Espresso machines that print books?!

Anyway back to the subject of today's blog! I've been following people's thoughts on the new Espresso Book Machine that can print books while you wait. The first one has been installed in Blackwell's Charing Cross Road branch, London and can pump out up to 500,000 titles of your choice. Word is it will be popular for printing off anything from copies of rare books to self-published titles. The clever part is that it also binds the pages together with a jacket. The quality is apparantly very good although I have heard of some teething troubles. The machine if successful will be put into other Blackwell's including campus shops. I remember the thrill of having my disertation printed and bound imagine if you could use this machine to print off your own book. Some would-be writers are already talking about how handy it would be to print off first drafts and if the price was right I think I'd be tempted it can be hard work flicking through A4 pages, I think that's why some (mainly U.S) agents now like to read submissions on their Sony Readers.
I, of course, am still on my first draft of Khmers and have again been rethinking the beginning, I've changed the opening so that it is Joe, my boy character and not his mum that begins the adventure - much better. I have also decided not to emphasise the Churning of the Milk legend, I've been a bit uncomfortable using a religious belief and it has been restricting, so I'm going to keep the amrita but me more general, I've decided there will be different traps to go through before the elixir can be reached too - I'm thinking more Indiana Jones.
I had a great time at Edinburgh Zoo and got to feed the lorikeets nectar at Rainbow Landings which was brilliant. I was really surprised how soft and warm their little feet felt on my hand though, I wonder if that's what a parrots are like too - I might have to double check for Dr Midas and the Khmers. I loved the penguin parade too - they looked like they loved it and it all began when one escaped in the 1950s - a great story there! I also got to see the aye-aye at Edinburgh, he was really active and was enjoying having a drink. Now I've only got to see the ones at London Zoo!! I even got to see the paws of a wolverine after failing to see them at Stockholm, they're still on my list to see properly!
oh and don't forget you can follow me on twitter @drmidaswriter