Novel, Novella, Or Novelette?

I’ve been exploring the real world of creating fake worlds – fiction. Like seeking fireflies at night, I dream of writing a book someday. I figure it should be short for starters, to increase my chances of completion (which in itself I’d consider success). But how short should it be?

Permanent Record Review

Maybe the US government is logging my keystrokes as I type this. Or maybe only Google is since I’m using Docs on a Chromebook to write. Ambient Privacy and Surveillance Capitalism are important topics. But for this review of Ed Snowden’s memoir, I want to focus on only the literary aspects.

What About Green Texts?

The iPhone is very popular, so a whole slew of people chat with the iMessage app. I often hear that it’s one of the biggest reasons for “platform lock-in.” That’s to say, many folks don’t or won’t stop using an iPhone because they’re chained to iMessage. But I don’t get it.

Digital Bookstore Conundrum

I’ve got a personal problem. But I think others have it too. When you buy an eBook, which eStore should you shop at? Because your eLibrary gets really disjointed if you buy from more than one eTailer.

A Story Pipe Dream

Every now and then, my dream of writing fiction shimmies back up from the crevices between the couch cushions of my mind. With my recent resurgence in reading fiction (a new genre too), I’ve also started to think of creating my own worlds of escapism.

Death By Team Building Review

Ah, another good book finished. Feels good to wrap up a good story. I just finished the third cozy mystery in the Kat Voyzey trilogy by Cheri Baker. And this one was the most interesting and my favorite of the three.

The Cure For Upgraditus

There you are with your smartphone, holding the “future” in your hands. But then the newest smartphone arrives, marketing its superior awesomeness. Now you feel obsolete. You must upgrade! Yet you resist. But the latest phone tugs at your feeble mind and weak will. The struggle is real. But it doesn’t have to be.

Trying Bionic Ears

Last Friday, I saw an ENT Specialist in Audiology for my Tinnitus, that persistent and potentially maddening tonal plague inside my head, like a scratch you can’t itch. And something happened that I did not expect. I was prescribed hearing aids to try out. Talk about different!

Race For Broadband

In the countryside where I live, we don’t have hi-speed broadband internet: no cable, no fiber. We have one single provider to choose from (not counting the satellite internet ones). And the only choice we have in our area is DSL – over the phone-line internet. But in the future, this is supposed to change. Three new options are racing, and the one that reaches our area first wins the cash prize.

Angel Has Fallen

My wife and I enjoyed watching Angel Has Fallen at the theater last weekend – we got to go out on a date!

Squeezing The Tablet

Some have said the tablet is dead. Others thought the tablet would replace all traditional computers before it. Steve Jobs said Apple thought there was enough room in the middle, between a smartphone and a laptop, for a tablet to not only exist but to excel. I say that space has become too tight; the tablet is being squeezed out.

Reading Challenge Update 2019

I’ve missed reading! I started off the year doing about a book a month, but things got extra busy this Summer. I had read only one short book in the last few months, so I’m behind in my annual goodreads reading challenge. But I think I’m gonna catch up.

Shout Out To Chrome Sites

When I was all into using only my iPad for everything, I enjoyed a few websites dedicated to that. But now that I’ve switched to Chromebook, I like some new sites; they helped in my transition process. And they’re good to fuel the Chromebook fun.

Apple Reiterates The Smartphone

Earlier this week, Apple had their annual iPhone event and announced some updates. So here are a few of my well-uninformed thoughts from my soft spot for new tech.

Silence Is Not So Golden

Living with Tinnitus may not sound like a big deal. But if you could actually hear the inaudible sounds in someone’s head, you’d think silence is not so golden.

Involuntary Turnover Review

If you like to read fiction, you probably have a favorite genre to stick with. For me, it’s mostly Sci-Fi and Fantasy. (Is Dystopia its own genre?) Last week, I finished reading a book outside my norm: a Cozy Mystery. It was good! In fact, I’ve already started reading book two in the series.

Pocket In My Pocket

We’ve got a lot of cool little technology solutions these days. There’s an app or website for everything, right? Well I’m back to using one that I’ve always liked – Pocket.

The Sound Of Hearing Tech

It happens to be Deaf Awareness Month, (or week…) and I stumbled upon a tweet from @Android that made my eyes open wide; then my ears got tickled. Why? Because of the news that Android smartphones now work with hearing devices in a new improved way. And it sounds promising!

Cost And Craze Of Pokemon

During the past holiday weekend, my family enjoyed lots of Pokemon trading card game action, among other things. We attended the weekly League meet-up for card trading and lots of head-to-head battles with everybody’s current decks. And as usual, I learned a few more things, had fun, and embraced challenges. But this Pokemon thing is a craze that sometimes has me a little concerned.