Raymond Gaynor's Blog, page 18
March 6, 2022
A VERY WRETCHED LAND
WITH “Putin’s War” in Ukraine becoming increasingly destructive and bloody, I’m reminded of two outstanding Savant books: WRETCHED LAND (Savant 2011) by Mile Komarnisky — https://savant-bookstore-honolulu.squ... — “Dmytro Verbitsky, an impoverished Ukrainian aristocrat, is actively engaged in the WWI, the Civil War and the WWII. Despite the cruelty of Stalin’s regime, he manages to raise a loving family, avenges his wife’s rape, learns to understand and forgive his father’s suicide, and nurtures hopes for Ukraine’s independence.” AMAZON GENRE BESTSELLER; ANNA PIDRUCHNEY AWARD.
And the upcoming Savant book: THE IMMIGRANT’S GRANDSON (Savant, in final preparation) by Vern Turner — https://www.savantbooksandpublication... — “This generational saga of epic proportions takes Virgil and his new wife, Anna, from the Ukraine to Ohio. There, the entire family struggled through WWII and the Great Depression to give life and purpose to the immigrant’s grandson. Howard Virgil Savage enters a world of strife, poverty and hopelessness in 1932, but grows to accomplish great things as a key member of NASA’s endeavor to send humans from the Earth to the moon.”
Both books speak to the sometimes extreme struggles that Ukraine and Ukrainian immigrants have faced, highlighting Ukraine’s current dire situation and Ukrainians’ continued struggle to exist as a people and nation in today’s world.
STAND WITH UKRAINE
Wretched Land
And the upcoming Savant book: THE IMMIGRANT’S GRANDSON (Savant, in final preparation) by Vern Turner — https://www.savantbooksandpublication... — “This generational saga of epic proportions takes Virgil and his new wife, Anna, from the Ukraine to Ohio. There, the entire family struggled through WWII and the Great Depression to give life and purpose to the immigrant’s grandson. Howard Virgil Savage enters a world of strife, poverty and hopelessness in 1932, but grows to accomplish great things as a key member of NASA’s endeavor to send humans from the Earth to the moon.”
Both books speak to the sometimes extreme struggles that Ukraine and Ukrainian immigrants have faced, highlighting Ukraine’s current dire situation and Ukrainians’ continued struggle to exist as a people and nation in today’s world.
STAND WITH UKRAINE
Wretched Land
March 5, 2022
EERIE NEW QUANTUM EFFECT
AS the co-author with A. G. Hayes of QUANTUM DEATH (Savant 2016), the fifth in his riveting, multi-award-winning seven-book Koski and Falk Series — https://savant-bookstore-honolulu.squ... — I’ve always been interested in Quantum effects: duality; uncertainty; superposition; Bose-Einstein states; tunneling; superconductivity; simultaneity; entanglement (called “spooky” action at a distance). To these and others, we now have the Aharonov-Bohm Influence, essentially “spooky” effects not only from magnetic fields but now from gravitational fields as well. Why “spooky?” Because the effects occur even though the quantum particle/wave doen’t pass through the magnetic or gravitational field! A bit like wishing your neighbor teen’s loudspeakers would stop their incessantly loud noise, and having them suddenly stop, not only at your neighbor’s house, but another house several cities away. Spooky. Eerie, if you’d like a new adjective for a new effect as well — https://www.sciencenews.org/article/q....
In QUANTUM DEATH, a kvantovaya mashina smerti or “quantum death machine” wreaks havoc in the United States and the world. The only way to stop it is to modify the machine so that it’s effect is simultaneously equally lethal to the originator when it’s deployed. Enter Kate Keenan from A. G. Hayes’ fourth book in the Koski and Falk series -- https://savant-bookstore-honolulu.squ.... In FINDING KATE, long-ignored computer genius Kate Keenan has designed a computer program that will put Hollywood and Bollywood out of business overnight. Suddenly everyone wants her…and her program. To stay alive, Kate goes into hiding, barely keeping ahead of a lethal hoard of pursuers with only one thing in mind: FINDING KATE and possessing or destroying her program. This widely anticipated prequel to the award-wining novel, QUANTUM DEATH by A. G. Hayes and Raymond Gaynor, is in pre-production for a K. Simmons Production movie of the same name — https://kspllc.media/finding-kate.
Quantum Death
In QUANTUM DEATH, a kvantovaya mashina smerti or “quantum death machine” wreaks havoc in the United States and the world. The only way to stop it is to modify the machine so that it’s effect is simultaneously equally lethal to the originator when it’s deployed. Enter Kate Keenan from A. G. Hayes’ fourth book in the Koski and Falk series -- https://savant-bookstore-honolulu.squ.... In FINDING KATE, long-ignored computer genius Kate Keenan has designed a computer program that will put Hollywood and Bollywood out of business overnight. Suddenly everyone wants her…and her program. To stay alive, Kate goes into hiding, barely keeping ahead of a lethal hoard of pursuers with only one thing in mind: FINDING KATE and possessing or destroying her program. This widely anticipated prequel to the award-wining novel, QUANTUM DEATH by A. G. Hayes and Raymond Gaynor, is in pre-production for a K. Simmons Production movie of the same name — https://kspllc.media/finding-kate.
Quantum Death
March 4, 2022
GIMME, GIMME, GIMME
A man after midnight…preferably the incomparable WILLIAM MALTESE (enjoy ABBA’s hit song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEjLo... while reading this). Gimme, gimme, gimme any of his 200+ award-winning novels, be they M/M passion (my favorite THE ARDENNIAN BOY — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0979311039), politico-eros (TOTAL MELTDOWN — https://www.amazon.com/dp/1434403556), Harlequin Romance (TUSKS — https://www.amazon.com/dp/097931108X), exotic adventure (DARE TO LOVE IN OZ — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0984117547), pure fantasy (FLICKER 1 and 2 — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0984555242 and https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693875), even gourmet cookbooks (DINNER WITH CECILE AND WILLIAM: A COOKBOOK — https://www.amazon.com/dp/1434445267).
And don’t forget to add to the above, William Maltese’s new bio-documentary movie, K. Simmons Production of THE MALTESE COLLECTION (https://kspllc.media/maltese-collection) currently in post-production. I, for one, don’t think it’s possible to have too much Maltese in your life. And while eagerly awaiting THE MALTESE COLLECTIONs anticipated release in mid-2022, follow my actor’s website — https://janik.yolasite.com/actor.php — with teaser, trailer, posters and lots of behind-the-scenes goodies as they become available. I’m more than proud to be appearing in THE MALTESE COLLECTION, if only as a Maltese sycophant! Gimme, gimme, gimme!
Video teaser: https://vimeo.com/626706914
And don’t forget to add to the above, William Maltese’s new bio-documentary movie, K. Simmons Production of THE MALTESE COLLECTION (https://kspllc.media/maltese-collection) currently in post-production. I, for one, don’t think it’s possible to have too much Maltese in your life. And while eagerly awaiting THE MALTESE COLLECTIONs anticipated release in mid-2022, follow my actor’s website — https://janik.yolasite.com/actor.php — with teaser, trailer, posters and lots of behind-the-scenes goodies as they become available. I’m more than proud to be appearing in THE MALTESE COLLECTION, if only as a Maltese sycophant! Gimme, gimme, gimme!
Video teaser: https://vimeo.com/626706914
March 3, 2022
THE TURNING OF THE SCREW
INNOCENCE, precociousness, wickedness — What to do with bright young children? In my book, UNLOCK THE GENIUS WITHIN: Neurobiological Trauma, Teaching, and Transformative Learning (Rowman and Littlefield Education 2005) by Daniel S. Janik, I argue for replacing “teaching” with self-paced, non-traumatic, curiosity-based, discovery-driven, and mentor-assisted transformational “learning.” An easy read that explains―in conversational manner―the newest ideas on neurobiological and transformational learning, the work begins with what’s wrong with education and ends with a call for reader participation in developing and applying transformational neurobiological learning, addressing knowledge and wisdom over data and information acquisition.
I’ve been working for over 15 years on a sequel, tentatively entitled “Nurturing the Genius Within,” addressing the “how-to,” building directly on UNLOCK THE GENIUS WITHIN. Interestingly, this approach to education has extensive applications far beyond the classroom. In THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor, a fiction pen name of mine) — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 — I address the whole concept of “meeting place” education, suggesting that technologies such as Meta will play a crucial role in the future of terrestrial and extra-terrestrial (e.g. in-transit and Mars colony) education. Consider, for example, a future “classroom” inhabited by interactive holographic representations of both students, instructors and mentors. Far fetched? Perhaps, but not as far fetched as one might think. Rather “existing on the progressing technological edge” of education, which for some, can only be imagined as magic or madness.
Unlock the Genius Within: Neurobiological Trauma, Teaching, and Transformative Learning
THE EDGE OF MADNESS is available in printed, digital and audiobook format, and has been purchased by K. Simmons Productions for manga, animation and cinematic treatment. Who knows? Perhaps I’ll end up acting in the film version…
I’ve been working for over 15 years on a sequel, tentatively entitled “Nurturing the Genius Within,” addressing the “how-to,” building directly on UNLOCK THE GENIUS WITHIN. Interestingly, this approach to education has extensive applications far beyond the classroom. In THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor, a fiction pen name of mine) — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693859 — I address the whole concept of “meeting place” education, suggesting that technologies such as Meta will play a crucial role in the future of terrestrial and extra-terrestrial (e.g. in-transit and Mars colony) education. Consider, for example, a future “classroom” inhabited by interactive holographic representations of both students, instructors and mentors. Far fetched? Perhaps, but not as far fetched as one might think. Rather “existing on the progressing technological edge” of education, which for some, can only be imagined as magic or madness.
Unlock the Genius Within: Neurobiological Trauma, Teaching, and Transformative Learning
THE EDGE OF MADNESS is available in printed, digital and audiobook format, and has been purchased by K. Simmons Productions for manga, animation and cinematic treatment. Who knows? Perhaps I’ll end up acting in the film version…
March 1, 2022
TO BE OR NOT TO BE…
THE Ukraine Crisis brings up a cogent human issue that is always lurking just beneath consciousness but always there, like an itch that can’t be reached: Which is worse, being victimized or watching someone else be victimized and not doing anything? There’s no question that being victimized is a horrible experience that reverberates throughout one’s life, affecting a unique point-of-view not only on the victim but quite possibly on future generations. However, while victimization and its effects are slowly but in increasingly acknowledged, the effects of watching victimization occur without taking action (or being able to take action) are not so well recognized or acknowledged. I think that the current Ukraine Crisis is a “Perfect Storm” of “passive victimization.”
Does “Passive” make something less damaging? Think “passive smoking,” where the physical as well as mental health effects on the person being unwantingly exposed to smoking can be sometimes be significantly worse than on the smoker. In fact, “passive victimization” isn’t new with the Ukraine Crisis, or war in general for that matter. But it does create an “in your face” experience of watching abuse and being or at least feeling powerless about doing something about it.
I believe there’s two parts to “passive victimization” being experienced by millions watching the unfolding Ukraine Crisis “on site,” or distantly on television or internet news. First, the watcher simply by watching becomes a secondary victim. In fact, we humans experience this constantly and unrelentingly when viewing violent non-fictional as well as fictional movies. It’s the same process, but experienced repetitively, some suggest makes the extent of the damage broader (e.g. more “triggers”) and worse. It’s in learning that one is powerless in such situations, unless one takes on the role of the victimizer by intervening with equal or stronger force. Second, I think the fact that one experiences and learns that the best way to protect oneself is to be powerlessness and inactive, which makes it “doubly” damaging.
In fact, there are a lot of things one can do when witnessing violence. If it’s fictional, turn off the television or walk out of the movie and stop watching. Then publicly rate the presentation. If it’s non-fictional, call it what it is, and, if it can’t be “turned off,” scream or call for help. Pushing violence “into the light” often is enough to stop it, as many countries are attempting to do with the Ukraine Crisis. Light and truth are powerful, non-violent actions. Uniting in the acknowledgement that violence has been perpetrated, and that no prior act or reasoning justify it is another. Individually, I believe it’s in the act of responding, rather than continuing to watch hopelessly that much of the damage from “passive victimization” can be lessened or even quashed. It may not stop or prevent the victimization itself, but it can attenuate the effects of passive violence, which, in my opinion, can not only be extensive, but otherwise perpetuate the cycle of violence.
There’s, of course, a lot more to this than can be addressed in a short blog post, but conscious vigilance and taking non-violent action is a good first step. This can be a particularly challenging issue for artists, including authors, editors, screenwriters, book and television/movie producers as well as actors and crew. Should one have individual moral limits regarding a story including secondary violence whether direct or indirect? Violence is, as many would point out, a timeless part and parcel of human culture. However, agreement only this brings up the additional issue of whether violence, in being acknowledged, reported, described or written about, should be described in all its disgustingly gory detail or smoothed over, denying the disgustingly gory details altogether? Is one “worse” than the other? I don’t know, but I do know issues such as these deserve public consideration, especially as we continue to be confronted by the blatant violence surrounding the Ukraine Crisis. Maybe it’s yet another “shot across the bow” that we humans need to step and assume responsibility for our and other humans’ actions.
Does “Passive” make something less damaging? Think “passive smoking,” where the physical as well as mental health effects on the person being unwantingly exposed to smoking can be sometimes be significantly worse than on the smoker. In fact, “passive victimization” isn’t new with the Ukraine Crisis, or war in general for that matter. But it does create an “in your face” experience of watching abuse and being or at least feeling powerless about doing something about it.
I believe there’s two parts to “passive victimization” being experienced by millions watching the unfolding Ukraine Crisis “on site,” or distantly on television or internet news. First, the watcher simply by watching becomes a secondary victim. In fact, we humans experience this constantly and unrelentingly when viewing violent non-fictional as well as fictional movies. It’s the same process, but experienced repetitively, some suggest makes the extent of the damage broader (e.g. more “triggers”) and worse. It’s in learning that one is powerless in such situations, unless one takes on the role of the victimizer by intervening with equal or stronger force. Second, I think the fact that one experiences and learns that the best way to protect oneself is to be powerlessness and inactive, which makes it “doubly” damaging.
In fact, there are a lot of things one can do when witnessing violence. If it’s fictional, turn off the television or walk out of the movie and stop watching. Then publicly rate the presentation. If it’s non-fictional, call it what it is, and, if it can’t be “turned off,” scream or call for help. Pushing violence “into the light” often is enough to stop it, as many countries are attempting to do with the Ukraine Crisis. Light and truth are powerful, non-violent actions. Uniting in the acknowledgement that violence has been perpetrated, and that no prior act or reasoning justify it is another. Individually, I believe it’s in the act of responding, rather than continuing to watch hopelessly that much of the damage from “passive victimization” can be lessened or even quashed. It may not stop or prevent the victimization itself, but it can attenuate the effects of passive violence, which, in my opinion, can not only be extensive, but otherwise perpetuate the cycle of violence.
There’s, of course, a lot more to this than can be addressed in a short blog post, but conscious vigilance and taking non-violent action is a good first step. This can be a particularly challenging issue for artists, including authors, editors, screenwriters, book and television/movie producers as well as actors and crew. Should one have individual moral limits regarding a story including secondary violence whether direct or indirect? Violence is, as many would point out, a timeless part and parcel of human culture. However, agreement only this brings up the additional issue of whether violence, in being acknowledged, reported, described or written about, should be described in all its disgustingly gory detail or smoothed over, denying the disgustingly gory details altogether? Is one “worse” than the other? I don’t know, but I do know issues such as these deserve public consideration, especially as we continue to be confronted by the blatant violence surrounding the Ukraine Crisis. Maybe it’s yet another “shot across the bow” that we humans need to step and assume responsibility for our and other humans’ actions.
February 28, 2022
WHAT’S IN A VOICE?
I’M pleased to announce that producer/director Kenny Simmons of K. Simmons Productions has asked me to audition for the role of narrator in THE MALTESE COLLECTION (TMC) — https://kspllc.media/maltese-collection. William Matese is a friend and authoring colleague, soon to be the star in the bio-documentary, a “reprise to William Maltese’s many inspirations, his achievements, and his lifelong support of erotica, LGBTQ authors and readers.” All I have to say is that it’s about time on all fronts, and I’m honored to audition for this role. Follow the filming on my website at https://drjanik.yolasite.com/actor.php.
“Pioneering author, artist, model, explorer, escort, military man, businessman, clothing designer, and worldwide celebrity William Maltese is a Pacific Northwesterner whose author career spans four decades. From men’s pulp magazines to Harlequin Romances to children’s books to erotic man-love and, yes, to gourmet cookbooks, Maltese has penned more than 200 fiction and non-fiction books. Well known as a vanguard of pulp m/m fiction that launched its ‘Golden Age’ in the sixties, he’s earned, among many accolades, several Lambda Literary Award nominations and listings in various Marquis WHO’S WHO reference books.” He’s currently completing a screenplay based on his award-winning haunting fantasy books, WILLIAM MALTESE’S FLICKER #1 – Book of Answers — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0984555242 — and WILLIAM MALTESE’S FLICKER #2 – Book of Ascendancy — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693875.
Having had the pleasure of co-authoring together the naughty, dramatic, political satire-turned-prophetic TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo-Wildside) — https://www.amazon.com/dp/1434403556, I am totally excited about William’s film debut in THE MALTESE COLLECTION and the opportunity to perhaps narrate this important film. Won’t you join me in a tax-deductible, supporting donation to make this domestic production available globally at https://themaltesecollection.wedid.it....
“Pioneering author, artist, model, explorer, escort, military man, businessman, clothing designer, and worldwide celebrity William Maltese is a Pacific Northwesterner whose author career spans four decades. From men’s pulp magazines to Harlequin Romances to children’s books to erotic man-love and, yes, to gourmet cookbooks, Maltese has penned more than 200 fiction and non-fiction books. Well known as a vanguard of pulp m/m fiction that launched its ‘Golden Age’ in the sixties, he’s earned, among many accolades, several Lambda Literary Award nominations and listings in various Marquis WHO’S WHO reference books.” He’s currently completing a screenplay based on his award-winning haunting fantasy books, WILLIAM MALTESE’S FLICKER #1 – Book of Answers — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0984555242 — and WILLIAM MALTESE’S FLICKER #2 – Book of Ascendancy — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999693875.
Having had the pleasure of co-authoring together the naughty, dramatic, political satire-turned-prophetic TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo-Wildside) — https://www.amazon.com/dp/1434403556, I am totally excited about William’s film debut in THE MALTESE COLLECTION and the opportunity to perhaps narrate this important film. Won’t you join me in a tax-deductible, supporting donation to make this domestic production available globally at https://themaltesecollection.wedid.it....
February 25, 2022
COOKING UP THE PERFECT ILLUSION
THINGS are starting to heat up at Kurt Ken Kaminaka’s Artzone studio as filming for “The Perfect Illusion” continues. I have the pleasure of playing Dr. Stevenson, a physician of dubious ethics, attending main character Ren Gaya (played by Co-Director/Actor Kurt Ken Kaminaka) – https://www.totck.com/tpi-actors-crew). Had a wonderful rehearsal on 22 February at the Artzone under the direction of Co-Director Lymari Graciano (https://janik.yolasite.com/actor.php) teasing out the doctor’s character and practicing lines on the set with the other scene actors. Anticipating final blocking and filming of both Dr. Stevenson’s part AND my DanceSport partner Setsuko Tsuchiya and I in the Gala Party scene within the next couple of weeks.
What’s The Perfect Illusion? A suicidal man finds a new reason to live after he stumbles upon a curio shop that transports him into the future. Soon he finds himself risking his own life trying to save the woman of his dreams, but struggles as reality may not be as it appears. Official teaser: https://www.totck.com/the-perfect-ill.... Alternate teaser: https://www.totck.com/super-trailer.
Take a tour of The ArtZone Studio: https://www.facebook.com/kenny.kamina...
What’s The Perfect Illusion? A suicidal man finds a new reason to live after he stumbles upon a curio shop that transports him into the future. Soon he finds himself risking his own life trying to save the woman of his dreams, but struggles as reality may not be as it appears. Official teaser: https://www.totck.com/the-perfect-ill.... Alternate teaser: https://www.totck.com/super-trailer.
Take a tour of The ArtZone Studio: https://www.facebook.com/kenny.kamina...
February 23, 2022
ON DOMINATION OF THE WORLD
ONE of my favorite action scenes from the movies is Largo and James Bond playing “The Domination Game” from “Never Say Never Again” (1983), though, watching the news, it could have just as well been 2022 — https://youtu.be/wUT5CpgYXMM?t=24. On the other hand, in all fairness, one should look at the situation from the opposite perspective — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jj-P... and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2Vui... — including ongoing peace negotiations — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLyd7... — before coming to a conclusion.
In my playbook, money and power are illusions. They bring neither inner happiness nor immortality. Instead, they are pieces in a great Monopoly game, played by bored persons filled with hubris. I illustrate this in my two books, TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2016) by Raymond Gaynor and William Maltese, the recent sequel, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor, and my upcoming third work in this series, PROPHECY, which is nearing completion.
If not money and power, for what do people have to live? If not lost in illusion, what does “real” life have to offer those authentic persons with “eyes wide open?” Greater consciousness? Self-actualization? I would say the blessings of volution, cooperation, empathy, good deeds and will. Neither utopia nor dystopia, but the experience of living life as it actually is, garnering friends and loves, enriching the soul that will lead us from this to the next life experience.
I’m not talking here of a new religion or, for that matter, any of today’s “social clubs” that call themselves religions, but of individual spirituality. The one-on-one between each person and his or her higher power. Call me weird, crazy or bizarrely idealistic, but I believe it’s about nurturing the “inner” child, teen, young adult, adult and elder soul. That, alongside taking responsibility for husbanding and stewarding the world upon which we are privileged to live during this phase of our lives. Being top predator and presumably more conscious than most other living things carries with it a hefty responsibility, the first of which is to grow up, stop waging war and, in the words of the Great Physician, Hippocrates, “First, do no harm.”
The Edge of Madness
In my playbook, money and power are illusions. They bring neither inner happiness nor immortality. Instead, they are pieces in a great Monopoly game, played by bored persons filled with hubris. I illustrate this in my two books, TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2016) by Raymond Gaynor and William Maltese, the recent sequel, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor, and my upcoming third work in this series, PROPHECY, which is nearing completion.
If not money and power, for what do people have to live? If not lost in illusion, what does “real” life have to offer those authentic persons with “eyes wide open?” Greater consciousness? Self-actualization? I would say the blessings of volution, cooperation, empathy, good deeds and will. Neither utopia nor dystopia, but the experience of living life as it actually is, garnering friends and loves, enriching the soul that will lead us from this to the next life experience.
I’m not talking here of a new religion or, for that matter, any of today’s “social clubs” that call themselves religions, but of individual spirituality. The one-on-one between each person and his or her higher power. Call me weird, crazy or bizarrely idealistic, but I believe it’s about nurturing the “inner” child, teen, young adult, adult and elder soul. That, alongside taking responsibility for husbanding and stewarding the world upon which we are privileged to live during this phase of our lives. Being top predator and presumably more conscious than most other living things carries with it a hefty responsibility, the first of which is to grow up, stop waging war and, in the words of the Great Physician, Hippocrates, “First, do no harm.”
The Edge of Madness
February 21, 2022
THE LAST BOOKSTORE
WELL, as the real “The Last Bookstore” in Los Angeles, California states on its incredible website, “We’re not really the last bookstore – thank goodness – but we are the largest new and used bookstore in California. Plus, we’re the only one that’s 22,000 sq. feet with a record store, comic book store, 5 art studios, an epic yarn shop, a famous book tunnel, a mammoth head, and unexpected nooks of funkiness. Also we are in a hundred-year-old bank building, so we have vaults and ghosts. Oh, and we also have tons of books. Tons.”
In this era of loss and troubles, bookstores and libraries closing en masse, traditional publishers, like Savant Books and Publications, looking into becoming online fee-for-service vanity publishers, it’s nice to see and hear something positive. And positive is the very essence of their website (visiting their brick and mortar store is now on my “definitive” bucket list): https://www.lastbookstorela.com. Hey, I actually remember BCE (before the common era of self-publishing) / PC (pre-COVID) when bookstores actually looked like this! I remember their ambience and even their slightly musty smell, and, yes, I do miss them greatly.
True, as “The Last Bookstore” states on its website: “What are you waiting for? we won’t be here forever.” Given the propensity of bookstores to become a “business” (gauged mainly by whether it incurs increasing profit) rather than a service to humanity (think of all the children today who may never experience or even see a living, working bookstore or library). The future of publishing, i.e. providing a totally digital nexus between new publications and readers, is, at best, lackluster compared to the “good old days” and already almost totally driven by the profit motive these days. I think of two futures for publishing: (1) everything digital; and (2) everything movie (animated or cinematic) rather than printed books which are already becoming a boutique, if not actual antique item. Which future will prevail? Likely a combination of both, where book publishers join forces with movie production studios, much as Savant Books and Publications has been acquired by K. Simmons Productions — https://kspllc.media. The “new” Savant Books and Publications — https://www.savantbooksandpublication... — has been headed in both directions for over five years, while still retaining its commitment to producing “outstanding, enduring works for the twenty-first century.” No matter what the future of bookstores or business, I still believe the most remarkable will be always end up those dedicated to the highest quality communication with a firm, continued commitment to positive human experiences.
In this era of loss and troubles, bookstores and libraries closing en masse, traditional publishers, like Savant Books and Publications, looking into becoming online fee-for-service vanity publishers, it’s nice to see and hear something positive. And positive is the very essence of their website (visiting their brick and mortar store is now on my “definitive” bucket list): https://www.lastbookstorela.com. Hey, I actually remember BCE (before the common era of self-publishing) / PC (pre-COVID) when bookstores actually looked like this! I remember their ambience and even their slightly musty smell, and, yes, I do miss them greatly.
True, as “The Last Bookstore” states on its website: “What are you waiting for? we won’t be here forever.” Given the propensity of bookstores to become a “business” (gauged mainly by whether it incurs increasing profit) rather than a service to humanity (think of all the children today who may never experience or even see a living, working bookstore or library). The future of publishing, i.e. providing a totally digital nexus between new publications and readers, is, at best, lackluster compared to the “good old days” and already almost totally driven by the profit motive these days. I think of two futures for publishing: (1) everything digital; and (2) everything movie (animated or cinematic) rather than printed books which are already becoming a boutique, if not actual antique item. Which future will prevail? Likely a combination of both, where book publishers join forces with movie production studios, much as Savant Books and Publications has been acquired by K. Simmons Productions — https://kspllc.media. The “new” Savant Books and Publications — https://www.savantbooksandpublication... — has been headed in both directions for over five years, while still retaining its commitment to producing “outstanding, enduring works for the twenty-first century.” No matter what the future of bookstores or business, I still believe the most remarkable will be always end up those dedicated to the highest quality communication with a firm, continued commitment to positive human experiences.
February 17, 2022
TRUTH
I hear a lot these days about how “unfair” autocratic folks, foreign and domestic, feel they’re being treated these days. The popular saying, “truth hurts” as well as Khaled Hosseini’s famous quote: “better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie” say it all. In my opinion, the best defense against autocracy is truth, exactly what U. S. President Biden seems to be doing to defend against a Russian invasion of the Ukraine.
The problem, even in countries relatively intolerant of propaganda, is knowing what is the truth. The USA has its own challenges in this arena with advertising where sometimes, “the truth is what sells” and with social media where sometimes, “the truth is whatever’s popular.” The ancient Greeks recognized this problem with knowing the truth, eventually identifying the three great “appeals:” logos, pathos and ethos, to which I would add keiros and numos/nomos.
Logos (good reasoning and logic) is said to be the only appeal with “truth value.” Not truth per se, but at least truth value, meaning, if the evidence and arguments check out, the thesis can be assumed to be true. Not so with pathos (emotional), ethos (cultural/nationalistic moral imperative), keiros (leader inspired and laden) and numos (derived from law) appeals. These four non-logos appeals have instead, emotional, moral, popular and/or legal value. But not truth value. It’s more difficult when one or more of these “other” four appeals is mixed in with logos.
Yet, even knowing the truth isn’t sufficient to isolate it from “spin,” namely the author’s personal needs, wants and desires. To the best of my knowledge, over the millennia, humans have only come up with four “proofs,” each of which in some situations is flawed: authority, logos, science and statistics. And maybe, just maybe, as portrayed in my Sci-Fu (science-based futuring) novel, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor, a fifth proof derived from M-Superstring and Multiverse Theory. Something welling up from the quantum world through ours into the cosmic world, the illusory Unified Field Theory.
The Edge of Madness
The problem, even in countries relatively intolerant of propaganda, is knowing what is the truth. The USA has its own challenges in this arena with advertising where sometimes, “the truth is what sells” and with social media where sometimes, “the truth is whatever’s popular.” The ancient Greeks recognized this problem with knowing the truth, eventually identifying the three great “appeals:” logos, pathos and ethos, to which I would add keiros and numos/nomos.
Logos (good reasoning and logic) is said to be the only appeal with “truth value.” Not truth per se, but at least truth value, meaning, if the evidence and arguments check out, the thesis can be assumed to be true. Not so with pathos (emotional), ethos (cultural/nationalistic moral imperative), keiros (leader inspired and laden) and numos (derived from law) appeals. These four non-logos appeals have instead, emotional, moral, popular and/or legal value. But not truth value. It’s more difficult when one or more of these “other” four appeals is mixed in with logos.
Yet, even knowing the truth isn’t sufficient to isolate it from “spin,” namely the author’s personal needs, wants and desires. To the best of my knowledge, over the millennia, humans have only come up with four “proofs,” each of which in some situations is flawed: authority, logos, science and statistics. And maybe, just maybe, as portrayed in my Sci-Fu (science-based futuring) novel, THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor, a fifth proof derived from M-Superstring and Multiverse Theory. Something welling up from the quantum world through ours into the cosmic world, the illusory Unified Field Theory.
The Edge of Madness
