# (Old) Alexa, start the MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [January 20, 2025, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150 "2025-01-20T12:09:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/301 "2025-01-24T03:36:18Z")
I honestly do not remember my pre-literate days. I know I was reading before I hit kindergarten (age 5, school started less than two weeks after my late-August birthday), thanks to a story my mother tells about how utterly distraught my kindergarten “teacher” was on finding out I already had that skill. I was testing at college level reading by about age 8-9 (not so strong in math, even before I missed a month of third grade at age 8 due to medical issues). I don’t recall much use of the public library before about my teens, since we had so many books around the house (all three adults, my parents and maternal grandfather, were bookworms), including an encyclopedia set and other reference material. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/302 "2025-01-24T03:37:26Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > I remember taking 12 books at a time as a kid from the free library. It is up to 20 items now. School library was 4. > > Adults can take 50 items at the free library. > > Wild times in phila… Me too! I was so excited when I was about 8 years old and got my first public library card. I used to take my wagon and cart home anywhere form 10 - 20 books at a time. The library was about 5 small town blocks from my home. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/303 "2025-01-24T03:51:38Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I honestly do not remember my pre-literate days. I do. My dad worked in a big Goodyear plant and at Christmas small gifts for kids were given out. I got a book, although I couldn’t read. It was Robinson Crusoe. There were pictures and I recall looking at them and wondering about the story and how they fit in. I still have that very copy. Later on I bought the exact same edition but it’s in good condtition ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/304 "2025-01-24T03:51:46Z")
All librarians know me ( local ones)…was going to write about Moley but am sleepy. Must rise early for training so will post tomorrow. Meow. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/305 "2025-01-24T04:02:19Z")
The guy with the bad knee thinks some stuff is going to happen. Or maybe I’m just tired and sore from a long day. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/306 "2025-01-24T04:18:39Z")
Late night final time. Had ham-n-cheesers for dinner, actually got the bread grilled just right for once, then finally bestirred myself and went to the gym. Worked on the treadmill, at low speed and low incline for 3 20-minutes periods, which was enough to tire me out some. Home now and at least the temperature is still in the double-digits (25F) so looks like the really cold stuff is past. Shopping list for tomorrow is pretty well done, just enough to get to the end of the month so I can load up the points at Kroger next Friday. **VanGO** , all appendages crossed that the museum sees clearly and gets you hired. My dumbest work injury was at a restaurant I was working at, there were two steaks frozen together, so of course I was using a big butcher knife to separate them…still have the scar on my right palm… > [@nelliebly](#): > > It’s not like an elementary library is going to stock _Lady Chatterly’s Lover_ or _The Story of O_. Which reminds me, my High School library, for reasons unknown, had Hitler’s _Mein Kampf_ on the shelves, . And yes, i tried to read it, gave up after about 200 pages, a very tedious book,., > [@rocking\_chair](#): > > In an apocalypse I will be at the library. I’ll see you there. And that’s all for the late night final. See y’all on Firday. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/307 "2025-01-24T06:06:58Z")
My car is thoroughly snowed in, so I had to beg a ride in (and back) off **Backup Manager.** Waaaayyyyyy too tires to shovel tonight. **Car(e)less Co-worker** is supposed to start at the same time as me tomorrow … maybe I can get him to walk over to my house and help me shovel out. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/308 "2025-01-24T06:56:29Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > ETA: A quart of beef broth is just under two coffee cups. ( ~~I roll big joints.~~ I like big cups.) … and you cannot lie. > [@nelliebly](#): > > I bet you’d give your eyeteeth to skip it all. Oh, you’re a sly one. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/309 "2025-01-24T07:21:07Z")
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave. It’s my Firday. It’s a balmy 25 degrees Ferret Height(-3.89 Centipedes) out. I read above grade level, including my Mom’s nursing books and journals, but I never put that into practice [_The Expanse_]Diassembly reveals useful pathways[/_The Expanse_] > [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](#): > > The good news is that I actually spoke to a human secretary and the lawyer is supposed to call me back probably tomorrow to see if they will take my case since it is not the standard SSDI. And, I cleaned the floor! \< crosses fingers \> and yay! > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > was going to write about Moley but am sleepy. \< waits in nervous anticipation \> ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/310 "2025-01-24T09:46:24Z")
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 7c/45f with a predicted high of 10c/49f, and mostly cloudy. Weather app says “This weather is sort of like a fucking green Datsun 310 from 1981 with a rusted hole in the fucking floor. I know this because I fucking had one.” > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > This has been a nice break, but I think I’m ready to sleep in my own bed. I’m sure the break has done you both some good mentally too. But it’s always good to get back to your own bed! > [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > The same characters are in the novels over the entire spans of their lives, which is the best part for me, getting to know those characters and watching those relationships evolve and drive the plots is great fun. I love books like that, I remember seeing Longmire airing on TV here but never watched it. I might have to dive into the books instead, it’s very interesting to see how characters develop through a series, and how their relationships work out. > [@liirogue](#): > > That sounds miserable (and I really hope you meant mph and not mps 😉 ) I did mean mph, but at the moment it sounds more like mps! > [@LH75](#): > > I was also an early reader (am I sensing a similarity here among us??) It does seem that way - my mum used to take me to the library with her, and the librarian used to let me sit in the corner with a book while mum was picking out her choices. We weren’t allowed to join the children’s library until the age of 7 but when I was about 4, the very fierce librarian gave me a library ticket of my own so I could take out one book every week. I think she made mum promise that the book would be well-treated at home, but she knew it would be. I outgrew the children’s library well before the age limit of 13 for the adult library though. We have a weather warning for strong winds today, it’s currently yellow (winds of up to 70mph) although a bit further north of us is an amber warning (winds up to 80-90mph), and the far north into Scotland has red warnings (winds up to 100mph). For once, the red warning covers Norn Iron too, and the Met Office even issued a warning for the Isle of Man which never features in our daily forecast. 'im indoors got home ok last night, trains were delayed on his route due to a lightning strike that resulted in a points failure but didn’t cause too much of a delay. I am working from home today as the weather is likely to cause quite major travel disruption and the last thing I want is to be stranded trying to get home on a Friday evening. There are two people in the campus office, they’re both local to the area so I don’t feel too guilty about not being there myself. I’ve moved today’s meetings online so I can still do them, and the lady I’ve got for a training session this afternoon is quite happy to do it remotely. It may even work better as I can share screens with her and walk her through some of our student records stuff. I just need to find a couple of students with decent looking records that I can use! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/311 "2025-01-24T10:39:41Z")
I honestly don’t recall when I started reading, but I know with 3 kids born in rapid succession, my mother didn’t have time to sit with me for reading lessons. But I did love to read as a kid. _YAWN_ Woke around 2-stoopit-30 and haven’t been able to get back to sleep, dammit. It’s now 5-stoopit-30. **FCD** is sleeping, tho, which is good. When he wakes, we’ll get ready and go. That will get me back in plenty of time for laundry day! Happy Firday! ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/312 "2025-01-24T10:43:09Z")
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. _YAWN_ ‘Tis 24 Amurrkin out and mostly clear with a predicted high of 47 and mostly N.O.S. for the day. The big item on today’s agenda is Doris’s funeral. It will be just the burial rite as she had requested that Communion not be a part of her service. She will be interred in the Columbarium which means we get to assemble outside for the committal service. At that time it will be a balmy 44 Amurrkin out. I am servin’ at the service so I shall be attired in church drag (black cassock and white surplice) which will give me a couple of extra layers at least. When I have sufficiently caffeinated the makeage of chikin sallit sammiches shall be accomplished. The rest of the day will be spent in high RDOS inactivities as is our wont. Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then sammiches must be assembled and I must purtify. I shall wear appropriate clothin’ even though for all anyone knows I could be wearin’ a bedazzled rainbow glitter body stockin’ underneath all that church garb. Happy Firday Y’all! ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/313 "2025-01-24T11:40:38Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I honestly do not remember my pre-literate days. I know I was reading before I hit kindergarten (age 5, school started less than two weeks after my late-August birthday), thanks to a story my mother tells about how utterly distraught my kindergarten “teacher” was on finding out I already had that skill. Sister taught me to read when I was three; earliest memories are from when I was four, so as far as I’m concerned I’ve _always_ known how. 😃 My kindergarten teacher wasn’t a bit bothered by my reading ability, as it meant she could give me a book to read to half of the class while she worked with the other half. Didn’t live within easy walking distance of the public library until I was in seventh grade, so I made do with the school libraries and the books we had at home. By high school I was spending several days a week at the library – I’d be standing outside the door at 0845 waiting for them to open, and then they’d have to throw me out at 2105 so they could lock up. I was at the library all day – no breaks for lunch; the only times I got out of my seat were when I went to get another book and the occasional trip to the loo. I have more than once accused my sister of having overdone it when teaching me to read. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/314 "2025-01-24T11:52:41Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > I was also an early reader (am I sensing a similarity here among us??) I forgot that my mother used to tell me I was reading newspapers (not sure how much I was actually getting out of the experience) at around 4 or 5. I do not remember this but I do remember being able to read my little record collection of 45s before I went to school. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/315 "2025-01-24T12:52:20Z")
Afternoon all. As **BooFae** indicated, it’s a wee bit blowy. It’s actually not the far North of Scotland that’s expecting the worst of the weather- the red alert warning actually stops about 60 miles South of me, which didn’t stop my phone suddenly screaming it at me yesterday. I’ve never actually had that happen before, I’m just glad I was pulled over dropping a friend off rather than actually driving… It was _loud_. I also just had a text from my home insurance company explaining how to file a claim if the phone lines are overwhelmed because they’re having so many calls, so I think it’s pretty bad in some areas. So far OK here though- we’re a bit sheltered by the hills from most directions. We had a ‘strongly recommended to wfh if possible’ message yesterday. I’m doing the ‘fh’ bit- not sure about the ‘w’, aside from the meeting I have in half an hour. I can’t access half the stuff on my laptop without a lot of faff, as they’ve tightened the security system up a bit. Besides… it’s Firday afternoon and I was there until nearly 7pm multiple days this week. > [@dogbutler](#): > > Does this mean a Witch King is gonna get shanked? Coincidentally, the last really bad storm that hit this area was called Arwen. It was a couple of years ago, took a lot of trees down… I’m holding out for storm Shelob. Add me to the early reader group - I know I could read before starting school, at 4. Apparently I was a pain in the neck when the teacher was trying to use flashcards teaching the other kids. Teacher: ‘OK, so this word has a B…an A, and …’ Baby me; ‘Bat!’ Teacher: ‘Yes, I know you can read it **Nuts** , you can play in the play corner, please let the other children answer’ ‘OK, so this word has a H, an…’ Baby me: ’ Hat!’ Teacher: ‘…’ I didn’t actually get many books from the school library though. My uncle (who died just before Christmas and will be very badly missed) was a former teacher and a multi-purpose collector, who ran his school library from his own book collection. He certainly had more books than the village library or the school library. We did go to the big city library sometimes, but most of what I read was from him. There weren’t really any rules about what I could borrow from him- quantity or type, and if I really liked something he’d normally just give me a copy. And anything else by the same author he could find. I don’t have any idea where my official reading level was, but I do remember being very bored by the stuff we were reading in class and finding it very hard to slow down enough. At secondary school I made friends with the librarian, and would sometimes take books out just so they had been on loan recently so they could justify keeping them. I remember taking ‘Call of the Wild’ out even though we actually had a copy at home, because no-one had in years… We were only supposed to have lunchtime library access one day a week due to the space limits- Monday for first years, Tuesday for second years and so on, but I was unofficially allowed in there every day because I’d just hide in a corner with a book and be quiet. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/316 "2025-01-24T13:15:30Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Worked on the treadmill, at low speed and low incline for 3 20-minutes periods, which was enough to tire me out some. Did your doctor clear you for that kind of activity? You don’t want to reopen incisions or anything. > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Which reminds me, my High School library, for reasons unknown, had Hitler’s _Mein Kampf_ on the shelves, . And yes, i tried to read it, gave up after about 200 pages, a very tedious book,., So did mine, and I took a swing at it too. I don’t think I got as far as you did. Either the translator was terrible, Hitler was a really crappy writer, or both. One of the most tedious things I’ve ever attempted to read. ---
**Author:** ![Kitten\_Mitten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b782af/32.png) [@Kitten\_Mitten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitten_Mitten)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/317 "2025-01-24T13:20:43Z")
Good morning mumpers! TGIF! Wish I could say TGI 1/20/29! > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > **Car(e)less Co-worker** is supposed to start at the same time as me tomorrow … maybe I can get him to walk over to my house and help me shovel out. There should be no maybe about it. He definitely should come and shovel you out! These temps are wearing on me, although, others have it worse. I’ll have to go out to Kroger today, will do a load of sheets and pillowcases and, of course, wash dishes. Such an exciting life. At least I have the US Figure Skating Championships to watch. And the Spartans play Rutgers at MSG tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/318 "2025-01-24T13:48:33Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > > [@nelliebly](#): > > > > I bet you’d give your eyeteeth to skip it all. > > Oh, you’re a sly one. That she is…and a witty one too. The cataract surgery I don’t mind, that whole process they’ve gotten down to a fine dance and this upcoming one should improve vision quite a bit for me once the 3-4 week recovery period is over and I have glasses with the new prescription. The root canal not so much. Eye-wateringly expensive and painful no matter how good the dentist is with the local. And it will probably stretch into two appts because it’s a molar with tangled roots. Gaaah. Hope everything goes smoothly for **jane** and hubs today. If I’m remembering right they have a big cardiologist appt over or through the mountains to get through. Good karma is already winding its way from the frozen prairies of Nebraska. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/319 "2025-01-24T14:04:18Z")
Good morning. It’s 34F and mostly cloudy outside. Temps will warm up to 45F, and we’ll have afternoon sunshine. Not a snowflake in sight. **Shoe,** carless co-worker should definitely help you shovel. I remember being able to read when I was four. I went to preschool and Kindergarten in Germany. When I got to the US, the teachers didn’t know what to do with me for reading because I surpassed what they were teaching. I lived on a military installation from first grade through the first half of third grade, and I remember they were big into speed reading at my school. They’d bring all these teachers in to watch and listen to me read and give me progressively higher-level books to see if I stumbled, but I never did. At that school and my next elementary school in the city, they kept trying to move me up grades, but my parents refused to let them do that. If they had, I would have graduated high school at age 15. While my reading, reading comprehension, and writing skills were excellent, I was pretty much right at grade level, maybe a grade higher for math. By the time we moved into algebra and stuff like that, I was done. Math is not my forte. When I moved to the city (well the suburbs), I was within walking distance of the public library, so it was easy for me to get there. In today’s world, though, there is no way a third-grader would be allowed to walk that far. I’m not even sure that library is still there because they discussed closing it down a couple of years ago. I’m off today and debating sitting in on a four-hour training gig. I don’t think I will. I dunno…maybe. I am sending the very best wishes to JtC and her hubby today. I hope everything goes smoothly. I need to knock out some chores. I was interrupted while typing this because I realized I had forgotten to turn my out-of-office on, and then I got caught up in work emails, etc. Anyway, I wrenched myself away from the work laptop, returned downstairs, and realized I hadn’t finished this post. Take care, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/320 "2025-01-24T14:21:53Z")
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room! All the birds sing words and the flowers croon… /earworm Good morning, all! Due to significant reduction in coughing, I decided to go ahead with my tattoo appointment today. In about two hours I’ll go on over and get repeatedly stabbed. Fortunately, it’s on my upper arm, so it should not be horribly painful. **JtC** we’re all pulling for you and your husband today. I hope the roads were cooperating for your drive as well. **MusicMan** is having a very rough week with the weather and repeated breakdowns of his truck. I feel so bad, especially, because I don’t know what I can do to help. I agree, **MetalMouse** , that I’m hoping that you had any and all activities cleared with your doctor. You are important to us, so take care of yourself!!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150.md?page=17)