Donate your books!

                                              

What can you do with the books you no longer want or need, books your children have outgrown?
Well, I have offered mine to our local Preschool, but was told that they had no need for them..I live in a comfortable, affluent area of Southern California where libraries are well stocked and children here have lots of  learning resources available to them.

But, but...there are so many places around the world where books are scarce or nonexistent, where a school library might have 10 books or less, where children don't have the magic of reading at their fingertips to help them escape the harsh realities of their everyday lives.

Donate, donate! Love Libraries Without Borders; contact them, check out their web site and see if you can help a kid somewhere read better, dream better and aspire higher.

http://www.librarieswithoutborders.org/about-us/

I found this list on boston.com. It's a non extensive list of blogs compiled by

Mitali Perkins, which talk about cultural diversity and multicultural books,education and adding diversity to our kids' reading materials. The book reviews are enlightening and I will be following these blogs regularly to get ideas about new books to read to my kids.

• A Wrung Sponge

• American Indians in Children's Literature

• Brown Bookshelf

• Brown Paper

• Color Online

• Crazy Quilts

• Happy Nappy Bookseller

• Lee and Low

• PaperTigers

• Reading in Color

• Shen's Books

• Smithsonian's Book Dragon

• World of Words Currents

Mitali Perkins (www.mitaliperkins.com) lives and writes in Newton. Her newest book for middle-schoolers, Bamboo People (Charlesbridge), received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Publishers Weekly

Bestselling Books

From The New York Times bestseller lists:

COMBINED PRINT & E-BOOK FICTION

1. FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, by E. L. James
2. FIFTY SHADES DARKER, by E. L. James
3. FIFTY SHADES FREED, by E. L. James
4. GONE GIRL, by Gillian Flynn
5. BARED TO YOU, by Sylvia Day

COMBINED PRINT & E-BOOK NONFICTION

1. PATERNO, by Joe Posnanski
2. THE AMATEUR, by Edward Klein
3. UNBROKEN, by Laura Hillenbrand
4. WILD, by Cheryl Strayed
5. OBAMA'S AMERICA, by Dinesh D'Souza

HARDCOVER FICTION

1. GONE GIRL, by Gillian Flynn
2. THE INN AT ROSE HARBOR, by Debbie Macomber
3. WARDS OF FAERIE, by Terry Brooks
4. THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS, by M. L. Stedman
5. A DANCE WITH DRAGONS, by George R. R. Martin

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. OBAMA'S AMERICA, by Dinesh D'Souza
2. THE AMATEUR, by Edward Klein
3. UNBROKEN, by Laura Hillenbrand
4. WILD, by Cheryl Strayed

PAPERBACK TRADE FICTION

1. FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, by E. L. James
2. FIFTY SHADES DARKER, by E. L. James
3. FIFTY SHADES FREED, by E. L. James
4. BARED TO YOU, by Sylvia Day
5. THE BEST OF ME, by Nicholas Sparks

Found on some random joke web site; claim it if it's yours, please:

  Every nation has to write a book about the Elephant:

The French book - The Sex Life of the Elephant or: 1000 ways to cook Elephant
The English book - Elephants I have shot on Safari
The Welsh book - The Elephant and its influence on Welsh language and culture
The American book - How to Make Bigger And Better Elephants
The Japanese book - How to Make Smaller And Cheaper Elephants
The Greek book - How to Sell Elephants for a Lot of Money
The Finnish book - What Do Elephants Think about Finnish People
The German book - A Short Introduction to Elephants, Vol 1-6.
The Icelandic book - Defrosting an Elephant
Switzerland: The Country Through Which Hannibal Went With His Elephants
The Canadian book - Elephants: A Federal or State Issue?
The Swedish book - How to reduce your taxes with an elephant.

 

I must admit that, although I am an avid reader, I have not read a single book from the above lists.  "Between the Oceans" sounds like an interesting book (just judging the title, I like original titles), so maybe that will make it on my reading list. 50 shades of gray will not. I don't even know why I'm not interested, but I am not. Perhaps overexposure, over hype..I don't know. Maybe once all the dust settles in a few years I'll give it a try.

 

A Depressing Title For A Book!

What are some of your favorite books and why?

Brains benefit from multilingualism

Brains benefit from multilingualism

   

So, being multilingual, or bilingual has enormous benefits..far beyond just the obvious of being able to communicate with more people, have more fun on vacation in a country which language you speak, order the correct item on the menu (as opposed to chicken feet, for example), read books in their original version...what am I forgetting?

Please, add some of your favorite pluses of being able to speak another language beside your mother tongue?



Being bilingual delays onset of Alzheimer's symptoms, juggling languages builds better brains, provides the mental gymnasium of task switching, multitasking

Being Bilingual Wards Off Symptoms of Dementia

Science Daily (Mar. 29, 2012) — New research explains how speaking more than one language may translate to better mental health. A paper published by Cell Press in the March 29th issue of the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences examines how being bilingual can offer protection from the symptoms of dementia, and also suggests that the increasing diversity in our world populations may have an unexpected positive impact on the resiliency of the adult brain.

"Previous studies have established that bilingualism has a beneficial effect on cognitive development in children," explains lead study author, Dr. Ellen Bialystok from York University. "In our paper, we reviewed recent studies using both behavioral and neuroimaging methods to examine the effects of bilingualism on cognition in adults."

Dr. Bialystok and colleagues discuss the intriguing finding that the need to monitor two languages in order to select the appropriate one recruits brain regions that are critical for general attention and cognitive control. Using these cognitive control networks for bilingual language processing may reconfigure and strengthen them, perhaps enhancing "mental flexibility," the ability to adapt to ongoing changes and process information efficiently.

Studies also suggest that bilingualism improves "cognitive reserve," the protective effect that stimulating mental or physical activity has on cognitive functioning in healthy aging. Cognitive reserve can also postpone the onset of symptoms in those suffering from dementia. This is supported by studies showing that bilinguals experience onset symptoms of dementia years later than monolinguals.

"Our conclusion is that lifelong experience in managing attention to two languages reorganizes specific brain networks, creating a more effective basis for executive control and sustaining better cognitive performance throughout the lifespan," says Dr. Bialystok. "It should not be surprising that intense and sustained experience leaves its mark on our minds and brains, and it is now clear that the bilingual brain has been uniquely shaped by experience."

"The Tower of Babel" by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Oil on board, 1563.
The Tower of Babel symbolises the division of mankind by a multitude of tongues provided through divine intervention.

Cuneiform is the first known form of written language, but spoken language predates writing by at least tens of thousands of years.

Multilingualism

"Como se acuerda con los pajaros
la traduccion de sus idiomas?"

How is the translation of their languages
Arranged with the birds?
― Pablo Neruda, The Book of Questions

Pablo Neruda 

...You can say anything you want, yessir, but it's the words that sing, they soar and descend...I bow to them...I love them, I cling to them, I run them down, I bite into them, I melt them down...I love words so much...The unexpected ones...The ones I wait for greedily or stalk until, suddenly, they drop...
-Pablo Neruda

"Keep your language. Love its sounds, its modulation, its rhythm. But try to march together with men of different languages, remote from your own, who wish like you for a more just and human world."
― Hélder Câmara, Spiral Of Violence

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart."
‒Nelson Mandela

I love words, I love language. I was raised bilingual (English/Croatian) and studied French and Spanish later. President Obama saying that if he could have one superpower it would be to be able to speak all languages is awesome!

OK then..a few words about Spain

La lengua

I love the language. You know how there are certain words in every language that sound special, are fun to pronounce or just roll off the tongue beautifully?

In English, for example I like: elision, whisper, intrigue, sumptuous..

Y éstas son mis palabras españolas preferidas:  

immediamente
madrugada
serenidad 

luciérnaga

mariposa

Tapas

Spain's greatest food invention. Small bites of flavor, both a visual and a gastronomic feast..just the way food should be.

The idea comes from Andalusia. It started, or so they say, with a piece of bread, topped with ham or cheese, covering a glass; to keep out the flies - the word tapa means  cover. They were once free snacks included in the price of the drink and there is an endless variety, I'll share mine with you..

Antoni Gaudí

My favorite architect, so passionate, so original..

His modernism was inspired by the caves of Mallorca ( I lived in Mallorca for a few years)..his fairytale constructions with dreamy curves..there is nothing else like it. I want to go to Barcelona right now!

 Casa Batlló

gawkdicity.info

gawkdicity.info

Casa Batlló is a building restored by Antoni Gaudí and Josep Maria Jujol, built in 1877 and remodelled in the years 1904–1906; located at 43, Passeig de Gràcia, part of the Illa de la Discòrdia in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Spain. 

Opened: 1877 Architectural style: Expressionist architecture Address: Paseo Gracia, 43 2 2., 08007 Barcelona, Spain Phone: 932 16 03 06 Architects: Antoni Gaudí, Josep Maria Jujol

Hasta luego
maya

http://www.illesbalears.es/ing/majorca/home.jsp

Earth Calendar

http://www.earthcalendar.net/_php/lookup.php?mode=date&m=08&d=25&y=2012

Love Earth Calendar!
When you feel like celebrating and it's not Easter, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year's, Labor Day..
check the calendar for what other special days the rest of the World is celebrating.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY URUGUAY!

 

Election Special

No, not a misspelling; eLection, not with an "r".

It's not that kind of a blog.

Dare I?

Dare I venture into that shark infested murky discourse waters of Politics? (Second forbidden theme being Religion..some other time more on that..)
Because we all know that friendships have been soured and lost, and life-long enemies made on account of disagreeing about politics.
Well, I decided to throw caution to the wind.

I am a brave soul.

No taboo topics.. none.

You up for that? Can we ?
Yes we can! (psst..a clue)

Ry Cooder's "Election Special" was released a few days ago.
I love Ry Cooder. Even if he never did anything else but the music for Paris, Texas..he still would have earned a special place in my heart.

That twang of the steel strung acoustic guitar..genius. He had me at the first note.

(Also..I had a teenage girl-crush on Nastassja Kinski..although it was a purely aesthetic thing.)

And Buena Vista Social Club!

His eclectic sensibility and collaborations with Cuban, Mexican, African musicians..

I have huge respect for all global efforts. It takes courage, love, tact, honesty and open mindedness..and that's a tall order.

That pairing of Ry Cooder and Wim Wenders; a California musician and a German movie director.. so in sync, making such beautiful imagery together..

Ooh, and Wings of Desire..

Some people just need to, no, HAVE TO do things together, the end result, the sum, is so much greater that the two individual parts.

Anyhow, Election Special mercilessly stomps its clever musical boot over all things Mitt, Guantanamo, Sarah P... 

Sarah P., that hawt mess, of the "I can see Russia from my window" , school of International Diplomacy..

Blues written from the viewpoint of Mitt Romney's pet dog..The Mutt Romney Blues..

So, maybe you are of the other persuasion?

That's OK. We'll agree to disagree.

Then, I 'll take your hand and lead you, kindly but firmly, through the path of knowledge into enlightenment..

Show you the error of your ways...talk sense into you.

You will repent, slap the palm of your hand on your forehead..

"I have been blind"..you'll say, "but now I can see.."

You're nodding, you know I'm right.

Hello World!

Once a month (on a weekend) it is World Day in my home. The tradition started a few years ago when my son was still only 2. He loved playing with the globe (I have a large floor standing one). A country is chosen sometimes at random, sometimes by vote and we eat food/dishes that are typical for that country, read a book, learn facts about it, language (a few words like greetings and such), watch a movie (this can be tricky to find and/or age inappropriate)..etc.
Any friends or family that are visiting over the weekend are welcome to contribute a suggestion for a new country. Once covered, the same country may be repeated by majority vote only (I always vote against). There are around 200 countries in the World (depending on who is counting..), and we sometimes miss a month or repeat a country..so we still keep going..

In case you wanted to say Hello to someone who speaks a different language:

http://www.wikihow.com/Say-Hello-in-Different-Languages