3 Decades & Counting: Taking the Review Into the Digital Age

            In April of 1979 the first issue The Review (then known as The Bay Area Bargain Review) rolled off the presses with a limited circulation of 1,000 copies and a dream of becoming a pivotal force in shaping, defining, and bringing the Tri-City region closer in touch with the resources and talent percolating within it, while simultaneously exposing the challenges and corruption that keep it from blossoming to its full potential.

            Today we have a circulation of 20,000 and are entering the months of our 31^st year at an unprecedented time in our nation (and regions) history, with the global economic collapse most certainly the story of our age – occupying center stage for not only the past six months, but most likely the remaining duration of the year.

            Indeed, the feeling of déjà vu in publishing The Review is (in the words of John Lennon) just like ‘starting over’, with long deadlines, streamlining operations, keeping an eye towards the future, while being ever mindful of turning out the best product that we are capable of producing in the present.

            With the acceleration of the digital age, escalating print costs, and assuming a progressive stewardship when it comes to protecting the environment The Review is pleased to announce that we are accepting subscriptions for complete digital delivery of this publication in PDF format from our office directly to the hard drive of your computer.

            Instead of driving to your favorite distribution point, you can now have each complete issue delivered directly to your computer for only $25.00 per year, retain each copy on your hard drive for the ages, save a few trees in the process, all the while helping support the tri-cities leading independent voice for in-depth investigative reporting and fresh perspectives on arts, culture, and movers & shakes within our community.

            While we’ll continue to publish highlights from each edition on our website, your support as a digital subscriber to The Review is critical as we pilot this publication into the next decade.  

            As a ‘free’ publication to the public at large, advertisers form the backbone of our business – yet in this new economy, it seems unrealistic to signal out commercial entities as the sole avenue of our revenue stream – therefore, as we embark upon our 31^st year, I encourage each reader that has expressed fondness and respect to our publication over the years to pledge your continued support with a digital subscription.

            You can register online at www.review-mag.com or email me at Robert.review@gmail.com with your name and email address.  Payment of $25.00 for 23 issues can be rendered via check, cash, or money order c/o Review Magazine, 318 S. Hamilton St., Saginaw, MI 48602.

            On other fronts, we have several special 30^th Anniversary editions planned in the weeks and months ahead and encourage you to come celebrate with us at our 2009 Review Music Awards Ceremony, which will be held on Monday, May 11^th at The Golden Glow Ballroom.  

            Watch for more details in our next edition!

Supporting Coal in 2009 is like Supporting Slavery in 1860

To the Editor of The Review:

            Horrifying and disgusting.  That is what most of us think about the small group of white slave holders who supported slavery and refused all attempts to prevent our Civil War.  And that is what your grandchildren and great grandchildren will think of you for supporting the use of coal for energy in 2009.  

            As bad as slavery was for the slaves at the time, and as bad as the carnage wrought by the war was on the mostly young white men who fought for both sides, the consequences for the rest of the human race were minor compared to what the burning of fossil fuel has in store for your children and their children.

            In 1860 there were only 1.2 billion people on the planet, now there are 6.7 billion and there will be 9 billion in 30 years.  The energy needs of nine billion people, if continued to be satisfied by burning fossil fuels, will bring much more human suffering from Global Climate Disruption (Global Warming is an inaccurate, unhelpful and outdated term) than the estimated 200,000 who died in the last year alone.

            Tens of millions of people are at risk from the climate changes in play now.  Drastic changes we cannot slow without stopping the burning of fossil fuels now.  And, of course, we cannot stop burning coal and oil today.  How could we eat or keep from freezing to death?  

            What citizens must do is get their elected officials to actually acknowledge the problem.  Most leaders are looking to the oxymoronic  “clean coal” fantasy.  That means that our political leadership does not get it.  The 88 coal plants we have in Michigan must be replaced in ten years or less, which presents an excellent opportunity for developing new manufacturing jobs in the conservation, wind, solar and enhanced geothermal industries.  

            Yet our many of our business and political leaders want to build more death machines that lock us into buying and importing coal for another fifty years.  What we need are thousands of jobs to bring us clean and renewable energy at reasonable prices.  Jobs in industries that give your children and grandchildren hope for a secure and decent life in a Michigan with the kind of climate that we and most life have known for the last hundreds of thousands of years.  

            Upton Sinclair said  “It is difficult for a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it.”  Citizens are the employers of the elected leadership.  Our leaders seem to think that keeping big coal and big oil is the only possibility, and apparently, that you are too timid to want, or fight for a thousand jobs in clean energy.  

            You helped tell the world that the Bush-Cheney Coal and Oil Society should be over, so start talking to your local political leaders and let them know that you want thousands of jobs that do not bring mercury, lead, and sulfur dioxide to our rivers and lakes. Tell them you are done with the coal death machines (increasing Global Climate Disruption is now bringing the extinction of many species), and that you want them to stop supporting the Global Climate Disruption that coal plants are bringing to your children and grandchildren.

Patrick A. Race

The Review welcomes your letters and comments. Please send all correspondence to: Letters to the Editor, 318 S. Hamilton St., Saginaw, Mi 48602 or email Robert.review@gmail.com