Best of
Geek

2011

Built for Adventure: The Classic Automobiles of Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt


Clive Cussler - 2011
    Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Touring . . . Mercedes-Benz 630K . . . Duesenberg J-140 . . . Cadillac V-16 Roadster . . . Ford Cabriolet Hot Rod . . . Packard V-12 . . . it's a car lover's paradise!

Making Embedded Systems: Design Patterns for Great Software


Elecia White - 2011
    This easy-to-read guide helps you cultivate a host of good development practices, based on classic software design patterns and new patterns unique to embedded programming. Learn how to build system architecture for processors, not operating systems, and discover specific techniques for dealing with hardware difficulties and manufacturing requirements.Written by an expert who’s created embedded systems ranging from urban surveillance and DNA scanners to children’s toys, this book is ideal for intermediate and experienced programmers, no matter what platform you use.Optimize your system to reduce cost and increase performanceDevelop an architecture that makes your software robust in resource-constrained environmentsExplore sensors, motors, and other I/O devicesDo more with less: reduce RAM consumption, code space, processor cycles, and power consumptionLearn how to update embedded code directly in the processorDiscover how to implement complex mathematics on small processorsUnderstand what interviewers look for when you apply for an embedded systems job"Making Embedded Systems is the book for a C programmer who wants to enter the fun (and lucrative) world of embedded systems. It’s very well written—entertaining, even—and filled with clear illustrations." —Jack Ganssle, author and embedded system expert.

The Art of the Adventures of Tintin


Chris Guise - 2011
    They spent five years working on this movie. This book tells the story of how the filmmakers started with the original Hergé artwork and books and ended up with what is seen on-screen. It features early concept drawings, previs sequences, models, costume designs and final stills from the film. The book focuses on the creative process, showing the many designs that made it into the movie and others that didn’t. It highlights the attention to detail, skill and creativity of all the artists involved in the making of the movie. The story is told by the artists themselves, who talk about their inspirations, techniques and experiences. Through them we gain a true insight into the creative thinking behind this groundbreaking feature film.

A Lexicon of Terror: Argentina and the Legacies of Torture, Revised and Updated with a New Epilogue


Marguerite Feitlowitz - 2011
    A New York Times Notable Book of the Year and Finalist for the L.L. Winship / PEN New England Award in 1998, A Lexicon of Terror is a sensitive and unflinching account of the sadism, paranoia, and deception the military junta unleashed on the Argentine people from 1976 to 1983. This updated edition features a new epilogue that chronicles major political, legal, and social developments in Argentina since the book's initial publication. It also continues the stories of the individuals involved in the Dirty War, including the torturers, kidnappers and murderers formerly granted immunity under now dissolved amnesty laws. Additionally, Feitlowitz discusses investigations launched in the intervening years that have indicated that the network of torture centers, concentration camps, and other operations responsible for the "desaparecidas" was more widespread than previously thought. A Lexicon of Terror vividly evokes this shocking era and tells of the long-lasting effects it has left on the Argentine culture.

My Little Geek


Andrew Spear - 2011
    Imagine the joy of hearing your two year old chatting away about his holographic ninja or time traveling joystick. From Android to Zombie, this alphabet book will keep the little ones and parents entertained all night long.

Above the Fold: Understanding the Principles of Successful Web Site Design


Brian Miller - 2011
    "Above the Fold" is not about timely design or technology trends; instead, this book is about the timeless fundamentals of effective communication within the context of web design. It is intended to help you, the reader, understand the considerations that web designers make when developing successful websites."Above the Fold" is divided into three sections: Design & TypographyPlanning & UsabilityBusiness Value Each section represents a phase in the continuous cycle of web design. It's the balance among design, usability, and return on investment that makes a website truly great.Topics covered in "Above the Fold" include: What makes web design uniqueThe history of web designAnatomy of a web pageWhite space and grid use in web designThe elements of web design: color, texture, imagery, scale, depth, animation, and variabilityWeb typography, including web-safe type, images of type, and font replacement and embeddingWeb project planningInformation architecture, including site maps, wireframes, and user flow diagramsThe elements of usability: navigation, breadcrumbs, links, search, submission forms, and error messagingSearch engine optimizationOnline marketing, including banner ads, viral and social marketing, on-site marketing, and email marketingWeb statistics and analysis

Fortune the Legacy of Steve Jobs 1955-2011: A Tribute from the Pages of Fortune Magazine


Fortune Magazine - 2011
    He was the most innovative business leader of our time, the man FORTUNE named CEO of the Decade in 2009. Now from FORTUNE comes the richly illustrated story of his life at the helm of Apple, based in part on three decades of FORTUNE stories about the cultural icon who revolutionized computing, telephones, movies, music, retailing, and product design. FORTUNE was with him every step of the way, describing in unparalleled detail the career of a man with relentless drive and a single underlying passion-to carry out his vision of how all of us would use technology. In the end he was proved right a billion times over, and his company became one of the most successful enterprises on the planet. All of these chapters are the product of deep reporting. In many cases FORTUNE's writers spent hours interviewing Jobs and delving into his mind. The result is a singular journalistic collection, which will leave you with a comprehensive picture of a man who changed the world, a picture that is complex in the making yet simple in its triumph.

Paper Monsters


Clocks - 2011
    X-Men: First Class (2011) FanfictionCharles meets Erik Lehnsherr, his favorite novelist of all time at a coffee shop, but doesn't know it's him, and Erik just criticizes his own writing in front of his biggest fan.Art credit: Palalife

Arduino Robotics


John-David Warren - 2011
    You'll learn Arduino basics as well as the characteristics of different types of motors used in robotics. You also discover controller methods and failsafe methods, and learn how to apply them to your project. The book starts with basic robots and moves into more complex projects, including a GPS-enabled robot, a robotic lawn mower, a fighting bot, and even a DIY Segway-clone.Introduction to the Arduino and other components needed for robotics Learn how to build motor controllers Build bots from simple line-following and bump-sensor bots to more complex robots that can mow your lawn, do battle, or even take you for a ride Please note: the print version of this title is black & white; the eBook is full color.

Walter Simonson's The Mighty Thor: Artist's Edition


Walter Simonson - 2011
    Each page is scanned from the original art, same size as drawn, and in full color (in insure the best possible reproduction). Brought to you by the same team responsible for the Eisner Award-winning The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures Deluxe Edition. WHAT IS AN ARTIST'S EDITION? AN ARTIST'S EDITION PRESENTS COMPLETE STORIES WITH EACH PAGE SCANNED FROM THE ACTUAL ORIGINAL ART. While appearing to be in black and white, each page was scanned in color to mimic as closely as possible the experience of viewing the actual original art-for instance, corrections and blue pencils. Each page is printed the same size as drawn, and the paper selected is as close as possible to the original art board.

Playing Passion's Game


Lesley Davis - 2011
    In matters of the heart, you play for keeps.Trent Williams’s entire world revolves around her love of gaming. She has little time for romantic distractions and prefers instead to be with her closest friends who, like her, live for the thrill that comes from a competition well played. Happy in her job, seemingly content with her life, Trent still finds herself haunted by the past that threatens to keep her alone forever. The self-imposed solitude she places on her heart only leaves her all too aware of just how lonely she is.All work and no play in her executive job forces Juliet Sullivan to search for a different direction in life. Disillusioned by it all, Juliet is desperate to seek out new horizons. When Trent unwittingly comes to the rescue of her younger sister, Juliet immediately finds herself drawn to Trent’s silent strength and undeniable charm. Now the new direction Juliet so desperately desires seems intent on leading her straight into Trent’s arms.

Making Things Talk: Using Sensors, Networks, and Arduino to see, hear, and feel your world


Tom Igoe - 2011
    But when the devices you've built start to talk to each other, things really get interesting. With 33 easy-to-build projects, Making Things Talk shows you how to get your gadgets to communicate with you and your environment. It’s perfect for people with little technical training but a lot of interest.Maybe you're a science teacher who wants to show students how to monitor the weather in several locations at once. Or a sculptor looking to stage a room of choreographed mechanical sculptures. In this expanded edition, you’ll learn how to form networks of smart devices that share data and respond to commands.Call your home thermostat with a smartphone and change the temperature.Create your own game controllers that communicate over a network.Use ZigBee, Bluetooth, Infrared, and plain old radio to transmit sensor data wirelessly.Work with Arduino 1.0, Processing, and PHP—three easy-to-use, open source environments.Write programs to send data across the Internet, based on physical activity in your home, office, or backyard.Whether you want to connect simple home sensors to the Internet, or create a device that can interact wirelessly with other gadgets, this book explains exactly what you need.

Building a Better Robot: 10 Years of the Mr. Roboto Project


Andy Mulkerin - 2011
    Roboto Project, an all-ages, do-it-yourself venue just outside city limits. No one knew at the time how long it would last. Ten years later, the venue closed its doors; the cooperative that ran it regrouped to re-open at another location. In between, Roboto hosted hundreds of shows, opened and quickly closed a second space, helped to incubate non-profit organizations, served as a space for bands to practice and record, and shaped the formative years of a generation of local punks and indie rockers.Upon the closing of the original Mr. Roboto Project space in 2010, we set out to create a document of the DIY punk venue's ten years there. With help from a Seed Award given us by the Sprout Fund, we began collecting the facts, stories and images that make up Roboto's history. Building a Better Robot tells the story of the venue's beginnings, struggles and successes, and features images by Shawn Brackbill, Tanner Douglass, Dan Gamble, Charissa Hamilton-Gribenas, John Herrington, Deanna Hitchcock, Chris Boarts Larson, Mike Q. Roth, Christopher Schwarzott, Brad Quartuccio and Missy Wright. The book was compiled by a small group of Pittsburghers with ties to Roboto: promoters, board members, bookers, show-goers. It includes a foreword by Doug Mosurock and essays by Roboto members and musicians.

Odd Girl In


Jo Whittemore - 2011
    When the Evins siblings play a prank that goes just a tad too far (resulting in setting a neighbor's sofa--and hair--on fire), their dad decides it's time for some tough love. He signs them up for an after-school program called Champs!, which guarantees that it will turn any kid into a well-rounded success. Alex, Parker and Nick all must pass the course together, or else it's off to St. Ignacius private school (aka St. Ignasty). At Champs!, Alex encounters more than a few nemeses, including the Champs! coach, Sharon Success, mom of Alex's classmate, the totally perfect and totally annoying Emily Gold, and the ultra-competitive Chloe Stroupe. After weeks of intense classes, the Evins sibilings are soon faced with the Champs! Championship, a test of teamwork, leadership, and responsibility. Alex and her brothers are determined to win. But when an earlier misstep threatens all their hard work, Alex finds herself scrambling to make things right. Can the "evil Evins" actually pass this course in one piece? Or are they destined for an epic fail?

Identity Shift: The Search for Self in a Connected World


Allison Cerra - 2011
    Subjects crossed geographic, generational, socioeconomic, and cultural boundaries. Hundreds of hours of documented observation and interviews with real people led to the fascinating conclusions in these pages. While technology will never define us, this study reveals how profoundly it influences the way we define ourselves.Coverage includes:The 3-P Model of IdentityPresentation: The Mirror Image Protection: Exposing the Blind Spots Preference: The (Un)Conscious Filter of (In)Finite ChoiceThe Universal Laws The Law of Learned Helplessness: Failure Is the Only Option The Law of Illusion: Lie to Me The Law of Recall: Taking It from the Top Rationalization: Finding Harmony in the DiscordIdentity through the Life Stages Teenage Growing Pains Emerging Adulthood: In Search of the IdealThe "Meet" Market The Parent Puzzle The Midlife RebirthWho Are We Becoming?Whether your interest lies in sociology, psychology, marketing or technology, Identity Shift examines the impact of living in an age where virtually all of our personal information and interactions with others can be available with the click of a mouse.