SWIM FOR A CURE 2012 GEAR UP!

Why hello ladies and gentlemen...

It has been exactly 1 month and 20 days since I last blogged. I am either very busy or I am just semi-diligent with updates.

Regardless, I just wanted to shoot you all a quick message to ask you for suggestions...

As you know, I like to give back to charities with my SWIM For A Cure program. In fact, in 2011, just under $1,000 was donated to 4 different causes.

In 2012, I am hoping to hit that $1,000 mark, and do so while impacting more people and more causes. However, I want to stay true to the original initiative, and look to give back to causes that impact my readers.

I would like you all to take a moment or two to reflect on your life. Think of any illness that has impacted you, a family member, a friend or coworker. Maybe it isn't an illness, maybe you know of a charity that once aided you or someone close to you during a rough time. If you think of something, anything, I want to hear your story. SHOOT ME AN E-MAIL and tell me all about it. If you think you know someone who would do a better job suggesting a cause, by all means, forward this on to them. I want as many suggestions as possible so that I can tally it up and make some picks.

I look forward to hearing back from you!

Take Care,
BILL

Jump start your Shopping list! Holiday Giveaway!

Holiday Giveaway!

'Tis the season to be jolly... and I am feeling pretty damn jolly!

How jolly am I feeling? Well, I'm feeling jolly enough to jump start your holiday shopping list.

I will be giving away 2 signed copies of my book, Swim: A Memoir of Survival, on Thanksgiving day. One copy will go to the winner of the raffle, and the other copy will go to the individual who referred the winner off of their Facebook page.

How does it work? Simply log onto my Facebook page, click the "Giveaway" tab on the left-hand side, then fill out the steps.

Actually, on second thought, I'm feeling SO jolly, that I'll give you all a direct link the giveaway: HERE YAH GO!

If you would like a step-by-step guide on how to enter the giveaway, see my 4th of July post!

Good luck to everyone who applies!

JACK'S MANNEQUIN'S NEW ALBUM, "PEOPLE AND THINGS"

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!?!?!?! I am absolutely amazed that I did not blog about this when it came out. I didn't even tweet about it!

As you may know, Jack's Mannequin inspired the title of Swim, (and a great deal of my motivation) with their single, "Swim" off of their Sophomore album, "The Glass Passenger". (Get it now, on discount, if you don't have it).

On September 22nd, lead singer, Andrew McMahon, and the rest of the band released their Junior LP, "People and Things". Personally, I am absolutely IN LOVE with the album. Unlike almost everything on Top 40 radio nowadays, the album is filled with meaningful lyrics and smooth melodies. Certainly worth a purchase, or at the minimum, a sample listen on iTunes.

Here is the title song, for all of you who have yet to hear "Swim":


If you like that track, check out the single from the new "People and Things" album:


That is all from me. I am going to head to bed now, amazed that it took me so long to blog that.

SWIM For A Cure - October 2011 and Beyond

It has been a while ladies and gentlemen. I believe I haven't blogged about anything in nearly 2-3 weeks.

I wanted to check-in with everyone so that I can make a formal announcement regarding SWIM For A Cure.

Lately, I have been donating proceeds to different charities/causes every 2 months. I have enjoyed doing it this way, but I have run into a snag in the system.

I began SWIM For A Cure during the awkward month of February 2011. Consequently, I began working with charities on a 2-month schedule when I only had 11 months left in the 2011 calendar year. Because of this, I had to either run one program between two calendar years, or give 1 charity/cause an intensely big month. I chose the latter.

With that being said, I am happy to announce that this month, 40% of all proceeds through the SWIM For A Cure eStore will be donated to the American Diabetes Association. I will also be making donations from book signings and events (dates TBA) and I will hopefully make up for that lost month by having a VERY active October.

How do I plan to do this? Let me explain:

Typically, I have relied on the Chicagoland area to host my SWIM For A Cure Events/book signings. However, this month I will be traveling. Below are the dates and locations in which I will be at speaking/visiting for other reasons.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

10/7/11 - 10/9/11

University of Florida

10/13/11 - 10/14/11

Cleveland, Ohio (Literally, the city of Cleveland. No logo, nothing specific).

10/20/11 - 10/24/11

So I guess what I am trying to say is that if you have an awesome idea for a restaurant/bookstore/store/business/library/ANYTHING that you think would be a great spot to hold an event, let me know.  OR If you have a friend/family member who may run a business or have a great idea, forward them the blog. I'll have some down time before and after speeches and I'd much rather raise money for a cause than just sit on my iPhone playing "Cut The Rope" or "Angry Birds."

I hope everyone has been well since I last blogged! Take care, and hopefully I will see some of you out at an event!

Email me an idea: Click Here

SWIM turns 1!!!

I am truly amazed by how fast this past year went. This time last year, I was packaging the pre-orders and preparing to hand deliver them to my close family and friends throughout Northern Illinois (who were, obviously, the first to purchase the book). Exactly one year later, SWIM has spread to every state in America, overseas to Europe, south to Australia, and up north to Canada.

I would like to take this moment to thank you all for your support over the past 12 months. Your kind words and enthusiasm for my project has greatly contributed to SWIM's international success. Thank you all for your continued support.

-Bill

*Offer expires at 12:00 AM (CST) on 9/14/11.

*Limited Supplies. Orders will ship first come first serve. The potential for a backorder is great.

*50% off the total order + shipping.

SWIM For A Cure: Michael P. Savoca Memorial Foundation

Hello everybody!

As you may recall, every two months my SWIM For A Cure Outreach Program strives to raise money and awareness for a different illness/charity.

I just finished working with the wonderful people at the Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation, and I am very excited to begin my work with the Michael P. Savoca Memorial Foundation, as we team up to raise awareness for Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Before I begin to go into detail as to how SWIM For A Cure became partners with the Michael P. Savoca Foundation, you should first know a little about Pulmonary Fibrosis...

Pulmonary Fibrosis is an illness that affects the lungs. Pulmonary Fibrosis is the gradual scarring of the lung's tissue, which causes irreversible damage. Once the tissue is lost to the scarring, the tissue can no longer transfer oxygen to the bloodstream.

The cause for the illness is unknown, however, researchers believe that it is either an autoimmune disease, or it is a result of the after effect's of a viral infection.

Currently, five million people worldwide suffer from Pulmonary Fibrosis. Sadly, there is no known cure for the disease. Several drugs are still in the experimental phase, though the drugs have only shown minimal success in reducing lung tissue scarring.
(Source: Michael P. Savoca Memorial Foundation)

Now that you know about the illness, it is time that you learn about the new beneficiary, the Michael P. Savoca Memorial Foundation...

About the Michael P. Savoca Memorial Foundation:

"Mike Savoca was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis on March 17, 2009. Prior to his diagnosis, Mike and his family had never heard of Pulmonary Fibrosis. Over the next six months, his family watched as this horrific disease consumed Mike. Mike became easily winded and often, could not catch his breath. His breathing became labored. As Mike suffered, his family felt helpless that there was nothing they could do to help Mike. There is no cure, no treatment for Pulmonary Fibrosis. Mike passed away on September 25, 2009, just six short months after his initial diagnosis. 

Although Mike passed away from Pulmonary Fibrosis, the disease did not define him. Mike’s favorite movie was It’s a Wonderful Life. In his short life, Mike truly embodied George Bailey. Mike positively impacted many people during his life. He was a man of integrity, hard work and family values. Mike had a career of nearly forty years at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He was a mentor and friend to many of his people at the CME, always willing to listen and give advice. Mike had many lifelong friends and loved to laugh. Mike’s true passion in life was his family. The roles of husband, dad and grandpa are what truly made Mike happy. 

The Michael P. Savoca Foundation was founded by Mike’s six children who serve as the Board of Directors for the Foundation. Four of his friends and his wife serve as advisors to the Board. Although Mike is no longer with us, it is our sincere hope that we can keep Mike’s spirit alive through this foundation and the positive work we hope to accomplish catching a breath of hope for Pulmonary Fibrosis. " (Source: Michael P. Savoca Foundation)
Last year alone, the Michael P. Savoca Foundation has raised over $35,000 for Pulmonary Fibrosis research.

Now, in keeping with the tradition of SWIM For A Cure, I always explain how/why I came about choosing the particular charity or cause. I went to high school (and one of my high school's Turnabouts) with one of Michael Savoca's daughters.

I first heard of Mr. Savoca's passing when I was in the hospital awaiting my heart and kidney transplant. Since then, both the foundation and the family's story have been in the back of my mind. Now that I am back in my hometown for the summer, (along with my former Tunrabout date), I thought their was no better time than now to finally get around to working with the foundation.

Like always, keep an eye out for more e-mails regarding this new outreach program.

Thanks again to everyone who has supported the past two outreach programs for Neuroblastoma and Crohn's/Colitis.

A few SWIM For A Cure book signings are in the works. (I may even do one in Cleveland, OH... we shall see...). Keep an eye out for another blog about the official dates.

Check out the links posted at the bottom...

Have a wonderful night and week!

-Bill

Michael P. Savoca Memorial Foundation's Website
More Info About Pulmonary Fibrosis
SWIM For A Cure Page

I'M SO PATRIOTIC!

If you can't tell, I am feeling PRETTY PATRIOTIC today.

I'm feeling very red, white and blue because I AM GIVING AWAY 2 FREE AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF SWIM ON THE 4TH OF JULY!

The giveaway is happening on Facebook from 6/23/11 - 7/4/11!

Now, you may be saying to yourself, Why would i want TWO copies of SWIM?

Great question. Yah see, if you win, your FRIEND gets a copy, too.

Here's how to enter in 6 simple steps!

STEP 1: Go to my Facebook Page

STEP 2: Click "Giveaway" on the left hand side.

STEP 3: Upon seeing THIS page...

Click "Enter Giveaway"

STEP 4: Allow Permissions

STEP 5: Post your entry on your wall. (This allows your friends to get the prize & it double enters you). Consider saying something to entice your friends/family...

STEP 6: "Like" me on Facebook if you haven't already.

AND THAT'S IT!

Just go back to your profile, smile, and know that you just entered a contest.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS! SPREAD THE WORD! Tweet

I hope you are all having a great day!

Someone You Should Know: Amy Tippins - RockScarLove.com

So as some of you may know, I tweet like a fiend (1,197 tweets... I started rethinking my my life choices around tweet 800).

Anyway, while I was getting my tweet on one day, I came across the Twitter account of Amy Tippins (@RockScarLove). Amy is the owner of RockScarLove––A clothing company that develops apparel with catchy sayings related to post surgery scars.

A transplant recipient herself, Amy set out to develop a company (and shirts) that "focus on helping transplant patients embrace their new, incredibly wonderful journey of a life."

Long story short, I am posting this blog for a handful of reasons:

1. It's a wonderful idea.
2. I think she has something that everyone would like.
3. She's someone you should know.

Amy Tippin's RockScar Love Website

MYSTIC CELT 6.24.11

What did you do tonight? Or last night? (For all of you social butterflies reading this Saturday morning...)

 Hopefully you remember.

Regardless, I have a GREAT event for all of you Chicago/Indiana/Wisconsin blog readers to check out next Friday night!

The Mystic Celt (located at 3443 N. Southport, Chicago, IL) will be hosting Danny's Song-Chicago; A benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The benefit is being held in memory of Dan Sprehe, a kind young man who passed away on September 28, 2010, from Type 1 Diabetes complications.

The cover for the event is only $40.00 per person, and it covers mixed drinks, beer, wine, and appetizers.

Doors open at 8:00 PM, and they will stay open, for benefit purposes, until 11:00 PM.

NOTE: All cover charges must be paid in cash. (Mystic Celt staff will be collecting at the door).

ANOTHER NOTE: I've been to this bar, and it was a hella-good time... no joke. I'll leave it at that.

For more information, CHECK OUT THE EVENT'S FACEBOOK PAGE!

SWIM FOR A CURE: CNCF/Cure For Kubica

Why hello everybody! I hope all is going well in everyone's day/week.

I am in  the midst of putting the final touches on the next round of SWIM For A Cure. In doing so, I realized that I never officially announced the next beneficiary of SWIM For A Cure. I bolded, underlined, and italicized "officially" because, technically, I announced it by dropping not-so-subtle clues. Some of you may have seen some statuses on my Facebook page, or you may have seen the big-assed banner on my homepage promoting an upcoming event, (which I will detail later in this blog post).

Nonetheless, I would like to officially announce that this second round of SWIM For A Cure will feature not only 1 beneficiary, but 2. Both beneficiaries were formed as a result of Neuroblastoma.

What is Neuroblastoma?

Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops from nerve cells found in several areas of the body. Neuroblastoma most commonly arises in and around the adrenal glands, which have similar origins to nerve cells and sit atop the kidneys. However, neuroblastoma can also develop in other areas of the abdomen and in the chest, neck and pelvis, where groups of nerve cells exist.

Neuroblastoma most commonly affects children age 5 or younger, though it may rarely occur in older children. (Source: Mayo Clinic).

The first beneficiary is THE CHILDREN'S NEUROBLASTOMA CANCER FOUNDATION

The Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation (CNCF) is dedicated to raising Neuroblastoma awareness and to raising money towards a cure for the disease. To date, the CNCF has funded over 1.5 million dollars in Neuroblastoma research.

I had the pleasure of joining the CNCF President, Pat Tallungan, and the rest of the CNCF staff earlier this month at their 7th Annual "Allie & Friends Golf Classic" in Lake in the Hills, IL. The event was spectacular, and it featured current Indianapolis Colts players, Ryan Diem, Jeff Saturday, Dallas Clark, Gary Brackett, and several others. A handful of ex-Chicago Bears and current Green Bay Packers players also donated their time to the event and cause.

After attending the event I was blown away by the passion and organization of every staff member. Needless to say, I went home thrilled to begin working with the CNCF.

*The CNCF will receive 20% of book proceeds through the SWIM For A Cure eStore along with 50% of online donations between 6.1.11 - 7.31.11.

The second and final beneficiary is CURE FOR KUBICA

Alec Kubica, a recent graduate of Lake Park High School, is the sole reason why I initially became interested in Neuroblastoma. I initially heard about Alec and his story from a close family friend last March. 

Last summer, Alec was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. Within weeks of of his diagnosis, Alec began his first of six rounds of chemotherapy at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Since being diagnosed, Alec has undergone a multitude of procedures, including a tumor removal from his skull and a stem cell transplant.

Much like SWIM readers relate to my story in their own way, I relateed to Alec's current battle. Though the illnesses are completely different, I can fully appreciate the daily battles of being ill and the emotions involved with every procedure. I can also fully understand the financial toll an illness takes on a family. It is because of this understanding that I have included Cure For Kubica as a secondary beneficiary to this round of SWIM For A Cure.

*Alec's family will receive 20% of book proceeds through the SWIM For A Cure eStore and 50% of all online donations between 6.1.11 - 7.31.11. The money will go towards the cost of medical/parking/lodging expenses.

Now that you know the stories and you are updated on the upcoming cause, you should know about an upcoming event...

Egg Harbor Cafe in Wheaton, IL is opening their doors to SWIM For A Cure, and they will be donating 10% of your bill to the Children's Neuroblastoma Caner Foundation. The only catch is that you need to BRING IN THE FLYER when you come to the event and present the flyer to your waiter/waitress. The hours of the event are 6AM - 2PM.

I will also be at this event signing copies of SWIM. 20% of the book proceeds (on 6.11.11) will go to the CNCF and 10% of the book proceeds will go to Cure For Kubica. I, however, will only be signing copies from 9AM - 2PM. (You wouldn't want to see me at 6AM... trust me).

Check out the official page for the event and make sure you forward this blog post to all your friends.

I hope to see a lot of you at the event!

Take care and enjoy your night.

SWIM FOR A CURE INFO PAGE

Someone You Should Know: Nick Murway - NickPhoto.net

Last month I had the pleasure of working with a great guy named Nick Murway. Nick is a recent Photography graduate of Columbia College Chicago.

I was in desperate need of some photos due to certain bloggers/e-zines requesting "never before used" photos. After browsing Columbia's online student portfolio, I narrowed my selection down to Nick.

Long story short, I am posting this blog for a handful of reasons:

1. I'm happy with the finished product.

2. I had a great experience at the shoot.

3. Nick's a really nice guy.

4. He's fresh out of college, and anyone fresh out of college needs help promoting themselves.

5. He's someone you should know.

If you happen to need a photographer this summer, check this guy out.

Nick Murway's Website: www.nickphoto.net/

See the photo I used on my website (bottom right): www.billcoonbooks.com

We couldn't resist taking a pic of the book with this sign...

What Are You Doing This Saturday?

Three weeks ago I attended a living kidney donation informational seminar in Chicago. The event was sponsored by the Living Kidney Donor Network (LKDN.org) and those in attendance were individuals who are in need of a kidney transplant, and individuals who were recently notified by there doctor that they should begin preparing for the possibility of a kidney transplant within the coming year. I was in attendance after being asked by LKDN's President to serve as mentor/veteran of transplant.

While I was at the event, I struck up a conversation with Jorge Mariscal. Jorge is a 21 year-old college student who was diagnosed with renal failure in 2005 during his junior year of high school. Since being diagnosed, Jorge has been undergoing dialysis treatments with the hopes of someday receiving a kidney transplant. However, there is a major roadblock standing in the way of Jorge's future––money.

Jorge's insurance only covers the cost of dialysis. Unfortunately, it does not cover the cost of transplant. 

Jorge is being managed at Loyola University Medical Center, who has set the price of a kidney transplant at $100,000. Thus far, the Mariscals have managed to save $15,000.

This Saturday, the Mariscals will be hosting a benefit for the Jorge A. Mariscal Kidney Transplant Fund.

The event will be held in Melrose Park, IL. Below I have posted an image of the informational flyer, which details the festivities and event times. Definitely check it out if you are in the area. 

I realize that a good portion of this blog's readers either live across the country or across an ocean, so for all of you, I guess I ask that you take away the simple thought of how disgustingly greedy our world/humanity has become that there is now, undoubtedly, a price tag on life.

Jorge A. Mariscal Kidney Transplant Fund Facebook Page

You HAVE TO Watch Oprah Tomorrow!

Hey Everybody,

I know, you are probably seeing that Oprah logo and saying to yourself, Oh My God! Bill is going to be on Oprah!

Nay.

However, a great family will be.

SWIM readers may recall a section of the book where Chicago Bears Cornerback, Charles Tillman, and his wife, Jackie Tillman, visit me in the hospital. As I detail in the book, Charles and Jackie were compelled to visit me after they went through a similar situation with their daughter, Tiana.

Since Tiana's life-saving heart transplant, Charles and Jackie have set out on a quest to not only raise organ donor awareness, but to provide aid and support to children and/or the families of children in need through their Cornerstone Foundation.

Tomorrow, all of the couple's generosity and hard work will be recognized on Oprah.

The show airs tomorrow at 9:00 AM and re-airs at 11:00 PM (CST).

Please forward this post to all of your friends so that both the cause and the Tillmans receive the greatest amount of recognition, which they deserve.

For a sneak peak at the show, click here.

April Is Donate Life Month!

I should have written this on Thursday, but due to a hectic week of class, traveling and speeches, I am just now finding time to write this important blog.

April is a big month. Not only because my birthday is on the 24th, but because this month is National Donate Life Month!

I will not go into the traditional explanation as to why I care about the cause, because let's be real, everyone who follows this blog is well aware of my story and why I have such a great deal of interest in this cause.

Now that I am done with sounding extremely cocky, I would like to get to the heart (excuse the pun) of this blog.

If you are not already, I would like to invite you all to REGISTER AS AN ORGAN DONOR.

That link will direct you to my website, where I have compiled a database of both information and donor registries. (I  even compiled a brief list of International registries).

If you have already registered to be an organ donor, I sincerely thank you. However, I ask that you please forward this message on to all of your friends and family as a way of spreading the word of the importance of organ donation. You can easily do so by clicking the e-mail link below this post or by using the Twitter and Facebook tools at the top left corner.

Thank you all for your continued support. I hope to see a day where individuals no longer have to spend 70+ days (or perish) trying to make it to an abstract date of surgery, much like countless others do yearly as a result of a shortage in registered donors.

Thank you for your time and attention,

Bill

Pick Your Poison: Which Is The Worst Song Ever?

I have been struggling lately with a realization––lyrical content is absent in 90% of my generation's music. It's true. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if John Lennon is turning in his grave on a daily basis.

In all sincerity, I have been very disappointed in my generation's music for many years now, but it wasn't until this week that I began mourning the loss of it.

With that being said, which of the two "songs" do you think is the worst?

WARNING: THIS MAY BE A DIFFICULT DECISION! I AM BASICALLY ASKING YOU TO PICK THE BETTER SMELLING TURD.

Option 1:

Rebecca Black- "Friday"

Option 2:

Jenna Rose ft. Triggy - "My Jeans"



Oh, and by the way... no... I don't feel bad about making fun of 12 year-old girls.

BRAVO/HELL NO 3/6/11 - 3/13/11

And so we continue. The second installment of Bravo/Hell No––The segment where I comment on the 3 people/things/events from the prior week that I feel were robbed of their deserved applause and the 3 people/things/events that I feel dodged an equally deserved scolding. Now, let us begin...

BRAVO to The Donnis Trio

I am a tad under the weather at the moment. I have been for a few days now. Consequently, I haven't accomplished much except sitting, eating, sleeping, and staring at Facebook/Twitter (rarely posting or tweeting). While staring at  Facebook, I stumbled upon a link to this little gem. (Website link in the name).

A very chill, relaxing band, who were apparently a 1-album wonder. They are on iTunes, so you have no excuse to not check them out. I can really see them appealing to anyone of any taste (that is, besides the Jersey Shore, club head, douche bag crowd). So, basically, as long as you can name at least 4 states in the USA, count to 20, and you don't shop at Armani Exchange... than you SHOULD like this group.

HELL NO to Bathroom Ads.

Fun Fact: The average individual is exposed to roughly 5,000 ads a day. From billboards to bus stops, T.V. to your cell phone applications, advertisements hunt you down and make you read the pitch or promotion no matter where you turn. It used to be that the only place one could hide from the constant brain-berating ad stimulus was in a bathroom stall... not anymore.

Now, thanks to an advertising firm in North Carolina, you now have to view an ad for a Big Mac while your colon is punishing your anus for eating one.

BRAVO to Tiki Barber.

A little of 4 years ago, Tiki Barber, former New York Giants running back, retired from the NFL and began broadcasting for NBC.

Fast forward to last Wednesday, TIKI RETURNS!

Some were skeptical of his choice to return and ridiculed him for ever leaving.

You know who else they did that to? Brett Favre. THE BRETT FAVRE who came out of a (seemingly) 3-week-long retirement, played a mediocre season with the Jets and then had a career year with the Minnesota Vikings.

Tiki is simply following in Favre's foot steps. In fact, I will predict his future:

This year (if the NFL does have "a year") Tiki will ride some bench, a rookie will get injured in week 9 or 10, and Tiki will start and dominate. He will then sign a large 2 year contract in the offseason with a different team and mid-way through the second season... SURPRISE! He will pull a Bretty Favre, snap a picture of his dang-a-lang and retire in shame to some house in Bamblefuck, USA.

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO. WATCH ONLY IF YOU HAVE A STRONG STOMACH!

HELL NO to people eating fecal matter.

I am a very large promoter of freedom of speech. In fact, I believe that many of the greatest comics/writers use "curse words" in a way that adds to the scene, character, and/or joke. However, I do believe that there is a fine line between freedom of speech and absurdity. 

This Australian girl apparently struggles to walk said fine line, let alone find it.

BRAVO to crackheads.

I understand that crackheads are typically frowned upon for... well, smoking crack. Though, I think we overlook their best quality; crackheads are amazingly inventive when it comes to finding jobs.

Let's be real, based on America's shitty job market, at least 10 of my blog readers are probably unemployed. Did any of you unemployed readers ever think once about being thrown 23 feet and 9 inches so that you could pay the electric? I bet not.

HELL NO to My Last Name.

Yes, HELL NO to my last name! Why? Well, due to the fact that it is an old, Southern racial slur, I scored 8 points with it while playing Scrabble.

That's great! He scored 8 points with his last name is Scrabble! You may be saying to yourself or a loved one.

And you'd be right to do so because that is a nice perk, but I have taken a great deal of ridicule for my last name since leaving Lake Zurich. Example, last Mother's Day (Fake Holiday... sorry, Mom, if you read this) I had to endure an extra 15 minutes at a Pandora Outlet, while the sales person called up her friend using the store phone's speakerphone to laugh at my name before ringing up the purchase. Her parting words were, "Hahahaha... if you went to my school... your ass would have been beat! Hahahahaha!"

SWIM UPDATE: Officially International!

It is official, SWIM: A Memoir of Survival is now sold Internationally!

Those of you who have visited my website in the past week may have noticed a new tab entitled, "International Bookstore". The link wasn't 100% functional until Thursday night. After re-tweaking some credit card security settings, the bookstore is now in business. Since opening its doors, 2 books have sold Internationally and 3 have sold domestically. The biggest plus to buying from the bookstore (besides the slightly cheaper shipping [compared to Amazon]) is that I personalize and sign EVERY copy.

With all of that being said, I am pleased to announce that the first International copy will be shipped out Monday morning and it should arrive in Wales, UK by next Saturday.

All of this would not have been possible without the aid of 3 WONDERFUL charities, which are run by 3 WONDERFUL people:

Broken Hearts of the Big Bend - KTC

CHD-UK - Hazel

Donna's Dream - Az

Keep tuning in to the blog.

Send me some interesting links (if you have them) by using the e-mail link in the upper right. Another Bravo/Hell No should be out Sunday.

And please, by all means, Tweet and Post about the blog in the upper left corner/bar on the bottom.

Have a good day!

SWIM UPDATE: KINDLE/iPAD/ANDROID READY!

Ladies and Gentlemen... "SWIM" IS NOW ON KINDLE!!!!!!!!!!

Click Here to check it out!

The book... I mean... eBook... is also available on iPad, iPhone, and all Android powered phones. To access this function, simply download the Kindle Whispernet app, access the store, and then download the book directly into your phone!

In the spirit of eBooks being cheaper than their paperback counterparts, the Kindle edition is currently retailing at $9.99!

Hopefully this satisfies the (well over) 70-or-so people who were begging me to release it on this platform.

Like always, thank you to all the readers and fans who helped pushed the book to the level of Kindle-demand.

Have a great one!

BRAVO & HELL NO! 2/27/11 - 3/5/11

It's time for the first installment of BRAVO! & HELL NO! In this segment, I will comment on my 3 favorite things from the week, and the 3 aspects of life that managed to piss me off. Please note, it is very difficult to piss me off, so if something managed to anger me, it is REALLY lame.

Now, if you happened to have glanced at the date of publication, you may have noticed that I am posting this on a Sunday and not on a Saturday. I know, I know. Technically today is the start of a whole new week. In all honesty, though this form of post has a "weekly" vibe to it, I am becoming progressively worse with deadlines, so for the sake of this blog, just pretend today is Saturday.

Now, without further ado... BRAVO! & HELL NO!

BRAVO to this video.

Not so much to Charlie Sheen, but to these beautiful 2 seconds. I kid you not when I say that I spent easily 20 minutes of my life watching this video on repeat. That's right, do the math... triple digit views on this one. Though, I must say, in regards to Charlie Sheen as a person... I kiiiiinda like him more now after watching his 20/20 interview. Yah, he's crazy. But I challenge you to live in Chicago, ride the CTA 2-4 times a day, and then tell me just how crazy Charlie Sheen really is. I'm not condoning his crack rock parties, hooker meet-ups, or his "tiger blood," but I must say, in comparison to other celebs... he's fucking nuts. In comparison to society... Charlie Sheen could run for Senate.

HELL NO to the entire premise of this movie.

Since I first saw this trailer while watching American Idol on Tuesday (What!? Bill, you watch American Idol? Seriously? Yah, I do. And I'm currently rooting for Pia Toscano because she is insanely hot). Anyway, every time I saw this trailer for Beastly, I could not help but say out loud, "Really? That's easily the dumbest movie plot I have seen since since G-Force" Fortunately, I am not the only one to feel this way. During this weekend's episode of SNL, Miley Cyrus and Andy Samberg spoofed the movie beautifully.

Truth Himself - One Song

BRAVO to rapper, Truth Himself.

In my opinion, this guy is one of the, if not, THE best unsigned rapper out there right now. One of the biggest selling points for me on this guy is the fact that he actually has lyrics that mean something. In today's music scene, lyrical content is missing in easily 90% of music and is very hard to come by. For this, Truth Himself, I salute you.

I have provided a SoundCloud link to his track, "One Song". Give it a listen, you won't regret it...

(Taken at a fashion show in Paris, France on 3/4/11)

HELL NO to the world of fashion.

By no means do I consider myself to be a stylist, a fashionista, or even a TJ Maxxinista, but even I know this is not hot, attractive, nor will this style ever catch on in the states.

Personally, I feel bad for these girls. I can't help wonder what is going through their mind as they strut the catwalk looking like they just came from the deleted scenes of Black Swan. Then again, maybe they love it. Like I said, I am the furthest thing from a style expert, so if I am wrong, I'd consider this a warning, ladies. Next season, shit-stain makeup and Roseanne Barr ass may be the new trend.

(To see more videos and the entire campaign, click here.)

BRAVO to the American Cancer Society's "More Birthdays" Campaign.

I was actually introduced to this campaign back in December in my Ad Copy class at Columbia. However, it wasn't until the ad ran during the Oscars that I remembered how awesome it was. It is so incredibly intelligent. They took a topic that would typically buzzkill anything and did a complete 180. Instead of talking about how many people are dying from cancer, they talk about the number of people who are living due to cancer research and donations. Atop of that, they created a website where you can buy wrapping paper that is designed by the participating artists, and they created little videos that are guaranteed to go viral through social networking sites. Pure genius.

Finally...

HELL NO to the state of Wisconsin's Legislature!

State Sen.  Mary Lazich and State Rep. Mark Honadel drafted a bill this past week that would prohibit anyone from making a prank call, modulating their voice, and/or using a service to modify their Caller I.D. output name.

Many are speculating that this new bill is a response to Governor Walker spilling the beans on tax payers money to a blogger who was pretending to be a Billionaire lobbyist.

However, I feel as though I need to speak on the behalf of a large group of people who are going to be affected and devastated by this bill... Wisconsin citizens with shitty names.

Can you imagine how many noble, tax paying citizens of Wisconsin are going to be inconvenienced by this bill? The Wisco DMVs are sure to be flooded with men and woman alike named Hugh Jass, Mike Rotch, Ivanna Havesechs, Dick Burnz, I.P. Freely, A. Nellsex, Ima P. Ness, E. Rex Sean, Harry A. Nuis,  and countless other.

This blog has many Wisconsinites following it. Because of this, I urge you all to CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN and beg that they repeal this vote.

If not for Clint Torres, than at least for the children.