Thursday

SNOW FALLING ON NOTHING by Guterson

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson, um, no. It feigns being a witty novel by describing ad nausem mundane details, immediately noticed.

Secondly, rather than moving the story forward, Guterson goes too far backwards. For example, a bit of action in a courtroom, and court is recessed. And while the court breaks, we read heaps of back story on a single character, and it doesn't influence the story.

This reads like fiction, ha, and it happens in the 1950's on San Piedro Island, north of Puget Sound. There is no San Piedro Island north of Puget Sound or anywhere for that matter, merely in Guterson's imagination. It's fiction, so that should be okay, but right after my taste of near historical fiction, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, I was severely disappointed.

So San Piedro in Snow Falling on Cedars, remembered what happened to its Japanese residents during the second world war. And what did the whole island population do when their Japanese neighoors went into exile? According to Guterson, they "watched".

No fun reading about fiction that an individual doesn't like, nope.

You're not likely see it on a retail book shelf as we all know that they are all closing, copyrighted in 1995 by the way.

I know it got good reviews, I don't always trust reviews, and don't trust mine either. You may like it, but I highly doubt it. If somebody you know likes it, perhaps this book is for you.

Just be warned, because I care that we're not bored when we read.

Lastly, I do admit, it was better than having nothing to read.

Sheila
Cull
Lucky
Cull
Reads
Book

Sunday

Want More Social Media? Do Not Work From Home

If you think working from home is say, easy, think again. Oh, before writing and doing public relations from home, I was warned. Individuals that work from home, excuse the redundancy, can take one of several routes. For example, you could muster constant excuses to not work. Or you may be disciplined enough, one way or another, to become advanced in the act of balance. Or an overwhelmed workload might have you losing track of the current day, date, time, month.

Once I read an article about the pros and cons of work at home. The pros, a given. The cons? It's always there.

In my individual home space I lack doors to my office. Indeed, studio is large. My walk in closet with doors, an option to at least having a physical barrier to my office, if it weren't for the nearness of the bathroom, negative Feng Shui. My kitchen, tried, Feng Shui? No.

When I shut down, so to speak, I read. How then to shut down work when there are a billion general to specific things to study?

Goal out loud: To advance in the act of balance.

In the meantime, laugh out loud, I'm certainly not complaining. Hard to believe, but I seriously wish I had more Social Media-ing time. But I work from home.

Sheila
Cull
Reads
Book

Friday

Hicks New Age Ideology-Too Cool Not to Re Post

Biography: Esther Hicks was born in 1948, and in 1980 she married her current husband, Mr. Hicks.

Outline of Abraham–Hicks' teachings - Esther Hicks says that non-physical entities called Abraham speak through her, and that her teachings (referred to as Abraham–Hicks teachings) are based on this experience. The basic tenets of the teachings include that we create our own reality through our thoughts, that our emotions are constantly guiding us toward where we want to go, and that life is supposed to be fun. The essence of Abraham–Hicks' teachings since 1986 has been presented as follows:

You are a physical extension of that which is non-physical.

You are here in this body because you chose to be here.

The basis of your life is freedom; the purpose of your life is joy.

You are a creator; you create with your every thought.

Anything that you can imagine is yours to be or do or have.

You are choosing your creations as you are choosing your thoughts.

Your emotions are your most powerful indicator of what you are creating in any moment.
The Universe adores you, for it knows your broadest intentions.

Relax into your natural well-being. All is well.

Life is not meant to be a struggle, but a process of allowing.

Actions to be taken and money to be exchanged are by-products of your focus on joy.

You may appropriately depart your body without illness or pain.

You cannot die; you are everlasting life.


A large part of their work centers around the Law of Attraction, a concept written about in the early 1900s by William Walker Atkinson(1862–1932).

Originally Posted by Sheila Cull at Monday, May 09, 2011

Nonfiction Fiction of Gurnsey Island Nazi Occupation 1940-45 Book

Tuesday

WHAT'S A WEB APP?

Office 2013 Web Apps are live, beginning today, on SkyDrive.

So SkyDriver's will find their digital docs are in in the hypothetical cradle of the Office 2013 Web Apps, or at least, that's what Microsoft thinks.

Oh brother, as much this techno-y stuff blows me away, this? I've heard of their collection of "Web Apps", no idea of the power, even with the absurd hours behind my machine. Do you know how tough it used to deploy an individual website, five, ten years ago? For a lot of us we couldn't do it, me included.

Web Apps Preview are the bomb. You have to give up time to learn, so for some it's not worth it.

"Choose you battles!" I've heard.

Except, how would I lug this 'Blogspot' site along? Semantics. Today I feel like a turtle? What animal do you feel like?

Carpe Diem

How are you, you lucky one.

Yes, you're lucky.

Sheila
Cull
Us
Lucky
Culls

Monday

Long Title, No Chapters, Just Letters, A Must Read!

Another hard to believe work of fiction turned open in my hands. What's similar to Kite Runner by Khaled Hossein is this book also has the Historical Fiction element.

Accurately woven in to Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, which made its debut in 2008, is the astounding (nonfiction)history of Guernsey, a Channel Island, and its Nazi rule for five entire years during the second World War.

This book is chapter-less, and only contains letters exchanged between London and Guernsey. The letters begin just after the German Occupation withdrawl, the first and last letter are posted in 1946. The main character, or letter writer, is an authoress that gets caught up in exchanging general to specific impressions with a Literary Society formed on Guernsey by accident, and because of the Occupation.

These letters begin with a man - I can't say. If I do it will spoil it for you if you do read it, so it's a wonderful surprise. In its entirety,Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, is a graceful surprise. Easy enchantment with all the characters, although there are a few to hate. Now you know - we're talking really good fiction.

Mary Ann Shaffer did much research before she wrote the majority of this fine book, and then fell ill. Her niece Annie Barrows ended it. Too soon I must add, because it is that good.

Maybe it's just me, with traumatic brain injury, and re learning, but I recently discovered that the Channel Islands are between England and France and were left defenseless at war because England saw their island of having no strategic significance.

Lucky
Cull
Reads
Book

Saturday

Microsoft Word 2013?

Wow.

But that word doesn't do it justice. This truth does - I'm addicted to caffeine, yet, yesterday while exploring the wonders, I went without simply because I found myself stuck in my desk chair. Despite the caffeine withdraw headache this morning, my jaw continues to drop at what good 'ol Word can do(today). It's free too.

Indeed this situation has become ridiculous. My Chicago city block has two mini marts on it; I'm going to run and pick up a bottle of No Doz right now.

It feels luckier with caffeine.

Cull


Thursday

KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hussein: YES, Why?

Kite Runner by Khaled Hossein, is so brilliantly written, it's hard to believe it's fiction.

And yes, it should be listed as a historical fiction title.

If you have any ambiguous ideas about the Taliban, read this book, please.

When the Soviet war ended in Afghanistan, the Afghan culture differed from ours, but until as recently as 1989 it was a civil society.

A main character in Hossein's Kite Runner says about Taliban rule:

"Piss on the beards of all those self-righteous monkeys. They do nothing bu thumb their rosaries and recite a boo written in a tongue they don't even understand. God help us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands."

Kite Runner and Azar Nafisi Reading Lolita in Tehran, a memoir, nonfiction, are alike in substance. Nafisi, a tells of a garroted Iranian regime. The Afghanistan Talib are more reprehensible.

We compare the Spanish Golden Age versus the American Civil War. Metaphorical light, and dark, the picture is clear.

Muslim faith is peaceful, good. But a Talibs self serving, illiterate metaphorical darkness? The picture is clearly dangerous.

by Sheila Cull

Sunday

Mike(y), my jim-dandy other fraternal twin brother, his top-notch wife, and moi, argued Friday at  the Chicago History Museum.  We stood a foot from the  Edgewater Beach Hotel exhibit , a star studded locale where you were to see and be seen, between 1916, and according to museum documents, posters, signs, it disappeared in 1967.

"No!  I can't believe you don't believe me!  It was there.  No, I don't remember how long ago.  But I was there!"  I insisted.

"Okay, whatever," they mumbled in unison.  Quickly they pointed at a Pullman train car, "Sheila, look at this."  

As soon as I got home, I forwarded them the article, clearly stating I'd been at Edgewater Beach at 5555 N. Sheridan, the same exact address.  Yes, I was there, wasn't I?

Turns out, Edgewater Beach Hotel where Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, the rich and famous, hung their hats, did close in 1967.  Yet in 1927 Edgewater Beach Apartments got built adjacent to the original property, which is where I hung my journalist hat for the piece I wrote covering Wrigley Field’s Last World Series, and Charles N. Billington's new book.

Today you can still wander into their lobby and feel the splendor, no museum acknowledgement because it's no longer the cat's meow, as it roared in its day.  

Not the hotel, but the property, this is an excerpt from that assigned article:

Better Than A Night At Wrigley Field

It's 1945. Baseball really is the favorite, the greatest and the All-American Pastime. And in 1945, America can celebrate again as it begins to walk away from the ever-pervasive depression of World War ll.

The Chicago Cubs vs. Detroit for the World Series title. The infamous pet goat is rejected before Game 5.

Cubs lose.

Sixty years later, on a sweltering summer evening - I walk into a picturesque room, reminiscent of what it used to be like at the Edgewater Beach Hotel, and I am greeted by that old song from the 1940’s: “I’ve got rhythm, I’ve got music … who could ask for anything more?”

As I look around, people are enjoying Vienna beef hot dogs from an old fashioned hot-dog vendor, throwing popcorn into open mouths, cracking peanut shells and flipping through pages of Billington’s book, smiling, and talking baseball.

The charming, antiquated Edgewater Beach Hotel -- at 5555 N. Sheridan in Chicago -- and baseball history reach back in time along parallel lines. On a round table sat photos of old time baseball players at Edgewater Beach in the 30’s and 40’s; like a 1932 Chicago Tribune picture of Babe Ruth, relaxing in a room at Edgewater while in town for the 1932 World Series. 

Author Charles N. Billington, a longtime Chicago resident, is a baseball historian. 

Meshing his interest in sports and history, he produced this nostalgic look back at the last time a World Series visited the “Friendly Confines,” and will serve as a worthy primer for what the Cubbies faithful hope will be a return engagement.

Having the chance to learn first hand about the storied Cubs of yesteryear and the significance of the Edgewater Beach Hotel, I felt the beating hearts of Cubs fans present and past. And it felt exhilarating. And since the heat index was 101 degrees in Chicago that night, for me it was better than a night in the park. 

By Sheila Cull
Sheila Cull is a writer based in Chicago.
Published via Lake Claremont Press, SportsFan Magazine.

Mike(y) and Paula?  Well, sort of!  

Sheila
Cull
Twin
Cull

Friday

Sheila Swaps and Wins! Sheila Swaps and Wins! Sheila Sw

 

 
Today I swapped this new release Evanovich on the left, with these two on the right.  As I wrote prior, I'd never read Evanovich, didn't even finish, will not buy anything by her again.  Given one?  Sure, I'd swim with her Stephanie Plum bore of a Bounty Hunter character if I had nothing else to read. Evanovich's Notorious Nineteen sub plots led me astray.  She writes so many same       theme books, she's simply a writer that perhaps can't help but stray.

Kite Runner by Khaled Hossein, guess what book I get to read tonight? Fiction about Afghanistan tragedies and their culture.  It's not listed as historical fiction although there is that element.  A stellar review via The New York Times Book Review, and it's A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year, not including other awarded prestige. Copyright 2003, and already Afghanistan changes, dramatically.  Publishers, same old, same old, digitization, hasn't changed this:  Published by Riverhead Books, one of the most selective.  Publishers, sometimes irrelevant, in this case, not.  .

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, fiction, takes place in 1946 with a female writer main character that creates a literary society, on the English Channel's Guernsey Island.  Outstanding reviews, included, glowing praise from Elizabeth Gilbert the author of Eat, Pray, Love fame.  Copyright in 2008. 

Being new certainly doesn't translate into being better.  And did I luck out or what?

Sheila Cull
Lucky Cull Reads Book

Author or Writer ~ Distinction Made Clear Video

Tuesday

Lucky Cull Reads Book

Debussy by Breemer

Laugh out loud, Not Working...

It's way past somebody's bedtime.

Happy Holidays.

On second thought, let me hop on Facebook; I so miss social media-ing.

Later Lucky. I'm calling you lucky. Bye lucky you.

Me

Monday

Wild Revolution Video (EDITED) by Lucky Cull

TODAY'S DATE IS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012 AND I DID HAVE A VIDEO "Up youner" BUT I'M CRISS CROSSING TOO MANY WIRES, SO I'M SORRY IF YOU THOUGHT A VIDEO WAS STILL HERE. IT IS ON YOUTUBE AND/OR GOOGLE, I THINK.

"Tomorrow, have I gotcha - a revolution."

The last words I posted Friday; today is Monday.  In the meantime, every minute I had got gobbled up by digital advancements. 

I'm not left brained, actually, that side of my brain has an injury.  I strongly dislike learning anything with structure.  On the other hand, design via Microsoft Power Point, cool.  Yet there's a ton of left brain learning surrounding the creation time.  In return for the "Can't Bend This" learning, I hope the balance shifts. Because time is not merely money; time you see, is of the essence.

Up yonder is the video link that I promised before everything changed, and it just keeps changing.  At least it's not boring.

"But I want more creation time!" The little girl in me shouts.

Best news?  I have hope, and hope is magic.

Sheila Cull
One Lucky Cull




Friday

Microsoft Office Web Apps: Female Child Explains

I'm female, and most certainly the child when it comes to today's computation sophistication. 

Microsoft free Web Apps have only been around for a year, a year?  Relatively speaking, a Web App is a brand spankin' new baby.  Web Apps and four other Microsoft products, Word, Excel, Power Point and One Note, are all buddies to each other.

Web Apps are online, you know, like, browser based - virtual.  Not on the floor in that big ol' computer with tangles of wires looking for places to fit, rather, in the sky.  Any updated browser will do, and by updated I mean?  Don't know what it means, yet I recall reading "updated browser" a lot.

Microsoft Office comes to play, it is not having a solo office party.  Web Apps party better when with Office.  Office?  I have it; I don't know if "Office" is considered a virtual program, or what it is exactly.  And an abundance of way cool Office features, is way too time consuming to learn unless you feel like spending, seemingly, all your lifetime freetime on it.  So let's stick with Web Apps, because its free.  But Office combined with Web Apps lead to a better party, therefore, consider your free time warned.  

Microsoft SkyDrive started this fiesta because only SkyDrive lets you use these Web Apps.  Free SkyDrive to begin with as well.  Sharing, working on SkyDrive Web Apps, are executed with a click of the mouse.  Send it, allow or don't have another edit, and/or share it publicly.  Yes, watch where you're clicking.

A SkyDrive "it" is a document, an Excel Web App, a photograph, a love letter, an Office invitation template, a calendar, a spreadsheet, yada, yada, yada, SkyDrive.

Microsoft says an engine runs the Web Apps.  Engine, good word choice.  Webster online:

Definition of ENGINE

1obsolete a : ingenuity b : evil contrivance : wile
2a : something used to effect a purpose : agent, instrument b : something that produces a particular and usually desirable result
3a : a mechanical tool: as (1) : an instrument or machine of war (2) obsolete : a torture implement b : machinery c : any of various mechanical appliances —often used in combination
4: a machine for converting any of various forms of energy into mechanical force and motion; also : a mechanism or object that serves as an energy source
5: a railroad locomotive
6: computer software that performs a fundamental function especially of a larger program

Enough of Web Apps today?  Me too.

We're surfing waves of hurricanes, with this historically huge modern day tech-y revolution.  Tomorrow, have I gotcha - a revolution.

Sheila Lucky Cull, That's All


Thursday

"Word Perfect" sir?

12/20/2012

I forwarded this to Microsoft Office in the last hour:

Remember "Word" "Perfect"?

Now, "Creating Forms in "Words""!

Please, I offer my congratulations to talented artists and/or designers of this "Word" Blog Webinar, and each one of you on that team are a star.

To me, the mixture of delicately blended, bright colors, but not too bright, are pleasant to be around all day!
Look at how much more evolved this whole new application, "Creating Forms in Words" is?  Who's not familiar with WORD?  Then you can make a site with rainbows of color, and any colors mixed with or without design.

The bombshell? I so love "Word", since before 1993 (?). I've seen Mircrosoft  marketing/desig­n attepmts to lure interest, simply by coolness of the technology.

Who can blame you?  We're living through a live digital revolution.

It led you to this. Ideas of how to change, for the benefit of simple, fun, having our owns sites, like, now.

Thanks for your time.

The individuals responsible for this beautiful world wide "Word" Blog, will be responsible for, well something, so I play/create with these new applic­ation for a few days. I simply can't resist. And guess which one I like best? And it's totally work related.

"Word" "Perfect" is what some have called the original Microsoft computers, yes?

Revolution.

Sheila
Cull
Luky
Cull
at
Twin
Cull


Wednesday

SILENT NO MORE about Jerry Sandusky Victim 1

Nonfiction,  each chapter written by one of three point of views, the first victim, Aaron Fisher, to go public with the heinous sexual abuse by Jerry Sandusky, former defensive Penn State coach, Aaron Fisher's mother, and that of his psychologist. 

Not up on any type of athletic sports teams, I recall a couple of news pieces I'd read on the culpable sick-o's name, number of victims, and arrest. But after this book I'm aware of Jerry Sandusky's preposterously demented, and nauseatingly arrogant, mind.  Plus the extent of the manipulative, abusive behavior, shows how disturbingly twisted he is.

As I wrote on my last post, the book is a page turner. 

Last night I began, Notorious Nineteen by Evanovich, my first one by her.  Raise your hand if you like Evanovich.  And raise your fist at Jerry (Evil-Scum) Sandusky.

Sheila Cull