Cheerfully promoting the machinations of some newfangled mag I'm associated with

From: [email protected]

Subject: Makers: Amazing People/Amazing Inventions–O'Reilly's Latest Release

Date: December 1, 2005 12:33:40 PM PST

To: [email protected]

For Immediate Release

For a review copy, an interview with author Bob Parks,

or the "Makers," contact:

Theresa Pulido Mark Ballard

(707) 827-7118 212.255.8455 ext. 25

[email protected] [email protected]

Makers: Amazing People/Amazing Inventions

Flamethrowers, Monowheels, Voice-Activated Blenders, New Robots,

and much, much more!

Sebastopol, CA–Mixing the tool-shed mentality of yesteryear with the products, gadgets and technologies of today–a new breed of inventor has emerged for the 21st century. In "Makers" (O'Reilly, $24.95 US), author Bob Parks profiles some of the world's most colorful Do-It-Yourselfers and more than seventy-five of their outrageously wacky projects, including:

-The bacon-cooking alarm clock: Matty Sallin missed his childhood memory of waking up to the smell of bacon in his family's Idaho cabin. His Homer Simpson-esque solution: an alarm clock that actually cooks bacon!

-Much more than thin mints: Meet the three 16-year-old girl scouts who decided on a whim to build an 8-inch Dobson telescope from scratch...and succeeded!

-From Wall Street to Burning Man: Proving that Do-It-Yourselfers aren't limited to garages, basements and Star Trek conventions, this investment banker is also an innovator of electric clothing, like his shirt with thirty-eight working fans!

-The "wheel" deal: "You feel like you're floating," explains Kerry McLean when discussing his eclectic monowheels, a rare form of transportation where you ride inside of a motorized wheel.

Hitting bookshelves in December 2005, "Makers" follows the hugely

successful launch of MAKE magazine, launched in February 2005 by O'Reilly Media as the first magazine devoted to Do-It-Yourself technology projects.

"While MAKE provides the instruction for actual projects, 'Makers' shows the inspiration of actual inventors," explained Parks. Known for exploring the personalities behind the latest technologies, Parks'

articles have appeared in Wired, Outside, Business 2.0 and MAKE. He is a frequent guest on National Public Radio and has appeared on television, discussing technology alongside Regis Philbin and Russ Mitchell.

Additional Resources:

For more information about the book, including table of contents, index,

author bios, and samples, see:

http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/makers/

Makers

Bob Parks

ISBN: 0-596-10188-0,184 pages, hardcover, $24.95 US, $34.95 CA

[email protected]

1-800-998-9938

1-707-827-7000

http://www.oreilly.com

1005 Gravenstein Highway North

Sebastopol, CA 95472

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