Dear Jim: Walter Cronkite is, by far, the most amazing
news reporter and foreign correspondent of all time! His
gentle yet commanding voice of authority and familiar face
was as comforting as being at home. Walter connects me
immediately to the early 60's excellence in news reporting,
in particular the Apollo space flights. Bringing a keen
human interest to the headlines, Walter humanized the news
and made the news accessible for everyone. It did feel that
Walter's unique personality made us feel that he was right
in the room with you, as comforting as an old friend or
surrogate father. Fondly remembered are the "moon shots"
and Walter Cronkite love of space flight, and inspired my
love of space. As a living legend Walter Cronkite's star
will shine brightly for us, leading the way for future
space reporting. As the next stage of space flight and
return to the moon with the Orion project it will difficult
to fill Walter Cronkite's footprints. Like the footprints
on the moon made by the Apollo astronauts Walter's imprint
leaves lasting and indelible impressions. Thank-you, Walter
Cronkite for being there through these extraordinary life
moments in time. Blessings to Walter and his family! Jane
Jones---
Dear Gayle: Please forgive my typo in the last post. My
computer cannot keep up with my lightening-speed typing
digits! I meant to say "offensive", as in; the online Crit
groups are very often cruelly offensive. It is good to know
that you have constructive critism groups available in the
US. Yes, the online groups were not very helpful at all.
Gayle, do you meet privately with other "critiquers" (is
that the word?)on a weekly basis? Is this meet and greet
group a "meat and potatoes" operative who freely assert
their values in the form of writer's essentials; plot(and
subplots), characters, dialogue,scene, setting, atmosphere,
analytic compare and contrast, syntax, style, etc? Does the
Crit group "get down to brass tacks"? Or is the sole
purpose of the Crit group for other nefarious purposes such
as editing, grammar, spelling, ect errors?
It would be wonderful to connect or network with a
professional group of writers in my hometown. Libraries may
be a good place to advertise. Also, I would love to join a
book club.
Has anyone here had any positive experience with weekly
book clubs? It would remind me of my university days
studying Forms of Fiction from Homer to Kafka. The books
were stacked and were taller than me, yet I managed to read
them all at least once, if not three times each. Most
students had read each novel at least three times and were
schooled in the classics from an early age, as their
daddies were often departmental heads at the University.
Much knowledge having been obtained from tutorial teachers
(TA's) discussing the detailed aspects of the classic
works. Professors can be far too busy assigning tasks,
planning the next class with the tactical approach to
historically analyzing the context, and style of the
novel's particular epoch.
The complimentary essays, by the great essayists and men
and women of letters also had to be read after the initial
1000 plus books were read. The reading was hard on the
eyeballs after a time. To read by the midnight oil after a
long day of walking for miles to classes became so
hypnotically exhausting, that I would often have many books
surrounding me like sleeping lovers.
After the literary masterpieces were briefly discussed, the
student had to sort, correlate and compilate the streams of
data. Luckily, today the students have the computer with
major works online to read. The cost of many books being
somewhat prohibitive. Sparx Notes being an excellent site
for the nascent reader of the classics. If we were caught
reading Coles Notes (brief summary on the classics) we
surely failed, but luckily I did not fail.
There must have been prying professors spying on the eager
student in bookstores purchasing Coles notes Either that or
there was a network of the literati divining powers unto
the righteous Coles Notes non-imbibers.
Glad those halcyon days are far behind me as I clamour to
find new footing on the rungs on that ever-expanding
ladder to the books. Continuing forever onwards and upwards
past the Five Foot Hight Shelf of Books at the Carnegie
library of the mundane and esoteric information. Knowledge
being like that never ending spiral to the Infinite and
Beyond! It is worth the climb! Jane Jones
Dear Karen, Carl, Dafydd; Glastonbury may hold secrets yet. There may have been
a secret cult (such as the Rosecrucians for example) who's sole purpose could
have been to withhold key information on Arthur's whereabouts or
reliquarian(vessel where bones, etc., of the departed is kept)remains. I dont
want to sound like another conspiracy theorist, but the idea that there may be
hidden codes (as per the DaVinci Code by Dan Brown)within Glastonbury's walls,
floors, crypt eras could be an exciting study. Does anyone know if there are any
ongoing investigations as to the hidden world of Arthur's remains? (Do I hear
"book deal"?)Jane Jones
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