Knives Annuals

[Kohai999]

One thing is certain, it's SO easy to be a sidelines editor. None of us are fully aware of the challenges needed (Except perhaps DDD, who also alluded how difficult it is to write good captions--time and time again.)

Points made to Roger: 'Sell more knives' articles in KA2009? I truly don't see this. Now you are stretching. I found seven of the ten articles very worthy and informative for me. Only two articles showing the relationship of custom makers collaborating/helping the factories (on hunters and tacticals) could be construed as selling. (Yeah and good for them!) I still thought it relevant.

Coop

1. It may be hard for Dr. Darom to consistently come up with clean and interesting captions, but somehow, he manages to do it....a volume a year, lately, just like the annuals....and I got my last hardbound full color edition, from Amazon for $24.49....so there goes the argument about costs, and deadlines and any other excuses....just to say that it CAN be done.

2. Coop, the FIRST article by Shackleford about Jim Schmidt was pretty danged awesome, and well overdue....the article about the dining sets of the Mongol peoples? Yup, just gonna go right out and purchase one of those, once I get my yurt packed up...maybe in 2010, they will have a trip to Israel in search of the knives that mohels use to perform circumcisions..

I'm not trying to cut into your bottom line, amigo.....recognize that the Annuals do a lot of good for a lot of people....and am continuing with this discussion because it is my sincere hope that even though we are a very small cross-section of the community, that Mr. Kertzman will listen to these little voices, and possibly re-think some basic approaches, working towards a higher quality product.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[peterinct]

I'm not trying to cut into your bottom line, amigo.....recognize that the Annuals do a lot of good for a lot of people....and am continuing with this discussion because it is my sincere hope that even though we are a very small cross-section of the community, that Mr. Kertzman will listen to these little voices, and possibly re-think some basic approaches, working towards a higher quality product.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

I would think if Mr. Kertzman has seen this thread as mentioned, he would certainly at least think about what has been suggested. It would seem that putting out the best product possible would be the goal. It would be interesting to hear Mr. Kertzman's opinion and situation or constraints the Annual is produced under.

Peter

 

[Kohai999]

I would think if Mr. Kertzman has seen this thread as mentioned, he would certainly at least think about what has been suggested. It would seem that putting out the best product possible would be the goal. It would be interesting to hear Mr. Kertzman's opinion and situation or constraints the Annual is produced under.

Peter

Peter, from what I have seen of F+W, the goal is ALWAYS to move as much volume as possible....regardless of quality.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[RogerP]

STeven and others - I certainly like some of the suggestions for articles - I'm sure that type of constructive criticism will be of value to the editors.

Collector attends maker's shop and learns how to make a knife... that one has a certain resonance with me...

Roger

 

[ddd]

1. It may be hard for Dr. Darom to consistently come up with clean and interesting captions, but somehow, he manages to do it....a volume a year, lately, just like the annuals....and I got my last hardbound full color edition, from Amazon for $24.49....so there goes the argument about costs, and deadlines and any other excuses....just to say that it CAN be done.

STeven Garsson

Steven, now that you brought up this specific issue, I would like to put
things in the correct proportions - I am a one man, one computer, one phone show
and do many other things as well. Wish I had a whole production unit and
graphic department to help me out...... Even the sky would not be the limit!

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

I tend to disagree with you STeven. The La Hu Si article was great. Kill all those beanie-baby custom collector knife articles (boring beyond words) and shop tours (you've seen one knifemaker shop you have seen them all). Give me more real people using knives and more of the "National Geographic" stories.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

STeven

I understand your point of hoping that Mr. Kertzman listens to the heartfelt suggestions of the little guy, but I wonder - do you think that anyone would take another person's opinion to heart once that person publically/on forums called him not only an ASSHOLE but indicated his company (which I am sure he does way more for than the book - isn't he with Blade Magazine too) is a joke?

I have the knives annuals and enjoy them. I also have all of David's books. They are beautiful. Are they the same thing - not even close.

You said that you submitted a book to them and they rejected it - sounds a little like sour grapes. And your comment about being all about the best - come now, did your Mother teach you that calling names was "the best" behavior? Or, perhaps, did she tell you to use your words carefully if you planned on not only being taken seriously but being respected by your peers?

Do you know Mr. Kertzman personally - maybe he is an ass - what did he do to gain that title? Surely it's more than editing in a way you don't appreciate in a book you aren't forced to buy.

I only stopped by this tread to see what David was up to lately, but I couldn't help but comment.

 

[Kohai999]

STeven

I understand your point of hoping that Mr. Kertzman listens to the heartfelt suggestions of the little guy, but I wonder - do you think that anyone would take another person's opinion to heart once that person publically/on forums called him not only an ASSHOLE but indicated his company (which I am sure he does way more for than the book - isn't he with Blade Magazine too) is a joke?

Scooby(really),

I spoke with Joe at length at an industry event at SHOT, cannot remember if it was at Orlando, New Orleans or Las Vegas, truth be told.

In a softer, and respectful manner, addressed the SAME complaints that I am discussing now....Joe assured me that he would "work on it". I'm not seeing evidence of that, so I am pulling out the "pepper". I would and will say this stuff to Joe's face next time I see him.

Taken seriously? How about "The Giraffe bone hides the steely sharp edge of the damascus on this stealthy African gem" or some such other nonsense? Don't EVEN talk to me about being taken seriously, Scooby, when I was writing the Zan catalog text a few years back, if I wrote with Joe's "levity", the South African that employed me would have dragged me behind his truck...and I would have deserved it.

As far as being respected by my peers.....it is a case by case basis. I feel fairly respected, I give a lot of respect, and have learned to temper what I say and write to some degree. If you met me in person, you would know this is true...and I sign my name to EVERYTHING I write, and stand up for what I believe.

As far as the sour grapes...the book proposal was submitted quite some time before Joe's time at Krause... have no other axe to grind with him than what you see.

Go get you a Scooby snack, boy!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[ScoobyDoo]

STeven -

Thanks for your reply - And since you saw Joe at an industry event either sort of recently (LasVegas or Orlando) or years ago (N.O) and during said event no doubt approached him (he was, I am assuming there on business - maybe even running off to a meeting with an industry professional?) and told him how YOU would do his job -- and he OBVIOUSLY didn't take your advice. I mean really, you were at the SHOT show (either recently or years ago) so that means you have all the answers as to how he should do his job...

Now I understand.

Yep. He's an ass.

*and FYI - I'm not a "boy"...

 

[Kohai999]

*and FYI - I'm not a "boy"...

Yes, I understand, you are a large brown Hanna-Barbera cartoon dog.

Which is why I really don't give a rat's ass what you think....I was introduced to Joe by Steve Shackleford, I had a few cocktails...it was a decent conversation, as I recall....about 5 years ago...plenty of time to give the "levity" a break and take an edition that has been in constant print since 1981 the respect that it deserves.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Nope. I'm female. And the ScoobyDoo name is because my son's favorite cartoon was Scooby and when I joined here forever ago I used it to honor my son. But hey - if it makes you feel better to think of me as a large cartoon dog - good on ya. (sometimes people of limited mental capabilities need to focus on colorful cartoon characters to make themselves feel big - I understand)

On another note - dropping names like Steve Shackleford really really makes you sound so much smarter and "in the loop" - no WONDER you have the right to call someone an ass on a public forum that you met once and gave advice to (unsolicited I am sure).

 

[Kohai999]

Nope. I'm female. And the ScoobyDoo name is because my son's favorite cartoon was Scooby and when I joined here forever ago I used it to honor my son. But hey - if it makes you feel better to think of me as a large cartoon dog - good on ya. (sometimes people of limited mental capabilities need to focus on colorful cartoon characters to make themselves feel big - I understand)

On another note - dropping names like Steve Shackleford really really makes you sound so much smarter and "in the loop" - no WONDER you have the right to call someone an ass on a public forum that you met once and gave advice to (unsolicited I am sure).

Sorry to hear about you being female...good luck with that! Forever ago? I joined before you did, and it seems like yesterday.

So, ok lady, maybe you are Joe's wife, an associate, whatever...I don't care if you are his mother...I'm going by YOUR choice of screen name and the persona that you display...if you want to belittle me, someone that you probably have never spoken to, be my guest...it shows a total lack of any class, and hey, you can do it from the anonymity of whatever rock you crawled out from..so there is no accountability now or down the line.

I don't "drop" names....I know most of them that are worth knowing....how 'bout you, kitten? Who or what do you know? I now know from your posts that you are with the Blade Magazine crew, could be Mary Lutz, could be someone else...if you are Mary, sorry, but it doesn't make Joe any less of an asshole for turning the Knives Annuals into his own personal quip jar....owning something doesn't give you the right to screw it up...legally sure it does, morally, not so much.

No respect for now,

STeven Garsson

 

[ScoobyDoo]

I choose not to post my name here because I choose not to. Woman's perogative and all that jazz (oh, and thanks for the "luck" on the female thing - it's worked well so far)

I am not Joe's wife but I have met him. I know and am friends with many in this industry. I don't drop names.

Oh, and I know who you are - you have met me - heck, we've even had "conversations" - who knows, maybe you've even dropped my name a few times.

I don't care if you respect me on this forum or any where else for that matter - although when we talk in person next it should be interesting. Oh, and I'm not Mary Lutz - but I would think she would rather you not start dissing her next.

Diss the book, diss the writing style, but don't call someone an ass because he didn't take your advice - that's just, well, being an ass.

Like I said - I only came here to see what David was up to, not to get in a peeing match with you -- after all, us girls are at a disadvantage when it comes to the "write in the snow" part of the competition.

 

[ddd]

Hey, Guys (and lady) come on, I feel the heat from 8,000 miles away...
Is there really need for this clash of egos?

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

p.s. Scoobydoo - I think I can guess.... or maybe not...

 

[Marcel54]

To lighten up the atmosphere a little bit. Scooby Doo your statement

after all, us girls are at a disadvantage when it comes to the "write in the snow" part of the competition.

isn't entirely true. I don't know if you have this in the US but overhere we have the P-tube to make women do their thing standing up...just like us guys.

Here is a pic of the contraption.

Marcel

 

[ScoobyDoo]

HA! That's great. Here we have "Janies" the female version of "Johnnies"

I love it - still think cursive would be a challenge....

 

[Kohai999]

I choose not to post my name here because I choose not to. Woman's perogative and all that jazz.

I am not Joe's wife but I have met him. I know and am friends with many in this industry. I don't drop names.

Oh, and I know who you are - you have met me - heck, we've even had "conversations" - who knows, maybe you've even dropped my name a few times.

I don't care if you respect me on this forum or any where else for that matter - although when we talk in person next it should be interesting. Oh, and I'm not Mary Lutz - but I would think she would rather you not start dissing her next.

Diss the book, diss the writing style, but don't call someone an ass because he didn't take your advice - that's just, well, being an ass.

Like I said - I only came here to see what David was up to, not to get in a peeing match with you -- after all, us girls are at a disadvantage when it comes to the "write in the snow" part of the competition.

You can PM me or e-mail me if you want to have a private conversation, or not, your prerogative.

IF we have indeed conversed, and you know something about me, you know that I don't backpedal...so yes, the conversation should be interesting.

A name-dropper usually does such in order to build themselves up in other's eyes. I mentioned names in this case to provide background and an explanation, nothing more, nothing less. My name stands on it's own, warts and all.

I like Mary, and had really hoped that you were not her. Am looking forward to "chatting" with you next time the opportunity presents itself.

STeven Garsson