Free Kindle

Yesterday, I just got my Kindle, for free! No, I'm not kidding, this is not a joke. I received an e-mail from Amazon announcing a new free Kindle application for the PC. That's right; Amazon has now offered the free Kindle application that you can download and install on your PC running XP, Vista, or Windows 7. Anyone with an Amazon account can now have the Kindle on their PC to download their books and have their library with them where ever they go.

 
I'm really excited about mine. I right away went to Amazon's Kindle store, searching the catalog for books that I may be interested in. To my surprise, I found hundreds of the great old classics that are totally free. Others that are in the catalog are greatly discounted for the Kindle. I quickly 'purchased' three of the free ones for my Kindle that I had read as a youngster. How nice it is to find these books and read them again. When you go to the Amazon Kindle store I think you'll be surprised at the selection of books you can purchase for your Kindle.
The Kindle for PC doesn't have all the features of the actual Kindle reader; but who cares? You won't be able to download magazines or newspapers, or be able to print out selections. But for reading your books, highlighting text, and bookmarking pages, I think this will serve you well. Although I don't own a Kindle reader, they say if you have one, you can even synchronize you Kindle reader with the PC one.
Now that you know it's there, if you have an Amazon account, get yours. If you don't have an Amazon account, I'd recommend that you open one and get yours too. Amazon is probably my favorite online store where I make many of my purchases. I've never been disappointed.
Now that I've got you to thinking, I have to go to my Kindle and continue reading an old classic that I hadn't read since childhood, 'Treasure Island'. It's still a good read.
-ED

Where is that File?

Have you ever looked for that elusive file on your computer and not been able to find it? You can't remember what folder it's in. You've searched, and searched some more and still can't find it. You're ready to pull your hair out because you don't know where it is! Well, I have the answer for you.
Just as you would search the internet, you can search your computer hard drive as well. In fact, you can search your entire network. Google has an application that is a free download called Google Desktop.
I just downloaded and installed it myself, and I love it! With Google Desktop I can now search my computer for that lost file as easily as I search the internet.
Once you've installed Google Desktop it will index all your files the same way Google indexes the files on the internet. This will take some time, maybe a few hours, depending on how many files you have on your computer's hard drive. If you want to search your entire network, you'll have to install Google Desktop on each computer to have Google Desktop index those files as well. While it's doing the indexing you can use your computer as usual. You can start doing searches, but you'll see a notification that it's a partial listing and the percentage that has been completed. Once the indexing is complete, you will no longer see the notification.
When you do a search for a file, you will enter a key word or words in the Google search box at the bottom of the side bar that Google Desktop installs on your computer. As you type you'll see some suggestions pop up above the search bar. Don't see the one you're looking for? Then click on "See all ….. in a Browser" and your browser will open with all the search results that Google Desktop has found. Is this cool or what! Now you'll see all the files that match your search criteria. You'll also see an icon before each file indicating the type of file it is, be it a PDF, Word, Excel, E-mail or whatever.
Now some of you may not want another sidebar on your monitor. I use mine because I like the gadgets that can be added to it, and I use dual monitors as well. You don't have to use the sidebar. You can place the search bar in the task bar, or if you don't want it there either, just click control twice and the search bar will appear in the middle of the screen, and there you'll have it to do your search. It seems Google has thought of everything.
Now, you might ask, but is there one for my computer? I don't run Windows. The answer is probably yes. Google has a version for Linux and the Mac also. So, give it a try, it only takes a few seconds to download and install this great application. And then take a look at all the other free apps that Google has to offer. You may find one that you just can't live without.
-Ed

To Drive or Not To Drive

This month is my birthday, and it was time to renew my driver's license. When I arrived at the DMV to renew it, I walked in with my walker. This raised some questions with the lady behind the counter. It ended up that I would need to have my doctor's okay before I could renew my license. Since I already knew that my neurologist would prefer that I didn't drive, (his words were, "I don't even want you driving around a logging camp") I chose to surrender my driver's license in favor of a new State ID instead. I might add that the person at the DMV commended me for voluntarily giving up my license.
In fact I haven't been driving much at all anyway. I parked my car last August, and since I bought a van with a wheel chair lift in December, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I've driven it. I don't mind not driving myself around. It's enjoyable now, having someone else do the driving when I need to go somewhere. I have two caregivers who can drive for me, as well as a number of friends who can drive for me also.
The point is that when the time comes to give up driving, we should recognize it and do the right thing and give it up. All too often we see someone driving around town that obviously is no longer capable of driving safely. Too many times do we see in the news where someone stomped the gas instead of the brakes and drove through a crowd of people or into a building. I certainly do not want to be that person.
I told my two daughters some time ago that if they see that I no longer can drive safely to take away my keys and not allow me to drive. Fortunately I still have my right mind (at least I'd like to believe that) and have made that decision for myself.
I'm only 62 this month and hopefully still have a lot of years left, but the safety of others comes first. There are folks who can drive safely even when they get well into their 70's or 80's, but when their skills decline they should, as I have done, give up their licenses and stop driving. And I might add if they won't give it up, then their loved ones should step in and stop them. I don't think it's a cruel thing to do, and not being able to drive one's own self doesn't take away their independence. I certainly find that I still have mine, although it is somewhat limited due to my disabilities.
In addition to when we should quit driving, how about thinking about when we should start. I see 16 year olds get their licenses and then off they go. They have to drive everywhere! Even though they are a few blocks from school they have to take the car. They could walk! I'm not against them getting their license, but until they gain experience, their driving should be limited and I would recommend an experienced driver being their copilot for a while after they get their license. I've seen firsthand the tragedy of inexperienced young drivers ending up in serious accidents because they haven't yet learned how to be a competent driver before turning them loose.
I hope that common sense will prevail and anyone reading this will take something from it. Explore the possibility of using public transportation, riding with friends or family, or just take a walk instead. You'll be glad you did.
-Ed