Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 774949 times)

Steph · « **Reply #3840 on:** October 25, 2012, 10:23:42 AM »

This is the place to talk about the works of fiction you are reading, whether they are new or old, and share your own opinions and reviews with interested readers.

Every week the new bestseller lists come out brimming with enticing looking books and rave reviews. How to choose?

Discussion Leader: Judy Laird

I know when my husband and I were in Cairo, our guide took us to a very famous Mosque ( very very beautiful). We were issued ( the female guide and I ) a long robe, long sleeve with a hood and clips to secure it at the door. Took off our shoes and put it on..But about half way through the tour, an old old man came roaring up and screamed at us for being infidels ( in English, I note) and made us leave.. The guide was as scared as I was and she later called her home office to see what had happened and I received a written apology from the Tourist Bureau..seems the old man was some sort of local loon.

Babi · « **Reply #3841 on:** October 26, 2012, 08:40:27 AM »

What a pity, STEPH. Were you able to see the mosque before you left?

Steph · « **Reply #3842 on:** October 26, 2012, 09:02:56 AM »

Only about half of the mosque and it truly was lovely.. I think possibly called The Blue Mosque or the Citadel??? I honestly dont remember. I know after that although we had been scheduled for another of that type, we opted out and opted to go back to the Cairo museum.. dirty filthy dark but oh the treasures and I had followed good advice and take flashlights to see by.. No air either. Whew..

Babi · « **Reply #3843 on:** October 26, 2012, 09:11:24 AM »

A dark and dirty museum? Shame on the management!

Steph · « **Reply #3844 on:** October 27, 2012, 06:53:51 AM »

This was 2002.. ten years ago and supposedly the government built a new museum with air conditioning, etc. Who knows with all of the problems they have had in Cairo. The treasures are breathtaking..So hopefully every thing is safe. The Egyptian government is not into upkeep. They build stuff and then ignore it..The statues outside the old museum were priceless and simply strewn around the outside of the building. They have so much and dont seem to value it.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3845 on:** October 27, 2012, 09:04:09 AM »

Lack of education and therefore an appreciation of History no doubt leads to this dreadful neglect. It astonishes me that the parts of the world that began civilization are now the areas where they have let go or are in the process of letting go of knowledge. I just can't figure it out.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #3846 on:** October 27, 2012, 01:06:54 PM »

I've come to realize we are all like kids in a candy shop with just enough money for one piece of candy but the case is filled with all kinds of tempting goodies - many of us are guilty of thinking what we do not have is what we need rather than making more of and celebrating more of what we already do have.

Seems to me when we polish up and use what we do have brainstorms happen and if nothing else we gain a joy of caring for what we have and we gain enjoyment from using it so that we feel gratitude and from that others want to be in our presence and if a nation others want to trade with where there is pride in how they trade and what they trade - all to see I see greed for what they do not have as the anxiety as this part of the world lets its riches be secondary to its run for power - even fighting for a form of democracy where the voices of the many want to be heard the many seem more focused on what they do not have and not on taking care of with pride what they do have.

Unfortunately they are not alone - seems to me we all do a good job of wanting more without really using and caring for to the fullest what we already have down to hearing how some are bemoaning winter without the colors of their garden unable to realize how to enjoy the lace-work the trees become empty of leaves silhouetted against the sky. Sorry for the philosophy but I just received a series of emails that all were filled with doom and gloom and your posts him me how easy it is to disregard what we have.

salan · « **Reply #3847 on:** October 27, 2012, 07:25:09 PM »

I want to thank the person (whoever you are) who recommended The Uncommon Reader. I just finished it (only 125) pages and utterly charming. It's about Queen Elizabeth accidentally discovering a "bookmobile" parked in the rear of the Palace, and consequently her discovery of the love of reading. It was a quick easy read which is just what I needed as I have been having a difficult couple months (car wreck, tooth abscess, etc) and couldn't really concentrate on anything too heavy or too long. The main thing is that I was not injured in the wreck, and I will see an oral surgeon on Tuesday.
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #3848 on:** October 28, 2012, 06:36:53 AM »

Oh Sally, I do wish you luck at the oral surgeon.. I have had at least four abcesses in my life ( crumbly teeth) and hate it.
Early voting started yesterday and I went and voted.. only about 45 minutes wait which is going to be par for the course in Florida, The legislature in all of their stupidity decided to reduce early voting to 8 days from 14.. But they really worried ( ha) about people voting who arent legal.. Sigh.. Our legislature this last two years borders on incredible stupidity.. and the governor is even worse.

marjifay · « **Reply #3849 on:** October 28, 2012, 07:04:48 AM »

Re Florida reducing the time for early voting, you have no doubt heard about many of the states with majority Republican party legislatures doing their best to limit the ability of minorities and younger people to vote by limiting voting days, requiring impossible to get ID, etc. These are the people who are most likely to vote the Democratic party. I am beginning to think these legislatures do not want our country to be a democratic republic. Sad.

Marj

Frybabe · « **Reply #3850 on:** October 28, 2012, 08:12:59 AM »

What is the rationale for early voting, anyway? I'd be afraid that early votes can get lost, stolen or tampered with more easily because there is more time for unscrupulous types to figure out how to fudge the system. At any rate, why would anyone need more than a week in very populated areas for early voting? Oh, and silly question, about absentee voting and voter ID. If you must have ID for in person voting, what do absentee voters have to do?

Babi · « **Reply #3851 on:** October 28, 2012, 09:36:39 AM »

I voted by mail, and found there were several warnings about proper use of the vote. One had to sign a statement swearing
that this was your vote, that no one else had voted for you or influenced you. The signature had to match the one they
already had, tho' I don't know how much time they would give to double-checking the signatures. You also had to sign
a particular place on the return envelope after it was stuffed and sealed. The signature ran across the closure, so it could
they could tell if the envelope had been tampered with.

jeriron · « **Reply #3852 on:** October 28, 2012, 12:00:30 PM »

I voted by mail also. this was the first time I did that so I'm hoping the vote gets counted. I guess I will never know. By voting by mail they will automatically send me ballots for other elections.

maryz · « **Reply #3853 on:** October 28, 2012, 01:05:38 PM »

We have early voting. We always vote early, in person, just in case something should happen to keep us from the polls on election day. In our county,we mark circles on a paper ballot, and slide it ourselves in a counting machine as we check out. Seems very straightforward to me. I told the surgeon's office,they could schedule my surgery any time after early voting started and I got to vote.

Frybabe · « **Reply #3854 on:** October 28, 2012, 01:34:39 PM »

Ours is electronic. Touch screen to check who you want to vote for.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3855 on:** October 28, 2012, 01:34:48 PM »

The rationale for early voting is mainly that our population has just gotten too humongous to allow us all to vote in one day without going to the expense of adding a lot of voting places complete with personnel and machines. It is less expensive and more helpful to the public to set up early voting. This enables folks to vote who would find it impossible on the Tuesday, and supposedly shortens the lines and the waiting in line. This year the last part has not worked out. Today's paper shows lines out the door and down the blocks in D.C. and Maryland. Huge numbers turning out, I suppose worried about the coming of Sandy.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #3856 on:** October 28, 2012, 01:57:40 PM »

Early voting was started and encouraged by employers who no longer had to give 3 hours off to their workers so they could vote with some giving them half a day and a few the entire day - since its conception we can justify it for many other reasons, one of the biggest was mentioned it is less expensive for the county with fewer voting centers.

jane · « **Reply #3857 on:** October 28, 2012, 03:52:03 PM »

Employers give/gave time off to vote? I worked for 36 years in public education, and nobody ever gave me time off to vote. Huh...

I only heard of that with political jobs...where who won or lost depended on some dept. head's job.

Interesting.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #3858 on:** October 28, 2012, 04:15:17 PM »

Well IBM gave the 3 hours that many used as rest time at home - and my cousin married a guy with the electric department and he had his 3 hours - now store clerks used to complain because their shifts were simply altered so they had time either early or late - one of my first jobs was as a keypunch operator and they teased me because I was not old enough to vote so I had to hold down the fort so to speak.

jane · « **Reply #3859 on:** October 28, 2012, 05:11:57 PM »

As I said, I'd never heard of it, except for political jobs, but obviously you had experience with companies that did allow that.

jane

CubFan · « **Reply #3860 on:** October 28, 2012, 08:25:36 PM »

I too have never heard of anyone in any job being given time off to vote. That's why the lines are so long in the morning before the polls open with people hoping to vote and get to work on time. Sometimes people would get there early and still not get in fast enough and have to return after work and stand in line again. If you had to wait until after work you could be standing outside for a very long time even though the poll workers had things set up to weave lines thought out buildings trying to provide inside waiting space as the weather isn't always that pleasant. If you are in line when the polls close, you are still allowed to vote no matter how long it takes. Last presidential election since people now had cell phones they were ordering pizzas/sub sandwiches and having them delivered while they waited. At the early voting sites there are long lines every day but nothing like election day and hopefully the lines will be shorter then. Since I've retired I've always voted absentee for a variety of reasons - avoid the lines and weather, not have to worry about being home on election day, and knowing that if I vote absentee I help shorten the wait for others.

Because certain politicians are the process of trying to force voter ID, when I requested the absentee ballots (by mail) this year I had to send a copy of my driver's license. No further comment!

Mary

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #3861 on:** October 28, 2012, 10:19:03 PM »

wow all these un-American places of business I had no idea - and yes, this was before cell phones - before there was any mail in or early voting which I think only started in the last couple of elections - it used to be a big joke among many married folks who as I said with a wink went home for a 3 hour rest.

MaryPage · « **Reply #3862 on:** October 28, 2012, 10:26:10 PM »

As far as I know, it has always been the law here in Maryland and Virginia that your employer had to allow you time off to vote. With pay. Mine always did. I used to go on my way to work, just to make sure I got to vote, and if the lines were long I had no worries about being late to work: I would get there when I got there and no blame laid on me. I guess I always assumed it was a national law.

http://www.bizfilings.com/toolkit/sbg/office-hr/managing-the-workplace/voting-time-off.aspx

Frybabe · « **Reply #3863 on:** October 28, 2012, 11:07:50 PM »

I never heard of an employer giving time off to vote either. I've been lucky enough to go to a voting place that doesn't seem to be piled up with people. Of course, since I used to work evenings, I didn't have to go early or late. I usually go around 9am-10am. Also, I think my ward is rather small compared to many others.

CubFan · « **Reply #3864 on:** October 29, 2012, 11:21:18 AM »

I can't imagine factory workers ever being allowed time off to vote. They've always had a difficult time getting off the line for anything other than an emergency, and for sure they are docketed for every minute they don't work, even worse if they are piece workers. I know public school teachers do not get leave the building during the school day to vote or anything else without hiring a substitute. Now days many people don't even live in the same community where they work and you have to vote where you live. Two possible solutions that other countries use that don't seem to be considered here are: voting on Sundays when most people don't work, or having the polls open 24 hours so that no matter what your work hours are you have access. Early voting (and here early voting hours are including Saturdays) and easier access to absentee ballots are allowing many more people the opportunity to vote.

Mary

Steph · « **Reply #3865 on:** October 29, 2012, 11:51:10 AM »

I use early voting because I dislike voting absenteee..

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #3866 on:** October 29, 2012, 12:36:55 PM »

I worked for large ins. cos. and they certainly didn't give you "time off to vote". On the other hand, you weren't "docked" pay for being late either, as time sheets were basically all the same, and you could make a notation by the day you came in late (VOTED) and I guess that counted for something.

marjifay · « **Reply #3867 on:** October 29, 2012, 02:53:53 PM »

For a long time California law has required employers to grant employees as much time off to vote as needed. Two hours of that time will be paid. Employees must tell the employer of the need for time off at least two work days before election day, and the time off must be at the beginning or end of the shift.

I have to laugh at the political party that insists that everything must be left up to the states to decide. Only the more progressive states will do anything.

Marj

pedln · « **Reply #3868 on:** October 29, 2012, 10:05:48 PM »

Back in the olden days in Puerto Rico there were very few "voter registration" days, so folks tended to keep their registration in the same place, even though the moved to other parts of the island. Therefore employers had to give the workers three days off if necessary -- a day to travel to their voting location, a day to vote, and a day to come back home.

Things have changed there somewhat and there are now more days to register. But as far as I know, election day is still a holiday.

The last year I was there I was teaching at one of the parochial schools which was going to be used for voting. The booths were put in place about two weeks before the election, and then the headmaster, afraid that there might be trouble between the various parties, closed the school until after the election. There were some unhappy parents over that.

Steph · « **Reply #3869 on:** October 30, 2012, 09:02:26 AM »

When we lived in Mass... the school gym and auditorium were the voting places for the entire town.You came in and they sorted you into districts in various parts of the building.Therefore, the high school got the day off. No idea if the others did or not.
Here in Florida, we tend to use libraries, townhalls, etc
In NH, we used the old townhall, which did not have heat... So voting was brisk to put it mildly.

bellemere · « **Reply #3870 on:** October 30, 2012, 04:29:58 PM »

We still vote in the school gyms in Massachusetts, but the kids do not get t day off. The Parents' groups hold a huge bake sale in the hallway.
In begger cities, there are allsorts of polling places, but small towns keep it in the schools.

jane · « **Reply #3871 on:** October 30, 2012, 08:01:15 PM »

They used to do that here, too, but the schools are too crowded now and there are no spare rooms for voting. So, they use the pavilion at a park, the jail, the fairgrounds, etc.

jane

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3872 on:** October 31, 2012, 05:06:07 AM »

Here in the UK we always used to vote in schools, but at the last council elections it was a portakabin in the car park of a local business park - seemed fine to me, and saved all those parents having to find yet another day's childcare. I think the last time I voted in Aberdeen it was in the church hall, also fine by me.

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #3873 on:** October 31, 2012, 06:08:17 AM »

The Jail?? Hmm, I would rather not go there even to vote.

jane · « **Reply #3874 on:** October 31, 2012, 10:07:11 AM »

Thinking of some of the politicians, it seems appropriate, somehow!!

bellemere · « **Reply #3875 on:** October 31, 2012, 01:08:48 PM »

did anyhone see the PBS interview with Bill Ivey a couple of nights ago, abouti his book Handmaking America? it is nonfiction and tries to sbuild a case for going back to basics in the cutltural values of the country. I am sure his edieas will be dismissed as kooky, but he envisons a new way of life, one not construted around earning and spending money as the American Dream, but more bsed on the constructive use of leisure;, that education should be based on making citizens first, workers second, not just feeding workers into the business world. Is the American Dream that the politicians extoll nothing but earning money and spending it on things? If not, then what is the American Dream? do you hve your wn version of it, like Bill Ifey?
The most horrifying part of Cloud Atlas was the futuristic society where all religions Catholicism, Judaism, even Islam have been replaced by Consumerism, and T.V. has become AdV, not content for entertainment or enlightenment, just commercials to help people decide what to buy next.

JeanneP · « **Reply #3876 on:** October 31, 2012, 01:24:23 PM »

Yes, the Uncommon Reader is really a good fast read. I had not heard of it couple years ago and just happened to notice on the library shelf mentioning Queen Elizabeth. I can see her doing just that thing. Doubt she would mention it to Philip. He has his hobbies and she has hers, being dogs and horses. They do say that Philip doesn't like dogs.

Steph · « **Reply #3877 on:** November 01, 2012, 06:08:30 AM »

I read somewhere that Philip doesnt dislike dogs,, just the corgi..But Elizabeth also for some reason indulges her corgi in unacceptable behavior. I would guess that her dogs and horses are her one place where she can do as she likes.. She lives a lonely life in many ways.

Babi · « **Reply #3878 on:** November 01, 2012, 09:02:37 AM »

Or maybe she uses the dog's unacceptable behavior as a substitute of sorts for not being able to 'act out' herself.

If you'd like to know more about Prince Phillip's activities, here's a link. I had no idea, and he is 91!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2189525/The-haunting-reason-Prince-Philip-refuses-slow-down.html

MaryPage · « **Reply #3879 on:** November 01, 2012, 02:47:37 PM »

I voted today. My town just has one place for early voting, but it is a very convenient, very large centralized place with lots of parking. There were TEN (10) regular voting booths there and, off in a corner near the elevator, a handicapped voting booth. You see, we stand up at our regular booths, but this one was all set up for sit down in a wheel chair or chair. And they had space for lined up wheel chairs and vacant chairs for non-wheelchair handicapped to sit in line in. Most thoughtful, I thought. There was a very long line, but it only took me about an hour to get through it. It was all very efficient and well run. Everyone working the polls seemed to take Nice Pills.
If you read the web site I posted a while back, you saw for yourselves that it really and truly is the law in almost every state in the union that employers give paid time off for voting, but, there being 50 states, each has its law written up in a slightly different way from every other. That is why the site I posted shows a map and you can click on any state and it will list that state's rules for you.
Probably most employees have never known this, and I am sure most employers don't go out of their way to enlighten them. I have always known because in my work as a comptroller for a number of firms, the Human Resources stuff was something I had to know backwards and forwards. We used to call it the Personnel Department, but everything changes. Sort of reminds me of when janitors became maintenance engineers.

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Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 774949 times)