2015.08.03 13:00 - Recommendations for summer reading and viewing

The Guardian for this meeting was Aphrodite Macbain. The comments are by Aphrodite Macbain.

Xirana Oximoxi: hello Aph! :)

Aphrodite Macbain: Hiya Xiri!
Aphrodite Macbain: Darren has done a great job, hasn't he?
Xirana Oximoxi: what a big change of the pavilion!! I like it much better now
Aphrodite Macbain: so do I
Xirana Oximoxi: yes..I agree:)
Xirana Oximoxi: it's more relaxing
Aphrodite Macbain: He has reduced the amount of patterns
Aphrodite Macbain: only 2 styles of cushions
Xirana Oximoxi: yes...luckily it is so easy to change in SL :)

Aphrodite Macbain: and that touch of aqua blue is nice
Aphrodite Macbain: yes change is easy and our options are wider!
Xirana Oximoxi: I prefer the refreshing water too...specially today that I am in Barcelona and it is very hot
Aphrodite Macbain: Is it? What are you doing in Barcelona?
 

Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Bruce!
Bruce Mowbray: Hi, Aph! Hi, Xir!

Xirana Oximoxi: hello Bruce
Xirana Oximoxi: well... visiting my sister in law who has been operated on....
Aphrodite Macbain: Is she OK?

Xirana Oximoxi: yes... thanks, we hope

Qt Core: hi all
Xirana Oximoxi: hello Qt
Bruce Mowbray: Heya, Qt.
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Qt. Salve
Xirana Oximoxi: how are you Aph?
Aphrodite Macbain: we have been admiring the revised pavilion
Bruce Mowbray: Me too.
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm well thanks Xiri
Xirana Oximoxi: ok :)
Bruce Mowbray: {fascinating changes]
Aphrodite Macbain: Yes- I think it feels better
Aphrodite Macbain: I had no problems getting onto my cushion this time!
Xirana Oximoxi: great! :)
Bruce Mowbray: I couldn't find the elevator, so I flew up here.
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: there is a TP spot in front of the building Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: kk, will look for that next time.
Aphrodite Macbain: I was thinking we might share recommendations for good summer books and movies...
Aphrodite Macbain: I am in need of advice...!
Aphrodite Macbain: I wonder whether you get the new Hollywood releases in translation Xiri and Qt
Bruce Mowbray: I can recommend two excellent courses.... (sort of like movies, but without the movie).
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: please tell us Bruce

 Bruce Mowbray: Heya, San-ji.
Aphrodite Macbain: San- how great to see you!
Santoshima Resident: hi!
Santoshima Resident: sorry to be late

Xirana Oximoxi: hello San

Aphrodite Macbain admires San's long red hair
Santoshima Resident: a wig :)
Bruce Mowbray: I'm taking two courses from John Searle -- UC Berkeley prof... also very famous philosopher.
Xirana Oximoxi: I am reading The girl on the train by Paula Hawkins...it is a successful book and I was curious....I have just started, so not a complete opinion at the moment
Bruce Mowbray listens.
Santoshima Resident: listens
Aphrodite Macbain: do you like it Xiri?
Santoshima Resident: hi Xir ~ please continue
Bruce Mowbray: Of course, I'd also highly recommend Night Train to Lisbon -- both the book and the movie.
Bruce Mowbray listens.
Aphrodite Macbain: What is it about Xiri?
Xirana Oximoxi: well...I am really at the beginning...
Xirana Oximoxi: it is a story of a woman that makes the same travel by train every day, and she imagines the lives of the people she sees around
Aphrodite Macbain: smiles
Xirana Oximoxi: it is a psychological novel...first person talking
Bruce Mowbray: Wow, that fascinates me, Xir.... I wonder if that book is in English (I will check it out now.)
Aphrodite Macbain: I think it is Bruce
Xirana Oximoxi: yes... I am reading it in English, Bruce
Aphrodite Macbain: maybe available on line...
Xirana Oximoxi: I am always suspicious of books that have such a big success....but one must read it to have an opinion
Bruce Mowbray: http://www.amazon.com/The-Girl-Train.../dp/1594633665
Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks Bruce!
Bruce Mowbray: I see there is also a movie by that title.
Qt Core: maybe waiting a few years to see if they are still called a success ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: don't always rely on the opinions of others....
Aphrodite Macbain: Can you say more about the courses you're taking Bruce?
Bruce Mowbray: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2387589/
Bruce Mowbray: The two philos. courses I'm taking were taught in 2011...
Bruce Mowbray: 28 lectures each.
Bruce Mowbray: The prof (Cal Berkeley) was actually teaching there when I was a student back in the mid-60's,
Bruce Mowbray: and he is GREAT!
Bruce Mowbray: I will give you YouTube links to both courses.
Aphrodite Macbain: ok maybe after the pause?
Bruce Mowbray: but continue the conversation while I look them up.
Bruce Mowbray: kk.
Aphrodite Macbain: Maybe the movie is as good as the book; you can compare Xiri
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Xirana Oximoxi: yes ...I have not seen the movie.... usually I prefer to read the book first, you have more freedom to imagine all characters and what is happening
Aphrodite Macbain: nods. me too
Aphrodite Macbain: Any other movie or book recommendations?
Aphrodite Macbain: San? Qt?
Bruce Mowbray: Ready for the two courses yet?
Aphrodite Macbain: ready!
Bruce Mowbray: Here's one of the courses (28 lectures): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi7Va_4ekko and here's the other one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1_dc6sAy1k
Bruce Mowbray: He's a wonderful professor....
Aphrodite Macbain: can you comment on them Bruce?

Bruce Mowbray: As a teacher, he's magnificent...

Xirana Oximoxi: this book has been recommended to me: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird

Aphrodite Macbain: ah yes Xiri- a classic.
Qt Core: Something i need to reread too as too many years passed, The Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino (or his trilogy The baron in the tree, The Nonexistent knight and the Clovenm Viscount)
Bruce Mowbray: no wonder folks are sitting in the aisles and on the floor...
Bruce Mowbray takes notes.
Aphrodite Macbain: Wow thanks Qt.
Xirana Oximoxi: I have not read it
Aphrodite Macbain: I wonder if I can get them in English (tho I should practice my Italian)
Qt Core: they are available in English, it seems that Americans loves Calvino too
Bruce Mowbray: I used to teach To Kill a Mockingbird --- back in the late 60's before moving from Berkeley to Ohio.... It's an American classic...
Bruce Mowbray: (and the movie is excellent, too).
Aphrodite Macbain: Harper Lee, who wrote to kill a mockingbird in 1960, has just come out with a new novel
Santoshima Resident: am reading unpublished manuscripts these days, so can't yet recommend them ... hopefully someday soon!: a novel set in Argentina, and a natural history piece on Dew.
Santoshima Resident: i recommend going for a walk in an area near where you are, and looking closely at what's around: plants, birds, creatures. dipping into a pool or clean water, if possible. ocean is good also, drinking some fresh water , and lying on the ground to look at the sky. as good as a book!
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, another novel about Atticus Finch.
Aphrodite Macbain: smiles at San- what a lovely recommendation
Bruce Mowbray: GREAT recommendation, San!
Santoshima Resident: AND ... Nurse Jackie!
Santoshima Resident: highly recommended
Santoshima Resident: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: are these manuscripts written by friends San?

Santoshima Resident: writer friends, Aph ... lucky to be invited to read at this stage
Santoshima Resident: and can only help with any "homework"

Qt Core: here in Italy there was some debate as some school teacher told pupils to do that instead of homework for this summer, san
Bruce Mowbray: equally good to do at night, if you're fortunate enough to be away from city lights.
Aphrodite Macbain: Interesting debate Qt.
Santoshima Resident: a nice idea, QT
Aphrodite Macbain: Where can I read about this?
Aphrodite Macbain: Walking and looking is for me the best form of mindfulness
Qt Core: i think it is this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/0...n_7570680.html
Qt Core: he even gives out movies suggestion at the end of the article ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks Qt. I'm going to give this to my Italian teacher :-)
Qt Core: (it is in English ;-)
Xirana Oximoxi: wonderful recommendation! :)
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- but I see the Italian text is there too

Qt Core: this may be better for an Italian lesson: http://www.ansa.it/marche/notizie/20...12b599032.html

Aphrodite Macbain: I'll give that one to her as well Qt! Thanks.
Bruce Mowbray: walking, watching, and listening to podcasts while I walk... engaging all of the senses and the mind. . .
Qt Core: eh, yes
Santoshima Resident: what a delightful list, QT!
Aphrodite Macbain: yes!
Aphrodite Macbain: I will print it out and post it on my fridge :-)
Bruce Mowbray: Wonderful website, Qt. I've bookmarked it.
Bruce Mowbray: Great idea, Aph!

Aphrodite Macbain: Am I the only one who reads many books at the same time?
Aphrodite Macbain: I move from one to another
Bruce Mowbray: I do that also, Aph.
Qt Core: i don't like to multitask with books, but i do it when a book is boring me but i want to continue it later
Xirana Oximoxi: I do also time to time..but if a book is engaging I cannot stop reading until the end
Aphrodite Macbain: I find I enjoy each book better when I change subject and writing style
Aphrodite Macbain: although the book I'm reading now- almost 500 pages, called The Age of Wonder - about the 18th century scientific discoveries - is un-putdownable
Aphrodite Macbain: It's so well written. I read it with my coffee in bed in the morning. Sometimes I dont get out of bed till 11AM
Bruce Mowbray: Excellent!
Qt Core: oh, i forgot, a book that kept me up for an entire night (begun at 11pm ended it at 6am (went to the office in the afternoon): http://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-W...ds=the+martian
Aphrodite Macbain: They have made a movie about that Qt
Aphrodite Macbain: what made it so spell-binding?
Qt Core: it yes, probably the first movie I'll go see in years ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: !
Santoshima Resident: ( please excuse me, needing to go ~ enjoy this beautiful day, everyone! )
Qt Core: its nerdiness, believable science and some great humor
Xirana Oximoxi: bye San
Qt Core: bye San, have fun
Aphrodite Macbain: Have a lovely day San
Aphrodite Macbain: waves
Bruce Mowbray: bfn, San!
Xirana Oximoxi: I will go too...take care all and thanks for all recommendations :)
Bruce Mowbray: Bye for now, Xir!
Qt Core: bye Xir
Aphrodite Macbain: I'll pass this on to druth- she's interested in nerdiness, believeable science and some great humor
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye Xiri
Bruce Mowbray: Speaking of science, had either of you heard that last month's "blue moon" (two full moons in one month) will be the last blue moon in August for the next 850 years?
Aphrodite Macbain: no! why do they call it "blue"?
Qt Core: no, i haven't heard it; a pity i missed them. then
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)

Aphrodite Macbain: Do you find it difficult to take both those courses Bruce?

Bruce Mowbray: I am loving taking both courses at once...
Bruce Mowbray: because they complement each other,
Bruce Mowbray: and the prof is terrific.
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: (and it brings back fond memories of Berkeley).
Aphrodite Macbain: :-) Macbain: are you learning new things?
Bruce Mowbray: Always, Aph!
Aphrodite Macbain: or is it a re-look at things you knew
Bruce Mowbray: The courses are philosophy, so there is much that I already knew, but the prof's approach is new, of course.
Aphrodite Macbain: I should take a look....
Aphrodite Macbain: I often wonder how much information I can cram into my head.
Bruce Mowbray: Listen to just the first lecture of either course, and you'll see what I mean.
Bruce Mowbray: Oh, I don't suggest trying to cram info...
Bruce Mowbray: just enjoy the presentation.

Aphrodite Macbain: If you would like to discuss with Pabbers what you are learning, that would be great Bruce. We can talk about it at my next Pavilion meeting.
Bruce Mowbray: You can also view plenty of vids by Searle --- not courses, but talks in other venues.
Bruce Mowbray: Most of it seems to revolve around the mind-brain problem.... and consciousness.
Aphrodite Macbain: That's what I've been reading about too- but about the discussions on consciousness in the 19th century- with the romantics... Frankenstein etc... when people trying to pinpoint the source of "vitality"

Bruce Mowbray: We are just about to get zonked with another lightning storm...
Bruce Mowbray: had one yesterday that knocked out power during the pavilion review session.
Bruce Mowbray: had to reset all the electric clocks.
Aphrodite Macbain: yikes There have been a lot of storms in your area and above- druth said the rain was torrential
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, we've had our share of rain this summer, wish we could send it to the West Coast.

Bruce Mowbray: Mary Shelly was a genius... a science fiction writer (the first), and a dabbler in philosophy --- all in that one book.
Aphrodite Macbain: the whole idea of Prometheus.. keeps reoccurring..
Aphrodite Macbain: the source of wisdom
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, the Promethean myth --- and mankind has still not learned how to control fire...

Gay pride
Aphrodite Macbain: This weekend was Gay Pride celebrations PLUS fireworks
Bruce Mowbray: Really!? Did you enoy it?
Aphrodite Macbain: I have never seen so many semi naked people together in one place
Bruce Mowbray: ha ha!
Aphrodite Macbain: so much noise, music, dancing, and lots of people
Bruce Mowbray: celebrate!
Aphrodite Macbain: Naked bodies can be very nice
Aphrodite Macbain: but some ...um...aren't
Bruce Mowbray: indeed, they can... and also some not so nice.
Aphrodite Macbain: When it's in its mid 80s F- it's easier to disrobe outside...
Aphrodite Macbain: I saw one guy wearing just a fig leaf!!
Bruce Mowbray: For sure! As a hermit, I can do that whenever I want to.
Bruce Mowbray: (not wear a fig leaf, though). just leave pants lying around somewhere I can grab them quickly if someone shows up at the door unannounced
Aphrodite Macbain: Qt- do they have Gay Pride celebrations in Milano?

Qt Core: yes, in late spring if i remember it right
Qt Core: i just checked the nearby park list of movies that will be showed by night in the open and i should see at least 3 or 4... and i probably will end as usual seeing none ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: :-) cool
Bruce Mowbray: Gay Pride events are usually held in June. Do you know why?
Aphrodite Macbain: They are held at many times in Canada. August 1st weekend has been the time for Vancouver. Guaranteed no rain...
Qt Core: no, bruce, why ?
Bruce Mowbray: because in 1969 there was an uprising at the bar in New York... Stonewall Inn....
Bruce Mowbray: and that was the beginning of the gay right movement.
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Aphrodite Macbain: Vancouver is the gay capital of Canada so the Parade is 3 hours long!
Aphrodite Macbain: more people very year
Bruce Mowbray: never heard of having a gay rights parade in any other month than June, but I say GREAT... and, of course, there are still plenty of countries where such things are illegal (Russia, for example.)
Aphrodite Macbain: There are many opportunities for cross-dressing parades as well - especially during Carnival in February

Qt Core: I've seen they will shows movies like Lucy, ex machina, the imitation game, the theory of everything... they usually grab the best movie of the past year and a couple new one
Aphrodite Macbain: who Qt?
Qt Core: the nearby park
Aphrodite Macbain: nice
Bruce Mowbray: I have seen LUCY, EX MACHINA, and TRANSCENDENCE... all of which I highly recommend.
Bruce Mowbray: watched Transcendence just two nights ago.
Aphrodite Macbain: I haven't seen transcendence. Does it say anything new?
Bruce Mowbray: Well, yes, it does.
Aphrodite Macbain: listens
Bruce Mowbray: It was the first movie I know of to deal seriously and realistically with the artificial intelligence question.
Bruce Mowbray: It was made a few years ago....

Bruce Mowbray: (need to be gone. ... bring in the laundry from the clothesline before the storms hit.)
Bruce Mowbray: Be well!
Aphrodite Macbain: waves
Qt Core: bye
Qt Core: i think it is this one: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2209764/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Aphrodite Macbain: That was fun! I'm going to look into all your references Qt

Qt Core: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: Ah _ remember that now...(Transcendence)
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks Qt.
Aphrodite Macbain: Time for me to go now- Italian homework.....
Qt Core: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: bye - I hope you go to those movies
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: let us know what you think
Qt Core: have fun, we'll see