What's the definition of kindling? It's a noun and a verb. Most people immediately think of the noun, a bunch of dried sticks used to start a fire. The verb to kindle could mean to set something ablaze (like a fire), or to make something glow (like eyes), or to arouse something (like hope or passion). In the animal world, a kindling is a litter of rabbits or cats. To kindle is to give birth or produce offspring, especially in terms of lagomorphs. I have my own definition of kindling. It's lying awake until the wee hours of the morning burning out your eyeballs reading from a Kindle device. Like Google, tech noun becomes tech verb.
I got my Kindle for Christmas. At first, it was just a source of frustration. Since I refuse to purchase books when libraries loan them out for free, Amazon wouldn't profit from providing my Kindle. The ladies at the library's adult circulation desk weren't much help in getting me on a borrowing program. They recommended a class in Kindle operation, but I would have to wait for a few weeks. I wanted instant gratification, so I was on my own to figure it out.
That's where "googling" saved the day. If you search "how to borrow library books with Kindle," you will find that Amazon quite generously tells you how to get library books on their device.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000718231
On the Kindle Fire HD, you'll have to install an application called Overdrive, and you'll have to have a valid library card.
http://www.overdrive.com/
http://help.overdrive.com/kindle-apps
E-books are in demand. The library has thousands of them, but there is a waiting list for almost every book. I have holds on a half dozen publications. While waiting, I've grabbed a bunch of books because nobody wants them right now. Here are some mini-reviews:
Little Failure by Gary Shteyngart - Memoir of a Russian Jewish immigrant. Interesting and humorous.
Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northrup - Good to read before seeing the movie. What's that you say? Everybody has seen the movie. Okay, good to read after seeing the movie.
The Telling Room by Michael Paterniti - I lost interest and didn't finish.
The Astonaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel - Really liked it. Didn't know those astronauts, our childhood heroes, were such cads.
Unsinkable by Debbie Reynolds - Debbie Reynolds' memoir since her last memoir, Debbie: My Life. So-so.
Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison - A memoir by an adult with Asperger's syndrome. Very interesting.
The Girl Who Fell to Earth by Sophia Al-Maria - The true story of a bi-cultural woman, half American middle class, half Bedouin. Now that's a strange childhood.
Me Talk Pretty One Day by Davis Sedaris - Just too funny. A collection of short stories. The title refers to Mr. Sedaris' attempts to master French.
So, get yourself a Kindle or a Nook. It will pay for itself in gas saved by not having to drive to your local library. You also won't have any overdue charges since the books disappear the the end of the loan period (14 days). If you read all night and finish a book before it's due, you can return it early with a few taps.
Now you know why Happy in Hainesport has been silent. I've been kindle-ated.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
The Stereo
My mother had an ancient record player that spun 78's. We kids had a suitcase-like affair that played 33's and 45's. Somewhere in the early 1960's we got "the stereo." The stereo played all three record formats, and it had a record changer that allowed us to stack several records on the tall spindle. There was a radio with AM, FM, and a third band that we never used. It was all wrapped up in a dark, glossy walnut cabinet that showed every spec of dust.
The acquisition of such a fine piece of equipment necessitated the purchase of current recordings. That's where budding adolescence butted heads with a frugal father. I wanted Beatle albums at $3.50 a pop, and my father wanted to rummage through 2 and 4 for $1.00 bins at the Pennsauken Mart. If it was recorded in stereo, he bought it. To make matters worse, my uncle worked at RCA in Moorestown. He contributed numerous RCA recordings, performed by unknown artists, to our collection. Dad splurged on a Brenda Lee and a Theresa Brewer record, but I had to content myself with listening to the Beatles on the radio or at a friend's house. Any time I requested a Beatle album, I heard, "The Beatles are a fad. In five years no one will remember them. You'll get their records in the 4 for $1.00 bin. I'll buy you as many Beatle records as you want then."
Well, it's been fifty years, and the two Beatles who are still alive are rocking and rolling. Their records never went into the clearance bin. Today "Meet the Beatles" will cost you $20.00 on ebay.
There's a lot of satisfaction in knowing that when I was an eleven year old, I was smarter than my old man on at least this one subject. And yeah, I rubbed it in a few times over the years that I was never going to get that 25¢ Beatle record.
Listening to my parents' goofy music collection didn't hurt me. Some of those tunes are rattling around in my head to this day. One of those records was called "Comfort Me with Apples" by India Adams. When you see the album cover and listen to the lyrics, you'll probably agree that Beatlemania was tame compared to the sultry Miss Adams.
Listen to the title track: http://www.indiaadams.com/Audio/01%20-%20India%20Adams%20-%20Comfort%20Me%20With%20Apples.mp3
India Adams, like the Beatles, is still around today. She was a ghost singer in the 1950's. When a big star got a role in a musical, ghost singers often performed in their place. Miss Adams was the voice of Cyd Charisse in "Band Wagon" and Joan Crawford in "Torch Song." Her last gig was an autobiographical show in December 2012 at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco, California. But you can't buy a piece of India Adams on ebay. Again, Dad, I rest my case.
The acquisition of such a fine piece of equipment necessitated the purchase of current recordings. That's where budding adolescence butted heads with a frugal father. I wanted Beatle albums at $3.50 a pop, and my father wanted to rummage through 2 and 4 for $1.00 bins at the Pennsauken Mart. If it was recorded in stereo, he bought it. To make matters worse, my uncle worked at RCA in Moorestown. He contributed numerous RCA recordings, performed by unknown artists, to our collection. Dad splurged on a Brenda Lee and a Theresa Brewer record, but I had to content myself with listening to the Beatles on the radio or at a friend's house. Any time I requested a Beatle album, I heard, "The Beatles are a fad. In five years no one will remember them. You'll get their records in the 4 for $1.00 bin. I'll buy you as many Beatle records as you want then."
Well, it's been fifty years, and the two Beatles who are still alive are rocking and rolling. Their records never went into the clearance bin. Today "Meet the Beatles" will cost you $20.00 on ebay.
There's a lot of satisfaction in knowing that when I was an eleven year old, I was smarter than my old man on at least this one subject. And yeah, I rubbed it in a few times over the years that I was never going to get that 25¢ Beatle record.
Listening to my parents' goofy music collection didn't hurt me. Some of those tunes are rattling around in my head to this day. One of those records was called "Comfort Me with Apples" by India Adams. When you see the album cover and listen to the lyrics, you'll probably agree that Beatlemania was tame compared to the sultry Miss Adams.
Listen to the title track: http://www.indiaadams.com/Audio/01%20-%20India%20Adams%20-%20Comfort%20Me%20With%20Apples.mp3
India Adams, like the Beatles, is still around today. She was a ghost singer in the 1950's. When a big star got a role in a musical, ghost singers often performed in their place. Miss Adams was the voice of Cyd Charisse in "Band Wagon" and Joan Crawford in "Torch Song." Her last gig was an autobiographical show in December 2012 at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco, California. But you can't buy a piece of India Adams on ebay. Again, Dad, I rest my case.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Dylan Thomas and Slipping Wine Bottles
The Super Bowl party was fun until my aged fingers lost their grip on one of those heavy super-sized bottles of wine. Glass, plus ceramic tile floors, plus 1.5 liters of red liquid spreading down grout lines and under cabinets kept me in the kitchen for most of the game. The good thing about sopping up wine is that it doesn't take a lot of brain power. Maybe fumes from bleaching grout inspire creativity. Here's the result of that seed planted during the clean up.
I can't go gentle into that dark night,
Old eyes that burn and blur at close of day;
Rage, rage against the halos 'round the lights.
It's not just eyes, but hands that have grown slight;
Those lids won't spin, those caps contain no play.
No driving, no gripping, that seems to be my plight,
Then curse the teeth that break when e'er they bite!
Tilted back, drooling like a Bouvier,
I rage against the dentist's shining light.
Did I shrink, or did shelves ascend in height?
Step stool's needed for shopping put away,
Climb gentle, have a spotter who holds tight,
Or risk a broken hip on taking flight.
The eyes, the hands, and bladder disobey,
Rage, rage against the limits and take spite.
Before I make my exit down stage right,
Before I drink Ensure® and eat puree,
Before my God puts out the pilot light,
I'll get Crizal® and drive into that night.
I can't go gentle into that dark night,
Old eyes that burn and blur at close of day;
Rage, rage against the halos 'round the lights.
It's not just eyes, but hands that have grown slight;
Those lids won't spin, those caps contain no play.
No driving, no gripping, that seems to be my plight,
Then curse the teeth that break when e'er they bite!
Tilted back, drooling like a Bouvier,
I rage against the dentist's shining light.
Did I shrink, or did shelves ascend in height?
Step stool's needed for shopping put away,
Climb gentle, have a spotter who holds tight,
Or risk a broken hip on taking flight.
The eyes, the hands, and bladder disobey,
Rage, rage against the limits and take spite.
Before I make my exit down stage right,
Before I drink Ensure® and eat puree,
Before my God puts out the pilot light,
I'll get Crizal® and drive into that night.
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