B. Justin Shier's Blog, page 6

More details on the iBook Author EULA from CNET's Ed Bott...

"Over the years, I have read hundreds of license agreements, looking for little gotchas and clear descriptions of rights. But I have never, ever seen a legal document like the one Apple has attached to its new iBooks Author program.
I read EULAs so you don't have to. I've spent years reading end user license agreements, EULAs, looking for little gotchas or just trying to figure out what the agreement allows and doesn't allow.
I have...

From Engadget...


Apple's announcement is a very exciting development for the textbook market. The ability to generate interactive textbooks with that incredible highlighting feature is a big step forward. I think we are finally getting a glimpse of what learning might be like in ten years time. Not too pleased with this tiny caveat, however:

"Cupertino is giving authors the ability to set their own prices as long as they remain $14.99 or under. In exchange, Apple takes a 30 percent cut, and...

Help me, end-user. You're my only hope.
We interrupt this blog for an important message from the internet...
+ A technical examination of SOPA and PROTECT IPby Jason Harvey[originally posted on www.reddit.com]
As you have probably heard, there are two pieces of legislation currently pending that we, and others like us, believe seriously threaten the internet. I wanted to take some time to delve into the text of both of these bills, and outline their potential consequences as I am able to...

I have a secret. I'm very bad at math.

Yea, I liked to write code as a kid. Yea, I love to help fellow researchers do statistical analyses. But everything I've been able to achieve in math has been the result of brute force rather than true talent. In no other subject have I struggled so hard. In no other academic domain have I become so aware of my limits.

But that doesn't mean I hate math. I love math. I love to read about math. I love to hear about math. I find it fascinating. But math isn't...

Just a heads-up: The price of Zero Sight  will be increasing to $3.99 in a few days. At the moment, it is still available at $2.99 on Amazon (marked down actually, until the B&N price updates). The change will probably occur at the end of this week.

Some of you have been advocating this price increase for some time. I've been somewhat hesitant to do so, fearing it might reduce the amount of "impulse buys" Zero Sight generates. But a number of other indie authors are having success at the $3.99 ...

I received a big surprise earlier this week when FBC's Mihir Wanchoo released his Top Reads of 2011 list.

He awarded Zero Sight  Debut Novel of the Year, and Zero Sum made it onto his novels of the year list right behind Blake Crouch's Run !

"Brian's books were possibly the find of the year for me, combing humor, action and an exciting writing style, the Zero Sight series is one to be absolutely savored. Currently writing his third book Brian's witty prose makes him an excellent addition to the...

In case you forgot that things were not going well in the print publishing industry, on the heels of bookseller Borders' bankruptcy earlier this year,

Barnes & Noble Inc. said it exploring a plan to separate its successful but costly Nook electronic-book business as it warned investors that full-year results would show much more red ink than previously forecast.
...
Shares sank nearly 24% in Thursday morning trading.
...
"We see substantial value in what we've built with our Nook business in only ...

"I never took up the sword. I think the sword took me up."
—Bob Anderson

We lost a legend today. Bob Anderson was responsible for most of the sword awesomeness in American cinematography for the past five decades. Oh yea, and he did Darth Vader's swordplay.

"Bob Anderson was the man who actually did Vader's fighting. It was always supposed to be a secret, but I finally told George I didn't think it was fair any more. Bob worked so bloody hard that he deserves some recognition. It's ridiculous to...

"I never took up the sword. I think the sword took me up."
—Bob Anderson

We lost a legend today. Bob Anderson was responsible for most of the sword awesomeness in American cinematography for the past five decades. Oh yea, and he did Darth Vader's swordplay.

"Bob Anderson was the man who actually did Vader's fighting. It was always supposed to be a secret, but I finally told George I didn't think it was fair any more. Bob worked so bloody hard that he deserves some recognition. It's ridiculous to...

All the lessons of history in four sentences:
Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad with power.
The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small.
The bee fertilizes the flower it robs.
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.
—Charles A. Beard

I watch four movies during the holidays.  Jaws , because it offers one last glimmer of what man was.  The Shawshank Redemption , because it presents man as he is. And To Kill A Mockingbird , because it tells us what man should be. (...