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  My blog was filled up. I'm too lazy to clean it out. So I started a new one. |
| Day 3349: April 19, 2022 Prompt: Literature: Today we have access to literary classics from across the planet that are translated into English. Have you read any English translations of novels, short stories, or poems that were translated into English from their original language? Did you enjoy them? Please, write a synopsis of what you read. I've read quite a few, mostly from Eastern Europe with tales of the war and racism. They had amazing insights into the horrors the older generations from Europe endured. However, a better-known story of enduring value is Crime and Punishment. It took me a very long time to read it. I'm always slow, but this was difficult to keep the story straight. You need a list of characters, who are sometimes referred to by last name, sometimes by the first, and frequently by a short version of the latter. Despite how spread out the reading was, and the flipping back and forth through the pages to figure out which character was acting, it was an intriguing story. I had to know if the lead character, with his elevated ego, would get caught. I felt great empathy for the young girl who was trapped in a desolate, "sinful" life to support her family. Her conscience was purer than his, but her actions nevertheless were against her standards of human behavior. I also enjoyed little insights into Russian life of that era. Much emphasis is placed on detective skills and interviewing technique. Guilt, which is only present in moral people, assists in solving the crime. I really appreciated the stress the author placed on atonement, a concept almost overlooked in modern culture. This book by Dostoevsky is considered one of the world's finest novels. It's worth the time to read. |
| I think I could be a beach bum. Almost. I like the flat land, easier to walk or ride a bike for long periods. (I have a heart problem that makes uphill or even slight inclines difficult.) The slow pace of life, the roar of the ocean and wind are so peaceful. Because of all that wind and sand, you can forget about perfect hairstyles or fancy shoes. You have to stay stocked up on supplies because so much driving is required to go shopping. Entertainment becomes a night on the town, an excursion. Modern times have made TV and Internet reception available, even WIFI. There are a few things I wouldn't care for. Mosquitoes are number one. Flies are pretty nasty, but they don't bite. During hurricane season, you'd have to have a bag packed at all times, and a few necessities ready, so you can hit the road at first warning and head inland. Even a trip to the doctor involves a long ride. Right now, I can get to any doctor I see in under 15 minutes. Finding social outlets might be a little harder, but I could manage okay. There would be enough relatives and old friends visiting, that I would welcome the quiet after the vacuuming and the laundry are caught up. I'm not a sun worshiper, so I would not be spending all day out lying in the sand. My skin fries like an egg on the skillet. And I am not one of those women parading around in their 60's, 70's and beyond in a bikini. (I hate those women.) So, this body is not going on display. I will keep it discreetly attired. I probably would give up make-up except for those rare excursions inland. This is just a little fantasy. I could never afford a beach house or its maintenance. Extra income for someone outside of real estate and building industries is not very likely. |
| Prompt: Environmental: EARTH DAY 2022 INVEST IN OUR PLANET - How can we, as individuals, invest in our planet? There are many small things that we can do to help planet earth. Putting baking soda in the home drains at least once a week helps neutralize the soaps and cleaners that we use. It doesn't help industrial waste, but there are laws governing that. we can stop wasting water, like letting it run while we brush our teeth. If you hand wash dishes, use a plastic box that you can lift out of the sink and pour onto your lawn. The grass and flowers like diluted dish soap, and it helps your water bill. You can keep a rain barrel to water your plants or even spot wash the car. (Keep a top on it to avoid mosquitos.) The dishwasher reruns the same hot water over and over to clean your dishes and supposedly uses less water than hand-washing a sink full. However, the dry cycle uses a lot of electricity. You could hand dry or let sit overnight. I have mixed feelings about the laundry. According to Consumer Reports, the washer redistributes the dirt evenly over all your clothes. The stains might come out, but overall, your laundry will turn gray in time, unless you use more water in extra rinses. Planting trees seems the number one thing to do. If you don't have a yard, you can contribute to a school or church or a park to plant trees. If you're a business owner, be sure some shrubs or trees are nearby. The scenery is better, we have more oxygen produced, and they help screen out pollution. If you do have a yard, don't haul away all your brush or plant clippings. Have a small compost pile or keep them in your mulch. They give a home to bees and insects that are necessary. Carpenter bees are not harmful: they make ugly holes in the wood, but they can be plugged up and painted. The bees don't cause harm or attack if left alone. I can't say anything nice about hornet nests. Littering is not only an eyesore; it is a sign of irresponsible, self-centered behavior. Some litter can be harmful to animals and fish. Plastic bags can kill turtles and other aquatic life. In my family, we not only clean up after ourselves, but we also pick up other people's trash. We try to leave the woods, parks, and playgrounds better than we found them. I really have an ax to grind with smokers who throw their butts out the car window. That might work out in a divided highway, although it really makes a city or urban area ugly. In the rural areas, that butt can set a field on fire, burning down wooded areas, gardens, and endangering nearby residents. In fact, most smokers or vapers I have known don't care how they affect others or the atmosphere. I admit my conservative use of water and electricity at home has more to do with keeping the bills low. Keeping tabs on the toilet tank and leaky faucets helps. If you lower your water bill or propane bill or electric bill, you are rewarding yourself for conserving resources. I take a controversial viewpoint on climate change. We have been in global warming ever since the ice age waned. Scientists weren't around to keep statistics in the earlier stages. Now the earth is more populated, increasing the use and abuse of resources. Technology and modern industrialization have escalated the speed of warming. So it seems that we are in the original plan of creation. I believe it is important to care for what we have and not abuse it. We should not waste or spoil anything on the earth. But doing the best we can will not reverse or stop the course we are on. |
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