Living a life far away

[eleneariel]

According to Native Tongues, the Italians call the French nostri cugini antipatichi (our disagreeable cousins), while the French retaliate by called the Italians les macaronis. *snerkle*

Also, I learned that 'Manhattan' means, in the Indian language that named it, "The place where we all got drunk."

And during WWI, sourkraut was renamed "liberty cabbage." We're not so orginal after all.

I've decided to read all the books I own. That should last me a while. It makes me happy to think about.

I was reading the 'Public Libraries' magazine the other day and found an article about librarians who are readers and how that changes the way they learn and process information.

Catherine Sheldrick Ross has surveyed avid readers and has found that they discover information and acquire knowledge in many diverse ways. Sometimes information is accidentally encountered that may fill a previously unperceived information gap, trigger the reader's memory, or lead to new research activity. ... In terms of accidentally encountering information, I would add that it is an especially rich joy that comes from the spontaneous discovery of a link between books--for the librarian who reads, this is the real deal.

YES! I love the tangents reading leads me away on. Like the time I read Russian history for two months straight.

Going back to my old church today (long story) reaffirmed that leaving it was the best decision I ever made.

This morning I heard the most beautiful 13th c. French music. If I wasn't what I am already, I'd go spend my life becoming an expert in medieval life and language and music. .... the sacred music of that era is so lovely.

Comments

[savetheolives.livejournal.com]

the sacred music of that era is so lovely.

It is indeed. It's an acquired taste, but I think 13th c. polyphony is uniquely beautiful. (The 14th c. ars subtilior, on the other hand... *runs away screaming*)

[savetheolives.livejournal.com]

I love your icon, btw. :)

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Eeee, thank you! It's another one from a magazine advertisment. It's a woman wearing a vintage 1960s prom dress. Very beautiful.

[ransomedsea.livejournal.com]

I must say, that bit about the different way avid readers acquire knowledge is spot on. I notice I process information and connect facts in a different way than some of my friends who rarely even read road signs (I keed). I think it's also important to be read to as a child, as it helps them to process language colloquially as well as in a more...I don't want to say formal, but...written words are much more enriched than the common everyday speech. I could go on and on about that topic, what with seeing the effects of writing tutoring that I've done and what I've learned myself from it (I think sometimes I learned more than those I was tutoring! Probably not something I should admit! :P).

I found this entire entry very educational. ;)

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

People who write exactly as they speak scare me.

Yes, being read to as a child and brought up in a reading environment is so helpful and makes so much difference! I swear when I get pregnant I'm going to read aloud to my belly the moment I s/he is there. =D