The New Face of Reading

For centuries devout book readers have used the tried-and-true method of paper and ink to comprehend the world around us, but all of that is about to change.

The digitization of personal book collections is on the horizon. Following the music industries example of the iPod generation, some company (perhaps Amazon) will devise a combination of software and hardware that will make purchasing your favorite digital book as easy as downloading your favorite song.

Amazon has come up with their first iteration of the e-book reader, Kindle. This promising technology, that weighs ten ounces, holds more than 200 full-length books and has the ability to display blogs, newpapers and magazines. The Kindle also has the ability to play MP3 files and it can be loaded wirelessly through the high-speed EVDO network from Sprint.

There are so many reasons to purchase one of these technological wonders; but there is a waiting list, even at the sale price of $399.

The e-book reader bares an exact likeness to the pages in a book, making it enjoyable to read; this was the general feeling the Kindle envoked from readers.

I think that it is high time a company has come up with this technology. I would love to have the availability of 200 books at the push of a button (or touch of a screen).

I would like to see a company offer school books as a purchase possibility. It would be nice to carry around ten ounces of knowledge instead of 20 pounds of bookbag.

Another thing, it will cut down on the depletion our natural resources. If books are offered online, I would much prefer to read a good book and save a tree at the same time.

I also think it might encourage younger, technical generations to start becoming avid readers. The appeal of reading will be modernized, and will hopefully start a chain reaction in schools.

A revolution is on the rise, and this is something that should advocate excitement for our world. Hopefully this will rekindle the sheer enjoyment of reading.

Symbol or Set-back?

Once again the media comes under fire for misuse of questionable imagery. The tension of this controversy belongs to none other than the editor of the reputable Golfweek magazine.

Dave Seanor, the now ex-editor of the magazine in question, gave the go-ahead to run the picture of a noose dangling in a haunting manner on the cover of Golfweek.

Oddly enough, the cover featuring the ominous image was to reference the hot water Kelly Tilghman (a host of the Golf Channel) was in. Tilghman was under fire for using "lynch" regarding how younger golfers could contend with Tiger Woods.

Seanor knew the image could be misconstrued, but he ran with it anyway. Regrettably, he made the wrong decision. He meant to use the visual of the noose as a way to describe the situation Tilghman was in, not as a racial overtone.

I feel extremely bad for Seanor. In media, it seems you must have tough skin with a gentle touch. Unfortunately, there is a thin line of what can be said connecting to other races.

There are so many questions that come into mind for me. I know that the noose is associated with lynchings, but what about the poor, innocent men and women of the Salem witch hunt? I had people in my family that were wrongly accused of being horse theives that were hung, so should I be offended by the image of the noose?

I understand what the connotation of the noose is supposed to mean, but when are we going to allow the 40-plus years of Civil Rights to kick in? We need to let the noose stand for something else.

It was a symbol of which hunts for a period of time after the Salem tragedy. It became a symbol of corporal punishment for thieves and train robbers; and, yes, the noose is associated with the oppression of our black nation, but now it is time to let it become something else. The more we keep the symbols in the light and ackwonledge them, the more dissensions between the nation will stick around.

We need to rethink the ways in which we want to view our future, and put them into effect. It starts with one action and can only continue with the next step taken towards it.

Amendment or Harassment?

Usage of the First Amendment came into question as William Krasnansky exercised civil disobedience against a court ordered decision to shut down his blog containing a fictional account of a failed marriage.

Maria Garrido, Krasnansky's estranged wife, rallied their divorce judge to nip his blog in the bud, citing it to be of a degrading and calumnious nature. Garrido voiced concerns that people might take Krasnansky's blog as a true account of her character and base their opinions of her on this blog.

There has been no formal hearing or trial regarding the blog, amounting to a prior restraint; therefore, Mr. Krasnansky feels no obligation to obey the court ordered closing of his blog.

I have read most of Krasnansky's blog, and I see no mention of names. He has put a disclaimer in his blog that it is a fictional account of a painful and tragic divorce. Under the First Amendment he should not be made to close his blog.

The female character might resemble some of the mannerisms and characteristics of his wife, but do not most authors, fictional or otherwise, draw off of the attributes and dispositions of the people surrounding them? When I was taking a course in creative writing, I certainly did. This is how most authors breath life into characters that allow us to identify with them.

This might also be his therapeutic avenue, the path of least destruction. Everyone has his or her own way of dealing and coping with mounting pain and pressure, perhaps this is his. Would not the judge rather him label a fictional character in a blog than make plans to off his soon-to-be ex?

And another thing that comes to mind is the irony of the whole situation. Garrido did not want people looking at his blog for fear that they might label her a cold and heartless monster. She made such an upheaval that it created national attention, focusing on the very thing she did not want people to see in the first place.

I cannot help but think that, perhaps, kharma is with those who deny it most.

This is a practice link to Buzz Machine.

Greetings and Salutations, my peeps!

Just wanted to say how gratifying it is to know that people actually have to read what goes on in my little head.
Good luck to you all, and Godspeed.