owners --- the version 2.3 software update includes support for rendering .pdf files.
Here is a .pdf file I copied onto my Kindle, shown in portrait mode:
And here's the PDF file shown in landscape mode:
This software update also allows for manual screen rotation!
I should also point out that they've consolidated Kindle 2
There is also an update for the Kindle DX
This book, Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st Century Writer
Really, this is a useful book.
In Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them
In Ron Carlson Writes a Story
In A Dangerous Profession: A Book About the Writing Life
Anyway, I felt really bad that this bird was trapped in my basement. So I put out water and food, and opened the door for hours at a time for several days in a row, hoping he would sense the open outside door and fly to freedom. I was in knots, worried the bird would die, trapped in my dark basement.
But after several days of Operation: Rescue the Little Bird, the stubborn bird was still there.
So, finally, in a fit of desperation, I opened the door to the outside and made a big production of stomping and waving my arms, shaking a broom like a Wild Thing, trying to scare the bird out the door. I was willing to be the angry monster, for a short time, if it meant the bird would survive.
But the little bird just looked at me, hopped from clothes line to rafter, then promptly left via the tiny unused dryer vent leading outside.
So then I felt bad that I had scared the bird, who knew what he was doing the whole time.
Weeks went by with no sign of the little bird in my basement, and me with guilt for being the big bully.
So tonight when I went down to do laundry I was happy to see the little bird again, teleporting to and fro in my basement. And this time I didn't stomp around or wave my arms, but quietly walked back upstairs.
]]>Be sure to check out the forthcoming Richmond Noir, an anthology of original noir stories by Dean King, Laura Browder, Howard Owen, Yazmina Beverly, Tom De Haven, X.C. Atkins, Meagan Saunders, Anne Soffee, Clint McCowan, Conrad Persons, Clay Chapman, Pir Rothenberg, David Robbins, Hermine Pinson, and Dennis Danvers.
With a Foreward by Tom Robbins.
Edited by Andrew Blossom, Brian Castleberry, and Tom De Haven.
By the way, rumor has it that the tomb pictured above houses the Richmond vampire...
]]>The short video below captures a few of the sights and sounds there, in case you missed it or are curious.
]]>I've been on the road quite a bit lately, plus am in the middle of the fall semester, so postings have been not as frequent as I would like. However, I've been progressing through the RKC Right of Passage, and today I tried out my new 28KG kettlebell.
This was a move up in weight for me, and today I did 5 sets of hard-style press ladders with 3 rungs with the 28KG kettlebell. I then did 7 minutes of swings with the 28KG kettlebell, 20 swings per minute, or 8642 pounds lifted in 7 minutes. Finally, I finished with 5 sets of 3 hard-style pullups.
I should also comment on the new kettlebell. There have been some discussions in the community about the fact that DragonDoor moved their kettlebell production offshore to China. While I understand there were some initial issues with quality, by now I think things are under control. At least the kettlebell I got seemed to be in good working order. The finish was a little different than my US-made kettlebell, but it did not cause any problems during my workout, and there were no seams or ridges to tear into my flesh. All the edges were smooth, and the weight and logo verbage was clear. So I was happy with my new DragonDoor kettlebell, and will buy another, once I am ready to move up in weight.
UPDATE [25 November 2009]: There's a new software update for the Kindle DX that provides for better cropping of PDF files to maximize the amount of content on the screen.
So I am sure by now you've heard of the new digital book reader by Amazon, the Amazon Kindle DX
A while ago I reviewed my Kindle 2. The DX includes Kindle 2 features such as free wireless delivery of books purchased from Amazon, long battery life, text-to-speech, and mp3 audio file playback (with stereo audio jack as well as built-in speakers), so here I will concentrate on the main new features the DX brings to the reading experience.
The most obvious difference is the size of the display. The DX is larger, with a diagonal screen size of 9.7".The screen size of the DX is more like that of a textbook, rather than the Kindle 2's paperback size format (screen size of 6" on the diagonal).
There are also a few cosmetic changes. The Next Page and Previous Page buttons are now only along the right side of the border. I actually welcome this change, since I can now easily hold the Kindle without worrying about accidently turning the page. Also, the keyboard on the bottom border is smaller - numbers can now be typed using an Alt-letter combination on the DX whereas the Kindle 2 had a dedicated row of number buttons. Again, I like this change, since it devotes more of the usable space on the device to the screen for reading. Moreover, I do not often need to type in numbers using my Kindle, and so when I do I do not mind using the Alt-letter combination.
Unlike the Kindle 2, the Kindle DX now includes native support for viewing Adobe pdf documents. This is a big win for me, since most of the documents I read are in this format. As an example, below is an image of the Kindle DX displaying one of my pdf slides.
This image also captures the another new feature in the Kindle DX - auto screen rotate. Simply turn the Kindle on its side and the display will automatically rotate. This effectively zooms in on the page being displayed.
In my opinion the e-ink display is more readable in the Kindle DX than the Kindle 2. Also, the display works better when trying to render dark fonts on a light background, as shown below. Here is where the Kindle DX shines when rendering pdf documents, as even equations are very legible.
So in summary, the Kindle DX brings a larger viewing format to the digital book reading world. The Kindle DX also supports viewing pdf documents. Text and images look great on the larger screen, and with the DX's 4GB of internal storage, you can carry up to about 3,500 books, magazines, and documents in one slim device. This is a boon, especially for folks who travel.
I personally prefer the Kindle DX, since the larger format and pdf support better suit my needs. My wife however prefers the smaller size Kindle 2 for reading science fiction novels.
Oh, and if you are going to get the Kindle DX, I would also recommend a case for it. This Belkin Neoprene sleeve case
Available from Amazon here
So I mentioned that I am evaluating a TRX suspension system, by Fitness Anywhere, via a 12-week fitness program (FORCE). This is a wrap-up of the FORCE program (84 days).
I finished the TRX FORCE program last Sunday, but I've been on travel and so haven't had a chance to post.
Overall, I was happy with the TRX FORCE program. I felt it gave me a jump-start at developing overall body functional fitness, and the final week 11-12 routines are ones that I will come back to now and then during my alternate training days. The program takes a bit of dedication to get through, since it is 12 weeks-worth of exercises, but if you can stick it out, then you *will* see results.
I did not do a pure experiment though -- I started out doing kettlebells, just kind of teaching myself, but at the same time enjoying this really efficient and useful exercise system. But I didn't want to go too far too fast without consulting with an RKC, so I took up the TRX FORCE program to work on until I could meet with one.
At about mid-way through the TRX FORCE program I was able to meet with an RKC (thanks Sandy Sommer!) and got some instruction that enabled me to move forward with my kettlebell training. But I didn't want to just quit the TRX, so I tried doing kettlebell workouts in addition to my TRX FORCE program workouts.
Then, from out of no where, I decided I wanted to run a 10-miler, a couple months hence. Note that I am not a runner. So I began to incorporate training for the 10-miler plus the kettlebells plus the TRX FORCE program.
Ugh.
I made it through the TRX FORCE program, and am now easing back a little to let some body parts heal and to re-assess where I want to go from here.
I still have the 10-miler coming up in a few weeks. The farthest I've ever run is about 7.5 miles, and I am still recovering from that run - especially my ankles, for some reason.
I also want to work on sustained performance - being able to do kettlebell lifts (especially snatches and swings) for many repetitions in a row. Up until now I've been working on several reps + rest for many minutes, but I've discovered this is not exactly the same as many reps + no rest.
So kettlebells plus running will probably be my focus going forward, using the TRX FORCE week 12 workout now and then to shake things up. I've also started using a rowing ergometer, and have been happy with the cardio plus strength benefits.
And I am hoping to heal some - over-doing it is not as risk-free as when I was younger.
So I mentioned that I am evaluating a TRX suspension system, by Fitness Anywhere, via a 12-week fitness program (FORCE). Today was Day 82.
The first week of the fall semester is always one of bedlam, slipping schedules, and unexpected emergencies. This week was no exception to this expectation. So I wasn't able to manage more-frequent updates, and this one will be pretty succinct.
But I have managed to get in some training, however meager.
Tuesday I started out with 5 clean and push-press ladders of 2 rungs each with the 32KG kettlebell, which means that the next time I do clean and push-press ladders I should increase the number of rungs on the ladder. I also tried to work on my grip by doing single-arm swings, but I only managed 5 minutes of 10 single-arm swings per minute with the 32KG kettlebell before my grip gave out. I then ran about 2.7 miles, varying the tempo of my speed as I ran. I also did TRX workout 1 of week 12 of the TRX force program. As in week 11, I was pretty beat by the workout.
Wednesday, fitness-wise, I managed workout 2 of TRX FORCE program week 12, 5 minutes of 10 high pulls per minute with the 24KG kettlebell, and did about 30 minutes of rowing.
Today, Thursday, Day 82, I did 3 clean and push-press ladders with 3 rungs with the 32KG kettlebell. I also did 20 minutes of 10 swings per minute with the 32KG kettlebell, or 14,109.58 pounds lifted in 20 minutes. I also did 30 minutes of rowing, and TRX workout 1 of week 12 of the FORCE program. Nothing too exciting - just trying to get my workouts in under very compressed and hectic schedules.
I am noting that with my schedule I am only making one or two runs per week. Not the best training program if I am trying to work up to a 10-miler! September, the month of my 10-miler race, will no doubt be interesting.
So I mentioned that I am evaluating a TRX suspension system, by Fitness Anywhere, via a 12-week fitness program (FORCE). Today was Day 76.
After my long drive yesterday, I managed to get in a kettlebell and TRX workout. I was going to run also, but the heat ran that idea into the ground.
For kettlebells, since I need to strengthen my grip (noted after my trouble with the 32KG kettlebell) I did 20 minutes of 10 single arm swings per minute with the 24KG kettlebell. This was not particularly difficult, but by the end I did notice fatigue in my grip. So hopefully this nice long burn will help. And that's 10,582 pounds lifted in 20 minutes.
I also completed workout 1 of the TRX FORCE program week 11. This was another no-rest killer leg workout. Ya, that's another reason I decided not to run.
However, today was not as hot out, so I got in a 6.75 mile run, right before the thunderstorm. That's 67.5% of the way towards my goal of being able to run 10 miles.
The run was pretty uneventful, other than some technical difficulties with my iPod Touch. I found out that the iPod Touch interface is almost impossible to use when everything is soaking wet. Need to work on a solution for that.
After my run I did workout 2 of the TRX FORCE program week 11 program. Luckily, today was a superset on upper-body, which was good since my legs were pretty shot after the run. Also, happily, this is the end of week 11. Just one more week to go in the TRX program!
So I mentioned that I am evaluating a TRX suspension system, by Fitness Anywhere, via a 12-week fitness program (FORCE). Today was Day 74.
I've been doing crazy travel for the last couple of days, but I did manage the following:
Two days ago, on Tuesday, I did TRX workout 2 of week 11: another humbling, crumbling, mass of exercises with multiple sets with some/no rest and minimal rest between exercises. But this day was mostly upper-body, so to me it wasn't as bad as the lower-body supersets-of-death on workout 1 of week 11.
Wednesday was a rest/travel day, and Thursday (today) was another crazy travel day. So I am postponing my regular TRX workout until tomorrow, but I did manage to get in some exercise today, however minimal.
First, as something different, I did 40 minutes on the rowing machine. I've never done this before, so I don't know what to expect. While it did not seem that strenuous, when I moved to kettlebell snatches, I could only manage eight minutes of 10 snatches with the 24KG kettlebell on the minute. Perhaps it was the 93F heat, perhaps it was the rowing workout prior, perhaps it was the travel, but when my form started to lapse, I stopped.
More travel tomorrow, but I hope to get in my TRX workout when I get to my destination.
So I mentioned that I am evaluating a TRX suspension system, by Fitness Anywhere, via a 12-week fitness program (FORCE). Today was Day 71.
First, the good news.
The kettlebell workout went well today. I managed three ladders with two rungs of clean and push-presses with the 32 KG kettlebell. That is a big weight for me, and so I was happy to see it go up twice, even if it was with a push. Also, I managed this time to make five minutes of 20 swings on the minute with the 32 KG kettlebell. Last time I tried this, I lost my grip and my attempt came to a crashing end. This time I made sure to dry the kettlebell between minutes and otherwise held on for dear life. By minute five my lungs were on fire and my swing form started to break down, but I made it to the end. So that was about 7,054.8 pounds lifted in five minutes.
Second, the not-so-good news.
My euphoria about surviving the 32 KG kettlebell quickly faded when I started workout one of week 11 of the TRX FORCE program. These are the final, toughest, two weeks of the program, and there is a big jump in pain administration in these workouts.
In general, the number of sets increased to three, the time between sets dropped --- in fact for most exercises the rest time between sets dropped to zero seconds, and the rest time between exercises dropped to just 30 seconds, which amounts to just enough time to make adjustments to the TRX cables and grab a swig of water before jumping back into the fray.
So with yesterday's run, and today's kettlebell workout, today's big ramp-up in TRX misery really drained everything I had. But this is what the TRX is all about --- maximizing the body's functional performance and teaching you to reach further when you would normally just stop and rest.
I completed all the exercises and reps, but it wasn't pretty.
So hopefully by the end of week 12 I will be able to master this workout. That's my goal!
So I mentioned that I am evaluating a TRX suspension system, by Fitness Anywhere, via a 12-week fitness program (FORCE). Today was Day 70.
Although I was supposed to do a TRX workout on Friday, a crazy travel schedule kept me from it. But I got in a workout first thing Saturday morning, yesterday, so that was the last strength workout of the TRX program for week 10. Just two more weeks to go!
I was supposed to have rested today, but I am getting nervous that my schedule is not allowing me to get in enough runs, so today I did about 5.5 miles outside. Though it got really hot today, I started my run about 10:30 AM, so only got a taste of the heat.
I note that a lot of folks around here let their dogs run free, and someone jogging down the road with nice juicy (to them perhaps) ankles is evidently too tempting a target. So when I run outside I have to carry a stick, just in case.
I haven't had to use it yet --- one dog stopped about 20 feet from me, perhaps after noticing I could defend myself if needed. It's actually not too much of a bother to run with a stick, and switching the stick from one hand to another is a nice distraction from the signals from my legs to stop running!
So I mentioned that I am evaluating a TRX suspension system, by Fitness Anywhere, via a 12-week fitness program (FORCE). Today was Day 67.
So I got tired of being sick, and tried something a little different today. I've been getting used to my new 32KG kettlebell, mostly by doing cleans and swings. I'd like to be able to work up to doing presses with this weight kettlebell also, so today I tried a clean-and-push-press. This was a big weight jump for me, but I did 5x1,1 of these clean-and-push-presses, holding the kettlebell a few seconds in the lock-out position, and then trying to go slowly on the way back down to the clean position. This seemed to work, and I was happy to see that weight go up into the air, even if it wasn't a strict press. But the trouble came when I also tried to cut my time in doing swings with the 32KG kettlebell.
Up until now I've been doing 10 swings on the minute with the 32KG kettlebell. Last week I made it through 15 minutes of these swings at this pace. So today I thought I would try cutting my rest time, doing sets of 20 swings on the minute with the 32KG kettlebell instead of 10 swings on the minute. My goal was to make 5 minutes.
Unfortunately, by minute 4 my lungs were on fire and just a few swings into the last minute I lost my grip. It happened so fast --- I was tired and it was really humid/slippery, and suddenly one hand lost its grip. Luckily, I managed to hang on with the other hand and get the kettlebell to the ground without it being launched across the room. And, double-luckily, today I was working out in the garage rather than inside the house. While this meant it was warmer and more humid, had I sent a 70.5 pound cannonball sailing across the living room, I think my wife would not let me live to lift another day.
In the garage I was doing my swings on two rubber mats (like the mats that go under gym equipment or that you do yoga on), and the kettlebell cut through both layers. But the concrete below, and my toes, are fine. In the end, I'll just say that's 5,643 pounds lifted in 4 minutes.
I've never had my grip fail before --- this gives me new insight into the importance of not training to failure. Now I know to worry about failure of the exercise action *as well as* failure of the grip. Hmmm.
After that, I moved on to the TRX, and did the day 1 workout of week 10 of the FORCE program. Nothing too spectacular --- a superset on legs was the high point.
Finally, after the TRX I ran about 3.7 miles (about an average between my Nike+iPod foot sensor and the treadmill).