I will not names in this post for two reasons. Its primarily due to the fact that I initiated an Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) on this particular project and secondarily, because I only mention products, brands and services I would actually use. This was back in the days when Robot in the Woods had a real mission: To publish robot art and fiction in a book form. I had hired 5 science fiction authors to write their interpretations of a robot in the woods (and why it is there in the first place). I sought to be a publisher, not a writer. I still have some faith in my build-a-book project, but incorporatization is required to legally sort out any royalties owed to the crowd of participant.

Anyway, while I was in this silly mode of hiring people off a trusted and popular freelance aggregation site, I decided to comission a market study. The actual name, as recorded in the employer message boards, was: “An Independent Assessment of the Y-YYYY Industry.” I wanted a 20-30 page pamphlet-like, science-y economic analysis as written by an expert.

So, Mexico-Man convinces me to take this project in another direction, rather than keeping the results to myself while making money on the project. This required significantly more work, time and money for marketing. I can comment on his marketing strategy without revealing details from the stupid NDA I signed. He basically told me he was going to collect lots of random emails and send out a bulk e-mail. Spam makes me queasy and paying for spam makes me queasier. This feels like a spam operation. Even if it does make me money; it seems illicit and wrong. However, it is money to support my Geography PhD school dreams, but the money is greasy with SPAM juice.

Here’s the thing. The product itself is not that bad. The artwork looks professional. And since this project as an authentic assessment of the industry, some of that information did make it into the product. The guy seems real and has me convinced that we can make a great deal of money off this project.

While all this is going on, he lured me out of the system and then costs keep piling up. And then makes me feel like crap when I try to clarify. Kind of like a used car salesman. Huffy and insulted, requiring appeasement from the customer. Finally, he gave me a cost estimate for the entire project, something I have been asking for since April. Yet, it seems strange that he has completed so many projects and doing this repeatedly, he would have a better sense for the costs of these projects.

Given our current contractual obligations, beyond the NDA, at a popular and trusted freelance site, three options are present:

1. Amend Project Plan to submit a counter on from Gmail, based on the actual contractual specifications in the project plan, xx% of the gross revenue for the actual amount specified, minus contribution for what has been paid $xxx. (I wrote the agreement and he did not contradict me at any point.)

2. See it through, keep track of it, research the guy, and toy with him if he shows signs of a crooked spammer.

3. Approach the popular and trusted freelance site for conflict resolution.

4. Trust the guy as he has a vested interest in maintaining his good standing with the popular and trusted freelance site.

Anyway, I hope to use the freelance site more. I had some hopes of making lots of money on the Internet, but I want to do it more like Seth Godin. Authentic. Real. Quality. These are not the qualities of this product and his only leverage at this point is to release it to embarrass me.

How do I free myself from this contract with the devil 1.0?

I eagerly await Disney’s newest animated feature called Wall-E , due for release on June 27. This is a tale of a maintenance robot left to fend for himself for 500 years after a mass human evacuation of Earth. And then the aliens come… what could possibly be more fun? Read more

Robot in the Woods specifically endorses the Chumby as an effective means of communication and distribution of user-generated and micropublished content. It can play your podcasts, internet radio stations, YouTube content, flickr streams, blog posts, and all as easy to use as an alarm clock. A wonderful design for a great content aggregator!!!

Robot in the Woods would like to publish its short Robot Fiction and other content using a Chumby widget (coming soon). So what does it look like? Go to their website and check out the product.

A few questions I would ask the makers:

1. How would I upload Robot in the Woods content onto the widgets?

2. Can it important the opml or xml files I generate from my current RSS aggregator?

3. How does it interact with the RSS feeds generated using Yahoo Pipes or other tailored search that generates niche content?

4. Does it interact with Facebook/Social Networking widgets? For example, can I play Scrabulous on my Chumby?

I was just checking out Animoto, a new web-service that edits your pictures into a video and synchs them to music. Fantastic service! Check out these two videos about robots.

Submit your best piece of robot fiction, poetry, essay or artwork for consideration for the first volume of the Robot in the Woods Build-A-Book project. After the success of Michael Ugulini’s “Day on the Windfarm” on the Amazon Kindle platform, this publishing model will pay royalties per page. After costs, the royalty share will be 0.2% per page or 1% for 5 pages. Note: Submission to this website does not secure a publication in the book.

This will be the basic breakdown of content in the book:

• 3 Novellas - 75 to 100 page
• 20-25 short fiction pieces (3-5 pages) 60-125 pages
• 10 pages of Robot Artwork
• 50 page of other writing including non-fiction and poetry

Submission Guidelines

• Deadline: November 14, 2008
• You may enter as many manuscripts as you like
• No previously published works will be considered
• Include an author/artist biography and statement of interests
• You will be notified via email if you are accepted into this volume

To Submit Your Story:

1. Register for an account
2. Login
3. Post Your Story
4. Note Your Category
5. E-Mail robotinthewoods@gmail.com if you have difficulties

Also, check out Cruising the Galaxie for some robot kits

Note: This is an advertised position not affiliated with Robot in the Woods

Description: RobotSnob

We’re looking for a robot obsessed freak who can carry Robot Snob into the 23rd century. Read more

Shop Talk

Kris Larson works as a journalist and music critic in San Francisco. She has a degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University, yet somehow has managed to remain out of the food service industry. This is her first robot fiction. You can visit her portfolio at http://krislarson.cementhorizon.com. Read more

Occasionally, a science fiction artist comes along who creates work that is both iconic and distinctive. For example, consider the work of Stanislaw Fernandes. Mr. Fernadandes use of color and chrome is simple, elegant and expertly crafted. Perhaps his most recognizable work is the cover art for Arthur C. Clarke’s “Childhood’s End.” Please take a look at his site for some fantastic pieces including: Read more

The folks over at Tips Tech have a story about robot wind fan named Daisy. Robot in the Woods recently published Michael Ugulini’s Days on the Wind about giant robot wind fans.