imkittymyers at hotmail dot com
Saturday, June 18, 2005
BUSY LITTLE BUNNIES
Viewer discretion is advised! Contains bunnies cussing and bunnies in adult situations.
If you've never watched one of these bunny productions, hop right over to AngryAlien.com and pick one out from their list:
Pulp Fiction, The Exorcist, The Shining, Titanic, Alien, It's a Wonderful Life, Freddy vs. Jason, Scream, and TX Chainsaw Massacre.
Coming attractions:
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (completed!), Highlander (completed!), The Big Chill (completed!), The War of the Worlds (1953) (completed!), Star Wars (in production), Scarface (pending), Rocky (pending), King Kong (1933) (pending), Night of the Living Dead (pending).
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PERSPECTIVE FROM A SOLDIER IN IRAQ
 | The poor prisoners at GITMO: I don't have a toilet in my room. Last month we opened up our first set of real porcelain, and then promptly ran out of water. I don't have a sink, either. My bed is constructed of plywood and 2x4s. I built it. I have a dirt floor. |
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WRITTEN BY AN OUTRAGED DOCTOR
 | Salon.com flushes its credibility down the toilet: It's a one-sided account by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. of the supposed link between thimerosal in vaccines and autism that is being promoted by antivaccine activists as an indictment of the government and pharmaceutical companies. |
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IN THE BOOK CORNER ...
Another questionable book aimed at kids:
 | LONG LIVE THE QUEEN?: Another book, aimed at ages 6 & up, in which the young prince marries another prince. [I]ts real target is the marriage protection movement. Told in lighthearted fashion (though sprinkled with flirtations by both sexes inappropriate for such young ages). |
This may interest you writers:
 | Why I chose POD (Part 1): Mike Vogel, who wrote ISNT THAT BIGAMY?, on why he chose to publish his book himself using a POD service (print on demand) as opposed to a traditional publisher. |
Kinda like Netflix (the famous DVDD-by mail website):
 | Book-swapping: Mitchell Silverman ... launched Bookins: It is an automated system that finds good homes for members' used-books, while getting them titles they want in exchange. Membership is free, and it's easy to use. [E]verything is automated, and postage is provided. ... [M]embers get books of equal value from other members. ... [W]e are connected to the US postal service, so mailer labels print with official postage from their own printers ($3.99 to receive a book, no charge to ship them). |
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Friday, June 17, 2005
ANOTHER PODDYMOUTH PICK
RATED F: "What you're gonna do," he says, leaning over the counter, shoving the barrel of the gun under my chin, "is put my clothes on."
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RATED F is (as simply as I can state it) about the place/struggle of media censorship. The protagonist develops a rather clever (though challenging) idea: edit R-rated moves down so they can be viewed by a general audience. As the story progresses, his talent for editing provokes more invasive and creative requirements (like the guy who dumps his home movies on the counter and requests that his wife be removed from the tapes) that ultimately makes things spiral out of control.
The author's site.
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MANDY PATINKIN & OLDER BAREFOOT GENTS?
I wrote a story called Stuck In An Elevator With Mandy Patinkin, which is one story in the book of short stories I'm blogging called Briefs and Other Unmentionables. Even though I haven't promoted it recently, I'm still getting a hit or two a day. I check my link stats to see where, if anywhere particular, the hits are coming from, and I've been noticing referrals from an MSN group called Older Barefoot Gents. So I clicked on it out of curiosity. Long story short, it's some sort of adult group to which you had to belong. I didn't have the guts to become a member. It's left me wondering what's with older men and Mandy Patinkin, and how did they find out about my story? Am I missing something here?
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Thursday, June 16, 2005
JUST A NICE STORY
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| After 52 days and 850 miles of riding, Tara Lewis (left, on horse) and Pam Fedirchuck (right, on mule) arrive in Ralston on Wednesday, June 8, for Jake Clark's Mule Days. (Courtesy photo) |
Women trek from Canada for Mule Days
Last year Pam Fedirchuck of Alberta, Canada vowed that she would attend Jake Clark's Mule Days in Ralston this year, "even if she had to ride a mule to get there."
She did.
After 850 miles and 52 days of adventures on muleback, Fedirchuck and her friend Tara Lewis finally sauntered into Ralston on Wednesday, June 8.
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Fedirchuck described one incident in a tiny Montana town where they approached a man mowing his lawn to see if he knew of anywhere that they could let their animals graze for a while. He offered them his lawn as a pasture, and told his wife to be sure to prepare two more places for dinner that night.
As if that weren't enough, after dinner, the man and his family simply left, entrusting these strangers he'd known for a few hours with his summer home, asking only that they turn off the water and lock the doors when they left in the morning.
Other places along the way, they found similar hospitality, and they often volunteered to help with painting, branding, or odd jobs as compensation for the generosity of the people they encountered.
Perhaps it was the great friendliness of the people they met along the way that made the trip so enjoyable and fulfilling for the two.
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SARAH STROHMEYER WHO?
I have never heard of Sarah Strohmeyer or her Bubbles books before now, but I have heard of Janet Evanovich. In fact, I've read and thoroughly loved the first ten books in her Stephanie Plum series. (For those of you who are familiar with them, I'm a Ranger woman;) The other day I was reading MJ Rose’s blog in which she mentioned some snarkiness over at TheLipstickChronicles. Well naturally I just had to check this out! Seems as though Sarah had interviewed Janet (in Janet's home) and lamented that she was having problems writing a mystery. So Janet gave her some great advice which turned into a success for Sarah. And that's when things turned sour.
I still love the Stephanie Plum series ... will be reading #11 soon ... and I've ordered BUBBLES UNBOUND. Thank you, Algore, for inventing the Net! I've discovered more great books by surfing blogs.
And now, without further ado, let the snarkiness commence!
The Lipstick Chronicles
“I want to write a mystery,” I said. “I just don’t know where to start.” I pulled out my Barbie book and told [Evanovich] about my idea for a mystery set in Vermont, about people who go “off the grid” and end up driven so insane by the lack of utilities that they embark on a murdering spree.
“Nuh, uh.” She stabbed at the picture of a naked Barbie flying over Ken on the cover of Barbie Unbound. “Her. Use her. Call her Bubbles and set her in Bethlehem."
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When the contract came through and Bubbles Unbound was in ARC form, I called Janet and asked if she could blurb the book. I could treat her to coffee. Maybe we could finally do that ice skating.
No, she said. By the way … who are you again?
Huh?
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For months, years, afterward, I heard stories about her daughter angrily denouncing me, about Evanovich insisting to a Los Angeles bookseller that my books not be displayed near hers. Evanovich fans wrote me nasty emails, who the heck did I think I was, ripping off Janet E.’s good name?
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A DOCTOR IS ALWAYS IN
AggravatedDoc has blogged on the subject of universal health care with two must-reads.
Underreported Study of the Uninsured
Immigrants represented 86% of the growth in the number of uninsured between 1998 and 2003.
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[I]f we are going to talk about these complex issues, I would ask that some simple, understandable terminology to be used:
An illegal alien is an illegal alien. As in "illegal." As in "not entitled to taxpayers' money." "Undocumented" is an intentionally misleading description.
A legal immigrant is "legal," having gone to the trouble of actually becoming a citizen of this country, with all the good and bad that entails.
"Uninsured" is not synonymous with "unable to get emergency medical care." Each and every medical blogger can explain that when people show up at our door, we take care of them. Period. It is charity care, but people should not be so naive as to believe that the costs of delivering that care are not passed on to the insured population.
The Train Wreck that is TennCare
Dr. Rangel gives a blow-by-blow account of the TennCare fiasco, laying out in painful detail how this disaster unfolded (as was predictable). It should be required reading for all members of the US Congress, and any other fool who thinks that a single payer, universal access system is good for America.
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THIS PARTY BLOWS
At least that's Tod Goldberg's assessment of the young adult book about Lewinsky parties. He blogged on the book when he happened onto my post on it at LifelikePundits.
"[B]y virtue of following my own stat links (thanks, Kitty), I learn about a whole new reason to jump back in time...and one that has parents aghast, I tell you, aghast!"
His brother, Lee, picked up the story with his No Oral For My Boys; a heated discussion of comments followed. One of Tod's complaints was that people were trashing the book without reading it first. Here's his review:
I'm Gonna Have A Rainbow Party Tonight, All Right!
I've read the book, twice, and am writing a review of it for publication in Las Vegas CityLife. But in the interest of letting my readers here know the verdict first ...
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The book is about as titillating as a bowel movement. (And before the arguement is raised about how titillating it would be if I were a 14 year old boy, I contend that I am a 14 year old boy.)
Read his entire review, then be certain to read the comments!!
This little boy got a Hummer for Christmas!
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AN OFFER HE WOULDN'T REFUSE
 | BRONX BUDDIES: CHAZZ Palminteri will ... hit the streets of his native Bronx to stump for childhood friend Phil Foglia, the Republican candidate for the borough's 13th District City Council seat. Palminteri and Foglia ... grew up in ... the setting for "A Bronx Tale." |
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Tuesday, June 14, 2005
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ANOTHER MURDER INVESTIGATION
 | Later this month, Furhman's newest book, Silent Witness: The Untold Story of Terri Schiavo's Death, will be released. It will prove the controversy over Terry Schiavo's death is far from over. And it's not over yet. Despite her death, the controversy lingers. In Silent Witness, Mark Fuhrman applies his highly respected investigative skills to examine the medical evidence, legal case files, and police records. |
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ONLY A BLOGGER WOULD DO THIS
 | Geldof Conference Call Transcribed--Part I: Okay, I wanted to be able to see his words rather than listen to them on that atrocious-sounding MP3 file, so I sat down and transcribed the first part of his speech to the bloggers. |
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MORE OF SEAN PENN'S HISTRIONICS?
 | Sam Millar, former IRA member and bank robber who liberated $8.5m from Brinks in New York, is profiled. A movie version of his account of the robbery, On the Brinks ... has been optioned by Warners with Sean Penn keen to take a role. |
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SPEAKING OF MOVIES ...
 | Dirty Harry, at Jackson's Junction, weighs in on classics with Hollywood Sucks Part 22,985: It's sad to say, but the non-classics of that era are better than what we're being told are classics today. |
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LUCKY DAWG NEEDS YOU!
 | Chris, at LuckyDawgNews, is compiling a song mix to represent Howeird Dean. This is what he has so far, but he'd like more. Can you can think of any others? |
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Monday, June 13, 2005
WARNING: RADIOACTIVE!
Last Friday I posted a warning about public ad hominem attacks on Hillary after I read in the NY Post's Page Six that Klein's book makes charges of lesbianism. As I stated it's A LOSE-LOSE SUBJECT FOR REPUBS.
Titter about it amongst yourselves if you must, but doing so in public ... blogs, letters to editors, etc. ... will do no good for the Republicans. As Rush always says, we want to defeat the Dems and libs in the arena of ideas and issues. HRC will be a formidable candidate as it is; she's proven that she'll do anything to win. We don't need to give the Dems any ammo.
Today AnkleBitingPundits follows suit with Don't Fall Into Trap On Latest Bill and Hillary Allegation
This is a scurrilous allegation that our side should steer clear from for a variety of reasons.
I've stumbled upon yet another book, this one about Bill:
Clinton Accused of Raping Nurse in New Book
Lawyer Candice E. Jackson was so disgusted Clinton virtually ignored his infidelities in his best-selling autobiography My Life, she wrote Their Lives: The Women Targeted by the Clinton Machine, to expose several women she claims he sexually abused.
Jackson's controversial tome focuses on seven women, including Clinton's alleged mistress, Gennifer Flowers, radio host Sally Perdue, White House intern Monica Lewinsky and the alleged rape victim, Juanita Broaddrick.
If I honestly and truly believed in conspiracies, which I don't, I'd speculate that Hillary cooked up the idea for this book on her herself, along with its radioactive allegations, just so she can once again play the victim. Her victim performances garner her sympathy while further enraging her already rabid base. This also puts the Repubs in the position of having to side with her to deflect any negative feedback. If I believed in conspiracies, that's what I'd say is happening. But, of course, I don't believe in them.
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PODS ARE BOOKS, TOO
If you're someone who loves a good book, you may want to check out the one below.
However, if you're a writer you may have been following the online, never-ending debate of POD vs. traditional publishers. POD means print on demand. If you have shopped your book via traditional means and have gotten nothing but rejections, then you might have considered the POD route. Lee Goldberg thinks PODs are a waste of time and money. He contends that a great book will get noticed eventually. But Girl, at POD-dyMouth, disagrees. POD books have a reputation of being horrible, a rep which is probably deserved in most cases. However, back in March Girl stumbled upon a really good POD book and has since found more.
Here is her latest:
For all the folks who think it might be a waste of time to pitch your book to me (via email, of course--PDFs preferred), here is a success story. Mike Vogel pitched me, then hooked me. I read the first chapter of ISN'T THAT BIGAMY by Mike Vogel and realized I would need to put aside the afternoon's activities. Here we have a fresh-faced crime novel with the sharp idiosyncrasies of Elmore Leonard mixed with the bizarre "what was he thinking" actions of Carl Hiaasen.
Description:
After witnessing the head of the Armenian crime syndicate murder a federal agent, an unabashed womanizer is placed in the witness protection program and accidentally sent to a polygamous town in rural Utah. ISN'T THAT BIGAMY? is a crime-comedy novel in the tradition of Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen.
Whether you're a reader and/or a writer, check out Girl's POD-dyMouth for more great books she's discovered.
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Sunday, June 12, 2005
MY PICK FOR MOVIE OF THE YEAR!
 | Think our troops' morale is low? Then watch this absolutely great homemade video: Is This The Way To Amarillo? |
And the runner up: some Norwegian Soldiers in Kosovo having some excellent fun! h/t Chris!
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STILL NOT COPING
Dear Lord, please give me the chance to prove to you that I can handle big sums of money. As I read this article with its seemingly never-ending list of shopping sprees ... clothing, trips, plastic surgeries, homes, cars, pets for her, her family, her relatives and friends ... I went from "poor baby" to "you poor soul." So, even though Kathy Trent shelled out $15,000 for Peter Max paintings, which about equals my best yearly salary, I do have some empathy for the woman. It is her money to do with as she pleases, and she isn't asking for sympathy here. I think, however, that I would have sought help a few million dollars ago, and I know I would have donated a nice chunk to our soldiers. Read how she spent it.
BURNING UP 9/11 MONEY
Spending problems are "not uncommon" among 9/11 families who received big cash payments, said psychologist Paula Madrid, director of Columbia University's disaster-related Resiliency Program, which serves many 9/11 families and victims. … "People are trying to fill a void which will never be filled by money," Madrid said.
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SEX IS NOT FOR KIDS!
What is it with people pushing sex books on kids? Last month the book was Rainbow Party, which produced some rousing debates with a dash of ridicule: No Oral for My Boys and If I But Had A Time Machine. This month the book (from the UK) is Love, Sex and Relationships.
Anger over booklet for children that advises on oral sex
Children as young as 13 are being advised on oral sex, anal sex, orgasms and being good in bed in a booklet published by the fpa, formerly the Family Planning Association.
Entitled Love, Sex and Relationships, the booklet is aimed at 13- to 16-year-olds, although the legal age of consent is 16, and is being distributed to schools and youth groups.
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But Norman Wells, director of Family Youth Concern, the campaign group, said: "Publications like these are normalising under-age sexual activity."
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"This booklet does not encourage them [to become sexually active]. Quite the reverse. It says that many people wait until they are over 16. It talks about not being pressured. It says knowing about sex doesn't mean you have to do it.
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"Thirteen-year-olds don't have sex, generally speaking, but they do need information for when they are older."
All of these how-to books miss the most vital element: the children's emotional well-being, and they are children. I've raised children; I now have grandchildren, one of whom is 13 going on God-only-knows-how-old. So I've been there, done that, and I'm right back there doing it again. Telling your children not to have sex but "Here's a book and some condoms ... just in case" is the same thing as telling them to not only have sex but to "Go screw your brains out cuz I don't care." Regardless of what kids say, most of them realize that they're too young for sex. They not only need very strict guidelines, many kids want them. They want their parents to be rock solid; they want to know their parents love them enough to say no.
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