Your Input Needed for New Book!

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Greetings, dear readers.  A fellow writer needs your input to be sure the book he is writing really answers the questions his potential readers have.  The subject is the difference between rich countries and poor countries.  Here is how you can help:

Can You Answer Just ONE Question? It's for my NEW BOOK

I'm working on a new book and I need YOUR help. Could you answer
just ONE question? This has to be the shortest survey in history
- so I'm hoping you can stop what you're doing and answer this
one pressing question at http://www.felipetudelasite.com
This will be my 5th book. In this new book I explain, in a
thought provoking way, why some countries are very rich while
others are extremely poor. It's one of the world's great issues
-- and your One Answer will be part of the discussion.

Felipe would really appreciate our libertarian input, so make yourself heard.

Conservative or Libertarian? Or Both?

It both delights me and grieves me that it took an atheist from Great Britain to write this book.  If only more American citizens/voters were as educated about limited constitutional government as Cooke, we would have a happier and more prosperous country--and perhaps even a more virtuous one!

In The Conservatarian Manifesto Cooke tackles the inconsistencies in the Republican Party, such as opposing gun control, yet supporting the mass imprisonment of non-violent people for mere possession of drugs in the name of the "War on Drugs."  He doesn't give Libertarians a pass, either, pointing out that being pro-life is not an issue only for the religious, but for everyone who values human life over human convenience.  Naturally, Progressives get plenty of logical opposition from Cooke.  His perspective from living in the much more statist environment across the pond has given him an appreciation of our American freedoms that more Americans should share.

As a pro-life libertarian and an anti-war-on-drugs conservative, I felt like Charles Cooke actually "gets" me.  An atheist and a Christian can agree that mankind is imperfect and cannot be perfected by any government, progressive or conservative.  Freedom is the best way to maximize good outcomes in society; At least it gives most people a fighting chance at their pursuit of happiness.

This should be required reading for high school civics class (although I guarantee it will not be--at least in government-controlled schools) and for educated Americans of all political persuasions.

I received a free review copy of this book through Blogging for Books.

Author Bio: Charles C.W. Cooke

Bitcoin for Books

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The website www.paidbooks.com  encourages people to read by offering free books and Bitcoin reading incentives.  There are over 50 books on the Paid Books site so far, with additions being made regularly.  The books uploaded to the site are public domain works from Project Gutenberg.  In the future they plan to encourage authors to upload their own books to Paid Books as well.

Signing up is not difficult.  You will need a Bitcoin account, but they walk you through the process of acquiring one.  Incentives are earned by choosing a book and setting a timer.  Spend the requisite amount of time on a page and earn when you turn the page.  It works a bit like a traffic exchange, as there are ads on the pages.

Fast readers can still use the site without frustrating waiting times—just turn pages at your normal speed and forego the Bitcoin earnings.  If you don’t have an e-reader, this site is a way to read free books online.

Support Indie Writers

Here is an example of a creative, clever tale from an independent writer.  Modern publishing technology makes it possible for good writers to get their stories to the public quickly and in quality formats.

Piccolo Fortunato is an Italian greyhound--and an artist.  After Piccolo's father goes to America to seek fame and fortune and does not return, Piccolo follows to look for him.  He meets a famous human artist on the voyage to America and becomes his intern.

Will Piccolo find his father? Will he ever return to his sweet mother in Italy?  Can the famous American artist be trusted, or is he cheating Piccolo out of his artwork?  These questions and more will be answered in a well-written story for lovers of art and/or dogs.

I received a free copy of Piccolo: An Intern's Tale for my honest review.  It is available on Kindle and makes fun read when you need an escape from daily cares and stress.

Keep an eye out for the second book in the series: I, Piccolo.  I was privileged to preview a draft and found it interesting as well.  I will not spoil the story for you, but will let you know that things in Florence are not exactly as Piccolo left them.

Take Back "Cool" From the Hipster Frauds

What does almost all the insanity in the United States have in common?  The pursuit of a twisted, distorted version of "coolness" as defined by people who wouldn't know real cool if it slapped them in the face.  Cool used to mean something special and unapologetically different from the crowd. Now it means thinking and saying and wearing and doing exactly what everyone else is.  What's cool about total conformity?

Greg Gutfield seeks to put us back in touch with actual coolness.  Greg tells you the "beliefs the cool use to enslave you" such as that nobody will like you.  When Greg says "cool" he is referring to hipsters who "pretend the predictable, acceptable choices they make are actual risks."  He attacks pointless "activism" and those cool losers who attack the people who actually make things work--things like liberal protesters' smart phones.

If you long for the days when people aspired to be like people who actually did cool things, e.g. walk on the moon (Neil Armstrong) or actually help the poor themselves (Mother Teresa) or invent stuff that makes people safer or happier (countless engineers in uncool clothing working long hours) you will enjoy this book.  Gutfield understands your frustration with a world that values awareness over achievement, novelty over values, and entertainment over productivity

I received a free review copy of Not Cool from the publisher for my honest opinion.

He Should Have Shrugged!

What if Atlas didn't shrug?  This short novel explores the pitiful life of Henry, an Atlas who should have shrugged years ago.  Instead Henry slogs along, doing his daily work for the benefit of anyone but himself.  He is falling apart (quite literally) and nobody cares--even Henry seems rather nonchalant about it.

I think this is what Ayn Rand's producers in Atlas Shrugged would have looked like if they had not gone on strike, but kept stubbornly working for a system that did not appreciate them nor reward their efforts. Jeremy Tyrell's clever story is available on Smashwords.

Motherhood Manifesto

I am a mother. I have the power to defy the popular culture. I have the power to defy evil. I will use that power:

When the world tells my children to be afraid, I will teach them to be courageous.

When the world offers hand sanitizer, I will offer sandboxes, gardens and playgrounds.

When politicians teach helpless dependence on government, I teach independence, voluntary cooperation, private charity and hard work.

When the world undermines the family, I will build a strong one.

When the government undermines and ridicules faith, I will teach my children the history, doctrines and practice of my faith.

When the world teaches socialism, self-esteem, relativism and hedonism, I will teach ethics, logic, reading, mathematics and the scientific method.

When celebrities parade their lives of excess, I can teach a life of purpose.

When their professors glorify Marxism, I will tell my children about the millions killed by Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and a host of other dictators.

When society tells them to shut up, I will encourage them to speak out.

When the world offers them birth control, abortion, and meaningless fornication, I will teach them self control, personal integrity, and unconditional love.

When the media offer them mindless, tasteless entertainment, I can give them the tools to create their own poetry, art, games and music.

When the world tells them the right answer doesn't matter, I will continue to teach the existence and the value of truth.

When artists sing about f*$%Sh#?!Bi&*, I can give them Bach, Beethoven and Mozart.

When people throw feces and call it art, I can show them Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Picasso.

When the world offers them "The Vagina Monologues" I can offer them "Julius Caesar" and "Antigone."

When their peers go to the beach to get drunk over spring break or summer vacation, I will pay for their mission trips to build schools or teach English.

When the media use euphemisms like "choice" and "procedure" I will tell them the truth: Choices are made before conception and the procedure kills an innocent human life.

Yes, I am a subversive woman. I will resist the dominant culture and teach my children to do the same. I make no apologies. If America survives, it will be because of those of us who refused to give in to decadence, dependency, and deception.