Eeeew!!

I got this in a forwarded email called "Pumpkin Pies."
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

I check my texts and emails while driving!

Yup, you read that right. I do. But before everybody flips out, let me explain.

I normally wouldn't use a blog to hawk a product. I recently discovered an amazing application for my BlackBerry that could save lives. It is called Drivesafe.ly.

Drivesafe.ly reads your text messages and emails aloud. It does a great job, too. I've tried to mess with it by typing in words that might throw a machine for a loop (my maiden name, for example), and overall it is very, very good at getting them correct.

You can get a simple version of this software for free. For $14, you can get a more advanced version that has more options. Both the free and paid versions allow the user to set auto-responders (away messages) for your texts, emails, both, or one or the other. That way you can let your impatient friends and family know that you can't reply at the moment, but that you heard their message. Or, you can shut that off and make them wait. It's up to you.

It comes in handy for things other than just driving. Have you ever been eagerly expecting a reply, and something arrives while you are elbow deep in fixing dinner? You wash up, set things aside, lose your momentum, and excitedly grab your device. But as you open the message, you realize sadly that it is a forwarded email from a relative of kittens wearing hats, instructing you to in turn send it to ten friends or everybody that you care about will lose their right thumbs in a gardening accident.

I do see it's downsides though, too. If you have somebody who likes to send gossipy, snarky, or profanity filled messages, you had better be good at remembering to disable the program when necessary. I could easily see this leading to hurt feelings.

But overall, this really is a really nice program. Sure, the best alternative would be for us to all slow down, and not exist with such an immediate mentality. But, that is where we are, and it is only going to get worse. A program like Drivesafe.ly is a perfect fit for the person that is attached to technology. There is no reason to be reading your text messages while driving when programs like this exist. You can keep your eyes on the road AND keep updated at the same time without killing yourself and others.

Drivesafe.ly is available for BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, and Windows Mobile phones. Soon they will have one that will recognize your voice to send replies. You can go to http://www.drivesafe.ly to get it yourself if you are interested. It really is worth it.

Looking for a good read?

I've not posted one of my "book reports" in a while. I shall rectify that.



Ender's Game is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card, and is the first book in a series following the life of Ender Wiggin. I am not one that normally read scifi, but was intrigued when a friend told me that she greatly enjoyed it, despite her being even less likely than me to pick up something out of this genre.

Ender was born shortly after a war between Earth and a species of aliens called the Buggers, a violent insect-like race. Another war was on the horizon, and the international fleet looked for talented children to be groomed as future commanders for future battles. Normally families were limited to two children, but Ender's family was a special case. Both of Ender's older siblings were extremely talented, but not quite what the fleet was looking for. Peter, the oldest, was too ruthless. Valentine, the middle child, was too kind and loving. The fleet requested that Ender's parents have a third child, and in Ender, they found the perfect balance of Peter and Valentine. At six years of age, Ender was selected by the fleet to be taken away to battle school. At the battle school, Ender joined other prodigies in training for war with the Buggers. It is quickly obvious that Ender has unrivaled talent, and could easily be the hope for the future of the human race.

Even if you are not a scifi fan, I would recommend Ender's Game and the rest of the series. Orson Scott Card is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. His characters are so rich, and the stories so original. This isn't really the story of space ships and aliens, but a story about humanity and relationships, and how people can endure mental and physical hardships.

Sunset at the North Pole with the Moon at Closest Point ...

This is an amazing photo. I received it in an email, so I can't verify
whether or not it is real.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Sunset at the North Pole with the Moon at Closest Point ...
How's  this for a picture….

This is the sunset at the North Pole with the moon at its closest
point last week.
A scene you will probably never get to see in person,
So take a moment and enjoy God at work at the North Pole.
And, you also see the sun below the moon,
An amazing photo and not one easily duplicated.
You may want to pass it on to others so they can enjoy it.
The Chinese have a saying that goes something like this:
'When someone shares with you something of value,
You have an obligation to share it with others!'

Lacking the Football Gene

It's that time of year again, a time when I spend a good deal of my
time scratching my head in confusion. It's a time when formerly
sensible friends and loved ones suddenly start speaking in tongues.
Most of you call it football season.

I don't get football at all. It's not that I don't get sports at all.
Hockey, soccer, and tennis all make perfect sense. I've been known to
catch a baseball game. The overall game of golf makes sense, and I'm
slowly figuring out the details. I am currently watching my favorite
NBA team on ESPN (and typing this during halftime). But football?

I've tried to understand it. My husband tries to explain it to me, as
have other people. I'm still drawing a blank. I see a bunch of guys
moving around the field randomly. They continually gather into groups,
only to split apart and violently slam each other into the ground. It
seems to me that it is usually they guy with the ball getting creamed
by guys of the opposing team, but I'm not sure that is always the
case. Between skirmishes, the guys wander around aimlessly or stand
idly until they appear to be needed. Sometimes they turn off the clock
when they do that, sometimes they don't. That baffles me. It's like
watching an alien species move around in a patternless manner.

Am I missing a necessary gene for decoding football? Is it just me?
I'd hate to think that I am alone.