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  1. go check out the “nook” or just read a REAL book for less $ and enjoy everything about reading a real tangible book you can lend, sell, keep forever and enjoy

    October 21, 2009 by shishnit

    Today Barns and Noble announced their new foray into the ebook reader. The “nook”. The “nook” looks much like a crossbreed of Sony and Kindle and with no new features aside from the nifty lower touch screen that looks a tad bit inbred by the iPhone. It’s the new “mutt” on the ebook reader streets.

    When I purchased my Sony ebook reader (rather when my lovely husband bought it for me), back on November 1, 2006 I loved the entire idea of ebook readers and everything they stood for. I especially loved that I could buy e-books for far less than actual books. I have however just not morphed over to it like I had intended or hoped or thought I would.I still have that first Sony ebook reader and it still works fine, albeit not with the new google books feature that Sony offers now and with less than desirable battery life. (2 days is just not enough!)

    Today when “nook” was announced it made me think back over my experiences as an ebook reader user/owner. I originally wanted one to read my school resource materials on. That didn’t pan out because to date there is no ebook reader that will allow multilayered pdf files to be read successfully. (ie: textbooks)

    Today out of curiosity I chose one product to do some book market research. I chose the popular “Sookie Stackhouse 8-volume Set”.

    Here’s what my research tells me about the current pricing of this set of books.

    Actual books (ie: paperbacks you can hold and touch and keep even if a device dies, is stolen, stops working, etc.)

    Borders 57.53

    Barnes and Noble 37.38

    Amazon 36.97

    Walmart 32.00

    Now…lets say you want those same 8 books in e-book format.


    Sony e-book store 49.95

    Barnes & Noble e-books for “nook” 51.13

    Amazon Kindle ebooks 29.90

    Hey the kindle price is pretty sweet. Too bad I don’t own one of each e-book type available eh…so I can get the best price. Oh wait, that would involve a considerable investment upfront.

    However for about 7 bucks more just on amazon actual book vs ebook versions it’s a drop in the hat to own the actual books versus a computer file I cannot lend to anyone or sell later. Seems my best investment lately has been in ACTUAL PAPER BOOKS. I can spend 32 bucks at Walmart for this set of books and then go trade them in at the used bookstore and get some MORE books to read or I can keep them and sell them on EBAY and still make back some of my cash. Anyone up for buying an ebook from me? Oh wait…non-transferrable and I can only possible lend one to you on the “nook” for 14 days and only once to one friend. Lame. If I buy this set of actual books my entire family can read them. More bang for my book bucks I say.

    I wanted an ebook reader so so bad I waited for years for one to come out. And now…they are pricing ebooks so high that it’s just not worth it to me. Incidentally never in my life did I ever think I’d be buying books from walmart to get the best pricing.

    Incidentally Borders…we all know that your prices are sky high sometimes just because you offer those 40% off coupons and can’t go down the broke canal over an item like this. With my coupon I could buy that set for 34.44 and then earn back dividends later for being a good Borders customer. But…seriously…having said all of this..why is it that every single damned time I see that new pink Sony ebook reader I want to touch it and put it in my purse and keep it? I mean….i’ve been down this route. Sony…your marketing..it does a number on my real page turning heart everytime. I love everything about reading…but all of this price gouging and differences and ebooks now being more expensive than REAL books that kill trees and cost more to make…c’mon what the hell already?

    But ohhh see it’s pretty….its pink and it would fit in my new purse. Or…er…I could go blow $199 on some books with legs on them. (ha…Keith…books with legs! hahaha) Ebook readers don’t save time, money…(as evidenced above) just space.

    < -----there's the rather blah "Nook" from B&N

    Category books, economy, finances | Tags: | 1 Comment

  2. Obstacles Welcome – Ralph de la Vega (book review)

    October 6, 2009 by shishnit

    Obstacles Welcome – How to Turn Adversity into Advantage in Business and in Life – Ralph de la Vega

    (motivation and self improvement)

    I just have to give this one two thumbs up!! I expected one of those relatively mundane business management books, and what I got was pure and utter inspiration and a whole new way of looking at what most of us commonly refer to as roadblocks, problems, or as Mr. de la Vega refers to, obstacles. I now see obstacles as opportunities to outshine competition at work as well as in my personal life. Obstacles are now not bad, they are actually exciting. I encounter an obstacle now equals “I can overcome, learn and become better!” That’s a massive shift in viewpoint for sure.

    Mr. de la Vega’s personal story inspires. He was an immigrant from Cuba and arrived on US soil a few years prior to his own parents. What he learned from those experiences served him well as he saw his own life obstacles as opportunities for personal growth.

    This book is engaging rather than boring. At the end of each of the chapters is a page of takeaway messages. I think those pages alone out value the price of this book. I learned so many things and had quite a few moments where I felt that I had learned more about how to approach my own obstacles in the workplace. C’mon we all have them, or will. Those moments of self doubt and self examination are opportunities to excel once you have read through these easy to read 262 pages. It should be noted that Mr. de la Vega is the President and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. I used to have a management leadership crush on Jeff Bezo’s, the CEO of Amazon, my leadership crush just shifted a bit to make room for Mr. de la Vega. Thanks must go out to him for the fantastic and inspiring look at how the day to day mundane and exasperating life at work can really be the foundation to greater things personally and professionally.

    If you’re a manager of people, time, family events or you just want to take advantage of life’s obstacles instead of fearing them, then you too can benefit from this book.

    pre-order here

    Category book reviews, books, reading | Tags: | No Comments

  3. first page typo

    September 29, 2009 by shishnit

    Today I got the funniest spam email.  The subject line read “You Type, You Get Paid”.   I think that should be an etsy poster….no???

    Today I bought “Her fearul symmetry” even though I have a ton of other books I have got to read etc.  On the very first page there is a typo, “oesophagus”?  I think they meant “esophagus”.  Typo’s bother me.  On the first page?  Very sad.  This won’t ruin the book for me…however…..uh…yah.  I’m sure whoever typed it got paid..but yah….

     

    Category books | Tags: | No Comments

  4. go buy this RIGHT NOW!

    September 29, 2009 by shishnit

     

     

     

     

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  5. i heart him

    September 23, 2009 by shishnit

    “School did give me one of the greatest gifts of my life, though.  I learned how to read, and for that I remain thankful.  I would have died otherwise.  As soon as I was able, I read, alone.  Under the covers with a flashlight or in my corner of the attic – I sought solace in books.  It was from books that I started to get an inkling of the kinds of assholes I was dealing with.  I found allies too, in books, characters my age who were going through or had triumphed against the same bullshit.
                                                                                                    Craig Ferguson
                                                                                                    American on Purpose
     

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