Some failing newspapers are planning to disperse the electronic device "Kindle" to their readers, to allow cheaper "publication" minus the paper-and-ink print process.
Oh no! Reading the morning paper with coffee in one hand and a small technological device in the other! Hate it!
That also means that newspapers, where I go for in-depth analysis and reporting---and yes, truth!---will soon be switching to shallow sound-bite journalistic practice, like the rest of electronic journalism. Death of the newspapers would mean the loss of an important guardian of democracy in our country.
That "Kindle" device is also used for downloading books. I wonder if the name "Kindle" might be symbolic of "kindling" or book-burning.
One of these days, I fear, a reader's cherished library of books will be reduced to empty shelves, containing ONE SMALL ELECTRONIC READING DEVICE.
R.A.T. (Rose About Town) is in mourning.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
ANOTHER JOBLESS FACTOR?
I was just wondering... When the citizen soldiers return from Iraq (at least the ones who aren't slated to then switch to Afghanistan), will their civilian jobs still be open? (More unemployment spikes?)
R.A.T. (Rose About Town)
R.A.T. (Rose About Town)
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
MORE SKY SIGHTINGS...
This sky sighting is only by proxy, but worth sharing.
The other night, my brother Ben called from the Seattle area. He had been driving in the dark under a thickly-clouded sky, when the clouds parted briefly, revealing Mount Ranier, radiantly bathed in moonlight; a rare and breath-taking sight that lingered only briefly.
That scene stays with me, though I didn't see a bit of it myself; my brother shared it through his words.
What a rare sight for my brother, who has lived in the northwest for many years. As for me, I have seen Ranier--and I HAVEN'T seen Ranier--in my travels there. That lovely snow-capped mountain appears by daylight, but only as a ghostly apparition; little more, and not the least defined. Seattle air has lost its former crystal clarity to traffic fumes.
R.A.T. (Rose About Town) thanks my brother for sharing the transient beauty, though only second hand.
The other night, my brother Ben called from the Seattle area. He had been driving in the dark under a thickly-clouded sky, when the clouds parted briefly, revealing Mount Ranier, radiantly bathed in moonlight; a rare and breath-taking sight that lingered only briefly.
That scene stays with me, though I didn't see a bit of it myself; my brother shared it through his words.
What a rare sight for my brother, who has lived in the northwest for many years. As for me, I have seen Ranier--and I HAVEN'T seen Ranier--in my travels there. That lovely snow-capped mountain appears by daylight, but only as a ghostly apparition; little more, and not the least defined. Seattle air has lost its former crystal clarity to traffic fumes.
R.A.T. (Rose About Town) thanks my brother for sharing the transient beauty, though only second hand.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
HALE BOPP INSTRUCTIONS
To read the scanned copy of my Hale Bopp poem, just posted, open it in a new window. Hope it works. R.A.T. (Rose About Town)
CLEAR SKIES, THE COMET LULIN AND BRRRR!...
I stayed up til 11 oclock last night to see the "once in humanity" Lulin comet. Believe it or not, I actually saw it, to the right of Saturn, visible with my binoculars.
Trouble was, I couldn't hold the binoculars still enough, so the comet was dancing! Well, THAT was fun too. I thanked the Lord for the unexpected clear skies that allowed me to see it.
This morning, I awoke to minus-3 degree temperatures in our valley; that too was thanks to the clear skies... which I suddenly wasn't so happy about.
Good wishes for the day ahead from, R.A.T. (Rose About Town)... a firmly established sky person.
2/24/2009 pacific Standard Time
Trouble was, I couldn't hold the binoculars still enough, so the comet was dancing! Well, THAT was fun too. I thanked the Lord for the unexpected clear skies that allowed me to see it.
This morning, I awoke to minus-3 degree temperatures in our valley; that too was thanks to the clear skies... which I suddenly wasn't so happy about.
Good wishes for the day ahead from, R.A.T. (Rose About Town)... a firmly established sky person.
2/24/2009 pacific Standard Time
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Christmas in February?
Just have to share a very special day. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law (Vivian and Bob)today threw a dinner party at their home in the country. It seemed a lot like Christmas, including the Christmas-y snow outside, the wonderful smorgasbord, and flowers for each of us women to take home when we left. (The men got nothing but big hugs, and I think that pleased them just as well as flowers would have).If things like that never happen to you, especially in your family, you're missing a lot of magic, indeed. Life is truly full of little pleasures.
R.A.T. (Rose About Town) feeling mellow and well fed.
R.A.T. (Rose About Town) feeling mellow and well fed.
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