The Artist the Biker can't Ignore

Mars Vol. 1 by Fayumi Soryo
Why did I read it?
As I've mentioned before, I like to vary what I read, and there is nothing more varied than Manga, which reads from right to left instead of from left to right :) I went to a program today, and some kids were asking what I was reading. They thought it was pretty cool that the book read backwards. Mission accomplished! Mars is a graphic novel that is 15 volumes long, but I like the way it begins.
What happened?
Rei is a rebellious bike racer with no fear. Every hot girl waits their turn to be with him, and then he moves on. Kira is a terribly quiet girl who no one is brave enough to talk to. But, something draws them together and them, nor anyone they know, can ignore the connection they have. Rei begins to appreciate Kira's skill as an artist, and Kira starts to realize that Rei is more than just an arrogant, confident punk. Rei protects Kira from a jealous classmate and an advancing teacher, but their friendship becomes even more special and complicated.
What did I like or not like?
I think it's cool that star-crossed lovers and forbidden love cross cultures and languages. This is a story that has been told countless times before. But, reading a Manga version that was originally written in another language is pretty cool.
P.S. There is a teacher who comes onto Kira, and there is some brief discussion of Rei's sleeping with other girls.

Robots are Invading :)

Hey everybody :)
Since last Fall, we've had a Ka-Boom: Science Experiments program going on at the library. For the past two summers, we've invited Greg Braileanu to do a special program on LEGO NXT robots. We just had the last robot program yesterday, so I figured I'd talk a little about cool things to do with these robots.
Greg has a blog that he just started http://www.legomyrobo.com/, and he is planning on filling the blog with resources and cool things to do with robots.
There are a couple schools and clubs that have formed around building these robots, so if you are interested, there are places to get involved.
Obviously, this is a LEGO product, so LEGO has set up a page that has videos, a funzone, and information on the robots at
http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-US/default.aspx?icmp=COFranchiseUSMINDSTORMS
There are also summer camps that the Discovery Institue offers that deal with robots and engineering. You can catch the Discover Technology folks at many of the city days in the area and at the North Idaho Fair & Rodeo. This is a link to a calendar of events. http://discovertechnology.org/calendar.html
Just to let you know, these robots are super cool, so if you haven't played with one, figure out some way to get one :)

The Retweeted

Is Escape Possible?

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Why did I read it?
Its funny how I pick books sometimes. Basically, the sequel to Incarceron came out recently, showed up on my shelf and it sounded really interesting. But, I don't like to jump into the middle of the series, so I decided to read the first installment.
What happened?
Finn lives in Incarceron, a living prison that constantly watches, controls, and intimidates its inmates. As there is safety in numbers, Finn is part of a Scum band that raids other prisoners. But, Finn doesn't think of himself as a prisoner or as a member of the band. He has a special tattoo on his wrist and visions of "Outside." He assumes that he was born outside and cast into Incarceron, even though everyone thinks he's crazy. Armed with his visions and a Key, Finn seeks Escape.
Claudia is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron. There are two things she knows; her father is the only man alive who knows the location of Incarceron, and she will be married to the heir to the throne, a long-held tradition. But, Claudia doesn't want to marry the current heir to the throne. He's an arrogant, self-righteous jerk and she can't stand him. Marrying the heir wasn't going to be too bad when it was Giles, but he mysteriously died several years earlier. Even though she is told it was an accident, she can't help but wonder if their is something darker going on at court.
What did I like or not like?
This is just a well-written book. The two complimenting storylines keeps things moving quickly, and the idea of a living prison is a scary and fascinating idea. I haven't quite finished the book yet, but I can't wait to see how it ends.

Minecraft: What do you think?

Howdy everyone :)
So, technology also includes the fun stuff like online gaming. A couple weeks ago, I went over to Ramsey Elementary for their SummerPlus program. One of the guys was talking to me about games, and he said that Minecraft is incredibly fun. From what I've seen, Minecraft allows you to mine things from your surrounding, and then use them to build structures. Why? I haven't seen it yet, but supposedly there are monsters that show up at night, and shelters help you defeat them. If you're into interacting with your game's world, this one sounds like fun. Their is a beta version that you can purchase, but there is also an older version that is free to play.
Check it out and let me know what you think.
http://www.minecraft.net/

I got Accepted!