Your E Book Is Reading You

The WSJ has an article on the data mining possibilities created by ebooks - Your E-Book Is Reading You.

In the past, publishers and authors had no way of knowing what happens when a reader sits down with a book. Does the reader quit after three pages, or finish it in a single sitting? Do most readers skip over the introduction, or read it closely, underlining passages and scrawling notes in the margins? Now, e-books are providing a glimpse into the story behind the sales figures, revealing not only how many people buy particular books, but how intensely they read them.

For centuries, reading has largely been a solitary and private act, an intimate exchange between the reader and the words on the page. But the rise of digital books has prompted a profound shift in the way we read, transforming the activity into something measurable and quasi-public.

The major new players in e-book publishing—Amazon, Apple and Google—can easily track how far readers are getting in books, how long they spend reading them and which search terms they use to find books. Book apps for tablets like the iPad, Kindle Fire and Nook record how many times readers open the app and how much time they spend reading. Retailers and some publishers are beginning to sift through the data, gaining unprecedented insight into how people engage with books.

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Heroes of the Motherland How the NSA Won the War in Iraq Or Wants You To Think It Did

Billmon has made one of his rare appearances at Daily Kos to mock the Washington Post - Heroes of the Motherland: How the NSA Won the War in Iraq (Or Wants You To Think It Did).

Earlier this week the Washington Post treated us to an in-depth profile of Gen. Keith Alexander, the military commander charged with running the world’s most omnivorous spy agency. And when I say “treat,” I mean it in roughly the same sense that the old Pravda used to “treat” its readers to accounts of the latest triumphs of Soviet tractor production ...

“Under Andropov, the KGB grew noticeably in political power, in personnel, and even in the number of buildings its occupied . . . Andropov was probably not deliberately pursuing any evil goals and was not attempting to create a police state; more likely, his actions were simply a question of gaining administrative turf . . . However, nothing constructive could have come out of this. Growing bureaucratic structures always search out activities to occupy their energies, and when they don’t find them, they invent them.”
Georgi Arbatov
The System: An Insider’s Life in Soviet Politics 1993

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Why You Should Invest in Energy Saving Products

The market is filled with energy saving products that make it easier for you to save powerand use renewable energy sources.  There is a wide range of products which can help you save money on your electricity bill, here are a few worth checking out!

1. Solar Chargers

Foldable Solar Charger

The solar charger is a device that makes use of the sun’s energy to charge the electrical devices that are present in your house. You can charge many electrical devices like digital cameras, PDAs and iPods. You just need to leave the batteries in the charger in the morning and by afternoon the gadget will be completely charged. The energy saving bulb is the second product that will help you save energy. Try not to use incandescent bulbs because it is known that around 90% of the electricity is required just to heat the tungsten metal filament – and is wasted.

2. Energy Saving Plugs

Eco Universal

It is a great energy saving device which lets you save lot of energy.  You just need to plug the devices that you are using in this plug and it does the rest. For example if you plug your PC into the master socket energy will be saved. The plug automatically shuts down if your PC is switched off or on standby position – which helps you save electricity. 

3. Electricity Monitors

PowerCost Monitor

By making use of the electricity monitor you can get to see the amount of electricity you are using, how much the electricity is costing and how much carbon dioxide emissions you are releasing to the environment. By using of the electricity monitor you can get information on how much you need to save in order to lower your power bill.

4. Solar Panels

By using solar panels you can harness the power of the sun to generate electricity for your home, and use a renewable energy source that does not harm the environment. Solar panels cost between $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the size and technology used, however this is an investment that you will return in 3-8 years.

Blue Planet Solar Panel

Energy saving products help you become aware of the energy you are using (or wasting), and help you lower your electricity bill by preserving energy. Moreover, by using renewable energy sources like the sun you help preserving the environment and making earth a greener place. Start making use of energy saving products and make a difference.

Check out more home energy tips at energyhomemade.net!

Written by Dan Vanter & edited by Kim Gillett

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