Sale on Handmark Games

Do you waste, er, um, I mean spend, time playing games on your PDA? If so, you might want to check out Handmark's sale: 25% off their 10 most popular games.

Use the code "25off10games" when you check out. Valid until 2/1/04

Tha Handmark games are the officially licensed versions of various Milton Bradley classics like Monopoly and Scrabble. They have Monopoly, Scrabble,Trivial Pursuit, Yahtzee, Battleship, Tetris, Warfare Inc., Super Solitaire 15, Midway Arcade Classics, and 3D Air Hockey on sale. Sort of pricey to buy at full price - so don't forget the coupon!

25off10games

Fictionwise eBooks: Big Bargains

Here's a list of rebates and discounts offered by Fictionwise this week

Fictionwise eBooks: The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, The White House, and the Education of Paul O'Neill

Fictionwise is offering a 100% Micropay Rebate on The Price of Loyalty - just pay with a credit card and the full amount will be credited to your Micropay account.

Not a bad deal!

This Week's Free Classics from Fictionwise.

Three Ghost Stories by Charles Dickens
My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass
Villette by Charlotte Bronte

The Tyranny of Copyright?

The NY Times Magazine has an interesting article on the effects of copyright extension and the erosion of the public domain.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/25/magazine/25COPYRIGHT.html?pagewanted=1&th

You'll probably have to register with the Times to read the article - but registration is free.

Consider; "In 1790, copyright protection lasted for 14 years and could be renewed just once before the work entered the public domain. Between 1831 and 1909, the maximum term was increased from 28 to 56 years. Today, copyright protection for individuals lasts for 70 years after the death of the author; for corporations, it's 95 years after publication. Over the past three decades, the flow of material entering the public domain has slowed to a trickle: in 1973, according to Lessig, more than 85 percent of copyright owners chose not to renew their copyrights, allowing their ideas to become common coin; since the 1998 Copyright Term Extension Act lengthened present and past copyrights for an additional 20 years, little material will enter the public domain any time soon. "

Bloglines For Connected PDAs

"We are pleased to announce the beta version of Bloglines optimized for connected PDAs. Simply go to www.bloglines.com using your Palm or Windows CE powered PDA, and you will automatically be transferred to the optimized version of Bloglines. You can also access the PDA version directly by going to http://www.bloglines.com/mobile. The optimized version of Bloglines contains fewer graphics and simpler pages for fast loading and easier navigation on PDAs. Now it's easy to stay up to date with your Bloglines subscriptions while away from your computer. This new feature is in beta; please let us know if you have any issues accessing the new PDA optimized version of Bloglines."

Free Version of Palm Reader

Yet another reason to worry about PalmGear buying PalmDigitalMedia -- the free version of the reader has mysteriously disappeared. The Reader is now package the way the Mobi Reader is -- you download the Pro version for a 30 day trial and then, presumably after 30 days, the reader reverts to the free version.

However, since there is virtually no difference between the free and Pro versions except the dictionary, it's hard to see what the reversion will be. Except bad news.

This PalmGear buyout is proving to be nothing but Bad News for consumers.

Free Books At Fictionwise

This week's classic works from Fictionwise --Free through Sunday, Jan. 25!

Sixes and Sevens by O. Henry
Camille by Alexandre Dumas fils
The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton & John Jay & James Madison

Xena Season 3 DVDs

Have you pre-ordered your XWP Season 3 DVDs yet? If not, take a look at Overstock's prices: $41.59 and $1.40 shipping. It's hard to beat that!

I bought Season 2 from Overstock. I've already got Season 3 on order. I buy lots of stuff there - and have never been burned.

Here's Overstock's Description: "XENA WARRIOR PRINCESS was one of the longest running cult series in television history. The unusual blend of sword and sorcery, underlying lesbianism, and campy comedy gave XENA a rabid fan base. This set collects the entire third season of the series in a collector`s box."

Sorcery? What sorcery?

Please note:

1. This is NOT an affiliate link. Not monetary kickbacks to me - I don't believe in them. I'm just passing along a bargain.
2. These are the USA DVD release, whatever region encoding that is.

ASCII Art

This has nothing whatsoever to do with ebooks or PDAs -- but it is just too cool not to pass along.

If you remember ASCII art from the dark ages of DOS, you'll love these pictures. They are amazingly detailed. I particularly like the tiger

Even more amazing are the ASCII movies! What Steve Irwin track crocodiles as he lopes across your screen. See Neo catch bullets in the Matrix!

Way cool.

Fictionwise 2003 eBook Awards

Fictionwise has released its "Best of 2003" lists:

eBook Author of the Year: Lois McMaster Bujold
eBook of the Year: The Da Vinci Code

2003 Best Selling eBooks

1. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
2. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
3. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
4. The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson
5. Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
6. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
7. Empire from the Ashes by David Weber
8. Prey by Michael Crichton
9. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
10. Deception Point by Dan Brown
11. MotherShip by Tony Chandler
12. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
13. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
14. Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold
15. The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold
16. Evolution by Stephen Baxter
17. The Sex Gates by Darrell Bain
18. Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
19. War of Honor [Book 10 of the Honor Harrington Series] by David Weber
20. The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold

Highest Rated eBooks of the Year

Fictionwise members have submitted over 189,431 ratings on more than 3,700 eBooks at Fictionwise.com. Ratings are based on scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being the highest. To qualify for the Highest Rated list, an eBook must have at least 40 member ratings.

1. Fool's Errand by Robin Hobb
2. Empire from the Ashes by David Weber
3. White Dragon [Volume 3 of The Dragonriders of Pern] by Anne McCaffrey
4. Masterharper of Pern [Volume 12 of The Dragonriders of Pern] by Anne McCaffrey
5. Morgawr [The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara Book 3] by Terry Brooks
6. Dragonsdawn [Volume 6 of The Dragonriders of Pern] by Anne McCaffrey
7. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
8. Golden Fool by Robin Hobb
9. A Storm of Swords [A Song of Ice and Fire #3] by George R. R. Martin
10. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
11. Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold
12. The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold
13. Dragonflight [Volume 1 of The Dragonriders of Pern] by Anne McCaffrey
14. A Game of Thrones/A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
15. The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold
16. Ilse Witch [The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara Book 1] by Terry Brooks
17. Honor Among Enemies [Book 6 of the Honor Harrington Series] by David Weber
18. Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
19. Flag in Exile [Book 5 of the Honor Harrington Series] by David Weber
20. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

Buy any of these titles with your credit card and receive a 40% Micropay Rebate

A Contest Every Monday at PalmDigitalMedia

PDM says:

"Monday Is Fun Day!
Enter to Win Prizes Today and Every Monday

Check It Out!

Enter our shopping cart sweepstakes for a chance to win fabulous prizes for your Palm. Every purchase, or download of a free eBook, enters you in today's contest. Winners will be selected at random from all transaction entries completed today by 11:59 pm EST."

More Free Classics from Fictionwise.

Through Jan 18, 2004, Fictionwise is giving away:

Paradise Lost by John Milton
Paradise Regained by John Milton
Options by O Henry

PalmDigitalMedia is giving away 3 more classics:

Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Peter Pan by JM Barrie

1828 Dictionary by Websters

"The most popular dictionary for the Christian market, Webster's 1828 Dictionary was produced when American society was based on Biblical and patriotic values. This dictionary contains more Biblical definitions that any other reference work. An indispensable tool."

Ah, for the good old days, when gay boys were happy young lads...

Is there any comment necessary when even a dictionary has to be 176 years out of date?

4 Free Nebula Nominated Stories from Fictionwise

Fictionwise is offering four free Preliminary Nominees for the 2003 Nebulas, available in virtually all formats

http://www.fictionwise.com/Nebula2003.htm

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Other Deals & Coupon Codes:

PerfectBound: Through January 15, enter coupon code FANTASY to receive an additional 20% off

PalmDigitalMedia: Punch in this week's Promo Code CARROLL to receive a 10% discount off each book that you purchase. Offer good through January 6, 2003 on all books priced more than $3.00. Cannot be used in conjunction with other special offers.