There are many opinions on this series. This series was actually developed before Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Some say DS9 is a rip off of Babylon 5!
My favorite character is Kosh.

The nominees for the Edgar Awards were released on January 19, 2011 the 202nd anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe. The Edgars, honoring the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2010 will be presented in NYC on April 28, 2011.

I'm rooting for Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin in the best novel category as I thought it was an engrossing and well-written story of present-day Mississippi.

My next Monday Mysteries book discussion is January 28th at noon where we'll be discussing Raven Black by Ann Cleeves, the first book in the Shetland Quartet by Ms. Cleeves.

Singularity: the moment when technological change becomes so rapid and profound, it represents a rupture in the fabric of human history.

TIME Magazine's front page article deals with the possible future "2045", where artifical intelligence surpasses human intelligence. Can your mind grasp the possibilities?

Ebooks have taken the world by storm and the New York Times now has best seller lists devoted specifically to them ~ E-Book Best Sellers and combined Print and E-Book Best Sellers.

If you own a mobile device or an eBook Reader (note-the Kindle is not a compatible device), you might find Overdrive's How-to Guide with step-by-step instructions helpful.

Happy eReading!

We've established that parents often hand over their smartphones and/or iPads to keep kids busy in restaurants, waiting rooms, etc., but is designing a tablet specifically for babies and toddlers going too far? Well, it's here: Vinci Tab.
It's generally accepted that "screen time" should be limited especially for the very young, so should we really add another screen to their lives? At the same time it seems parents would be happier to hand over a tablet that's designed for kids, with tempered glass, a rubberized handle and no access to the internet, rather then their own fragile iPad. The price, however is just as steep at $479.
Is this a brilliant and forward-thinking idea? Or does this picture send chills down your spine?

Mercy is coming back in a new book.....March 1, 2011.

Check out this cute book trailer for a new wordless picture book Where's Walrus? by Stephen Savage.

Chinese New Year begins February 3rd and for lasts 15 days. Known as the Spring Festival (how many more days till Spring?) in China, it's their biggest holiday and undoubtedly the one Americans know best. In honor of the holiday, the following are some of our favorite books either set in, or about, China:

The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Ina Rilke
Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama
Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong
The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein

Xin Nian Kuai Le ~ 新年快乐 ~ Happy New Year

Do you ever think what your ideal bookshelf would hold?

Someone at the library came across the ideal bookshelf website where the artist will custom paint people's ideal bookshelves~~ your favorite books, books that changed your life or books that made you who you are. You can also order prints (a much less expensive option but not quite as personal). Got me to wondering what my bookshelf would include if I ever had a custom painting commissioned. The Thorn Birds, Trinity, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Shadow of the Wind, I Know This Much is True, A Woman of Substance, The Three Questions and The Cricket in Times Square are in my top ten. I loved them all at different stages of my life for a variety of reasons.

If you are looking for a unique gift for a child, purchasing a print is a good way to nurture future readers.

So, what would your bookshelf include???