The White Queen - Philippa Gregory

I fell in love with Philippa Gregory after reading "The Other Boleyn Sister"  and was also inspired to learn more about the royalty that inspired her tales.  I ended up reading all of her books (that were available at the time) very quickly. 

 I will admit to being a tad bit obsessed.   

This book is about Queen Katherine, who eventually becomes grandmother to Henry the 8th. It is somewhat hard to follow at the beginning because many characters have the same names and there are so many connections to names that pop up eventually in Tudor's era books.  I love the addition of witch craft in this book and it is clear that Gregory studied quite a bit on this topic and I hope Gregory follows up with a story about her daughter who eventually is Henry's mother.

I am not sure if my obsession is possibly weaning, or I am just a different person... but this book was good, but not my favorite.  Lately when I read, I feel a bit let down by how books end.  This one is no different, though because it is a based on a "true" story, it is obviously hard to make the ending extremely exciting.  I won't say what happens but I like why Gregory chose to have the ending she did ( I read this in the interview with her at the end of the book.)  All in all I would recommend this book for a weekend away or a beach read.  Philippa does a great job of conveying what women may have felt and connecting it in a way that modern day women understand and relate to.  I think she also gives these powerless women power.  I had never heard of the two princes under the stairs - but well definitely learn more.  It is a very intriguing story.

"Mom, Why is the Sky Blue?"

I was asked to read the article "Click" by Bill Tancer for an Information Science class I am taking.

Here is a link to his website: http://www.billtancer.com/ (which I think is actually pretty poorly designed- it reminds me of something that pops up by accident off another website, but I digress...)

This article discusses a few different items, from the idea that the internet allows for a better way to study human behavior because it allows people a place to be open and honest about things they are feeling. Tancer's example for this is the difference in what the top fears are that come up when fear is Googled on the internet, versus the top fears psychologists have listed. Tancer believes this difference has to do with the freedom (and possible anonymity) people feel when using the internet, versus talking to someone- even a counselor- in person.

My favorite part of the article is when Tancer discusses the amount of "How to's..." that are looked up on the internet and this got me to thinking about when I was a kid. I remember asking my parents' questions all the time and them not having answers. I have also begun to wonder if some of the answers they did tell me were something they came up with just to get me to stop asking. :)

Now that I am a mom - and I have a child that likes to ask questions- I have noticed that the internet is an amazing tool. I am able to answer my son’s questions honestly and with accuracy. When he asks a science question while hiking- we can run home and sees right away what the answer is. I can't tell you how cool that is. I have pondered if this instant gratification will rob from my son the feeling I used to get from looking at encyclopedias (yes, I was and continue to be a total nerd) and finding the answer to a question. But, then I also think about the questions I never had answered; the ones I forgot to ever look up... and I wonder what could have been? If I had looked up questions about plants, could that one thing have spurred me to become a botanist? Or, a question about dolphins, would I have become a marine biologist?

My son will never have to worry about this.

Every question he wants to know an answer to, he will find an answer within seconds. When he was really little, we used to have to write down the question and wait until we got home... but now, I can even look the answer up instantly on my phone. No more wondering if the plant we just walked through was poison ivy... Not that that has ever happened... :o

Video for my class

The things people are saying about this boy makes me very sad.

Response to videos- I wish I didn't have to put a link to this as I do not want this "elitist" to gain popularity in Google.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neTLGwyF5oQ

The Cult of the Amateur" by Andrew Keen.




Let me first start off by saying I did not read this book. Let me then say, I will not read this book. After watching this douchenoggle elitist speak for five minutes, I had enough. I wanted to turn him off after the first minute, but since this was for an assignment, I chose to be strong. Keen's use of the word "monkey" to describe people he does not feel are as smart as "professional" news people and musicians is embarrassing, and in some circles would also be seen as racist. I used to work in radio and I hate to break it to Keen, but the only thing that sets the professionals apart from the amateurs is having a big name company behind you. For example, FOX, Comcast, Clear Channel... AND I hate to break it to Keen but these companies have a slant, which means their news people have a slant. There are numerous times that my radio station did not play a story or underplayed a story because it was about one of our big sponsors. An amateur has nothing to lose sponsorship wise and because of this, can tell people the truth, even if it is just their opinion.

I will give to Keen that there is no editor on the internet so people can say whatever they want, but in all reality hasn't that always existed? Look at the quote Marie Antoinette supposedly said "Let them Eat Cake." She never said that, yet it traveled around France and has gone down in history because of a cartoon made of her. There was no internet at her time, in fact I would even venture to guess many people could not even read- yet ideas like this brought down the monarchy...

In addition, I find it hilarious that when Keen is asked by the news journalist for some data to support his ideas- he doesn't actually say anything of substance. Instead he basically just rambles on about the idea of his book. It almost makes me wonder if he is just writing this book for shock factor, not unlike the reality shows and amateur blogs he is putting down. There is nothing like controversy to help sell books (even those written by a "professional" with a Masters degree from Berkeley.) As an avid reader, I would also like to point out books written by slaves, refugees, and others who have no formal education, but have very interesting and important stories to tell. Blogging technology gives ability to people with interesting stories (like the stripper above!) to share them and obviously people are interested.

Candy Girl by Diablo Cody

I find it ironic that I begin this blog with a book that I have wanted to read, but felt may impact the scholarly facade I pull off quite easily... (not). I have reached the point in my senior year of college ( for me... this is my 15th year of college) and I am emotionally done. Not just done... DONE! My brain is fried. Words on pages merge together and make no sense. Reading used to be what I did for fun and I now dread it. Thus, a book about stripping in Minneapolis kinda fit the bill. I needed a book I could just not think about and would hopefully make me feel better.

I read this book in two days and while i don't know if it made me feel better -It was an easy read. It reminded me of a blog though nowhere in the book does it say Cody wrote a blog. Upon looking in Wikipedia to find this picture, I was surprised to find Cody had actually authored a few blogs and much of this book was taken from them. The book would not have seemed to  miss parts if they had just left it in a blog format.

It is a dirty book, lots of talk of vibrators and VERY dirty men. One in particular that likes to lick assorted nastiness off the floor of a very nasty place... So be prepared for that. Its fun to recognize places in a book and I kept asking my husband throughout if he had ever experienced the items discussed. There was a resounding "no" to many of the things, but I don't know if I believe him or not... I have a feeling some places are conveniently forgotten.

So, I do not know overall if I would recommend buying this book. If it gets passed down the grapevine to ya- read it, but I recommend looking into some stripping blogs on the internet for free...

I'm hoping to be a librarian...

I read a lot. Though unfortunately, with being in my last semester of my Bachelor's degree... and also taking 20 credits (don't ask why... ) I barely get a chance to have it be enjoyable anymore.

In the little spare time I have, I have started thinking about how many books I have read and also how many I have forgotten. I keep imagining me helping someone in a library and remembering this great book that is perfect for them... and then I have no idea what it is.

SOOO, in response to this fear that keeps me up at night (not really) AND also an assignment for a class... HEE HEE. I am starting this blog.