The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store

 I just finished listening to the audiobook version of The Heaven and Earth Grocery Story by James McBride. What an amazing story and performance. I am eager now to get the printed version to read. If there was ever a story that every person, and especially young people, should read, this is it.

The story takes place in Pottstown, PA during the 1930s It's about the interactions among the Jewish and African-American residents in the poorer part of town, Chicken Hill. Hanging over them is the prejudice of the Anglo white people who control the economy and life of the town.

The old State Mental Hospital, Pennhurst, looms over the story. One of the reasons I liked this so much is that my daughter and her family live across the Schuylkill River in Spring City. A little over a year ago we went on a tour of the abandoned Pennhurst Hospital. The hospital was spooky enough just from a visit of the old buildings. But to imagine what life may have been like through the experiences of one of the story's main characters and another boy was almost too much to think about. 

As great as this book is, I wonder how many times it has been banned in schools around the country? In today's atmosphere I wouldn't be surprised. Here's a link to the book in Librarything. 

Discovery Center Videos in Order with Links

 

Six videos were produced in by the Ned Smith Center (https://nedsmithcenter.org/ ) in partnership with the Pennsylvania Forestry Association (https://paforestry.org/) to publicize the Forest Heritage Discovery Center at Caledonia State Park. There is still room for more.

• The Forest Heritage Discovery Center at Caledonia State Park (1) https://youtu.be/O9l0cxaSWJw?si=8jPEGrF4z9AvC3h6
•  Pennsylvania Conservation Pioneers (2) https://youtu.be/6SKrb4HwUcQ?si=MFUmcp0bfPwi7drw
• The Civilian Conservation Corps (3) https://youtu.be/VYZLAwj6a0w?si=TeohDyQlns3TP2So
• Wildfires / Smoky Bear (4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKS_xsgUAYQ&t=20s
• History of the Pennsylvania Forest Products Industry (5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrQDhRgJwPA&t=5s
•  Forest Fire Towers (6) https://youtu.be/BzwTofqwJKo?si=fUDCLb-EHo_qhzUe

 

Tales of Majipoor

 I have previously enjoyed Robert Silverberg's Majipoor novels with the story of Lord Valentine. I just came across a short story collection: Tales of Majipoor on Audible. The stories take place in different times in the history of the planet. It's very entertaining, thoughtful, and enjoyable. Listening to it makes the time go by and makes me think at the same time. More when I am finished.

The Stars Are Also Fire

 I just finished the Poul Anderson novel, The Stars Are Also Fire, by Poul Anderson. (https://www.librarything.com/work/49353/covers/218131789 ). I started the book and actually put it down for a few years after reading the first chapter. I finally decided to go back to it. 

It takes place far into the future, when the moon and asteroids are colonized. There are actually two stories, one from the settlement of the moon and the other further in the future when the moon people, lunarians, are looking for a way to leave and go further out.

Somethings I don't like. The author is opposed to government and wants freedom. The main company, Fireball, is bigger and in many ways more powerful than the world government. Why did they let a corporation get so powerful?

One of the issues is that humans can't bear healthy children on the moon. So they create a genetically altered race of humans, called lunarians. They look a little like the elves in Lord of the Rings. However, they are generally not very nice or heroic, people. Who can stand having them around, anyway?

In the future story, there is a big distinction between robots, which are not self-aware, and sophotects, which are. However, all the computers and networks have merged together into one self-aware intelligence called the terramind. The terramind doesn't really need people, but keeps them around almost like pets, or maybe for nostalgic reasons. Why did people let the terramind develop? It would have made more sense to limit the machines. That would have made an interesting story. 

Finally, as the two heroes of the future story travel around earth they find different races of humans that were developed to deal with certain environments or functions. Then when that is no longer needed they don't have anything to do and the rest of the humans don't like them. It doesn't make sense that people allowed this to happen. What we have seen in human history is that standard humans can learn to adapt to any environment, no genetic alterations needed. And in our world all the humans can breed, no problem.

Haunted House

This scene when I came on campus seemed like a haunted house. It is abandoned, by the way.

Beans on the couch. He usually sits on the floor.

Japanese Zelkova

While at University Park on Monday, I walked past this tree on my way to a meeting. I couldn't figure out what it was. With the help of my students I realized it was a Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata). Click here for more information. It has really interesting leaves.

And it was great to see the beautiful flower beds, too.