The Joy of a Book

Have you ever cracked open a new book and just taken a minute to appreciate it? The smoothness of the new pages; the stiffness of a perfectly unbent spine; that fresh, new book smell? Thanks to technology today, not everybody gets to experience that feeling if opening a fresh, real print book. Thanks to the Kindle, Nook, tablet, various e readers, and even cell phone, any book is available instantly at your finger tips. This is both a blessing a curse. It is making books more available in a day and age where many people are staring at a screen more than anything. Little kids with tablets can have a world of books and knowledge with the click of a button (or icon on a touch screen). Hopefully, this will result in a smarter generation than the one we have now. That, however is a conversation for another day. My point is this generation of electronic readers is missing out on something amazing. While the great part of a book is the story and where it takes you, when you read from a screen you just don't get the same feeling. You cheat yourself out of that experience.

 The feeling, the smells, etc of a new book; or even an old favorite. I love an old, worn, creased, loved book just as much as a new one. My Harry Potter collection is falling apart at the binding an has faded pages. This is because I've read them all dozens of times. I know many people who refuse to use e-readers because they do not want to give up books. My grandmother goes to the library every week and gets new books to read. My little sister has the best of both worlds. She goes to the library for print books but also has a kindle. She even rents library books on her kindle at times. Now, not to be called a hypocrite, I will openly admit to having a Kindle of my own. It is absolutely great technology that allows me to read more than I would have been able to without it.  I fall into the same category as my sister. I rent library books on my kindle, read the classics for free, and still buy new print books. While I have succumbed to technological advances of my time, for me there is still nothing like a good book (print).

 I can spend hours in a bookstore just browsing. In fact, I recently did. There is a 4 story Barnes and Noble in New York City that I get lost in every time I go. And make no mistake, I get lost on purpose. I go through random rows and pick up anything that looks interesting. I am not Rockefellar so I can't afford to actually buy all the books I want, but just being around them makes me happy sometimes. So while I am fully behind any technology that brings the joy of literature to more people, there is still something to be said for reading the old fashioned way. So next time you walk by a bookstore, take some time to browse. Crack open a new book, or an old favorite and enjoy the whole experience as you dive into the story.

              

 

Chocolate Goodness

                   

             The first theme of our new game (new because it has restarted, not because it is different), was chocolate. I chose it because I had recently gone to Max Brenner’s in Manhattan with my sister. If any of you have ever been there, you know it is absolutely delicious. They have a full menu with a variety of Australian cuisines but the main attraction is dessert. I have gone there twice now and only ate dessert each time. Throughout the entire restaurant there is what appears to be pipes of flowing chocolate, though I assume they are fake. Still, the ambiance screams chocolate. They have chocolate cocktails, fondues, cakes, cookies, cocoas and more. It is like a chocolate paradise. I suppose I love the pipe décor because it also reminds me of my childhood. As a kid, we took trips many times each year to visit our family in Pennsylvania. On each trip, the best part was always the visit to Hershey. In the summer we would go to Hershey Park but in the colder months we would go to Chocolate World. It is a short ride that narrated the making of Hershey’s chocolates. The place always smelled of chocolate, you went through a heated tunnel to simulate cooking the chocolate, you saw machines to demonstrate the ones they really used, and you always got a piece of candy on the way out. Hershey will always be dear to my heart because of those happy memories and I can’t even see a Hershey bar (or some of their other candies) without being reminded of the good times as a child. 

                Now don’t get me wrong, chocolate places are great. But the reason they are so awesome is because they bring something so yummy into your world. Chocolate is a food that is known around the globe. Many different cultures eat it, or use it for different things. The Mayans and Aztecs used it in religious rituals and often used cocoa beans as offerings to the deities. It was incorporated into the diet of many cultures in the Americas whereas Europeans sweetened it and used it primarily in desserts. Today, chocolate is everywhere. It is used in all kinds of food as well as drinks. You can find it anytime and see it especially on holidays. Easter, Halloween and Valentine’s Day are three bigger ones that come to mind. But chocolate isn’t just a tasty treat. Some studies have shown that a moderate intake of chocolate can lower blood pressure. It also raises serotonin levels in the brain which causes the eater to feel happier. So next time you see a chocolate bar, don’t just think of it as a piece of candy. It is a sweet with a long history and one that could potentially benefit you, or at least put you in a good mood. 

               

 

It's Time to Play Again

              I am writing this post to let you all know about an addition to my usual posts. I am going back to playing the picture game with my aunt. It is nothing fancy, and I’m not sure game is the right word. Whatever you want to call it, I am starting it up again. I have found that I miss trying to find interesting pictures each day as well as trying to come up with new and fun themes each week. It is also a really good way to keep in touch with my aunt. I know what some of you are thinking: why don’t I just talk to her? Well, for one thing, we are both busy people and sending a picture is simple and quick. Also, it is something that can make us smile or laugh or merely brighten up our day. The picture theme is also great when there really isn’t anything to say. You can only ask somebody how they are so many times. This is a way for us to let the other know we are thinking of her at some point in our day. So why am I telling you all this? Well, it will affect my posts a bit. I will continue to post as normal, but I will also include a post like my older ones. Each week I will tell you what our theme was. Perhaps the post will merely be pictures, or a short story about why we chose that specific theme. I will still do posts with interesting facts about some of the themes. They will be shorter and fluffier posts, but cute and fun to read. So stay tuned for the first theme, which I will announce soon.

A Little Vice...

               

        “Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices”, Benjamin Franklin. The subject of vices was brought to my attention recently and it has become a topic I keep going back to in my mind. I was asked what my vices were and I had trouble answering the question. At first I had to contemplate the meaning of the word. I had a basic understanding of the concept of a vice, but for some reason felt the need for a specific definition. It being the 21^st century, I merely decided to look it up online. At first, I used a simple dictionary. I figured a plain answer would be best to help me in my query. After reading the many, albeit similar, definitions of the word I decided I needed a more in depth explanation. Thus, I turned to the often distrusted Wikipedia. Personally, I love the site. I am aware that it is not 100% accurate all the time, but often I just need the gist of something and so it is perfect. So I decided to investigate what Wikipedia had to say about vice. It was actually extremely helpful. You see, the dictionary will tell you the exact meaning of the word. Thus I learned that a vice is “an immoral or evil habit or practice”. Wikipedia, however, explained the more loose ways in which the word can be used. For example, a vice can often refer to a fault or unhealthy/bad habit. These things may not necessarily be evil or immoral, but simply a negative trait. Now, knowing the definition allows me to answer the question of my own vices. You see, I think that nobody is perfect and therefore must have at least one vice. If we were to look at the simple definition of the word though, I would not be able to find anything that applies to me. I do not do things that are immoral or evil. Truthfully, the thought never crosses my mind. Using the more lenient definition makes it a little less difficult to come up with one. I do not have many bad habits, and none that fall into the general idea of a vice; I don’t smoke, I don’t do drugs, I rarely drink and almost never get drunk (thus preventing it from being a habit), and I don’t sleep around. I have no vices in that sense of the word. If I had to think of one, the only thing I could come up with is that I can be lazy at times. Sloth is one of the seven deadly sins so that should make it a vice. 

On the other hand, I tend to be a hard worker when I need to be and I certainly know how to get things done. So the quandary now becomes whether my theory of vices is wrong or whether I am unaware of my bad habits. Perhaps not everybody has to have a vice. That is not to say they are perfect, but perhaps there are people in the world who don’t have habits/practices bad enough to be considered a vice. Maybe these people can fall into the category of having a weakness (mine would be books; but again, is reading a bad enough habit to be called a vice? Wouldn’t it qualify as more of a hobby?), but is a weakness really wicked enough to be a vice? Could Wikipedia truly be wrong this time? Or could our own acceptance of a less harsh definition of the term vice impact the behavior of society? Either way, Cicero once said “It is a great thing to know our vices”. So I encourage you to search yourself and try to discover your own vices; whichever meaning you subscribe to. 

The Good, The Bad and The Opinion

       

   What makes something good or bad? I witnessed a discussion today about whether or not the White Stripes are a good band. Now, when asked my opinion I truly did not know what to say. Who am I to judge whether or not they are any good. I have no musical background nor am I an expert in the field. I am a listener, and can only comment on my opinion of them. My response was that I’m not a huge fan. That does not mean they are a bad band. They have sold albums internationally, gone on tour, been on TV, and so on. Yet the question still remains, what qualifies them as a good or bad band. This can apply to anything, not just music. It can apply to movies, books, art, theories, ideas, food, etc. People may recommend things by saying they are good. But what makes them good? Is it notoriety? Is it quantity or perhaps quality? Is a movie good based on its box office sales? How many copies does a book have to sell in order for it to be good? To call something good or bad implies an objective judgment. I believe that phrase is an oxymoron though. If something is a judgment, it is simply an opinion; and opinions are subjective. There is no such thing as objectivity in life. A person has thoughts based on their experiences and any opinion is simply a thought. That is why there are so many conflicting opinions about the “great” things in this world.

 For example, The Beatles are considered one of the greatest music groups of all time. (I know, I went back to music; stay with me though.) What makes The Beatles so great? Is it their record sales, fan base, or revolutionary music? Are they great because they started a shift in what was popular? Perhaps all of these things made them great, but what are they to people who don’t like their music? I have tried and tried to listen to and like The Beatles because they are considered “great”. I, however, cannot enjoy them. And I know for a fact that there are more people that don’t like them than just myself. Does that mean they are bad? History says otherwise. But is that because the majority loves them? Are The Beatles a good band because more people love them than hate them? (If that is in fact a true statement. Personally, I have no idea.) I think as a society we categorize things as good or bad entirely too often. There is no true way to know if they are or not. Even if you were to gather experts in all the fields to determine whether things are good or bad, but who is to say that the layperson doesn't know as well as the expert? I think the world is full of opinions. So next time a person asks you if something is good or bad, don’t get mad if they disagree. Everybody has a right to their own opinion.