tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post5203007510462221981..comments2024-03-10T09:24:45.565+02:00Comments on Dispatches from Vilnius: Happy Birthday SpongeBob SquarePantsJames Fergusonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-26851472635595224202009-07-24T17:16:42.805+03:002009-07-24T17:16:42.805+03:00Yes, I loved that movie (and the book -- although ...Yes, I loved that movie (and the book -- although as I recall the woman in the book isn't nearly as charming as Anne Bancroft).<br /><br />And yes, I should only buy through ABE -- it's the association of used booksellers and they have ethics that they follow. <br /><br />I was trying to get Amazon to be more up front about their "ethics" which they also have but I guess it'avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-42748810351140644532009-07-24T14:12:24.401+03:002009-07-24T14:12:24.401+03:00One of the things I have enjoyed from booksellers ...One of the things I have enjoyed from booksellers using abebooks is that they are often very courteous. When my copy of Team of Rivals got mangled in the mail, the bookseller notified me and sent me another copy which arrived in one piece. I've sometimes received carefully wrapped books which had notes inside saying how much the bookseller had valued this particular book, like a little 1943James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-34967139312438884542009-07-24T14:06:35.910+03:002009-07-24T14:06:35.910+03:00Avrds, I purchase used books through abebooks, whi...Avrds, I purchase used books through abebooks, which I have found to be more reliable than amazon, which for some reason won't send used books to Lithuania anyway. I wouldn't hold my breath in regard to a satisfactory response from amazon. You will get no end of e-mails from Bangalore clerks reciting you chapter and verse of store policy without ever specifically addressing your James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-21498145123029851792009-07-24T05:18:13.739+03:002009-07-24T05:18:13.739+03:00Hope it turns out the book was sold in a library s...Hope it turns out the book was sold in a library sale, avrds. That's the only positive spin I can put on the situation. I know the discouraging feeling, though, but my most outraged was when I worked in my college library and found pages missing from some of its very expensive art books--it seems some folks were decorating their dorm rooms...NYT Perduhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05799504399477460783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-71614476709616371432009-07-23T19:16:38.912+03:002009-07-23T19:16:38.912+03:00940 pages! Wow! My summer reading is set:
http:...940 pages! Wow! My summer reading is set:<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/books/23maslin.htmlavrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-6286999319102153772009-07-21T07:05:30.324+03:002009-07-21T07:05:30.324+03:00I had an interesting ethical question come up toda...I had an interesting ethical question come up today -- I purchased a book on the Origins of Natural Science in America (it takes a certain type, I know) from an Amazon seller. <br /><br />This is not a rare book by any means, but I haven't found it until recently through Amazon. But when it arrived, I found out it was a library book with its card still in place.<br /><br />This is the avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-60201650842777730732009-07-21T06:42:25.271+03:002009-07-21T06:42:25.271+03:00Thanks, NY. It was only one person who interviewe...Thanks, NY. It was only one person who interviewed me -- the VP and co-Executive something -- so it seems to be her call. I don't think I can trump all that in-house experience, but you never know. They may need a consultant or something at some point -- which is how I usually work anyway. <br /><br />Still, they had close to 200 applicants and that they wanted to talk to me at all was a avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-16855078948818739472009-07-21T05:47:30.817+03:002009-07-21T05:47:30.817+03:00avrds: In your interview, did you find yourself ho...avrds: In your interview, did you find yourself hoping you were everyone's 2nd choice after the others knocked each other out? Fingers, toes and anything else crossable (maybe not eyes) securely in place for enlightenment to descend on choosers.NYT Perduhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05799504399477460783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-40242557770149415202009-07-20T11:37:51.246+03:002009-07-20T11:37:51.246+03:00We had to lug home a huge "Sponge Bob" d...We had to lug home a huge "Sponge Bob" drinking cup from Universal Studios when we went to America last year. Like Sponge Bob himself it was squeezable, which eased in fitting it into the luggage. Our little daughter prized it dearly.James Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901612633415337879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-7422559500853526292009-07-20T03:11:01.841+03:002009-07-20T03:11:01.841+03:00This one might be fun to read:
http://www.nytimes...This one might be fun to read:<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/books/review/Kennedy-t.htmlavrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-36702567838409970742009-07-19T06:21:37.228+03:002009-07-19T06:21:37.228+03:00On another meandering note, while in DC I had an i...On another meandering note, while in DC I had an interview with C-Span which is about to initiate a 48 hour programming series on the weekends focused on American history like they do on books. It would have meant moving to DC, but talk about a dream job...! <br /><br />The woman I talked to was very upfront -- I had to convince her to hire me over two other applicants who have worked there foravrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-2772297699724662462009-07-19T06:15:08.094+03:002009-07-19T06:15:08.094+03:00Well, in celebration of his birthday I may have to...Well, in celebration of his birthday I may have to seek out a brief meander with the sponge. I loved how the religious right found so much evil meaning in the show -- that should be worth watching the show if for no other reason. <br /><br />Regarding the Lears book, it really is interesting to see the contrast of economies and how the South was "developed" to concentrate capital and avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-11065118556222713612009-07-18T22:49:32.430+03:002009-07-18T22:49:32.430+03:00Why, thank you avrds, there was another almost ful...Why, thank you avrds, there was another almost full glass in the bottle...<br /><br />"The way he describes reconstruction of the South makes it almost sound like America's first colonial experience." I have heard it said that the South is unique in that it is the only part of the US that has been invaded and occupied by troops.<br /><br />I forgot about the wonderfully silly NYT Perduhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05799504399477460783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-46597889289885911002009-07-18T17:29:36.418+03:002009-07-18T17:29:36.418+03:00I have to confess I've never seen Sponge Bob, ...I have to confess I've never seen Sponge Bob, but I remember Robert talking about it before so thought we should meander around his birthday.avrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-40075101286583364022009-07-18T07:27:28.742+03:002009-07-18T07:27:28.742+03:00I finally broke down and got basic basic cable a f...I finally broke down and got basic basic cable a few weeks ago and I was surprised that it includes some of the cable tier.Last sat morning TV Land ran like 4hrs of Sponge Bob and I put off everything.It is so delightfully goofy that it sucks you in.I usually get to see it only in hotel rooms and when I stay with friends.On a more serious note the passing of Walter tonight is the end of the era JAbelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594625881177704355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9103772230302021699.post-87263870195084932062009-07-18T07:12:34.564+03:002009-07-18T07:12:34.564+03:00Happy belated birthday, New York. Hope you had th...Happy belated birthday, New York. Hope you had that extra glass of bubbly.<br /><br />It's my final night in DC -- was able to take in a last minute performance of an extremely provocative King Lear this evening -- I think this was the first time I've ever seen it live. Amazing.<br /><br />I did go by Ford's Theatre one evening and the house where Lincoln died which is just down theavrdshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997163948247445009noreply@blogger.com