Have you ever wondered, "Who is the mailing list at the top of this Web site for? Is it for people who read your stuff even if they don't live in New York?"

The answer is you, and yes. I rarely send out emails, and while sometimes they are New York-specific, I'm trying to be better about, you know, focusing on getting a book out. So help me help you help me.

To make things even more interesting, let's make a friendly little wager.

If 50 new people sign up by Friday at midnight (it's easy: type in your email, click the button to the right), I promise to post one of my favorite stories I ever wrote in college about the death of the intelligent teen and the demise of Sassy magazine.

And if 50 people don't sign up, I will post nothing but pictures of my mother's poodle and Hanson through the end of March.

Poodles and Hanson.

Hanson and poodles.

I want you to want me.

Thanks.

UPDATE: I'll be stopping by "The Joey Reynolds Show" very late tonight—or if you want to play specifics, around 2 a.m. Friday morning.

Details and call-in info is here.

Don't forget. Save the mailing list, save the world.