Joan I’m not a kindle user but I could see where it would be terrific for travelers. Think about going on vacation to the shore with half a dozen books versus taking a kindle which is so much lighter and more compact. As far as the name goes - some synonyms for kindle are illuminate, arouse, light and start. The kindle is a device that can light the way through reading new things, can arouse your mind, can illuminate a subject, can start you down a new path. I think the name is apt.

I occassionally enjoy the pleasure of leisurely reading a newspaper while drinking a cup of coffee and stroking a cat, but to be honest its hard to find time for that everyday or even every weekend. Unfortunately not everyone gets paid to do this like Charlie Rose. The internet is just so much faster and as was said above you can read across a broader spectrum - NY, Washington, Boston, London, France etc.

I’ve long used hotel bathrooms as well and agree with Joan that it really doesn’t matter what you’re wearing. I also find that bathrooms in better department stores are also good places to go. Some even rival those in better hotels especially in the newly built/rennovated ones.

Tinka - I’m not sure I agree with you about the cheapest food. I find that the cheapest food i.e. Mikey D’s is not really cheaper because I need to eat more to be full. The more I eat, the more it costs and the more calories I consume. Pound for pound I think its cheaper and healthier to eat a salad with a small amount of protein. On MLK day I attended a presentation at the MFA in Boston that talked about the disparities in health based on income. One presenter talked about how in some communities there isn’t a decent supermarket or places to get healthy food, and that they end up doing what’s easier rather than what’s healthier. That leads to obesity and other health issues.

Thank you Leslie. This made me smile. I adore animals and whenever I travel I try to visit the local zoo. Here at home I get a lot of love from the Cats I care for professionally.

Finally got a haircut a couple of weeks ago and I can’t tell you how much better its made me feel. Of course the compliments have been great as well. One colleague even told me it made me look younger - made my day.

Like others, I too will be in my robe and slippers watching TV and heading to bed early. If you will be in Boston on New Year’s Eve and are looking for something to do, you might want to check out my postings on examiner.com. So far I’ve written parts 1 & 2, with part 3 coming in a day or two. Start here: http://www.examiner.com/x-2171-Boston-Community-Examiner~y2008m12d21-New…

Hi Christine - We share a birthday. Have a happy one.

I thought the dress she wore on election night made her hips look very big. The red dress she wore to the white house is nice and stylish however because she is so tall and the dress has an empire waist, she should be wearing it above her knee not below them. The proportions work better that way.

As a self employed women who never intended on having children, it always pissed me off that the state I live in (MA) forced me to carry and pay for maternity benefits i knew I would never need. In their infinite wisdom they saw this as ensuring that women needing the coverage had it, but they also ensured that those of us not needing it were penalized.

Thanks for the clarification. Nice to know we view this in the same light.

Excuse me, but how is this better? Do you really think that the person who applies Palin’s stage make up deserves to be the highest paid person in his campaign man or woman? If this is true, then it seems to back up the notion that he knows little about the economics of merit pay. Can you really trust someone like this to stimulate the economy so it creates good paying jobs?

For me its purple that garners the most complements. I think it really depends on your skin tone plus hair and eyes. Purple really makes my face light up.

Peggy Noonan on NPR this morning “Palin dominated through sheer personality, she killed last night”. Huh????

My bet is on Joe Kennedy taking Ted’s seat. Although no longer in government, he has a good record as a past Congressman and actually lives in Massachusetts. Caroline Kennedy on the other hand has no record in elected public service and would have to uproot her family to establish residency in MA which she may not want to do.