Books and Authors – Nullius in Verba

A Regulated Forest – Part 2

Alston Chase’s 1995 book, In A Dark Wood, chronicles the clash over the last century between forest productionists and forest preservationists. He wrote about the strategy of removing decadent timber from timberlands, owned by timber companies or the government (though not from parks), to make way for young trees: [Private companies] sought to convert old,Continue reading “A Regulated Forest – Part 2”

Remember Molly

My goodness, has Molly Ivins really been gone for two years? She knew stuff: “I realize this is not breaking news, but we are looking at something exceptional in political history with this race. . . . The Internet is breaking open old power structures and set ways of doing things. Most campaign consultants haveContinue reading “Remember Molly”

The Medea Hypothesis

So much for James Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis–the idea that life sustains habitable conditions on earth. Enter The Medea Hypothesis. Peter Ward argues that most of Earth’s mass extinctions were caused life itself, and we have the hydrogen sulfide markers to prove it. There’s an interesting TED Talk here (about 20 minutes).

Twilight Deconstructed

Okay, we’ve had our joke and poked fun at Stephenie Myer’s Twilight . Well, like the da Vinci Code, it works. Theories? Eve Porinchak over at The Disco Mermaids deconstructs Twilight. It’s all about tapping emotions, isn’t it?

Parodies Loosed

I found a link to a spoof of Twilight at Editorial Ass. It is hilarious. I forget how I came across this spoof of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows with its mega-spoilers but it too is great (and teeming with text speak LOL). I have found a site for Shakespeare parodies, such as ScotsContinue reading “Parodies Loosed”

Holiday Message from Roy Blount Jr.: Buy Books From Your Local Bookstore, Now

Roy Blount Jr’s post on the Authors Guild site: December 11, 2008. I’ve been talking to booksellers lately who report that times are hard. And local booksellers aren’t known for vast reserves of capital, so a serious dip in sales can be devastating. Booksellers don’t lose enough money, however, to receive congressional attention. A governmentContinue reading “Holiday Message from Roy Blount Jr.: Buy Books From Your Local Bookstore, Now”

Apparently Atlas Shrugged Because He Didn't Understand

New York magazine has posted personals ads from TheAtlasphere.com. The Atlas in Atlasphere alludes to Atlas Shrugged, Rand’s 1000 page Magnum Opus. Magnum opus is Latin for “doorstop.” The Atlasphere’s mission is to “bring together admirers of Ayn Rand’s novels, from around the globe, to network both personally and professionally.” After all, Ayn Rand’s novelsContinue reading “Apparently Atlas Shrugged Because He Didn't Understand”

Apparently Atlas Shrugged Because He Didn’t Understand

I wonder what an electronic book reader would look like if Apple designed it?

I wonder what an electronic book reader would look like if Apple designed it? Tribes author Seth Godin has an interesting take on free content and the publishing industry: [Publishers] are not in the printing business. [They are] in the business of leveraging the big ideas authors have. … The market doesn’t care a whitContinue reading “I wonder what an electronic book reader would look like if Apple designed it?”

Michael Crichton – storyteller

Best-selling author Michael Crichton died unexpectedly in Los Angeles Tuesday, November 4, 2008, losing a private battle against cancer. He was 66. Crichton did not write literature. I cannot name one protagonist, any antagonist from any of his books I read. Yet I couldn’t put them down, okay I didn’t finish Timeline or Prey. PreyContinue reading “Michael Crichton – storyteller”