From a Bit of Kindling to an Open Flame (Part 3)

Happy holidays! Notice anything new? Coughs. Prairie Rose Clayton, known in the US soccer community as “she who makes banners”, was kind enough to make our new and improved Futfanatico image for a most reasonable price. Prairie is highly talented – I recommend her for all of your artistic endeavors. She also worried about getting the job done in a timely fashion, while I constantly reassured her – “Don’t worry, the World Cup is still a few months away and I will have my site totally redone by then. Just get the image to me by April 1st.” Ha.

So, no nifty new site design. Just a sweet image. But what on earth could I possibly have planned for said bodacious image? First things first, I won a very prestigious award – the best soccer blog of 2010 with the name “futfanatico” in the URL. My prize? An all expenses paid trip to Nicaragua for two weeks. I look forward to seeing my family, eating some gallo pinto, munching on tajadas, and perhaps going to la playa. In the meantime, I hope everybody has had, and continues to have, a very fun and safe holiday season. My trip to Nicaragua will result in a temporary break in bloggery, but don’t worry – when I come back 20 pounds overweight with severe heartburn, NOTHING will stand between me and my netbook.

Second, Futfanatico is going legit. The author interview, the Pusky wrap-up, its all been building to this: we are now published for your viewing pleasure on Kindle. Yes. Kindle. The Amazon reader that is making raves stateside. Prairie’s wonderful image adorns the Kindle version. Basically, while Brooks got gobbled up by Yahoo and Brian wines & dines the NYTimes/Slate crowd, I am on my knees begging for pocket change. A penny for my thoughts, good sir?

Therefore, feel free to try a two week trial subscription, but beware – after 14 days pass, be prepared to open your wallets and be forced to pay one million dollars. Well, at least if you are subscribed to my site for five hundred thousand months. (Subscription is $1.99 per month) In all seriousness, I actually think the site looks cooler on Kindle – check out this preview:

Don’t agree? Well, see how you feel for two weeks. Then, forget you subscribed and get in an argument with your significant other over where this mysterious “$1.99″ disappears each month. Don’t worry, I know plenty of talented divorce attorneys to whom I can refer you – so long as you have a valid credit card.

In all seriousness, and for the sake of redundancy and shameless self-promotion, Kindlers (as we call ourselves) can get a free trial subscription right here. Everyone else can just sit back in their rocking chairs, sip some moonshine, and laugh at this passing craze – “Why this horseless carriage runs on oil from under the ground, but my trusted horse uses grass readily available on top! Such a foolish contraption!”