Pickels, Doddles, and Webkinz R awsum

[Shengirl]

It's nice to know other people got in trouble for reading during class. Hell, I still do that in college sometimes; I'm just more slick about it.

I do have to confess that I never finished the Lord of the Rings trilogy. After reading The Hobbit a few times, I just had to get my hands on the continuation of the story! I read Fellowship, but I gave up halfway through The Two Towers. This was way back in middle school, but I still don't really feel inclined to try again. Tolkein just rubs me the wrong way with his verbosity.

[cinema guy]

I read Fellowship, but I gave up halfway through The Two Towers. This was way back in middle school,

Me too. Two Towers drags. I did go back and read it again years later. I've read it several times since.

[LadyAndreca]

My parents both love to read, and have collected enough books to have a room designated as a library. I taught myself to read by reciting Dr. Seuss along with them, something they didn't realize until they bought me a new one and I read it to them! I really can't remember not being able to read.

My mom has a great story about me in kindergarten: My name starts with 'C', so when we were doing letters the teacher asked me for words starting with C. I completely floored her by replying "Constantinople". She REFUSED to believe I knew that word until Mom finally figured out I'd gotten it from Hop on Pop. (*I* knew it was a city; I'd asked Dad when I first came across it.)

When we moved when I was in 6th grade, my parents told my new teachers to take away my books or I wouldn't pay attention in class. My teachers were understandably HORRIFIED that any parent could SUGGEST such a thing about such a bright child...until they'd been around me a few weeks. I paid MUCH better attention when they held my precious books hostage!

I spent most of my extra money in high school and college on books, too. I never had money for anything else because every time I got my workstudy paycheck I'd head down to B&N and come back weighted down with new books. My roommate was NOT amused, but I did keep them stacked on my side of the room so she couldn't say much.

Slightly back on topic, I have a lot of trouble intentionally misspelling words or mangling grammar. This can be traced back to my middle school english teacher, who took off 5 points for every misplaced comma in a paper, and to my senior english teacher, who took TEN off for every mistake. I don't understand how people can intentionally do it. Sure, everyone misspells things sometimes, but 'was' and 'like' are NOT difficult words!

[Nekojin]

This thread just reminded me of one of my high school teachers - the guy who taught the Science Fiction class (and a number of other literature classes as well). He was well-known for having a hatred for jocks, and liked the geeks. It wasn't hard to figure out why - the jocks did everything they could to get out of reading, while the geeks would finish the books and ace the tests every time.

The funny part is that he didn't care what the geeks did in class, as long as we had read the assigned books. He stated this up-front on the first day of class - as long as you did the assigned work, whatever else you did in his class was up to you (ideally, reading other recommended books).

Our first book was Starship Troopers, and we had 2 weeks to read it. I finished it the first night. The second day, I pulled out a different book and started reading. He spotted that, asked me three questions about Starship Troopers (one of which was a meta-question - asking what I thought the story was actually about), and when I answered them all, he grunted, waved his hand, and started harrassing the jocks that were goofing off.

He never asked me to prove that I'd read an assignment after that, and I got an easy A, of course.

[Andara Bledin]

My name starts with 'C', so when we were doing letters the teacher asked me for words starting with C. I completely floored her by replying "Constantinople".

But it's Istanbul, not Constantinople...

^-.-^

[AriRashkae]

In 4th grade, I was the designated "Titanic geek" in the afterschool group when we had a Titanic-themed week (trivia, models, documentaries, etc).

Were you close enough to visit Indian Orchard (Springfield) MA? They supposedly have quite the Titanic museum/memorial. titanic1.org

[GoldFinch]

Me too. Two Towers drags. I did go back and read it again years later. I've read it several times since.

I read the Two Towers during my senior year of high school and it did drag something awful. I enjoyed it and all but the part with the Ents just went on for sooooooooo loooooooong.

[ShinyGreenApple]

I read the Two Towers during my senior year of high school and it did drag something awful.

As much as I'll admit to being an avid Ringer, I have to agree with that. The Two Towers is probably my least favorite of the three books, or maybe it just has the 'second part' curse.

[Sir Spaniard the 12th]

I love reading so much. I'm currently on a classic literature kick, such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and some Tolstoy (though that one seems a tad boring).

Lord of the Rings does drag a bit... I skip most of the sections where Sam and Frodo walk ... and walk... and walk, when I read it now. But it's still one of my favourite books.


One thing which really annoys me is when I've got my nose deep into a book, and people are trying to talk to me... They can wait till I'm done with the book for the time being. I really dislike having my attention torn from a good, engrossing book.

And yeah, I'm the same with my chores... I'll do a little bit, then start on the bookcase... And 15 minutes later I'll be standing there, 3 chapters in, not moving.

And as for people butchering English in phone texts and online.... that irks me so badly I can't help but going off at the person sometimes....


The Titanic/Hitler thing? How could someone not know about that? Sure, they may not have read/studied it in school/ignored it.. But what about references in culture/TV/wherever? I don't get how people wouldn't know the Titanic didn't sink, even before the movie...

[GoldFinch]

As much as I'll admit to being an avid Ringer, I have to agree with that. The Two Towers is probably my least favorite of the three books, or maybe it just has the 'second part' curse.

Really? I actually liked Two Towers best. I'm not really sure why, it just really appeals to me. >_> And while I have read the other two...I never actually finished them. And that's because at the time I kept a book in the living that I would read (Return of the King), then I had one in my bedroom and one that I'd read at school. I had gotten distracted by one of the books and when I went to finish Return of the King I couldn't focus on it as well as I had before. I really should go back and reread all three plus reread The Hobbit for the millionth time.

[starla671]

You know what's really scary? Most kids are like that now. With the Internet, TV, and vid games being so popular. Kids don't want to bother reading books.

One of my favorite activities when I was growing up was reading.

This was before cable, so we got a total of about 7 channels. i was allowed to watch Sesame Street, The Electric Co, and the once a year holiday specials - oh yeah, and my Saturday night treat was The Price is Right, followed by Emergency (yes, i'm showing my age).

I loved the Electric Company! Yes, I'm an oldie too! I remember the days of having only a few channels on the TV!

[Broomjockey]

I tried reading Huckleberry Finn in grade 2. Kept it about a week, then gave up because of the "weird spellings." I had my books threatened multiple times for not paying attention in class, and the time that the teacher in High School Physics said "And if everyone could just put away their book, please?" Everyone looked at me. I would have been one of those that loads up at the library, except I can't stand reading library books. Every book I've ever not finished has been a library book. Huck Finn, Thomas Covenant, Red/Blue/Green Mars.

[protege]

One thing which really annoys me is when I've got my nose deep into a book, and people are trying to talk to me... They can wait till I'm done with the book for the time being. I really dislike having my attention torn from a good, engrossing book.

I *hate* that! Pissed me off no end...considering what they're trying to tell me is usually something that *can* wait

But it's Istanbul, not Constantinople...

^-.-^

Has anyone found out where Particle Man lives?

[Gurndigarn]

Still, even if you haven't learned about Hitler in school then there are other opportunities in school to do so.

Yeah, but as the generation that lived through it dies off, the war becomes less of an immediacy, and becomes simply an important historical fact-- IE, people know it happened but don't care about the details. Kind of like the Civil War (USA) or the local equivalents-- most people know that there was a battle at Gettysburg (possibly even which side won it)-- maybe that Atlanta got torched-- and the north won-- but that's about it for the general populace.

Admittedly, Hitler is one of those "big" details that ought to stick around in our collective memory... but let's face it: not everyone is bright enough to realize the value of intelligence.

[Shabo]

Has anyone found out where Particle Man lives?

He had a fight with Triangle Man, and Triangle Man won, remember? I'm not sure that means that Particle Man is still alive.