N.V. Binder's Blog

How Republicans can win without sacrificing their principles In the aftermath of the election, I can’t say I’m surprised how quickly Beltway Republicans have decided they need to join Democrats on major issues like immigration, gay marriage and foreign policy. I can’t say I’m surprised, either, that Tea Party and evangelical conservatives have tied themselves ... Read more ...

When I was a teenager, I became concerned about the state of the world in general, and specifically, the fossil fuel part of it. The source of my concern was an article I had read about “Peak Oil.”  Simplified, the idea is that within the next few years, finding and extracting oil will become so ... Read more ...

Curious about what’s going on with Redshift? I’m hard at work on my next “episode,” called “Deal of the Century.” In Y40, Mitchell faces a dangerous situation during his interrogation by the Regular Army, and begins to understand the trap that’s been set for him. Meanwhile, back in Y38, Frankie Fish is planning some payback ... Read more ...

As both a librarian and an editor, one of the things I enjoy most is working with writers at the beginning of their writing and publishing careers. One of the big challenges editors face is to be honest with new writers while affirming and supporting their ambitions. I’ve always believed that anyone who wants to ... Read more ...

In my other life I work as a librarian at Jefferson County Public Library, a small library serving a financially constrained rural community in North Florida. We are one of the only sources of affordable books and Internet access in the neighborhood, and our role expands during the summer, when the local kids are out ... Read more ...

Dear Bank of America, If you’re reading this, you probably already know that I’m gone. Please don’t be upset. I had to do what was best for me. For both of us. The truth is, things probably would have gotten a lot worse if I had stayed, and I don’t think either of us would ... Read more ...

This review of Sherlock was originally posted on my Tumblr in 2010. In their 21st century reboot of Sherlock Holmes, the BBC updates a lot of things. John Watson becomes a blogger suffering from PTSD; Sherlock Holmes becomes a slightly autistic genius obsessed with text messaging and technical games; the fog and the gaslights are ... Read more ...

Is Facebook worth 100 billion dollars? As the company’s IPO approaches, the social media company has gotten more and more scrutiny, and a lot of people are saying “no.” It doesn’t make a hundred billion in revenue. Its click-through rate (a critical measure of advertising effectiveness) is lower than average–so much lower that General Motors ... Read more ...

Is Facebook worth 100 billion dollars? As the company’s IPO approaches, the social media company has gotten more and more scrutiny, and a lot of people are saying “no.” It doesn’t make a hundred billion in revenue. Its click-through rate (a critical measure of advertising effectiveness) is lower than average–so much lower that General Motors ... Read more ...

Note: This blog includes light spoilers for the Sherlock episode “The Hounds of Baskerville” (Series 2, Episode 2). If you prefer to watch the episode first, it’s available for free from PBS. Click here. If you’re not watching Sherlock, the BBC’s updated interpretation of the Sherlock Holmes stories, you’re missing some terrific television. Benedict Cumberbatch ... Read more ...