Twitter

For the first time tonight, I thought about giving into twitter-mania.
I was going to post my "status" on my facebook, and I thought of so many little things I could say!
I get it now!

Have I given in? Not yet... as of 9:04pm (PST) tonight.

But I'm considering it. ...man would it be random!

New Years... um... Decisions

Yes, it's a little late for "New Years Resolutions," but I put off making them admitting them because I want my word to mean something, and usually my resolutions make my word less credible. So, this year, 2010, I've resolved DECIDED two things (about my book life):
1. I want to know who Jesus is, because I think I've lost sight of Him in focusing on myself and the Church. So I'm going to study the Bible and other writtings to re-discover Jesus and what is important to Him.
2. I will read as many "cultural" books as possible (more specifically, books that are written by non-American writers and/or take place in a country other than the United States.)

My "cultural" reading list includes (but not limited to):

• Swallows of Kabul Yasmina Khadra and John Cullen
• Bliss by Zülfü Livaneli (currently reading)
• Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
• A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
• The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad (which I don't yet own)
• In Spite of the Gods: The Rise of Modern India by Edward Luce
• First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung 
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
  

As I read, I'll update the list by crossing out the ones I've read or adding any new ones I find.

I think this will be a good year (of reading). And it's off to a great start already!
Let me know if you have any suggestions or would like to join me!

Teaching The Hunger Games in the Classroom

This spring while I'm student teaching I may be teaching a unit on the Lord of the Flies (William Golding). I have to admit that I've never read it before, but what I have read is The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins). Now that's something I'd really love to teach because it'd be so much fun so educational. So I decided to look up how teachers are using the Hunger Games in the classroom. Here's an interesting article I found:  Literary Smack-down: Lord of the Flies VS. The Hunger Games

 Perhaps, if there is time and I can handle it, I can work in The Hunger Games.

The Final (so far) Christmas/Birthday List

(yes, they're basically the same holiday)

1. Apple iPod Classic 120GB Black
2. Tom's Shoes - Ash Canvas - Womens 6
3. Bare Minerals Getting Started Kit - Fair (or the individual make-up items sold separately)
4. The Legend of Zela: Spirit Tracks

Books:

• Dismantled by Jennifer Mcmahon
• Hello, I Must Be Going by Christie Hodgen
• Swallows of Kabul
• Why Faith Matters by Wolpe
• The Translator by Daoud Hari
• Wicked: The Musical: A Pop-up Consortium

CDs:

• Zee Avi
• Ingrid Michaelson

DVDs:

• Bolt (DVD & Blu-Ray set)
• Animaniacs DVDs any vol. 1-3
  

Another Christmas Idea

Imagine if people started putting "Donation to..." on their Christmas list! That'd be pretty cool.

Nook or Not?

I find the Barnes and Noble Nook intriguing, as I've found ereaders intriguing in general. I haven't yet decided between becoming a Nook owner, holding out for a better product, or resisting the movement. Here is why (specifically in regards to the Nook):

What I like:

• Finally, I don't have to hold the pages open (yes, I'm that lazy)
• My books can go where I go - that's right Aaron, the multiple books I'm currently reading won't be piled on the kitchen table, coffee table, and dresser anymore!
  
• It has a seemingly very vibrant color touch screen, which displays the books by cover
  
• Newspapers and magazines that MIGHT be worth subscribing to if the nook is already in my hands:
• Los Angeles Times
• The New Yorker
• how about Christianity today or Relevant? I know thecomplete list hasn't been released, but I'd be interested to know what else will be available. It's a  pro & con: maybe some mags and newspapers will be good, but I wont be subscribing to RealSimple - it's not the same in black and white.
• You can add a Micro SD card and expand your library
• "From Treasure Island to Pride and Prejudice, download thousands of free titles."
• Nook supports PDF 
• It's more customizable than the Kindle
• Nook stores music (although this wouldn't be it's primary use, it's a nice addition)
• Nook includes a full dictionary, which I find very useful (especially when reading Anna Karenina)
  

But, what I don't like:

• It's a little small (7.7 x 4.9 x 0.50 inches)
  
• Members and EMPLOYEES do not get discounts on nook or on B&N eBooks, while right now I can borrow hard covers from B&N for free up to two weeks and I get 30% off all book purchases
  
• Nook does not have a web browser while the Kindle goes to Wikipedia
• Nook lacks text-to-speech
• Nook lets you loan eBooks to friends, free of charge, but only once and for a 14 day limited time.
  As a reviewer said, " the ownership concept is a little bit abstract." Can B&N take books back after you buy them like Kindle once did?
• Gift Cards and Gift Certificates cannot be used to purchase eBooks
  
  

Are these aspects enough to deter me from getting one?  I honestly haven't decided. The thing that is causing so much doubt in the Nook is the lack of discounted books. I own a lot of books that I haven't yet read - would it be worth it to buy a device that I would need to fill with more books? I've heard the argument that I could sell some of my books to pay for digital copies, but is everyone going to be doing that? Will my books actually sell for a competitive price or a price comparable to the digital copies?

Something else to consider: which books are available?

Books I'd be interested in purchasing digitally that I've been able to find: 

• Swallows of Kabul  (book:$13.95/ ebook:$10.40)
• Why Faith Matters by Wolpe (book: $14.99/ ebook: $9.59)  
• The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur by Daoud Hari (book: $13.00/ ebook: $10.40)
• Dimantled by Jennifer Mcmahon (book: $24.99/ ebook:$9.99)
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy (book: $14.95/ ebook:$11.96)
• Miles from Nowhere by Nami Mun (book: $21.95/ ebook:$17.56)
• Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi (book: $15.00/ ebook:$12.00)
• Cruel and Unusual Punishment by Nonie Darwish (book: $24.99/ ebook:$9.99)
• Hold Love Strong by Matthew Aaron Goodman (book: $24.99/ ebook:$19.99)
• The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose (book: $24.99/ ebook:$19.99)
• The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha  (book: $22.95/ ebook:$9.99)  

Books I want in digital format, but can't find:

• Hello, I Must Be Going by Christie Hodgen
• Hearing God by Dallas Willard
•  A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry 

 It's a better turn up than I thought it would be, but are the prices fair? Are they worth buying in digital format for that price? I'll never be able to resell them. I'll never be able to pass them on to a friend. I'll never be able to lend them to someone who does not have a nook.  

And those are my thoughts. What are yours?

Mend: Know Who Made Your Bag!

MEND: Aromorach Monica from MEND on Vimeo.