...and I don't even own one.

Why is it that people seem to think that getting an e-reader involves signing a contract that states that you'll never read, hold, buy or gift another paper book?
If I got a euro for every time someone on the BookCrossing forums says 'Oh no, I could never get used to using one of those, because I like holding paper books' , '... I don't want to get rid of all my books', or '... when I'm giving books as presents I want something to wrap', I'd have a nice sum. And if I got another euro for every time someone says 'Oh no, I could never read an e-book because I dislike reading off a computer screen for longer times, the flickering makes my eyes hurt' or something similar, I could probably afford one of these by now:


This is a nice-looking, simple, very portable e-reader I saw in a store yesterday, priced at 300 euros. I could definitely see uses for it. And no, the screen does not flicker anymore than paper books do.

But seriously. E-readers do not flicker. They read like paper, only you can make the font bigger. Is that a Bad Thing? And no one will come to your house and take all your books once you get one.
It's like people are saying 'Oh no, I would never get one of these newfangled telephone thingies, I like talking to people face to face.'
Why are people so afraid of new options?

These are a Dutch traditional treat for new year's eve and new year's day. But you can buy them from street vendors throughout the winter. And they're fun to make at home, too. I've even seen them being made next to a camp fire while camping.

If it all works like it's supposed to work, they'll turn themselves over in the oil to get evenly brown on all sides.

• 17 g compressed fresh yeast
• 235 ml lukewarm milk
• 280 g all-purpose flour
• 10 g salt
• 1 egg
• 110 g dried currants
• 125 g raisins
• 1 Granny Smith apple - peeled, cored and finely chopped (optional)
• 1 litre of vegetable oil for deep-frying
• 125 g confectioners' sugar for dusting.

DIRECTIONS

1. Break up the compressed yeast, and stir into the warm milk. Let stand for a few minutes to dissolve. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Stir the yeast mixture and egg into the flour and mix into a smooth batter. Stir in the currants, raisins and apple. Cover the bowl, and leave the batter in a warm place to rise until double in size. This will take about 1 hour.
2. Heat the oil in a deep-fryer, or heavy deep pan to 190 degrees C / 375 degrees F. Use 2 metal spoons to shape scoops of dough into balls, and drop them carefully into the hot oil.
3. Fry the balls until golden brown, about 8 minutes. The oliebollen should be soft and not greasy. If the oil is not hot enough, the outside will be tough and the insides greasy. Drain finished oliebollen on paper towels and dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve them piled on a dish with more confectioners' sugar dusted over them. Eat them hot if possible.