Friday News: Google giveth and it taketh away; Also, woman love science as much as news media likes to say the words Mommy Porn
Google quietly pulls plug on Frommer’s print travel guidebooks – Google launched a new product called Keep earlier. It’s supposed to be a competitor to the popular free web and app program called Evernote. Evernote is like a trapperkeeper (everyone who went to school in the 80s will get this reference) or a post it note organizer. It keeps notes, pictures, web articles, and basically anything.
But who wants to try out Google Keep after the shuttering of Google Reader and the cancellation of Frommer’s travel guides? Skift
Popular science blog is run by a woman – to the surprise of some on Facebook – News at 11. Internet is shocked that a popular science facebook page is run by a woman. There is a very popular science facebook page which, if you were a close observer, you would know was run by a woman. She decided to promote her twitter account which has a picture. The entire comments section was filled with “I didn’t know you were a woman!” guardian.co.uk
Bolshoi Ballet ‘a giant brothel’, former dancer claims – Arts & Entertainment – CBC News – This sounds like the seedy dark side of a Harlequin Presents. Former ballerina Anastasia Volochkova accuses the Bolshoi Ballet of serving as a giant brothel for Russian oligarchs. Girls as young as 13 are wined and dined and then expected to have sex after or not be allowed to dance. The Bolshoi Ballet has denied such accusations. CBC
CBS SUNDAY MORNING to Report on Boom in Erotic Romance Novels, 3/24 – Apparently the press does not have enough stories that warrant naked man titty and thus are doing another story about Mommy Porn. This time it is with Ellora’s Cave whose market share doesn’t appear to have grown any despite the sharp rise in ebook reading. Probably because it’s prices are outrageous. BWWTVWorld
I have to say that I F*cking Love Science (said FB page) is one of the best thing to happen to Facebook, like, ever. I’m not huge on science but what she posts is so fascinating I had to follow the page to make sure I didn’t miss a single tidbit. And not only she’s female, but people also expressed surprised and dismay at the fact she’s, you know, Canadian. *rolls eyes*
I can’t believe Google is dumb enough to launch Keep right after announcing that they’re killing Reader! “Hi, we just killed this free product you’ve been using every day for years, even though it works great, because we can’t make money on it. Would you like to try this new free product we just created?” Why should I trust you, Google? It’s not like Evernote isn’t out there already.
What is the deal with Elloras Cave pricing? I finished my first book from them last month and was really disappointed. The book was OK but it was short and when I recalled that I had paid $8 or $9 for it I was kind of disgusted. It felt like a $3 read to me.
I think there are too may other options out there for good erotica at the under $5 price range to justify paying Ellora’s Cave pricing. Is there a reason their prices are so high?
@Ann F.: I have no real clue – but EC has been rocked often with the owner’s personal and professional legal problems. I’m assuming that’s the main reason. Even though EC was my first erotica bookstore, I hardly ever shop there due to their absurdly high prices.
I’m always amazed by the “oh, wow, you’re a girl” thing. I’m on a large forum for people who have planted aquariums (geekery of a whole different kind, LOL!), and every time something in a comment outs one of the members as female, there’s always a few shocked men who feel the need to comment. I have no idea why it is shocking that women like pretty aquariums and plants.
With me it’s almost always personal — these price discussions that is, because I’m pretty cheap. My only encounter with Ellora’s Cave recently has been my purchase of Reaper’s Property — 264 pages, $7 — I thought the book was worth reading and more importantly to me, I was able to lend it. Lendability is a real tipping point for me. Now I do think the price was high — Kristen Ashley’s books, even commercially published, are cheaper.
But to make a comparison, I shied away from buying Uncommon Pleasure by Anne Calhoun. Three hundred pages, ten bucks, not lendable–thank you again Penguin/Berkley, for pricing your books so high.
I love Evernote. I use for simple lists and to write notes to myself from my phone when I am in bed and don’t want to get up to write something down. I know I don’t use it anywhere near to its full potential, but why would I leave something that works well for me, is already installed on my various devices, and is free?
It makes me sad that in this day and age people are surprised women have brains and actually use them.
I love Science is Awesome on FB and also “Dr. Carin Bondar – Biologist With a Twist.” I haven’t tried Science is F*ing awesome, but I’m sure it’s wonderful. I often share the links on my FB page and most of the feedback I get from FB friends is they love my science posts. ;-) I teach Life Science and Biology, and my students (former and current) like to comment on the science links. It’s great fun, especially with former students. It’s like I get to keep teaching them even after they’re out of my class.
I’m so disappointed about Google Reader. I’ve been looking around for a replacement, but there isn’t one. Looks as if I’ll be going back to BlogLines, which is apparently still around. (But for how much longer?)
And now Google launches Keep? They’re taking direct aim at Evernote, which I love. Keep sounds bare-bones, but even if it was so superb it beat Evernote, I wouldn’t use it.
@Carrie G:
I f*cking love science is the same page-same admin-same content as Science is awesome, only with swearing. :)
It’s never struck me that EC’s books are priced high– they seem priced in the same range as other publishers.
The Old Reader and Feedly are both nice, Angela.
And as soon as they found she was a woman (which really wasn’t a secret) people started commenting on her looks.