Life begins at 80 with electronic book

A free electronic book "Life Begins at 80...on the Internet" has been written in Ettalong by retired Sydney journalist Mr Eric Shackle.

It contains more than 400 stories for readers aged 50 and over and can now be translated into eight languages, according to Mr Shackle.

"Thanks to an automated translator called BabelFish, the stories can be converted to any one of eight languages in a few seconds," said Mr Shackle, who has lived in Ettalong for more than 20 years.

"I can't vouch for BabelFish's accuracy, as it makes a literal translation, one word at a time, and struggles to make sense of some of our Aussie words and phrases."

Mr Shackle said: "When I retired I had little interest left in life until, at the age of 79, I discovered the internet.

"I bought my first computer and was intrigued by the way that you can talk to people and receive messages and read articles posted on the internet from all over the world.

"All for free and just at the press of a button.

"I thought there must be millions of people who don't know about the world wide web.

"I know that many people of my age are frightened to explore it because they're not familiar with it.

"I want to persuade them to ride with me on the internet's magic carpet."

Seattle wordsmith Anu Garg, mastermind of the newsletter A Word A Day, which goes to 600,000 subscribers in 200 countries, and of which Eric is copy editor, said of the e-book::"It's an ever-expanding collection of stories that make us think, laugh, and learn."

Mr Shackle said thousands of "seniors" around the world read the book, which presented four or five new stories on a wide range of topics every month.

The January edition features articles headlined ABC's wartime trickery, Quixote winery's golden dome, World's oldest weather stone, Guess where The Royal Gazette is published and Pubs' ages, like people's, are relative.

It can be found at www.bdb.co.za/shackle/

Press release, December 21 Eric Shackle