Letter (w/ response): Ask and you shall receive!

From: George McQueen [mailto:georgemcqueen@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 3:50 PM
To: Todd Silver
Subject: 3x5" notebook with the spiral binding on the side: why not?



Dear Rite-In-The-Rain:

Can you please manufacture a 3x5" pocket notebook with the spiral binding on the side?
(Note: Not the loop-wire that can easily be undone by pulling it--like many of your other notebooks, but a genuine spiral that winds through all the holes in the binding, which is less likely to pinch and guaranteed not to come undone).

Here's my reasoning:

As a former journalist I've never kicked the habit of carrying a notebook; rather, I've become somewhat dependent on always having one with me for the past ten years. However, the type I carry--which has been the most practical and useful to carry in the back pocket of my jeans/slacks--has been an 80-page 3x5" notebook with a side spiral binding. This type allows me to easily keep pages in sequence--turning the pages like a "book" (unlike a top spiral, that you have to flip back and forth, which I've tried and find extremely annoying)--and also allows me to hook my trusty stainless-steel Parker "Jotter" along the side.

What I have to do in order to keep myself sane is staple the first 10 pages of each side of the notebook to the card-stock covers when it's new, then wrap those pages in clear packing tape so the binding will last (making them 60-page notebooks instead), and is somewhat water resistant--not unlike the notebooks you make. However, finding this type of notebook is always a challenge because they sell out FAST in every office-supply and stationery store I've been in. Meanwhile, the top-spiraled pocket notebooks are always in abundance--probably because they are, in my view, useless.

Anyway, I realize this is a shot in the dark, and you might report me to the authorities for having such an obsession, but why not give it a try? After all, your company almost manufactures the exact notebook I so carefully re-create two or three times a year by hand. Furthermore, I more than perfectly fit the profile of your customer base, as a traveler, camper, researcher, instructor, designer, tradesman and writer ... who also happens not to have the best memory. And if my story is not compelling enough to enhance (i.e. improve) your product line (and potentially corner a new market!), I'll just continue to make my notebooks and lament that you do not.

Attached is an image of a few of my more recent notebooks. Notice the one on the bottom, which shows how nicely the pen lines up with the notebook. Genius? perhaps, but more likely just common sense; or just the child of necessity.

Cheers,

George McQueen

From George's Random Notes

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RESPONSE BELOW
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On Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 7:34 PM, Todd Silver wrote:

George,

Thanks for the feedback, input and photo! Always helps to get info from the front lines! You definitely have worked hard to create your own survivable notebooks!

The good news is that we do have a side spiraled 3” x 5” Rite in the Rain notebook #393-M. The “bad news” is that it is wire-O spiral not continuous spiral but hopefully this gets you at least half way there! (Sorry, we don’t have that kind of spiraling equipment.)

I’d be happy to mail you a free one to try. Send me your address and off it’ll go. A picture is shown below.

Happy writing George and thanks again for the note.

Sincerely,

Todd Silver

Todd Silver
Co-President
J.L. Darling Corporation
2614 Pacific Hwy East
Tacoma, WA 98424 USA

todd@riteintherain.com
253-922-5000x111
Fax 253-922-5300
www.riteintherain.com


Specializing in "Outdoor writing products for outdoor writing people".

From George's Random Notes

Note: Saving the Fraser River

So I'm visiting a friend in Fraser, Colorado, Kirk Klancke, who I already knew was an avid outdoorsman, but I'm just now learning how much of an exceptional environmental steward he is as well. The Fraser River Valley is a place I used to live in and enjoy as a youth, and hope future generations may as well. If you have a moment, watch his video "Tapped Out," which shows the significance of the issue.

http://defendthecolorado.org/

Over the years he's gotten some attention, but the battle is far from over. He'll be in Washington, D.C. receiving a national award as a "hero of conservation" (scroll down to "Episode 1: The River Reviver")
http://www.fieldandstream.com/heroes/videos

Please circulate among your friends, especially those along the front range.

Cheers,

George

Note: Memorial ride for slain bicyclist

I just returned from one of the most solemn yet inspiring bicycle rides. In effort to pay respect to a young man killed last week on his bicycle, the Austin bicycling community organized a memorial ride for Andrew Runciman and his friends, family and community. I won’t pretend to understand the emotions his family and friends are going through, so all I can do is extend my deepest sympathies.

But as a community member, this tragedy hits all too close to home and I think many people felt this way too. After all, we are not so different from that 24-year old computer programmer who was riding his bicycle home one evening with his friend. Though they were only a block from his home, and both had their lights on, and were riding on the shoulder, a large vehicle (black SUV) drove right into Andrew and never stopped. Yes, a hit and run. Police are still looking for clues to find the vehicle and the driver (links to the news articles below).

In response a large group of bicyclists (possibly two or three hundred) rode from the Pfluger pedestrian bridge to the site of the incident some two miles south, where we attended a “ghost bike” dedication.

While the memorial ride went down one of Austin’s busiest arterial streets, it was one of the most serene moments I’ve had on a bicycle. As the sun was setting, the crowd of bicyclists patiently and politely made its way down Lamar—with the help of a police escort and volunteer coordinators. Everyone was mindful of one another, keeping a steady but comfortable pace. When I looked ahead and behind, all I could see were bicyclists filling an entire lane for perhaps 20 city blocks. Because this stopped traffic and attracted a lot of attention, there were a lot of onlookers, who all seemed to understand. For a brief moment, there was a sort of unity—or understanding—among some of the motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians: that we’re all just people.

Though the occasion was tragic—and something I hope never has to be repeated—the event was also inspiring because it reminded me of the tremendous power that comes through community support. And it certainly gives more meaning to all the other “ghost bikes” around town (“ghost bikes” are bicycles that are painted white, and chained to an object—usually a telephone pole—and serve as a memorial for a bicyclist that was killed nearby).

As the respectful service came to an end, I looked around at the hundreds of people and felt we were all thinking the same thing: “this could have been me or someone I know.”

I never met Andrew Runciman, but I knew him. I knew him because he was part of my community. I knew him because in, many ways, he was me.

Not that this tragedy was necessarily the result of malicious intent (but certainly the result of foolish neglect), this tragedy does re-emphasizes the importance of both being aware of, and being kind to … everyone (especially cyclists).

Article on the incident:
http://austinontwowheels.org/2011/04/26/young-cyclist-killed-in-hit-and-run-south-lamar-saturday-night

Article on the Andrew and the memorial ride:
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/friends-pay-tribute-to-hit-and-run-victim-1445811.html

Images from the memorial ride:
http://galleries.statesman.com/gallery/ghost-bike-050111/#167563

The kid even had his own website:
http://andrewrunciman.com/

Letter (w/ response): Senator needs to support Planned Parenthood

On Wed, Mar 30, 2011 at 9:41 AM, George McQueen wrote:

Thank you for your response, Mr. Cornyn.

There is an undeniable need for the services of Planned Parenthood, which provides many essential reproductive services to both women and men who cannot afford them elsewhere. The truth is, many of your constituents depend on this service, and since you have offered no counter-solution, nor have you offered any facts that support your position, I will respectfully ask that you consider the facts and make decision that help your constituents, which is what you were elected to do. Otherwise, please tell me where my girlfriend and I should go to for reproductive health care (and we have never had an abortion, by the way).

Please consider what will help your constituents the most, based on facts, not ideology.
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/


Sincerely,

George McQueen
Austin, Texas

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RESPONSE BELOW
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On Wed, Mar 30, 2011 at 8:41 AM, wrote:


Dear Mr. McQueen:

Thank you for contacting me about federal funding for Planned Parenthood. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this important matter.

As you may know, the House of Representatives recently passed the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (H.R. 1), which included an amendment to restrict federal funding for Planned Parenthood. I support this provision, and you may be certain that I will continue to support initiatives to prevent federal taxpayer dollars from funding Planned Parenthood during the 112th Congress.

Additionally, it may interest you to learn that I, along with 31 other Members of Congress, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting the amount of Title X federal funding given to Planned Parenthood and other specific organizations from Fiscal Year 2002—2009. In response to my oversight request, the GAO found and outlined almost $1 billion in taxpayer dollars directed to these organizations. Specifically, the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, reportedly received over $650 million in federal funds over a seven year period. I believe that taxpayer funding of abortion is unacceptable, and I will continue to exercise aggressive oversight on this issue.

I am committed to building a culture of life in America. Every life is a precious gift from God, and we must protect those who cannot protect themselves, ensuring—from conception to natural death—that every human being is treated with the dignity and respect he or she deserves. I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator


517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov