"Peter McWilliams Statistical Anomaly Event Plan C - QYMA (Questions You Might Ask)
Everybody buy "Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do" the week of Sunday June 8 to Saturday June 14, 2003
Let's say I like this idea. What exactly should I do?
If you like, go to your favorite bookstore now and look for Peter's books. (Don't wait for June 14.) You can save time by going to the counter, but you can find some of them on the Self Help/Philosophy shelves. However, there is no guarantee they will have "Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do." You will likely end up ordering online from Borders/amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.
Do I have to order online?
No. You can call Natalie Fisher at 1 888 569-7455.
Can I order multiple copies? Maybe have a fundraiser where the book is a prize for best activism or something?
Sure. Great idea. Here in California, I might do that for the person who gets the most signatures on a petition to remove a certain someone who has failed to protect Prop 215.
Who was Peter McWilliams?
Peter was a wonderful writer with a number of books to his credit. I first met him at the 1998 Libertarian National Convention where he gave a great speech (which, to see it again now guarantees tears.) He signed free copies of his book "Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do" to everyone who attended the banquet, which, as I recall, was on July 4th. We missed the fireworks show outside. (And D.C. does put on a doozy--irony?) And Peter missed the banquet, because he was signing away and, undoubtedly exchanging pleasant conversation all night long in the hallway. At the end of the evening, I collected my autograph and he made some observation about the fact that a young woman was carrying my shoes. (I had taken them off so as to do less harm to my dance partners.) Peter was arrested shortly thereafter for possessing and 'conspiring' to grow the thing that kept him alive. His real 'crime,' of course, was sharing knowledge with others. He spoke his "Peace," and now he was in jail. At that point, right after President Clinton's non-apology (on another matter) I wrote my own piece and put up a page that includes some links you might try to find out more about Peter. I met him again when he spoke in Southern California later that year and had him sign a book of romantic poetry, which I paid for this time. As it was a gift, I made him put in a little extra work in the signing of it, and then again more as I had handed it to him in such a way that he accidentally signed inside the back instead of the front. To meet him twice, if not once, was to love the guy. Peter lost his struggle to get by without his medicine on June 14, 2000. The standard report is that he choked on that which he could not keep down. I have been told by someone else that he died of a heart attack. With his body slumped against the bathroom door, his caregiver had to get help to open the door. And that help came from the person who says the fact is Peter died of a heart attack. No matter which version of the story (and both may be true), Peter died at the hands of those that would deny patients their life-saving medicine. He was murdered by the Clinton Administration just as sure as if they had held a pillow over his face until he was dead.
I already have "Ain't Nobody's Business if You Do." Can't I buy one of his other books I don't have?
The point is to bring attention to the cause of Peter and medical marijuana. This is the title--the most appropriate title--for us to put up on the non-fiction bestseller lists. I have a signed copy myself. The one I buy this June I will donate to a library. Or trade or give as a gift to someone who isn't otherwise participating. If you find that it is June 14 and you haven't participated yet by ordering "Ain't Nobody's Business," walk into a store and buy something of his. One of his titles will likely be there. I can personally recommend the poetry.
Plan C? What happened to plan A?
Never let it be said that an idealist can't be a realist. After an email back from David Nolan and a glance at an issue of Entertainment Weekly, I decided not to ask the impossible. To break into the ranks of the top movie rentals, you have to have 400,000 participants. This only needs 40,000. That's a lot. But at least we have the numbers for it to be possible, whether you believe it is feasible or not.
Is this really doable?
I've contacted hundreds of people. If each of them contacts just ten others and each of those people pass the word to just ten more, that puts our numbers into the tens of thousands.
I'm going to contact ten people and those ten people are going to contact ten more people? How long have you been a libertarian? You seriously think that is going to happen?
No, my semi-cynical friend. (I say "semi", because if you made it this far, you aren't completely burned out.) I told the distributor there might be a little extra demand, but didn't make any promises. I have sent out 600 emails and will send out two or three hundred more. Most of those people are LP officers and former candidates (from every state). That's just scratching the surface. They (you) know ten activists I didn't reach and each of those ten can go even deeper. I have no expectations. But wouldn't it be something if this was a success? Knowing we have the resources we need that can quickly rally to the ready for the many battles ahead.
Are there that many copies available?
If I understood correctly from speaking to Peter's former caregiver (Natalie Fisher), Peter's mother has the publishing rights. Whether or not she has on-demand printing capability, if there is that much demand, you can be sure the books will be made available one way or another.
What is the current 10th top non-fiction paperback New York Times besteseller?
Bill O'Reilly's "The No-Spin Zone." 1st is "The Best Democray Money Can Buy," by Greg Palast, a supposed resource for Michael Moore's ability to determine what is "fictitious." ("Stupid White Men," by Michael Moore is 11th on the hardcover non-fiction list.)
Does Edward Bowers have any financial ties to amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Natalie Fisher, or Mrs. McWilliams (Peter's mom)?
No. I have a couple of song ideas; if I ever record them, I will publicize them.
What of the missing Plan B?
Plan B was for Libertarians to coordinate an event on or about June 14 with their local medical marijuana group for activism, fundraising, and observance.
David Nolan sent me this letter:
"This is an interesting idea, but I think I have a better one. Call it the
missing "Plan B."
At this very moment, Peter's associate Richard Cowan is working on a book
about the trials (literally) and tribulations of Steve and Michele Kubby.
The plan is to have a "pre-printing" of it on hand to distribute to the
media just before announcement of the ruling in the April hearings by the
refugee board in Canada regarding their petition to grant med-pot users
political refugee status. The Kubbys are confident that they will win, and
we want to generate as much attention as possible for the announcement, and
use the event to promote the book.
My thought: let's get "Peter's friends" to get on board to build awareness
of this book, and when the right moment arrives, place orders for Richard's
book (working title: Reefer Refugees).
As of this moment, we plan to have the pre-print edition published by the
Kubby Defense Fund ... but we'd like to get an experienced publisher lined
up to handle the actual publication and distribution of the book. Is
Prelude Press (Peter's publisher) still in business? If so, perhaps they'd
be interested, especially as we plan a fair amount of promotion."
The answer to that last question is No. Prelude Press suffered the same fate as Peter. But, as I mentioned before, I believe Mrs. McWilliams has full capacity to publish as many copies of "Ain't Nobody's Business" as we ask for.
Got questions I didn't think of or forgot to put up here? Click my name below.
Thank you,
Edward Bowers
Free Peter page from WWWTP Classic - same as above