The Song Remains The Same

In the month since I addressed anything political on this blog, many things have changed. John McCain has clinched the Republican nomination and Barack Obama has opened a delegate lead that some call insurmountable. But one thing that hasn't changed is the rhetoric of Obama's democratic opponent.

In comments today, Hilary Clinton once again trotted out her line about needing to do more than make speeches. Apparently, she is really worried about her oratory abilities compared to Obama's, because for the last six weeks she has been harping on this.

As I said in the post in mid-February, making speeches and the ability to do so well actually is very important for a President. No, it is not all that the job entails. But it is a crucial aspect of the position. If you were hiring someone to be President, it would be one of the major qualifications. Must be willing to relocate, able to work unusual hours, have strengths in networking and be an accomplished public speaker.

But today Hilary popped off about it again. "Senator Obama has said often that words matter. I strongly agree. But giving speeches alone won't end the war and making campaign promises you might not keep certainly won't end it," Clinton said.(Reuters)

The wonderful irony is in her other comments on the same day. For example, she promised if elected she would convene military advisers and ask them to develop a plan to begin bringing U.S. troops home within 60 days of her taking office next January.

Now, lets examine this statement from Ms. Empty Speeches Accusation. What is she actually promising? To bring the troops home in sixty days? No, that's what she wants you to hear. The only thing she's actually promising is to have a meeting on the subject of doing so. How wonderfully Washingtonian of her. Isn't this exactly what we want a change from?

She also made a point of talking about how the war is so bad for the economy (Duh!) and costly in human misery. Funny that she didn't think this way in September, 2002. Oh, but everybody voted for the war then, right? Wrong. The majority of Democrats in the House and twenty-one Democratic Senators did NOT vote for the war then. Of course, Hilary couldn't have afforded to vote against the war as the Senator from New York. I get that. But she could at least say so. I might respect that. No, she continues to paint that vote as the right thing to do at the time, basically refusing to admit that it is possible for her to make a mistake. Gee, sounds like the President we already have, not the one we want.

She also talks about how the war could cost a trillion dollars (Hey Hillary, get current. Recent estimates are double that number)and about how much that money could do here in the United States. Funny, I seem to have heard that before. Where? In speeches Obama made in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina and most especially in Katrina ravaged New Orleans.

Her other big use for the money? Solving the housing crisis and making college affordable. Well, Hilary may not value Obama's speeches... but it sure sounds like she has been listening to them.

Refresh my memory, Hilary. What was all that about plagiarism?

Take A Leap With Phaze!

We like to do things the hard way, don't we? Inches, miles, and all that ridiculous pints-quarts-gallons stuff. On the Gregorian calendar, which we use, we have to add a day every so often. At least in the year thing, it is not about our refusal to switch to that simple metric system.

Adding an extra day to the calendar every four years compensates for the fact that a solar year is almost 6 hours longer than 365 days.

So, in the spirit of starting a tradition that we don't have to mess with that often, Phaze is celebrating Leap Day with a special sale and Take a Leap Giveaway, with two ways to win!

All through Leap Day, Feb. 29, 2008, you can get 29% off all eBooks in the Phaze store using the checkout code LEAP2008. When you purchase a title from the Phaze.com catalog on Leap Day you will be eligible to win one of two Phaze.com gift certificates valued at $29 each.

You can also enter the drawing by sending an e-mail to leapyear@phaze. com with your Name, E-Mail Address, and one sentence describing the best way to "take a leap" on this extra day.

How would spend your Leap Day: an actual "leap" with a bungee cord
attached your ankles, or a metaphorical "leap" toward an exciting new job
or romance? Let us know; we'll post the answers we like best on our blog.

All entries for the giveaway must be in by midnight, Feb. 29, 2008 to be
eligible. No purchase necessary to win!

This Is Just Nasty... And Funny

So I'm suffering through about the nastiest bout with the annual creepin' crud I can remember. I got sick once last year, but it was nothing like this. I can't remember my throat ever being this sore. (( And that is NOT meant as innuendo, people!!))

And Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman made it worse with their little competition. If you don't know what I'm talking about, Google their names plus Matt Damon.

It hurts to laugh with a sore throat, damn it!

Thoughts About Experience And The Presidency

In my opinion, there are two ways a President gets things done. Conspire and Inspire.

Conspire: Barack Obama has plenty of experience in putting together coalitions and voting blocs as an organizer in Chicago at the grass roots level, in the Illinois state senate and now as a U.S Senator. And that is the weak side of the two for him. It can be addressed by the proper choice of a VP... and since the VP is the one that spends the most time on Capitol Hill, the VP is the person that needs that experience the most.

Inspire: This comes down to the ability to fire up both legislators to pull things through congress and the general public to push things through congress. Barack Obama is without doubt the most dynamic speaker running for President. He is, IMHO, without doubt the one best able to inspire. Do this as an experiment: Go to YouTube. Find speeches by the three remaining major candidates. DON'T pay attention to the speaker. Pay attention to the audience. Remember, these are people who already support the speaker. The difference in the reactions of Obama's crowds is palpable. This man can create excitement.

As such, the major argument people put against him, lack of experience, doesn't wash with me. He has the tools.

It's just a matter of whether or not you believe he will use them in a way that is beneficial for the country. Since I believe he will, I support Obama.

I'm not terribly anti- Hillary Clinton. But she doesn't make me feel like she is anything other than a lesser of evils. Barack Obama makes me believe in America again.

John McCain is at least a person whom I respect for some of the things he went through due to his service to the nation. I respect him for being willing to publicly disagree with someone in his own party. But I wouldn't vote for him over Hillary.

I have zero respect for Bush. ZERO. I look forward to the end of an error... or rather, the end to a presidency that was stolen in the first place.

Super Tuesday! Let Your Voice Be Heard!

I don't care who you support, if your state is voting today... GET OUT THERE AND VOTE!

I Support Barack Obama

Not that this is any big secret, but I chose my candidate months ago and the things I have seen in those intervening months have only strengthened my resolve. Barack Obama is that choice.

I first became aware of Obama in the same way many of us did, with his address at the Democratic Convention. Since then I have watched the man, read the man and listened to him. I have also watched and listened to Hilary and the campaign-suspended John Edwards. I have to admit that I haven't spent much time on the Republican candidates. Sorry, but the Repugs were not high on my list before the disaster of W. Now, they are off the list and will be until they lose the current leadership of the party.

But the key event that switched my allegiance to Barack was reading Dreams From My Father. The book was published before Obama entered politics, a key point for me. It is an honest and forthright tale, and one that lets me know who this man is.

There will be no silliness about inhaling or partying. Barack told the world he was human already, in undeniable print. The man has experiences in Indonesia and Kenya that make him unique among the current crop of candidates; his life and struggles there do much to alleviate concerns about foreign policy for me, simply because at least Barack has lived in a foreign land and visited Africa without the Secret Service hovering.

He learned the effects of racism in school in Hawaii, where he was one of only three black students on campus. But he also knows that side of his heritage on the level of the projects. He recounts his early grass roots experience in Chicago, learning politics from the ground up. He knows what is at stake at the lower end of the financial scale in this country.

And he connected with me in his forward, where he did something so rare for a political candidate that it had a profound effect on my opinion of him. He talked about what he would change if he went back and wrote the book now. As a writer. He admitted that he would change something in his past if he could. He admitted the reality and possibility of mistakes and failure. So rare in a politician, so important in a person.

By the way, did everyone know he won a Grammy for the Spoken Word Edition? I didn't until I linked to the wikipedia page for the book.

I like that Barack Obama speaks of dreams and possibilities. Of working together, of moving forward. I like that he tries to avoid the gutter of Rove-ian politics. I like that he spoke out against the war when all the "cool kids" were supporting it.

So he's a dreamer. So was Jefferson. So was Lincoln. So was Roosevelt. So was JFK. So am I.

I'm dreaming of an Obama/Edwards ticket in November. I'm dreaming of voting for someone, instead of against someone. Of choosing my belief rather than the lesser of evils.

In five days, many of us will have our first chance to cast a ballot for change. Let's do it.

Reject the politics of fear. Reject those who resort to misdirection and miscommunication. Ignore the swift boat marketing of hate and despair. Vote for change. Vote for a dream. Vote for being proud of the diversity that makes us strong. Vote for hope.

Vote for Barack Obama.

Finished!

After many struggles, some external and some internal, Alessia and I wrote the last words of the sequel to Double Header today.

Spring Training has endured multiple challenges and led to discussions between its two authors that might have broken up your average rock band. At just over 45,000 words, it is the longest of our individual works to date. It may also be the most complex.

There are twists and turns in Spring Training that we never imagined when we first set out to write it. We knew it would feature Andrea Spring and feature her falling in love with Mark Hamilton. That might be the only thing from our original discussions that remains the same.

Of our joint work, this is perhaps the most traditionally romantic in plot. Yet the sex is both intense and incredibly varied. Those who loved the wild side of Andi in Double Header will certainly not be disappointed. She remains a most daring sexual adventuress. But you will find out much more about Andi in this book. A glimpse of her background, the surety of her strength and the vulnerability of her weaknesses. Andi has followed an incredible path through these two books.

Mark had a small role in Double Header. Now, he takes center stage. Even, as you'll see, when Andi most certainly does not want him there. He will demand of Andi something she has been unwilling to give any man.

Spring Training, the sequel to Double Header from the writing team that Heather Fowler calls "a straight up duo of walking hedonism", is coming this spring to Phaze.

Are you ready for the coming season?

Phaze Holiday Sale

Phaze is running a 50% off sale on all electronic books through 1 a.m. eastern on Dec 26th... So, if you've just gotta indulge that shopping bug one more time, I have a suggestion for a place to do it...

Enter the code HOHOHO at checkout to get the 50% discount.

Under Fire Available For Christmas!

On Christmas, the biggest day for gifts of the entire year, will you step out and give something special? And get reciprocated not only with the warm glow it creates in your heart, but by some stirrings slightly lower?

There are families this Christmas who are putting up a tree in a hotel room, or a rented apartment, and gazing at it with a different feeling. Melancholy. Wistful memories. Brushing away tears that are not of joy. These families spent last Christmas in a home they had dreamed of for years... and lost in a fiery moment.

Do your part to help those families. In return, we'll warm your cockles with a selection of the best erotica available, from names like Rachel Kramer Bussel, Gwen Masters and Shanna Germain.

Thanks to the wonderful combined efforts of authors, publisher and most especially my beloved co-editor Alessia Brio, Coming Together: Under Fire is available NOW... a most appropriate release date indeed, two days before Christmas and exactly two months since the worst day of the fires. And not only an appropriate date, but a dramatically fast one. Phaze has really stepped to the plate to get this volume out quickly. From conception to availability, this project has moved with a speed unheard of in this business. Simply amazing.

But haste did not make waste. This is a fantastic collection. I'm extraordinarily proud of my involvement, although I will defer most of the credit to the tireless Ms. Brio. She is the Pele of this project.

Please, if you have a last minute gift to buy... buy Coming Together: Under Fire in either print or ebook format. You'll be giving to many more than just the one who unwraps it.

Fallen Angels Reviews Double Header

Dawnie from Fallen Angels Reviews has ventured into the world of Andrea Spring and liked what she saw enough to give it four angels out of a possible five.

I admit that I have been a little nervous about the possible reactions to the latest release from Alessia and myself. It's the first that didn't feature a M/F one-on-one relationship and our "heroine" is much more complex. She has a definite journey through Double Header and its forthcoming sequel Spring Training. What's more, the place that she begins that journey from can be a little harsh for people not accustomed to a woman of Andi's sensibilities.

Dawnie saw what we intended, calling Andi "a complex character with sizzling sexual needs." Part of my interest in seeing reviews and feedback for this work is that Andi is a very different heroine for readers used to more traditional romantic elements. I'm pleased that Dawnie stayed with us to see the growth and complexity of Andi's character.

The other thing that stands out in the review is her impression of the book's sexuality. She calls the sex scenes "extremely hot and raw." Again, a gratifying response. Double Header definitely is erotica with romantic plot, as opposed to traditional romance with erotic elements, and it is wonderful that Dawnie enjoyed it.

I suppose that I'm a little greedy on this one. I want to send the reviewer a note asking what kept her from giving that elusive fifth angel. It's the pleaser in me. Always looking for the maximum amount of approval. But as one of the few reviews we have had so far for DH, I'm happy it is such a positive one.

You can read the full review at Fallen Angels Reviews by following this link.

Being Judged By Our Political Silence

The United States likes to take the public position that we are better than those around us. We point to the atrocities of the world, and puff out our collective chest and say how we aren't like that, see?

We pontificate about being a Christian nation. It is from our perceived position of moral "higher ground" that we talk about things like making the world safe for democracy. That we dare to address human rights issues. That we base things like "family values" on when our politicians give speeches. We are, in general, a church-going nation that takes pride in being able to look in a mirror and be proud.

If we look in a mirror with pride, either the mirror or the viewer is a liar.

In Saudi Arabia, one of our strongest allies and a nation whose favor we court daily, the victim of a gang rape has been sentenced to six months in jail and 200 lashes. The 19 year old girl's crime was being in the company of an unrelated male. She was abducted, driven out into the countryside and raped by seven men. They were all convicted of this crime, but their ability to commit it was judged to be her fault because she made herself available for it by being out with a college friend. Not out on the town drinking and carousing, but out in a car with a college classmate trying to retrieve a picture of herself. She was sentenced to ninety lashes for being in a car with an unrelated male. Then she made the mistake of appealing.

The appeals court increased her sentence. The implied reason was that she had discussed the case in the media. "For whoever has an objection on verdicts issued, the system allows an appeal without resorting to the media," (Saudi Ministry of Justice, in a statement on the case) This is perfectly legal in Saudi Arabia.

I am not debating the sovereignty of the Saudi government. By definition, they have a right to make and enforce their own laws. Nor are their visions of what is moral and right they same as ours.

The announcement of the verdict created what the AP describes as an "international outcry." The response of our own state department was that the verdict "causes a fair degree of surprise and astonishment." Oh, and to note that the Saudi government could still overturn the sentence.

Thanks for taking a moral stand there, United States. After all, we'd better not criticize the people who just happen to be sitting on top of all that oil, no matter what they do. Canada's response was to call it "barbaric." Um, in case you haven't noticed, Canada gets cold. They need heating oil more than we do, but they had the guts to say that it was wrong, not just surprising.

Sure, we should respect the rights of other nations to follow their own laws and moral code. But we should also be steadfast in stating that we believe it to be wrong to further punish this woman. Be it 90 lashes, 200 and six months in jail or a literal slap on the wrist. Even if you are in a position where you feel what she did was wrong and needs to be punished... don't you feel that the seven men who raped her already accomplished punishing her?

I don't know why I would be surprised. We support torture. Our strongest voices about the supposed immorality of homosexuality keep getting caught waving their hands under other stalls in men's bathrooms. We have a large amount of people who think that lying about a blow job is equivalent or more wrong then manipulating facts so that we are justified in invading a country and killing thousands.

Would it have been so hard to stand up and say that, while we respect Saudi Arabia's right to rule it's own nation, we feel that these actions are unjustified? I'm not even asking that we call them the misogynistic, chauvinist, torturing bastards that they are. Just tell them we don't approve. Even that would be nice.

All I'm asking is that we tell them we don't like it.

Some Bridge Players Don't Get It

I'm a sports geek, admitted and unrepentant. But the world of competitive bridge is completely under my radar. All I can tell you is that Omar Sharif used to write a syndicated column about it for the newspaper. So why would I be writing about Bridge?

In yet another example of the idiocy that has permeated this country, some members of the women's U.S. Bridge team are being threatened with expulsion from the federation because they don't like King George, and they dared to tell the world.

This is a link to the story at The New York Times. I'm not going to rewrite it, but if you are a free-thinking patriot who thought that this couldn't happen again after the Dixie Chicks were vindicated, read this story.

A few thoughts from me about information in the article:

USBF president Jan Martel claims this is not a free speech issue, claiming to be a private organization. True on one level. But if you represent the USA, you represent the USA. NOT "certain people within the United States who feel that George Bush is doing a good job." You represent ALL of the USA. If you are the "Jan Martel Bridge Foundation", that's different. But to your claims that this is not a free speech issue when you are threatening these women with the loss of their income for one year and a one-year probation after that? For a peaceful and light-hearted expression of political fact? For stating that they are members of the more than 50% of the country who did not vote for His Royal Incompetence? Well, to use a phrase even your beloved leader would understand, that dog won't hunt! (probably because the dog fears the vice-president will be on the trip.) Also, your offer of differing "plea bargain deals" to the women who apologized rather than stand resolute shows that you are being discriminatory and manipulative.

Quoting the article, the words of Jim Kirkham, who sits on the board of the American Contract Bridge League:
"I think an apology is kind of specious. It's not that I don't forgive them, but I still think they should be punished."
Jim, your use of "specious" indicates your feelings very clearly. The definition of specious:
1. apparently good or right though lacking real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible: specious arguments.
2. pleasing to the eye but deceptive.
3. Obsolete. pleasing to the eye; fair.

As to the second part of your statement, if you think they should be punished than you DO NOT forgive them. The definition of forgive:
1. to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
2. to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).
3. to grant pardon to (a person).
4. to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one's enemies.
5. to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan.
–verb (used without object)
6. to pardon an offense or an offender.

Jim, if you are going to be a repressive, lying jerk who thinks patriotism is the science of "yes-man"ing Karl Rove, at least have the balls to admit it instead of claiming to be capable of forgiveness.

Robert Wolff was quoted as saying that he didn't feel free speech gave the right to criticize one's leader at certain venues. Excuse me, Robert? WAKE YOUR ASS UP! That is exactly what this right is all about. Free speech is not about the ability to chose a baked potato over french fries with your fast food combo meal. It is about freedom from repression for speaking your views.

Debbie Rosenberg, who held up the sign and is now facing this criticism and possible suspension for doing so, expressed the real problem.
“Freedom to express dissent against our leaders has traditionally been a core American value,” she wrote by e-mail. “Unfortunately, the Bush brand of patriotism, where criticizing Bush means you are a traitor, seems to have penetrated a significant minority of U.S. bridge players.”

America was not built by simpering wimpy individuals who caved in to government or to the criticism of their bosses or Tory neighbors. We are a nation founded in rebellion.

The true Americans in this situation are the ones who are standing up to speak their mind despite the possible consequences. I applaud Jill Levin, Jill Meyers, Debbie Rosenberg, Hansa Narasimhan, JoAnna Stansby and Irina Levitina. Especially Debbie, who held up the sign and who is going on record with her dismay at the anti-American behavior of the USBF.

Back From The La Jolla Writers Conference

I spent the last few days in a magical realm where everything is empowering and the feedback flows like water from a fountain.

I'm talking about my second trip to the La Jolla Writers Conference, a wonderful event put on by Antoinette and Jared Kuritz. This was the seventh annual conference, but I first attended only last year. I feel extremely foolish for having missed five of them.

This year, I attended classes and Read & Critiques taught by:
David Morrell
Steven J. Cannell
Lisa Jackson & Nancy Bush
Linda Lael Miller
Tracy Hickman
Ken Kuhlken
Mark Clements
Greg Godek
Patti Callahan Henry
Antoinette Kuritz
Warren Lewis


And although I didn't take any classes with them, I at least renewed my acquaintance with Sara Lewis and Mike Sirota.

It's the most amazing thing for a writer to have the creator of Rambo nodding his head and smiling while you are speaking about a plot point or an editing decision. To shake hands and discuss the craft with the writer of The Rockford Files and the A-Team, among 42 other TV shows. To have Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush laughing with you as you discuss the HEA requirements of the Romance genre. To have Linda Lael Miller listen to your writing and praise you for how you set a scene, and to watch her perk up when you say what is going to happen next.

All of these wonderful writers, who between them have sold millions and millions of books, are not only successful, but they are the rare people that want to share their success. They are both encouraging and tactfully critical.

I can't speak for all the writing conferences in the world, nor would I want to do so. But I can tell you that this one has been incredibly valuable to me. If you have been thinking about attending an event or conference featuring any of these writers, I heartily recommend you follow though and go.

I'm The Essence of Erotica "Author of the Month!"

Will Belegon is an author of erotic romance from a man's prospective. It is his lush and hedonistic imagination that makes him a much sought after author in the field of erotica.

Thank you, Essence of Erotica, for featuring me as your Author of the Month. I am very flattered.

If anyone would like a copy of the Essence of Erotica Newsletter, the simplest way is to join the group by visiting their Yahoo group homepage here or even just subscribing right away here. Of course, if you have zero desire to join a Yahoo group and you email me privately at willbelegon@yahoo.com, I can send it your way. Please note that this is an adult group and the fiction excerpts contains strong language and adult situations, so I can't share unless I know you are over eighteen. I mean, it is still a Bush White House, and it's gonna be his Supreme Court for a while yet...

Blog Action Day About The Environment

Today is Blog Action Day about the environment, a movement to try to get us thousands of attention seekers to all post about the environment and thereby illuminate the issue through the chorus of our electronic voices.

I'm at a loss of what to write about that is seriously environmental.

We could congratulate Al Gore on his Nobel Peace Prize... which I do, by the way. Can you make a case for dozens of others who are deserving? Of course. But I happen to like that Al got the nod. Of course, I like anything that tweaks neo-con noses and I love that George Bush can't take away Al's victory this time by using a dispute in a state where his brother is governor. I really don't think they care about Jeb's hanging chads in Oslo.

Or we could talk about the absolute ridiculousness of SUV marketing. If you love the great outdoors, you should buy a Hummer? Excuse me? Sure, it can get up an incline okay, although let's be honest... the majority of H3's will never see dirt that didn't blow off a little league diamond or school playground. And the yellow ones look like school buses, at that. But I despair at the idea that people who love hiking and camping and mountain biking will not be able to recognize that using a vehicle that gets 12 miles to the gallon is foolish if they really want to help the environment they so love.

I want them to make a hybrid X-Terra. I like the looks and (admittedly) the marketing behind that SUV, and I would love it if they made a hybrid version... maybe they do and I don't know about it yet. But if so, they are missing their target with some of their ads. I probably will buy a new vehicle in the next couple of years, and I would like to buy a hybrid. But I still have the desire to have a truck of some kind and SUV's are a good compromise for me between truck-desire and childcare needs.

Hmmm... guess I found something to say after all...

Free! Free! Get A Free e-Book From Phaze!

Edited To Add: As of October 29th, the poll is closed due to the overwhelming response. Thank you so much to all who helped make it a success!

...and all you have to do for it is something you already love to do if you're a blogger.

Give out your opinion. We all love to let our voices be heard, especially if we can do it and get rewarded. Well, here's one of those chances.

Follow this link to Phaze Books' Reader Survey. For now, copy/paste the questions into an email to klively AT phaze DOT com and make sure to put in your email address, my name (please!) and the free e-book you desire. Then answer the questions and hit send. That is all you have to do!

In the near future, it will be even easier, with a form currently being built. Phaze was using a survey site, but we quickly had two polls closed down as having used all their available bandwidth. So we are doing it this way to get a chance to obtain as many responses as possible.

The book you want is totally up to you. Just browse through the site and pick something out. Of course, if you pick something listed here, I'll be even happier...

Oh, Give Me A Frickin Break!

So, I'm watching Inside The NFL. You know, I'm a sportsgeek and my Lightning Bolts romped this week, so I'm enjoying it a lot more than the last three weeks. Then HBO does a feature on the Washington Redskins replacement players that played during the NFL Players Association strike of 1987.

Those guys went from working on the docks to playing in front of thousands of people in a week... they lived a three week dream. And they did it better than anyone. Not only did they go 3-0 in those games, but in the final one they faced the Cowboys.. the real Cowboys. See, Dallas had crossed the line in time to play, and the Redskins players had not. So these "scrubs" were playing against Danny White and Tony Dorsett and Ed "Too Tall" Jones on Monday Night Football. And they won, 13-7. Imagine a high school team beating the Yankees, cause that's what we are talking about. Great human story about some regular guys that lived a dream and where they are twenty years later.

Then they go back to the studio. And Dan Marino in his thousand dollar suit and Chris Collinsworth start whining like babies. Bob Costas goes to Dan Marino, "What about these guys and what they did twenty years ago?" Marino's answer? "They accomplished nothing. They took paychecks out of the mouths of guys with families."

Excuse me? Oh, yeah Dan. You look like they really hurt you. What a jerk. Twenty years later and he is still so bitter against these guys? You want to be bitter at the owners that you were fighting with at a time where NFL players were truly at a great disadvantage compared to their compatriots in MLB or the NBA? Fine. You hold that grudge. I don't think it's all that healthy, but fine.

But these poor guys who made about as much for all three games as you made putting on your jock? Or for about a second and a half of one of your glove commercials? Or your weight loss endorsement that you did after getting fat when you retired at forty? Because we know those scrubs all retired from their jobs at forty,too. Right? Oh, wait... oh yeah, they are just regular guys now. Guys that you won't forgive for chasing the same dream you did. Jerk. Get some perspective.

And don't you dare go bitching to me about the poor guys in the trenches who weren't stars and only played two or three years either, Dan and Chris. Not until you pull out your checkbook and show me the percentage of your six and seven figure incomes you donated to those guys pension fund this year.

Sanctimonious, stuck up, narcissistic, blowhard idiots is what you are.

Double Header Is Now Available!

The latest from the dynamic team of Brio and Belegon is now available... and just in time for the playoffs! If you love both sex and baseball, this is a book for you.

Double Header by Alessia Brio and Will Belegon
October, 2007
ISBN 978-1-59426-772-7
Length: Comet (38K)
Rating: 4 Novas
Erotica, Contemporary, Romantic Comedy
$5.00

Andrea Spring doesn't love baseball, but she sure loves baseball players. When her carefully-crafted casual sex life gets rocked by unexpected forces, she meets the challenge with her unique style. There's nothing conventional about this woman. When Andi plays, everybody wins.

Free Burma!

One Blogpost For Burma

I didn't find out about this until just a few minutes ago, but I snuck in one hour and eight minutes before the end of the day.

Alessia and I Are Chatting at Joyfully Reviewed Today!

Join us this evening from 6-7pm Eastern (3-4 pm for us west coast types) as we participate in Joyfully Reviewed's celebration of paranormal writing duos! We'll be sharing excerpts, pimping our contest, and giving readers a peek behind the curtain.

The event is taking place on the Chatting with Joyfully Reviewed Yahoo!Group. We hope to see you there!