I love to read, always have — what a surprise right?  And I always thought I liked the actual books but now I know it is really the content I love — the ideas, the puzzles, the stuff that makes you think and imagine.  And I know this how?  I am in love with my Amazon Kindle.  I thought it would be great for taking a bunch of books away with me when I’m gone for several weeks or so.  Less weight since air travel is such a pain these days.  I wanted to try it out as I have always love to gadgets.  I was amazed last November when a plane I was on had half the people using ebook readers.

So I downloaded a bunch of books to take away with a month ago.  BTW, it is easy on the Kindle as it has wireless capabilities.   I loved the feel of the Kindle, the weight, the ease of use as soon as I started using it.  I could bump the font up so I don’t have to squint (yeah, I’m getting old!).  I could take it anywhere; even on the bright sunny beach it excelled.  The one thing I had not anticipated was that I could rest the reader on my knee, on the back of the seat in front of me on the plane, on a pillow and only flick the next page button — so almost hands free,  amazing.  The Kindle even passed the bathtub test ( I didn’t drop it) although I’m now trying to design a bathtub accessory for hands free usage!

After reading 3 ebooks, I read a trade paperback and couldn’t wait to get back to the Kindle.  So I now know it is definitely all about the content, not the format, for me.  There will be many less piles of books in my future, and many more ebooks in my Kindle.  Oh Kindle, My Kindle, I love you!’

I also think it’s interesting that Deloitte’s top predicition for TMT (Technology, Media, Telecommunications) in their Canadian predictions for 2010 is, “E-readers will see strong growth in 2010, but this will slow down the following year due to competition from other mobile devices like smart phones, netbooks and tablets. Deloitte anticipates e-readers will ultimately remain a niche device, while e-book sales skyrocket.”  Content rules, containers change and so do we!

Yippee, it’s spring, finally!  I’ve seen a robin and the cardinals are in the backyard.  It’s been a bright sunny week — love it.  And there are only a few patches of ice and snow in shady corners.  But the best part is today’s Google pic by illustrator Eric Carle.  His most famous book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, is celebrating its 40th anniversary and today’s Google pic features this famous character.  As youngsters my kids loved his books and Brown Bear, Brown Bear was also one of their favs.  If you need gifts for little ones, these are fabulous.  And if you have a little one to ready with, have fun with them.  Thanks, as always, Google for the great pics.  I love ‘em.

I’ve been thinking a lot about news and newspapers lately as many friends say goodbye to their newspaper careers.  So I was interested in this post by Jeff Jarvis, journalist, media consultant, founder of DayLife, an online news source and content platform, and \author of What Would Google Do?

“The Guardian just announced that it is releasing all its content through an API as well as making available many different data sets through a data store, all of which can be mashed up into others’ sites and applications. They join other organizations - the BBC, National Public Radio, and The New York Times - in releasing APIs; notes that it’s the creme of news that sees the wisdom in APIs. The Guardian’s offers more than headlines: articles, video, galleries, everything. It also adds one more important element to its offering: a business model, creating an ad network for users of the API.”  There’s lots more interesting stuff, and then,

“News organizations already lost control of packaging, whether they all knew it or not, when most of us most days come to content not through carefully designed home pages but through search and links and now Facebook. The media brand is less a destination and a magnet to draw people there than a label once you’ve found the content, wherever and however you found it. So the more places you can find it, the better.”

It’s so cool that Google recognizes Dr. Seuss and the years of children’s laughter (well actually adults love his stuff too!).  I love Google pics and this one especially.  It reflects all the books, films, and learning surrounding Seussville and Dr. Seuss’ many wonderful creations. Thanks!

Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet & American Life Project, was kind enough to send me a copy of a new book that he and Associate Director Susannah Fox put together with Janna Quitney Anderson, Associate Professor, Elon University’s School of Communications & Director of the Imagining the Internet Center.  The book is called Up for Grabs: The Future of the Internet, Volume I. It covers a range of topics including: social networks, digital products, civit engagement, formal education, families, extreme communities, politics, health system change, personal entertainment, creativity, and lots more.  The authors surveyed many technology experts and found much agreement about where digital hardware and software are heading and that technologies will become even more important in users’ everyday lives.  Lots of interesting disagreement and discussion around: the likelihood of an attack on the Internet, the “internet of things”, the changing of the formal education processes, the flourishing of individual creativity, social groups of all kinds, and other topics.  There is no question, however, that Pew’s premise holds true: the Internet, as a tool, influences human endeavors and there is a need to produce research testing the power and degree of those influences.

Also note, Lee Rainie is the opening keynote speaker at Computer in Libraries 2009, March 30th, Hyatt Regency Crystal City.  His talk — Friending Libraries: The Nodes in People’s Social Networks.

Darlene Fichter pointed us to this new book by Rohit Bhargava, who writes the popular Influential Marketing Blog, something to which we should all be paying attention.  The book webstie is rich with ideas and information, including a 5 minute video clip, podcasts, and lots more.  I look forward to more ideas when I actually read the book!