`
Now that I have no Internet at home, due to financial problems, I am limited to one hour of Internet access at the publikc library, whcih would not be so bad if I didn't have to alk a mile to get here.
I still have no car, so I hoof it everywhere.
~~~
It's a Philip K. Dick World! “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.” —Philip K. Dick Government intrusion into our personal lives is increasing, the economy is shot and the media focus on hate and violence. Philip K. Dick's fifth and last wife, Tessa Dick, talks about her husband. I have my own books and stories, as well.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Pre-crime in the real world
`
In Philip K. Dick's story (and the Tom Cruise film), mutants with precognitive abilities predict that someone will commit a crime, so the police can arrest them and prevent them from committing the crime.
In the real world, a computer program uses an algorithm to predict crime. Police in Santa Cruz, California are actually using it to prevent burglaries and car break-ins.
The heart of the program is the belief that criminals often commit a second or third crime in the same location and the same time as a first successful crime. For example, if a burglar is successful breaking into a home at 2 p.m. in a certain neighborhood because no
http://www.clusterflock.org/2011/09/unlike-philip-k-dicks-novel-the-minority-report-or-the-film-inspired-by-the-novel-the-program-relies-on-algorithms-and-not-mutants-to-predict-the-likelihood-of-something-happening.html
~~~
In Philip K. Dick's story (and the Tom Cruise film), mutants with precognitive abilities predict that someone will commit a crime, so the police can arrest them and prevent them from committing the crime.
In the real world, a computer program uses an algorithm to predict crime. Police in Santa Cruz, California are actually using it to prevent burglaries and car break-ins.
The heart of the program is the belief that criminals often commit a second or third crime in the same location and the same time as a first successful crime. For example, if a burglar is successful breaking into a home at 2 p.m. in a certain neighborhood because no
one is home, the criminal will use that experience to do it again to another house in the same neighborhood around the same time.
In the case of Santa Cruz, on California’s central coast and home to a University of California campus, that would be about four days later.
The algorithm knows this because Mohler has fed eight years of data on crimes in Santa Cruz into the algorithm.
http://www.clusterflock.org/2011/09/unlike-philip-k-dicks-novel-the-minority-report-or-the-film-inspired-by-the-novel-the-program-relies-on-algorithms-and-not-mutants-to-predict-the-likelihood-of-something-happening.html
~~~
Friday, September 16, 2011
Natural health products
`
I have joined a new affiliate program to help me make a few bucks and provide my readers with some awesome natural health products.
Please check it out:
The Natural News Store
Thank you so much!
~~~
I have joined a new affiliate program to help me make a few bucks and provide my readers with some awesome natural health products.
Please check it out:
The Natural News Store
Thank you so much!
~~~
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
The Arranger -- book review & giveaway
One commenter on this post will receive a free ebook (pdf) copy of the novel The Arranger by L.J. Sellers.
L.J. Sellers writes thrillers in a sparse journalistic style. In fact,they are too sparse for my taste. I want to see more description of the setting, as well as more character development. That having been said, these novels keep me riveted from page one to the end.
I recently reviewed Sellers' Secrets to Die For, with basically the same criticism. The Arranger creates suspense and maintains it, but I still want more depth.
The story begins with Lara, an emergency medical technician, explaining to a woman how she can get her husband treated at an emergency room, despite the fact that he does not have a "med card". Perhaps this is a British thing, but to my American sensibilities, it sounds futuristic. Our emergency rooms treat anybody who walks, crawls or is carried in.
Nope, it isn't a British thing, since it takes place among the Sequoias, i.e. the redwood forest, which can be only California or Florida-0 I was wrong -- it's Oregon. I'm confused, but the story carries me along as Lara gets shot at, chased by a large dog and generally attacked. This seems strange and surreal.
She is taking part in the Gauntlet, whatever that is, running around taking care of emergency medical problems with a variety of futuristic bandages and such. Her van is equipped with a computer that has Internet access. She doesn't have a partner, which is odd. I'm not an expert, but I do know that paramedics never work solo.
Sure enough, the conflict keeps me reading, the tension never eases, and yet I hate being so confused. Things need to be explained. This poor reader is floundering.
The Arranger is good, but not as good as Secrets to Die For.
Three out of five stars. Recommended, but not Sellers' best effort.
~~~
This review is part of Nurture Book Tourz
September 7th – Mason C. @ Thoughts in Progress - May giveaway One (1) eBook Copy
September 7th – Christina I. @ Middle of the Road Reviews - May giveaway One (1) Print Copy
September 8th – April R. @ My Book Addiction and More - May giveaway One (1) Print Copy
September 8th – Sue F. @ Books, Books, The Magical Fruit - May giveaway One (1) eBook Copy
September 9th – Laurie J. @ Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews - May giveaway One (1) Print Copy
September 12th – Aparajita B. @ Le’ Grande Codex - May giveaway One (1) eBook Copy
September 12th – Jaidis S. @ Juniper Grove
FOR THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE, HERE IS THE
Link to the author's tour page: http://nurtureyourbooks.com/vbtblog/?p=1757
~~~
Here are some more useful links:
Where you can find & follow L.J. Sellers:
Author Website
Author Blog
Twitter
Facebook Page
Facebook Profile
Goodreads Profile
Buy the BOOK at:
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk
Author Blog
Independent Bookstores (by request)
~~~
And remember, one commenter on this post will receive a free pdf of the novel The Arranger by L.J. Sellers.
8-)
~~~
L.J. Sellers writes thrillers in a sparse journalistic style. In fact,they are too sparse for my taste. I want to see more description of the setting, as well as more character development. That having been said, these novels keep me riveted from page one to the end.
I recently reviewed Sellers' Secrets to Die For, with basically the same criticism. The Arranger creates suspense and maintains it, but I still want more depth.
The story begins with Lara, an emergency medical technician, explaining to a woman how she can get her husband treated at an emergency room, despite the fact that he does not have a "med card". Perhaps this is a British thing, but to my American sensibilities, it sounds futuristic. Our emergency rooms treat anybody who walks, crawls or is carried in.
Nope, it isn't a British thing, since it takes place among the Sequoias, i.e. the redwood forest, which can be only California or Florida-0 I was wrong -- it's Oregon. I'm confused, but the story carries me along as Lara gets shot at, chased by a large dog and generally attacked. This seems strange and surreal.
She is taking part in the Gauntlet, whatever that is, running around taking care of emergency medical problems with a variety of futuristic bandages and such. Her van is equipped with a computer that has Internet access. She doesn't have a partner, which is odd. I'm not an expert, but I do know that paramedics never work solo.
Sure enough, the conflict keeps me reading, the tension never eases, and yet I hate being so confused. Things need to be explained. This poor reader is floundering.
The Arranger is good, but not as good as Secrets to Die For.
Three out of five stars. Recommended, but not Sellers' best effort.
~~~
This review is part of Nurture Book Tourz
September 7th – Mason C. @ Thoughts in Progress - May giveaway One (1) eBook Copy
September 7th – Christina I. @ Middle of the Road Reviews - May giveaway One (1) Print Copy
September 8th – April R. @ My Book Addiction and More - May giveaway One (1) Print Copy
September 8th – Sue F. @ Books, Books, The Magical Fruit - May giveaway One (1) eBook Copy
September 9th – Laurie J. @ Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews - May giveaway One (1) Print Copy
September 12th – Aparajita B. @ Le’ Grande Codex - May giveaway One (1) eBook Copy
September 12th – Jaidis S. @ Juniper Grove
FOR THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE, HERE IS THE
Link to the author's tour page: http://nurtureyourbooks.com/vbtblog/?p=1757
~~~
Here are some more useful links:
Where you can find & follow L.J. Sellers:
Author Website
Author Blog
Facebook Page
Facebook Profile
Goodreads Profile
Buy the BOOK at:
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk
Author Blog
Independent Bookstores (by request)
~~~
And remember, one commenter on this post will receive a free pdf of the novel The Arranger by L.J. Sellers.
8-)
~~~
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Cell phone blues got you down?
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Cell phones -=- for all their convenience and versatility -- have become a source of frustration for me. The bill can break me, the signal can fade out -- basically, the major problem for me has been that I lose minutes that expire and pay way too much for the service that I do use.
Whether it was a year or two on a contract with a "free" phone, or a prepaid plan with a cheap phone, I've always felt ripped off my cell phone companies.
Then I found <b>Straight Talk</b>.
• First, you feel much better about the cost of Straight Talk because you cut my cell phone bill in half -- and with no contract!
We'd have to be crazy to sign a months-long or years-long contract, when we can get everything we need without one.
• Imagine the amount of money you could save switching to Straight Talk. There's lots of things you can buy with the extra money you save.
• There are no contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks. And the service is reliable.
Straight Talk has great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity.
Finally, Straight Talk uses only trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung.
They do have plans, so let's take a look at some of them.
Monthly Plans:
• The “All You Need Plan” meets even the needs of heavy phone users with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data.
• Unlimited Monthly service is only $45, and includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web.
• Imagine unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for a whole year, for only $499.00!
• 411 calls are included at no extra charge.
• Free from activation, reactivation, or termination fees
International Long Distance:
• Straight Talk International Long Distance Service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to make international calls from your home, cell or office phone at low rates.
Phone Selection:
• Reconditioned phones are available from $10.00 with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability. Great for young users!
• Amazing smart phones; touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth®
Everything you need
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For more information on what these phones offer, please check out these YouTube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
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For some real Straight Talk customer testimonials please check out the videos below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
~~~
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