Origami Unicorn

Google Faces First Chinese Lawsuit For Book Scanning

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

Google will be in court in China in the first case brought against them in China for book scanning. The Financial Times reports. Although the damages asked are less than ten thousand dollars, and Google has removed at least some of the offending scans, this case will be important in establishing how Google efforts to build a worldwide digital library will be seen in China.

Ataque de Pánico!

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

This supposedly cost about three hundred dollars and its creator has been offered a contract for thirty million. [update] The BBC explains.

Authors Guild on Random House Letter

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

Not surprisingly, the lead on the Authors Guild page is headed "Random House's Retroactive Rights Grab." There's money in them there e-rights and the war has just begun.

Random House Stakes a Claim

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

Random House has sent out a letter staking a claim to e-books rights based on its older contracts which do not contain specific language on the subject. Since e-books are a potentially powerful revenue stream, this will be challenged and all parties will fight hard.

The Nutcracker

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

And the rest of the story.

"Here Comes Mr. Scrooge"

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

The Muppets, from "A Muppet Christmas Carol."

The Nook — Not Quite Ready For Prime Time

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

So you didn't manage to order a Nook in time for Christmas? You are spared early-adopter hell. David Pogue, for the New York Times, explains. Also, if you prefer to get your information as entertainment, go to the NYT video section and watch "I am Nook." Footnotes alone is work the click through.

"Mickey's Christmas Carol"

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:05:18 PST

Charles Dickens must wonder at all the variations on the simple Christmas tale that he wrote to fill a gap in his finances. Here's a Disney version.

And the rest of the film.

Christopher Anvil, 1925-2009

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

Harry C. Crosby, best known by his pen name of Christopher Anvil, died at home. Seven of the eight volumes of his collected works have been published by Baen. Anvil specialized in the types of fiction preferred by editor John Campbell, in which humans triumphed by means of intellect and will-power.

Publishers Move to Delay E-Books

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

In a move to stop e-books from cannibalizing hardcover sales, major publishers are beginning to delay e-book releases, much as paperback releases are delayed. The Wall Street Journal reports.

While this offers a short-term solution, it is likely to encourage pirating and consumer dissatisfaction. Consumers are rapidly becoming used to a model different from that used in the past. Periodicals and books need new strategies to benefit from digital media.

Hands on B&N's nook

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

What's it like to go to your nearest Barnes and Noble and try out their new e-reader? Brighthand.com has one story. Consumer Reports offers another appraisal.

Sigourney Weaver Interviewed

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

A snippet from a longer interview by the Guardian, covering Alien, Avatar, and Weaver's hopes for her career, among other topics.

Captain Blood

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

And the rest of the film.

The Pirates of Dark Water

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

An unknown world, an unknown youth, and an unknown father and we begin the saga of The Pirates of Dark Water.

And the rest of the first episode.

Alan Moore on V for Vendetta

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

Robert Holdstock 1948-2009

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

Robert Holdstock died November 29, 2009 from the complications of an E.coli infection. Holdstock won a number of awards for his fiction, most of which had horrific and mythic elements. His most recent book, Avilion, a direct sequel to Mythago Wood, appeared in July 2009.

Pygmalion, Part Ten

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

Pygmalion, Part Nine

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:45:00 PST

Pygmalion, Part Eight

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:45:00 PST

Pygmalion, Part Seven

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:45:00 PST

The Rocketeer

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:45:00 PST

And the rest of the movie.

Pygmalion, Part Six

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:23:58 PST

Mickey Mouse: "On Ice"

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 08:45:00 PST

1935, so the voice of the main character is Walt Disney. The character design is by Ub Iwerks.

Pygmalion, Part Five

cmintz@catherine-mintz.com (Catherine Mintz) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:45:00 PST

In which we see Liza, transformed, for the first time.