Fahrenheit 451 is only 208 pages long in paperback form. It is a classic from the old days of science fiction when a tightly crafted story didn't require a trilogy to hold all the extra bits that could have been edited out.
So given its brevity, does it really need to have an 88 page summary cheat book? According to the book blurb, "GradeSaver(TM) ClassicNotes are the ultimate study guides, written by Harvard students for students!" Egads. The original book is only 208 pages, it is hardly Tolstoy or Dickens. In fact it is 150 pages shorter than the novelization of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and about a tenth the length of the Harry Potter series. Plus Bradbury's book costs a dollar less.
Be subversive. Read the book, not the pre-digested baby food offered up instead.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Where is Fahrenheit 451?
I was telling the kids about Fahrenheit 451 while we were discussing the new CPSIA law. I thought I'd brought it with me, but could only find The Martian Chronicles. So we trooped over to the library that afternoon to borrow a copy and a few other necessities.
Would you believe that the library doesn't have a copy? Not in book for or in audio. There is a copy of a movie version we could get interlibrary loan. But doesn't that seem to defeat the point of the book in the first place?
I would have thought that there was some ALA bylaw requiring that all libraries have a copy of what is one of the best defenses of books and reading ever written.
My Amazon list is getting still longer.
Would you believe that the library doesn't have a copy? Not in book for or in audio. There is a copy of a movie version we could get interlibrary loan. But doesn't that seem to defeat the point of the book in the first place?
I would have thought that there was some ALA bylaw requiring that all libraries have a copy of what is one of the best defenses of books and reading ever written.
My Amazon list is getting still longer.
Books Read in 2009
February 2009
These are the books I finished last month. A good smattering of non-fiction and entertainment.
Basic Economics, 3rd Edition - Thomas Sowell. I read an earlier edition back in Hawaii. This one was about twice the size with more recent examples. This book really clarified for me what things like prices really represent.
Black Rednecks, White Liberals - Thomas Sowell. I found this one on the Black History Month display. It is actually a collection of chapter length essays about various presumptions on race. The title essay explores the idea that what is represented as "black culture" owes much to the disfunctional life choices (and speech patterns) found in the impoverished areas of Britain from which most colonial southerns emmigrated. He has other chapters on Jews as despised middlemen, Germans, and black education. There is also an excellent chapter on the global history of slavery. (One of his shorter essays on the topic is here. Hat Tip: ElizabethB at The Well Trained Mind Boards)
Serving Homeschooled Teens and Their Parents - Maureen Lerch & Janet Welch. Written by a professional librarian and a library volunteering homeschool mom, the book explores what libraries can do to serve homeschooling patrons. Although it is written as a professional guide for librarians, there is much of interest here for library loving homeschoolers too. One section discusses programs that might be of interest to homeschoolers. Another deals with possible objections to special services for homeschoolers and suggests ways of dealing with those complaints.
In the Shadow of the Sun King - Golden Keyes Parsons. Historical fiction set during the reign of King Louis XIV. (Full review to follow.)
The Secrets of Mariko: A Year in the Life of a Japanese Woman and Her Family - Elisabeth Bumiller. An look at the daily life and concerns of a Japanese wife and mother.
Gaudy Night - Dorothy Sayers. This was the first book by Sayers that I ever read and I haven't tired of it yet. This was probably my fourth or fifth time through. The wonder of Sayer's books is that even when you know who is going to die and who is the murderer, you can't help but admire her craftsmanship. I also think that this book is one of the best romances I've ever read (up there with Persuassion by Jane Austin). It's about two people considering if marriage requires the sacrifice of their own inner selves.
Thrones, Dominations - Dorothy Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh. Sayers started this novel but turned to other things, especially during WWII and never completed it. Walsh has done a great service in giving us another glimpse at Peter and Harriet. Bunter is here, too and the Duchess of Denver at her cattiest.
January 2009
Back on Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber
Twenty Wishes - Debbie Macomber
Busman's Honeymoon - Dorothy Sayers
Whose Body? - Dorothy Sayers
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie
Death in the Air - Agatha Christie
These are the books I finished last month. A good smattering of non-fiction and entertainment.
Basic Economics, 3rd Edition - Thomas Sowell. I read an earlier edition back in Hawaii. This one was about twice the size with more recent examples. This book really clarified for me what things like prices really represent.
Black Rednecks, White Liberals - Thomas Sowell. I found this one on the Black History Month display. It is actually a collection of chapter length essays about various presumptions on race. The title essay explores the idea that what is represented as "black culture" owes much to the disfunctional life choices (and speech patterns) found in the impoverished areas of Britain from which most colonial southerns emmigrated. He has other chapters on Jews as despised middlemen, Germans, and black education. There is also an excellent chapter on the global history of slavery. (One of his shorter essays on the topic is here. Hat Tip: ElizabethB at The Well Trained Mind Boards)
Serving Homeschooled Teens and Their Parents - Maureen Lerch & Janet Welch. Written by a professional librarian and a library volunteering homeschool mom, the book explores what libraries can do to serve homeschooling patrons. Although it is written as a professional guide for librarians, there is much of interest here for library loving homeschoolers too. One section discusses programs that might be of interest to homeschoolers. Another deals with possible objections to special services for homeschoolers and suggests ways of dealing with those complaints.
In the Shadow of the Sun King - Golden Keyes Parsons. Historical fiction set during the reign of King Louis XIV. (Full review to follow.)
The Secrets of Mariko: A Year in the Life of a Japanese Woman and Her Family - Elisabeth Bumiller. An look at the daily life and concerns of a Japanese wife and mother.
Gaudy Night - Dorothy Sayers. This was the first book by Sayers that I ever read and I haven't tired of it yet. This was probably my fourth or fifth time through. The wonder of Sayer's books is that even when you know who is going to die and who is the murderer, you can't help but admire her craftsmanship. I also think that this book is one of the best romances I've ever read (up there with Persuassion by Jane Austin). It's about two people considering if marriage requires the sacrifice of their own inner selves.
Thrones, Dominations - Dorothy Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh. Sayers started this novel but turned to other things, especially during WWII and never completed it. Walsh has done a great service in giving us another glimpse at Peter and Harriet. Bunter is here, too and the Duchess of Denver at her cattiest.
January 2009
Back on Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber
Twenty Wishes - Debbie Macomber
Busman's Honeymoon - Dorothy Sayers
Whose Body? - Dorothy Sayers
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie
Death in the Air - Agatha Christie
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Carnival of Homeschooling - Stimulus Edition
It's been a while since I've contributed to a Carnival of Homeschooling. This one is at Consent of the Governed. Come on down and enjoy the offerings.
Dumplings for New Year
We're starting to study China next week. I found a great essay on Chinese dumplings and New Year's family memories over at the Wall Street Journal. I'm printing this one out to put into our instructor manual. It is such a great insight into a Chinese family.
We've had similar dumplings here in Japan. I can tell you that they are yummy. There is even a recipe and a video with the article.
We've had similar dumplings here in Japan. I can tell you that they are yummy. There is even a recipe and a video with the article.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Links for Australia Project
We're working our way through Sonlight 5 this year. I'm enjoying having most of our stuff scheduled out already. And the Eastern Hemispher Explorer is one of the best unit study books that I've ever seen. It has a combination of consumable pages (timelines, maps, notable facts and people) and then adventure activity ideas.
Both Artichoke and Cauliflower chose to plan trips to the Australian outback for the Australia unit. Because Australia is so big, they ended up planning for very different ecosystems, even though both were within the Northern Territory.
In the process of researching this project, I found quite a few interesting links, mostly from Australian government sites. So if you are planning a country study or a unit study on Australia, this might be helpful.
The Junior Ranger Review newsletters are fantastic. It is also interesting to read the way that Aboriginal legends and scientific explanations are presented in official government publications (for example in the geological description of Uluru).
Australian Alps Education Kit This is the area on the East coast, like the Snowy River Mountains area.
Northern Territory National Parks for Kids There are also handouts in the teacher section. There is also a science and nature newsletter Junior Ranger Review which is very well done, something on the level of Zoobooks or Ranger Rick (but free and downloadable). You could download these and use them for reading practice, age appropriate nature study or just fun reading. If we were really going on a trip to Australia, I can guarantee that a stack of these would be in my carry on bag. Am I carrying on about these booklets? You really should check them out if you have animal crazy kids and you're studying Australia.
Kakadu visitor guide. This was a handy booklet with information on Kakadu National Park, including not only information on animals, but also about the aboriginal traditional owners.
Kakadu Seasons:
Uluru Visitor Guide. Similar to the guide for Kakadu, but with more emphasis on the importance of Uluru for Aboriginal people. The topic of whether or not to climb Uluru has lots of potential as a discussion with your kids.
Tip sheet on languages around Uluru. It is easy to forget that Australia is really big. And easy to forget that aborigine is a little like saying American Indian or Native American. There is no Native American language. Nor is there one language for aborigines. (And I imagine that there is a quite a bit of cultural variation between those in the Red Center and those in Top End. This sheet on languages is part of the Learnline site. There are some other gems buried here. A section on knowledge for tour guides of Uluru has a mini course that focuses on the cultural values of the Traditional Owners of Uluru. There are further recommended readings and links here. For example, the brochure on local native art centers. It is designed for adults who are interested in being tour operators, but I still found the discussion interesting. (Some real rabbit trails to investigate here. For example, what is aborigine art? Does it include the aborigine style boomerang that was maybe really made in China or the Philippines? I found this of interest because there is a similar discussion of what constitutes Hawaiian arts and crafts?)
Ayers Rock Resort has a fun "bio calendar" where you can hover over the month and see a listing of plant and animal activity during that season. This was especially good since non only were we dealing with the southern hemisphere for this project (where our winter is their summer) but the Uluru area aboriginies counted six seasons and Kakadu was dominated by "the wet" and "the dry." It was easy to lose our bearings about when would be a good time to visit. The resort is one of the Voyages properties. They also have a "bio calendar" for the rainforest and the Australian alpine region.
(Note: I'd previously posted some of these links in an incomplete post.)
Both Artichoke and Cauliflower chose to plan trips to the Australian outback for the Australia unit. Because Australia is so big, they ended up planning for very different ecosystems, even though both were within the Northern Territory.
In the process of researching this project, I found quite a few interesting links, mostly from Australian government sites. So if you are planning a country study or a unit study on Australia, this might be helpful.
The Junior Ranger Review newsletters are fantastic. It is also interesting to read the way that Aboriginal legends and scientific explanations are presented in official government publications (for example in the geological description of Uluru).
Australian Alps Education Kit This is the area on the East coast, like the Snowy River Mountains area.
Northern Territory National Parks for Kids There are also handouts in the teacher section. There is also a science and nature newsletter Junior Ranger Review which is very well done, something on the level of Zoobooks or Ranger Rick (but free and downloadable). You could download these and use them for reading practice, age appropriate nature study or just fun reading. If we were really going on a trip to Australia, I can guarantee that a stack of these would be in my carry on bag. Am I carrying on about these booklets? You really should check them out if you have animal crazy kids and you're studying Australia.
Kakadu visitor guide. This was a handy booklet with information on Kakadu National Park, including not only information on animals, but also about the aboriginal traditional owners.
Kakadu Seasons:
Uluru Visitor Guide. Similar to the guide for Kakadu, but with more emphasis on the importance of Uluru for Aboriginal people. The topic of whether or not to climb Uluru has lots of potential as a discussion with your kids.
Tip sheet on languages around Uluru. It is easy to forget that Australia is really big. And easy to forget that aborigine is a little like saying American Indian or Native American. There is no Native American language. Nor is there one language for aborigines. (And I imagine that there is a quite a bit of cultural variation between those in the Red Center and those in Top End. This sheet on languages is part of the Learnline site. There are some other gems buried here. A section on knowledge for tour guides of Uluru has a mini course that focuses on the cultural values of the Traditional Owners of Uluru. There are further recommended readings and links here. For example, the brochure on local native art centers. It is designed for adults who are interested in being tour operators, but I still found the discussion interesting. (Some real rabbit trails to investigate here. For example, what is aborigine art? Does it include the aborigine style boomerang that was maybe really made in China or the Philippines? I found this of interest because there is a similar discussion of what constitutes Hawaiian arts and crafts?)
Ayers Rock Resort has a fun "bio calendar" where you can hover over the month and see a listing of plant and animal activity during that season. This was especially good since non only were we dealing with the southern hemisphere for this project (where our winter is their summer) but the Uluru area aboriginies counted six seasons and Kakadu was dominated by "the wet" and "the dry." It was easy to lose our bearings about when would be a good time to visit. The resort is one of the Voyages properties. They also have a "bio calendar" for the rainforest and the Australian alpine region.
(Note: I'd previously posted some of these links in an incomplete post.)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
What CPSIA Means
Just to put this law into perspective. Think of the book that you most loved as a child. For my husband, it is Hercules by Hardie Gramatky or The Big Book of Real Fire Trucks or The Mad Scientists Club. For me it might be the lushly illustrated Hans Christian Anderson or the volumes of The Bookshelf for Boys and Girls that my parents bought on a payment plan from a door to door book peddler. Maybe you are lucky enough to still have your own copy of that book and it is in good enough condition to hand to your kids (or at least let them snuggle close and help turn the page).
But maybe your copy totally worn out. Maybe it has gone missing over the years, a victim of garage sale or dog bite or natural disaster. A month ago, you could have searched out your missing book on the internet, bought yourself a reading copy, plopped down on the couch and shared this lovely story with your kids. A month ago, you still could have been keeping an eye out for copies at library sales and thrift stores and antique shops; because you knew it was a great read and you wanted to share it with your nieces and nephews, or a friend's child, or the boy next door who loved to climb your tree and sit there reading.
What CPSIA means is that if your childhood happened to take place when 1984 was still a booktitle and not a piece of history, then that lovely story, that great read will have to stay lost in your memory.
No more snatching up Margery Sharp's The Rescuers series at a library booksale, no more finding Bravest of All in a bin in an antique mall, no more ex-library copies of Bullwinkle the Fire Moose from abebooks.com. No more Landmark biographies, no more older edition (and less abridged) Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, no more We Were There Books.
Update: Since I started drafting this post, at least one public library has sequestered children's books published before 1985.
But maybe your copy totally worn out. Maybe it has gone missing over the years, a victim of garage sale or dog bite or natural disaster. A month ago, you could have searched out your missing book on the internet, bought yourself a reading copy, plopped down on the couch and shared this lovely story with your kids. A month ago, you still could have been keeping an eye out for copies at library sales and thrift stores and antique shops; because you knew it was a great read and you wanted to share it with your nieces and nephews, or a friend's child, or the boy next door who loved to climb your tree and sit there reading.
What CPSIA means is that if your childhood happened to take place when 1984 was still a booktitle and not a piece of history, then that lovely story, that great read will have to stay lost in your memory.
No more snatching up Margery Sharp's The Rescuers series at a library booksale, no more finding Bravest of All in a bin in an antique mall, no more ex-library copies of Bullwinkle the Fire Moose from abebooks.com. No more Landmark biographies, no more older edition (and less abridged) Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, no more We Were There Books.
Update: Since I started drafting this post, at least one public library has sequestered children's books published before 1985.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Harry Potter as a Shared Text for the 21st Century
Over in the journal Touchstone, John Granger writes about the importance of shared texts and how Harry Potter fills that role for the next generation. If you lean toward classical education and an interest in "great conversations," this essay should be of interest.
I often hear Christians say that they just have no interest in reading Harry Potter. Well, that's fine, I guess. But I tend to agree with Granger that they are missing out on a familiarity with what may be one of the symbolic touchstones of our children's generations. And one that, unlike most books, has already crossed barriers of language to be firmly entrenched in other countries as well.
And of course, Harry Potter doesn't just appeal to tweens. I remember a wine and cheese party with my husband's department just after the release of one book. At one point in the party, at least five naval officers (including two captains) and several spouses were gathered around discussing the books in quite serious and affectionate terms.
This world of Hogwarts may be the only publicly acceptable voice that ever dares to suggest that there is good and evil and that it does in fact matter which side one is on. That really is a message worth sharing.
Hat Tip: The Common Room
I often hear Christians say that they just have no interest in reading Harry Potter. Well, that's fine, I guess. But I tend to agree with Granger that they are missing out on a familiarity with what may be one of the symbolic touchstones of our children's generations. And one that, unlike most books, has already crossed barriers of language to be firmly entrenched in other countries as well.
And of course, Harry Potter doesn't just appeal to tweens. I remember a wine and cheese party with my husband's department just after the release of one book. At one point in the party, at least five naval officers (including two captains) and several spouses were gathered around discussing the books in quite serious and affectionate terms.
This world of Hogwarts may be the only publicly acceptable voice that ever dares to suggest that there is good and evil and that it does in fact matter which side one is on. That really is a message worth sharing.
Hat Tip: The Common Room
Friday, February 20, 2009
Which of Your Beloved Books are Illegal??
In honor of the books endangered by CPSIA, and to help you visualize what is currently being tossed in dumpsters by thrift stores and quarantined behind big orange curtains by libraries, here is an illegal book meme from Love2Learn.
No, they're not illegal to own, but a new law that many people haven't heard about yet has recently made it illegal to buy, sell or barter books published before 1985 for children ages 12 and under, because of concerns about lead content in the ink.
It's called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and you can read more about it on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Website here. In spite of what Snopes.com says (which is uncharacteristically myopic about a very far-reaching law - and doesn't even get into the consequences for used children's books), it is quite clear that children's books published before 1985 are in danger. I've heard reliable reports that some used book stores are trashing all of their pre-1985 children's books. Related effects on other children's items can be read about here, here and here.
In the interest of raising awareness of this outrageous new law, I'm starting a meme (somewhat after the fashion of this post by the Headmistress). I thought it might be a fun way to spread the word and make a difference. Please share your favorite books or book series (five will do, but more if you like) that fall under this law (which currently includes all books intended for children up to age 12 that were published before 1985). I couldn't get Mr. Linky to work, so please leave a comment with a link to your post. After that - contact your congressman!
Please post some of the books in your collection that fall under this law. Then either post a link in the comments section here or in Love2Learn's post (or both).
Hat-tip: Studeo (which means I study and is a great name for a homeschool blog)
No, they're not illegal to own, but a new law that many people haven't heard about yet has recently made it illegal to buy, sell or barter books published before 1985 for children ages 12 and under, because of concerns about lead content in the ink.
It's called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and you can read more about it on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Website here. In spite of what Snopes.com says (which is uncharacteristically myopic about a very far-reaching law - and doesn't even get into the consequences for used children's books), it is quite clear that children's books published before 1985 are in danger. I've heard reliable reports that some used book stores are trashing all of their pre-1985 children's books. Related effects on other children's items can be read about here, here and here.
In the interest of raising awareness of this outrageous new law, I'm starting a meme (somewhat after the fashion of this post by the Headmistress). I thought it might be a fun way to spread the word and make a difference. Please share your favorite books or book series (five will do, but more if you like) that fall under this law (which currently includes all books intended for children up to age 12 that were published before 1985). I couldn't get Mr. Linky to work, so please leave a comment with a link to your post. After that - contact your congressman!
Please post some of the books in your collection that fall under this law. Then either post a link in the comments section here or in Love2Learn's post (or both).
Hat-tip: Studeo (which means I study and is a great name for a homeschool blog)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
I am a Future Widow
There was an ad in a financial magazine that caught our eye a few months back. The caption was something about your wife being your future widow and have you considered how you have provided for her. It is hard to look far enough down the road to the finality that awaits us. We will each of us lose those we love, becoming widows or widowers, lose our parents or a child. We are all dead men walking. Each day brings us closer to the end of this existence.
I read the book Military Widow last year. I had to warn dh that I wasn't planning anything. But the book was highly recommended and it is a good exercise to think through the what ifs occasionally. It gives you a chance to think about how you don't want to be and how you do want to be. (I learned on one very stressful Tuesday morning a few years back that I will probably be a screamer. Then I will look for something to do.) I can hope that dh and I pass away quietly in old age side by side in comfortable chairs reading good books. But that probably isn't the end that we'll be granted.
Amy Welborn's husband died suddenly a short time ago. It is worth your time to read about him and about her journey into widowhood. To consider how you are preparing to be a future widow and to think a bit about how you are living life as a future dead person.
I read the book Military Widow last year. I had to warn dh that I wasn't planning anything. But the book was highly recommended and it is a good exercise to think through the what ifs occasionally. It gives you a chance to think about how you don't want to be and how you do want to be. (I learned on one very stressful Tuesday morning a few years back that I will probably be a screamer. Then I will look for something to do.) I can hope that dh and I pass away quietly in old age side by side in comfortable chairs reading good books. But that probably isn't the end that we'll be granted.
Amy Welborn's husband died suddenly a short time ago. It is worth your time to read about him and about her journey into widowhood. To consider how you are preparing to be a future widow and to think a bit about how you are living life as a future dead person.
How Many Have You Read?
I'm inspired by Anne at Palm Tree Pundit's list making on reading habits. I thought I'd see how well I do on one of her book memes. The list is from The Common Room.
1) Look at the list and bold those you have read (films don't count).
2) Italicize those you intend to read. (I forgot to do this this when I originally posted)
3) Tag somebody if you like (I don't think I have enough readers to go around tagging people. But give it a try if you want to).
1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (all of the books in English and 1-6 in German)
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 1984 - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare (not all, but quite a few)
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Not this one, but The Brother's Karamazov)
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (Not even when it was assigned in college)
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac (which made so little impression that I can't even recall the plot)
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce (yes, every bit of it, and Dubliners and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. And I don't really recommend them. I call Ulysses the most recommended book that recommenders haven't actually read sober.)
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte's Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas (In a lovely dust jacketed 1960s edition)
98 Hamlet – Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
Not too bad, but there are several that I could hit. I actually have Remains of the Day checked out, but not started. I'm trying to work my way through some Japanese literature while I'm here. Another thing I thought was interesting was the dozen or so books that I haven't actually ever heard of.
1) Look at the list and bold those you have read (films don't count).
2) Italicize those you intend to read. (I forgot to do this this when I originally posted)
3) Tag somebody if you like (I don't think I have enough readers to go around tagging people. But give it a try if you want to).
1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (all of the books in English and 1-6 in German)
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 1984 - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare (not all, but quite a few)
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Not this one, but The Brother's Karamazov)
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (Not even when it was assigned in college)
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac (which made so little impression that I can't even recall the plot)
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce (yes, every bit of it, and Dubliners and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. And I don't really recommend them. I call Ulysses the most recommended book that recommenders haven't actually read sober.)
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte's Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas (In a lovely dust jacketed 1960s edition)
98 Hamlet – Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
Not too bad, but there are several that I could hit. I actually have Remains of the Day checked out, but not started. I'm trying to work my way through some Japanese literature while I'm here. Another thing I thought was interesting was the dozen or so books that I haven't actually ever heard of.
Monday, February 16, 2009
God's Alarm Clock?
I've been having trouble sleeping lately, which has translated to having trouble getting up. Setting my alarm clock hasn't been effective, since I tend to just note the time and go back to sleep.
This morning I was awakened by a rattle. We've been having high winds and I thought it was just a window rattling. Then I realized it was coming from the other side of the room, where a large picture was softly bumping against the wall. I had a few more seconds to consider getting out of bed and a few more after that to just enjoy the little shimmy.
There was a small quake in southern Alaska at about this time, although it is rather incredible to think that I would be able to feel it here (especially when I totally missed a larger local earthquake a couple days ago).
Anyway, I was up at 5:00, finished with my email by 6:30 and we may actually get school started by Mom's Secret Time this morning.
I do hope for the sake of my Polish pottery that this doesn't become the routine way of waking me up.
If you are looking for earthquake resource stuff, the USGS has a page on earthquakes for kids. If you experience an earthquake where you live, you can report what you felt and USGS will correlate it with other reports to help determine the intensity of the earthquake. In the US, scientists measure intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. This is different than magnitude (measured on the Richter scale). Interestingly, if there was an earthquake in your area and you did NOT feel it, USGS is also interested in that information.
This morning I was awakened by a rattle. We've been having high winds and I thought it was just a window rattling. Then I realized it was coming from the other side of the room, where a large picture was softly bumping against the wall. I had a few more seconds to consider getting out of bed and a few more after that to just enjoy the little shimmy.
There was a small quake in southern Alaska at about this time, although it is rather incredible to think that I would be able to feel it here (especially when I totally missed a larger local earthquake a couple days ago).
Anyway, I was up at 5:00, finished with my email by 6:30 and we may actually get school started by Mom's Secret Time this morning.
I do hope for the sake of my Polish pottery that this doesn't become the routine way of waking me up.
If you are looking for earthquake resource stuff, the USGS has a page on earthquakes for kids. If you experience an earthquake where you live, you can report what you felt and USGS will correlate it with other reports to help determine the intensity of the earthquake. In the US, scientists measure intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. This is different than magnitude (measured on the Richter scale). Interestingly, if there was an earthquake in your area and you did NOT feel it, USGS is also interested in that information.
A Manufacturer Who Isn't Happy About CPSIA
Update: I missed that there were actually three parts to Mr. Woldenburg's comments. I've added the missing second section, where he discusses, in particular, the impact on science education materials and the impossibility of effectively testing paperclips.
If you're tempted to think that the reaction to CPSIA is an overreaction by overwrought crafters and internet book dealers, please take a look at the public comments by Rick Woldenburg, from Learning Resources (a major manufacturer of educational manipulatives).
Part 1
Part 2 (I just discovered the real part 2)
Part 3 (This was previously listed as part 2)
This is a CEO who is serious and not at all happy. BTW, his blog is also a gem.
And a satire video that's way too close to truth for comfort.
If you're tempted to think that the reaction to CPSIA is an overreaction by overwrought crafters and internet book dealers, please take a look at the public comments by Rick Woldenburg, from Learning Resources (a major manufacturer of educational manipulatives).
Part 1
Part 2 (I just discovered the real part 2)
Part 3 (This was previously listed as part 2)
This is a CEO who is serious and not at all happy. BTW, his blog is also a gem.
And a satire video that's way too close to truth for comfort.
Join the Mail in Protest
The Wacky Hermit at Organic Baby Farm has some great ideas for a mail in protest of CPSIA that specifically works to get the attention of one of the co-sponsors of this bill. Please check it out and consider adding to the pile of outlawed items clogging up his office.
I've never read anything from Wacky Hermit before, but the website is a joy to read. Take this as a sample from a post on Feb 9, 2009.
One thing that I've noticed about human beings is our tendency to completely misjudge risk when we aren't actively thinking about it. We'll strap our child onto a wheeled hulk of metal and machinery and hurtle 80 miles an hour down the road to go buy organic produce for her to eat. We'll drink diet soda with our super-sized double-bacon-and-heart-attack cheeseburger. We'll use the potty, reach for the sink knob, turn on the sink and wash our hands with the latest antibacterial soap, and then with our newly clean hands touch the exact same knob to turn the sink off. People have a natural affinity for straining at a gnat while swallowing a camel whole. It's part of being human, and it's why turning to numbers to quantify risk is always a fascinating exercise.
I've never read anything from Wacky Hermit before, but the website is a joy to read. Take this as a sample from a post on Feb 9, 2009.
One thing that I've noticed about human beings is our tendency to completely misjudge risk when we aren't actively thinking about it. We'll strap our child onto a wheeled hulk of metal and machinery and hurtle 80 miles an hour down the road to go buy organic produce for her to eat. We'll drink diet soda with our super-sized double-bacon-and-heart-attack cheeseburger. We'll use the potty, reach for the sink knob, turn on the sink and wash our hands with the latest antibacterial soap, and then with our newly clean hands touch the exact same knob to turn the sink off. People have a natural affinity for straining at a gnat while swallowing a camel whole. It's part of being human, and it's why turning to numbers to quantify risk is always a fascinating exercise.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Someone is always watching
It always amuses me when the blog gets visited because a person or business has some sort of an internet alert set for their name (See comments under last post). It has happened with tourist sites I visited in Hawaii, homeschool curriculum publishers, and now an author. I fully expect that if I check stats, I'll have another one from a certain homeschool advocacy group. They don't always comment, but sometimes you can still see that they've come over to check out what you posted about them or their product.
Mostly it's just amusing. But there is a little bit of an intimidating feel to it too. If I write about my success and frustration with my current curriculum, will it invite a critical rebutal from the publisher?
Alerts, of course are anonymous, just like the old newspaper clipping services of the past. They are simply search algorithms that search for key words or phrases and return all sorts of results. I've used them myself in the past to find interesting articles about homeschooling.
And once something is put out there on the internet, it rarely fades, even if you wish that it would (ever hear of the Alaskan Assassin? When this was new, I got it from several different military members, each with a different chain of senders and comments). I remember one hapless blogger who posted something vaguely critical about homeschooling which made her blog a temporary hotspot for homeschool bloggers (courtesy of an alert, a couple blog posts about her post and a carnival entry).
All of which is a round about way of trying to say two things. One, remember that when you hit publish or post, what you said may come back around to you in ways you never forsaw. Two, if you are watching for your name or product to be referenced, (like someone in Jan Karon's office evidently is), a personal comment is much more attractive than what is little more than an ad on someone elses blog.
Mostly it's just amusing. But there is a little bit of an intimidating feel to it too. If I write about my success and frustration with my current curriculum, will it invite a critical rebutal from the publisher?
Alerts, of course are anonymous, just like the old newspaper clipping services of the past. They are simply search algorithms that search for key words or phrases and return all sorts of results. I've used them myself in the past to find interesting articles about homeschooling.
And once something is put out there on the internet, it rarely fades, even if you wish that it would (ever hear of the Alaskan Assassin? When this was new, I got it from several different military members, each with a different chain of senders and comments). I remember one hapless blogger who posted something vaguely critical about homeschooling which made her blog a temporary hotspot for homeschool bloggers (courtesy of an alert, a couple blog posts about her post and a carnival entry).
All of which is a round about way of trying to say two things. One, remember that when you hit publish or post, what you said may come back around to you in ways you never forsaw. Two, if you are watching for your name or product to be referenced, (like someone in Jan Karon's office evidently is), a personal comment is much more attractive than what is little more than an ad on someone elses blog.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Books Read in 2009
I so enjoyed the book reviews and running list of books read on Palm Tree Pundit, that I thought I'd take a crack at it myself. January was mostly filled up with packing, flying and unpacking. I tend to turn to fiction for some mental rest when we are moving. And in recent moves, I've come to depend on Dorothy Sayers.
January 2009
Back on Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber 3rd in the series
Twenty Wishes - Debbie Macomber 4th in the series (If you haven't read Macomber, she is a little like Jan Karon. I have really enjoyed her books, partly because things happen to the characters that I don't anticipate. It is more of a reflection of real life's struggles than most romances are, without veering off into self-pity.)
Busman's Honeymoon - Dorothy Sayers
Whose Body? - Dorothy Sayers (Between packing out and unpacking, I've read all the Whimsey novels that I own at least a couple times this year. I'm wishing that I'd bought the ones I don't own while I was in the US. Well, Amazon does deliver.)
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie
Death in the Air - Agatha Christie (It was a Dr. Who episode of all things that reminded me of Agatha Christie. Roger Ackroyd was the story that characters on the show kept reading and Death in the Air was shown at the end. Fortunately for me, the library has a good stash of these.)
Note: Of these books, half (one Sayers and both Christie) were non-post-1984 editions. And for a while, I was having to compete with Cauliflower for Death in the Air. How dare he even consider reading a non-post-1984 book? Well, how dare he consider enjoying a book not specially conceived and packaged for children in the first place?
January 2009
Back on Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber 3rd in the series
Twenty Wishes - Debbie Macomber 4th in the series (If you haven't read Macomber, she is a little like Jan Karon. I have really enjoyed her books, partly because things happen to the characters that I don't anticipate. It is more of a reflection of real life's struggles than most romances are, without veering off into self-pity.)
Busman's Honeymoon - Dorothy Sayers
Whose Body? - Dorothy Sayers (Between packing out and unpacking, I've read all the Whimsey novels that I own at least a couple times this year. I'm wishing that I'd bought the ones I don't own while I was in the US. Well, Amazon does deliver.)
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie
Death in the Air - Agatha Christie (It was a Dr. Who episode of all things that reminded me of Agatha Christie. Roger Ackroyd was the story that characters on the show kept reading and Death in the Air was shown at the end. Fortunately for me, the library has a good stash of these.)
Note: Of these books, half (one Sayers and both Christie) were non-post-1984 editions. And for a while, I was having to compete with Cauliflower for Death in the Air. How dare he even consider reading a non-post-1984 book? Well, how dare he consider enjoying a book not specially conceived and packaged for children in the first place?
I Don't Know Why I Bother With CNN
CNN reports on the passage of the stimulus bill and can't even read the vote count correctly.
CNN reported this: "All Democrats in the Senate supported the plan. Seven House Democrats opposed it." Actually, no. According to house.gov, 21 Democrats voted against. There were 7 members of Congress who didn't vote at all, 2 Democrat and 5 Republican.
If one of the major media outlets can't count to 21, how on earth are they going to report on $787 billion in fruitless spending?
CNN reported this: "All Democrats in the Senate supported the plan. Seven House Democrats opposed it." Actually, no. According to house.gov, 21 Democrats voted against. There were 7 members of Congress who didn't vote at all, 2 Democrat and 5 Republican.
If one of the major media outlets can't count to 21, how on earth are they going to report on $787 billion in fruitless spending?
Friday, February 13, 2009
CPSIA is a Real Issue, Despite what HSLDA Thinks
Valerie at The Bookroom has been carrying a lot of water for us in posting the continuing saga of CPSIA and its impact, not only on small business and charitable groups, but on the availability of good books for children.
One of her recent posts discusses an HSLDA (non)response to the law. Here is HSLDA's entire post detailing their discussion with CPSC Commissioner Thomas Moore. I have to say that as an HSLDA member, I am disappointed. A government agency says that historically they haven't gone after small businesses. The same government agency that has issued an ever changing set of official opinions on how this bill would be implemented and enforced. The same government agency that has told news agencies that they will, in fact, have a group that is detailed to scan the internet for sales of items that violate the law.
Historically, homeschooling in California was acceptable under the private school laws. But we've seen over the years how tenuous that can be based on the decisions of a small number of unelected officials. Putting our trust in the busyness, incompetence or disinterest of officials seems like shaky legal ground.
I would have been much happier if HSLDA had issued a release that cited the statements of the Commissioner, but concluded that HSLDA's expertise isn't in product safety law, that the regulations for implementing the law were still unclear, that HSLDA would try to keep its members informed. I would also have appreciated some indication of whether HSLDA had any intention of defending member families who get tangled up in this. If they don't, then maybe they shouldn't be out there trying to reassure anyone. (My guess is that defending family businesses is probably outside the charter of the organization.)
FWIW, I am and plan to continue being a member of HSLDA. But as a member, I think that they missed the boat on this one. I hope that either they take another look at the situation or stop issuing releases on the subject.
BTW: I personally find the provisions and implimentation of this law a perfect example of why there should be no vote in favor of a stimulus bill that no one has read.
One of her recent posts discusses an HSLDA (non)response to the law. Here is HSLDA's entire post detailing their discussion with CPSC Commissioner Thomas Moore. I have to say that as an HSLDA member, I am disappointed. A government agency says that historically they haven't gone after small businesses. The same government agency that has issued an ever changing set of official opinions on how this bill would be implemented and enforced. The same government agency that has told news agencies that they will, in fact, have a group that is detailed to scan the internet for sales of items that violate the law.
Historically, homeschooling in California was acceptable under the private school laws. But we've seen over the years how tenuous that can be based on the decisions of a small number of unelected officials. Putting our trust in the busyness, incompetence or disinterest of officials seems like shaky legal ground.
I would have been much happier if HSLDA had issued a release that cited the statements of the Commissioner, but concluded that HSLDA's expertise isn't in product safety law, that the regulations for implementing the law were still unclear, that HSLDA would try to keep its members informed. I would also have appreciated some indication of whether HSLDA had any intention of defending member families who get tangled up in this. If they don't, then maybe they shouldn't be out there trying to reassure anyone. (My guess is that defending family businesses is probably outside the charter of the organization.)
FWIW, I am and plan to continue being a member of HSLDA. But as a member, I think that they missed the boat on this one. I hope that either they take another look at the situation or stop issuing releases on the subject.
BTW: I personally find the provisions and implimentation of this law a perfect example of why there should be no vote in favor of a stimulus bill that no one has read.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Call to action on law that bans sale of books
I don't know if you've been following the chronicle of stupid consequences to CPSIA, a law that was supposed to restrict the sale of harmful children's products after many products made in large factories in CHINA were found to have levels of lead that at least violated the manufacturer's guildlines (and probably in some cases, existing law). In the rush to "do something" Congress has crafted a law that is having an awful impact on small craft and toy makers here in the US. Thrift stores are clearing the racks of any children's clothing with metal snaps, buckles and decorations (despite no evidence that they are harmful). Children's books published in 1984 and earlier have been all judged dangerous (despite no evidence that they are harmful)
The Bookroom has been following the issue and has some good info on contacting Congress to try to get the law changed. If you haven't been reading about this (and given how bad the media coverage is, it's no wonder) then read through the info that Valerie at The Bookroom has collected
The Bookroom has been following the issue and has some good info on contacting Congress to try to get the law changed. If you haven't been reading about this (and given how bad the media coverage is, it's no wonder) then read through the info that Valerie at The Bookroom has collected
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Lost Word Poetry
A few weeks back, I wrote about Oxford Publishing making some strong changes to one of their children's dictionaries. My friend at Chartwell Academy actually had some of the most thoughtful comments on this.
This week I was amused to find that this is the same group that is running the site Save the Words which decries the loss of hundreds of "old words, wise words, hard-working words. Words that once led meaningful lives but now lie abandoned and forgotten." The site asks you to adopt a word and use it with your friends to try to keep it in use. A harmless bit of fun? Sure. Although there is a shop where one may purchase a t-shirt with a favorite word for a paltry sum. But the whole endevour does seem a bit odd. Push one set of words off stage left while getting a bit of name recognition and t-shirt sales stage right.
So I propose an adoption of the words axed by the editor of the children's dictionary. In fact, I think that they would make a great cache for poetry or a bit of creative writing. Print out the list of expunged words and see what sort of fun you can have with them. I'd love to see any results posted in the comments section.
Words taken out:
Carol, cracker, holly, ivy, mistletoe
Dwarf, elf, goblin
Abbey, aisle, altar, bishop, chapel, christen, disciple, minister, monastery, monk, nun, nunnery, parish, pew, psalm, pulpit, saint, sin, devil, vicar
Coronation, duchess, duke, emperor, empire, monarch, decade
adder, ass, beaver, boar, budgerigar, bullock, cheetah, colt, corgi, cygnet, doe, drake, ferret, gerbil, goldfish, guinea pig, hamster, heron, herring, kingfisher, lark, leopard, lobster, magpie, minnow, mussel, newt, otter, ox, oyster, panther, pelican, piglet, plaice, poodle, porcupine, porpoise, raven, spaniel, starling, stoat, stork, terrapin, thrush, weasel, wren.
Acorn, allotment, almond, apricot, ash, bacon, beech, beetroot, blackberry, blacksmith, bloom, bluebell, bramble, bran, bray, bridle, brook, buttercup, canary, canter, carnation, catkin, cauliflower, chestnut, clover, conker, county, cowslip, crocus, dandelion, diesel, fern, fungus, gooseberry, gorse, hazel, hazelnut, heather, holly, horse chestnut, ivy, lavender, leek, liquorice, manger, marzipan, melon, minnow, mint, nectar, nectarine, oats, pansy, parsnip, pasture, poppy, porridge, poultry, primrose, prune, radish, rhubarb, sheaf, spinach, sycamore, tulip, turnip, vine, violet, walnut, willow
The following words were added to the dictionary. You might see what sort of poem you make from these. I warn you that they are quite a bit less lyrical.
Words put in:
Blog, broadband, MP3 player, voicemail, attachment, database, export, chatroom, bullet point, cut and paste, analogue
Celebrity, tolerant, vandalism, negotiate, interdependent, creep, citizenship, childhood, conflict, common sense, debate, EU, drought, brainy, boisterous, cautionary tale, bilingual, bungee jumping, committee, compulsory, cope, democratic, allergic, biodegradable, emotion, dyslexic, donate, endangered, Euro
Apparatus, food chain, incisor, square number, trapezium, alliteration, colloquial, idiom, curriculum, classify, chronological, block graph
This week I was amused to find that this is the same group that is running the site Save the Words which decries the loss of hundreds of "old words, wise words, hard-working words. Words that once led meaningful lives but now lie abandoned and forgotten." The site asks you to adopt a word and use it with your friends to try to keep it in use. A harmless bit of fun? Sure. Although there is a shop where one may purchase a t-shirt with a favorite word for a paltry sum. But the whole endevour does seem a bit odd. Push one set of words off stage left while getting a bit of name recognition and t-shirt sales stage right.
So I propose an adoption of the words axed by the editor of the children's dictionary. In fact, I think that they would make a great cache for poetry or a bit of creative writing. Print out the list of expunged words and see what sort of fun you can have with them. I'd love to see any results posted in the comments section.
Words taken out:
Carol, cracker, holly, ivy, mistletoe
Dwarf, elf, goblin
Abbey, aisle, altar, bishop, chapel, christen, disciple, minister, monastery, monk, nun, nunnery, parish, pew, psalm, pulpit, saint, sin, devil, vicar
Coronation, duchess, duke, emperor, empire, monarch, decade
adder, ass, beaver, boar, budgerigar, bullock, cheetah, colt, corgi, cygnet, doe, drake, ferret, gerbil, goldfish, guinea pig, hamster, heron, herring, kingfisher, lark, leopard, lobster, magpie, minnow, mussel, newt, otter, ox, oyster, panther, pelican, piglet, plaice, poodle, porcupine, porpoise, raven, spaniel, starling, stoat, stork, terrapin, thrush, weasel, wren.
Acorn, allotment, almond, apricot, ash, bacon, beech, beetroot, blackberry, blacksmith, bloom, bluebell, bramble, bran, bray, bridle, brook, buttercup, canary, canter, carnation, catkin, cauliflower, chestnut, clover, conker, county, cowslip, crocus, dandelion, diesel, fern, fungus, gooseberry, gorse, hazel, hazelnut, heather, holly, horse chestnut, ivy, lavender, leek, liquorice, manger, marzipan, melon, minnow, mint, nectar, nectarine, oats, pansy, parsnip, pasture, poppy, porridge, poultry, primrose, prune, radish, rhubarb, sheaf, spinach, sycamore, tulip, turnip, vine, violet, walnut, willow
The following words were added to the dictionary. You might see what sort of poem you make from these. I warn you that they are quite a bit less lyrical.
Words put in:
Blog, broadband, MP3 player, voicemail, attachment, database, export, chatroom, bullet point, cut and paste, analogue
Celebrity, tolerant, vandalism, negotiate, interdependent, creep, citizenship, childhood, conflict, common sense, debate, EU, drought, brainy, boisterous, cautionary tale, bilingual, bungee jumping, committee, compulsory, cope, democratic, allergic, biodegradable, emotion, dyslexic, donate, endangered, Euro
Apparatus, food chain, incisor, square number, trapezium, alliteration, colloquial, idiom, curriculum, classify, chronological, block graph
Monday, February 09, 2009
Did You Hear About This?
I used to vote at a small church near our house. The older kids, Rutabega and Artichoke, were quite small then, but we'd walk through the neighborhood with the stroller and I'd tell them stories of the American Revolution and George Washington. And I'd explain that what made George Washington a great president was the last thing that he did - namely to give it up and go home. When the kids grew older, I'd tell them stories of our German ancestors who immigrated to the US, became citizens and earned a right to do what was denied to their families in Germany - to vote for their own leaders.
One of the most stiring photos I've ever seen was of a woman about my age showing off her purple ink stained finger after voting in Iraq.
Recently elections were held in Iraq and as Marine Corps General Kelly reports here at Blackfive, there were not only no suicide attacks but the polling time was extended an hour to accomodate all the voters.
I don't think that it is possible to overestimate the courage of these voters. I love to take my kids to the polls. In fact there is an entire program called Kids Vote that involved kids in a parallel vote in part to encourage their parents to get out and vote. But in Anbar Province, Iraq, mothers and grandmothers left their children at home for fear of attacks. Husbands and wives voted separately in order to not deprive their family of both parents if there were a bombing.
Don't miss reading General Kelly's report on this.
H/T: Michael Ledeen at The Corner, National Review Online
One of the most stiring photos I've ever seen was of a woman about my age showing off her purple ink stained finger after voting in Iraq.
Recently elections were held in Iraq and as Marine Corps General Kelly reports here at Blackfive, there were not only no suicide attacks but the polling time was extended an hour to accomodate all the voters.
I don't think that it is possible to overestimate the courage of these voters. I love to take my kids to the polls. In fact there is an entire program called Kids Vote that involved kids in a parallel vote in part to encourage their parents to get out and vote. But in Anbar Province, Iraq, mothers and grandmothers left their children at home for fear of attacks. Husbands and wives voted separately in order to not deprive their family of both parents if there were a bombing.
Don't miss reading General Kelly's report on this.
H/T: Michael Ledeen at The Corner, National Review Online
Untitled: How Could This Happen to Me?
The final day of our mandatory orientation class was mostly driver safety training. Lots of info on how driving is different here (for example, driving on the left means you yield to the left) and what your responsibilities are if you are in an accident (leaving the impression that it is quite easy to go to jail for a traffic accident here).
The course was taught be a contract instructor, who had a pretty lively presentation, that included several videos. The final one was a real clincher. My dh had warned me that it was pretty intense, but I found that I couldn't even watch it to the end because I was so shaken.
The content isn't graphic, but it is hard hitting and the music video format means that the words kept floating around in my head. My kids were all in the class with me. They are rapidly approaching the age where they see teens making choices. I'm not sad that they had the chance to see some of the possible consequences.
The song and video are by A Simple Plan. The song is officially Untitled, but has picked up the subtitle How Could This Happen to Me? It took me a bit of searching to find it, but I finally found it on Youtube.com
The course was taught be a contract instructor, who had a pretty lively presentation, that included several videos. The final one was a real clincher. My dh had warned me that it was pretty intense, but I found that I couldn't even watch it to the end because I was so shaken.
The content isn't graphic, but it is hard hitting and the music video format means that the words kept floating around in my head. My kids were all in the class with me. They are rapidly approaching the age where they see teens making choices. I'm not sad that they had the chance to see some of the possible consequences.
The song and video are by A Simple Plan. The song is officially Untitled, but has picked up the subtitle How Could This Happen to Me? It took me a bit of searching to find it, but I finally found it on Youtube.com
Softbank 730 Manual in English
My Softbank phone came with only a Japanese manual. The on-base vendor wasn't able to provide me with an English manual or point me to where I could get one. I finally found a downloadable version at the Softbank website.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Don't Bring to Japan
If you get orders to Japan, you might find it daunting to look at your house and try to figure out what you put into storage and what you leave behind. I thought I'd mention a couple items that I wish we'd put into storage.
Plug in alarm clock. We have a nice clock radio that just won't work on the electrical system here. Evidently this alarm clock uses the alternating current as a timer. Since our side of Japan is 50 hz instead of 60 hz like the US, the clock runs slow. This may also affect other equipment with timers like bread machines. However, the clock on my coffee maker is working ok.
Small radio. The fm band for Japan seems to run in a different section of the spectrum than the US. So my nice little radio is pretty useless.
Super soakers. We mistakenly thought that the only housing for our rank and family size were townhouses with small yards. Instead, we're in a high rise. Unless we can use these a the pool, we may not have much call for the giant water squirters. Ditto the garden hose and about half the lawn furniture.
I'll update this as I come up with other things that we could have left behind.
On the other hand, I don't at all regret bringing all of our children's books. The base library has an ok children's section, but it is small and there are definitely categories where our home selection is better than theirs. I am however, looking forward to leaving many books behind and replacing them with lovely Asian furniture.
Plug in alarm clock. We have a nice clock radio that just won't work on the electrical system here. Evidently this alarm clock uses the alternating current as a timer. Since our side of Japan is 50 hz instead of 60 hz like the US, the clock runs slow. This may also affect other equipment with timers like bread machines. However, the clock on my coffee maker is working ok.
Small radio. The fm band for Japan seems to run in a different section of the spectrum than the US. So my nice little radio is pretty useless.
Super soakers. We mistakenly thought that the only housing for our rank and family size were townhouses with small yards. Instead, we're in a high rise. Unless we can use these a the pool, we may not have much call for the giant water squirters. Ditto the garden hose and about half the lawn furniture.
I'll update this as I come up with other things that we could have left behind.
On the other hand, I don't at all regret bringing all of our children's books. The base library has an ok children's section, but it is small and there are definitely categories where our home selection is better than theirs. I am however, looking forward to leaving many books behind and replacing them with lovely Asian furniture.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
On the Ground in Japan
Just a quickie since my laptop battery is going. We're doing well at setting up our new forward deployed campus of Percival Blakeney Academy here in Japan. There is a lot to get used to, a lot to enjoy and a few things that we really miss (mostly friends and great library systems).
We've done a few trips out in town to shop at the 100 Yen shops - the local equivalent of a dollar store. I've driven on the left side of the road (left is right here). And I had a whole conversation in Japanese (uninhibited by the fact that I really only knew about four useful words).
We also traveled to the nearby city Kamakura as part of our area familiarization. The trains are much like German trains. We found some food that we liked in a ramen shop and visited a local Shinto shrine. Califlower informed me that he'd like to spend his birthday in Kamakura eating dumplings and shopping in all the cool stores we walked past. Sounds pretty good to me.
I should be up to my usual nonsense in another week.
We've done a few trips out in town to shop at the 100 Yen shops - the local equivalent of a dollar store. I've driven on the left side of the road (left is right here). And I had a whole conversation in Japanese (uninhibited by the fact that I really only knew about four useful words).
We also traveled to the nearby city Kamakura as part of our area familiarization. The trains are much like German trains. We found some food that we liked in a ramen shop and visited a local Shinto shrine. Califlower informed me that he'd like to spend his birthday in Kamakura eating dumplings and shopping in all the cool stores we walked past. Sounds pretty good to me.
I should be up to my usual nonsense in another week.
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