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Entry tags:
Memage
1. In 1899 P. L. Travers was born. Have you ever read her books about Mary Poppins?
Yes. In the fifth grade - a friend had the book, along with the original novel Bednob and Broomstick. Mary Poppins wasn't nice in the book. Travers famously hated the Disney movie, which Walt charmed her into permitting him to do.
2. Have you ever ridden a horse?
Yes. Learned how to horseback ride, took lessons (Western Style) during the summer with my brother and some of his friends one year, and rode up the side of a mountain in Colorado for 8 hours one summer at a guest ranch. Did all this between the ages of 12-15. Last time? Was in Prospect Park - and neither the horse nor I, enjoyed it. He kept trying to bite me. I was too heavy for the horse. It's better if you are lighter and preferably not riding on hard pavement.
3. In 1783 the English inventor John Heathcoat, invented a lace-making machine. Do you own any lace?
There is some lace on a shirt, but no. I'm not really into lace. (I'm not into stuff like that.)
4. Enid Blyton, children’s author was born today in 1897. Have you ever read any of her books?
I had to look her up, never heard of her. Wrote the Noddy Books, and was a British writer in the 1930s, highly controversial, and determined not to have much literary merit, also banned in various places for being xenophobic, racist, sexist, etc
[Sigh. People? If you want someone to support your right to express yourself, you have to deal with people whose worldview offends you or you despise - right to do the same. You can't whine and ban them when they do, then whine when someone censors you. It's a hypocritical slippery slope. Let the readers make up their own minds.]
5. Do you still buy a real, printed newspaper?
No. I don't read any newspapers at the moment. I got annoyed with all the opinions and editorializing. Also the New York Times was making my blood pressure go up with their constant coverage of the Republican Candidate. Bye Bye NY Times.
6. In 1991 Tim Berners-Lee released files describing his idea for the World Wide Web. WWW debuted as a publicly available service on the Internet today. In what way does access to the web help you in day-to-day life?
I shop. I research. I connect to people around the world on social media platforms such as this one. I independently publish written works. It makes my work easier.
7. Do you collect anything (or even regret a collection you started?)
I'm not really much of a collector. Outside of books - and I have a tendency to give them away on a whim. Although have a few signed ones, but I can see myself accidentally giving them away too - since I don't really get the importance of autographs. (I knew someone who owned a store with famous autographs that he sold - he was a friend of my father's and it's what he did in retirement, I didn't get the appeal. The friend is dead now.) I have some pottery pieces, but either I or teachers created them. I don't like clutter. I have few odds and ends, but nothing that amounts to a collection. It's not one of my hobbies or vices. Makes me incredibly hard to shop for.
8. What’s your favourite alcoholic cold drink? With or without ice?
I no longer drink alcohol (with possible exception of Kombuchai, and even that I'm hesitant about)? (It's like acid on the esophagus and stomach, plus it plays havoc with blood sugar, digestive system and meds.) But it used to be a Vodka Tonic with Lime. For a bit a Magarita, Lime, on the Rocks.
9. International Owl Awareness Day. Have you ever seen (or heard) wild owls?
Yes. But not in a while - live in the city or a residential portion of it.
10. In 1865 Lewis Carroll published ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ - have you read it/seen a film version?
Both. Read it in college, and as a child, and memorized the Jabberwocky for a theater class. I even wrote a paper on it once.
11. Author Herman Melville was born today in New York in 1819, have you ever read Moby Dick?
No. I've managed to dodge that particular bullet. Watched more than one miserable high school student struggle through it.
12. The theme of Earth Day this year is a 60% reduction in the production of plastic and a reduction in the use of plastics, and plastic waste by 2040. Do you try to avoid plastic waste? Is it easy where you live, or are you struggling to avoid plastic/plastic waste?
We try to avoid it, but it isn't easy! We do recycle it. No idea if it actually gets recycled or not, but we pretty much do it in the City. The City fines you if you don't separate them out. And it recycles.
Years ago, an Environmental Law professor informed my small section that humans were too lazy to handle recycling, and it was inconvenient, so it would be really hard to enforce. (This was in 1990). I'd say he was right - it is hard to enforce. My work place doesn't have any separation for plastic (and it's a major government agency). It barely has anything for paper. And it's hard to clean out certain items well enough to separate. Also what can you substitute???
13. It's the UN Spanish Language Day - can you speak any Spanish? Did you learn Spanish at school?
No. I've little to no facility for language. Even though I hear it all the time, I've not picked it up. (My brother took it - and couldn't understand it, nor can my sister-inlaw or my niece, and they have more facility than I do.) I learned French in school - and I couldn't get past a second grade understanding of it, if that. I would like to learn it. I keep flirting.
14. At what age did you learn to drive? Did you learn to use a manual (stick shift) or an automatic car? If you own a car, how old is it?
I learned at 17. I hate driving. I got my driver's license at 17. Car at 21. I moved to NYC in 28 and sold the car four years later. I've not owned or driven a car since then, which was around 1999/2000.
I'm happy and proud of that. My carbon foot print is smaller. Plus I pay nothing for transportation. So I am saving over $16,000 a year.
15. It's World Penguin Day celebrating the great North migration of penguins - can you find and post a penguin picture (illustration or photo).
16. Have you ever eaten chocolate-covered pretzels? Do you like large soft pretzels? Have you ever made pretzels? It's National Pretzel Day.
Yes, on all of the above. I've even had gluten free pretzels.
17. Today we celebrate sculptures - are there any places near you with sculptures? Have you a favourite sculpture that you've seen?
Yes, there's several. I live in NYC. There's sculptures everywhere, including people's yards.
Yes. I liked one in a yard that I posted a while back.
18. Richard Hoffmann, Austrian violinist and composer was born today in 1925 - have you ever played a stringed instrument?
Acoustic Guitar. I wasn't very good at it.
19. It's World Art Day, and also the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci (1452) - do you have a favourite artist or sculpture whose work you would love to own?
Degas' the Ballerinas. Or Rodin's The Thinker. I also like Van Gough's Sunflowers or Starry Night.
20 . Debbie Reynolds was born on this day in 1932 - have you ever seen any of her movies or TV shows? Do you have a favorite?
Singing in the Rain and Unsinkable Molly Brown, also Tammy.
Yes. In the fifth grade - a friend had the book, along with the original novel Bednob and Broomstick. Mary Poppins wasn't nice in the book. Travers famously hated the Disney movie, which Walt charmed her into permitting him to do.
2. Have you ever ridden a horse?
Yes. Learned how to horseback ride, took lessons (Western Style) during the summer with my brother and some of his friends one year, and rode up the side of a mountain in Colorado for 8 hours one summer at a guest ranch. Did all this between the ages of 12-15. Last time? Was in Prospect Park - and neither the horse nor I, enjoyed it. He kept trying to bite me. I was too heavy for the horse. It's better if you are lighter and preferably not riding on hard pavement.
3. In 1783 the English inventor John Heathcoat, invented a lace-making machine. Do you own any lace?
There is some lace on a shirt, but no. I'm not really into lace. (I'm not into stuff like that.)
4. Enid Blyton, children’s author was born today in 1897. Have you ever read any of her books?
I had to look her up, never heard of her. Wrote the Noddy Books, and was a British writer in the 1930s, highly controversial, and determined not to have much literary merit, also banned in various places for being xenophobic, racist, sexist, etc
[Sigh. People? If you want someone to support your right to express yourself, you have to deal with people whose worldview offends you or you despise - right to do the same. You can't whine and ban them when they do, then whine when someone censors you. It's a hypocritical slippery slope. Let the readers make up their own minds.]
5. Do you still buy a real, printed newspaper?
No. I don't read any newspapers at the moment. I got annoyed with all the opinions and editorializing. Also the New York Times was making my blood pressure go up with their constant coverage of the Republican Candidate. Bye Bye NY Times.
6. In 1991 Tim Berners-Lee released files describing his idea for the World Wide Web. WWW debuted as a publicly available service on the Internet today. In what way does access to the web help you in day-to-day life?
I shop. I research. I connect to people around the world on social media platforms such as this one. I independently publish written works. It makes my work easier.
7. Do you collect anything (or even regret a collection you started?)
I'm not really much of a collector. Outside of books - and I have a tendency to give them away on a whim. Although have a few signed ones, but I can see myself accidentally giving them away too - since I don't really get the importance of autographs. (I knew someone who owned a store with famous autographs that he sold - he was a friend of my father's and it's what he did in retirement, I didn't get the appeal. The friend is dead now.) I have some pottery pieces, but either I or teachers created them. I don't like clutter. I have few odds and ends, but nothing that amounts to a collection. It's not one of my hobbies or vices. Makes me incredibly hard to shop for.
8. What’s your favourite alcoholic cold drink? With or without ice?
I no longer drink alcohol (with possible exception of Kombuchai, and even that I'm hesitant about)? (It's like acid on the esophagus and stomach, plus it plays havoc with blood sugar, digestive system and meds.) But it used to be a Vodka Tonic with Lime. For a bit a Magarita, Lime, on the Rocks.
9. International Owl Awareness Day. Have you ever seen (or heard) wild owls?
Yes. But not in a while - live in the city or a residential portion of it.
10. In 1865 Lewis Carroll published ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ - have you read it/seen a film version?
Both. Read it in college, and as a child, and memorized the Jabberwocky for a theater class. I even wrote a paper on it once.
11. Author Herman Melville was born today in New York in 1819, have you ever read Moby Dick?
No. I've managed to dodge that particular bullet. Watched more than one miserable high school student struggle through it.
12. The theme of Earth Day this year is a 60% reduction in the production of plastic and a reduction in the use of plastics, and plastic waste by 2040. Do you try to avoid plastic waste? Is it easy where you live, or are you struggling to avoid plastic/plastic waste?
We try to avoid it, but it isn't easy! We do recycle it. No idea if it actually gets recycled or not, but we pretty much do it in the City. The City fines you if you don't separate them out. And it recycles.
Years ago, an Environmental Law professor informed my small section that humans were too lazy to handle recycling, and it was inconvenient, so it would be really hard to enforce. (This was in 1990). I'd say he was right - it is hard to enforce. My work place doesn't have any separation for plastic (and it's a major government agency). It barely has anything for paper. And it's hard to clean out certain items well enough to separate. Also what can you substitute???
13. It's the UN Spanish Language Day - can you speak any Spanish? Did you learn Spanish at school?
No. I've little to no facility for language. Even though I hear it all the time, I've not picked it up. (My brother took it - and couldn't understand it, nor can my sister-inlaw or my niece, and they have more facility than I do.) I learned French in school - and I couldn't get past a second grade understanding of it, if that. I would like to learn it. I keep flirting.
14. At what age did you learn to drive? Did you learn to use a manual (stick shift) or an automatic car? If you own a car, how old is it?
I learned at 17. I hate driving. I got my driver's license at 17. Car at 21. I moved to NYC in 28 and sold the car four years later. I've not owned or driven a car since then, which was around 1999/2000.
I'm happy and proud of that. My carbon foot print is smaller. Plus I pay nothing for transportation. So I am saving over $16,000 a year.
15. It's World Penguin Day celebrating the great North migration of penguins - can you find and post a penguin picture (illustration or photo).
16. Have you ever eaten chocolate-covered pretzels? Do you like large soft pretzels? Have you ever made pretzels? It's National Pretzel Day.
Yes, on all of the above. I've even had gluten free pretzels.
17. Today we celebrate sculptures - are there any places near you with sculptures? Have you a favourite sculpture that you've seen?
Yes, there's several. I live in NYC. There's sculptures everywhere, including people's yards.
Yes. I liked one in a yard that I posted a while back.
18. Richard Hoffmann, Austrian violinist and composer was born today in 1925 - have you ever played a stringed instrument?
Acoustic Guitar. I wasn't very good at it.
19. It's World Art Day, and also the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci (1452) - do you have a favourite artist or sculpture whose work you would love to own?
Degas' the Ballerinas. Or Rodin's The Thinker. I also like Van Gough's Sunflowers or Starry Night.
20 . Debbie Reynolds was born on this day in 1932 - have you ever seen any of her movies or TV shows? Do you have a favorite?
Singing in the Rain and Unsinkable Molly Brown, also Tammy.