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June 26, 2006 -- Vol. 6 Issue 26 Written by Jack R. Simpson (unless otherwise noted), owner of J.R. Simpson & Associates, Inc. and contributing editor to The Waterways Journal.
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 In This Newsletter:
Thought For The Week
The most aggravating thing about having a pooped out memory bank is that you can’t remember who to call for help! 
Editorial Comment From Jack
(Editor’s note: We are fortunate to receive from a regular contributor, John Miller, pictures of the boats supplied by B&H Towing, Inc., of Paducah, Ky., and Luhr Bros., Inc., Columbia, Ill., for the Great Rivers Towboat Festival at Grafton, Ill., June 24 and 25.)  This isn’t so much an editorial as it is a positive comment about the Great Rivers Towboat Festival that took place at Grafton, Ill., on the 24th and 25th. Most of you know that I set up a Little River Books table every year and sell books, make contacts with friends, etc. Behind me, just a good spit of tobacco from my 16 feet of book tables was the Twyla Luhr of Luhr Bros. B&H Towing had the Andi Boyd faced into the bank just a short ways south. Initial reports indicated 2,500 people toured the boats over the two days, and others had to be turned away because they ran  out of time. When the Twyla tooted, I nearly scooted. It was deafening. The band, not too far from my location, was also loud, but I enjoyed the music. There was an unbelievable number of people stopping to ask about the tours. The value of the contribution of these companies to the success of the towboat festival is incalculable. Visitors love to tour the boats and drive many miles to do just that. So I, for one, want to express my thanks to them for their thoughtful assistance. If any of you feel the same way, feel free to let us know via email and we will add your voices to our letter. The companies certainly deserve it.
Saturday was a warm one, and crowded. Sunday was a bit cooler; there had been fears of rain, so when it turned out a bit warm and no rain, everyone was relieved. When you have forty different books spread out on two tables, you don’t want an unexpected shower. Overall, the festival was well organized and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Buried as I was behind my table, I did not get around to see anything. I didn’t even take a camera this year, and that was too bad. When a couple outfits didn’t show to set up with booths, the organizers used the space to set up four large “people” areas. They were all filled most of the time as people ate barbecue and drank cool drinks. Children gathered around a table in one of the shelters and colored pictures. I just want to congratulate those involved in the festival planning. They did a good job. If there are any of you out there who hobby in river type stuff and attend festivals on occasion to display your work, you might want to let me know and I can get a name and phone number for you. I know distance and expenses are a big thing, especially with gas being so high. But if you are not too far from Grafton, it’s a fun two days to think about. I want to express my appreciation and thanks to all the nice folks who dropped by to say hello. Many read Bitts and Bytes weekly. It is impossible to know them as they approach the table and greet me by name. I simply am not able to do the same. We have no name/email address files. And that’s the way it’s meant to be. But everyone was so cordial. That makes for a very good time for me at least. Thank you all so much.
For Those Inclined To Pray
 For those desiring prayer support for themselves or others, we invite you to join our Prayer Circle, which allows you to submit requests, thereby tapping into prayerful support of our 40 Circle members. There is power in prayer. Membership in the Circle and/or the submission of prayer requests is open to anyone and freë. Request lists are sent out via email, generally, on the day they are received. Come join us!
Newsletter News
I’m afraid B&B readers are going to get shortchanged today. Frankly, after two days in Grafton, I’m not up to it. It’s more a mental thing than being tired. Sometimes the mind just decides “No!” There were too many computer chores and other obligations to meet when I got back, so there will be no “On The Waterfront Section.” Sorry about that.
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If you are thinking about writing a book, or already have written one and need a publisher, consider self-publishing with Little River Books Division, J. R. Simpson, Inc. While you are considering it, reserve your copy of “$elf-publish for Profit” (by avoiding the booby traps), presently being readied for the printer. This book results from more than half a century of journalistic experience in newspaper work, photography, publishing and editing. Helping you avoid the booby traps can save you hundreds (conceivably thousands). You can reserve your copy for $15 plus $5 S&H and save an immediate $4.50 off the $19.50 cover price. After the release date, the price will go back up. Send checks to Little River Books, 2175 Huntington Dr., Florissant, MO 63033-1227 or call Jack at 314-921-4419 to use your Visa or MasterCard. Questions about the book? Send them to jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com. Virtually all chapters have been returned from the editor.
On The Waterfront
Nope! Not this week!
Visit the Little River Books Message Board!
You can contact the editor dírectly at jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com.
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The River School - Deck and engineer licenses, radar observer, tankerman, fire and water safety courses, video programs. Travel classes in convenient locations. (800) 238-7113 www.riverschool.com
From Our Readers
Slow week!
Boat Photo Center
Lecture No. 2 I must repeat this, or I will slowly go nuts trying to sort things out. I am not posting pictures when they are addressed to the entire gang unless, UNLESS, it is clearly stated in the email upfront that they are for posting and if, IF, all of the data required for posting is included: Date pictures were taken, site, waterway name and mile if available and owner’s name if handy. If the photographer is not the “poster”, name him/her too. I am not trying to be a horses behind, but when you guys swap pictures, and then you guys start sending them back and forth, which is followed by comments back and forth about the pictures, all of those comments and re-shipping of the pictures come my way. It is very difficult to sort out whether you guys are just now sharing pictures you earlier sent to the Photo Center or sending new ones. I can tell by dates that many are new. But I also know that sometimes people send pictures taken by others just to share. The Center has 21 pictures today, because I have no others that clearly were sent for that purpose…or, OR, I already posted so many from one person that I didn’t want to post more. I really don’t want to have to check the A-Z listings every time, and then check the photographer’s name, and then have to check the date it was shot to see if it was a repeat. This burns time that I don’t have. We’ve got nearly 2,400 pictures on the site. Presently, I am finishing up my own book, working on a book for an upper Midwest family, and getting quotes for two others. If I never had a web site and newsletter, I would still be busy. Please take pity on this old codger and try to keep it simple for me. We have more than 400 visits a day on our site (that tops 12,000 a month), so I know there are hundreds of others who look at the pictures. I’d like to see it keep growing. – Jack 
Here are the 21 pictures for this week: Leo D. Guttman and Rose Marie, Carl L. Johnson, W. H. Dickhoner, Kathleen Nicole, and the tender Osage from Eric M. Johnson; the Charlotte Lynn from Brent Maletic; Billy Joe Boling and Mike Kennelly from Charles A. Perrin; W. H. Dickhoner, two of the De LaSalle, two of the Helen Lay, and two of the King George from Ron Richardson; the Joe B. Wyatt, Twyla Luhr, and Andi Boyd from John Miller; Morgan Ray from Thomas Waller; and the Glenn R and Sunflower from Barry Griffith.
Click here to see the latest pictures.
Recipe Box
Do you have a good recipe you’d like to share? Submit your recipes here!
The Book Beat
  We’re now down to less than half a dozen of the fairy tale recipe book we advertised some time back. “Once Upon a Recipe” is all color and well worth the chips. It can be used as bed-time story book or to help teach your little ones to eat good food. Most went at Grafton, as did all of the “Portraits of the Past” and all the classic steamboat renderings.
List Price: $11.95 Our Price: $5.00 You Save: $6.95 (58%)
Get More Visitors To Your Web Site - Join The U.S. Inland Waterways Site Ring!
This is a web ring owned by Little River Books. It is dedicated to those who work, rest, or play on the inland waterways of the United States. Owners of river-related commercial or private sites can apply to join, bringing together as many waterways related sites as possible. Sign up (F-R-E-E), put the code on your page, and watch your hits skyrocket! Let’s see if we can make this one of the biggest and best river site rings on the web. Benefit from other river sites’ traffic and gain new visitors. If you sell a river-related product on your site, this is the ring for you! (You must copy and past the site ring graphic onto your web site as soon as your site is approved.) Chëck out the sites currently in the ring and their hit statistics as a dírect result of being in the site ring.
Tow Talkin'
June 26, 2006 By Kathy Flippo  As I write this on Sunday evening, it is raining right down. Ever see it rain up? I’m a bit wacky this week what with trying to move to Illinois and everything. On Wednesday, I taught a group of 38 teachers about the lumber industry here in Clinton, Iowa, in the late 1800s. They came from Dubuque to Muscatine and every high school in Muscatine, Scott, Clinton, Jackson and Dubuque counties. The scary part was ME teaching teachers!
First the logs were free, floated down the Upper Mississippi from Wisconsin and Minnesota in huge rafts. Then W.J. Young got the bright idea of using a steamboat to shove them and a smaller steamboat out on the head to steer them. Wasn’t long until Chancy Lamb started building steamboats right here in…to continue reading, click here. See you on the Web, Jack Little River Books jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com Don't forget to visit our web site! |
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