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Monday, September 30, 2013

Phil Naessens: San Antonio Spurs Fantasy Basketball Options

http://www.poundingtherock.com/2013/9/29/4754782/san-antonio-spurs-fantasy-basketball-options

San Antonio Spurs Fantasy Basketball Options





Guest columnist Phil Naessens of The Phil Naessens Show answers a listener's question regarding Fantasy Basketball and the San Antonio Spurs.
I really enjoy playing fantasy sports, specifically baseball and basketball. I suppose what makes it most enjoyable for me is that it helps prepare me to talk basketball on my daily show. It also affords me the opportunity to compete against others as well as pretend to be smarter than the GM’s I sometimes like to criticize on my show.
I also enjoy talking about fantasy sports on my show, so when a listener asked me the following, I thought I would share my thoughts and hopefully get some feedback from the people who know the Spurs the best. My fellow Pounders, here’s the question:
"I play in a 10-team head-to-head ESPN league. What San Antonio Spurs would you look to draft and why?"
Good question. I suppose the best way to answer it would be to decide which players finished last season in the top 20 of their position and go from there.
The obvious choice at power forward (PF’s) would be to draft Tim Duncan; the question is where? Last season he finished second among all PF’s behind Serge Ibaka and is always a good choice. Besides the fact that he averages more than 16 points and 9 rebounds per game, Duncan is an across-the-board performer and a fantasy dream come true--or at least he has been for many years. What I especially like about him is his 50% shooting from the field and his 81% free throw (FT) percentage. Those last two categories are something I value as I have lost leagues due to poor performances from players with terrible marks in both columns.
The drawbacks, if there are any, would be his age (37), missed games (13) and minutes played (30 last year). His age doesn’t bother me as much as his missed games and minutes played do. Personally I don’t see Duncan averaging 30 minutes this year, and in fantasy basketball more court time means more opportunity to rack up points. I also believe Coach Greg Popovich will give him even more days off this season in order to keep him fresh and healthy for the playoffs so you want to keep that in mind when drafting.
So, what to do with Tim Duncan? In a 10-team league, Duncan should be a dual position guy finishing in the top 5 amongst PF’s as well as centers. He probably won’t go first in either position as there are better options out there but if it were me I wouldn’t let more than either 3 PF’s or C’s go by without drafting him, otherwise he will be gone.
Last season I was so high on this kid that, if memory serves, I drafted him in the second round. After a very hot start he wound up getting injured and fell off the beaten path, finishing #30 among shooting guards (SG’s) and #34 among Small Forwards (SF’s). Those numbers are deceiving and there is plenty of upside here for Fantasy Owners. His 49% from the field, 37% from behind the arch and 82% from the charity stripe are very appealing for the Fantasy owner looking for depth from a dual position player. Add in the nearly 2 steals per game and the 11.9 ppg and Leonard is a very appealing option for the owner looking for dependable across the board performer coming off their bench.
The drawback, if there is any, is the lack of plays being called his way. From all accounts the Spurs are going to feature him more on the offensive end of the floor, but until they do I would be awfully careful with him. Bear in mind that he missed over 20 games due to injury so that should also factor into any decision a fantasy owner should make before drafting him.
So, what to do with Kawhi Leonard? In a 10-team league such as yours Leonard won’t get drafted, if he even gets drafted at all, until the late rounds of the draft. There are just far too many options at both positions he qualifies for to be anything but a late-round pick. If it were me I would just let him pass hoping no one drafts him and just watch him closely in order to pick him up off the waiver wire if necessary.
Last year at this time no one within my fantasy circles was talking about this guy. In fact I had forgotten he was even in the league. Green turned out to be a waiver wire steal who not only won a roster spot on the Spurs but wound up being on some fantasy rosters in just about every league ESPN hosts. Green’s 42% from behind the arc, 44% from the floor and 84% from the line were extremely good but his 2.2 makes per game from behind the arc are what fantasy owners loved about him. Not bad for someone who used to be more known for dancing on the sidelines with Lebron James during their Cavalier days.
The drawback, as far as I can see, would be his low rebounds per game (RPG), 3.1 but in all honesty that isn’t why he’s on the court. His dual positions make him an attractive option in the mid to later rounds for owners looking for a dependable 3 point shooter in their lineup who will score in most categories.
So, what to do with Danny Green? He’s another one who should go in the mid to later rounds. Green’s in the same boat as Leonard in that there are many options to consider before drafting Green but I would definitely look to him if I needed a legit 3 point shooter off of my bench.
Last season Tony Parker finished as the 12th rated Point Guard (PG) in Fantasy basketball. He had career highs in nearly every category which tells you just how deep the pool is at this position. Fantasy owners should take note of his 52% shooting from the floor and 84% from the line plus he wasn’t too shabby from behind the arc hitting 35% of the treys he attempted. Add in his 20 ppg and 7.6 Assists Per Game (APG) and you have an amazing option at PG. Fans of the Spurs would be surprised to discover that PG’s like Kemba Walker, Jrue Holiday, Jeff Teague and Brandon Jennings actually were more valuable to Fantasy owners than Parker was but such is the nature of Fantasy Basketball.
As far as drawbacks with Parker are concerned, there aren’t any that I can think of other than during the end of the regular season unfortunately coincides with the Fantasy Basketball playoffs and Coach Popovich likes to rest his players so you will most likely lose Parker at a crucial moment. Otherwise look for Parker to be one of the top 10 PG’s selected and if he’s still around after those guys grab him because he’s an ace.
So, what to do with Tony Parker? Draft him, that’s what. He’s in the perfect position to go late in a top round of PG’s and early in the second go around. If it were me and an elite point guard is still available in a late round I take him and then take Parker with my next pick and not worry about PG for the rest of the draft.
People usually laugh when I mention the name Tiago Splitter as a viable Fantasy Basketball option but the reality is that he actually is -- more than just an option and depending on his eligibility (currently ESPN has him listed only as a PF) Splitter will probably be a great addition to any Fantasy team. He posted career numbers in MPG, RPG and his 56% shooting from the field was also well above his career average.
The drawback with Splitter would be his PF-only status. There are just too many options out there for an owner to draft him in a 10 team league. Otherwise he is as good as gold.
So, what to do about Splitter? Nothing unless you are someone that likes to carry 3 PF’s on your roster and if you are one of those rare birds take him last because he will most likely still be around.
The Rest of the Spurs
There are a couple of additional options on the Spurs to keep your eye on. One would be Marco Belinelli and the other is Manu Ginobili. I don’t see either of these fellas getting drafted in a 10 team ESPN league but they are worth keeping an eye on, especially Belinelli and how many MPG he receives. The more he plays the higher his value. In the type of league like your league I don’t think Ginobili has much value. He probably won't play more than 20 minutes a night and has spent quite a bit of time these past two seasons injured so I would look somewhere else.
I hope this answers your question and as always I look forward to what my fellow Pounders have to say!

More from Pounding The Rock:

Save the Date: October 11, 2013 - Home Wrecker II - The Brooklyn Chronicles by Brenda Perlin - book launch event on Facebook

Please join the online Facebook party October 11th at 1:00 pm (PST) where there will be loads of fun - games and prizes. There is also random Ebook giveaways leading up to the event!  Don't delay, check out the site today to win. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/207641289413064/


 
Brooklyn Rosen had high moral principles and was raised properly. Married for over fifteen years, those standards went out the window along with her fidelity when she met Bo. After becoming a self-proclaimed “Home Wrecker” Brooklyn left behind her marital home, along with the damage caused by her emotional wrecking ball. But the whispered remarks followed.

In “Home Wrecker: The Brooklyn Chronicles” we learn what shaped Brooklyn, the trials of an unhappy marriage and a deep abiding love that would not be denied. We meet a troubled, spiteful wife, who does not want to become an “ex”.

Will Brooklyn and Bo survive, or will all be lost to a bitter woman?
 
A sneak peek
 
"On the day that I left for good, I remember getting into my car like I always did. While driving out of the garage I watched our dog Grace watching me drive away. I knew it would be for the last time. Fortunately, she wouldn’t remember any of it. As for me, I wouldn’t be able to get that image out of my head. As I drove away, tears filled my eyes. The guilt that I felt at that moment was insurmountable. Those tears that I cried were the only tears that I shed throughout that entire time period. Never once did I cry for my husband."
 
Need information about the first book? 
 
If you haven’t read Home Wrecker I, here's your chance to pick up a copy:

“Brooklyn and Bo, each unhappily married to others, must decide whether to stay with their spouses or give up everything for their love.”

Recap
 
Home Wrecker: The Brooklyn Chronicles provides a look into the heart and mind of a woman who cheated on her marriage and the reasons why it happened. It is honest. It is real. It is the story of what made Brooklyn the woman she is today, the decisions made that put her on the path she walks today, and it does it with an openness and honesty not found in many such stories. The book is well written and grabbed me from the beginning and held my attention until the very end.” – Crystal Schall, The Book Rack

Home Wrecker II: The Brooklyn Chronicles puts the reader on a journey through the eyes of the main character, Brooklyn Rosen. Her story, at times, is excruciatingly honest and evokes one’s own self-reflection throughout the reading experience. However, through the devastation and tribulations, the reader will also gain an insight to the inspiring strength of the heroine as she struggles toward personal happiness.
 
Hope to see you on Facebook,
 

The Phil Naessens Show 9-30-2013 MLB Playoffs and NBA’s Atlantic Division Preview

http://phillipnaessens.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/the-phil-naessens-show-9-30-2013-mlb-playoffs-and-nbas-atlantic-division-preview/

Segment 1: Blogging Mets Mark Berman joins Phil to discuss Game #163 between the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez and his crazy no-hitter over the Detroit Tigers, the Bio-Genesis Scandal, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and their biggest surprises and disappointments of the 2013 MLB season and much more.
Segment 2: Sonics Rising Managing Editor Kevin Nesgoda joins Phil for an extensive preview of the NBA’s Atlantic Division, which Phil likes to call a Conference. This is a fun discussion on where the guys think the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks will fare this season and much more.



philvegas1





History Trivia - England's Henry VIII withdraws his armies from France

September 30,

420 Saint Jerome, one of the great scholars of the early Christian church, died at age 80.

579 Pope Benedict I died.

1227 Pope Nicholas IV, the first Franciscan pontiff, was born.  

1544 Henry VIII withdrew his armies out of France.

1555 Oxford Bishop Nicholas Ridley was sentenced to death as a heretic.

 

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Mr. Chuckles returns to Deep Space Nine - find him at Quark's with his latest find, Carla by Mark Barry

 
 
 

Mr. Chuckles says:

Carla is a brooding, dark romance, which has you rooting for John Dexter - does he get the girl?  Pick up your copy today to find out.



Amazon UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Carla-Mark-Barry/dp/1492159441/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379978483&sr=8-1&keywords=carla+by+mark+barry
 

Amazon US

http://www.amazon.com/Carla-Mark-Barry/dp/1492159441/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1379978574&sr=8-3&keywords=carla+by+mark+barry


 

History Trivia - King Richard II of England abdicates

September 29

480 BC Battle of Salamis: The Greek fleet under Themistocles defeated the Persian fleet under Xerxes I.

106 BC Pompey the Great, statesman and general of the Roman Empire was born. He was the chief rival of Julius Caesar and in 61 BC Pompey celebrated his victory in the third Mithridatic War (between Rome and the Kingdom of Pontus, a Persian state off the Black Sea) on his 45th birthday.

 440 Saint Leo I, the Great, was elected Roman Catholic pope. 1

227 Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, was excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX for his failure to participate in the Crusades.

 1399 King Richard II of England abdicated; he was succeeded by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV). Richard was initially imprisoned and later died from uncertain causes.

1364 Battle of Auray: English forces defeated the French in Brittany; ending the Breton War of Succession between the Houses of Blois and Montfort.



1547 Miguel de Cervantes, Creator of Don Quixote, was born.

1564, the reign of Elizabeth I, Robert Dudley became earl of Leicester.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Mary Ann Bernal reviews Hard as Roxx by Bill Jones, Jr.

18336626

The author spins an exciting tale that is set in a post apocalyptic world. If you like strong women, you will love Roxx, a single mother who must protect her family from the ruthless leaders upholding the law. In this futuristic society, the women have been genetically altered to limit pregnancies to just one. However, Roxx’ genetic makeup does not carry the enhanced code, and she finds herself pregnant with a second child as a result of a rape. Once the baby is born, Roxx must protect her two daughters not only from a government that would execute both mother and child, but also from the man who had ravished her. As the months pass, it becomes harder for Roxx to remain in the home she had made for her family. She no longer has a choice and must flee with her daughters across the Sahara desert, hoping to reach the European continent, and safety.

This story is action packed with exciting twists when you least expect them. If you enjoyed “Children of Men,” you’ll love this.

Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Hard-as-Roxx-ebook/dp/B00EL1YP6Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380415262&sr=8-1&keywords=hard+as+roxx

Fantasy and Thriller Writer, Sarah JP White, discusses violence in sports with Mark Barry, author of Violent Disorder

Violent Disorder – Mark Barry


Further to my recent interview with Mark Barry, as part of my Author Spotlight section (if you haven’t yet read it, you can do so by clicking here), I’ve gleaned some extra information about his newly released book ‘Violent Disorder’ and Mark’s thoughts behind it.

What genre do you consider your latest book – Violent Disorder?

Violent Disorder - Mark Barry
Violent Disorder – Mark Barry
Sport fiction, crime and its own genre, colloquially known as Hooliporn.
How did you come up with the title?
It’s the sequel to the first book, Ultra Violence, and it is one of the most common offences in football hooliganism. It is also extremely catchy. I am surprised no one has thought of it.
What are your expectations for the book?
Well, I sold an awful lot of copies of the first book and I would like to repeat that. I would also like sales on both titles – and my other mainstream titles – to continue to rise.

Is there a message in ‘Violent Disorder’ that you want readers to grasp?

No. I’m not much of a message writer. My books are madness.

Which of your characters is your favourite and why?

I like the narrator in the book. He’s the complete liberal writer, ironic, laid back, with no experience of the fighting.  He is slowly drawn into the violence going on around him through his friendship between two nutty brothers who are supposed to be going straight. He’s a nice man. Vulnerable, clever, a decent writer and you get the sense that he doesn’t know why he’s writing these books, but also that he cannot quite stop himself.  Order into chaos…

Which of your characters is most unlike you?

Any of the characters in the book who work for the Police or the Judiciary.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

It’s a complete work of fiction. I made it all up. None of the characters exist in real life and none of the stuff ever happened, guv.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Adjacent to the courthouse opposite, a wagonload of yellow-jacketed Police watched the situation develop on canalside.  Twenty years ago, it would already have gone off down here, Coventry on one side, Notts on the other. A blaze of colour, a flurry of fists and boots. A berserker cry (c’mon then, c’mon then), back and forward, back and forward, twenty-on-twenty, fists connecting with shallow sockets, thumbs in eyes, teeth parting from gums, yelps, cries, boots upside your head, trainers stamping, conscious, unconscious, running about, always running about.
Not today.
Not down here, in 2013, the regenerated canalside, full of upmarket brasseries selling champagne at a hundred quid a bottle. Chain wine bars, chain eateries, chain charcuteries, chain hairdressers where grown men spend thirty seven pounds on a Danny Craig haircut; student chain comedy clubs full of tedious student comics taking the piss out of people in wheelchairs and making prehistoric observations about the Battle Of The Sexes. One hundred and thirty five quid a month gyms with mixed saunas.
Running through the opulence is the reanimated canal, once biologically dead; stinking of death and shit, and the lethal chemicals that fuelled the British industrial revolution, won us the Second World War and left behind a toxic disaster area replete with piles of unguent, softened, semi-dissolved hybrid fish.  Once a waterway bursting with the rusting detritus, and the vile leftovers of the narcissistic sixties generation (our parents and grandparents, who took all the money for their houses and pensions, and thus, looted our futures, swapped our future well-being for idleness and a non-stop retirement holiday abroad), now, in 2013, scrubbed, scoured, eviscerated, defenestrated, strained and drained, pristine blue, full of frolicking fish.
The occasional brightly painted barge passing by. A  cyclist wearing an ill-fitting rose-pink helmet rode past on a mountain bike costing four thousand seven hundred quid. Young, self-assured, self-aware, politically neutral, trans-metropolitan, fit, with communication skills honed at a redbrick university, empathetic, health conscious, green, gender sensitive, racially relaxed and already a three star cook in his own fitted kitchen (with metallic oven and granite worktops), he was heading toward Trent Bridge on the tow path running all the way past the heat station and the old caves. 
Past Meadow Lane.
The canal is his. The world is his.

Where to Buy Mark Barry’s Latest Novel – ‘Violent Disorder’

Mark’s latest novel, entitled ‘Violent Disorder’ is available now on Amazon – just click on the links below!
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
My thanks to Mark Barry for agreeing to be interviewed. If you’d like to find out more information on Mark, you can check out his website at:
http://www.greenwizardcarla.blogspot.co.uk

History Trivia - William the Conqueror arrives lands at Pevensey on the south coast of England, starting the invasion

September 28

48 BC Pompey the Great was murdered on the orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt.

351 Battle of Mursa Major: the Roman Emperor Constantius II defeated the usurper Magnentius in one of the bloodiest battles in Roman military history. 365 Roman usurper Procopius proclaimed himself Roman emperor.

855 The Emperor Lothar died in Gaul (present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine), and his kingdom was divided between his three sons.

1066 William the Conqueror and his Norman army arrived in England, landing at Pevensey, beginning the Norman Conquest.

1106 The Battle of Tinchebrai: Henry I of England defeated his brother, Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy. Henry's knights won a decisive victory, capturing Robert and imprisoning him in England and then Wales until Robert's death in Cardiff Castle. England and Normandy remained under a single ruler until 1204.

1322 Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor defeated Frederick I of Austria in the Battle of Mühldorf.

Friday, September 27, 2013

The Wizard of Notts Recommends: Goose Fair - Forest Recreation Ground on Wednesday, October 2 and runs until Sunday, October 6.

http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=23517

Goose Fair 2013: 2 - 6 October

Nottingham Goose Fair returns from Wednesday 2 to Sunday 6 October 2013 to thrill and delight city residents and visitors.

Venue:Goose Fair

Forest Recreation Ground, Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham. NG7 6HB

 Times:

Wednesday 2 October - 5.30pm - 11pm
Thursday 3 October - 12noon - 11pm
Friday 4 October - 11am - 11.30pm
Saturday 5 October - 11am - 11pm
Sunday 6 October - 1pm - 9pm

Dates:

2 - 6 October

Overview:

With more than 700 years of history, Nottingham Goose Fair is one of Europe's most famous travelling fairs, and is still a fantastic event to delight all ages.

The Forest Recreation Ground will once again host over 500 attractions, from the latest white knuckle experiences, family rides and favourites including waltzers, carousels and Hook-a-Duck.
In 2012 there was a new ride - 'AtmosFear' making its first appearance at Goose Fair. It moved passengers through 360 degrees in all three dimensions. The arm of the ride rotated high in the sky with the end of the arm also rotating along with the passenger seats. The ride was about 23 metres high at the top of the swing to increase the scare factor!

For thrill-seekers there are normally around 100 adult rides and exhibitions.  Last year alongside the AtmosFear there was the Touchdown, Magic Mouse, Sizzler Twist, Vertical Limit, Chaos as well as Dodgems, Waltzers, Ghost trains, Matterhorns, Giant wheels, Mouse coasters and Funhouses.
Along with the traditional Goose Fair food of mushy peas and mint sauce, candy floss and brandy snaps, visitors will be able to eat their way around the world with chestnuts and doughnuts to food from the Caribbean, Chinese noodles, Indian kebabs, Spanish churros, paella and French crepes.
Come along and experience the dazzling array of sights and sounds!

As always, admission to the ground is FREE!

In 2012 most rides cost between £1.00 - £3.00. The majority were charged at £2.00. Specialised rides charged between £2.50 and £4.00. Children's rides were around £1.00 - £2.00.

Travelling:-

By Foot: Try www.walkit.com select 'Nottingham' from the drop down menu and type 'Forest Recreation Ground' into the destination box.
By Cycle: Try www.transportdirect.co.uk and select 'Find a cycle route' and use postcode NG7 6ND to take you to the site.
By Bus: Take the NCT Lime lines 56, 58, 59 or Purple lines 87, 88, 89 or Calverton Connection from Upper Parliament Street, or the Brown lines 15,16, 17 from Milton Street (outside Waitrose) or Yellow Lines 68, 69, 70, 71, from Milton Street (outside Trinity Square Car Park). Take the Pronto or any the The Threes from Victoria Bus Station. Services run at frequent intervals, stopping on Mansfield Road for the Fair.
By Tram - take the tram from any stop and get off at The Forest right next to the Goose Fair site.  There are four dedicated park and ride sites, which offer  free parking to anyone travelling on the tram. 
Park and Ride sites are located at:
  • Hucknall near junction 27 of the M1with nearly 450 spaces - NG15 7TD
  • Phoenix Park next to junction 26 of the M1 with over 650 spaces - NG8 6AS
  • Moor Bridge close to Bulwell and Bestwood with over 100 spaces - NG6 8AE
  • Wilkinson Street just off Nottingham's ring road with over 600 spaces - NG7 7NU
There is city centre parking available too with easy connections at the Lace Market, Old Market Square and the Royal Centre tram stops.  Extra trams will be running to and from The Forest throughout the event so you'll be sure to get there on time.  For more information on tram times and fares visit www.thetram.net.

Car Parking & Disabled Parking:

Please note that we are not able to provide car parking for this event. We recommend using the tram if you want free parking (see above). Blue Badge parking is available on site and is accessible at the Gregory Boulevard entrance.

 

The Phil Naessens Show 9-27-2013 Showboats, MLB Playoffs and Local versus National Media

http://phillipnaessens.wordpress.com/2013/09/27/the-phil-naessens-show-9-27-2013-showboats-mlb-playoffs-and-local-versus-national-media/



philvegas1



Segment 1: Red Reporter Managing Editor Brandon Kraeling joins Phil to discuss the recent brawl in Atlanta, showboating, this weekends season ending series with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tuesday’s wild card game and much more.
Segment 2: Grizzly Bear Blues Managing Editor Kevin Lipe joins Phil to discuss Kosta Koufas and local NBA coverage as opposed to National Media coverage plus much more.
Segment 3: Athletics Nation Lead Writer Alex Hall to discuss the Oakland A’s winning their second straight AL West division crown, Josh Donaldson’s slim yet deserving MVP chances and the roster for their division series with the Detroit Tigers and much more.

History Trivia - William the Conqueror sails to England to claim the crown

September 27

 489 – Odoacer (first Germanic king of Italy) attacked Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths at the Battle of Verona, and was defeated again.

1009 Caliph al Hakim ordered the destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem, a Christian holy site.
 
1066 William the Conqueror, with a Norman army of 5,000 men, set sail from France for England, to claim the English throne.



 1509 Storm ravages the Flemish/Dutch/Friese coast, killing thousands.



1540 Pope Paul III approved the first outline of the organization of the Jesuit Society, drafted by St. Ignatius of Loyola, the order's founder.

 1590 Pope Urban VII died 13 days after being chosen as the Pope, making his reign the shortest papacy in history.

The Phil Naessens Show 9-26-2013 The Dwayne Wade and Kevin Durant Social Media Fued

http://phillipnaessens.wordpress.com/2013/09/26/the-phil-naessens-show-9-26-2013-the-dwayne-wade-and-kevin-durant-social-media-fued/


philvegas1
On today’s Phil Naessens Show
Segment 1: Indy Cornrows Managing Editor Tom Lewis joins Phil to discuss Paul George’s new contract and answers several listeners questions regarding Larry Bird, Paul George, Roy Hibbert and much more
Segment 2: Welcome to Loud City Managing Editor J.A. Sherman joins Phil to discuss the social media feud between Kevin Durant and Dwayne Wade and answers listeners questions regarding Serge Ibaka, SONICSGATE and much more.
Segment 3: Pounding the Rock Managing Editor J.R. Wilco joins Phil to discuss the recent the San Antonio Spurs recent signing of Sam Young and answers listeners questions regarding the playing time of Marco Belinelli, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green plus much more.

History Trivia - The Parthenon in Athens severely damaged by gunpowder explosion

Sept 26

46 BC Julius Caesar dedicated a temple to his mythical ancestor Venus Genetrix in accordance with a vow he made at the battle of Pharsalus.

 715 Ragenfrid defeated Theudoald at the Battle of Compiègne, the first definite battle of the civil war which followed the death of Pepin of Heristal, Duke of the Franks.

1181 St. Francis of Assisi, Italian Founder of the Franciscan Order, was born.

1143 Celestine II became Pope. He was a friend of Peter Abelard(French scholastic philosopher, theologian and preeminent logician), Celestine was a scholar whose pontificate only lasted six months.

1687 The Parthenon in Athens, unscathed since 432 BC, was severely damaged by a gunpowder explosion, caused by the bombing from Venetian forces led by Morosini (Doge of Venice) who besieged the Ottoman Turks stationed in Athens.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Mr. Chuckles stopped by The Wizard's Cauldron, meeting Sci Fi author Yvonne Anderson

 
 
Marky the Wizard says:
 
This week - from her foreboding citadel just outside Cadiz - amidst the orange groves, the raging bulls, bunches of giant pomegranates hanging from parched trees, underneath the illumination of cobalt skies and in the glare of the ever-burning sun, the wonderful Ngaire Elder is back around the Cauldron, by popular demand. 
 
Ngaire meets Sci Fi author Yvonne Anderson - around the Cauldron - click on the link to read what they have to say.
 
http://greenwizard62.blogspot.com/2013/09/ngaire-meets-sci-fi-author-yvonne.html?showComment=1380145339952#c7243811923343525721

Fantasy and Thriller Writer, Sarah PJ White spotlights author Mark Barry, author of Violent Disorder

Mark Barry – Author Spotlight #33


It’s Wednesday, so that means it’s Author Spotlight time again and I’d like to introduce you to – Mark Barry!

What inspired you to write your first book?

Violent Disorder - Mark Barry
Violent Disorder – Mark Barry
I was challenged to write a substantive work of fiction by two friends, in different places, but at the same time. That became Hollywood Shakedown. I’m about to release my seventh novel,  so that was an inspiring challenge!
Do you have a specific writing style, Mark?
No. I write all sorts. Third person, first person. I have also written a football hooligan novel called Ultra Violence in second person omniscient. That is my best seller so far, so maybe I ought to do that again. It was tough to write like that– and not universally popular. It was a real experimental method. Chuck Palahniuk wrote Diary in this style.

Describe a typical writing session or your typical writing area

I live in a flat and I write on an old wooden writing desk. I write volume on an old PC tower and keyboard that I cannot bear to throw out, and I edit on my Toshiba laptop with all the modcons, all the good stuff. I wear an Inuit writing cap for inspiration (the 230 words for snow!), and I often write after a run, a pastime, which inspires me. I listen to music all the time, non-stop, except for when the Horses and Greyhounds are on the TV. I never watch general TV. My writing sessions are usually Goliath-sized and I can sometimes, be sitting here for eighteen hours.

So Mark, what are your current projects?

I have just completed the sequel to Ultra Violence. It is called Violent Disorder and it is about over-aged football hooligans at Notts County Football Club.  I am about to write a novel about the recession and the changing face of Nottingham – it’s called Keith the Philosopher. I am also compiling another anthology and have plans for a 300,000 word Indie epic called The Castle, which I shall write next year.

What books have most influenced your life most?

Martin Amis’  Money and London Fields. The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart and Paul Auster Music of Chance.
Simply put, Sarah, these books push the boundaries of writing and what is possible. Some of the construction of sentences in these books makes me want to cry. Every book I write – and Violent Disorder is my most experimental book  – is influenced by the four books above. The former is possibly one of the top ten books of all time, in my humble opinion. Amis WAS a genius as a young man. Not so much now, though. Age and the condition known as expatriatism. Ruined him. He needs to come back to London Fields, but he won’t.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Amis as a thirty-five-year-old. No question.

Who is your favourite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work, Mark?

Martin Amis. Simply because he took fiction to another level. He made everyone around him – Rushdie, Barnes, Byatt – at the time, look pedestrian and hackneyed, as if they were an irrelevance. Some of the paragraphs in Money are different class.

What book are you reading now?

I’m currently reading comics and graphic novels– Shade The Changing Man, Watchmen, Sandman, Swamp Thing – all the classics from the mid eighties, particularly Peter Milligan’s underrated Shade.

Mark, are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Obscura Burning by Suzanne Van Rooyen is a sumptuously written book. Sanguinary by Emma Edwards is great fun and The Briton and the Dane: Concordia, by Mary Ann Bernal, my editor, takes historical fiction to some new places. Maria Savva’s Haunted was good, too, though I thought she rushed the ending, a common problem in Indie. All four deserve to rock and roll. I have to say indie writers don’t generally work for me – the sector is so dominated by writers I cannot relate to.  I am increasingly looking at published work to satisfy my lust for reading. Sad really, though I’m sure it will change. Things are cyclical.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No, not my latest book. I would change the middle section of The Ritual and de-eroticise my banned book, The Illustrated Woman, so more people can read it without blushing.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

All of it. Writing is hard. The people who say writing is easy aren’t writers and are doing it wrong.  I don’t like editing either, and I hate going over stuff.

What was the hardest part of writing your book, Mark?

Editing out stuff I like and should be included.

Do you have any general advice for other writers?

Ignore the gurus with their novel writing 101 advice. Ignore the Creative Writing lecturers, too. If you need to go on courses like this, pack it in before you start. You are not a writer. You do not have a strong enough voice. There is no such thing as an introductory level novel. Is your work good enough to publish? If it isn’t, then don’t – you effect every single one of us if your novel is a load of badly written cobblers. Go away and wait for your voice to speak and practice into the cold, dark night.

Do you write an outline before every book you write?

No, I’m the ultimate pantser. Never written notes in my life, even for my degree.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I think I’ve said enough, don’t you! ”:)”

Mark and His Latest Novel – ‘Violent Disorder’

My thanks to Mark Barry for agreeing to be interviewed. If you’d like to find out more information on Mark, you can check out his website at:
http://www.greenwizardcarla.blogspot.co.uk/
Mark’s latest novel, entitled ‘Violent Disorder’ is available now on Amazon – just click on the links below! You can also read more information on ‘Violent Disorder’ and his thoughts behind it, by checking out my Share Saturday post here.
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk

History Trivia - Harald Hardrada defeated at Stamford Bridge, marking an end to the Viking invasions of England

Sept 25

275 The Roman Senate proclaimed Marcus Claudius Tacitus Emperor after the assassination of Aurelian. During his short reign he campaigned against the Goths and the Heruli, for which he received the title Gothicus Maximus.

396 Ottoman Emperor Bayezid I defeated a Christian army at the Battle of Nicopolis, often referred to as the Crusade of Nicopolis and was the last large-scale crusade of the Middle Ages.

1066 Harold II (Harold Godwinson) of England defeated an invasion by Harald Hardrada of Norway, at Stamford Bridge near York, and marked the end of the Viking invasions of England. It also delayed Harold's arrival at Hastings, becoming a significant factor in the outcome of the Norman Conquest.

The Phil Naessens Show 9-25-2013 Should the New York Mets Trade for Troy Tulowitszki?

http://phillipnaessens.wordpress.com/2013/09/25/the-phil-naessens-show-9-25-2013-should-the-new-york-mets-trade-for-troy-tulowitszki/



philvegas1


The Mets sweep of the Phillies
Phil answers a listener’s demand that he name 5 American League third basemen better than David Wright
Should the Mets trade for Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzski?
Ike Davis or Lucas Duda at first base in 2014
The American League and National League Pennant Races and Wildcard standings

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Veetu Industries and Rae Gee: Things That Go Bump In The Night - Part 1

Veetu Industries and Rae Gee: Things That Go Bump In The Night - Part 1: As the nights draw in and the air cools, our minds turn away from summer and towards other things. It's time, I think, for me to tell so...

Gladiator's Pen: How does your story grow? Guest Post by J.Drew Bru...

Gladiator's Pen: How does your story grow? Guest Post by J.Drew Bru...: Gladiator's Pen welcomes guest author J. Drew Brumbaugh to the Ludis. He is the author of  the thrillers War Party and Shepherds and he...

The second edition of Carla by Mark Barry is now available in the Star Trek Universe - pick up your copy today.




Sometimes, things happen that are beyond our control.

 
“When I walked into The Saddler’s Arms that night, I felt calm and relaxed, and the prognosis was rosy.
 
And there she was.

Yes.

There she was.
 

By the time I set eyes on her, I had lost interest in drinking, smoking, eating, or thinking.

She hit me hard, dear reader. I cannot remember being hit so hard by a woman.

And I had something of a history of being hit hard.

I knew instantly that I was doomed to love, and there was nothing I could do about it.”
**********************************************************************************************************************************
Borderline Personality Disorder sufferer and released mental patient, John Dexter, falls in love with Carla, a fresh- faced environmental student and part-time barmaid, the first time he sees her. He should walk away, he knows he should, but he doesn’t. He can’t.

And by falling in love, he sets off a chain of events, which are at first, heart-warming and inspirational, and then bleak and horrifying.

 
A Cult Independent novel, Carla is an introspective, moody and chilling romance novel with its roots firmly in the work of the great pulp writers of the fifties. It is a book for adults and for those who have lived through the occasionally bloody battlefields that are the relationships between men and women.

 
 

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