7 February 2003 Archives

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

One very nice perk of being an O’Reilly author is getting full membership in O’Reilly’s online digital book library, Safari. I think about the 34 boxes of books I have stored back in San Francisco and can’t help but feel that digital is really the way of the future. At least for technical books.

(I still like the feel of a ‘real’ book when I snuggle under the covers in bed for a nice read before heading off to sleep. I love the feel of the covers in my hands, the sound of the turning page, the illustrations and type face, and the slightly acrid, dusty smell you get sometimes with an older book from the library.)

When I was out at Safari tonight, looking something up about Python, I noticed that one of the book’s I helped write and organize for O’Reilly last year, Unix Power Tools 3rd edition, is currently Safari’s most read book.

Don’t you like the unexpected gift the most? That was a very nice little egoboo to help me as I work away with Practical RDF.

I remember when Ryan got his new kitten, Marley. From the photos he was the cutest kitten and I could tell that Ryan was wrapped around his little paw.

Ryan writes today that Marley is pretty sick and needs to have specialized surgery. As with most animal care, there is no insurance to cover the cost of this very expensive treatment. Starting tomorrow, Ryan is having a Help Marley Sale, to try and scrape together the money for Marley’s surgery.

Some people would say that a pet is not a child and we shouldn’t treat them as such. I agree, a pet is not a child. But a pet is a friend and a companion, a source of laughter, and a comfort when we’re down or lonely.

Zoe sends Marley get well meows. Best of luck, Ryan, with your fund raising.