Sunday, April 26, 2009

Powell's Indiespensable Program

Thanks go to Reading Local for introducing me to Powell's "Indiespensable" program. Every six weeks, participants receive a package from Powell's containing a signed first edition of what Powell's considers to be a "best new book" -- usually from an independent publisher. Also included are "exciting surprises: bonus DVDs or CDs, prepublication copies of books we're looking forward to, mugs, posters, chocolate . . ." How wonderful! All for $39.95, which includes shipping in the US. I signed up for the next three shipments, but I hope to continue. I have been hoping Powell's would start some kind of program like this ever since I moved back to Portland from San Francisco two years ago and gave up my membership in Book Passage's First Editions Club. I'm already behind, since it looks like Powell's started this more than a year ago -- I wasn't paying enough attention. Thank goodness Reading Local is here to fill me in!

Quote Quiz

"I would hate to see legalized gambling in [our state], nor do I favor a lottery. We ought to finance the state by the strength of our people and not by their weaknesses." Who said this? This quote really struck me because my state, Oregon, depends so much on the lottery and video poker for revenue, at the same time we have double-digit unemployment and a struggling economy. Free choice and all that, I know. No one forces anyone to buy a lottery ticket or play video poker. But in hard times, it seems particularly insidious for the state to sponsor the tantalizing idea of easy riches in order to fill the public coffers. Maybe I should have called this post Soapbox Sunday.

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