Matt Severnson has assembled a team of hard-working, quasi-geek individuals to build a revolutionary website for a northern Michigan city. The system becomes a big hit despite the group members' idiosyncratic traits. Fast food addiction, incessant sexual tension and heated bingo competition constantly distract the team. While the opportunity arises to build the first nationwide, government-sponsored high-speed Internet portal, the issue comes second to Matt's relationship with Katy, the team's co-leader. They cannot hate each other enough to halt their steamy romance, but they can't love each other enough to share anything but a fish dinner.

The Developers mixes the insane and obscene with technology, romance and pop culture. But while the book's web development group tries to make its mark on the virtual world, it encounters pre-eminent issues that will soon be shaping the Internet of the future: Are individuals losing their remaining privacy due to the World Wide Web? Will online social interaction eventually replace in-person gatherings as a necessary means?

Latest News

National Spumoni Day contest, with an actual prize!

August 21, 2010 - August 21 is National Spumoni Day. Did you know that? I seriously doubt it. But who cares? It's an entire day to celebrate Spumoni! If you don't know what Spumoni is, check out the Wikipedia page. Better yet, let me explain why you should care about Spumoni in the first place. Today marks the grand opening of sorts for Spumoni Press, a book publishing/web development/technology company in Baltimore. Right now, it's a couple of guys who share the same ideas about books, websites and, most importantly, ice cream. OK, true, one of the guys is lactose intolerant, but deep down, he loves ice cream, I'm certain. Anyway, back to the important stuff. We're having a contest here. The winner receives a $50 Discover gift card. Entering this contest is about as simple as turning on your computer.



Facebook privacy concerns? Well, it could be worse …

June 01, 2010 - By now, I'm sure that everyone and his or her dog (assuming said dog is on DogBook) has heard the hubbub relating to new Facebook privacy policies. I have to be honest: I haven't read every single story about it, primarily because I don't intentionally publish stuff online that should be private. In general, people rarely read terms and conditions before signing up for something online, but hopefully now, people will check out Facebook's privacy terms and decide whether or not they want to keep their account.

  But what if Facebook, or another entity that allowed you to share info with friends, family and strangers, wasn't so helpful and didn't allow you to opt-out of things you don't want?



March Madness = "The Developers" on the Kindle sale!

March 11, 2010 - For no reason whatsoever, I've decided to over "The Developers" for a buck on the Kindle this month. I tried to offer it free, but the lowest I could go was a dollar. Anyway, if you have a Kindle, check it out!

Locations

If you have been to this page before, you probably know that I used to have a list of bookstores where you could purchase The Developers. Unfortunately, that is no longer possible because I have no clue what stores are carrying the book now.

The bad news is that if you ask me about a specific store, I really don't have a clue. The good news is that there's a chance the book is available near you. You can enter most chain book stores, ask for The Developers and at the very least, they'll be able to find it in their online inventory.

But if not, have no fear! You can also purchase from Amazon.com.

There is a catch, however, with Amazon.com, as you can purchase books from would-be reviewers who are basically gobbling up advance copies to sell online. I don't make a cent from these purchases, so if you do buy my book, or any other, from Amazon, I would recommend purchasing from a reputable seller ... like Amazon. Even if it's a couple of dollars more, most authors would prefer you buy from them and share it with 10 other people than buy from someone who conned them out of a book in the first place.

About the author

Ben Woods is a technology and humor columnist who is published on various websites, including WHAS-11 in Louisville, and ihigh.com, a high school web portal. He worked in the newspaper business for eight years and has been published in a variety of printed publications.

A Purdue University graduate with a Communication degree, journalism concentration, and English minor, Woods currently is a software engineer for AOL/Platform-A in Baltimore. With experience both as a writer and a computer programmer, Woods can relate highly technological ideas to the masses with ease and in a satirical way.