is up. Foreclosures are skyrocketing and so is the price of gasoline. <a target="blank" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/28/AR2008032804303.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Credit card debt</span></a> is all the rage and <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span> people are <a target="blank" href="http://www.dailyreckoning.com/rpt/USConsumerSpending.html">spending less</a> due to necessity not desire, I'm sure! Taking all of the above into consideration, <a target="blank" href="http://www.energysavers.gov/">energy conservation</a> is one means anyone can utilize to reduce their cost of living and is perhaps one of the easiest methods to save some money to further your bottom line.<br /><br />Show your support by <a target="blank" href="http://www3.earthhourus.org/signup/">signing up</a> for Earth Hour - and support the Earth and yourself.FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-72881564621906781312008-03-27T09:17:00.000-07:002008-03-27T10:39:15.171-07:00Signings, etc. - San Diego<left><a target= "blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/2366995006/" title="Autograph-WilliamShakespeare by FrauBucher, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2186/2366995006_47bac596cb_m.jpg" width="240" height="42" alt="Autograph-WilliamShakespeare" /></a></left><br /><a target= "blank" href="http://books.signonsandiego.com/?q=node/2783">Signings, etc. </a>- in San Diego for week ending March 29, 2008<br /><br />Click above to see where these authors will be:<br />Joseph Wambaugh, Lisa Lehr, Bridget Kirchoff, Mary Duncan Richard Lederer, and Lisa LutzFrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-29001996775916667202008-03-26T09:10:00.000-07:002008-03-26T10:55:58.916-07:00Harry Potter Books Spark Rise In Satanism Among Children<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/2364438706/" title="John William Waterhouse-Circe The Sorceress by FrauBucher, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2002/2364438706_017457715f_m.jpg" alt="John William Waterhouse-Circe The Sorceress" align="left" height="155" width="240" /></a><br /> Much has been made about Harry Potter books regarding children and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft">witchcraft</a>...<br />Story linked below<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/2364510356/" title="Hand Baldung Grien- Witches- Woodcut 1508 by FrauBucher, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/2364510356_39e12251e8_s.jpg" alt="Hand Baldung Grien- Witches- Woodcut 1508 " align="right" height="75" width="75" /></a><br /><br /><br />"LOCK HAVEN, PA—Ashley Daniels is as close as you can get to your typical 9-year-old American girl. A third-grader at Lock Haven Elementary School, she loves rollerblading, her pet hamsters Benny and Oreo, Britney Spears, and, of course, Harry Potter. Having breezed through the most recent Potter opus in just four days, Ashley is among the millions of children who have made <u>Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire</u> the fastest-selling book in <a target="blank" href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/harry_potter_books_spark_rise_in">publishing history</a>."<br /><br />All of the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_potter">Harry Potter</a></i> books by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._K._Rowling">J K Rowling </a> can be found at your <a set="yes" linkindex="12" target="blank" href="http://storesearch.booksense.com/booksense/storeSearch.do">local independent bookstore</a> or on the net from a worldwide indie by searching by author and/or title at <a linkindex="22" target="_blank" href="http://www.bookfinder.com/">Bookfinder</a> or <a linkindex="23" target="_blank" href="http://used.addall.com/">ADDALL.</a>FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-77958103585603528992008-03-18T16:07:00.000-07:002008-03-21T07:01:32.247-07:00I never promised you a rose garden.<a target="blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/2343550633/" title="pk roses1 by FrauBucher, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2105/2343550633_efe0445307_m.jpg" alt="pk roses1" align="right" height="169" width="240" /></a>A crazy person, oops, I mean, a faithful reader of this <a target="blank" href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&suggon=0&defl=en&q=define:Blog&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title">blog</a> recently emailed me. He asked why I do not post regularly. To be honest, I don't feel like it.<br /><br />Bookseller blogs already exist that are very informative for the industry. In essence, the blogs are an extension of the bookseller's business and often information is also presented for newcomers to the world of selling books. I don't "do" bookselling information for newbies. I have privately mentored and helped people who were serious in really <i style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">learning</i> the business of bookselling and all that it entails, but I won't do it here. <br /><br />People expect my blog to be informative. A blog by it's very definition is a personal, online journal. Daily? S'posed to be. I don't feel like doing it daily either. I have a very full, possibly overflowing life.<br /><br />I've never managed to find my groove here, and outing sucky booksellers would probably cause more problems that it would solve. Complaints arose when I discussed current events, even when tied to books.<br /><br />Blogging is very time consuming. I have too many, better ways to spend my time. Besides, I never promised you a rose garden.FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-68607432988359046092008-03-18T13:03:00.000-07:002008-03-21T09:10:05.207-07:00Sir Arthur C Clarke, 1917 - 2008<a target="blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/2350079524/" title="Arthur C. Clarke: 2005 by FrauBucher, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/2350079524_4a579d5af8_m.jpg" alt="Arthur C. Clarke: 2005" align="right" height="240" width="187" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a target="blank" href="http://www.clarkefoundation.org/index.htm">Sir Arthur C Clarke</a> passed away today from respiratory complications, in his adopted homeland of Sri Lanka. <a target="blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_C._Clarke">Sir Arthur</a> was perhaps best known as an author, but he also invented the idea of communications satellites (1945), which he never patented. </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >For the occasion of his </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" target="blank" href="http://www.tveap.org/news/0712art_transcript_01.html">ninetieth birthday</a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >, Sir Arthur made a <a target="blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qLdeEjdbWE">video</a> address on December 5, 2007.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Sir Arthur Clarke has a very extensive <a target="blank" href="http://my.execpc.com/%7Ekrieg/Clarke.htm"><span class="mw-headline">bibliography</span></a>, but is probably best known for his book <a target="blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey">2001: A Space Odyssey</a>, which was made into a <a target="blank" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062622/">movie</a> in 1968 by <a target="blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Kubrick">Stanley Kubrick</a>. He also had a television<span style="font-family:arial;"> show, </span><a target="blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_C._Clarke%27s_Mysterious_World"><span style="font-family:arial;">Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World</span></a>, which aired in the 1980's discussing the world's strange occurrences.<br /><br /></span><a linkindex="14" target="_blank" href="http://used.addall.com/"></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Many people believe that after death, a person's essence is privy to all the universe's knowledge. If true, Sir Arthur is very happy! Rest in peace, Sir Arthur.<br /><br /></span>Anyone wishing to read Sir Arthur C Clarke's books can find his works at your <a set="yes" linkindex="12" target="blank" href="http://storesearch.booksense.com/booksense/storeSearch.do">local independent bookstore</a> or on the net from a worldwide indie by searching by author and/or title at <a linkindex="13" target="_blank" href="http://www.bookfinder.com/">Bookfinder</a> or <a linkindex="14" target="_blank" href="http://used.addall.com/">ADDALL.</a>FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-24558878588007767582008-03-04T10:18:00.000-08:002008-03-04T11:15:17.149-08:00San Diego County Book News<a target = "blank" href="http://mysteriousgalaxy.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp?s=storeevents&eventId=367198">Mysterious Galaxy</a> has a book discussion group every Wednesday. This coming Wednesday, 3/5/08 at 7 p.m., the book being discussed is <i>Havoc</i> by Jack B. Du Brul. <br /><br />They also have 11 <a target = "blank" href="http://mysteriousgalaxy.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp;jsessionid=abc4HSzvWbmDmalSea7Hr?s=storeevents">book signings</a> during the month of March. Authors range from Joanne Fluke (<i>Carrot Cake Murder</i>)and Laura Lippman (<i>Another Thing to Fall</i>) to Joseph Wambaugh (<i>Hollywood Crows</i>) and Raymond E. Feist (<i>Wrath of a Mad God</i>). That leaves 7 other excellent authors also appearing at Mysterious Galaxy.<br />Mysterious Galaxy Books<br />7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Suite #302<br />San Diego, CA 92111<br />Tel: 858.268.4747<br /><br /><a target = "blank" href="http://www.warwicks.com/">Warwick's</a> in La Jolla is having seven <a target = "blank" href="http://warwicks.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp;jsessionid=A37FCB653E3BE0A10D87A770DA616FC3.t8?s=storeevents">book signings</a> in the month of March, including Deepak Chopra (<i>The Third Jesus</i>). <br />Warwick's<br />7812 Girard Avenue<br />La Jolla, CA 92037<br />Tel: 858-454-0347<br /><br />From the <a target = "blank" href="http://books.signonsandiego.com/?q=node/2734">SD Union</a>, a somewhat out of date (by now) list.FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-9852015808005784772008-02-14T12:32:00.000-08:002008-02-14T17:29:12.008-08:00Happy St Valentine's Day<a target="blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/2265734104/" title="valentine, St Valentine's Day, Valentines Day by FrauBucher, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/2265734104_f9517fa980.jpg" alt="valentine, St Valentine's Day, Valentines Day" height="290" width="356" /></a><br /><br />May your heart be filled with love today and every day!FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-77883069477637025302008-02-14T09:40:00.001-08:002008-02-14T10:28:49.225-08:00Today in Literature<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">From: Today in Literature - "</span> daily calendar of engaging stories about literary history. Our articles and our daily newsletter are available by <strong>Personal Subscription </strong> and by <strong>Site License"</strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />"</span><a style="font-family: arial;" target="" href="http://beta.blogger.com/%22http://www.todayinliterature.com/index.asp%22">Today in Literature</a>: Great Books, Good Stories, Every Day - a daily calendar of engaging stories about literary history. Our articles and our daily newsletter are available by Personal Subscription and by Site License."<br /><br />On this day in 1975 P. G. "<a target=" blank=" href="http://www.todayinliterature.com/today.asp?Search_Date=2/14/2008">Plum</a><span style="font-family:arial;">" Wodehouse died, aged ninety-three. Given the hundred books and the three-dozen musicals, it seems reasonable to believe the account of Wodehouse's final moments which has him collapsing while trying to pick up the pen and papers his wife had thrown across his hospital room. On this day in 1946 George Orwell published "In Defence of P. G. Wodehouse," in which he tries to rescue the author from his stickiest and most famous spot of trouble.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">A very small sampling of "Plum's" enjoyable works<span style="font-size:100%;">, </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >which can be found at your local independent, new or used bookstore or by searching by author and/or title at </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" set="yes" linkindex="10" target="_blank" href="http://www.bookfinder.com/">Bookfinder</a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > or </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" linkindex="11" target="_blank" href="http://used.addall.com/">ADDALL.</a></span><br /><u style="font-family: arial;">Life With Jeeves: The Inimitable Jeeves, Very Good, Jeeves!, and Right Ho, Jeeves<br />Enter Jeeves: 15 Early Stories<br />The Best of Wodehouse: An Anthology<br />Bertie Wooster Sees It Through</u><br /></span>FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-47736839462353822582007-09-18T12:25:00.000-07:002008-02-14T11:01:38.743-08:00Sacred TextsIf a trip to the British Library isn't in your plans, don't worry. Their newest exhibit is at your fingertips. <a target="blank" href="http://www.bl.uk/sacred">Sacred Texts</a> is an online exhibit at the British Library's website.<br /><br />The <a target="blank" href="http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/sacredtexts/index.html">online gallery</a> (with zoomable images) and exhibit feature 78 of the world's greatest collection of Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy books: "The rarest and most exquisite sacred books and manuscripts presented and explored, side by side, in a major UK exhibition for the first time..."<br /><br />The online exhibit's features include videos, slideshows, podcasts and interactive material for schools and students. The site is regularly updated with news, reviews, and blogs about the Sacred exhibition.<br /><br />Well done!FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-16600024653365741952007-09-06T11:46:00.000-07:002008-02-14T11:36:47.678-08:00Banned Books Week - September 29 - October 6, 200The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) is providing a Banned and Challenged <a href="http://www.abffe.org/bbw-booklist.htm">Book List</a> to make your selection of books easier "The Freadom List" is available in a <a href="http://www.bookweb.org/files/open/files/lists/freadomlist.pdf">full-color .pdf</a>, which has much more book info.<br /><br />The list of 24 titles, ranging from <u>The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</u> and <u>The Bluest Eye</u> to <u>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</u> -- includes full bibliographic information and many quotes about the titles from independent booksellers in the Book Sense program. The list also features a "<a href="http://www.abffe.com/1Abookshelf.htm">First Amendment Bookshelf</a>," a selection of 17 important recent and backlist titles about free speech and free expression.<br /><br />And, yes, 2 of Judy Blume's books, <u> The Joy Luck Club</u> by Amy Tan, and all the Harry Potter series books are on the list, too. Book banning never seems to go out of style.FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-17222485663585575942007-09-05T15:43:00.000-07:002007-09-17T11:39:27.346-07:00The New 13-Ounce Mail Rule<a target="blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/1397398845/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1109/1397398845_96db88b7c1_o.jpg" alt="nostamps" align="right" height="167" width="163" /></a> During my self-imposed break from bookselling, a new 13-Ounce <a target="blank" href="http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/pr07_058.htm">Mail Rule</a> took effect July 30. If you still aren't using <a a="" target="blank" href="http://www.usps.com/onlinepostage/welcome.htm">online</a> postage, whether paid or free, it is high time you start. I use <a target="blank" href="http://www.endicia.com/default.cfm">Endicia</a>, but I have friends who use <a target="blank" href="https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-center">PayPal's</a> Shipping Center, which is free to every online merchant with a PayPal account. So many choices, what's a person to do?FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-88860340399031882702007-08-30T09:55:00.000-07:002007-08-30T10:50:04.164-07:00A slacker??!!?!? WTF?<a target= "blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/1278369270/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1227/1278369270_c241002480_m.jpg" width="175" height="127" align= "left" alt="Alibris logo" /></a> Are you a customer of <a href="http://www.alibris.com" target= "blank">Alibris</a>? Do you receive their email discount coupons? If so, you may have recently received an email suggesting you are a <span style="font-style:italic;">slacker.</span> <br /><br />My husband and I have separate book buying accounts at Alibris. We buy books online based on venue, condition, price, bookseller and need/want. We haven't purchased any books from anywhere in several months. (Heaven knows we do not need any!) Several of Alibris' email coupons have arrived and expired in our respective inboxes. The most recent probably arrived late July or early August. Okay. Then we receive several reminders to use said coupons. August 21, 2007 shows a reminder with the subject line of: <span style="font-style:italic;">Psst! Use your bonus coupon, customer's name inserted here, before it expires!</span> On August 26, 2007 another one arrives with the subject of: <span style="font-style:italic;">Your name here, <span style="font-weight:bold;">only</span> <span style="font-weight:bold;">slackers</span> <span style="font-weight:bold;">ignore our $10 coupon!</span></span> As I have already stated- WTF! What genius came up with that marketing ploy???? Obviously one that is ignorant. Nothing shouts excellent customer service like insulting your clients.<br /><br />In case you are wondering, the $10 coupon is if you spend $100.00, otherwise your discount is only $3.00 off a purchase of $30.00. If you live in states where Alibris collects sales tax, your discount is much less. For us, located in California, the discount comes out to be less than 3%. Definitely <span style="font-style:italic;">not</span> much of a savings and not worth my bother! <br /><br />I'll have to think long and hard before buying from them again! As a bookseller on Alibris, I have to wonder just how many others were repulsed by that email.FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-49497706427725259812007-08-29T09:14:00.001-07:002007-09-01T17:27:10.319-07:00Well I'm back in blackMy inventory is back online on all venues. I greatly enjoyed my hiatus; needed it even more! I surely did not miss all the work and am fortunate I could afford to take the time, but I'm back... "Yes, I'm back; Well, I'm back, back; (Well) I'm back in black; Yes, I'm back in black..." <br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CwIvBNsSywQ"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CwIvBNsSywQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />Back In Black (Ac Dc)<br /><br />Back in black<br />I hit the sack<br />I've been too long I'm glad to be back <br />Yes, I'm let loose<br />From the noose<br />That's kept me hanging about<br />I've been looking at the sky<br />'Cause it's gettin' me high<br />Forget the hearse 'cause I never die<br />I got nine lives<br />Cat's eyes<br />Abusin' every one of them and running wild<br /><br />CHORUS:<br />'Cause I'm back<br />Yes, I'm back<br />Well, I'm back<br />Yes, I'm back<br />Well, I'm back, back<br />(Well) I'm back in black<br />Yes, I'm back in black<br /><br />Back in the back<br />Of a Cadillac<br />Number one with a bullet, I'm a power pack<br />Yes, I'm in a bang<br />With a gang<br />They've got to catch me if they want me to hang<br />Cause I'm back on the track<br />And I'm beatin' the flack<br />Nobody's gonna get me on another rap<br />So look at me now<br />I'm just makin' my play<br />Don't try to push your luck, just get out of my way<br /><br />CHORUS<br /><br />Well, I'm back, Yes I'm back<br />Well, I'm back, Yes I'm back<br />Well, I'm back, back<br />Well I'm back in black<br />Yes I'm back in black<br /><br />hooo yeah<br />Ohh yeah<br />Yes I am<br />Oooh yeah, yeah Oh yeah<br />Back in now<br />Well I'm back, I'm back<br />Back, I'm back<br />Back, I'm back<br />Back, I'm back<br />Back, I'm back<br />Back<br />Back in black<br />Yes I'm back in black<br /><br />Out of the sight<br /><br /></span>----------------<br />Now playing: <a target= "blank" href="http://www.1.fm/Stations/Blues/TuneIn.aspx" title="'1.FM - Blues - The Music Starts Here' - open on FoxyTunes Planet">1.FM - Blues - The Music Starts Here</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >via <a target= "blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/" title="FoxyTunes - Web of music at your fingertips">FoxyTunes</a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" > </span>FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-23062394789431131982007-08-28T12:04:00.000-07:002008-11-15T06:55:33.817-08:00Over the Moon Once in a Blue Moon<a target="blank" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBHVrjZKyFTNEHjGnxUzW0OoLGPNRVxRnC03riQpURofEvIf3CLPYhjQcpfiEKgtzHZjzfzNJpcZgPBPRwB9MYcwpVLPF8wXc9g6CIfAvV9jyA_cg5KZJU_lA4dTOXlAh6TL16w/s1600-h/Andrew-Catsaitis1-+spaceweather.com.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBHVrjZKyFTNEHjGnxUzW0OoLGPNRVxRnC03riQpURofEvIf3CLPYhjQcpfiEKgtzHZjzfzNJpcZgPBPRwB9MYcwpVLPF8wXc9g6CIfAvV9jyA_cg5KZJU_lA4dTOXlAh6TL16w/s320/Andrew-Catsaitis1-+spaceweather.com.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104204693441672786" border="0" /></a> Moon over <a target="blank" href="http://home.hiwaay.net/%7Ekrcool/Astro/moon/moonwords/index.htm">this:</a><br />Over the moon: Delighted about something<br />Once in a blue Moon: Very, very, rarely!<br /><br /><br /><a target="blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/1269462900/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1313/1269462900_d66b2f3ab8_t.jpg" alt="redmoonTrio_espenak_full" align="right" height="75" width="100" /></a>If you missed the longest, total <a target= "blank" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=UPI-1-20070821-08173300-bc-us-eclipse.xml">lunar eclipse </a> that occurred this morning, you missed a mystical sight! Fortunately, I live on the west coast and was able to view the entire <a target="blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_eclipse">progress</a> and I was never so happy to miss sleep! The night air was cool, cloudless, dark, and but for natural sounds, peacefully silent, which made my experience so much more delightful. I would not have missed the show for anything. (Although I think <a target="blank" href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/">Science Daily</a> missed the really big story: the eclipse occurred on "Aug. 38.")<br /><br />I was doubly blessed by lunar visions that day. As I played with my doggie girl in the early evening, I witnessed the moon rising from behind the mountains, a majestically full, giant, orb of orange-yellow color. A short six hours later the big show began. Thank heaven for little favors!<br /><br />Images courtesy of Nasa's <a target="blank" href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html">Astronomy Picture of the Day</a> archive. (Sadly/shamefully- no current picture is available) and the <a target="blank" href="http://www.spaceweather.com/eclipses/gallery_28aug07.htm">Lunar Eclipse Gallery</a> at <a target="blank" href="http://spaceweather3.com/">SpaceWeather</a>FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-56429988903608309572007-06-28T08:50:00.000-07:002007-06-28T10:11:07.876-07:00Summer Break<a target="blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/217192075/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/83/217192075_f5a3e20add_m.jpg" alt="tn_n_pump1sm" align="left" height="159" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Beginning mid-April, I removed my books from all venues. I needed a break and am completely enjoying my time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">For literary kicks check out </span><a style="font-family: arial;" target="blank" href="http://www.aldaily.com/">Arts & Letters Daily</a><span style="font-family:arial;">; it's heavy on brain food.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Can't decide on a good book? NPR has suggestions for your </span><a style="font-family: arial;" target="blank" href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10628227">summer read</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> plus 14 book related </span><a style="font-family: arial;" target="blank" href="http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_directory.php?type=topic&value=1032#podcast1032">podcasts</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">An all-time favorite, Garrison Keillor's </span><a style="font-family: arial;" target="blank" href="http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/">The Writer's Almanac</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> is a beautiful daily podcast lasting merely minutes. </span><a style="font-family: arial;" target="blank" href="http://podcastdownload.npr.org/anon.npr-podcasts/podcast/4788725/510101/11498705/APM_11498705.mp3?dl=1">Treat</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> yourself!<br /><br />I sincerely hope you are enjoying your days!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-50808028880710605362007-05-14T04:02:00.000-07:002007-05-15T10:36:34.087-07:00New Postage RatesAs of today, <a target= "blank" href="http://www.usps.com/ratecase/welcome.htm">May 14</a>, 2007, the US Postal Service placed its <a target= "blank" href="http://www.usps.com/ratecase/ratecase_faqs.htm">new postal rates</a> in effect. There was very little fanfare or news coverage immediately prior to the event, either. I wonder how many people that do not mail or ship items regularly know about the rate hikes? <br /><br />I wonder how many of the USPS branches are completely informed of the actual regulations since some <a target= "blank" href="http://www.usps.com/ratecase/simplified_international_rates.htm">international</a> methods have been dropped and another method created, Priority boxes ate different, zones are in place for all methods, etc... Their website states the new classes are a simplification, but until <span style="font-style:italic;">we</span> (the users in general) are familiar with these changes, I wonder how much simpler it all is. The Postal Service is well known for its lack of standardization in application of the previous rates and information. Maybe the USPS should employ Mickey D's methods of ensuring uniformity from one branch to another?<br /><br />If you haven't changed your accepted methods and rates on your websites, better get shaking!FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-77603519922270892002007-04-15T10:33:00.000-07:002007-05-15T13:12:39.513-07:00Bees<a target= "blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fraubucher/499879156/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/499879156_05cfc6d685_t.jpg" align="left" width="100" height="79" alt="Europeanhoneybee" /></a> I haven't posted much for a variety of reasons, but mainly I have been doing yard work and gardening. (This post was actually begun in early April.) We had a late frost and very long, cold winter here in socal- for us anyway - which led to a later start than in many previous years. Chores ranged from dead-heading frost damaged plants to prep work and actual planting of seeds and starter plants in the veggie garden, and potting up plants for the local garden club's plant sale. I sadly lost about half of my orchids as a result of a week or 2 with lows in the high teens, which made my yard work less satisfying. <br /><br />One thing that had me very concerned was the lack of bees in my citrus trees. Years ago we had so many bumblebees that lived on the hillside behind us that collected pollen from our property, until a housing development had to go in. (I plant to attract insects and birds yearlong.) With six assorted citrus in bloom and nary a bee in sight, I was very worried. However, I noticed my apricot and plum trees has baby fruits, so I was hoping the bees would come again. Thankfully, after 2 weeks without seeing a single bee, the bees slowly arrived. It was too late to order bees for my area so I was very relieved! Believe me, when you have millions of heavenly citrus flowers perfuming the air and do not see even one bee, you get worried. Especially this year... (Subject reference books are listed at end of post.)<br /><br />If you haven't heard about the sudden drastic decline in the honeybee population, it is a real crisis. There are many reasons why bees die ( A few reasons being diseases, pests, pesticides GMO crops, natural disasters, etc.) but in the last year or two <a target= "blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_Collapse_Disorder">colony collapse disorder</a> is at the root of the current <a target= "blank" href="http://podcasts.psu.edu/" title="Home">crisis.</a> The bees seem to completely disappear from the face of the earth as if they have been abducted by aliens or pulled up to God in an insect version of the rapture. The problem is worldwide and no one seems to know why.<br /><br />As "smart" as man believes he/she is, we rarely are when we try to improve on Mother Nature. Since the <a target= "blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Living_Through_Chemistry">"Better Living Through Chemistry"</a> campaign began, man has made many things worse as well as better. <br /><br />The "honeybee" is not native to many places in the world, but everywhere with flowering plants has its native bees. We have seen fit to eliminate, or almost decimate, many of the native species through one means or another. These same native species may have to be our saviours if colony collapse disorder continues to near extinction.<br /><br />An excellent natural remedy to boost native bees can be read in the "San Francisco Chronicle: Time for a <a target= "blank" href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/05/21/HOGIBCQO0V1.DTL">new approach</a> to crop pollination by Deborah K. Rich, Special to The Chronicle, Saturday, May 21, 2005<br /><br />Recognizing the very real threat of crop failure that our dependence upon a single species of bee poses, researchers are coaching pollinator understudies. The blue orchard bee (also known as the orchard mason bee) is proving a cooperative pollinator of some early blooming orchard crops, and the bumble bee is helping to pollinate hot-house tomatoes.<br /><br />Still, it may be time -- while there still is time -- for another approach entirely. The United States is home to 4,000 bee species, of which 1, 500 are found in California, to say nothing of the many moth, fly, wasp and butterfly species that also assist with pollination." <br /><br />Everyone who gardens can help. How-tos can be found at The <a target= "blank" href="http://www.xerces.org/">Xerxes Society</a>'s <a target= "blank" href="http://www.xerces.org/Pollinator_Insect_Conservation/index.htm">Pollinator Conservation</a> Program pages and at the <a target= "blank" href="http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/Research.htm?modecode=54-28-05-00">USDA</a>.<br /><br />For those of you who wish to read more on bees, the following books can be found at your <a target="blank" href="http://storesearch.booksense.com/booksense/storeSearch.do">local independent bookstore</a> or on the net from a worldwide indie by searching by author and/or title at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bookfinder.com/">Bookfinder</a> or <a target="_blank" href="http://used.addall.com/">ADDALL.</a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Honey Bee Pests, Predators and Diseases</span> by Roger A. Morse <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Letters from the Hive: An Intimate History of Bees, Honey, and Humankind</span> by Stephen Buchmann<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Bees In America: How The Honey Bee Shaped A Nation</span> by Tammy Horn<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Bee diseases: Cause and Treatment</span> by Eugene E Killion<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Queen Must Die and Other Affairs of Bees and Men</span> by William Longgood <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Life and Times of the Honeybee</span> by Charles Micucci (children's) <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Honey Makers</span> by Gail Gibbons (children's)<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Langstroth's Hive and the Honey-Bee: The Classic Beekeeper's Manual</span> by L. L. Langstroth <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture: An Encyclopedia of Beekeeping</span> by Roger Morse (a classic!)<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Bees & Honey: From Flower to Jar</span> by Michael Weiler<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Fifty Years Among the Bees</span> by C. C. Miller (another classic)<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Dance, Language, and Orientation of Bees</span> by Karl von FrischFrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18408949.post-21390615721970036392007-04-04T08:07:00.000-07:002007-04-04T10:02:19.476-07:00Very Troublesome<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >This is a Library of Congress record:<br /><br />Animal farm [by] George Orwell<br /><br />CALL NUMBER: PZ3.O793 An2<br />Copy 1<br />-- Request in: Jefferson or Adams Bldg General or Area Studies Reading Rms<br /><br />-- Status: c.1 <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Missing</span> - 08-20-2001<br />CALL NUMBER: PZ3.O793 An2 FT MEADE<br />Copy 3<br />-- Request in: Main or Science/Business Reading Rms - STORED OFFSITE<br /><br />-- Status: Not Charged</span>FrauBucherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595018913738483781noreply@blogger.com0