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It is -2 C with a high forecast of +11 C. Sunrise 7:54 Sunset 18:47 Hours of daylight: 10:53.
See current Lethbridge forecast here. See current Lethbridge news here.
This page last updated on: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 5:31 AM
Today we will have our Thanksgiving turkey. Showers are forecast for this afternoon.
Yesterday's venture into geology, sparked by the Earth Cache I saw at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, and further kindled by the reading I have done about two Earth Caches for Edmonton, have me eager to return to this topic. I recall taking Geology 201 in first year university in 1961, and thoroughly enjoying it. But with rain forecast for this afternoon, I am not too sure about venturing out to complete the requirements for having "found" Earth Quest #2. I will see how the day goes.
| Learning Category | Planned Activities for Today | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Literature | Continue slow reading "Midnight's Children" by Salman Rushdie | 2 hr |
| Geocaching | Look at Edmonton Earth Cache #2 | 2 hr |
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie |
|
| Book Two | chapter 16 Alpha and Omega |
| Characters | Saleem Sinai: the narrator |
| Quotes |
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| Summary | Historically, this chapter mentions the riots in Bombay following a general election that showed a strong split in the parties and the idea of partition. Because of the severe drought, and the presence of water where the Sinai's lived, they were overrun with a plague of cats. Then Evie arrived with her air gun and shot them. This infuriated the Brass Monkey who started a fight with Evie and thoroughly beat her. Evie and her father moved back to the US a few weeks later. But the chapter is primarily about the events in Saleem's head, and "the early days of the association of the midnight children". There were 581midnight children still alive in India from the original 1001. Only Saleem and Shiva had the power to communicate with them, but Saleem could set things up so they could all communicate with one another through his mind. They would "meet" for one hour, between midnight and 1 am and have a national forum among themselves. Saleem introduces the ideas of purpose and meaning to the group of midnight children and they put forward a wide variety of suggestions: collectivism, individualism, filial duty, infant revolution, capitalism, altruism, science, religion, courage, cowardice, women's rights, power, ... but fail to realize that there is a downside to their unusual gifts. During a fight at the school dance, Saleem's finger is cut off by a slamming door. He is rushed to a hospital where they determine his blood type so they may give him a transfusion. This leads to the discovery that he is not the son of his parents. |
I am only half way through this story, but I am captivated by its scope. I have always been impressed with Rushdie's way with words, but this novel is a delight at the level of imagination and the contrast between history as we know it and history as it may have been, and between the history of a nation and the history of a family.
At this point I have decided to stop making notes for the novel. I have the structure of the story firmly in hand and am anxious to return to a more normal speed, rather than stay at the level of "slow reading". If I feel that I am missing something, I can always return to this point and continue making these notes. But now the story is the thing, analysis secondary.
I am back from a successful Earth Cache trip to downtown Edmonton. Here is a report of my activity
Books on the Go Today |
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