Croissants, Coffee & Tea -- Part the Eighth

[Linda2]

Helen Mirren is playing the Queen again. Wish I could see it:
http://theater.nytimes.com/2013/03/07...

[Lily]

Women who have helped show the way:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/nationa...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busines...

[Lynnm]

I've always been involved in environmental causes, and just saw this video posted on 350.org.

Sean Lennon singing "Don't Frack My Mother." Love it!

Also has Yoko Ono (of course), Susan Sarandon, Adrian Grenier (love him!), Liv Tyler, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and many others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfymh...

[Denise]

Thanks, Lynn! I don't see Sean much, but John Lennon certainly had some strong genes - both of his sons look so much like him. The style reminded me of the old folk singers, like Arlo Guthrie (can't remember off the top of my head who sang the original song this one was based on, was it Dylan?).

[Deborah, Moderator]

Here's a kitty story for Madge and others. I moved a beautiful wicker wood combo of a chaise into my study/library. I was worried because Madison kitty always napped on the sofa that was there. It was placed in front of a large window that looks into my front garden. The sofa had a very high back which blocked the light and the view. Anyway, I was really looking forward to curling up on the chaise and reading. Today has been the first day I managed it. Why? Because Madison has claimed it as hers and doesn't want to share. She now has a comfy seat with lots of light and a view of the birds,etc. hopefully she'll learn to share.

[Denise]

LOL, Deborah! When Romeo gets in my spot on the sofa and doesn't want to move, I just pretend I'm going to sit on him. He always moves before he gets squished!

[Lynnm]

Denise wrote: "Thanks, Lynn! I don't see Sean much, but John Lennon certainly had some strong genes - both of his sons look so much like him. The style reminded me of the old folk singers, like Arlo Guthrie (ca..."

Yes, it was a Dylan song that they rewrote.

And the boys do look like their father. Of course, Julian isn't a boy anymore. Neither is Sean really. Strange to see Sean grownup. I still think of him as a little boy.

[MadgeUK]

Denise wrote: "LOL, Deborah! When Romeo gets in my spot on the sofa and doesn't want to move, I just pretend I'm going to sit on him. He always moves before he gets squished!"

Yes, cats somehow always escape the squishing although Cagney left it until the very last second!

Lucy is out and about in the garden now, sometimes escaping over the fence to the neighbour's garden but coming back in about an hour or running in if she hears a loud noise. She certainly knows where her new home is!

[MadgeUK]

I have another birthday treat in store on the 27th - an old friend is taking me to the Gielgud Theatre see Helen Mirren playing the Queen in the new play The Audience, which looks like good political fun. It will be broadcast live to movie screens around the world on June 13th so look out for it!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02...

[Denise]

Lucky Madge, getting to see Helen Mirren perform live!

[Lynnm]

Wow, you are lucky, Madge! I really like Helen Mirren. Have a great time!

[Lily]

Lynnm wrote: "Wow, you are lucky, Madge! I really like Helen Mirren. Have a great time!"

Lucy ... and Helen Mirren! @685 Rochelle alerted us to the play! Now we hear you will see it! Enjoy, Madge!

[MadgeUK]

I came across these Sherlock Holmes' pastiches on GR the other day and thought SH fans here might like them:-

http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/...

[MadgeUK]

Lucy is an early morning cat! She wakes me around 5.30 am by jumping on my chest with a loud Meow, demanding breakfast. After her repast she goes to the patio door and Meows to be let out. An hour later, just as I am dropping back off to sleep, she is in again to tell me about her adventures and wanting to play with her toys! By 5.30 pm I am exhausted and need an early night but first I have to give her some supper and throw her a ball or two. In between these hours she sleeps soundly whilst I try to find the energy to do my chores!

Does this link to Lucy's photbucket photo album work?

http://s1323.beta.photobucket.com/use...

[Linda2]

Works fine. You'll have to train her to your schedule, or make her an indoor cat. My cats have always adapted to my schedule, with a few exceptions.

[MadgeUK]

Yes, I am feeding her later in the hope that she will wake later:). Don't want to keep her indoors though - cats enjoy the Great Outdoors so much and I have my patio window open a lot in the better weather.

[Denise]

Lucy is a real beauty! Nice to see you, too, Madge (I'm assuming that was you in a couple of the photos), and you have a lovely garden!

[MadgeUK]

Good photo of my double chins Denise! Here is a slideshow of my garden (I hope!):-

http://s1323.beta.photobucket.com/use...

[Deborah, Moderator]

I should be working on the discussion of North and South. Instead, I spent a wonderful time in Madge's garden via the photos. Just beautiful. It looks like a peaceful, magical place. Hugs to you and Lucy.

[MadgeUK]

Perhaps others could put together a Slideshow of their garden and pets? It is easy to create a public album on Photobucket.

[Linda2]

I have Coconut and previously Sneakers and Foxy in my albums on Picasa. Foxy is my Picasa ID
https://picasaweb.google.com/Foxy0151...

[Lily]

Rochelle wrote: "I have Coconut and previously Sneakers and Foxy in my albums on Picasa. Foxy is my Picasa ID https://picasaweb.google.com/Foxy0151..."

Thank you, Foxy! Precious.

[MadgeUK]

Great pics Foxy and Coconut! Thanks!

[Linda2]

MadgeUK wrote: "Great pics Foxy and Coconut! Thanks!"

Sneakers was the brilliant one. I still miss her. Coconut just sleeps and eats and grows fat.

[Deborah, Moderator]

I will try to add photos of Madison later. I don't have a lot of photos of my garden, and it's now covered in snow. Snowed like crazy yesterday. But as soon as spring appears, I'll add some. Each cat I've been a guardian to has been very different from all the others.

[Frances, Moderator]

MadgeUK wrote: "Lucy is an early morning cat! She wakes me around 5.30 am by jumping on my chest with a loud Meow, demanding breakfast. After her repast she goes to the patio door and Meows to be let out. An hour..."

Oh Madge, she is lovely. And is that your garden? Now? We are still waiting for the snow to melt here having received a few more inches in the last few days. I so envy you your beautiful sunny and green garden.

[Frances, Moderator]

Rochelle wrote: "I have Coconut and previously Sneakers and Foxy in my albums on Picasa. Foxy is my Picasa ID
https://picasaweb.google.com/Foxy0151..."

Beautiful cats! I so miss having a cat (we lost ours 2 years ago to old age) and the children have been begging for one, but my husband is not an animal person (he begrudgingly accepted my cats 17 years ago but is not interested in replacing them). So I will enjoy yours vicariously!

[MadgeUK]

My garden is wet and cold right now Frances and we are expecting snow:)

[Frances, Moderator]

I would rather like to curl up in bed with books and an enormous pot of tea and plate of cookies and have someone come get me in a week or so once the good weather arrives. Hibernation starts to look very attractive about this time every year.

[MadgeUK]

Yes it is an attractive idea for those of us in Northern climes Ffrances:) Cats would like that too - Lucy eagerly ran out to the garden when I opened the door this morning, only to eagerly run back!

[Denise]

Rochelle wrote: "I have Coconut and previously Sneakers and Foxy in my albums on Picasa. Foxy is my Picasa ID
https://picasaweb.google.com/Foxy0151..."

Thanks for sharing, Rochelle! It was great to see the original 'Foxycat'! ;-)

I have a lot of photos of my cats here:
http://s97.photobucket.com/user/dulci...
Some of them are of my former cats, Zorro (orange tabby) and Ming (sealpoint Siamese), but most of them are of Romeo and Khan.
(edit: Hmmm, I don't seem to be able to get the hang of finding a link to the specific album. Even though I copied the URL from the first page of that album, it keeps bringing up my main page. To see the cats, go to the 'My Pussies' album link on the left.)

I've tried several times, but am unable to bring up Madge's second album of her garden.

[Deborah, Moderator]

Frances wrote: "I would rather like to curl up in bed with books and an enormous pot of tea and plate of cookies and have someone come get me in a week or so once the good weather arrives. Hibernation starts to lo..."

Frances, this is my idea of a perfect day.

[Linda2]

Denise wrote: "Rochelle wrote: "I have Coconut and previously Sneakers and Foxy in my albums on Picasa. Foxy is my Picasa ID
https://picasaweb.google.com/Foxy0151..."

Thanks for sharing, Rochelle! It wa..."

The website might be set to redirect to the home page for your login. Some of Google's functions do that.

One of your cats looks just like an owl.

[Linda2]

Frances wrote: "

Beautiful cats! I so miss having a c..."

But suppose one follows you home?

[Frances, Moderator]

Rochelle wrote: "Frances wrote: "

Beautiful cats! I so miss having a c..."

But suppose one follows you home?"

Hmmmm, interesting...

[MadgeUK]

Beautiful cats Denise - love the one showing her tummy!

[Denise]

Rochelle, which one do you think looks like an owl? Khan (Bluepoint Siamese)? I've never noticed that.

Thanks, Madge, they're both boys. Khan's favorite thing is for his tummy to be rubbed, but you probably mean Romeo. I think he likes to tempt me, because he knows I can't resist rubbing his tummy when he lies on his back like that, and then when I do, he tries to catch and bite my hand! He thinks that is great fun (me, not so much)!

[Linda2]

Denise wrote: "Rochelle, which one do you think looks like an owl? Khan (Bluepoint Siamese)? I've never noticed that.

Thanks, Madge, they're both boys. Khan's favorite thing is for his tummy to be rubbed, but..."

http://s97.photobucket.com/user/dulci...

[Denise]

Rochelle wrote: "Denise wrote: "Rochelle, which one do you think looks like an owl? Khan (Bluepoint Siamese)? I've never noticed that.

Thanks, Madge, they're both boys. Khan's favorite thing is for his tummy to..."

LOL! Actually, that's a hawk, not an owl.

[Zulfiya]

Amazon takes over Goodreads.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-5757...

I have mixed feelings about this venture and quite conflicted. Thoughts? Feelings?

[Linda2]

They already control the publishing industry. Beware.

[MadgeUK]

Worrying:( Will it mean lots more advertisements?

Folks may be interested in this discussion on GR Feedback:-

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

[MadgeUK]

http://s1323.photobucket.com/user/Mad...

[MadgeUK]

I enjoyed The Audience and Helen Mirren as QEII on Wednesday afternoon. A superb performance, as always, by Mirren with good backup parts by her 'Prime Ministers' and others, including a younger self. For me, the politics were very interesting but I wonder if those not au fait with British politics would understand and enjoy the left v. right nuances. It was also quite funny, with some side swipes at the anachronisms of the British constitutional monarchy.

Worth watching out for when it comes to the cinemas on June 13, which will be much cheaper than a £70 theatre ticket (birthday present from a friend).

[Lily]

MadgeUK wrote: "I enjoyed The Audience and Helen Mirren as QEII on Wednesday afternoon. A superb performance, as always, by Mirren with good backup parts by her 'Prime Ministers' and others, including a younger se..."

Madge -- Glad you had a neat day! Live performances are a real treat from time to time.

[Linda2]

MadgeUK wrote: "Worrying:( Will it mean lots more advertisements?"



If you use Firefox with AdBlockPlus, you'll never see ads on ANY site. Email me privately if you're interested.

I'm more concerned that they'll fiddle with the parts of the site that bring in no revenue, specifically the book clubs.I don't write reviews or rate books, so I'm not worried that they'll steal my content. But they will slowly infiltrate this site, take what they can get and toss the rest.

[Lily]

Rochelle wrote: "...I'm more concerned that they'll fiddle with the parts of the site that bring in no revenue, specifically the book clubs...."

Given what we saw happen on Barnes and Noble, I share your concerns about the book clubs. Yet I think B&N vastly underrated the impact book clubs had or could have on reading, and hence on books purchased. But, maybe I am naive. I don't know what marketing statistics might exist and whether they are truly relevant ones.

I think there is a perception that Amazon's vaunted reader reviews have a) been moving to Goodreads and b) have been tainted by solicitation of favorable ones in order to promote sales. How much either is true or was a factor in the purchase, I don't know.

Goodreads has apparently been supportive of ebook publishing, something of considerable interest to Amazon (as a run-around traditional publishers?). I don't know much about that piece of the puzzle and how much it played into the acquisition. In fact, I have been curious about Goodreads' business model for awhile, but haven't seen a good article or analysis -- just some that hint. Hope somebody leaks some of the considerations from the acquisitions team studies!? Maybe one of the business rags will even do a good story.

[Denise]

MadgeUK wrote: "http://s1323.photobucket.com/user/Mad..."

Lovely, Madge! Thank you, and a very Happy Easter to you and Lucy, too!

[Linda2]

Denise wrote: "MadgeUK wrote: "http://s1323.photobucket.com/user/Mad..."

Lovely, Madge! Thank you, and a very Happy Easter to you and Lucy, too!"

And good Pesach.

[MadgeUK]

Thought y'all might like to see this photo of my family at my recent 80th Birthday Party at Langhams. Photo of Gemma, my eldest grand-daughter is separate because she left early.

http://s1323.photobucket.com/user/Mad...