Those of you who know me personally know that I am hardly shy with my opinions. You also know that I can get enthusiastic about some things. On occasion I wish I had a pulpit into which I could climb to deliver my sermon on the things in life that bring me joy, piss me off or simply amuse me to death.
And then I remembered that I have a blog!
There are three things that lately I've been wishing I could tell the world about.
1. I heart NPR. I'm definitely one of those tree hugging animal loving(ex) prius driving latte drinking lefty liberals that I hear associated with NPR and I'm proud of it. I though I was NPR's target demographic. But then I spent several runs listening to an episode of one of my favorite NPR shows (they were pathetically short runs) and now I'm wondering if maybe I've simply been buying into the dead-horse stereotypes that are tossed around in an attempt to dismiss NPR wholesale.
I'm linking to this podcast for two reasons - I think that the various research referenced makes a compelling case that NPR does NOT have a liberal bias, but more so because I LOVE this show. It's buried at o'dark hundred on the weekend and if I get to hear it, it's only partially as I get ready for a ride. Maybe this is a controversial episode to recommend if you've never listened to this show, but if it's too much for you, pick another. BTW - the hosts are the real deal and funny to boot.
On the Media: Does NPR have a Liberal Bias? (Sept 14, 2012)
2. I have a second NPR show that I want to tell the world about. It hasn't been on long, but I absolutely adore it and it's become one of my go-tos for runs, again because it's buried at some ungodly hour of the weekend morning. I have a history degree and am fascinated by this strange, interesting, highly self-reflective country, and this show tickles all my fancies. The basic premise is that each show tackles a current theme and discusses that theme from the point of view of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries in America. I learn something new every single episode (who knew that barring foreigners from voting is relatively recent!). Again, if you don't want your xmas/hanukkah/kwanza bubbles burst, pick a different episode to listen to. And AgainX2, these guys are very funny.
Back Story: Naughty & Nice: A History of the Holiday Season
3. I'm a middle-aged woman. Sigh. That truth has been making itself more and more self-evident over the past year. In one major way, it's been undeniable - my eyesight is going. Please let it be known that I hereby apologize to my mother for ever teasing her about needing glasses (and needing the chain to hang them around her neck because she couldn't find them), or needing me to thread her needles or holding written materials further and further from her face. It's been an exponential decline over the past 18-24 months. I can't read emails on my iPhone first thing in the morning, I need glasses to read the newspaper and in the afternoon, before I've made my coffee, I have to don glasses to work on the computer.
The need for glasses thing isn't the reason I am in love with my Kindle, but it's definitely been the most delightful, gratifying, life-changing revelation about owning one. I finally broke down and bought the cheapest Kindle possible (the Paperwhite - it's only a Kindle - it doesn't surf the web, run apps, make coffee - it only displays books for reading) when I was in the middle of a six book series of very fat, very heavy books and when I found myself with many more opportunities to red on the Metro. Did you know that you can change the size of the font in two easy taps on the screen? So in the morning when my eyes are still adjusting to the day, I can have a bigger font. And did you know you can adjust the lighting so in the evening I can have low light so it doesn't strain my eyes? Not to mention the ease of finding and purchasing books. I can even check out Kindle books from my local library via Amazon! And it's teeny tiny and weighs nothing.
Yeah yeah yeah. I know that I'm supposedly "in technology" for a career and that I'm coming late too the Kindle party. But I still want to shout it from the mountaintop how incredibly wonderful and life-changing my Paperwhite is.
That's it. Three things that I adore with all my heart.
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