Hopeful writers beware....

Not to be outdone by Harlequin opening a vanity press, Kirkus Reviews, the hoary old legend of the review field, is now going to offer vanity reviews. Yes! For $400+ dollars, you can have a fake review of your vanity press book! (No guarantee it's a good review, apparently.)

http://www.kirkusreviews.com/kirkusreviews/discoveries/index.jsp

This is simply cruel. Sheering the first year lambs.

Librarians Push Against the Patriot Act

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6709017.html?nid=2413&source=link&rid=17299713

My biggest disappointment in the Obama administration to date is their decision to encourage the Patriot Act to renew. And since both my senators and my rep are crazy -- er, Republicans -- I have no way to buck this trend except to say: Go, Librarians!

Straight No Chaser Returns!

Well, my holiday last year was The Lost Year, so I missed the release of the album. So, now there are two holiday albums and a regular album, and I can't wait. True musicians, gorgeous stuff, I wanna know who writes the arrangements. Back in the depths of my Live Journal you can find a link to the older version of "12 Days of Christmas" -- still up on YouTube. Here's an update on the group and how ten years after, they finally get the chance they deserve.

Better than "So You Want to be a Star".

Really.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ujzd2STgfU&feature=channel