Ever wondered why some books seem to self-destruct?

"Into Thin Air," Chapter 8 in

A SPLENDOR of LETTERS*, has a comprehensive explanation. "The transition to lesser-grade stock began around the time of the American Civil War (1860s), when increasing demand hastened the development of a cleaner process. To improve strength and to prevent ink from being too readily absorbed by the pulp paper, chemicals such as aluminum sulphate, known as alum, were added to the mix, with the result that documents exposed to humidity produced sulfuric acid, and the molecular structure of the cellulose was weakened. Further deterioration of the fibers was caused by bleaches that were used to brighten the sheets."

*Nicholas A. Basbanes, Perennial/HarperCollinsPublishers, 2003.

Caught on film by a disposable camera! For those who doubt the halo...!

Photo: Our friend, Judy.

Smile for Today:

"It was regretted that the advertised event (free-fall parachuting) could not take place due to problems with the aircraft. But the most spectacular event of the day was the collapse of the beer tent." (Daily Bugle)

~ Ben Wicks, More Losers, McClelland and Stewart, 1982

Conversation Face-to-Face

Conversation Face-to-Face.

Photo by:


VAVOOM PHOTOGRAPHY ~ Lisa Pielechaty

Search VAVOOM PHOTOGRAPHY on Facebook.

The End of Conversation?

The virtual world ~ T.V., radio, Internet, i-pods, cell phones, Black Berries ~ has to a great extent replaced one-on-one, face-to-face conversation. The New York Times ran an article announcing that soon one can have a virtual girlfriend on one's cell phone ~ that is, "a computer-generated woman who can converse on thirty-five thousand topics."*

We frequent the pubs, churches, cafes, bookshops ~ the community centers for the most part with the expectation that we will get into an interesting conversation with someone but how many places are conducive to good conversation? Loud music, crowds, multiple big screens ~ all compete for our attention.

A Neat Little Bookshop customer, while looking for books on humor, revealed that he is in Toastmasters International. One of the requirements of members in their quest for good communication is a series of speeches on humor.

We believe the real world is still out there. One just has to take the time to find it!

*Stephen Miller, Conversation, A History of a Declining Art, Yale University Press, 2006.
http://www.toastmasters.org/

Good Conversation

There is a host of world-wide literary clubs, Conversation Cafes, Socrates Cafes, university and college libraries ~ and then there is The Neat Little Bookshop. In a used-book shop, there is a limitless array of topics that inspire spontaneous conversations.

Christopher Phillips, founder of the Scorates Cafes (it is worth a Google), hopes that if people participate in his cafes, they "will become more sociable."

In his book, Socrates Cafe: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy (2001), he states,"I had become increasingly disturbed by what I perceived as an extreme and pervasive self-absorption and intolerance among people..."

According to Phillips, the main goal of good conversation is to "inspire each person to inquire further to cultivate and discover his/her unique point of view, nothing more and certainly nothing less." Never should conversation become a "vehicle for advice-giving or for winning friends and influencing people. There is never any need to try to force any sort of agreement."

In a bookshop, we regard a coffee pot, a few stools and a table as essentials to good conversation!

Photo by Lisa Pielechaty. Search VAVOOM PHOTOGRAPHY on Facebook.

http://philosopher.org/

"Peace is liberty in tranquillity."

~ Cicero, Roman philosopher, statesman, 106 BC - 43 BC.

Photo: Lorna. For larger image, click on photo.