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Saturday, January 30, 2010

P-p-philosophy

Every now and then a girl needs a new toy. Something shiny and, above all, pretty. So last month I decided to buy myself the Amazon Kindle2. It only took me about 2 ½ minutes to justify why I clearly needed one. I'd become more well-read, for one. And then there's the benefit of not having to haul a massive weight of books around everytime I move. Not to mention all the trees I'd be saving. Saving trees is very politically correct, you know. I figure I'm racking up good karma to make up for all the other not-so-politically-correct stunts I may or may not have pulled already.

Not that anyone can prove anything.

I impatiently watched as the shipment bounced from America to Germany to Sweden to Coastal Bible Belt, where I am currently living. And then it arrived. But owning an ereader isn't enough in and by itself. You need to fill it with books, of course. I mean, what would you do with it otherwise? Use it as a coaster? Don't be silly!

So I started downloading a selection of my favorite books into it. Some of these books might be considered unusual reading. Like Plato's Republic. But I find it interesting. The old dude was completely off his rocker politically. I also quite like 'On crime and punishment' by Cesare Beccaria. He lived in the 1700s and had all sorts of thoughts about how punisments should fit the crime they're meant to punish, which were highly unusual in those days. They still are in some places. Like, say, Texas.

I also got myself the collected works of Edgar Allan Poe and Khalil Gibran, just for the hell of it. In addition to that, I purchased more conventional things like Stephen King, Neil Gaiman ect, ect.

Well, at any rate, Amazon chose to completely ignore my more conventional choices when it created my recommendation. It insists that I would have great joy reading the works of various long-dead greeks with names that sound like terminal illnesses. At least I should pick up a copy of The Bible, they think.

Then again, if I take them up on that and carry The Bible around in my kindle, maybe that'll make up for all the not-so-politically-correct stunts that I may or may not pull in the future.

Not that anyone'll be able to prove anything, of course.




9 comments:

Mike Minzes said...

Very cool blog! I will be back for more!

Big Brother said...

I have Kindle on my iPhone and am thinking of also getting a Kindle2 since Mrs. BB and I travel a lot and carrying around a dozen or so books to make sure we have enough summer reading in some foreign country is rather heavy to shlep around. Not to mention that it really cuts down on the amount of clothing and things you can bring in the weight allowed for our baggage.
Anyway, how do you like it? Is it worth the price?

choochoo said...

Realliveman - happy to have you.

Bigbrother - I love mine! I've been trying to talk that sister of yours into getting one, but she's slow on the technology, that one. It's totally worth the price, I think. Make sure you get something to keep it in, though, so it doesn't get all scratched up.

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gXx62HfL3U

Jocelyn said...

I'm glad to know you have one of these..and to read your follow-up comments, as I was going to ask how you're liking it. I feel my life progressing towards one, esp as our family considers big travel in the nearish future, and we're all huge bookheads.

So do keep me updated...even in random comments on my blog, will you? If you particularly like or hate something, let me know?

Oh, and I predict Jazz will get one...by 2022.

tomshideaway said...

I've been on the fence for a long time about getting one and if I don't climb down from here soon and make a decision I think people might start wondering what I'm doing up here! I just don't want to snag my pants or fall on my face!!

HA HA Mantra was the word verification.Iwonder if that's good karma(-:

Maureen said...

Ahahaha! That is quite the eclectic collection for sure. I figured it was time for me to read The Catcher in the Rye since Mr JD passed a few days ago. I had never read it. So I downloaded it for free on my Blackberry Storm. After three chapters I knew I wanted the book. So I bought the real thing. There were only two copies left on the shelf...

I have a few books on my phone, but I still enjoy the feel of the paper and my eyes can last longer than when reading an ebook screen.

Jazz said...

I'm getting there... Tuesday I'll have a microwave!

Susie said...

I don't know...I like the smell and the feel of a good book. I'm curious to see how you like it as well. Let us know!