Passover 2008

Literacy

Lines at the book chains suggest that reading is still a beloved pastime in the United States. Yet it is hard to believe that we in the 21st century read any more than we did before the birth of those Behemoths.

On the contrary, the Internet, Tivo and cable TV threaten to strangle the last drop of literacy out of us. I suspect that the majority of books purchased go unread. We are in the habit of buying books, not reading them.

So I extracted myself from my cynical mantle and set out in search of someone actually reading instead of surfing the net or talking on a cell phone. These are a few of the readers that I found:

In the neighborhood coffee shop. Notice the blue background. I'm learning how to use Photoshop.
My wonderful, kind, nervous, agitated bus driver on his short break.

A man on the #3 bus. In my mind, the NY Review of Books counts as a book-like collection of essays.

A woman in the gym:

So, maybe it's useful to ask ourselves these questions:

• What are we teaching children about the value of reading vs. the internet?
• What do they see adults doing all day long?
• Does a child ever see you read a book? (I include myself in the question).
  

Go out and look for readers this week. You will find a few. It's a really fun and gratifying and even inspiring game.

Dinner and a movie

Anatomical blooper:

Here's a little piece on Nepali cuisine. Here are some portraits of people in Nepal. The movie we saw was Bon Cop, Bad Cop. It was both bon and bad.

Community

Here it is April 2008, two years later. Our connections keep me inspired and hold me to high standards. I revel in illustrating during the week so that I can post on Sunday. I am having so much fun this year!

Let's keep encouraging one another in our growth as writers, knitters, photographers, birders, musicians, cooks, illutrators, film critics, enlightenment seekers, painters, gardners, readers, and peace makers.