The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Darth Vader Runs for Ukrainian Parliament

By Piper Bayard

Image from Ebay.

 

Ukrainian “Darth Vader” Runs for Parliament

 

 

I don’t know about his stand on Putin’s invasion or light saber control, but he would definitely be responsive to terrorism.

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Let’s kick off with a genuine potential apocalypse. Best article I’ve read so far on Ebola, via Tom Wyld. Six Reasons to Panic

The 12 Cognitive Biases that Prevent You from Being Rational, via Sonia Cywilko.

Celiac Disease Foundation’s 2014 Gluten-Free Halloween Treat List, via Kristy K. James.

 

Malala Yousafzai at the Oval Office
Image by US Govt, public domain

 

Pakistani girl Malala Yousafzai spoke out against the Islamic fundamentalists who would quash education. The Taliban came to her school and shot her in the head, but she survived and continued in her mission. Recently, she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in advancing education. Via neuroscientist Nsikan Akpan, What Will Malala’s Nobel Peace Prize Mean for Girls’ Education?

Lisa Hall-Wilson shares some important cautions for those of us professionals who prefer to use Profile pages rather than Fan pages. Facebook Shut Down My Profile!

USA Today Bestseller Vicki Hinze asks, Cyber Security Awareness:  Are You Protected?

The Issue Box is a new site where people discuss the issues on their minds without having to leave any personal information. Mark Kaplowitz tells us all about it in Big Announcement!

 

 

At  A Girl and Her Kindle, USA Today Bestseller Peggy Webb tells us about Good Books and Good Friends, the writers behind RISKY BRIDES Bestsellers’ Collection. These outstanding authors generously gave Holmes and I a hand up by inviting us to include our debut novella, THE SPY BRIDE, in this collection. RISKY BRIDES is now available for ebook pre-order and will release on October 21.

Some great advice from Maureen Johnson for all of you writers out there, but it really applies to all endeavors of every flavor . . . Dare to Suck!

 

 

Question of the Week:

 

 

All the best to all of you for a week of making good choices.

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . City Pays Alcoholics with Beer

By Piper Bayard

Amsterdam Pays Alcoholics in Beer to Clean Streets

 

 

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order:

New York Times bestseller and former Green Beret Bob Mayer asks, Why Do You Write?  Check out Bob’s latest, ShIT Doesn’t Just Happen:  The Gift of Failure.

Ten Things to Never Say to a Writer by the hysterical and perceptive bestselling author Chuck Wendig.

Your Amazon Account Can Be Hacked Via a Kindle eBook, via author and heckuva guy Nigel Blackwell.

 

How Navy SEALs Use Shooting Fundamentals to Forge Elite Warriors, by retired Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer and bestselling author Chris Sajnog.

Perry Block clues us in on 60 Signs You’re Way Past Middle Age.

Author, publishing attorney, and “reefer” Susan Spann tells us about Engineer Gobies in Engineering on the Reef.

Congratulations to K.B. Owen on the release of her third Concordia Wells mystery, Unseemly Ambition.

 

18 Kids Who Definitely Bested Their Teachers, via author Kait Nolan.

Via backpacker and professional photographer Steve Griffin, The Worst Hiking Partner Behaviors.

Kudos to American Raven-Symone:  “I’m Tired of Being Labeled.” This took some guts on her part.

And near and dear to my heart, Scientists Take a Look at the Feel-Good Benefits of Belly Dance, via lovely dancer and graceful lady Christine Moore.

Here’s your adorable fix for the week — Cute Baby Seal Joins Surfers for a Ride.

 

 

This Week’s Campaign Style Poll:

 

 

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

 RISKY BRIDES

Limited Time Edition Now Available for Pre-Order!

Bayard & Holmes debut novella, THE SPY BRIDE, in this multi-genre

bestsellers’ collection.

8 Risky Brides — 8 Novels & Novellas

Looking for your next must-read author? You’ll find him or her in this limited-time-only collection. USA Today Bestsellers, (Vicki Hinze, Rita Herron, Donna Fletcher, Peggy Webb, Kathy Carmichael) veteran authors, (Kimberly Llewellyn and Tara Randel) and dynamic newcomers, (Bayard & Holmes)—all share their unique take on what it means to be a risky bride.

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Candidate “None of These” Takes Nevada Primary

By Piper Bayard

I 100% applaud the people of Nevada. The first step to creating better government is to stop accepting the crap that the two self-serving parties keep trying to shove down our throats. Nevada, you rock!

 

Nevada Democrats Chose “None of These Candidates” in Primary

 

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Starting with something quite serious today. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi is being held in Mexico on weapons charges. On March 31, 2014, he was attempting to meet his friends in San Ysidro for dinner, and he missed the exit, landing him at the Mexican border. This is not uncommon. With no chance to turn around, the first thing he told the border officials was that he wasn’t trying to enter Mexico, and that he was just trying to turn around and get back to San Ysidro. He was completely up front about the three legal firearms in his possession. These facts are not disputed. He was arrested and tossed into prison in Tijuana. He has recently been relocated to a prison in Tecate.

 

U.S.M.C. Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi

 

Sgt. Tahmooressi served two deployments in Afghanistan, was honorably discharged, and was being treated in San Diego for PTSD. Unfortunately, as of June 19, in spite of numerous petitions and a media outcry, our administration has exhibited virtually no interest in bringing back our Marine.

For more information, see Why is a US Marine in a Mexican Jail? The Case of Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi and US Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi Stuck in Mexican Jail on Gun Charges.

I’m not big on petitions, but I did sign this one. Demand Release of U.S.M.C. Sgt. Tahmooressi Suffering with PTSD from Mexico Imprisonment. We can also help on social media by using the hashtag #bringbackourmarine to keep it trending and raise awareness that this travesty has occurred.

And on lighter notes . . .

Myndi Shafer clues us in on the Summer Book Crush — over 80 Book Boyfriend Flings by over 30 authors for just $0.99. Summer Book Crush

 

 

If there’s anything I’ve learned from our editor, NYT Bestseller Ellie Ann, it’s that perfectionism doesn’t pay. Kassandra Lamb helps folks deal this this career-stunting problem. Hi, I’m Kass, and I’m a Recovering Perfectionist

5 Things I Learned as an Anonymous TSA Blogger by Jason Edward Harrington.

Susan Spann reminds us of the power of simple kindnesses. The Postman Always Waves Twice

DD, Michael Rooker, and Piper
Denver Comic Con June 2014

 

Note of Interest: I had a cool weekend at the Denver Comic Con. DD and I got to hang out with Human Echoes podcaster Tony Southcotte and NYT Bestseller Ellie Ann, as well as friends and fellow authors Juliette Terzieff and Jinxie Gervasio. Also had a nice surprise in the form of dinner with Michael Rooker. He’s not just Merle Dixon, zombie killer from The Walking Dead, but also a Southern gentleman and a lovely man with whom to spend an evening. Be sure to catch his upcoming movie, Guardians of the Galaxy, in which he plays bad guy Yondu.

Travel to Japan with Mihael Herrera. Travel Day — Visit to Mt. Takao

We lost a radio icon this week. Casey Kasem, the voice of Shaggy on “Scooby-Doo” and the DJ who gave my generation America’s Top 40 Countdown each week has passed on to that Great Sound Booth in the Sky. Jenny Hansen of More Cowbell called my attention to this fitting tribute, In Honor of Casey Kasem, Counting Down Baseball’s Best Songs.

And for Game of Thrones fans, George R.R. Martin is now on Twitter at @GRRMspeaking.

We fans have a message for you, George . . .

Campaign Style Poll of the Week

All the best to all of you for a week of satisfying choices.

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Bride Ties Baby to Wedding Dress

By Piper Bayard

Woman Ties Baby to Wedding Dress,

Drags Her Down Aisle

As a mother who sat her kids in a roasting pan and pulled them around the living room, I can’t honestly think this was anything but a good time for a baby. She appears to be secure and not getting any rug burns. But one question does come to mind . . . Was she the something “new” or the something “borrowed”?

Big thanks to historical mystery author K.B. Owen for pointing me to this gem.

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Peace Day and the Fallen Project. A group in Normandy remembers D-Day with a beautiful tribute. They draw 9,000 figures in the sand on the beach to represent the 9,000 that died during the Allied Invasion of Nazi-Occupied France.

Via Professional Organizer Judith Houlding of Space Editing, What’s Lost as Handwriting Fades. It’s long been my contention that we no longer need Code Talkers. At this point, we can convey messages in the ancient style of cursive writing, and even the NSA won’t be able to figure them out.

A courageous post and fantastic comments discussion from Jamie Gold. The Danger of Political Correctness for Diverse Books

And speaking of diversity . . .  Ginger Problems that Normal People Don’t Understand.

Via Angela Ackerman, co-author of the outstanding Emotion Thesaurus Series, 22 Pictures Where I Have Absolutely No Idea What’s Going On.

None of us does it alone. Elizabeth Fais asks, Who’s Your Yoda?

Via the awesome photographer Penelope Beveridge, Water Photography Competition Winning Images are Revealed.

As the temperatures rise, I think most of us can relate to this playful horse.

Campaign Style Poll of the Week

All the best to all of you for a week of creative play with children.

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Yakuza Launches Recruiting Site

By Piper Bayard

Pic like the ones you find at Yakuza site.
Image by Norbert Weber.

 

Membership in Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest family of Yakuza, or Japanese mafia, has been falling. Due to economic difficulties, the gangsta life is apparently not enough of a recruiting magnet on its own. So the Yamaguchi-gumi now has a recruiting website with its own corporate song, a poetry page, fishing diaries, and a message from the boss. Read about it here . . .

 

Japanese mobsters launch their own website

And this is the site. It’s in Japanese, but don’t worry. It has an English translation option.

Yakuza Recruiting Site

And here’s their video of happy little Yakuza at play to the tune of their theme song.

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Speaking of Yakuza, Japan, and such, a big welcome to historical fiction author Susan Spann, the newest featured author at the Social In network. Look for Susan’s posts about ninjas, a.k.a. shinobi, on Saturdays at SocialInDC. Also, you can pre-order her latest Shinobi Mystery, BLADE OF THE SAMURAI, at Amazon now.

Kokkie H Reviews The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

In case you missed it, Holmes wrote an excellent piece about Boko Haram, the kidnapping that caught world attention, and the Western response. Boko Haram — Nigeria’s Jihadi Biker Gang

Image of kidnapped girls released by Boko Haram.
From Voice of America

Emotional Triggers–A Direct Path to Human Connectivity. Great advice about social media marketing strategies from Lonny Dunn of Pronetworkbuild.

UNHCR Says Internal Displacement Affects Some 10,000 People in Ukraine

Via Screenwriter and Best Selling Author Ryne Douglas Pearson — Photos: Ray Bradbury’s House for Sale. Cozy enough for the best of writers. Can be yours for only $1.49 million.

Ray Bradbury’s house

 

Photos: Welcome Home–The Story of Scott Ostrom via Christine Moore. There is more than one way to sacrifice a life. This Memorial Day, I won’t only be thinking about those who have died. I’ll be thinking about those who are called to go on.

Great article from New York Times bestseller and former Green Beret Bob Mayer. Survival Friday: Burglaries. I recommend checking out all of his Survival Fridays and picking up his book, The Green Beret Survival Guide. Part of the proceeds will go to Special Operations Warrior Foundations. SOWF provides scholorships grants, education and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations personnel who have died.

 

Morning A.D.D. (Awkward Daily Dose): Gallery. Get ready for a laugh.

Porn addiction is a very real and very serious issue. Your Brain on Porn: 10 Common Signs of Addiction by August McLaughlin, who is the person you’d get if Dr. Ruth and a supermodel had a baby.

And our video for the day . . . Think of the tub as the Yamaguchi-gumi Recruiting Site, the dog as the Yamaguchi-gumi, and the cat as the poor sucker who takes their web site seriously.

 

 

All the best to all of you for a week of knowing who your friends are.

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Phones with Smells

By Piper Bayard

. The oPhone by Vapor Communications

Meet the oPhone. Now, now. I understand that its shape and name might lead to some improper conclusions, so let’s be clear right up front. The “o” in this phone is all about odors. Smells. This phone sends smells. Read all about it here . . .

Harvard Prof Invents a Phone That Sends Smells

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Via Best Selling Author Chuck Wendig, we find out What it is Like to Own a Tesla Model S — A Cartoonist’s Review of His Magical Space Car.

Thriller author and photographer Donna Galanti shared this along with a plea for the good of humanity. IMPORTANT! Please shoot responsibly! And in case you can’t tell, that’s a woman’s foot.

What does former Delta Force commander and New York Times bestseller Brad Tayler have to say about the recent change allowing women in combat? GI Jennifer and GI Jennifer II – Careful What You Wish For

Via Laurielyn Fields, These 25 Cats Went Out of Their Way to Be Absolute Jerks.

 

One of my favorite Mother’s Day blogs from last week by Julie Glover . . . If Your Mom Tweeted.

Sharon Lee Hughson details Six Sicknesses Perpetuated by Social Media.

Amazingly (not) East Ukraine Separatists Seek Union with Russia. If you missed it this week, catch Holmes’s outstanding article about the West, Putin, and why the Dancing Bear of Moscow is getting away with murder. Dances with Bears — The Putin/West Waltz

 

Chris McMullen gives excellent advice in Newbie Author Book Marketing Mistakes.

14 Things You Didn’t Know About Trader Joes via yoga instructor and author Christine Moore.

Some fun from Colin Falconer, Kitten Meat and Medieval Fun Land. He’s got a seriously funny Game of Thrones parody there.

And speaking of serious fun, I came across this jewel. Chuck Norris meets Eva Gabor on the Merv Griffen Show back in the day.

Campaign Style Poll of the Week:

All the best to all of you for a week of satisfying aromas.

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . KFC Chicken Corsage, Just In Time For Prom

By Piper Bayard

Kentucky Fried Chicken introduces its Chicken Corsage just in time for prom, and they’re going like hotcakes . . . or at least like chicken and waffles.

Now You Can Go to Prom with a Fried Chicken Corsage

The Chicken Corsage — How a young man proves he has the primal needs covered.

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Let’s help English teacher Katie Sluiter build a library for her high schoolers! This is her current classroom library . . .

Katie Sluiter’s current classroom library

She’d probably like to turn it into this . . .

image from Canstock Photo

But I’m guessing she would be happy with a couple thousand books — either new or gently used —  so that the kids never have an excuse to not be reading. Get the details on how you can help at Building a Dream.

Big thanks to Amber West, author of The Ruth Valley Missing, for calling my attention to this book drive. In my experience, avid reading is a substantial factor to success in any field.

Outstanding review of FIRELANDS. KokkieH Reviews Firelands: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale by Piper Bayard. I love it when people see all of the layers.

Being a Browncoat, I love this piece that bestselling author Tammy Salyer pointed my way. If Twitter were on Firefly. If you love Firefly, Joss Whedon, and/or social media, you’ll get a kick out of this.

It’s a simple fact. Bestselling author Kristen Lamb is a great writing teacher. Everybody Arcs! How to Use Emotional Growth to Propel the Story and Capture the Reader

In celebration of The Bard’s birthday this week, 20 Great Shakespearean Insults. Big thanks to Jenny Hansen of More Cowbell for bringing this to my attention. I’m saving these up for the 2016 election season, which starts . . . let me check . . . in 2012.

On a more serious note, 200 girls are missing in Nigeria. Two hundred. They were kidnapped from their school by an Al-Qaeda affiliate. This deserves some attention. 200 Girls are Missing in Nigeria – So Why Doesn’t Anybody Care? by Anne Perkins.

The Tipping Info-Graphic for my fellow life travelers. I don’t know about you, but I’m not always sure how much to tip and where.

Prom time is here, as the chicken commercials indicate. Some great advice for you young couples, and a laugh for the rest of us.

Campaign Style Poll of the Week . . .

All the best to all of you for a tasty week.

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Sci Fi Themed Brothel Near Area 51

By Piper Bayard

For those who have always dreamed of an out-of-this-world threesome.

Alien Cathouse? Wonder why they went with that instead of Area 69? Will this make Princess Leia the first Disney Princess to end up in a brothel? Will there soon be a Disney-themed brothel near Magic Mountain? Speculation is endless.

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

So now let’s sweeten things up a bit with a recipe from author Amber Medina. Citrus Almond Cake with Whipped Coconut Cream

Terrific article from Bestselling Authors Jen Talty and Bob Mayer about The Relevance of Customer Reviews and Discoverability.

image from Amazon.com

 

Christine Moore brings us a fascinating post by Sunny Skyz with some outstanding pictures from Where Children Sleep, a large format collection of photographs of children’s bedrooms from around the world by photographer James Mollison. 17 Children and Their Bedrooms from Around the World. I can’t encourage you enough to take a look at this.

The 50 Coolest Inventions from All 50 States via Bestselling Author Larry Enright.

Some outstanding perspective on the latest Ft. Hood shooting by Jenn Carpenter, who lived there. The Truth about Ft. Hood. Thanks to  Jenny Hansen of More Cowbell for pointing me to this.

Kudos to this Aquinas College class for The Best Classroom April Fool’s Prank Ever. Seriously. This was awesome!

Campaign Style Poll of the Week

All the best to all of you for a week of having fun with sci fi.

Join in comments at 

Bayard & Holmes

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . 

Sci Fi Themed Brothel Near Area 51

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Corn Dogs Shut Down Interstate

By Piper Bayard

image by BenFranske, wikimedia commons

A truck carrying ketchup, mustard, and 76,000 corn dogs wrecked on I-220 near Shreveport, Louisiana, this week, shutting down the interstate. Acting on the Five-Second Rule, local rednecks descended on the grub like zombies attacking the cast of The Walking Dead. Fortunately, no one was injured in the making of this End is Near moment.

Louisiana weather forecast? Cloudy with a Chance of Corn Dogs.

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

A big welcome to Kelly Roberts, the new kid on the Blogoverse Block. And So It Begins . . .

Interesting perspective from Natalie C. Markey. Life Lessons from a Middle Eastern Compound Resident

7 Minutes with . . . Allison Brennan by J.T. Ellison. New York Times Bestseller and Sharp Lady Allison Brennan this week kicked off her new Maxine Revere crime series with the release of NOTORIUS.

Author K.B. Owen reminds us that there is a holiday devoted to mirth. Happy Hilaria! Cool Pranks, Past and Present

“Flat Stanley” Home after Decade in Soldier’s Wallet. Via Author Jenny Hansen of More Cowbell.

Author Julie Glover shares Dancing Bacon and My Three Degrees to Kevin. Those of us from small towns in and near Texas know that Footloose wasn’t fiction. This fun video that Julie found brings it all back.

Campaign Style Poll of the Week . . .

All the best to all of you for a week of hearty meals.

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Putin Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

By Piper Bayard

Always trying to outshine Stalin, aren’t you, Vlady?

Let me put this in perspective. Putin is invading Ukraine based on the argument that because there are Russian speaking people of Russian heritage in that country, Russia has the right to go in and protect the interests of those people. By that reasoning, we can expect the Mexican army to be setting up camps through the Southwest any day now.

Ah, well. Once Yasser Arafat won it, there were no surprises left.

Vladimir Putin, Dove of Peace
image by premier.gov.ru

See our previous response to the notion of Putin and Peace Prize in the same sentence at B&H Nobel Peace-Through-Ironic-Laughter Prize Nominations.

Blogs and Articles in No Particular Order

Proud to say our Monday post, Ukraine Crisis: Vladimir Putin and the Power of Gas, was Freshly Pressed this week. A big welcome to all of our new subscribers!

It Didn’t Start Last Week — Timeline of Ukrainian Invasions

Timeline of Ukrainian Turmoil — Part Two, 2001 – Present

Ukraine in Crisis: Vladimir Putin and the Power of Gas

The Cliffside Rose

The Cliffside Rose Flash Fiction Contest — Vote Now! When Holmes and I stumbled across this rose on the side of a cliff in the middle of a secluded desert on the day after Valentine’s Day, we challenged our readers to explain this oddity using the words “Dixie,” “witness protection,” and “cheese grater.” We have eight outstanding entries who are vying for your vote. Come by and enjoy the yarns they have spun in an effort to win a copy of DOWN AND DEAD IN DIXIE by USA Today bestseller Vicki Hinze.

I had the honor of guest posting at New York Times bestseller Allison Brennan‘s Murder She Writes site this week. In James Bond vs. The Spook, I share a few things I’ve learned about real covert operatives since I started working with Holmes.

Is this the real Holmes?

Recently, numerous bloggers participated in August McLaughlin’s Beauty of a Woman Blogfest 2014. Three of my favorites are What are Your 21 Layers of Beauty? by Jenny Hansen, Beauty: A Matter of Mind Over Matter by Kassandra Lamb, and Inspiring Beauty Quotes: A #BOAW3 Wrap-Up, Part II by August McLaughlin.

Like Detective Fiction? Thank the Metropolitan Police Act by K.B.Owen at Misterio Press.

Yoga IS for Everyone. A Short Guest Series, Part 2 by Christine Moore.

When so many of us are tired of winter, it helps to be reminded of the beauty. Crystallize – Lindsey Stirling Dubstep Violin Original Song.

Campaign Style Question of the Week:

All the best to all of you for a peaceful week.

To join in comments, come to

Bayard & Holmes

The End is Near (and we deserve it) . . . Putin Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize