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Perhaps Competition Isn't the Way to Do Everything

Glen Engel-Cox — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:29:37 +0000

Pamela Sargent forwarded this article, "What Americans Keep Ignoring about Finland's School Success," to me, perhaps because she knew I had been working recently in support of Ohio's education reform efforts. It's a worthy article to read if you are interested in education, and while the author focuses a bit more on the nature of Finland's equal access to education -- no mean feat, in this sense, as it's not just that everyone can go to school, but that everyone can go to ANY school, something that would be nigh to impossible to achieve in the U.S. because of the money involved in private education -- the point that the writer makes about Finland's respect for its teachers is where I think that the U.S. could make some strides. While I'm not anti-sports per se (I like sports, I just would rather play them myself than watch others play them--in a sense, it's the same kind of feeling I have about watching others play video games, in that I can admire the skill of the players, but I'd much rather be having fun myself), I strongly believe that U.S. schools place an incredible amount of emphasis on sports rather than academics. No coach should be paid more than a teacher, from the Kindergarten level through collegiate. If winning is sports is so important in your school, than you've misplaced your school priorities.

365 Days of Sales, Day 5

Glen Engel-Cox — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:55:00 +0000

While this says Complete, it of course isn't, as the divine Kate Bush continues to produce new material to this day. This however, was published in 1987, following the release of The Whole Story, and is a nice collection of material to that point. Such material includes lyrics, melody lines and chords for the songs, and a biographical chronology of her career to that point. There's also some black and white photos interspersed throughout the book.

As you can see from the photo, the book was crunched in the middle of the spine. It didn't destroy the integrity of the book, as there are no loose pages, but this is not a pristine copy. I'd call it Good, rather than even Very Good, but that's because I tend to grade tough. It's not a collector's copy, but for the fan that wants a bit more info on Kate Bush, it's worthy of your time.

I'm asking $15.00 post paid. Contact me via comments here or the other usual methods.

(You can also review other items for sale in this series of posts.)

365 Days of Sales, Day 4

Glen Engel-Cox — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:23:00 +0000

Today's offering is from the collection of gaming materials that I have that I no longer have need of, including this setting book for Savage Worlds set on the high seas. While it is possible that I might play Savage Worlds in the future (I'm currently playing a weekly game on Skype of Necessary Evil), I doubt I'll ever be the gamemaster again, and thus no longer need these setting books.

Written by Shane Lacy Hensley, the creator of Savage Worlds, and originally published at $29.95. I'll send it to you for $20.00 post paid. What a deal!

365 Days of Sales, Day 3

Glen Engel-Cox — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:54:20 +0000

Today's item is a bit of small press specialness from Dan Simmons. Published in 1991 by Doug and Tomi Lewis of Roadkill Press, this was released on the night he gave a reading at their bookstore, the Little Shop of Horrors in Arvada, Colorado. As the inscription to me in this copy reads, it was a warm night. I can't remember much about the short story Dan read that night, but one image has never left me, and that is of a girl on a sled riding down a long hill of snow. Of course, that's also a bit of what Colorado remains in my memory.

I have a fondness for Roadkill Press, as they are one of the few publishers who took a chance and published one of my own stories, in a "double chapbook" with Royce Allen, corresponding with our own readings at their shop. I was a frequent customer there and was surprised and very pleased when Ed Bryant called me up and said that the Lewis's wanted a story and reading from me for their New Voices series.

This book is a little atypical for their chapbooks, as it is "perfect bound" rather than saddle-stitched. To my mind, the printing and quality resemble something akin to what Pulphouse was putting out at the time.

There is no price marked on this item, and I can't remember what it retailed for at the time. It's in Fine condition. It can be yours for $15 post paid. Contact me by the usual methods.

Books still available in this series of postings can be found on the Sales page of this site. The older a posting, the greater chance I will have reduced the price on the Sales page, so do check that if you are interested in some bargains.

This Week's Jam: Lindsey Buckingham, "One Take"

Glen Engel-Cox — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:12:31 +0000

For your listening pleasure, this week's song is "One Take" by Lindsey Buckingham (link good through 10 Jan 2012).

When I first started listening to Fleetwood Mac, it was Stevie Nick's eroticism, rough-hewn voice, and fantasy-themed songs that drew me in, but over the years I learned that why I kept listening to them was Lindsey Buckingham's ecleticism and musicianship. His album, Out of the Cradle, is one of my top favorites, and there are a number of his songs, both by himself and with the Mac, that are 5-stars in my iTunes. This one is from his most recent album, and I happened to tag it with 5 stars, too.

365 Days of Sales, Day 2

Glen Engel-Cox — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:43:25 +0000

Today's new item for sale is another selection from Arkham House. This is a small (<100 pages?) collection of 3 stories from James Tiptree, Jr., published in 1986, reprinted here for the first time since their original publication in Asimov's and F&SF.

The book is near perfect, but has a slight flaw that I attempt to show in the bottom picture. This is looking at the book from the top, and you can see that it is slightly "foxed," where the front cover is slightly pushed forward from the back cover. This is a minor imperfection, but needs to be noted for the serious collector.

I'm asking $24.00 post paid for this book. Contact me here by comments or through the usual channels (my email address can be found on the "about" page.)

365 Days of Sales, Day 1

Glen Engel-Cox — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:10:21 +0000

In an attempt to continue downsizing, we are reducing our belongings. Many of these things have gone directly to local thrift stores, but there are some items that have more worth that I wi be listing here daily until everything is gone. All items are postpaid, and payment can be made by several of the usual suspects.

To start us off is this short story collection from 1991 by Michael Swanwick, published by Arkham House books. The book retailed for $20.95, but you can have it for a single $20 bill. The book is in Fine/Fine condition, and the DJ has had a Brodart library protection cover (not taped) on it since it was purchased.

The Yearly Letter for 2011

Glen Engel-Cox — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:57:23 +0000

As in past years, we have once again put a summary of our past year in the form of a letter that contains a theme. This year, since we seem to have been all over the world, the letter was done similar to the game/TV show, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

For a review of past letters, you can see the list at the bottom of the About page of this web site.

Best wishes for 2012!

We Have a Car for Sale in Columbus, Ohio

Glen Engel-Cox — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:29:00 +0000

2011 Ford Fiesta SE

We bought this car in the summer when we just got back from Malaysia and before we bought a house within walking distance of our work. Asking $15,900. Contact me if you have any questions.

Year End Reading Lists

Glen Engel-Cox — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:55:00 +0000

I didn't read much this year, but the things I did read I liked quite a lot: Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Seth Fletcher's Bottled Lightning: Super Batteries, Electric Cars, and the New Lithium Economy. I recommend both to you highly.

I did run across a nice list elsewhere full of wonderful recommendations for my friend Dwight. Paul Tremblay, a writer his ownself, provides this list of full of true crime and dark stories that he liked this last year.