Barbed wire is made of two strands of galvanized steel wire twisted together for strength and to hold sharp barbs in place. As creative advertisers sought ways to make an inherently dangerous product attractive to customers concerned about the welfare of their livestock, and as barbed wire became commonplace on battlefields and in concentration camps, the fence accrued a fascinating and troubling range of meanings beyond the material facts of its construction. In The Perfect Fence, Lyn Ellen Bennett and Scott Abbott explore the multiple uses and meanings of barbed wire, a technological innovation that contributes to America’s shift from a pastoral ideal to an industrial one. They survey the vigorous public debate over the benign or “infernal” fence, investigate legislative attempts to ban or regulate wire fences as a result of public outcry, and demonstrate how the industry responded to ameliorate the image of its barbed product. Because of the rich metaphorical possibilities suggested by a fence that controls through pain, barbed wire developed into an important motif in works of literature from the late nineteenth century to the present day. Early advertisements proclaimed that barbed wire was “the perfect fence,” keeping “the ins from being outs, and the outs from being ins.” Bennett and Abbott conclude that while barbed wire is not the perfect fence touted by manufacturers, it is indeed a meaningful thing that continues to influence American identities.

After winning Philadelphia's SportsRadio 94WIP's Wing Bowl in January 1999, competitive eater Bill "El Wingador" Simmons became an overnight celebrity and helped inspire food-obsessed gluttons across the nation. However, despite winning four more Wing Bowl championships, and participating in numerous television commercials and public appearances across the country, there was much more going on behind the scenes in the life of this six-foot-five, larger-than-life character than what appeared on his plate. Personal setbacks soon forced Simmons down a devastating and destructive road, leading to his subsequent arrest and jail sentence. A series of near-death experiences while in prison inspired Simmons to take control of his life, and his newfound path has helped him regain the love and respect of legions of fans. With a foreword by two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee and iconic Philadelphia sports radio personality Angelo Cataldi (Angelo Cataldi and the WIP Morning Show- SportsRadio 94WIP), Snow On The Barbwire offers a no-holds-barred look at the life and times of one of the most charismatic, recognizable and colorful personalities to ever conquer the eating world. The book is co-written with close friend and confidant Joe Vallee, co-founder of the website Philly2Philly.com and co-author of A Snowball's Chance: Philly Fires Back Against the National Media, and 'No Curveballs: My Greatest Sports Stories Never Told, ' the autobiography of long-time sports journalist Bill Werndl. 'Snow On The Barbwire' is more than just the story of a man eating chicken wings. It is the candid, compelling tale of a man whose random participation in one of the world's biggest eating competitions led to fame, fortune, and some rather unintended consequences. It inspires all of us to rise up against adversity and never give up on life-no matter how dire the consequences may seem.

"Words do not seem adequate to describe my parents, Albert and Aimee Anderson. You will love reading about my Dad and Mom's memories. I am so glad that Dad started writing before he became bedridden. You will be blessed beyond words as you read this book. (Debbie Chase)