Good Morning and welcome back to the 'Net!
I picked up a Kindle about two years ago. I was heading on a trip and thought it would be better than taking along a couple of books.
In those two years, I've probably read more than I ever have in my life.
I enjoy reading all kinds of different books. When they are well-written, they truly do take you to different places. I'm of the idea now I'd rather read a book than see a movie.
Unfortunately, I don't know if reading is coming across to the next generation.
Most of the time, teachers tell students to read 20 minutes a night at home. I found out a couple of years ago, they can't actually assign that as homework (it would take time away from actual homework, I guess, was the reason), so they "recommend" reading.
For some (and a couple I know in my house), that means they can't be forced to read.
I don't get it. Using the Kindle or the Nook (I have both) makes it so easy to go from page-to-page.
I understand there's now beeps and whistles, but there can be so much more.
I guess it's a battle I won't give up.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Monday, July 28, 2014
To read or not to read
Good Morning and how about them Phillies!?!?!
One of my favorite parts of the summer is to fill my glass, grab the radio, my Kindle and head out back in the fading sunlight.
OK, I could put book in there instead of Kindle, but that's what I read these days.
I download books from the library. Then I dive right in.
I've been reading at a pretty good clip. If it's interesting enough, I'll finish the book in a couple of days. Then I'll get another.
Well, in trying to get the group to enjoy the reading time, I suggested turning off the games and coming outside to read.
"Reading is boring," came the retort as the keys kept clicking.
OK, I said, How about just coming outside to watch the birds.
"Birds are boring." Click, clack, click, clack.
Well, how about if I just take the computer away for a few days.
"You're mean!"
I get it. When I was that age, I didn't read as much as I probably should have. Reading was like work. We were told to do it in school. Free time? Forget about it.
Now, of course, I know better. I'll keep trying.
In the meantime, let me finish this chapter.
One of my favorite parts of the summer is to fill my glass, grab the radio, my Kindle and head out back in the fading sunlight.
OK, I could put book in there instead of Kindle, but that's what I read these days.
I download books from the library. Then I dive right in.
I've been reading at a pretty good clip. If it's interesting enough, I'll finish the book in a couple of days. Then I'll get another.
Well, in trying to get the group to enjoy the reading time, I suggested turning off the games and coming outside to read.
"Reading is boring," came the retort as the keys kept clicking.
OK, I said, How about just coming outside to watch the birds.
"Birds are boring." Click, clack, click, clack.
Well, how about if I just take the computer away for a few days.
"You're mean!"
I get it. When I was that age, I didn't read as much as I probably should have. Reading was like work. We were told to do it in school. Free time? Forget about it.
Now, of course, I know better. I'll keep trying.
In the meantime, let me finish this chapter.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Where do all the hippies meet?
Good Morning and I feel like throwing a party when that last snowflake melts!
Sitting inside Saturday was not going to be an option. It was too nice outside.
The problem was, with all the snow melting, there was a lot of mud. The last thing anybody wants is mud tracking through the living room.
So, after prying everybody off the computer, phone and video games, it seemed like a perfect day to take a stroll down South Street.
Of course, the idea struck thousands of others, but that's OK. Sometimes, it's nice to be out in the crowds.
When the children were small, we used to take that walk once in a while. Maybe stop for an ice cream or check out the book stores. That was years ago (I'd guess about 8), so it was really all new to them.
We found parking around 12th Street and started walking toward Penn's Landing. We stopped in stores (no, not THOSE stores) and took in the air (maybe not fresh, but that's OK).
When we got done I heard from the back, "Dad? Thanks for taking us."
Sitting inside Saturday was not going to be an option. It was too nice outside.
The problem was, with all the snow melting, there was a lot of mud. The last thing anybody wants is mud tracking through the living room.
So, after prying everybody off the computer, phone and video games, it seemed like a perfect day to take a stroll down South Street.
Of course, the idea struck thousands of others, but that's OK. Sometimes, it's nice to be out in the crowds.
When the children were small, we used to take that walk once in a while. Maybe stop for an ice cream or check out the book stores. That was years ago (I'd guess about 8), so it was really all new to them.
We found parking around 12th Street and started walking toward Penn's Landing. We stopped in stores (no, not THOSE stores) and took in the air (maybe not fresh, but that's OK).
When we got done I heard from the back, "Dad? Thanks for taking us."
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
You want an actual book?
Good Morning and, come on, who's really loving this humidity?
About a year ago, I purchased a Kindle. It's not one of those fancy ones with games and videos and more games. It's just a basic Kindle.
I found out I could 'rent' books through the library web site. Since I never remembered to bring books back to the library on time (I seriously had a $10 fine once) this was a great solution.
I've probably read more books in the last year than I had in the previous decade, so the Kindle has proved to be a wise investment.
Of course, when I first got it, the group at home was enamored with it. They all wanted to read books on the Kindle. It got to the point where I had schedule times each could use it. Once again, not a bad thing. They were reading, but it felt somehow different.
For Christmas, somebody was getting rid of a basic Nook for cheap. OK, I thought, perfect. I can keep my Kindle and they could use the Nook.
Worked great. We were reading. We were talking about the stories.
So, of course, I figured it would be easy to get through the school's summer reading lists.
"Hey guys," I said, "I downloaded some of your summer reading on the Nook."
"I want a real book or I'm not reading," said the 8-year old.
"I thought you liked reading on the touch screen."
"It's not the same," she said. "I want a real book or I'm not reading."
I thought those days were gone.
About a year ago, I purchased a Kindle. It's not one of those fancy ones with games and videos and more games. It's just a basic Kindle.
I found out I could 'rent' books through the library web site. Since I never remembered to bring books back to the library on time (I seriously had a $10 fine once) this was a great solution.
I've probably read more books in the last year than I had in the previous decade, so the Kindle has proved to be a wise investment.
Of course, when I first got it, the group at home was enamored with it. They all wanted to read books on the Kindle. It got to the point where I had schedule times each could use it. Once again, not a bad thing. They were reading, but it felt somehow different.
For Christmas, somebody was getting rid of a basic Nook for cheap. OK, I thought, perfect. I can keep my Kindle and they could use the Nook.
Worked great. We were reading. We were talking about the stories.
So, of course, I figured it would be easy to get through the school's summer reading lists.
"Hey guys," I said, "I downloaded some of your summer reading on the Nook."
"I want a real book or I'm not reading," said the 8-year old.
"I thought you liked reading on the touch screen."
"It's not the same," she said. "I want a real book or I'm not reading."
I thought those days were gone.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Rise and Shine --- Thanks for the library
Good Morning and welcome to a nicer (temperature-wise) day!
Once again, the state budget is coming down to the deadline. There will be cuts as each side of the aisle tries to push its agenda. Like last year, it looks like the our state reps won't get the budget done on time and services will start to fall off.
One of those services will probably the local library. They already lost funding after last year's budget fiasco and will probably be cut again.
It's a shame.
Yeah, I know we are getting all digital and everything, but there is something special about a library. The thousands of books on the shelves offer different worlds, different writing, different lives.
It's easy to escape into a television world. It takes effort to fall into a book.
During the summer, the library is even more important.
Just this week, one of the boys is taking part in the 'Science in the Summer' program. He's learning about chemistry.
At first, it was a fight. "I don't want to go." "I want to watch TV." "I hate the library."
After the first class Monday came this: "Wow. That was a lot of fun."
To lose these types of programs would be a shame and short-sighted.
Sure, it might make the budget look better this year, but we would miss it in the end.
Once again, the state budget is coming down to the deadline. There will be cuts as each side of the aisle tries to push its agenda. Like last year, it looks like the our state reps won't get the budget done on time and services will start to fall off.
One of those services will probably the local library. They already lost funding after last year's budget fiasco and will probably be cut again.
It's a shame.
Yeah, I know we are getting all digital and everything, but there is something special about a library. The thousands of books on the shelves offer different worlds, different writing, different lives.
It's easy to escape into a television world. It takes effort to fall into a book.
During the summer, the library is even more important.
Just this week, one of the boys is taking part in the 'Science in the Summer' program. He's learning about chemistry.
At first, it was a fight. "I don't want to go." "I want to watch TV." "I hate the library."
After the first class Monday came this: "Wow. That was a lot of fun."
To lose these types of programs would be a shame and short-sighted.
Sure, it might make the budget look better this year, but we would miss it in the end.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Rise and Shine --- What's in a book?
Good Morning and welcome to the election hangover day!
Yesterday's primary election day was a little bit different than the one last November. There were no lines yesterday. There were no FOX reports of fights. There was very little rhetoric. Of course, there were very few voters as well. Hey, at least the poll workers could get caught up on some reading.
Being a day late and a dollar short, here's a list of some light election reading to get you ready for the next one (don't worry what the book is actually about, just go by the titles):
ANGELS AND DEMONS: The Dan Brown bestseller (now another movie) would fit right in on election days. Just who are the Angels and Demons now that George Bush isn't around any more.
DEAD AND GONE, by Charlaine Harris: Speaking of George Bush...
LIBERTY AND TYRANNY, by Mark R. Levin: Once again, see above.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith: What better way can you say 'Beach Book.'
ODD HOURS, by Dean Koontz: Welcome to my world.
THE G-FREE DIET, by Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Well, it now appears anybody can get a book deal.
On that note, get ready to pick up these soon-to-be bestsellers (or just download them to your iPhone):
'Running in Sand' by Pat Burrell
'How to Clean Needles' by Roger Clemens (forward by Alex Rodriguez)
'Unlistenable Music' by Steve Perry
'How to Pull the Wool over America's Eyes' by Sean Hannity
Then again, this might have been the beginning of the end for reading:
If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com
Yesterday's primary election day was a little bit different than the one last November. There were no lines yesterday. There were no FOX reports of fights. There was very little rhetoric. Of course, there were very few voters as well. Hey, at least the poll workers could get caught up on some reading.
Being a day late and a dollar short, here's a list of some light election reading to get you ready for the next one (don't worry what the book is actually about, just go by the titles):
ANGELS AND DEMONS: The Dan Brown bestseller (now another movie) would fit right in on election days. Just who are the Angels and Demons now that George Bush isn't around any more.
DEAD AND GONE, by Charlaine Harris: Speaking of George Bush...
LIBERTY AND TYRANNY, by Mark R. Levin: Once again, see above.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith: What better way can you say 'Beach Book.'
ODD HOURS, by Dean Koontz: Welcome to my world.
THE G-FREE DIET, by Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Well, it now appears anybody can get a book deal.
On that note, get ready to pick up these soon-to-be bestsellers (or just download them to your iPhone):
'Running in Sand' by Pat Burrell
'How to Clean Needles' by Roger Clemens (forward by Alex Rodriguez)
'Unlistenable Music' by Steve Perry
'How to Pull the Wool over America's Eyes' by Sean Hannity
Then again, this might have been the beginning of the end for reading:
If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Rise and Shine --- 100 things to do
Good Morning and welcome back to the mist!
We've had 100 places to see before you die, 100 songs to hear before you die and 100 books to read before you die.
Now, since we never have enough lists, there is 100 moves to see before you die.
Now, I'm sure they are all good movies and such, but, really, I've never understood how you can rank movies. Much like art, movies are in the eye of the beholder.
You can tell good writing when you read it (like you get here every day), you can tell good music when you hear it and it's always cool to travel.
Movies, though, are different. Somebody might like 'The Red Balloon' (not on the list), while somebody else might like 'Point Break' (also not on the list).
What's the point? Well, sometimes it's better to have no point.
Just enjoy (this is from the list):
If you have any cool links or photos, onlinedelco@gmail.com
We've had 100 places to see before you die, 100 songs to hear before you die and 100 books to read before you die.
Now, since we never have enough lists, there is 100 moves to see before you die.
Now, I'm sure they are all good movies and such, but, really, I've never understood how you can rank movies. Much like art, movies are in the eye of the beholder.
You can tell good writing when you read it (like you get here every day), you can tell good music when you hear it and it's always cool to travel.
Movies, though, are different. Somebody might like 'The Red Balloon' (not on the list), while somebody else might like 'Point Break' (also not on the list).
What's the point? Well, sometimes it's better to have no point.
Just enjoy (this is from the list):
If you have any cool links or photos, onlinedelco@gmail.com
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