I am really, really tired today. I’ve worked hard on the dollhouse all week, the heat and humidity are back, I’m dealing with ongoing congestion. We found out a dear friend of Don’s died yesterday. I knew him as well, but he and Don go back decades. Then one of the women in my smaller text group heard from Joe. He hasn’t moved to the rehab facility. He’s still in the hospital and he’s very frustrated. The hospital wants Joe to go to acute rehab and Joe said he desperately needs to go there, but insurance is fighting it. He also said he is very, very weak and they are dealing with numerous problems caused by the ECMO machine – something I feared might happen.
Then I read a series of posts/articles about the drop in literacy in this country, something that is now being called “Post Literacy.” Much of it is due to smart phones, declining attention spans, with people losing the desire to read. If you search, you can learn about this. It’s depressing as hell. I’ve run into it online – a bunch of younger people on Threads were asking authors to use “smaller words.” I was shocked. Professors are finding that students doing take-home exams cheated using ChatGPT – which is AI. Less and less Americans are reading books. People consume information in shorter spans but spend much less time engaging in critical thinking and “long-form reading and critical analysis.” Some of this I have pulled from Aaron Parnas – whose independent journalism I follow, and from a in-depth Substack post that Don forwarded to me.
It’s really bad.
And I felt a twinge of unease because I realize I am reading less and less. Lately the dollhouse has been taking up time, and the stress from the current administration can be all-consuming, but I’ve had to force myself to sit down with a novel and stay away from my devices. So, I too, am addicted. That has to change.
I’m beginning to think that the smart phone should never have been invented.
I’m taking steps to change that in my life. Turning off my devices, working outside more, and reading a LOT more. Reading has always been my greatest comfort and pleasure. I need to get back to it. I started this morning – I read a chunk from the newest Maggie O’Farrell – Land.
I took this picture this morning:
I’m taking a break from the dollhouse today. I need a day off.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
sincere condolences to you and don on the passing of a friend. hope you both can do something peaceful for yourselves and have an easy day.
keeping joe and you, don and everyone else in my prayers!
agreeing with you about the scary-bad impacts of “smart” phones on society (including me). long ago i set limits for myself (no facebook or tiktok, for starters, and yes to time limits). i can’t blame “smart” phones for my not reading; that’s due to depression. but i’ve once again been making myself read before bed and hopefully it’s becoming a nice little habit. despite having a stack of available books, for me it depends upon having a book that pretty quickly grabs my interest, so i appreciate recommendations and you mentioning a title here and there. (how about another “what are you reading? ” post sometime? please and thanks!).
after a nice walk and feeding earl and the birds, we got the ladder out and cleaned/polished the outdoor lights, windexed their little glass windows this morning (and got hot … ugh). all worthwhile. and done. :)
happy, safe friday!
kathy
Thanks so much, Kathy.
Stay safe.
I’m reading more on my phone (easy in the middle of the night when I wake up)–easier to snuggle with the kitty. Plus a huge reader (librarian of 41 years). Not this being a librarin (unfortunately means you’re a reader–you’d be suprised!) I probably have 10 books checked out on Kindle Unlimited right now. Always a mix of mysteries, biographies (love film & theater biographies). Keep meaning to reread Myrna Loy’s amazing autobiography “Being & Becoming” from Hoopla as I see it’s available. But I’m seeing fewer and fewer requests from students for novels. Years ago when I worked on the East side at the end of ever Summer I would be restocking the paperback classics rack for school assignments. But my system has discarded paperback racks, amazing, huh? Aesthetics I presume. With renovations of branches that make them look cold & short shelving mainly unless they’re attached to the walls which means a much smaller collection. I can’t imagine being a teacher in this climate with the rise of AI. And big words? Love them. Love British writers as I know I’ll have to look of new words. Off on Sat to see James Cagney on the big screen in “Yankee Doodle Dandy”. Have missed seeing this somehow. Keep telling people I’m go so as to force myself to leave the house on Sat! I’ll keep saying prayers for your friend .
I cannot even begin to imagine how hard it must be for teachers right now!
Thanks so much for your insights as a librarian, Lucinda.
Stay safe.
I’m sorry about the death of your friend. We’re at an age when that is happening more often than we wish. And not great news about Joe, but at least you heard something, which seems a step up. I hear you on the smart phones. I try to use mine like a landline, not carrying it everywhere I go unless I’m expecting a call. Others can leave a message. I will take it at night, in case of car trouble. I try not to use it much to check email or anything else, though it’s handy for a quick look-up or map. But overall, no.
I need to be stricter about turning it off for long periods of time!
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
I found myself just scrolling mindlessly in the morning when I first got up, just wasting time, ultimately. I looked for something to replace it, something that would be a bit meditative and mindful. Since June 1st I have been doing a a “daily stitch” project. It’s just a long piece of cloth, divided up into 2″ squares, in which I do some kind of stitching each ( early) morning. Sometimes it takes 15 minutes, sometimes half an hour or a bit more. No plan, just what my needle and thread tell me I need to do each day. Sometimes it looks good, sometimes I don’t particularly like what I’ve done, but that’s not the point. The point is to use my time productively, creatively, and not be on a screen. Working well so far; I haven’t missed a day yet.
That’s a great idea, Denise!
Thanks so much.
Stay safe.
Thank you for expressing your feelings about smart phones and AI. I totally agree. I’m very concerned about our future generation.
Thank you, Mary.
Stay safe.
Condolences on the passing of your friend. I hope your friend in the hospital gets things straightened out and gets to rehab soon. The health care system and insurance system is broken.
I have always been a reader and read to my kids and grandkids when they were little. They all read and use the library. I use my phone and an e-reader more often than physical books. It is just more convenient. That’s how younger people do much of their reading too. I do believe that in general young people read less though, and are tied to their phones. Phones have changed our lives for good and bad.
Take care
The cell phone itself is good. The smart phone is not so good for us.
The light behind the print on a phone or e-reader makes reading difficult for me. I need the book itself.
Thanks, Marilyn.
Stay safe.
I am sorry for the passing of yours and Don’s friend. My heart felt condolences.
I shall keep sending morning thoughts for healing to your friend Joe. I found an old tee shirt of mine the other day that said “Health care is a civil right.” I hope some day it will be in this country.
I, too, share your concerns about literacy. Uninformed and the uneducated are threats to democracy. Look where we are with a very uneducated pres. I have always said that reading is my best friend. I am so glad that it has been my faithful friend since childhood. A comfort and a joy.
I wish you cool nights,
Kaye
I often say that reading saved me.
Thanks so much, Kaye.
Stay safe.
Hi Claudia! I am “cell phone resistant”. I hate hate hate my phone and refuse to use it for many things “everyone” uses it for. I do text my Mom (turns 95 tomorrow!) from time to time and send her pics as it is her only internet. But my phone doesn’t listen to my finger… never has as far as I can remember. But even aside from that, I don’t want to have to carry it everywhere and answer it all the time…. I like my quiet time and independence from media! I gave up fb and never started with pinterest….. I knew it would use up too much of my time. I still have my landline because it is also my internet provider. I like old fashioned paper books. I like pictures big enough to really see the details! I like listening to “nature’s music” not a steady stream of someone else’s opinions and ideas. So I’m a curmudgeon, but I get my creative stuff done in the quiet… and like it that way. :) I love to read and prefer the old fashioned classics and historical works. I have also been concerned about the young people not being interested in reading… it does not bode well for the future.
I hope Joe gets help with his insurance issues…. and I hope he gets the care he needs too!
Well, we have to have our cell phones for our work – not being able to communicate that way would make the kind of freelance work Don and I do
impossible. It’s not an option. But how much time we spend with the phone in our hands IS an option. That’s what I’m working on.
Thanks so much, Betsy.
Stay safe.
AMEN to this! It’s very scary to think of the damage being done by smart phones, etc. The educational system is terrible … my 14 year old niece never has homework, and rarely has to make up work missed on absent days. She struggles to tell time on a non-digital clock, and is terrible at counting out money (example: I have to ask her for 3 quarters instead of asking for 75 cents). She uses her phone for everything. And she is an A/B student … for whatever that’s worth these days!
So glad you had some news about Joe. I’m praying right now that Joe’s insurance will step up. Insurance is so frustrating!
Oh, this is very upsetting! I’m so glad I did not go through any of my education (including grad school) with smart phones in existence!
Thanks so much, Debbie.
Stay safe.
Sorry that a good friend of Don’s has passed away. Hope your friend Joe is able to move to his desired place for convalescence and awful that Insurance are quibbling.
It’s not just the US where there’s been a decline in reading. There’s a direct correlation since the introduction of smart phones and gaming.
Probably because of busy working lives, fewer people are reading to their kids or taking them to libraries.
This year in the UK, it’s been designated ‘Year of Reading’ by the National Reading Agency which has been a government body for many years.
Every year in libraries we have a themed Summer Reading Challenge whereby children have to read at least six books in the school holidays. This year all the books have a musical connection.
The children receive stickers and a certificate on completion.
Every year, there’s less interest which is so sad.
I always say it doesn’t matter if children are reading comic books, as long as they are reading something.
However, we still have lots of paperbacks for borrowing!
Yes, of course – I forgot about gaming! That has had a huge impact.
Praying that the current lack of reading turns around. It’s quite frightening at present.
Stay safe, Dee Dee.