Josh Shear

There's something comforting to me about Charles Bukowski's writing. I think it's that, despite his tendency to barely fictionalize his own life of drinking, writing and screwing, there's humanism and emotion through it all. With National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) quickly approaching, I picked up a copy of his Hollywood to keep the word pump primed (having recently re-read Edson, it seemed like a natural progression), and was surprised to discover the book was not about drinking, writing and screwing.

Instead, it's a book about writing about drinking, writing and screwing.

Well, it's a fictionalized version of his experience writing the screenplay and going through the production of the film Barfly.

What draws me – and I'm guessing many others – to Bukowski's alter-ego Henry ("Hank") Chinaski is that he says and does things at the basest level of humanity. And none of the rest of us has the guts to be that much of a jerk. He often gets drunk enough to be belligerent and physically numb. He enjoys fights with bartenders. He picks up women with a bold crassness. And people fawn over him because he's an asshole writer who's enjoyed some success.

But as some writers know, words can be a disease. To counter his incessant need to write, Chinaski drinks, screws and gambles (he loves the horses, except for the half-hour wait in between races). And it's true that when Bukowski died in 1994 in his mid-70s, he looked like he could have been 130.

Hollywood paints a picture of a Bukowski (or Chinaski) in his 60s, happily married to a woman who has accepted some of his vices (gambling), shares in some (drinking) and tamed others (eating) [no word on the screwing, oddly]. Someone has asked him to write one of his novels into a screenplay, and he works through writing in a new medium, pleasing the actors and producers, and going through a roller coaster with the funding.

Sure, the drinking is there (Chinaski is always an anti-social character), but this is the first novel of Bukowski's I've read that really chronicles an event – it actually has a plot line and ends when it's done.

I'm also sad to learn that I'm almost out of Bukowski's novels – he wrote seven; much of his body of work was poetry, and I'm not a fan of his poetry. Not even a little. Oh, and yes, have a go at Hollywood, even if you had a hard time making it through others of his books.

For the last couple of weeks, I've been sporting a pair of Vibram FiveFingers TrekSport. I tend to get mid-foot and rear-foot pain (my plantar and my heal) once tennis season starts, and since I started standing much of my day and working out four or more times a week, it's been getting worse.

A couple of trainers and a massage therapist recommended them to me, so I thought I'd try them out. I went over to Fleet Feet (which I can't recommend enough, by the way, in terms of professional knowledge and personal attention) and gave them a try.

They take some time to put on the first time (I also tried the Bikila, which have a harder top, making them even more difficult to put on), and they feel odd, since our toes don't tend to spend much time spread out.

The point of the shoes is to make your body operate essentially like you're barefoot. There's no ankle support nor arch support, and depending on the model, there is varying amount of tread (the TrekSport has a really good tread on it, and I'm not worried about slipping on anything). They're machine washable (but not machine dry-able, since rubber melts), which is pretty awesome, too. I've noticed a bunch of things.

Standing posture. I'm standing more on the ball of my feet, like I do when I'm barefoot at home. Doing that eliminates a lot of slouching, since that would throw me off balance. It means I'm standing up straighter.

Walking. I don't love walking in them, but I don't mind. I tend to be a careless, wandering walker, and with these shoes, I need to be a little more careful about what I'm stepping on and how I'm landing. Which is probably a good thing, just it's a lifestyle change – a pretty big one, it turns out.

Running. They change my whole running style, which for me was the primary thing I was seeking. The sports I play (tennis, racquetball, softball) require short, quick bursts from a standstill, along with changing direction. I'm running more front-foot and mid-foot now instead of rear-foot, which means that the optimal starting posture is something of a squat. And if you're standing up and figuring out what I'm talking about, you're recognizing that the start comes from your glutes (your butt), rather than from your quads and knees, which is where the initial push comes from if you're starting on your heal. Strictly speaking, I'm a little faster, my foot's in less pain, and I'm working on building up my glutes, because, to be crass about it, my ass cheeks were sore for the first three or four days.

Machines. I don't mind these on the stationary bike, but I don't like them on treadmills (even walking) or other elliptical-style machines. I feel like I want more ankle support. I tend to prefer the bike and running on the track anyway.

Reaction. Some people hate these things. Mostly they're people who understand, from an athletic perspective, why one would wear them, but who have an aesthetic dislike for them. Fair enough. Then there are the people who have actually stopped me in stores to ask about what's on my feet. This is cool, as long as you're not in a hurry.

Recommendation

If you're thinking about getting a pair (or 2 or 3 – they have a bunch of models with varying purposes), first decide what they would do for you, then consult people who understand those things. Go to a local shop and try them out. In Syracuse, Fleet Feet even has a treadmill they'll let you hop on (in fact, if you've never been before, or haven't been in a while, they'll put you on the treadmill to see how you run).

The first book that ever kept me up all night because I just couldn't put it down was Edson by Bill Morrissey, who is better known as a songwriter. The book went out of print quickly, but is generally available on Amazon and other used marketplaces. I first read it to prepare to interview Morrissey ahead of a reading at a bookshop. I bought eight copies to gift at that event; I think the author got tired of signing them.

Edson is about Henry Corvine, a songwriter who quit the misery of writing and the hardship of touring in favor of the happy, stable life of a married 20-something. When his marriage ends – he's 37 now – he takes the summer to fish on a boat in Alaska and then returns to the small mill town of Edson, New Hampshire, where the snow starts early, there's one convenience store, everybody knows everybody else, and a young songwriter is getting popular singing Henry's old songs without giving him credit.

When a young woman – who lives next to Henry in a residential hotel – discovers Henry's records in that young songwriter's apartment, things change for Henry. When the mill closes unexpectedly and moves south, things change for Edson.

What I love about this book is that Morrissey's words feel like a change in seasons. His voice (singing and speaking) feels like winter is coming on, and so does the air here in Syracuse. This might become an annual ritual for me as we head toward winter.

If you can find a copy, I highly recommend reading it, with a cup of something warm nearby.

I've been getting miffed at my LinkedIn network lately. Here are some reasons, and what you can do to keep yourself in good favor with your professional contacts.

Stay on topic

I posted a while back about places I like to bring colleagues and clients. It's received renewed interest lately, and it had a little blip in the comment stream.

One person (who's a friend and who runs an organization I belong to) said something that was only slightly off-topic, pumping the organization I work for. And someone slammed him as unprofessional for advertising on the thread.

To stop that quickly, I left a comment that basically said, anybody else who only mentions one business might also be advertising, but that maybe we should consider another discussion about staying on-topic, since his comment about unprofessionalism was certainly off-topic as well.

Sell to new connections on first full contact

Your first opportunity to reach someone on LinkedIn is to personalize a connection request. You get about 255 characters, so there's not a whole lot of room for error. If I accept your connection (and chances are I will, unless all indications are you're a jerk), I really hope that five minutes later I don't get a message that says, "Hey, I see you do something. My company makes something that helps people like you do what they do. You should totally come check it out!"

Because that makes me not want to send you any business.

How you should approach that is to introduce yourself and ask what I do, because chances are, no matter how many times you've read my profile, you don't know exactly what I do or how I do it. You just assume you know my business.

Make me trust you first.

Personalize your request.

I feel like a broken record when I say that, but if we're connected on several other platforms, have each others' phone numbers, and occasionally have a beer together, there's no need to customize a request. But if we've met once or twice, or not at all, or only heard about each other, send a note. You wouldn't walk up to me, shake my hand, tell me your name, walk away, and consider me a good connection, would you? [If you answered yes, let's talk about that.]

What other ways are you killing it on LinkedIn?

What: "BREW & VIEW" 35mm Film Series presents a 35mm Muscle car double feature of:

AMERICAN GRAFFITI
THE WRAITH

Plus local Syracuse Grindcore band ED GEIN will be hanging out promoting their new album which features a single dedicated to the film THE WRAITH.

When: Sunday November 21st at 7:00 pm.
First movie at 7:30pm
Both movies $10/$8 for students with valid student ID/ all ages/ 21 + with valid ID for alcohol.

Where: The Palace Theater
2384 James Street
Syracuse, NY 13206

Film Synopses:

AMERICAN GRAFFITI: 1973 - George Lucas
Curt and Steve have gotten into a prestigious college, but Curt is having second thoughts on the night before they're going to leave for the school. That night, Curt searches relentlessly for a spellbinding woman in a white T-Bird while Steve tries to patch things up with his girlfriend after suggesting they date other people while he's away. Their two other friends John and Terry also have a wild night, John when he's forced to chauffer a little girl and Terry when he borrows Steve's car and picks up a girl but then has trouble living up to the expectations set by the car. Written by rmlohner

THE WRAITH: 1986
Packard Walsh and his motorized gang control and terrorize an Arizona desert town where they force drivers to drag-race so they can 'win' their vehicles. After Walsh beats the decent teenager Jamie Hankins to death after finding him with his girlfriend, a mysterious power creates Jake Kesey, an extremely cool motor-biker who has a car which is invincible. Jake befriends Jamie's girlfriend Keri Johnson, takes Jamie's sweet brother Bill under his wing and manages what Sheriff Loomis couldn't; eliminate Packard's criminal gang the hard way... Written by KGF Vissers

I wanted to give a quick shoutout here to Jen Pedde and Kelly Lux, two Syracuse-area Twitter rock stars who co-moderate a Twitter chat called #cmgrchat.

The chat is for community managers (and people who hate community managers, except not really). It's still in its growing stages, but in its fourth week, 126 people contributed.

» #cmgrchat transcripts

I'm learning a lot and I think contributing some useful information as well . It takes a fair bit of concentration to keep on track and to keep up, but ultimately it's definitely worth the hour each week.

Do you have any other Twitter chats worth mentioning, or that I should join in?

ITHACA, N.Y. — The Ithaca League of Women Rollers will take on their sisterly arch-rivals from Syracuse, Assault City Roller Derby, to end their 2010 season on Saturday October 9 at Cass Park Rink. The doubleheader will feature the Ithaca BlueStockings, who will take on Syracuse’s “B” team, and will continue as the SufferJets—recently voted Ithaca’s #1 local sports team by readers of the Ithaca Times—take on the seasoned Assault City skaters.

The Ithaca League of Women Rollers and Syracuse’s Assault City Roller Derby share derby roots: they began learning the sport together in September 2007 before they split into their respective teams in February 2008, just prior to both leagues’ premiere friends-and-family bout in March 2008. The teams continue to meet on the track annually, although after two seasons of tight matches, Syracuse remains hungry for a win over Ithaca.

This year’s match-up promises to be especially exciting, as the SufferJets’ former first-string power blocker, Brutal Vroom (also known as Hollow Bones, Amber Waves of Pain, and Amber Chaos), returns to Cass Park wearing Assault City colors as she takes on her former Sisters of Suffrage. Brutal Vroom moved to Syracuse early in the 2010 season. She reports, “I have never been so nervous before a bout. I hope I don’t give the wrong person a whip.

Cass Park will open its doors on Saturday, October 9, at 5:00 pm, and the first whistle will blow at 5:30. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Friendship Donation food rescue and gleaning program. Please bring a nonperishable food donation to the door. Donations of $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 12 keep our derby dames rolling.

An after-party will be held at Stella’s, 403 College Ave., featuring ILWR DJs Bob and Luke.

Approximate Program Times:
5:00 Doors open at Cass Park Rink
5:30 Whistle Blows—Period 1 BlueStockings vs. Assault City B Team
6:10 End of First period—short half time
6:20 Period 1 SufferJets vs. Assault City A Team
7:00 Period 2 BlueStockings vs. Assault City B Team
7:35 Period 2 SufferJets cs. Assault City A Team

I met with some friends over brunch this weekend to discuss a website. She does handmade knitwear and has a large collection of vintage clothing that she wants to unload; he's money-conscious as they head into retirement, as you'd imagine anyone would responsibly be.

My goal, since they're friends, I want to keep them that way, and I want to make sure that as I do work for them I don't come to resent them for utilizing my time and energy, was to find an affordable solution that really made sense.

So I sold them an Etsy.com shop. Which, of course, is free. They bought brunch, and I'll be over their house for a couple of hours showing them how to set up the Etsy shop while we nibble on stuff, and they're going to have at it for a few months to see how it does for them.

If it doesn't work out over the next five months or so, we'll take another look and they won't have lost anything. I'm sure they'll have questions, and I'm sure I'll spend a few minutes here and there answering emails. But at least for now, they'll have a self-driven solution, and I won't have to feel bad every time I see them that I'm taking money out of their pockets.

How do you sell to people who need your services, but whom you also want in your life?

The creator of this video disallowed embedding, but I love it, so I'm linking to it.

I love this season. Crisp mornings, crunchy leaves, bright colors, pumpkin and cinnamon in the air. Sunlight is finally welcome through the trees to the ground. The air both fills and clears my head.

The transition to autumn comes suddenly. Sweatshirt weather sneaks up on us, and the desire for soup instead of ice cream creeps into our bellies. We start to store ourselves; how will we pack ourselves in for winter?

This weekend, I'll shut off my cell phone and listen to the air. We'll rake leaves, bring the hammock in, clean the garage to fit both cars.

It's that time, and I love it. You?