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Why Do I Read?

Diane Plumley — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:23:45 +0000

I often contemplate various abstract things, such as ‘Does God pick and choose who to listen to during a disaster, like say, a tornado, and only save those he decides are worthy? Because lady A prayed and survived, but lady B prayed and did not. Lady A claims God was looking out for her–so does that mean lady B was ignored? Does he really micro-manage this way?” Or I think, “if one is not supposed to live in the past, and not worry about the future, but live for the moment, then that means one is always in limbo–I mean if the past is practically immediate, and you can’t live there, and the future is not to be dealt with yet, living in the so

No E-Book For Stephen King

Diane Plumley — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:57:19 +0000

I tried to purchase the latest Stephen King this weekend. At an honest to goodness real live indie bookstore in N. Jersey. They were out of stock. Out of stock!! After my mouth stopped its jaw dropping, the bookman explained he couldn’t keep it in the store, that it’s an original paperback and not in e-book form. All of which I knew, other than the lack of maintaining stock with what should be a no brainer book choice to keep heaps on hand. I really wanted to support an indie, but now will be forced to purchase it from a B&N, which is all this area offers. And why on earth would I want to buy a Stephen King novel? I’ve only bought one other

Reverend William D. Campbell 1924-2013

Jas Faulkner — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:07:41 +0000

by Jas Faulkner The daily email feed from one of the local papers had two links to stories that showed the city’s religious past and present passing each other in ways that could be seen as fitting, if not entirely ironic. The first headline, listed as a top story: Southern Baptists Shrink For Sixth Straight Year. The second, which was tabbed under “City News” : Rev. Will D. Campbell Dies At 88. The declining Southern Baptist Convention (or whatever it’s calling itself these days) might have elicited a sage nod from Reverend Campbell, followed by a pithy, decidedly un-PC observation about the state of the Southern Baptist church. Campbell was nominally a Baptist who was equal parts Jiminy Cricket and a tenacious

Old Theme Parties–Part 2–The Weirder Ideas

Diane Plumley — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 03:05:15 +0000

Continuing theme parties—For those who go down the shore and give parties–I know plenty of you must, ha, the Abington Party Book by Ethel Owen has a gala set up for you. The beginning of the invitation suggested goes like this: In the days of our childhood gone by For the sea and sand we did cry; We were captives and slaves To the sound of the waves As we built our sand castles high. She suggests a game of ’fishing’ Buy things from ‘your favorite store.’ Wrap and tie a ribbon around the favor in a loop. Tie strings on a pole with hooks at the end, and fish for your favor. Write clever things on the outside of the wrapping. She explains: “a