Posted in A&I
Concerts and Performances August-October 2023
submitted by Mary Jane Morrison
Manor Auditorium 7-8 p.m.
Events listed in italics are tentative
Links connect to performer bios and/or programs
Programming subject to change. Programs will NOT be broadcast on Channel 900.
Manor Express available until 9 p.m.
Thursday 08/10 Tommy Graven: American Indian flutes
Thursday 08/17 Tim Church Trio
Thursday 08/24 Chihuahua Desert: Western Fiesta
FRIDAY 08/25 Peggy Evans, organ
This concert will be at the SOU Music Building at 2 p.m.
Sunday 08/27 Attila Soutov: violin
Thursday 08/31 Jaron Cannon: piano
Thursday 09/07 Manor Pianists‘ Recital
Thursday 09/14 Iryna Kudielina: piano recital
Thursday 09/21 Chris Sinclair & Dom Fontana: guitars/vocal
Thursday 09/28 Anna Christina Streletz: piano recital
Thursday 10/05 Skip Bessonette: country/western
Thursday 10/12 Crystal Reeves & Gary Dunsmore
Thursday 10/19 La Rui Duo: Flamenco Guitar
Thursday 10/26 YSSO Orchestra
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone
Book review by Bonnie Tollefson
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, Benjamin Stevenson, Harper Collins 2022.
Sometimes when you go to the library, books just seem to reach out begging you to take them home. Other times… Well, this was one of the times that many books called out. Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake, Mad Honey, Code Breaker’s Secret, and Phasers on Stun are all there waiting for you and for me. However, the one that got to go home with me this time, had the interesting title of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.
Author Benjamin Stevenson creates the character Ernest Cunningham, who serves as “writer” of the book, as participant in events, and as commentator making asides to the reader. Ernie explains to the reader what pages the dead bodies show up on, how we should have picked up on certain clues and assures the reader that he never lied to us as twists and turns occur. The setting is a remote ski lodge, the highest drive-in ski lodge in Australia, which according to Ernie is like saying “the world’s tallest jockey”. The reason for the trip is a family reunion to welcome brother Michael when he gets out of jail. As might be expected in a book about murder and family interpersonal relationships, a storm is approaching that will trap everyone at the ski lodge, or does it? Each family member reveals his or her contribution to the story and Ernie finally thinks he understands it all. He stages a denouement in the old wood panel library because, if they ever make a movie of this story, it is the perfect setting. Things don’t go quite as planned (of course) and the book ends with an epilogue that tries to explain it all. On the advice of Ernie’s lawyer, some things are left for the reader to draw their own conclusions. If a book about family dysfunction and murder can be a fun read, this is it – light without bogging you down – mayhem without offending – and intriguing enough to keep you reading.
This book is available from the RVM library in large and regular print and from the Jackson County Public Library System in multiple formats.
July in the Library
by Anne Newins
We are going to display our most popular books for the next two months. It can be a challenge to predict which display topics are going to be popular with Manor readers. Some are successes while others garner little attention. So every year or so, we let you, the devoted readers, decide. Our library software system tracks which books have the most circulation, so why not put them out where everyone can easily find them? Some authors are perennial favorites, such as William Kent Krueger, but we will try to showcase as many writers as possible.
A number of library patrons come in asking for a book they’ve heard about. Here it is:
How Some of Our Animal Neighbors Deal with Extreme Heat
by Robert Mumby
Squirrels sploot, they spread out flat on the ground to cool off.
Bathing is a good way to cool off.
I suppose turkeys bathe too, though I have only seen them standing in water.
Most birds lose heat (“sweat”) by keeping their beaks open, as canines do.
Keep the bird baths and water dishes full to encourage hydration.
The Word Nerd on the Letter ‘E’
contributed by Connie Kent
The letter ‘e’ is the most common vowel in the English language.
Challenged to make a sentence without once using the letter ‘e,’ Michael Madhusudan Dutt, a nineteenth century Bengali poet and playwright responded:
“I doubt I can. It’s a major part of many words. Omitting it is as hard as making muffins without flour. It’s as hard as spitting without saliva, napping without a pillow, driving a train without tracks, sailing to Russia without a boat, washing your hands without soap. And anyway, what would I gain? An award? A cash bonus? Bragging rights? Why should I strain my brain? It’s not worth it.”
Classes, Games and Parties
submitted by Sarah Karnatz
Sign-up sheets are in the notebooks at the Manor Front Desk. Spaces may still be available after the initial sign-up date.
Sun July 9, 11 am – 3 pm |
Kona Shave Ice Truck – Towers & both villages – Open to all residents |
Sun July 9, 6:00 – 7:00 pm |
Sing Along with Joyful Voices – Auditorium – Open to all residents |
Mon July 10, 9:30 – 11:30 am |
Inquiring Minds: Field trip to Weather Station – Bus loads at 9:30 – Sign ups Mon 6/26 |
Wed July 12, 3:00 – 5:00 pm |
Saucy Concert in the Park – Remotion Winery – Lower Forty – Open to all residents |
Fri July 14, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm |
Inquiring Minds: Field trip to Science Works Museum in Ashland – Bus loads at 10 am – Sign ups Fri 7/12 |
Fri July 14, 12 noon – 1:00 pm |
Links and Drinks – Plaza 2nd floor patio – Sign up at Manor front desk |
Sun July 16, 6:00 – 7:00 pm |
Root beer floats, Sing- along and Dance Party with Jennifer Bulat – Auditorium – Open to all residents |
Mon July 17, 2:30 pm |
Trivia with Roberta Bhasin and Julie Crites – Auditorium – Sign ups Mon 7/03 |
Tues July 18, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm |
Kona Shave Ice Truck – Behind the pool – Staff only |
Wed July 19, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm |
Inquiring Minds: Field Trip to Genealogy Society – 2 levels: beginners and intermediate – Bus loads at 9:30 for beginners; at 12:45 pm for intermediates – Sign ups Wed 7/05 |
Fri July 21, 10:00 – 11:30 am |
Crafts and Games with Connie Ivy – Auditorium – Sign ups Fri 7/07 |
Sun July 23, 6:00 – 7:00 pm |
Banana Splits and Sing Along with Rita Reitz – Auditorium – Open to all residents |
Mon July 24, 10:00 – 11:30 am |
Inquiring Minds: Greeting Card Making with Eleanor Lippman & Rita Derbas – Deschuttes Room – Sign ups Mon 7/10 |
Wed July 26, 4:30 – 6:00 pm |
Marco Polo – an active water game – Pool – Sign ups Wed 7/12 for participants – Open to all residents as observers (swimsuits optional) |
Thurs July 27, 11 am – 3 pm |
Kona Shave Ice Truck – Towers & both villages – Open to all residents |
Fri July 28, 9:00 – 10:30 am |
Inquiring Minds: Fire Truck Show & Tell with Medford Fire Department – Manor Pocket Lot – Sign ups Fri 7/14 |
Fri July 28, 12 noon – 1:00 pm |
Links and Drinks – Plaza 2nd floor Patio – Sign up at Manor front desk |
Concerts and Performances July – August 2023
submitted by Mary Jane Morrison
Manor Auditorium 7-8 p.m.
Events listed in italics are tentative
Programming subject to change. Programs will NOT be broadcast on Channel 900.
Manor Express available until 9 p.m.
TUESDAY 07/11 Grace Angelucci Troupe: “It’s Hell to be a Woman” musical excerpts
Thursday 07/13 Liam O’Neil: piano
TUESDAY 07/18 Eric Hiett: Magic Show
Thursday 07/20 Vanessa Finney/Mark Hamersly: vocal/guitar
Thursday 07/27 Jon Galfano: piano/guitar/vocal
Thursday 08/03 TBA
TUESDAY 08/06 Eric Poppick/Jane Harris: videos
Thursday 08/10 Tommy Graven: American Indian flutes
Thursday 08/17 Tim Church Trio
Thursday o8/24 Chihuahua Desert: Western Fiesta
The Word Nerd on Puns and Noodles
battered into submission by Tom Conger
The Roman emperor’s wife hates playing hide and seek because wherever she goes, Julius Caesar.
I like what mechanics wear, overall.
If you are being chased by a pack of taxidermists, do not play dead.
I tried to steal spaghetti from the shop, but the female guard saw me and I couldn’t get pasta.
My friend told me he was going to a fancy dress party as an Italian island. I said to him, “Don’t be Sicily.”
I don’t know what you call a small spillage from a pen but I have an inkling.
My grandfather invented the cold air balloon but it never really took off.
I hate funerals, I’m not a mourning person.
I used to work in a shoe-recycling shop. It was sole-destroying.
When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she’d dye.
A boiled egg is hard to beat.
Once you’ve seen one shopping center, you’ve seen a mall.
It’s hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they always take things literally.
I’m a big fan of whiteboards. I find them quite remarkable.
Yesterday, a clown held the door open for me. It was such a nice jester.
Becoming a vegetarian is a huge missed steak.
The other day she tried to make a chemistry joke, but got no reaction.
It’s funny England doesn’t have a kidney bank, but has a Liverpool.
Acupuncture is a jab well done.
When a clock is hungry, it goes back four seconds.
Euphemisms
by Connie Kent
Words matter. If I call an activist a “freedom fighter,” you can tell I approve of his activity. If I call him a “terrorist,” you know I don’t. And you know not only how I feel, but also how I hope you feel or how I want you to feel. “Freedom fighter” is a euphemism; “terrorist” is a dysphemism.
A euphemism substitutes a pleasant, mild, or indirect word for a more accurate or direct one that might be offensive. English raconteur Quentin Crisp called euphemisms “unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne.” Here are some examples:
What we say |
What we mean |
Passed away; gone to his reward/ to the other side; danced his last dance | Died |
Celestial Departure | Death |
Not the sharpest crayon in the box | Stupid |
Powder my nose/ go to the bathroom/ answer a call of nature | Urinate or defecate |
Lavatory/ washroom/ rest room/ ladies room/ powder room | Toilet |
Correctional Facility | Prison |
Doing time | In prison |
Pleasantly plump/ love handles/ portly/ stout | Fat |
Go all the way | Have sex |
Vertically challenged | Short |
Put to sleep/ put down | Euthanize |
Under the influence/ tipsy/ a bit worse for wear | Drunk |
Break wind | Fart |
Between jobs | Unemployed |
Over the hill/ senior citizen | Old |
A little thin on top | Bald |
Montezuma’s revenge | Diarrhea |
Character lines | Wrinkles |
Perspire | Sweat |
Wardrobe malfunction | Oops! |
In a family way | Pregnant |
Sanitation engineer | Garbage man |
Dysphemism is the opposite of euphemism. Dysphemism is substitution of a harsh or offensive word for a neutral one in order to make something or someone sound negative, bad, or unlikeable. It is meant to shock or offend. If a euphemism is a shield to protect our sensibilities, a dysphemism is a sword to wound them.
For example, a person who died might have “passed away” (euphemism) or “kicked the bucket” (dysphemism). One’s spouse could be his/her “better half” or a “ball and chain.” Here are some other examples:
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Bureaucrat Government employee Tree hugger Environmentalist Nerd Engineer or IT specialist Pig Police officer Cancer stick Cigarette Pre-owned Used Nutcase Mentally ill
So choose your words carefully. And listen carefully, too, to the ways others – including news casters – choose their words.