Tag Archives: books

February 11, 2018 · 7:11 pm

Evolution

February 11, 2018

Grafedie In The Library has been a learning, growing experience for me over time. At first, I wanted to use this blog as a vehicle to share my reader advisory skills, hoping that I could improve my writing skills in addition to promoting books that we had at my library. That was the intent, and I was perfectly happy blogging in my own little world. My opinions were not controversial, or political or witty so there was no reason for any one particular group of readers, or library user to even notice.

But as time went on, I let go of the Library related posts and concentrated on adding my GardenSpot page and documenting our Hiking trips. Two things that have come to be my passion. This post is just a bit of retrospect, looking back over a few years how I have changed and continue to learn new things. Recently I have been listening to Podcasts. My favorites are on Sustainability, Horticulture and Gardening.

Just a bit of rambling

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March 9, 2014 · 10:37 pm

Leisure Time: Redefined

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It’s funny how different “leisure time” is defined in the 21st century.

Back in the 20th Century, believe it or not, television was in early stages of development for home use. Small monitors sat in large consoles that housed glowing tubes of every size and “color” TV was a piece of rainbow acetate that stuck to the screen, until technology actually developed into RGB . My house actually NEVER had a color TV because my father didn’t enjoy seeing green hair and orange faces. Can’t say I blamed him, black and white was fine.RCA TRK12

Looking back now, not only the television was primitive, but the programming which was brought into the home, now visually rather than an audio radio cast was in early stages as well. What did people want to “see” when they wanted to be entertained.

I remember, watching re-runs of I Love Lucy,  (in fact, they are still re-running!)  classic “funny” and the weekly series shows like “Lost in Space” Lost_In_Spacethat somehow seem so corny now, and I think to myself  “how silly I was to think this stuff was entertaining” But the truth of the matter was that it was simple, mindless fun and that is why I turned on the TV in the first place. At least I was able to unwind, and settle in for bedtime. Now if I want to veg a bit in front of the TV my choices are: forensic crime, dysfunctional families, brides-to-be that come from Hell, shoreline antics on spring-break, paranormal activities, and WHY has everything become a COMPETITION?

Julia Childs would teach me how to filet a chicken, John Nagy would teach me how to draw and Mr. Wizard would unveil the mystery of science, and it was interesting! Now I am totally stressed watching chef challenges, restaurant makeovers and best “natural talents” being swept up by celebrity mentors…Who can sleep wondering who will be voted off the show? not to mention  I would have been thrown into insomnia wondering how I could successfully cook up a gourmet meal with nothing but an artichoke, a box of vanilla wafers, animal intestines and a package of cinnamon candies?

“Leisure time” is no longer leisurely if you want to watch TV.

That is why I stick to books.

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November 3, 2013 · 3:27 am

Ode to Bookstore

 

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Walking down a neighborhood street, I passed an empty building that use to be a bookstore. I felt a meloncholy  overcome me and I longed to be standing in the stacks of a bookstore…a true bookstore, one that sold books. Now I realize that sounds funny but bookstores have been forced to become a place where you can buy toys, stuffed animals (that come with books as a kit) music CD, games oh, and yes…books. 

It is sad that all the talk of books becoming a thing of the past, and ebooks taking over has become a self fulfilling prophecy for large chain bookstores. It is change, and change is natural, what should not change is our belief in books, the creative written word. From that word other wonderful things happen, movies, plays, games. The spoken word, the written word have been around for centuries, how else would we know where we came from?

What we need is to maintain our belief that books are going to stay. As Simon Sinek said in his Ted talk, people follow ideas and dreams. If you believe in something, others that have that same belief will follow. A book, whether ink on paper, electronic, or audio is still a piece of creative expression. Support independent bookstores, mom and pops, libraries. 

 

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