As promised, today I am unveiling the website for my forthcoming and highly-anticipated new novel.
Let me just throw this switch over here… the one near all the exposed, sparking wires hanging over all those puddles and piles of oily rags… fssssszzztttFMP!!
People of the worldwide web, I give you the Schrödinger’s Ball website.
Cunningly designed by Russell G. Frost (this site’s “ice weasel”), featuring artwork from the book (including the drawing by my pal Kent Osbourne), loaded with content and potential… Please bookmark the book’s home, send your friends by, post links on your own websites, send emails to your friends, post the link on forums that you frequent, paint the URL on your bare torsos before attending sporting events, name your children after it (”dotcom” is a perfectly acceptable middle name), and leave browser windows open on it in libraries, offices, internet cafes, and other high-traffic settings at which one might fins a computer.
Also, check back frequently for additional novel-related content, possibly including (but not limited to) contests, sweepstakes, excerpts, reviews, games, promotions, embedded audio and video content, puzzles, scavenger hunts, fan art, fan fiction, vacation giveaways, valuable coupons, one-time-only special offers, household hints, unique events, and useful recipes.
Beneath it all, though, is a new novel that really is worth your time, I promise. So enjoy the site, and please pass it on. And try not to step in the sparking puddles.
Fanny Roborat
54 comments
Ann
May 17, 2006 at 3:52 pm
1Anybody miss me yet? I’m deep in the wilds of Iowa, and I’ve been away from a computer for DAYS! Imagine my distress. And I haven’t been hearing the news (except for hog futures), so I just had to log on at the first opportunity to find out what’s going on in the world.
Congrats on the book site, Adam!
Jim
May 17, 2006 at 4:11 pm
2“oily rage”?
I thought this was going to be a biting bit of political satire, gouging…er going after the major oil companies, lobbyists, and their pocketed legislators.
Instead it’s about having us loyal readers, commenters, and lurkers plug your new novel. Adam, I’m happy to help out, but don’t be so insecure. I’m sure the book will sell on its own merits as well as your established rep.
That said, I’m in the Pacific Northwest, and after 10 months of liquid sunshine, no one would be able to read the advertising on my glaring pasty white midsection.
Congrats Adam. I will be sure to tell everyone I know about the web page and the August release date.
Adam Felber
May 17, 2006 at 4:38 pm
3Jim -
“Rags.” Sorry. Though I am filled with oily rage these days.
As for the “insecurity,” though… I’m just barely familiar enough with the book business to want to avoid relying solely on Merits and Established Rep. While writing, I’ll uphold the highest standards of dignity. While promoting, well, let’s just say I’m contemplating purchasing some pectoral or sleeve space on the jumpsuits of a few NASCAR drivers….
:)
siobhan
May 17, 2006 at 5:31 pm
4You know, just this morning I’d been wondering where ice weasel was. Can he come back here and play, now that he’s done with that?
cooper
May 17, 2006 at 6:09 pm
5Adam, pectoral and sleeve space on NASCAR Nextel Cup driver suits is rather pricy until you get pretty far back in the qualifying order and the driver’s main sponsor is Jimmy Steve’s Mobile Home Heaven. Trust me on this one. Besides, the vast majority of the fans aren’t heavy into book learnin’, so perhaps another marketing venue is advised.
Ann, I’ve missed you fiercely. Each moment you’ve been away has felt like a boulder on my chest, a crushing weight on my heart, which beats only for knowledge that you are well and happy in life. I live for your witty, sarcastic, and humorous posts; your coquettish double entendres; the flirtatious hints of possibilities; the nights at Felberpaloosa with the moonlight dancing off your thick mane of rich Celtic red hair. (Hey, Edith, help me out here. I’m running out of bodice ripping bullshit.) Dearest Ann, while you’re in Iowa, please take good care of yourself, watch where you step; and if it’s too late for that, please buy new shoes before Labor Day. Hurry back soon. Ever your servant, cooper.
Oh, Adam, BTW, PETA may want a word with you about the cat juggling on the cover. I’ve tried to warn you off several times in the past. Even a nuisance lawsuit can cut significatly into the meager profits of a first time author. I’m just saying, if it’s not too late…
So, that’s Deborah Johnstone’s legs on the cover. The mystery is solved. Also, it looks like Allison Block has promoted you to host of WWDTM. Jeez, I hope Peter is an understanding guy.
David
May 17, 2006 at 6:42 pm
6Well, Ann, I missed you. Out there in the land of the corn deserts, are you?
All right, Adam, a shamelessly self-promotional website to be psyched about.
Sparking Puddles, by the way, is a wildly popular lap dancer down here on the edge of the Green Swamp, and she now has a pair of those $2800 boots.
madbard
May 17, 2006 at 7:08 pm
7I think to be honest to Schrodinger that if the website is up, it should have no content or if it has content, then it shouldn’t be up. Or at least the text should be in a blurry indeterminant state.
[sigh] (or should that be ‘psi’?)
Hanna
May 17, 2006 at 8:24 pm
8Adam, any chance you can get booked on The Daily Show to plug your book?
And wouldn’t that just be a kick in the pants?
Wishing you the best of luck with your book.
Love,
Hanna
Pete IVDL
May 17, 2006 at 8:31 pm
9Well, my credit card’s eigenstate just changed to “dead”. Er. Dead-er.
I did the wrong thing. I read (or did not “not read”) the first chapter. Darn it. Now all the other chapters’ existence is based solely on Adams’ telling us they exist… (Imagine a book in a printer’s goods outward shelves, currently being touted by its author. Now, until the book is actually read, it is both written and unwritten…).
Struhniarbym.
Great novel, by the way, Adam. Good site, good novel and good effort shaving your legs for the cover photo. Talk about going on forever!
Now, back to regular scheduled programming…
Jay
May 17, 2006 at 9:22 pm
10Holy 50’s Cadillac Batman, fins on a computer. Hee Hee Snort
Jay
ice weasel
May 17, 2006 at 10:06 pm
11I’m here. Really I am. I’ve just been busy as hell lately. And strangely enough, Adam’s site was all fun and not time consuming in the least. Or wait, perhaps I should work the guilt angle…
Oh Adam, if you only knew how many hours I slaved over a hot CPU to build that little site for you…
Nah, no one would buy it.
Sorry I haven’t been more active here. I just got back from a hybrid/alternate fuel car thingie. You can read about it here…
http://www.priusownersgroup.com/?page_id=1124
(shameless blogwhoring warning)
…and I’ve working on sites for three other people.
And to be perfectly honest, I’ve only only a few chapters into SB and between feeling guilty for not finishing it already and really wanting to get further along in it because I want to see where the hell this book is going (that’s a good thing), well, you see my free time to play here has been limited.
Now I find out I have to go back and download the podcast from the last WWDTM.
Sigh…
So much to do…
And then there’s Schrodinger’s Ball-The Event…
Linkmeister
May 17, 2006 at 10:39 pm
12From Booklist’s review: “host of NPR’s Wait, Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me”
Er, does Peter know this? Hey, HR? You makin’ people redundant and not tellin’ ‘em in advance?
SeattleDan
May 17, 2006 at 11:04 pm
13I missed you,Ann.We are now in the belly of the beast.In fact SeattleTammy and I took pictures of ourselves in front of the residence of the great decider this PM. Tomorrow I start flogging Adam’s book at the Big Book Convention.Hi,everyone,and carry on.
cooper
May 17, 2006 at 11:19 pm
14ice, I just went to your coverage of Tour de Sol. Good job, man. That looks like a fun event, with lots to learn from the gathering. Wish you’d had better weather, though.
David
May 18, 2006 at 2:08 am
15shameless blogwhoring ice weasel,
Ran out of time, so I’ll be returning to enjoy day 3. Gotta love these people. You really thought the media would be interested? Honchos are still busy pretending their Washington world makes sense, and that this aspect of American life is just some sidenote of no particular consequence. They’re acting as if the bit about addicted to oil is a new question, when it ceased to be a serious question 30 years ago. The corporate kings will tell the media what matters, and when. Remember the “premature anti-fascists” of the Lincoln Brigades?
But by Lobster these people have been and are rolling on, premature or not.
Susie
May 18, 2006 at 11:03 am
16Cool! It’s so purdy! Great job IW!
And as for shameless promo, you haven’t begun to be “shameless.” And re: promo, authors are notoriously bad at it and publishing companies are usually too strapped for bucks to do it up.
But if you don’t flog this (your) book, I’ll have someone come out to LA and flog you.
Murray
May 18, 2006 at 12:04 pm
17Ice,
….about the SB event thing.
siobhan
May 18, 2006 at 1:05 pm
18…veering from the topic (sorry)
So, I just finished listening to yet another person berate Nancy Pelosi for saying that if Democrats take the house this fall, they won’t make impeachment their first priority. This person said it was a sign of Demo wimpiness. It may be, but…
Though I’d be thrilled to see mass spinal growth among the democratic leadership, this isn’t at the top of the to-do list. The R’s are using the spectre of impeachment as a reason not to elect democrats (because nothing important will get done while they focus their attention on presidential malfeasance), so why help them make that a talking point? But even more important, don’t the people criticizing Pelosi remember who’d be president if Bush was gone? The next time you hear someone going off on this tangent, please remind them of this simple point…
We now return you to the scheduled discussion.
siobhan
May 18, 2006 at 1:07 pm
19(Sorry, just realized this should have been posted under “Book of Rove”)
Rob Allen
May 18, 2006 at 1:22 pm
20Hi, long time no comment. Two things today - one on the book and one on the site:
- Adam, from the way the reviews describe your book, it sounds like it would appeal to fans of Harry Stephen Keeler’s novels. I know a few such fans, and I’ll certainly tell them about your book. I wondered if you’re familiar with Keeler’s work; you might enjoy it. www.ramblehouse.com is the best place to start.
- The site looks really good, but the first few lines of text on every page are hard to read because they’re on top of the artwork. That girl’s legs are just a tad distracting. Can the text get a solid background somehow?
madbard
May 18, 2006 at 1:54 pm
21actually siobhan, you did post under Book of Rove but by indeterminism your post appeared statistically over all posts at all times. we are just seeing a particular manifestation above.
Harold
May 18, 2006 at 2:12 pm
22Dammit. My wave function just collapsed.
Old Mother Felber
May 18, 2006 at 2:33 pm
23Wonderful site!
Super reviews!
But Adam… under “Shrodinger’s Ball, the Event!” it says:
“Content here.”
Well, yes, of course. And I’m happy for you.
Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t be content with all those great reviews and that shiny new website.
But surely the Event should be about more than your obvious content.
oh.
Maybe you meant ‘content’ as in ‘contents’ ?
nevermind
ice weasel
May 18, 2006 at 2:36 pm
24Now, now, don’t take Adam to task for no content where the page says “content here” for the Schrodinger’s Ball Event. That’s my fault. And I will be repairing that very shortly (That means yes Murray).
Old Mother Felber
May 18, 2006 at 2:46 pm
25awwww, I.W.
I was just teasing.
Rob Allen
May 18, 2006 at 4:04 pm
26One more thing - I clicked on the Amazon link, and it does not have any sample of the first chapter, as promised.
Harold
May 18, 2006 at 5:22 pm
27Siobhan, I’m going to respond to your misplaced commnt here. I’m sure I don’t ned to remind you that “impeachment” doesn’t always lead to removal from office - see Bill Clinton. And the Republican Demigod Richard M. Nixon actually resigned before he had a chance to be impeached.
I don’t know if impachment would be that helpful, but it’s certainly not something that should be ruled out. Bush’s list of high crimes and misdemeanors starts with falsely swearing an oath, that silly oath he took when he put his hand upon some book he’s never read and swore to defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic.
In any case, it is my fervent desire to see the reinstatement of the Office of the Special Prosecutor. Whether that leads to impeachment or not is almost immaterial. Let the investigation be done. Depending on what it finds, we might see fill-in presidents like Dennis Hastert (third in line of succession) or Ted “Drill ANWR to Build a Bridge to Nowhere” Stevens (fourth in line).
Murray
May 18, 2006 at 5:24 pm
28Just got off the phone with a reporter (Susan Brenna) at the NY Times. She’s doing a story on Wait Wait, and wanted to talk to one of its listeners. She asked if I had a spread sheet, (perhaps she meant a shrine) on the program, and if I knew of any Tells. I mentioned that Charlie in the Bluff the Listener game uses a town in Wisconsin if he is bluffing but not if he has the real story. We talked for about 45 minutes and she also wanted to know about the upcoming Felberpalooza, so I got to plug your new SB site.
She is writing the story for the Arts and Leisure section and will let me know when it’s running.
We may have a number of people coming from the City. (Mother Felber, perhaps you have extra room in your car?)
Yes Ice, we need to get the Event site going.
P.W. Fenton
May 18, 2006 at 6:01 pm
29Adam,
Unlike all these other folks, I have a question about your book. Is that a pastrami on rye from Katz’s on the cover?
siobhan
May 18, 2006 at 6:50 pm
30True, Harold. Forgot that impeachment doesn’t equal outta here. (How am I supposed to remember stuff that happened, like, eight years ago??) I notice Pelosi didn’t rule out investigations, and hope that they would attempt to bring things to light. The first step is getting elected.
David
May 18, 2006 at 8:41 pm
31Harold,
There is no one on the face of the earth who wants more to see both Bush and Cheney impeached, but I’ve got to agree with siobhan. Liddy Dole (I think it’s Liddy, not Libby) is using the impeachment threat in her Republican fund-raising pitch. Democrats gain nothing from being seen as wanting to be elected for the purpose of impeaching the President. As long as committee investigations are not taken off the table, we’re on our way, provided we don’t blow the November elections (again).
ice weasel
May 18, 2006 at 9:17 pm
32This seems as good a time as any to climb back on the political horse, so here goes…
I wish that dems weren’t shying away from the issue of impeachment. I think the case is strong. The evidence is out there and unlike this administration’s foray into Iraq, we know there is a lot of more evidence that has been classified and squirreled away.
Mind you, I don’t think it’s a campaign issue. But I do think that when confronted with it, dems should speak up, loudly, and firmly that yes, in this country we do prosecute criminals. If the repubs think that standing behind the Dukestir, Jack Abramoff, Ralk Reed, Brent Wilkes and the rest is good politics, then let them. No, then force them to do it. It’s about time some of the more juvenille parts of the electorate got their faces rubbed in the death and greed that has fueled this administration. And not just the white house, obviously, the congress as well. Make these petty thieves stand up and say they have nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of rather than sulk off and claim they won’t chase these thugs down if they have they the chance.
Opposition party indeed.
Look at what happened this week in Pennsylvania. Three top repubs including the speaker of the house got spanked in the primaries. In Pennsylvania, not exactly the liberal epicenter of this nation (even if we did go blue last time).
It’s time to stop dodging the tough stuff. No one wants to elect whimps. Well, other than the DCCC and DLC. And it’s about time we dems started pushing those professional losers and enablers out of office as well.
But first things, first. First, we have to actually elect people to affect those changes.
Just my story and I’m sticking to it.
cooper
May 18, 2006 at 9:35 pm
33David, it’s Liddy, even though her name is Elizabeth - go figure.
Harold, the Office of Special Prosecutor would be nice to have again and I’m sure we’d put him or her right to work. If I’m remembering correctly, one way to get rid of Ted Stevens is to take away his bridge. He said he would quit the Senate, if that happened and knowing what an incorrigible asshole he is, I’m surprised even the Republicans didn’t call his bluff on that one.
Murray, another sure indication that Charlie Pierce is lying is for him to incorporate the name of Elihu Root into the story. BTW, Charlie writes some truly choice columns for The American Prospect from time to time. Here’s a list, if anyone is interested. http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?name=View+Author§ion=root&id=9 93
Susie, good for you to be kicking Bubba in the butt re: promoting the book. I have a sister myself and no one can induce shame or inspire greatness like a sibling. You go, girl!
siobhan
May 18, 2006 at 9:53 pm
34Just to be clear, I’d be perfectly thrilled with impeachment, hearings, public humiliation - whatever they can manage. But I’m happy to see it off the table as a campaign issue. It motivates the base. But if we want to keep the attention of the mushy middle who finally seems to be waking up to reality, I think it’s better to focus on the real honest-to-lobster issues of Iraq, health care, climate change, Iran, civil liberties, the economy, K Street, the deficit, energy policy, privacy, alienation of our allies, etc etc etc, ad nauseum. IF the Dems would just get their shit together and take a clear stand for change, and thus actually regained control of congress, it’s not like Pelosi has to be worried that she’d be voted outta office by San Francisco for changing her mind and going ahead with impeachment.
Harold
May 18, 2006 at 11:49 pm
35Maybe the response should be “No one is above the law, not even the President. But when we are in control of Congress we do not intend to ignore the business of America to pursue political vendettas. We have all learned a lesson from the gridlock and pettiness of the Republican-controlled Congress during the Clinton Presidency.”
And then get elected. And then re-establish the office of the Independent Counsel (I should have said that before instead of Special Prosecutor.) And then impeach the sonofabitch, and his dog Cheney, too.
But you’re right. First, get elected.
Harold
May 18, 2006 at 11:50 pm
36Oh, and I can’t access the book excerpt anymore, either.
siobhan
May 19, 2006 at 12:11 am
37“But when we are in control of Congress we do not intend to ignore the business of America to pursue political vendettas. We have all learned a lesson from the gridlock and pettiness of the Republican-controlled Congress during the Clinton Presidency.”
Thank you Harold. I wrote, revised, edited, re-wrote - and ultimately deleted - altogether too much text saying what you nailed succinctly.
jack
May 19, 2006 at 6:08 am
38Wonderful site! Nice reviews! Congrats for site on your book and feeling good for u. Hoping for more success coming your way.
Wishing you the best for your book!
David
May 19, 2006 at 9:37 am
39If the repubs think that standing behind the Dukestir, Jack Abramoff, Ralk [sic - make that sic the bastard] Reed, Brent Wilkes and the rest is good politics, then let them. No, then force them to do it.
Amen, ice weasel. Harold and siobhan, love it. Are we enlightening you yet, Waterfowler?
David
May 19, 2006 at 9:51 am
40Re Jose, Can You See?
An interesting (brief) analysis by Sidney Blumenthal on Common Dreams: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0518-22.htm
And while I’m at it, ferk the lurkers at the NSA. How about if everyone keep a handwritten log of all communications for a month and then mail it to the NSA - mountains of manila envelopes at Eavesdrop Central. There’s still something to be said for snail mail.
waterfowler
May 19, 2006 at 1:48 pm
41David, If the NSA were actually doing what the MSM claims, I’d be w/ you…But, they ain’t.
Also, y’all enlighten me all the time…
Ice, there are just as many pukes as repubs that are tainted by Abramoff.
And Pelosi as Speaker is motivation enough for us wingnuts to get out the vote.
Have a good weekend. I’m taking the little rednecks down to the coast to catch some spotted seatrout, or “speckled trout” in East Tree Stump.
Harold
May 19, 2006 at 2:57 pm
42Happy fishing, waterfowler. I hope your trout aren’t as PCB-laden as the ones we have here in Pennsylvania.
siobhan
May 19, 2006 at 3:33 pm
43…”there are just as many pukes as repubs that are tainted by Abramoff.”
How’s the saying go? You’re entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts? I don’t think that’s true for numbers, and I know that’s not true for dollars.
Murray
May 19, 2006 at 3:38 pm
44Ice, it’s hard to know what the defeat of our State Senate President pro Tem, Jubilere means. He was beaten by someone to his right, far right. The Fundie poll vultures who manned the same precinct I had on Tues. were for his opposition.
It’s hard to know if the voters are angry at all incumbents, want someone MORE conservative, or were just mad because the PA Senate led by Jubilere voted themselves a 53% pay raise in the middle of the night.
Murray
May 19, 2006 at 3:47 pm
45Sibohan,
That’s how they work.
If 99% of the offenders are Republicans they say “see Democrats do it too, everone is corrupt”.
Harold
May 19, 2006 at 4:22 pm
46That’s another rule for How to Think Like a Republican: If you’re caught with your hand in the cookie jar, accuse your accusers of having their hands in the cookie jar. It will keep them off balance, and keep the public confused.
waterfowler
May 19, 2006 at 4:28 pm
47Siobhan, It’s just odd that since Reid’s name came up w/ Abramoffs that the subject has been dropped.
siobhan
May 19, 2006 at 5:43 pm
48I don’t want it dropped, and if Reid is hiding things, I’d like that to come out, too. Everyone should be subject to the same scrutiny. I don’t like D hypocrites any more than Rs.
ice weasel
May 20, 2006 at 2:41 am
49Poor daffy, still sticking to the “everybody does it” story. Sadly, even if it were true (which it isn’t) it wouldn’t mitigate the guilt on behalf of the rethugs (something which they never bring up…time to talk about fishing…look a yellow breasted jackalope!).
The sad truth is, arguing with daffy is pointless.
Anna
May 22, 2006 at 8:02 am
50Accept my heartiest congratulations for the book site! Games,contests and reviews add whole lot of excitment on your site.
And best wishes for the book!
siobhan
May 22, 2006 at 4:12 pm
51Here, Fowler - ask and ye shall receive: They can throw the book at Jefferson (D-La). You’d think a representative from Louisiana would have enough work to do these days. Be nice if he’d focus on his state instead of his wallet, but…
David
May 23, 2006 at 2:42 pm
52Of course they are going to throw the book at Jefferson. He’s a black Democrat. That’s how they wrested control of the South Carolina legislature from the Democrats (they got impatient - the decent into the Republican abyss wasn’t going fast enough for them). My only question is, What in hell made Jefferson think the Republican dragnet would miss him. Please note that it takes off-the-charts corruption for a Republican to take a fall, and even then it’s not a given. Bush survived insider trading to go on and become POTUS.
To all the decent Republicans out there, how about a little conscience-driven house cleaning, even if it means voting for a Democrat with an honorable record? It’s what you’ve always asked Democrats to do. And to all the decent independents, quit being closet Republicans for a change.
Chirsty
May 24, 2006 at 2:37 am
53Ofcourse this is a great moment for you and should be celebrated. Congratulations and celebrations!!!
Launching a site for your book is overwhelming feeling. Right! Best wishes for the book!
david
May 25, 2006 at 12:57 am
54“descent into,” dammit. I’m convinced it’s the laptop keyboard. I swear to Lobster I don’t make these mistakes in handwritten stuff.