Kindle and I Pod Shuffle and gadgets

So not only have I entered the technology era and use the Information Superhighway, but I recently have two new tech things in my possession, adding ultimately to the vast floating barges of waste in the ocean, or at least landfill mess.

I got an IPod Shuffle. A gift from my mom. Pink. Very cute. Now to figure out how to music on it. This may take me another three months, but I got it to try to help me exercise more. Yes, back in the day, I did have a Sony Walkman. Remember those? And versions of it with radios or whatever and used this to run or rollerblade. The shuffle is for sitting on an exercise bike or to use in the Mui Wo gym. This gym needs some biophilia action, or at least some kind of decor update. The plastic plants are a downer and one does not feel inspired in this kind of place. It would behoove the powers that be, whoever updates the gym, to take a brief look on the internet at Southern California exercise facilities. I know people are proud of the aerobics photos on the wall from the 1980s, but they fail to motivate.

Kindle. AHA. Had to get this. We've been a Kindle-less family and it has been the source of heated discussion in our household. We swore never never to buy a computer reading device. But I did. I was overseas and noted that a lot of the materials were online for my research and thought it would be cheaper than buying all the books. I was sort of right. I would have had to pay $110USD for a book on narrative theory (yeah, that's just flying off the shelves! whoo eee!) but instead rented it for $5. So that in itself was worth it. But THEN (here's the caveat, aside from how long it took for me to figure out how to turn the thing on and off) there are no page numbers issued! A disaster for an academic book. Then I had Kindle transfer my PDF to fit a Kindle--a PDF of another academic book. It was what, 50 cents, or a dollar? But when I booted it up, the font was so small I could hardly read it. I tried to read it, simply as a matter of proving that I didn't waste my money, but it was impossible. So ended up being hunched over my computer to read that book.

Kindle--jury is really out for me. Not sure about its use given how I like to read books in the tub, spill drinks on it and stuff them in my bag. And the page number thing makes it not good for academic books--though Kindle assured me they were telling publishers (I called to complain). They have good tech support though. Big plus.

The one tech object EVERYONE should own who writes is a KINESIS KEYBOARD. I was obliged to buy another here given the state of my hands with RSI/carpal tunnel and the writing I had to do. We have two others in our household, though Stephen doesn't use it quite as much as I do.

This is a LIFECHANGING keyboard system. Any other keyboard is just a joke. This curves to the digits of your hands. I had 3 of the older models in the past and was such a fan they asked me and I wrote a testimonial about my belief in the Kinesis product.

I have pointed several people to this keyboard and I recommend it to anyone who spends time on the computer of any length.

As for other gadgets or appliances I have enjoyed this summer in what I have called The Suburban Palace (my parents home in Memphis):

A. Dryer

(Keohi also enjoys helping with pushing the buttons and doing laundry)

B. Coffee Maker

(Mr. Coffee is pretty exciting, but just went back to the Italian press after I ran out of filters. I'm cheap and they're not great for the environment)

C. Answering Machine

(OK, we have one in Mui Wo. I just haven't figure out how to work it. We've had it for 6 months)

D. Car


E. Car Radio


F. Exercise Bike

(This is like the ones in the gym. My mom got this some years ago when she had a problem with her hips, now solved by pilates. Anyway, a good 20 minutes of sweat whenever you feel like it is convenient, not that I have gotten wildly fit or anything)

G. Ceiling Fans


H. Teller clerk phones in Target

Wow. In 60 seconds after you put the phone down a salesclerk will come to help you. And it is 60 seconds. American service is usually very good, case in point.

I. CD player

We have our IPod connected, but it's nice to pop in a CD. Or maybe I should just figure out how to use the IPod one year.

J. Automatic Ice Cube maker

K. Dishwasher

L. Garbage Disposal

M. Garage Door Opener (this is with the car)

Well, the list goes on. But what I realize is that these are pretty much bog standard aspects of basic middle class life in the US, especially in the suburban areas or outside of major metropolitan cities. But such items are not easily used, acquired, or thought of in other parts of the world.

So, do I miss this stuff?

It's fun, but now I think about how to get that stuff fixed in Mui Wo. Talk about hell.
So forget it. Also, I don't think about it.

We got our SUV (Our 3 wheel passenger bike with canopy plus storage below!), our fleet of bikes (3, plus 2 kids bikes), and we've now owned a TV, our very first one we bought ever in our household. Most of the other stuff just doesn't come on my radar at all in HK...if it's not around, you don't miss it.