The Kindle

So.

Kindle.

I am not familiar with the history behind that name, or much else with that product besides it being an e-book reader. (Researching it will make me want one even more.) The response to this product has reminded me greatly of the thoughts from when mp3 players started to arrive on the scene. People really enjoyed the fact that they could carry their whole music library on a tiny portable machine and listen at their leisure. They kept buying CDs (many people still do), but mp3 players offered convenience.

The Kindle will never replace the feel of an actual library. Growing up, I had the pleasure of living nearby several libraries – beautiful architecture, high ceilings, a silence that was almost holy, and the calming sensation that only libraries can produce. There was something about all those books waiting quietly, sitting for years in sunlight and dust motes. The atmosphere bled knowledge, a pure sense of entertainment, and an almost Gothic tranquility.

These days, libraries are still pleasant places to spend hours browsing or studying, but the ones I’ve visited in California have lost something in translation. That sense of calm is still there, along with the nice touch of being able to read for free, but there is a definite lean towards a modern and more digital route. As nice as the Internet is, I honestly wish today’s youth was a little less technologically inclined.

For those of you who love books and libraries as much as I do, the Kindle appears to be able to bring the sensations home in a semi-convenient package. This would work very well for those with lengthy commutes (who are able to read and not get motion-sick), or those with casual desk jobs that want to catch up on their reading without having to always carry various books around. Yes, I understand you’ll still be physically holding something, but it’s different.

The only thing that worries me is the potential for ad intrusion. Once we move into territory where Kindle downloads are highly popularized we may start seeing things along the lines of “Download this free e-book, paid for by our sponsors”, and then have the print (on your screen) reformatted to fit various ads. Perhaps add in an extra page here and there that is a full-page ad. I know you get what you pay for (or don’t pay for), but these sorts of things seem to be always out there.

What prompted my entry was the following article on the NYTimes blog, “The Kindle Lets Amazon Make a Lot From the Few”.

They’re right: this definitely won’t overtake physical book buying, and I doubt libraries have much to worry about, it’s just – as they put it – the right product for the right customers. Now if only someone would buy me one so I can test and review it properly!

50 refreshing business card designs

50 refreshing business card designs. Just passing along the daily dose of self-loathing that might inspire some of you.

http://www.graphicfetish.com/50-refreshing-business-card-designs/

The State on DVD

Some of you know. Some of you know and don’t care. Some of you neither know, nor care, but I’m feeling great right now and want to share this.

I’ll have you know I’m in a really good mood this morning due to looking this stuff up right now.

Rumors about The State coming to DVD have been around for a long time, but my knowledge of the confirmation has only been solidified recently. I’d probably known for at least a month or two (thanks Lindsay!), but then forgot about it because it had been just a rumor for so long.

Here’s what’s up. THE STATE IS COMING TO DVD.

Info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_State_(TV_series)
http://www.the-state.com/
http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/the_state/series.jhtml#bio

From Wiki:
The State’s official website reported in November that the DVD set was completed, but that their distributor, MTV, has “chosen not to release the set at this time. We don’t know why.”[5] As of January 29, 2008, Michael Showalter has confirmed that MTV is still delaying the release: “They have it. We’ve made the DVD, and it exists. It’s out of our hands, and I know who has it, but I don’t know why they’re waiting… we’ve done the commentary and the deleted material and all that stuff, but I just don’t know when it’s coming out. “[6] The State’s official FAQ currently states:
“There is NO WAY to get any episodes of The State on tape, unless you trade with other fans or buy bootlegs on eBay. The only other recourse is to beg MTV to rerun the show or to release episodes on video. Try writing MTV Home Video, 1515 Broadway, NY NY 10036, or MTV Programming Dept, same address. Or write to Comedy Central, 1775 Broadway, NYC, 10019.”[3]

If you’re a fan of Reno911 or Kids In The Hall or just good sketch comedy, MARK YOUR CALENDARS: July 14, 2009! Just in time to work up a good hangover for the sixth Harry Potter movie coming out the next day.

APR and The King

President Barack Obama has a tempting target in his sight: credit card companies that are abusing their customers. He meets today with representatives of the businesses, which are fighting new regulations that would protect consumers.
Full article: http://voices.kansascity.com/node/4338
Here’s hoping that whatever he does allows me to go from 29.9% back down to 10%, where it should have been for the past four months. Ugh!

Larry King vs Levi Johnston.
Full article: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/23/lkl.levi.johnston.palin/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
That was interesting to read, but Larry was goading him as the interview progressed. “Your ex seems really angry with you, why is that?” “Do you have a lawyer?” “Are you scared saying you have a lawyer will make them angry?” “Somebody won’t let you see your baby and that sounds fishy!” Gaaaaaaah. They are KIDS, yeah his baby’s mama’s mama is the ex-VP-candidate, but COME ON. I dare somebody to stand up and say they’ve never had baby mama drama; did somebody forget about all the teen pregnancies out there? More ugh!

People Scare Me

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/world/europe/20austria.html?hp

Horrifying. There are some truly scary folks in this world. Hopefully his prison sentence will mirror something like the conditions he kept her in, plus the fact that she gave birth to SEVEN CHILDREN over time… *shudder*

It’s confusing to me though – how did no one ever look in the basement? Did he live with his wife and forbid her to go down there? How did no one hear the girl? Did he soundproof the walls or build another antechamber? I don’t want to look up more details now, but I feel like I’m missing some major details.

Humans are too scary for the fiction bestseller list.

Jesus Vs the Dinos – link exchange

Starting you off with a balanced breakfast of 100 Links to Inspire Your Designs, courtesy of Mashable.com.

In other news: a tuatara!

Also, some folks at a church said they saw the face of Jesus in a seat cushion. Uh, that looks more like a Golem to me, but whatever works, I guess.

Trial Run

So J came home with a blender last week, and just in time for me to start in on another OMG-Healthy-Eating-Kick(tm). I can’t say that’s a bad thing.

Anyway, I went and bought a metric ton of fruits & veggies, and am trying out my first homemade smoothie. It’s not bad at all for a trial, but not perfect. Then again if it was perfect I would have just come back from Jamba Juice, $4+ poorer, amped up on sugar.

So here’s the recap. Mostly it’s just for my own reference, but maybe it’ll inspire somebody else out there to do this. I’ve been reading up quite a bit on “green smoothies“, and though this one is decidedly some sort of berry color, I know exactly what’s in it and am pleased. Whatever helps with the health, right?

Ingredients:
~Organic* Frozen Berry Medley
~1 & 3/4 cup orange juice (pulp free minute maid)
~1/2 cup of 1% milk
~small handful of spinach leaves, torn up before blending

Time: Blended for about… 2 minutes, or until super-smooth (save for some little seeds from the berries).
Blender type: Personal twist, similar to this, with 2 sizes of cups. I’d say this is about a 10oz cup.
Consistency: A little too foamy for my liking, but very smooth. Not too watery.
Flavor: Good! Refreshing, not overly tangy, not too sweet, but definitely has a solid orange juice flavor.
Effects?: Well, I finished it about ten minutes ago, and halfway through noticed I no longer was dying for a nap. Not feeling jittery, though we’ll see if my tummy can handle the dairy/OJ combo.
Overall? I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5.

I have to wonder what it would taste like if I dropped in a banana or avocado, so that’s my goal for next time, with slightly less orange juice and slightly more spinach. Down the road I may also add a little bit of tofu for the energy boost, and will consider some cocoa powder with it as well. Other goals include using soy milk and frozen yogurt (when I want more of a dessert and less of a meal-replacement).

That’s all for the moment – wish me luck on converting to greener pastures!

*My goal wasn’t OMG ORGANIC, however that was the only selection of frozen berries I could find, and it was cheaper than buying individual frozen or non-frozen servings. Who am I to complain at $2.39 a bag, that will give me at least three servings?

Bookmarks and coffee

Cereal.
Coffee.

At work, consuming both, and taking a moment to myself before heading into the plethora of tasks ahead of me. Though I enjoy my Sundays off – allowing myself to overindulge on laziness, cuddling, and day-long brunch – being in the office isn’t bad either. It’s usually quiet enough to get real work done and consider a Plan Of Action for various projects. That doesn’t mean I want to spend all my Sundays here, it means that the rare times I have to come into the office aren’t completely horrendous.

Plus I get Monday & Tuesday off.

iGoogle is my homepage here, and one of my favorite widgets is the “Most Recent Public Bookmarks” provided by del.icio.us. Sometimes (okay, a lot of the time) it tosses up a great one, and today was no exception.

Here it is.

Booooooom.com gives you 17 Creative Websites To Bookmark (Unless You Are Dumb).

Just like it says – unless you are dumb. Mimes are excluded in this case.

I skimmed the list, got about a page deep into Meathaus and immediately closed my browser because it was causing me to go into Artsy Mind Convulsions. A quick scan of the other sites proved much of the same.

Give yourself some awesome – GO TO THESE SITES.

Anyway, back to Cup 2 of coffee, and using my destruct-o rays on the disaster that is my inbox. Happy Sunday, kids.

Bees, a brief history of

This is for all those who doubt bees have wings and I know you are out there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HoneyBeeAnatomy.png

“Bees all have two pairs of wings…” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee

My next magical trick will be to debunk this myth of Thanksgiving. Stay tuned.

Parasitic Telepathic Octopii

Just wanted to let you all know that a coworker let me borrow Stephenie Meyer’s new book, “The Host”.

I’m about 2 chapters in, and my subject line seems to sum it up accurately so far.

It is late, and that is all. Tomorrow: more.