Rick Kleffel sends his latest Bookotron podcast: "Neal Stephenson discusses (MP3) the challenges of turning orbital dynamics into pulse-pounding fiction … and his latest novel Seveneves." (Image: Bob Lee, CC-BY)
Neal Stephenson on the story behind Seveneves
Illuminated Editions: modern artists reinvent classic books
I'm a huge fan of Beehive Books, which creates illuminated editions of classic books illustrated by contemporary artists. They are doing a Kickstarter for a new series of three books: KWAIDAN & SHADOWINGS by Lafcadio Hearn, illustrated by Kent Williams A VOYAGE TO ARCTURUS by David Lindsay, illustrated by Jim Woodring THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald,… READ THE REST
Two perspectives on Asian-American life that riff on fantasy and stereotype: "Interior Chinatown" & "Tiger Style!"
Hate crimes against Asian-Americans have been on the rise. "Some of these cases have made it to national news, but most haven't," wrote Anne Anlin Cheng in a recent op-ed for The New York Times. "The low profile of this wave of violence is a reminder of how racial violence goes unexamined when it doesn't… READ THE REST
These two books are guiding my vegetable garden
I am growing a 100% containerized garden! I moved to a new home last year. My old one sucked for growing things beyond tomatoes and weed. I grew an amazing bounty of tomatoes and strawberries, last spring. Weed, while still legal, seems to be an invitation to thievery here. I did a bunch of reading… READ THE REST
These Hollywood-renowned photographers want to teach you how to shoot like them
To become a photographer, you can take classes and training sessions to deep-dive into the medium. You can even throw yourself in by learning on the job and expanding your skill set through practice. But even with all that practical knowledge and hands-on training, you could still be missing that unique spark. That tiny extra… READ THE REST
Get this master class in Python programming for just $35
Innovation almost always comes when someone, often in a mix of both genius and frustration, decides there's just got to be a better way. Back in 1989, Dutch computer scientist Guido van Rossum felt the same way. The result of his journey was Python, a decidedly lithe, streamlined coding discipline that has emerged to become… READ THE REST
These ultra-primed Dell and Periphio gaming PCs are on sale for at least 33% off
For most of us, buying a PC is a lot like buying a car. We look for something responsible, sensible, efficient, and safe. That usually means we end up buying the computer equivalent of a Toyota or a Hyundai. But if you're a hardcore gamer, you're likely looking at a sports car-equivalent. Sensible is fine, but… READ THE REST