AquaMinds Weblog

NoteTaker and more recently, NoteShare enjoy a strong following among book authors, music artists and screen-writers. I think it's due in large part to the simple observation that the Mac itself is especially popular in the entertainment and creative businesses. From song writers to book authors to film and TV producer-writers, our software running on OS X has fueled many a creative effort.

Whether it's organizing web-based research or visiting a local library to gather information and then outline source notes; our information processing tools have enabled creative artists worldwide to express themselves while enhancing their project productivity. And it's only fitting that during a US election year, we have two examples of thought-provoking titles on bookstore shelves today that got their start as NoteTaker outlines and shared notes in NoteShare.

Gusher of Lies
For Robert Bryce, his topic is energy policy and our energy future; Gusher of Lies is clearly one of the summer's most important books for anyone and everyone interested in what can and should be done about America's energy future today. If you think you understand the politics of renewable energy and the global economics of oil, think again. Bryce's book couldn't have come at a more important time as energy has become one of the most important global issues of our time.

Flirting with Disaster
Marc Gerstein (with Michael Ellsberg) takes a new and an important in-depth look at the human dynamics of bystander behavior in the face of pending disasters and failed decision-making at the highest levels of our government agencies, corporate boardrooms and public institutions. The book's chapters are each an extensive study about a well-known disaster but surprisingly in each case, a different yet unique analysis of what went wrong and at times, counter to the popular press reporting of these tragic events.

Like Bryce's book, Flirting with Disaster offers an instructive perspective that resonates in an election year when voters are being asked to judge the decision-making potential of respective party candidates. And one might even ask; have they or their brain trusts read these books? Are they prepared to heed the advice of Gerstein and the Ellsbergs (including Daniel Ellsberg) that we have the capacity to make better decisions and not repeat our past mistakes.

Dive into a sci-fi classic with our free e-book for your iPhone (old or new)

In our family library, Jules Verne still fascinates and entertains all ages with his incredible tales. One of my all-time favorites is Twenty-Thousand Leagues under the Seas. Using our built-in "Web Notebook" feature (which is also iPhone-aware), we've created an e-book version of Verne's classic tale of a rogue mystery man and his incredible submarine that takes the reader on a fantastic journey of discovery through the depths of the oceans.