Daily Thoughts 09/17/2012
I read some more of Abundance this weekend. There is quite a bit on technophilanthropy which is often focused on global issues. The Bill Gates Foundation addresses issues like sanitation which can effect everyone. There is also some material on the concept of dematerialization. This is how objects are becoming increasingly smaller and being computerized. A cell phone now functions as a camera, telephone and in some cases computer. This changes the amount of material needed to make things. This especially true with nanotechnology. Earlier in the book, the authors cite the book, Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology by Eric K. Drexler which was written in 1987.
I also read a little more of Madrigal's Magic Keys to Spanish.
I am enjoying reading The Rapture of the Nerds A tale of the singularity, posthumanity, and awkward social situations. I am finding it both funny and ironic. Cory Doctorow and Charles Stross seem to be writing a fractured science fiction novel. The main character Huw dislikes technology. Many of the ideas in a typical science fiction novel are turned on their heads. The writing is different because it includes things like taking baths, swearing, and eating which are the every day things often left out of science fiction novels.
The future is not so wonderful and the human condition seems to prevail. It even prevails with various ideas like uplifted gibbons and artificial intelligence devices. They are often as cantankerous as the people in the story.
Ellen Datlow was part of the editorial team for The Rapture of the Nerds. I think this adds to the story with some strong characterization.
I put the book Finding my elegy : new and selected poems, 1960-2010 by Ursual Le Guin on hold.
The Comic Book History of Comics by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey came in for me to read. It is the history of comics in comic book form.
This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Web Bits
What Popular Culture Is Telling Us About Libraries
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/09/opinion/backtalk/what-popular-culture-is-telling-us-about-libraries-and-why-we-should-listen-backtalk/
Print On Demand: Major Announcement Could Change How You Buy Books
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/13/print-on-demand-books-espresso_n_1882616.html?ref=topbar
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