In the last couple of months I have attempted to go a different route than the standard hardcover editions and given a try to reading some stuff on the old digital tablet. I’ve now made it through a couple of books in the Kindle app and am halfway through my second in iBooks. My goal here is not to debate the merits of either platform (I think I prefer the Kindle app at this point) but to quickly point out a new frustration I have with a medium that is still struggling to find its place in this world.

Since I know that having a love for reading is important (and that I’ve got a pretty flimsy relationship with it), one of my favorite things to do is to take my boys every other week or so to the library to get some new books. I let them pick out a few (with the full veto power a dad possesses) and I get to pick out a couple that I think they might like as well.

From as early as I can remember, the older one has had a fascination with books and will sit in your lap for hours to read or sit by himself and flip through them if you are busy doing other things. The younger one didn’t quite start out with the same love, but I have noticed that as he’s gotten a bit older he has started bringing a few of his favorites to me to read and seems to enjoy flipping through them by himself in the car. My hope is that this passion for reading will continue to grow in each of them and it will benefit them in multiple ways going forward.

— — —

Returning back to our library excursion, once we have secured the 5-6 books for them, we usually take a swing through the other side of the library starting with the CD section (great if you’re into names like Gillespie, Marsalis or Sinatra). We then head over to one of the computers to search for any of the author names that I have taken a liking to after reading one of their titles or been pointed to by some other source. This past Monday was no exception; same routine, typical results. Books for the boys, nothing new in music and the couple of books I had been thinking about getting were already checked out. No biggie.

However, there was one small difference this week that we hadn’t done before. I had recently seen a tweet from our local government social media account that mentioned an upcoming class on e-books through the library. This, of course, was right up my alley. A renewed passion for reading, the recent emphasis on reading on the iPad and the ability to read titles for free in a legitimate manner. Score. We made a swing by the reference desk and in no time we were out the door with paper instructions on the two different “e-book” options available.

Once home, we plowed through the boys books a couple of times so it was my turn to see what I could conjure up. Of the two options I had, one was only available online and not transferable to devices like my iPad but the other had the magic words of “Download in the App Store” so I proceeded. My first tip to something going awry should have been the fact that once I located it, the app was preceded by the name Adobe. Strike one.

I pressed forward with the install and then fired it up to hopefully find some quality digital reading material. Once open, the first task at hand was to add a library to the app. Unfortunately this process requires you to link out to Safari and search for it online. Once located, you then have to log in with your library credentials and are finally ushered in to the book area. Again all online, not in the app itself.

Upon getting logged in, the first thing I noticed is that the actual number of books in the store was quite a bit less than I would have imagined. Think of your library, then think of the nonfiction section, now think of a rack of books and this collection probably fills about a third of that rack. Strike one-and-a-half.

I navigated my way to the business section just to see what type of material was available. Much to my surprise, I found the grand total of thirty-one books. Yes, 31. This is the library, right? Without being deterred, I decided to try a simple one, Tribes by Gladwell, just to see how the whole process worked. Process as follows – clicked on the book, page loaded, given a multitude of information about the book and two buttons for my options: Place a Hold & Add to Wish List. Strictly from a UX standpoint, I’m at a loss. As a user I don’t really know what the difference is. I’m supposed to be browsing the library but is it safe to assume that they are trying to sell me this book in addition to letting me check it out? Interesting (and confusing) strategy.

I decided on Placing a Hold and then noticed the 10pt font just below, “0 copies available, 9 users in queue.” At this point, my frustration level is rising. To recap the situation thus far:
1. The app is useless for book finding
2. The selection of books is weak at best
3. The online experience is confusing for users
4. And now I find that I am at best nine-ish weeks out from reading this title and at worst some thirty-six weeks (9 users * 2 weeks per checkout * 1 renewal period for each user) from getting my turn.

Seriously?

I decided to check a couple of other titles but the best I could find was a book that was listed with five copies and two users in the queue, no matter that it wasn’t a book I cared to read. Who knows how many strikes at this point, but it’s definitely enough for an out.

— — —

My first thought of the entire process was to throw the blame at the library and ultimately at our local government for choosing such a poor product to associate themselves with. It seemed like a pretty standard thing for a government to do: create a program, implement it poorly and then tout their capabilities as if they accomplished some great thing. And it may still very well be just that.

The publishing world is still doing it wrong.

But after a few minutes of thinking on it, I’ve come to realize that the more likely scenario is the fact that the publishing world is still doing it wrong. Similar to newspapers, the book world is struggling to keep up. Yes, I realize in their eyes, jobs and executive bonuses are at stake – but on the other hand, they are absolutely fouling it up for themselves in the long run. I see more and more authors going at it by self-publishing or through smaller publishing firms that are paying attention to the changing times.

I know guys who publish on multiple formats – print, epub, mobi, PDF and more – just to be able to reach every audience available. Instead, Adobe builds the big publishers a proprietary crutch similar to the stupid DRM-crippling tracks that recording labels tried to push on users in the early ages of digital music. I bought very few of those and I plan on buying even less of these.

I get the fact that publishers feel like they lose money (and possibly do to a small extent) on libraries. But I have to assume that over the decades of libraries in this country – usually multiple in every decent-sized town – that they’ve earned some back by those who either go out and purchase a library-read title or purchase other titles by an author they found through the library. I have. If they felt like they weren’t getting a return, wouldn’t they kill their books from the library shelves by now? I would.

— — —

So, after getting my hopes up a little, I’m back to my two original options. Paper editions from the library or digital editions I can download at a cost. I realize I can also buy paper editions but like most, our family’s hard/paperback purchases will decline as we move forward. I dig the tactile-ness of a book but the storage of, upkeep of and resources used in their creation tend to make me think they will ultimately see a decline in the years to come.

It seems like a market that could really be taken by storm by a publisher. Prove to authors that you’re ready to play on the next level. Market online, publish digital, find a way to better find/promote the undiscovered talent and be the reason they shouldn’t go anywhere else with their content. Your dependence on store placement and book tours goes down and your fixed cost like printing and shipping could ultimately disappear. Business and Customer Win.

Our landlord/boss was a small business owner who somehow came into the printing world from Big 6 accounting. His learning curve was definitely trial-by-fire but I admired him for his desire to make it work. He was there every day and save for a few flare-ups of his micro-managing style, I really felt like he had what it took to make the business succeed.

Knowing this, I was shockingly amused every time he’d remind us of the one simple rule he had for us; the tenants living above his place of business. We were warned more times than I can count on one hand that if we ever happened to catch anything in the building on fire¹ our only responsibility was to, “fight the firefighters.” It’s both an entertaining statement and an insightful look into what he valued.

This all came back to me as I settled in to watch my favorite NFL team once again this evening. If it wasn’t clear before, it has been solidified tonight that it’s about time for the Dallas Cowboys to “fight the firefighters.” A team of much talent matters little if there’s no leadership or cohesiveness among them. Sadly, a firing of the head coach wouldn’t even come close to solving the problem this time. The owner – who many once believed cared about winning – has finally proven to me that his ego and desire for the spotlight matters far more.

Not often do you hope for losses but from this point out, I’m rooting for 1-15. It’s about the only chance we have at seeing big changes. Anybody else ready to fight the firefighters?

Go Rangers.

¹In three years, only once did we have a fire and thankfully it went without incident.

It isn’t a new feeling, I’ve been sick to my stomach like this before. While getting dinner ready for the kid and myself this evening, he took a spill climbing into his chair and we were off to the races again. I was able to get the bleeding to stop here at the house with some medical tape but knew the 1-inch or longer slice needed medical attention.

With his mother (and the family nurse) at work, Cohen and I were left to figure it out ourselves. I don’t know how to even describe what his head will look like after this but it will be his third scar on his face before the age of two, by far the biggest and probably most noticeable.

Even describing it, I want to throw up. Not because it grosses me out, but the fact that I can’t figure out for the life of me how this keeps happening. Every time in the forehead region. How about a knee or elbow for goodness sake?

He’s supposed to start school this week but with 5 stitches in his forehead, I’m not sure they’ll even let him do that.

While there is/was nothing I could have done to prevent the issue, I still feel fully at fault. Even with so many other things going on in my life right now, the only thing on my mind tonight is that I hope it heals with the least amount of scarring possible.

To C, if you ever happen to read this – I apologize for the pain you endured tonight and the mark that you will be left with, if I could have done more I would have.

I just hope this isn’t a push towards multiple items in the meat-as-a-bread category.

(via FoodGeekery)

The silver lining here is that after months of spending, this contract signals movement to finally disclose officially where the money has been going. More importantly, the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, which oversees Recovery.gov, has promised to make all of the raw spending data available to the public.

I’d have done it for $7 million.

In another masked attempt to tick off most every one of their customers, Facebook again slips into some shady practices and backs them up with “you agreed to it in the Terms of Service.”

Take for example, Peter Smith, who was recently presented an ad on Facebook aiming to connect him with Hot Singles and the image of the hot single was his own wife. No, she hadn’t left her status as single and no she hadn’t signed up for Match.com or similar. Cheryl, like the hundreds of millions of other Facebook users had no idea of a setting that Facebook defaults to true allowing your picture to be used in your friends’ Facebook ads.

Thanks, Facebook, for reminding me again why I have no use for your borderline-ethical services.

And for you actual Facebook users, here’s the steps to change your settings to help you avoid lady-of-the-night status on your friends’ pages:

1. Settings
2. Privacy
3. News Feed and Wall
4. Click on “Facebook Ads”
5. In the “Appearance in Facebook Ads” box, click “no one”

Don’t believe in its magical super powers? Take a few moments to read the comments on it.

Stocking up now while it’s available.

1998 jeep gran sherokee

98 cherokee clean runs realy good cold a/c no mechanical problems
165 k and steel runs good cero problems sun roof pawer windows
6 cilinder $$$2500 it has georgia plates so you wiil have to get it rejister hir in
texas clean title for more info please call 214 760 3841 thank you

Copied and pasted. 80% sure it is a stolen vehicle. And for the record, I emailed the seller and did my best attempt at matching his grammar/spelling.

UPDATE: My correspondence to the seller…

is this car steel 4 sell? from georgia? its not stolen? is it safe car 4 wif and childe?
thnks

Am highly looking forward to continuing this dialogue.

$1 dollar goes to the first person who can sit through the entire thing.