Strollerderby : community

Will Libraries Go the Way of Video Stores?

Miriam Axel-Lute — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:15:00 GMT

Anyone who has both used Netflix and had an overdue library book knew it was only a matter of time until the same model was used for books. And in fact, there are a few companies out there who have been sailing in those waters, like Booksfree and Book Swim. Book Swim is now specifically promoting itself to pregnant women ("It costs a lot to buy all those pregnancy books only to discover that most of them are useless and mostly designed to scare the crap out of you." Ahem, my words, not theirs) and also parents of the voracious read-to-me set ("save money spent on buying lots of children's books that can be rented instead." Their words, not mine).

While it appeals on some level, I have quibbles with the execution: They have not yet gotten the one of the main keys to Netflix's success, which is having everything, not just the most popular stuff. I looked up several of my daughter's favorites on Book Swim, and they weren't there. Not only that, but her not-all-that-obscure beloved tales don't come anywhere near meeting the fine-print criteria for the cheery "just tell us what you want and we'll buy it for you!" option, which include "an Amazon sales rank of at least 20,000." That's pretty narrow folks. I think there must be 20,000 best-selling unofficial political biographies alone.

If you're going to charge $20 to 40/month for 3 to 11 books at a time (Book Swim. Don't get fooled by their low intro rate—it's one month only) or $10 to $50/month for 2 to 15 books at time (Booksfree), you need super-duper-special selection and service. Remember folks, you are competing against free. I suppose if I had to drive to the library, or had a work schedule that conflicted with its hours, the delivery aspect would be more of a draw and feel like less of an environmental faux pas, but from my home office it just looks like one more lost excuse to get out of the house for 15 minutes. (And it's worth noting that many libraries apparently will deliver too under some circumstances.)

I'm sure the right person with sufficient capital could iron out these issues, add a recommendation engine, and be really in business. (Unless the higher cost of shipping books compared to DVDs just makes it an idea whose time hasn't come after all. It's possible.)

But what really troubles me, of course, is the idea of abandoning the library. Libraries still serve as one of the rare public meeting spaces not devoted to commerce. They help kids with research and adults with job hunts and starting businesses and their own formal and informal educations. Libraries buy books based on both popularity and serving their public. They tend to fight the good fight to make sure controversial material is available. You know, good qualifty-of-life, bastion of democracy stuff.

We recently had a budget vote on a large plan to expand and upgrade the branch libraries up here in Albany, so I've seen the research about the social and economic benefits of a good library. But I've also heard from the kooks who say that with the Internet and big-box bookstores, we don't need libraries anymore, and I hate the idea of giving them more ammunition. I know book renters would still pay their library taxes, but usage rates and general familiarity are crucial to keep libraries' budgets away from the ax.

I think with the right savvy, libraries are up to the task of competing with even an improved book rental service. Already, through inter-library loans you can get almost anything, and with my countywide system's online reservation system, it's almost as easy as Netflix to request something. A little slow to get it, but that should be fixable. Make renewing easier, with a warning system when something's coming due, and you're most of the way there for me.

Besides, for picture books, the library already wins hands down: My daughter gets the tactile adventure of browsing the shelves and discovering hidden gems, and we get the excuse of "Oh, that has to go back to the library now!" when a not-quite-gem has worn out its welcome.

Photo by Sugar Pond.

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Chris Rock could be Barack Obama's running mate

Brett Singer — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Barack Obama and Chris Rock think alike.

Last week, Barack Obama made a speech on Father's Day in which he discussed the rising rate of absent fathers, specifically in the African-American community. "Too many fathers…are…missing from too many lives and too many homes. They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men."

When I heard this I said – hang on. That sounds familiar. Who said that before?

Oh! Chris Rock. In 1996.

According to Trey Ellis, Obama mentioned Rock's routine, "albeit cleaned up a lot." (I hope so!)

Video of Rock's bit and Obama's speech are below. But basically, here's the crux of it:

Barack Obama: Black men need to take more responsibility for their children.
Chris Rock: "I take care of my kids!" What do you want, a cookie?

Ellis also makes an interesting point: "The other side to this story, however, the one that is rarely reported, is the demonization of far too many dads after a family splits. I've heard from men who wanted to be involved dads but have been barred from seeing their kids by an unfeeling and decidely anti-male family court system." I'm sure that's true. But I don't think that diminishes Obama's (or Rock's) message.

Chris Rock (Not safe for work)

Barack Obama (probably safe for work but a little long)

image: huffpost

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Strollerderby Playdate: Deep Thoughts

Amy Kuras — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:32:00 GMT

Sometimes playdates are light and fun and hilarious.
Other times you find yourself talking about things you never thought you would, and the discussion stays with you a long, long time. If you are lucky enough to find wise friends, who can look at themselves and others in a fearless and clear-eyed way, you can even find yourself having insights into why you feel the way you do and why you parent the way you do.
That's what's been going on this week on Ask Moxie. You're of course already reading it, and if you're not go there. Now. Seriously. I'll wait.
Moxie, and her commenters, have really built an amazing community who treat each other with kindness, empathy and honesty (a tricky combo to master about anything but especially about parenting, which can really bring out the humorless schoolmarm in all of us). This week, a question from a reader about mourning the loss of her relationship with her first child now that she has the second (right there with ya) touched off a brilliant discussion about the issues we all bring to the table as parents, dealing with the way we were parented. A followup post drew even more comments and even separate posts on other blogs.
Parenting can be a lonely business – it's easy to feel like you're the only person who is struggling with a particular issue. Sites like Ask Moxie and even this one (we hope) help you realize we're all in this together and if we drop the façade there's a lot of common ground to be had.
Anyone for a rousing chorus of Kumbaya?

Judgment Day: Thy Neighbor's Children

Karen Murphy — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:30:00 GMT

Would you tattle on a neighbor's nanny? In today's increasingly isolationist society, we're less and less It Takes a Village and more and more Turn a Blind Eye. Or are we? WSJ's The Juggle examines this very question this week, and most commenting parents agreed that they tend to watch out for their neighbor's kids as well as their own. But when does "keeping an eye out" become "butting in"? In other words, where's the fine line between being the village and being an asshat who doles out unwanted, unwarranted advice?

It's a delicate matter to report something you think is untoward that's happening to a neighbor's kid or to a classmate of your own kid. Many families are private by nature and don't welcome unsolicited advice. Other families are aware on some level of the problem but choose in their own way to ignore it, as often that's easier than admitting there's a problem in the first place.

But where do you draw the line? What if you suspect abuse, for example? Maybe not bruises-and-black-eyes abuse, but something more difficult to detect. Do you say something? And to whom? Does it depend on the situation?

It would be wonderful if we all lived in tight communities where everyone looked out for everyone else, where you knew your kids were protected because they were surrounded by people you knew and trusted. But we don't all have that, not today. I hate the idea of anonymous tattle sites where you could report something you suspected, but without those tight communities, what alternatives are there?

What about you? Do you feel you have some sort of community you can turn to, rely upon, and contribute to? And if not, how would you handle The Juggle's bad-nanny situation?

Photo: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

America's Cities of Misery or Opportunities for Change?

Karen Murphy — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:02:00 GMT

Which do you want first, the good news or the bad news? Okay, we'll take the bad news first: ten American cities have been named "most miserable" by Forbes.com. Sucks, eh? They rated cities by unemployment, personal tax rates, commute times, weather, crime and the amount of nearby toxic waste. Uh...so what's the good news? It's that every city has its good points as well as its bad ones. And every city has within it a viable community, if you only know where to look.

But first let's go back to the Misery List, shall we?

At #1 is seemingly our favorite city to bash, lovely Detroit. But have you had a look at Sweet-Juniper's eloquent homage to a city many have given up on? There's a lot more there than meets the eye.

Two cities I grew up near, farther-out bedroom communities of San Francisco, made the list (Stockton and Modesto). Maybe it's the three-hour commutes? But these are nice communities, and the fact that they're a heck of a lot more affordable than close-in communities means a lot.

You'd expect to see New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles on the list: big cities with known big-city problems are sure to be miserable. But they're also wonderful, exciting, stimulating places to live, filled with culture and resources you can't find other places.

And that's the trade-off about any city. Every city is undergoing transformation, and sometimes it doesn't look so pretty. But if you look underneath, you see what's real, and you see what is, for so many people (and with good reason), home.

P.S. My city made #5.

Photo: www.surrealplaces.com