"Leave History to the Old Guys"

I fell in love with that headline to a mini-essay even though it was on the Frum Forum. And its worth a read to. It's certainly a sentiment I like, now that I have passed into my sixties and am struggling to get out another book. Heck, I'm struggling this weekend to get out a 30 page article.

This time though I won't blame it on Mora, the alluring but evil spirit of procrastination: I've been sick. Hard to think when you have fever and chills.

But I'm on the mend. In the meantime, read the little essay I linked to. I checked the second book mentioned, Reflections on a Ravaged Century, turned it back to the wrong library, and neither I nor the library has been able to find it.

in other words, I owe Wilkes Co. $60. I think that is now 1% of their total budget thanks to our local politicos.

Pick up the book and READ!

So the little kids outside the garden where a perplexed Augustine of Hippo was dithering are supposed to have chanted. In light of our last post and ensuing comments, it sounds like sound advice. The Old Man sent me this little news item from "Mom's Homeroom" that makes clear why:

In a paper called "What Reading Does for the Mind," Anne E. Cunningham, associate professor of cognition and development at the University of California, Berkeley, makes the case that reading:
-increases vocabulary more than talking or direct teaching
- substantially boosts general knowledge while decreasing the likelihood that misinformation will be absorbed; and
- helps keep our memory and reasoning abilities intact as we age.

Thus J.K. Rawlings saves Western Civilization! You hear that Máeráed? Mr Miggs? Read.

and remember, this isn't just any old article - it's a paper. Written by an associate professor! From Berkeley!

Odd. Suddenly I have the strangest craving to start reading Wuthering Heights.

Kiddy Lit

Nicholas Kristof has a good column in today's NYTimes on 'The Best Kids' Books Ever.' Yes, it includes the Harry Potter books, but also some other unexpected ones. Freddy the Pig makes the list. Take a look.

Does anyone out there have any suggestions? Carmen?

Overdue library books?

Are you one of those people who check books out and keep them... forever. Yeah, me too, but I have a contact on the inside of the local library who takes care of my fines if you know what I mean. And a good thing too. Librarians are getting a little hard nosed out there.