60 Reasons

Full disclosure: this is a shameless* self-promotion. The full title of this post is
60 Reasons to Give 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Cleveland as a Gift
(I get points for honesty, right?)

1. Hiking is fun!
2. Hiking is free!
3. And it's good for you! But, most people don't have time, so
4. 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Cleveland makes it easier to find the hikes that are just right for you, and makes it easier to fit 'em into your schedule.
5. New edition for 2011
6. Printed in the USA
7. At $17.95, about the price of a decent bottle of wine, and
8. Red or white? doesn't matter.
9. Fabulously fit or couch-potato? doesn't matter, because...
10. Most of the hikes are under 3 miles long and many (especially the longer ones) offer options to do only a portion of the trail. (Directions for turn-around points included in each description.)
11. It's gotten some good reviews! (Thanks, Plain Dealer and Akron Moms)
12. Easy-to-use reference guide lists hikes by length, terrain, points of interest, and more. See the list for hikes featuring waterfalls, those that are good for young children, historical hikes, hikes good for solitude, and "busy" hikes, for those who prefer company on the trail
12. 60 Hikes is like 60 mini-vacations. And that's quite a gift!
13. Available online and at lots of local bookstores including .... oh, probably best to just check my Facebook Page for the most up-to-date list. 
14. Just getting outside for a little walk noticeably boosts your brain's cognitive function.
15. Did I mention that hiking is free?
16. You know that person you have to buy a gift for, but you're not sure what ? This will fit. Like your...
17. ...Newspaper or mail delivery person
18. ...Hairdresser
19. ...Dog groomer (I don't think that's redundant. Not for most of you, anyway.)
20. ...Second-cousin-once-or-twice-removed that you got in the family gift exchange. (YOU know the one)
21. It's available as a Sony e-book, and
22. also for the Kindle.
23. Gift recipient is a hiking snob? Thinks only the AT will do? Even so, if you live here, here's where to hike.
24. Everyone needs to find a place to chill sometimes.
25. Makes a great teacher gift!
26. And graduation gift, too!

27. Qualifies for free shipping at Amazon
28. This seems like a pretty long list already. Do you need more reasons?
29. Because I LOVE hearing from people who say "I found a new favorite hike thanks to your book!"
30. Hiking can be romantic. Think of this as 60 blueprints for a great first date.
31. (this one's a visual; see photo) ----------->
32. Gorgeous views like this can be found all over Cleveland. Yes, CLEVELAND.
33. We're over half-way there. Look, it's a great book, and -
34. I'd be happy to sign it for you. Contact me though Facebook or my website. (An autographed copy! Your recipient will be impressed!)
35. Hiking boots are optional for most of these jaunts. A sturdy pair of tennis shoes will serve you well on the majority of these trails.
36. A pair from Appalachian Outfitters or Wild Earth Outfitters will impress your fellow hikers, though. 37. Support your local writer. (Please?)
38. Maybe this cute video will convince you.
39. Are you still reading this? If you quit reading now and just buy the book, you'll save yourself some time. There. Reason enough ;)
40. Makes nice gift for a retiree who might be looking for a new hobby or "direction."
41. Books are really easy to wrap.
42. No matter how long they've lived in Cleveland, I'll bet your recipient could learn something from this book.
43. Not exactly sunny outside? Reading about these great hikes can help make winter go by faster.
44. Talk about the ideal housewarming gift for someone new to the area!
45. It's also a great wedding or engagement gift. (See #27)
46. Book clubs are great. Hiking clubs are better for your heart and legs. Buy this for a few of your friends and you can start a reading-hiking club!
47. Lovely brown/russet cover looks good on any table, or shelf :) but even better
48. 60 Hikes tends to be a gift that gets used. A lot!
49. In fact, I don't know why it didn't land on Huffington Post's lists of great dad holiday gift books??
50. It's full of local history anecdotes that will amuse and amaze friends.
51. Hiking is still free, however --
52. --if your gift recipient likes to spend money, this book provides a great excuse to pick up new boots, a GPS unit, camouflage and rain gear, sunscreen, and fancy trail snacks.
53. Everybody needs a hobby, and hiking is better than gambling (and a few other things).
54. You can include a business card as a bookmark. Not exactly subtle, I'll admit, but it can be done.
55. Seriously? You're still reading? Trust me, the book has way better material. (Buy one!)
56. Shopping for a shutterbug? Good news: the rocks, trees, insects, and animals never complain about having a bad picture posted on Facebook.
57. Fresh air does everyone good.
58. My publisher will feel better about giving me that advance :D
59. Kids have an annual leaf project? This will tell you where to find some different trees, and pick up unusual leaves. Hey, we can all use a little extra credit on a science project here and there.
60. Because if you haven't thought of anything else yet, this really is the best gift idea!


*ok just a little sheepish

History in a Hurry

Gimme Rewrite Sweetheart and Front Page Girl are good old-fashioned books, meaning you can't judge 'em by their covers.

Doris O'Donnell and Don Bean have lived - and written - enough history to fully appreciate the current state of journalism, and both are honest enough to admit they can't predict the future of the game. When O'Donnell and Bean started writing for Cleveland newspapers, that's what it was called: the newspaper game.

There were three - count 'em, three - daily newspapers in Cleveland when Bean and O'Donnell got started in the game. The players weren't perfect and the papers weren't unbiased, but they had plenty of watchdogs on staff. As Bean ruefully points out, in his reporting era  reporters would measure the depth of the concrete on the street. And if it wasn't what the taxpayers had coming to them, well, somebody would print it.

In her book, O'Donnell describes discrimination in the business, certainly, but she also describes a business with a lot of principles. Regardless of sex, reporters were supposed to consider themselves representatives of the community. While female reporters were expected to wear white gloves and hats and to say "Yes ma'am" and "No sir," they were also tough enough to measure the concrete on the street and find out just what was buried in Sam Sheppard's backyard. (That's a teaser. Read the book.) They were also given an unbelievably long time to get a story. It's unbelievable today, anyway.

Bean and O'Donnell both spoke at today's meeting of Ohio Professional Writers, attended by about a dozen current college students (journalism majors) and many more with hair long gone gray, fellow journalists who were getting their first beats about the time O'Donnell and Bean were retiring.

O'Donnell likes to say journalism is history in a hurry. And while it's hurrying faster than ever before, it's not dead yet. We can hope that among today's budding journalists are some visionaries who see the value in the old, and a way to make it new again.

The plea from this graying writer: HURRY.