Mad Men Yourself is Going Viral

I enjoy Mad Men. In promotion of their third season, AMC put together a make your own Mad Men character. It's going viral. Be prepared to see these pictures across Facebook, Twitter, gchat, etc... for approx three weeks.

To the left is mine. Coffee in hand obviously. I'm smoking because I would have smoked in the 60's back when it was healthy.

Make your own at http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/madmenyourself/

My Kindle

I've written before on this blog about the Kindle; now, I can write about my own Kindle. It came on Tuesday; so, I've had a few days with it.

First impressions:

The e-ink screen delivers a great and easy reading experience - outside in the sun or inside. It's small, but doesn't feel fragile.

Although elegant, I enjoy reading with it in the case; the case gives it a little more bulk.

I downloaded a couple book samples, about the first 20 pages; when I found a book I didn't want to stop reading, I was able to purchase the book. Reading a sample in the comfort of your own home is better than squatting on any available stool at the bookstore and living it constant fear of a snarky employee who might inform you that "the book you're reading is for sale."

Another great feature is the dictionary. If you don't know a word, simply put your cursor next to it and it shows a short 2 line definition at the bottom of the page. I'm surprised how often I use this feature.

I'm bad with book marks, and the Kindle saves my spot which is great.

Looking for a passage or random thought, you can search through all your notes and books.

Overall, if you travel often, like to read, or read several things at once the Kindle is a great product. You might miss books for a while, but you won't when you move and all you have to do is put your Kindle in your back backpack like usual.

Amazon is making a good move by engineering a great e-book reader and keeping people used to buying books.

Improving My Grammar

For many years, I've struggled with grammar. Over time, I've been working to improve it. Reading out loud and making a conscious effort have helped over the years. Also, I've come to depend on great resources like Elements of Style.

Another resource I particularly enjoy is the NYTimes blog, After Deadline. The blog examines grammar, usage, and style in NYTimes articles. It's a fun read. Really. They post some engaging quizzes and it's since to know the professionals miss mistakes too.

Recent Reads

Books purchased last month:

Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
Clockers by Richard Price
Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead

Short descriptions of what I read last month:

Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead: Love the 80's, beach towns, summer jobs, and BBQs. Whitehead's prose is a humorous delight that is sprinkled and brought to life with numerous cultural references. Fastest 272 pages ever. Read it.

Blood Meridian: Or the Evening of Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy: Classic. Blood Meridian, set in 1850 near the Texas-Mexico border, follows the story of a 14 year old Tennessean kid who gets entangled in a gang of Indian hunters. Not for the faint of heart. McCarthy, who also wrote No Country for Old Men and The Road, is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Read it.

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie: I've had this since he came to speak at Lawrence. Rushdie is a fantastic writer, but Midnight's Children took some time. A humorous and thoughtful journey intertwined with India's history. Read it if you have a need for an accomplishment.

Read two of four. Not bad. My Kindle should arrive soon.

Why I Ride

After some time in Maryland and DC on my steel horse, I passed by Revolution Cycles in Georgetown. I've been to Revolutions twice to pick up accessories; they're courteous helpful and an overall great bike shop; so, I tend to give a nod when I pass. Pinned up in the front window was a notice announcing the arrival of the new electronic shifting system from Shimano.

So now, bicycles may have electronic parts. Not trying to sound like Ray Bradbury here, but that's not cool with me. One of my favorite things bicycles is that they're powered, propelled, fueled by me. It's me, wheels, levers, pulleys, and cranks: a combination of simple machines.

Am I old? No. I just enjoy the elegant simplicity bicycles offer. On a day to day basis I'm hauled up gazing at a computer screen; it's nice to lose that attachment to electronics for a while.