Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Q.When is a book not a book?
A.When it is on an iPod or a Kindle!
Nowadays when I want to read a book, I am faced with several choices.
I have found that I like to browse in Amazon rather than a bookstore because of the user ratings, unless it is a travel book, in which case I go to a book store to evaluate its physical handling properties. If the subject is completely unfamiliar to me, I go to the library and survey dozens of books decide what kind of book I want.
I prefer listen to fiction because that way I do not skim and skip and lose track of the plot and characters. Listening slows me down enough to appreciate (or abhor) the language and imagery. My normal reading speed is too fast for fiction.
I prefer to read non-fiction on a Kindle because I can page back and forth to reread a passage, or use the Kindle's lookup function to delve into a dictionary or get more details from Google.
I look at pictures in a book, because the Kindle's screen is not nearly good enough or big enough.
I wonder what choice will my grandchildren face when they are my age?
Nowadays when I want to read a book, I am faced with several choices.
- Browse and buy in a bookstore
- Browse and buy from Amazon
- Browse and borrow from my excellent local library
- Obtain in spoken form - from the library or from Audible and listen on my iPod
- Buy electronically from Amazon for my Kindle
- Sit down and wait for the urge to pass
I have found that I like to browse in Amazon rather than a bookstore because of the user ratings, unless it is a travel book, in which case I go to a book store to evaluate its physical handling properties. If the subject is completely unfamiliar to me, I go to the library and survey dozens of books decide what kind of book I want.
I prefer listen to fiction because that way I do not skim and skip and lose track of the plot and characters. Listening slows me down enough to appreciate (or abhor) the language and imagery. My normal reading speed is too fast for fiction.
I prefer to read non-fiction on a Kindle because I can page back and forth to reread a passage, or use the Kindle's lookup function to delve into a dictionary or get more details from Google.
I look at pictures in a book, because the Kindle's screen is not nearly good enough or big enough.
I wonder what choice will my grandchildren face when they are my age?
Monday, July 07, 2008
Ira Glass (of "This American Life" fame) on how to get past a block
You may (or may not) have noticed that I have not posted many photographs lately. This is because I don't like most of what I have been producing. These comments from Ira Glass have motivated me to get going again - maybe they will help you too.
What John McCain didn't learn in Vietnam
"In spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the former POW
insists we could have won. No wonder he talks of occupying Iraq for a
century."
See <http://tinyurl.com/5wlq77> for more.
McCain and his supporters loudly and often proclaim that his "experience" makes him a good candidate for the presidency. His own words, however, suggest to me that he learned nothing from his "experience". He still thinks the US could have "won" the war in Vietnam, and that whatever lives would have been lost would have been worth continuing the battle - for an indefinite "victory".
His own website proclaims "This election is about making sure we have the experienced leadership to guide us to victory in this war" - but he does not tell us what "victory" means. He is all hollow words and bombast.
Bravery, moral character, and inner strength alone do not a good (or even adequate) President make. Good judgment is required and is the the most important characteristic. McCain has demonstrated that his judgment is flawed beyond redemption. Would I want him to be my comrade in a foxhole - absolutely yes - I can imagine no better comrade in arms! Would I want him to set objectives for the armed forces of my country - absolutely not. Great privates do not necessarily make great leaders!
insists we could have won. No wonder he talks of occupying Iraq for a
century."
See <http://tinyurl.com/5wlq77> for more.
McCain and his supporters loudly and often proclaim that his "experience" makes him a good candidate for the presidency. His own words, however, suggest to me that he learned nothing from his "experience". He still thinks the US could have "won" the war in Vietnam, and that whatever lives would have been lost would have been worth continuing the battle - for an indefinite "victory".
His own website proclaims "This election is about making sure we have the experienced leadership to guide us to victory in this war" - but he does not tell us what "victory" means. He is all hollow words and bombast.
Bravery, moral character, and inner strength alone do not a good (or even adequate) President make. Good judgment is required and is the the most important characteristic. McCain has demonstrated that his judgment is flawed beyond redemption. Would I want him to be my comrade in a foxhole - absolutely yes - I can imagine no better comrade in arms! Would I want him to set objectives for the armed forces of my country - absolutely not. Great privates do not necessarily make great leaders!
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
In the "Why am I not surprised" department...
China Inspired Interrogations at GuantánamoAn interrogation class at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, was based on a 1957 study of Chinese Communist techniques used to obtain confessions, many of them false,
from U.S. prisoners.
For the full article, see
http://tinyurl.com/5og3zw
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
