Splinter

Overview
      A surprsingly good space opera incorporating crazy religions (the Millennial Gnostics) and billions of innocent people caught up in the crossfire! Splinter is that crazy science fiction space opera you've wanted to read but couldn't find it in your local bookstore... until now.

Review
     Great. Just great. Crazy religions and the whole nine yards fully appealed to me. I mean it started off very well, then kinda dipped into a lull, then gave me a rush of excitement. The book was good for the plot story it offered. Either I wasn't the biggest fan of the plot story or it wasn't executed well enough is all up to you the reader, but the way Sherri Moorer wrote it was beautiful. Plain and simple. Didn't hurt it had a nice cover.

Rating
     4/5 Overall a nice read (bit long but worth it in the end) if you like space opera's/futurist science fiction with apocalyptic endings and crazy religions tied in. Doesn't hurt she's a Carolina girl!
http://www.sherrithewriter.com/2/post/2013/10/life-as-inspiration.html

Windows 8.1 //Lloyd's POV

     There are many obvious changes that are good in Microsoft's Windows 8.1. Some things, like the pin new apps to the start screen by default is gone though. For some reason, my start screen apps don't close after I close them because task manager still shows them open. To prove it, when I click on the app again after being closed, it opens up like it was still open, say like IE or news goes to the exact page I was on instead of the home.
     Definite improvements can be seen on the UI. The customization and options reminds you again that Windows still let's you choose. The nice start button on the desktop is a nice touch and a signature thing for Windows. A great thing for those who favor cloud storage and access from anywhere will be pleased to see that SkyDrive is like a second storage drive and backs up documents and more. Overall, the Windows 8.1 update, that you can get from the store, has many good improvements including cloud storage, UI, and more options.

Lars the Awkward Yeti book review

Overview
      Well this marks change. Change as in the first picture book I'm reviewing! Lars the Awkward Yeti is a popular webcomic that we interviewed the author of earlier. Now he decided to put his best artwork into an awesome book with a preview of an upcoming book!

Review
    Well I guess I can't comment on the story line, plot, or other things but I will say the picture quality was amazing. I showed it to a few friends one a science nerd and they were laughing at some of the puns and Lars's awkwardness. I really liked Lars as a character even though I have strong feelings about discrimination against comic book characters (they always getting into some kind of bad situation). The book felt expensive like it was done right. I'd go as far to say the caliber of a Big Nate or Diary Wimpy kid good.

Rating
    5/5 I felt no fault with it (except I wish there was more) especially since the artwork was so darn fancy. Like legit go to the back couple of pages and see the beautiful artwork! Anywho make a buy regardless of your taste in comic because you will find it appealing.

Art Center new Surface blades ideas

     Windows 8.1, Surface 2.0, and now cool new Surface touch cover ideas (blades), with the help of the Art Center. Another busy year, and great concepts, in my opinion. Also, there is a chance that Microsoft could make this open to 3rd parties and developers. Anyway, great ideas and I hope that this will put them in the right direction.

Interview with the creator of The Awkward Yeti Nick Seluk!

Overview
     Nick Seluk is an artist/illustrator/baller who is the designer of The Awkward Yeti webcomic featuring Lars the Awkward Yeti now available in print! The happy/proud owner of a Webcomic with 50,000 + likes on Facebook, 1,233 followers on Twitter, and various other strong social media presentations. Surprisingly the webcomic is actually FUNNY unlike some other people who make some really weird stuff that doesn't make sense and looks subpar.

Interview

Me: How long have you been doing artwork/illustrating?
Nick:  I've been drawing comics since I was a kid. I used to make full-length nonsensical comics with characters I had made up during middle school classes. Even in college when getting my degree in Psychology, I was doing freelance comics on the side for fun. I could never quite figure out how to make a living with it, but I have always loved doing it so it never really mattered.
Me: What was your inspiration/what got you started in comic book illustration?
Nick:  I have always had a fascination with comics since reading The Far Side and Calvin & Hobbes as a kid, and growing up during the golden age of the Simpsons. My grandpa was also a cartoonist - he did comics for the local school board, for his naval ship in WWII, and always incorporated his cartoons into greeting cards and letters to family and friends. 
Me:  What is your drawing process? As in do you have a certain soundtrack, routine, or does inspiration bless you randomly?
Nick: I find that I get my best ideas when I'm relaxed, unplugged, and things are quiet. Some of my most popular comics were thought up while taking a 15 minute break from technology in my backyard. When I get take my idea to the computer, I always have Pandora playing to keep me focused.
Me: Where did you get Lars the Awkward Yeti from?
Nick: . Lars was based on an acrylic painting I did several years ago. I tried my hand at the art scene quite unsuccessfully, but the painting of this awkward yeti always intrigued me. One day a friend and I were discussing it and I decided the yeti would be a unique subject for a children's book. I spent a few months developing a very simple children's book starring The Awkward Yeti, then made a Facebook page where I shared the book and a few of my old illustrations and The Awkward Yeti webcomic. What was originally intended for kids ended up being a character for all ages, but that's why the page still follows a "G-Rated" format now. 
Me: What are your thoughts on your recent Kickstarter? 
Nick:  The Kickstarter was a great experience. I was amazed by the support from family, friends and fans. Now that most rewards have been sent out, I look forward to seeing how I can use the new resources to grow awareness for The Awkward Yeti, and hopefully sell a few books at comic conventions and on amazon.com.

We'll you heard it from the illustrators mouth now it's time for you to (hopefully) support the man by buying the book or even just giving him a like on FB or follow on Twitter. All info is below. 
The Awkward Yeti
Facebook
@TheAwkwardYeti
Tumblr
Book on Amazon

Super Born: Seduction of Being

Overview
      The B.I.B exists! A super hero born during halftime with special powers in Scranton, PA with well some other females rises to the occasion. Let's just say the book was filled with vivid scenes of what a super hero that is real and female would look like.

Review
     After an unnormally short overview I really wanted to just jump into the review. Let's just say the book will keep you hooked. Just that it's long. A looonnngg book. I expected to finish it in like two days but hey no worries right? Couple things was I really liked the tie in of the book and the real world (always like that). Second the main character the B.I.B felt so real to life besides her superpowers. I mean she well (spoiler!) almost dies because she got attacked by the mafia! Characters like that are really attractive to me because I hate people who are invincible. Couple things wasn't too happy bout 1) Vivid scenes and profanity, 2) Website wasn't the best looking 3) Book cover feels copy and paste. Cover picture is great just the rest brings it down for me.

Rating
 4/5 Good book that has a great storyline. It read a bit like a feminist novel so I was surprised a white man wrote it. Love the portrayal of women as superheroes and how well it was done.
http://www.amazon.com/Super-Born-Seduction-Keith-Kornell/dp/0982645201
https://www.facebook.com/SuperBorn
http://thebib.org/