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Is the tablet stylus making a comeback? | Signal Strength - CNET News

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iPad 2 Can Be Wirelessly Charged Using LaunchPort | PCWorld

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Futuristic iPhone Car Stereo Fits Almost Any Vehicle | PCWorld

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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Maya Ruins in Georgia—The Real Story

Published on A.R.E. Blog | shared via feedly mobile

Maya Ruins in Georgia—The Real Story
by Dr. Greg Little

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The December 21, 2011 headline of the article put online by the Examiner declared: "Ruins in Georgia mountains show evidence of Maya connection." It was written by Richard Thornton who writes articles on architecture and design for the Examiner's Web site, which pays writers' fees based on how many people view the ads on the Internet page. According to the article, which created a massive Internet response, "a group of archaeologists discovered the ruins of a 1,100-year-old Maya city" on the sides of a steep mountain in Georgia. The article related that 154 stone masonry walls, a sophisticated irrigation system, and other stone ruins were at the site. The archaeological team was led, back in 1999, by Dr. Mark Williams, who recovered pottery at the mounds found on the top of the mountain. The article, quite large for an Examiner post, presented virtually no evidence for the claim of Maya ruins other than the claim of the stone walls and Native language similarities to Mayan, but referred readers to Thornton's book on the site.

The Archaeologist Responds

Kenimer Mounds from Goggle Maps 2012 After being inundated by media inquiries and continual contact from other interested parties, the archaeologist cited by the Examiner article (the University of Georgia's Mark Williams) became frustrated and even angered by the report. Williams wrote that the report "is not true" and that he had "been driven crazy" by the allegations. Williams added, "The Maya connection to legitimate Georgia archaeology is a wild and unsubstantiated guess on the part of the Thornton fellow. No archaeologist will defend this flight of fancy." Williams wrote to the Examiner, "I am the archaeologist Mark Williams mentioned in the article. This is total and complete bunk."

The actual Georgia "Maya" site is best known as the "Kenimer Mound Complex" and is listed in my 2008 Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Mounds & Earthworks. On the top of a mountain near Sautee, Georgia are two mounds. The largest of these is an irregular-shaped pyramid mound that stands 35 feet in height. Adjacent to it is a smaller rectangular mound just 3 feet in height.

There are what appear to be ground undulations along the mountainside that could have been shaped terraces, but there is no definitive evidence pointing to what these ground-covered forms actually are. After the Examiner report came out I received numerous inquiries about it, and was even asked by a few people to change the A.R.E.-sponsored "Georgia Mound Builders Tour" scheduled for May 2-6, 2012, to include the "new Maya ruins." Because the Kenimer site is small, privately owned, and clearly has no definitive evidence pointing to a Maya influence, we won't be visiting this site. But we are visiting one massive mound complex in Georgia that archaeologists have clearly linked to an ancient Mexican influence.

Edgar Cayce's Readings on America's
Mound Builders

In our 2001 book, Mound Builders: Edgar Cayce's Forgotten Record of Ancient America (coauthored with Dr. Lora Little and John Van Auken), we examined 30 ideas presented in 68 Cayce readings with information about ancient civilizations in the Americas. In readings given in 1933 and 1943 (5750-1 and 3528-1) Cayce made it clear that sometime after 3000 B.C., groups of people who had been living in the Yucatan and Mexico entered into America's south and gradually moved north, becoming what we know as Mound Builders. At the time Cayce made these readings, American archaeology had accepted that mound and pyramid building progressed in the opposite direction (north to south). However, as we have detailed in books and numerous articles, it is now known that the movement of this culture was south to north, precisely as Cayce related.

Ocmulgee Mounds One site included on the May 2012 A.R.E. Georgia Mound Tour is Ocmulgee National Monument, a massive complex inhabited as early as 17,000 years ago. There are seven huge mounds at the site with the largest being a truncated pyramid standing 55 feet high with a base of 270x300 feet. An underground earth-lodge is at the center of the site and we plan to conduct a ceremony while inside this earthen structure. Ocmulgee is one of the few American mound complexes where archaeologists concede that a definite influence from ancient Mexican cultures is present. Specific types of tobacco, clothing, pottery, and statues excavated at the site show the connection. It is thought that when the Teotihuacan pyramid-building culture collapsed around AD 600, a migration took place to the north, eventually reaching Georgia as well as other places.

Gregory L. Little, Ed.D. , part Seneca, is author of the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Mounds & Earthworks, an authoritative guide to America's mound sites. His other books include Mound Builders; Grand Illusions, Edgar Cayce's Atlantis, Secrets of the Ancient World, Ancient South America, and People of the Web, and he has over 30 other books in various areas of psychology. He is the publisher of Alternate Perceptions online magazine (Mysterious-America.net). Although he has been a member of the A.R.E. for over 20 years, he became very interested in the Cayce readings while studying the effects of ritual on brain processes in the late 1980s. In addition to being popular speakers at A.R.E. Conferences, both he and his wife, Lora, have been featured in documentaries on Discovery, the Learning Channel, the History Channel, Sci-Fi, MSNBC, and the National Geographic. They are leading A.R.E.'s popular Mound Builders tour from May 2 to 6, 2012.

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Excellent CNN documentary about a strange object seen underwater by treasure hunters.

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Explorer Peter Lindberg found a very strange object on sonar. It's the size of a 747, but circular and has a trail behind it 1200 feet long, so it is heavy and it probably slid into place. But what is it? It's in Swedish waters in the Baltic, so there is a possiblity that we will actually find something out next summer when Lindberg's group returns to the site. (But if it's an alien spacecraft, don't count on it!)

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Light emerging from Kukulkan Pyramid in Mexico

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This brief docmentary about a photograph of a beam of light emerging from the Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen-Itza appears quite convincing.

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Declassified US Spy Satellites from Cold War Land in Ohio | American Spy Satellites, Military Space Program | US National Reconnaissance Office Satellites & Hexagon and Gambit Satellites | Space.com

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Best Space Photos of the Week - Jan. 28, 2012 | Space Images & Space Photography | Astronomy Photos & Earth From Space | Space.com

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The Moon Should Be the 51st State, and Other Space Dreams From Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich Gage Skidmore via Flickr

At the sunset of Newt Gingrich's putative presidency, the moon would be the 51st state, colonized by permanent American settlers. Tourists would honeymoon in low-Earth orbit, space factories would manufacture goods in microgravity, and America would have a rocket powerful enough to send us to Mars.

This is all according to a discussion Gingrich hosted Wednesday in Florida, which holds its presidential primary next Tuesday and which lost thousands of jobs as the space shuttle program drew to a close last year. But this is Gingrich talking, so it's safe to say this isn't all politics. A self-professed space nut and fan of science, Gingrich has dreamt of a lunar colony for decades. Even if this dream is inherently irrational:

"The reason you have to have a bold and large vision is you don't arouse the American nation with trivial, bureaucratically rational objectives," Gingrich said.

It's odd for a politician to trump his own ideas as grandiose and not rational. But hey, going back to the moon sure fires up the patriots! So America's space goals are once again a political football - one, incidentally, that seems to rev up Republicans more than it does Democrats. Gingrich has a long list of space dreams, which we'll get to in a minute. But this debate brings to light an interesting volley since the Reagan administration, between Democratic presidents who seem not to really dwell on America's space ambitions and Republican presidents (and would-be presidents) who just love the idea of Americans on the moon.

Dubbing himself a "visionary" for his space plans, the former House speaker and GOP presidential hopeful compared himself to John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln and the Wright brothers. But he didn't compare himself to another conservative Republican, George W. Bush, who also wanted the U.S. to go back to the moon as a launch pad for Mars. His new vision was gestated in the wake of the Columbia disaster, and centered on the retirement of the aging shuttles, but it also sought a more ambitious future for the space agency. The Constellation program never really got off the ground, however, and critics found plenty of faults.

But contrast this with Bill Clinton's presidency. While he was in the Oval Office, the U.S. partnered with Russia to build the International Space Station - certainly a major achievement, but it was arguably more impressive for its geopolitics than its science scope. Both countries already had space stations before, and the ISS took way more time and money to build than anyone had anticipated. Otherwise, Clinton apparently didn't have much to say about the space program, even in his autobiography "My Life."

Then, a while after taking office and organizing a blue-ribbon NASA review commission, President Obama harrumphed at the idea of returning to the moon - "we've been there before," he famously said - and charted a bumpy course for a future NASA that will eventually visit an asteroid and someday Mars.

Now Gingrich has set his sights back on our natural satellite, with a much tighter timeline. But there is one catch - he favors private development, not necessarily NASA leadership.

As Charles Houmans notes in Foreign Policy, the space program presents a conundrum for dedicated conservatives. It's the most unassailably awesome achievement in American history, and as such it's fertile ground for jingoists. But it's also plagued by huge federal spending overruns, a risk-averse bureaucracy and - let us not forget - scientists, whose findings do not always comport with the conservative worldview. Gingrich seems able to toe this boundary carefully, coupling his love of science and space with his free-market beliefs.

In a debate earlier this week, he said privately funded prizes spurred Charles Lindbergh and Burt Rutan to reach new milestones, and private incentives could do the same for lunar settlement and Mars exploration.

For his part, his rival Mitt Romney has been a little more vague and a little more NASA-centric, discussing a space agency with more partnerships with universities and commercial enterprises.

Wednesday's talk is just the latest in a long list of Gingrich's space ideas, some of which are wackier than others. In 1981 he sponsored an unsuccessful bill called the National Space and Aeronautics Policy Act, which set forth "provisions for the government of space territories, including constitutional protections, the right to self-government and admission to statehood," the New York Times reported in 1995. He proposed a lunar mirror network that would illuminate highways and dark alleyways. He envisions space factories creating new opportunities for the unemployed.

"If we'd spent as much on space as we've spent on farm programs, we could have taken all the extra farmers and put them on space stations working for a living ... in orbiting factories," he told a science fiction convention in 1986.

But other predictions and desires have borne out. A quarter-century ago he said "space tourism is coming," predicting Hiltons and Marriotts of the solar system. There are no space hotels yet, but space tourism is likely just around the corner.

So does anyone really think a president Gingrich would set up a successful moon base? Not really, especially given this country's economic situation and (depending on whose hyperbole you believe) debt crisis. Gingrich has given no indications of how he'd pay for it, incentives or otherwise, and the details are sparse. And most of the reaction from space observers has been tepid at best.

Space policy expert John Logsdon, professor emeritus at George Washington University, called it a "fantasy," . "It would be much better to set realistic goals, but that is not Mr. Gingrich's strong suit," he said.

But you can hand Gingrich one thing: At least he's talking about American leadership in space, something that's been sorely lacking of late. Maybe his grandiose visions will start a real conversation.

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How D-Dalus Flies Like Nothing Else

D-Dalus Graham Murdoch

Last year, the Austrian engineering firm IAT21 set out to construct a flying machine that floated like a hummingbird, traveled as fast as a jet, was as quiet as a hot-air balloon, and was simple enough that a car mechanic could repair it. The company's working prototype, called D-Dalus, is roughly five feet by three feet square and can lift about 100 pounds. But the size and lift are not what's most impressive. A flying machine with no airfoil, rotor or jet propulsion can travel where most cannot: in very tight spaces and through terrible weather.

ROTOR ASSEMBLIES

The craft's four rotors spin at 2,200 rpm, and six blades attached to carbon-fiber disks create directional thrust. The blades act as mini airfoils, their angle of attack constantly shifting in relation to rotation. For vertical lift, a blade's leading edge rises away from the center of the disk at the top of its rotation and toward the center of the disk at the bottom [pictured], creating a pressure differential.

FRICTIONLESS BEARINGS

Existing bearings were unable to withstand 1,000 Gs of force between the carbon-fiber disks and their blades and still deliver some degree of maneuverability. Engineers at IAT21 developed their own bearings, shaped like metal barrels, that hold up to the force better than spheres (think: arches) but can still roll enough for the blades to move.

AUTOMATIC STABILIZATION

Servo motors communicate with the rotor assemblies to automatically correct the craft's speed, position and balance by adjusting the blades' angle. If the pilot jerks the radio controls too hard in one direction, the craft will keep itself from pitching or yawing by increasing opposing thrust. The system can adjust for turbulence and heavy winds, too.

ADVANCED NAVIGATION

Radar, GPS and three multispectral cameras (visible, EHF-extremely high frequency- and infrared) act as the D-Dalus's eyes. Visual information is fed into the craft's collision-avoidance algorithm. The system is so sensitive that D-Dalus can fly within inches of power lines, hover above moving platforms (a ship's deck in rough seas, for example), or refuel another D-Dalus in flight.

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The Most Amazing Science Images of the Week, January 23-27, 2012

Hell-Monkey We love all living creatures here at PopSci, but that doesn't stop us from getting a little creeped out at the, you know, nightmarish appearance of this rare Burmese snub-nosed monkey. It's the first time the species has ever been photographed live; the only other time it's been professionally photographed is after it was killed (and just before it was eaten (warning: graphic image)). Read more at National Geographic. FFI/BANCA/PRCF

This week's image roundup is a particularly good one: the best "blue marble" picture we've ever seen, a video of the aurora resulting from the biggest solar storm in seven years, a foldable car, a stunning green-energy art installation, blah, blah, blah. All great. But what we really want to talk about is that ultra-creepy snub-nosed monkey, or, as we've christened it, the Hell-Monkey of Doom. Feel free to describe in detail exactly how much this picture (and a Google image search for the snub-nosed monkey) gave you the shivers.

Click to launch our guide to the upcoming year in science.

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Stonehenge Precursor Found? Island Complex Predates Famous Site

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What's more, the Scottish island complex may have been the model for England's famous stone-circle site, new data suggest.

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Dainese D-Air: the safety race is on

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Both Dainese and arch-rival Alpinestars have spent the past decade developing real-life, airbag-equipped superhero suits and now they're ready for public consumption .

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Massive Android Malware Op May Have Infected 5 Million Users | PCWorld

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iPhones, iPads May Get Magnetic Chargers | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

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USS Enterprise Coffee Table Is Furniture's Final Frontier [Star Trek]

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When I was a in middle school, I built the bridge of the Enterprise in my parents' basement out of old computer parts. It wasn't this cool, but I was pretty proud of my level of Trek fandom. Now, Inhabitat found something that tops that level of Trekkie swag: a coffee table modeled after the USS Enterprise. More »

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Coronal aurora over Fairbanks, Alaska (January 22, 2012)

Check out this hypnotic video on YouTube:

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Solar-Storm-Fueled Auroras Make for Awesome Backyard Photography | Wired Science | Wired.com

Lovely pics!

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How to Hack an iPad | PCWorld

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Tales of Password-Hacking Woe [Password]

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It's the social media sites that do you in. A Close Friend—capital C, capital F—posts a link to a video that piques your interest. Click. Suddenly you're asked to sign back into Facebook. What happens next? You give some hacker or spambot your password, and your whole digital life is at risk. More »

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Twitter Enacts Censorship Regime | John C. Dvorak | PCMag.com

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Why Is There a Hyperlink In a Newspaper? [WTFriday]

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A lot has been said about how newspapers need to embrace the Internet and tablets in order to survive. Apparently, this newspaper has already figured out how to embed interactive features in paper. Bravo! [Reddit] More »

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Friday, January 27, 2012

Couldn’t not post this

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Link to full size version HERE

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Sig Sauer announces the new 1911 in .357 Sig

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That’s right, the venerable 1911 platform has been updated by Sig to include a chambering in .357 Sig. Long time readers will know that in the past I have scoffed at this idea, but after thinking about it for a while, I’m not going to lie – I kind of want one. From Sig’s press release:

“With a year of celebrating the legacy of the 1911 under our belt, we felt it was time to introduce modern-day ballistics to the venerable pistol,” said Jeff Creamer, SIG SAUER Director of Product Management. “The .357SIG turns the old war horse into a race-ready thoroughbred.”

Initially, four models of SIG SAUER 1911s will be offered in .357SIG, two 5″ full-size guns and two 4.2″ carry models. Following their .45 Auto counterparts, these 1911s feature match-grade barrels, hammers and sears. Skeletonized triggers and hammers reduce lock time and offer enhanced accuracy.
The only single-stack production 1911s chambered in .357SIG, these SIG SAUER pistols offer 9+1 capacity in the battlefield proven single-action only platform.
- The 1911 TACOPs is a full-sized traditional slide 1911, with an all-Nitron® finish; Ergo® XT grips, ambidextrous safety and low-profile night sights.
- The 1911 Reverse Two-Tone features a natural stainless frame and a Nitron-finished slide.

The new .357 Sig 1911s will be available “shortly” from what I understand, and will carry an MSRP similar to their .45 ACP models. Of course, most of you are scratching your head and thinking “this is great and all, but why does Caleb want one?”

It’s actually pretty simple. The new 1911 in .357 Sig has a capacity from the factory of 9+1, which I’ve said in the past is my favorite magazine capacity for ESP shooters. Plus, the gun already has the right extractor for .40 S&W, so it should be a simple swap to put a .40 S&W barrel in the gun and use it for USPSA Single Stack division scoring major. But the simple truth is that I’ve always had a fascination for oddball cartridges, like the .38 Super for example. The .357 Sig is in many ways my generation’s .38 Super. It delivers excellent terminal ballistics, some people swear by it, but by and large it hasn’t really caught on.

A quick check of Hodgdon’s data tables shows several .357 Sig loads that are minor power factor, which means with a little reloading time and dedication you could easily set this up for an excellent ESP or Single Stack Minor gun. You know, honestly if I wasn’t in Glocks all year, I’d actually think about doing this.

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WTF: Less Lethal .50 BMG

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Less Lethal Africa, a South African company, had their less lethal .50 BMG rounds on display at SHOT.

less lethal south africa 0 tm tfb WTF: Less Lethal .50 BMG photo

While these rubber bullet loaded cartridges are not powerful enough cycle a rifle or machine gun action, I do wonder what the effect of a large pointed piece of polymer hitting a protester in the stomach. I suspect it is less "less" and more lethal.

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'Super Wi-Fi': Super, But Not Wi-Fi | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RsocYfB1N0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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Watch "SHOT Show - JP Enterprises LRP-07 Rifle" on YouTube

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Watch "SHOT Show - Beretta ARX-160" on YouTube

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Watch "SHOT Show - Hensoldt 3.5-26x56 Scope" on YouTube

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Watch "Del-Ton TRX 5.56x45mm AR-15 Style Semi-Automatic Rifle - Gunblast.com" on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIcPaJzPTGI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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SHOT Show - Raven Concealment Systems Vanguard 2 - YouTube

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Del-Ton TRX 5.56x45mm AR-15 Style Semi-Automatic Rifle - Gunblast.com - YouTube

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SHOT Show - The Mako Group and Front Line Holsters - YouTube

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900 RPM AR CIVILIAN LEGAL! - YouTube

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Pranking Paige Wyatt of American Guns - YouTube

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Disabled Soliders from Enduring Pride at the Range

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Project Enduring Pride hits center mass at the NRA Range

Project Enduring Pride participant enjoys his marksmanship with a M1 Garand rifle at the NRA Range

There were two parts to Project Enduring Pride's visit to the National Rifle Association earlier this week — the National Firearms Museum and the NRA Headquarters Range. While Kerrin accompanied those who toured the Museum, I stayed with the men and women who decided to take on the range.

Enduring Pride helps those who were wounded in the service of our country with the transition from military to civilian life. If one uses Tuesday's outing as a barometer of Pride's progress, I'd say they're doing one heck of a job.

"A number of people go through the range every week," said Customer Service Specialist Debra Crews. "I can't remember the last time we've seen so many smiling faces out on the line. Now that they all have their Range ID Cards, I hope to see them down here more often."

Volunteers from NRA Headquarters and the U.S. Border Patrol took personal time to man the thirteen open bays, each with either a pistol or rifle ready to fire. Among the options were a Smith & Wesson 4566, a Mac 10, a 1911, an M-1 Garand and a M4 rifle. Taking turns, the soldiers and family members spent a few hours sending shots down range with great success.

"One or two participants experienced a little rustiness at first," said NRA Training Coordinator Mark Richardson. "By the end of the day, every one was hitting center mass."

Once the live fire segment of the day came to an end, NRA's Executive Director of General Operations Kayne Robinson stepped up to welcome and thank the group for their commitment.

Representatives from Project Enduring Pride present NRA's Bill Bryne and Kayne Robinson with a Wounded Warriors battle flag.

"The NRA has always had a very close relationship with the military," said Robinson. "It is our honor to have you hear with us today. It is a small gesture in comparison to what all of you have done for our country, but it's our honor to host this event and a serious part of our heritage.

Project Enduring Pride Director Ken Strafer then stepped forward to present both Robinson and U.S. Border Patrol Chief Soto with a Wounded Warrior Battle Streamer and Battle Flag. Designed during their stay at the Walter Reed Medical Center, the streamer and flag are symbols of appreciation.

"We give you this for all the outstanding work that you give all wounded warriors," said Strafer. "We are very proud to have your support."

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP

Desktop Support Specialist - Lead

Personal: dahuntsr@gmail.com

Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr

Sent from my iPad2

Adams Family stage show/musical

Remember or have you heard of the Adams Family TV comedy show? A musical version is appearing in Lansing MI January 31 thru February 5.

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP
Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr
Blog: http://audio-book-addict.posterous.com
OR http://dahuntsr.posterous.com

Sent from my HTC Inspire™ 4G on AT&T

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Audible and ACX’s message to indie authors – F*#@ off!

Audible and ACX’s message to indie authors – F*#@ off!

Published on Podiobooker | shared via feedly mobile

That’s my summation of conversations I’ve had with Nicole Op Den Bosch, Associate, Content Acquisition, Business Development and Jennifer Bassuk, Senior Director, Content Acquisition and Business Development for the company. I spoke with Nicole via telephone Thursday morning, and then with her and Jennifer Monday morning. All after recommending hundreds of indie authors explore ACX as a possible revenue source for their independently produced audio books.

Even though the ACX website clearly states they offer non-exclusive terms and are actively seeking authors who narrate their own books, Nicole painted a different picture of the “intent” of ACX. She stated that they never really wanted indie authors, and instead only wanted the top few hundred titles from big publishing houses that weren’t already available as audio books. So much for this nugget also found on their website:

“The result: More audiobooks will be made.
Too many authors have been left out of the quickly growing and culturally repositioned digital audio market. Until now.”

But not, it turns out, if you’re an indie author who’s taken the route of offering up a free podcast version of your work. You, my friend, can take a flying leap as far as ACX is concerned. You are not welcome in ACX’s playground.

Someone look up the definition of “exclusive”. I am not sure that word means what ACX thinks it means.

According to Nicole, Audible members get their panties in a wad when they find a free version of the audio book they were overcharged for. On the surface, I can understand that. Audible’s terribly outdated “book of the month club” model doesn’t make it easy to enjoy more than one title each month, and their prices beyond that are notoriously high. So if I found a more-friendly alternative, I’d be a little pissed, too.

But that’s where Nicole’s argument breaks down. You see, the parent company of ACX and Audible is Amazon.com. And Amazon.com happily shows multiple formats of books at different price points side-by-side. Here’s a shot of Scott Sigler’s Infected:

Multiple formats & multiple prices on Amazon.com

Ebooks, hard cover, paper back, audio books… and even from other retailers and individuals. I count 12 different price points, ranging from eighty-one cents to about thirty-five bucks. That’s a healthy delta. In fact, it’s such a delta that I asked Nicole a point blank question: If we sold the podcast version for a penny, would ACX have a problem with that?

You can imagine how stunned I was when she said something along the lines of “No, that would be OK.”

So there you have it, overcharged Audible member; Audible thinks that you are so stupid as to not be able to tell the difference between a penny and thirty-five dollars. Do you also think that as long as you still have checks in your checkbook, that you have money in your account?

I tried to explain to Nicole (who, in fairness, seemed to understand what I was saying), that a free podcast version is very different than a fee-based downloadable audio book version. The former takes many many clicks to listen to. It takes listening to repetitive intros and outros. It requires patience to listen to some chatter from an author about a convention they attended three years ago or a now-defunct contest you can’t enter. And it requires exposures to commercials and special offers.

Contrast that with a one-click download for a complete and self-contained audiobook, where the only thing heard is the contents of the audio book itself! Sounds like a convenience some (though obviously not all) people will pay for, yes?

But not on ACX, it seems. Because even armed with that information — I like to call it logic — Nicole stuck to policy. She even admitted to hearing from a handful of authors from Podiobooks.com who tried to explain the difference.

Some of what I said got through, and Nicole tossed the ball higher up the food chain to Jennifer, whom I just got off the call with. Not surprisingly, there wasn’t any substantive change in the official ACX position. Jennifer doesn’t see how multiple price points for ebooks are relevant for audio books (“An ebook is just a photocopy of a book in a different format,” she said. No, not kidding.) and doesn’t understand how free and for-fee play together (“I don’t get what authors get from giving away free content“.)

It’s hard to argue someone away from that position. So I stopped trying.

The only slightly positive takeaway from the call with Jennifer was her comment that ACX does have plans to let authors who have already created audio version in their sand box in the near(?) future. But not if that author gives a different audio version away for free. Even for authors who don’t want to play in the free-space, they run the risk of having their content taken down if the alternate audio version is priced too low. So if you were thinking of selling your podcasted version for $0.99, think again.

Jennifer would like to keep the conversation going. I’m OK with that. As much as I’d like to ignore ACX and Audible — I can’t. They remain the near-monopoly in the space. I stand behind Cory Doctorow’s concept of giving people every possible chance to buy an author’s work, and that means getting books on every possible marketplace. (Side note: When I brought up Cory, Jennifer said something along the lines of “Yeah, we’ve talked to him. We won’t put his books up on Audible.“)

Many authors are wondering what they can do to turn the tide in their favor. Here’s one option: Call Nicole. Her office line is 973-820-0400. Tell her you are a rights holder who’d like to take advantage of ACX, but you’re not willing to burn the bridges you’ve established with your audience. Try (perhaps in vain) to tell her that a free podcast version isn’t all that competitive with a downloadable fee-based audio book. Tell her that authors like Cory Doctorow and John Scalzi provide .pdf versions of their books for free and still manage to sell tens (or hundreds) of thousands of their books in print and ebook form for their publishers. Tell her how hard you’ve worked to build your platform, and would like to give that platform one more chance to purchase a fee-based product. And that you’re willing to do the work to make the best possible product for sale.

In the mean time, there are other distribution outlets. If ACX won’t play, there are other market places who will. And who will pay a better royalty. Authors on Podiobooks.com have been extremely good about building their own audience without a powerhouse behind them. I think we can do it again. I recommend BackMyBook.com as an alternative. If you’re interested, reach out to Tay (tay@backmybook.com). He’s got a great model that gives you more than 80% of sales — and you set the sale price. We’ll work to fully integrate with them to make a seamless experience for those who want to pay you for your work.

And maybe, just maybe, ACX will change their minds and open up to the indie author who knows the power of using free to bolster for-fee. Here’s to hoping.

feedly. feed your mind. http://www.feedly.com

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP
Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr
Blog: http://audio-book-addict.posterous.com
OR http://dahuntsr.posterous.com

Sent from my HTC Inspire™ 4G on AT&T

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Conceal carry is very dangerous…

Published on Guns For Everyone | shared via feedly mobile

…for bad guys.

Authorities say a customer at a South Carolina Waffle shop pulled a gun and shot one of two men trying to rob the restaurant.
The Greenville News reports that the shooting took place early Saturday morning inside a Waffle Shop off Interstate 85 in Spartanburg County.
Coroner Rusty Clevenger identified the dead man as 19-year-old Dante Lamont Williams of Roebuck, who was shot in the head and body.
Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright declined to identity the customer, citing concerns for his safety. Authorities said the customer had a concealed weapon permit and tried to hold the two men at gunpoint until officers arrived, but that one suspect began to point his gun at the customer, who then fired shots. The second robber fled and is being sought by authorities.

I don’t really buy into the whole Sheepdog philosophy of carrying. If you don’t think carrying a gun is important enough for you to do it, I don’t plan to be your hero when you need help.

However, I still give this guy credit for doing what he did. We can only hope that some day the surveillance footage will be released to the public so that we can all point and laugh at Dante Williams.

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP

Desktop Support Specialist - Lead

Personal: dahuntsr@gmail.com

Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr

Sent from my iPad2

Federal Premium Top Gun Target Loads. Awesome claybusters with a cause

Published on Guns For Everyone | shared via feedly mobile

I have been Shooting Federal Premium Shotshells since I was shorter than my first Over/Under. Federal Premium just came out with these Top Gun Shells in Patriotic colors to support The Wounded Warrior Project They are selling the Top Gun trap load with new patriotic colored cases for 12, 20, and .410 ga. A portion of the proceeds from sales of these shot shells will go to The Wounded Warrior Project. The Charity helps wounded service members from all branches and their families. So, next time you go to the Skeet range, pick up a couple boxes. Fun for you and it’ll make you feel good knowing that some of the money is going to help the men and women that sacrificed themselves for our country and our freedom. Plus you will look pretty badass slinging red, white and blue hulls at your next three gun match or bustin clays with your drunk redneck buddies.

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP

Desktop Support Specialist - Lead

Personal: dahuntsr@gmail.com

Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr

Sent from my iPad2

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Princess Diana's ghost filmed in church - Unexplained Mysteries

Navigated from Unexplained Mysteries | shared via feedly mobile

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP

Desktop Support Specialist - Lead

Personal: dahuntsr@gmail.com

Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr

Sent from my iPad2

Team to drill down in to Antarctic lake - Unexplained Mysteries

Navigated from Unexplained Mysteries | shared via feedly mobile

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP

Desktop Support Specialist - Lead

Personal: dahuntsr@gmail.com

Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr

Sent from my iPad2

Book Review: The Ancient Alien Question

Published on Recent Articles on Paranormalnews.com | shared via feedly mobile

The Ancient Alien Question is a new book by Philip Coppens, published by New Page Books, which details the newest thoughts surrounding the ancient alien controversy. Coppens is an investigative journalist and regular contributor to Atlantis Rising and NEXUS magazine, and is one of the leading contributors to the History Channel's well-known series Ancient Aliens.

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP

Desktop Support Specialist - Lead

Personal: dahuntsr@gmail.com

Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr

Sent from my iPad2

Russia proposes manned Moon base - Unexplained Mysteries

Navigated from Unexplained Mysteries | shared via feedly mobile

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP

Desktop Support Specialist - Lead

Personal: dahuntsr@gmail.com

Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr

Sent from my iPad2

Heyzap Is A Social Discovery App For Mobile Gamers – Signs 12 New Mobile Gaming Partners

Published on Android Phone Fans | shared via feedly mobile

This image has no alt text

Having 500,000+ applications in the Android Market sure sounds amazing but do you ever get the feeling that you’re missing out on a hidden gem? The best way to discover something new is to simply ask your friends what they’re playing but pinging them on Twitter/Facebook every day could prove bothersome.

Well, Heyzap looks to make that process a little easier by introducing a mobile gaming community. While this may sound much like the many “app discovery” applications already on the market, Heyzap is different in that it allows for game-based checkins — similar to apps like Foursquare — so you always know exactly what your friends are playing.

The company has recently signed with 12 new partners to integrate their service into their titles. Spacetime Studios, PocketGems and Digital Chocolate are just a few of these new developers on board, adding to Heyzap’s growing list of over 800 mobile game developers.

If you want to give Heyzap a go, the application can be downloaded for free, right now, in the Android Market. If you’re a mobile games developer and want to increase your app’s awareness, you can also find the link for integrating Heyzap’s service in your own app via their SDK link below.

[Market Link | Heyzap SDK]

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP

Desktop Support Specialist - Lead

Personal: dahuntsr@gmail.com

Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr

Sent from my iPad2

iPad a Solid Education Tool, Study Reports

Published on Wired Top Stories | shared via feedly mobile

More and more schools are jumping on the digital bandwagon and adopting iPads for daily use in the classroom. Publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt performed a pilot study to see how effective iPad learning is. Using an iPad textbook for Algebra 1 courses, it found that 20 percent more students scored 'Proficient' or 'Advanced' in standardized tests than their paper textbook using counterparts.

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP

Desktop Support Specialist - Lead

Personal: dahuntsr@gmail.com

Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr

Sent from my iPad2

Windows Phone Predicted to Displace iPhone | PCWorld

Navigated from PCWorld Latest Technology News | shared via feedly mobile

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP

Desktop Support Specialist - Lead

Personal: dahuntsr@gmail.com

Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr

Sent from my iPad2

Pricey F35 JSF May Have to Be Scrapped. Cannot Land!!

Published on Dvorak News Blog | shared via feedly mobile

Leaked Pentagon documents claim a design flaw in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has caused eight simulated landings to fail. The “F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Concurrency Quick Look Review” claimed the flaw meant that the “arrestor” hook, used to stop the plane during landing, was too close to the plane’s wheels.
When a fighter lands on an aircraft carrier an arrestor cable catches the hook on the back of the aircraft, preventing it from overshooting and ditching into the sea. The documents warn of “major consequences” to the aircraft’s structure and cast doubt on the readiness of the JSF to provide close-air support, which is seen as critical to a carrier’s role in providing amphibious landings.
The review further suggests the planes will be unable to fire the British Asraam air-to-air missile.

This could be an amazing disaster and a huge fiasco. The story should break in the coming weeks.

Dwight A. Hunt, Sr. A+, MCP

Desktop Support Specialist - Lead

Personal: dahuntsr@gmail.com

Facebook and Twitter: dahuntsr