The End is Near (and we deserve it). . . . $35k/lb Tea Fertilized by Panda Poo

No. That isn’t a typo. $35,000 per pound of tea. . . . Fertilized by panda poo.

If you prefer the print article, World’s Most Expensive Tea Grown with Panda Poo.

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

In case you missed it yesterday, my elusive spy novel writing partner, Holmes, gave an exclusive interview to Ellie Ann about what it’s like to be a “man with experience in intelligence and covert operations.” What I Want to be When I Grow Up: A Spook Check it out and see why I feel so honored to call this man my partner and friend.

Award winning, best selling author Vicki Hinze explains Why an Author’s Early Works are Usually Most Original.

Brilliant comedian Paige Kellerman cracked me up again this week. Any time you need a laugh, you can count on her to provide it. It’s Not You, It’s Me: A Breakup Letter to Oreos

Baconlube . . . . Ok. You know you’re going to click on it. I know you’re going to click on it. Just do it, and then let’s move on.

Former big food executive Bruce Bradley tells us what big food does to cold-bloodedly target children. Marketing to Kids: Collateral Damage in Big Food’s Profit Hunt

Donna Newton has a marvelous interview with wonderful man and New York Times best selling author, James Rollins. 30 Second Interview with . . . James Rollins!

In the wake of the Penn State sex scandal, Chase McFadden eloquently advocates having those difficult conversations with our children. Why Parents Must Speak of Unspeakable Things

Speaking of parenting, there’s a new book on the market that every parent can relate to. Want Another Bedtime Story, Sweetie? Here’s One: Go the F@#k to Sleep

Emily Cannell reminds us that sometimes people do the right thing. Only in Japan

From Nigel Blackwell’s Garage . . . When Concept Car Plans Go Astray

Delete Your Klout Profile Now. Rohn Jay Miller tells us why.

This is amazing video of a surfer riding a 90 foot wave. And yes. It’s a record.

All the best to all of you for knowing what you’re drinking.

Piper Bayard–The Pale Writer of the Apocalypse

The End is Near (and we deserve it). . . . “Schweddy Balls” is Now an Ice Cream Flavor

Next they’ll be coming out with “Betty White’s Muffin.”

Holmes: “Now, that’s in poor taste.”

Three Posts Regarding Yours Truly

The Power of a Swift Kick. Guest post at Renee Jacobson’s blog about the teacher who kept me from being the queen of a double-wide with five kids and four baby daddies.

A tribute to my first crush. An amazing young man who took me from crayons to perfume. The world is darker for losing you, Gregg. At Gregg’s Piano. Guest post at David Walker’s Thoughts & Ideas.

Kristen Lamb explains how Social Butterflies Trump Worker Bees on Social Media – Meet the Connector. My special thanks to Kristen for this blog. After reading it, a couple of my tweeps dubbed me with the moniker “The Connector” and promoted a hashtag for me. Now, I post all my follow recommendations to #theconnecter hashtag. For those of you on Twitter, you can’t lose with those tweeps. Check it out. Note it’s spelled with an “e” rather than an “o” though. The “o” was taken.

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Catie Rhodes asks What is Beauty?

Speaking of which, Nancy Upton entered American Apparel’s “Plus Size Model” contest as a joke and won. Check out her story at My Big, Fat Photo Spoof.

Nancy Upton, photo by Shannon Skloss

Every wonder who’s seeing your tweets? Greg Pincus explains it in Who Can See My Tweets? – A Case for Wikipedia Brown.

Have you got Klout? Raising Klout Score 4 Points in One Day from Lonny Dunn at ProNetworkBuild tells us how it matters, and how to get it.

Brilliant read from Ellie Ann. Interview with Joe M. Monks: First Blind Director. Seriously. A successful blind director. This guys proves the power of focusing on what you can do.

The eyes have it. What Your Characters’ Eyes Tell the Reader by Steven Aitchison at Donna Newton’s site. Very helpful read for “show, don’t tell” writers.

Jenny Hansen’s Coffee-Snorting Video Clip of the Week . . . Christian Panties. This one had me ROFL.

This one is in honor of my tweep, Ryne Douglas Pearson. Ryne is an awesome screenwriter and novelist, and you can find his books and blog at Ryne Douglas Pearson. He’s also a true bacon aficionado. He teaches me about bacon and about spelling the word, “aficionado.” Top Ten Bacon Scenes on the Big and Little Screens by Chuck Cotton.

This is a riot. What to get your favorite lady for Christmas. Dear Santa. . . I’d Like the NEW Hitch Stripper Pole by Natalie Hartford.

image from shop.tailgatingideas.com

Sorry. I’m going to totally make you cringe with this one, but I couldn’t pass it up. A gentleman in China went to a fashionable spa and came out with a little more than he paid for. Eel Removed from Man’s Bladder. Not for the faint of heart!

I’ve seen a lot of hate in the media this week. Enough to wear me down a bit. This story, though, gave me hope. You should know that the gentleman these brave folks saved suffered several broken bones, but he is alive as of the time I write this. Click here for the print article.

All the best to all of you for giving the help you need.

Piper Bayard–The Pale Writer of the Apocalypse

The End is Near (and we deserve it). . . . World’s First Tickle Spa Opens in Spain

Laugh it up: ‘Tickle spa’ opens in Spain

By Melissa Dahl of The Body Odd

“Much like at any other day spa, the treatment takes place in a darkened room, with soothing music playing and a hint of incense tingeing the air. The client disrobes, puts on a pair of crinkly paper panties and lies facedown on the table. And then the tickling — first with fingertips drawn along the body, then a feather — begins. A 30-minute session costs €25 ($35); for an hour, the price is €45 ($60).”

Click here for complete article.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Really? This woman couldn’t find someone to tickle her with a feather for free?

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

10 Tips for Blogging Awesomeness–Blog Housekeeping by Kristen Lamb. Great tips every blogger can use.

Something every writer should know, How to Undress a Victorian Lady in Your Next Historical Romance. Really interesting article, but it may ruin “bodice rippers” for you.

See what I mean? Now, I’m wondering where the rest of it is. You’ll notice the equally realistic Native American gentleman from the Nautilus Tribe, as well. It’s my understanding he personally brokered the deal in which the Nautilus Tribe traded steroids to the White Man in exchange for casinos.

From Amy Shojai come the question, Do Breastfeeding Baby Dolls Suck?

What’s Your Klout? Kait Nolan explains this social media rating system.

I case you are a writer or a criminal, Radha Pyari Sandhir tells us about 18 things that can make us good liars. Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

For all you fashionistas, hope you didn’t miss the Iranian Islamic Fashion Show. Islamic Fashion Show in Islamic-Iran Iran. The only country in the world that actually needs French fashion.

The Tehran Runway

Top 10: Mental Illnesses You’ve Never Heard of Before by Manon Eileen. Honestly, I was afraid to read this blog when I saw the title. Wondered if I would be like my son, who read a book on fish diseases, and suddenly, our fish had at least six of them.

Always entertaining and educational with great pictures, Emily Cannell at her Hey from Japan blog tells about her family’s visit to the Big Buddha. The Battle of Big Buddha–The Clampitts Invade Nara

And just in case you’re in the market for a new car, here’s a short video showing you the ten most expensive rides in the world.

Would you pay to have someone tickle you with a feather? Which of these cars would you want to own? Assuming someone else footed the insurance bill, that is.

All the best to all of you for a getting tickled this week.

Piper Bayard–The Pale Writer of the Apocalypse