Archive for the ‘books’ Category

A Whole New Rainbow

Sunday, February 27th, 2011

I present my humble mashup to you without comment.

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I am writing a book

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Indeed, it is true! I am writing a science fiction comedy book, and it is coming along well. I’m not going to talk alot about it, but I will share with you a paragraph that will not be appearing in the book. Think of this as a teaser that gives away nothing.

He is also a Star Wars fan–and aggressively so. He goes to Star Trek conventions to piss off the Trekkies. But not just to razz them with quips and zingers; he buys the $1500 platinum seats that get you the private dinner with William Shatner just so he can ask jackass questions and fart loudly. He is a motherfucker.

Keep or Sell?

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

I am having a bit of an internal struggle. I need to be re-sold on my Amazon Kindle.

A little over a year ago, I bought my Kindle. I used it quite regularly; it actually caused me to read more than I had been. I was using the Kindle to its exact purpose: bringing around many books at the same time, reading two or three at a time as suited my fancy, never spending more than ten dollars on a book, and doing it all from my bed.

Recently, my Kindle has crapped out. I stopped using it for about four months (give or take–maybe six? Probably six), and then got so sick of not being able to use it that I called Amazon support, who informed me that it will cost either $20 for a new battery (which may solve the problem) or $180 for a new device.

This has got me thinking about all the things I don’t like about the Kindle.

Actually, it’s just one thing I don’t like, but it’s a biggie: I cannot share books. When I read a book that I like (which is most of them, as I usually quickly set down books that I don’t like) I become an evangelist for that book and I am usually quick to offer to lend it out once I am finished. That’s the nature of the bibliophile, I believe: to be libraries for our friends. The Kindle robs me of this elemental joy.

So, share your insight. Do I stick it out and invest $20 in a device I enjoy using and which allows me to read more books for fewer dollars, or do I sell it on eBay with a bum battery and return to the ways of the physical book?

8 Boxes

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

Recently, I moved to a house in Uptown, just half a block out of the four-square block area called LynLake. I am two blocks from Pizza Lucé, half a block from an amazing-looking coffee shop (such charm can be seen from outside!), maybe four blocks from the VFW/Herkimer/everything else at the intersection of Lyndale and Lake, and a few more blocks away from Calhoun Square. Not to mention all my friends who live within four or five blocks.

Yeah, it’s all great. But the moving process has revealed a truth about me: I love books and movies. (Music too, but you’ll see why that was not physically demonstrated in the move.) When I packed up my books and DVDs, they took up eight boxes. And not small boxes. Look:

boxes

Sure, some boxes are smaller than others, but that’s an ass-ton of boxes. And books are heavy.

I am excited to unpack these boxes and organize my books and DVDs. I may let you know how it goes.

I find this all very interesting. You may not. But I don’t care, because this is my internet.