Book Review: "Burn Me Deadly" by Alex Bledsoe

Do you ever have those moments of disconnectedness where you wonder if you're marching out of step with the rest of the crowd? I had that feeling when I clicked on the Amazon link to Burn Me Deadly by Alex Bledsoe and saw that it had a 3 star rating. 3 stars? How is that possible? I know I certainly enjoyed the book more than that.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

"Burn Me Deadly" is the second book in a new series by Alex Bledsoe that features private investigator Eddie LaCrosse. Bledsoe takes my two favorite genres, fantasy and detective fiction, and mixes them up with highly entertaining results. In my review of The Sword Edged Blonde, the first in the Eddie LaCrosse series, I likened the book to a Raymond Chandler novel, but "Burn Me Deadly" is a direct homage to Kiss Me Deadly by Mickey Spillane (the link goes to the description of the movie adaptation of the novel since it was the only full synopsis I could find).

When riding home one night Eddie almost runs down a woman who has been brutally beaten. While trying to get her to safety Eddie is ambushed by her captors; she ends up dead and Eddie barely survives. Seeking to avenge her death, and find out why she was killed, Eddie runs up against the leader of his town's most powerful criminal gang and a strange dragon-worshiping cult.

Already somewhat comfortable with the illegal underground that run through the seedy town he lives in, Eddie crosses paths with power brokers and the royal family as he tries to unravel the mystery behind what could have led to the torture and murder of a young woman. And in his typical style, Eddie cuts a path through anyone in his way; frequently with his sword.

Bledsoe has a really interesting style. It's definitely more noir fiction than fantasy, though the fantasy elements are substantial enough to appeal to fans of that genre. There are no over-bloated character names that are so common in fantasy. Instead you have names like Eddie, Laura and Liz. The dialog is also frequently in the fast-paced style of detective fiction and the action in unflinchingly direct and sometimes brutal. My favorite description of an Eddie LaCrosse story is to say it's like a James Bond movie in a Midieval setting. But truthfully, Eddie is more like Bond after he's gotten the womanizing out of his system. He's settled but not afraid to take on pretty much anything. And the whole package really works.

Which brings me back to the Amazon rating. I was genuinely surprised when I saw the 3 star rating sitting there, though there are only 4 reviews in so far (and Harriet Klausner doesn't count). And I couldn't help think that the few who have reviewed the book so far didn't get the premise. One reviewer did bring up the violence of the book, and it can be somewhat graphic, but that wasn't an issue for me because I feel like Bledsoe made a stylistic choice and stuck with it. "Burn Me Deadly" is entirely consistent with the world created in "The Sword Edged Blonde" and one of the few books I read last year that I couldn't put down. I liked it so much I put it on my "best of" list for 2009. In my opinion Bledsoe has already solidified himself as a writer that can deliver a wry, action-oriented story that reliably entertains.

C'mon Baby, Let's do the Twist

Finally got power copies to work correctly!! Well, mostly correctly. In the next iteration I will remember to turn off all extraneous planes and lines before making the initial copy, so then won't have to go back into each instance to hide all that stuff I don't want to see (ex: screenshot #1).

Some things I like: The rotation of each floor is tied to the distance that floor is from the base. So the higher the floor is, the more it is rotated. Also, the overall size of each floor is tied to a profile curve.

Some things I will apply to the next iteration:

• Set extrusion height for floor slab depth to a parameter. Currently I can change the floor-to-floor height, but the slab depth is not controlled by anything.


• Set the "bite" diameter to be controlled by some other parameter. The diameter can be adjusted within the sketch that is within each powercopy instance, but I didn't build in any outside references that guide that diameter.


• Build the profile curve that controls the overall floor diameter as one piece. Currently it's three pieces (each ~1/3 the overall height). As such, when I instantiated a copy, and gave it the profile line as an input, it only locked onto one portion of that line. Then, if I tried to adjust the floor-to-floor height such that the top floor went above that first profile portion, I got an error. Bummer.

C'mon Baby, Let's do the Twist

Finally got power copies to work correctly!! Well, mostly correctly. In the next iteration I will remember to turn off all extraneous planes and lines before making the initial copy, so then won't have to go back into each instance to hide all that stuff I don't want to see (ex: screenshot #1).

Some things I like: The rotation of each floor is tied to the distance that floor is from the base. So the higher the floor is, the more it is rotated. Also, the overall size of each floor is tied to a profile curve.

Some things I will apply to the next iteration:

• Set extrusion height for floor slab depth to a parameter. Currently I can change the floor-to-floor height, but the slab depth is not controlled by anything.


• Set the "bite" diameter to be controlled by some other parameter. The diameter can be adjusted within the sketch that is within each powercopy instance, but I didn't build in any outside references that guide that diameter.


• Build the profile curve that controls the overall floor diameter as one piece. Currently it's three pieces (each ~1/3 the overall height). As such, when I instantiated a copy, and gave it the profile line as an input, it only locked onto one portion of that line. Then, if I tried to adjust the floor-to-floor height such that the top floor went above that first profile portion, I got an error. Bummer.

Net-Stick, Hi-tech stick for the elderly

Hi-tech stick for the elderly made from sustainable materials.

South Korea-based industrial designer has made sure that when old, you’ll not have to leave your hi-tech gadgets at home because you just can’t carry them. Designer has designed a hi-tech walking stick that apart from providing the silver aged with the much needed support gives them a touch of technology.

The Net-Stick has been designed with a portable, energy-efficient computer and a small LCD display that provides different types of information and with its GPS system it also ensures that the old never forget their way back home. With its simple, intuitive design, Net-Stick helps the user to approach people around them with confidence. Since the Net Stick is made from energy saving materials and makes use of eco-friendly technology, it helps the environment too.

Designers: Taewan Kim


If you liked this GPS, you would also be interested in:
www.ecofriend.org

AQUA Submersible Watercraft Future Transport Vehicle

In the future, we will have may can migrate to go to live under the sea. Thus, then have designer get do designing submarine in order to use the vehicle for take us down and upward on water skin conveniently

AQUA design concept is a one-manned submersible watercraft that can sail both on and under the surface of water. It was developed for the day when, due to increased crowding and pollution, humans will be living on and under the oceans.

The Aqua has a dolphin-like shape that is ideal for moving under the water. The design also explored controlling buoyancy, supplying oxygen and how to protect the driver from water pressure.

Are you ready? to deep ocean, it may enjoy many

Designers: Sungchul Yang & Woonghee Han





If you liked this automotive, you would also be interested in:
www.businessweek.com/ www.yankodesign.com

"DELL Froot" Bio-degradable Computer Concept

We know the components for PC be Keyboard, CPU and monitor. But, PC new idea from Dell at must haven't a keyboard and monitor screen. because, totaled up in gadget already, names that "Dell Froot"

Dell Froot is a Bio-degradable computer concept introduced for Dell’s future desktop computer. This concept is just too clever and most likely you’d get such a PC soon because the technologies to create this computer system have already existed.

Dell Froot uses a Virtual Laser Keyboard, mini-sized PC and screen projection technology. The projector has a trendy design and comes in three cool colors, green, purplish-pink and lavender.
Dell Froot is not only future-oriented, it’s also eco- friendly thanks to the bio-degradable material in the chassis.

But, the figure like this still not suit, should to revise new better

Designer: Paulina Carlos

If you liked this product design, you would also be interested in:
www.behance.net

“Mahru-Z” robot maid move get like a human

The housework of a housekeeper is heavy work and many exhausters. Neither is clean a house, cloth washing and the cooking etc. But, in the future heavy tiredness from these works will disappear. Because, scientist get try development robot for support work continuously.

South Korean scientists have developed a walking robot maid which can clean a home, dump clothes in a washing machine and even heat food in a microwave.

The robot “Mahru-Z” or robot maid, there is the body is like a human at have the ability can move like human by can turn the head, turn an arm, turn a leg and have 6 fingers. Besides, robot can see 3-D vision at can observe the object, remember a person and work that receive to assign succeed. Neither will opening washing machine, open-close the microwave, hold the sandwich, coffee cup and other.

Mahru-Z takes time in robot development for 2 year, which is 1.3 metres tall and weighs 55 kilograms. It could also work with an earlier maid robot called Marhu-M which moves on wheels, since both can be remotely controlled through a computer server. But, for a robot Mahru-Z have upgraded be can copy the movement that is like a human

The inventor specifies that, unless be usable a housekeeper already, still can apply work at dangerous with a human. But, the production for greatly the business still must take time moderately again

Mahru-Z, build from the budget in the research a robot about 3.5 million dollars every year on robot research. It began receiving state funds for the project in 2006.

Developer: You Bum-Jae and Korea Institute of Science and Technology

If you liked this robot, you would also be interested in:
Korea Institute of Science and Technology

Operation Intersection - FAILED

Ran into a bit of an issue trying to intersect a helix with a series of stacked planes. Here's the setup: in 3D space I built a helix that made one rotation about a vertical axis while rising 2000' (the current height of my tower). Along this axis I set a series of 20 horizontal planes, each offset 100' from the previous one. I then started the Intersection tool and picked the helix a the first element and one of the planes as the second element. This went along fine and dandy until I hit plane #11, which is at the vertical midpoint of the helix. That's when I got an error message claiming there was no solution for that operation. Any thoughts?

I have feeling the error has something to do with the little orange point that can just be seen above the "Helix.1/Twist Setup/Part2" label

Here's the error message.

An animation of the steps I went through to make the intersection (I did these exact same steps for the other 19 planes, and they all worked).

Operation Intersection - FAILED

Ran into a bit of an issue trying to intersect a helix with a series of stacked planes. Here's the setup: in 3D space I built a helix that made one rotation about a vertical axis while rising 2000' (the current height of my tower). Along this axis I set a series of 20 horizontal planes, each offset 100' from the previous one. I then started the Intersection tool and picked the helix a the first element and one of the planes as the second element. This went along fine and dandy until I hit plane #11, which is at the vertical midpoint of the helix. That's when I got an error message claiming there was no solution for that operation. Any thoughts?

I have feeling the error has something to do with the little orange point that can just be seen above the "Helix.1/Twist Setup/Part2" label

Here's the error message.

An animation of the steps I went through to make the intersection (I did these exact same steps for the other 19 planes, and they all worked).

The iMo, an Apple-Inspired Vehicle

Strange-looking really for concept design this vehicle at see resemble a vacuum cleaner. But, in fact concept of design this from the liking in Apple’s and wants to be environmentally friendly. Which, this vehicle is only a student project for Coventry University with no commercial means. This vehicle calls that “iMo”

iMo is a city car that is designed to accompany the users as it seems alive with the insertion of several organic parts. Using advanced form changing material, exploring the possibility of robotics to bring a new and simplified approach to personal mobility. It is round in shape and available in colors like yellow, blue, red and black. They have a transparent shield to cover the interior which makes it a fully secured car. The wheels are small, smoothly polished by immensely efficient at the same time

“iMo have design is based on the Apple philosophy which consists in applying a process of elimination to come up with simple and elegant solutions, by means of cutting edge technology. The result is a two-wheel robot designed to assist you throughout your daily life. There is no need to wonder where to park iMo, it takes you where you want and go to park by itself using specific parking systems called iPark. In fact, having no stationary vehicle in the streets to liberate ground space is the main concept of iMo+iPark. To do so iMoparks against building walls, underground or even in the sky. Amongst other originalities, iMo features form-changing seats and wheels made of Nitinol and a holographic gesture-recognition driving system.” Designer says

Designer: Anthony Jannarelly

If you liked this automotive, you would also be interested in:
www.tuvie.com/ www.imoconcept.com

The Air Umbrella, protect the rain by air barrier

You take an umbrella goes to everywhere, isn't it? Sometimes you feel that your umbrella is too big or too long or even to heavy for you. Which, this design one all this problems can be solved.

The Air Umbrella is unconventional umbrella concept design. Because, it is an umbrella that hasn't umbrella cloth, be like general umbrella. But, there is the idea will to use the barrier between you and the raindrops is a sheet of steady air that is blown out by this hollow pipe, replace using cloth an umbrella

You can control the length of the stick and the size of the air canopy, depending how many friends you are taking with you.

Designers: Je Sung Park & Woo Jung Kwon

If you liked this gadget idea, you would also be interested in:
www.yankodesign.com

Learning Curve

Long day fighting with old Rhino habits. I successfully created a framework that allows me to adjust the major and minor "bites" that are taken out of the overall circle of the floor plan. The trouble now is lifting a copy vertically in such a way that I can then specify a rotation. I don't think I set it up in the correct way to use powercopies. The image on the right is its own sketch, but it is built from 14 arcs that reference a whoooole bunch of points in the image on the left. So when I tried to define a powercopy, there were a bajillion defining points. Tomorrow I'll take another stab at it, maybe setting some constraints based off of formulas rather than just geometry. Also, I'm still not sure how to set it up to allow changes in the number of "bite" circles (getting it set up so that a set number were all equal radius and so their centers were equadistant from one another was a pain in the butt).

(LEFT) the sketch that forms the controlling framework. (RIGHT) an animation of what happens when controlling framework is tweaked.

Learning Curve

Long day fighting with old Rhino habits. I successfully created a framework that allows me to adjust the major and minor "bites" that are taken out of the overall circle of the floor plan. The trouble now is lifting a copy vertically in such a way that I can then specify a rotation. I don't think I set it up in the correct way to use powercopies. The image on the right is its own sketch, but it is built from 14 arcs that reference a whoooole bunch of points in the image on the left. So when I tried to define a powercopy, there were a bajillion defining points. Tomorrow I'll take another stab at it, maybe setting some constraints based off of formulas rather than just geometry. Also, I'm still not sure how to set it up to allow changes in the number of "bite" circles (getting it set up so that a set number were all equal radius and so their centers were equadistant from one another was a pain in the butt).

(LEFT) the sketch that forms the controlling framework. (RIGHT) an animation of what happens when controlling framework is tweaked.