book review – Daemon

I’ve decided to read this book again, something I do not often do.

It’s stayed with me, frequently coming to mind. We need this kind of technology in the future in conjunction with hardware like Google Glass.

___ original post Aug 2010:

A daemon (pronounced /ˈdeɪmən/ or /ˈdiːmən/) is a computer program that runs in the background, rather than under the direct control of a user.

Daemon (2006), the book, by Daniel Suarez, has a cult following amongst geeks. It was recommended by Leo.

Matthew Sobol was a legendary computer game designer–the architect behind half a dozen popular online games. His premature death from brain cancer depressed both gamers and his company’s stock price. But Sobol’s fans weren’t the only ones to note his passing. He left behind something that was scanning Internet obituaries, too–something that put in motion a whole series of programs upon his death. Programs that moved money. Programs that recruited people. Programs that killed.

Confronted with a killer from beyond the grave, Detective Peter Sebeck comes face-to-face with the full implications of our increasingly complex and interconnected world–one where the dead can read headlines, steal identities, and carry out far-reaching plans without fear of retribution. Sebeck must find a way to stop Sobol’s web of programs–his Daemon–before it achieves its ultimate purpose. And to do so, he must uncover what that purpose is . . .

Amazon

Loved it.

I guess I’m a geek. It’s dense, complicated and has a plot line that kept me guessing from cover to cover.

Masons love Hornblower

Hornblower is the umbrella title of a series of British television films based on three of C. S. Forester’s 10 novels about the fictional character Horatio Hornblower, a Royal Navy officer during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.

The series ran from 1998 to 2003, with Ioan Gruffudd in the title role.  …

We watched the 1st of the movies – The Even Chance (US title: The Duel).

Horatio is only 17yrs-old. The year is 1793.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Rebus – Standing in Another Man’s Grave

Exit Music was the 17th and last crime novel in the bestselling Inspector Rebus series, written by Ian Rankin. It was published on 6 September 2007.

I was sad to see him retire. 😦

Happily, Rebus returned 2012 in Standing in Another Man’s Grave:

Having been retired from the police for five years, Rebus continues to investigate as part of the cold cases unit. The mother of a missing girl enlists his help in finding out what happened to her daughter, leading Rebus to uncover the truth about a series of seemingly unconnected disappearances stretching back to the millennium …

Standing
Amazon

I’m next on to #19 – Saints of the Shadow Bible 2014.

I mostly READ audio books these days. My average cost, taking advantage of specials as they come along, is about $11 / book from Audible.com.

I’ve yet to get Kindled.

Calgary’s new $245m library

Calgary must have the crappiest library in Canada for a city this size.

By crappy, I mean there are hardly any functioning toilets left in the old building. 😦

But the new library, hopefully opening 2018, does look sweet. It will include a public train line for access.

centrallibrary

related – Free library cards a ‘key tactic’ of Calgary Public Library rebranding set for 2015

Eliminating card fees will have a relatively minor impact on the library’s roughly $54-million annual operating budget. Membership brought in $1.4 million — slightly less than Calgary branches raised in fines.

Think Like a Freak

I’m a fan of Freakonomics Radio, the audiocast.

… hosted by journalist Stephen Dubner, with economist Steve Levitt as a regular guest. Freakonomics Radio occasionally hits No. 1 on iTunes, with 4 million downloads a month …

Dubner and Levitt have 3 Freakonomics books, the most recent of which I just read.

Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain

It’s short. But good.

Freakonomics attempts to shed light on topics misunderstood by the general public.

cover

Amazon

The Martian – book and film

Rockin’ Ronnie recommended me a good one.

The Martian is the first published novel by American novelist Andy Weir.

It was originally self-published in 2012 before Crown purchased the rights and re-published it in 2014. A science fiction novel, it follows the fictional American astronaut Mark Watney as he becomes stranded alone on Mars and must improvise in order to survive.

It has been described as an Apollo 13 meets Cast Away. A film version directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon is scheduled for release in November 2015. …

A wise cracking goofball avoids the cliche of going mentally ill in solitary confinement.
the-martian-by-andy-weir-2

Apple Macintosh 1984

1984” is an American television commercial which introduced the Apple Macintosh personal computer. It was conceived by Steve Hayden, Brent Thomas and Lee Clow at Chiat\Day, produced by New York production company Fairbanks Films, and directed by Ridley Scott.

… only national airing, was on January 22, 1984, during a break in the third quarter of the telecast of Super Bowl XVIII

… Advertising Age placed it on the top of its list of 50 greatest commercials.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I’m readying Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.

Steve’s love/hate relationship with John Sculley is fascinating.

Bryce Courtenay’s Australian trilogy

I’ve now finished all three:


The Potato Factory (1995)
Tommo & Hawk (1997)
Solomon’s Song (1999)

Quite good.

“This is the story of two families – branches of the Solomons – transported to an alien land, both of whom eventually grow rich and powerful but who, through three generations, never for one moment relinquish their hatred for each other.

It is also the story of our country from the beginning until we came of age as a nation. …

Solomon’s Song

Aussie Trilogy

Born in South Africa, the trilogy is Courtenay’s “love letter to his adopted homeland”.

The author died in 2012.

Author_and_ex-creative_director,_Bryce_Courtenay_took_a_seat_in_Yahoo!'s_Big_Idea_Chair

Game of Thrones – season 4

Game of Thrones season 4 … is adapted primarily from the second half of A Storm of Swords, along with elements of A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons, all novels from the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. …

The review aggregator website Metacritic gave season 4 a score of 94 out of 100 based on 29 reviews, signifying “universal acclaim”. According to the other aggregator website, Rotten Tomatoes, all episodes aired thus far obtained 91% or more positive reviews. …

I’d agree.

Season 4 was easily the best season so far. And the TV series is better than the books.

Arya Stark, Sandor “The Hound” Clegane, Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell, Peter Dinklage as “the Imp”, Tyrion Lannister …

Actually everyone in the cast is good.

IFWT_Game-of-Thrones-Season-4-Episode-2-Joffrey-Dead

I’m looking forward to seasons 5 and 6.