Order books online and books will be donated to schools in other countries

THIS IS SO FUNNY. My doctor friend Kurt Wagner introduced me to this company for buying used books. WOW. so funny they also donate part of their profits by sending books to libraries and schools in other countries... isn’t that nice?

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Better World Books"

Date: February 11, 2010 9:21:28 PM EST

To: tlasteve@gmail.com

Subject: Your order has been shipped!

Hello Steve,

(Your book(s) asked to write you a personal note - it seemed unusual, but who are we to say no?)

Holy canasta! It's me... it's me! I can't believe it is actually me! You could have picked any of over 2 million books but you picked me! I've got to get packed! How is the weather where you live? Will I need a dust jacket? I can't believe I'm leaving Mishawaka, Indiana already - the friendly people, the Hummer plant, the Linebacker Lounge - so many memories. I don't have much time to say goodbye to everyone, but it's time to see the world!

I can't wait to meet you! You sound like such a well read person. Although, I have to say, it sure has taken you a while! I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but how would you like to spend five months sandwiched between Jane Eyre (drama queen) and Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (pyromaniac)? At least Jane was an upgrade from that stupid book on brewing beer. How many times did the ol' brewmaster have one too many and topple off our shelf at 2am?

I know the trip to meet you will be long and fraught with peril, but after the close calls I've had, I'm ready for anything (besides, some of my best friends are suspense novels). Just five months ago, I thought I was a goner. My owner was moving and couldn't take me with her. I was sure I was landfill bait until I ended up in a Better World Books book drive bin. Thanks to your socially conscious book shopping, I've found a new home. Even better, your book buying dollars are helping kids read from Brazil to Botswana.

But hey, enough about me, I've been asked to brief you on a few things:

We provide quick shipping service to all our customers. You chose UPS shipping, your book should arrive within 2 - 6 business days. The Postal Service may occasionally take slightly longer to deliver your book.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email my friends in Customer Care at help@betterworldbooks.com.

Eagerly awaiting our meeting,

Global Warming: The Greenpeace Report

Isn't that a great service? And such a funny attitude... Please support Better World Books. Do a google search... http://www.betterworldbooks.com/

Tom Vander Ark's blog at Edreformer.com is busy ... Look at the following extracts:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-vander-ark/edu-entrepreneurs-are-lea_b_401966.html

With little or no bank credit and less venture investment, entrepreneurs have been hanging on for dear life. With no help from the feds, it's small business growth that will be largely responsible for lifting us out of the recession.

I get a steady stream of hate mail, the 'greedy bastard' file, for promoting education entrepreneurship. It's a different bargain than working for a school district and for some educators it's a good choice.

If you don't know about vander Ark, it's worth learning more:

Tom Vander Ark is a partner in Vander Ark/Ratcliff, an education public affairs firm, and a partner in a private equity fund focused on innovative learning tools and formats. He was the first business executive to serve as a public school superintendent and was the first Executive Director for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. See his daily blog at www.EdReformer.com. Contact him at Tom@VARpartners.net.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-vander-ark/#blogger_bio

======================

His term: Edu-entrepreneurs...

Another fledgling edu-entrepreneur is getting started in England: www.QualifiedbyExperience.com run by Will Sutherland is looking at a bold program to bring school reform to the UK.

I'm looking forward to seeing how vander Ark and Sutherland move ahead.