Pros & Cons of my new International Kindle – purchased in US, using it in the UK

Quick review of my International Kindle, in case someone else is looking to purchase a US version and import it over to another country.

Pros:

• I can actually use the wireless Whispernet service internationally…but if I want to wirelessly download books, it costs an extra $1.99/book…that’s not bad (BUT, see the cons below for using Whispernet for more regular updates for blogs, periodicals, etc)
• The Kindle is super lightweight & can’t wait to travel with it
• It’s pretty (see image at the bottom)
• I can purchase books online, and then synch it via USB to my Kindle, so I do not need to incur wireless charges (although the synching is not intuitive)

Cons:

• If I want updated daily blogs & periodicals, there is a weekly $5.00 charge (that can get expensive over the course of a year!) – no Techcrunch for me I guess…
• The Kindle store on my Amazon account is not that intuitive
• Apparently when charging my Kindle through my computer using the USB, I cannot use the Kindle for reading…the error message makes no sense (will post a picture later)
• I had to switch my home country from the UK to the US on my Kindle Amazon settings to get a better catalog of books
• At first it was quite unclear how to get blogs & periodicals onto my Kindle – the User Interface is not that intuitive
• I would prefer a touch screen
• It would be nice to be able to adjust the contrast of the screen text (maybe there is a way?)
• Unclear how easy it is to damage the Kindle…if I drop it, am I out of luck?  Does the screen scratch?

Wahanda in today’s Sunday Times Style section – Best Christmas gifts “For Her”

It was nice to see The Sunday Times list the Wahanda Spa, Beauty & Fitness Voucher as one of the best "gifts for her" this holiday season in their online gift guide.

Christmas gift giving is a big season for us, so it was cool to get the recognition.

My view of the match – Anfield

50 yard line

The Kop

Liverpool v Man City teamsheet- Aquilani on the bench

Aquilani on the bench

Liverpool Champions League Trophy

Pre-game Liverpool v Man City

“This Time Next Year, We’ll be Millionaires”

Window exhibit at the DARE agency, on Great Titchfield Street, London
www.jiggerypokery.biz

See and download the full gallery on posterous

5 Easy Ways to Reduce Risk of Radiation Exposure from your Cellphone or Mobile Phone

Some friends sent me some doomsday emails today about the renewed risk of using cellphones, or mobiles, and its link to brain tumours based on a recent program from the US TV personality, Dr. Mehmet Oz. I found a great article here from ABC news, and the top preacutionary tips offered which make a lot of sense, are as follows:

Top Five Ways to Reduce Radiation Exposure from your Mobile Phone

1. Adults should use a headset or speaker phone, and children should really not be using cellphones that heavily. Corded headsets emit almost no radio frequencies (“RF”) and moving the phone 4 inches away from your head reduces RF exposure 1,000 times. Children have thinner skulls, so RF exposure is greater.
   
2. Stay off the phone if the signal is poor. Fewer signal bars mean the phone has to work harder to get a signal, so it may emit more .
   
3. Don’t talk when you’re driving or in an elevator. In addition to the dangers of being distracted, people who are behind the wheel may face an increased RF exposure risk because the phone signal must move to several wireless towers.
   
4. Avoid wearing wireless ear pieces if you are not having a conversation on your mobile. The wireless ear piece is still searching for a signals. It’s best to remove the ear piece between conversations. Or not at all cause it looks daft.
   
5. Don’t keep cell phones in your pocket or attached to your belt. A recent study found that cell phone radiation and a negative impact on the health of sperm in their labs. The only people I know who do this are American men – its an affliction, and turns out not only does it look terrible, but its also bad for you.

Full article here

 

 

Fifty TRILLION dollar bill

Anish Kapoor – shooting into a corner, Royal Academy, London