The iPad in my right hand and a Nook in my left weaker hand. That’s my wish and the future.
Yes, I want an iPad and a Nook. And yes, I don’t think it makes me greedy, crazy or elitist. I like to think that it makes me smart.

The same way I don’t define magazines synonymous with books, I don’t find iPads synonymous with Nooks. I associate them like this, iPads are to magazines like Nooks are to books. They each seem well suited to be a perfect substitute for their analogy too. iPads are flashy, glossy and lust worthy, just like their printed counterpart, magazines. Nooks are more subtle, smaller, thicker and sexy in the way that a big book is sexy. 

Further, the iPad and Nook are built to replace magazines and books. To prove this, the iPad already has a few digital magazines that I can subscribe to that look just as good as their ink and high gloss finish paper editions (Wired is an example). The bonus is that the digital magazine is slightly easier to navigate because I don’t have to flip to page 158 to continue an article that starts on page 91. The Nook, on the other hand, doesn’t draw as much attention as an iPad, but that’s OK with me. Books are low key by nature. As a reader, I don’t like to draw attention to my gadgetry. Besides, one of the great hidden benefits that I find with the Nook is that I don’t have to shut or lift what I’m reading to show nosy bystanders the title — they can remain clueless if I choose and that’s what I like to choose.

They’re both such revolutionary tools, why wouldn’t I want both? I find that I rarely use my laptop anymore — I’ve replaced it with my iPhone. So I find that the bigger, better looking screen of the iPad really appeals to me. I’ve always wanted to subscribe to Netflix and what better way than on a device that I can take with me. After all, a portable television was a childhood dream of mine.

Let me not forget praise for the Nook. My mouth is agape whenever I watch the e-ink in the screen morph to whatever page it’s imitating. It reminds me of a sci-fi gadget I dreamed of as a kid — one that could display any page from any book ever and make it really look like a book page and not a screenshot — or maybe it reminds me of something I might have seen on Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century from Disney Channel. Either way, the Nook is simply too cool to be true.

The gravity I find to both these futuristic products is part lust and part pragmatism. Yes, I think that they are pretty pieces of technology and the buzz surrounding them makes them even more compelling. But I also feel like I’ve needed these products my whole life. The Nook is perfect because I thought the book seemed far outdated and my efforts to go green were failing. Which is another way of saying, I was running out of space to store all my books and the Nook granted me nearly unlimited storage. The iPad is perfect because when the iPhone changed the way I do things, I saw how limited web browsing and reading was on it because of the tiny screen. Then the iPad came to fix that new void. 

These two gadgets are complements of the same angle: the new future angle. One that’s greener, faster and cheaper than the prior old obtuse angle.

The downfall is that this new angle is also more frigid and efficient — it just can’t go where its predecessor did. Where old books could be tossed around, burned or used as pillows (History books, mainly), the Nook cannot. Where old magazines could be thumbed thru or used as fly swatters, the iPad cannot.

This is natural, because paper and ink are naturally more human than bits and bytes. Paper and ink are physical, like the words from their authors. They can be felt. “Hey guys, I wrote this book” or “Look at this magazine cover” is something that feels important. Saying “Hey guys, look at this book I wrote” and instead of a book or magazine in hand, I present barnesandnoble.com or, worse, the app store to show the words “now available for download” just doesn’t feel like, well, anything. It just doesn’t hold the same weight or have that “awe” effect that something printed does.

Now, despite the shortcomings of the iPad and Nook — most notably, the inability to swat flies — I do want to give them a fair shot. So, I plan on purchasing both an iPad and a Nook soon.

I see them as the start of a new trend. My first prediction — about four years ago — was the netbook; I bought a first gen Asus netbook and once I had it, declared it the future of laptops. And I like how that turned out. Here’s my second prediction: the iPad and Nook are the future of print. As in, I see public schools using these tools within the next 20 years.

Let’s see if I can go 2-2.

-Splenda

  A motorcycle is more than a motorcycle. A motorcycle is a metaphor.

  As a machine, a motorcycle is a metaphor for allure. A motorcycle is just like a car: it runs on gas, it has wheels, an engine and a transmission — it is a way to get from A to B. But the huge significance lies in the amount of wheels. Half the amount of wheels seems to more than double its cool factor. It makes it less like machine and more like a challenge, like a puzzle to be solved. As if the two wheels were two pieces that had to be strategically placed to fit within the larger picture of traffic at all times or else the you could never see the real picture and the mystery would remain.

  As a two-wheeler, a motorcycle is a metaphor for fantasy, because a motorcycle is a child’s fantasy. And the reason is simple: a motorcycle looks like a bike — it is a bike. The only difference is that it’s not propelled by two human feet. Instead, it’s propelled by hundreds of hooves of invisible horses. Because of this, the two-wheeled chariot drawn by unseen stallions becomes an icon. It represents adulthood, speed and beauty. It represents a fantasy life within real life. And for a boy, that’s a dream— like a really really cool dream.

  As an idea, a motorcycle is a metaphor for freedom. Freedom to experience life in its fullness — as a part of nature. Riding a motorcycle goes beyond being able to drive. Shifting from a car to a motorcycle is like shifting from eating to cooking. If you only eat food all your life, you’ll survive. You may even really enjoy eating. But you won’t ever fully appreciate flavor until you cook a meal, until you see what it takes to achieve the tastes that you may take for granted. Shifting from driving a car to driving a motorcycle is like that. It’s shifting from passive to active — from neutral to drive.

  *

 I’ll be honest, I’ve always wanted a motorcycle. Ever since I saw a motorcycle whiz past me and I heard the whine of a sportsbike, I wanted to ride one. I looked at the rubber handlebars of my little Huffy and I wanted to hold the big rubber handlebars on that two wheeler. I saw my pedals and how I had to push with great effort to slowly move forward and I watched as the man on the motorcycle effortless wisped away with his feet planted on two pegs. I wanna do that, I thought. And the thought never went away.

  I continued to want a motorcycle but as I got older I began to see how motorcycles and the idea of a motorcycle aren’t well received. Because of this, I started to look at other things. I didn’t want people to disapprove of me or think I was reckless or rebellious or risky because I wanted a motorbike. I just told myself that I didn’t want one. Yea, I convinced myself that they weren’t for me. A kid who loves books and learning — a nerd — has no right getting a motorcycle I thought. They were for cool kids anyways.

  So when I was thinking of how bad my Jeep is on gas (averages 16 mpg), I began considering gas sippers. But motorcycles weren’t the first thing I thought of. Hybrids were. I thought of names like Prius or Civic or Smart. Names like Kawasaki, Suzuki or Yamaha didn’t come to mind. Vespa did, along with other scooter names. But my thoughts were far from a Triumph.

  I seriously thought about a Civic or a Fusion. But when I researched those cars. I saw that I couldn’t afford them — they start at about $16,000. I had to think of other options. Another used car (my Jeep was used)? Nah. Modifying my Jeep to use an electric engine? Too expensive. Then, I really tried to think about a way I could save my bank account while still saving the earth. And I drew a blank. Nothing.

 Days later, I remembered that my cousin mentioned how she gets excellent gas mileage (50+), wasn’t always in the shop, and was having a great time. I remembered about her motorcycle. Then, my wheels started turning and  I thought of something genius, I could get a motorcycle. 

  I researched motorcycles and saw that I could get a beginner bike — like a 250CC little baby bike — for cheap: $4,000 new. When I added all of the other stuff it takes to start riding like classes, licensing, helmets, jackets and gloves, the price jumped to $5,500. Which was still only about a third of the starting price of my original choices, a Civic or Fusion. This seemed too good to be true. If this is so cheap and cool, why hadn’t I thought of this sooner?

*

  I quickly realized why I hadn’t thought of this sooner; my parents would never agree to a motorcycle — a motorcycle is a metaphor for rebellion. It’s dangerous and unsafe, they would protest. And I would have to agree. Driving is dangerous, whether its a car or a motorcycle.

 OK, so a motorcycle is riskier than a car, in the sense that there is less protection. But risk isn’t always a bad thing. Stocks are the riskiest way to invest your money, but they’re also the most profitable way. So to further illustrate how risk can be handled and nearly vanish, here is a lesson in risk management taken straight out of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Handbook (there is such a thing),  

 “One of the surest ways to manage risk is to first be aware of the potential risks, and second to have a specific plan for minimizing the risks.”

  And here’s motorcycling risk put another way by a laconic motorcyclist.

” You have to look where you want to go. If you stare at a pothole, you’ll hit a pothole.”

 Besides being a fitting statement about life, it shows how motorcycling is not as dangerous when the proper thought is taken. And that’s where the perceived danger lies — in the thought. Safely driving a motorcycle requires undivided attention — read: thought — which is why I don’t see many motorcyclists texting and driving.

  This is because a motorcycle places me in the action. Which means, I’m right in the middle of the real world of traffic. I’m not protected by the armor of my Jeep Cherokee. No. I have to rely on my intellect and instincts to save me from harm. And that’s an unsafe place to be. That’s what frightens my parents — to see their child in the middle of it all with nothing in between them and destruction. There are no restraints, no training wheels. Nothing but a hard head, foresight and good sense of balance to keep me going in the right direction. Just me and my own two wheels.

 *

  As a mode of transportation, motorcycles could be a metaphor for eco-friendly — they save money and the environment. But they’re not. They’re fun to drive. And that’s why they’re not. Because somehow I have been convinced that what’s fun can’t be responsible too. But I want to contest this.

  Being responsible means controlling my carbon footprint. And a motorcycle is the cheapest way to do this. Besides not only is it easy on the environment and gas, but it’s easy on maintenance. Everything on a motorcycle is smaller and cheaper to replace or fix.

  Despite these positives, I’ve been told that to save the environment and show that I really care; in order to be a responsible liberal minded individual, I must sacrifice. I must sacrifice speed and fun on the road like I must sacrifice light and paper at home. I shouldn’t go fast. I shouldn’t enjoy driving. I shouldn’t leave the lights on. I shouldn’t waste paper.

  OK. I get it. I must sacrifice. But I am sacrificing something with a motorcycle: convenience. While that may sound like the opposite of what a motorcycle is, it’s not. A motorcycle isn’t convenient. I have to ask myself things like where’s my gear (helmet, jacket, gloves), what’s the weather, are my tires worn. Because the answers to those questions are much more pressing when applied to a motorcycle. With no gear, I’m exposed. With poor weather, I can’t ride. With worn tires, I could die. I wouldn’t ask these questions before driving my Jeep. I would only ask, do I have enough gas? And drive.

 *

  A motorcycle is a metaphor. And for me, it’s a metaphor for awareness. It’s a break from the Western thought and convenience that surrounds me. The kind of thought that separates me from my actions. A motorcycle reverses this. It places me back in the action, where I belong.

  So yea, I want a motorcycle. And that’s why.

-Splenda

  There are hundreds of ways to save, but if you’re like me, you don’t save. It’s not that I don’t know how to save, it’s because I can’t save — I have debt. Lucky for me, this is a common condition. My debt, however, is no reason why you can’t save and up your worth.

 There are secrets to saving that aren’t all that complex. Here are some simple secrets that can cure your starving savings and low net worth in under a year.

    Warning: Common side effects are happiness and extra cash. Talk to your personal financial advisor to see if these steps are right for you. 

  Feed the pigs — piggy banks.
This is the simplest. During the day, you get change. At the end of the day, take that change and throw it inside a piggy bank — an old box, a cup, a five gallon water jug or anything that you think you can fill with loose change. After about a month, you’ll see progress. When it’s New Year’s, celebrate by taking your piggy bank to the bank to turn all that change into cash. Then deposit that money into a savings account. Repeat the annual process.

  Click to save — online banks.
These banks are only online. Banks like Discover, American Express, Chuck Schwab, etc. They usually offer the highest interest rates on saving accounts. And since they’re inconvenient to access — you have to mail deposits or do an online transfer to use it — they’re perfect for saving. Vow to add a set amount every week, say $20, and do it. Sign up for paperless statements. Only check the account once a year. Then, when you do check it after a year and see over $1000, you’ll be a believer. Increase the set amount in year two, and feel how much easier it is to save more.

  Forgo the designer coffee — goodbye, Starbucks.
I love Starbucks coffee just as much as you. It’s my choice drug. But I know that $3 (it’s cheaper because I only get a regular coffee) a day adds up. Instead, I take that money and put it aside for when I crave a meal out during the week or for the first showing of Toy Story 3 — hey, I love Pixar. It’s important, however, to mention that I do get a cup of Starbucks occasionally. I just recognize that it’s a treat, not a necessity.

  Brown is the new black — pack your lunch.
This is one that I find the most difficult. To prepare my lunch and pack it neatly inside a brown bag seems strangely like a waste of time and effort. I found that it’s not. It saves me stress come lunchtime when I’m indecisive about what I want to eat and I’m pressed for time. Speaking of time, the lunch I pack is not only a time saver, but it’s healthier too — adding time to my biological clock.

  Spend more to save more — enroll in your bank’s saving program.
Nearly every bank has some type of saving program. Whether it’s Bank of America’s Keep the Change (that rounds off debit purchases and deposits the remainder in your savings) or Wachovia’s Way 2 Save (which adds a dollar to debit purchases and deposits it into your savings), they have programs to help you save while you spend. No huge savings here. But hey, they’re better than nothing.

  Hide your money (but not in a mattress) — open a separate savings account.
It helps to have a separate savings account, like an online one I mentioned above. But you could also take your money and open a savings account at a separate bank. You should tell the bank to keep the debit card. And you should tell yourself that it’s a deposit-only account. Meaning, what goes in, doesn’t come out.

  Save like a pro — learn investing basics.
You don’t have to be Warren Buffet to own some securities — i.e. stocks and bonds — or mutual bonds. Trust me, Wall Street isn’t as winding as you think. There are free brokerage accounts, that are very user friendly. In one of these accounts, your money has a chance to earn big interest and it’s harder to withdraw invested money.

  Cash only, please — carry cash, no cards.
If less spending means more saving then this one is simple (and the next couple reflect the same thought). When I feel that I’m overspending my budget, I revert to this plan and only carry cash. It’s very effective. I spend about $100 a week. I carry that lone Benjamin Franklin in my pocket and when he’s gone, he’s gone. And Monday can’t come soon enough.

  Celebrate — work toward goals.
I decided that I want the new iPhone 4s. As a goal, I will print a glossy ad and work towards saving for the iPhone until I have enough to buy it. That way, instead of borrowing from American Express, I can pay for it with cash. I will feel better knowing that it wasn’t a compulsive buy and I like to see my work pay off in a tangible way.

  Budget — create a budget today.
This is a must. If you don’t have a budget, make one. I did. After budgeting, I placed rules and limitations on my spending. While I thought this would make me feel more confined and restricted, the opposite is true. I feel more free. I know how much I can spend without relying on others or credit. It reduced a lot of stress for me and gave me a clearer view of my money.

  While some of it may seem tedious, it’s only because you have yet to start. Once you start spending healthier and smarter, you’ll feel better about saving. Then, when you see the numbers on your statement get higher, you’ll feel even better. It’s a self reinforcing cycle. 

  Try it. It works. I promise.

 —Splenda

 I discovered something the other day. Books are me. I am most comfortable and happy with a book beside my bed. I relish the scent of a new and old book. I appreciate the scent of fine paper and glue that comprise a book. Literature stinks of knowledge and insight. I love it.

 I understand that this is my admission to geekdom, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I love learning and reading. I do. I’ve reconnected with literature and I feel that I’ve reconnected with my inner self. I’ve connected my mind to my body again. I feel harmonious when I’m engaged in a good book. When I’m reading a religious text such as the Bible, I feel meditative, as I should. There is nothing shameful or rude about reading. It allows me to be the observer. It lets me peer into someone’s thoughts. It’s part voyeurism and part curiosity that compels me — very human tendencies. 

  In a way, books are who I am. Turns out, I’m most recognizable and easily distinguished with some form of print pasted to my palms. I’m OK with this and I actually like that people cerebrally match Chris to Read. Not only do I love to read, which is why this reads a lot like a love letter to literature, but I need to read. My life and thoughts become scattered and fuzzy without the lines of a great author to provide an anchor. I become more sullen and less satisfied with my mind. Without books, I lose my own interests. I become dull without words washing away my mental walls. 

  This letter to books is mainly a letter to myself. I have finally found the fault in the foundation of my early adulthood. It’s because I neglected my mind. I tossed literature and thought that unfinished books would somehow finish themselves. The lack of self discipline I displayed towards reading saturated the rest of my life. I became unfocused and goal less, which is a dangerous cliff to stand upon.

  Luckily, I looked inward once again to see that my way was wrong. I need my first and initial companion with me. I need books to forge my way thru life. Without them, I deviate. With them, I decide.

—Splenda

  I’m told this is the future. And I’m about to propose to you that it is. But when I think about the future, I think of the Jetsons. I think of hovercars and jet packs and instant meals and robotic house maids and Astro the dog. And I could have 40% of those things. But my car gets 16 mpg on a good day. And it most certainly does not fly away or make space age sounds.

  So, if this is the future, I think that reality has a lot of catching up to do to my idea of the future. There is, however, one area where my idea of the future and the reality match up. And one of those areas is the iPhone. My iPhone can send emails, take photos, run a game, browse the internet, give directions better than a local, find the town’s best restaurant and make my voice to text. That’s only a few functions. And, o yea, it can make calls. 

  When I use my iPhone, I use my fingers to scroll thru menus and I swipe to answer calls and I tap virtual buttons to use apps and I really feel like part of the future. It makes me wonder why I even need my computer. But I’m quickly reminded after I have to squint to read the ultra fine print of a webpage or try to enlarge a Youtube movie beyond the screen that I still need my Hewlett Packard. That’s where the iPad comes in.

  It overcomes the size limitations of the iPhone. It shows me why I don’t need my computer anymore. It’s the end of computing as I know it. Truly revolutionary. And on more than one level.

  It’s revolutionary because it’s a paradigm shifter. This is the shift we’ve anticipated since the internet became a household staple. It’s the shift from text to images. The iPad marks the end of the print era and officially ushers in the interface era. 

  The print era was the time when we processed and learned information mainly thru text. Which is to say that public discourse was written. We wrote about Presidents and debates and public policies. We read these things. We wrote and read about the world. But ever since the television and internet. How we process and share information has been slowly shifting. 

  Here is the end of the transition. The iPad is to 2010 what the printing press was to 1843. It marks the beginning of something new and huge. The signs of a new era are already in place. For example, not many people enjoy to read anymore, people have shorter attention spans and multitasking is common. How we process information is completely different. It’s normal to communicate with two or more people at once — think texting.

  All of these changes are culminated in the thin sleek machine that is the iPad. It’s not all about the giant touchscreen either. It’s about the death of text and print. It’s no coincidence that it has no QWERTY keyboard attached. Text is secondary to images. The interface is everything. 

  And to take it to the final level of thought. This step towards images isn’t all bad. It’s a little funny to think about it like we have gone full circle, from hieroglyphics to app store icons. But it’s not necessarily a bad thing or a symptom of declining IQs. In fact, it can be seen as a sign of increasing IQs. We may be reaching a stage where words don’t accurately articulate how we feel. A stage where we can communicate more clearly and quickly thru images. Think about it, if pictures say a thousand words, then maybe what we see with the iPad is humanity dabbling in what is the first and (probably) final frontier of langauge: pictures.

   However you feel about the iPad doesn’t really matter. Whether you like it or not is null. It is the future. And the future began March 2010.

—Splenda