October 10, 2005

Gloria Estefan imparts pet wisdom in kids’ book - Yahoo! News: “NEW YORK (Reuters) - When Latin pop singer
Gloria Estefan wanted to expound on life’s lessons, she first considered writing an autobiography.
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But in the end she chose to impart her wisdom in the way of many celebrities: by penning a children’s book — ‘THE MAGICALLY MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURES OF NOELLE THE BULLDOG,’ set to hit bookshelves on October 11.”

The worlde has not been clamoring for more bulldog books.

To be fair, the message is a good one:

Estefan’s message is, “You don’t have to give up who you are to be successful just because you’re different.”

The caterpillar-turns-into-butterfly theme may be the oldest in children’s book history, but Estefan says it is heartfelt and mirrors her own experience moving to the United States from Cuba as a young Spanish-speaking child.

“I was the only girl in class who spoke Spanish and the first word I learned was ’stupid’ because that’s what the kid next to me called me,” Estefan said. “But within six months, I had won the reading award there.”

Reuters dredged a children’s book critic out of the netherworld to dump all over Gloria:

“It’s bad rhyme and by and large, good books for kids are better than that,” said Deborah Stevenson, editor of the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.

Most children’s books penned by celebrities are “deservedly forgotten,” says Stevenson, adding that they should stop trying to make their prose rhyme.

A long line of stars from
Jamie Lee Curtis and
Jerry Seinfeld to Madonna have written children’s books. Many have enjoyed healthy book sales, if not particularly great reviews.

“Celebrity children’s books don’t sell based on whether they are good or not,” Stevenson said. “They sell based on whether parents want to buy the celebrity’s name or not.”

oreilly.com — Online Catalog: Prefactoring, First Edition: “More often than not, developers will stop a large project in the middle of the build stage to rethink and recode the software design so it’s cleaner and more
efficient. Known as ‘refactoring,’ this process eats up valuable time and money. To help offset refactoring, this book presents a new process called ‘prefactoring,’ the premise of which states that you’re better off considering the best possible design patterns before you even begin your project.

Prefactoring, in essence, is the art of applying the insights gleaned from previous experience (whether yours or someone else’s) when developing software to new projects. Doing so will likely save you from making costly design changes midstream–and maybe even save your job!”

This is an important book for anyone involved in software development projects.

oreilly.com — Online Catalog: Prefactoring, First Edition: “More often than not, developers will stop a large project in the middle of the build stage to rethink and recode the software design so it’s cleaner and more
efficient. Known as ‘refactoring,’ this process eats up valuable time and money. To help offset refactoring, this book presents a new process called ‘prefactoring,’ the premise of which states that you’re better off considering the best possible design patterns before you even begin your project.

Prefactoring, in essence, is the art of applying the insights gleaned from previous experience (whether yours or someone else’s) when developing software to new projects. Doing so will likely save you from making costly design changes midstream–and maybe even save your job!”

This is an important book for anyone involved in software development projects.

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Posted by wfzimmerman to Tech Fun at 10/10/2005 01:49:00 PM

ESR | October 10, 2005 | If Dan Brown is right…: “Hanks’ own instincts in making the proper acting choices and choosing the right scripts have been so unerringly on the mark that it’s a marvel to watch him. He is, dear readers, exactly what he was in his comedies, and as he revealed a part of himself in his portrayal of Forrest Gump and in the brilliantly compassionate performance he gave in Philadelphia: he is America’s most romantic soul on the silver screen. Hanks’ soul is as perfect a one as can be found in Hollywood these days.

Unfortunately, urged on by Spielberg and Ron Howard, Hanks will be the mascot of the newly established Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). With the worldwide release of The Da Vinci Code, he’ll be assured of an Academy Award nomination, but his co-star Audrey Tautou will win the coveted ‘gold.’ This will help to ensure Hillary Clinton’s election as President of the United States.”

Elsewhere in the post, we learn that Moriarty likes Hanks:

I’ve met the man twice, once at an awards ceremony in New York where he was unexpectedly generous toward me and my talent while he was onstage; then again at the Emmy Awards at which I won Best Supporting Actor for my performance in James Dean: An Invented Life. At this second meeting, I was still drinking, so I wasn’t entirely up to par, so to speak. While walking with Steven Spielberg, he said firmly, “Michael, take care of yourself.”

Gee, I’m glad he likes Hanks. I’d hate to see what he’d say if he didn’t like him!

This image from Moriarty’s site is also pretty hilarious.

Portsmouth Herald Local News: Big Brother gives back: “EXETER - The first time Colby met author Dan Brown three years ago, they played catch at Phillips Exeter Academy and climbed to the top floor of the library.

There were no cameras, no book signings, no autograph sessions. Just a simple game of baseball and a small history lesson of the academy for the-then 9-year-old boy from Exeter and his Big Brother.

Colby, whose mother requested both of them be identified by their first name, and Dan have been a match at Big Brother Big Sisters of the Greater Seacoast (BBBSGS) for roughly three years.

In addition to his relationship with Colby, now 12, Dan also recently helped to establish an endowment fund for the agency by giving BBBSGS a large financial gift.

Both Colby and Dan, however, juggle busy schedules. While Dan’s literary successes often keep him traveling, Colby is frequently booked playing football, basketball or baseball. But despite the hectic details of each day, they keep in touch, speak frequently, and hang out every chance they can.

Dan even sends Colby coded messages in the mail. His mother, Cheryl, even wondered jokingly if they were supposed to go to the library to figure them out. According to Colby, Dan tells him stories about the books he has written.

‘I’m very happy for him and his success as an author,’ Colby said.

But the kind of success Colby knows with Dan has nothing to do with fame, numbers or a book called, ‘The Da Vinci Code”.

Good on ya, Dan!

PublishersMarketplace reports:

“Joe Klein’s GLOBAL DECEPTION: The UN’s Stealth Assault on America’s Freedoms, uncovering the unholy alliance of non-governmental organizations, anti-American academics, federal and Supreme Court judges and so-called ‘world leaders’ who are working to undermine American sovereignty, to Eric M. Jackson at World Ahead, in a nice deal.”

Now that’s an original perspective.

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Northamptonshire | Guard admits Potter book thefts: “A security guard who tried to sell stolen copies of the latest Harry Potter novel has admitted theft and possessing an imitation gun.

Aaron Lambert stole two copies of Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince on 2 June, six weeks before its release.”

Not sure which crime is more heinous.

From Dinosaur@USC.EDU:

Good day!
As today it’s the 9th anniversary of announcing the find of _Sinosauropteryx prima_, I wonder how many dinosaur species/genera of dinos with feathery integument are known to the date. I seem to recall some 10 non-avian dinosaur genera. Could anyone tally all of them? Also, is anything new about the only non-theropod dinosaur with such structures, the infamous “furry” Psittacosaurus specimen?

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Posted by wfzimmerman to Science Phile at 10/10/2005 08:17:00 AM

From Dinosaur@USC.EDU:

Good day!
As today it’s the 9th anniversary of announcing the find of _Sinosauropteryx prima_, I wonder how many dinosaur species/genera of dinos with feathery integument are known to the date. I seem to recall some 10 non-avian dinosaur genera. Could anyone tally all of them? Also, is anything new about the only non-theropod dinosaur with such structures, the infamous “furry” Psittacosaurus specimen?