New years are, if you are religious, God’s way of giving you one more chance to start. You may have made a mess of your life during the past year; however, this year offers you another opportunity to start anew, to hope for a better life, and do something to realize that dream.

I know that sounds nauseating, like a broken recording you have heard too many times before. But no matter what you have been told before, or led to believe, it is indeed a new start. It is up to us whether to make it a brand new day, or just some more of the same thing.

The choice is yours and mine.

Kindle, Kindle

Online retailer Amazon said the Kindle ereader has become its bestselling item, toppling the book “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” from the top spot as of December 27, 2010.  The WiFi-enabled Kindle and the Kindle 3G were Amazon’s bestselling items for the 2010 holiday season.

Interestingly, a statement from Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said that a good number of customers who purchased Kindles also own tablet computers, such as the most-wanted iPad. Bezos said this shows that there is plenty of room for both tablet computers and ereaders in consumers’ hearts.

Mobile Activism

Results of a survey conducted by Pew Internet and American Life Project revealed that 26% of adult Americans used their mobile phones to encourage their friends, associates, and families to vote in the November 2010 mid-term elections. The study also showed that 14% used their handsets to tell others that they participated in the voting process, while 12% used their mobile phones to receive updates about the election.

According to the study, young, affluent and college-educated respondents were more likely to use their phones for politics.

During the May 2010 presidential elections, mobile phones also figured prominently. Aside from being used as a communications tools by the candidates’ respective campaign teams, some camps also used the mobile devices to spread rumors and lies about their opponents. For local politics, it seems, nothing changes except the means of doing tricks.

Promises, Promises

It’s the third day of the New Year. Let us focus on things that we can improve and make better. We still have some 362 days to do so.

Let us promise to treat ourselves better, to love our family and friends more, and to respect other people more than we did before.

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.