Sci Fi Jungle

Bloom Box - Hope or Hype?

Those two blocks can power the average high-consumption American home -- one block can power the average European home. At least that's the claim being made by K.R. Sridhar, founder of Bloom Energy

via www.engadget.com

So if two small Bloom Boxes can power an average American home with clean energy, what's the catch?

I personally have some concerns about the safety of having a small power generator (probably using flammable gas) in your house but what do I know? I would probably be skeptical of the idea of electricity if it were new to me as well.

The other problem the Bloom Box has to overcome is the availability of whatever fuel is used to power the fuel cells. Apparently they can use a number of different types of fuel such as wind and solar, or traditional fossil fuels. So there's still no magic - the energy comes from somewhere and that somewhere probably has some carbon footprint as well.

I think what is most exciting about the Bloom product is that they have some proprietary technology to make the fuel cell cheaper. Right nw they are $700,000 and up, but the company's business plan revolves around having a $3,000 home model at some point. Wow.

Now, if someone can figure out how I can power my home with the leftover calories from a bag of Doritos, that would be pretty cool.  I wonder if Bloom would start working on a fat burner supplement that runs your TV

City of Ember Review

Last night we watched the movie City of Ember.  I had recorded it on our Tivo a few weeks ago from HBO and finally got a chance to watch it.

Its a decent Sci Fi movie, good for a young adult audience as well as adults.  There were a few things I could pick apart, like the almost cartoonish handling of some of the characters such as the Mayor (played by Bill Murray) and Mrs. Murdo.  I think Mrs. Murdo, whose vacant smile and assertions that if they just keep practicing for the Day of Singing everything will be alright, is supposed to represent the complacency and head in the sand attitude that the kids have to fight against.

Basically the plot has to do with humanity living in a vast underground city, which was build by "The Builders" after Earth becomes inhabitable.  They give a box to the Mayo rof the City that will open in 200 years.  It contains instructions for leaving the city and venturing forth above ground.

But the box is misplaced in the back of a closet and when it finally opens no-one is there to know except teenaged Lina.  A great adventure ensues, complete with corrupt officials, steampunk inspired technology, and intrepid teenagers who save the day.  Tip off:  you can tell who the baddies are because ina city with food carefully rationed they are the only ones who look like they need some best fat burner.  This is because they are stealing and hoarding food.

The movie is based off a YA novel by the same name by Jeanne DuPrau.

Perfect Booklight for Kindle?

Some of my buddies on the knitting site Ravelry have a group called "Kindle Corner."  The other day they were talking about this nice book light called the Kandle.  Apparently it gives its light not in a even swath over the eReader instead of a pinpoint that makes it harder to see the whole page/screen.  It also doesn't block the screen when it clips on and can clip on to the device itself, as well as the front or back cover of whatever cover you are using.

I don't use a book light - I just turn on my bedside light.  But my hubster can sleep through my nighttime reading forays.  If you have a significant other that doesn't like you to keep them up with your late night reading habit or need to work on your bpi training in the dark, this could be very handy.  Also if you go camping and want to read at night.  It will work with a regular book too, or any model of e-reader.

It is selling on Amazon for $25.00 right now.

Kim Harrison Paranormal Novel .99 cents Kindle, Free for Sony and Nook

I think publishers are so smart when they offer the first book in a series free for eReaders.   And even 99 cents is a great way to go.  Last time a publisher did this with a Fantasy series I ended up buying the second and third in the series at list price because I got sucked into a great story.  As a reader,  I love book deals.  I regularly skulk around Goodwill for used paperbacks, for example.  Now that I have bought the Kindle I have definitely found myself buying lots of books and enjoying the ability to shop anytime instantly for reading material.  But lets face it, book addicted people like me need budgeting tips too.

This time we have a Paranormal Fantasy/Romance by Kim Harrison that is free at the Barnes and Noble store and 99 cents at the Kindle Amazon store.  Kim Harrison is a solid paranormal author and this is the first in her series "The Hollows."  These are stories about demons, supernaturals, and starring a Witch bounty hunter named Rachel Morgan.  I have not read this book yet, but I went ahead and bought it for a buck and I will let you know what I think.   

E-Book Readers Attack Science Fiction Author Over "Wal-Mart" Comments

Will bestselling science-fiction authors still be able to make a living in ten years? It may depend on the battle over e-book pricing. When author Douglas Preston weighed in on this issue, he received hate mail and negative Amazon reviews.

via io9.com

io9 has an interesting article about the current ebook price shakeups. Macmillan published author Douglas Preston made rather unfortunate comment in the New York Times saying that ebook customers had a sense of entitlement and a "WalMart" mentality.

Considering that people reading eBooks are probably a subset of people who actually spend more on books that the average consumer, it seems a bit shortsighted to alienate them.

I think the price structure for eBooks will eventually shake out into something that people and companies can live with. DRM restrictions and lack of physical manufacturing costs will come into account. Tiered price and availability (such as the electronic version "waiting for the paperback to come out) will also come into play.

As a matter of fact, the eBook market is extremely unsettled. You have four major struggles going on ePub vs Mobipocket format, battle to be the bookstore of choice, DRM restrictions and lack of ability to own or lend eBooks to others, and pressures between the publishers and eBook stores over who takes the profits previously earned by the distribution channel.

When the big corporations battle, the consumer is usually the loser. I think we would all be better off if they would agree on a common format, ability to lend for a certain amount of time and borrow from the library, and don't use excessive DRM to turn the corporation into big brother.  And just a tip from me to you - it's never a good idea to disparage your customers.  I think Douglas Preston has just figured that out.  He probably could use some hemorrhoids relief right about now.

Marjorie M. Liu Interview and Contest

The blog BookBound has a nice, if short, interview with Marjorie M. Liu, author of the Hunter Kiss Demon Hunter series.  If you are a subscriber to the blog you can enter a contest to win the entire collection of Hunter Kiss books, including the new book of short stories Inked, in which Liu writes a story featuring Maxine.

Here is the URL to the interview.

http://b00kbound.blogspot.com/2010/02/author-interview-giveaway-marjorie-m.html

Liu is rather reticent in the interviews I have read.  I bet there is a lot more interesting questions I would have asked her, had I been doing the interview!  For example, I would like to know what her background was like growing up, and how her cultural perspective has helped her in her writing.  I would also like to know just what this taxi service for Poodles is all about.  :-)  Sounds like she has had some interesting jobs...

Free H.P. Lovecraft - Kindle and other editions

H.P. Lovecraft Sonnets, you say?  A book of spine tingling poetry for your Kindle, you say?  Free?  Well, if you are into Vogon poetry this could be for you.  And if you shiver when you read them you can enjoy a bit of fear which is the best hgh releaser.

Available in EPub, Kindle/MobiPocket, and PDF versions.

Fungi from Yuggoth by Howard Phillips Lovecraft

Here is a sample, which is surprisingly easy on the ear.

Expectancy

I cannot tell why some things hold for me
A sense of unplumbed marvels to befall,
Or of a rift in the horizon's wall
Opening to worlds where only gods can be.
There is a breathless, vague expectancy,
As of vast ancient pomps I half recall,
Or wild adventures, uncorporeal,
Ecstasy-fraught, and as a day-dream free.
It is in sunsets and strange city spires,
Old villages and woods and misty downs,
South winds, the sea, low hills, and lighted towns,
Old gardens, half-heard songs, and the moon's fires.
But though its lure alone makes life worth living,
None gains or guesses what it hints at giving.

Great Deal on Fringe Season One DVD Set

Best Buy is offering the complete full season of Fringe for $9.99.  That's an awesome deal - Amazon has it for $20.00.  This is a great one one if you like to get your home theater seating and popcorn out and watch shows on your own pace. Fringe is one of my favorite shows out there right now, so if you haven't seen it yet, missed a few episodes at the beginning, or just like to collect DVDs of your favorite shows this is a great  opportunity to get 10 DVDs for a dollar each.

I know someone who is an American living in China and her main viewing is TV series on DVDs.  This would be great for her.

Heroes Season Finale - Season 4, Episode 19

Why did Heroes have to have the best episode in months and have it be the season finale?  No fair!  I've been frustrated with the "Claire and Dad not getting along" and "Claire wants to join the Circus" plotline - but the one that really really stunk was Samuel and the infernal carnival.

As HRG says "I always did hate Carnivals."  I am very glad to see Samuel and his overacting Irish self get into the CIA car.  Hopefully to be never seen or heard from again. Anilox cleaning for that whole plotline.

I do like the idea of Sylar going good.  They went in that direction last year but he relapsed.  I would like to see him really reform, but always retain just a little bit of an edge.  We'll see.  If the series comes back (PLEASE PLEASE NBC) it will be great to see if Sylar's new found hero personality will stick.  At any rate Zachary Quinto is always good to watch.

And as always, if the writers are reading please let me request that Parkman stop acting like a jerk.  He's my favorite Hero and I like it when he is the good guy.   Talk to your wife and please don't mess with the water delivery guys mind just because you are jealous.

If you want to watch the episod online here is the url:

http://www.nbc.com/heroes/video/episodes/#vid=1199942

Hair

Let's face it, I have a lot of hair.  Other people have bad hair days - I have had a bad hair lifetime.  Millennium.  Eon.

I have a major Jew-Fro.  When were were growing up we called it the Jafro.   When Facebook did the doppleganger week meme this past week I made my profile picture Roseanna Roseanadanna.

Well, the good news is I never will need hair supplements.  I have about 3 people's worth of hair so it can thin all it wants and I don't care.  And I get to spend bonding time with my hairdresser while she straightens the rats nest with Keratin straightener.  Woo wee.