Future of radio?

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After a morning at the Spy Museum and the Lincoln Memorial, we grabbed a taxi back to the hotel for lunch and R&R. The driver asked if he could keep it on the station he was listening to –it was in a foreign language– because the news was on. We said sure.

When it sounded like the news was over, I asked what language was being spoken. It was an Ethiopian station out of NYC. I wondered where else he might get news about Ethiopia. And how many other people in this country have few or no sources for news from their home country.

Could this be a possible future for “terrestrial radio?” Or, perhaps it’s present. I think most big cities have stations programming for those we once referred to as “minorities.” Which, I suppose, is the only place this makes sense. Not a lot of Ethiopians in Western Kansas.

Reminds me of the days of “block programming.” One 15 minute chuck after another, each segment different from the one before and after.

If there were only some way to return radio to the people. To let them decide how their “airways” would be used.

Paul Roe, British Ink

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I jammed my way into some very crowded Metro cars to make my way down to M Street where Paul Roe [Fez #30], the owner of British Ink was taking part in an art exhibition called Artomatic. Paul was doing pre-session consultations while his colleague, Cynthia, hummed away on a guy’s right bicep. He squeezed me in for a chat and I even got to sit in the tattoo chair. The interview ran just under 12 minutes.

D.C. in July

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Barb and I will try to do a little sight-seeing while in D.C. The International Spy Museum is on our short list. Claims to be the the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to espionage.

Picture 2“The Museum features the largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display. Many of these objects are being seen by the public for the first time. These artifacts illuminate the work of famous spies and pivotal espionage actions as well as help bring to life the strategies and techniques of the men and women behind some of the most secretive espionage missions in world history.”

One of her conference events will be held at the Newseum so we might get to see some of that. And hope to make it to Britishink, where Paul Roe (Fez #30) wields the needle.

Henry Domke: From blog to book

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henry-book200My friend Henry has self-published a book (Picture of Health, Handbook for Healthcare Art). The term usually applied to self-published books is “vanity press,” but there’s nothing vain about my friend Henry and the story behind the book is interesting.

With a little help and encouragement from me (and others, I’m sure), Henry started blogging a couple of years ago. He wrote about health care art (his specialty). He was a natural but a little more serious than your typical blogger. His posts were more like essays than blog posts and took more time to write. He clearly saw the blog as a complement to his art business.

Somewhere along the way, I told Henry about services that convert blogs to books. He was immediately interested and began researching the idea. The result is Picture of Health.

The book is beautiful. Henry spared no expense. Heavy paper, embossed cover. It felt like it weighed five pounds. God (and Henry) knows what it cost to print.

Now here’s the part I like: The book is not for sale. At least not on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble (I see that you can purchase a copy from his blog). Henry published the book to give it away. Of the thousands of names in his client database, Henry selected just over 18-hundred to receive a copy of the book. (Do the math)

Henry is using the book to build on his relationship with important clients. By keeping the book (relatively) rare, he hopes to increase its value. It’s an expensive gamble and he has promised to share the results.

The part that I found most interesting about this blog-to-book story is that the book is the ONLY book about health care art. I couldn’t believe that when Henry told me but he insists it’s true. Not one book about a multi-million dollar business. Somebody else is writing one but Picture of Health is one of a kind for now. This blows me away. I mean, how many topics don’t have at least ONE book about them?