Holy Hell! Electronic Books! or eReaders vs Spined Books

First, let me start by saying that trying to compare e Readers (like the Kindle) to laptops and iPad's is silly.  It's now common knowledge that back-lit, high resolution monitors cause eye strain.  We've all stared at that ol' laptop screen waaaay to long and felt like our eyes were bleeding...but I regress. We are merely comparing superior electronic books to traditional, spined paper ones, you know, like grandma read in 1886...


To be fair, my love for reading was spurned and incited by a myriad of brightly colored, highly graphic and large typed children's books that literally overfilled me with joy!  I love the feel, the smell, the look and idea of a bound collection of words that I can flesh out into an entirely new universe.  But wait, not only can I still do that on my wonderful Kindle, but I can also store whole series of books, newspapers, and receive my magazine subscriptions as well (all on a free 3G wireless network that comes standard with all Kindles!).  However...

I don't really imagine lending someone my Kindle so they can read this amazing book I just discovered.  That's one thing you just can't replace in an actual book that has been passed down and preserved though the year. You can however highlight, annotate, and bookmark articles, paragraphs or one liners in your Kindle and bring them up at whim to share and show your friends.

At this point you can see I'm pretty much on even ground considering electronic vs traditional books.  I love them both and will always have and appreciate both, but it really comes down to one thing: features!


Paper Books       vs      Electronic Books (Kindle 2)


Well made construction, durable         Well made construction, durable
Clear, readable type                           Clear, readable type
Ability to bookmark pages                   Ability to bookmark pages
Easy to hold (unless hardback!)            Easy to hold
Can carry it with you                           Can carry it with you
Can loan it out                                    Probably only loan to immediate family, if then
                                                          Can store up to 1,500 books in one device
                                                          Receive monthly magazine subscriptions, auto
                                                          Receive a large number of national newspapers
                                                          Look up any word with built in Dictionary
                                                          Go online to Wikipedia (Kindle 2)
                                                          Listen to audio books
                                                          Change the font size and background color
                                                          Download books anytime, anywhere, in 60 sec.
                                                          Access to upwards of 500,000 free boooks
                                                          Need I go on?!...............

I don't mean to sound like a Kindle add here, Amazon is doing well enough for itself as it is.  But I definitely appreciate the features of the eBooks making their way into our lives.

 ---->Despite my earlier comment deriding people for comparing Kindle to iPad, I must say I would not part easily from my Kindle for iPhone, it's just way to freaking convenient!  I have it everywhere I go and it syncs with my Kindle at home.....what more could you ask for!?!

Origami - Folding My Self in Paper

Rarely in the hustle and bustle of this 21st century do we stop to consider our world.  It seems our considerations always extend outward to new and better ways to use technology (phones, laptops, blogging..) that we forget the beauty and simplicity all around us. 

And that is why we need to meditate.

I know, it's an eastern thing, or, who has the time to sit and do nothing?  I hear you, I can't imagine chanting "Ohm" for hours sitting indian style either, but life is full of opportunities to meditate.  I discovered this when I discovered a love for origami.

When I spend minutes (or hours) folding something 3D from a square piece of paper, I find I fold myself into the paper.  During the folding, especially if it's a fold I know by heart, I draw away just enough in the mechanics of the folding to get to the heart of relaxation.  Here, I can let my mind wander.  I can either escape into my self and relax or, to quell the rushing of my mind, I can focus on perfecting the folds and executing them with utmost precision. 

Like any activity you enjoy, I can get lost for hours (or as long as I allow myself to indulge). The most incredible feeling is when you look at the final product, perhaps a Bucky Ball that required sixty individual triangular sheets to each be folded 20 times, and think, "Wow, I created this with my hands, my mind, and an effort of time and it's beautiful." And when someone else sees it, they probably think it's amazing, and will often ask how long it took to make.  It probably took 8 or more hours I would say, and here it is:---->

I folded this sphere over Christmas '09 vacation, with my family and in the house I grew  up in.  I've folded my family, my past, my happiness and ultimately my self into this piece.  To me, this is Christmas!

I don't fold enough, that's my problem.  And when I do, at least recently, I've been unable to let go of my anxious feelings and desire to move or see or explore technology....  This makes me sad.  I need to revive my meditation and make it a required part of my day.  I need to fold more memories and more of myself, then, perhaps, I can find more peace in my mind.