CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-06-18 22:54:34 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

This is just great - watch to the end.. Clip inspired from an idea that +Richard Gingras had for the beach..

2013-06-18 14:38:29 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Why yes, I do want use my phone to open my door. And apparently, I can.

2013-06-17 23:33:45 (19 comments, 10 reshares, 42 +1s)

Today is my 30th birthday, so I'm writing this letter to Google

I'm going to put all the jokes about my youth coming to a close aside and talk about something that I usually don't ever speak of. The wave of technology in the past couple decades has been amazing. I used a lite brite as a kid. Now 3 year olds are using iPads. We've reached whole new levels but have somehow managed to ignore people with disabilities who could really benefit from these advancements. I know we all want to create things for recreation, but how about helping some people out along the way.

Hearing disabilities are rarely ever talked about and if you watched that deaf girl hear for the first time on youtube about a year ago, you'd think that deafness had been cured once and for all. Less than 1% of hearing impaired people in the U .S. could even benefit from the type of surgery she... more »

2013-06-17 23:22:46 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 16 +1s)

An open letter to the EIC of Good E-Reader.

Hey, everyone else is piling on. I might as well get in a few easy jabs, too!

Chicken Little much, +michael kozlowski? I almost didn't link to your Google+ profile, as it, your twitter feed (@Goodereadermike) and Facebook profile (https://www.facebook.com/good.ereader.1) are all full of nothing -- and that's not a superlative -- but links to your own blog posts. Yet you start your rant below talking about indie authors spamming social media? Oh, sweet irony.

Ok, I'm just having a little fun at your expense. In truth, I agree with much of your argument. You think there are too many shitty books on the shelves. I agree. You think too many books are under-edited. Spot on. And too many authors fail to understanding the true value of social media and are filling it up with marketing drivel. Testify, brother!
more »

2013-06-17 17:17:28 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Impromptu Study:

There was a recent article being passed around stating that the majority of self-published authors made less than $500 in a one year period.

Self-published authors: Choose 1 or 2.
Traditionally-published authors: Choose 3 or 4.

Relevant Time Frame: 365 day period taken between January 2012 to now.

Have you:

1/3: In a one-year period of time, you have made $500.00 or higher in royalties. This is before taxes, but after Amazon or other sources have taken their share. If you do not have a year's worth of data but you HAVE exceeded $500.00, you may participate.

2/4: In a one-year period of time, you have made between $0.01 and $499.99 in royalties. This is before taxes, but after Amazon or other sources have taken their share. If you do not have a complete year's wroth of data, you may NOT participate.... more »

2013-06-16 23:50:00 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Impromptu Study:

There was a recent article being passed around stating that the majority of self-published authors made less than $500 in a one year period.

Self-published authors: Choose 1 or 2.
Traditionally-published authors: Choose 3 or 4.

Relevant Time Frame: 365 day period taken between January 2012 to now.

Have you:

1/3: In a one-year period of time, you have made $500.00 or higher in royalties. This is before taxes, but after Amazon or other sources have taken their share. If you do not have a year's worth of data but you HAVE exceeded $500.00, you may participate.

2/4: In a one-year period of time, you have made between $0.01 and $499.99 in royalties. This is before taxes, but after Amazon or other sources have taken their share. If you do not have a complete year's wroth of data, you may NOT participate.... more »

2013-06-16 19:45:38 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

One of our greatest G+ voices has passed.

I've just learned that +J.C. Kendall passed away suddenly on Saturday, June 15th 2013. J.C. was one of the first people I connected with on Google+, and I always looked forward to the information he shared. He was a consumate engager and evangelist, and a hell of a nice guy.

It may seem strange to pen something like this about a person I've never physically met, but that is the world we live in. My feeling of loss at J.C.'s passing isn't lessened by the physical distance between us. If anything, its intensified, knowing my almost daily interaction with him is no more.

2013-06-15 23:13:20 (16 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

In search of the perfect Manhattan ...

In an early celebration of Father's Day,, I made myself a Manhattan. It's not a terribly complicated drink, but I've had a wide range of experiences, from awful to amazing. The best ones I've found have a achieved balance, and I think I'm close with this:

First, fill your eventual drinking glass --- tumbler, martini, whatever -- with ice and water. Set aside.

In a clean pint glass filled with ice cubes, add
- 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
- 1/2 oz dry vermouth
- 2 1/2 oz good rye whiskey

Using a bar spoon, stir for 1 minute and taste. You'll probably keep stirring. Do so as intensity drops, but stop when it's still a little strong. There will still be ice in your glass. More that 2 minutes is probably too long, as your drink is too dilute.

Dump the ice water from your... more »

2013-06-14 15:28:58 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Up in arms over refueling stations in space!

Love them or hate them, the oil companies run a near-flawless fuel distribution network, at least in this country. I'm specifically talking about end-user distribution only. The process by which people and organizations "get gas" for their cars and trucks. And even if you hate them, I doubt you'd feel confident that the U.S. military could do a better job.

The same goes for auto mechanics. If my car breaks down, I can call a private or company-owned tow-truck to take it to a private or company-owned auto shop. I give them money, they do some work, and I'm back on the road. Fast. I don't think I want the military fixing my broken axle. I'm sure they'd do a bang up job, but they probably have more important things to do.

And the same will apply to space. The government is already contracting... more »

2013-06-14 01:32:40 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 7 +1s)

You've probably heard of the massive planet forming a distance further than we thought possible. As with all too many science stories, the magnitude (pun intended) of the scale involved is obfuscated by bad writing. 

I'll catch you up: Hubble found this crazy-huge planetary system just forming a very long ways away. "Just forming" is a relative term, as it takes tens of millions of years for planets to accrete out of a protoplanetary disk. Tens of millions. Humans have been here for tens of thousands. But that's not the big thing that's most exciting.

It's the sheer size of things. See that big groove in the mid-point of the disk? That's a path being cleared out by a planet as it forms. The distance for that forming planet from its parent star is pretty incredible: 7.5 billion miles. For perspective, that's more than 2x as far as Pluto is from our... more »

2013-06-13 21:13:08 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

I'm currently watching Dr. A. Garrett Lisi talk about the theory of everything and his work on Science Hostels.

Gotta love a guy who doesn't miss a beat when he says "248 dimensional geometric structure" and assumes you know what he's talking about. And that he calls himself a surfing physics monk.

#braincramp

2013-06-13 15:21:55 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

tl;dr: don't half-ass a book because you're impatient to get it published. put the time in to do it right the first time. also, i love you +RJ Blain. <3 

the more i work on this draft of The Wizard's Heart, the less likely it seems i'll have a September release date. as long as i get the damn thing ready for publication before Diana is born, i'll consider it a success. i'm willing to put in all the extra work for this book because i don't want to make the same mistakes i made with The Clockwork Giant. i want to give this book the best possible chance of success after publication, and to do that, i have to work and work and work on it until it could sit beside a traditionally published book from Tor or Del Rey and do just as well, better even. 

i love this book. this is the story i've wanted to tell for years and years and years, and i'mf... more »

2013-06-13 04:33:14 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Dear #stanleycup finals:

If all seven games go to triple overtime, someone needs to buy me more beer.

Happily in PDT,

Evo

2013-06-13 03:17:23 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Join me for a writing workshop at Changing Hands Bookstore!

I'm excited to share that +Evo Terra and I are working with  Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, AZ, to offer a series of workshops for authors who want to take the plunge into self-publishing. We've worked with Changing Hands several times before, most recently at their Indie Author Conference, and are excited to offer this more focused series of workshops with them.

We will be offering three workshops covering different parts of the indie publishing process, with the first one coming up on Thursday evening, June 20th. We're keeping the classes nice and small to offer as much interaction and Q&A as we can, and Evo and I are both very "interactive."

The topic: Tools and Methods of the 21st-Century Writer

If you're interested, please sign up right away to makes... more »

2013-06-13 02:11:19 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Over-carbonation sucks!

My first experience with Epic Brewing's Blue Law Porter was great! So when I decided to cook my lovely wide some blueberry stuffed salmon on the grill, it seemed the obvious choice.

But as you can see from the photo, it was terribly over-carbonated! That led to a very flat drink, which sucks. Bottling problem, transport or storage?

2013-06-12 22:43:58 (4 comments, 3 reshares, 10 +1s)

"Evolution has selected for this brain organization in men that makes them attracted to the breasts in a sexual context, because the outcome is that it activates the female bonding circuit, making women feel more bonded with him. It's a behavior that males have evolved in order to stimulate the female's maternal bonding circuitry."

And that's why I'm staring at your boobs. 

#science  

If you found this offensive, considering uncircling +J.C. Kendall, as I got it from him. Don't shoot the messenger!

2013-06-12 20:58:12 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

TOP 200 Science Engagers on the STEM on Google+ Community

These are people & pages who have shared, commented, posted, and plussed recently, and made the place jump!  Many are newcomers to G+, so give this circle a share and let's get them connected to the strong Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics network!

Stop by and check out the action - http://goo.gl/YVYtu

If you're in this circle and are interested in participating in a pilot program to promote STEM topics on Google+, please comment below!

#STEM #sciencecircles #publicsharedcircles  

2013-06-12 17:14:55 (10 comments, 5 reshares, 20 +1s)

10 trends shaping the future of publishing by Mark Coker.

+Mark Coker founded Smashwords and is one of the most influential people in indie publishing today. This deck from his presentation given at the Edinburgh Publishing Conference today, and it's certainly worth your time to flip through all 60 slides.

But you know me: I like to spoil a bit when I share, so here is my take on the ten trends he offers. Get the full context at the link below.

1. The Rise of ebooks. From 1.2% marketshare in 2008 to ~30% in 2012. It's not a matter of if ebooks over take print -- in revenue or units -- but when.
2. Bookselling moving to the web. Depending on your perspective, this has already happened or soon will. It's a foregone conclusion.
3. Democratization of publishing. The knowledge necessary to product a professional book is no longer... more »

2013-06-12 12:25:08 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

What authors are doing a kick-butt job on Google+?

The question is germane to a new book I'm working on, and I need your input. I'm looking for authors of books both fiction and non  who are using Google+ in innovative and exciting ways. Either on their profile, with Communities, Hangouts... anything, really. 

And yes, if you feel you're doing a great job, you can tell me all about it.

Ready? Go!

2013-06-11 21:42:51 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Registration is Now Open for Wisdom 2.0 2014!

I just learned from +Soren Gordhamer that registration for next year's +Wisdom 2.0 Conference is now open. It is not cheap and it will only get more expensive to sign up over time as the less expensive early registration tickets sell out. From personal experience, I can say the opportunity is priceless! Please join me at #wisdom2conf  next February.

Namasté

2013-06-11 03:18:06 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

kewl stuff!  Tracking sci fi predictions can daunt us author chaps.  But my own readers set up wikis and track and score me relentlessly.  Grrrrrr.  ;-)
David Brin   - http://www.davidbrin.com

2013-06-11 02:44:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Nothing like drinking at your friends' place on your birthday!

And this Class of '88 Imperial Smoked Porter by +Deschutes Brewery is exquisite. Thanks, Jim!

2013-06-10 23:58:13 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Get ready for the Books & Beer Hangout -- a weekly video chat on topic related to something in or around the world of digital publishing… and we drink beer!

On June 10th, we’ll be joined by +Tim Coe. He has an interesting twist on the choose your own adventure style of books, but with a strong emphasis on digital and social media.

Remember, you can join in for the B&B Hangover at :15 after the hour to get your questions answered live! But you have to be in our circles to get the invite, so do so now!

Books & Beer is co-produced and co-hosted by +Evo Terra & +Jeff Moriarty, publishing pioneers and craft beer enthusiasts. We Hangout every Monday, at 6:00 pm PT/9:00 pm ET as a Google Hangout On Air. Join us!

2013-06-10 22:46:42 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

The dystopian future of publishing as predicted by the movie Brazil.

If it's been a while since you've watched Brazil, Terry Gilliam's iconic movie from 1985; fix that problem. Authors? Pay attention, as I think the movie presents some interesting parallels to today's publishing environment. And it's only slightly more dystopian.

The protagonist, Sam Lowry, collectively represents today's author. You've got dreams of soaring high, but the system just keeps dragging you down. In fact, it seems outright hostile.

Jill Layton, the object of his desires, is your career as an author, or maybe your first book. It wants to come out and flourish, but is being stymied by the system, and almost everyone below.

Take Sam's boss, Mr. Kurtzmann. He represents the small publishing houses. They know the game has changed but still they keep... more »

2013-06-10 16:13:40 (7 comments, 2 reshares, 4 +1s)

What authors are doing a kick-butt job on Google+?

The question is germane to a new book I'm working on, and I need your input. I'm looking for authors of books both fiction and non  who are using Google+ in innovative and exciting ways. Either on their profile, with Communities, Hangouts... anything, really. 

And yes, if you feel you're doing a great job, you can tell me all about it.

Ready? Go!

2013-06-10 14:27:15 (13 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Very cool of Apple to celebrate my birthday with an entire conference of things you can buy me. One of each, please!

#WWDC  

2013-06-10 02:03:30 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Noble Rot by Dogfish Head.

Wow. I'm hit or miss on the whole farmhouse/saison style. +Sheila Dee is a fan of this one. Me? I'm powering through.

2013-06-10 00:46:08 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

The 19th Anniversary from Great Divide. Pairs most excellent with this grilled pork chop and crumbled Humbolt Fog cheese!

2013-06-09 21:32:13 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

My pool is # autoawesome!

2013-06-09 21:23:22 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Tailgate Hefewizen, Bullet by Bobalu, and my pool. Good Sunday!

2013-06-12 15:24:24 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 7 +1s)

Jeff and I are pretty excited to announce the start of a collaboration between +ePublish Unum - Education for Authors and Changing Hands in Tempe, AZ. Changing hands has long been a strong supporter of the indie author, and we've worked along side them for years, helping with conferences, teaching classes, and generally supporting one another.

Now, we're piloting a new series of in-person workshops for should-be  authors in the Phoenix area. Our first class is Thursday evening on June 20th, and seating is very limited. We're purposely keeping these classes small to provide as much interaction with attendees as possible. That, and the room at Changing Hands isn't all that big.

Tools and Methods of the 21st-Century Writer
What do today's writers need in their arsenal to be a published writer? Using Evernote, Word, and Scrivner as writing, editing, andp... more »

2013-06-09 16:37:51 (12 comments, 6 reshares, 38 +1s)

I think a #truthbomb  just exploded.

2013-06-09 00:53:20 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Grilling me a nice steak for my birthday weekend. And enjoying a Session!

2013-06-08 22:44:41 (9 comments, 2 reshares, 37 +1s)

Re-stocked the beer fridge for summer. Now I've worked up a sweat and will be heading to the pool with one of the Mr. Pineapple's by +SanTan Brewing!

Currently 106F in sunny Tempe, AZ.

2013-06-08 17:21:44 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Europe wants to get to Mars on a lay-away plan?

I get that 650,000,000 euros isn't chump change. But is budgeting three months at a time really a way to fund such a gigantic venture? Then again, I abhor politics. And I simply cannot fathom the complexity of several sovereign nations contributing to such a large joint effort. However, it's probably required if we ever want to get off this rock.

Good luck, EU member nations! 

2013-06-08 04:59:49 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Very small asteroid 2013 LR6 will safely pass between the paths of Earth and the moon at 12:42 a.m. ET (0442 UTC) on June 8. 

Distance: 65,000 miles (105,000 km); Size: 10 meters. More info: http://go.nasa.gov/12wYzh4

2013-06-08 02:19:14 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

I see #craftbeer people!

2013-06-08 00:11:57 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

As a matter of fact, I am bad-ass enough to ride my bike all the way home in 113-degree weather.

#phoenix
#tough
#onlylive1mileaway

2013-06-07 20:32:18 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

It's like Mio for your fizzy yellow beer!

0_o

#Idontwanttoliveonthisplanetanymore  

2013-06-07 19:56:50 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 6 +1s)

2013-06-07 19:48:15 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

It's going to hit 43° C in Tempe today. Mars is looking rather inviting, with a high of only -9° C. 

Please let me know when Mars Colonial Transporter is flying regularly, +Elon Musk. I'll pack a jacket.

Yes, that's an honest-to-goodness quote! Mars weather data pulled here: http://marsweather.com/data

2013-06-07 15:19:39 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

I miss Belize. I've traveled there twice and love both trips. It's been far too long, and Mike is making me thirsty for some culture.

#doyouseewhatididthere  
#craftbeer  

2013-06-07 14:08:36 (1 comments, 7 reshares, 10 +1s)

10 Easy Steps To Selling Thousands of Books Sanctioned by Hugh Howey.

A little superlative of me, I know. But when I read +Hugh Howey 's piece on discoverability, there were some solid nuggets of gold that needed to be called out in link-bait form. So begging his pardon for the poetic license I'm about to exact on his well considered words, I bring you ...

1. Make indie publishing -- any aspect -- a central and routine part of your life.
2. Dream about bestsellerdom, but plan for reality.
3. Write within a well-selling genre/category. Stay there for a while.
4. Write (and have someone else edit) a fantastic and remarkable book.
5. Develop a solid promotional plan for that book.
6. Get the best cover art you can afford, because you are not a designer and should not try to be one.
7. Write awesome sales copy for the book, because you are ana... more »

2013-06-06 15:09:22 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

I didn't think that's what they meant by _commercial_ space.

But oh well. If they can go, then others can do. I'm an other!

2013-06-06 14:46:04 (0 comments, 5 reshares, 15 +1s)

Buzz Aldrin backs up Thomas Dolby on stage!

This had to be quite a rush for +Thomas Dolby. Having the 2nd man to ever walk on the moon help sing (?) She Blinded Me With Science is quite an honor.

I encourage you to watch through the end to watch +Buzz Aldrin get more and more animated as the song progresses. Joy!

Buzz Aldrin and Thomas Dolby Perform "She Blinded Me With Science"!

2013-06-05 23:01:42 (6 comments, 3 reshares, 7 +1s)

I'm an amalgamation of several archetypal #craftbeer   drinkers in this list. I'd say I'm:

40%The Appraiser
25% The Flavor Finder
15% The Comparer

Though I have been many other less-flattering in greater quantities. And I'm sure those who know me will disagree with my self-evaluation.

2013-06-05 21:17:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Disappointed that +The Beer Diet (a brew story) didn't make this list. But I am happy to see that +Scanadu made it, as I'm one of the early backers of the product.

My kid will be interested in the second item, as he's working on becoming a personal trainer. And I wonder what +Terry Simpson thinks about #4 in conjunction with #3?

Hello, future!

2013-06-05 02:50:16 (1 comments, 3 reshares, 2 +1s)

Time for space debris and craft beer, with, +Casey Dreier and +The Planetary Society at Spokes on Southern in Tempe!

2013-06-05 02:31:34 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Added photos to Free Science Café with the President of the Planetary Society.

2013-06-05 02:27:55 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

I'm not saying that Twitter is responsible for the El Reno tornado on Friday.

I'm just pointing out the uncanny resemblance.

#oklahomaisagoodplacetobefrom