| Author |
Message |
    
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3334
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 04:21 pm: |   |
Of course, this means that everyone should go out and use the POD method of publication, because look how well it's going to work for this guy...
Too bad, most of us don't have a ready-made niche market like he does...
But that won't stop the POD companies from using his example as "see how successful you'll be" advertising.
Mindsight Moderator
Aston's Blog
Midwestern Writer |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
4293
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 04:49 pm: | |
Not to mention that he is already an established "name" in the annals of show biz, which gives him an immediate leg up. If you had written that many Star Trek scripts, you would not be struggling either.
Laurel Johnson
|
Stephen Lodge
Wandering Member
Post Number:
163
Registered: 06-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 05:17 pm: | |
I wasn't aware that the scripts one sells to a production company, or scripts commissioned by the same, belonged to the author (screenwriter). This is all news to me.
Novels by Stephen Lodge:
"Shadows of Eagles"
"Charley Sunday's Texas Outfit!"
"Nickel-Plated Dream"
|
Richard Taylor
Awareness Member
Post Number:
45
Registered: 10-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 08:17 am: | |
He was also the producer/driving force behind the show -- therefore he can do with his scripts whatever he wants.
Richard Taylor
|
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1728
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 09:51 pm: | |
http://worldebookfair.com/
July 4th to August 4, 2006 marks a month long celebration of the 35th anniversary of the first step taken towards today's eBooks, when the United States Declaration of Independence was the first file placed online for downloading in what was destined to be an electronic library of the Internet. Today's eBook library has a total of over 100 languages represented.
The World eBook Fair welcomes you to absolutely free access to a variety of eBook unparalleled by any other source. 1/3 million eBooks await you, all free of charge for the month from July 4 - August 4, 2006, and then 1/2 million eBooks in 2007, 3/4 million in 2008, and ONE million in 2009.
Ten times as many eBooks are available from private eBook sources, without the media circus that comes with 100 billion dollar media mavens such as Google. The World eBook Fair has created a library of wide ranging sample of these eBooks, totaling 1/3 million. Here are eBooks from nearly every classic author on the varieties of subjects previously only available through the largest library collections in the world. Now these books are yours for the taking, free of charge, to keep for the rest of your lives.
This event is brought to you by the oldest and largest free eBook source on the Internet, Project Gutenberg, with the assistance of the World eBook Library, the providers of the largest collection, and a number of other eBook efforts around the world. The World eBook Library normally charges $8.95 per year for online access, and allows unlimited permanent downloading. During The World eBook Fair all these books are available free of charge through a gateway at http://www.gutenberg.org
YOU ARE INVITED!
You are encouraged to participate in The World eBook Fair, either to download any or all of the 1/3 million eBooks provided here or to add your own eBooks. The World eBook fair is currently scheduled for the next few July and August periods as follows:
2007 1/2 Million eBooks
2008 3/4 Million eBooks
2009 One Million eBooks
The World eBook Fair, Project Gutenberg, and World eBook Library, along with our other participants, join together to encourage you to assist in bringing many entire libraries to the general public and to encourage ever increasing levels of literacy and reading.
We hope the invention of eBooks will advance the world as much as did the invention of The Gutenberg Press, and look forward to the Neo-Industrial Revolution following the advent of eBooks, just as the invention of The Gutenberg Press undoubtedly led to the first Industrial Revolution, and your participation can help bring this new revolution in reading and libraries to the world.
http://www.fdungan.com/south.htm |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2058
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 10:01 am: | |
Fred,
I wish I were as optimistic about e-books as this. I want to be, but I just can't see it. I can smell it, I can taste it, but, I just can't see it any time soon.
I checked out a dedicated reader from the library. It was loaded with eight Si-Fi Stories (not my genre), and I enjoyed the reading.
The device was about 8"x10", had an adjustable "reading light" to suit the reader's eyes; an automatic scroll speed, adjustable to reader's pace; a book mark button, so you could automatically comeback to the same place later.
The text was clear as a bell and I could take it to the park, or where ever. It was great, and eight novels! It could be down loaded (from selective sites) with fiction, non-fiction, technical material, newspapers, or magazines.
A virtual library to carry around. It was perfect! Perfect for students, perfect for business travelers.
The librarian said they bought six of them, and they were seldom ever checked out. They pushed them all they could, but people simply wanted the printed page.
The newer models are smaller, can hold up to 1,000 novels (yikes), but cost around $1500.00.With all the development in hand-held devices, maybe soon, but right now, I don't see it.
I, for one, could easily convert to that manner of reading. |
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1729
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 01:35 pm: | |
Bill,
I have never used a handheld ebook reader, I have never seen one, and I have never met anyone who would admit to having owned one. Nobody involved in the Gutenberg Project makes ebooks for these devices. You are reading this from a monitor. Why would you want to use anything else to read an ebook?
If you want something that is portable and convenient, I suggest paperbacks. For all other purposes, ebooks make environmental and economic sense.
http://www.dunganbooks.com |
Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number:
1209
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 02:11 pm: | |
E-books are the future.
The problem of hand held readers right now is still the display, usually LCD or O-LED.
Computer monitors don't read very well, in my opinion.Paper reads much easier.
But E-ink is being developed, and it looks and reads excactly like printed paper, but behaves otherwise as a regular display. It is also possible to make it flexible, and it uses little power.
I have seen a couple of prototypes a few years ago, they looked good, but if you changed the page, the last page still could be seen.
I think they improved considerably since then.
Still, good old fashioned printed books will never disapear completely, but the market definitly will change.
It means that manuscripts will be illegally copied like music, but also that publishing will not be a risky business, and everybody will get a chance, depending on writing skills only. Only less money to be earned, perhaps. |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2060
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 03:38 pm: | |
"You are reading this from a monitor. Why would you want to use anything else to read an ebook?
If you want something that is portable and convenient, I suggest paperbacks. For all other purposes, ebooks make environmental and economic sense."
That's a debatable topic.I can't carry my monitor from place to place (PC).
I know, lap-top, PDA, etc.
This all addresses reading for pleasure. How about business or student applications? Again, lap tops etc. But more cost efficient devices can be made available dedicated to reading only. There are tons of applications for this, just as there are for printed books, pamphlets, and such. This is all near term.
As Singularity is approached and AI perfected, who knows what will be available?
Maybe reading War and Peace will be like a flash card. Poof, and the whole thing is transferred in a nanosecond. We will be able to shift the thinking process from human neurons to faster substrates, so "reading", per se, will be a thing of the past anyway. Just Poof, and you've got it! Whatever IT may be.
I doubt we'll live to see that, so, until then, I have to find me a flippin' agent! |
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1733
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 03:48 pm: | |
The fact that you are reading this from a monitor tells me that you aren't as addicted to paper as you claim to be. With paper you are stuck with one size of print whereas you can change the size and/or font on the screen. Paper, obviously, does not read better. It is simply more convenient.
http://www.dunganbooks.com |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2063
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 04:52 pm: | |
No, I didn't say I was addicted to paper. Read back. I just don't want to be glued to a monitor. If I'm reading for pleasure, I like the old LaZBoy, and a cold drink (usually just water for me, by the way).
My PC is basically a work station. |
Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1953
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 06:15 pm: | |
Personally I find that I can read faster and absorb more on my monitor. I do my personal editing on the computer and can normally get through an eighty-some thousand word manuscript in a couple of days. A printed copy would take me well over a week.
Probably more than 90% of the books that I get for review are hard copy ARCs but that's okay in the summertime because I can read on the beach.
I've never seen a hand held e-reader but I've heard great things about them. I'm certainly willing to move into the new millennium but I'd like to see things settle down to one format first. I keep thinking back to the Beta vs VHS fiasco.
It may take a generation or more before it's fully accepted. Cell phones were around for years and then suddenly took off. Perhaps the same thing will happen with e-books.
Dennis Collins
Moderator
www.theunrealmccoy.com |
Pacwriter
Unity Member
Post Number:
2432
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 08, 2006 - 08:30 pm: | |
I've read that schools are pushing laptops for 1 st grade and up. when all the kids start having laptops with their lessons (books) on them then we will have a generation of e-book readers.
Unfortunately they will all be deaf from i-pods.
http://www.perrycomer.com
http://www.blogger.com/publish.g?blogID=20779252&inprogress=true
|
Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number:
1214
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 09, 2006 - 09:06 am: | |
I always print before correcting and editting. From a monitor alone I tend to miss quite a bit. |
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1743
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 05:37 pm: | |
What gave ebooks a bad reputation was that they were not sufficiently edited and proofread. They were judged (rightly so) to be inferior. Slapdash publishing is a thing of the past (with the possible exception of PublishAmerica).
http://www.fdungan.com/vigilantes.htm |
Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number:
1235
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 12:28 pm: | |
The same happened when they changed from hand copied books to printed...
And before that from mouth to mouth to writing.
New technology often has some difficulties at first. |
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1752
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 09:42 pm: | |
"Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew make today's high tech adventurers look like dilettantes. Their interminable voyage across frozen land and open sea is one of the most harrowing survival stories of all time." - Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm.
I am proud to announce a new edition of South! by Sir Ernest Shackleton, published by DUNGAN BOOKS. Click on http://www.fdungan.com/south.htm.
http://www.dunganbooks.com |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2088
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 - 07:52 pm: | |
Check out this website.
http://www.ereader.com/products/ereader/pro
 |
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1766
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 11:20 pm: | |
Bill,
Ebooks are a bargain. That stuff is all fine and dandy, but you don't really need it. All that is required is a computer and a monitor.
http://www.dunganbooks.com |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3360
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 07:52 am: | |
There's something to be said about being able to take the book anywhere you go, though...as you can with hard- and paperbacks...
Mindsight Moderator
Aston's Blog
Midwestern Writer |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2097
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 10:22 am: | |
"There's something to be said about being able to take the book anywhere you go, though...as you can with hard- and paperbacks..."
...or, handheld devices (same thing). It's just that they are new and people resist change. "We've always done it this way, so we'll keep doing it this way!"
The bottleneck to progress...
Fred, I can afford the computer and the monitor. It's the expense of those 100 mile long extension cords when I want to travel that costs so much!
 |
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1771
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 04:48 pm: | |
Yes, you can't beat a paperback for convenience. At least not yet. My guess is that wi/fi will bring about a revolution. What could be more convenient than being able to download exactly what you want anytime, anyplace, for around 99 cents?
http://www.fdungan.com/vigilantes.htm |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3366
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 06:24 am: | |
I personally think electronic paper, once it becames widely available and affordable, is going to be the ticket. The other option was a device I thought up (ought to patent it, I suppose, and avoid a repeat of the postal services' "Automated Postal Center").
Mindsight Moderator
Aston's Blog
Midwestern Writer |
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1790
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 05:07 pm: | |
It would also help if the books were printed by a machine at the bookstore in the manner that the designer intended. POD should be convenient and there is no reason why the brick and mortar stores shouldn't get their fair share of the profits. The Lightning Books/Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com consortium has made a mess of it.
http://www.fdungan.com/vigilantes.htm |
Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1973
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - 06:06 pm: | |
My understanding is that the nuts and bolts hardware of POD printing machinery is not developed to the state of reliability that it needs to be for bookstore placement. I talked to a person at Lightning source and they said that the required maintenance was staggering.
The original idea of POD was that you went into your local Kinko's, walked up to a machine, typed in an ISBN number, swiped your credit card, and a book happened. I guess it just ain't there yet.
Dennis Collins
Moderator
www.theunrealmccoy.com |
Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number:
1318
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 09:27 am: | |
Dennis:
"The original idea of POD was that you went into your local Kinko's, walked up to a machine, typed in an ISBN number, swiped your credit card, and a book happened."
In the time of the homecomputers like the Commodore C64 and the Spectrum, there was a similar idea concerning software: a machine that downloaded the latest software, recorded it on a tape, and printed the cover for you.
It never happened, not really sure why. At the time the technology was already there.
I think E-ink using the Adobe format will be the future. The readers will decide, and not the big publishers anymore. Authors will earn less money, but much more of them will get a shot, as electronic publishing is low risk. |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3376
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 03:27 pm: | |
Maintenance on a machine with moving parts is going to be expensive when it continuously runs, whether it be a POD-printer, a copier, or anything...as Harry mentioned, electronic medium (low maintenance) is going to be the future, it's just a matter of when (that being, when it will become affordable or "fad-acious" enough for the public to buy in).
Using Harry's example of software, they had the technology to download software, record it and print a cover.
Now we have downloadable electronic music that does the same thing (albeit not for software, but).
We are currently able to surf the web on a wireless device that fits in the palm of your hand, so it's only a matter of time before they create a device that allows you to download a book anywhere and read on paper-like material.
Mindsight Moderator
Aston's Blog
Midwestern Writer |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2132
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 03:52 pm: | |
Just in case there are some who aren't familiar with it.
"Two companies are simultaneously developing similar electronic inks -- E Ink of Cambridge, MA, and Xerox in Palo Alto, CA. At first glance, a bottle of electronic ink looks just like regular ink, but a closer examination shows something much different. Although the two companies' products vary slightly, here are the three components of both electronic inks that give them the ability to rearrange upon command:
Millions of tiny microcapsules or cavities
An ink or oily substance filling the microcapsules or cavities
Pigmented chips or balls with a negative charge floating inside the microcapsule
Electronic ink can be applied to the same materials that regular ink can be printed on. In the case of a digital book, the pages would be made out of some kind of ultra-thin plastic. The ink would cover the entire page, separated by cells that resemble the cells on graph paper. Think of these cells as pixels on your computer screen, with each cell wired to microelectronics embedded in this plastic sheet. These microelectronics would then be used to apply a positive or negative charge to the microcapsules to create the desired text or images."
I'm thinking words will scroll like the marquee in Times Square across your page. Yes? No? |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3378
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 04:24 pm: | |
I'm thinking two sizes of readers, consistent with both a MM paperback and a hardcover.
The reader would fold apart along the parting line (in half).
The display would look just like a paper copy, but would change pages graphically (animated, perhaps) based on a thumb press in the upper corners (right for forward, left for back).
When you close the "book", the "bookmark" is saved for when you open it again, until you reach the end of the book, at which point it goes back to the beginning (after closing).
Different books are loaded via an SD card (or possibly secure internet download).
Mindsight Moderator
Aston's Blog
Midwestern Writer |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2133
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 04:31 pm: | |
I want one! I want one!
 |
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1798
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 06:16 pm: | |
I don't want it. What I want is what I was promised, a paperback printed on demand. The technology is there. Having a vested interest in a centralized system, it shouldn't surprise anyone that Lightning Books says the brick and mortar approach won't fly. It's already in place at Cafe Press.
http://www.fdungan.com/vigilantes.htm |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3391
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 05:52 pm: | |
I think this was something Fred was already experiencing on his own, but an interesting turn of events nonetheless...
Mindsight Moderator
Aston's Blog
Midwestern Writer |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2181
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 07:55 pm: | |
Tell me people won't read electronic text...cool. |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
35
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 11:54 am: | |
Ladies & Gentlemen, Writers, Teachers, Authors, Mothers, Fathers, & Friends,
The World is Changing!!!! The feelings and comments being expressed about EBooks are the same feelings that has tried to tackle, and is still trying to tackle the POD Industry.
We all know that our children will be more advanced in the use of Computers/Technology than we are or will be. Therefore for the future, EBooks are not a bad idea! They represent a quick few bucks to the author and the download is temporary (currently w/Trafford although that could change) to the reader. With Trafford, you also have the option to not have your book as a EBook.
Don't get me wrong Fred, I love seeing my name on a paperback or hardcover and also passing someone and seeing my book in their hands is one of thee most...AAAAHHHhh...next to sex of course!!!!!! lolololol
I'm lookin' forward to someone in IRELAND, FRANCE, SPAIN...downloading my EBook for moment in time to enjoying a good book.
Peace & Good Writing
www.KeeperoftheArts.com
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1841
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 04:32 pm: | |
English is the modern lingua franca. New markets are opening daily in India, Pakistan, and other parts of the developing world where a good read is still a valued commodity.
http://www.dunganbooks.com/alex.htm |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
38
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 08:07 am: | |
I hope this works but here http://www.trafford.com/4dcgi/author-optoutpromo.html
It will shed a little light on the future of EBooks
Peace
www.KeeperoftheArts.com
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3394
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 04:07 pm: | |
Looks like you need an author login to read it...at least when I tried...
Mindsight Moderator
Aston's Blog
Midwestern Writer |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
41
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 09:51 pm: | |
Sorry about that! I'll go back and re-do this! Thanks Todd.
Peace
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
Stephen Lodge
Wandering Member
Post Number:
233
Registered: 06-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 10:31 am: | |
08/26/06
Malcolm Berko column
Time to close the book on Barnes & Noble
Dear Mr. Berko: I bought 300 shares of Barnes & Noble in 2001 and paid $42 a share for the stock. Back then it had sales of $4.9 billion, and today sales are $5.3 billion. Is there something wrong with its marketing strategy, its inventory selection and its management? My objective is long-term growth. Have I made a wrong choice with Barnes & Noble? Should I sell? -- P.G. Kansas City, Kan.
Dear P.G.: You may be unwilling to believe this, but we've been facing a phenomenon called "the dumbing down of America" that had its genesis in the early 1960s and gained momentum in the mid-1990s. Americans are reading less and less because more and more are unable to read and it's going to get "worser and worser." The problem is first evident in our school system.
It's not that our school system is failing our children; rather it's their culture and their expectations that are redefining our school system.
In the early 1990s, the Florida Legislature thought its Comprehensive Assessment Tests were too difficult. So the Legislature demanded changes on two occasions (and got them) to make the test easier to pass. Well, that didn't work, so the school system demanded that teachers "teach to the test." That didn't work, either! Test scores continued to show poor results. Today, the Florida Legislature is blaming the messenger, accusing those who grade the tests of being incompetent. This is happening all over the country.
That's the best way to tell you why Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS-$38, as of June 12) won't book any meaningful increases in revenues. Their coffee shops are selling lots of coffee and pastries; gift items are doing well and so are the sales of knickknacks and bric-a-brac. BKS's www.barnesandnoble.com (10 percent of book sales) is popular, while the sales of maps, compact discs, calendars and gewgaws continue to grow. Management was "encouraged" to open a Hispanic book section, but resisted the entreaties because it would be too costly in relation to potential revenues.
BKS has a superb balance sheet, zero long-term debt and net profit margins of 2.8 percent, which should improve with the opening of a 1.1-million-square-foot New Jersey distribution center. Free cash flow has increased nicely and management's earnings guidance for this year does not include the continuation of its share buy-back program beyond the first quarter. Since 2004, BKS has bought back more than 4 million shares. I reckon that the incremental cash flow will be used to increase the dividend over the next few years. I think today's 60-cent dividend may be increased to 70 cents in 2006.
So it pains me to tell you to sell your stock because it's not going anywhere unless the Library of Congress makes an offer at $57 a share. I'm convinced that the current $38 price is too high, and Morningstar agrees because they place a "fair value" on BKS at $36.
Please address your financial questions to Malcolm Berko, P.O. Box 1416, Boca Raton, FL 33429 or e-mail him at malber@adelphia.net.
http://stephenlodge.com
Novels by Stephen Lodge:
"Charley Sunday's Texas Outfit!"
"Nickel-Plated Dream"
"Shadows of Eagles"
|
Sean D. Schaffer
Hunger Member
Post Number:
76
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 11:12 am: | |
"The fact that you are reading this from a monitor tells me that you aren't as addicted to paper as you claim to be. With paper you are stuck with one size of print whereas you can change the size and/or font on the screen. Paper, obviously, does not read better. It is simply more convenient."
Much more convenient.
For one thing, if you have a desktop, reading from a monitor is great, but you cannot take a desktop PC onto the bus with you....even if you could, you'd still have to plug it in.
Also, my desktop sits on an extension of my kitchen counter, and I sit on a wooden stool in a position that does not allow me to read all that well. The idea of my desktop situation is to promote good typing, not reading.
Like Bill said, there's nothing quite so nice about reading a book as reclining in your easy chair and sipping a nice cup of hot coffee while you're reading. Also there is the issue of having to boot up your computer before you can read. Some computers take several minutes to boot up. OTOH, I can take a print book off the shelf and sit down, instantly able to read it.
Further, there is the issue of price. Sure, an e-book doesn't cost much, but the computer you read your e-book with can cost several hundred dollars. Heck, my monitor alone (flat-panel) was almost two hundred dollars. Why would I want to read a book on something so expensive when I can purchase a mass-market paperback for seven or eight dollars at the local bookstore?
I agree that e-books have a place, but to say they're the wave of the future, is in my opinion a real stretch.
http://seandschaffer.blogspot.com/ |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3428
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 01:51 pm: | |
I have a PDA that turns on (and returns to where it was when it was turned off) almost instantly.
I can send and receive files on the click of a button.
I can take it anywhere I could a book (it's actually smaller than most mass market paperbacks).
The only downside for reading is the smaller screen (though it doesn't bother me, it is sure to bother others).
All that to say, the technology exists.
Figure that a bookstore could sell an e-book with single-user encryption for maybe $3.99 (I don't read a lot of MMP, so don't know if that's a competitive price or not). The reader could receive the file (click a button) into their reader, then go plop down in the cafe and pay $5 for an espresso, to drink while they read.
Mindsight Moderator
Aston's Blog
Midwestern Writer |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2277
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 02:56 pm: | |
I recently talked to a 20-year old computer geek. Has magic fingers, and really knows his stuff.
I asked him if he read much.
Said, all the time.
What do you read.
Tech manuals, mostly!
What do you do for pleasure.
Go to movies and clubs.
Ever read for pleasure?
He looked at me like I was demented.
Nooooo. |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3431
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 01:53 pm: | |
A lot of it has to do with the amount of free time we have, and the amount of things we try to do in that time.
I enjoy reading for pleasure, but have too many other things vying for my attention outside of work.
I currently have 4 fiction novels sitting on my living room table, waiting for me to lounge on my sofa and read them. They've been there for about 1-2 months now...and it doesn't look like it will be anytime soon.
Mindsight Moderator
Aston's Blog
Midwestern Writer |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2279
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 02:44 pm: | |
Fifteen to thirty minutes every single night before going to sleep. You'll knock them out in no time.
Problems arise when you really get into one and read until 2:00 am and have to get up at 6:00! I do that regularly. |
Stephen Lodge
Wandering Member
Post Number:
234
Registered: 06-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 04:46 pm: | |
"Fifteen to thirty minutes every single night before going to sleep. You'll knock them out in no time"
I'm in the before bed habit - but the unread books still pile up faster than the finished ones.
http://stephenlodge.com
Novels by Stephen Lodge:
"Charley Sunday's Texas Outfit!"
"Nickel-Plated Dream"
"Shadows of Eagles"
|
Ed (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 01, 2006 - 07:54 pm: | |
"I currently have 4 fiction novels sitting on my living room table"
Say this where an agent can see it and it's curtains. A novel is fiction by definition. |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3470
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 02, 2006 - 08:49 pm: | |
Glad to see you read Miss Snark too, Mark...
Mindsight Moderator and ex-PA author
Aston's Blog |
a1206744442799 (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 05:10 pm: | |
good 1206744442799 <a href="http://somaoma.tripod.com/akane-soma.html">akane soma</a> akane soma http://somaoma.tripod.com/akane-soma.html
<a href="http://somaoma.webng.com/effects-of-soma.html">effects of soma</a> effects of soma http://somaoma.webng.com/effects-of-soma.html
<a href="http://somaoma.tripod.com/soma-carisoprodol.html">soma carisoprodol</a> soma carisoprodol http://somaoma.tripod.com/soma-carisoprodol.html
<a href="http://somaoma.webng.com/soma-addiction.html">soma addiction</a> soma addiction http://somaoma.webng.com/soma-addiction.html
<a href="http://somaoma.tripod.com/soma-carisoprodol-online.html">soma carisoprodol online</a> soma carisoprodol online http://somaoma.tripod.com/soma-carisoprodol-online.html
<a href="http://somaoma.webng.com/discount-soma.html">discount soma</a> discount soma http://somaoma.webng.com/discount-soma.html
<a href="http://somaoma.tripod.com/buy-cheap-soma.html">buy cheap soma</a> buy cheap soma http://somaoma.tripod.com/buy-cheap-soma.html
<a href="http://somaoma.webng.com/purchase-soma-online.html">purchase soma online</a> purchase soma online http://somaoma.webng.com/purchase-soma-online.html
<a href="http://somaoma.tripod.com/soma-mandal.html">soma mandal</a> soma mandal http://somaoma.tripod.com/soma-mandal.html
<a href="http://somaoma.webng.com/purchase-soma.html">purchase soma</a> purchase soma http://somaoma.webng.com/purchase-soma.html
<a href="http://somaoma.tripod.com/purchase-soma.html">purchase soma</a> purchase soma http://somaoma.tripod.com/purchase-soma.html
<a href="http://somaoma.webng.com/soma-mandal.html">soma mandal</a> soma mandal http://somaoma.webng.com/soma-mandal.html
<a href="http://somaoma.tripod.com/purchase-soma-online.html">purchase soma online</a> purchase soma online http://somaoma.tripod.com/purchase-soma-online.html
<a href="http://somaoma.webng.com/buy-cheap-soma.html">buy cheap soma</a> buy cheap soma http://somaoma.webng.com/buy-cheap-soma.html
<a href="http://somaoma.tripod.com/discount-soma.html">discount soma</a> discount soma http://somaoma.tripod.com/discount-soma.html
<a href="http://somaoma.webng.com/soma-carisoprodol-online.html">soma carisoprodol online</a> soma carisoprodol online http://somaoma.webng.com/soma-carisoprodol-online.html
<a href="http://somaoma.tripod.com/soma-addiction.html">soma addiction</a> soma addiction http://somaoma.tripod.com/soma-addiction.html
<a href="http://somaoma.webng.com/soma-carisoprodol.html">soma carisoprodol</a> soma carisoprodol http://somaoma.webng.com/soma-carisoprodol.html
<a href="http://somaoma.tripod.com/effects-of-soma.html">effects of soma</a> effects of soma http://somaoma.tripod.com/effects-of-soma.html
<a href="http://somaoma.webng.com/akane-soma.html">akane soma</a> akane soma http://somaoma.webng.com/akane-soma.html |
a1207005502620 (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 - 05:41 pm: | |
good 1207005502620 <a href="http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=CHEAP425297&uid=642731707">cheap hawaii vacations</a> cheap hawaii vacations http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=CHEAP425297&uid=642731707
<a href="http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=HERTZ413959&uid=642731626">hertz car rental</a> hertz car rental http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=HERTZ413959&uid=642731626
<a href="http://weblog.xanga.com/CAPITALON/639000246/capital-one-credit-card.html">capital one credit card</a> capital one credit card http://weblog.xanga.com/CAPITALON/639000246/capital-one-credit-card.html
<a href="http://weblog.xanga.com/CAPITAL159497/641553945/capital-one-credit-cards-canada.html">capital one credit cards canada</a> capital one credit cards canada http://weblog.xanga.com/CAPITAL159497/641553945/capital-one-credit-cards-canada.html
<a href="http://www.xanga.com/hotpennystock">hot penny stock</a> hot penny stock http://www.xanga.com/hotpennystock
<a href="http://weblog.xanga.com/NASDAQ121271/641553330/nasdaq-penny-stock.html">nasdaq penny stock</a> nasdaq penny stock http://weblog.xanga.com/NASDAQ121271/641553330/nasdaq-penny-stock.html
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=creditcardappro">Instant Credit Card Approval</a> Instant Credit Card Approval http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=creditcardappro
<a href="http://fixedlowinteres.dotbb.be">FIXED LOW INTEREST CREDIT CARDS</a> FIXED LOW INTEREST CREDIT CARDS http://fixedlowinteres.dotbb.be |
a1207005528112 (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 - 05:41 pm: | |
good 1207005528112 <a href="http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=CHEAP425297&uid=642731707">cheap hawaii vacations</a> cheap hawaii vacations http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=CHEAP425297&uid=642731707
<a href="http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=HERTZ413959&uid=642731626">hertz car rental</a> hertz car rental http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=HERTZ413959&uid=642731626
<a href="http://weblog.xanga.com/CAPITALON/639000246/capital-one-credit-card.html">capital one credit card</a> capital one credit card http://weblog.xanga.com/CAPITALON/639000246/capital-one-credit-card.html
<a href="http://weblog.xanga.com/CAPITAL159497/641553945/capital-one-credit-cards-canada.html">capital one credit cards canada</a> capital one credit cards canada http://weblog.xanga.com/CAPITAL159497/641553945/capital-one-credit-cards-canada.html
<a href="http://www.xanga.com/hotpennystock">hot penny stock</a> hot penny stock http://www.xanga.com/hotpennystock
<a href="http://weblog.xanga.com/NASDAQ121271/641553330/nasdaq-penny-stock.html">nasdaq penny stock</a> nasdaq penny stock http://weblog.xanga.com/NASDAQ121271/641553330/nasdaq-penny-stock.html
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=creditcardappro">Instant Credit Card Approval</a> Instant Credit Card Approval http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=creditcardappro
<a href="http://fixedlowinteres.dotbb.be">FIXED LOW INTEREST CREDIT CARDS</a> FIXED LOW INTEREST CREDIT CARDS http://fixedlowinteres.dotbb.be |
a1208012931767 (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 05:08 pm: | |
good 1208012931767 <a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=aspencreditc52">aspen credit cards</a> aspen credit cards http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=aspencreditc52
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=airlinemiles53">airline miles credit cards</a> airline miles credit cards http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=airlinemiles53
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=hawaiianairl16">hawaiian airlines visa</a> hawaiian airlines visa http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=hawaiianairl16
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=premierbankc70">premier bank credit card</a> premier bank credit card http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=premierbankc70
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=orchardbankc04">orchard bank credit card</a> orchard bank credit card http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=orchardbankc04
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=aspirevisacr82">aspire visa credit card</a> aspire visa credit card http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=aspirevisacr82
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=bpcreditcard67">bp credit cards</a> bp credit cards http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=bpcreditcard67
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=bpcreditcard35">bp credit card account</a> bp credit card account http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=bpcreditcard35
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=bpcreditcard77">bp credit card payment</a> bp credit card payment http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=bpcreditcard77
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=bpgascreditc93">bp gas credit card</a> bp gas credit card http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=bpgascreditc93
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=capitalonecr76">capital one credit card</a> capital one credit card http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=capitalonecr76
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=capitalonecr75">capital one credit cards canada</a> capital one credit cards canada http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=capitalonecr75
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=badcreditvis00">bad credit visa cards</a> bad credit visa cards http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=badcreditvis00
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=easyapproval58">easy approval credit cards</a> easy approval credit cards http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=easyapproval58
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=instantcredi30">instant credit card approval</a> instant credit card approval http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=instantcredi30
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=instantappro94">instant approval bad credit card</a> instant approval bad credit card http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=instantappro94
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=creditcardco36">credit card consolidation loans</a> credit card consolidation loans http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=creditcardco36
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=canadiancred94">canadian credit cards for bad credit</a> canadian credit cards for bad credit http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=canadiancred94
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=unsecuredcre17">unsecured credit cards bad credit</a> unsecured credit cards bad credit http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=unsecuredcre17
<a href="http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=lowbalancetr37">low balance transfer credit card</a> low balance transfer credit card http://www.instantbulletin.com/forum/?mforum=lowbalancetr37 |
a1209517381283 (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 210.188.216.67
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 03:03 am: | |
good 1209517381283 <a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/oreck-vacuum-bags.html">oreck vacuum bags</a> oreck vacuum bags http://cleaners78.tripod.com/oreck-vacuum-bags.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/electrolux-vacuum-cleaner.html">electrolux vacuum cleaner</a> electrolux vacuum cleaner http://cleaners78.tripod.com/electrolux-vacuum-cleaner.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/miele-vacuum-cleaner.html">miele vacuum cleaner</a> miele vacuum cleaner http://cleaners78.tripod.com/miele-vacuum-cleaner.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/oreck-vacuum-cleaner.html">oreck vacuum cleaner</a> oreck vacuum cleaner http://cleaners78.tripod.com/oreck-vacuum-cleaner.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/hoover-vacuum-cleaner.html">hoover vacuum cleaner</a> hoover vacuum cleaner http://cleaners78.tripod.com/hoover-vacuum-cleaner.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/eureka-vacuum-bags.html">eureka vacuum bags</a> eureka vacuum bags http://cleaners78.tripod.com/eureka-vacuum-bags.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/dyson-vacuum-cleaner.html">dyson vacuum cleaner</a> dyson vacuum cleaner http://cleaners78.tripod.com/dyson-vacuum-cleaner.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/kenmore-vacuum-bags.html">kenmore vacuum bags</a> kenmore vacuum bags http://cleaners78.tripod.com/kenmore-vacuum-bags.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/kirby-vacuum-cleaner.html">kirby vacuum cleaner</a> kirby vacuum cleaner http://cleaners78.tripod.com/kirby-vacuum-cleaner.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/buy-hair-dryer.html">buy hair dryer</a> buy hair dryer http://cleaners78.tripod.com/buy-hair-dryer.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/miele-vacuum-bags.html">miele vacuum bags</a> miele vacuum bags http://cleaners78.tripod.com/miele-vacuum-bags.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/kirby-vacuum-bags.html">kirby vacuum bags</a> kirby vacuum bags http://cleaners78.tripod.com/kirby-vacuum-bags.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/simplicity-vacuum-bags.html">simplicity vacuum bags</a> simplicity vacuum bags http://cleaners78.tripod.com/simplicity-vacuum-bags.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/sharp-vacuum-bags.html">sharp vacuum bags</a> sharp vacuum bags http://cleaners78.tripod.com/sharp-vacuum-bags.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/sharp-vacuum-cleaner.html">sharp vacuum cleaner</a> sharp vacuum cleaner http://cleaners78.tripod.com/sharp-vacuum-cleaner.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/rainbow-vacuum-cleaner.html">rainbow vacuum cleaner</a> rainbow vacuum cleaner http://cleaners78.tripod.com/rainbow-vacuum-cleaner.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/hoover-vacuum-bags.html">hoover vacuum bags</a> hoover vacuum bags http://cleaners78.tripod.com/hoover-vacuum-bags.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/panasonic-vacuum-bags.html">panasonic vacuum bags</a> panasonic vacuum bags http://cleaners78.tripod.com/panasonic-vacuum-bags.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/electrolux-vacuum-bags.html">electrolux vacuum bags</a> electrolux vacuum bags http://cleaners78.tripod.com/electrolux-vacuum-bags.html
<a href="http://cleaners78.tripod.com/coffee-filters.html">coffee filters</a> coffee filters http://cleaners78.tripod.com/coffee-filters.html |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page