About a month after I got my Kindle reader the screen suddenly became streaky, with vertical lines on it, making the device useless. I phoned Amazon and described the problem. The guy at the other end made a decision and immediately offered to send me a replacement. Within three days, I had my new Kindle, and using the same box, returned the faulty one.I mention the return because it was so hassle free. I received a replacement fast, backed up by customer service to explain both verbally and by follow up emails the process of receiving and returning a replacement.Whew. Now I can rant that three days was too long I had become Kindle dependent. I have found it a convenient way to carry around a pile of photography books, camera manuals and other blather I have picked up along the route.One of the benefits of Kindle is its ability to present PDF files in a readable script. I can load any document or online site I have made into PDFs. Another is the wireless connection, getting me to a lot of paid and free books.No, the Kindle is not for surfing, which can be done through a fumbly set of buttons, and is to be avoided. You do so by setting bookmarks directly to the free and paid content for the Kindle, at Amazon and elsewhere, such as the noble Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org). Lots of other sites dig up books and stories out of copyright and in the “mobi”, text only or PDF formats. A quick search will take you to a dozen more specialised sites and content.Some of the best are packaged with images of old book and magazine cover designs such as those used for H.P. Lovecraft and Philip K. Dick stories.***Computer users whose disabilities prevent them from easily using a mouse will find help from the Pointing Magnifier, a free software tool created by researchers from the University of Washington. The magnifier reduces the need to precisely point your mouse, say on a button or link, before clicking. It goes a step further than a regular screen magnifier by combining an area cursor with magnification, reducing need for fine, precise pointing. It replaces your conventional cursor with a larger, circular cursor. Those who have less control can make it bigger.The user places the large cursor somewhere over the target, and clicks. The area under the circular cursor fills the screen. The user then clicks with a point cursor inside that magnified area. The software enlarges both the visual and the space within which to click, making it an advance on the normal “loup” magnifying utility that comes with most computers. You can download it here: http://depts.washington.edu/aimgroup/proj/ptgmag.***The EU has published a study of 25,000 children living in the EU and their use of online social networks. From the results, parents should gather that children are using social networks at a younger age, many are unaware of how to protect their privacy and how personal information could be used against them.The survey found that 77 percent of 13-16 year olds and 38 percent of nine-12 year olds have a profile on a social networking site. A quarter of those who use social networking sites like Facebook, Hyves, Tuenti, Nasza-Klasa SchuelerVZ, Hi5, Iwiw or Myvip say their profile is set to “public”, available to the world. One-fifth of those say they display their address or phone number. Overall, only 56 percent of 11-12 year olds say they know how to change their privacy settings.The study is being used by the EU to assess whether its 2009 voluntary agreement with major social networking companies is working. The companies promised to take measures to increase the online safety of users younger than 18 years. The Commission threatens legislation if social networking companies do not make minors’ profiles accessible by default only to their approved list of contacts.Perhaps schools could help students by making sure each takes a class making them aware of the risks, and showing them how to protect themselves.Send any comments to elamin.ahmed@gmail.com