tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395023437638398976.post6603965017163288891..comments2017-11-07T23:15:30.289-08:00Comments on new country for old ben: It's a good thing they don't weigh carry-on luggageAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07402774460447804889noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395023437638398976.post-33593409774668257792008-08-09T16:51:00.000-07:002008-08-09T16:51:00.000-07:00Chuck,I bought the Sturgeon book. It's in my carr...Chuck,<BR/><BR/>I bought the Sturgeon book. It's in my carry-on and I'm planning on reading it on the plane. It's been very hard to keep myself from starting it early.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402774460447804889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395023437638398976.post-85227196841394803102008-07-26T10:50:00.000-07:002008-07-26T10:50:00.000-07:00Take Sturgeon's "Touch of the Strange" over the Jo...Take Sturgeon's "Touch of the Strange" over the John Cheever. Less thick and more satisfying for the soul...<BR/>I've found that I take twice as many books as I really need for a long trip. You'll want to see the country, meet the people, play with your wife. I'd suggest leaving caches of books with friends---if it turns out that you are really jonesing for Raymond Carver or Pablo Neruda, they can ship them to you (or the embassy).Chuck Von Nordheimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06280551531804038519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395023437638398976.post-7679047028951195072008-07-24T21:49:00.000-07:002008-07-24T21:49:00.000-07:00Dear One, You have a photographic memory. Preten...Dear One,<BR/> You have a photographic memory. Pretend you have been taken captive. Memorize the ones that are essential. It will force you to decide what is essential.<BR/><BR/>MamacitaDr. Nancy Champion Cartwrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03333671046151642107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395023437638398976.post-20036909072336096332008-07-23T16:17:00.000-07:002008-07-23T16:17:00.000-07:00I say fill your bag with 50 lbs of bricks and watc...I say fill your bag with 50 lbs of bricks and watch the look of surprise on the TSA person's face when they open it up. It would make for a good post on your blog ...<BR/><BR/>Hmmm...books...<BR/><BR/>You could always get a phone card and call back here to have someone read you part of a book you miss...<BR/><BR/>Why don't you just beam some books into your head with that PC6 thingy?<BR/><BR/>Good luck over there!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395023437638398976.post-21585489457724444142008-07-21T14:48:00.000-07:002008-07-21T14:48:00.000-07:00Benny,Just a heads up, but when I went to Japan th...Benny,<BR/><BR/>Just a heads up, but when I went to Japan they DID weigh carry-on baggage. The lady in front of me in DC obviously had a bag that was too heavy and they made here check it. It probably depends on the airline, but just wanted to pass along the warning.<BR/><BR/>- JasonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395023437638398976.post-13274870972101199422008-07-21T14:06:00.000-07:002008-07-21T14:06:00.000-07:00This is all good advice. Thanks you three. The o...This is all good advice. Thanks you three. The only problem with the public domain texts is that sometimes the government decides to block all access to Western websites, sometimes for several weeks, if there's something going on (this happened when Erin was teaching over there and the American spy plane went down in Chinese airspace). <BR/><BR/>I almost bought an Amazon Kindle. That is actually a frustrating story; if Kindles had been out for about a year, there would probably be more texts that I need available to purchase, and then I'd happily use that the entire time. It's sort of like when Itunes came out; it took awhile for the licensing to catch up. I think I'm going to have to go through all the books again. Man! This is hard.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402774460447804889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395023437638398976.post-31679382285578425422008-07-21T12:20:00.000-07:002008-07-21T12:20:00.000-07:00Have you looked to see if any of your favorites ar...Have you looked to see if any of your favorites are in the public domain and therefore available for free online? I know books are nicer than computers, but if it's the actual text you need to reference you might be able to get by without the physical book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395023437638398976.post-48811500112647708872008-07-21T11:49:00.000-07:002008-07-21T11:49:00.000-07:00taking a few serious go to's--ones that make you f...taking a few serious go to's--ones that make you feel whatever emotion you're needing to feel, is a good idea. but to give yourself a broad scope, bring new stuff. i recommend, in fact, bringing something you're not even sure you like, because a new place and new experiences may make you fall in love with the genius poetic expression that is jewel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3395023437638398976.post-88414215376985394432008-07-21T11:36:00.000-07:002008-07-21T11:36:00.000-07:00Two things, Ben (I know I could just tell you this...Two things, Ben (I know I could just tell you this, since you're sitting right beside me as I type, but your post looked lonely without any comments, so thus, I comment):<BR/>1. I like how all your blog entries include lists.<BR/>2. I recommend taking new stuff more than old, comforting stuff. You might read some of that comforting stuff if you take it, but I remember constantly looking for something new to read when I was living in China.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com