February 16, 2015 My ‘ancient’ Kindle.
Good day word seeker, and welcome to Week 193 of Value Priced Reading at its best. You could pay more, but why?
Speaking of reading, I’m starting to feel a little inadequate over my first generation Kindle reader. It’s just the basic dark grey model that came out a few years ago. It doesen’t have a lighted screen, it doesen’t play music, it doesen’t have WI-FI (why what???) and it pokes along at a snail-like 3G pace. I think it does have a couple of word games on it, but I’ve forgotten how to find them. (Lessee, do I go to Menu or Home?)
Mainly, it reads. The thing still amazes me. Sure, it takes a little while to order something from Big Daddy Amazon Up There In The Sky, and it has a few hard-to-read letters on its funny little keyboard due to heavy usage, but it still faithfully cranks out the reading material, page by page and book by book. I think there’s about a hundred books on there by now, and it shows no sign of overload, plus there’s a lot of stuff in its files ordered by other people in the family. It’s the handiest thing for traveling and it doesen’t need to be charged up every fifteen minutes like some cellphones. That last statement is only a slight exaggeration.
“So, when are you getting a new one?” Sally asked the other day. “You can hardly even read that goofy little keyboard anymore.”
“New one? This one is only about 10 percent full. And I know what those keys are, even if they’re nearly rubbed off. It’s just like a typewriter keyboard. Almost.”
“Yeah, but look at this,” she said, flaunting her not-quite-new-but-still-newer-than –mine model. “It lights up. It’s got sound. You can even get on-line when the moon is in the right phase. And it has a cute pink case.”
“Books don’t need lights and sound,” I harrumphed. “They just need eyes. If I want to get on-line I’ll just to my ancient laptop. And how would I look with a pink case?”
“You’d be stylin’. It doesen’t have to be pink,” she said encouragingly. “Just something that says ‘I’m hip and happening, not some guy out of 1947’. Something that says ‘I’m a contemporary American techno-savvy dude.’”
I sighed. She may be right. Still, I hated to replace anything that has served me so well. I mean, I’m still mourning the loss of dial telephones, but don’t get me started on that. This rugged little Kindle is a survivor. I’ve dropped it on the floor at least once, and it’s survived numerous falls to my chest as I drop off to sleep while trying to read in bed. I DO have a permanent dent in my sternum from the thing landing there, but that’s my problem.
The only problem with the new one is its handy case, which turns into a stand. The thing is so heavy I’m gonna need a chest protector for bedtime.
You’ve been putting a lot of effort into our weekly trivia quiz this time, so let’s see what’s up with your answers….
Terry got Jim Nebergall as the GBHS basketball coach in the ‘60s and also mentioned his wife Betty, also a GBHS faculty member. I think Jim was also building a homebuilt airplane in his garage for some years. The Tribune even had a story on it. Wonder if he ever finished it before they moved out of town.
Kim gave us ‘Moonlighting’ as the ‘80s detective series that had a future action hero (Bruce Willis) and a former fashion model (Cybil Shepherd) as the leads. Very good detective work!
Josie knew that the VW was the car we were asking about that had funny little ‘pop-up’ turn signals on its early models. I remember seeing a few of those in the ‘50s. Pretty amusing, but effective.
In other business, Terry mentioned longtime GB instructor John Keller as a former basketball star with the KU Jayhawks and also a member of the 1952 Olympic team. Yes, he was a nice guy; my wife taught with him at Roosevelt Jr High and would agree with that. On lunch periods he would play a little basketball with the kids in the lunchroom parking lot across the street. He probably inspired a few future GBHS players.
Kim also mentioned that John was a very patient driver’s ed teacher. Sounds like she knew this from personal experience. Thanks to all for your comments.
Okay, one question left over from last week: what well known national retailer started out making a boot that didn’t work very well?
And a few new ones for you to cogitate over…
Who was one of the driver’s ed teachers after John Keller? He later became an assistant principal and eventually a superintendent.
What group had a 1967 top ten hit about hot air ballooning?
What car maker got disgusted with his bosses and went out on his own making trucks that used the initials of his own name?
Have yourself a nifty week ahead. I look forward to visiting with you next week.
John
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has rescinded a former governor’s order barring discrimination against gays and lesbians in hiring and employment throughout much of state government.
