flight paths discussion
Flight Paths Lounge
>
Connected & Unconnected
date
newest »
newest »
well it is a bit hokey (I understand your blush) but I too got a lot out of it.
I continue on the physical medium of books, including the heavyweight hardbacks from the library. However I can't help but think that Christmas brings others an opportunity to digitalise my habit/hobby.And my next birthday is still a distant memory, unlike a certain yorkist !
Ice wrote: "I continue on the physical medium of books, including the heavyweight hardbacks from the library. However I can't help but think that Christmas brings others an opportunity to digitalise my habit/h..."I'm also planning to ask Père Noël for a Kindle Paperwhite this Christmas. I appears to be their best effort so far at creating an easy-to-read display. Although, I must say I'm a little bit afraid when I see how much low-cost/no-cost reading material is out there - for example, 'The Complete Works of Henry James, $2.99', etc. Has the same kind of addictive potential as digital crack, so to speak....
Well-we just got an eviction notice so all I think I'll be asking for Xmas (& before) is a livable apartment for us. :(
Ellie wrote: "Well-we just got an eviction notice so all I think I'll be asking for Xmas (& before) is a livable apartment for us. :("Terrible! Also ask Santa for more cash flow next year!
Right now I'm just asking for an apartment.
was that a-partment or a-payment .... not great news, I seem to find the US rental laws skewed too much in favour of the landlord
Ice wrote: "was that a-partment or a-payment .... not great news, I seem to find the US rental laws skewed too much in favour of the landlord"I dont know why but this appeared for the first time today??
Its the same damn thing all over the world I am finding
got wifi back!lets hope this will be something reliable
My son (David) just returned from Toronto and he is in love with Canada. He says that while he was there, he felt as though he could breathe again. He said he could even imagine having children, something he's sworn he would never do.His experience crossing the border each way could not have been more different: going to Canada, the border guards were friendly and polite, coming back, they were hostile and challenging, asking many hostile questions. He says he felt like he was reentering a prison.
I hope he is able to make his dream come true and relocate.
Meanwhile, I ask for everyone's good wishes for my daughter. She just had an interview for a summer internship at Rutgers, doing research (she wants to become a psychologist). She says the interview went well so she's really hoping....
I'm just counting the time until I retire: 9 more weeks. 43 more days. I remember September when I thought I would make it through the year. It's looking distinctly possible now, even probable. Unfortunately, there are a number of very difficult situations going on right now but after they're resolved (hopefully in a positive way), I'll be able to really see proverbial light at the end, etc. etc.
Ellie, I'm so happy for you. Nine weeks will go by quickly. Perhaps the difficult situations will help the time fly by. Hopefully the resolutions are positive. I'm sure you'll do your best to make this so.My fingers are crossed for both your son & daughter. I hope they both get their wishes.
My step-dad and I were interrogated by a border guard when we went for a one-week vacation in Washington a few years ago. He was really obnoxious and rude. He asked us where we were going and then asked us why we were going there because there was nothing to see and why were we going there (the Gorge area.....it was beautiful). He asked us where our suitcases were if we were going on vacation (they were in the trunk of the car where he couldn't see them). He asked us what our relationship was (weird question and none of his business). A bunch of other weird questions as well. It took us a long time to get over the border.
Petra wrote: "Ellie, I'm so happy for you. Nine weeks will go by quickly. Perhaps the difficult situations will help the time fly by. Hopefully the resolutions are positive. I'm sure you'll do your best to make ..."I'm sorry your experience was so negative. It sounds exactly like my son's.
It wasn't an issue, Ellie. Just a small man in a uniform trying to be big. We did find it annoying because he could have stopped us from entering the States for something as silly as he didn't like the place where we were going......things that had nothing to do with National Security (or whatever border guards are guarding against).
Wondering why I never received notification this was here. Glad I found it.Thats epic that your son wants to move to Canada. It means you wont be far behind Ellie! Trusting those sticky situations are already resolved. And may your daughter get that job she wants!
At least you all got through your border checks.
Petra that sounds like a particularly icky encounter. Nothing to see, what a cretin. I think thats a criteria for state lackeys but so rude! The States may be more and more like a prison but there are still places I regret I will never see like the grand canyon. And theres still lots of good people in dismay at the steps backward
are others still having issues about not receiving notifications? I did contact the miderator support group but they have disbanded. the window for comments has improved somewhat thank goodness.Now you can see 4 lines with a bit of space plus you can access the previous comments. Dont laugh or even snicker please those of you who live in a city but living in boonies it's sometimes very tricky to organize such a simple thing as going to a reading. And its really not such a big deal but I am delighted that my risk paid off because I was able to arrange a lift down to see Robert Bringhurst and Jan Zweigy with the faith Someone in the audience would be driving up. One person was. i had brought my sleeping bag just in case and how glad i was to have made the effort.
what thoughtful intelligent lovely peoplen RB&JZ although he is a bit taciturn its in an entirely lovely way....you could tell he doent like book tours much but what amazing readers they are_
well i got cut off there but better published than lost. I ws trying to erase the n after people and silly me i now think peoplen is a lovely word with several uses.The one thing I wanted to say is diercted @apetra and @mmaryanne. Look up the Heart of the City Festival. I am thinking about coming in for it, just a few events and if you are interested it might be great to meet there for starters
It sounds very difficult to get to a poetry reading! I thought I had trouble! Most of the time I get too overwhelmed and tired to face traveling on the subway. You make me feel ashamed! So brave of you--I'm glad it sounds like it was wonderful.
I was so lucky yesterday but I was determined.It just so happened that in my village this weekend its the mushroom and seaweed festival, and I was volunteering. I was counting on there being some folks from Sechelt coming up, and indeed I got a lift down with one of the venders.
I also was able to buy a gorgeous card to copy the poem I wrote earlier in the morning, totally inspired by what I was reading in Everywhere Being Is Dancing: Twenty Pieces of Thinking. I did get to give it to him and I just hope they read and like it. And I bought the book already.
So you see why I had a hard time winding down yesterday.
Now I need to decide if I have the energy for a trip to Vancouver this week to take in some of the heart of the city festival. I am so tempted mostly because I used to be an active participant and I know I would be welcome to read some poetry and see old friends and maybe two new ones.
Magdelanye: I hope you have the energy to go. It sounds wonderful. Of course, I also know what it's like to not have the energy for something. I'm committed to going to a poetry reading tonight so I'm going but I'm so tired I wish I could stay home. But I know I'll be glad I went. So, good luck whatever you decide.
Back at you Ellie. I consider getting there and back part of the experience.
Have a good nap or a shower and enjoy the opportunity!
I just managed to write and post my review of Moosewood Sandhills. I want to write 2 more reviews today but I have been on the computer for almost two hours already and its such a drain.
BTW who are you going to see tonight?
so how bout this: two of the books im reading, one a memoir of a man from Azerbaijan and the other a fiction set in Ethiopia both have what i figure must be the same boat, the Cleopatra sailing from Italy.
That's always both an interesting and a creepy event. Something like this happened after I read The Swerve: How the World Became Modern, which mentioned an ancient poem called On the Nature of Things, which I had never heard of.
Afterwards, I picked up and read A Time for Everything, which also gave a mention to this same poem.
It's weird when these things happen, but also kind of divine and meaningful.
sure was fun to read this old thread. I thought it might be the best place to put this announcement. Apparantly, without prior notice, the privacy settings on the site have been changed a week ago maybe. Some groups are up in arms about this, but we dont send out a newsletter and I'm not sure how this affects us or where to read the official new policy.
I did read some of the distress in the mods group and there was something about you can only send mail to friends.
I think we are all friends.
I dont think thats why theres not much action here but I do want to check that everyone who is active to respond to this just to make sure that messages are getting through.
It seems to be true!I just went to the profile pages of everyone in this thread. If we're friends, I can open a message box. If we're not friends, I get a message that "this person is not accepting messages".
I have seldom received a message from a stranger here on GR. This new security policy won't stop many messages from being sent, I think. But it may hurt moderators who have to contact group members individually.
Thanks for responding Petra.Remember that we were strangers before we became friends. Most of my lovely friends here were made over time, because I loved their reviews or vice versa. Some people Im content to follow, if they have too many friends but I still like their reviews and get good recommendations.
Some groups are huge.
One mod was fuming because she sends out a newsletter and does not want +200 more 'friends' just to send it.
Im not sure if im friends with Megan. Sure hope she is doing ok.
I wonder if this will effect our monthly reading post?
And will we be able to comment on random posts?
What really gets me is that statement you found saying this person is not accepting messages. Well, probably this person had no idea!
Oh, I consider all here to be friends, but some aren't "friends" through the GR method of "friending". Those are the people who "aren't accepting messages". I agree with you that these people aren't aware that this message is going out under their accounts. This shouldn't affect our monthly posts, I think, and we should be able to comment in any thread, as long as we are members of this group. We just can't send a group message to everyone unless we "friend" all the members in the group. That is unfair to the members of a group that sends out monthly updates.
the monthly what are you reading goes out to all groupbers. We will see how that goes.The justification for this move ses to be to weed out trolls. Thats quote obvioisly like closing the barn door after the horses have escaped.
A fake friend has access to all your friends. I suppose it would be prudent to check my list of followers. I fear I'll find plenty-trolls, bots, Amzon marketers and people who filch reviews.
Do you generally get lots of friend requests? Or send them?
I am responding to Petra here but the question goes out to everybody
Someone posted (elsewhere) that we can each change our settings (go to your Profile settings, then the Settings tab) to accept messages from anyone. We can change this new feature to our liking, it seems.
I don't get many friend requests and, mostly, I only accept them if we're in a group together and they are active enough that I feel that they aren't bots.
I don't often send a friend request.
I don't want to have a huge number of "friends". I like recognizing the people who's posts show up on my feed.
I regularly go through my Followers and delete a bunch of them.
A feature that some may not be aware of is that each post one writes is shown in one's feed on the homepage. You can change this in a Setting as well, so that your posts remain private to the group you post to and do not show up on your home page feed.
Thanks Petra I never knew that, about posts showing up.I don't ever send friend requests any more. I generally accept them using the "compare" feature to see if we have similar tastes. I don't accept requests from writers or people who have been on the site for years but have no or only a few books listed.
I may follow your example Petra and cull my Friends and Followers lists.
I believe that anyone who sends a friend request automatically becomes your follower. So your followers grow even when you reject the request.
Really Petra! Lately I've had on average 1 unknown new person now. following my reviews. Today I investigated a women with 2 books and 0% in common when i compared. I was able to block her but Im not sure how effective that will be.I forgot to write her name down but I should make a list.
Another sloppy thing I do is just leave the request ignored.
gaaa! such a timewaster this kind of stuff.
as to Ellies comment re not wanting a huge number of friends, I feel the same.
so: this is about connections. From time to time I think we should open up the group to the GR world, when i get those messages inviting me to do so. But something holds me back, maybe just a vague nervousness about how that might interfere with our cosy loving intimate group. well, I've had the idea, if everone approves and then only if you want ton invite just one friend that you believe would have fun here and contribute to our discussions.what do you think?
i have a friend in mind who actually might also be a friend of Petra and maybe Llie. She is in the hosoital roght now and can use a diversion
ah sorry about the typos.its fast getting dark. Think of them like an accent andi think they're leasy to spot
Ice wrote: "What is it about Social Media and the Internet that has made it into a 'must have' so quickly ?Has it all happened too fast, do you feel pushed onto the bleeding edge of technology?
Can you stil..."
this is still a damn good question Ice Pear.
I do feel pushed.
It is so annoying having to rely...yes rely, on the interfaces and connections for the connections that have become important for me, like flight paths and the embodiment unlimited portal
And the stupid pop up windows that block the page, and this morning zoom wouldnt let me OUT. It took half an hour to figure out a way and by then missed the workshop. I yelled at the bot and swore, just about to lose it entirely.
Hope you are having a good holiday.
This seemed like the thread to post my comment which I will do in a new box
For some time now I have been reading Monique Proulx, Aurora Montrealis generally one short story a day, maybe 2 as some are very short.Yesterday I read a story featuring a woman named Mirella
That would be me and Ellie if we opened a business together. (Mir being my mothers nickname for me on the rare occasions when she was in a good mood.) So I noted the name I don't recall hearing before.
I have just started Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel Not sure about Ice *I think not( but everyone else reading this has read the Glass Hotel.
Was Emily St J reading Monique Proulx?
Chapter Two of Sea of T is called Mirella and Vincent. I am so impressed by the Mirella connection that I almost miss the first reference to Vincent. I remember her well.
I wasnt sure if this is just a random synchronicity but I can't think about it too much; only I couldnt believe it at first and went a bit delirious for a moment there. Maybe I AM bypassing some deep truth or clue, but when I am overwhelmed I would rather read than befriend my confusion.
Maybe reading is the way I make friends with my anxieties.
This seems as good a place as any to wish everybody aHAPPY NEW Year💚💥💖🎠
and to express
my appreciation to all of you who have helped keep me level
over this challenging year
Happy New Year everyone! Wishing us all a happy, healthy, fun-memory filled year. I'm looking forward to another year of time together with you all.
Happy New Year!
in some ways, this is just a test to see if it gets through, that is, if it gets noticed.But also i feel the need to document a little moment of awe that occured as I was posting a message here moments ago.
It has very much to do with my deepning connection/appreciation with the natural world around me.
So there is a spider that lives across the deck from my chair. I've observed it over time, and Ive even seen it crawl back inside the corner crossbeam that anchors her web but never seen her emerge.
Just now, she leaped! out from the corner and ran straight to the spot where she usually hangs. After a pause, she scuttled around a bit, she may have been retreiving her small catches, or assessing the the tears in her web, her most direct route and then she was off again fast into her corner.
The most surprising thing is how fascinating I'm finding this since I am Still Afraid of Spiders
Everyday it seems I am travelling a web ! Or is it the web ?
the web tightens around us, so it seems
AI or not AI ideally for me not AI. Perhaps I am the dutch boy with his finger in the Dam.
youve put your finger on a real problem: how to avoid it. It's aggressive and it eats minds
flight paths
Books mentioned in this topic
Aurora Montrealis (other topics)Sea of Tranquility (other topics)
The Swerve: How the World Became Modern (other topics)
On the Nature of Things (other topics)
A Time for Everything (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Monique Proulx (other topics)Emily St. John Mandel (other topics)
The landlord was not happy but I don't think we'll be evicted....I live with such fear of eviction (I've been homeless with the kids so it's not totally irrational) and losing my job (ditto) but such a waste of precious time...".
As I prepare to resume my pilgrim identity,this conversation came to mind. Like the book advises,Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway