LET'S HAVE THE REST OF IT, AOL
How long do you suppose it will take AOL to acknowledge it needs to enlarge the captions under the nice big pictures of the news?
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Saturday, January 17, 2015
THE REASON
The reason we have a plethora of books and stories about World War II appearing recently and in the near past is that the generation that lived that war is fast dying out. Soon there will be no one to interview who was there and witnessed it. After that time, it will be only hearsay -- except for what did get down on paper and film.
The best WWII nonfiction work I've run across is the one I'm suffering through currently -- Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It is highly enlightening and it is hard to lay the book down. I say suffering through, and that means the war was just so terrible. I did not really know that many service men lost their lives before they had tine to reach their first target. I didn't know the gigantic number of planes lost. I didn't know there were so many sharks in the ocean, itching to devour our men. Some succeeded.
So far (I'm on only page 90) the squadron on this B-24 bomber are outstanding heroes.
The Japanese were particularly cruel and had already enslaved people from other countries. They were going to show the world they were the greatest people on earth and the rest of us would become their slaves. I am not for war, but we had to do something about this situation. Eventually, their emperor Hirohito had to declare before the world, something such as he was not a god, as he had led the Japanese to believe.
I asked a friend of mine if she could get to sleep easily after seeing the film version. She said it took a while and she delayed her bed time. Well, the book has to tell more than the film does. Books are usually better than the films made of them. And if I were Empress, no one under age 18 would be allowed to see it in a theater.
The reason we have a plethora of books and stories about World War II appearing recently and in the near past is that the generation that lived that war is fast dying out. Soon there will be no one to interview who was there and witnessed it. After that time, it will be only hearsay -- except for what did get down on paper and film.
The best WWII nonfiction work I've run across is the one I'm suffering through currently -- Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It is highly enlightening and it is hard to lay the book down. I say suffering through, and that means the war was just so terrible. I did not really know that many service men lost their lives before they had tine to reach their first target. I didn't know the gigantic number of planes lost. I didn't know there were so many sharks in the ocean, itching to devour our men. Some succeeded.
So far (I'm on only page 90) the squadron on this B-24 bomber are outstanding heroes.
The Japanese were particularly cruel and had already enslaved people from other countries. They were going to show the world they were the greatest people on earth and the rest of us would become their slaves. I am not for war, but we had to do something about this situation. Eventually, their emperor Hirohito had to declare before the world, something such as he was not a god, as he had led the Japanese to believe.
I asked a friend of mine if she could get to sleep easily after seeing the film version. She said it took a while and she delayed her bed time. Well, the book has to tell more than the film does. Books are usually better than the films made of them. And if I were Empress, no one under age 18 would be allowed to see it in a theater.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
During recent months, a historic calamity or catastrophe or tragedy -- I can't think of the word that is as bad as needed here, save the big one -- has been uppermost in my mind much of the time. So many books newly published in these recent months and years touch upon it and these are best sellers or have been. It seems so many people are writing about this huge calamity, and yet many younger people than my generation have no idea how big and how serious this calamity was at one time or that it can be repeated. Perhaps it seems that I'm talking in riddles, but I'm not. Let me set the stage for you.
One such best seller is All the Light We Cannot See. Another is The Book Thief, each over 500 pages. They are about the same historic calamity. The central figure in this calamity is not drawn, in these two books, as horrible as he really was. Then the book I'm currently reading, Unbroken, had this horrible creature in the chapter I read last night. At the time of this chapter the world doesn't know much about this horrible creature, but in hindsight, one can determine what to expect from him in such books.
Add to what these books have to say to what the news is reporting about the turmoil waging in France. Murders of four in a kosher grocery store in Paris, for one thing. All of Europe must be alert to what could happen. Does Europe remember more clearly than does America? Perhaps, for that is where the calamity occurred.
Of course, I am talking about the Holocaust. Don't let anyone tell you it didn't happen, for it did happen. And Hitler was the name of the horrible creature who brought this terrible crime about.
What bothers me now about this calamity is the treatment of the name Hitler. It seems the Nazi leader today is sort of a joke from the people who didn't learn history. It's a well known fact that if you don't know history, you will have to repeat it. Instead of Hitler, will the next war be because of the demonic ISIS? Perhaps.
During recent months, a historic calamity or catastrophe or tragedy -- I can't think of the word that is as bad as needed here, save the big one -- has been uppermost in my mind much of the time. So many books newly published in these recent months and years touch upon it and these are best sellers or have been. It seems so many people are writing about this huge calamity, and yet many younger people than my generation have no idea how big and how serious this calamity was at one time or that it can be repeated. Perhaps it seems that I'm talking in riddles, but I'm not. Let me set the stage for you.
One such best seller is All the Light We Cannot See. Another is The Book Thief, each over 500 pages. They are about the same historic calamity. The central figure in this calamity is not drawn, in these two books, as horrible as he really was. Then the book I'm currently reading, Unbroken, had this horrible creature in the chapter I read last night. At the time of this chapter the world doesn't know much about this horrible creature, but in hindsight, one can determine what to expect from him in such books.
Add to what these books have to say to what the news is reporting about the turmoil waging in France. Murders of four in a kosher grocery store in Paris, for one thing. All of Europe must be alert to what could happen. Does Europe remember more clearly than does America? Perhaps, for that is where the calamity occurred.
Of course, I am talking about the Holocaust. Don't let anyone tell you it didn't happen, for it did happen. And Hitler was the name of the horrible creature who brought this terrible crime about.
What bothers me now about this calamity is the treatment of the name Hitler. It seems the Nazi leader today is sort of a joke from the people who didn't learn history. It's a well known fact that if you don't know history, you will have to repeat it. Instead of Hitler, will the next war be because of the demonic ISIS? Perhaps.
Friday, January 9, 2015
CATCH-UP TIME and DOWNTON ABBEY
It's far past catch-up time, but here we are together again. As this is a literary blog, here's the latest in that department. In The Book Thief, a book given to me, ordered for me, brand new, I lack only 75 pages out of 550, which, I trust, will be completed tonight. Itching to get ahead, I've also read the preface and the first two chapters of Unbroken. Many of you readers have probably seen the movie of this book, but I have not, and do not anticipate doing so. I much prefer reading the book to seeing the movie of it. I like to do my own thinking.
I did my bit for the writers' group here and gave away four books, or at least I tried to. Two of them were autobiographies of Nobel Prize winners. The books traveled around in the circle but no one opted to take one for himself, and they were left to go on the library shelves.
The new project at hand is critiquing a short book by an Idaho writer whom I have not met in person. I've discovered how to do that on the screen by using a click with red ink, so to speak. How excellent that is, but I've hardly started. There is not enough time to do any of these things and I have yet to write some 2014 Christmas letters! My eyesight grows dimmer by the day, it seems. The television is mostly not on at all.
The one program I watched last year the few months it ran, and the years before that, and which resumed this January, Downton Abbey, was a great disappointment with this year's first airing. There were too many people in the action and apparently few of them had learned to act on the stage. Therefore, they were not easily understood in their run-away British lingo. My guess is that many Americans stopped watching it because of these reasons. More interesting is the hour before the program starts each season that showcases the real people who live at Highclere Castle. If you Abbey watchers missed that, remember to see it next January. It's great.
It's far past catch-up time, but here we are together again. As this is a literary blog, here's the latest in that department. In The Book Thief, a book given to me, ordered for me, brand new, I lack only 75 pages out of 550, which, I trust, will be completed tonight. Itching to get ahead, I've also read the preface and the first two chapters of Unbroken. Many of you readers have probably seen the movie of this book, but I have not, and do not anticipate doing so. I much prefer reading the book to seeing the movie of it. I like to do my own thinking.
I did my bit for the writers' group here and gave away four books, or at least I tried to. Two of them were autobiographies of Nobel Prize winners. The books traveled around in the circle but no one opted to take one for himself, and they were left to go on the library shelves.
The new project at hand is critiquing a short book by an Idaho writer whom I have not met in person. I've discovered how to do that on the screen by using a click with red ink, so to speak. How excellent that is, but I've hardly started. There is not enough time to do any of these things and I have yet to write some 2014 Christmas letters! My eyesight grows dimmer by the day, it seems. The television is mostly not on at all.
The one program I watched last year the few months it ran, and the years before that, and which resumed this January, Downton Abbey, was a great disappointment with this year's first airing. There were too many people in the action and apparently few of them had learned to act on the stage. Therefore, they were not easily understood in their run-away British lingo. My guess is that many Americans stopped watching it because of these reasons. More interesting is the hour before the program starts each season that showcases the real people who live at Highclere Castle. If you Abbey watchers missed that, remember to see it next January. It's great.
Friday, December 12, 2014
NEXT ASSIGNMENT
All day long the three-levels-high tree outside my living room window has danced and flung itself about in our 33-50 degree weather. At 3:00 the sky is dark and dreary. Although I've not read so, I think this is from the storms on the west coast. It sent the wind our way. The east coast may be experiencing the same type of weather too.
If you can be safe during such storms, and if you are not busy helping others less fortunate than you, it should be a good time to read. Or walk. Or write. And that is what I'm working on a bit today. Early in January I'm to speak a while to the writing class here at MorningStar. They are writing their autobiographies, not necessarily for publication, but for their families. The staff leader is not a writer and uses a book someone else wrote about doing one's life story. Most books on that subject are written by people who apparently have no success in other writings. Books about how to write anything, written by famous writers, are another matter. They have proved themselves before producing a book on writing. For example, P. D. James and Elizabeth George. There are other great books on writing, some of them by males, and I've read them. But let me tell you about one, not of the best kind.
Several years ago, when I belonged to a writing guild, I attended a yearly conference at which awards were to be given for the best writings. The woman who was the poetry judge got up to make her presentations, and began with these words: I am not a poet. Then she proceeded to prove it. I won't describe that, but will say she was there, in addition, to sell her book on writing an autobiography. She sold a few copies, but when I examined it, I found it to be quite elementary and run-of-the-mill. This author is one of many.
I told the staffer of this group here I had not seen the book she is using but I could guarantee I would emphasize one big secret that book doesn't mention. I am looking forward to this. Let the wind blow. I'm staying in!
All day long the three-levels-high tree outside my living room window has danced and flung itself about in our 33-50 degree weather. At 3:00 the sky is dark and dreary. Although I've not read so, I think this is from the storms on the west coast. It sent the wind our way. The east coast may be experiencing the same type of weather too.
If you can be safe during such storms, and if you are not busy helping others less fortunate than you, it should be a good time to read. Or walk. Or write. And that is what I'm working on a bit today. Early in January I'm to speak a while to the writing class here at MorningStar. They are writing their autobiographies, not necessarily for publication, but for their families. The staff leader is not a writer and uses a book someone else wrote about doing one's life story. Most books on that subject are written by people who apparently have no success in other writings. Books about how to write anything, written by famous writers, are another matter. They have proved themselves before producing a book on writing. For example, P. D. James and Elizabeth George. There are other great books on writing, some of them by males, and I've read them. But let me tell you about one, not of the best kind.
Several years ago, when I belonged to a writing guild, I attended a yearly conference at which awards were to be given for the best writings. The woman who was the poetry judge got up to make her presentations, and began with these words: I am not a poet. Then she proceeded to prove it. I won't describe that, but will say she was there, in addition, to sell her book on writing an autobiography. She sold a few copies, but when I examined it, I found it to be quite elementary and run-of-the-mill. This author is one of many.
I told the staffer of this group here I had not seen the book she is using but I could guarantee I would emphasize one big secret that book doesn't mention. I am looking forward to this. Let the wind blow. I'm staying in!
Monday, December 8, 2014
TWO STORIES ABOUT LETTER WRITING
Although there was no time for writing this first letter, one day I skipped going downstairs for lunch so that I could write to a relative to whom I had not written for some time. I typed a full page plus one more paragraph on a second page. I told him about breaking my hip last April but did not dwell on that. I wrote mainly about my large family, and asked him to tell me about his life today. When the reply came, I was delighted to see the envelope and sat down in the lobby to read the letter. My address on the envelope was my return address label from my letter to him! Clever. His letter, in tiny but neat penmanship, took a small space on the second page of my letter to him! Instead of telling me about his life today, he relayed a childhood happening we two shared. He asked if I remembered it. Of course I do. I think I failed to mention to him what a good memory I have in my old age. But he did not tell me anything else, not about his life today, or his views on politics, or any thing about other relatives. Oh, he did say he enjoyed my letter.
That was a unique exchange of letters.
But the next one is a dilly that could win an Oscar.
One day I received an e-mail from a relative-by-marriage, female this time, sending me an ultimatum to the affect that if I did not write by return mail, our friendship was over! What a shock! Was she kidding? She was not. I had repeatedly told her I did not have time to write her or write anyone else. (I still don't.)
Then one day a letter came from her, full of good will and numerous exclamation points. I immediately realized the fake good will. However, I wrote her a short letter but did not accuse her of this impropriety. I haven't heard from her since. I could never have brought about such an un-Christian ultimatum in any situation. I am sorry to have lost her friendship but I can't do the impossible.
Although there was no time for writing this first letter, one day I skipped going downstairs for lunch so that I could write to a relative to whom I had not written for some time. I typed a full page plus one more paragraph on a second page. I told him about breaking my hip last April but did not dwell on that. I wrote mainly about my large family, and asked him to tell me about his life today. When the reply came, I was delighted to see the envelope and sat down in the lobby to read the letter. My address on the envelope was my return address label from my letter to him! Clever. His letter, in tiny but neat penmanship, took a small space on the second page of my letter to him! Instead of telling me about his life today, he relayed a childhood happening we two shared. He asked if I remembered it. Of course I do. I think I failed to mention to him what a good memory I have in my old age. But he did not tell me anything else, not about his life today, or his views on politics, or any thing about other relatives. Oh, he did say he enjoyed my letter.
That was a unique exchange of letters.
But the next one is a dilly that could win an Oscar.
One day I received an e-mail from a relative-by-marriage, female this time, sending me an ultimatum to the affect that if I did not write by return mail, our friendship was over! What a shock! Was she kidding? She was not. I had repeatedly told her I did not have time to write her or write anyone else. (I still don't.)
Then one day a letter came from her, full of good will and numerous exclamation points. I immediately realized the fake good will. However, I wrote her a short letter but did not accuse her of this impropriety. I haven't heard from her since. I could never have brought about such an un-Christian ultimatum in any situation. I am sorry to have lost her friendship but I can't do the impossible.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
IT'S ABOUT TIME
At long last, good news for the country: 17 states have filed suit against BHO for not going by the nation's Constitution and making his own laws. Why did it take so long, when he told us in the beginning that the Constitution was out of date? In just a few days the new Congress will be in session and we anticipate great excitement for the change. It is its job to make our laws and we have a voice in that through those we elect to send there. In the meantime, we can thank Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
At long last, good news for the country: 17 states have filed suit against BHO for not going by the nation's Constitution and making his own laws. Why did it take so long, when he told us in the beginning that the Constitution was out of date? In just a few days the new Congress will be in session and we anticipate great excitement for the change. It is its job to make our laws and we have a voice in that through those we elect to send there. In the meantime, we can thank Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
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