Research & Rescue

Google prepares to launch its own digital bookstore this summer

Since everyone and their mother is in the e-book business now, it makes sense that Google would jump in with its own digital book offering. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google's bookstore could go live as early as next month. The service, called Google Editions, plans to make its books compatible with as many operating systems and devices as possible. There's definitely a niche for an open bookstore, with Amazon focusing on its own Kindle software and hardware and Apple pushing the iPad. To make Google Editions a success, Google just needs to finalize deals with publishers and make sure it can compete with existing bookstores when it comes to selection and pricing. Publishers say this represents a test of whether e-books will save the book business once they're searchable, instant, and platform-independent. What do you think? Should Amazon and Apple be worried?

via www.downloadsquad.com

You've got a friend in meat

via www.thinkgeek.com

ThinkGeek comes through with another completely useless toy that will probably sell: My First Bacon. If you squeeze it, it says "I'm bacon!". It should probably have a sizzling sound in the background, too. I still love ThinkGeek but he accompanying ad for My First Bacon is more disturbing (as in, a woman in bed with Bacon) than the toy itself:

Money isn't everything

A new consumer study by Ogilvy & Mather shows that people are emerging from the current recession with a new outlook on life. The desire to get out of the rat race and live a more sustainable and self-sufficient life is becoming the new American dream.

The IT industry, where I now work, has been hit hard and I have seen a lot of colleagues struggle to stay employed or find employment after a corporate purge. I, myself, spent half a year unemployed between publishing and IT. It's no fun but I learned valuable lessons about what one needs and what one doesn't.

When all is said and done, I'd rather have security and enough freedom to enjoy my time on earth than a house that I may never be able to pay off or a car with every option installed.

Now that I'm employed again, have I reached the nirvana of sustainability? Nope but it's a better goal, I think, than keeping up with the Joneses at every turn.

Among the study’s key findings is that “having it all” is an unrealistic goal with 75% of those surveyed saying they would rather get out of the rat race than climb the corporate ladder – and instead, 76% said they would rather spend more time with family than make more money. Moreover, Americans are showing disenchantment with the pursuit of money with 75% again saying they would trade job security over a job that offered an opportunity for raises.

“The most surprising thing about our study was how much consumers were saying what they would NOT do for money, even when money worries are high on the list,” explained Graceann Bennett, Managing Partner and Director of Strategic Planning at Ogilvy & Mather Chicago. “Prioritizing your life based on money is seen as a sure way to be disappointed since the pursuit of money is often reliant on factors outside of consumers’ control. They have gone down this road before and are saying that they are not necessarily happier or better off as a result.”

In fact, the recession has revealed important new consumer priorities with quality of life and peace of mind at the top and a focus on living life in a more sustainable way both from an environmental and financial point of view.

Read more about the study at http://www.energybulletin.net/node/52243

JetLev - Water skiing jet pack

I'll bet this guy's neighbors hate his guts...

Which supplements really work? An interactive guide to evidence

A static image is presented below. Click through to the Boing Boing article. They have a nice summary. Alternatively, you can click here to Information Is Beautiful 

via www.boingboing.net

Amazon Wants To Give A Free Kindle To All Amazon Prime Subscribers

Well, of course they say this a couple of months after I already bought one. Oh, well. Been trying to convince the spousal unit he wants one. or maybe mom....

In January Amazon offered select customers a free Kindle of sorts – they had to pay for it, but if they didn’t like it they could get a full refund and keep the device. It turns out that was just a test run for a much more ambitious program. A reliable source tells us Amazon wants to give a free Kindle to every Amazon Prime subscriber.

via techcrunch.com

You May Now Eat The Bride

Be sure to check out the other cakes on the second page. The upside cake is great.

Cake maker extraordinaire Lukka Sigurdardottir created this one-of-a-kind wedding cake worthy of Alice in Wonderland. If it weren't over-the-top enough on the outside, it gets even better with checkered construction inside. I just hope whoever is in the middle of the dress cake brings enough plates for everyone!

via www.divinecaroline.com

Web Sights - 18Jan10

Immigration - 

A study by the Warren Institute on Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity at the Law School at Berkley shows that Operation Streamline does not help combat the trafficking of drugs, weapons, or humans. Moreover, provisions in the policy removed discretion to only prosecute detained immigrants with criminal records, effectively bottlenecking the justice system. The fact that it ties up resources with prosecuting migrants, whether or not a crime has been committed means those same resources are diverted from concentrating on trafficking and violence that occurs along the US-Mexico border.

    Link: Operation Streamline Policy Brief

The Self - 

I have always had trouble slowing down. I operate well in chaotic environments but it does take its toll on my health. This piece from GOOD has a list of suggestions for taking it easy. If I could take on two or three of these, I'm sure I'd benefit.

    Link: The GOOD (and ReadyMade) Guide to Slowing Down

This post is food for thought from Uncornered Market. I think I would like to be an experience junkie, although I admit to having more "stuff" than anyone really should have. The things I look back on most wistfully, however, are the trips abroad that I have taken or trips into the mountains or time spent with people dear to me. While a case can be made for having stuff to record these experiences, I truly believe my most cherished memories are the ones where I didn't have a camera to document them.

    Link: Are You a Stuff Junkie or an Experience Junkie?

Politics - 

While I believe very strongly in progressive causes, I usually find it troubling to hear a progressive talk about punishing a candidate for not being progressive enough. I find it of most concern when progressives vote third party or stay home to make a point. It seems to me that this approach does send a message but it says, "I'm not willing to compromise and if I don't get my way, then I will not support the party." It doesn't seem to occur to a person with this stance that this may throw the election to a candidate who holds no progressive views at all. Apparently, Jason Rosenbaum over at Firedog Lake sees what I see.

    Link: To the pissed off progressives: Don’t be Naderites

Human Rights - 

This story by Andrew Sullivan on deaths at Gitmo that were classified as suicides but are allegedly deaths due to torture is disturbing beyond words.

    Link: Three Corpses In Gitmo: The Very Worst Seems True

Time Traveler Essentials

via www.topatoco.com

The site that sells this poster, TOPATCO, is just the coolest place. It rivals even ThinkGeek.