Merry Christmas

Kindle vs Nook

My daughter wants a Nook Color for Christmas and I have to admit, I know nothing about ereaders except they exist. I have friends who have a Kindles and absolutely loves it. But other than that I have no knowledge, so if your like me and want to know what others think to help you make a decision for yourself in the future. Here is what I found out.(The information I found is from ireaderreview.) It also has not been updated since August and the Nook Color is out now so some of the information I found is a little out dated but still I found it helpful.

This Kindle 3 vs Nook review compares Kindle 3, Nook based on what we know so far. The Kindle 3 is $189 and available for preorder at Amazon (it ships August 27th).
Doing a Kindle 3 vs Nook post is a bit unfair because a Nook 2 is in the works and we really should compare Kindle 3 with Nook 2. Will update this post when it comes out.
Kindle 3 vs Nook – Areas Nook Wins
The Nook clearly beats the Kindle 3 in a few areas -
LendMe – When Publishers allow it B&N books have a LendMe feature that lets you lend an ebook once to one person (it’s basically like a single 14 day rental).
ePub support – Nook supports ePub including DRMed ePub. This is important since most major ebook stores (except Kindle Store) sell ePub books with DRM.
Library eBooks - The majority of libraries use Overdrive and lend out ePub books with DRM. Since Nook supports ePub and DRMed ePub you can read library books on it. Do check with your library to confirm ePub support and to get an idea of its ebook collection.

There are a few other Nook benefits and features you might value -
B&N Stores – When in B&N stores you are free to read any ebook for up to an hour (it’s an hour a day so you can keep going back to finish the book). B&N also has periodic promotions in its stores.
Transfer your Sony Reader library – If you’re switching from Sony Reader you can download all your purchases in ePub format and they will work on the Nook.
Transfer your eReader.com and Fictionwise.com books – Nook supports pdb format which these two bookstores use (B&N bought these two sites).

Kindle 3 vs Nook – Areas Kindle 3 and Nook are very close or in a tie
The Kindle 3 vs Nook contest is constantly evolving with software upgrades and new releases and there are lots of areas where they are basically in a tie -
eInk – They both have eInk screens (though of different screen contrasts, more on that below). eInk is easy on the eyes, readable in sunlight, and great for reading.
Price – Kindle 3 is $189 and Nook is $199.
Apps for a variety of platforms – Both Kindle and Nook have a variety of apps that let you read your books across different devices. These include Apps for PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, and Android.

The Christmas letter

Every year I get a Christmas letter from someone that reminds me of just how ordinary I am and how I didn't do anything really exciting to brag about again this year. In turn I never send out a christmas letters like others but this year I've decided to change my ways and send one out. Here it is.

Dear friends and family;

You will not believe what happened this year, while my husband was busy doing geneology we found out that he is related to the Queen of England. We informed the monarchy at once to claim our royal titles and to be put on the Christmas lists of the family. They quickly responded by sending us a letter, welcoming us into the family and inviting us over for a family get together. We fly out next April. We are so excited as you can imagine.

However, that is not the amazing part of our year. Larry and a friend decided to buy an Idaho lottery ticket on a silly whim. Next thing we knew his friend called and declared they had won 56 million dollars to split between the two of them. So needless to say my husband and I after picking up our check went to an investment banker secured some money for our childrens future (College is paid for. YAY!) And then we procured ourselves two new vehicles. I went for the more sensible car and bought a Jaguar it was hard the Mercedes almost won out, but the Jaguar I think will fit our needs better. Now Larry on the other had went for the splurge and bought a McLaren. Pictures posted below. After those purchases we decided that our home garage did not fit the needs of our new vehicles so we bought a new home. I know we were impulsive but the kids seem to love our new home and don't mind only being seen every couple of days. I hope this letter finds you happy and healthy. We are!

The Benson's

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It's your right and priviledge, so get out and vote. Tuesday, Novemeber 2, 2010.

Some fun facts about voting.

1-Compared to 2000, young voters have more than doubled their turnout in the 2008 primaries and caucuses. For example, in Texas, the number of 18-29 year old voters grew 301%.

2-Research shows that young voters with college experience are much more likely to vote than their non-college counterparts. Although ½ of young Americans ages 18-29 have never enrolled in college, 79% of the young voters on Super Tuesday attended college.

3-Why do we vote on a Tuesday, and in November? Because the harvest was over and the weather wouldn't be bad enough to prevent people from traveling.

4-80% of all votes in America are counted by only two companies: Diebold and ES&S.

Sound off! Did you Vote.

the stupid things I say.

I made a delivery today for my husband to a friend of ours. He came around the corner and said my name and said, "I heard you were looking for me." And I said. Oh yeah, here it comes word vomit. I said, "What you didn't smell me." What! I took a shower before I left, did my hair, put make-up on. And I said that. Really what is it about methat makes me say the stupidest things. I couldn't even believe I had said it I smiled, our friend laughed gave me a hug took the delivery and started talking about something else. Heaven bless nice people who over look my dumb replies.

This is not the first time I've said something stupid. Oh no, it happens on weird bases, like I met one of my husbands clients once and I was looking forward to meeting this man. My sweet husband introduced us, we shook hands and and his client said to me, "It's very nice to meet you." And I said, "I bet it is." Possessed. I'm pretty sure that's what my husbands client thought. Yep he's married to a certified loon. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't even come up with some quick wit to cover my faux pas.

I need help. Please tell me you have said some wonderfully weird and horribly unexplained things at some of the most inopportuned time.

Are you ADDICTED to COMPLAINING?!

I recently talked to a friend of mine who decided to take a challenge of not cmplaining for one day and then turning that day into a week of no complaining. I smiled at the thought I don't really consider myself a complainer (so I thought.) On Tuesday morning I decided to take the challenge of not complaining for one full day. Now my friend told me that when he took this challenge it actually took him five weeks before he accomplished his goal and then it took him seven weeks before he made it a full week without complaining.

Back to me, so on Tuesday, I tried to go a full day without complaining. I made it a whole three hours before I stopped mid sentence and said to my friend. "I'm complaining."

She looked at me surprised and said, "It's okay it just me. I don't care."

I ended up explaining my new challenge I was undertaking. With greater effort I started over and made it another couple of hours before I did it again.

I have noticed since I'm trying to do this is; most conversations actually begin with a complaint of some sort. I think as a society we are addicted to the process of telling people are gripes and thrive when we get support and people agree with our complaints. The problem I can see is we don't talk about positive things 90 percent of our day is spent on complaints and negative thoughts and only 10 percent on the positive.

So take the challenge and see how you do and let me know how long it takes you to go a full twenty-four hours without a complaint. Good luck. I'll let you know when I accomplish my own goal.

If something went wrong and you were asked to evacuate your house in ten minutes of less. What would you take?

I've been pondering this very thought all day since we had a fire in my area and 1600 homes were evacuated and some of the residents got less then five minutes to leave. First, I would get my family and animals out, which retrieving my animals may take me more than five minutes in itself. (I have two dogs, two bunnies and a turtle. The last three roam free in my backyard so it would be a game of hide and seek for me to find them.) However, if I had more time I would take my legal documents and my 72 hours kits (which by the way I will be updating since this happened and making sure they have fresh food.) And why I am rounding up kids and animals, kits and documents I'm sure my sweet and helpful husband would be taking apart his computer reassuring it the whole time that everything will be all right. His computer is infact his life, and you may think I'm making fun, but I'm not. We own our own company and my husband is a graphic artist and his computer is the very thing we make a living on. So really that piece of modern technology is coming with us. I'm sure at the cost of some other precious things, but none the less you can't rebuild if you don't have a job and a way to make money.

So have you thought about it? What would you grab if you had ten minutes or less. Would it be sentimental or pratical?