Nyepi

Ogoh Ogoh tonight - parade of monsters and gods and whatever comes to mind with the various banjar, villages, that Bali is made up of. Hope it doesn't rain on them. Tomorrow Nyepi - 24 hours of no lights, no flights, not going outside. It's always on the night of the new moon. Hope it's not overcast because there's no sky like a nighttime Nyepi sky.

RIP Sarah Wormald

Life in Bali with Sara Wormald - Sarah Wormals died on Tuesday, March 18th.

Above is a Podbean link to a podcast for Sarah Wormald. It's a replay of two podcasts done with Sarah in 2020 and 2021. To hear it on other platforms - YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, etc, search for Cuke Audio Podcasts. 

Sarah Wormald was a diver who wrote Diving in Indonesia: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Best Dive Spots: Bali, Komodo, Sulawesi, Papua, and more.  Farewell Sarah. Sorry you died so young--at 44. We will miss you. Love, DC

Consider Barnes and Noble

Barnes & Noble is owned by Elliott Investment Management, a U.S.-based investment firm that acquired the bookstore chain in August 2019. The company is currently led by James Daunt, who is also the EO of Waterstones, a UK bookstore chain that Elliott also owns.

James Daunt is widely regarded as a thoughtful and influential figure in the global book industry, particularly for his work revitalizing bookstores. As a world citizen, he embodies several qualities:

1. Advocate for Independent Bookstores & Literary Culture

• Before leading Barnes & Noble and Waterstones, Daunt founded Daunt Books, a small chain of independent bookstores in London, known for their curated selections and inviting atmosphere.

• His approach emphasizes local autonomy—allowing individual store managers to select books suited to their communities rather than relying on centralized buying decisions.

2. Reshaping Corporate Book Retailing Ethically

• At Waterstones and Barnes & Noble, he moved away from the “big-box” bookstore model, restoring a sense of independence to each location.

• He removed “pay-to-play” publisher deals (where publishers paid for prominent shelf placement) to ensure books were stocked based on merit and local demand rather than corporate influence.

3. Bridging the UK & US Book Markets

• By leading both Waterstones (UK) and Barnes & Noble (US), he has played a role in shaping the book retail industry across two major markets.

• His approach has been seen as a blend of British independent bookstore culture with American commercial scale.

4. A Commitment to Sustainability & Literary Diversity

• Daunt has expressed concerns about Amazon’s dominance and how it affects bookstores and publishers.

• Under his leadership, bookstores have diversified their offerings, supporting smaller publishers and independent authors.

5. Global Influence on the Future of Bookstores

• His success in revitalizing struggling bookstores has made him a respected figure in global retail strategy.

• As the world shifts toward digital media, Daunt has been instrumental in proving that physical bookstores can still thrive by fostering community engagement.

Final Thoughts

James Daunt is not a political activist or public intellectual in the traditional sense, but as a world citizen, he has made a positive global impact on literature, book culture, and independent businesses. His leadership suggests a deep appreciation for intellectual diversity, community-focused retail, and ethical business practices, which are qualities often associated with responsible global citizenship.

Thanks Chat GPT for this summary of two questions.Who owns B & N? And what sort of world citizn is James Daunt?

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/

A New Album - Rufstuf--Mr. Bigness

 

Underground music from the early  1980s Bolinas Agate Beach Studio

listen to at dc artist pages on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon.

* lead guitar on 3, 4, 9, 13 Ethan Okamura
* backup vocals 2, 9 - Liz Tuomi, 9 - Jane Okamura, Kelly Chadwick
*Don Armstrong harp 9
* all else dc

* remixed and mastered by Tude Arta Sedana at Kubuku Studio Bali
* digitized from 4 track cassette by EngageWisdom.com
* album cover - dc & Gus Awan

defuserMusic.com

Earth temperature his a milestone in 2024

 1.5+

Earth's Water Cycle Off Balance

 For the first time in human history

Fools Fall in Love

 Will Johnson, a Zen buddy from 1972, who used to play lead guitar with me for fun in our spare time at 300 Page St., sent me this perfect cover of the Drifter's Fools Fall in Love which I bought as a 45 and loved back in 57. I even saw them sing it live in Fort Worth. So great. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHK3OCnBmVE