Koozie Notes

Books Read in 2009

For 2009, I have finished reading reading the following books on my Kindle, which I received on 29 APR 2008. (Not including tech book, manuals)

1. The Chimes by Charles Dickens (5 JAN 2009)
2. Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Defend, and Explain the Catholic Faith by Scott Hahn (11 JAN 2009)
3. 1632 by Eric Flint  (23 JAN 2009)
4. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher (3 FEB 2009)
5. OH BOY! The Life and Music of Rock 'n' Roll Pioneer Buddy Holly by Staton Rabin (4 FEB 2009)
6. 1633 by David Weber and Eric Flint (12 FEB 2009)
7. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll (12 FEB 2009)
8. Orphanage by Robert Buettner (21 FEB 2009)
9. Anathem by Neal Stephenson (19 MAR 2009)
10. Death Masks by Jim Butcher (28 MAR 2009)
11. Sunborn by Jeffrey Carver (11 APR 2009)
12. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (12 APR 2009)
13. Orphan's Destiny by Robert Buettner (15 APR 2009)
14. Battlefield Earth by L Ron Hubbard (12 MAY 2009)
15. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien (23 MAY 2009)
16. Blood Rites by Jim Butcher (26 MAY 2009)
17. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (21 JUN 2009)
18. The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien (11 JUL 2009)
19. The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien (20 JUL 2009)
20. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher (27 JUL 2009)
21. Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (10 SEP 2009)
22. Orphan's Journey by Robert Buettner (16 SEP 2009)
23. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (7 OCT 2009)
24. Gibraltar Earth by Michael McCollum (20 OCT 2009)
25. Gibraltar Sun by Michael McCollum (25 OCT 2009)
26. Gibraltar Stars by Michael McCollum (28 OCT 2009)
27. Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher (9 NOV 2009)
28. Cancel Your Own Goddam Subscription by William F Buckley Jr. (20 NOV 2009)
29. The Last Colony by John Scalzi (22 NOV 2009)
30. The Princess Bride by William Goldman (26 NOV 2009)
31. Tommyknockers by Stephen King (21 DEC 2009)

-Chris

2008 Book List: Read

For 2008, I have finished reading the following books on my Kindle, which I received on 29 APR 2008. (Not including tech book, manuals)

1. Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
2. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
3. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
4. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
5. The Confusion by Neal Stephenson (4 JUL 2008)
6. The Hacker Crackdown by Bruce Sterling (7 JUL 2008)
7. Final Report on Jack Thompson by Florida State Bar (13 JUL 2008)
8. My Own Kind of Freedom by Steve Brust (16 JUL 2008)
9. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving (18 JUL 2008)
10. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (29 JUL 2008)
11. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (31 JUL 2008)
12. The System of the World by Neal Stephenson (23 SEP 2008)
13. The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi (1 OCT 2008)
14. Spin by Robert Charles Wilson (9 OCT 2008)
15. Neptune Crossing by Jeffrey A. Carver (13 OCT 2008)
16. Dauntless (The Lost Fleet) by Jack Campbell (19 OCT 2008)
17. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (22 OCT 2008)
18. Strange Attractors by Jeffrey A Carver (3 NOV 2008)
19. The FairTax Book  by Neal Boortz and Congressman John Linder (9 NOV 2008)
20. Animal Farm by George Orwell (10 NOV 2008)
21. Fearless (The Lost Fleet Book 2) by Jack Campbell (14 NOV 2008)
22. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (16 NOV 2008)
23. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown (24 NOV 2008)
24. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher (29 NOV 2008)
25. Infinite Sea by Jeffrey A Carver (11 DEC 2008)
26. Briefer History of Time by Leonard Mlodinow and Stephen Hawking (15 DEC 2008)
27. Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (25 DEC 2008)
28. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K.Rowling (25 DEC 2008) [Dead Tree Version]

-Chris

Ping Publishers for Kindle Versions

Today, I noticed that Amazon added a new feature to their book product subscription web page that allows one to "Ping" the publisher for a Kindle version.  Thank you Amazon.

For example, I would like a Kindle version of John Grisham's The Brethern.  So, just click on the link and if you look to the left side, below the book cover, you should see a new box that reads as follows.

Please tell the publisher: I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Let the pinging begin.

--Chris

Kindle Rejection Letter: Scholastic & Harry Potter

Today, I received my first Kindle rejection letter from Scholastic.

In early May, I sent out a few letters to publishers and authors asking them to consider publishing some of their work in the Kindle format.  Like most readers and Kindle owners, I already have copies of my favorite books and so my letters were geared toward getting my *favorites* on my Kindle.

Well, Scholastic sent me a standard form letter with a pithy reply.

"___X___  it isn't available at this time through Kindle."

--Chris

Update - 2nd Rejection Letter

Links to stories/updates regarding the possibility of see Harry Potter series as an e-book.

1. Harry Potter and his wizarding chums may be about to make a digital publishing leap.
2. J.K. Rowling has not permitted any of the six Potter books to be released in electronic form, not even during the peak of the e-book craze a few years ago.
3. Neil Blair, a lawyer from Rowling's literary agency, told Associated Press reporters Sunday that no Harry Potter E-Book editions, of the new book or of any works in the series, are scheduled for the foreseeable future.
4. Harry Potter e-Book Scam

Harry Potter Book 7 Release Date Announced

JK Rowling's publisher has announced a release date of July 17, 2007 July 21, 2007 for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", which is the seventh and last installment in the Harry Potter series.  Looks like Rowling will be setting us up for a doubleheader in July, when you consider that Warner Brothers should be releasing "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" a few days earlier on July 13, 2007.

- Chris

UPDATE  15 JULY 2007

The release date is set for July 21st and not the 17th.  Sorry.

Non-IT Readling List for Developers

Earlier today, I read a piece by Esther Schindler covering a few non-IT books she recommended for coders.  Below is her list.

1. "How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built" by Stewart Brand
2. "Shockwave Rider" by John Brunner
3. "True Names" by Vernor Vinge
4. "Bellwether" by Connie Willis
5. "The Secrets of Consulting: A Guide to Giving and Getting Advice Successfully" by Gerald M. Weinberg
6. "Neuromancer" by William Gibson
7. "Burning Chrome" by William GIbson
8. "The Adolescene of P-1" by T.J. Ryan
9. "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert Heinlein
10. "Cryptonomicon" by Neal Stephenson
11. "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson
12. "Godel, Escher, Bach" vy Douglas R. Hofstadter
13. "A Whack on the Side of the Head" by Roger von Oech
14. "The Incomplete Enchanter" by L. Sprague DeCamp
15. "Don't Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear" edited by Jody Lynn Nye
16. "Virtual Leadership" by Jaclyn Kostner
17. "Making Time Work for You" by Harold Taylor

I would also like to add a few more books that I've enjoyed reading.

1. "Getting Things Done" by David Allen
2. "Jim Cramer's Real Money" by James Cramer
3. "Ready for Anything" by David Allen
4. "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
5. "Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

-Chris

Harry Potter for Under 16 Dollars

  Harry Potter 
  Originally uploaded by Koozie.

If you are in the market for the new Harry Potter book, take a look at your nearest Sams Club.  Today I picked up a copy for under $16.00 and I didn't have to wait in line. :-)

I'm still re-reading the last book, but I expect I will be starting this new book shortly.

-Chris

16 JUL 2005 Release Date Set for 6th Harry Potter Book

Looks like the 6th Harry Potter book, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," will be available in your local book shop on 16 July 2005.

“We are delighted to announce the publication date [16 JUL 2005]. J.K. Rowling has written a brilliant story that will dazzle her fans in a marvelous book that takes the series to yet greater heights. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince delivers all the excitement and wonder of her best-selling previous Harry Potter novels.”

I still rank the 4th book, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" as my favorite in the series.  I hope the movie version doesn't disappoint either.
-Chris

Lord of the Rings - as Tolkien Intended

Jeff Guin writes that U.S. publisher, Hougton Mifflin, has published JRR Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" as a single collector's edition.

Tolkien saw his single story arbitrarily divided into three separate titles -- The Fellowship of the Ring (1954), The Two Towers (1955) and The Return of the King (1956). These editions had one color of ink and no extra maps. His displeasure was extreme, but because none of the three sold especially well -- sometimes as few as 1,500 copies annually each over the next decade, Harper notes -- Tolkien's snit made little difference.

Growing up in the 80's, I read all three as paperbacks.  I still have my original set which included a fourth book, "The Hobbit."  My worn copy of Fellowship still sports masking tape on the spine.  It took a good beating from daily rides in my school book bag.
I will definitely place this new, "Lord of the Rings," edition on my Christmas list.

-Chris

Creating Cool Web Sites

If you're in the market for a how-to book on creating your first web site, I would recommend "Creating Cool Web Sites" by Dave Taylor. 

Dave starts by explaining what exactly is the World Wide Web.  He walks the reader through computer lingo like URL, FTP, web browsers, TELNET, etc.  One point made by Dave, that I completely agree with, is that you do not need to purchase any fancy software to start building some really slick web pages.  Just by using Notedpad, a text editor that comes with windows, you can write HTML, the language of web pages.  TextEdit on the Mac is another free text editor.

Dave provides good instruction on Casccading Style Sheets (CSS), which can streamline html formatting.  He also covers good coding habits like using <br /> instead of <br>.  To get the most out of this book, I would highly recommend following Dave's examples.

-Chris

Title:Creating Cool Web Sites
ISBN: 0-7645-6738-6
Author: Dave Taylor