I must admit that I am amazed by how some people’s ability to balance. For instance, on a crowded bus or train while I grasp a metal handle, holding on for dear life or rather fleeting embarrassment due to falling over other passengers, other people are standing staunchly, no metal pole in sight, focused on reading the newspaper or text messages or spacing out while listening to music and on and on. It amazes me how some people can balance and do something else at the same time; it is the epitome of multi-tasking. But for those who can’t fold a newspaper and hold onto handle bars on a jerky commute, there is a perfect gift to consider.
Even though it can be self-rejuvenating to spend a commute just being introspective or people-watching, both you and other people can only be so interesting. Distractions are always a welcome form of entertainment and can now be had easily with hand-held devices. But aside from the myriad of cell phone capabilities out there, a thoughtful gift to consider is a hand-held reading device.
Where to go:
Amazon.com (yes, the book-buying—and other things—people) has created the Kindle and Sony created the Sony Reader. I think these devices beat reading on your cellphone with its too-tiny-for-safe-prolonged-reading-screen, or (and I have seen this on public transit and it bugs me) on your laptop which is likely to be cumbersome no matter how light and small it is. Plus, you can download and save books, periodicals, blogs, along with a host of other capabilities, so it may be worth looking into for the bored commuter(s) in your life.
Also, if you check out the Sony Reader demo at http://www.sonystyle.com/ and sign-up for the email newsletter Sony will donate eBook classics (literally electronic books you download) to schools. (s) in your life.
Even though it can be self-rejuvenating to spend a commute just being introspective or people-watching, both you and other people can only be so interesting. Distractions are always a welcome form of entertainment and can now be had easily with hand-held devices. But aside from the myriad of cell phone capabilities out there, a thoughtful gift to consider is a hand-held reading device.
Where to go:
Amazon.com (yes, the book-buying—and other things—people) has created the Kindle and Sony created the Sony Reader. I think these devices beat reading on your cellphone with its too-tiny-for-safe-prolonged-reading-screen, or (and I have seen this on public transit and it bugs me) on your laptop which is likely to be cumbersome no matter how light and small it is. Plus, you can download and save books, periodicals, blogs, along with a host of other capabilities, so it may be worth looking into for the bored commuter(s) in your life.
Also, if you check out the Sony Reader demo at http://www.sonystyle.com/ and sign-up for the email newsletter Sony will donate eBook classics (literally electronic books you download) to schools. (s) in your life.
The Kindle by Amazone (Image from tidbits.com)
The Sony Reader (Image from sonystyle.com)
