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How-to books and courses for aspiring authors are generally directed towards the soloist -- the writer who, like Kipling's cat, walks by himself. Even the writing group whose members present their work for mutual constructive criticism is ultimately focused on helping the individual, and the same goes for the writer-editor collaboration (or, as sometimes happens, tug of war). There is not much out there for the aspiring team of writers who wish to avail themselves of the many benefits of co-authorship (while avoiding the equally numerous traps for the unwary).The three of us recently coauthored a book called Short Cuts: A Guide to Oaths, Ring Tones, Ransom Notes, Famous Last Words, & Other Forms of Minimalist Communication (Oxford University Press: 2010), and not only lived to tell the tale but are still good friends and happy with the finished product, in large part because we agreed on a few  basic precepts. Here are the fundamental half dozen, which we recommend to those of you who might be contemplating such a collaboration.More...

Coauthoring: All for One And One for the Books

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For the last year, or better said, ever since then Senator Barack Obama became the 44th president  of the United States, there has been a lot of buzz around the Cuba issue, especially among Cubans along both sides of the straights.In Cuba, most have been waiting with baited breath for brush stroke changes of a policy that has been in place for almost the entirety of half a century that would establish normal relations between both nations. For the Cuban American community in the United States things vary a bit. Some, thankfully an ever growing majority, hope for the same normalization and for a minority the desire is to hold on firm to the status quo.More...

Communication Breakdown

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With the advent of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), there was hope that for once and for all the debate over who is the best Division I football program could be settled year in and year out.  We all know that despite the best intentions and the lack of a real playoff system, that has not yet happened. Now whether or not that debate over the BCS Championship is healthy and drives even more buzz is one issue, but the fact remains that sans a playoff system the question still lingers.  That of course is not true in any other NCAA sport, where season-ending championships are the rule not the exception.  We know who wins March Madness, the College World Series, the Frozen Four, the NCAA Wrestling Championships etc etc.  No doubt, it is out there for everyone to see.However like the BCS, there would or could be some debate as to which overall school, at least on the Division I level, is the best at college athletics.  For years quantity -- the schools that had twenty or more sports -- seemed to rise over quality.  While there is no doubt that the real reason intercollegiate athletics should exist is to grow the overall student-athlete for success later in life in whatever field, there is still an interest to find a way to see which university is actually getting a return on the field as well as in the classroom for the dollars and time invested.More...

A Cup to Capitalize on College Success...

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AP: LOS ANGELES - Kara DioGuardi is following Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell out the door at "American Idol."Her departure leaves Randy Jackson, who's been with the singing contest from the start, the last judge standing, for now. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are the reported front-runners for the panel.More...

Kara DioGuardi Is Leaving 'American Idol'

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It's no secret that otters are adorable, but the younger ones have a knack for looking adorable and angry at the same time. Check out these 11 little guys, with their permanent scowls and eyes capable of the most disapproving looks you've ever seen. Why are they so upset? Maybe it's this photographer that keeps chasing them around. Sorry otters, you're way too cute not to be documented.More...

Otters: The Animals That Get Cuter With Anger (PHOTOS)

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Darlene Superville, Associated PressWASHINGTON - A healthy economy needs bustling Main Streets and a thriving middle class even more than a healthy stock market, President Barack Obama said as he reaffirmed his commitment to work hard for America's hardworking men and women.More...

Obama Weekly Address: President Pledges To Help The Middle Class (VIDEO)

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Scott McAdams, the Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in Alaska against Tea Party candidate Joe Miller, is a burly dark-haired guy who looks every bit the football player he is. He said he got into politics because he was the Sitka, Alaska, high school football coach and had to go before the school board to try to get the then-club program deemed a recognized school sport.He spent his early years in Petersburg, another town in Southeast Alaska, then moved to central California, where he graduated from high school. McAdams returned to Alaska and worked as a commercial fisherman in Petersburg, Kodiak and out in the Bering Sea before graduating with a degree in secondary education from Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka.More...

Meet Scott McAdams, An Alaska Democrat And U.S. Senate Candidate

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This week brought more depressing economic news, with the "underemployment" rate rising to 16.7 percent, and the White House considering a stimulus lite package of tax breaks.  We need to keep pushing Washington to finally put bold and robust job creation front and center.  But, in the meantime, we can't just sit on the sidelines.  To coincide with the release of my new book, Third World America, I'm going to be traveling around the country for the next few months, speaking about the practical steps we can all take to help each other through the hard times and strengthen our communities.  And we are crowdsourcing part of the tour.  Click here to find out where I'm going to be speaking and how you can get your group, school, organization, or town on the schedule.  Together, we can take action to rebuild the middle class and restore the American Dream.More...

Sunday Roundup

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As Labor Day arrives and with it the unofficial end of summer, it's almost time to put the white linen pants back in the closet and stick the grill in the garage for another eight months or so.  And what better way to mark the end of summer than with a pitcher of margaritas?  The margarita is a light, refreshing and potent cocktail that can cool down the most sweltering days and tame the most savage thirst.  Of course, margaritas are delicious year-round, but something about them says "summer" to me, even when I'm drinking one in February.  One thing I particularly love about margaritas is how easy they are to make -- all you need is fresh-squeezed lime juice, the tequila of your choice, and triple sec.When I mention that third ingredient to friends, I get a lot of "Huh?"s and "What's that?"s.  Well, triple sec also goes by the name of curaçao.  What's the difference between curaçao and triple sec?  After intensive research, I can tell you definitively that... I'm not sure.  What I do know is that both curaçao and triple sec are orange liqueur, a vital and under-appreciated ingredient in one of the world's most popular cocktails.More...

For the Best End-of-Summer Margarita, Orange You Forgetting Something?

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Former British prime minister Tony Blair spoke with Christiane Amanpour on ABC's "This Week" today about his new book, A Journey: My Political Life. In the interview, Blair criticized U.S. actions in Afghanistan, advocated keeping an attack on Iran on the table, and discussed former Vice President Dick Cheney's desire to "remake" the world after September 11.Blair defended his support for the Iraq war, saying, "If we hadn't taken out Saddam, there would still have been consequences. Now what they are, we don't know. We can have -- I can say I think he would have been a threat competing with Iran, and someone else might say to me, well, actually he would have just been contained. We don't know." He then moved to talk about Iran, saying that if he were still in power, he "wouldn't take the risk" of Iran getting a nuclear weapon and said that an attack has to be an option:More...

Tony Blair On Afghanistan, Attacking Iran, And Dick Cheney's Post-9/11 Worldview (VIDEO)