What is the Christmas Spirit? - 12 Days of Christmas - #12for12k - Homelessness is Focus for Dec

It is fitting that Christmas follows Thanksgiving. It is a natural transition from reflection on what we have to be thankful for in our lives... to the season where the Spirit of giving is celebrated. The hope is that the gratefulness and generosity that are expressed in the final seasons of the year will be reflected in how we purpose our lives in the coming new year.

"Christmas, my child, is love in action."-Dale Evans
"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone." -Charles Schulz
"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." -Peg Bracken

The 12 Days of Christmas - Homeless Push, Danny Brown
Throughout December, the 12for12k focus is on the homeless and how you can help in your own towns and cities.
There’s no donation widget this month – we’re offering a more hands-on challenge. By all means, if you wish to donate cash as well as the time and items we’ll be suggesting, that’d be great as well. So, with that said, let’s get into our streets this month and really help those that need it the most.
As always, my sincerest thanks for all your support so far - you've made a huge difference to millions worldwide in 2009, and that isn't an exaggeration. It's been an honour and privilege getting to know you this year.

Thank you,
Danny

Find more photos like this on 12for12k

The Christmas Spirit
I enter the home of poverty,

causing pale-faced children

to open their eyes wide in pleased wonder.

I cause the miser's clutched hand to relax,

and thus paint a bright spot on his soul.

I cause the aged to renew their youth

and to laugh in the glad old way.

I keep romance alive in the heart of childhood,

and brighten sleep with dreams woven of magic.

I cause eager feet to climb dark stairways

with filled baskets, leaving behind hearts

amazed at the goodness of the world.

I cause the prodigal to pause a moment on his wild,

wasteful way, and send to anxious love some little token

that releases glad tears -

tears which wash away the hard lines of sorrow.

I enter dark prison cells,

reminding scarred manhood of what might have been,

and pointing forward to good days yet to come.

I come softly into the still, white home of pain,

and lips that are too weak to speak

just tremble in silent, eloquent gratitude.

In a thousand ways

I cause the weary world to look up into the face of God

and for a little moment

forget the things that are small and wretched.

I am the Christmas Spirit!

The Need for Our Help is Growing. Homeless for the Holidays, Salvation Army
Give Now and Double Your Help for the Homeless.

• 160 Spend Night In A Box To Fundraise For Homeless - Denver News Story - KMGH
• Homeless for the Holidays, Salvation Army
• Charitable Programs Overview - Christmas Spirit Foundation
• Sponsor a Child – Sponsoring a Child - Compassion International
• Sponsor a Child Home - World Vision
  
• Teaching Children Gratitude (organizeyourstuffnow.com)
• Beyond Thanksgiving to a State of Appreciation (earthharmonyhome.com)
• Fresh Pick | THE CHRISTMAS SECRET by Donna VanLiere (freshfiction.com)
• Forge Social Media For Social Good (slideshare.net)
• Salvation Army Launches 2009 Christmas Campaign (newswire.ca)

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Publishing's Biggest Changes...

“If anything is certain...change is certain. The world we are planning for today will not exist in this form tomorrow.”
- Philip Crosby

Debates continue. Differing opinions flourish. Changes continue in real time.
That is the world that we find ourselves in. That is true for our greater "global community". That is certainly true for our "publishing world."

As this year draws to a close, it is noteworthy to highlight a few of the key "biggest "changes in publishing.

Definition of Publishing
Whenever the topic comes up, I am often curious as to how others perceive and define "What is Publishing?" When queried, the responses of people often vary, but, most responses usually contain the following:

• writing
• printing
• editing
• books

Established definitions certainly support those perceptions:

pub·lish (pblsh)
v. pub·lished, pub·lish·ing, pub·lish·es
v.tr.
1. To prepare and issue (printed material) for public distribution or sale.
2. To bring to the public attention; announce. See Synonyms at announce.
v.intr.
1. To issue a publication.
2. To be the writer or author of published works or a work.

-publishing - definition of publishing by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia. http://bit.ly/5Bixt8

Those things are all certainly "key components" but, rarely do the responses and established definitions contain the answer that I am really looking for as related to defining publishing in today's communications "media rich environment." That is, "publishing" is really about content, and how content is 'experienced' by the end-user, reader, viewer.

Content may be delivered via any medium such as the internet, television, and audio CDs, as well as live events such as conferences and stage performances. The word is used to identify and quantify various divergent formats and genres of information as manageable value-adding components of media.
-Content (media and publishing) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://bit.ly/2ZeocW

In other words,
technology and the new and evolving new medias
have redefined "what publishing is...".

Content "publishing" is now delivered in a myriad of ways, and the mediums now often overlap, merge, and intersect. Publishing media as related to "book publishing" can be "experienced the "old fashioned way" - printed book (my preference), via a variety of internet digital platforms, downloadable eBook editions- via eReaders, various "audio" delivery platforms, and more...

Production Process
The changes in production capabilities and broad access to new technologies is perhaps the biggest change in book publishing. In the past, "big brand name publishers" held all of the cards.
The "traditional process" essentially went/goes like this:

1. Creation of Content - Production of "Manuscript"
2. Acquisition of Manuscript by Publisher via Agent or Directly from Author
   
3. Edit process
   
4. Layout & Design - includes cover and interior.
5. Proof Review
6. Advance Copy Distribution to Reviewers
7. Printing & Binding

The short version is that there are now many "do it yourself" sites that enable virtually anyone with access to a computer and the internet to access the production process and to produce a "published work". These include CreateSpace.com, BookSurge.com, LighteningSource.com, Lulu.com, Smashwords.com, ISSUU.com, iPublishcentral (edistr), Scribd.com, and many others.
These truly do-it-yourself "self-publishing" sites are what seem to create the greatest source of controversy among publishing purists. That is the concern is regarding the resulting "quality" of the final product. Most of the "do-it-your self" services offer "ala carte" access to a variety of production services for assistance with the process. The merging of traditional practices and the "independent spirit" is perhaps the best development that is emerging in the "new world." That is combining the best of both worlds while utilizing new technologies and enabling broader access and publishing opportunities for new authors.

Distribution & Sales
Book sales are no longer the exclusive domain of traditional bookstores. And, many trade organizations and tradeshows are scrambling to reestablish relevance and value.

In fact,

* 52% of all books are not sold in bookstores! They are merchandised via mail order, online, in discount or warehouse stores, through book clubs, in nontraditional retail outlets, etc.
-Publishing industry statistics and self publishing facts http://bit.ly/2jNWGa

Social media has accelerated the move away from traditional bookselling channels. Social networking sites such as Blogs (WordPress, Blogger, Typepad, others), Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, FriendFeed, Ning enable authors/publishers to directly access affinity groups and intended audiences. This creates unique opportunities to acquire "tribes" of followers. Social media also enables writers/authors to interact with their readers including real time testing of ideas and direct distribution and sales via easily linked online selling platforms.

And, perhaps, this direct access will also benefit traditional bookselling channels as more diverse and broader audiences experience content in new media venues and then return to make purchases in the "brick or mortar" stores or their online counterparts.

The future is now...and change is happening faster than ever...

Viva la change!

Please add your comments regarding "the new publishing" definition - the redefining of publishing...

• The Blogosphere Goes Into Publishing (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)
• Publishing's Broken System (mediabistro.com)
• How to Actually Make Money Selling eBooks (makeuseof.com)
• Work At Home Self Publishing E-books (web-workathome.com)
• How To Publish Your Own Book (In Print) Cheaply (makeuseof.com)
• Generate PDFs and Multi-Article Books from Wikipedia [Wikipedia] (lifehacker.com)

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