“If I’m an ass, I should say so. If I don’t, somebody else will. If I say it first, that disarms them.” - Charles Bukowski

(via themelonreport)

I wish I were here for this event.

You should go since I can’t!

Last night, I was able to knock another item of my 12 before 2012 list. (only 67 more days)

The Hunger Games series was so good! An easy, quick read with fully developed characters.

Image

You are welcome.

I call bullshit.

Also, brilliant idea for a blog, Forgotten Booksmarks!

thepoliticalnotebook:

“From Scroll to Screen.” The New York Times this morning has a piece on the evolution of the book’s physical form and function. While it’s high on the drama (“We’re witnessing the bibliographical equivalent of the rapture”), it’s also a really cool historical discussion of book technology and book politics. Illustration by Joon Mo Kang for the New York Times.

(via theproblemwithproblems)

Ehem. Several thoughts first came to my mind when I saw the cover of this book.

1. Using the suffix -onomics makes the subject sound sciency and smart.
2. Maybe Freakonomics would have worked here, too?
3. Really?

As an economist, a phrase I rarely use, I can testify to the benefits of comparative advantage and in even the simplest tasks there is a person that does it better. For instance, I iron like a champ. I can not cook rice without a rice cooker. I do not know why.

I have read a few reviews of this book. They summarize by saying you should talk to your partner honestly to decide which is the best at washing dishes or folding laundry. Talk? Honestly? Weird. I thought by leaving the sink full of dirty dishes, he’d just get it.

In my limited experience living with partner, I have learned two three major things:

1. I really, really like living in clean spaces.
2. No one likes to wash dishes, clean the bathroom, or do laundry.
   2a. Nor are we going to admit we are better at it.
3. Talking & asking does help. The experts know something.

As much as I might find the cover silly, I am interested in the contents. I mean, Elizabeth Gilbert gave it a great review/quote, and I think she is the bees knees.

One of the most delightful, clever and helpful books about marriage I’ve ever seen. - Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love and Committed

I do like that the authors are female, but that almost makes sense. It seems we have been fighting long and hard to have equal kitchen/laundry duty. (I do hope the book covers more than kitchen and laundry.)

Once it is in paperback, I’ll be sure to read it. Until then, I’ll continue judging the cover.

Leave the libraries alone. You don’t understand their value.

“I love the public library service for what it did for me as a child and as a student and as an adult. I love it because its presence in a town or a city reminds us that there are things above profit, things that profit knows nothing about, things that have the power to baffle the greedy ghost of market fundamentalism, things that stand for civic decency and public respect for imagination and knowledge and the value of simple delight.” - Phillip Pullman (January 20, 2011)

An excellent speech that makes you want to run to the nearest library, and check out a book.

This reminds me, a bit, of Politically Correct Bedtime Stories. A favorite of mine.