Excellent Bible resource for the Kindle, December 30, 2010

By 

W. G. Moore (Clinton, SC) –

  

The ISBE is some seventy years old, but it remains a solid resource for answering questions related to the Bible. For $4.99, this Kindle edition is a treasure. I have the original printed volumes on my shelves, but there is no way I would carry the large five volumes around with me. Having the entire work on my Kindle, always accessible, is incredible.

The links are great and navigation is relatively simple, which is saying a lot for the Kindle. We are used to the ease of navigation on computers and forget that the Kindle is a dedicated reading device. OSNOVA has produced another fine Kindle resource.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/the-devils-dictionary-with-biographical-introduction/#comment-711 FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:07:41 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/the-devils-dictionary-with-biographical-introduction/#comment-711

A definitive collection, July 21, 2003

By 

FrKurt Messick “FrKurt Messick” (Bloomington, IN USA) –

  

  

  

‘The Devil’s Dictionary’ is an interesting, very intellectually cynical collection of proposed definitions to words collected by Ambrose Gwinett Bierce, a journalist, writer, Civil War veteran, and general misanthrope, who disappeared without a trace in Mexico about 1914. In the words of H.L. Mencken, Bierce has produced ‘some of the most gorgeous witticism of the English language.’ Bierce delights in irreverence and poking fun at all aspects of life.

Bierce’s own definition of dictionary gives some insight into his general thought patterns:

‘Dictionary, n. A malevolent literary device for cramping the growth of a language and making it hard and inelastic. This dictionary, however, is a most useful work.’

This would lead us to conclude (most correctly) that Bierce is a world-class cynic. What is a cynic?

‘Cynic, n. A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be. Hence the custom among the Scythians of plucking out a cynic’s eyes to improve his vision.’

Originally published under the title ‘The Cynic’s Word Book’, most of the definitions in this book originally appeared as part newspaper columns. There have been many imitators, but this is the first and finest collection. Arranged as a dictionary, it provides an interesting writer’s tool for finding a unique perspective on words and phrases. There are more than 1000 entries. A few examples include:

‘Outdo, v.t., To make an enemy.’

‘Universalist, n. One who foregoes the advantage of a Hell for persons of another faith.’

Fair warning — those who do not like cynicism and scathing wit will find this book irritating, and sometimes offensive. Bierce is a product of his generation; political correctness wasn’t in vogue then, and, even if it had been, Bierce would have been one of the sharpest critics.

As a Christian priest, I take great delight in the insights from Bierce’s criticism of religion in general, and Christianity in particular.

‘Christian, n. One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.’

Why does this ring so true? Of course, there is the old adage that if you scratch a cynic, you’ll find an idealist. Bierce would undoubtedly have described himself as a realist, but buried beneath many layers of cynicism, one can sense the idealism.

Why did Bierce go to Mexico? Perhaps his underlying idealism led him to a country that was awash in revolutionary ideas; perhaps those ideas are what cost him his life. Perhaps he went underground? It is possible we will never know.

The publisher of this volume, one of but many reprints of the text over time, says: ‘The caustic aphorisms collected in “The Devil’s Dictionary” helped earn Ambrose Bierce the epithets Bitter Bierce, the Devil’s Lexicographer, and the Wickedest Man in San Francisco. The words he shaped into verbal pitchforks a century ago–with or without the devil’s help–can still draw blood today.’

This book is very useful for generating ideas for writing and reflection. It is a good counterpoint to ‘guides to positive thinking’ kinds of material, and can serve as a tempering agent on such collections.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/abbyy-lingvo-x5-professional-edition-8-languages-reviews/#comment-717 Juan Jose Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:04:03 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/abbyy-lingvo-x5-professional-edition-8-languages-reviews/#comment-717

It does not support Kindle for Iphone, March 2, 2012

I tried on iphone, and I confirm it: does not support this platform.
I don’t understand why they allow it to download and does not advice in any place that is not supported.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/bible-encyclopedia-isbe/#comment-719 RandyRRT Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:59:24 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/bible-encyclopedia-isbe/#comment-719

Missing from Product Description (-2 stars), September 11, 2011

Just reiterating a “heads up” from another reviewer. I was surprised when I opened this reference that has such high customer ratings to read Illustrations (not included in Kindle version) …, Maps (not included in Kindle version) …, and Indices (not included in Kindle version). Admittedly, $4.99 is a great price for a multiple-volume collection, but the product description suggests topography and manners and customs. I reread the description thinking that maybe I just didn’t pay close enough attention. Perhaps the logic was that the illustrations may not display well on the Kindle or that the file size would be too large, but honestly if the encyclopedia is going to remove features that are included in the print version, HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO LET THIS BE KNOWN IN THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION?

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/the-devils-dictionary-with-biographical-introduction/#comment-710 Orrin C. Judd "brothersjudddotcom" Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:46:00 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/the-devils-dictionary-with-biographical-introduction/#comment-710

it ain’t Webster’s, August 26, 2001

By 

Orrin C. Judd “brothersjudddotcom” (Hanover, NH USA) –

  

  

Beginning in 1881 and continuing to 1906, Ambrose Bierce created a series of sardonic word definitions of his own. Many of these were collected and published as The Cynic’s Word Book, which he later protested was “a name which the author had not the power to reject or happiness to approve.” So in 1911, he pulled together a collection that was more to his own liking and called it The Devil’s Dictionary. The entries are a tad uneven in quality, but most are amusing and some are great. Each reader will have his own favorites, some of mine are as follows : ACQUAINTANCE, n. A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to. A degree of friendship called slight when its object is poor or obscure, and intimate when he is rich or famous. ALLIANCE, n. In international politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted in each other’s pockets that they cannot separately plunder a third. BIGOT, n. One who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain. BORE, n. A person who talks when you wish him to listen. CONSULT, v.i. To seek another’s disapproval of a course already decided on. CYNIC, n. A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be. Hence the custom among the Scythians of plucking out a cynic’s eyes to improve his vision. DICTIONARY, n. A malevolent literary device for cramping the growth of a language and making it hard and inelastic. This dictionary, however, is a most useful work. DISCRIMINATE, v.i. To note the particulars in which one person or thing is, if possible, more objectionable than another. EDUCATION, n. That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding. FUTURE, n. That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true and our happiness is assured. HISTORY, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools…. A member of a large and powerful tribe whose influence in human affairs has always been dominant and controlling… He has the last word in everything; his decision is unappealable. He sets the fashions and opinion of taste, dictates the limitations of speech and circumscribes conduct with a dead-line. POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. And, my choice for the very best among them : CONSERVATIVE, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others. By all means, read it and pick out your own; you’re sure to find a few that tickle your fancy. GRADE : A

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/abbyy-lingvo-x5-professional-edition-8-languages-reviews/#comment-716 Lisa Fine Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:41:33 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/abbyy-lingvo-x5-professional-edition-8-languages-reviews/#comment-716

doesnt do spanish to english, July 23, 2012

I thought this would translate Spanish to English on my Kindle Fire, but it doesn’t….so I am returning it! Misleading….thought it would translate.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/harpercollins-spanish-english-college-dictionary-harper-collins-spanish-college-dictionary/#comment-714 Lois Bateman Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:29:14 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/harpercollins-spanish-english-college-dictionary-harper-collins-spanish-college-dictionary/#comment-714

searching the dictionary, December 2, 2011

I recently bought this for my HP Touchpad. It will not work as a default dictionary in Kindle on the Touchpad, but it can be opened and manually searched. Unfortunately, it has no built-in search mechanism, and must be searched with the Kindle search button. That makes for a very slow process, taking many minutes if the word being searched for is found near the end of the dictionary. In order to make using this dictionary feasible, I went through it and bookmarked about every 20 to 30 pages. While tedious, the job wasn’t as difficult as it sounds. It took less than 2 hours. Now I can come to within 10 or 15 pages of a word I need by scrolling through my bookmarks. Just be sure that each page you choose to mark begins with an entry word, rather than a continuation of an entry from the previous page. I also made sure to bookmark each page where a new letter of the alphabet began. I ended up with about 220 bookmarks, and may choose to add more “in between” as I see I need them. Amazon, you are missing the boat by not providing a dictionary that can be opened and rapidly searched during a conversation!
That all having been said, this is an outstanding dictionary.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/abbyy-lingvo-x5-professional-edition-8-languages-reviews/#comment-715 Carmen Rojas Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:24:35 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/abbyy-lingvo-x5-professional-edition-8-languages-reviews/#comment-715

This is a fantastic dictionary!, March 20, 2012

The author has done a lot of improvements in comparison with the 2011 version. Word forms are finally recognized. I like the transliteration of the Spanish words.
I wish I had a similar English to Swedish dictionary.
Tyv?rr finns inte denna utm?rkta lexikon p? Engelska Svenska. Jag rekommenderar denna till 100%

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/harpercollins-spanish-english-college-dictionary-harper-collins-spanish-college-dictionary/#comment-713 Mark Cattelino Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:13:49 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/harpercollins-spanish-english-college-dictionary-harper-collins-spanish-college-dictionary/#comment-713

Very good dictionary but it has “issues” (*** THAT HAVE BEEN RESOLVED***), March 17, 2012

By 

Mark Cattelino (Vancouver, WA) –

  

*** UPDATE: 5/11/2012
For the Kindle Touch, the problem described below and in other reviews where certain classes of conjugated verbs are not recognized has been fixed in software version 5.1.0 and all of the examples I give below are now handled correctly. It is worth stressing that this problem was a Kindle Touch software problem, not a problem with the Harper-Collins dictionary itself. I still maintain this is the best and most thorough Spanish-English translation dictionary for Kindle that I have seen and therefore I am changing my rating to 5 stars. I highly recommend this dictionary, but do be sure to update your Kindle Touch software to the latest version (go to Kindle Support, Kindle Software Updates on the Amazon website). I must also commend the dictionary e-publisher, Intangible Press, for their attention to this issue and pursuing it with Amazon to ensure that a fix was included in the Kindle software update.
*** END OF UPDATE

All in all, this is a very good dictionary and the best spanish-english dictionary I’ve seen that integrates with the Kindle (but not supported for Kindle Fire or Kindle apps). It is relatively comprehensive, although not as thorough as some printed dictionaries. It includes important modismos (slang expressions), with example usage in the definitions. This is useful when reading an expression that seems not to make much sense since pressing what you would guess is the key word in the expression to bring up its definiton usually allows you to find the appropriate modismo, although you are likely to have to display the full definition and look for it (the price of comprehensiveness and completeness).

A great feature, which these days should be absolutely mandatory, is that the dictionary handles conjugated verbs (like hablaba) and forms with attached objects (examples: h?blame, ocult?ndolo) to bring up the definition of the verb. I don’t think it handles forms with more than one attached object – I only found one example in the text I’m currently reading and that was not recognized (example d?melo) so I’m not really sure yet.

*** UPDATE TO THE ABOVE COMMENT: while reading a Spanish novel on my kindle I came across “present?rmelos” and upon pressing on the word, the dictionary gave the definition of “presentar”, as it should. Therefore verbs with multiple objects are indeed handled correctly, at least in general – I don’t run across these cases much while reading. ***

But this dictionary has one gigantic flaw that has been pointed out by other reviewers as well (see Al’s review below). It does not recognize “er” and “ir” verbs congugated in the imperfect or conditional tenses (examples: dirig?a, gustar?a). It also doesn’t recognize all future and some past tense congugations (examples: morir?, mandar?). Nor does it recognize a number of nouns, adverbs and adjectives that have accents at or near the end of the word (examples: melancol?a, quiz?, jam?s). This is inconvenient because if you run into one of this class of words you don’t know, for example, roer?as or herrer?a you have to stop, actually open the dictionary and look up roer to learn your verb means “you gnawed” or look up herrer?a to find it means a blacksmith shop.

I sent an email to the epublisher questioning these flaws and did not receive a response. I would hope they would address these issues and find a solution for everyone who has purchased this book. For this reason I only give this dictionary 3 stars. I would happily give it 5 stars if the verb conjugation issue is fixed and I will change my rating if I ever see a satisfactory resolution.

*** UPDATE: The epublisher replied to my email and seemed genuinely pleased to receive feedback and questions from me – I am hopeful that someday a solution will be found. ***

One last feature would be really useful – this works on a different (free) spanish-english dictionary I have. If I look up a spanish word like “celada” and learn that the english word is “sallet” (which is as unknown to me as the spanish word) I could press the word “sallet” in the definition in my other dictionary and it would in turn open the oxford english dictionary that comes with the kindle to show me that sallet is a type of horse helmet. If I press the word sallet in the Harper-Collins dictionary I get a word-not-found message because it tries to look it up in the Harper-Collins spanish-english dictionary rather than in the oxford english dictionary. I don’t know why this works on my free spanish dictionary and not my Harper-Collins – perhaps it has to do with the language metadata settings in the Harper-Collins… This would be a really nice “twofer” feature – two word definitions for the price of one, one in english and one in spanish – a good way to advance vocabulary in both languages!

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/bible-encyclopedia-isbe/#comment-718 sunmoon Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:13:36 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/bible-encyclopedia-isbe/#comment-718

Osnova has done it again, November 23, 2010

Thank you Osnova for this wonderful resource. All with active links ! One thing I found was a really easy way to find a topic you are interested in is just begin typing the word and a entire list appears. WOW

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/harpercollins-spanish-english-college-dictionary-harper-collins-spanish-college-dictionary/#comment-712 Chris N. Hinkle Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:07:14 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/harpercollins-spanish-english-college-dictionary-harper-collins-spanish-college-dictionary/#comment-712

Some technical problems, September 16, 2011

By 

Chris N. Hinkle (Iowa, USA) –

  

This is good dictionary that can be used by English speakers to look up words on the fly in Spanish publications. It works just like the built in dictionaries for English after it is installed. Pressing RETURN brings up the full entry which often includes idiomatic phrases. Very useful.

Unfortunately a surprising number of words are not linked. They are in the dictionary and can be looked up manually. but the definitions do not appear when the cursur is placed beside them.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/the-devils-dictionary-with-biographical-introduction/#comment-709 Matthew Schenker Wed, 25 Jul 2012 09:01:51 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/the-devils-dictionary-with-biographical-introduction/#comment-709

Hilarious, Intelligent, Something to Share, June 8, 2000

By 

Matthew Schenker (Western Massachusetts) –

  

  

I first acquired this book about five years ago, after reading Bierce’s fictional works. I could not put it down. You don’t read this book sequentially, but rather it is a book to leaf through, stopping where you find a word that interests you. With the format of a dictionary, Bierce sets up the look and feel of the official word, which is what we expect from a dictionary. Then, reading the definitions, you at first think, “Bierce is being a wise guy.” But after a few more definitions, you realize that Bierce is actually delivering a concise treatise on Western Culture by giving you a shot-by-shot commentary, using as his basis the essential element of any society — its language. Birece may not have realized it when he wrote the book, but The Devil’s Dictionary aligns with some 21st-century literary experimentations with concise presentation, irony, and non-linear exploration. Even reading it non-linearly, however, you soon find you’ve read every entry in the book. Then, of course, you’ll want to start again…

My favorites are the definitions pertaining to religion.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/sea-scoundrel-knave-of-hearts-book-1/#comment-662 Kim E. Van Rijn Tue, 24 Jul 2012 10:23:09 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/sea-scoundrel-knave-of-hearts-book-1/#comment-662

Sea silliness, July 21, 2012

By 

Kim E. Van Rijn –

  

I got this because (1) it was free on Kindle (2) all the reviewers except one gave it five stars. The reviewer who didn’t give it five stars–she only gave it one–well, her review came across as illiterate (thanks to the typos and grammar errors) so I didn’t give it any credence.

Turns out, I should have. It was one of the silliest books I’ve read in a long time–and I read a lot. It wasn’t silly in a good way either–it never made me laugh or even smile. It was full of women acting like idiots–either sobbing uncontrollably, setting the rigging on fire, turning a pig loose on board ship, etc. Sorry, not amusing. It’s not that I have no sense of humor. I love Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, and Stephanie is a one-women walking disaster zone. But it takes skill to make that kind of thing funny. This author doesn’t have that skill.

The book begins with the heroine falling and the hero picking her up. By doing so, the author establishes right away that the heroine is a clumsy fool–even though I’m sure that wasn’t her intent. I should make a pledge never to read a book that has the heroine and hero meeting when she trips and falls. It’s a bad sign of a total lack of imagination on the part of the author. I don’t think I’ve ever read a good romance that begins with the heroine falling down. If anyone can think of one, let me know.

The book isn’t totally unreadable, unlike some, but you can’t in good conscience call it a Regency. The plot is implausible, many details are inaccurate…the whole book should be considered a “fantasy” rather than Regency or Historical novel. By the end of the book, the author has managed to pair off all the characters but one.

This book is supposed to be part of a series. It opens with a prologue (confusingly written) about four schoolboys who pledge to be there for each other. This is never really followed up. The hero does meet up with one or two of the others, and they offer to give him any assistance he needs, but that’s the total extent of the tie-in to the rest of the series.

I love Regencies, I love humor, I love books in series, but I don’t love nonsensical novels. This is one to skip.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/amazon-kindle-touch-lighted-leather-cover-saddle-tan-reviews/#comment-673 J. Kiser "J. Kiser" Tue, 24 Jul 2012 10:09:29 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/amazon-kindle-touch-lighted-leather-cover-saddle-tan-reviews/#comment-673

Much Better than Expected!, November 22, 2011

By 

J. Kiser “J. Kiser” (Dallas, TX) –

  

Kindle Touch Lighted Leather Cover, Saddle TanGiven previous reviews, I wasn’t sure I was going to be happy with this product – but I couldn’t be more pleased! The case arrived today. The fit is … perfect. The unit is snug – without the distraction of elastic or exterior “holders”. The light works brilliantly! It is comfortably bright, and covers the whole page. Better yet, it is always there and recharges with the Kindle. The leather is very smooth, over a rubberized/plastic gray case that matches the color of the Kindle. The stitching is FLAWLESS. The cover sits flush to the unit and is lined with a dark grey felt that also matches the color of the Kindle. It is so lightweight, I was amazed (probably because my K2 + case is considerably heavier!)

What this case is not, is a beautifully padded, high end, pebbled leather cover – although it does appear to be good quality smooth leather. Nor does it have a tab to keep the case closed (although I never secured the tab on my last cover, so that obviously is not a priority for me!) Further, given the snug fit, I don’t doubt that getting the Kindle OUT of the case would be very difficult. If you like to change covers, and need to secure the cover as closed, you will not likely be happy with this product. However, for me, this cover meets my needs better than any other I’ve found so far.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/the-holy-bible-english-standard-version-with-cross-references/#comment-679 Dianne E. Socci-Tetro "Books & Chat Book Blog" Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:51:32 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/the-holy-bible-english-standard-version-with-cross-references/#comment-679

Quite Disappointed in This Product/Price, November 19, 2011

By 

Dianne E. Socci-Tetro “Books & Chat Book Blog” (New England, USA) –

  

  

  

I am truly disappointed in Amazon that they would allow something like this product to be sold at such a high price. I realize they took a loss on the Fire itself, but I wasn’t aware that they were going to make up for that when selling the accessories.

I bought this because I thought that my chargers for my older Kindles wouldn’t work with the Fire—SURPRISE, of course they do. Plus, they have a longer cord (the older models) so you may be a lot more comfortable while reading on the Fire while it’s charging.

It is so not worth 25$. Use your older one, then you will be able to use the USB port. If your Fire is the only e-reader you have then I would suggest that you make a better financial decision and buy the Fosmon Rapid Car Charger + Home Travel Charger + USB Data Cable for Amazon Kindle 4 / Kindle Touch / Kindle Keyboard – White

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/murder-on-the-mind-a-jeff-resnick-mystery/#comment-696 D. Merrimon Crawford Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:41:48 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/murder-on-the-mind-a-jeff-resnick-mystery/#comment-696

Murder on the Mind: psychic or brain damaged sleuth?, January 7, 2008

By 

D. Merrimon Crawford (Colorado) –

  

  

  

L.L. Bartlett’s MURDER ON THE MIND is an exceptional debut mystery that adds a paranormal element to the enjoyment of unraveling traditional investigative techniques. Told in the first person through the eyes of a psychic sleuth, or perhaps brain damaged, MURDER ON THE MIND heightens the level of suspense as each new clue or vision arises.

A mugging in Manhattan, leaves former insurance investigator Jeff Resnick with broken bones and a fractured skull — and completely dependent on his rich estranged half brother Dr. Richard Alpert and his girlfriend Brenda Stanley. Visions of a hunt and and a hunter stalking his deer prey terrify Jeff. The doctors diagnose brain damage. Days later, a local banker is found dead, his murder eerily similar to the details of Jeff’s nightmares. Jeff believes the attack has left him with a sixth sense, a psychic ability to see murder before the event. Jeff uses his visions and his investigative skills to try to solve the crime but as he gets closer to the killer, danger arises from all corners. Will the police trust his revelations are due to psychic visions or attribute his knowledge to a more nefarious means? As Jeff becomes closer to his half brother, dangerous past secrets emerge touching his traumatic childhood. Somewhere danger lurks and Jeff must work hard and fast if he doesn’t want to become a victim to one of the dark secrets he uncovers.

L.L. Bartlett writes a magnificent mystery! MURDER ON THE MIND mixes an eerie, psychic paranormal element with an investigative hunt for clues and facts, never sacrificing the mystery to an easy resolution. Intriguing twists keep the reader poised at ever page. MURDER ON THE MIND will appeal to a variety of readers from lovers of traditional mysteries to suspense lovers with its ominous, supernatural feel and even beyond these genres as moments of tenderness and fear both move the reader’s heart. L.L. Bartlett truly leaves the reader guessing, never quite sure of the murderer’s identity as terrifying details mix with an investigative trail more typical of light mysteries. The complicated psychological battle between Jeff and his brother might turn either way. With possible brain damage in play, is Jeff a reliable first person narrator? Will past secrets come to light to add another twist to this murder mystery? L.L. Bartlett’s fine writing keeps the pages turning with eager anticipation until the very end.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/the-billionaire-wins-the-game-billionaire-bachelors-book-one/#comment-670 Sam Brown "romance book lover" Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:41:42 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/the-billionaire-wins-the-game-billionaire-bachelors-book-one/#comment-670

good book for free, December 11, 2011

I was not sure about this book based on mix reviews. The story was pretty unrealistic. In the beginning the way Lucas spoke to Amy as an employee was a text book case of sexual harassment. I had a hard time reading some of it from that point. It would never happen in the real world, but that is why we read these romance books. I personally like the cat & mouse game trying to catch the girl and watching Lucas trying to catch Amy was funny & entertaining. The reasons why Lucas held back so much made sense and watching them fall in love was what kept me reading and gave me some good laughs. The Anderson family was a great family unit. I gave the book 3 stars because it was a cute story, it is not worth more than 3. The actual writing had a lot of mistakes. I normally don’t pick up on things like that when I read but this writing was kinda poor. It got confusing a little when one sentence Lucas was thinking, than the next sentence Amy was thinking & taking, than next sentence Joseph was thinking. It was a lot all in one paragraph. If its still free I would recommend reading. not sure how much money I would pay for it.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/the-turtle-boy-the-timmy-quinn-series-book-one/#comment-649 James L. Woolridge "Wooly in PSL, FL." Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:40:44 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/the-turtle-boy-the-timmy-quinn-series-book-one/#comment-649

POTENTIAL HERE, February 7, 2012

By 

James L. Woolridge “Wooly in PSL, FL.” (Sunny Florida) –

  

  

Burke’s THE TURTLE BOY is the first novella leading to a book series about eleven year old Timmy Quinn. Kind of a frighteningly simple story that leads to the fantasy edges. The potential is here for a nice series, but the story slipped a little away from the author toward the end of the story. But hey, try it…Free!!

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/franklin-bib-475-electronic-parallel-kjv-and-niv-bible-with-holman-bible-dictionary/#comment-702 Big Al Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:40:25 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/franklin-bib-475-electronic-parallel-kjv-and-niv-bible-with-holman-bible-dictionary/#comment-702

Essential, January 5, 2012

the Old Testament is wonderful reading, but it’s even better when you have this as a reference and resource right next to it. strongly recommend having this for the next time you want to read the Torah

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/vrin-ten-mortal-gods/#comment-682 M. Powell Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:38:39 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/vrin-ten-mortal-gods/#comment-682

Vrin – An Original World, September 5, 2006

By 

M. Powell (Naples, Italy) –

  

Vrin is a story of an interesting, intelligent world so creative and fascinating that it easy to imagine. I was completely wrapped up in the book after the first few chapters. There are many cliffhangers that keep you wondering what will happen next. The author does a good job of describing the surroundings and feelings of each scene. I am looking forward to another book by J.Michael Hileman.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/free-kindle-books-and-tips/#comment-685 AlexJouJou Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:34:11 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/free-kindle-books-and-tips/#comment-685

Agree with the kudos – love this blog!, July 4, 2010

By 

AlexJouJou (D.C.) –

  

  

I subscribe to several blogs for my Kindle. I love this one. It gives me a heads up on great deals. I do have to go online to get them (the links don’t work for my Kindle in the blog itself) but that’s fine with me..I’m on my laptop enough anyway. It saves me hours searching for bargains and sometimes it gives me a heads up on a limited time deal.

Well worth the cost of a subscription. Enjoy!

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/greatshield-ultra-anti-glare-matte-clear-screen-protector-film-for-amazon-kindle-fire-3-pack/#comment-656 Kid-Icarus Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:34:06 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/greatshield-ultra-anti-glare-matte-clear-screen-protector-film-for-amazon-kindle-fire-3-pack/#comment-656

Mediocre Screen Guard: Clouds Screen, May 17, 2012

I bought a pack of these screen guards for two of my Kindle Fire units.

Summary: ok but not great.

Viability:
- Clouded compared to no screen guard
- I have used screen guards from other companies with much better visibility (SGP, Phantom Skinz, etc)

Durability:
- They seem durable for scratch protection

PRO:
- reduces glare
- cheap
- good scratch protection

CON:
- clouds screen (mutes colors and brightness)

Tip:
- if you get these, here’s a tip that’s not in the instructions: make sure to place the corner that is cut out (different from the rest) on the upper left portion of the screen. That’s where the Kindle Fire light sensor is.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/sea-scoundrel-knave-of-hearts-book-1/#comment-661 Nilda Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:33:41 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/sea-scoundrel-knave-of-hearts-book-1/#comment-661

Awesome!!!, July 6, 2012

I had read a couple of Annette Blair’s other novels so when I purchase this one, I knew that I was going to enjoy it. I didn’t just enjoyed, I loved it! I couldn’t put it down. Great storyline, characters,and so funny. It was so good, I bought the other books in the series.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/wordperfect-office-x5-home-and-student-old-version/#comment-688 L. Gildart Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:33:22 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/wordperfect-office-x5-home-and-student-old-version/#comment-688

Too Expensive To Not Be Able to Preserve Formatting Across Conversions, July 9, 2010

By 

L. Gildart (Somerville, MA USA) –

  

  

  

WordPerfect was my favorite software package way back in the DOS days of the late 80′s. I used it to run a small law office, before I went to law school myself, and when I got out of school, it was the word processor of choice for the legal publisher that gave me my first job as a legal writer. Formatting documents was much easier for me in WordPerfect than it was in MS Word (except on a mac, which was easiest of all), and I loved the ability to save without all the meta data that explains everything everyone has ever done to a document.

This version of WordPerfect Office recalls all of those good experiences, and, yet, on balance I cannot give it a favorable review for two insurmountable reasons.

The first is that WordPerfect does not perfectly preserve formatting across conversions to and from the MS Office products. While this does not make it unusable, it certainly makes it a lot of work for me to revise documents – especially legal documents with very specific formatting requirements – that have to be generated, saved, and printed in MS Word at work. The WordPerfect suite is no better at preserving formatting than OpenOffice, which is free.

Which brings me to my second problem: price. The WordPerfect Office Home and Student Edition is nearly as expensive as the student version of the Microsoft product, which does preserve all formatting and makes it seamless to work at home on documents created at work. I cannot see formatting, reformatting, and then reformatting again just to save a small amount of money.

Finally, I haven’t found a way to have the as-you-go spellcheck and grammar check run at the same time. It’s one or the other. That’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s not super awesome, either.

If I did not have to have MS compatibility, I would like this suite better. The interface is a bit cluttered, BUT it keeps all the tools right where you can see them, which is incredibly helpful when learning new software. The tools are consistent across the suite, and all documents and presentations were professional-looking.

It’s a big program, weighing in at nearly 1 gb, and I expected more clip art at that size (silly, I know), but it ran pretty snappily, even on an XP-running old pentium 4 (with hyperthreading and 1 gb of ram).

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/the-holy-bible-english-standard-version-with-cross-references/#comment-678 Amazonian Consumer Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:32:30 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/the-holy-bible-english-standard-version-with-cross-references/#comment-678

Not This One, Buy A Better And Cheaper Alternative , Also by Amazon, November 16, 2011

By 

Amazonian Consumer –

  

  

This Kindle Fire Charger is the same as the one that came included with Kindle Fire.

Its plug prong is NOT foldable, making it less convenient for traveling.

It is a dedicated charger that cannot be used with USB devices that require other kinds of plug, such as regular USB 2.0 or Mini USB.

The price is also a bit high at $25.

***************************************************************************************************************************************

Amazon also makes a USB charger under the label AmazonBasics that IMO is better.

I originally bought this as an extra charger for my iPad.

I tried charging the newly introduced Amazon Kindle Fire, and it worked very well.

This compact and foldable 2.1A (2100 mA) charger can quickly charge Kindle Fire or Apple iPad/iPad2 (you need a different cable for each one).

The Kindle Fire requires just 1.8A of charging current, so this charger is fine.

AmazonBasics Wall Charger with USB Outlet( 2.1 Amp Output)

You also need to buy this $6 AmazonBasics micro USB cable. AmazonBasics USB Cable – 2.0 A Male to Micro B (6 Feet / 1.8 Meters)

Do not use one intended for your cellphone; it may not work, although it looks identical externally to a standard one.

The total cost is $16, still much cheaper than the dedicated Kindle charger which sells for $25.

And you also enjoy better utility with this charger/cable combo because they are separate, and the charger prong is foldable.

Additionally, this same USB cable can be used for copying files from your computer to the Fire and vice versa. This is the kind of cable (USB 2.0 on one end and micro USB on the other) that some reviewers were saying that Amazon should have included in the Fire box.

You can check what both look like in Customer Images on this web page.

*

The main draw of this AmazonBasics USB wall charger is the 2100 mA current output, which is required for most modern smartphones and iPad/iPad2. You get these gadgets charged the fastest with this charger.

But the shape of this charger will BLOCK adjacent power outlets if it is plugged into the wall or even an extension power strip. In this respect, it is really not an improvement over Apple’s 10W USB Power Adapter.

This is why I also bring along a (Ziotek ZT1212518 Power Strip Liberator Plus with Pass Through, Ziotek ZT1212518 Power Strip Liberator Plus with Pass Through, 5-Pack) when I travel. It will allow all outlets to be used by extending the plug a few inches. With its pass through feature, a normal plug can be piggybacked on top of the extender plug, thereby doubling plug density (from 6 plugs to 12 plugs, for example), although the total power consumption still cannot exceed 1680 watts. It comes in a pack of 5, and the average cost is $2.65. I consider this a small price to pay for more convenience and flexibility.

In summary, I do recommend this AmazonBasics charger because it works, is well-made, and costs only 1/3 the price of Apple’s part.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/wordperfect-office-x5-home-and-student-old-version/#comment-687 John L Murphy "Fionnch?" Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:32:10 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/wordperfect-office-x5-home-and-student-old-version/#comment-687

Compatability at last with Microsoft, yet flexibility beyond it, June 19, 2010

By 

John L Murphy “Fionnch?” (Los Angeles) –

  

  

  

As a longtime PC user of WP, it’s been frustrating to keep it at home; my work uses Microsoft. My PC had only WP installed, while my work ones have only Microsoft. This new version allows compatibility, a feature my old WP lacked. It also integrates Sharepoint and Thunderbird e-mail functions that Microsoft favors; it works with Microsoft Word 2007 also to convert files. (I am not sure how it works with Vista, as I do not have that program, but it does get along with Windows 7 and XP– but I suspect not lower-level Microsoft versions if these still lurk on your PC.) It can be used on up to three PCs; I assume it can be deactivated from one and put on another if necessary?

The WP update does not look much different than Microsoft Word. A glance at it running looks about the same as its competitor. Yet, I have always favored my older WP for its simpler “feel,” and its lack of forcing you into limits that a Microsoft word processor or program seems to do for me. I rely on a computer more for basic functions, so some of those in either WP or Microsoft might elude my awareness. Still, I like wide varieties of fonts (900 True Type, many non-Western), clip art, and the Pocket Oxford Dictionary (on a separate disk here).

The tutorial disk shows you the basics; PDF features for creating compatibly viewed files promise wide application, as does Quatro spreadsheet and editing of presentation slides (Power Point compatible, but somehow these files seem to offer wider variety than PP for options). Similarly, the Lightning feature, although not one I’d personally need, may be welcome for those wanting to work across programs that are Microsoft-based while extending the flexibility that WP provides. A

I welcome competition for Microsoft. I always feel forced into it at work and favor the choices in the marketplace. So, I am happy I can now fit my home documents into my work ones at last. Familiarity should show some more discoveries, and I may enter these into an updated review. Based on a first encounter with the new version of WP, as before I tend to find WP less restrictive and more welcoming than its ubiquitous rival.

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/the-billionaire-wins-the-game-billionaire-bachelors-book-one/#comment-669 penguin812 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:29:48 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/the-billionaire-wins-the-game-billionaire-bachelors-book-one/#comment-669

Really?, January 8, 2012

I agree with the other readers who has given this novel one star. There were so many grammatical errors and the plot was just plain boring. The male character was just a chauvinist pig, and the female character is such a doormat. I’m just glad I picked this book up for free. I’m wondering if the author is from a foreign country, as her usage of the english language doesn’t appear to be her first because of the all grammatical errors?

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]]> http://thelangpack.com/hostile-witness-legal-thriller-thriller-the-witness-series1-reviews/#comment-705 CO climber "CO climber" Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:27:53 +0000 http://thelangpack.com/hostile-witness-legal-thriller-thriller-the-witness-series1-reviews/#comment-705

Sometimes interesting / often absurd, September 19, 2011

It helped that this book was free on Kindle when I ordered it… I had very mixed feelings about this novel. Some of the characters and narrative were done quite well, but there were a number of places where key scenes made no sense whatsoever. During a trial, for example, the main character (defense lawyer) began asking a hostile witness detailed questions about things that happened to him at specific ages (“Isn’t it true that, when you were 6, such-and-such happened?”). The lawyer had just been told some vague information about the witness by someone who was unlikely to have known even the vaguest of details, yet seemed to have gleaned all this information from a brief conversation.

The book is also in dire need of a spell-checker and proofreading to correct confusing sentence structure and peculiar punctuation.

The “bad guys” (and there were several) were all unbelievable. The protagonists, however, were sympathetically drawn.

All in all, I doubt I’ll read any of the other titles in this series. Hopefully, the author has since started working with a better editing and proofreading team, since she does seem to have some talent for writing and is probably capable of creating a much better novel than this one.

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