tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70205714848258966062024-03-13T16:36:21.910-04:00Mike Cane 2008Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.comBlogger2396125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-70552542937548118872008-12-31T21:40:00.004-05:002008-12-31T22:06:50.215-05:00The Conclusion Of Mike Cane 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwydu6M1KI/AAAAAAAADzM/9EEiXHfplMM/s1600-h/PullTheStrings.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwydu6M1KI/AAAAAAAADzM/9EEiXHfplMM/s400/PullTheStrings.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286155549015856290" /></a><br /><br /><em>Pull the strings! Pull the strings!</em><br /><br />And for a year, I have.<br /><br />I had no frikkin idea what nearly <em>a solid year</em> of blogging would be like.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwydTmAueI/AAAAAAAADzE/0OVxuPLfuu0/s1600-h/HeadHurts.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwydTmAueI/AAAAAAAADzE/0OVxuPLfuu0/s400/HeadHurts.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286155541683419618" /></a><br /><br />Dear God. I am wiped out!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwyTHP_MsI/AAAAAAAADy8/dsI_LZxjZMg/s1600-h/Starkers.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwyTHP_MsI/AAAAAAAADy8/dsI_LZxjZMg/s400/Starkers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286155366571127490" /></a><br /><br />Some days made me absolutely fucking insane. Even <em>without</em> <a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/give-me-back-my-mind/">Simvastatin rotting my mind</a>!<br /><br />And now I have reached the end.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwyTOqJiWI/AAAAAAAADy0/-qEq9iSJ8MY/s1600-h/DeathCard.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwyTOqJiWI/AAAAAAAADy0/-qEq9iSJ8MY/s400/DeathCard.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286155368559905122" /></a><br /><br />Two bits of advice before I go.<br /><br />The first for dealing with the financial chaos of 2009:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwyS2PUYzI/AAAAAAAADys/WvhO3Vi1B-s/s1600-h/AdviceOne.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwyS2PUYzI/AAAAAAAADys/WvhO3Vi1B-s/s400/AdviceOne.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286155362004919090" /></a><br /><br />The second for every writer and would-be writer out there:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwySxzlpSI/AAAAAAAADyk/UQ_L0jTdQvU/s1600-h/AdviceTwo.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwySxzlpSI/AAAAAAAADyk/UQ_L0jTdQvU/s400/AdviceTwo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286155360814867746" /></a><br /><br />And that's all there is.<br /><br />Thanks to everyone who stalked this blog, irregularly popped in, and also linked to it.<br /><br />My online presence will now flatline. I'll likely -- maybe -- pop up <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mikecane">on Twitter</a> for reaction to MacWorld Expo and CES introductions.<br /><br />But a new blog? I have no plans for one.<br /><br />I need rest!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwySpPOZcI/AAAAAAAADyc/sHNdbq1AgFg/s1600-h/Disengage.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 169px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwySpPOZcI/AAAAAAAADyc/sHNdbq1AgFg/s400/Disengage.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286155358514865602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwx_9DgJQI/AAAAAAAADyU/LkBplzAau8o/s1600-h/EndProgram.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 169px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwx_9DgJQI/AAAAAAAADyU/LkBplzAau8o/s400/EndProgram.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286155037416891650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwx_WQeGUI/AAAAAAAADyM/kA-9XiSlcDA/s1600-h/StopStop.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 169px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwx_WQeGUI/AAAAAAAADyM/kA-9XiSlcDA/s400/StopStop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286155027002300738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwx_V6SscI/AAAAAAAADyE/IXDaIouK8i4/s1600-h/EndOfBlog.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 195px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwx_V6SscI/AAAAAAAADyE/IXDaIouK8i4/s400/EndOfBlog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286155026909278658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwx_EyanSI/AAAAAAAADx8/cSlVYxKIhZE/s1600-h/Resigned.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwx_EyanSI/AAAAAAAADx8/cSlVYxKIhZE/s400/Resigned.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286155022312840482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwx-y1zjTI/AAAAAAAADx0/259aUTdqLH0/s1600-h/MadmanTitle.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVwx-y1zjTI/AAAAAAAADx0/259aUTdqLH0/s400/MadmanTitle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286155017495219506" /></a>Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-49456915405753766282008-12-31T21:39:00.000-05:002008-12-31T21:40:24.965-05:00Leverage: The Bank Shot JobSee this post <a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/leverage-the-bank-shot-job/">at the WordPress blog</a>.Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-91892155651267403272008-12-31T17:38:00.001-05:002008-12-31T17:38:54.307-05:00Writer Jeff Schult Has A New Blog<a href="http://www.intotemptation.net/">Into Temptation: Sexual Networks, Culture and Society</a><br /><blockquote>"Into Temptation" is a not-necessarily safe-for-work (or anywhere else) forum about evolving social-sexual networks and how they have changed and are changing lives. It will also loosely chronicle the research, writing and publication, I hope in 2010, of a book by the same name.</blockquote><br />Jeff was ahead of the curve with medical tourism (see below links).<br /><br />I wonder if he's read <em><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/warren-ellis-twists-my-dendrites/">Crooked Little Vein</a></em> by Warren Ellis?<br /><br /><em>That</em> might be news for him!<br /><br /><em>Previously here:</em><br /><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/jeff-schult-new-medical-tourism-site/">Jeff Schult: New Medical Tourism Site</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/spitzer-the-last-drop/">Spitzer: The Last Drop</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/03/08/meet-jeff-schult-and-his-teeth/">Meet Jeff Schult (And His Teeth!)</a>Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-84793054534958526702008-12-31T17:22:00.002-05:002008-12-31T17:23:28.321-05:00But It's Still A Fine Madness<a href="http://drewsgoodman.blogspot.com/2008/12/some-days-are-better-than-others.html">Some Days Are Better Than Others</a><br /><blockquote>I'm sure that all of you who write have experienced it.<br /><br />Things seem to be going well. The words are coming out smoothly. You're in the flow. And then...<br /><br />You hit that place, that certain point, where you can't seem to go any further. The words and ideas have suddenly stopped. It's like beating the bottom of that damn ketchup bottle, and nothing, but nothing, will come out!</blockquote><br />Oh yeah.<br /><br />But it's <span style="font-style:italic;">still</span> a fine madness ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVvwsxvuWEI/AAAAAAAADxs/mg2azWU0Jx8/s1600-h/InspirationCollapse.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVvwsxvuWEI/AAAAAAAADxs/mg2azWU0Jx8/s400/InspirationCollapse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286083239707826242" /></a><br /><br />... even when it makes us feel like <em>that!</em>Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-80008493970495047992008-12-31T17:03:00.002-05:002008-12-31T17:04:26.207-05:00Follow Arjun Basu On TwitterAnd you'll get a wonderful story in a tweet. <a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/12/24/twitter-novel-by-arjun-basu/">He calls these</a> "Twisters."<br /><br />This is a collection of some from the past few days:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Click below to make readable!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVvsOYpZD7I/AAAAAAAADxk/JKdZVvlR2EI/s1600-h/ArjunBasuCollection.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 95px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVvsOYpZD7I/AAAAAAAADxk/JKdZVvlR2EI/s400/ArjunBasuCollection.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286078319527792562" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/arjunbasu">Follow Arjun Basu on Twitter</a>.Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-45583994093326808492008-12-31T16:52:00.000-05:002008-12-31T16:53:11.689-05:00Reading Is An Investment In Thinking<a href="http://mssv.net/2008/12/28/the-long-decline-of-reading/">The Long Decline of Reading</a><br /><blockquote>It takes hours to finish a book, even for the fastest readers. This wasn’t a problem when books had less competition, but with the three massive timesinks of cable TV, videogames, and the internet, people look at that massive time investment, and they get apprehensive. Sure, they know that books can be just as enjoyable as movies or games, if not more. They may even feel guilty about not reading. But what if this book is no good? What if I end up hating it? What if I can’t understand it? Imagine all the time wasted! And so they stop before they even start.</blockquote><br />A long, detailed, and excellent article.<br /><br />Strangely, public libraries aren't mentioned at all.Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-22084922645446390372008-12-31T16:51:00.000-05:002008-12-31T16:52:20.447-05:00Interster Episode Two: SaboteurSee this post <a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/interster-episode-two-saboteur">at the WordPress blog</a>.Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-15132524620016252022008-12-30T20:51:00.002-05:002008-12-30T20:55:13.325-05:00Blog Notes: 1We race towards Zero Hour here!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQagFFizI/AAAAAAAADxc/J2m57j-MBBg/s1600-h/HourZ.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 227px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQagFFizI/AAAAAAAADxc/J2m57j-MBBg/s400/HourZ.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285766266379143986" /></a><br /><br />There are <em>less than twenty-four hours</em> left to this blog!<br /><br />"But," people ask, "What will you <em>do</em> after this?"<br /><br />My fingers will still be busy:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQaq76cWI/AAAAAAAADxU/t60WeggVjt0/s1600-h/Typoing02.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQaq76cWI/AAAAAAAADxU/t60WeggVjt0/s400/Typoing02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285766269293457762" /></a><br /><br />With a series of children's books!<br /><br /><em>The Happy Stabby Family!</em><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQZ6InN5I/AAAAAAAADxM/qiBybotZ8OA/s1600-h/Stabby001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQZ6InN5I/AAAAAAAADxM/qiBybotZ8OA/s400/Stabby001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285766256193386386" /></a><br /><br />There's Junior Stabby:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQSDZ5GoI/AAAAAAAADxE/rpcxQ7yUbY8/s1600-h/Stabby002.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQSDZ5GoI/AAAAAAAADxE/rpcxQ7yUbY8/s400/Stabby002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285766121242827394" /></a><br /><br />Papa Stabby:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQR-YC2TI/AAAAAAAADw8/F4tT5m8r338/s1600-h/Stabby003b.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQR-YC2TI/AAAAAAAADw8/F4tT5m8r338/s400/Stabby003b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285766119892900146" /></a><br /><br />And Uncle Fun Stabby:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQReij0HI/AAAAAAAADw0/wnNmRcMTce4/s1600-h/Stabby004.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQReij0HI/AAAAAAAADw0/wnNmRcMTce4/s400/Stabby004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285766111347069042" /></a><br /><br />Oh, I just know you're all waiting for this! I can tell.<br /><br />I can feel your reaction through my screen:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQRfAHdSI/AAAAAAAADws/5-nrwOBFA10/s1600-h/StopNow.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQRfAHdSI/AAAAAAAADws/5-nrwOBFA10/s400/StopNow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285766111471039778" /></a><br /><br />All of this is my kindly way of saying:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQRWhmRXI/AAAAAAAADwk/krR9Q9JOBq0/s1600-h/MYOB.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 233px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrQRWhmRXI/AAAAAAAADwk/krR9Q9JOBq0/s400/MYOB.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285766109195552114" /></a><br /><br />Avanti!Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-84236344678944049872008-12-30T19:01:00.002-05:002008-12-30T20:18:19.475-05:00The Horror Of Paper BooksThis is a post I've kept putting off. Things happen.<br /><br />Then <a href="http://twitter.com/wmacphail">Wayne MacPhail</a> tweeted <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wmacphail/3151299823/">this photo he took inside a bookstore</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrG9IuBR8I/AAAAAAAADwc/o-ATNOdROUY/s1600-h/BookstoreWMacphail.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrG9IuBR8I/AAAAAAAADwc/o-ATNOdROUY/s400/BookstoreWMacphail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285755866287523778" /></a><br /><br />It gave me a feeling of <em>absolute horror</em> -- and I knew the time had come to actually do this post.<br /><br />There I was <a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/06/for-gods-sake-get-ebooks-going-steve.html">several months ago in a bookstore</a>. One of the few still remaining in Manhattan that offers overstock at incredibly-reduced prices.<br /><br />And I found a book I would have liked to have.<br /><br />But I couldn't bring myself to buy it.<br /><br />I kept having flashbacks to all the times I've had to get boxes, put the <em>books</em> in boxes, carry the damned boxes, move the damn boxes, unpack the damn boxes, and again arrange the damn hundreds and hundreds of pounds of <em>printed paper books.</em><br /><br />That book would have been another pound to lug around. Another frikkin <em>object</em> hanging like an albatross around my neck, limiting my mobility, weighing me down, reminding me that <em>it</em> will remain when I'm <em>gone.</em><br /><br />Let me say again: I really wanted the book.<br /><br />But I <em>physically could not buy it.</em><br /><br />I've developed a bizarre allergy to printed books -- of the kind that <em>are bought and owned and have to be moved around and that are always looked at and that are also a reminder of one's mortality.</em><br /><br />Library books I <em>don't</em> have that problem with.<br /><br />I can temporarily lug them home, even have a pile, read them, and then <em>poof!</em> back to the library they go.<br /><br />But I want to <em>own</em> books.<br /><br />I feel a guilt at not giving writers their rightful payment for reading.<br /><br />Plus, with things being <a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/12/philadelphia-is-destroying-its-public.html">the way they are</a> -- and have been -- I can no longer count on <em>any</em> public library having a copy of <em>anything</em> on its shelves. I once had to go to the Northern part of Manhattan just to read <em>a short story</em> by Barry N. Malzberg because <em>only the City University</em> had a back issue of the pulp magazine it was printed in!<br /><br />This is another reason why <a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-am-ebook-militant.html">I am an eBook militant</a>.<br /><br />I've never been a paper fetishist. My first collection of books were mass-market paperbacks. I never liked the size and weight of trade paperbacks and hardcovers. But I eventually amassed a collection of those too. I couldn't help it: Publishing had changed and there was <em>no longer</em> a guarantee of anything in hardcover or trade paper moving down to cheap paperback!<br /><br />But the book <em>as an object</em> I came to see for what it is: <em>A cage for the words within it.</em><br /><br />It's the <em>words</em> -- it's <em>always</em> been the words -- that interested me. Never the packagaing, never the <em>jail</em> the words were locked-up in.<br /><br />I can't be the only one out there who feels a sense of <em>material liberation</em> with eBooks.<br /><br />Recently, a writer I've written about in this blog left a Comment offering to ship me a whole big bunch of books I'd blogged about. I never published that Comment because I couldn't explain why I couldn't accept more <em>printed books.</em> Even <em>free</em> ones. Even free ones from <em>a writer whose work I admire!</em><br /><br />So, this post has been something I've needed to do, in reply to that writer.<br /><br />And to also explain why I have come to absolutely <em>hate printed books.</em><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrG89LVOiI/AAAAAAAADwU/olTNWP3qoLk/s1600-h/BooksWeapons2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVrG89LVOiI/AAAAAAAADwU/olTNWP3qoLk/s400/BooksWeapons2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285755863189240354" /></a><br /><br />Yes: But they're <a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/the-urgency-of-ebooks/">better weapons as eBooks</a>!Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-82381103052487145072008-12-30T15:35:00.004-05:002008-12-30T15:45:17.676-05:00ECTACO jetBook: Built-In WiFi Coming?I'm asking ECTACO directly about this.<br /><br />I got a bit of a shock with YahooMail moments ago. Not one of their usual useless banner ads. This one was aimed <em>right at me:</em><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVqGi-v7VVI/AAAAAAAADwM/4SYpiwD81aU/s1600-h/YMailAd123008.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 74px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVqGi-v7VVI/AAAAAAAADwM/4SYpiwD81aU/s400/YMailAd123008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285685048190391634" /></a><br /><em>Composite image. Click = big.</em><br /><br />Of course I had to click on that M218!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVqGiptMeKI/AAAAAAAADwE/OZOJuT9nIg8/s1600-h/ECTACOM218B.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVqGiptMeKI/AAAAAAAADwE/OZOJuT9nIg8/s400/ECTACOM218B.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285685042541787298" /></a><br /><em>Click = big</em><br /><br />I knew <a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/12/ectaco-jetbook-and-epub.html">as of last night</a> that this was being sold in China. I never thought it'd be sold here in America.<br /><br />And yet here it is <a href="http://www.ectacodeal.com/main.jsp?refid=2550&do=products-view_item&item=19437">listed on ECTACO's American store</a>!<br /><br />This is the paragraph to note, <em>the built-in WiFi and its unique feature:</em><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVqGiUVvTMI/AAAAAAAADv8/QHKmmrPsWdM/s1600-h/ECTACOM218WiFi.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 79px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVqGiUVvTMI/AAAAAAAADv8/QHKmmrPsWdM/s400/ECTACOM218WiFi.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285685036806261954" /></a><br /><em>Click = big</em><br /><br />The text of that:<br /><blockquote>With built in high-speed Wi-Fi, Chinese eBook reader M218B can easily connect to wireless network. Then you can immediately search and download numerous eBook, Pdf files and music. <strong>Another exciting feature of Chinese eBook reader M218B is that it supports end-to-end transmission. You can copy and exchange files, music, picture with another user, who can be your friend or just another "eBook-pal".</strong></blockquote><br />Emphasis added by me.<br /><br />I can hear the nascent heart attacks of the dying dinosaurs of print out there!<br /><br />Alas, the beauty photo of the M218 highlights the calculator-like nature of its screen, and not its ability to be <a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/08/micro-fondle-ectaco-jetbook-ebook.html">mistaken for eInk</a> under direct lighting:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVqGiQSI6yI/AAAAAAAADv0/KLynCsYNTbs/s1600-h/ECTACOM218.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 346px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVqGiQSI6yI/AAAAAAAADv0/KLynCsYNTbs/s400/ECTACOM218.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285685035717421858" /></a><br /><br />But I have to wonder: <em>Will ECTACO be releasing an English-language jetBook version of this?</em><br /><br />Would WiFi then <em>justify</em> its $299 price tag? Well, <em>not just WiFi</em> -- but its <a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/12/ectaco-jetbook-ups-epub-stakes.html">upcoming ePub and MobiPocket capability</a> too!<br /><br />An ePub/MobiPocket WiFi eBook reader would suddenly help shake things up.<br /><br />Both Amazon and Sony would have a formidable new competitor, I think.<br /><br /><em>Previously here:</em><br /><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/12/ectaco-jetbook-and-epub.html">ECTACO jetBook And ePub</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/12/eejit-geeks-things-should-just-work.html">Eejit Geeks. Things Should Just Work!</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/12/micro-fondle-2-ectaco-jetbook-ebook.html">Micro Fondle 2: ECTACO jetBook eBook Reader</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/12/ectaco-jetbook-ups-epub-stakes.html">ECTACO jetBook Ups ePub Stakes</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/11/ectaco-jetbook-at-blowout-price.html">ECTACO jetBook At Blowout Price!</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-about-that-ectaco-jetbook-ebook.html">More About That ECTACO jetBook eBook Reader</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/08/micro-fondle-ectaco-jetbook-ebook.html">Micro Fondle: ECTACO jetBook eBook Reader</a>Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-26528129519543615752008-12-30T14:44:00.003-05:002008-12-30T14:45:53.684-05:00eBooks Search Milestone<em>Five</em> of the ten terms that have led people to this blog (<a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/">at WordPress</a>) today are <em>eBook-related:</em><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVp6LzeEuqI/AAAAAAAADvs/Pi00ouSlDm8/s1600-h/SearchTerms123008.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 311px; height: 371px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVp6LzeEuqI/AAAAAAAADvs/Pi00ouSlDm8/s400/SearchTerms123008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285671455886195362" /></a><br /><br />This has special significance because this is <em>the holiday gift-giving aftermath.</em><br /><br />I've already seen stats in search for this blog this week that show an incredible number of people got either an iPhone or iPod Touch as gifts. The number towers over those for the Sony Reader -- but the Sony Reader has not given up the fight yet and has made a consistent good showing.<br /><br />Dying dinosaurs of print: You better heed this milestone and amp up eBooks to <em>Setting 11</em> in 2009.Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-28984382105357667252008-12-30T14:22:00.000-05:002008-12-30T14:23:16.805-05:00Philadelphia Is Destroying Its Public Libraries<a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20081230_Some_targeted_library_branches_may_be_saved.html?cmpid=16850266">Some targeted library branches may be saved</a><br /><blockquote>Mayor Nutter said yesterday that <strong>five of the 11 library branches once scheduled to close permanently on Thursday are instead on track to be taken over by private foundations, wealthy individuals, companies, and community development corporations.</strong><br /><br />It was not immediately clear which branches have sponsors and <strong>the mayor did not identify the benefactors.</strong><br /><br />But Nutter expressed confidence that in time private operators could convert each of the branches now on his budget chopping block into <strong>community "knowledge centers"</strong> that would offer similar or perhaps even superior services to those now available. Though the services would vary from branch to branch, Nutter said the centers would likely retain book collections, computers, and perhaps even trained librarians.</blockquote><br />Emphasis added by me.<br /><br />This guy is certainly true to form to his surname: <em>Nutter.</em><br /><br />Hey, how'd you like to have to rely on, say, the <em>Exxon-Mobil Knowledge Center </em>for information about the oil companies?<br /><br />I could go on in that vein and get <em>really</em> inflammatory, but fuck it, this blog dies tomorrow and I'm burned out as it is doing this.<br /><br />This is the systematic destruction of the world as we have known it <em>by the same bastards who brought us to this brink.</em><br /><br /><em>Are there any men left in America to stop this shit?</em>Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-29615437209510668792008-12-30T12:24:00.001-05:002008-12-30T12:26:35.590-05:00Free eBook By Ken Wohlrob<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVpZk9W3NYI/AAAAAAAADvk/1vQjSTJ6H04/s1600-h/HappyBusCover.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVpZk9W3NYI/AAAAAAAADvk/1vQjSTJ6H04/s400/HappyBusCover.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285635604153316738" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.kenwohlrob.com/2008/12/happy-bus-now-availalbe-as-free-ebook.html">"Happy Bus" now available as a free eBook for iPhone, Sony Reader and more.</a><br /><blockquote>I'm proud to announce that I've made "Taking the Happy Bus on Home," a short story from my collection The Love Book, available as a free eBook for the iPhone, Sony Reader, Kindle and a just about every other device on the planet.</blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.feedbooks.com/userbook/2906">At FeedBooks</a> for ePub, Mobipocket/Kindle, PDF, Sony Reader, iLiad, Custom PDF (the last option requires registration; all others do not):<br /><blockquote>One of the short stories from Ken Wohlrob's new collection, The Love Book. An epidemic of suicide hits a retirement community in Ohio and one couple begins to question the value of their final days together. These are very modern fables, with a great heart, a very biting sense of humor, and fully-fleshed out characters that you can sink your teeth into.<br /><br />Buy a copy of the book or learn more about the author at <a href="http://www.kenwohlrob.com">www.kenwohlrob.com</a></blockquote><br />iPhone/iPod Touch users can grab it using Stanza. See<a href="http://www.kenwohlrob.com/2008/12/happy-bus-now-availalbe-as-free-ebook.html"> details here</a>.Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-11162996365174929242008-12-30T11:53:00.002-05:002008-12-30T12:02:03.477-05:00Zig Ziglar<img src="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/files/2008/12/rsviptweet123008.jpg" alt="rsviptweet123008" title="rsviptweet123008" width="261" height="63" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-13472" /><br /><br />He's led some life.<br /><blockquote>When I was born, the doctor handed me to my mother and said, "Mrs. Ziglar, you have a perfectly fine, healthy baby boy." Nine days later he picked me up and sadly shook his head, indicating that I was dead. Yes, I died when I was nine days old. However, my family has told me that my grandmother walked to me, picked me up, held me in her hands, and started talking to me. Of course, we all know that she was not really talking to <span style="font-style:italic;">me</span> . . and in a matter of seconds breath came back into my body; at age seventy-five it's obvious I lived.<br /><br />My friends, it's been like that ever since.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">-- Zig: The Autobiography of Zig Ziglar by Zig Ziglar;</span> pg. 1</blockquote><br />And here's a lesson that was swept aside in the Rush to Greed from the 1980s on ...<br /><blockquote>Coach Jobie Harris was my history teacher, and in many ways he changed and enriched my life. He taught me more than American history. He once said, <strong>"If you have an ability that goes beyond providing for your own needs, you have a responsibility to use that ability to reach down and help those up who do not have that capacity. As a matter of fact, if you don't reach down and help lift up those less fortunate, the day will come when due to sheer weight of numbers, they will reach up and pull you down."</strong><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">-- Zig: The Autobiography of Zig Ziglar by Zig Ziglar;</span> pg. 71</blockquote><br />Emphasis added by me.Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-6983714456475534932008-12-30T11:52:00.000-05:002008-12-30T11:53:30.657-05:00I Get A Request To Provide … Leverage!See this post <a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/i-get-a-request-to-provide-leverage/">at the WordPress blog</a>.Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-12966378614827601172008-12-29T21:00:00.002-05:002008-12-29T21:10:59.934-05:00Blog Notes: 2Look at time flying!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVmC0scfC7I/AAAAAAAADvc/mnJTk9VdzAQ/s1600-h/TimeRuns.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVmC0scfC7I/AAAAAAAADvc/mnJTk9VdzAQ/s400/TimeRuns.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285399479491431346" /></a><br />(Yes, it's earlier than last night's post. So I messed up! Shut up!)<br /><br />There are now just <em>two days</em> left to this blog!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVmC0XfAxJI/AAAAAAAADvU/Dq560GI98WA/s1600-h/Typoing.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVmC0XfAxJI/AAAAAAAADvU/Dq560GI98WA/s400/Typoing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285399473864885394" /></a><br /><br />Soon my frenetic fingers will cease.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVmCzxIHyAI/AAAAAAAADvM/VWcdx49Cg-I/s1600-h/SetMeFree.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVmCzxIHyAI/AAAAAAAADvM/VWcdx49Cg-I/s400/SetMeFree.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285399463568328706" /></a><br /><br />Soon!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVmCz2oC12I/AAAAAAAADvE/UYPc9jCvgP8/s1600-h/DailyInsult122908.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 76px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVmCz2oC12I/AAAAAAAADvE/UYPc9jCvgP8/s400/DailyInsult122908.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285399465044399970" /></a><br /><br />Wait until Wednesday before midnight!Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-42696397527475359162008-12-29T20:55:00.002-05:002008-12-29T20:57:19.483-05:00ECTACO jetBook And ePubMy curiosity won't let me rest, of course.<br /><br />I found out the <a href="http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/JetBook">jetBook</a> is also in China, called the <a href="http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Dr._Yi">Dr. Yi</a>. (I don't, however, know if this means the jetBook is of Chinese creation. But I wouldn't be surprised.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVl_xfCrW5I/AAAAAAAADu8/aA0XAPZQ4M0/s1600-h/DrYi.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 313px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVl_xfCrW5I/AAAAAAAADu8/aA0XAPZQ4M0/s400/DrYi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285396125819034514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVl_xSMKAHI/AAAAAAAADu0/4XLzCPrmqrM/s1600-h/DrYiSpecs.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVl_xSMKAHI/AAAAAAAADu0/4XLzCPrmqrM/s400/DrYiSpecs.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285396122369130610" /></a><br /><br />Of particular interest to me is this:<br /><blockquote>CPU: ARM9 200MHz</blockquote><br />Because look at this for the <a href="http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/PRS505">Sony Reader 505</a>:<br /><blockquote>CPU: Freescale i.MXL, ARM920T core, 150-200 MHz</blockquote><br />That says to me the jetBook should have the horsepower needed to deal with ePub files. I had been wondering about that.Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-40199534886970069012008-12-29T19:55:00.001-05:002008-12-29T19:58:30.130-05:00Reference: GutenMark<a href="http://www.sandroid.org/GutenMark/index.html">GutenMark Home Page</a><br /><em>Attractively formatting Project Gutenberg texts</em><br /><blockquote><strong>What is GutenMark?</strong><br /><br />GutenMark is a command-line tool for automatically creating high-quality HTML or LaTeX markup from Project Gutenberg etexts. As of April 2008, there is also a graphical front-end called GUItenMark that greatly simplifies usage for casual users. Both Windows and Linux 'x86 are supported. Mac OS X is also supported, though in some respects it lags the others. Limited iPhone support is also possible.<br /><br />In combination with other freely-available conversion tools GutenMark aims to convert Project Gutenberg etexts into publication-quality Postscript or PDF, for print-on-demand applications. The goal is for this conversion to be completely automatic, without manual markup or editing, but for the forseeable future some manual intervention will almost always be needed—at least, if your standards are at least as high as mine.</blockquote><br />I took the Project Gutenberg plain text file of <em><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1661">The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</a></em> and ran it through this.<br /><br />Amazingly, this:<br /><br />To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman.<br /><br />was transformed to this:<br /><br />To Sherlock Holmes she is always <em>the</em> woman.<br /><br />As it should be!<br /><br />I was impressed with the available options and did some light testing. It could be a very useful tool for Project Gutenberg etexts that have only a <em>plain text</em> version available.<br /><br />On the other hand, I also downloaded the Project Gutenberg <em>HTML</em> of the same Holmes and it was superior.<br /><br />But this tool remains a very painless way of changing those text files into a format that can then go on to further processing to create an eBook.Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-23757018884775135352008-12-29T18:24:00.002-05:002008-12-29T18:30:17.248-05:00Eejit Geeks. Things Should Just Work!<a href="http://www.mobileread.com/forums/printthread.php?t=30229&pp=40">Ectaco Jetbook downloads</a><br /><blockquote>I do not know what a line feed, text editor or DRM is, nor do I know how to convert!</blockquote><br />I've just wasted a good part of two days playing around with various "tools" to create an FB2 (FictionBook) file format eBook.<br /><br />I'm no novice, but the task defeated me.<br /><br />The tools were <em>shit.</em><br /><br />1) One converter from HTML to FB2 ignored photos and styled text weirdly.<br /><br />2) An entire program devoted to creating FB2 eBooks was buggy as hell and the files I thought were perfect turned out all FAIL!<br /><br />3) A desktop FB2 file reader couldn't display italic text (but it could display JPEGs -- go figure!).<br /><br />All I wanted to do was see one -- just <em>one!</em> -- FB2 eBook, even if I had to create it myself!<br /><br />And here, in the above thread, eBook geeks are trying to convince a member of the general reading public to develop some g33k ski77z in order to do <em>some eBook reading.</em><br /><br />That's just half-assed stupid.<br /><br />That's like everyone having to be a frikkin financial expert (and I choose <em>that</em> example to <em>rub your FAIL 401K in your face!).</em><br /><br />Now just imagine the general public encountering that <a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/12/zero-gravity-toilet-of-adobe-drmed-epub.html">Zero-G Toilet of Adobe ePub DRM</a>!<br /><br />That's just another formula for FAIL!Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-34013810232473149602008-12-29T14:35:00.005-05:002008-12-29T17:28:12.130-05:00TNT's Leverage: The TeamThe introductory character titles I couldn't show in my original post because of the funny revisionism they did with Parker. That would have been a spoiler.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkm-rbT-cI/AAAAAAAADus/JO_MkJgKpUk/s1600-h/LeverageT000.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkm-rbT-cI/AAAAAAAADus/JO_MkJgKpUk/s400/LeverageT000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285298495947012546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkm-ZltxmI/AAAAAAAADuk/8VPhdRnky4Y/s1600-h/LeverageT001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkm-ZltxmI/AAAAAAAADuk/8VPhdRnky4Y/s400/LeverageT001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285298491158808162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkm060g3zI/AAAAAAAADuc/xACChF-AIqA/s1600-h/LeverageT002.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkm060g3zI/AAAAAAAADuc/xACChF-AIqA/s400/LeverageT002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285298328280555314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkm0jrZA_I/AAAAAAAADuU/vTGvocO4jZ0/s1600-h/LeverageT003.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkm0jrZA_I/AAAAAAAADuU/vTGvocO4jZ0/s400/LeverageT003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285298322068276210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkm0ZbntmI/AAAAAAAADuM/XKYt9EtzaA8/s1600-h/LeverageT004b.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkm0ZbntmI/AAAAAAAADuM/XKYt9EtzaA8/s400/LeverageT004b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285298319317775970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkm0fd7zbI/AAAAAAAADuE/-R37DGwRfWM/s1600-h/LeverageT005.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkm0fd7zbI/AAAAAAAADuE/-R37DGwRfWM/s400/LeverageT005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285298320938094002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkmznBXeoI/AAAAAAAADt8/K3f6gJO4HqQ/s1600-h/LeverageT006.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVkmznBXeoI/AAAAAAAADt8/K3f6gJO4HqQ/s400/LeverageT006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285298305785887362" /></a><br /><br />All this for three reasons:<br /><br />1) You should be watching the series: TNT Tuesdays at 10PM EST<br /><br />2) In case I'm not able to post this week's episode on Wednesday<br /><br />3) To get you to go to producer/creator's John Rogers' blog to <a href="http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2008/12/leverage-mirabile-dictu-and-bank-job.html">read the latest post</a> about the series.<br /><br /><em>Previously here:</em><br /><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/12/24/leverage-the-miracle-job/">Leverage: The Miracle Job</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/12/18/leverage-the-two-horse-job/">Leverage: The Two Horse Job</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/11/14/leverage-for-tnt-has-wrapped/">Leverage For TNT Has Wrapped!</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/10/02/new-trailer-for-tnts-leverage/">New Promos For TNT’s Leverage!</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/07/08/leverage-tnt-december-2008/">Leverage: TNT December 2008</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/tv-networks-are-using-a-leaking-service/">TV Networks Are Using A Leaking Service?</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/leverage-the-leaked-tnt-pilot/">Leverage: The (Leaked) TNT Pilot</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/leverage-coming-soon-to-tnt/">Leverage: Coming Soon To TNT</a><br /><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/the-lever-that-is-the-internet/">The Lever That Is The Internet</a>Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-18713842934501626722008-12-29T14:12:00.000-05:002008-12-29T14:14:06.585-05:00The Monthly Digital Lifeline Bill<a href="http://www.mondaynote.com/2008/12/28/numbers-to-keep-in-mind/">Numbers to keep in mind</a><br /><blockquote><strong>$260 a month. That’s how much the average US household is spending each month</strong> on digital services that did not exist a generation ago. They include: mobile phone, broadband access, cable or satellite television, personal video recording. This number comes from a survey by the Center for Digital Future, a department of the University of Southern California. Even more interesting is the amount of money spent by the poorest households: their monthly bill of digital services isn’t as low as one would imagine: $180. This suggests two thoughts: one, these services are no longer a luxury but have become as basic as a car; two, given this amount of money, hoping to squeeze a few dozens of dollars more per month for content services is unrealistic. Except for highly specialized premium services (almost never paid by the end-user), editorial on the Internet is very likely to remain free. European spending is lower, but catching up. — FF</blockquote><br />Emphasis in the original.<br /><br />Yeah, I can see that.<br /><br />I know my book spending will go stratospheric when I go all-e.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />That will end the days of my picking up used paperbacks for cheap. Even if eBooks level out to <a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/12/27/ebooks-and-pricing-no-argument-now/">an impulse-buy price</a>, there'd still be no matching a fifty-cent paperback!Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-51057312672682018902008-12-29T13:44:00.000-05:002008-12-29T13:48:30.489-05:00Gerry Anderson: Still Screwed By ITV<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3_MvkjFP7Q">Gerry Anderson - ''ITV Has Not Supported Me'' wmv</a><br /><blockquote>Gerry Anderson interviewed on 'bbc breakfast'</blockquote><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/p3_MvkjFP7Q&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/p3_MvkjFP7Q&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />They just did a retrospective of <em>Thunderbirds</em> -- showing <em><a href="http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/01/06/bbc-four-all-about-thunderbirds/">All About Thunderbirds</a></em> again -- and kicked off a repeat of the entire series itself.<br /><br />On <em>BBC.</em><br /><br />Not on ITV, which <em>owns</em> the series.<br /><br />How fucked-up is that?Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-31419984561407615092008-12-29T13:25:00.000-05:002008-12-29T13:31:05.639-05:00Chronicles Of Depression 2.0: #482: Keiser<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFzUR1k3ku4">Max Keiser: Predicting the collapse of Iceland</a><br /><blockquote>Aljazeera re-aired Max's 2007 prediction of a collapse of the Icelandic economy.<br /><br /><strong>While the program aired in August 2007, it was filmed in April 2007.</strong><br /><br />Watch for the scene in the Blue Lagoon in which Max predicts a global Depression to be caused when all these debts driven by low interest rates burst.</blockquote><br />Emphasis added by me.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wFzUR1k3ku4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wFzUR1k3ku4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />It wasn't just debt -- <em>it was outright fraud.</em> Isn't that correct, Bernie Madoff, you bastard?<br /><br />Things will get dramatically worse between now and Obama's Inauguration.<br /><br />You'll have to find your Doom fixes elsewhere, however. I won't be blogging <a href="http://mikecane2008.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-notes-3.html">after Wednesday</a>.Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-61277875701356430692008-12-28T20:29:00.003-05:002008-12-28T20:32:00.119-05:00Blog Notes: 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVgoT05Q9fI/AAAAAAAADt0/Apsrm3Nm4BA/s1600-h/Time001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVgoT05Q9fI/AAAAAAAADt0/Apsrm3Nm4BA/s400/Time001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285018483800733170" /></a><br /><br />Time is running out here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVgoTnW46dI/AAAAAAAADts/IflriWSKzo0/s1600-h/HowLongLeft.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 231px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVgoTnW46dI/AAAAAAAADts/IflriWSKzo0/s400/HowLongLeft.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285018480166889938" /></a><br /><br />It's Sunday. This blog dies before midnight Wednesday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVgoTRPwsUI/AAAAAAAADtk/D51QDMsRuyc/s1600-h/DoTheMath.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVgoTRPwsUI/AAAAAAAADtk/D51QDMsRuyc/s400/DoTheMath.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285018474231411010" /></a><br /><br />Do the math.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVgoTZQShbI/AAAAAAAADtc/k5ELax69Caw/s1600-h/KTHXBAISleep.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVgoTZQShbI/AAAAAAAADtc/k5ELax69Caw/s400/KTHXBAISleep.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285018476381111730" /></a>Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7020571484825896606.post-51070337668063210962008-12-28T11:43:00.001-05:002008-12-28T11:55:13.037-05:00Apex Book Company Needs Some Sales!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVevHhNP0WI/AAAAAAAADtU/GjdYn_ZkX70/s1600-h/ApexLogo.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 69px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PyWKNgTzEhY/SVevHhNP0WI/AAAAAAAADtU/GjdYn_ZkX70/s400/ApexLogo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284885231450444130" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://apexdigest.livejournal.com/149969.html">Brother, can you spare $15.95?</a><br /><blockquote>The economy has taken a huge bite out of Apex Publications. Starting with Bear Stearns dying, you can see an immediate drop in our revenue (September/October/November/December). <span style="font-weight:bold;">December has been the worst with a drop of 75% in revenue compared to the August numbers.</span><br /><br />The recession hit at the worst time possible. I literally have spent every penny in the coffers doing things like: reimbursing old lifetime subscribers (and yes, there are a couple of you still waiting on money), paying back the Apex Digest printer $12,000 (done, huzzah!), reprinting and reshipping stolen copies of I REMEMBER THE FUTURE (goodbye $600), replacing almost 90 USPS damaged ORGY OF SOULS hardcovers to Horror-Mall (goodbye $2000). I'm not asking for pity. This stuff happens to good people and bad. But stuff happening with the downturn in the economy has the Apex bank account crying for mercy.<br /><br />What this means is that Apex Publications needs an influx of revenue. Quick.<br /><br /><strong>What this means is that if you've ever thought of buying an Apex book, now would be a damn good time to do so.</strong><br /><br />The most effective, easiest and most fun way to pump some blood into Apex is to buy a book directly from our store. You get damn fine literature (and free media shipping if your order is $25 or more (applies to US orders only)).<br /><br />If you're strapped of cash, then blog about our books or authors and try to coerce people into giving us a try.<br /><br />I figure we need about $2500 in revenue over the next two weeks.<br /><br />Remember:<br />We're taking pre-orders on The Convent of the Pure by Sara M. Harvey, Open Your Eyes by Paul Jessup, and The Monster Within Idea by R. Thomas Riley.<br /><br />Catacombs and Photographs by Brandy Schwan is now available and all pre-orders have been shipped.<br /><br />All back issues of Apex Digest are half-priced.</blockquote><br />Emphasis added by me.<br /><br />Apex is a small publisher. The kind of publisher we'll all count on in the eBook future, so give them some sales love.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.apexbookcompany.com/cart.php">Apex Book Company store</a><br /><a href="http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/apexpublicationsllceBooks.htm?cache">Apex Book company eBooks at Fictionwise</a> (which look to be mostly DRM free as well as being in lots of formats -- including Sony Reader!)Mike Canehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396654716615965650noreply@blogger.com0