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To read or not to read?
As a book lover, when I hear about innovations that will give me access to thousands of titles at the click of a button, I am intrigued.
I wrote a story for today’s Tech page about how technology is making us a more paperless society. During the interview process, I talked to Carl Frappaolo, vice president of the Association for Information and Image Management International, an industry trade association for document and business process management technologies.
Frappaolo told me about a really cool innovation Amazon has come out with called a Kindle. It is an e-book reader with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines and newspapers.
The internal memory of the Kindle can hold about 200 books at a time. Compared to how many books I own, that is a drop in the bucket. But when you think about the equivalent of holding 200 books in your hand at one time, it is pretty impressive.
According to Amazon.com, when you leave the wireless option on, the battery lasts two days. With it off, you can read for a week or more before recharging. Other pluses seem to be that you have more than 180,000 titles available to download and the Kindle only weighs 10.3 ounces, both of which make it a very attractive option.
I don’t think this will ever replace books, at least not for me. I love holding them in my hand too much to ever give that up. Holding a computer screen would never be the same. However, having access to that many books at one time would be nice, even if I do think I would ruin my eyesight even more by staring at it for too long.
Unfortunately, with a price tag of $359, this is one technology upgrade I will not be making for awhile. I think I’ll stick to paying a quarter for books at garage sales and checking them out from the library.
Do you like e-books, or are you strictly a hard copy reader? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Sit down and color
Children have short attention spans.
I have always known this, but I am reminded of it every Wednesday night when I teach a children’s church class for 3- to 5-year-old boys and girls.
When I started teaching the class more than a year ago, I was warned about the attention spans of children this age. I was told that when deciding on activities, I should plan to spend one minute on it for each year of their age. Sometimes I feel like it is one second.
My lesson plans have the same structure every week, but different activities to fill them. I have to have a starting activity to keep them busy while we wait for the latecomers. I also plan time for music, working on the memory verse they are supposed to learn, a story, a craft, a game and a snack. All this takes place in about an hour and 15 minutes.
Music time is my favorite, because I am just a big kid at heart. I turn the music up and let them dance, sing and even shout if they want to. They are often shy, so I let loose and sing and dance along with them. The idea is to expend a little energy before we go into story time. It’s futile really, because they don’t run out of energy. Ever.
The hardest part of the class is always the craft. Though there is a maximum two-year age difference between these children, that can be a big difference as far as their development is concerned. Some children need help doing everything. Others want to do it themselves. Some whip through the craft and say, “I’m finished. Can I play?” Others are still on the first step when everybody else is halfway through.
It can be difficult planning for the age differences, but it is also enjoyable. I do think my lack of teaching experience limits the new activities that I try with the children, so I am always open to suggestions. If you can think of any quick and easy crafts or games to try, I would love to hear them.
I do have a few rules though. I don’t do glitter. That rule is absolute. Children that age don’t understand the phrase, “Just a little glitter.” You can almost guarantee one of them is going to dump half the contents on the ground. Scissors I am very careful about dispensing, even when they are the safety kind. My kids love to make cuts, but getting them to do it in a controlled fashion has proven difficult.
Do you have any suggestions for fun crafts or activities for 3- to 5-year-olds that can keep their attention? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Firefighters can cook
Last week I visited Rocky Mount Fire Station 4 to write a Life story about what a typical dinner is like there. The station has three crews that work three 24-hour shifts on alternating days and then have four days off.
When I visited Sept. 30, there were four firefighters on duty - Capt. Lewis Smith, Travis Alford, Herman Bulluck and James Bridgers. They were great. The men were there to greet me when I came in, and they immediately invited me to have dinner with them. I accepted, and within a few minutes, they got down to the business of cooking chicken wings, boiled potatoes, cabbage and sauteed onions.
I was at the station almost two hours while the men prepared the meal and we all sat down to eat it. I wrote the story without putting myself in it, so I just want to take this opportunity to express my thanks.
I am saying thanks because of their patience in answering an endless stream of questions from me while they prepared the meal. But more importantly, I want to thank them for the job they do. I can’t imagine what has to be in the psyche of a man or woman to make them choose rushing into burning buildings to save people as a career path. All I can do is be grateful that if somehow I was one of those people, firefighters like these four men would do their best to save me.
As I say this, I am aware that this week, Oct. 5 to 11, is Fire Prevention Week, a time when officials try to educate the public about ways to make their families and homes safer. It is a worthy thing to consider if you care about the wellbeing of either, so I would suggest going to www.firepreventionweek.org to look for some of those suggestions.
When you are doing that, you should also keep in mind the men and women who would be coming to your rescue if the worst did happen.
I asked the guys if they ever get people bringing them food to show appreciation. They told me yes, but mostly around the holidays. That is something to consider. Fires and medical emergencies happen 365 days a year. I think appreciation can be shown a little more than just on Thanksgiving, Christmas and the other major bank holidays.
You could bring them a whole meal, a desert or even just a card. Maybe just taking the time to stop by and say “Thank you” would make their day.
Just remember, if you are going to bring food, many firefighters start meal preparations between 4 and 4:30 p.m. People get off work around 5 p.m. and head home to start cooking, which is when many kitchen fires start. That way they can have a hot meal and still be ready to go if they get a call around dinnertime.
Have you or someone you know been helped by a firefighter? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Winter is on its way - yeah!
I couldn’t keep quiet.
I was all set today to come in and write a blog about the Spring Hope Pumpkin Festival and how I had a really good time there as one of the craft vendors Saturday. Then I looked at Ross’ Friday blog and I could not let it go unanswered.
Fall is awesome. I love spring and summer as much as the next girl. By the time we are halfway through winter, everyone is craving a little extra sunlight. That is almost a given. But I grew up in Houston, so those two seasons were usually a bit of a letdown for me.
Spring is a tease. You go through month after month of shivering and wishing for warmth. Then it comes. It might last an hour. It might last a whole day. It feels wonderful, or at least you think it does. That day almost always seemed to come when I was stuck inside in class or at work. By the time I got outside, it’s back to shivering. Punxsutawney Phil has a lot to answer for.
Then there is summer, when we are back to the suntan lotion warnings and dashing from the air conditioner in the car to the ones at work, home or the grocery store. I for one don’t think sweat stains are an attractive fashion accessory.
Now, for Ross, who is a gardener, autumn is obviously not going to be the best season. Since my skills run more toward killing anything with chlorophyll, I think it is great.
What is not to like about autumn?
The weather cools off from the relentless heat of summer. I get to start wearing clothes outdoors that will come close to matching the sometimes Arctic conditions in the newsroom.
Also, while North Carolina obviously isn’t on the same level as New England when it comes to watching the fall foliage change colors, it does happen. I love driving down U.S. 64 toward Raleigh and seeing the mix of green, yellow, red and orange. Then you go back a few weeks later and can see how it has changed.
The fall festivities are wonderful, with towns and churches throwing their annual festivals. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means turkey sandwiches for days afterward. Pumpkins, which are my favorite fruit, come back in popularity to be made into all kinds of wonderful things - pie, bread, pudding and dip.
Oh and football comes back, which seems to make the guys happy.
So really, what is not to like?
What kinds of things do you like to do in the autumn? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Winter is on its way - darn!
OK, so the weather is turning cool. Is there any upside to that?
I hate to admit it, but my spring- and summer-loving soul says no. Really, it shouts “NO!!!” Other than the mild desire to feel the slightest of chills in the air when attending a football game, I have no love and less use for autumn. My feelings for winter don’t bear discussion in a family newspaper or on its Web site. (I need my job too much for that free and frank of an exchange.)
So, what will I do? On one hand, I’m resigned to the approach of cold weather. My jog this morning was the first of the season in a sweatsuit. Speaking of which, I have to wear sweats to bed at night to feel truly warm. (Fuel prices being what they are, I doubt the furnace will be run much this winter.) I’ll be getting up a little earlier or running a little later in arriving at work, with the extra time given to warming up my aging pickup truck. The list goes on; I’m suspect you’re relieved that I’ll spare you additional details.
On the other hand, I’m hopeful. I know that the plants and bulbs that I put in my yard this fall will yield a rush of color come the warm days of spring. Speaking of that season, I’m hoping to get enough training in over the winter - likely indoors, but still training - to run my first 10-kilometer race when the weather turns warm. Spring also may yield the painting of my humble home and other outdoor projects. That season and summer mean the return of grass mowing, an activity that I have found strangely relaxing and satisfying. Warm weather also is the time I like to take a get-away-from-it-all vacation.
Until then, the onset of bundle-up weather is approaching. Ready and willing for it to come I am not; able to survive it I am.
What is your favorite season and why? Share your thoughts by commenting on this blog or by e-mailing Ross at rchandler@coxnc.com.
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News from an excited traveler
It was waiting for me when I got home.
I just thought it was time to give an update on how the plans for my November trip to India are shaping up. I have traveled before, but getting ready to go to a country like India is introducing me to a new side of traveling.
I received an e-mail Monday from Travisa Outsourcing, the company that handled my visa application, saying my passport had been processed, approved and was on its way home. This in itself was enough to make me excited, because I love my passport. I have said before that stamps in it are a testament to all the countries I have visited, making them my favorite souvenir.
When I arrived home late last night, the FedEx package holding my passport, complete with a new six-month Indian visa, was waiting on my doorstep. I was so excited that the entire time I watched “Criminal Minds,” I held my passport and flipped it open occasionally to the page where the visa was. Yes, I am a dork.
But I am a dork who is learning things from the preparations I am making. Here are a few of the things I have picked up in my dealings with getting vaccinated:
*I got the first of three Hepatitis A and B combo vaccines. I will only have time to get the second before my trip, because there is a five-month wait until the third. Since I didn’t start planning the trip six months in advance, this wouldn’t have been possible.
It is just good to note that if you are even thinking about going to a country that requires vaccines, you need to find out if you will have enough time to get them all.
*On top of Hepatitis A and B, I need to be vaccinated for Typhoid and get malaria pills. By doing some calling, I found out you can get the typhoid vaccine as a shot or pills. While the pills are not cheap, they are about a third less in price than the shot. I called around to several pharmacies to price the pills since my insurance will not cover them and will be able to save a little money there.
Do not be afraid to ask the cost from a doctor’s office or pharmacy. Shopping around on these two items alone will add up to about $45 in savings.
Do you have any travel tips you have learned from planning a trip? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Harry, we still need you
It’s a rather peculiar place to take a bit of political wisdom from, but every time I hear one of this year’s presidential or vice presidential candidates utter one word, I can’t help but think of the truth behind a mid-1970s song by the rock group Chicago.
It was a pretty dark time in 1975. The nation had seen President Richard Nixon resign the year before in the face of an impeachment threat. The war in Southeast Asia was almost over, having split the nation and having seen its allies in the process of losing in South Vietnam and in Cambodia. Oil prices were rising. Wage and price controls had been tried. These crises and others went on and on and on.
Tired of politicians, their promises, their fiascos and all of their other shortcomings, Americans found a song they liked. Written by Chicago’s singer Robert Lamm, it simply was titled “Harry Truman.” The song’s lyrics, seen here in its first verse, were simple and memorable:
“America needs you, Harry Truman.
“Harry, could you please come home.
“Things are looking bad.
“I know you would be mad to see your favorite men prevail upon the land you love.”
The late president - Truman had died in ‘72 - wasn’t a fancy-pants, card-carrying member of the Eastern Establishment. He was blunt spoken, unlike today’s word-parsing politicos. The song’s lyrics say, “We love to hear you speak your mind in plain and simple ways, call a spade a spade like you did back in the days.” Politicians in the ’70s - and now, in my view - who offered empty promises to be elected take it on the chin compared to Truman in the song: “Harry, all we get is lies … From men who’d sell us out to get themselves a piece of power.”
Again in my view, the nation’s love affair with Truman continues through today. Ask an older American which presidents they admire, and I’ll bet Truman would be one of the top choices. Ask that same older American - and more than a few younger ones - to compare Truman to Obama, McCain, Palin or Biden, and the last four will come off as pale shadows when seen against the “give-em-hell” “buck-stops-here” man from Missouri.
And that’s with good cause.
“America’s calling, Harry Truman.
“Harry you know what to do.
“The world is turnin’ round and losin’ lots of ground.
“Oh, Harry, is there something we can do to save the land we love. …”
What other examples from popular culture sum up the state of the nation and its pending election? Share your views by commenting on this blog or e-mailing Ross at rchandler@coxnc.com.
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A night of girl talk
I don’t have any children, but I love being around them.
I teach a class of 3- to 5-year-old boys and girls Wednesday nights at Church on the Rise, which I have been attending since February 2007.
My duties were extended Friday night when I was called as a chaperone at a little girl’s sleepover at the church. The night was filled with crafts, snacks, relay races, a movie and bedtime. By the time they were tucked into their sleeping bags and whispering too each other, I was exhausted.
The children I teach are too young for this, so I met quite a few new little people that night. Three exceptions were little girls I taught last year but who graduated from my class in May. They are all in kindergarten.
These little girls are the reason for this blog. They are all sweet, if very rambunctious, 5-year-olds. I think it was the first sleepover for all of them, and they did well. Each had her moment though when she whispered that time-honored phrase, “I want my mommy.”
It was a reminder of how young they are, which was a good thing in my eyes. They were excited and having a good time with the older girls. They were hyped up on sugar. They were running around and screaming their heads off, which my beleaguered ears could certainly attest to. But they were young enough that they still needed reassurance that they were safe and mommy would be back in the morning.
I know we hear all the time about how fast children are growing up because of video games, television and what they hear in school. In some ways, I think it’s true. I have heard children not much older than these girls say things that wrenched my heart.
It took a few hugs and reassurance that everything was going to be OK, but each girl got past the shaky moment and lasted the night. I was really proud of them. I was also glad for the reminders that no matter how grown up children try to appear, sometimes they still need a hug and reassurance that they are safe.
Do you think children are growing up faster now than in previous generations? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Hey, bud, it’s time to hit the trail
I can’t help but wonder if the best kept recreational secret in Rocky Mount is the Tar River Trail.
I recently started jogging on it at the suggestion of a co-worker who was concerned that I had been taking my morning trot at least occasionally along N.C. 97 near my home. The trail, he pointed out, was a nice place and far safer than a highway fairly busy with work-bound morning traffic.
He was right, at least as far as the trail being nicer. (I spoke with you earlier about the consideration N.C. 97’s drivers had extended me. I feel comfortable there, but not every runner would.)
I had heard of the trail, knowing it starts somewhere around Sunset Park and runs to the statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the park bearing his name. Sadly, that was all I knew. So, last week, I pulled in to Sunset Park, did my quick prerun stretch and hit the pavement, heading east.
It was a blow-my-hair back experience, and I’m not talking about the speed at which I was running.
The route is surprisingly quiet. Yes, you hear traffic, but it isn’t so loud as to keep you from talking with a fellow runner. Traffic conflicts aren’t a problem; there are only a few streets to cross, the busiest being Peachtree Street-Falls Road at Rocky Mount Mill. The scenery is fine, with one stretch taking runners and walkers over the raised path through the wetlands behind the former Rocky Mount Mill Village and another crossing a beautiful wooden bridge that spans the Tar River.
Best of all - and this is what puzzles me - is there is almost no crowding along the route. On the days that I have jogged it, there were only a handful of walkers and even fewer joggers. All were pleasant enough, kindly smiling, waving back and replying to the greetings I managed to offer between gasps for breath.
I may be doing myself a disservice by letting the rest of the world know about this quiet treasure. But I would be doing the rest of the world a greater disservice if I selfishly kept the secret to myself. Why don’t you hit the trail one morning? I hope to see you out there.
What do you like about the Tar River Trail or other similar spaces that the Twin Counties have to offer? Share your thoughts by commenting on this blog or e-mailing Ross at rchandler@coxnc.com.
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Climbing the family tree
As Tarboro’s Town Common is filling up with Civil War re-enactors Friday night, another set of history buffs will be just a few blocks away, safely locked inside.
The Edgecombe County Memorial Library is sponsoring a lock-in from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Janie Allsbrook Local History Room at the library.
Pam Edmondson, the local history and genealogical librarian, told me the purpose of the event is to allow people interested in the subject a chance to indulge in a little after-hours research. It gives them a chance to work, compare their genealogy searches with other people and maybe pick up a few tips.
“They might find a relative that they didn’t know about,” Edmondson said.
Obviously, this is not everyone’s cup of tea. My mother is always talking about how she wants to construct a family tree, but she hasn’t set aside the time and effort yet to do it.
If you are a native and are interested in finding out a little bit more about your family or if just want to learn more about the area, this might be an interesting new thing to try.
Since the library normally closes at 6 p.m., the people in the lock-in will be the only ones inside. This means if you are not through the doors by 6 p.m., you will be locked out.
No registration is required, so you can just show up with some of your family history ready to work.There will be light refreshments.
The library is located at 909 Main St.
For more information, call (252)823-1141 and ask for Pam Edmondson.
Have you ever wanted to find out more about your family history? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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A few things off my chest
A few things have come up that I want to talk about. They break down as two rants - defined as speaking with passion, usually in a negative tone, about something - and one rave - talking about something with admiration.
Rant one is about handicapped parking placards. How often do you see a driver whip into a handicapped-reserved spot close to a store, hook the placard to the auto’s rearview mirror and walk with great ease - and, by the looks of it, utterly sans disability - inside? It makes my blood boil. I’ve never given into the temptation to approach such a person to ask why he or she is entitled to a handicapped placard. But I have stared hard at more than a few, including one who, seeing my gaze, got back in her car, put the placard in its right place, then walked unhindered inside to do some grocery shopping.
Just as galling is the response I received when I contacted a law-enforcement agency about one of these scofflaws. I called on a slow-moving Saturday morning in the spring. The dispatcher said there was nothing her agency could do, not even have one of its officers stop by the check the driver to see if she was entitled to use a handicapped placard.
Rant two is a cousin to this problem: the lazy people who leave their grocery carts in the middle of a parking space rather than walk a few feet to return them to the store or roll them into one of the metal corrals in the parking lot. I could understand them abandoning the carts if a drenching rain was coming down or the shopper was elderly or disabled. But no, it always seems to be someone fit enough - but who still probably could use the exercise the brief walk could offer - to put their cart away.
This is where I think Aldi, the new grocery store in Rocky Mount, has a bright idea. It charges 25 cents to use a cart, a pittance admittedly, but a sum that is refunded when the cart is returned. Other stores ought to try this. Just to be safe, I’d suggest that they charge a buck, too.
My rave is for the drivers along N.C. 97. Living in a very small subdivision paralleling the highway, I don’t have many home exercise options other than to jog along its shoulder - of course, facing oncoming traffic. It’s never a sleepy run; I’m always hyperalert to oncoming vehicles and listen closely to try to hear when others approach from the rear. The good thing is, almost every oncoming driver willingly moves over, some even slipping a tad into the other lane, to make sure we don’t meet by accident. This may not seem like a lot to rave about, but their gesture certainly earns my appreciation.
Come on now, pet your peeves or sing someone’s praises by commenting on this blog or e-mailing Ross at rchandler@coxnews.com.
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Good TV is back, or is it?
One of the biggest weeks in the television world has begun, and I think it got off to a pretty good start. Many of the shows returning for another season are premiering this week, so people can finally know what happened after the cliffhangers of May.
Monday night was a big start to the week, with the two-hour season premiere of “Heroes.” I am not a die-hard fan of this show, but this is what I choose to watch in my primetime slot. The die-hard fans were the people at the premiere party featured in the 60-minute clip show before the episode started.
Since it is the first episode of the third season, the show did what I thought it would do - answer a few questions, introduce many more and introduce a few new characters. The only thing is, does this show kind of remind anyone else of those “Pinky and the Brain” lines?
Ando: What are we going to do this season Hiro?
Hiro: Same thing we do every season Ando. Try to save the world.
Other shows that returned last night included “Dancing With the Stars,” (which I heard Cloris Leachman’s antics were the highlight of) “The Big Bang Theory,” “How I Met Your Mother” and “Two and a Half Men.” Since I didn’t watch any of these shows, you’ll have to chime in if you want to let people know how they did.
The week is continuing in big fashion. Tonight, I will be watching the premiere of “NCIS,” where we will learn if the crime-solving team is going to split up for good. Somehow, I doubt it. Each character has his or her own fans who would be devastated if their favorite left the show.
“NCIS” is one of three crime-related shows returning for another season tonight. I am sure there will also be many fans ecstatic about the premieres of “Without a Trace” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
Wednesday will be another relatively busy night, with the returns of “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “CSI: NY,” “Lipstick Jungle” and “Criminal Minds.” The latter is the only one that interests me. I did a spoiler search the other day to find out who was blown up in the SUV explosion in the season finale. I am still in the dark. Will we have injuries, deaths or was it a bait and switch? One more night and fans will know.
Comedy rules Thursday night, with the returns of “Ugly Betty,” “My Name is Earl,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” (Oh wait, was I supposed to take that show seriously?) and “The Office.” “ER” also returns for its 15th and final season. I read somewhere that Dr. Mark Greene (played by Anthony Edwards) will be returning for an episode in a flashback. That is probably the only possible scenario considering his character died in Season 8.
Friday rounds out the week without any premieres. Several of those will come in October.
Do you have any season premieres you have been eagerly awaiting? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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New ‘toy’ for big boy
Some guys’ toys are fancy cars or big trucks and SUVs.
For toys, others pour their money into electronics: wide, wide, wide flat-screen TVs or rocket-fast computers.
Still others’ toys include chances to travel, gamble, hunt or like pursuits.
I had the chance over the weekend to buy a toy, and boy was I pleased as punch. It wasn’t a chance purchase, and it was made with an eye to value. The sale the store was offering was just too good to turn down. I got a bargain on something I have been wanting for a while.
On Sunday, to cap off a four-day weekend, I bought a pickaxe at Wal-Mart.
It set me back $11 - plus tax.
Compared to any of the items listed above, a pickaxe sounds, well, like a pickaxe, the sort of tool that you sweat a lot while using and ache a lot the day after having used it. There isn’t any glamour to it. You won’t stand around in the locker room at the club or sit on a barstool and tell the guy next to you a story that starts out, “Hey, guess what I bought myself the other day …” and go on to tell him it’s a pickaxe.
Why, then would a reasonably sane man want such an implement? I’ve got just one project that I need to use it for, and probably could have borrowed a pickaxe from some other fellow who happened to buy one for that single undertaking he needed it for.
Still, the pickaxe was there on the rack, and the project I’ve got in mind for it - breaking up a root-bound knot of soil in my back yard - isn’t going to resolve itself.
Some guy reading this probably is shaking his head and thinking “Chandler has slipped off the deep end if that is his idea of a toy.”
Any woman reading this probably is shaking her head and thinking, “Oh well, boys and their toys …”
If you were going to buy yourself an adult toy, what would it be? Share your ideas by commenting on this blog or e-mailing Ross at rchandler@coxnc.com.
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The most visually stunning movie I have ever seen
This week I watched the most intriguing film I have seen in quite some time.
It is visually stunning and beautifully acted, but I am still trying to figure out how I really feel about it.
“The Fall,” which was released Tuesday on DVD, was the most visually stimulating movie I have ever seen. Until I watched the behind-the-scenes features, I thought the movie’s sweeping shots were primarily shot in a studio with a green screen. They were that gorgeous. In reality, the film was shot in 26 locations in 18 countries.
The film starts in a 1920s hospital near Los Angeles. Alexandria (played by newcomer Catinca Untaru) is a little girl with a broken arm who meets Roy (Lee Pace), a brokenhearted stuntman who is paralyzed from the waist down. Roy begins to weave a fantastical tale for Alexandria about five heroes on a quest to kill the evil Governor Odious. Roy has an ulterior motive for befriending the little girl, but I won’t give that away here.
The pace of the film drags in some places, but the two lead characters pulled me into the story so much that I really didn’t mind most of the time. It was interesting to see the focus switch back and forth between the hospital and the story, one often influencing the other as Roy or Alexandria made adjustments to a character or plotline.
The behind-the-scenes features added a whole new dimension to the film, as did watching it again with commentary by Pace and a couple of the other filmmakers. I learned that the director, Tarsem Singh, asked Pace to pretend to be a real paraplegic during the seven weeks they filmed the hospital scenes. Catinca and most of the cast and crew didn’t find out until the last day of filming those scenes that he could walk. Now that is method acting.
Another thing I learned was that Catinca, who is Romanian, couldn’t speak English when she was first cast in the role. She memorized her lines and learned English as the movie was filmed.
I wanted to see this movie when I first saw the trailer earlier this year, but it was not released in any of the theaters near me. So when it came out on DVD, I got it right away. I’m glad I did. It is not destined to be one of my all-time favorites, but it was so gripping to watch that I can’t help but recommend it to anyone who wants to try something new and exciting.
Have you seen any movies lately that you want to recommend? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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There when you need them
There is nothing good about the arrival of a hurricane, and its departure often is met with shock and dismay as people in the affected area nurse their injuries and count their losses.
One thing that is heartening, though, is how people reach out to help.
Nine years ago this week, Hurricane Floyd slammed ashore in North Carolina. If you were here, you remember the scenes of flooded homes and swept-away cars and ruined dreams.
In the Telegram’s previous office, there was a bell that announced a telephone call coming into the general newsroom extension. Whoever had a free hand would answer it. I can’t tell you how many times in the days after Floyd’s arrival, those calls I picked up started out something like this:
“Hello, this is so-and-so with such-and-such (fraternal group, charity, church). We have a truck filled with disaster-relief supplies for you. Where can we bring it?”
Judging by the response here to Floyd, it was a relief to see how many people - most of who never had visited Rocky Mount - were ready to come to our aid. In disasters such as Floyd, you find out how many friends you have. Then, you find out how many more friends you have who you didn’t know were there.
I hope that today the phones are ringing in newsrooms along Texas’ Gulf coast with similar calls from people around here.
Share your experiences from Hurricane Floyd and other disasters by commenting on this blog or e-mailing Ross at rchandler@coxnc.com.
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All aboard the northbound train
I have no idea why I was nervous.
This weekend, I caught a train to visit a friend who is at graduate school in Delaware. This is not the first time I have been on a train. In Europe, where I briefly studied and worked, traveling on trains and buses is the norm.
That’s why I don’t know why I was so nervous when I caught the train north Friday afternoon. I know it is the first time I have ridden a train in the United States. (My friend informed me the children’s train at the Houston Zoo does not count.) It also did not help that the southbound train pulls into the station mere minutes before its counterpart.
A few minutes after boarding the train, my stomach settled down and I sat back to enjoy the ride. Other than the fact it lasted almost seven hours, it was a good trip.
For those of you who have walked on an airplane and had to pass the first class cabin to get to your tiny seat in coach (so most of us really), riding coach on an Amtrak train is not the same. The aisle is wider. The car has two seats on each side with no armrest dividing them. The seats are spacious with tons of legroom. For those wanting to sleep, the seats recline and have footrests that pop out.
There were longer stops along the way to allow smokers to get out and satisfy the urge. Getting up to go to the bathroom or stretch my legs was a much easier experience than on a plane. There was plenty of room at the seat to keep my bags with me, but the train also had a car for checked luggage.
The best features of the train for me were the electrical plugs at each seat that allowed me to connect my laptop for several hours while I worked and watched movies. Thankfully, I thought ahead and brought a couple of DVDs.
By far the best part of the trip though was looking at the countryside we passed through as we made our way north. We passed rivers, swamps, forests and acres of crops. At one point, I even saw a rainbow. It was a vast improvement over the highway, billboards and gas stations I would have seen driving.
The train will not work for every trip. Sometimes you have too many people or the train does not travel where you need to go.
But for this trip, it ended up working perfectly. The ticket was reasonable ($58 each way, booked three weeks in advance at www.amtrak.com). The train had a station 20 minutes from my friend’s house. I did not want to drive six to seven hours and spend that much money on gas.
Have you taken a train ride to travel somewhere for vacation or work? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Wrapping up a month’s lose ends
Please allow me a few minutes today to wrap up some lose ends:
Newspaper industry’s changes - It’s ironic that I blogged for Saturday about the changes that the newspaper industry is going through only to see that Garry Trudeau has developed this week’s “Doonesbury” plot on one matter that I didn’t touch on: reductions in news and support staffs at papers across the nation. Rick Redfern, the character who is a reporter for The Washington Post, is in the midst of being offered a buyout, one of the common steps real newspapers have been taking to cut personnel costs.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - On June 19, I blogged about the resurgence of LP records as a music format. I guess I never realized the reach that this blog has; The New York Times since has run its own story about the value of vinyl to music. (Yeah, I know, I know; I wish that the Times had followed my lead. But like presidential campaign commercials, you get a little leeway with things like this.)
Take a hike, bud - Last month, I shared a little bit about my experience during a work day for the Mountain to the Sea Trail, the hiking route under development across North Carolina. The next work day for the segment near Falls Lake will be Sept. 27 if you’d like to lend a hand.
The race I - You would never mistake me for Matt Tegenkamp or anyone like him, but I did finish the Ford’s Colony 5K on Saturday. My time was decidedly non-Olympian - unlike Tegenkamp’s, who represented the United States in that race in the Beijing Olympics. But I did ever, ever so slightly best my personal goal of running 12-minute miles. I’ve got my eyes on the next challenge, a 5K in October in my hometown. Thanks to everyone who wished me luck before the Saturday’s race.
The race II - How I miss the Chase of Champions.
Share your thoughts on topics from journalism to entertainment to exercise to just about any other topic by commenting on this blog or by e-mailing Ross at rchandler@coxnc.com.
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Hurricane Ike hits close to home
It’s hell.
Knowing a hurricane is headed toward your family and being unable to do anything about it is just that - hell.
I have mentioned in previous blogs that I grew up in Houston, and most of my family still resides there. For my family, 1,200 miles out of reach, last week was a harrowing experience.
Early in the week, I listened to my mom talk about the rush on nonperishable foods, water and gas. She called me multiple times Friday to update me on how they were doing, which was both a blessing and a curse.
On the one hand, I wanted to know how they were. On the other, a constant reminder that a Category 2 hurricane is heading toward the people you love most in the world is not so good for the nerves. This is especially true when they live in a city very prone to flooding, which certain parts of Houston are.
My family is fine. None of their houses were damaged in the storm, though they all initially lost power and water. One of my sisters, Heather, has basic power back. My mom and stepdad do not have electricity, but his company brought in generators for its employees to take home during the storm. One bright note is that my mom finally got to use that electric skillet they received for a wedding present 15 years ago.
Though my family is hot, tired and frustrated, they are counting their blessings. The situation has been so much grimmer for hundreds of thousands of people. The last I read, the death toll had reached 80 in the Caribbean and 30 in the United States.
Entire neighborhoods have been smashed and flooded until there is almost nothing left. People are without food or water in many cases. The lines at gas stations are piling up. Shelters are full. Rescue efforts have been underway for the last few days to find survivors and victims. I think the true extent of this storm’s effect has yet to be seen.
For Texans and other people in the path of Hurricane Ike, the last week has been a nightmare that I don’t see some of them waking up from in a long time. Since I cannot be there with them, my prayers and thoughts go out to them. I hope yours do too.
Have you or someone you know been affected by Hurricane Ike or any of the hurricanes that have hit in the last few months? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
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Changing with the times
Pardon us while we go through some more growing pains
Actually, I should save some shrinking pains.
Like its counterparts from small community newspapers to The New York Times, the Telegram is slimming down. You will see fewer pages in the paper, and some sections will have to be combined to make this happen. Other changes also are afoot.
One section that will be affected by this at least occasionally will be Religion. Instead of being a four-page B section in Saturday’s edition, it will be three pages in the A section. This happened on Sept. 6, and I expect it will be a fairly common event.
The reasons are simple: paper cost and revenue. Paper is one of the top expenses a newspaper has to bear, and its price has been creeping higher over the years. You may have noticed that newspapers have been printed on ever smaller pages for the last few years. That’s an attempt to lower paper use - and, hence, the cost. Tightening the number of pages simply is a continuation of the trend.
Also, with newspapers’ revenues slipping, there simply isn’t the economic cushion there to stay with long-used formats that do not carry a reasonable number of ads. If the ratio of ads to pages isn’t high enough, the number of pages will have to be lowered to bring the two in balance.
Likewise, another result of the revenue slip is the need to increase positions where ads may be placed. One change you will see in the Telegram will be an ad placed across the bottoms of some section fronts. Doing so offers an advertiser a high-visibility position that is not surrounded by other ads.
As I understand it, there are no plans to do this on page 1A; however, I expect you eventually will see ads on fronts such as the Marquee entertainment section in Thursday’s editions and the Twin Counties Business tab in Monday’s editions.
This is not something to be worried about. Many newspapers have sold these positions for years. The Telegram has been one of a decreasing number of newspapers that simply opted not to.
I wish I could tell you that this is a perfect world for newspapers, with circulation, revenue and staff sizes on the upswing. However, if you’ve been reading the news for the last few years, you know that isn’t so. Newspapers, like any other business, are doing their best to cope. Please bear with us as we feel our way through these changing times.
What improvements would you like to see in newspapers in general or the Telegram in particular? Share your thoughts by commenting on this blog or e-mailing Ross at rchandler@coxnc.com.
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Saturday is the moment of truth
All my efforts will be judged Saturday morning.
In some ways, I’m ready, even anxious, to face the test. In others, I feel as nervous as a deer caught in headlights.
With about 300 other racers, I’m going to sweat my way through the first Ford’s Colony 5K and 10K Race. Before you ask, no, I am not about to try the 10K; the 5K will be more than enough to leave me drained for the rest of the day. That distance is enough for this year, but I do hope to tackle 10Ks in the future.
I’ve been pounding pavement - actually, most of the time, it’s been the inside track at the Y - for the last few months. Prodded by my trainer, I recently started putting in some more serious distance but only in the last few runs have I broke the mental barrier that had kept me from doing the full 3 miles.
All this may not be promising, but I’m determined. I may not post the per-mile time I use to run. (I can remember doing miles in 7 minutes and change when I was in the Army.) But for a man a few weeks past his 46 birthday, I’m going to hit the trail with 110 percent effort, great gasps of breath and a chest-thumping heart rate with the goal of crossing the finish line after a nonstop, 3.1-mile trot - if not a little better.
I’ll let you know how it went in my next post on Monday. Wish me luck.
What do you like to do to stay in shape? Share your ideas by commenting on this blog or by e-mailing Ross at rchandler@coxnc.com.
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New TV season looks like a disappointment
They’re back.
September is the time when television networks launch new shows and returning series to get us out of the rut of playing outside and spending time with our families. A few of the shows have already premiered, but the bulk of this season’s fare is just around the corner.
Among the limited new shows, very little has caught my attention yet.
NBC has a new drama series called “My Own Worst Enemy,” which stars Christian Slater as a man with split personalities. One is a spy and the other a normal suburban dad. It’s been awhile since I have seen Slater in anything worthwhile, but the premise sounds entirely farfetched and over the top, just the way I like it. The show premieres Oct. 13.
I will admit I watched “Beverly Hills, 90210” when I was younger. I am not ashamed to admit it. Much. But the idea of watching The CW’s new version, “90210,” which premiered Sept. 2, feels too much like regressing to give it a fair shot. Although I am curious to see if Shannen Doherty will stick with this version until the end.
Speaking of updates of shows that should have stayed in the past where we left them, NBC is trying to fill David Hasselhoff’s shoes with a new version of “Knight Rider.” This time the crime fighter’s estranged son, Mike, will be teaming up with the artificially intelligent car to bring down the bad guys. I’ll take the car, but don’t expect me to tune into the Sept. 24 premiere.
I feel like I have seen the plot for CBS’s new series “The Mentalist” somewhere before. Oh wait, I have. USA Network has had the super observant crime solver market cornered for a few years now with “Monk” and “Psych.” At least they made me laugh. The show premieres Sept. 23.
There is more, most of which I don’t have the space or inclination to go into. Some of the networks’ other new offerings premiering soon include CBS’s “Gary Unmarried” and “Eleventh Hour,” NBC’s “Kath & Kim” and “Crusoe,” FOX’s “Do Not Disturb” and ABC’s “Life on Mars.” So far, I am not impressed.
Are you looking forward to any of the new shows premiering this fall? Share your thoughts by commenting here or e-mail me at lmcfarland@coxnc.com.
Latest comments
Hey Laura this sounds like a fun adventure. Please be sure to keep us posted on your experiences while you’re there or when you get back home.
... read the full comment by Holt | Comment on News from an excited traveler Read News from an excited traveler
I’ve been a regular on the trail since it first opened in 2003. I’ve biked(so yes, you can bike it!) and walked it many times from end(City Lake) to end(MLK Park). I’ve seen all kinds of animals. Deer early in the AM and around sunset
... read the full comment by Holt | Comment on Hey, bud, it's time to hit the trail Read Hey, bud, it's time to hit the trail
I’ve always wanted to bike the Tar River Trail. Do they allow bikes? Want to join me on the trial some time?
BTW— Did you see any animals on the trail? I’ve heard you can see some animals. I was curious if there were any marmots
... read the full comment by Dawn | Comment on Hey, bud, it's time to hit the trail Read Hey, bud, it's time to hit the trail
There’s nothing wrong with getting something “fun” sometimes. I confess, I am looking for a guitar. Or maybe a new rug for my living room because I need something to tie the room together. ..or maybe buy a picture of Nixon bowling…
... read the full comment by Dawn | Comment on New 'toy' for big boy Read New 'toy' for big boy