The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men…

Apropos of my prior entry, it seems that darling Amazon has made something of a game-changing announcement: The Kindle2, originally (well, as of my recent consideration) selling for $299 USD has dropped impressively (!) in price. It is now $259 USD – which makes a refurbished unit only $40 USD less, and immediately calls into question whether or not such a discount is worthwhile.

In addition, and substantially far more suited to my particular needs and desires, is the introduction of the Kindle International, which is retailing now for $279 USD – and, most fantastically, supports wireless access in over 100 countries. Given that this purchase (if/when it occurs) will likely have international travel and research as an impetus, this development is wonderful. At the very least, I am planning on spending summer 2010 traveling and studying abroad (and perhaps even conducting research), and don’t have the capacity to bring another entire suitcase of books. In the ‘best case’ scenario, there is a distinct possibility that I may be abroad from May 2010 through August 2011, and therefore realize the necessity of a Kindle. Either way, it looks assuredly now that one is in my future.

As expected, the Times did a lovely short article (New Kindle Will Download Books Abroad), which has been at #1 on their “Most Read” list all morning.

The Most Sincere of Apologies, &c.

I’ve been terrible about updating. Don’t take such behavior to heart, kind reader, as it’s really no reflection upon you: my life is essentially the same day-to-day, and while I could make repetitive posts about my activities, it would do neither me, nor you, any good to spend much time reading (or writing) such things.

My little time-keeping experiment was, suffice to say, derailed by the most nasty of headcolds: to complete something of an unholy Trinity, Mr. S provided me with a bunch of wildflowers, a Spock drinking glass (which I had been coveting since the dawn of such promotion-), and a dastardly rhinovirus. Relegated to a number of days sleeping, ingesting clear liquids (primariy ginger ale, of which – as I am told by the gracious disease-giver – reminds him of airplane rides; for when else does one drink ginger ale if not on an airplane?), and – admittedly in the most seductive fashion possible – bent over my sink, neti pot firmly penetrating my nostril. Rapturous, as one is wont to say.

A more complete update will, of course, come soon. For now, though, I reside in a tiny Moravian millhouse-cum-Inn, straddling the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. My return to the midwest comes in approximately four days, eight hours, thirty four minutes, and three seconds.