Communication is needed in all walks of life. This is the reason for us to write this article on book covers; to communicate it's meaning to everyone.

Today's book covers Article
Audio books - is the paper book really dead?

When I first heard of audio books in the 80's they were mostly mentioned as being a good alternative for the sight impaired. An ugly green plastic box of cassettes at the library is my first memory of audio books, so speech books as they were known. Writing this brings back memories of the library lady who told us kids that these books are only for the blind and that we could not lend them. Too bad, I thought - it would be a great way to "read" books while doing other things, instead of watching TV.

Fast forward to 2006, and audio books are becoming a huge success. And they are certainly not just for those hard of seeing, they are for everybody. Imagine the busy business woman who just can't squeeze in 30 minutes to read even thou she really longs to escape to the fantasy of a good book. Thanks to the Audio book, she can "read" that book while driving to work, rushing off for lunch or walking to the daycare center. In fact, now that the audio books can be loaded onto Ipods and other media players it's really easy to bring it along anywhere you go. You could even load up tens of books and alternate between them. On a side not though; don't forget to set your MP3 player to Normal play, instead of Random play or you could end up with some interestingly confusing results chapter wise.

Now that I have already touched the subject of different formats, why not get into that a bit deeper. You can get audio books in the form of CD's, which is still a common way of delivering audio books. The disadvantage to this is that a book can take up a lot of CD's and each only run for about one hour. More recently these spoken books have become available in the form of Media player sound files, such as MP3. The great advantage to this is that you can purchase your book online and download it and instantly begin to listen to it without any waiting time. If your book is not available as a sound file but as CD you can convert them yourself using different software, you can easily find them by searching for "convert CD mp3" or if you use Windows Media Player you actually have this function built in for free - it's called Rip.

No matter what format you prefer, or when you like to listen to your books one thing is for sure - this market is growing and readers/listeners love the convenience of audio books. When the Internet became popular a bit over 10 years ago the rumor had it that the book was dying thanks to the Net, those rumors of death are now proved to be widely exaggerated. Books are not dead; they are "sound" alive.

About the Author

Trendspotting Markus Wahlgren picks up what he finds interesting in today's trends, <strong>Audio books</strong>, is one example. Many other subjects can be found at his blog; Independent Views.

Recommended book covers Items
50 Fun Foodgifting Ideas

50 Fun Foodgifting Ideas
Looking for a unique gift that you can make yourself? Why not try the gift of food - it never goes out of style! This book features over 50 ways to make and decorate heartfelt gifts from your kitchen. Ideas for unique gifts in a basket to chocolate delights, for both young and old, find it here.

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (Widescreen Edition)

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (Widescreen Edition)
Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) owns and runs the most magical store in the universe, where all of the toys for sale are alive. But, when the aging shopkeeper decides to retire and sell the business to his faithful cashier (Natalie Portman), he hires an uptight accountant (Jason Bateman) to get his affairs in order.

Customer Review: Great for the young 'uns (and not so young 'uns!)

This is a terrific family movie that is suitable for children of all ages. There are, to a degree, some parallels with Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory [HD DVD]. However, for the most part it is its own movie. It centers around a man (played by Dustin Hoffman) who wishes to leave the management / ownership of his magical toy store to his favorite employee (portrayed by Natalie Portman) as he can sense that his end is near. Unfortunately, Portman's character is apprehensive about taking over the toy store, mostly stemming from a lack of self-confidence.



To be sure, many will say that this film is predictable, and so it is. However, the people who criticize it on such grounds are, I believe, missing the point. Granted, there are no real "hooks" in the plot or plot-twists that will keep you guessing. So what? In a movie like this, it really doesn't matter. At base, to me the film is not so much about the story itself as it is about how we all used to look upon the world with such a sense of wonder when we were children. People who are only looking for surprises are not prone to "getting it" insofar as this DVD is concerned.



The casting is terrific with Hoffmann and Portman leading the way. Hoffmann gets his chance to play a sort of pseudo-Santa Clause, and it's evident that he enjoyed himself immensely. I've always like Portman, and it's nice to see a young woman who is both a fine actress as well as a great person. She is kind of the antipode to "bad girls" like Lindsay Lohan.



If you are the parent of small children, I'd highly recommend this film. If you're not a parent of small children but enjoy feeling like a kid again, this one is recommended to an equal degree.

Customer Review: My experience shows that kids love it and adults are less enthused

OK, I didn't quite know what to make of this movie. It has its charms. Unlike some folks, I didn't mind Dustin Hoffman's choice of hair and lisp for Mr. Magorium. The man is supposed to be more than two hundred years old, magical, and imbued with a childlike wonder of life. Yet, the story really isn't about him. The story is about Molly Mahoney, played by Natalie Portman (one of the actors I always enjoy). She was a child prodigy on the piano who, the story says, played the Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto. Yeah, right. No one who could actually play that concerto as a child would ever find there way behind the counter of a toy store. The sad history of prodigies does indicate a poor chance for her to progress into permanent pianistic stardom, but she would likely stay in music or head into some other intellectual profession. Oh, and the kind of music the movie has her "composing" and playing is just absurd. Portman's hands look as if they have had lessons and played the piano, but they are not hands strong enough or experienced enough for a big concerto. As the Master Thespian used to declare, "Acting!"



Magorium hires an accountant, a counting-mutant, to help him figure out what the store is worth since he has never even seen a receipt. The hiring of Henry Weston (played by Jason Bateman - whom I also always enjoy) is one of the more delightful scenes in the movie. Of course the store is in a state beyond disarray. Magorium isn't big on explaining why he wants the Mutant (as he is affectionately called). The other delightful character in the movie is Eric Applebaum (delightfully done by Zach Mills). Eric is a lonely boy with amazing creativity, a superb collection of hats, and zero friends. Given his personality that seems as impossible as Molly's playing Rachmaninoff.



The store Magorium runs is indeed magical, and we are given abundant evidence of it. However, it understands Magorium's secret, as do some of the toys, and none are happy about it. Magorium intends to give the store to Molly, who doesn't want it because she wants Magorium to stay. He can't or won't. The store turns entirely black after he goes and Molly intends to sell it. But Eric and the Mutant want her to keep it. The climax of the story, which is about the power of being aware of the magic that is your life and the power of believing in yourself, is whether or not Molly can bring the store to its former glory or whether she lets it slip away. Take a big guess.



So, some of the things in the story didn't work for me. I didn't like that no one has an actual complete family. Magorium's history is largely never discussed nor is how he lived to be a couple of hundred years old. We do learn about his delight in the kind of shoes wears. Molly is alone except for the store (no boyfriend, fiancé, mother, or father), Eric has a Mom but only because he is nine. She doesn't do much except fret. The Mutant is as alone and as detached Molly. And the issue surrounding Magorium's decision actually makes no sense and has nothing of the weight such events have in real life.



Yet, my opinion of the movie changed when my five year old granddaughter watched it. She was delighted and mesmerized and demanded to see it again immediately. And she has watched it twice more since. So, there is obviously something about the movie that is compelling to a small child that escapes me as an adult, deeply into the realities of life. Hmmmm... take that for what you will and I added a star because of my grandchild's enthusiasm. It is not a bad movie. The special effects are a bit much. However, it is successful for the kids. Go with them, I guess.



Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Light - Black

Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Light - Black
Customer Review: Works Perfectly (almost)

If you want a night light for your Kindle, this is the one. Has two settings, and works just fine. Why 4 instead of 5? Because it doesn't work directly on the Kindle and unless you've added Velcro to the back of the Kindle to hold it in it's holder it doesn't work very well there either. But with the little extra space the Velcro adds, it works just fine.

Customer Review: Perfect light for avid readers

Finally--a light to chase away shadows cast by poor lighting plans in hotel rooms, badly placed light in airplanes, and a large personal TVs blocking light on exercycles.



So far, this handly little companion has willingly clasped on everywhere I've put it and the flexible neck permits any variety of light placements. So great I've already given one to my husband and will probably use a bunch of them as gifts throughout the year.

IlluStory Make Your Own Story Kit

IlluStory Make Your Own Story Kit
IlluStory

Write and illustrate your own book!!

Imagine your child's face when she or he sees their own story and drawings made into a professionally typeset, hardbound book! With this multi - award winning kit, you simply have your child write and illustrate their story using the materials supplied in the kit, which are then mailed in (in the pre-paid envelope provided) for publication. You'll soon receive a beautiful, professionally typset, 12 page, 7" x 9" hardcover book, complete with an "about the author page", title and dedication pages and your little author's name, title and drawing laminated on the cover. Extras books are optional and make great gifts for grandparents. Winner of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award, Parents' Choice Classic Award, Family Life's Best Learning Toy Award and Dr. Toy Best Toy-Classic Award.

Customer Review: Wonderful!

This is a wonderful to allow a child to publish their very own book! I loved the product, it was very easy to use and the finished product came quickly in the mail! It was a great experience!!!!

Customer Review: Buy the Illustory Book Kit put have patience!!!

I just finished helping my daughter complete her first Illustory Book about her pet kitty. I only paid $5.93 on Amazon in December for the Illustory Pet Story. Now it seems to be more expensive. My daughter is age six and wanted to use real photos of our cat so we decided to use the online version. You get to type as many words per page as you would like and the first 15 double sided pages are free. I think it took me about 2 hours just to figure out the software and how to upload my digital photos to the book. I was using a Mac and I was very frustrated at times. I said a few bad words. My daughter seemed to enjoy the process very much. Go figure. You submit the complete book online and pay the $3.95 return book shipping fee with a credit card. I thought this was going to be included in the kit price, but was it not. They say they online version speeds up the production time. We are patiently awaiting for our masterpiece to arrive. Next time, I will have her draw her own illustrations on the paper forms and mail it in. I think it is more charming that way.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 2 Dark Motives

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 2 Dark Motives
CSI 2: Dark Motives - In this game you'll take on the roles of the hit show's characters, and solve 5 gruesome cases with 21st-century technology!

Customer Review: Brain Power or NO

To really test your investigative skills, you need to play this game on the most difficult level. Anything less than that makes this game a click through to some degree, meaning that all you have to do is click on the highlighted items and it will take you to the next step.

Other than that, the game is interesting. The cases are interesting. But sometimes they can be a bit frustrating trying to find out what piece of evidence will crack the case for you.

Another frustrating thing is the fact that you cannot do anything while the characters are speaking. But I've discovered that right-clicking or hitting the spacebar cancels the current speech. However, when you are required to answer questions at the end, some of the questions are based on what was said.

Try it and see for yourself. Have fun.

Customer Review: Great Game Could Use More Excitement

The game was great, but I think that it could use more excitement. It gets pretty boring after a while. I finished the game in like two days. It is something that I will play over again though.

Revolver [UK]

Revolver [UK]
Revolver wouldn't remain the Beatles' most ambitious LP for long, but many fans--including this one--remember it as their best. An object lesson in fitting great songwriting into experimental production and genre play, this is also a record whose influence extends far beyond mere they-was-the-greatest cheerleading. Putting McCartney's more traditionally melodic "Here, There and Everywhere" and "For No One" alongside Lennon's direct-hit sneering ("Dr. Robert") and dreamscapes ("I'm Only Sleeping," "Tomorrow Never Knows") and Harrison's peaking wit ("Taxman") was as conceptually brilliant as anything Sgt. Pepper attempted, and more subtly fulfilling. A must. --Rickey Wright

Customer Review: Taxman

Paul McCartney and John Lennon were the best song writing duo ever and that is without a doubt, thus this album is one of the best ever. Not one filler to be found here. George Harrison starts it out with my personal favorite Taxman and it just goes from there. Outstanding lyrics with Paul and John never sounding better.

Customer Review: Revolver

ESSENTIAL ALBUM!!! The Beatles so-called transitional album (going from a touring group to a studio only group) is one of their most creative. This album marks where they began experimenting in the studio, expanding their sound that would culminate with Sgt. Pepper's. The album features one of George Harrison;s best songs "Taxman", followed by one of Paul McCartney's best songs "Eleanor Rigby". Other outstanding tracks include "Good Day Sunshine", "Here, There and Everywhere" & "Got to Get You Into My Life". The closing track "Tomorrow Never Knows", though disowned by John Lennon, is one of Lennon's best songs leading the way to the psychedelic era.



The album cover also is one of the most unique ever done, it's artist is Klaus Voorman who would later play bass for Lennon on his early solo releases.



There is some filler here, mostly by Lennon, but it's great that we have the U.K. version instead of the illegitimate children that Capitol passed off onto the domestic market. I agree with some that this is NOT one of the best albums that they ever did, I reserve that for The White Album & Abbey Road. The one thing about the Beatles, though, was you never knew exactly what you were getting until you played it, which always made it entertaining!

My First Photo Album

My First Photo Album
My First Photo Album is an adorable way to save treasured memories of your little one. The solid binding is covered by a soft decorative fabric featuring embroidery and various appliques. An easy-close snap helps to keep everything nicely held together, and 40 high quality photo holding pages allow you to keep 160 4"x6" photos.

Customer Review: Not what expected

I am not sure if it was me and I did not read the fine print on the product information, but it certainly was not what I expected. I ordered it with the expectations it was a soft book as a first photo album. As I live overseas I sent the book to my mother who forwarded it to my father who I just recently visited in the US. When I opened the package I was so disappointed. I actually wished she had opened it and mailed it back! The album is a cute soft cover over a hard photo album (mine was a pink album with butterflies!), one anyone could buy. And as one other reviewer wrote, the soft cover could be made yourself.

I will put this on the shelf and maybe use it when my son is older (he is 8 months now and took the cover off and tried eating the hard book) and will order what I really wanted. A completely soft cover book with a few pages for pictures that he can look at as a baby!

Customer Review: Fair product - not the sturdiest

It's a cute idea and reasonably priced. But I almost feel you can make one on your own. Still, if you're looking for a stocking stuffer type gift, this works nicely.

Hot Pursuit: The First Season (3pc)

Hot Pursuit: The First Season (3pc)
From high-speed chases to dangerous crashes, Hot Pursuit takes you behind the scenes and behind the headlines of some of the most dramatic police footage ever captured, and shows the dangers our law enforcement professionals face every day. Watch in amazement at the crazy antics of a never-ending cavalcade of clueless characters who decide to flee officers of the law and then confront them when they are apprehended. You won't believe your eyes when you ride along in the patrol cars in Hot Pursuit. This three-disc set features 15 episodes of this exciting new series featured on Court TV, during it's Court TV: Red broadcast block. This set also includes bonus scenes that are too hot for broadcast television!

Customer Review: Hot Pursuit DVD Set

This police chase video collection contains some of the wildest, scariest, footage ever seen on Court TV! If you're looking for sheer police excitement, this is the DVD set for you! I hope this will be the most thrilling 15 episodes of police chase video you will ever see! I give it "two thumbs way up!"

Customer Review: Action Packed

If you are into watching good police chase footage, this is the movie for you

Headlines on book covers
posted by Will Senn on Mon 26th Jul 2004 07:34 UTC (New Mobile Computing)

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:46:37 GMT
When I was first asked to review this book , I was somewhat taken aback by the title. I wondered if it could be construed as blasphemous. The dictionary came to my rescue with this definition: damn, adj., beyond doubt or question .

posted by Will Senn on Mon 26th Jul 2004 07:34 UTC (New Mobile Computing)

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:46:37 GMT
When I was first asked to review this book , I was somewhat taken aback by the title. I wondered if it could be construed as blasphemous. The dictionary came to my rescue with this definition: damn, adj., beyond doubt or question .

Crasnick: Yankee Stadium brings out so many memories (ESPN)

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:24:53 GMT
The 79th All-Star Game has a nostalgic feel to it. Why? Because it's going to be played at Yankee Stadium, a living baseball museum.