Saturday, November 24, 2007

The Joys Of Reading A Book

Recently, Amazon.com announced the release of the newest techie gadget, the Kindle. This wonderful little device will allow access to more than 90,000 books, blogs, newspapers and magazines. According to a quote on Amazon, "This is the future of book reading. It will be everywhere." (Michael Lewis, author of Moneyball and Liar's Poker). Hmmm, I beg to differ.

Sure, it will be the future for electronics lovers, for the wealthy, (its cost is a whopping $399.00, plus a charge for the reading material itself) and possibly for people who must travel with extensive access to literature. But not for those of us who know books.

What can replace the feel of a good, hefty book in your hands? What can replace the musty smell of something published before 1980? What looks better than gold-edged pages on that pricey hardbound you just had to have?

Can you highlight the words on a Kindle? Can you scribble notes on its pages? Would you be able to read notes left by deceased family members, giving you an insight into their lives? Is this something you want to leave your children on your passing?

Is it the same as curling up in bed late at night, letting the words lull you into sleep? I wonder if finding an old, obsolete Kindle at a garage sale would be half as exciting as finding an 1870 Dickens novel?

No, give me a good, well-bound book any day. Somehow, I just don't think reading Anne of Green Gables by computer light is the same.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Funny Stuff

11-24-2007 - Hilarious video of a mother's words to her children. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

11-21-2007 - Heard on a local news blurb: "News at 10. Last minute tips to save your turkey from a Butterball Thanksgiving expert."