Electric Literature and You

So, I have to ask, how many of you actually have used a ePub reader? How many of you own a kindle, a kobo, a nook, or even an iPad? Those of you who do, how many of you love your eReading experience? Is it better? I'm sure that many of you have considered getting one or another eReaders, and may have even toyed with teh idea. I am also sure that many of you have more than likely shunned the idea all together; the feel of books is what you need to survive. I'm not here to discuss the pros and cons of reading on an eReader though.

Let's talk about somethign else all together. Let's talk about ePublication,and lets talk about it on a scale of refering to an iPad actually. I just came across an article about a published author whose works are avaliable as an eBook, but has also made an app for his book. This is not a way to get around having to buy his book, but instead as a way for people who are fans of his to have a different experience when reading his book. The article is here.

IT's almost as if there is now going to be a new way for books to be published besides the three formats that most people know (namely hardback, paperback, and eBook) It even goes into the company (Electric Publishing) and the services that they offer for making avaliable single to whole libaries of books avaliable in this new app format. Check it out. It's actually an interesting way to self publish.

The Guinness World Record Holder...

This is HUGE.

I don't think that anyone should ever look at something that is so large. I mean, this thing is huge! It is so large it made even my jaw drop and I have seen some pretty big tools in my day. Whose tool is it might you ask? It is none other that the Wenger's Swiss Army Giant as seen here:

Swiss Army Giant

This knife has over 87 implements. It performs "an astonishing 141 different functions" according to the website. One must think that this thing is a monster and wighing in at a little ounder 3 poound, it is an amusing gift for all. That is, if you want to spend over aa thousand dollars (The price on the site is $999, estimated retail is $1,400).

Need a laser pointer? It's got one, need a Nail file? There's two. Say you need to open a can, it has a can opener and just in case you need to cut down some wood for the fire, it also has a minature wood saw as well. Among tools you wouldn't normally see on a swiss army production is a cigar cutter, the shoe spike wrench and my favorite one to say: the Golf Club Groove Cleaner.

This knife, expensive as it is, is also the Guiness World record holder for the "most multifunctional penknife" in the world. If you don't know what to get for yourself or for someone else, then this here is the perfect gift.

A Plethora of Blogs....

So I know that there was a long time there where this blog was not updated at all. Even still, when I did start updating, there were two other blogs that were added to it, one for the Grains of Amaretto's Tale, and yet another one for something called "The World of Pernishia". Perhaps some explanation is called for. The reason for the blogs is because of financial difficulties, I had to get rid of the Archivus Hub. Till I get somethings in order again, I am going to add some blogs there. So here is the explanation:

The blog that is called "Hourglass Grains" is going to be exclusively for the "Grains" or parts of Amaretto's Tale, an ongoing experimental storyline. I will soon be adding some pieces to it besides writing. This includes multimedia of all sorts like pictures, audio, perhaps if I get the chance to learn Flash, maybe I'll make some mini movies, and actually, I was talking randomly with a friend and they suggested a full feature movie (like meaning 5 - 7 minutes). I told her I would think on it, but it would require some massive work to do.

The second blog which is attached to this one is called "The World of Pernishia". I was originally just typing stuff up on there which was a secondary addition to the geek fest that I have at my friend's house on fridays: D&D. That's right, I am an original geek. While I have players and other such (since I am the DM), I decided that the world around them still turned. So I wondered what it would be like to hear about the adventurer's from the rest of the worlds point of view. Sadly, the original blog was deleted. So I am going to have to start again. This means trying to remember what happened, and a little bit of recreation. Some of the stories might be a little different, but it will just have to work. You don't necessarily have to read it, but if you do, then realize that there won't seem to be much cohesion, and that the characters won't necessarily explain themselves all the time.

A while ago, there was a suggestion for "Have Spells, Will Travel" to become a blog on it's own. Sadly, it will have to be put on the back burner for the moment. The spell pistols are not necessarily from the "Artefact" Universe, and with NaNoWriMo coming up, I find that I would like to continue to story of the other Artifacts, especially that of the Genesis Glass'. Even still, the parts of these stories, for NaNoWriMo two years ago, I wrote about the ring. This year I would like to write about the Black Tattoo. Hopefully, it will work out alright.

There might be a small section devoted to the other glasses, referring to the stories "Tenth Musae" and "Reliquary". Though I might make a word press to work on that.

I'll give you all some more information later. In the meantime, keep watching out for these two specific blogs updates!
Thanks a lot.

A Literary Book Snub?

So once again, I am late with the news. I swear, sometimes I am not as tapped in as I normally am. On the 14th of October, the Associated Press wrote an article about the face that Johnathan Franzen's novel did not get added to the National Book Awards finalists. The article is here.

Nine years ago, Franzen was awarded for his novel "The Corrections", however, this book, "Freedom", which was considered one of the most anticipated books of the year was not even considered. The book was so lauded it was picked up by Oprah's book club, and as everyone knows, anytime Oprah picks a book, it becomes Literary Gold. Because of this, the Award Comittee is being questioned as to what makes a great book, along with other authors who were also "snubbed".

Anyones guess is what will happen next. Either way, I can't wait till November when they tell us who wins.

National Book Awards

So I know I am a few days late, but, the National Book award finalists were announced in Savanah, GA on the 14th. Two of the finalists were L.A. Times staff members recieved a nod for their nonfiction works as well. The link is here.

Check it out.

A Middle Earth Revival... Finally

So it looks like it has finally happened. We have confirmed that Peter Jackson is back once more and on top of that, it is with something we have all been waiting for: The Hobbit.

The actual link is here. I think you should take a look at it. It's got a lot of info. Though one thing I don't understand is why on earth are we making two movies aabout something that we made a single two and a half hour cartoon about? Oh well, who am I to complain. The first of the two films is suposed to hit theaters sometime in late 2012. Do you think you can wait that long?

I seriously think that I cannot.

About Peter Pan...

So I just discovered this interesting tidbit on the web. Go check out what happens to a first copy and why antique books are so powerful.

Auction of a First Copy

I think it's cool.

Nude writings...

Sometimes, I should just not click the link... Though if I did that, then there would never be anything fun to know about the writing world. You will never look at Hemingway the same ever again.