For at least the last fifteen years, the majority of websites have used a "freemium" approach to business. They sell advertising to cover their costs while not charging for the content. This leads people to believing everything on the internet is free.

It isn't!

BC costs money to maintain. The 200,000 unique visitors a month it attracts allows Erin to sell advertising. However, that advertising only generates a fraction of the revenue needed.

Did Laurie S. publish her great story Transcending Marilyn -- about a Marilyn Monroe mimic -- under the new name He Is Our Girl by Melissa Raquel, or has someone stolen Laurie's story?

I ask because other novels by Melissa Raquel don't seem to be written in Laurie's voice.

Jill

It doesn't matter if you wrap it up in honey and grits, politics are politics.

I try not to live in a liberal echo chamber.

I don't watch the more egregious talking heads on CNN and MSNBC. Every now and again I watch FOX -- to try to understand the conservative viewpoint.

I subscribe to the conservative St. Paul Pioneer Press and the New York Times - for balance.

I read a lot of history and political science books.

“Do you miss working?”

It’s been four months since I sold my last business. During that time, my blood pressure has dropped from an average of 130/85 to 110/65. My weight has also dropped fifteen pounds -- with little change in eating or exercise. I have hope that I’ll soon fit into the dresses in storage bins marked an accusatory “too small.” As if it was somehow their fault that my waist had disappeared over the years, causing them to become too tight.

“The reciprocity principle is one of the basic laws of social psychology: It says that in many social situations we pay back what we received from others. In other words, if John does you a favor, you're likely to return it to him.”

I have noticed over the three decades I’ve been posting stories that a large share of those who leave comments on my stories are authors.

Perhaps they leave comments because I leave comments on their stories.

As would be expected, my phone is blowing up with all sorts of Democrats asking for donations. Between the 1/6 hearings and the SCOTUS decisions the Dems are sensing a campaign contribution bonanza.

What wasn’t expected was the letter I received yesterday from "President Donald J. Trump."

The letter contained two pieces of paper: a letter from Trump asking me for $2,900 and a 2022 Critical Issues Survey from the Rep Nat’l Comm.

When I look at In Memoriam I see a list of many people I interacted with. . .some extensively.

I’m struck by the knowledge that many of these people died quite suddenly. Most had very little warning.

I’m 74. According to the insurance tables, I have about twelve years to go. But. . ..

My eyes then glance to other parts of the front page. Money issues are a constant for Big Closet.

When Amelia and I originally wrote “Peaches” -- we were relieved when Y2K turned out to be a yawn brought on by adequate preparation. That particular hysteria cost my business about $1million when I lost a major supplier for what turned out to be no valid reason. They wrote me a check for $40k to soothe my pain. . .didn’t.

"Don't join the book burners... Don't be afraid to go in your library and read every book." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

“If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed." - Benjamin Franklin

“Information is the currency of democracy.” –Thomas Jefferson

Doppler has just published an revised version of Peaches.

This was one of my earlier novels. It is the only one I co-wrote with anyone.

It was quite a learning experience to see how much my writing style has changed in two decades. My thanks to Gaby for her help with editing.

In this world of algorithms and jackasses, certain things do and do not count.

Bezo is a jackass.

BC needs revenue to stay viable.

BC generates a considerable amount of revenue through the sale of my books. The more positive review for my books, the more books Amazon will sell. I don't take anything from this revenue flow.

Therefore, please read the book, and then review the book. The cash coming into BC counts.

Bezo's jackassery doesn't count.

According to one article the most popular New Year's Resolutions are:

1. Exercise more
2. Lose weight
3. Get organized
4. Learn a new skill or hobby
5. Live life to the fullest

That same article states that people making resolutions are successful 46% percent of the time.

My success ratio for the hundreds of resolutions I've made is zero.

However, I'm curious if any of you have made a resolution regarding your writing or reading practices on BC.

Spent the last hour and a half shoveling fourteen inches of snow. Thankfully it was light and fluffy, in mild temperature with no wind.

Rethinking the wisdom of buying a house with a double lot.

Gave away my two snowblowers when I moved to the city from the burbs. Had a big one for the driveway and a small one for the sidewalk and to blow the blow from my deck down into my pool.

Now all I have are four shovels, a spouse, and a springer spaniel (with dubious snow moving skills).

Jill

If Roe v. Wade can be rolled back, what's next?

If you're feeling at all comfortable about your trans-rights, should you be?

Jill

A few days ago, Doppler Press published How You Play the Game. It is the twenty-first book I’ve written that has been sold on Amazon.

I donate 100% of the proceeds to BC to support this site. Erin has said it has been quite a bit of money.

Last week, Erin messaged me about three of my books: Miss Recudes, Leight Wilde, and The Ninth Fold.

She asked if I had published them through someone else.