The Weekly Update: 7/24/16 + Kristen’s Theory of Electronics

 
 

Alright, guys, I’m going on a bit of a tangent today because I didn’t want to make a whole post just for this considering it’s not even remotely related to books and have instead decided to just include it in this post. So…

I have a new theory about electronics.

It seems like the worse I treat my electronics, the longer they last, so my theory is that you have to toughen them up when they’re young, or they turn soft on you and break down at the first sign of distress.

“What the hell are you even talking about, Kristen?”

Ok, you all know my laptop broke recently, right? Well, I treated that thing like a fragile, little newborn. I didn’t drop it, didn’t bump it, didn’t spill on it, didn’t get so much as a crumb on it. It literally never even left my apartment once I got it. Yet it broke in less than a year. And the laptop I’m using currently I had similar luck with—it never left my house, yet I had it only a short time before it started having problems (though it still runs at least). Not to mention I had to replace my kindle once (luckily I had a warranty) because it just up and broke, and that too never left my home.

But then, the other day, I decided to finally go through this old drawer full of electronics-related stuff. Long story short, a bottle of soda once exploded in my bedroom at my parents’ house—

Soda Bottle ExplosionSee? Not even kidding.

—and the drawer was open, so soda got inside it all over everything (and my desk and bed and like 4 feet up the walls, but that’s not really the point), so everything in the drawer got all sticky. Anyway, I finally went through it the other day to throw the ruined things out, and lo and behold, MY 10-YEAR-OLD IPOD STILL WORKS. I used to bring that iPod with me everywhere, including gym. It has been left in the heat, left in the cold, tossed around, covered in both chalk and sweat, probably spilled on or something at some point, who even knows, covered in congealed soda from the explosion, wiped down with a wet paper towel to clean it, and it’s 10 years old, but it still freaking works.

And don’t even get me started about the Nokia phone I once had. That thing fell out of my pocket on a ride once—this ride:

_

Those are cages that you sit it that spin around, and my phone flew all around the cage, banged against the metal grating like twenty times, but was totally fine. It also got buried in the sand at the beach once—literally, like, we had to dig to find it.

The old digital camera I have was also often brought to gym with me, left in the heat (there was no AC, even in the summer) and covered in chalk all the time, yet it would probably still work if I could find a charger.

But the electronics I treat with the utmost respect and care just up and break -_-

Now please excuse me while I go throw my computer monitor down the stairs.

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Blog/Bookish Updates:

I have a PSA to make! EVERYONE SHOULD SIGN UP FOR HOOPLA. I don’t know if you can sign up without a library card, but if you do have a library card, that’s all you need. At least in the US. And they have sooooo many ebooks and graphic novels! I mean, I even got to read Saga Vol. 6 just a couple weeks after it came out. Obviously it depends on the publisher/author, but they carry so many more books than the types of sites that are based on your local library.

The second part to this PSA is that Dreamspinner Press and their imprints, DSP Publications and Harmony Ink, have A TON of their books available. Which means NOW YOU ALL HAVE NO EXCUSE NOT TO READ WITHERED + SERE BY TJ KLUNE (yes, I am shamelessly linking to my review). The sequel to which I will actually be incoherently raving about reviewing this week. And I noticed Withered + Sere is also on Netgalley right now. So that’s double no excuse. I mean, ok, if it’s not your kind of book, I guess that’s an excuse. But whatever. Minor details.

Books I Received for Review:

The Hypnotic City by Andrea Berthot | reading, books
Captive by Jex Lane | reading, books
Unhinged by Chani Lynn Feener | reading, books
Animal Instinct by Stephen Osborne | reading, books
The Scarlet Tide by Stephen Osborne | reading, books
Dead End by Stephen Osborne | reading, books
Under a Blood-Red Moon by Stephen Osborne | reading, books
 

Captive is being offered here. And Unhinged is being offered here in the Lovers of Paranormal GR group. Look at me, helping you all find ARCs. Of course it’s not for selfish reasons like wanting everyone to read the same books as me so that I have people to discuss them with…

Books I Finished:

The Fray Theory: Resonance by Nelou Keramati | reading, books
Captive by Jex Lane | reading, books
Pale as a Ghost by Stephen Osborne | reading, books
 

The Frey Theory was one of those books that had all rave reviews but didn’t work for me :-/ I don’t understand why that keeps happening. Captive was basically lots of sex and violence, but that’s not an issue for me, so it was great. Pale as a Ghost was a book I’d been dying to read for a while but was saving until I got through enough review copies because I could just tell I would like it (I did) and want to binge read through the whole series, and I didn’t want to ruin the enjoyment by feeling stressed. Technically this whole series is also review copies, but they’re backlisted, so no stress there.

Song of the Week:

I’ve been listening to like the same three songs for the past month lol, so I got nothin’.

In Case You Missed It:

– I shared book covers featuring apples.
– I reviewed Whereafter by Terri Bruce, the third in a series with complex characters and a unique take on the afterlife.
– I discussed why I prefer narrow scope over broad scope in books and asked your preference.
– I reviewed Teeth: The First Bite by Chele Cooke, a M/M book with vampires who were the perfect combo of sexy and predatory.
– I reviewed The Unquiet Dead by Chris Dubecki, an urban fantasy about a necromancer with super relatable characters.

The Sunday Post Link-Up:

Once again, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer 🙂

 
 
 
 

Talk to me!

Did you find any good books or music last week?
Do your electronics also seem to work better the worse you treat them?
Do you use Hoopla or any other site to borrow ebooks?

 
 
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Your Thoughts

 

50 thoughts on “The Weekly Update: 7/24/16 + Kristen’s Theory of Electronics

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  1. Maureen's Books (@MaureenHinten)

    Whahaha.. Well, you’ve got a good theory. Toughen up those electronics. LOL!! 😀
    Love your new books. I’ve never heard about Stephen Osborne before. But those books look and sound like good reads!
    Have a great week and Happy Reading! 😉

    1. Kristen Burns

      Lol seriously, I think I do just need to start treating all my electronics like crap because apparently that’s what works.

      I’m on the second Stephen Osborne book now, and I’m really liking them! Fairly easy reading, but good! You have a great week too 🙂

  2. Greg

    Lol I don’t know what it is but iPod’s (at least in my experience) do seem to be able to take some abuse. Good thing too… I’m always dropping stuff or banging it up against something,, same w/ my phone. Altough yours seems more durable than most?? Kinda funny about the soda…

    I’ve heard of Hoopla but never checked it out. And I do have trouble finding GN’s at my library so I haven’t been reading as many… and never done Comixology either. So maybe I’ll take a look…

    Captive looks good, I like that cover.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Maybe iPods are just exceptionally sturdy then, but I swear all the electronics I’ve treated like crap are the ones that still work for years and years and years whereas the ones I treat well break like nothing. And oh my goodness, the soda thing happened when I was living there still, and of course it was in the middle of the night that I was woken by this random explosion and soda literally sprayed all the way up the walls and everything lol.

      You should definitely check out Hoopla! They have tons of graphic novels. I think you have to pay for Comixology, right? Hoopla is free with a library card 🙂

  3. Annemieke

    Ipods are freaking sturdy though. I drop mine at least once a day but never once a crack in the screen which is not what you hear with Iphones. Oh Captive has a captivating cover, haha

    1. Kristen Burns

      Maybe iPods are just exceptionally sturdy, but it’s still all the electronics I treat horribly are the ones that last forever, and the ones I treat perfectly just up and break, so I’m sticking to my theory lol 😛

  4. kimbacaffeinate

    Bwahaha….I love your theory. I find this holds true with sunglasses. If you buy an expensive pair they will break, get scratched or lost. If you buy a cheap pair..you cannot lose those suckers!

    Enjoy your haul and good luck with those pesky electronics!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Lol I’m glad someone likes it. I swear it’s so true for me. I don’t wear sunglasses, but that’s always how it is, right? The cheap things last forever, the expensive things get ruined right away!

      Thanks!

  5. Christy LoveOfBooks

    lol! Your theory. I think things were just more durable years ago. My stuff always lasts forever, but my brother … it’s really weird what bad luck he has with electronics. He could just look at something and it’ll mess up or break. Huh – I’ll have to see what that Hoopla thing is. Have a great week! Don’t beat on too many electronics. 😀

    1. Kristen Burns

      Yeah, maybe things did just used to be more durable and that’s why all my old electronics still work perfectly but my new stuff up and breaks. Or maybe I’m just like your brother because I also seem to have terrible luck with electronics lol. You should definitely check out Hoopla! Thanks, but I can’t promise not to beat on too many electronics, I gotta start toughening them up 😉

  6. Becky @ A Fool's Ingenuity

    I am completely with you on your electronics philosophy. I think you’ve got to treat them badly to keep them going. My poor laptop which has never left the house is beginning it’s descent into not working and my phone which I always treated well up and died for no apparent reason. I think my electronics need to be treated worse so they’ll work harder to keep going.

  7. Mareli Thalwitzer

    I’m convinced you can build a house with old nokia phones LOL. My track record with electronics are really bad, maybe because I don’t particularly like electronics – thinks they feel the negative vibes! I’ve mentioned your Broad Scope post in my Sunday Post today! Have a look. But I’m in a shitty mood, so I’ll chat again tomorrow! Happy Sunday!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Seriously, why don’t they make everything the way they made old Nokia phones??? Everything would be indestructible! Hahaha maybe they are feeling the negative vibes from you. Thanks for mentioning my post on your blog, and feel better about whatever’s bothering you! Happy Sunday 🙂

  8. sjhigbee

    I think it’s more than when technology is newer, it tends to be more over-engineered and once things have been around for a while and the manufacturers learn their precise breaking point – they make subsequent models to die more quickly, forcing you to replace it faster. The joys of consumerism. It’s actually a wicked waste of resources, in my opinion… not to mention unfair to the hapless consumer… I like your book haul – Captive in particular looks intriguing. Have a great week, Kristen:)

    1. Kristen Burns

      That’s a good point, but I’ve never been one to get the newest electronics as soon as they came out. I’ve always been late to the game, even with the electronics that still work. But I have heard that manufacturers purposely design their products to die after a certain amount of time so that you have to buy new ones, which is definitely a waste and unfair. And realistically, if my product dies in a year, I just get angry and replace it with a *different* brand since clearly the first one doesn’t last. So that doesn’t build any brand loyalty. You have a great week too!

  9. tonyalee

    I will second this theory. It seems like the more I throw, drop or spill things, the longer my things last! LOL

    Your books are new to me this week – so I will be checking those out! Have a great week!

  10. Bea @Bea's Book Nook

    Sorry, I’m confused. What is Hoopla?

    And as for throwing your monitor down the stairs….well, worth a try I guess. I try to take reasonably good care of my electronics but I don’t baby them. I’ve dropped my Kindle more times than I care to think about *shudder* Interesting theory.

    happy reading and have a good week!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Hoopla is a website where you can borrow ebooks, graphic novels, audiobooks, etc. 🙂

      Haha, I don’t think I could ever actually bring myself to purposely mistreat my electronics, but I swear the ones I treat the worst really are the ones that last.

      You have a great week too!

  11. Lola

    I can’t treat my electronics badly, I am too afraid I ruin it. I am careful with everything. Although i do take my kobo and ipad with me sometimes, they both have covering and if there’s a chance of rain I take a plastic bag with me to put around it in case the water goes through my bag. That’s how my Kobo survived uni. It does sound like your theory fits with your 10 year old ipod that works and your new laptops with which you were careful both broke.

    Also how does a bottle of soda explodes? That’s just creepy.

    And those old Nokia phones are the best, they could literally survive anything. My current phone is a Nokia as well, although a newer model, it looks less sturdy, but it’s a good one so far. My previous Nokia of the same model died in the washing machine, so I guess they don’t survive that.

    One of the things I sometimes miss is people to actually talk about the same books about. I like finding new books and reading reviews for books I haven’t read, but it always seems like everyone is reading books that i am not reading and the other way around.

    I hope you’ll enjoy your new arc’s! And yes we definitely had a big difference in the amount of new arc’s we got this week. But I am happy with my only one book this week, if I get much more I never have a chance of making a dent in my review pile that’s larger than 100 books at the moment :(.

    I am looking forward to your review of Pale as a Ghost, it looks interesting. Too bad the Fray theory didn’t quite work for you, it’s always sad when everyone seems to love a book and it doesn’t work for you. I hope you’ll have a great week!

    1. Kristen Burns

      I don’t think I could ever bring myself to purposely mistreat my electronics, but I swear the ones I treat the worst are the ones that last, and the ones I’m careful with are the ones that up and break.

      I DON’T KNOW HOW A BOTTLE OF SODA JUST EXPLODES. It was unopened, and apparently, somehow, the pressure just built up inside of it until it literally exploded and sprayed soda all over the entire room -_- And of course it happened in the middle of the night lol. I’ll never forget that because it was so weird.

      Man, I loved that Nokia phone. I swear I dropped it at least once a day, but I never even worried about since, after that ride incident, I knew it would be fine lol. But damn, I guess you found their one weakness, haha. Taken down by a washing machine!

      Yeah, you and me both tend to read a lot of lesser known books, and the one drawback to that is that we don’t often have people to actually discuss them with :-/

      Thanks! Yeah, I ended up with a lot this week, but I don’t feel like I went overboard since the 4 bottom ones are all from a series that I’m enjoying and are fairly quick reads (I’m on Book 3 now), one of them I already read as soon as I got it and really liked, one of them is the second in a series about different characters but I gave the first book 5 stars, and the other is a Hades and Persephone retelling, something I’ve actually been looking for. So none of them were just random impulse things. And I still only have 15 unread review copies, so I’m doing ok. 100+ just sounds really stressful.

      Pale as a Ghost could possibly be something you’d like since it wasn’t dark. Might be a while before that actually gets posted though. Thanks, and you have a great week too!

  12. Got My Book

    I think with the electronics it may just be “they don’t make them like they used to.” I have an old Creative Zen from like 15 years ago that still works despite being fully immersed in water and then dried out with the rice & low heat oven method. I don’t really use it anymore, since it no longer has enough storage and the battery is getting to old to keep a charge, but it still works fine.

    I love Hoopla for audiobooks. They have had several in the past that Overdrive didn’t have.

    1. Kristen Burns

      I agree, I think that’s part of it. Nowadays it’s like every piece of electronics is like a mini computer and is so intricate and does so much that they’re just more fragile. But damn, that Creative Zen is one tough piece of electronics, haha.

      Hoopla is great! I also use Overdrive, but Hoopla does seem to have more.

  13. Samantha

    I don’t use Hoopla but I use Overdrive for my audiobooks and I am in love! Its awesome to be able to get everything from the library instead of having to purchase it all! Enjoy all of your books!

    1. Kristen Burns

      I use Overdrive too, but Hoopla has a different selection, and Hoopla has lots of graphic novels, which I like since I don’t really feel like I need to own those and would rather borrow them. Thanks, same to you!

  14. Laura Thomas

    I actually laughed out loud. The same thing happens to me. I treat something like it’s so fragile and it up and breaks. I can drown something, drop it, or leave it in the heat and it keeps on ticking. Go figure. I’m wondering if it’s because things were just better made before. My Toshiba laptop is over six years old and still ticking while my sons computer died in a year. My newer cell phone lasted about a year while my flip phone still works. Oh well.
    Lots of nice books this week. I actually broke down and accepted some ARCs. I knew better, but couldn’t help myself. Have a lovely Sunday:)

    My Sunday Post

    1. Kristen Burns

      I’m glad someone finds me entertaining, haha. It’s so true though! I feel like electronics probably were just made sturdier before, but who knows. Except my current broken computer that broke in less than a year and is now useless was a Toshiba, so I’m never trusting that company again.

      Yeah, ARCs are hard to resist lol. I was actually doing well though getting through review copies, so I figured adding a few more to the list wouldn’t hurt this week 🙂 You have a great Sunday too!

  15. Deborah

    I had to laugh at your technology theory. I have a similar one re phones and sunglasses. I buy expensive ones and I lose or break them almost immediately. But…. I buy ugly cheap ones and they bloody last FOREVER!!!

    I had some sunglasses I got free with a DVD and they lasted me years. (Thankfully they weren’t too ugly!)

    1. Kristen Burns

      I’m glad I was able to entertain a few people lol. That’s funny, you’re the second person to mention cheap/expensive sunglasses. Apparently that’s another weird phenomenon, but I’ve never been a sunglass-wearer, so I had no idea 😛

    1. Kristen Burns

      Haha I don’t think I’ll actually be testing my electronics theory either, but I swear that’s always how it happens for me. You have a great week too!

  16. Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

    You made me laugh with your story about the electronics – I hope your monitor recovered from its trip down the stairs! 😉

    I definitely agree with you about Hoopla and I am now off to read your review of Withered and Sere since you love it so much!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Thanks lol, and yeah, I’ve totally got the monitor toughened up now. It was complaining about a fractured screen or something, but I told it to walk it off 😉 Thanks for checking out my review!

  17. Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

    I have another theory on electronics, Kristen. I think that newer electronics are only made to last for a year or two, to make us consume more, and spend our money, and make the capitalist world go ’round… I have a really old iPod that works really well, too. And I have newer electronics that break within days of the warranty not being valid anymore. It’s a conspiracy, I tell you!! Don’t even get me started on those old Nokia phones. They are unbreakable. I had mine fall into the toilet once, and once I got it dried it worked like a charm.
    You have some great new books on your shelf, I hope you’ll enjoy them all.
    Have a wonderful week and happy reading.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Yeah, I think it might be what you said about they just don’t make electronics to last anymore. But hahaha love the Nokia story. I feel like everyone who’s ever had a Nokia has at least one crazy story about something that it survived. Thanks, you have a wonderful week too!

  18. Michelle @ FaerieFits

    Hahahaha! I like your theory. Man, those Nokia phones could survive anything. One of my best friends in high school had one — every phone before that would be destroyed basically upon arrival, but that Nokia? Lasted her through YEARS of abuse (like going swimming with it Lake Superior; dropping AND running over it while bicycling; etc). I do think, though, that a lot of the newer stuff is just generally more delicate. Which is stupid because you just KNOW technology has gotten better and that things should be LESS fragile. Ugh. I actually reverted back to a desktop computer instead of a laptop because I kept getting fussy laptops after only a couple months of use. It’s moderately less convenient, but at least it’s still functioning properly after a year or so of use!

    Hope you enjoy the new books — they look fun!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Lol thanks, if nothing else, my electronics woes at least make some good blog material, haha. But seriously, those Nokias were indestructible. *Every* electronic should be make like that! You could probably run them over with a truck, and they’d still work. But I agree, I think the new stuff is more fragile. I too am going back to a desktop next time I buy a computer. After all the laptop trouble I’ve had, I’m so over them.

      Thanks!

  19. Literary Feline

    Haha! It does seem to work that way, doesn’t it? I’m hard on my cell phones and my last one went through a lot of crap. My husband’s on the other hand, not so much. He had to replace his a couple times during a two year period before we traded both of ours in. So, your theory is sound to me.

    Thank you for the heads up about HOOPLA. I had never heard of it before. I rarely borrow books since I have so many of my own already to read. I’ve always been more of a book buyer–and then the books sit on my shelf forever waiting their turn. I have cut way back on book spending in the past five years, with the idea I can borrow and not buy, therefore saving money I need elsewhere, but it hasn’t worked out yet.

    I hope you have a great week, Kristen!

    1. Kristen Burns

      So it’s not just me! It really does always seem to work that way.

      Lol well if you ever do get around to borrowing instead of buying, definitely keep Hoopla in mind! But I know what you mean. I actually don’t use it as often as my post makes it sound because I get sidetracked by the books I own, but they do have some great books on there that I want to read and have been meaning to get to.

      You have a great week too!

  20. Angela @ Simply Angela

    HOOPLA is great! So many good titles on there and they have audiobooks. The library I used to work at even recommends it.

    I totally know what you’re talking about but mine would be appliances. I went appliance shopping with a friend of mine (who has three rough and tumble boys) and we both ended up buying the same fridge. I babied mine. It didn’t have a scratch on it, it was all bright and shiny. I cleaned that sucker from top to bottom every week and it died in three months after I bought it. My friend’s is scratched, dented, banged up, often used to bounce soccer balls off of and it’s still working, after having it for six years.

    1. Kristen Burns

      I only borrow the ebooks and graphic novels, but they have so much on there, right?! If I ever decide to give ebooks a go again, I’d used Hoopla.

      So apparently my theory applies to appliances too, haha. That sucks about your fridge though. Appliances are expensive, AND they’re a pain to haul in and out.

  21. Barb (boxermommyreads)

    I love your theory of electronics and I have to say, I think you have a point. I’m desperately trying to not have to get a new Kindle (at least until Christmas when I can hit hubs up for one) because mine is acting like it’s possessed. Which in my world would be ok as long as I could count on it to have a mind of its own PLUS do what I want – like access my ARCS without making me scream and swear. I though my husband killed his phone over the weekend by leaving it in his gym bag with a frozen (and thus melting) bottle of cranberry juice but luckily I’ve worked on it enough I was able to jolt some life back into it.

  22. Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Books

    Good theory!! Sorry about your laptop… I had old phones that I treated like crap that never ever even thought about breaking, but my new iPhone hit the ground once (not even hard) and shattered. Why hasn’t Apple come up with a better way yet???????? Glass on cell phones = broken glass!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Lol thank you! And thanks, yeah, the laptop situation has just been a mess. Sorry about your iphone! Ugh, these stupid new electronics! As other people have mentioned, I think they’re doing it on purpose to make us all spend more money -_-

  23. S. J. Pajonas

    I think the true moral of this post is, “They don’t make ’em like they used to!” My iPod, also about 12 years old at this point, is still kicking and working like a champ. Ah, it was like a brick. Could not be damaged.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Yeah, that’s probably a big part of it. It does seem like they used to make electronics sturdier. Apparently we all should’ve stocked up on old electronics while we had the chance, haha.

  24. Natalie

    Lol I like the theory. My old MP3 player still works too, even though I don’t use it any more but I can’t get rid of it because it’s surviving so well hehe!

    1. Kristen Burns

      Lol thanks! I just started using mine again because hey, why not? It still works lol. Except I no longer have itunes, so I can’t update it. I’m stuck with all the songs and playlists it currently has lol.