Category: Misc

John Gruber has had a lot to say lately about the recent iBooks EULA as well as the motives of Apple and their new iBooks software (just follow the link and scroll for all the posts he’s written.) His posts were initially his thoughts about Apple and iBooks, but more recently he’s been defending Apple from all comers, more or less.

I think he could more succinctly answer Apple critics using the following rather simple argument: Apple is solving a publishing industry problem because they see something that’s in it for them (Apple), namely money. Apple is increasing the value of their product line by lowering the barrier for content creation and they’re doing it for their customers’ (and therefore Apple’s) benefit. If the publishing industry wants to keep customers (authors) then they should figure out a way to compete with Apple’s iBooks and stop whining about the deal with the devil they made.

Because that’s exactly what the publishing industry is doing by pinning their hopes on Apple: making a deal with the devil. Apple isn’t going to do something out of some sense of altruism or helping someone out. Apple is in the business of staying in business and they play for keeps. Did publishers really expect they’d get a solution that didn’t benefit Apple in some way?

There are tons of programmers and technical people out there that could be put to work on some kind of solution. These various publishing houses would be much smarter to scrap current business plans and start hiring technical people to figure out how to make electronic media work for them. Create their own electronic book stores with their own publishing formats and deals and the like.

In others words, stop griping that Apple gave them a solution they don’t like and start solving the problem of electronic publishing for themselves. Because if they don’t, Apple won’t be a partner or a savior for publishers. Apple will become the publisher’s replacement.

I finished Angry Birds HD yesterday. All 18 levels, 3 star destruction, 27 Golden Eggs. Even the Facebook levels.

I feel relieved and disgusted at the same time. Relieved that it’s done, disgusted that I couldn’t finish it quicker manage my addiction.

I guess we all need our silly indulgences from time to time. Perhaps I should keep that in mind where the kids are concerned.

There are a bunch of informative articles about the new iBooks software that Apple introduced today. I have to say the general concept is a good one- moving all those textbooks from there current form to a digital one. Apple claims to have solved some of the technical problems and has a bunch of the big publishing houses for textbooks on board.

In addition to what the textbook publishing industry moves to the digital format, Apple is also supplying software to enable anyone create a textbook.

Overall, pretty impressive stuff and with the publishers onboard, it’s quite likely a significant coup for Apple on the order of what iTunes did for music. I suppose one big question is “What will be the adoption rate?” Although, it may not matter if Apple is committing itself for the long haul.

The only criticism that comes to mind is it’s an “only Apple” solution. But then, it’s not clear to me that anyone else could possibly have stepped up to pull this off like Apple.

This article at Wired serves to remind me just how big and asshole Thomas Edison really was. While typically lionized and romanticized as a brilliant creator, the fact that he was ruthless and selfish to a fault often get passed over. Keep in mind, the only reason he killed Topsy was to for a propaganda coup against a rival technology. As the article notes, that’s in addition to the dogs and cats he killed for the same reason.

Also, his treatment (or, more correctly, mistreatment) of Nikola Tesla stands as another example of Edison’s dubious character. Tesla was every bit as brilliant as Edison, more so in fact, and was given the opportunity to improve Edison’s designs for DC generators. If successful, Edison promised him $50,000. Tesla was successful, but Edison never paid up. Instead, Tesla became a punchline for Edison: “Tesla, you don’t understand our American humor.” is what Edison reportedly replied to Tesla.

Like I said, not a good guy.

I’m only 300-pages in to the most recent A Game of Thrones book, but I can say that it’s much easier reading than its predecessor. A Feast For Crows was a tedious read for a, roughly, 1000-page story and that I finished it at all is testament to the narrative GRRM has built. I will say it was easier for the final 300-pages or so, but overall it was a tough slog.

ADWD, on the other hand, has been interesting right from the onset. I’m not convinced Martin know’s what he wants to do with Bran but I was pleasantly surprised by how Jon Snow dealt with Janos Slynt. I feared that would be a long, drawn-out affair. Thankfully, GRRM spared us that. It’s also good to see that some of these plot lines are finally beginning to merge.

There have been a few other interesting twists introduced as well. I have little doubt that I’ll finish reading it in short order. It’s been a Nook read as well and I have to say it’s been enjoyable so far. I was concerned I’d get headaches from the backlit display or that my eyes would get tired. So far, not the case. Perhaps all my time in front of other backlit displays has conditioned my eyes.

Either way, I’m looking forward to finishing this one. Though not the wait for the next one.

Welcome to 2012. May all your New Year’s wishes come true.

Via John Gruber, some kind of Twitter-feed compilation of people who were… disappointed with their Christmas gifts.

On my first reading, I thought it they were attempts as sarcasm. By the end, I realized I was wrong. Time to cancel Christmas for these folks.

I’ll be pretty pissed if the kids end up on a list like that.

After returned home from my Cub Scout den meeting, I sat down to unwind from the ordeal to hear the Wife say “I’m going to start washing the dishes by hand.” It was delivered in a calm, sincere manner.

Any husband out there should instantly recognize this statement for what it is: a threat. Allow me to translate the above: “I’m tired of the stench from the dishwasher. Fix it, or I’m buying a new one tomorrow.”

So, having spent the better part of 2 hours disassembling the dishwasher in search of “The Source” last night, I can honestly say, should there be a next time, I’ll seriously consider giving in to that threat.

If a picture is worth 1000 words, then The Invention of Hugo Cabret is easily the longest story I’ve ever read. Yet, I read it in 3 hours last night. It’s a 500 page story told mostly using pictures, with text adding the dialogue of the characters involved. The book itself clocks in at somewhere over 500 pages, with roughly 80% of them being pictures, all rendered in black and white.

But this isn’t a comic or graphic novel like Watchmen. It’s a unique approach to storytelling via the book medium. And it’s done very effectively, with the opening of the book being the best example.

It opens with pictures of the Moon over Paris to set the scene. As we flip the pages, night changes to dawn and we zoom in on a building which is revealed to be a train station. As we continue to flip through the pages our attention is brought to a young boy, whom looks to be about 10 or so, as he navigates through the station and into the vent system. Eventually, we part ways with him and we are introduced to an old man in a shop who is keeping a close eye on a large clock across the street. The boy is hiding in that clock, watching the old man’s shop. The sequence of pictures that reveals this part is amongst the most clever in the book in my opinion.

To this point, the “reader” has not encountered a single word, save for those in an introduction at the very beginning. We’ve probably flipped through 40 pages of pictures or so and we have now been introduced to the 2 main characters in the story. The reader is now introduced to the initial pages of text related to the narrative. If you’re not hooked by this point, then don’t bother.

The story itself is a simple tale about a homeless boy who has fixated on a quest that he believes will change his life. Hugo Cabret is a talented young clockworker who is rebuilding an unusual automaton. The story takes us through an extraordinary sequence of coincidences resulting in a happy ending for Hugo and the old man. The narrative drew me along easily as interesting tidbits are slowly revealed over the course of the narrative: the circumstances behind Hugo’s homelessness; how he came to reside in the train station; where the strange automaton came from; why he is compelled to fix the automaton. All this is revealed in Part 1 of the book.

Part 2 of the book is everything that comes after Hugo repairs the automaton. A pleasant surprise because my assumption from the start was the story would culminate in the repair of the automaton. When he runs it, it renders a picture with a signature. Resolving the mysteries behind the picture and the signature propel Hugo, and the reader, through the remainder of the story. All along the way, the book seamlessly transitions between pictures and text, sometimes punctuating a scene with pictures, sometimes laying out an entire scene in pictures, sometimes providing a viewpoint of the characters themselves.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a fast, pleasant read for any adult. Because of the pictures, it’s also accessible to younger readers. I showed the boy the opening sequence of the story and he was intrigued to the point of wanting to read it. The story moves quickly and even though it becomes predicable at points, I found the characters interesting enough that I wanted to know how their story ended. While it’s tempting to consider the pictures a gimmick (or worse a storyboard for the movie), I’d say it’s more accurate to think of them as essential to the story in question and actually a clever vehicle for telling the narrative.

Hugo Cabret’s invention is well worth discovering.

I took the mixer apart last night since it’s out of warranty anyway. The spindle assembly (or ‘planetary’ in mixer parlance) is what broke. Specifically, the drive shaft that extends from the planetary up into the motor housing sheared. That’s a piece of 3/8″ metal, steel I assume. How the hell does that fail while mixing dough?

Anyway, while trying to figure out what to do about the mixer, I came across this.

Reading the reviews, it sounds like it might be the mixer I’d hoped the 600 would be. My big problem is, it’s a Kitchenaid and I don’t buy their “legendary quality” line anymore. Unless it’s “legendary BS.” It’s a new product so I figure that could cut either way: it’s well built because they are trying to rebuild their brand, or it’s going to be chock full of new product glitches for early adopters. The price is steep, but if it’s the last mixer I ever buy then it would be worth it. Plus, it isn’t Hobart steep.

On the other hand, a new planetary assembly looks to be about $35 or so online, assuming I can find the right color. But then I’m probably just waiting for the next thing to fail.

BAH! Stupid decision making.

Well- not really since I don’t consider myself a writer. And if I’m not a writer, then I can’t have a block.

But I’m sitting here watching the Steelers-Chiefs game trying to come up with a letter for the boy’s “Student of the Week” thingy. Of course, this is his week. Compounding matters is that everyone else has written him a letter. But I just haven’t been able to come up with a plan of attack to write it.

I’m my own worst enemy on this sort of stuff as well, trying to come up with something unique or original.

Maybe I should just send in a link to a website I know…

The boy has misplaced his winter jacket. We’ve searched all of the obvious places, but no reward has materialized yet. We’ve been trying to get him to think of the last place he wore it or brought it, but we might as well be trying to teach string to braid itself. With the Winter coming, you’d think he’d at least be a little interested in finding it. Rather, he seems resigned to the fact that it’s gone. He probably figures “Mom and Dad will just buy me a new one.”

Which brings me to the school’s “Lost and Found” barrel. We searched it this morning in the hopes of his jacket turning up. Once again, no luck. But what really struck me was *how full that barrel was”. It was overflowing with clothing. Jackets, pants, gloves, hats, umbrellas, a football, shirts. Everything. An entire 55-gallon barrel filled to over-flowing with clothing. I couldn’t even wager a guess at the number.

A teacher came up to me to ask if we wanted help. I responded with my astonishment at the shear number of articles of clothing, and she said it had already been filled once and emptied and that it would likely be filled again.

None of that stuff registered to any of their owners as missing. Does no one think to come look in the Lost and Found? Or is just that no one cares.

A pair of pants: “He has plenty of others.”

A pair of pink mittens: “We’ll just buy her new ones…”

Such waste. And the kids don’t care because no one takes the time to teach the lesson.

Deadspin received a tip the NCAA would rather they not have, I’m sure. They (Deadspin) has downloaded and posted the last 5 years worth of NCAA financial statements. I haven’t combed through them myself, but the folks at Deadspin have and found the NCAA made $24 million in profit in 2008 for starters. Guess it’s good to be the NCAA- less so to play for them.

I think it’ll get a little tougher for them to justify their actions regarding student-athletes whom try to make a little extra on the side.

Wonder what else will be found?

The inconvenience of my recovery is coming into sharper focus now, and it’s more annoying than I’d thought. I won’t say losing 99% of the service of your off-arm is the worst thing, but consider the following challenges:

• Can’t put on socks easily
• Can’t tie shoes easily, if at all
• I need help putting on shirts
• Can’t type, really. This means little, if any, coding and blogging takes several times longer than normal
• Can’t really wield a knife while eating; can’t support a plate with off arm
• Not supposed to drive

Basically, everything is harder. And not just a little. Again, I’m not saying “worst circumstances ever”, but I definitely underestimated the situation.

It snowed Thursday night. It’s supposed to snow about 6 inches plus tonight. Welcome to Winter! Fall, we hardly knew thee! So we’ll likely go from setting record highs earlier in the month, to record monthly snowfall. And we’re supposed to trust expert judgment about the climate 100 years from now. Whatever.

Trick-or-treating was fun for the kids last night. Cold as well. The boy went as a vampire and the lass as a black cat. They scored plenty of loot. They’ve been offering me their Rieses Peanut Butter Cups. The lass also offered me one of her Kit Kats, another good one. They’ve still got Monday as well. It’s supposed to be cold again, but not like the last couple of days.

That’s all for now. Perhaps I’ll try again later today.