The festivities have wrapped for Microsoft’s Imagine Cup, a global competition among students and young people to create new software and devices. The winner this year was ENTy, a polished and highly practical hardware solution for tracking posture, helping with diagnosis and possibly treatment of diseases that affect balance. Read More
Book Review – Jackie K Cooper
THE LAST TREASURE by Erika Marks
When you read some novels you feel like a distant observer; with others you feel you are close by and are able to overhear the characters’ words and see the events as they happen. In some very rare instances the reader feels he/she becomes a part of the plot. That is the case with Erika Marks new novel THE LAST TREASURE. While reading it I became immersed in the story and felt I was at least a side character. I imagined myself the clerk in the stores where the characters shopped, or a waiter at the restaurants where they ate, or even a member of the crew on the ships they sailed. I was there.
The plot in which I participated tells the story of a woman torn between two men. Olivia, or Livy, loves the wild, non-conformist Whit; but she also loves the calm, more thoughtful Sam. Both men love the fact she is an adventuress. She has grown up caring about the lost ships that supposedly are at rest in the depths beyond the Outer Banks of North Carolina. One ship, the “Patriot”, is almost an obsession with her.
The “Patriot” went missing in 1812 after leaving Charleston, South Carolina. One one its passengers was Theodosia Bur Alston, the daughter of Aaron Burr. Many thought the “Patriot” was caught up in a storm and sank with no survivors. Others premised it was boarded by pirates who took Theodosia prisoner. With all her heart Livy wants to know what happened to the ship and to Theodosia. Both Whit and Sam have promised to help her solve the mystery.
Marks really involves the readers in the conflict in Livy’s heart as this rational young woman tries to figure out which man she truly loves. At the start of the story she is married to Whit, but almost immediately Sam re-enters her life after a long separation. At this time Livy feels she can be true to her husband and still be a friend to Sam. Whit and Sam have also had a long relationship as friends and co-workers.
Of course there are complications, there have to be complications, and soon Livy is thinking perhaps she made the wrong choice. Sam of course plays up his best features while Whit inadvertently presents himself at his worst. Livy’s choice is not an easy one to make.
A lot of the story is told through flashbacks. This seems to be a popular way of writing these days. With me it soon loses its freshness and becomes an obstruction to the flow of the story rather than a bonus. I liked this story a lot but I would have liked it even more had it been offered in a linear fashion. Still the skill with which Marks presents her characters and the magic with which she pulls the reader into the story are amazing. You don’t just read this story, you live this story.
Summer days are winding down and reading THE LAST TREASURE is one of the best possible ways to finish it off. One more book, one LAST TREASURE.
THE LAST TREASURE is published by NAL Accent. It contains 384 pages and sells for $15.00.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
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The latest cell phone charger is worthy of master illusionists like Criss Angel and David Copperfield. It’s called the OvRcharge, and not only is it wireless, but it levitates your phone while it’s charging. Find out who makes it and where you can get one right here.
Have you ever wondered what your brain is really doing as you sweat your way through a math test? Now you can see for yourself, thanks to a new brain imaging study from Carnegie Mellon University that captured the brain activity of people in the act of solving math problems.
Sadly, you can’t carry your 3D printer with you everywhere. Or can you? Ultimaker has come up with a solution that promises to make transporting a 3D printer a little easier: a pair of shoulder straps that turns it into a backpack for $69.
Here’s the catch. For the shoulder straps to actually work, you’ll need your Ultimaker 3D printer’s packaging. Hope you didn’t throw that out. The straps basically turn the foam block into a wearable backpack. Now you can carry all your stuff and 3D print wherever you want. Probably from your chiropractor’s office. Look at that thing. Crazy.
At least you can print yourself a new spine since this will ruin your old one.
[via Gizmodo]
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This hardcover book has 320 pages of interviews from the NES era, some vintage advertising and “priceless excerpts from Nintendo Power magazine back issues.” You’ll also find some hand-drawn maps and character art. It will also offer retrospectives on 17 games, covering Super Mario Bros. 3, Donkey Kong and The Legend of Zelda, to name a few. The best part of course, is that the book itself looks like an old NES cartridge.
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[via Engadget]
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It looks like Captain America’s shield – especially when the blade is spinning. It’s a geeky and good looking fan that will help you beat the heat. Perfect for your cubicle or your desk at home.
Measuring in at just 3.9″ diameter, it isn’t going to cool you down like an air conditioner, but every little bit helps in this heat. Plus, it just looks awesome on your desk. It’s available from Brando for $66(USD).
[via Cool Things]
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I can only assume that artist Kutuleras‘ Deadpool and Cthulhu mash up is extremely itchy and will do a terrible job of keeping you warm. Cthulupool also has something in common with chuck Norris, namely behind the beard is another face (or is it a fist?)
You can own this cute, strange, possibly itchy artwork over at Etsy for $31.89(USD). Only one is available so you should pay the oddly precise price of admission right now if you want it.
[via Nerd Approved]
Twitter is expanding beyond traditional stick-and-ball streams and moving into the lucrative eSports realm this weekend. As part of a partnership with Eleague and Turner Broadcasting, the microblogging service will air two days of Counter-Strike: Glo…
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