Author Topic: The Library (Read 2088564 times)

JoanP · « **Reply #5000 on:** May 07, 2011, 12:02:34 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

pedln · « **Reply #5001 on:** May 07, 2011, 12:41:48 PM »

Quote

What a wonderful idea for those who don't have success with hearing aids.

Very interesting, Annie. Do you think Granny knows about us? It sounds like she and we would mutually benefit. As for her method of communicating with her family, my suggestion would be for her to use a captioned telephone (family members on their cell phone). Actually, she doesn't need a captioned phone -- she can go to WebCapTel which provides the same service, and can be used with any phone. What the other party is saying appears on the computer monitor.

I do not know Ruth Warren or her friend Sharon, but something that might help Ruth in the hearing department -- a pocket talker from Williams Sound (aprrox. $100) or Comfort Contego , (appox $800). Headphones or earbuds can be used with either. And it helps if people slow down their speech, and enunciate

pedln · « **Reply #5002 on:** May 07, 2011, 12:45:11 PM »

Joan Grimes, so glad to see you here. Come on over to the Clara and Mr. Tiffany discussion. We would really appreciate your artisitc background.

Jonathan · « **Reply #5003 on:** May 07, 2011, 01:01:08 PM »

Gum, you told it beautifully. I'm sorry I spoiled it.

Gumtree · « **Reply #5004 on:** May 08, 2011, 12:25:28 PM »

Jonathan: Ha! But clearly, you were the only one who 'got it'

PatH · « **Reply #5005 on:** May 08, 2011, 12:39:39 PM »

The iPod touch is more than a listening device--it'll do everything but cook your breakfast. You can take and watch videos, (it has 2 cameras), read ebooks, surf the web, do your email, and a whole bunch of other things. And it's only 4 1/2 by 2 1/3 by 1/4 inches. So small it's easy to lose, but you can always locate it by it's built-in gps.

http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/features/

If you scroll down, you'll see a lot of features. No, I don't have one, nor do I own stock in Apple, but I do think they come up with some nifty devices.

marcie · « **Reply #5006 on:** May 08, 2011, 12:55:58 PM »

It's great to see you, JoanG. I'm glad that you are all right. I hope that you didn't suffer any tornado damage.

serenesheila · « **Reply #5007 on:** May 08, 2011, 02:16:37 PM »

PATH, thanks for the info about iPod, and their url. I have been wondering about them. You have helped me to begin to understand what they are about.

Sheila

bellemere · « **Reply #5008 on:** May 08, 2011, 07:22:21 PM »

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet: I am partway through this and likeing it more and more as I go on. It takes place in nineteenth century Japan, when the Dutch , for a while, were the only Westerners allowed to import and export goods. For their possessions in what is now Indonesia, they sailed to an island off Nagasaki, and were kept away from the mainland, lest their culture infect and pollute that of their host . There is lot of local exotic color, intrigue, some violence,and a love story that looks like it is going to end tragically. I recommend it for a long, slow, read. I like that once in a while, even though there are so many books on my list.
It is on my Nook, and goes very smoothly. I just found out that I can buy a NookBook containing 81 classics, from
Austen to
Fitgerald , for 3.99. That will be my next purchase. I am trying to exercise some self restraint here!

Babi · « **Reply #5009 on:** May 09, 2011, 08:42:24 AM »

Definitely low-tech here, but doesn't e-mail serve the same purpose as taking
a phone call on the computer? Especially as the computer may not always be
available for a phone call, but it can always receive an e-mail. And my eyes
ache just thinking about watching a video on a 4 1/2 by 2 1/3in. ...or less..
screen. I do like the idea of having a text-message gadget that people can use
to 'talk' to me, but of course that would mean my communicants would have to
be using the gadget as well. At this point, I don't think any of my family has one.

My son did buy a pair of gadgets for 'talking' when family were together, but
they didn't work. He was really disgusted.

ANNIE · « **Reply #5010 on:** May 09, 2011, 09:02:15 AM »

Nuts, nuts!

pedln · « **Reply #5011 on:** May 09, 2011, 03:35:59 PM »

Guess who got married last week. Faye Kesey (age 76) married Larry McMurty, longtime friend of her late husband Ken.

The WSJ article I just finished talks about the loose (?) arrangements the Kesey family (Ma and 4 kids) had with the U of Oregon (Ken's Alma mater?) to house all his writings, notes, etc. But apparently what dribbled in to the family members wasn't very lucrative. $10,000 here, $10,000 there. Not enough. U of O had the collection appraised. $2.9 million. So now guess who has to come up with some seven figures or the collection will go to another institution.

Naive me always assumed that these writers just donated their stuff to institutions of higher learning.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5012 on:** May 09, 2011, 05:04:21 PM »

Well good grief, I thought so too!

LarryHanna · « **Reply #5013 on:** May 09, 2011, 06:01:11 PM »

I see the discussion of the iPod Touch. I have had one for a couple of years or so and use it a lot everyday. It is basically a small computer and it fits on my belt and goes with me everywhere. I have a Netflix subscription and when I retire at night I will sometimes watch a program or movie. The screen is small but the pictures is excellent and I don't mind it at all. I also can read my Nook books on it or on my ebook reader.

I recently paid ninety-nice cents for a composite of many Zane Grey stories. It has over 5,200 pages in one book. I was having trouble reading on one device and then going to the other and finding my place until I realized I could use the search function to find a sentence of the story where I am up-to-date reading and that let me resume on the other device at that point. I can set bookmarks in the device I am reading on but it doesn't translate over to the other one so this is a good work around.

Steph · « **Reply #5014 on:** May 09, 2011, 08:42:36 PM »

I love my IPAD since it is larger, so easier to read and play games for me, But my granddaughter has her IPOD touch with her ( I suspect) 24/7... She loves it. I told her the next big thing will be imprinted on her hand and she laughed..But it does seem likely to me.

ANNIE · « **Reply #5015 on:** May 09, 2011, 08:50:05 PM »

Hi Larry,
Your love of your iPod made me wonder why we paid so much for them ($200&more) when we could have bought the iPhone and never signed up for the phone service. I just saw a 4G iPhone advertised on an AT&T ad for $49. My son has one and it does everything my iPod does. I do have only the 3rd generation so no 4G, and no camera. But otherwise, I think I have everything he does. If I ever figure mine out, I might like it better. I do listen to audio books some of which I download from Librivox and will use other free sites for audio books. My library offers much but I know I am doing something wrong.
I bought the iPod because of the convenience of its size, it can be carried around in one's pocket or purse. It keeps me from being bored while in the dr's office. And the picture is great. I will return to it tonight to read up on how to use and see what I might be doing wrong.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #5016 on:** May 09, 2011, 09:23:09 PM »

Maryz - are you close enough to any water to be in danger of the flooding? ......... We seem to be asking one or another of you if you are in danger every week. What a terrible year, Mother Nature is very angry at us, i fear....... Jean

maryz · « **Reply #5017 on:** May 09, 2011, 09:44:29 PM »

jean, thanks for your concern. We're a couple of miles from the Tennessee River, but it's in no danger of flooding at this point. Our area was at the eastern end of the tornado outbreak on 27 April, though. One of our trees fell on our porch/house roof and poked a small hole in the porch roof. Very minor compared to the devastation and loss of life (something close to 50 lives lost in the Chatt. metropolitan area). Some of the folks on the Bosom Buddies discussion on Seniors & Friends are close to the Mississippi, and they're very concerned (as we are for them).

Steph · « **Reply #5018 on:** May 10, 2011, 05:55:22 AM »

With all the news from Memphis, I remembered a perfectly wonderful rv park right on the banks of the river there. We stayed a few years ago and loved it.. We could watch all of the barges come around the bend of the river and marvel at the menuevering of the tugs.. But it is bound to be flooded, It is on the river side of the levee.

LarryHanna · « **Reply #5019 on:** May 10, 2011, 07:35:12 AM »

ADLOANNIE, I am afraid that when you went to AT&T for the $39 phone you will find some serious strings attached such as a two year contract for cell phone and often they demand a data plan as well. My best friend was going to get an iPad but when he looked at them decided to go the route of the smart phone with the contract and the data plan since the iPod Touch he has does just about the same things as the iPad, just on a smaller screen.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #5020 on:** May 10, 2011, 12:58:08 PM »

Larry what is a Data Plan - and with the new phase 4 phones does that mean you can utilize the internet using the same service you have on your computers without that extra charge for Internet service just for a cell phone?

I have been so confused by the various charges and do not dare call AT&T because they really do not explain and end up getting something changed that is only lower for a year that will end up costing me more.

I have a plain vanilla cell phone service with the addition of service all over the nation - which is important for the times I visit my children and if I am outside of Austin in some of the suburban rural area which means using a long distant number - I have no internet and no texting although I have never used it the phone can take photos but I have no idea if the charge is extra therefore I have never downloaded either a photo to my computer. That simple package of cell with long distant capabilities at no extra long distant charges cost me $39 plus all the tax and extra charges that I cannot figure out bringing it up to just under $46

I do not want to pay an additional $29 a month for Internet service on a smart phone - is that what I am still in for or again does the phase 4 phone mean that is no longer an extra charge?

ANNIE · « **Reply #5021 on:** May 10, 2011, 01:52:49 PM »

Hi Barb,
I think Data is your texting costs and maybe include photos. Is that right, Larry?

If I understand what your are saying and I think I do, your house phone can be used for all your calling, including long distance, but you would need a cell phone for traveling? Right?

I have the same arrangement with AT&T. Having a 4g phone isn't the point here. If you are paying AT&T $39 A MONTH FOR YOUR CELL PHONE, YOU CAN GET THEM TO OFFER YOU SOMETHING LOWER. I called two weeks ago and told them my predicament. I was getting 1000 minutes a month on my cell for $39 minus $3 for getting my two bills all on the same bill. Now I have accepted their offer of 300 minutes a month all day and 500 minutes a month on weekends. This is costing me $29 minus $3 for getting my two bills on the same bill.
Now on my house phone I am paying for full service including long distance for the states which might include Alaska and Hawaii. And the service cost is $5 more a month to get this better deal on long distance.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #5022 on:** May 10, 2011, 04:25:00 PM »

My question isn't so much land line versus cell - I went through that scenario with them and to have a lower cell phone bill I need to give up my automatic long distance which I need because many of the phones in Georgetown and out past Leander or in Bastrop are not local calls and I often get into those areas -

My question is if I could avoid the extra I think it is $49 charge for allowing Internet capabilities on a hand held devise like a smart phone or even an Ipad - I believe a smart phone allows me to get online but it is that extra monthly fee of $49 when I pay for Internet service at home with AT&T that is only $29 however I thought maybe the new phase 4 phones may allow me to have Internet access without the extra monthly fee of $49 - I got the impression it may be possible when I saw the Ad for a phone dock as part of a TV - do not remember the manufacturer.

Steph · « **Reply #5023 on:** May 11, 2011, 06:09:11 AM »

I have the Verizon program for us more mature people.. No text or pix,, charges for either, but minimum minutes.. My charge is 29, plus more taxes, etc in the entire world.. Amazing. I pay almost 10.00 more in tax and other charges.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5024 on:** May 11, 2011, 07:12:03 AM »

I understand most people are doing away with their "land lines" or house phones, as you say and going completely to the cell phones, or I phones. I know you don't like to talk with A. T & T by phone, Barb, but do as I did the other day, drop into one of the AT&T phone stores (we have them on practically every corner here) and a very nice person will explain "everything" about the phone, especially the $49.99 deal they are advertising. They will give you a printed brochure, and you can make notes as the salesperson goes along, so it is much better than calling AT&T. BTW, they have never correctly explained charges to me regarding my land line when I changed service for any reason. LOL
My daughter got rid of her land line, and uses only her Blackberry, which has phone, camera, texting, data, GPS and I don't know what-all. Her Blackberry is through the Sprint phone company, and although her bill originally sounded high to me, my AT&T with phone & internet service is sometimes higher than hers, and I don't use more than $10 a month long distance, if that. Good luck people, there is just so much out there now "to have and to hold"... LOL. (Don't forget all those lovely "taxes" on all the phone services, local, state, U.S. lots of little extras you have to pay for. But don't ever sign up for an extra long commitment, you can usually talk them down if they really want to sell you a phone!

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #5025 on:** May 11, 2011, 07:46:18 AM »

I am currently without a land line as we have never had the one in this flat connected (fondly imagined that by now we would be in our new home

- so I use my mobile exclusively. The one problem I have - but it is a big one - is that I have virtually no signal indoors - this is an old New Town flat with 2 floors above it, and the signal is terrible. I had the same problem when staying in my friend's granite house on Deeside - in fact, even outside I had no signal there unless I walked at least a mile towards Aberdeen! I am on Orange - she was on, I think, Vodaphone and that worked fine.

So all I would say is, if you are going to do away with your land line, make sure your network has a good signal in any of the buildings/places that you regularly frequent. Or maybe this is not a problem in the US?

Rosemary

JoanP · « **Reply #5026 on:** May 11, 2011, 09:49:10 AM »

A quick warning from an email I received from my cousin just now...

TWO SUBJECT LINES of which to be AWARE .

1.) Emails with pictures of Osama Bin-Laden hanged are being sent and the moment that you open these emails your computer will crash and you will not be able to fix it!
If you get an e-mail along the lines of 'Osama Bin Laden Captured' or 'Osama Hanged', don't open the Attachment!!!!
This e-mail is being distributed through countries around the globe, but mainly in the US and Israel .

2.) You should be alert during the next few days:
Do not open any message with an attached file called 'Invitation' regardless of who sent it.
It is a virus that opens an Olympic Torch which 'burns' the whole hard disc C of your computer!!!!
If you receive an e-mail called 'invitation', even though sent by a friend. Do not open it!!!

This is the worst virus announced by CNN, it has been classified by Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever.
This virus was discovered by McAfee yesterday, and there is no repair yet for this kind of virus..
This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where other vital information is kept.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5027 on:** May 11, 2011, 10:11:36 AM »

Those two "warnings" are so old it is incredible. Bin Laden hanged dates back to 2004-2006; Invitation is a variation on a very old hoax, with 2007 being the start of it. Check your Snopes under Bin Laden; then Invitation.

Gee, we all know BinLaden was not hanged!

How or why people still send these ancient email warnings without checking is beyond me.

bellemere · « **Reply #5028 on:** May 11, 2011, 10:57:08 AM »

the day after bin Laden was killed the Mexican newspater Por Esto, serving the Yucatan peninsula, had no trouble publishing a photo of "vin Laden" dead. there was indeed a picture of a very dead face, blood smeared, eyes half open, the famous beard. Who or what this was is a big question. Definitely phony, unless the Mexicans have infiltrated the CIA!

pedln · « **Reply #5029 on:** May 11, 2011, 12:18:48 PM »

Warnings never hurt, even if old or not factual, as they keep us alert. I usually just delete without opening any email from people I don't know -- just a name and nothing in the subject line. Lately I've been getting unknown names with "your help is needed desperately." They don't get opened.

JoanP · « **Reply #5030 on:** May 11, 2011, 03:37:59 PM »

I agree with Pedln, warnings and reminders never hurt. I understood from my cousin that these two viral emails had resurfaced since Bin Laden's death.

Steph · « **Reply #5031 on:** May 12, 2011, 06:07:35 AM »

I find the letters badly written and punctuated and supposedly going to let me have millions are funny.. I get at least two a week.. They come from literally everywhere. Just got one that came from some part of Russia and they offered to let me in on the crown jewels..
What I find amazing is that people fall for them.

LarryHanna · « **Reply #5032 on:** May 12, 2011, 07:50:02 AM »

I will try to add to the conversation on cell phones, although I make no claim to be an expert. In fact, my wife and I each have a prepaid cellphone plan so pay only for the minutes we use. It has saved us hundreds of dollars over the years. While the minutes seem very expensive, around a dime per minute, when you don't use it much and are careful to whom you give the number, fifty dollars worth of minutes go a long ways.

Data plans are something you get to work with the "smart phones" that let them have internet access when you are not in an area where you have a wi-fi connection. If you do not text or want to be able to use your phone as a GPS and check the internet while away from wi-fi you certainly don't need this. It is an additional charge over and above what you pay for your cellphone line. Pictures can be taken with just your cell phone without the data plan and, at least on my phone, I can e-mail them to my computer at the same rate as talking, i.e., 10 cents per minute.

The references to 3G and 4G usually refer to the speed of the data plan with the 4G significantly faster than the 3G. My best friend has a smart phone and keeps me advised about these matters as well as the fact I do a lot of reading. Several times I have tried to see if I could save money with just a cellphone plan and usually end up finding the cost is about the same and using only the cellphone would be a bit of a problem for my wife in terms of carrying it on her person.

Babi · « **Reply #5033 on:** May 12, 2011, 08:42:46 AM »

Thanks for that warning, JOAN. I've sent it on to family and friends outside
Seniorlearn.
I see from a subsequent post that I may have been premature. If so, still,
better safe than sorry. (How trite..but hey! It's early a.m.)

marjifay · « **Reply #5034 on:** May 12, 2011, 10:03:06 AM »

Regarding warnings on email messages. I never have any problem. I never open strange messages.

Marj

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #5035 on:** May 12, 2011, 04:01:03 PM »

Thanks Larry - sounds like my question has to do with the Data plan and that is an extra charge that the internet hookup at home cannot replace even with a 4G - having access to Wi-fi would be an advantage to me - I wonder if the GPS talks to you like the ones you can install in your vehicle - sounds like a visit to the AT&T is my best bet however, at least now I have the words and know a bit what they mean. Thanks...

pedln · « **Reply #5036 on:** May 12, 2011, 04:27:25 PM »

Barb, you might want to read this article from USA Today, about two new phones from ATT --Infuse and Veer. Infuse is big, so they say -- hmmmmmm, Veer is little.

ATT Phones

MaryPage · « **Reply #5037 on:** May 12, 2011, 04:29:44 PM »

Fascinating, all of the various telephone arrangements.

I get nostalgic for the days when to have a phone at all was something most Americans had not as yet experienced (pre World War II; they became ubiquitous after that), and ours, like most others, was on a special small table at the far back of the front hall. Everyone raised their voices several octaves just to answer and speak on it. No one felt using the telephone was anything other than an unusual occasion. No one felt required to keep in constant verbal touch with all and sundry. As for family, we could catch up at the dinner table and afterwards! Oh, and we very carefully kept track of the timing of each and every long distance call, because we were raised on frugality (mine being one of the more affluent families in town, mind) and it cost x amount for 3 minutes for any long distance call even if you only spoke for half a minute, but went up per minute after that. To speak for more than 3 minutes branded you a Big Time Spendthrift, and you would have a talking to about it!

Have been wishing for, has it been about 39 years, give or take? Wishing that Judge Green had NEVER broken up the old AT&T. Sigh!

My present arrangements are a land line which is "bundled" in with my cable TV and my computer internet access and email and really is most inexpensive, especially with unlimited long distance. I have 4 phones here in a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condominium apartment.

My children insist I have a cell phone. It stays in my handbag, turned off. If the electric goes off or I am somewhere and simply MUST call a family member, I pull it out and use it and turn it off and put it back. I have never received a call on it. Just not interested. If there were some type of emergency situation, I would.

This arrangement is on a "family plan" with one of my daughters and sons-in-law. It costs me, after the original hookup and phone purchase, $9.99 a month. I am told I have unlimited "minutes." Being of a generous nature (the ancestors would twirl in their graves!), I give Steve ten dollars a month.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #5038 on:** May 12, 2011, 04:33:02 PM »

I've got such a variety of reading on my nightstand just now. I mentioned in "mysteries" that we're off to what looks like a rainy week at the beach, so i stocked up on cozy mysteries at the library yesterday. Some Maron, Scottoline, Freydont - a NJ based new author to me, like her alot - Roosevelt, Robb, Biddle and Hart.

Am also reading a delightful Haywood Smith fiction based near Atlanta; a middle -aged, uptight, controlling banker has a stroke and is in a coma for 6 months. When he is given a soecial treatment to wake him from his coma, he awakes a different personality - impulsive, cussing, do-gooder, who horrifies his uptight, upper crust Mother and sometimes his wife and children. It has humor and thought provoking bits and pieces.

Have a Chiaverini - A Christmas Quilt, and am still reading the second volume of John Jakes' The Rebels.

For the women's history course i was teaching, i read non-fiction - Freedom's Daughters by Lynn Olsen, about the WOMEN who were the foundation of much of the civil rts movement. Very interesting! A little more disturbing, especially if you are the mother of an African-American woman is Dark at the End of the Street by .......... McGuire can't remember her first
name, about how the sexual abuse of Black women by White men hastened the Civil Rights movement. Of course, the event that had the strongest influence on the country's awareness of the events in the South and the need for change was the coming of television.

I recommend all of these books. I'm in reading happyland at the moment!

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5039 on:** May 12, 2011, 04:39:37 PM »

MP, if you leave that cell phone in your purse and "turned off", the battery will run down and if you should need it for an emergency, it won't work. and I speak from experience. One might think if it's "off" it's not using any battery, but not true. Take it out every now and then, check it for the charge, and charge it up, then turn it off.

News:

Author Topic: The Library (Read 2088564 times)