10 1/2 INCLINATIONS

Ben Okri

When I attended the American Association of School Libraries Conference in 2006, I heard Dr. Ross Todd, an amazingly inspirational visionary in the field of school librarianship. He is Associate Professor at Rutgers University School of Communication, Information & Library Studies, Department of Library & Information Science. He is also the Director of CISSL
(Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries).

Dr. Todd emphasized that READING not become a lost art – today we find ourselves in a sort of CATCH 22 situation when it comes to reading. Librarians have always been strong proponents for reading, but now their jobs also require them to be leaders in technology. Reading has been victimized by the digital information explosion. We need to re-think and create reading incentives that incorporate technology. . . . and to get kids to read, we need to address the reasons why they don’t.

Several years ago I read a marvelous article where the British Royal Society of Literature asked authors to nominate 10 books they think children should read before they leave school. This was part of a quest to develop a universal list. Most named well known classics like Alice in Wonderland, Dr. Seuss, Catcher in the Rye, something by Shakespeare, or The Hobbit.

But, in my opinion, African poet and novelist Ben Okri came up with the best reading list which he titled 10 1/2 Inclinations.

1. There is a secret trail of books meant to inspire and enlighten you. Find that trail.

2. Read outside your own nation, color, class, gender.

3. Read the books your parents hate.

4. Read the books your parents love.

5. Have one or two authors that are important, that speak to you; and make their works your secret passion.

6. Read widely, for fun, stimulation, escape.

7. Don’t read what everyone else is reading. Check them out later, cautiously.

8. Read what you’re not supposed to read.

9. Read for your own liberation and mental freedom.

10. Books are like mirrors. Don’t just read the words. Go into the mirror. That is where the real secrets are. Inside. Behind. That’s where the gods dream, where our realities are born.
10½. Read the world. It is the most mysterious book of all.

CHANGING THE LOOK

I've been fooling around with changes recently.

I've had wall paper removed in my family room and foyer. The walls now have a fresh coat of paint. It's exciting to see the difference. Next are new draperies which are being made by a neighbor of a good friend. As I am restoring order to the rooms, I am making changes. Throwing away some things, giving away others, and rearranging shelves and wall hangings.

I've also been changing my photographs in Photo Shop which is a software program that allows the photographer to manipulate the photographs in a myriad of ways. I am so eager to learn how to make this software work for me, I ordered the book Photo Shop for Dummies.

And now I have a new look for my blog as well.

The photograph is of our cat Kristie who is 18 years old.

LIQUIFY

I have been fooling around with Adobe Photo Shop in an attempt to learn the many features it offers for manipulating photographs. Last evening I took one of my flower photos and discovered the liquify option and had alot of fun playing with it. Made me feel like a painter! Would love your observations and comments.

LOOKING AT A ROPE

Several months ago I saw a little item in a magazine -- FOUR WAYS OF LOOKING AT A ROPE. The blurb listed these four ways:
1. as a marriage symbol
2. as homage
3. as cow control
4. as rodeo routine

Here are a few that came to my mind.
5. as a way to hoist and dry clothes
6. as a restraint
7. for rescue purposes
8. as a swing

Now, what can YOU add to the list?

IS #13 UNLUCKY?

Yesterday was Friday the 13th. I got through the day without hitch. Actually, it turned out to be a very positive day -- several good things happened! How was YOUR Friday the 13th?

TEN REASONS WHY THE NUMBER 13 IS UNLUCKY

by Stacy Conradt - November 13, 2009

Mental Floss Magazine Blog

It’s Friday the 13th again! Anyone see any black cats? Walk under any ladders? I don’t really subscribe to the theory that Friday the 13th is unluckier than any other day, but superstitious people may have good reason to stay in bed on days like today. Here are 10 reasons the number 13 is unlucky.

1. There were 13 people at the Last Supper. It’s said that Judas Iscariot – the one who betrayed Jesus – was the 13th man to take his place at the table.

2. Similarly, there’s a Norse legend that has 12 gods sitting down to a banquet when the 13th (uninvited) god, Loki, showed up. Loki killed one of the other gods, which led to events that eventually resulted in Ragnarök – the death of a bunch of gods, a slew of natural disasters, and the eradication of everything on earth save for two human survivors. There’s a lot more to the story than that, but you get the general idea.

3. Traditionally there used to be 13 steps leading up the gallows. There’s also a legend that a hangman’s noose traditionally contained 13 turns, but it’s actually more like eight.

4. Apollo 13 is the only unsuccessful moon mission (intended to get men on the moon, anyway) thus far. An oxygen tank exploded and the survival of the astronauts on board was pretty touch-and-go for several days, but they did all come home safely in the end (but you already knew that).

5. There was a mass arrest and execution of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307.

6. According to Mr. Krabs on Spongebob Squarepants, there are 13 dirty words. Squidward must be a George Carlin fan, because he responded with “I thought there were only seven?” “Not if you’re a sailor,” Mr. Krabs replied.

7. Although a “coven” is now just considered to be a group of witches (or vampires, if you’re into a certain young adult series about vampires), it was once believed that a coven was made up of exactly 13 members.

8. There’s an old superstition that says if you have 13 letters in your name, you’re bound to have the “devil’s luck.” Silly, yes, but slightly more convincing when you consider that Charles Manson, Jack the Ripper, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all contain 13 letters (I know, I know, what about their middle names?).

9. Kids officially become teenagers at the age of 13, and we all know that’s a scary phase.

10. In numerology, the number 12 is considered to be the representation of perfection and completion. So it stands to reason that trying to improve upon perfection by adding one is a very bad idea indeed – your greed will be rewarded with bad luck.

And here’s a bonus fact for you today. In the late 1800s existed a group called The Thirteen Club. Their purpose was to debunk the legend that 13 people at a table would result in the death of one of them within a year. They met on the 13th of the month and had dinner 13 people to a table, and to make matters worse, they purposely spilled salt on the table without throwing it over their shoulders. The horror! They also fined members who showed up late – 13 cents, of course. Members of the 13 Club included five U.S. presidents – Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt and Chester A. Arthur. I’m not sure if it’s worth noting that two of these presidents were shot – one fatally, of course – but I’ll mention it anyway. And, if you’re keeping track, Chester A. Arthur only became president because he was vice when Garfield was assassinated.

LATIN PHRASES -- part 5

I didn't realize the wide variety of colors and texture in pumpkins until I stopped at the Eastburn Farm to look at their display. I think this is a white pumpkin, but it was actually more grey. Price: $65.00!

The final two Latin phrases:
9. Memento Mori(meh-MEN-toh MOR-ee): “Remember, you must die”
Carpe diem is so 20th century. If you’re going to suck the marrow out of life, trying doing it with the honest, irrefutable, and no less inspiring memento mori. You can interpret the phrase in two ways: Eat, drink, and party down. Or, less hedonistically, be good so you can get past the pearly gates. Naturally, the latter was the one preferred by the early Christian Church, which would use macabre art—including dancing skeletons and snuffed-out candles—to remind the faithful to forgo temporal pleasures in favor of eternal bliss in heaven. The phrase also served to prevent swelling heads. Some historians say that victorious, parading Roman generals would have servants stand behind them and whisper “memento mori” in their ears to keep their egos in check.

10. Sui Generis(SOO-ee JEN-er-is): “Of its own genus,” or “Unique and unable to classify”
Frank Zappa, the VW Beetle, cheese in a can: Sui generis refers to something that’s so new, so bizarre, or so rare that it defies categorization. Granted, labeling something “sui generis” is really just classifying the unclassifiable. But let’s not over-think it. Use it at a dinner party to describe Andy Kaufman, and you impress your friends. Use it too often, and you just sound pretentious.

LATIN PHRASES -- part 4

Winter cabbage -- I loved the color and curly leaves.

On with the Latin phrases!
7. Ad Hominem(ad HAH-mi-nem): “To attack the man”
In the world of public discourse, ad hominem is a means of attacking one’s rhetorical opponent by questioning his or her reputation or expertise rather than sticking to the issue at hand. Translation: Politicians are really good at it. People who resort to ad hominem techniques are usually derided as having a diluted argument or lack of discipline. If pressed, they’ll brandish it like a saber and refuse to get back to the heart of the matter. Who said the debate team doesn’t have sex appeal?

8. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam(ad-MA-yor-em DAY-ee GLOR-ee-um): “All for the Greater Glory of God”
Ad majorem dei gloriam is often shortened to AMDG. In other words, it’s the WWJD of the Jesuits, who’ve been drilling the mantra into their followers since (Saint) Ignatius of Loyola founded the Catholic Order in 1534. They believe all actions, big or small, should be done with AMDG in mind. Remind your Jesuit-educated buddies of this when they seem to be straying from the path. (Best used with a wink and a hint of irony.)