I grew up with adventure games. Without characters like Zak McKracken, Guybrush Threepwood, Roger Wilco or Dr. Fred, my childhood is hard to imagine. Not only did these characters teach me the first meaningful sentences of English outside of an education curriculum, they fed my imagination, humor and curiosity, as well. I still remember the many…
Indie Publishing
How Indie Publishing Could Revolutionize Creative Expression But Often Doesn’t
It was Clay Shirky who said in a recent interview that publishing is no longer a job, it’s a button. In fact, I’m staring at one right now. It’s blue and it says “publish”. It’s simple. Shall I click it? No? But it would make me a world-class publisher, wouldn’t it? Some people will say yes,…
Lifestyle
The Role Of Reading In The Age Of Constant Digital Distraction
While some people still entertain themselves with the predictable mudfight of “ebook vs paper book”, I find another question far more interesting, namely the role of reading in the age of continuous partial attention. How do we read in the 21st century? What do we read? Or do we read, at all? As Seth Godin…
Indie Publishing
A Short Story About The Middle East
( tl;dr – wrote a short story, you can download it here) I’ve lived both in the Far and Middle East. Both experiences left strong memories, traces, impressions. And I noticed very early that if I wanted to convey any of my experiences to others in writing, an autobiographical account wouldn’t cut it. Short Fiction…
Hacks & Tutorials
How To Skype Better: 5 Tips For Professional and Daily Calls
Skype is not just a software. It’s a verb. As the Oxford Dictionary informs us, it can be used both with an object “When is a good time to Skype you?” and without as in “We skyped before we met in person.“ Skype is a word that is understood by grandmas and expat toddlers all over the world….
Hacks & Tutorials
Tons Of Kindle Screensaver Fun And Creative Wallpaper Resources
Some of us have learned to love the screensaver images Amazon ships with their Kindle reading devices. Others quietly suffer the rotating selection of dead poets and educational images of fishes and plants. And yet others simply ask: “What if I’d like to see something else?” Whether you want to see your favorite memes, cute…
Meet detectives Baumgartner & Momsen and learn German effortlessly with special emphasis on idioms and natural language crammed with humor and suspense.
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5 Quick Ways To Bring Languages To Life
Most of the fun of learning a language is the hope that you’ll one day be able to use it to communicate in another country. Having a goal in mind when learning makes the work seem more meaningful and more alive. If you’re looking for ways to help bring a language to life for your…
Hacks & Tutorials
SEO How To: Search Engine Optimization: 5 Simple Tips For Beginners
When I first heard the term SEO (Search Engine Optimization) I had very mixed feelings. Optimizing my site so it shows up better when people search for it? Sure. But so much of what I read online seemed so, well…esoteric. I have no other word to describe the feeling one gets when reading the blogs…
Hacks & Tutorials
Use Your Kindle To Learn A Foreign Language
Kindle devices and other e-readers are one of the most convenient and pleasant ways to consume digital text. Contrary to tablets, desktops and smartphones, the screens of e-readers like the Kindle enable you to read for hours without eye-strain, thanks to e-ink technology. While many people already use their e-reading device to devour the latest…
Hacks & Tutorials
Three Quick Ways To Turn WordPress Into An Awesome Website Builder
In my recent book “How To Blog: Build An Audience, Boost Your Traffic and Kick-Start Your Business Without Selling Your Soul” I talk a lot about why WordPress is one of the best solutions for running your own professional blog. But did you know that WordPress is not just a powerful system for blogs but…
Lifestyle
5 Reasons Why Books Aren’t Dying Out
Back in the days when I had to take several trains and buses just to get to my workplace, commuters leaning against subway doors with crumpled paper-back novels were a common sight. When I see people sitting in bus stations nowadays, they are mostly staring into their gadgets. The crumpled paperback novel is being replaced…
