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In a March 23rd article in the Christian Science Monitor, Sara Miller Llana wrote of a father named Adrian Cadena whose son was one of the 15 murdered in Juarez in January, while attending a birthday party. Adrian's son had hoped to play soccer, Llana writes, in college. Today his dad, living through his grief, "has put his energy into volunteering for the local team, cleaning parks, and raising money through barbecues and carwashes" in an attempt to help those who remain. "There are thousands of boys left behind," the author quotes Mr. Cadena. "We have to focus on the survivors."

Juarez, one of the bloodiest cities in the world, sits opposite El Paso, one of the most peaceful cities in the states. It is home to children like the gorgeous one pictured here. It deserves its cessation from a chaos spawned by warring drug cartels. It deserves our attention.

Today I would like to thank two angels who are helping to spread word about a book I wrote based on a trip I took to Juarez five years ago. The first is Holly Cupala, whose novel (and the early buzz is great), Tell Me a Secret, is due out from HarperCollins in June. She interviewed me about the making of Heart; the conversation is here.

The second person I'd like to thank is the secret agent angel who has set up a Facebook Fan page for Heart. She knows who she is. We'd love you to hop on board so that you'll get early news of coming contests, reviews, and content.

I like newspapers. I read the Oregonian every morning. I take a friends old New York Times off her hands. As a freelancer, I review books for the Oregonian.

But I wonder if they are dying. So many people I know, including people who love to read books, no longer subscribe. The Christian Science Monitor is going online only. And as Forbes reports, "Yesterday, the Audit Bureau of Circulations released a disastrous bi-annual readership report. Daily circulation dropped another 4.6% among 507 reporting newspapers to roughly 38.2 million copies, for a period of six months ending on Sept. 30. The circulation drop was less pronounced at just 2.6% for the six months preceding it. Just yesterday, the Tribune Co.'s Los Angeles Times announced another 75 editorial cuts in its newsroom. It laid off a group of business employees last week and, in February, laid off some 100 to 150 people, including 40 to 50 in the newsroom."

Read more about CSM's decision here.

FYI, sweetcheeks. The official image of the Lucky Scrotum Kerfuffle is now available for purchase through a Cafepress website originated by The Disco Mermaids. I was a little sad to see that spaghetti strap shirts aren't offered (those of us without breasts are very partial to that form of clothing) but at least there's something called the Newbery Jewels Classic Thong. That, in and of itself, is amusing enough for a gander. All money is going to the Friends of the San Luis Obispo Public Library which will allow you to look snazzy AND gain some sweet sweet karma on the side. Slick.