Every time I walk into a library I think to myself, “Self, you don’t come to the library enough.” Such was the case yesterday when I went into my local branch of the LAPL.

Walking in for the first time in a while, I was so struck that I had to conscientiously try to step back and see the forest for the trees. Oh, how our country takes for granted all of the amazing-ness being offered by our public libraries FREE of charge.

There are book clubs. There are community awareness events. There are computers, periodicals, movies, exhibits, well-informed people, and on and on. Oh yeah, there are books, books, books, too.

Want a free workshop oh how to better manage your money? The library offers it. Want to see a short film fest of movies made by local teenagers? The library offers it. Want to learn how to read so you can actually take better advantage of all the goodies the library so generously gives out? The library offers it.

Do the bozos who want to cut funding from our public libraries realize the national treasure being pillaged by their short-sightedness?

I only checked out 5 books yesterday. Yes, I said “only”. Why? Because I wanted to force myself to need to go back. Just walking into a library makes me feel like I’ve done something good for myself. And as crowded as my branch was, well… it’s not like these are empty buildings the public isn’t using.

Libraries = good stuff. Keep on keepin’ on y’all.

My iPad still keeps revealing its potential to me. For example, right now I am on a cross country speaking trip doing PD in Missouri then Georgia… then North Carolina next week. Indeed, it’s been busy busy.

And when you are gonna be on so many airplanes, in so many hotels, in so many places, it’d be nice if you had a few of the following things with you.

• email
• gps system
• internet access wherever you were
• planner/calendar
• notepad
• books, books, books,
• a few movies
• some podcasts
• an immense music library
• magazine articles of interest
• daily newspaper
• my contact list
• a coupla games

Do I need to go on?

My iPad really is incredible. To be able to take so much content with me in one so easy-to-navigate device… well, like I said, the thing still keeps revealing its potential to me.

It’s changed the way I plan and pack for travel. For kids today, this may seem like an “Of course you can do that with it” experience. But for me, who remembers what it was like to have to choose between which content I could and could not take with me on the road, well… it’s is just crazy crazy.

And it even lets me blog, too. Whouldda thunk?