CARTOON of the DAY: Closing the Books

Crain's Detroit Business - July 25
The final closing of the stores in the Borders Books chain is emotionally wrenching. Personally, Borders has been a part of my life for 30 years. Visits to Borders were always eventful - if I was looking for a particular book, I'd always find several others as well. I could hold them, flip the pages, smell the ink-on-paper ... a total sensual and psychological experience. As my son and daughters grew up, the visits became family events and we enhanced the experience by sharing it. I'm certain we'll shift our visits to the surviving chain book store, and we'll continue to visit the wonderful little independent book stores around town, but I have the feeling I need to savor every one of those moments because they may not be experiences I can share with my grandchildren.
That's the Point!

CARTOON of the DAY: Bricks and Memories

Crain's Detroit Business - February 14
Growing up in the 1960s, my friends and I weren't "mall rats" (... actually, there was only one mall in metro Detroit back then!), we hung out at bookstores. And that was before you could buy music, videos, or a latte ... we went for the books! The sight and the smell of books were intoxicating; and cracking the binding of a newly-purchased treasure was always exciting. It was painful to do this cartoon about the financial troubles of Borders, and even more painful to hear today that the company has, indeed, filed bankruptcy. I certainly hope that - like our auto companies - Borders rebounds and bookstores will remain a part of our culture. Today outlets like these are called "brick and mortar" stores; I think of them as "brick and memory" stores!
That's the Point!