Author Topic: The Library (Read 2324323 times)

nlhome · « **Reply #12280 on:** November 08, 2013, 10:24:38 PM »

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

Wow, those are some good suggestions.
I never thought of Wikipedia - I use it when I see something in a Crossword that I don't recognize, yet it never crossed my mind.

Thank you both.

MaryPage · « **Reply #12281 on:** November 09, 2013, 09:14:21 AM »

There are also extremely good and very fascinating documentary videos available about the WASPS. I flew from Virginia to Pittsburgh with one of them back in the nineteen eighties. I was headed to Cincinnati that day, and she for elsewhere to a meeting of the WASPs. Pittsburgh was a hub for our airline, and we groused about that. She was my seatmate. Dead now, she was a beautiful, silver-haired woman from Middleburg, Virginia and had been fighting for recognition of the WASPs for all those many long years. She told me of them having whip-arounds to get enough money together to bury their own dead, because our government did not want to admit they had women doing dangerous work and would not grant them burial money. It is all in the books now, and the films made about them that show the real women.
It seems so sad to me that women of today and most future women will never comprehend the deep, deep prejudice against women in this country that insisted they be kept in the kitchen and the bedroom and no acknowledgment be made that perhaps there existed a brain and some ability within them. I lived through that, but find most of my sister women insist upon wearing blinders about the subject.

Steph · « **Reply #12282 on:** November 09, 2013, 09:31:11 AM »

got Come Walk with Me by Medlicott from my swap sight. Read it.. and hated it mostly.. Claire is the absolute worst type of widow..All for a male on her side. Even at the end, she is living with and enjoying the company of a man she refuses to consider.. I really do not like widows books that tend to revolve around getting a man back in their life. Just not important..Sorry I read it..

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #12283 on:** November 09, 2013, 03:47:49 PM »

Steph I know and I have run into many that do feel they must be married - not against it just think some are not able to cope and until married that is their prime pursuit - I even met a few who have moved because they were told there were more older single men in Florida and in Arizona. I am like Elizabeth Philpot in our story of the month - I like my freedom

mabel1015j · « **Reply #12284 on:** November 09, 2013, 05:36:34 PM »

Steph, that was the reason i said you may, or may not like it. I feel the same, but i wondered if her feelings were not felt by many women. I feel that way about the Covington women also. Each of those women have had some man appear, most of them good guys, one of them a jerk, but i like the musing that she has the characters go through to decide their futures.

I'm a big-time feminist, but if something happened to my DH i would like to have some men in my life to have their vision and experiences to add to conversation, as we have here on SL and S and F. I have fabulous conversations with my women friends, as we do here, but men do have different perspectives - not always, but often enough to add a different perspective.

I have had an interesting afternoon at The Alice Paul Institute. There was a presentation about Alice Paul and the Equal Rights Amendment: Past, Present and Future. There was a wonderful summation on dvd and presentation on Alice Paul's life by one of the staff of API. Then one of my best friends, Barbara Irvine, who was president of the Institute for 15 yrs during the buying of AP's artifacts and effects and her family's house and property and its renovation, talked about how this group of 11 women with no particular expertise, only passion, made those things happen and made the property not a museum, but a place honoring AP's power of passion and legacy. It is a center of women's history and the training of women and girls in being leaders.

You can see a picture of the house here

http://www.alicepaul.org

Another friend, Bobbie Francis, who is Chair of the ERA Task Force, National Council of Women's Organizations talked about what's happening today with ERA. You can see details at

www.equalrightsamendment.org

And there was a senior in high schoolwho has been involved with API since she was in 3rd grade. She was one of 5 girls from the Institute who went to Congress and spoke with their Congressman, a Republican, to ask him to sign on to the legislation of a reintroduction of ERA and she was recently with a group who went to the U.N. to meet with other girls from around the world on The Day of the Girl.

The fight goes on! I mentioned that the Texas voting laws are having a desperate impact on women and told them Barbara's story of not being able to vote. An ERA would take that legislation to task automatically. Many people think that ERAs have been passed, either in the states - only 27 states have such legislation- or in the fedreral constitution.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #12285 on:** November 09, 2013, 09:18:12 PM »

Just a reminder, Big History will be shown tonight on History Ch 2 at 10:00. Tonight's episode is about gold's role in human history. Thank goodness for H2, as someone else said , the original History Channel has been turned over to 15 yr old boys.

MaryPage · « **Reply #12286 on:** November 10, 2013, 09:00:20 AM »

Isn't THAT the truth!

Yep! The History channel used to offer wonderful history, the Arts & Entertainment channel showed wonderful classic stuff not to be missed, and The Learning Channel taught us so very much. Scheesch!

Steph · « **Reply #12287 on:** November 10, 2013, 09:37:11 AM »

I agree since both my Mother and a neighbor in the summers simply cannot imagine life without a man.. and my neighbor is one of those who will move to be near elibible men.Sad.. I was married for many years and adored him and loved being married to him,, but now.. I suspect I am too old to adjust to anyone elses schedule or life.. It would be nice to find somene male or female who loves to travel as much as I do, but so far that has not worked out..Yes, I tend to avoid books that center on romance..They are always just too handsome or beautiful for words and pretty near perfect.. ugh.. not my thing.
Found a book that I want for Christmas "Devil in the Grover? by Gilbert King. Won all sorts of awards and since it is about something that happened in the next town to mine and concerns that horrible sherif, McCall, sounds like something I want to know more about.

Frybabe · « **Reply #12288 on:** November 10, 2013, 03:28:48 PM »

Don't forget the dumbing down of the Science Channel. It seems to like the paranormal and UFO programs now. I am not too unhappy about dropping back a tier on my Comcast. Saved by my Roku streaming box. The programs are usually at least a year old, but I do get to watch just what I want, when I want. I just finished a very nice program on live living around volcanoes. It was one I missed on PBS (or my station never aired it). Even Oscar perked up and watched the green parakeets and, on the last show, the mice, fish and squid. He lost interest in the shrimp though, and went back to sleep.

ANNIE · « **Reply #12289 on:** November 10, 2013, 05:05:45 PM »

My gosh, I thought it was me. Being uppity when I came to the History and Science channels. Between the paranormal being covered on Science and Pawn Stars on History, I quit choosing either one. Thanks to Mabel, at least I am aware of H2 or as my provider calls it, History International. Buuuuuut!
They aren't showing Big History. Will have to check their schedule for the next week and see if they have it on another night.
Well, I just found that "Big History" will be a Saturday program on my TWC service. Can't wait to watch it. Thanks again, Mabel!

Frybabe · « **Reply #12290 on:** November 11, 2013, 07:57:21 AM »

Last night I watched two streaming videos of a history series (name of which I forget at the moment). One was about the Thera explosion and the disappearance of the Minoans. They did an interesting analysis of the tidal waves that would have hit the island coasts in the area when the volcano collapsed into the sea and concluded that the event would have produced three waves. The Minoans towns were devastated on the surrounding islands (including Crete); Greek invaders appear to have finished them off. The other was a search for the Amazon woman warriors. They were able to extract DNA from several sites where women were buried with weapons and find direct link to a group of Mongolians near the Chinese border. They also did a facial reconstruction of one of the woman warriors.

Steph · « **Reply #12291 on:** November 11, 2013, 08:23:05 AM »

The things we discover with DNA is amazing. I am not a science buff, but do love history.

Frybabe · « **Reply #12292 on:** November 11, 2013, 08:29:26 AM »

Now I am starting to see ads for people to have their DNA tested so that they can have an idea of what diseases they might end up with later on.

ANNIE · « **Reply #12293 on:** November 11, 2013, 10:33:58 AM »

Yes, Frybabe that's is interesting. What they can do with the info is put a chip in each of us.

Then we will have a chip for the drs to peruse? We will all be lab rats!

Technology is so incredible but maybe too invasive?
Has anyone here clicked on a link to the iDocter? Its an amazing story about how our iPhones or smarts phones can be used in place of many expensive tests that we now use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r13uYs7jglg

marcie · « **Reply #12294 on:** November 11, 2013, 11:13:41 AM »

Annie, that video is amazing. We're almost at the Star Trek scanner stage!

ginny · « **Reply #12295 on:** November 11, 2013, 05:59:26 PM »

Thank you all for your votes in the last poll, 30 votes!!!

Here are the latest results and if you'll look up to the top of the page you'll see a new thread: a Holiday question but an explosive one. .

    Reader's Poll #7: What are your favorite genres/kinds of books?

A. History/Gov't    - 17 (20.7%)

B. Essays, Poetry    - 1 (1.2%)

C. Biographies/Autobiographies    - 10 (12.2%)

D. How To / Self-Help/    - 1 (1.2%)

E. Classics/ Ancient Works    - 7 (8.5%)

F. Science Fiction    - 4 (4.9%)

G. Paranormal/Vampires    - 0 (0%)

H. Mysteries/Suspense/Espionage    - 25 (30.5%)

I. Women's Lit/ chick Lit/Romance    - 4 (4.9%)

Other (Tell us more in the Library)    - 2 (2.4%)

Fiction    - 11 (13.4%)

Total Voters: 30

mabel1015j · « **Reply #12296 on:** November 11, 2013, 07:35:06 PM »

The iphone diagnostics sounds like a great idea. A lot of women medical technologists will have to retrain for new jobs.

ANNIE · « **Reply #12297 on:** November 11, 2013, 07:59:47 PM »

Yes Marcie, it will be "beam me up, Scotty" time before we know it!

And Mabel, there will be newer techie programs being written before we can grab the wine bottle and settle our nerves!

mabel1015j · « **Reply #12298 on:** November 11, 2013, 08:24:38 PM »

Annie -

Steph · « **Reply #12299 on:** November 12, 2013, 08:35:58 AM »

I like smart phones, but wont have one since it cost 30.00 more a month than a regular phone and I simply dont use it for most of what it does. Plus having just gone to the theatre on Saturday. No matter how they plead at the beginning, you could see little green lights all through the show. I hate that. My seat neighbor not only checked constantly, but seemed to be talking, so calling off and on through the show..
Annoying beyond belilef.

maryz · « **Reply #12300 on:** November 12, 2013, 12:38:54 PM »

Steph - I agree on the phones (although I do have a smart phone). I've requested that a seat neighbor stop phone-fiddling during a performance - and usually just gotten an agreeable response. Although they're usually surprised that someone would find it objectionable.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #12301 on:** November 12, 2013, 01:03:57 PM »

The survey was difficult for me since there are different decoration for different parts of the holiday season - we do Advent wreathes and Advent calendars - scrubbing down the house during Advent, starting to force bulbs that will bloom the week of Christmas along with shopping, wrapping and reading lots of Christmas stories - when the baking and cooking start about a week before Christmas the decorating starts with the tree going up the weekend before Christmas.

I no longer put up a tree - for a few years I had three very small trees that only had a star on top but for the last 7 or 8 years I like putting a live wreathe tied with red ribbons to the bottom of my breakfast room chandelier that has 5 arms with hurricane globes over lights and a small pleated shade on the hurricane globe. Hanging from the wreathe at various lengths using thin red ribbons are some of the old ornaments that were from my grandmother's, mother's and our tree that hold special memories. I hang this wreathe just before Rose Sunday so I can enjoy it since it is that following week before the 4th Sunday of Advent that I leave for my daughter's. I like to return and be home for New Year although, I have in the past stayed till after the New Year - Since I stopped driving two years ago there is no longer the issue of waiting to get on the roads after all the holiday traffic - I keep my decorations until the Epiphany.

One year I thought why bother it is only me - was I ever wrong - it is so easy to let down and then my spirit was not as joyous and there was no change in my thoughts that a bit of traditional scents and activity bring even if limited as compared to years gone by.

MaryPage · « **Reply #12302 on:** November 12, 2013, 04:20:27 PM »

Hey Barbara, have you put out any complaints about your not being able to vote yet?

maryz · « **Reply #12303 on:** November 12, 2013, 04:38:42 PM »

I checked "other". When we decorated, I didn't put anything up until about two weeks before Christmas - definitely not before Thanksgiving. When we stopped exchanging presents here about 15-20 years ago, I stopped decorating. It was a lot more trouble than we got pleasure from it, so....

mabel1015j · « **Reply #12304 on:** November 12, 2013, 11:28:21 PM »

I would say 2 weeks before Christmas also. My husband starts getting out the outdoor lights a week after Thanksgiving. I do NOTHING with that except to say "They look really nice!" I don't like putting up and decorating the tree, but i love it after its up and lit. (Sigh)

I love our decorations.

Last year i went to buy a new cell phone. When she told me how much it would cost me to get a data plan to get online, my dgt said "that's not happening."

She knows me well, i only used a cell phone for emergencies. The very nice young woman looked at our use records and said "you've only used 6 minutes of time in the last 3 months and your husband has only used 20 mins. You would be better off buying pre-paid minutes." So we got a plan where we each (dh and i) paid for $100 worth of minutes for a year. Our time will be up in Dec and i've still got $59 worth of minutes left!!! LOLOL. My point is if you use your phone like i do, you might want to check on pre-paid minutes.

Jean

PatH · « **Reply #12305 on:** November 13, 2013, 08:05:26 AM »

I've been using prepaid minutes for at least 6 years. If you buy more minutes before they expire, your unused balance rolls over, so when I renew in a few weeks I'll roll over about $300. It's still the cheapest way to go, at $8.30 a month. I can text as well as phone, and in fact do mostly texting.

Steph · « **Reply #12306 on:** November 13, 2013, 08:27:45 AM »

Ssince I have two friends addicted to texting, prepaid does not work well for me.. But I love my plain vanilla phone and generally use it only for phone calls..

JoanP · « **Reply #12307 on:** November 13, 2013, 10:28:31 AM »

* The PBS Masterpiece Giveaway - Just want to be sure you are aware of it, and don't come in when it's over looking for directions on entering.
If you haven't heard, PBS is giving away 5 copies of Rebecca Eaton's 25 years producing Masterpiece programmng. A wonderful book, really! If you haven't heard about it, you can read about it here - Making Masterpiece - 25 years

To be eligible for the drawing of the 5 copies, you just need to post about any of your favorite PBS programming over the last 25 years - by the end of November - in our current SeniorLearn PBS Masterpiece Mystery discussion. That's it! Everyone who posts in this discussion by the end of November is eligible to win one of these lovely books! Don't wait -- come in today!

ps The publisher of the book is putting a link to our site in their Twitter page. We might have some visitors to the site. Be sure to welcome them if you notice newcomers!

JoanP · « **Reply #12308 on:** November 13, 2013, 12:28:18 PM »

Another consideration - our December Book Club Online discussion -

A change of plans due to the lack of availability of The Noticer - (although we did find the first chapter of the book online.)

Today we are considering what are called Christmas "cozy*" mysteries -

*"I find that most of the cozy mysteries that I read take place in a small, picturesque town or village, with characters who I could envision having as neighbors or friends. (Of course, once I find out who the killer is, I wouldn't particularly want that person living next to me!) They are usually not zany people, although an eccentric or two might lurk here and there. On the whole, they are usually normal, every day characters you might have known at one time in your life. Cozies don't usually involve a lot of gory details or explicit "adult situations," either."

After reading the description of these novels, please vote your preference - so we can get planning...

1. G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown Christmas mystery

2. Inspector Poirot's Christmas Mystery

Vote HERE for December BookClub Discussion!
Thanks!

Steph · « **Reply #12309 on:** November 14, 2013, 08:41:34 AM »

Never liked Christmas themed mysteries.

Frybabe · « **Reply #12310 on:** November 14, 2013, 09:05:09 AM »

I got a malware alert from my anitvirus software when I clicked on the Poirot's Christmas Mystery link. I hope that is a false alarm, but please be careful and check your computer if you didn't get the message. I remember seeing a Christmas themed Poirot a while back. Nice.

JoanP · « **Reply #12311 on:** November 14, 2013, 09:11:37 AM »

Will check it out right now. Thanks, Fry!

ginny · « **Reply #12312 on:** November 14, 2013, 09:53:34 AM »

Oh man I love Christmas mysteries. You need a little sour with your sweet in that season where things tend to overwhelm.

I read one every year, and the Poirot is really a good one, but I don't know about the website, haven't looked at it.

I want the big English manor, the snowstorm, the mystery afoot to go with the holiday jollity, for some reason I just love it. I think it's the same thing as A Christmas Carol, there we have ghosts with warnings and death intruding into the happy season.

They're not all cloyingly saccharine and painfully full of puns. Think of Charlotte MacLeod's (sp) Rest Ye Merry, charming wonderful thing.

Think of Simon Brett's The Christmas Crimes at Puzzel Manor, I love that thing dearly, I know a lot of people don't because he doesn't solve the last puzzle but it becomes a challenge: author versus reader. Just love that thing.

Barnes and Noble has brought out The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries and what a tome it is, in paperback, 654 large inviting pages, and what authors, Mary Higgins Clark, Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Colin Dexter, Peter Lovesey, the usual regulars Ed McBain, Ellis Peters, Ellery Queen, John D. MacDonald, Rex Stout, Robert Barnard, Mary Roberts Rhinehart, Damon Runyon, Thomas HARDY!!, O Henry and not the one you're thinking of, Robert Louis Stevenson, Isaac Asimov, Ngaio Marsh, Cyril Hare, and MANY many more new authors I have never heard of but whom those of you who love mysteries, regardless of which kind of mystery, would know.

I'm going to start with A Wreath for Marley, by Max Allan Collins, whom I never heard of. I think this book has something for everybody's taste, and who knows, one might discover a "new" or old author one likes. It's a lovely book and there's a little intro and bio for each author. Lovingly done.

ho ho ho!

pedln · « **Reply #12313 on:** November 14, 2013, 10:24:41 AM »

Ginny, I'm thrilled to read about your tour of Burma, and to know that sane, intelligent people do go there. My Judy recently told me that she and her friend Liz plan to bike there in February. (I assume they'll take their tandem.) My first thoughts were that it was a politically horrible country and I wish they'd choose another location. I'm going to copy your comments about Amy Tan's book and your trip and send them to them.

After paying Sprint for years for a phone that I could hear, but not understand, I finally bought a smartphone with all its bells and whistles, and have downloaded an APP that will allow me to have captions. I've had them on my landline for years, but for mobiles you need something that will do both phone and data at the same time. Someday I will learn about all its workings, after I read Samsung Galaxy 4S for Dummies. (There really is such a title) And after I bought it, discovered an online manual, so I read that too. Thank goodness for Lee at AT&T who graciously answers all my questions whenever I walk in the door.

Another fun Christmas read, Mary Higgins Clark's The Christmas Thief, that involves the big tree at Rockefeller Center.

ginny · « **Reply #12314 on:** November 14, 2013, 10:29:01 AM »

Pedln, no no, it wasn't MY trip, I'm a little long in the tooth for that, it was one of our Latin students here and she really enjoyed it, but did not get to take the Silk Road entrance into Burma.

I am not sure Burma comes out very well in Amy Tan's book, the ruling govt, etc. Judy may want to read the book, you may not.

I'm almost through it, it's a good book...so far....., fingers crossed for the 11 American tourists in the book anyway. It's an eye opener.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #12315 on:** November 14, 2013, 12:36:42 PM »

Did anyone see the morning show (I don't know if it was GMA or Today, or whatever the other one is) but they interviewed Donna Tartt regarding her new novel, "Goldfinch" which is 800+ pages. It was awarded Amazon Book of the Year! She writes one about every ten years. It sounds like it would be an interesting read, but I don't think I can do 800+ right now. Has anyone here read it, started it, finished it, tossed it against a wall (LOL)!?

JoanP · « **Reply #12316 on:** November 14, 2013, 02:57:18 PM »

I didn't see that show, but have read rave review of Goldfinch, Tomereader. I'm #140 on the Library waiting list. I think it's going to be one for the ages. Although I agree...800 pages is HEAVY!

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #12317 on:** November 14, 2013, 04:34:30 PM »

Typically do not like reading about abandoned children who through luck and circumstances make good but this one sounds like the focus is on the art world - now the dilemma - do I go for the kindle version or wait and hope it is a Christmas Gift after I drop a hint or two. I've chewed up my book budget.

Wow that The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries sounds great - I wonder if it is on Kindle - sounds like a perfect fair while traveling - love the mysteries that take place in the English country side - that was part of the draw for me when Angela Lansbury redid the Murder She Wrote - Miss Marple series. I remember we did Sir Gawain and the Green Giant years and years ago that starts with a Christmas Banquet.

There are so many more short stories written for the holiday season but had no idea there are that many mysteries that a big book of them could be published.

salan · « **Reply #12318 on:** November 14, 2013, 04:50:52 PM »

I also got the malware alert when I tried to open Poirot. I love Christmas mysteries (Anne Perry, anyone?). Also like Christmas stories this time of the year; even if they are "cloyingly" sweet. I am truly a Christmas person. I tend to stay away from books that are too long--just want shorter books this time of the year.
Sally

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #12319 on:** November 14, 2013, 04:56:54 PM »

Has anyone found another link to the Poirot - if one site has it you just know it has to be on the web somplace on some other site. If you find it would you please share it.

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Author Topic: The Library (Read 2324323 times)