Volume 6  Number 11                            Dennis R. Dinger                                1 September 2008

Last Issue for a While

Indefinite Leave of Absence

This is my last issue for a while -- I'm taking an indefinite leave of absence from the writing of this e-zine.  In July 2008, I was diagnosed with a monoclonal blood cancer.  As I write this, I am preparing for my third round of chemotherapy and for a bone marrow transplant.  The doctor has declared me permanently disabled.  If and when I get past the cancer, we will see how accurate his declaration of 'permanently' will be.  I know that physically, the cancer has caused major deterioration to parts of my body which will probably require lots of physical therapy to get back to where I was only six months ago.

As I am feeling up to it, I can talk on the phone and answer e-mails -- but traveling for consulting purposes will not be possible for quite some time.  If you have any questions and want to e-mail me -- feel free to do so.  E-mailed questions will keep me in touch with the industry while I am recouperating..

E-zine Distribution List and DingerCeramics Web Site

The distribution list for this e-zine will remain active so if anything needs to be distributed, I can send it.  The DingerCeramics web site will remain up and running.  All books are available for sale at the web site and all e-zines are available on the publications page at the web site.  So if someone new wants to see some old e-zines, or buy some books, they are all there and available.

Spanish Version of Rheology for Ceramists

I am continuing to work on the Spanish language version of the Rheology book.  I am behind in my work on the book, but I will continue to work on the translation and make it available as soon as possible.

Many Thanks for Your Support

Thank you all for your interest in this e-zine.  I hope to continue it some day, but right now, I have no idea how this is all going to work out.  The doctors are moving me along at a fast pace and things are going a lot faster than I would have imagined.  But I really don't know how this all will play out -- so I need to wait and see.  Same thing goes for the e-zine.  I will wait and see how everything goes to decide if and when I can continue the e-zine.  

I appreciate your interest in my articles, this e-zine, and the books and downloads available at the web site.  Thank you all very much.

Updates

"... for Ceramists" Series Books

          English Language Books

The paperback version of Characterization Techniques for Ceramists is available on the Books and Downloads page at the web site!    Retail price is $29.95 plus shipping and handling. The book has 256 pages and it covers 34 different characterization techniques that are commonly used by ceramists.  Purchase a copy NOW!

The book sets on the web site have also been revised to include this new book.  A 3-book set of paperbacks, including one each of Particle Calculations for Ceramists, Rheology for Ceramists, and Characterization Techniques for Ceramists, is now available for $64.85 plus shipping and handling.  This is a $10 saving off the total retail price of the 3 paperback books.  A 3-book set of downloads is also available for $52.85.  This, too, represents a $10 saving off the total retail price of the 3 downloadable books.  

The E-Book version of Characterization Techniques for Ceramists is available for downloading at the Books and Downloads page of the website for $24.95.  The download is a 2.889 Mb self-extracting Zip® file for the Windows® environment which unzips to the 2.998 Mb book in PDF file format.  Those of you who order the downloadable book will want to know that the PDF book is formatted to print on 5.5" X 8.5" paper (i.e., 8.5" X 11" sheets cut in half.)

The other two books, Rheology for Ceramists and Particle Calculations for Ceramists, continue to be available for purchase as downloadable E-books and as paperback books at the Books and Downloads page of the web site.

          Requests for Multiple Copies

I have had several recent inquiries about the purchase of multiple copies of these books.  Here are my two suggestions:  

          (1)  If you purchase downloadable versions, purchase the required number of copies (please be honest about the number) from the Books and Downloads page of this website.  Then download a single copy and distribute it (or print it and distribute it) to the people for whom you purchased the copies. ... or ... 

          (2) Purchase the required number of paperback copies from the Books and Downloads page of this websiteand distribute them to your people.  My books are priced $19.95, $24.95, and $29.95 with this in mind.  You won't find many other good ceramics books in this price range.  Most others start at $80 to $100 each and prices rise from there.  For example, our PPC book (when it was available) was $195 per copy.  (I had no input when that price was set.  During one phone conversation, after they made sure I was sitting down, they simply told me the price.)          

          Spanish Language Books

For those of you who speak Spanish as your primary language, a downloadable PDF version of Rheology for Ceramists in Spanish is currently in progress.  Reología para Ceramistas is currently being edited to be made available as soon as possible.  Best estimate at this time is that it will be available sometime in 2008 because the editing process is proceeding slowly.  The PDF file will be set up so it can be printed on your printer if you prefer a hard copy.  Depending on the reception this version receives, I will then consider translating the Particle Calculations book as well.  I will also then consider translating it into Portuguese.  Any thoughts, comments, and/or suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks.  Until next time ...