"Le buveur d'encre". Literally: "Ink-Drinker". Idiomatically: "Bookworm".
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Monday, June 29, 2020
Book Excerpt for the Day
Bester
sat and scribbled away at the back of the room, while I tried to keep in mind
simultaneously 39 kids, lesson-plan, room passes, boardwork, Frost,
troublemakers, scraps of paper on the floor, correcting their English, and
enlarging the scope of the lesson to include moral and ethical concepts.
I
didn’t have time to cover half of the things in my Plan Book, and I forgot
Summary and Windows, but I did ask “pivotal questions,” linking the poem to
their own experiences. Bester says I’m a
born teacher! Congratulate me!
(from Up The Down
Staircase by Bel Kaufman)
.
Sunday, June 28, 2020
Saturday, June 27, 2020
Friday, June 26, 2020
Boggle Tip
The words I've gained the most points with in Boggle is "lea" (and its plural "leas"). The letters are so common that it's in almost every rack. Just write 'em down and garner the points.
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Book Excerpt for the Day
“Before
I left England, my father received a letter from Grandda telling him not to
worry, for my grandfather was making a vow to find me a husband. You, sir, seem to be the candidate for
groom.”
Matthew smiled broadly at the nonsense of that last sentence, but when
Berry’s face remained steadfastly serious he felt his smile collapse. “That’s ridiculous!”
“I’m glad we’re of a single mind on the subject.”
“I
don’t plan on being married to anyone,
anytime soon.”
“And before I marry I plan on making a living from my art.”
An impoverished spinster for life,
Matthew thought.
(from The Queen of
Bedlam by Robert McCammon)
.
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Music Tuesday
The Billboard piece of trivia is in fact, true. DSotM had amazing longevity on their "Top 200" chart. Surprisingly, this is not my favorite Pink Floyd album. Probably not even in the Top Three.
Monday, June 22, 2020
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Friday, June 19, 2020
Book Excerpt for the Day
Nowhere
is the white standard-setting more outrageous than when it comes to history. When the topic is about anybody other than
white folks, it has to be labeled: Black, Latino, Native American, etc.; but
white folks have been allowed to own “history”.
As this planet’s original people, there is no history without us. Further, even when we moved outside of
Africa, from ancient Greece and Rome to the Russian Empire to the start of the
American Revolution to today, black folks have touched all of humanity’s most
significant events. Neither the world
nor America would be what they are today without the contributions of people of
African Ancestry; let us be clear once and for all that black history is
“history”.
(from Defining
Moments in (Black) History by Dick Gregory)
.
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
The Joys of Teaching
Just cuz I'm reading a book that takes a (light-hearted) look at the joys of teaching nigh school.
Monday, June 15, 2020
Book Excerpt for the Day
“Since
when do you open your own front door?”
“It is a luxury to feel so secure that I don’t need armed men to welcome
old friends.”
“You’re taking a damned fool chance,” said Janson.
“A
luxury by definition is an indulgence.”
“You’ll get yourself killed. Or
snatched.”
“There are four concealed cameras over the alley.”
“I
saw them. And the gas port. It would not be easy to take you, but not
impossible.”
“Will I get a bill for security advice?”
(from The Janson
Command by Paul Garrison)
.
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Saturday, June 13, 2020
Friday, June 12, 2020
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Book Excerpt for the Day
“We
need something with which to protect ourselves, too,” Arturo mentioned. “They have sharp teeth, and claws.”
“I’m hungry,” Robert whined, rubbing his sizable stomach. He caught a few glances and grimaced. “What?
It’s a valid concern.”
“He’s right,” Joe remarked. “This
probably isn’t gonna clear up in an afternoon, and we’ll need food. It’s like ‘Nam all over again. We need weapons, we need protection, and we
need food. We should split up.”
“Then I need more booze, too. I’m
not gonna do this sober.”
(from The Missing
Link by Brandon Meyers and Bryan Pedas)
5*/10. The
complete review is here.
.
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Tuesday, June 09, 2020
The Golden Compass
Today only, for just $1.99 you can read The Golden Compass, Book 1 of Philip Pullman's fantastic His Dark Materials trilogy on your Kindle.
Monday, June 08, 2020
Sunday, June 07, 2020
Art Appreciation Sunday
My great-great-great-great grandfather. This explains so much about my freaking hair.
Saturday, June 06, 2020
Book Excerpt for the Day
“I
can’t forgive him for what he did to those poor prisoners of ours, of course,
but I suppose some capricious cruelty is probably necessary in a ruler. All in all, I think, and judging him by the
standards of our own monarchy, we should have to give the Tippoo fairly high
marks.”
“So why the hell are we fighting him, sir?”
McCandless
smiled. “Because we want to be here, and
he doesn’t want us to be here. Two dogs
in a small cage, Sharpe.”
(from Sharpe’s
Tiger by Bernard Cornwell)
.
Friday, June 05, 2020
RIP Jorge Santana
Jorge Santana was the equally-talented younger brother of Carlos Santana, and Malo was his short-lived band who put out Santana-esque music that for some reason never sold well. I for one thought they were woefully underappreciated. RIP, good sir!
Thursday, June 04, 2020
Wednesday, June 03, 2020
Tuesday, June 02, 2020
Book Excerpt for the Day
“Can
you lift this, or should I work a pulley?”
“I
think I can get it, but be ready to spot me so I don’t drop it.”
“There isn’t enough room in here for me to jump in and catch squat. I’ll be right behind you watching it fall.”
“Have I mentioned what a treat it is to work with you, Lyons?”
“Hasn’t come up,” she answered.
“Imagine that.”
(from The Years
Ran Like Rabbits by Anna Taylor)
.
Monday, June 01, 2020
To Reread or not To Reread
I've reread Brave New World, Waiting For Godot, and Slaughterhouse Five. That's about it. Why read something a second time when there are zillions of interesting books out there that you haven't touched yet?
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