Low level functionaries like Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden used their ability to access all sorts of online information and then put that information online for what they perceived to be altruistic reasons. We wonder when someone will resort to the good old American way of thinking and use their access to all things Internet to make some money. Does Macy's tell Gimbels' what their game plan is? Would the executives at Gimbels' pay a fellow to help them read the e-mails of the high level management at Gimbels'? You bet your bippy they'd fork over some big bucks for access to that material.
The New York Times Book Review Section tipped us to the new book "The American Way of Poverty" by Sasha Abramsky. It would probably provide us with a basis for a good column but we won't run out a buy a copy, we'll wait and see if the Berkeley Public Library gets a copy.
The South Branch of the Berkeley Public Library does have a copy of "Deadline Artist -- Scandals, Tragedies & Triumphs: More of American's Greatest Newspaper Columns" edited by John Avlon, Jesse Angelo, and Errol Louis.
"Never Odd or Even" by O. V. Michaelsen features limericks and word play. A revised edition is available by advanced sale on Amazon and we are looking forward to reading it because we know the author.
If plugging books written by friends is a human trait, what happens in Washington D. C. when nationally known journalists have to wheel and deal with powerful politicians to get access to personally delivered "no comment" responses to their questions? Could it be that they trade in favors to achieve fair and balanced plugs?
The "On the Road" sub-genre of literature is a personal favorite and so we were delighted to get a copy of Larry McMurtry's "Roads: Driving America's Great Highways," which is a transcription of some soliloquies he composed while driving on some of America's best known highways. We suggested that the Beat Museum stock that item in the bookstore section of their tourist attraction in San Francisco.
The management at the Cadillac automobile restoration firm run by Frank Nicodemus in "upstate" New York mentioned that they were sending a 1954 restored convertible to their client in California's wine country but we missed out on a chance to collect some column material (and scratch an item off the bucket list) by getting a ride-along on the coast-to-coast road trip.
The San Francisco Public Library's fall used book sale, where we were delighted to find a copy of Stephen Bates' "If no news, send Rumors: Anecdotes of American Journalism," continues through Sunday at Fort Mason.
[Photo editor's note: News photos taken this week at the America's Cup Final will have a high stock shot value because the event (and the topic of subsidies provided by taxpayers) will be discussed for years to come and will be the subject for many books.]
In "The Best of Herb Caen 1960 -- 1975" we noticed this passage about the arrival of Spring in 1964: "At this time of year, I always remember the blind man on Market St. with a sign around his neck reading "It is Spring and I am Blind' . . . ." That made us wonder if Republicans pretended they didn't see him?
The disk jockey will play "Tell Laura I love her," "Leader of the Pack," and "Deadman's Curve." We have to rush out to see "Rush." Have a "checkered flag" type week.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
