Golly, I'll keep all of this in mind!

RRA1 - Brooks Robinson was a famous baseball player from the late 1950s through the mid-70s. Baseball was more important to Americans then than even football. Do I publish anything? No. I doubt that I have anything to say that anyone would want to read! Instead, I read just about anything I can. BTW, what is your hometown?

I've been to New York City  a dozen or so times, but never to Brighton Beach. There was "reality" show in recent years called Russian Dollsthat takes place in Brighton Beach. It features Russian emigres who live there, but only focuses on the very materialistic, money-worshipping few. All of the women have have a lot of obvious plastic surgery, demand $20,000 for a casual trip to the jewelry store, and the men drive cars that cost more than my house. In other words, the emphasis is very stereotypical, and others in the community are a bit annoyed by that. Still, I enjoyed looking for glimpses of actual culture. One restaurant is called Tatiana, another Rasputin. A common gathering place is a bath house, and one person spoke
guardedly about his family's experiences over generations in the then-USSR before emigrating. 

Love your self-confidence!

SmileBrian - BR was quite a cultural icon in his day, a real role model.

The Captain - Were you raised Missouri Synod? This denomination of Lutheranism seems very conservative compared to the more mainstream ELCA the other group that merged  with them in the not-too-distant  past. I know a Lutheran couple who traveled to Kansas and stopped in a Missouri Synod church on a Sunday morning. An usher came to them after they were seated and asked them if they were MSL. When they said no, but Lutheran, he told them that they were welcome but would not be permitted to take communion.

RRA1 - I agree that it would be nice for there to be more programs for adults at libraries. I suppose the reasoning behind the focus on children is that they want to get them "hooked" on reading as early and as long as possible, whereas adults are as engaged with reading, for better or worse, as they ever will be. I am a reading specialist who struggles daily with many kids who read well below their grade level. They typically were not read to when young, were not taken to the library and encouraged to read, etc.

HaHaHa! I followed Mean Girl into the girl's room to say that I was "sorry - are you OK?" very, very insincerely. This girl was the quintessential
peer-pressure conformist/enforcer we spoke of in Pet Peeves.
 
I would not be shocked if Hitler had impersonators, although I have not read that. I have read that Stalin had some impersonators. He was very paranoid, by all accounts, so it makes sense that he would want to be less of a target for would-be assassins.

I can't say that I believe UFOs, the Yeti, etc. I keep an open mind in case we actually get evidence, not the always-grainy photos that are ubiquitous. Same with ghosts. They may exist, but the only people I know who talk of their experiences with them tend to be deceptive, insincere people.

RRA1 - I'd LOVE to attend Library Night! Do you live in Moscow? That sounds so very cool. our libraries have a lot of kids' programs, lots of reading-related activities, crafts, teddy bear tea parties, etc. I've not heard of anything like you describe, though. Some schools have overnight sleep-overs on a Friday or Saturday in which there is a lot of reading, aloud and/or not, discussions, pizza, and the like.

The Captain - Now THAT'S entertainment! Seriously, whether or not Barker's tome is all accurate, I think that it would be very unlikely that the texts that we today consider essential to early Judaism and Christianity did not have antecedents that likely featured polytheistic frameworks, or, at least, in more monotheistic thinking, lesser gods. Many people seem unaware of the selectivity with which texts were used, altered, borrowed, synthesized and edited over the centuries into what we have today.

I hear you, RRA1. I was keenly aware of peer pressure beginning in, maybe second grade. Even then, I found it the degree to which kids would go to to be part of the crowd, to be "in" to be annoying. I learned what I had to do and how to present myself in order to avoid bullies (and get along in the workplace), but other than that, I made no effort to conform. If it appeared that I was, for example, in fashion, it was only because I liked it or it was a clear professional expectation. I wore my hair very short when EVERY girl wore it at least shoulder length; this filtered out guys who wanted a girlfriend who conformed to their peers' ideal female, the one that is found in centerfolds. There were plenty of males left over who commented that they liked my hair because it showed my face better. I went to few parties because they were just excuses to for kids to drink and do drugs, and just never bought into the fixation teenage girls had with talking on the phone for hours and hours. I had friends, pretty much other kids who were comfortable being themselves. It is true, though, that some people have a greater need than others to fit in with the "cool people" for no other reason than to do it. I'm nice to everyone, but feel a bit less respect for them, would not seek them out personally or socially. 

Come to think of it, I have read of library "amnesty," in which if patrons just give back the darn books, they are not required to pay fines. New York City Public Library did it for kids recently. Some municipalities, and the US government may offer amnesty for taxes. This typically means forgiveness of all or part of penalties, interest, or some of the original amount owed. 

I truly believe that peer pressure exists in every single culture (and micro-culture), only the behaviors,objects, etc. that are the targets differ. Go to certain places in the Middle East, for example, and see the pressure women put on other women to be extremely modest. Ditto Orthodox Jewish communities - go to one of their schools, see a girl with the top of her blouse unbuttoned, and you will probably see her friends bringing her to back to the expected standard. My own sons were made fun of mercilessly because they had no interest in having sex with girls, then women, with whom they were not in a loving, committed relationship. They were called gay, but didn't care because they were comfortable with their own sexuality. In some denominations of Christianity (throughout the world), marriage partners are pressured by their social group to stay together, no matter how miserable or even in danger they may be; divorce results in loss of peer support and interaction. The old anthropology major in me could give many examples of groups in the Amazon or in the Philippines in which refusal to succumb to peer pressure can be deadly.

Love the idea of a food donation in lieu of fine. "Forgiving Day" is even better. I accumulate a lot of fines because I get books for my students, who rarely have access to libraries.

Survey answers:

1. I know what to use when, but only bother with what utensil to use when if I am at a formal dinner, wedding reception, etc. Otherwise, I use what makes sense to me. Still, it's always good to know the rules to use when you choose to - knowledge is power!

2. I never lose my temper when in a long line. If a situation were life-threatening, I would probably react strongly if someone cut in front of me. Really, though, people who do that just look like jerks and I don't give them an ounce of my energy. Besides, they eventually butt in front of the wrong person and...

3. My dearest memory of school was in 12th grade. My locker was next to a girl who went out of her way to say mean things about me. She was very popular - prom queen, head cheerleader, blah blah blah. Anyway, I had to dissect a pregnant cat during my last class. I wrapped the baby in tissue and took it to my locker, knowing that the Mean Girl would soon be there, pushing me out of her way to get her coat to go home. So I said, "Look! Isn't it cute?" She looked at it and turned a greenish shade, then ran to the restroom. I followed to and said that I was really sorry as she threw up in a toilet. 

4. I would never want to be a boss of anyone other than myself. Having been a supervisor in several jobs was enough of a nightmare.

5. This is a tough question. I learn things I never knew in many books. However, most eye-opening was The Nazi Doctors: Medical Killing and the Psychology of Genocide.  It was written by a psychiatrist who went around the world interviewing peers who had been involved in the Holocaust. I knew, of course, about the experiments on human subjects, but was unaware of the huge role psychiatrists and psychologist played in developing the genocidal system in such a way that perpetrators were spared the psychological angst and feeling of personal responsibility for killing. For example, when the Einsatzgruppen were sent to Ukraine to round up Jews and shoot them into pits, they often could not cope with what they had done. It was then suggested that victims be packed into vans into which the exhaust was directed into the rear; when the vans arrived at their destination, the "cargo" was dead and the driver did not have to bear witness. This eventually led to the camps in which inmates themselves did much of the work of death, and administrative responsibility was spread such that guilt was diffused. In one "hospital" with imperfect children marked for death, a diet of beautiful fresh fruit and vegetables was served - who would find fault with that? But with nothing else, no  fat, no protein, the kids starved to death. Especially interesting was the variety of reactions these men had to their deeds. Some had no remorse, made no excuses for their actions. It was war, Hitler meant well, etc. Others were clearly haunted. More than a few recalled with terror the "selections," when trainloads arrived at the camps and doctors, often as drunk or drugged as possible to cope, directed human beings to either immediate death or a living hell.  Some told of their feeling that they had no choice when the Third Reich, but described the many ways in which they worked, from their unique positions, to save lives when possible.

RRA1 - Bacharach - Arthur's Theme (BB friend Chris Cross)
           Mann-Weil - We Gotta get Out of This place (Animals)
           Goffin-King - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Prefer Dave Mason version.)
           F. Bryant - B. Bryant - No real liking for anything that I know of that they wrote. Just not my style, a bit too cute for me.


           

I must admit that I like to know the social and personal details . i just find this kind of stuff fascinating. 

Jay - I live in Upper Bucks County in the town of Perkasie. (Lenni Lenape for something like place where the bears crack walnuts by the creek). It's about 45 minutes north of Philadelphia city limits. Sharon is north of Pittsburgh, near border with Ohio?

RRA1 -  I never heard that Pennsylvania was known for leading in terms of reading/readers. We do have a city called Reading, however.  Our library system is quite nice. Borrowing cards are free, although I pay fines all the time for bringing books back late. In my state, they will order from other libraries, including those in public universities, any book not available in your local one.

JK - I have always found Hannibal and co. fascinating, as well. Imagine your average Roman soldier seeing elephants for the first time!

RRA1 - For some reason, a large number of Latvians settled near my little town in Pennsylvania. Otherwise, I would never have known much about the place. They came after WWII and maintained their language and culture to a great degree. They send their kids to Latvian camps in the summer and seem to know peers all over the country. In my twenties, I came across a diary of a girl/young woman who endured the revolution and occupation and was forced to move, alone, to the USSR to work in various industrial jobs. It is really depressing reading. Her happiness in life was reduced to the degree to which she could avoid hunger and cold. I Only Wanted to Live is the title. (Sorry I can't seem to italicize on this website - when I try, this is what happens.)

Thanks for the pronunciation. I was thinking TSAR-skow SEEL-oh. Now I won't be embarrasses if I have a face-to-face conversation with an expert on Russian history.

Princess Charlotte is Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II's great-granddaughter, daughter of her grandson Prince William, heir to the throne. In the US, the press is obsessed with British Royalty lately. This, despite that pesky American Revolution to leave monarchy behind.

I answered your question about the movie.

RRA1 - As with books (and cats vs. dogs!), it is impossible for me to pick one favorite or must-see. When people ask me this, I feel a lot of anxiety (ditto with colors, kids, etc.).

RRA1 - I am continuing my study of Russian history, but cannot seem to find a consistent pronunciation for Tsarskoe Selo. How do you say it?

I'm pretty enough, but that's all. My family and people who have known me since childhood comment on how much Princess Charlotte looks like me as a child - there is a striking resemblance in terms of face shape, eyes, nose, hair texture, coloring, etc. 

When I go to a concert, I sit unless there is space in the aisles to stand/dance or it is an outdoor venue where there is room to be up and not block anyone's view. Otherwise, I only get up if everyone else is standing, usually for the last few songs. After all, people pay a lot of money to see, not just hear, their band.

I don't understand the girl sitting on a guy's shoulders for a concert. It is, IMO, something that is done for a child who cannot otherwise see or needs to be kept close and safe in a crowd. Honestly, when a teenage girl or woman does this, it seems sexual to me, like, "Look! My crotch is on his neck! He is strong and masculine! OOOH!" Or, "Look at me! I'm a hunky guy who has her crotch on my neck!"

The Sound of Music was a tear-jerker for me until I learned that half of it was fake.

Yikes, JK, no offense taken! The fun of this is that we all get to say what we think.

RRA1 - Hello back! BTW, I am just fine with your hating the song.

Now for my favorite bit of a "meh" song: I always get a rush right at the point when Free Bird makes the shift from ballad to up-tempo guitar solo. Worth listening to the whole song just for that.

I think that an excellent example of movies that mix horrot and humor would be 'Motel Hell."

JK - This song is one of my all-time favorite covers!

I really love cats and dogs equally. My kitties seem to enjoy my kids' Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Cannibal Corpse songs. This is probably because it is played at a decibel level that is physically stimulating and they start scratching furniture. Or, maybe it makes them nervous and that is why they scratch? Hard to tell. They don't react one way or another to Beach Boys music. Do your cats have favorite musc? How in the world do you tell what they like/don't like?