June 25, 2025
Sometimes on my morning walks I get some decent ideas. Actually, that is a lie. I always get good ideas on my walks. The trick is to remember them when I get back to my studio! Here's one from today.
Daily Whip Out: "Divisadero Dividend"And, here's another one. . .
Seriously?
I'm not saying we had it rougher back in my day, but I will say it was extremely difficult to butt dial on a rotary phone.
Looking Back
Sometimes it's good to get away and see your troubles from another angle. While we were in Issaquah, Washington last weekend for my grandson's 12th birthday party, my daughter Deena put it all in perspective for me. We went for a walk and she asked me what is going on with True West and I gave her the newsstand horror story. I told her about my fear that everything is going digital and that print is almost dead. She proceeded to tell me that from her point of view, social media is disintegrating because of all the AI bots and disinformation, with AI posts and bots responding to bots! It's crazy and unsustainable, at least for "authenticity." That makes our magazine even more valuable because we are tangible. Then she took us to a brand new Barnes & Noble bookstore that was full of old and young alike, all seeking books printed on paper. It was all very hopeful and I think we need to stay the course and when possible double down on what we do the best: tell the truth about our past. That is invaluable!
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness. . ."
—Mark Twain
The Classic Gunfights feature is what drew me to TW back in 1999 when you took over the magazine and I would love to see more original ones instead of reprints for most of the year. Scarborough vs Selman? Nate Champion? Scarborough's last fight? Sitting Bull's last? Just saying...
ReplyDeleteI think your daughter is absolutely right. Here in Minnesota, I’ve noticed a definite uptick in activity at the bookstores. I used to enjoy having them mostly to myself, but now they’re filled with people of all ages—it feels like a real trend is taking shape.
ReplyDeleteI’m still a big fan of your oversized magazine concept and really hope you decide to pursue it. Just the other day, I picked up a one-shot Revolutionary War magazine for $15. Honestly, I think you could create something similar—but even better.
What a brilliant woman she is!!! That is a valuable insight!
ReplyDelete