Kevin has a challenger!

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Thursday August 26, 2021 · 11:02 AM PDT

2021/08/26 · 11:02

I’m delighted to report that treasonmonkey Kevin McCarthy has a great challenger. Meet Bruno Amato. He’s the son of working class parents. His dad was a WWII vet (US Army), and he’s a Navy vet. He has been a member of the Ironworker’s Union, and for the past 20 years he’s been a working actor and member of SAG/AFTRA.

He announced his candidacy back in February. He’s pledging to bring a Veteran’s Administration Hospital to Kern County — an area where McCarthy falls short. (Kern vets presently have to drive two hours south to the VA in Los Angeles.)

My wife and her family have been in Bakersfield for several decades. They know the Amatos. My wife says they’re good people. But listen for yourself.

Donate to Bruno through ActBlue.

YouTube Video

It's okay to say, "I love you."

Hobbitfoot

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Friday December 05, 2014 · 6:36 AM PST

2014/12/05 · 06:36

Of course I never realized this would be the last photo we would take as a family. Karen died yesterday after a sudden and unexpected illness. Read More

How to keep your e-book from wallowing in obscurity

Hobbitfoot

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Sunday May 05, 2013 · 4:06 PM PDT

2013/05/05 · 16:06

Now, that is a hopeful title. More honest would have been, How do I keep my e-book from wallowing in obscurity? -- because that's what my e-book is doing. In this diary, I'm going to discuss promotion: what I have done so far, what I plan to do, and what other folks are recommending. If you have successfully promoted your book (e-book or paper), I hope you'll comment on what has worked for you.

This is Part Three in my mini-series on e-book publishing. Part One dealt with honing your craft, networking, and finding an audience. Part Two dealt with choosing an e-book market, formatting and its attendant nightmares, and options for cover design.

If you've ever wondered how to promote your literary work, fiction or non-fiction, follow me below the quenelle.

Hobbitfoot

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Saturday May 04, 2013 · 2:00 PM PDT

2013/05/04 · 14:00

You've worked on your masterpiece for the last three years: writing, editing, sleeping on it, taking an extended break for BioShock Infinite, more polishing, taking occasional breaks to work on your next book because you're so very, very tired of this one, and fielding questions from your family -- haven't you published yet? What's stopping you?. At last, you head for Amazon's KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) entry page. You upload that puppy and use Amazon's preview feature, and OMFG WHAT HAPPENED? THIS LOOKS LIKE STEVE BUSCEMI AT THE END OF FARGO.

Congratulations! You've just bungled the fundamentals of e-book formatting.

Hobbitfoot

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Friday May 03, 2013 · 9:00 AM PDT

2013/05/03 · 09:00

On my fortieth birthday, I decided to reinvent myself as a novelist. Some guys buy Harley-Davidson Duo-Glides, some go on walkabout in Thailand, some do Esalen; I spent my midlife crisis reading John Gardner's The Art of Fiction. And now, nearly twelve years later, I have self-published my first novel on Amazon's KDP Select program, and I thought it might be fun to share with my fellow Kossacks what I've learned along the way.

This will be a three part series. In this first installment, I'll talk about honing technique, networking, and finding an audience. Next, I'll discuss choosing a venue and formatting appropriately for it -- call it e-Book Formatting for Dummies. Finally, I'll discuss promotion.

Hobbitfoot

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Monday May 26, 2008 · 9:25 PM PDT

2008/05/26 · 21:25

You've read other diarists' lists, their analyses, their inanities.

But you haven't read mine.

Poll

136 votes Show Results

America, the Democratic Party, and Barack Obama need . . .

136 votes Vote Now!

America, the Democratic Party, and Barack Obama need . . .

Michael Corleone

24 votes

Homer Simpson

24 votes

Pinhead

8 votes

Lassie

7 votes

Mr. Rogers

13 votes

Indiana Jones

48 votes

Jack the Ripper

2 votes

Other

10 votes

Hillary is Jesus and other hyperbolic metaphors (poll!)

Hobbitfoot

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Saturday March 22, 2008 · 4:13 PM PDT

2008/03/22 · 16:13

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson endorsed Barack Obama yesterday. Richardson, twice appointed to high level positions under President Clinton, was thought to be firmly in the Clinton camp. How did the Clinton folks respond?

"An act of betrayal," said James Carville, an adviser to Mrs. Clinton and a friend of Mr. Clinton.

"Mr. Richardson’s endorsement came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic," Mr. Carville said, referring to Holy Week.

In related news, Senator Clinton's chief pollster Mark Penn called Richardson's endorsement ". . . treacherous, but insignificant. More like Axis Sally than Judas, if you ask me." Read More

Poll
149 votes Show Results
Governor Richardson:

Judas. Definitely Judas.

Benedict Arnold since Richardson is, you know, a home-grown traitor!

Guy Fawkes without the cool mask

Jane Fonda with balls

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg all rolled into one

A standup guy who did what he thought was right despite enormous pressure

149 votes Vote Now!
Governor Richardson:

Judas. Definitely Judas.

4%

6 votes

Benedict Arnold since Richardson is, you know, a home-grown traitor!

3%

5 votes

Guy Fawkes without the cool mask

7%

10 votes

Jane Fonda with balls

5%

8 votes

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg all rolled into one

1%

1 vote

A standup guy who did what he thought was right despite enormous pressure

119 votes

An American dream

Hobbitfoot

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Saturday March 15, 2008 · 10:52 AM PDT

2008/03/15 · 10:52

Note: I've been posting diaries, one per week, to offer some distraction from the usual political shout-fests. I have political views, of course, but I can't often organize them into coherent posts. What I have to share with the community are recipes and meshugenah stories. Today's diary falls into that last camp.

When my uncle died, the house on Atlantic Boulevard stood vacant save for decades-old furniture, piles of trinkets (in Yiddish, tchotchkes), and garbage of one form or another. My parents wanted to know if there was anything I wanted, so I told them: one thing, only one thing. I wanted my grandfather's talent agency publicity photo from his time as a failed actor.

Hobbitfoot

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Sunday March 09, 2008 · 9:14 PM PDT

2008/03/09 · 21:14

Another in my series of pointless non-candidate diaries designed to give y'all a break from Hillarobamamania.

This is a story about a revelation. Not one of those "LUKE, I AM YOUR FATHER" revelations; this is more of an "I was in love with you all through seventh grade!" revelation.

This is the story of the birth and demise of a political career.

Hobbitfoot

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Sunday March 02, 2008 · 8:01 AM PST

2008/03/02 · 08:01

Focaccia is a no-knead Italian quick bread which should be a part of everyone's repertoire. You'll need a few toys to make this one sing -- ideally, a four-cup and a one-cup measure, a good mixer or a strong arm, a rubber spatula for scraping down the sides of the mixer, a paint brush, an open-ended cookie sheet (or pizza peel), a pizza stone, and parchment paper. Of these, the last three are indispensable.

Sorry, no pictures this time. I hope the usefulness and quality of this recipe makes up for it!

Hobbitfoot

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Sunday February 24, 2008 · 8:28 AM PST

2008/02/24 · 08:28

Farsumauro: such a lovely, exotic-sounding name for a dish, no? If you don't know what it is, you probably clicked over to find out. And if I had called it what it is, you would have run the other way.

Meat-stuffed meat.

But is this recipe the killer answer to meat loaf? You betcha. It's impressive and tasty enough to serve to company, or just make it for the family if you're feeling especially motivated.

Hobbitfoot

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday February 17, 2008 · 6:25 PM PST

2008/02/17 · 18:25

Simple.

Beautiful.

Delicious.

And completely uncommitted to either Presidential candidate. (The bread pudding that is, not me. If the bread pudding has chosen sides, he isn't talking.)

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Kevin has a challenger!

It's okay to say, "I love you."

How to keep your e-book from wallowing in obscurity

e-publishing: the nuts & bolts

e-publishing 101

Teh ultimate vice presidential candidate pool

Hillary is Jesus and other hyperbolic metaphors (poll!)

An American dream

Not your typical political diary.

Sunday Food Blog: Focaccia

Sunday Food Blog: Farsumauro

SFB: Bread Pudding Souffle