Kindle - First Impressions

Kindle, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers

Well I got my Kindle yesterday.  This a a purchase I have been wanting to make for a long time and now that it is here I have some first impressions.  I like it: There are two major motivations for making this purchase: size and money. 

I am going on a Romania Trip in less than a couple weeks and during travel there is something I expect -- hurry up and wait.  I like to read, in fact some would say book addict (I can quit at anytime, no really!) but to take a lot of books on this trip would mean one thing - heavy backpack.  Today I put 70+ books and works on this thing and you know what -- it still weighs the same.

Those 70+ books also had another redeeming quality, 50 of them came in a collection that cost little and most of the rest were free.  Total cost" $10. If I had to buy all of them as real books -- yeah it would have cost much more.  I got my New American Standard Bible today too.    

I have noticed something about the free books.  They seem to come in three different types: classics, junk that no one wants anymore or erotica.  It simply means that it is going to take knowing what your looking for, but even newer stuff is cheaper on kindle. There are also some applications that might be helpful.  

All in all I am not disappointed, I will probably due a full review in a couple months.    

Time: The Blogger's Most Precious Resource

Time is the most valuable commodity on the planet for two reasons:  1) you can never get it back if you waste it and 2) You do not know how much you have left.  It is this unknown factor that makes time something that has great value so learn to value it and use it with purpose.

For the blogger or another type of writer, time is something we usually don't have much of as we sit down to write.  We all have stuff to do, but taking the time to blog each day is difficult and often hard to find.  Really if you think something is important though you make time for it.  Blogging is no different, I make time for it at some point every day.  The challenge is to writing well with limited time.

I am no expert on this but I have learned a little about the management of time and blogging:

1. Make sure you remind yourself how important blogging is to you -- you will make time for what you consider important.

2. Learn the word 'No' when dealing with people who want you involved in something that will not further your personal goals.  Time stealers are not your friends, they are thieves.

3. Have a notebook or some other way of recording ideas and outlines with you at all times.  That way when you are inspired you can jot it down quick and then when you write later, things will go faster.

4. Do not blog based on feelings.  Set a time for it and write.  If you think your post will be crap rewrite it and publish it, but don't come away from a set blogging time without publishing something otherwise you have wasted your time.

5. Write well but don't be a perfectionist.  There is no such thing as a perfect post.

6. Set a time to write and stick with it.

7. Do not be a blog hermit.  Get away from writing from time to time.  Overwork can rob you of creativity.  Sometimes the best use of your time is just to have fun and do something else you enjoy.

There are probably a lot more things that could be added and if you know some comment away on them.  This is what I have so far and it works for me.

The Star Beast by Robert A. Heinlein - Book Review

Star Beast

Title: The Star Beast
Author: Robert A, Heinlein
Pages: 253
Publisher: Ballantine Books (New York) 1954

The Star Beast was Robert Heinleins eighth juvinile novel and marked a slight departure in subject.  Instead of being out there in space, this book takes place on good old earth.  It is an earth of the future where travel in starship across the galaxy is possible nad brought to earth all kinds on extraterestrial flora and fauna to the earth. 

The central plot revolves around John Thomas, his girlfriend Betty Sorenson and the star beast known as Lummox.  The adventure starts when Lummox decided to take a stroll outside its cage and causes tons of damage.  The conflict continues as people want Lummox destroyed but Betty and John work hard to keep him alive even though it is discovered later lummox can't really be killed.  Despite the seeming lack of intelligence of Lummox it turns out that Lummox is part of an interstellar race more advanced than humans.  What follows is a tale of interstellar diplomacy, law and friendship.

The technology of the book is not a great advance except of the existence of interstellar ships and other items.  The technology of this book actually takes a back seat to the real issues on xeno-relationships with other star faring races.

Sociologically this book still has a strong message of how people would act in the face of 'we are not alone in the universe' and various alien races that must be negotiated with and dealt with on a personal level.  In a bold move for 1954, Heinlein also introduces the concept of children divorcing the parents.  The style is juvenile but Heinlein isn't thinking high school students in this one, but early college so the 'sex' question does get through although it is very veiled.

Stylistically, this book has real dialogue and humor that at times causes a pretty good chuckle.  Heinlein's plot is not only solid but has many twists and turns that are realistic and at time fantastic.  One thing to note is the character of Betty Sorenson, who is a very strong female character.  Rare for 1954 and up till now Heinlein had made his male characters the strong ones.  Betty introduces a pretty strong female heroine to Heinlein's books and he will have many more in books to come.  Even though John and Lummox take center stage most of the time, Betty gets them in and out of trouble more often than not.

Rating: 3 and three quarter stars.  This is a good book and well worth the read.  The issues are great brain stretchers and the humor entertaining.  The thing is this is a good Heinlein book, but not a great one.  It is innovative and fun, so it was a good read.

Blogging: Getting a URL - Is it an asset or a liability for a beginner?

This is a question I have been wrestling with ever since I finished reading Problogger.  One of the things you are expected to do is get your own URL so that you can improve your hits.  The argument being that having your own URL eventually pays for itself.  The question I am asking then from a business point of view though is this then an asset or a liability?  Ever since reading this book; however, I have been looking at the stuff I have in those two terms: asset or liability?

In truth for the beginner, like myself, this is a liability in its purest form as it will not generate income but take it.  Only when having the URL causes enough income to come in does it switch to becoming an asset.  How long will that take? 

I off course have this real rabid (smile) philosophy about debt anyway.  A bill is a debt until you pay it.  Based on this wouldn't a better policy be to get a blog to generate enough to pay for the URL first then get one?  Or is having a URL one of those necessary things to owning a blog?  It makes me think a lot right now. 

What do you think? Is a URL an asset or a liability?   

Problogger by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett - Book Review

ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income

Title: Problogger - 2nd Edition
Author(s): Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett
Pages: 220
Publisher: Wiley Publishing (Indiana), 2010

I decided to get this book after reading some the Problogger website. Given that one of the goals of my life is to make writing profitable and blogging is now a part of that it seems only natural to read some of the successful bloggers out there and acquire some of their secrets and tips for success.  Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett are both professional bloggers who do indeed make six figure incomes doing what they do.  The book promises to be guide to duplicating that feat, but it comes with no get rich quick claims,  Work hard, be patient and learn are its main themes.

The book is divided into eleven chapters that deal with the various aspects someone must know to be a successful blogger.  These include but are not limited to setting up your blog, blog writing, connectivity and marketing strategies.  Each chapter focuses on that particular aspect and looks at it from multiple angles.  While probably not complete, the book does give some excellent advice in each area.  It even at times delves into the ethics of blogging.

Stylistically this book is written by two authors, but it seems some steps have been taken to streamline this issue so it is hard tell who is writing what unless the authors tell you.  It is not difficult to read, although because of it's subject matter it has to delve into technical jargon which is always explained.  Some other features that I liked were the links and websites given as aids to the blogger.  There is also a pretty solid index

If there is a weakness it does seem deliberately made to be somewhat incomplete.  In part I think this is part of being a brand item and the authors are hoping to sell other products in that brand.  Can't complain too loudly because I understand the concept of marketing and will do so myself when I get a big.

Rating: 4 stars.  I would have liked more but the book is still well done.  This book will actually be my guide and step by step over the coming months as I try out some of their stuff on my blogs, so in a sense this review is not over as I will be reporting the results as I go. 

Starman Jones by Robert A. Heinlein - Book Review

Starman Jones

Title: Starman Jones
Author: Robert Heinlein
Pages: 261
Publisher: Pocket Books (New York) 1953

Starman Jones was Heinlein's seventh juvenile novel for Scribner's and was published in 1953.  His publishers only wanted minor changes and so for the most part the book went off without a hitch. 

The central plot centers around Max Jones who starts the story as a farm boy until his new stepfather abusive behavior drives him to seeking the far reaches of the stars.  Max's journey ultimately leads him to befriending a tramp named Sam and both of them stow away on a space liner.  Max's natural talent for remembering everything he reads and mathematics soon finds him promoted to being an astrogator, but the course of events leads the liner to be lost in space and Jones being ultimately promoted to captain and it is placed on his shoulders to get them home. For Jones it really becomes both a rags to riches story and a coming of age story all in one.

Technologically, this was a big leap for Heinlein and a look at real speculative technology involving space travel on a stellar level.  Star to star travel is made possible by the discovery of warp points and massive discoveries in power and space drive technology.  Astrogators are needed to do the complex mathematics to make these jumps possible.  Ultimately this is the only place where current technology has already surpassed Heinlein's vision as modern computers could do what the astrogators do. Artificial gravity generated by fields and other convenience technologies give us a world where real space travel across the galaxy is possible.

Sociologically, Heinlein engages the idea of human freedom as in the course of the liner being lost they encounter a planet that has evolved into a symbiotic slavery.  The statement being that humans were not made for such a thing.  Heinlein does make some sexually interesting situations but they do not in any way go over the top.  As always, Heinlein bets on mankind's abilities to adapt and overcome obstacles.

Stylistically, this is a well written book but perhaps because this is the first time he has really gone far into the future, not one of his best.  His characters are well done, but the story at times seems a little predicable and slightly romanticized.  Other than that this is classic Heinlein.

Rating: 4 stars.  I love this story and it introduces us to Heinlein's far future history which is good.  Other than the few small objections I have, this is a good read and an entertaining one.

Welcome to the Rabyd Reader!

Welcome to the Rabyd Reader! This blog is a spin off blog from the Rabyd Theologian 2.0 which involves all my posts and comments involving books, book reviews, blogging and writing. Here I will make comment on my quest to be profitable blogger and writer as well as give my thoughts and feelings on the world of books.

All the content posted before this post is stuff from my previous blogs so if reading and writing are your thing you don't have to go back and forth.

Blessings and Enjoy!