Archive for January, 2008

31 Jan 08

Jan 31 2008 Published by under Miscellaneous

Can we please put Star Wars down with the rest of the sci-fi canon and stop referencing it constantly?

Star Wars remains a special part of my childhood. I respect it, and enjoy watching it.

But it seems like there’s a new YouTube Star Wars parody every week. People still joke about it. The original trilogy is thirty years old now, and it’s quoted more often than any ten-year-old movie.

Frankly, I’m tired of Darth Vader. I don’t care about Luke Skywalker’s moral dilemmas. R2-D2′s kinda boring now.

Can we please move on?

No responses yet

I’m tired of Star Wars

Jan 31 2008 Published by under Miscellaneous

Can we please put Star Wars down with the rest of the sci-fi canon and stop referencing it constantly?

Star Wars remains a special part of my childhood. I respect it, and enjoy watching it.

But it seems like there’s a new YouTube Star Wars parody every week. People still joke about it. The original trilogy is thirty years old now, and it’s quoted more often than any ten-year-old movie.

Frankly, I’m tired of Darth Vader. I don’t care about Luke Skywalker’s moral dilemmas. R2-D2′s kinda boring now.

Can we please move on?

No responses yet

27 Jan 08

Jan 27 2008 Published by under Miscellaneous

More complete thoughts about the Amazon Kindle:

One’s life changes when one has a device loaded with a handful of books. It can easily fit in a large coat pocket, so I take it with me everywhere. When I stopped by a nearby Chinese restaurant for some take-out, while I waited for my order, I read a few pages of a novel (instead of watching their VHS tape of Dragonball Z). When I paused at work for some rest and a cup of tea, I read a few pages of a novel. When I made lunch yesterday, as I waited to the fish to finish frying, I read a few pages of a novel. I continued reading as I ate; because the Kindle lays flat and I just have to touch a button to turn pages, it’s not nearly as awkward as holding open and flipping the pages of a book.

I’ve now finished two novels and am well into my third, in just over a week. Moreover, there’s tremendous power in finishing a novel by a good author, and being able to start reading the next novel in under a minute. It’s not just impatience; it’s avoiding the whole process of tracking down the author’s books, finding the next title in the series, adding it to a list of books to buy, and waiting for the next time I’m in a book store.

Moreover, because of the solid-state screen, the Kindle is more robust than most devices, and stays charged for a good week.

When I first heard of the Kindle, some folks prophecied it would be the “iPod of books.” I dismissed that notion, but I’m less dismissive now. Certainly, books are used differently than music; I can listen to music all day and want my entire music library at all times, but not so with books.

That said, I can see a time when a lot of folks just take a reader with them pretty much wherever they go. It’s lighter than a paperback, it’s darned convenient, and as Dan Brown and J.K. Rowling have proved, people will read.

Moreover, I sold 7 copies of my Kindle Fan Guide in two days. There is a market out there.

No responses yet

Deeper Review of the Kindle

Jan 27 2008 Published by under Reviews

More complete thoughts about the Amazon Kindle:

One’s life changes when one has a device loaded with a handful of books. It can easily fit in a large coat pocket, so I take it with me everywhere. When I stopped by a nearby Chinese restaurant for some take-out, while I waited for my order, I read a few pages of a novel (instead of watching their VHS tape of Dragonball Z). When I paused at work for some rest and a cup of tea, I read a few pages of a novel. When I made lunch yesterday, as I waited to the fish to finish frying, I read a few pages of a novel. I continued reading as I ate; because the Kindle lays flat and I just have to touch a button to turn pages, it’s not nearly as awkward as holding open and flipping the pages of a book.

I’ve now finished two novels and am well into my third, in just over a week. Moreover, there’s tremendous power in finishing a novel by a good author, and being able to start reading the next novel in under a minute. It’s not just impatience; it’s avoiding the whole process of tracking down the author’s books, finding the next title in the series, adding it to a list of books to buy, and waiting for the next time I’m in a book store.

Moreover, because of the solid-state screen, the Kindle is more robust than most devices, and stays charged for a good week.

When I first heard of the Kindle, some folks prophesied it would be the “iPod of books.” I dismissed that notion, but I’m less dismissive now. Certainly, books are used differently than music; I can listen to music all day and want my entire music library at all times, but not so with books.

That said, I can see a time when a lot of folks just take a reader with them pretty much wherever they go. It’s lighter than a paperback, it’s darned convenient, and as Dan Brown and J.K. Rowling have proved, people will read.

Moreover, I sold 7 copies of my Kindle Fan Guide in two days. There is a market out there.

No responses yet

25 Jan 08

Jan 25 2008 Published by under Miscellaneous

So I self-published the Kindle Fan Guide yesterday, and posted a note to the main Amazon.com Kindle forum about it. I’ve received eleven forum replies and two emails so far, with ideas and full-scale copyediting. I’m almost ready for a second edition, and it’s not even twenty-four hours since I published the thing.

No responses yet

Success with the Kindle Fan Guide

Jan 25 2008 Published by under Miscellaneous

So I self-published the Kindle Fan Guide yesterday, and posted a note to the main Amazon.com Kindle forum about it. I’ve received eleven forum replies and two emails so far, with ideas and full-scale copyediting. I’m almost ready for a second edition, and it’s not even twenty-four hours since I published the thing.

No responses yet

24 Jan 08

Jan 24 2008 Published by under Miscellaneous

Just finished assembling and posting The Kindle Fan Guide, a compilation of tips and information on using the Amazon Kindle. After receiving one a week ago, I assembled this book in great excitement.

What amazes me is that I’m able to offer it in print form, as a PDF, and in ebook form. They were all generated in one evening.

About the Kindle? It’s great. I’ve been reading like I’m possessed. I’ve devoured several sample chapters and a whole novel in less than a week.

No responses yet

My Kindle Fan Guide

Jan 24 2008 Published by under Miscellaneous

Just finished assembling and posting The Kindle Fan Guide, a compilation of tips and information on using the Amazon Kindle. After receiving one a week ago, I assembled this book in great excitement.

What amazes me is that I’m able to offer it in print form, as a PDF, and in ebook form. They were all generated in one evening.

About the Kindle? It’s great. I’ve been reading like I’m possessed. I’ve devoured several sample chapters and a whole novel in less than a week.

No responses yet

21 Jan 08

Jan 21 2008 Published by under Miscellaneous

J.B. Philips:

Modern man has a lust for full explanation and habitually considers himself in no way morally bound unless he is in full possession of all the facts.

No responses yet

Modern Lust

Jan 21 2008 Published by under Miscellaneous

J.B. Philips: Modern man has a lust for full explanation and habitually considers himself in no way morally bound unless he is in full possession of all the facts.

No responses yet

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