from the back cover:

The Puppy Bomb, by James Lynch, follows Texas Ranger Jonah LeClaire as he investigates the bizarre and gruesome deaths of several Texas state troopers. All the victims were blond, blue-eyed, and muscular, and in their youths were all members of an all-boy, after-school club called the Lettermen. LeClaire investigates the murders while babysitting a trooper who might be the next target; or is he the primary suspect? Every turn deepens the mystery, as LeClaire uncovers the kinky history of the Letterman, but even the victim’s sordid pasts don’t compare to the bizarre present. As yet another trooper disappears, motives become more elusive and the killings become more vicious. Lynch’s The Puppy Bomb masterfully weaves the nuts and bolts of a first class whodunit with the titillating backstory of male bonding gone terribly wrong. Told with wry wit and twists and turns galore, The Puppy Bomb keeps you guessing and wanting more, while entertaining every step of the way.

[The legal stuff: Copyright 2008]

I paid to have an 'editorial analysis'

The first recommendation from the editor was to change the title, because people would think it is a children's book. You know, like a book for toddlers about puppies exploding! Say 'Goodnight Gracie.'

The book writing goes swell!

The book selling not so much so. You have to have a literary agent to be published by a traditional publisher. Not been able to get one of those.

You have to be published by a traditional publisher to get into bookstores. The Catch-22 part.

You have to have a publicist. Being dyslexic, I have trouble spelling "publicist" much less finding one.

I do plan to send free copies of the book to regular visitors -- so decide on an address that you want to use.

The book is a mystery, with sexual content, strong language, and -- this will shock some of you -- profanities and vulgarisms.

While trying to sell the first book, I am working on the second in the series.

There will be a third.

Collectively, they will make good presents, and doorstops.

[The legal part: Cover protected by Copyright. Subtitle registered trademark. Image used by permission.]

Things are tough all over!

Home values in Zipcode 90210 have fallen 3.10% this year.

That is a lot less of a decline that many places.

But the home values are so high that -3.10% is still lots of money

With the average price of a home in 90210 at $2,930,000, the average decline is about 90K -- the price of a good Mercedes. I feel so sorry for those folks!

Make up your own joke!

David Beckham and singer Marc Anthony at Lakers game.

"Rooster arrested in Benton, Ill."

"Police Chief Mike O'Neill says the rooster has been bothering people lately, trying to keep them from getting where they want to go."

I live in an area where people can be outsmarted by fowl!

That actually explains a great deal!

Full article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch/The Southern Illinoisan

Gas is $2.05 here!

They must be giving it away in Missouri!

Gas is always cheaper in Missouri than on our side of the Mississippi River.

Even though the oil refineries are in Illinois.

Even though if you turn right instead of left when you get off the freeway -- on the way to my house -- you end up in an oil field!

But then, what about the price of gas ever makes sense?

Your canceled check will be your Thank You Note

I sent a check for $1,000 to a church in Missouri in memory of an uncle who died about ten years ago.

I sent it four weeks ago.

At least, I guess, they're not wasting money on stamps.

Our Monday-morning waste of time? What else? Political humor.

Jay Leno

"Hey, I watched 'American Idol' last night, the Barack Obama show. Did you all see Barack Obama’s infomercial? It was called “American Stories.” You know why they called it “American Stories”? I guess it sounded better than 'Barack Obama Running Out the Clock.'"

"Here's the amazing part, this is true, it was the highest-rated show on NBC last night. NBC's already talking to Barack about picking it up for 13 more episodes."

"And after Barack Obama, I watched John John McCain's ad on TV. I thought it was McCain's ad. Turned out it was just Wilford Brimley for Liberty Medical. 'Check it often! Check your blood sugar!'"

"And McCain says he's ready for Halloween. McCain says he's going to wear a Barack Obama mask and go as a socialist."

"And Republicans now say that the $150,000 worth of clothes they bought for Sarah Palin will probably go to a charity. Charity, is that a good idea? Isn't that kind of counterproductive? I mean, you're going to give a homeless woman your spare change when she's wearing a Dolce & Gabbana jacket and Jimmy Choo shoes, you know?"

David Letterman

"John McCain was on Larry King’s show last night, and it got kind of awkward when Larry had to tell John McCain that 72 percent of his ex-wives were for Obama."

"But on that show, Larry King and John McCain looked like two guys who would be fighting over Cloris Leachman."

"And how about last night, when Barack Obama had his half hour infomercial TV special. I mean, thank God! It’s about time this guy got some media coverage, don’t you think?"

"But I thought it was one of those heartwarming infomercials. It had a wonderful ending. In the final scene Barack Obama is adopted by Angelina Jolie."

Jon Stewart

"In Senator Obama's quest to become the president of television, Obama bought a half-hour infomercial and ran it during prime time on seven different networks. Opening with actual footage of amber waves of grain [on screen: opening to Obama's infomercial] presumably to demonstrate he's the type of guy you want to make a beer with."

Conan O'Brien

"I've noticed a number of athletes are now endorsing candidates in this presidential election. Barack Obama has been endorsed by Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley, and John McCain's been endorsed by Ty Cobb and Jim Thorpe."

"Joe the plumber was supposed to appear at a John McCain rally today, but didn't show up. Yeah. So, apparently, the guy really is a plumber."

Jimmy Kimmel

"Obama is ahead in every major poll. One online gambling site has him as a seven to one favorite to win. They're saying the only way Obama could lose this election right now is if they made him bowl for it."

"The governor of California is the actor and former body builder, Arnold Schwarzenegger. He announced that he opposes Proposition 8. Proposition 8 is the proposition in California that would ban gay marriage. ... Arnold also opposes Proposition 14, which would require all Governors of California to speak some English."

New widget

I deleted the Twitter widget. The military might find it dangerous, I just found it boring.

I added a widget for fivethirtyeight.com, the meta poll site. I will leave it up for a few days.