So, last week I was riding the bus. I was reading an e-book. (Have a reader, will eventually remember to talk about that). A gentleman sat down next to me with and sipping from his 24 ounce can of beer. (Side note: How is it that I can't get on with my Starbucks but beer is apparently fine?) So, while this is totally from my memory it works best if we recap in conversational form.
"Hey, what's that?" indicating reader.
"It's an electronic book reader. It lets you read electronic books."
"So, it reads the book for you?"
"No, it just shows you the book."
"Oh. You read a lot don't you? I can just tell."
I nod.
"Yep. You a teacher?"
"No."
"Really? Huh. Have you read that book? That book, oh I can't remember the name of it but it's that one? The one about the guy? It was written by the guy from England."
"Possibly."
"Yeah, possibly. But you know the one I mean, that one, I can't think of the name right now, but it's that one about that guy...You know...The guy who learned magic."
At this point, there are two teens on the other side of me who have been leaning in close because clearly this conversation has potential. One of them suggests, "Harry Potter?"
"Yeah, that's the one. Did you read that?"
"No, I haven't."
"Why not?"
"Just haven't gotten around to it."*
"Really? You know what? You have kids?"
"No."
"Oh. Well, when you have kids, you'll end up reading it to them."
"Maybe."
"Trust me you will."
I give a Hmmm-I-will-keep-further-thoughts-silent nod.
"So, where you from?" He asks, after another sip.
"DC."
"Really? You lived here your whole life?"
"Yep."**
"You never been to New York?"
"I've visited."
"Couldn't hack it?"
"I just didn't want to live there."
"Never been to California?"
"I've visited."
"Couldn't make it out there?"
"I just didn't want to live there."
"Huh. I been all over. I was in the Army. I got my card if you don't believe me."
And this was about the point that the gentleman arrived at his stop. Much to the disappointment of some of my fellow passengers, I am sure.
*For the record, I have nothing against Harry Potter. I has been given to me, I just never got around to reading it. That may or may not change at some point.
**So, I left out college. And suburban Maryland. I wasn't really trying to get into a big discussion. Bigger.
Rants About New (and old) Things
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Books: Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels
I got another Library Thing ARC - Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels by Toni McGee Causey.
It took me a while to catch the rhythm of this story, but it was well worth it. I tend to enjoy madcap adventures and yet be annoyed by those that either require a larger than normal suspension of disbelief or the intervention of too many crazy and annoying relatives to make it work (which in some ways is the same thing). And while I have a bit of a nitpick about part of the mystery, overall this worked and was a great ride and I'm looking forward to the next.
Bobbie Faye, and I imagine many others, appeared in a prior book, which I have not read. I think this book picks up pretty clearly without prior knowledge, but if you want to ba a stickler for order you may wish to start with the prequel. This particular episode has Bobbie Faye, who is fortunately beloved by her town because these adventures have a lot of collateral damage, being tasked by her cousin to assist in locating some diamonds that were apparently wanted by her aunt (the cousin's mom), and are desparately wanted by her uncle (who is also in the mob), some rival terrorist groups, Homeland Security, the FBI and an increasing number of other folks. Adding to the cast, we also have Bobbie Faye's recent ex - a local cop, her current possible love interest who is posing as a mobster, Bobbie Faye's boss who's voodoo spells seem to have interesting results, and various estranged family members. (There's actualy quite a few more characters, you may want to make a list.) So there's searching, voodeo casting, explosions, shootings, a Bible beating and a little lust too. I think this story qualifies as a great pool (or beach or picnic) read. I read it over quite a number of sittings and was able to jump back in easily and enjoyably. And I may have to hunt down the previous one now too.
It took me a while to catch the rhythm of this story, but it was well worth it. I tend to enjoy madcap adventures and yet be annoyed by those that either require a larger than normal suspension of disbelief or the intervention of too many crazy and annoying relatives to make it work (which in some ways is the same thing). And while I have a bit of a nitpick about part of the mystery, overall this worked and was a great ride and I'm looking forward to the next.
Bobbie Faye, and I imagine many others, appeared in a prior book, which I have not read. I think this book picks up pretty clearly without prior knowledge, but if you want to ba a stickler for order you may wish to start with the prequel. This particular episode has Bobbie Faye, who is fortunately beloved by her town because these adventures have a lot of collateral damage, being tasked by her cousin to assist in locating some diamonds that were apparently wanted by her aunt (the cousin's mom), and are desparately wanted by her uncle (who is also in the mob), some rival terrorist groups, Homeland Security, the FBI and an increasing number of other folks. Adding to the cast, we also have Bobbie Faye's recent ex - a local cop, her current possible love interest who is posing as a mobster, Bobbie Faye's boss who's voodoo spells seem to have interesting results, and various estranged family members. (There's actualy quite a few more characters, you may want to make a list.) So there's searching, voodeo casting, explosions, shootings, a Bible beating and a little lust too. I think this story qualifies as a great pool (or beach or picnic) read. I read it over quite a number of sittings and was able to jump back in easily and enjoyably. And I may have to hunt down the previous one now too.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Art!
You may recall a while back Stitch Marker put together this exhibit with meathead hats. Well, she's at it again. Back in February the call went out for dishcloths, knit in a cream or natural cotton, any stitch pattern. And hey, I can do that. So, I sent one off. (If you look at the gallery linked here, I'm 109.) And now they are all packed up. It's such an exciting thing, and I am honored to be involved even in such a tiny way. And I have to say, if you look at that gallery, it's amazing what happens when you tell people make it about yay big and just see what they do.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Seven Things: Fighting Fair
Disclaimer: For the purposes of fun, and so no one out there think I am picking on them or their fight (because I am not) we will imagine that Fluffy and Fido are fighting about whether or not unicorns. I have no official stance on unicorns.
1. Don't call names. We all joke about using I statements and the like (or is that just my friends), but if you call someone names, instead of discussing the issue you have taken it to a new level and bad things will happen.
So, if Fluffy calls Fido a big, stupid, fizzy idiot, it does not help the discussion. Even if (especially if he does it in the middle of a brilliant point.)
2. Just because someone else started name-calling does not make it okay for you to do it too.
So now that Fluffy called Fido a fizzy idiot, it is not okay for her to call Fluffy a stupid dumbhead.
3. Telling someone they must lead a sad life or not get enough sex or [insert unnecessary judgement about their life here] is really the same as name calling.
So, it is not a good idea for Fluffy to respond by saying, "Wow, I'm sorry you are such a lonely person that worrying about unicorns is such a big deal to you." It adds nothing to the discussion.
4. Things that seem funny in your head, or even when you're sitting on a couch with a friend, often do not come across as funny when done in public, be that in person or on the internet. Read carefully.
So, if Fluffy and Fido always call each other idiot and dumbhead but Sparkles overhears and gets upset that they are being mean, things also might escalate unnecessarily.
5. Telling people to calm down rarely works. More often it is seen as patronizing - you telling them that they are taking it too seriously.
So if Fido says, "Geeze, Sparkles, unicorns aren't that big a deal anyway," - again that helps nothing. Most likely it just ticks Sparkles off more.
6. Don't answer or respond just to respond. That almost always lead to saying things you haven't thought through well. (I know, that one's really hard.)
So, if Sparkles says, "Yes they are!" That's not useful. If Sparkles doesn't have anything new to say, it - hard as it is - is better to say nothing.
7. And sometimes, no matter how well you explain your position, people will still disagree with you. It's weird and shocking and strange, yet true. Continuing to explain the same thing with the same exact words, will not change their mind.
So, Fido might have all sorts of evidence gathered and Sparkles might still not believe Fido. Sometimes that's just the way it goes. Trying to change that makes Fido and Sparkles unhappy, and really the longer the discussion goes on, the less likely it is that either Sparkles or Fido will change their mind.
1. Don't call names. We all joke about using I statements and the like (or is that just my friends), but if you call someone names, instead of discussing the issue you have taken it to a new level and bad things will happen.
So, if Fluffy calls Fido a big, stupid, fizzy idiot, it does not help the discussion. Even if (especially if he does it in the middle of a brilliant point.)
2. Just because someone else started name-calling does not make it okay for you to do it too.
So now that Fluffy called Fido a fizzy idiot, it is not okay for her to call Fluffy a stupid dumbhead.
3. Telling someone they must lead a sad life or not get enough sex or [insert unnecessary judgement about their life here] is really the same as name calling.
So, it is not a good idea for Fluffy to respond by saying, "Wow, I'm sorry you are such a lonely person that worrying about unicorns is such a big deal to you." It adds nothing to the discussion.
4. Things that seem funny in your head, or even when you're sitting on a couch with a friend, often do not come across as funny when done in public, be that in person or on the internet. Read carefully.
So, if Fluffy and Fido always call each other idiot and dumbhead but Sparkles overhears and gets upset that they are being mean, things also might escalate unnecessarily.
5. Telling people to calm down rarely works. More often it is seen as patronizing - you telling them that they are taking it too seriously.
So if Fido says, "Geeze, Sparkles, unicorns aren't that big a deal anyway," - again that helps nothing. Most likely it just ticks Sparkles off more.
6. Don't answer or respond just to respond. That almost always lead to saying things you haven't thought through well. (I know, that one's really hard.)
So, if Sparkles says, "Yes they are!" That's not useful. If Sparkles doesn't have anything new to say, it - hard as it is - is better to say nothing.
7. And sometimes, no matter how well you explain your position, people will still disagree with you. It's weird and shocking and strange, yet true. Continuing to explain the same thing with the same exact words, will not change their mind.
So, Fido might have all sorts of evidence gathered and Sparkles might still not believe Fido. Sometimes that's just the way it goes. Trying to change that makes Fido and Sparkles unhappy, and really the longer the discussion goes on, the less likely it is that either Sparkles or Fido will change their mind.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Things People Should Know: Websites
Here's the thing I don't get. If you have a business and you're out there spreading the word, trying to develop a customer base, why have a crappy website. It's almost better to have no website. At the very least have the basics - who, what, where and how to contact you. I had this conversation back in the day with one boss - she had me put our website on business cards prior to a national convention. Here's the thing. I left the company six months later, the website still wasn't up. If you drive people to you and they don't see anything, the chances they will keep obsessively checking are slim. It is very rare that you will do something that no one else on earth does. If you've got me - keep me. Or at least make it worth me bookmarking you.
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