Spring is busting out all over
Remember
reciting, “April showers bring May flowers”? Thanks to Joanne Guidoccio for
these April facts: April is Alcohol Awareness
Month, Financial Literacy Month, National Autism Awareness Month, National
Parkinson’s Awareness Month, National Volunteer Month, and Stress Awareness
Month. Earth Day is celebrated on April 22. Other April observances include
National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day (April 2), National No Housework Day
(April 7), National Hug Your Dog Day (April 10), National Garlic Day (April
19), and International Jazz Day (April 30).
In my household, however, the most important dates are April 22—birthday
of Colin David, my oldest child; by coincidence that was also the birthday of
my baby sister who died in infancy; April 12, birthday of Colin’s son and my
grandson, Kegan David; April 20, birthday of son-in-law Brandon Hudgeons; April
11, birthday of my late mother.
News from the book front: Texas Senator Ted Cruz is not content
with ranting about Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and books that should be banned—He
attacked Judge Jackson over the curriculum at a private school where she serves
as a trustee. Cruz waved a children’s picture book, Antiracist Baby, which
he offered as an example of the CRT that pervades the school. No one asked Cruz
to define CRT—a missed opportunity—but the book immediately leapt to the top of
the Amazon bestseller list in its category. I think that’s called karma.
Now Cruz is attacking diaries, journals, and blank books,
claiming they should not be sold to minors. Heaven knows what he thinks those
CRT teens are going to write. Maybe he has renewed the once common practice of
teenage girls keeping private diaries. Keep it up, Ted. You’re great for the
book business.
In a development not so great, I read where a venture capital
company, Elliott Advisors, is buying up or trying to buy up bookstore chains.
Founder Paul Singer says the goal is to “create efficiencies unseen in the book
business and engage in a little world domination, which is the most thrilling
thing a hedge fund guy can do.” Sort of venture capital doublespeak to me, but
the possibilities are both hopeful and frightening. The book trade is the only
one I know of where unsold products may be returned to the publisher for
credit. A publisher friend of mine was married to a toy manufacturer’s sales
rep who ranted, “You can’t return toys if you don’t sell them. Why books?” IF
the Elliott people change that, so much to the good for publishers (still my
point of view) but devastating for booksellers. It could set the whole system
on its ear. And the phrase “world domination” scares me in this current climate
of censorship and book banning.
Some nice things happened today: my free-lance editor is dropping
clients but said she would keep me because she wants to see what happens to
Irene next. And I was asked to be part of a food-writing project from an
organization I’m part of—looking forward to that.
On my own I successfully paired my phone with my hearing aids—who
knew they came “unpaired”? I no longer will yell “Can you hear me?” at my kids
who could hear me only too well, but I couldn’t hear them. And I navigated a
change in insurance policies with only a minimum of frustration—after being on
indefinite hold and had a futile online chat, I found a phone number where I
was connected immediately with a knowledgeable person. Nice when things go
right. Now if I can only figure out why I have such profile problems with the
three major credit bureaus. Can’t do everything at once!
It's a beautiful night. I’m going to take a glass of wine out to
the patio and enjoy the lovely evening.
Jordan and her crazy-angle photos
Honest, we weren't tipsy--just the camera
The goal, as stated by Paul Singer, founder of Elliott
Management, is to "leverage the unleverageable, create efficiencies unseen
in the book business, and engage in a little world domination, which is about
the most thrilling thing a hedge fund guy can do!"
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