CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-23 03:15:31 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Recently, I've seen articles that spoke about how Google is merging the storage that people receive from Gmail, Drive, and some other service that I can't remember right now for a total of 15 GB. 

Is there something I have to check to make that happen or are they rolling it out slowly?

2013-05-18 18:06:03 (22 comments, 56 reshares, 58 +1s)

Amazon releases Kindle Comic Creator

The app will allow you to create the guided zoom navigation used by the Kindle platform. Here's a link to the site where you can download the app and read the FAQs: http://www.amazon.com/kc2

Thanks to +Amy Harrop for bringing it to my attention.

#Amazon   #comics  

2013-05-17 21:37:35 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 6 +1s)

Learn something new every day

I've edited this video again. We had some technical issues right after the title card was displayed. I figured out how to remove those problems. So, this is the 'clean' version. 

If you haven't seen it yet, enjoy.

2013-05-18 19:14:25 (6 comments, 7 reshares, 6 +1s)

UPDATE: I have edited the video since this was posted to remove some glitches and dead air. The new video is located here:

Salt Circle: Episode 2 -- The Chuck Wendig Interview

Here's the interview with +Chuck Wendig. We had a few technical glitches this time, but the information is great. Chuck talks about his books, we touch a tad bit on his writing process and he tells us a little about some of his upcoming books. 

I start talking at the 26 second mark. I tried to edit out all of the extraneous stuff at the beginning when we were experiencing the glitches, but there's still a little extra video in there.

2013-05-16 23:51:37 (1 comments, 4 reshares, 13 +1s)

I can't believe the stats on this video.

This interview with +Jim Butcher has been viewed just under 1000 times one week. It's sitting at 959 views. I wonder if we can get 41 more views in the next hour and 12 minutes (at that point the video will be one week old)?

#jimbutcher   #urbanfantasy   #saltcircle  

2013-05-16 15:38:35 (29 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Has anyone figured out why G+ will make pictures or videos in some posts span all of the columns and others are relegated to a single column? How does it choose?

#perplexed  

2013-05-16 14:20:45 (2 comments, 2 reshares, 9 +1s)

Chuck Wendig interview tonight at 9 PM Eastern.

I've got some great questions lined up for him. I hope you'll be able to watch.

There is still time to add your question to the ones I'll be asking him tonight. Go leave a comment here: 

https://plus.google.com/u/0/115270351257026959175/posts/8P8i6pgFbTE

Next up is Kevin Hearne author of the Iron Druid series. That interview will be on Thursday June 6th at 7 PM Eastern.

2013-05-16 02:17:09 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 16 +1s)

This is a great article. It highlights the difference in strategy between Apple and Google and calls out the things that will make Google+ stand out.

Thanks to +Demian Farnworth for pointing me to this and the other great article on Mashable which can be read here: 

http://mashable.com/2013/05/15/google-io-keynote/

2013-05-16 01:02:24 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

This information might be useful to some of you. As you are reading your stream, you will see that some of the posts are from the communities in which you are a member. These posts feature a green circle icon with three dots inside of the circle.

When you see that circle (in the upper right corner of the post), look above the person's name who made the post and you'll see the name of the community in which it was posted. The name of the category in which the post was made will be displayed under the person's name.

2013-05-16 00:37:26 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Not liking the new Google+ font? Is it hard on your eyes?

There are some known issues with the new webfont in use (Roboto), with kerning and rendering on some configurations. Other users have reported general visual problems with the new font, which kerning fixes probably won't address.

Before going further, if you are actually having visual problems reading the new font, hover over the "Home" arrow on the left to get the drop-down menu, then choose "Send feedback" near the bottom to express your concerns. This information is used to help quantify the extent of user [dis]satisfaction with the UI.

So, if you would like to force Google+ to render in Arial (or failing that, your system's "sans-serif" font which is likely an Arial/Helvetica lookalike) by default, install this Stylish script with either the Stylish extension... more »

2013-05-15 23:34:33 (33 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

I wonder if any product or service has ever managed to roll out an interface update that people immediately loved? It seems the default reaction to any change is "I hate this!"

2013-05-15 19:54:37 (21 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

This Thursday night at 9 PM (Eastern), I'll be interviewing Chuck Wendig as part of my Salt Circle Hangout show. This is done for the Urban Fantasy Fans Community.

Okay, the real reason for this post is because I wanted to see if they had made any changes to uploading photographs.

#chuckwendig   #urbanfantasy   #saltcircle   #urbanfantasyfans   #writerinterviews  

2013-05-15 19:12:33 (27 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

I have just been upgraded to the new Google+. The one thing I love, love, love about the new layout is that they have finally seen fit to give me back my scroll bar arrows. That alone makes everything else worth while.

2013-05-15 01:29:47 (35 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

I think I've figured out why I don't like Defiance. 

Rockne S. Obannon

He made Farscape. I hated it. He made SeaQuest DSV. I wanted to like it, but never could get into it. He made Cult which I gave up on after two episodes. He made Defiance which I still haven't found a way to like.

I'm starting to see a pattern.

2013-05-14 19:43:53 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Wendig interview is this Thursday!

We need some questions. What have you always wanted to ask him? 

2013-05-13 20:32:18 (9 comments, 2 reshares, 11 +1s)

What better way to prepare for the pending zombie/robot apocalypse?

This tablet has an e-ink display, built in maps, a walkie talkie, emergency radio and it's solar powered. Also waterproof.

2013-05-13 01:21:18 (39 comments, 2 reshares, 6 +1s)

Sinbad Coming to SyFy

I've always been a fan of sword and sandal stories. I loved the Ray Harryhausen Sinbad movies.

I know this show has already aired in other countries. If you have seen it, can you let me know if it's any good?

2013-05-12 22:45:53 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Wendig interview is this Thursday!

We need some questions. What have you always wanted to ask him? 

2013-05-12 02:23:06 (12 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

Next Stop: Person of Interest Becomes Reality

"...privacy advocates fear the inevitable mission creep, ending with the proof of self being required at polling places, to rent a house, buy a gun, open a bank account, acquire credit, board a plane or even attend a sporting event or log on the internet. Think of it as a government version of Foursquare, with Big Brother cataloging every check-in.

“It starts to change the relationship between the citizen and state, you do have to get permission to do things,” said Chris Calabrese, a congressional lobbyist with the American Civil Liberties Union. “More fundamentally, it could be the start of keeping a record of all things.”

I wonder if it's too soon to apply to work in the Department of Pre-Crime Enforcement?

2013-05-11 19:03:47 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

This game is remarkably fun: You get five random images from Street View, and you have to try to figure out where in the world you are. It encourages you to travel on the one hand, and is excellent preparation for when you're recruited by a secret agency to perform a completely anonymous assassination mission in exchange for $20M, and airdropped blindly somewhere into the world.

... what? I call that "Thursday."

2013-05-10 18:15:38 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 21 +1s)

Hey, +Amanda Rachelle Warren, look! It's your favorite guy.

+Crystal Alifanow might think it's funny too.

2013-05-10 03:08:58 (11 comments, 6 reshares, 10 +1s)

Here is the edited video of the Hangout with Jim Butcher.

Please let me know what you think.

2013-05-09 19:25:31 (12 comments, 4 reshares, 17 +1s)

Just a reminder: Jim Butcher Interview Tonight at 9 PM (Eastern).

2013-05-08 23:24:04 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 17 +1s)

When I think of Steampunk, I always think of +Mike Reeves-McMillan.

2013-05-08 23:03:16 (9 comments, 4 reshares, 10 +1s)

Upcoming Interviews for Urban Fantasy Fans

Thursday May 9th at 9 PM (Eastern) we will be talking to Jim Butcher.

Thursday May 16th at 9 PM (Eastern) we will be talking to Chuck Wendig.

Thursday June 6th at 7 PM (Eastern) we will be talking to Kevin Hearne.

If you'd like to ask Jim Butcher a question, please leave a comment on this post: http://goo.gl/kAFa9

If you'd like to ask Chuck Wendig a question, please leave a comment on this post: http://goo.gl/Vhw3E

If you'd like to ask Kevin Hearne a question, please leave a comment on this post: http://goo.gl/JU382

If you're not a member of the Urban Fantasy Fans community, you can still join. Here's a link to the community page: http://goo.gl/ouudw

2013-05-07 22:21:45 (19 comments, 2 reshares, 15 +1s)

Interesting read about who should and should not be allowed to use Kickstarter.

I don't really agree with the author's position. I think people should be able to fund whatever they want to fund. Sure, people like Zach Braff or the Veronica Mars crew have access to funding options that 99% of the participants on Kickstarter will never be able to even consider, but I just don't like the idea of some group deciding who is or is not worthy of participating in these type of things.

Do I like the idea of millionaires crowd-sourcing their personal projects? No. It is exploitative and they are doing it so they won't have the same obligations that traditional funding routes would impose on them, but still, people are choosing to back those projects; and that's my point. Let people fund what they want to fund.

2013-05-07 15:15:32 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

If you enjoy Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance and would like a chance to win all 14(!) autographed novels in Lynn Viehl's DARKYN world, leave a comment!

2013-05-07 05:29:30 (6 comments, 3 reshares, 8 +1s)

This is pretty awesome

Starts off as an innocent children's song about counting and gradually becomes a morose song about adult life.

2013-05-07 02:05:29 (26 comments, 4 reshares, 16 +1s)

Meet Dan Baker

I want to introduce you to a friend of mine. His name is +Dan Baker. He's someone I know in real life. Imagine that. He's made a life size R2-D2 that moves, beeps, and generally acts like R2. I don't think he's managed to develop the hologram display yet though.

He describes himself like this: "I'm a graphic designer, prop maker, gamer, computer nerd, droid builder, and all around geek-for-hire."

If you look at his profile, he's posted a bunch of pictures of R2 from different events. Add him to your circles and say hello. 

He's just started using Google+. Let's make sure he has a good experience here and that show him how awesome this place can be.

2013-05-06 13:22:49 (1 comments, 3 reshares, 6 +1s)

Upcoming Interviews for Urban Fantasy Fans

Thursday May 9th at 9 PM (Eastern) we will be talking to Jim Butcher.

Thursday May 16th at 9 PM (Eastern) we will be talking to Chuck Wendig.

Thursday June 6th at 7 PM (Eastern) we will be talking to Kevin Hearne.

If you'd like to ask Jim Butcher a question, please leave a comment on this post: http://goo.gl/kAFa9

If you'd like to ask Chuck Wendig a question, please leave a comment on this post: http://goo.gl/Vhw3E

If you'd like to ask Kevin Hearne a question, please leave a comment on this post: http://goo.gl/JU382

If you're not a member of the Urban Fantasy Fans community, you can still join. Here's a link to the community page: http://goo.gl/ouudw

2013-05-06 04:50:20 (14 comments, 11 reshares, 38 +1s)

This is pretty funny. No idea who the artist is since they don't seem to have signed the painting.

2013-05-06 00:00:05 (23 comments, 2 reshares, 6 +1s)

YouTube to offer for-pay subscription service.

I think this is a good thing in that it will encourage the creation of new programming. Here's a bit from the article:

"...Google is on the verge of unveiling an à la carte subscription service for some of YouTube’s specialist video channels, to finance a broader range of content and add a second revenue stream to the digital video market leader.

The subscription service will enable channel operators to produce different content, such as TV shows and films, a person familiar with the plan said.
Advertising on YouTube and rival video sites has risen fast, but remains a fraction of television budgets. Digital video advertising will jump from $2.93bn to $4.14bn in 2013, eMarketer estimates, but will account for just 2.4 per cent of all ad spending.

YouTube claims the lion’s share of thatreve... more »

2013-05-05 02:30:25 (12 comments, 6 reshares, 66 +1s)

Posting this just to mess with +Gregory Lynn.

2013-05-04 16:18:56 (5 comments, 3 reshares, 11 +1s)

Upcoming Interviews for Urban Fantasy Fans

Thursday May 9th at 9 PM (Eastern) we will be talking to Jim Butcher.

Thursday May 16th at 9 PM (Eastern) we will be talking to Chuck Wendig.

Thursday June 6th at 7 PM (Eastern) we will be talking to Kevin Hearne.

If you're not a member of the Urban Fantasy Fans community, you can still join. Here's a link to the community page: http://goo.gl/ouudw

2013-05-04 04:59:40 (17 comments, 3 reshares, 15 +1s)

DC Comics has re-designed He-Man.

I love the way the author of this article introduces his thoughts on the matter. 

Rob Bricken writes: 

"I've been informed by my bosses at io9 that an article consisting of nothing but the vilest profanity I can think of is inappropriate for some reason, so let me only state the facts: For issue #4 of their Masters of the Universe comic, DC has redesigned He-Man's iconic look..."

He has a few more choice (and funny) words in the article itself. Here's a link to the full thing: http://io9.com/dc-redesigned-he-man-and-holy-orko-does-he-look-terrib-489597885

Enjoy!

2013-05-06 13:19:42 (7 comments, 22 reshares, 22 +1s)

Upcoming Interviews for Urban Fantasy Fans

Thursday May 9th at 9 PM (Eastern) we will be talking to Jim Butcher.

Thursday May 16th at 9 PM (Eastern) we will be talking to Chuck Wendig.

Thursday June 6th at 7 PM (Eastern) we will be talking to Kevin Hearne.

If you'd like to ask Jim Butcher a question, please leave a comment on this post: http://goo.gl/kAFa9

If you'd like to ask Chuck Wendig a question, please leave a comment on this post: http://goo.gl/Vhw3E

If you'd like to ask Kevin Hearne a question, please leave a comment on this post: http://goo.gl/JU382

If you're not a member of the Urban Fantasy Fans community, you can still join. Here's a link to the community page: http://goo.gl/ouudw

2013-05-03 14:24:45 (17 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Dear Arizona Iced Tea, Is it really necessary to make the spout on your cans so large? I mean seriously are you making a can that you expect people to be able to drink from or is this supposed to be a makeshift home for hummingbirds?

2013-05-02 22:08:51 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

Hello Friends,

     I need a little help.

     I'm working to prepare for the May 21, 2013 launch of the third book in my Henry Wood Detective series.

     One of the important components of the launch will be putting book 2, Henry Wood: Time & Again on a KDP Select Free days. To make it successful, I'll need to submit it to the sites who promote such days.

     To submit it to those sites, I'll need, in most cases, some reviews. So, this is where I need your help.

     If anyone out there is interested in reading Henry Wood: Time and Again, the second book in the series, and is willing to do it in the next week, I'll be happy to give you the Kindle version for free, now. The point being, I'll also need you to post a review, too.

     Leave a comment or email me at EcocandleRiel@gmail.com ifinterested.... more »

2013-05-02 21:10:20 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Publishing deals?
I wanted to ask the community what you think a reasonable publishing deal is for a new author. What does it look like in terms of royalties, advance, formats, rights (ebook, paperback, hard cover, audio, movie etc). Let say the publisher offered you $2,500 as an advance, provided a professional web site, editor, copy writer, proof reader, an advertising budget and assisted with social media marketing across the various platforms as well. What kind of royalty should the author get?

2013-05-02 16:22:14 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

Great Podcast: This one is worth your time.

I try to listen to a lot of shows and read a lot of articles because I'm always looking for anything that will help me improve. This podcast offered me three such gems. I'm going to tell you about one of them.

During this episode, Sean Platt gives a great quote. He says, "One of the ways I like to write really good dialogue scenes is by overwriting them, making them really long and cutting a lot out." He then goes on to talk about Hemingway who said that he knew that 90% of everything he wrote was garbage and 10% was worth keeping. 

That little exchange and the buildup that led to it really helped me. So many times, I get caught up trying to write well that it stalls my progress and impedes my ability to actually write.

It's worth listening to the show for that exchange alone, but... more »

2013-05-02 05:31:39 (8 comments, 17 reshares, 64 +1s)

Sometimes you don't even have to comment.

2013-05-01 22:56:12 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 26 +1s)

So excited, I'm not even going to wait to announce it.

I'm still working out the specific time with him, but +Chuck Wendig has just agreed to do a hangout for our urban fantasy community.

Yay!

His reply is classic Wendig too. He wrote:

"John!

Hell yes. That sounds fantastic. Count me in."

If you're not yet a member of the Urban Fantasy Fans community, now's a great time to join. We have an interview with Jim Butcher coming up and now Chuck Wendig too. I'm hoping to land interviews with other authors too, but I don't want to say anything until everyone signs off on it.

Here's a link to the community: 

https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/111773321571636890530

2013-05-01 22:27:44 (32 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Apparently, Don't Ask, Don't Tell has a new definition in the military:

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/05/01/Breaking-Pentagon-Confirms-Will-Court-Martial-Soldiers-Who-Share-Christian-Faith

2013-05-01 18:07:54 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 11 +1s)

Into the Great Unknown

Today, I told HR (already told the bosses) that my last day of employment will be on May 31st.

I'm going to try and make my art my full time gig from then on.

Nervous as all hell. Can sales in my Etsy shop and freelance work keep me afloat?

Kind of makes me wish I had been doing a webcomic for the last 10 years. I could have made a Kickstarter fund and raked in the millions by now. lol

Hoping everything will work out. I know there will be lean months and I know there will be good months. I just need to good months to outweigh the bad ones and I should be all set. :)

If you need any design work done, or illustration done, (or know anyone else that needs it) feel free to inquire. My rates are good and my skills are excellent.

2013-05-01 04:04:25 (19 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Can anyone recommend a Chrome Extension that will restore scroll arrows to the browser?

2013-05-01 02:13:05 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Psst! With coupon code WC76F you can get Tooth & Nail (the sequel to my award-winning novel Perishables) for free in a ton of different formats. It's my way of thanking you for following me here. I figure it might be a thing you'd like to read if you like that sort of thing? Wait, does that work as a sentence?

Anyway, Tooth & Nail! Sequel to Perishables! Free!

Please stop looking at me.

2013-04-30 23:48:41 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Share The +Damian Trasler Circle

It has come to my attention that Damian Trasler is currently only being circled by 2,793 people. This, people of the internets, is simply not good enough!

So, in an attempt to make this easy for you I have created the Damian Trasler Circle. You are hereby instructed to take three simple steps.

1) Add said circle
2) Share said circle
3) Enjoy a job well done.

And what will you gain by circling this Mr. Trasler? Well... writing talk... geeky talk... funny stuff. He also has this strange habit of actually replying to people. Very odd.

Well what are you waiting for. Add! Share! Enjoy!

2013-04-30 21:39:56 (20 comments, 0 reshares, 31 +1s)

Poor dog. That's what happens when you live with two little girls.

2013-04-30 19:18:05 (67 comments, 3 reshares, 5 +1s)

YA READERS: I need some help for a friend

+Kiley Reed is looking for some book recommendations. She is a teacher working with Junior High kids. So, she's interested in identifying some good Young Adult titles that she can share with her classroom.

I rarely read in that genre. The only thing that comes to my mind is The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene. That is an awesome book, but it's an obvious choice.

Does anyone else have good recommendations for her?

+Sarah Rios and +Rachel Desilets, I know that the two of you read a lot of books in this genre. Do any titles pop into your head?

If you know someone who reads a lot of Young Adult titles, would you mind tagging them into this discussion so we can get their input?