a RIF on Scalzi's Project

i just paid a visit to john scalzi's internet weblog, Whatever, to check out what he's up to over there. and he's up to some good things.  the major one of which i think deserves a mention and a plug here in my new book journal.  becuz he's raising money over there for literacy.  specifically money to support a great outfit called "Reading is Fundamental."  my partner and i have been working with these people for several years now in various literacy programs we're involved in, and i can't toot their horn loudly enough.  we've seen kids as eager to choose books from a table of colorful picture and story books as any kid ever is to play a video game or eat strangely-colored cereal.  we've seen the pride and joy with which they curl up with their own new book, trace the pictures with their fingers, read the words if they're able, come ask to be read to if they're not yet.  most of the families we work with don't have much extra money, but once they see the effects of a book donated by RIF they start spending their own hard-earned dollars to buy their kids more books, and reading to them, and so more and more readers and book-lovers are created, and we can all rejoice in the continued life of literature. scalzi's offering some reading material for your donation, three original holiday pieces he's working on.  you only get to read them if you're on his list of donors.  so, get thee to Whatever and contribute the princely sum of $3.  it's a very good deal.