Barbara's Creative Writing Blog: In Praise of the Written Word
Barbara's Creative Writing Blog: In Praise of the Written Word: "Borders is filing for bankruptcy. While as an English teacher and writer I should nae be happy to see the demise of any bookstore I'd far ra..."
In Praise of the Written Word
Borders is filing for bankruptcy. While as an English teacher and writer I should nae be happy to see the demise of any bookstore I'd far rather walk into an indie bookstore like Green Apple in San Francisco or Book Passages in Marin. They're a part of the community in which they work and they operate in an ehtical manner. They don't keep employees at 19 1/2 hours a week so they don't have to pay benefits. They listen to their customers' needs and wants and adapt accordingly. In this digital age people turn more and more to e-books like Amazon Kindle or Barnes and Noble Nook. I'm sorry I still prefer my fingers to caress the pages of the written word in a *gasp* actual book. Granted my bookshelves are buldging at the seams and my storage unit is half full of books I bought for my classroom thus making one wonder why I continue to buy books. In Shakeperean times, the written word was only for the wealthy upper class due to the expense of "publishing" the written word. With the advent of the printing press, the written word was able to be distributed to the masses, yet there were still some (in particular black slaves) for whom reading was illegal. I appreciate the appeal e-books may have to techno wizards and business people in a hurry. But where's the ritual? Where's the curling up on a rainy day with a good book, a spot of tea and in my case my cat? Then again, I hauled an entire suitcase worth of books back from my trip to Scotland and England two years ago. Now, you may not be quite as enthusiastic a collector as I, you may even prefer gliding your hand across a computer screen rather than risk a paper cut on actual pages. But give me a book, even a hard bound lug it off the shelf, won't fit in your lap book. I can get lost for hours in the lake country with Jane Austen or the Bronte sisters. I can travel back in time to ancient Scotland with Galbadon or even try to solve a mystery with Diane Killiane. How can one get lost reading a computer screen? Give me an indie bookstore to browse in and I can get lost for hours. Give me an actual book to read and I'm ecstatic.
Barbara's Creative Writing Blog: Fire of Freedom: by Barbara Burgess Quotations by ...
Barbara's Creative Writing Blog: Fire of Freedom: by Barbara Burgess Quotations by ...: "“Will you survive, yeah/ In the fire when the wind is blowing?' There is a “virus” called freedom and it’s spreading like a forest fire. ..."
Fire of Freedom: by Barbara Burgess Quotations by singer/songwriter John Stewart
“Will you survive, yeah/ In the fire when the wind is blowing?"
There is a “virus” called freedom and it’s spreading like a forest fire.
Starting at the roots in the hearts and minds of the people
It spreads, slowly at first through word of mouth
It picks up speed as internet connections, wi-fi signals; social network sites and web enabled phones transmit the message across the globe.
Here I sit at my home computer, and I read about Egypt and Libya and other places in the “middle east” fighting for freedom.
What would the founding fathers think of these new revolutionaries today?
Did the Age of Enlightenment philosophers like John Locke and Russo have any clue what they were getting the world into?
Did the creators of the internet and social networking sites realize just what kind of ideas they were helping people to share?
Freedom is spreading like a wild fire.
No longer able to be contained by those in power
For them the end is drawing nearer.
“Ah, there is a train and it runs by my room
And the train is called reality
And it's coming way too soon
Way too soon for a guy
Who is living on the lies
Looking for the short cut
And the secrets to survive”
Diversity which once divided the people now unites them as they cry out for change. The fire of freedom now burns within them.
“And there are forces to guide you
Spirits beside you
Rivers to ride you home to the stars
And there are forces to guide you
Spirits beside you
Rivers to ride you home to the stars”
Reach for the stars and find your way to a Democratic home.
There is a “virus” called freedom and it’s spreading like a forest fire.
Starting at the roots in the hearts and minds of the people
It spreads, slowly at first through word of mouth
It picks up speed as internet connections, wi-fi signals; social network sites and web enabled phones transmit the message across the globe.
Here I sit at my home computer, and I read about Egypt and Libya and other places in the “middle east” fighting for freedom.
What would the founding fathers think of these new revolutionaries today?
Did the Age of Enlightenment philosophers like John Locke and Russo have any clue what they were getting the world into?
Did the creators of the internet and social networking sites realize just what kind of ideas they were helping people to share?
Freedom is spreading like a wild fire.
No longer able to be contained by those in power
For them the end is drawing nearer.
“Ah, there is a train and it runs by my room
And the train is called reality
And it's coming way too soon
Way too soon for a guy
Who is living on the lies
Looking for the short cut
And the secrets to survive”
Diversity which once divided the people now unites them as they cry out for change. The fire of freedom now burns within them.
“And there are forces to guide you
Spirits beside you
Rivers to ride you home to the stars
And there are forces to guide you
Spirits beside you
Rivers to ride you home to the stars”
Reach for the stars and find your way to a Democratic home.
Music and Kids
How many years had it been since I picked up my poor homemade didgeridoo? Too many, life getting in the way sadly. But playing BROTHER's "One Day" CD for the kids at ASPIRE after school program where I work. The kids wanting to know what the "humming" sound was made by the didge. Bringing my didge in the next day to play for them so they could see and hear it for themselves. Even my rusty bellows on the didge amazing them as they try to figure out how the sound comes out. Watching their faces light up when the didge is pressed against them. Hearing their comparisons of the sound of the didge to that of everything from a bear to a fart. Making a game of lining up to get "didged" then falling to the ground in giggles when they do. Wanting to try to blow it, a few successful attempts. Showing their parents who smile at their child's enthusiasm. Something magical happening when kids and music get together. Hoping maybe one of my many talented musician friends might make a trip down this way to the city by the Bay and play. A very enthusiastic crowd they would find. Meanwhile, try to find some supplies to make smaller didges for the kids as an art project.
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