Author Topic: The Library (Read 2303276 times)

ANNIE · « **Reply #11640 on:** August 07, 2013, 03:57:33 AM »

The Library

Our library cafe is open 24/7, the welcome mat is always out.
Do come in from daily chores and spend some time with us.

We look forward to hearing from you, about you and the books you are enjoying (or not).

Let the book talk begin here!

*Suggestion Box for Future Discussions
*SeniorLearn's Archives

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TOMEREADER
Thanks for the recommendation, "Ordinary Grace" by Krueger. I juat requested it from my library.

ginny · « **Reply #11641 on:** August 07, 2013, 07:05:23 AM »

Does historical fiction have to be accurate? Who cares if it's not? We're having a very interesting and cordial discussion of this issue in the Suggestions discussion, come on over and give your two cents: http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=309.msg197188#msg197188

We know a lot of you like historical fiction. Do you also like, when you're finished reading it, the feeling that now you know more about this subject than you did? But do you? How do you feel when you find out, maybe years later, that you've been hoodwinked and that wasn't the case at all?

Come on over, the soapbox is vacant for the moment. Lovely discussions in our books sections.

Steph · « **Reply #11642 on:** August 07, 2013, 08:53:49 AM »

Your clickable went to your last reply, not thevoting area.. Oh well. I like some historical fiction..Some of it is way too broad and some is so blatantly untrue, you just gasp.

ginny · « **Reply #11643 on:** August 07, 2013, 09:01:03 AM »

It actually goes to Tomereader's post, not the voting, thank you for looking. She introduced the topic there. An interesting topic.

JoanP · « **Reply #11644 on:** August 07, 2013, 09:02:44 AM »

Steph...Ginny's clickable went to the posts regarding historical fiction...
If it's the voting area you are looking for - look in the header at the top of this page. http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=309.new;topicseen

If I'm not mistaken, one of the nominations you made...I hope you see the Poll and get to vote!

Octavia · « **Reply #11645 on:** August 07, 2013, 10:29:08 PM »

Just reading and writing again after months of eye trouble. There's certainly been a lot of water under the bridge, I had a little trouble finding the current library. It's so good to be back and reading about books.
A weird thing happened to me while reading an English newspaper 'The Guardian' online. I saw an ad. for books on a well known Australian booksite(a very good one too, that I buy from regularly) and something struck me, the books displayed were the exact same ones I'd been checking out on Amazon earlier to get the customer reviews.
On the Guardian were MY books! Is this going too far? I don't know, it feels sort of creepy, like Big Brother is watching me, or brainwashing me or something $:-\$
Or is this just me, and it's an everyday thing to tailor ads to suit the reader, and I shouldn't be dismayed? But an English newspaper??

PatH · « **Reply #11646 on:** August 07, 2013, 11:14:30 PM »

Welcome back, Octavia. It's good to see you again.

It's common to get ads tailored to what you've been doing online. I see them in my mail browser and other places, but I've never heard of that in an online newspaper. The whole thing feels creepy to me.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11647 on:** August 07, 2013, 11:47:47 PM »

Creepy or not welcome to the 21st century tech world - the best thing is there is only electronics picking from our email and post and not real live folks who bleed if injured. I think they are shooting themselves in the foot - why post my history - if I wanted to buy and didn't there is a reason and if I did buy there is no reason to look at their ad - I would think they would be introducing us to new things that we had not heard of or we were not aware of that is within the boundry of our interests - example if we look at Amazon we are interested in books so what about other books that we did not check out to see if we wanted to buy or if drugs the same thing or even futher afield to food or furniture or garden supplies. I think they are short sighted

jane · « **Reply #11648 on:** August 08, 2013, 08:27:44 AM »

Don't you get ads for books "similar to...[title]" that you've purchased online? I do all the time. Often the books they suggest are of no interest to me, but they do offer the "similar to" thing.

Steph · « **Reply #11649 on:** August 08, 2013, 08:48:34 AM »

Amazon does the similar to, etc, problem is that at least once a year at Christmas, I order gift books for all of my family and then the similar to is not my taste, but someone elses. Should be a place I could mark,not for me.. Oh well.

PatH · « **Reply #11650 on:** August 08, 2013, 09:38:55 AM »

I get the book ads not only related to what I've bought, but books I've looked up. Rarely, they come up with something I want, but mostly, it's just funny to see their thinking. Sure, I want an earlier book in a series when I not only bought the latest from them, but all the earlier ones too. Of course, if I just bought a Spanish dictionary I must want another.

PatH · « **Reply #11651 on:** August 08, 2013, 09:40:38 AM »

Politics and Prose has weighed in about the purchase of the Washington Post, and they aren't hopeful:

http://www.politics-prose.com/

pedln · « **Reply #11652 on:** August 08, 2013, 10:39:30 AM »

That's an interesting article, PatH. One can certainly understand the feelings of independent bookstore owners. Up until reading it I had heard only good things about Jeff Bezos, and "ruthless" was not in the description.

I'm an Amazon fan, and use it frequently, not only for purchase, but also for information (as do many here.) But I also love going to independent bookstores -- the Politics and Prose in DC, and more frequently New York's Strand and Seattle's Elliot Bay, and make purchases when I visit them.

Some of the article's criticisms are similar to ones that used to be heard about Walmart. Perhaps we might say that Amazon in the Walmart of the new millenium. Of the two, I prefer the former. Another comparison -- Walmart has been praised for it's inventory control system, but it can't come close to Amazon's use of software.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11653 on:** August 08, 2013, 11:27:44 AM »

I too am an Amazon fan and when Jeff Bezos appears on Charlie Rose I am captivated by his enthusiasm and desire to bring about a better world through books - Not sure which Sunday show on PBS that was suggesting that Jeff Bezos awareness of how young people are now interested in the news because of their hand held devices that they needed more than social media to inform them - I took from that, the Washington Post may become a principle online information app with ads bottom and top of some pages as the ads for books are included on the Kindle now. We shall see what we shall see however, as of now and as long as the handheld print paper could not make a profit, this sale will be a good thing - rather Jeff Bezos than many others I can think of.

MaryPage · « **Reply #11654 on:** August 08, 2013, 11:51:09 AM »

I have been reading The Washington Post every day for 67 years. A very long time, that!
And only the paper itself has been sold, and Kathryn Graham's granddaughter remains publisher. The Grahams wanted to keep the paper, but money was a problem. With Bezos, money will be no problem at all. And he bought the paper himself, not a company. So everything about it will be his decision WITH the Grahams.
I am satisfied that it will continue unabated as the excellent paper it is. True, they had to let go of a lot of their best columnists and reporters with their money crunch, and that has lessened the appeal of my favorite newsource. I think the downward trend will come to a screeching halt now and the paper will soar for the skies once again.
I subscribe on my iPad now. No problem with undelivered papers or tipping the delivery person, or writing a check even! What a life!

Frybabe · « **Reply #11655 on:** August 08, 2013, 11:58:48 AM »

Octavia, welcome back. I've missed our Australian contingent. Kiwilady seems have gotten scarce too.

My eyebrows raised when I saw the Washington Post sale to Bezos.

maryz · « **Reply #11656 on:** August 08, 2013, 01:25:25 PM »

Several of us have read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. This story is back in the news. I heard a piece on NPR this morning. Someone has mapped the genome of the HeLa cells and there is some controversy over who will control it. I'm sure the story can be found on an NPR site if anyone is interested.

Frybabe · « **Reply #11657 on:** August 08, 2013, 02:23:35 PM »

I saw it somewhere (local CBS affiliate, I think) this morning, Mary. The gist of the news I saw was that the family gets some control over who gets to use the gene sequence and that they are to be acknowledged. They did not request any financial compensation.

Ah, here is a Huffington Post article which has a little more into than I read this morning.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/07/henrietta-lacks-family-settlement-on-dna-info_n_3720936.html?ir=Black+Voices

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #11658 on:** August 08, 2013, 02:48:55 PM »

The ran a piece on HeLa cells yesterday on (I think) NBC news, and I believe the family is making some concessions as to how the cells can be used.

Winchesterlady · « **Reply #11659 on:** August 08, 2013, 04:14:11 PM »

Amazon does the similar to, etc, problem is that at least once a year at Christmas, I order gift books for all of my family and then the similar to is not my taste, but someone elses. Should be a place I could mark,not for me.. Oh well

Steph, I use Amazon all the time. I sometimes feel like I should be part-owner! If you go to the "Book" page, you will see various sections, such as new releases, etc. For me, under the section called "More Items to consider," it says (in very small print) "View or Edit Your Browsing History." If you click on this link, it will take you to a page listing everything you have viewed on Amazon lately. Under each item, there's a link to delete it. If you delete the item, then it should not be used when Amazon sends you recommendations. Hope this helps.

MaryPage · « **Reply #11660 on:** August 08, 2013, 04:30:11 PM »

A lot of that stuff is generated automatically. For instance, I most often use Barnes & Noble, and I often send books out from them as gifts. With gift cards sending my love, so B & N does understand the order is a gift. Yet I will get an automated e-mail a couple of weeks later asking me to do a review of the book for their website. Scheesch! I have never read the book, and in most cases never will. Especially not the children's books I have sent to my 22 great grandchildren.
But I do not complain, because I think it is automatic and they have not got it down pat as yet. One day they will perfect it, and folk will not be asked to write a review of a book not sent directly to them. I think. One never can count upon this world being rational.

Octavia · « **Reply #11661 on:** August 08, 2013, 06:10:11 PM »

I see this is the new norm, this second guessing what I want to read. It does feel like stalking though

. I wonder how long before my TV starts tailoring my ads and programmes?
I'm currently reading everything by Canadian author Susanna Kearsley. I love romantic ,historical fiction. Sophia's Secret is my favourite aka The Winter Sea in America. Set in a castle on a rugged Scottish coast, with a love story and a Jacobite rebellion thrown in, I couldn't put it down. Apparently all her historic references are totally correct, woven through the story.
I really like it that there aren't any graphic sex scenes--love, tenderness, warmth, but the bedroom door is shut, and nothing is lost from her books or their stories. In fact, I think it makes the love story better.
I hate the rise of these internet trolls who are all pervasive now. I can't believe that people can be so vile. Death threats for sharing your opinion, or God forbid, being over 50 or 60. An elderly man here was severely bashed by a couple of young thugs after leaving a pub, because , in their opinion, he was 'too old to be in that pub'
I've never gone along with the 'bring back National Service' brigade, but now, maybe...?

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11662 on:** August 09, 2013, 01:56:32 AM »

Ah I read The Winter Sea last year - nice - I read a couple of books at the time, both set on the Scottish coast and I get them confused but wasn't this the one where she is an author and the story she is writing features a couple that ends up being her great - not sure how many greats back but her family? The story moved along - where I get confused is the other story, I cannot remember the title however, she is from Appalachia - family died and her closest relation is in Scotland - There is a pull to the castle that she wants to make into a restaurant - it too includes the story of ancestors.

Steph · « **Reply #11663 on:** August 09, 2013, 08:17:11 AM »

Winchester Lady.Thanks for the tip. I will investigate that link.. High in the mountains in a small town, I have been using Amazon and Ebay all summer for all sorts of small stuff impossible to find locally.

ginny · « **Reply #11664 on:** August 09, 2013, 10:53:13 AM »

Welcome back, Octavia, we have missed you.

______________

I'm an Amazon junkie, myself, I got that Prime thing when they mentioned to me I had already spent that in shipping, wouldn't I like to have it all the time free shipping? Well yes I would but I did not realize that I would also get it the next day or at the worst the day after that. (This does not apply to third party sellers).

And so I've gotten spoiled rotten at this point. It's wonderful to have in hand a volume the library does not have and could not get in 2 days. (I am always in a hurry and running late and needing the info yesterday). I guess the membership will come up again before Christmas. I hate to be hooked, but one really IS saving money or so I tell self.

______________

I like CNN on the IPAD, have any of you tried it? It's something like 249 stories of the day, and you can pick and choose to either watch them or to read about them, whichever format it's presented in. So you can pick your own news. Sometimes when Wolf Blitzer is going on and on about one thing in the Situation Room, I like to see what's in the other news, so I can with this APP.

Here's something new today I just saw, and I think it's amazing. It's a slant on comparing yourself to other people, but I like the way she puts it. She's lost 185 pounds, and we all know somebody is always going to be better at something than one is, but I, for some reason, love the way she puts this. I had never heard of comparison being the "thief of joy."

Quote

Editor's note: Annette Miller is one of six CNN viewers selected to be a part of the Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge program. Follow the "6-pack" on Twitter and Facebook as they train to race the Nautica Malibu Triathlon with Dr. Sanjay Gupta on September 8.

(CNN) -- In my life, I've often heard that "comparison is the thief of joy." I never really thought much about it until taking on CNN's Fit Nation challenge.

If I were to compare myself to my Fit Nation teammates, I would believe I'm falling short. Will Cleveland runs something crazy like a six-minute mile; I'm steady at a 15- to 16-minute mile. Tabitha McMahon makes swimming look effortless, while I need an additional swim coach outside of Fit Nation. It would be easy to look at that and think I'm failing.

Some people think comparison is a good thing. "Why wouldn't you want to swim as well as Tabitha or run as fast as Will?" It's not that I don't want to. It's just that I'm not there yet.

When we compare ourselves to others, we can't be objective. When we look at those who seem to have it all, we beat ourselves up. But we don't have all the details of their situation.

More.....
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/09/health/fit-nation-miller-comparison/index.html

I never thought about it because at our ages, we're beyond that, right? We know better. Now i am wondering how much comparison actually does occur and does matter in what we do every day? How important really IS the comparison? Is it blatant or subtle? For instance there are the lists: best books of XXX, book awards like the Man Booker, for instance, the Oscar, the Emmy, the Tony, etc., and then there's the physical image.

Have you noticed in the supermarket there are magazines which show body parts and compare images of what a real woman is or a desirable appearance is in a woman? Have you noticed these photos stop about age 50?? ? Oh there might be the occasional over 50, maybe Helen Mirren, etc., but you know as well as I do they don't predominate. Who would buy the magazine? Who is the intended audience?

And I left yesterday wondering: What is the intended message here?

There was one yesterday (if the lines weren't so long one wouldn't have time to read them) showing Photoshopped celebrities in bikinis and then the unretouched photos: oh look, she DOES have cellulite and bulges after all. It's all a mirage. The media never puts in a magazine a real looking person in any bathing suit: why not? Young girls try to be what they see shown as the desirable thing; comparison results, and depression follows.

We live in a new world, really, the information age. Is it good or bad? Yesterday it went too far. A man killed his wife and Tweeted about it on Twitter, posting the photo of her lying dead. Then CNN picked it up and with apologies and you might want to look away, BROADCAST the same photos!!! Or said they did, I turned it off when they said you might want to look away. I did.

But like it or not it's the world we now live in, and this comparison stuff....I had not realized how the media encourages it or how subtle it is in our own lives. We may think it's not. I think I'm going to take the No Comparisons challenge today and see if I can get thru a day without seeing or being part of a comparison being done, it might be interesting.

So far, so good. I think. hahaha

MaryPage · « **Reply #11665 on:** August 09, 2013, 01:44:17 PM »

We live in a sick, sick, sick world.
A man kills his wife and send pictures of his feat out to the admiring world.
Baby girls are picked out of the garbage dumps of Pakistan and India before they have died and are dressed up and given away to childless couples on international television.
Oh well, one says; at least those little lives are being sought for and they will live.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11666 on:** August 09, 2013, 02:20:24 PM »

Ginny I think there are two ways and maybe more but two that comes to mind of using comparrison - I think it can be an incentive or it can be envy - oh yes, just thought - see I knew there was more than two - it can cause us to minimize the highlighted featured affect as unworthy - (I guess I am thinking of the many who criticize certain kinds of music) or even trivialize what many admire.

Anyhow, when seeing a photo of a young person who looks great - sure, we know we can not achieve the look and yet, there is an overall appearance, the use of color and how the clothes are coordinated that can allow us to mix and match what we have to give us a more vibrant appearance. I do not find inspiration in the over the counter, at the grocery store checkout magazines but a couple of times a year I get onto the web sites for some of the Paris and Milan designers - and there are several web sites featuring older women.

Most of my clothes are at least 15 years old if not 25 years old - I renew T-shirts every other year or so keeping the stained ones for gardening and cleaning up around here - and when my Grands graduated from High School I did buy some new long pants in the crinkly fabric Orvis calls Scrunch - one year black and three years later when Cade graduated in navy. When scarves came in - sure enough I had some silk and chiffon scarves from the 1970s that I pulled out -

One of my role models is Carmen Dell'Orefice who is a year older than I am - I noticed she was pictured wearing the same white jacket with many outfits for two years in a row and realized the value of one really good jacket that can mix with pants during the day or that I could wear attending the symphony which I try to do at least twice a year.

I will NEVER look as she does and I am sure since her livelihood is modeling she has used her money nipping and tucking to assure her success - However, what I admired is - she was one who lost everything in her late 70s to Maddoff's massive Ponzi scheme - she picked herself up after realizing she could not even pay her rent without borrowing much less retire and made herself into an even more successful model than her earlier successful modeling career.

Here is another photo on my blog - Nancy Lopez from 3 years ago at age 100 - not a model just an ordinary person who died last year at 102

Nancy's mantra was - Dress and Go out everyday. Respect your social importance. Be a gift to the world.

And here is the link to what I enjoy as a great site for inspiration - a young man who photos older woman - some who dress for fun and others who are very pulled together.

http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/p/the-advanced-style-documenatry-film-page.html

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11667 on:** August 09, 2013, 02:24:05 PM »

Wow the photo is not near that size on my blog - sheesh - sorry - if someone can fix it - great...

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #11668 on:** August 09, 2013, 02:25:14 PM »

And you can tell by her wardrobe that she has money out the wazoo, and anyone can look great when they have an overabundance of $$$.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11669 on:** August 09, 2013, 02:36:15 PM »

I had a group of photos showing Nancy Lopez exercising but she did not have any nips and tucks - again we may not have the bone structure to look like her but to me she is a role model that at 100 we can still look vibrant and have a good attitude about who we are.

Some quotes I like that I review frequently - do any of you have quotes that would inspire us - please I know I would love to read them...

No matter who you are or how much money you have, you cannot buy muscle. The only way to get it is to build it yourself!

We are a product of what we choose to be. It isn’t the clothes that makes the Lady. It’s the Lady that make the clothes.

Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them, you reach your destiny.

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.

Tired of the shapeless and sinister -
Then launch a line of elegance and fun.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #11670 on:** August 09, 2013, 02:39:25 PM »

But see to me because someone has money is not important - we can still learn from them - one good jacket and a couple of pair of slacks and blouses - taking care of yourself - but important to me was when she said in essence, we have social importance - it is too easy to forget that, since my experience is that most people prefer to ignore me - I even notice it at neighborhood meetings when we are working on our problem over the deer population - to carry ourselves with pride and pull together what we do have, to me is what Nancy teaches me.

JeanneP · « **Reply #11671 on:** August 09, 2013, 05:27:38 PM »

That lady looks beautiful. I don't think having money is the reason. At That age one had to have had the will to get dressed up ,go out , feel good . I know that on the days I do that I feel 10 years younger. I take to many Lazy days now.

Really felt young yesterday . This is how I spent it .

The " patsy Cline" show yesterday was fantastic. Looked just like her and same body.. Was a noon buffet luncheon time. Food good and the show over 2 hrs.
Had over 900 people at it. 700 with gray hair. Was out of town but on a private bus.

However I fell fast asleep at 9 Pm and slept until 8 am. I could not party and dress up every day. Had to do it for 40 years to go to work.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #11672 on:** August 09, 2013, 06:28:45 PM »

I mentioned Kathryn Graham's book Personal History a few days ago, coincidentally they are showing her interview on her book on BookTV tomorrow at 6:00 EDT. I remember seeing it before, she's quite entertainng.

Oh, i love Patsy Cline's music, pure country of my young years and she had the perfect voice for those songs. I envy you your day Jeanne. Sounds like a perfect one.

Jean

PatH · « **Reply #11673 on:** August 09, 2013, 07:50:10 PM »

I'm sure I won't look as good as Nancy Lopez at 100, maybe don't even now, but I ditched the white gloves 50 years ago.

MaryPage · « **Reply #11674 on:** August 10, 2013, 07:35:09 AM »

Me, too; but they are in the drawer of my bedside table to wear overnight with creamed hands.
And, sigh, if gloves were back in style, they would hide all my "liver" spots. Funny, I guess they got that name because of the color, but it caused me for years to think they were because of ailing old lady livers. Now I know it is frail skin! Two sides of the fence: being young and being old.

Steph · « **Reply #11675 on:** August 10, 2013, 08:22:08 AM »

I like looking nice...DOesnt take much effort. I am not a makeup person, use it very occasionally but know I would look better if I did as my cousin does and carefullymake up each day whether I am going out or not.. Just too busy with other stuff, but know she has the right atitude.

jane · « **Reply #11676 on:** August 10, 2013, 10:10:42 AM »

I'm not big on makeup either...my preference is a nice tinted moisturizer with some SPF and a bit of mascara. My skin is very fair and I don't like to see a lot of makeup on young or old (trying to look young and just looking overly "made up") but my biggest complaint is too much perfume on women and some men. I think they've lost the ability to smell the product because they use it all the time, so they keep adding more to smell it on themselves. If they'd switch to a different product for a bit, they'd find out how very little it takes. I prefer a light application of a light scented body cream, but to each her own, I guess. I just try to avoid those heavy on the cologne/perfume. They make me "itchy"...and sneezey, too.

salan · « **Reply #11677 on:** August 10, 2013, 10:32:06 AM »

I hate being trapped in enclosed spaces with people who wear heavy scents. I am allergic to certain scents & others make it difficult for me to breathe. I have to be careful with what I wear. Light body powder or small amount of scented lotion is about all I can handle. I was once seated on an airplane next to a woman whose scent was overwhelming. Luckily, I discretely asked the stewardess of she could change my seating without embarrassing the woman, and she did. Airlines should suggest that heavy scents are not appropriate.
Sally

mabel1015j · « **Reply #11678 on:** August 10, 2013, 11:10:20 AM »

Whoa! I just got an "Amazon notification". When i opened it it was a list of medications from Canada starting w/ - guess what? - viagara! I looked every where and could not find a place to discontinue that kind of email!!! What the heck is that about? Did any of you get that?

Frybabe · « **Reply #11679 on:** August 10, 2013, 12:11:13 PM »

Sounds like a phishing scam to me. Amazon doesn't, as far as I know, send out emails unless you sign up for them. I get a few about books.

PS: I just doublechecked. If you have an Amazon account, there is a place on your accounts page that you can set up email preferences.

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2303276 times)