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Borders Goes Digital

Published by Jackie Vesci February 12th, 2008 in Uncategorized. 3 Comments

I receive a free daily newsletter from PublishersLunch (”Published Daily, Except When Not”) highlighting trends in the publishing industry. One headline entitled “Borders Trials New Concept This Week” started my research this evening into one of my favorite companies.

According to The Ann Arbor News, Borders plans to open a “new concept store” near their headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan this Thursday, February 14, 2008.

Borders currently stands as the #2 bookstore in the U.S., second to Barnes & Noble. In order to modify the “superstore” mentality which causes Borders and Barnes & Noble to mimic one another, Borders plans to apply technology in new ways while opening stores throughout 2008.

Why the emphasis on technology in 2008? Stephanie Murray of Ann Arbor News notes in her article, “Borders ready to turn a new page” that Borders lost “$222 million through the first three quarters of 2006,” mostly due to underperforming Waldenbooks stores and non-franchised international business. As a result, Borders closed over 100 Waldenbooks and sold overseas stores in the U.K. and Ireland, with plans to do the same in Australia and New Zealand.

The future of Borders depends on a national focus and innovative/integrative new technologies, particularly with the launch of their own e-commerce Web site (expected to go live by April, currently testing at beta.bordersstores.com).

Officially ending their affiliation with Amazon at the beginning of February, which lasted since 1991, Borders plans to closely align store and online operations through their own site. An article on CNET entitled, “Borders to break free of Amazon” (01/16/08) notes a couple of ideas used in the beta version, such as a “magic shelf” recommending books, movies and music, and the ability to see if an item online is in stock at a local store.

With all of the existing technologies distributing information in 2008, I wonder how much longer customers will even demand their books printed and bound. Is there a future for retail as we know it or are shopping malls destined to look like one giant Apple store with small distribution centers?

Borders has the right idea going digital. I look forward to following their progress with the new stores opening in 2008. However, I don’t know if they can keep up with all the changes in technology and start to turn a profit again.

Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire by Rafe Esquith

Published by Jackie Vesci February 9th, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

I just finished Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56 (2007) by Hobart Elementary School teacher Rafe Esquith. As a follow-up to my former outburst-of-a-post “A Real Education” and the thoughtful (and much appreciated) responses from readers, I recommend reading Esquith’s new book.

ROOM 56. Fifth graders gather in a Los Angeles neighborhood elementary school classroom. Most students are immigrants or the children of immigrants, live in poverty and violent conditions, speak little English — and are also known to play Vivaldi, perform unabridged Shakespeare plays, and go on to the Ivy Leagues. The students voluntarily show up at 6:30 a.m. and stay until after five, even attending while on vacation.

Lessons include: following an in-class economic system demonstrating principles of money management, hearing/discussing The Autobiography of Malcolm X on CD (read by actor Joe Morton) and Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl (read by Winona Ryder) bringing civil rights and history alive, reading The Chronicles of Narnia and Alice in Wonderland turning imagination into reading comprehension, watching Morgan Freeman’s character in The Shawshank Redemption convey the importance of finding an authentic self and voice, reading music by playing U2 and Radiohead…

for 10 YEAR OLDS. This, I believe, constitutes a real education.

As a tribute to teaching - the continued practice of trial and error, failures that lead to greatness, exceeding expectations, defying odds, discarding labels, testing boundaries, building values, hope and wonder in every individual - here are some remarkable excerpts:

“Visitors to Room 56 never come away most impressed with the academic ability of the children, the style in which I present lessons, or the cleverness of the wall decorations. They come away shaking their heads over something else: the culture of the classroom. It’s calm. It is incredibly civil. It’s an oasis. But something is missing. Ironically, Room 56 is a special place not because of what it has, but because of what it is missing: fear” (5).

“I want my students to love to read. Reading is not a subject. Reading is a foundation of life, an activity that people who are engaged with the world do all the time. It is often exceedingly difficult to convince young people of this fact, given the world in which they are growing up. But it is possible, and when you consider what is at stake, the effort is worth it. If a child is going to grow into a truly special adult - someone who thinks, considers other points of view, has an open mind, and possesses the ability to discuss great ideas with other people - a love of reading is an essential foundation” (33).

A Real Education

Published by Jackie Vesci January 30th, 2008 in Uncategorized. 8 Comments

The more I read, the more challenging and controversial conversations I have, and the more I realize:

1) I don’t know anything.

2) Many systems and institutions exist to keep societies uneducated and afraid.

Why don’t we talk about war, religion, sex, politics, work conditions, corporations, race, hatred, discrimination, justice — Why don’t we read, challenge, question — as a society, in general? Why are we so afraid — of the unknown, new ideas, ideas that challenge our preconceived notions? Why do we follow religions and institutions that ask us not to question?

Why don’t we seek out a real education - one not preached or memorized through unchallenged “facts” and historic dates in a textbook, but one that expands our perception of the world - that demands we experience new ways of acting, thinking, and connecting with others? Why are we so afraid? We are all mortal and we are all equal. Nothing separates us besides fear. The next time you feel afraid, ask yourself why - then talk about it, no matter how difficult that might seem at the time.

Working at a Bookstore

Published by Jackie Vesci December 18th, 2007 in Uncategorized. 3 Comments

While working full-time at Half Price Books over the last 3 months or so, I have been able to borrow merchandise and purchase used items at greatly reduced prices. In this environment, reading has become a new high. I’ve purchased and borrowed more books in the last three months than I have probably read in my entire lifetime. Any spare minute has transformed into an opportunity to read another page.

Ideally for me, “breaks” from work would involve me checking out other bookstores for new titles, display ideas, and upcoming events. At night, I would like to meet with different book clubs to discuss books or to hear an author speak. Over the last few weeks dreams of traveling the country (and possibly the world) to visit bookstores and libraries have consumed my imagination.

Oh, and there are DVDs, CDs, magazines - the list of artistic, thought provoking, and creative material surrounding me on a daily basis goes on for days. I’ve watched roughly 8 documentaries in the last week. If you get a chance, I highly recommend watching “Maxed Out” and “The Boys and Girls Guide to Getting Down.”

As far as going out in Pittsburgh, I have been mostly checking out the dance scene - Salsa, Blues, Swing, a little Irish dancing, and hopefully ballroom by the end of January.

Mainly I haven’t posted over the last two months because every second I am bursting to share an experience with a book, film, piece of music, or dance and don’t know where to start. Unfortunately, I have been neglecting my desire to write and plan to get back into the habit now on the website.

The books I am currently dying to continue reading:

“American Vertigo” by Bernard-Henri Levi

“Why We Buy” by Paco Underhill

“Dancing: The Pleasure, Power, and Art of Movement” by Gerald Jonas

“Six Arguments for a Greener Diet” by Michael F. Jacobson

“One Market Under God” by Thomas Frank

Audible.com (audiobooks downloaded online) credits I recently used: “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy (in two parts, will take over 70 hours to listen to) “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert - ” The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls - “The Shock Doctrine” by Naomi Klein - and “The Golden Compass” by Philip Pullman.

CDs I recommend*: Talib Kweli’s “Eardrum” - Gnarls Barkley “St. Elsewhere” - and Mr. Lif “I Phantom” (*all Rap and R&B)

Halloween Party Tomorrow Night!

Published by Jackie Vesci October 29th, 2007 in Fun, Pittsburgh and Community. 1 Comment

Check out the BarSmart.com promotion and find directions to the event

You can find me in the Burgh…

Published by Jackie Vesci October 25th, 2007 in Pittsburgh, Conference and Creative Treehouse. 1 Comment

Saturday, October 27, 2007 I will be attending the Artistic Evening for the La Roche Global Solutions Conference @ the Creative Treehouse in Bellevue. The evening starts at 7:00pm and will feature poetry and art from students of La Roche College, as well as LIVE performances by Sean Atkins, Monkey Face with Steve Jarrett, and the Jim Dandies (with Josh Sager on keyboard, guitar and keytar -blogger at Star Dot Star Comics). $3 donations at the door will benefit the Brother’s Brother Foundation of Pittsburgh.

Tuesday, October 30, before the 7 DEADLY SINS PARTY @ PETER’S PUB, Pittsburgh Young Professionals will host a Halloween Bash @ Town Tavern on the Southside from 6:00pm-9:00pm. The cost is $30 per person, which includes an OPEN BAR and an array of assorted appetizers - tossed salad, BBQ chicken wings, vegetable spring rolls, and Town Tavern’s own mini-burgers. A prize will be awarded for the best costume.

Then, hop in a cab and come to Oakland for the 10:00pm Devil’s Night Celebration at Peter’s Pub to benefit the National MS Society!

More to follow!

Celebrate Devil’s Night and Live the 7 Deadly Sins @ Peter’s Pub

Published by Jackie Vesci October 17th, 2007 in Art, Fun, Pittsburgh and Advertising. 1 Comment

To get in the celebratory mode, I decided to try crafty invites for the Halloween party. I found a book at work called The Best Seasonal Promotions by Poppy Evans. On page 44 there is an idea for Halloween Mask invitations. I painted the above Devil Mask from the picture in the book, and then the instructions say to punch holes on both sides, inserting ribbon and attaching a notecard with the event details. I painted the picture, took it to FedEx Kinko’s, copied it to a CD, and posted it here at echoflip.com. I don’t know if the all the fancy details will accompany my project, but it’s a start and a fun idea I wanted to share.

Plus, I’m getting jealous watching Matt and other artists be crafty all the time…

EVENT DETAILS SO FAR:

Where: Peter’s Pub, Oakland (Upstairs)

When: DEVIL’S NIGHT, Tuesday, October 30 @ 10:00 pm

Who: Sinners 21+, specifically committing the 7 Deadly ones - Lust, Greed, Envy, Sloth, Pride, Anger, and Gluttony

Why? Because it will be Amazing!, ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY, Free Beer!!!, Miller Light Girls will be there (tentatively), BarSmart Girls will be there (tentatively), other cool stuff is in the works!

This will not be the last post on this party, but I want to get the word out so tell all your friends and plan on coming!!!

Working 7 Days a Week

Published by Jackie Vesci October 14th, 2007 in Fun, Career, Pittsburgh, Community, museum and Volunteer. 0 Comments

Perhaps avid echoflip.com readers have noticed my lack of posting. Allow me to explain - I work 7 days a week. During any given day, you can find me at my full-time job as a Bookseller at Half Price Books or working in catering at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, National Aviary, Carnegie Museum, Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Science Center, or Pittsburgh Marriott City Center, among other places.

Also, I’m currently planning a Halloween Party scheduled for Tuesday, October 30 - 10:00pm @ Peter’s Pub in Oakland. All proceeds will benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as part of the U.G.L.Y. Bartender Contest. Come celebrate Devil’s Night and live the 7 Deadly Sins: lust, gluttony, envy, greed, pride, anger, and sloth. There will be FREE BEER and a $5 cover. More to follow on giveaways, etc.

Lastly, I just put in my application for a Board Member position with Pittsburgh Young Professionals (PYP) this week. If that works out, look for more posts concerning the organization, young professionals in Pittsburgh, and ongoing events.

Feel free to ask me about any of the above locations, businesses, nonprofits or event planning in general. If you encounter anyone who says there is nothing to do in Pittsburgh please direct them to this post or have them e-mail me at jvesci@gmail.com. I could easily fill up a social calendar for anyone in Pittsburgh who asks.

24 Hour Creative Marathon

Published by Jackie Vesci September 24th, 2007 in Art, Fun, Gondek, Pittsburgh, Community, Design, gallery, Artist, Bellevue and Creative Treehouse. 2 Comments

This weekend, September 28-29, check out the 24 Hour Creative Marathon. Artists can register for FREE online by following the link provided or on Friday at the door (maximum 150 artists) to create a work of art around-the-clock following the theme “Lost and Found.” A gallery show will then start at 8:00pm Saturday to showcase and sell the artwork.

All artists including painters, illustrators, cartoonists and sculptors - from amateurs to professionals - basically, if you create art in Pittsburgh, we encourage you to register for this event!

For art admirers, there will be artwork, food, drinks, and live music to enjoy at the gallery show Saturday night. And your chance to purchase an original piece created by Matt Gondek!

All the fun can and will be had at the Creative Treehouse in Bellevue.

Address: 517 Lincoln Ave., 2nd Floor, Bellevue, PA 15202

Any questions? Contact Josh Sager at creative.marathon@gmail.com
See you there!

On Imagining the Future of Pittsburgh - September 2007

Published by Jackie Vesci September 20th, 2007 in Pittsburgh and Community. 7 Comments

On imagining the future of Pittsburgh - can we unite our community around ideas of technology, the environment, and/or higher education? I attended Pop City Live! earlier this month at the New Hazlett Theater, an event planned by the creators of PopCityMedia.com, an e-magazine praising the people, businesses, and ideas leading Pittsburgh to a brighter future. The panelists encouraged attendees to promote technological, environmental, and educational initiatives to transform Pittsburgh into a “hot” city.

Sure, we have Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Robert Morris University, Chatham University, Carlow University, Point Park University, La Roche College, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and the Community College of Allegheny County (among others) all within minutes of each other and downtown Pittsburgh, PA. They are all teaching tens of thousands of young adults to think for themselves, become active and informed citizens, and to all-around enrich their lives - no doubt many lessons integrate the use of technology and challenge students to find sustainable solutions to environmental and social concerns.

However, are these students the people of Pittsburgh? Are the professors at these colleges and universities teaching the students about the rich history of Pittsburgh and truly providing them with a sense of community?

People of Pittsburgh - people that stay because they remember and reminisce about the Steel City, their families live here, they love the Steelers, the Pirates, the Penguins, and the Panthers, taking their children and grandchildren to Kennywood in the summer, watching the nostalgic documentaries by Rick Sebak, visiting the Carnegie Museum, the Carnegie Science Center, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Benedum, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, and throwing back an Iron City or enjoying a Primanti’s sandwich with old friends.

A disconnect remains. Until our leaders and teachers understand what motivates the people OF Pittsburgh, and not the people in Pittsburgh on their way to a life outside of our Three Rivers, we cannot unite the community around a shared vision.

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