I just watched a video of Jon Stewart interviewing Jeff Bezos about Kindle 2Kindle 2.
My refer came from reading, Book Lovers: Stop Whining about the Wonderful “Feel of Paper” written by Chris Dannon for the Fast Company Blog.

Please wait to read that until after you finish reading this post, you’ll be glad you waited.

Book lovers how do you feel about Kindle 2, the digital book device from Amazon?

Before we go on, as a lifelong bibliophile, I have a confession to make. I haven’t read a
paper based non-fiction book in over a year. Mea culpa, mea culpa!

Come on give a guy a break. I’m computerized and IM’d. Where I used to feel guilty
reading a book when I thought I should be doing something else, now, I feel guilty
because I’m not reading books. No excuses. I live in Mountain View, CA, a city with
an outstanding library and it’s not far from my home.

However, I stray ..how are YOU doing on the book reading front? Better than me I hope. My wife, who was raised in a book starved home environment, now reads
several times as many books as I. Mysteries mostly - good- hard cover books -
not paperbacks, but hard cover ones out of the library.

Kindle 2? Not for her. Not likely for me. For different reasons we are not likely to pay
for a device that enables you to have access to thousands of books (at $9.95 each)
after paying the $395.00 for the Kindle 2. She’s not a techy and we both like to hold
books to read.

I may be an “early adopter” for some business things but not for pleasure, if you can
callreading a book off a Kindle - pleasure. The convenience I can see and appreciate.
However, I would miss moving all of my hundreds of books one more time. Being a
mobile pack rat bibliophile is a curse with its own punishment.

For those of you who have your own Kindle, what do you miss, if anything, using
the device and what particularly do you like about it ?

For those of you who have not had your Kindle fire lit, what, besides the price, is
keeping you from digitizing a bigger slice of your world?

Have you written about these digital developments affecting the publishing world?
Should you write about them? Can you afford to ignore them? If you are well
established perhaps not. Otherwise,…??

Let’s hear your views - comment or let us know where you have written on this
subject. At least get your feelings out and deal with them by writing.

Me? I’m going to reminisce about doing research in the special collections of the
top floors of the U. of Michigan libraries and remember vividly the smell, that
special smell, of old books. I may even get out a couple history books that were
first published in the 1860’s or 1870’s on the life Sen. James G. Blaine (Who?) I’ll
show Bezos and Kindle2.

Well, by now, I am sure you have a strong sense of my feelings about Kindle 1 or 2.
And, even more so, about the continuing loss of independent booksellers in the face
of the chains, the internet and Kindle. I hereby solemnly swear that I shall never
purchase a Kindle. And, if given one, I shall donate it to the library because I know
it has voice delivery as one of its features and those who are sight challenged may
enjoy its use.

This turned out kind of ranty didn’t it? There I go again with cause for another
“mea culpa”.

Now, I hope you turn off your computer and go read a book.

Me? I’ve got a couple of more posts to write ..

- Val Spangler, Mister Senior Blogger
@SeniorTweet on Twitter.com
Senior Writer Blog (you are here)
Comics Cartoons and Creativity
Business Twitter Uses(coming March 1st)

Tweet! It may be good for your writing.

Whether Twitter will improve your writing or not - it’s up to you.. I think it may have an effect. However, I can be sure that you will make new friends and renew acquaintences from around the country and around the world - some you’d never meet otherwise - expand your universe - it’s great fun! One caution: keep the discipline to manage your time to write. Let Twitter add to your writing - not detract from it.

Who among you are using Twitter?

Do you know where to go to find out?

Here’s the place - Twellow.com

Yes it’s a take off on the Yellow Pages - only with a focus on Twitter members.

When I did my last Twellow search for “writer” there were 13,849 people found on Twitter with some connection to or participation in writing activity.

(Searches are done within the bio, name, and location
sections Twitter users provide on their profiles.)

Here is what the Twellow login box looks like - you must be a member of Twitter
to search because your User Name and Password are required to use the system.
They provide a link to sign up if you are not a Twitter member. They also explain
what protections they provide for keeping private that information

Yes, that is a bit scary and enough so to scare many of you away. (Shades of
Brave New World, 1984 and Fahrenheit 451) Just gulp and do it or you become
too “out of it” for much of your audience. (I have to gulp! - sometimes two or
three times a day as I constantly modify my privacy protectionist nature.) Why?
Why do it? Curiousity and Legacy. Expand my audience - carefully.

Choices - so many choices!!! - - - Twellow?

Check it out - it doesn’t hurt for a writer, any writer, to be somewhat familiar with
the emerging developments in the digital universe, in this case the Twitterverse.
However, I will admit it does take a bit of courage to trust these systems and
those who operate or use them. You decide for yourself.

I hope your exploration will be worth your time. That is one of the challenges of
participating in the digital world and its access to new people and new information
- how do you manage your time exploring it?

You will note that there are very few, if any, “best seller names” in your “writer”
search results. Perhaps it is because they are too busy writing!

Twellow.com - Enrich your mind - explore your writer world - but don’t waste time.

Above all write!

Val Spangler, Mister Senior Blogger
Senior Writer Blog (You are here.)
@SeniorTweet on Twitter.com
Comics Cartoons and Creativity
Business Twitter Uses
(coming March 1st)

Expand your universe.

Meet new friends on Twitter. Friends from around the country and around the world - people you’d never meet otherwise - expand your universe - get new ideas - new contacts - expand your “writerverse”. Scary perhaps but great fun! My last caveat: Keep the discipline to manage your time to write. Let Twitter add to your writing - not be a distraction!

Kiosk Hosting Services: Quality-Service-Dependability-Opportunity

This post is a followup to previous Ampersands cartoons discussions.

My granddaughter had seen my Ampersands on my computer and the other day
she asked me if I had any more Ampersand stories. I did. So I got it up on her
computer and “PLOP” she was on my knee and wanting to read the dialogue
with me. Interesting idea for a parent or for teachers (absent the knee “touching”).

When we finished I asked her if she liked that - of course, she did- it was her idea!
Then she surprised me by indicating she’d like to do it. “Do what?” I said. She had
already written up a “newspaper” in her own handwriting and drawing with the
Ampersands - so that was what I thought she meant. NO, she wanted the
cartoon strip with blank balloons that she could fill in. So for me a new challenge.
How to get them printed out in workable order - - working on it.

My questions for you parent or teacher - Could you make use of such a product-
either a how-to-do-it for yourself or a block of cartoon templates with blank
balloons for the kids to fill in.

Writers? What is in there in this example and model that is of benefit to you?
I would imagine writers for children might find it somewhat interesting but what
about you more “advanced” writers - any use to you?

Take look and tell me what you think. Parents especially - what about this as an
addition to your rainy day activity arsenal? Imagination, writing, storytelling/
speaking, relationship skills, what else can you think of that might be a benefit?
Here goes…

Lunch time in the schoolyard.

What ideas pop into your head? Can you see yourself making use of writing exercise
like this for your children or students?

Writers - are you looking for a product model to develp for a new income stream?

Let me know what you think? I’ll keep at it and learn more about the most efficient
ways to get these cartoon blanks to you (and F*r*e*e!).

Tell me a story, _________, pleeease!

_ Val Spangler

Tweet me @SeniorTweet

The Ampersands, Rhoid and Rah, Can they stimulate your writing?

What gets your writing juices flowing? Take a look at this blank cartoon template
and get into the characters enough to develop a brief exchange that you think
would begin to build their identities.

What does it mean to be an ampersand?

What’s in a name? Why Rhoid? Why Rah?

What do you think of the comic strip layout? Confining? Challenging? what does it
do to your thinking, if anything?

If you are active on Twitter, can you see the parallels between the 140 limit and
getting what you want to say inside the balloons?

Do you think this kind of a device would work well in the classroom? What level?

Please share your thoughts.

Tweet me on Twitter - @SeniorTweet

Thanks for visiting. Hope this was of some value to you and your writing.

- Val Spangler
Mister Senior Blogger
Senior Writer Blog (you are here)
@SeniorTweet on Twitter
Comics Cartoons and Creativity

If you can’t find something to write about in the descriptions of the innovations,
you are in an advanced stage of … writer’s block.

The Nightly Business Report- The Top 30 Innovations of the Last 30 Years

An easy way to access the information is in a slide
show - the 30 innovations are presented in reverse order
30th first. Go here for the annotated list.

http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/features/special/subdir/top-30-innovations_slide-show/

For those that don’t have the time at the moment to look at the
explanations - here’s the list in descending order:

1. Internet/Broadband/World Wide Web
2. PC/Laptop Computers
3. Mobile Phones
4. E-Mail
5. DNA Testing and Sequencing/Human Genome Mapping
6. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
7. Microprocessors
8. Fiber Optics
9. Office Software
10. Non-Invasive Laser/Robotic Surgery
11. Open Source Software and Services
12. Light Emitting Diode products (LEDs)
13. Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs)
14. GPS
15. Online Shopping/E-Commerce/Auctions
16. Media File Compression
17. Microfinance
18. Photovoltaic Solar Energy
19. Large Scale Wind Turbines
20. Social Networking via Internet
21. Graphic User Interface (GUI)
22. Digital Photography/Videography
23. RFID and Applications
24. Genetically Modified Plants
25. Biofuels
26. Bar Codes and Scanners
27. ATMs
28. Stents (Heart)
29. SRAM/Flash Memory
30. Anti-Retroviral Treatment for AIDS

For those that have the time to study the list - go through the slide show and
then print out the list. Take a few minutes to review the list and see if you agree
or disagree with the order of importance.

If in the review of the list there is a topic in which you are vitally interested, go
with it and write. about it. You may focus only on that topic or in its relative
ranking on the list or both.

Or, take on the whole list and question the implicit bias in the ordering of the list.

Or, … have fun and enjoy the process - a lot of big ideas with very, very
interesting repurcussions on us and our world. Keep us posted about either
through commenting or email or Twitter.

- Val Spangler
Senior Writer Blog (you are here).
@SeniorTweet at Twitter.com
Mister Senior Blogger
Twitter Uses
Comics Cartoons and Creativity

You'l be glad you did!

@SeniorTweet at Twitter.com

I just turned 70!

Come celebrate with me and read my little bit of humble poetry.

So surprised how that can be
To have come this far, so little legacy.
But I’m determined as you will see.
To build a proud and proper legacy.

The past was fast.
The future a little slow
So far to go of Frost I think.
Miles to go before I sleep.

And miles to go before I sleep.
But I too have promises to keep.
To myself and others,
my love is deep.

I say to you out there
Do not despair.
Get off your butt
and out of your chair.

Take action. Take care.
Love. And help others bear.
The burdens that we all can share.
Fill the void with words of hope.

To better help all others cope.
With negativity this slippery slope.
A nod, a little smile.
To help all with that extra mile.

We each must take that extra step
To keep promises made, promises kept.
To build that legacy, a promise I must keep.
And miles to go before I sleep.

Come join with me in building legacy.
Each day the best we can.
Whether woman, whether man.
Wherever we are, whatever we can.

No footsteps washed away with tide.
A legacy we make with pride.
Our loves, our family by our side.
Proud legacy, no need to hide.

No need to wander.
No need to roam.
Your legacy
Should start at home.

I ask you friend - come write with me to build YOUR LEGACY!

- Val Spangler, Mister Senior Blogger

You

Please follow me -> http://twitter.com/SeniorTweet/

Just came across this viral marketing tool for referrals to your Twitter page.
Here are a few examples

Do use graphics in your posts much?
Should you?

Do you use Twitter?
Should you?

If you use Twitter, do you think TwitStamp is a beneficial viral marketing tool?

- Val Spangler, Mister Senior Blogger and SeniorTweet on Twitter

http://twitter.com/SeniorTweet

One of my backburner projects is a “how-to” ebook for teachers
called, “Cartoon Writing Prompts”.

After putting a few cartoons on my relatively new blog,
Comics Cartoons and Creativity ( http://ccandcblog.com ),
I have gotten some good response (Tweetbacks) on Twitter.
Well, I said to myself, “Why not do it for other writers?”
So here is my last creation. Tell me what thoughts and
writing it prompts, if any …

Was any writing prompted?

I waited to give the title, ‘Dealing with One’s Identity’ to you so your response
would be a more wholistic one to the whole cartoon experience. The whole idea
is to create a different experience for the viewer, whether writer or not.

Well, did the cartoon content or the characters, Rhoid and Rah, stimulate any
thoughts? Any writing ideas? Did you begin to get a feel for the characters,
Rhoid and Rah? Ladies, did you identify with Rah? Any, “been there, done that”
kind of feelings evoked? Describe them in writing for yourself …
(and then comment for me).

Web designers and bloggers need feedback too. Yours would be appreciated.

Would you consider including any comic strips or cartoons in any of your articles
or other writing pieces? I’m working on a how-to ebook on how to simply create
cartoons and comic strips even with very limited artistic ability. (You can see
that’s my condition - nothing fancy in my cartoon figures.) Would you be
interested in such an ebook? (Again, comment and let me know - include the
kinds of writing you do.)

Got an extra minute or two? Take the extra step and …

Follow SeniorTweet on Twitter.

Many writers are either afraid of Twitter or look down their noses at it.
Don’t be and don’t do it. If this ole guy can use it effectively than you
can. Tweeting can be good practice for brevity and careful choice of words.

However, it’s biggest benefit for writers is that it can vastly expand
your audience. It’s not just any audience either. It is a self-select-in
audience. They come to you because they connect with you and your tweets.
Want traffic to that moldering web site yearning for visitors - then Tweet!
You’ll find new friends and followers from around the world.

Plus you can get some great bliss hits, how-to tips and you can identify
other writers, their blogs/websites.Study how they go about using the
internet to further their missions and expand their audience.

It’s a great feeling waking up in the morning to find Tweets and DM’s
(Direct Messages) from people halfway around the world. They are writing
while you are sleeping and vice-versa. Compliments about something you’ve
done are all the better - talk about motivation!

This post is a result of one such contact - not from around the world -
from my old home state of Michigan. I.C.Jackson signed up as one of my
“followers”. That led me to her Twitter page and then to her blog. And
what a nice blog it is. I share this photo of a caterpillar from her blog
with you then explain below …

The Mind of a Caterpillar

Just the experience of viewing another writer’s blog is both informative
and motivating. What can you learn from what they have learned or not.
Be a better writer - improve on your writing and marketing thereof by
reviewing and analyzing works of others. Write down your thoughts and
the pros and cons of their efforts. Great learning opportunity!

Thanks to I.C. Jackson for initiating the contact that motivated me to visit her blog and then do this post.

- Val Spangler, Mister Senior Blogger

Please Tweet Me ...

For those who suffer from verbosity
Take a lengthy trip in Twitterosity.

It’s not perverse to be terse.
For practice could be worse.

Your wordplay will improve
But discipline I behoove.

It’s hard to get traction
If you live with distraction.

So if you want to be shorty
And stay within one forty.

Don’t Twhirl or you’ll unfurl.
Turn the sound down please girl.

And don’t combine SADD
With this new form called TADD.

You’ll have crossed the border
To Twitter Attention Deficit Disorder,

What it does to your mind
Is rather unkind.

Your life’ll be in shambles
Your writing will be all rambles.

Like this one!

Now don’t be unkind with this wordplay of mind
Just emphasize the “play” when you start your new day.

Good night!

- Val Spangler, Mister Senior Blogger.

If you dare, please follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SeniorTweet