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August 31, 2005
"Drowning New Orleans"
I wasn't surprised to see Mark Fischetti on the phone when I got to work today. Mark has been our hall neighbor since 1998, with an office set in the midst of ours, and he's been a welcome friend and colleague with many similar interests. He is a journalist specializing in science and technology, and the reason I expected to see him on the phone is that four years ago he wrote a major article for Scientific American (where he is a contributing editor) called “Drowning New Orleans.”
“A major hurricane," the headline went, "could swamp New Orleans under 20 feet of water, killing thousands. Human activities along the Mississippi River have dramatically increased the risk, and now only massive reengineering of southeastern Louisiana can save the city.” The article is available online, and Mark was today pleading with Scientific American to make it free, while juggling requests for interviews and an oped for the New York Times.
For those who don't have subscription access to Mark's excellent and thorough article, here's just a little of it:
"Fixing the delta would serve as a valuable test case for the country and the world. Coastal marshes are disappearing along the eastern seaboard, the other Gulf Coast states, San Francisco Bay and the Columbia River estuary for many of the same reason besetting Louisiana. Parts of Houston are sinking faster than New Orleans. Major deltas around the globe--from the Orinoco in Venezuela, to the Nile in Egypt, to the Mekong in Vietnam--are in the same delicate state today that the Mississippi Delta was in 100 to 200 years ago. Lessons from New Orleans could help establish guidelines for safer development in these areas, and the state could export restoration technology worldwide. In Europe, the Rhine, Rhone and Po deltas are losing land. And if sea level rises substantially because of global warming in the next 100 years or so, numerous low-lying coastal cities such as New York would need to take protective measures similar to those proposed for Louisiana." Mark, too, thinks globally.
I hadn't thought that this disaster would be connected with the war on terror (whoops--the struggle against violent extremism), but we've heard that there aren't enough soldiers to help in New Orleans because so many of the National Guard units are in Iraq. (I'm not connecting Iraq with terrorism here, but pointing out that terrorism has been the justification for sending soldiers there.)
Posted by Karen Christensen at 6:41 PM | Comments (0)
The end of the war on terror(ism)--G-WOT?
Joe diStefano, our graphic designer, was the subject of one of the best office jokes we've seen in a while, on a sticky, hectic afternoon when we all needed a good laugh. And all thanks to George W. Bush.
All of us are engrossed, one way or another, in terrorism these days, as final corrections are made to Patterns of Global Terrorism. Joe's had to deal with quite a few changes to the subtitle, with the latest being a particular nuisance because it's so long (and messes up the cover design, says Joe). But we--both editorial and marketing tams--want to explain the fact that we are publishing all the State Department reports, from 1985 to 2004, called Patterns of Global Terrorism, as well as extensive selections from other government reports and documents chosen to clarify and support details in the reports themselves. That's how we got to the current full title: Patterns of Global Terrorism 1985-2004: U.S. Department of State Documents and Supplementary Materials.
Yesterday, though, we read that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other senior Bush administration officials have decided to stop referring to "the global war on terror," and will now say instead that we are engaged in a "global struggle against violent extremism." (Read this hilarious article about the change, and the battle of the acronyms.) So Margaux emailed Joe that the title would have to be changed on press to Patterns of Violent Extremism and the Global Struggle Against It.
We've been getting lots of comments from authors and experts on terrorism. I especially like this, from Benjamin Barber: "Talk about 'glocal' (the global is local and the local is global!)--it takes a splendid little Berkshire publishing house to do what a major international trade publisher should have done long ago: make available in concise, readable form, the indispensable State Department reports that experts, scholars and engaged citizens have consulted for decades." Benjamin R. Barber, author of Jihad vs. McWorld, Kekst Professor of Civil Society, University of Maryland
Posted by Karen Christensen at 4:55 AM | Comments (0)
August 25, 2005
Pat Robertson and footwear
I came across a blog post about Pat Robertson's call for the assasination of Hugo Chavez, the elected leader of Venezuela, and had a flash of self-realization: when I see the name Pat Robertson I think not of religious extremism and dangerous hubris but of shoes.
When I was 17, I lived with my uncle Dean and aunt Shirley in the Tidewater area of Virginia, because of my friendship with their daughter Cheryl (and longstanding enstrangement from my own family). I attended their church, where Dean was a fiery preacher and touchingly tone-deaf singer.
One day my cousin Gary turned up after church with a young woman. Gary was in his usual jeans and tshirt--he was a backsliding Christian and a sorrow to his mother--but his friend had obviously just been to church herself. She must have been about Gary's age, 19 or 20, but she was wearing a knee-length skirt, neat blouse, and a pair of pale pumps. This was 1975 and I had never seen someone close to my age in pumps--what the English call 'court shoes.' My uncle introduced her and said she was Pat Robertson's daughter. To this day when I hear his name I think of that odd meeting on the church porch, of court shoes, and of rebellious Gary who died a year later in a DUI car accident.
And I am left wondering if Robertson will be banned from the UK under new counterterrorism measures? Here's a post on that subject.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 2:45 PM | Comments (0)
Tom's first day at college
My son Tom headed off to college last week, after spending the last two months working in Shanghai. The cornfields of Grinnell, Iowa, are a change from the crowded streets and glittering towers of China's major financial center. He called a few minutes ago to share the news that the first handout in his first class was an article from the Encyclopedia of Community on "Organization Culture and Voluntary Associations," by Doug Caulkins, who was teaching the class.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 1:41 PM | Comments (0)
Discovered praise
There's something special about running across a review we didn't know about and finding that it confirms again the value of one of the projects we've all worked so hard on. We do invest ourselves in our projects--not just David and I either, but everyone in the office and part of our extended team--and care like crazy about having our publications used, and reviewed. Like any author, though, we bite the bullet when reviews are slow or sloppy, and I always remind myself that when it comes to PR the only thing that matters is that they spell your name right.
Anyway, no complaints from us about this review of the Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History, by John Lawrence, who chaired the ALA's Dartmouth Committee this year: "...a winning combination of distinguished historians and a seasoned editorial staff has proven more than equal to this massive undertaking." Read the full review.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 1:15 PM | Comments (0)
August 23, 2005
Blogging 101
We're hard at work on plans for a new model of digital reference called "The Human Web" and I've been thinking about all the ways we have available today to communicate--creating the 21st century human web. Right now, for example, I am sitting on the deck at my house, after a lovely supper of barbequed chicken and local corn and yellow squash, blogging wirelessly. (And wondering if I should go get a sweater: it has already started getting cold at night! And my tomatoes are barely beginning to ripen. That's the Berkshires.)
When we published the Berkshire Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction last November (not so long ago, in publishing time), we saw the print publication as valuable and looked forward to online versions as well. There are two quite different versions available now--one through Xrefer and the other through Gale Virtual Reference Library--and they're nicely done. But they don't do what I can do on this blog, or in other media we're working on. That is, to add content, comment on articles, and especially to address interesting questions about new technologies, like blogging. I have an interview to do this evening (if I don't go and curl up on the couch under a thick blanket instead) with this question: "How has it [blogging] affected your business? Your personal life?" I'm not sure I should ask for David's opinion, since he's just had to deal with both Rachel and I being at the table on our laptops (she's writing RPG instructions, not blogging). We did put them away to eat.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 7:32 PM | Comments (0)
August 22, 2005
You or me?
David has come up with a new way to analyze job applications. He just counts the number of times someone uses "I" and "you" (or "Berkshire") in her or his cover letter. We got a letter Saturday that said "I" 24 times and "you" 4 times.
I think we should count how many times people mention their unpublished or unperformed writing. Here's a typical line: "I'm writing a novel and finishing up a book review." Fine, but not really relevant, and it surprises me that people don't get that. I think they're hoping to tempt us. Surely, though, it's obvious that a publisher of encyclopedias is unlikely to decide to throw all its resources into publishing the manuscript of a prospective managing editor?
Of course I think back to some applications I sent off in years past, knowing that they would embarrass me now. Same thing with query letters. I'm now going to look at all the letters I write with a fresh eye: how much "you" and how much "I"?
Posted by Karen Christensen at 2:49 PM | Comments (0)
August 19, 2005
Terrorism strikes
Last month we mailed thousands of copies of our new magazine, the Berkshire Savant, to friends and colleagues and libraries around the US, UK, and elsewhere in the world. At least we thought we did. Margaux and I have been puzzling over the fact that our testers had not arrived, and we certainly haven't been deluged with enquiries from the UK either. This morning we found out why: we are the victims, indirectly, of the terrorist attacks in London. Apparently mail into the UK is delayed because of increased security.
Ironic, isn't it, given that we are promoting Patterns of Global Terrorism?
Here's the latest comment on that title: "Until now, students, analysts, journalists, and professionals had to page through dozens of spine-broken volumes of State department reports to discern trends or trace historical developments. Thanks to Berkshire Publishing we can clear away a shelf of surplus tomes and replace it with a valuable two-book tool. With its clear charts, historical overviews and intelligent organization, this is a must for any serious researcher of global terrorism."--Richard Miniter, bestselling author of Losing bin Laden and Shadow War and editor of the daily terrorism report at www.RichardMiniter.com.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 11:37 AM | Comments (0)
August 18, 2005
War protests and Lewis and Sophia Mumford
I spent this morning, my early hours, indulging in a guilty pleasure I can write publicly about: working on the memoirs of Sophia Mumford, widow of Lewis Mumford. Sophie was 68 years older than I but we became good friends in her 90s. I went through my electronic files, converting some of the tape transcripts we'd made in 1996 and 1997 (some 36 hours in total) to a 21st century version of Microsoft Word, checking the various notes and misc items I collected, and thinking about how I might find a small piece of this project that would be suitable as an article. The war protests last night (there were vigils all over the United States, and probably the world, in support of Cindy Sheehan and the anti-war demonstration near President Bush's ranch in Texas) have given me an idea. Mumford was the first major figure to publicly and vehemently denounce President Johnson's policies. He did it with perfect timing. He had just received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Johnson, and was president of the American Academy of Arts & Letters. What a firestorm he unleased. It's one of my favorite Mumford stories, because after the speech he went home to bed with 'flu and left Sophie to face the music. Sophie herself was involved in virtually every major social movement of the 20th century, starting with handing out women's suffrage leaflets on the steps of Brooklyn Town Hall.
More about Lewis (and Sophia) Mumford.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 7:09 AM | Comments (0)
August 17, 2005
Women and sports
A couple of years ago I ended up as senior editor of the International Encyclopedia of Women & Sports (Macmillan 2001), a surprising position for someone who read instead of ran as a child. I'm a pre-Title IX woman, no doubt about it, but from my late teens I have been drawn to sports, and I've participated in quite a few. But I know the difference between a real athlete and a wannabe jock like me! Yesterday one of our sports contributors, Becky Clark, came to visit. Becky and I met in Tennessee in April but this was her first chance to meet the Berkshire team (which she is very much an honorary member of).
She and Marcy and Margaux have been emailing a lot over the past few months, so they had a special first meeting and we had a good time talking about a book called 25 Sports for Every Woman we're going to produce. We already have a good representative spread of women from different backgrounds and sports experience, and a 25-year age span between us, too.
One way the Berkshire Encyclopedia of World Sport is different from our 1996 encyclopedia of sports is in its extensive coverage of women's sports, and the subject of women and sport is one that's still very much on our minds. (Margaux has started our training, too, with after-work Pilates ball workouts. She's trained as a spinning instructor, but we haven't yet figured how to manage that!)
Posted by Karen Christensen at 6:15 AM | Comments (0)
August 15, 2005
Publishing and the business of the future
We often argue about whether people in publishing see it as a business. Some do, that's for sure, and the CEOs at big companies are certainly bottom-line focused. But there is still a disconnect between editorial and marketing (and between editorial and technology, but that's another story). I met someone recently who said that at the newspaper he worked at the advertising department was known as the Dark Side; I'm sure it's called that and worse in Dilbert.
This is a challenge for those who lead, especially for those of us who aspire to create solid businesses that do well, you might say, by doing good. We've cringed at young editorial staffers who say, "Well, I guess marketing's a necessary evil," not realizing that it takes sales to pay their salaries, and that it takes marketing to get the wonderful publications they've helped create into people's hands and screens.
I just finished my article on the business of reference for the September issue of Against the Grain, so you'll be able to read more there about "Making Reference." I managed to slip in a reference to Mr. Toad, from Wind in the Willows. Any guesses about who in publishing reminds me of Mr. Toad?
Posted by Karen Christensen at 5:05 PM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2005
The week of the book
For all the focus on technology in publishing, what we are dealing with most of the time is books. Patterns of Global Terrorism is still front and center, and Brad Walrod has been working with our graphic designer Joe to ensure that the pages are beautifully laid out--aesthetically, and in terms of usabilility (books, too, need usability expertise).
For me, this has been the week of the book, with a number of meetings about a project on the book itself, and also several discussions with leading publishers--Victor Navasky, Jonathan Galassi--about creating a book festival here in the Great Barrington area. There's much overlap between these endeavors, and also a strong connection with our focus on creative economic development here. It all comes back to community, in a way, the subject that is closest to my heart. While the Encyclopedia of Community is four volumes and 1.2 million words, I'm seeing more to this every day. (We did include an article on Book Clubs, and on Public Libraries of course.)
Posted by Karen Christensen at 8:18 AM | Comments (0)
August 8, 2005
Wikis in the reference world
Fun's over, back to work. Typesetting (now known as composition) for Patterns of Global Terrorism starts today, while I turn my attention to strategic planning. I was quoted a week or so in Business Week Online in an article about CEOs and technology, explaining that we were exploring ways to combine the community aspects of social networking software like the wiki with the reliability and quality of a traditional publication. That's what I'll be working on today.
I've just started reading the Wisdom of Crowds, one of the recent books proposing that if you could just tap into what everyone knows and thinks and believes you would get better results than by going to experts. I thought about this at the track on Saturday: the odds are determined by how people bet, so that's as precise a model of crowd knowledge as any. I want to look into the statistics about betting to see just how wise crowds are, and have to admit that I'm skeptical. I wholeheartedly believe in cooperation, and think that knowledge grows through exchange and connection. But I can think of a lot of examples of unwise crowds. And I can think of many situations--for example, baking or being operated on--where I wouldn't want a crowd survey to determine how much baking soda to use or where to make the first incision.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 5:58 AM | Comments (0)
August 6, 2005
Horseracing at Saratoga Springs
This blog is sounding all too frivolous for a serious publisher intent on changing the world of reference! And it gets worse today: David and I are off to Saratoga, to see that famous horseracing venue for the first time. We've talked about doing this for years. David and Rolf Janke from Sage Reference were always making plans (and discussing their betting strategies). Last year we meant to go with our friends Mick and Julie. But it's finally come off, thanks to librarian Dave Tyckoson of Fresno State, whom we met at ALA in Chicago. Dave is a terrific thinker and writer on reference, both print and digital, and a regular contributor to Against the Grain. He's also a regular at Saratoga, so we have the great advantage of his experience when it comes to where to sit, eat, and generally enjoy the experience. He is not, though, willing to give betting advice! That's okay, David's already been online planning his strategy.
I don't have track fever, but I do love watching this sport--the "sport of kings." We visited the Horseracing Museum at Saratoga once, when we were thinking of an encyclopedia on the subject. That never quite came off, but of course the topic is one that we have covered at length in the new Berkshire Encyclopedia of World Sport.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 8:02 AM | Comments (0)
August 5, 2005
Friday afternoon wine and cheese
A favorite member of our advisory board is Mark Danderson, until recently the marketing director at New England Journal of Medicine. Mark is about to leave for Australia where he is joining Medicine Today as a partner, an exciting move for him but sad for us--having only recently got to know him, it seems a bit soon to see him leave Massachusetts.
He is, though, leaving Berkshire Publishing Group with a special tradition: wine and often cheese on Friday afternoons. Mark visited a couple months ago and we were talking about team building. "Well," he said, "when I worked in Australia [for Medicine Today], they had a very Australian way of doing that," and went on to describe how everyone would gather at the end of the work week. We decided to try it, here in buttoned-up New England, and so far no one has complained and wanted to get back to formatting terrorism articles.
So, time to run, the wine is waiting!
Posted by Karen Christensen at 4:07 PM | Comments (0)
August 3, 2005
Global terrorism resources
"This compilation of Patterns of Global Terrorism [due out from Berkshire next month] is an invaluable resource for policymakers and serious researchers with an interest in the long-term trends in international terrorism and the U.S. response thereto. It deserves an honored place in all counterterrorism libraries." Andrew Cochran, Editor, The Counterterrorism Blog
Editor Anna Sabasteanski and the entire Berkshire team is hard at work, determined to see this important publication out as quickly as we possibly can. Anna also has a free weekly newsletter that she compiles from a vast--and I've seen the piles--of reports and media from all over the world. She's drawn on this wealth of information and her extensive research to organize and annotate the State Department reports in a variety of useful ways.
Posted by Karen Christensen at 8:00 AM | Comments (0)