Our nation cannot survive morally or economically when so few have so much while so many have so little.—Bernie Sanders

***

Last week! The “Clones and Mutants Trilogy” is on sale.  Some authors bundle a series or part of a series.  Here’s an alternative: from now until July 1, all three books in the “Clones and Mutants Trilogy” are on sale AT SMASHWORDS, $0.99 for each ebook, reduced from $2.99.  The clones make their appearance in Full Medical (coupon code VJ44L) as part of a complex government conspiracy, they combine forces with the mutant in Evil Agenda (coupon code LE48D) to thwart another plot, and they all save the world in No Amber Waves of Grain (coupon code PZ86X).  These aren’t comic book characters like X-Men—they’re real people who work to halt an apocalyptic future.  Use the links and go directly to Smashwords to enter the coupon codes and get hours of summer reading for only $3.  (Amazon addicts, did you know Smashwords also sells .mobi files for your Kindle? They handle all popular ebook formats.) Pass the word about this sale to your relatives and friends.

In libris libertas….

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.—Aldous Huxley

***

“Clones and Mutants Trilogy” is on sale.  Some authors bundle a series or part of a series.  Here’s an alternative: from now until July 1, all three books in the “Clones and Mutants Trilogy” are on sale AT SMASHWORDS, $0.99 for each ebook, reduced from $2.99.  The clones make their appearance in Full Medical (coupon code VJ44L) as part of a complex government conspiracy, they combine forces with the mutant in Evil Agenda (coupon code LE48D) to thwart another plot, and they all save the world in No Amber Waves of Grain (coupon code PZ86X).  These aren’t comic book characters like X-Men—they’re real people who work to halt an apocalyptic future.  Use the links and go directly to Smashwords to enter the coupon codes and get hours of summer reading for only $3.  (Amazon addicts, did you know Smashwords also sells .mobi files for your Kindle? They handle all popular ebook formats.) Pass the word about this sale to your relatives and friends.

In libris libertas…

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.—Oscar Wilde

***

“Clones and Mutants Trilogy” is on sale. Some authors bundle a series or part of a series. Here’s an alternative: from now until July 1, all three books in the “Clones and Mutants Trilogy” are on sale AT SMASHWORDS, $0.99 for each ebook, reduced from $2.99. The clones make their appearance in Full Medical (coupon code VJ44L) as part of a complex government conspiracy, they combine forces with the mutant in Evil Agenda (coupon code LE48D) to thwart another plot, and they save the world in No Amber Waves of Grain (coupon code PZ86X). These aren’t comic book characters like X-Men—they’re real people who work to halt an apocalyptic future. Use the links and go directly to Smashwords to enter the coupon codes and get hours of summer reading for only $3. (Amazon addicts, did you know Smashwords also does .mobi files for your Kindle? They handle all popular ebook formats.) Pass the word about this sale to your relatives and friends.

In libris libertas….

Save your breath. Don’t worry about Death. A better praxis is to worry about taxes.

Have a safe and relaxing Memorial Day, but please remember what it’s all about–all the brave lives lost while protecting this country.

***

“Clones and Mutants” on sale. Some authors bundle a series or part of a series. Here’s an alternative: from now until July 1, all three books in the “Clones and Mutants Trilogy” are on sale AT SMASHWORDS, $0.99 for each ebook, reduced from $2.99. The clones make their appearance in Full Medical (coupon code VJ44L) as part of a complex government conspiracy, they combine forces with the mutant in Evil Agenda (coupon code LE48D) to thwart another plot, and they save the world in No Amber Waves of Grain (coupon code PZ86X). These aren’t comic book characters like X-Men—they’re real people who work to halt an apocalyptic future. Use the links and go directly to Smashwords to enter the coupon codes and get hours of summer reading for only $3. (Amazon addicts, did you know Smashwords also does .mobi files for your Kindle? They handle all popular ebook formats.) Pass the word about this sale to your relatives and friends.

In libris libertas….

Jean-Paul Sartre is sitting at a French café, revising his draft of Being and Nothingness. He says to the waitress, “I’d like a cup of coffee, please, with no cream.” The waitress replies, “I’m sorry, Monsieur, but we’re out of cream. How about with no milk?”

***

Rogue Planet is now available for all reviewers on Net Galley.

The Golden Years of Virginia Morgan.  This novel, which is a bridge between the “Detectives Chen and Castilblanco Series” and the “Clones and Mutants Trilogy,” considers the following question: how will the U.S. government in the future handle all those old people with classified secrets in their head?  This is just a Smashwords sale.  The book will be priced at $0.99 until June 1, reduced from $2.99.  The coupon code is MP45S (type that in when you order—be sure and specify the format you want).  Pass the word to your relatives and friends.

In libris libertas….

Zuckerberg’s $100 million to Newark schools, David Geffen’s $100 million to change Avery Fisher Hall’s name to his own, the Carnegie Foundation’s backing of PBS, Bill Gates’s attack on tropical diseases, and so forth all bother me because these “charitable works” are either blatant PR or trips to the public confessional to repent for sins committed.  This isn’t an “exclusive or” either, because a public mea culpa is both good for PR and repentance.

Most billionaires have left a lot of bodies in their wake as they cruise to riches.  Maybe some aren’t perfect sociopaths and occasionally feel guilt, so they throw a few alms (what the above amounts to) to feel better about themselves.  But super-inflated egos won’t let them do that anonymously—they have to derive PR benefit and public acclaim for their beneficence.  You can check out the bios of all the people I’ve mentioned.  They all have skeletons in their closets.

A local news item illustrates how this sickness has permeated our society.  Recently a woman in the NYC area was asked to sign a prenuptial by her future husband.  She refused, but she didn’t cancel the lavish reception.  Instead, she collaborated with the Salvation Army to select “deserving people” to attend a sumptuous luncheon.  I don’t denigrate those people chosen by her and the Salvation Army who attended.  Hell no!  But the woman reveled in the positive PR and the local media cooperated.  Why not cancel the event and donate the money anonymously to charity?  Just to stick it to the man who demanded the prenuptial?  OMG isn’t strong enough.  This is sicko.

I can’t complain about people who donate to worthwhile causes, but I will complain about people who want public recognition for it.  No matter the size of the donation, am I the only one who thinks that this is buying notoriety?  Americans are the most charitable people on the planet.  They donate and work for good causes.  Most of us do so without expecting anything in return.  Those who feel the need for recognition are warped.  Humility is a virtue that’s disappearing too fast.  Like most virtues, it’s often stealthily attacked by moneyed interests.  It’s so bad that I often ask myself, “What’s the agenda?”  Maybe I’m warped too by asking that.  Dunno.

(more…)

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. Please use the back door. (Seen in a church bulletin.)

***

Rogue Planet is now available for all reviewers on Net Galley.

The Golden Years of Virginia Morgan. This novel, which is a bridge between the “Detectives Chen and Castilblanco Series” and the “Clones and Mutants Trilogy,” considers the following question: how will the U.S. government in the future handle all those old people with classified secrets in their head? This is just a Smashwords sale. The book will be priced at $0.99 until June 1, reduced from $2.99. The coupon code is MP45S (type that in when you order—be sure and specify the format you want). Pass the word to your relatives and friends.

In libris libertas…

Slow down and save your breath.  Don’t be a clown and race with Death.

***

The Golden Years of Virginia Morgan.  This novel, which is a bridge between the “Detectives Chen and Castilblanco Series” and the “Clones and Mutants Trilogy,” considers the following question: how will the U.S. government in the future handle all those old people with classified secrets in their head?  This is just a Smashwords sale.  The book will be priced at $0.99 until June 1, reduced from $2.99.  The coupon code is MP45S (type that in when you order—be sure and specify the format you want).  Pass the word to your relatives and friends.

In libris libertas….

Respect your peers and make new friends.  Shared tears and beers is how love begins.

***

May Day Sale.  It continues this week.  Mary Jo Melendez invites you to a Kindle Countdown Sale.  Her stories, Muddlin’ Through and Silicon Slummin’…and Just Gettin’ By, will be on sale through May 6, $0.99 each, reduced from $2.99.  That’s a lot of spring and summer reading for only $2.  Want more summer reading?  Check out my catalog: here’s my Amazon page.  Three more series, twenty more recent books, all save one for $3.99 or less, including my new sci-fi/fantasy novel, Rogue Planet, for $2.99.  What are you waiting for?

In libris libertas….

A Buddhist monk approaches a hotdog stand and says, “Make me one with everything.”  (Apologies to my Detective Castilblanco, who became a Buddhist.)

***

May Day Sale.  Mary Jo Melendez invites you to a Kindle Countdown Sale.  Her stories, Muddlin’ Through and Silicon Slummin’…and Just Gettin’ By, will be on sale from April 29 through May 6, $0.99 each, reduced from $2.99.  That’s a lot of spring and summer reading for only $2.