I've been addicted to Stephen King's Gunslinger books since I was about 17. They're long, tense, gripping tales, filled with enough po-mo weirdness to make them interesting and keep me guessing. The first book was begun when King was a teenager; the last book will be the last fiction King ever writes, according to him. Book five — the third-to-last in the series — is Wolves of the Calla, a 600+ page brick of a novel that I've just finished reading. It's a very satisfying installment in the saga, and ends, as they all do, on a cliff-hanger that is as exciting as it is exasperating. I can't wait for the next two. There aren't a lot of modern genre authors playing with the memes from the Western pulps these days; King's reinterpretation of them makes me want to dig up some old Zane Grey.
Book Five of King's Dark Tower is out
Study finds most new articles generated by AI
A study of online content finds that the quantity of AI-generated articles now exceeds the number posted by human authors. But it's been a close-run thing for about 12 months,… READ THE REST
Thermal cameras show our noses cool when we are stressed
You might hide your bout of acute stress from human observers, but thermal imaging cameras won't be fooled: our noses cool sharply when we're under pressure, the result of our… READ THE REST
AOL ends dial-up service
Announced only a few weeks ago but long in coming, AOL's dial-up internet service dies today. The "final screech" is nigh, writes Rob Wile, lamenting the modem's last gasp. At… READ THE REST
Outsmart future storms with Weather Hi-Def Radar Storm Watch Plus
TL;DR: The Weather Hi-Def Radar Storm Watch Plus app delivers sharp, real-time storm tracking and alerts for just $39.99 (reg. $199.99). Making sense of the weather these days is like rolling dice —… READ THE REST
CISSP without the buzzwords: 8-domain training bundle for $29.97
TL;DR: Eight courses covering CISSP's eight domains—risk, assets, IAM, ops, and more—so you can prep like a pro for just $29.97! If "security" is already in your job title (or soon will… READ THE REST
A $159 ASUS Chromebook that's part tablet, part overachiever
TL;DR: The 2024 ASUS Chromebook CM30 with Detachable Touchscreen is down to $159.99 ($329.99) with free shipping. Between your laptop that weighs too much for your liking and your phone that's too small… READ THE REST
