Random Articles - RAW 150807


Hello to you all!  Here is this weeks offering of random articles.  The one I was really interested in this week was the last article by Gizmodo titled The Future Will Be Full of Lab Grown Meat.  In many Sci-Fi books I have read it is common to see synthetic meat, synth-meat, vat grown meat and all its variations used as a way of feeding the crews and inhabitants of futuristic space stations or fantastical starships as they zoom around the galaxy.    So it was interesting to read of the struggle and amount of work it takes to actually bring this product into reality.  It also mentions the possibility of a kitchen-top meat making appliance which may be available in 20-30 years time.  I would definitely want try out one of these... at least once.   

Also something which brought a smile to my face was the picture in the article titled Penguin to Let Londoners Read eBooks for Free on the Underground.  In the middle of the picture is the slogan 'Where would you like to go today?'  It reminded of 1994, Microsoft and Babylon 5.  The year was 1994 and at the time Microsoft was running a $100 million advertising campaign where they asked  "Where do you want to go today?"  Babylon 5 was showing on TV as well and these Microsoft advertisement were running.  During the ad break Microsoft would ask 'Where would you like to go today?' and Ambassador Kosh of the Vorlon empire had a reoccurring phrase which went 'If you go to z’ha’dum you will die.'  So I can never hear that phrase, or a similar one without thinking the next line.   

Where do you want to go today?
If you go to z’ha’dum you will die.

TMI?

Anywho... get comfy and enjoy these articles or a good book this weekend with your favourite beverage in hand.  Maybe you will want to try Bonox?  Enjoy!

  • Penguin Random House Sells Its Australian Online Bookstore to Larger Rival
  • e-Book Sales Fall 9.3% from January to July 2015
  • Publishers: Stop Grading an Author’s Social Media Status
  • Penguin to Let Londoners Read eBooks for Free on the Underground
  • Your eBook Might have a Virus called candy.js
  • The Future Will Be Full of Lab Grown Meat




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Penguin Random House Sells Its Australian Online Bookstore to Larger Rival


the-digital-reader.com - The prevailing wisdom may be that publishers need to have more and better connections to consumers, but apparently that doesn't apply in Australia. Smart Company, Sydney Morning Herald, and other sources reporting that  PRH Australia has sold its online bookstore Bookworld to Booktopia. Read more...



e-Book Sales Fall 9.3% from January to July 2015


goodereader.com -  Our love affair with e-books is on the decline as sales have dramatically fallen 9.3% from January to July 2015. April was the worst month this year with e-book sales decreasing 51.6% year on year. The Association of American Publishers releases data every single month from 1,200 publishers. According to this organization e-book sales have been on the decline all year long. Read more...




digitalbookworld.com -  I see too many publishers assigning dubious grades to authors based on their social media following. They judge authors based on the numbers they see online. For instance, I’ve sat in several meetings with literary agents, acquisitions editors, and marketing directors who ask misguided questions, Read more...

Well, this is somewhat embarrassing, this link no longer seems to be working.  It has been taken down for some reason, not sure if it is an error on the server, at the authors request or what... It was an interesting article. You may be able to find the cached copy here (it was still available in Googles cache at the time of posting.) 




Penguin to Let Londoners Read eBooks for Free on the Underground


the-digital-reader.com - Publishing is going through a "throw it up against the wall and see what sticks" phase, and one idea that has stuck is letting people read ebooks for free in public places. The Drum reports that Random Penguin UK  has partnered with the London Underground and its contractor, Virgin Wifi, to let riders read ebooks or listen to audiobooks for free. Read more...




Your eBook Might have a Virus called candy.js


goodereader.com - If you have an e-reader issued by Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Kobo your reading habits are being tracked. These companies want to monitor what books you are buying and how long it takes you to get through them. When ebooks are sold on other platforms, publishers and authors are normally kept out of the loop, until now. A new tracking script is currently being implemented that totally negates privacy.  Read more...




The Future Will Be Full of Lab Grown Meat


gizmodo.com -  In 2013, the world’s first lab-grown burger was unveiled to the world. It carried a $330,000 price tag, and apparently, it wasn’t all that tasty. But the scientists behind the idea have been hard at work, and artificial meat that’s both cost-effective and palatable may arrive sooner than we think. Read more...





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