Image by I am I.A.M. via Flickr

For those who know me, for a year and a bit I’ve been using a Sony eReader for my ebook reading. I got it free through Air Miles. (And now you know someone who actually got something for free from a points program!) I also have an iPad which really is the greatest thing to happen to humanity since the big bang! And while it’s a great device, it’s too heavy to use as a regular ebook reader. Yesterday, Kobo (owned by Canada’s Indigo Books & Music) announced the new Kobo eReader Touch Edition.

So I went ahead and pre-ordered the black touch Kobo. Why?

5. My sister and Mom both have a Kobo, which makes buying ebooks easier for everyone easier.

4. Touch screen, cheaper than the Sony version. It’s going to make reading e-books simpler, and without needing a special button, make it more user friendly.

3. It’s Canadian. And while I do shop at places like amazon.ca, it’s still Canadian.

2. Syncing. It syncs between my iPad, Kobo, computer, etc. My Sony Reader doesn’t do that.

1. Free eBooks. While Sony has some free eBooks (mainly 100 years old public domain), Kobo has a greater variety. And has lots of coupons for things that aren’t free! The new touch edition comes with a $10 gift card to buy books with.

The touch edition also has the new pearl e-ink display, which the Kindle also has which allows for easier reading under direct sunlight, and acts more like reading a real paper book. Plus all sorts of neat features, and interactive social networking features! And it has Wi-Fi, including free access at Bell wi-fi hotspots so if you need to buy a book on the go, you can!

My biggest complaint about Kobo is that they don’t have a shopping cart for their eBookstore. Sacrifices always have to be made, and I don’t have to buy from them exclusively. Also one of the biggest bonuses – You can buy books in Canadian dollars!

Enjoy reading!

Related articles

• Kobo goes up market, targets Kindle (thestar.com)
• Kobo unveils Touch Screen e-reader for $130 (macworld.com)
• Kobo Announces Touchscreen Ereader (mashable.com)

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This generally can mean good things for all involved.

If the Liberals and NDP merge, there will be folks who are dissatisfied with that option. Look at the UK where their version of the NDP and Liberals merged years ago. And have since formed government with the Labour party.

So how does a merger help the Green Party? Because not everyone is going to want to vote for the new party. It will allow smaller parties like the Green Party to attract more votes, and win more seats.

Of course all of this wouldn’t be necessary if we simply had some form of proportional representation. Have you signed the Declaration of Voters’ Rights yet?

Related articles

• No more talk of NDP-Liberal merger: Broadbent (cbc.ca)
• Talk of NDP’s possible merger with Liberals on ice (ctv.ca)
• NDP’s rising fortunes put talk of merger with Liberals on ice, for now (thestar.com)

Things with my new webhost have improved and are going well. I like them so far. Though I still preferred my old one.

St. Mike’s is still being slow, but at least the nurse there keeps me updated again, somewhat, even if it seems to be repetitive. I swear they’re slower than a snail. Things were so much faster in Ottawa.

Otherwise not much is new. I bought a new digital camera at Henry’s which cost quite a bit, but has some cool stuff like a great zoom. I can’t wait to use it, I don’t have a lot of stuff to photograph right now.

[Correction: It seems the owner of Host Gator owns A Small Orange, but not Host Gator itself. ]

No news from St. Mike’s. The transplant coordinator who was on mat leave came back, and no news. I shall have to call them when I get some time. Work’s been good. I love my new job which is important, but I do work four days a week now. Better than none really.

And the Green Party is still going strong. We grew dramatically in July winning the membership contest, narrowly putting Elizabeth May’s riding in second.

Go us!

How this came about was I wrote a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, who’s lowly clerk replied and gave me Denise’s contact information. Which was surprisingly helpful. I may not need that end of April appointment with my MPP.

I find the notion that Ontario hospitals have license to be slow, with long waiting lists, and poor service to be absurd.

I moved to Barrie, Ontario July, 2008. At the time I was on short term disability from my previous employer, but I knew that I would be getting laid off due to events with the company. So a move to my parents basement was a logical, and smart decision.

Shortly after arriving I asked the lovely people at RVH dialysis to refer me to St. Michael’s Hospital in lovely Toronto since transplant services aren’t available in Barrie. It sounds simple enough, right?

Wrong.

After being referred three times, I had an appointment early in 2009, and then another with the surgeon in June, 2009. Nothing since then. And I’m done all the necessary tests.

I’m not even on the list.

They misplaced the CD I had sent them of my CT scan. The surgeons were due to discuss my case fall, 2009 but that was delayed until last week. And as far as I’m aware, they still haven’t discussed it due to their own incompetence of misplacing the CD.

So the hospital here in Barrie sent another CD. Due to the courier company Purolator (whom I am now boycotting,) they didn’t get it until last Monday. The same day I got the bad news. How is it that Toronto hospital’s are given permission to act completely stupid?

Back in 2001, I had surgery at the Toronto General Hospital and there was caked on blood on my hospital bed. My parents had to clean it off, because apparently they couldn’t afford housekeeping staff.

Why aren’t these hospitals taking accountability for themselves? They need to stop blaming the government, and get on with the business of healing people. That’s what they’re being paid to do.

Hopefully my current situation will resolve itself. I’m going on my fourth transplant. So for those of you reading this thinking ‘The list backdates to the date you returned to dialysis’… because it’s my fourth transplant the possibility of me finding a kidney is slim due to having to match my immune system to the kidney. It’s like a needle in a haystack. So I could be waiting three months or thirteen years.

Life happens. And so does St. Mike’s.

I did the overhaul after I decided I wanted a more issue-focused blog, and blogs seem to account for a large number of personal websites. This is a good thing, and gives a person the opportunity to express themselves in a new way.