Happy Birthday, Virginia! Since you like the music of Maroon 5, here is a fun album to help you celebrate your special day

A brilliant book on one of Cricket's most intriguing contests!

E-Books Are Damaging Your Health: Why We Should All Start Reading Paper Books AgainJan 11, 2015 09:00 AM By Lecia Bushak Reading in and of itself has plenty of benefits for our minds: Studies have shown that reading over the course of a lifetime (or even starting to read consistently when you’re well into your 60s and 70s) can prevent mental decline. Along with keeping your mind sharp and enlarging your knowledge base, reading can expand your sense of empathy, too. A 2013 study found that when people were transported into the emotional travails of books' characters, they grew to become more empathetic in real life. So the act of reading is great, of course. But the way you’re reading also has an impact on your physical and mental health. In our technology-driven world, the paper book has been replaced by electronic devices — Kindles and Nooks, and even reading on your laptop or smartphone. Good old-fashioned books are no longer seen as practical. There’s something simple and special, however, about reading a classic paper book that e-books seem to lack. Recently, I was reading before bed while I drank a cup of chamomile tea, and I found that it not only relaxed me, but I fell asleep almost immediately, I slept soundly through the entire night, and I woke up feeling refreshed. I found myself pondering events and scenes in the book, the imagery glowing in my mind in place of my typically exhausting anxieties. I’m going to believe it wasn’t a coincidence: Putting aside my phone — which, in addition to texting, has access to the cyclical, distracting spirals of Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat — and focusing on a tale that took me outside of myself, somehow, inexplicably, helped me feel better on many levels. Researchers have been examining the differences between reading regular books and e-books for years. Many of the studies have shown that reading old-fashioned books has plenty of advantages over e-books, which can be gateways to other electronic distractions, all of which screw with your sleep. This is why you should ditch the screen for printed pages. 1.You're Missing Out On Important InformationA 2014 study found that readers who used Kindles were less competent in recalling the plot and events in the book than those who used paperbacks. Researchers still aren’t quite sure why this occurs, but it might have something to do with being able to physically and visually track your progress in a real book. “In this study, we found that paper readers did report higher on measures having to do with empathy and transportation and immersion, and narrative coherence, than iPad readers,” said Anne Mangen of Stavanger University in Norway, an author of the study, according to The Guardian. “When you read on paper you can sense with your fingers a pile of pages on the left growing, and shrinking on the right. You have the tactile sense of progress, in addition to the visual. … Perhaps this somehow aids the reader, providing more fixity and solidity to the reader’s sense of unfolding and progress of the text, and hence the story.” Digitization of text also means it’s likely to be more fragmented, full of disturbances and links that can lead you to anywhere on the Internet. Reading on an iPad with the ability to check Facebook provides an avenue to take “breaks” way too often. And in order to retain information, you need to read in long, undisturbed chunks of time. 2.E-Books Get In The Way Of SleepytimeA recent study out of Harvard University found that reading an e-book before bed lessened the production of an important sleep hormone known as melatonin. As a result, people took much longer to fall asleep, experienced less deep sleep, and were more fatigued in the morning. “The light emitted by most e-readers is shining directly into the eyes of the reader, whereas from a printed book or the original Kindle, the reader is only exposed to reflected light from the pages of the book,” Charles Czeisler, lead author of the study, told the BBC. “Sleep deficiency has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes, and cancer. Thus, the melatonin suppression that we saw in this study among participants when they were reading from the light-emitting e-reader concerns us.” In contrast, reading an old-fashioned book can actually help you sleep better. By taking your mind off the things that you may normally stress about before falling asleep, a book can clear your mind and also make you sleepy, easing you into a full night’s rest. In addition, soft light being reflected off the pages of a book doesn’t signal to your brain that it’s time to wake up like the glaring screen of an e-book or phone. 3.Screens = StressReading helps you de-stress faster or just as fast as listening to music, taking a walk, or having a cup of tea or coffee, according to a 2009 study. When researchers measured heart rate and muscle tension, they found that people relaxed just six minutes into reading. But reading on a device might cancel out this effect, and may even impact your stress levels negatively. Repeated use of mobile phones or laptops late at night has been linked to depression, higher levels of stress, and fatigue among young adults. Constant use of technology not only disrupts our sleeping patterns and throws off our circadian rhythms, but it fosters a shorter attention span and fractured focus — online, we jump from meme to meme and link to link, checking Facebook intermittently. Social media and technological distractions also always seem to foster guilt and regret, and before we know it, three hours have passed and our brains feel like mush. It's hard to put my finger on what exactly draws me to paper books, and makes me avoid electronic ones. Perhaps it's the tangible qualites: Turning the pages of a book helps me mark my progress, and underlining prose that stands out to me makes reading a very intimate occasion. It could also be the science behind it: that regular books ease our minds into sleep. But it's likely that reading allows me to rely on a singular focus to transport me to a new world, leaving all my stresses and personal problems behind. I stop the selfish cycle of technology that centers around checking my Facebook or Instagram, or taking selfies, as I wait for my brain to get rewarded from notifications and likes. Real books allow me to step outside myself and enter someone else's world. The modern world, after all, can be tiring. Reading an old-fashioned paper book might seem out of style, wasteful, or impractical. But don’t underestimate the simplicity of holding a physical book in your hands, flipping through the pages, and not having anything else to shift your focus to. Commit to the classic paper book and you'll get the full, healthier experience. Source : http://www.medicaldaily.com/e-books-are-damaging-your-health-why-we-should-all-start-reading-paper-books-again-317212

I find the trend (among teenage girls and young women in their 20's) of wearing leggings as a substitute for jeans / pants, to be pretty disturbing! I wear jeans for informal occasions and slacks for formal occasions. Hell, I don't even wear track pants while undertaking household chores such as grocery shopping!

Wow, Strider! I think congratulations are in order! This looks like such a highly collectible item! And finding it as a 'brand new' item (with the factory seal intact) must have been all the more exciting!!

You're very welcome!

Julie, thank you for sharing this lovely photo of your mom, with all of us. I know that today must have been very difficult for you and I am so sorry that you had to go through the pain of losing her at such a young age. Sending loads of positive vibes and hugs, your way!

I think I might have found an online store that sells copies of this book! Just select Australia as the shipping destination, while checking out. Here is the link: http://www.abebooks.com/book-search/isbn/0733304125/ Good luck!

Wishing You A Very Happy Birthday, CP!

Thank you, Strider! Yeah, I can tell that the author of this book (Simon Hughes, who was a cricketer himself and who is now known as 'Cricket's Analyst'), has thoroughly researched the topic and has made it such a fun read! Do try and get yourself a copy! It is really worth it!

Will do, Julie! I had a brief look at the name index at the back of the book and there seems to be quite a lot of references to Mr. Morris! Sorry if this seems overly inquisitive, but what is the name of that book on Mr. Morris? I am just very curious to know! Hopefully, Mrs. Morris will be able to find a copy for Mr. Slave!

Hi Strider Had I ventured into this thread a couple of hours earlier, I could have warned you about the rather infamous Scotch brand 'Finlaggan'. Darn it! I wish I had, to have prevented you from having such a lousy experience! You see, in my quest to begin my exploration of single malts, I do scour the internet, searching for options and a couple of folks have warned people about this single malt, complaining that it is way too peaty for its own good (specifically terming this single malt as a 'peat monster'), in terms of tasting almost like a combination of coal and sulfur! I love my whisky to taste fresh and acidic, but I would really hate to taste coal in the mix! Excessively smokey whiskies, are sure not worth tasting.

When I was growing up in the 90's and early 00's, every month, my mom, dad and I used to make it a point, to go on 'family outings', to one or two of these massive 'family stores' which not only sold books, CD's and cassette tapes, but also sold toys, music instruments, cosmetics, jewelry, etc. These stores were so family friendly, that they had everything from 'kids play areas', 'reading corners' (situated among the aisles having books for sale) where both kids and adults, could thumb through interesting looking books, before deciding whether or not to buy the book. The employees used to even give away gift hampers to kids, whose families were regular customers, on special occasions such as birthdays and Christmas. Now, with the advent of online shopping, many of these stores have since, closed down! Also, the stores that remain, have really down-sized (citing an inviable business model, driven by a rising preference of customers to shop online at their own 'convenience') and hence, stock as little as possible, much to the chagrin of shoppers, eager to have a shopping experience like in the good old days! I even came across a sales assistant, cheekily informing an irate customer that even though the book that the customer was looking for, was out of stock at the store, the customer could either purchase a copy at the online version of the store or settle for the 'e-book' version! I think it is really sad that (with the rise of online shopping and consequent closure of 'family driven' stores), families can no longer enjoy a day out, at these wonderful stores, where one could actually browse aisles selling books and music, for hours on end, thereby converting the task of shopping into a fun and memorable family event! Gosh! I really miss the 90's and the early 00's!

You're very welcome, Morgan! Hope you had a wonderful birthday!

This book is wonderful, Julie! I have already finished the 1st chapter that gives such a detailed account about how 'The Ashes' series actually began, going as far back as England's tour of Australia in 1862! I was also introduced to so many interesting little tidbits about forgotten legends such as Fredrick Spofforth and Billy Murdoch and the manner in which cricket was played those days (when an over consisted of just 4 balls, etc)! Can't wait to dig into chapter 2 (which is all about the evolution of English and Australian cricket in the 1900's)! You and Mr. Slave, will really enjoy this book! Perhaps you can gift it to him, for Christmas (if he hasn't already celebrated his birthday), to make up for the disappointment of that book on Mr. Morris, getting lost in the mail?

You're absolutely right, Julie! My generation has a large share of folks who unfortunately, just cannot be bothered to behave in a disciplined fashion! I too have met plenty of folks (who are my age or younger) who were downright jerks! The behaviour of some people during my Uni days, was nothing short of bizarre! Please don't think that I am complaining about folks from my own generation, but honestly, the low waist pants, substituting leggings for pants , the choice of wearing 'inverted hats' in class (think Justin Beaver) or choosing to put one's feet on the bench during a lecture, choosing to arrive 'fashionably late' and not even bothering to apologize to the professor in charge, using one's skateboard as a means of transportation and shouting 'MAKE WAY' to all passers-by, bumping into someone and not even bothering to say 'excuse me', was all just a bit too much for me to bear! I think your kids will agree with me, Julie! I was honestly, so glad and relieved to make friends with a group of people at Uni (who were my age) who shared my views and who actually took their college days seriously!

Hi DD! Meet my cell phone (see photo attached). I call this lovely phone, my 'old faithful' as it has been working, without a hitch for the past 11 years now! *knocks on wood A lot of folks have turned up their noses and laughed, at this 'primitive' piece of technology, but I am never ever going to trade this in, for a smart phone. A friend of mine who loves to constantly keep up with the latest technology, bought a smart phone pretty recently and is already facing tons of problems, such as a battery that won't charge properly, instances where the smart phone 'locks itself' , etc. I could go on. Since this is a 'Things That Used To Be Better In The Old Days' thread, I would happily add cell phones to the list! I mean, as far as my phone is concerned, the technology might be seemingly primitive, but I have never faced issues like a defective battery (for instance)! Oh and I read somewhere that there are certain smart phones out there, that are vulnerable to malware and viruses?! Also, where I come from, the more advanced the phone of a subscriber, the higher the monthly rentals charged by the said telecom company! Just awful! My friends have often (in their monthly cell phone bills) found hidden charges, unwanted apps being activated for a fee, etc.! Just shocking! I like to keep things simple and economical, you know? My phone carries out basic tasks such as receiving and making phone calls. I send text messages, only when there is a need to. Believe me, I do not text for pleasure. I would rather make a phone call! The last time that I texted someone, was a plumber in order to text my address, when there was a leak from the kitchen sink! I am also happy with my little phone, as it does not serve as a source of unwanted distractions and I can actually have a real relationship with family and friends!

Was thrilled beyond measure to find this in the mail, this morning! It's a book that I ordered slightly more than a month ago and it had to be imported all the way from the UK. The seller had delayed shipping by 2 weeks and I was so scared that it might get lost in the mail! Beyond stoked that it arrived today! Highly recommended for those who not only love the game of Cricket, but who also love to explore its glorious history! This sure as hell, beats downloading the e-book version!

This beauty is stuck in my head almost constantly, these days!

A Very Very Happy Birthday, Morgan! Hope you get to crank up some Led Zeppelin and Primus! BTW, since it is your birthday today, I wanted to send you the gift of laughter! Hope you got my PM on the other site! Here is a rockin' birthday song for your listening pleasure (it's got guitar riffs and a cool sax). Enjoy!

Have you watched 'Veep' and 'The New Adventures of Old Christine'? I have always been a fan of Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Wanda Sykes and it slipped my mind to mention those shows!

That's the sad truth, mate! I was also, truly stunned to know that apparently (according to the following report), 34% of Americans (aged 13 and above) don't know who Bugs Bunny is! The scenario is even worse for poor old Daffy Duck (with 44% of Americans, aged 13 and older being unable to recognize him!) http://movieline.com/2010/10/07/4-terrifying-things-about-the-report-that-mike-myers-will-voice-pepe-le-pew/

I am all for discovering noteworthy modern animated shows, Morgan! I'm not too much of an 'old soul'! Thanks for the recommendations! In my previous rant , I forgot to mention that shows like 'South Park', are my guilty pleasures!

With regard to the general perception that the youth of today, are arrogant, self-absorbed and have a pretty deep sense of entitlement, I am 27 years old and firmly believe that this sort of labeling and generalization, is rather unfair. There are a bunch of 20-somethings (like myself and my friends at University, for instance!) who are not obsessed with selfies, who do not believe that the whole world is ours for the taking, who believe in having a close relationship with family, etc. Bare in mind that my friends and I, had specific career goals and reasons for pursuing our specific college majors and firmly believed that college does not equal fun and games! I for one, believe that college is a time of reflection and growth. It is a critical time 'to find oneself'. My college major (at the Bachelor's and Master's degree level) is Economics and a career in Econometric and Statistical Modelling (for business purposes), has always been a passion of mine, from the age of 15 (when I developed a deep interest in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis, back in the 10th grade)! People talk about 'kids today' and how 'out of control', they may seem. Now, I have a question, in response to that. How about the perception of youth (by 'older' people) during the so-called 'glory days', namely the 60's, 70's and 80's (for instance)?! For example, my granddad was far from thrilled when my dad, during his college days (who by the way, was born in 1954 and was a young adult in the 70's), decided to grow his hair (almost up to his waist) and smoke pot! My granddad termed it as 'disrespectful' and referred to him as a 'vagrant' and 'mongrel' (even though, he (months before graduating from college) had secured his dream job as a Junior Marine Engineer, with a prestigious shipping company)! Also, my great aunt, referred to my mom's choice to wear bell bottoms and decision to go on dates with my dad (mind you, they were engaged to be married, at the time), as 'vulgar'! Very unfair and crude choices of words and labeling here, IMHO! My point is, every generation has its faults. None of us are perfect. Far from it. My generation unfortunately, has folks like Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Justin Beaver (who (even now!) seems to serve as the ultimate 'youth heart-throb'), much to the utter disgust of the older generation, who perceives youth to have behavioural traits in sync with these 'public figures'. I do not for a second, blame the older generation for thinking this way, but at the same time, there are focused and well-adjusted teens and young adults out there. Just give them a chance and don't paint all teens and 20-somethings with the same brush, pretty please?