| Coastal Post Online
In 2001, my longtime dream of owning a community-serving business was realized when, without any retail or bookselling experience, I purchased the Brown Study Bookshop, a sleepy used-book store in Point Reyes Station. I soon came to learn the realities of owning a small independent business in an age when consumers, seeking the best deal, are drawn to purchasing goods online and in big-box stores.
The last two decades have brought sweeping changes in many American communities as strip malls, big-box retailers, and e-commerce replace the locally owned shops on Main Street. Nationally, the number of independent bookstores alone has fallen from 4,700 in 1993 to 2,500 today, as revenues from Internet book sales climbed from $2.6 billion in 2002 to $4 billion in 2006. Describing the mega-corporate takeover in The Great Unraveling: Losing Our Way in the New Century, David Korten writes, "unlike the owners of locally based businesses, the absentee shareholder owners of these new businesses have little knowledge or concern for the consequences at the local level for action taken on behalf of the corporation."
In contrast, a growing movement of independent businesses is creating "local living economies" and seeking a "living return"-one partially paid by the benefits of living and working in healthy, vibrant communities.
January 2004 - December 2004
Steve Martinovich was prepared to dislike the novel Mr. Golightly's Holiday but was pleasantly surprised when it overcame a weak beginning to ask serious questions of the reader
Bush should move ahead with personal retirement accounts: Although George W. Bush devoted two lines to the idea in his State of the Union address, Steven Martinovich thinks that personal retirement accounts should receive more attention
Leftism and missing history: When it comes to history, writes Bruce Walker, leftists can be quite selective about what they'll tell you. The examples of Fidel Castro and the civil rights movement prove that
Israel to Syria: Get out of Lebanon: If Syria is truly interested in talking peace with Israel, argues Ariel Natan Pasko, than they should back up their words with action over the issue of Lebanon
Kerry: Around the far left corner, ahead by a nose: Super Tuesday is still a ways off but that isn't stopping Paul Weyrich from making some predictions about what will go down that big day and who will likely be left standing
Why the Democrats still don't get it: As a Catholic writer Peter Vere wasn't surprised that Catholics for Dean tried to recuit him into their ranks.
Britain's new eco battle
At a recent commerce conference in India, where he was trying to sell the advantages of settling businesses in London, he was publicly berated about the city's air transport. An executive of an Indian company stood up and told him: 'Do something about Heathrow.' It is a sentiment shared by Ric Lewis, chief executive of the London investment company Curzon Global Partners. He spends much of his life flying in and out of cities to generate business for his firm. Lewis knows a thing or two about airports and his opinion about Heathrow is simple: it's a national embarrassment. 'Heathrow is the first experience many people have of the UK. That first impression should be saying, "Welcome to one of the best cities in the world". Instead it says all too often, "Caution: you're about to have a bad day".' That warning applies to any visitor heading into the airport, says Lewis, but particularly to business travellers.
Right Wingers Endangering America
Jane Stillwater: Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, China, Vermont: Let's just bomb ALL their nuclear plants! (3 comments) When I was in Iraq, I saw small shoots of hope & positive progress springing up as the Iraqis, with the help of many dedicated & enlightened members of the US military, worked really hard to try to put the pieces of their poor country back into place. And then I came back to America, only to find that the cold clouded atmosphere of "Bomb them back to the Stone Age" still prevails here, & even the Left wants its pound of flesh. Tuesday, October 30: Michael Shaw: Questioning 9/11 and to Hell with Caution (82 comments) This article questions some of the underlying elements behind the 9/11 for Truth Movement. It is not meant to be a reflection on those who are genuine in their search for truth, but rather those elements that might or perhaps do have ulterior motives.
Responding to the Jack Lynch Non-Story
I'm going to try not to flip out. Which I may anyway. Because I'm angry, and I'm repulsed by this whole episode, and it's a large part of what's been keeping me away from this "blog" for too long. A Spokane Police Department internal investigation released in its entirety Wednesday says Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch was not stopped in High Bridge Park last August or apprehended at any time for any illegal activity.
Remaining unanswered are the circumstances surrounding Lynch's still-unexplained medical leave, which was announced Dec. 29 and is expected to continue until March 1. So what? This has always always been a complete and utter distraction from the "story," intended only to damage Mr. Lynch's credibility by implying he's infirm, and likely has a disease of which he is ashamed, or that implies activity unbecoming to an All Powerful City Employee(!).
Advantage, Barack Obama
This not only solidified the African-American vote for the Illinois senator, but also appears to have pushed down Clinton's share of the white vote in the final days. More significantly, Bill Clinton's campaigning created a backlash among his own loyalists. Online discussion groups involving veterans of the Clinton administration reflected a sharp division in their ranks over the former president's intervention and the beginning of a defection toward Obama, even among participants who have long held a positive view of Hillary Clinton. People close to Ted Kennedy say that the former president's aggressiveness pushed the senator to offer an endorsement he was already inclined to make. He was further encouraged by Caroline Kennedy's embrace of Obama. In an interview on Monday, Sen.
Text of Bush's final State of the Union
Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined. We have faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world economy and the health and welfare of our citizens. These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it's fair to say we've answered that call. Yet history will record that amid our differences, we acted with purpose. And together, we showed the world the power and resilience of American self-government. All of us were sent to Washington to carry out the people's business. That is the purpose of this body. It is the meaning of our oath. And it remains our charge to keep. The actions of the 110th Congress will affect the security and prosperity of our nation long after this session has ended.
The New York Times Company Confirms Harbinger Capital Partners Funds ...
Fund.com Inc. Taps The Morris + King Company for Public Relations
GSC Investment Corp. Makes $30 Million CLO Investment
Sears Holdings Corporation Selects OgilvyOne as Strategic Partner
Globecomm Systems Awarded Multi-Year Contract from Showtime Networks Inc.
eFoodSafety Lab Test Demonstrates Efficacy of Citroxin (tm) against H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus
Mike Neuenschwander Joins Mycroft as General Manager, Strategy Practice
LMP Corporate Loan Fund Inc. Announces Results of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Western Asset Variable Rate Strategic Fund Inc. Announces Results of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Red Diamond Capital Acquires International Appliance Maker
TRILANTIC to Host LegalTech SuperSessions
Orchestria to Present at Raymond James Annual Compliance Roundtable in St.
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