The Whitneys
  • Ken & Kari Whitney
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Kindles: an update

2/25/2010

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A relative received a Kindle for Christmas and I've had ample opportunity to play with it.

My obstacle is that I am a seasoned library user... I don't pay to read books (well, except through my property taxes, but let's not start into that discussion). While I recognize that most Kindle titles are priced less than new print versions, they're still more costly than "free."

That said, there are a few convenience items I recently considered... and ultimately rejected.

  1. Book Club. We meet once a month, eat and drink, and perhaps discuss the book. I thought that monthly book might be a nice splurge for myself on the borrowed Kindle. Unfortunately, I've found that the books of choice are often one-offs in my reading habit, and I'm less inclined to buy something I can't give away for the love of someone else's reading.
  2. Travel books. As I planned for a family vacation, it occurred to me that I could pack a single Kindle more neatly than 4 thick travel books, PLUS the hi-lighting would be digital in place of a scrambled mess of bookmarks and Post-Its. Unfortunately, as mentioned in reviews of Kindle vs. the larger Kindle DX, the standard Kindle doesn't handle graphics well. On a preview version of one particular travel book, I was unable to zoom in on a map of California. This wouldn't be a problem if California weren't the size of, say, California.

Still, the device appeals on a certain level. Of the public domain pieces I own (thank you, Project Gutenberg), it's luxurious to sit in bed with this light, thin piece of hardware and read from any position.

I also feel powerful in the knowledge that I could, at a moment's notice, download almost anything from Amazon. And isn't that why yearn for cool personal electronics? For power over our world?

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Valentines from the heart

2/4/2010

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I'm so proud of my child's writing talents. Here's a sampling of this year's valentines to friends:
Dear J,

You are lively. You almost always speak up. You spout out answers when you can.

You make the world braver.
Dear C,

You are playful. When people want to jump up and play, you just do a few jokes, then they calm down. You always play at recess if you can plus,you do great in P.E. You inspire athletes.
Dear B,

You have courage. You always speak up. You suggest games, too.

You have the touch.
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